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 Senior CPC official meets Belarusian president Xinhua) 09:49, September 03, 2025 Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Lukashenko is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Cai Qi on Tuesday met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing. Lukashenko is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Lukashenko, China-Belarus relations have maintained rapid development, and the fruitful meeting between the two heads of state on Sunday injected new impetus into the development of bilateral relations, said Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. China is willing to work with Belarus to follow the important consensus of the two heads of state, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen inter-party exchanges and international collaboration, Cai said. Noting that China is a pillar of world peace and stability, Lukashenko said Belarus firmly supports the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi, which is crucial in promoting the development of a more just and equitable global governance system. Belarus will continue to be a trustworthy friend and partner with China, Lukashenko said. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Lukashenko is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Blog Archive: Dec 2025 (46) Nov 2025 (141) Oct 2025 (153) Sep 2025 (149) Aug 2025 (154) 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) BEIJING Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong on Wednesday had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on the occasion of his attendance at the 80th anniversary of the world people's victory over fascism and working trip to China. President Cuong said he was pleased to meet President Putin for the first time in his capacity as Viet Nams head of state. He stressed that the Vietnamese Party, Government, and people deeply value and remain grateful for the support provided by the former Soviet Union and todays Russia during Viet Nams struggle for independence and reunification, as well as national construction and defence. He conveyed the gratitude of Viet Nams Party, Government, and people to President Putin and the Russian people for their congratulations and for sending an honour guard to take part in the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2. The leader shared Viet Nams strategic development goals set for the centenaries of the Partys founding and the countrys establishment. He affirmed that Viet Nam attaches great importance to its ties with Russia, supporting the countrys stable and strong development and its constructive role in the region and globally. He said Viet Nam stands ready to advance RussiaASEAN cooperation, expressing confidence that under President Putins leadership, the Russian people will achieve greater accomplishments. To further strengthen bilateral ties, President Cuong said Viet Nam welcomes Russian companies seeking new investment opportunities in industrial zones, as well as cooperation in pharmaceuticals, information technology, and digital technologies. President Putin also said he was delighted to meet President Cuong as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties. He noted that Russia highly values its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam, while extending congratulations to the Party, Government, and people of Viet Nam on the 80th National Day. Highlighting Viet Nams achievements after 80 years of nation-building and development, the leader expressed confidence that the country will make greater strides and contribute actively to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world at large. The two leaders agreed to strengthen political and diplomatic ties and effectively implement agreements reached during President Putins state visit to Viet Nam in June 2024 and Party General Secretary To Lams official visit to Russia in May 2025. They pledged to step up exchanges and high-level contacts. Both sides emphasised their determination to elevate economic and investment cooperation to match the strength of their political relations and each countrys potential. They agreed to actively carry out the Viet NamRussia cooperation roadmap through 2030, further open markets for each others exports, and deepen collaboration in oil, gas, and energy. The leaders also voiced support for joint ventures Vietsovpetro and Rusvietpetro and consented to accelerate negotiations on agreements in nuclear power cooperation. The two sides will also enhance cooperation in defence-security, military, marine science research, cybersecurity, satellite internet governance, health care, education and training, people-to-people exchanges, transport, and tourism. The countries will continue to coordinate closely and support each other at major international and regional forums, particularly the United Nations and ASEAN. VNS HA NOI Leaders of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Timor-Leste, the Republic of Korea, the US, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and France, and the ASEAN Secretary-General have extended their greetings to the top Vietnamese leaders on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 19452025). Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sent congratulations to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, while Malaysias Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar extended greetings to State President Luong Cuong. In their congratulatory letters, the Malaysian leaders welcomed the 2024 upgrade of Viet NamMalaysia ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024, a historic milestone fostering deeper cooperation across traditional and emerging sectors. They also appreciated Viet Nam's support for Malaysias ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 and expressed their commitment to work closely with high-ranking Vietnamese leaders for more substantive results, benefiting the two countries people and for peace, cooperation, and development in the region. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam sent congratulations to President Luong Cuong and PM Pham Minh Chinh affirming that Brunei attaches importance to its comprehensive partnership with Viet Nam, praising the tangible results of the 20232027 Action Plan in contributing to the development and prosperity of both countries. The King expressed his desire to further strengthen friendship and cooperation during his upcoming state visit to Viet Nam. In his letter sent to the Vietnamese State and Government leaders, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto affirmed that the two countries have built a strong and enduring relationship over seven decades. He stressed that the two countries have upgraded their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and will continue to cooperate closely, not only for their mutual benefit but also to contribute significantly to peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sent congratulatory letters to Party General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong and PM Pham Minh Chinh. Meanwhile Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez sent letters to National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. The Philippine leaders expressed admiration for the solidarity and resilience of the Vietnamese people, describing it as an inspiration for many countries, including the Philippines. They also lauded Viet Nam's international integration and rapid economic development, reaffirming the long-standing ties between the two peoples, expressing the desire to strengthen bilateral relations and expand strategic partnership between the two nations. In their congratulatory messages to President Luong Cuong and PM Pham Minh Chinh respectively, King Maha Vajiralongkorn and acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai of Thailand praised the resilience and solidarity of the Vietnamese people in national development, and welcomed the recent upgrade of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. They affirmed their wish to further strengthen cooperation, especially in trade, investment, infrastructure, education, and culture, for the benefit of both nations and the development of the ASEAN Community. Secretary-General of the People's Action Party (PAP) and Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong sent congratulatory letters to Party General Secretary To Lam and PM Pham Minh Chinh. Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam extended greetings to President Luong Cuong. Meanwhile, Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Seah Kian Peng sent a congratulatory message to NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man. The Singaporean leaders praised the friendship, political trust, and multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam, noting that the newly established Viet NamSingapore comprehensive strategic partnership provides a solid foundation for stronger and more substantive cooperation, particularly in emerging areas such as food security, renewable energy, carbon credits, digital cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. They also expressed a desire to further strengthen interactions and delegation exchanges at all levels and channels; promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. In his congratulatory letter to President Luong Cuong, President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta highlighted the historical significance of the August Revolution, saying that it inspired nations worldwide in defending freedom and national sovereignty. He also spoke highly of the strong friendship between the two countries, affirming a desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation as Timor-Leste actively prepares to join ASEAN. President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Lee Jae Myung sent a congratulatory message to State President Luong Cuong, expressing confidence that the Viet NamRoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to develop more strongly and reach a new height in the coming time, based on solid trust and deep affection between the people of both countries. On behalf of the US Government, Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended his heartfelt greetings to the Government and people of Viet Nam. In the message, he praised Viet Nam's impressive development and affirmed the country is an important regional partner, playing a leading role in addressing common global challenges. With 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of Viet NamUS diplomatic relations, the diplomat expressed his pride in the progress achieved within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, while reaffirming the commitment to strengthening the ties to promote peace, prosperity, and security for both nations and the region. From Japan, President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru sent congratulations to Party General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, while Emperor Naruhito extended greetings to State President Luong Cuong. Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Nukaga Fukushiro and President of the House of Councillors Sekiguchi Masakazu also conveyed messages to National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. The Japanese leaders hailed Viet Nam's reform efforts and the countrys achievements, and celebrated the positive development of the Viet Nam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across multiple fields, noting how the two countries have become irreplaceable partners. They expressed their hope for enhanced partnership across such domains as economy, securitydefence, parliamentary cooperation, and people-to-people exchange. On the occasion, the the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party also sent congratulations to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV). Meanwhile, messages of congratulations were sent from Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy Kiro to State President Luong Cuong, from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Party General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, from Speaker of the House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee to National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. The New Zealand leaders laid stress on the significance of the September 2 celebrations, describing it as a vivid demonstration for Viet Nams impressive development journey. The countrys standout socio-economic achievements continue to inspire the international community, they stated, expressing their confidence that the Viet NamNew Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to develop on the back of the solid friendship, mutual respect, and shared commitment to strengthening the bilateral cooperation. In her message sent to State President Luong Cuong on the occasion, Australian Governor-General Samantha Mostyn emphasised this as a milestone marking eight decades of nation-building and socio-economic development, with outstanding innovation and resilience of the Vietnamese people. She affirmed that Australia and Viet Nam are sustainable partners, with bilateral relations built on a foundation of strategic trust. Both sides continue to concretise their vision and commitments within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, where people-to-people connections serve as a particularly important foundation for the bilateral relations. She expressed her desire to visit Viet Nam soon to witness the country's recent development. The Communist Party of Australia also sent congratulations to the Communist Party of Viet Nam. French President Emmanuel Macron sent congratulatory letters to Party General Secretary To Lam and President Luong Cuong, while Prime Minister Francois Bayrou congratulated Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. They highlighted the momentum generated through the October 2024 visit to France by Party chief and then State President To Lam, during which the two countries upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. French leaders affirmed their commitment to building an ambitious partnership with Viet Nam and as well as the one between the EU and ASEAN. The French leaders reiterated both countries' shared commitment to respecting international law, peaceful resolution of disputes, and multilateralism, reaffirming their commitment to continue promoting close relations with Viet Nam while working to build an independent alliance between Europe and Asia with the EU and ASEAN at its centre. National Secretary of French Communist Party Fabien Roussel also sent congratulations to Party General Secretary To Lam. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn congratulated Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, underscoring Viet Nams crucial contributions during three decades of ASEAN membership. He highlighted Viet Nams role in reinforcing ASEAN unity and centrality, spearheading sub-regional initiatives and reducing development gaps. The Secretary-General underscored that under the Prime Minister's leadership, Viet Nam has consistently maintained its commitment and played a key role in promoting ASEAN cooperation across all three Community pillars. Besides, he highlighted Viet Nams ASEAN chairmanship role in 2020 as well as the success and significance of the ASEAN Future Forum with efforts to shape ASEAN's strategy, affirming continued support for Viet Nam and other member countries in implementing the Kuala Lumpur Declaration ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future. VNA/VNS VINH LONG The Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long is accelerating its digital transition by integrating science and technology into every link in its agricultural value chain, from production to distribution. Local authorities view the shift to e-commerce as a strategic gateway, creating a digital highway that helps provincial specialities reach wider markets, improve competitiveness and align with the national push towards a digital economy. Earlier this year, Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Co., Ltd., based in Cho Lach Commune made headlines when its frozen durian brand DuriVy recognised as a five-star One Commune, One Product item was officially launched on TikTok Shop. This move, which followed the products certification in July 2024, was described as a milestone in the companys digital journey, allowing the renowned Ben Tre speciality to reach consumers directly on a fast-growing commerce platform. Nguyen Thi Hong Thu, director of Chanh Thu, said the company, which has over 25 years experience in fruit exports, is now entering deep processing and digital marketing. DuriVy is processed using liquid nitrogen freezing technology, which locks in flavours, colours and nutrients as if freshly harvested. It can be stored for up to two years at below 18C and can be serve within minutes of defrosting. Produced at facilities meeting global standards like FSSC 22000, FDA and HACCP, the frozen durians are positioned to be sold to demanding markets such as the US, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union. According to Thu, the commercial potential of Vietnamese fruit is substantial but sustainable gains require investment in quality control, cultivation zoning, traceability, and brand protection, all key factors that would determine competitiveness in the long term. The shift to digital commerce has also transformed the livelihoods of local farmers and artisans. For Bui Hoang Trong, who cultivates ornamental plants in Vinh Thanh Commune, reliance on traders once made his business highly seasonal and uncertain. That changed in 2019 when his son began posting their products on Facebook and YouTube, and online orders gradually expanded. Today more than 60 per cent of the familys 7,0008,000 annual product sales come through online platforms, offering stability and greater market reach. Cao Minh Tan, who owns the Hai Sam rice paper workshop in Hung Nhuong Commune, recalled the hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic when traders stopped buying and outlets closed. Instead of retreating, he turned to Zalo and Facebook to market his Son oc rice paper brand. The results encouraged him to branch out to larger e-commerce sites, supported by a dedicated website banhphongsondoc.vn that was developed with assistance from local authorities. Now daily output has reached 10,000 rice papers, and three-fold the number during Tet. Annual revenues have risen steadily to VN12 billion (about US$470,000), providing stability not only to himself but also to other families in the traditional craft village. Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Tuan said in the context of rapid digital transformation, e-commerce has become a priority growth driver for Vinh Long. The province is now drafting its e-commerce development plan for 202630 in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to help enterprises expand markets. It plans to hold a workshop on Developing E-commerce in Connection with Digital Transformation in October to outline key strategies and provide businesses and cooperatives with the latest information on e-commerce trends, practical tools and digital skills. Vinh Long has three official e-commerce websites and supports more than 280 online sales platforms. But with digital adoption deepening, officials are confident that Vinh Longs specialities from durian and ornamental plants to rice paper will quickly gain a stronger foothold both in the domestic and international markets. VNS ISLAMABAD The death toll from Afghanistans worst earthquake in years jumped to over 1,400 on Tuesday with thousands more injured, authorities said, as difficult terrain hindered rescue efforts in isolated villages of the countrys mountainous eastern region. At least 1,411 people have died, 3,124 have been injured and over 5,400 houses have been destroyed, Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said. More people are feared trapped under rubble, said the Afghan Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian group working in the region. The United Nations coordinator in Afghanistan said the toll was likely to rise. A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan later today, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The epicentre of the quake was 34 kilometres northeast of Jalalabad city in Nangarhar province, according to the USGS. Afghanistan is prone to deadly earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.0, struck around midnight local time on Sunday, at a shallow depth of 10km, with the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar being the worst hit. Rescue operations were carried out in four badly hit villages in Kunar on Monday and efforts will now be focused on reaching more remote mountain areas, said Ehsanullah Ehsan, the provincial head of disaster management. We cannot accurately predict how many bodies might still be trapped under the rubble, said Ehsan. Our effort is to complete these operations as soon as possible and to begin distributing aid to the affected families. Emergency operations continued throughout the night, Ehsan separately told AFP. He said there were still injured people left in the distant villages in need of evacuation to hospitals. Meanwhile, villagers joined the rescue efforts, using their bare hands to clear debris from mud and stone homes built into steep valleys. Obaidullah Stoman, 26, who travelled to the village of Wadir to search for a friend, was overwhelmed by the level of destruction. Im searching here, but I didnt see him. It was very difficult for me to see the conditions here, he told AFP. There is only rubble left. The dead, including children, were wrapped in white shrouds by villagers who prayed over their bodies before burying them. Some of the hardest-hit villages remain inaccessible due to blocked roads, the United Nations migration agency told AFP. Mountainous terrain and inclement weather have hindered rescuers from reaching remote areas along the border with Pakistan, where the quake flattened hundreds of mud-and-brick homes. Access for vehicles along narrow mountain roads was the main obstacle, said Ehsan, adding machinery was being brought in to clear roads of debris. On Tuesday, a line of ambulances was on the damaged mountain road trying to reach Kunar villages, as helicopters flew in, bringing aid supplies and taking the injured to hospitals, according to a Reuters witness. Some of those injured have been transferred to hospitals in Kabul and the adjacent province of Nangarhar, said Ehsan. Thousands of children were at risk, the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef) warned on Tuesday. Unicef said it was sending medicines, warm clothing, tents and tarpaulins for shelter, and hygiene items such as soap, detergent, towels, sanitary pads, and water buckets. Taliban soldiers were deployed in the area, providing help and security. Rescue teams and authorities were trying to dispose of animal carcasses quickly so as to minimise the risk of contamination to water resources, a UN official said on Monday. Damaged roads, ongoing aftershocks, and remote locations of many villages severely impede the delivery of aid, the World Health Organisation said, adding that over 12,000 people had been affected by the quake. The pre-earthquake fragility of the health system means local capacity is overwhelmed, creating total dependence on external actors, it said. Food and tents were desperately needed, said Safiullah Noorzai from Aseel, a humanitarian tech platform with networks around Afghanistan. With their houses in ruins, many people were living in the open amid a fear of aftershocks, Noorzai added. Aid cuts and promises of assistance After decades of conflict, Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world, facing a protracted humanitarian crisis and the influx of millions of Afghans forced back to the country by neighbours Pakistan and Iran in recent years. Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, foreign aid to the country has been slashed, undermining the already impoverished nations ability to respond to disasters. The United States was the largest aid donor until early 2025, when all but a sliver of funds were cancelled after President Donald Trump took office. In June, the United Nations said it was drastically scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans due to the deepest funding cuts ever. On Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement the organisation was working with authorities to swiftly assess needs, provide emergency assistance and stand ready to mobilise additional support, and announced an initial $5 million. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the earthquake. Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government decided to immediately dispatch a consignment of essential medicines to earthquake-stricken regions of Afghanistan, with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announcing that the provincial government was fully prepared to deploy medical staff. Today, adviser to KP CM on Information Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif further assured that the provincial government will extend full support to the affected Afghan families, emphasising solidarity in this hour of hardship. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Afghan brothers during this difficult time and assure them of all possible assistance, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Tuesday. The report quoted him as saying that hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are open and ready to treat injured Afghan victims of the earthquake. Relief teams, rescue workers, medicines, tents, and food supplies are prepared for immediate dispatch to the affected areas. Earlier, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also held a phone call with his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi and assured him of Pakistans readiness to extend all possible support. According to the Foreign Office (FO), Dar held a phone call with Muttaqi on Monday to convey condolences on the tragic loss of lives, with thousands injured in last nights earthquake in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Britain has allocated 1 million pounds to support the efforts of the UN and the International Red Cross in delivering critical healthcare and emergency supplies to Afghanistan. India delivered 1,000 tents and was moving 15 tonnes of food supplies to Kunar, with more relief materials to be sent on Tuesday. Other nations such as China, the United Arab Emirates, the European Union and Iran have also pledged help, but aid is yet to arrive. Deadly earthquakes Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, near the junction of the Eurasia and India tectonic plates. In October 2023, western Herat province was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 1,500 people and damaged or destroyed more than 63,000 homes. A 5.9-magnitude quake struck the eastern province of Paktika in June 2022, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. DAWN/ANN Yen Binh IP complex in Thai Nguyen To mark the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2, Thai Nguyen Peoples Committee launched and inaugurated several large-scale ventures, including the VND3.6 trillion ($144 million) Yen Binh 2 Industrial Park (IP), set to become a key magnet for new investment. Spanning nearly 300 hectares, Yen Binh 2 IP is being developed by Yen Binh Development Investment JSC, the company behind the 8,000-ha Yen Binh high-tech industrial, urban, and agricultural complex. Scheduled for completion within 24 months of land allocation, the park will provide clean, fully equipped land plots to strengthen Thai Nguyens competitiveness in attracting foreign investment. "Throughout implementation of this project, we have received great assistance from the provincial leadership, local departments, and the community, particularly in legal procedures and site clearance," said Nguyen Trung Kien, deputy general director of Yen Binh Investment and Development JSC. "With such strong support, we are determined to complete the venture ahead of schedule." The groundbreaking of Yen Binh 2 IP holds special significance as Thai Nguyen pushes forward with industrialisation and modernisation, aiming to become a high-tech industrial hub for the northern midlands, mountainous region, and Hanoi. Alongside Yen Binh 1 and 3, the new park will form a chain of large-scale, modern zones set to strengthen the provinces appeal to investors. The groundbreaking ceremony for Yen Binh 2 Industrial Park Thai Nguyen People's Committee is also expediting administrative procedures to develop infrastructure for several other IPs and clusters, including Phu Binh IP and West Pho Yen IP, each covering 600-700 ha. Phu Binh district is actively clearing land and resettling approximately 500 households to secure land for nearly 10 IPs and clusters. In the first six months of this year, Thai Nguyen Industrial Parks Management Authority, in collaboration with the Department of Construction, finalised the master plan for the West Pho Yen Industrial-Urban-Service Zone project through to 2045. They also submitted planning adjustments for the Tan Tien Resettlement Area for approval to support land clearance for Song Cong II IP. These decisions and systematic planning measures reinforce the legal framework and establish a crucial basis for attracting investment to Thai Nguyen. " Thai Nguyen is streamlining its administrative structure to become leaner and more efficient," said Chairman of Phu Binh People's Committee Le Thanh Son. "The administrators of Phu Binh district and the province are working around the clock to complete land clearances before the district-level restructuring, ensuring timely handover to investors for industrial park and cluster development. This will help build a strong land bank to entice factories and production facilities, creating jobs and stable incomes for residents ." According to Thai Nguyen Industrial Parks Management Authority , the province has 19 parks planned with a total area exceeding 6,400 ha. As of July, six are operational, including Song Cong I, Diem Thuy, Nam Pho Yen, Yen Binh, Song Cong II, and Thanh Binh 1. These parks have largely completed essential infrastructure, while secondary investors have built factories with notably high occupancy rates. Parks such as Yen Binh, Diem Thuy (Area A), Song Cong II phase 1, and Thanh Binh 1 are already over 90 per cent occupied. To date, these IPs have attracted 184 foreign-invested projects with a total investment of over $10.8 billion, including leading global technology corporations, and 141 domestic-backed ventures with a total investment of nearly VND27 trillion ($1.8 billion). These projects have created jobs for approximately 100,000 workers and generated an annual export value of nearly $30 billion. However, by 2021-2022, available industrial land for investment attraction was nearly exhausted. The province has also concentrated on investing in integrated infrastructure development, especially the inter-regional transport system, industrial park infrastructure, and social amenities. According to the provincial master plan, Thai Nguyen will have 11 IPs and one centralised IT park covering 4,245 ha, and 41 industrial clusters covering 2,067 ha. In response, the locality has been focusing resources on legal procedures and land clearance to attract investments in urban areas and IP infrastructure. This aims to create large-scale, clean land reserves for production and business investments. Nguyen Dinh Viet, deputy head of Thai Nguyen Industrial Parks Management Authority, said, "The IPs under construction are large-scale and strategically located for transportation connectivity. We will prioritise attracting secondary investors with modern, environmentally friendly technologies that use minimal labour and land while delivering high added value." Building on this, Nguyen Thi Loan, Vice Chairwoman of Thai Nguyen People's Committee, said, "Thanks to administrative reforms, accelerated land clearance for IPs and clusters, and proactive support for businesses, a new wave of infrastructure and secondary investments is flowing into the province. This will serve as a critical foundation and driving force for the province to achieve rapid, sustainable development with double-digit growth in the coming years." Samsung Vietnam sees 7 per cent increase in export turnover this year Samsung Vietnam acquired a total export turnover of $33.5 billion in the first seven months of this year, signifying an on-year increase of 7 per cent. Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen hosts Public Security Minister Minister of Public Security, General Luong Tam Quang, led a working delegation on June 8 to visit Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen Co., Ltd. (SEVT), one of Samsung's largest global manufacturing complexes. Post-merger Thai Nguyen sets bold path towards industrial and regional leadership Thai Nguyen's merger with Bac Kan marks a strategic shift, unlocking vast development potential and setting the province on course to become a dynamic industrial and urban hub in northern Vietnam. Key works have been established in the locality, focusing on improving the business and investment climate Vinh Long Peoples Council, in late July, issued tasks for socioeconomic development across the rest of the year. Key targets include a regional GDP growth rate of 8 per cent or higher, per capita regional GDP reaching VND84.3 million ($3,370) annually, and agriculture accounting for 31.85 per cent and non-agriculture holding 68.15 per cent of regional GDP. The province also seeks to achieve total social investment capital reaching $2.87 million, total export-import turnover amounting to approximately $5.66 billion, the establishment of over 1,600 new enterprises, and an urbanisation rate of 16.5 per cent; among others. The accompanying resolution was promulgated in the context of the sprint-to-the-finish intended for the province to successfully achieve the goals set out by the provincial Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term as well as the Peoples Councils plan for socioeconomic development for 2021-2025. In line with the effective implementation of the tasks issued by Vinh Long Peoples Council, which includes 24 targets across economic, socio-cultural, environmental, and defence-security sectors, the department will provide focused and practical advice. We will closely coordinate with relevant units and localities as investors to accelerate the completion and disbursement of public projects, prioritising key programmes and works commemorating Party congresses at all levels, with a determination to disburse all the planned public capital, said Truong Dang Vinh Phuc, director of the provincial Department of Finance. In particular, we will collaborate with tax authorities to fulfil budget revenue targets, thoroughly save on recurrent expenditures, actively attract funding, and address and advise on resolving difficulties for investors and businesses, Phuc added. Together with the Economic Zone Management Board, it will lead and coordinate investment promotion efforts, as well as monitor, inspect, and supervise the implementation of projects in economic zones, industrial parks, and clusters, Phuc said. Vinh Long will continue to implement synchronised directives from the provincial Party Committee and Peoples Committee to create tangible progress in agriculture, farmers, and rural areas. Efforts will focus on enhancing the restructuring of agriculture, linked with rural development, the One Commune One Product programme, aquaculture development, irrigation works, and disaster prevention. Emphasis will also be placed on digital transformation in the agriculture and environmental sectors. The province will closely monitor weather, hydrological conditions, and natural disasters while developing suitable agricultural and aquaculture production plans. The locality will establish a steering committee for power development and craft plans to inspect and accept key projects, such as the 110kV transmission line from the Vinh Long 3 substation, the Vinh Long-Vung Liem split-phase line, and the upgrading of the Tra Vinh-Duyen Hai transmission line. Administrative procedures will be implemented in accordance with the decentralisation and delegation of authority, as regulated under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), and a ruling from June which governs decentralisation in the industrial and commercial sectors. Industrial promotion projects will be actively implemented following the issuance of resolutions by the provincial Peoples Council on expenditure levels. Meanwhile, the locality will also closely monitor the prices of agricultural products and the operations of export-import enterprises, particularly the impact of import taxes on the US market. The province will enhance information dissemination on market trends and new export-import regulations to local enterprises. Procedures will be undertaken to request the MoIT to delegate authority to the Department of Industry and Trade for issuing certificates of origin and approving self-certification of origin for exported goods. Support will also continue for enterprises to bring their products to e-commerce platforms. At the same time, the province will review and closely monitor the progress of ventures involving slow-moving official development assistance or low disbursement rates to expedite implementation and disbursement. Challenges in investment procedures, land clearance, and payments will be identified, categorised, and addressed promptly to facilitate faster progress and disbursement. Vinh Long confirms 13 projects worth $790 million The Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long has issued investment policy decisions, investment certificates, and memoranda on investment cooperation to 13 projects with the total registered capital of nearly VND19.6 trillion ($790 million). Tra Vinh, now part of Vinh Long, gains tourism momentum as fresh driver Tra Vinh province, which was incorporated with Ben Tre into Vinh Long province this month, is revitalising its tourism sector, leveraging cultural heritage and community-based tourism to become a strategic economic pillar by 2030. 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 From Sept 15, 2025 Russians get 30 days a year visa-free entry to China All natural gas is now headed to China/East from Russia. Nothing for Europe anymore Chinese Victory Day Parade Biggest thing to get your head around is, Putin, Xi, and Kim walking together to go to parade NK in the new world order WtR PS: USA is really losing it over what is happening a great and lasting day of celebration, adding, Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States of America. Now that is seriously being butthurt Greyhound racing could be banned in Wales by 2030 This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Sep 3rd, 2025 Greyhound racing could be banned in Wales by 2030 as plans to outlaw the sport take a step forward. The draft Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill would make it an offence to organise greyhound races or operate stadiums and venues for greyhound racing in Wales. The proposals, released by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, state the ban could come into force as early as 2027 and no later than 2030. Valley Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach is the last remaining track in Wales. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain have previously spoken out against the ban, stating that the plans have nothing to do with greyhound welfare and everything to do with pressure from the extreme animal rights movement. However the draft legislation, which will be formally introduced in the Senedd in the autumn, has received support from across the political divide. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: I look forward to working with Senedd Members on the provisions of the Bill during scrutiny after the Bill is introduced in the autumn. We want Wales to be an exemplar for the highest standards of animal health and welfare. The ban is one way we can work towards meeting that goal, and the implementation group has a key role to play. He added that an implementation group, set up in July and chaired by Dr Emily Blackwell from Bristol Vet School, would help guide the transition. The group includes representatives from the racing industry, animal welfare bodies and community organisations. The plans have been welcomed by welfare and dog rehoming charity, the Dogs Trust. However the organisation has called on the Welsh Government to take quicker action. James Fitch, Public Affairs Manager at Dogs Trust, said: The publication of the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill marks a significant step towards ending greyhound racing in Wales, and we are pleased that the Bill will also prevent the training and trialling of greyhounds for racing in other locations. While the majority of the Bill is a step in the right direction, we would like it to go further and prevent the breeding of greyhounds in Wales for racing elsewhere. Its great news that the Bill could bring an end to greyhound racing in Wales as early as 2027, but we see no reason for it to continue until 2030, which the Bill outlines as a possibility. Every additional year puts more dogs at risk of death or serious injury. Dogs Trust, along with many other organisations in the animal welfare sector, is already prepared to rehome the dogs affected, so any delays are unnecessary. The ban will make Wales the first nation in the UK to put an end to greyhound racing. Specialist nurses appointed to improve experiences and outcomes for end of life and bereavement care This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Sep 3rd, 2025 Two specialist SWAN Bereavement Nurses have been appointed to improve experiences for patients and their loved ones undergoing end-of-life and bereavement care in North Wales. Kathi Ellis and Gemma Sweetman have stepped into their new roles to implement the SWAN Model for End of Life and Bereavement Care, which guides the care of patients and their loved ones at the end of life and after they have died. The model aims to empower staff to go the extra mile in order to meet personalised patient and family needs during these difficult times. Kathi brings a wealth of experience from her time as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in the oncology triage team at Glan Clwyd Hospital and is eager to embrace her new responsibilities. Im delighted to take up this new role and champion the SWAN model. Its an opportunity to shape a more compassionate, patient and family-centred approach to care, said Kathi. My experience working across various hospices has given me deep insight into the needs of families during end-of-life care. Im committed to helping bridge gaps within services to enhance the overall experience for those receiving care. Gemma, formerly a Ward Sister at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, said she hopes to bring a consistent approach to end-of-life and bereavement care services across the Health Board. She said: We will be working closely with staff across different departments and specialties to embed the principles of the SWAN model. We will look at educating and training our staff to enhance the experience for patients and their families during these sensitive times. We are aware many departments and wards are already doing great things and are going the extra mile offering memory boxes or additional palliative support but we want every patient and their family to receive the highest standard of care, whatever ward or department. Our goal is to equip both our clinical and non-clinical staff with the right knowledge, tools and resources so they can confidently support patients and their families when its needed the most. The SWAN Model encourages attention to the little things that create lasting comfort. As part of their work, the nurses plan to introduce visual indicators such as a SWAN symbol by a patients bedside, helping staff identify and respond with heightened sensitivity. Other initiatives include providing comfort packs for families staying with loved ones and memory boxes that may contain letters or personal items to preserve precious memories, whilst including bereavement support information. The nurses are initially being funded by Macmillan Cancer Support to support the delivery of the Welsh Government National Bereavement Framework and Bereavement Pathways. With end-of-life care recognised as a ministerial priority, the Health Board is committed to embedding this model to ensure consistent, compassionate care across the region. Angela Wood, Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery said: We are really excited to have recruited these roles into the organisation. The Swan Model is best practice in End of Life bereavement care and I am looking forward to the care provided by these nurses to enhance the experience of patients, staff and relatives. Educating and training will equip staff to provide the most appropriate care at the most difficult of times. Pershing County deputies have arrested a California man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman at this year's Burning Man. Deputies say even though the event is over, all manner of reports of crime continue to come in to the sheriffs office. They say the victim gave a very distinct description of the suspect and that a search was started to the find the man who was found the day after the victims report to authorities. They say 34-year-old Alessandro Boshant was arrested and now faces 4 counts of sexual assault/rape and one count of burglary of structure. His bail was set at $640,000. The Lyon County Sheriff's Office says there was no active threat at Fernley High School following a false social media post on Tuesday morning. Deputies say at 7:35 a.m., a post on a social media platform indicated that there was an active shooter at Fernley High School. At that moment, authorities say both Fernley School Resource Officers were present on campus and observed no danger to students or staff. The Lyon County Sheriffs Office School Resource Officers, along with the Lyon County School District, were informed of the post around 8:10 a.m., roughly 35 minutes after the initial post. Deputies say all students were confirmed to be safe, with no threats posed to students, staff, or the community. The sheriff's office says it should be noted that the Dispatch center did not receive any calls regarding the incident. The Lyon County Sheriffs Office says it conducted an investigation into the post and has concluded that the information came from a parody account on a different social media platform. It says all information gathered was found to be inaccurate. The Sheriffs Office urges the public to avoid sharing unverified information online and to call law enforcement if you think an incident is occurring. For additional details concerning this incident, contact the Lyon County Sheriffs Office and direct inquiries to Sgt. Mark Kosak by calling (775) 463-6600. (The Lyon County Sheriff's Office contributed to this report.) Forty years ago, a McDonalds opened near Romes treasured Spanish Steps. Local people were none too happy. Instead of fanfare, the fast-food outpost received swift backlash against the global cultural homogenization it represented. The tumult gave birth to the Slow Food Movement , a grassroots campaign to defend and promote regional heritage, culinary traditions, and a less frenetic pace of life. Since then, slow food has become part of a global lexicon whose principles have spread around the world. In the U.S., nowhere has the movements focus on local, seasonal, farm-to-fork food been more profoundly embraced than in Northern California. So, when Slow Food International began to think about a second location for its legendary festival Terra Madre, which is held annually in Turin, Italy, they naturally gravitated toward the region. A Terra Madre Americas tasting event (Courtesy of @slow_wine_usa) Though multiple cities vied to host the event, they chose Sacramento for the honor. We grow so much of the nations agriculture, says Mike Testa, president and CEO of Visit Sacramento . There are 165 commodities coming out of this region, 1.5 million acres of farmland; we produce 85% of the nations caviar Theres a real opportunity to educate people in this country about what is a way of life in Europe. It didnt hurt that Sacramento had already been the site of the Farm-to-Fork Festival, a celebration attracting 100,000 people a year with the same concepts driving the Slow Food Movement. This year, Farm-to-Fork will be the street party that welcomes visitors to the Terra Madre Americas inside the citys convention center, September 26-28. Both the indoor and outdoor festivities are free. The three-day event will be chock-full of celebrity chef demonstrations, educational panels, and, of course, food. Californias tribal communities will have a big presenceorganizers have partnered with 105 of themas will UC Davis, the countrys top agriculture school. A presentation at a Terra Madre Americas event from Slow Food Cuba (Courtesy of @slowfood_cuba) You get Alice Waters and Jeremiah Tower in the same room, and thats an interesting conversation, says Testa. Sean Sherman, coming from Minneapolis and a Native American standpoint, adds to that conversation. An impressive lineup of bandsnames like The War on Drugs, Spoon, Passion Pit, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters that could easily hold their own at a festival solely for musicwill form the soundtrack for Terra Madre Americas. As with the rest of the weekends goings-on, not one of their performances will cost a dime to see. The concert element is one of the biggest differences between Sacramentos Slow Food festival and the original in Turin. Another is, simply, geography. Since its primarily Europeans who have traditionally attended the event, the idea behind Terra Madre Americas is to capture this portion of the globe, to spread that message across the world, says Testa. Its hosted in America; it has to have an American twist. While in Turin the festival sparks activations at bars and restaurants across the city after hours, Testa says Sacramentos business community may not be quite as all-in this September. But with an agreement to rotate the annual festival between the two cities for the next decade (Turin in even years, Sacramento in odd), theyre likely to catch on by the time Terra Madre Americas returns in 2027. Like the Farm-to-Fork Festival in past years, Terra Madre Americas will include an impressive concert lineup. (Courtesy of @sacfarm2fork) If you go to Europe and talk about Slow Food, everyone seems to know what it is, but in the U.S. its not as well known, says Testa. The fact nonetheless remains that the principles promoted by the movement are better for consumers, better for the farmers, better for the planet. The event, he continues, isnt about Sacramento; its about bringing the culinary world to Sacramento. Google has debuted a new feature called "Read Aloud" for Pixel smartphones, which will be available for all screenshots featuring articles, texts, and more. The latest feature will read aloud the text found on screenshots before they disappear and are saved to the device's gallery, offering a new, convenient way to review documents and similar content. Google Debuts 'Read Aloud' Feature on Pixel Smartphones If you are the type of person who screenshots many things online or on your devices for later review, then Google's latest Pixel feature is for you as it now delivers a Read Aloud experience. The new Pixel Screenshots feature is available for all kinds of screenshots that feature text, including articles, write-ups, blogs, and more. Users who take a screenshot on their Pixel phones would now get an option when bringing up the preview to have the device read aloud the text seen on the image via a new button available. According to 9to5Google, the new Pixel Screenshots feature is now available on devices like the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 only. It has not been confirmed as of press time if it will be made available to older devices. Read Aloud Text on Screenshots Selecting the Read Aloud button would pull up a specific player where users may choose to pause, play, and skip certain parts of the spoken content. There are also playback speed options from 1x (normal), 1.25x, 1.75x, 2x, and a slower option of 0.5x speed. Additionally, users may also choose the language spoken aloud by the feature, with as many as 32 languages available. These include English, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, and Slovak. Google Pixel's Nifty Features Google has been stepping up its game in terms of smartphone feature developments. One nifty feature Google introduced recently was the live "Scam Detection" feature available for Pixel 6 smartphones and later, which will notify users during a call if it is fraudulent or a scam. Earlier this year, Google finally gave users what they have been requesting for, which is a Battery Health feature on Pixel devices, which will help extend the device's lifespan. Recent new features on Pixel smartphones include easy eSIM transfers, which also bring cross-platform migration from iOS to Google's Pixel devices as the company transitioned its US releases to eSIM-only setups. Google also debuted its version of phone transfer feature from old to new Pixels, as well as devices from other brands under its new Head Start program. It is important to note that while Pixel smartphones get all of Android's latest features from the company, other manufacturers' Android smartphones do not get the Pixel features as they are exclusive to Google's. Investor Presentation Perth, Sep 3, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Locksley Resources Limited ( ASX:LKY ) ( LKYRF:OTCMKTS ) present the Investor Presentation featuring the company's USA focused critical minerals project and processing model. USA Focused California based project next to producing REE Mine that, upon discovery, could increase American supply of Antimony & REE's Located within a federally prioritised critical mineral zone under USA strategic initiatives Critical Mineral Project Antimony & REE Project with potential to fast track with Government support Targets align with U.S. Defense Production Act (DPA), Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DoE) Funding Downstream Processing USA aligned critical minerals supply business, with direct links to downstream manufacturing, federal research, and national security Project design supports a vertically integrated domestic supply chain *To view the presentation, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/KDDUY4C5 About Locksley Resources Limited Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across two key assets: the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development in this highly prospective mineral region. Mojave Project Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block/Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials' claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area. In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic "Desert Antimony Mine", which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With significant surface sample results, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S. Locksley's North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security. Tottenham Project Locksley's Australian portfolio comprises the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, focused on VMS-style mineralisation in a well established mining region. Locksley is committed to delivering value through discovery, development, and strategic partnerships, with a focus on securing access to U.S. aligned funding and downstream collaborations. Related Companies SEAAOC Darwin 2025 Presentation Sydney, Sep 3, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Beetaloo Energy Australia Limited ( ASX:BTL ) ( EEGUF:OTCMKTS ) SEAAOC Darwin 2025 Presentation showing the unlocking of the Potential of the Beetaloo Basin. Globally Significant Gas Basin Beetaloo Basin is a globally significant basin, estimated to hold more than 200 TCF in-place Strategic Basin Ownership Beetaloo Energy holds 1.6 TCF (2C), >47 TCFe (2U)2 of dry, gas rich, LNG-quality natural gas Domestic Gas Sales Agreement Beetaloo Energy has secured a domestic gas sale agreement with Northern Territory government, ensuring local market access Pipeline Connectivity Beetaloo gas pipeline infrastructure connects to domestic markets and LNG export facilities Active Development 5 wells drilled and Carpentaria Pilot Project underway Carpentaria Gas Plant Funding Beetaloo Energy has secured the necessary funding to develop the Carpentaria Gas Plant *To view the presentation, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/FW7US7FZ About Beetaloo Energy Australia Limited Beetaloo Energy Australia Limited (ASX:BTL) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds 28.9 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur Basin and Beetaloo Sub-basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds around 80%, has enormous conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo Sub-basin, in which Beetaloo Energy holds a substantial position, has world-class hydrocarbon volumes in place and a ramp up in industry activity to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators is accelerating. Related Companies A screenshot from a lapel video shows New Mexico State Police officer Walker Eby crawling down a ladder with a child on his back. Eby was called after receiving a report that a family needed rescuing after their vehicle had flipped in a rush of water. A New Mexico State Police officer saved a woman, her child and her dog from drowning after a rush of water flipped her vehicle and trapped the family on the roof. On Sunday, officer Walker Eby was dispatched around 3:09 p.m. after receiving a call that a vehicle had been capsized amid a rush of water on Stephens Road, near Buckhorn, according to a news release from State Police spokesperson Amanda Richards. Upon arriving, Eby saw the woman and her family sitting on top of the vehicle as water cascaded around them. Eby, with assistance from the Grant County Sheriffs Office, the Cliff Volunteer Fire Department and local residents, used a backhoe to keep the vehicle stable while they attempted a water rescue. Lapel footage from the Grant County Sheriffs Office shared by State Police on X showed Eby scaling a ladder above a torrent of muddy water to reach the vehicle. Eby placed the child on his back before descending from the ladder to bring the child to safety. Eby then gave a safety rope to the woman, who used the ladder to crawl down from the vehicles roof toward the ground. In the video, local residents and other officials can be seen holding the rope while the woman crawled across the ladder. We are incredibly proud of the bravery displayed by Officer Eby, our first-responder partners, and the local residents in this increasingly dangerous situation, Richards said in a release. Their actions allowed them to rescue the trapped occupants and bring them back to safety. This coordinated effort exemplifies the spirit of community and working together for the safety of one another. September often signals fresh starts. As children head back to school, many adults are also making big changes - with a September Surge in job moves after the summer break. But while new roles bring fresh opportunities, they also trigger important financial decisions that can impact your long-term future. Jemma Slingo, Investment and Pensions Specialist, Fidelity International, shares five key steps to consider if youre starting a new job this autumn. 1. Look out for pension perks Most employees are automatically enrolled in a workplace pension - with you contributing at least 5% of qualifying earnings and your employer adding a minimum of 3%. But many firms go further. Some match your contributions, and a few even double them. This means we begin investing for retirement immediately and with minimal fuss. An extra 1% tucked into your pension today could translate into tens of thousands of pounds at retirement. Fidelitys Power of Small Amounts calculator shows that for a 30-year-old on a 50,000 salary, paying just 10 more per week could boost their retirement savings by around 92,000 by age 68. 2. Review your savings strategy A common guideline is the half your age rule: contribute at least half your age (as a percentage of your salary) into your pension. The earlier you start, the less youll need to put away. So, if you start at 22, you might want to contribute 11% of earnings over the course of your career. If you delay starting a pension until 32, however, you will need to contribute around 16% of earnings for the rest of your working life to accumulate a similar sized pot. Your new employers contributions will help, but youll likely need to top up your own contributions to stay on track. That said, remember this is just a benchmark, not a hard-and-fast rule. Everyones retirement ambitions look different. Some people want the option of retiring early or funding more luxuries later in life, while others may simply want the reassurance of covering the essentials. Its also normal for contributions to increase and decrease with your circumstances - you might start small and increase with pay rises or bonuses. Dont worry if youre not always hitting the half your age mark; building the habit and adjusting when you can matters most. 3. Track down old pension pots Across the UK, more than 31 billion sits in lost or forgotten pensions. When you change jobs, review your savings and consider consolidating. Combining pots can simplify management, cut fees and give a clearer view of your retirement fund. But its not always the best option - some schemes offer benefits such as loyalty bonuses, life cover or early access that you could lose. The governments Pension Tracing Service can help track old pots, and over-50s can access free guidance through Pension Wise. 4. Beware of salary tax traps New jobs often come with bigger pay packets - and while thats good news, higher earners risk falling into avoidable tax traps. One of the most costly is the so-called 60% tax trap, which affects those earning between 100,000 and 125,140 a year. At the 100,000 mark, your personal allowance - the 12,570 you can usually earn tax-free - starts to taper away. The result is that income in this band is effectively taxed at 60%, before National Insurance. For example, someone on 125,140 pays around 15,000 more in tax than someone on 100,000, despite only earning 25,140 extra. Thats why careful planning is essential. One way to offset this is to boost pension contributions through salary sacrifice. This lowers your taxable income, helping to preserve your personal allowance, reduce your overall tax bill, and increase your retirement savings at the same time. 5. Check out lesser-known benefits Perks can vary dramatically between employers. From private health cover and life insurance to cycle-to-work schemes and electric vehicle incentives, benefits can meaningfully add to your overall package - and in some cases, reduce your tax burden. Its also worth exploring any educational or financial wellness resources your employer provides, such as webinars, planning tools, or guidance sessions, as these can help you make smarter use of your pay and benefits. UK UNESCO Chief visits Gorhams Cave The Secretary General and Chief Executive of the United Kingdoms National Commission for UNESCO, James Bridge, visited the Gorhams Cave Complex World Heritage Site on Friday. The core functions of the UK National Commission, an independent body, are to support the UK Government in achieving its objectives through UNESCO, UK society and communities to maximise the benefits of UNESCOs mission, and UNESCO to be a competent and relevant UN agency able to deliver its mission and fulfil its objectives. It supports the UKs contribution to UNESCO and brings the benefits of UNESCO to the UK, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. The National Commission supports the UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO to strengthen the ties between the UKs educational, academic, scientific, cultural, and creative communities and UNESCOs global programmes and policies. Mr Bridge was shown around the cave complex by Professors Clive (WHS Director) and Geraldine Finlayson (WHS Co-ordinator) along with Dr Stewart Finlayson who leads the scientific team. At the site, the work being undertaken this year by the excavation team was explained by museum archaeologist Ms Stephanie Kassam. Commenting on his visit, Mr Bridge said: It was a privilege to visit Gibraltars Gorhams Cave Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site a world class place of wonder, cutting edge research and extraordinary stories. Professor and Drs Finlayson, along with the young archaeologists there, brought Neanderthal and Phoenician Gibraltar to life. Gibraltars site, part of the global UNESCO family, brings international interest, connections and opportunities. After the visit, Mr Bridge met HMGoGs Minister with responsibility for World Heritage, Professor John Cortes. Commenting on their meeting, Professor Cortes said: Once again the fantastic work being done by the team at the National Museum in protecting, managing and promoting this important asset of the Worlds Heritage has been recognised by a top expert. James was extremely impressed by Gorhams and its management and will carry the message far and wide in the world of UNESCO and World Heritage, once again putting Gibraltar on the map. The candidates for Mobile City Council District 2 gather for a candidates forum on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Leinkauf Elementary School in Mobile, Ala. Pictured from left to right are Samantha Ingram, Reggie Hill and William Carroll. The municipal election is Aug. 26, 2025. John Sharp Certification votes are usually a quiet rubber stamp on the democratic process the chaotic certification of the 2020 presidential election notwithstanding. But in Mobile on Tuesday, what should have been a routine step turned into a political flashpoint that upended the citys agenda and stirred a campaign controversy. Mobile City Councilman William Carroll, the councils sole incumbent to lose last week, voted to abstain from the certification and demanded a roll call vote during the councils regular meeting. On the 40th anniversary of the Zoghby Act, there are laws in this city that we must follow, Carroll said, adding that whenever there is an appearance that a law hasnt been followed, he would not be voting in support of the election results. Delayed action Before the council could vote, it learned that not all the ballots from last weeks election had been counted. The council went into recess for approximately two hours, while city election workers completed their task in finalizing the municipal election results. The council returned and voted to approve the certification by a 6-0 vote, with Carroll abstaining. He then declined to provide a reason for his vote. The delay pushed back a council committee hearing into its fiscal year 2026 budget, and postponed a meeting over the future of the citys public transportation system. Carrolls action come after a campaign that involved questions into the residency of District 2 Councilwoman-elect Samantha Ingram, who defeated Carroll and challenger Reggie Hill last Tuesday. Ingram, according to state records, voted in the presidential election last November in Georgia, and not Alabama. According to the official results, Ingram received 3,304 votes to Carrolls 2,696 votes and Hills 258. The people of District 2 have made their decision, Ingram said in a statement emailed to AL.com. I look forward to serving, and I wish Councilor Carroll the very best. Residency questions Samantha Ingram, a former Mobile County Public School administrator, speaks during a candidates forum on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Leinkauf Elementary School in Mobile, Ala. John Sharp The Zoghby Act the 1985 Alabama state law that created the City of Mobiles current council-mayor form of government requires anyone who runs for Mobile City Council to have lived in their district for the past 90 days and be a resident of the city for the past year. Ingrams residency was a campaign issue after it was revealed that she voted in last Novembers election in Georgia and, according to state records, remained a registered voter in the state as she ran for a council seat in Alabama. Records also show that Ingram has not voted in a Mobile municipal election in 20 years. She is a former deputy superintendent with the Mobile County Public School System, last serving in that post in 2007. Ingram said ahead of the election that she has owned houses in Mobile since June 2023, even while living in Georgia. She said she moved into the Mobile house last summer after doing renovations, and that her legal counsel has said she qualifies to serve as a city council member. Her residency was challenged in Mobile County Circuit Court last month ahead of the election by Hill, one of her opponents. A judge dismissed the case on procedural grounds that included the filing of a lawsuit before the election results were known, and for not naming Ingram. Hills case named the City of Mobile as the sole defendant. Hill said the judges ruling did not question the cases merits, and he said that Ingrams residency will continue to be questioned in court ahead of Nov. 3, when the new council is sworn in for a four-year term. The rules have not change, Hill said. The Zoghby Act has been clear for 40 years. Something needs to be done in our district, particularly. Well see something in the future in the court. Hill, who represented himself in the case, said that Ingram was not added as a defendant last month because of her ineligibility to serve in office. Now that the election results are in place, we can apply that to state law, he said, adding that he wants Ingram to prove her residency in court. Rev. Mark Rivituso, the newly installed Archbishop of Mobile, poses for selfies outside the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in downtown Mobile, Ala. courtesy of the Archdiocese of Mobile Homelessness, which continues to be a top concern among leaders throughout Alabama, will be among the key public issues addressed by the new leader of the Archdiocese of Mobile. The Most Rev. Mark Rivituso, a lifelong St. Louis man and the current Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis since 2017, said he will take a leadership role in exploring ideas for addressing homelessness through affordable housing initiatives, and safer shelters. Rivituso, 63, will be officially installed as the new Archbishop in Mobile during an 11 a.m. Mass today at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Mobile. The archdiocese represents a Catholic population of over 107,000 members throughout 76 parishes and encompasses 22,969 square miles that includes the lower 28 counties in Alabama. In speaking with the local media Friday, Rivituso said he is examining opportunities to help those in need, including tackling the homelessness issue in Mobile and beyond. Ive been trying to make sure that Im getting current on what is going on (within the archdiocese) and Ive been hearing more and more about homelessness and what we can do for the homeless and help them in their need, Rivituso said, adding that he wants to consider ideas that include partnerships to address better housing options. Its important to remember how we can present to each other with care, love, respect and dignity. There are many good ideas out there, but how can we make them happen? he said. Homelessness A homeless encampment near Mobile. Rivitusos arrival in Mobile comes as homelessness has risen as a top local concern, with controversial camping ordinances and non-profit projects explored in recent years. The camping ordinance that included fines and penalties for leaving personal property unattended in Mobile was debated by Mobile city officials in 2022. Homeless advocates criticized the proposal as being morally indefensible, and it was later shelved over concerns that it was unconstitutional. The city, late last year, partnered with a non-profit group on a $1 transfer of 214 acres of wood property in the northern part of the city as a resource campus for homeless individuals. TAccording to the plan presented to the city by The RAIN Group, called the Mobile Community Development Initiative, the projects goal is to create a campus with an annual capacity for 2,000 individuals. Derek Boulware, CEO with HOPE for All Gulf Coast formerly Housing First said he is happy to hear about Rivitusos interest in discussing ideas to tackle the issue. Catholic Social Services has been a long-standing and impactful partner in the mission to end homelessness in Mobile, and I am looking forward to meeting Bishop Rivituso, and discuss the work thats currently being done to address homelessness, as well as his ideas for improvement in our area, Boulware said. Boulware said that homelessness statistics are up slightly from last year, when 2,518 people were served by his organization. However, total year-round bed space for homeless individuals in Mobile and Baldwin counties stands at around 829. Church challenges Rivituso also takes charge of the archdiocese at a time of declining church attendance among Catholics, which mirrors an overall drop in religious participation across all Christian denominations. Wayne Flynt, a professor emeritus at Auburn University and a highly-regarded historian of Southern religion, said Catholic leaders like other religious administrators face difficulties with retaining young people after they leave their homes, conflicts between secularism and religion, and other challenges. Of course, what has to be explained about American religions is how and why it has remained as strong a force in American culture as it has, Flynt said, noting that Western European religious groups would consider the resiliency of American Christianity as remarkable. Mardi Gras Rev. Mark S. Rivituso will be installed on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, as the new Archbishop of Mobile. supplied image from Archdiocese of Mobile Culturally, Rivituso will encounter some unique traditions in Mobile that he hasnt experienced to a similar effect in St. Louis. The biggest difference, which he admits hes heard plenty about, is the Catholic Churchs relationship to the Mardi Gras celebrations that occur before Lent. In Mobile, Mardi Gras represents one of the biggest cultural and economic drivers for the city during a nearly three-week stretch of balls, parades and other festivities associated with the holiday. Visit Mobiles official tagline is Birthplace of Mardi Gras, honoring the citys reputation for hosting the first Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States in 1703. Im looking forward to that time the three weeks of parades and excitement and joy of people coming together just to really have the joy of being present with one another, he said. Rare ceremony Rivitusos installation ceremony represents a rarity in Alabama. He is only the third archbishop to serve the Archdiocese of Mobile, established in 1980. Rivituso replaces Archbishop Thomas Rodi, who submitted his notice of retirement on his 75th birthday, March 27. 2024, as required by Church law. Rodi served as the archbishop for 17 years, with his installation occurring in 2008. I am most grateful to the Holy Father for sending us this outstanding bishop, Rodi said in a statement. I give thanks to God that the Spirit has guided this selection of our new archbishop. A graduating class of 297 students took the traditional walk down the Avenue of Oaks on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala, during the college's annual commencement ceremony. Lonnie Johnson, a Mobile native and engineer who invented the Super Soaker water gun, was the keynote speaker. In this picture, Archbishop Thomas Rodi looks at during the ceremony. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). The late Oscar Lipscomb preceded Rodi as an archbishop, serving for 28 years from 1980-2008. Pope Leo XIV appointed Rivituso as Archbishop of Mobile on July 1. During his introductory news conference, Rivituso said, Every time I have an opportunity to truly serve others, thats always a blessing. This is a wonderful opportunity with the Catholic faith community and other partners of goodwill to work together for the greater good of others especially to be mindful of the poor, those who are marginalized, those who are suffering, those who are in need. The Smiths of Virginia/ Gingers of America (c) Kieran Dodds Kieran Dodds As Scotland prepared for a national vote on independence from the United Kingdom in 2014, photojournalist Kieran Dodds set out to find ways to define what gave his home country its identity. One of Dodds ideas came from the notion that Scots tend to have red hair. Dodds began to interview and make portraits of people who fit the stereotype, those who consider themselves ginger. He learned that people were eager to embrace the trait, which is more common in Scotland than most anywhere else in the world but still includes no more than about 13% of the population. In September 2014, Scots rejected the move for independence by a vote of 55% to 45%, choosing to remain part of the U.K. But Dodds was just getting started with the gingers project. Encouraged by the interest it generated, he expanded the work beyond Scotlands borders. Dodds is now building a collection called Gingers of America. He is coming to Birmingham in September as one of the artists with an exhibition at Samford University, Heading Home, Glimpses of New Jerusalem. The exhibition is separate from his gingers project. But Dodds wants to use his first visit to Alabama to add portraits to his work, including, hopefully, some Black Alabamians who carry the trait. He plans to be here for several days starting Sept. 10. In some identity politics, we use a trait to isolate ourselves, Dodds said. Im trying to use it to connect people across the world. And that seems to be what people understand when they see it. Dodds finds people who self-identify as ginger through his website. Those who want to be considered for possible inclusion in the project can upload a photo of themselves and share any relevant family history. When he started his first gingers project, Dodds said he was inspired by Renaissance paintings that feature ginger characters, including Jesus and Mary, which was intriguing because they were Middle Easterners depicted by artists from southern Europe. His first book, Gingers, published in 2020, included portraits made in Jamaica and in the city of Perm in Russia, as well as the United Kingdom. In those places, Dodds found ginger people with family connections across Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and east Asia, he said. Dodds said it is human nature to be intrigued by differences like hair and skin color. He said drawing attention to differences must be done with care, but is worth doing in the right context. Youre worried youre going to step in a sort of a landmine, a conversational landmine, Dodds said. I think its good to have these opportunities to remember that we are one human species, one group of people, and interconnections are part of the human story. The story of human migration throughout the world is something we should be interested in, and one that transcends political and national boundaries. Dodds said the term ginger is more descriptive than red-haired because of the range of colors resulting from the trait, shades that carry a golden or copper glow. It can be from a sort of dark brown with that golden to almost strawberry blonde, Dodds said. So theres a spectrum. Ginger is encompassing that spectrum. Im fairly broad in my interpretation. The ginger is a recessive genetic characteristic. That means families can pass it down invisibly for generations. Dodds has examples of that in Gingers of America. They include one portrait of a Native American young woman whose family had no recollection of anyone but Cherokees going back for generations. Her hair was this incredible ruby color, Dodds said. Its just a beautiful, dark tone, quite different from other ones. So it really is a global tree. Lakia Jones, Cherokee Nation, United Keetowah Band, Oklahoma/ Gingers of America (c) Kieran Dodds Kieran Dodds Dodds studied zoology at the University of Aberdeen, where he was editor of the student newspaper and earned a degree in 2002. He learned that his favorite part of the academic work was documenting research with photographs. To some people, writing comes most naturally, or speaking. But its when Ive got a camera in my hands that I feel that I can interact with the world and start to process it, Dodds said. Its just the way I encounter the world. When I see something awesome or beautiful or the opposite, Dodds said. After college, Dodds became a staff photographer for the Evening Times in Glasgow, where he covered news, sports, and feature projects such as great white sharks in South Africa and evangelist Billy Grahams final crusade in New York. His freelance collection, The Bats of Kasanka, documenting the migration of millions of fruit bats to Zambia, the worlds largest migration of mammals, won first place in the World Press Photo awards for nature stories in 2006. Dodds first book, Gingers, was released in November 2020. He later did a pocket-size version, The Little Book of Gingers. Dodds, who lives in Edinburgh, has a personal connection to the gingers project because he is ginger, as are his twin daughters. Sometimes stories come to you and they sort of pull you along. You cant resist their gravity, Dodds said. People respond to it in a way that I dont always get for stories I pour time and effort and energy into. And what has intrigued me and kept me going with this story is being able to see different cultures and places. On previous trips to America, Dodds has visited Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the East Coast, including New York and Washington, D.C. Gabriella Cray, Maryland/ Gingers of America (c) Kieran Dodds Kieran Dodds Dodds said he got a strong response on a visit to Portland, Ore., where he said hundreds of people wanted to be included. On his upcoming trip, he plans to make portraits in Tennessee and California, as well as Alabama. What Id love to do in Alabama is find people whose family stories or their story today gives us a glimpse into the story of that part of America, the history, but also contemporary stories, Dodds said. Dodds said he wants to ask Americans what unites them, because so much of what is written and said is about the divisions in the country. Every time I do these shoots, I just feel like so thankful to meet everyday Americans who just talk about their life, trying to educate their kids, do a job, just have their family around for dinner, just those good everyday things, Dodds said. Luigi Mangione is indicted on fraud charges in Brian Thompson murder case. A federal grand jury accuses him of wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft. Steven Hirsch/Getty Images On Tuesday night, if you were browsing Sheins selection of pastoral style gentleman shirts for every day, you might have noticed a familiar face modeling the clothing: a smiling Luigi Mangione. Mangione, the prime suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is currently in jail at the Brooklyn Federal Prison as he awaits trial. Given his imprisonment, its unlikely that Mangione posed for the photo or even knew his likeness was being used. Shein regularly uses AI to generate models for its site and to power its fast-fashion business by projecting consumer demand, instituting dynamic pricing, and getting consumers recommendations to help them navigate the thousands of clothes available on the site. Its possible that the unusual choice of model could be chalked up to the actions of a rogue employee or vendor (Mangione has become, to some, a folk hero)especially as the lighting on the face and awkward positioning of the head on the body suggests photoshopping rather than AI generation. The listing has since been taken down, and Shein has not responded to Fast Companys request for comment. A representative from the company told the BBC, The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery, adding that the company is investigating the oversight. The development comes at a bad time for Shein as the company deals with President Trumps decision to close the de minimis loophole, which had allowed businesses like Shein to ship products to the United States for free if the orders were under $800. Now, the company will likely have to pay extra to ship items and may pass on some costs to its already price-sensitive consumers. Shein is not a public company, but has been preparing an IPO for the second half of this year. Fast Company 2025 Mansueto Ventures, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The city of Birmingham is taking on blight with the help of a state law. Cody Owens/City of Birmingham The Birmingham City Council this week took aim at improving neighborhoods, both by removing dilapidated structures and by helping residents make their own homes better. The council got an update on a proposal to take over neglected properties in the city, which contribute to blight in various neighborhoods. In a summary of the meeting, the council noted that the proposed ordinance, which is expected to be considered by the full council in a few weeks, is about holding absentee owners accountable for neglecting their properties in an effort to revitalize our neighborhoods. Birmingham is among other Alabama cities set to benefit from a recent change in state law that makes it easier to move on properties subject to unpaid liens against vacant dilapidated houses. When the city fines an absentee landlord, either for cutting weeds or for tearing down damaged, dangerous houses, the fines often go unpaid. The new state law makes it possible for the city to more quickly recoup those costs by obtaining the properties, which can then be sold or otherwise utilized. The city plans to only go after repeat offenders among properties that are considered harmful to their neighborhoods, specifically, non-owner-occupied properties. The city will begin the process of buying the properties after the owner fails to pay on the lien for six months or more, and no other buyer steps up to obtain the property. The intention, according to a council report, is to target properties where the outstanding liens reach $1,500, demolition costs are billed to the owner, there have been three nuisance abatement citations issued over 3 years, and the property has potential value for a public use. As an example, the council considered Ensley, a neighborhood dotted with properties that have unpaid liens for demolition or weed abatement. By making those liens enforceable, the City can begin stabilizing neighborhoods without impacting owner-occupied properties, according to the city council report. The city this week will also take enrollments from residents wanting to take advantage of Birminghams critical home repair program. Across the city, 100 residents will receive grants up to $30,000 apiece for roof replacement, HVAC repair or replacement, plumbing repairs, electrical repairs, exterior painting and limited sewer or structural repairs. The goal is to help those who otherwise could not make the repairs themselves, said Councillor Crystal Smitherman. I know a lot of our elderly residents and those on fixed incomes may not have the funding to make these much-needed repairs themselves, she said. This program could be life-changing for those residents. To qualify, residents have to own and occupy the home with no intention to move out in the foreseeable future; must meet income requirements for low and moderate income households as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Eligible program participants must be current on property taxes for the assisted unit, according to the city. Registration for the critical home repair program will be Thursday Sept. 4 and Friday Sept. 5. For more information, visit www.cobcd.com/critical-repair-program/ The relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal could drive up home sales prices in north Alabama, according to local realtors. Right now, Huntsville has about 4,600 homes on the market, realtor Matt Curtis told AL.com. Add roughly 1,700 Space Command jobs into the mix, and that can put a big dent in our supplyquickly tightening the market and driving up competition and pricing. We knew it was going to happen, but I guess that it is more official now, added Ben Wales, of Gateway Alabama Realty Group. Most of the people moving here with Space Command will probably want more expensive houses but hopefully all ranges will see an uptick. I will miss shopping with buyers in the current low stress scenario that we have right now. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, said the relocation could add up to 4,700 jobs locally, including 3,000 spinoff jobs. But President Donald Trump puts the number of jobs at 30,000. And thats on top of the 2,200 FBI jobs Mayor Tommy Battle expects to come in the next five years. Currently, single-family prices are holding steady around $320,000, Curtis said. Add hundreds of new high-paying jobs, and we could shift from flat pricing to double-digit appreciation once these jobs begin to materialize. According to the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors Valley MLS data, there has been little movement in the median home prices in the area in more than a year. Huntsville currently has about 4.4 months of housing supply, a balanced market, Curtis said. He said Space Commands relocation could drop supply below three months shifting us back into a sellers market with the kind of competitive conditions we saw during the boom years. During the first years after the pandemic, supply became tight. Homes in the Huntsville market stayed on the market for an average of less than two weeks in 2021 and 2022. By comparison, homes stayed on the market in Madison County in July an average of 47 days. During the frenzy of 2021-22, home sellers were receiving offers well above their asking price. The Housing Affordability Index is holding steady at 91, but if demand spikes and prices climb, affordability would likely take a hit, Curtis said. Huntsville would benefit from growth, but we also need to prepare for the affordability challenges that come with it. Housing affordability was one of the metrics in Huntsvilles favor in the competition for Space Command. According to Realtor.com, the median home price for Colorado Springs, the current home of Space Command headquarters was $475,000 in June. Impact on rental market Curtis believes the rental market could also be affected by Space Commands relocation to Huntsville. Many incoming personnel will rent before they buy, which means landlords can expect lower vacancy rates and higher rents, he said. We currently have an oversupply of rental housing, so this will bring the market back into balance. According to Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate land specialist David Wilson, Huntsvilles recent apartment boom had been slowing because of the oversupply. There were no apartment units up for final approval at Augusts Huntsville Planning Commission meeting. Wilson said the current apartment occupancy rate is in the low 80% range. Because of that, the average rent had actually declined. According to the Waller, Weeks and Johnson Rental Index at the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama, the average rent in Huntsville as of July 2025 was 1,464, down from $1,595 in December 2023. Its too early to tell what impact Space Command and the related Golden Dome project will have on Huntsvilles multifamily market, but it will certainly be very positive, Wilson said. It will also provide a much needed psychological boost for multifamily owners and lenders as theyve been grappling with a challenging multifamily supply cycle the past two plus years, as has the majority of the country. Its like looking for Christmas for a long time. Were very happy that Christmas finally came. That was Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battles initial reaction to President Donald Trumps announcement that U.S. Space Commands headquarters is coming to Huntsville. The ultimate Christmas present is the number of jobs it may bring. Just how many? The president said 30,000 during Tuesdays press conference, a number repeated by White House spokesperson Anna Kelly. We would never argue with the president, the mayor told AL.com. Everybodys got to remember, this is over a period of time. Over the period of five years, whatever it brings to us, there could be additional people coming. There could be a spinoff effect. Battle said the city was expecting between 1,200 to 1,600 direct jobs. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia. has been consistent in saying the relocation will bring 1,700 direct jobs and 3,000 spinoff jobs. And thats in addition to about 2,200 jobs the FBI is bringing in over the next five years, the mayor said. The indirect jobs is always a question mark, Battle said during a press conference at City Hall on Tuesday. And then the question mark is how many people move here from where they are now, and then how many are backfilled. I think we will have a number of them backfilled. The mayor compared the relocation of Space Command to BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) moves to Huntsville. In 1995 BRAC, we did Army Aviations move to Huntsville, Battle said. In 2005, we did Army Material Commands move to Huntsville from the Washington, D.C. area. When they did, you start off with a very low number of people who say theyre going to move, 16% to 18%. We ended up with almost 50% making the move with Army Material Command. Its a big victory into talking that many people into coming, leaving where they were, leaving where they set up a life. Battle said people who have moved here during BRAC relocations have enjoyed living here. We constantly hear from them, the mayor said. I think its been one of the best things that they can do. They get the same paycheck here that they got in Washington, D.C. The mayor said the backfilled jobs have been from throughout the state and the country. Council members Bill Kling and Michelle Watkins said the decision to move Space Command to Huntsville is something that could be transformative for the city. For me, its not just about economic numbers, said Watkins, who represents north Huntsville. Its about what this means for our residents. It means new career pathways for young people, support for our small businesses, and growth that uplifts our entire community. While the details are still developing, Im committed to ensuring that when this move happens, its done in a way that benefits both the agency and the people who call Huntsville home. She said her focus will always be on making sure opportunities are equitable, infrastructure keeps pace, and that the quality of life in our neighborhoods is protected and enhanced. I imagine that this is what it must have felt like when Senator John Sparkman announced during the mid-1950s that the von Braun space team from White Sands, New Mexico, was going to be relocating to Huntsville Alabama. We saw significant results in our space program as a result, Kling added. With Space Command and Golden Dome coming, I am looking forward to working with the mayor, other city council members, as well as those elected officials in Madison County, City of Madison, and other North Alabama and Southern Tennessee communities. It is going to be a great regional teamwork effort. Kling said Huntsvilles workforce, current Missile Command programs, and outer space experience situate us well to provide for our countrys future safety. Huntsvilles defense contractors look to benefit from the spinoff jobs, Battle said. Consulting firm Guidehouse is one of the contractors that could be involved, company president John Saad told AL.com during a visit by Strong last month to the companys Redstone Gateway facility. Guidehouse employs about 200 in Huntsville. Guidehouse has played a role in the transfer of FBI programs from the Washington, D.C. area. Lockheed Martin and SAIC are also among contractors that could find extra work with Space Command and Golden Dome. With the relocation of Space Command, the president said key work on Golden Dome would also be done in Huntsville. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo speaks during a press conference at Neo City Academy in Kissimmee, Florida. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett Florida will work to end all vaccine mandates, state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced Wednesday at a press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis. Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery, Ladapo said. The announcement at a private Christian school in Hillsborough County was met with loud applause from the crowd. Ladapo did not provide specifics but said Florida would be the first state in the nation to wipe out vaccine mandates. Florida law requires students to be vaccinated against a variety of diseases including chickenpox, measles, polio and tetanus before enrolling in school. But compliance has dropped sharply in recent years with more parents using an easy-to-get religious exemption to avoid getting their children vaccinated. That drop has alarmed public health officials, who say vaccines have wiped out dangerous childhood diseases and saved lives. Michael Muszynski, a pediatric infectious disease expert and professor emeritus at Florida State Universitys College of Medicine, said he was appalled by the states decision and Ladapos comparison of vaccine mandates to slavery. He called it ridiculous and said he wasnt sure why state leaders would pursue such a policy. What is wrong with these people? Why are they doing this? Dont they like children? he said. Vaccines are safe and effective and eliminating requirements invites a host of diseases once thought to be eliminated to make a comeback, said Muszynski, who practiced at Orlando Health and Nemours Hospital for over 20 years. Measles outbreaks are likely, for example, if vaccine rates continue to fall as mandates go away, he added. But DeSantis said his administration would push a big medical freedom package that would allow residents to decide what shots their children receive. He criticized pediatricians who require all mandated vaccines if parents want their child in the practice. You should not ever be discriminated against, regardless of your choices. Its wrong for pediatricians to refuse to see a patient if the childs parents dont want them taking the hepatitis vaccine, he said. I think thats wrong. The Florida Department of Health would eliminate state rules that require certain vaccines first and then work with DeSantis and the state legislature to get rid of the rest of it, Ladapo said. The announcement comes as Florida saw a 20-year low in kindergarten vaccinations during the 2024-25 school year. This year, just under 89% of Florida kindergarteners were fully immunized the national average was 93% down from about 94% two decades ago. And that number could almost certainly plummet without vaccine mandates. Ladapos has previously sown doubt about mRNA COVID vaccines, and he did not recommend the measles vaccine to families or require unvaccinated students to stay home amid the 2024 measles outbreak in Weston. Whether to get a vaccine is a personal choice, he said. I hope you make an informed decision. And thats how it should be not this nonsense where people who dont know you are telling you what to put in your temple, the temple of your body. Its a gift from God, Ladapo said. 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Minister for Environment meets Nautilus Volunteers The Minister for Environment John Cortes hosted a group of young volunteers from The Nautilus Project last week to catch up on the work that they have been doing through the summer. The Minister congratulated them on this, especially on their removal of large amounts of invasive seaweed from the shoreline. The volunteers spoke about their environmental work and, as Minister for Education, Minister Cortes also enquired about their educational journey and wished them well for the future. The Minister for Environment and Education, the Hon Prof John Cortes, commented: Quite apart from their environmental advocacy work, The Nautilus Project provides great opportunities to young people for volunteering, learning about the marine environment, and carrying out practical conservation projects. It was also inspirational to see the enthusiasm of these young people and their commitment to further improve themselves. I wish them every success, and I am sure that they will continue with their keen interest in the Environment. California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized Alabama being awarded U.S. Space Command headquarters Tuesday in a mocking tweet that went after the states crime rate and its krazy governor. Newsom, who has adopted the style of Donald Trumps social media posts, said the president made a big mistake by not putting the command in California. BIG MISTAKE BY DOZY DON!!!!! SPACE COMMAND BELONGS IN SAN FRANCISCO, NOT ALABAMA (A TOTAL DISASTER OF A STATE). EVERYONE KNOWS SAN FRANCISCO IS THE FUTURE HOME OF STAR FLEET ACADEMY (LIVE LONG AND PROSPER). THATS BECAUSE CALIFORNIA IS #1 FOR AEROSPACE, #1 FOR TECHNOLOGY, #1 FOR AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, VERY SMART PEOPLE, MUCH SMARTER THAN JD JUST DANCE VANCE, WHO HAS LOW IQ), the governor tweeted Tuesday. Newsom gave Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey the nickname Krazy Kay, claiming her policies are responsible for the states murder rate. ALABAMAS GOVERNOR KRAZY KAY HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON. JUST LIKE LITTLE HANDS, SHE IS SLOW AND BURPS A LOT. SHE HAS DONE NOTHING FOR HER PEOPLE AND MADE THE STATE VERY UNSAFE!!! A MURDER RATE 190% HIGHER THAN CALIFORNIAS, Newsoms tweet stated. Gina Maiola, a spokeswoman for Ivey, sent AL.com the following statement: Do better, Newsom Press Office. In an Oval Office announcement Tuesday, the president said he is relocating U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, reversing a decision by President Joe Bidens administration. The social media post marked the second time in less than a week that Newsom criticized Alabama. On Thursday, he invoked Alabama as being one of the top three murder states in America while claiming President Donald Trumps focus on crime is disingenuous. Alabamas top three murder states in America. Wheres the president of the United States? I thought he cared? These are the folks, these are his states that voted for him, Newsom said. According to FBI crime statistics from 2022, Alabamas homicide rate of 10.9 per 100,000 people is the fourth-highest of any state. This is a guest opinion column It is not hard to understand why David Lee Roberts is in prison. Thirty-three years ago years ago, he confessed to murdering a young woman named Annetra Jones in Marion County. A person who would do something like that belongs in prison. What I cant get right with is the fact that Mr. Roberts is set to be executed. I was a juror on Mr. Roberts case. I voted in favor of life without the possibility of parole and most of my fellow jurors agreed. We knew he was guilty and had to pay, but agreed the death penalty was the wrong punishment. But our careful deliberation didnt mean a thing to the law. Instead, an elected judge overruled our decision using a now-illegal mechanism known as judge override. Gov. Kay Ivey has the power to restore Mr. Roberts sentence to the one we agreed he should receive. She should exercise it and commute his death sentence to life without parole. The jury did not reach our decision lightly. The crime Mr. Roberts confessed to was horrific. I grieve for Ms. Jones and the family who mourns her. But the decision to spare Mr. Roberts life was based on facts and evidence. First, there was the fact that Mr. Roberts confessed. His confession was presented to the jury as soon as we were empaneled, with no real explanation of why Mr. Roberts gave it or under what circumstances. It makes no sense to confess to a crime where the penalty can be death, without securing at the very least a promise that your life would be spared. It made me question Mr. Roberts sanity. Not only that, no good lawyer would allow his client to trade a confession for nothing. We all imagine capital murder trials as careful, deliberate, almost holy in the way they proceed. Mr. Roberts trial wasnt anything like that. Between the confession and poor lawyering, the guilt phase was a done deal. All we really were there for was to decide if Mr. Roberts should live or die. It was easy to see that Mr. Roberts was a disturbed individual. From watching him during the trial and considering his confession, it was clear to many of us that he was not entirely connected to reality. His obvious vulnerability was one of the reasons we reached a verdict of life without parole. In the decades since we made that decision, Mr. Roberts mental health has deteriorated further. He has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and is so unstable that a judge ordered an evaluation to see if it was even legal to execute him. I am not a doctor, and I wont hold myself out as qualified to disagree if a medical expert finds that Mr. Roberts is sane enough to be eligible for execution. But I am a father, a small business owner, a church deacon, and a person who has navigated this world for six decades. I am certainly qualified to determine that the correct verdict was life. Thats what juries are for. Between 1976 and 2017, Alabama departed from the time-tested tradition of having juries determine the sentence in capital cases. Instead, we led a failed experiment in letting judges have the final say. That was supposed to make the system more fair. But in reality, 91% of judge overrides overruled jury verdicts of life in favor of verdicts of death. Its not hard to see why, since the death penalty is popular in Alabama and judges are elected. When override was still legal, judges were significantly more likely to override life verdicts in favor of death when they were facing elections. A former Alabama Supreme Court Justice wrote that judge override reduced the role of the jury to a sham. I agree. Alabama finally ended its failed experiment with judge override in 2017, but the change was not retroactive. Mr. Roberts is one of 32 people on death row who were sentenced to life without parole by a jury, then sentenced to death by a politician in robes. I still believe in capital punishment. I can see myself voting to impose it if I were on a jury again. But not for Mr. Roberts. Thats not just my opinion alone the majority voted for life. I didnt realize the verdict was non-binding and I took my civic duty seriously. We all did. So it was extremely disturbing to learn that our carefully considered opinion was overruled by one elected judge. Trial by jury is one of Americas founding traditions and one of the things that makes this country what it is. For that matter, so is clemency, a tradition so old it predates the founding of the United States. Gov. Kay Ivey has shown herself willing to do brave, unpopular things when they are a matter of right and wrong. She has the power to restore the verdict Mr. Roberts rendered, by commuting Mr. Roberts sentence of death to one of life without parole. She should use it. Dan Pierce was on the jury for David Lee Roberts trial. Signage for the Newsmax conservative television broadcasting network is displayed at a broadcast TV booth at the National Rifle Association annual meeting at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on May 28, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) TNS Newsmax has fired off a federal antitrust lawsuit accusing Fox News and parent Fox Corp. of engaging in an extensive and unlawful campaign over many years to block competition in the market for right-leaning pay-TV news. Fox Corporation has long engaged in an exclusionary scheme to increase and maintain its dominance in the market for U.S. right-leaning pay TV news, resulting in suppression of competition in that market that harms consumers, competition, and Newsmax Broadcasting, LLC, the company said in the lawsuit, filed Wednesday. The Newsmax lawsuit alleges that Fox Corp.s control over Fox News -- a must-have news channel -- gives it significant market power and leverage to impose onerous demands on distributors of its content. Fox leverages this market power to coerce distributors into not carrying or into marginalizing other right-leaning news channels, including Newsmax. In a statement to Variety, a Fox News Media spokesperson said: Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they cant attract viewers. Newsmaxs lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and a permanent injunction prohibiting Foxs exclusionary agreements and other ongoing and future exclusionary conduct. The suit seeks damages under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, the Florida Antitrust Act, and the Florida Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practices Act. Under federal law, any damages awarded in the case will be trebled so that Fox faces significant financial liability if Newsmax prevails, according to Newsmax. Fox may have profited from exclusionary contracts and intimidation tactics for years, but those days are over, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in a statement. This lawsuit is about restoring fairness to the market and ensuring that Americans have real choice in the news they watch. If we prevail, Foxs damages could be tripled under federal law -- an outcome that would send a powerful message to any company that thinks it can monopolize public discourse. A copy of Newsmaxs complaint is available at this link. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Newsmax alleges that Fox News has extracted supracompetitive carriage fees because of its dominant position, charging pay-TV distributors nearly $2.20 per subscriber per month, double CNNs fees and six times MSNBCs. In its lawsuit, Newsmax cites internal communications among Fox News personnel following the 2020 election that became public via the defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems that alleged Fox News repeatedly and knowingly aired false claims about the voting companys actions and influence on the 2020 U.S. presidential election. (Fox News agreed to pay $787.5 million in April 2023 to settle the Dominion suit, while last month Newsmax settled a similar lawsuit filed by Dominion for $67 million.) Among the texts and emails Newsmax highlights in the suit: Tucker Carlson, who was a top Fox News host, warned that an alternative like Newsmax could be devastating to us. Fox News president Jay Wallace wrote in a text to CEO Suzanne Scott that Fox was on war footing with Newsmax; and Fox Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch told Scott that Newsmax should be watched as a result of a Wall Street Journal story about the network. According to Newsmaxs suit, But for Foxs anticompetitive behavior, Newsmax would have achieved greater pay TV distribution, seen its audience and ratings grow sooner, gained earlier critical mass for major advertisers and become, overall, a more valuable media property. Foxs campaign to stunt Newsmaxs business has delayed, for almost a decade, Newsmaxs growth in pay TV distribution, especially in the critical virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (vMVPD) arena, and has resulted in significant damages to Newsmax, including in the form of lost business, missed advertising and marketing revenues, and lower cable license fees, all while increasing overall company costs. Newsmax is far from the only victim. Defendants anticompetitive conduct impedes competition in the entire Right-leaning Pay TV News Market, deprives consumers of genuine choice, and increases the cost consumers must bear to access right-leaning news. Newsmax is being represented in the litigation by law firm Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick and and Sperling Kenny Nachwalter. 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2018, file photo, early ballots wait in bins to be sorted in the Denver Elections Division headquarters in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) AP As both states blamed politics for the back and forth that resulted Tuesday in Space Command headquarters heading from Colorado to Alabama, President Donald Trump said concerns with Colorados voting system was a big factor in his decision. Colorado went to mail-in voting .. so they automatically had crooked elections. So that played a big factor, also, Trump said during his Oval Office announcement reversing the Biden administrations decision to award the headquarters to Colorado Springs. The problem with Colorado is they have a very corrupt voting system, Trump responded after a reporter asked if he was concerned about Space Command employees refusing to move to Alabama. Any time you have mail-in voting you have corrupt elections, very simple. Colorado allows for in-person elections, but every voter automatically receives a ballot in the mail, NBC News reported. Citing the Colorados secretary of state, the outlet reported about 92% of the ballots cast in last Novembers election were a mail ballot, with about 8% voting in person. Your radical governor decided that he was going to have all mail-in voting in Colorado. Once you have all mail-in voting the Democrats cheat," the president alleged. Speaking of the Democrats, he said, Theyre no good on policy, theyre no good at management, theyre no good at government, but theyre great at cheating" There are no substantiated cases of widespread voter fraud related to Colorado elections. In fact, the most high-profile case of fraud there involves a former Republican county clerk. Ex-Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, was sentenced in October to nine years in prison for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race. Jurors found Peters guilty in August 2024 for allowing a man to misuse a security card to access to the Mesa County election system and for being deceptive about that persons identity. Late last month, Trump urged for Peters to be freed from prison, calling her a patriot. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said he is preparing a court challenge to Trumps decision. The Trump administration should not play political games with our nations military readiness and military families, he said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Minister Arias-Vasquez chairs first meeting of Business Transition Advisory Group The Minister for Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, has yesterday morning chaired the first meeting of the newly established Business Transition Advisory Group, a forum created by the Chief Minister to support Gibraltars business community through the upcoming implementation phase of the UKEU Treaty. The Group has been established to ensure that the private sector is not only prepared for the transition, but that it is fully equipped to take advantage of the new economic landscape. It will focus on key issues such as the proposed Transaction Tax and other transitional matters that may arise. Bringing together representatives from our main business organisations, along with the Attorney General and the Governments CEO of Business, the Group is designed to provide a direct line of consultation between the business community and Government. At the meeting, Minister Arias-Vasquez expressed her thanks to the Attorney General, Michael Llamas KC, for his detailed briefing to the Group and for his continued work on the finalisation of the treaty text. The Minister also paid tribute to the Attorney Generals critical role in delivering the Treaty itself, noting that his expertise has been instrumental in securing this outcome for Gibraltar. The Group will report to Cabinet by the end of November, making clear recommendations on how to minimise any potential impact on businesses and ensure Gibraltar remains a competitive and attractive place to operate. The Minister for Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: I was delighted to chair the first meeting of the Business Transition Advisory Group this morning. The Treaty represents a turning point for Gibraltar, and we must be ready to meet this moment. I would like to extend my thanks to the Attorney General for his briefing today, and for his continuous work at a technical level in delivering the final treaty text. We are entering a period of real opportunity, but also of significant adjustment. As the Minister for Business it is extremely important to me that that our business community feels supported through this transition, not only in navigating change, but in identifying where and how they can grow. I look forward to reporting on the groups findings and recommendations to Cabinet in November, and to working closely with stakeholders to ensure that Gibraltars business environment continues to thrive. Google wont need to sell off its Chrome browser. Thats the ruling made by US District Judge Amit Mehta, who said in a statement on September 2 that Plaintiffs overreached in seeking forced divestiture of these key assets, which Google did not use to effect any illegal restraints. The ruling was made in Googles case against the US Department of Justice filed a proposal back in 2024 that suggested Google needs to sell Chrome to restore competition. This proposal was filed just two days after a report stated this was going to be the DOJs plan. The ongoing case against the DOJ has lasted nearly a year, and it doesnt look like a true end is anywhere in sight. The DOJs proposal also requested that Google unbundle Android. This is another thing that Google will not be required to do. While Google is not required to sell Chrome or break up Android, the company isnt coming out of this unscathed. Judge Mehta is forcing Google to make a few changes. Namely, it will no longer be able to hold exclusivity deals. Specifically, those pertaining to Google Search, Google Chrome, Gemini, and Google Assistant products. Google wont sell Chrome, but it can no longer maintain or create new exclusive deals Googles days of setting up exclusive deals for Search and its other products are over. After being labeled a monopolist in 2023, the DOJ set out to force Google to right the ship. A big part of Googles monopolistic practices revolved around setting up exclusive deals with companies like Apple and Samsung to make Google Search the default search option on their devices. Thereby preventing competition from rival search engines. Google will no longer be able to maintain these deals or make new ones, Mehta said in the ruling. However, Google will still be able to make payments to distribution partners for placement of Search and other products. According to the judge, stopping these payments from Google would lead to troublesome and in some cases cripping downstream harms to Googles distribution partners. So, Google can no longer secure these back-alley exclusive deals, but it wont be barred from making any sort of payments for placement. Itll be interesting to see what that looks like in practice. In addition to these regulations, Mehta says that Google has to share search data with competitors. Its unclear at this time how much this could impact Googles dominant position in the market. MediaTek is reportedly planning to introduce its next-gen flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9500, on September 22. If the reports are correct, MediaTek will steal Qualcomms thunder, which plans to launch its next major Snapdragon SoC on September 23. Ahead of the launch, many details regarding the upcoming MediaTek chip had already leaked earlier. Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station has now posted almost complete specifications of the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 SoC, and the details indicate significant improvements in the CPU and GPU departments. Built on TSMCs advanced N3P process and an all-large-core layout The source claims that MediaTek is building the Dimensity 9500 SoC using TSMCs advanced N3P 3nm fabrication process, which will deliver bold improvements in performance and efficiency. It will have one prime Travis core with a clock speed of 4.21GHz. The main core will be accompanied by three Alto performance cores ticking at 3.50GHz and four 2.7GHz Gelas efficiency cores. In the graphics department, the Dimensity 9500 SoC could feature the ARM Mali-G1 Ultra GPU with 12 cores. The GPU will have a new microarchitecture, which will provide enhanced ray tracing support and decreased power consumption. New NPU 9.0, 4-channel LPDDR5X RAM, and a version of Vivos V3+ ISP Furthermore, the tipster suggests that the Dimensity 9500 chip will feature a next-gen NPU 9.0. Its new Neural Processing Unit will allegedly deliver around 100 TOPS (trillion operations per second) to offer improved artificial intelligence-powered features. The chip technology giant will boost the L3 cache of the new SoC to 16MB, increasing it from 12MB found in the Dimensity 9400 series chips. The new MediaTek chip will have 10MB system-level cache, support 4-channel LPDDR5x RAM at 10,667Mbps, and UFS 4.1 storage over a 4-lane setup. Additionally, the source claims that the Dimensity 9500 SoC will feature a version of Vivos V3+ ISP. However, it will likely be exclusive to Vivo products. Its worth mentioning that the tipster has a reliable track record of leaking details of upcoming devices. The same Weibo channel also revealed the launch date of the new MediaTek processor last month. If we believe the reports, the Vivo X300 series will be the first devices to utilize MediaTeks new Dimensity 9500 chip in September. OPPOs Find X9 series of phones will follow Vivos offerings in October with the same SoC. HM Customs Marine Section Recovers Cannabis Bale During Routine Patrol Gibraltar On 30 August 2025, officers from HM Customs Marine Section recovered a package weighing approximately 40 kilograms during a routine maritime patrol within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The package was detected by the crew of HMC Sentinel approximately three nautical miles south of Europa Point. Following inspection ashore, the contents were confirmed to be cannabis. HM Customs remains fully committed to safeguarding Gibraltars borders and territorial waters. Routine maritime patrols, conducted both day and night, form a vital part of its ongoing enforcement strategy to prevent, detect, and deter illicit activity. Amid the growing tension in the global semiconductor war, the United States of America has revoked the license of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to send advanced chip-making tools to China. This comes after Washington had earlier allowed NVIDIA and AMD to export certain AI chips to its rival, signaling a possible shift in strategy. US revokes VEU status of TSMC, SK Hynix, and Samsung The United States has revoked a waiver that allows TSMC to send advanced chip manufacturing equipment and technology to its Nanjing plant in China. This decision will be effective from December 31st this year. Because of the removal of the waiver, the company also loses its Validated End Users (VEU) status that gives it a fast-track way for export clearance. The other two chip manufacturing companies, Samsung and SK Hynix, will also lose their VEU status soon. Now, any export of the US-origin chip tools to China will require an export license. The Bureau of Industry and Security claims that this move fixes what it calls a Biden-era loophole. Companies may apply for an export license to China, but the freedom wont be the same Industry analysts add that the financial impact of this move on TSMC will remain negligible. TSMCs shares remained unaffected by this announcement. However, the shares of SK Hynix and Samsung did notice a slight decline. The Nanjing plant of TSMC, despite having an advanced production tech, contributes less than three per cent of the global revenue of the company. The tech giant, on the other hand, adds that it would take appropriate measures while keeping operations at its Chinese plant uninterrupted. This move is a part of Washingtons plan to strengthen the local chip market. It wants companies to avoid expanding their footprint in China and develop more semiconductor know-how in the US. The Trump administration remains committed to strengthening the regions leadership in this industry. Eric Adams at city hall in New York in June. Photograph: Michael M Santiago/Getty Images Eric Adams, the embattled mayor of New York, has denied having conversations with Donald Trump about being given a government job in exchange for dropping his re-election campaign. Politico reported on Wednesday that Adams has been offered a position at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, citing a person with direct knowledge of the offer. The mayor met with the presidents team during his visit to Florida on Monday, according to the person. The New York Times also reported that advisers to Donald Trump have discussed the possibility of giving Adams a position in an attempt to thwart the political ambitions of Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Democratic socialist who is currently the frontrunner to be elected mayor in November. Related: Trump casts home-town shadow as he weighs role in New York mayors race According to the Times, intermediaries for Trump have spoken to associates of Adams about leaving the race. Adams, who has proved to be deeply unpopular among New York Democratic voters and is running as an independent candidate, is trailing Mamdani in the polls, and is draining support from former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, also running as an independent. There is a suggestion that if Adams, a centrist Democrat, and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, were to drop out of the race, Cuomo could consolidate enough support to challenge Mamdani. The New York Times reported that there have been talks in the Trump administration about also finding a job for Sliwa to get him out of the race. Mayor Adams has made it clear that he will not respond to every rumor that comes up, said Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams, told the Guardian. He has had no discussions with, nor has he met with, President Donald Trump regarding the mayoral race. The mayor is fully committed to winning this election, with millions of New Yorkers preparing to cast their votes. His record is clear: crime is down, jobs are up, and he has consistently stood up for working families. Mayor Adams is focused on building on that progress and earning four more years to continue delivering for the people of New York. Sliwa told Politico he had not spoken to the White House and would not want a job anyway. I have not been contacted by the White House, and Im not interested in a job with the White House, he said in a statement. My focus is right here in New York. Im the only candidate on a major party line who can defeat Mamdani, and Im committed to carrying this fight through to election day. The people of New York City deserve a mayor who truly cares. Mamdani, meanwhile, has been keen to underline his rivals associations with Trump, who is deeply unpopular in true-blue New York City. Todays news confirms it: Cuomo is Trumps choice for Mayor. The White House is considering jobs for Adams and Sliwa to clear the field, he wrote on X. New Yorkers are sick of corrupt politics and backroom deals. No matter whos running, we will deliver a better future on November 4. On Tuesday a poll found Adams with 9% of the vote in the election Mamdani was at 42%, Cuomo 26% and Sliwa 17%. Angela Rayner is facing calls to resign after admitting that she did not pay enough tax when buying her new flat. The Deputy Prime Minister said she received incorrect legal advice that led to her paying less stamp duty than she needed to when she purchased an 800,000 home in Hove, East Sussex, in May. She has referred herself for investigation by the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and HMRC has been contacted to rectify the issue, she revealed on Wednesday. She told Sky News: I thought I'd done everything properly, and I relied on the advice that I received and I'm devastated because I've always upheld the rules and always have done. And always felt proud to do that. The admission prompted opposition calls for her to resign on Wednesday but Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has so far backed his deputy. Tory party chairman Kevin Hollinrake has written to the HMRC calling on them to open a tax evasion investigation. Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, has faced days of scrutiny over her tax affairs after allegations she dodged 40,000 in stamp duty payments. She explained that her son, who is disabled, received a financial award in 2020 and that money was placed in a trust. When she and her now ex-husband divorced in 2023, some of their interest in their home in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency was transferred to that trust. She said she sold her remaining stake in the family home, which was her life savings, to her son's trust in January and then used that cash to put down the deposit for the new flat near Brighton. She used 160,000 from the trust to buy the 800,000 seafront home, the Telegraph reported. Standard stamp duty was paid based on advice from lawyers, Ms Rayner said. She is believed to have paid 30,000 on the purchase when the cost should have been 70,000. The Tories accused her of removing her name from the deed of her family property to dodge paying an extra 40,000. Ms Rayner added: With all of the media reports that have been coming out, I took expert counsel advice on all of my affairs to ensure that everything was done proper. And that expert counsel said that the advice that I received was inaccurate because of the trust." Asked whether she had considered resigning over the scandal, the Deputy Prime Minister she said she had "spoken to my family about it" and "the number one priority for me and my ex-husband has always been to support our children." She added: I feel that it is devastating for me and the fact that the reason why those confidential clauses were in place was to protect my son, who, through no fault of his own, he's vulnerable, he's got this life-changing, lifelong conditions and I don't want him or anything to do with his day-to-day life, to be subjected to that level of scrutiny because it's his and my ex-husband ... it's not fair on them. "Often my family dragged in because of what my role is and what I do. "But I try to uphold the high standards, and that's why I've referred myself so that the independent advice can look at everything." During Prime Ministers Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said if the Prime Minister had a backbone, he would sack Ms Rayner. Sir Keir Starmer defened Angela Rayner at PMQs (House of Commons/PA) (PA Wire) But Sir Keir defended his deputy, telling the Commons: She has explained her personal circumstances in detail. She has gone over and above in setting out the details, including asking a court to lift a confidentiality order in relation to her own son. I know from speaking at length to the Deputy Prime Minister just how difficult that decision was for her and her family. She did it to ensure that all information is in the public domain. She has now referred herself to the independent adviser. That is the right thing to do, but I can be clear, I am very proud to sit alongside a Deputy Prime Minister. But there were growing calls for her to resign among critics. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, told The Telegraph: I dont see how Angela Rayner can survive this. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice told Sky News: "She was so vocal in attacking opposing politicians when she was in opposition that she can't stand up and say 'I'm the biggest hypocrite in the land'. She has to offer her resignation to the Prime Minister." Tory shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride tweeted: It's utterly extraordinary that while working families and businesses are being hammered by Labour's tax hikes, Angela Rayner has failed to pay the right amount of stamp duty. The Deputy Prime Minister should not be setting the rules when she fails to keep them herself. Downing Street insisted Sir Keir had full confidence in Ms Rayner, but declined to say whether he would sack her if she was found to have breached ministerial standards. The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "As you'd expect, we're not going to get ahead of the process. "As she's set out in her statement today, she's referred herself to the independent adviser. She will provide him with her fullest co-operation and access to all the information he requires. "It is now up to the independent adviser to conduct that process." No 10 refused to say when the Prime Minister was informed about his deputy's tax underpayment or whether he had seen the legal advice she had received. Sir Keir believes Ms Rayner should "pay what is due", his spokesman said. Labour backbenchers appeared uncertain whether Ms Rayner would be able to survive in her current position, with several telling the PA news agency it would depend on the outcome of the investigation. But some added that they hoped she would be able to continue, with one saying she was "doing a good job and everyone recognises she brings a perspective we need to the top team". Another told PA: "She's not the one everyone tells me they hate on the doorstep." Rayner fights for political future as she admits: I did not pay enough tax Angela Rayner is fighting for her political future after admitting she failed to pay 40,000 in tax when purchasing a property. After weeks of speculation about her property arrangements, the deputy prime minister conceded that she had not paid enough stamp duty on her 800,000 seaside flat in Hove, East Sussex. In an emotional televised interview, Ms Rayner, who is also the housing secretary, said she had been in shock and devastated over the fallout. She insisted it was not a tax dodge and blamed the underpayment mistake on incorrect legal advice. Angela Rayner said she will pay the additional tax owed (Sky News) She told Sky News: Ive been in shock, really, because I thought Id done everything properly, and I relied on the advice that I received and Im devastated because Ive always upheld the rules and always have done. And always felt proud to do that. I feel, you know, that it is devastating for me. Asked if she had considered resigning, she said she had spoken to my family about it. Ms Rayner referred herself to the prime ministers independent ethics adviser, who will interview her over the property purchase in the coming days as part of an investigation into the scandal. At PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer backed Ms Rayner, saying he was very proud to sit alongside her, and praised her decision to refer herself to the independent ethics adviser. According to The Times, he is determined to save his deputy. He wants to do everything he can, an ally told the newspaper. But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister should sack his deputy. She added: I remember when the prime minister said tax evasion is a criminal offence, and should be treated as all other fraud. If he had a backbone he would sack her. Reform leader Nigel Farage suggested it was more likely than not Ms Rayner would resign this week, and speaking from the USA told GB News: I just dont see how you survive this. Ms Rayner spoke out hours after a court order was lifted which had prevented her from disclosing information about her property arrangements. She had been under pressure after it was reported that she had saved 40,000 in stamp duty by removing her name from the deeds of a family home in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, classifying the Hove flat as her only property despite still spending time at the family house. In Wednesdays statement, she said she had taken legal advice when she bought the south coast flat, which suggested she was liable to pay standard stamp duty, but had then sought further advice from a leading tax counsel after headlines about the arrangement. She learned that the initial advice had been inaccurate and she was liable to pay additional stamp duty. That is because she had put her stake in her constituency home in Ashton into a trust set up in 2020 for her disabled son, she said. Tax experts said the Hove property could not be treated as her only residence because of the nature of the trust. She told Skys Electoral Dysfunction podcast: As soon as I knew that that was the case, I have alerted and referred myself to the independent adviser on the ministerial code to ensure that they can look transparently at what has happened, and also contacted HMRC to say that, there is additional tax owing on this. Im prepared to pay that and fully comply with the HMRC as well, she added. Asked whether she was trying to dodge tax, Ms Rayner said no... the trust was set up by a court to provide for my son after an injury. She set out how she had a court order against answering questions over her tax affairs sooner, relating to her 2023 divorce. Ms Rayner said a trust was set up in 2020 for her disabled son to deal with his finances. The home she owned in her Ashton constituency was placed in the trust, she said, at which point she cashed in her 25 per cent ownership of the home to purchase the Hove apartment. She said: I think the accusations were that I set up a trust and I flipped it to try and avoid paying it. But actually the complex area of the trust which the advice that I relied upon didnt pick that up. Sir Keir said in the Commons: She has explained her personal circumstances in detail. Shes gone over and above in setting out the details including, Mr Speaker, yesterday afternoon, asking a court to lift a confidentiality order in relation to her own son. I know from speaking at length to the deputy prime minister just how difficult that decision was for her. But she did it to ensure that all information is in the public domain. She has now referred herself to the independent adviser. That is the right thing to do. But Downing Street is facing mounting questions over when the PM knew Ms Rayner had underpaid stamp duty and why he initially dismissed criticism of her tax affairs as people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again. The revelation comes at a time when the government is set to hike taxes in order to fill a multi-billion pound black hole in the public finances, with chancellor Rachel Reeves expected to target wealth through taxes on second homes. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said it is utterly extraordinary that while working families and businesses are being hammered by Labours tax hikes, Angela Rayner has failed to pay the right amount of stamp duty. He added: The deputy prime minister should not be setting the rules when she fails to keep them herself. On Wednesday night, Tory party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said he had sent a letter to HMRC calling for the tax authority to open a tax evasion investigation into Ms Rayner. He wrote: This contention of innocent reliance on defective advice cannot withstand scrutiny. Asked whether she considered resigning over the tax issue, Ms Rayner said she talked to her ex-husband about the prospect and that the number one priority for me and my ex-husband has always been to support our children and do the best thing for our children. And she said: I made a mistake based upon the advice that I relied upon that I received at the time, and a leading expert has now said that advice was wrong. Ms Rayner appealed to the public to see that most people make mistakes, adding: I conducted myself in trying to do the right thing, and I hope that people can see that. Labour backbenchers appeared uncertain whether Ms Rayner would be able to survive in her current position, with several saying it would depend on the outcome of Sir Laurie Magnuss investigation. But some added that they hoped she would be able to continue, with one saying she was doing a good job and everyone recognises she brings a perspective we need to the top team. An asylum seeker has denied raping and sexually assaulting a woman in a London hostel. Iraqi national Yousif Al-Maliki, 30, of Peckham Lodge Hotel, Peckham, south London, is accused of attacking the woman at the Astor Hostel in South Kensington on August 1. Prosecutor Jose Olivares-Chandler told Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday that the defendant and complainant had met shortly before the alleged incident took place. This allegation arises from a hostel scenario where the defendant was in a dormitory with 12 beds, the prosecutor said. This is a defendant who it is understood arrived [in the UK] on a boat crossing. Al-Malikis asylum application has been put on hold until the conclusion of the case, the court heard. Defence barristers said Al-Maliki was a bisexual Iraqi national from Baghdad who was fleeing torture in his home country, but the defendant accepted that he had arrived in the UK illegally. He had been staying in his own designated room at the Peckham Lodge Hotel, accommodation provided by the Home Office. A bail application was withdrawn after Mr Olivares-Chandler told the court the accommodation was no longer available to the defendant. Al-Maliki, wearing a white T-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name and enter not guilty pleas to charges of rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault, during a brief plea hearing. Judge Gregory Perrins set a provisional trial date for March 2 next year. The judge remanded the defendant in custody to next appear at the same court on January 12. The intercontinental DongFeng-5C missiles paraded in Beijing, part of China unveiling its nuclear triad for the first time in Wednesdays V-Day military parade. - Visual China Group Chinas biggest ever military parade boasted sophisticated new weapons, thousands of goose-stepping troops, and a guest list designed to put the West on notice. The footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping walking in between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in particular was a clear message to the US, Europe and its democratic allies: Beijing now officially heads up a new world order of authoritarian states. Venetia is joined by former Russia correspondent Roland Oliphant and former China correspondent Sophia Yan to discuss the optics of the military parade, the leaders that were and werent there, the newly unveiled missiles and drones, and how worried we should be. Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app. Kemi Badenoch unaware that the Tory procedural method does not cut through Never mind Ange must go; the vibe after PMQs was Kemi must quit. And though I know shell send me a letter of complaint laced with anthrax, the entire press gallery was agog as she faced the open goal of Labour hypocrisy and chose instead to ask about the next Budget. Rayner couldnt believe her luck and shes won a lot of scratch cards. We thought the issue de jour would be flags: Yvette Cooper, whose house is made out of them, had her face painted especially. Rachel Reeves returns from holiday with a tan so dark its almost offensive. She clearly fell asleep under the lamp and woke up looking like a black and white minstrel, a risky move in a party thatll arrest you for misgendering a goose. Yes, there was one wee question on Graham Linehans arrest. The PM said police should focus on their priorities, like parading in drag or thumping protesters. Ange entered the room. Every gay man swooned. She looked like Bet Gilroy chewing a wasp frankly old cock, I dont give a damn and was subjected to a massage by a sympathetic front bench. Lucy Powell was first to touch her shoulder. Then Keir, twice (thank you, she spat back, not 100 per cent sure who he was). Reeves rubbed her on the bottom. Angela looked alarmed to be consoled by Al Jolson. Credit: Sky News When Kemi rose to speak, we braced ourselves for six questions on tax law, for theres so much to dissect. Is this stamp duty hoopla from the same woman who railed against tax avoidance? How does anyone justify representing a constituency up north, working as a minister in London, and claiming a flat on the south coast as your primary residence? Earlier, in a teary, Diana-style interview, she hoped that she might remain the welfare queen of peoples hearts. The accusations are accurate, she did admit: Accurate in a different sense. Well, Kemi is the Leader of the Opposition... in a different sense. One fleeting reference to the Deputy PM was made; again in the second question, a tired crack later. But that was that. Any adviser worth their salt couldve prepared some basic bitch lines for her, but CCHQ is obsessed with its procedural this is the way its done approach, unaware that it doesnt cut through. She wasnt the only one to fumble the ball. A Tory asked a question about tax on pubs necessitating a tedious list of every alehouse in the idiots constituency but didnt mention Rayner once. Ed Davey urged Starmer, when he meets Donald Trump (if the president is still alive), to look him in the eye and plead for Gaza, inviting Starmer to reply that Davey could do so himself, had he not pulled out of the diplomatic meal to spend more time with his conscience. Given that Davey finds so many of his fellow politicians immoral, one prays that he next boycotts Parliament. Ange was impassive throughout: the face of notbovered dignity. This is a woman who could undergo a cross-examination at the Old Bailey without dropping her fish-n-chips. Labour MPs sounded surprisingly happy, no doubt calculating that with Kemi so bad, and Farage in America, they might be able to keep her this working class hero, to quote the PM, who has achieved the dream of becoming rich enough to avoid tax. The disease spreads from cow to cow and from badgers to cattle (Getty/iStock) Bovine tuberculosis should be treated with similar urgency seen during the Covid-19 pandemic if it is to be eradicated by the target year of 2038, scientists say. The disease, which devastates farm businesses by infecting cows, has been back in the spotlight in recent weeks after TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson reported cases on his farm in Oxfordshire. Efforts to control Bovine TB cost taxpayers 1billion since 2010 and farmers a similar amount, while hundreds of thousands of largely healthy badgers and infected cows have been compulsorily slaughtered in attempts to stem its spread, prompting fierce criticism from wildlife campaigners. Scientists published an updated report on Englands bovine TB strategy at the request of the government, which aims to eradicate the disease by 2038. Bovine TB research ecologist Tom Langton said the current trajectory was closer to 2080 than 2038, with many proposals made caveated and with long built-in delays. Wildlife supporters were disappointed that Labour did not call a halt to the cull after coming to power even though it had promised before the election to do so. The scientists said more urgency, money and political consensus were necessary to meet the target. Jeremy Clarkson has reported cases of Bovine TB on his farm (Ben Birchall/PA) Professor Sir Charles Godfray, from the University of Oxford, who worked on the report, said: We think achieving the bovine TB-free status by that time is possible, but it is going to be tough. We need a step change in the urgency in which we treat this disease, and the resources devoted to eradication. Sir Charles said that while there was no close parallel between bovine TB and Covid-19, he cited the real concentration and expedited progress demonstrated during the pandemic. We want something equivalent of that for this disease, which costs the taxpayer 100m a year in England, costs the farming community about the same, and has real effects on farmers livelihoods and mental health, as well as being a real issue for the wildlife reservoir, he said. But Mr Langton slated the report, saying: This is a rather general, if not waffly report, with lots of ideas stuck together but no hard content or coherence. It has scientific flaws, omissions and ambiguity. Badger culling has long been a part of the governments response to bovine TB despite strong opposition from animal welfare and wildlife groups, including Queen guitarist Sir Brian May. Trials led by Sir Brian showed scrupulous hygiene on farms prevented cows being infected. He said they showed this meant badger culling was unnecessary. Earlier this year, ministers announced a commitment to end the practice of culling before the next election. It was part of a policy decision by Boris Johnson in 2020. The scientists said it was possible to meet the 2038 target without culling badgers but considerable effort and resources will need to go towards other non-lethal measures, such as badger vaccinations and biosecurity measures. Mr Langton said: As usual, cattle vaccination is years away and it seems will always be. On this the report is wholly unconvincing. The scientists also called for more speed in processing an application for a licence to use a newly developed vaccination on cattle. Professor James Wood, of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, who also worked on the report, said: This is a very exciting advance but we feel a greater urgency could be applied here. More widely, the scientists said the government should provide a reasonable amount of funding to tackle the disease, including investment into IT infrastructure, vaccinations and tests. Sir Charles said that while the team was fully aware of the great pressures on public finances at the moment, they believed investment in bovine TB control would save money in the future. Efforts to control Bovine TB cost taxpayers an estimated 100 million a year (Getty Images) The scientists said the government should appoint a senior official to lead the eradication strategy in a more visible and public-facing role, who can field questions and knock heads together. We think its absolutely essential that the disease control is co-owned by all the stakeholders involved so government, industry, but also the wildlife NGOs the people who care so much about the wildlife reservoir, Sir Charles said. The scientists called for a more evidence-led approach to help reach a consensus. Farming minister Daniel Zeichner said the government was determined to eradicate bovine TB. Following a record year for badger vaccination in 2024, a new Badger Vaccinator Field Force will be deployed next year. We are also developing a cattle vaccine and, along with the Scottish and Welsh governments, have invested over 40m into vaccine related research, he said. Early next year, we plan to publish a comprehensive new strategy that will set out how we will eradicate this disease by 2038. Channel 4 has announced an ambitious new survival programme that will see ordinary people sent into an abandoned town to fight for their lives following an apocalyptic event. The eight-part series, called Apocalypse, will see its competitors use their survival skills to face extraordinary but completely credible challenges following a global disaster. Contestants will have to survive for 28 days without running water, heating or electricity. They will also have to scavenge for food and find useful supplies that they can attempt to reuse or repurpose. Apocalypse will test the limits of the group of strangers as they venture into the alien yet familiar world. Some participants may band together to form a team, while others entirely fall apart. The series will urge viewers to consider potential worst-case disaster scenarios that could affect the global population today. The programme suggests that if an apocalyptic event occurred, the scramble to survive would take place in familiar towns and cities, rather than forests, deserts or jungles, as many Hollywood films have depicted. Nicola Brown, creative director at production company The Garden, said: Apocalypse is a hugely ambitious new take on the beloved survival genre. We're dropping our cast in an incredible urban landscape, filled with the debris of modern life. Channel 4 has announced an ambitious new survival programme called Apocalypse (Channel 4) In this alien yet familiar world, they'll start again from scratch and discover what's really important to them. We can't wait to chart the highs and lows as our cast face a series of tough choices, battling the environment and perhaps even each other. Ian Dunkley, commissioning editor at Channel 4, added: Apocalypse will be the real deal ordinary people in an authentic urban setting facing extraordinary but completely credible challenges. Weve all wondered how we would cope if disaster struck close to home, and this series promises to give us a very good idea. Apocalypse joins Channel 4s healthy offering of survival shows, which has previously included the castaway series The Island with Bear Grylls and the military training programme SAS: Who Dares Wins. The announcement comes after former Watford striker Troy Deeney, X Factor star Lucy Spraggan and Peru Two member Michaella McCollum raced to victory on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins last week. Deeney broke down in tears as the trio won the celebrity edition of the programme, later announcing hed given up alcohol and begun therapy for his anger after the reality competition changed his whole life. A release date for Apocalypse is yet to be announced. Flanked by city officials, Washington DCs mayor, Muriel Bowser, speaks during a news conference last month. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images Washington DCs mayor, Muriel Bowser, appeared to bow to Donald Trumps military occupation of the nations capital on Tuesday, signing an executive order that formalizes cooperation with federal forces even as residents push back against the citys takeover. The Tuesday order establishes the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center borrowing from Trumps own branding to institutionalize collaboration between city officials and various federal agencies including the FBI. On Wednesday, Bowser pushed back against accusations that shes willing to continue Trumps federal takeover. I want the message to be clear to the Congress, we have a framework to request or use federal resources in our city, Bowser told reporters during a press conference. We dont need a presidential emergency. The comments come as Trumps 30-day takeover is set to expire on 10 September. Let me tell you, without equivocation, that the mayors order does not extend the Trump emergency, she added. In fact, it does the exact opposite. What it does is lays out a framework for how we will exit the emergency. The emergency ends on September 10. The Pentagon previously said the national guard troops deployed to Washington will remain until law and order is restored. The more than 2,000 troops could stay through December to continue service member benefits, according to a senior official who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity, although the mission may not last until then. Bowsers executive order mandates that federal officers adhere to transparent policing practices, requiring them to avoid wearing masks, display clear agency identification, and provide proper identification during arrests and public encounters. But DC residents have criticized Bowser for opting for collaboration with the federal government over resistance. Polling from late August shows only 17-20% of residents support the federalized policing or armed national guard presence. Troops have been visibly patrolling tourist areas, metro stations and transit hubs rather than high-crime neighborhoods, and some unarmed troops have been assigned beautification tasks such as trash collection rather than crime-fighting duties. In a statement on Wednesday, Todd A Cox, the Legal Defense Fund associate director counsel, called Bowsers decision alarming, misguided, and profoundly disappointing. An increased presence of armed federal law enforcement officers in the District will not make our communities safer, he said. Safety for DC residents must include protection from police violence, yet the mayors decision subjects DC residents to an increased risk of it. Evidence has shown that this tactic is not only ineffective but actively harmful, disproportionately targeting Black communities, escalating tensions and undermining public safety. Washington residents have organized a resistance to fill the void left by the muted local government response. Free DC, a grassroots coalition that has campaigned for home rule since the 1990s, has soared as a central organizing force staging nightly noise protests with pots and pans at curfew and launching an Adopt a Curfew Zone program to protect the most heavily patrolled neighborhoods from what they describe as federal occupation meant to strip the district of its autonomy. The organization gained tens of thousands of new followers on Instagram over the last few weeks. Grand juries composed of DC residents have also refused to indict defendants in at least six cases, nullifying federal prosecutions through community defiance, including the case of the infamous sandwich guy who threw his Subway snack at an officer and was later tracked down and arrested. Residents in neglected neighborhoods such as Congress Heights have also condemned the military deployments focus on protecting tourists while ignoring their communities, instead pushing for local investment. A federal judge this week ruled that Trumps similar national guard deployment to Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement, potentially undermining the legal foundation for the DC operation. Trump has so far claimed substantial results from the operation, posting on Truth Social that Carjacking in DC is down 87% and that ALL other categories of crime are likewise down massively along with 1,599 arrests and 165 illegal weapons seized as of 1 September, according to the attorney general, Pam Bondi. On Tuesday he called DC a model for other states and in an Oval Office meeting said he would be honored to take a call from the Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, to send national guard troops to his state. I would love to have Governor Pritzker call me, Trump said. Id gain respect for him and say we do have a problem, and wed love to send in the troops because, you know what, the people they have to be protected. Xi hails "unstoppable" national rejuvenation at V-Day commemorations Xinhua) 10:39, September 03, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday as the country marked the 80th anniversary of the victory in its war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The resistance war, arduous and great, marks China's first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, while addressing a grand commemorative gathering held in Beijing. Noting that the victory was achieved under a national united front against Japanese aggression advocated by the CPC, he said that the Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defense of world peace with immense sacrifice in the war, a significant part of the World Anti-Fascist War. Only when nations across the world treat each other as equals, live in harmony and mutually support one another can common security be safeguarded, the root cause of war eliminated, and historical tragedies prevented from recurring, he said. Today, humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games, Xi said. The Chinese people will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, adhere to the path of peaceful development, and join hands with the rest of world to build a community with a shared future for humanity, he said. He called on Chinese people of all ethnic groups to stay united and work hard under the strong leadership of the CPC to build a strong country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. Xi demanded that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) provide strategic support for national rejuvenation and make greater contributions to world peace and development. He asked the PLA to build itself into world-class forces and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) (Web editor: Liang Jun, Hongyu) The outgoing head of the UKs armed forces, Sir Tony Radakin, has emphasised that the nations relationship with Nato needs to be preserved and celebrated following his retirement from the Royal Navy after 40 years of service. Sir Tony rose to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) four years ago after decades of service both ashore and afloat, including on HMS Blazer and the frigate HMS Norfolk. He has served as the UKs strategic commander as well as principal military adviser to the prime ministers and secretaries of defence since 2021. On leaving the Navy, he said: My abiding reflection from my four years as CDS is that the armed forces have stepped up to deliver all that was asked of them, at home and abroad. They are magnificent. Thank you to them, and their families, and the civil servants who support them. These are extraordinary times, but the United Kingdom remains safe through the commitment of everyone in defence. Britain has been the beneficiary of a remarkable defence construct for the past 75 years, based on our status as a nuclear power, our membership of the worlds largest and strongest alliance Nato and our relationship with America. It is something to be celebrated, elevated, strengthened and preserved for the next 75 years. The King greets Admiral Sir Tony Radakin during a meeting with military chiefs of staff at Buckingham Palace in 2022 (PA) The defence chief marked his retirement alongside his family aboard HMS Blazer, a vessel he once commanded. He added: It is a wonderful surprise to mark my final day as CDS by returning to my first command HMS Blazer. Her ships company are every bit as curious and excited as I was when I was in their position, and the future of the service is in safe hands. Looking back over my 40 years in the Navy, I am more convinced than ever the armed forces offers an amazing career for young people today. To all those at the start of their careers in the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, my message is to be bold, be ambitious, be demanding of yourselves and of your leadership, and always keep pushing to go further and faster. Sir Tony was the first naval officer to become CDS since Admiral Sir Michael Boyce 20 years ago. Despite being a naval officer, his time as head of the defence forces was defined by the land war in Europe, with much focus on the Russian-Ukrainian war. He forged close relationships during his tenure with Ukrainian military leaders and travelled between Kyiv, Washington, and Brussels to secure western support for Ukraine. Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton is taking over as Chief of the Defence Staff. (Handout) This month the capital is serving up a veritable pick-and-mix of the best in design and architecture and much of it is free to access. Open House is a riot for those keen to nose around storied buildings and award-winning residential extensions, while the London Design Festival rivals London Fashion Week for turning pavements into catwalks. Read on for where to go and how to make friends while truffling out antiques. Treasure hunting Cant rope any pals into thrifting with you? Sign up for a Vintage Walking Tour with Liz Beardsell of Sundial Store (from 15, @sundial.store) and make like-minded friends, too. Kicking off at Spitalfields Market on September 11 and 25, take in 11 specialist traders and get the honest opinion of fellow antiques appreciators. If youve never made it to The Decorative Fair at Battersea Park (decorativefair.com) then its 40th anniversary instalment should be your cue. From September 30 to October 5, it draws 130 exhibitors from across the country and Europe. Hot collabs Ceramics take the lead as fashion favourite Shrimps joins forces with Oliver Bonas to create a tabletop centred around brunch; cable-knit jugs and lion-themed butter dishes will elevate even the most basic of eggs and soldiers. Shrimp joins forces with Oliver Bonas for this tableware collaboration (Handout) At The Conran Shop, potter Arjan Van Dal has created Family of Vases, an exclusive new collection inspired by a series designed by Sir Terence Conran in the 1990s. The 21 styles are ripe for collecting (prices from 35). If youve had your eye on one of Bettina Ceramicas Gigli Pedestal Bowls then its collaboration with Sarah Halpin means you could be the owner of one of eight styles of the wiggly vessels (325). They launch during LDF. (Handout) London Design Festival LDF, which runs from September 13 to 21, isnt just an industry event. Marking its 23rd year, there are 10 design districts from Dalston to Park Royal spotlighting creativity in each local community, as well as workshops, installations and talks at the V&A and the Design Museum. Begin along the South Bank, where the lobby and OXBO restaurant at Hilton London Bankside are being taken over by Miffy with a joyful installation of 400 mini Miffys and a 6ft lamp. (Handout) Outside Royal Festival Hall, everyone is sure to be gramming Lee Brooms beacon a unique lighting installation which reinterprets classic London street lamps to form a vast, sculptural chandelier. Visit Londondesignfestival.com. Open House Open House Festival returns from September 13 to 21 and while many tours are already fully-booked, renovators seeking to get inspired for their own projects should make a beeline for the open days at remarkable private homes. Look up Hemp House for a snoop around Nimtim Architects reimaging of a 1930s semi and Six Columns, a RIBA House of the Year winner (both are in SE19 and taking place on Sep 20 simply turn up and queue). In Putney, Thornhill House is a Grade II listed property reimagined by Studio McLeod with contemporary elements, while Twin House, which recently starred on Grand Designs, is an experimental family home with an upside-down layout nestled on a Victorian street in Stoke Newington. Visit https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/. Retail therapy Two indie London brands open their doors this month: Addison Ross, purveyor of irresistible lacquered trays and bobbin pepper mills, pops up at Symons Street, SW3 from September 16 for a six-month residency. Its an ideal destination for gifting its bowtie corkscrews are just 35. (Handout) Over at 80 Golborne Road, W10, Alice Palmer & Co has set up shop. Decorated in the homewares designers signature style, its a maximalist haven where her box-pleat fabric shades and tabletop ceramics will lure even diehard minimalists. Book club Its a bumper month for fresh coffee table fodder. The Bible of British Taste, by art and design historian Ruth Guilding (32, Frances Lincoln), takes readers inside the most characterful homes in Britain; think World of Interiors founder Min Hoggs and Jasper Conrans perfectly imperfect habitats. Two big design names are also releasing hardbacks: Nicola Harding has penned Homing Instinct (Rizzoli, 47.50), which serves an an insight into her creative process and home-making philosophy, while Beautifully British Interiors (Rizzoli, 45) showcases the range of Sims Hilditchs recent portfolio of work think London townhouses, country estates and a party barn. Father Ted creator Graham Linehan has released audio from the moment he was arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence over a series of gender-critical posts on social media. Bafta-winning Linehan, 57, has said he was detained by five officers immediately after he stepped off the plane from Arizona. He claimed he had been held for three tweets. The news sparked backlash from a number of high-profile figures, including author JK Rowling and tech billionaire Elon Musk. One of Linehans posts on X from April 20 said: If a trans -identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. A second tweet, on April 19, was a picture of a trans rally with the caption: A photo you can smell. The third was a follow up to this tweet which said: I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em. Releasing the audio of his arrest on his Substack blog on Wednesday, a police officer could be heard telling Linehan: It is alleged that on the 19th April 2025 you published a post on X intended to instill hatred and incite violence. He is then told he is under arrest for the social media posts. In response, Linehan can be heard shouting: Its just disgraceful. Holy s**t, I don't f***ing believe it. I'm under arrest!? I'm going to sue you into the ground. How dare you? The Irish writer is then heard being told to calm down by police and he can be heard responding: I wont calm down. Linehan is then quizzed about whether he is on any medication. After a brief pause, he yells: It's f***ing infuriating. You scumbags are working for f***ing ***holes who go into women's toilets. He later criticises the police for targeting him for standing up for womens rights. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is expected to raise the issue in front of the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on Wednesday, when he will say Britain has become an authoritarian censorship regime. Tesla owner Musk condemned the arrest by describing the UK as a police state. He re-tweeted a post by Rowling, in which she described the arrest as an example of totalitarianism and utterly deplorable. The Metropolitan police did not identify Linehan but a spokesperson said: On Monday, 1 September, at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight. The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X. After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing. He has now been bailed pending further investigation. The arrest was made by officers from the MPS aviation unit. It is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms. These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest. Linehan claimed he was later escorted to hospital A&E because the stress nearly killed me (X / Twitter) Linehan claimed he was later escorted to hospital A&E because the stress nearly killed me, adding his blood pressure was recorded at over 200mmHg by a nurse. Describing his dramatic arrest on his blog, Linehan wrote: The moment I stepped off the plane at Heathrow, five armed police officers were waiting. Not one, not twofive. They escorted me to a private area and told me I was under arrest for three tweets. He added: I was arrested at an airport like a terrorist, locked in a cell like a criminal, taken to hospital because the stress nearly killed me, and banned from speaking onlineall because I made jokes that upset some psychotic crossdressers. Legal and regulatory monitoring of social media posts has been a contentious topic in recent months, particularly over gender-critical views and opinions on immigration. Musk has been an outspoken figure on the X platform, especially over his criticism of liberal views and policies. Tesla owner and tech billionaire Musk condemned the arrest by describing the UK as a police state (Getty Images) He referred to the case of Lucy Connolly, a British woman who was jailed for inciting racial hatred in the aftermath of the Southport terror attack, as madness in a post on X last month. On the day of the murder of three children by Axel Rudakubana in Southport, Connolly wrote: Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care if that makes me racist so be it. She pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred by publishing and distributing threatening or abusive written material on X. Downing Street declined to comment directly on Linehans arrest. The prime ministers official spokesperson said the arrest was an operational matter for the police. He added: The prime minister and the home secretary have been clear about where their priorities for crime and policing are, and thats tackling antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women. Other high-profile figures have criticised Linehans arrest including former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who called it ridiculous and a complete waste of police time. Labour backbencher Jonathan Hinder said the arrest showed the need for a serious reset to get the priorities right in policing, while Independent MP Rupert Lowe said: I stand with Linehan. Briannas mother, Esther Ghey, is launching a campaign to ban mobile phones from schools (Lucy North/PA) (PA Archive) The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has launched a campaign to remove mobile phones from schools, as concerns grow over childrens addiction to their screens. Esther Gheys 16-year-old daughter was fatally stabbed 28 times after being lured by two fellow teenagers to Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington in February 2023. Her petition to Sir Keir Starmers government is driven by her own personal experience of Briannas addiction to her mobile phone, which began to seriously affect her school life. Brianna, who had thousands of followers on TikTok, struggled with her mental health, which was worsened by accessing eating-disorder and self-harm content on X. Brianna Ghey was stabbed to death in a Cheshire park (Family handout/Cheshire Police) (PA Media) Prior to her death, there had been 120 safeguarding logs and 116 behaviour incidents recorded by her school, which has led to her mother calling for a blanket ban on smartphones being brought into classrooms. Recent research by the Childrens Commission found that 79 per cent of secondary schools are still allowing pupils to bring their mobile phones into school, while one in five pupils have noted they are disrupted everyday by others using their phones. In an open letter, Ms Ghey said: Right now, the Government is not doing enough. Current guidance leaves implementation to individual schools, creating a postcode lottery, some areas manage effective restrictions, others do not. Most schools are relying on children to resist a temptation even adults struggle with. Its not fair, and its not working. Brianna had been accessing self-harm and eating disorder content online (PA) There is a solution. We are calling for a statutory ban on mobile phone use during the school day (with medical and accessibility exemptions) alongside funding for secure storage solutions for phones at schools to ensure fair, safe, and consistent implementation in every school. We know it can work - schools that can afford this approach are reporting improvements in both staff and student wellbeing. School should be a place of focus, connection and protection. Our children deserve an education free from digital distraction, and we have the tools to make it happen. Briannas own school, Birchwood Community High School, has since introduced special pouches to lock up students phones during the day. Headteacher Emma Mills told The Mirror that the move is allowing kids to be kids again, with pupils not able to open the pouches until home time. Esther Ghey has written an open letter to the government calling for better safeguarding measures (BBC) She said: Around school, there is more chatter in the corridors at breaks and lunch, students are more focused in lessons and the number attending House competitions and enrichment activities has risen. She added: Students say they like the break from it. They say it has reduced their stress levels knowing they dont have to think about what is happening. It has made them realise they can live without it. Brianna was killed by classmate Scarlett Jenkinson and her friend Eddie Ratcliffe, after they discussed her murder for weeks, detailed in Jenkinsons handwritten plan and phone messages found by detectives. Jenkinson was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court in December 2023 to a minimum sentence of 22 years in prison, and Ratcliffe to a minimum term of 20 years. Gel nail polish is now banned in Europe. (Getty Images) (Anna Efetova via Getty Images) A ban on gel nail polishes has come into effect in Europe, after the European Commission deemed a key ingredient to be harmful. With over 10,000 nail salons in the UK, treatments including manicures and pedicures have become a mainstay of the beauty industry. And, according to data collected by the British Beauty Council, this sector saw growth of 11% between January 2020 and December 2021, despite the impacts of the pandemic. Nail salons have even been credited with the resurgence of British high streets. But new regulations are set to have a significant impact on these types of businesses. As of 1 September, 2025, the production and use of beauty products containing trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) is prohibited in EU countries, as well as Norway and Switzerland. While there will be a slight delay in the rollout here, the ban will also eventually impact the UK in late 2026. Here's everything you need to know about the ban including why TPO is deemed harmful and what it means for you and your manicure. What is TPO and why is it harmful? TPO helps the gel nail polish set and hold under UV or LED light. (Getty Images) (isayildiz via Getty Images) TPO is an ingredient found in the vast majority of gel nail polishes, which helps the setting and drying process under UV or LED light. The reason for the ban is that it is now classified as a CMR substance carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction which means it can potentially be toxic for humans. The European Commission came to this conclusion after a series of studies on animals linked TPO with fertility issues. However, more research is being conducted, and the amounts of chemicals used in these tests were far higher than those found in cosmetic products. What the gel nail polish actually means for you For salons and nail technicians, the ban means they can no longer use TPO-based polishes. (Getty Images) (Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez via Getty Images) Predominantly, this ban will impact manufacturers and professionals, such as nail technicians and salon owners, as, due to the nature of the prohibition, they cannot "use up" existing products they will simply have to dispose of them and use non-TPO alternatives. Cari Ireland, 30-year-old nail technician and owner of Salon Sass in Porthmadog, North Wales, however, says it "wont come as a shock" to most reputable salons. "We stopped using those gels a long time ago," she tells Yahoo UK. "They became popular with some technicians because they are cheap and cure quickly, but the risks to clients like skin reactions and potential long-term health concerns just arent worth it." Cari Ireland has been working as a nail technician for over a decade in North Wales. (Cari Ireland) (Cari Ireland) She adds: "The biggest impact will be on businesses thatve invested heavily in TPO gels, because theyll need to replace so much of their stock. It will also impact clients who may not have realised those products were being used on them." But, Ireland notes, there are plenty of non-TPO alternatives that are "so much better". "HEMA-free and non-toxic gels give the same glossy, long-lasting results without the risks," she continues. "Personally, Ive long worked with HEMA-free systems. One brand Ive always rated is Magpie Beauty, which is UK-made, and others I love who have recently introduced HEMA-free ranges include The GelBottle Inc and Glossify." Read more about health and beauty A 10-year-old girl was tired and worried when she was taken out of bed at 4:30 a.m. and prepared for an abrupt flight from her shelter in Texas to Guatemala. A 17-year-old boy was put on a plane, scared and praying to God to protect him as he feared returning to violence in the country he fled, and where his single mother cannot protect him. Another young girl was so scared she vomited. A series of harrowing affidavits in court filings on Wednesday detail the Trump administrations middle-of-the-night operation to fly dozens of Guatemalan children to their home country described by their attorneys and the children themselves. After a fast-paced legal battle over the weekend, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from expelling hundreds of Guatemalan children who are in government custody, foster programs and long-term shelters after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border alone. Relatives of unaccompanied minors deported from the United States await updates outside La Aurora International Airport, in Guatemala City August 31. In court filings, lawyers and children described how they were abruptly packed into buses and placed on planes before a judge blocked their removal (AP) The government had not obtained legal permission to remove them, according to their lawyers, but at least 76 children were already on planes and sitting on a tarmac as they waited for a judges response to a lawsuit to keep them in the country. The children who are under the care of the Office of Refugee Settlement at the Department of Health and Human Services will remain in federal custody while yet another high-profile legal challenge to the presidents anti-immigration agenda continues. In court documents supporting a request to block their removal, more than a dozen Guatemalan teenagers described their overwhelming fear of returning to their home country. They describe childhoods in neglect, threats of extortion and gang violence against them or their families, and returning to homes or government shelters where they were abused or trafficked. I am certain the people there who hurt me and threatened to kill me before will once again hurt me and will carry out threats to kill me, one 16-year-old wrote. A 16-year-old LGBT+ child who is seeking asylum in the United States said they fear rape and forced marriage if they were sent back. If I had to return to Guatemala, the teenager wrote in court documents, I would kill myself. At least 76 children were already on planes sitting on a tarmac as they waited for a judges response to a lawsuit to keep them in the country, according to court document (AP) Several children submitted court documents describing the moments they were moved out of their shelters in the middle of the night before boarding buses and planes bound for Guatemala, only to turn around and remain in government custody under fear that they would be imminently removed. Lauren Flores, legal director with the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project, described seeing a young girl in a shelter who was extremely distraught, crying and repeatedly saying that she could not go back to Guatemala. At another shelter, one girl was so scared that she vomited and asked to speak with a clinician, according to Flores. In another shelter, a teenager was scared that he might end up murdered like one of his family members, Flores wrote. After shelter workers at a Texas facility woke them up in the early morning hours on August 31 and explained the children there would be sent to their home country, I wondered why, because I knew that I had a right not to be deported and speak with a judge, one 16-year-old wrote. I felt like, wow, I have rights, the teen wrote. When I was packing up my personal belongings, I was thinking about everything that could happen to me with all the crime in Guatemala. I was worried that I would be killed. The teen said their sister was murdered in Guatemala last year. I am afraid that the same thing could happen to me if I am returned, the teen wrote. My mother is in Guatemala, but she does not want me to return. She does not have the resources to care for me. My father is not a part of my life. I have no other family who could receive me. A van arrived to whisk them away to an airport around 4 a.m., but the shelter director told the children a judge had blocked their removal. I was so relieved, the teen wrote. The impact is real. I feel totally traumatized. I dont even know how to explain it. The Trump administration is temporary blocked from deporting Guatemalan children who arrived in the United States alone while a legal battle plays out to determine whether they can stay, citing fears of violence and abuse in their home country (REUTERS) A supervisor woke up one 17-year-old inside another Texas facility at 2 a.m. August 31, according to court documents. I started to pray to God because I was scared and wanted to stay in the shelter, the teenager wrote. A bus driver wouldn't say where a group of children was going, and they arrived at an airport around 5:30 a.m., according to the 17-year-old. One plane took off around noon, then returned to the tarmac moments later, according to the teens affidavit. The bus left the airport around 6:30 p.m., and the children returned to the shelter around 8 p.m. I only felt safe once they took me to the shelter at night, the teenager wrote. I was worried and scared at the same time. I didnt feel like I could cry or laugh about anything because I was so confused about what would happen to me. In the days that followed, I dont feel like I can have fun anymore or play in the gym, the teen wrote. I cant focus on anything because I just keep thinking about them trying to return to Guatemala. I feel depressed. The last child was placed back at a shelter at around 1:30 a.m. September 1, more than 24 hours after lawyers began scrambling. Several children and attorneys also refuted the Trump administrations claims that the children's parents had requested their return to Guatemala. Teenagers wrote how their parents explicitly did not want them there, while two parents described strange communications from government officials explaining that their children were going to return to the country despite never requesting them to do so. The administrations position that it was merely cooperating with the Guatemalan government to return children to their parents is belied by the facts, attorneys wrote. Even if the administrations contentions regarding its coordination with the Guatemalan government are true, any such coordination does not excuse the governments illegal action and does nothing to change its obligation to provide unaccompanied minors with the process unambiguously due to them under the law. The Independent has requested comment from Homeland Security. A judge will hold a hearing on September 10 to determine whether to continue blocking the childrens removal. Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for the sex offender - AFP More than 33,000 pages of records related to the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released by the US House oversight committee on Tuesday. According to Ro Khanna, a Democrat on the committee, 97 per cent of the documents were already in the public domain. The committee subpoenaed Donald Trumps department of justice (DoJ) for the documents, but Mr Khanna accused the department, which turned over the first batch of records last month, of stonewalling. Only 3 per cent of the documents given to the Oversight Committee are new, he said. The rest are already in the public domain. Less than 1 per cent of files have been released. DOJ is stonewalling. Thousands of pages of documents related to the Epstein investigation have been released previously. The House committee said in a statement that it expects to receive more records from the DoJ and they are being redacted to protect victim identities and remove any child sexual abuse material. House speaker Mike Johnson and House oversight committee chairman James Comer talk to reporters after a closed-door meeting with victims of the Epstein case - AP Epstein, a wealthy financier with high-level connections, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of underage girls. Epsteins death and the US governments handling of his case has caused a political headache for Mr Trump, with many of his supporters embracing conspiracy theories surrounding the late paedophile. Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Mr Khanna have proposed a measure that would require the DoJ to release all of its unclassified Epstein records, including those held by the FBI and US attorneys offices. Mr Massie and Mr Khanna will hold a press conference with Epstein victims on Wednesday morning. The materials released on Tuesday included at least eight videos of apparent police interviews with victims. Several of the interviews are timestamped from 2005 and 2006. In one video, a girl whose appearance and name are edited out, said Epstein paid her $350 for a massage and sex when she was 17 years old. He has the girls take off their clothes and give him a massage, she said in the 17-minute video. Other records include audio recordings from the criminal investigation of Epstein in Florida, including what appeared to be an interview with a victim whose name and date of birth were edited out. The committee has subpoenaed the DOJ and Epsteins estate for documents and convicted Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell for a deposition. The DoJ released a transcript last month of an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, the accomplice of Epstein, in which she said Mr Trump was friendly with the convicted sex offender but was never inappropriate with anybody. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein, was interviewed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trumps former personal lawyer. The 63-year-old Maxwell, the only former Epstein associate convicted in connection with his activities, was moved from a prison in Florida to a minimum security facility in Texas following the interview with Blanche. Joseph Ladapo, Floridas surgeon general, speaks alongside Ron DeSantis in Brandon, Florida, on 18 November 2021. Photograph: Chris OMeara/AP Children in Florida will no longer be required to receive vaccines against preventable diseases including measles, mumps, chickenpox, polio and hepatitis, said Joseph Ladapo, the states surgeon general, on Wednesday in a speech during which he likened vaccine mandates to slavery. Ladapo, hand-picked for the role by Ron DeSantis, Floridas Republican governor, is a longtime skeptic of the benefit of vaccines, and has previously been accused of peddling scientific nonsense by public health advocates. In his announcement at a press conference in Tampa hosted by DeSantis, Ladapo said every state vaccine requirement would be repealed, and that he expected the move would receive the blessing of God. Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery, said Ladapo, who altered data in a 2022 study about Covid vaccines in an attempt to exaggerate the risk to young men who received one. Related: More than 1,000 health workers urge Kennedy to quit over anti-vax policies People have a right to make their own decisions. Who am I, as a government or anyone else, to tell you what you should put in your body? Our body is a gift from God. What you put into your body is because of your relationship with your body and your God. Ladapo condemned lockdowns and vaccination requirements during the coronavirus pandemic as a time when crazy things did happen, and said that growing skepticism of vaccines were reflections of Gods light against the darkness of tyranny and oppression. Formerly affiliated with the controversial ultra-conservative Americas Frontline Doctors group, Ladapo has long railed against Covid vaccines. In 2023, he urged Florida residents to ignore public health advice and reject mRNA booster shots that he falsely claimed had not been tested on humans. Several of his other positions on public health issues, such as promoting the removal of fluoride from drinking water and urging parents to reject measles vaccines for their children, have been called dangerous and a disservice to Florida residents. His slavery comment, made with DeSantis at his side, was notable. The governor drew allegations of racism in 2023 when the state introduced a new education curriculum teaching that the full truth of Americas history with slavery is that it was beneficial to those enslaved. Floridas department of health currently has strict requirements for immunizations that must be given during childhood, which are posted to its website. With few exceptions, no child can be enrolled in a Florida public school unless they have received a series of shots against a number of diseases. Routine childhood vaccinations will have prevented about 508m cases of illness, 32m hospitalizations, and 1.13m deaths among children born in the US between 1994 and 2023, according to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report published last year. It estimated that the vaccine program nationally resulted in direct savings of $540bn and societal savings of $2.7tn. Ladapo gave no details or timeline for the proposed repeal, but said his department would work with lawmakers and the DeSantis administration to make it happen. I love our lawmakers. Theyre going to have to make decisions People are going to have to make a decision, he said. People are going to have to choose a side. And I am telling you right now that the moral side is so simple. Ladapo also said that itll be wonderful for Florida to be the first state to do it. Floridas plan drew praise from Robert W Malone, a conservative physician and prominent anti-vaxxer appointed by the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, to his new advisory committee on immunization practices that replaced the independent panel he fired. Go Joe! Malone said in a post to X, shortly after another tweet in which he said he spoke to Ladapo on Tuesday and called him a measured scientist who is on fire to change the system for the better. Others were not so convinced. Anna Eskamani, a Democratic Florida state representative, called the move a public health disaster in the making. Ending vaccine mandates is reckless and dangerous. It will drive down immunization rates and open the door to outbreaks of preventable diseases, putting children, seniors and vulnerable Floridians at risk, she said in a statement. David Jolly, a former Republican congressman for Florida who is running as a Democrat to succeed DeSantis as governor when he is termed out in 2027, posted to X that he believed Ladapos tenure could be limited. The next Governor gets to fire this guy. I know I would. Hopefully Byron Donalds or Paul Renner would do the same, he wrote, referring to two high-profile Florida Republicans who have announced their candidacies. Some experts, however, were not so convinced. Floridas undertakers will now need to plan for the future by increasing their stocks of small coffins, said John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. Moore said all the vaccine preventable infections would increase within the school setting as a result of the move, and that some diseases measles, diphtheria, whooping cough and polio can be fatal. Rubella transmitted from infected children to pregnant women was another area of concern. Since the 1980s, all states had school vaccines mandates. If Florida abolishes [its mandate], it would be the first in recent times to do so, said Dorit Reiss, professor of law at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, who specializes in vaccines law and policy. But she pointed out that there doesnt seem to be a law introduced yet, which is a big if. She noted that Idaho attempted to end school mandates in April, but ended up carving out exceptions for existing mandates effectively rendering that part of the law moot after pushback from advocates. I would also add that one reason all states adopted them is that evidence showed school mandates reduce and prevent outbreaks. If Florida does this, its creating an unfortunate natural experiment with its children as guinea pigs, Reiss said. Children deserve better. The Florida department of health did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Melody Schreiber contributed reporting Representatives from the Government, the Tories, Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats will take part in a televised debate on immigration, Sky News has announced. The programme will see the representatives from the four political parties discuss measures to tackle migration, after a summer dominated by public debate over small boats crossings. Zia Yusuf will be attending on behalf of Reform UK, the party said, while the Lib Dems plan to send their home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart. Zia Yusuf will represent Reform UK in the debate, the party said (James Manning/PA) Discontent with how the Government has managed the small boats crisis and housed migrants in hotels has led to a wave of protests over the summer, and criticism from Labours political opponents. Some 29,000 people have arrived in the UK by crossing the English Channel this year so far, a 36% increase on arrivals from the same time the previous year. The Governments latest plans to grasp migration include suspending the family reunion route for refugees, and cracking down on international students claiming asylum. Migrants are also expected to be returned to France for the first time later this month, as a deal Sir Keir Starmer struck with Emmanuel Macron comes into force. Digital ID cards to prevent illegal migrants working in the UK, and moving migrants out of hotels and into old industrial sites are also under consideration, Downing Street has said. Sky Newss immigration debate will take place at 7pm on Wednesday September 10. Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on September 3, 2025 - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Nigel Farages official address to the House Judiciary Committee was not designed to make the earth move even though it had been trailed as a major political event. In the end, Farage had clearly decided that a blistering repudiation of his own country might not be a great idea, especially as he is now being seen as in the running for the leadership of it. So what we got was a reprise of the most shocking incidents of repressive interference with free speech, Lucy Connolly and Graham Linehan, and a general summing up of the familiar consensus that the British governing class had become alarmingly autocratic in its attitudes to free expression. All of that was clearly true but the initial Farage testimony was, in its tone, surprisingly mild. He stated explicitly that he could understand the concern for the safety of children who might be exposed to genuine danger by irresponsible social media but then dismissed the idea of legal controls of any kind: the answer would have to come from hardware devices specially designed to prohibit such exposure. Farage emphasised his regret at having to make accusations about my own country (the land of Magna Carta, as he pointed out) on foreign soil, without quite explaining why, in spite of this regret, he agreed to do so. Except that he felt obliged to act as a klaxon sounding a warning to Americans not to go the same way as his own doomed land which had now become an illiberal, authoritarian regime (which threatened, as it happened, to put controls on US tech companies). At what point, he asked rhetorically, did we become North Korea? Note: in North Korea, the equivalent of Graham Linehan would not have been detained and questioned. He would have been killed. What was most striking was how many of the congressmen who were interrogating him, testified to just how far the current American government had gone in suppressing free speech with legal impunity. It was President Trump who was suing major broadcast news organisations for saying things that offended him. It was foreign students in America who were having their visas revoked for expressing views that the Trump administration disliked. The First Amendment to the Constitution which embodied the sacred commitment to free speech was, it seemed, a far more limited provision than was often assumed and it was now subject to the manipulations of a hostile administration. As is usual with Congressional hearings, this one became a mud fight over the partisan preferences of the Committee members but there was a recurrent theme: free speech is under threat in America in a way that is probably more self-serving and sinister than the blundering, absurd measures that are so troubling here. Farage and his fellow representatives of foreign powers had to cope with this while somehow holding the basic tenets of their own positions in place. Being drawn into the hot mess that is now US politics was unfair but then what did they expect? If you come to America to warn about the loss of free speech when the US itself is mired in precisely that same imbroglio it is unlikely to produce anything but noise. Then again, maybe noise was the whole point: Nigel Farage has put himself on record as having lectured Americans about the freedom they are supposed to revere. Presumably he will think that was worthwhile. Matthew Perry died in 2023 (Jason Merritt/Getty Images) A woman branded the "Ketamine Queen" pleaded guilty on Wednesday to selling Friends star Matthew Perry the drug that killed him. Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty to five federal charges, including providing the ketamine that led to Perry's death. Her trial had been planned to start later this month. She is the fifth and final defendant charged in Perry's overdose death to admit guilt. Perry's mother, Suzanne Perry, and his stepfather, Dateline reporter Keith Morrison, sat in the audience. It was their first time attending court proceedings since the announcement of the indictments one year ago. Wearing tan jail clothing, Sangha stood in court on Wednesday next to her lawyer, Mark Geragos, as she repeated "guilty" five times as US district court judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett asked for her pleas. Before that she answered "yes, your honour" to dozens of procedural questions, hedging slightly when the judge asked if she knew the drugs she was giving to co-defendant and middleman Erik Fleming were going to Perry. Jasveen Sangha, who has been dubbed the Ketamine Queen by prosecutors, pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Instagram) "There was no way I could tell 100%," she said. She later added, to a similar question on vials of ketamine she gave to Fleming, that "I didn't know if all of them or some of them" were bound for Perry. The comments did not affect her plea agreement. Prosecutors had cast Sangha, a 42-year-old dual citizen of the US and the UK, as a prolific drug dealer who was known to her customers as the "Ketamine Queen", using the term often in press releases and court documents. Making good on a deal she signed on August 18, Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. "She feels horrible about all of this. Nobody wants to be in the chain of causation for lack of a better term," Mr Geragos said outside the federal court in Los Angeles. "She feels horrible and she's felt horrible since day one." Sangha admitted to selling drugs directly to 33-year-old Cody McLaury, who died from an overdose in 2019. Mr McLaury had no connection to Perry. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine was the primary cause of Perrys death (Foto Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, archivo) Prosecutors agreed to drop three other counts related to the distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine that was unrelated to the Perry case. Mr Geragos, whose other clients have included Michael Jackson, Chris Brown and the Menendez brothers, told the judge that the deal was reached "after a robust back-and-forth with the government". The final plea deal came a year after federal prosecutors announced that five people had been charged in Perry's October 28, 2023 death after a sweeping investigation. A judge will schedule sentencing for Sangha. She could get up to 65 years in prison. The judge is not bound to follow any terms of the plea agreement, but prosecutors said in the document that they will ask for less than the maximum. None of the co-defendants has been sentenced yet. Sangha and Dr Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty in July, had been the primary targets of the investigation. Three other defendants: Dr Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa; and Erik Fleming; pleaded guilty in exchange for their co-operation, which included statements implicating Sangha and Plasencia. Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home by Iwamasa, his assistant. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anaesthetic, was the primary cause of death. The death toll from a funicular railway crash in Lisbon has increased to 17, officials said on Thursday. Emergency services in Portugals capital had previously said 15 people died and 23 were injured in the crash involving the historic Elevador da Gloria, which took place in a busy tourist area. Officials have said that foreign nationals are among the dead, though no further details have been confirmed. However Portuguese transport workers' union SITRA named brake operator Andre Jorge Goncalves Marques as among the dead. A three-year-old German boy is among the injured, according to media reports. Nine of those hurt in the incident around 6pm on Wednesday were said to be in a serious condition. First responders work at the site of an accident involving Lisbon's Gloria funicular (AFP via Getty Images) Footage from the site showed the tram-like funicular, which carries people up and down a hillside in the Portuguese capital, destroyed near Avenida da Liberdade, the citys main thoroughfare. Emergency workers were also spotted pulling people out of the wreckage shortly after 6pm local time. More than 60 emergency service personnel and 20 vehicles, including Lisbon mayor Carlos Moedas, attended the scene overseeing the rescue operation. The yellow-and-white cable car was lying on its side on the narrow road that it travels on, its sides and top crumpled. It appeared to have crashed into a building where the road bends, leaving parts of the mostly metal vehicle crushed. It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box, eyewitness Teresa d'Avo told Portuguese TV channel SIC. She described the cable car as out-of-control and seeming to have no brakes, and said she watched passersby run into the middle of Avenida da Liberdade. It hit the sidewalk with great force, and people inside started screaming in fear, an unnamed witness said. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa lamented the tragic accident, expressing hope that authorities would soon establish what had caused the crash. Funicular accident in Lisbon: 15 dead, 18 injured Local media report that the funicular went off the rails. CNN Portugal, citing local authorities, reports 15 dead and 18 injured. Five are in serious condition. pic.twitter.com/0KfMgVMSG7 NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 3, 2025 A spokesman for the presidential office said: The President of the Republic deeply regrets the accident that occurred this afternoon with the Gloria funicular railway in Lisbon, particularly the fatalities and serious injuries, as well as the various minor injuries. The President of the Republic offers his condolences and solidarity to the families affected by this tragedy and hopes that the incident will be quickly clarified by the competent authorities. The Government declared a day of national mourning on Thursday. A police officer walks past the remains of the wrecked Gloria funicular (Getty Images) "It's a tragic day for our city. ... Lisbon is in mourning, it is a tragic, tragic incident," Mr Moedas said. The line, which first opened in 1885, connects Lisbon's downtown area near the Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter), famous for its vibrant nightlife. It is one of three lines operated by the municipal public transport company Carris and carries around three million people a year. Its two cars are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable with traction provided by electric motors on the two cars. The car at the bottom of the line was apparently undamaged, but CNN Portugal said passengers had to jump out of its windows when the incident happened. Officials are yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but initial reports from Publico suggest a snapped cable triggered the fatal plunge. Lisbons Gloria funicular is popular with tourists (Shutterstock/Marcin Krzyzak) Police investigators were inspecting the site and the prosecutor general's office said it would open a formal investigation. Carris said in a statement that "all maintenance protocols have been carried out", including monthly and weekly maintenance programs and daily inspections. A spokesperson for Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was in touch with the local authorities and stood by "to provide consular assistance if there are any affected British nationals". Britain is the largest source of tourism to Portugal, followed by Germany, Spain and the United States Beauty chain Lush has shut its UK shops, website and factories in protest at the Israeli government "preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza". In a statement, the firm said more action was also needed by the British government "to bring an immediate stop to the death and destruction, including an end to arms sales from the UK". It said it had decided to close stores for the day on Wednesday and place posters on windows with the message: "Stop starving Gaza - we are closed in solidarity." "Across the Lush business, we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine," the chain said in a statement. "Like the rest of the world, we struggle to find ways we can help whilst the Israeli government is preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza. "One thing Lush can currently send into Gaza is our love and a strong message that we stand in solidarity. This will take the form of halting business-as-usual by shutting our UK shops, website, and factories for one day." It added that "whilst Lush is losing a day of takings, this also means that the UK government is losing a day of tax contributions from Lush and our customers". The firm apologised to customers for any inconvenience but said that its Gaza fundraising soap Watermelon Slice has proved the most successful fundraising project in its history, "indicating how strongly our customers feel" about the situation in the region. So far, proceeds have gone towards funding mental health support for children, but there are plans to remarket the product to raise money for medical supplies instead. In solidarity action elsewhere, climate activist Greta Thunberg embarked on her second attempt to reach Gaza by sea on 31 August. The 22-year-old was accompanied by other activists and was cheered on by thousands of supporters as the flotilla set off from Barcelona stocked with aid. Her previous attempt in June saw her and others detained and deported by the Israeli authorities. Reporters Without Borders has also renewed calls to stop the killing of journalists inside the territory after five, from Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, and Reuters, were confirmed dead. Israel vehemently disputes claims its forces have intentionally killed reporters or civilians, saying its sole aim is to destroy Hamas. According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed since the 7 October attacks in 2023, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, mainly civilians, and took 251 people hostage. In the two years since, most of Gaza's population has been displaced, with famine declared in Gaza City. Northwestern University professor rushed to Chicago-area hospital after cops call on drones in desperate search A 72-year-old Northwestern University professor has been found and taken to the hospital after being reported missing in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois. Nina Kraus, a professor of neurobiology and otolaryngology at the School of Communication, disappeared Labor Day morning after leaving her home around 9 a.m. for a walk, according to police. She left her phone behind, officials said. Her family reported her missing after she failed to return, according to the university. The Evanston Police Department, supported by Northwestern Universitys police, launched an urgent search. While not specifically naming Kraus, Evanston PD announced Tuesday morning that they would be flying a drone along the lakefront as part of a missing person investigation. On Tuesday evening, police said in a Facebook post Kraus had been found in Evanston and taken to a local hospital for treatment. A 72-year-old Northwestern University professor has been found and taken to the hospital after being reported missing in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois (Evanston Police Department) The Independent has contacted Evanston PD for comment on Kraus current condition. Following Kraus disappearance, Northwestern University had asked for the publics help in locating her. The University is hopeful that with the communitys help, we can find Professor Kraus and assure her safety, the institution said in a Monday news release, which The Independent was directed to on Tuesday when they asked for comment. Kraus is a distinguished academic, described as a scientist, inventor, amateur musician, and director of the Hugh Knowles Center, who specializes in neurobiology and auditory learning. She holds a PhD from Northwestern and authored the 2022 book Of Sound Mind. My research on sound and the brain aims to understand how our life in sound, for better and worse, alters the processing of sound in the brain, makes us us, and affects the world we live in, her Northwestern bio reads. Grace Mort, 25, and boyfriend Jacob Kennedy were found with more than 50g of cocaine in their home - Wales News Service A woman was charged over a drug-dealing operation after police found texts from her boyfriend referring to supplying sniff. Grace Mort, 25, and boyfriend Jacob Kennedy, 20, were found with more than 50g of cocaine and almost 40 ecstasy tablets in their home, with an estimated street value of 15,000. Police raided their home and found several packages of high-purity drugs, and seized the couples mobile phones. A court heard when the devices were examined, officers found messages between them relating to drug dealing. Their text messages referred to sniff, a nickname for cocaine among regular users. Grace Mort was handed an 18-month suspended sentence and ordered to carry out a rehabilitation requirement - WALES NEWS SERVICE Mort and Jacob Kennedys home was found with cocaine and ecstasy tablets with a street value of 15,000 - WALES NEWS SERVICE In one message to Mort, Kennedy complained: Im just someone who gives you sniff whenever you want it. He also wrote: You can sniff my work but not answer your phone. Another text from Kennedy to Mort saw him ask her to bring two 0.5g deals. Cardiff Crown Court heard police also discovered a tick list that included customer names and the money they owed. The couple pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and MDMA - WALES NEWS SERVICE Prosecutor Abdallah Barakat said the couple both sought to gain significant financial advantage as Kennedy directed Mort to weigh drugs and bring them to him. Mr Barakat said a grip seal bag was found to contain cocaine with a purity of 78 per cent and was worth between 4,320 and 7,200. He said ecstasy tablets were also discovered worth 5,300 to 8,700. The couple were interviewed and responded no comment to all questions asked. Mort responded no comment to all questions asked in police interviews - WALES NEWS SERVICE Mort and Kennedy, both of Barry in South Wales, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and MDMA, and being concerned in the supply of cocaine. The court heard Kennedy was of previous good character while Mort has previous convictions for driving offences. Mort was handed an 18-month suspended sentence and ordered to carry out a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Kennedy will be sentenced at a later date. Graham Linehan has said he was treated like a terrorist for speaking his mind on social media - Jamie Lorriman Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said officers should not get involved in toxic culture wars after the arrest of Graham Linehan over gender-critical posts on X. However, he said the force had been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments, which had failed to clarify the law. It comes after Scotland Yard faced intense criticism over the arrest of Linehan, the creator of Father Ted, who was detained by five armed officers at Heathrow airport over tweets published in April. On Wednesday evening, Yvette Cooper told police they should take a common-sense approach to hate speech. Sources said the Home Secretary was open to reviewing the law and policing guidance. The 57-year-old comedy writer was told he was being arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and questioned for several hours before being bailed. On Wednesday, Linehan announced that he was planning to sue the Met for wrongful arrest and a breach of his free speech rights. In response to the backlash, Sir Mark said: I dont believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates, and officers are currently in an impossible position. I have offered to provide suggestions to the Home Office on where the law and policy should be clarified. It is understood ministers have welcomed Sir Marks proposal for clarifications to the law and have told police they will work with them to ensure the law and guidance reflect the common-sense approach we all want to see. In a statement, a Home Office spokesman said: It is vital that the police take a common-sense and consistent approach to tackling hate speech and online harms, and the law must protect the most vulnerable while continuing the proud British tradition of free speech. It came after Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, opened the door on Wednesday to changing the law following the row over Linehans arrest. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: If Parliament has layered more and more expectation on the police, diluted the focus and priorities of the public, that is something that we need to look at. It is hard for the police sometimes because they have to apply the law as it is written, not the law as sometimes it was intended. Linehans arrest came after he posted on X in April that women who encounter biological males in female-only spaces should make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 20, 2025 The arresting officer told him: On 19 April 2025, you published a post on X that was deemed to be intended to stir up hatred and incite violence on the grounds of sexual orientation. During his detention, Linehan suffered high blood pressure and had to be admitted to hospital before eventually being released by police. As part of his bail conditions, he was warned that he was not allowed to post on X. Lawyers acting for the comedy writer have said they are considering legal action on several grounds, including the unlawfulness of the arrest, the unlawful restriction on his free speech by banning him from X as a bail condition and alleged defamatory statements from the Met that he had been arrested for inciting violence. Linehan said: This was a horrible glimpse of the dystopian clown show that Britain has become. The Free Speech Union will support me by providing lawyers to advise on a claim against the Met Police for wrongful arrest and wrongful imprisonment in the hope that no one else is treated like a terrorist for speaking their mind on social media. Credit: The Glinner Update / Substack Lord Young of Acton, the director of the Free Speech Union, said: We come across a lot of cases of police overreach at the Free Speech Union, but this is the most egregious example yet. We need to send a message to the Metropolitan Police that they cant employ these heavy-handed Gestapo tactics with impunity. The overzealous policing of social media posts by the British police has turned the UK into an international laughing stock. It needs to stop. JK Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, posted on X: What Sir Mark Rowley calls a toxic culture war, I call a mass campaign of intimidation against women for standing up for their rights, and police turning a blind eye to the men publicly calling for women to be beaten, raped, hanged and decapitated. The Metropolitan Police has since faced mounting questions over whether it used the wrong law to arrest Linehan over his alleged anti-trans social media post. Police informed him his arrest was on suspicion of a Public Order 3A. Section 29B of that Act covers the publication of words intended to incite hatred and violence on the grounds of sexual orientation. But critics have pointed out that sexual orientation is different to transgender identity, and therefore have suggested the arrest may have been unlawful. Sir Mark said: Greater clarity and common sense would enable us to limit the resources we dedicate to tackling online statements to those cases creating real threats in the real world. If agreed, we could be ready to test new approaches quickly, within a matter of weeks. As an immediate way of protecting our officers from the situation we find ourselves in today, we will be putting in place a more stringent triaging process to make sure only the most serious cases are taken forward in future where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder. At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday afternoon, Sir Keir Starmer was asked by Jack Rankin, a Tory MP, whether he would commit to reviewing speech laws to ensure legitimate free expression is protected. Sir Keir said: Ive been clear throughout, we must ensure the police focus on the most serious issues and the issues that matter most to our constituencies and all communities. And that includes tackling issues like antisocial behaviour, knife crime and violence. And we have a long history of free speech in this country. Im very proud of that, and I will always defend it. The trafficking victims told police they had been enticed to India with promises of large cash payments - Diana Markosian/Redux The leader of a kidney trafficking gang that lured poor people from Nepal to India and tricked them into selling their organs has been arrested in Delhi. Shyam Krishna Bhandari, 38, was detained along with an associate when police raided a house in the Lajpat Nagar district of the Indian capital on Saturday, after five victims came forward during an investigation. The trafficking victims told police they had been enticed to India with promises of large cash payments and reassurances that giving up one of their kidneys would not harm their health. A month-long investigation eventually led police to Yatharth Hospital in Noida, a major private health facility that had previously been identified as a hub for illegal transplants. During interrogation, he (Bhandari) admitted to arranging kidney removal for at least 25 people in coordination with staff at Yatharth Hospital, Greater Noida, and other clinics, Krishna Prasad Pageni, a superintendent of police at Nepals Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau (HTIB), told The Telegraph. Police believe Bhandari was running the trafficking ring for three years and suspect the true number of victims to be much higher possibly greater than 100. Paying for organs is against the law in India as it is across most of the world but the illegal trade in organs for transplants thrives in its vast and poorly regulated private health sector, and the country has suffered numerous scandals in recent years. In 2023, a Telegraph Global Health Security investigation into a separate case revealed that one of the worlds biggest private hospital groups was embroiled in a racket in which impoverished people from Myanmar were brought to India to sell their kidneys. The Nepali victims of Bhandaris trafficking ring were put up in a hotel in Lajpat Nagar, where their blood and other medical tests were conducted by Yatharth Hospital staff, said Mr Pageni, the police superintendent. The victims were then blindfolded, put in a car, taken to an operating theatre, anaesthetised, and had their kidneys removed. After three to four days allegedly spent recovering in the hospital, they were sent back to Nepal. The group specifically targeted poor villagers from various districts of Nepal, said Mr Pageni. Victims were misled into believing that selling one kidney would not affect their health and that they would receive 3000, he said, adding that Bhandaris gang would often withhold payment. Bhandari would pay a network of recruiters 250 for every donor they found, he added. An associate of Bhandari, Sujan Bharti, 28, was also arrested during the raid in New Delhi. In total, the anti-trafficking operation has now resulted in five arrests, Mr Pageni said. The investigation began in July, when five victims told Nepals HTIB that they had been taken to New Delhi, where their kidneys were illegally removed. On August 3, they arrested three individuals in Nepal, who led them to Bhandari. Mr Pageni said Bhandaris operations had turned Lajpat Nagar into an illegal kidney trade hub. He and his fellow investigators are now urging other victims to come forward with information about the gang. A spokesman for Yatharth Hospital denied that illegal organ removals were taking place. At Yatharth Hospitals, ethical medical practices and patient safety are paramount. We categorically deny any involvement in the alleged activities and strongly refute claims suggesting otherwise. The individuals named are neither employed by nor associated with Yatharth Hospitals, he said. All transplant procedures at our hospital are conducted strictly in accordance with the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act and require mandatory approvals from the designated authorities. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security 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. Graham Linehan was arrested by five armed officers over a tweet - Paul Grover for The Telegraph When five armed police officers arrived at Heathrows Terminal 3 to meet an American Airlines flight, it looked as if they were about to apprehend a dangerous international fugitive. But rather than a shadowy terror suspect or global drug runner, the man they were seeking to arrest was a 57-year-old, award-winning comedy writer with dangerously high blood pressure. His alleged crime was having posted a tweet four months earlier in which he suggested women confronted by trans men in female-only spaces might consider punching them in the balls. Graham Linehan, the creator of Father Ted, was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence publishing a social media post allegedly intended to stir up hatred and incite violence. Credit: The Glinner Update / Substack Predictably, the backlash has been swift and far-reaching, with Scotland Yard coming in for criticism from all sides including the Prime Minister. How could the countrys biggest police force have scored such a spectacular own goal? In a lengthy statement on Wednesday morning, Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, defended his forces actions, insisting there had been reasonable grounds to believe an offence had been committed. But he also acknowledged that the arrest had caused concern and said the police needed greater clarity around the law. Sir Mark said: While the decision to investigate and ultimately arrest the man was made within existing legislation which dictates that a threat to punch someone from a protected group could be an offence I understand the concern caused by such incidents, given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world. As if to illustrate the level of confusion that exists around these laws, critics seized on the statement, suggesting even the Commissioner does not understand the legislation. Harry Miller, a former police officer who set up the organisation Fair Cop, to remove politics from policing said: It appears from Sir Mark Rowleys statement that even he the most senior officer in the country does not understand the law. Trans-identifying men do not possess a protected characteristic and have no right to be protected from offence by an armed wing of the state. He went on: Officers need to learn the law, understand the law, and apply the law, rather than going off on these reckless flights of fancy. It is believed the saga began when a trans activist contacted the Metropolitan Police after Mr Linehan published a post on the X platform on April 20 that read: If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 20, 2025 The previous day he had posted a picture of what appeared to be a trans rally with the caption: A photo you can smell. He followed it up with the comment: I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F--- em. A photo you can smell pic.twitter.com/uWB2fCqQ6i Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 19, 2025 The complaint was in all likelihood passed to a junior officer, either a police constable or detective constable who would have had to decide if the matter should be investigated further. They would have used their understanding of the law and any guidance around it, while also assessing what evidence was available. They would have assessed whether the suspect could be identified and decided how to approach the matter. It would be clear to anyone reading the Tweets who the author was, as Mr Linehan had openly claimed responsibility. Had Mr Linehan lived in the UK, it is possible the officer in the case might have contacted him at home either by telephone or email, or via a home visit, to ask him to discuss the matter further. However, because Mr Linehan moved to Arizona in the US last year, this may have proved more difficult. It is not clear whether any attempts were made to contact him remotely or whether the officer was unable to locate a contact address. At some stage, therefore, it is thought his name was added to the Police National Database (PND) and marked as wanted/missing. Had Mr Linehan not returned to the UK, the matter might not have gone any further, but on Monday he flew back ahead of an appearance at Westminster magistrates court. The flight manifest, listing all passengers, would have been cross-checked with the PND as a standard procedure to make sure there were no wanted criminals about to arrive in the country. When Mr Linehans details were uploaded, it would have been flagged to Scotland Yards Heathrow unit that he was wanted for questioning on suspicion of a public order offence. While the presence of armed officers might seem like overkill, in fact police working at the airport are armed as standard. Mr Linehan, who was bailed by police on condition he does not post on X, has announced his intention to sue the Met Police for wrongful arrest and a breach of his freedom of speech. Officers need law clarified Sir Mark has called on Parliament to provide more clarity to police forces around these increasingly contentious issues. He has also announced plans to introduce an improved triage system for similar situations in the future. He said: I dont believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates, and officers are currently in an impossible position. I have offered to provide suggestions to the Home Office on where the law and policy should be clarified. Greater clarity and common sense would enable us to limit the resources we dedicate to tackling online statements to those cases creating real threats in the real world. If agreed, we could be ready to test new approaches quickly within a matter of weeks. As an immediate way of protecting our officers from the situation we find ourselves in today, we will be putting in place a more stringent triaging process to make sure only the most serious cases are taken forward in future where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder. Timothy Boswell at the Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth, 1990 - Alamy Lord Boswell of Aynho, who has died aged 82, was a Northamptonshire farmer who was Conservative MP for Daventry from 1987 to 2010, a whip under Margaret Thatcher and a junior minister under John Major. Chubby, bespectacled, able and agreeable, Tim Boswell was a master of the parliamentary put-down; in 2003 he dismissed a speech from Labours young Andy Burnham as winsome. Strongly pro-Europe, he was from 1990 to 1992 the Conservatives liaison officer with the European Democratic Union grouping in the European Parliament. As a farmer, he pressed regularly for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. Timothy Eric Boswell was born at Brentwood in Essex on December 2 1942 into a Conservative farming family, the son of Eric Boswell and the former Joan Jones. From Marlborough he read Greats at New College, Oxford, staying on to take a diploma in agricultural economics. Graduating in 1966, he joined the Conservative Research Department; he briefed MPs on Roy Jenkinss 1968 Budget and from 1970 headed the departments economic section. He also went into farming at Lower Aynho Grounds, at the southern tip of Northamptonshire close to Banbury. He managed the farm himself until his election to Parliament. Boswell was a council member of the National Farmers Union from 1966 to 1990, chairing its Leicestershire, Northants and Rutland branch in 1983. From 1984 to 1990 he was president of the Perry Foundation for agricultural research. He first stood for Parliament at the February 1974 election, taking on Labours Bill Price at Rugby and losing by 6,154 votes. He chaired Daventry Conservatives from 1979 to 1983, and for two years was a political adviser to the Minister of Agriculture, Michael Jopling. Selected as candidate for Daventry when the former Cabinet minister Reg Prentice, who had defected from Labour, announced his retirement, Boswell took the seat at the 1987 election with a majority of 19,690; he would hold it comfortably until his retirement. At Westminster, he was put on the Agriculture Select Committee. He warned that social security had become a gigantic business accounting for one third of government spending, and was bound to increase; voted for David Altons Bill to curb abortions; and opposed the restoration of capital punishment. From 1988 to 1990 Boswell chaired an All-Party Charity Law Review Panel, which viewed with alarm the brainwashing activities of some religious cults. In October 1989, he became PPS to Peter Lilley, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Shortly after asking Mrs Thatcher a soft question about her achievements her answer ran to seven columns of Hansard she appointed him an assistant Government whip in July 1990. When she was forced out that November, he confessed himself shocked. Major kept Boswell in the whips office, and after the 1992 election promoted him to a Lord Commissioner to the Treasury and later that year, to Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Education. Boswell insisted that the rapid expansion of student numbers in higher education had not been at the expense of quality, and that university tuition fees were not being contemplated; disclosed that six million people in the UK were illiterate; and tried to enhance vocational education. Lord Boswell of Aynho - ROGER HARRIS After Majors defeat of John Redwoods leadership challenge, Boswell was moved sideways to the agriculture ministry, Maff in many ways his dream job. He told MPs he had never had a single case of BSE in his 70-strong beef herd, though adding later that there was a strong possibility since as few as one per cent of cases had ever come to light. He also announced the end of the Potato Marketing Scheme. Re-elected in 1997 with his majority cut by two thirds, he was briefly a Treasury spokesman and backed Kenneth Clarke for the leadership. After William Hague won the contest, he moved Boswell to Trade and Industry, where Boswell ridiculed the 2.3 million Labours incoming minister at Maff, Jack Cunningham, had spent on his private office, saying: The offices were perfectly adequate and comfortable. Early in 1998, he rode out a tabloid scandal involving lurid allegations about his art-student daughter. He said: We love her very much. We will support her in getting on with her life. From 1999 until the 2001 election, Boswell spoke on Education and Employment. He was Work and Pensions spokesperson under Iain Duncan Smith, moving briefly to Constitutional Affairs in 2003 under Michael Howard, then back to Work and Pensions in 2004. After the 2005 election, he became PPS to the party chairman Francis Maude. When Maude stood down in 2007, Boswell joined the Select Committee for Innovation, Universities and Skills. He announced in 2006 that he would not be standing again. In May 2009, he was listed by the Telegraph as one of the Saints in the expenses scandal. At the 2010 election, Boswells constituency was split between a redrawn Daventry seat and a new South Northamptonshire. Both were comfortably held for the Conservatives, by Chris Heaton-Harris and Andrea Leadsom. Created a life peer that year, Boswell resigned the Conservative whip in May 2012 after being made Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees in the Lords. He held this post until 2019, also chairing the upper houses EU Select Committee. Boswell was, at various times, president of National Energy Action; chairman of the Friends of Torres Vedras and the Northants Victoria County Histories Trust; vice-chairman of Cardiff Metropolitan University; and a governor of Northampton University. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and in 2010 was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Northamptonshire. Tim Boswell married Helen Rees in 1969; she died in 2019. He is survived by their three daughters; the eldest, Victoria Prentis, was MP for Banbury from 2015 to 2024 and Attorney-General under Rishi Sunak. Tim Boswell, born December 2 1942, died August 30 2025 Nigel Farage was branded a "Putin-loving free speech impostor" by a US congressman as he appeared at a meeting on civil liberties in Washington. Democrat representative Jamie Raskin accused the Reform UK leader of being a "Trump sycophant" at the US House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Mr Farage skipped Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in Britain to give evidence on civil liberties in Washington and voice concerns about freedom of speech. Mr Raskin said: "He should go and advance the positions he's taking here in Congress today, in Parliament, which is meeting today, if he's serious about it. "To the people of the UK who think this Putin-loving free speech impostor and Trump sycophant will protect freedom in this country, come on over to America and see what Trump and MAGA [Make America Great Again] are doing to destroy our freedom... you might... think twice before you let Mr Farage make Britain great again." The hearing comes after after Father Ted co-creator Linehan was arrested at Heathrow on Monday on suspicion of inciting violence over a series of gender-critical posts on the social media platform X. The Irish comedy writer, 57, alleges that he was detained by five armed officers immediately after he stepped off a plane from Arizona. High-profile figures have condemned the arrest, including Harry Potter author JK Rowling who labelled it utterly deplorable. Mr Farage raised the case and that of Lucy Connolly, who was jailed for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers over a tweet in the aftermath of the Southport murders last year, during the hearing. "It doesn't give me any great joy to be sitting in America and describing the really awful authoritarian situation that we have now sunk into," Mr Farage said. He claimed US tech chiefs could face arrest when entering the UK as he criticised the treatment by police of Linehan. Speaking of the Irish writers arrest, the Reform UK leader told the US House Judiciary Committee: He put out some tweets months ago when he was in Arizona, and months later he arrives at Heathrow Airport to be met by five armed police This could happen to any American man or woman that goes to Heathrow that has said things online that the British Government and British police dont like. It is a potentially big threat to tech bosses, to many, many others. He added: At what point did we become North Korea? Well, I think the Irish comedy writer found that out two days ago at Heathrow Airport. Mr Farage warned that the Online Safety Act will damage trade between our countries, threaten free speech across the West because of the knock-on rollout effects of this legislation from us or from the European Union. Of Connolly's social media post that lead to her guilty plea and imprisonment, he said: "It was intemperate, it was wrong, but she removed it three-and-a-half hours later. Sentenced to 31 months in prison. She's now out, having served 40% of the time. "I wanted to bring her with me today as living proof of what can go wrong. "Sadly, the restrictions that have been put on her banned her from making the trip, which is a very, very great shame." Ahead of the meeting, Mr Farage denied suggesting that the US potentially impose trade sanctions on countries over freedom of speech. "I have not suggested that for one moment. That is the interpretation of the prime minister, who is very much on the back foot," he told Sky News. Pressed on what he did say, the Reform UK leader said: "I've said that I hope that American political parties, leaders and businesses have a frank conversation with the British government and say, 'if you don't sort this out, it's going to have serious trade implications for both of us."' Asked if there was "hypocrisy" in him speaking on the topic in the US amid a crackdown on free speech in that country, he said: "Even more reason for me to be here to say, look, we've gone way down this path. Be vigilant in this country." He added: "I'm not saying Trump's gone a bit far. I'm here to talk about what's happening in the United Kingdom." A few moments after his latest defeat to Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz faced up to the statistics, even though he knew they would not make for pretty reading. The American had just lost to Djokovic for the 11th time in their 11th meeting and the fact it was his closest yet was no consolation. Not after exiting the US Open at the quarter-final stage, continuing the drought for American men in the mens singles, or after double-faulting on the third match point and handing Djokovic an escape from an even later night. There was something else that would haunt Fritz more, and those were the chances he had to take charge of the quarter-final when Djokovic was vulnerable. Fritz may never have a better chance to beat Djokovic at a grand slam, not when his opponent is 38 and openly admitting that he was trying to survive in the match for long spells. A 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 may appear convincing, setting up a semi-final against the imperious Carlos Alcaraz, but Djokovic had to scrap and claw his way through most service games. Fritz did not convert any of his first 10 break-point opportunities. And when he did eventually break Djokovics serve, late in the second set, the 24-time grand slam champion broke back immediately before closing it out. The fact that I was 0-10, that's putting it nicely, Fritz explained. I had so many more chances that you're not going to see on a stat line, because I had so many I was in points at Love-30, 15-30, 30-All. I was just converting and playing these points just really poorly. When assessing what would be required to finally beat Djokovic, Fritz said before the quarter-final that he had to be more efficient when given looks at his serve. Djokovic did not serve well and Fritz ended the contest, that was played across almost three-and-a-half hours, with more opportunities than he could have imagined. Djokovic saved five break points alone with serving for the first set, winning the second on a 25-shot rally, then battled through an eight-minute game at the start of the second set where he saved another two. Djokovic survived in four sets to set up a clash with Carlos Alcaraz (Getty Images) The difficulty for Fritz came from Djokovics second-serve, and the variety and unpredictability that he was able to attack from. Fritz knew the patterns, the softer serves down the middle mixed in with the more aggressive ones out wide to his forehand. He just couldnt execute. It's pretty embarrassing the amount of times that I was sitting on it, waiting for it, and still missed the return, Fritz said. I just can't really let that happen. Djokovic celebrates match point (AP) He was the better player in the second and third set, Djokovic admitted. I thought, for my standards, that I wasn't playing well. I don't know. I didn't feel the ball as well as I did feel the ball in the third round. It's one of those days where you just have to grind, you know. You just have to play with your heart and fight. That's what really gave me the win in the end. The way Fritz rallied was admirable, finding a way to take the contest to Djokovic while raising the noise in Arthur Ashe Arena. But in having to come from two sets down to beat Djokovic, he left himself requiring a miracle. A tight fourth set, one that could have gone either way, but fell towards Djokovic, was enough. Realistically I just can't come out of those first two sets down two sets to love, Fritz said. Fritz would likely have had to beat Djokovic, Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a row if he was to have won the US Open. At 27, the opportunity to win a grand slam title appears to be getting harder as Alcaraz and Sinner continue to progress and Djokovic remains capable of raising his level. Novak Djokovic at full stretch against Taylor Fritz (The Associated Press) At the end of the day, that's one of the things that makes the great players great, Fritz said. They win the big points, and that's something that I kind of touched on before the match is. I'm going to need to go out and take those points from him. He's not just going to hand them over to me. Ironically, that is exactly what Fritz then did to Djokovic on the third match point. Realistically I just had one game [in the fourth set] where I just had a chance to break him, which was the last one, Djokovic said. You know, the one that gave me the victory, and he gifted me with the double fault. Fritz looked tormented as he shook hands with Djokovic at the net, his headband having slumped off his forehead. The losing record is painful, but the opportunities he had to end it will hurt even more. A Republican congressman who is spearheading the push on the right for the Trump administration to release the entirety of the federal governments investigation into Jeffrey Epstein made it clear on Thursday that it will be top on the agenda as Congress returns. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky representative with a history of clashing with the president and his own party, wrote on X that he planned to file a discharge petition forcing a vote on the matter in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, when the House gavels back into session. Lawmakers spent the month of August on their yearly summer recess, during which many members returned home to their districts to meet with constituents. That recess was called early, by Speaker Mike Johnson, to block Massie from filing his petition, in late July. I am in DC and I will file the discharge petition today, Sept 2nd, at approximately 2pm when Congress officially returns from the August recess, Massie posted. At that point we can begin collecting the 218 signatures necessary to force a vote on binding legislation to release the Epstein files. Johnson previously called the move by Massie a charade. Thomas Massie says hes optimistic about collecting further Republican support for a petition that would force the federal government to release the Jeffrey Epstein investigation (Getty Images) Massie is joined in leading the petition by Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman from California. As the House called recess in July, the two pledged to relitigate the issue once Congress returned. GOP leadership is unlikely to escape an embarassing vote on the issue in the days ahead if public interest in the investigation retains any of the same potency it exhibited earlier in the summer. Johnson was simultaneously facing efforts by Democrats to force votes on Epstein-related amendments in the Rules Committee, as well as efforts by the House Oversight Committee to obtain the files a rare area where the Speaker has been forced to break from Donald Trump and support calls for the files to be released to the Houses top investigative body. The Oversight committee, on Tuesday evening, published more than 33,000 files related to the investigation. The vast majority were previously part of the public record. Massie, in response, told The Independent that he would continue his petition. At least one other Republican, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, signaled that shed sign on as well. Look, if my legislation were redundant, why would the White House be trying to stop it? It's not redundant. There are things that the White House doesn't want out there that my legislation would cause to be released," Massie said on Tuesday. The president, meanwhile, has furiously labeled the investigation a hoax in an attempt to move his base off the issue. Meanwhile, there are countless clips of top members of his administration, including Vice President JD Vance, remarking that the files should be released if and when they entered government. Trumps explanation also clashes badly with an effort by his own deputies at the Department of Justice and FBI to publicize the investigation and the Trump administrations supposed transparency around it. Pam Bondi, the attorney general, invited conservative influencers and MAGAworld operatives like Jack Posobiec to the White House earlier this year, where the group received large, flashy folders declaring the contents to be phase one of the Trump administrations Epstein-related releases. Interest remains high among Trumps base for the government to release the Epstein files (AFP/Getty) Phase two never occurred. In early July, the DOJ turned speculation around the adminsitrations delays into full-blown conspiratorial accusations when the agency released a memo with the FBI claiming that the Epstein client list of the convicted sex offenders alleged accomplices did not exist. The agencies further stated that they were closing the book on releasing evidence from the investigation. The announcement enraged followers of the case, whove long speculated that evidence exists tying the billionaire financiers crimes to some of the many powerful and influential persons and institutions with whom he cultivated relationships over his life including President Donald Trump, and former President Bill Clinton. Reporting from the Wall Street Journal subsequently revealed that the DOJ informed the president that his name came up multiple times during a review of the investigation files, though there was no direct assertion of wrongdoing involving Trump. Separately, the outlet reported that the president penned a message for Epsteins 50th birthday card containing a sexually suggestive drawing and a message suggesting the men shared secrets. The president furiously denied the Journals reporting and sued the paper and its owners for $10 billion. Scotland's first minister, John Swinney, also announced a pause on any new grants for products going to countries accused of genocide. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images The Scottish government has banned arms companies which supply the IDF from getting grants and investment support, and will freeze support for trade with Israel. John Swinney, the first minister, said on Wednesday any defence contractors who wanted financial help in Scotland would have to prove their products would not be used by the Israel Defense Forces. He said governments around the world needed to take urgent action in response to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where there was now plausible evidence of genocide. The scale of suffering [in Gaza] is unimaginable, he told the Scottish parliament. Nobody can ignore it. We must confront this crisis with urgency, compassion and an unwavering commitment to accountability. After urging the UK government to support the genocide case against Israel at the international court of justice, Swinney said his devolved government in Edinburgh had decided to change its rules on financial support for defence companies. Related: Scottish first minister calls Israels actions in Gaza genocide for first time It would now pause any new grants or financing for products going to countries justifiably accused of genocide, he said. Swinney had told his officials, the business agency Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish National Investment Bank not to offer any new financial support to non-compliant firms, starting with those that supply Israel. Research by the Ferret website has found that since January 2022, Scottish Enterprise has given at least 2.75m to the defence firms Raytheon, Thales and Leonardo, all of which have products used by the IDF, including drones, the F-35 fighter and guided missiles. Scottish Enterprise had also been told not to facilitate any new non-military export deals with Israel by companies based in Scotland, Swinney said, before urging the UK government to abandon its trade pact with Israel. However, UK government sources accused Swinney of being all over the place after he also announced Scotland would drop an effective ban on financing defence contractors who supplied Ukraine with munitions. A source said defence firms could have contracts to supply Ukraine and make equipment which was used by the IDF, including BAE Systems, which employs thousands of people on British military equipment. Trying to do two different things at once is foolish, they said. On Sunday, the UK government announced BAEs shipyards on the River Clyde would play a key role in a record 10bn deal with Norway to build at least five new Type 26 frigates, securing 2,000 jobs in Scotland. In June, Kate Forbes, the deputy first minister, announced Scottish Enterprise would give BAE Systems 9.22m for a new skills and training academy being set up as part of a new shipbuilding facility on the Clyde, which would help create 300 new jobs. BAE Systems has been criticised by pro-Palestinian activists because it supplies parts for the F-35 fighter programme from its plants in other parts of the UK. Swinney appeared to accept there were tensions within this new policy by also pledging none of the Scottish government-funded apprenticeship programmes at defence firms would be affected. His announcement was intended to placate critics on the left including the Scottish Green party, which has urged Scottish ministers to boycott firms supplying the IDF. Jamie Livingston, the head of the anti-poverty charity Oxfam, said the UK government should follow Swinneys lead. Gaza is being turned into a graveyard before our eyes: history will ask if leaders did everything they could to stop it. The first minister has committed to act; Westminster must do the same, Livingston said. A UK government spokesperson said: We have suspended licences for exports of military equipment to the IDF that might be used in operations in Gaza, subject to the special measures in place for exports to the global F-35 programme, based on our assessment that these could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law. We will work with our allies and those in the region on a meaningful process towards a two-state solution and continue to do what we can to support the foundations of Palestinian statehood. Eamon de Valera, who fought in Irelands 1916 rebellion and became taoiseach and then president, was the subject of whispers and speculation. Photograph: Hulton Getty Eamon de Valera fought in Irelands 1916 rebellion and, as taoiseach and president, stamped his identity on the newly independent country. Modern Ireland has since rejected much of his conservative Catholic ethos, but De Valera remains a founding father. There is enduring mystery, however, over his paternity gaps in the record fuelled whispers and speculation about the Spanish artist, Vivion de Valera, said to be his father. As taoiseach, Dev, as he was known, instructed Irelands ambassador in Madrid to investigate the Spanish side of his family tree, but the ambassador drew a blank. Now an RTE documentary has found fresh evidence that suggests Vivion de Valera never existed that he was invented and that the real fathers identity was concealed. The first part of Dev: Rise and Rule, a two-part documentary, on 3 September, will shine a light on discrepancies in De Valeras birth certificate and undermine the claims about a putative Spanish father. You might ask does it matter if his parents were really married? Does it matter who his father really was? says David McCullagh, the documentarys presenter. But the point is, it mattered to him. It shaped his character. The programme is part of renewed debate over De Valeras personality and impact on Ireland amid the 50th anniversary of his death, which passed on 29 August. Some historians faulted him for Irelands economic travails in the 1930s while others lauded him for keeping the country out of the second world war. The documentary traces an arc from De Valeras uncertain origins and his mothers aloofness, to his complex personality. The doubts about his paternity, and his rejection by his mother, left him with questions about his identity that would preoccupy him throughout his long life, says McCullagh. De Valeras mother, Catherine Coll, from County Limerick, emigrated to the United States in 1879. She said she married Vivion de Valera in Greenville, New Jersey in 1881 and gave birth to their son in Manhattan the following year. She also said her husband died in the western US around two years later. De Valeras New York state birth certificate, dated 10 November 1882, names Vivion as the father, whose name is spelt De Valero. His mothers name is spelt Kate De Valero nee Coll, implying they were married. Scholars have never found a church or state record of the marriage, nor of Vivions entry to the US or death. In the documentary, McCullagh uncovers a second New York state birth certificate a copy that De Valeras mother requested in June 1916 when her son faced execution in Ireland for his role in the rebellion, to prove that he was a US citizen. McCullagh notes that the amended certificate spells the surname De Valera and that the handwriting appears identical to that in the original certificate, and matches the signature of De Valeras mother. A doctor or public official was supposed to complete birth certificates, not parents. Ive seen many, many birth certificates and this is an exceptional situation, Kenneth Cobb, a New York city archivist, tells the documentary. McCullagh, who has authored a two-volume biography of De Valera, says doubts about paternity, and his mothers decision to send him to Ireland, aged two, to be raised by his grandmother, left him troubled. In a forthcoming book of essays about Irish leaders The Taoiseach: a Century of Political Leadership, edited by Iain Dale McCullagh argues that De Valeras unmoored identity perhaps influenced his embrace of institutions and causes that offered a sense of belonging, such as his school, Blackrock College, the Irish language and Irish nationalism. John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland, is lifting restrictions on arms firms in recognition of the changed international landscape - Jane Barlow/PA John Swinney has dropped a longstanding SNP ban on awarding public money to arms firms after being ridiculed by the Defence Secretary for student union politics. The First Minister announced that his administration would lift a restriction on providing funding to companies involved in the production of munitions. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, he said the changed international landscape, including the war in Ukraine, was responsible for the about-turn. But Labour said Mr Swinneys reversal showed the SNP are in disarray when it comes to defence as ministers were continuing to support the ban as recently as last month. Mr Swinneys announcement followed a backlash over the SNPs decision to block a grant for a new welding centre on the Clyde earlier this year. It is understood that a 2.5m grant from Scottish Enterprise was withheld over concerns that welders trained at the site could build submarines for the Royal Navy. Rolls-Royce, which was ready to support the project by providing specialist equipment worth 11m, warned Mr Swinney the decision could lead to the project being cancelled within days. Ban outrageous The UK Government was forced to step in to provide the funding, with John Healey, the Defence Secretary, calling the SNP ban outrageous and student union politics. But a defiant Mairi Gougeon, the SNP rural affairs secretary, hit back at the time, saying: I think the key difference here between ourselves and the UK Government is that when we have principles, we stick to them. Mr Swinney made a brief mention of his about-turn in a parliamentary statement about the crisis in Gaza, when he also announced that awards of public money to defence firms involved with Israel would be halted. Sources said firms that could be affected included BAE Systems, which manufactures components for the F-35 fighter jet, which is used by Israel. Mr Swinney also told MSPs he had instructed agencies such as Scottish Enterprise where possible not to support trade between Israel and Scotland. The First Minister said he had authorised the flying of the Palestinian flag outside the Scottish Governments St Andrews House headquarters for the afternoon. It replaced the EU flag, which the SNP has continued flying despite Brexit. However, foreign affairs are a matter reserved to Westminster and Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tory leader, argued Mr Swinney should have made a statement on issues such as the NHS and crime for which he has responsibility. Official figures published on Tuesday showed Scotland remains the drugs death capital of Europe, despite a fall in fatalities, with more than 1,000 users dying last year. National security fears Announcing his change of heart, Mr Swinney said: Anyone watching the war in Ukraine would, I hope, recognise the reality of the importance of defence. Indeed, the invasion shows we live in a world in which our national security faces much greater and more immediate threats. In recognition of that changed international landscape, the Scottish Government will lift the restriction we have applied on the use of support for the production of munitions. Gregor Poynton, the Labour MP for Livingston, welcomed the change in policy, but said: What this reveals, however, is the SNP are in disarray when it comes to defence. Minister after minister from Mairi Gougeon to Kate Forbes repeatedly rebuffed my calls, and the calls of the UK Labour Government, to leave their student politics at the school gate and back Scottish businesses and workers by lifting their ban on defence investment. Finally, under pressure, John Swinney has ended this completely nonsensical policy, which most recently saw the SNP snub spending on a submarine project crucial to the delivery of aid. Long overdue U-turn Rachael Hamilton, the Scottish Tory deputy leader, said: This appears to be a long overdue U-turn by the SNP. Given the huge importance of the defence sector to Scotlands economy, this unfair ban should never have existed in the first place. The fact that it did speaks to the naive, student-politics streak that runs through the SNP. The First Minister also said that new public monies should not go to arms companies involved with the Israeli military until there is clarity on whether genocide is being committed in Gaza. However, he reassured existing apprentices that their places will continue to be funded. Some of the trainees work on BAE Systems two shipyards on the Clyde. The defence giant is a supplier of components to Lockheed Martin for the F-35 jet, which UK ministers have argued is a keystone of Natos security. However, human rights groups have said it has also been used by Israel to conduct air strikes in Gaza. A BAE Systems spokesman said: We do not currently sell military equipment directly to the Government of Israel, nor do we have any operations or employees in Israel or Gaza. Scottish Government funding for arms companies supplying Israel will be paused, First Minister John Swinney has said. The Government has been criticised in recent months for continuing to fund companies in Scotland who provide weapons parts to Israel. The funding, according to ministers, is usually provided for apprenticeships with arms firms. MSPs also voted 65 to 24 with 26 abstentions to back the recognition of a state of Palestine in a symbolic motion at Holyrood. Speaking on Wednesday as the Palestinian flag flew over Scottish Government buildings in Edinburgh, the First Minister urged the UK Government to recognise the state of Palestine and withdraw from the trade deal with Israel, telling MSPs there is a prima facie case of genocide in Gaza. He said: Previously, we have provided business grants and investment support to companies involved in the design, production, supply and support for military equipment, technologies and services. We do so because we recognise that defending our country, defending our continent, is a duty of Government anyone watching the war in Ukraine would, I hope, recognise the reality of the importance of defence. But he added: In recognition of that changed international landscape, the Scottish Government will lift the restriction that we have applied on the use of support for the production of munitions, but in the face of genocide, there can be no business as usual. We will pause new awards of public money to arms companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that country that will include Israel. The pause will cover the Scottish Government itself, the Scottish National Investment Bank and the nations enterprise agencies, the First Minister said. Money already pledged for apprenticeships will be honoured. John Swinney, alongside External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, made a statement to MSPs on Wednesday (Jane Barlow/PA) Along with the shift on funding for arms companies, the First Minister said 20 children injured in the crisis will be brought to Scotland for medical treatment, while 400,000 will be spent on the creation of a rapidly deployable hospital for use in Gaza. The First Minister said it is time for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the UK-Israel free trade agreement in view of Israels behaviour, and the UK Government should follow Irelands lead in prohibiting goods made in the occupied West Bank. Following the announcement, Scottish Government delivery bodies such as Scottish Enterprise will not provide support for trade between Scotland and Israel. We are witnessing a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions and yet the bombs continue to fall, the First Minister said. The world cannot wait for a final court ruling before acting. The signs are clear, the alarm has been raised, the bombs and rockets must stop and humanitarian aid must flow. He added: Acknowledging that we are witnessing the signs of genocide brings with it a responsibility to act the people of Scotland expect no less of us. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar labelled Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal (PA) Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay described the situation in the Middle East as a blight on humanity, but added he believes this Parliament should focus the powers it has to improve peoples lives here in Scotland. The First Minister said he spoke in Holyrood on Tuesday on Scottish issues and will be answering questions on Thursday, also pointing to the changes in the statement which are within the powers of the Scottish Government. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the situation in Gaza is beyond intolerable and he dubbed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal. Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer welcomed the First Ministers announcement but called on him to go further and urge all Scottish businesses to boycott Israel, which Mr Swinney declined to do. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton urged both governments to act or the images of the children of Gaza should deserve to haunt us for 100 years. He went on to ask the First Minister of the possibility of more than the announced 20 children to be brought to Scotland for treatment. Mr Swinney said Scotland is willing to be as helpful as we can to as many families as we can. Epstein accusers urge Trump to release all case files after document dump reveals tens of thousands of pages already made public Six women who said they were sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein or his convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell have called for President Donald Trump to release all the documents his government has on the disgraced financier and to vow not to pardon Maxwell. The women spoke to NBC News shortly after the House Oversight Committee announced it had received more than 30,000 documents from the Department of Justice related to the Epstein investigation, though many committee members noted that there was very little new information in the disclosure. Jess Michaels, who says Epstein raped her in 1991 when she was a 22-year-old professional dancer, called the late financier a "master manipulator." That was a strategy that was honed. That was a strategy that no young woman, no teenage girl had a chance not a chance against his psychopathic skills," she told the broadcaster. Another five accusers, Wendy Avis, Marijke Chartouni, Jena-Lisa Jones, Lisa Phillips and Liz Stein, agreed they wanted to see all of the Epstein files released, and all those who were involved with his criminal activity brought to justice. The Department of Justice released more than 30,000 files relating to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to Congress but Democrats say most of it is already public (Getty) Im coming here because theres been a severe miscarriage of justice, a delay in accountability, Michaels said. Jones said that she knew there were other adults around Epstein's parties, and asked why none of them have ever come forward about what they know. There were many, many adults around [Epsteins] properties that may not have participated but very clearly knew what was going on, Jones said. And theyre not saying anything, and why are they still not saying anything and speaking up on our behalf? Virginia Giuffre was one of the first to call for Jeffrey Epstein to face criminal charges. She died by suicide earlier this year (AP) Virginia Giuffre's family members also spoke to NBC News. Her brother, Danny Wilson, said that if Trump were to pardon Maxwell, it would be a "slap in the face" to his sister and other accusers' memories. Giuffre died by suicide in April. Giuffre was one of the first people to call for criminal charges against Epstein and previously recounted how she was groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell to be sexually abused by Epstein. She once said Epstein passed her around like a platter of fruit to other men when she was a teenager. Question over a potential pardon for Maxwell began circulating after she was moved to a softer prison facility in Texas and later gave a statement insisting that Trump had no involvement with Epstein's criminal activity. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Maxwell's lawyer, David Oscar Markus, told NBC News that "most of these women didnt mention Ghislaine when they were repeatedly interviewed by law enforcement back in the day." Only when plaintiffs lawyers came knocking and dollar signs started flashing did they start pointing the finger at Ghislaine," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee made the more than 30,000 files it received public, but many of its members said that most of the information had already been released. The files, revolving around the Epstein investigation, were released to Congress in response to a subpoena that the committee's chairman, Representative James Comer, issued last month. The documents include hundreds of image files from years-old court records related to Epstein and Maxwell. According to Democrats who have seen the files, much of what has been released is already known to the public. Congressman Robert Garcia said that 97 percent of what was released is old information. Further, Garcia said that the files did not contain anything resembling a client list a rumored list of Epsteins clients or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims. Pam Bondi has said the client list was on her desk. She could release it right now if she wanted to. While Comer tries to give cover to Trump by re-releasing public documents, House Democrats are fighting for real transparency, he said. Pam Bondi must comply with our subpoena immediately, and release all of the documents. The American people demand it. He said in a statement that House Republicans are trying to make a spectacle of releasing already-public documents. According to the congressman, the released files include video footage from the Metropolitan Detention Center on the night of Epsteins death, various court filings involving Maxwell, a Department of Justice Office of Inspector General Report about Epsteins death, a memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi to FBI Director Kash Patel about releasing the Epstein files, and communications between the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice regarding Epsteins death. The congressman said the only new information is less than 1,000 pages from the Customs and Border Protections log of flight locations of the Epstein plane from 2000-2014 and forms consistent with reentry back to the U.S. According to the committee, more documents may be coming from the Justice Department, noting that it has "indicated it will continue producing those records while ensuring the redaction of victim identities and any child sexual abuse material." The documents include hundreds of image files from years-old court records related to Epstein and his longtime girlfriend and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) Congressman Thomas Massie said he was not satisfied with the DOJs release. My staff has done a quick look at it and it looks like a bunch of redacted documents and nothing new, so its not going to suffice, he said. During an appearance on MSNBCs All In on Tuesday, Massie said he believes Trumps reluctance to release the full trove of files has to do with his covering up for rich and powerful Epstein clients. I think the best way to clear President Trumps name is to release all the files, he told host Chris Hayes. I actually dont think hes done anything criminal. I think he may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his. Shortly after the opening gavel during Tuesdays House session, Massie filed his discharge petition. If he gathers the support he needs for the petition, it will allow the House to avoid Republican efforts to stop their pursuit of the full trove of documents relating to Epstein. A chorus of other Congressional leaders voiced their disapproval with the release. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorth noted that he and other Congressional leaders had met with Epsteins victims and said that their message was clear. We need full transparency, we need full accountability, and we need to ensure nothing like this ever happens again, he wrote in a post on X. Congresswoman Nancy Mace was seen leaving the meeting with the victims in tears. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury said in a post on X that survivors of sexual violence have been silenced by systems built to protect the powerfulincluding in this Chamber, and said some of the victims that spoke to Congress were telling their stories for the first time ever. What they revealed is not only the trauma of hundreds (maybe thousands) of young women, but a cover-up of epic proportions involving the wealthy, the well-connected, and even our own governmentall the way to the top. Let me be clear: we will not stop, she wrote. We will follow every thread, every document, and every bank record until there is justice. To every survivor out there: We see you. We believe you. And we are fighting for you. Congresswoman Summer Lee echoed similar sentiments, saying it is clear the government has failed [the Epstein] survivors. Now its our responsibility to deliver justice and the peace and healing they deserve, she said on X. Even Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said she was backing Massies discharge petition to demand full transparency from the Department of Justice. Im committed to doing everything possible for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. Including exposing the cabal of rich and powerful elites that enabled this, she said. Im proud to be signing @RepThomasMassies discharge petition. The release comes on the heels of Congressional members, including some Republicans, demanding greater disclosure regarding Epsteins crimes and those involved with him. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is currently trying to thwart efforts from those criticizing the alleged lack of transparency by the Trump administration to force a vote on a bill requiring the Justice Department to release all of the information in the so-called Epstein files, with the exception of victims personal information. Rudy Giuliani reveals a shocking twist about a woman involved in the domestic violence incident that transpired just before he was injured in a car crash (America's Mayor Live) Rudy Giuliani revealed a shocking twist about the woman involved in the domestic violence incident that occurred just before the car collision that left the former mayor injured, marking his first comments since the crash. Fresh from being discharged from the hospital, the former New York City mayor, sporting a brace, appeared on his Americas Mayor Live show Tuesday to explain the unusual events that led up to the car crash that left him with fractured thoracic vertebrae after a 19-year-old rammed into his car on a New Hampshire interstate on August 30. Giuliani and Ted Goodman, his spokesperson who was driving the car, were flagged down by a woman on the side of the road who claimed to have been involved in a domestic violence incident, New Hampshire State police said. Although they pulled the car over initially believing she was the victim, police later suggested to the pair that she was the assailant, they said on Tuesdays show. State police told The Independent they had no additional information to provide on the matter, beyond the news releases that have already been published. Rudy Giuliani and his spokesperson Ted Goodman, who was driving the night of the crash, recalled that a state trooper suggested the woman who had flagged them down wasn't the domestic violence victim, but the assailant (America's Mayor Live) Just before 9 p.m. in Manchester, Goodman pulled over after spotting a distressed woman waving for help on the side of the interstate, he said. She then came to the passenger side, where Giuliani was sitting, saying: I need to get out of here. I looked at her very very carefully and your professional instincts kick in. So you watch every single thing about her. She did not seem to be panicked. She did not seem to be overwhelmed in her mannerisms, but her words were, Giuliani said, noting he saw no visible injuries on her. He recalled her saying she had been attacked and asking to come into their car. Giuliani invited her in, but she never entered. The men then called 911. After the police dealt with the situation for a few minutes, an ambulance arrived. They watched a figure enter the ambulance, but because it was dark out, they couldnt make the person out clearly, they said. The trooper then approached Giuliani and Goodman, asking if they thought the victim looked badly injured. She didnt look like an ambulance case, Giuliani said. "No, no, not her. Him, the trooper told them, suggesting the woman may have been the attacker, according to the former mayor. The trooper didnt make one quick comment, Goodman said, but multiple comments saying this guy was beat up. Rudy Giuliani was discharged from the hospital earlier this week after suffering fractured vertebrae and other injuries (Reuters) The reality was a total 180 from what we thought, the spokesperson added. They werent sure what happened to the woman. The police didnt provide any information related to the woman when asked by The Independent. Following the domestic violence incident, Giuliani and Goodman got back on the highway. Then, at around 10 p.m., a Honda HR-V, driven by 19-year-old Lauren Kemp struck the back of the Ford Bronco, carrying Goodman and Giuliani. The collision occurred almost directly across from the incident they had just reported, police said. Investigators believe Kemp had no connection to the domestic violence incident, police said Monday. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. All three involved in the crash were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Giuliani was discharged on Monday afternoon. The whiplash of my body was brutal, the 81-year-old former U.S. associate attorney general said, calling the pain "excruciating." With a large brace strapped across his torso, Giuliani quipped: I like this outfit. This may become permanent, Ted. He joked that he resembled a gladiator. In the wake of the collision, President Donald Trump announced he planned to award Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor. Giuliani served as Trumps personal attorney during his first term, but has since been disbarred in Washington, D.C. and New York after peddling lies about the 2020 election. Credit: Reuters/Donald Trump via Truth Social Donald Trump personally ordered a lethal strike on a suspected drug boat that killed 11 Venezuelan gangsters. The navy sank the boat, understood to be carrying members of the Tren de Aragua gang, after it had departed Venezuela for the US, the American president announced on Tuesday. The strike was a dramatic escalation from Mr Trump deploying US warships to the waters off Venezuela to intercept drug cartel deliveries last month. Seven US warships and one nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine are either in the region or expected to be there soon, carrying more than 4,500 sailors and marines, raising fears that it could lead to an armed conflict between America and Venezuela. It was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, Mr Trump said from the Oval Office on Wednesday. Everybody fully understands it. We have tapes of them speaking. You see it, you see the bags of drugs all over the boat, and they were hit. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, confirmed Mr Trump personally ordered the strike. Instead of interdicting it, on the presidents orders, we blew it up, he told reporters in Mexico City. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the way to stop drug cartels is to blow them up - Luis Barron/Eyepix Group/Shutterstock The administration was ready to take more lethal action: intercepting drug boats does not work, but blowing them up does, he added. The president has a right to eliminate immediate threats to the United States, Mr Rubio said when asked if they warned the crew. This president is not a talker; hes a doer hes going to do it. The legality of launching a deadly strike against civilians in international waters outside of an armed conflict has been called into question. But Mr Rubio defended the action, saying the president of the United States is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organisations. He also underlined the United Statess tougher stance during a visit to Mexico on Wednesday. The US has, for many years, established intelligence that allows us to interdict and stop drug boats. We did that, and it doesnt work, he said. In a warning to drug lords and gangs, Mr Rubio said: What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them. The president of the United States is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organisations. This one was operating in international waters, headed towards the United States to flood our country with poison. Under President Trump, those days are over. Little is known about the strike, including what legal justification was used or what drugs were on board, but Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, reiterated Mr Rubios pledge that operations would continue. It wont stop with just this strike Weve got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us, and it wont stop with just this strike, Mr Hegseth said on Fox & Friends. Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco-terrorist will face the same fate, he added. It is not known whether the vessel was destroyed using a drone, torpedo or by some other means. The attack drew a furious response from Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who said the strike action was an extravagant, immoral and bloody threat. Venezuelas president Nicolas Maduro described the US attack as an immoral and bloody threat - Jesus Vargas/Getty Images If Venezuela is attacked, we will declare ourselves in armed struggle and a Republic at arms, he added. In August, the Trump administration offered a $50 million (37.3m) reward for Mr Maduros arrest after accusing him of being one of the worlds largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the US with fentanyl-laced cocaine. Mr Maduro is running the South American nation effectively as a kingpin of a drug narco state, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, said on US talk show Fox & Friends last week. The decision to blow up a suspected drug vessel passing through the Caribbean, instead of seizing the vessel and apprehending its crew, is highly unusual and evokes memories of the US fight against militant groups such as al-Qaeda. The United States has deployed warships in the southern Caribbean in recent weeks, with the aim of following through on a pledge by Trump to crack down on drug cartels. Seven US warships and one nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine are either in the region or expected to be there soon, carrying more than 4,500 sailors and Marines. US Marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit have been carrying out amphibious training and flight operations in southern Puerto Rico. Credit: Reuters/Donald Trump via Truth Social The US carried out a lethal military strike on a cartel boat transporting drugs from Venezuela, Donald Trump announced. On his orders, US forces shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat lots of drugs in that boat, the president told reporters at the White House. We have a lot of drugs pouring into our country, coming in for a long time, and these came out of Venezuela, and coming out very heavily from Venezuela. A lot of things are coming out of Venezuela. So we took it out. In a later Truth Social post, Mr Trump said he ordered the strike after the vessel was positively identified as a Tren De Aragua (TdA) boat. He said TdA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States. Mr Trump shared a short video showing what he said was a kinetic strike on the cartel boat, killing 11 gang members. Video captured the moment the vessel was struck - Donald Trump/Truth Social The boat, powered by what appears to be three outboard motors, is seen making its way through the water before being struck. Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas president, threatened to declare a republic in arms if it came under attack from the US. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that the vessel was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation. The US military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela, he wrote. An official from the department of defence told The Telegraph the strike had been a precision operation, though did not provide further details. The US has deployed warships in the southern Caribbean in recent weeks - AFP Earlier this year, the US announced plans to add to its maritime forces in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from drug smugglers. Along with nations such as North Korea and Iran, Venezuela has long had difficult relations with the US. Mr Maduro succeeded Hugo Chavez, who was elected president four times, after his death in 2013. The Venezuelan leader has been widely condemned for a crackdown on civil society and the jailing of political opponents. Mr Trump repeated allegations that Tren de Aragua is being controlled by Nicolas Maduro, accusations that Caracas denies - AFP Following an election last year that many observers believe was clinched by Edmundo Gonzalez, an opposition candidate, but which Mr Maduro claimed to have won, groups such as Human Rights Watch have detailed further crackdowns. The nations economy has also worsened in the face of international sanctions, something that has led to a surge in people fleeing and trying to enter the US. Earlier this year, Mr Trump, who campaigned on a hardline immigration agenda and a vow to deport undocumented migrants, ended what was known as temporary protected status for around 350,000 Venezuelans in the US and the administration has deported several thousands. In 2019, Mr Trump issued a number of threats to Venezuela, and Washington backed opposition politician Juan Guaido as a potential alternative to Mr Maduro. Speaking in Miami, he said: The time has come for the farewell to the socialism of our hemisphere, not only in Venezuela, but also in Nicaragua and Cuba. While the US has not signalled any planned land incursion, the Maduro government has responded by deploying troops along its coast and border with neighbouring Colombia. It is also urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia. In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defence of Venezuela, said Mr Maduro. US military kills 11 with missile strike on boat carrying drugs from Venezuela The White House has said that 11 narcoterrorists were killed in a drone strike on a small vessel it claimed was carrying drugs from Venezuela to the US in the Caribbean Sea. Sharing footage on his social media platform, Truth Social, President Donald Trump alleged that the shipment was connected to a drug cartel which he claimed was led by the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro. The night-vision aerial footage shows a fast-moving boat exploding in a ball of flames after being struck by a missile. The US military released footage of the boat being attacked (The White House) Please let this serve as notice to anyone even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE, Trump wrote in a post on Tuesday after the attack. He claimed there were a lot of drugs in that boat, adding: Youll be seeing that, and youll be reading about that... These came out of Venezuela. Footage shows the boat exploding in a ball of flames after being struck by a missile (Donald Trump/Truth Social) The bombing marks a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Caracas, and came a day after Maduro accused the US of attempting to carry out regime change in Venezuela. A number of US naval forces, apparently tasked with combating drug traffickers, have gathered in and around the southern Caribbean. On Tuesday, Maduro warned he would respond in kind to any attack by warships patrolling near the Venezuelan coast, adding that he would declare a republic in arms, without elaborating on what this would involve. In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defence of Venezuela, he said. The Trump administration said the mobilisation of its warships was part of a broader operation to thwart Latin American drug cartels, but officials in Caracas have questioned the USs motives and suggested the deployment could be a pretext to a military invasion. Maduro has said Venezuela will respond to any attack (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Trump later revealed further details of the attack on social media, saying the strike targeted a boat that was smuggling drugs out of Venezuela for the Tren de Aragua gang. He described this gang as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere. He continued : The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No US Forces were harmed in this strike. It is the first known US military attack against alleged drug traffickers since the Trump administration began sending warships to the Caribbean last month. Trump has long blamed Venezuela for a drug epidemic in the US, claiming Caracas is pouring narcotics into the US through illegal channels. Venezuela has denied the allegations. When Pippa Dungey went to her GP suffering from numbness in both her legs last year, she was told she faced a waiting list of 10 months for specialist neurology services. Two months later, the 25-year-old trainee solicitor, from southeast London, ended up in A&E unable to walk. Ms Dungey first went to see her doctor in September last year and was referred to a neurologist, but warned to expect a long wait for an appointment. As she waited, her symptoms worsened, and eventually they became so bad she was unable to lift her right leg and forced to drag it around. Pippa Dungey, 25, London was left unable to walk for a week after waiting months for an NHS appointment. (MS Society) She sought help from A&E and her GP, but was turned away and told she would have to wait for her neurology appointment. But eventually she was forced to go back to A&E, where she was admitted for a week and unable to walk and was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). There are around 150,000 people living with MS, a condition that effects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. It can effect people in different ways, including impacting vision, balance, memory, and emotions. Ms Dungey said: By November I was really concerned. I couldnt lift my right leg and was just dragging it around, which was really scary. I felt like Id been hung out to dry and didnt know who to turn to. Everyone was telling me that they couldnt do anything. I even tried to go privately, I was exhausting every avenue and didnt know what to do. I then had an emergency appointment with my GP, and they referred me to A&E again. Thankfully, this time the doctor admitted me and I was eventually diagnosed [with MS] but I spent a week in hospital unable to walk because I couldnt get a neurology appointment. Ms Dungey was one of the hundreds of thousands of people waiting for NHS neurology services - 6,175 of whom have been waiting for more than a year. Charity the MS Society has warned people living with MS were waiting an average of five months for their first neurology appointment in 2023-24, a 65 per cent increase on the average wait time in 2019-20. The charity have warned MS patients left waiting are at risk of irreversible disability and have said the government has so far overlooked neurological conditions in its 10 year plan. Since being discharged from A&E, Ms Dungey said she is still working to regain her ability to walk. According, to a survey by the MS Society of 600 patients in England, one in seven had an unplanned hospital admission which could have been prevented. It warned almost one in five are having to travel more than 20 miles for hospital appointments. Peter Lloyd, policy manager at the MS Society, said: This report paints a sobering picture of hospital care for people with MS the ramifications of which can be huge. Neurologists and MS nurses are facing immense strain, and there are simply not enough of them to keep up with rising demand. This means people are waiting longer and longer for essential support like an initial diagnosis or planned care triggering preventable emergencies further down the line. The NHS 10 Year Plan aims to tackle some of these issues, which is encouraging. But its worrying theres still no specific plan for the one in six people in England living with a neurological condition. Thats why were calling for a dedicated national plan for neurology, so people with MS and other conditions can get the care they need without delay. The Department for Health and Social Care was approached for comment. Watches of Switzerland has shrugged off the impact of Donald Trumps tariffs on Swiss exports and wider troubles in the luxury market, as it hailed sustained demand for upmarket watches and jewellery. The London-listed retailer said trading had been strong over the 18 weeks to the end of August, particularly in the US. It recently warned that some if its brand partners in America had pushed through price rises on its product ranges in response to higher tariffs on imports. President Donald Trump hiked rates to 39% on a range of Swiss goods, which kicked in last month despite leaders scrambling to strike a deal to minimise the impact. But Watches of Switzerland said on Wednesday that its partners had increased the amount of stock held in their inventories in recent months. This means it was not expecting any significant impact on its earnings over the first half of the new financial year. Furthermore, the retailer said the luxury watch and jewellery markets continued to stabilise over the latest period, with sales growing compared with the prior year. This comes despite the luxury retail sector facing a prolonged downturn as it grapples with weaker consumer demand and rising costs, particularly in key markets in China and Asia. Fashion brands like Burberry and Mulberry have come under pressure from weaker upmarket spending and launched major turnarounds in a bid to get the businesses back onto stronger footing. Watches of Switzerland told investors that its flagship Rolex boutique in London was exceeding our expectations with strong numbers of visitors and buyers. The company said it was on track to meet its earnings outlook for the year having previously forecast sales growth of between 6% and 10%. Shares soared by more than 8% in early trading on Wednesday following the update. Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann appears in Judge Tim Mazzei's courtroom with his attorney Michael Brown at Suffolk County Court on September 3, 2025 in Riverhead, New York (Getty) A New York judge has ruled that critical DNA evidence will be allowed to be used at the upcoming trial of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. Heuermanns defense team challenged the evidence since it was obtained using whole genome sequencing, a new DNA technology that had never been used in a New York court. But prosecutors successfully argued in a series of hearings this year that the technology was derived from accepted scientific methods. The science was on our side, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said following the announcement. Heuermann, 61, appeared in a Riverhead courtroom on Wednesday as Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei ruled that prosecutors can use the DNA testing method in the case against the suspected killer. Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 outside his New York City office as part of an investigation police had been working on since 2010 into the deaths of at least 10 people mostly female sex workers whose remains were discovered along an isolated highway near Gilgo Beach on Long Island. He has been charged with the murders of seven women. Rex Heuermann, 61, appeared in a Riverhead courtroom on Wednesday as Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei ruled that prosecutors can use the DNA testing method in the case against the suspected killer (Getty) Heuermanns attorney Michael Brown said his client was disappointed by the decision. We disagree with the courts decision, Brown said, later adding, We think the evidence is clear that they didnt sustain their burden. It doesnt mean we cant cross-examine these witnesses at trial, Brown added. As prosecutors built the case against Heuermann, they pointed to a trove of evidence: cell phone data, search histories, eyewitness accounts and DNA. The way that DNA was tested quickly became a focal point in the closely watched case. Prosecutors say the technique is reliable and helped link Heuermann or his family to victims whose bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway in 2010. The technique, carried out by California-based Astrea Forensics, allowed investigators to analyze hairs without roots, and degraded samples that traditional testing couldnt process. Even without Astreas findings, prosecutors point to extensive digital, forensic and witness evidence they say ties Heuermann to the murders. When 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes skeletal remains were discovered in the roadside scrub near Long Islands Gilgo Beach in the winter of 2010, investigators faced a daunting challenge. Despite the grim find, there was scant physical evidence to identify her killer, save for a single, degraded strand of hair. Rootless hairs from Heuermann, his wife and daughter were found on Maureen Brainard-Barnes and several other bodies (Getty/Reuters/Suffolk County Police) At the time, extracting viable DNA from such a sample was beyond the capabilities of forensic science, leaving detectives to search for other clues in their hunt for a suspected serial killer scattering womens bodies along the coastal parkway. However, a significant breakthrough emerged approximately seven years ago. Investigators turned to Astrea Forensics, a California-based laboratory pioneering new techniques to analyze old, highly degraded DNA samples, including rootless hairs like the crucial one found alongside Brainard-Barnes body. Prosecutors have amassed other evidence against Heuermann, who is accused of killing women as early as 1993. In court filings, they say cellphone call information and tracking data show that Heuermann arranged meetings with some of the victims shortly before their disappearances. Asa Ellerup, ex-wife of Rex Heuermann, is interviewed as part of 50 Cents new true crime project Gilgo Beach Killer: The House Of Secrets (50 Cent/Instagram) Last year, prosecutors revealed they had recovered from Heuermanns computer files what they describe as a blueprint for the killings, including a series of checklists with reminders to limit noise, clean the bodies and destroy evidence. They also have a second DNA analysis completed by a separate crime lab that used more traditional methods long accepted in New York courts. They say those findings, from Mitotyping Technologies, also convincingly link hairs found on some victims to either Heuermann or members of his family. Investigators say that as he disposed of his victims, Heuermann used items from his house including tape, belts, bags and a surgical drape that had traces of hair from his wife and daughter. In Brainard-Barnes' case, though, only the advanced DNA tests performed by Astrea identified a match, finding the hair found with her remains belonged to Heuermann's wife. Heuermann was charged in June 2024 with the brutal murders of Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor (Suffolk County DA/Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook page) The Gilgo Beach murders Heuermann was first charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, and Megan Waterman, whose bodies were found between 2009 and 2010. While in custody, Heuermann was subsequently charged in the deaths of four other women: Valerie Mack in 2000, Jessica Taylor in 2003, Maureen Brainard-Barnes in 2007, and Sandra Costilla in 1993. Heuermanns now ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, who lived in the Massapequa Park home they shared with their children on Long Island, filed for divorce a short time after his arrest. A settlement was reached earlier this year. Prosecutors also say Heuermann kept a blueprint of his alleged crimes on his computer that included a series of checklists with tasks to complete before, during and after the killings, as well as practical lessons for next time. This combination of undated image provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, shows Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (Suffolk County Police Department) Michael Brown, Heuermanns attorney, wants to break the case into multiple trials over concerns about the cumulative effect of the evidence presented by prosecutors. Prosecutors have opposed that request and Mazzei is expected to rule on it soon. In The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets, a three-part documentary released on Peacock this summer, Ellerup defended his innocence, referring to Heuermann as her hero while their daughter, Victoria, said she believes her father is most likely the Gilgo Beach serial killer. Heuermann has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all counts. A trial date has not yet been set. Getty Images Claw clips are perfect for chic and simple styling. The Gist Claw clips are the perfect tool for a quick and easy hairstyle. Plus, they're a pretty accessory. Everyone's go-to hair accessory also happens to be one of the most beloved '90s trends to come back in recent years. That's right, we're talking about the iconic claw clip. There's a reason this accessory is a model-off-duty favoritejust ask Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Bella Hadid, who are all fansit's versatility is unmatched. You can find it in countless styles (seriously, there is a color and size for everyone), and claw clips offer a variety of ways to wear your hair up. Plus, they're healthier for your hair than other accessories. Take elastic scrunchies as an example. Researchers at Princeton have found that traditional hair ties cause dents and friction to the hair, which can cause breakage. While silk scrunchies, though pricier, are more gentle on hair. But claw clips are an affordable hair accessory to keep your hair in place without denting. Bonus: Claw clip hairstyles couldn't be easier to recreate at home. To get the look, celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, says you'll want to start by brushing your hair to remove any unwanted tangles. Then, you'll get ready to put it up, which is exactly like putting your hair back into a medium-to-low pony, Fitzsimons says. Next, twist your hair with your fingers, and then pull the length of your hair up so it starts to form a vertical bun. Finally, secure the clip. After that, feel free to make any adjustments you want to achieve your desired style. Below, Fitzsimonsalong with fellow celeb hairstylists Ona Diaz-Santin and MariLynne Cosmilloshare their favorite claw clip hairstyles and how to DIY them. Read on for everything you need to know about styling your hair with a claw clip. Meet Our Expert Andrew Fitzsimons is a celebrity hairstylist and the founder of an eponymous hair-care line. Ona Diaz-Santin is a celebrity hairstylist and the owner of the 5 Salon & Spa in New Jersey. MariLynne Cosmillo is a hairstylist and the founder of the hair care brand Hours. Wambui Kariuki is a natural-hair content creator. 01 of 10 Twist and Clip Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images Alessa Winter in Berlin, Germany, in August 2021. Diaz-Santin says the twist and clip is the easiest claw clip hairstyle you can do. Just as the name suggests, the hairstylist says all you have to do is twist a section of your hair and secure it. Leave the ends feathered out, as seen here on Swiss influencer Alessa Winter, for a more casual hairstyle. 02 of 10 Messy Bun Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Hailey Bieber looking away from the camera in L.A. in December 2022. Diaz-Santin also recommends going the messy bun route a la Hailey Bieber. She says to twist your hair into a bun and secure it with a claw clip, allowing some loose strands to remain for a relaxed look. Make sure your strands are facing down if you want this exact hairstyle. 03 of 10 Claw Clip Updo Here, a claw clip serves as a sturdy base for an elevated updo. "I started by lightly spritzing my hair with water and applying a small amount of curling custard from Organic Beauty Essence. To give the claw clip a good grip (since I have a lot of hair), I sectioned and secured the sides and back with small bands, then did the same for the middle section," says Wambui Kariuki, a creator who specializes in natural hairstyles. "The brown claw clip added the perfect earthy touch and held everything in place. I finished the look with a few front twists and added brown wooden beads to match." 04 of 10 Reverse Ponytail Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images Sophia Geiss in Berlin, Germany, in January 2025. "I love a reverse claw clip style on long hair," says Cosmillo. To DIY this hairstyle, first pull your hair into a ponytail and secure it with an elastic. Then, wrap the lengths around the elastic and pull it downwards before securing the claw clip underneath the base. It's an elevated yet edgy take on the classic accessory. 05 of 10 Half-Updo Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images Lois Opoku in Berlin, Germany, in June 2023. You can also secure your half-up, half-down look with a claw clip. Simply take two sections, one from each side of your head, gather them, and secure them at the back with a clip. Diaz-Santin likes to give each section a twist for a unique spin on the look. Tips The claw clip works with almost all hair lengths and textures, says Fitzsimons. However, people with longer or thicker hair should opt for a larger, more durable clip. You can also use a regular clip to create half-up, half-down hairstyles, Fitzsimons adds. 06 of 10 Half Slicked-Back, Half Natural @thejessxu/Instagram Jess Xu in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in March 2025. Fitzsimons recommends a half-slicked-back, half-natural look for those with thicker or textured hair. "This style is where you slick back the hair with a serum or a hair cream for a smooth look, and then twist the rest of the hair back into a clip as normal," he says. If your hair is long, let it cascade over the clip for a lifted updo, as seen here. 07 of 10 Inverted Ponytail Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Vanessa Hong at Paris Fashion Week in October 2021. For an effortless updo, add a claw clip for a little extra oomph. To get the look, Diaz-Santin says to gather your hair into a ponytail (you can position it however you want) and add a claw clip to keep it in place. This style shines even more when you opt for a metallic clip. 08 of 10 With Bangs Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Heart Evangelista outside in Manila, Philippines, in November 2023. Having bangs doesn't exempt you from trying claw clip hairstyles. As actress Heart Evangelista shows, your bangs can be the perfect complement to a chic updo. Just make sure to grab a clip big enough to secure all your hair so that you don't have stray pieces flying around. 09 of 10 Bun at the Base Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Gabriella Berdugo facing away from the camera in Paris, France, in May 2022. Claw clips can also help secure a low bun, which is perfect for who want an easier style. To achieve it, simply put your hair in a bun at the base of your neck and use your claw clip to secure it at the top. If you want, pull out some strands for extra interest. 10 of 10 Face-Framing Tendrils @emijayinc/Instagram Side profile of Gigi Hadid inside a room. Fitzsimons is also a fan of a loose upward twist. If you have layers, he says to leave a few out to frame your face for a softer vibe. It'll give off-duty supermodel in the best way. Read the original article on InStyle SAN FRANCISCO A mishap between two United Airlines planes at San Francisco International Airport forced passengers to deplane and fly in a different aircraft to their destinations, the airline confirmed on Wednesday, Aug. 3. The incident took place on the evening of Monday, Sept. 1, when two United Airlines planes touched tails at the airport, the airline confirmed to USA TODAY. According to the United, the collision involving Flight 1871 traveling to Denver and Flight 796 bound for Boston took place as one of the aircraft pushing back from the gate "made contact with the tail of a parked United aircraft." A United Airlines Airbus A319 taxies to a gate after landing at San Francisco International Airport. The incident took place around 9:10 p.m. local time, Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Steve Kulm told USA TODAY. "This occurred in an area where air traffic controllers do not communicate with flights," Kulm said in an email. FAA investigates after 2 planes collide at San Francisco airport According to Kulm, United Airlines Flight 1871 was towed back to the gate where passengers "deplaned normally." No passengers or crew members were hurt, United said, noting the airline "arranged for different aircraft to take our customers to their destinations." TV station ABC-7 in San Francisco reported the collision caused damage to at least one aircraft's wing. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and neither the airline nor the FAA responded when questioned about the reported wing damage. The FAA said the agency continues to investigate the crash. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 United Airlines planes collide on ground in San Francisco By Greg Torode SINGAPORE (Reuters) -From an upgraded, nuclear-armed missile with near-global reach, to air defence lasers, hypersonic weapons, and sea drones that could crowd its near seas, China sent a broad message of deterrence with its largest ever military parade on Wednesday. Military analysts and diplomats saw China's leader Xi Jinping using the event to signal a diverse group, from the United States and its allies, to neighbours and regional powers India and Russia, as well as potential buyers of technology. "For all the operational questions that surround some of these new elements, China was sending a message of technological advance and military strength on all fronts - there is a indeed a lot for rival defence planners to get their heads around," said Singapore-based security analyst Alexander Neill. For the first time, China displayed its full nuclear triad of weapons that can be deployed from land, sea and air, including a re-tooled intercontinental ballistic missile, the DF-5C, with a range of 20,000 km (12,400 miles), and a new road-mobile long-range missile, the DF-61. Beyond the strategic level, China's military was also showing it was determined to dominate its near seas as well. The comprehensive range of new weapons could complicate the plans of the United States and its allies in any conflict in East Asia, said James Char, a China defence scholar at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. "The combination of the (sea) ... drones they have and also the missiles, it will create an area that external navies couldn't even enter to intervene," Char said. More broadly, Char and other analysts said, China was possibly also keen to show smaller nations that it now stood as a "guarantor of peace" amid doubts about the U.S. political, diplomatic and military role worldwide. Specifically, the new torpedo-shaped drones and array of hypersonic triad weapons would be a serious threat for the United States and its partners. That is even more so when they are combined with China's growing number of DF-26 medium-range ballistic missiles carrying controllable warheads that could target ships and bases such as Guam. Analysts have long said China would have to effectively secure control of the South and East China seas in any conflict over Taiwan to ensure success, which is no easy task, given the traditional dominance of the United States across East Asia. Beyond the neat demonstration of precision and discipline on display at the parade, question-marks remained about the full capabilities and ranges of the new weapons. While China showed off new weapons it said were operational, it is another matter whether that is the case, said military expert Chieh Chung, a researcher at the Taipei-based Association of Strategic Foresight. "Some weapons may still be in limited deployment to units, undergoing 'field testing during deployment,' and may not yet be fully standardised or ready for mass production," he said. Char, Neill and other analysts pointed to the high degree of technology on show, particularly in an apparent desire to meld together various systems with air defences, battle management systems and drones. A new main battle tank, the Type-100, was unveiled, for instance, bristling with new systems, including air defences and reconnaissance drones. Newly formed aerospace, cyberspace and information support units were also on show, demonstrating a willingness to compete in advanced space and electronic warfare realms. "Western militaries may still have an operational edge, but there is no doubt China is wanting to show it is rapidly catching up," said Neill, adding that the United States is generally more cautious about detailing weapons being developed. "I do wonder if there is an element here of China being eager to sell this technology to other militaries ... there was after all a little gimmickry here too," he added, pointing to a dog-like robot in the lineup. (Reporting by Greg Torode in Singapore, Additional reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Clarence Fernandez) President Donald Trump speaks during an event about the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) WASHINGTON (AP) A federal appeals court panel has ruled that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of being in a Venezuelan gang. The decision blocking an administration priority is destined for a showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court. Two judges on a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in the ruling Tuesday, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges who argued the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs such as Tren de Aragua, which the Republican president had targeted in March. Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said the administrations use of "a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said the majority erred in second-guessing the president. The authority to conduct national security operations in defense of the United States and to remove terrorists from the United States rests solely with the President," Jackson said. "We expect to be vindicated on the merits in this case. The administration deported people designated as Tren de Aragua members to a notorious prison in El Salvador and argued that American courts could not order them freed. In a deal announced in July, more than 250 of the deported migrants returned to Venezuela. The Alien Enemies Act was only used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars in the War of 1812 and the two world wars. The administration unsuccessfully argued that courts cannot second-guess the presidents determination that Tren de Aragua was connected to Venezuelas government and represented a danger to the United States, meriting use of the act. In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said they granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because they found no invasion or predatory incursion in this case. The decision bars deportations from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In the majority were U.S. Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick, who was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden. Andrew Oldham, a Trump nominee, dissented. The majority opinion said Trumps allegations about Tren de Aragua did not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act. A countrys encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States, the judges wrote. In a lengthy dissent, Oldham complained his two colleagues were second-guessing Trumps conduct of foreign affairs and national security, realms where courts usually give the president great deference. The majoritys approach to this case is not only unprecedentedit is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent, Oldham wrote. The panel did grant the Trump administration one legal victory, finding the procedures it uses to advise detainees under the Alien Enemies Act of their legal rights were appropriate. The ruling can be appealed to the full 5th Circuit or directly to the Supreme Court, which is likely to make the ultimate decision on the issue. The Supreme Court has already gotten involved twice before in the tangled history of the Trump administration's use of the AEA. In the initial weeks after Trump's March declaration, the court ruled that the administration could deport people under the act, but unanimously found that those targeted needed to be given a reasonable chance to argue their case before judges in the areas where they were held. Then, as the administration moved to rapidly deport more Venezuelans from Texas, the high court stepped in again with an unusual, post-midnight ruling that they couldn't do so until the 5th Circuit decided whether the administration was providing adequate notice to the immigrants and could weigh in on the broader legal issues of the case. The high court has yet to address whether a gang can be cited as an alien enemy under the AEA. ___ Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia has agreed to pay the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru A$2.5 billion ($1.62 billion) over three decades to host deported non-citizens, with accommodation for the first deportees already prepared, Australian officials said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left government is expected to pass a law on Thursday making it easier to deport non-citizens to third countries, reviving criticism from human rights groups that it was "dumping" refugees in small island states and drawing comparisons with U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Australia signed a deal last Friday with Nauru to resettle people who have been denied refugee visas because of criminal convictions. The United States is seeking Pacific Island nations willing to accept deported non-citizens. The planned new law removes procedural fairness when Australia deports a non-citizen to a third country and is designed to limit court appeals, the government said. It is expected to pass in parliament after the conservative opposition Liberal Party said it would support the move. Australia will pay Nauru an upfront A$400 million to establish an endowment fund for the resettlement scheme, plus A$70 million annually for the 30-year life of the agreement, Australian officials told a parliamentary committee. The funds can be clawed back by Australia if Nauru decides not to accept as many deportees as expected, the home affairs officials added. Nauru was already involved in Australia's policies on immigration: two-thirds of its revenue last year, or A$200 million ($129.96 million), came from hosting an Australian-funded processing centre for asylum seekers. Under a decade-old policy to discourage people smuggling, Australia sends asylum seekers who arrive by boat to offshore detention centres to have refugee claims assessed, denying them Australian visas. The practice has been criticised by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Nauru, which has a population of 12,000 and a land area of just 21 square km (eight square miles), is reliant on foreign aid, and faces a 2025 deadline to repay Taiwan A$43 million ($27.94 million) after switching diplomatic ties to Beijing, according to budget documents. NEW SCHEME COVERS DIFFERENT GROUP The new Nauru resettlement scheme will cover a different group, whose visas were cancelled by Australia because they served prison sentences or were refused visas on character grounds, and cannot return to countries including Iran, Myanmar and Iraq because of the risk of persecution. Australia's High Court ruled in 2023 that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful, resulting in around 350 non-citizens being released into the community, with a third subject to electronic monitoring. One of this group, a 65-year-old Iraqi man, lost a High Court appeal against deportation to Nauru on Wednesday. Australia will apply to Nauru for visas for the non-citizens "on a rolling basis commencing fairly soon", the official told a parliamentary committee. When a visa is approved by Nauru, the individual will be detained in Australia to prepare for deportation, she added. The president of the Law Council of Australia, Juliana Warner, said on Wednesday the deportation law was "troubling" because it could put those sent to Nauru at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare, and is being rushed through parliament without adequate public scrutiny. Several independent lawmakers said they were concerned it could be applied more widely than the 350 released by the High Court decision, with up to 80,000 people in the community without a visa. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke declined to comment on the 80,000 figure, and has said the law change is needed to maintain the integrity of the migration system. The move was "absolutely Trump-like", said Jana Favero, the deputy chief executive of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Independent lawmaker Monique Ryan told parliament that Australia was "using a small island nation as a dumping ground". ($1 = 1.5389 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in SydneyEditing by Michael Perry and Frances Kerry) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus in Atlanta. (David Goldman / AP file) The Trump administrations cuts to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding for state and local health departments had vastly uneven effects depending on the political leanings of a state, according to a KFF Health News analysis. Democratic-led states and select blue-leaning cities fought back in court and saw money for public health efforts restored while GOP-led states sustained big losses. The Department of Health and Human Services in late March canceled nearly 700 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants nationwide together worth about $11 billion. Awarded during the covid-19 pandemic, they supported efforts to vaccinate people, reduce health disparities among demographic groups, upgrade antiquated systems for detecting infectious disease outbreaks, and hire community health workers. Initially, grant cancellations hit blue and red states roughly evenly. Four of the five jurisdictions with the largest number of terminated grants were led by Democrats: California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, and Massachusetts. But after attorneys general and governors from about two dozen blue states sued in federal court and won an injunction, the balance flipped. Of the five states with the most canceled grants, four are led by Republicans: Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Ohio. In blue states, nearly 80% of the CDC grant cuts have been restored, compared with fewer than 5% in red states, according to the KFF Health News analysis. Grant amounts reported in an HHS database known as the Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System, or TAGGS, often dont match what states confirmed. Instead, this analysis focused on the number of grants. The divide is an example of the polarization that permeates health care issues, in which access to safety-net health programs, abortion rights, and the ability of public health officials to respond to disease threats diverge significantly depending on the political party in power. In an emailed statement, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the agency is committed to protecting the health of every American, regardless of politics or geography. These funds were provided in response to the COVID pandemic, which is long over. We will continue working with states to strengthen public health infrastructure and ensure communities have the tools they need to respond to outbreaks and keep people safe. The money in question wasnt spent solely on covid-related activities, public health experts say; it was also used to bolster public health infrastructure and help contain many types of viruses and diseases, including the flu, measles, and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. It really supported infrastructure across the board, particularly in how states respond to public health threats, said Susan Kansagra, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The Trump cutbacks came as the U.S. recorded its largest measles outbreak in over three decades and 266 pediatric deaths during the most recent flu season the highest reported outside of a pandemic since 2004. Public health departments canceled vaccine clinics, laid off staff, and put contracts on hold, health officials said in interviews. After its funding cuts were blocked in court, California retained every grant the Trump administration attempted to claw back, while Texas remains the state with the most grants terminated, with at least 30. As the CDC slashed grants in Texas, its measles outbreak spread across the U.S. and Mexico, sickening at least 4,500 people and killing at least 16. Colorado, which joined the lawsuit, had 11 grant terminations at first, but then 10 were retained. Meanwhile, its neighboring states that didnt sue Wyoming, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma collectively lost 55 grants, with none retained. In Jackson, Ohio, a half-dozen community health workers came to work one day in March to find the Trump administration had canceled their grant five months early, leaving the Jackson County Health Department half a million dollars short and them without jobs. I had to lay off three employees in a single day, and I havent had to do that before. We dont have those people doing outreach in Jackson County anymore, Health Commissioner Kevin Aston said. At one point, he said, the funding helped 11 Appalachian Ohio counties. Now it supports one. Marsha Radabaugh, one employee who was reassigned, has scaled back her community health efforts: Shed been helping serve hot meals to homeless people and realized that many clients couldnt read or write, so she brought forms for services such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to their encampment in a local park and helped fill them out. We would find them rehab places. Wed get out hygiene kits, blankets, tents, zero-degree sleeping bags, things like that, she said. As a counselor, shed also remind people that theyre cared for, that theyre worthy of being a human because, a lot of the time, theyre not treated that way. Sasha Johnson, who led the community health worker program, said people like Radabaugh were basically a walking human 411, offering aid to those in need. Radabaugh also partnered with a food bank to deliver meals to homebound residents. Aston said the abrupt way they lost the funds which meant the county unexpectedly had to pay unemployment for more people could have ruined the health district financially. Canceling funding midcycle, he said, was really scary. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist and promoter of vaccine misinformation, has called the CDC a cesspool of corruption. At HHS, he has taken steps to undermine vaccination in the U.S. and abroad. Federal CDC funding accounts for more than half of state and local health department budgets, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. States that President Donald Trump won in the 2024 election received a higher share of the $15 billion the CDC allocated in fiscal 2023 than those that Democrat Kamala Harris won, according to KFF. The Trump administrations nationwide CDC grant terminations reflect this. More than half were in states that Trump won in 2024, totaling at least 370 terminations before the court action, according to KFF Health News analysis. The Columbus, Ohio, health department had received $6.2 million in CDC grants, but roughly half of it $3 million disappeared with the Trump cuts. The city laid off 11 people who worked on investigating infectious disease outbreaks in such places as schools and nursing homes, Columbus Health Commissioner Mysheika Roberts said. She also said the city had planned to buy a new electronic health record system for easier access to patients hospital records which could improve disease detection and provide better treatment for those infected but that was put on ice. Weve never had a grant midcycle just get pulled from us for no reason, Roberts said. This sense of uncertainty is stressful. Columbus did not receive its money directly from the CDC. Rather, the state gave the city some funds it received from the federal government. Ohio, led by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and a Republican attorney general, did not sue to block the funding cuts. Columbus sued the federal government in April to keep its money, along with other Democratic-led municipalities in Republican-governed states: Harris County, Texas, home to Houston; the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County in Tennessee; and Kansas City, Missouri. A federal judge in June blocked those cuts. As of mid-August, Columbus was awaiting the funds. Roberts said the city wont rehire staff because the federal funding was expected to end in December. Joe Grogan, a senior scholar at the University of Southern Californias Schaeffer Institute and former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council in Trumps first term, said state and local agencies are not entitled to the federal money, which was awarded to deal with an emergency that has ended. We were throwing money out the door the last five years, Grogan said of the federal government. I dont understand why there would ever be a controversy in unspent covid money coming back. Ken Gordon, Ohio Department of Health spokesperson, wrote in an email that the $250 million in grants lost had helped with, among other things, upgrading the disease reporting system and boosting public health laboratory testing. Some of the canceled HHS funding wasnt slated to end for years, including four grants to strengthen public health in Indian Country, a grant to a Minnesota nonprofit focused on reducing substance use disorders, and a few to universities about occupational safety, HIV, tuberculosis, and more. Brent Ewig, chief policy and government relations officer for the Association of Immunization Managers, said the cuts were the predictable result of boom, bust, panic, neglect funding for public health. The association represents 64 state, local, and territorial immunization programs, which Ewig said will be less prepared to respond to disease outbreaks, including measles. The system is blinking red, Ewig said. DCNF - Johnson Guns Chicago Trump - Featured Screenshot/Rumble/MSNBC Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago demanded President Donald Trump push gun control during a Tuesday press conference after the president mulled sending federal troops to the Windy City. Trump hinted at stepped-up federal enforcement efforts in Chicago in an Aug. 25 post on Truth Social, criticizing Johnson over Chicagos crime rates. Johnson claimed that Republican-controlled states have a gun problem that fueled Chicagos crime rate. (RELATED: Jonathan Turley Explains Why Trump Will Win Either Way In Chicago Crime Fight) WATCH: We will never be able to end gun violence in Chicago as long as the president continues to allow tens of thousands of guns to be trafficked into our state and our city, Johnson claimed during a Tuesday press conference with Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois. The vast majority of guns do not come from Chicago. They are not made in Cook County. They are not bought in the state of Illinois. These guns come from red states. They are coming from Indiana. They are coming from Mississippi. They are coming from Louisiana. And that is the harsh reality, whether Republicans like it or not. Occupying our city will do nothing to solve this problem. No matter how much work we do or how hard we work, whether its expanding our Detectives Bureau, investing in community violence intervention, and addressing the root causes of crime, none of it will ever be enough until the president decides to end the mass trafficking of guns in our city, Johnson continued. For every gun that the Chicago Police Department fights to get off the streets, two or three more new guns come into our city. Chicago will continue to have a violence problem as long as red states continue to have a gun problem. Shootings will continue as long as this presidential administration continues to put politics over people. Currently, provisions of 18 USC 922 and 18 USC 924 impose significant prison time for those convicted of firearms trafficking. Illinois also has some of the strictest gun-control laws in the country. Chicago led the country in murders for the 13th straight year, totaling 572 in 2024, according to CWBChicago. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation. 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. Mike Coppola/Getty for Travel + Leisure Tracee Ellis Ross attends the Travel + Leisure World's Best Summit 2025 on July 15, 2025 in New York City. NEED TO KNOW Burglars broke into Tracee Ellis Ross's home at approximately 12:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Sept. 2 The LAPD said three thieves entered through a glass door, stealing more than $100,000 worth of jewelry and handbags This is the latest in a string of celebrity burglaries in Los Angeles after Brad Pitt's home was burglarized in June Burglars broke into Tracee Ellis Ross' Los Angeles home, stealing more than $100,000 worth of jewelry and handbags. The burglary was reported at approximately 12:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Sept. 2, after staff members arrived at the residence and found it ransacked, local NBC affiliate KNBC reported. Police told the outlet that three individuals entered the home through a glass door. Ross, 52, was not home at the time of the intrusion. Police obtained footage from a home security camera, and the investigation remains ongoing. PEOPLE has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department for updates. The robbery is the latest in a string of celebrity home break-ins in Los Angeles this summer. In June, thieves broke into Brad Pitt's Los Feliz residence through a window, also while he was out of town. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The burglary occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on June 25, the LAPD told PEOPLE at the time. The suspects "broke into the residence via the front window, ransacked the location, then fled the location with miscellaneous property," police said. There were three suspects implicated, who were not publicly identified. Earlier in 2025, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's Los Angeles home was burglarized on Valentine's Day. Police sources told NBC News, ABC News and TMZ at the time that the burglars allegedly smashed a glass door or window to break in before ransacking the home and fleeing. Read the original article on People Chick-fil-A partners with Gadsden State Community College for new training program High school students, recent graduates and adults looking to expand their career opportunities have a new option in Gadsden, Alabama. Gadsden State Community College and Chick-fil-A have teamed up to offer a training program that will equip participants with essential skills needed to land jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry. After completing the training program, participants will earn an industry credential certificate of training in Hospitality: Food and Beverage. A view of the outdoor seating at a Chick-fil-A location in Nanuet, New York. (This program) is a powerful example of how industry and education can work together to prepare a skilled, professional workforce, said Baisha Woody, director of skills training at Gadsden State. Students in the program, offered through Gadsden States Workforce Development Division, will receive hands-on training as well as classroom and video instruction in food safety and customer service. Students participate in the new food service training program provided by Chick-fil-A Gadsden and Gadsden State Community Colleges Workforce Development Program The goals of the program are to reduce barriers to entry in the industry, foster professional development and equip students with leadership development skills. Tammy Stephens, Chick-fil-A Gadsden operations and training lead, said the program will provide a pathway for opportunity while also highlighting the values and standards that make Chick-fil-A a leader in the food service industry. Students participate in the new Food Service Training program provided by Chick-fil-A Gadsden and Gadsden State Community Colleges Workforce Development Program Chick-fil-A Gadsden is committed to developing leaders, Stephens said. We are proud to partner with Gadsden State to offer cutting-edge training that not only teaches essential skills for restaurant operations but also builds character and confidence. For more information about the restaurant and hospitality industry skills training program, visit Gadsden States website at www.gadsdenstate.edu. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Chick-fil-A partners with college for food training program The confusion and anger of children and their parents at a Chuck E. Cheese in Tallahassee, Florida has gone viral in newly-released bodycam footage of a mascot being escorted out of the location in handcuffs. In a video released by the Tallahassee Police Department, a Chuck E. Cheese mascot is approached by two police officers who handcuff the man in his costume, inside of the restaurant-arcade and escort him out to a police car, where they begin to question him. Children in the video are heard saying, "Oh no!," standing by in confusion. Before exiting the location, a distraught mother told the officers they may have "traumatized" the children in the restaurant-arcade. "Would y'all put Mickey Mouse in handcuffs?" she continued. Jermel Jarreau Jones, 41, was arrested at the Tallahassee Chuck E. Cheese on July 23 after officers responded to a call from a woman named Michelle Allen, who alleged she had video proof of Jones using a stolen credit card, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY. Allen said she was at the Chuck E. Cheese to confront Jones. Bodycam footage shows Chuck E. Cheese arrest Crime: Chuck E. Cheese worker arrested on fraud charges while dressed as mascot Why was the Chuck E. Cheese mascot arrested? Allen told police, who met her in the parking lot of the Chuck E. Cheese, that the last time she used her credit card was on June 28 when she attended her childs birthday party, according to the affidavit. After the party, she noticed around $105 worth of fraudulent charges on her card from businesses she had never shopped at. When Allen obtained security footage from a local grocery store, she identified the man using her card in the business as a Chuck E. Cheese employee, according to the document. Once Allen told police she wanted to press charges against Jones, officers entered the Chuck E. Cheese and located him after another employee said, "He was the one in the mouse suit." A Florida man working as a Chuck E. Cheese mascot was arrested in full costume during his shift at a restaurant in Tallahassee, Florida after being accused of credit card fraud, according to Leon County court documents. What happens in the arrest video? The video released by the Tallahassee Police Department features the bodycam footage from the two officers at the scene. In the second part of the video, viewers can hear one of the officers say, "Chuck E.'s a little busy, ma'am" to a woman with a few kids interacting with the mascot. When officers approached Jones, one of them grabbed his right arm and told him, "Chuck E, come with me Chuck E," the affidavit stated. During this interaction, Jones pulled away from the officer's grip and allegedly "continued resisting by bracing his arms toward his chest and would not release his braced arms." The arresting officer asked Jones "Not to make a scene." At that point, he was placed in handcuffs and escorted out of the business to the officer's patrol car. While speaking with officers, Jones told them, "The only cards I use is my own Cash App," the affidavit stated. He continued to deny using the woman's card, including when questioned about purchases at a meat market and a smoke shop, the arresting document continued. "I dont got no card on me. I dont use nobodys card but my own," Jones told officers, per the affidavit. If he did find a card, Jones told the officers he would have "turned it in to Chuck E. Cheese and not kept it." What was the Chuck E. Cheese employee charged with? Jones was charged with three felonies, including theft of credit card, criminal use of personal identification information and fraudulent use of a credit card more than two times within six months, according to Leon County court records. He was taken into custody and booked at Leon County Jail, but he has already been released on bond, the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The felonies Jones were charged with are not his only criminal charges in Leon County. Since 2004, he's been charged with petit theft (low-value theft), possession of marijuana and cocaine, trespassing and indecent exposure in public, according to court documents. "I am quite frankly shocked that a man with this many theft, drug and an indecent exposure arrests was hired by (Chuck E. Cheese) and allowed to be around young children on regular basis," the Allen's layer, Paul Aloise, said in an email statement to USA TODAY. "While I certainly hate what happened to my client, Ms. Allen, I am truly grateful no children were harmed by Mr. Jones." What did Chuck E. Cheese say? "We are aware of an incident involving a part-time employee arrested at our Tallahassee location on Wednesday, July 23," Chuck E. Cheese representative Allison Chouinard said in an email statement to USA TODAY. "We have taken the appropriate action concerning the subject employee." USA TODAY was unable to reach Jones' lawyer. A Chuck E. Cheese restaurant is pictured in Oceanside, California, U.S., January 18, 2017. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com. Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com. Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chuck E. Cheese mascot arrest is shown on bodycam footage Design by olivia alchek "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A few years ago, I could not put an outfit together to save my life. I was going through a messy breakup and feeling stagnant at my job. I was sleeping in a bedroom without a window. Everything felt overwhelming, including getting dressed. I had pieces I loved shoved into my tiny closet; there was a printed Jean Paul Gaultier transparent shirt, a cheeky bedazzled souvenir top from Paris, and a bubblegum-pink vintage knit. But I found myself gravitating toward a plain white mens shirt. I wore the same look several times a week: this slightly oversize, slightly rumpled mens button-up with a pair of jeans and ballet flats. I wasted no precious brainpower riffling through my closet. The shirt was a balm and a blank slate. It felt dressier than a white tee but also profound in its sartorial possibilities. Some like it crisp, but I prefer it a little beat-up. A lived-in white shirt can last the whole day and stand up to whatever I throw at it (literally and figuratively). My mom, an antiques dealer and fashion lover, likens the shirt to vanilla ice creamwhich is not to say that its bland but rather that its a classic you can rely on and return to. The white shirt keeps things clean, she says. Sure, there might be a zillion other flavors in the ice cream shop, but the white shirt is a palateand palettecleanser. Lately, Ive found myself needing the white shirt once again. My life is in chaos, though its a happier chaos this time, as I care for a new baby and am building my own business. Ive also noticed the button-up swirling in the zeitgeist. I was transfixed by Lorde, who wore a cool, carefree version in the music video for What Was That. She was dressed down, with her Balenciaga jeans barely hanging onto her hips and duct tape lazily wrapped around her lug-sole boots. Her white shirt was barely buttoned and, depending on how the wind blew, would flutter upward to reveal a swath of midriff. How sensual. How simple. COURTESY THE DESIGNERS The white button-up was all over the Fall 2025 runways too. While the Row went classic, at Balenciaga the white shirt was stretched and elongated, made into a minidress with a wickedly upturned collar. Prada showcased a version featuring romantic, sloping plackets and puffed sleeves, with a slight rumple in the fabric. There were funkier iterations, like at Issey Miyake, where the collar was skewed to the side of the body, as if someone had flicked it, like the world tilted off its axis. The Japanese designer Keisuke Yoshida applied descending knots crisscrossing across the buttons like a straitjacket. Thakoon Panichgul of babe-basics label HommeGirls released a shirt that is reminiscent of a Japanese school uniform, homing in on its boxiness. Thom Browne has built his whole enterprise on the idea of the uniform. The white oxford shirt (a heavier, stiffer version of a button-up made from oxford cloth) was one of the first items he introduced when he launched his label in 2001, and he continues to show iterations season after season. I wanted it to be something that when you thought of my collection, you thought of that white oxford, but it wasnt just a white shirt, he says. It was also the idea of that bulletproof cotton shirt that I think we all grew up wearing. Theres that democratic word we. The white button-up is all for one and one for all. Brownes mother dressed him in charming Brooks Brothers shirts as a child. I grew up wearing a stiff style for chorus and job interviews. The white shirt has long conferred a sense of professionalism. The term white-collar dates back to 1910 but was popularized by the author Upton Sinclair, who used it to refer to someone who manned a desk job in The Brass Check, his 1919 expose of American journalism. LAUNCHMETRICS SPOTLIGHT The white shirt is a standard item of clothing, but its also an iconoclast. Who can forget when Carrie Bradshaw put on Bigs oversize white shirt and belted it after falling into the Central Park lake? Uma Thurmans character in Pulp Fiction, Mia Wallace, wore one; she was poised and bitchy with a cigarette in her hand, her dagger-sharp cuffs with a juicy black enamel cuff link on full display. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Princess Diana, whose style is revered as much today as it ever was, both used white shirts to communicate easy elegance. Designer Carolina Herrera did the same. Her pairing of a long evening skirt and tucked-in, half-unbuttoned white shirt became a blueprint for red-carpet dressing. In 1998, Sharon Stone attended the Oscars in a Herrera-esque look: a sheeny lavender silk skirt by Vera Wang with a Gap mens shirt unbuttoned down to the navel, the collar slightly flipped upward, the plackets spread open. At this years Met Gala, Anne Hathaway wore a Carolina Herrera skirt and white button-up with a stiff popped collar, which she later wore to an after-party with black pants. Talk about the easiest outfit change ever. In May of last year, Hathaway wore a tailored shirtdress designed by Gap Inc. creative director Zac Posen. The piece had a throw-on-and-go appeal: Hathaways stylist Erin Walsh gave it a tug, and the collar of the white shirtdress was positioned to slope off of the actresss bare shoulder. The Gap white shirt is crisp, classic, and effortlessly above trends, Posen explains. Theres something undeniably timeless about its simplicity. When Gap first released a version of Hathaways look on its website, the dress sold out within six hours. Courtesy The Row - LAUNCHMETRICS SPOTLIGHT One of the best white shirts Ive come across recently is from the beloved independent brand Chava Studio by Olivia Villanti. According to Villanti, who is based in Mexico City, womens white shirts typically have a lighter, more flimsy collar and cuff, while mens shirting has that satisfying crunch that gives it structure. I tell Villanti that the clavicle has long been a sore spot for me and white shirts. No matter how much I try to unbutton my shirts to attain that unbothered Jane Birkinesque sexiness, I often look like Im en route to Jewish day school: The collar clasps around my trachea, as if its censoring my whole neck and chest. Villanti gets this qualm and adds a weighted inner lining to her pieces for optimal collar spread. You can pop your collar, and it doesnt hit your face, and you wont get your makeup on it, says Villanti about her shirts. But it also can open wide, and you can see the clavicle. Theres a tabula rasa element to the button-up that gives it broad appeal, whether youre getting one from Gap, a French luxury fashion house, or a small indie designer. It is an emotional and symbolic blank slate that enables wearers to project their identity, mood, or power without distraction. It suggests clarity, competence, and self-control and is often associated with professionalism, purity, or a return to order after chaos, explains London-based psychologist Carolyn Mair, author of the book The Psychology of Fashion. Given these symbolic associations, wearing a classic white shirt can engender these feelings in the wearer, she adds. It suggests a psychological need for simplicity, authenticity, order, or reinvention and a lack of need for embellishment. LAUNCHMETRICS SPOTLIGHT The benefits of the white shirt are especially welcome right now. We are coming down from a deranged trend bender. During the post-Covid era, stir-crazy with visions of how to dress for the future, we were bludgeoned with relentless cores (cottage-core, corporate-core, et cetera), purchasing on overdrive to jam ourselves into a style tribe. After le deluge of passionless microtrends, fashion is in soul-searching flux. How to get personal style is a top search term, and it seems like anyone with a TikTok account is emboldened to tell you how to get it. The appeal of the white shirt in this context is obvious: A white shirt means no distractions. A white shirt offers a chance to cut out the noise and start over. The image architect Law Roach, known for styling Zendaya and Celine Dion, has a whole closet full of white shirts. I constantly, constantly buy white button-down shirts in all variations, he said on this magazines podcast, The Good Buy, noting that he prefers ones from Amazon or big-and-tall stores. When I put on a clean, beautiful, crisp white shirt, I just feel styled. I feel confident, I feel put together. You can roll the sleeves, pop the collar. Sometimes I wear them backwards or pull it off the shoulder. Its so many things. As for myself? I love my white shirts coated in soft wrinkles. Each crinkle is a tender signal that Im wearing my white shirts outand in. Thats the magic of a white shirt: Starched or not, off-kilter or classic, it can bring your wardrobe, and your life, back into focus. Classic Button-Up Cotton Shirt $350.00 at bergdorfgoodman.com Ment Oversized Cotton-Poplin Shirt $1300.00 at Net-A-Porter Relaxed Fit Oxford Shirt $168.00 at Bloomingdales Poplin shirt $1520.00 at prada.com Classic Button-Down Poplin Shirt $520.00 at https://www.neimanmarcus.com Tailored Pima Cotton Shirt $109.00 at cos.com Etienne Oversized Shirt $84.50 at jcrew.com The Dress Shirt Curved Bib $235.00 at withnothingunderneath.com Continuous Button-Up Shirt $298.00 at nordstrom.com The Oversized Shirt $59.99 at bananarepublic.gap.com This story originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Harpers Bazaar. Opening image clockwise from top left: Anne Hathaway at the 2025 Met Gala (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images); Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, 1999 (Evan Agostini/Getty Images); Beverly Johnson modeling for Calvin Klein, 1975 (Sal Traina/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images); Lorde in her music video for What Was That, 2025 (via YouTube); Uma Thurman and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, 1994 (Miramax Films/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images); Sade, 1986 (Peter Jordan/Popperfoto via Getty Images); Jane Birkin, 1970 (Dennis Stevens/ANL/Shutterstock); Author Liana Satenstein in her favorite white shirt (courtesy Liana Satenstein); Sharon Stone at the 1998 Oscars (Mychal Watts/Wireimage) You Might Also Like NEW YORK (AP) Oil giant ConocoPhillips is planning to lay off up to a quarter of its workforce, amounting to thousands of jobs, as part of broader efforts from the company to cut costs. A spokesperson for ConocoPhillips confirmed the layoffs on Wednesday, noting that 20% to 25% of the company's employees and contractors would be impacted worldwide. ConocoPhillips currently has a global headcount of about 13,000 meaning that the cuts would impact between 2,600 and 3,250 workers. We are always looking at how we can be more efficient with the resources we have, a ConocoPhillips' spokesperson said via email, adding that the company expects the majority of these reductions to take place before the end of 2025. ConocoPhillips' shares fell 4.3% Wednesday. The Houston-based company's stock now sits at under $95 per share, down nearly 14% from a year ago. News of the coming layoffs was first reported by Reuters, with anonymous sources telling the outlet that CEO Ryan Lance detailed the plans in a video message earlier Wednesday. In that video, Reuters reported, Lance said the company needed fewer roles while he cited rising costs. Last month, ConocoPhillips reported second-quarter earnings of $1.97 billion. That beat Wall Street expectations, but was down from the nearly $2.33 billion the company reported for the same period last year. In its latest earnings, reported on Aug. 7, ConocoPhillips continued to point to cost cutting efforts noting that it had identified more than $1 billion in cost reductions and margin optimization. The company also said it had agreed to sell its Anadarko Basin assets for $1.3 billion. A New York judge on Wednesday admitted DNA evidence that Suffolk County prosecutors say links alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann to six of the seven women he is accused of killing. The defense had challenged the evidence since it was obtained using new DNA technology -- known as whole genome sequencing -- that had never been used in a New York court. Prosecutors successfully argued the technology was derived from accepted scientific methods. Ahead of a series of court appearances over the summer, prosecutors argued the defense motion to dismiss the evidence should be denied because the technique is "generally accepted in the scientific community and is based on technology relied upon in a wide variety of scientific and forensic settings." James Carbone/Newsday, Pool - PHOTO: Rex Heuermann, who is accused of killing seven women over the span of decades on Long Island, appears in court in Nassau County, Sept. 3, 2025. Heuermann, who was arrested in July 2023, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of seven women whose remains were found discarded on Long Island, including some at Gilgo Beach, between 1993 and 2011. His attorneys had urged the judge to preclude evidence pertaining to DNA results obtained from hairs recovered from six victims: Maureen Brainard Barnes, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack. Judge Timothy Mazzei ruled Wednesday that nuclear DNA results obtained from rootless hairs recovered from the six victims are admissible at the trial. MORE: Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann fights to invalidate certain DNA evidence Mazzei said the use of whole genome sequencing to extract DNA from the hairs, create a profile and then compare that profile to Heuermann is generally accepted in the relevant scientific community. The judge said he based the decision on expert testimony, peer-reviewed articles and use of the technology in other states, including California and Idaho. "We won. The evidence is admissible," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said. "Full speed ahead for trial." James Carbone/Newsday, Pool - PHOTO: Rex Heuermann, who is accused of killing seven women over the span of decades on Long Island, appears in court in Nassau County, Sept. 3, 2025. The decision marks the first time the techniques are allowed as evidence in a New York court and the district attorney said it could allow more cold cases to move forward for prosecution. "Obviously this is another tool in our toolbox," Tierney said. Prosecutors have alleged the DNA links hairs from six of the seven Gilgo Beach victims to Heuermann, his wife and daughter. "Obviously thats a key factor in this case," Tierney said. The defense is still waiting for a decision on its motion to break up the case into multiple trials. Mazzei said he would rule on that later this month at the next hearing scheduled Sept. 23. MORE: Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect Rex Heuermann charged with 7th murder as stunning details emerge Heuermann, a New York City architect, was arrested in July 2023 for the murders of three women -- Waterman, Costello and Melissa Barthelemy -- before subsequently being charged in the deaths of the four others as well. He allegedly kept newspaper and magazine clippings about the Gilgo Beach serial killings in his Massapequa Park home, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said that hairs found on several of the victims have also been linked to Heuermann through mitochondrial DNA testing, which they said matched the profiles of his wife and daughter. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. By Jody Godoy (Reuters) -A U.S. lawsuit where Alphabet's Google was ordered on Tuesday to share search data with competitors is just one of the major efforts by U.S. antitrust enforcers to challenge Big Tech companies over their dominance. Here are the statuses of the U.S. antitrust cases or probes against some of the world's most valuable companies: Alphabet's Google, Meta Platforms, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia. GOOGLE The internet juggernaut is fighting the U.S. Department of Justice and state enforcers on two fronts. In one case, a judge in Washington ruled the company will have to share data with competitors to open up competition in online search and barred Google from entering exclusive agreements that would prohibit device makers from preinstalling rival products on new devices. Google has already hired a former Obama official to represent it in an appeals process which could take years. The judge ruled, though, that Google would not have to sell its popular Chrome browser and Android operating system. While Google will likely get a reprieve from complying with the ruling until the appeal is over, the search landscape has already started to shift, with Google preemptively loosening its deals with device makers and wireless carriers, and Apple saying it plans to add search options fueled by artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Google is gearing up for a September trial in Alexandria, Virginia, to determine whether it must sell off part of its online advertising technology to make room for new entrants in the field, where it was found to have two illegal monopolies. Google has said it will appeal. META The Facebook parent company faced its own antitrust trial this year on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's bid to unwind Meta's acquisitions of prized assets Instagram and WhatsApp. The agency sought to show Meta strategically bought up emerging apps that it saw as potential Facebook rivals, partly through internal statements like a 2008 email in which CEO Mark Zuckerberg said "it is better to buy than compete." Meta has said Zuckerberg's past intentions are irrelevant and the case must fail because it depends on a made-up social media market that leaves out ByteDance's TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and others. The judge overseeing the case in Washington is unlikely to rule before late 2025. AMAZON The online retail giant is battling the FTC and state enforcers in Seattle, where the agency has sued Amazon accusing it of using anti-competitive tactics to maintain dominance among online superstores and marketplaces. The FTC alleged Amazon.com, which has 1 billion items in its online superstore, was using an algorithm that pushed up prices U.S. households paid by more than $1 billion. Amazon has said in court papers it stopped using the program in 2019. Last year, a judge largely rejected Amazon's bid to dismiss the case. The trial is scheduled for February 2027. APPLE The Justice Department and a coalition of states are suing the maker of the world's most popular smartphone. They say Apple thwarts competition by restricting the makers of apps and third-party devices -- such as smart watches, digital wallets and messaging services -- to keep iPhone users locked in. Apple's bid to dismiss the case was rejected in June. Deadlines for both sides to exchange information in the case stretch into early 2027, and no trial date has yet been set. MICROSOFT The FTC in 2024 opened a probe into whether the software and cloud computing heavyweight abused its market power in productivity software by imposing punitive licensing terms to prevent customers from moving their data to rival platforms. The FTC has yet to file a case. NVIDIA The Justice Department launched an investigation into the semiconductor company whose highly-sought after chips power artificial intelligence applications and made it the first company in the world to be worth $4 trillion, the Information reported last year. No lawsuit has been filed. (Reporting by Jody Godoy, Editing by Nick Zieminski) Washington Nine former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention penned an op-ed Monday condemning Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership in the aftermath of the firing of the CDC director last week, claiming he is "endangering every American's health." "What the health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has done to the CDC and to our nation's public health system over the past several months culminating in his decision to fire Dr. Susan Monarez as CDC director days ago is unlike anything we had ever seen at the agency and unlike anything our country had ever experienced," the nine former directors and acting directors wrote in the op-ed in The New York Times. The Trump administration attempted to oust CDC Director Susan Monarez last week, less than a month after she was confirmed by the Senate, although her lawyers have pushed back on the legality of her firing. Meanwhile, several other top CDC officials have resigned in recent days, pointing to disagreements with the Trump administration over its vaccine policy, among other things. CBS News reported last week that Jim O'Neill, the deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has been selected to serve as the acting director of the CDC. In their op-ed, the former CDC directors who served under both Democrat and Republican administrations, pointed to a number of decisions by Kennedy that they say are "unlike anything we had ever seen at the agency," including canceling investments into medical research and the move to replace members on a key vaccine advisory committee, among other things. "Firing Dr. Monarez which led to the resignations of top CDC officials adds considerable fuel to this raging fire," the former CDC directors added. The CDC leaders said they "applaud Dr. Monarez for standing up for the agency and the health of our communities." "The loss of Dr. Monarez and other top leaders will make it far more difficult for the CDC to do what it has done for about 80 years: work around the clock to protect Americans from threats to their lives and health," they wrote. Meanwhile, the former CDC directors also called on Congress to exercise its oversight authority over the department of Health and Human Services. The CDC is one of a number of agencies under the HHS umbrella. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, called on HHS last week to "indefinitely postpone" its vaccine advisory committee meeting scheduled for Sept. 18 amid the slew of CDC departures. And the Louisiana Republican, who delivered the key vote to advance Kennedy's confirmation as secretary, also said the "high profile departures will require oversight by the HELP Committee." When Cassidy was asked Tuesday evening if he regretted his vote to confirm Kennedy, he said, "This is about children's health." "This is about how we protect the children of the United States of America," Cassidy continued. "And there's allegations that that health is being endangered. I'm not presupposing anybody's right or wrong. We got to get to the bottom of it, and it'll take radical transparency. My colleagues agree with that." In an appearance on Fox News last week after the CDC director firing, Kennedy said he wouldn't comment on personnel, but claimed that "the CDC has problems," citing COVID-19 protocols among them. "We need to look at the priorities of the agency, if there's really a deeply, deeply embedded, I would say, malaise at the agency," Kennedy said. "And we need strong leadership that will go in there and that will be able to execute on President Trump's broad ambitions." Kennedy is set to appear before the Senate Finance Committee Thursday to testify on President Trump's health care agenda. Dr. Celine Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, says the timing of the op-ed "has everything to do with Dr. Monarez's firing last week," but she added that "the concerns that they outlined are really about politics and ideology taking precedence over public health and science." Citing the firings of federal health workers across HHS, the weakening of public health programs, questions about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines amid a serious measles outbreak in Texas, among other things, Gounder said on "CBS Mornings Plus" that "we really are very concerned about how this is now diminishing trust in the very most basic of public health infrastructure in this country." Historian Miles Yu on Chinese military parade: "Trolling is a very good word" Judge lets Google keep Chrome, but says it must share search data with rivals A look back at the first "CBS Evening News" broadcast on its 62nd anniversary FILE - This photo combination shows, from left, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Jan. 31, 2024, in Salem, Ore., Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, Jan. 27, 2025, in Seattle and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Aug. 21, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, Lindsey Wasson, Godofredo A. Vasquez) SEATTLE (AP) The Democratic governors of Washington state, Oregon and California announced Wednesday that they have created an alliance to establish their own recommendations for who should receive vaccines because they believe the Trump administration is putting Americans' health at risk by politicizing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The announcement came the same day that Florida said it will phase out all childhood vaccine mandates. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to curb vaccine requirements and other health mandates that evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic in his state. The differing responses come as COVID-19 cases rise and as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has restructured and downsized the CDC and attempted to advance anti-vaccine policies that are contradicted by decades of scientific research. Concerns about staffing and budget cuts were heightened after the White House sought to oust the agencys director and some top CDC leaders resigned in protest. The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences, the governors said in a joint statement. The dismantling of public health and dismissal of experienced and respected health leaders and advisers, along with the lack of using science, data, and evidence to improve our nations health are placing lives at risk, California State Health Officer Erica Pan said in the news release. Washington state Health Secretary Dennis Worsham said public health is about preventing illness, preventing the spread of disease, and preventing early, avoidable deaths. Vaccines are among the most powerful tools in modern medicine; they have indisputably saved millions of lives, Oregon Health Director Sejal Hathi said. But when guidance about their use becomes inconsistent or politicized, it undermines public trust at precisely the moment we need it most. Partnership seeks expert medical advice The three states plan to coordinate their vaccine recommendations and immunization plans based on science-based evidence from respected national medical organizations, according to a joint statement from Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew G. Nixon shot back in a statement Wednesday that Democrat-run states that pushed unscientific school lockdowns, toddler mask mandates, and draconian vaccine passports during the COVID era completely eroded the American peoples trust in public health agencies. He said the administration's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations in this country, and HHS will ensure policy is based on rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science, not the failed politics of the pandemic. Public health agencies across nation start vaccine efforts Meanwhile, public health agencies across the country have started taking steps to ensure their states have access to vaccines after U.S. regulators came out with new policies that limited access to COVID-19 shots. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's health department said last week it is seeking advice from medical experts and its own committee on COVID-19 vaccines and other immunizations for the fall respiratory season. The health department plans to provide residents with specific guidance by the end of September to help Illinois health care providers and residents make informed decisions about vaccination and protecting themselves and their loved ones, Health Director Sameer Vohra said in a statement. New Mexico said it was updating its protocols to allow the state's pharmacists to consider recommendations from the state's health department when administering vaccines rather than just the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This order will remove obstacles to vaccination access" when it goes into effect by the end of next month, Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie said in a statement. On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at his request, the State Board of Pharmacy voted to protect access to COVID-19 vaccines for those most in need and make it available at CVS pharmacies across the state. Health care decisions should be up to individuals not the federal government and certainly not RFK Jr." Shapiro said in a statement. "My administration will continue to protect health care access for all Pennsylvanians. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has directed health officials to ensure access to updated COVID-19 vaccines. The state's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ned Calonge issued an order to allow pharmacists to provide COVID-19 vaccines without individual prescriptions. The order takes effect on Friday. Last month, public officials from eight Northeast states met in Rhode Island to discuss coordinating vaccine recommendations. The group included all the New England states except for New Hampshire, as well as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat who has been critical of federal cuts to public health funding and restrictions on vaccines, said her state was leading the bipartisan coalition. Were going to make sure that people get the vaccines they need no matter what the Trump Administration does," she said in a statement. A spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Public Health said Wednesday that cross-border meetings are nothing new. Public health challenges extend beyond state lines, making collaboration essential for effective response and prevention efforts, the agency said in a statement. Last months meetings allowed the states to share numerous public health best strategies to meet the needs of our states at a time of federal health restructuring and cuts. States have come together before The West Coast Alliance isnt the first time Democratic-led states have banded together to coordinate policies related to public health. In the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, states formed regional alliances to gain buying power for respirators, gloves and other personal protective equipment for frontline workers and to coordinate reopening their largely shuttered economies. Governors in the Northeast and West Coast all but one of them Democrats announced separate regional groups in 2020 hours after Trump said on social media that it would be his decision when to open up the states. ___ Associated Press writers Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report. Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." As one of our favorite fashion mavens, it should come as no surprise that Greta Lee has been a standout at the Venice International Film Festival. Of course, with two movies premiering at once, the Los Angeles-born star has given us plenty of material to admire. When she arrived to the famed event in Italys Floating City, the Past Lives star made her entrance in some pieces from Jonathan Andersons debut collection for Dior Men. This included a striped button-upwhich she paired with twisted-seam jeans from Totemeand one of the Dior Spring 2026 book totes. (Although the Dracula variation has been a hit, this particular version came in cream, and was printed with the title of Gustave Flauberts Madame Bovary). FRAT - BACKGRID It turns out that Lees first look was a preview of what was to come, because she ended up wearing a parade of Dior for the festivala winning sneak peek at what to expect when Anderson makes his official womenswear debut during Paris Fashion Week in October. Alessandro Levati - Getty Images Lees Dior streak began with a white skirt suit, which she wore while posing for a photocall to promote her new film Late Fame. Here, the Emmy nominee wore a sleek, button-up jacket and miniskirt, completed with matching white heels, black sunglasses, and a gray Lady Dior bag from the Spring 2026 collection. Aldara Zarraoa - Getty Images Lee posed for another photocall shortly after, where she changed into a navy-blue bar suit. She paired the set with custom matching pumps, as well as jewelry from Tiffany & Co,, including a dazzling Bird on a Rock brooch that she pinned to the lapel of her jacket. Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis - Getty Images The only time Lee strayed from Dior was when she attended a photocall for her other new film, A House of Dynamite. For this engagement, Lee chose a custom black look from the Row, which consisted of a sequined, boat-neck top that flowed into a long cape, as well as straight-leg slacks, pointy leather flats, and mixed-metal jewelry from Tiffany & Co. to match. Ernesto Ruscio - Getty Images But the actor saved her biggest statement for last, stepping out for the House of Dynamite red-carpet premiere in a draped two-tone dress courtesy of Anderson for Dior yet again. Daniele Venturelli - Getty Images The design consisted of a forest-green, bubble-hem bodice with pleated, gossamer material that billowed around the actor and featured slits at the sides for her arms, as well as a plunging neck that was decorated with contrasting black lapels. Alessandro Levati - Getty Images At the waist, an inky sash acted like a belt/microskirt hybrid, and it was decorated with a large bow in front with two long ribbons that spilled to the ground. Lee completed this ensemble with pointy black heels, as well as dazzling platinum jewelry from Tiffany & Co., most-notably including a diamond pave necklace that complemented her dress perfectly. And with that, Lee just mightve nabbed the title as the best-dressed star of the 2025 Venice International Film Festival. I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting her next appearance. You Might Also Like UCG - Getty Images Government officials are warning consumers not to eat Trader Joe's frozen Uncured Pepperoni Pizza because it was not inspected upon arrival in the United States. Imported products must be re-inspected to receive the USDA mark of inspection and meet quality expectations. This pizza never went through the proper inspection protocols. The affected product was only distributed to Trader Joe's locations in California. Don't get me wrongI love my pizza straight from Italy. However, when it doesn't follow the proper protocols to reach my mouth directly from Europe, that's when we encounter problems. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for that exact reason: frozen pizza imported from Italy and sold at Trader Joe's did not "receive the benefit of import reinspection." The product is no longer available for purchase, but you might still have a box stored away in your freezer. The product in questionTrader Joes Uncured Pepperoni Pizza, Product of Italybears MFG Lot 6/16/2025 with a best-by date of 8/16/2026, or MFG Lot 6/21/2025 with a best-by date of 8/21/2026, and comes in a 17.63-ounce cardboard box. It also displays establishment number IT 1558 L UE and was shipped to Trader Joes locations in California only. Trader Joe's Trader Joe's alerted FSIS that the pizzas were not presented for import reinspection, which is required to receive the USDA mark of inspection, and be eligible for distribution in the U.S. If imported foods fail to meet the U.S. requirements, they're refused entry and must be exported, destroyed, or, in some cases, converted to animal food. While there have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions, FSIS urges consumers to throw these products away or return them to the place of purchase. You Might Also Like Courtesy of Jimmy Choo "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." As summer comes to a close, September ushers in fashion month. The spring/summer 2026 runway season promises plenty of surprises, as fashion fans and insiders alike await debuts from designers at Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Versace, Loewe, Balenciaga, and more. Meanwhile, launches, capsule collections, and fall dressing are well underway. To kick things off, Jimmy Choo and Conner Ives dug into the archives for a Gloria Guinness-inspired capsule collection. From headline-making fashion news to cant-miss releases, heres everything you need to know this month. Jimmy Choo and Conner Ives Release a Capsule Collection Courtesy of Jimmy Choo Who: Jimmy Choo and Conner Ives What: Runway capsule collection Where: Online at Jimmychoo.com Why: First debuting on the fall/winter 2025 runway, the Conner Ives and Jimmy Choo collaboration is finally here. The pairs partnership initially began during the spring/summer 2024 show and has since blossomed into a true creative friendship. For this seasons four-piece capsule, Ives took inspiration from the Jimmy Choo archive, reimagining the iconic cheetah and zebra prints. The two silhouettes are named after Gloria Guinness, one of Truman Capotes fashionable Swans and an inspiration for the runway collection. Gloria Mule 85 $1125.00 at jimmychoo.com Gloria Knee-High Boot $2395.00 at jimmychoo.com Gloria Mule 85 $1125.00 at jimmychoo.com Moncler Genius Taps A$AP Rocky for a New Collaboration Courtesy of Moncler Genius Who: Moncler Genius and A$AP Rocky What: Collaboration Where: Online at moncler.com Why: Moncler Genius and multi-hyphenate artist A$AP Rocky have teamed up for an all-new, high-octane collaboration. Titled Dont Be Dumb: Be Genius, the collection merges the Italian brands signature codes with the AWGE creative directors eye for a retro, color-blocked sportswear aesthetic. The capsule was celebrated with a curated multi-sensory experience, featuring a vintage lounge pit and a moon-like futuristic landscape, where guests were transported back and forth through old and new. Bahianinha Hooded Short Down Jacket $3540.00 at moncler.com Cotton T-Shirt $495.00 at moncler.com Vardar Down Polo Shirt Jacket $1970.00 at moncler.com Mansur Gavriel Debuts an Art-Filled Collaboration With The Calder Foundation Courtesy of Mansur Gavriel Who: Mansur Gavriel and The Calder Foundation What: Collaboration Where: Online at mansurgavriel.com Why: Back for the second time, Mansur Gavriel and the Calder Foundation have partnered once again on a graphic capsule collection. The late artists influential worksSoucoupes Volantes (1969) and 21 Feuilles Blanches (1953), among othersare reimagined across the brands signature silhouettes, including the Everyday Cabas and the Large Tote. Everyday Cabas $695.00 at mansurgavriel.com Large Tote $695.00 at mansurgavriel.com Everyday Cabas $695.00 at mansurgavriel.com Guizio and Puma Team Up for a Third Collaboration Courtesy of Guizio Who: Guizio and Puma What: Capsule collection Where: Online at danielleguiziony.com Why: New York-based It-girl brand Guizio has teamed up with Puma for a third iteration of their sporty capsule collection. Blending the latters signature 90s styles with Guizios air of downtown cool, the track set and signature Speedcat Mesh sneakers are perfect for an on-the-go fall in the city. T7 Track Jacket $180.00 at danielleguiziony Speedcat Mesh $150.00 at danielleguiziony Pleated Skirt $95.00 at danielleguiziony Louis Vuitton and Grace Coddington Unveil a Cat-Themed Capsule Collection Courtesy of Louis Vuitton Who: Louis Vuitton and Grace Coddington What: Capsule collection Where: Online at louisvuitton.com Why: Louis Vuitton is all about traveling in stylewhether that means a pair of silk pajamas, cozy cashmere, or a hand-painted monogrammed wallet. This fall, the French luxury house tapped Grace Coddington for an expedition-inspired capsule collection. The assortment also features playful cat motifs throughout, a tribute to Coddingtons iconic love for the animals. Cats and Dogs T-Shirt $1160.00 at louisvuitton Wallet on Chain Ivy $2500.00 at louisvuitton Monogram Cat Stamp Silk Shirt $2390.00 at louisvuitton Aime Leon Dore Partners With The North Face on a Limited-Edition Collaboration Courtesy of Aime Leon Dore x The North Face Who: Aime Leon Dore and The North Face What: Limited-edition collaboration Where: Online at aimeleondore.com Why: Leading outdoor brand The North Face has joined forces with Aime Leon Dore, a New York City fashion favorite, to create a limited-edition collection blending the signature elements of both brands. Classic North Face styles are reinterpreted through Aime Leon Dores refined lenslike the Denali jacket crafted entirely from nylon, and the Verto Alpine shoe reimagined in leather. The collection will be available online, at Aime Leon Dores New York City and London stores, and at select The North Face locations across Asia. Firefighter Jacket $595.00 at aimeleondore.com Verto Alpine GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes $250.00 at aimeleondore.com Nylon Denali Jacket $395.00 at aimeleondore.com Manolo Blahnik Releases a Marie Antoinette-Inspired Capsule Collection Courtesy of Manolo Blahnik Who: Manolo Blahnik What: Marie Antoinette capsule collection Where: Online at manoloblahnik.com Why: Few collaborations have been as iconic as Manolo Blahniks creations for Sofia Coppolas 2006 film, Marie Antoinette. The shoes brought an unabashed sense of fun and fantasy to the movie almost 20 years agoand now, those shoes are available to shop. This month, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Manolo Blahnik present Marie Antoinette Style, an exhibition dedicated to exploring the monarchs impact on fashion and design. To celebrate the occasion, the legendary footwear designer has released an 11-piece capsule collection inspired by the original Rococo-style pieces from the film. Valoisette Pink Silk Bow Detail Pumps $1250.00 at manoloblahnik.com Merode Khaki Silk Rosettes Detail Mules $1875.00 at manoloblahnik.com Pleneuf Blue Silk Criss-Cross Detail Mules $1325.00 at manoloblahnik.com La Ligne and Observed By Us Launch a Limited-Edition Capsule Collection Courtesy of La Ligne Who: La Ligne and Observed By Us What: Limited-edition capsule collection Where: Online at lalignenyc.com Why: The perfect fall pajamas are finally here. La Ligne and Observed By Usthe brand founded by actress Kirsten Dunst and artist Jessica Herschkohave released a limited-edition capsule collection. The 10-piece collaboration features cozy-yet-elevated sleepwear designs, including a silk set, illustrated patterns, socks, and matching options for kids. Bonne Nuit Pajamas $395.00 at lalignenyc.com Bonne Nuit Pajamas $395.00 at lalignenyc.com Silk Bonne Soiree Pajamas $495.00 at lalignenyc.com Valentino Garavani and Vans Release a Runway Collaboration Courtesy of Valentino Who: Valentino Garavani and Vans What: Collaboration Where: Online at valentino.com Why: Originally debuting on the fall 2025 runway in Paris, the Valentino Garavani and Vans collaboration has finally arrived. The collection seamlessly blends creative director Alessandro Micheles pop-punk persona with Vans signature low-top canvas styles, even featuring a fresh take on the iconic checkerboard print. Low-Top Trainer $490.00 at valentino.com Low-Top Trainer $490.00 at valentino.com Low-Top Trainer $490.00 at valentino.com Maison de Sabre Launches a New Signature Silhouette Courtesy of Maison de Sabre Who: Maison de Sabre What: The Palais Collection Where: Online at maisondesabre.com Why: Handcrafted from ultra-soft calf leather and inspired by seasonless wardrobe staples and the houses signature codes, Maison de Sabre introduces its all-new handbag silhouette: The Palais Collection. The style is available in three sizesperfect for travel, everyday wear, and as a petite bag charm. The Large Palais $829.00 at maisondesabre.com The Medium Palais $649.00 at maisondesabre.com The SABREMOJI Petite Palais Charm $139.00 at maisondesabre.com Ralph Lauren Launches an In-App Styling Tool Courtesy of Ralph Lauren Who: Ralph Lauren What: AI styling tool Where: On the Ralph Lauren app Why: No matter where you are, you can now experience classic Ralph Lauren styling right in the palm of your hand. The iconic American retailer has officially launched its new in-app tool: Ask Ralph, a conversational AI shopping experience. Powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI, the system draws entirely from the brands own database of styling techniques. Customers can prompt it with outfit queries including what to wear to a summer picnic, date-night ideas, or how to put a modern twist on a classic white button-down. Each result offers several styling options across multiple outfits, displaying suggested clothing both on-model and in-video. Herringbone Linen-Blend Blazer $559.99 at ralphlauren.com Relaxed Fit Oxford Shirt $168.00 at ralphlauren.com Polo Bear Wool-Cashmere-Blend Sweater $398.00 at ralphlauren.com Still Here Opens a New Boutique in Williamsburg Courtesy of Still Here Who: Still Here What: New boutique Where: Williamsburg, Brooklyn Why: New York-based denim brand Still Here has officially opened its third boutique in the city, nestled in the heart of Williamsburg. The location holds personal meaning for the Brooklyn-born and -raised co-founders, Sonia and Maurice Mosseri, who want each storefront to reflect its neighborhood. To complete their vision, the duo tapped the design firm Husband Wife for a minimalist feel. Cool Jeans $285.00 at shopbop.com Buckle Jeans $325.00 at shopbop.com Cowgirl Jeans $280.00 at shopbop.com Tuckernuck Collaborates With Barbour Who: Tuckernuck and Barbour What: Collaboration Where: Online at tnuck.com Why: Its a meeting of mindsand style. Barbour brings its signature heritage and utilitarian edge to Tuckernuck with a fresh, floral twist on 11 limited-edition designs, available exclusively at the e-tailer. The collaboration celebrates a full-circle moment: Barbour was one of the very first brands carried by Tuckernuck. Now, with the opening of its new Upper East Side store on Madison Avenue this month, the partnership enters an exciting new chapter. Kinsley Quilt $370.00 at tnuck Black Floral Umbrella $75.00 at tnuck Olive Beverly Wax Jacket $600.00 at tnuck Chloe Fineman Teams Up With Mother Courtesy of Mother Who: Mother What: Capsule collection Where: Online at motherdenim.com Why: Inspired by fashion icons like Twiggy, Chloe Fineman teams up with Mother Denim for a capsule collection fit for the Swinging Sixties. The collaboration features a classic pair of mid-wash cuffed mom jeans alongside retro non-denim options like a maroon vinyl set, pillbox hat, and floral socks. The vibrant motifs were also designed in partnership with Finemans sister, artist Emma Fineman. The Glider Hover Cuff $248.00 at motherdenim.com The Itty Bitty Ringer $110.00 at motherdenim.com The Wingman $325.00 at motherdenim.com Herbert Levine Drops Its Fall 2025 Collection With New Designer Trevor Houston Courtesy of Herbert Levine Who: Herbert Levine What: Trevor Houstons debut collection Where: Online at mytheresa.com Why: Nearly 50 years since the shuttering of Herbert Levinethe shoe brand once known for its geisha sandals and the celebrities whose feet it adornedis back with a new creative director: Trevor Houston. The designer initially built his career across numerous houses including The Row, Khaite, Tory Burch, and Marc Jacobs. (You can even thank him for the ultra-viral The Row jelly flatsone of the most divisive and popular luxury shoes in recent years.) Now, Houston is ready to lead a house he has vocally admired for much of his professional careerand just in time for warm-weather wardrobes. Rain Check 50 PVC Pumps $10.00 at mytheresa.com Sleep On It 30 Satin Mules $960.00 at mytheresa Sitting Pretty 95 Leather Mules $775.00 at mytheresa You Might Also Like Lancashire Police Elias Morgan NEED TO KNOW Elias Morgan was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the murder of Lenny Scott Scott was a former prison guard who discovered a cellphone in Morgan's cell when he was a prisoner in 2020. The cellphone revealed an affair Morgan was having with another jailhouse officer Morgan warned Scott he'd "bide" his time and seek revenge, shooting and killing him four years later A former British inmate has been sentenced to 45 years back behind bars after he was convicted last month of killing an ex-prison guard who exposed the illicit affair he was having with another officer in 2020. Elias Morgan, 35, had plotted his revenge for years, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Morgan shot and killed Lenny Scott, who was a jailhouse guard while Morgan was previously behind bars and had exposed the affair Morgan was having with a female guard after discovering a secret cellphone in his cell during a search, according to prosecutors with the CPS. Prosecutors said during Morgans trial that he was driven by revenge and waited four years to carry out Scotts killing outside of his gym in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. Morgan initially tried to bribe Scott with 1,500 euros to not turn in the cell phone that he discovered inside his cell back in 2020. However, after Scott refused the bribe, Morgan began to threaten him and warned the prison guard that he would bide his time, but that he would get him, prosecutors alleged. Morgan stalked Scott at his home, at his former gym, and then at his new gym, where he eventually carried out the shooting on Feb. 8, 2024. Morgan shot Scott, a father of three, six times point blank in the head, prosecutors said. He turned himself in three weeks later on Feb. 22, 2024, and later pleaded not guilty to Scotts murder. He was convicted, however, on Aug. 29. Morgan driven by revenge and believing he was above the law carried out a cold-blooded murder, said Wendy Logan, the Deputy Head of CPS North Wests Complex Casework Unit. We were determined to deliver justice and see Morgan brought to book for his evil crime and our case set out in clear terms how he planned and carried out his callous act. Lancashire Police/Facebook Lenny Scott The BBC reported that local police described the murder in grave terms, saying Scott was assassinated by Morgan, who was described as a cold-blooded executioner. Sky News published security camera footage from the shooting, showing the moment Morgan walked out from behind a car and up to Scott before raising a gun to his head. Morgan had been out of prison on bail at the time of the shooting, according to the outlet. Scotts mother Paula Scott read an emotional impact statement in court Tuesday, Sept. 2, before Morgan was sentenced. My son was everything you are not, she told Morgan. He was strong, brave, honest, respectful. He lost his life for standing up for what was right. You are a vile, inhuman, coward. Paula said she will forever be proud of her late son before describing the impact his murder has had on the family. "Morgan has no regard for the impact of his actions, the victims mother said. He not only has stolen Lenny's future, but he has stolen our future with him. Lenny now won't achieve all the things he was working towards, all the plans he had with his children, his chance to see them grow and flourish, that has been taken away from us all. Read the original article on People Two decades after committing one of New York City's most twisted sex crimes while disguised as a firefighter, former fashion journalist Peter Braunstein has been denied parole, authorities said. The New York State Parole Board rejected Braunstein's first bid for parole after he failed to show up to his parole hearing, according to the state Department of Corrections (DOCCS). "Peter Braunstein waived his scheduled appearance with the Board of Parole on August 19, 2025. He was denied release," DOCCS said in a statement to ABC News on Wednesday. The 61-year-old Braunstein's next opportunity for parole will be in August 2027, a DOCCS spokesperson said. ABC News - PHOTO: Peter Braunstein spoke with ABC's "20/20" following his 2007 conviction on charges he sexually tormented a victim for at least 12 hours after posing as a firefighter to gain access to her New York City apartment. Braunstein, who is incarcerated at the Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo, will continue serving a sentence of 18 years to life. He did not reply to a letter from ABC News requesting comment. A Manhattan jury convicted Braunstein in 2007 of first-degree sexual abuse, kidnapping, robbery, and other crimes tied to the attack nearly 20 years ago. MORE: 'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released A former writer for the fashion magazine Women's Wear Daily, Braunstein dressed as a New York City firefighter on Halloween night 2005, set off smoke bombs outside his victim's apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan and pretended to evacuate people in order to coax the victim into opening her door, according to prosecutors. Once inside the victim's apartment, Braunstein threatened her with a realistic-looking fake handgun and placed a chloroform-soaked rag over her face, rendering her unconscious, prosecutors said. Braunstein, according to prosecutors, stripped off the victim's clothes and tied her to a bed, placing a pair of high-heeled shoes on her that he found in her closet. Over the next 12 hours, he sexually tortured the victim, prosecutors said. The victim was a former colleague of Braunstein's who had worked closely with his ex-girlfriend at W magazine, a sister publication of Women's Wear Daily. In a series of media interviews Braunstein did from prison after his conviction, he said he targeted her after becoming obsessed with her as a symbol of what he hated about the fashion industry and blamed her for his downfall after he was fired from his magazine job. Asked in an ABC "20/20" interview following his 2007 conviction why he sexually tormented the victim, Braunstein said, "I guess to humiliate her." Despite his absence, Braunstein's parole hearing proceeded without him. Before the hearing, the Parole Board received a letter from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, asking the panel to deny parole and alleging that Braunstein is still a "danger to society." Prosecutors claimed that his nearly 20 years of incarceration have done little to reform him. "He has shown himself to be a determined, angry, and vengeful man. Time and again he has demonstrated that he is a danger to society, and he has clearly and repeatedly stated that should he be released from prison he will continue to be a danger to society," Maxine Rosenthal, senior counsel for the Special Victims Division of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, wrote in the July 25 letter to the Parole Board. MORE: Idaho college killings: Kohberger's deep study on crime In the letter, Rosenthal, who led the prosecution's case against Braunstein, noted that in a series of media interviews following his conviction, Braunstein never expressed remorse, and in several interviews said, "I regret the choice of victim, but not the crime itself" and that he believed "the crime was justified." Rosenthal also said in her letter to the Parole Board that even after being convicted and sent to prison, Braunstein violated court orders by continuing a "campaign of harassment and intimidation" of an ex-girlfriend until at least 2014 by sending letters to her from prison or attempting to call her, her employer and her relatives. Just three months before Braunstein committed the sex attack for which he was convicted, he pleaded guilty to menacing the ex-girlfriend, a magazine beauty editor who died in June 2025 from cancer, and was placed on probation. "In response, letters were sent to the prison superintendent requesting that a negative correspondence order be issued prohibiting the defendant from having any further contact with the former girlfriend," Rosenthal wrote in the letter to the Parole Board. Braunstein was arrested in December 2005 following a six-week nationwide manhunt. He was captured in Tennessee after a witness recognized him from the show "America's Most Wanted" and alerted police. As officers approached Braunstein, he attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the neck with a knife, according to Memphis police. Sen. Mark Warner in Washington in July 2024. (Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images file) Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner said Tuesday that he is being blocked from a scheduled oversight meeting after interference from far-right activist Laura Loomer. Warner, D-Va., said the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency meeting scheduled for Friday was called off after Loomer launched public attacks on him and the NGAs director, Vice Adm. Trey Whitworth. This nakedly political decision undermines the dedicated, nonpartisan staff at NGA and threatens the principle of civilian oversight that protects our national security, Warner said in a statement. Members of Congress routinely conduct meetings and on-site engagements with federal employees in their states and districts; blocking and setting arbitrary conditions on these sessions sets a dangerous precedent, calling into question whether oversight is now allowed only when it pleases the far-right fringe, he said. Warner said that the meeting was scheduled weeks ago and that it was an unpublicized and classified visit. Loomer took credit for the cancellation on X. She demanded that Whitworth be fired for having planned to meet with Warner. Whitworths scheduled September 5th fireside love fest with anti-Trump Democrat Senator @MarkWarner Mark Warner has been CANCELED! she wrote. She wrote that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "should fire Trey Whitworth for insubordination." Whitworth took over as head of the spy agency in 2022, during President Joe Bidens administration. Before that, he was director of intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The NGA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Warner said that he has routinely visited the offices of U.S. intelligence agencies for years under both Republican and Democratic presidents and that the visits were never questioned until now. He said the cancellation should concern members of Congress from both parties, because members routinely meet with officials in federal government. "Blocking and setting arbitrary conditions on these sessions sets a dangerous precedent, calling into question whether oversight is now allowed only when it pleases the far-right fringe," Warner said. "This should concern Republicans as well as Democrats: if routine oversight can be obstructed for political reasons, no member of Congress is immune." In April, the director and the No. 2 official at the National Security Agency were ousted from their positions, and Loomer took credit for the dismissals. She had met with President Donald Trump that week and thanked him for "being receptive to the vetting materials provided to you." JERUSALEM He was once proud to be part of the Israeli military, eager to defend his homeland after the Hamas-led terrorist attack of Oct. 7, 2023. Today, Max Kresch, 29, refuses to serve in Gaza. The Israeli American veteran combat medic is among a growing number of reservists questioning the wars end game and refusing to fight if called to serve, risking jail. The war right now is a direct threat to our future. Its a direct threat to the future of Israelis, of civilians, of our own values, said Kresch, whose mandatory military service ended in 2018, and who served on Israels northern border with Lebanon during the current war. Amid widespread global outrage about renewed military operations in northern Gaza and large-scale protests in Israel calling for a deal to free the hostages still being held, NBC News spoke to several reservists including Kresch, all of whom have served but do not want to fight any more in Gaza. Israeli reservist Max Kresch and a statement he read on behalf of "Soldiers for the Hostages." (Courtesy of Max Kresch; NBC News) Around 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks and 250 taken hostage, marking a major escalation in a decades-long conflict. Since then, almost 64,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including thousands of children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. Much of the territory has been destroyed, and most of its population displaced. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the worlds leading authority on food crises, has declared a famine in the north of the enclave, where the renewed military campaign is taking place. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that there is no famine and that widespread hunger is not Israels fault. He has also said that Israel does not intend to occupy Gaza but that Hamas must be disarmed and defeated outright. Mounting global anger over the war is contributing to a growing threat against Jews, Kresch said, adding, You have the Israeli government who is increasingly providing a framework for this antisemitism to grow. In January, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, reported there were troubling signs of resurgent antisemitism in Europe and around the world, from attacks on Jews and harassment in public spaces to rising online hatred and more. While reservists have described multiple reasons for their dissent, some accuse Netanyahu, who is facing charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases, of prolonging the war to ensure his political survival, a claim he denies. Others said they feel the war no longer serves any military purpose, and is endangering the remaining hostages and causing immense suffering to Palestinians. One 28-year old reservist who received the call-up Tuesday to serve in Gaza said he was still weighing his decision, torn between his obligation to his country and his values. In my spiritual life, we talk about how much life is important, he said. I think [life] now, how the way we see life now in Gaza, we dont see like a life. We see them like bugs, he added. NBC News agreed not to name him because he feared the consequences of both criticizing military service and refusing the call-up. Israel Defense Forces tanks near the Gaza Strip's northern border last month. (Elke Scholiers / Getty Images) Signs of dissent within the military ranks surfaced shortly after Netanyahu announced the new military plans in early August, when an association of Israeli air force reserve and retired pilots called for an immediate end to the futile war and urgent action to bring the hostages home. Netanyahu on Tuesday highlighted the importance of the role reservists will play in the Gaza City offensive. Dear reserve soldiers, you are the strength that holds Israel, he wrote on X, noting that they had to leave work, studies and home to report for duty. But the mission is still not complete, he added. The looming threat of jail time has not deterred some reservists who do not want to return to the front lines. I prefer not to go to jail, but if the question was to go to Gaza, go to jail, Id go to jail, said Zeev Bogomolny, 27, a painter who served in an artillery unit near Israels northern border with Lebanon. Im willing to put my life in captivity in order to save this place, and going to the army now is the destruction of Israel, completely. Bogomolny also urged other reservists to weigh their choice to serve. After the Hamas attacks, he said he felt the right thing to do was to serve, but, I think the right thing now is to is for every soldier, every reserve soldier, to ask himself why and, and in what cost, is he willing to take part in this, in this war. Still, tens of thousands of reservists are likely to report for duty for the expanded military operations. The Israeli military has warned Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City to safe zones to avoid the new ground offensive. An Israeli drone strike Tuesday in the Al-Mawasi safe zone in southern Gaza killed 13 people, including seven children, according to families of the victims. The Israeli military claims it did not carry out attacks in the area. Video shared with NBC News showed the bloody bodies of children laid out on stretchers and the floor of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Were destroying the lives of Gazan civilians, said Kresch, the Israeli American reservist, who now organizes a group called Soldiers for the Hostages. We are killing our own hostages. We know this. Richard Engel and Gabe Joselow reported from Jerusalem, and Babak Dehghanpisheh from New York. Joshua Zukas, a Hanoi-based travel writer, says travelers to Vietnam continue to make the same mistakes. Provided by Joshua Zukas Joshua Zukas has spent 12 years in Hanoi, writing about Vietnam and contributing to 10 guidebooks. He continues to see travelers make the same mistakes when visiting the country. Zukas outlines seven sins, including skipping street food and relying on travel influencers. Vietnam, the official tourism website insists, is a country of "timeless charm" a tropical paradise of "untrampled landscapes and seascapes." The promo reels promise irresistibly Instagrammable moments, like skipping through the surf in flowing linen, raising Champagne flutes to the sunset, and basking in a subterranean sunbeam cradled by a moss-coated cave. I've worked on 10 guidebooks to Vietnam and written hundreds of articles. I can say with confidence that the Vietnam of glossy screens is not the Vietnam of lived experience. Economic development, social change, and overtourism are reshaping the country, widening the gap between endorsed fantasy and concrete reality. Over the years, I've watched as travel media spins fanciful notions, which are then twisted further by travel influencers. This has resulted in first-time visitors continuing to make these seven mistakes in Vietnam. 1. Lust: Conquering the country in one trip The metropolitan beach in Quy Nhon, Vietnam. Provided by Joshua Zukas Maps can be deceiving. With China bulging to the north and the sprawling Indonesian and Malaysian archipelagos to the south, Vietnam might appear modest in size. In reality, it's comparable in size to Japan or Italy. The soul-sapping drudgery of getting from place to place is never advertised. Traveling between most cities in Vietnam can take the better part of a day, so on a one- or two-week trip, it's smarter to focus on a smaller area instead of trying to see it all. 2. Wrath: Raging against the weather The weather in Vietnam varies across the country and can be unpredictable. Provided by Joshua Zukas Vietnam's weather is not blissfully sunny all the time; it is an unpredictable force to be reckoned with. There are patterns to consider. Mountain winters (December and January) can be bone-chillingly cold; the Mekong Delta swelters at the tail end of the dry season (March and April); and typhoons lash central Vietnam during fall (October and November). But severe weather conditions can strike almost anywhere at any time. Instead of raging at the weather for ruining a vacation, travelers can plan accordingly, pack appropriately, and remember that extreme weather is part of everyday life in Vietnam. 3. Greed: Devouring a bucket list Places like the mountains in northern Vietnam require travel time. Provided by Joshua Zukas Perhaps my most controversial opinion is that Vietnam has no must-see places. In an era of overtourism, following the crowds often means jostling through throngs of visitors and increasingly exasperated locals. Vietnam is safe, and I've found that much of the country is eager to welcome travelers. Rather than a rush to tick off the hot spots, my most rewarding trips have come from focusing on what genuinely excites me. 4. Envy: Coveting the travel influencers Whenever I meet someone who's had a bad experience thanks to a misleading TikTok clip or Instagram post, I feel both disappointed and vindicated. Remember: Algorithms reward influencers for sparking awe or indulging outrage, not for producing honest or nuanced content. Forget the influencers who jet around the world pushing unrealistic expectations. Instead, seek out content creators based in Vietnam who share insider knowledge like Ms. Yummyface (for food), Chris Tran Travels (for culture), and The Dot Magazine (for nightlife). 5. Gluttony: Skipping simple street food Street food being prepared in Vietnam. Provided by Joshua Zukas Some travelers steer clear of street food over sanitation concerns. Instead, they opt for tourist restaurants with glossy menus that promise the world, from Australian brunches and Italian pizzas to Thai curries and Vietnamese spring rolls. But the best food in Vietnam tends to be served in simple restaurants that specialize in a particular dish, like street kitchens and mom-and-pop eateries. Beyond the ubiquitous noodle soups like pho, one overlooked dish in Hanoi is banh cuon, thin ribbons of made-to-order wet rice paper rolled with minced pork and wood ear mushroom. Ho Chi Minh City excels at freshly prepared snails, which are boiled, steamed, stir-fried, or grilled and served alongside a few sauces. 6. Pride: Declining a local SIM card I'm all for leaving the phone at home. But travelers who like to research on the go need to keep in mind that relying on WiFi can become very frustrating very quickly. Mobile data almost always provides a faster, more reliable connection, and it's cheap in Vietnam rarely more than $10 for a month. Travelers can purchase an international SIM with an app like Airalo or head into a local phone shop when they arrive. Viettel has great nationwide coverage, and Vinaphone and Mobifone are known for offering stronger coverage in cities. This makes it easy to access information on the go from trusted sources, such as Saigoneer (for culture), Historic Vietnam (for history), Jovel Chan (for food), and Vietnam Coracle (for motorbike guides). 7. Sloth: Disregarding guidebooks Guidebooks about Vietnam can provide researched details written by a dedicated author. Provided by Joshua Zukas In my entirely biased opinion, purchasing a guidebook (physical or digital) is one of the smartest travel choices you can make. The good ones are deeply researched, thoughtful, and nuanced pieces of work often the result of months, or in my case, years, of on-the-ground research. By contrast, fake travel reviews and shallow blog posts churned out by AI are often what comes up online. A guidebook cuts through the digital noise with clarity, providing reliable insight and helping travelers engage with Vietnam through the firsthand experiences of a dedicated author. Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON Six women who say they were sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein or convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell shared a unified message Tuesday as they implored the federal government to release more documents related to the case and urged President Donald Trump to pledge he wont pardon Maxwell. Epstein was a master manipulator, said Jess Michaels, who alleges the late financier raped her in 1991 when she was a 22-year-old professional dancer. That was a strategy that was honed. That was a strategy that no young woman, no teenage girl had a chance not a chance against his psychopathic skills. Jess Michaels. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) NBC News brought together a panel of women who included accusers and three relatives of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a prominent Epstein and Maxwell accuser who died by suicide in April. While all but one of the women have spoken publicly over the years about the sexual abuse they say Epstein perpetrated before his death in 2019, the conversation Tuesday comes at a pivotal moment as Democrats and some Republicans in Congress renew a push to make all investigative files related to him public. Tuesday evening, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 pages of files related to Epstein. From back left, Sky Roberts, Amanda Roberts, Jess Michaels, Marikje Chartouni and Lisa Phillips and, from front left, Danny Wilson, Liz Stein, Wendy Avis and Jena-Lisa Jones at an NBC News studio Tuesday in Washington before recording of a segment with Hallie Jackson. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) The other accusers Wendy Avis, Marijke Chartouni, Jena-Lisa Jones, Lisa Phillips and Liz Stein said theyd like for documents to be released, which Trump first indicated on the campaign trail he would do to hold as many people in Epsteins circle who also engaged in criminal activity accountable. Im coming here because theres been a severe miscarriage of justice, a delay in accountability, Michaels said. Jones alleges she met Epstein when she was 14 in the early 2000s and was paid to give him a massage, during which he fondled her after she undressed. A lot of these powerful people think theyre in the clear, and theyre probably still doing it now, she said Tuesday. There were many, many adults around [Epsteins] properties that may not have participated but very clearly knew what was going on, Jones said. And theyre not saying anything, and why are they still not saying anything and speaking up on our behalf? Jena-Lisa Jones. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) Avis, who hadnt previously come forward publicly, said she was inspired by Jones. Both women said they had interactions with Epstein at his Florida mansion, and Avis said she was 14 in the early 2000s when he abused her. Not everybody is getting justice, and thats not right, Avis said, adding that the everyday person is out there, and thats me, and were victims. The Epstein case has dominated headlines this summer, and it isnt likely to go away now that Congress has returned to Washington after the August recess. Wendy Avis. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) The Republican-led House Oversight Committee was scheduled to meet privately with 10 accusers Tuesday. Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is seeking to depose Maxwell, which could happen after the U.S. Supreme Court decides later this month whether it will review her 2021 sex offender conviction linked to Epstein. Republican House leadership added legislation Tuesday that would direct the Oversight Committee to continue its investigation into the possible mismanagement of the Federal governments investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell. But two lawmakers, Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., plan to hold a news conference Wednesday with Epstein and Maxwell accusers on Capitol Hill and call for immediate action and the full release of the Justice Departments Epstein files. Khanna and Massie are leading a discharge petition, which, if it earns enough House support, would force a floor vote to release the files. "We haven't been protected, and we haven't been informed," Liz Stein said of the Justice Department. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) Such a move would clash with the Trump administration and the Justice Department, which has sought to release only some documents out of public interest. Trump initially said he supports full disclosure of the documents, but over the summer, he has been at odds with some members of his party and his base who have pushed conspiratorial narratives about Epsteins death and a client list that could implicate other high-profile and powerful men involved in the trafficking of underage girls. The White House and the Justice Department didnt immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Epstein died by suicide in his New York City jail at 66 while he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. A Justice Department report in 2023 uncovered a cascade of misconduct, negligence and errors by corrections employees that created the conditions allowing Epstein to take his own life but found no evidence to contradict the official conclusion that he died by suicide. Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex as a longtime confidant to Epstein. She is appealing the conviction. Virginia Giuffre (then Roberts) with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Prince Andrew's London home in a photo released with court documents. Virginia Roberts Giuffre holds a photo of herself during her teen years when, she said, she was abused by Epstein, Maxwell and Prince Andrew, among others. (Emily Michot / Tribune News Service via Getty Images file) Last month, the Justice Department released transcripts from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches two-day interview with Maxwell this summer, in which she insisted she never witnessed any inappropriate conduct from any man, including Trump, who had been friendly with Epstein. She denied the existence of an incriminating client list and maintained her innocence to Blanche. Days after the interview, Maxwell was moved from a low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, to an all-womens prison camp in Bryan, Texas, stoking outrage among former and current federal Bureau of Prison staff members who said such a transfer is highly unusual. The Bureau of Prison didnt provide a reason for her relocation to Bryan, where the majority of inmates are serving time for nonviolent offenses and white-collar crimes. Giuffres family have said that they were against showing leniency to Maxwell and that the Justice Departments release of transcripts from her interview gave her a platform to rewrite history. Sky Roberts, Amanda Roberts and Danny Wilson. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) Maxwells attorney, David Oscar Markus, said in a previous statement that he was thankful the Justice Department released her interview so that people can judge for themselves. On the matter of a potential pardon for Maxwell, Trump said last month that nobodys asked him to grant her clemency but that he has the right to give pardons. Danny Wilson, Giuffres brother, said doing so for Maxwell would be a slap in the face to his sisters and the other accusers memories. Chartouni, who said Epstein sexually assaulted her after she moved to New York in 2000, agreed that it is an insult that Trump would even be toying with the idea of a pardon. Marijke Chartouni. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) Shes not a reliable narrator for her story, she said of Maxwell, adding that the administrations focus seems to be so much attention on the criminals rather than on what Epsteins accusers want. Markus said in a statement Tuesday that Maxwell was being made a scapegoat by accusers seeking financial gain. As far as changing the narrative, most of these women didnt mention Ghislaine when they were repeatedly interviewed by law enforcement back in the day, Markus said. Only when plaintiffs lawyers came knocking and dollar signs started flashing did they start pointing the finger at Ghislaine. Phillips alleges Epstein groomed and sexually assaulted her after she first went to his private Caribbean island in the late 1990s when she was 21. She agreed with the other women Tuesday that the Justice Department must continue investigating Epstein and that if it doesnt make documents public, his accusers will come forward. Lisa Phillips. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) A lot of us survivors know weve been compiling lists of our own, and we have so many other survivors, Phillips said. Please come forward, and well compile our own list and seek justice on our own. I mean, I think thats whats going to happen next. Michaels said that it can be triggering each time Epsteins case returns to the headlines but that she has found strength in numbers with the other accusers. No matter where you are in your healing journey, no matter how strong you feel, trauma responses happen in an instant, she said, as they struggle with headaches, insomnia, nightmares and other invisible symptoms. We live with the effects of what has happened to us in ways that you might not think of. Through tears, a group of women who say they were victimized by Jeffrey Epstein shared their stories on Capitol Hill as they called on lawmakers to support the release of records that the Department of Justice has so far withheld from Congress. "This is not a hoax. It's not going to go away," said Marina Lacerda, a central witness in Epstein's 2019 indictment who spoke with ABC News. Anouska De Georgiou, the first survivor of Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell to step to the podium, said the victims are coming together to have their voices be heard. MORE: 'We need the Epstein files to be out': Central witness in Epstein case speaks publicly for 1st time Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: Survivor Anouska De Georgiou embraces survivor Danielle Bensky as survivor Marina Lacerda looks on during a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, Sept. 3, 2025 in Washington. "The days of sweeping this under the rug are over. We the survivors say 'no more,'" she said. "I'm no longer weak, I am no longer powerless and I'm no longer alone. And with your vote, neither will the next generation," she said. "President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us, because we need it now, and this country needs it now." Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters - PHOTO: Marina Lacerda, victim of late financier Jeffrey Epstein, speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 3, 2025. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Anouska De Georgiou, who testified about sexual abuse in the Jeffrey Epstein case, speaks during a press conference and rally in support of the victims of Epstein outside the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 3, 2025. Trump was asked about the press conference pushing for transparency on the Epstein files at the White House on Wednesday. He continued to insist it was a "Epstein hoax" distracting from his administration's success. "This is a Democrat hoax that never ends," Trump claimed. Survivor after survivor, however, implored lawmakers to back a bipartisan push from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to compel the Justice Department to publicly release the Epstein files. "Mr. President, Donald J. Trump, I am a registered Republican -- not that that matters, because this is not political -- however, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma," survivor Haley Robson said when asked by ABC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Jay O'Brien about Trump's comments calling the matter a "hoax." Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters - PHOTO: Haley Robson, victim of financier Jeffrey Epstein, speaks during a press conference to discuss the Epstein Files Transparency bill on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Sept. 3, 2025. At times growing emotional, some survivors also detailed the abuse they said they suffered at the hands of Epstein, some saying the abuse happened when they were teenagers. "I had never been more scared in my life than I was that first time that he hurt me," Jena-Lisa Jones recounted. She said she first met Epstein when she was 14 years old. "I know that I was just a little kid but sometimes I still feel that it was my fault this happened," she added through tears. "It's time for us to see behind the curtain. Why was Jeffrey Epstein so protected? Who is still being protected? And who protected them all, so the world can understand how Jeffrey was able to abuse so many of us for so long," said Courtney Wild, an Epstein survivor. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - PHOTO: Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attend a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol, September 03, 2025 in Washington. So far, four Republicans have signed on to the Massie and Khanna discharge petition -- a procedural tool to bypass GOP leadership and force a vote. Those signers include Massie, Reps. Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. If all 212 Democrats sign the petition, only two Republicans are needed to reach the 218 needed to compel a vote on the House floor. "I hope my colleagues are watching this press conference. I want them to think, what if this was your sister? What if this was your daughter?" Massie said. "Today we stand with survivors, we stand against big money, we stand to protect America's children. That is really what this is about," Khanna said on Wednesday. MORE: House Oversight chair issues subpoenas for Epstein files, depositions with Clintons Attorney Bradley Edwards, who has represented more than 200 Epstein survivors, said the push should "pass with flying colors." "While we have seen the documents, you haven't, and when you see the documents, you're going to be appalled," Edwards said at the press conference. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: People demostrate during the Stand with Survivors Rally in support of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's victims, in Washington, September 3, 2025. House Republican leadership, however, is opposed to the Massie and Khanna effort -- as is the White House. Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans to not support Massie's discharge petition during a closed conference meeting Wednesday morning, according to multiple sources. "It does not adequately protect the innocent victims, and that is a critical component," Johnson said on Tuesday of the discharge petition. MORE: Johnson says GOP is committed to transparency and justice on Epstein Johnson instead argued the ongoing investigation by the House Oversight Committee, which has subpoenaed records from the Justice Department and the Epstein estate, is the better path because committee investigators will pour over the files and redact any identifying or otherwise confidential information. The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday evening released tens of thousands of pages related to Epstein, much of which was already publicly known. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters - PHOTO: Rep. Thomas Massie speaks during a press conference to discuss the Epstein Files Transparency bill on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 3, 2025. "To the American people -- don't let this fool you," Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said after the release. "After careful review, Oversight Democrats have found that 97% of the documents received from the Department of Justice were already public. There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims." Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and child sex trafficking. He died in custody a month later, while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 by a federal jury on sex trafficking and other charges. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for aiding and participating in Epstein's trafficking of underage girls, which involved a scheme to recruit young women and girls for massages of Epstein that turned sexual. This undated trial evidence image obtained December 8, 2021, from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and US financier Jeffrey Epstein in Queen's log cabin at Balmoral. - US District Court for the Southern District of New York On his first full day back in Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson sat for hours in a closed-door interview with six women who say they were abused by the late Jeffrey Epstein. Johnsons presence in the room on the first day of a frenetically busy September on Capitol Hill underscores how significant the issue of Epsteins past crimes has become within the GOP. The next day, Johnson and his House GOP took a symbolic step on the floor to voice support for their own committees investigation into Epsteins crimes. But he and the GOP conference have, so far, been opposed to a far more significant measure to force President Donald Trumps administration to release more records related to the case. Trumps own team has phoned Republicans urging them not to support that measure. And Johnson like his members is under intense pressure to meet the bases demands for transparency without going against the wishes of the president, whose inner circle has attempted to quiet this summers political firestorm over Epstein. The fact that Mike Johnson sat there for two and a half hours were serious about this, House Oversight Chairman James Comer told reporters after leaving the meeting Tuesday. Were going to do everything we can to make this right. Johnson himself told reporters the testimonials he heard were heartbreaking and infuriating and said there were tears in the room. There was outrage. Five weeks ago, Johnson and his leadership team had hoped that sending lawmakers home early to their districts for their August recess would diffuse tension around the issue. But the return of Congress to Washington showed that the pressure on GOP leaders has only continued to build, with Johnson maintaining the full House does not need to pass a measure demanding the administration release all Epstein-related files as a handful of his own GOP colleagues have sought. That pressure on Republicans dramatically increased on Wednesday, when Rep. Thomas Massie and his Democratic counterpart in the effort, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, held a high-profile press conference in which nearly a dozen Epsteins abuse survivors spoke about their experiences, some for the first time publicly. Massie and Khanna are leading a push to force the full House to vote on a resolution that would require Trumps Justice Department to turn over all documents related to Epstein or his crimes. Under their maneuver, known as a discharge petition, Massie would need five more Republicans to join him to force the bill to the floor since every Democrat is expected to sign on. So far, three other Republicans have signed on: Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. Other Republicans who have supported the underlying bill including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Eli Crane of Arizona and Tim Burchett of Tennessee were either noncommittal or suggested they would not support the discharge petition when asked by CNN this week. Johnson on Wednesday dismissed it as a poorly written petition that does not do enough to protect victims and said he supports the House Oversight Committees investigation into the governments mishandling of the Epstein case. The Oversight Committee is gathering more documents than are even anticipated in the discharge petition, Johnson said, pointing to the treasure trove of documents currently held by the Epstein estate that would not be included in the discharge petition. The House Oversight Committee has been leading an investigation into Epstein after some Republicans joined with Democrats to compel a subpoena to the Justice Department for records. The panel on Tuesday night released more than 33,000 pages related to the case all of the subpoenaed documents the panel had obtained earlier this summer. But the public release of information has not stopped the push for more transparency that has ratcheted up the pressure on Johnson. Massie and Democrats said nearly all of those documents had already been made public as part of various court cases and that it did not alter their push for their own Epstein measure. As part of its investigation, the Oversight Committee hosted a meeting on Tuesday with several survivors who are planning to speak at Wednesdays press conference. In that closed-door meeting, several of them shared chilling stories of abuse. Mace, one of the lawmakers in the room who has spoken out about being raped age 16, left the meeting in tears. Inside the room, one survivor said the women had been told by Epstein that they were disposable and threatened against coming forward, according to a person in the room who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting. The women were told if they went to police that Epstein had powerful friends, that person said. If the bipartisan Epstein resolution does pass the House, its fate is unclear in the Senate. But it would be an extraordinary move by a GOP-controlled Congress to take against a president of its own party. To prevent such an escalation, Johnson and the White House are attempting to sell their GOP members on an alternative path. They have backed a non-binding resolution that encourages the Oversight Committees investigation, which the House formally adopted on Wednesday. And Johnson stressed the importance of the work of that panel, in part by sitting in on one of the sessions himself. I sat by him in our meeting and listened to his compassion for these survivors. I listened to his questions, Greene said of Johnson as she left the meeting. Ive listened to some of his plans that he has going forward. I do think hes doing a great job there. Even so, Greene is one of the three Republicans so far willing to buck her leadership on the discharge petition. She said it was nothing against Johnson personally, but that she decided: I just think we need to do everything we can to bring it out. Inside the House GOP conference, some Republicans are privately dreading weeks of questions about the Epstein matter and would rather move onto issues like appropriations, tariffs or Russian sanctions, according to multiple lawmakers and senior aides. But many of those GOP lawmakers also realize that there is a small but vocal faction of their party that is deeply invested in getting more answers on Epstein and that they cant be seen as dropping the issue. Democrats, meanwhile, are accusing Johnson of attempting to stonewall further investigations in Congress. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico told reporters after the meeting that Johnson was advocating that the investigation should remain within the Oversight panel rather than expanding the probe to include more committees. In the room with six victims of sexual violence by Jeffrey Epstein, it was suggested by Democrats that this be investigated using the full force of every committee here in Congress. And the speaker ended by saying he didnt think that was necessary. Hed like to just keep it in the Oversight Committee, Stansbury said. That is where the speaker actually chose to end this conversation. This story has been updated with additional developments. CNNs Alison Main, Ellis Kim, Veronica Stracqualursi and Aileen Graef contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Marines and members of the National Guard stand in line protecting the entrance of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, as demonstrators gather in front of it on July 4. - Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images/File President Donald Trump is increasingly moving to deploy the military on US soil in extraordinary ways, including potentially in Chicago. Were going in, he said on Tuesday, while adding: I didnt say when. A major new ruling in California earlier in the day doesnt stop him from doing that. But it does suggest there could be little actual utility in the president pressing forward with his longstanding push to militarize the homeland. US District Judge Charles Breyers ruling that Trumps use of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles in June was illegal is a nuanced one. For one, it doesnt prevent Trump from deploying the military or keeping troops in Los Angeles. It merely says they cant perform law enforcement functions, versus things like protecting federal property. Doing the former, Breyer ruled, violated the Posse Comitatus Act. Secondly, it only applies to California. So it doesnt prevent Trump from doing anything in Chicago or elsewhere. He could push forward with his plans and wait for other judges to rule on them. The administration is also likely to appeal Breyers ruling, meaning this might not be the final word. But the ruling reinforces that Trump might not be able to use the troops for the very thing he actually wants to use them for: cracking down on crime. Trumps idea for putting troops in Chicago is often lumped together with his efforts to use them in Los Angeles and Washington, DC. But its also different in key ways. In Los Angeles, the Guard and the Marines were deployed in response to immigration protests what the administration claimed was a rebellion. (Breyer says there was no such actual rebellion.) In DC, the ostensible purpose was a broader effort to crack down on crime. But Trump has an unusual level of authority in the nations capital because of its status as a federal district. President Donald Trump speaks as he visits the Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility in Washington, DC, to meet with police and the military on August 21. - Nathan Howard/Reuters In Chicago, Trump has indicated he would be using the troops for the latter purpose, but without the same authorities at his disposal. It would be the first time he would use the military for broadscale, domestic law enforcement outside of DC. Breyer now indicates such a thing would be illegal. The Posse Comitatus Act bars the use of the military to execute the laws, except when expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress. Breyer ruled that the administration willfully violated this act in Los Angeles because it systematically used armed soldiers and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence. Breyer significantly limited what those troops are allowed to do. He said they could not engage in arrests, apprehensions, searches, seizures, security patrols, traffic control, crowd control, riot control, evidence collection, interrogation, or acting as informants, unless the administration can identify some kind of valid exception to the Posse Comitatus Act. But again, thats just in California. If those limits were to apply to a situation like Chicago, it would really curtail the actual value of deploying the troops. Members of the West Virginia National Guard patrol the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, on August 27. - Mariam Zuhaib/AP This is a setback for Trumps use of the military to engage in law enforcement operations that fall outside of protecting federal buildings and people, Emory University law professor Mark P. Nevitt said. Syracuse University law professor emeritus William C. Banks said the ruling provides the frame for any other places Trump might want to deploy troops. And Elizabeth Goitein, a senior director of the liberal-leaning Brennan Centers Liberty and National Security Program, called Breyers ruling a place to start that could certainly inform how other courts look at these questions. In court, the presidents going to have to use a different rationale than crime control, Goitein said of potential justification for using troops in Chicago. I think its going to be about protecting federal buildings and functions, or immigration enforcement. Indeed, after Breyers ruling, the administration suggested it had actually respected the line between protecting federal property and personnel, and conducting law enforcement. This is a false narrative and a misleading injunction, acting US attorney Bill Essayli said on X. The military has never engaged in direct law enforcement operations here in LA. But the word direct is the operative word there. National Guard members block protesters during an ICE immigration raid at a cannabis farm near Camarillo, California, on July 10. - Mario Tama/Getty Images/File In fact, Breyer noted that the administration told troops that they had the authority to engage in less-direct forms of law enforcement. He included an image of a slide that isolated security patrols, traffic control, crowd control and riot control alongside other forms of prohibited law enforcement actions. He said troops were told these forms of law enforcement were subject to a constitutional exception, meaning troops could engage in them. The administration is preparing to conduct a major immigration enforcement operation in Chicago as soon as this week, CNN has reported, with the National Guard possibly helping in a peacekeeper capacity if needed, akin to Los Angeles following protests. But Trump has repeatedly indicated that sending troops to Chicago is about law enforcement and White House officials have made clear those immigration plans are separate from that. Trump has often compared what he intends to do in Chicago to what he has done in DC. And he has repeatedly pointed to Chicagos crime problems versus, say, a supposed rebellion in Los Angeles to justify potentially sending in the troops. Breyer repeatedly pointed to Trumps designs on possibly expanding his use of troops to other cities like Chicago, apparently anticipating what could lie ahead. He said this amounted to creating a national police force with the President as its chief. To the extent thats truly Trumps goal, the effort has suffered a significant early setback. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Los Angeles woman known as the Ketamine Queen pleaded guilty Wednesday to five federal counts in connection with the fatal overdose of Friends actor Matthew Perry in 2023, a court spokesman said. Jasveen Sangha, 42, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Sangha, a dual citizen of the United States and the U.K. who has been in federal custody since August 2024, faces a maximum prison sentence of 65 years, prosecutors said last month in a news release. She is set to be sentenced on Dec. 10. Shes taking responsibility for her actions, Mark Geragos, Sanghas attorney, said in a brief statement last month after prosecutors announced that she had agreed to plead guilty. Perry was found face down in the heated end of his pool at his Los Angeles home on Oct. 28, 2023. He was 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office attributed his death to an accidental overdose of ketamine, a hallucinogenic anesthetic that in recent years has gained popularity as an off-label, unregulated treatment for depression. Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, spoke openly about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, chronicling some of those experiences in the 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. In his final months, Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety. But he sought unsupervised doses, developing a dependence on the drug that was spiraling out of control, leading up to his death, prosecutors have said. Matthew Perry and Jasveen Sangha. (Getty; Jojo Korsh/BFA.com/Shutterstock) The medical examiners office said the amount of ketamine found in his body was equivalent to the amount used in general anesthesia. Sangha worked with a man named Erik Fleming to give ketamine to Perry, prosecutors have said, citing Sanghas plea agreement. In the month of Perrys death, Sangha and Fleming sold Perry 51 vials of ketamine and provided them to Kenneth Iwamasa, his live-in personal assistant, according to prosecutors. Iwamasa repeatedly injected Perry with the ketamine leading up to the fatal overdose, prosecutors have said including at least three shots on the day he was found dead. Sangha called Fleming on the encrypted messaging application Signal after having learned from news reports that Perry had died, according to prosecutors. Delete all our messages, Sangha instructed Fleming. Fleming pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Iwamasa pleaded guilty the same month to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Getty Images Prince Harry and King Charles The Gist King Charles and Prince Harry are tentatively slated to meet up as soon as next week, as Harry will be in London for the WellChild Awards on September 8. That date, poignantly, also marks the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeths death in 2022. Charles and Harry arent thought to have met up face-to-face in 19 months, since right after the King announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024. A potential meetup between father and son King Charles and Prince Harry next week could be make-or-break for the two men, a source told Us Weekly. If it goes well, it could lead to other family members being open to better relationships, the insider added. If things get leaked negatively, then its done, and theres no chance [for peace]. Getty Prince Charles and Prince Harry on February 14, 2018 The Duke of Sussex will be in London on September 8next Mondayfor the WellChild Awards, an organization he has been patron of for 17 years. That date also happens to mark the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeths death at 96 years old in 2022. Since then, the King has been diagnosed with cancer, and Harry is concerned about his father and feels the weight of time, the source said, adding that a heightened sense of urgency is a catalyst for both men. Getty Prince Charles and Prince Harry on April 4, 2019 For Charles, a meeting with Harry means establishing harmony, the insider said. [He] understands that headlines and strife are not good for anyone, and he wants things to move forward. For Harry, its an opening for his children to have a relationship with the grandfather. A successful meeting next week could, at least, clear the air and have a fresh start, they said, after years of strife between Harry and members of the royal family. Other than a brief phone call for Charless 76th birthday last November, father and son have barely been in touch. While no meeting is confirmed, Harry said in an interview with the BBC in May that he would like reconciliation with his family, and in July, representatives for both the King and Harry met in Londona hopeful sign. Getty Prince Harry and King Charles on September 14, 2022 Charles does want to meet Harry, a source told Us Weekly. He doesnt want this falling-out to overshadow his legacy. But Harry has caused chaos and hurt, so its complicated. If a meeting happens, itll likely be private and more likely to be on the Kings terms rather than Harrys, royal historian Marlene Koenig said. Getty Prince Harry on April 8, 2025 Getty King Charles on April 8, 2025 A meeting is feasible, and both sides are open to it, the source said. This marks the first tentative steps of reconciliation. Though the likelihood of a meetup is high, it will likely be brief rather than an in-depth conversation about deeper issues. It would [take time] for the public to get used to it, the insider said of a reconciliation between Charles and Harry. But ultimately, the public wants them to make amends. Read the original article on InStyle China hosted what it says was its "biggest" military parade for "Victory Day" on Wednesday, showcasing the country's growing military power while commemorating Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. More than two dozen world leaders were expected to attend the parade as China displayed some of its newest and most advanced weapons. Rehearsals had been underway for weeks, and security in the sprawling Chinese capital of Beijing has been extra tight. Here's what to know about China's military parade. When is China's military parade? The parade took place on Wednesday, Sept. 3, starting at 9 a.m. local time, according to state news agency Xinhua. The parade was held in central Beijing in Tiananmen Square, proceeding down Chang'an Avenue, which translates to "Eternal Peace." Who is attending China's military parade? Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are among the dignitaries who attended the parade. It was the first time Kim, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin appeared together. The trio has been dubbed an "Axis of Upheaval" by some Western analysts. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive at a military parade in Beijing, China, Sept. 3. / Credit: Sergei Bobylev / AP Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the leader of Myanmar's ruling military junta, President Min Aung Hlaing, were also expected to attend, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In total, the parade was expected to be attended by 26 different foreign leaders and an estimated 50,000 spectators. Why is the parade being held and what will it feature? "Victory Day" marks the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japan's surrender at the close of World War II. In 2014, China set Sept. 3 as Victory Day. The parade was Xi's third military parade since coming to power in 2012. The 70-minute parade displayed China's growing military might and newest hardware, including hypersonic weapons, nuclear-capable missiles, fighter jets and underwater drones. According to The Associated Press, in a speech, Xi said humanity today must choose between peace and war and between dialogue and confrontation. How did President Trump respond? In a post to Truth Social on Tuesday evening, President Trump noted that the U.S. and China were allies against Japan during WWII, writing that the "big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and 'blood' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader." Mr. Trump went on: "May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." Historian Miles Yu on Chinese military parade: "Trolling is a very good word" Judge lets Google keep Chrome, but says it must share search data with rivals A look back at the first "CBS Evening News" broadcast on its 62nd anniversary USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page. When Southwest Airlines announced last month that it was tightening restrictions on how and when it would provide refunds for additional seats purchased by plus-size passengers, advocates for travelers who have come to rely on the policy were frustrated. The airlines new policy, which will go into effect on Jan. 27, will only make refunds available to plus-size passengers if theres at least one empty seat on their flight, both seats were purchased in the same fare class, and the traveler requests the refund within 90 days of their departure. Previously, the airline placed fewer conditions on its refund policy. Before you clog my inbox with comments about how you disagree with even Southwests more restrictive policy, I just want to say: I dont want to hear it. Being fat is not a moral failing for which people should be punished. While the airlines are undeniably cramming us all in regardless of our waist size, for passengers who truly dont fit in a standard economy seat, policies like Southwests help not only them but their fellow travelers be safer and more comfortable onboard, and thats a good thing. Everybody should have the amount of space that they need. I dont actually need a full second seat. I need one more inch, Tigress Osborn, executive director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, told me. More often than not, the person on the other side of you is getting the benefit of that space as well. Jeff Jenkins, founder of Chubby Diaries, told me that flying can be an especially stressful experience for plus-size passengers, and policies like Southwests help make it a little easier, even as the airline makes it harder to get those refunds. Theres this deep anxiety that plus-size people get from flying and thats usually the first required thing to traveling around the world or traveling around the nation at times. Its very anxiety-driven, he said. Last week's Cruising Altitude: The hidden airport facility that helps your pets travel the world safely. Even after the policy change goes into effect, Jenkins said, Southwest will remain the industry leader in accommodating plus-size travelers. As much as I am disheartened by what Southwest has done, they still are leading every other airline. Theyre still doing the refunds, he said. Osborn said she hopes Southwest reverses its decision to restrict its refund policy and that other airlines become friendlier to plus-size travelers. I would want other airlines to hear, everybody can improve their policies around this and their procedures around this, she said. Until then, heres where things stand and what plus-size travelers need to know about flying with the four major U.S. airlines. Not all people are the same shape and size. Airlines should find a way to accommodate everyone safely and comfortably. Airline plus-size policies As Jenkins mentioned, Southwest still has the most generous plus-size policy of the major U.S. airlines. Heres what travelers can expect from the Big Four: American Airlines plus-size traveler policy recommends that passengers purchase an additional seat when they make their booking, which can be done by calling their reservations representatives. In that case, the seats will be made available for the same price. Booking at a later date can result in a price difference. Travelers could also be required to pay a fare difference if they are upgraded to a premium cabin on the day of travel as an accommodation. They may also be required to travel on a different flight if they cant be safely and comfortably accommodated on their original itinerary. Delta Air Lines plus-size travel policy suggests that, in cases when the armrests cannot stay down while a passenger is seated, the traveler purchase a second seat when they make their booking by contacting reservations. In that case, the second seat will be sold at the same fare as the original. Customers who do not purchase the additional seat in advance risk the need to change seat assignments to another location on the aircraft that provides additional space, the airlines website says. In the event of a full flight, customers will be rebooked for a later flight with available seating. Plus-size passengers on Delta can also pay to upgrade to a premium cabin. The airline reserves the right to refuse transportation to plus-size passengers who cannot be safely accommodated. Southwest Airlines upcoming plus-size travel policy provides for refunds when passengers purchase an additional seat, so long as the flight departs with at least one empty seat, the request for a refund is made within 90 days of departure and both seats were purchased in the original fare class. United Airlines plus-size travel policy recommends that travelers book an extra seat in the economy cabin or plan to travel in a premium cabin with more space if they cannot sit in a standard economy seat with both armrests down. United recommends passengers purchase the extra seat when they make their original booking in order to avoid paying a higher fare at the airport. The airlines website says that if a passenger requires an extra seat but there isnt one available, they may be moved to another flight. United will provide hotel and meal vouchers in cases where the new flight requires an overnight stay in a location away from the passengers home airport. What plus-size travelers can do to fly more comfortably and safely Jenkins said that being plus-size doesnt mean you cant travel, but he said its important to plan and make sure you can do so comfortably. He relies on websites like SeatGuru or aeroLOPA to make sure he knows the dimensions of an airlines seats in advance, and to help him determine if he requires an extra seat when he books. Jenkins said he almost always just flies first or business class now to take any concerns out of the equation, but acknowledged thats not possible for many travelers. Still, he said, its a good idea to budget extra if youre going to require extra space. The economy cabin on United Airline's first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner at Washington Dulles on Nov. 16, 2018. If you budget the two seats to where youre buying two seats automatically, it does make it easier, he said. Osborn agreed that it can make things smoother to buy an extra seat in advance, but said that airlines dont always honor that booking or keep the seats together. One thing about all airlines is, even if you have paid for your second seat, if they need that seat, theyre going to try to take it from you, she said. I was put in the position of, were one seat short for this family, and if you dont give up your second seat, one person in the family doesnt get to go home. Adding to the insult, Osborn said the airline never refunded her even after it reclaimed the seat she had paid for. Jenkins said that for travelers who dont want to lay out extra money, its best to keep an eye on flight loads before and after you book, and be prepared to move to a flight that looks less full so you can get an empty adjacent seat. Osborn said she hopes that airlines revisit their policies and become more accommodating, but she also hopes that fellow passengers just start being kinder to each other. Its not just that wed like to see them go back and other airlines improve, its that wed also like to see our fellow passengers treat us with respect, she said. You have to face the walk of dread where you can see other passengers watching to see if youre sitting next to them. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Airlines compared: How plus-size seating policies stack up in 2025 Burning Man on Saturday, the day a man the Pershing County Sheriff's Office identified as Vadim Kruglov was found dead at the festival in Nevada. (Siobhan McAndrew / Reno Gazette Journal via USA Today Network) The Pershing County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday identified man who was killed at Burning Man last week. The victim was identified by fingerprints as 37-year-old Vadim Kruglov of Russia, the sheriff's office said. He was identified by the Washoe Medical Examiner's Office, and his family has been notified of his death. His body was found after 9 p.m. Saturday "lying on the ground" in a pool of blood, the sheriff's office said. A suspect has not been identified, and officials are asking for the public's help finding "any person who would commit such a heinous crime against another human being." Officials have said details about the manner of death are being withheld at this time as the investigation is ongoing. When asked for updates on the case Tuesday morning, the sheriff's office said it had none. "Our hearts go out to Vadims family and friends and we grieve the loss of a community member," Burning Man said in a statement Wednesday. The festival said it will do "everything we can to assist the Sheriffs investigation so the perpetrator can be caught and brought to justice," including making a "coordinated donation to the Secret Witness program, which offers rewards for more information that contributes to law enforcements investigation." At least one other person has died at Burning Man in recent years. Last year, Kendra Frazer, 39, died after "emergency services personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive individual. Once on scene, life saving measures were immediately attempted but were unsuccessful," the festival said in 2024. The death was one of a few outstanding events at this year's festival, held in the desert of Black Rock City, Nevada. A baby was "spontaneously" delivered in a recreational vehicle to a woman who did not know she was pregnant, and the infamous "Orgy Tent" was claimed by dust storms that overturned the camp. Maureen Slough/Facebook Maureen Slough NEED TO KNOW Maureen Slough, 58, told her family she was going on vacation with a friend. However, she actually traveled alone to Switzerland to end her life with assisted suicide Her daughter, Megan Royal, opened up about the devastating moment she learned of her mothers death via text message Royal and her family are now looking for answers as to how Slough was able to move forward with assisted suicide without their knowledge A daughter is opening up about the chilling way she learned that her mother traveled to Switzerland to end her life without their familys knowledge. On July 8, Maureen Slough a 58-year-old from Cavan, Ireland told her family she was going on vacation to Lithuania with a friend. However, she confided in two friends that she was actually traveling alone to Switzerland. The following day, her daughter Megan Royal was contacted by one of her mothers friends with concerns about her real plans. A close friend of hers messaged me on the Wednesday night, possibly at like 10 p.m. I was in bed with the baby, Royal, a mom of two, recalled to the Irish Independent. He just replied like, Your moms in Switzerland. Hes like, You have a right to know. I was sworn to secrecy. Shes there and she wants assisted suicide. I was so scared in that moment. Royal said she immediately called her dad, who tried to contact her mother in Switzerland. She said Slough ultimately promised that she would return home. However, the following day around 1 p.m. she received a text message on WhatsApp informing her that her mother had died. What was worse was not only did I get the text on WhatsApp, they had advised me that her ashes would be posted to me in 6-8 weeks, she said. In that very moment, because I was alone, I just sat there with the baby and cried I just felt like my world ended. Royal explained that the text message came from Pegasos, an assisted dying nonprofit organization in Liestal, Switzerland. She learned that Slough had quietly filed an application and paid 15,000 to end her life. Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland since 1942, according to Dignity in Dying, a British organization. It's different from euthanasia which is illegal because the patients themselves administer prescribed drugs to end their lives, rather than a doctor. 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. Following Sloughs death, her family is now looking for answers as to how the assisted suicide happened without their knowledge. Royal described her mother as a fiery, smart and dedicated woman. However, she told the outlet that Slough had a long history of mental illness and even had a past suicide attempt while struggling to cope with the deaths of her two younger sisters. Maureen Slough/Facebook Maureen Slough The family had tried to get her help through the difficult time. No ones saying she wasnt feeling pain. Not pain good enough to go and end her life. She had a lot more life to live and give, Royal told the outlet. She was just in a dark time. She wasnt terminally ill or, in my opinion, ill enough to go and do this and leave our family behind like that. In the weeks following her mothers assisted suicide, Royal said she learned more details about the moments leading up to her decision to end her life with Pegasos. Pegasos did not respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. The nonprofit told both Royal and the Irish Independent that Slough went through an extensive assessment prior to her death, including an independent psychiatric evaluation confirming that she was of sound mind. Pegasos said Slough informed them of her history and stated repeatedly that she was suffering with unbearable chronic pain. According to the outlet, they received a letter from Royal stating that she was informed of her mothers decision and although she didnt agree, she accepted it. The organization said the daughter was contacted directly via email to confirm the authenticity of the letter and Royal ultimately responded to confirm as well as apologize that she could not accompany her mother to Switzerland. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! However, Royal and her family believe Slough created the email herself and responded on behalf of her daughter. Shes now questioning Pegasos verification process, wondering why they didnt use the provided WhatsApp number to call her rather than confirm authenticity via email. This is all just a confusing story, Royal told the outlet. It wasnt even my email. With anything these days, 99% of things you settle you get a call to your phone. So why is it not like this when youre about to lose your life? If I want to set up a Roblox account for my 8-year-old I have to verify it on my phone. People are saying to me, At least you didnt find her in a bad way over here. Well, it was just as bad to me, she continued. Royal claims, She was in and out in two days and that was the end of their communication with me. Not even a condolence letter with her urn. Not even a fragile sticker on the box, just bounced around the back of a post van. Royal says that her uncle, Philip, Sloughs brother, is a solicitor in the UK and hes written to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the UK, asking it to investigate their family's case with Swiss authorities. In the letter, he claimed the Pegasos failed to follow its own policy of informing family. While I understand that Swiss law permits assisted dying, the Pegasos clinic has faced numerous criticisms in the UK for their practices with British nationals, and the circumstances in which my sister took her life are highly questionable, he wrote, Right to Life UK reports. Royal said in early August that Sloughs ashes arrived with her family and by the end of the month, they arranged a funeral. Were going to bury her with her two sisters, she said, noting that shes still struggling with grief. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Read the original article on People This image made from video provided by the Anaconda Deer Lodge County Justice Court shows Michael Paul Brown, who is accused of killing four people in a bar, during a virtual court appearance, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Montana. (Anaconda Deer Lodge County Justice Court via AP) BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A Montana man suspected of killing four people at a bar then evading capture for a week was charged on Wednesday with additional crimes, including lighting a fire in an attempt to destroy or damage the bar. State District Judge Jeffrey Dahood ordered Michael Paul Brown to be held without bail after the defendant's attorneys said mental illness could be an issue in the case. The owner of The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, David Gwerder, said Wednesday he was told by investigators that Brown lit a cardboard pizza box on fire hoping to use it as a fuse to ignite a bucket of flammable or explosive material. The bucket did not ignite, Gwerder said he was told, and the suspect allegedly left the bar then returned a minute later with a gun and killed the bartender and three customers. Brown, who lived next door, was charged with attempted arson, according to newly-released court documents that said he set objects on fire and tried to damage or destroy the bar by means of fire or explosives." Brown's family has said the 45-year-old former soldier long struggled with mental illness before the Aug. 1 shooting. Defense attorney Walter Hennessey pleaded not guilty on Browns behalf to charges that also include four counts of murder, theft and eluding police. Brown appeared by video from jail in Butte, Montana. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty against Brown for the murder charges is pending, Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith told the court Wednesday. Executions in Montana have been on hold since 2015 in the state under a court ruling regarding a drug used in lethal injections. Bail for Brown previously had been set at $2 million. But Dahood on Wednesday sided with a prosecution request to hold Brown for now without the possibility of bail. The judge cited public safety and the mental health issues raised by Brown's attorneys. The judge set trial for Jan. 12. Anaconda, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Butte, is home to roughly 9,000 people. It is surrounded by mountains. Following the shooting, Brown allegedly stole a truck that he ditched several miles outside of town at the base of a mountain before escaping into the forest. He hid for a week in that area west of Anaconda where he was eventually apprehended, moving locations while helicopters and drones circled overhead and officers and dogs searched on the ground, officials said. Brown was captured on Aug. 8 inside an unoccupied structure near a bar in the small community of Stumptown, authorities said. Investigators also have been examining whether he had any contact with individuals or property owners who might have helped him while he was on the run. Authorities have not commented on a possible motive, and much of the case against Brown has been sealed by the judge. Brown had patronized the bar over several decades and knew the victims, Gwerder said. (Reuters) -U.S. states of California, Oregon and Washington said on Wednesday they have launched a new health alliance to provide unified vaccine recommendations amid growing tensions over federal immunization policies and public health directives. Under the West Coast Health Alliance, the states said they will make joint recommendations on who should receive vaccines, informed by national medical associations even if they diverge from federal guidance. Separately, Florida on Wednesday announced plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including for children to attend schools. Typically, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a federal advisory body to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, advises on who should receive vaccines and at what intervals after the Food and Drug Administration approval. "ACIP remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations in this country, and HHS will ensure policy is based on rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science, not the failed politics of the pandemic," a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services told Reuters. U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s sweeping federal vaccine policy changes, including withdrawing COVID vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and healthy children in May, have prompted medical organizations and several states to formulate their own recommendations ahead of the fall immunization campaign to prevent loss of access to the shots. Health experts, however, say that an alternative standard to the one set by the federal government could cause confusion among providers and patients. "The dismantling of public health and dismissal of experienced and respected health leaders and advisors, along with the lack of using science, data and evidence to improve our nation's health, are placing lives at risk," said Erica Pan, California State Public Health Officer. Last week, CDC chief Susan Monarez was fired less than a month into the role, which further sparked a major leadership upheaval at the nation's top public health agency as four top officials resigned due to changes to its vaccine advisory board and other vaccine policies. Kennedy fired all ACIP members in June whom he replaced with hand-picked advisers, including fellow anti-vaccine activists. (Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. court on Wednesday returned control of Seattle's police department to the city, ending 13 years of court-ordered federal oversight of the department, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement on Wednesday. The Justice Department made the latest recommendation in late July, saying the police department substantially complied with reforms to address civil rights violations and excessive use of force. "Today, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington recognized the successful completion of the consent decree in 'United States v. City of Seattle', returning complete control of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to the City," the Justice Department said. The consent decree that established the arrangement began in 2012. That followed a review that found Seattle police regularly violated residents' civil rights and that officers were too quick to use their batons and other weapons. The police department achieved "sustained substantial compliance," according to the Justice Department. The reforms included changes to the police department's practices on use of force, crisis intervention, stops, detentions, supervision, and accountability. The 2011 review found that in encounters that required force, police used excessive force 20% of the time. When officers used their batons, more than half the time it was unnecessary or excessive. Under former President Joe Biden, the Justice Department said in 2023 that the city took steps to address a prior pattern of police misconduct. Among the changes were the creation of a Community Police Commission charged with police oversight. The city also established a team to investigate all incidents involving "serious uses of force," according to the Justice Department. "The Consent Decree created internal systems of 'critical review' for our employees - they know what they are doing and are accountable," Seattle Police Department Chief Operations Officer Brian Maxey said on Wednesday. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in WashingtonEditing by Rod Nickel) By Andrea Shalal and Anna Koper WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump will welcome Polish President Karol Nawrocki back to the White House on Wednesday after backing the conservative nationalist in Polish elections, with their meeting likely to focus on Russia's war in Ukraine and energy security. Trump extended the invitation days after Nawrocki was swornin early in August and then intervened to ensure he joined a key telephone call on Ukraine with European leaders instead of his rival, centrist Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The president hosted Nawrocki at the White House in May, backing him at a crucial moment in the Polish election. Nawrocki went on to defeat the candidate of Tusk's pro-European, centrist party a month later. Wednesday's talks are expected to center on stalled negotiations to end the war and Poland's security concerns, amid signs that Trump has grown frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin for failing to move forward on ending the war. On Tuesday, Trump said he was "very disappointed" in Putin, adding that his administration planned some action to bring down deaths in the war. He will greet Nawrocki at the White House at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) with the two leaders to meet first in the Oval Office before a private lunch, the White House said. Poland, a member of NATO, borders both Russia and war-torn Ukraine. Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Nawrocki would urge Trump to stand firm against Putin and refrain from reducing U.S. troops in Poland. "From the Polish side, it's clear what the message will be, and that is, 'Don't get played by Putin, stand up to him and we need a united transatlantic position if we're going to get an end to the war in Russia,'" Kupchan said. Nawrocki was also expected to push for an increased U.S. commitment to Polish security and more troops but that could be a tough sell at a time when the U.S. military's force structure review was likely to recommend fewer troops in Europe, he added. The U.S. military presence on NATO's eastern flank, including Poland, remains one of the key issues for Warsaw, which is seeking assurances of continued support. "The success of his (Nawrocki's) special relationship with the MAGA movement and with President Trump would be if the United States increased its presence in Poland," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told journalists on Tuesday. Trump has long been supportive of Poland, lauding its leadership in boosting military spending and acknowledging its geographic position in "a tough neighborhood." But experts say he will be looking for Warsaw to buy even more U.S. weapons for its own use and to send to Ukraine. Poland is a big buyer of U.S. arms, such as M1A2 Abrams tanks, F-35 fighter jets, AH-64 Apache helicopters, Javelin missiles and HIMARS rocket launchers. In June, Washington said it would give Poland a $4-billion loan guarantee to buy more. "Trump is, broadly speaking, much more transactional than ideological, even though he will show some affinity for the politics of a right-wing Polish president," Kupchan said. Increased arms purchases and potential joint ventures to expand Ukraine's defense industrial base offered a "sweet spot," he added. The meeting also offers a chance for the U.S. to renew its engagement in the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), launched in 2015 to boost energy, transport and digital infrastructure between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas. Trump attended its second summit in Warsaw in 2017. The former U.S. ambassador to Poland, Paul Jones, said in an essay published by the German Marshall Fund this week that U.S. participation in 3SI could bring more U.S. energy and technology sales in the region, a goal of Trump's America First policy. A strong partnership between the U.S. and the 3SI countries was also likely to curb Chinas influence there, he said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal in Washington and Anna Koper in Warsaw; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) By Maha El Dahan DUBAI (Reuters) -The United Arab Emirates warned Israel on Wednesday that annexation in the occupied West Bank would constitute a "red line" for Abu Dhabi that would severely undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords that normalised UAE-Israeli relations. The comments by the UAE, the most prominent of the three Arab states that signed the accords with Israel when President Donald Trump was first in office, amounted to Abu Dhabi's sharpest criticism of Israel since the Gaza war erupted in 2023, when Hamas launched its cross-border raid from the enclave. Trump has been seeking to expand the accords, but efforts so far to draw in others, including Saudi Arabia, hit the buffers amid growing international criticism in the Arab world, Europe and beyond of the way Israel has conducted the war. In August, Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that work would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said would "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, as well as allies and campaign groups condemned the project, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up any peace plans for the region. Smotrich has also called for annexing the West Bank. Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, told Reuters: "From the very beginning, we viewed the Accords as a way to enable our continued support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspiration for an independent state. "We call on the Israeli government to suspend these (settlement) plans. Extremists of any kind cannot be allowed to dictate the regions trajectory. Peace requires courage, persistence and a refusal to let violence define our choices." 'RED LINE' Nusseibeh added that "annexation in the West Bank would constitute a red line for the UAE", as it would severely undermine "the vision and spirit" of the Abraham Accords and end the pursuit of regional integration. The Israeli prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the UAE's remarks. On Wednesday, Smotrich said maps were being drawn up for annexing territory in the West Bank, though it was unclear if he had Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's support. In a statement, the UAE's fellow Gulf Arab states condemned what they called "dangerous and suspicious calls" for annexation by an Israeli cabinet minister. Under the Abraham Accords, signed during President Donald Trump's first term in office, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco normalised diplomatic relations with Israel following U.S. mediation. In those accords, the biggest prize for Israel was the UAE, the most prominent Arab state in 30 years to establish formal ties with Israel. The UAE is a major global oil producer and a commercial and trade hub with diplomatic clout extending across the Middle East. At the time the agreements were reached, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brimmed with optimism, arguing "this peace will eventually expand to include other Arab states". He even predicted that "ultimately it can end the Arab-Israeli conflict once and for all". The accords were a triumph for Trump who, in his current, second term, hopes he can persuade pivotal regional power Saudi Arabia to also normalise ties with Israel and further ease the latter's isolation in the region. But Israel's war in Gaza, which has killed over 62,000 Palestinians, demolished the heavily built-up enclave and created a humanitarian disaster, diverting attention away from Trump's efforts to extend Israeli-Arab normalisation. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday and discussed the situation in Gaza, state media said. The two stressed the need for a clear path toward a lasting, comprehensive and just peace, and for a two-state solution to ensure stability for the regions nations and peoples, UAE state news agency WAM reported. (Reporting by Maha El Dahan; additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem, Tala Ramadan and Elwely Elwelly in Dubai; writing by Michael Georgy; editing by Ros Russell, William Maclean and Mark Heinrich) The USS Sampson, a U.S. Navy missile destroyer, docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City, Panama, on September 02, 2025. Credit - Daniel GonzalezAnadolu via Getty Images Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of further U.S. military action against cartels following a strike that killed 11 people on a boat in the Caribbean that the Pentagon claimed was transporting drugs. We've got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us, and it won't, it won't stop with just this strike, Hegseth said on Fox News on Wednesday. Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco-terrorist will face the same fate, Hegseth added. Read more: 4,000 Troops and 4,500,000 Militiamen: What to Know About the U.S.-Venezuela Standoff The strike appears to be the first in a long-threatened military campaign by the Trump Administration to stop cartels from trafficking drugs into the United States, despite questions over the legality of such an operation. When President Donald Trump was asked on Wednesday why the vessel was not intercepted and those on board arrested, he said there were massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and everybody fully understands that. Obviously, they won't be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people won't be doing it again. When they watch that tape, they're going to say, 'Let's not do this,' Trump added, referring to a video of the strike released shortly after. Heres what you need to know about the strike and what comes next. Where, when, and how? Trump first announced the strike on Truth Social on Tuesday, claiming without evidence that the 11 people killed were members of Tren de Aragua, a powerful Venezuela-based gang that his administration has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. He shared a video of what appears to be a speedboat being struck by something and exploding. It is unclear what kind of weapon was used. Trump said the gang is controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduroa claim Maduro deniesand has ordered a build-up of U.S. military forces in the waters off Venezuela, ostensibly to target traffickers. Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strike took place in international waters in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela. He said later on Wednesday that similar strikes will happen again. Maybe it's happening right now, I don't know, but the point is the president of the United States is going to wage war on narco terrorist organizations, Rubio said. Neither the U.S. military nor the White House provided any evidence to back up their claims that the boat was carrying drugs. Is it legal to bomb cartels? Ever since Trump raised the possibility of launching military strikes on drug cartels, legal experts have questioned whether there was a basis in law to do so. The Trump Administration has tried to justify military action against cartels by claiming any such attack would be self-defense due to the huge amount of deaths caused by drugs smuggled into the United States. The White House said the strike was conducted against the operations of a designated terrorist organization and was taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and in the collective self-defense of other nations, referencing the use of military force enacted by Congress after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group who worked for a decade in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the State Department, called the strike extraordinary, shocking, but unfortunately not surprising. The notion that drug smuggling entitles you to use lethal force in self-defense is ridiculous. It's not recognized under international law, it's not recognized as a matter of U.S. domestic law. That may be their political justification, but it doesn't really do any legal work, he told TIME. At a minimum, it raises a specter that this may have violated the right to life of the people aboard that vessel. There's no indication that the United States sought to stop the vessel or conduct an interdiction beforehand. Indeed, Rubio indicated that option was presented to the President, he rejected it, and instead elected to blow it up, he added. Rubio said Wednesday that instead of interdicting it, on the presidents orders, we blew it up and itll happen again. He suggested that the traffickers who were killed on Tuesday were not on their way to the United States when they were killed, further weakening a self-defense claim. These particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean, he said. Suffice it to say that the president is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking in the United States. Trump pitched the idea of striking cartels in Mexico during his first term to his then-Defense Secretary, Mark Esper, Esper later said, but the Secretary informed the President that it would be illegal. "We would have this private discussion where I'd say, 'Mr. President, you know, I understand the motive.' Because he was very serious about dealing with drugs in America," Esper said. I get that, we all understand, but I had to explain to him, 'We can't do that. It would violate international law. It would be terrible for our neighbors to the south. It would, you know, impact us in so many ways. Trump has been threatening to go after cartels for some time Trump campaigned on a promise to use military action against cartels to stop the flow of drugs into the United States, repeating a favored tactic of previous American presidents by declaring war on drugs. During his campaign, Trump promised to take down the cartels just as we took down ISIS and the ISIS caliphate, adding: We will show NO MERCY to the cartels. When he returned to office in January, Trump signed an order directing the State Department to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. In February, he designated Venezuelas Tren de Aragua, as well as six groups in Mexico and MS-13 in El Salvador, as foreign terrorist organizations. Earlier this month, the President signed a secret directive to the Pentagon to use military force against these cartels, sources told the New York Times. Late last month, the Pentagon also ordered three U.S. Navy missile destroyersthe USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham and USS Sampsonand around 4,000 military personnel to the edge of Venezuelas territorial waters, according to Reuters. The Administration confirmed to CNN last week that it had ordered naval movements as part of an effort to stymie drug trafficking. The Trump Administration is also sending additional military assets to international airspace and waters, including several P-8 spy planes, warships, and an attack submarine, an official told Reuters. Maduro should be worried Trump views the cartels and drug trafficking as being encouraged and directed byMaduro. Maduro has denied links to Tren de Aragua and points to a record of tackling the group in his own country. Nevertheless, the Trump Administration has piled pressure on Maduro at the same time as it has taken action against the cartels. In addition to a huge build-up of U.S. military forces in the waters off Venezuela, Attorney General Pam Bondi is offering a reward of $50 million for information leading to Maduros arrest and seized up to $700 million of assets with alleged links to Maduro on Aug. 13, including luxury goods, bank accounts, and private jets. The Venezuelan government mobilized more than four million militia troops last month in response to U.S. naval movements in the region, and Maduro this week accused the U.S. of seeking regime change in Venezuela. They are seeking a regime change through military threat, he told reporters on Monday. In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela, Maduro said of the deployment, which he characterized as an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat. Following Tuesdays strike, Hegseth said Maduro was effectively a kingpin of a drug narco state, adding that he should be worried. Contact us at letters@time.com. (Reuters) -Pfizer said on Wednesday its COVID-19 vaccine has saved more than 14 million lives worldwide, after U.S. President Donald Trump urged pharmaceutical companies to justify the success of their pandemic drugs. In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that he has seen "extraordinary" data from companies such as Pfizer, but criticized them for withholding results from the public and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pfizer welcomed Trump's demand for openness and pointed to a dedicated section on its website where clinical trial findings and safety updates are posted. CEO Albert Bourla praised Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government's 2020 initiative to accelerate vaccine development, manufacturing and distribution, calling it a "profound public health achievement" under Trump's leadership. He said the program helped in averting over $1 trillion in healthcare costs, adding that such an accomplishment would "typically be worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize". Pfizer's announcement comes amid escalating turmoil at the CDC. Last week, director Susan Monarez was fired less than a month into her tenure after resisting changes to vaccine policy that were advanced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who was handpicked by Trump earlier this year. Her removal sparked the resignation of four senior CDC officials, who blamed the erosion of public health credibility. Kennedy has also rescinded federal COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and healthy children and halted about $500 million in funding across 22 mRNA vaccine research projects, including those targeting COVID-19. He is set to testify before the Senate Finance Committee later this week, where lawmakers are expected to probe the CDC's leadership crisis and ongoing policy shifts. Pfizer also said new information on its latest vaccine strain, recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will be published in the coming days (Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) Andrew Woodley/Universal Images Group via Getty A photo of Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. NEED TO KNOW Amelia Palmer a 13-year-old Boise, Idaho pageant queen was killed in a plane crash in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming on Monday, Sept. 1 An 11-year-old boy, a 54-year-old male and a 53-year-old female identified as her brother Aeron, father Earl and mother Cindy were also found at the scene with "serious injuries" Miss Rodeo Idaho Inc. remembered the 13-year-old as someone who was "pure sunshine" and who "brought joy to everyone [she] met" A Boise, Idaho teen was killed, and three of her family members were injured in a plane crash on Labor Day. The Sheridan County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) in Wyoming confirmed in a statement on Facebook that law enforcement responded to reports of a plane crash and lost or injured subject(s) in Bighorn National Forest on Monday, Sept. 1. The sheriffs office noted that deputies worked alongside the Sheridan Area Search and Rescue (SASAR) and the Wyoming Regional EMS (WREMS) and were able to locate the plane crash "in the area west of Big Mountain." The rescue and medical teams arrived at the crash site and found a single engine aircraft with three patients and a 13-year-old female, who was confirmed deceased on scene, the statement read, noting that her body was later transferred to the Sheridan County Coroner. Sheridan County Sheriff's Office Facebook A photo of a Sheridan County Sheriff's office car. The teenager who was found dead at the scene was identified as 13-year-old Amelia Palmer on Instagram by Miss Rodeo Idaho Inc. The organization noted that she was crowned the 2024/2025 Treasure Valley Rodeo Mini Queen and was second runner-up to 2026 Miss Junior Rodeo Idaho. Amelia, you were pure sunshine and brought joy to everyone you met. Our rodeo family won't be the same without you, and our hearts are truly broken today. Please join us in lifting her family up in prayer," the organization wrote in their tribute. "When shes not horseback riding in the arena, barrel racing, or participating in 4-H with Boots & Bullets, you can find her at her Great Uncle Mark Blackburns cattle ranch in Jamison, Oregon, or attending Working Ranch Horse 4-H clinics. Amelia also enjoys playing the cello, paddle boarding, and boating at the lake. She loves spending time outdoors, and on a relaxing day, you might find her listening to a good book and drawing," her bio on the Treasure Valley Rodeo website reads. She was one of five siblings with a younger brother and three older brothers. In their statement, the sheriff's office described the survivors of the crash as "an 11-year-old male, a 54-year-old male and a 53-year-old female, all of the same family." They were said to have suffered serious injuries. The survivors were identified by the Idaho Statesman as Earl Palmer, his wife Cindy Palmer and their son Aeron Palmer, Amelia's father, mother and younger brother. This was not confirmed by the sheriff's office as of Wednesday, Sept. 3. Medical and rescue teams worked to stabilize the three patients before they were airlifted to nearby hospitals. The coordinated effort between all of the rescuers, EMS, medical teams, and aircraft personnel was exceptional, Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez said in the statement. This was, and still is, a very fluid scene. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their family. The SCSO asked that people stay out of the area while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigated the incident. According to the Idaho Stateman, citing FAA reports, the plane was registered to Austin Travis Peden in Sheridan, Wyoming. Kathi Roe, a friend of the Palmer's, told the Idaho Statesman that the family owns a farm. "No words can express the huge loss our community has faced today, but more than that a family that has done so much for others and is the backbone of so many things," Roe wrote in a Facebook tribute confirmed by the Idaho Statesman. She continued, writing, "The Palmers have all been such an integral part of my life since moving to Boise." Roe remembered Amelia as "the sassy little neighbor girl who knocked on my door 8 years ago," writing that she became a "beautiful full of life teen." Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty The Sheridan County Airport (SHR) in Sheridan, Wyoming, US, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. 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. "It was never boring with her around, she always made you smile, or laugh most of the time. She will have a piece of my heart forever and the utter devastation for the family I cant imagine," she wrote. The concerned friend asked for prayers that "Cindy and Earl to recover fully from their injuries as they have 4 boys to care for and love" and described their son Aeron as "the amazing little hero that got his parents rescued and kept them safe." According to a GoFundMe account confirmed to be legitimate by PEOPLE, "Cindy and Earl are both in critical condition and Aeron suffered minor injuries." "Earl will need major reconstructive surgeries and Cindy is also in critical condition (extent of her injuries are unknown at this time)," the fundraiser noted, adding that the money raised woud assist with "medical bills, household bills, travel costs, and funeral costs." PEOPLE reached out to the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office for additional information and to confirm the identities of the victims. Read the original article on People A small plane crash in the mountains of northern Wyoming killed a 13-year-old girl and injured three relatives, authorities said Tuesday, adding a medical service helicopter spotted the wreckage. The crash occurred late Monday afternoon in the area of Big Mountain, an 8,200-foot peak in the Bighorn Mountains about 15 miles west of Sheridan. The medical helicopter spotted the downed aircraft after its crew was asked to fly over the area in Bighorn National Forest. Rescue teams set up a command post at a parking lot off a nearby highway, U.S. 14, the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Tuesday. It said rescuers flown to the site found the girl dead and three seriously injured relatives an 11-year-old boy, 53-year-old woman and 54-year-old man. The medical chopper and another helicopter from the Wyoming Army National Guard along with an ambulance took two survivors to a hospital Billings, Montana, and one to a hospital in Sheridan. The medical chopper crew flew the deceased girl to the command post and her body was transferred to the Sheridan County Coroner, the sheriff's office said. As of Tuesday, authorities hadn't released the victims' identities or information about their flight, saying the crash was still being investigated. However, the Idaho Statesman reported the family was from Boise and identified the victim as Amelia Palmer. Her parents, Earl and Cindy Palmer, were in critical condition and her younger brother had minor injuries, the newspaper reported. A GoFundMe launched for the family had raised more than $25,000 as of Wednesday morning. Federal Aviation Administration investigators were headed to the location, according to the statement. The National Transportation Safety Board identified the crashed plane as a Piper PA-28-180. "The coordinated effort between all of the rescuers, EMS, medical teams, and aircraft personnel was exceptional," Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez said in a statement. "This was, and still is, a very fluid scene. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims' and their family." Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Remembering veteran CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller The state of philanthropy in the U.S. In Japan, fall foliage stretches late into the year, as gingko and maple trees pop with color well into December. Powderhounds flock to ski resorts like Honshu and Hokkaido in the winter months for bucket list ski trips, complete with deep powder and snow thats light and dry and referred to as Japow. Then, spring brings the famous cherry blossom displays to the country. Niseko Ski Resort in Japan (Bank215 via Getty Images) With all the natural beauty and attractions, its no surprise that it can be hard for first-time visitors and repeat travelers to narrow down the best time to visit Japan. Ahead, experts who specialize in Japanese travel share their advice on the best time of the year to visit Japan and also reveal the times of year you should avoid visiting Japan. When Is the Best Time to Visit Japan? Cherry blossoms in Japan peak during the spring. (LewisTsePuiLung via Getty Images) The best time to visit Japan is the cherry blossom season in the spring (late March to mid-May), says several travel experts we talked to, including Ben Julius, the founder of Tourist Japan, which operates tours and tour packages throughout Japan for visitors from all over the world. Japans already marvelous landscapes are lit up by the picturesque cherry blossoms, creating a magical environment, he says. Plus, spring brings dry, comfortable weather so you visitors can spend time outdoors sightseeing and hiking. Unfortunately, though, cherry blossom season is also one of Japans worst-kept secrets, and every year, the country welcomes millions of visitors. In April 2024, more than 3 million visitors traveled to Japan, which is a 56% increase over April 2023, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. The number of American visitors to Japan in April 2024, which conicides with cherry blossom season, reached a record high of nearly 229,000 travelers, which is up 25% from the year prior. To visit Japan during cherry blossom season with fewer crowds and lower hotel rates, Adeline Kuroki, a Japan travel specialist with Savor & Soak Travel Co., recommends heading to Japan a bit earlier and visiting the southern island of Kyushu. This region is also known for its amazing hot springs, unique noodle dishes, and fresh sashimi, Kuroki says. Or, go later in the cherry blossom season, and head north to the Japan Alps or the northern island of Hokkaido for late cherry blossom viewing, she suggests. These regions are excellent for hiking, hot springs, and in Hokkaido, the freshest seafood. Something to keep in mind: You never truly know when the cherry blossoms will open and be at peak bloom, says Travelmation Travel Advisor Amy Thomasson who specializes in Japan trips. If you plan a trip based on a projected forecast, it might not be right and you could miss out on seeing the blossoms, she says. It's smart to know that in advance so you aren't totally disappointed. Fall Is Also a Great Time to Visit Japan Red maple leaves with Mount Fuji in the background. (Geng Kunpeng via Getty Images) Fall foliage tends to be more predictable and not as fleeting as cherry blossom season. So, when it comes to the best times to visit Japan, the cherry blossom season is followed closely in rank by the autumn leaf-peeping season from September to mid-November when the landscapes and attractions are adorned with a stunning tapestry of red and yellow leaves, Julius says. Some regions even have fall colors in December. The fall forecast is sunny and dry, with warm temperatures, but this is also a well-known high season, with higher prices and crowds. From our experience, the crowds tend to be slightly less overwhelming than in the spring with prices slightly more affordable, so [fall] is often considered to be the best time overall to visit Japan, Julius says. Llewelyn Thomas, managing director of Walk Japan, a walking tour company specializing in walking tours through many less-traveled areas from Hokkaido to Okinawa, has seen a significant increase in U.S. customers visiting during autumn, with 60% more U.S. guests booked for this season compared to last year.In the autumn months, travelers take part in momijigari with Walk Japan, which is a tradition that translates to hunting red leaves and dates back to the Edo period of 8th century when Japanese royalty traveled around the country to see the lush green leaves fade to deep reds, oranges, and golds. What Is the Cheapest Month to Visit Japan? Youre most likely to find best hotel and flight deals during the low season, which is January and February. You may also find some good deals during the rainy season from June and early July. Expect costs to shoot up during cherry blossom season in late March and throughout April. Fall hits a sweet spot since theres plenty to do and see and prices are moderate. What Months Should You Avoid Visiting Japan? Tokyo, Japan (tupungato via Getty Images) If youre a first time visitor to Japan, Thomasson recommends avoiding the summer. June, July and August tend to be hot and humid and is considered the typhoon season, she says, which means you could get completely rained out. If you do need to go in summer due to school vacations, then go as early in the summer for the most cooperative weather, she suggests. Golden Week, which runs from late April to early May, is a very popular holiday time in Japan when many of the local residents take their personal vacations. Many family-run shops close down, trains have a more limited schedule and it's really busy and harder to get around, she explains. Texas Department of Public Safety; La Salle County Sheriff's Office Valerie Laguna; Saul Gonzalez NEED TO KNOW A murder suspect has been arrested more than 20 years after a pregnant woman was found dead in a Texas cemetery Saul Gonzalez, 66, of San Antonio, was indicted on a capital murder charge in connection with the 2005 killing of 26-year-old Valerie Laguna Laguna, who was eight months pregnant at the time, appeared to have been sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled, authorities said Just over two decades after a pregnant woman was found dead in a Texas cemetery, a suspect has been charged in connection with the killing. On Friday, Aug. 29, Saul Gonzalez, 66, of San Antonio, was indicted by a grand jury on a capital murder charge related to the 2005 killing of 26-year-old Valerie Laguna, who was eight months pregnant at the time, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Laguna was last seen alive on the morning of July 19, 2005, and her body was found later that evening at the Cristo Rey Cemetery in Cotulla. Laguna appeared to have been sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled, authorities said. Laguna's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, according to the TDPS, and her unborn baby also died. Despite several witness interviews and DNA samples taken from multiple individuals, the case went cold. Officials later issued a $6,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Texas Department of Public Safety Valerie Laguna Gonzalez was identified as a suspect when his DNA was allegedly linked to "evidentiary items" that had previously been sent for testing to BODE Technology, a private forensics company, in 2020, per the TDPS. According to a Facebook post from the La Salle County Sheriff's Office, Gonzalez was arrested "without incident" in Cotulla. He has been booked into the La Salle County Jail on a $1 million bond. It's unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. 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. For twenty years, this community has carried the memory of a terrible loss, Sheriff Hector Ramirez said in the post. This arrest represents a significant step toward justice. More importantly, it represents a moment for healingfor the victims family, who have waited so long, and for a community that has never forgotten." Sheriff Ramirez noted that while details of the case remain limited due to the pending prosecution, the "long-awaited breakthrough is the result of tireless work spanning multiple administrations." This case has always been about more than just solving a crime, the sheriff added. It has been about giving a voice to the victim, honoring her memory, and providing hope to her family. We know that nothing can erase the pain of the past, but we pray that this step forward brings comfort as we now move into the prosecution phase. Read the original article on People Changes in the eyes could help doctors diagnose Alzheimers sooner, a new study suggests. Marco Govel/Stocksy One way scientists think Alzheimers disease may be detected early is through eye health. Specifically, scientists have been looking into the retina and its blood vessels in hopes that they could help identify changes that are also occurring in the brain. Results of a recent mouse study suggest distinct vascular changes in the eyes and brain occur at the same time, and that closer eye examination could ultimately help doctors detect Alzheimers and related dementias sooner. Recent research in mice suggests distinct similarities between brain and eye blood vessel changes that happen with aging which could help with identifying Alzheimers disease and related dementias earlier. The study, published in Alzheimers & Dementia, examined mice with a genetic variant linked to Alzheimers disease to see if brain and eye changes aligned. The results identified that eye vascular changes aligned with the brain vascular changes occurring in these mice. The researchers also observed certain protein changes relevant to Alzheimers disease in the mices brains and retinas. The connection between the eyes and the brain This research builds on the idea that looking at the retina, a part of the eye, could be highly useful in detecting Alzheimers disease and related dementias. The authors note that problems with the cerebrovascular system are possibly some of the first noticeable changes that happen before someone develops mild cognitive impairment. They wanted to see if looking at the blood vessels of the retina could predict how well the blood vessels in the brain were functioning. The research involved mice with a distinct variant in a gene. This variant has been linked to vascular dementia, Alzheimers disease, and some eye problems. Previous research by the same research group had already shown changes that occur in these mice, such as certain cerebrovascular deficits like those in Alzheimers disease and related dementia. The mice in the current study with the variant belonged to one of three genotypes. When looking at a specific part of the retina, researchers did not see image abnormalities when the mice with the variant were six months old. What eye changes did scientists see? There wasnt a major difference between the mice for a test measuring fluorescence intensity, which tends to increase with age. However, they did see a decrease in this area with age for some of the genotypes, with some differences between male and female mice and genotypes. One change they did notice at 12 months in one of the groups of female mice was a decrease in the density of the retinas blood vessels. The researchers suggest that this particular genotype has a bigger impact with increased age and among female mice. Twelve-month-old female mice in this group also had changes that suggest the retinas large blood vessel network was simplified. The researchers explain that their previous research showed a decrease in specific brain blood vessel density in mice with the genetic variant, particularly in the female mice. They also observed other blood vessel changes in some of the mice. For example, they found an increase in twisted blood vessels for some mice, particularly for some of the twelve-month-old female mice. They also observed narrowing of the arteries and enlargement of the veins among all the mice with the genetic variant. Among mice with the variant, researchers found that there wasnt baseline changes in retinal thickness, indicating there was no nerve loss. This and other tests indicate that the variant by itself isnt inducing glaucoma-relevant phenotypes. Further tests revealed that the gene where this variant can be present is expressed quite a bit in the brain and retina. They identified certain proteins that were shared by the retina and the brain. When looking at proteins in the brains and retinas, researchers found that the sex and the genotype with the variant both contributed to protein differences in the brain. In the retina, the genotype appears to impact protein differences more than sex. The authors note that these differentially expressed proteins are relevant to Alzheimers disease and further suggest that the involved genetic variant changes pathways involving metabolism and cell survival similarly in both tissues. Overall, the results build on the previous research that mice with this genetic variant experience certain vascular changes in the brain, and that looking at the blood vessels in the retina could help with Alzheimers disease and related dementias being diagnosed early. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui, PhD, professor in the departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Biomedical Sciences, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, LA, CA, who was not involved in the study, noted the following about the study to Medical News Today: This is a thoughtfully executed mouse study that strengthens the eye-brain axis for neurodegeneration. Using the MTHFR677C>T mouse modelrelevant to human cerebrovascular riskthe authors show retinal microvascular abnormalities that mirror cerebrovascular phenotypes and report brainretina overlap in differentially expressed, [Alzheimers disease]-relevant proteins. Together, the data argue that the retina can report on disease-linked vascular biology in the brain, and that quantitative retinal imaging might serve as a minimally invasive readout of risk. As with any preclinical work, translation will require careful human validation, but the mechanistic signal and biomarker rationale are sound, she explained. What this mice study needs more of Since this study was done in mice, it means that a lot more research is needed before we can really see application in people. Researchers suggest that since decreased retinal vessel density only happened in mice that were one year old, this test might not be an ideal one, since this happened earlier in the brain. This study focused on vascular-related changes, so more information on how this relates to Alzheimers disease and related dementias will be valuable as well. Daniel Romaus-Sanjurjo, PhD, Postdoctoral MSCA Fellow in the NeuroAging Group at the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Spain, who was also not involved in the study, noted the following limitations of the study: This study lacks ADRD [Alzheimers disease and related dementia]-related behavioral analysis (so we dont really know if those mice had ADRD-like symptoms, which is critical to link the observed changes in eyes with dementia-like disease); and the fact that alterations in the MTHFR gene are also related to other diseases (including some affecting eyes function) is another weakness, because authors couldnt demonstrate that this mutant only shows vascular alterations affecting cognitive state of the animal. The authors note that examining the retinal vascular system is likely most helpful for a dementia subtype: vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. (VCID). More research into the differentially expressed proteins may be useful. More research into the genotypes true involvement will also be important, as well as more data on how the brain and retina vascular changes line up. What eye health means for diagnosing Alzheimers This research indicates the need to explore a lot more in this area. This is a preclinical study assessing the use of the Mthfr677C>T mice as a potential model for ADRD, especially the VCID (the one related to vascular changes). It is a characterization of the animal model focusing on the eye/retina to study vascular changes associated with the mutation. However, the vascular changes observed in this study can be related to other diseases (e.g. stroke) so this study should be taken carefully yet, Sanjurjo noted. However, it does also point to the immense usefulness of examining the eye for other changes that are occurring in the body. It suggests that in the future, eye exams could potentially help with the early detection of Alzheimers disease in some cases. The use of the retina as a source of biomarkers to detect Alzheimers/dementias earlier is an interesting and emerging field. Eyes have easy accessibility in the clinic through noninvasive methods that make them a good area to find new biomarkers in dementia. Daniel Romaus-Sanjurjo, PhD However, it is not fully clear yet if ocular changes occur before or after brain changes, and what types of changes can be associated with dementia exclusively, as some ocular events related to AD are also shared by other ocular neurodegenerative pathologies, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or glaucoma. Therefore, clarifying these aspects is mandatory to find compelling data regarding the use of eyes/retinas as biomarkers for ADRD, added Sanjurjo. View the original article on Medical News Today It's been nearly 25 years since 9/11, when terrorists hijacked commercial jetliners and turned them into weapons of mass destruction. Now, after years of delays, new secondary barriers protecting airline cockpits are beginning to take flight. Inside a Southwest Airlines hangar at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, CBS News was given an early look at the airline's brand-new Boeing 737 MAX with the secondary barrier. It's essentially a retractable folding door that blocks off the front galley and flight deck. It aims to be a more secure option than flight attendants blocking the area with a beverage cart. A secondary barrier protecting the cockpit on a Southwest flight. / Credit: Southwest Airlines "This is kind of the latest edition to provide an additional layer of protection anytime our pilots need to come out of the flight deck," Southwest Executive Vice President of Operations Justin Jones told CBS News. After 9/11, cockpit doors were fortified, and in 2018, Congress mandated that all new airliners have secondary barriers. After years of delays, that regulation is set to go into effect next year. Captain Dennis Tajer, the spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, which is American Airlines' pilot union, said the barriers need to be on every airliner. "It's good to see, but it's been decades since 9/11, and I was out there flying during 9/11, and I saw all that happened," he told CBS News. "That is my yesterday. We cannot have my yesterday become everyone else's tomorrow." Both United and American Airlines have confirmed delivery of at least one aircraft with a secondary barrier. Alaska Airlines said it was expecting its first delivery of planes with a secondary barrier in November. Delta declined to comment on whether it had any planes with secondary barriers, but said in a statement to CBS News that "Delta continually employs seen and unseen security measures to safeguard our global operation, customers and people." The Air Line Pilots Association says there have been at least 52 hijacking attempts worldwide since 2001, underscoring the need for additional protection. Boeing and Airbus have both started delivering jets with these barriers, they said. Last year, Congress called for adding barriers to existing planes, as well, but so far, the Federal Aviation Administration has yet to certify any retrofit options. Southwest told CBS News it will evaluate adding the secondary barriers to existing planes when they're certified. Historian Miles Yu on Chinese military parade: "Trolling is a very good word" Judge lets Google keep Chrome, but says it must share search data with rivals A look back at the first "CBS Evening News" broadcast on its 62nd anniversary Four former hotel employees who pleaded guilty in connection with last year's death of DVontaye Mitchell outside a Hyatt hotel in Milwaukee all avoided prison time when they were sentenced on Wednesday. Mitchell, 43, was killed on June 30, 2024, after he caused a disturbance at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Milwaukee, leading to four hotel workers to fight him and pin him to the pavement. His death was caused by "restraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine," the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner found. Circuit Court Judge David Swanson sentenced security guard Todd Alan Erickson, 61, to a suspended two years of prison time and two more years of probation. Security guard Brandon Turner was sentenced to a year of probation, while bellmen Herbert T. Williamson and Devin W. Johnson-Carson were both sentenced to time served. Williamson was held for 10 days following the deadly confrontation, and Johnson-Carson was held for four. D'Vontaye Mitchell. (Courtesy Brenda Giles) Four defendants Prosecutors had called Erickson the most culpable of the four defendants and asked the judge to sentence him to time behind bars. It feels to me as if we are holding Mr. Erickson up as the person who will pay for all of our sins, the judge said. And a lot of people who arent here today are responsible for what happened that day. The judge said any number of factors could have helped Mitchell survive, including better-trained staff, faster police response, Mitchells health care providers and the victim himself, who had drugs in his system at the time of his death. Mr. Mitchell himself bears some blame here, Swanson said. He ingested methamphetamine and cocaine. We dont know what time that happened but it was certainly enough that put him in a frame of mind where he was running through the lobby of a hotel and into the womens restroom. Turner, who pleaded guilty to murder in March in a plea agreement, was the first of the four to be sentenced Wednesday by Swanson. Turner admitted guilt and had agreed to testify against his co-defendants had they gone to trial. Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Daniel Flaherty told the court he did not believe Turner intended to kill Mitchell during the altercation. Security footage showed Turner calling 911 even as he was holding Mitchell down. That is one of the mitigating factors I noted about Mr. Turners actions here, Flaherty said. I dont think anybody would ever say that he called the police on himself. Williamson and Johnson-Carson both pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and were considered the least culpable of the four men regarding Mitchells death, officials said. We dont see Mr. Johnson-Carson gratuitously attacking Mr. Mitchell the way we see of some of the co-actors here, Flaherty told the court Wednesday. Family disappointed in outcome The lack of prison time infuriated Mitchell's family and friends. At least twice the judge had to warn the victim's family and friends to refrain from outbursts in court. "It is disheartening and its disappointing that basically everyone here today is getting away with murder," Mitchells widow, DeAsia Harmon, told the court at Johnson-Carson's sentencing. Brandon Turner, left, and Todd Erickson, right. (Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office / via AP) Devin Johnson-Carson, left, and Herbert Williamson, right. (Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office / via AP) Flaherty said he understands the frustration of Mitchell's loved ones. "This will not be a life sentence for any of the four co-defendants, but it will be a life sentence for every single one of his family members, birthdays, holidays," Flaherty said. Fatal confrontation Though the medical examiner found Mitchells heart disease and morbid obesity were "significant conditions in his death, prosecutors said the actions of the four men contributed to the fatality. They pinned Mitchell down face-first outside the hotel, and video of the incident captures the man grunting and pleading, "Please! Help! Please! Im sorry!" Another male voice responded: "Stay down! Stop fighting!" Turner and an unidentified hotel guest had dragged Mitchell out of the lobby. Prosecutors said security footage showed that once Mitchell was on the other side of the front door, Turner landed several punches into the victim's face, drawing gasps from the courtroom audience. Once Mitchell was outside the lobby, the four pounced on him, prosecutors said. Turner may have been "entitled to use of some force to get Mr. Mitchell to leave," but "what we are about to observe on this video is in excess of what force would be necessary," Flaherty said. Moments before the fatal confrontation, Mitchell had been hiding behind objects in the lobby before staff told him to leave, the medical examiner said. That's when Mitchell ran into a womens bathroom and tried to lock himself inside while women were in there, prosecutors said. The women screamed before staff got inside that bathroom and removed Mitchell, who fought with employees as they tried to eject him, officials said. Mitchell was suffering from a "mental health crisis" before becoming the victim of "excessive force that inflicted injury resulting in death" by hotel staff, family attorney Ben Crump has previously said. When police arrived at the hotel, Mitchell was unresponsive and pronounced dead. Memorials for those who died in a mass shooting sit along the roadside in Lewiston, Maine. (Matt York/AP) Survivors and families of victims of one of the deadliest mass shooting in years are suing the United States, alleging it failed to stop the shooter despite numerous warning signs. The shooting in Lewiston, Maine, was carried out by a member of the U.S. Army Reserve who killed 18 people. Previous reports revealed there were multiple indications of potential danger before the attack. ADDITIONAL REPORTING | Scripps News investigates missed warnings before 18 died in Maine mass shooting A military investigation found multiple failures leading up to the tragedy, and the gunman's declining mental health had been known to local police and military leaders for months. "If there's anyone in the public that believes that you have information that would be valuable you've never been able to get through to federal agencies, or no one would listen to you when you try to go forward and bring information forward I am asking that you trust oversight Dems and you bring that information to us," said U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Other lawsuits have been filed in incidents involving mass shooters with U.S. military backgrounds. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Military releases investigative findings 9 months after reservist killed 18 people in Maine In 2023, the Justice Department settled a multimillion-dollar case related to the church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, after plaintiffs said the Air Force was negligent in failing to transmit information to a background check system that would have barred the gunman from legally buying a firearm. This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. Police officers escort the suspect in the murder of Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Parubiy into a courtroom in Lviv, Ukraine, on Tuesday. - Reuters The suspected killer of Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Parubiy admitted his role in the politicians death on Tuesday, claiming to have carried out the crime in an act of revenge against the countrys authorities. Parubiy, a prominent nationalist politician who was previously the chair of Ukraines parliament, was shot dead in what police called a carefully planned attack in the western city of Lviv on Saturday. The suspect, a 52-year-old resident of Lviv whose name has not been released by police, told journalists on Tuesday that he was responsible for Parubiys death, video from inside the court showed. He described the killing as his personal revenge against the Ukrainian authorities. Yes, I admit I killed him, he told reporters inside the court, denying that he worked with any Russian special services to carry out the killing. He shot Parubiy because he was nearby, he said. After shooting Parubiy, the suspect allegedly fled to the forest, where he burned the clothes he was wearing and took apart the bicycle he had been riding, the Lviv Regional Prosecutors Office said. He has been remanded in custody for 60 days while investigations are carried out, the prosecutors office said Tuesday. The suspect told journalists that he would like a verdict to be issued quickly so that he can be exchanged for prisoners of war so that I can go and find my sons body, the video from the courtroom shows. The mans son was a junior sergeant in Ukraines armed forces who was killed in combat, according the suspects ex-wife Olena Cherninka. My son was a hero who died for Ukraine, Cherninka wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday, claiming that she raised the soldier, named Mykhailo-Victor, herself, with very little input from his father. The father and son had argued about the younger man fighting in the war, she said, claiming that the soldier had blocked his father everywhere. The news from the trial in the case of Parubiys murder shocked our family. It is important that the memory of Mykhailo is not discredited in this situation, she said. When asked about the information circulating regarding the suspects son, the Lviv Regional Prosecutors Office said that this angle, as well as others, will be investigated. The funeral for Parubiy was also held on Tuesday, Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of Lvivs regional military administration, posted to social media. Many people came to bid farewell to Andriy Parubiy. May his memory live on. My sincere condolences to his family, Kozytskyi wrote, alongside images of dozens of mourners. The murderer will receive a just punishment, he said. Daria Tarasova-Markina reported from Kyiv and Catherine Nicholls wrote in London. CNNs Svitlana Vlasova contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Donald Trump on Wednesday hosted the Polish president in the Oval Office, as leaders in Warsaw and other European countries discuss ongoing security threats posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On Tuesday, Trump made an announcement regarding U.S. Space Command from the Oval Office, saying the headquarters will move to Alabama. Latest Developments Sep 3, 12:15 PM Trump says he's mulling sending troops to New Orleans President Trump on Wednesday reiterated his threats to send federal troops to cities like Chicago and New York to combat crime. He also said that he is considering sending troops to cities in red states. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Donald Trump hosts Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025. "So we're making a determination now. Do we go to Chicago or do we go to a place like New Orleans where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that's become quite tough, quite bad?" Trump said. "So we're going to be going to, maybe Louisiana, and you have New Orleans, which has a crime problem, will straighten that out in about two weeks." Sep 3, 12:10 PM Trump questioned about strike on alleged drug boat President Trump was asked about the military strike on an alleged drug boat out of Venezuela -- why the vessel wasn't intercepted and why the alleged gang members weren't taken into custody. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Donald Trump shakes hands with Polish President Karol Nawrocki (L) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025. Trump claimed there were tapes that showed a massive amount of drugs on the boat. "They won't be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people won't be doing it again," he said. Sep 3, 12:07 PM Trump dodges questions about Epstein files Speaking to reporters while hosting Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump was asked about the Epstein files and accusations from Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., that the Justice Department is holding back the full release due to Trump's associates being implicated. Trump repeated his claims that the Epstein file controversy was a "Democrat hoax," to take away from his administration's accomplishments. "We gave them everything over and over again, more and more and more and nobody's ever satisfied," he said, before bringing up Washington, DC crime and foreign policy. Sep 3, 11:44 AM Trump greets Polish president ahead of bilateral meeting Trump greeted Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the White House for a bilateral meeting on Wednesday. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Donald Trump and Polish President Karol Nawrocki (R) watch a flyover of military aircraft from the South Portico of the White House in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025. The president backed the conservative during Poland's elections this spring. An F-16 flyover honored a Polish pilot who died in a crash last week. Sep 3, 10:22 AM Hegseth hints strike on alleged drug boat won't be the last Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with "Fox and Friends" on Wednesday about the military strike on an alleged drug boat. Hegseth declined to give more details on the strike only saying it was "precision," and indicated that it would not be the last. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump listens on as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, September 2, 2025. "I don't want it won't stop with just this strike. Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a deadly terrorist will face the same fate," he said. -ABC News' Anne Flaherty Sep 3, 7:07 AM Trump to host Polish president at White House President Donald Trump is scheduled to welcome Polish President Karol Nawrocki to the Oval Office on Wednesday morning. The pair will hold a bilateral meeting, which will be followed by a lunch, according to the White House. Lukasz Glowala/Reuters - PHOTO: Polish President Karol Nawrocki attends a ceremony marking the 86th anniversary of Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland at the World War Two Westerplatte Monument in Gdansk, Poland, Sept. 1, 2025. Polish Secretary of State Marcin Przydacz wrote a list of priorities for the meeting. Those priorities included the "first point" of describing security in the region to Trump, "so that President Trump also has full awareness of our perspective on the situation regarding Russia's aggressive policy, Belarus's actions, including in the context of hybrid attacks or the deployment of Russian troops in the region," Przydacz wrote in an Op-Ed in a Polish newspaper. NATO aircraft scrambled in Poland early on Wednesday, as Russia bombarded neighboring Ukraine with drones and missiles. -ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Kevin Shalvey Sep 3, 12:21 AM Appeals court says Trump cannot invoke Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled that the Trump administration cannot use a centuries-old wartime authority to speed up the removals of noncitizens alleged to be members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. In a 2-1 decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that President Donald Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act did not meet the legal requirement of a war or an invasion. Handout/Salvadoran Government via Getty - PHOTO: Salvadoran Government Receives 238 Alleged Members Of Criminal Organizations 'Tren De Aragua' and 'MS13' The Louisiana-based appeals court -- one of the most conservative in the country -- rejected the Trump administrations argument that members of Tren De Aragua comprised a hybrid criminal state intent on invading the U.S. A Country's encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States. There is no finding that this mass immigration was an armed, organized force or forces, Judge Leslie H. Southwick wrote. In a dissenting opinion, Judge Andrew Oldham rebuked his colleagues for second-guessing Trumps determination about the alleged invasion. That contravenes over 200 years of legal precedent. And it transmogrifies the least-dangerous branch into robed crusaders who get to playact as multitudinous Commanders in Chief, he wrote. -ABC News' Laura Romero and Peter Charalambous Sep 2, 10:35 PM DOD asks military judges to backfill immigration judges The Defense Department says its looking to tap military judge advocates and civilian attorneys to begin working on the growing backlog of immigration cases thats topped 3.6 million cases in recent years. The move is part of President Donald Trumps crackdown on migration to the U.S., and in particular, asylum seekers. Under U.S. law, a person who enters the country illegally is still allowed to seek asylum through an immigration court. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump listens on as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, September 2, 2025. The Justice Department, which oversees the court system, says it has tried to hire more judges in recent years but remains overwhelmed by the number of new cases being filed, with some 1.8 million new cases added last year, according to the Congressional Research Service. In a statement, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Defense Department is in the process of identifying people who can work as temporary judges at the request of the Justice Department. These DOD attorneys will augment existing resources to help further combat a backlog of cases by presiding over immigration hearings, Parnell wrote in a statement. According to an email sent by the Navy Judge Advocate General obtained by ABC News, the military is interested in 100 volunteers -- active duty, reserve and civilian -- who could begin work this November for a roughly six-month stint. But that number is expected to grow. The Associated Press first reported on Tuesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to work as temporary immigration judges. Preferred volunteers will have experience in administrative law, immigration law, as a military judge or in related fields, the Navy JAG wrote in its email calling for the initial group of volunteers. Furthermore, selected officers must demonstrate a record of sound judgment, legal expertise and analytical ability, coupled with exceptional discernment and impartiality, a professional demeanor, suitable temperament for the role of immigration judge and strong written and oral communication skills are also essential, the email added. Judge advocates must be active members in good standing of a state bar or The DC bar. -ABC News' Will Steakin and Anne Flaherty Sep 2, 7:29 PM Cassidy stands behind Kennedy after CDC shakeup Sen. Bill Cassidy told reporters hes not walking back his support for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. despite Kennedys changes to vaccine policy and the termination of CDC Director Susan Monarez. People are going to try to make this something more than it is. Im not presupposing anyone is right or wrong. I am saying weve got to get to the truth because there are serious allegations and so that will take radical transparency -- to quote the president, to quote the secretary, Cassidy said. So I am not presupposing someone is right or wrong. I just know weve got to figure it out, he said. Cassidy, a physician who cast a key vote for Kennedys confirmation and chairs the committee that focuses on health, has been embroiled in the CDC showdown -- both during the termination, when Monarez called Cassidy to alert him that Kennedy was pushing her out, and afterward, as Cassidy called for oversight investigations into the major staff shakeups at CDC. But on Tuesday, he maintained that Kennedy and Trump are still in fact-finding mode, and he wouldnt make a final judgement until all of the data was out there. -ABC News Cheyenne Haslett and Allison Pecorin Sep 2, 4:17 PM Pritzker lays out what he expects to unfold in Chicago in coming days Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said he expects to see what played out in Los Angeles and Washington to happen in Chicago in the coming days. "First, Donald Trump is positioning armed federal agents and staging military vehicles on federal property, such as the Great Lakes Naval base. It is likely those agents will be with ICE, Customs and Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security and other similarly situated federal agencies. Many of these individuals are being relocated from Los Angeles for deployment in Chicago," the governor said. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during a press conference, Sept. 2, 2025, in Chicago. Pritzker said he expects agents are planning to "raid Latino communities and say they're targeting violent criminals" and that Trump "will be looking for any excuse to put active duty military on our streets, supposedly to protect ICE." "We have reason to believe that the Trump administration has already begun staging the Texas National Guard for deployment in Illinois," Pritzker said. Click here to read the rest of the blog. By Kanishka Singh and Ryan Patrick Jones WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" in Russian President Vladimir Putin and added without elaborating that his administration was planning to take some actions to bring down deaths in Russia's war in Ukraine. The Republican leader also said he was not concerned about warm ties between Russia and China. Trump held a summit with Putin in Alaska in mid-August and subsequently met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and key European and NATO alliance leaders at the White House. Following those meetings, Trump said he expected Zelenskiy and Putin to hold a bilateral meeting before a trilateral meeting that would also include Trump. Zelenskiy has said Russia was doing everything it could to prevent a meeting between him and Putin, while Russia says the agenda for such a meeting was not ready. "I am very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we will be doing something to help people live," Trump said in an interview on The Scott Jennings Radio Show. Trump has told Zelenskiy that Washington would help guarantee Ukraine's security in any deal. Trump has also renewed a threat to impose further sanctions on Russia if there is no progress toward a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. Russia occupies around a fifth of Ukraine, and Trump has said "land-swapping" and changes to territory will be crucial for any settlement. Ukraine opposes the idea of legally recognizing any Ukrainian territory as Russian. But it has tacitly acknowledged it will almost certainly have to accept some de facto territorial losses. 'NOT CONCERNED' ABOUT CHINA-RUSSIA TIES Trump was also asked in the interview if he was concerned "about an axis forming against the United States with China and Russia." "I am not concerned at all ... We have the strongest military in the world, by far. They would never use their military on us. Believe me," he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Putin on Tuesday for talks in China, calling him his "old friend." Xi also held talks on Monday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose country has been targeted by Trump over its purchases of Russian oil. China kicked off its largest-ever military parade on Wednesday in a show of its growing firepower and geopolitical clout as Xi sought to cast Beijing as the custodian of a post-U.S. international order. "May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; Editing by Alistair Bell and Stephen Coates) In the past two months, U.S. immigration lawyers have reported that at least 20 individuals have been deported to various African countries, with several being held in maximum-security prisons despite facing no criminal charges. Legal aid attorneys in New York say five deportees from the U.S. were sent to Eswatini, where they are being illegally imprisoned. "My two clients have been imprisoned in Eswatini, at U.S. taxpayer expense, for over six weeks," said Alma David, a U.S.-based attorney for the two men who are from Yemen and Cuba, in a statement sent to Scripps News. "No one has told them why they are being detained, and no lawyer has been permitted to visit them." RELATED STORY | Democrat-led cities are under a mass deportation threat One of the deportees has been identified as a Jamaican national who came to the U.S. legally and was convicted of murder. Despite completing his 25-year sentence, the 62-year-old was deported to Eswatini. He had been working in a men's shelter at the time and wasn't accused of any new crimes. Eswatini is among several African nations that have entered agreements with the U.S. to accept non-citizen deportees. Other countries involved include Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda, each seen as part of a program that has largely operated in secrecy. Several other African nations are reportedly considering similar agreements. Ariel Ruiz Soto, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, told Scripps News Group that while third-country deportations are not new, the current administration is focusing on deporting individuals to more locations at an accelerated rate. ADDITIONAL REPORTING | Supreme Court allows Trump to deport migrants away from their home countries "The key concern is not just the number of people being sent to third countries where they are not from, but also that they are not necessarily given the review and due process to consider their protection or asylum claims," Soto said. Defending this process in a statement to Scripps News, a senior Department of Homeland Security official said, "The average illegal alien gets far more due process than most Americans. The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choicethey can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported." Human rights and legal advocates argue this expedited deportation process may result in individuals being sent to countries deemed unsafe, potentially violating international law. As the Trump administration approaches additional nations for third-country deportation agreements, some have declined. Nigeria's Foreign Minister pointed to the country's population of 230 million people, saying the nation has problems of its own. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Judge blocks Trump administration's plan to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda Meanwhile, some nations have countered with stipulations of their own. Uganda has said it will not accept deportees with criminal records or unaccompanied minors. "A lot of these countries that are receiving third-country nationals have in their negotiations the clause to not receive immigrants who have a criminal past or some sort of criminal background, and that is in counter to what the Trump administration is suggesting that they're focusing on criminals who are the most violent of them all," Soto said. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary Tia Langdon NEED TO KNOW Tia Langdon, 25, died last Thursday after falling from an apartment window in Southampton, England A local 18-year-old has been arrested in connection with the incident and is now facing several charges including manslaughter Another woman, who police allege the 18-year-old kidnapped, was also in the apartment at the time of Langdon's death though it's unclear what her connection was to the victim or the suspect A British teenager has been arrested and charged with manslaughter after a 25-year-old woman died from falling out an apartment window last week. Tia Langdon died at a local hospital last Thursday afternoon after falling from the window at an apartment building in Southampton, England, officials with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said in a news release this week. Local authorities announced that an 18-year-old Southampton man, Jaiden Hassan-Agard, has now been charged with manslaughter, as well as a range of other charges including making threats to kill, false imprisonment, and threatening with an offensive weapon in a private place. Police believe there was another woman in the apartment with Langdon and Hassan-Agard at the time of Langdons death and claim that the additional charges Hassan-Agard face are also related to his alleged interactions with the second woman. He is also being accused by authorities of kidnapping that woman. Its unclear what events led to Langdons death Aug. 28. Hassan-Agard was due in court on Wednesday morning after being taken into custody on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The BBC reported that Hassan-Agard appeared at the Southampton Magistrates' Court while floral tributes continued to be laid out on the street where Langdon fell in the days since she plunged to her death. The Metro UK reported that Langdons family members have since spoken out on social media, mourning the 25-year-olds death. RIP to my big sister, Langdons younger sister wrote in a social media post, according to the outlet. I love you forever and always, thank you for always making me laugh. Every time you were around, you always said you were proud of me, even if it was the littlest thing. Thank you for being my big sister forever and always. Read the original article on People Dell Technologies has revealed the winners of its A/NZ FY25 Partner Awards during Partner Summit, held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. The awards recognise partners for growing their business and unlocking new possibilities for their customers with transformational technology solutions within the Dell Technologies Partner Program. During the evening, guests heard from the Dell Technologies leadership team including global CTO and chief AI officer John Roese; APJ and Greater China president, Peter Marrs; SVP and A/NZ managing director, Angela Fox and senior director and A/NZ general channel manager Shant Soghomonian. The team highlighted Dells commitment to partner success through initiatives like Partner First for Storage and AI-driven innovation while Fox emphasised shared growth opportunities for the channel ecosystem and Roese explored the evolving AI landscape, actionable strategies for partners and the importance of rethinking infrastructure to meet future demands. Omdia global practice leader of cybersecurity research and advisory, Adam Etherington, shared insights into AI adoption in the A/NZ market, addressing maturity levels, security and privacy challenges, and partner-driven insights on opportunities and advancements. This year, we have seen major growth of AI technologies across all industries. To generate value and drive business growth, Australian and New Zealand businesses have looked to our trusted partners for guidance while embarking on their AI journey, Soghomonian said. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China refers to the general as the acting president of Myanmar, enhancing the military juntas credentials. For its part, India plans to send a delegation to monitor Myanmars December elections, after signing several new economic agreements with its neighbour. Xi Jinping promised to admit Myanmar as a full SCO member, consolidating Myanmar's integration into Chinese-led regional platforms. Tianjin (AsiaNews/Agencies) Myanmar's military regime gained further legitimacy by participating in the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, held on Monday in Tianjin, northern China. General Min Aung Hlaing, responsible for the 2021 coup that sparked Myanmars ongoing civil war, has received significant diplomatic recognition not only from Beijing but also from New Delhi. Min Aung Hlaing's high-profile welcome in China included not only red carpets and glittering limousines, but also his formal recognition as head of the government of the former Burma. For the first time since the 2021 coup, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to him as acting President of Myanmar" rather than "Leader of Myanmar", a term Beijing used in the past four years in order to maintain greater strategic ambiguity. For many observers, this decision legitimises Min Aung Hlaing's political plans, particularly those related to the national elections scheduled for December in some 300 constituencies, many of which are under the control of the armed groups that make up the anti-coup resistance forces. So far, only 145 of 330 townships have been surveyed. According to outside observers, these elections are a sham, given that Myanmars military controls only a portion of the territory and continues to fight against various ethnic armed forces opposed to the military regime. Precisely for this reason, however, the support of Asian powers like China and India is important to the military junta: while losses on the ground mount, General Min Aung Hlaing can still claim to have a grip on power. After meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO summit, the Myanmar government announced that New Delhi will send its own team of observers to monitor the election process. At the meeting, they exchanged views on measures to ensure peace and stability in the border regions of both countries, trade promotion, enhancement of friendship and cooperation, wrote the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper. Modi stressed the need for free and fair elections, but at the same time, according to statements from the Myanmar government, bilateral discussions touched upon economic cooperation, particularly over rare earths, which Myanmar is rich in, as well as energy production and security. India's statements appear to reflect a strategic realignment toward Myanmar, which has been under the exclusive influence of China so far. Min Aung Hlaing's participation in the SCO summit saw at least seven memoranda of understanding signed with China, involving Burmese and Chinese companies, especially businesses linked to Myanmars military and those working along the Belt and Road Initiative, the mega-infrastructure project Chinese President Xi Jinping launched in 2013 to connect China to the rest of the world. Even in this case, experts note, it is likely that some of the deals received tacit support from India, particularly the extension of the Stilwell Road (formerly Ledo Road), which links northeastern India to China via the Pangsau Pass in Myanmar. But the most significant achievement for Min Aung Hlaing remains Xi's promise to include Myanmar as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. I would like to express my gratitude for the peaceful conditions that have emerged due to Chinas efforts in exerting pressure on the armed groups in the border regions for the development of northern Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing said during the meeting, referring to the areas in Shan State currently under the control of ethnic militias, with which Beijing maintains various forms of cooperation despite their opposition to Myanmars military junta. SCO membership would allow Myanmar to be further integrated into Chinese-led economic and security platforms. In exchange for Myanmar's membership in this political project, China would boost the development of infrastructure and economic-industrial activities that serve China's strategic interests (such as rare earth mining, which is almost entirely under Beijing's control regardless of whether the mining sites are run by the military or ethnic militias). According to data from the Seoul government, there have been 252 reported cases of kidnappings for these activities run by transnational criminal groups. The testimony of a girl who was rescued: They deceived me, robbed me and kept me together with other people identified only by a number instead of a name. In August, a fellow countryman was found dead with signs of torture. Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) - There are more and more South Korean citizens among those kidnapped to work in international online fraud centres. According to data from the Seoul government reported by local media, as of July this year, 252 cases of South Koreans kidnapped and confined in Cambodia have already been reported, a sharp increase compared to previous years. South Korean broadcaster MBC aired the testimony of a 20-year-old woman who was recently rescued and who said that at least 13 other South Koreans remain locked up in the buildings where she was held captive. She said she was lured to Cambodia with a false job offer promising high pay, but was kidnapped after taking a car recommended by a Korean-speaking Cambodian she met at the airport. The victim said she had been robbed of 18 million won (editor's note) from her bank account and beaten and tortured for several days to the point that she could barely walk. Those held captive were identified only by numbers and were not allowed to reveal their names. In August, a South Korean man surnamed Park was found dead in Cambodia with signs of assault and torture. Authorities believe he died after being forced to work in an illegal call centre. These criminal organisations are believed to be involved in collusion with Chinese triads and with the complicity of Cambodian officials. The authorities in Phnom Penh claim to have made over 2,100 arrests since last June, 30% of which are Chinese citizens. However, according to a recent report by Amnesty International on the phenomenon of scam centres, there are over 50 large-scale criminal organisations operating in Cambodia, with an increase in brutal violence and human trafficking. What message does Chinas V-Day military parade send to the world?: Global Times editorial Global Times) 15:37, September 03, 2025 The first comprehensive rehearsal for the upcoming grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War concludes in Beijing on August 10, 2025. Photo: Screenshot of CCTV On September 3, in the name of the nation, we hold a grand military parade marking the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, commemorating that arduous and monumental triumph. This is not only a look back at those years of fire and blood, but also, on the coordinates of a new era, a message to the world - an Eastern oath for peace and a solemn commitment to build a community with a shared future for humanity. "Bearing history in mind, honoring martyrs, cherishing peace, and striving for a better future" - these words precisely encapsulate the grand purpose and profound significance of this national commemorative event. The solemn military parade embodies the collective will of China's over 1.4 billion people and brings together the shared expectations of all peace-loving people around the world. Bearing history in mind serves as a solemn proclamation of China's achievements as the main Eastern battlefield in WWII and a resolute affirmation of a correct historical perspective on the war. For some time, in narrating the history of WWII, there has been a persistent voice that, whether intentionally or not, downplays or even overlooks China's immense contribution as the main Eastern battlefield. Yet the truth of history cannot be erased. In the World Anti-Fascist War, China's resistance began the earliest and lasted the longest. Through 14 years of bloody struggle, with over 35 million compatriots killed and more than 1.5 million Japanese troops destroyed, China pinned down the main Japanese forces and thwarted their plans to advance northward toward the Soviet Union and southward into the Pacific, creating critical conditions for the victory of the global anti-fascist alliance. We hold V-Day commemorations to solemnly declare to the world that the Chinese battlefield is an indispensable component of the World Anti-Fascist War and that the Chinese people made tremendous, undeniable sacrifices for final victory. This remembrance is a defense of historical justice and a reaffirmation of the international order and universal human principles. Downplaying this history is a betrayal of human conscience, and distorting it destroys the very foundations of world peace. Honoring martyrs is the highest tribute to the great spirit of resistance and the inexhaustible source of strength that drives us forward. What we commemorate is not only a day of victory, but also the countless unyielding souls who rose to the occasion. From the snowy mountains and black waters of the northeast to the shores of the South China Sea, from the foot of the Great Wall to the great rivers and plains of the nation, countless heroes built with their flesh and blood a new Great Wall to defend our national dignity. Some of their names shine brightly in history, while many more remain unknown. Yet together they forged the great spirit of resistance: a patriotic conviction that "everyone has a duty toward his country," a national character that "would rather die than yield," a heroic resolve to "fight to the end without fear of violence," and an unshakable faith in ultimate victory marked by "unyielding perseverance." Today, as we honor the martyrs, we must embed this spirit more deeply into the lifeblood of our nation. It is this spiritual strength that gives us the confidence never to be crushed or defeated in the face of hardships and obstacles. The peace of our land and the independence of our nation, won by the lives of our forebears, are ours to safeguard; the torch of spirit they kindled with their sacrifice is ours to carry forward for future generations. Cherishing peace is to firmly uphold the postwar international order and to strongly deter any acts that challenge justice for humankind. The Chinese people deeply understand the cruelty of war and sincerely cherish the blessings of peaceful development. We are a nation that treasures peace above all. The victory of WWII gave rise to an international system with the United Nations at its core, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. This is a priceless legacy, won through the immense sacrifices of humanity. China is not only one of the founders of this order but also a steadfast defender and builder of it. However, the world today is not peaceful; the specter of denying the history of aggression still lingers, and the farce of reviving militarism is frequently staged. Against this backdrop, demonstrating our determination and capability to defend peace serves as a warning to all forces attempting to turn back history and challenge the post-war order: The Chinese people will never accept any attempts to beautify acts of aggression or challenge historical consensus! The Chinese people will also never stand idly by in the face of any schemes that harm China's sovereignty, security, and development interests! Striving for a better future is China's great practice in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity. Remembering history is ultimately about striving for a better future. The profound lessons of WWII tell us that the fate of humanity is interconnected and closely linked. Prejudice and hatred, hostility and confrontation can only lead to new wars and disasters. Mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation are the right way forward. China's proposal to build a community with a shared future for humanity and its four global initiatives are profound summaries of this historical experience and responses to the times. What we pursue is not the outdated logic of "all strong countries will seek hegemony," nor is it a zero-sum game where "the winner takes all," but rather an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security, and shared prosperity. As the majestic "March of the Volunteers" echoes over Tian'anmen Square and parade formations march proudly along Chang'an Avenue, the grand display of modern national defense equipment undoubtedly showcases the strong will and capability of the Chinese people to defend peace. This military parade is a solemn review of the spirit and vitality of the Chinese nation, a firm declaration by Chinese soldiers as guardians of peace, and a statement of the Chinese people's commitment to advancing toward a community with a shared future for humanity. In the name of the V-Day, we honor martyrs and reaffirm our dedication to safeguarding the hard-won peace, working hand in hand with countries around the world to create an even better future. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) by Alessandra De Poli On the hills east of Jerusalem, the expansion of Israeli settlements is transforming the daily lives of Bedouin communities. Forced to abandon their nomadic lifestyle and to defend themselves from attacks by settlers, they continue to struggle for their livelihoods. All around them, the construction of infrastructure related to the E1 plan is making the creation of a future Palestinian state increasingly impossible. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) That road wasn't there a month ago. And that roundabout? They built it in the last few days. Observing the hills east of Jerusalem, one notices how the landscape is changing before our eyes. These are the signs of the continuous expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Settlers arrive and the first thing they do is plant an Israeli flag. Then a trailer usually appears, and after that, the first constructions begin. The settlements are considered illegal under international law and are built in areas where Bedouin tribes live. Forced to give up their nomadic lifestyle, today they live mostly in shacks made of sheet metal, or in rooms made of wooden panels with plastic sheeting roofs. For some time, they have seen their herds dwindle because settlers often buy a head of cattle, place it among the Bedouin herds, and take a photo. They then go to the Israeli police, claiming the livestock is theirs, thus stealing the few remaining means of subsistence from the Bedouins. Several groups of activists, coordinated by Israeli associations such as Rabbi for Human Rights and Jordan Valley Activists, work in these areas to protect Palestinian herders and families from attacks by settlers, particularly in the region known as E1 (East 1). It is here that the Israeli government recently decided to expand the Ma'ale Adumim settlement, effectively splitting the West Bank in two and isolating East Jerusalem from the Palestinian territories. The completion of the E1 plan, which dates back to the 1990s and was then frozen due to international pressure, would make the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state in the occupied territories virtually impossible. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emphasized this himself when he announced the approval for the construction of 3,000 new housing units: E1 buries the idea of a Palestinian state and continues the numerous initiatives we are taking on the ground as part of the de facto sovereignty plan that we have begun to implement with the establishment of the government. For both critics and supporters of the project, the next step can only be the annexation of the West Bank, which the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, already approved with a non-binding motion in recent weeks. In the middle of this conflict are the Bedouins, communities never officially recognized despite having lived in these desert areas for generations, and are therefore considered abusive. Despite the dramatic political situation, the children have the chance to play, learn English, and have a snack in plain, unfurnished structures, which, however, display the logos of various European cooperation agencies on the outside. The Bedouin families have refused medical aid despite the prevalence of genetic diseases resulting from the traditional practice of marrying cousins. However, they have asked for schools for their children. In fact, the children used to walk the road to Jericho to go to school, which has now become too dangerous due to the increasing number of settlements. The older children used to attend the "tire school," a school for Bedouins built in 2009 by the Milan-based NGO "Vento di Terra" using over 2,000 tires. The presence of settlers along the way terrifies the children, so the families have asked the Palestinian authorities for help. Now, it takes them 40 minutes by bus to get to class, compared to the five minutes they used to take on foot. The settlements are increasingly surrounded by barbed wire and cameras, also becoming a place to test the latest facial recognition technologies. In August, before classes resumed, children of all ages gathered to play, often including water games to cope with the high temperatures, which can exceed 40 degrees Celsius. But before throwing water balloons, the children enjoy having their faces painted. One of the students asked, Will you draw me a Palestinian flag? Because I am Palestinian. The new generations of Israelis and Palestinians, who grew up in a climate of war, are keen to emphasize the divisions. While young Israeli girls wear necklaces showing the outline of Palestine crossed by the Star of David, among Bedouin girls, it is fashionable to wear one with the same borders but alongside a rifle. Even to visitors, after asking where they are from, the younger children don't ask for their names, but for their political preference: Do you love Palestine? Do you love Israel? On a colored stone, one Bedouin child, rejecting this logic, wrote in Arabic hurriya as-salam, which means freedom of peace. While the children play, concrete mixers, cranes, and bulldozers are constantly seen moving through the hills around the Bedouin schools. Before the war on October 7, several Palestinians worked in the Israeli settlements. Now, that is no longer the case. The men are often at home without work or are forced to work on plantations established by settlers in front of the settlements. But it is mainly the women who must provide for their families. They make embroidery, soap, and candles while their children sleep. Some of them would like to start a cooperative, but it's uncertain whether it will be possible. The Bedouin families, increasingly surrounded and oppressed by new settlements, don't know where they will go when they are eventually forced to abandon the miserable shacks they live in now. But they hope to be able to continue to support themselves even when they leave. The wives have asked for something to be done so their husbands can also return to work. Many of them have been at home for almost two years because, after October 7, all Palestinian workers who had contact with Israeli entities were fired. Some of them have taken a Hebrew course to be able to keep a job within the settlements, but also to protect themselves from Israeli authorities, who often show up with documents that the Bedouin families cannot read, so they can take possession of the land through legal subterfuge. The courts often ask for land ownership certificates, but the Bedouins, who are at the bottom of Palestinian society, have never had them. They often say that the land was given to men by God, and therefore cannot be owned by anyone. GATEWAY TO THE EAST IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE MIDDLE EAST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY TUESDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. Article 136 of the Armenian Criminal Code already envisages heavy fines and up to five years imprisonment for anyone who denies or justifies a genocide with the aim of inciting hatred, discrimination or violence against a person or group of persons. Amendments proposed by Hayastan call for a longer prison sentence and specify that the clause applies to the Armenian genocide and other genocides recognized by Armenia. The amendments would also criminalize public approvals of statements denying or questioning them. Singling out the Armenian genocide is very important for Armenia, Artsvik Minasian, a senior Hayastan parliamentarian, said on Wednesday as he presented the bill to the parliament committee on state and legal affairs. When asked by pro-government members of the committee to explain the wisdom for such changes, Minasian pointed to Pashinians remarks made during a visit to Switzerland in January this year. Pashinian declared that Armenians should understand what happened in 1915 and what prompted the subsequent campaign for international recognition of the slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. He seemed to imply that foreign powers, notably the Soviet Union, were behind that campaign. Armenian historians, opposition figures and retired diplomats expressed outrage at the remarks, saying that Pashinian cast doubt on the fact of the genocide officially recognized by over three dozen countries, including the United Staes. Some of them claimed that this is part of his efforts to cozy up to Turkey, which continues to deny a deliberate government effort to exterminate the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. Pashinian dismissed the strong criticism. Responding to Minasian, members of his Civil Contract party sitting on the parliament committee likewise insisted on Wednesday that his comments did not amount to genocide denial. Vladimir Vartanian, the pro-government chairman of the committee, said the existing article of the Criminal Code does not need to undergo any changes. Accordingly, the panel controlled by Civil Contract lawmakers gave a negative assessment of the Hayastan bill. The Armenian government also spoke out against its passage in a written opinion submitted to the National Assembly. Nevertheless, Minasian said that the opposition bloc led by former President Robert Kocharian will force a debate on the bill on the parliament floor. Hayastan already tried unsuccessfully to push similar legislation through the parliament in April. The initiative sparked a brawl between pro-government and opposition deputies. Pashinian caused further uproar in March this year when he made clear that his government will not strive to get more countries and international bodies to recognize the Armenian genocide. He claimed that relevant resolutions already adopted by many foreign parliaments undermine stability in the region. The premier implied last week that Armenia has gained nothing from them. 3 September 2025 14:06 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more What once seemed a regional matter has now grown into a new geopolitical node connecting Eurasias major players. I am talking about the Zangazur Corridor (recently labelled as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity). It is crucial that President Ilham Aliyev addressed the issue at the SCO summit. Following the U.S. confirmation that it would control the road for a "99-year period", it was expected that this topic would be discussed in China. The US presence in the region, after the trilateral meeting in Washington, focused on controlling the corridor, prompting immediate reactions from both regional countries and those with vested interests. The entire situation was brought into question. While there was an acknowledgement of the peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, there was also a clear expression of opposition by Iran and Russia regarding the aforementioned issue. Although her reactions were generally neutral regarding the overall process, it was understandable that China would be concerned about the future of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) projects, of which it is a key developer. At the SCO summit, President Aliyev not only emphasised that Azerbaijan-China relations have reached a qualitatively new stage, but he also highlighted that the Zangazur corridor is not only a significant regionally but also holds global importance. The Azerbaijani leader stated that this crucial route will serve as a key segment of both the Middle Corridor and the North-South Corridor, ultimately benefiting all neighbouring countries. This underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to enhancing transport and communication routes. This statement firmly recognises the emergence of new realities. The South Caucasus, positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is set to significantly enhance intercontinental relations by establishing a secure ecosystem. This development guarantees limitless potential for growth and cooperation. For Baku, the corridor consolidates its role as a logistics hub, a position that is already being strengthened through recent summits and strategic agreements. Armenia, despite earlier resistance, has also been compelled to acknowledge the inevitability of new transit routes. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the opening of transport communications on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity is under discussion, an admission that signals Yerevans readiness to participate in regional transit. At the same time, Pashinyans reference to a new transport initiative with the United Statesthe Trump Road to International Peace and Prosperity", shows Armenias attempt to balance its engagement. By signalling willingness to cooperate not only with Azerbaijan and Turkiye but also with Western political circles, Yerevan is seeking to hedge against over-dependence on any single bloc. His veiled remarks on the Russian-Iranian stance suggested that both Moscow and Tehran remain reluctant to accommodate Armenias interests, underscoring the growing complexity of the South Caucasus geopolitical puzzle. The Armenian Prime Minister's move to "correct" the Azerbaijani President's statements appears to be a strategy to bolster his standing in domestic politics. Had he chosen to remain silent, the opposition would have criticised him for disregarding the term Zangazur corridor. By opting to respond, however, he may face the potential loss of Beijing's interest. It's unclear if Pashinyan fully grasps this, especially since he has highlighted the significance of the US agreement in China. It is important to recognise that while Azerbaijan plays a significant role in the region, Armenia holds considerable importance as well, particularly because the road runs through its territory. By addressing its political and economic isolation and establishing internal security, the Armenian government can offer future generations a chance for prosperity that the region has historically lacked for a decent amount of time. In this context, achieving sustainable security will be vital for these goals. How about the other regional actors? How do they see it? Turkiye's position on the Zangazur corridor is clear and assertive. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has openly described the corridor as a project that will promote peace and stability in the region. For Ankara, the corridor represents more than just an economic pathway; it is a strategic priority that strengthens its alliance with Azerbaijan. By facilitating new border crossings and trade routes, Turkiye views the corridor as a means to drive prosperity and establish a stronger South Caucasus. The corridor has also garnered the attention of China, which sees it as potentially integral to its Belt and Road initiative. It offers a shorter and more secure trade route to Europe through Central Asia while bypassing Russia. Azerbaijan's support for Chinas initiatives within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation further increases the corridor's significance for Beijing, making the South Caucasus a vital intersection for global trade. Iran appears to be facing a dilemma similar to that of Russia concerning the Zangazur corridor. For many years, Iran has been a key transit hub in its region. However, once the Zangazur corridor becomes operational, Iran may find itself excluded from important transit routes. Conversely, if the corridor is aligned with the North-South corridor, there is a possibility that Iran could reap significant geoeconomic benefits from this connection. Both countries hold their breaths, torn between potential gains and strategic losses. The broader regional effects are self-evident. The Azerbaijan-Turkiye axis is to be the transit and logistics centre of the South Caucasus. Armenia faces a decisive choice: integrate into Eurasian projects or pursue alternative Western-backed platforms. China secures a new Eurasian gateway, while Russia and Iran are caught between opportunity and apprehension. The Zangazur corridor has thus changed from a bilateral issue to a continental vision that unifies economic thought with geopolitical planning. This transition is reshaping regional arrangements and putting the South Caucasus centre stage in Eurasia's future. Once embarked upon, the corridor would alter not only maps but also that very meaning of the region itself. 3 September 2025 17:39 (UTC+04:00) By Elnur Enveroglu and Qabil Ashirov | AzerNEWS The relationship between Azerbaijan and Bahrain has steadily evolved since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1996. Despite geographical distance, both nations share common values rooted in Islamic heritage, mutual respect, and a commitment to regional stability. Bahrain has consistently supported Azerbaijans territorial integrity, including during critical moments such as the Garabagh Conflict. This solidarity has laid a strong foundation for deeper cooperation. In recent years, Azerbaijan has emerged as a strategic player in the Middle East. Its balanced foreign policy, energy diplomacy, and active participation in regional forums like the Manama Dialogue have elevated its profile. As a secular, Muslim-majority country with a pragmatic approach to international relations, Azerbaijan is increasingly seen as a bridge between East and West, and between the Gulf and the Caucasus. The decision to open an Azerbaijani embassy in Manama marks a significant milestone. It signals Bakus intent to deepen bilateral ties and engage more actively with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. A resident embassy will allow for more agile diplomacy, faster response to regional developments, and stronger representation of Azerbaijans interests in Bahrain and the wider Gulf. One of the practical benefits of establishing an embassy is the improvement of consular services. Azerbaijani citizens living in or travelling to Bahrain will gain easier access to passport renewals, visa assistance, and legal support. In times of emergency, having a local diplomatic mission can be crucial for protecting citizens' rights and safety. Bahrain, with its open economy and financial sector, offers fertile ground for Azerbaijani businesses and investors. The embassy can serve as a hub for promoting trade, facilitating business delegations, and identifying joint ventures in sectors such as energy, agriculture, tourism, and fintech. Azerbaijans growing non-oil economy aligns well with Bahrains diversification goals under its Economic Vision 2030. Although trade between the two countries remains modest, the potential for growth is substantial. With the embassy in place, Azerbaijan can actively promote its exportsranging from petrochemicals to agricultural productsand attract Bahraini investment into its industrial parks and free economic zones. Bilateral trade could see a significant uptick in the coming years. Diplomatic presence also opens doors for cultural diplomacy. Azerbaijan can showcase its rich heritage through exhibitions, concerts, and academic partnerships. Student exchange programs and scholarships can strengthen people-to-people ties, fostering mutual understanding and long-term goodwill between the two nations. Bahrain and Azerbaijan share concerns over regional security, extremism, and cyber threats. The embassy can facilitate closer coordination in defense and intelligence matters, building on existing agreements. Joint training programs and strategic dialogues can enhance both countries resilience in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. Both nations are active members of international organisations such as the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement. A stronger bilateral relationship can translate into more coordinated positions on global issues, from climate change to humanitarian aid, amplifying Azerbaijans voice on the world stage. Ultimately, the opening of the Azerbaijani embassy in Bahrain is more than a diplomatic formality; it is a symbol of Azerbaijans vision for deeper integration into the Middle East. It reflects a commitment to long-term partnership, economic prosperity, and regional peace. As Azerbaijan continues to rise as a regional power, its presence in Bahrain will be a testament to its strategic foresight and diplomatic maturity. Azerbaijan's vision for cooperation with Gulf states Azerbaijan, already recognised as the safest and most cost-effective transit and transport hub in the South Caucasus, has always prioritised an independent policy and diplomacy. Baku, which has realised its role as a bridge between East and West through many large-scale projects, does not want to confine itself to the region. This is because limiting Azerbaijans opportunities only to the Russia, US, and China blocs would be too restrictive. The existing possibilities and conditions open new horizons for Azerbaijan to turn the South Caucasus into a more competitive space. The Middle East, when viewed from a certain angle, shares a similar fate with the South Caucasus; both regions have historically been centres of intense conflict. Yet today, Azerbaijan is expanding a major path to peace by fostering interregional connections. Moreover, both the South Caucasus and Gulf states are striving to establish new ties in pursuit of economic diversification. Naturally, one might ask: Why would Gulf countries need Azerbaijani gas? Azerbaijan's interest in supplying gas to Gulf countries reflects its strategic goal to diversify its export markets, strengthen regional energy ties, and elevate its role as a key player in international energy diplomacy. Historically reliant on European markets, Azerbaijan is now seeking to expand its reach into the Gulf region, which is rapidly developing its energy infrastructure and geopolitical influence. The Gulf countries, especially nations like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, are increasingly looking to diversify their energy sources and enhance cooperation with non-Western gas suppliers amid shifting global energy dynamics. Azerbaijan, with its substantial natural gas reserves and emerging infrastructure, including the Southern Gas Corridor and plans for new pipeline projects, is well-positioned to meet this demand. Its proximity to Gulf nations offers a strategic advantage for establishing overland and subsea pipeline routes, potentially via infrastructure developments connecting Caspian and Arabian Peninsula pipelines. Mutually, the prospects for Azerbaijan and Gulf countries are promising but complex. For Gulf nations, engaging with Azerbaijan offers access to a stable, reliable supplier outside traditional Western-controlled markets and an opportunity to diversify energy partnerships amid geopolitical tensions and market uncertainties. For Azerbaijan, expanding into Gulf markets enhances its energy diplomacy, increases revenue sources, and balances its relationships with Western and regional partners such as Turkiye, Russia, and Iran. However, there are challenges to overcome, including geopolitical sensitivities, regional rivalries, and logistical complexities of pipeline construction. Diplomatic negotiations will be essential to secure agreements that align with the strategic interests of all parties. Moreover, the growing emphasis on renewable energy and global climate policies requires Azerbaijan to balance its hydrocarbon ambitions with sustainability goals. Overall, Azerbaijan's pursuit of gas exports to Gulf countries holds substantial potential for deepening regional cooperation, boosting economic gains, and reinforcing Azerbaijans strategic position as an energy hub connecting Eurasia with the Middle East. Both sides stand to benefit from this expanding partnership, provided they navigate geopolitical risks and infrastructural hurdles effectively. As regards the AzerbaijanBahrain economic relations, the future of it lies in complementary diversification strategies. Both countries are actively working to move beyond oil dependence. Literally, Azerbaijan, through its non-oil industrial expansion and strategic transit role in the South Caucasus, and Bahrain, through its Vision 2030 programme, which emphasises innovation, finance, logistics, and tourism. Moreover, Bahrain, with its small but growing gas needs, could benefit from Azerbaijans experience in natural gas exploration, pipeline management, and renewable transition projects. Bahrains investments in LNG terminals make it a potential client and partner for Azerbaijani gas and expertise. Looking at the country from a finance and investment perspective, Bahrain is one of the Gulfs financial hubs. Its Islamic finance sector can serve as a channel for Gulf capital into Azerbaijani infrastructure, renewables, tourism, and technology projects. Conversely, the Azerbaijani sovereign wealth fund (SOFAZ) could explore financial vehicles in Bahrain. We should not limit our focus to these areas alone, as broader opportunities exist in logistics and connectivity. Azerbaijans role as a transport hub between Asia and Europe naturally complements Bahrains ambition to become a Gulf logistics centre. Enhanced cooperation in ports, free economic zones, and customs digitalisation could establish new trade corridors linking the South Caucasus with the Gulf. 3 September 2025 11:02 (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. Azerbaijans trade turnover with Ireland has seen significant growth in the first seven months of 2025, reflecting the strengthening of economic ties between the two countries, Azernews reports. 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! 3 September 2025 14:43 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have discussed ways to enhance the regulatory and supervisory framework of the countrys insurance sector, Azernews reports. CBA Chairman Taleh Kazimov shared details of the talks on his social media account, noting that the discussions took place during a meeting with an ADB delegation led by Executive Director Rachel Thompson. During the meeting, we exchanged detailed views on the challenges facing the global economy, the countrys economic situation and development trends, monetary policy, and the improvement of the insurance sectors regulatory framework, as well as the sectors potential. We also discussed future cooperation opportunities between the CBA and ADB, including ADBs potential involvement in Azerbaijans financial sector, Kazimov said. 3 September 2025 16:07 (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, the total trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw a significant 78 percent growth 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! 3 September 2025 18:17 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have discussed ways to further strengthen their partnership across several sectors of the economy, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Finance. Azerbaijans Minister of Finance, Sahil Babayev, received a delegation led by Ms. Rachel Thompson, the Executive Director representing Azerbaijan on the ADB Board of Directors. During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation, noting that it has significantly contributed to Azerbaijans socio-economic development through loans, grants, and technical assistance. The discussion focused on the ADBs 20252029 Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Azerbaijan. The strategy outlines a series of comprehensive measures aimed at diversifying the economy, strengthening resilience, and ensuring inclusive growth. Minister Babayev highlighted Azerbaijans sustainable development and macroeconomic stability, emphasizing successful diversification in agriculture, information and communication technologies, industrial production, logistics, and green energy. He also underscored ADBs support for financing projects under the State Program for Improving Water Supply, Wastewater Management, and Stormwater Systems in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula for 20252034, the expansion of Baku Metro lines, and modernization of the countrys railway infrastructure. Ms. Thompson, in turn, praised the high level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the ADB and expressed confidence that the partnership would be further strengthened in the coming years. 3 September 2025 17:56 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more On September 4, the 4th Azerbaijan-Turkiye Energy Forum will take place in Izmir, Turkiye, with the participation of Azerbaijans Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov and Turkiyes Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar. Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Energy, the forum will focus on key sectors including hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, renewable energy, energy efficiency, regulation, mining, and other related fields. The event will also feature the signing of a cooperation protocol between the two countries. As part of the forums program, a visit to SOCARs Aliaga terminal is planned. The Azerbaijan-Turkiye Energy Forum was established within the framework of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation to further strengthen strategic energy ties between the two countries. The first forum was held in December 2021 in Baku, the second in October 2022 in Istanbul, and the third in September 2023 in Nakhchivan. 3 September 2025 11:42 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The criminal trial of Rafig Goyushov, a former senior employee of the economic department of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan, has started at the Baku Grave Crimes Court, Azernews reports. The initial stage of the process focused on clarifying questionnaire data. During the session, the public prosecutor and the injured party proposed sending the case to court for consideration, while the accused objected and demanded the case be returned to the investigative body for re-examination. After reviewing the arguments, the court ruled to send the criminal case back for review. The trial will continue on September 17. It is alleged that Goyushov fraudulently seized funds allocated for the temporary accommodation of ambassadors and other foreign employees. The total amount illegally obtained is reported to exceed half a million manats (around $294,000). Goyushov faces charges under Article 178.4 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, which pertains to especially large-scale fraud. As a preventive measure, the court decided not to place him under police custody until the trial. 3 September 2025 13:11 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijans Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, paid an official visit to the headquarters of the Navy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry. During the visit, General Hasanov held talks with Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, Commander of the Vietnamese Navy. The meeting focused on prospects for enhancing cooperation between the naval forces of both countries, as well as an exchange of views on a range of issues of mutual interest. At the conclusion of the visit, Colonel General Hasanov toured a naval brigade and the famous Ha Long Bay, where he was briefed on the conditions and facilities created there. 3 September 2025 13:32 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Yuriy Husyev to discuss the ongoing strategic partnership between the two countries. Azernews reports that ambassador Husyev shared details of the meeting on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, describing the conversation as both "productive" and "fruitful." We are grateful for the new batch of Azerbaijani humanitarian aid - energy equipment - that has already been delivered to Ukraine, the ambassador wrote. We agreed on joint steps to further strengthen our strategic partnership. The meeting underscores the continued collaboration between Baku and Kyiv, particularly in the context of humanitarian support and mutual political dialogue. Productive meeting and fruitful discussion with Deputy FM of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov. Grateful for the new batch of humanitarian aid energy equipment already delivered to . Agreed on joint steps to further strengthen our strategic partnership. @UKRinAZE pic.twitter.com/8B2njMjTQo Yuriy Husyev (@Husyev) September 3, 2025 It should be noted that since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on February 24, 2022, Azerbaijan has consistently provided humanitarian support to Ukraine, particularly aimed at critical sectors such as energy infrastructure. As Ukraine continues to face repeated attacks on its power grid and essential services, Azerbaijan has positioned itself as a key partner in aiding the countrys recovery efforts. To date, Azerbaijan has delivered over $11.5 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including multiple shipments of energy equipment such as transformers, generators, and cable products. The latest assistance follows a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on August 11, 2025, allocating an additional $2 million for the procurement and delivery of energy equipment from Azerbaijans Energy Ministry. This marks the fourth aid package coordinated between Baku and Kyiv, underscoring the growing strategic and humanitarian partnership between the two nations. 3 September 2025 16:42 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The Republic of Azerbaijan will establish an embassy in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Azernews reports. The matter has been included in the agenda of the International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations Committee of the National Assembly, which will hold a meeting on September 10. The draft law titled On the Establishment of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Kingdom of Bahrain (Manama City) will be discussed during the committee session. 3 September 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Smartphone manufacturers around the world are preparing to raise prices on upcoming devices. According to industry sources, the main reason is an increase in production costs Taiwan's TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) has notified its partners of a 510% price hike on its chips, Azernews reports. This move is expected to directly impact the cost of new smartphones, as TSMC produces the processors used in many flagship models. For example, the upcoming iPhones, expected to be announced in September, will be powered by TSMC-made chips. Similarly, the next-generation Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup is set to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Elite processors, which are also manufactured by TSMC. Qualcomm chips are used in most high-end Android smartphones as well, meaning the ripple effect of the price hike will be widespread. Smartphones reflecting the new prices are likely to hit the market before the end of 2025. In response, manufacturers are exploring ways to reduce their dependence on TSMC. Notably, Samsung is considering a return to using its in-house Exynos processors in flagship models, especially if it can develop chips that rival Qualcomm's in performance and efficiency. Meanwhile, several Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Oppo are ramping up efforts to develop their own chipsets to strengthen supply chain independence. Interestingly, this shift is taking place at a time when demand for AI-powered features in smartphones is growing rapidly. This trend is pushing manufacturers to equip devices with more powerful and energy-efficient processors further increasing the complexity and cost of chip production. 3 September 2025 09:00 (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. Kazakhstan and China have signed over $15 billion worth of commercial agreements, marking a significant milestone in the growing economic partnership between the two nations, Azernews reports. 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! 3 September 2025 19:45 (UTC+04:00) By Qaiser Nawab China held a grand military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025, to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The event was not only a solemn commemoration of a historic triumph but also a symbolic demonstration of Chinas growing role in shaping regional unity and global security. The parade featured 45 marching units and lasted about 70 minutes, showcasing both traditional and next-generation forces. Alongside infantry and armored formations, the event highlighted new capabilities in unmanned systems, underwater warfare, network-electronic operations, and hypersonic weapons, the majority of which were domestically developed and publicly displayed for the first time. By integrating historical memory with modern innovation, China underscores the continuity of its national defense tradition: the victory of the past as inspiration for its current path of peaceful development. International Attendance and Diplomatic Symbolism What makes this years parade distinctive is the presence of prominent world leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin, DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, among others from Asia, Africa, and Europe, attended the event. This collective appearance sends a powerful message. It demonstrates solidarity among countries advocating multipolarity, countering unilateralism and external interference. China, Russia, and DPRK share historical experiences in the anti-fascist struggle, a reflection of present-day convergence in safeguarding sovereignty, stability, and balance, countering Western hegemony. For Pakistan, the parade carries special diplomatic weight. On September 2, Prime Minister Sharif held a bilateral meeting with President Xi, reaffirming the one-China principle and pledging protection for Chinese nationals, institutions, and projects in Pakistan. The two leaders also discussed upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and expanding the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Sharifs presence at the parade symbolizes Pakistans firm alignment with Chinas vision of regional stability and development. It also signals Islamabads determination to transform cooperation from infrastructure into broader economic, security, and people-to-people dimensions. Pakistans participation underscores the strategic depth of China-Pakistan relations, which are set to become one of the pillars of stability and prosperity in the region. For China, the parade is at once a commemoration of the past, a statement of present resolve, and a declaration of future vision, to uphold peace through strength, to safeguard sovereignty, and to advance a fairer international system. Peaceful Development and Global Governance In official briefings ahead of the event, Chinese spokespeople stressed the dual message of peace and deterrence. China highlights its non-aggressive record: never initiating wars, never occupying others territories, and remaining a top contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions. At the same time, the parade demonstrated that the country possesses the strength necessary to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This balance, military capability as a guarantor of peace, is aligned with China's proposed Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which calls on countries to work in concert for a more just and equitable global governance system. The GGI highlights adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach, and focusing on taking real actions. China has also positioned the parade within the larger narrative of the Global Souths rising influence. Officials noted that the share of developing countries in global GDP has increased from 24% to over 40% in the past two decades, while contributing around 80% of global growth. The gathering of leaders from Asia, Africa, and beyond thus embodied the momentum toward a more pluralistic, equitable international order. Chinas V-Day parade is more than a military spectacle. It is a bridge between history and future, between remembrance and renewal. The parade honors the sacrifices of those who defeated fascism while projecting a vision of a peaceful, multipolar, and cooperative world order. The views and opinions expressed by guest columnists in their op-eds may differ from and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff. A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is held in Beijing, capital of China, on September 3, 2025. Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is held in Beijing, capital of China, on September 3, 2025. Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is held in Beijing, capital of China, on September 3, 2025.Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is held in Beijing, capital of China, September 3, 2025.Photo by Duan Wei/China Pictorial. The author Qaiser Nawab is the Chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD) in Islamabad, Pakistan. Has the City of Washington, NC been managed by their elected local government, and their bureaucrats, in a fiscally responsible manner to better serve the people who pay their ever advancing property taxes? 0% Yes, rising property taxes are a necessity to maintain a progressive city.100% No, excessive funding of a poorly managed government can become a shell game of corruption.0% I am afraid to say. North Carolina's 1st Congressional district, which lies due north of Beaufort County and includes adjoining Martin and Washington counties, is a top target for Republicans in 2026. President Trump carried the district in 2024 but it narrowly went to Democrat Congressman Don Davis after a sleazy last minute attack on the GOP nominee, falsely accusing her of being a "RINO". Republicans will have a primary between candidates from both ends of the spectrum for the nomination to oppose Davis in 2026. Perennial candidate Sandy Smith may also join the race. The top conservative choice, State Senator Bobby Hanig has announced his candidacy today. Hanig has been one of the few conservatives with the backbone to stand up to liberal Senate boss Phil Berger on key issues, and has the most conservative voting record in the state Senate. Prior to serving in the State Senate, Hanig served in the State House and as a Currituck County Commissioner. Hanig is expected to face liberal Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson, who has a history of endorsing liberal Democrats over Republican candidates, in the primary. https://albemarleobserver.news/2025/09/03/bobby-hanig-expected-to-announce-congressional-bid-for-1st-district/ One of Hanig's most recent accomplishments was alerting and energizing the opposition to Phil Berger's brazen attempt to shut down the shrimping industry in eastern North Carolina and he is one of the stars of this recent video on Shrimpgate: As the son of a shop owner I know the importance of supporting local businesses and to stay away from online shopping Blue Lights, camera, action! And the recruits are back on the Belfast beat as images from the third series of the hit police drama are released ahead of its return to our screens. A 27-month sentence has been imposed upon a Co Antrim man who stole a 46-inch TV after entered a flat brandishing a hammer. Telling James Richard Hogg (46) that his actions would have been "appalling" for the female occupant, Judge Mark Reel divided the sentence equally between prison and supervised licence. A child has been left waiting more than a decade for an initial hospital appointment in paediatric surgery, new figures have revealed. (Stock image) A child has been left waiting more than a decade for an initial hospital appointment in paediatric surgery, new figures have revealed. The Department of Health confirmed in an answer to an Assembly question that one young patient had waited 544 weeks around 10 and a half years for a first outpatient appointment in paediatric surgery in the Belfast Trust. The next longest outpatient wait is in the South Eastern Trust, where a child has been waiting 397 weeks more than seven and a half years for a paediatrics appointment. DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds, who asked the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt for the figures, described the delays as astonishing and said children risked becoming ineligible for paediatric care altogether by the time they are seen. The Upper Bann MLA said: A response back from the Minister in the last week reveals that a child has waited ten and a half years (544 weeks) for an initial outpatient appointment in paediatric surgery in the Belfast Trust. "Young people are no longer eligible for paediatric services when they turn 18, so huge numbers are being referred into a system with no prospect of ever being seen within it. The durations of these waits must be extremely distressing for the children and their parents and families. "The longest wait for admission to the general paediatric ward in Belfast is over seven and a half years (400 weeks). In the South Eastern Trust it is 408 weeks, or almost eight years, with only 95% of children having been admitted after 6.9 years. The longest wait for admission for a paediatric surgery procedure in Belfast is seven and a half years (389 weeks), and only 95% will have been admitted within 4.9 years. In the South Eastern Trust the longest wait for paediatric surgery admission is 308 weeks, or six years. Mrs Dodds added that the figures showed hundreds of children had already waited more than three years for appointments. She said: For an outpatient appointment in paediatrics the longest wait in the South Eastern Trust is over seven and a half years, 397 weeks. The information provided by the Minister in his Written Answers shows seven hundred children have waited more than three and a half years. "The longest wait in Belfast Trust for an outpatient appointment in paediatrics is 351 weeks, more than six and a half years. In Belfast 565 children have waited more than 3.4 years. Mrs Dodds has called for the Department to publish referral to treatment times, which combine outpatient waits with admission delays, warning that some children requiring surgery in Belfast face more than eight years from GP referral to their operation. I want clarification from the Minister too about what happens to some of these referrals when, after waiting years, the young person has reached the 18-year cut-off for paediatric services, she said. Will they necessarily be added straight onto an adult waiting list, and if so, do they go right to the back of that queue after having already waited many years? Earlier today, Minister Mike Nesbitt told the BBC that progress is being made to tackle waiting lists after the latest Department of Health figures indicated that outpatient waits of more than four years were down by 14%. A child has been left waiting more than a decade for an initial hospital appointment in paediatric surgery, new figures have revealed. (Stock image) Belfast History Explained: Who was Sheila the Elephant? Mr Nesbitt said: "There are problems, but we have made a really positive start. This is just a start." However, he said: "If you want to get the waiting lists to where they should be, it's going to take five years, with an investment every year of a 135m." "Which we don't have," he added. The Department of Health has been contacted for comment. People in the Republic of Ireland living near the border have been told not to be alarmed if they receive a message from the UK Government on Sunday. The Irish Government has issued advice ahead an emergency test alert from the UK government, which could be picked up by mobile phones outside the UK jurisdiction. A notice from the Irish Government said: On Sunday, 7 September, at 3pm, the UK Government will test its Emergency Alerts service across the UK, including Northern Ireland. This system was launched across Britain and Northern Ireland in March 2023 and was tested in April 2023. As happened during the April 2023 test of the system, people living in, or visiting, the border counties may receive a message on their phone or mobile device, followed by an audio alert and a vibration of up to 10 seconds. This emergency alert will look and sound different to other types of messages such as SMS text messages. The alert will be received even if the mobile device is set to silent or do not disturb. Devices do not need to be connected to WiFi or mobile data to get the alert. There is no cause for concern, and no action is needed. Vulnerable people, including victims of human trafficking and domestic abuse, may carry hidden phones for personal safety reasons, the Irish government continued. Anybody in this position who would prefer if their phone did not sound, should turn their phone off or switch it to airplane mode. The alert sent to mobile phones Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset The UK launched its Emergency Alerts service across Britain and Northern Ireland on Sunday, March 19 2023. This service enables the UK Government to send a message to all mobile devices to warn of a life-threatening emergency nearby, for example extreme weather, severe flooding or a fire. This service aims to provide clear information to help keep people safe. An example of the phone alert in use came when millions of people received an emergency text over the approaching Storm Eowyn in January. The number of women presenting as homeless in Northern Ireland continues to rise. Stock image. Charmaine is one of a growing number of women presenting as homeless in Northern Ireland. She is staying in the Simon Communitys new women-only centre in south Belfast and said the service has given her the courage to escape from an abusive relationship. New data from the charity, based on official figures from the Housing Executive, has revealed that women now head the majority of households experiencing homelessness here. More than half (56%) of those presenting as homeless including family groups and individuals and legally referred to as households are led by women. Among people under 30, that rises to over 60%. Between October 2024 and March 2025, 609 households presented as homeless to the Housing Executive because of domestic violence, with 83% led by women. Women head 84% of the 11,000 homeless families, with children also involved, across Northern Ireland and make up most homeless households in almost every category monitored by the Department for Communities. The only exception is single adults, where women make up one third of those experiencing homelessness. The statistics also showed that women are more likely to lose private rented homes or live in unsuitable housing, making up nearly two-thirds of these cases. Yet, according to a recent poll, only 31% of people in Northern Ireland believe homelessness mainly affects women, and fewer than half recognise domestic abuse as a leading cause of homelessness. Charmaine, who doesn't want her surname reported, said: I spent years in an abusive relationship and leaving wasnt easy. I came to the Simon Community with just the clothes I stood in. I was so glad to finally have a warm bed and know that no one could come through my door unless I let them. The support I have received here is beyond anything I expected. Its not just about housing, its about helping you get your life back. I now feel stronger and I have found my voice. Kirsten Hewitt, director of homelessness services at the Simon Community The service, based at the charitys former mixed-gender accommodation site on the Saintfield Road, offers private rooms, shared kitchens and living areas, plus support tailored specifically for women experiencing homelessness. Kirsten Hewitt, director of homelessness services at the Simon Community, said: Right now, there are thousands of women across Northern Ireland who are experiencing homelessness. These are not just statistics, they are women who have often survived domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma, bereavement, and years of feeling unsafe. The number of women presenting as homeless in Northern Ireland continues to rise. Stock image. Belfast History Explained: Who was Mary Ann McCracken? For some women, mixed-gender services work well. But for others, especially those recovering from abuse or trauma, they can feel intimidating or unsafe. Thats why services like our new Saintfield Road hub are so important. They give women the choice of a women-only space. Without options like this, many women remain stuck in a painful cycle of homelessness with nowhere that truly meets their needs. Homelessness isnt just about lacking a roof over your head. For many women, its the end result of years of trauma, abuse, and fear. The Princess of Wales (centre) joins the official Sergeants Mess photo during a visit to the Irish Guards for their St Patrick's Day Parade (PA Wire) The Irish Guards, affectionately known as The Micks are celebrating their 125th anniversary with a historic visit to Northern Ireland from September 3-8. This milestone honours over a century of distinguished service, sacrifice, and tradition since their formation in 1900. The regiment has a proud history, from their heroic actions in both World Wars to modern operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Sudan. It also participated in Operation Banner the military operation in Northern Ireland that lasted throughout the Troubles. Recently, they have been at the forefront of training Ukrainian recruits on Operation Interflex and supporting partner nations across Africa. The visit begins tomorrow with a Beating Retreat at Carrickfergus Castle, featuring a parade and a performance by the Irish Guards Band. On September 5, a remembrance service at Belfast City Hall will honour the regiments fallen soldiers. The Princess of Wales (centre) joins the official Sergeants Mess photo during a visit to the Irish Guards for their St Patrick's Day Parade (PA Wire) Belfast History Explained: Who was Mary Ann McCracken? A highlight will be the Freedom of the Borough Parade in Bangor on Saturday, where the Irish Guards will march through the town with drums beating, and Colours flying. On Sunday there will be a laying up of old Colours at St Marks Church, Dundela, Belfast. This years St Patricks Day parade on March 17 took place at Wellington Barracks, where the regiment was honoured to welcome back The Princess of Wales, Colonel of the Regiment, to present shamrock to soldiers on parade. More than a third of those arrested during the violent disorder in Ballymena and surrounding towns had previously been reported to the PSNI for domestic abuse. There were 53 people arrested in relation to the trouble, of which 19 or 36% had been previously reported for domestic abuse. The figures were released to The Detail following a Freedom of Information request. The rioting in Ballymena began after a protest over an alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke in court through a Romanian interpreter, deny charges of attempted rape. In the ensuing days of violent disorder, described by police as racist thuggery, families were burned out of their homes and more than 100 police officers were injured. Around a quarter of those arrested (14) were aged under 18. According to police data, minors are statistically rare perpetrators of domestic abuse, accounting for less than 4% of cases each year. Her Loyal Voice, a loyalist feminist group, said the focus on violence against women and girls was lost and turned into racist, anti-immigrant hate. Caroline, from north Antrim, asked not to be identified as her employer does not allow any type of activism. Its just naked scapegoating, which has been a tactic of our betters for generations, to find another vulnerable working-class group and say to us, Look, thats where your problems are, she told The Detail. And we always have to push back against that, because it harms our community, it harms other working class communities. She added: Instead of tackling violence against women and girls, theyre using a distraction technique: Its not our men, its not our community. Were not the problem. Its this group of people who are coming in, and theyre the ones doing it. Her Loyal Voice released a statement during the riots, condemning the violence as a pogrom. The statement highlighted the pandemic of male violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland, stressed the need for comprehensive relationship and sex education in schools, and lamented the crisis of leadership within loyalism and unionism. Members of the group used social media to put out an anti-racist message during the riots, she said. This included commenting on high-profile English far-right accounts such as Katy Hopkins or Tommy Robinson, who were stirring up outrage within the loyalist community for clicks, offering us no real solutions. Robinsons 14 X posts about Ballymena in June reached an average of 1.3 million accounts each, according to a report by Sky News Caroline said there needs to be compulsory and comprehensive Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE), starting in primary schools. What we really need is to overhaul our education system, and to have a real cultural change in how men treat women, she said. The politicians and the other people in positions of power, both seen and unseen, dont want to do the difficult work of tackling patriarchy. Elaine Crory, from the Womens Resource and Development Agency, said the language of violence against women and girls was being used a smokescreen to cover for racism. Its an effort to turn all these conversations about violence into conversations about migration, she said. What we see over and over again is that the violence that women are experiencing is from their partner, or their former partner, inside of their home. Thats true everywhere in the world. Domestic abuse accounts for approximately 20% of all recorded crime in Northern Ireland. Such offenders are most likely to be white (over 96%), according to police data. They are also most likely to be UK or Irish nationals (92%). Ms Crory said that in these discussions about violence and safety, women are being spoken about as if we cannot speak for ourselves. Feminists have been saying from day dot that we can advocate for ourselves, and that the protection we really need is from abusers in our own homes, she said. What we really need are safe ways to get out. "What we really need is sufficient housing for us to leave if we have to. "What we really need is financial independence and equality. All of those things were asking for, that actually would help, are far too boring for somebody who just wants to tap into a narrative which is get rid of these people. Read more Catholic mum tells of terror after loyalists forced her to leave home and housing association rehoused her nearby Almost half of people arrested over NI race riots had been reported for domestic abuse Water sampling taking place in the River Faughan, which supplies approximately 60% of Derry city's drinking water, and sits next to the toxic Mobuoy site. The erection of an underground barrier could be required to treat the contaminated Mobuoy site near Derry, with the 700m clean-up effort potentially taking decades. The first of two public consultation events on a draft Mobuoy remediation strategy takes place today in the city as officials edge closer to cleansing toxins from illegal dumping at the 46-hectare plot located beside the River Faughan. Investigations indicate there is approximately 1.6 million tonnes of waste at the site, with 627,000 tonnes estimated to have been deposited unlawfully. The cost of fully removing toxins has been estimated to be upward of 700m by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera), as outlined in its annual report. However, officials believe that may not be the best option once social, economic and environmental factors are taken into account. Instead, the draft strategy includes proposals to remove some waste while also installing an underground permeable reactive barrier to treat contaminated groundwater on the site. The structure would consist of several boreholes or trenches filled with a reactive material to promote decomposition or degradation of contaminants. It would be placed between the affected land and the river to break pollutant linkage. Officials said that would take five to seven years of engineering work on site, and an additional 20 years or more until the groundwater is completely cleaned up. Earlier this year, two men were prosecuted after pleading guilty to a number of charges. Paul Doherty (67), of Culmore Road, Derry, admitted seven charges between 2007 and 2013 relating to the contaminated Mobuoy dump at Campsie, and was sentenced to one year in prison. Co-defendant Gerard Farmer (56), of Westlake in the city, was jailed for 21 months after pleading guilty to three charges between 2011 and 2013. Following the conclusion of court proceedings in June, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir announced the launch of a consultation on the remedy proposals. He told MLAs there is no quick fix, but said he was committed to continuing to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to protect water quality and the environment during these processes. An estimated 8m has been spent on the site to date, which includes an environmental monitoring programme particularly in relation to the River Faughan which is designated as a special area of conservation. The affected area is approximately 2km (1.2 miles) upstream from a drinking water abstraction point in Cloghole, which serves a population of 60,000. While Daera officials accepted that contaminated groundwater is reaching the river, they insist there is huge dilution and it is therefore not detected by extremely sensitive equipment. Aerial view of the contaminated Mobuoy site. The removal of waste is also proposed along a section of the A6 which has been impacted due to court proceedings and will face further delays until remediation works take place. When asked if there is a timeline for remediation to allow A6 construction to recommence, Daera officials were unable to answer, insisting it is a matter for the Department for Infrastructure. Members of the public have been urged to attend a drop-in event at Eglinton Community Centre which will be open from 12pm until 7pm today, providing an opportunity to speak directly to the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) and others involved in working on the remediation project. Officials from the NIEAs drinking water inspectorate will also be there alongside representatives from other organisations including NI Water, the Public Health Agency, Department for Infrastructure, and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute. A second public consultation event will take place next Wednesday at the Millennium Forum between 12pm and 7pm. Belfast-born Squadron Leader Norman Browne, who recently died aged 77, was a key figure in the first Gulf War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for leading operations to drop laser-guided bombs on strategic targets in Iraq. After leaving Grosvenor High School, he joined the RAF and trained as a navigator. His first assignment was to the Fleet Air Arm where he flew in the Sea Vixen all-weather fighter from the aircraft carriers Hermes and Eagle. After two years, he returned to the RAF and spent the next six years on the Phantom air defence fighter based at Leuchars in Scotland. For five of those years, he was the navigator in the RAFs Phantom display aircraft. Read more Irish Guards celebrate 125th anniversary with historic NI visit In 1979, the RAF decided to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first crossing of the Atlantic in 1919 by John Alcock and Arthur Brown. A Phantom was chosen for the flight and an aircraft was painted in a special commemorative scheme. The pilot selected was Squadron Leader Tony Alcock (a nephew of John Alcock). Browne was selected to be the navigator. The aircraft took off from Goose Bay in Labrador on June 21, 1979, was refuelled in mid-air by RAF Victor tankers and landed at Greenham Common airfield after a record-breaking flight of five hours and 40 minutes. After converting to the Buccaneer in 1979, he was posted to Germany. It was during this tour of duty that the RAF procured, from the US, the Paveway/Pavespike precision laser-guided bomb system. Pavespike was an electro-optical laser designator-targeting pod mounted on the port wing of the Buccaneer. It was controlled by the navigator who marked the target before firing the laser as the Paveway bombs had been released. The bombs then homed to the target with great accuracy. Browne led a series of successful trials, and the system was adopted by the Buccaneer maritime wing at Lossiemouth. When war broke out in Iraq in January 1991, the RAFs Tornado bombing force ceased its low-level bombing operations in favour of operating at higher levels. To improve accuracy, a force of Buccaneers was deployed to the region on January 29. Browne and his pilot were in the first pair of Buccaneers to fly non-stop from their base at Lossiemouth to Bahrain. He immediately established a training programme with the Tornado force to perfect the tactics and critical co-ordination between the two aircraft. He led the first combined Buccaneer/Tornado attacks against heavily defended enemy positions deep in Iraqi territory when he marked targets for the first two laser bombs to be dropped in the war. Initially the targets were major bridges crossing the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Squadron Leader Norman Browne, who died on July 24 aged 77 Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset The combined force then switched to the Iraqi airfields and the hardened shelters that housed the Iraqi Air Forces most capable aircraft. Browne was the lead marker on many missions. The citation for his DFC stated: He is the most outstanding navigator of the Buccaneer detachment. It concluded: The exceptional results he achieved in confronting the enemy in the heart of his territory, he has shown himself to be a magnificent leader under fire. He remained in the Buccaneer force at Lossiemouth before converting to the Tornado. He retired after 42 years service and continued to live in Lossiemouth, where he became a pillar of the local community. Norman Browne died on July 24. His wife Renee and their son and daughter survive him. The tricolour flies above the GPO on OConnell Street (Brian Lawless/PA) Ireland is at a tipping point on how it responds to issues around citizenship and national identity, the Taoiseach has warned. Micheal Martins comments come after Dublin City Council said it wanted to meet gardai over concerns about the erection of Irish tricolour flags in public spaces across the city, following concerns raised by some residents. The flags have been erected by various groups as an expression of pride in national identity but have been criticised by others who believe the tricolour is being used to intimidate people of a migrant background. Similar disputes have been seen across the UK. Taoiseach Micheal Martin at Government Buildings (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Martin said the Irishness of citizens should not be questioned due to their backgrounds or origins. I heard some people recently sort of defending whats going on now and somehow if you have a problem with the national flag on the flagpole, then you should maybe leave the country, theres something wrong with you, youre not Irish or something like that. Thats not right. That kind of comment is out of order and we shouldnt be trying to question peoples citizenship or their Irishness because of their origins, perhaps, or the colour of their skin. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Martin said society had to stand up to that kind of rhetoric. Watching whats happening in the UK, I dont like it, he said. We, so far, have resisted a lot of what has transpired in other societies. We are at a tipping point in Ireland Im concerned about it and I think this has to be resisted. We should do it an intelligent way. We have to affirm the citizenship of all our citizens, and continue to do what a lot of people do over the world. A lot of people are making noise. The vast, vast majority of people understand whats the best of us and also understand the important contribution that people from different nationalities have made to our society over the last number of decades. We have to defend what I think have been fundamental values within our society for a long, long time. Tanaiste Simon Harris said flags must not be hijacked (Liam McBurney/PA) Speaking at the same media event, Tanaiste Simon Harris said the far right would not be allowed to hijack the valued national flag. Mr Harris said he would like to see more tricolours but added there were rules around flying the flags correctly. The tricolour should never be hijacked or used to represent something that is against what this republic stands for, he said. Theres very clear rules around how you properly, respectfully hang our flag. We should see more flags, I welcome more flags we made a lot of progress during the time we were commemorating centenaries. The Fine Gael leader added: Were very proud of our flag but we saw our flag hijacked by one group for many years were sure as hell not going to allow the far right now to hijack our flag. The Irish Government will send 500,000 euro to support humanitarian relief efforts in Afghanistan after Sundays devastating earthquake. More than 1,000 people died and thousands more were injured when the magnitude 6.0 quake struck close to the border with Pakistan. Ireland will contribute 500,000 euro to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support emergency food, water, healthcare and other humanitarian aid for survivors. Announcing the funding, Tanaiste Simon Harris said: This earthquake has caused utter devastation. The relief operation is going to be very challenging given the mountainous and remote make-up of the area. Landslides and road blockages mean it will take some time to reach people affected. There is an urgent need for the international community to assist efforts to get aid to people as quickly as possible. This funding from Ireland will provide basic but life-saving aid to people who have lost everything. Ireland has also provided three million euro to the UN-managed Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, and an additional one million euro to the UNHCR Afghanistan Refugee Regional Response to support refugees and host communities in neighbouring states. The IFRC has received close to 10 million euro in funding for a number of crises. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he believes Fianna Fail has handled the selection of presidential candidate well (Liam McBurney/PA) Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that he believes the selection of a Fianna Fail candidate to run in the presidential election this autumn was well handled. The Fianna Fail leader said it was about the presidency, its not about Fianna Fail as he argued against criticism of the selection process. Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said that the delay from big parties in choosing a presidential candidate was disrespectful to the office, while some senior Fianna Fail figures have expressed their unhappiness. Independent TD Catherine Connolly has expressed frustration at the process, calling the delay disrespectful (Brian Lawless/PA) Former taoiseach and ex Fianna Fail leader Bertie Ahern said he was disappointed that his partys leadership had failed to express support for him, while former Fianna Fail minister Mary Hanafin said a phone call would have made a difference from the party leadership. Asked whether he could have handled the Fianna Fail candidate selection process better, Mr Martin said: I dont accept that at all. I mean, there were many experienced people out there. I think this actually was well handled. Im in discussions with a lot of TDs, they all get it by the way, theres no issue, most people accept fully how this has been progressed. There are many, many indications of interest from a lot of people over the last three to four months seeking the Fianna Fail nomination. Lots of people. He added: Some of you speculated at length, August was not the month to add to the speculation that you had to engage in. I appreciate fully the media were looking for more certainty and precision, but I think were trying to also to progress this in a manner that we feel is best. I always said we would clarify the situation at the end of August. We said that repeatedly throughout the summer, clarity will be brought to this at the end of August, and it was. Jim Gavin, former Dublin GAA football manager, has the backing of Micheal Martin (Conor OMearain/PA) Former Dublin GAA manager and retired army officer Jim Gavin has the backing of Mr Martin and senior party figures, while the partys MEP Billy Kelleher will also be seeking the nomination. The parliamentary party will vote for its preferred candidate by secret ballot next Tuesday. Mr Martin said that there were some voices distorting the reality of the party selecting a presidential candidate. Ive had very, very good discussions with TDs and Senators across the length and breadth of the country. They understand fully my bona fides and the bona fides of the leadership of the party in endeavouring to make sure that we make the best contribution to the presidency. This is about the presidency, its not about Fianna Fail. Some within the party comment as if its all about Fianna Fail, its not. Its about the presidency and the Irish people are sovereign when it comes to electing a new president. And in my view, we have sought to seek out a person who could bring people together, who would command the broadest degree of popular support, as well as being a person of strong character, and a person who has made a strong contribution to society. And who is very much rooted in community, and we spent a significant period this summer engaging with Jim Gavin in that respect and we believe he fits that criteria. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said The presidency doesnt belong to any political party, nor does any individual have an entitlement to the presidency (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Martin continued: Billy Kelleher is a very fine parliamentarian and he has worked extremely hard in the Dail and indeed in the European Parliament, but as I say, we have been working with Jim for quite a period over the summer. I think he has the capacity to be an excellent president of Ireland in terms of the constitutional duties of a president, and particularly the capacity to motivate, to inspire people and to bring people together. Thats what the issue here is, its about the presidency. The presidency doesnt belong to any political party, nor does any individual have an entitlement to the presidency. Thats the context in which I look at this. The constitution is very clear. Weve always tried to keep the presidency out of party politics, and I will continue to try and do that. Police told missing boy was found dead in bed and secretly buried in a panic Wasteland site in Donabate, Dublin, sealed off from public and cadaver dog taken to search area Gardai on an area of open ground in Donabate, Co Dublin during a search for a boy who has not been seen for several years and is feared dead. Niall Carson/PA Wire Ken Foy and Conor Feehan Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 09:39 Gardai investigating the disappearance of a young boy were told he was found dead in bed and secretly buried in a panic. An urgent step change is needed to eradicate bovine tuberculosis by the target year of 2038, scientists advising the Government have said. The disease, which devastates farm businesses by spreading from badgers to cattle, and from cow to cow, has been back in the spotlight in recent weeks after TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson reported cases on his farm in Oxfordshire. Efforts to control the disease cost taxpayers an estimated 100 million a year, while hundreds of thousands of badgers and cows have been compulsorily slaughtered to stem its spread, prompting fierce criticism from wildlife campaigners. A leading group of scientists on Thursday warned that there is only a small chance of achieving bovine TB-free status by 2038 unless the issue is treated with a similar urgency seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. Cows with bovine TB are culled (Andrew Matthews/PA) It came as they published an updated report on Englands bovine TB strategy at the request of the Government, which aims to eradicate the disease by 2038. While there has been significant progress in terms of scientific advances and TB prevalence in national herds, the scientists said more urgency, money and political consensus are necessary to meet the target. Professor Sir Charles Godfray, from the University of Oxford, who worked on the report, said: We think achieving the bovine TB-free status by that time is possible, but it is going to be tough. We need a step change in the urgency in which we treat this disease, and the resources devoted to eradication. Sir Charles said that while there is no close parallel between bovine TB and Covid-19, he cited the real concentration and expedited progress demonstrated during the pandemic. We want something equivalent of that for this disease, which costs the taxpayer 100 million a year in England, costs the farming community about the same, and has real effects on farmers livelihoods and mental health, as well as being a real issue for the wildlife reservoir, he said. Badger culling has long been a part of the Governments response to bovine TB despite strong opposition from animal welfare and wildlife groups, including Queen guitarist Sir Brian May. Earlier this year, ministers announced a commitment to end the practice before the next election. The scientists said it is possible to meet the 2038 target without culling badgers but considerable effort and resources will need to go towards other non-lethal measures, such as badger vaccinations and biosecurity measures. Badgers have been culled (Ben Birchall/PA) They also called for more speed in processing an application for a licence to use a newly developed vaccination on cattle. Professor James Wood, of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, who also worked on the report, said: This is a very exciting advance but we feel a greater urgency could be applied here. More widely, the scientists said the Government should provide a reasonable amount of funding to tackle the disease, including investment into IT infrastructure, vaccinations and tests. Sir Charles said that while the team is fully aware of the great pressures on public finances at the moment, they believed investment in bovine TB control will save money in the future. The group did not recommend a specific figure for the Treasury but have endorsed a National Audit Office report that said the Environment Department (Defra) should carry out a cost-benefit analysis on investing in animal disease resilience. Elsewhere, the scientists said the Government should appoint a senior official to lead the eradication strategy in a more visible and public-facing role, who can field questions and knock heads together. While many in the industry would prefer to lead the response to the disease with little intervention from the Government, the team argued that it must be co-owned with the Government and other stakeholders as they stressed the importance of bridging political divisions over tackling the issue. We think its absolutely essential that the disease control is co-owned by all the stakeholders involved so government, industry, but also the wildlife NGOs the people who care so much about the wildlife reservoir, Sir Charles said. We do not underestimate the challenges and the long-held positions and interests that are involved by the different partners, but we are calling for leadership and the willingness to move beyond long-held positions by all the different stakeholders involved. Cows grazing on Coe Fen in Cambridge (Joe Giddens/PA) The scientists called for a more evidence-led approach to help reach a consensus, with Sir Charles saying positions of denying badgers can be a source of infection, or arguing that badgers are completely responsible, are unhelpful. It will require movement and leadership from the different stakeholders concerned, he said. I really think it does need to happen if we want to get to elimination by 2038. Farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: The Government is determined to eradicate bovine TB a devastating disease that destroys too many farmers livelihoods and has led to the culling of thousands of badgers. Following a record year for badger vaccination in 2024, a new Badger Vaccinator Field Force will be deployed next year. We are also developing a cattle vaccine and, along with the Scottish and Welsh governments, have invested over 40m into vaccine related research. Early next year, we plan to publish a comprehensive new strategy that will set out how we will eradicate this disease by 2038. We know this will be challenging, and Sir Charles Godfrays independent report will be key to informing the future strategy. We will now consider the reports findings. Sir Keir Starmer said the ECHR should be fit for the circumstances the UK faces (Stefan Rousseau/PA) It would be a profound mistake to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister ruled out leaving the treaty but said the Government would look at the interpretation of some provisions of the convention. Ministers plan to tighten the use of Article 8 of the ECHR, the right to private and family life, in immigration cases in the UK. Sir Keir was responding on Wednesday to a question from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who said: The leader of the Conservative Party and the leader of Reform want to join Russia and Vladimir Putin by withdrawing from the convention. Sir Ed Davey quizzed the Prime Minister about the ECHR during PMQs (Jonathan Brady/PA) Will the Prime Minister categorically rule out withdrawing from the ECHR, or suspending it, or watering down our rights in any way? Sir Keir said: We will not withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. We do need to make sure that both the convention and other instruments are fit for the circumstances we face at the moment. He told the Commons: It would be a profound mistake to pull out of these instruments, because the first thing that would follow is every other country in the world that adheres to these instruments would pull out of all their agreements with this country. That would be catastrophic for dealing with the problem that we are dealing with. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said withdrawing from the convention would put Britain in a club with two other countries: Russia and Belarus. She told the Lords Constitution Committee: The position of our Government is the direct opposite of that. The Lord Chancellor said ministers are believers in what the convention is trying to achieve and if people who support this instrument and want it to work cant have this debate in a sensible way, then I mean, honestly, theres no hope really at all, for anybody. Ms Mahmood said the Government was not wanting to play, as you might say, populist politics with it. But she told peers that the view of European colleagues is that the UK is more at the maximalist end of the spectrum when interpreting how to uphold its international obligations. I think its perfectly fine for us to question whether we have drawn the line in the right place, she added. The work that the Home Secretary is doing has fresh guidance, secondary legislation or primary legislation all on the table as potential options. Ms Mahmood said proposals over Article 8 will be brought forward in the autumn and may expand beyond that. Under plans unveiled in the immigration White Paper in May, the Home Office seeks to reduce the number of people claiming exceptional circumstances under Article 8 to stay in the UK. Claire Waxman, Londons victims commissioner, is to take on the role of commissioner for England and Wales next year (Alamy/PA) The new victims commissioner for England and Wales has pledged to push for much-needed progress on speedy justice and access to support. Claire Waxman, Londons current and first independent victims commissioner, will take up her new national role in January. She will replace Baroness Helen Newlove, who has twice served in the post having become a community campaigner and activist in the wake of the killing of her husband Garry outside his home after confronting vandals in 2007. Ms Waxman described it as a true honour to take on the wider England and Wales role. She said: Over the years, I have worked tirelessly to champion the voices of victims, survivors and bereaved families, ensuring they are heard, better protected and supported, and that their experiences help to shape meaningful change across the justice system. At this critical time, as we seek to deliver swifter justice and more accessible support, I look forward to continuing my work on a national scale to advocate for all victims and drive forward the much-needed progress that victims deserve. Baroness Newlove described her successor as an unwavering voice for victims in London and said her experience will make her a powerful advocate for change on the national stage. The Government said the victims commissioner role is vital to delivering justice for victims. It said the Victims and Courts Bill will strengthen the position to allow the commissioner to act in individual cases which raise systemic issues in a bid to make sure lessons are learned to the benefit of all victims and witnesses, including those affected by antisocial behaviour. The new appointment comes as ministers are set to respond this autumn to recommendations made by Sir Brian Leveson to overhaul the courts system to reduce the risk of total system collapse. The Sentencing Bill has also been introduced to Parliament to tackle jail overcrowding, which could see fewer criminals in custody and tougher sentences in the community as part of the reforms. The justice system is currently facing a huge backlog in crown court cases, rising to a new record high earlier this year, passing 75,000 cases for the first time. Baroness Newlove is the outgoing victims commissioner (PA) Baroness Newlove, when the figures were published in June, urged the Ministry of Justice to act quickly to make sure victims are not left behind. She said: Victims and the services that support them bear the burden: underfunded, overstretched and expected to do more with less all while facing rising demand and threats to future funding. Victims should not have to shoulder the burden of a growing backlog alone. Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: The victims commissioner is an invaluable role that promotes victims interests in the justice system. Claires accomplishments as Londons Independent Victims Commissioner more than qualify her for this role. I have every faith she will be a dedicated and steadfast voice for victims and witnesses. The Queen during her visit to the 4th Battalion of The Ranger Regiment (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA) The Queen has been presented with an Army brooch to mark her dedication to a battalion ahead of the launch of a charity supporting its soldiers. Camilla received the Mappin and Webb jewellery in recognition of her support for the 4th Battalion of The Ranger Regiment, which she represents as Royal Colonel. When she was presented with the gift by the battalions commander officer, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bairsto, she replied: Its so lovely, Ill go and put it on. For the rest of the visit to the regiments barracks in Aldershot she wore the present, a gift from the regiment and the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, a livery company affiliated with 4 Ranger. The Queen arrives on a visit to the 4th Battalion of The Ranger Regiment (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA) She met some of the team behind the new Peregrine Fund, a welfare charity for The Ranger Regiment which transitioned from The Rifles in 2021 four battalions which are the core of the Army Special Operations Brigade. Captain Marrion Hooman, regimental administration officer for 4 Ranger, said after chatting to the Queen: This is a brand new charity within the military and we hope it goes on to support our rangers for many years to come. Were looking to (provide) support with welfare, families and if theyre injured. She received the information very positively. These things need to be done, we need to look after our soldiers, we dont know what will come, we dont know what hardships they will face. The charity will be launched with a fundraising event later this month when supporters will be encouraged to join a 24-hour sporting challenge for as long as they want. During her visit the Queen chatted to soldiers who have been deployed in Jordan and Lebanon, and told one serviceman: Youre so lucky, Ive always wanted to go to Lebanon. Camilla ended her visit by meeting the families of soldiers in the Rangers Tavern, a recreational area featuring a bar, where guests were treated to afternoon tea. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (right) with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez in 10 Downing Street, London, ahead of talks on shared priorities including trade, defence and migration (Toby Melville/PA) Sir Keir Starmer and Spains Pedro Sanchez both condemned the situation in Gaza, after the Spanish PM said Europes response to the conflict has been a failure and risks undermining its global credibility. The two leaders were also due to sign a bilateral deal as they met at Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon. Ahead of the meeting with Sir Keir, Mr Sanchez told The Guardian the conflict represents one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century. It is a failure, said Mr Sanchez, the first European leader to accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. He added: Absolutely. It is also the reality that, within the EU, there are countries that are divided when it comes to how to influence Israel. But in my opinion, its not acceptable and we cant last longer if we want to increase our credibility when it comes to other crises, such as the one we face in Ukraine. His comments come days after local health officials said 31 people were killed in strikes across the Gaza Strip as Israel presses ahead with a major military offensive. As he and Sir Keir met in Downing Streets white room, the Prime Minister said the terrible situation in Gaza would be among the topics they would discuss, as well as the war in Ukraine, and trade ties between the UK and Spain. Mr Sanchez, meanwhile, described the situation in the Middle East as a terrible tragedy. The two leaders said they would be signing a new bilateral agreement, which is aimed at strengthening co-operation on economic growth, migration and other shared interests. The agreement comes after Sir Keir and Mr Sanchezs governments brokered a deal to remove border checks at Gibraltar over the summer, alongside the EU. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer greets the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez in Downing Street, London, ahead of talks on shared priorities including trade, defence and migration (Toby Melville/PA) Sir Keir said: Of course, were here today to sign a bilateral agreement on the back of all the hard work weve done on Gibraltar. It really is a very important day for me and my Government to welcome you here. The meeting between the Prime Minister and his Spanish counterpart was the first of its kind in seven years at Downing Street. The UK still intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September, joining Spain and other European nations, David Lammy told MPs on Monday. Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Sanchez said the US, under President Donald Trump, was ending the international order established after the Second World War. But he suggested the US withdrawal from major institutions such as the World Health Organisation could create an opening for Europe and the UK to assert greater global leadership. The most shocking reality that were facing is that the principal architect of the international order which is the US after the Second World War is now weakening this international order, and thats something thats not going to be positive for US society or for the rest of the world especially western countries, he said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez (Toby Melville/PA) That is why I think theres an opportunity for the European Union and also for the UK. Mr Sanchez and Mr Trump clashed earlier this year over Spains refusal to spend 5% of its GDP on defence, but the prime minister insisted his country would be a reliable Nato partner. He also spoke of the dilemma western societies increasingly faced when deciding how to handle immigration. I believe that the vast majority of citizens in Spain understand quite well that migration is also an opportunity and not only a moral duty, Mr Sanchez said. Its an opportunity to respond effectively to the challenges that we are facing when it comes to economic growth and when it comes to the labour market or helping to finance our welfare state in the present and the future. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said more school-based nurseries will provide the opportunity to target areas where families are most in need of support (Yui Mok/PA) Up to 7,000 more places are set to be rolled out at new or expanded school nurseries from next September in the latest phase of the Governments programme to create more early years places in England. The Department for Education (DfE) has announced 45 million to create a further 300 school-based nurseries in addition to the 300 that were funded in the first phase of the programme. Schools will again be able to bid for up to 150,000 in funding to create or expand a nursery. The additional nurseries will create up to 7,000 more places in school-based nurseries by September 2026, the DfE said. Bids from schools serving some of the most disadvantaged communities will be prioritised. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: School-based nurseries can offer a nurturing and stable environment for children that carries through into primary, and a helping hand for working parents tackling dual drop off. Delivering more school-based nurseries under our Best Start umbrella means more choice and convenience for parents, and more opportunities to target parts of the country where families are most in need of additional support. In October last year, schools were able to bid for a share of 15 million to deliver an initial 300 school-based nurseries. This was then increased to 37 million in April this year to help with the full rollout of the Governments childcare offer for September 2025. That first phase created an additional 4,000 school-based nursery places for this school year, the Government said. Of the 300 funded for September 2025, 189 are set to be up and running this month, the Government said. This comes in the same week as the latest part of the Governments funded childcare rollout. As of September 1, eligible working parents in England are able to access 30 hours a week of free childcare for children older than nine months. Jane van Zyl, chief executive at Working Families, said: Quality, affordable childcare is one of the biggest barriers to work, so steps that make it more accessible will boost labour market participation as well as family incomes. For parents with school-age children, co-located nursery provision can make daily logistics more manageable, which makes a real difference to working lives. Purnima Tanuku, executive chairwoman for the National Day Nurseries Association, welcomed the creation of more early education places, but said school nurseries still only offer a small minority of early years places. Nurseries have worked hard to meet the ambitious expansion by September, but due to workforce pressures, we know that around 70% of nurseries are not operating at full capacity as they are carrying an average of four vacancies, she added. Earlier this week, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) warned that workforce challenges must be addressed to ensure the early years sector can recruit and retain staff to meet the demands of the full rollout of the childcare expansion. While growth in staff numbers is currently on track to meet the Governments estimated targets for the childcare expansion, the NFER report has warned that this may not necessarily continue. Early years teachers in disadvantaged communities will be offered a 4,500 payment in an effort to attract staff to nurseries. Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, welcomed the announcement but warned about the impact of the national insurance contributions rise on nurseries. She added: Despite the Educations Secretarys promise to make early years her number one priority, nurseries up and down the country are on the brink due to the choices Labour have made. Sadly, under Labour nurseries have no choice but to hike their fees or close their doors, leaving childcare more expensive and harder to find. People at the news conference at the US Capitol on Wednesday (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sexual abuse made their voices heard on Tuesday in Washington DC, pressuring politicians to force the release of the sex trafficking investigation into the late financier and pushing back US President Donald Trumps effort to dismiss the issue as a hoax. In a news conference on the Capitol lawn that drew hundreds of supporters and chants of release the files, the women shared some publicly for the first time how they were lured into Epsteins abuse by his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. They demanded that the Trump administration provide transparency and accountability for what they said they endured as teenagers. It was a striking stand as the push for disclosure of the so-called Epstein files reached a pivotal moment in Washington. Politicians are battling over how Congress should delve into the Epstein saga while the Republican president, after initially signalling support for transparency on the campaign trail, has been dismissing the matter as a Democrat hoax. No matter what you do its going to keep going, Mr Trump said on Wednesday. He added: Really, I think its enough. But the survivors on Capitol Hill, as well as at least one of Mr Trumps closest allies in Congress, disagreed. Some of the women pleaded for Mr Trump to support their cause. It feels like you just want to explode inside because nobody, again, is understanding that this is a real situation. These women are real. Were here in person, said Haley Robson, one of the survivors who said she is a registered Republican. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. The case was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Epstein was accused of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them. Maxwell, Epsteins long-time confidant and former girlfriend, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for luring teenage girls for him to abuse. Four women gave evidence at her trial that they were abused by Epstein as teenagers in the 1990s and early 2000s at his homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico. The allegations have also spawned dozens of lawsuits. Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is usually closely aligned with Mr Trump, described her support for a Bill that would force the Justice Department to release the information it has compiled on Epstein as a moral fight against sexual predation. This isnt one political party or the other. Its a culmination of everyone work together to silence these women and protect Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal, she said at the news conference. She also told reporters that she had spoken to Mr Trump on Wednesday to tell him that he should host the survivors in the Oval Office, not any of Jeffrey Epsteins rich, powerful friends. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaking at the US Capitol on Wednesday (Jose Luis Magana/AP) She is one of four Republicans three of them women who have defied House Republican leadership and the White House in an effort to force a vote on their Bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quash the effort by putting forward his own resolution and arguing that a concurrent investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the best way for Congress to deliver transparency. I think the oversight probe is going to be wide and expansive, and theyre going to follow the truth wherever it leads, Mr Johnson said. He added that the White House was complying with the committee to release information and that he had spoken to Mr Trump about it on Tuesday night. He says, Get it out there, put it all out there, Mr Johnson told reporters. The Oversight Committee on Tuesday night released what it said was the first tranche of documents and files it has received from the Justice Department on the Epstein case. The folders posted on Google Drive contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein, but contained practically nothing new. Meanwhile, the White House was warning House members that support for the Bill to require the DOJ to release the files would be seen as a hostile act. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who is pressing for the Bill, said that the White House was sending that message because theyve dug in. They decided they dont want it released, he said. Its a political threat. But with Mr Trump sending a strong message and Republican leadership moving forward with an alternative resolution, Mr Massie was left looking for support from at least two more Republicans willing to cross political lines. It would take six Republican members, as well as all House Democrats, to force a vote on their Bill. And even if that passes the House, it would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by Mr Trump. Still, the survivors saw this moment as their best chance in years to gain some justice for what had been done by Epstein, who died in as New York jail cell in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges. Justice and accountability are not favours from the powerful. They are obligations decades overdue Jess Michaels, a survivor who said she was first abused by Epstein in 1991, told the rally on the Capitol lawn. This moment began with Epsteins crimes. But its going to be remembered for survivors demanding justice, demanding truth, demanding accountability. President Donald Trump walks with Polish President Karol Nawrocki to a meeting in the Oval Office (Evan Vucci/AP) US President Donald Trump affirmed that the United States will keep a robust military presence in Poland as he met the countrys new president, Karol Nawrocki, on Wednesday. Mr Trump had taken the unusual step of endorsing Mr Nawrocki in the Polish elections earlier this year, and as the leaders sat side by side in the White House, Mr Trump said the US-Polish relationship has always been strong but now its better than ever. When asked by a reporter whether the US planned to continue placing troops in Poland, Mr Trump said the US would and well put more there if they want. Well be staying in Poland. Were very much aligned with Poland, Mr Trump said. US President Donald Trump greets Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the White House (Evan Vucci/AP) The visit to Washington is Mr Nawrockis first overseas trip since taking office last month. The former amateur boxer and historian, who was backed by the conservative Law and Justice party, was hoping to deepen his relationship with Mr Trump at a fraught moment for Warsaw. Mr Nawrocki thanked Mr Trump for his support and, in a nod to the bonds between their countries, gave a particular hello to the millions of Polish Americans in the US. Those relations for me, for Poland, for Poles, are very important, Mr Nawrocki said. He added that those bonds are based on shared values of independence and democracy. In a news conference after his meeting, Mr Nawrocki said he and Mr Trump discussed expanding the US military presence in Poland. There were specific discussions regarding this project, he said. He also said he considered it a major success that Mr Trump provided a guarantee of Polands security. Regardless of the differences that exist within the European Union, regardless of the differences that exist in Poland between me and the Polish government, I guarantee that on security matters, including at this closed meeting, I spoke unequivocally about how I perceive Vladimir Putin and the threat he poses to the free world, Mr Nawrocki said. At the White House, Mr Trump said he was proud to have endorsed Mr Nawrocki and lauded him for winning his election. It was a pretty tough race, pretty nasty race, and he beat them all. And he beat them all very easily, and now hes become even more popular as they got to know him and know him better, Mr Trump said. Mr Trump is increasingly frustrated by his inability to get Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to sit down for direct talks aimed at ending the war between Polands neighbours. Mr Trump last month met Mr Putin in Alaska and then with Mr Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House. The Republican president emerged from those engagements confident that he would be able to quickly arrange direct talks between Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky and perhaps three-way talks in which he would participate. But his optimism in hatching an agreement to end the war has dimmed as Mr Putin has yet to signal an interest in sitting down with Mr Zelensky. Maybe they have to fight a little longer, Mr Trump said in an interview with the conservative Daily Caller published over the weekend. You know, just keep fighting stupidly, keep fighting. There is also heightened anxiety in Poland, and across Europe, about Mr Trumps long-term commitment to a strong US force posture on the continent an essential deterrent to Russia. Some key advisers in his administration have advocated for shifting US troops and military from Europe to the Indo-Pacific with Chinas lock as the United States most significant strategic and economic competitor. Currently, there are about 8,200 American troops stationed in Poland, but the force level regularly fluctuates, according to the Pentagon. The stakes are very high for President Nawrockis visit, said Peter Doran, an analyst at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies. Trump will have an opportunity to size up Polands new president, and Nawrocki also will have the chance to do the same. Failure in this meeting would mean a pullback of American force posture in Poland, and success would mean a clear endorsement of Poland as one of Americas most important allies on the front line. When Mr Nawrocki arrived at the White House, Mr Trump gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder and stood with him as they watched US military jets soaring over the South Lawn. Donald Trump and Karol Nawrocki watch a military aircraft flyover at the White House (Evan Vucci/AP) A group of F-16s flew in a missing man formation as a tribute to a Polish Air Force F-16 pilot, Major Maciej Slab Krakowian, who died in a crash in Poland on August 28. Thank you for this gesture, Mr Nawrocki later told Mr Trump. Mr Trump made clear before Polands election this spring he wanted Mr Nawrocki to win, dangling the prospect of closer military ties if the Poles elected Mr Nawrocki. Mr Trump even hosted him at the White House before the vote. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also travelled to Poland shortly before its May election to tell Poles if they elected Mr Nawrocki and other conservatives they would have a strong ally in Mr Trump, who would ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values. Ultimately, Polish voters went with Mr Nawrocki in a tight election over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski. Most of the power in Polands parliamentary system rests with an elected parliament and a government chosen by the parliament. The president can veto legislation and represents the country abroad. Mr Nawrocki has tense relations with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, an ally of Mr Trzaskowski. Mr Nawrocki has echoed some of Mr Trumps language on Ukraine. He promises to continue Polands support for Ukraine but has been critical of Mr Zelensky, accusing him of taking advantage of allies. Mr Nawrocki has accused Ukrainian refugees of taking advantage of Polish generosity and vowed to prioritise Poles for social services such as health care and schooling. At the same time, Mr Nawrocki aimed to stress to Mr Trump that Russian aggression in Ukraine underscores that Mr Putin cannot be trusted and that a strong US presence in Poland remains an essential deterrent, said Heather Conley, a non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on trans-Atlantic security and geopolitics. Russia and its ally Belarus are set to hold joint military exercises this month in Belarus, unnerving Poland as well as fellow Nato members Latvia and Lithuania. The message Nawrocki ultimately wants to give President Trump is how dangerous Putins revisionism is, and that it does not necessarily end with Ukraine, Ms Conley said. Information seized by police from Sinn Fein offices revealed crucial security and prison service intelligence, including prison officers personal detailsDevolution was toppled in 2002 after the revelations and didnt return for another five yearsSenior republican Denis Donaldson admitted to being a British Agent in 2005 Police prepare to leave Stormont after a raid on the Sinn Fein office on October 4, 2002. Photo: Paul Faith When an IRA Stormont spy ring was alleged in 2002, devolution was quickly plunged into crisis. A PSNI raid on Sinn Fein's Stormont offices discovered documents with intelligence of the prison service, including full names, ranks, and home addresses of prison officers. Documents from the National Archives in Kew, London, reveal that there was also a map of Castle Buildings discovered by police, with written instructions about various zones within the area, passwords and security information. Whilst Sinn Fein claimed that the raid was political policing, devolution collapsed and would not return for another five years. But in 2004, the story took a dramatic turn, when Denis Donaldson the most senior republican arrested during the raids admitted he had been a British agent all along. Months later he was murdered in Donegal. Belfast Telegraphs Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride has been back in the archives and has unearthed fresh details on the Stormont spy ring scandal, he joins Ciaran Dunbar. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Local school bus drivers picketed outside the Brattleboro Union High School complex in the area where students are typically dropped off by school buses, calling for Beacon Mobility, which owns F.M. Kuzmeskus/Travel Kuz, to get back to the negotiation table. Temporary drivers were brought in to bring students to school on the first day. MILL RIVER When the sale of Limestone Farm became a matter of record last week, county and area dairymen and others were not sure whether to offer the former owners congratulations or condolences. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. 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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 Racist attacks in Ballymena need to be condemned unequivocally by politicians and wider society, Northern Ireland's Communities Minister has said. It comes after a number of cars were set on fire and destroyed during a racist attack in the Co Antrim town on Sunday. Ballymena also suffered several nights of racist violence earlier in the summer. The weekend incident happened in the Lisnevenagh Road area and was the latest in a series of racist crimes across Northern Ireland. Farmer Sam Carson condemned the violence (Liam McBurney/PA) Police have appealed for information. Sam Carson, a farmer and landlord in Ballymena, said there has been a campaign of hate against him and his Filipino tenants. Reacting to the incidents, Gordon Lyons said they were perpetrated by a very small minority and that the vast majority want nothing to do with that whatsoever. Advertisement The DUP MLA said the matter will be discussed at the first meeting of the Executive following the summer recess. Speaking to BBC News, Mr Lyons said: Unequivocally, we need to condemn what has taken place. He added: And more than that, we need to make sure that we are taking action to make sure that this doesnt happen again. Mr Lyons said it is important that individual departments in the Executive take action to tackle the racist attacks. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons condemned the attacks (Liam McBurney/PA) Asked if politicians had failed to take action thus far, the minister said: Ultimately, the responsibility lies with those that have taken part in this violence and this activity that needs to be condemned unequivocally, and thats what we are doing. So lets make sure we put the blame where that lies, but lets make sure we take the actions that we can take so that this doesnt happen again. He added that the NI Executive had already shown leadership and taken action. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Its a problem that has existed in the past, continues to exist, but lets make sure that were working together, and the responsibility doesnt just fall on politicians; its on wider society as well. Mr Lyons rejected claims that the DUP had failed to act to calm down racial tensions. It is wrong for anybody to say we havent condemned this violence, he said. Responding to separate incidents which recently occurred in North Belfast, Mr Lyons said: Theres no room for sectarianism either. Thats something else that needs to be stamped out. A judge has told a Limerick teenager that he has "significant concerns that he shows no remorse towards a girl he sexually assaulted and referred to her as a false accuser to his Probation Officer. At the Childrens Court, Judge Alec Gabbett said it is a huge issue for him that the 17-year-old boy referred to the victim in the case as a false accuser as she must have wanted him to get locked up for no reason and viewed himself as a victim in this case. Judge Gabbett was commenting on the contents of a Probation Report on the boy he ordered in July after he found the boy guilty of the sexual assault of the girl who was aged 15 at the time of the offence on May 14th, 2022. Advertisement The boy was aged 14 at the time of the offence where he humped the girl from behind in the company of other teenagers at a popular swimming spot, a pontoon at Canal Bank, Killaloe three years ago. In the case, the girl told specialist gardai that she was scared and angry when asked how she felt as a result of the assault. After reading the extensive Probation Report on the boy, Judge Gabbett said that the report states that the boy outlined he did not know the victim prior of the offence, he did not show any remorse or empathy towards the victim and he identified that the victim was not a victim in this case as it did not happen. Addressing the teen - accompanied to court by his mother - Judge Gabbett told him: You are not accepting that this happened at all - despite what happened in the courtroom - you are denying it - you are saying effectively that you were set up and you have no remorse which for me is a big concern." Judge Gabbett warned the teenager that he "would be far better to man up" and deal with this in a different way - otherwise this would land him in detention. At the Children's Court at Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, Judge Gabbett said that the Probation Report has stated that the teenager is at a moderate risk of re-offending. Judge Gabbett said that he has a terrible lingering suspicion that there is something not quite right and that is what I want to get to the bottom of". Advertisement He said: I dont want this teenager to be in prison in his 20s for some sexual assault when it can be addressed now. On the teenager's offence, Judge Gabbett said: Somewhere along the line, the wrong and right part of that type of behaviour has got lost - probably along the internet. Solicitor, Daragh Hassett, for the boy said that his clients attitude has softened since speaking to his Probation Officer. Mr Hassett said that his client does want to apologise for the upset caused by him to this young lady. He said: They may disagree over what happened, but my client accepts that she was greatly upset by his attendance on the pontoon that day and what went on." Mr Hassett said: He was the youngest of those present - I think there was an element of bravado." Mr Hassett told his client, You upset this woman greatly - you and others. Ireland No causal link between discharges from businesses and major fish kill in Cork, EPA says Read more The teenagers mother told the court that her son has apologised. Judge Gabbett said that he wanted to give the boy every facility you need to make sure that nothing goes astray again. Judge Gabbett adjourned sentencing for two weeks. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. Chinese leader Xi Jinping said humanity must choose between peace and war and dialogue and confrontation in a speech Wednesday, before a major military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Mr Xi started a brief address by remembering the Chinese veterans of the war and called for the eradication of the roots of war to prevent history from repeating itself. But his main message was forward looking today China is strong, fears no-one and is ready to take a leading role in the world. The Chinese people are a people that are not afraid of violence and are self-reliant and strong, he said. Military personnel march in the parade Ng Han Guan/AP) We will adhere to the path of peaceful development and work hand in hand with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The parade, which lasted about 90 minutes, showcased missiles, fighter jets and other military hardware, some of it displayed publicly for the first time. Advertisement The event began with troops marching in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, to be reviewed by Mr Xi, who heads Chinas military as chairman of the Central Military Commission. He travelled the entire length of their formations along Beijings central Changan Avenue in a black car. He stood up through the vehicles sunroof with four microphones lined in front of him and greeted flanks of personnel as he passed them and rows of armaments and military vehicles. An HSU100 underwater drone (Andy Wong/AP) They shouted back mottos in unison such as We serve the people. Highlights of the weaponry included hypersonic missiles designed to take out ships at sea. They are of particular concern to the US navy, which patrols the western Pacific from its 7th Fleet headquarters in Japan. Underwater drones included the AJX002, a long, black, tube-shaped craft that looks like a narrow submarine with a rear propeller. And there was a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the DF-61, which could carry nuclear warheads to distant targets. Fighter jets and bombers flew across the sky, some painting rows of different-coloured exhaust in unison. Helicopters flew in formation, one group of 26 spelling out the number 80 for the wars anniversary year. Helicopters flew above the parade (Ng Han Guan/AP) Before Mr Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute, followed by the national anthem, the March Of The Volunteers, a song composed in 1935 during the early years of resistance against invading Japanese forces. About two dozen foreign leaders watched the parade from an elevated point on the historic Tiananmen Gate, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Advertisement Mr Putin and Mr Kim flanked Mr Xi as they made their way to the platform overlooking Tiananmen Square. They paused to shake hands with five veterans, some older than 100. As the parade got under way, US President Donald Trump said on social media that the big question is whether Mr Xi will recognise the contributions of Americans who fought in the war. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America, he added. The US eyed the gathering of the three leaders warily, as well as a 10-nation summit meeting in China on Monday which brought together Mr Xi, Mr Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects the troops (Andy Wong/AP) Mr Xis remarks did not mention the US by name but expressed his gratitude to foreign countries that helped China resist the Japanese invasion. Domestically, the commemoration of the anniversary is a way to show the progress made by China, which was a major front in the war where millions died as a result of Japans invasion. The military parade was also a show of strength to boost support for the Communist Party and its leader, Mr Xi, domestically and a way to portray itself as a global alternative to the American-dominated postwar era. Advertisement The Chinese peoples rejuvenation cannot be blocked, and the noble goal of the peaceful development of human civilisation must triumph, Mr Xi said at the end of his speech. The marching formations from the Peoples Liberation Army ranged from traditional army and navy units to new ones such as a cyberspace unit that oversees information security. The PLA was a heroic military the people and the Party can trust and rely on completely, Mr Xi said, adding that the armys task was to safeguard the countrys sovereignty and unification, a reference to Chinas claim over the self-ruled island of Taiwan. Europes response to the conflict in Gaza has been a failure and risks undermining its global credibility, according to Spains prime minister. Ahead of a meeting with Keir Starmer in London, Pedro Sanchez the first European leader to accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza told The Guardian the conflict represents one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century. It is a failure, he said. Absolutely. It is also the reality that, within the EU, there are countries that are divided when it comes to how to influence Israel. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks to the media (PA) But in my opinion, its not acceptable and we cant last longer if we want to increase our credibility when it comes to other crises, such as the one we face in Ukraine. His comments come days after local health officials said 31 people were killed in strikes across the Gaza Strip as Israel presses ahead with a major military offensive. Advertisement On Monday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Parliament that the UK still intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September, joining Spain and other European nations. Mr Sanchez said the US, under President Donald Trump, was ending the international order established after the Second World War. But he suggested the US withdrawal from major institutions such as the World Health Organisation could create an opening for Europe and the UK to assert greater global leadership. The most shocking reality that were facing is that the principal architect of the international order which is the US after the Second World War is now weakening this international order, and thats something thats not going to be positive for US society or for the rest of the world especially western countries, he said. That is why I think theres an opportunity for the European Union and also for the UK. Mr Sanchez and Mr Trump clashed earlier this year over Spains countrys refusal to spend 5 per cent of its GDP on defence, but the prime minister insisted his country would be a reliable Nato partner. He also spoke of the dilemma western societies increasingly faced when deciding how to handle immigration. I believe that the vast majority of citizens in Spain understand quite well that migration is also an opportunity and not only a moral duty, Mr Sanchez said. Its an opportunity to respond effectively to the challenges that we are facing when it comes to economic growth and when it comes to the labour market or helping to finance our welfare state in the present and the future. US President Donald Trump affirmed that the United States will keep a robust military presence in Poland as he met the countrys new president, Karol Nawrocki, on Wednesday. Mr Trump had taken the unusual step of endorsing Mr Nawrocki in the Polish elections earlier this year, and as the leaders sat side by side in the White House, Mr Trump said the US-Polish relationship has always been strong but now its better than ever. When asked by a reporter whether the US planned to continue placing troops in Poland, Mr Trump said the US would and well put more there if they want. Well be staying in Poland. Were very much aligned with Poland, Mr Trump said. US President Donald Trump greets Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the White House (Evan Vucci/AP) The visit to Washington is Mr Nawrockis first overseas trip since taking office last month. The former amateur boxer and historian, who was backed by the conservative Law and Justice party, was hoping to deepen his relationship with Mr Trump at a fraught moment for Warsaw. Mr Nawrocki thanked Mr Trump for his support and, in a nod to the bonds between their countries, gave a particular hello to the millions of Polish Americans in the US. Advertisement Those relations for me, for Poland, for Poles, are very important, Mr Nawrocki said. He added that those bonds are based on shared values of independence and democracy. In a news conference after his meeting, Mr Nawrocki said he and Mr Trump discussed expanding the US military presence in Poland. There were specific discussions regarding this project, he said. He also said he considered it a major success that Mr Trump provided a guarantee of Polands security. Regardless of the differences that exist within the European Union, regardless of the differences that exist in Poland between me and the Polish government, I guarantee that on security matters, including at this closed meeting, I spoke unequivocally about how I perceive Vladimir Putin and the threat he poses to the free world, Mr Nawrocki said. At the White House, Mr Trump said he was proud to have endorsed Mr Nawrocki and lauded him for winning his election. It was a pretty tough race, pretty nasty race, and he beat them all. And he beat them all very easily, and now hes become even more popular as they got to know him and know him better, Mr Trump said. Advertisement Mr Trump is increasingly frustrated by his inability to get Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to sit down for direct talks aimed at ending the war between Polands neighbours. Mr Trump last month met Mr Putin in Alaska and then with Mr Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House. The Republican president emerged from those engagements confident that he would be able to quickly arrange direct talks between Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky and perhaps three-way talks in which he would participate. But his optimism in hatching an agreement to end the war has dimmed as Mr Putin has yet to signal an interest in sitting down with Mr Zelensky. Maybe they have to fight a little longer, Mr Trump said in an interview with the conservative Daily Caller published over the weekend. You know, just keep fighting stupidly, keep fighting. There is also heightened anxiety in Poland, and across Europe, about Mr Trumps long-term commitment to a strong US force posture on the continent an essential deterrent to Russia. Some key advisers in his administration have advocated for shifting US troops and military from Europe to the Indo-Pacific with Chinas lock as the United States most significant strategic and economic competitor. Currently, there are about 8,200 American troops stationed in Poland, but the force level regularly fluctuates, according to the Pentagon. The stakes are very high for President Nawrockis visit, said Peter Doran, an analyst at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies. Advertisement Trump will have an opportunity to size up Polands new president, and Nawrocki also will have the chance to do the same. Failure in this meeting would mean a pullback of American force posture in Poland, and success would mean a clear endorsement of Poland as one of Americas most important allies on the front line. When Mr Nawrocki arrived at the White House, Mr Trump gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder and stood with him as they watched US military jets soaring over the South Lawn. Donald Trump and Karol Nawrocki watch a military aircraft flyover at the White House (Evan Vucci/AP) A group of F-16s flew in a missing man formation as a tribute to a Polish Air Force F-16 pilot, Major Maciej Slab Krakowian, who died in a crash in Poland on August 28. Thank you for this gesture, Mr Nawrocki later told Mr Trump. Mr Trump made clear before Polands election this spring he wanted Mr Nawrocki to win, dangling the prospect of closer military ties if the Poles elected Mr Nawrocki. Mr Trump even hosted him at the White House before the vote. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also travelled to Poland shortly before its May election to tell Poles if they elected Mr Nawrocki and other conservatives they would have a strong ally in Mr Trump, who would ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values. Ultimately, Polish voters went with Mr Nawrocki in a tight election over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski. Advertisement Most of the power in Polands parliamentary system rests with an elected parliament and a government chosen by the parliament. The president can veto legislation and represents the country abroad. Mr Nawrocki has tense relations with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, an ally of Mr Trzaskowski. Mr Nawrocki has echoed some of Mr Trumps language on Ukraine. He promises to continue Polands support for Ukraine but has been critical of Mr Zelensky, accusing him of taking advantage of allies. Mr Nawrocki has accused Ukrainian refugees of taking advantage of Polish generosity and vowed to prioritise Poles for social services such as health care and schooling. At the same time, Mr Nawrocki aimed to stress to Mr Trump that Russian aggression in Ukraine underscores that Mr Putin cannot be trusted and that a strong US presence in Poland remains an essential deterrent, said Heather Conley, a non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on trans-Atlantic security and geopolitics. Russia and its ally Belarus are set to hold joint military exercises this month in Belarus, unnerving Poland as well as fellow Nato members Latvia and Lithuania. The message Nawrocki ultimately wants to give President Trump is how dangerous Putins revisionism is, and that it does not necessarily end with Ukraine, Ms Conley said. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have met to begin bilateral talks in Beijing. The two leaders met formally at the Diaoyutai state guest house after attending a major military parade in the heart of the Chinese capital that marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Mr Putin and Mr Kim travelled from a formal reception to the negotiations in the same car, the Kremlin said in a post on social media. Speaking in front of journalists as the meeting began, Mr Putin praised the bravery and heroism of North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Moscows troops to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region. According to South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent about 15,000 troops to Russia since last year. Advertisement It has also sent large quantities of military equipment, including ballistic missiles and artillery, to help fuel Mr Putins three-year invasion of Ukraine. In his opening remarks, Mr Kim said that providing any assistance to Russia was North Koreas fraternal duty, Russian state media outlet Tass reported. Mr Kim said that co-operation between Pyongyang and Moscow has significantly strengthened since the two countries signed a strategic partnership pact in June last year during a summit in the North Korean capital. Although he did not specifically mention the war, Mr Kim said that if theres anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help. The anniversary celebrations in Beijing mark the first time that Mr Kim has attended a major multilateral event during his 14-year rule, and the first time Mr Kim, Mr Putin, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have gathered at the same venue. Referencing Mr Xi in a post on social media, US President Donald Trump wrote: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Mr Putins foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov later said that Mr Trumps words were not without irony. I want to say that no-one has been plotting anything, no-one was weaving any conspiracies, he said. None of the three leaders had even thought about such a thing. Advertisement CultureBooksLiterature This was published 3 months ago After the Bendigo Writers Festival debacle, lets stop the moral idiocy Jane Sullivan September 4, 2025 5:00am Save 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 Recently, I went to a very unusual book launch. The venue was kept secret to all but invited attendees. We were checked off on a list and there was a security guard on the door. Once inside, everyone was very lively and friendly. We were celebrating Ruptured, a collection of essays edited by Lee Kofman and Tamar Paluch, in which Jewish women living in Australia reflect on their lives after October 7, the date when Hamas attacked Israeli civilians. Lee Kofman has co-edited a collection of essays in which Jewish women living in Australia reflect on their lives after October 7. These are very varied stories, but if they have one thing in common, its fear. Fear of antisemitism in all its guises, from blatant hate and ostracism to insensitive responses from non-Jewish friends. I had no idea what they were all going through until I began to read this book. One of the contributors is Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was imprisoned for 804 days in Iran. She writes that some friends demanded to know where she stood on the genocide Losing my liberty to years of psychological torture and physical abuse no longer cut it. Now it seems I was required to adopt the same ideological positions as my own captors. Advertisement Interestingly, the launcher was not a Jew, but the novelist Christos Tsiolkas, well known for his left-leaning politics and his support of the Palestinian people. These women were writing about a calamitous moment in our culture and our time, he said. He confessed hed cried as he read the essays. Ive been outraged by whats happening in Gaza, but equally outraged by antisemitism in this country, he said. He urged us not to compare suffering: We will not indulge in that ugly, juvenile competition of horror. He denounced the moral idiocy that had infected progressive politics and added that he thought feminism had failed women. He hoped every feminist would read this book. A London street art tribute to Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad. Alamy Stock Photo All very well, you might say, but where are the books by Palestinians in Gaza that we can read in Australia? They are there if you look. Juliet Rogers, a professor of criminology at the University of Melbourne, has singled out two books. They are The Eyes of Gaza, by Plestia Alaqad, an on-the-ground account of the first 45 days of the war from a journalist who has since moved to Melbourne with her family; and Letters from Gaza, edited by Mohammed Al-Zaqzooq and Mahmoud Alshaer, a collection of stories, poems and fragments from Palestinian writers recorded over the last 20 months. In a long and thoughtful article for The Conversation, she also references Gates of Gaza, by Amir Tibon, an Israeli journalist who lived in one of the kibbutzim raided by Hamas on October 7. All these are harrowing first-person testimonies of being under attack. Plestias book is a plea to stop what she describes as a genocide, but also a celebration of being Palestinian. Letters from Gaza goes beyond the numbers of dead to help readers understand the incomprehensible. In Gates of Gaza, Tibon narrates the five hours he spent hiding with his family listening to shootings. Advertisement Related Article Review From coastal crime to community footy, 10 new books to try this week After the debacle that was this years Bendigo Writers Festival, with more than 50 writers withdrawing because of a last-minute code of conduct placed on appearances, I urge any future writers festivals to think long and hard about the testimonies contained in these books. Invite those who are willing and available to speak to us. Ask them to be respectful, certainly. But also allow them to be honest and forthright and passionate. It is the only way forward, if we are ever to understand what is going on in the world and in so many of our citizens lives. www.janesullivan.au The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday. Advertisement LifestyleBeautySocial media This was published 3 months ago Opinion The greatest threat to women over 50 isnt time, its social media algorithms Angela Pippos Contributor September 3, 2025 7:30pm September 3, 2025 7:30pm Save 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 46 View all comments Not a day goes by without some very enthusiastic stranger popping up in my socials with advice on how to smooth out my neck. I must admit, the thought of applying duct tape around my neck and jowls, even if it is for a special occasion, isnt something I feel I need to add to my getting-ready routine. Shower, blow-dry, dress, make-up and neck-lifting tape. No, Im not feeling it. But the message is clear: neck tape is the trick for those seeking eternal youth. The algorithm wants me to tape my neck. Why? iStock/Getty Images Its not like Im surprised by these anti-ageing tips. This is modern life, and the daily bombardment of beauty and fashion advice is just part of the deal. The internet has taken over where glossy magazines once reigned, with Anna Wintour replaced by the algorithm and its spawn: targeted advertising. For women over the age of 50, social media algorithms are to fashion what I am to quantum physics. The trouble is, despite being an aggressively confident know-all, the algorithm is utterly clueless. Advertisement Its all well and good telling me to: Update your look. Dont be afraid of colour. Embrace the peplum. (I beg your pardon?) But its within these vaguely generic suggestions that it places some very strict, and revealing, guidelines about how fifty-something women should look. Advertisement For a start, it loves a high neck. My feed is full of them. By sheer exposure, Ive become a reluctant expert. Ask me anything you like about the off-the-shoulder look, the loose neck, the crew neck, the turtleneck, the cowl neck, the boat neck. The only thing that doesnt show up is anything remotely revealing. Related Article Opinion Trends The new beauty standard is worse than rewinding the clock its having no age at all Bunny Banyai Contributor Im not sure why it cant handle the sight of quinquagenarian cleavage, but dont worry, its only warming up. It has even stronger views on eyeliner. Namely, ditch it. Especially if its black. Thats right, the eyeliner police have spoken, women over 50 apparently make the common mistake of applying too much dark eyeliner. And not only that, they dont blend it properly. As someone whose memoir could be titled She Died with a Kohl Pencil in Her Hand, I need some time to let that sink in. Advertisement Denim comes with its own set of rules too. Keep things unexciting, unremarkable and mundane. Dark denim is safer than light denim and jeans mustnt be too baggy or too tight. This does make shopping a lot easier just head to the rack titled blancmange. And make sure you match your dark, not-too-baggy, not- too-tight blancmange-cut jeans with delicate pieces of jewellery because chunky jewellery is also a no-no. White shirts, on the other hand, are something it does like. Particularly if its a button-up. A white button-up. These can go from day to night, are a staple, a hero piece that works like a dream with Seinfeld jeans and perfectly manicured nails. Follow this advice and join the cult: The perimenopausal Handmaids Tale. Suburbs filled with hordes of women striding down the street in retired dad-energy jeans, white shirts, taped up necks, and no eyeliner, heading out to stock up on peptides, proteins and patches. Its strange that I have to say this, but after almost four decades of adulthood, I know who I am and what I like. And the more Im told what to do, the less likely it is Im going to do it (just ask my partner). Advertisement With more than three decades of feminism neatly tucked under my belt, Ive built a powerful force field that shrugs off all the bullshit. Related Article Opinion Women's health The unexpected upside to menopause that nobody warned me about Amra Pajalic Author Even though I can laugh off the antiquated views about women in their 50s, this endless stream of messaging about what women should be wearing or doing or looking like, dictated via the algorithm, is part of a bigger picture that ties girls and women to stereotypical versions of themselves. I dont want to play it safe. Nor should I have to. Women and girls shouldnt have to conform to what social media tells them is the most attractive version of themselves. Im more than happy for the algorithm to keep sending me interesting things about this stage of my life; menopause, financial security, recipes with a Moroccan influence (Im even willing to try wall Pilates). But when it comes to my appearance, I think Ill take my own lead. Advertisement Im not going to lose sleep worrying about my neck or trying to figure out what a peplum is. Angela Pippos is a writer, filmmaker, journalist and former political adviser. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. This story is part of the September 6 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . Which country is the fashion leader? Great Danes: adding a little of the unexpected puts Copenhagen streets ahead. Getty Images On the runway the French lead the way for future trends, but on the street its a different story. Ditch the baguette and beret, cross a few borders and get ready to break out the blue cheese, because the Danes are best some might even say the greatest at giving new life to wardrobe staples with unusual pairings and the occasional eccentric accessory. Copenhagen Fashion Week has emerged as the ultimate hub for women seeking wardrobe inspiration that keeps them looking effortlessly cool, without falling victim to fleeting trends destined for the bargain-basement bin. (Yes, were looking at you, bubble skirts and hot pants worn with tights!) Dont be distracted by street-style guests at Australian Fashion Week, wandering back and forth in front of photographers in clothing borrowed from the press racks of publicists or hastily ordered from online fast-fashion outfits. The fashion set at Copenhagen Fashion Week expresses a personal style that communicates determination rather than desperation, and in most cases can be worn on a bicycle to any after parties. Advertisement Exclusive NationalNSWPolice This was published 3 months ago The suburbs where police are using new powers to fight knife crime Daniel Lo Surdo September 4, 2025 5:00am Save 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 News that explains the decisions shaping Sydney and its future. See all stories . The western Sydney bus and train interchange where 19-year-old Zac McRae was fatally stabbed by four masked assailants last week has been subject to the most knife detection searches under new powers granted to officers after the Bondi Junction attack in April 2024. According to figures from NSW Police, Mount Druitt (22 search operations) tops the list of suburbs targeted under the new powers, which allow wanding searches at shopping centres and transport hubs. Neighbouring suburbs Blacktown (15 search operations) and Parramatta (nine) round out the top three. NSW Police conducted a wanding operation following a stabbing in Mount Druitt last Wednesday night. Nine News Police have conducted metal wanding searches without a warrant at the Mount Druitt terminal every day following McRaes death last Wednesday night. The attack has been linked to a flare-up of Sydneys postcode wars, with police probing tensions between the Doonside-linked 67 gang and the rival Mount Druitt Ready For Anything gang. The new laws passed NSW Parliament in June last year following a similar scheme introduced in Queensland named after Jack Beasley, a teenager who died in a stabbing attack on the Gold Coast in 2019. Advertisement Western Sydney has been subject to the highest number of searches 177 search operations across the state have so far taken place while Central Station (five) and Bondi Junction Westfield (four) have also been designated for wanding on a handful of occasions. Albury and Wagga Wagga (five each) have faced the highest number of search operations in the regions, with police also conducting metal wanding in Ballina (four), Lismore (four) and Wollongong (three). Teenager Zac McRae died after being stabbed multiple times in Mount Druitt. However, the Herald can reveal that fewer than 1 per cent of searches conducted under Jacks Law have resulted in a punishment, as more charges are laid for non-weapons charges than weapons charges following the wanding operations. Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show that 160 convictions and punishments were brought following more than 18,000 wanding searches from December to July. Most punishments (116) were fines, but they also included six prison sentences, four intensive correction orders and four conditional release orders, as well as community correction orders. Advertisement Just 92 weapons charges were brought in the same period, producing a 0.5 per cent strike rate, while 142 individuals faced a separate charge after being searched without a warrant. Police found 194 knives and 13 other weapons including axes, machetes, knuckle dusters, Tasers and a firework in all wanding operations at shopping centres and transport interchanges in NSW. Griffith University criminologist Janet Ransley, who reviewed Queenslands 2022 wanding power trial, warned the searches werent preventing violent crime or weapons possession. If the goal was to reduce violent crime and the repetition of incidents like Bondi Junction, then it is a massive fail, she said. Advertisement We are not seeing evidence that people are carrying weapons any less, what we are seeing is improved detection, but its not acting as a deterrent, and weapons are easily replaced. Related Article Good Weekend Theyll pull knives on ya: how a teenage boys night out turned to tragedy Ransley urged police to only conduct knife wanding operations in areas where there is data underpinning the reasoning for searches. Knife carrying is not a problem everywhere they [police] should be able to use their intelligence databases to identify those hotspots and then there is a rationale, Ransley said. Youd have to ask, is that the best use of policing resources when there are lots of other crime and social problems that they could be dealing with? Advertisement The scourge of knife violence was highlighted at the nearby Merrylands train station this week. A 16-year-old was rushed to hospital on Monday following an alleged stabbing by two males who fled. Two 17-year-olds have been charged over the attack. Related Article Updated Crime Notorious postcode gang investigated over stabbing death of Sydney teen NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley backed the search powers, saying they were helping make NSW a safer place. Since wanding operations began, officers have taken more than 200 dangerous weapons off our streets this is life-saving work, Catley said. Police will deliver presentations about the dangers of knife crime at 12 schools in Sydney and Wollongong this week, including in Mount Druitt and Bankstown, alongside the parents of Jack Beasley, Belinda and Brett Beasley. Advertisement It follows two weeks of presentations to 3100 students at eight schools in regional NSW, including in Grafton, Kempsey, Armidale and Wyong. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalVictoriaEducation This was published 3 months ago How private and public schools get the edge for this vital VCE subject Nicole Precel and Craig Butt September 4, 2025 5:00am Save 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 Expert tips to help you do your best in this years VCE, plus meet the students doing Year 12 differently. See all stories . Top-performing private and select-entry schools have revealed their methods for boosting students VCE English results to the top of the tables. As The Age publishes its annual VCE study guide on Thursday, some of the top English performers have shared their formula for achieving the highest number of 40+ study scores in the vital subject last year. Independent Toorak boys school St Kevins College achieved 106 scores of 40+ in English in 2024, while Haileybury Girls College just pipped them to number one place with 108. Director of teaching and learning Hannah Kollmorgen with St Kevins College year 12 students (from left) William Park, Austin Bylsma, Daniel and Angus Macmillan at the morning Cafe Academus program in the schools pavilion. Paul Jeffers Academic study breakfasts, extra tuition, holiday programs and mining information from teachers who are assessors for the curriculum authority, which sets the exam, are among the tactics deployed to help students succeed. Advertisement St Kevins College director of teaching and learning Hannah Kollmorgen said the stereotype of boys being better at numbers and girls being better at words was outdated, despite trends in NAPLAN showing female students outperforming their male counterparts. Related Article VCE About the VCE: Your questions answered High-achieving old collegians like Tommy Earle, who earned a perfect score in English last year have been given a 12-month contract to help tutor students in the schools study centre. Earle, who is studying law and commerce at Monash University, said a number of teachers at St Kevins were assessors for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) when he was a student. Earle and his classmates took four practice exams, so teachers could practise marking and cross-marking, which also gave students continuous critical feedback. Advertisement There are more than 5700 external VCAA VCE exam assessors who ensure students receive fair and consistent assessments. A VCAA spokesperson said they had a policy of proportional representation of assessors from government, independent and Catholic schools. Related Article VCE Gearing up for exams? Here are some valuable lessons for VCE The policy also includes rotation, refreshment, and rejuvenation of assessing teams, he said. St Kevins head of English is an assessor this year, but Kollmorgen said there were limits on the number of teachers coming from one school. Advertisement Kollmorgen said the school runs a wide range of student support including a breakfast study session where students are supported by a year 12 teacher and can pick up a bacon and egg roll and a coffee. There is also a weeknight study centre open until 6 or 7pm, two school holiday programs and extra trial exams on the Saturdays leading up to the English test. Director of teaching and learning Hannah Kollmorgen and head of English Kaitie Callanan with St Kevins College year 12 students (from left) William Park, Austin Bylsma, Riley Hajdinjak and Angus Macmillan at the morning study program. Paul Jeffers The total number of high scores in English for each school, extracted from the VCE honour roll, may be higher as it does not include the results of students who choose not to publish their scores. It is also not adjusted for the total numbers enrolled in VCE English at each school or the percentage of the cohort that achieved 40+ scores. Melbourne Grammar School and Trinity Grammar School also had 66 and 65 students respectively score 40 and above in English. Advertisement Related Article Schools that excel The game-changer that helped these students find their path Haileybury Girls College senior school head of English Clare Mackie said there was no silver bullet to achieving the schools high scores, but 15 years of foundational work that included teacher education, extra trial exams and giving students the scaffolds they needed, had helped. On top of a collaborative teaching culture and cross-marking, the school does a sixth period of English each week a tutorial program. This is not something that happens overnight. It takes commitment and time and dedication and I am cognisant that we do have students who are aspirational, Mackie said. Advertisement Melbourne High School students also made the list of top achievers, with 56 of their male cohort gaining scores of 40 or above. Principal Tony Mordini said they had a phrase honour the work and the work will honour you. The select-entry government school encourages an early love of literature and teachers professional development, including becoming examiners or assessors. I put a lot of investment in them. I encourage them to go to professional development to do things so they know what examiners will expect, he said. Related Article Schools that excel This sporty school changed its tune and danced its way to VCE stardom We invest in our teachers, in their learning and development, so they are up to speed with whatever they need to do and that brings it back into the classroom. Advertisement Non-select government school McKinnon Secondary College assistant principal Kellie Felmingham said their teachers analyse data each year to see their cohorts strengths and areas of improvement. Only a handful of teachers in their English department were VCAA exam assessors this year, but across their subjects the school had about 25. Those teachers will run a specific professional development session and share their knowledge. Our teams dont work in silos, we work collectively. I think its really affirming for our teaching staff that they are teaching the content and skills at the required VCAA level, Felmingham said. Its that opportunity to ensure our teaching staff are delivering the lesson at the utmost highest level required for success. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive NationalVictoriaFood This was published 3 months ago Melbournes 1800 Lasagne enters liquidation after mounting debts Hannah Hammoud September 3, 2025 3:20pm Save 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 Melbourne cult restaurant 1800 Lasagne is officially closing its doors, with liquidators appointed after the business collapsed under the weight of millions of dollars in debt. Creditors voted to wind up the company at a meeting on Tuesday, following a recommendation from administrators that the business be closed and its assets sold, when no buyer could be found to keep it going. Creditors have voted to liquidate the 1800 Lasagne business. Ashley Ludkin The once-thriving Thornbury eatery, famous for its lasagne, started as a lockdown-era home delivery service before growing into a popular dine-in restaurant and bar. But behind the scenes, the finances were falling apart. At its peak, 1800 Lasagnes revenue growth hit a record $3.8 million during the 2024 financial year. Despite its popularity, administrators found the business was unable to cover operating costs, including wages, subcontractor payments, and rent. Advertisement The decision to close the business and sell its assets follows a report from administrators advising that creditors were unlikely to see much return. According to the report, 1800 Lasagne owes money to 133 creditors, including employees, lenders, and the Australian Taxation Office. The largest creditor is the ATO which is owed more than $2 million, and was the only creditor to vote in favour of winding up the business. Employees in attendance abstained from voting. 1800 Lasagne founder Joey Kellock. Ashley Ludkin Administrators Todd Gammel and Matthew Levesque-Hocking, of Sydney-based accountancy firm HLB Mann Judd, found the business was insolvent as of March 31, 2021. The pair will now act as the companys liquidators. Founder and current director Joey Kellock, who opened the High Street venue in August 2020, is also under scrutiny. Advertisement The meeting was told an investigation was ongoing into whether the business had traded while insolvent meaning the business continued operating despite being unable to pay its debts. If proven, Kellock could be personally liable for some of the unpaid debts. Related Article Exclusive Food 1800 Lasagnes future looks grim as creditors warned dont expect a return [Which means] the parties could pursue them [the directors], and if they cant pay, they could potentially be made bankrupt, Gammel said. The company owes at least $391,000 to employees and a total of more than $2.9 million to unsecured creditors. About $382,000 of that is debt from related-party loans. Gammel confirmed that employees would only be paid after BizCap a secured creditor that had loaned money to the business. Advertisement Were working on trying to get some sort of surplus to be able to pay something to the employees. But at this stage, we cant give you any certainty around that because we havent finalised the sale, he told the meeting. Gammel said former directors including Kellock could still be involved in any future sale of the businesses assets including the brand, a prospect that raised concerns among some creditors. Jamie Oliver with Joey Kellock and Georgia and Birdie Puttock at 1800 Lasagne in Melbourne. Instagram I understand its not a great feeling to see the business continue and the directors still to be involved. That is a commercial transaction which is separate to their obligations as directors, he said. If they have liability as their obligation as directors, we will be pursuing that, as will other creditors and they will have to deal with that issue at a certain point. The acquisition or involvement in acquisition of the business is a very separate issue. Advertisement Gammel and Levesque-Hocking are overseeing the winding-up process. Several parties have expressed interest in acquiring the brand or its assets, though any deal will require approval from BizCap. Creditors have been told to expect an update in the coming weeks. The closure marks a dramatic fall for a venue that had become a Melbourne favourite. In 2023, 1800 Lasagne was awarded a coveted chefs hat, with Good Food critic Besha Rodell raving: There is simply nothing about it not to love. That same year, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver dined at the Thornbury venue during his time in Melbourne filming for MasterChef Australia Season 16. Jazz was playing, the wine was flowing. Nice energy with the staff, Oliver said of the restaurant. Advertisement Editor's pick Courts One of the nations wealthiest families settles bitter court dispute Just two weeks ago, the restaurant appeared to be business-as-usual, posting on Instagram that it was hiring chefs, urging applicants to come join us. We are looking for chefs that are driven, ambitious, excited and passionate about food and wine, the post read. Various roles and rosters available. Kellock has been contacted for comment. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. Advertisement Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews did not seek diplomatic advice before attending Chinas anti-Western show of military might in Beijing, according to official sources, where he posed for a photo metres from dictators Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin. In a move that stunned many in the federal government, Andrews shook President Xi Jinpings hand on the red carpet in Tiananmen Square, before posing for a family photo near leaders that also included the Iranian president and Myanmars junta leader. Former Victorian premier Dan Andrews (top right) posing behind Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Sergei Bobylev/POOL/TASS/Sipa USA Official sources not authorised to speak on the record said Andrews did not ask the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or anyone else in the government for advice on personal security or how to protect Australias national interest when talking to Chinese officials. Andrews attendance at the ceremony, which marked 80 years since Japans surrender at the end of World War II, was condemned by former Queensland Labor premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as a step too far, and his appearance in the group photo with dictators and leaders of rogue states shocked Albanese government ministers. Advertisement Former NSW premier Bob Carr, who also travelled to China for the event, chose to skip the military parade due to what he called its Soviet-style aesthetic. Andrews was contacted for comment but has not made any public remarks since it was revealed last Friday that he would attend the parade, which Chinese propaganda has cast as a victory for China rather than Western allies. Albanese declined to endorse or condemn Andrews presence in Beijing, saying only that the former premier was not meeting them when asked if Andrews should be at an event with Putin or Kim, both of whom have been condemned by Australia and on the world stage for their disregard of the international rule of law. Australia sent the embassys defence attache to some of the ceremonies, but Andrews was the only Australian dignitary at the parade. Labor has sought to strike a balance with China, softening its tone to boost trade at the same time as procuring AUKUS nuclear submarines to deter the Asian superpower that seeks to dominate the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Albanese travelled to China to meet Xi in July and spruiked warmer ties, but the government did not want to be anywhere near the parade where Xi hosted Putin and Kim and a raft of other anti-Western national leaders. Andrews, a long-time ally of Albanese from the same Left faction, advised the prime minister on debate tactics before the last election, and the pair caught up for lunch at Melbournes Gimlet restaurant in June. Questions about Andrews trip to Beijing plagued debate in Canberra on Wednesday. Albanese was twice asked about Andrews attendance at the parade during question time on Wednesday. The Australian government did have a representative there, Albanese said. The Australian government did have a representative 10 years ago [at the 70th anniversary celebrations]. That was a minister in the [Coalition] government. Our government chose that [sending a minister] would not be the case. Carr said he would attend separate indoor events following the parade and address two Chinese international relations think tanks instead of going to the parade. Advertisement I told the Chinese I wouldnt be attending the parade but that Id like to accelerate arrangements to talk to think tanks, Carr said from Beijing. I had to make a decision on whether I was attracted to a traditional Soviet-style military parade or if I wanted to opt for the meetings with delegations. When asked if he had sought a briefing before flying to Beijing, Carr said there were Australian diplomats at the events he attended. Palaszczuk said Carr and Andrews attendance at the commemoration events was a mistake. If it were me, itd be a definite N-O, Palaszczuk told Sky News on Wednesday. I respect Dan, I respect Bob. But I think theyve just gone the next level. Go there for a holiday, do your business talks, but theres no need to attend this military parade. Victorias Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward said it was a matter for Andrews and pushed back on questions of whether it was appropriate. Advertisement Whats the connotation? Ward said at a press conference earlier on Wednesday. Hes going as a private individual, and these are choices hes made as a private individual. She said it was important to maintain good, healthy relationships with other countries in the region. One Victorian Labor MP, speaking anonymously to be frank, said it was a bad look. Labor MPs were not willing to go on record criticising a successful former premier, but several were privately shocked. It was quite sad really to see a provincial leader being used in this way, one told this masthead on the condition of anonymity. Advertisement Related Article Inside China China military parade as it happened: Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews poses for photo with Xi Jinping, Putin and Kim Jong-un in Victory Day parade as Beijing flexes new weapons Both opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie and Nationals leader David Littleproud described Andrews and Carr as pawns of the Chinese regime. The image of Andrews standing two rows behind Kim in Xis official group photo of foreign leaders and former leaders is set to boost the former premiers business clout in China, where portraits of the Chinese president are ubiquitous. Andrews spent $416,000 of taxpayers funding on six trips to China as premier more than on any other country before and after Victoria signed on to Beijings $1.5 trillion Belt and Road infrastructure initiative in 2019. The state governments disclosure logs reveal he witnessed deals between Chemist Warehouse and Alibaba, helped secure a $130 million partnership between medical technology specialist Compumedics and Chinese medical provider Health 100, lobbied for direct daily flights from Beijing and Sichuan to Melbourne, and the extension of a sponsorship deal between the Australian Open and Chinese liquor giant Luzhou Laojiao. Advertisement In early 2024, after resigning as premier, he registered two companies, Glencairn Street and Wedgetail Partners, the latter of which he runs with his former multicultural adviser, Marty Mei. Mei, who solicited political donations from the Chinese community and helped strike the Belt and Road deal, travelled on each trip to China with Andrews as premier. Glencairn Street and Wedgetail Partners, which reportedly specialise in foreign investment, have no website or contact details. Andrews and Mei did not respond to requests for comment. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsFederalImmigration This was published 3 months ago Deportation laws face rushed two-hour inquiry as migration debate rages Natassia Chrysanthos and Nick Newling September 3, 2025 5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share The federal opposition will force Labors controversial Nauru deportation laws through a rushed two-hour inquiry, but the Albanese government quashed attempts to investigate its wider migration policies as debate from the weekends anti-immigration rallies spilled into parliament. As both One Nation and the Coalition this week beckoned further debate about immigration levels, Labor announced the permanent migration intake would be unchanged from last year, at 185,000 places. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during question time on Tuesday. Alex Ellinghausen The opposition said the visa allocation did not account for the real pressures facing modern Australia as it pushed for a Senate inquiry into government immigration policies. Labor rebuffed the move and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured his caucus on Tuesday that net overseas migration levels were moderating, as he sought to temper public discussion by warning MPs not to demonise people who attended the weekend marches with legitimate concerns about migration. Advertisement But as the federal government defended Australias migration program, Labor came under additional fire from migrant groups and refugee advocates over its plans to strip non-citizens of basic legal rights when they are ordered to Nauru under a secretive $408 million pact. Eight multicultural groups combined on Tuesday to raise their fears that the new laws designed to apply to the NZYQ cohort of former immigration detainees with serious criminal records, including murder and sex offences could target other migrants. Related Article Exclusive Immigration Burke signs $400m deal to deport hundreds of former detainees to Nauru A statement on behalf of South Asian, Arab, Hazara, Iranian, African, South Sudanese, Pakistani and Tamil organisations said the bill showed migrants to Australia were treated under a different set of rules. It is hypocritical that Labor MPs and senators are condemning anti-immigration protests while at the same time launching some of the most anti-immigration laws and deportations this country has ever seen, said Jana Favero, deputy chief executive of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, which co-ordinated the message. Advertisement The deportation laws will be rushed through a two-hour Senate inquiry on Wednesday night other inquiries typically take several weeks and will pass parliament with the Coalitions support. The inquiry will hear from Home Affairs officials, but it will not seek external submissions or produce a report. Opposition home affairs spokesperson Andrew Hastie said the Coalition would facilitate the urgent passage of the bill to make sure former detainees with criminal convictions were deported as soon as possible, but he continued a political attack against the governments management of the NZYQ High Court case. A High Court ruling that people could not be held in indefinite detention after serving sentences forced the government to find new ways to deal with offenders who could not be deported back to their own countries and whom other nations would not accept. Opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie in parliament on Monday. Alex Ellinghausen It is the Labor governments successive policy failures that have brought us to this position in the first place, Hastie said. Its not the High Court, its not the Coalition or the Greens. This mess sits at Labors feet alone. Advertisement Independent MP Zali Steggall sought unsuccessfully to move an amendment addressing immense overreach in the bill, which she said could affect other people on certain bridging visas. This legislation is deeply problematic ... I acknowledge the need to find a solution, but the need to protect procedural fairness and natural justice are cornerstones of our justice system and should be absolutely upheld, Steggall said. Meanwhile, One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts tried to launch a separate inquiry into the effect of high immigration levels on the Australian economy in the Senate on Monday night. The Coalition amended it to probe the failed immigration policies of the Albanese Labor government. Labor shut down the Coalitions amendment on Tuesday night, after opposition immigration spokesman Paul Scarr said the issues should be discussed in a way that is considered, measured and reasoned. I do not support blaming immigrants or migrants for the issues were facing today. I think its wrong, I think its divisive, and I think it tears at our social fabric, he said. Advertisement I do support having a reasoned, considered debate in relation to the issue. I think we need to have that debate ... If the debate is not had, extreme elements will fill or seek to fill the vacuum, and thats something we must guard against. Related Article Immigration Thousands of Australians claim theres been unprecedented migration. Heres what the numbers say Labor senators pushed back. Sure, we should be able to have a rational debate about migration. Sure, we should be able to do that, Labor senator Michelle Ananda-Rajah said. But rationality goes out the window when that argument is co-opted by neo-Nazis, when anti-immigrant sentiment is the business model of One Nation and now the Coalition. This place turns the dog whistle into a megaphone. Amid the fight over immigration numbers, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke released overdue targets for the governments permanent migration program, which issues skilled and family visas. Advertisement It follows consultation with the states and territories, which recommended maintaining the size and composition of the program, with a focus on skilled migration, he said. The Australian Industry Group welcomed the maintained target as recognition of skill shortages facing Australia, but the Coalition said the government gave an insufficient explanation for its decision. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsFederalAged care This was published 3 months ago Kicking and screaming: Ley forces Labor into aged care backdown Natassia Chrysanthos Updated September 3, 2025 4:05pm ,first published September 3, 2025 4:02pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share The Coalition has secured its first political win in parliament since the election, forcing the government to support amendments that will fast-track the delivery of 20,000 aged care packages to older Australians in the next two months. As the Coalition, Greens and crossbench threatened to hand Labor its first defeat in the Senate this term, Health Minister Mark Butler on Wednesday negotiated with opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston to meet their demands of the Albanese governments aged care bill. Opposition leader Sussan Ley has hammered the government all week over its home care package delay. Alex Ellinghausen The political clash came over a backlog of more than 200,000 older Australians waiting for home support packages that blew out when Labor delayed its aged care reforms from July until November, meaning there was no net increase in the number of packages released in the last two months. The government will now vote for a Coalition amendment that means it must release 20,000 new packages before November, a further 20,000 before December, and the remaining 43,000 it promised by the end of next June. Advertisement While both the Coalition and Independent senator David Pocock sought to immediately force the release of 20,000 packages with the Greens support, Labor sidelined the crossbench and negotiated with Ruston to support the Coalitions changes. My approach in relation to aged care policy has always been to seek bipartisan support between the major parties, Butler said. Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler. Alex Ellinghausen I just think that is the best way forward for enduring aged care reform that has the understanding from the sector and from older Australians themselves that it will endure. The result was a coup for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who had prosecuted the issue in question time all week. Ley used Wednesdays session to goad Aged Care Minister Sam Rae, a junior portfolio minister who came into the ministry as a factional pick in Labors May reshuffle. Advertisement In the Senate, the Coalition just dragged Labor kicking and screaming into delivering all 83,000 home care package places that were promised, including 40,000 this year. Labor didnt want this, but the Coalition made it happen, Ley said. Related Article Aged care Labor faces first defeat since election over delays hitting 200,000 Australians Is the minister [Rae] aware that the prime minister took a deliberate decision to exclude him from all negotiations today between Labor and the Coalition on these matters? Rae, who stood with Butler to announce the governments decision, ignored the swipe. The house has heard considerable debate on this topic this week, he said. This is a fantastic outcome for older Australians and their families. Advertisement Butler played down the political battle, insisting it was a good outcome but that staffing challenges and demands from an ageing population would keep making aged care delivery difficult. Its all well and good to put packages into the market. Its another thing to ensure that every hour of that entitlement is filled by a qualified aged care worker, he said. Providers know, the government knows, that it is hard to staff all of these services. Were doing everything we can to support providers in doing this, but that pressure will still be there. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsFederalImmigration This was published 3 months ago Labors totally bonkers deportation deal will give Nauru $2.5 billion in 30 years Natassia Chrysanthos and Nick Newling September 4, 2025 4:00am Save 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 112 View all comments Australia will pour $2.5 billion into Nauru over the next 30 years if the Pacific island nation takes in hundreds of foreign-born criminals the federal government wants to deport, Home Affairs officials revealed to a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday. This will start with a $20 million payment the Albanese government is set to give Nauru whenever the first deportee touches down on the tiny island nation, which could be within weeks. The island of Nauru, in Micronesia. iStock This will be followed by a further $388 million deposit into a trust fund for Nauru, which will be jointly managed by both governments. Those upfront costs will reach $408 million, as was revealed by this masthead last week. But the eventual costs of the deal are likely to reach $2.5 billion. Home Affairs officials said the Australian government would make annual payments of about $70 million split between the trust and direct transfers for the 30-year life of the agreement. Nauru will collect all interest generated by the trust, with the principal paid out in 2055. Advertisement The payment comes on top of a $100 million treaty signed between the two countries last year, and is separate to funding Australia gives Nauru to run its offshore detention regime. According to Amnesty International, there were about 100 people in the Nauru detention centre at the start of this year. Related Article Exclusive Immigration Burke signs $400m deal to deport hundreds of former detainees to Nauru Home Affairs spokespeople cautioned that their calculations were speculative as they revealed the details in a rapid late-night Senate inquiry called to probe the Albanese governments latest laws, which attempt to resolve the political headache triggered by the consequences of the High Courts 2023 ruling on foreign-born criminals in immigration detention. The deal with the island nation is designed to cover 354 convicted foreign-born criminals including murderers and paedophiles who have been released into the Australian community after the High Court ruled they could not be kept in immigration detention indefinitely. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke secretly flew to Nauru last Friday to sign a memorandum of understanding with Nauru President David Adeang, but the document has not been made public. Advertisement Home Affairs officials suggested the group would not be deported to the island of 12,000 people en masse. Its important, for this arrangement to succeed, that people are moved over there in a planned and steady way, said Clare Sharp, the departments head of immigration. We put forward a visa application, and Nauru, as a sovereign state, considers whether to offer that person a visa or not. The purpose is that people will move to Nauru, they will become long-term residents and part of their community. We want that to succeed in a way thats sustainable for Nauru, which doesnt mean moving a really large number of people in one hit. Sharp expected the program to start in the coming weeks but did not provide specifics. Theres no deadline on us to apply for the visas But its in both nations interests to move through this as efficiently as we can. Its in Naurus interests because money doesnt flow until people arrive. Advertisement Loading Australia will pay $1000 for each visa, which will be issued for 30 years. According to Home Affairs officials, the memorandum has a claw-back feature which allows the Australian government to reclaim the principle of the trust if the deal falls through. Legal advocates have raised concern that new laws introduced last week to strip basic legal rights from the NZYQ cohort could be applied to a wider group of migrants without long-term visas whom Australia wants removed. Home Affairs officials could not say how many people the laws might cover but took questions on notice. Sharp said a non-citizens bridging visa would automatically cease once Nauru accepted their transfer. At that point, they were now removable, they become an unlawful non-citizen and can be taken into immigration detention and placed on a removal pathway. Advertisement Related Article Immigration Deportation laws face rushed two-hour inquiry as migration debate rages Those sent to Nauru would have no right of return to Australia and would only be able to travel if they were given a valid visa. Officials said it would be very difficult to see how those with criminal records would be granted a visa on character grounds unless normal processes were overridden by a future immigration minister. Independent Senator David Pocock said that to the public, the deal sounds totally bonkers, right. Like nuts. This is an extraordinary amount of money. Asked why the public had not been told before the new laws were introduced, Sharp said: It wouldnt have assisted, I dont think, our legal position [in existing court cases] to have publicly consulted [civil society] prior to introducing the bill. Sharp said managing the cohort had been a really difficult thing for the department. We have parameters that are pretty closely scrutinised by the court. Every set of rules we put in place are challenged in the courts. Advertisement Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsVictoriaPopulation This was published 3 months ago Opinion More good people needed to tackle our population debate Chip Le Grand State political editor September 4, 2025 5:00am September 4, 2025 5:00am Save 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 50 View all comments If the hard-learned political lesson of the post-Tampa years was the imperative for any government to keep control of our borders, the lesson of how to restore trust in our broader migration program hasnt quite sunk in. Although it was difficult on Sunday to see past the neo-Nazis and COVID cranks and other assembled conspiracists to spot Anthony Albaneses good people, as he described them, there isnt much point starting this column from the assumption that everyone who marched for straya is an irredeemable racist. Former high-ranking public servant Martin Parkinson has been blunt in his criticisms of how Australia manages and communicates its population growth. Louie Douvis Lets instead assume that between Thomas Sewell the jack-booted, mustachioed leader of the National Socialist Network arrested this week and sovereign citizens fanboying suspected cop killer Dezi Freeman there were thousands of protesters who took to the streets of Melbourne and Sydney without hate in their hearts but sincere concerns about how fast our country is growing. They have good reason to feel this way. Advertisement As former Australian public service boss Martin Parkinson found when he reviewed the migration system two years ago, the failure of successive governments to articulate what our migration polices are trying to achieve and to shift a narrow policy discussion about the permanent migration intake to a more pertinent one about population growth, has done us no favours. Parkinsons blunt conclusion was that the migration system was broken and no longer fit for purpose. Crowds board a tram in Melbourne. Bloomberg The heat and spittle in Sundays protests suggests the fix offered so far by the Albanese government a soft cap on international student numbers, greater protections for workers on temporary visas and fine-tuning of the skills we are trying to import and types of visas on offer hasnt sorted all the problems. Albaneses good people are not dills. They understand that Australia and particularly, its three big eastern seaboard cities, are growing at a rate no one planned for and beyond the capacity of stretched public services to accommodate. They know what uncontrolled population growth looks like because this is the story of 21st century Australia. Advertisement When Peter Costello tabled the federal governments first Intergenerational Report in 2003, treasury projected that by 2042, Australias population would reach 25.3 million people. Instead, we reached that milestone in 2018. Our best guess missed the mark by 24 years. Related Article Population Growing pains: In the week of Jacinta Allans housing policy, Victoria grew by about 3000 people. Is it too much? According to the latest Intergenerational Report, published in the same year as Parkinsons migration review, Australia by 2042 will be a country of 35 million people. Of course, that assumes we are better now at forecasting population growth than we were at the start of the century. If you compare the 94-page, 2003 Intergenerational Report with the 276-page edition published in 2023, it seems the only thing growing faster than our population is the verbosity of government. All those extra words and yet so little clarity about an issue that is critical to our future prosperity, quality of life and social cohesion. Australia hasnt had a national population policy since the end of the Whitlam government and our leading demographers are not convinced this is necessarily what we need. Advertisement If we did have a population policy, its aims would be difficult to reconcile with a net gain of nearly 1 million people between July 2022 and June 2024 even in the context of a post-COVID correction and a settlement pattern which, in Victoria, crams nearly 9 out of 10 new arrivals into a capital city more crowded than the Labor back bench. As of June 30 last year, Melbourne was a city of 5.56 million, having added 142,600 people over the previous 12 months. The Australian Bureau of Statistics population clock tells us Victoria has more than 7 million residents today and by the end of this decade, will be pushing 8 million. These numbers are not driven by the annual, permanent migration intake, the latest target which was announced on Tuesday by Immigration Minister Tony Burke. As Parkinson and others have identified, our population growth is largely a product of temporary migration by people who come here to work or study. Their visas are temporary but, so long as more people in their circumstances keep coming, the increased demand on housing, health and transport is permanent. This is why, no matter how much the state government borrows to build new roads, rail lines, schools and hospitals, it cant keep up. The federal government recognises this and its decision to limit new international student enrolments below their pre-COVID peak is a significant move to bring to heel a runaway trade. But it is fearful that if it slams the brakes on temporary migration our economy will end up in a ditch. Advertisement On Sunday, Albaneses good people marched in horrid company. In Melbourne, they marched quite literally to the beat of neo-Nazi drums, surrounded by people who, in the words of Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, went down a rabbit hole sometime during the pandemic and never came out. Did they recognise Thomas Sewell, at the front of the march, as Australias most notorious neo-Nazi? Did they appreciate that some of their fellow protesters have a disturbed level of sympathy for Freeman and none for the two good police officers he allegedly gunned down? Whether good people or bad, they werent in a good place on Sunday. It is no place for good people marching behind Sewell and his black-shirted goons. It is no place for good people to be marching behind white supremacists in Sydney or Pauline Hanson in Canberra. There are serious problems with our migration system and Australias rate of population growth. It shouldnt be left to racists and cranks to point this out. Chip Le Grand is state political editor. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. Advertisement InspirationCulture holidays In the middle of a town, hiding in plain sight, is a thrilling ancient temple Brian Johnston September 4, 2025 5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share The Temple of Horus at Edfu has a roof. A plain old roof at that, but never has a roof been more astounding. After all, were used to ancient ruins open to the sun, stripped of their shape and colour, and sporting only a few columns. An expansive hallway at the Temple of Horus at Edfu, adorned with beautifully crafted columns. Getty Images So this temples roof is remarkable, even among the astonishingly remarkable ruins of Ancient Egypt. You arent going to get excited by a flat roof, you might think, but bear with me. The temples of Karnak, Luxor and Abu Simbel are more famous, but the Temple of Horus beats them all. The temple sits in the middle of Edfu, a busy town on the Niles west bank, halfway between Luxor and Aswan. It was an important river-trading port during Ancient Egypts Old Kingdom, and the wealth of its temple was vast. The current Temple of Horus came much later. The vast project occupied the reigns of six Ptolemies and was dedicated in 142BC. Although that makes it new by Egyptian standards, it was built on classic architectural designs, leaving us with the best-preserved example of a Pharaonic temple anywhere. Advertisement A raised, or bas relief, depicting the falcon god Horus being suckled by Isis. Getty Images Not all Egypts overland tourists see it, however. Edfu is often missed as they rattle from Luxor to Aswan by train, or skip over it on a 40-minute flight. And while the temple is featured on river-cruise excursions, the sudden visitor surge soon ebbs again. Put Edfu on your itinerary. The Temple of Horus encapsulates the drama of Ancient Egypt with vast soaring pillars and superb reliefs and hieroglyphics. Nowhere else will you get a more evocative temple experience. You can thank the protective roof and the fact that the temple sits above the Niles floodplain and was buried in sand for centuries. Now it sits in a vast excavated depression surrounded by the modern town that has a frenzy and clang that adds an air of authenticity. You approach past dusty shops selling hawking mini-obelisks and Tutankhamen masks. Then the great temple appears like the stage set of a 1950s Hollywood epic. Advertisement As you enter a massive gateway flanked by black-granite statues of brooding falcons the symbol of the god Horus, often shown with a falcons head you might wish for a stirring orchestral score. Instead, you get reliefs showing Ptolemy XII about to club enemies he grips by the hair: no Hollywood romanticism here. Behind is the mighty Court of Offerings whose lower walls are decorated with faded reliefs showing religious ceremonies and festivals. At the far side stands another pair of falcon statues. One has lost its legs and lies ignored in the dust, the other provides a choice photographic backdrop. Sanctuary inside the temple. Getty Images And so you come to the Hypostyle Hall. Check out two small rooms first, one a dressing room for high priests, the other a library that once held sacred texts and temple rolls, where youll see a relief of Sheshat, goddess of writing. All around are other minor chambers and passageways rich in colourful wall paintings depicting pharaohs and gods. Look out for scenes where Horus battles his evil brother Seth, depicted with a hippopotamus head. In one, Seth surges up under the barque of Horus in an attempt to tip his sibling rival into the water. Advertisement Yet, the best is to come. Youre supposed to feel small and impressed by the Hypostyle Hall and you will be. Vast soaring pillars end in frothy representations of papyrus buds. The Sanctuary of Horus at the rear has a black-granite altar and displays a replica of his superbly carved sacred barque or river barge covered in gold leaf. The inter-columnar screen, columns and capitals mark the hypostyle hall facade. Getty Images Gods and ancient Egyptians walk across the walls, which are covered in wonderful coloured reliefs and hieroglyphics. But the roof clinches the deal, throwing everything into eerie, atmospheric shadows that will have you spellbound. THE DETAILS FLY Emirates flies from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to Cairo via Dubai. See emirates.com Advertisement Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Culture holidays Africa Egypt Brian Johnston seemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home. Traveller Guides Former Victorian premier Dan Andrews has joined a family photo of country leaders before Chinas military parade, that includes Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted for alleged war crimes, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Andrews was earlier filmed shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the red carpet as he arrived for the parade. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court on a warrant dating back to March 2023 for his alleged involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine during the war triggered by Moscows invasion of its neighbour. Former Victorian premier Dan Andrews, top right, posing behind Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin before the parade. Sergei Bobylev/POOL/TASS/Sipa USA Former Victorian premier Dan Andrews and other world leaders prepare for their family photo before the military parade. Sergei Bobylev/POOL/TASS/Sipa USA Daniel Andrews shakes hands with Xi Jinping as he arrives for the parade. The court, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, relies on other countries to arrest suspects and has a spotty history of co-operation. Putin knows that and has travelled overseas since the warrant was issued, including to Anchorage, Alaska and ICC member state Mongolia, which ignored it. China, North Korea and the US are not ICC members. with AP Advertisement Updated WorldAsiaChina This was published 3 months ago You conspire against us: Trump lets fly as China shows off its firepower Laurie Chen and Joe Cash Updated September 3, 2025 2:15pm ,first published September 3, 2025 4:07am Save 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 110 View all comments US President Donald Trump took aim at Xi Jinping on Wednesday as the Chinese president hosted foreign leaders at a major military parade in Beijing. Trump accused Xi of conspiring against America with Russias Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America, Trump adopting a sarcastic tone posted on TruthSocial as the parade kicked off. The lavish event to mark 80 years since Japans defeat at the end of World War II has been largely shunned by Western leaders, with Putin and Kim pariahs in the West due to the Ukraine war and Kims nuclear ambitions the guests of honour. Advertisement At the event Chinas largest ever military parade Xi warned that the world was facing a choice between peace or war. Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum, Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators at Tiananmen Square, adding that the Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history. Riding in an open-top limousine, Xi then inspected the troops and cutting-edge military equipment such as missiles, tanks and drones on display. Loading Helicopters trailing large banners and fighter jets flew in formation above during the 70-minute showcase thick with symbolism and propaganda, culminating in the release of 80,000 peace doves and colourful balloons. Advertisement Wearing a suit in the style of those worn by former leader Mao Zedong, Xi earlier greeted more than 20 leaders on the red carpet including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who, facing widespread protests at home, made a surprise appearance. Xis wife, Peng Liyuan, could be heard saying Nice to meet you and Welcome to China to several of the guests in English. Also among them was former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, who shook hands with Xi pausing briefly to exchange pleasantries with the Chinese leader at the ceremonys red carpet and later posed in a group photo with Kim and Putin. Former NSW premier Bob Carr was also invited to the celebration, but said he elected not to go to the Soviet-style military parade, instead opting to attend separate indoor events later in the day. Carrs decision meant Andrews whose state government controversially signed up to Chinas Belt and Road Infrastructure agreement was the only Australian politician attending the military showcase. Xi has cast World War II as a major turning point in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, in which it overcame the humiliation of Japans invasion to become an economic and geopolitical powerhouse. Advertisement This week, Xi unveiled his vision of a new global order at a regional security summit, calling for unity against hegemonism and power politics, a thinly veiled swipe at the US. Xi feels confident that the table has turned. Its China that is back in the drivers seat now, said Wen-Ti Sung, fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub, based in Taiwan. Related Article Updated Political leadership No security briefing before Andrews Beijing trip where he posed alongside Putin, Kim Jong-un Its been Trumpian unilateralism rather than Chinas wolf warrior diplomacy when people talk about the leading source of uncertainty in the international system, he said. Beyond the pomp, analysts are watching whether Xi, Putin and Kim may signal closer defence relations following a pact signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024, and a similar alliance between Beijing and Pyongyang, an outcome that may alter the military calculus in the Asia-Pacific region. Advertisement Putin has already used the occasion to seal deeper energy deals with China, while the gathering has given Kim an opportunity to gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons. Kim, debuting in his first major multilateral event, became the first North Korean to attend a Chinese military parade in 66 years. He travelled to Beijing with his daughter Kim Ju-ae, whom South Korean intelligence consider his most likely successor although she was not seen alongside him at the parade. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrives in Beijing along with his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, to attend Chinas largest-ever military parade. BBC/Xinhua Over the past two years, more than a dozen generals many formerly close to Xi have been purged from the Peoples Liberation Army in a sweeping corruption crackdown. Advertisement The parade allows Xi to focus the worlds attention on its impressive strides in modernising its military hardware, while overshadowing the stubborn challenges afflicting the PLA, most notably the continued purges rolling through the ranks of its most senior officers, said Jon Czin, a foreign policy analyst at Brookings Institution, a US-based think tank. Related Article Kim Jong-un Seen but not heard: the 12-year-old girl poised to take over a kingdom Nothing was left to chance for the milestone gathering. Major roads and schools were closed in Beijing for the parade, the culmination of weeks of painstaking security preparations and midnight rehearsals. Local governments nationwide mobilised tens of thousands of volunteers and Communist Party members to monitor for any signs of potential unrest around the parade, estimates based on online recruitment notices show. Advertisement Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here. Cambodian experts hail China as major driving force for global governance Xinhua) 16:31, September 03, 2025 PHNOM PENH, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has emerged as a main driving force for the world's peace, security, stability, economy, governance, and prosperity, said Cambodian experts on Wednesday. They made the remarks as China marked the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, with a massive military parade in the capital Beijing. Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said China, which has emerged as a social, economic, political, technological and strategic leader on the world stage, is a miracle of the 21st century. "China has been a powerful driving force of the world's peace, security, stability, economy, governance and prosperity," he added. Matthews said China's four landmark global initiatives, namely the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), are meant to transform the various and different communities around the globe as a unified community with a shared future. "Chinese people believe that China's development and prosperity are directly connected with the world development, so if the world progress, China will also develop definitely," Matthews said. He said the four global initiatives plus the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will help connect the world like a spider-web, where all countries are connected with each other through hard and soft infrastructure, where communication, transportation and trade become easier, efficient and inclusive. China has greatly contributed to alleviating world's poverty through BRI projects in many countries and regions around the globe, he added. "China's contribution to reducing global poverty is significant and have recognized and benefitted by all countries," Matthews said. Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said China's emphasis on standing on the right side of history and pursuing peaceful development reflected a commitment to cooperation, dialogue, and shared progress, values needed in today's world. "The GDI, GSI, GCI, and GGI together reflect China's vision of inclusive development, peace, cultural respect, and fair governance," he told Xinhua. "If implemented inclusively, they can strengthen global cooperation and advance the idea of a shared future for mankind." Mengdavid said China has currently played an increasingly active role in development, climate, health, and peacekeeping. "Its focus on "win-win" cooperation can deliver mutual benefits and help the world respond more effectively to global challenges," he said. Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said China has been the world's new emerging leader who always shares experiences and fruits of development to other countries around the globe. He said China does not want competition, but cooperation with all countries for mutual benefits and win-win results. "China is a peaceful neighbor and a good friend to every nation in the world because it always wants peace and harmony for the world," he told Xinhua. "China always shares benefits to all countries regardless of a country's size or population number." (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) L'economie mondiale navigue en eaux troubles. Une triple actualite, revelee par des rapports et declarations de haut niveau, dessine les contours d'une periode de fortes turbulences marquee par des goulots d'etranglement logistiques, une recomposition des alliances commerciales et une incertitude record qui frappe de plein fouet les echanges internationaux. Crise dans le fret aerien : Boeing et Airbus a la traine Le secteur du transport aerien de marchandises s'apprete a vivre des heures compliquees. Comme le rapporte le Financial Times, les geants de l'aeronautique Boeing et Airbus accumulent les retards dans la livraison de nouveaux avions-cargos. Consequence directe : les compagnies aeriennes sont contraintes de prolonger l'exploitation de leurs vieux appareils, pour certains en fin de vie. Michael Steen, PDG de la compagnie americaine Atlas Air, alerte : "Le desequilibre entre l'offre et la demande sur le marche des avions-cargos a fuselage large va s'aggraver." Sur les 630 appareils de ce type en service dans le monde, pres de 150 auraient deja atteint leur duree de vie maximale de 25 ans. Avec le report de 63 livraisons par Boeing et le report du tout nouveau A350F a la seconde moitie de 2027 par Airbus, les experts s'attendent a une hausse mecanique et significative des prix du transport aerien de fret. Inde-Allemagne : un axe strategique pour doubler les echanges Dans ce contexte de tension, de nouvelles alliances se consolident. En visite a New Delhi, le ministre allemand des Affaires etrangeres, Johann Wadephul, a appele a un renforcement spectaculaire de la cooperation bilaterale avec l'Inde. "Le volume des echanges germano-indiens selevait a 31 milliards deuros lan dernier - pourquoi ne pas creer les conditions pour le doubler ?", a-t-il declare au Indian Express. Cet ambitieux projet s'appuierait sur un accord de libre-echange entre l'Inde et l'Union europeenne, que M. Wadephul espere voir finalise d'ici la fin de l'annee. Les secteurs de la defense, des technologies de l'information, de la recherche et surtout de la migration de main-duvre qualifiee un besoin criant pour l'economie allemande sont au cur de ce futur partenariat. La CNUCED alerte sur un niveau record d'incertitude Cette recomposition des flux s'opere dans un climat particulierement volatile. Dans son dernier rapport, la Conference des Nations Unies sur le commerce et le developpement (Cnuced) tire la sonnette d'alarme : l'incertitude dans le commerce mondial a atteint un niveau record en 2025. En cause : l'affaiblissement des regles multilaterales et une concurrence feroce pour les matieres premieres critiques. "L'incertitude est un nouveau tarif douanier qui coute cher au commerce mondial", resument les experts. Les recentes politiques commerciales des Etats-Unis, plus grand importateur mondial, sont pointees du doigt pour avoir provoque une "restructuration des chaines d'approvisionnement" et une "modification des flux commerciaux mondiaux", generant des couts plus eleves et freinant la croissance des entreprises. Cette instabilite est exacerbee par l'incertitude juridique autour des droits de douane de l'ere Trump, maintenus en vigueur malgre une recente decision de justice les jugant illegaux, le temps que l'administration fasse appel. Une chose est sure : dans cette nouvelle geoeconomie, l'adaptabilite et la diversification des partenariats deviennent la cle de la resilience. Global Economy Under Pressure: Air Freight Crisis, Trade Uncertainty, and New Alliances Emerge The global economy is navigating stormy waters. Recent reports and high-level statements reveal a triple threat of logistical bottlenecks, shifting trade alliances, and record uncertainty gripping international exchanges. Air Freight in Crisis: Boeing and Airbus Fall Behind The air cargo industry is bracing for difficult times. As reported by the Financial Times, aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus are facing significant delays in delivering new cargo planes. The direct consequence: airlines are forced to keep their old aircraft flying, some of which are at the end of their operational life. Michael Steen, CEO of US-based Atlas Air, warns: "The imbalance between supply and demand in the wide-body freighter market is going to get worse." Of the 630 such aircraft in service worldwide, nearly 150 are believed to have reached their maximum lifespan of 25 years. With Boeing delaying 63 deliveries and Airbus pushing the new A350F's service entry to the second half of 2027, experts predict a mechanical and significant increase in air freight rates. India-Germany: A Strategic Axis to Double Trade Amid these tensions, new alliances are strengthening. During a visit to New Delhi, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for a dramatic enhancement of bilateral cooperation with India. *"The volume of German-Indian trade amounted to 31 billion euros last year - why not create the conditions to double it?"* he told the Indian Express. This ambitious project would be bolstered by a free trade agreement between India and the European Union, which Mr. Wadephul hopes will be finalized by the end of the year. Key areas for this future partnership include defense, information technology, research, and crucially, the migration of skilled labor a desperate need for the German economy. UNCTAD Warns of "Record Level of Uncertainty" This reshaping of trade flows is happening in a highly volatile climate. In its latest report, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) sounds the alarm: uncertainty in global trade has reached a record level in 2025. The reasons: weakened multilateral rules and fierce competition for critical raw materials. "Uncertainty is a new tariff that is costly for global trade," experts summarize. Recent trade policies by the United States, the world's largest importer, are cited for causing a "restructuring of supply chains" and a "shift in global trade flows," leading to higher costs and hindering business growth. This instability is exacerbated by the legal uncertainty surrounding Trump-era tariffs, which remain in effect despite a recent court ruling deeming them illegal, pending an appeal by the administration. One thing is clear: in this new geo-economic reality, adaptability and diversified partnerships are the keys to resilience. fret aerien, Boeing, Airbus, livraison avions cargo, crise logistique, transport marchandises, prix fret aerien, economie mondiale, commerce international, Inde Allemagne, accord libre-echange, CNUCED, incertitude commerce, matieres premieres, droits de douane, Donald Trump, chaines d'approvisionnement, actualite economique, Cameroun, cameroun24 Ekanga Ekanga Fernand Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 8:47PM Embed from Getty Images A US court ruled that Google won't be required to sell its Chrome browser and Android operating system, but will need to share information with competitors. US District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the Department of Justice's request to break up Google through the sale of Chrome and Android. However, the decision bars the tech giant from having exclusive deals, positioning itself as the default search engine on its products, including Android and Chrome, along with third parties like Apple. Before the ruling, it was revealed that Google paid companies billions of dollars to exclusively pre-load and promote its products. While they can't enter exclusive contracts, Google can still pay other companies to pre-load their products on different devices, noting it would cause "downstream harm" to cut off payments completely. Revenue-sharing deals will be limited to one-year periods. SOURCE: 1 + 2 Olivia Kelleher The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said that it has not identified a causal link between discharges from businesses and a major fish kill in Co Cork earlier this month. On August 11th last, up to 40,000 fish died in the River Blackwater and the River Clyda in the Mallow area. The fish, which included trout and salmon parr, dace, salmon, and freshwater eels, were found along an 18km stretch of the river between Lombardstown and Killavullen. The EPA said that they immediately deployed three teams of inspectors to investigate whether industrial sites as well as wastewater treatment plants and drinking water plants around Mallow and Kanturk, may have contributed to the serious incident. Inspectors checked conditions on the ground and took effluent and water samples. No spills were detected on any site inspected. The preliminary findings of fish pathology studies carried out by the Marine Institute revealed that a waterborne irritant was likely to have caused or contributed to the fish mortalities, and that exposure may have occurred in the days before the incident. The EPA then expanded their investigation to include discharges from EPA-regulated sites that may have occurred over a wider date range in the Blackwater Catchment. They focused their attention on ten industrial sites, 17 wastewater discharges, and two drinking plants. The EPA said that a number of licensed sites were not in compliance with certain licence conditions during the period, which are the subject of separate enforcement actions. However, to date, the EPA has not identified a causal link between discharges from the EPA-regulated facilities and the fish kill. "This information is being made available to the inter-agency group coordinating the investigation into the incident, and to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to inform their assessment in relation to the fish kill. It will also be made available on the EPA website. "The inter-agency group met this morning, chaired by Minister (Timmy) Dooley. It is expected a statement will issue from that group. The statement added that the EPA continues to work closely with, and share expertise with, IFI, Cork County Council and all other stakeholders involved in the inter-agency group. North Cork Creameries previously said it was not connected with the fish kill and expressed concern about unfounded claims linking them to the incident. EPA tests recently found the dairy plant non compliant with its discharge licences. However, they plant said that there was nothing at any level of concentration or content in the wastewater effluent outflow from North Cork Creameries that could have caused the major fish kill. Meanwhile, Cork Labour TD Eoghan Kenny has called on the IFI to appear before the Oireachtas committee in relation to the incident. The Mallow based public representative said that communication in relation to the cause of the kill has been very poor. It has been so frustrating. I have no faith at all in Inland Fisheries Ireland. The information from the IFI to the general public has been very bad from the start. "They have to explain it in ordinary English to the ordinary member of the public as to what has happened to their river. I think they are withholding information even from public representatives. AS many children in Carlow return to Early Years and School Age Care settings this week after the summer break, over 550 children remain on waiting lists for a place. Early Childhood Ireland warns that without significant investment in the Early Years workforce in Budget 2026, efforts to expand capacity will fall short. The latest figures from Pobal, the organisation which administers Early Years programmes, show that up to 575 children under the age of three are currently on creche waiting lists, highlighting the high demand for places in Carlow. Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland, Frances Byrne, said: No child should miss out because of failures to invest properly in this vital workforce, yet thats exactly whats happening to hundreds of children in Carlow. Without significant investment in Budget 2026, and a renewed focus on staffing, challenges to recruit and retain educators will continue to block efforts to expand access for families. In its budget 2026 Submission, Early Childhood Ireland has urged the government to name a date to bring pay and conditions for Early Years and School Age Care graduates in line with primary school teachers, who are educated and trained to the same level. This would begin to reverse the average staff turnover rate, which is over 21 % in Carlow. Currently, the government is mainly focused on reducing fees, and although we welcome proposals to increase subsidies for families, this will only create further demand for places. Providers in Carlow will not be able to expand their capacity in settings unless they can recruit and retain qualified staff on appropriate terms and conditions. Naming a date to bring graduates into pay parity with teachers is a crucial next step, she continued. Local parents are left with no choice but to place the names of their unborn children on waiting lists, hoping to secure a place by the time the child turns two or three. Its incredibly tough for parents trying to find a place for their child. At the same time, we hear from many of our 50 members in Carlow about how they want to expand, theyre ready to grow, but they struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators. We cant expand access for children unless we improve pay and conditions for those who deliver that care and education. You cant separate the two, and we hope the government sees that, concluded Ms Byrne. The Foundation at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) announces the recipients of a new scholarship rewarding high-achieving first-generation students created in honor of a beloved leader at GNTC. Selenas Scholarship honors the late Selena Magnusson, who was GNTCs vice-president of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success. A Chickamauga resident, Magnusson was employed at GNTC for 26 years in a variety of roles. She passed away June 6, 2024. This scholarship is such a special way to honor the memory of our dear colleague whose commitment to students and their success was at the heart of her work every day, said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. By supporting first-generation students, we are carrying forward her legacy of encouragement, opportunity and belief in what our students can achieve. Her impact on our college and on the lives of those she served will continue to be felt through these recipients and their accomplishments. Magnusson began her career at GNTC in 1998. Prior to becoming vice-president in 2019, she served as associate vice president of Student Success, 2018-19; executive director of Student Affairs, 2017-18; Registrar, 1999-2018; and Employability Services case manager, 1998-99. She received her masters degree in Adult Education from Central Michigan University and her bachelors degree in Psychology from Berry College. Selena loved GNTC and working among all the campuses to provide guidance and leadership to ensure career success for the thousands of students she helped impact over the years, said Staci Brockwell, her sister-in-law. Magnusson, a first-generation student, was modest about her accomplishments, Brockwell said. Unfortunately, I didnt understand the wealth of her contributions until after she passed much too early in her career, Brockwell explained. Brockwell said it is vital to Magnussons family to help continue her legacy of providing higher level education for students in the northwest Georgia area. The recipients of the scholarship are Patricia Buford, Web Site Design, Floyd County Campus; Erika Greenwell, Business Management, Floyd County Campus; Greg Huff, Cybersecurity, Whitfield Murray Campus; and Lisa Smith, Business Healthcare Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus. Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 13,775 people benefited from GNTCs credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,836 students and an additional enrollment of 4,939 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. St. Paul A.M.E. Church will honor their pastor, the Rev. Dr. Terence L. Mayes, Sr., on Pastor's Appreciation Day, Sunday, Sept. 14 at the 10:30 a.m. service.The appreciation will be held at the church, 2514 Williams St. in Chattanooga.The speaker for the event is Bishop Stanley Garrett of Temple of Praise Church in Pulaski."Please come out for a great worship experience, and help us show our appreciation to Pastor Mayes for his guidance and support for our church family and the community," officials said. The Hamilton County Health Department has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials for its "ability to plan for, respond to and recover from public health emergencies."Officials said, "The Health Department demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready, a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Health Department joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region."It has been an honor to lead this effort, ensuring our plans, trainings and partnerships uphold the highest standards of public health readiness.This recognition is a testament to the strength of our preparedness program and the commitment behind it, said Monica Machacek-Chiapello, emergency response coordinator. Earning Project Public Health Ready recognition highlights the importance of investing time, expertise, and heart into building a truly resilient community, one that is ready to serve the people of Hamilton County, no matter what comes our way.Officials said, "PPHR recognition confirms that the Hamilton County Health Department has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency. Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices."Public health preparedness planning, response and recovery begin at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters, said Lori T. Freeman, chief executive officer. NACCHO commends the Hamilton County Health Department for being a model of public health emergency preparedness. The Goodwill Opportunity Center in Dalton will host a resource fair and a hiring event on Monday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Goodwill Opportunity Center is located inside the Goodwill Store at 1001 Market St., near Mountain Creek HarleyDavidson in the Market Street Shoppes of Dalton shopping center.Organizations on hand will include: Partners Personnel is seeking to hire first, second and third-shift forklift operators and machine operators. Starting pay rates range from $16 to $20 per hour.Aspiring forklift operators will be provided access to certification resources and expert guidance, helping individuals take the next step in their career development. Southeast Health and Life helps individuals navigate the complex landscape of Medicare and Medicaid. Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation provides comprehensive support to individuals with disabilities, including employment assistance, training resources and access to specialized programs. Georgia Northwestern Technical College offers pathways for adult education, including GED preparation, workforce certifications and technical programs. They also provide guidance on financial aid and funding options. Tri-Med Family Medical Center delivers affordable healthcare. Their services include access to essential health programs and assistance with the cost of medications, ensuring participants can prioritize their well-being while pursuing employment.In addition to hosting hiring events, the Goodwill Opportunity Center offers free career services, including career assessments, job search support, employment readiness assistance, digital skills training, financial and nutritional education and resume and interview preparation.This event is a reflection of Goodwills mission in action, said Jonathan Morris, Goodwill Opportunity Center manager. By bringing together a variety of organizations and employers, were creating a space where people in our community can access meaningful opportunities, resources and supportall in one place.For questions, call the Goodwill Opportunity Center Dalton at 706-609-5647 or email Jonathan Morris at jonathanm@goodwillchatt.org. The 17th annual National Treasures: Party at Point Park has officially sold out. A waiting list is set up at PartyatPointPark.com for those hoping to attend.Benefitting National Park Partners, the friends group supporting the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, this event invites the community to Stand with YOUR Park at one of Chattanoogas most special places, Point Park.Officials said, "This years Party at Point Park honors the core strategy team dedicated to protecting the cultural integrity and Indigenous resources of Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, including Jay Mills, Tricia King Mims, Mickey Robbins, Dan Saieed and Congressman Zach Wamp."A hallmark of the event is the once-a-year opportunity for guests to capture a keepsake photo at Lookout Mountains first tourist attraction, the iconic Umbrella Rock.The New Dismembered Tennesseans will provide the perfect musical accompaniment to the evening. Their new lineup brings new energy and purpose to a band heralded as one of the most influential bluegrass bands in the region."Originally formed in 1947 by famed East Tennessee fiddler and philanthropist, the late Fletcher Bright, along with his classmates from the McCallie School, the band continues to provide that unique style of singing from the heart through the nose, said original bandmate Ed Doc Cullis. Laura Walker, Eleanor Bright, Bobby Martin, Don Cassell and Brian Blaylock entertain and engage in the shadow of the New York Peace Monument, erected by the state of New York in 1907 as a tribute to peace and reconciliation between US Army and Confederate veterans after the war."Sponsored by National Park visionaries like Morning Pointe Senior Living & Memory Care and Mary Alice and Jim Wyatt, this unique annual event combines stunning views as the backdrop for an unforgettable event at Point Park," officials said.National Park Legacy Circle support for the event is provided by the Barn Nursery, Chambliss Law, Evans Lumber Company & Millwork, See Rock City, Ruby Falls, Shelley & Jack Deaton and Julia & Keith Sanford. Additional support is provided by National Park Champions like Bell Homebuilders, Black Creek Chattanooga, EPB, East Tennessee Specialty Builders, Elders Ace Hardware, Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough, TuckerBuild, Doyle Attaway/Raymond James, Debbie & Mike Brown/Raymond James and the Grayson Foundation. National Park Stewards include the Bank of Lafayette, Lana & Tom Freeland, Homescape Pros, Johnson Insurance Agency, March Adams & Associates and KW Summit Realtors: Sally Robinson, Rob Robinson and Susanna Murdock.Complimentary beverages are provided and guests will enjoy a Southern buffet from Events with Taste as Michelle Wells and her team serve up a buffet featuring southern comfort food classics and plant-based options. Guests are all entered to win one of a dozen gate prizes, including wine, mystery prizes, local business gift cards and artwork featuring the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.Proceeds from this event support conservation, education, recreation and community activities programs that connect residents and visitors alike with the natural, historic and cultural resources of Chattanoogas National Park assets.Officials said, "National Park Partners preserves and promotes the landscapes and stories of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. We believe the park belongs to everyone and everyone belongs in the park, and we engage the community in growing Chattanoogas National Park legacy for current and future generations."Visit nppcha.org for more information. A case in which a group of teens allegedly went out "to shoot up houses" and someone got murdered is set to go to trial on Feb. 24. Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson on Tuesday set the case in which brothers Samuel and Caleb Askins are charged along with Corey Tremaine Palmer Jr. and Carvados Demarcus Phelps Jr. Samuel Askins, Palmer and Phelps are each charged with pre-meditated first-degree murder, facilitation of first-degree murder and three counts of reckless endangerment. Caleb Askins is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and facilitation of first-degree murder. Palmer and Phelps were 16 at the time of the incident on Aug. 29, 2023, in which Warren "Kojack" Crutcher, 48, was killed. Caleb Askins was 20 and Samuel Askins was 19. A 16-year-old earlier testified in General Sessions Court that he and two other 16-year-olds were given guns by Samuel Askins to "shoot up some houses." He said Samuel Askins was seeking revenge after his mother had been shot. The 16-year-old said Caleb Askins stayed home that night and moved around his brother's GPS monitoring band to make it look like he had an alibi. He said Samuel Askins took off the band prior to their leaving. The witness said Samuel Askins named a person he believed responsible for his mother's shooting, and they set out to shoot up houses of the enemy's family members. He said Samuel Askins "was pretty upset that his mother had been shot." He said they first went in the Askins' black Nissan to where they had a stolen car stored at the Hidden Acres apartments on Hixson Pike. He said they switched to that black Audi and took the guns with them. He said Samuel Askins was driving and he was in the front seat with the two other teens in the back seat. They first went to a house on Webb Street believed to be that of the enemy's mother. The witness said Samuel Askins hopped out with a gun and the other two teens also fired at the house. Shots were fired at a residence on Noah Reid Road - identified as the home of the enemy's "father's baby mama." Then they headed for 31 Maryland St., where more family members were suppose to be. The 16-year-old witness said as they arrived Warren Crutcher was sitting on the front porch appearing to be reading his phone. He said one of the back seat passengers began firing toward the house, then Samuel Askins reached behind the front seat passenger head rest and shot through the open rear window. He said he first thought the fatal bullet was fired by one of the teens, but later felt it came from the Askins gun. He said he did not know for sure. The witness said after the slaying that he fired two shots from the front passenger seat that went into the side of the Crutcher house. Inside were Mr. Crutcher's mother and sister and two children. He did remember seeing Mr. Crutcher slump to the floor before they sped off and went to again swap cars. Police said they were alerted to the group after a citizen told of seeing four people wearing ski masks exit the stolen car. The witness said they were at a gas station on Gunbarrel Road a few hours after the shooting in the early morning when police stopped them. He said they tried to run, but were caught. A detective said it was found that the cell phone used by the witness that night pinged on towers all along the shooting route that he described. There was also a transcript of texting in which the witness was giving a detailed account of the shootings to Caleb Askins. One text said they had just taken out the enemy's cousin. The Collegiate Conference of the South released its weekly award winners for Men's and Women's Cross Country on Tuesday afternoon with a Covenant student-athlete winning all four awards given out. This comes after the women's team won first place while the men's team placed second in the Mountainside Stride in Chattanooga.Starting on the women's side, Emerson Tillery earned Runner of the Week distinction after finishing second with a 6k time of 19:58.1. She anchored the Scots to the team win and this award marks the second time in her career that she has earned this honor.Lucie Demers won Rookie of the Week after an impressive debut where she finished seventh with a time of 25:20.7.Ethan Saiki on the men's team earned Runner of the Week award as he posted a time of 19:58.1 in the 6k to finish second. Like Tillery, this is his second time winning this honor. Trey Mortensen was named Rookie of the Week, finishing fourth with a time of 20:07.0 in his first college race. He was the second Covenant runner to cross the finish line.Covenant returns to competition on September 12th at the UNG XC Invitational in Dahlonega, Georgia. State Senator Colton Moore said he is thanking President Donald J. Trump for his bold actions to strengthen American beef production and protect family farms in Northwest Georgia.The Senator said, I want to personally thank President Donald Trump for putting Americas beef producers first. Here in Northwest Georgia, where family farms like mine are the heart of our communities, his tough actions against unfair foreign competition have made a real difference."By cracking down on Brazils flood of cheap beef, which has dropped 80 percent in recent months, hes driven cattle prices up, putting an extra $1,500 per head in the hands of local ranchers.Thats not just a number; its a lifeline for family farms fighting to survive, keeping our rural way of life strong for the next generation."President Trumps fight to level the playing field shows what it means to put American workers and producers first. Hes fighting for our sovereignty and rebuilding our economy from the ground up, and Georgias beef industry is stronger because of it."As someone whos taken on the RINO establishment and radical left with everything Ive got, I salute his fight. Northwest Georgias got his back, and were ready to keep pushing for America First. Morning Pointe Senior Living residents, families and neighbors across the Tennessee Valley will come together Sept. 7-13 to celebrate National Assisted Living Week. This years national theme, Ageless Adventure, is about celebrating the spirit of exploration, discovery and new experiences at every stage of life. Morning Pointes 42 assisted living and memory care communities across Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and Indiana will mark the week with a variety of activities that bring residents, families, volunteers and neighbors together. From intergenerational events and storytelling to themed socials and service projects, the celebrations are designed to reflect both the adventurous spirit of residents and the connections they share with their communities. Officials said adventure awaits as Morning Pointe Senior Living communities across the Tennessee Valley pull out all the stops to celebrate. Highlights include a colorful Balloon Bash, Vintage Adventure Day and an Outdoor Explorer Picnic in Collegedale; a Grandparents Day Ice Cream Sunday, Pool Party, barn nursery visit and a performance from Papa Sway in Chattanooga; plus toe-tapping music with Barkey Bryant at Greenbriar Cove. East Hamilton residents will travel around the world with a cruise-style itineraryfeaturing a Caribbean Carnival, Mediterranean Escape, Polynesian Paradise and a sparkling Parisian Grand Finale toast. Meanwhile, Morning Pointe of Hixson will keep the fun going with fishing trips, ice cream parties, cornhole tournaments, and a playful Newspaper Race. With so many exciting experiences, the week promises unforgettable moments of connection, joy, and celebration for residents, families, and neighbors alike, said organizers. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Wednesday announced a key leadership transition at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Dr. Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M., will retire from his role after nearly seven years of service as commissioner, and more than 21 years of state service. Andy Holt has been appointed commissioner, effective Oct. 1. Charlie has faithfully served Tennesseans since day one of the Lee administration, said Governor Lee. Under his leadership, the Department of Agriculture has made significant investments in our rural communities and safeguarded our food supply. Im deeply grateful for his decades of service to Tennessees farming families, and Maria and I wish Charlie continued success and pray Gods richest blessings over him in the days ahead. Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M., was sworn in as Tennessees 38th Commissioner of Agriculture in January of 2019 and has led the department through some of the states most exciting and challenging years. During his tenure, the Department has made record investments to strengthen food and fiber supply chains, expand rural businesses, conserve natural resources, and create rural jobs while supporting nearly 70,000 farming families, said officials. Prior to his role as commissioner, Dr. Hatcher served as state veterinarian for 10 years. It has been the honor of my life to work alongside Governor Lee and my fellow commissioners to strengthen rural communities across our state, said Commissioner Hatcher. Together, we have made the largest investments in rural Tennessees history, expanded opportunities for young people through FFA, 4H, and education partnerships, and safeguarded farmland for future generations. The Governors commitment to addressing farmland loss has been extraordinary, and I am proud to have played a role in carrying forward his vision. From historic rural development initiatives to the continued success of the Tennessee State Fair, our collaborative efforts with the General Assembly, Tennessee Farm Bureau and other valued stakeholders have produced remarkable results for the people of Tennessee. Mr. Holt has been appointed commissioner of TDA. Andy is a committed public servant who brings a personal understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Tennessee farmers, said Governor Lee. Im grateful for his leadership and am confident he will serve Tennesseans with integrity by strengthening rural communities and supporting our agriculture industry. Mr. Holt currently serves as deputy commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, overseeing day-to-day operations to ensure that all programs and services including food safety, animal and plant health, forestry, and agricultural development are carried out in accordance with the Governor Lee administrations goals. Prior to joining TDA, Mr. Holt represented House District 76 in the Tennessee General Assembly. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Mr. Holt lives with his wife, Ellie, and their seven children on the family farm near Dresden, Tn. U.S. District Court Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. issued an order granting Hamilton County and former Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammonds motion for summary judgment, and dismissing the complaint brought by the estate of former inmate Timothy Burt, with prejudice. In August of 2023, Amy Burt, in her capacity as the representative of Timothy Burts estate, filed suit against Hamilton County and former Sheriff Hammond, claiming that the policies and customs of the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office caused Mr. Burt to be deprived of his constitutional rights, that Hamilton County and former Sheriff Hammonds, failure to train and supervise Sheriffs Office personnel violated Mr. Burts constitutional rights, and that Hamilton County and former Sheriff Hammond, were deliberately indifferent to Mr. Burts medical needs, resulting in his death. In dismissing the plaintiffs complaint, the court considered several undisputed facts before it, including that the Hamilton County Sheriffs Offices policies governing the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Centers operations are lawful, and essentially adopt Tennessee state-law requirements. The court also noted that the plaintiff failed to produce evidence showing that the jail staffs training is inadequate, and the plaintiff failed to support her allegation that a pattern of constitutional violations existed. Sheriff Austin Garrett said, The court has reviewed the facts before it and granted the Countys motion for summary judgment, dismissing the plaintiffs suit, and affirming that the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office is providing the safest facility possible for the inmates in our custody. Your Sheriffs Office will continue to focus on leading the way by providing the highest level of law enforcement and corrections services available to our citizens, including safeguarding their well-being and most importantly, their Constitutional rights. While the courts ruling supports the work being done at the Hamilton County Jail, we also recognize that any loss of life is tragic, and our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones affected by the death of Mr. Burt. He said the HCSO "would like to thank the staff of the Hamilton County Attorneys Office for their diligent efforts to represent and defend the men and women of Corrections Services and the citizens of Hamilton County throughout the process of this lawsuit." Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Alicia Petresc The federal government has joined 19 states and several nationwide religious liberty organizations to support a pro-life Christian ministry in New Jersey, as it prepares for a predicted legal confrontation with the state at the U.S. Supreme Court this fall. The case, First Choice Womens Resource Centers v. Platkin, involves an investigation by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin into First Choice, a firm offering counseling, medical services, diapers, and other assistance to over 36,000 women facing unplanned pregnancies across New Jersey. The lawsuit claims that Platkin violated the ministrys First Amendment rights by targeting its religious and pro-life mission without providing any evidence of wrongdoing. Calling it a "simple case" based on "bedrock principles" of federal law, the brief from the U.S. Department of Justice echoed a similar filing from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which warned of an "exploding" rise in politically motivated investigations by state officials. In December 2023, Platkin was one of 16 Democratic state attorneys general who signed a letter accusing pro-life pregnancy centers of engaging in "misinformation and harm" by "misleading consumers and delaying access to critical, time-sensitive reproductive healthcare." The month prior, Platkin issued a subpoena to the petitioners, demanding they produce several documents within one month, including a list of donations made to the group and other confidential information. The subpoena did not specify any alleged legal violations but referenced state statutes that prohibit "deceptive commercial practices." Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a nonprofit legal organization advocating for religious freedom and representing First Choice, filed a federal lawsuit in December 2023 to challenge the investigation. However, lower courts ruled that the claims must be pursued first in state court. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the case in the fall. The lower courts deemed the subpoena "non-self-enforcing" and stated there would be no penalty for refusing to comply until a state court issues an enforcement order. Supporters and petitioners have questioned whether those courts correctly interpreted state law. "There are many recent examples of governments ordering disfavored groups to divulge their confidential internal materials, without regard to the severe and obvious chilling effects on speech and association that these demands create," the Chamber of Commerce filing states. "The First Amendment guards against 'use of the power to investigate enforced by the contempt power to probe at will and without relation to existing need.'" In their legal brief, 19 states, led by Missouri, argued that Platkin's investigation infringes on First Amendment rights and that federal courts have jurisdiction to oversee such claims. The Church of the Holy Saviour in Istanbul, Turkey, which has now been converted into the Chora (Kariye) Museum. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Best of Istanbul The human rights report highlights that Christians in Turkey are facing increased persecution amid a resurgence of hate crimes motivated by religion. The 2024 Human Rights Violation Report by the Association of Protestant Churches noted an increase in hate crimes despite Turkey's official stance of safeguarding religious freedom. Protestant Christian individuals or institutions experienced hate crimes or associated physical attacks due solely to their faith, the report stated. 2024 saw an increase from the previous year in both written and oral hate speech aimed at provoking hate in public opinion, both written and verbal, that was directed at Protestant Christian individuals or institutions. Authorities also have issued N-82 codes that ban entry into Turkey and G-87 codes that deny residence permits. Between 2019 and 2024, 132 foreign Christians received an entry ban code, which has created problems for churches that rely on foreign pastors, according to the report. Many congregations were left in a difficult situation, and there continues to be a great need for religious workers, the report added, listing individuals from the U.S., U.K., South Korea, Germany, other European countries, Latin America, and various regions as those facing denial of entry or residence. A constitutional court decision on June 8 ruled against nine foreign Christians who had appealed an N-82 code that restricted their residence in Turkey. The details of their cases were not publicly disclosed. The report also pointed out that Protestant communities face challenges in finding places for worship, especially if they are not considered traditional in outlook. Rents for church buildings can be unusually high, and the lack of recognition for informal fellowshipssuch as those meeting in rented shops or depotsprevents churches from receiving benefits like free electricity or tax exemptions from authorities. Because members of the Protestant community are mostly new Christians, they do not have religious buildings that are part of their cultural and religious heritage like traditional Christian communities have in Turkey. There are very few historical church buildings which are available for use. the report explained. In 2024, the report noted, the laws in Turkey continued to block the possibility of training Christian clergy and the opening of schools to provide religious education for the members of church communities in any way. It emphasized that the right to train and develop religious leaders is one of the foundational pillars of the freedom of religion and belief. Since religious personnel have been banned from the Turkish National Education system, the Protestant community has been addressing this issue by providing apprentice training, organizing seminars within Turkey, sending students abroad, and utilizing the support of foreign clergy, the report stated. Home News Alaska Medical Board labels sex-change procedures on minors 'unprofessional conduct' The Alaska Medical Board has paved the way for the prohibition of body-mutilating gender surgeries on minors and urged the Alaska Legislature to ban late-term abortion. The Alaska Medical Board unanimously approved a draft regulation at its quarterly meeting last month, adding efforts to provide "medical or surgical intervention to treat gender dysphoria or facilitate gender transition by altering sex characteristics inconsistent with the biological sex at birth" to a list of actions that constitute unprofessional conduct. The proposal labels the prescription of puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones and the performance of so-called gender transition surgeries, like mastectomy, phalloplasty, or genital modification on children under the age of 18 as examples of "unprofessional conduct." The draft includes exceptions for procedures to treat "congenital sex development disorders or non-elective procedures for physical injury." The board, which meets four times a year, is comprised of five physicians, one physician assistant and two public members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Alaska Legislature. The board is tasked with carrying out the state's medical laws, making final licensing decisions and taking disciplinary action against those who violate state laws. The draft regulation will go to the Alaska Department of Law for review and will be subject to a 30-day public comment period before taking effect, The Alaska Beacon reports. Some residents spoke against the proposal during an Aug. 22 meeting. Tom Pittman, who leads Identity Inc., an organization that offers so-called "gender-affirming care" to minors, argues that the language "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," Pittman said, according to The Alaska Beacon. Currently, 27 states prohibit trans-identified youth from obtaining some or all types of gender transition procedures due to concerns about their long-term impact. The American College of Pediatricians has warned that puberty blockers can cause "osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility." Meanwhile, the organization has noted that cross-sex hormones can cause youth to experience "an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their life span." In 2022, the head of the American Academy of Pediatrics clarified that her organization "advises pediatricians to offer developmentally appropriate care that is oriented toward understanding and appreciating the youths gender experience." She denied claims that her organization recommends gender transition surgeries to most youth. The Alaska Medical Board also released a statement lamenting that the state allows elective late-term abortions "up until the time of delivery." "This is not ethical medical practice and does not embody the values of Alaskans," the statement reads. "Many Alaskans and even physicians are unaware of this." The medical board urged residents to "engage with their representatives and to advocate for new legislation to bring state law into alignment with community values on this issue." Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion, several states have taken steps to ban the procedure in all or most cases. According to data compiled by the pro-life activist group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, 21 states prohibit abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy or earlier, while Alaska is one of the 29 states that have "few or no protections" for unborn babies. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion think tank, lists Alaska as one of nine states that have "no ban or gestational limit" on abortion, meaning that an abortion can take place during all nine months of pregnancy. Abortion is legal in the state because the state Supreme Court has determined that there is a right to abortion in the Alaska Constitution. The prospect of the Alaska Legislature changing state abortion laws in the near future is unlikely. While the state has a Republican governor, its legislature is controlled by a multipartisan governing coalition consisting of Republicans, Democrats and independents. Home News Appeals court panel rules against Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments in public schools An appeals court panel has unanimously ruled against a recently passed Louisiana law that requires the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a decision on Friday upholding a lower court ruling against House Bill 71, which was passed last year. Circuit Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Biden appointee, authored the panel opinion, ruling that the law inflicts significant practical harm on Plaintiffs First Amendment rights. As noted, if H.B. 71 goes into effect, Students will be subjected to unwelcome displays of the Ten Commandments for the entirety of their public school education. There is no opt-out option, wrote Ramirez. Americans United for Separation of Church & State, a progressive group that is helping to represent the families and clergy suing Louisiana, celebrated the appeals court panel ruling. This ruling will ensure that Louisiana families not politicians or public-school officials get to decide if, when and how their children engage with religion, said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United, in a statement. It should send a strong message to Christian nationalists across the country that they cannot impose their beliefs on our nations public-school children. Not on our watch. Last June, Gov. Jeff Landry signed HB 71, which mandated that public school classrooms display a copy of the Ten Commandments that is at least 11 inches by 14 inches in size by January. The new law also permitted public schools to display other historical documents, such as the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the Northwest Ordinance. "If you want to respect the rule of law you've got to start from the original law given, which was Moses," said Landry at the signing ceremony last year. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill championed the new law on social media shortly after it was signed, explaining that she would be honored to defend the legislation in court. "The 10 Commandments are pretty simple (don't kill, steal, cheat on your wife), but they also are important to our country's foundations," she tweeted. "Moses, who you may recall brought the 10 Commandments down from Mount Sinai, appears eight times in carvings that ring the United States Supreme Court Great Hall ceiling. I look forward to defending the law." Soon after HB 71 was signed into law, a coalition of progressive legal groups filed a complaint against Louisiana on behalf of an interfaith group of individuals with minor children enrolled in Louisiana public schools. Home News Archaeologists uncover Samaritan estate, believed birthplace of magician mentioned in the Bible A large complex with multiple grand rooms and evidence of ancient agriculture has been uncovered in Kafr Qasim, near Petach Tikva. Archaeologists say the site is believed to be the birthplace of Menander, a Samaritan magician who succeeded Simon Magus, mentioned in chapter 8 of the Book of Acts. The estate, identified as Samaritan and dating back some 1,600 years, was discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which has been excavating the area before a new neighborhood was built at the location. As is so often the case, those wishing to construct new buildings had sought the necessary permits and a dig was ordered to see what lay beneath the surface before building began. The Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing financed the salvage excavation at the site, which falls within the boundaries of the archaeological site Kafr Hatta, before the new foundations were laid. It was during that dig that archaeologists found multiple buildings featuring beautiful mosaics, along with well-preserved ritual baths and an olive press. The remains of the estate were soon settled as being part of a Samaritan community which had been thriving from the time of the Romans to the Byzantines, from the fourth to the seventh centuries A.D. The size and splendor of the buildings discovered, the quality of their mosaic floors and the impressive agricultural installations, all point to the great wealth and prosperity of the local Samaritan community over the years, said IAA directors Alla Nagorsky and Dr. Daniel Leahy Griswold in a press release. The site of Kh. Kafr Hatta is a notable place historically, being the birthplace of Menander, who followed Simon the Magician, someone not only mentioned in the New Testament as one who responded to the Gospel but also considered to be the father of the Gnostic sects. The Apostle Philip went to Samaria to preach and encountered the magician, who had something of a conversion experience but never quite seemed to leave his fondness for supernatural power. Acts chapter 8 describes him as a well-known individual of his day. There was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the power of God that is called Great.' (Acts 8:9-10) The archaeological site is also being described as magnificent with many colorful and impressive mosaics. One such mosaic floor was decorated with a dense geometric pattern and depictions of vegetation. It features a central medallion flanked with acanthus leaves and fruits and vegetables, including grapes, dates, watermelons, artichokes and asparagus. In the entrance to this room was a partially preserved Greek inscription wishing the owner of the building Good luck! or Mazel tov! in Hebrew. This greeting is an expression of congratulations in Israel today, such as a birthday greeting, but relates to luck, fate or magic. The name on the inscription is Rabia, which was common in Samaritan communities at that time. A spacious warehouse was also found on the estate, and the elaborate olive press was discovered in close proximity to the ritual bath, or mikveh, suggesting that those involved in olive oil production had to be ritually pure. This type of olive press is more typical of the Jerusalem region and the Judean Shephelah and is less common in Samaria, says Nagorsky. The archaeologist outlined how the function of the estate changed over the years, as Byzantine restrictions were imposed following a series of Samaritan revolts in the fifth and sixth centuries: The wealth and luxury of the buildings were replaced by oil production and agricultural installations. New walls damaged the mosaic floors, and the magnificent capitals and columns were integrated within the new walls, Nagorsky explained. What makes this site particularly interesting is that unlike some of the other Samaritan sites that were destroyed in these revolts, the agricultural estate in Kafr Qasim actually continued in use, and even preserved its Samaritan identity as evidenced by the Samaritan ceramic oil-lamps uncovered in our excavation, she added. This is a fascinating site, which displays the historical gamut between the days of prosperity and the decline of the Samaritan community, Nagorsky continued. Its long-term existence and impressive findings will allow us to reconstruct its history over centuries and will enrich our knowledge about this population in ancient times. Israeli Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu also expressed his keen interest in the site: The discovery of the Samaritan agricultural estate illuminates another chapter in the common shared story of the ancient peoples of this land; foremost in this period, the Jews and the Samaritans. These two ancient communities led their lives based on the Torah and shared common roots, and also experienced similar hardships during periods of antagonistic rule." "The impressive findings indicate the prosperity of a community closely related to Judaism, who lived in the Land of Israel for many centuries. These physical remains are another reminder that our heritage in this land is deep and multi-faceted. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home News FEMA employees fired for watching racist porn, bestiality on gov't devices Multiple employees with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Virginia were fired Tuesday after allegedly using their government-issued devices to access especially deviant sexual content. Some of the pornography accessed on the job was racist and involved animals, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed outrage at the behavior, which was uncovered during an internal investigation by the DHS' Insider Threat Operations Center (ITOC). "These individuals had access to critical information and intelligence and were entrusted to safeguard Americans from emergencies and instead they were consuming pornography," Noem said. Noem added that "in at least one case the pornography consumed was racially charged and involved bestiality." The investigation also found that approximately half of taxpayer-funded FEMA employees are perusing social media during working hours. "Under President Trump's leadership, we are cleaning house at FEMA to make this dysfunctional agency work for the American people the way that it was intended," Noem added. "For decades some of these bureaucrats engaged in every act imaginable instead of safeguarding the American people from natural disasters. That ends now." One of the employees allegedly used his government-issued device to type sexually explicit content into a chatbot, which then read it aloud "in an accent," according to the release. Two of the people terminated were stationed at the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, a government command facility located in Clarke County, Virginia, that monitors potential national threats, according to The New York Post. Agency sources who spoke to the outlet noted that one of the fired employees was obsessed with "bestial fantasies" and "racism-infused sexual encounters." The other reportedly logged extensive time sharing sexual content with users on Reddit, a large network of online forums. FEMA has come under intense scrutiny within the past year, especially after catastrophic hurricanes that left large swaths of destruction in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, western North Carolina and throughout Appalachia last September. Amid the devastation of Hurricane Helene, many residents near Asheville, North Carolina the epicenter of the storm's destruction were especially critical of FEMA's response in the area. Residents of Bat Cave, a community outside Asheville, said at the time they preferred that workers with the agency stay away, with one claiming a FEMA worker told her they were not "allowed" to drive around a "Road Closed" sign. In an internal memo after Hurricane Milton last year, FEMA supervisor Marn'i Washington instructed relief workers to "avoid homes advertising Trump" during their surveys amid the devastation in Highlands County, Florida, according to The Daily Wire. Washington was subsequently fired. President Donald Trump made FEMA's hurricane response a key element of his 2024 presidential campaign during its final weeks, and visited the devastation in North Carolina and Georgia himself. Vice President JD Vance tore into the agency at the time, likening it to the "DMV at an industrial scale." FEMA again drew criticism this summer following the deadly flooding at Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls' summer camp in Hunt, Texas, where 27 girls and workers died. An analysis by NPR, PBS's FRONTLINE and data scientists found the agency failed to include multiple buildings on its flood risk map. Home News Fla. county approves adding Ten Commandments to govt building displays: 'Foundations of American law' A Florida county has approved a recommendation to add copies of the Ten Commandments to a display of historical documents in government buildings. The Collier County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 last week to approve Item 10.B following hours of debate and public comment both for and against the proposal. Recommendation to display the Ten Commandments as part of a larger exhibit depicting the foundations of American law and government in appropriate publicly accessible locations on County property to be selected by the County Manager, read the proposal. Collier County Commissioner Chris Hall of District 2, who sponsored the recommendation, told The Christian Post that he was inspired to do so after speaking with an 87-year-old local school board member. I thought it was a great idea just to encourage people to bring about the acknowledgment of moral values, virtue, humility, and getting back to what made this country great in the beginning, said Hall. The commissioner told CP that he was super-pleased that the proposal was approved, though he never anticipated the resistance that came about and was actually shocked that people would resist just a simple measure. With the recommendation passed, local officials, including the county attorney, will meet to discuss the matter and how to add the Ten Commandments to the historical documents display. The proposed display is expected to have at least eight historical documents, according to Hall, who noted that a specific sample for the final design has not yet been approved. Halls recommendation received mixed reactions from locals, as well as criticism from progressive advocates, including the Rev. Sharon Harris-Euing, president of the Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida. Everything about it seems inappropriate and contrary to the principles of a free society where religion and government are separate, said Harris-Euing, according to Fox 4 in Cape Coral. Christians are not to be preferred, and the Christian perspective is not to be ascendant. I say that with humility and deep commitment as a Christian minister. Collier County Commissioner Burt L. Saunders, who represents District 3 and was the lone vote against the proposal, explained at last weeks meeting that while I certainly believe in the concept of the Ten Commandments and the admonitions contained in the Ten Commandments, he felt it was a divisive issue that was not a function of county government. Saunders quoted from a letter from an unnamed local woman who wrote that even when presented as part of a larger exhibit, incorporating a religious text into government-sponsored display risks compromising the principle of the separation of church and state. Hall dismissed the concerns over church and state separation, telling CP that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment was clearly meant to keep the state out of the church and not the other way around. The mere mention of the word of God or prayer or Christianity or anything does not mean that we are putting religion on to people. It has nothing to do with that, Hall continued. By displaying the Ten Commandments with other public documents and other historical documents, we have in no form or fashion put religion on people. Home News Televangelist Mark Barclays son-in-law convicted of sexually abusing child A former preacher tied to Living Word International Church of Midland, Michigan, and the son-in-law of televangelist Mark Barclay, has been convicted of sexually abusing a minor. A Midland County jury found James Randolph, 59, guilty last Friday of one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child under 13, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a relationship, and three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relationship. The verdict came after two-and-a-half hours of deliberation, reported the Saginaw, Michigan-based WNEM News, with Randolph immediately being taken into custody. Sentencing for Randolph is scheduled for Nov. 13, with the former preacher facing the possibility of life in prison. Randolph was previously found guilty of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1985. In response to the verdict, Barclay posted a statement on his ministrys Facebook page, saying that he and his family respect the legal process and the verdict returned by the jury. The recent legal case involving James Randolph has been a very difficult and heartbreaking situation for our church family and community, said Barclay. We recognize that this situation has caused real pain for many. As a church community, our hearts are with all victims of abuse. We are committed to truth, accountability, and safety in our ministries. Barclay also claimed that Randolph was not the pastor of Living Word Church, nor was he ever the head of our youth, childrens, or nursery ministries and that the criminal conduct in question did not occur on church grounds or during church functions. In November 2023, Randolph was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a relationship, four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of accosting children for immoral purposes. The conduct in question allegedly occurred in 2011. Mark Barclay Ministries put Randolph on administrative leave in response to the allegations, pending the end results of the legal proceedings against him. In January, Randolph rejected a plea deal, reported WNEM at the time. The deal would have involved Randolph serving up to 15 years in prison and registering as a sex offender. A prominent televangelist, Barclay was the founding pastor of Living Word and identifies the congregation on his website as his world headquarters church. Randolph is not the only person connected to Living Word who has recently faced criminal charges over alleged sexual misconduct. Brandon Saylor, a former church volunteer and leader, was sentenced in April 2024 to serve up to 15 years in prison on three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child under 13. The following month, Brand Saylors father, a 71-year-old associate pastor named Randy Saylor, was arraigned on charges of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13, and second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The church suspended Randy Saylor as a result of the allegations. Home News Mom killed husband, 2 kids, herself week after employer alerted police to embezzlement About a week before New Hampshire mother, Emily Long, was found dead inside her Madbury home along with two of her three children and her terminally ill husband, her employer reported her to police for stealing more than $600,000 from his business. Emily Long, 34, worked as director of operations for chicken wing restaurant company Wing-itz, which has several locations in New Hampshire. Derek Fisher, the co-founder and owner of the Wing-itz Restaurant Group, told KSWO that he had waited weeks before going to the police about the more than $660,000 he suspects Long embezzled from the company from about January 2023 through July this year. I felt like I had no other option but to go to law enforcement, Fisher said. We noticed that there was a lot of handwritten checks in her name, personally, that were being deposited into her bank account. He said he delayed going to the police while trying to get answers from the late mother about the financial discrepancies because he was aware of 48-year-old Ryan Longs ongoing battle with terminal brain cancer. Given her circumstances with her husband, I was trying to be considerate and patient, Fisher explained. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Justice, in the early morning hours of Aug. 18, Long took a handgun from her home and shot her husband and two of their children, Parker, 6, and Ryan, 8. She then took her own life immediately thereafter. Authorities say Longs husband died from multiple gunshot wounds, while her children each suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. She took her life with a single gunshot to the head. A third child was found in the home unhurt, KSWO reported. A New Hampshire Union Leader report highlighted a now-private TikTok account in which Long had uploaded multiple videos of her life as a brain cancer wife and mother. She talked about the fear and grief that came with the diagnosis and the impact it was having on her family. Its just been a really hard last two weeks for everyone in so many different ways, and thats hard because Im trying to keep everyone together and Im barely holding it together myself. I just want to erupt and run away, and everyones struggling for different reasons, she said in one of the videos. In another video Long posted two days before the triple murder-suicide, she noted: Im making strides to get better. All I want to do is hide under a blanket with my kids, but that isnt healthy for them, and its not healthy for me. Today, I decided I need to make a conscious effort to shift my mindset. Im getting out of this depression whether I want to or not. Fisher said when he learned about what had happened to the Long family, he was devastated. I was completely devastated and heartbroken. I cared deeply for her and her family. You know, I was around all of her children as they grew up, Fisher told KSWO. He explained that he is no longer interested in recovering anything financially from Long or her estate and suggested that whatever remains should go to her surviving child. Anything thats left should go to that child, Fisher said. He deserves all of it. Its not fair to him. He didnt make this happen. He didnt deserve this. Home News Navy whistleblower exposes coercion, solitary-quarantine tactics against troops who refused COVID shot Navy Commander Rob Greene recently delved into how his refusal to take the COVID-19 injection on religious grounds led to the loss of his command, threats of court-martial, and years of legal and cultural battles inside the U.S. military during a recent episode of Abby Johnsons "Politely Rude" podcast. Greene, a Naval Academy graduate who was commissioned in 2003 and later led a 650-person unit, became one of the most vocal opponents of the Pentagons vaccine mandate. He described his story as one of spiritual conviction, government overreach and the high cost of defending constitutional rights. It was a tough decision for the family, Greene told Johnson, but once we decided that we were going to take what God put in front of us, it was pretty easy. When, under the Biden administration, the Defense Department announced its COVID injection mandate in 2021, Greene said he quickly realized something was wrong. The law, he said, required service members to be given the choice to decline products authorized only under emergency use, and religious exemptions should have been honored. Listen to the Politely Rude podcast Instead, Greene said, he and others who objected were threatened with dismissal and jail time. At one point, we were threatened with potential court martials, he said. That comes with jail time depending on the seriousness of whatever they charge you with. Greene also cited his opposition to vaccines developed with fetal cell lines and invoked what he called therapeutic proportionality," or the idea that the risks and benefits of a medical intervention must be weighed carefully. It was not proportional for the mostly young, healthy population in the military, he said. According to Greene, those who resisted were often singled out. He described stories of recruits and enlisted personnel who endured long periods of isolation or psychological pressure. He recounted one female sailor who, after refusing the shot, spent nearly 140 days in solitary-like quarantine. Another young recruit was locked down for 39 days at Great Lakes Recruit Training Command, denied pastoral counsel and berated by medical providers. The coercion was significant, Greene said. If you can imagine a young recruit showing up for the first time, having these convictions, and then being told he was killing grandma, thats the kind of psychological warfare we were seeing. Greene became a central figure in lawsuits that challenged the militarys vaccine policy. He provided evidence showing the Navy had drafted procedures to automatically reject religious exemption requests before reviewing them. That was the evidence that helped win that first injunction, he said, referring to a federal ruling that halted the involuntary separation of Navy SEALs and special operators. Similar injunctions soon followed in the Air Force and Marine Corps. Ultimately, the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act rescinded the vaccine mandate. Greene credited the lawsuits with changing policy but argued accountability remains lacking. What were getting from our leadership is they just want to pretend nothing ever happened, he said. Theres been no accountability for the leaders at the very top in the military who mandated this and came through with significant coercive tactics. Pentagon officials have estimated that about 8,600 service members were dismissed for refusing the COVID shot. But Greene believes the true number of departures tied to the mandate was far higher, likely between 80,000 and 90,000, including early retirements and enlistments not renewed. Restoring 8,600 is not enough, Greene said. We need to find a way to repair the harms for the 80,000 to 90,000 that we chased out. Recruitment and retention, he warned, are already suffering. We dont trust our leaders if theyre willing to trample rights and no one is ever held accountable, he said. Greene, a father of seven, credited his wife for giving him the courage to fight. If theres any hero in my personal story, its her, he said. Im not confrontational by nature. She was the driving force behind my doing what I did. Facing the prospect of prison, the couple prepared a contingency plan for their children. Greene said that once he surrendered the outcome to God, he found peace in going on the offensive. It wasnt us breaking the law, he said. It was these admirals and generals. Although President Donald Trump's recent executive actions direct the military to reinstate separated personnel with back pay, Greene stressed that more must be done. He called for legislative action to prevent similar overreach and for renewed focus on rebuilding trust with service members. We have 23,000 gaps on operational sea duty units right now, he said. Bringing back 8,000 service members isnt going to put a dent in that. We need to win back trust and focus on retention. When I gave it to God, I was given such peace about the decision, he said. I would rather face a court-martial than come home and face my wife and say I caved on something I believed in. Home News Nelson Price, SBC megachurch pastor, dies at 94: 'Significant presence in Southern Baptist life' Nelson Price, a long-serving Southern Baptist Convention pastor credited with helping a Georgia congregation grow into a megachurch, has died. He was 94. Price, who had served as the pastor of Roswell Street Baptist Church for 35 years and authored around 20 books, died Saturday, leaving behind a wife of 70 years, two children, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Allen Jackson, pastor at the Georgia-based Dunwoody Baptist Church, was among those offering condolences on social media, writing that Price was a modern day hero to me and an example of a shepherd. Jackson recounted how he and Price became friends while he was an adjunct professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and how Price helped his father come to faith. In 1998, my Dad came to faith, but because of his health, could not attend church. Dad told me he found a guy on television that he really liked and was watching every Sunday, Jackson explained. It was Dr. Price and when I told him about it, he called my Dad personally and welcomed him to his church. Richard Land, executive editor of The Christian Post and former president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said that he heard Price preach in the chapel at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary back in the 1960s. "He did a wonderful job, got a standing ovation," recounted Land. "It became evident that he was going to be a significant pulpit presence in Southern Baptist life for the rest of the century." Land told CP that Price was "a great man of God" and he was "always gracious, supportive and helpful" when Land served at the Convention. Born in 1931 in Osyka, Mississippi, Price earned a Bachelor of Science from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1953, a Master's Degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and was awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Mercer University in 1984 and Hannibal-LaGrange College in 1990. According to his official biography, in 1977, Price preached a sermon before President Jimmy Carter and his cabinet on the morning of the Democrat commander-in-chiefs inauguration. Price also held various leadership positions, including chairman of the National Board of Trustees of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes from 1999 to 2005, president of the SBC Pastors Conference in 1987, president of the Georgia Baptist Convention from 1982 to '83, trustee of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and trustee at Louisiana College. Price served as lead pastor of Roswell Street Baptist for 35 years, and is credited with growing the church to around 10,000 members, making it one of the largest SBC member congregations and among the first megachurches in the southeastern United States. Since his retirement in 2000, however, Roswell Street Baptist has experienced considerable decline in recent years, according to the Marietta Daily Journal, with the congregation recently voting to merge with First Baptist Church of Woodstock. In addition to his in-person ministry work, Price also oversaw a television and radio program known as Come Alive, which reportedly reached as many as 20 million homes. Price also helped launch the Christian radio station at WFTD l080 AM, a local ministry called Love Life, Inc., which oversees a pro-life pregnancy care center, as well as The Clay Home, which serves as a home for unwed mothers. In 2002, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary opened the Nelson L. Price Center for Urban Ministries, a 32-room dormitory that provides housing for short-term missionaries working in New Orleans. Seminary President Chuck Kelley stated at the opening ceremony for the building that, with the new building, we stay true to that original calling of evangelizing the city and that there was no better person to name our building than Price, who has an outstanding record in evangelism and involvement in missions. With a high level of graciousness, tremendous charm and a great love of people, at the core of everything that Dr. Price does is evangelism, he added. Home News 'Never been more thankful': Greg Laurie gives update on recovery Pastor Greg Laurie of the California-based megachurch Harvest Christian Fellowship is thanking God after his hip replacement surgery was "100% successful," continuing to defend the power of prayer as its effectiveness has been called into question following a recent school shooting. Laurie, 72, provided an update on his health in a video and statement published on X Monday, nearly two weeks after he underwent hip replacement surgery. "A lot of people talk down on prayer these days, but I've never been more thankful for it," he wrote. "While I was recovering from hip surgery, so many of you were praying for me and I want you to know those prayers were answered!" he added. Laurie proclaimed "God is good" and shared an emoji of praying hands. Throughout his experience at the hospital, he said he was "surrounded by Christians, starting with the receptionist, then a nurse that called out 'Praise the Lord, Greg!'" Even his anesthesiologist "was a Christian," Laurie said, recalling how the doctor who performed the surgery "asked me to pray for him." Laurie assure followers that he is "healing" from the surgery and can walk without using a cane or a walker. In the video, Laurie also touched upon the remarks he made in his X post last week regarding the effectiveness of prayer following the school shooting at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last Wednesday. "In a time where some are mocking prayer or looking at prayer with disdain, how important it is for us as Christians to rejoice in the fact that we follow a God in Heaven who loves us and hears our prayers," he said. Laurie, who holds stadium evangelism events attended by thousands each year through his Harvest Crusades ministry, concluded by expressing gratitude for the prayers he has received so far. He asked for additional prayers as he works towards a "full recovery." After a gunman killed two children and injured more than a dozen others during the shooting last week, prominant Democrats made posts that seemed to mock the power of prayer, sparking responses from Christian leaders. Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary during the Biden administration and current MSNBC host, took to X following the tragedy to insist that "Prayer is not freaking enough." "Prayers does [sic] not end school shootings," Psaki said. "[P]rayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers." In a statement posted to X last week, Laurie maintained that "Those who criticize prayer could not be more mistaken." "No truer thing can be said about our nation right now than this: we need prayer," he asserted. Laurie also addressed the implication made by Minneapolis' Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey that prayers are ineffective because the children were praying as they got shot. "Yes, it is heartbreaking that children were praying when they were shot in the Church in Minneapolis," Laurie acknowledged. "[R]emember that Christ Himself prayed as He was crucified, Stephen prayed as he was martyred, and countless other courageous Christians lifted their voices to God in their final moments of life." Home News Journey Fort Worth Pastor Diego Fuller denies sexually assaulting former parishioner after arrest Alonzo Diego Fuller, the founding pastor of Journey Fort Worth Church in Texas, has categorically denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a former parishioner after he was arrested by police in Fort Worth. Journey Fort Worth Church has recently become aware of serious allegations made against our pulpit minister, Pastor Diego Fuller, by a former parishioner. Pastor Diego categorically denies these accusations of sexual assault and maintains they are entirely without merit, a statement from the Journey Fort Worth Church Board of Elders said on Wednesday. Court records cited by The Dallas Morning News said Fuller, 39, was booked into the Tarrant County jail Monday on a second-degree felony charge of sexual assault. The crime is alleged to have taken place in June. He was released the same day on a $40,000 bond. Thank you for the prayers, calls, emails, and love so many have shown during this time. My wife and I truly appreciate it. We kindly ask for continued prayer and for privacy as our family walks through this together, Fuller added in a statement he shared along with the response from his churchs board of elders. The elders of Journey Fort Worth appeared confident in Fullers denial of the allegations and stated that he would continue preaching at the church he founded in July 2022, until the investigation is resolved. Pastor Diego fully supports and welcomes a thorough investigation by the criminal justice system and looks forward to the opportunity to clear his name. He remains committed to transparency and truth as the legal process moves forward, the elders said. Throughout this process, Pastor Diego will continue to lead our congregation and fulfill his responsibilities as our pulpit minister. He wants to assure the church community that there is absolutely no validity to these claims, and he remains steadfast in his dedication to serving Journey Fort Worth Church. In a statement shared on the churchs website about his philosophy on ministry, Fuller says he believes there is no higher calling in life than to have a consistent, integrity, deep, and loving relationship with God. The deepest desire of my soul is to know God in the most intimate way possible and make him known to the world. Having received His gift of salvation by faith, I have come to understand that learning and loving God is more than words, and its what I express from my heart. Jesus said, If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15), he wrote. If I commit to holding this scripture as truth, then my desire to love Him should and must be equal to my desire to obey Him and live out worship from my heart. Worship is my love being expressed to Jesus in response to what he has done for me on the cross. Home News Woman who fatally shot Memphis Pastor Ricky Floyd indicted on elevated charges A woman previously charged with the fatal shooting of Ricky Floyd, the late senior lead pastor of Pursuit of God Church, during a religious dispute outside a bar in Memphis, Tennessee, is now facing elevated charges as investigators question her claim of self-defense. The woman, 42-year-old Samantha Marion, was previously charged with voluntary manslaughter for Floyds March 12 death. A recent Action News 5 report said a grand jury indicted Marion last week on charges of second-degree murder, employment of a firearm with the intent to commit a felony, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. Floyd was shot outside Momma's Bar and Kitchen located at 855 Kentucky Road. During a preliminary hearing of the case in June, Patrolman Cordell Boyd, who was the first officer to arrive at the crime scene, stated that Marions self-defense claims contained inconsistencies. The first time when the victim approached her, she went to her car and armed herself. She told me she put the gun behind her back. She had it behind her back. She said several times in the exchange, the victim kept approaching her, and she kept telling the victim to back, back, Boyd testified. The last time she said she then moved her hand, took the gun off safety, and then the last time telling the victim to back, back, she reached forward and accidentally fired a shot. John Keith Perry, an attorney for Marion, previously told WREG that Marion and a man identified as Steven Newsom, whom she met on the night of the shooting, got into a heated discussion with Floyd, 58, about the Bible on the night of the shooting. "Reverend Floyd evidently had some, I call them tracts, but the small magazine publication that are of a religious nature, and passes them to the people that are at the bar," Perry told WREG. "We are also told the argument centered around how Floyd could tell anyone anything when he, a pastor, was at this bar and grill at 1 a.m.," Perry explained. "We are also told that Samantha Marion was getting the best of him in that argument." Perry said as everyone was leaving outside the bar, Floyd approached Marion, and Newsom got between them. Floyd allegedly knocked Newsom to the ground. At about 1:17 a.m. Marion called police and confessed to shooting Floyd during the melee. Video surveillance footage reportedly shows Floyd throwing Marion's phone and a beer can before hopping into his vehicle and driving away. Marion allegedly walked into the roadway and appeared to record the pastor's vehicle with her phone. Marions recording shows Floyd exiting his car and confronting her before a witness separates them. As Floyd backed away, police said Marion walked toward the pastor, who was seen falling to the ground and never getting up again. Boyd testified that if Marion felt threatened enough to go to her vehicle for a gun, she could have left. The surveillance video reportedly shows that Floyd was shot while backing away from Marion. Home News Ted Cruz cites Genesis 12:3 as 'personal motivation' for supporting Israel in heated Tucker Carlson interview Fmr. Ambassor David Friedman: Modern-day Israel is 'the same nation of Israel referred to in the Bible' A contentious interview between conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz exploded in a fiery exchange over theology, foreign policy and national priorities after the Texas lawmaker appeared to equate the Israel of the Bible with the modern Israeli government. While the roughly two-hour conversation posted Wednesday explored a number of topics including Iran, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the future of Syria, the interview took a heated turn when Carlson began pressing Cruz on campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which Carlson accused of lobbying U.S. politicians on behalf of a foreign government. That is not only not true, that is false, Cruz said. According to OpenSecrets.org, Cruz has received more than $1.8 million from the pro-Israel lobby through 2024. When Carlson pressed the senator on whether AIPACs goals are shaped by the Israeli governments, Cruz pointed to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and said, The law on lobbying on behalf of someone, it is I hire you and you lobby on behalf of me. Does Israel direct AIPAC? No, they are not lobbying on behalf of them. Do they care about them? Yes. Cruz went on to tell Carlson, Its a very weird thing, the obsession with Israel. Youre not talking about Chinese, youre not talking about Japanese, youre not talking about the Brits, youre not talking about the French. The question is: What about the Jews? What about the Jews? Carlson, visibly angered by the allegation, replied, Oh, so Im an antisemite now? Youre asking, Why are the Jews controlling our foreign policy? Thats what you just asked, said Cruz. This has nothing to do with Jews or Judaism, Carlson shot back. It has to do with a foreign government. 'Isnt Israel controlling our foreign policy?' Thats not about the Jews? asked Cruz. ... If youre not an antisemite, give me another reason why the obsession is Israel. Later, the conversation returned to Israel, a topic Carlson acknowledged he dislikes because, he said, it's not worth being called antisemites from APAC recipients. After earlier stating he first ran for Congress in 2012 with the stated intention of being the leading defender of Israel in the United States Senate, Cruz offered a twofold explanation, rooted first in his Christian faith. As a Christian, growing up in Sunday school, I was taught from the Bible that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed. I want to be on the blessing side of things, he stated, an apparent reference to Genesis 12:3. Cruzs biblical reference drew immediate scrutiny. Those who bless the government of Israel? Carlson countered. Those who bless Israel is what it says, it doesnt say the government of, it says the nation of Israel, Cruz replied. When Cruz struggled to pinpoint the chapter and verse, Carlson questioned his theological grounding. Youre quoting a Bible phrase you dont have context for, you dont know where in the Bible it is, and thats your theology? Im confused Im a Christian, I want to know what youre talking about, Carlson said. Cruz explained his support for Israel is based on the Bible. Biblically, we are commanded to support Israel. Second Hold on, Carlson interjected. Were commanded as Christians to support the government of Israel? When pressed whether he believes what God was talking about in Genesis is a political entity thats existed for thousands of years, though it was recreated just over 70 years ago, Cruz replied, Yes, but most people understand that line in Genesis to refer to the Jewish people, Gods chosen people. Youre saying as a Christian, if I believe in Jesus, I have to support the modern state of Israel? Carlson asked. No, Im explaining my personal motivation, said Cruz. Not everyone I represent is a Christian, so I dont use my faith as the reason we should support Israel." After the interview went viral on social media, a number of public figures weighed in on the conversation, including former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who took exception to Carlsons claim that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is not the same entity as the biblical people of Israel. The nation of Israel today comprises a people that prays in the same language, in the same places and with the same liturgy as in ancient times, he wrote. Its faith is governed by the Old Testament. This is the same nation of Israel referred to in the Bible, Friedman added. The debate over the identity of the modern-day political state comes as the number of young Evangelicals in the United States who support Israel and view it as a sign of the End Times is declining, as amillennial and postmillennial eschatology grows in popularity. The Jerusalem Post noted last year that one study found support for Israel among young Evangelicals has cratered by more than 50%, as laid out in the 2023 bookChristian Zionism in the Twenty-First Century: American Evangelical Opinion on Israel, by Kirill M. Bumin, Ph.D., and Motti Inbari, who serves as professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. According to data Bumin and Inbari presented at The Center for the Study of the United States (CSUS) at Tel Aviv University in February, just over 33% of young Evangelicals under 30 expressed support for Israel in late 2021, compared to nearly 68% in 2018. In 2021, more than 24% of young Evangelicals said they supported the Palestinians, compared to only 5% in 2018. Home News Ted Cruz torches Tim Kaine for describing God-given rights as 'very, very troubling' Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, ripped his colleague Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Wednesday for describing the idea that human rights come from God and not the government as "very, very troubling." "I have to say, it is stunning to me that the principle that God has given us natural rights is now deemed by Democrats some radical and dangerous notion," Cruz said during a nominations hearing of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Kaine, who unsuccessfully ran as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's vice presidential candidate in 2016, had earlier described himself as "a devout person" before likening the concept of God-given rights to the Iranian regime. Our rights dont come from government or the DNC. They come from God. @timkaine, I suggest the Dems go back and read the words of our Founding Fathers. pic.twitter.com/QRmhTcbbOH Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2025 "The notion that rights don't come from laws and don't come from the government, but come from the Creator that's what the Iranian government believes," Kaine said. "It's a theocratic regime that bases its rule on Sharia law and targets Sunnis, Baha'is, Jews, Christians and other religious minorities." "And they do it because they believe that they understand what natural rights are from their Creator. So the statement that our rights do not come from our laws or our governments is extremely troubling." "I think the the motto over the Supreme Court is 'equal justice under law,' the oath that you and I take pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, not arbitrarily defined natural rights," Kaine continued. "I'm a strong believer in natural rights, but I have a feeling if we were to have a debate about natural rights in the room and put people around the table with different religious traditions, there would be some significant differences in the definitions of those natural rights." Kaine, a Catholic whose political views were repudiated by his own bishop in 2016, was responding to the opening statement of Riley Barnes, a former U.S. State Department official who has been nominated to serve as assistant secretary of state for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. He also previously served as senior advisor to former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback. Barnes said during his opening statement that he agreed with recent comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that emphasized the U.S. was founded on the principle "that all men are created equal because our rights come from God, our Creator; not from our laws, not from our governments." After Kaine took umbrage at Barnes' characterization, the nominee noted he was not only referencing his own faith in his statement, but also "hearkening to the Declaration of Independence: 'endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.'" Barnes added that the notion of God-given rights does not contradict equality under the law, but rather suggests "these rights that are inherent in human dignity predate the law." After Kaine had left the room, Cruz condemned his colleague's remarks as "disturbing" and noted they "showed much of where today's Democrat Party has gone wrong." "I just walked into the hearing as he was saying that, and I almost fell out of my chair, because that 'radical and dangerous notion' in his words is literally the founding principle upon which the United States of America was created," said Cruz, who went on to reference the writings of Thomas Jefferson, from Kaine's home state of Virginia. "'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator' not by government, not by the Democratic National Committee, but by God 'with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'" Home News UMC-affiliated Virginia Wesleyan University will change name, draws pushback from alumni Virginia Wesleyan University, an academic institution with ties to The United Methodist Church, plans to change its name next year to honor a woman who contributed extensively to the school's development, garnering opposition from some alumni who say it "disregards" the school's legacy. The VWU board of trustees unanimously approved the name change to Batten University last month, and it will be effective on July 1, 2026, according to a recent announcement. The name honors Jane Batten, who served on the VWU trustees board for several years and became its first female chair. She also gave considerable donations to various university endeavors. Chartered in 1961 by the UMC Virginia Conference, VWU opened to students in 1966. At present, the university has an estimated 2,100 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled. Trustees Board Chair Nancy DeFord told a gathering of around 400 people on Aug. 20 that, with the change, the school is "embracing a name that symbolizes strength, stability, and resilience." "We are proud to honor Jane Batten's transformational contributions and set a course for a strong, new chapter in our University's history. We are not the same institution we were 10 years ago or even last year," stated DeFord. "The name Batten is a testament to the love, care, philanthropy, and ideas that the family has contributed to Virginia Wesleyan. Over time, we can all take a great deal of pride in carrying that name forward." News of the upcoming name change received its share of pushback from alumni and others, with an online petition protesting the decision garnering over 5,500 names as of Wednesday morning. The petition claims the original name of the university represents "a community, a history, and a legacy built by generations of students." They believe that removing "Virginia Wesleyan" from the name "disregards this proud legacy." "The recent decision to rename the university to Batten University strips away that identity, erases its Methodist roots, and severs the alumni connection that so many of us hold dear," read the petition, in part. "While we respect the generosity of the Batten family, this renaming comes at too high a cost: the loss of our shared story. This potential renaming affects not only current students and staff but also a vast network of alumni who cherish their affiliation with Virginia Wesleyan." According to a statement from the UMC Virginia Conference, the name change has the support of the Rev. Beth Givens, the representative for the bishop on the trustees board. The university and the denomination will continue to have strong ties. The regional body noted that the relationship has "strengthened in recent years at a conference, district, and local church level." "VWU began a new model for ministry on their campus in 2022 by partnering with Haygood UMC where [VWU President Scott] Miller and his wife, Annie, are also members. There is shared staffing between Haygood UMC and the student ministries at VWU, under the excellent leadership of Marie Porter," states the UMC conference. "While the student ministries at VWU are in ministry to all faiths, there is a distinctively Wesleyan emphasis. Students at VWU are active in the ministries at Haygood UMC as well as other area churches." Last week, a demonstration was held to protest the decision, which featured WVU graduates of different decades, among them Kim Mayo, a member of the university's alumni council. A 1998 graduate, Mayo told The Virginian-Pilot that she had received several calls from alumni opposed to the renaming. She said she felt "powerless," adding that "my voice doesn't matter." "I know a lot of our alumni feel disrespected throughout the process, so I share those concerns as well," Mayo said. "I feel, as an alumni council member, my role is not to be a mouthpiece for the current administration, but to represent alumni from near and far." Pro-Life Supreme Court Battle, Texas Bathroom Bill, Lecrae On Reconstruction link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:49 07:49 Top headlines for Wednesday, September 3, 2025 In this episode, we explore how the federal government is backing a pro-life ministry in New Jersey, setting the stage for a significant Supreme Court showdown this fall. Meanwhile, in Texas, a contentious bill requiring individuals to use bathrooms aligning with their sex has sparked debate, with the Bible taking a central role in discussions. Lastly, we discuss the concept of deconstruction with rapper Lecrae, who sees it not as a negative process, but as a transformative journey towards a healthier spiritual life. 00:11 Trump DOJ backs Christian ministry headed to Supreme Court 01:16 Grace Community Church sued by ex-employees, fined by state 02:08 Interim president of embattled Episcopal university resigns 03:11 Jen Hatmaker reveals she's left the church and may never go back 04:09 Texas House passes bathroom bill after Scripture-infused debate 05:01 Open letter to CNN editor on 'conversion therapy' 06:02 Lecrae on his reconstruction, healing and boldest album yet Home Opinion Defending child sacrifice: The ultimate expression of cultural relativism Recently, a history teacher from Littleton, Colorado, went viral for praising the way the Incas, her favorite empire, sacrificed children. She also reprimanded white education for wrongly teaching generations of Americans that the practice was bad. Im not making this up. After noting that human sacrifice was common within most ancient civilizations, the teacher clarified that the Incan version offered victims from the upper class because they were closer to the gods. Also, the Incas drugged children before leaving them to die of exposure on top of a mountain. Objections to this cultural practice, she continued, are primarily due to a white perspective, which focuses on the negative aspects of great civilizations while ignoring their wonderful accomplishments. Defending child sacrifice is the ultimate expression of cultural relativism. In this view, all cultures are equally valid, except white cultures that judge others. To paraphrase a former colleague, there is no difference between cultures that love their neighbors and cultures that eat their neighbors. Of course, this teachers innovative defense of the Incas misses a few important points. First, children as young as four were sacrificed. Even if they could consent at that age, does that make it any less horrific? But of course, they cannot. The teacher fails to mention evidence of a 4- to 5-year-old child who was tied up before being buried alive. The simplest explanation for drugging the young victims is minimizing resistance not kindness. To that point, is there any scenario in which drugging a child and leaving her to die could be considered kind, even if that were the intent? Just as inconvenient to this narrative are the Incan sacrificial victims found who died from strangulation, suffocation, and being stabbed in the back. The most important motivator for this Incan practice is that it was considered an honor for a child to be chosen for sacrifice. So, children were frequently volunteered by parents in order to curry favor with the emperor. Children were offered when an Incan emperor died, on the birth of his heir, at times of crisis to lure the gods to their side, and for other ceremonial occasions. Another aspect of this conversation neglected by the teacher is, what changed? Why is this kind of child sacrifice today universally viewed as abhorrent. The answer is Christianity. Believing that every human being is made in the image of God, Christians from the earliest centuries argued for the inherent dignity of the marginalized in society, especially women, slaves, and children. Christians in Rome opposed the practice of infanticide, rescuing unwanted infants who were left to die and raising them as full members of the Christian community. They also opposed abortion. Thus, the defense of children became a feature of Christian witness throughout history. For example, in the 19th century, missionary Mary Slessor was known for rescuing twins who had been left to die. The tribal people of Nigeria believed one twin was always a child of a demon. Her actions ended that deadly practice. To be clear, sacrificing children continues to be one of the most consistent features of this fallen world. Today, aborted children are the victims of our wrong ideas about sexuality and the meaning of life. Most embryos created during the process of in vitro fertilization are deemed to be excess, and left to die in freezers or medical experiments. Children are taught to be confused about who they are and thus become experiments of medical sterilization and surgical mutilation, and victims of the latest religious hysteria of adults. Christians who oppose these practices today are in good company within Church history. As the western world detaches from its Christian foundations, we should expect that more children will be devalued and harmed in more ways. A consistent feature of pagan societies is for children to be in danger. We should expect the same as a society repaganizes. On the other hand, a consistent feature of Christians within a pagan society is that they worked to protect and defend children. This remains the calling of the Church today. This article was originally published on Breakpoint. Home Opinion Has mainline Protestantism fallen? Mainline Protestant denominations have been declining for 60 years, and some of these denominations will not exist meaningfully much longer. But will all their congregations recede or die with them? Perhaps not. The collapse of denominational loyalties in America may be good news for many mainline congregations. In the old days, many congregants were deeply committed to the denominations, reading their publications, attending their conferences, heeding their pronouncements, financially supporting them generously, and appreciating the wider identity they offered, often across generations. Many congregants across decades left their Mainline denominations with sadness as those denominations further liberalized and failed to offer a compelling spiritual message. Many did not leave, but their children and grandchildren were not interested in the Mainline denominations, leaving institutional religion altogether or joining more Evangelical churches that often were nondenominational. The membership of mainline Protestant denominations has declined by millions, and thousands of churches have closed. Many more thousands of churches, some barely surviving with a dwindling number of elderly members, will close soon. But thousands of mainline congregations endure. Some are vital. A few are growing. And nearly universally, they have very few members who care about their denominations. These members simply like their congregations. I attend a United Methodist congregation. Several years ago, in the wake of the schism, I had anticipated joining the new Global Methodist Church. But the GMC is not present in my area and, so far, seems uninterested in planting in new areas. Of course, I do not like United Methodisms newly liberalized standards and much else about the denomination. But these changes seem not to affect my church. Nobody there talks about the denomination. Last year, I asked our since retired pastor if anybody in the church under the age of 60 cared about the denomination. He quickly replied no. I should have asked how many over the age of 60 cared. Likely not many. We now have a new pastor. His opening sermon series was on the Nicene Creed. Our hymns and liturgy are traditional. As a traditionalist, theres nothing to which I can object and much to enjoy. The next pastor could be very different. But likely many, even very institutionalist, clergy must adapt to the new reality of denominational indifference. No more are congregations kept through automatic loyalty. They must be retained through ongoing ministry that feeds their spiritual desires. Some mainline clergy are stuck in old habits and still pretend we are in 1985. Their churches will fade along with the denominations. But others are wiser. I recently lunched with a young Episcopal cleric whose church is near ours. The parking lot is full on Sundays. He told me that when he came there during the pandemic, while the church was physically closed, the old congregation melted away. The nearly 200 people there now are young and overwhelmingly indifferent to the Episcopal Church. Some are Southern Baptists. Many have children. They like having a local church with ministries for their families. He is meeting their needs. This Episcopal priest is not conservative, but he declined a liberal parishioners demands that he be politically outspoken from the pulpit. He knows that will not work. And it does not interest him. Mainline churches like his and mine could hum along just fine for many years, regardless of the wider direction and fate of the denominations. In 10 years, most mainline denominations will likely still legally exist, but most of them will be little more than shells. The congregations that will have survived will be indifferent and will have adapted to the new reality of post-denominational America. The end of the Mainline may resemble the end of the Roman Empire, about which historians still debate. Did it end with a particular emperor? If so, people at the time likely barely noticed. Their lives continued largely as before, as others ruled where the emperor had been. And other entities claimed they were the new Rome. In one hundred years, historians of American religion will debate when the mainline Protestant denominations ended. There might be no conclusive answer. Surviving mainline congregations in future years will reorganize into new networks and collaborations that we cannot now imagine. Some congregations that are dramatically heterodox will survive, but most will not. They will no longer have the buffer of supportive denominational structures. Ultimately, nature reasserts itself in churches. Orthodox theology that feeds souls wins and attracts people. The artificial alternatives, far less so. Denominational loyalty and money for decades delayed this reassertion of nature. But no more. Many of us fought long battles over the mainline Protestant denominations, just as the Roman Empire fought wars, internally and externally, across centuries to expand or to survive. But ultimately, new cultures, empires and nations supplanted Rome. Protestant theological traditions will survive and adapt, even as their institutional bearers fade into the mists. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; do you not perceive it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Originally published at Juicy Ecumenism. Home Opinion What happens to God's plan when influential church leaders die? God buries His workmen but carries on His work. The saying is often attributed to Charles Wesley (1707-1788), the great Christian hymnwriter (brother of John Wesley) and co-founder of the Methodist movement. You can see it in London at Westminster Abbey, where it is inscribed into the base of the monument dedicated to them. When the influential Wesley brothers died, many Christians in the English-speaking world wondered what would happen to the Methodist mission. The answer was that though great missionaries and influential Christian leaders die, the mission continues, and God faithfully raises up new leadership. No one individual is indispensable except our eternal savior. You see this theme in the Bible as well. Think of Joshua: After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses assistant, Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses (Joshua 1.1-3 ESV). When the extraordinary 19th-century preachers Charles Spurgeon and Dwight Moody passed away, people asked the same question: What will happen to the work now that they are gone? When Billy Graham died in 2018, people asked the same thing. Billy Graham himself was often asked who would take his place when he was gone. His standard reply was that there will never be another Billy Graham because God does not duplicate people in that way. Rather, he raises new leaders in every generation, each with their own unique gifts and callings. That is why in his later years, he poured himself into training young itinerant evangelists worldwide. He envisioned thousands of young Billy Grahams proclaiming the Gospel with boldness. On a personal note, one year ago this week, my own father, George Sweeting, who previously served as president and chancellor of the Moody Bible Institute, went to be with the Lord at age 99, after many years of ministry. As our friends ask the same question, we must remind ourselves yet again that God buries His workmen but carries on his work. The truth is, we get used to peoples voices and presence, yet they all fade. We forget that even the most beloved leader is at best a flickering light. The apostle Paul compared us to clay pots. But then he added, But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (2 Corinthians 4.7, ESV). Look carefully at the life of any one of these leaders and youll find that they become tired and frail at the end of their lives. Not only that, they are also flawed all of us are. In our funerals, we are often prone to over-eulogize. But the truth is, there is only one who is righteous, and all the rest of us need a savior. This truth should humble every leader. Nevertheless, God in his goodness has given and still gives people-gifts to the Church evangelists, pastor-teachers, who, as the book of Acts said of David, served the purpose of God in his own generation (Acts 13.36). The apostle Paul contrasts this with the Lord Jesus, the only incorruptible one whom God raised from the dead. So, in days of grief, let us remind ourselves that only one leader is indispensable, and that is why we call him Lord and Redeemer. We should cherish those among us who are faithful to the call, all the while remembering that our time of service is short, the worker is temporary, yet the work goes on. Consequently, it is imperative that we pour ourselves into raising up leaders of the next generation and say to them: Now it is your time to stand up, serve Gods purposes in this generation, and be faithful. Veterans attend grand gathering marking 80th anniversary of victory over Japanese aggression Xinhua) 17:44, September 03, 2025 Veterans pose for a group photo at Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A veteran is pictured at Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A veteran ascends Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A veteran is pictured at Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Veterans are pictured at Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A veteran at Tian'anmen Rostrum salutes during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing) Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter. The ongoing deterioration of press freedom and independence in the United States is deeply concerning to many journalists who dont know where their country is heading. That chilling uncertainty is one we have lived through ourselves. We are journalists from Russia and Poland. Ksenia has been forced to leave her home in order to continue working, and has watched countless friends and colleagues do the same. Paulina decided to change her career to academia. In Moscow, TV Rain, where Ksenia worked, was declared an undesirable organization, and its reporters were forced to relocate. In Warsaw, Gazeta Wyborcza, where Paulina worked, faced economic and legal pressure from the government and its cronies, and had to learn how to fight back. Poland and Russia are different countries with different trajectories, but both have experienced similar slides toward authoritarianism. As a result, journalists in these countries have come up with novel ways to stay engaged and fight back. We wanted to share some lessons from those experiences, in the hopes that it could offer some optimism to journalists in the States wondering what their future might look like. Russia Before the war with Ukraine, Ilya Krasilshchik was a senior executive at a major Russian tech company and the publisher of the Latvian-based independent outlet Meduza. But in 2022, following Russias invasion of Ukraine, he left his position and moved to Berlin. The next year, Meduza was legally banned in Russia, and Krasilshchik was convicted in absentia on charges of distributing false information, and sentenced to eight years in prison. In its place, Krasilshchik founded Helpdesk Mediawhich exists solely on Instagram and Telegram, making it impossible to fully block in Russia. Helpdesk has collected hundreds of personal stories and crucial testimonies about the war, including conversations with rescuers from the completely destroyed city of Bakhmut, an interview with a Ukrainian soldier whose father is a Russian officer, and the story of a family who lost three children to Russian shelling. Helpdesk is one example of the many ways Russian journalists and human rights defenders have found solutions with limited or no resourcesor, as we say in Russian, made porridge from an ax. Many of these innovators have seen success by focusing on niche, targeted projects that tackle specific problems. This is how the movement Feminist Resistance Against War came to be: activist and writer Darya Serenko founded an organization with public spokespeople but no central leadership and limited hierarchy. The group helps Ukrainian refugees who were forcibly displaced to Russia. Another project, the podcast Womens Sentenceproduced by Sasha Graf, a journalist who reported on womens incarceration for almost seven years and now lives in exiletells the stories of women who are imprisoned in Russia, and raises funds to send them care packages. The people behind these projects have had to become extremely versatile, and play multiple roles at once. Its not uncommon for a single person to pitch, write, investigate, edit videos, fundraise, and manage partnerships. Theyve also had to learn how to engage a younger generation of content consumersand contend with a flood of government-produced propaganda in schools and on social media. Still, some have managed to break through: many independent journalists have turned to platforms like YouTube and TikTok to reach young audiences. In 2024, twenty-four-year-old blogger Prikolena began posting parodies of Russian politiciansincluding opposition figureson TikTok and Instagram. Her videos quickly went viral, and she was soon invited to join TV Rain as an intern and social media specialist. Alexander Makashenets, the YouTube channel host for the Anti-Corruption Foundation, the nonprofit group founded by the late Alexei Navalny, launched a personal TikTok account after the war began, where he satirizes Russian state propaganda. Despite TikTok being technically restricted in Russia, some of his videos have garnered over a million views. Poland Trumps lawsuits against media companies like CBS and ABCand the subsequent decisions of these networks to settle rather than fighthave a particular resonance for journalists in Poland, where Gazeta Wyborcza, one of the countrys most influential daily newspapers, faced more than a hundred defamation lawsuits by politicians from the Law and Justice party, which led the country from 2015 to 2023, and their allies. These so-called SLAPP lawsuits ranged widely: Jarosaw Kaczynski, the leader of the party, sued Wyborcza in 2019 after it published embarrassing recordings of him discussing a controversial skyscraper deal; the minister of justice, Zbigniew Ziobro, and his staff repeatedly used the ministrys budget and lawyers to sue the newspaper, seeking retractions. Most of these lawsuits were rejected by the courts. Recognizing the gravity of the threat, Wyborcza decided to go on the offensive. In 2020, the paper launched a public campaign to inform readers about the avalanche of lawsuits and how they were being abused. It was a departure from long-standing practice; Polish newsrooms have typically avoided discussing defamation cases, worrying that acknowledging them would undermine their credibility. Sign up for CJRs daily email Soon, independent outlets like OKO.press and some owned by the Ringier Axel Springer publishing group followed with their own disclosures. Banding together in common cause allowed media advocates to gather data showing that, from 2010 to 2023, Poland had the greatest number of such lawsuits in Europe. In 2021, the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe mockingly awarded Kaczynski its SLAPP politician of the year. Soon, readers and international organizations surged to the defense of Polish independent media, offering funds and legal guidance. The resistance held out long enough to make it to late 2023, when a political turning point brought some relief. In parliamentary elections, voters ousted the ruling government, and the new authorities swiftly signaled a change in approach. The Justice Ministry moved to withdraw dozens of ongoing lawsuits that its predecessors had launched against independent media. The threat of legal harassment, while not gone, has now significantly diminished. These arent stories of institutions saving the presstheyre stories of journalists saving each other. In Poland and Russia, independent media didnt survive because of laws or elections; they survived because people refused to give up. American journalists still have more room to maneuverbut that window is narrowing. When institutions falter, journalists have to be creative about where they find community. And the time to start building those connections is now. When Hurricane Katrina made landfall in southern Louisiana 20 years ago, the region was ill-prepared for the 125 mph winds and catastrophic flooding that would follow. Louisiana, like the rest of the United States, was still adopting modern international building codes, which had just gone into effect a few years prior. The good wind protections that we now all sort of take for granted in building codes didnt come into place until 2002, said Michael Newman, general counsel for the International Institute for Building & Home Safety (IBHS). Its maybe not so surprising that Louisiana wasnt up to date at that time. Louisiana lawmakers addressed building codes promptly by holding a special session in December 2005. Legislators passed a measure establishing a mandatory statewide building code in line with the International Code Council (ICC). Kathleen Blanco, then governor of the Pelican State, and various insurance groups supported the effort to establish a uniform building code, while opponents claimed it would drive up construction costs and would be hard to implement on a local level. Jim Donelon, the former Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, credits Blanco for having the political will to push statewide building codes through the legislature. That was a heavy lift, because half of our 64 parishes didnt have building codes, said Donelon. They didnt have permitting offices. They didnt have inspectors on the payroll. All of that was going to be expensive for them to stand up. Though Louisiana was quick to pass a statewide building code post-Katrina, the state didnt update its code in the ensuing years to keep up with international building codes. The ICC, for example, updates its model codes every three years to account for technological and material improvements and new safety concerns. It wasnt until Louisiana experienced another onslaught of hurricanes in 2020-21 that the state responded by bringing its code up to date. The 2020 hurricane season was the most active on record, with Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta causing $10.6 billion in insured losses. Louisiana was battered again the following year by Hurricane Ida, the most destructive storm since Katrina. Insured losses from Ida amounted to approximately $14 billion. Following that really bad string of hurricanes, a bunch of stakeholders came together and said, We need to update our code,' said Newman. Louisiana updated its statewide building code in 2021, bring the state in line with modern international codes. The destruction from Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta and Ida pressured politicians to seek other ways to grow the states resiliency against future storms. Donelon, as insurance commissioner, pushed lawmakers to establish a program that would give grants to residents to retrofit their roofs to standards set by the IBHS. Fortified roofs have stronger edges, a sealed roof deck, impact-resistant shingles and are better attached. The roofs are designed to withstand winds up to 130-150 mph, thus protecting a home in the event of a Category 3 or 4 hurricane. Louisianas initiative was to be modeled verbatim from Alabama, where lawmakers in 2011 established a program for residential wind mitigation on single-family homes. The Strengthen Alabama Homes program was the first of its kind to award grants up to $10,000 to homeowners to retrofit their roofs to the Fortified standard. The state began giving out grants in 2016. Alabama now has over 50,000 Fortified designations, and more than 80% of those are not supported by any public funding. What impresses me most is that they were brave enough to be the first mover, said Newman. Alabama said, Hurricanes are displacing our families, theyre destabilizing our communities and theyre making our insurance market unhealthy. They decided to do something about it. In Louisiana, lawmakers were slower to act. It took until after the 2020-21 storms for the legislature to fund the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. As is typical, the wolf was not at the door when we passed the bill the first time, said Donelon. But in the aftermath of Laura, Delta, Zeta and Ida, we needed insurance companies to come do business. Giving grants out, in particular to folks on coastal areas, is a long-term answer to our huge exposure to catastrophic events. Since launching in 2023, the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program has issued over 3,700 grants of up to $10,000. The number of homes Fortified without a grant has grown from under 1,000 to more than 5,500 over that period. The cost of purchasing a Fortified roof can be a barrier for homeowners who are already struggling to keep up with rising insurance premiums. Louisiana lawmakers tried to offset that cost passing a law that requires insurance companies to provide actuarial justified discounts to properties that meet the Fortified standard. Another law passed this year will give Fortified homeowners a personal income tax credit of up to $10,000. The program is vital for protecting our state against severe weather and making Louisiana a more attractive place for insurers to do business, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said. Photo: Aerial view of damage caused from Hurricane Katrina the day after the hurricane hit August 30, 2005. Photo by Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $79 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 after one of its airplanes that was experiencing engine trouble dumped its fuel over schoolyards and densely populated neighborhoods near Los Angeles. The Delta jet had departed from Los Angeles to Shanghai on Jan. 14, 2020 when it needed to quickly return to Los Angeles International Airport. The Boeing 777-200 landed safely after circling back over Los Angeles while dumping 15,000 gallons of fuel to reach a safe landing weight. Los Angeles County firefighters were called to schools in the city of Cudahy where nearly 60 schoolchildren and teachers were examined for minor skin and lung irritations. None required hospitalization. Shortly after, teachers from Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy filed a lawsuit against the airline, saying they were exposed to jet fuel that drizzled down like raindrops with overwhelming fumes. They described feeling the fuel on their clothes, skin and eyes. Later, several Cudahy homeowners filed a class-action suit. The teachers said they sought medical treatment after the incident and experienced physical and emotional pain. Delta said in the lawsuit settlement reached Monday that one of the planes two engines lost thrust shortly after takeoff and that the plane, which was carrying enough fuel for the 13-hour flight, exceeded its maximum landing weight by around 160,000 pounds. The weight of a full load of fuel carries a risk of damaging a jetliner during landing which can be expensive for an airline to fix. Even if there isnt damage, airlines try to avoid overweight landings because they are required to inspect planes, which puts them out of service. The pilots decided to dump fuel to reduce the serious risks of flying and landing an overweight airplane on just one engine. the airline said in court documents. Delta said in court documents that it agreed to the settlement without any admission of liability to avoid the legal expenses of a trial and to eliminate the distraction and other burdens this litigation has caused to Deltas business. Delta did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A high-profile night at the BBC Proms was dramatically interrupted when pro-Palestine protesters stormed into the Royal Albert Hall, halting the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's performance for more than ten minutes. The incident occurred during the orchestra's Proms debut, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. Activists affiliated with Jewish Artists for Palestine stood up mid-performance, unfurling banners and chanting slogans that accused cultural institutions of complicity in Israeli government policies. Audience members gasped as the disruption forced the orchestra to stop playing. The live radio transmission quickly cut to pre-recorded music while security moved in to remove the demonstrators. A Protest with Wider Resonance The activists accused participating artists and institutions of ignoring the war in Gaza. "We cannot allow cultural celebrations to continue as normal while atrocities are committed," one protester shouted before being escorted out. The protest drew immediate comparisons to earlier disruptions at cultural events across Europe this year, reflecting how the IsraelPalestine conflict has increasingly spilled into artistic spaces. Adding to the controversy, pianist Jayson Gillham, who was scheduled to perform with the orchestra, has already been at the center of a dispute. Gillham is suing his former employer after one of his concerts was canceled following his public comments about Gaza. His case has become a lightning rod in debates over free expression in the arts. Proms Under Scrutiny The BBC Proms, one of the world's most prestigious classical music festivals, has faced political protests before, but rarely as directly disruptive as Tuesday night's. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's debut was intended as a cultural milestone, highlighting Australian artistry on one of the biggest international stages. Instead, headlines were dominated by the protest. Social media clips of the incident quickly spread, with hashtags linking the Proms to Gaza trending on X and Instagram. Organizers Respond In a brief statement, the BBC said the performance had resumed after the interruption and that the safety of artists and audience members was never in danger. "The Proms is a celebration of music and unity, and while we respect the right to peaceful protest, disruption of live performances affects both audiences and artists," a spokesperson said. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has not yet commented publicly, though musicians looked visibly shaken as they restarted their performance. Protesters on Aug. 26 demonstrated outside the federal courthouse in Cleveland before a hearing for Ayman Soliman, who is facing civil immigration charges. Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio An Egyptian-born hospital chaplain jailed in Ohio will face an immigration trial that could decide whether he is deported to Egypt where his lawyers say he risks torture and death or allowed to remain in the United States, his home for the past 11 years. Cleveland Immigration Judge Jennifer Riedthaler-Williams set Ayman Solimans trial for Dec. 15. The trial is expected to last between two and four days, attorneys said. Its going to take a lot of time, Solimans attorney, Rob Ratliff said of the trial. We have a heavy burden. Soliman, 51, has been jailed since July 9 after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services revoked the asylum status he was granted in 2018. That status allowed him to live and work legally in the U.S., where he most recently served as a chaplain at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital and an imam at a local mosque. He received asylum because he assisted journalists during the Arab Spring uprising in Egypt in 2010 and 2011, an act that led to his imprisonment and torture before he fled. Solimans jailing has become one of the rallying points for critics of President Donald Trumps immigration policies. About 15 people showed up to the short hearing Wednesday to support Soliman, and several protests have been held in Cincinnati decrying his arrest. U.S. Department of Homeland Security attorneys have argued that Soliman should be deported because he no longer has status and that his asylum was revoked over accusations that he supported a terrorist organization the Muslim Brotherhood while working for a charity in Egypt. Solimans attorneys have argued that he was a board member for a local affiliate of the charity, Al-Gamiyya al-Shariyya, that had no links to terrorism. Theyve also argued Soliman worked for a local branch of the charity and had no contact with the national-level officials. Ratliff said at Wednesdays hearing that he had a long list of witnesses to testify about the charity and Muslim Brotherhood that would show there were no links to terrorism. He also said family members of Soliman would testify about receiving threats because of his actions in Egypt and that Soliman himself will testify at length about his experience in Egypt and in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security attorney Cheryl Gutridge said she had concerns about the length of a four-day trial and asked if Ratliff could submit expert testimony in writing. Gutridge also responded to a question Soliman posed about a footnote in her successful argument to keep Soliman jailed during the case that he had arrest warrants in Iraq charging him with murder. Gutridge said those accusations were an inadvertent reference to another case. She said the argument wasnt part of the ethos of her argument and not central to the case. She removed the accusation from the file in a new filing on Tuesday, she said. The trial date could be affected by a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati. Solimans attorneys have asked a federal judge to release him from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and to reinstate his asylum status. A hearing in that case is set for Oct. 7. Solimans attorneys have also sued over accusations that his rights were violated in the Butler County Jail, where hes been held since his arrest. Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones has denied the accusations. WALBRIDGE, Ohio A Northwest Ohio police officer accused of arriving at a call while drunk has been fired from his job and now is facing criminal charges. Michael Ervin, 35, who worked for the Walbridge Police Department, is charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing official business, OVI and having a weapon while intoxicated, according to Perrysburg Municipal Court records. WTVG Channel 13 reports the incident occurred on Aug. 23. Ervin responded to a call from a resident who found the door of their home open and wanted an officer to ensure there was no one inside their home or vehicle. When Ervin arrived, the resident suspected he was drunk and called a dispatcher, WTVG reports. Other officers were sent to the home and did a blood-alcohol test on Ervin, which was 0.168, reports say, twice the legal limit. Ervin was fired on Aug. 25. Its embarrassing and it puts a black eye on our department, Walbridge Mayor Edward Kolanko tells WTOL Channel 11. We are thankful no one got hurt and thankful to the residents who called and reported this. WTOL reports Ervin resigned from the Toledo Police Department while under investigation in September 2022. According to WTOL, Ervin was investigated multiple times while working in Toledo for off-duty, alcohol-related incidents. He was found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer, willful violation and habitual drunkenness in connection with the incidents. He was hired by Walbridge in October 2023, WTOL reports. Kolanko tells WTOL he was unaware of Ervins past with Toledo and he says plans to evaluate the police departments hiring practices. Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee led by the committee chair, Ohios Jim Jordan, seen here, clashed sharply over free speech with Democrats on Wednesday, with each side warning about infringement of First Amendment speech rights. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) AP WASHINGTON Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee led by Ohios Jim Jordan clashed sharply over free speech with Democrats on Wednesday, with Jordan warning about dangers from European censorship laws targeting American companies while Democrats accused the Trump administration of launching unprecedented attacks on the First Amendment at home. The hearing featured testimony from Nigel Farage, a right-wing populist British parliament member who helped lead the Brexit campaign that resulted in the United Kingdoms departure from the European Union. Jordan kicked off the hearing by accusing Europe of inappropriately trying to influence U.S. elections, highlighting communications that former EU Digital Services Act enforcer Thierry Breton sent to Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, that said the company failed to comply with the EUs Digital Service Act because it wasnt addressing illegal content and disinformation. When platforms are forced to change their terms of service to comply with European laws, it affects what we see, what we read, what we say online here in America, infringing on Americans First Amendment rights, said Jordan, pledging that his committee will continue to move legislation that protects free speech from threats, including threats from abroad. He also said the administration of ex-President Joe Biden pressured platforms to remove content, including material that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. posted on social media when he was a presidential candidate. We all want to protect kids, but censorship laws are never about disinformation or child safety or anything else, said Jordan. Theyre always about censoring criticism of the government. Social media is a relatively new technology, but censorship is as old as time. Disinformation, hate speech, labels are always used by the people in power to censor their critics. My experience has taught me that todays misinformation is tomorrows truth. Weve seen it time and time again. The committees top Democrat, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, fired back with a blistering assessment of domestic threats, saying there is a free speech crisis in America today, but theres no free speech crisis in Britain. He accused Republicans of ignoring massive repression in Russia, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia while vilifying European liberal democracies that are simply engaging in content moderation similar to what the U.S. does under the First Amendment. Ohios Vance praised for European warning The hearing featured praise for Vice President JD Vances February speech at the Munich Security Conference, where the Cincinnati Republican warned about threats from European allies rather than traditional adversaries. Farage credited Vance with getting the debate about censorship in Europe up and running. Farage, who leads the UKs Reform Party, testified about what he called Britains descent into authoritarianism, citing cases like comedian Graham Linehans arrest at Heathrow Airport for social media posts he made months earlier in Arizona. This could happen to any American man or woman that goes to Heathrow that has said things online that the British government and British police dont like, Farage warned. Georgia Democrat Hank Johnson pointed out that Farages party has fewer than 10 seats in the 650-seat parliament, calling him the leader of a fringe party, who was trying to curry favor with large political donor Elon Musk so hed finance his bid for prime minister. Farage responded defiantly: Oh, Im a fringe? All right, dont worry about that. Yes, absolutely... Im a fringe party leader seeking to run for prime minister of Great Britain. Democrats highlight domestic censorship concerns Democrats used the hearing to redirect attention to what they characterized as the Trump administrations systematic assault on free expression. Raskin detailed a litany of concerns, including: The firing of Centers for Disease Control officials who wouldnt change vaccine conclusions. Screening of U.S. visitors social media at borders for anti-Trump content. Attacks on public broadcasting and frivolous lawsuits against media outlets. The decimation of Voice of America. Americans arent worried about the EU or the Online Safety Act in the UK, Raskin said. Americans are worried that Donald Trump is working to rewrite and whitewash American history in our museums, our textbooks and our national parks, to destroy PBS, NPR and public broadcasting, to ban books in our libraries. Professor David Kaye of University of California Irvine, a former UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, said he believes the United States is leading the charge to undermine freedom of speech and of the press. He said the U.Ks Online Safety Act was an effort to hold big tech accountable, and its objectionable elements are subject to legal challenge and court review. Instead of criticizing allied democracies, consider the kinds of content online that you find objectionable, Kaye said. Maybe its antisemitic or Islamophobic content, misogyny, child endangerment, content glorifying terrorism or inciting violence. How do you propose to address those in a way that is consistent with free speech values? Thats not an easy question. European regulation costs and compliance The Republican witnesses focused heavily on the economic and regulatory burden of European laws like the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. Morgan Reed of the App Association testified that DMA compliance could cost American companies up to $1 billion annually, with those costs ultimately falling on American workers who will see fewer jobs, on consumers who will face higher prices and fewer choices. Alliance Defending Freedom International attorney Lorcan Price detailed what he called a digital censorship industrial complex emerging from European regulations, warning that trusted flaggers approved by governments effectively determine what content platforms must remove, with high civil penalties for non-compliance. Jordan questioned Price about hate speech definitions, revealing that EU regulators in a May workshop identified the phrase we need to take back our country as potential hate speech - a statement Jordan noted is made probably more by Democrats right now than Republicans. Arrest statistics raise concerns Farage provided stark statistics about enforcement in the U.K., testifying that in 2023 there were 12,183 arrests for offensive posts online. He described a system where people receive police visits for non-crime hate incidents based on social media complaints. The British MP also raised concerns about proposed legislation that would define Islamophobia as a legal offense, warning it would effectively criminalize criticism or mockery of religion - totally against everything weve always done in British culture. He said the legislation that led to the comedian Linehans address was rotten legislation that has potential to affect Americans and American businesses. It needs to be gotten rid of and we need to start again, Farage said. Under free speech we should be allowed to cause offense...If people say rude things and we dont like them, well, we just ignore them. Ohio was among seven states that lost a congressional seat based on the results of census 2020. Texas gained two seats. U.S. Census Bureau WASHINGTON - President Donald Trumps call for a new census excluding undocumented immigrants has sparked confusion over timing and legality. Experts say the proposal faces insurmountable obstacles. But if it were to happen, what would be its potential impact on Ohios congressional representation? Could Ohio regain a seat in Congress? That remains uncertain. In an August 7 social media post, Trump wrote: I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024. People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS. Thank you for your attention to this matter! The posts ambiguous language left experts debating whether Trump meant conducting an immediate new census or modifying the already-planned 2030 count. Either scenario faces significant legal and practical barriers, according to census specialists. Apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives 435 seats is determined by census population counts that happen every decade. In determining the number of seats for each state, all residents are currently counted - adults and children, citizens and non-citizens - plus overseas federal employees who are counted as residents of their U.S. state. Republican advocates of excluding undocumented immigrants from the census believe it would boost their partys number of congressional seats, though experts say such changes could cut either way depending on where unauthorized populations are concentrated. During his first presidential term, Trump unsuccessfully pushed to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census and tried to exclude undocumented immigrants from congressional apportionment calculations. The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the question from appearing in 2020, but didnt say it couldnt appear in the future. Trumps current plan comes as several Republican-controlled states are engaged in aggressive efforts to redraw congressional maps before the next election as a way to reduce Democrats representation. Democrat-controlled states are retaliating with their own push to cut their states number of GOP seats. Democrats such as U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, say failing to count immigrants in the country illegally would violate the U.S. Constitution. They also argue it would harm communities that rely on accurate census data for federal funding and representation. The Constitution mandates a census every ten years that counts every single person in the country, regardless of their citizenship status, Nadler said in a social media response to Trump. The Constitution is plain and simple: whole number of persons. In an August 10 interview on Fox News, Vice President JD Vance predicted that redoing the census now would give Republicans an extra 10 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, as it would correct a major statistical error in the 2020 census. What we want to do is redo the census, but importantly, we want to redistrict some of these red states, and we want to make the congressional apportionment fair in this country, Vance continued. Again, you cannot do it unless Republicans actually take some very decisive action in the months to come. The Cincinnati Republican amplified on those concerns in an August 24 Meet the Press interview, saying he believes California has five more congressional seats than it should because the census counted immigrants in the country illegally. Meanwhile, Ohio, my home state, lost a representative, said Vance. Were literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens. Republicans are trying to balance out the scales a little bit for basic fairness and for the integrity of our democracy, which the President cares about as much as anybody in the country. Constitutional and legal barriers Terri Ann Lowenthal, a longtime census expert who previously served as staff director for the House census oversight subcommittee, says Trumps plan faces insurmountable legal obstacles. Under current law, Congress is responsible for taking and overseeing the census, and presidents dont have authority to order them, she says. Lowenthal says the Constitutions 14th amendment clearly requires a census of the whole number of persons residing in the states for purpose of apportionment, which would have to include people in the country illegally. When Congress adopted the amendment after the Civil War, she says it discussed basing apportionment on the whole number of citizens, or the whole number of voters, and rejected those approaches. On top of the constitutional problems with failing to count undocumented immigrants, Lowenthal says any new census before 2030 would require Congressional approval and billions of extra dollars an unlikely prospect given that Congress has already underfunded preparation for the 2030 Census. The last census cost nearly $14 billion, she says. While federal law allows the government to conduct a mid-decade census, she says the law also specifies those counts cant be used for reapportioning congressional seats or redistricting. Howard Fienberg, co-director of the Census Project, a coalition of hundreds of organizations that advocate for census funding, says it would be virtually impossible to conduct a census before the next congressional election. It takes 10 years to properly plan a census, he said. Even if you were to cut all the corners, its just hard to envision how they could pull it off, because youre still talking about a federal government agency. Government agencies dont do things quickly, even if they have all the money in the world, which the Census Bureau does not. Getting the numbers Even if those logistical obstacles could be overcome, Trumps proposal raises basic questions about what kind of count hes actually seeking. Kimball Brace, who heads Election Data Services, a political consulting firm that specializes in redistricting and analysis of census and political data, questions whether Trump understands the distinction between conducting a full census and working with population estimates. A full census aims to count every person in the country, while population estimates are statistical projections based on birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns that are done with limited counts in between census years. Current population estimates only go down to the county level, not the census block level needed for redistricting. Brace says reliable data on undocumented populations is hard to come by, classifying most projections as guesstimates. Immigrant households, whether documented or not, often avoid census participation over fears their information could be used against them. Getting those numbers down to state level is very dicey, let alone to the local level, says Brace. All three experts worry that anti-immigrant rhetoric could damage the accuracy of the next census by elevating immigrants participation fears. One of my most significant concerns about the next census is the climate of fear will be so high that the Census Bureau will hit a tsunami of fear that will be hard to overcome and that will lead to an inaccurate census everywhere there are immigrants, whether or not they are legal, says Lowenthal, a former aide to ex-U.S. Rep. Tom Sawyer, an Akron Democrat. The effect in Ohio Based on early population numbers, Brace doesnt think Ohio is likely to gain or lose congressional seats in census conducted in 2030 or earlier, regardless of whether undocumented immigrants are counted. The state knows how narrow these margins can be. Ohio lost a congressional seat after the 2020 census by just 11,463 people falling barely short of the population threshold needed to maintain its 16th seat. Braces company released a December 2024 analysis based on Census Bureau population estimates that shows Ohio would need to lose more than 530,000 people to lose a seat, but only needs to gain 300,000 to gain a seat. Even if you had citizenship data, one would not think Ohio would be close enough to the tipping point to get another seat or lose one, he said. But Brace cautioned that unpredictable events can shift forecasts. He noted that that Louisiana was projected to gain a congressional seat before some of its population left the state after Hurricane Katrina and the state ended up losing a seat. You never know what is going to happen between now and the census, says Brace. Little shifts could end up having a major impact. If apportionment were conducted today using 2024 estimates, his projections show nine states would see changes: Texas and Florida would each gain two seats, while Arizona and Idaho would gain one each. California would lose two seats, and Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon would each lose one. Looking ahead to 2030, his numbers predict California could lose four congressional seats a historic decline for a state that had gained representation in nearly every census since joining the Union in 1849. Texas and Florida would each gain four seats, while Illinois and New York could each lose two. Where the undocumented reside Ohio doesnt have a high concentration of undocumented immigrants, by anyones reckoning. Data from the non-partisan Immigration Policy Institute estimates the state has around 89,000 of them. It says the top 5 countries theyre from are Mexico, India, Guatemala, China/Hong Kong and El Salvador. A Department of Homeland Security report says California and Texas had the highest number of unauthorized residents in 2022, with 2.6 million and 2.1 million people, respectively, together accounting for 42 percent of the nations unauthorized population. They were followed by Florida (590,000), New Jersey (490,000), Illinois (420,000), and New York (410,000). Florida and Texas are controlled by Republicans, while California, New Jersey, Illinois and New York are Democratic strongholds. Declining representation Starting with the 1970 census, when Ohio had 24 House seats, the state lost seats after every census. After the 1970 count, it dipped to 23, then to 21, 19, 18, 16. Its representation was cut to 15 after the 2020 count showed Ohios share of the overall U.S. population had shrunk relative to states in the south and west. The Census Bureau pegged Ohios 2020 population at 11,799,448, up 2.3% from 11,536,504 a decade earlier. But the rest of the country grew at a faster rate, going up 7.4% from 308.7 million people to 331.4 million. Results of that census gave two new seats to Texas, and one each to Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon. In addition to Ohio, California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia lost seats. Some margins were razor-thin: New York would not have lost a seat if it had just 89 more residents, Census Bureau officials said. Ohio was next closest to keeping its seat, falling around 11,463 people short a tiny fraction of its 11.8 million residents. Broader implications In addition to determining the reapportionment of congressional seats, census population data is used to guide the distribution of federal funding, inform policy decisions at all levels of government, and support planning for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and emergency services. Theres trillions of dollars that are divvied up by the federal government, and where it goes is determined by Census data, Fienberg said. His Census Project represents organizations ranging from state and local government to academia, activist groups, businesses and trade associations. Lowenthal warns that inaccurate data would have widespread consequences. Once you have screwed up for one purpose, youre screwed up for every purpose, she says. Business wont have good data to know where to build new stores, new factories for manufacturing, provide services and meet needs of customers. Localities and states wont know how to allocate resources to plan for public welfare and safety. Been delaying that trip to Ireland? Aer Lingus just put fall airfare on sale from Cleveland. CLEVELAND, Ohio The days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler. It can only mean one thing: Its a good time to find airfare bargains for off-season travel. With Labor Day in the rear-view mirror, airlines are lowering prices to fill seats through the end of the year. Numerous carriers, including Aer Lingus, Breeze and Frontier, launched fare sales this week for travel this fall and beyond. Most of the deals, alas, arent good for travel during the busy Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays. But if youre able to get away in October or early November, you may find a deal too good to pass up. Heres a selection of airfare deals that are likely to appeal to Northeast Ohio travelers: Aer Lingus Aer Lingus, which flies nonstop from Cleveland to Dublin, Ireland, launched a sale this week that features fares as low as $437 round-trip. The sale fares are valid from Oct. 1-Dec. 15 and Jan. 7-March 31, 2026. Reminder: The Cleveland Aer Lingus flight runs six days per week through Oct. 25, when it reverts to four times per week. The flight will run through the winter next year for the first time since it was launched in 2023. For details: aerlingus.com Frontier Airlines Frontier, which offers more nonstop destinations from Cleveland Hopkins than any other carrier, recently put its 2026-2027 GoWild! All-You-Can-Fly Annual Pass on sale for $299 (regular price is $599). And customers can begin to use it right away. The pass allows travelers to book an unlimited number of flights through April 2027. But there are lots of blackout dates, caveats and rules, so please read the fine print. The sale price is good through Sept. 5. For information: flyfrontier.com/deals/gowild-pass Breeze Airways Breeze, which flies from the Akron-Canton Airport, recently announced an end-of-summer promotion offering 35% off round-trip base fares (use code Golden). The promotion is valid on new bookings purchased by Sept. 5 for travel between Sept. 10 and Jan. 31, 2026. Blackout dates and other rules apply. Breeze this week is launching three new routes from Akron-Canton, including nonstop service to Daytona Beach, Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, Florida. For details: flybreeze.com India would like to see its negotiations with the European Union for a free trade agreement move to a "decisive conclusion" soon, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. Jaishankar made the remarks at a joint media briefing after holding wide-ranging talks with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul.The external affairs minister said the talks focused on boosting bilateral ties in areas of economy, climate change, defence, technology. We appreciate Germany's aim to double trade with India, he said. The external affairs minister also appreciated Germany for addressing export control issues.Jaishankar also welcomed Germany's interests for cooperation with India in the semiconductor sector. The external affairs minister said Wadephul told him that Germany will put its full weight behind the India-EU FTA.India and Germany are looking at cooperation in green hydrogen sector as well, Jaishankar said. India's relationship with Germany is enormously important and it is growing significantly, he noted. Sri Lanka recorded a strong inflow of foreign visitors in August, with India continuing to top the charts as the largest source market, according to provisional figures released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority on September 2.The island nation welcomed 198,235 tourists during the month, a sharp rise from 164,609 in the same period last year, which represents a year-on-year growth of 20.4%, signalling a sustained recovery for the countrys tourism sector.India led the arrival numbers with 46,473 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 17,764 and Germany contributing 12,500. Other significant markets included China, Italy, France, Spain, Australia, the Netherlands and Japan.Between January and August this year, Sri Lanka hosted 15.6 lakh foreign tourists. Of these, Indian travellers made up the largest share with 3.25 lakh followed by 1.51 lakh from the UK and 1.18 lakh from Russia.Industry observers noted that August arrivals were broadly consistent with pre-crisis levels, falling just short of the 2 lakh tourists recorded in August 2018, the Daily Mirror reported.Tourism remains a critical sector for Sri Lanka's economy, which is gradually rebounding after years of economic challenges. Officials say the steady flow of Indian visitors, coupled with increasing arrivals from Europe and East Asia, is a positive sign for the industry as it works towards full recovery. The leaders of 26 countries joined Chinese President Xi Jinping to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a military parade in the Chinese capital on Wednesday, in a show of solidarity among nations friendly to Beijing.Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who made a rare foreign trip to attend, flanked Xi as they ascended to the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square and watched the display of military hardware and marching troops. Observers say the joint appearance was a show of unity against the United States.Leaders from the US, Western Europe, Japan and India skipped the event and countries like South Korea and Singapore sent lower-level officials. But Xi's guest list showed Beijing's growing influence in the Global South and other emerging economies.Here's a glance at Xi's guests: US adversaries. Joining Putin and Kim included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, all considered US adversaries. Russia's close ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, walked next to Kim after taking group pictures with other leaders.Putin and Kim chatted animatedly with Xi as they climbed up the stairs to the viewing platform.The sight of these leaders, with Xi, appeared to observers as a challenge to a US-led international order.Leaders from Asia, Africa and the Americas Asia accounted for the majority of national leaders at the event.Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who initially cancelled his trip to China due to protests at home, made it to Beijing and took part in the event with his counterparts in Southeast Asia, such as Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Myanmar's military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was there too.Other leaders from South and Central Asia attended, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso were also on the guest list.Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel was the only leader from the Americas to attend.The guest list had heavy overlap with the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation days earlier, but there were some notable departures before the parade, including representatives from India and Turkiye.Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted warm words about meetings with Xi and Putin on social media platform X. He posted a picture of himself and Putin travelling together with him, saying that conversations with him are always insightful, and wrote that he had a fruitful meeting with Xi.Most European leaders stayed away Other than Putin and Lukashenko, the only other European leaders to attend the parade were Serbia's Russia-friendly President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico.But former Romanian prime ministers Adrian Nastase and Viorica Dancila took the group picture with current leaders. At least 14 people have been killed and 35 others injured in a suicide bombing shortly after the conclusion of a public rally organised by the Balochistan National Party (BNP) in Quetta, according to media reports.The explosion occurred close to Shahwani Stadium in the Sariab area on Tuesday (September 2) night after the rally held to mark the fourth death anniversary of Sardar Attaullah Mengal ended, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar confirmed the casualties, the newspaper said.Officials confirmed it was a suicide attack, the Dawn reported. According to police, the explosion occurred about 15 minutes after the meeting ended.The bomber allegedly detonated his explosives-laden jacket in the parking area as participants were leaving the meeting.BNP chief Akhtar Mengal, who presided over the gathering, remained unhurt as the blast occurred when he was leaving for home, according to The Dawn.Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Asghar Khan Achakzai of the Awami National Party, and former senator Mir Kabeer Muhammad Shai of the National Party were also present at the rally, but escaped unhurt, it added.However, former BNP member of provincial assembly (MPA) Mir Ahmed Nawaz Baloch and the partys central labour secretary Musa Jan were among those injured along with several party workers and supporters.BNP chief Mengal confirmed in a social media post that he was safe but deeply heartbroken at the loss of our workers. He claimed 15 BNP workers lost their lives in the explosion.Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly act by the enemies of humanity.Such acts of terrorism are meant to destabilise the province and spread fear among innocent citizens, he said.A special investigation committee has been formed and security has been beefed up in and around Quetta in the aftermath of the explosion.No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing so far. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday (September 2) that his country respects Russias relations with India, as he called for strengthening Islamabads ties with Moscow during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.The two leaders are in China to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin and attend a grand parade of the Chinese army in Beijing on Wednesday (September 3) to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.Our relations have only improved over the past many years. Thanks to your commitment and interest in many areas. I also intend to decisively strengthen our bilateral ties, Sharif told President Putin.The prime minister also expressed gratitude to the Russian president for supporting Pakistan, which was viewed as a balancing act in the region.I must say that we respect your relations with India. That is perfectly fine. But we also want to build very strong relations (with Russia). And these relations will be supplementary and complementary for the good and for the progress and prosperity of the region, Sharif said.He emphasised that Putin is a very dynamic leader and that now Russia and Pakistan are moving in the right direction, according to Russias state-run TASS news agency.Sharif said that Pakistan was eager to expand ties with Russia in trade connectivity, energy, agriculture, investment, defence, artificial intelligence, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.President Putin noted the upward trajectory of ties between the two countries and stressed the importance of collaboration in organisations such as the SCO, which in turn can serve a major role in regional and global security and stability, it said.The two leaders also discussed the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East and the Ukraine conflict. They also exchanged views on ongoing cooperation at the multilateral forums, as well as on the long-standing issues and disputes of global interest, such as Palestine and Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported.Sharif also accepted Putins invitation to visit Russia in November and participate in a SCO event for heads of government. I would be very happy to visit Russia, he said.The relations between Pakistan and Russia have come a long way from the Cold War hostility to the current level of cooperation, and there is hope to further expand it in the coming years.In recent years, the two countries have engaged in strengthening bilateral ties with each other.Separately, Sharif also met Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon in Beijing, and both leaders expressed their satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation between their countries in all areas of mutual interest. Philip Morris wins court fight to block new cigarette warning labels and ads Judge says FDA failed to disclose raw study data during rulemaking process Ruling is latest blow to government efforts to strengthen tobacco warnings A federal judge has struck down the Food and Drug Administrations rules requiring new graphic warnings on cigarette packages and advertisements, siding with Philip Morris USA and other plaintiffs in a closely watched case. In an Aug. 29 order, Judge Lisa G. Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia said the FDA failed to disclose the raw data from studies it relied on to design the labels. That, she wrote, prejudiced cigarette makers and convenience store operators who challenged the rules. The Georgia plaintiffs, including the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, argued the rule would cost millions, force retailers to speak against their own products, and deter customers by making convenience stores "unwelcoming." accoring to TobaccoReporter.com. It said the FDA arbitrarily focused on certain smoking-related risks over others without explanation, and claimed it ignored countless red flags in its studies. The FDA defended its process, noting the warnings aimed to better inform consumers of smoking risks. Yet another setback The ruling marks another setback for regulators trying to enforce tougher health warnings. The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act directed the FDA to require graphic warnings alongside text statements about the dangers of smoking. The agencys first attempt in 2011 was vacated by a federal appeals court for violating the First Amendment. In 2020, the FDA issued a new rule with 11 graphic warnings tied to smoking-related diseases, supported by agency studies it said would promote public understanding of health risks. But Philip Morris and its co-plaintiffs argued the process violated both the tobacco law and the Administrative Procedure Act. Earlier this year, a Texas judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the rules, finding the FDA likely violated procedure. Fridays Georgia ruling goes further, granting summary judgment to the tobacco companies and striking the rules down altogether. The government has defended its approach, noting the need to update warning labels after decades without changes. But the latest ruling underscores the steep legal hurdles regulators face in forcing the industry to adopt stronger labels. Still lethal after all these years Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., responsible for nearly one in five deaths annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke cause more than 480,000 deaths each year nearly 20% of all U.S. deaths. The American Lung Association also reports that smoking tops the list of preventable death causes, resulting in around half a million deaths annually in the country. Although smoking rates have dropped dramatically from about 42% of U.S. adults in 1965 to 1112% by 2022 the health impact remains significant. What you need to know Philip Morris and others prevailed in court, with a judge invalidating FDAs graphic warning label rules. Why it matters: The decision delays updated health warnings Congress called for in 2009. Whats next: The government can appeal, but legal challenges have repeatedly stalled tobacco labeling efforts for more than a decade. xxxx A federal judge in South Georgia struck down the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) rule requiring graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and ads, siding with Philip Morris USA and Georgia retailers, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. U.S. District Judge Lisa Wood ruled that the FDA failed to disclose all raw data used in developing the 2020 rule, preventing stakeholders from offering meaningful feedback. While Wood rejected most of the plaintiffs arguments, she vacated the rule, citing a violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. The Georgia plaintiffs, including the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, argued the rule would cost millions, force retailers to speak against their own products, and deter customers by making convenience stores unwelcoming. It said the FDA arbitrarily focused on certain smoking-related risks over others without explanation, and claimed it ignored countless red flags in its studies. The FDA defended its process, noting the warnings aimed to better inform consumers of smoking risks. The decision marks another setback in the FDAs long-running effort to implement graphic warnings under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. A similar case is pending in Texas, where a judge has already blocked enforcement until appeals are resolved. Who wouldnt want to be stranded on an island with Roseanne Barr? When Roseanne decided to pay tribute to Sherwood Schwartz, the Hall of Fame sitcom producer behind Gilligans Island and The Brady Bunch, the show decided to go all in. Not only did Roseanne create its own Gilligan fantasy sequence, but it also invited the originals cast to completely take over at the end of the show. In the episode Sherwood Schwartz: A Loving Tribute, Dan returns to a thankless project hes repairing an old boat in the garage. Roseanne thinks its a harebrained scheme, of course. If by some chance Dan ever got the ship upgraded to seaworthy condition, Roseanne knows just what would go wrong: In three hours or so, theyd get lost at sea and then shipwrecked in the middle of nowhere. Roseannes vision of doom becomes a dream sequence, with John Goodmans Dan transforming into the Skipper. Wow! he exclaims, churning his arms like Chris Farleys Matt Foley. An uncharted desert island? This wasnt on any of my maps! Don't Miss Laurie Metcalfs Jackie becomes Gilligan, diving off the shipwrecked boat into the sand in an ill-fated attempt to abandon ship. Darlene is Mary Ann, just a dumb girl from the country with an amazing rack. Leonard and Beverly become the Howells, Mark is the Professor, and Roseanne shows off her own prodigious bosom as movie star Ginger Grant. After the Roseanne version of the castaways are nearly eaten by cannibals, the show returns to its reality at least for another three minutes. But the best is yet to come. Advertisement Advertisement The extended credits sequence features the surviving members of the Gilligans Island cast filling in for the Roseanne characters. Tina (Ginger) Louise is up first, complaining about lite pork rinds as Roseanne. She calls to Jackie, played by a crossdressing Bob (Gilligan) Denver, who grouses about carrying all the groceries. Advertisement Advertisement Russell (The Professor) Johnson ambles in as Mark, looking for Becky. Aah, Im dumb, he admits when he learns Becky isnt in the episode. Finally, Dawn (Mary Ann) Wells enters as Darlene. This family sucks, she declares before telling Jackie she needs a shave. When the real David arrives, he double-takes upon seeing the Gilligan's Island actors standing in for his family. We definitely watch too much TV. The bit ends with Rosanne/Louise calling for her new writer, Sherwood Schwartz. The producer, who would have been pushing 80 at the time, proves why he wasnt an on-camera actor, giggling while the appreciative audience cheers him on. Eventually, Roseanne fires Schwartz for talking back, asking for the guy who wrote The Brady Bunch to fill in. Thats Schwartz again, and hes rehired. The episode is a near-perfect tribute to Nick at Nite era sitcoms, and the cast and writers clearly have a deep affection for their comedy ancestors. But theres no getting around one key fact: Bob Denver makes for an ugly Jackie. It may come as a shock to any British comedians working today, but apparently British comedy isnt a thing anymore? At least, not according to legendary Monty Python member/notorious grump John Cleese. Cleese recently spoke at an event organized by the Slapstick Festival in Bristol celebrating 50 years of Fawlty Towers. According to The Daily Mail, Cleese then took the opportunity to slam the BBC. If you put a script in now it has to go through a fucking committee who have no idea what they are doing, Cleese argued. He also claimed that there has been nothing funny since The Office. It is sad, and it is because the people in charge have no idea how to make comedy happen, adding that the whole process (of making a comedy show) has been replaced by a bureaucratic process which does not begin to work. Don't Miss While it may have seemed as though he was talking about the BBC specifically, he also claimed that the British comedy industry as a whole has collapsed. We used to be really good at it and now we are not and that is very sad. Come to think of it, the death of comedy in the U.K. could explain why Cleese had to fly to Australia in order to be roasted. There werent committees when we started, Cleese continued. Comedy now has to be clean. You must not play for laughs. Advertisement First of all, it seems pretty obvious that comedy today doesnt have to be clean, and still gets laughs. One of the better British comedy shows of the past five years, We Are Lady Parts, is about a Muslim punk band with songs such as I Want to Fuck a Terrorist. And clean isnt the first word that springs to mind while watching the U.K.-produced Netflix hit Sex Education. Meanwhile, Fleabag, which aired on BBC Three across the pond, literally opened with Phoebe Waller Bridges character having anal sex and then fretting about her massive asshole. Monty Pythons Flying Circus, on the other hand, was hardly given free reign by the network. The troupe was forced to add canned boos just to get a now-unshocking sketch about cannibalism on the air. And the BBC wouldnt even let them do a sketch involving drinking wine glasses full of urine, and in that instance, Cleese actually sided with the censors! Advertisement Advertisement Had the Pythons tried to open a show back in 1969 with a character addressing the camera while being fucked by a stranger, the BBC probably would have had them all arrested. If Cleese is upset that punching down is no longer culturally acceptable, thats hardly the same as TV censorship, which seems to have become way more relaxed in many ways. I am going to write a book about writing comedy to make people aware how difficult it is, Cleese told the crowd. Presumably the last chapter will be all about how to rage about nonexistent problems whenever you start to feel irrelevant. Woody Allen, a man who married his own step-daughter when she was just 22 years old and he was in his late 50s, doesnt seem like the creepiest or least pleasant person in the room during his recent interview with Bill Maher on the Club Random podcast. This doesnt mean that Allen doesnt come off as creepy; its simply that Maher seems like the worse person between the two. While it might seem a bit shocking that Allen was even guesting on Mahers podcast in the first place, those who have had the misfortune of following Mahers antics will know that its the logical endpoint of his avid defense of Allen. Back in 2024 Maher told Katie Couric that the actors who expressed regret for working with Allen were a bunch of pussies and that he didnt think he committed that crime. To hear Maher tell it, youd think that the allegations of Allen molesting his step-children in the 1990s or the resurfacing of the allegations in the 2010s totally ended Allens career. This is what he told Couric. That it was just some big media witch hunt for a guy he believed was totally innocent. To Maher, Allen is Sarah Good. Don't Miss In the 90-minute episode of Club Random that was posted to YouTube on Monday, Maher repeatedly tried to get Allen to endorse Mahers crusade against the actors and media who ruined his career. But Allen really didnt seem too bothered by the whole situation. When Maher repeatedly tried to bait Allen into getting angry at Greta Gerwig and Timothee Chalamet for speaking out about their regrets for working with Allen, his response was essentially meh. Ive had a good time working with both of them, Allen explained. And they think that theyre doing something honorable or helpful, but theyre not. Advertisement To this relatively measured (if not full of shit) response, Maher cried: Theyre sheep! Its telling that Allen is able to recognize that his career wasnt in any significant way hindered by the allegations that he was a pedophile molesting and grooming children he was meant to care for while Maher is not. And Allen is right: He wrote and directed numerous Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning films since the accusations first surfaced and for nearly two decades after the fact. Advertisement Allens relatively chill response makes him seem like a gentle pervert compared to Mahers rage-baiting, aggressive interview style. Mahers in such rabid form that even fans of the show called for him to stop talking. A brief sampling of the comments on the YouTube video: Advertisement My dear Bill, with all my heartfelt admiration please listen to this: LET YOUR GUESTS TALK!!!!!!! What an opportunity to interview Woody Allen and not let him talk. You blew it Bill. Bill should simply sit in front of a mirror and interview himself. Woody Allen finally gets the chance to interview Bill Maher. In all the time he spent talking over Allen, Maher never noticed that its weird for Allen to be more aware that he made it out of the #MeToo movement relatively unscathed than the person interviewing him. As someone who says hes really against people who overlook child-fucking, Maher spends much more of his time coming to the public defense of people accused of said child-fucking rather than denouncing it. Hes always trying to point out the logical fallacies of those who speak out against sexual abuse, while making space to victimize the alleged perpetrators. In Mahers brain, people are only bringing up allegations of abuse when they have an ulterior motive. That ultimately says more about the Real Time host than it does his targets. Advertisement Allen probably doesnt appreciate Maher projecting his own fears of career-sabotage-via-credible-allegations onto his own long and storied success in Hollywood. Allens life is probably incredible. In fact, the worst part of being Woody Allen in 2025 is definitely insisting to Bill Maher that it doesnt suck to be Woody Allen. Xi addresses V-Day reception, stressing justice, peace, people's strength Xinhua) 18:40, September 03, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a reception commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for firmly upholding international fairness and justice, staying committed to the path of peaceful development, and making unremitting efforts to improve people's well-being at all times. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when addressing a reception commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. At around 11:30 a.m., Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan entered the banquet hall together with the foreign leaders and their spouses attending the reception. Xi noted that the victory marks a historic turning point for the Chinese nation -- from the depths of crisis in modern times to the path of great rejuvenation, and also a major turning point in world development. This great victory was achieved through the joint struggle of the Chinese people together with the anti-fascist allies and peoples across the world, Xi said. The Chinese government and people will never forget the foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people in their resistance against aggression, he said. As inhabitants of the same planet, humanity must stand together in times of difficulty, live in harmony, and never relapse into the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak, Xi said. Stressing that Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development, Xi said China will always be a force for peace, stability, and progress in the world. It is sincerely hoped that all countries will learn from history, value peace, and work together to advance world modernization and create a better future for humanity, Xi noted. At the reception, Xi and Peng watched a cultural performance with the guests. Li Qiang presided over the reception. Other senior officials Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng also attended the event. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan enter the banquet hall together with the foreign leaders and their spouses attending a reception commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended and addressed the reception. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a reception commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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 London-based lifestyle brand Skinnydip have launched a new range of sweatshirts and t-shirts inspired by some of Disney's most iconic films. Known for their collaborations, which have previously included The Simpsons, Paddington, Peter Rabbit and Miffy, Skinnydip have now joined forces with Disney to bring you a new collection of covetable clothing. Regularly launching new collections inspired by some of our favourite childhood films, the new range of Disney 100 per cent cotton t-shirts and cotton blend graphic sweatshirts is the perfect combination of nostalgia and style. Perfect for autumn's cosy evenings, these are pieces you'll want to reach for again and again, and prices start from just 24. After another gruelling broadcast interview, a senior minister was overheard saying to an aide as he left the studio: Im sick to death of going into battle for Ange. How many more times do I have to defend her? Pausing, the minister then almost spat out the words: Shes so infuriating! The knives are increasingly out for the Deputy Prime Minister within the upper echelons of the Labour Party. Although Keir Starmer, now 63, has vowed to fight the next election due in 2029 his governments plummeting popularity and widespread perception of incompetence has inevitably led potential usurpers to begin their manoeuvres. And foremost among these is Angela Rayner. For ten days, of course, she has been at the centre of damaging allegations that she avoided 40,000 in stamp duty on the purchase of an 800,000 luxury flat in Hove, East Sussex. The Deputy PM who is also the Housing Secretary apparently told HMRC the property was her main residence, while informing the Cabinet Office that her primary property was her former family home in Greater Manchester, 260 miles from her seaside pied-a-terre. As Keir Starmers second-in-command, she also enjoys a resplendent grace-and-favour apartment in Admiralty House in London, once the home of Sir Winston Churchill. Not for nothing is she nicknamed Three Pads Rayner. One senior Labour adviser told me: [Ministers] are furious. We have been blown off-course by questions over Angela Rayners homes for nearly two weeks. On Monday Sir Keir, in his only broadcast interview as Parliament returned after the summer recess, was forced to defend his embattled deputy. Describing her as incredible, the Prime Minister warned that it was a mistake for people to brief against her. On Monday Sir Keir Starmer described his deputy Angela Rayner as 'incredible' and warned that it was a mistake for people to brief against her For ten days she has been at the centre of damaging allegations that she avoided 40,000 in stamp duty on the purchase of an 800,000 luxury flat in Hove, East Sussex - where she was snapped drinking wine on the beach He appeared to be referring to Rayners enemies in the Labour Party. Some of her own supporters believe shes the victim of a dirty-tricks campaign orchestrated from within the party to scupper her leadership ambitions. A senior ministerial source captures this mood when he tells me: Ange is a great politician, but shes not cut out to be PM: shes simply not good enough. She used to know it, but now shes got people openly working for her to be leader. They must know her limitations. Or perhaps not. Last months LabourList league table of the most popular Cabinet ministers put Rayner an impressive second on 59 per cent, more than 20 points ahead of third-placed Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. (Ed Miliband, the Climate Change Secretary who led Labour to defeat in the 2015 General Election, is top, on 73 per cent.) No one has ever accused the flame-haired Rayner of a lack of ambition. Having left school at 16 pregnant and with no qualifications, she was an MP by the age of 35 and even her critics acknowledge her ability to maintain a streak of authenticity in a sterile political world. While Rayner publicly insists she has no wish to run for the top job, I understand that she has already assembled a team raising support among party members. The leader of this campaign is her boyfriend Sam Tarry, himself a former Labour MP. The far-Left Tarry, who ran Jeremy Corbyns 2015 leadership campaign, has never forgiven Starmer for sacking him as a shadow minister in 2022 for giving an interview on a picket line during a rail strike. So which other Labour MPs would like to see the Red Queen toppled? Foremost among them is perhaps Wes Streeting, 42, the ultra-ambitious Health Secretary. He is seen as a slick media performer who could appeal to centrist voters. But hes languishing in 17th place in the LabourList league table, on a mere 9 per cent approval rating. Two other senior party figures who fancy the top job are London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and his Manchester counterpart, King of the North Andy Burnham, who is one of the bookies favourites for the leadership. Foremost among the MPs who would like to see the Red Queen toppled is the ultra-ambitious Health Secretary, Wes Streeting Two other senior party figures who fancy the top job are London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, right, and his Manchester counterpart, King of the North Andy Burnham, left As to their ambitions, Rayner may have plans. Labour insiders have privately accused her in recent days of being on manoeuvres, having tabled an amendment to the English Devolution Bill which would bar elected mayors from simultaneously holding parliamentary seats. One supporter of Burnham said: He likes Ange but this rule change about mayors is not even subtle. The key question is where these damaging leaks about Rayners property empire are coming from. One senior Labour figure, who admires the Deputy PM, tells me hes convinced shes the victim of an internal plot. The Tories dont have the wit, gumption or inside knowledge to get anywhere near this stuff weve been reading about Rayner, says this source. Its got to be our side who are trying to kill her off. Theres a lot of talk about how shes not really up to it. Last weekend there were reports that Rayner had moved to Hove as part of a chicken run, when MPs abandon marginal seats in search of more secure political territory. Rayner enjoys a majority of just under 6,800 in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, with Reform UK in second place. But Nigel Farage is confident his party will win the seat next time, giving Reform its most prized political scalp. Of the three parliamentary constituencies in Brighton & Hove, two are held by Labour and one by the Greens. Would one welcome Rayner? One Rayner ally said: The chicken run story could only have come from Labour. Ange might have said it as a joke but she would never have said that to a Tory, even in jest. Theres not a grain of truth in her abandoning her constituency seat, but its out there now and its damaging. This is all about embarrassing one of our best performers. Its so destructive. The past ten days have undermined Rayners leadership prospects, another newly elected Labour MP told me. I dont think shes broken any rule but it doesnt smell right to most voters. This isnt just a silly season summer story it would have made the headlines at any time of year because it is damaging. Even if Rayner is damaged, there may be a consolation for readers. While Ed Miliband may be Labour members favourite to succeed Starmer, hes told friends hes no interest in the job. Hes done it once and hes not going to try it again, Im assured. Yet, one final factor may count in Rayners favour. Labour, throughout its 125-year history, has never elected a woman as leader while the Tories have had four, and three female PMs. Many Labour members are sure their next one has to be a woman. Thats why, despite the dirty tricks, Three Pads Rayner may yet secure the crown. The Greens unveiled their new leader amid Yuppie whoops, group hugs and a faint smell of avocado moisturiser. The new supremo is Zack Polanski, 42, a smooth-talking vegan and ex-Lib Dem hypnotherapist who used to tell women they could think their way to a bigger bust. Mr Polanski may have his knockers but he has now persuaded the boobies of the Greens that he can expand their presence at Westminster six-fold. Activists gathered in an office block near Londons Waterloo for the announcement. An airless room with a concrete ceiling held some 150 souls. The sartorial vibe was trust-fund grunge: crumpled linen jackets, silk blouses, a youth in a Davy Crockett hat, a Hooray Henry in bell-bottoms. A primary school child had been dragged along by his mother and went largely ignored while she gazed lovingly at Mr Polanski. A bearded white gent was dressed in mullah robes, a ringer for the late Ronnie Barker. Proceedings were compered by Harriet Lamb, party chief executive. Posh, pop-eyed, either over-excited or nervous or just levitating after too much Free Trade caffeine, grinning Harriet shook her centre-parted hair and cackled about the top talent the Greens now had. After calling for taxes on the uber-wealthy which quite possibly meant several of her la-di-dah friends she said she expected lots of clapping. To set an example she started clapping herself. The election result was announced by a bloke in a ponytail and hot-looking grey suit. Mr Polanski had completely thrashed the combined candidacy of two MPs called Adrian Wet and Nellie Clowns, or something like that. Mr Polanski had completely thrashed the combined candidacy of two MPs called Adrian Wet and Nellie Clowns, or something like that The party that was once mouldily anti-hierarchical has elected a leader who is gleamingly egotistical, writes Quentin Letts. Pictured: Mr Polanski at a protest in 2023 When the landslide was announced, Sister Clowns leapt in her seat, as if electrocuted up the rump. Brother Polanski, who is greedier for personal glory than you expect from the supposedly egalitarian Greens, rose to absorb the standing ovation. Soon he was locked in an embrace with his boyfriend. It was some time before they could be separated. Harriet Lamb was by now smiling so hard, its a wonder she didnt get terrible neck cramp. In the course of an hour I did not once see her blink. Designer-stubbled Mr Polanski spoke for quarter of an hour without notes. You dont become a Harley Street cleavage quack without the gift of the gab. He disclosed that he had spoken on Monday to Jeremy Corbyn. Would he coalesce with the new Corbyn party? Quite possibly. If anything he was to the left of Mr Corbyn. Asked if he would nationalise banks, Mr Polanski said such policies were a no-brainer. He maintained energy levels, looked the audience in the eye and had a habit of bouncing on his toes and smiling, a little coldly, at the end of every riff. The jagged, gapped teeth had shades of Hannibal Lecters mask. Harriet Lamb may be for the slaughter. He called Nigel Farage a charlatan and Sir Keir Starmer despicable. The Polanski Greens demanded more immigration, higher taxes and rent controls. There was more about Gaza than there was about newts. Greenery is no longer about animals and hemp carrier bags. Theyre sleek revolutionaries these days, urbane, dogmatically illiberal. The party that was once mouldily anti-hierarchical has elected a leader who is gleamingly egotistical. Mr Polanski said he was enjoying himself so much, he could have gone on all afternoon. Designer-stubbled Mr Polanski spoke for quarter of an hour without notes Polanski was locked in an embrace with his boyfriend. It was some time before they could be separated I stand on the shoulders of giants, he averred. One of the previous co-leaders was Carla Denyer, barely 5ft in her socks. Then we had the election of two new deputy leaders. One was a short Yorkshireman in a kufi who, against expectations, mentioned gay rights. His co-leader was a statuesque white woman built like a supermodel. The gnashers of a racehorse. Apparently she is fantastically well-off and lives in some palatial pad. Uber-wealthy, you might say. At the end Mr Polanski and his deputies bonded with an on-stage cuddle. Harriet squawked that the room was booked all day, so there was plenty more time for group hugs. Madder than Roman Polanskis Macbeth. Angela Rayner has to resign. Set aside the obvious and understandable emotion. Ignore the desire equally understandable to protect her family. She has broken the rules. She has, by her own admission, failed to pay the appropriate amount of tax. So now she has to go. Not least because of the hypocrisy and lies. Yes, Rayner may have been prevented from speaking out on her own behalf because of a court order. But her allies and supporters were not gagged. And the line they peddled on her behalf was clear. She had done nothing wrong, they claimed. Her tax affairs were entirely in order. The stories about her were all a smear peddled by her political rivals internal and external and in the press. They were attacks motivated by spite and envy. They were attacks motivated by disgust at her working-class background, we were told. And, most persistently, they charged that the attacks were motivated by sexism. Angela Rayner was being singled out for this malign abuse because she was a woman. And every one of those statements was a lie. The complaints against her were not only legitimate, but entirely accurate. Angela Rayner has admitted to underpaying on her stamp duty The Deputy Prime Minister next to Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs after she admitted to the tax error and revealed she considered resigning The Deputy Prime Minister who had been elevated to her role thanks in no small part to her vicious attacks on Tory greed and tax dodging has, deliberately or otherwise, short-changed the already cash-strapped Exchequer. The criticisms levelled at her by her political adversaries and the Press have proven not to be smears either sexist or class based but the truth. And over the past week Rayners allies have tried to withhold the truth from the British public. We have yet to see the full scale of the financial irregularity that has occurred. Yet this we already know. Rayners hypocrisy is off the scale. She claims to have been trying to protect her family from excessive scrutiny. But she had no such qualms when she led the charge against Rishi Sunaks wifes tax arrangements. She has said her return was submitted in error and pleaded that in mitigation. But she drew no such distinction when lambasting Tory ministers, such as Jeremy Hunt, who were found to have made errors in their tax affairs. Her failure to declare and pay the proper amount of tax would be politically damning at the best of times. But she has done so at precisely the time her own Government is preparing to break its pledge to the people and business leaders of Britain not to further raise their already intolerable tax burden. And whats more, she has done so in relation to property taxes, precisely at the time the Chancellor is said to be preparing to hammer ordinary homeowners. Indeed, Rayner has herself advocated hikes in tax on property. But alongside the staggering hyprocrisy sits an equally staggering lapse in judgment. Rayner is asking people to believe she filed the returns relating to her properties in error. It was, she claims, an honest mistake. But it is only a couple of years since she was embroiled in a different scandal over her tangled property and tax affairs. At that time she was cleared though the full details of her arrangements were never fully explained. How is it credible this has happened again? How can someone who apparently takes so little care over her own finances ask to be trusted to help oversee the nations finances? Because Angela Rayner is not some obscure backbencher. She is in the midst of another scandal over her personal housing, but is the nations housing minister. She is also the nations deputy Prime Minister. She is tipped by a majority of Labour insiders to be the nations next Prime Minister. That ambition is no longer credible. Angela Rayner sits damned not just be her own actions, but her own words, and her own hypocrisy. She must go. What a difference a comeuppance makes. Angela Rayner, Westminsters most careless taxpayer, entered the Commons at one minute before midday. PMQs was imminent. A full House was hushed, stunned. MPs had only just heard that the deputy PM had admitted to some 40k worth of how can we put this? tax lapses. Exposed by the filthy Press, she was now invoking her sons disability. Mrs Rayner, the habitual angry yacker, normally basting herself with class-war taunts and her own swaggering physicality, arrived by the distant double doors. She was alone. At once, dearly beloved, it was as if the air was filled by the plainsong of Gregorian monks. Our heroine glided silently to her seat, a chaste novice processing into matins laud having just disgorged herself to Mother Superior Beth Rigby in the Sky News confessional. The Commons clocked her but no one said a word. As she stepped forward in her flat, cardinal-crimson shoes there were no hurrahs from Labour MPs. Glancing furtively from under the swaying wimple of her scissored fringe, she crossed the gaping chasm of carpet that separates the two sides of the Commons. As any theatre director would have told her, use your victimhood, darling, feed off your suffering. Mary Queen of Scots, on her journey to the scaffold, can hardly have been more pale. She was wearing victim face, that cast of expression politicians rehearse for when they have been caught in the mire. The eyes were lined by dark pencil. The pallor was deathly, white as an igloo. Her stillness was so complete, she could have been balancing a tray on her head. Angela Rayner wore the 'expression politicians rehearse for when they have been caught in the mire' Kemi Badenoch missed a chance to attack Mrs Rayner over the tax 'lapses' A colleague appeared to put her arm round Mrs Rayner as a show of support The usual Rayner the true Rayner lopes with extravagant strides. This gait was more worthy of Hercule Poirot. At the other end of the chamber, behind the Speakers chair, a quite different scene: Rachel Reeves was in a little group with the Scotland secretary, Ian Murray, and Central Ayrshires Alan Gemmell. Gassing themselves with laughter they were. Gaiety unleashed. Sir Keir Starmer briefly joined this merry gang. Meanwhile, Mrs Rayner had reached her seat and was greeted with dripping sympathy by the Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, who stroked her flank as one might a family pet in its final hours. Time, ever relentless, pressed onwards and Sir Keir and Ms Reeves had to abandon their informal little party behind the Speakers Chair and join Our Victim. Arriving beside her, they quickly assembled looks of sorrow to their chops. Sir Keir tentatively reached forth and touched Mrs Rayners left shoulder, perhaps to make sure she was still flesh and bone and not, like Banquo, some spectre at the feast. For the Conservatives Kemi Badenoch, here was a prize opportunity. The Labour benches were at sixes and sevens and eights. All she would have to do is rub their noses in it and Mrs Rayner would be a goner, surely. But no. Kemi goofed it. Instead of leaping straight in, she surrendered the moment of raw peril by paying tribute to a former Tory MP who had died. She did then raise the Rayner scandal why is she still in office? but it was done fleetingly, without acid. She lacked, and lacks, sharpness. Having spent hours preparing questions about the economy, Mrs Badenoch insisted on staying with that script rather than extemporising and taunting and killing. We can be sure that Mrs Rayner, when not sniffing a freshly peeled onion, would herself have been much more brutal. Sir Keir defended his deputy. She had gone over and above in setting out the details, he insisted. It was surely only shortage of time that prevented him from adding the words after journalists caught her red-handed. Mrs Rayner, beside him, eased out of her statue stillness to nod dolefully. For the rest of the session, save for one brief smirk to Ms Reeves, she barely moved a sinew. She was as if cast from cold, virginal alabaster, an essay in bogus penitence. The Moscow traffic cop wanted to make trouble for me, probably in the hope of squeezing a hard currency bribe out of an obvious foreigner. In the freezing courtyard of a dark, sinister block of flats, he claimed - falsely - that Id been speeding. He roared at me for my obvious lack of respect, demanded my papers, to put me in my place, and threw them into the brown slush to emphasise his absolute power to ruin my evening and perhaps my life. And anyway he sneered, what are you doing in here? waving his hand at the tall. oddly stately and well-kept quadrangle into which he had chased me in my muddy, badly-dented red Volvo. He knew very well that this place, 26 Kutuzov Avenue, was a block reserved for high Communist officials. Leonid Brezhnev, for many years ruler of the entire USSR, had lived there, and his family still did. The KGB chief Yuri Andropov had dwelt there too. Even in those days it was crammed with Bolshevik notables. So when I softly replied, I live here, the sneering policeman gingerly picked up the papers he had tossed onto the ground. He thumbed through them, only to find the impressive rubber stamp which confirmed my claim. For reasons he couldnt fathom, I was part of the elite. If I lived in that block, I was not a victim to be fleeced, but a person to be feared - and he was my servant. His whole manner changed. He handed me back my passport and licence, stepped away from me, saluted, and hurriedly climbed into his Zhiguli car. It was a rare victory over the general bullying and sloppy corruption of Soviet power, and I have savoured it ever since. It also showed how, in such states, the police are the cringing servants of power, not of law. As a traveller in dark and unfree lands I have many times faced a stone-faced militiaman demanding to see my papers and so I have grown used to the unaccountable authority which petty officials possess in most states in the world. I am glad of the experience. That is exactly why I dont want this sort of behaviour here, thanks. The most dangerous thing about being British is that most of us just dont know how lucky we are. Our encounters with the world abroad are happy ones; holiday trips or pleasant business visits, staying in agreeable, sunny places, meeting obliging, friendly people. Even the police are nice to us. We dont realise that our small sea-surrounded home is more or less unique in the history of the world and that they do things very differently, even in countries we think of as relaxed and democratic. 'Except during the 1939-45 war, when identity cards proved entirely useless and deeply unpopular, the British state has had to justify itself to us,' writes Peter Hitchens 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. This period of British specialness may be ending, as the sea ceases to guard us as well as it once did. But we should not help it to end, by foolishly surrendering the freedoms we have. Even in the most welcoming of continental countries, the state is above the peoples heads and the individual is beneath the feet of then power elite. Almost all these countries have some form of identity card or identity register, and it is up to you to show that you are going about your lawful business. My Swiss-German mother-in-law, brought up in one of the Continents most liberal and democratic nations, was amazed all her life by the casual attitude British people had to their passports. Like any European, she knew that the loss of such documents, or the inability to produce them, could plunge any individual into a nightmare of powerlessness, lawlessness, detention, interrogation and perhaps quite a bit worse. I have come to adopt her rather more severe view of the subject. And with that comes a strong desire never to see such a regime installed in Britain. It would turn upside down the proper relationship between the state and the individual. Except during the 1939-45 war, when identity cards proved entirely useless and deeply unpopular, the British state has had to justify itself to us. But if we are forced to carry slave badges identifying ourselves, we would be required to justify ourselves to the government. It would give every jumped-up official behind a desk a new way of harassing and belittling us, as happened during World War II. And heaven help you if you lost yours, even though the place would soon be awash with very convincing forgeries. Indeed, youd probably find your card had been cloned by criminals, condemning you to weeks of explaining that you hadnt been where you werent. Oh, and it wont solve the migrant crisis, France has identity cards, and also has an estimated 900,000 undocumented migrants living in its cities. So much for the wonders of digital ID. If the government wants to keep out illegal migrants and to help keep us free, it should instead make the sea a safeguard, as it used to be. Let us treat it as a land border, and copy the Poles, currently reinforcing a wall of steel, an 18ft high barricade along their frontier with Belarus, costing 460million. Nobody compels them to rescue people who try and fail to cross their border illegally. Such failed migrants just have to stay in Belarus. Sorry. Surely technology and materials now exist to anchor a similar fence on the seabed itself, high, deep and strong enough to prevent the arrival of most illegal migrants in unauthorised boats. Nobodys human rights would be infringed. Special guarded channels would remain open for legal traffic. Anyone else would just have to go back to France or, better still, not set out in the first place. In my view the attempt to impose identity cards on this country, under the feeble pretext of deterring migrants, comes from the same Blairite origin as the revolution in policing which has led to the arrest of people for expressing opinions. In 2004, I published a book on the subject, The Abolition Of Liberty. It warned against much that has since happened. It noted the recent prosecution of an elderly eccentric, Harry Hammond, in Bournemouth. He displayed a placard (mild by modern Twitter standards) saying: Stop immorality. Stop homosexuality. Stop lesbianism. He was then attacked by liberal open-minded types, who disagreed with him. One tugged the placard from his hands so that this weak old man fell to the ground. Others pelted him with clods of earth. Another emptied a bottle of water over his head. Nothing at all happened to these charmers. One old-fashioned police officer wanted to help Mr Hammond. But another, of the new type, arrested him for provoking violence. He was fined 300 and died soon afterwards. I wrote then: There is now a direct, as well as an indirect threat to liberty. This threat comes from the elite states certainty that its benevolence and goodness are beyond dispute. We may be witnessing the early stages of the gradual transformation of a free society into a closed society, in which some ideas can no longer be publicly expressed. Such a society will undoubtedly have identity cards, along with facial recognition, electronic tracking of travel and all the glinting, bullying weapons Stalin and Hitler wished they had, but never managed to develop. Please dont let it happen. Jamie Faith was murdered outside in his own home in Texas, in broad daylight Jennifer and Jamie Faith seemed like an ordinary couple. The pair, who met on a blind date set up by mutual friends in 2005, were well-know in their friendly suburb of Oakcliff in Dallas, Texas. Jamie was known to 'do the right thing' and 'genuinely cared about people' - while Jennifer was touted as a loving and devoted wife, described by friends as 'super sweet'. After several years of dating, they tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2012 before moving from Phoenix, Arizona to Dallas for Jamie's job. But just three years late their dream life came crashing down when Jamie was shot down the morning after their 15th anniversary. The couple were returning from a dog walk when a stranger pointed a gun at his head before duct-taping Jennifer's hand and striking her while she lay on the floor. Police swiftly came to the scene after calls from distressed neighbours. Autopsy reports revealed that he had been shot three times in the head, chest and once in the groin, the latter immediately inviting suspicion from police. 'It's not something typically seen in a robbery - it's overkill,' one detective who worked on the case said. The pair, who met on a blind date set up by mutual friends in 2005, were well-know in their friendly suburb of Oakcliff in Dallas, Texas Desperate to be supportive, friends of the couple helped Jennifer set up a GoFundMe page where she raised more than $60,000 Homicide detective, Eric Barnes, said murders in Dallas were common - but being slaughtered outside his own home was enough to raise suspicion this was more than just a 'robbery gone wrong'. Grieving her beloved's death, Jennifer soon went on TV to beg the for the public's help. 'I'm not supposed to be widowed at 48, you know?' she said, through tears. 'I just hope that at some point, maybe this person can recognise the gravity of what they've done and feel some sort of guilt, enough to come forward.' But in a shock twist, the killer was no stranger at all. In fact, he was Jennifer's high-school boyfriend - Darrin Lopez. Jennifer had lied to Lopez and told him Jamie was abusing her. In a sick plot, she convinced her beau to kill her husband so she could keep his life insurance money - but it was months before police discovered this. Speaking in Channel 5's documentary My Wife, My Killer and the Secret Footage, which aired last night, a friend of the couple, Regina Owens, explained: 'Jennifer is a super sweet lady, one of my best friends. 'She would just always be there for me if I needed it.' A new documentary has told the harrowing tale of how one woman convinced an ex-lover to murder her husband by making false allegations of abuse - all to cash in on his life insurance. Jennifer and Darrin pictured in high school Desperate to be supportive, loved ones helped Jennifer set up a GoFundMe page where she raised more than $60,000. She also created a group chat between her and all her friends where she would share article links to cases of other people who had been killed in the Dallas area. During police interviews, Jennifer had insisted the couple was not having 'marital problems', but police weren't convinced. Clips from the time of her murder showed a devastated Jennifer wailing to reporters as she begged members of the public to to support the case 'I teeter between being completely heartbroken and completely devastated every day,' she said. Despite this, police were unconvinced by Jennifer's woes and requested she hand over her mobile phone data. There, they discovered a text from a few months before the murder of Jennifer telling a friend she was having 'a full-blown emotional affair and Jamie knows it'. As it turned out, Jennifer had reconnected with Darrin, a man she had dated in high school and had begun texting and calling him 'all day every day'. Faith sent more than 14,000 texts to her ex-lover before admitting to investigators that she orchestrated her husband's murder Jennifer is pictured being booked into jail in February 2021, after police discovered that she had exchanged 14,000 texts with her husband's suspect killer Jamie (pictured with Jennifer) was killed in October 2020 outside couple's home in Oak Cliff, Texas Jennifer, meanwhile, continued to appear on television where she would gush over her late husband, branding him the 'backbone' of their family and begging those with information to contact the authorities. From her mobile phone, police picked up an address for Darrin in Tennessee which led them to a ranch where they discovered a black pickup truck parked outside the house. The truck had a white 'T' sticker the police had been able to connect to the murderer fleeing the scene of the crime. Later cell tower data revealed that Lopez had travelled across county in the direction of Jennifer's home, arriving there at around 2:30am on the morning of the murder. From there, detectives were able to look back at Ring doorbell CCTV footage, where they began to suspect that the man lingering outside the Faiths' house might not have just been their 'drunk neighbour'. They arrested Darrin and soon found a firearm that was consistent with that used to kill Jamie. After thoroughly researching researching phone records, police were able to pick up hours of phone call communication and 13,644 texts shared between the two. Initially unable to find out exactly the nature of that communication, they offered Jennifer the opportunity to come clean about the relationship with her teenage flame. Autopsy reports revealed that he had been shot three times in the head, chest and once in the groin, the latter immediately inviting suspicion from police. 'It's not something typically seen in a robbery - it's overkill,' said one detective on the case. Police descended on the house at around 7:30am on 9 October 2020. There they discovered an inconsolable, Jennifer, who's arms and hands were duct tapped and her wedding ring ripped off Footage from police interviews saw the widow claiming 'I've always been faithful', as she added that Darrin was just 'a friend' who she was helping with 'his kids'. Around the same time, friends of Jennifer picked up on the fact that Darrin was involved in their group chat where he had been sharing links to other murders in the areas - posing as someone who wanted to help solve the murder. But in reality, his intentions weren't so well meaning. As it turned out, Darrin and Jennifer had a five year plan of how they would make their relationship work. After it became clear that Darrin had been the blame for the killing, police began to look for motivations for the crime and were shocked to discover the full extent to his affair with Jennifer. The pair had seven month long 'emotional affair' after a lonely and divorced Lopez found his former high school flame on LinkedIn and sent her an email. So in love were they that they began referring to each other as 'soul mates', sharing thousands of messages of a sexual nature. But Jennifer had not been totally honest about her marriage, telling Darrin that she her husband Jamie had been physically and sexually abusing her. Posing as her husband, Jennifer had also begun contacting Darrin where she said he was going to assault and drown her. Believing she was under 'imminent threat', he made the decision to act to protect the woman he loved. Jennifer had called Darrin to ask whether she thought she should poison Jamie, to which he said: 'It was at that time that I told her I didn't want her to do anything like that. 'I had told her, once you take a life that changes you forever. Forever. I'd already done that. Being in the military, my actions that I had to take in Iraq and so if it was coming to that point that she felt that bad, I would be the one to take on the burden and do what needed to be done.' Wanting desperately protect his partner and convinced she was in danger, he drove 10 hours to the Faiths' house where he shot and killed him. Suspicions were further amplified when police discovered mention of Jamie's life insurance in text messages between her and Darrin. The authorities were, after this, convinced that she had been involved in the murder. Jennifer was the arrested to 'obstruction of justice' relating to her husband's murder. In October 2021, the month after she was charged with murder-for-hire, Darrin told officials how Jennifer had lured him into agreeing to murder her husband - and how they'd agreed to make the killing look like a robbery and how he'd come up with a code word. As it turned out, Jamie had never harmed his wife. Using fake email accounts and fabricated images of injuries, she was able to convince Darrin that she was the victim of domestic abuse, the court heard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert of Texas' Northern District called Jennifer's lies about her abuse 'some of the most sadistic things you can possibly dream up.' In February 2022, Jennifer pleaded guilty to using interstate commerce in the commission of murder-for-hire, admitting to prosecutors that she had falsely told Darrin that her husband was physically and sexually abusing her. In 2023, Darrin was convicted and sentenced to 62 years in prison, for James's murder. A doctor revealed that he left his role as a GP in 2024, citing post-pandemic exhaustion as a key factor in his decision to embrace van life and travel the world. Gary Grant, 47, from Lancashire, who was living alone in a rental in Lytham St Annes, after he separated from his wife in 2021, has taken to TikTok to document his journey of quitting his 4,500-a-month job as a GP to pursue his dream of living the van life. Taking to his account @doctorbinfire, the father-of-two, who shares custody of his six-year-old and four-year-old sons, revealed he values 'happiness and peace, not status and things'. In a series of videos, the GP, who has travelling to '16 countries so far this year', shared the reasoning behind his bold life decision to sell all his possessions and escape the routine of the traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle. Some of the reasons including 'being shafted by big companies in the UK', water companies pumping sewage into lakes, the rising bills and rising food prices. He has explored Europe with his two young sons, which included Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and France, and embarked on solo trips to Qatar, Greece, Turkey, Slovakia and Bali, to name a few. In one clip, which racked up over 210,000 views, he claimed most people in his life warned him not to give up his 'stability' and 'security'. He said: 'I sold largely everything I own in order to fund travelling, against the advice of lots of people who said what's important is security, safety, stability and a steady income, all these really exciting things beginning with the letter 'S'. Gary Grant, 47, from Lancashire, revealed that he left his role as a GP in 2024, citing post-pandemic exhaustion as a key factor in his decision to embrace van life and travel the world In a series of videos, the GP, who has travelling to '16 countries so far this year', shared the reasoning behind his bold life decision to sell all his possessions and escape the routine of the traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle Gary pointed out that in France, service stations allow travelers to pull in and rest freely, whereas in the UK, you're typically limited to two hours before charges start to apply Sitting on a beach in Bali, he sarcastically continued: 'They said I'm an idiot, I'm just thinking how much I would rather be on the commute to work now, having that safety and stability. Lifting a cocktail to drink, Gary added: 'I am the idiot, I am the idiot.' In a series of videos, the former GP revealed that his top reasons for giving up his career in favour of a newfound lifestyle of freedom were to sleep under the stars, enjoy more fun and meaningful life experiences while traveling, and to live more authentically. In one clip he explained: 'I have very little to show off about nowadays. I have no time for people who are all show and are fake and are only interested in appearances. 'I'Il just do me now. If I ever want to go back to work as a doctor I will do that. I'm living a life that is on my terms, and that, when we live in a world that we feel trapped all the time, is massive.' In another clip, which he called the 'ranty one', Gary fumed about the rising bills in the UK. He said: 'In the news today the council tax is going to go up, the price of things in the supermarket is going up, everywhere you go in Britain you are shafted.' As an example, he pointed out that in France, service stations allow travelers to pull in and rest freely, whereas in the UK, you're typically limited to two hours before charges start to apply. Sitting on a beach in Bali, he sarcastically continued: 'They said I'm an idiot, I'm just thinking how much I would rather be on the commute to work now, having that safety and stability. Taking to his TikTok account, the father-of-two, who shares custody of his six-year-old and four-year-old son, revealed he values 'happiness and peace, not status and things' Gary now lives in his campervan and parks up at holiday parks and service stations as he tours the country Gary said his experiences have been 'life-changing' and he values his freedom Gary said the role of a GP became 'ridiculously tough' after the pandemic and he was 'exhausted' He has explored Europe with his two young sons, which included Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany , Switzerland and France , and embarked on solo trips to Qatar , Greece , Turkey, Slovakia and Bali, to name a few In a series of videos, the former GP revealed that his top reasons for giving up his career in favour of a newfound lifestyle of freedom were to sleep under the stars, enjoy more fun and meaningful life experiences while traveling, and to live more authentically Many rushed to the comments with plenty of questions about Gary's alternative lifestyle Gary added: 'They say, take a rest, tiredness kills, but if you manage to go to sleep in a service station you have to pay 25-30 depending on the vehicle, and if you stay two hour and five minutes you get a bill. 'Now, I don't have to deal with that anymore, and best of all you know those water companies who pour sewage into the lakes, well I fill my water from a tap and I don't pay for it.' In July, Gary revealed he fell into medicine 'by accident' in 2008, saying NHS has always been on the 'verge of crisis', especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. He explained: 'Waiting times for hospitals after Covid skyrocketed so we ended up seeing really complicated things that specialists should be seeing, but we were left trying to deal with it. 'People's mental health also took a hit and trying to help someone in 10 minutes, it was very hard.' 'In the morning I would think, "Right, come on I can do this", but by the afternoon I would say to myself: "The stress of this is going to kill me".' Many rushed to the comments with plenty of questions about Gary's alternative lifestyle. One person asked: 'What source of income do you have to live your dream ?' To which the former GP replied: 'Selling every unnecessary thing in my life; end of contract pay from work; doing occasional online work of different types.' Another said: 'My dream is being able to travel but I don't want do it in a van.' To which Gary replied: 'Fair enough but, one, I didn't visit 10 of the countries in the van, it gives you financial freedom that way, and two, it's easier than you might assume.' Someone else added: 'It's bloody hard at times. The push back from family. The loneliness. OK if you have the money in the bank.' Gary replied: 'Yeah it's not perfect. Brakes failed the other day, but the positives for me outweigh it a million times over.' A fourth added: 'You must have studied hard to be a doctor! Just goes to show that your personal happiness outweighs any job.' A woman who quit her job to resell cheap clothes that she finds at Goodwill has clapped back at haters who accuse her of 'stealing from the poor.' Hannah Beverly, 22, from Wisconsin, started reselling items online during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown because she needed to make money but was locked in her home. But when the world opened back up, she ultimately decided to leave her job behind to focus on reselling full-time after realizing how lucrative it could be. Flash forward to now, five years later, and she's turned it into a full-time business. 'It took off during COVID I think largely due to the fact that no one was leaving their homes to shop and people need to online shop for their clothing,' she explained during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail. She spends her days scouring Goodwill and other vintage stores for items that she can buy for cheap and resell online for a higher price, and has sometimes come across brand name items worth over $1,000. 'I've sold Sue Wong dresses which retail for over $1,000 and I've paid anywhere from $15 to $50 and they typically resell for about $80 to $200,' she dished. But it's not easy to spot the products that are actually worth something, and she said it's taken 'years of experience in the vintage clothing and fashion world' to master it. Hannah Beverly, 22, from Wisconsin, quit her job to resell clothes she that she finds for cheap at Goodwill online full time She spends her days scouring stores for items that she can buy for cheap and resell online for a higher price, and has come across brand name items worth over $1,000 (stock image) 'You learn a lot along the way,' she said. 'I've been doing this for over five years now and I shudder to think of the items I passed up when I was first starting. 'As you grow in experience you really get to narrow down your niche and aesthetic that you sell and build a brand for yourself. 'Sometimes things are just instinct from being in this community for so long. You know what people are looking for. 'You learn how to tell what quality items are, so even if you are not sure what the brand is or the item is not your personal style a lot of the time you get a gut feeling that this is worth picking up. Sometimes you're wrong and sometimes you're right.' While she didn't share her exact earnings, Hannah said what she makes from reselling is 'pretty comparable' to what she was making when she was working a nine to five job. 'There are for sure people who make more than me as a reseller but I still feel like I am learning and I know I will get to a point where my income builds up a little,' she added. She admitted that when she first started reselling online she knew people did it as a full-time job but never expected that to 'become a reality for her.' 'I truly love what I do and I am passionate about my work and not a lot of people can say that,' she gushed. 'I never want to take for granted the blessing that I live in.' While she didn't share her exact earnings, Hannah said what she makes from reselling is 'pretty comparable' to what she was making when she was working a nine to five job Along the way, however, she's made some mistakes - and she recently went viral on TikTok after she admitted that she resold a dress online for $135 and later learned it was actually worth thousands of dollars. 'I did not recognize the brand name on the tag,' she reflected, adding, 'I am not really looking to make the most I can off of a piece, which is probably not the smartest mindset to have, but if I make some money and you get a luxury item for a great price I think we can both be happy with that.' Unfortunately, Hannah has received some backlash over her job, and some social media users have accused her of 'stealing from the poor.' 'It is definitely not the most beloved career choice but I would argue that it is a necessity to combat the overcompensation mindset that has formed in this culture,' Hannah clapped back at her haters. 'I don't think [people] truly comprehend how far drowning our world is in clothes. 'People's mindset has shifted from our grandparents' generation, [going] from "how long can I make this item last" to "what is new in my closet that people haven't seen me in before?" 'Sewing and clothing repairs is turning into a lost craft so when a seam lets out or a hole appears on your jeans instead of grabbing the sewing basket peoples knee jerk reaction is to throw it in the donation bin. 'There are 25,000 thrift stores in the US alone. I, as a reseller, make it to under 10 of those regularly within a two hour radius and each of those stores are so packed with clothing you can barely sort through the rack. Unfortunately, Hannah has received some backlash over her job, and some social media users have accused her of 'stealing from the poor' (stock image) 'The reality is, the 15 to 30 pieces I walk out with is nothing compared to the thousands of pieces I can not take home with us. There is no lack of clothing in the world.' She added, 'Instead of continuing the problem of shopping online at these massive companies that thrive off of over consumption like Shein, Temu, and yes, Amazon, why would you not want to invest in supporting a small business owner who's job is solely finding new life for the pieces of clothing the earth already has?' She stressed that 'secondhand fashion' is about 'giving old clothing new life,' and helps foster 'personal style,' which she believes has been 'completely lost' on Gen Z. 'Investing in the secondhand fashion community, style gets to be something that is individually you instead of buying a t shirt because it is on trend and you want to fit in with everyone else,' she said. 'Style is not copying and pasting everyone's look to make everyone feel the exact same, but it's meant to reflect your personality. 'You don't need to box yourself in aesthetically just because everybody is wearing it.' Her advice to others who want to make some extra cash reselling but don't know where to begin? Just go for it. 'When you [look for items, look] for the things you'd [want], not what you think people want,' she suggested. 'I find you build better relationships with buyers that way, and you are generally just more excited to do it. 'And know you probably wont be very good at it to begin with. Gather what you can from other sellers and pour what you know back into the community because the more you do that the more people pour into you and the easier it is for everyone to succeed.' A 22-year-old woman has revealed the chilling late-night messages she received from her holiday home host - with thousands branding the man 'creepy', 'sinister' and 'wholly inappropriate'. Posting to Reddit, the woman explained she was on a girls' trip with three friends when their host, a man she guessed was in his mid-30s, began bombarding her with unsettling compliments. The exchange started innocently enough when the host texted her to express how good-looking he thought she was. 'At the risk of sounding "creepy" you are devastatingly attractive. May I know your age?' he wrote. The woman, who does not disclose her name in the thread, replied that she was 22. 'You have stunning eyes one could surely get lost in them. There's a spark in your eyes that is hard to fake. You must live a healthy lifestyle,' he continued. The guest tried to steer the chat by mentioning her boyfriend, but the host only doubled down. 'Lucky boyfriend. Where are you from?' A 22-year-old woman has revealed the chilling late-night messages she received from her holiday home host - with thousands branding the man 'creepy', 'sinister' and 'wholly inappropriate' Posting to a Reddit forum, the woman explained she was on a girls' trip with three friends when their host, a man in his mid-30s, began bombarding her with unsettling compliments He then clarified he wanted to know her ethnicity, not her nationality, and went on to say that he didn't think England produced such 'exotic beauties'. When she admitted she was of mixed background, he wrote back praising her 'rare' combination, which is where the conversation turned very sinister. ' As exotic as I had presumed,' he wrote. 'It explains your pretty, delicate face contrasted with your womanly body heavy assets and small waist You'd make an excellent shibari bunny.' The young woman said she had no idea what a shibari bunny was, until she Googled it - discovering it referred to a Japanese bondage practice. 'My jaw dropped,' she recalled. 'I felt shivers down my spine and immediately searched up a hotel I can stay at for the remainder of our stay.' While she said her three friends agreed the messages were indeed creepy, they insisted she was 'ruining the vibe' by leaving the home and accused her of overreacting. She ignored their pleas to stay and checked into a hotel 15 minutes away for the remainder of the trip. When she told her dad about the encounter, she admitted he was 'murderous' at the host's actions. The exchange started innocently enough when the host texted her to express how good-looking he thought she was - but his messages quickly turned sinister Poll Do you think the host was inappropriate? Yes No Do you think the host was inappropriate? Yes 820 votes No 39 votes Now share your opinion Commenters rushed to reassure her she had done the right thing by leaving the host's home. 'Protect yourself,' one wrote. 'Your friends had the "give him the benefit of the doubt" response that has unfortunately been trained into most women and won't serve them well until they unlearn it. Report him to [the company] immediately.' Another added that they had to Google what a 'shibari bunny' was and were just as horrified at what they discovered. 'Wtfffff,' they exclaimed. 'I would hate having friends who believed in "giving the benefit of the doubt" to a total stranger who said he wants to tie you up?' The young woman said she had no idea what a 'shibari bunny' was, until she Googled it - discovering it referred to a Japanese bondage practice that wasn't for the faint-hearted. 'My jaw dropped' Others agreed in branding the host a 'total creep', with one pointing out that even after telling him she had a boyfriend, 'the international "please stop being inappropriate" sign', he doubled down. 'I'd report this once you are well away,' they added. A fourth summed up the mood bluntly: 'I find it not only wholly inappropriate but also alarmingly sinister.' The young traveller is now asking if she overreacted by fleeing the property - but judging by the furious reactions online, most agree her gut instinct may have kept her safe. Post Malone has drawn the ire of style snobs after debuting his first clothing line at Paris Fashion Week. The Circles hitmaker launched his cowboy-inspired line, Austin Post, in a swanky runway show at late designer Karl Lagerfeld's former mansion Hotel de Bourdon. All of the models donned cowboy boots and there were reportedly cases of Bud Light beer all over the luxury premises. At one point, Malone even had one of his models storm the runway on horseback. Celebrity attendees included country music superstar Chris Stapleton and Harlem rapper A$AP Nast. Despite the effort behind the line and its show, it didn't stop trolls and fashionistas alike from mocking the musician. 'This is clothing not fashion,' sniffed one critic, while another wrote, 'Paris has fallen to Bud Light.' A third commented, 'It's giving Old Navy, Texas mall, it's giving Bud Light, BBQ brisket, Diane's Country Shoppe.' Post Malone has drawn the ire of style snobs after debuting his first clothing line at Paris Fashion Week 'Too many yes folk in his corner. Not one wants to tell him that the horse is cringe and his clothes are LA fashion week material,' wrote another. A fifth wrote, 'Honestly, teaming up with Levis like Beyonce did wouldve been smarter.' Another asked, 'Does every outfit come with a bottle of beer?' In a press release to promote the line, Malone said that he 'recognized a space between authentic Americana and modern luxury' and decided to fill it with his own line. Speaking to GQ about the venture after the Paris Fashion Week show, Malone said, 'Well, this just came as a spur-of-the-moment type deal.' He added, 'Ive always wanted to make clothes, so I figured, Why the f**k not now? Why not do it just right now? 'I just wanted to make a brand of s**t that I would wear, but I wanted to make it. Im 30 years old nowI dont dress as flashy, and I wear the same s**t every day, just about.' When asked why he chose to debut his line in Paris of all places, the hitmaker said he thought it would be 'fun' to bring his unique flavor to the City of Love. 'This is clothing not fashion,' sniffed one critic, while another wrote, 'Paris has fallen to Bud Light' All of the models donned cowboy boots and there were reportedly cases of Bud Light beer all over the luxury premises 'Too many yes folk in his corner. Not one wants to tell him that the horse is cringe and his clothes are LA fashion week material,' wrote another naysayer 'Lets bring the Bud Lights and the s**tshow to Paris and just have fun with it,' he said. According to GQ, the line will be available online later this year. Unfortunately, with a predicted 'mid-to-high' price range, Austin Post may be too pricey for some of Malone's fans. It comes after the music superstar modeled for Kim Kardashian's loungewear label SKIMS. In August, he stripped off to camouflage boxer briefs for the campaign, displaying his striking weight loss in the process. An 85-year-old woman who gave her newborn up for adoption to a mother and baby home after falling pregnant as a teenager has opened up about the heartbreak of not even knowing if her daughter is still alive despite spending decades trying to track her down. Appearing on tonight's episode of ITV's Long Lost Family, Jean laid bare the ordeal of not even being able to kiss her little one goodbye. Aged just 16 in the 1956, she was sent to the Good Shepherd Mother and Baby Home by her parents after she and her boyfriend Tony realised they were expecting. The institution was established by a moral welfare association connected to the Church of England. It was one of the many homes designed to provide refuge for unwed mothers - some of which were years later embroiled in scandal after it emerged they produced high levels of infant mortality, misogyny and stigmatisation of some of society's most vulnerable. After she gave birth, Jean and Tony reluctantly took their ten-week-old, Maria, to the London offices of the Southwark Catholic Rescue society, after realising they had no options for keeping her daughter, and having to baptise their child so she could be taken in. 'I gave her to this woman who said we'd go and show her off,' Jean said. 'So I thought she'd bring her back and let us kiss her goodbye but she didn't.' The mother had spent years with no answers, but wrote to them when her daughter turned 18 to ask if they had 'any news of her'. 'He wrote back and said no, but you'll be reunited in heaven one day,' she shared. 'And I thought oh that's a horrible thing to say to me.' An 85-year-old woman who gave her newborn up for adoption to a mother and baby home after falling pregnant as a teenager has opened up about the heartbreak of not even knowing if her daughter is still alive despite spending decades trying to track her down Caitlin Jones - Jean's granddaughter - reached out to the programme to ask for help in their quest for answers. 'I feel like it's something that's always hanging over you and you're not complete until you find Maria,' she told Jean in the episode. 'After all these years of not being able to find out, I just need an answer,' she replied. 'If she doesn't want to see me, if she's still alive, that's OK, because I'll know then that she's alright.' After months of tracking down documents including adoption records, the episode saw Jean reconnecting with her daughter, who now goes by Cathy and lives in Ilford, London. 'I feel so sorry for what she had to go through all of that I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy,' Cathy told the show. 'My own daughter is unmarried and has a daughter who lives with us and she's a delight. 'I think it was an absolute disgrace the way women were treated in those days and how they were made to feel.' Tonight's special episode followed three storylines all linked to mother and baby homes, with the series highlighting the estimated 200,000 unmarried women who were, between the 40s and 70s 'placed in institutions, run often by religious organisations and thousands of their babies were taken for adoption'. Appearing on tonight's episode of ITV 's Long Lost Fami, Jean laid bare the ordeal of not even being able to kiss her little one goodbye 'Many of these mothers were teenagers when their babies were taken usually when their children were about six weeks old,' the programme shared. 'Over the past 15 years Long Lost Family has helped to reunite women and children who were in these Mother and Baby homes and who often remain traumatised by the experiences they suffered. 'Many of these women blamed themselves or their parents for what happened but increasingly another narrative is emerging a sense that these were often forced adoptions with vulnerable women being coerced.' One of the most famous mother and baby homes was Tuam, in Ireland - initially set up in a former workhouse that housed destitute adults and children since the 1800s famine era. The building was turned into a home for mothers and babies in 1925 and was run by an order of Catholic nuns named the Bon Secours Sisters. In 1961, Tuam was shut down after it was seen to have fallen into a state of disrepair and the remaining residents were transferred to similar homes. However, in 1975, two young boys discovered skeletal remains while playing in the area, with locals attributing it to bodies from the famine era. In 2012, Catherine Corless wrote about the poor living conditions inside the Tuam mother and baby home and published a journal, detailing the poor living conditions. Caitlin Jones - Jean's granddaughter - reached out to the programme to ask for help in their quest for answers Reports found how infants suffered malnutrition and neglect, which caused the deaths of many, while others died of measles, convulsions, TB, gastroenteritis and pneumonia. A year later, Catherine attempted to collate the death certificates of nearly 800 children who died at the Tuam home, before it started to gain media attention worldwide. She also told the BBC: 'A woman who got pregnant in the village was absolutely frowned upon, whispered about, talked about. 'The priests were called the house and told the family that she could not stay in the village like that, being pregnant. 'So he would arrange for the woman to be whisked off to a home and even after they gave birth and spent a year in the home, they couldn't even come back to the village. 'Because many a time, and I quote some people, they were told she was a temptation, a bad influence, a 'loose woman'.' Catherine said she exposed the story to the media because 'local people wouldn't listen' to her. Speaking of the treatment of the babies and children, she said: 'They were treated like... I wouldn't even say treated like animals because you treat your animals better. Pictured: The site of the discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of 796 children of St Mary's Mother and Baby Home on June 7, 2014 in Tuam 'To put down all these beautiful babies and toddlers, wrap them out and put them down in a sewage facility and forget all about them it's too horrific, I had to be a voice for them.' Catherine herself encountered some of the children from the home and said she remembers them being 'pale and skinny and not dressed very well'. She added: 'I remember the most of all, they were all huddled together at the back and we were told not to talk to them, mix with them or play with them.' A source close to the investigation told the Irish Mail on Sunday at the time: 'No one knows the total number of babies in the grave. There are 796 death records but they are only the ones we know of. 'God knows who else is in the grave. It's been lying there for years and no one knows the full extent or total of bodies down there.' In 2023, Catherine and the Guardian both attended the Tuam site - and she reflected on the scandal which saw children treated as 'commodities'. 'They are two-feet down from where we are standing,' she told the interviewer. 'The bones have mingled together and water got in and thrashed them around. But they're there... 'They didn't have to account for the deaths. They didn't want anyone to know. All this time those poor little remains were disintegrating... 'The prettier babies were set up for adoption it was a money-making racket. The sicker ones were put away and allowed to die.' Speaking to the outlet, Roderic O'Gorman - now leader of the Green Party/An Comhaontas Glas - remarked on the excavation: 'There has been nothing on this scale before in Ireland. This will be one of the most complex operations of its kind in the world. 'The goal is to give a respectful burial to all the remains... I've always regarded Tuam as a stain on our national conscience. The fact that infant remains were treated so callously even in death is deeply disturbing.' Local communities had, at the site, also erected a number - 796 - in memory of all known deaths. A note from a former resident of the home read: 'This is what Catholic Ireland did. Took the babies away from their mothers and when they passed away dumped their little bodies into a dirty tank. My God.' The Bon Secours Sisters apologised in 2021 and said they had 'failed to protect the inherent dignity' of women and children in the home. Daniel MacSweeney has been appointed the Director of Authorised Intervention at Tuam, and is in charge of running the current excavation operation. In June last year, consultations kicked off on proposals to establish an inquiry into the institutions. The 2,865-page document published four years ago lifted the lid on years of abuse in homes for unmarried and pregnant Irish women. Some of the institutions were owned and run by the local health authorities - the county homes Pelletstown, Tuam and Kilrush. Others were owned and run by religious orders; for example, the three homes run by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Bessborough, Sean Ross and Castlepollard (the Sacred Heart homes). Many of the women suffered emotional abuse and were often subject to denigration and derogatory remarks, the commission of investigation's report said. Studying the homes over a 76-year period through 1998, the CIMBH determined that 9,000 children died in them, or 15 per cent of those who passed through. The report says 56,000 unmarried mothers and 57,000 children passed through the homes examined. Many of the women received little or no ante-natal care. The report gave no single explanation for the deaths, but said 'the major identifiable causes... were respiratory infections and gastroenteritis.' It also highlighted a total of seven unethical vaccine trials on children in the institutions between 1934 and 1973. Meanwhile women of the period who gave birth outside marriage were 'subject to particularly harsh treatment' at the hands of families and partners. The CIMBH was established in 2015, after an amateur historian uncovered evidence of a potential mass grave of infants at one such home in the town of Tuam. Long Lost Family Special - The Mother and Baby Home Scandal is across two parts, and will be on ITV1 and ITVX on 3rd and 4th September at 9PM Reports of a European ban on a crucial chemical used in the manufacture of gel polish has revived fears that trendy manicures could pose real dangers to beauty lovers devoted to their local nail salon. On September 1, the EU announced a precautionary ban on the use trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) in cosmetic products like gel polish amid concerns the ingredient can cause fertility problems. But this isn't the first time these manicures have been associated with horrifying health risks - including severe allergic reactions that left women with bleeding and peeling fingers, fungal infections, and even skin cancer. The biggest cause for concern so far has come from studies that found radiation emitted by ultraviolet lamps used at high street nail bars 'may cause cancers of the hand'. Nail bars offering these manicures started popping up around the country in the early 2000s, but have since exploded in popularity - primarily because they promise a much glossier, longer-lasting finish than standard polish. But women are now increasingly weighing up the pros and cons of these manicures that last for anywhere between three and four weeks without chipping, as dermatologists reported a rise in the number of patients coming in with infections caused by gel polish. Other dangers include damage to the nail and premature skin aging, as it appears gel manicures are losing some of their sheen. The nail bar industry has often dismissed these concerns, claiming the findings of these short-term studies as not being backed by enough evidence. Reports of a European ban on a crucial chemical used in the manufacture of gel polish has revived fears that these trendy manicures are doing its wearers more harm than good. Pictured: British mother Lisa Dewey's hand after she endured a severe allergic reaction as a result of the treatment TikTok is awash with graphic videos of young women warning their followers about allergies to methacrylates Fertility issues The latest health concern to be linked to gel manicures is fertility issues after a key ingredient used in these polishes was banned across Europe amid fears it could be toxic. As of September 1, the European Union has banned the use of trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide - commonly referred to as TPO - after studies showed it could adversely impact reproductive health. TPO is a photoinitiator, or the ingredient responsible for gel polish's fast drying quality. The chemical also helps the nail varnish harden when exposed to ultraviolet light from the LED lamps used at salons. While this treatment means gel polish doesn't chip or fade as easily as regular nail paint, experts are now raising concerns about its effect on fertility in the long run. The newly enforced ban means that nail salons across the EU's 27 member states - as well as other countries that mirror its regulations such as Norway - have been informed that they must stop offering TPO-based nail gels, and safely dispose of their current stock. Manufacturers will also now have to reformulate their products to be TPO-free. However, these products will remain on sale in the UK and US - although industry insiders expect a similar precautionary ban on salons across the country towards the end of 2026. TikTok was awash with graphic videos of young women warning their followers about 'high levels of allergens' in gel polishes Reacting to the ban, some experts have noted the animal studies linking TPO to possible fertility complications are not supported by robust scientific evidence. During these studies, animals like rats were given high doses of TPO in exposure conditions that were significantly different to realistic scenarios where a much smaller amount of the chemical is applied to a human nail. Further, TPO's effect on human reproductive health is still unclear since the studies about its toxicity were focussed on animals. Skin cancer Researchers at the University of California, San Diego and University of Pittsburgh sounded the alarm after they found that radiation emitted from the UV lamps used leads to cancer-causing mutations in human cells. In a series of laboratory studies, they found a high proportion of skin cells repeatedly exposed to the light emitted by these lamps died. Cells that did survive showed signs of damage, including to DNA, which can increase the risk of skin cancer. Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the study authors warned: Our experimental results strongly suggest that radiation emitted by UV nail polish dryers may cause cancers of the hand. They added: UV nail polish dryers, similar to tanning beds, may increase the risk of early-onset skin cancer. However, they cautioned that the study does not provide direct evidence for an increased cancer risk in humans. Reacting to the study, Doug Schoon, of the USs Nail Manufacturing Council, a chemist by training, said it was a biased and unfair attack. He said the reasearchers used a very high-powered UV lamp and exposed cultured skin cells for far too long 20 minutes a day for three consecutive days. He added customers typically hold a hand under a lamp for three minutes during a nail bar session. Most go a couple of times a month. 'I can guarantee results would be much different if they used three one-minute exposures. It appears their agenda is to make all UV nail lamps look dangerous, he said. For over 20 years millions have regularly used these lamps, so they have a long history of safe use. The bulk of scientific evidence demonstrates that UV nail lamps are safe, when used properly. One TikTok user @helenhopeofficial shared how her gel manicure habit took a turn when she started getting blisters on her fingers and watched in shock as her nails lifted off the bed (a condition known as 'oncholyosis') and the skin near her fingertips began peeling Severe allergic reactions In 2018, dermatologists warned gel polishes could trigger allergic reactions and by 2023, TikTok was awash with graphic videos of women left horrified by the after-effects of their manicures. The culprit in this case is the group of chemicals in gel varnishes, known as methacrylates, that can cause 'painful peeling', swelling, itching, and blisters if exposed to the skin. Those who suffer this reaction are then unable to tolerate being exposed to the chemical, which is used in routine procedures such as fillings and hip replacements. Exposure to methacrylates can have 'serious consequences for future medical care', according to Bath-based consultant dermatologist Dr Deirdre Buckley. During gel manicures, methacrylates can enter the skin when the ultraviolet lamps used to seal and harden each layer of gel are not used for long enough, or the equipment is poorly maintained. Each gel polish brand has an exact curing time which should be adhered to, often either 30, 60 or 90 seconds. If the gel is not sufficiently 'cured' for the correct period of time, a reaction to the chemicals can occur on the skin around the nails, experts noted. In recent weeks women have also taken to TikTok to share their experiences of gel nail polish allergies. One user @katieadamson5 shared images of her fingers blistering and swelling after applying gel nail polish using an ultraviolet lamp, adding 'when you have an allergic reaction to uv gel polish. Never again' Symptoms include the nails loosening and falling off, sores on fingers, and red and swollen cuticles, as well as severe rashes on the face, neck, or upper chest. Simply brushing your nails against your arms or touching your face can cause symptoms to spread to those areas. One TikTok user @helenhopeofficial shared how her gel manicure habit took a turn when she started getting blisters on her fingers and watched in shock as her nails lifted off the bed (a condition known as 'oncholyosis') and the skin near her fingertips began peeling. When she consulted a nail technician, the TikTok user realised gel polishes can have 'high levels of allergens' and that her symptoms were the result of Hema - or a type of methacrylate. Multiple women told this paper how using at-home gel nail kits had led them to develop allergic reactions with painful symptoms such as 'yellowish nails, peeling sore fingertips, burning, and red, split skin'. Dr Buckley previously told the Daily Mail: 'Its important that people are aware of the potential risks of artificial nail products, whether they are having them applied in a salon or at home. 'Nail technicians are particularly at risk and should wear nitrile gloves when applying the products, changing them every thirty minutes with a no-touch technique.' Other forms of cancer Nail technicians are advised to wear masks while working because they are also exposed to dangerously high levels of chemicals linked to several cancers - including squamous cell carcinoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukaemia - according to research from 2019. Nail technicians are advised to wear masks while working because they are also exposed to dangerously high levels of chemicals linked to several cancer Scientists studied six salons in the US and found their air contained formaldehyde and other toxic compounds. They warned that exposure to these chemicals over a 20-year period could raise a manicurist's cancer risk by up to 100 times. Researcherds highlighted that this level of exposure could potentially damage the technician's health as much as if they worked at an oil refinery or garage. Studies suggest these employees are at risk of asbestos exposure, as well as cancer of the stomach, oesophagus and lungs. While technicians are most vulnerable to the ill-effects of these toxins, they will also be a cause of concern for customers - although manicure lovers will not face the same kind of exposure. 'It really depends on how much time you spend in and around that environment,' Dr Montoya, who led the study of the salons in 2017, said. 'Customers spend a fraction of the time in salons that workers do.' Jacket potatoes have been made a permanent menu item at Subway following a successful 'mash-hit' trial of the spuds. Announcing the news, the fast food chain branded Britain a nation of 'jacket fanatics', noting that the potatoes - and a range of toppings - will be available all UK eateries. From Wednesday, customers will be able to order the new Spudway jacket potatoes, which can be paired with Cheese and Beans; Tuna Mayo; Meatball Marinara; or Chicken Tikka. In addition, fans can fully customise their potatoes with anything from the fast food retailer's protein and salad counters, as well as their signature sauces. According to Subway, it freshly bakes its potatoes in-store daily. They are then available to customers alone or as part of a meal deal, which includes a drink, and either or a cookie. The launch comes after research commissioned by Subway found Brits have strong opinions about the 'correct way' to prepare jacket potatoes. In fact, according to its survey, almost a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents have actually argued with family and friends over how a jacket potato should be served. Subway's new Spudways can be filled with a variety of filling options, from Cheese and Beans and Tuna Mayo to Meatball Marinara and Chicken Tikka And it shouldn't come as any surprise that people have such strong feelings about the meal, as the survey also revealed that the vast majority of those polled (94 per cent) eat a jacket potato at least once a week. Brits' top 10 jacket potato toppings Cheese (67 per cent) Butter (64 per cent) Baked beans and cheese (56 per cent) Tuna Mayo (36 per cent) Bacon (23 per cent) Chicken (22 per cent) Chicken Tikka (19 per cent) Ham (16 per cent) Mayo (15 per cent) Taco Beef (15 per cent) Source: Subway Advertisement Almost half (47 per cent) agreed that jacket potatoes are a British cultural icon, while almost a quarter (24 per cent) declared they would get the 'ick' if someone they were dating chose a combination of toppings they disagreed with. In fact, even ordering a jacket potato in public could bring shame, as 21 per cent said they have secretly judged someone based on their choice of topping or filling. Gen Z jacket potato fans are the most likely to do so, with 41 per cent saying they wouldn't hesitate to pass judgement. Some combinations may raise more eyebrows than others, such as the controversial tuna mayo and beans. Over half (57 per cent) of respondents said the two toppings should never be on the same spud. But Brits are creatures of comfort - as the research revealed that only 12 per cent would be open to experimenting with their jacket potato toppings. Nearly half (44 per cent) would much rather stick to what they know and love. Most (72 per cent) agree that the potato skin must be crispy, and over three-quarters (78 per cent) said it would be unacceptable not to eat the potato skin. Cathy Goodwin, Interim Director of Culinary & Innovation Subway EMEA, said: 'The nation's love of jacket potatoes is unparalleled. 'The enthusiasm weve seen on social media and the strong demand from our guests throughout the trial made it clear that Spudway deserved a permanent place on our menu. The addition of jacket potatoes to Subway's menu comes after a successful trial, as the fast food chain seeks to expand its offering beyond sandwiches 'Made with British potatoes, Irish salted butter, a double portion of cheese, and fully customisable with any of our many toppings from our iconic Meatball Marinara to spud staples like Cheese and Beans, Spudway is the perfect freshly-made, high-quality lunch choice.' Subway first introduced its jacket potato offering in February 2025 in hopes of expanding its menu beyond sandwiches. While the new menu item initially came as a surprise to patrons, many were delighted and the spud became a hit on social media, following increasing interest in jacket potatoes. Vendors like Spudman and Spud Brothers have won over thousands of fans on TikTok in recent months, piquing interest in jacket potatoes as a firm favourite food-on-the-go in the UK. Frightened auctioneers have been left desperate to sell a 'possessed' pram after CCTV caught it rolling across the store room 'on its own' - and vow there's 'no returns'. RWB Auctions' director Jon White couldn't see anyone when the security system detected movement at 2am on Saturday morning in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. But the 54-year-old was 'perplexed' when he checked CCTV footage the next day to see a 1950s pram appearing to slowly move on its own across the room. The item is up for auction today at a starting price of 30 and Jon says his scared staff can't wait for someone to take it off their shaking hands. He posted the video on TikTok where it's been seen almost 200,000 times and even attracted attention from ghost hunters who want to visit the auction house. Paranormal sceptic Jon says he 'can't find any explanation' for the event but people have speculated the ghost of a previous owner may have 'possessed' the pram or be pushing it. The pram comes from a property in the medieval area of Highclere, Hampshire, where Downton Abbey is famously set. Jon said: 'When I saw it I was perplexed so I sent it to staff and they went into meltdown. Frightened auctioneers are desperate to sell a 'possessed pram' after CCTV caught it rolling across the store room 'on its own' in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire 'After Wednesday we'd like to get it gone and as an auction house we don't accept returns so if it does turn out to be possessed it's not our problem. 'The admin staff want it gone sooner rather than later. They're c***ing themselves. 'It comes from a large house in Highclere and it's reported to be an area that gets a lot of paranormal activity. We didn't know about that. 'There's a divide between people who believe it [is paranormal] and those who think it's a load of rubbish but I'm on the fence. 'I'm a sceptic but I can't find an explanation and it's generating interest, which I'm happy to get behind.' Jon says locals have been in touch to say the building itself, which used to be a supermarket, is haunted. The spooky CCTV footage has more than 1,200 reactions and 130 comments, with people left spooked by the footage. One person commented: 'Why am I seeing this just before bedtime?' The pram comes from a property in the medieval area of Highclere, Hampshire, where Downtown Abbey is famously set The auctioneer posted the video on TikTok where it's been seen almost 200,000 times and even attracted attention from ghost hunters who want to visit the auction house A second said: 'I would never buy second-hand items, antique or not. We leave energy in everything we touch?' A third added: 'How do we buy this pram?' However one said: 'Invisible string.' A second questioned: 'Is this real?', and RWB Auctions replied: 'You're seeing what we saw.' It's not the only inanimate object to seemingly have been haunted by paranormal activity. Previously, the owner of one of Britain's 'most-haunted' dolls claimed the toy hates men so much she keeps attacking them. Lee Steer, 37, from Rotherham, had been conducting a paranormal investigation with his partner Sarah Carter, 32, in the 'bridal doll room' of his museum, The Haunted Objects Museum, when he began to feel a burning sensation on his neck. After struggling to carry on with the experiment, Sarah took a look under his shirt and was horrified to find red scratches all over her partner's back. Horrifying photos show red scratches pointing in all directions on his back, which Sarah believes to be in the shape of a pentagram. Sarah, from Sheffield, said: 'Lee said he needed to stop as his neck was burning. I took a look down his shirt and there were scratches in so many different directions. 'It looked like a pentagram had been scratched onto him. We had been with him all night and we knew he hadn't been scratching. It was terrifying to me. 'What terrified me the most was that Lee had to walk out of the investigation and he never does this. RWB Auctions' director Jon White (pictured) couldn't see anyone when the security system detected movement at 2am on Saturday morning Lee said he believes the scratches were caused by a ghost named Elizabeth who inhabits the dolls - and says this is not the first time she has attacked a man. He claimed people think Elizabeth only scratches men as she was badly treated by a man in her past life and also says it may be because her wedding day ended in disaster. Meanwhile, CCTV footage captured Lee's friend Jon-Paul Kenny being harassed as his pink shirt is tugged on by a seemingly invisible hand. Lee reckons the doll was trying to disrupt Jon-Paul's date night at the museum as the 34-year-old had been filming a TikTok live video with his partner Kymmi Jeffrey, 38, in the bridal doll room. Over the last few weeks, Lee claims Elizabeth has ramped up her 'mischievous' activity by corrupting Youtubers' video footage and setting off fire alarms. In the clip of Jon-Paul's attack, his pink shirt visibly yanks to one side by an unseen hand and he is seen to jump back and look behind him for an explanation but no one is there. The father-of-two now believes Elizabeth did this to him because he looks like her fiance and claims to have also seen a white dress out of the corner of his eye on the night too. Since buying the doll from eBay for 866, Lee now believes it to be the most haunted doll in the UK and says even the Warner Brothers' horror channel has dubbed it as a rival to the haunted rag doll Annabelle. Previously, Lee Steer (right) had been conducting a paranormal investigation with his partner Sarah Carter (left) in the 'bridal doll room' of his museum when he felt a burning sensation 'I suspect it to be the most haunted doll in the UK. In the bridal doll room, we've noticed an increase of poltergeist activity,' Lee said. 'I was doing an investigation and I had a burning sensation on my neck. At first, I didn't think much about it. 'When they [Sarah and the other investigator] mentioned I had scratches on my back, the burning sensation moved down. 'It seems like the doll has a hatred towards men. People say it hates married men and goes around scratching married men. 'There have been well over 15 people who have come to me to say they have been scratched [since buying her]. 'It is all men and never a woman that it has attacked. It [the doll] has moved stuff in the room while Sarah has been there but it has only claimed to have scratched a male. 'Why she is doing it is a mystery. Some people think she was treated badly by a man and some think her wedding went wrong so this is why she haunts a bridal doll. 'It could also be the fact that Elizabeth has always been the centre of attention in the museum and now we're getting new items in and she's feeling a bit of jealousy.' Since he took office just a mere six months ago, President Donald Trump's glamorous aides have been by his side every step of the way - and it appears that they have an unspoken uniform to follow. The ladies in Trump's administration, like Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, seem to favor particular designers for their political engagements. Over the past few months, the women have all been spotted in the designers Veronica Beard, Maje and Sandro - as well as Zara. Their looks are preppy, polished, and put-together for their roles in the executive branch - and not to mention, quite expensive. Veronica Beard, an American ready-to-wear brand founded by sisters-in-law Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard, seems to be a particular favorite among the ladies on Trump's team. In late July, Noem sported a light pink, tweed blazer by the brand, known as their classic Dickey jacket, which comes in a variety of materials and colors. Noem wore the jacket to meet with Senator Katie Britt, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, pairing it over a plain, black silk dress. Unfortunately, her exact model is now sold out, but it once retailed for $700. Since they took office just a mere six months ago, President Donald Trump 's glamorous aides have been by his side every step of the way - and it appears that they have an unspoken uniform to follow In late July, Noem sported a light pink , tweed blazer by the brand, known as their classic Dickey jacket, which comes in a variety of materials and colors In 2018, First Lady Melania Trump even stepped out in an army-green jacket by Veronica Beard The Dickey jacket seems to be a popular pick for the White House glamazons, with United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sporting a navy blue version of the blazer while on the campaign trail in Atlanta this past November. Donald Trump's wife, First Lady Melania Trump, has also been known to be a fan of the brand. In June, Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor, also posted a photo of herself walking by the President's side while wearing a chic, beige-colored pantsuit by Veronica Beard. The jacket alone cost nearly $700, while the pants were $498. British designer Self-Portrait, whose designs can cost upwards of $500, has also become a huge hit with the White House women, as Leavitt often dons their designs to hold press briefings with the media. In April, Leavitt sported their dark gray, $555 Metallic Boucle Minidress as she took the podium. The dress featured a chic, black beaded collar and buttons. In March, the Press Secretary wore a spring-y, mint green tweed dress also by Self-Portrait, which featured silver bejeweled buttons running down the front. In June, Margo Martin posted a photo of herself walking by the President's side while wearing a chic, beige-colored pantsuit by Veronica Beard British designer Self-Portrait, whose designs can cost upwards of $500, has also become a huge hit with the White House ladies, as Leavitt often dons their designs to hold press briefings with the media, as she's seen here in a mint-green dress by the brand In April, Leavitt sported their dark gray, $555 Metallic Boucle Minidress as she took the podium Self-Portrait is also a favorite of Trump's daughter, Ivanka, as she has been seen wearing the British brand multiple times over the past few years, wearing it last year to the Miami Open The garment had a finishing touch with multiple pockets - two by the breast, and two at the waist. Self-Portrait was also the designer that Leavitt chose to wear to the 2025 annual White House Easter Egg Roll, where she appeared with her husband Nicholas Riccio, 59, and their one-year-old son, Nico. The elegant frock was made of Tiffany box blue lace, and included a square neckline, bedazzled buttons and pockets, and a thin blue belt. The dress no longer appears to be for sale, but similar dresses by the designer typically retail for over $600. Self-Portrait is also a favorite of Trump's daughter, Ivanka, as she has been seen wearing the British brand multiple times over the past few years. At last year's Miami Open, she shined in a lemon yellow, ruffled, long sleeve knit dress from the brand, which retailed for $555. But Self-Portrait isn't the only European designer that the Trump ladies are a fan of. Both Martin and Leavitt have been proven to be loyal fans of French designers Maje and Sandro for their everyday looks. Self-Portrait was also the designer that Leavitt chose to wear to the 2025 annual White House Easter Egg Roll , where she appeared with her husband Nicholas Riccio, 59, and their one-year-old son, Nico The elegant frock was made of Tiffany box blue lace, and included a square neckline, bedazzled buttons and pockets, and a thin blue belt Their looks are preppy, polished, and put-together for their roles on Capitol Hill - and not to mention, quite expensive In a recent day-in-the-life vlog that she posted this summer, Martin was seen getting dressed in a $430 navy blue, tweed dress that featured a denim skirt and lapels by designer Sandro. She's also been seen in snaps sporting a long, white knit dress with denim detailing on the sleeves and chest by Sandro, upwards of $300. Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, was also seen in the same dress last March, except hers was a light, powder blue color instead of white. In June, Leavitt wore a hot pink, tweed wrap dress with hints of purple and red threading by designer Maje to speak to pools of reporters at The White House, pairing the look with bright, patent-leather magenta stilettos. The short-sleeved dress, which also featured an open back and three gold buttons at its side, but is no longer available to purchase on the designer's website. In a recent Instagram photo, Leavitt also posed in a $565 tweed mini dresss by Maje, as she stood alongside her glamorous Trump aides Martin and Meghan Bauer, cheekily captioning the snap, 'West Wing girls.' However, it's not all designer all the time for the Trump aides. Both Leavitt and Martin have also been known to opt for more affordable clothing options, from stores like Zara or Abercrombie & Fitch. In the video, Martin also wore a $430 navy blue, tweed dress that featured a denim skirt and lapels by designer Sandro In June, Leavitt wore a hot pink, tweed wrap dress with hints of purple and red threading by designer Maje to speak to pools of reporters at The White House, pairing the look with bright, patent-leather magenta stilettos Martin has been seen in snaps sporting a long, white knit dress with denim detailing on the sleeves and chest by Sandro, upwards of $300. The slim-fitting blazer featured a pleated collar and two chic black buttons cinching the waist, and was on sale at the time for $43.90 In fact, Leavitt sported a deep magenta pantsuit from Zara to her first-ever press briefing in January. The slim-fitting blazer featured a pleated collar and two chic black buttons cinching the waist, and was on sale at the time for $43.90. The matching pants were also on sale for $19.96. As Trump's Presidential term continues, it will be interesting to see which other luxurious designers the team decides to add to their wardrobes - and which brand could be the next big thing in Washington. In her latest project, she plays a CEO of a medical company who gets kidnapped The actress, 36, compared her latest film - Bugonia - to the murder case Emma Stone has been branded as 'detached from reality' after she compared her latest film to the Luigi Mangione case - and asked audiences if they had 'heard' of it. The 36-year-old actress plays a high-powered CEO of a medical company who gets kidnapped by an employee played by Jesse Plemons in Yorgos Lanthimos's latest film, Bugonia. Mangione is accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a 50-year-old father-of-two, outside a Manhattan hotel while he was attending a work conference on December 4, 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges in connection with the December murder. If Mangione is convicted, federal prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty. Speaking at a Q&A for the project at Telluride Film Festival on August 30, Emma said that she found 'terrifying' similarities between the movie's plot and the Mangione case. 'What's really crazy, after we had shot the film I live in New York we heard someone was shot up the street,' she said. 'It was a healthcare CEO. You know, because Luigi. You guys heard about this?' Emma continued: 'It was wild, because we had all just been in a basement [filming] together, talking about these issues and the bigger meaning of everything. Emma Stone has been slammed after she compared her latest film to the Luigi Mangione case Mangione is accused of fatally shooting the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City and leading authorities on a five-day search 'It keeps hitting you that the world is so deeply fraught and terrifying in so many ways.' Emma's comments have been fiercely criticized by social media users who were quick to call her out. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one said: 'Wow she's ignorant.' 'Wow lost a lot of respect for her but then again, what does she know?' asked another. A third quipped: 'Completely detached from reality.' 'Don't think she was this out of touch!' wrote a fourth. Echoing a similar sentiment, another said: 'Wow she's ignorant.' 'Emma please just talk about your performance' added a sixth. The murder of United Healthcare CEO Thompson (pictured) was captured on a chilling video 'It was a healthcare CEO,' she said of her role. 'You know, because Luigi. You guys heard about this?' Bugonia is described as a 'satirical absurdist science fiction dark comedy' and is based on a screenplay by Will Tracy. The film focuses on two young men who kidnap a powerful CEO, suspecting that she is secretly an alien who wants to destroy Earth. It is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan. Emma stars opposite Jesse in leading roles with Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone appearing in supporting roles. The actress's comments come weeks after actor Dave Franco responded to calls for him to portray Mangione in a biopic, should such a project ever arise. Appearing on Watch What Happens Live! he said: 'Oh, how do I answer this? 'No one has approached me about it yet, I'll say that. This is something that more people in my life reached out about this exact thing than anything else that has ever happened. 'Let's just say I'm open if the right people and let's just leave it at that.' King Charles told a cancer patient 'I'm not too bad' when asked about his recovery during a visit to open a new hospital. The monarch, 76, said 'half the problem is detecting it in time', adding optimistically that doctors are 'better at dealing' with cancer and 'there's always hope down the road'. In a separate meeting, Charles joked that he was also discovering that 'bits don't work so well once you get past 70'. He met with Matthew Shinda during a visit to officially open the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. Matthew, who is suffering from prostate cancer, told the King, 'I've got what you've got', before revealing: 'Last stage. I could go today, I could go tomorrow.' Charles has been undergoing cancer treatment since January last year. Buckingham Palace has not confirmed what type of cancer he has, but it is understood not to be prostate. Matthew was with daughter Philippa Matthew, 52, younger sister Jessie Sharif, 60, and wife Elizabeth Shinda, 74. The King questioned how long he had been there and asked: 'Have they been giving you all the right treatment? Marvellous nurses.' King Charles (pictured), 76, opened the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Birmingham today He talked candidly to patients, including Matthew Shinda (pictured), about his own experience of cancer Queen Camilla (pictured) looked elegant in a white dress today as she visited the New Normandy Barracks in Aldershot Matthew, who said he was happy to see the King was recovering well, explained how he had been diagnosed when doctors found a previously undiscovered lump. Charles said: 'As long as they're making you comfortable.' Matthew replied: 'Of course. That's one of the priorities. Making me comfortable.' 'The great thing I think is they're getting better and better at dealing with these things. The trouble is there's always hope down the road,' the King added. 'I am sorry about that, it's so frustrating. We're probably about the same age are we?' Matthew guessed the King was about one year older, which Charles laughed at. Matthew then added that he would like a drink, prompting Charles to joke he should have brought a whisky, saying: 'It's supposed to be very good for the heart.' The King also asked about his daughters and grandchildren, to which Matthew said he was 'lucky' to have loved ones who were taking turns to come and visit. Charles met patient Jacqueline Page (pictured) during a ward visit He also met retired milkman Philip Barnard (pictured), who told the King he has lung cancer Charles met Hernata Yonas (pictured with her mother Semher Tesfu), who was the first baby born in the hospital Matthew said after the visit: 'I was elated. He showed concern.' Elsewhere, Charles later told retired milkman Philip Barnard, who told the King he has lung cancer, that there is 'huge progress in treatment'. The royal also met Jacqueline Page, 85, who lives in Great Barr with her husband Jeff, 82. Her father met the then Prince Charles when he visited Birmingham in 1978. Charles said: 'I do hope this isn't causing too much interruption.' Jacqueline told him: 'Lovely to meet you. I wish it was in better circumstances.' Jacqueline assured the monarch that she was receiving 'the best attention', joking that she was 'wearing out'. He joked in response: 'Well this is the terrible thing, as I'm discovering already, bits don't work so well do they once you get past 70.' He asked Jeff how he was coping at home, and the couple revealed that they had been married 40 years. Jacqueline also recounted that she had once met the King before, at Perry Barr stadium. Charles greeted hospital staff and received a warm response from the crowds He shook hands with hospital workers who appeared delighted to see the King Charles met some supporters who were carrying Union Jack flags 'You came in a helicopter and you got out of the helicopter and you walked straight towards my parents,' she revealed. Charles joked: 'That was a bit of luck, wasn't it?' She continued: 'They shook hands with you. I didn't get a look in, so I'm so delighted you're talking to me today.' And Charles recalled: 'It was a wonderful old helicopter I seem to remember. I used to fly it. Because I'd flown them in the Navy. I left the Navy in 1976 but I could still remember how to fly it. That was the great thing.' He later met Hernata Yonas, who was the first baby born in the hospital. Mother Semhar Tesfu and father Yonas Kflu told him that Hernata had arrived at 8.48am - just over 90 minutes after the maternity department opened its doors. There were huge cheers from the crowds as Charles greeted them and others who worked at the hospital. And just before Charles unveiled a plaque, ex NHS chief and chairman of the hospital Sir David Nicholson told the crowd: 'Your Majesty, guests, colleagues, and friends. 'It is a tremendous honour to stand before you today on this momentous occasion. 'This is a day of immense pride, not just for those of us who have been part of this project from its inception, but for the entire community who will benefit from this world-class facility for generations to come. Camilla, 78, met with members of 4th Battalion of The Ranger Regiment in her capacity as Royal Colonel today 'Your Majesty, it is with the deepest gratitude and immense pride that we welcome you here today to officially open Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.' Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust provides community, hospital, and general practice-based care, serving a population of 750,000 local people. Midland Metropolitan University Hospital opened its doors on Sunday 6th October 2024 and is one of the biggest hospitals to open in England in the last decade. Elsewhere, also fresh from the summer break, Queen Camilla looked elegant in a white dress today as she too returned to work. Braving the rain, the royal, 78, chose a favourite outfit, which she was last seen in at Wimbledon in July 2023, to visit the New Normandy Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, in her capacity as Royal Colonel. Camilla's white midi dress featured a stylish top with black vertical stitching that continued down into the pleated skirt. She completed the monochrome ensemble with a pair of beige, suede court shoes with a low heel. The monarch's blonde hair fell in a classic blow dry and she accessorised with a turquoise and gold bracelet. Camilla met with members of the 4th Battalion of The Ranger Regiment and their families to hear more about the work of the unit. Camilla was seen animatedly chatting to the soldiers, who were wearing their army camouflage She was pictured smiling as she shook hands with soldiers dressed in army camouflage and chatted lightheartedly to their partners and children. It's been a busy day for the royal couple, as before opening Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, Charles received a tour of religious buildings. He attended the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri following the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman and was met by the Archbishop of Birmingham and the Provost of the Birmingham Oratory, Father Ignatius Harrison, who guided him through the ornate nave. The King, who was smartly dressed in a grey suit and a red patterned tie, was shown the Cardinal's room, which has remained untouched since his death in 1890 and still contains Newman's personal effects. The monarch's tour, conducted by Mr Daniel Joyce, curator of the Newman Museum, also took in the library, which is home to several historic items. Among these are The Polyglot Bible from 1657, which has a dedication to King Charles II, the handwritten manuscript of 'The Dream of Gerontius', the library's oldest book, and Cardinal John Henry Newman's viola, which dates to 1800. Charles smiled as he looked around the rooms and appeared fascinated by the religious books on the display in the library. He was pictured studying the text of one of the volumes and enjoying a discussion with curator Daniel Joyce. The queen, who paired her monochrome dress with beige suede shoes, took the time to speak to individual soldiers during her visit She appeared deeply interested in the soldiers' experiences Camilla also met the soldiers' partners and was introduced to their children She braved the rain for today's royal engagement in Hampshire He received a tour of the religious building, including its library (pictured), where he viewed historic religious texts His Majesty appeared fascinated by one of the historic books, which he paid close attention to during his visit Charles was dressed in a grey suit complete with a red patterned tie for the occasion He appeared very cheerful as he was shown around the building by the Archbishop of Birmingham and the Provost of the Birmingham Oratory, Father Ignatius Harrison (left) The library was packed full of religious texts, with some dating back to the 17th century The curator of the Newman Museum, Daniel Joyce, took his time to show Charles the famous texts The monarch appeared delighted to meet members of the religious community based at Birmingham Oratory Charles also unveiled a plaque in the courtyard to commemorate his visit His Majesty put on an animated display as he met members of the Oratory community, including the priests, brothers and staff, and later unveiled a plaque in the courtyard to commemorate the visit. Cardinal John Henry Newman established the Birmingham Oratory in 1848, one year after he had joined the Congregation of the Oratory in Rome. The current church building dates to 1901, when it was built to commemorate the Cardinal, and was inspired by Saint Philip Neri's own Oratory in the Oratorio dei Filippini in the Italian capital. John Henry Newman was created a cardinal in 1879 but decided to stay at the Oratory until his death in 1890. Later, in 2019, he was canonised at the Vatican, which King Charles attended as the Prince of Wales. Before the ceremony, which took place in St Peter's Square in the Vatican, Charles met Pope Francis. Savannah Guthrie was left red-faced after her natural hair color was exposed by a fan live on the Today show. The 53-year-old anchor had been presenting Wednesday's episode from the 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City when she came face-to-face with an old headshot taken in the nineties. Co-host Craig Melvin was first to spot the picture in the crowd, which had been brought from longtime fan, Carol. Approaching the guest, he asked: 'Where did you find this picture?' 'Found it online,' she responded. Savannah awkwardly walked over to inspect the image which had been snapped from her days at the local station KVOA in Tucson, Arizona, but was clearly less enthused. In the picture, she could be seen sporting a jet-black coiffed bob as she reported on the Olympics. 'Well, welcome!' Savannah joked as she then attempted to hide the picture with her hands. Savannah Guthrie cringed as her natural hair was exposed by a fan live on the Today show The guest had printed off a picture of Savannah with a jet-black bob from her early career days in the 90s 'I don't think we need to see that!' she giggled to which Craig retorted, 'I disagree.' Explaining the hairdo, she said: 'It was very '90s.' 'I think I tried the Rachel,' she added, referring to Jennifer Aniston's Rachel Green haircut from the beloved sitcom Friends. 'Thank you for coming,' Savannah told Carol as she began to walk away. 'Now we can burn that.' These days, mom-of-two Savannah is better known for having brunette hair with blonde highlights. Savannah spent five years in Tucson working with NBC affiliate KVOA from 1995 before moving to Washington, D.C., with WRC-TV. She eventually joined NBC News as a correspondent in September 2007 before becoming a Today show co-anchor in 2011. In July, Daily Mail named Savannah as the morning show style queen thanks to her 'professional, yet approachable' looks. Guest Carol told Today show co-host Craig Melvin that she had found the photo online Savannah grimaced upon seeing the photo before calling for it to be burned These days, Savannah is known for her blonde highlights Your browser does not support iframes. 'Savannah's style is professional, yet approachable, has personality, and doesn't feel as tired as the expected jeweled tone shift dress that most people in news tend to gravitate towards,' fashion guru Liz Teich, who runs The New York Stylist, said. 'She keeps it classic, yet still trend forward (never trendy), tailored, as well as isn't afraid of unexpected color or patterns.' 'Savannah's style exudes her confidence in her position on TV, as she doesnt feel the need to dress like every other anchor,' she concluded. Meanwhile, Today show legend Al Roker, topped the inaugural list, sweeping the board in every category for morning show hosts. The genial New Yorker, who has been with NBC since 1978, is seen as the most likable of the 15 main breakfast show hosts included in our exclusive polling, carried out by J.L. Partners. Al, 70, is also the most fun, truthful, knowledgeable, least biased, and the host that those polled most wanted to spend time with. I'm turning 36 next week. I'm a wife, a mother to three beautiful boys - 12, ten and two - and I finally feel like I know who I am. For the first time in my life, I believe I am a good person. But not so long ago, I didn't think I'd even make it to this age. I was suicidal for years - in and out of mental health units, trying different cocktails of medication, crying in hospital bathrooms and planning to end my life. I truly believed the world would be better without me in it. I had thought the conditions driving me to the brink were depression, PTSD or even postnatal struggles after my sons were born. In reality, it was ADHD - a diagnosis that no one thought to look for until I was 35. When I finally got the right treatment, it was like stepping out of a storm into silence. The eldest child, the helper, the achiever I grew up in regional Western Australia, the eldest of six in a family where the house was spotless and responsibility weighed heavy. We lived 800km from Perth, almost closer to South Australia than our own capital, so everything - shopping, medical appointments, emergencies - meant flights, long drives and longer days. Corrina Rawlinson shares her raw and honest account of being diagnosed with ADHD at 35 and the pharmacological treatment that transformed her life By the time I was old enough to sweep a floor, I was getting up early to do it, hoping that someone would notice I was being helpful. My sister had a genetic kidney issue, my youngest brother was badly burnt in a bath accident, and I made it my job to look after everyone. At school, I was the girl who was always helping the teachers, always chasing good grades - not because I particularly loved learning, but because I loved the recognition that came with it. My report cards said the same thing year after year: Corrina is intelligent, but she's easily distracted and talks too much. It wasn't wrong. Even when I did well, assignments went missing, deadlines slipped. I was anxious, restless, never settled. On the outside, I was capable, kind, helpful; on the inside, I felt like I was failing at life. A life that looked perfect, but felt unbearable By 15, I was done with school. By 18, I was managing a travel agency. By 20, I was running businesses. I married, had children, joined every committee going. From the outside, I was that woman people look at and say: 'She does it all.' But I wasn't doing it all. Not really. I was drowning. When my two eldest boys were six and four, I was running the family business - a newsagency - which made me responsible for the financial future of everyone I loved. Corrina says dexamphetamine, commonly known as dexies, 'completely transformed' her life This was on top of school committees, swimming lessons and endless domestic work. I was exhausted, burnt out and utterly convinced that every failure - real or imagined - proved that I was worthless. I told my doctor I was fine. I smiled through gritted teeth. And when I did admit I was struggling, I was met with toxic positivity or useless advice: Why don't you take a day off? Get a cleaner? Ask someone else to help? But I couldn't. Without me, everything would collapse. That was the story I told myself - and it nearly killed me. The letter On the outside, I was still functioning. On the inside, I was crumbling. The newsagency was the centre of my family's financial security, and I was supposed to be running it. But I couldn't keep up. At first, I started avoiding the shop on the days I couldn't face it. One day became two, two became weeks. Bills piled up, suppliers called, staff were left without direction - and still, I pretended everything was fine. I became skilled at hiding it. I'd tell my husband or my mother that I'd been at work all day, but I wasn't. I told myself that tomorrow I'd fix it, tomorrow I'd catch up. But tomorrow never came. The longer I left it, the worse it got. Every unpaid invoice, every stock delivery I ignored became another brick on my chest. I started to believe I'd ruined everything - not just the business, but my family's trust, our future, our name in the community. When my brother, who knew retail inside-out, came to town and started asking questions, I panicked. He was talking to staff, checking stock, peering into the books. I could see the truth unravelling right there in front of me, and I thought: It's over. They'll see what I've done. They'll never forgive me. That night, I wrote a letter. My last letter. It said: 'I'm an actual f**kwit. I ruin everything. Everyone is better off without me. Please don't give me a funeral. I just want to go quietly.' I bawled my eyes out, but there was also a strange kind of calm in writing it. I thought death was the only way to stop the shame, the only way to undo what I'd done. I truly believed my children would be happier without me, that my husband would be better off with someone else, and that my family could finally move on without the dead weight. My family had no idea. They thought I was sick with colds and chest infections. They didn't know I was weighing up ways to make it all stop. When they finally found out, it was because the business was falling apart. My mother called and asked me to come over. I thought: This is it. Tonight's the night. Instead, I walked into a room full of people who loved me, all asking: 'What is going on?' I broke down. I told them everything. I said I wanted to die. And they looked me in the eye and told me: 'We love you. The business doesn't matter. We'll get you help.' Hospitals, miscarriages and holding on My first mental health admission came in 2019, after a psychiatrist listened to my story including a traumatic event from my past - and told me I had PTSD. I cried with relief - finally, someone had named what was happening in my head. But recovery was not neat. After my first admission, I felt hopeful and even told my husband I wanted another baby. But when I miscarried, the grief and hormone crash sent me spiralling again. I was admitted a second time after what felt like a complete breakdown - an argument with my husband ended with me walking barefoot for miles through town, dissociating, ending up at a bridge and weighing up whether to jump. In the hospital, I was told I wasn't safe and that I had no capacity to make decisions. I spent more time in a mental health ward, my days stripped back to the basics: when to eat, when to shower, when to take my meds. For once, I wasn't responsible for anyone else's survival. Someone else was making the decisions. In a way, it was both terrifying and strangely peaceful. By the end of 2020, I had been admitted three times. Each time, my medications were tweaked, my body detoxing from one while adjusting to another. Each time, I came home to try to piece together life again. I miscarried again, and again. Each loss chipped away at me further. There were cruel moments too - like the emergency nurse who looked me up and down while I miscarried and said flatly, 'This isn't really maternity, because there won't be a baby. This is more a mental health issue.' By the time I finally held my rainbow baby boy in early 2023, I was raw, scarred, and terrified I would break again. The three words that changed everything By Easter 2024, I was back at breaking point. My psychiatrist had moved on, and I felt abandoned. But when I found another doctor in Perth, he sat with me, listened to my entire story, and said three words that changed my life: 'You have ADHD.' At first, it didn't seem real. I wasn't hyperactive. My mother didn't believe it. But when I looked back - the chaos, the distraction, the self-loathing, the decision fatigue - it was all there. I started medication dexamphetamine - last November. Suddenly, my brain was quiet. For the first time in my life, I wasn't at war with myself. 'For the first time in my life, I wasn't at war with myself,' Corrina says of her experiencing taking dexamphetamine (stock image) Life after the storm Medication hasn't 'saved my life' - but it has completely transformed it. Before, I believed my children would be better off without me. Now, I believe I am a good mum. I don't scream at them anymore. I take them out. I'm present. Before, I thought my husband deserved someone else. Now, I can give him affection, and let him go out with his mates without melting down. Before, I worked myself into the ground trying to prove I was enough. Now, our business is thriving because we've learned to stay in our lane. I even started a podcast - where I read out that goodbye letter in the first episode. Because silence nearly killed me, and conversation saves lives. If I could tell my younger self If I could go back and talk to the woman sobbing over that letter, I'd tell her what my naturopath once told me: 'You are loved. You are perfect exactly as you are, exactly as you always have been, and exactly as you always will be.' I don't have to perform. I don't have to do it all. I can just be me. And that is enough. As told to Rebel Wylie READ THE LATEST FROM DAILYMAIL+ Here are some great stories you may have missed: Health experts are calling on government officials to relabel a 'silent killer' disease spread by bugs as 'endemic' in the US. Chagas disease is a dangerous infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite is generally transmitted through accidentally ingesting feces of triatomine bugs, nicknamed 'kissing bugs', which are known to bite humans and animals. The first known case of human Chagas disease in the US was contracted by an infant in 1955 in Corpus Christi, Texas - the child's home was known to be infested with kissing bugs. Since then, kissing bugs have been detected in 32 states, and scientists believe Chagas has blighted at least 300,000 Americans, though the count could be much higher as the disease often goes undiagnosed. Recently, a woman in Texas spoke out to raise awareness of the disease. Sandra Youngblood discovered she had Chagas after a blood donation in 2018. Blood is screened for the disease before being used for donation. However, she 'ignored the recommendation to seek medical attention until 2021.' She said she experienced some early symptoms of the disease, including headaches and reduced appetite, but said the CDC and her doctors said her condition was progressing slowly and she'd likely feel more symptoms in her 50s and 60s. Triatomine bugs, nicknamed 'kissing bugs', carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease Your browser does not support iframes. Youngblood told KCEN-TV she thinks she contracted the disease from bed bugs while living in Florida, but isn't sure. Little is known about the prevalence of Chagas across the country, as it is not reportable at the national level and only estimates can be given. Still, health leaders say that reclassifying it as endemic will help spread awareness and improve tracking. According to the CDC, the term 'endemic' is used to denote the 'constant presence/usual prevalence of a disease or infectious agent in a population within a geographic area'. Dr William Schaffner, a professor of medicine, specializing in infectious diseases, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told the Daily Mail that deforestation and migration have caused the global spread of Chagas - originally a tropical disease confined to rural areas of Latin America. He said there is evidence to suggest that climate change is also linked to an increase in cases across the southern US, as warmer temperatures and increased rainfall have expanded the bugs' breeding grounds. He also said the new data indicates that infected kissing bugs are more common than previously thought. Several factors have led to the increase in diagnoses, he added, including 'more diagnostic awareness among doctors' and 'climate change enlarging the spread of the kissing bug vector'. Chagas has earned a reputation as a 'silent killer' because it can live in the body for decades without being detected. There is no mortality rate for it in the US, but in Brazil, health experts found the annual average mortality proportion for the disease was 1.6 deaths per 100,000 infected people. Chagas is often asymptomatic, with 70 to 80 percent of infected people remaining symptom-free their entire lives. Though, for some, signs of infection include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash and loss of appetite. Over time, parasites can move to the tissues and cause chronic infections. This can lead to various complications, including bowel damage and issues passing stool, trouble eating, blood clots, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms and even sudden death. The above map shows US states with reported wild, domestic or captive animals exposed to Trypanosoma cruzi locally, states with reported autochthonous human Chagas disease, and all states with reported triatomines Researchers from the University of Florida say that California, Texas and Florida are home to the most people suffering from chronic cases of Chagas. An estimated 70,000 to 100,000 people in California have Chagas disease, making it the state with the most cases in the US. Experts from the Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease (CECD) say this is because Los Angeles is home to a large population of people born in Latin America. The CECD performed a study of Chagas disease in this population and found that 1.24 percent, or about one out of 100, had the infection that causes Chagas disease. They said that they were 'likely infected in their home countries, although it is not impossible that some would have been infected in California'. Janeice Smith, a retired teacher in Florida, believes she got Chagas in 1966 when her family went on vacation in Mexico. She returned home feeling tired and with a high fever. She also developed a severe eye infection, which caused it to become itchy and swollen. Her parents rushed her to the hospital, where she was admitted for several weeks until her symptoms lessened, but doctors could not determine what caused her illness. It was only about 60 years later that Smith discovered a link to Chagas when she signed up to donate blood - she was denied when the infection was detected in her donation. Smith said after doing further research, she realized the disease was responsible for a string of ailments she had been blighted with into adulthood, including sight problems and acid reflux. A graph showing yearly reported cases of human Chagas disease in Texas She told the Daily Mail that along with a run of severe symptoms, being diagnosed with Chagas left her feeling isolated. 'One of the worst things for me was being diagnosed with something I had never heard of. Then I was left on my own to find qualified care,' the Floridian explained. 'After that, it took going through hoops to be retested numerous times before the CDC would give my doctor approval to treat me. Even my family didn't believe me that it was a real disease.' Following the discovery of Chagas in her system, Smith founded the National Kissing Bug Alliance to help raise awareness about the condition. As there is no mandated testing for Chagas, many people only find out they have the disease when they donate blood. (All donors are screened for antibodies to the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite.) While data is limited, researchers in Florida and Texas, who have spent 10 years tracking the transmission of Chagas, collected 300 kissing bugs in 23 Florida counties. More than a third of them were in people's homes. One in three bugs tested carried Trypanosoma cruzi and infected people and animals in more than half of the counties examined. The team said the bugs enter homes as more people build property on previously undeveloped land that served as the insects' natural habitat. Now, health experts across the country are urging people in the states where kissing bugs live to reduce their exposure, by doing things such as keeping wood piles outside and away from where pets sleep. The above graph shows which food sources kissing bugs relied on, depending on where they were found. Bugs in homes most often fed on humans, while those outside focused on wild mammals Kissing bugs, which range from 0.5 to 1.25 inches long, are blood-feeding insects that tend to hide during the day in dark areas of homes like ceilings and cracks in the walls. They then come out to feed at night. They have been known to attach to animals and then transfer to humans. Most people don't feel the bite of a kissing bug due to anesthetic-like molecules in their saliva, but it usually leaves an itchy, red welt behind. Dr Norman Beatty, an assistant professor of medicine in the University of Floridas Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, revealed that allergic reactions to kissing bug bites are common, and anaphylaxis has resulted in at least one documented death in Arizona. The infection can be treated with anti-parasitic medications and therapies for secondary issues like heart rhythm disorders. The startling reality of assisted dying has been laid bare in a new interview detailing the final hours of one terminally ill woman in America. Eighteen months ago Roseana Spangler-Sims, 72, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancermeaning the disease had spread to other parts of the body. Despite intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, scan results in June revealed the cancer had continue to spread. She then made the decision to end her own life by purchasing medications that are legally available for the purpose in her home city of Vista, California, under California's Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) law. The interview with People, which is bound to spark debate, discussed Ms Spangler-Sims' plans during her final hoursincluding a microdose of magic mushrooms. It comes as proposals for legislation on assisted dying in England and Wales are currently making their way through parliament, with a second reading in the House of Lords scheduled for September 12. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill argues for the right for patients with less than six months to live to seek an assisted death. Speaking before her death, Ms Spangler-Sims said she opted for assisted dying after making piece with her terminal diagnosis, saying 'I'm ready to go. I'm more at peace than I've ever been'. Eighteen months ago Roseana Spangler-Sims, 72, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancermeaning the disease had spread to other parts of the body. Pictured, in California, August 2025 Despite intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, scan results in June revealed the cancer had continue to spread. Pictured, Ms Spangler-Sims (right) with son Shawn and his wife Cindy (left) On August 18, she moved out of her Vista apartment to spend her final two weeks near Palomar Mountain, north of San Diego, with her family, son, Shawn Cisneros, his wife Cindy and Cindy's twin sister, Sandi. The family drove through the forests, went through boxes of photos and memories from over the years together and also threw her a 'living wake' which saw dozens of friends and family gather to celebrate her life. Conducting the interview on the final day of her life, August 31, she said she had eaten a light breakfast of papaya and mango, as her stomach can't be full before consuming the fatal dose of medication. At 11am, she had planned for her death doula to arrive. While home carers support physical and medical needs such as making meals, providing personal care and giving medication, end-of-life doulas do not. Instead they offer emotional, practical and even spiritual support. She had also arranged for a psilocybin facilitator, who ensures the safety and wellbeing of patients during psychedelic therapy, to carry out a ritual with sage and a microdose of magic mushrooms. The psychedelic was chosen 'to bring myself to that peaceful point,' Ms Spangler-Sims. 'And it's also about feeling one with nature.' Pictured, Ms Spangler-Sims (in yellow) with friends and family, and death doula Melissa McClave (front), at her celebration of life on August 24 Your browser does not support iframes. In California, two independent doctors must approve an application for an assisted death. The patient must have a terminal diagnosis with less than six months left to live. MAID was passed in October 2015 and officially came into effect in June 2016. Official figures released in July 2024 show over 4,200 people have died in California from ingesting medications prescribed under the act. During the interview, Ms Spangler-Sims said she would take anti-nausea medication around 5pm to ensure the MAID medication 'goes in and stays down', when she takes it an hour later. She planned to drink the solution at 6pm and lie outdoors on the hospital bed, surrounded by her family. 'I want it to go as quickly as possible. I don't want the kids to sit here and look at me half dead for too long. I want to be out,' she said. 'I feel ready to fade.' Dubbed the 'silent killer' due to its subtle symptoms, pancreatic cancer kills around 100,000 people in the UK every year. Your browser does not support iframes. Mother of the House Diane Abbott asked MPs to vote against the bill in June, saying: 'People will lose their lives who do not need to. Former Tory minister Sir James Cleverly argued that the yes camp claims that the law might not change for a decade if it is not done now, but there would be 'plenty of opportunities' in future According to the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK, it is the deadliest common cancer and, currently, more than half of people die within three months of diagnosis. Common symptoms include abdominal and back pain, unexplained weight loss and indigestion, loss of appetite, changes to bowel habits and jaundice. However these symptoms are often mistaken for other, more common ailments such as IBS. The charity said 80 per cent of people with pancreatic cancer are not diagnosed until after the disease has spread, meaning life-saving treatment is no longer possible. There are currently no early detection tests. The eye-opening interview with Ms Spangler-Sims comes as the UK is seeking to make assisted dying legal. In June, the House of Commons approved the third reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. In total, 224 Labour MPs supported the Bill alongside 20 Tories, 56 Liberal Democrats and two Reform UK MPs. Your browser does not support iframes. By contrast, 160 Labour MPs opposed the Bill, alongside 92 Tories, 15 Lib Dems and three Reform UK MPs. But while the bill passed its third reading, assisted dying in England is not a certainty. In a sign of the concern about the Bill, it passed through the Commons by just 23 votes32 fewer than when MPs backed it in principle last November. It will now move to the Lords, with opponents vowing to fight it in the upper chamber. The Bill includes a number of stipulations regarding who would be able to seek assistance with ending their life, and how they could do so. First, two independent doctors must confirm that the patient fits the following criteria. They must be over 18, live in England and Wales, and have been registered with a GP for the last year. They must be deemed to have mental capacity to make the choice to end their own life and not have been pressured into doing so by others. Kim Leadbeater told fellow MPs that her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will give people 'choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives' A medical team must also have calculated they have a bleak prognosis of less than six months. The patient must also make two separate declarations of their wish to die to ensure the decision has been adequately considered. If the medics feel the patient is eligible, the case is referred to a High Court judge who makes the ultimate call. At least two weeks after a positive ruling, a patient is permitted to take their own life with the help of a doctor. But concerns have been raised that 'gaps' in the legislation would put vulnerable patients at risk of ill-thought-out decisions. Ms Leadbeater has argued terminally ill people must be given choice at the end of their lives, but opponents of her Bill have warned it fails to guarantee protections for society's most vulnerable. UK: For help and support, call the Samaritans for free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org. US: If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. A mother-of-three is calling for anyone with an autoimmune disorder to be screened for cancer, after she initially dismissed her incurable disease for a common cold. Maeve Fanning, 38, from Birmingham was clueless about her cancerdespite being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease a year earlieruntil she started suffering from indigestion last October. Despite struggling to eat because of the heaviness she felt in her stomach, Ms Fanning put her her symptoms down to digestive issues and waited to contact her GP until she returned home from a family holiday in Wales. Doctors prescribed antacids to relieve her symptoms and told her she would need to take them for at least a month before she would notice any real improvement. But Ms Fanning's symptoms did not subside. If anything, they just got worse. Then, the coughing startedwhich the mother-of-three thought was the so-called hundred day cough that ran rampage last winter. It wasn't until she began experiencing breathlessness a few days before Christmas that she thought it could be something more serious. Scans taken on December 20 revealed that she had a significant amount of fluid in her lungs, which doctors were concerned could be a warning sign of blood cancer and what would be an incurable diagnosis. At this point, her haematologist mentioned that around half of patients diagnosed with a different type of cancer, called thymomaa rare type of cancer that starts in the thymus gland in between the lungsalso have an autoimmune disorder. Maeve thought she was suffering from common digestive issues when she was unable to finish her meal whilst on holiday with her family in October half term Maeve (pictured left) with her children Oonagh, 9, Cormac, 5, and Ciaran, 2 Maeve went to the GP who gave her antacids to ease her symptoms Even still, her doctors' primary concern was blood cancer. Recalling the heartbreaking ordeal, Ms Fanning told the Daily Mail: 'When they detected fluid in my lungs and said they'd need to start treatment immediately my heart sunk. 'Two of my children have birthdays in January, so after my biopsy, I ran around trying to get the last bits togetherballoons and presentsthe call came two days later. 'On January 4 I was told I likely had blood cancer and that they had a bed for me. 'It was heartbreaking having to explain to my children that I wasn't going to be there for them. They watched from the window as I left, crying their eyes out.' Ten days later, Ms Fanning was discharged from hospital whilst doctors waited on test results to confirm whether it was blood cancer or in fact thymoma. 'When I asked what my prognosis was, I was told I would just have to be patient and wait for the results. It was horrendous.' Devastatingly, the tests confirmed stage four thymoma that had spread to the lining of her lungs, meaning it was incurablean avoidable prognosis had it been caught earlier. It was only in December when she started experiencing breathlessness alongside a persistent cough that she thought it could be something more serious Maeve went to A&E and was immediately referred for scans which revealed fluid in her lungs Given her symptoms, doctors were concerned that she could have blood cancer which had spread to the lining of her lungs - an incurable prognosis Maeve was admitted for scans and a biopsy that same day Now Ms Fanning is doing everything she can to see her three childrenOonagh, 9, Cormac, 5, and Ciaran, 2 grow up, despite being told that palliative chemotherapy, which would give her two years at most, was the only option. Like many other cancers, experts do not know exactly causes thymoma. The thymus is a gland in the chest, between the lungs, which produces and releases hormones and helps the body fight off infections. But it is thought that people diagnosed with thymoma are more likely to also have an autoimmune diseasewhich is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells in the body. The thymus gland helps keeps the immune system functioning properly, which may explain the link between autoimmune disease and thymoma. However, despite being diagnosed with oral lichen planus a year earlieran autoimmune disorder affecting the skin which lines the inside of the mouthafter suffering from painful mouth ulcers, the link with thymoma was never mentioned until it was too late. Ms Fanning started chemotherapy just over a week later on February 14 2025, but after just one round she was told the dose was too high and her body was struggling to cope. At this point she weighed just over 6 stone. After spending 10 days in hospital, Maeve was discharged without treatment as doctors waited on the results of further scans which would confirm her diagnosis After an agonising wait, Maeve was eventually diagnosed with stage four thymoma - a rare but aggressive type of cancer which forms in the thymus gland between the lungs Heartbreakingly, Maeve was given a very bleak prognosis of two years at most and was told that palliative care was the only option Maeve also suffers from a rare autoimmune disease which has been linked with thymoma Her oncologists reduced the dose and despite responding well to the first three rounds, the treatment had stopped working by round five. She is now undergoing second line chemotherapy every three weeks to try and keep the cancer under control. She has paired her medical treatment with complimentary private treatment in the form of hyperthermiawhich works by heating body tissue to help damage and kill cancer cellshyperbaric oxygen therapy, curcumin infusions and light therapy. These treatmentswhich were recommended to her by her nutritionist who specialises in cancer carewill hopefully alter her diagnosis and help her beat cancer for good. Ms Fanning added: 'These treatments are life changing, and in some cases have seen people's cancer regress from stage four to earlier stages. 'For me its too early to say but I want to do absolutely everything I can to ensure I am alive to see by beautiful children grow up. 'When I was diagnosed, my youngest was just 18 months old and at the time I wasn't sure if Christmas 2024 would be my last with them. 'It's a horrendous situation, every mother's worst nightmare and this is why I need to do everything I can to ensure I am still with them.' Together with her friends and family Ms Fanning has set up a GoFundMe Page to help cover the costs of her treatment which sees her travel down to London twice a week. They have so far raised around 42,000 which she hopes will see her through until Christmas. Altogether her treatments cost around 11,000 a montha cost she could never cover alone. She is now due to start proton beam therapy at University College London Hospital later this month which uses high energy proton beams to treat very rare types of cancers close to vital organs. A young mother-of-two was distraught to learn that her body was riddled with a rare cancer which was crushing her internal organsand credits picking up a hospital superbug for her subsequent survival. Rafaela Ribeiro, 24, shed nearly three stone in just weeks earlier this year, but thought she was simply losing weight. She said: 'I thought everything was fine, that I was just losing weight very quickly. 'I never imagined it would be anything more serious.' But Ms Ribeiro, who works as an estate agent and influencer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was later diagnosed with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the lymphatic system. She said: 'It started with a constant dry cough and then came the swelling in my neck and armpits. 'A few days later, I could no longer swallow anything solid because the tumour was squeezing my chest.' Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer which usually starts in the lymph nodes. Rafaela Ribiero with her husband Michell and their two young sons Miss Ribiero was diagnosed with cancer at just 24 Stats shared by cancer charity Macmillan cite that nine out of 10 people diagnosed with have a B-cell lymphoma, which forms in white blood cells. At first, medics dismissed Ms Ribeiro's symptoms as pneumonia or an allergic cough, but after she collapsed and could no longer eat, scans revealed that her upper body was packed full of tumours. She said: 'The tumours were crushing me from the inside. 'My oesophagus was compressed, and my heart felt like it was being taken over, but it was just the pressure from the tumours.' Ms Ribiero began chemotherapy, but during treatment contracted a deadly hospital superbug. She was placed in an induced coma for nine days as doctors warned her husband, Michell, that she might not survive the night. She said: 'They told my husband I could die within 24 hours. Miraculously, I survived.' The coma, she believes, actually saved her life. She was placed in an induced coma after contracting a hospital bug This x-ray shows how tumours were 'crushing' her internal organs She said: 'This period of fasting helped me achieve remission. 'If I hadn't caught this infection and ended up in a coma, they might not have been able to control the disease.' Now in remission, Rafaela is awaiting cutting-edge CAR-T cell therapyan immunotherapy that trains the body's own cells to destroy cancer. CAR T-cell therapy (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy) is a form of immunotherapy, using the power of a patients immune system to fight the disease. There are several types that work in different ways to help the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. With CAR T-cell therapy, immune cells called T-cells are engineered to seek out and destroy cancer cells. The process of making these weaponised T-cells is lengthy, complex and expensive. It begins with hooking the patient up to a machine (similar to a dialysis machine used for kidney patients) that takes a sample of their blood and separates out their T-cells, before returning the rest of the blood to their body. She thanks her husband for getting her through the darkest chapters of her cancer fight She credits the coma for saving her life, believing it gave her body a chance to fight the cancer The machine repeats the process until it has collected 200ml of T-cells, which can take six hours. In a lab, these T-cells are then engineered to hunt down and destroy the patients cancer. This is done using an inactivated virus to insert genetic material instructing the cells to make a protein called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that recognises a specific protein on the patients cancer cells. The supercharged T-cells are then multiplied in the lab, before an infusion of 200 million cells is delivered to the patient via a drip, which takes just two minutes. The cells should then home in on, and kill, cancer cells that have the protein theyve been engineered to recognise. She said: 'Today, the disease is stable; it's still present, but it's under control. 'I'm on the waiting list for cell therapy.' Ms Ribiero credits her husbandwith whom she shares two sons aged eight and twofor helping her throughout her cancer battle. She said: 'He was the one who held it all together. 'I don't know how I would have gotten through it without him.' A travel advisory issued over the deadly chikungunya virus has been expanded as it continues to spread around the world. The virus, which is spread by the Aedes mosquito, can cause sudden, agonizing joint pain in the hands and feet that can be so severe it leaves sufferers unable to move normally for months. Since the beginning of 2025, more than 240,000 chikungunya cases and 90 chikungunya-related deaths have been reported in 16 countries. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. A severe outbreak of the virus in China totaling more than 10,000 cases prompted the CDC to issue a level 2 travel warning for Guangdong Province in August. And in the most recent update, which urges Americans to take extra precautions when visiting certain areas, the advisory now includes, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia and Sri Lanka. Health officials say that US travelers are also at elevated risk of exposure to chikungunya in Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, and Thailand. A Level 2 Advisory for travel viruses from the CDC means travelers should 'Practice Enhanced Precautions' for their destination. This indicates a heightened health risk due to specific disease outbreaks, and travelers should take extra measures to protect themselves. The Pan American Health Organization warns that chikungunya cases are on the rise across the Americas with the hotspots currently being Brazil (with 210,711 cases) and Bolivia (with 5,159 cases). To date, there have been 55 cases reported in the US. Chikungunya, which is spread by the Aedes mosquito, can cause sudden, agonizing joint pain in the hands and feet that can be so severe that it leaves sufferers unable to move normally for months Since the beginning of 2025, more than 240,000 chikungunya cases and 90 chikungunya-related deaths have been reported in 16 countries. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe Your browser does not support iframes. Chikungunya is a 'nationally notifiable' condition in the US, meaning health authorities can voluntarily report cases to the agency for national tracking and monitoring. While a handful of cases pop up in the US every year from people traveling to high-risk areas, it hasn't experienced local transmission since 2019. But with more than 4.7 million US passengers flying internationally on any given day, mosquitoes in America could bite an infected traveler and begin transmitting the virus locally to Americans. China remains a hotbed for the virus and it is currently battling its largest-ever outbreak of the illness with more than 10,000 cases. The spread of the mosquito-borne disease triggered a roll out of Covid-like restrictions in August, with disinfectant sprayed in streets and patients quarantined in hospitals. Reports surfaced that Chinese authorities in the city of Foshan cut electricity to some households that were not cooperating with health checks aimed at containing the chikungunya outbreak. Chinese officials also deployed insecticide-spraying drones, 'cannibal' mosquitoes and killer fish to eliminate any insects that could be carrying the virus. Dr Louisa Messenger, a mosquito researcher in Nevada, previously told DailyMail.com: 'This outbreak in China is very concerning. It [the virus] could already be here in the US; and really it's just one plane flight away.' The outbreak in China remains ongoing. Along with the CDC, travel agencies and cruise lines also issued warnings about preventing mosquito-borne diseases, including chikungunya, dengue and Lyme disease, all of which have been detected in the US so far this year. This summer, Norwegian Cruise Line warned guests traveling to Italy to use insect repellent and wear clothing treated with permethrin, which can repel ticks and mosquitoes. Aedes mosquitoes are common in Italy, especially around coastal areas. Authorities in Italy reported the first locally acquired cases of both dengue and chikungunya, prompting the warnings from Norwegian Cruise Line. In the US, one town in Massachusetts closed its parks and fields each evening last September after a man in his 80s caught eastern equine encephalitis from a mosquito bite. The rare but serious disease can cause severe inflammation of the brain. Off the back of rising chikungunya cases, health officials in New Jersey state on the Department of Health website: 'The best way to prevent chikungunya is to prevent mosquito bites and avoid travel to areas with ongoing chikungunya outbreaks.' Chikungunya is spread to humans from a bite from the Aedes mosquito, which also spread dengue fever, yellow fever and Zika virus. The infection does not spread from person to person through bodily contact or saliva. More than 10,000 cases have been detected in China so far, prompting Covid-era protections The above compares chikungunya symptoms to those from Zika virus and Dengue, which are both also spread by mosquitoes However, pregnant women who become infected near the time of delivery can pass the virus to their baby during birth, which can result in severe illness in the newborn. About 15 to 35 percent of people infected with the virus are asymptomatic, the CDC reports. The mortality rate for chikungunya is generally low, estimated at less than one in 1,000 cases. The incubation period is typically three to seven days and the most common symptom is a sudden onset of a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius). Other symptoms of chikungunya virus include headache, nausea, rash, muscle aches, swelling and redness of the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye and inner eyelids) and joint pain that is sometimes severe and debilitating in the hands or feet. In severe cases, life-threatening complications involving the heart and brain can occur such as inflammation, irregular heartbeats and organ failure. Symptoms usually last seven to 10 days, but patients may experience lifelong complications such as persistent joint pain. There is no specific treatment for chikungunya, and doctors mostly focus on easing symptoms like over-the-counter pain and fever medications. However, there are two vaccines available for people visiting an area with an outbreak. According to the CDC, chikungunya was rarely detected in American travelers before 2006. But between 2006 and 2013, the US logged around 30 imported cases a year, all in people who had recently visited affected regions in Asia, Africa or the Indian Ocean. In 2014, a total of 2,799 cases were reported - including 12 that were locally acquired - in states and territories such as Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, making it the country's worst year on record for the virus. Since then, case numbers have declined and last year, the CDC recorded 199 travel-related chikungunya cases in the US. Mosquitoes in California have tested positive for a deadly virus that causes brain swelling. Health officials found that a batch of the blood-sucking insects sampled in the city of Brawley - located 130 miles east of San Diego - were carrying St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE). The mosquito pool was identified in the vicinity of Palm Avenue, which is a residential area east of the city center. Brawley is home to more than 28,000 people, while the Greater San Diego area has a population of over 3.3 million. SLE circulates between mosquitoes of the genus Culex and wild birds, and in about 30 percent of human cases, can cause brain swelling, vomiting, seizures and death. Most people infected with the virus will show no symptoms, but those who do become ill may experience fever, headache, nausea, and tiredness. The Imperial County Public Health Department confirmed two human cases in Imperial County in 2019, and the virus has been detected in mosquito pools in Imperial and other California counties, such as Fresno, Kings, and Madera, in recent years. This summer, there have been numerous cases detected in mosquitoes around California, Arizona, Utah, Nebraska and Louisiana, with these emerging mainly over the summer months. While no human cases of SLE have been recorded in California this year, health officials are warning residents to be wary. Mosquitoes in California have tested positive for a deadly virus that causes brain inflammation. Health officials found that a batch of blood-sucking flies sampled in Imperial County (pictured above) were carrying St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) Your browser does not support iframes. The CDC has recorded an average of 14 SLE cases annually in the US between 2003 and 2023 in humans. During this decade-long period there have been 20 deaths. While the virus has a wider geographic range from Canada to Argentina, the majority of human cases are in the US, making travel within these areas a primary factor for exposure, not usually travel outside the US. SLE is traditionally most common in the eastern and central US, particularly in the Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast regions, as these regions are prime breeding grounds for Culex mosquitoes, which transmit the virus, with warmer temperatures and the presence of stagnant water. Dr Stephen Munday, who serves as the Imperial County Health Officer, said: 'While it's not unusual to detect mosquito activity during the summer months, the identification of multiple positive pools in different areas is a reminder for all of us to stay alert. 'We want residents to take precautions, like eliminating standing water and using insect repellent, to help reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness and protect their families and communities.' There are 52 mosquito traps deployed throughout Imperial County - which has a population of more than 180,000 - primarily within city limits. The traps are checked several times a week, and mosquito pools are tested weekly for various viruses. SLE was first recognized in 1933 when an epidemic in St. Louis, Missouri, resulted in over 1,000 cases of encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Several epidemics have occurred sporadically throughout the US since then, with the majority of cases occurring in eastern and central states such as Florida, Texas and California. The virus circulates in the environment between mosquitoes and birds typically found in freshwater swamps. A map showing the average annual incidence of SLE per US county from 2003 to 2024 The CDC has recorded an average of 14 SLE cases annually in the US between 2003 and 2023. Above, a graph showing SLE cases by year of illness onset Some people may develop neuroinvasive disease, such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). In rare cases, long-term disability or death can occur. In the two human cases of SLE previously reported in Imperial County, the individuals were admitted to a local hospital with severe headache, fever and nausea, and were diagnosed with viral meningitis. There are no vaccines or specific antiviral medications to treat SLE. The CDC states that the best way to avoid contracting the virus is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Bite prevention tips include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and using mosquito repellent devices outside and around the home. Following the detection of SLE in Imperial County, residents are being encouraged to limit their time outdoors during dawn and early evening and remove standing water from their properties. Larvicides - a type of insecticide used to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors - can also be used to treat any areas where mosquitoes could lay eggs. As of September 3, there have been no known human cases of SLE in the US in 2025. In 2024, there were only two cases reported, down from 21 the previous year. A New York-based ice cream company has recalled dozens of containers over contamination with a dangerous allergen not disclosed on the ingredients list. Ice Cream Factory of Mount Vernon, NY is recalling 40 pints, eight quarts and three half gallons of Vanilla G.Nutt ice cream because they may contain undeclared almonds, according to the FDA. For many of the millions of Americans who have an almond allergy, eating the ice cream could be deadly and lead to a life-threatening whole-body allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Such an allergy can be unpredictable. One single exposure to almonds may cause hives or an itchy mouth. Another exposure could cause a deadly allergic reaction. Vanilla G.Nutt ice cream was distributed in New York State through Golden Krust retail stores in Mount Vernon and White Plains, New York, as well as Farm Country Supermarket in Queens, NY, via direct delivery. No illnesses have been reported to date. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products, the FDA said. An investigation revealed that the cause of the undeclared allergen was a temporary failure in the production and packaging line. The FDA announces a recall of Vanilla G.Nutt ice cream by Ice Cream Factory of Mount Vernon, NY. The product is being recalled because it may contain undeclared almonds (stock) Vanilla G.Nutt ice cream is packaged in plastic pints and half gallons, and white paper-coated quart containers. The pint UPC code is 8 56781 00361 3, the quart UPC code is 8 56781 00362 0 and the half-gallon UPC code is 8 56781 00363 7. The expiration date listed on each is March 2027. Consumers who have purchased ice cream from any of the locations listed above are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or another flavor, the FDA said. Almonds fall under the category of tree nuts. Other tree nuts include Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, Japanese walnuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts, including black, California, English and Persian walnuts. An estimated 3.9million Americans are allergic to tree nuts, and an allergy to almonds is the third most common type, affecting between 9 and 15 percent of people with tree nut allergies. Anaphylaxis is the result of the immune system overreacting to an allergen like proteins in nuts, causing hives, swelling, wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty swallowing. A person experiencing an anaphylactic reaction can go into anaphylactic shock when their blood pressure drops dangerously low, leading to vital organs, especially the brain and heart, to become starved of oxygen-rich blood. The throat, tongue, and voice box can swell shut, physically blocking any air from entering the lungs. The muscles around the bronchial tubes in the lungs, which help carry air, constrict, squeezing the airways shut, suffocating the person to death. An epinephrine auto-injector, known as an EpiPen, is the first-line and most effective treatment to stop the progression of anaphylaxis. It is not a cure, but it is a life-saving emergency medication that can temporarily counteract the severe symptoms and buy critical time to get to a hospital. Hospitalizations due to anaphylaxis have risen dramatically in recent years, with tree nuts and seeds being a primary driver. A severe almond allergy can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis. Immediate treatment with an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) is critical to stop it (stock) A 2018 report by Mayo Clinic researchers found that of more than 7,300 emergency department visits for allergic reactions between 2005 to 2014, tree nuts and seeds were responsible for the most significant increase, which surged by 373 percent. While peanuts consistently accounted for the highest overall rate of visits, reactions to tree nuts saw the most exponential rise. The sharp increase was observed across all age groups but was particularly pronounced among adolescents. Researchers are uncertain about the reasons behind the surge in ED visits, although they have observed in recent decades that people worldwide have more allergies than ever before. A leading theory as to why is referred to as the Hygiene Hypothesis: that the global population has become so accustomed to living in such clean environments with limited exposure to microbes that peoples immune systems have been left untrained to differentiate between harmless and harmful substances. An updated view of the hygiene hypothesis suggests that the key factor is not how clean someones home is, but rather the diversity of microorganisms to which their gut is exposed. Having older siblings, for instance, is beneficial because it increases exposure to the family's microbiota, particularly that of the mother. The microbes then colonize the gut and help prime the immune system. According to the landmark LEAP Study conducted in London, early introduction of peanut products to high-risk infants can actually help prevent allergies, specifically peanut allergies. The findings indicate that early exposure via the gut can be an effective preventive strategy. Food-induced anaphylaxis in children is an important national public health concern, the Mayo Clinic researchers concluded. Florida is set to end all state vaccine mandates for children, officials have announced. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced at a news conference Wednesday that the state would no longer require children attending schools to be vaccinated against several of the most contagious diseases. These include measles, mumps and rubella, polio, tetanus, chickenpox and Hepatitis B. And likening vaccine requirements to 'slavery', Ladapo said the Florida Department of Health and Governor Ron DeSantis will work to end all mandates in the state. 'Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,' Lapado said. 'Who am I as a government or anyone else, or as a man standing here now, to tell you what you should put in your body? Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I dont have that right.' Florida previously required children attending public or private school from kindergarten through 12th grade to get a series of vaccines unless their parents filled out a form invoking a religious or medical exemption. The new plan would make Florida the first US state to eliminate all vaccine mandates for children. It's unclear if adults will be affected. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo (pictured alongside Governor Ron DeSantis) announced Wednesday that the state will eliminate all vaccine mandates Your browser does not support iframes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that childhood vaccines save four million lives every year. The move comes months after Idaho became the first state in the nation to outlaw vaccine mandates in both public and private sectors. Its 'Idaho Medical Freedom Act' bill bars private businesses, schools and government entities from denying admission or services to a person for not having received a 'medical intervention,' including a vaccine, procedure or medication. And in March, DeSantis called on the CDC to stop recommending the mRNA Covid vaccine for children to 'defend medical freedom.' DeSantis said at the time: 'Guided by common sense and sound science, Florida has led the way in protecting patients rights. Now is the time to secure these protections and do even more to defend medical freedom. 'Lets keep Florida the beacon of freedom in health care, where the rights of all patients are enshrined permanently in law.' Ladapo said Wednesday that lawmakers will 'have to choose a side.' He told those who don't wish to be vaccinated: 'God bless you.' DeSantis also called out pediatricians this week who refuse to accept patients whose parents are against vaccination. 'Unless there's a really clear reason to put something in, then I wouldn't do it,' he said. The announcement was paired with the creation of a Florida version of the 'Make America Healthy Again' commission, which will be led by the state's first lady, Casey DeSantis. Children attending school in the US currently are required to be vaccinated for contagious diseases such as measles, tetanus and polio (stock image) Governor Ron DeSantis called out pediatricians this week who refuse to accept patients whose parents are against vaccination. He said: 'Unless there's a really clear reason to put something in, then I wouldn't do it' The federal MAHA movement is led by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr with the aim of overhauling the country's health system and lower rates of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Earlier this year, MAHA adviser Dr Aseem Malhotra told the Daily Mail that the team could look at removing school vaccine mandates nationwide, though it's unclear if that move is in the works yet. Casey DeSantis said: 'I really applaud what theyre doing at the national level with the MAHA movement. 'A lot of these drugs, you dont need them if you live a healthy lifestyle. If youre eating fruits and vegetables, you can reverse a lot of these chronic conditions.' In Florida, 88 percent of people have completed all five doses of the TDAP vaccine, which prevents tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Herd immunity requires 92 to 94 percent. And only 88 percent of kindergarteners in Florida are vaccinated against measles, which requires 95 percent for herd immunity. Florida's shift comes as vaccine exemptions are on the rise in the US. During the 2024 to 2025 school year, coverage among kindergarteners in the US decreased for all reported vaccines from the year before, according to the CDC. Exemptions from one or more vaccines among kindergarteners were also up from 3.3 percent to 3.6 percent. These exemptions increased in 36 states and Washington DC, with 17 states reporting exemptions above five percent. The CDC's latest report published earlier this summer also shows nearly all of the exemptions are nonmedical, meaning they are for personal or religious reasons. Vaccine hesitancy has also been blamed as a leading cause of the measles outbreak that has ravaged the US, particularly Texas. As of September 2, 1,431 cases have been confirmed in the US, a stark contrast to the 285 last year. More than 800 cases were reported in Texas alone. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used his opening monologue Tuesday to rip Donald Trump over the president's calls for his cancellation. Kimmel, 57, had just returned to his show after a two-month summer vacation when he took aim at Trump over comments the commander-in-chief made during the host's hiatus. In July, Trump posted on Truth Social that Kimmel would be the 'NEXT to go,' following news that CBS was cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. After spending nearly 10 minutes lampooning the president, Kimmel told the audience that the post was 'alarming, because I don't know if you know this - but Jimmy Kimmel is me.' 'Oh, you delicate, chubby little teacup. Did we hurt your feelings? You want us to be canceled because we make jokes about you?' he said. 'I thought you were against cancel culture? I thought that was, like, their whole thing? When did you become so woke?' The host went on to announce that his show would temporarily relocate to Brooklyn, from September 29 through October 3, to be filmed in front of a live studio audience. It's the seventh time the ABC shows has done so, and Colbert has been billed as one of the week's featured guests. In July, Trump posted on Truth Social that Kimmel would be the 'NEXT to go,' following news that CBS was cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert After spending nearly 10 minutes lampooning the president, Kimmel asked: 'You want us to be canceled because we make jokes about you? I thought you were against cancel culture?' 'Unfortunately for Frosty the Snowflake, the only place we are going is to New York,' Kimmel continued. 'We have a lot to talk about. If you're the White House intern in charge of strategically unplugging the presidents TV, that'll be a good night to do it.' Kimmel went on to address viral rumors that he was considering leaving the country after obtaining Italian citizenship. 'Just to be clear, I'm not moving to Italy. I never said that. This is where I live. This is my country. I have no intention of running away from it,' he said. 'Especially because of Donald Trump.' He added: 'I would move into Mar-a-Lago if I could, just to drive him insane. Okay? Kimmel's contract is reportedly up in May, Colberts last month on the air. CBS said it made the decision to cancel Colbert's show for financial reasons. Critics, including Kimmel, claimed the move was designed to appease Trump and the network's new owners. Trump said 'the word' on the street was that Kimmel's Jimmy Kimmel Live! was the 'NEXT to go', after The Late Show With Stephen Colbert 's cancellation Sources reportedly said that Colbert's show was losing $40 million a year. 'The idea that Stephen Colbert's show was losing $40 million a year is beyond nonsensical,' Kimmel said in an interview with Variety. 'These alleged insiders who supposedly analyze the budgets of the shows - I don't know who they are, but I do know they don't know what they're talking about. 'Suddenly he's losing $40 million a year? I will tell you, the first 10 years I did the show, they claimed we weren't making any money - and we had five times as many viewers on ABC as we do now. 'Who knows what's true? All I know is they keep paying us And that's kind of all you need to know.' Sources who spoke with CNBC said Kimmel's show remained profitable. CNN's Abby Phillip claimed that Americans don't want Donald Trump ordering federal troops into crime-ridden cities, despite recent polling showing that a majority of voters support the president's tough-on-crime approach. During a discussion her show NewsNight Tuesday, the host faced off with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro over Trump's crime crackdown in Washington, DC and plans to focus next on Chicago. After Shapiro argued that liberal lawmakers are making a mistake by arguing that 'crime in Chicago just isnt that big of a deal,' Phillip said she wanted 'to focus on the reality, like the actual things that are happening.' 'Voters are not - I think we are treating voters stupider than they are,' the host explained. 'You ask them in polls and they say, "We think crime is a problem. We don't like the way Trump is handling it in the way that he is sending the National Guard." 'They want Trump to do more about crime. They dont necessarily want him to send troops to cities.' Last week, an AP-NORC survey found that 55 percent of Americans considered it acceptable for the U.S. military and National Guard to assist local police in major cities. CNN star Abby Phillip claimed that Americans don't want Donald Trump ordering federal troops into crime-ridden cities during a debate with Ben Shapiro on her show NewsNight Tuesday, after a recent AP poll showed that most voters support the president's approach. The survey saw 55 percent of Americans say it was acceptable for the US military and National Guard to assist local police in major cities. Phillip still said most citizens do not desire such takeovers. Pictured, National Guard soldiers in DC on August 26 A vast majority of respondents - 81 percent - said they saw crime in large cities as a 'major problem.' The poll also showed Trump with his highest-ever approval rating, jumping five points over the previous month. Prior to Phillips' remarks, Shapiro warned that Trump was effectively goading Democrats into 'a trap' with his approach to policing in DC. 'President Trump does have a habit of wrongfooting his political opponents in a unique way on this sort of stuff,' he explained. 'And you can make the argument, I think a plausible argument, that National Guard troops should not be on the ground enforcing crime. Both legally and just a matter of general policy. 'But, if the position you end up taking is that there is no serious crime emergency in Chicago, on a rhetorical level - not on a legal level, on a rhetorical level - or you make the case that "Actually, crime in Chicago just isn't that big of a deal," which seems to be the mistake that many Democratic politicians are making right now, Trump is going to win that battle all day long.' On Tuesday, Trump told reporters 'we're going in' when asked if he had decided to send troops to Chicago. 'I didnt say when.' Illinois Governor JB Pritzker earlier commented that such a move would constitute an 'invasion'. Over the holiday weekend, at least 54 people were shot in Chicago and seven people killed. Conservative news network Newsmax is suing Fox News for allegedly pressuring guests to not appear on its shows in a bid to edge out the competition. The federal antitrust lawsuit, filed in US District Court in south Florida Wednesday, claims that Fox News hired private detectives to investigate Newsmax executives as part of a plot to maintain a monopoly over right-leaning viewers. The complaint said the alleged tactics from Fox created an 'unlawful monopolization' of the conservative pay TV news Market. 'Fox may have profited from exclusionary contracts and intimidation tactics for years, but those days are over,' Newsmax founder and CEO Christopher Ruddy said in a statement. The suit accuses Fox News of trying to deliberately block Newsmax from growing platforms like Hulu, Sling and Fubo, and says it forces its distributors either not to carry its competitors or make it hard to find them. It further alleges that the Rupert-Murdoch-owned network used an agency to set up social media accounts to attack Ruddy directly. Fox News claimed the suit came about because of Newsmax's lack of success. 'Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they cant attract viewers,' the network said in a statement. Anchors at Newmax include former Fox News host Greta Van Susteren Fox News finished August as the number one network in primetime television for the summer (pictured: host Jesse Watters) When Newsmax confronted Fox regarding anti-competitive conduct, the network allegedly responded: 'welcome to the big leagues,' the suit adds Newsmax, which has broadcast since 2014, went public on the New York Stock Exchange this past April. Anchors at the network include former Fox News hosts Greta Van Susteren and Greg Kelly. Its ratings remain well behind Fox News, which finished August as the number one network in primetime television for the summer. It averaged 2,432,000 viewers in Monday-Sunday primetime from June 20 until Labor Day, beating out ABC (2,376,000 viewers), NBC (2,208,000 viewers) and CBS (2,028,000 viewers). While Newsmax has never closed in on Fox in ratings, court papers related to a lawsuit filed in the wake of the 2020 election showed Fox executives showing concern its rival would eventually take advantage of viewer dissatisfaction following Donald Trump's election loss. 'Since the inception of Newsmax's cable channel, Newsmax has faced threats and smear intimidation tactics to hurt or undermine the company and its executives,' Wednesday's lawsuit read. The suit also claims that Fox's success enables it to charge distributors 'outsized' fees to carry the network. When Newsmax confronted Fox regarding anti-competitive conduct, the network allegedly responded: 'welcome to the big leagues,' the suit adds. John Lewis will sell Topshop clothes in its shops form early next year, marking the brands mass return to Britains high streets after a four-year absence. The department store will start selling Topshop fashion ranges as part of a bid to poach young shoppers from rivals including Marks & Spencer. It is also part of a major revival at Topshop that has already featured model Cara Delevingne and the announcement of a new boutique at posh department store Liberty. Some 32 John Lewis shops will start selling its ranges from February next year, while six will offer its Topman menswear lines. John Lewis managing director Peter Ruis said the tie-up would resonate with Gen Zs, Gen Xs and everyone in between. After years of weak sales, Ruis is steering a turnaround at the partnership behind John Lewis and grocer Waitrose, alongside former Tesco boss Jason Tarry. John Lewis managing director Peter Ruis said the tie-up would resonate with Gen Zs, Gen Xs and everyone in between. This has involved hiring Rachel Morgans, who previously held top jobs at Topshop and Asos, as its head of fashion. She has overseen new collections that appeal to younger customers, as well as the introduction of more third-party brands to compete with the likes of M&S and Next. New collections to launch soon will also include Paul Smith, Barbour and Mulberry. And now Topshops launch will appeal to shoppers, including teenagers who love the brand due to a 90s revival trend on social media platforms such as TikTok, Ruis said. We think this is something people will queue out of the door for, Ruis said. Ruis added: Bringing Topshop and Topman back to high streets across the UK is a landmark moment, and we are thrilled to be their only nationwide partner. Its the ultimate proof of our strategy: offering the most-loved brands alongside the unwavering trust of our brand promise. I grew up with these incredible brands. They have defined our high streets, bringing edge and accessibility with an iconic British lens. John Lewis has seen better fortunes since the return of its century-old never knowingly undersold price pledge. The group is pumping 800million into its shops, including building beauty halls and new cafes. Michelle Wilson, managing director at Topshop, said: Were excited to partner with John Lewis, a trusted name in British retail, to bring Topshop and Topman to high streets across the country. This partnership is a key step in our mission to bring the best of fashion to everyone, engaging with shoppers in real life and delivering the style and quality they expect from our brands. During its heyday in the early noughties, Topshop was beloved by celebrities and young shoppers alike. Supermodel Kate Moss launched her own Topshop range in 2007 and went on to do 14 collaborations with the company. As Sir Philip Green's empire crumbled, Topshop went into administration in late 2020 and had closed the last of its 70 stores, including a flagship Oxford St shop, by early 2021. The Topshop brand was then rescued by Asos and revived online. It has since sold a 75 per cent stake to its biggest shareholder, Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen. Asos boss Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte said in April that the chain had spent 'two years rebuilding the product assortment of Topshop' ahead of the relaunch. 'The time has come to come back, to be much more present with consumers in the UK, but also globally,' he said. UK demand for luxury watches and jewellery has continued to stabilise after a post-pandemic slump, according to Watches of Switzerland Group. The London-listed luxury retailer, which returned to UK growth in 2024, told investors on Wednesday it had delivered 'good year on year growth' in the market where it is revamping a number of its stores. It came as WOSG moved to reassure investors over the impact of US trade tariffs of 39 per cent on Swiss imports, which came into force in August and have weighed on the company's shares. WOSG shares soared in early trading after it said it does now anticipate 'any material impact from the US tariffs' in the first half. The group told investors brand partners have increased inventories, citing data showing Swiss watch exports up 45 per cent in July year-on-year. It follows separate data from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry that showed exports of prestige Swiss watches boomed in July as companies tried to shift their stock ahead of the tariffs brought into force on 7 August. Watches of Switzerland said it delivered 'good year on year growth' in the UK, where it is revamping a number of its stores. WOSG said US sales had been 'particularly' strong in the US over the 18 weeks to 31 August, lifted by ecommerce demand. It opened or reopened outlets it Atlanta, Florida and Texas over the period, and new stores in Minneapolis and Florida are expected over the next 12 months. WOSG has also signed leases for three new boutiques, and the construction of newly designed boutiques in Miami, New York and Las Vegas, to sell Roberto Coin-branded goods. The group, which bought the Italian jewellery firm in 2024, has recruited US actress Dakota Johnson for an advertising campaign as part of efforts to promote and grow the brand. In the UK, WOSG said it was 'delighted with the success' of its flagship Rolex Boutique on Old Bond Street, London. 'The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned salon on the lower ground floor is fast becoming the destination for Rolex aficionados,' it added. WOSG is undergoing a 'showroom development programme', including the refurbishment of a store in Newcastle, and opening a joint venture outlet Manchester. 'We will complete the Mappin & Webb Birmingham conversion, relocation of Goldsmiths Merry Hill, Birmingham and expansion of Goldsmiths Oxford,' it added. WOSG shares were up 7.1 per cent to 341.4p approaching midday, having lost almost 40 per cent since the start of the year. Analysts at Peel Hunt maintained a hold rating and a target price on WOSG shares of 370p. They wrote in a note: 'Given the weak performance of the shares, we suspect that they were expecting a shift in guidance down, or at least cautious words today. Neither of these things have emerged. Rachel Reeves was branded the face of doom as she was urged to cut business rates to save the High Street. In a meeting at Number 11 Downing Street yesterday, the bosses of around ten of Britains best-known store chains made clear to the Chancellor that her reforms to the property tax risk piling more pain on the industry. The talks came as one retail executive described her as the face of doom after hitting the sector with crippling tax hikes. Labour has proposed reforms theoretically designed to level the playing field between bricks-and-mortar shops and online rivals by increasing taxes for larger premises, with the intention of catching out warehouses used by online vendors. But retailers argue the changes will also hit anchor stores on high streets that draw in shoppers to other businesses. Businesses fear around 4,000 shops could be forced to pay higher rates. Plea: Around ten of Britains top retail bosses made clear to the Chancellor that her reforms to business rates risk piling more pain onto the industry Industry chiefs including John Lewis chairman Jason Tarry, B&Q chief executive Graham Bell and British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson pressed the Chancellor yesterday. Dickinson said: The industry was clear that its number one priority at the next Budget is the Governments upcoming business rates reforms: ensuring that it delivers a meaningful reduction for retail, and that no shop pays more. This will help to relieve the pressure on prices, support local employment and deliver the growth the Government seeks. A source added: Business rates was the prominent issue and retailers got their point across. It is a long time until the Budget so well have to wait and see, but there is a degree of cautious positivity. But there was also concern that the Budget will not take place until November 26 later than expected. Retailers were last year hit when Reeves hiked employer National Insurance Contributions and wages. And there are worries that the Budgets timing will weigh on already dire consumer spending in the golden quarter the run-up to Christmas. There will be a prolonged period of speculation which will only dampen consumer confidence and consumer spending all this at the most critical trading period, said Andrew Goodacre, the British Independent Retailers Association chief executive. Burberry will rejoin the FTSE 100 index in a sign its turnaround is gathering pace. The luxury fashion retailer returns after its shares have jumped under its new boss, and will be trading on the- blue-chip Footsie from September 22, having been demoted to the FTSE 250 a year ago after 15 years. Shares are up 95 per cent under a regrounding of the firm by new chief Joshua Schulman. He pledged to return it to timeless British luxury by focusing on outerwear, such as its 1,900 signature check-print coats. High-profile campaigns improved brand perceptions after customers cut spending and a slowdown in sales across the industry, fuelled by weaker demand in China. Energy firm Metlen Energy & Metals will also join the top flight. The duo replace builder Taylor Wimpey and student accommodation maker Unite Group. A 69-year-old retired nurse whose 3,200 state pension top-up went missing for three and a half years was driven to despair over ever seeing her money again. All her attempts to get the Department for Work and Pensions to track down her large payment had failed - one staff member even put the phone down on her - and an official letter of complaint in early 2023 was ignored. When Jean Sargeant contacted This is Money in desperation, she told us: 'I have chronic health conditions, some of which are exacerbated by stress. I cannot now bring myself to phone again as it is too hard.' We have been deluged by readers complaining about state pension top-ups cash vanishing after a huge rush ahead of a recent April deadline to fill older gaps in records. But we have also heard from others like Ms Sargeant, whose money disappeared years ago into the system run jointly by DWP and HMRC - yet they couldn't find any Government staff member willing or able to help them. State pension top-ups: They can give a generous boost to retirement income if you buy the correct years Another reader, Ian Warrender, 71, whose problems buying top-ups we covered in a previous story, is still waiting for a 1,200 refund from HMRC six months after requesting one, despite This is Money's efforts to chase it up for him. A Government spokesperson says: 'We apologise to those who have not received the level of service they should have in these cases. 'When errors are made, we are committed to resolving them as quickly as possible.' Steve Webb, a former Pensions Minister who is now a partner at pension consultant LCP, says the readers whose cases we highlight today are victims of having the whole top-up process split between two Government departments. 'Somehow the taxpayer just gets lost in the cracks between HMRC and DWP,' he says. Read further comments below from Steve Webb, This is Money's pensions columnist. The DWP and HMRC are currently dealing with a massive backlog of top-ups payments after hundreds of thousands of older people rushed to take advantage of a special deal before it ran out in April that would increase their retirement income. This allowed people to fill gaps in state pension records going back to 2006, rather than just the past six years. Some pensioners say when they phoned up government helplines, staff informed them they faced a six to eight-month wait. One expat was told by HMRC it was trying to clear UK residents cases within eight weeks, but the international team was taking an estimated 61 weeks to deal with top-ups bought from overseas. We have since heard from another expat who learned that they face a wait of 71 weeks. And we understand there is a separate backlog for getting a refund if you paid the wrong amount. Is it worth buying state pension top-ups? Buying top-ups can give a generous boost to retirement income if you buy the correct years on your record. This is Money's guide to buying state pension top-ups explains the cost and offers six golden rules on deciding if you should fill gaps by Steve Webb, our retirement columnist. How did a 3,200 top-ups payment disappear for over three years? Jean Sargeant, who lives in London, paid thousands of pounds in late 2021 after receiving a letter from the Government. This set out the years and payments it said would 'count towards' her state pension. When she called the DWP to double check which years were best to buy, she was told by a staff member 'any' from the list on the letter would do. However, Ms Sargeant, who is now 69, did not get the expected boost to her state pension. All her subsequent attempts to find out what had happened to her money got nowhere - including a formal complaint letter sent in March 2023 - and during one phone call a DWP staff member hung up on her. Due to her poor health, which is worsened by stress, Ms Sargeant eventually gave up making any further phone calls to the Government. After This is Money demanded an investigation, it turned out she had been misled by the DWP's original letter to buy years before 2016 that would make no difference to her state pension. This error is not uncommon, because if you already had 30 qualifying years before a rule change in 2016, buying earlier ones might not improve your payments further. The Government acted to sort this out after our intervention, and switched Ms Sargeant's top-ups to years after 2016 that would make a difference. She received an state pension increase from 185 to 212 a week, and 4,400 to cover underpayments going back to October 2021. Top-ups money gone missing? If you have paid and heard nothing more, write and tell us your story at pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk. Unfortunately we can't help everyone so you should also contact your MP. If you are an expat, you can contact the MP in the last constituency you lived in and still request help. Find your MP here. However, other than the blanket apology in the Government's quote above to readers whose top-ups problems we have recently covered, Ms Sargeant tells us it has not said sorry to her personally for the years of worry she experienced about her missing money. It has also never answered her complaint made more than two years ago. She says: 'In line with their own complaints resolution procedures I am entitled to a) an apology and b) an explanation of what went wrong. 'I also feel I should be considered for what they term a special payment with specific regard to the maladministration of my pension, the length of time to resolve the complaint and the impact it has had on my pre-existing health conditions. 'There is also the potential financial loss of savings if I had been paid correctly from the onset. They have never acknowledged the letter of complaint I sent on 8 March 2023 which I was told they have on file.' This is Money has urged DWP to look into Ms Sargeant's complaint and consider offering her redress. However, we have received no response to our requests about this, and she now intends to go to her MP for help. An 'extreme backlog' for refunds on top-ups errors Ian Warrender, 71, has been trying for months to get a 1,200 refund for state pension top-ups he bought in October. He made the common error explained above of buying pre-2016 years without realising they might not improve his state pension. The retired architect from Hampshire wrote to HMRC asking for a refund in February, and after we covered his case in a recent story has repeated this request by phone and email many times but got nowhere. 'They said there was an extreme backlog for refunds as there many many people applying like me,' he told us after one of his calls to HMRC. After This is Money raised his case it got passed to the complaints department. After an exchange of emails about his situation, Mr Warrender was told a transfer had been made to his bank account. However, it did not arrive and at the time of writing he is still waiting for a refund. Regarding the experiences of our readers, Steve Webb says: 'The letter Mrs Sargent received about missing years would be read by any normal person as an encouragement to fill gaps with the assumption that this would improve her pension. But it turns out that the years she bought had no impact on her pension. 'Whilst it is good that they have now been moved to years which will boost her pension she should never have been in this position in the first place, and it should not have taken the intervention of This is Money to finally get matters resolved.' Webb went on: 'Mr Warrender has had to make multiple calls to DWP and HMRC and seems no nearer to receiving a refund six months after he wrote to request one.' A mother has told of her four-year battle to get mental health support for her daughter which left the parent feeling suicidal and referring herself to social care. Jill Harrison, 46, of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, told the Daily Mail her 11-year-old Amber, who she called an 'absolute peach', is only now getting the help she needs. They have been handed from service to service, all the while her beloved child, known to her family affectionately as 'Ambi Bambi', has expressed suicidal thoughts and screamed, cried and bashed her head on her way to school. At one stage, the full-time mother even referred herself to social care for a child in need assessment: 'I've said, "I'm actually concerned, I'm putting a safeguarding request in from my own family, that's how desperate I am".' And even that ended up causing more harm than good: 'Even them, they, honestly, come in, they're intrusive. 'It takes a lot to be vulnerable and open yourself up and then all I felt was criticism by them as well. 'They were just basically saying that I need to declutter my house and that it was unsafe, which there's no understanding of the whole holistic picture.' Mrs Harrison said the situation has left her feeling suicidal at points: 'It's broken us. I'm just a shadow of the person I was. Jill Harrison (centre), 46, of Sunderland, told the Daily Mail her daughter Amber (left, with her sister Isla, 12, right), who she called an 'absolute peach', is only now getting the help she needs after a four-year battle Amber (right, with her mother Mrs Harrison, left) also has several physical health issues, including a progressive nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which causes muscle weakness, numbness and walking difficulties 'It's at the cost of your own sanity and your own pleasures in life. 'You just feel like you're an appendage because you're just having to advocate for everyone else's needs for so long and it just gets really tiring.' The mother is finally getting the support she needs, from the NHS but also from an app called Orli Health, which has games, tips and exercises to support children with mental health difficulties and their parents. But it has been and continues to be a long road to get there. Amber also has several physical health issues, including a progressive nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which causes muscle weakness, numbness and walking difficulties. She also has hypermobility and a duplex kidney, where a part of it is duplicated, sometimes causing infections or incontinence: 'Bless her, she's actually got everything!' Amber has always had 'quirks', as the family used to say when she was little: 'She was always a little bit awkward. 'She didn't like to wear socks and shoes and she was quite stubborn.' But constantly handed from service to service, Mrs Harrison (left, with Amber, second left, Isla, right, and dad John Paul Harrison, 46, second right) said the situation has left her feeling suicidal at points: 'It's broken us. I'm just a shadow of the person I was' But their fight to preserve her mental health really began in lockdown, when Amber's anxiety and ability to emotionally regulate massively deteriorated. 'When school and home got all muddled and jumbled, she just struggled to cope', her mother said. Some mornings see Amber 'looking sad and finding places to hide in the house', 'making herself little dens under the blankets', unable to go to school because she is struggling so much. A couple of anxious days have a cumulative effect, leaving her unable to even put her own clothes on as she is in such 'massive distress'. 'Crying, screaming, kicking and rocking in the car, head banging, just real distress', Mrs Harrison said. And with Amber and her sister Isla, 12, at different schools, it can sometimes be so hard to get Amber to school that Isla ends up late, entering school in tears. Mrs Harrison's husband John Paul Harrison, 46, has taken time off work to do the school runs recently: 'I'm actually terrified of him going back to work because I just don't know how I'm going to cope on my own. 'Because it is literally a two-man job, getting her ready, I mean, three-man, because it's Isla as well.' Their fight to preserve Amber's (centre) mental health really began in lockdown, when her anxiety and ability to emotionally regulate massively deteriorated And the years since things began to get worse have been spent being passed from service to service leaving Mrs Harrison feeling alone and totally without support. Amber was referred to the NHS's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in March 2021 and first seen around a month later. She was escalated on to the local NHS trust's Children and Young People's Services (CYPS) in October that year. But she only actually saw someone on this service more than six months later, in May 2022. 'By this point, Amber's anxiety and distress had worsened significantly and she had started struggling to attend school and cope day to day', Mrs Harrison said. It was during an assessment under this service in March 2023 that it was concluded Amber did not have autism a diagnosis the family had long thought might have explained her difficulties coping with the challenges of daily life. 'I can't even put it into words', Mrs Harrison said: 'We were left reeling because we thought if we got a diagnosis, support would come but it wasn't really the case.' Throughout this time bouncing between services, she had to resort at one point to forking out for private occupational therapy to get advice on helping her daughter. And the years since things began to get worse have been spent being passed from service to service leaving Mrs Harrison feeling alone and totally without support. Pictured: File photo 'All of this time, I'm struggling, because no one else sees what's going on behind closed doors. And I think it was in desperation, you do anything', she said. Amber did access some help under CYPS, including art therapy, and the service backed the diagnosis of sensory processing difficulties they had obtained privately. But there were yet more difficulties to come as it was in this period Amber made the horrifying admission she wanted to end her life. Mrs Harrison called the NHS crisis helpline and rather than the empathy and support she desperately needed, she received a totally shocking response. 'They simply told us to remove all the knives from the house and delete every app from Amber's phone', she said. 'I felt dismissed. The onus was entirely put back on me to manage her mental health and keep her safe.' Only in May this year more than four years after she first entered the mental health support system did Amber enter Newcastle's Complex Neuro-Developmental Service (CNDS). They spent 18 months on the waiting list for this second opinion service, provided for families with uncertainty around whether their child has autism or not. Mrs Harrison said: 'When you don't have anything to bridge the gap in the meantime, everything spirals, your whole life'. Pictured: File photo And under the service, they are on the way to obtaining an anxiety diagnosis and treatment plan for Amber which will massively help. Mrs Harrison praised it hugely: 'The support we've had and the way that they are deep diving into what it could be now, it's invaluable, it's amazing. 'I just wish it had happened three years ago, because I could see it unravelling and I was trying to be proactive but when you don't have anything to bridge the gap in the meantime, everything spirals, your whole life.' And Orli Health has been a massive part of the solution too: 'When you're in a place where you feel like you don't know how you're going to get through the next hour just having that outlet and people who understand, is huge.' Its co-founder, former A&E doctor Dr Mark Cox, totally understood and created the app because Mrs Harrison is not alone, with around 600,000 young people in the UK on waiting lists for mental health support. 'We just do not have the level of capacity to provide the number of assessments, the number of treatments, the number of mental health sessions and support that that we currently offer by the NHS, we just do not have the ability to do that at the scale that is required.' Mrs Harrison said: 'The validation from organisations like that helps parents keep going as well because otherwise you feel like you're going insane.' But the mother has 'absolutely fought tooth and nail with everyone' to get there, consulting every charity, doctor and parent support group she could think of. The mother has 'absolutely fought tooth and nail with everyone' to get Amber the support she needs, consulting every charity, doctor and parent support group she could think of. Pictured: File photo Orli Health co-founder, former A&E doctor Dr Mark Cox (pictured) created his app because Mrs Harrison is not alone, with around 600,000 young people in the UK on waiting lists for mental health support 'You're just struggling on and not really having any real form of direction and just trying to do what you think is best', she said. Of their continued fight for an autism diagnosis for Amber, she said: 'You're trying to say, "Right, where's the chink in the armour? Why have they said no? What evidence have they got from school?"' And the whole process has taken an irreversible toll on the whole family. Mrs Harrison's other child Isla acts as a young carer for Amber and her mother, who struggles with her health too, with the same progressive nerve condition as Amber. 'I've seen how she helps Amber every single day to keep her regulated and she plays games with her to help her get her clothes on and I don't know what I would do without her but I've seen the toll it takes on her', Mrs Harrison said. Of her own health problems, she added: 'I don't want to have to beg for support because I'm in crisis myself. It's exhausting.' Even though the family is now on a relatively more stable path, it remains a struggle to get through every day and the hurt from the lack of consistent support may stay with them forever. Mrs Harrison said: 'As soon as you reach out for help, it's not just for the craic. Even though the family is now on a relatively more stable path, it remains a struggle to get through every day. Pictured: File photo 'You're not just thinking, "I think I might do this today". You've tried everything in your toolbox and it's not working 'You have to be prepared to say, "I need help as a parent", which is a hard thing to do. 'You don't want to feel like you've let your child down but you're exposing yourself. You're being vulnerable. 'And then you feel like you're just kind of on a bit of a string. And they say, "Jump", and you say, "OK, how high?" 'And then when you actually need to tap in again to say, "Actually, this is getting more and more at a crisis point", you're not being heard.' Together for Children, which delivers children's services for Sunderland City Council, commented on Mrs Harrison's encounters with social care. It said: 'While we can't comment on an individual case, where anyone comes to us struggling with their own or their child's mental health, we will always do our best to help them seek support by putting them in touch with the appropriate NHS mental health services. 'In some cases, this may include carrying out a holistic child in need assessment looking at all aspects of a child's life to determine what if any additional help is needed to support the child and their family. 'Sunderland Children's Services was judged to be outstanding in its recent inspection in January 2025, with the inspection report noting that Children in Sunderland receive highly effective and consistent help, support, protection and care.' A spokesperson for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said, regarding Amber's time under CAMHS: 'We carried out an assessment for this patient following a referral to our services. 'We offered and completed treatment within a short period of time after this. We have also listened to Amber's family's concerns and have offered wider support. 'We made an onward referral to another mental health service provided by another Trust following the end of her treatment and this was accepted.' A spokesperson for Sunderland CYPS said: 'The NHS is seeing record demand for mental health support and staff are working extremely hard to care for more children and young people than ever before. 'Our Children and Young People's Services have worked closely with commissioners and partners to address this demand. 'Getting our service users the right support at the right time is our top priority. 'While we cannot comment on an individual's care, we are developing better ways of working to improve peoples experience of our services. 'We have acted on feedback from parents and carers and have reviewed how we undertake neurodevelopmental assessment. 'We have worked to improve and adapt initial assessment appointments to ensure the needs of young people are met and to ensure we provide a holistic, needs-led approach. 'We have also worked to improve our links with health and education colleagues to increase awareness and understanding of neurodiversity in young people.' The curious case of Prince Harry's US visa has been a running saga in Washington DC for nearly two years, sparking much speculation over the royal's exact immigration status. In March, the drama appeared to have come to an end with the mystery at its heart still unsolved. A court decided that it was a private matter. A flurry of relevant documents were released, but they were drenched in black redaction ink and Sussex watchers were left none the wiser. But now, in a stunning twist, new files have emerged, unearthed by officials in President Donald Trump's administration, that may shed fresh light, and point to a surprising conclusion. According to at least one expert they suggest the Duke of Sussex could potentially be in possession of a very special visa indeed, one that has referred to as a 'golden ticket'. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in California. He has had no involvement in a civil case in which a think tank is trying to obtain details of his visa under freedom of information laws The convoluted case surrounding the Duke's visa began in the wake of the publication of his explosive memoir 'Spare' in 2023, in which he admitted experimenting with cannabis, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms. Taking drugs can be grounds for the U.S. government to reject a visa application. The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, subsequently submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking out his immigration records. It argued there was a public interest in releasing them to see if the Duke had been given preferential treatment by Joe Biden's administration, in the form of a waiver over his drug admissions, when he moved to California with his American wife Meghan in 2020. When the FOIA request was rejected the think tank took the DHS to court in a civil case. But the March ruling by Judge Carl Nichols saw that attempt smothered under black ink. However, five months later, it transpires that another wing of the U.S. government - the Department of State headed by Marco Rubio - is in possession of over 1,000 more pages of documents that could be relevant. Their existence was revealed in a brief two-page court filing by Jeanine Pirro, the former TV star 'Judge Jeanine' who is now President Donald Trump's U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. The submission was part of a new civil case brought by the Heritage Foundation against the Department of State. Pirro's filing outlined how the Department of State has identified a large number of 'potentially responsive records' related to 'Henry Charles Albert David, also known as the Duke of Sussex or Prince Harry". According to the court document that includes 217 that are specifically from the Office of the Secretary (of State), which is currently Rubio. Another 271 are from the Office of the Legal Advisor, the role of which is to 'assist Department principals' in 'implementing the foreign policies of the United States'. A small number of records were also held by the Office of the Deputy Secretary (of State). The question of whether such offices might seem rather lofty to be involved in a visa application was not addressed in the court filing. And any suggestion as to what visa the Duke actually has is merely speculation. But an immigration expert told the Daily Mail it could all point to an A-1 'Head of State' document, a rare type of diplomatic visa which is granted at the discretion of the Department of State, and given to members of foreign royal families. The Duchess of Sussex recently posted images of her husband surfing a wave machine in California Judge Jeanine Pirro with President Donald Trump Judge Jeanine Pirro speaks on an unrelated matter at the White House It bestows the bearer with free rein to come and go from the U.S. at will, and to work in the country while remaining a foreign citizen. The security check is lower than for a normal non-immigrant visa, and would not involve being quizzed about past drug use. The Duke could have had such a visa his whole life, even as a child, and would be able to maintain it now as fifth in line to the throne, renewing it about every five years through the Department of State. 'The Department of State vets and issues the A-1 visa with little input from the Department of Homeland Security,' immigration lawyer Melissa Chavin told the Daily Mail. 'I would expect that Prince Harry had an A-1 visa every year of his life. Take his age and divide by five to figure out how many applications he has filed (or were filed on his behalf when he was underage) - so about 8 applications. Each visa will have a duration of five years, good for multiple entries to the United States. 'Each entry will be permitted for an indefinite period of time called duration of status, meaning for the time that he remains close to becoming the King of England. For him, that is all of his life.' If he is on an A-1 visa the hundreds of Department of State records could include submissions from the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office certifying that he is in line to the throne. Other records may include discussions between consular officers about the logistics of having his visa issued to him, and perhaps his military service records. Marco Rubio's office has documents relating to the Duke of Sussex's visa, according to a court filing The Duke had no involvement in the case between the Heritage Foundation and the DHS, nor in the new one involving the Department of State, and his representatives have never commented on his immigration status. But sources close to him have previously indicated that he answered truthfully on his visa application. However, it has never been confirmed which type of visa he was applying for, and an A-1 application would not have delved into potential drug use. When applying for an ordinary non-diplomatic U.S. visa foreigners are asked on a form: 'Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?' They are also asked whether they have ever 'violated any law relating to controlled substances'. If they answer 'yes' they can still receive a waiver. The Duchess of Sussex, who is an American citizen The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to California in 2020 United States District Judge Carl Nichols who oversaw the visa case In the March court hearing a DHS lawyer said there was no 'government misconduct' in the case, and all 'applicable rules and regulations' were observed in compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act. But there was no indication what type of visa was involved. Holders of an A-1 diplomatic visa, such as an ambassador, are supposed to travel to the U.S. to work as a senior diplomat. But an A-1 'Head of State' visa holder would not need to be a working royal or representative of the British government. According to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations 'members of a reigning royal family' qualify. There is also an exception for anyone 'individually authorized' by the Department of State to be given one. The regulations say: 'In any case in which there is uncertainty about the applicability of these regulations to a principal alien applicant requesting such non-immigrant status, the matter shall be immediately referred to the (State) Department for consideration as to whether acceptance of accreditation will be granted.' Experts have suggested to the Daily Mail that the Royal Family would prefer the Duke to be on a diplomatic visa because it would mean he does not have to reveal aspects of the family's finances to the U.S. Government. If he were to obtain a green card, or become a U.S. citizen, he would be required to report his entire worldwide income to America's Internal Revenue Service. Documents relating to any joint finances involving the rest of the Royal Family would then have to be disclosed. One expert told the Daily Mail a diplomatic visa would be a 'golden ticket' for all involved, and it would allow the Duke to 'sit here (in the U.S.) forever'. The Duchess of Sussex has been appearing in her latest Netflix show The E. Barrett Prettyman courthouse in Washington D.C. where the latest filing was made Meanwhile, lawyers for the Heritage Foundation have suggested it would be 'absurd' for the Duke to be on a diplomatic visa. They have speculated he could be on an O-1 visa, which is for people of 'extraordinary ability'. It is a temporary non-immigrant visa which allows the holder to work and which lasts for three years, but can be extended. Regardless of what visa the Duke has, President Trump in February ruled out deporting him, having previously hinted he might consider it. 'I dont want to do that,' the president said. 'Ill leave him alone. Hes got enough problems with his wife. Shes terrible.' A Perth woman has hit out at an Australian fashion label and branded it a 'scam' after discovering she is one of several customers who didn't receive their orders. Jacinta ordered a dress from Emelia the Label for her birthday celebrations on July 22, but when it failed to arrive, she claimed the company refused to give her a refund. Emelia the Label's website states Australian shipping should take between five and eight business days. When this timeframe had passed, Jacinta emailed the brand but received no response. 'I assumed worst-case scenario is it doesn't come in time and I'll just wear it to another event,' she said in a TikTok video. The Perth woman messaged the brand's Instagram page and finally heard back on August 6, with a customer service agent telling her the dress was now in transit. She received a tracking number, but when she submitted it on the website, she was told it could not be found. Jacinta turned to online reviews from customers and realised she wasn't the only one who had been left waiting for an outfit. Jacinta ordered a dress from Emelia the Label in July but has yet to receive the item or a refund 'I searched [Emelia the Label] on TikTok and it didn't take long to realise that people have ordered stuff and never received anything,' she said. Jacinta explained she tried to get in contact with the brand several times, but her emails were left unanswered. She later revealed that after threatening to take legal action, Emelia the Label replied with a formal apology and shared a new tracking number, confirming the item was ready for shipment. However, once again, the number could not be found. The fashion brand's Instagram page states the label is 'Australian owned'. Several customers shared their own negative experiences with the fashion brand, stating that they too had not received the items they had ordered. 'Yes, Emelia the label are scammers!! Just contact your bank and get your money back,' one commented. Emelia the Label states the business is 'Australian owned' 'I ordered from here too and same,' another agreed. 'They took the money straight away and I waited over a month for nothing to arrive. 'I emailed them, then my emails started saying undelivered, and at this point its been a few months so I just had to report them as a scam but didnt get the money back or anything.' 'My order took five months to come. I sent numerous emails. Always replying to say its on its way. Nope. Eventually it arrived. But wow, the delay!' another added. On August 21, Jacinta shared a further update explaining an Emelia the Label agent had told her they had 'escalated' the issue, but she still hadn't received the dress or a refund. Daily Mail has contacted Emelia the Label for comment. The number of homes hitting the market has shrunk in every capital city in Australia, with one real estate agent warning house prices will soar as a result. Among the hardest-hit cities is Perth, where the housing market has reached a historic crisis point, with property listings crashing to their lowest level ever - just 1,700 houses are currently for sale across the entire city. New listings were lower in all capital cities relative to the prior year, led by Hobart (-13.5 per cent), Perth (-11.2 per cent), Brisbane (-10.6 per cent), Darwin (-9.9 per cent), Melbourne (-9.4 per cent), Sydney (-5.3 per cent), and Adelaide (-4.1 per cent). Canberra fared the best of the bunch with new listings down just 0.4 per cent. Real estate agent Corey Adamson said the figures were 'unbelievable', particularly given spring typically signalled a surge in listings. 'The lowest number of properties on the market of all time,' he said. 'There is such limited stock out there. I've never seen it like this.' Mr Adamson warned the lack of supply will continue to push house prices higher and revealed multiple real estate agents have left the industry entirely due to the shortage of listings. 'There's just too much demand. There's no supply,' he said. Perth real estate agent Corey Adamson said the number of properties for sale in Perth is at record low Perth house listings have hit a record low, despite spring typically being busier 'If something goes up, people want to buy that property. They're jumping at it straight away.' Some blamed Perth's never-ending winter for stalling the local market with the city experiencing its coldest days in 50 years and its wettest winter since 2000. But new data shows it's a nationwide problem. REA Group, which operates Australian residential property websites, reported new listings in July were down eight per cent nationally year-on-year. Mr Adamson predicted the diabolical situation would intensify when the federal government's five per cent deposit scheme for first homebuyers kicks in on October 1. The fast-tracked Home Guarantee Scheme means buyers with a five per cent deposit can get a loan without mortgage insurance with the number of places uncapped after previously being limited to 35,000 places. 'It's the perfect storm for prices to go up.' There have already been warning's Anthony Albanese's scheme will raise property prices because it's not means-tested. Homes in Perth are flying off the shelf, with little stock to replenish the tight market Analysis commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia estimated it will cause house prices to rise by up to 10 per cent in the first year of the scheme's existence. Cotality Australia's research director Tim Lawless agreed the Home Guarantee Scheme would be popular, but said it would do nothing to address the underlying factors pushing house prices to skyrocket around the country. 'With unlimited places, no income restrictions and higher price caps, we expect this stimulus measure to be popular with first-time buyers,' he said. 'Saving a five per cent rather than a 20 per cent deposit could shave around ten years off the time it takes to accrue a deposit in an expensive market like Sydney. 'But it doesnt do anything to address the underlying factors that have caused housing to be so unaffordable in the first place.' Mr Lawless said the lack of new listings was a problem nationwide, with its in-house data revealing advertised supply levels were 20 per cent below average for this time of the year. 'Once again we are seeing a clear mismatch between available supply and demonstrated demand placing upwards pressure on housing values', he said. Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) president Suzanne Brown said the lack of housing stock for sale meant an increasing number of sellers were listing their homes on the proviso they could buy a suitable home first. Perth's median house sale price increased to $841,928 in August, up six per cent over the year 'Sellers are often looking to buy too, and it is very difficult to purchase a new home at the moment, particularly if you are selling subject to sale,' she said. 'The significant imbalance between new listings and demand has seen homes sell extremely quickly and active listings fall rapidly.' Ms Brown said under current conditions, prices would continue to increase - the only question was by how much. High-risk transgender women inmates have been allowed to move around a female prison without individual supervision, a new report has revealed - prompting outrage from feminist campaigners. E Wing at HMP Downview in Sutton, Surrey, is reserved for trans women with a history of sexual or violent offending who are in possession of a gender recognition certificate (GRC) stating their gender as female. Established after trans prisoner Karen White sexually assaulted two female inmates at HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, it is intended to separate potentially dangerous offenders from women inmates, many of whom are victims of sexual abuse. Jail bosses previously followed official guidance to ensure every inmate was subjected to one-on-one supervision by a prison officer when they left E Wing and mixed with female prisoners for activities, education, religious services and social visits. But this policy was later suspended - with trans women receiving the same monitoring as any other prisoner when they are in the rest of the prison, according to a new report by Downview's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB). Kellie-Jay Keen, leader of the political party Party of Women, told the Mail: 'This will leave women at risk of attacks. The women in this prison should sue the prison estate.' Downview is unique in Britain for holding trans women in a female prison. In 2023, the rules were changed to prevent trans women with male genitalia, or those who had been convicted of a violent or sexual offence, from being held in the women's prison estate. The specialist unit at Downview women's jail in Sutton, Surrey was opened in 2019 after Karen White - who had male anatomy but identified as female - sexually assaulted two female inmates while on remand at HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire. A convicted paedophile on remand for multiple rapes, White was sentenced to life E Wing at Downview women's jail in Sutton, Surrey is reserved for trans women with a history of sexual or violent offending. Pictured is a general view of the prison Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said on May 1, 2024 that the Government 'have not moved any transgender women into the women's estate since taking office' This means that any trans woman without a gender recognition certificate is automatically put in the male estate. Those with one have been eligible for E Wing at Downview. The unit has long drawn the ire of gender critical campaigners, who have repeatedly called for it to be abolished. Many assumed it would be axed after April's Supreme Court ruling that the definition of women is based on biological sex, but the IMB said its status 'has not been formally clarified' - suggesting ministers are sitting on their hands about its future. Very little information is shared in public about E Wing, making the IMB report grants a rare insight into what goes on inside it. Inspectors said it had been described by prisoners and staff as 'toxic' and 'full of drama', with some prisoners staying in their rooms to avoid conflict and bullying and others resorting to self-harm. The wing has a maximum capacity of 16. Confusion over the fate of E Wing has only intensified following the new IMB report, which revealed it is now holding more prisoners than the previous year. Inspectors put its population at between seven to nine inmates over the reporting period from May 1, 2024 to the end of April - compared to between three to five in the same reporting period a year earlier. These figures raise questions over a statement issued on May 1, 2025 by justice minister Alex Davies-Jones. 'This Government inherited the policy regarding allocation of transgender prisoners from the previous Government, and have not moved any transgender women into the women's estate since taking office,' she said. The Ministry of Justice has claimed Ms Davies-Jones was referring to the general women's estate, not E Wing. Kellie-Jay Keen, leader of the political party Party of Women, warned female prisoners at Downview were at risk of being attacked by E Wing inmates One of the regular cells at Downview as pictured in a 2011 inspection by HM Inspectorate of Prisons Elsewhere in the IMB report, concerns were raised about the 'alarmingly' low number of inmates being temporarily released from Downview to carry out work with potential future employers and said this had caused some providers to consider ending their partnership with the prison. Prison minister James Timpson has repeatedly described the provision of work programmes for inmates as a priority for the government. The IMB also raised concerns about the number of acutely mentally unwell women being held at Downview. Inspectors found there has been a 90 per cent increase in the number of inmates facing extended delays during transfers to secure psychiatric settings over the last two years. Emma Wilson, chair of the IMB at Downview said: 'Prisons, by their very nature, are closed environments with little visibility from outsiders. 'The general public would be shocked to learn that there are many acutely mentally unwell women who simply should not be detained in a prison environment. 'It is a shameful indictment of our mental health system to see the punitive and unsuitable conditions in which these women are held. The impact on these vulnerable women, and on staff and other prisoners is enormous. An exercise yard at the prison, which holds a small number of young offenders Last year's IMB inspection revealed that E Wing had been fitted with a 10,000 'mood board', despite none of the inmates using it. Pictured is a mood board in a different prison 'Prison staff show considerable compassion and patience in supporting these women with their day-to-day needs, but they are not trained mental health professionals. 'We continue to monitor some extremely distressing examples of acutely mentally unwell women being held in segregation as highlighted in our report. 'Our firm belief from a monitoring perspective is that prison is categorically the wrong place for such women.' A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'This is a separate unit for transgender prisoners, isolated from the main female population and only has access to the wider prison's regime under exceptional circumstances following robust risk assessments and constant direct supervision.' Dr Andrew Johns provides a rare insight into forensic psychiatry, from interviewing dangerous prisoners at Belmarsh to being grilled by barristers in high-stakes murder trials, on a new Daily Mail podcast. Host of the Mail's Psychology of a Serial Killer, Dr Johns has assessed over 300 people charged with murder during his three-decade career. As an expert witness, the psychiatrist must deliver crucial evidence that could determine whether someone faces life imprisonment - then defend every word under brutal courtroom questioning. Before forensic psychiatry, Dr Johns was a doctor working in London. He spent four years retraining at the infamous Broadmoor hospital, where he met the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe. On the latest episode of the podcast, Dr Johns is interviewed by his co-host, police surgeon Dr Harry Brunjes, to give listeners a unique insight into a life spent delving into the minds of murderers. Dr Johns (left) is interviewed by his co-host, police surgeon Dr Harry Brunjes (right), to give listeners a unique insight into a life spent delving into the minds of murderers. Listen here Listen to The Psychology of a Serial Killer below or by clicking here. My Career Analysing Some of Britain's Worst Killers How did you get into this line of work? 'It started when a solicitor rang me out of the blue', Dr Johns told the podcast. 'He asked whether I would be interested in taking on a case for the first time. I was surprised, but equally, I knew solicitors contacted many doctors to find someone who might support their case. 'I never had any specific training in criminal cases. But I did have six years of psychiatric training, and over 36 years working as a consultant. 'I had to learn on the job. Since then, I've provided a training course for psychiatrists and barristers on expert witness skills.' How do you put together a psychological report on a defendant? Dr Johns said: 'Firstly, you have to make sure the medical legal matter is within your area of expertise. Otherwise, you are likely to be caught out at trial. 'You then need clear instructions as to the issues to be addressed in court and all the relevant documents. 'This can be hundreds of pages medical notes, witness statements and even video clips of the defendant at police interview. The latter can often be very revealing. Before forensic psychiatry, Dr Johns was a doctor working in London. He spent four years retraining at the infamous Broadmoor hospital Dr Andrew Johns was called to give expert testimony during the official inquiry into Shipman's murders Retraining at Broadmoor, Dr Johns met Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe 'I then arrange to see the defendant most likely in prison. For serious cases, you'll be relieved to hear it is not easy to get into the prison. 'It takes much arranging, and it takes usually half an hour to get through the security perimeter. 'At Belmarsh, a category A prison, the security is similar to going through an airport with a full body pat down, drug sniffer dogs and metal scanners. 'Then you interview the prisoner often in a special interview room inside a cell block. An interview should not last any less than two hours. 'Sometimes, you don't get the time in the prison, so you have to visit again. 'I have to observe the prisoner closely. I can take up to 30 sides of A4 notes during the course of my interview. 'I need to know their background in considerable detail their personal history, any experience of abuse when young, their relationship history, and in particular, their account of the matters before the court. 'I am looking for inconsistencies between their account to me and what I have read in the case history. 'I then have to write my report. Report writing is a particular skill I have to give my professional view of their mental state, which leads to the all-important opinion and recommendations.' Have you ever encountered any difficulties while conducting your interview? 'Yes', Dr Johns revealed. 'I was nearly caught out when interviewing a man at Brixton prison on a homicide charge. As an expert witness, the psychiatrist must deliver crucial evidence that could determine whether someone faces life imprisonment 'The longest I ever gave evidence in court was two days. It was exhausting.' Listen here 'He gave me an odd look, and I asked: 'What's the matter?' 'He told me: 'The birds on the windowsill are telling me to kill you.' 'I stepped back behind my strapping junior colleague and went on with the interview.' What does a typical court appearance look like? 'The procedure starts with what is called evidence in chief', Dr Johns explained. 'The instructing barrister will take you through your experience, qualifications and the report. This is usually very straightforward the jury don't get a copy of the report, so I have to present the important points. 'Then the prosecution will cross examine you. Most of time, it's courteous and measured. The purpose is to test the validity and robustness of your opinions. 'The longest I ever gave evidence in court was two days. At the end of that, I was exhausted. 'It's like an intense oral exam lasting a very long time, and you have to concentrate fiercely throughout.' Have you ever gone face to face with a respected colleague? 'Many times', Dr Johns emphasised. 'Experts can differ on the exact nature of a diagnosis, the severity of any mental illness and the relevance of all this to any legal defences. 'I have attended court and seen the opposing expert is sometimes a close friend who has come to a different professional view for his or her good reasons.' For expert analysis of Harold Shipman's murders, search for Psychology of a Serial Killer available now wherever you get your podcasts What has been your worst moment in court? Dr Johns responded: 'I have been criticised many times. 'I once wrote in a report that the defence of diminished responsibility was available, whereas I had intended to say it was not available. A typo. 'Then a colleague of mine gave evidence for the defence in a murder trial. The judge criticised his opinion and he was reported and struck off for three months.' What has been your best moment in court? 'In one case, I was for the prosecution', Dr Johns remembered. 'I was arguing that a woman who had killed her boyfriend had no psychiatric defence. The opposing barrister, a woman, said at length that the woman had been much abused by her by her boyfriend. 'She ended up by saying, what do you say to that?' 'I replied, I commend counsel for her dramatic ability but I do not agree. The barrister then sat down, as I knew she would.' To find out more about forensic psychiatry and criminal trials, search for Psychology of a Serial Killer now, wherever you get your podcasts. When Derek Huffman packed up his Arizona home last year and boarded a plane to Russia with his wife DeAnna and three of their six children, he believed he was escaping a crumbling America for a brighter, safer future. On YouTube, where the family chronicled their move, Derek railed against what he called the 'indoctrination of children' with LGBT ideology, 'mind-blowing' urban crime rates, and neighborhoods he said were 'overrun by immigrants'. 'Russia was really our only option', he told followers, presenting Vladimir Putin's homeland as a bastion of traditional Christian family values the very things he felt were disappearing from the country he once called home. The Huffmans are not alone. Russian officials say around 150 Americans and other westerners have applied for Moscow's new 'shared values' visa program each month since it launched in mid-2024. The scheme lampooned as the 'anti-woke' visa by critics offers three-year residency permits to disaffected foreigners who pledge loyalty to Russia's 'spiritual and moral values', with the possibility of citizenship down the line. From bustling Moscow suburbs to windswept towns in eastern Siberia, a trickle of westerners have arrived, waving Bibles and clutching dreams of raising their children in what they believe is a fortress of Christian order. But behind the carefully produced YouTube videos and glowing reports on Russian state TV, the reality for many is far darker. Investigations suggest their 'success stories' are quietly stage-managed by the Kremlin, their channels boosted by state broadcaster Russia Today's propaganda machine. Derek and DeAnna Huffman moved with three of their six children from Arizona to a new life in Russia in 2024 To speed up their citizenship application, Derek Huffman signed up to fight in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022 Away from the cameras, emigres face bureaucracy, corruption, crushing financial struggles and sometimes, the battlefield. For Derek Huffman, settling in Russia proved harder than expected. The local school system was a maze of red tape, and the family's savings dwindled fast. To secure Russian citizenship and with it, access to benefits, jobs, and housing Derek took a desperate gamble: he signed up to fight in Ukraine. 'The big reason I'm doing it is for the citizenship,' he admitted in one video. 'I'm earning our spot and respect in our new country.' A viewer mailed him a set of body armor. In July, calling home from the frontlines, Huffman tried to justify his decision. 'To all the people saying I'm a Christian, yet I joined an army to go kill Ukrainians I don't relish the idea of taking life,' he said. 'But I'm doing what I feel is right.' Ukrainian outlets branded him a stooge, a pawn in Russia's illegal war. To his followers, he insisted he was 'doing something extraordinary' instead of living like a 'sheep'. But his fate now hangs in the balance, with Ukrainian drones and artillery targeting foreign mercenaries like him. Unconfirmed reports suggest he has already died in combat a claim his wife rejects. Others arrived with more fanfare. Leo and Chantelle Hare, a devout Christian couple from Texas who homeschooled their children, declared themselves 'moral migrants' when they moved to Russia in 2023. Their asylum ceremony was broadcast on state media, complete with captions boasting that 'yet another American family chose our country where traditional values are protected by the state.' 'I feel like I've been put on an ark of safety for my family,' Leo said solemnly. 'I want to thank President Putin for making Russia a good place for families.' 'In a small way it feels like I just got married to Russia,' Chantelle added, smiling at officials. But their dream soon soured. On YouTube, the Hares chronicled a botched cryptocurrency investment, police indifference to their complaints, and the slow erosion of their finances. DeAnna Huffman recently appeared on YouTube to assert that husband Derek has not been killed in fighting in occupied Ukraine Tim Kirby, a longtime emigre, hosts slick video blogs extolling Russia's virtues to his American countrymen Kirby has plans for an 'American Village' a rural enclave where disillusioned US families can live their conservative dream together Their grand plan to launch a caramelized nut business fell flat. Today, they scrape by, still searching for stability in Russia, where workers earn roughly five times less than in the US. The struggles of the Huffmans and Hares contrast starkly with the glossy image promoted by Russian state media. Expatriates like Tim Kirby, a longtime US emigre, host slick video blogs extolling Russia's virtues. Kirby has even announced plans for an 'American Village' a rural enclave where disillusioned US families can live their conservative dream together. Another YouTuber, Stephen Shores from Georgia, tells audiences they can find 'The American Dream' in Russia, boasting of affordable housing, safe streets, free speech, and a culture that 'puts family first'. But western analysts point out the obvious: many of these influencers are supported, directly or indirectly, by the Kremlin. Their ad-free, high-production-value channels mirror the techniques of RT, Russia's global propaganda outlet. They burnish the image of a country that foreign research groups, including Freedom House and Transparency International, rank as among the world's worst for graft, cronyism and one-man rule. The so-called 'anti-woke' visa was signed into law by Putin in August 2024, giving residency rights to people from 47 'unfriendly' countries, including the US, Britain, and most of the EU. On paper, it promises a simpler path to citizenship for those who 'share Russia's spiritual and moral values.' In practice, applicants face the same tangle of bureaucracy that ensnares Russians themselves: frozen bank accounts, endless paperwork, and demands for bribes. Maria Butina, the convicted Russian agent once jailed in the US for infiltrating Republican circles, now sits in the Russian parliament and helps 'friendly foreigners' settle. She told the Financial Times that most applicants come from Germany, France, and the US. Butina insists few face difficulties as extreme as Derek Huffman's battlefield gamble. Still, behind her rosy picture, emigres whisper about scams, broken promises, and isolation in a country where language and culture can be brutally alien. The plight of these would-be pioneers echoes that of higher-profile exiles before them. Edward Snowden, the American intelligence leaker, has spent more than a decade effectively trapped in Russia unable to return home without facing prosecution, yet never fully embraced by the Kremlin. Edward Snowden, the American intelligence leaker has spent more than a decade effectively trapped in Russia. He says he's happy with his family life there, but wants to return to the US and slams the human rights record in his new home British-born Asma al-Assad reportedly filed for divorce from ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad after the family fled Damascus for Moscow in December 2024 Joseph Stephen Rose, a 50 -year-old YouTuber from Tallahassee, Florida, says God sent him to Moscow because it was 'where I needed to be' Stephen Shores from Georgia tells audiences they can live 'The American Dream' in Russia Even Asma al-Assad, the UK-born wife of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, filed for divorce after the couple fled Damascus for Moscow in December 2024, disillusioned by their supposed refuge, according to an unconfirmed report. For Putin, however, the symbolism matters more than the individuals. By welcoming disaffected Americans, the Kremlin can showcase Russia as the last defender of 'family values' against a decadent, dangerous West. Each emigre family becomes a propaganda tool, proof at least on paper that people are voting with their feet. The reality is of course much darker and does not make it onto Russia television. The Huffmans' move has cost them financial security and put Derek's life in mortal danger. The Hares are mired in disputes with shady business partners. Others face endless bureaucracy, wary neighbors, and the grim realities of life in a country where corruption and poverty are entrenched. The Hares, once radiant on state TV, now look weary in their videos, their dreams of building a new business replaced by complaints about police corruption and housing shortages. The two families did not immediately answer the Daily Mail's email requests. Even the most polished influencers, like Tim Kirby, cannot disguise the cracks: complaints about banking restrictions, soaring food prices, and the difficulty of raising children in a country at war. Russia may bill itself as the ark of conservative values. But for the Americans who believed in that promise, the rescue vessel can feel more like a sinking ship. Ironically, while a trickle of westerners moves to Russia, hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled since the start of the Ukraine war young professionals, students, and entrepreneurs desperate to escape conscription, sanctions, and isolation. For every family chasing Putin's dream of 'traditional values,' there are scores of Russians fleeing the same regime, convinced their future lies in the West. Politicians and influencers who 'exaggerate' how volatile the country is by spreading misinformation risk 'real world' escalations in violence, one of the country's most senior police officers warned. Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), said those with influence passing comment on the state of the UK 'should think about how they can reduce tensions'. A total of 3,081 protests have come to the attention of police across the UK from June 1 to August 31, up from 2,942 during the same period last year, and just 928 in summer 2023. Mr Stephens said this year's disorder - which has included protests about asylum hotels, Palestine Action, and Defend Our Juries - had put 'chronic' pressure on police forces, which has 'sustained' throughout the entire summer. Mr Stephens declined to refer to any politician by name when asked about the impact of commentary from the likes of Nigel Farage on policing. The Reform UK leader is understood to be in the US this week, apparently to speak with the Trump administration about freedom of speech following the case of Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Tory councillor, who was jailed for her hate-tweets about asylum seekers. But Mr Stephens told reporters: 'Anybody in a leadership position should think about how we can reduce and diffuse tensions and not sow division.' He added: 'It's clear to all of us that we can see more community tension and more division. And I think we all have a responsibility, policing included, to set the tone. Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, said politicians and those with influence 'should think about how we can reduce and diffuse tensions and not sow division' More than 3,000 protests have taken place across the country this summer, many about asylum hotels Mr Stephens said the vast majority of protests this summer were peaceful, but called on politicians not to spread misinformation 'I think we all want to live in places where we can be safe and where we feel safe, and I think everybody has a responsibility in that regard.' He called on those in 'a position of power and influence', to be 'very careful' that what they post online or say in public is 'true and accurate, not breaking the law, and not leading to fear and division in communities that can make people feel unsafe'. He said: 'What I learned really clearly in the violent disorder of summer 2024 is that what happens online has a direct real world consequence to the violence that happens on the street. 'We've seen much less of that this year in the protests, which have been largely peaceful. 'But what we have noticed is a rise in tension, people feeling unsafe, and where we have to respond to this through the policing of protests, that is colleagues coming from other policing duties.' Mr Stephens said he had no problem with people's right to a peaceful protest. But he said it was disappointing that criminality seeped in, and urged people to be careful when sharing information online. Mr Stephens told reporters: 'This is not talking about the volume of protest, and this is not a commentary from policing on people's right to protest peacefully. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been at the forefront of the asylum hotels debate This weekend saw continued refugee hotel protests at Fallowfield in Manchester 'We absolutely support that in a democracy, but we do know that there is a climate of increasing tension and polarity in what we're seeing.' However he dismissed claims that the country is on the verge of civil disobedience as 'exaggerated', saying communities will find their own way to reunite and 'reset'. Policing leaders are pushing for major reform of the structure of forces in England and Wales and how they are funded. A Government white paper on potential changes to the service is expected to be published in the coming months. Mr Stephens said: 'We're asking too much of the people in infrastructure that we can that we currently have.' Service leaders want to bring more powers to a national level rather than with local forces, changes to how decisions are made across the 43 forces, a review of which police capabilities should be national, and an overhaul of how funding is calculated for each force. The White House has been rocked by a cover-up scandal at the top of government as Donald Trump's hugely-influential enforcer's secret past has been exposed. The explosive leaked memo, obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, sheds light on the shady dealings of Corey Lewandowski, a powerful advisor to Kristi Noem at the Department of Homeland Security and Trump's former campaign manager. The documents bring to light a history of questionable links to other nations, arrests and substance and alcohol abuse. In one case he is accused of receiving $50,000 directly from the Chinese Communist Party as well as payments from Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party. It also raised questions about his numerous run-ins with law enforcement, including allegedly having unwanted sexual contact with a woman in Las Vegas. Despite the litany of cases marking his record, Lewandowski did not reference them in his background disclosure form for his role at the DHS. It sent alarm bells ringing across the highest levels of government amid fears it could leave Lewandowski open to foreign interference. The chief security officer at the DHS had compiled the memo earlier this year, but was forced out just weeks later. Meanwhile superiors allegedly buried the findings and Lewandowski still has top-secret clearance through his job as de-facto chief of staff to Noem. Donald Trump fired Lewandowski (far right) as his campaign manager during the 2016 presidential election Corey Lewandowski's return to power comes through Noem, whom he began advising in 2019 as South Dakota governor. The Daily Mail previously reported the two had a romantic affair, which both married officials denied Chief security officer Richard McComb wrote the four-page memo on March 7 to his boss, Department under secretary for management Randolph 'Tex' Alles. While Lewandowski's full name does not appear, McComb describes the subject as a person fired from Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. And on page three the subject's firm is listed as Lewandowski Strategic Advisors. A current DHS official also confirmed it is Lewandowski. The documents warned Homeland Security leaders Lewandowski was reported in 2018 for receiving a $50,000 payment directly from the CCP. The memo does not state which 'financial organization' reported him. McComb wrote: 'In 2018 the subject was reported by financial organization flagging a $50,000 payment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China for which the economic purpose could not be established.' He wrote Lewandowski did not disclose the suspicious foreign payments from China on his background disclosure form for his new role. The memo details other extensive foreign contacts, listing meetings with officials from 13 countries including India, Taiwan, Morocco, Israel and others in 2017. McComb notes Lewandowski's firm also received payments from Israel's Likud Party in 2020 to advise Netanyahu's re-election campaign. A senior DHS official sympathetic to Lewandowski denied the payments outlined in the memo, telling the Daily Mail: 'Lewandowski has never received foreign money.' McComb's concerns are marked with the designation 'National Security Guideline B: Foreign Influence.' DHS officials apply this classification when they suspect someone applying for top security clearance could potentially be controlled by a foreign government. On March 7th, 2025, DHS chief security officer Richard McComb authored a memo telling his superiors that Corey Lewandowski was reported for receiving a $50,000 payment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China Lewandowski wanted to be granted the highest level of security clearance in the country but McComb memo details several glaring red flags, including his connections to foreign governments and struggles with substance abuse Lewandowski told DHS investigators he was treated for substance abuse disorder in 2022 Elsewhere the memo reveals Lewandowski was treated in 2022 'for alcohol use disorder, substance abuse disorder, and partner relation conflicts.' He reportedly told investigators he voluntarily sought counseling because of his alcohol use, per the memo. Lewandowski was charged with battery in 2022 after a woman accused him of unwanted sexual contact at a Las Vegas charity dinner. Trashelle Odom alleged he repeatedly touched her inappropriately while making sexually explicit comments. Witnesses said he appeared intoxicated during the September 2021 incident. He later reached a plea deal with prosecutors that forced him to undergo eight hours of impulse control counseling and serve 50 hours of community service. The charges were later dropped. Lewandowski did not disclose his 2022 deal with prosecutors on his background check form, according to the DHS memo. McComb's memo reveals Lewandowski faced at least one federal investigation for bribery in 2021 - and another for money laundering in 2020 - though both were ultimately closed without charges being filed. Lewandowski's full history of criminal allegations dates back to 1999 when was arrested for carrying a handgun and several rounds of ammunition into the Longworth House Office Building in Washington DC. He claimed the items were accidentally mixed up with his dirty clothes in an overnight bag. The charges were later dismissed, but the memo notes Lewandowski did not disclose this case on his background form. Trashelle Odom (second left) alleged Lewandowski repeatedly touched her inappropriately while making sexually explicit comments. Witnesses said he appeared intoxicated during the September 2021 incident Lewandowski is a close adviser and personal confidant to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem The memo claims Lewandowski was 'referenced' at the time in an on-going criminal investigation The memo also documents Lewandowski's hostile behavior during the security investigation, including cursing at an investigator when they tried to interview his wife and yelling at them on multiple occasions. McComb writes Lewandowski became 'agitated' and called the process 'intrusive beyond his tolerance' when investigators sought to speak with his spouse. The memo concludes his conduct showed a troubling 'lack of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to cooperate with security processing.' A senior DHS official sympathetic to Lewandowski disputes this claim, telling the Daily Mail Lewandowski confronted a government contractor for calling 'his wife at home 10 times in a row.' 'He took his children to a Boston Celtics game that night. The Perraton contractor called his wife at home 10 times in a row in a very short space of time after having already left multiple messages for her. 'Mr Lewandowski colorfully asked the contractor to stop harassing his wife, but certainly never cursed him,' this defender claimed. A second former DHS official reviewed McComb's memo and validated its authenticity and the alarming concerns such a document would bring about. A DHS insider told the Daily Mail: 'When issues of this sort came up, at a minimum they led to significant discussion and concern about granting a clearance to the individual. 'I have seen individuals denied clearances for findings that were less significant than these.' Current DHS acting Chief Security Officer Iwona B. Horyn told the Daily Mail McComb's memo 'would not be a warning in any fashion.' 'The memo would be characterized as a summary pending any questions,' Horyn said. During Trump's first term, Lewandowski was shut out of the White House inner circle and worked as a lobbyist for various foreign political parties, as detailed in McComb's memo Horyn was given a copy of McComb's original memo, according to page four of the memo. Following McComb's ouster after his red flags on Lewandowski, she took over his position at Homeland Security. Other insiders paint McComb as a bitter employee seeking vengeance against DHS leadership due to an apparent investigation into his department for another matter. They argue the memo was written to retaliate for a probe earlier in the week into their clearance processes, an official sympathetic to Lewandowski claimed. This DHS official also described a second investigation into McComb focused on approving felons 'for sensitive and important jobs'. Additionally, this senior DHS official claimed McComb 'had access to and was likely inappropriately using spyware on other employees' computers without permission or authorizationincluding at the highest levels of the US governmentand making unauthorized, unilateral decisions.' But a former senior DHS official with firsthand knowledge told the Daily Mail McComb was not aware his office was under investigation at the time the memo was written. This former senior insider also notes McComb wrote the memo after he was directed to do so by his boss Alles. The source says Alles was also later pushed out of DHS in retaliation for the memo. Faced with a 'proposed termination,' McComb decided to retire after 10 years in DHS. The memo claims Lewandowski was uncooperative with DHS investigators vetting him for his Top-Secret clearance. Lewandowski allegedly cursed at one investigator attempting to interview his spouse as part of his background check Lewandowski currently has significant power at the DHS and the ability to greenlight contracts and grants over $100,000. It's been widely reported Lewandowski is the last stop before contracts are given to Noem, who he has been linked to romantically, though he denies it. Lewandowski managed Trump's 2016 campaign before being fired months before the convention. McComb's memo notes 'The subject was fired from the 2016 Donald J. Trump Candidate for President,' though Lewandowski maintains conduct was not the issue. Trump actually fired him in June 2016 after pressure from Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. During Trump's first term, Lewandowski was shut out of the White House inner circle and worked as a lobbyist for various foreign governments and political parties. His return to power comes through Noem, whom he began advising in 2019 as South Dakota governor. The Daily Mail previously reported the two had a romantic affair, which both married officials denied. After Lewandowski's 2021 battery charge, Noem cut ties but they were soon seen together at political events. Following Trump's 2024 victory, Noem brought Lewandowski into DHS as a special government employee, where he now wields significant influence and is permitted to continue to reap financial rewards with work outside the government. Lewandowski did not respond to Daily Mail requests for comment and DHS declined to provide a statement from Lewandowski. A fuming mother stormed into a shop and confronted the owner - accusing them of selling vapes to her 11-year-old son and his classmates. Lucy James, 34, was full of rage after she found her son Logan in a cloud of vapor in his room. He claimed that he had been sold the vape at a Prime Stores in Walsall town centre, where his friends and classmates had also been purchasing the nicotine products. She told the Daily Mail: 'Apparently they go into the shop and ask to buy vapes. They are asked for ID and the man will tell them they have served them before. 'They then tell the kids to come to the back of the shop, where they sell it to them and pay in cash.' It is illegal for businesses to sell vapes or nicotine products to anyone under the age of 18. NHS guidance states that nicotine is more risky for young people than for adults, as evidence suggests the developing brain is more sensitive to its addictive effects. Lucy travelled to the shop to confront the owner about selling the products to children. The shopkeeper at Prime Stores in Walsall, West Midlands, seen on video filmed by Lucy The shopkeeper was seen in the video grabbing Lucy's phone and throwing it out of the door Lucy was horrified when she discovered her 11-year-old son vaping in his room Video footage filmed by Lucy shows the moment she confronted a staff member at Prime Stores. She can be heard saying: 'Prime shop Walsall, selling vapes to underage children. You are going all over social media mate, all over social media.' The mother continues to confront the man in the store, before he comes out from behind the till and grabs her phone. He allegedly grabbed the phone out of her hand and threw it out on the street. The footage shows the phone being landing with the camera facing the floor. Lucy says: 'Criminal damage that is because I am f****** exposing them.' The man behind the till can then be heard calling Lucy a b****. Lucy responds: 'Asking people for ID then you are sending them to the back of the shop to get vapes. 11 and 12-year-olds. 'You are absolutely f****** disgusting.' Pictured: The inside of Prime Stores with vapes seen for sale on the shelves Lucy accused the shop of selling the nicotine products to underage children Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lucy said: 'Earlier today I had a family member phone his dad to say they had seen him vaping. 'I went down to the shop and the man started to call me a b**** and call me an idiot. 'He then smacked my phone out of my hand and onto the high street. 'I phoned the police and they did come but they can't really do anything about it. It has to be trading standards.' Lucy was told by her son that 'most of the children' at the school have been known to buy vapes at the shop, along with other businesses in the town centre. Children as young as ten have reportedly bought vapes successfully from the business. Lucy said she will be informing her son's school about the issue. She added: 'The children are still growing, their brains are still developing. Lucy was told by her son that 'most of the children' at the school have been known to buy vapes at the shop 'It is absolutely terrible and it is so wrong. 'All they care about is the money. It is disgusting and it needs to be stopped.' The Daily Mail contacted a manager of the shop who denied the claims that they were selling vapes to underage children. They did not give a formal comment. West Midlands Police and Trading Standards have been contacted for comment. Disposable vapes were banned across the UK on June 1, leaving only devices which can be considered reusable available for sale. The law is aimed at protecting the environment and tackling a surge in youth vaping rates, which have soared from 0.8 per cent in 2013 to 7.2 per cent last year. Disposable vapes, known for their variety of flavours and brightly coloured packaging, have become increasingly popular among teenagers. Retailers in England who are caught breaking the law face a minimum 200 penalty or a two-year prison sentence for repeat offenders. Any single-use e-cigarettes that are found on sale, will be seized by Trading Standards. Disposable vapes on sale in a shop on Oxford Street, London, in October, 2024. A ban on disposable vapes came into force on June 1 Disposable vapes, known for their variety of flavours and brightly coloured packaging, have become increasingly popular among teenagers (file photo) Rishi Sunak initially announced the plans to ban disposable vapes in January last year. The former prime minister was acting on evidence that those taking on the habit across all age groups had ballooned by more than 400 per cent since 2012. Moreover, recent NHS figures showed a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds in England have tried vaping, with almost one in 10 using e-cigarettes regularly. And the highest rates of disposable vape use are among those aged 18 to 24, a survey of 4,393 British adults previously revealed. Disposable vapes, such as Elf bars and Lost Mary, are known for their brightly coloured packaging and wide variety of sweet flavours. The British Medical Association previously warned that flavours such as bubblegum and candy floss could lead to nicotine addictions among children. A brazen tow truck driver has been taken into federal custody after he allegedly stole ICE agents' vehicle while they tried to apprehend a TikTok influencer in California - and laughed as he got away. Bobby Nunez, 33, was at an upscale apartment complex in South Los Angeles on August 15 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sought to take illegal immigrant Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez into custody on August 15. The officers flashed the emergency lights on two black SUVs as they blocked Mafla-Martinez's Tesla from exiting the apartment complex's parking structure, NBC Los Angeles reports. When the officers were then struggling to arrest Mafla-Martinez, who had been convicted of driving under the influence, Nunez approached her Tesla and 'began pressing the passenger side door of her vehicle [into] an officer, who then threatened Nunez with arrest,' federal authorities said. 'After being told the officers were conducting a federal investigation, Nunez swore at the officers and told them "Something was going to happen" to them,' they said. When the officers then turned their attention to another man who was approaching Mafla-Martinez's vehicle, authorities say Nunez used his tow truck to tow one of the vehicles blocking her car. Shocking video from the scene showed ICE agents pinning Mafla-Martinez to the ground as the dark-colored SUV was being pulled away - prompting one agent to run after it. Bobby Nunez, 33, was taken into custody on charges of theft of government property Federal authorities say he towed a vehicle being used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they tried to arrest an illegal alien in Los Angeles on August 15 The tow truck, which had keys and a firearm inside of a safe inside, then headed east on Temple Street before the agent stopped chasing after it, according to a criminal complaint. The government vehicle was eventually found about two blocks away, according to Los Angeles Magazine. As federal authorities then investigated the theft, they apparently discovered a TikTok video Nunez filmed from inside his truck in which he was laughing as he got away with the stolen vehicle that day, Fox News reports. 'Nunez was laughing at him and recording him on his cellphone,' the criminal complaint said of the agent who gave chase. Authorities also discovered Nunez's tow truck parked in a residential space at the same apartment complex the very next day. He is now charged with theft of government property and could face a maximum of 10 years behind bars if he were to be convicted of the crime. 'Apparently he thought it would be funny to interfere with our immigration operation,' Acting US Attorney Bill Essayli posted to X on Tuesday as he announced the charges against Nunez. Shocking video from the scene showed the agents' stunned reaction as Nunez got away with the stolen vehicle One agent chased after the stolen vehicle on foot, but eventually gave up 'Now he can laugh behind bars while he faces justice.' Mafla-Martinez's arrest had been chaotic even before Nunez got away with the vehicle. The social media influencer, who became famous for her videos documenting immigration raids and anti-ICE protests around California, livestreamed her arrest. Her video showed officers had to lift her out of her electric vehicle and hold her down as she writhed on the ground. Mafla-Martinez could then be heard shrieking 'no, no, no' repeatedly and cried 'wait, wait,' in Spanish as agents ordered her out of the car. The ICE agents were at the scene of the upscale Los Angeles apartment complex to arrest Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, an illegal immigrant from Colombia Mafla-Martinez's arrest on August 15 proved chaotic as officers had to hold her down to take her into custody Assistant Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has since said that the native Colombian had been convicted of driving under the influence in Los Angeles. 'This criminal illegal alien entered the country in 2022 and was RELEASED by the Biden administration,' McLaughlin told the Daily Mail. 'During her arrest, Martinez claimed to experience shortness of breath. She was given proper medical treatment and will be held in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,' she said at the time. Alleged double cop killer Dezi Freeman has been branded a 'hypocrite' by his own family for receiving a disability pension for more than two decades, despite refusing to recognise the state. The bombshell claim emerged as the widespread manhunt for the self-proclaimed sovereign citizen entered its ninth day on Wednesday. Freeman, 56, remains on the run after he allegedly shot dead two police officers and wounded another at his Porepunkah property in Victoria's high country last Tuesday. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, were killed after 10 officers entered his Rayner Track address to execute a warrant for alleged historical sex abuse against a child. Freeman has come under fire from former neighbours for pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in disability pension payments, despite being a 'sovereign citizen' who professed to loathe government and authority. 'He never worked, never had any money that's what used to s**t me too because he was so against the government, but then got his Centrelink cheque every week,' a former neighbour told the Herald Sun. A family member backed up claims that Freeman received the pension for more than 20 years but didn't know what qualified him for the means-tested government payment which can be up to $1,149 per fortnight. They could only recall Freeman complaining about a sore tooth, but conceded that he may have suffered mental health issues in recent years. Dezi Freeman (pictured) has benefitted from a disability pension for more than two decades, despite being a self-proclaimed 'sovereign citizen' who loathes the government Family and former neighbours have branded Dezi Freeman (pictured during a 2021 arrest) as a hypocrite for collecting the disability pension The manhunt for the alleged cop killer ramped up when heavily-armed tactical officers launched a night operation on Tuesday (pictured) 'He always told everyone how poor he was and that he was the victim,' the family member told the publication. 'He always wanted people to empathise the hypocrisy. The whole family kind of laughed at him.' Police activity ramped up in Porepunkah on Tuesday afternoon as gun-toting tactical cops and sniffer dogs converged on a small residential area outside the town. It is understood police did not attend a specific address. Residents speculated that the officers were searching along the Buckland River for any sign of Freeman. Tactical police later launched a night operation on a hilltop overlooking Porepunkah. Daily Mail photos showed a law enforcement convoy, including heavily armed officers arriving on a hillside overlooking the township. Officers were seen looking at a map ahead of the operation before embarking on their ascent. Police claim they received a 'remarkable' amount of information from locals after setting up a public information caravan in the nearby town of Bright. Special tactics groups and other specialist police have joined the week-long manhunt The desperate manhunt for fugitive Dezi Freeman has entered its second week Additional police will soon join the 450-strong force tasked with tracking down Freeman. Superintendent Brett Kahan also hasn't ruled out issuing a public reward for information. 'It's an avenue that we will explore,' he said. 'All I say is that the number of police in the area is increasing over the course of the week (since the shooting). 'So instead of decreasing our commitment to this, we're increasing, and we'll continue to throw the full arm of Victoria Police towards the search for this armed fugitive.' The Victorian Premier has doubled down on her support for a multicultural Australia just hours after being called a 'coward' by a prominent neo-Nazi leader. National Socialist Network founder Thomas Sewell hijacked Jacinta Allan's press conference in Melbourne's west early on Tuesday morning. Allan was responding to questions about Sewell's role in Sunday's nationwide anti-immigration rallies when he began shouting at the press pack. 'Hey Jacinta Allan, why don't Australians have the right to protest? Why don't Australians have a right to protest?' Sewell falsely claimed. 'Shouldn't we have the right to speak in our own country, you coward. We're going to take this country back from politicians like you. 'I've never seen anyone shake your hand. I had 500 people come up to me and shake my hand on the weekend.' Hours after the aborted presser, Allan proudly shared a series of photos from a multiethnic community event held in Hampton Park on her social media. 'Memo to no one in particular: this is what the real Victoria looks like. And we're better for it,' she wrote alongside photos of her mingling with attendees. National Socialist Network founder Thomas Sewell (pictured) hijacked the Victorian Premier's press conference in Melbourne's west on Tuesday morning Sewell was bustled away from the press conference by security guards (pictured) Jacinta Allan (pictured left) was responding to questions about Sunday's anti-immigration rallies when the neo-Nazi leader began shouting at her off-camera 'Different families, different faiths, but the same Victorian values: love for our neighbours, respect for each other, and pride in ourselves.' The 'Bring Your Bills' event is run by Southeast Community Links and is known for supporting local multiethnic communities. Allan released a statement shortly after her clash with Sewell, saying she was proud her government was opposed by extremists. 'I am unharmed and undeterred following this morning's events at a press conference. It comes as no surprise that Nazis oppose me and my government. I wear that as a badge of honour,' she wrote. 'But this isn't about me. It's about all the other people in the community who Nazis target like multicultural people, LGBTIQA+ people, First Peoples, and Jews.' Sewell later claimed his appearance at the press conference was coincidental and that he had stumbled across the event on the way to Melbourne Magistrate's Court, where he was contesting unrelated charges over the alleged intimidation of a police officer and breaching two personal intervention orders last year. During a break in proceedings, he and two members of his group were arrested by police over their alleged role in an attack on a First Nations protest camp. Between 20 and 30 men dressed in black were filmed attacking the site, Camp Sovereignty, on Sunday evening - reportedly injuring four people. The premier shared photos from a community event just hours after Sewell's interruption Sewell is seen addressing crowds on the steps of Parliament House during the March for Australia anti-immigration rally in Melbourne on Sunday Thomas Sewell (pictured right) is seen getting ready to throw a punch during violent scenes after members of the National Socialist Network stormed the First Nations protest group, Camp Sovereignty, at King's Domain in Melbourne Disturbing footage showed several men verbally abusing those gathered at the makeshift camp, while some stomped on an Aboriginal flag. A Victoria Police spokesman said members of Camp Sovereignty were attacked with 'sticks and flagpoles' during the unprovoked attack. Sewell was charged with violent disorder, affray, assault by kicking, discharging a missile and other offences over the alleged incident. He has been remanded to appear at Melbourne's Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Aboriginal man shoved to the ground and tasered An Aboriginal man who was shoved to the ground and tasered after giving police the finger has sparked a review by a corruption watchdog. Martu man Lance Stewart, 25, approached officers as they attended an incident in McDonald Street, Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia's mining capital, about 2.30pm on May 8, 2024. 'You gonna arrest my finger?' Mr Stewart is heard asking officers in body-worn footage of the incident obtained by the ABC. The officers told the 25-year-old they would be issuing him with a move-on notice due to his 'anti-social behaviour'. They asked Mr Stewart for identification, which he produced. Two minutes later, the man reached for the paperwork being completed by a female officer and was told by officers to 'let go' and 'leave her alone'. 'Why are you touching me? What ya gonna do man?' Mr Stewart said before Senior Constable Michael Gordon pushed him to the ground. 'Now stay down there, and wait there until we're finished with ya, or we'll do it again,' the constable told Mr Stewart. Martu man Lance Stewart, 25, held up his middle finger at WA Police as they attended a separate incident on a Kalgoorlie street about 2.30pm on May 8, 2024 Police officers shoved Mr Stewart to the ground twice and tasered him Officers told Mr Stewart he was being issued with a move-on notice due to his 'anti-social behaviour' The Martu man got up and began walking back towards the officers. Senior Constable Gordon told him to 'stop' before pushing him to the ground again. Mr Stewart warned the 25-year-old he was 'going to be arrested' as he adopted a fighting stance and took his shirt off. He was then tasered by Sergeant Richard Busby and fell to the ground. Mr Stewart was pinned down and handcuffed by two officers while the sergeant threatened to taser him again. He was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing police. Mr Stewart was refused bail by a magistrate, partly because of his 'shocking record' and because he was facing other charges. A police spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'An internal investigation focused on the police action was conducted, with oversight by the Corruption and Crime Commission. Body-worn footage shows the moment Sergeant Richard Busby tasered Mr Stewart A police spokesperson said 'that while the deployment of the taser was justified, the decision to push the 25-year-old man was excessive under the circumstances' 'The investigation found that while the deployment of the Taser was justified, the decision to push the 25-year-old man was excessive under the circumstances. 'As a result, an officer involved in the incident was subject to disciplinary action, and a charge of Disorderly Conduct against the man was withdrawn. 'This matter is currently under further review to consider police conduct and training.' The CCC said its review has not been finalised. A senior police officer has requested a further review of the investigations' findings. The police spokesperson added: 'The CCC 'is one of several independent bodies which has oversight of the Western Australia Police Force. 'The CCC's oversight includes police internal investigations. The CCC regularly reviews police incidents for various reasons, often informing policy and training improvements. 'Body-worn camera footage and use of force reports are reviewed as part of these investigations. 'Community trust is essential, which is why transparent oversight is in place to ensure accountability.' A British man has been reported missing on a solo round-the-world sailing trip after his faithful dog was discovered alive on board his abandoned yacht drifting off the Canary Islands. James Nunan, 34, from Reading, set off on his dream voyage in March with his miniature Jack Russell, Thumbelina, aboard a boat called Kehaar that he had bought in Slovenia. But fears are growing for the adventurer after his yacht was found by coastguards 50 miles off Gran Canaria with no sign of its owner - though documents inside confirmed it belonged to him. Miraculously, little Thumbelina was discovered unharmed and has since been taken in by a local dog shelter. Nunan, a builder affectionately known to family as 'Jemsie', had last been in touch with his mother, Maura Norton, 56, from Essex, on August 18. His bank card was used later that evening at 10:39pm at a kebab shop in Las Palmas - the last confirmed trace of him. The free-spirited sailor had spent a year preparing for his global voyage and had already made stops in Gibraltar and Lanzarote before arriving in Gran Canaria. His half-sister, Nikita Goddard, 31, from Lincoln, told The Telegraph: 'He's always been a free spirit. Before he went sailing he was living in a converted van, and he was travelling around Scotland in it. James Nunan, 34, from Reading, set off on his dream voyage in March with his miniature Jack Russell, Thumbelina, aboard a boat called Kehaar that he had bought in Slovenia Fears are growing for the adventurer after his yacht was found by coastguards 50 miles off Gran Canaria with no sign of its owner 'When he was in Scotland he just got this idea that he was going to get a boat and sail around the world. He's been doing that since late March this year. He waited until after my son was born so he could meet him and went pretty much straight afterwards. 'He's been going all around Europe on his boat. He's been very good about keeping contact with my mum. I've been hearing through my mum how he has been getting on and what he has been doing. 'She last spoke to him on August 18 - it was a Monday - and by the Wednesday my mum started to get a bit worried. I believe it was Friday, August 22, when she reported him as a missing person. 'We are told there was a "pan-pan" alert made in regards to his boat - it's one step down from a mayday.' Nunan was last seen at a popular British bar, Paddy's Anchor, in Las Palmas on the same day he contacted his family. He had earlier broadcast a live Facebook video - but later that night, it is understood his passport and backpack were stolen. His father has since flown to Gran Canaria to help search for him, while Essex Police are supporting his mother at home. Miraculously, little Thumbelina was discovered unharmed and has since been taken in by a local dog shelter Nunan was last seen at a popular British bar, Paddy's Anchor, in Las Palmas on the same day he contacted his family A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.' Essex Police added: 'We're in touch with James's family to provide support to them at this very difficult time. 'We have submitted a number of queries through our international liaison officers and Interpol to Spanish authorities. At this stage we are awaiting response. 'We dearly hope James can be located safely as soon as possible and we will continue to be in contact, alongside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with his family, and [will] help where we can.' Precisely why it took five armed policemen to detain him is unclear. But there they were as he stepped bleary-eyed off the plane after a sleepless 11-hour flight from Arizona to Heathrow. By the time they had escorted him to a private area, Graham Linehan's 'offence' had been explained to him. He was under arrest for a series of 'anti-trans' social media posts. Astonishingly, this involved taking him to the airport police station where his trouser belt was removed and his bag and media devices confiscated. Then he was shown into a green-tiled cell with a bunk bed and a metallic toilet in the corner. It was the beginning of yet another dark episode in the life of the comedy writer whose courageous and combative stance on gender ideology some might even call it an obsession has already cost him his career, his marriage, his friendships and very nearly his sanity. And his detention is only the latest in a string of heavy-handed police responses over so-called 'thought crimes', with newspaper columnists, local councillors and parents on school WhatsApp groups also being targeted in recent months. The most high profile case involved Lucy Connolly, the 42-year-old childminder who was released from prison last month after 377 nights behind bars for inciting racial hatred following a reckless post in the aftermath of the Southport murders. Amid all this madness it is Linehan, the creator of the brilliant Father Ted, The IT Crowd and other TV comedy gold, whose vocal defence of women's rights has made him a modern-day hero to some and a pariah to others. And all because he dared challenge the orthodoxy of trans rights activism that declares a person with a penis can be a woman. By the time they had escorted Graham Linehan (above) to a private area, his 'offence' had been explained to him - he was under arrest for a series of 'anti-trans' social media posts It was the beginning of yet another dark episode in the life of the comedy writer (above) whose courageous and combative stance on gender ideology has already cost him his career, his marriage, his friendships and very nearly his sanity Amid a string of so-called 'thought crimes' is Linehan, the creator of the brilliant Father Ted (above), whose vocal defence of women's rights has made him a modern-day hero to some and a pariah to others But what a price he has paid. Hounded and harried, it was not just his occupation that was cancelled, so too was his life. He may have written jokes for a living but there is nothing remotely funny about what has happened to this inherently decent and brave man. During the campaign against him, which has been waged for more than seven years, Linehan, 57, has been branded a bigot, accused of harassment, banned from Twitter and reported to the police on multiple occasions. Officers have turned up at his home and family members have been attacked by online trolls. His wife Helen, with whom he wrote the hugely popular series Motherland, was threatened and her address posted online. It was all too much for his marriage and the couple, who have two children, separated in 2020. Work dried up and friends he'd known all his life vanished, but somehow the resilient Linehan kept going. 'I've been quoted as saying I contemplated suicide, but that's not true,' he once said. 'I do remember looking at a bunch of high buildings and wondering which one would be tall enough to kill me. But when I joked about it to my therapist she said, 'Don't say that. That's how it begins'. 'So I immediately stopped and never thought about it again.' Who could blame him if such troubling thoughts were resurrected after his arrival in Britain this week from his home in the US, where he has finally been able to rebuild his life. For his arrest ended with him being put under observation in hospital. In characteristic style, Linehan shared the three tweets which, he says, led to him being met by police when he landed. Reading them it is hard to know whether to laugh or cry. During the campaign against Linehan, his wife Helen (above, left) with whom he wrote the hugely popular series Motherland, was threatened and her address posted online The ordeal was too much for his marriage and the couple (above), who have two children, separated in 2020 Work dried up and friends he'd known all his life vanished, but somehow the resilient Linehan (above, left) kept going One in which he jocularly advocates striking a trans-identifying male in a woman-only space with a strategic punch to the genitals was reminiscent of how a new book claimed the Queen was reported to have reacted after being assaulted on a train as a teenager. Writing on his Substack blog, Linehan eloquently described his arrest. 'The moment I stepped off the plane at Heathrow, five armed police officers were waiting. Not one, not two five. They escorted me to a private area and told me I was under arrest for three tweets. 'In a country where paedophiles escape sentencing, where knife crime is out of control, where women are assaulted and harassed every time they gather to speak, the state had mobilised five armed officers to arrest a comedy writer for this tweet (and no, I promise you, I am not making this up).' The first of the reposted offending tweets, ran: 'If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.' A second tweet consisted of a picture of a trans rally to which he had added the caption: 'A photo you can smell.' And the third was a follow up to this tweet which said: 'I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** 'em.' While some might be offended by the coarseness of the language, in the ugly world of social media it is hardly extreme. What happened next, however, reveals how conventional common sense is being replaced by the drip, drip, drip of malevolent trans activism. Linehan shared the three tweets (all above) which he says led to him being met by police when he landed During his police interview, Linehan was questioned about each of the tweets with as he puts it 'the sort of earnest intensity usually reserved for discussing something serious like oh, I dunno crime'. He explained to the officers that the 'punch' tweet was a serious point made with a joke. 'Men who enter women's spaces ARE abusers and they need to be challenged every time.' His account of the police responses to his own questions is chilling. When he asked the officer what he meant by the phrase 'trans people', he reports him saying: 'People who feel their gender is different than what was assigned at birth.' Linehan replied: 'Assigned at birth? Our sex isn't assigned. He called it semantics, I told him he was using activist language.' In despair, he adds: 'The damage Stonewall [the gay rights turned trans-activist charity] has done to the UK police force will take years to mend.' By now the interview was affecting Linehan's health and after a nurse checked his blood pressure over 200, he says he was taken to hospital where he was monitored for eight hours. 'The doctors suggested the high blood pressure was stress-related, combined with long-haul travel and lack of movement. I feel it may also have been a contributing factor that I have now spent eight years being targeted by trans activists working in tandem with police in a dedicated, persistent harassment campaign because I refuse to believe that lesbians have c****.' April's Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex was supposed to draw a line under the incendiary debate which, at one stage, left Sir Keir Starmer floundering when he refused to say if a woman could have a penis. Tragically, Linehan's arrest shows this is far from the case. During his police interview a nurse checked his blood pressure over 200, Linehan (above) says he was taken to hospital where he was monitored for eight hours Linehan (above) explained to the officers that his 'punch' tweet was a serious point made with a joke His transformation from comedy genius to unemployed outcast began in 2018. In hospital and under the influence of morphine following an operation for testicular cancer, he unthinkingly tweeted to express his support for feminist campaigners who were being persecuted by trans rights activists. It was, he says, a tweet 'no one could have a problem with, that said trans people should be respected but women need single-sex spaces'. By the time the morphine had worn off, his battle with the trans lobby had started. There were increasingly frenzied messages from opponents. One vile post declared: 'I wish the cancer had won.' His ordeal had begun. In short order he was about to lose everything: his family, his job and his reputation. He became embroiled in a civil legal action with trans activist Stephanie Hayden, who was born male and holds a female gender recognition certificate. As well as identifying as a woman, Hayden has issued multiple lawsuits against those who have challenged gender identity ideology, claiming to have suffered harassment. Meanwhile, as a crescendo of hate descended on Linehan, who was accused of bigotry, half his 800,000 social media followers melted away. The transformation from comedy genius to unemployed outcast for Linehan (above) began in 2018 As a crescendo of hate descended on Linehan (above), who was accused of bigotry, half his 800,000 social media followers melted away 'The activists wrote to friends of mine who followed me saying: 'Why are you following Graham Linehan, he's a bigot'.' As the campaign against him became increasingly venomous, friends told him to 'shut up' for his own good. But if he had hoped his comedy chums would rally round, Linehan was to be cruelly disappointed, as one by one they dropped him, too. He was once close showbusiness friends with Matt Lucas and David Walliams Linehan directed the Little Britain pilot. 'They only got the meeting at the BBC because of me,' he said. 'Neither has had the guts to say: 'I know Graham Linehan and he's not a bigot'.' Executives at the production companies who used to fall over themselves to wine and dine him in London's most fashionable restaurants stopped taking his calls. One West End producer told him he was 'on the wrong side of history'. He was offered 200,000 to walk away from a planned musical of Father Ted an almost guaranteed hit which he hoped would provide him with his pension but turned it down because it was conditional on him having no creative involvement and being barred from rehearsals. An offer to write for Hollywood stars Steve Martin and Martin Short was withdrawn after just five minutes, while a proposal to work on a companion piece to Peter Shaffer's classic Black Comedy was terminated because the playwright's estate didn't want to be seen to be 'taking one side or the other'. Even a tour to Australia to teach comedy was cancelled when the company claimed it 'would not be able to afford the security'. As Linehan explained in his bestselling memoir, Tough Crowd: How I Made And Lost A Career In Comedy: 'I discovered later this was a standard excuse given to those of us declared unclean by the new sacred class.' Linehan, who directed the Little Britain pilot, was once close showbusiness friends with Matt Lucas (above, right) and David Walliams (above, left) Executives at the production companies who used to fall over themselves to wine and dine Linehan (above) in London's most fashionable restaurants stopped taking his calls When one actor friend, James Dreyfus, who appeared in Dr Who, did agree to show support he, too, was hounded by trans rights activists and had difficulty finding work. Linehan asked him to sign a letter demanding Stonewall reconsider its stance on gender ideology. Not only did Stonewall flatly refuse to do so but Dreyfus suffered the consequences. When a 50th anniversary compilation of Dr Who's arch enemy, The Master a character Dreyfus had played in audio productions appeared in 2021, the credits featured every actor who had taken on the iconic role except for Dreyfus. Linehan had not just blown up his career, his marriage also foundered. 'A chasm was opening up between me and my wife as she watched me lose jobs and opportunities,' he wrote. She was 'looking for normality and I was perpetually dismayed and angry. She asked me to cease operations but I couldn't do it. I knew what everyone who's in this fight knows the gender Stasi never forgive.' And judging by what happened this week, few will feel able to disagree. Linehan's release on bail contained a single condition: he must not go on X, or Twitter as he still refers to the network. 'That's it. No threats, no speeches about the seriousness of my crimes just a legal gag order designed to shut me up while I'm in the UK and a demand I face a further interview in October.' The absurdity of it all does not alter the fundamental reality of what happened to Graham Linehan. With a weary and pained denunciation of his treatment, he said: 'I was arrested at an airport like a terrorist, locked in a cell like a criminal, taken to hospital because the stress nearly killed me, and banned from speaking online . . . 'To me this proves one thing beyond doubt: the UK has become a country that is hostile to freedom of speech, hostile to women, and far too accommodating to the demands of violent, entitled abusive men who have turned the police into their personal goon squad.' Aussies are being urged to be on high alert this spring, amid fears that a rare and deadly weather-related medical phenomenon could strike again. Health experts are bracing for a possible spike in thunderstorm asthma cases, nine years after a catastrophic event claimed ten lives in Melbourne. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a wetter-than-average spring for Australia's east coast, which means more grass pollens and other potential allergens will linger in the air and travel long distances. When exposed to this air, the tiny particles of pollen can be breathed deep into the lungs, triggering an asthma flare-up or attack. Of the 26 epidemic thunderstorm asthma events recorded worldwide since 1983, 11 have occurred in Australia. The largest and most catastrophic epidemic thunderstorm asthma event struck Melbourne in 2016, which hospitalised 8,000 people. Among the 10 fatalities were a 18-year-old who had just finished his Year 12 exams, a 20-year-old law student, a young father-of-two, a dad of four, and a married couple in their 50s. Triggered by a combination of high pollen levels, strong winds, high temperatures, and rainfall, thunderstorm asthma poses a health danger to all Australians. Aussies are being urged to be on high alert this season, amid fears that a rare and deadly weather-related medical phenomenon could strike again (stock image) Health experts are bracing for a possible spike in thunderstorm asthma cases, nine years after a catastrophic event claimed 10 lives in Australia's second-largest city (stock image) Doctors urge asthmatics and those with a family history of the chronic lung condition to see their GP. Those who aren't asthmatic but are allergic to grass pollen or suffer hayfever are also at high risk of being struck down by thunderstorm asthma. 'Events like thunderstorm asthma can affect people who have never experienced asthma symptoms before,' Bupa Clinical Director Dr Tony MacDermott said. 'These individuals are less likely to have medication on hand, so it helps to know what medical resources are available to you before an incident strikes, to keep you safe and potentially out of hospital.' The peak time for thunderstorm asthma is spring, but it can extend to December during the grass pollen season. '[We] see increased levels of distress among asthmatics during spring, which highlights the fact that having a proactive conversation with your doctor can be the best medicine when it comes to seasonal health issues,' Dr MacDermott added. 'When it comes to asthma or any chronic health condition, the most important thing to have is a plan and the support you need to mitigate any risks and get the right care at the right time.' An Australian has sparked outrage after flipping a coin and deciding to take a beer that had been left on a Japanese grave as an offering to the deceased. Sydney man Lochie Jones shared a video on Instagram on August 4 during a visit to Aokigahara Forest, also known as the 'Suicide Forest', near Mount Fuji. 'So it looks like there's a cemetery here with a whole bunch of dead people,' he said to the camera. 'Look at this guy. A whole can of Kirin. Should I drink it? What do we reckon?' While looking for a coin, he mumbled: 'By the way, suicide in Japan is a serious f***ing issue.' 'The mental health here has to be some of the worst, and I can absolutely understand why. The Japanese women are absolutely vicious and cold,' he said. 'The men still have their honour, but it's been weaponised against them. They've been tricked into not having any feelings, and it results in one of the highest suicide rates in the world.' Jones proceeded to flip a 'Harry Potter' coin which had a dragon on one side and a wizard on the other. He said it landed on the dragon side, which meant 'drink'. Sydney YouTuber Lochie Jones (pictured) offended dozens of people after he took a beer from a grave in Aokigahara Forest, also known as the 'Suicide Forest,' in Japan Appearing to raise the beer to the gravestone, he said: 'Happy blessings and rest in peace.' 'I won't leave him empty-handed, I've got some f***ing Marlborough.' Jones appeared to partially crush the can against the headstone before placing down two cigarettes, adding: 'One for me, one for you.' Typically, families leave drinks, such as sake, tea, or food - including favourite meals - on graves as offerings to the deceased spirits. As a result, people erupted on social media, with a Reddit user highlighting that items are believed to reach the deceased in some form and so, by taking them, it is 'almost like robbing the person who passed'. 'What you did is not just bad manners, it's deeply disrespectful to both the culture and the family's grief,' they said. Some social media users called for Jones to be thrown out of Japan. 'Right now, unauthorised intrusions by foreign tourists are occurring one after another at cemeteries nationwide,' a user said. The video of him drinking the beer and crushing the can against the gravestone enraged people on social media, who branded Jones (pictured) a 'graveyard thief' 'Even if the gods and Buddhas forgive it, I can't. This bastard who makes my chest feel sick is still in Japan.' Another person said: 'These live streamers need to be punished as harshly as possible.' 'The guy stole from a grave and showed zero remorse. If Japan doesn't clamp down on this it will only empower these types of people,' they said. A commenter then suggested Jones be 'immediately deported' and have his visa permanently revoked. 'I don't want my tax money to be spent on his meal and clothing while in jail. I don't want resources (police, investigation time etc) wasted for him,' they said. One person, who said they were an Australian who had lived in Japan for over 20 years, said they were 'ashamed' of Jones. 'My reputation is affected by the poor decisions of tourists who come to Japan and leave their manners at the airport. Do better,' they said. 'Remember you are representing your country when you are travelling. It's not funny or clever to steal from graveyards for likes and clicks. I'm sure your parents didn't bring you up like this.' Jones published a video apologising to those who felt he had 'desecrated' the dead during his visit to Aokigahara Forest (pictured) The dark side of Aokigahara Forest has inspired both folklore and popular culture, given its notoriety for the suicides that take place within its bounds. According to Japanese folklore, yurei, a kind of tormented ghost, haunt the area. Signs at the entrance to the 30km forest inform people that 'life is a precious gift' from their parents. 'Please don't suffer alone, and first reach out.' There were 20,268 suicides in Japan in 2024, according to National Police Agency data analysed by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The Japan Suicide Countermeasures Promotion Center has said suicide is the leading cause of death for men between 10 and 44 years old, and for women between the ages of 15 and 34. Daily Mail contacted Jones regarding his video. On Tuesday, the self-proclaimed 'unorthodox' YouTuber published a two-part 'apology' video on his Instagram. 'Look, if you felt I desecrated your dead, I am sorry,' he said. The dark side of Aokigahara Forest has inspired both folklore and popular culture, due to its notoriety for the suicides that occur there 'It was a mistake. I'm coming clean. I shouldn't have portrayed that,' he said. 'The reality we are walking through is going through a period of mass psychosis, and it took crazy to get noticed.' During the five-minute video, Jones ranted and veered between 'issues', claiming Japan has a 'large-scale hive mind' and 'unhealthy imaginary rules', including banning people from swimming in lakes. 'Gambling and smoking is vilified, but your culture and the normalisation of paedophilia is inviting demonic forces into the mainstream,' he claimed. In an extended video, seen by news.com.au, Jones then said: 'If you're a part of gentrified Japan, like a bunch of these white girls, then what the hell are you doing commenting?' 'It's you and your actions and this game that they seem to love playing in Japan that's doing far more damage than me.' Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Two Federal Emergency Management Agency employees who were tasked with protecting the United States from terrorist attacks have been fired over their 'deviant' porn habits. An internal investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security's Insider Threat Operations Center (ITOC) found that the two employees had been using their government-issued devices to consume 'deviant pornography' while at work, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday. One of the unidentified employees was said to be fascinated by 'beastial fantasies' as well as 'racism-infused sexual encounters,' the New York Post reports. He was also flagged by the ITOC on July 12 for using his work device to type phrases into a chatbot so that it could be read aloud in another accent. The other employee also allegedly had 'extensive interactions' with others on Reddit and shared sexually graphic videos and photos, some of which were said to be 'racially charged.' He had allegedly logged onto the forum website at least 578 times over a 30-day period. 'These individuals had access to critical information and intelligence and were entrusted to safeguard Americans from emergencies - and instead they were consuming pornography,' Noem fumed in a statement. Both of the employees were stationed at the isolated Mount Weather Emergency Ops Center outside of Bluemont, Virginia, which focuses on preventing national emergencies, terror attacks and nuclear disasters. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Tuesday that two Federal Emergency Management Agency employees have been fired over their 'deviant' porn habits Officials say the unidentified employees had been consuming porn on their government-issued devices during the work day while they were tasked with keeping the country safe from terrorist attacks and natural disasters In addition to the employees' actions, the internal investigation found that as many as 47 percent of all FEMA workers are regularly on social media platforms that also contain easily accessible content. 'Under President Trump's leadership, we are clearing house at FEMA to make this dysfunctional agency work for the American people the way it was intended,' Noem said as she announced the two employees' termination. 'For decades, these bureaucrats engaged in every act imaginable except safeguarding the American people from natural disasters,' she continued. 'That ends now.' The two employees' termination on Tuesday comes just one week after at least 30 other FEMA employees were suspended for signing an open letter of dissent about the agency' leadership. They wrote in the letter to Congress that the inexperience of top appointees of President Donald Trump's administration could lead to a catastrophe, and warned that those left behind would be ill-equipped to handle the next Hurricane Katrina. The letter came days before the 20th anniversary of Katrina, which became one of the deadliest - and costliest - natural disasters in US history. The announcement comes just one week after at least 30 other FEMA employees were suspended after signing an open letter expressing their dissatisfaction with the Trump administration 'Our shared commitment to our country, our oaths of office and our mission of helping people before, during and after disasters compel us to warn Congress and the American people of the cascading effects of decisions made by the current administration,' the FEMA employees wrote. They then went on to express a hope that the letter would be received 'in time to prevent not only another national catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina, but the effective dissolution of FEMA itself and the abandonment of the American people such an event would represent.' 'Hurricane Katrina was not just a natural disaster, but a man-made one: the inexperience of senior leaders and the profound failure by the federal government to deliver timely, unified, and effective aid to those in need left survivors to fend for themselves for days, and highlighted how black, Indigenous, and low-income communities are disproportionally affected by disasters. The letter laid out six 'statements of opposition', including the 'reduction in capability of FEMA to perform its missions', 'the ongoing failure to appoint a qualified FEMA administrator, as required by law', 'the elimination of life- and cost-saving risk reduction programs', and 'interference with preparedness programs that build capacity.' The final two points of opposition were 'the censorship of climate science, environmental protection, and efforts to ensure all communities have access to information, resources, and support' as well as 'the reduction of FEMAs disaster workforce.' The letter came days before the 20th anniversary of Katrina, which became one of the deadliest - and costliest - natural disasters in US history Trump has been dismantling FEMA since his return to office, instead seeking to turn over authority to the states. A man is pictured entering an improvised FEMA station following Hurricane Helene in North Carolina last year It was signed by 182 FEMA employees, however just 36 attached their names to it. The remainder signed anonymously for fear of retaliation. Those who did attach their names to the letter then received a notice that they were being placed on administrative leave effective immediately. This means they will be operating 'in a non-duty status while continuing to receive pay and benefits.' A five-year-old boy in Florida snuck out of his house right under his parents' noses all so he could have breakfast at Chick-fil-A. The Jacksonville Police Department soon received a call that the boy, William, was in the fast food restaurant all by himself. On Monday, the department shared a hilarious body camera video from the two officers who arrived at the chicken joint to collect the youngster and bring him back to his parents. William was seen chattering with one of the Chick-fil-A managers in a booth as he munched down on his meal. As the officers were walking him back to their patrol car, the boy asked 'are you going to get me in jail?' One of the officers laughed and reassured the boy that steel bars were not in his future. The unlikely trio began driving down the road together while the officers tried to figure out where William lived. Once they finally got to what William pointed out as his house, the officers had to climb the gate because the callbox wasn't working. William is pictured on police body camera eating his breakfast at a Chick-fil-A near his home in Jacksonville, Florida William's parents, Victoria and Phil, were shocked to learn that their son snuck out that morning without them knowing 'My initial thought was, I can't believe he came out of here. It's the most secure house on that block, in reference to having the fence,' one officer said. Sure enough though, it was the correct house and soon, William's parents came out shocked that he had had an entire adventure without their knowledge. Victoria, the boy's mother, walked out of the house in a blue bathrobe and was clearly stunned at what happened. 'It's kind of scary, actually, because we didn't realize what was going on until after,' she said in a video recorded several weeks after the incident. 'I know he knows how to get to Chick-fil-A because we walk there,' she added. 'I never would've expected him to come down here on his own in the morning before anyone else in the house was up.' His father, Phil, said he was worried when he found out and thought about whether William was scared or upset. 'He was quiet, which was unusual for him,' Phil said of his son when officers returned him to his house. 'I think it did shake him up some, so I dont really think we needed to impress too much that he shouldnt do it again.' 'I think he understood that it was serious, but we did talk about it,' he added. The family reunited with the two officers in the Chick-fil-A several weeks later, so they could thank them for bringing back their son William high fives the two officers after having a meal with them inside the fast food restaurant The family reunited with the two officers in the Chick-fil-A several weeks later, so they could thank them for bringing back their son. Jacksonville Police clarified that William's parents are 'not in any trouble', and said they had 'several safety measures in place'. 'This is a good reminder to teach kids their home address, parents names, and a phone number. It could make a big difference in an emergency,' the police department added. Some on social media raised concerns about how this could have happened. 'What kind of parent doesnt notice their 5 year old left the house?' one person commented underneath the police body cam video on Facebook. 'Unreal these parents had zero clue their kid was even gone. Sure does make one question their parenting abilities,' another said. Others defended the parents, saying that it was early in the morning and that it made sense that they were asleep. 'As a parent youre tired focused on work, worried about parenting, cleaning, keeping the house locked, you name it,' one person wrote. 'This was an isolated incident and our tax dollars protected the parents from something that could have become a tragic incident.' Dramatic footage captured the moment an allegedly drunk woman was hauled off a Qantas flight after she was accused of swearing and dancing in the aisle. The 50-year-old woman was pulled off the plane, which was due to depart from Sydney and fly to Queenstown, New Zealand, in July. She will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, with Australian Federal Police alleging she was intoxicated and ignored safety instructions. She then allegedly swore at cabin crew and began dancing in the aisle as the plane began taxiing for takeoff. The pilot was forced to abort the takeoff and return to the departure gate at Sydney Airport. AFP officers boarded the plane at the pilot's request. They asked the woman to exit the plane before she allegedly became argumentative and refused to comply. Police vision showed officers requesting the woman get off the plane. A woman will front court after officers pulled her from a Qantas flight to New Zealand (above, the woman talks with Australian Federal Police officers) Police will allege the woman was intoxicated on the flight, swore at cabin crew, and tried dancing in the aisle before takeoff 'We're going around in circles, it's time to get up,' an officer said. Officers then cuffed her on the floor of the boarding ramp before marching her back into the airport. The accused was later released from custody and she returned to New Zealand the following day. AFP Detective Acting Inspector Trevor Robinson said inconsiderate behaviour could lead to serious repercussions. 'The alleged behaviour of this woman risked the safety of herself, passengers and crew, and in this case caused a delayed takeoff, which inconveniences everyone on board,' he said. 'Anyone misbehaving on a flight and not cooperating with law enforcement isn't just spoiling their trip, but they are potentially ruining the travel plans of hundreds of other people. 'They also face the possibility of a criminal conviction on their record for life.' Police served her with a Court Attendance Notice for failing to comply with cabin crew's safety instructions, an offence under the civil aviation code. The woman faces a maximum penalty of a $16,500 fine and two years behind bars if found guilty of her charges If found guilty, the woman could be be fined up to $16,500. They also charged her with obstruct/hinder/intimidate/resist a Commonwealth official. The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years behind bars. Daily Mail has contacted Qantas for comment. The West is increasingly preparing for a major war on European soil amid increasing aggression from Russia and its anti-NATO allies. After three and a half years of devastating conflict, Vladimir Putin is showing no signs of relenting on his military ambitions, and there are growing fears that his target stretches beyond Ukraine. China's Xi Jinping has assembled what analysts are calling an 'Axis of Upheaval' in Beijing - convening Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un in a historic summit of more than 20 non-Western countries designed to isolate Donald Trump. Analysts are waiting to see whether the trio commit to closer defence relations, in a move that would be a blow for the U.S. President who has recently touted his peacemaking credentials. But despite the summits in Alaska and the White House, no diplomatic resolution has yet been brokered to end the three and a half year conflict. Putin's summer offensive has led to significant territorial gains in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky has said the Russian leader's continued attacks on civilians display a clear uninterest in pursuing peace. Meanwhile, European countries are bracing themselves for the potential outbreak of World War III. If challenged, NATO would easily outnumber the military forces of Russia, China, or North Korea individually - but as a collective alliance they represent a formidable foe to the West, as illustrated by the stark graphic below. Your browser does not support iframes. After three and a half years of devastating conflict, Vladimir Putin is showing no signs of relenting on his military ambitions Despite the U.S. president's efforts in Alaska and his subsequent summit in the Oval Office, no diplomatic resolution has yet been brokered to end the three and a half year conflict Going by the numbers, NATO's collective military is by far the world's most powerful fighting force. The alliance's 32 countries have over three million active personnel, around three million reserve personnel and 180 million men who are fit for service Besides manpower, NATO countries also have over 14,000 tanks in their arsenals, over 3,000 fighter aircraft and nearly 1,500 attack helicopters. Three nuclear-armed nations are also members: the U.S., the UK and France. This means the combined nuclear arsenal of NATO is more than 4,200 warheads. But these impressive figures pale in comparison to the collective manpower of China, Russia and North Korea, which together pose an extreme threat to the West. Compared to NATO's three million military personnel, Xi, Kim and Putin boast nearly five million. The alliance has a million more soldiers in reserves than their Western counterparts, and almost 700 million men fit for service. They also have almost three thousand more tanks and significantly more fleet strength. While NATO still comes out on top when it comes to submarines, aircraft carriers, fighter aircraft and attack helicopters, the combined nuclear capacity of North Korea, China and Russia poses the most significant threat. Individually, China has 600 warheads, North Korea 50, and Russia 5,459. The combined arsenal of over 6,000 outnumbers NATO's 4,200. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky has said the Russian leader's continued attacks on civilians display a clear uninterest in pursuing peace Russian road-launched nuclear missiles are paraded through the streets of Moscow during May 9 Victory Day parade in 2022, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two Russia test-launches one of its new Sarmat nuclear missiles, which it claims can carry up to 15 warheads, strike any country on earth, and cannot be stopped by current defences Russian President Vladimir Putin (2-L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend an official welcoming ceremony at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, 01 September 2025 Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Sarmat production facilities in Krasnoyarsk region The Federal Guard Service of the Russian Federation performs during the international military music festival on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, August 31, 2025 Latvia's intelligence agency has previously sounded the alarm that Russian security services are developing their capabilities to 'organise sabotage in Europe' in preparation 'for a possible military confrontation with NATO in the long term'. And should a peace deal be reached that 'freezes' the conflict in Ukraine along existing battle lines, Moscow 'would be able to increase its military presence next to NATO's north-eastern flank, including the Baltics within the next five years', the report claimed. France's ministry of health has told its health bodies to expect for a 'major engagement' by March 2026. The government anticipates 'taking care of a potentially high influx of victims from abroad', and is asking its hospitals to prepare for a potential flood of military patients seeking treatment. Germany too is on high alert. The nation announced plans to buy more than 350billion (304billion) worth of arms before the end of 2041, including 70.3billion for munitions, 52.5billion for combat vehicles and 36.6billion for naval vessels and equipment. And as Russia prepares to conduct its military training in Belarus with the Zapad 2025 exercise, Germany's Chief of Defence Carsten Breuer said the country was staying vigilant. 'We will be on our guard, not just the German forces, but NATO,' he said. The general has warned that NATO should be equipped for a Russian attack in the next four years - a sentiment shared by Denmark, which predicted that the Russian leader may want to 'test' the bloc's Article 5 commitment of mutual defence. NATO chief Mark Rutte sounded the alarm in July about a major conflict that he anticipates would be started by simultaneous invasions from Xi and Putin. He claimed that combined attacks from the Russian and Chinese leaders would trigger a World War nightmare and bring the planet to the brink of Armageddon. Female soldiers from the People's Liberation Army shout as they practice for an upcoming military parade to mark the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II and Japan's surrender, at a military base on August 20, 2025 in Beijing, China Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China attend a training ahead of a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, August 20, 2025 The parade will be held on September 3rd, and marks what is known in China as the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War Russian (L) and Chinese national flags flutter during a welcome ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) upon his arrival at the Binhai International Airport in Tianjin, China, 31 August 2025 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un poses for a photo with troops during a visit to a special operation training base on August 28, 2025 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a missile research institute on September 1, 2025 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un looks on as a rocket carrying a spy satellite Malligyong-1 is launched in North Gyeongsang Province, North Korea on November 21 2023 A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on 15 January 2024 shows a test fire of an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile Western intelligence believes North Korea sent around 10,000 troops to fight Putin's war in Ukraine. In exchange, Moscow is helping with missile-related and space technology Kim Jon Un's (pictured) nation currently has an arsenal of about 50 nuclear warheads The DPRK Missile Administration conducting a test launch of "Pyoljji-1-2" new-type anti-aircraft missiles in the West Sea of Korea Russian troops walk at a destroyed part of the Illich Iron & Steel Works Metallurgical Plant in Mariupol, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine This photo taken on January 4, 2021 shows Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers assembling during military training at Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, northwestern China's Xinjiang region According to the NATO chief, China would start by seeking to grab Taiwan - while ensuring the Kremlin dictator simultaneously attacks NATO territory, amid fears Putin is anyway eyeing the Baltic republics Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, formerly part of the USSR. Meanwhile, China boosted its defence spending by 7.2 per cent amid the tariff war with Trump earlier this year, after threatening America that it would be ready for 'any war'. 'China will fight to the end,' the foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said. Earlier this year, Russia was accused of increasing its use of prohibited chemical weapons as part of its onslaught on Ukraine - including the deployment of the WWI-era poison gas chloropicrin. Russian soldiers use chloropicrin and riot control agent CS against sheltering Ukrainian soldiers, forcing them out into the open where they are more easily struck down, according to findings by the Netherlands' military intelligence and security services. In August, Putin dramatically pulled out of a Cold War-era treaty prohibiting short and medium-range nuclear missiles while warning the West to 'expect further steps' as tensions spiral. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed in 1987 by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, eliminated an entire class of ground-launched missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500km. In 2019, America pulled out, accusing Russia of breaching its terms - an accusation Moscow furiously denied. The collapse of the INF Treaty stoked fears of a repeat of a Cold War-era European missile crisis, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union both deployed intermediate-range missiles on the continent in the 1980s. It comes as Russia's missile forces chief declared that the new Oreshnik intermediate-range missile, which Russia first deployed against Ukraine in November, has a range to reach all of Europe. According to Putin, the Oreshniks multiple warheads can plunge to a target at speeds up to Mach 10 and are immune to being intercepted. In fact, they are so powerful that the use of several of them in one conventional strike could be as catastrophic as a nuclear attack. He has warned the West that Russia could deploy it against the NATO countries who allowed Ukraine to use their longer-range missiles to target Russia. People take shelter inside a metro station while Russian strike drones fly over the city, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 2, 2025 Ukrainian soldiers unload ammunition during the night at their artillery position in the direction of Toretsk, Ukraine, on 31 August 2025 Ukrainian servicemen of the 13th Operational Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard attend training, including practicing landing and loading into an American M113 armored personnel carrier at a shooting range in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, 29 August 2025 Ukrainian soldier in a shelter, at his artillery position in the direction of Toretsk, Ukraine, on 31 August 2025 Ukrainian soldiers fire the Ukrainian artillery piece 'Bohdana' from their artillery position in the direction of Toretsk, Ukraine, on 31 August 2025 A funeral service was held for two-year-old Angelyna Galych along with her 24-year-old mother, Nadiya, on Sunday after both were among at least 25 civilians killed when a Russian missile hit a residential building in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Thursday A local resident carries his pet after Russian air strike that destroyed residential neighbourhood in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Saturday, August 30, 2025 A Russian soldier fires a 152 mm howitzer 2A65 Msta-B towards Ukrainian position in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on August 28, 2025 A soldier carries a shell to fire towards positions of Russian troops near Kostyantynivka in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Lithuania has recently revealed plans to dig a 30-mile-wide ribbon of defences on its borders with Russia and Belarus that will include minefields and bridges set to blow up in case Moscow invades. For the past year, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, alongside Poland have been fortifying their borders, adding obstacles and redoubts to existing fences amid Russia's mounting aggression. When complete, the Baltic defence line is estimated to be more than 940 miles long and will limit Russia's ability to launch attacks from its own territory, Kaliningrad and Belarus. Without help from the U.S., Europe would need to dramatically increase its nuclear weapons stockpile by about a thousand in the face of threats from Russia, experts have warned. Maximilian Terhalle, a former Senior Adviser for strategic affairs to Britain's Ministry of Defence and Visiting Professor at the Grand Strategy Programme of King's College London, told The Telegraph in March: 'We need to be on par with Russia's 1,550 strategic warheads. 'Otherwise we will not strategically influence what is going on in Putin's mind, which is critical for deterrence.' Russia has more than 5,000 nuclear warheads at its disposal, with 1,550 strategic warheads deployed in line with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) - though Putin suspended Moscow's participation in 2023. By contrast, Britain and France - the only nuclear armed powers in Europe - have a shared total of just over 500 warheads. North Korea has an arsenal of around 50 nuclear warheads, but this may rise to around 300 over the next decade with the assistance of Russia, according to Ankit Panda, an expert on North Korea's development of nuclear weapons at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Ousted Nestle CEO Laurent Freixe's downfall began with an anonymous tip to an employee hotline about his alleged affair with a subordinate, it has been revealed. Reports started to emerge in the spring about the 63-year-old's affair with a marketing executive on the company's internal hotline called Speak Up, the Wall Street Journal reports. Employees are encouraged to use the hotline to report any 'non-compliance concerns,' and under the world's largest food and beverage company's code of business conduct, staffers must disclose any personal relationships. The goal is to avoid any appearance of conflict at the company and to manage a conflict if one arises. Shortly after the reports came through the hotline, Nestle Chairman Paul Bulcke also received a letter detailing Freixe's alleged relationship in May. It is unclear who may have sent the letter or what it stated specifically. But after receiving the letter and the reports on the internal hotline, company executives started probing Freixe's communications with the unidentified marketing employee, who was also based at headquarters on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. That internal investigation did not find any evidence to establish an affair, a spokesperson told the Journal, and Friexe and the woman denied being in a relationship to several people at Nestle. Ousted Nestle CEO Laurent Freixe's downfall began with an anonymous tip to an employee hotline about his alleged affair with a subordinate The Swiss-based company encourages employees to report any 'non-compliance concerns' to its Speak Up hotline By the summer, it seemed that the issue was dying down. But soon, the company started receiving questions from the media about the alleged affair, and in late July, Zurich-based finance blog Inside Paradeplatz reported on the relationship and the unidentified female employee's marketing career. It said that the marketing executive joined Nestle as a management trainee in the early 2000s, and she met Freixe at the company's headquarters in Vevey in 2022. About 18 months later, she became Vice President of Marketing for the Americas, when Freixe was running that division. It is suspected he personally approved the promotion, although that has not been confirmed. Still, Freixe denied there was an undisclosed relationship, the Journal reports. Then, at least one more report came in through the SpeakUp channel - and Bulcke and the board decided to bring in outside investigators from the law firm Bar & Karer to sift through Freixe's personal data, including text messages and photos. As the probe wrapped up, showing clear evidence of an intimate relationship between the CEO and his subordinate, Freixe tried to show he was still in control, colleagues told the Journal. He unexpectedly joined his chief financial officer on an investor roadshow last week, meeting with analysts and investors in London, Frankfurt and Zurich. At the last minute, Nestle also asked UK banking giant Barclays for a slot at its flagship consumer-staples conference, which was due to take place in Boston. Freixe apparently met the marketing executive he was having an affair with at the company's headquarters in Vevey in 2022 During his short stint as CEO, Freix sought to refocus the company on its core brands like Nescafe instant coffee Yet those who knew Freixe said they wondered if the investigation may be more serious than the company had originally let on as they noticed a change in his body language. Their concerns proved to be true when the company announced on Monday that Freixe has been terminated from his job. 'This was a necessary decision,' Bulcke said in a statement. 'Nestle's values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service.' Freixe had been CEO for only a year, taking over after the company ousted Mark Schneider - who had served as the chief executive for seven years but came under fire for continuing to sell products in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. The Frenchman had been a vocal critic of his predecessor, suggesting Nestle lost its way with acquisitions and diversified too much in its product lines in recent years. During his short stint as CEO, Freixe sought to refocus the company on its core brands like Nescafe instant coffee, KitKat bars and Fancy Feast cat food. He also slashed costs to reinvest in more promising products like cold coffee as he moved all of the regional business heads to the Switzerland headquarters. Phil Navratil, the boss of a coffee division, will take over as the company's next leader Navratil most recently served as the CEO of Nespresso Yet Freixe's reign was also marked by a 1.8 percent drop in global sales amid rising production costs for sugary and caffeinated products from Central America. As price-sensitive consumers sought cheaper alternatives, Nestle's shares, a bedrock of the Swiss stock exchange, have lost almost a third of their value over the past five years, underperforming European peers. Freixe's appointment failed to halt the slide, with the company's shares shedding 17 percent during his leadership, disappointing investors even as the company continued to dominate supermarket shelves in the US with its grab-and-go products. Many now hope that his successor, Swiss-born Philipp Navratil, 49, will turn things around. Navratil got his start at Nestle in 2001 as an internal auditor. He had most recently served as the CEO of Nespresso, and joined the company's executive board back in January. In his previous position, Navratil appeared to commit to pursuing Freixe's strategy of refocusing the brand on its well-established products. Patrik Schwendimann, an analyst at Zurich Cantonel Bank, therefore called Navratil a 'good Swiss compromise' between his two predecessors, as Schneider was meant to bring in a 'breath of fresh air from outside' and Freixe was a return to 'tried-and-tested Nestle recipes.' 'Philipp Navratil should bring a breath of fresh air from within,' Schwendimann told the Business Times. Nestle continued to dominate United States supermarkets The company is known for its grab-and-go products, like Lean Cuisine frozen meals Still, Navratil's appointment comes at a difficult time for the company, which has faced several scandals in recent years. Bulcke had been accused in a harassment lawsuit during his time as CEO from 2008 to 2016. He will now step down as chair in April and be replaced by Pablo Isla, a former CEO of the Spanish fashion retailer Inditex. Whistleblower Yasmine Motarjemi also said she warned Nestle about safety issues in baby food and claimed she was targeted in retaliation. The company settled in 2020 by paying her about $2.5million. She reacted furiously to Freixe's ousting, writing on LinkedIn: 'What hypocrisy! In other words, at Nestle, you can harass your subordinates, but you can't love them.' Navratil also now has to forge his own path, which investors say should include slimming down the company, cutting costs and above all else reducing the number of staff. It is also crucial that the company raise organic growth to boost volumes, they said. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said that the company will now likely face a period of uncertainty. 'While Navratil is also an internal appointment, he will want to put his own mark on strategy and that suggests the clock could be reset when it comes to the turnaround plan,' he said. Mysterious heiress LanLan Yang has continued her outlandish efforts to hide her face from the public but briefly let her mask slip during a lazy two-hour lunch at a Sydney harbourside restaurant. The day news broke she could face seven years in jail over a crash which wrecked her $1.5million Rolls-Royce and left radio king Sandilands's chauffeur in hospital, Yang chose to dine at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The 23-year-old met a female companion at the gallery shortly before midday and the pair made their way to the fourth-floor Canvas eatery, where they chose a table next to a window looking out over Circular Quay. She arrived without wearing a mask, but wore both a white one and a black one during her time at the restaurant - the second with a slit across the mouth, allowing her to eat through it. On offer was a two or three course set menu at $95 or $120 per person, with crab cappelletti and wagyu tartare among the entree options and scallops with cauliflower, Vegemite and cumin one of the mains. Dessert choices were a lemon posset, lime parfait, Bakewell tart or tarte Tatin. Yang has been a source of intense curiosity - and speculation - since she was charged over the July 26 crash on New South Head Road at Rose Bay in Sydney's east. Stories about Yang have gone viral in Australia and China due to her extraordinary designer wardrobe and apparent enormous wealth. Mysterious heiress LanLan Yang has continued her extraordinary efforts to hide her face from the public but briefly let her mask slip during a lazy two-hour lunch at a Sydney harbourside restaurant (above) The day news broke she could face seven years in jail over a crash which wrecked her $1.5million Rolls-Royce and left radio king Sandilands's chauffer in hospital, Yang decided to dine at the Museum of Contemporary Art (above) The crash at Rose Bay on July 26 left George Plassaras with a broken spine, ribs, hips and femurs, a ruptured spleen and diaphragm, and a torn-open abdomen Her mystique grew after the Daily Mail revealed she in fact owned two Rolls-Royces and lived in a luxury penthouse apartment at Watsons Bay. Yang turned up at Canvas on Wednesday wearing one of her collection of hats - this time a $1,220 Louis Vuitton Iconic cap. A $4,326 Louis Vuitton jacket and $3,000 Louis Vuitton cargo pants were complemented with $2,600 Hermes ankle boots. She was not recognised by the tourists who came to take pictures of the Harbour Bridge from the balcony. However, after putting on the white mask, she greeted a young woman sitting outside, who was herself wearing a $3,918 knitted vest. Yang paid for lunch and remained at the table with her friend for another hour, negotiating conversation and dessert through the opening in her black mask. After leaving the restaurant she called for her usual driver and ran to his Toyota Vellfire van when it parked near the museum. It was then off to Rose Bay police station where Yang has to report three days a week as part of her bail. There, when approached by a photographer, she declined to answer questions about her wealth, rumoured Chinese government connections or the charges she is facing, fleeing down a set of nearby stairs, and later running for her van. Yang met a female friend shortly before midday and the pair made their way to the fourth-floor Canvas eatery, where they chose a table next to a window looking out over Circular Quay Yang has been a source of intense curiosity - and speculation - since she was charged over the July 26 crash on New South Head Road at Rose Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs. She is seen with a white face mask around her chin She later fished out a black one with a slit across the mouth, eating her dessert through it Yang was allegedly behind the wheel of this Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan when she smashed into a van driven by George Plassaras, the chauffeur for Kyle Sandilands On Wednesday morning, Daily Mail had attended the central business district offices of Yang's lawyer, Zile Yu, hoping he might be able to comment on his client's background. After identifying ourselves to a friendly receptionist and asking if it was possible to speak with Mr Yu - but before explaining the purpose of our visit - we were told he was probably not available. The receptionist investigated, returned and said: 'Sorry, we don't have any comment about that at this stage.' The Daily Mail revealed on Wednesday that Yang had been hit with two more charges since she first appeared in court over the Rose Bay crash last month. On that occasion, she was charged only with causing bodily harm by misconduct and refusing or failing to submit to a breath test, which carry maximum penalties of two years and 18 months in jail, respectively. She is now also accused of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm - an offence which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison - and not giving particulars to police. Yang was allegedly behind the wheel of her Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan when it smashed into a van driven by George Plassaras. The crash left Plassaras with a broken spine, ribs, hips and femurs, a ruptured spleen and diaphragm, and a torn-open abdomen. Yang, pictured with her lunch companion wore a $1,220 Louis Vuitton Iconic cap, a $4,326 Louis Vuitton jacket, $3,000 Louis Vuitton cargo pants and $2,600 Hermes ankle boots After leaving the restaurant Yang called for her usual driver and ran to his Toyota Vellfire van when it parked near the museum Once out of the city, Yang headed to Rose Bay police station where Yang has to report three days a week as part of her bail Yang declined to answer questions about her wealth, rumoured Chinese government connections or the charges she is facing when approached by a photographer - running for a waiting van Yang also owns a second unregistered white Rolls-Royce Ghost Convertible worth up to $800,000, which sits unused in her penthouse garage. Hundreds of curious spectators queued up at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court to see Yang when her case was first mentioned on August 15. But the designer-clad defendant disappointed her new fan base by being a no-show in person and appearing by video link from Mr Yu's office instead. Masses of observers filled the courtroom and spilled into the foyer as Yang appeared on screen wearing a chic designer bucket hat and tailored suit. Mr Yu said Yang was not in a position to enter pleas because 'the police have indicated there will be additional charges'. Court records show the two additional charges were added on August 19. Yang's case has sparked huge interest among Chinese Australians who are fascinated by her background and the source of her wealth. One onlooker at her first court appearance told the Daily Mail: 'It's very rare to see, or have the opportunity to see, someone in person who is ultra wealthy and has power.' Curious spectators queued up at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court to see Yang when her case was first mentioned on August 15 (above) Plassaras (above) was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while Yang was charged by NSW Police and granted bail under conditions including that she surrender her passport 'You don't see 23-year-olds who can drive two Rolls-Royces.' Her on-screen court appearance came days after the Daily Mail confronted Yang in Double Bay where she was seen withdrawing wads of $50 bills at a bank ATM. Conjecture about Yang has taken off in China, where she has become the subject of wildly inaccurate claims on platforms Douyin and Weibo, as well as in mainstream media reports. A series of widely-viewed Chinese social media posts falsely claimed Yang paid an $80million bond to be granted bail. They also claimed, without naming a source or providing any corroboration, that authorities found Yang had $270billion sitting in a local bank account. The first claim about the bond is demonstrably false - a court spokesperson told the Daily Mail there was 'no monetary condition stipulated by police' as part of her bail agreement. The bank balance claim is impossible to confirm, but if true, it would make the until recently obscure figure close to the world's richest person. Fevered Chinese social media speculation suggested Yang used the English name 'Wendy' and that she was a former University of NSW student whose fortune stemmed from the iron ore trade. Some users even claimed her minder - seen when the Daily Mail approached Yang outside Rose Bay Police Station in July - had the rank of lieutenant colonel with the Beijing police special duty unit. That could not be confirmed and is likely false. Yang is due back in court on September 26. An Asian cosplayer was forced to scream for help after her wig was allegedly ripped from her head by a gang of teenage girls. Qian Yue, 18, claimed she was attacked by the girls while walking through Chinatown, in Sydney's CBD, about 7.30pm on August 25. Ms Yue, who was wearing a bright pink dress, said she was struck on the head before her blonde wig was ripped from her scalp. She claimed the group filmed the altercation while they hurled insults at her and her friend, a 17-year-old man. Ms Yue shared footage of part of the incident, filmed by an onlooker, to social media, but claimed it did not capture the worst of the assault. In the video, one of the girls appeared to swipe at Ms Yue's face with a mobile phone while her concerned friend looked around for help. 'I feel so terrified, I [was] crying and shaking, and screaming on the street asking passersby for help and to call the police please but no one helped,' she wrote. 'My friend had no mobile phone at hand. He (was) afraid if he leave me I would be beaten again so we have no time to call the police.' Ms Yue (pictured far right in the bright pink costume) was left terrified by the alleged assault Ms Yue said the group of girls ran away after she called for help. The 18-year-old said she waited an hour for police to arrive before giving up and walking to a nearby police station with her friend. There, officers refused to act on her complaint because the alleged attackers were underage and there was no 'serious physical harm', she claimed. After leaving the station, Ms Yue said the same teenage girls began following the pair while firing water guns and yelling insults. Ms Yue said she chased one of the teens and demanded they apologise, delete the videos they filmed during the altercation, and wait for police to arrive. The cosplayer said she 'caught' one of the girls and asked onlookers to call the police, but again, no help was offered. 'My friend was scratched and bitten on the hand, both knees were injured from being hit and kicked,' she claimed. To make matters worse, Ms Yue said the pair were 'hit' by a man who mistakenly believed they were bullying the teenage girls. The alleged altercation took place in Sydney's Chinatown (stock) 'The man (was) trying to grab me so I kept running and screaming,' she said. The cosplayer said she was pushed to the ground before she fainted. Police soon arrived at the scene and helped her up, before accompanying her to the station to make a second report. A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed the alleged incident had been reported. 'On Monday 25 August 2025, police received a report of an assault on George Street,' they told Daily Mail. 'Officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command were told two people an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy were waiting for public transport when a group of three teenage girls approached the pair and verbally harassed them. 'Police were further told the pair left the scene; however, re-encountered the same group of girls on George Street, where the group again verbally harassed the 18-year-old woman before physically assaulting both her and the 17-year-old boy.' Police confirmed neither the man or woman required medical attention for their injuries and that investigations are underway. Immigration Minister Tony Burke insists that neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell 'hates modern Australia'. On that point, he's right. But suggesting Sewell might simply renounce his own citizenship voluntarily is weak and ridiculous. Burke reckons he 'wouldn't be surprised if [Sewell] renounces his citizenship here anyway'. Sewell won't deport himself, the government would need to do that. But Burke doesn't seem to have the ticker for it, unfortunately. The immigration minister likes to talk tough while simultaneously allowing one of the country's most notorious extremists to remain a constant presence in this country. A cynic might conclude that doing so suits him politically. Having Sewell visible makes it easier for the government to smear any criticism of immigration policy as racist, blurring the line between genuine debate and neo-Nazi provocation. That political convenience might help explain why Burke's words ring hollow. Thomas Sewell (right) has been charged over allegedly storming an Indigenous camp in Melbourne at the weekend Sewell is accused of violent disorder, assaulting Indigenous protestors and threatening a Premier before punctuating the episode with a Nazi salute. That's not free speech in action, it's criminality if he's convicted. Nearly 50,000 Australians have already signed a petition demanding his deportation. This is not a man who deserves the protections of citizenship. The law already provides mechanisms for dealing with extremists. Dual citizens can be stripped of their Australian nationality if convicted of the gravest offences: terrorism, treason, espionage or foreign incursions. Those powers were narrowed after the High Court ruled it unconstitutional for ministers to revoke citizenship unilaterally, shifting the responsibility back to the judiciary. But even under the restricted framework, the principle that citizenship is a privilege stands, particularly for anyone with multiple passports. Sewell was born in New Zealand. If the threshold doesn't capture someone like him, then the law is inadequate and should be amended. Successive governments have used deportation aggressively under Section 501 of the Migration Act. Thousands of offenders (many for crimes far less serious than those Sewell is accused of) have been removed from Australia in recent years. Tony Burke said Thomas Sewell 'clearly hates modern Australia. I wouldnt be surprised if he renounces his citizenship here anyway'. No, he's not going to deport himself, Tony... New Zealand has long complained about the flood of deportees sent across the ditch. So what? When a New Zealand-born dual citizen tears at the fabric of social cohesion in this country, he should be sent packing. Governments seem to always find a way to achieve outcomes that suit them, why won't they make this happen when most Australians would offer applause? The excuse isn't just legal complexity, it's politics. Sewell's ugly extremism provides an easy caricature of dissent, allowing Labor to cast any opposition to its immigration settings as adjacent to neo-Nazism. Why rush to deport him when his very presence helps discredit your critics? It's a shabby calculation, but one Australian politics has seen before: exaggerate the fringe to delegitimise the mainstream. Both major parties do it. Ordinary Australians who have watched Sewell and his brethren attack protestors and threaten elected officials reasonably expect a powerful response. Instead they get platitudes about how much he dislikes 'modern Australia', followed by airy speculation that he might walk himself out the door. Burke doesn't need to keep telling Australians what they already know about Sewell's hatred. He needs to demonstrate that the government has the resolve to act. Deportation is not a panacea for extremism, but it beats doing nothing while the government shrugs its collective shoulders. At a minimum Burke should commit to getting advice from the Solicitor General on what options the government has available to it that would allow the deportation of Sewell. If it comes back that nothing short of a constitutional referendum can make it happen at least the minister can say he tried. The gap between what Australians expect and what Burke delivers is where cynicism about politics grows. President Donald Trump blasted the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea for 'conspiring against the United States of America' as they assembled to watch a massive military parade in Beijing. Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the parade to mark 80 years since WWII, showcasing China's newest high grade weapons - including a laser which experts fear could burn out electronics or even blind pilots. The country also showcased a range of other weapons, including the D5-5C missiles and several land-based unmanned combat systems. Hypersonic missiles and submarines that can evade detection were also displayed at the event. Xi's guests included Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, who arrived earlier at the historic Tiananmen Gate to watch the parade. Kicking off the parade, Xi cautioned that the world was still 'faced with a choice of peace or war' before saying that China was 'unstoppable.' Putin and Kim put on a display of unity with Xi as they flanked him to make their way onto a viewing platform overlooking the Tiananmen Square. They paused to shake hands with five WWII veterans, some older than 100. The summit was billed as an alternative to the US-led global system and was packed with displays of unity between Moscow, Beijing and Delhi, India. Trump slammed the gathering in a Truth Social post on Tuesday night, asking Xi to 'please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.' The Kremlin has since hit back at his comments. He questioned whether Xi 'will mention the massive amount of support and ''blood'' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Before Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the parade to mark 80 years since WWII , showcasing China's newest high grade weapons - including a laser which experts fear could burn out electronics or even blind pilots China also displayed its unmanned ship-based helicopters China brought out its nuclear weapons to flex its military dominance The laser weapons and HQ-16C missiles on display as a crowd takes photographs China's land-based unmanned combat formation passing through Tian'anmen Square during the parade China's military was on hand to show its might in a display of force against the west 'Many Americans died in China's quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!' Trump signed off with a warm message, writing: 'May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.' The Kremlin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, responded to Trump's message saying: 'I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies. No one even had such a thought - none of these three leaders had such a thought.' He added: 'I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally in the current international situation.' Before Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem. Troops marched in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, as Xi, who is also head of China's military as chairman of the Central Military Commission, watched on. Xi started his brief address by remembering the victims of the war and called for eradication of the roots of war to prevent history from repeating itself. The parade showcased missiles, modern fighter jets and other military might as China seeks to wield greater influence on the global stage. Some of the military hardware is on public view for the first time. YJ-20 missiles were wheeled out in a show of China's military capabilities DF-17 hypersonic missiles were also on display, in a show of China's military strength Members of China's army stand as HSU100 unmanned underwater vehicles are displayed China's military also brought out the HQ-22A defence system Chinese President Xi Jinping watches the military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender China has developed several airbone unmanned systems Z-20 helicopters flying in the sky during the huge ceremony Chinese troops with high-tech gear mounted on next gen armoured vehicles in Beijing Cameras at the ready for the arrival of Xi Jinping to review the troops This includes the LY-1 laser weapon which was fitted out on top of an eight-wheeler HZ-155 armoured truck. Defence analyst Alexander Neill told the BBC the laser is so powerful it could be used to blind pilots and disable electronics. Enormous submarine-like unmanned drones were also rolled out, which can travel up to 20m underwater. Finally, nuclear-capable missiles were also touted at the parade, serving as a warning shot to the West. The missiles have the potential to be launched from guided-missile destroyers and China's dominant naval fleet. Land missiles were simultaneously displayed, and state-run media Xinhua said the long-range missiles 'for the first time, demonstrated the 'three-in-one' strategic nuclear force of our army's land, sea and air bases. 'It is a strategic ''trump card'' to safeguard national sovereignty and defend national dignity,' the agency wrote. A member of the army standing in front of D5-5C nuclear missiles A drone boat seen at the parade in Beijing The JL-3, China's third-generation intercontinental-range submarine is said to offer reduced detectability Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (C) leave after their meeting in Beijing on September 3, 2025 Critics say the West is 'worried' about the powerful YJ-17 Troops marched in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, as Xi, who is also head of China's military as chairman of the Central Military Commission, watched on The parade also showed off the AMB012 underwater weapons during the military parade J-15 flew over the event to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two Armoured vehicles being driven by the People's Liberation Army Ground Assault Force It comes just a day after Trump also slammed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was seen holding hands with Putin at an anti-NATO summit in China On the international stage, the military parade is a show of strength from the Communist Party and its leader and a way to portray itself as a global alternative to the American-dominated postwar era. Domestically, the commemoration of the anniversary is a way to show how far China has come. China was a major front in the war, a fact often overlooked in accounts that focus more on the fight for Europe and U.S. naval battles in the Pacific. A Japanese invasion before the war and the conflict itself killed millions of Chinese people. 'The Chinese nation is the great nation that is never intimidated by any bullies,' Xi said ahead of the parade. It comes just a day after Trump also slammed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was seen holding hands with Putin at an anti-NATO summit in China. Modi gave the military parade a miss on Tuesday, but had earlier spent hours cosying up to both Putin and Xi. India, along with China, are the two biggest buyers of Russian oil, a crucial source of revenue for Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The president hit India with 50 percent tariffs on some goods in retaliation, accusing Delhi of bankrolling Putin's war effort, but so far neither India nor China has shown any sign of cutting energy imports from Russia. A Chinese officer salutes during the procession displaying China's military might A sea of troops during the march in Beijing on Wednesday from a Kremlin press office handout Beijing took the opportunity to show off its unmanned aerial vehicles in a show of power Chinese soldiers carry assault rifles with optical zooms during the procession on Wednesday Balloons and doves are released into the sky above the crowds Crowds at Tiananmen Square witnessed a flyover from the air echelon Chinese troops march in formation during Wednesday's parade in Beijing, China Chinese military band members perform ahead of Wednesday's grand parade Initially, the president had levied a 25 percent 'reciprocal' tariff on India, as with many nations. The Russian president and the Indian prime minister beamed as they strolled into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation talks in Tianjin, where Xi hosted more than 20 non-Western leaders. The three leaders were later seen laughing together in a huddle in what appeared to be a show of solidarity against Washington and its allies. A 46-year-old Canadian man was shot to death trying to defend his wife and three children from masked home invaders early Sunday morning. Abdul Aleem Farooqi was already dead from multiple gunshot wounds by the time police arrived to his home in Vaughan, Ontario, at around 1am. At least three masked suspects dressed in dark clothing entered the home and fled the scene. York Regional Police called this a 'targeted incident', but stressed that there is 'no immediate threat to public safety'. 'At this time, it is believed that the house was specifically targeted for a robbery. We are still looking into any and all motives behind the robbery, but currently we believe this to be based on monetary gain only and that the victim was not an intended target,' police said in an update on Monday. Multiple neighbors said their street was swarmed with ambulances, police cars, and even a helicopter shining a light on the home that was attacked, The Toronto Star reported. One person said that after paramedics went inside the home with a stretcher and came out with no one, the woman who lived there began crying and fell 'to the ground'. This witness also recalled hearing a teenage boy repeatedly say 'My dad'. Abdul Aleem Farooqi, a father of three kids, was gunned down trying to protect his family after a three men broke into his house Pictured: The Ontario home where Farooqi was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds by police Ontario Premier Doug Ford (pictured with Farooqi months before his death) called the suspects 'scumbags' during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon Police have not located the suspects yet and are urging the public to come forward if they know anything. Since the perpetrators have not been caught, this brazen robbery has gotten the attention of local and province politicians. Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the suspects 'scumbags' during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. 'This innocent man got his doors kicked in in the middle of the night, four people went in there his three kids are there, his wife had a gun to one of the kids, he went to protect them and these scumbags shot him right in front of his kids, shot him dead, twice,' Ford said. 'Just imagine the trauma these kids are gonna go through for the rest of their lives,' he added. Ford and Stephen Lecce, a member of the Ontario parliament, were pictured with Farooqi in December of last year at an event to promote small businesses. Farooqi owned a duct cleaning business called Unique Providers. At the time, he thanked both lawmakers discussing 'improving indoor air quality in Ontario schools'. 'I look forward to working with the Education Minister to create healthier learning environments,' Farooqi said. Welcome to Country ceremonies have been ousted from a North Queensland council following advice from an Aboriginal corporation. It is understood Burdekin Shire Council voted to adopt its own protocol for the practice. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort has also told the Townsville Bulletin the organisation was no longer holding Welcome to Country ceremonies. Meeting minutes from the council, seen by the publication, said the authority has introduced the change on legal advice based on correspondence from the Kyburra Munda Yulga Aboriginal Corporation. 'We're just keeping to our own place, we don't have Welcome to Country, we don't do that here and that's it basically,' Ms Dalle Cort said. The Juru people of the Shire of Burdekin announced in December last year that they would end Welcome to Country ceremonies on their land. Speaking to 4BC on Wednesday, Juru Elder Randall Ross said Elders had met to agree on the decision due to misuse and a feeling that the practice had lost cultural significance. 'We're only speaking for our country and that's why it's important that we can see it well and truly being abused,' he told Bill McDonald. A North Queensland council has stopped Welcome to Country ceremonies (pictured, players pause for Welcome to Country during the 2025 AFLW Round 03 match) 'It makes us feel embarrassed,' he said, adding that Elders from the Burdekin region had seen from people who werent local who were paid for delivering it. 'Welcome to Country has become a business that supports certain individuals and thats where they are losing the cultural insight about what the Welcome to Countrys are about. 'This is a stand that we are taking in our particular area, and I think its been long overdue.' Ms Dalle Cort welcomed the decision by the Juru people to stop the ceremonies on their land. 'I can't get into a political nightmare here but all I can say is I'm happy to work with the traditional owners,' she told Newscorp outlets at the time. 'We had the 'yes' and 'no' vote (Voice referendum) and that vote should have been listened to at that time as well. 'We're multicultural, we're one country and we've all got to learn to live and work together. 'It'll probably be an early Christmas present to a lot of people. I've already had some responses from people saying things like, "Finally common sense has prevailed".' Juru Elder Randall Ross (pictured) confirmed that Elders had met to agree it was time to stop delivering Welcome to Country ceremonies due to a feeling that they had been 'abused' In May this year, the council then decided not to hold a Welcome to Country ceremony at the Sweet Days, Hot Nights festival. A representative from the Gudjuda Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation, based at the Home Hill showgrounds, has previously delivered the ceremony at the event. Legal advice reportedly recommended the ceremony not be performed - a move endorsed by council members. Daily Mail has contacted Kyburra Munda Yulga Aboriginal Corporation and Burdekin Shire Council for comment. A Welcome to Country is a traditional Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ceremony in which the local custodians formally welcome visitors to their ancestral lands. While widely seen as a gesture of respect, its growing presence in official settings has become a flashpoint in Australia's culture wars. A young mother of two was found dead on a bed covered in blood by her daughters, ages six and four, after her husband allegedly shot her in Texas. Glenda Maria Aguilera Rubio, 21, was found on a bed in the kitchen by her two daughters, who rushed to awaken the owner of the home, telling the woman that their mom 'had blood on her,' according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Fort Worth Police Department arrested Josue Bayardo Rodas, 29, for the mother's murder after he called 911 to turn himself in. The couple and two young girls were staying at the Fort Worth home and had arrived on August 27. The woman who lived at the home told detectives that Rodas and Rubio were planning on spending a few nights there after a fight with the family members they lived with. Rodas and Rubio were drinking alcohol with the man who lives at the Fort Worth home on August 29, before the night turned deadly. The man told police he went to bed by 11 pm, and the woman said she came home around midnight to find Rodas and Rubio still drinking together. She went to bed around 1:30 am and awoke the next morning at 7 am to the disturbing news from Rubio's daughters. Glenda Maria Aguilera Rubio, 21, (pictured) was found dead by her two daughters while staying at a home in Fort Worth, Texas Rubio's husband, Josue Bayardo Rodas, 29, allegedly confessed to her murder and was arrested Rubio and Rodas were staying at a home after getting into a fight with the family members they lived with She checked on Rubio and found her with blood on her face. The front door was open, and Rodas had disappeared. The homeowners, who weren't named, noticed that Rodas' black sedan was missing. His vehicle was later spotted in Sweetwater, about 200 miles away from Fort Worth. They reported the incident to the police, initially believing that Rodas had died from a stabbing. When detectives arrived, they found that Rodas hadn't been stabbed, but was shot in the head and upper body. Police found Rodas at a local gas station, where he confessed to the homicide. He was charged with murder and booked into the Tarrant County Jail on Tuesday. The woman the couple was staying with told police that she woke up at 7 am to Rubio's daughters telling her she had blood on her The alleged murder occurred at a home in Fort Worth (pictured). The couple was staying at the home for a few days when Rubio died Rodas is being held on bond for $500,000. He hasn't yet entered a plea for the murder charge. A GoFundMe has been set up for Rubio's family to cover funeral expenses. The fundraiser noted that Rubio left behind two little girls, Nathaly, 6, and Zoe, 4. It's unclear where the two lived, but a Facebook account associated with Rubio listed her hometown as Metairie, Louisiana, and said she was from Honduras. Daily Mail reached out to the Fort Worth Police Department for the arrest affidavit and an update on the case. The daughter of a vile paedophile who sexually abused her and 13 others has demanded justice after learning he used Voluntary Assisted Dying while behind bars to 'take the easy way out'. Daniel Hume, 55, a convicted sex offender jailed for decades of abuse against children, died in hospital on August 28 after becoming the first prisoner in New South Wales to use the controversial scheme. He had served just seven years of his 30-year sentence when, suffering from terminal cancer he was granted permission to take the 'easy way out'. Now his daughter, Nevaeh Jett, one of his 14 victims, has waived her right for anonymity to speak to Daily Mail, saying the decision has left her reliving the childhood torment. 'The sense of justice I have been clinging to has been ripped away and he has taken the easy way out,' Ms Jett said. 'He should be living the rest of his life in jail and he has won. No-one even told me it was happening.' Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in NSW is a legal end-of-life option that allows eligible individuals to request medical assistance to die, typically by taking a prescribed medication. To be eligible, a person must have an advanced, progressive, and incurable disease, illness, or medical condition expected to cause death within six months, and be experiencing suffering that cannot be relieved in a way acceptable to them. Daniel Hume (above) used Voluntary Assisted Dying while imprisoned for multiple sexual offences Hume's daughter Nevaeh Jett, one of his 14 victims, has wavered her right for anonymity to speak out Nevaeh suffered for years at the hands of her evil father (pictured together above) The process is lengthy and requires a series of requests and assessments by two doctors before a medication is administered at a time chosen by the patient. Ms Jett, 27, revealed her abuse at the hands of her father began when she was a child, when concerns were raised by staff at her childcare centre after they noted unusual marks under her nappy. But no charges were laid against the father despite their concerns. She believes he started raping her when she was seven years old. When she was 10, two other victims came forward to report Hume and child protection authorities briefly removed her. Again Hume wasn't charged and he regained custody of her. Not long after, she recalls her father urging her to befriend a little girl in the park and it was only years later she realised it was so he could lure her into their home under the guise of a 'play date.' 'He was a vile opportunist who created opportunities at every turn,' she said. Nevaeh said her father started raping her when she was aged seven Fourteen victims testified against Hume 'Once he even got some of my friends to climb a ladder just so he could look up their skirts.' Ms Jett tried to repeatedly raise the alarm, but says she was ignored. 'I tried to come out multiple times but I wasn't believed. I learnt to shut up and bury it,' she said. The abuse intensified during her teenage years with Hume 'forcing pills' down her throat to make her drowsy at night. 'It wasn't just the sexual assaults, it was psychological abuse too. He controlled everything. He was aggressive, he would spit, yell and scream,' she said. 'Something as small as waking him with the sound of the microwave was enough to set him off. 'I lived in fear and even now the voice I hear in my nightmares is his.' At 17, she joined the Australian Army in a desperate attempt to escape his evil clutches. Neveah said she tried to raise the alarm many times, but was repeatedly ignored The abuse intensified during her teenage years with Hume 'forcing pills' down her throat Then three years later, in 2015 when two other victims came forward, she finally found the courage to speak. What followed was years of agony, police interviews and court hearings while reliving every sordid detail. 'He fought it the whole way. He pled not guilty for three years and put us through hell,' Ms Jett said. 'It wasn't until the day we were due to read our victim impact statements that he finally pleaded guilty.' Hume was sentenced to 30 years, equating to little more than two years of incarceration per victim. Ms Jett believes there are dozens more victims who remain unnamed. Then on Monday, she learned from a friend that her father was dead after she watched the news. 'That man never even pled guilty until the very last minute because he thought he could beat the system,' Ms Jett said. Hume was sentenced to 30 years, equating to little more than two years of incarceration per victim 'He hated the system, he hated the police, he hated authority. His password for everything was 'Freedom' and he hated being in jail. 'Even behind bars he was always scheming, making constant complaints. 'Once he said he couldn't be there because the toilet paper made his butt hurt. That was the sort of man he was. 'This was one of his schemes and they fell for it.' Ms Jett says she has been left devastated and suffering PTSD after Hume was granted the chance to die on his own terms. 'He won. He got off. He did not serve his sentence. It feels like a kick in the stomach,' she said. 'He died in comfort, pain-free, surrounded by his loved ones, who I believe were able to visit him in hospital multiple times. 'Yes he had throat cancer, but he was offered oesophagus surgery and that could have extended his life, but instead he was allowed to choose the easy way out.' Ms Jett says she has been left devastated and suffering with PTSD Ms Jett said given the opportunity she would have supported the death penalty for her father, but insisted assisted dying is not the same. 'He was in jail. He shouldn't have had choices,' Ms Jett said. 'So many people aren't given this chance, so many have been turned down, so why was he allowed? 'Getting his conviction was the hardest thing I will ever do. I'll live with the effects of his abuse for the rest of my life. 'Now I feel robbed that he did not serve out his natural life in prison and I was not even told. As far as I know, none of the victims were. 'If I had known, I would have fought to stop it. 'If cancer was going to kill him two weeks later anyway, then so be it. Why spend taxpayers' money on this man?' Ms Jett is now committed to campaigning against prisoners being granted Voluntary Assisted Dying. 'I want a law change so this never happens again to anyone else,' she said. 'I don't want anyone to feel the way I do and I want compensation for the suffering for every one of his victims because all of the suffering during the court case was for nothing. 'And none of us deserved to find out this way.' NSW Premier Chris Minns defended the decision, saying it was 'justifiable'. 'I think the reasons and the story behind it, I think are justifiable in the circumstances,' Mr Minns said. 'There is criteria in NSW to access voluntary assisted dying. I understand that criteria was followed, and I'm not proposing that we change the law.' Anti-immigrant sentiment has been fuelled by the government's lack of transparency, a former immigration head says, as Australia reels from mass protests marred by violence. Tens of thousands of protesters marched alongside neo-Nazis on Sunday in anti-immigration rallies across Australia's major cities, calling on the federal government to pause or slow the pace of immigration. Prominent neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell, 32, was among about 40 men dressed in black who stormed Camp Sovereignty on Sunday evening after attending the rally in Melbourne's CBD. The 32-year-old was arrested on Tuesday afternoon outside Melbourne Magistrates Court and has been charged with violent disorder, affray, assault by kicking, discharge missile and other offences. Two of his followers were also charged. He has been remanded to appear in the same court on Wednesday. Labor remained undeterred by the protests on Tuesday as it set the permanent migration program intake for 2025/26 at 185,000, the same as the previous financial year. But the way the federal government unveiled its new cap is emblematic of the way it has inadvertently stirred up anxious Australians, former Immigration Department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi said. 'The government is just not sufficiently transparent about what its long-term plans for immigration are,' he told AAP. 'The government has essentially just stopped explaining what it's doing,' pointing to a three sentence government press release as a classic example. It contained little detail about skilled or partner visas, making it impossible to tell what the government would do about booming demand in these areas, Dr Rizvi said. The way the federal government unveiled its new cap is emblematic of the way it has inadvertently stirred up anxious Australians, former Immigration Department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi said Factually incorrect statements about growing immigration numbers also contributed to anti-immigration sentiment. This was evident in promotional flyers for Sunday's rallies which used incorrect claims to fuel anti-Indian immigration rhetoric. Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria president Vasan Srinivasan said many protesters just needed to get to know his community. 'They still don't understand how beautiful this society is,' he told AAP. 'There's no one in this country apart from Indigenous people who are native, all of us migrated from somewhere. 'We are all now here for one reason: a peaceful, happy life.' Many within the Indian community are skilled migrants, arriving in Australia as doctors or with engineering qualifications. One of the best represented occupations in Australia's migration program are nurses, who are in high demand as the population ages and the health workforce buckles under high attrition, Dr Rizvi said. Migrants also take on hard, less-skilled work many Australians don't want to do, like fruit picking and farm labour. Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria president Vasan Srinivasan said many protesters just needed to get to know his community. 'We need to remember that the bulk of students and working holidaymakers can't get the dole,' he said. 'If they don't get a job, they don't survive.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged different demographics had been targeted and singled out by the protests, including Jewish and Indian communities. While he urged everyone in the Labor caucus to reach out to different communities, he also said not everyone at the weekend's demonstrations were associated with neo-Nazis. 'We have to make sure we give people space to move away and not push them further down that rabbit hole,' he said on Tuesday. Antoinette Lattouf has demanded the ABC pay her an eye-watering $350,000 for unlawfully terminating her radio contract over a social media post. Lattouf, 41, was dismissed three days into a five-day casual radio shift in December 2023 following a coordinated campaign of complaints from pro-Israel lobbyists. The journalist won her unlawful termination case against the public broadcaster in June, with a court finding that she was fired for reasons including her political beliefs. Lattouf shared a Human Rights Watch post saying Israel was using starvation as a tool of war in Gaza before her position was terminated. The ABC was previously ordered to pay Lattouf $70,000 in compensation, but lawyers have returned to the Federal Court to determine the total penalty. Her submissions said the public broadcaster should be penalised between $300,000 and $350,000. The ABC argued it should pay between $37,560 and $56,340. 'The seriousness of the contravening evinced, for instance, by its intentionality or recklessness, or the fact it involved members of senior management, will generally suggest that a higher penalty is necessary to achieve specific and general deterrence,' Lattouf's lawyers submitted. They pointed to the ABC's roughly $1billion annual budget as being a relevant factor when determining what it should pay the ousted journalist. Antoinette Lattouf was unlawfully sacked three days into a five day contract with the ABC in December 2023. She is pictured outside Sydney's Federal Court on Wednesday 'The size and resources of a contravener are germane in assessing an appropriate deterrent penalty as, logically, the larger the contravenor and the greater its financial resources, the greater the penalty required to effect deterrence,' they submitted. Lattouf said a penalty hearing 'isn't just punishment - it's deterrence' in a post to X. 'In theory, the court sends a broader message that breaking workplace laws won't come cheap and ensures offenders don't treat it as a business expense... without deterrence, a penalty is just words on paper,' she wrote. Lattouf said she was yet to receive a personal, formal apology from the ABC in a statement to Daily Mail on Wednesday. 'The ABC are meant to be the good guys in the media. I care about our public broadcaster and the role it plays in Australian life,' she said. 'But the ABC wasted $2million of taxpayer money fighting me after illegally sacking me in a way anyone with common sense knew was wrong. 'It's argument for penalty as low as $36,000, the lack of a personal apology to me, the release of new guidelines that stifle staff from public comment but does nothing for people at the top - it doesn't inspire confidence that the ABC won't do this again.' A spokesperson for the ABC said the public broadcaster has acknowledged the case will cost millions of dollars. The public broadcaster could be forced to pay up to $460,000 in addition to its legal costs 'A public apology was made to Ms Lattouf on June 25 after the court's decision and on subsequent occasions,' they told Daily Mail. The ABC said it regretted how the decision to remove Lattouf was handled and the distress it caused her in a statement released on June 25. 'We extend our sincere apologies to Ms Lattouf and wish her well in her future endeavours,' it said. Lawyers for Lattouf argued the ABC had 'unlawfully terminated Ms Lattouf in a craven placation of pro-Israeli lobbyists', in their written submissions. The ABC faces penalties of up to $460,000 in addition to its legal costs, which managing director Hugh Marks in June said could surpass $2million. Lattouf offered to settle the case for $85,000 in 2024, according to her lawyer Josh Bornstein, along with conditions including an apology and another five radio shifts. But Mr Marks previously said the extra radio slots were a sticking point because they could compromise editorial independence to external influence. Justice Rangiah found the ABC was under pressure from an orchestrated campaign of complaints against Lattouf by a pro-Israel lobbyist group at the time of the sacking. The ABC did not give her the chance to defend the allegations and instead showed her the door, the judge found. Lattouf was terminated as a fill-in host of ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program in December 2023 after sharing the post from Human Rights Watch. She was paid for all five days, despite being booted three days in. Taxpayers who failed to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge in previous years are now under the spotlight from the Australian Taxation Office. Brisbane-based accountant Adam McWhinnie has warned that some taxpayers could face tax debts in arrears, as well as shortfall interest charges. Taxpayers who earn over $101,000 as a single person, or $202,000 as a family, and do not have the appropriate level of private hospital cover must pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge in addition to the general Medicare levy. The ATO is currently data matching tax returns from previous years to private health insurance information to find unpaid Medicare levies. 'It's certainly not something that we've seen much previously, but for whatever reason, we just received a bit of a spike of activity around this,' Mr McWhinnie told Yahoo News. He said the ATO has better data-matching capabilities than in previous years and has been receiving increasing amounts of information. Data published by the ATO in June found 768,537 Australians paid the surcharge in the 2022-23 financial year - at a mean amount of $1,318. Most Australians who are caught out have failed to cover their dependents privately, the accountant explained Brisbane-based accountant Adam McWhinnie (above) has warned Aussies the ATO is scouring their tax returns for unpaid Medicare Levy surcharges The tax office is data matching Medicare Levy declarations to private health insurance data, and enforcing any mismatches (pictured, Australian tax return forms) If dependents were not covered by a taxpayer's health insurance, the taxpayer is not eligible for the levy exemption. Mr McWhinnie said one of his clients had recently had a child and forgot to update her health insurance cover. She was hit with a $2,500 bill to address the unpaid Medicare levy in the past financial year. The surcharge was applied on a pro-rata basis, so she did not have to pay for the months prior to having the baby. The accountant said those who are married or in a de facto partnership must also ensure they are both adequately covered by private insurance. 'You might have a husband and wife or a de facto partnership and Partner A has the correct cover for themselves and Partner B doesn't,' Mr McWhinnie said. 'It's not just Partner B that misses out. It'll be the both of them get stung with it, despite the fact that one person has [the] requisite cover.' Mr McWhinnie urged Australians to check their current private health insurance policies and ensure their families were adequately covered. He said the ATO can still request taxpayers pay the levy, even once their tax return has been accepted. The tax office may also apply a shortfall interest charge. Penalties could apply, depending on whether the ATO can prove there was malicious intent behind a non-payment. The manhunt for alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman is likely costing police millions of dollars - while also pulling officers away from tackling other crimes. The 56-year-old remains on the run a week after he allegedly gunned down Detective Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, at his Porepunkah property in Victorias High Country. More than 450 heavily armed officers, special operations units and air support are scouring the mountainous terrain in search of him, with the wage bill rising by the day. While there is widespread support for the manhunt, retired Victoria Police detective Charlie Bezzina has warned there will be a 'cost' to the police and the public. 'Crimes are going unnoticed with officers unresponsive to certain crimes, because police can't do it all,' he told Daily Mail on Wednesday. He said the key issue is that Victoria Police are juggling the manhunt in Porepunkah, unplanned protests as well as staff shortages. Earlier this year, the Police Association in Victoria hit out at the current state of the force, particularly its lack of officers. Alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman (pictured) has been on the run from police for nine days He allegedly gunned down Detective Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, at his Porepunkah property in Victorias High Country The union claimed police do not have enough resources to prevent crimes and only to apprehend offenders. Another issue raised by Mr Bezzina is the high financial cost of the manhunt will be putting pressure on Victoria Police's operational budget as they pay for 450 officers, bearcats, helicopters and logistics for the army 'When you think of the helicopters, (which cost) $1,000 an hour that's in the air. 'If I've got two helicopters up there for five or six hours with the fuel, well, it's going to be into the tens, if not hundreds of thousand of dollars when it comes to an end. 'Hopefully sooner rather than later, but no one, unfortunately, has got a crystal ball.' Chief Commissioner Mike Bush could make a request to the state government for a is making an injection of cash to help the operation costs, Mr Bezzina said. He said if there has not bee a request, he would be 'very critical', adding: 'You just can't leave it for Victoria Police.' Retired Victoria Police detective Charlie Bezzina warned the cost of the search operation, including the use of helicopters will continue to rise 'It's a long term effect on the police and their services into the future. So it's just not, sustainable,' he said. Asked what would hypothetically happen in the long term if, a month down the line there were still no sightings of Freeman, Mr Bezzina said police would have to reevaluate their operation. 'Coffers can run dry, no matter what you do, because we're a service industry. Everything is driven on the purse,' he said. 'In that situatio) they would have to say, "It's now been two months with no sightings, no other intelligence to support it and we have to walk away".' In that scenario, he suggested police might then say they could only react to any sightings, or if Freeman comes out of the bush,. 'It's a risk that they've got to balance against the risk of the community,' he said. Daily Mail has contacted Chief Commissioner Bush via the Victoria government and Victoria Police. When asked about the financial cost of the search on Wednesday, Chief Commissioner Mike Bush didn't give a figure to reporters. Mr Bezzina (pictured) said that, despite the cost, police could not 'walk away' from the hunt More than 450 heavily armed officers, special operations units and air support are scouring the mountainous terrain in Victoria's high country in search of Freeman Instead, he replied that it was a significant amount and that taxpayers expected it, adding that he would be able to reveal the full cost at a later date. Despite the toll the manhunt has taken on police availability and budgets, Mr Bezzina highlighted that this is not a situation where police can give up. 'They can't walk away,' he said. 'If (the two victims) were not police, you would still get the same response, because to have a double killing of two individuals is very significant, and the manhunt would be still at the same scale. 'I've been impressed with the organisation, particularly given the whole scale of it. 'They are looking at not just looking at a manhunt but they're looking at it from an intelligence perspective.' More than 100 properties have been searched in Porepunkah and nearby towns in the last week. But despite hundreds of phone calls and information from the community and some of Freeman's associates, they are no closer to finding him. Additional officers are expected to join the search operation in the coming days Police are still considering whether Freeman is being harboured. During a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Commissioner Bush snapped at a question about why it's taking so long for 450 police officers to find Freeman. A reporter asked: 'This has gone on for nine days. Why is it so difficult?' 'You're here, you can see the environment,' Commissioner Bush snapped. 'Searching for one person in this terrain is extremely challenging. We have the best people on this task and I have full confidence in them.' Officers have also swarmed on a rural property in nearby Buckland, a day after gun-toting cops and sniffer dogs converged on a small residential area just outside Porepunkah. A hiker experienced a terrifying tumble after attempting to save her dog from falling down a 60-foot drop. Margaux Cohen was hiking the Tricouni Peak, a 10.9-mile trail in British Columbia, Canada, when she found herself off the path. Cohen, her hiking partner, Max Stobbe, and Stobbe's cousin came across a wall blocking their path to get back onto the trail. Stobbe went over the wall first, and when Cohen passed her dog, Zion, he slipped and lost his footing, she recalled to local news outlet Squamish Chief. As she watched her beloved pup sliding down the wall, Cohen said that her first instinct was to grab Zion's harness. But Zion's weight pulled Cohen down with him, and she fell 60 feet, smashing her face into rocks and ultimately breaking her leg. 'It wasn't a straight fall. I tumbled down like, four times. So I probably fell 20 feet, and then hit my face on rocks, and then fell again and again and again,' she told Squamish Chief. Cohen didn't lose consciousness during her fall and started screaming for help when she stopped tumbling. Margaux Cohen and her pup, Zion, suffered a horrific fall while climbing the Tricouni Peak in British Columbia, Canada Cohen suffered a severe leg injury and was airlifted off the mountain to a local hospital, where she's been for 10 days Cohen was hiking with her friend, Max Stobbe, Stobbe's cousin, and her dog when the group found themselves off the trail. They were hiking a 10.9-mile trail in British Columbia (pictured) (file photo) Her hiking group made their way to her and called emergency authorities. Luckily, Zion survived the fall and was in good spirits with just an injured paw. 'My dog was like, sitting next to me, just wagging his tail, like nothing happened, like he just had the time of his life,' she said. Cohen told the local outlet that she waited two hours for the search and rescue team in the blistering heat. While she waited, she couldn't help but panic about her condition. Cohen said that the left side of her face was swollen and had gone numb. She had a nosebleed and her leg was in severe pain. Squamish Search and Rescue teams rescued Cohen, and she was transported to a local hospital. The avid hiker revealed that her injury was extensive, requiring two surgeries where doctors will install plates and screws in her leg. She told Squamish Chief that she'll most likely be barred from physical activities for the next four months as she recovers. The hospital bed is a drastic change in scenery for the hiker and mountain lover. Cohen, originally from France, has amassed a following on social media for her adventures in the wilderness. Cohen said the group came across a wall when they attempted to get back on the trail and her dog slipped and fell down the 60-foot drop Cohen attempted to save her dog from the drop, but got pulled down too and tumbled 60 feet down Cohen's dog, Zion, survived the fall, suffering only minor injuries. She sustained a severe broken leg and is awaiting a second surgery in the hospital Her Instagram has documented her move to British Columbia. In July, she shared a photo carousel of her hike at the Golden Ears Summit. Cohen shared on her Instagram Story that she's been in the hospital for over a week. She was awaiting a second surgery on Tuesday, but revealed it was postponed. 'The last 8 days have been very tough. Lot of tears, anxiety, and a few meltdowns. Being stuck in a bed is not fun and i cant wait to be back in my apartment,' she confessed. On Tuesday evening, she shared that she didn't get the surgery she was scheduled for and didn't know when it would be rescheduled. Cohen said she waited in pain for two hours in the blistering heat for search and rescue crews to airlift her to a hospital Cohen shared on her Instagram account that she's been in the hospital for 10 days and her second surgery was postponed Cohen's friend set up a GoFundMe to help her pay her hospital bills and support her as she recovers Cohen is going on her tenth day in a hospital bed. She said that she can't move her leg, resulting in muscle pain on top of the fracture. Cohen's best friend has launched a GoFundMe to help her pay for medical expenses and provide financial support during her recovery. 'Margaux is one of the most kindhearted, adventurous, and resilient people I know,' the fundraiser description read. 'She has always been there to support others, and now she needs our help. Any donation, no matter the size, will make a huge difference for her and her furry best friend'. China holds massive V-Day parade, pledging peaceful development 20:17, September 03, 2025 By Zhang Bowen, Cao Peixian ( Xinhua BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China held a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging the country's commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. Towering structures shaped like the Great Wall, crowned with giant numerals "1945" and "2025," stood in Tian'anmen Square, symbolizing the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression. Wearing a dark grey, high-collar suit, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, oversaw the parade and reviewed the troops. Standing beside Xi on Tian'anmen Rostrum were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, along with more than 20 other foreign leaders, some of whom attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in the city of Tianjin earlier this week. Representatives of people who had supported China's resistance endeavors, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- were invited to the event. PREVENTING HISTORICAL TRAGEDIES FROM RECURRING This was the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to mark the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The commemorative event began at 9 a.m. with an 80-gun salute, followed by a solemn flag-raising ceremony, and a chorus of the national anthem. Helicopters flew over the square carrying banners that read "Justice Prevails," "Peace Prevails," and "The People Prevail." The high-morale, well-equipped soldiers marched along the Chang'an (Eternal Peace) Avenue in tight, powerful formations, their faces lit with confidence and pride. Columns of new tanks, artillery and other military equipment rumbled through the square. Xi delivered a speech before the parade. Highlighting the significance of the victory 80 years ago, Xi said it marks China's first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times. Xi noted that the Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defense of world peace with immense sacrifice in the war. He called on nations to "eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring." Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day. Xi attended a military parade held in Moscow in May to mark the WWII victory in Europe. China and the Soviet Union served as the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making pivotal contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. China was the first country to rise against fascist aggression with the longest-lasting resistance that began in 1931. The country tied down and struck over half of Japan's overseas forces, at the cost of 35 million military and civilian casualties -- accounting for around one-third of all WWII casualties worldwide. Yokichi Kobayashi, son of a Japanese veteran who was a POW-turned soldier in a CPC-led army during the war, watched the parade on site. "I feel like as long as China stays united and sticks together, it will always be an invincible force," he said. Wednesday's ceremony was presided over by Li Qiang, and attended by Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi -- all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee -- as well as Vice President Han Zheng. International organization leaders such as UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, and former political leaders, including ex-Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, also attended. UNSTOPPABLE REJUVENATION Wednesday's military parade was the first since Xi led China to embark on "a new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts." The country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035. In his speech, Xi demanded that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) provide strategic support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He urged the PLA to build itself into world-class forces and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The 70-minute military parade demonstrated the transformation of the armed forces from a "millet-and-rifle" army to a modern military. It was attended by more than 10,000 soldiers, over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, organized under a wartime command system. The PLA's new structure of services and arms made its collective debut, showcasing the outcomes of a sweeping military reform under Xi's leadership. Troops from the four services of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Rocket Force, as well as the four arms of the Aerospace Force, the Cyberspace Force, the Information Support Force, and the Joint Logistics Support Force, marched past Tian'anmen Square. The advanced armaments put on display included unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, and electronic jamming systems. In Wednesday's parade, China unveiled its land-, sea-, and air-based strategic forces as the nuclear triad for the first time. The armaments, hailed as China's strategic "ace" power to safeguard the country's sovereignty and national dignity, included JingLei-1 air-based long-range missile, JuLang-3 submarine-launched intercontinental missile, DongFeng-61 land-based intercontinental missile, and new type DongFeng-31 land-based intercontinental missile. Televised and livestreamed to a national audience, the event became the top trending topic on Chinese social media as people shared photos and videos of the spectacle. Yang Jieyu, a student at Peking University and a spectator at the event, said, "The parade showed China's growing strength and filled me with confidence in national rejuvenation." Scholars believe the life-or-death struggle more than 80 years ago reshaped the national psyche, leaving scars and pride that are still visible today, and marked a historic turning point as the Chinese nation transitioned from decline to rejuvenation. "The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable," Xi said in his speech. He reiterated China's commitment to peaceful development. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games," he said. Kong Peng, a spectator from Beijing, said after watching the parade, "It's clear who's right and who's wrong, who's really standing for peace and who's trying to be a bully." Chinese soldiers who have participated in UN peacekeeping operations made their first appearance in a V-Day parade. China is the largest contributor of troops among the UN Security Council permanent members, having deployed over 5,000 peacekeepers and maintaining a standing force of 8,000 personnel ready for UN missions, making it a key player in UN peacekeeping operations. "We have the capability to defend the peace forged with the blood of our forefathers," said Shao Xiaoguang, a member of the reviewed troops who previously served on a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zhang Zijin, a 7-year-old girl who watched the parade with her parents in the square, said she dreamed of joining the armed forces when she grows up. "I believe if I keep trying, I can make it come true," she said. "Eighty years ago, we were revived. Eighty years later, we are thriving with greater vitality," said Lyu Shouye, a spectator at the event and a graduate student studying AI. "Now our country has reached a stage where we need to undertake greater responsibilities," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) An Indigenous activist has issued a nationwide call for Australians to unite against racism, announcing rallies will be held across the country on Friday, 13 September. The events, organised under the banner of the Stand Against Racism Rally, will focus on supporting First Nations sovereignty while celebrating Australia's multicultural communities. The organiser said the movement was sparked by an alleged unprovoked attack by white neo-Nazis in Melbourne. 'This is about standing up for something very important - racism in this country, standing up against it, saying it's not OK. He urged Australians of all cultural backgrounds to join and bring the symbols of their identity. 'Bring your flags, bring the flag that represents your people. Bring your dancers, bring your culture. 'The foundations of Australia was built up on the foundations of racism - of genocide,' he claimed. He said the rallies will be inclusive spaces for communities to showcase their diversity and stand together. The September 13 rallies aim to 'stand against racism' in response to the March for Australia 'Our multicultural people in this country, bring your dancers, bring your culture. And that's what we're trying to say.' He contrasted the message of unity with the recent March for Australia rallies, which he accused of deliberately excluding non-European communities. 'At the March for Australia rally, you weren't allowed to bring your flag because it was a racist rally. This one's about coming together to stand up against racism, and that's exactly what we will do.' The call comes after about 40 men dressed in black, allegedly led by neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell, attacked Camp Sovereignty, an Indigenous protest site in Melbourne on Sunday. Indigenous leaders have urged authorities to investigate the incident as a hate crime, with Camp Sovereignty founder, Krautungalung elder Robbie Thorpe, telling the ABC the men first targeted women, destroyed Aboriginal flags and injured four people. On Tuesday, Sewell crashed a press conference by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Jacqueline Symes, Just hours later, Sewell was charged with violent disorder, affray, assault by kicking and discharging a missile. He has been remanded, with a magistrate to decide on bail Friday. Two other men, aged 23 and 20, were also charged over the incident. The Stand Against Racism Rally will celebrate Australia's multicultural communities (file) Police said the 23-year-old from Mooroolbark faced charges of violent disorder, affray and assault by kicking, while the 20-year-old from Ardeer was charged with violent disorder, affray and discharging a missile. Both were granted bail and will face Melbourne Magistrates' Court on December 10. For KangarooJack, the idea of building a movement for multicultural unity grew out of conversations with his grandfather. 'I said to him, what do you reckon of all the multicultural people, they can all come on up, bring them. All the Africans, Indians, the whole lot.' His grandfather, he recalled, backed the idea wholeheartedly. 'That's right. So just come, you know what I mean? Don't feel shamed. Bring your flag, bring your culture.' With times and locations still to be confirmed in cities and regional centres across the country, the activist urged Australians to prepare. 'Lock that date in. Be ready.' Three men, linked to a neo-nazi group have been charged over an alleged attack in Melbourne Leaders from both sides of politics have condemned the presence of neo-Nazis and white supremacists at the March for Australia rallies, accusing them of exploiting Australians with 'legitimate concerns.' 'There's always good people who turn up to demonstrate their views on particular issues, but what we have seen here is neo-Nazis being given a platform,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley echoed the sentiment, warning that extremists had overshadowed ordinary Australians. '[These events were] attended by people of goodwill but hijacked by violent neo-Nazis spouting hate and racism,' she said. Newly-released footage from outside of Jeffrey Epstein's prison cell has blown a huge hole in Attorney General Pam Bondi's explanation of a missing minute in previously released video. The surveillance footage from Manhattan's Metropolitan Detention Center on the night of August 9, 2019 had originally been released by the Justice Department in July. But questions soon emerged as eagle-eyed viewers noticed the 11-hour video mysteriously jumped forward one minute just before midnight. It was soon revealed that the clip was spliced together from at least two separate video segments using Adobe Premiere Pro. The 'missing minute' was blamed on the Bureau of Prison's surveillance system, with Bondi claiming that 'every night they redo that video... every night should have the same minute missing.' Yet the House of Representatives Oversight Committee has now included the minute in two hours of additional footage it released on Tuesday amid a probe into potential ethics violations among elected officials. The release of the mystery minute came as members of the Oversight Committee met with survivors of Epstein's alleged abuse. The discussion with survivors left top Republican Rep. Nancy Mace in tears and Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna suggesting 'this is a lot bigger than anyone anticipated.' 'There are some rich and powerful people that need to go to jail,' she told reporters following the closed-door meeting. 'I think everyone's frustrated as to why that hasn't happened before.' Members of the House Oversight Committee released a trove of documents related to the government's case against financier Jeffrey Epstein, who allegedly sex trafficked children with the help of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell Among the newly-released documents was a minute of footage from the Metropolitan Detention Center that was missing from 11-hours of surveillance footage the Department of Justice released in July Taking to social media to address the photos that emerged of her teary-eyed as she left the briefing with the victims early, Mace said she 'had a very difficult time listening to their stories' as a recent survivor of sexual assault herself. The Republican from South Carolina explained that she went into a 'full-blown panic attack' and was left 'sweating, hyperventilating, shaking' and unable to breathe. 'I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. God bless all survivors.' Amid the revelations, pressure is mounting on President Donald Trump to release even more documents related to the case against the late financier - with Republican Thomas Massie even suggesting the president may be withholding government files to protect people he knows personally. He appeared with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, of California, on Tuesday night's episode of MSNBC's All In, where the two discussed their efforts to force the Justice Department to release all of the files with minimal redactions to protect the victims. 'I think the best way to clear President Trump's name is to release all the files,' the Kentucky Republican told host Chris Hayes. 'I actually don't think he's done anything criminal,' he continued. 'I think he may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his. 'And in fact, some of those billionaires are running ads against me in Kentucky right now. One of them is in Epstein's black book,' Massie claimed. 'So we're getting really close to the center of power here, and I think, you know, embarrassment is not a reason to conceal all of this stuff. 'We've got to get it out in the open, regardless of whose friends might be incriminated,' he declared. Video released by the DoJ in July showed the time code of 11:58:58pm before it suddenly skips one minute to midnight The next frame of footage sees an entire minute having been skipped over Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the time that the 'missing minute' was simply a result of the Bureau of Prison's surveillance system Massie and Khanna introduced a discharge petition on Tuesday to force a House vote on the publication of more Justice Department Epstein files. Using a discharge petition - a legislative vehicle to force a vote - the two may be able to circumvent party leadership and force a vote on the politically-charged documents. Should this petition receive 218 signatures - half of the members of the House of Representatives - Massie and Khanna's bill forcing the DOJ to release its Epstein documents would get a formal vote on the floor. Both lawmakers have said the Epstein files given to the committee from the DOJ are not enough. 'My staff has done a quick look at it, and it looks like a bunch of redacted documents and nothing new, so it's not going to suffice,' Massie told Axios of the Tuesday release. Many Democrats agreed, maintaining that 97 percent of the information contained in the 33,000 pages was already public. Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, was seen teary-eyed as she left a meeting with Epstein survivors early on Tuesday Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna suggesting 'this is a lot bigger than anyone anticipated' Along with the newly-released video footage, authorities released flight logs from between 2000 and 2014 detailing Epstein's travels. The trove of information additionally included interview transcripts from Epstein's accomplice and longtime girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years for trafficking. Other videos included in the documents appear to include a woman recounting her experience with Epstein. Much of the other documents were previously released, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's August interviews with Maxwell, videos of Epstein's West Palm Beach home and local police audio regarding their investigation into the financier, NBC News reports. The Daily Mail also reviewed an internal Bureau of Prisons report on how Epstein was able to commit suicide, citing an 'excessive' amount of linens found in the cell. The BOP report ultimately agreed with the FBI's conclusion that Epstein died of suicide, and the contents of the file have been previously reported. Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie filed a discharge petition to force the House of Representatives to vote on releasing files on Jeffrey Epstein Pressure is now mounting on the Trump administration to release more documents related to the case against the late financier After conducting an 'initial review', Democrat lawmakers issued a statement claiming just three percent of the information contained in the drop was new. 'House Republicans are trying to make a spectacle of releasing already-public documents,' Robert Garcia of California said. 'To the American people - don't let this fool you. There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims.' Yet despite the apparent bipartisan support for the release of additional information, GOP House leadership may be trying to crush the impending Epstein vote with the timing of Tuesday's document drop. A schedule of this week's legislative business, published on Tuesday, shows that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team have a plan to vote on a separate Epstein-related measure. The vote would simply instruct the House Oversight Committee, which is separately investigating Epstein, his network and potential government connections, to 'continue its ongoing investigation.' The committee, however, does not need a vote to continue investigating the late financier and Johnson's bill would simply prompt the committee to release its findings publicly, though it already has declared its intention to publish them. Epstein committed suicide while in federal custody awaiting a trial for sex trafficking, according to authorities. Many have speculated that files relating to Epstein's crimes may shine light on the mysterious financier's personal life Experts now say the vote on Johnson's Epstein-related package could provide political cover for some members to say that, at the very least, they are working on releasing the Epstein files. '@SpeakerJohnson just scheduled this meaningless vote to provide political cover for those members who don't support our bipartisan legislation to force the release of the Epstein files,' Massie wrote about the vote. Still, September will be a busy month on Capitol Hill when it comes to Epstein. On Wednesday, survivors of Epstein's abuse are scheduled to hold a press conference with Massie and Khanna where they are expected to take questions. Several top former government officials are also expected to speak with the committee about Epstein, with Labor Secretary Alex Acosta - who struck a deal with Epstein's legal team during his 2007 Florida case - set to meet with the committee by mid-month. Acosta, then a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, helped Epstein secure a plea deal that kept the financier from federal charges after months of negotiating. The victims, who reportedly ranged in number up to three dozen, were not notified until after the deal was struck. Alex Acosta, then a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, helped Epstein secure a plea deal that kept the financier from federal charges after months of negotiating in 2007. He will speak with congressional investigators on September 17 Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who oversaw the agency during Epstein's prostitution case in 2007, was also subpoenaed by the committee. However, the former special counsel who investigated Trump's connections to Russia cannot testify due to health issues. Mueller's family announced this weekend that the longtime FBI boss has Parkinson's disease. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, have been subpoenaed to sit for interviews with the panel in October, the committee has announced. Further, Chairman James Comer sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday requesting documents related to the late sex offender. He asked the Trump administration to hand over any Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) it may have regarding Epstein. SARs are created by financial institutions and sent to the Treasury to flag potentially dubious transactions that may indicate criminal activity, like fraud, money laundering or terrorist financing. The committee gave the Treasury a deadline of September 15 to hand over the SARs. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Attorney General's Office for comment. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been ordered not to wear the Australian flag on the Senate floor, as tempers flared with the Greens who she accused on not respecting Indigenous Australians. The Shadow Ministry for Defence Industry draped herself in an Australian flag to mark Flag Day, a celebration of 124 years since the Australian flag was first flown. 'There's a constellation of 5 stars, the Southern Cross, a reminder of our unique place in the world and the common geography Australians share,' Senator Price told the Senate. 'My elders from a tiny community near Tennant Creek have spoken about how the Southern Cross is part of dreaming, or Jukurrpa, so contrary to the views of activists, Australians certainly are represented by our national flag.' But her ode to the Australian flag was interrupted by Greens Senator Nick McKim who raised a point of order. 'I do want to make the point that if it's OK for Senator Nampijinpa Price to wrap herself in this flag, I would intend to wrap myself in a Palestinian flag,' the Greens Senator said. Senator Bridget McKenzie interjected before the speaker ordered Senator Price to continue her speech but to remove the flag from her shoulders because he was concerned about setting 'a precedent in this place that would have very unfortunate consequences for the future'. Senator Price resumed her speech in fury. The Shadow Ministry for Defence Industry Senator Jacinta Price (pictured) draped herself in an Australian flag to mark Flag Day, a celebration of 124 years since the Australian flag was first flown. But she was ordered to remove it after a point of order raised by the Greens One Nation founder Senator Pauline Hanson (pictured) also draped an Aussie flag across her shoulders 'It's so disappointing from the Greens, but also so typical,' she seethed. 'You can wear a keffiyeh in here. Perhaps we should remove that article from you whenever you walk through these chambers for the benefit of all Australians in this country.' Senator McKim said something to which Senator Price hit back: 'Snark all you like. Its revolting. You dont love this country the way I do.' She accused the Greens of appearing at protest rallies alongside photographs of Iran's Supreme leader, referencing recent protest marches which were marred by pro-Iranian imagery. Senator Price also accused Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi of calling for genocide against Australian supporters of Israel. Senator McKim attempted to defended Faruqi before Senator Price erupted: 'Why dont you acknowledge and pay your respects? Im an Indigenous person.' 'The Greens certainly dont respect or acknowledge Indigenous Australians in this Senate, Senator Price added. Props. including flags, are generally not allowed in the Senate chamber. For example, in March Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young was ordered to remove a dead salmon from the chamber during a debate over laws concerning the salmon farming industry in Tasmania. A mother-of-three who died while swimming in a reservoir told her partner 'I can't do it' before she went under the water, an inquest opening has heard. The body of Kimberley Johnson, 33, was pulled from Strinesdale Reservoir near Oldham, Greater Manchester, on August 17. The machine operator, who was born in Rochdale and lived in Oldham, had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis, the hearing was told. Kimberley, who was at the reservoir with her partner Daniel, then decided to go for a swim. Police coroner's officer Cathy Dickson said: 'They'd drunk some alcohol and smoked cannabis. She decided to go for a swim. 'She swam for a while and then said something like, "I can't do it". He tried to reach out and grab her but could not do it.' Emergency services were called to the beauty spot and Kimberley's body was later recovered. Tributes were paid to the 'amazing' mother following her death, which police said was not being treated as suspicious. Kimberley Johnson (pictured), 33, was found in Strinesdale Reservoir, Greater Manchester, on August 17 following a major search and rescue operation Emergency services attended the scene, situated on the A62 between and Delph, following reports of a woman 'getting into difficulty' in the water. Pictured: Strinesdale 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 Kimberley's close friend Tanya Kennedy said: 'Kim was such an amazing woman, she took me in when I was younger and from there she always treated me like a sister. 'I really wish I could speak to her one last time.' Emergency services attended Strinesdale Reservoir, situated on the A62 between Oldham and Delph, at around 4pm. A rescue operation was launched with the area off Waterworks Road sealed off. The specialist water incident unit was drafted in. A woman's body was recovered at 6.25pm. The body was later identified as Kimberley Louise Johnson following fingerprint checks. Greater Manchester Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Kimberley's death. An inquest into Kimberley's death will be held at Rochdale Coroner's Court on December 16. A British pilot who drowned when he went for a late-night swim off a Benidorm beach has been named for the first time. Tributes have poured in for Robbie Conington, 30, who died after getting into difficulties when he took an evening dip in the sea with two friends late last Friday. He was described as a 'spark that ignited every room he entered' by his bosses, while another pal called him an 'incredible aviator, great friend and all-round great guy.' The tragedy first emerged over weekend when Spanish police confirmed a British tourist's body had been recovered after he went into the sea with two friends whom returned to Benidorm's Levante Beach unharmed. The alarm was raised at around 8.30pm on Friday by witnesses who said they had seen one of the three men being carried out in the choppy waters. Coastguards were called in to search for the missing man before his body was found later the same night near Benidorm's Sailing Club. Robbie, from Biggin Hill, Kent, said in an online profile he had clocked up more than 1,300 total flying time but also worked in aircraft sales. The adventure-loving Brit posted footage of himself on social media last November showing him parachuting out of a plane alongside the message: 'Jumping into my thirties head first.' Tributes have poured in for Robbie Conington (pictured), 30, who died while holidaying in the popular tourist resort The tragedy first emerged at the weekend when Spanish police confirmed a British tourist's body had been recovered. Pictured: Police attend the accident scene last night as a crowd gathers Lone Mountain Aircraft, a US-based company he was working at when he died, said in a social media tribute: 'Lone Mountain Aircraft is profoundly saddened to share the news of the loss of a dear member of our sales team, gone far too soon. 'Robbie Conington, age 30 years old, was tragically taken from us in a non-aviation related accident while on vacation in Spain last Friday. 'Your prayers and thoughts toward Robbie's surviving family and friends are greatly appreciated. He was a spark that ignited every room he entered and will be sorely missed by his Lone Mountain family.' In another tribute a colleague added: 'Robbie brought light, energy and passion to everything he did. 'His presence was truly magnetic. He had a remarkable ability to uplift and inspire those around him, both personally and professionally. 'He was not only a dedicated team member but also a dear friend to many.' Fareham, Hampshire-based aircraft maintenance company Vertigo Aviation Detailing said in a statement: 'Incredibly tough weekend mourning the loss of our good friend Robbie Conington. An incredible aviator, great friend and all-round great guy. Blue skies, Robbie you're already so deeply missed.' Appearing to indicate his body would be repatriated today, friend Nina Susini said in an online message late yesterday: 'Keep your eyes skywards tomorrow, Wednesday September 3, 5pm to 6pm. Members of the public are pictured at the scene after police worked to recover the body People sunbathing on Levante beach on Sunny day of Summer in Benidorm 'We are bringing Robbie home. Flying into his airport Biggin Hill, escorted by two spitfires weather permitting.' Biggin Hill-based flight school Echelon Air said in an emotional online tribute: 'In shock and with deep sadness we write announcing the passing of our dear friend and aviation colleague, Robbie Conington. 'He passed away Friday evening, going for a sunset swim while on holiday with friends in Spain. 'His positive energy, quick wit and warm heart touched us all in simple and profound ways. His DNA is in everything we do at Echelon Air. He will be sorely missed by so many. Our heart aches for his family and community. Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts.' A friend responded by saying: 'Robbie was a true inspiration and talented pilot. 'Heartbreaking news..wishing his family thoughts and prayers.' Another, Lauren Miller-Hickmott, wrote. 'So shocked by the news. 'He honestly lit up every room with his contagious smile. The most loveliest soul.' A fellow pilot said: 'Utterly shocked by this. Robbie was a true gentleman and an outstanding aviator. RIP Robbie.' Spain's National Police said on Saturday in their first comments about the tragedy, giving his age as 31 but not naming him: 'A British man aged 31 died in Benidorm last night in a suspected drowning. An investigation is underway but there is nothing pointing to this death being suspicious in any way.' Another well-placed insider said: 'We believe this man was a tourist. 'He was with two friends. They got out of the water okay and he remained in the sea and got further and further away from the coastline.' A Benidorm town hall source said: 'It appears this man went into the sea and couldn't get out. 'The lifeguard service had finished for the day by the time this happened.' Footage from the scene of the tragedy showed a group of locals and holidaymakers crowding around police who had responded to the emergency. Waves were crashing down on the shoreline, indicating the sea conditions were not the best. Empty sunbeds at the end of the season on Levante beach In April a British man's body was found washed up on a beach in Benidorm. He was later named as Jeff Duffield as relatives paid tribute to him. His wife had previously posted an appeal to find him, saying: 'My husband Jeff Duffield has been missing in Benidorm since 12.30 23/04/2025. 'I've reported it to police if anyone sees him. Please could you contact me, I'm worried sick. Thank you.' In March British groom-to-be Oliver Holroyd, 29, a dad-of-one from Halifax, West Yorkshire, collapsed and died in front of his father and friends in a bar in Benidorm while he was celebrating his stag do. Bystanders and paramedics worked for over an hour to revive him but he was ultimately pronounced dead at the resort's Funky Flamingo bar. In May father-of-three Joseph McManus collapsed and died hours after arriving in Benidorm. A pal told the Liverpool Echo after news of the tragedy emerged that he had only decided to go on the trip at the last minute after other pals had dropped out. Lee Beck, 42, said Joseph was a 'big cuddly bear'. He added: 'Joseph was a happy-go-lucky guy. He was kind and caring. He was always stopping people in the street and asking them how they were.' A real estate agent has been accused of stealing women's underwear from several homes, as well as rubbing his penis on belongings inside clients' residences. Viet Tuan Tran, 28, was denied bail at Brisbane Arrest Court on Tuesday after police prosecutors detailed multiple allegations from 2022 and 2023. Prosecutors alleged Tran stole the underwear from the homes of four women in Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Ascot, and Nundah. Detectives had already been investigating Tran over alleged AI-generated child exploitation material, the court heard. On devices seized from his possession, officers allegedly discovered footage of him committing indecent acts inside clients' homes. Tran's employment with Ray White Clayfield ended shortly after the allegations emerged. 'We have offered complete assistance to the police throughout their investigations,' a spokesperson for the business told The Courier Mail. 'As the matter is before the courts, we will refrain from making any public comments to avoid any risk of prejudicing the legal process.' Viet Tuan Tran (pictured) allegedly stole several women's underwear from their homes and rubbed himself on belongings inside clients' residences Tran was charged with a total of 88 offences, most of which are connected to alleged child exploitation material. Tran's now ex-girlfriend was also charged as a co-accused to one offence each of making and possessing AI child exploitation material. Tran was previously granted bail on July 26 after being charged with 10 child exploitation offences. Officers allegedly discovered incriminating material on a number of devices seized from his house in Nudgee Beach. Further investigation of those devices lead to his second arrest on Monday. Defence lawyer Eleanor Meany argued Tran should be granted bail again as he hadn't been accused of offences since his first arrest. She claimed he had also complied with all his existing bail conditions, including weekly reporting and mental health assistance. Magistrate Judith Daley denied bail. 'He is now facing 87 charges (in addition to the charge of coercive control) and far more serious charges,' Magistrate Daley said. Tran (pictured) has also been charged with dozens of child exploitation material offences 'They've all been committed over an extensive period of time between 2019 and up until 2025, until he was arrested,' she said. '...I'm not satisfied that he wouldn't commit further offences given the large number - we now have nearly 100 charges and with that, he is going to I think face a substantial period of imprisonment.' The prosecution will use Tran's ex-girlfriend's diary as evidence he allegedly emotionally and psychologically abused her. Tran was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on October 17. Wes Streeting has suggested the Government could change free speech laws after Graham Linehan was dramatically arrested by armed police at Heathrow Airport over online comments about transgender activists. The Health Secretary has waded into the free speech debate after Linehan told how he was treated 'like a terrorist', held in a cell and then had to be rushed to hospital because the stress 'nearly killed me'. Linehan was detained at Heathrow by five armed officers as he returned to Britain from Arizona, and accused of 'inciting violence' in relation to three posts he had made on X while living in the US. The Father Ted creator, 57, shared screenshots of the posts he said he was arrested for, including one where he called it a 'violent, abusive act' for a trans-identified male to be in a female-only space. In what he maintains was a joke, he added in the tweet: 'Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails punch him in the balls.' The second post was an aerial shot from a trans demonstration which he described as 'a photo you can smell'. The third tweet - a follow-up to the picture - said: 'I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.' Harry Potter author JK Rowling and the world's richest man Elon Musk have led the chorus of outrage - with MPs on both sides also wading into the row which has raised serious questions over who police are targeting. And Mr Streeting today hinted that Labour could look at changing free speech legislation if the law is 'not getting the balance right'. Wes Streeting (pictured) has called for officers to 'police streets over tweets' after Graham Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport over online comments about transgender activists Police were accused of a 'totalitarian' clampdown on free speech after Graham Linehan (pictured), the creator of Father Ted, was arrested by armed officers over online comments about transgender activists Nigel Farage has issued a stark warning to Americans to protect their First Amendment rights Mr Streeting told Times Radio that while he could not comment on live investigations or operational policing decisions, he could talk about 'the principle'. 'I think the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have been very clear that with the law and order challenges we've got in our country, we want to see people being kept safe by policing streets, not just policing tweets.' He added: 'It's very easy for people to criticise the police. The police enforce the laws of the land that we as legislators provide. 'So if we're not getting the balance right, then that's something that we all have to look at and consider.' Mr Streeting also rejected the suggestion that free speech was now 'banned', but added: 'I do think it's worth us having a debate,' on the issue. He said the Government would 'deal with' policing priorities if Parliament has distracted officers from focusing on 'the right things', in comments to Sky News. 'One of the things the Home Secretary is looking at is, are we tasking the police, are we asking the police to focus on the right things? 'And if we've distracted, as Parliament under the previous government, if they've been distracted, being asked to do things we don't see as a priority, well that is something that we will deal with,' Mr Streeting said. Mr Streeting acknowledged that people are 'anxious' about some of the cases where people have been prosecuted for online posts. 'And I think we are all, let's be honest, quite anxious about some of the cases we've seen in the media, or proceed through the courts, of what people have said online, where you think 'Was that really what Parliament intended when they passed these laws?'' he told the BBC's Today programme. It comes as Nigel Farage warned Americans to defend their rights as the Reform UK leader criticised the UK's growing clampdown on free speech, urging the US not to follow the same path. 'To be met by five armed officers as if he is some sort of international terrorist for literally putting jokey comments out about trans activists,' he told Fox News. Irish comedy writer Mr Linehan told the Daily Mail: 'After spending a decade obsessing over their score on the Stonewall virtue index, the police can no longer tell up from down, left from right and, most worryingly of all, right from wrong' Harry Potter author JK Rowling led the chorus of outrage over his ordeal and called Mr Linehan's arrest an act of 'totalitarianism' 'You guys have the First Amendment. Let me urge you: be vigilant about defending your rights - do not go down the path that we have.' The First Amendment in America protects citizens' freedom of speech without government interference. Mr Farage has said he will raise the case of Linehan when he gives evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on free speech in the UK today. On Tuesday night, Irish comedy writer Mr Linehan, who said he was bailed on condition he did not use X, told the Daily Mail: 'After spending a decade obsessing over their score on the Stonewall virtue index, the police can no longer tell up from down, left from right and, most worryingly of all, right from wrong.' Yesterday, Rowling led the backlash over Linehan's ordeal, asking online: 'What the f*** has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.' Musk branded Britain a 'police state' and asked: 'Why are police in Britain arresting citizens for social media posts instead of stopping child rape?' Free speech campaigner and former police officer Harry Miller, who won a landmark court case against a force that investigated him for allegedly transphobic tweets, told the Daily Mail: 'This is the sort of behaviour you expect in North Korea, not from a British police force. 'Britons are in danger of being subjected to interference by a police state.' Downing Street declined to comment on the ongoing case, which risks reviving damaging claims by US Vice-President JD Vance that free speech is being eroded in Britain. However Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said the Prime Minister's priorities for the police were tackling street crime and serious violence, in what will be seen as a veiled swipe at the Met. 'On the specific incident it's an operational matter for the police, but the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have been clear where their priorities for crime and policing are and that's tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women,' No 10 told reporters. Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union which is supporting Mr Linehan, told the Daily Mail: 'I don't think there's a better illustration of just how low we've sunk when it comes to free speech. World's richest man Elon Musk branded Britain a 'police state' and asked: 'Why are police in Britain arresting citizens for social media posts instead of stopping child rape?' Rowling leapt to Linehan's defence just weeks after he accused her of failing to defend him after he was cancelled over his similar views Free speech advocates, including JK Rowling, led the outrage over the arrest of Linehan today 'If Graham Linehan himself had written this scene for a sitcom about the descent of Starmer's Britain into an authoritarian banana republic, his editor would have rejected it as too implausible. 'The overzealous policing of social media posts is turning the UK into an international laughing stock.' His campaign group has hired Mr Linehan a solicitor to defend him against any possible charges but is looking into whether the police could be sued for wrongful arrest or false imprisonment. Lord Young said there is 'zero chance' of Mr Linehan being prosecuted for the offence under the Public Order Act that he was arrested for, as it only covers stirring up hatred on grounds of religion or sexual orientation - not gender identity. He wrote online: 'Sir Mark Rowley should make it clear no further action will be taken, issue an apology and offer Glinner substantial compensation for false arrest and wrongful imprisonment.' The Tories accused Scotland Yard of an 'absurd infringement of free speech' as the backlash intensified and said whoever approved the arrest should be held to account. On Tuesday night Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'Sending five officers to arrest a man for a tweet isn't policing, it's politics. Under Labour, we routinely see burglary, knife crime and assaults go unsolved, while resources are wasted on thought-policing. 'It's time this government told the police their job is to protect the public, not monitor social media for hurty words. Kemi Badenoch hit out at the Labour government and criticised the Met Police for 'thought policing' following news of Mr Linehan's arrest Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the arrest an 'absurd infringement of free speech' 'The Conservatives would stop this nonsense on day one and make public safety the first duty of policing, instead of pandering to fringe ideologies.' Senior Tory MPs questioned the need for five officers to make the arrest given the shortage of armed police nationwide with Laura Trott urging: 'It must be made clear who made this decision and they should be held accountable.' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This strikes me as an absurd infringement of free speech. The police should focus on catching real criminals.' And Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'The Met need to promptly apologise. 'Every day they delay will add to bill the taxpayer faces for their incompetence.' The row will reach Washington DC on Wednesday as Nigel Farage gives evidence to the US House Committee on the Judiciary on 'Europe's threat to American speech and innovation'. Reform UK leader Mr Farage said: 'The Graham Linehan case is yet another example of the war on free speech in the UK. 'I will discuss this, the Lucy Connolly case and the increasing role of our police in non-crime 'hate' incidents on Capitol Hill. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would be raising Mr Linehan's arrest as an example of 'the increasing role of our police in non-crime 'hate' incidents' during a visit to Washington DC 'Free speech is under assault and I am urging the USA to be vigilant.' The party's Deputy Leader Richard Tice said: 'This over the top, terrorist-style reaction by the police to a series of tweets is extraordinary. 'Be under no illusion: freedom of speech in Starmer's Britain is in grave danger.' Mr Linehan revealed on his blog on Tuesday how five armed officers were waiting for him as he stepped off a plane from Arizona on Monday, and told him he was 'under arrest for three tweets'. He said he was taken to Heathrow police station and during his interview insisted he had been joking when he wrote on X in April: 'If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. 'Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.' Then he said a nurse checked on him and found his blood pressure was 'over 200 - stroke territory' and he was 'escorted to A&E'. He said: 'I was arrested at an airport like a terrorist, locked in a cell like a criminal, taken to hospital because the stress nearly killed me, and banned from speaking online-all because I made jokes that upset some psychotic crossdressers.' Mr Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday accused of harassing transgender woman Sophia Brooks and damaging her phone, which he denies, in a separate case A spokesman for the Met said: 'On Monday September 1 at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight. 'The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X. 'After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. 'His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing. He has now been bailed pending further investigation.' The force added: 'It is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms. These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest.' But the Met did not respond to questions about why the arrest was deemed necessary. Under strict rules known as PACE Code G, suspects are only meant to be arrested in limited circumstances including when police need to ascertain their identity, prevent them from harming themselves or others, stop them destroying evidence or ensuring they can be interviewed. Mr Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday accused of harassing transgender woman Sophia Brooks and damaging her phone, which he denies, in a separate case. China hosted dozens of world leaders for a massive military parade in Tiananmen Square yesterday. Though it was, on the surface, put on to celebrate the 80th anniversary of World War II, the 90-minute showcase was Beijing's attempt to display its military might to the rest of the world. Countless soldiers, sailors and airmen marched in near-perfect unison alongside intercontinental ballistic missiles, tanks and stealth planes that where wheeled out to show off to the world. But on top of the aggressive posturing, it was also a chance for President Xi Jinping to show off his nation's rising diplomatic standing in the world, as nations slowly extricate themselves from the West's influence amid major changes in political and macroeconomic currents. President Xi's opening address saw him proclaim that China is 'firmly stand[ing] on the right side of history and the progress of human civilisation'. He described his 'strong and self-reliant' country is a 'great nation that fears no violence', and boldly said the 'rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable'. Here are the key takeaways from the historic parade. Closeness - at least for the cameras - of Kim, Xi, and Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and heads of foreign delegations seen ahead of the parade Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured, right) and North Korean State Chairman Kim Jong Un (pictured, left) met after attending a military parade Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to attend the military parade in Beijing Though dozens of world leaders, the three belles of the ball were, of course, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Putin and Kim flanked the Chinese premier as they climbed to the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square and watched the display of military hardware and marching troops. It was the first time the three of them, all major rivals of the West, have ever gathered in the same place at the same time. It was also the first time that Kim, who had arrived in Beijing on Tuesday via train, has attended a major multilateral event. Observers said the rare joint appearance was a show of unity against the United States. And the message seems to have got through to US president Donald Trump, who asked on Truth Social whether China would recognise the US' contribution to World War II. He also sarcastically asked Xi to 'give my warmest regards to [Putin and Kim] as you conspire against the United States'. Despite Trump's frosty reaction, it already appears that the implicit declaration of solidarity is working. At a one-to-one meeting with Putin, Kim said North Korea has a 'fraternal duty' to assist Russia and that the two nations would discuss deepening relations. He cryptically said: 'If there's anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help.' Though he didn't explicitly mention Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the Russian leader later admitted that sending North Korean troops to fight on the frontlines on Russia's side was Kim's idea. He said: 'On your initiative, as is well known, your special forces took part in the liberation of the Kursk region,' Putin said in a meeting with his North Korean counterpart. 'This was in full accordance with our new agreement. I would like to note that your soldiers fought courageously and heroically.' 'We will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen,' he added. Strength of China's military - huge range of new modern weapons from lasers to robotic wolves Chinese soldiers carry assault rifles with optical zooms during the procession on Wednesday Chinese female soldiers shout as they march during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025 Heavy armour joined the procession to mark the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War The echelon of Z-20 helicopter carries the flag of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping was joined by Putin and Kim Jong Un to watch the huge processions of military vehicles and troops marking the 80th anniversary of Chinese victory over Japan in WWII The ground assault formation passes through Tiananmen Square The Tiananmen Square parade was the latest chance China had to show off its military might. Not only did Xi flaunt the sheer manpower of the People's Liberation Army, he also displayed next-generation technology that Western nations may have to face off against in the near future. The parade saw formations from several military branches, including the PLA Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Logistics Support Force and Rocket Force and newly-established Aerospace Force. One key highlight was the freshly-debuted DF-41, understood to be the most advanced ICBM in China's arsenal. The JL-3, a new third-generation submarine-based ICBM, also appeared for the first time. Also on display were hypersonic glide vehicles and the YJ-21 anti-ship cruise missile. But the cream of the crop of new weapons was the DF-5C, a new variant of the DF-5 ICBM. The BBC reported that the new version is believed to have a higher range and can carry up to 12 warheads at a time. It is believed to be a two-stage nuclear missile that uses liquid fuel to launch from a silo. On the more outlandish side, robotic wolves were seen walking alongside other pieces of military equipment. Similar to Boston Dynamic's Spot robot, experts believe this dog can be used in a vast range of tasks, from recon to mine-sweeping and even hunting down and killing enemy combatants. China is preparing for modern warfare A GJ-11, the next-gen stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle, takes part in the military parade An unmanned aerial vehicle is seen during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025 Rows of HQ-16C missiles on show before the crowds on Wednesday Members of the People's Liberation Army Ground Assault Force drive armoured vehicles Many examples of next-generation military equipment were seen in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday. In its largest display of the day, the People's Liberation Army debuted the GJ-11, a UAV designed for precision strikes and recon missions. Its futuristic design includes a tailless flying wing and two internal weapons bays. The PHL-16, a new type of rocket launcher that is China's answer to the Westerm HIMARS system, was also put on show. Many drone systems were also AI-powered, a bold move that few nations, wary of the ramifications of trusting AI, have made. According to defence analyst Michael Raska, the proud display of these AI-integrated systems shows that China wants to shape the future of warfare. He added that it was clear that lessons have been learned from the invasion of Ukraine, which saw the massive rise of quick-response drone warfare. Alexander Neill, a military expert, added: 'Alacrity in the kill chain matters'. He pointed out that in the ever-changing landscape of a live battle, decisions have to made in 'nanoseconds' in order to kill the enemy and gain the upper hand - which is what AI can do. China's growing focus on nukes China's liquid-fueled intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles DongFeng-5C, which have a global strike range, pass through Tian'anmen Square during the V-Day military parade on September 3, 2025 in Beijing, China China unveiled its land-, sea-, and air-based strategic forces as the nuclear triad for the first time in Wednesday's V-Day military parade China's liquid-fueled intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles DongFeng-5C, which have a global strike range, pass through Tian'anmen Square during the V-Day military parade on September 3, 2025 in Beijing It appears that China has a growing focus on nuclear weapons. Xi Jinping paraded new variants of ICBMs, including the DF-31BJ the newest road-mobile variant of the DF-31 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. The DF-31BJ is believed to be an upgrade of the DF-31AG, and was tested last September. This was China's first nuclear missile test in 44 years. Experts believe China is putting all its eggs in its nuclear basket to counter America's superior naval capabilities. With the US Navy having the world's largest fleet of aircraft carriers and carrier strike groups, China is investing its resources on getting strategic nuclear missiles in order to have the same global reach. Alexander Neill, adjunct fellow with the Pacific Forum, told the BBC: 'There is this idea that Beijing wants to develop its credible deterrence, but also create a second strike capability. 'This is why it's expanding its diversification of its missile platforms' China's growing influence - with dozens of leaders from around the world in attendance (L-R) Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping with his wife Peng Liyuan, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and heads of foreign delegations pose for a photo before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko all attended the parade The leaders of 26 countries and other foreign representatives joined Xi Jinping in a show of solidarity among nations friendly to Beijing. Leaders from the US, western Europe, Japan and India were not present at the event, and countries like South Korea and Singapore sent lower-level officials. But Mr Xi's guest list showed Beijing's growing influence in the global south and other emerging economies. Mr Putin and Mr Kim, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, are all considered US adversaries. Russia's close ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko walked next to Mr Kim after taking group pictures with other leaders. Asia accounted for the majority of national leaders at the event. A 42-year-old lesbian headmistress who jumped off a cliff to her death after a campaign of homophobic abuse made a tragic confession just days before taking her own life. The body of Caroline Grandjean was found by French police near Anglards-de-Salers in Cantal where she lived on September 1 - the first day of the new school term. The woman had abandoned her role at the nursery school where she taught in Moussages a year prior due to months of harassment by an anonymous culprit. 'Monday, I assure you, will be much more difficult for me at home than for you in your school,' the teacher wrote in a Facebook group for school principals on August 28, reported La Montagne. She wrote the message just four days before contacting France's suicide helpline at 10:30 am on Monday. Later that day, her body was found some 30 metres off a cliff edge near her home. And on April 15, five months before she took her own life, Grandjean made another foreboding prediction, this time to her friend. 'It's a never-ending story that will end badly,' the woman wrote in a private message, reported Le Parisien. Even though she was never public about her sexuality, it is understood that someone in the small, 300-person village discovered that she was married to a woman and began the hateful campaign. The first incident occurred in December 2023 when she discovered the words 'dirty d**e' on the wall of the school where she was principal. Grandjean had contacted France's suicide helpline hours before she jumped 30 metres off a cliff near Anglards-de-Salers in Cantal She filed a complaint, but the homophobic graffiti only continued, with slogans such as 'D**e = pedophile' and 'Get out of here D**e' appearing around the village and the school. At one point, she even received a death threat: 'Go die, you dirty D**e.' Overall, she filed five complaints to the authorities and the police opened an investigation, but the harassment still continued and the vandal was never identified. She did not feel supported by the nursery school, who apparently asked her to change institution, before encouraging her to switch position - offers she initially refused. But the bullying got so severe that Grandjean did not return to teach at the nursery for the new school year in 2024. 'The start of the school year is always a very difficult time for me,' she confessed in a forum with other school principals in January this year. 'In concrete terms, the investigation isn't moving forward. Since I'm no longer at the school, there's obviously no more homophobic tagging. They've won over there. They have a replacement [at the school], and she's fully committed. 'I think the hierarchy has also won since there's no longer a problem.' The death of Grandjean came just a few days before the anniversary of the suicide of another headmistress in France. The body of Caroline Grandjean's was found by French police near Anglards-de-Salers in Cantal where she lived on September 1 - the first day of the new school term In September 2019, 58-year-old headmistress Christine Renon took her own life in the lobby of her school after complaining in a letter about her workload leaving her 'exhausted'. Her death in north-east Paris caused thousands of French teachers to protest in solidarity with their colleague. Now, following the death of Grandjean, the Department of Education agreed to open an administrative inquiry following pressure from furious school unions such as FSU-SNUipp and S2DEs. In a forum of school principals a few days before Grandjean's suicide, someone asked: 'What has changed since Christine Renon's death?' 'Nothing,' Grandjean responded, reported Le Parisien. At one point during the homophobic campaign - despite alleged reservations from the town hall - a desperate Grandjean sent local residents a statement co-signed by parents and the village mayor, denouncing the harassment. It is understood that Grandjean attempted suicide in recent months before taking her own life on September 1. Now, following her death, police officers are reportedly stationed outside the school's gates in the village of Moussages. 'The fact that she was a lesbian, we didn't care,' one local father told French outlet Liberation. 'The parents of the students also gave her their support. People here are neither fascists nor homophobic,' he added. 'People knew she was living with a woman, but it didn't make a difference,' two parents, Julien and Estelle, told the publication, in response to reports that the local community did not do enough to support the headmistress. 'There's another gay couple in the village, so what? All of us - parents, the town hall, and the education system - acted together to condemn these actions and support this woman. We met with the inspector several times, we worked with the authorities.' Her experience suffering abuse was documented by French comic book author Remedium (real name Christophe Tardieux) in a short work called 'Cas d'ecole' in January 2025. Following the news of her death, the grieving author told Le Parisien: 'I am in shock. Her wife contacted me at the end of the day to tell me the terrible news. It's a waste and I have the impression that nothing was done to prevent it. 'Recently, there has been an accumulation of several events that have reinforced her feeling of injustice. 'First, the dismissal of her complaint, and then the promotion of the national education inspector who, according to her, had not really supported her throughout this affair. 'There is a message in the fact that she chose this date at the start of the school year to take her own life.' A teenager today appeared in court charged with manslaughter after a woman fell to her death from a block of flats. Jaiden Hassan-Agard, 18, appeared at a magistrates court accused of killing 'beautiful' Tia Langdon, 25. Miss Langdon died after she fell from the third-floor balcony at a block of flats in Southampton, Hants. Hassan-Agard is charged with manslaughter, false imprisonment, making threats to kill, and threatening with an offensive weapon in a private place. The teenager has also been charged with kidnap, false imprisonment, making threats to kill and threatening with an offensive weapon in a private place in relation to another unnamed woman who was also in a flat with Tia at the time. In a statement on Tuesday night, police described Hassan-Agard as 'British born' and 'mixed white and black Caribbean'. This follows new guidance from the National Police Chief's Council and College of Policing saying forces should consider disclosing such information in high-profile and sensitive investigations. The guidance was introduced to help ensure policing is more consistent, fair and transparent , as well as addressing potential mis and disinformation Tributes have poured in for Tia Langdon (pictured), who died last week in the hospital in Southampton after she suffered serious injuries falling from a block of flats Jaiden Hassan-Agard, 18, will appear in court today charged with manslaughter and a series of other offences, including the alleged kidnap of a second woman who was also at the flat at the same time. Pictured: Police at the block of flats in Redbridge, Southampton Floral tributes have been placed outside the block of flats on Cuckmere Lane in the days since the incident. Pictured: Ms Langdon Today, Hassan-Agard appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court, wearing a grey sweatshirt and with his hair in dreadlocks. Miss Langdon's mother came to court but did not enter the court room. Hassan-Agard kept a blank face during the two-minute long hearing. The defendant was remanded in custody to appear at Southampton Crown Court on September 29. District Judge Anthony Callaway told him: 'You will remain in custody until your next appearance at Southampton Crown Court.' A police statement said that they responded to an incident in Cuckmere Lane around 2.45pm on August 28 to a female who had suffered significant injuries. Emergency services attended, and Miss Langdon, from Southampton, was taken to hospital for treatment. However, she tragically died as a result of her injuries. Almost a dozen sets of flowers were on display outside the building on Sunday afternoon. Ms Langdon, 25, suffered severe injuries and died in hospital the next day One said: 'Beautiful girl, RIP my darling.' Another tribute left at the flats said: 'Rest in peace darling, I'm sorry I couldn't help you more, thoughts are with you, your family, and friends.' Lee Whitbread, ward councillor for Redbridge, described it as a 'tragic incident', adding that he was 'deeply saddened to hear of it'. He said: 'My heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with the family, friends, and loved ones of the young woman who has lost her life. 'This is an incredibly distressing event for our community, and I know many residents will be shocked and saddened. 'At times like this, it is important that we support one another as neighbours and as a community. 'While I would not wish to comment on the details of the ongoing police investigation, I have every confidence that it will be conducted thoroughly, and I would encourage anyone with information to assist them.' A coffee shop worker was left fuming after she was fined 100 for parking just two inches over a white line. Lisa Henderson, 56, paid 1.95 to park her Mini for an hour at a car park in Newark, Nottinghamshire, on August 9. However, despite leaving after only 30 minutes, the mother-of-two was stunned when she received a 100 penalty in the post two weeks later. The letter included photographs of Ms Henderson's Mini with the front tyre slightly crossing the painted white line of the parking bay. Ms Henderson said: 'If I'd parked in a disabled bay, if I'd parked inconsiderately or where I shouldn't have, then absolutely, I would understand the fine. 'But I just can't understand why I was fined.I work hard. I'm on minimum wage, and I just couldn't bring myself to pay it. 'From the side, you can see very clearly that I'm barely on the line. I would say it's no more than one or two inches over. 'Also, the space to the side of my car isn't a parking space, there's a column at the side of it, it's not like I'm preventing somebody else from parking there.' Lisa Henderson (pictured) paid 1.95 to park her Mini for an hour at a car park in Newark, Nottinghamshire on August 9 Pictured: Ms Henderson's parking that resulted in her receiving a fine She lodged an appeal with NCP, which operates the car park. The company issued an apology and agreed to overturn the fine. Ms Henderson added: 'I feel relieved but a little bit annoyed at the same time, because it was just ridiculous. 'When I first received the letter I thought it was a joke. I couldn't believe it was genuine.' The firm said the notice was correctly issued as the vehicle was in 'breach of the Terms and Conditions of Parking'. NCP spokesperson Michelle McCarthy said: 'We do have to be careful with cars being parked over designated bay lines as this can really impact other customers parking in our car parks. 'But having looked at the image, we agree to cancel this parking charge with immediate effect and offer our sincere apologies.' It comes after motorists previously complained that overzealous parking wardens were slapping drivers with 100 charges for leaving cars over-hanging the white lines by just inches at a retail park in 2022. Julian Griffiths, 59, had parked his Renault Clio at Parc Tawe Retail Park in Swansea for 10 minutes to buy knee-supports for his son at SportsDirect. Father-of-two Craig Court, from North Hill, was slapped with a 100 fine for not parking within the bay markings at the car park in Swansea in 2022 The civil servant received a 100 fine from Eternity Fire and Security Ltd two weeks later saying he had breached parking rules by 7cm. 'I thought, "Bloody hell they're having a laugh". Never realised it had to be perfectly square and perfectly within the confines of the bay,' Mr Griffiths told The Sun. 'I would understand if it was halfway in one bay and half across another bay, but they are penalising me for wonky parking it's mad.' He added: 'It's clearly another example of car parking companies abusing their position to generate income.' It came less than week after father-of-two Craig Court, from North Hill, was also slapped with a 100 fine for not parking within the bay markings at the same car park. The letter, alongside two photos, said his Ford Focus was 'not parked correctly within the markings of a bay or space'. He told WalesOnline: 'I was considering appealing as my wheels are not fully out of the lines - some people have given some good advice. 'At the end of the day, I was only taking my kids to Ninja Warrior - so using their facilities [the Parc Tawe carpark] - now [I] feel penalised for it. 'I have paid as I don't feel an appeal would help in any way, just drag the situation out further. 'I have never been fined there before, I am usually quite strict in where I park and how I park. Turned out to be an expensive day!' A major Sydney train station has ground to the halt amid fears someone was hit on the tracks. Trains running between Central Station and Bondi Junction on the T4 line was halted shortly before 6pm on Wednesday. A Transport NSW spokesman told Daily Mail emergency services are attending an incident at Edgecliff station. Commuters have been advised to seek alternative travel or delay their train trip. Replacement buses are headed to affected stations, where commuters were briefly stuck on trains. Trains moving towards Bondi Junction were diverted to the City Circle and before returning to Hurstville, Cronulla or Waterfall. Metro services are available Martin Place, Central and Sydenham. Footage from the scene showed several emergency service crews attended the scene, including police, firefighters and paramedics. It is unclear when services will resume. More to come... Trains are not running between Central and Bondi Junction due to an incident at Edgecliff station (pictured) Emergency services are attending the scene at Edgecliff 'Secret' maps allegedly used by Allied troops for the D-Day landings have sold at auction for 23,000 - after being found in a cardboard box. The collection - giving sensitive detail of the five landing beaches codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword during the 1944 invasion of Normandy - was first bought for just 10 from a local auction. Each map outlined in extensive detail the German defences as well as featuring terrain including hills, woods, villages and roads. The British military plans pinpointed enemy strong points, barbed wire and even minefields, which are marked in purple ink. The maps only came to light when their owner was rifling through an assorted box of military ephemera bought as part of a 10 job lot. The hoard had previously been in the possession of Royal Naval sub-lieutenant Walter Page, who served on Landing Craft Tank (LCT) 2138. The vehicle was one of 900 which played a vital role in transporting men and supplies across the English Channel during the conflict. The six D-Day landing maps sold for a total of 23,400 at Hansons Auctioneers, in Etwall, Derbyhire., last month. 'Secret' maps allegedly used by Allied troops for the D-Day landings have sold at auction for 23,000 - after being found in a cardboard box. Above: One of the maps, showing Utah Beach Each map outlined in extensive detail the German defences as well as featuring terrain including hills, woods, villages and roads They were sold alongside secret plans to liberate the Channel Islands from Nazi rule, which fetched 3,800 from an 800-1,200 estimate. The 50-page British military document was bought by the Jersey War Tunnels museum and will now go on public display for the first time. The archive - codenamed 'Operation Nestegg' - mapped out how forces would liberate the islands from German Occupation during WW2. The museum also bought three of the D-Day landing maps for Juno, Gold and Sword beaches for a total of 10,000. Its owner, Lance Trevellyan, said: 'Bringing the Operation Nestegg document and the D-Day maps home to the Channel Islands ensures they are preserved for future generations, rather than disappearing into private collections. 'Our mission has always been to protect and share the stories of the Occupation and Liberation, and acquisitions like these enhance our mission to place Jersey firmly on the map as a destination for worldclass WWII history.' A museum spokesperson added: 'These purchases represent the beginning of a significant acquisitions programme to enrich and broaden the scope of the museum's wartime collection. 'While copies of the Operation Nestegg document are already held in Jersey, this newly acquired example is an original wartime copy, carrying the immediacy and authenticity of a document that was part of the actual Allied planning process, and is dated November 1944. A map of Juno Beach. It gave Allied troops extensive detail of the invasion sites The British military plans pinpointed enemy strong holds, barbed wire and even minefields, which are marked in purple ink The maps only came to light when their owner was rifling through an assorted box of military ephemera bought as part of a 10 job lot 'Their acquisition ensures these historically important items will remain in the Channel Islands for future generations to study and experience.' The four Operation Nestegg documents dated November 1, 1944 provide detailed instructions including the number of ships involved to mine sweeping instructions for the approach by sea. The mission was carried out by a specialist British military group called Force 135, three 700-man battalions which sailed from Plymouth. It was not known at the time whether the 40,000 German troops stationed on Jersey and Guernsey would give up the islands without a fight. However the liberation did not involve armed conflict and no blood was spilled - with surrenders signed in both islands in May 1945. The documents came to light last month 80 years later after being discovered gathering dust in a cardboard box in Derbyshire. Hansons' militaria expert, Matt Crowson, said: 'I am delighted these historically important documents, will be displayed for all to see. 'Each is an important piece of military and social history from a tumultuous time. 'The liberation of the Channel Islands ended five years of Nazi German occupation, and signified freedom for its inhabitants, and the end of the hardships endured, including shortages of food, restrictions of movement, and fear of what awaited ahead. 'The plans for Operation Nestegg proved to be one of the star lots on the day, and shows the growing popularity of good and unusual WWII items at auction.' A composite map of all five landing beaches sold to a UK buyer for 6,000, more than doubling its guide price of 2,500. The remaining single maps of Utah and Omaha, both of which carried a guide price of 2,000-2,500, sold to a French buyer for 3,400 and 4,000. This is the moment thieves stole the motorbike of a man attempted to travel around the world after made a 15,000-mile journey to Britain Yogesh Alekari, 33, had been riding his KTM 390 Adventure on an epic ride starting in Mumbai, covering Asia, Russia and China, before heading across Europe and into the UK. The full-time content creator, who has more than 180,000 Instagram followers, was previously an architect but saved up money to travel the world and had planned to continue through Morocco, South Africa and finish in Kenya before returning home. But his adventure came to a dramatic halt last Thursday in Nottingham when brazen thieves struck in broad daylight at the city's Wollaton Park. His black, white and orange bike, along with all his belongings, including his passport, laptop, spare phone, two cameras, cash and clothes, were taken while he stopped for breakfast. Mr Alekari had been on his way to a motorcyclist event in Oxford when he parked his bike. In an Instagram post, he accused the police of failing to 'control theft crimes in this country', adding that he felt safer in Mumbai. Footage shows his bike, along with all his belongings, including his passport, laptop, spare phone, two cameras, cash and clothes, was taken while he went for breakfast His adventure came to a dramatic halt last Thursday in Nottingham when brazen thieves struck in broad daylight at the city's Wollaton Park The 33-year-old from India said the theft left him 'heartbroken' and blamed police for failing to keep the UK's streets safe, adding he felt safer in Mumbai He told the Daily Mail: 'I lost everything, all I have is my helmet, my mobile phone, and my riding pants. 'That's all I own at the moment. I don't have any other clothes. Yesterday I was able to get a t-shirt, and some British bikers kindly gave me a bit of cash.' He added: 'I feel a bit lost because I don't know anyone here or what to do. I am just looking for anyone who might be able to help. Luckily, I have a friend who gave me some accommodation and helped me buy a few clothes.' After the dramatic turn of events, he was offered shelter by a friend living in Wembley, north London, and his only hope is in being able to recover his beloved bike. He said: 'Right now, I am staying in London with a friend I knew from before. I will also be going to the embassy to try to get my passport.' He added: 'That is my hope. But if I don't get my bike back and everything stays lost, then my only option will be to fly back to India. I quit my job to travel the world for two years, and now everything is gone.' In a video posted online, he told followers: 'I was in Nottingham and heading towards the Overland Event in Oxford and I parked my bike.' Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Alekari parked his vehicle in Wollaton Park, Nottingham at around 11am, but when he returned less than an hour later, it was gone. He said his round-the-world challenge is on hold until he finds his bike and belongings Yogesh Alekari was 15,000 miles into his motorbike journey from Mumbai to Cape Town, when thieves made off with his KTM 390 Adventure bike last Thursday He parked his bike and went to have some breakfast, but when he returned, he found the bike and all his belongings had been stolen, leaving him 'panicked'. He said in a video: 'It was four people [who were] involved and it was an organised crime and nobody can stop them and they know they are fully confident to steal this kind of bikes because they are not scared of the police and I got shocked. I am totally depressed.' He added: 'I am panicked at this moment because [this bike] was my passion, it was my dream, it was my soul, and it was completely everything for [me]. And now I am in the UK in the middle of nowhere.' Before arriving in Britain, Alekari had travelled through 17 countries, including Nepal, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Finland and Norway. Footage captured by a passerby showed his adventure bike being ridden away, flanked by two mopeds. In an Instagram post on Monday, he said: 'UK police failed to control theft crimes in this country. 'India is the safest place to travel. We never ever lock our wheels in India, that's the success of our police system.' The blogger said he called the police shortly after his bike was stolen, but was told officers were unable to attend the park, which is run by Nottingham city council. 'I called the police and it seemed so strange that they just sent me a crime number,' he told the BBC. 'I was told they would call me back, and I waited in the park, but they never did.' Nottinghamshire Police has appealed to anyone who may have information on the bike's whereabouts following Mr Alekari's plea for help. The force says it has been trying to locate the black, white and orange bike since it was reported stolen, and that officers have been conducting local inquiries in the community. But, they have so far been unable to find the bike. Sergeant Daniel Sheasby added: 'Our policing teams have been conducting local inquiries in the community since last Thursday but have unfortunately not yet been able to locate the bike. 'We completely appreciate how much upset this will have caused to the bike owner but want to assure him the police are taking this seriously and are doing everything we can to try and return his property to him. 'On that note, we'd ask anyone who was at Wollaton Park around that time and spotted anything suspicious to please report it to us.'* Anyone with information can call 101 quoting incident 213 of August 28, 2025. Western democracies are under threat unless tougher ECHR asylum reforms are implemented, a top German judge has warned. Hans-Jurgen Papier, who served as the president of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany from 2002 to 2010, told The Times that the current legislation from the European Convention of Human Rights had led to 'uncontrolled and unconditional immigration' and is damaging the public's trust in democratic institutions. Papier added that rulings from the ECHR and national courts had created an 'ossified and rigid' body of law which is 'endangering the existence of western democracies'. The former judge, who is now emeritus professor of public law at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich said the main problem was an 'ever deeper reaching and ever more closely meshed agglomeration' of asylum rulings which now seemed to 'settle like mildew over the states' political power to take action'. This, Papier says, has widened the right to asylum into a 'de facto right to immigration through the back door'. 'The prospect that those in positions of political responsibility in Europe could change this system and adapt it to the fundamental changes in our social, political and cultural conditions seems ever more difficult and ever more hopeless to many people', Papier added. His remarks come as the topic of immigration in Europe has become a political flashpoint, with several taking to the streets to express their frustration over their countries' asylum systems. They also come 10 years since former German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the country's borders to nearly a million refugees fleeing war and persecution, a landmark decision that reshaped European politics. Hans-Juergen Papier, who served as the president of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany from 2002 to 2010, has warned that Western democracy is at risk without crucial ECHR reforms to the asylum system September marks the tenth anniversary of the peak of the European migration crisis, when then-Chancellor Merkel announced she would keep Germany s borders open to more than a million asylum seekers over the following year Migrants are escorted through fields by police as they are walked from Rigonce to Brezice refugee camp in Slovenia in 2015 The country granted protection to 3.5 million refugees, including many fleeing civil war in Syria, and about 1.2 million Ukrainians seeking safety from Russia's full scale invasion. But Merkel's open border policy was scrapped by the current chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who issued orders to turn undocumented migrants away from the nation. Germany is currently leading the way in toughening its migration measures under the country's new conservative government. Merz has placed curbs on migration including suspending family reunification and resettlement programmes, as it seeks to regain support from voters drawn to the far-right Alternative for Germany, which made historic gains in February's federal election. The government is also set to strip rejected asylum seekers of their automatic right to a lawyer in a bid to speed up deportations. Since the start of 2025, there were 61,336 new asylum applications in Germany, half as many as were recorded over the same period last year. And now, Germany has lost its title as the EU's prime destination for asylum seekers, having fallen behind Spain and France. Papier's comments also come two months after Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that the ECHR must be reformed as public confidence in the rule of law across the continent is 'fraying'. Germany took in 1.1 million migrants and asylum seekers in 2015, more than any other European country in the same period German federal police officers guide a group of migrants on their way after crossing the border between Austria and Germany in October 2018 His remarks come as the topic of immigration in Europe has become a political flashpoint, with several in Europe and Britain taking to the streets to protest their countries' asylum rulings. Pictured: nti-migrant protesters gather outside the Britannia Hotel in protest of the migration crisis in the UK Papier added that the ECHR allows a 'de facto right to migration through the back door'. Pictured: A smuggler's taxi-boat sails to pick up migrants to attempt to cross the English Channel off the beach of Gravelines, northern France on August 12, 2025 Mahmood told the Council of Europe in a speech in Strasbourg back in June that the ECHR 'must evolve' to respond to new realities. Her comments came as the UK Government seeks to tighten the interpretation of human rights laws in Britain. 'Across Europe, public confidence in the rule of law is fraying', she said. 'There is a growing perception sometimes mistaken, sometimes grounded in reality that human rights are no longer a shield for the vulnerable, but a tool for criminals to avoid responsibility. 'That the law too often protects those who break the rules, rather than those who follow them.' 'This tension is not new. But in today's world, the threats to justice and liberty are more complex. They can come from technology, transnational crime, uncontrolled migration, or legal systems that drift away from public consent.' Mahmood also told European ambassadors the UK was committed to the ECHR, but that was 'not the same as complacency'. She added that when the application of rights 'begins to feel out of step with common sense', that is where trust begins to erode. Merkel's open border policy was scrapped by the current chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who issued orders to turn undocumented migrants away from the nation. German police check people arriving from France at the German-French border on September 16, 2024 in Kehl, Germany During Merz's election campaign, he made reducing immigration a top policy on his agenda, and he went on to revoke Merkel's order on his first day in office A mounted policeman leads a group of migrants near Dobova, Slovenia, on October 20, 2015 Right wing demonstrators light flares on August 27, 2018 in Chemnitz, eastern Germany, following the death of a 35-year-old German national who died in hospital after a 'dispute between several people of different nationalities' Hundreds of migrants, brought by train from the Serbian border, arrive in Zagreb for processing at the Porin Hotel Centre in 2018 Migrants, mainly Iranian, pictured behind the fence of the Adasevci migrant camp in late 2018 Her call for change comes as the Government plans to tighten the use of Article 8 of the ECHR, the right to private and family life, in immigration cases in the UK. This includes cases involving foreign criminals. Under the plans unveiled in the immigration White Paper in May, the Home Office will bring forward legislation to try to reduce the number of people claiming 'exceptional circumstances' under Article 8 to stay in the UK. In June, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also claimed Britain is 'being mugged' by Channel migrants as she said she is 'likely' to support quitting the ECHR. In a major speech, the Tory leader bemoaned the effect of 'lawfare' in a number of areas - including on tackling illegal migration, deporting sex offenders, and supporting soldiers and military veterans. Badenoch set out her party's plans to establish a commission to investigate how to exit the ECHR, while the probe will also look at other international treaties. She blasted the ECHR, which is enforced by Strasbourg-based judges, as being a 'sword used to attack democratic decisions and common sense'. 'The ECHR is now being used in ways never intended by its original authors,' Mrs Badenoch said. 'It should be a shield to protect. Instead, it's become a sword.' The Tory leader highlighted how members of grooming gangs had previously used Article 8 of the ECHR - the right to a family life - to fight their deportation from Britain. Mrs Badenoch said she believed the UK 'will likely need to leave' the ECHR, but warned she 'won't commit to leaving without a clear plan to do so'. 'We saw that holding a referendum without a plan to get Brexit done, led to years of wrangling and endless arguments until we got it sorted in 2019,' she added. 'We cannot go through that again.' Keir Starmer's new chief economic adviser said Labour should rip up its election pledges and raise personal taxes, while lashing out at Rachel Reeves and Angela Reeves for hampering businesses. Baroness Minouche Shafik, who was appointed to No10 on Monday, used an interview earlier this year to suggest upping income tax and VAT to boost Treasury coffers. The former deputy governor of the Bank of England was brought in to act as a bridge between Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of a Budget expected to raise taxes later this autumn. But she used an appearance on LBC in April to attack 'feeble' UK growth under Ms Reeves' stewardship and criticise her last Budget for raising employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs). 'I wouldn't have chosen that tax if I wanted to raise revenue,' she told presenter Andrew Marr. 'I think there are other taxes that are better, like value added tax or income tax or even a land tax would be really desirable. 'They are less distortionary and more pro-growth. I also think we need to look at other things like the way the labour market works.' The peer also suggested the Chancellor needed to 'revisit' Labour's manifesto pledges and her fiscal rules - something the government has consistently said will not happen - and look at closer economic ties with Europe. Baroness Minouche Shafik, who was appointed to No10 on Monday (pictured), used an interview earlier this year to suggest upping income tax and VAT to boost Treasury coffers. She used an appearance on LBC in April to attack 'feeble' UK growth under Ms Reeves' stewardship and criticise her last Budget for raising employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs). The former president of Columbia University in New York also questioned parts of the Employment Rights Bill being championed by Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner. The former president of Columbia University in New York also questioned parts of the Employment Rights Bill being championed by Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner. Under the new legislation, bosses will be also be required to offer workers a guaranteed hours contract reflecting the hours they regularly work, as well as reasonable notice of shifts and payment of shifts. Its measures include bolstered rights to parental leave, a crackdown on 'fire and rehire' practices and the removal of the lower earnings limit and waiting period for statutory sick pay. Baroness Shafik told LBC that while the bill 'does some very good things' for workers, it 'reduces flexibility' for employers. 'If you have a lot of people on benefits who you are hoping to get into the labour market, as the government is hoping, you need to give employers some flexibility to take risks on those people,' she continued. 'Giving them more flexibility now would probably be a good thing.' Baroness Shafik previously co-chaired an inquiry with Treasury minister Torsten Bell which called for a raft of new tax rises. She has backed wealth taxes in the past, writing in 2018: Because wealth has grown even more unequal than income, we should explore taxing wealth such as inheritance, land, and real estate. Baroness Shafik previously co-chaired an inquiry with Treasury minister Torsten Bell which called for a raft of new tax rises. Ms Reeves has announced that she will present her autumn Budget on Wednesday November 26. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will be given the required 10 weeks notice to provide an independent forecast. The Chancellor is under increasing pressure as Britains long-term borrowing costs continued to surge higher on Wednesday, hitting fresh 27-year highs, while the pound also remained under pressure. Worries are mounting over the UKs finances before the Budget, with concerns that Ms Reeves will be forced to hike taxes and slash spending to balance the books. The scale of the challenge facing the Chancellor was illustrated by the NIESR economic think tank saying last month that Ms Reeves was set for a 41 billion shortfall on her self-imposed rule of balancing day-to-day spending with tax receipts in 2029-30. Mounting concerns are being raised about a potent drug 2,000 times more powerful than heroin and blamed for an 'epidemic' of deaths in Scotland. Health campaigners have warned of a 'crisis on top of crisis' due to the growing use and abuse of a dangerous opioid across the country. Scotland has been named the drug death capital of Europe for the seventh successive year. And although the number of fatalities have fallen to their lowest levels in eight years and dropped by 13 per cent compared to 2023, the nation's drug death rate - which is 191 per 1million people - remains the worst in Europe. There were 1,017 drug misuse deaths in Scotland last year, new figures from the National Records of Scotland have shown this week. And the statistics suggested Scotland's most deprived areas were 12 times more likely to experience drug deaths than the richer parts of the country. Of paramount concern among drug charities are the use of nitazenes, a class of toxic synthetic opioids many times stronger than other such substances used by addicts. Scottish Drugs Forum chief executive Kirsten Horsburgh highlighted how there had been a surge in overall drugs deaths reported in this year's first three months. Drug taking is so rife in this Morrisons car park in the Calton area of Glasgow that barriers have now been put up to stop addicts shooting up and a needle bin has been installed Pictured: Yellow and green pure nitazene pills seized in Australia in 2023 Pictured: A nitazene powder sample at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education in the US in 2023 There were 76 deaths involving nitazenes last year, according to National Records of Scotland data - three times as many as in the previous 12 months. And information from Public Health Scotland indicates that death toll could have doubled this year - as nitazene was detected in 38 fatalities in 2025's first quarter. Ms Horsburgh said: 'There are still increasing harms and increasing numbers of deaths. 'We are not in a situation where weve achieved what we need to achieve. Theres still a lot to be done.' The drugs, which were first created in the 1950s as opioid painkillers, can reach up to 2,000 times the potency of heroin. The statistics show the most common drugs implicated in the deaths in Scotland last year were opiates and opioids (80 per cent), benzodiazepines (56 per cent) and cocaine (47 per cent). More than nine out of 10 (91 per cent) drug misuse deaths were classified as accidental poisonings, with six per cent classed as intentional self-poisonings. The rate of drug poisoning deaths in Scotland in 2023 was about two to three times the rate of other UK countries. Your browser does not support iframes. Nitazenes appear in a variety of forms - some are bought, often by drug dealers, as pure pills. Others are found after being cut into illegal drugs such as heroin or traditionally legal medications like Valium and Xanax - or simply sold under those brand names without having any original product in them at all. Dr Philip Berry, a consultant focusing on the international drug trade, said of nitazenes: 'It's uncertain how this problem will develop, but in the short term, it is likely criminal groups will continue to embed nitazenes into the UK market. 'Ministers and officials from across government are prioritising tackling this issue. This has the potential to get worse.' Steve Rolles, a senior policy analyst at the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, said: 'Fentanyl and nitazenes are very similar. They are both synthetic opioids. 'We are talking about a family of drugs. Nitazene is not a single drug, there is a whole group of them. 'They are all extremely potent and dangerous but they are all quite different. It can be many thousands of times stronger than heroin. 'When the dosage is unknown or it's used as an adulterant then less than a grain of sand can be enough to kill you. 'Pharmacy drugs are incredibly regulated. Illegal drugs are not. You don't know how much is in your heroin or [illegally purchased] Xanax. Your browser does not support iframes. Illegal drugs, such as this 'Iranian Gucci Heroin' also contained nitazenes. This sample had heroin mixed with protonitazene, which is 200 times more potent than heroin 'The gap between the effective dose and overdose [in NSOs] is very small.' More than 70 types of nitazenes have been identified worldwide. At least 14 specific types have been banned in the UK, although a new law in January banned all variants with a generic definition of nitazenes to stop gangs simply synthesising new unbanned ones to skirt the law. While deaths involving opiates and opioids and benzodiazepines fell last year, deaths which implicated cocaine remained at their highest level on record, with 479 deaths for the second successive year. Phillipa Haxton, head of vital events statistics at National Records of Scotland, said: 'These statistics show a decrease in drug misuse deaths over the last year and represent the lowest number of deaths in the last seven years. 'The longer term trend shows that drug misuse deaths are still much more common than they were two decades ago. The statistics also provide information about the people who died of a drug misuse death. 'The figures show us that males continue to be more than twice as likely to have a drug misuse death as females.' Scotland has been named the drug death capital of Europe for the seventh year in a row. Pictured: The Trongate area of Glasgow First Minister of Scotland John Swinney is seen at Edinburgh Waverley station on September 1 What to do if someone overdoses on opioids Keep calm and follow these steps: Make sure that you're not in any danger first Keeping yourself safe is important. Call 999 and ask for an ambulance Check to see if there is anything obstructing their airways Place the person in the recovery position You can find out how to do this here If you have Prenoxad, inject it into their thigh or upper arm muscle If you have Nyxoid, place the spray in their nose and press the plunger Wait with the person until the ambulance arrives, and give the used naloxone kit to the paramedics Source: changegrowlive.org Advertisement Earlier this year, the first legal 'shooting gallery' - a 2.3million centre for drug addicts to take heroin and cocaine under medical supervision - opened its doors in Scotland. The Thistle Centre in Glasgow provides a space where drug users can take illegal substances under supervision in a clean and hygienic environment. It was hoped by the Scottish Government that those who attend the pilot facility can be encouraged to seek support to overcome their addiction. Staff are also able to assist anyone who suffers an overdose, and those taking drugs at the centre will be free from the threat of arrest. The outlet was established after Scotland's top prosecutor, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, made clear prosecuting users of such a facility for possession of drugs would not be in the public interest. Speaking during a tour of the facility First Minister John Swinney said: 'I hope it will help us to reduce drugs deaths in Scotland and to help people to find a different route in their lives. 'We will evaluate the effectiveness of this particular intervention to determine what progress is achieved as a consequence of it, what impact it has had, and to learn the lessons from it.' The Mail revealed this week how New Wynd in Glasgow's Trongate is among the areas most troubled by drug users. Pictured: The Trongate area of Glasgow in the city centre is notorious for drug use Stewart Smith, 67, (pictured) says he regularly sees drug use in the open outside the shops and bars in Govanhill as well as Glasgow centre How to tell if someone has overdosed Keep an eye out for these signs that someone is having an overdose: Deep snoring/gurgling noises You can't wake the person up, and they don't respond if you shake their shoulders or call their name A blue tinge to the lips, nail beds or other extremities They have stopped breathing You should always call 999 if you think someone is having an overdose. Don't be scared that you'll get in trouble. The ambulance will not bring the police with them except in very particular cases. Source: changegrowlive.org Advertisement The historical street, which houses Glasgow's oldest music hall The Britannia Panopticon, is on Glasgow's tourist trail but only those who dare will walk unaccompanied along its graffiti walled path after sunset. Even in plain daylight, the ground lies scattered with the remnants of their latest hit, bags of crystallised white powder, drug paraphernalia and empty packets issued by local pharmacies, with plastic nib tops of syringes laying nearby. There's also human faeces and urine-soaked walls where those with no dignity have given in to the urgency of addiction. It is just one of the no-go areas in the city where locals have got all too used to 'junkies' shooting up, urinating and defecating just a stone's throw away from the busy commuter path. Further into the east end, up past the Barrowlands, as well as across the water along to Govanhill on the south side of the city the picture is the same, pathways littered with needles and the pallor of vacant-looking drug users while Inverclyde and Dundee see a similar scenario. Stewart Smith, from the south side of Glasgow, says he regularly sees drug use in the open outside the shops and bars in Govanhill as well as Glasgow centre. It's a sight that is all too common. The pensioner said: 'I don't know what it is they are taking but there's a lot of drugs outside the bars in Govanhill and they are all smoking something. 'If you look about Glasgow Saltmarket too, the amount of people with one leg or in wheelchairs that you see who have lost their limbs because of infection is bad. It is embarrassing that Scotland still has the highest figures. Carol Bruce, 62, said the new findings of a decrease in deaths may be down to different types of drugs being consumed this year 'The government should be doing more and it's about education early on. I think it's good we're moving in the right direction but it's not enough. 'The rooms where they shoot up is quite a good thing because it's somewhere safe medically but we need to look into it more. Maybe it's the cost of the drugs that has made figures go down this year? Who knows?' Fellow Glasgow resident Carol Bruce, 62, suggested the new findings of a decrease in deaths could be due to different types of drugs being consumed this year. She said: 'I think street valium is the biggest killer. I know there is the centre nearby but they can't wait until they get there to take it. 'Depending on where they get it from they are not going to wait till they get to the centre to take it. They are that desperate. We talk about it, my friends and I. 'I'm not sure why the number of deaths has dropped this year but I think a lot of people now take cocaine rather than heroin and that, and are actually snorting it as in crack cocaine. 'I know loads of people have changed from heroin to crack cocaine so that might be why there's less drugs deaths at the moment. There was a bad batch going about but it still remains a big problem and the waiting time for rehab is impossible too. 'We see them hitting up around us but we managed to get rid of them for now.' Australia has promised the wife of Russia's late opposition leader and critic of Vladimir Putin his death will not be forgotten. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday at Parliament House. Navalny, a prolific anti-corruption campaigner, died in 2024, just months after being sent to a remote prison in Siberia. The Albanese government on Thursday announced further sanctions on 14 Russian officials it says are responsible for silencing political expression in Russia and enabling the 'illegal and immoral' invasion of Ukraine. Albanese will also on Thursday join an online meeting of world leaders headed by French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss sending troops to Ukraine. Senator Wong praised Ms Navalnaya's courage and determination in calling for democracy in Russia following her husband's death. 'You've had to deal with a lot of loss. Alexei was a champion of democracy and human rights and the Australian government holds (Russian President Vladimir) Putin personally responsible for his death,' she said during the meeting. 'We stand with you when we fight for human rights and democracy.' Ms Navalnaya is on the board of the International Anti-Corruption Foundation, set up to tell 'the truth about Russian criminal power' and thanked Australia for its support. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny , met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday at Parliament House. Policemen detain Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2019 Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference, at the end of his visit to China for the Tianjin SCO Summit 'Russia is not Putin. We'll do everything so that Russia will become a free, normal democratic country,' she told reporters in Canberra. The Russian activist also held talks with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley during her visit to Canberra. 'The human rights situation in Russia continues to deteriorate with violent crackdowns aimed at suppressing human rights and anti-war advocacy,' Senator Wong said in a statement. The government has reiterated its call for Russia to comply with its international human rights obligations. The announcement builds on the government's current sanctions against Russia, including three packages since 2022 targeting individuals involved in the poisoning, mistreatment and death of Mr Navalny. This is the moment North Korean staff wiped down all the furniture that Kim Jong Un had touched and whisked away his glass in what looks like an attempt to remove all traces of his DNA after his meeting with Vladimir Putin. The North Korean and Russian leaders met on Wednesday following a massive military parade in Beijing where Chinese President Xi Jinping showed off his nation's rising diplomatic standing in the world. In the video posted on Telegram, two staff members can be seen anxiously polishing the backrest of the chair where Kim sat and taking away his drinking glass on a tray. One man makes sure to wipe down the wooden arms of the seat and even the table next to it. 'After the negotiations, the staff accompanying the head of the DPRK carefully destroyed all traces of Kim's presence,' Russian journalist Alexander Yunashev reported on his Telegram channel Yunashev Live. 'They took away the glass from which he drank, wiped the upholstery of the chair and those parts of the furniture that the Korean leader touched. 'The official part of the meeting ended, Putin and Kim left the office very satisfied and went to drink tea in a more relaxed atmosphere.' It is not clear whether Kim ordered the forensic decontamination because of fears about Putin's secret services or the Chinese, but the Pyongyang dictator is not the only world leader anxious about protecting his DNA. The North Korean and Russian leaders met on Wednesday following a massive military parade in Beijing where Chinese President Xi Jinping showed off his nation's rising diplomatic standing in the world n the video posted on Telegram, two staff members can be seen anxiously polishing the chair where Kim sat and taking away his drinking glass on a tray One man makes sure to wipe down the wooden arms of the chair and even the table next to it The Russian leader's bodyguards reportedly collect his urine and fecal matter in sealed bags when he is abroad and deliver them in special suitcases to Moscow. Putin's Federal Protection Service (FPS) has apparently been doing this ritual since 2017 to prevent hostile leaders from ascertaining intelligence about his health based on his excrement. At their talks, the North Korean leader pledged his full support to Putin, promising to do 'everything I can to assist' Moscow as the Russian president thanked Pyongyang for sending troops to fight against Ukraine. South Korea believes Kim sent some 15,000 troops to support Russia. Estimates of the number of killed North Korean soldiers vary, ranging between 600 and 2,000. The meeting took place on the sidelines of celebrations in Beijing to mark the anniversary of Japan's formal surrender in World War Two. Hours earlier, the pair flanked the Chinese President at a massive military parade for the first such gathering of the three countries' leaders since the early days of the Cold War. After the parade, Kim and Putin travelled in the same car to a state guesthouse for private bilateral discussions. 'If there is anything I can or must do for you and the Russian people, I consider it my duty as a fraternal obligation,' Kim told Putin. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse Russian President Vladimir Putin (back) bids farewell to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he leaves after a meeting in Beijing, China September 3, 2025 Participants wave Chinese national flags during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II China's Victory Day military parade serves as a powerful display of national pride and military power This year's parade carries heightened geopolitical weight with the attendance of 26 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian After the parade, Kim and Putin travelled in the same car to a state guesthouse for private bilateral discussions Putin addressed Kim as 'Dear Chairman of State Affairs' in Russian and extended his warmest greetings. The two countries are bound by a 2024 mutual defence treaty and both face heavy international sanctions - Russia for its war in and North Korea for its nuclear weapons programme. 'Recently, relations between our countries have assumed a special, trusting and friendly character, and an allied character,' Putin said, and praised North Korean special forces that were deployed to help Russian troops. 'Your soldiers fought courageously and heroically.' North Korean troops helped Moscow earlier this year to eject Ukrainian forces from Russia's western region of Kursk. 'I would like to note that we will never forget the sacrifices that your armed forces and the families of your servicemen have suffered,' Putin said. The Beijing visit, Kim's first known trip to China since the pandemic, offered the reclusive North Korean leader his first-ever chance to meet Putin and Xi together, as well as mingle with the more than two dozen other national leaders who attended the events. According to Pul Pervogo, a social media account that reports widely on Alexander Lukashenko's activities, Kim spoke to the Belarusian president before the parade and invited him to visit Pyongyang. Park Won-gon, a North Korea expert at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, called the visit a major propaganda win for Kim. 'Just standing and walking side by side with Xi Jinping and Putin. How could there be any better way for him to show his status to the world and to his people?' A boy dressed as a soldier holds a toy gun as he waits to watch the military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing Bringing together 26 heads of state including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Xi's gathering has been dubbed an 'Axis of Upheaval' by Western analysts At a time when Trump has set his sights on a Nobel Peace Prize, any new concentration of military power in the East that includes Russia will ring alarm bells for the West For Kim, the parade marks the largest multilateral diplomatic event he has ever attended, offering the reclusive young leader an opportunity to gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons Two girls hold flags as they show the victory sign while waiting to watch military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing President Donald Trump blasted the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea for 'conspiring against the United States of America' as they assembled to watch the military parade. In the enormous display, Beijing showcased the country's newest high grade weapons including a laser which experts fear could burn out electronics or even blind pilots as well as D5-5C missiles, several land-based unmanned combat systems, hypersonic missiles and submarines that can evade detection. The summit was billed as an alternative to the U.S.-led global order and was packed with displays of warm unity between Moscow, Beijing and Delhi, India. Trump slammed the gathering in a Truth Social post on Tuesday night, asking Xi to 'please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.' He questioned whether Xi 'will mention the massive amount of support and "blood" that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. 'Many Americans died in China's quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!' Trump signed off with a warm message, writing: 'May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.' The Kremlin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, hit back following Trump's message, saying: 'I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies. No one even had such a thought - none of these three leaders had such a thought.' Chinese President Xi Jinping watches the military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender China brought out its nuclear weapons to flex its military dominance The laser weapons and HQ-16C missiles on display as a crowd takes photographs Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (C) leave after their meeting in Beijing on September 3, 2025 A member of the army standing in front of D5-5C nuclear missiles Chinese troops with high-tech gear mounted on next gen armoured vehicles in Beijing He added: 'I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally in the current international situation.' It comes just a day after the U.S. President lashed out at India's high tariffs after the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen holding hands with Putin. Many suspected Modi's warm embrace of Putin was a reaction against Trumps tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. India, along with China, are the two biggest buyers of Russian oil, a crucial source of revenue for Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The president hit India with 50 percent tariffs on some goods in retaliation, accusing Delhi of bankrolling Putin's war effort. After seeing Modi cosy up to both Putin and Xi before the military parade, Trump wrote a furious post on Truth Social. 'What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest "client," but we sell them very little - Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades,' he said. 'The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster! Crowds at Tiananmen Square witnessed a flyover from the air echelon Balloons and doves are released into the sky above the crowds It comes just a day after Trump also slammed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was seen holding hands with Putin at the anti-NATO summit in China Before Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem 'Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it's getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!' Bringing together 26 heads of state including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Xi's gathering has been dubbed an 'Axis of Upheaval' by Western analysts, who commented on the anti-NATO stance of the countries. At a time when Trump has set his sights on a Nobel Peace Prize, any new concentration of military power in the East that includes Russia will ring alarm bells for the West. 'Trilateral military exercises between Russia, China and North Korea seem nearly inevitable,' wrote Youngjun Kim, an analyst at the U.S.-based National Bureau of Asian Research, in March, citing how the conflict in Ukraine had pushed Moscow and Pyongyang closer. 'Until a few years ago, China and Russia were important partners in imposing international sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear and missile tests... (they) are now potential military partners of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea during a crisis on the Korean peninsula,' he added, using the diplomatically isolated country's official name. For Kim, the parade marks the largest multilateral diplomatic event he has ever attended, offering the reclusive young leader an opportunity to gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons, and expand his diplomatic circle. Before crossing to China early on Tuesday, Kim visited a missile laboratory. The visit was geared towards 'showing off (North Korea's) status as a nuclear power' just before 'standing alongside Xi and Putin, which is intended to suggest support for North Korea as a nuclear state,' said Hong Min, North Korea analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. A travellers' site that received more than 116,000 of taxpayer money has left residents up in arms after shocking pictures reveal huge piles of rubbish on the land. Residents near the site in Swansea have claimed that they can smell plastic from the rubbish being burned with fears that 'cancer-causing chemicals' are being released into the air. Drone images from the site show huge piles of rubbish strewn across the site in Mill Stream Way, Llansamlet. There also appeared to be charred remains of waste, and adjacent trees that showed signs of being fire damaged, WalesOnline reports. Swansea Council has said 'investigations are ongoing' into the claims that rubbish, including plastic, is being burnt at the site. Nearby residents in Llansamlet and Morriston have been complaining on social media over the past month about a 'plume' coming from the site. One concerned resident claimed on a Facebook community group on August 31 that waste was being burned at the site and was set to 'poison us'. They added: 'Swansea council continues to let it happen.' Drone images from the site show huge piles of rubbish strewn across the site in Mill Stream Way, Llansamlet Residents near the site in Swansea have claimed that they can smell plastic from the rubbish being burned Swansea Council has said 'investigations are ongoing' into the claims that rubbish, including plastic, is being burnt at the site In an earlier post, dated August 9, another resident claimed: 'I have observed the plume going right over Morriston and I know that myself and some other residents have smelt plastic and other funny smells which obviously originate from this site. 'This is a really urgent and dire situation because the quality of our air that us and our families are all breathing in is compromised. 'They are releasing cancer-causing chemicals into the air prolonged exposure is going to have some serious, long-term implications on our health. 'In particular, I am worried about my children's small little lungs.' The travellers' site, which was set up over a decade ago, has been in the news in the past for similar concerns. In 2017, the South Wales Evening Post reported that rubbish had been burnt in woodland between Blawd Road and Mill Stream Way in Swansea Vale, and concerns were raised by the residents. The travellers at the site relocated from another area nearby, where a multi-million pound flood defence project was underway. Though they were unauthorised, these sites were 'tolerated' after a court ruling. Nearby residents in Llansamlet and Morriston have been complaining on social media over the past month about a 'plume' coming from the site However, this changed in 2023, when Mill Stream Way gained a certificate of lawful development as it had been used as a travellers' site for 10 years or more. During that time, the Welsh Government has granted more than 1160,00 for improvements at the site, such as upgrading toilets and a new perimeter. A spokesperson for Swansea Council said: 'The council is aware of complaints of fires in the area and also of the concerns of residents in surrounding communities. 'It is being taken very seriously, and we are continuing to meet with police and fire services, as well as Natural Resources Wales. 'Investigations are ongoing so coordinated actions can be taken against any illegal activities that may be taking place.' Graham Linehan has released audio of the moment he was arrested by armed police at Heathrow Airport over a series of 'anti-trans' tweets - as Wes Streeting suggested free speech laws could be changed in Britain. The Father Ted creator reacted with fury after he was detained by five armed officers as he returned to Britain from Arizona, and accused of 'inciting violence' in relation to three posts he had made on X in April while living in the US. Linehan, 57, shared screenshots of the posts he said he was arrested for, including one where he called it a 'violent, abusive act' for a trans-identified male to be in a female-only space. In what he maintains was a joke, he added in the tweet: 'Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails punch him in the balls.' The second post was an aerial shot from a trans demonstration which he described as 'a photo you can smell'. The third tweet - a follow-up to the picture - said: 'I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.' Releasing the audio of his arrest on his Substack blog, a police officer could be heard telling Linehan: 'It is alleged that on the 19th April 2025 you published a post on X intended to instill hatred and incite violence.' After being told he is under arrest for the posts on X, a furious Linehan shouts: 'It's just disgraceful... Holy s**t, I don't f***ing believe it. I'm under arrest!? Do you know what this country looks like in America?' He then repeats 'I'm going to sue you into the ground' three times, adding: 'F***ing b****ds. How dare you?' When told to 'calm down' by police, Linehan - who was taken to hospital over his high blood pressure - fired back: 'I won't calm down!' Graham Linehan has released audio footage of the moment he was arrested by armed police after being detained over a series of 'anti-trans' tweets at Heathrow Airport It comes as Wes Streeting (pictured) has called for officers to 'police streets over tweets' and hinted free speech laws could be changed Nigel Farage has also weighed in, issuing a stark warning to Americans to protect their First Amendment rights After being quizzed about whether he's on any medication there is a brief moment of silence before Linehan yells: 'It's f***ing infuriating. You scumbags are working for f***ing ***holes who go into women's toilets.' He then criticises the police for targeting him for 'standing up for women's rights'. Linehan yesterday told of the moment he stepped off the plane only to be greeted by five armed officers. 'Don't tell me! You've been sent by trans activists,' Linehan laughed. The officers did not respond and escorted him away 'like a terrorist'. The audio was released as Wes Streeting suggested the Government could change free speech laws after Linehan's dramatic arrest. The Health Secretary has waded into the free speech debate after Linehan told how he was treated 'like a terrorist', held in a cell and then had to be rushed to hospital because the stress 'nearly killed me'. Mr Streeting told Times Radio that while he could not comment on live investigations or operational policing decisions, he could talk about 'the principle'. 'I think the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have been very clear that with the law and order challenges we've got in our country, we want to see people being kept safe by policing streets, not just policing tweets.' He added: 'It's very easy for people to criticise the police. The police enforce the laws of the land that we as legislators provide. 'So if we're not getting the balance right, then that's something that we all have to look at and consider.' Mr Streeting also rejected the suggestion that free speech was now 'banned', but added: 'I do think it's worth us having a debate,' on the issue. He said the Government would 'deal with' policing priorities if Parliament has distracted officers from focusing on 'the right things', in comments to Sky News. 'One of the things the Home Secretary is looking at is, are we tasking the police, are we asking the police to focus on the right things? 'And if we've distracted, as Parliament under the previous government, if they've been distracted, being asked to do things we don't see as a priority, well that is something that we will deal with,' Mr Streeting said. Irish comedy writer Mr Linehan told the Daily Mail: 'After spending a decade obsessing over their score on the Stonewall virtue index, the police can no longer tell up from down, left from right and, most worryingly of all, right from wrong' Harry Potter author JK Rowling led the chorus of outrage over his ordeal and called Mr Linehan's arrest an act of 'totalitarianism' Mr Streeting acknowledged that people are 'anxious' about some of the cases where people have been prosecuted for online posts. 'And I think we are all, let's be honest, quite anxious about some of the cases we've seen in the media, or proceed through the courts, of what people have said online, where you think 'Was that really what Parliament intended when they passed these laws?'' he told the BBC's Today programme. It comes as Nigel Farage warned Americans to defend their rights as the Reform UK leader criticised the UK's growing clampdown on free speech, urging the US not to follow the same path. 'To be met by five armed officers as if he is some sort of international terrorist for literally putting jokey comments out about trans activists,' he told Fox News. 'You guys have the First Amendment. Let me urge you: be vigilant about defending your rights - do not go down the path that we have.' The First Amendment in America protects citizens' freedom of speech without government interference. Mr Farage has said he will raise the case of Linehan when he gives evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on free speech in the UK today. On Tuesday night, Irish comedy writer Mr Linehan, who said he was bailed on condition he did not use X, told the Daily Mail: 'After spending a decade obsessing over their score on the Stonewall virtue index, the police can no longer tell up from down, left from right and, most worryingly of all, right from wrong.' Yesterday, Rowling led the backlash over Linehan's ordeal, asking online: 'What the f*** has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.' Musk branded Britain a 'police state' and asked: 'Why are police in Britain arresting citizens for social media posts instead of stopping child rape?' Free speech campaigner and former police officer Harry Miller, who won a landmark court case against a force that investigated him for allegedly transphobic tweets, told the Daily Mail: 'This is the sort of behaviour you expect in North Korea, not from a British police force. 'Britons are in danger of being subjected to interference by a police state.' Downing Street declined to comment on the ongoing case, which risks reviving damaging claims by US Vice-President JD Vance that free speech is being eroded in Britain. However Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said the Prime Minister's priorities for the police were tackling street crime and serious violence, in what will be seen as a veiled swipe at the Met. 'On the specific incident it's an operational matter for the police, but the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have been clear where their priorities for crime and policing are and that's tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women,' No 10 told reporters. Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union which is supporting Mr Linehan, told the Daily Mail: 'I don't think there's a better illustration of just how low we've sunk when it comes to free speech. World's richest man Elon Musk branded Britain a 'police state' and asked: 'Why are police in Britain arresting citizens for social media posts instead of stopping child rape?' Rowling leapt to Linehan's defence just weeks after he accused her of failing to defend him after he was cancelled over his similar views Free speech advocates, including JK Rowling, led the outrage over the arrest of Linehan today 'If Graham Linehan himself had written this scene for a sitcom about the descent of Starmer's Britain into an authoritarian banana republic, his editor would have rejected it as too implausible. 'The overzealous policing of social media posts is turning the UK into an international laughing stock.' His campaign group has hired Mr Linehan a solicitor to defend him against any possible charges but is looking into whether the police could be sued for wrongful arrest or false imprisonment. Lord Young said there is 'zero chance' of Mr Linehan being prosecuted for the offence under the Public Order Act that he was arrested for, as it only covers stirring up hatred on grounds of religion or sexual orientation - not gender identity. He wrote online: 'Sir Mark Rowley should make it clear no further action will be taken, issue an apology and offer Glinner substantial compensation for false arrest and wrongful imprisonment.' The Tories accused Scotland Yard of an 'absurd infringement of free speech' as the backlash intensified and said whoever approved the arrest should be held to account. On Tuesday night Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'Sending five officers to arrest a man for a tweet isn't policing, it's politics. Under Labour, we routinely see burglary, knife crime and assaults go unsolved, while resources are wasted on thought-policing. 'It's time this government told the police their job is to protect the public, not monitor social media for hurty words. Kemi Badenoch hit out at the Labour government and criticised the Met Police for 'thought policing' following news of Mr Linehan's arrest Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the arrest an 'absurd infringement of free speech' 'The Conservatives would stop this nonsense on day one and make public safety the first duty of policing, instead of pandering to fringe ideologies.' Senior Tory MPs questioned the need for five officers to make the arrest given the shortage of armed police nationwide with Laura Trott urging: 'It must be made clear who made this decision and they should be held accountable.' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This strikes me as an absurd infringement of free speech. The police should focus on catching real criminals.' And Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'The Met need to promptly apologise. 'Every day they delay will add to bill the taxpayer faces for their incompetence.' The row will reach Washington DC on Wednesday as Nigel Farage gives evidence to the US House Committee on the Judiciary on 'Europe's threat to American speech and innovation'. Reform UK leader Mr Farage said: 'The Graham Linehan case is yet another example of the war on free speech in the UK. 'I will discuss this, the Lucy Connolly case and the increasing role of our police in non-crime 'hate' incidents on Capitol Hill. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would be raising Mr Linehan's arrest as an example of 'the increasing role of our police in non-crime 'hate' incidents' during a visit to Washington DC 'Free speech is under assault and I am urging the USA to be vigilant.' The party's Deputy Leader Richard Tice said: 'This over the top, terrorist-style reaction by the police to a series of tweets is extraordinary. 'Be under no illusion: freedom of speech in Starmer's Britain is in grave danger.' Mr Linehan revealed on his blog on Tuesday how five armed officers were waiting for him as he stepped off a plane from Arizona on Monday, and told him he was 'under arrest for three tweets'. He said he was taken to Heathrow police station and during his interview insisted he had been joking when he wrote on X in April: 'If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. 'Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.' Then he said a nurse checked on him and found his blood pressure was 'over 200 - stroke territory' and he was 'escorted to A&E'. He said: 'I was arrested at an airport like a terrorist, locked in a cell like a criminal, taken to hospital because the stress nearly killed me, and banned from speaking online-all because I made jokes that upset some psychotic crossdressers.' Mr Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday accused of harassing transgender woman Sophia Brooks and damaging her phone, which he denies, in a separate case A spokesman for the Met said: 'On Monday September 1 at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight. 'The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X. 'After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. 'His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing. He has now been bailed pending further investigation.' The force added: 'It is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms. These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest.' But the Met did not respond to questions about why the arrest was deemed necessary. Under strict rules known as PACE Code G, suspects are only meant to be arrested in limited circumstances including when police need to ascertain their identity, prevent them from harming themselves or others, stop them destroying evidence or ensuring they can be interviewed. Mr Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday accused of harassing transgender woman Sophia Brooks and damaging her phone, which he denies, in a separate case. An autistic AA driver who was sacked after he joked he would like to 'drop' two of his colleagues out of a third-storey window has won almost 25,000 in a discrimination payout. Adrian Lloyd-Penny made the remark in a heated phone call, saying he was going to drop night manager Lyndon Tyler and dispatcher Dave Boddison 'from a third-storey bloody window'. The tribunal heard the recovery driver said it in 'jest' after his autism 'flared up' when he thought the pair had made a mistake. He later apologised and both colleagues took 'no offence' as 'he was clearly joking', the panel was told. Despite that, bosses called him into a meeting and dismissed him, saying it was 'incredibly inappropriate' to make comments about causing harm. Mr Lloyd-Penny successfully sued the AA for disability discrimination and has now been awarded 24,111 including 11,000 for injury to feelings. Judge Christopher Carstairs said it was right for any 'responsible employer' to take action over such remarks, even if made as a 'so-called joke'. The tribunal heard the recovery driver said it in 'jest' after his autism 'flared up' when he thought the pair had made a mistake. Pictured: stock image Mr Lloyd-Penny successfully sued the AA for disability discrimination and has now been awarded 24,111 including 11,000 for injury to feelings. Pictured: stock image But the tribunal ruled his dismissal was disproportionate and upheld his claim. Mr Lloyd-Penny, who has an autistic spectrum condition, began working for the AA in March 2023 as part of the Enfield Depot recovery patrol in north London. The tribunal in Watford heard the dispute happened in August last year after he became frustrated over a perceived error by Mr Tyler and Mr Boddison. A transcript from the phone call included Mr Lloyd-Penny telling the handler: 'And it's gonna take me at least two hours, if not two and a half hours to get home or to get to the depot anyway. 'Ah, I hope to God I never meet the manager that I was dealing with or the dispatcher that give me this job. 'Because I'll drop them from a third-storey bloody window, the pair of them on their heads.' Mr Tyler forwarded on a transcript from the call during an email exchange about 'interactions' with Mr Lloyd-Penny. The night manager said that he is occasionally 'argumentative and unreasonable' on the phone, adding: 'Find below an example of a call into the office this morning where Adrian mentions dropping myself and my recovery dispatcher off a 3rd story window onto our heads! 'Please note myself or my dispatcher take no offence, and he was clearly joking.' The manager said Mr Lloyd-Penny is a 'clearly a very capable driver' and said the AA 'need to support him with his condition'. The tribunal heard the recovery driver said it in 'jest' after his autism 'flared up' when he thought the pair had made a mistake. Picture: Stock image Later that month, the driver was invited to a probation review meeting which he was told may end in his dismissal. During the meeting, Mr Lloyd-Penny was asked whether he had ever been 'aggressive' towards members of staff. His manager asked the driver: 'Do you recall an incident with the indoor team where you advised the call handler that if you could see the dispatcher and night manager on that evening that you would go up there and drop them from the top story window onto their heads?.' In response, Mr Lloyd-Penny said the two employees - Mr Tyler and Mr Boddison - had 'flared up' and 'ignited' his autism and so he needed to 'walk away from it'. But, his manager told him that 'threats of violence' and 'speaking to anyone in that manner is not acceptable' and ended his probation. Mr Townsend said: 'No one should be coming into work at risk of being shouted and sworn at, and it's incredibly inappropriate to call colleagues names or make comments about physical harm, even if the comments were meant in jest.' The recovery driver sued the AA for disability discrimination. Employment Judge Patrick Quill said: 'In terms of how to treat comments such as those made [during the call] about dropping Tyler and Boddison on their heads from a large height, we accept that any responsible employer would wish to take action following, rather than ignore, such comments. Mr Lloyd-Penny successfully sued the AA for disability discrimination and has now been awarded 24,111 including 11,000 for injury to feelings. Picture: Stock image 'That is so even if the comments had been made as a so-called joke and/or were clearly intended as a figure of speech, rather than a literal threat to carry out the action. 'Any reasonable employer would want to ensure that the employees have an appropriate working environment.' The judge said the AA has 'very clear legal duties' to its employees including 'statutory health and safety duties'. Despite this, the panel upheld Mr Lloyd-Penny claims of disability discrimination. The judge said Mr Townsend's dismissal decision was 'based on the fact that, because of [Mr Lloyd-Penny's] autism... there was a future risk of [him] raising his voice and/or being angry and/or being aggressive to other colleagues or other customers in the future'. 'We do not suggest that it would have been reasonable to expect the [AA] to have told its call handlers that they had no choice other than to put up with any and all abuse that [Mr Lloyd-Penny] delivered to them, regardless of what he said, or how he said it,' EJ Quill said. 'However, we also reject the argument that the only two options were either the proposition mentioned in the previous sentence, or else dismissing [him].' The panel found that Mr Lloyd-Penny apologising to Mr Tyler after the comment was 'significant' to the 'proportionality of the decision to dismiss'. Other claims made by Mr Lloyd-Penny were dismissed. Angela Rayner's habit of attracting scandal could harm her chances of becoming prime minister, her supporters have admitted. The Deputy Prime Minister is among the bookies' favourites to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour's approval ratings continue to slump under his leadership. But Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, is currently facing fresh questions over her property arrangements. The Tories have called for a probe into her tax affairs following reports she escaped paying 40,000 in stamp duty on her new seaside flat in Hove, East Sussex. Allies of Ms Rayner told The Times that her desire for privacy meant questions over her living arrangements had lingered for longer than necessary. One MP said: 'The problem for Angie is the right keep attacking her, but would that become a distraction if she was leader? I don't know.' Another Labour figure, who is not a supporter of the Deputy PM, said the current row shows 'just how open to being brought down by scandal she is, just as people are thinking about alternate PMs'. But others suggested Ms Rayner would be 'strengthened' by the criticism and attacks by the Tories could be a 'badge of honour' for her. Angela Rayner's habit of attracting scandal could harm her chances of becoming prime minister, her supporters have admitted The Deputy Prime Minister is among the bookies' favourites to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour's approval ratings continue to slump under his leadership The Tories have called for a probe into Ms Rayner's tax affairs following reports she escaped paying 40,000 in stamp duty on her new seaside flat in Hove, East Sussex The Deputy PM is said to have saved 40,000 in stamp duty on the Hove flat because she removed her name from the deeds of a family property in her constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester. The deed changes supposedly allowed Ms Rayner to pay 30,000 in stamp duty instead of 70,000, which would have been applied if the Hove property was her second home. But the Hove flat is not her 'main residence' for council tax purposes, with the Ashton-under-Lyne home remaining her primary residence. This is said to save some 2,000 in council tax on her third home, a three-bedroom grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House. The Mail On Sunday revealed how Ms Rayner split the ownership of her 650,000 constituency home with a trust administered by law firm Shoosmiths. The legal manoeuvre would be consistent with Ms Rayner placing some of the house's equity in trust for her three children, but the Tories questioned whether the move was intended to avoid potential inheritance tax liabilities. Allies of Ms Rayner rejected the suggestion the move had anything to do with inheritance tax. The Deputy PM divorced her husband and no longer owns a stake in the Greater Manchester home. But she still considers it her primary residence because it's where her children live and she regularly returns there. Experts told The Guardian that tax officials could demand the higher rate of stamp duty if they decided Ms Rayner was wrong when she declared the Hove flat as her only property. Sean Randall, a tax adviser who specialises in stamp duty, said: 'Rayner disposed of the Ashton house into a trust before midnight of the day of completion. 'But she would be regarded as still owning it if she or her children are a beneficiary under the trust and entitled to occupy the dwelling for life. 'The key question is whether she or her children are so entitled.' Henry Pryor, a property agent, said: 'The test for stamp duty is not whether you own another property, but whether you have an interest in another property, which is your main one.' A spokesman for Ms Rayner said: 'The Deputy PM paid the relevant duty owing on the purchase of the Hove property in line with relevant requirements and entirely properly, any suggestion otherwise is entirely without basis.' Prior to last year's general election, the Tories urged HMRC to investigate Ms Rayner over whether she had paid enough tax after selling her former council home almost a decade earlier. But HMRC were understood to have looked into the matter at Ms Rayner's request and concluded there was no capital gains tax liability. Ms Rayner was also caught up in Labour's freebie scandal last year after she and other senior figures, including Sir Keir, accepted lavish gifts from party donor Lord Alli. The PM, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Ms Rayner all vowed to not accept any further donations for clothing following the row. Ms Rayner was a teenage single mother who left school with no qualifications and later became a council care worker. Sir Keir this week described his deputy as a 'great story of British success' as he defended her against criticism. Describing Ms Rayner's appointment as Deputy PM as 'an incredible achievement', Sir Keir said: 'Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly and I'm proud of her as our Deputy Prime Minister.' Adding that the country should be 'proud' of Ms Rayner, he said: 'What a great story of British success that we are a country where Angela Rayner could be our Deputy Prime Minister.' Sir Keir suffered an unhappy 63rd birthday yesterday as Labour's approval rating slumped to a record low. A YouGov survey found just 11 per cent of voters believe the Government is doing a good job, compared with 70 per cent who disapprove of Labour's performance. The net approval rating of minus 59 is eight points down on last month and the lowest recorded by the pollster since Sir Keir secured a landslide victory last year. This is the terrifying moment a brand new 700,000 ($940,000) luxury yacht turned over and sank just 15 minutes after being launched into the water, forcing its owner to swim to shore. The incident happened about 200 metres offshore in the Eregli district of Zonguldak in northern Turkey on Tuesday. Footage shows the yacht tipping onto its side and sinking into the sea as those on board jump overboard in panic. A man, believed to be the owner, can be seen standing on the side of the vessel as it begins to sink, before he plunged into the sea and begins to hurriedly swim to shore. The boat's captain and two crew members are also understood to have jumped overboard. No injuries were reported. The vessel, named Dolce Vento, was between 24 and 30 metres long and had been completed at the Med Yilmaz Shipyard in about five months before being delivered to its owner from Istanbul. Coast Guard and port teams were dispatched and established a security perimeter. A brand new 700,000 luxury yacht turned over and sank just 15 minutes after being launched into the water in Turkey Footage shows the yacht tipping onto its side and sinking into the sea Screen grab shows the vessel on its side after overturning Rescue teams with technical equipment have been sent to the scene to begin recovery work. Shipyard officials said a detailed investigation will be carried out and the cause of the sinking will be determined following technical inspections. Experts have noted that stability problems, such as errors in metacentric height calculations, are among the most significant factors that can cause vessels to capsize or sink. The investigation is ongoing. Earlier this year, a luxury yacht carrying tourists crashed into rocks and sunk during a chaotic New Year's Day boat trip. The vessel - named Amore Mio - was ferrying guests in Mexico who were celebrating the start of 2025 in style before it went dramatically wrong. Tense footage captured the luxury whit boat slamming into a large rock wall as a group of bikini-clad revelers crammed into an open space at the front of the yacht. Screen grab shows a man stood on the side of the boat before he plunges into the ocean and swims to shore The incident happened about 200 metres offshore in the Eregli district of Zonguldak in northern Turkey The ship could be seen swaying from side to side as the panicked guests scrambled to find safety before the boat toppled or crashed into the rock surface again. Onlookers and divers frantically called out to the tourists and made hand gestures encouraging them to escape the crashing boat by jumping off the side. Screams and yells of stranded tourists filled the footage as some were seen walking to the side of the boat to jump off while other remained stationed in the bow. According to local reports, a total of 15 tourists fell into the water but were thankfully saved by nearby divers who dragged them to safety. Pregnant drugs mule suspect Bella Culley's distraught mother was seen visiting her daughter in Georgian prison today as lawyers say she may have to find 100,000 to free her. Lyanne Kennedy, 44, was seen with tears in her eyes after spending over two hours with her 19-year-old in Women's Penitentiary Number Five. She was spotted making animated gestures as she walked out of the gates beside the Teesside teenager's grandfather, William Culley, 82. The family are desperately rushing to find a vast sum to free Bella who was caught landing in the Black Sea nation's capital, Tbilisi, with 200,000 worth of cannabis in her luggage in May. The teenager strenuously denies being a drugs mule and claims a British gang in Thailand burnt her with an iron, showed her beheading videos and threatened to kill her family if she did not do as they said. Yesterday in a dramatic development the judge adjourned her trial at the last minute as the defence and prosecution are close to reaching a plea deal to free her. The prosecution will allow her to walk free if she pays a significant fine - which lawyers who specialise in freeing foreigners locked up in Georgia say could total 100,000. Professor Anna Putkaradze, a Georgian lawyer specialising in high-profile cases involving foreigners facing problems with the Georgian judiciary, said the sum is usually half the street value of the illicit items they are caught with. If authorities believe the UK was the final destination that means it would be half the 200,000 British street value. Bella Culley's distraught mother Lyanne Kennedy was today seen leaving a Georgian prison alongside Bella's grandfather William Culley Bella's family's visit to Women's Penitentiary Number Five in Tbilisi today comes as lawyers say they may have to find 100,000 to free her Bella seen in court in Tbilisi after she was detained at the city's airport in May Professor Putkaradze said: 'If the prosecution is calculating the fine based on the estimated street value of the heavy drugs in Britain, rather than in Georgia, I would estimate it at around 100,000. 'The law does not literally say 'exactly half', but according to the Customs Code and the practice of the Revenue Service, when contraband goods (such as gold) are discovered, the fine is usually set at roughly 50 per cent of the customs value of the goods, as a kind of compromise measure.' Lyanne has been left in an agonising position by the latest development, as she must either find an eye-watering amount of money or face seeing her first grandchild born in a foreign jail cell. She said after the case yesterday: 'It's a lot of money for us. They offered us a layered approach: this and this much to let her go immediately, and then another [lower] offer where she serves some amount. 'I don't know what to do.' Lyanne does not own a home in the UK while Bella's father Niel Culley, 49, lives in Vietnam meaning they are likely unable to remortgage or sell a property to raise the required funds. Professor Putkaradze said: 'Since the defendant is a British citizen and the family's economic income is in pounds sterling, it would be logical for the fine to be calculated based on their sterling income. 'If we analyse precedent and look at comparable cases, the fine is generally assessed according to the potential monetary gain the offender would have received from trafficking the drugs in question and here once again, final destination plays a crucial part. The 19-year-old was detained at Tbilisi Airport in Georgia on suspicion of carrying 31lbs of cannabis Bella's mother Lyanne seen outside court yesterday Bella's aunt Kerry and grandfather seen outside Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday Bella's family members walking into court in Tbilisi on Tuesday. The Teesside teenager's trial was due to start today but was adjourned at the last minute Bella Culley's mother pictured on July 25 outside Tbilisi City Court 'Was it Georgia or Britain? Regardless, given that this is an especially grave category of crime, carrying a sentence of either very lengthy or even life imprisonment, setting the fine at approximately half the estimated value could be considered an adequate punishment.' She told the Mail said there will be 'many nuances in play' to decide the fine including the severity of the offence which carries a minimum sentence of around 15 years up to life. She said: 'Even when mitigating circumstances exist such as cooperation with investigators, pregnancy, no prior convictions, being a first-time offender, and no resulting harm the very nature of the offence imposes a binding constraint on the state, leaving little room for maneuver.' Professor Putkaradze said it means they are unlikely to go down to a fifth of the total amount - 40,000 - which is the lowest they generally agree to. Bella's lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia told journalists yesterday that if her family 'is ready to pay the sum that the state is demanding she can go straight to the airport.' The family have not revealed the amount the court is asking for. The teenager claims she was forced to peddle the drugs from Thailand to Georgia, claiming she was burned with a hot iron and shown a beheading video by a Thai gang. She then claims she flew to Tbilisi with 14kg of illegal cargo hidden in her bags. Yesterday she entered court wearing a black t-shirt with her hair in a bun and appeared calm, occasionally shooting her mother a warm smile. CCTV footage shows the Brit going through the automated gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand The British 19-year-old claimed she was violently coerced into trafficking the narcotics The alleged drug-filled suitcase of Culley Bella's father Niel Culley and his sister Kerrie Culley (Bella's aunt) in Tbilisi following her arrest Bella Culley's lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia outside court Pictured: A bikini-clad Bella with a cannabis joint in her mouth Culley is languishing in the notorious Women's Penitentiary Number Five Lyanne was seen dabbing tears from her eyes during proceedings. After the hearing she cried to her daughter: 'Bella, I will see you in the morning.' Auntie Kerrie Culley, 51, and Bella's grandfather William also supported her. Mr Salakaia told the court: 'Negotiations over a plea bargain are ongoing, and not without success. 'We've heard counter-proposals from the prosecution. We need more time regarding a plea bargain for the family to better prepare for all technicalities.' Asked if he would have his position ready regarding a plea bargain by September 24, Mr Salakaia said they would need more time. Mr Salakaia asked for bail on a 50,000 lari (13,750) bond, citing Bella's pregnancy. 'She will be here [in Tbilisi], her family will take care of her, and she is ready to cooperate,' he said. But his request was denied. Judge Gelashvili said: 'Of course we are worried about Miss Bella's health and that of her child's, and obviously her child should develop in a free environment. 'Taking into consideration the ongoing success in negotiations and that the family need more time to consider the prosecutions offer, we can pledge that we can move the date of the next trial the very moment you reach an agreement.' The case was adjourned until the next hearing on October 9. A senior nurse was left in 'utter disbelief' after an elderly woman in his care bled to death following a violent sexual assault in her hospital bed. Retired clerical assistant Valerie Kneale, 75, died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 16 2018, four days after she was admitted following a stroke at her home in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. The pensioner was said to be 'chatty', lucid and did not appear agitated when her family left her late in the evening of November 12, but were told the following morning of a 'marked deterioration' in her condition. Mrs Kneale's family stayed at her side after they were called back to the hospital's stroke ward until she died, but none were present in the early hours of November 13. A post-mortem examination concluded Mrs Kneale died not because of her stroke but due to a 'forcible sexual assault' inflicted at least 48 hours before death', and that happened during her hospital admission. But despite staff finding large amounts of blood surrounding Mrs Kneale - including around her vagina - after her death, they did not flag this to superiors. The horror assault and true cause of death were only found after two members of staff raised concerns about treatment of patients on the ward, prompting her body to be returned for a post-mortem from a nearby funeral home. The findings of forensic pathologist Dr Alison Armour prompted a murder investigation. Retired clerical assistant Valerie Kneale, 75, died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 16 2018, four days after she was admitted following a stroke at her home in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire A post-mortem examination concluded Mrs Kneale died not because of her stroke but due to a 'forcible sexual assault' inflicted at least 48 hours before death', and that happened during her hospital admission After police had been alerted to allegations of mistreatment and neglect on the stroke ward, two female healthcare professionals were ultimately jailed for illegally drugging patients on the ward and bragging about it in text messages. Matthew Pover, the nurse in charge of the overnight shift from November 12 to 13, told detectives he saw no injury during his interactions with Mrs Kneale. Mr Pover, a band 5 nurse at the time, said he did not see an injury to the patient's vagina because 'there would be no medical need' for him to look closely. He added: 'I cannot believe Valerie suffered this injury on my ward. From what I saw, the family were with her constantly so I can't see when this injury could have been caused.' HM Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde, Alan Wilson, asked Mr Pover during the hearing at Blackpool Town Hall: 'Does that remain your evidence?' Mr Pover said: 'That was my expression of utter disbelief. I just can't believe this had happened to Mrs Kneale.' Access to the stroke ward was supposed to be secure but the police investigation established that on occasions the entry doors would be propped open to allow staff in, or tailgating would take place. Mr Pover told the hearing this was 'a lot less likely' to happen on overnight shifts, adding: 'Obviously there would not be as many people in the hospital at night.' Staff accessed the ward by key card while the external doors to the hospital were closed from 10pm, the inquest heard. The nurse confirmed that Mrs Kneale presented as alert, lucid and that could verbally communicate with her when she was admitted to the unit after an assessment at A&E. Mr Pover recalled moving Mrs Kneale from a side room on to Ward 32, where female stroke patients are treated, with the help of a female nursing colleague, but said he did not believe he saw her again during his shift. Mr Wilson asked: 'Are you reliant on other staff doing the observations and flagging anything with you?' The horror assault and true cause of death were only found after two members of staff raised concerns about treatment of patients on the ward, prompting her body to be returned for a post-mortem from a nearby funeral home A murder probe was conducted which has now concluded with 'all possible lines of inquiry' failing to identify who may have been responsible for inflicting the injuries 'Yes,' Mr Pover replied. Mr Wilson said: 'Nothing was flagged up?' Mr Pover said: 'No.' The witness said his nursing colleague was in charge of the female ward bay and he would have expected her to share any concerns about deterioration on the shift handover. The inquest has heard 'extensive bleeding' was found by three healthcare assistants when they prepared Mrs Kneale's body to be moved to the hospital mortuary on November 16. Significant bleeding was also spotted around the vaginal area but no concerns were raised at the time by staff. When one of the healthcare assistants informed Mr Pover of the large amount of blood on the bed, it was heard he told her it was 'not unusual' for a dead body to leak fluids. He told the inquest that he asked the assistant to get help but did not see 'urgency' in the situation, and that his colleague 'did not seem overly upset about it'. He said: 'I don't think I realised the seriousness of it. I don't think I computed it as blood.' Asked by Gareth Thompson, solicitor for the Kneale family, why he did not make a note about the report of blood, Mr Pover said: 'I was not the nurse in charge of the patient on that day. 'I was on the ward for training. I didn't have any patient involvement that day.' On Monday, retired senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Jill Riley said the failure to flag up the blood concerns at the time led to a 'significant delay ' in securing and preserving critical evidence. By the time the police received the post-mortem examination report in early December she said Mrs Kneale's room would have been cleaned and used by other patients. Clothing she wore at the time of her death had also been disposed of by hospital staff. There were also no CCTV opportunities on the stroke ward and the wider hospital, she added, because the data had over-run and been deleted. Police had launched an investigation in early November 2018 after a student nurse raised concerns about the treatment of patients on the stroke unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. The investigation prompted detectives to retrieve Mrs Kneale's body from a local funeral director for a post-mortem examination. A separate murder probe was conducted which has now concluded with 'all possible lines of inquiry' failing to identify who may have been responsible for inflicting the injuries. In December 2023, two female healthcare professionals were jailed after a jury at Preston Crown Court found they had unlawfully drugged patients on the stroke unit and bragged about it in text messages. Three other former employees at Blackpool Victoria Hospital admitted offences in connection with the sedation inquiry, including Mr Pover. Mr Pover was handed a 24-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, with an unpaid work and rehabilitation activity requirement, after he admitted theft from an employer and supplying a Class C drug, sleeping pill Zopiclone. No reference was made to Mr Pover's convictions at the inquest. The hearing continues. Nigel Farage is expected to urge Donald Trump to punish Britain through trade and diplomatic action if it fails to uphold free speech when he faces US politicians today. The Reform leader and MP is due to say Britain has become an 'authoritarian censorship regime' after the arrest of Irish writer Graham Linehan for posting trans-critical tweets. Mr Farage is skipping Parliament's first week back after its summer break - including Prime Minister's Questions - to visit the United States, and will give evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington later. He will raise the case of Linehan, who has said he was detained at Heathrow Airport over three posts on X, as he argues Britain has 'lost its way' on civil liberties, the Sun reported. The paper said he will also urge the Trump administration to use 'diplomacy and trade' as leverage against the UK. He is speaking at a Republican-controlled HJC session entitled 'Europe's Threat to American Speech and Innovation', which will 'highlight how European online censorship laws - specifically the United Kingdom's Online Safety Act (OSA) and the European Union's (EU) Digital Services Act (DSA)-threaten Americans' right to speak freely online in the United States.' However, encouraging a foreign power to interfere in British domestic affairs could prove controversial. Sir Keir used Mr Farage's absence from PMQs to accusing him of running off to Washington to 'badmouth and talk down our country', adding: 'You can't get more unpatriotic than that'. The Reform leader and MP is due to say Britain has become an 'authoritarian censorship regime' after the arrest of Irish writer Graham Linehan for posting trans-critical tweets. He will also urge the Trump administration to use 'diplomacy and trade' as leverage against the UK. He will raise the case of Linehan, who has said he was detained at Heathrow Airport over three posts on X, as he argues Britain has 'lost its way' on civil liberties, the Sun reported. In a written statement to the committee, Mr Farage said: 'Somewhere on this planet of ours, innovators must remain free to build the next generation of platforms without being hamstrung by illiberal and authoritarian censorship regimes that are alien to both American and traditionally British values. 'Right now, that place is America. Those of us in the UK will do what we can to make Britain such a place as well.' He told the paper he would discuss both Linehan, whose case he described as an example of 'the war on freedom in the UK', and Lucy Connolly. Last night he warned Americans to defend their rights last night, bemoaning what he said was the UK's growing clampdown on free speech. 'To be met by five armed officers as if he is some sort of international terrorist for literally putting jokey comments out about trans activists,' he told Fox News in relation to Graham Linehan's arrest. Connolly was freed from jail last month at the automatic release point after serving 40 per cent of a 31-month sentence, for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers in the aftermath of the Southport murders last year. The former childminder and wife of a Conservative councillor had said in a post on X: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care if that makes me racist so be it.' Mr Farage is in the US while the UK parliament is at work in London. Sir Keir used Mr Farage's absence from PMQs to accusing him of running off to Washington to 'badmouth and talk down our country', adding: 'You can't get more unpatriotic than that'. Wes Streeting (pictured) has called for officers to 'police streets over tweets' after Graham Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport over online comments about transgender activists The Reform leader said her prosecution showed 'the UK's readiness to criminalise merely unpleasant, challenging, or incendiary online speech.' Opposition politicians have criticised the arrest of Linehan, who said he was detained by five armed officers and taken into a cell to be questioned, over messages published in April. One said: 'If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.' Another was a photograph of a trans rights protest, with the comment 'a photo you can smell', with a follow-up post saying: 'I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.' The Father Ted writer said that after being questioned by police his blood pressure had reached 'stroke territory' and he was taken to hospital and kept under observation, before being released on bail. Wes Streeting has suggested the Government could change free speech laws after the arrest. The Health Secretary waded into the free speech debate, today hinting that Labour could look at changing free speech legislation if the law is 'not getting the balance right'. Mr Streeting told Times Radio that while he could not comment on live investigations or operational policing decisions, he could talk about 'the principle'. 'I think the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have been very clear that with the law and order challenges we've got in our country, we want to see people being kept safe by policing streets, not just policing tweets.' He added: 'It's very easy for people to criticise the police. The police enforce the laws of the land that we as legislators provide. 'So if we're not getting the balance right, then that's something that we all have to look at and consider.' Mr Streeting also rejected the suggestion that free speech was now 'banned', but added: 'I do think it's worth us having a debate,' on the issue. Graham Linehan is preparing to take legal action against the Metropolitan Police after being arrested by armed officers at Heathrow Airport over a series of gender-critical tweets. The Father Ted creator was dramatically detained by five officers as he returned to Britain from Arizona, and accused of 'inciting violence' in relation to three posts he had made on X in April while living in the US. Linehan shared screenshots of the posts he said he was arrested for, including one where he called it a 'violent, abusive act' for a trans-identified male to be in a female-only space. In what he maintains was a joke, the 57-year-old added in the tweet: 'Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails punch him in the balls.' The second post was an aerial shot from a trans demonstration which he described as 'a photo you can smell'. The third tweet - a follow-up to the picture - said: 'I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.' Lawyers acting for Linehan say they are considering suing the Met over the unlawfulness of the arrest, the unlawful restriction on his free speech by banning him from X while on bail, and the alleged defamation that he was 'inciting violence'. It comes as Met chief Sir Mark Rowley admitted his officers are in an 'impossible position' and should not be 'policing toxic culture wars debates' after Linehan's arrest. In an extraordinary statement, the Met commissioner called for free speech laws to be changed and said his officers will only take action on social media abuse 'where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder'. Graham Linehan (pictured) was detained by five armed officers as he returned to Britain from Arizona , and accused of 'inciting violence' in relation to three posts he had made on X in April while living in the US Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said that his officers are in an 'impossible position' and should not be 'policing toxic culture wars debates' It comes as Wes Streeting (pictured) has called for officers to 'police streets over tweets' and hinted free speech laws could be changed Hinting at taking legal action, Linehan said: 'This was a horrible glimpse of the dystopian clown show that Britain has become. 'The FSU [Free Speech Union] will support me by providing lawyers to advise on a claim against the Met Police for wrongful arrest and wrongful imprisonment in the hope that no one else is treated like a terrorist for speaking their mind on social media.' Lord Young of Acton, director of the Free Speech Union, said: 'We come across a lot of cases of police overreach at the Free Speech Union, but this is the most egregious example yet. We need to send a message to the Metropolitan Police that they can't employ these heavy-handed, Gestapo tactics with impunity. 'The overzealous policing of social media posts by the British police has turned the UK into an international laughing stock. It needs to stop.' In a statement today, Sir Mark said Linehan was detained as officers had 'reasonable grounds to believe an offence had been committed under the Public Order Act'. But he added: 'While the decision to investigate and ultimately arrest the man was made within existing legislation - which dictates that a threat to punch someone from a protected group could be an offence - I understand the concern caused by such incidents given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world. 'Most reasonable people would agree that genuine threats of physical violence against an identified person or group should be acted upon by officers. Such actions can and do have serious and violent real-world implications. 'But when it comes to lesser cases, where there is ambiguity in terms of intent and harm, policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments who have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when they're reported. Then they are obliged to follow all lines of enquiry and take action as appropriate. 'I don't believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position. I have offered to provide suggestions to the Home Office on where the law and policy should be clarified. 'Greater clarity and common sense would enable us to limit the resources we dedicate to tackling online statements to those cases creating real threats in the real world. If agreed, we could be ready to test new approaches quickly, within a matter of weeks. 'As an immediate way of protecting our officers from the situation we find ourselves in today, we will be putting in place a more stringent triaging process to make sure only the most serious cases are taken forward in future - where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder. 'But officers across the country will have to make similar decisions in future unless the law and guidance is changed or clarified. I hope to see this happen without delay so policing's focus can be squarely on tackling priority issues like street crime and serious violence.' Nigel Farage has also weighed in, issuing a stark warning to Americans to protect their First Amendment rights Irish comedy writer Mr Linehan told the Daily Mail: 'After spending a decade obsessing over their score on the Stonewall virtue index, the police can no longer tell up from down, left from right and, most worryingly of all, right from wrong' Harry Potter author JK Rowling led the chorus of outrage over his ordeal and called Mr Linehan's arrest an act of 'totalitarianism' The sensational development comes after Linehan released audio of his furious reaction to the moment he was arrested by armed police. An officer could be heard telling Linehan: 'It is alleged that on the 19th April 2025 you published a post on X intended to instill hatred and incite violence.' After being told he is under arrest for the posts on X, a furious Linehan shouts: 'It's just disgraceful... Holy s**t, I don't f***ing believe it. I'm under arrest!? Do you know what this country looks like in America?' He then repeats 'I'm going to sue you into the ground' three times, adding: 'F***ing b****ds. How dare you?' When told to 'calm down' by police, Linehan - who was taken to hospital over his high blood pressure - fired back: 'I won't calm down!' After being quizzed about whether he's on any medication there is a brief moment of silence before Linehan yells: 'It's f***ing infuriating. You scumbags are working for f***ing ***holes who go into women's toilets.' He then criticises the police for targeting him for 'standing up for women's rights'. Linehan yesterday told of the moment he stepped off the plane only to be greeted by five armed officers. 'Don't tell me! You've been sent by trans activists,' Linehan laughed. The officers did not respond and escorted him away 'like a terrorist'. The audio was released as Wes Streeting suggested the Government could change free speech laws after Linehan's dramatic arrest. The Health Secretary has waded into the free speech debate after Linehan told how he was treated 'like a terrorist', held in a cell and then had to be rushed to hospital because the stress 'nearly killed me'. Mr Streeting told Times Radio that while he could not comment on live investigations or operational policing decisions, he could talk about 'the principle'. 'I think the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have been very clear that with the law and order challenges we've got in our country, we want to see people being kept safe by policing streets, not just policing tweets.' He added: 'It's very easy for people to criticise the police. The police enforce the laws of the land that we as legislators provide. 'So if we're not getting the balance right, then that's something that we all have to look at and consider.' Mr Streeting also rejected the suggestion that free speech was now 'banned', but added: 'I do think it's worth us having a debate,' on the issue. He said the Government would 'deal with' policing priorities if Parliament has distracted officers from focusing on 'the right things', in comments to Sky News. 'One of the things the Home Secretary is looking at is, are we tasking the police, are we asking the police to focus on the right things? 'And if we've distracted, as Parliament under the previous government, if they've been distracted, being asked to do things we don't see as a priority, well that is something that we will deal with,' Mr Streeting said. Mr Streeting acknowledged that people are 'anxious' about some of the cases where people have been prosecuted for online posts. 'And I think we are all, let's be honest, quite anxious about some of the cases we've seen in the media, or proceed through the courts, of what people have said online, where you think 'Was that really what Parliament intended when they passed these laws?'' he told the BBC's Today programme. It comes as Nigel Farage warned Americans to defend their rights as the Reform UK leader criticised the UK's growing clampdown on free speech, urging the US not to follow the same path. 'To be met by five armed officers as if he is some sort of international terrorist for literally putting jokey comments out about trans activists,' he told Fox News. 'You guys have the First Amendment. Let me urge you: be vigilant about defending your rights - do not go down the path that we have.' The First Amendment in America protects citizens' freedom of speech without government interference. Mr Farage has said he will raise the case of Linehan when he gives evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on free speech in the UK today. On Tuesday night, Irish comedy writer Mr Linehan, who said he was bailed on condition he did not use X, told the Daily Mail: 'After spending a decade obsessing over their score on the Stonewall virtue index, the police can no longer tell up from down, left from right and, most worryingly of all, right from wrong.' Yesterday, Rowling led the backlash over Linehan's ordeal, asking online: 'What the f*** has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.' Musk branded Britain a 'police state' and asked: 'Why are police in Britain arresting citizens for social media posts instead of stopping child rape?' Free speech campaigner and former police officer Harry Miller, who won a landmark court case against a force that investigated him for allegedly transphobic tweets, told the Daily Mail: 'This is the sort of behaviour you expect in North Korea, not from a British police force. 'Britons are in danger of being subjected to interference by a police state.' Downing Street declined to comment on the ongoing case, which risks reviving damaging claims by US Vice-President JD Vance that free speech is being eroded in Britain. However Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said the Prime Minister's priorities for the police were tackling street crime and serious violence, in what will be seen as a veiled swipe at the Met. 'On the specific incident it's an operational matter for the police, but the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have been clear where their priorities for crime and policing are and that's tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women,' No 10 told reporters. Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union which is supporting Mr Linehan, told the Daily Mail: 'I don't think there's a better illustration of just how low we've sunk when it comes to free speech. World's richest man Elon Musk branded Britain a 'police state' and asked: 'Why are police in Britain arresting citizens for social media posts instead of stopping child rape?' Rowling leapt to Linehan's defence just weeks after he accused her of failing to defend him after he was cancelled over his similar views Free speech advocates, including JK Rowling, led the outrage over the arrest of Linehan today 'If Graham Linehan himself had written this scene for a sitcom about the descent of Starmer's Britain into an authoritarian banana republic, his editor would have rejected it as too implausible. 'The overzealous policing of social media posts is turning the UK into an international laughing stock.' His campaign group has hired Mr Linehan a solicitor to defend him against any possible charges but is looking into whether the police could be sued for wrongful arrest or false imprisonment. Lord Young said there is 'zero chance' of Mr Linehan being prosecuted for the offence under the Public Order Act that he was arrested for, as it only covers stirring up hatred on grounds of religion or sexual orientation - not gender identity. He wrote online: 'Sir Mark Rowley should make it clear no further action will be taken, issue an apology and offer Glinner substantial compensation for false arrest and wrongful imprisonment.' The Tories accused Scotland Yard of an 'absurd infringement of free speech' as the backlash intensified and said whoever approved the arrest should be held to account. On Tuesday night Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'Sending five officers to arrest a man for a tweet isn't policing, it's politics. Under Labour, we routinely see burglary, knife crime and assaults go unsolved, while resources are wasted on thought-policing. 'It's time this government told the police their job is to protect the public, not monitor social media for hurty words. Kemi Badenoch hit out at the Labour government and criticised the Met Police for 'thought policing' following news of Mr Linehan's arrest Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the arrest an 'absurd infringement of free speech' 'The Conservatives would stop this nonsense on day one and make public safety the first duty of policing, instead of pandering to fringe ideologies.' Senior Tory MPs questioned the need for five officers to make the arrest given the shortage of armed police nationwide with Laura Trott urging: 'It must be made clear who made this decision and they should be held accountable.' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This strikes me as an absurd infringement of free speech. The police should focus on catching real criminals.' And Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'The Met need to promptly apologise. 'Every day they delay will add to bill the taxpayer faces for their incompetence.' The row will reach Washington DC on Wednesday as Nigel Farage gives evidence to the US House Committee on the Judiciary on 'Europe's threat to American speech and innovation'. Reform UK leader Mr Farage said: 'The Graham Linehan case is yet another example of the war on free speech in the UK. 'I will discuss this, the Lucy Connolly case and the increasing role of our police in non-crime 'hate' incidents on Capitol Hill. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would be raising Mr Linehan's arrest as an example of 'the increasing role of our police in non-crime 'hate' incidents' during a visit to Washington DC 'Free speech is under assault and I am urging the USA to be vigilant.' The party's Deputy Leader Richard Tice said: 'This over the top, terrorist-style reaction by the police to a series of tweets is extraordinary. 'Be under no illusion: freedom of speech in Starmer's Britain is in grave danger.' Mr Linehan revealed on his blog on Tuesday how five armed officers were waiting for him as he stepped off a plane from Arizona on Monday, and told him he was 'under arrest for three tweets'. He said he was taken to Heathrow police station and during his interview insisted he had been joking when he wrote on X in April: 'If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. 'Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.' Then he said a nurse checked on him and found his blood pressure was 'over 200 - stroke territory' and he was 'escorted to A&E'. He said: 'I was arrested at an airport like a terrorist, locked in a cell like a criminal, taken to hospital because the stress nearly killed me, and banned from speaking online-all because I made jokes that upset some psychotic crossdressers.' Mr Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday accused of harassing transgender woman Sophia Brooks and damaging her phone, which he denies, in a separate case A spokesman for the Met said: 'On Monday September 1 at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight. 'The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X. 'After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. 'His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing. He has now been bailed pending further investigation.' The force added: 'It is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms. These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest.' But the Met did not respond to questions about why the arrest was deemed necessary. Under strict rules known as PACE Code G, suspects are only meant to be arrested in limited circumstances including when police need to ascertain their identity, prevent them from harming themselves or others, stop them destroying evidence or ensuring they can be interviewed. Mr Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday accused of harassing transgender woman Sophia Brooks and damaging her phone, which he denies, in a separate case. A woman who heard two Victoria Police officers gunned down in an 'ambush', sparking a manhunt for Dezi Freeman, has revealed police are yet to speak with her. The neighbour - who wished to remain anonymous because of her friendship with Freeman's wife Amalia - told Daily Mail that police closed off her street at Porepunkah in Victoria's High Country several times to question Freeman's associates. However, she said that not once have police reached out to her, despite her relationship with the family and the fact that she was an ear-witness to the alleged murders of Detective Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35. Daily Mail has chosen not to name her road and understands law enforcement had recently questioned one of her neighbours, but did not speak to our source nor her family - despite her being a well-known friend of Amalia, otherwise known as Mali. 'You think they'd be jumping on things,' she said. 'But it's taken them a week to get here.' The woman said she 'heard those shots' that rang out across the Buckland River region, just outside Porepunkah, around 10.30am last Tuesday. 'It's just straight through there,' she said, pointing in the direction of the bush compound where Freeman lived in a bus with Mali, their second eldest teenage son and a toddler son. 'And you know what? We had no police knocking on our doors.' At least 450 Victoria Police officers have been deployed in the manhunt. Freeman, who is 'heavily armed', remains on the loose and Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has refused to confirm how much taxpayer money is being spent on the massive search. A friend of Mali Freeman (pictured above with husband Dezi) revealed she is yet to be spoken to by police despite hearing gunshots when two officers were gunned down Freeman had been living in this bus with his family when the ambush took place A massive manhunt is scouring the Victorian High Country around Porepunkah for Freeman The neighbour said police were on her street on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. 'One of them, he had the biggest gun. And they (her neighbours) said he was just so scary,' she said. 'My husband couldn't even get home with our (child) because they were stopped at the roundabout. Everything was locked down. 'There were two (young) girls in one of the houses on this street and their parents couldn't even go to them. 'They finally begged and (the police) said, 'Okay, we'll go with you' and they gave them five minutes to get them.' She added that she'd heard local residents who couldn't return to their homes due to police activity were resorting to sleeping in their cars outside of blockade zones. Commissioner Bush on Wednesday hit back at a journalist during a press conference in nearby Ovens, when she questioned why they hadn't found Freeman more than a week after he fled into the alpine wilderness near Mt Buffalo National Park. A reporter asked: 'This has gone on for nine days. Why is it so difficult?' Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush would not be drawn into estimating the cost of the massive manhunt Freeman allegedly gunned down Detective Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, at his Porepunkah property in Victoria's High Country 'You're here, you can see the environment,' Commissioner Bush snapped. 'Searching for one person in this terrain is extremely challenging. We have the best people on this task and I have full confidence in them.' He did not put a figure on the cost of the manhunt - one of the largest in Australian history - but conceded it was a significant amount and that taxpayers expected it. He added the full cost would be revealed at a later date. 'We've said from day one that this is our number one priority within Victoria Police. 'At some point we will be able to share the real cost of this operation.' More than 100 properties have been searched in Porepunkah and nearby towns in the last week. But despite hundreds of phone calls and information from the community and some of Freeman's associates, they are no closer to finding him. Porepunkah has gone from obscurity to one of the most talked about towns in the country Alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman (pictured) has been on the run from police for 10 days Cops have searched more than 100 properties in the town Police still believe that Freeman is being harboured or assisted. 'We are considering all options in terms of where he may be,' Mr Bush said. 'I won't go into direct intelligence, but our elite team considers every possibility and deploys accordingly. 'We appeal not just to him but to all his associates: he does not deserve to be protected. He needs to be in custody and held accountable.' Mr Bush also did not rule out laying charges against Freeman's wife, who he confirmed was present when her husband allegedly shot dead two officers and wounded a third. She and her eldest son, 15, were arrested at a nearby Porepunkah property last Thursday night. The pair were interviewed by police and later released, pending further inquiries. 'She's been interviewed in relation to criminal matters,' Mr Bush said. He said police were still engaging her and added that she was yet to provide a statement through her lawyers. A neighbour told Daily Mail she lost other friend because she hasn't turned her back on Mali 'As has previously been reported, she has been interviewed by Victoria Police ... a brief of evidence will be compiled, and she may be charged in due course,' Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly added. Ms Freeman had earlier released a statement via her lawyer to express the family's deep sorrow for the loss of the lives of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart. She added that she and her children respect the important work of Victoria Police and 'do not hold anti-authority views.' 'We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy,' the statement relased on Sunday read. 'I lend my full support to Victoria Police in their search for my husband and will co-operate with Victoria Police in any way that I can. 'Please Dezi, if you see or hear this, call triple-0 and arrange a surrender plan with the police.' The woman who spoke to Daily Mail on Wednesday evening revealed that she is close with Mali, but did not condone what her husband is alleged to have done. She agreed to speak to the Daily Mail anonymously to show support for her friend - and added that others in Porepunkhah had turned their backs on her for showing empathy to Mali and her sons. One retired Victoria Police detective, Charlie Bezzina, warned the cost of the search operation, including the use of helicopters will continue to rise She knew Mali through church connections, and said she was a dedicated volunteer with St Vincent De Paul Society in Bright, and a valued member of the local community. 'I'd do anything for her,' she said. 'I'm not just saying this. 'She is the most beautiful person. She was struggling for money herself but she would go around the supermarkets and collect food from the food bank. 'She would make meals for people in need.' She said she had not been able to speak to Mali since the fatal shootings, but that she wanted her to know that 'I love her and I'm here for her... she doesn't deserve this'. She said Mali was a dedicated mother who homeschooled her children and always had her youngest son 'on her chest'. 'And if she didn't have him, he'd be on Dezi's chest,' she said. The woman revealed Mrs Freeman had recently made it known she was keen to move from the bus they were living in within a bush compound on Rayner Track when police came calling. The woman also said some people had been living in their cars because of the lockdown 'She was looking for a place but the rates are really expensive,' she said. She was at pains to say that despite her two-year friendship with Mali, she did not support what Freeman is alleged to have done, but added there needed to be more mental health support. She understood Freeman, a self-proclaimed Sovereign Citizen with anti-government views, suffered from PTSD, but did not know why. 'I don't know him well, but I did see him in church and he was a quiet man, a family man,' she said. 'He was hurting a lot... but you have to help yourself at the end of the day. 'And when there's not help and your part of that group (the sovereign citizens movement)... it just gets to you... mentally he is not thinking clearly. I've got a heart for everybody.' A Hollywood actor has launched legal action against a UK council over a manor house dubbed 'Downton Shabby' after being threatened with eviction. Hopwood DePree has told of spending eight years and half a million pounds trying to restore a stately home in Middleton, Greater Manchester. The 55-year-old published a book called Downton Shabby detailing his efforts to revamp the 15th century mansion associated with his family for 400 years. Yet he has been forced out of his 'ancestral family home', finding out last year the gates were locked to him despite his planned 13million renovations. And he has now issued a legal case against Rochdale Borough Council in a bid to regain access to the 60-room mansion named Hopwood Hall. DePree, also a movie producer, was told last November he was dumped from the restoration project and locked out of the site by its council owners. He has previously told of how, growing up 3,500 miles away in Michigan before his film career took him to Hollywood, he was enchanted by bedtime stories from his grandfather of an English castle the family had given up when descendants first moved to the US. Dating from 1426, it had a rich history: Guy Fawkes stayed there as did Lord Byron who finished his celebrated poem 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' there. Hollywood actor and producer Hopwood DePree (pictured) is launching legal action over his desire to renovate Hopwood House in Middleton, Greater Manchester Mr DePree, 55, has told of spending eight years and 500,000 trying to restore the home And it had connections with DePree's ancestors that date some 400 years to his 17th century ancestor, John Hopwood. The decision by Rochdale council to evict DePree from the grounds is now being challenged in London's High Court, with documents filed on behalf insisting the sale should not have fallen through and he has a 'a clear vision, a plan and the resources to rescue Hopwood Hall'. The BBC has quoted him as saying: 'When I took the project on, the hall was just a few years from completely falling down and becoming a ruin. 'We worked so hard and poured everything into it. I moved countries. I got British citizenship. I left behind a life and sold my home. 'I went through so much with the belief that the council was being open and honest with me, and I trusted them. 'Ultimately I had an agreement that I signed with them that I fulfilled. My lawyers feel that we fulfilled that, and the council went against that, and I felt that I had no other choice other than to file court proceedings against them.' He today told the Daily Mail: 'Over three months ago, my legal team sent Rochdale Council yet another detailed letter setting out our position and Rochdale Council asked for more time to respond. 'And finally on 19th August 2025, Rochdale Council came back to say that they didnt need to tell us their full position on the agreement but if we didnt accept that they were right, they would consider legal action against me. DePree pictured carrying out renovations at Hopwood Hall in Middleton 'So after almost 11 months of trying to work with Rochdale Council to find a resolution, not to mention them allowing all the community volunteers' work in the gardens falling back into rack and ruin, and us having eventually obtained some evidence of shocking conduct by the council through FOI and SAR requests, we were left with no choice but to sue Rochdale Council in the High Court of Justice to force them to honour our agreement.' Nick Wells, a partner at the legal firm Ward Hadaway that is representing him, added: 'We have reviewed many years of documents and emails and eventually obtained some previously unseen evidence through FOI and SAR requests, many of which Rochdale Borough Council tried to block. 'The evidence points to the council having changed its position since entering into the Option Agreement in 2017 and leads to a strong suspicion that the report and recommendations on which cabinet made its decision to withdraw in October 2024 was based on inaccurate information on the contents of the Option Agreement from 2017. 'We are therefore asking the High Court to intervene and hold Rochdale Council to the decisions that they made in 2017 rather than the decisions they have purported to have made in 2024.' Mr DePree had previously told the Daily Mail: 'I came across this old black and white aerial photograph of Hopwood Hall and I immediately knew that had to be the place my grandfather was always talking about. 'I found an email address for the hall and sent a message asking if it was still around. 'I was living in Los Angeles and with the time difference I woke up to a message from the council and a local historian who said 'when are you coming to England?' 'My whole family ended up coming over and we took a day to come to Middleton to look at the hall and we were so moved by the building, its beauty, the architecture and just how much the community loved this building and how much they wanted access to it BEFORE: The 15th century manor house pictured in 2014 'But it was completely derelict and falling down. All the windows were smashed, it was regularly attacked by vandals and thieves and vines were growing through the windows. 'There were full sections of the hall that had completely collapsed and the lead roof tiles had been stolen so water was pouring in every time it rained. 'We couldn't believe such a building was left in that condition. Experts told us that if nothing was done within five to 10 years the building would become a complete ruin.' Mr DePree said he was approached by the council to spearhead the fight to save Hopwood Hall because they and the further education college, which owns the surrounding land, had 'washed their hands of it'. He hoped to move into the sprawling property when the refurbishment had been completed to oversee an ambitious project that would transform the estate into an arts and cultural hub as well as a wedding and music venue. Rochdale Borough Council granted Mr DePree an exclusivity agreement, in which he could develop and eventually buy the building from them for a 'nominal sum' as long as his business plan was viable. He said: 'I knew that was a big leap because obviously I was from a different country but it felt like a higher calling, a higher purpose, and I knew with the support of the community who so desperately loved this building, we could do it. 'Everyone was so welcoming and I saw nothing but success ahead of us to rescue and restore this hall and bring it back to public use that was our absolute passion and we committed ourselves so deeply to this project. Mr DePree pictured outside the manor house during renovations Pictured: Hopwood Hall, an estate set in Lancashire countryside, five miles north of Manchester 'I've spent 581,000 according to my last statement I've personally paid for all of the staffing for the community engagement and driven up and down the country meeting with heritage professionals, grant organisations and architects.' But the local authority last year terminated their seven-year partnership, criticising the American's 13million redevelopment for being too slow and 'unlikely to be able to secure future public or private funding'. Mr DePree's lawyers argue the council should honour the agreement to sell claiming the only condition stipulated was that planning permission be secured. That was granted in 2022. The plans aimed to restore the magnificent banquet room built in 1689 - to hold weddings with the hall's 25-bedrooms providing ample accommodation for guests. The historic oak parlour, the library and upper gallery were all earmarked for renovation so the home could open for public tours where visitors would enter via a gift shop and welcome centre. Mr DePree had also hoped to rebuild the hall's conservatory, lost in the 1950s, and construct a stage in the grounds for films, theatre productions and concerts. Workshops teaching traditional skills like leaded glass window making, wood carving and plaster moulding, would continue too. The council has said it is committed to a new feasibility study to develop other options for the future of Hopwood Hall following the end of the exclusivity agreement with Mr DePree. Hopwood DePree (pictured) gave up his movie career and life in LA to move to Rochdale to spend seven years and over 500,000 restoring the 15th century mansion Rochdale council leader Neil Emmott said last November: 'Hopwood Hall is a local historic asset which means a great deal to the people of Middleton and indeed the wider borough. 'Something as important as this is about much more than one person, however well-intentioned they may be. 'Public assets are owned by our residents and we cannot allow them to transfer to a private individual without a great deal of care. Mr DePree was asked to meet a number of conditions when we entered into our agreement with him. 'We would be failing in our duty to protect our historic assets if we didn't hold Mr DePree to the terms of this agreement. 'We know that many local residents have put their heart and soul into Hopwood Hall's restoration as volunteers on the project. 'We're very clear that we will continue to involve those volunteers and the wider community in any future plans.' The Hall and the Hopwood family parted ways in the early 20th century when its two male heirs Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Gregge-Hopwood and his brother Captain Gerald Gregge-Hopwood - were both killed during the First World War. Their parents, tormented by grief, sold the property in 1922. An external picture of Hopwood Hall in Middleton taken in 2014 It was bought by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation to make uniforms during the Second World War and later became a Catholic teacher training college. Rochdale Council bought the hall in the 1990s. A council spokesperson has now said: 'We don't comment on ongoing legal discussions and don't intend to elaborate on previous statements we have made on this subject.' The Daily Mail has approached the council for further comment. Greta Thunberg's aid flotilla headed for Gaza was targeted by drones as the Swedish activist attempts to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea. A number of drones were seen flying over the Global Sumud Flotilla overnight, according to activist Yasemin Acar. Speaking in an Instagram video, she said: 'We have detected the first drones...From what we can tell and the information we are getting, every boat right now in the flotilla has a drone above them.' Acar's video address came as the flotilla was around 90 nautical miles from the Spanish island of Menorca. 'We are watching them very closely trying to figure out which drones they are and what they are here for', she added. It comes after Greta was deported by Israel back in June when the ship she was traveling on with 11 other people, the Madleen, was stopped by the Israeli military. At the time, Israel was accused of using drones to spray an irritant substance on Greta's flotilla before boarding and detaining her and other activists. It has not been confirmed whether the drones seen last night were Israeli. Daily Mail has approached the Spanish Coast Guard for comment. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg speaks to the media, before taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla Greta Thunberg 's aid flotilla headed for Gaza was targeted by drones overnight, according to reports. Pictured: Greta Thunberg attends the press conference prior to the flotilla depart on August 31, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain Activists on board the flotilla have demanded safe passage to deliver aid Images showed the deck splattered with an unidentified white liquid. Activist Yasmin Acar, among the 12 on board, said it had been deployed by Israel and was affecting her eyes. Despite her deportation in June, the activist has shown no signs of backing down as she departed from Barcelona on the Global Sumud flotilla on Sunday to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave. The maritime convoy of about 20 boats and delegations from 44 countries is claimed to be the largest attempt to date to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip by sea, which has now lasted 18 years. They will be joined by more ships from ports in Italy and Tunisia in the coming days, on the route from the western end of the Mediterranean to the Gaza Strip. This comes as Israel has stepped up its offensive on Gaza city, limiting the deliveries of food and basic supplies in the north of the Palestinian territory. Food experts warned last month that the city was in famine and that half a million people across the strip were facing catastrophic levels of hunger. The Global Sumud Flotilla is carrying food, water and medicine. Activists on board demanded safe passage to deliver the much-needed aid and the opening of a humanitarian sea corridor, according to a statement. Israel said on Sunday it wanted to designate the flotilla's volunteers as 'terrorists' and arrest them. Thunberg seen aboard of a vessel of a civilian flotilla, carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid and aiming to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip Greta Thunberg pictured in the early morning of Monday, June 9, 2025, after the Israeli Defense Forces boarded the "Madleen," a small civilian maritime vessel previously bound for Gaza with humanitarian aid, and rerouted those on board toward Israel Thunberg walks inside a terminal surrounded by journalists and French police at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, in Roissy-en-France near Paris, France, June 10 after being deported from Israel A large number of Palestinians, including children, gather in order to get food, in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza, on September 3, 2025 Food experts warned last month that Gaza City was in famine and that half a million people across the strip were facing catastrophic levels of hunger The almost 23-month war has killed more than 63,000 people, with at least 332 Palestinians dying of malnutrition Palestinians carry pans and bowls forms a crowd to receive food aid provided by charity organization in Gaza City, Gaza on September 3, 2025 Palestinian children walk with water amid shortages, in Gaza City, September 3, 2025 National security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer: 'We will not allow individuals who support terrorism to live in comfort. They will face the full consequences of their actions'. The almost 23-month war has killed more than 63,000 people, with at least 332 Palestinians dying of malnutrition, including 124 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Global Sumud Flotilla will be the fourth attempt to break the maritime blockade so far this year. The Conscience first tried in May, but was attacked by drones after setting sail from Malta. After the Madleen, the Israeli military stopped another aid ship, the Handala, in late July, detained 21 international activists and reporters and seized its cargo, including baby formula, food and medicine, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. An Israeli official said Saturday that the country will soon halt or slow humanitarian aid into parts of northern Gaza, as it expands its military offensive against Hamas, a day after the city was declared a combat zone. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when an attack by Hamas militants inside Israel claimed the lives of 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took 251 people hostage. High street cosmetics firm Lush has shut down its website and closed all its UK stores in what the company says is a pro-Palestine statement of solidarity. The firm shared an image declaring 'Stop starving Gaza' as it also closed its factories in a one-day gesture. Lush said in a statement today: 'Across the Lush business we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine. 'Like the rest of the world, we struggle to find ways we can help whilst the Israeli government is preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza. 'One thing Lush can currently send into Gaza is our love and a strong message that we stand in solidarity. 'This will take the form of halting business-as-usual by shutting our UK shops, website and factories for one day on Wednesday 3rd September 2025, with our shop windows displaying the message STOP STARVING GAZA WE ARE CLOSED IN SOLIDARITY. 'Providing our customers with the very best service is ingrained into everything we do at Lush, so shutting our shops is not an easy decision we ask for forgiveness from any customers we inconvenience should they come to us on 3rd September and find us closed. 'However, we know that many of our customers share the same anxiety about the current situation in Gaza.' High street cosmetics firm Lush has shut down its website and closed all its UK stores in what the company says is a pro-Palestine statement of solidarity - sharing this image The firm said it shared 'the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine' - pictured is a Lush store in Oxford Street in London's West End The company previously faced criticism in 2023 after an employee put up a poster that read 'Boycott Israel' in the window of one of its stores in Dublin. Lush said in a statement to the Daily Mail that the poster was an isolated incident.. The business said: 'We are a diverse company with staff of all ethnicities and religions whose personal views and opinions may vary, however, the following is our Company position. 'Lush deplores all violence and all injustice. Our wish is for peace and safety for all Israeli and Palestinian people. We support the upholding of international law and the human rights of all peoples.' The company has 951 stores in 52 countries and previously described itself as 'the overly friendly cosmetics shop' in its official account on X, formerly Twitter. Lush is based in Poole, Dorset, and was founded by six entrepreneurs in 1995. In 2021, the cosmetics firm shut down some of its social media channels, saying it wanted to 'take action to provide safer environment for users'. Today's new statement was signed off with the words 'Peace and Solidarity' and included a pledge to relaunch a a soap product called Watermelon Slice, which Lush says has proceeds going towards 'child mental health support in Palestine'. The cosmetics firm said: 'Like the rest of the world, we struggle to find ways we can help whilst the Israeli government is preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza' A storefront in central London shows a banner reading 'Stop starving Gaza' and 'We are Closed in solidarity" as Lush shut down its shops, factories and online sales for one day A photo circulating on social media in 2023 showed the poster in Lush saying 'Boycott Israel' The company clarified its stance on the Middle East conflict, saying it wanted 'peace and safety for all Israeli and Palestinian people' The firm today shared an image declaring 'Stop starving Gaza' as it also closed its factories The company has 951 stores in 52 countries and previously described itself as 'the overly friendly cosmetics shop' in its official account on X, formerly Twitter Lush said: 'We now plan to make this soap available again, with the funds going to medical services, including charities that are gearing up to provide prosthetic limb services to adults and children injured in Gaza. 'Whilst Lush is losing a day of takings, this also means that the UK Government is losing a day of tax contributions from Lush and our customers. 'We hope they too hear the message our closure sends, with more Government action needed to bring an immediate stop to the death and destruction, including an end to arms sales from the UK.' The company also said it trades in more than 50 countries, though was founded in the Britain and so felt' important that we lift our voice first from here in the UK'. Lush added: 'However, we know that sentiment across the international Lush business is strong and we expect similar actions may follow as other Lush countries seek ways to express their solidarity.' Afghanistan's former health minister who is staying in a migrant hotel after fleeing the Taliban has had his bid to stay in the UK rejected. Feroz Ferozuddin, who has been recognised internationally for his work as a trauma surgeon, fled his homeland for fear of being tortured by the militant group in 2021. He had worked to rebuild the public health system in Afghanistan and was an advocate for women's rights. The 58-year-old came to the UK via Turkey and has been seeking refuge in Bournemouth, Dorset. But his application to remain in the country has been refused as it was made after the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme closed. Mr Ferozuddin has appealed the decision. In the meantime, he is living in one of the three controversial hotels in Bournemouth that have been taken over by the Home Office to house asylum seekers. The establishments are the scene of weekly protests staged by anti-migrant demonstrators waving St George's flags. He said he has heard protesters outside his hotel calling him a 'devil' and telling him to leave the country. Feroz Ferozuddin (pictured), who has been recognised internationally for his work as a trauma surgeon, fled his homeland for fear of being tortured by the militant group in 2021 An anti-immigration protester holds up a sign reading, 'Enough is Enough, Stop The Boats' during a protest last summer Mr Ferozuddin is seen during a press conference in Kabul in February 2020 But Mr Ferozuddin believes he has a lot to offer the NHS. He said: 'I always believed the UK has a big heart and patience. It embraces diversity, democracy, human rights and women's rights, and that is my personal mission. 'I believe in respecting people, saving people, empowering people, irrespective of gender, religion or race. 'I wanted to find space to contribute to that. 'Individualism is very important here. We need to compete, we need to thrive but we need to work together when we want to achieve something. 'I believe the St George's flag is most powerful when it brings people together, at sporting events, festivals, and moments of shared pride. 'In these settings, it reflects the warmth, kindness, and unity that I have experienced from so many here in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole. 'My hope is that this beautiful symbol will always be used to unite rather than divide, so that everyone, including newcomers, can feel pride and belonging when they see it.' Mr Ferozuddin has been 'keeping himself busy' with community work and helping local organisations such as the YMCA and the HealthBus, which supports homeless people. He believes asylum seekers should be involved in the community, so they can be taught about UK culture and values. Anti-immigration protesters hold St George's flags during far-right and counter protests in Bournemouth last summer In Afghanistan, Mr Ferozuddin saved lives as a surgeon for nine years before stepping back from the medical industry. He then served as Afghanistan's minister for health from 2015 to 2020 and was awarded the best minister award at the World Government Summit in 2019. He was a strong defender of women's and children's rights, which went against the Taliban's order, and worked to lower Afghanistan's mortality rate. But when the Taliban took control his home was confiscated and his bank accounts were frozen. He moved between safe houses before eventually managing to escape to Pakistan under the guise of being critically ill. From there he applied for asylum refuge in Turkey but he still did not feel safe. Mr Ferozuddin said he continued to receive threats and was assaulted, being hit over the head with a blunt object. An anti-immigration protester holds up a sign reading, 'Enough is Enough, Stop The Boats' during a demonstration in summer last year When he reported it to the police he was told they could not look after everyone and he sought asylum in the UK in January this year. Mr Ferozuddin said: 'I moved from safe house to safe house. In the end they [the Taliban] would have recognised me. 'They would have jailed me then tortured me, it's the consequence of brutality. 'I had to leave everything, my legacy. ' The backlog in the asylum system means people seeking refuge are unable to work legally in the UK. He added: 'We could get asylum seekers to take part in community activities, like volunteering and litter picking to help clean the beaches. 'It provides a sense of belonging.' If he secures a visa, Mr Ferozuddin said he wants to use his expertise to help the NHS, local councils and homelessness trusts. Donald Trump can no longer use an antiquated wartime law to speedily deport Venezuelan gang members, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday. Using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, the Trump administration deported hundreds of undocumented immigrants allegedly associated with the notorious Tren de Aragua gang. Some were flown to El Salvador's maximum security Terrorism Confinement Center. The law Trump used is meant to allow presidents to remove migrants from enemy countries during an 'invasion or predatory incursion.' His strategy, however, has drawn many challenges in the court system from those arguing the U.S. is not facing an 'invasion.' Pro-immigrant groups claim migrants aren't receiving due process to contest deportations due to the administration's use of the obscure law. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled on Tuesday that Trump cannot use the Alien Enemies Act because the activity of Tren de Aragua does not meet the definition of either an 'invasion' or a 'predatory incursion.' The White House slammed the most recent ruling, claiming: 'The authority to conduct national security operations in defense of the United States and to remove terrorists from the United States rests solely with the President.' '[W]e expect to be vindicated on the merits in this case,' White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail in a statement. An appeals court rules on Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport from the U.S. alleged Tren de Aragua gang members In March, Trump invoked the act to remove a few hundred Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. He claimed the deported men are criminals or affiliated with gangs President Trump claims Tren de Aragua is engaged in an incursion under this 18th-century law because its members have perpetrated 'mass illegal migration.' But the three-judge panel rejected this argument two-to-one. It's just the latest court decision pushing back on Trump's hawkish deportation strategy. 'A country's encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States,' the court wrote in its Tuesday ruling. It added: 'There is no finding that this mass immigration was an armed, organized force or forces.' While the appellate judges blocked using this specific law to remove migrants who sued in the Northern District of Texas, it recognizes the government can deport these migrants under other legal authorities. Since Trump retook office in January, more than 6,000 Venezuelans have been deported from the U.S., according to available data. Of this total, 238 migrants were sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison earlier this year. On March 15, the Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport 137 alleged Venezuelan gang members to the El Salvador mega prison, according to a White House statement at the time. While the Trump administration claims all those sent to CECOT are gang members or criminals, multiple reports claim otherwise. Family members and migrant advocates claim that the men deported to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center this year have no criminal record or gang ties Family members, immigration lawyers and human rights groups claim many deportees have no criminal record or verifiable gang affiliations. Both New York Times and 60 Minutes investigations found that of the 238 men deported to El Salvador, there was little evidence of gang ties or criminal backgrounds. Tuesday's ruling on this case came after months of going back-and-forth between the federal judiciary. The case was originally brought by migrants detained in Texas. They sued to block their removal under the wartime Alien Enemies Act. And after the lower district court did not grant relief, the Fifth Circuit claimed they didn't have jurisdiction to intervene. The case then reached the Supreme Court in the spring, and while the high court blocked the migrants' removal in April, a month later it was sent back down to the appellate for further review. The Supreme Court said the Fifth Circuit was wrong to dismiss the case. But the highest U.S. court also said the government didn't provide migrants enough notice of their impending deportations by giving only 24-hour advance. This is the terrifying moment a tiger attacked a vet through the wire fence at a zoo. The big cat was filmed leaping up at the vet to grab her jacket from behind and pull her into the wire fence separating them at the Camino Real del Tigre zoo in Mazamitla, located west of Mexico City, Mexico. The tiger then tried to sink its fangs into her neck. Thankfully, a colleague was able to remove the tiger's claws from the grimacing vet's clothes before any damage could be done. After the clip went viral online, the park issued a video statement to confirm that the vet, named Alejandra Mora, and the tiger, called Rayita, were both fine. Alejandra appeared in the video to explain that the Bengal tiger was intrigued by her camouflage-patterned jacket and was only 'playing'. She said: 'First of all, thank you so much to everyone who has been concerned about my wellbeing. 'I'm doing fine, as is our resident Rayita. What happened yesterday was that my raincoat caught his attention and he wanted to play with it, so he grabbed me. The big cat was filmed leaping up at the vet to grab her jacket from behind and pull her into the wire fence Thankfully, a colleague was able to remove the tiger's claws from the grimacing vet's clothes before any damage could be done. After the clip went viral online, the park issued a video statement to confirm that the vet, named Alejandra Mora, and the tiger, called Rayita, were both fine 'One of our visitors tried to intervene, but we asked him not to because he was holding me a little too tightly. But fortunately, nothing went wrong.' She added: 'Our trained staff intervened, removed our tiger Rayita's paws, and we are both doing well. I am very grateful for your continued support.' Alejandra confirmed that she was carrying out a routine inspection when Rayita grabbed her from behind. A park spokesperson said: 'Don't worry, family! Our veterinarian, Alejandra, had a little scare, but she's doing great and continues to lovingly care for our cats. 'At Camino Real del Tigre, we're a big family, and your safety, along with that of the animals, always comes first.' In December 2024, animal activists accused the park of drugging their big cats so visitors could take photos with them. Days after the expose, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) closed the park for four days to carry out an inspection. Over 1,000 current and former employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are demanding that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. resign. The mutiny inside America's health system comes after Kennedy fired the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Susan Monarez last month. In a letter released on Wednesday, the employees accused RFK Jr. of replacing career health officials at HHS, such as Monarez, with political ideologues, We believe health policy should be based in strong, evidence-based principles rather than partisan politics. But under Secretary Kennedys leadership, HHS policies are placing the health of all Americans at risk, regardless of their politics, the letter says. The letter then calls on President Donald Trump and the Congress to remove Kennedy from his position if he chose not to resign. Should he decline to resign, we call upon the President and U.S. Congress to appoint a new Secretary of Health and Human Services, one whose qualifications and experience ensure that health policy is informed by independent and unbiased peer-reviewed science. We expect those in leadership to act when the health of Americans is at stake,' it continues. The HHS employees claim Kennedy is filling positions of power in the department with staffers 'who pose as scientific experts and manipulate data to fit predetermined conclusions. Over a 1,000 current and former HHS employees are demanding Kennedy step aside from leading the department The letter comes in the wake of Kennedy's firing of the director of the CDC Staffers claim Kennedy is replacing health experts in the department with political ideologues The letter was signed by some staffers who remained anonymous because of well-founded fear of retaliation and threats to personal safety. Last month, HHS employees demanded Kennedy advocate for more protections for health officials following an August 8th shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. A shooter in Atlanta fired 500 rounds at the CDC headquarters, claiming he was upset by the COVID vaccines. Police officer David Rose, 33, died in hospital after he was wounded from the gunfire. However, no civilians were injured or killed during the shooting. After the shooting, Kennedy visited the CDC headquarters to give his condolences to the family of the slain officer. We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC's Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose, Kennedy said at the time. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family. The HHS employees called on Trump to remove Kennedy if he does not step down from the department The group Save HHS organized the signing of the letter and claims they have not received a response from Kennedy. 'Secretary Kennedy has been clear: the CDC has been broken for a long time. Restoring it as the worlds most trusted guardian of public health will take sustained reform and more personnel changes,' HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said to the Daily Mail. 'From his first day in office, he pledged to check his assumptions at the doorand he asked every HHS colleague to do the same. That commitment to evidence-based science is why, in just seven months, he and the HHS team have accomplished more than any health secretary in history in the fight to end the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again.' United Airlines passengers were left terrified after their flight collided with another parked aircraft while backing up at a gate in San Francisco. The Denver-bound Flight 1871 struck another of the airline's fleet at around 9.10pm on Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane hit the tail of Boston-bound Flight 796, which was parked while preparing for takeoff. After the aircraft was towed back to its gate, 'passengers on both planes deplaned normally,' United Airlines said in a statement. 'We arranged for different aircraft to take our customers to their destinations,' the airline added. An image showed damage to the tail of one of the planes. One Boston-bound passenger on Reddit said they were, 'in the middle of boarding when the plane shook.' 'FAs told us to deplane and one of the pilots said wed been hit,' they wrote. 'Seems like United ground crew is having a tough year.' On Monday, Flight 1871 bound for Denver struck the tail of another of the airline's fleet while pushing back from the gate around 9.10pm The FAA is investigating the incident, which occurred in an area where traffic controllers do not communicate with the aircraft Another, who claimed to have been on the Denver-bound flight, said: 'It was a big shudder when we hit. We were all buckled up, [the other plane's passengers] were boarding at the time. 'We were in D16, so they backed us out, down the taxiway, then pulled a big U turn to get us facing forward. 'Near the end of the U-Turn apparently the tug connection broke, and instead of continuing to turn, the plane just kept going backwards at an angle and hit UA796 (SFO-BOS) which I believe was at E5.' No injuries were reported, according to the FAA and the airline. The FAA is investigating the incident, which occurred in an area where traffic controllers do not communicate with the aircraft, it said. The crash was the first of two incidents involving United Airlines flights in as many days, after another of its fleet was forced to return to San Francisco on Tuesday after a burning smell was reported in the cabin. Flight 2664 bound for Baltimore, carrying 164 passengers, turned back around one hour after departing at 9.47am on Tuesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. One passenger on the flight said they were 'in the middle of boarding when the plane shook' The plane hit the tail of a Boston bound United Airlines plane, Flight 796, which was parked while preparing for takeoff at San Francisco International Airport In a statement to the outlet, the airline said the decision to return was made 'to address a plastic burning smell in the cabin.' Passengers deplaned safely and an alternative plane was arranged by the airline. The cause of the smell remains unclear, but no injuries were reported. Daily Mail has contacted the FAA for an update on the investigation. Putting a supportive hand on a female colleague's shoulder in a 'fatherly' way is not sex harassment, a tribunal has ruled. Employment Judge Robin Havard said the gesture may instead signal support and is not done in a way to humiliate or intimidate the recipient. The ruling came in the case of HR worker Yvette Rankmore, who took to a city council to a tribunal after her male boss placed his hand on her shoulder while offering advice. Ms Rankore admitted that it was a 'fatherly type gesture' - but said she did not consider that it was 'appropriate' in the workplace. However, the tribunal, who heard Ms Rankmore did not say anything to her boss about the incident, dismissed the HR worker's claims and said that the behaviour of the male boss was not carried out with the intention of violating Ms Rankmore's dignity. The employment tribunal, held in Cardiff, was told Ms Rankmore started working for the city council in 2004. In 2023, Ms Rankmore was a people services advisor at the authority and she sat opposite Jason Carlson in the office. The council worker alleged to the tribunal that there were occasions where Mr Carlson was 'putting his arms around me'. A judge at Cardiff Employment Tribunal (above) said Yvette Rankmore had 'accepted that Jason Carlson had done so in, 'a fatherly way' and that his conduct was not of a sexual nature.' She said she 'avoided' going over to his desk but said 'if he wanted to speak with me he would come over to my desk and still put his arms around me'. During the proceedings, Ms Rankmore told the judge that her boss would put an arm around her shoulder. Ms Rankmore told the panel that her boss had placed an arm on her shoulder or back two or three times over a four-and-a-half month period. The employee said Mr Carlson acted the same with other people, and another council worker confirmed in evidence that he would 'put an arm on someone's shoulder in a supportive way when showing someone how to do something'. The panel heard that in later 2023, Mr Carlson also made an 'inappropriate comment' about her daughter which 'changed' her opinion of her boss. The following June, she raised concerns over the conduct of Mr Carlson to other senior figures at the authority. The council worker was offered mediation but she declined this and informal resolution proceedings commenced. The allegation of Mr Carlson putting his arm around Ms Rankmore was upheld - but it was found that he 'had not realised this caused offence'. Mr Carlson subsequently received training in 'emotional intelligence and management' and participated with other members of the team on training relating to the law concerning sexual harassment, the panel said. But, in August 2024, Ms Rankmore lodged a formal resolution application and said she felt as if the informal process had not led to a 'satisfactory outcome'. Her concerns were not upheld and she again appealed the findings, but a subsequent hearing found both formal and informal investigations had been 'robust and appropriate'. The advisor took the council to a tribunal, alleging sex and sexual harassment, among other claims. In her written evidence, she said Mr Carlson was putting his arms around her and 'rubbing' her back. The panel said that they were 'concerned' that Ms Rankmore had 'exaggerated' Mr Carlson's conduct by making it sound 'more intimate'. The tribunal accepted Mr Carlson's evidence that he was a 'tactile person' and said he also behaved the same way towards other staff. Employment Judge Robin Havard said the tribunal also accepted Ms Rankmore's evidence that she found his conduct inappropriate and that it made her feel uncomfortable. But the tribunal found that 'Mr Carlson had placed his arm on (Ms Rankmore's) shoulder in a supportive manner and there was no evidence to suggest that (Ms Rankmore) was 'singled out' for such contact. 'Whilst this may have been unwanted conduct, the Tribunal was not satisfied that it related to (Ms Rankmore's) sex.' The judge said Ms Rankmore had 'accepted that Mr Carlson had done so in, 'a fatherly way' and that his conduct was not of a sexual nature.' All claims made by Ms Rankmore were brought to the tribunal too late. But the judge said that in any event, they would have been dismissed. The release of the infamous 'missing minute' from outside Jeffrey Epstein's jail cell appears to show a guard walking toward the inmate in a stunning revelation that has cast doubt over Attorney General Pam Bondi's bungled explanation. Newly released footage from inside Manhattan's Metropolitan Detention Center on the night of August 9, 2019 revealed the previously-missing minute from the night the notorious sex trafficker died. From 23:59:01, when the missing minute began, there is little to no movement in the footage, as a guard sat at a table in the top left of the frame. In grainy footage at 23:59:41, the guard gets up from behind a desk in the main hall and begins walking to the other side of the room in the direction of Epstein's cell. The figure, dressed in all black, then continued walking through the hall before disappearing from view at 23:59:48. It is not clear when, or if, the guard returned to the desk before the footage ended. Around two minutes later at 00:01:36, a guard could be seen coming into the foreground of the footage near two other cells. It is unclear if this is the same guard who was cut out of the original 'missing minute.' The emergence of the footage appears to contradict the official story that came out following Epstein's death six years ago, where authorities said that the guards, Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, were sleeping at the time. The release of the infamous 'missing minute' from outside Jeffrey Epstein's jail cell died appears to show a guard walking toward the inmate in a stunning revelation In grainy footage at 23:59:41, a person sat behind a desk in the main hall gets up and begins walking to the other side of the room where Epstein was in his cell, despite officials originally claiming guards were sleeping Around two minutes later at 00:01:36, a guard could be seen coming into the foreground of the footage near two other cells. It is unclear if this is the same guard who was cut out of the original 'missing minute' Images of Epstein's body being carried out of Manhattan's Metropolitan Detention Center on August 9, 2019 According to prison officials who spoke with the New York Times in 2019, the guards had 'failed to check on him for about three hours', and then falsely recorded a log to claim they had checked on him every 30 minutes as required. Bondi previously brushed off the missing minute when some of the footage was released in July, claiming that it was the result of the jail's surveillance system glitching. 'Every night they redo that video... every night should have the same minute missing,' she said at the time. Bondi's explanation of the 'missing minute' came after the Attorney General also previously claimed she had the 'Epstein files' sat on her desk, before later saying that they did not exist. The apparent contradiction has reignited calls for Bondi to resign as even Trump supporters have vented their fury at her handling of the 'Epstein files' release. Former lawyer and political commentator David Freiheit, also known on X as Viva Frei, calling for President Donald Trump to replace her. He noted that Fox News broadcasters had been 'leveraging it to highlight the inaccuracy of the statement from Pam Bondi explaining the missing minute.' 'I've been saying it for a while: Pam Bondi should be fired,' he wrote. 'Bondi needs to go,' another X user agreed. 'President Trump wanted a bunch of media-savvy people in his administration, and I think that Bondi was anxious to get on the news and impress the president. If she's going to make a statement, it must be accurate. Credibility is everything.' The footage release comes as the House of Representatives Oversight Committee has held hearings over the release of the 'Epstein Files' this week The footage release comes as the House of Representatives Oversight Committee has held hearings over the release of the 'Epstein Files' this week, amid a probe into potential ethics violations among elected officials. Members of the Oversight Committee met with survivors of Epstein's alleged abuse, which left top Republican Rep. Nancy Mace in tears as she left a hearing on Tuesday. Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna also suggested that 'this is a lot bigger than anyone anticipated.' 'There are some rich and powerful people that need to go to jail,' she told reporters following the closed-door meeting. 'I think everyone's frustrated as to why that hasn't happened before.' Taking to social media to address the photos that emerged of her teary-eyed as she left the briefing with the victims early, Mace said she 'had a very difficult time listening to their stories' as a recent survivor of sexual assault herself. The Republican from South Carolina explained that she went into a 'full-blown panic attack' and was left 'sweating, hyperventilating, shaking' and unable to breathe. 'I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. God bless all survivors.' Attorney General Pam Bondi has faced calls for her to resign following the bungled release of the 'Epstein files' and her explanation of the 'missing minute' Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, was seen teary-eyed as she left a meeting with Epstein survivors early on Tuesday Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna suggesting 'this is a lot bigger than anyone anticipated' Amid the revelations, pressure is mounting on President Donald Trump to release even more documents related to the case against the late financier - with Republican Thomas Massie even suggesting the president may be withholding government files to protect people he knows personally. He appeared with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, of California, on Tuesday night's episode of MSNBC's All In, where the two discussed their efforts to force the Justice Department to release all of the files with minimal redactions to protect the victims. 'I think the best way to clear President Trump's name is to release all the files,' the Kentucky Republican told host Chris Hayes. 'I actually don't think he's done anything criminal,' he continued. 'I think he may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his. 'And in fact, some of those billionaires are running ads against me in Kentucky right now. One of them is in Epstein's black book,' Massie claimed. 'So we're getting really close to the center of power here, and I think, you know, embarrassment is not a reason to conceal all of this stuff. 'We've got to get it out in the open, regardless of whose friends might be incriminated,' he declared. Australian taxpayers will be slugged $2.5 billion over 30 years to deport hundreds of former immigration detainees to Nauru under a 'secret' deal. The Albanese Government signed a memorandum of understanding with Nauru, offering more than $400 million upfront and then $70 million each year. The agreement will allow Australia to transfer up to 354 former detainees, including convicted criminals, to the tiny Pacific island which has a population of about 12,000. Immigration officials were grilled during a late-night parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, reluctantly confirming the massive cost of the deal. Australia could stop paying the annual $70 million sum if Nauru decided it would not accept any more people under the agreement. Under questioning by Greens senator David Shoebridge, officials also confirmed Labor's legislation could be retrospective. During the hearing, he challenged officials who claimed the agreement was not 'secret' because it was not available to anybody. Senator Shoebridge's bid to force Labor to release the full memorandum through a Senate order was voted down in the upper house. Australian taxpayers will be slugged $2.5 billion for the Albanese Government's deal to deport hundreds of former immigration detainees to Nauru (pictured, Nauru President David Adeang and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) Anthony Albanese was repeatedly pressed about the lack of detail made public. 'We have arrangements between governments and those arrangements are ones we enter into across the board,' he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. Earlier this week, the prime minister declined to provide more detail about the deal during a TV interview, saying 'nothing is secret about it'. The prime minister's refusal came after the High Court dismissed an appeal from an Iraqi man who had his temporary protection visa cancelled after being convicted and sentenced to almost six years in prison for detaining a person for advantage. His temporary protection visa was cancelled in March 2023 and he was taken into immigration detention upon his release from prison a year later. He was released from immigration detention in October 2024 as part of a landmark High Court decision ruling indefinite detention unlawful. The group was released as part of the NZYQ cohort as there was no foreseeable pathway for their removal. Labor was heavily criticised by the opposition for the fallout. Your browser does not support iframes. The agreement will allow Australia to transfer up to 354 former detainees, including convicted criminals, to Nauru The 65-year-old was taken back into immigration detention in February after Australia applied to Nauru for a visa on his behalf, meaning there was a real prospect of him being removed from Australia. The man is one of three people fighting their deportation to Nauru under laws that allow non-citizens to be sent to a third country if they cannot be deported to their home nation. Wednesday's High Court decision would not set a broad precedent for deportations because it was narrowly focused on the man's circumstances, his lawyers said. Human Rights Law Centre associate legal director Laura John said the man had lived through 'untold horrors' of the Iraq war and faced indefinite separation from his wife and child, homelessness and destitution in Australia. 'Like every person, our client has a right to live in safety and dignity,' she said after the ruling. 'The government has refused at every stage of this process to consider the lifelong consequences of permanently exiling an elderly man to Nauru.' His protection visa remains cancelled after the court's decision, but the man has other legal avenues to fight his deportation to Nauru and that attempt will continue in the Federal Court. Labor is pushing legislation through parliament to curtail procedural fairness requirements to streamline the deportation of the NZYQ cohort to Nauru. Shein has launched an investigation after Luigi Mangione's likeness was seen modeling a $10 shirt in one of their adverts. The alleged assassin was pictured beaming in a white, floral-patterned button-up shirt in the image on the Chinese fast fashion website. Shein, the world's largest fashion retailer, told the Daily Mail in a statement: 'The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery. 'We have stringent standards for all listings on our platform. 'We are conducting a thorough investigation, strengthening our monitoring processes, and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies.' It is not known how long the image was used for, or who placed it on the website. The photograph appears to have been made using photoshop or AI. Shein is a global e-commerce platform specializing in fast fashion - which is the production of cheap clothing made rapidly in high volumes. It is owned by Chinese entrepreneur Chris Xu. Shein has launched an investigation after Luigi Mangione's likeness was seen modeling a $10 shirt in one of their adverts. The image, shown above, appears to be AI-generated The 27-year-old alleged assassin was pictured beaming in a white, floral-patterned button-up shirt in the apparent AI image, shown top-left on Shein's website before it was taken down Mangione is currently behind bars awaiting trial at Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, the same jail where Sean 'Diddy' Combs is awaiting his sentencing hearing. The 27-year-old has attracted a substantial fanbase of mainly female supporters and a cult-like following - sparking fears about the possibility of copycat killings. Health industry heavyweights, executives and politicians across the country from New York to California have been on high alert since Thompson's murder. Luxury security firm Fortified Estates previously told the Daily Mail they've seen a boom in demand for security fittings including infrared robotic cameras, bulletproof glass and secret doors to safe rooms. Meanwhile, US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in April that she has directed prosecutors to seek the death penalty against the Ivy League graduate It is the first time the Justice Department has sought to bring the death penalty since President Donald Trump returned to office in January with a vow to resume federal executions after they were halted under the previous administration. 'Luigi Mangione's murder of Brian Thompson - an innocent man and father of two young children - was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,' Bondi said in a statement. Mangione is currently behind bars awaiting trial at Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, the same jail where Sean 'Diddy' Combs is awaiting his sentencing hearing Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare boss Brian Thompson (pictured) outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City on December 4, 2024 She described Thompson's killing as 'an act of political violence.' Mangione's lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said that in seeking the death penalty 'the Justice Department has moved from the dysfunctional to the barbaric.' The accused assassin 'is caught in a high-stakes game of tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors, except the trophy is a young man's life,' Friedman Agnifilo said in a statement, vowing to fight all charges against him. His federal charges include murder through use of a firearm, which carries the possibility of the death penalty. The state charges carry a maximum punishment of life in prison. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to a state indictment and has not yet been required to enter a plea on the federal charges. Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks, with the state case expected to go to trial first. It wasn't immediately clear if Bondi's announcement will change the order. Mangione, 26, is facing state and federal murder charges for allegedly gunning down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of the Midtown Hilton hotel in Manhattan Mangione was arrested December 9 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles west of New York City. He was whisked back to Manhattan by plane and helicopter. Police said Mangione had a 9mm handgun that matched the one used in the shooting and other items including a notebook in which they say he expressed hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives. Among the entries, prosecutors said, was one from August 2024 that said 'the target is insurance' because 'it checks every box' and one from October that describes an intent to 'wack' an insurance company CEO. UnitedHealthcare has said Mangione has never been a client of theirs. The University of Kentucky cheerleader accused of hiding her dead newborn baby in a trash bag has been branded an 'appearance-obsessed serial bully' by the family of one of her 'victims', in an exclusive Daily Mail interview. And Laken Snelling, 21, is even accused of once trying to run down a fellow student with her Jeep and being so mean that others transferred schools to get away from her. Snelling's all-American popular facade crumbled after she was arrested Saturday in Lexington when the infant's body was found in her off-campus home; she was released Tuesday on $100,000 bond. Snelling was ordered to live with her parents in home incarceration after pleading not guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. The alleged actions of the university senior and member of the college's competitive cheer 'stunt team' have ignited speculation, wild theories and occasional sympathy among internet sleuths. But former fellow high school student Sydney Kite, now 20, told the Daily Mail: 'I don't know the circumstances of what is alleged to have happened over the baby. 'However, I do know that Laken had many, many people that she took her personal anger out on. My sister was one of them. 'While in high school, she tried to run over one of my closest friends with her Jeep. The bullying got so bad my friend had to be pulled out of school and transferred to another because Laken had taken it so far. Images posted on social media in recent months showed Snelling with what appeared to be a bump in her midriff Sydney Kite, who now lives in Newport, Tennessee, with her partner and infant daughter, claimed her sister was often at the mercy of her classmate Snelling 'Even after my friend left, Laken then kept it up with cyberbullying with text messages. 'There were other individuals who had to transfer to get away from her. And after they did that, she would continue to message them and make TikToks and social media posts about them as well.' Daily Mail emails and phone calls to Laken and members of her family asking for comment on the accusations were not returned. Snelling and Kite attended the same elementary school and middle school in White Pine, Tennessee, and high school in nearby Jefferson. Kite was a year ahead but her sister was in the same grade as Snelling. 'If you didn't have a certain amount of money or a certain amount of popularity, then you weren't really in Laken's circle,' said Kite, who has a baby daughter with partner Kenyon Biggs in Newport, Tennessee. 'She was obsessed with her appearance, very obsessed with being popular and fitting in. 'She was always obsessed with being very thin, with wearing tight-fitting clothes. 'She wanted a lot of attention. 'She would bully my sister and her friends in the bathroom at school. She would just corner them. There were talks with teachers about her behavior, but nothing led to her stopping doing it. University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling was arrested for allegedly putting her dead newborn in a trash bag hidden in a closet. She pled not guilty. She has come under fire by a former school mate for being a 'vain bully' Kite claimed Snelling once tried to mow down a friend with her Jeep and that her bullying was so relentless some students transferred only to face the same taunts online 'I know my mother reported it to the school, and Laken and I had our own interaction. I cornered her in the bathroom and told her to stop messing with my sister while we were in middle school, say eighth grade. 'She didn't like it when people stood up to her, which is why she would go after the kids she saw as weaker. I wasn't the sort of person to sit there and be bullied.' Others on social media have backed Kite's experience. Jennifer Ricker wrote on Facebook: 'I know this girl she is a bully! Always treated my kids like trash in school and MANY others. 'She attempted to run over one of the students and that student left school and moved schools because of HER! 'She has never been held accountable for anything she does.' An anonymous author in a Facebook discussion group wrote: 'I attended her school. I didn't know her personally, but everyone knew she was the mean girl.' Snelling appeared somber at her short court appearance, despite wearing a glam red dress and make up, and spoke only briefly to agree with the judge's order. Her father Terry Snelling, a construction company supervisor from Jefferson City, held her hand as they walked outside the courtroom. In a bizarre twist to the story, Daily Mail can reveal Snelling joined a Facebook group last year that organizes babysitters in the Lexington area. She was included in a 'let's welcome our new members' announcement on November 25. Snelling appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the three charges against her. She was released on $100,000 bail and ordered to in-home incarceration with her parents Snelling wore bright pink to her court appearance, walking hand-in-hand with her father Terry Snelling does not have to wear an ankle monitor during her home incarceration. The cheerleader 'admitted to giving birth,' during questioning over the horror find on August 27, according to a police report. She admitted 'concealing the birth by cleaning any evidence, placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag including the infant who was wrapped in a towel,' the citation reads. Police made the discovery after being called to the home over a report of a 'deceased infant being located inside of a closet'. It is not known who made the call. The cause of death is pending a review by the Fayette County Coroner's Office. Ironically, in Snelling's last TikTok post on June 25 she included an emoji of a mother holding a baby under her list of 'goals' beside a wedding ring and cash. In other photos appearing to come from one of her social media accounts, she appears to be showing off a stomach bump while posing lovingly with a boyfriend as they walk in a field. Other social media images in recent months also appear to reveal her sporting a bump. Snelling 'admitted to giving birth' during questioning and stated she attempted to cover it up, cleaned the scene and stuffed the baby and materials into a black bag, according to a police report The horror happened in a state where a near-total abortion ban has been in place since 2022, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Abortions are only allowed to prevent the 'substantial risk of death; or to prevent 'the serious, permanent impairment or a life-sustaining organ' of a pregnant woman or girl. Some social media comments have highlighted the abortion ban, while others have pointed out the existence of safe haven baby boxes, where newborn children can be handed in anonymously. Snelling is due to appear in court again on September 26. Her university confirmed she has been a member of its 'stunt team for the last three seasons'. It added in a statement to local TV station LEX18: 'All other questions should be directed to Lexington Police.' The mother of a 15-year-old girl who was murdered as part of a satanic ritual has revealed her fury that two of her daughter's killers have been freed from prison. Elyse Pahler was killed on July 22, 1995 by her high school classmates Royce Casey, Jacob Delashmutt and Joseph Fiorella as part of a sacrifice to the devil. The trio lured Elyse to a field to smoke marijuana and then choked, kicked and stabbed her more than a dozen times, before abandoning her body in the woods. The teenage killers pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and were sentenced to 25 years to life in California state prison. Fiorella, who was hit with an additional charge of being armed with a deadly weapon, was sentenced 26 years to life. But Delashmutt and Casey have now been granted parole 30 years after the brutal slaying - a decision that has left Elyse's family feeling 'very upset'. 'They're baby killers that's what people call them, and they're the worst,' the victim's mother Lisanne Pahler told Daily Mail. Lisanne and her husband David fought for the killers to stay behind bars and urged the parole board not grant their release until they showed remorse. 'My husband chewed out Casey and he finally showed remorse, so did Jacob [Delashmutt],' she said, adding that despite their release she knows, 'God will get them'. 'We're Christians. The bottom line is the Golden Rule - treat others the way you want to be treated and I don't who's going to keep them safe [after their release]. Someone will try to take them out.' Lisanne Pahler (right) has revealed her fury after two of the men who brutally murdered her daughter Elyse (left) were released from prison Two of her killers - Royce Casey (left) and Jacob Delashmutt (right) - have been granted parole Lisanne told the Daily Mail Delashmutt and Casey's parole has been hard on the whole family, especially her youngest daughter and daughter-in-law who are 'very upset about anyone getting out'. But the grieving mother says that despite their release, Elyse's killers will continue to pay for their crimes. She alleges Delashmutt and Casey will be forced to pay their family a large sum in restitution - and although she didn't disclose the exact amount, said 'they will be paying for life'. Lisanne admitted that for decades she was 'never really been able to grieve or have anger', but now - after years of medical and behavior health treatments - 'I am finally able to process grief'. 'I taught my children, even the person who did the worst thing to you they taught you a lesson,' she added. Delashmutt, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was released from prison in July after being granted parole in May. After his release was confirmed, Lisanne took to Facebook to blast the parole board's decision. Lisanne Pahler has branded her daughter's murderers as 'baby killers' and says 'they're the worst' kind of criminal Delashmutt and Casey's parole has been hard on the whole family, Lisanne told Daily Mail. She is pictured with her husband David and their daughter Elyse as an infant She detailed how she spent three decades working with doctors to combat the effects of her complex post-traumatic stress disorder and the lasting trauma from Elyse's murder. 'Jacob got out of prison today and I'm sure all three murderers of our dear Elyse Marie have had no problem sleeping all these years,' her post reads, in part. 'No going back - pray I find the right trauma counselor with David - who has also be victimized!!!' When Delashmutt was arrested, the then-teen blamed his friends for orchestrating the killing and claimed they recruited him to participate. But at his parole hearing this year, he admitted to being the 'ringleader' in Elyse's brutal slaying and 'the most responsible for the crime'. 'I had every opportunity to put a stop to it, and I didn't. I was involved in the planning from the beginning and I made this crime happen,' Delashmutt, now 47, told the hearing, according to The Los Angeles Times. 'I want to acknowledge all of the pain and the trauma that I've caused,' he added, noting that would be 'impossible' for him to understand the impact that his actions had on the Pahler family. Delashmutt was previously denied parole in 2017 and 2022. The board granted him parole in 2023, but the ruling was overturned by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Elyse Pahler (pictured) was killed on July 22, 1995, by her high school classmates Royce Casey, Jacob Delashmutt, and Joseph Fiorella. She was stabbed more than a dozen times, choked, kicked and left to bleed to death as part of the boys' sacrifice to the devil Lisanne Pahler shared a photo of shrine with her late daughter's belongings to her Facebook page in July 2025 - the same month Delashmutt was released Casey, who was 17 at the time of the killing, was granted parole twice before but Newsom overturned both decisions. 'Mr. Casey must better understand the internal processes that led him to commit the crime and hone the skills he will need to manage them beyond the controlled environment of prison,' the governor wrote last year in a letter to the District Attorney's Office, The Tribune reported. Newsom further argued that Casey would pose an 'unreasonable danger to society' if released. But the killer was granted parole again in March after he admitted how he delivered the blow that ended Elyse's life. Casey also told the hearing how she cried out for Jesus and her mother with her dying breaths. Officers spent eight months searching for Elyse, and despite numerous reported sightings, her body wasn't found until Casey confessed to a priest that he had taken part in her murder. The pastor reported the confession to police, who were then able to find her remains on March 15, 1996. It was said that Elyse was targeted by the trio because 'she had blonde hair and blue eyes, and because she was a virgin' Royce Casey (pictured as a teen) told the parole board they were influenced by death metal, alleging the music taught them to channel their anger through 'suicide, murder, and sacrifice' When he was arrested, Jacob Delashmutt (pictured as a teen) blamed his friends for orchestrating the killing and claimed they recruited him to participate. But at his parole hearing this year, he admitted to being 'the most responsible for the crime' During the March hearing, Casey explained how he and his friends had been influenced by death metal, alleging the music taught them to channel their anger through 'suicide, murder, and sacrifice'. He also shared how David Pahler's advocacy work has helped him acknowledge 'all the pain and trauma' he has caused. 'Something that I remember hearing over time when Elyse's dad has come, is that she has a face,' he told the board, referencing how David would often bring a photo of his daughter to hearings. 'I try to remember every day, whatever decision I'm making or whatever I do, that the ongoing impact of what I did is present all the time.' The board affirmed Casey's parole on July 23 and he was released to transitional housing in Los Angeles County in early August. Fiorella, who was 15 at the time of the murder, was denied parole in 2023. He remains in prison despite claims that he is intellectually disabled and allegations that his lawyer mishandled his defense in the 1990s. Fiorella will be eligible for another parole hearing in 2026. Prosecutors argued during the trio's 1997 trial that they plotted to kill Elyse so they could 'earn a ticket to hell'. The District Attorney's Office's chief investigator, Doug Odom, testified that they chose Elyse as their victim because 'she had blonde hair and blue eyes, and because she was a virgin, she would be a perfect sacrifice for the devil'. Lisanne and her husband David fought for Elyse's killers to stay behind bars and urged the parole board not grant their release until they showed remorse (Pictured: Elyse Pahler) 'My husband chewed out Casey and he finally showed remorse, so did Jacob,' Lisanne (pictured with David) told Daily Mail, adding that even though Delashmutt and Casey have been released she knows 'God will get them' Elyse was the oldest of four sisters, and she was described as an athlete, a great student, and had close friends at school. Her killers, on the other hand, were described as potheads who listened to metal music and were 'weird.' They were in a band called Hatred, modeled after the death metal band called Slayer. The trio reportedly believed that by sacrificing Elyse, they would be able to make better music. Lisanne and David reported Elyse missing on July 23, 1995. The night of her murder, the family had been watching TV together, when the phone rang. Elyse picked it up, had a short chat with Delashmutt and then went to bed. Hours later, Lisanne woke up in the middle of the night with a feeling that something was wrong, went to check on her daughter and discovered she had run off. 'I had this moment of gnarly separational grief. I said out loud "Where's Elyse?",' she recalled. 'The words came out of my mouth "she's gone".' Lisanne believes Elyse was 'misled under false pretenses' the night of her death after having been 'brainwashed' by the trio. She believes Elyse was targeted for her beauty and apparent innocence, even suggesting that she was a conquest of one her killers. 'Joe picked her out, you know, but he could never have her,' she told Daily Mail. 'We knew she was introduced to pot a couple of years before [the murder]. But really, she was into her art, music. Elyse went out to go get marijuana, but [I think] she thought her girlfriend would be there.' Joseph Fiorella (pictured as a teen) was 15 at the time of the murder. He was denied parole in 2023 and will be eligible for another hearing in 2026 Fiorella (pictured in 2018) remains in prison despite claims that he is intellectually disabled and allegations that his lawyer mishandled his defense in the 1990s David, during an episode of ID's docuseries A Killer Among Friends, highlighted the trio's peculiar behavior the night of the killing. 'There was a phone booth that they used to call her. The next step was to walk up to the top of our driveway, and they took her away,' he told the documentary. 'In the confession, Royce was talking about having sold their soul to the devil and their objective here on earth is to kill 666 blue-eyed virgins as a sacrifice to Satan in order to earn a ticket to hell.' David continued: 'They took her to a place in the woods where a series of trees fell and took the shape of a pentagram and that's where they built their altar and that's where they did their sacrifice.' Tory MPs lashed out at under-pressure leader Kemi Badenoch today after she failed to hammer Labour over Angela Rayner's embarrassing tax admission. Mrs Badenoch urged Sir Keir Starmer to show 'backbone' and sack his deputy at the start of Prime Minister's Questions, shortly after Ms Rayner admitted underpaying stamp duty on the purchase of a lavish second home by 40,000. But standing just feet from Ms Rayner, the opposition leader used the rest of her questions to the PM to lambast him over the dire state of the economy, rather than attack Labour over the tax scandal. Ms Badenoch's spokesman told reporters after PMQs that both were 'important stories' and said voters wanted to know what was happening to their bills, mortgages and taxes amid turmoil in the markets in recent days. But she was forced to conduct a television interview about Ms Rayner after leaving the chamber to more forcefully ram home an attack. It all prompted one veteran Tory to tell the Mail: 'Not a good day for the Kemi share price. FFS.' Another rueful Tory MP admitted they had been surprised by Mrs Badenoch's lack of focus. 'Not her best... That's life I suppose.' Another well-connected grandee told MailOnline that their colleagues were 'cross' about the performance. It comes as questions continue to be asked about her tenure - still less than a year - in charge of the party, which is still languishing third in the polls. Mrs Badenoch urged Sir Keir Starmer to show 'backbone' and sack his deputy at the start of Prime Minister's Questions, shortly after Ms Rayner admitted underpaying stamp duty on the purchase of a lavish second home by 40,000. But standing just feet from Ms Rayner, the opposition leader used the rest of her questions to the PM to lambast him over the dire state of the economy, rather than attack Labour over the scandal engulfing his deputy. But she was forced to conduct a television interview about Ms Rayner after leaving the chamber to more forcefully ram home an attack. The Deputy Prime Minister, dubbed 'Three Pads' Rayner in a row over her trio of homes, said she 'deeply regrets' the error made when purchasing her 800,000 apartment in Hove, East Sussex. In a tearful TV interview, a 'devastated' Ms Rayner revealed she has referred herself to an ethics watchdog to investigate whether she had broken ministerial rules. But pressure was growing on Sir Keir to immediately remove Ms Rayner from his Government, in which she also serves as Housing Secretary, rather than wait for the results of the probe into her tax blunder. It all broke at 11.30, 30 minute before PMQs, with Ms Badenoch having already been practicing her lines on the economy. Ms Badenoch opened by welcoming Ms Rayner referring herself to the ministerial ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus and asked: 'why is she still in office?' After Sir Keir defended his deputy she said: 'I'm not sure we would have heard all that sympathy if it was a Conservative deputy prime minister who had underpaid her tax. 'I remember when the Prime Minister said tax evasion is a criminal offence, and should be treated as all other fraud. If he had a backbone, he would sack her.' However, after that she focused on the economy and the cost of borrowing, a move which surprised even Labour MPs. Bury North's James Frith told GB News: 'I think Keir, the Prime Minister, performed very well. I think he probably would have expected Kemi Badenoch to zone in more. I think, notwithstanding the short notice, I'm surprised she didn't lean into that more.' But other Tories suggested it might not matter much outside of Parliament as voters would only see clips from the session. 'If you look at the news bulletins now what's being used is the fact she called for Rayner to be sacked,' they said. 'Beyond this building it might not be as damaging.' Mrs Badenoch's spokesman told reporters the Tories had been central in 'pushing' for answers from Ms Rayner. 'She (Badenoch) called for her (Rayner) to go and I'm told the BBC led with that at the top of the 1pm news,' he added. 'This is a very important story, this is about the deputy PM, the housing secretary, having misled the public for the past month. 'But there is a very big story in what people are experiencing out there at the moment and PMQs is a chance to put the PM under pressure for what he is doing to our country. 'What the people at home, as much as they do like the knockabout of Westminster politics, want to know (is) ''what are you doing' so that the price of my weekly shop comes down so that my wages are not undermined, so that my mortgage is not going up, so my energy bills are not going up?''' Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride took a swipe at Ms Rayner as he opened the Conservatives' Opposition Day debate after PMQs, asserting that if she wants to make the rules, then 'she should live by them'. Sir Mel said: 'I'm absolutely certain that the Deputy Prime Minister had a good recess. 'We saw many photographs of her down at the seaside, just off the coast in a rubber dinghy, rather like many of the other photographs over the summer given the reckless policies this Government has towards illegal migration. 'She was probably celebrating the acquisition of another property for her property empire, but perhaps also slightly tinged with that nagging doubt as to whether she had indeed paid enough stamp duty. Well, we will get to the bottom of that in due course.' He added: 'If (Ms Rayner) wants to make the rules, she should live by them. 'And that will be a message which will go out to businesses and families right up and down this country. There is no way that they can avoid the juggernaut of taxes that are coming down the track.' Survivors of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's abuse spoke about their experiences on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning in a push to release additional files on the serial child predator. Close to a dozen victims of the sinister New York financier spoke at a press conference hosted by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who are pushing a bill to release the Justice Department's Epstein documents, despite some files being published on Tuesday. Many of the survivors were speaking publicly for the first time, offering details not yet widely reported. Chauntae Davies, a former actress, shared that Epstein's longtime girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, first introduced her to the financier because he could help her career. That introduction was the start of a long pattern of abuse, including trips to the pedophile's private island and different homes. 'His [Epstein's] biggest brag, forever, was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump,' Chauntae Davies, a former actress, shared. 'He had an 8x10 framed picture of him on his desk, with the two of them, they were very close.' She also claimed to have been 'taken on a trip to Africa with former president Bill Clinton and other notable figures.' Marina Lacerda, 37, named as 'Minor-Victim 1' in Epstein's 2019 indictment, spoke out about the abuse she faced and called on Congress to take further action at the event. Lacerda, according to the 2019 indictment, met the financier in 2002 when she was just 14. She was recruited to go to his Manhattan home to give him a massage, which later led to years of abuse. Hundreds of supporters gathered for the press conference on Wednesday morning Alleged victims of Epstein and other victims of sexual abuse are holding the rally amid a bipartisan Congressional effort to force the federal government to release all unclassified records from the cases of Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell She was called so often by Epstein's associates to visit that she dropped out of high school, she said on Capitol Hill. The survivor noted how it was her 'first time' sharing such intimate details of her abuse. Lacerda called for the release of additional files to help her heal from her interactions with Epstein and his girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. 'The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of the documents and information about that that could help me remember and get over all of this, maybe and help me heal,' she said tearfully. 'They have documents with my name on them that were confiscated from Jeffrey Epstein's house, and could help me put the pieces of my own life back together,' Lacerda continued. 'But I don't have any of it. And I know the same is true for many of these women.' The Justice Department sent over 33,295 pages of Epstein files to the House Oversight Committee in August. The congressional panel, led by Republican Chairman James Comer, released those pages on Tuesday after reviewing them. Massie criticized the release on Wednesday morning, claiming the production does not include enough new material. Many of the files reviewed in the data drop by the Daily Mail appear to be previously reported, though some new videos were included, like a video of Epstein's jail unit the night of his death. '[The] White House says helping me secure a vote to release all the Epstein files is a 'Hostile Act.' Theyre threatening anyone who helps bring true transparency and justice for the survivors,' Massie posted on social media. 'This is a tacit admission the Oversight Committee data release is woefully incomplete.' Massie and Khanna's presser with the survivors has put pressure on GOP leadership, who seem not to want the bipartisan Epstein bill to hit the House floor. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., during a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol Family members of Virginia Roberts Duffey, Scott Roberts (C), his wife Amanda Roberts (R) and brother Daniel Wilson, speak at the Stand with Survivors Rally in support of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's victims The bill would instruct the DOJ to publish a wider array of files; the ones published by Congress on Tuesday were selected by the department to be turned over, meaning the bill likely could force out additional files. The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Robert Garcia, told the Daily Mail at the event that the Trump administration still has many more files on Epstein that have not been released. 'All information that's been released so far we already had,' he told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview. 'It's our understanding there's information at the CIA and possibly the FBI.' 'So I want to see where in the files is the president's name, and how is it more broadly attached to what's going on here?' he told the Daily Mail. Another victim, Courtney Wild, claimed she met Epstein when she was 14 through a mutual friend who was 13 at the time. At the age of 19, she hired a lawyer and took legal action. New York financier Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in 2019 while in jail awaiting his trial for federal sex trafficking charges Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, R, speaks at the press conference as Epstein survivors and Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene watch 'Sometimes it's hard to believe that I had to sue the United States just to learn that my user was given immunity,' she said at the press conference. 'The only reason anyone ever found out that the government had already given Jeffrey Epstein immunity through the non-prosecution agreement was because our lawsuit forced the government to tell us; otherwise, nobody would even know that today.' Sky Roberts, the brother of Virginia Giuffre, a high-profile Epstein survivor who died earlier this year, also spoke. Crying and surrounded by family, he pleaded for Congress to enact policies to better protect child trafficking victims. A teenage rodeo queen has died and her family were hospitalized after a small plane crashed into a mountain range in Wyoming. Amelia Palmer, 13, died when the four-seater plane she was flying in with her family crashed in the mountains of Bighorn National Forest around 5pm on Labor Day. Earl Palmer, 54, was flying a Piper PA-28 with his wife, Cindy, 53, and their two children, Amelia and Aeron, 11, according to the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office. The plane faced an issue during its initial climb, according to an FAA report. It's unclear where the Palmer family were flying from. The wreckage was spotted after a rescue helicopter was asked to fly over the area - and Amelia was found dead at the scene. Earl and Cindy are both in critical condition and were airlifted to a trauma center in Billings, Montana. Aeron was brought to a hospital by ambulance with minor injuries, according to the Idaho Statesman. Pageant royalty Amelia was the 2024/2025 Treasure Valley Rodeo Mini Queen and second runner-up to 2026 Miss Junior Rodeo Idaho. Amelia was found dead on the site of the crash, and the rest of her family was hospitalized The Palmer family was flying home from Wyoming when they reportedly faced an issue during their initial climb. Amelia is pictured back right with her family Miss Rodeo Idaho posted a tribute for Amelia on Facebook: 'Amelia, you were pure sunshine and brought joy to everyone you met. 'Our rodeo family won't be the same without you, and our hearts are truly broken today. Please join us in lifting her family in prayer. The pageant community also grieved the loss of the young girl - who had a 'light like no other.' One person wrote: 'This is absolutely devastating. We have loved watching her grow and develop into such an incredible young woman. Our hearts are very broken, and our prayers are with her friends, family, and loved ones.' Another said: 'Amelia was a light like no other. Her love for others and exuberance were unmatched. We are in shock and disbelief from this devastating loss.' And a third added: 'I am so incredibly sorry for this tragic loss of a bright young woman. Sending so many prayers to Idaho and Miss Amelia's family.' While another well-wisher said: 'A sweet angel taken too soon- may she rest in peace with other sash sisters before her- may she always ride in our hearts with our horses with short bobbed tails.' Pageant royalty Amelia was the 2024/2025 Treasure Valley Rodeo Mini Queen and second runner-up to 2026 Miss Junior Rodeo Idaho The pageant community shared their personal memories, highlighting how sweet and inspirational Amelia was Amelia (center) was remembered fondly by her community Many who met Amelia highlighted her kindness and beauty. A friend set up a GoFundMe campaign for the family, asking those who can donate to help cover their medical bills, including reconstructive surgeries for Earl, household expenses, travel costs, and funeral expenses The fund has reached over $27,000. The crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez spoke with Aviation Today: 'This was, and still is, a very fluid scene.' The FAA were contacted by Daily Mail for comment. Russian despot Vladimir Putin has been caught rambling about immortality during a summit with Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un. Putin, who is in Beijing with the North Korean ruler and dozens of other world leaders to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, was caught in a rare candid conversation with China's premier. The pair, both 72, were heard chatting about the possibility of achieving immortality with organ transplants and advanced medical procedures, alongside Kim Jong Un. Xi told Putin via a translator: 'Earlier, people rarely lived to 70, but these days at 70 you are still a child'. Putin responded: 'Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality'. Xi said in response: 'Predictions are, this century, there is also a chance of living to 150'. The eerie conversation comes in the context of the long-standing allegations of China illegally harvesting organs from minority groups detained across the nation, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Muslims and Christians. UN human rights experts said in 2021 they had credible information that minority groups were forced to undergo medical tests and organ harvesting without their consent. The pair, both 72, were heard chatting about the possibility of achieving immortality with organ transplants and advanced medical procedures The eerie conversation comes in the context of the long-standing allegations of China illegally harvesting organs from minority groups detained across the nation They said: 'We are deeply concerned by reports of discriminatory treatment of the prisoners or detainees based on their ethnicity and religion or belief. 'According to the allegations received, the most common organs removed from the prisoners are reportedly hearts, kidneys, livers, corneas and, less commonly, parts of livers. 'This form of trafficking with a medical nature allegedly involves health sector professionals, including surgeons, anaesthetists and other medical specialists.' As for Russia, last year Russian scientists were being ordered to find a cure for ageing. The Russian health ministry told research institutes to investigate cures for cognitive and sensory disorders, cellular ageing and osteoporosis, as well as medicine for boosting immune systems. One anonymous researcher told Meduza: 'We were asked to urgently send all our developments, and the letter arrived, lets say, today, but everything had to be sent yesterday'. China hosted dozens of world leaders for a massive military parade in Tiananmen Square yesterday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and heads of foreign delegations seen ahead of the parade Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured, right) and North Korean State Chairman Kim Jong Un (pictured, left) met after attending a military parade Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to attend the military parade in Beijing Though it was, on the surface, put on to celebrate the 80th anniversary of World War II, the 90-minute showcase was Beijing's attempt to display its military might to the rest of the world. Countless soldiers, sailors and airmen marched in near-perfect unison alongside intercontinental ballistic missiles, tanks and stealth planes that where wheeled out to show off to the world. But on top of the aggressive posturing, it was also a chance for President Xi Jinping to show off his nation's rising diplomatic standing in the world, as nations slowly extricate themselves from the West's influence amid major changes in political and macroeconomic currents. President Xi's opening address saw him proclaim that China is 'firmly stand[ing] on the right side of history and the progress of human civilisation'. He described his 'strong and self-reliant' country is a 'great nation that fears no violence', and boldly said the 'rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable'. Though dozens of world leaders, the three belles of the ball were, of course, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Putin and Kim flanked the Chinese premier as they climbed to the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square and watched the display of military hardware and marching troops. It was the first time the three of them, all major rivals of the West, have ever gathered in the same place at the same time. Chinese soldiers carry assault rifles with optical zooms during the procession on Wednesday A GJ-11, the next-gen stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle, takes part in the military parade Rows of HQ-16C missiles on show before the crowds on Wednesday It was also the first time that Kim, who had arrived in Beijing on Tuesday via train, has attended a major multilateral event. Observers said the rare joint appearance was a show of unity against the United States. And the message seems to have got through to US president Donald Trump, who asked on Truth Social whether China would recognise the US' contribution to World War II. He also sarcastically asked Xi to 'give my warmest regards to [Putin and Kim] as you conspire against the United States'. Despite Trump's frosty reaction, it already appears that the implicit declaration of solidarity is working. At a one-to-one meeting with Putin, Kim said North Korea has a 'fraternal duty' to assist Russia and that the two nations would discuss deepening relations. He cryptically said: 'If there's anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help.' Though he didn't explicitly mention Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the Russian leader later admitted that sending North Korean troops to fight on the frontlines on Russia's side was Kim's idea. Members of the People's Liberation Army Ground Assault Force drive armoured vehicles China's liquid-fueled intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles DongFeng-5C, which have a global strike range, pass through Tian'anmen Square during the V-Day military parade on September 3, 2025 in Beijing, China He said: 'On your initiative, as is well known, your special forces took part in the liberation of the Kursk region,' Putin said in a meeting with his North Korean counterpart. 'This was in full accordance with our new agreement. I would like to note that your soldiers fought courageously and heroically.' 'We will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen,' he added. The troubled son of chef Marco Pierre White has been remanded in custody as he awaits his sentencing for stealing 1,500 worth of Jellycat toys. Marco Pierre White Jr, 30, is facing jail after he admitted carrying out a number a burglaries in a crime spree across west London. The former Celebrity Big Brother star broke into an Italian Deli store in Kensington called La Piccola, stealing a laptop, a tablet, an iPod and a till tray on June 12. Then three days later he smashed his way into Venusrox, a store in Notting Hill, and stole two natural rock crystal formations. On July 21, he broke into another store on Barnes High Street to steal 1,500 worth of Jellycat toys. Pierre White also admitted taking two green fluorite crystal lamp towers from Dale Rogers Ammonite on Pimlico Road on June 19. He disputes, however, causing an alleged 43,000 worth of damage to the store by wrecking 'four mounted crystals' and the front door. Wearing a prison issue grey tracksuit, Pierre White appeared in court today via videolink from HMP Wandsworth. Marco Pierre White Jr, 30, is facing jail after he admitted carrying out a number a burglaries in a crime spree across west London. He is pictured with his celebrity chef father Pictured after his release from jail in 2023, the heavily tattooed former Celebrity Big Brother star, previously said he had had the chance to reflect on his mistakes Pierre White broke into an Italian Deli store in Kensington called La Piccola, stealing a laptop, a tablet, an iPod and a till tray on June 12 He was told he will be sentenced for the four burglaries on September 17. Judge Fiona Barrie said she will hear submissions about the disputed 43,000 worth of damage to the fossil shop at the hearing. The offences are the latest in a long list of brushes with the law for the former reality TV star who has struggled with addition. In 2016, Pierre White was spared jail for spending 2,500 on his ex-girlfriend's bank card. He bought goods which were traded to buy drugs before he was finally arrested in Bristol. Previous offences also include one count of using threatening abusive language in 2011, when he was a teenager, and being drunk in charge of a car in 2016. In 2019, Pierre White racially abused a police officer while he was 'drunk as a skunk' at the Cabin Bar pub in Paddington Station, west London. In January 2019, he was convicted and fined after calling police officers 'f*****s' and 'n******s' while they tried to arrest him for being drunk and disorderly in a train station. Then in June 2019, he was ordered to pay more than 1,000 for running out on a 27 restaurant bill after his debit card was declined. In 2019, Pierre White racially abused a police officer while he was 'drunk as a skunk' at the Cabin Bar pub in Paddington Station, west London. He is pictured with his father Marco Pierre White Jnr (pictured in October) admitted to a number of burglaries, including stealing 1,500 of Jellycat toys Marco battled drug addiction, with his father even paying over 1 million for him to go to rehab, and despite getting clean in 2023, his brushes with the law have continued The following month, it was reported he had to be dragged 'kicking and screaming' to a police station after being arrested for allegedly smashing windows during a row with his father in Wiltshire. In July 2019, he appeared in court accused of making off from a cafe without paying the bill after his payment card was declined, loudly proclaiming who his father was. His longest sentence was handed down in 2022, when aged 27, he pleaded guilty to 14 offences including carrying a knife and racial abuse, getting 18 months in prison. After being released, Pierre White vowed never to touch drugs again after spending more than 1million on rehab. He also revealed he had converted to Islam to help him 'stay clean' and reform after years of drug abuse which he has said began at the age of just 13. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail in 2023, he said: 'I have been in rehab 17 times and being in prison has made me realise that enough is enough. 'I have been in rehab all over America and in the UK and the only thing that has cured me is being banged up in a cell for 23 hours a day. 'I have realised how lucky I am and have been. I have seen all walks of life in prison and some people don't have a chance in life. I have had every opportunity and I have thrown them all away. 'I could have done anything I wanted to, but instead I did heroin and ended up in prison. I have been an idiot.' An asylum seeker has denied raping and sexually assaulting a woman in a London hostel. Iraqi national Yousif Al-Maliki, 30, who is currently living at the Peckham Lodge Hotel in south London, has been accused of attacking a woman at the Astor Hostel in South Kensington on August 1. Prosecutor Jose Olivares-Chandler told Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday that the defendant and complainant had met shortly before the alleged incident took place. 'This allegation arises from a hostel scenario where the defendant was in a dormitory with 12 beds,' the prosecutor said. 'This is a defendant who it is understood arrived [in the UK] on a boat crossing.' Al-Maliki's asylum application has been put on hold until the conclusion of the case, the court heard. Defence barristers said Al-Maliki was a bisexual Iraqi national from Baghdad who was 'fleeing torture' in his home country, but the defendant accepted that he had arrived in the UK illegally. Iraqi national Yousif Al-Maliki, 30, of Peckham Lodge Hotel, Peckham, south London, is accused of attacking the woman at the Astor Hostel (above) in South Kensington on August 1 He had been staying in his own designated room at the Peckham Lodge Hotel, accommodation provided by the Home Office. A bail application was withdrawn after Mr Olivares-Chandler told the court the accommodation was no longer available to the defendant. Al-Maliki, wearing a white T-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name and enter not guilty pleas to charges of rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault, during a brief plea hearing. Judge Gregory Perrins set a provisional trial date for March 2 next year. The judge remanded the defendant in custody to next appear at the same court on January 12. A nurse involved in a landmark employment tribunal has raised fresh legal proceedings against NHS Fife and senior medical staff. Sandie Peggie was suspended from work at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, after complaining about being made to change next to trans medic Dr Beth Upton on Christmas Eve 2023. The day after closing submissions in the tribunal, Ms Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination, and victimisation. Mrs Peggie was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment, and cited concerns about 'patient care'. The A&E nurse was told in March 2024 that the suspension would be lifted and she returned to work in April that year. Her solicitor said the new claim relates to the senior medical workers' opposition to another manager's decision to lift her suspension. Solicitor Margaret Gribbon said: 'I can confirm that on August 6, 2025, my client Sandie Peggie raised further legal proceedings in the employment tribunal against Fife health board (FHB), Dr Kate Searle, Dr Maggie Currer and Esther Davidson. 'All four respondents' legal defences to the claim are expected to be received within the next fortnight. Sandie Peggie was suspended from work at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, after complaining about being made to change next to trans medic Dr Beth Upton on Christmas Eve 2023. Mrs Peggie complained about being made to change next to trans medic Dr Beth Upton (pictured) Mrs Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination, and victimisation 'The claim arises from these senior managers' opposition to the decision by another FHB manager in March 2024 to lift Sandie's suspension as set out by the evidence of the suspension review manager during the tribunal hearing in July. 'The claim is one of alleged harassment and victimisation under the Equality Act 2010 relating to Sandie's gender critical beliefs and is a separate legal case from her ongoing claim against FHB and Dr Beth Upton.' She said further claims of harassment and victimisation will also be lodged in the coming months on her client's behalf against the health board possibly more of its employees. Ms Gribbon said: 'These additional claims relate to the decision to subject Sandie to a disciplinary hearing process and the issuing of a FHB media statement on July 18, 2025. 'FHB's solicitors have been asked to confirm the names of the FHB employees who authorised the media statement in order that consideration can be given to raising legal proceedings against them as individuals.' NHS Fife has been approached for comment. Hours before the tribunal was due to restart in July, Ms Gribbon announced Ms Peggie had been cleared of gross misconduct allegations following a separate health board disciplinary hearing. The employment tribunal in Dundee heard closing submissions on Monday and Tuesday, having heard from all its witnesses before it was adjourned at the end of July. Hours before the tribunal was due to restart in July, Ms Gribbon announced Mrs Peggie had been cleared of gross misconduct allegations following a separate health board disciplinary hearing NHS Fife made an eleventh hour bid to alter its defence at a landmark employment tribunal in a move branded pure vindictiveness. This means Mrs Peggie would be hauled back before the tribunal if NHS Fife are allowed to amend their defence to say the nurse expressed her gender critical views in an objectionable manner. If the objectionable manifestation amendment is permitted, the health board and Dr Upton will be able use the defence that it was not what was said but how it was said. The tribunal was yesterday warned if the health board was allowed to do so not only could witnesses need to be recalled but proceedings could stretch into next year. The 51-year-old nurse was said to have been left distraught at the prospect, with the bid having caused her further upset and anxiety and leaving her in tears. After the last-minute application was made by NHS Fifes KC Jane Russell yesterday, pressure on the embattled health board and its leadership ratcheted up even further amid calls for First Minister of Scotland John Swinney to bring the whole pantomime to an end. Former health secretary Alex Neil said: This is pure vindictiveness on the part of NHS Fife, with no regard whatsoever for Sandy Peggies wellbeing. John Swinney has to get directly involved in this fiasco; order the withdrawal of this bid by NHS Fife immediately; and let this sorry saga be brought to a conclusion He should also issue an apology to Sandie Peggie for this bid to extend the tribunal having ever been submitted.' Dr Beth Upton (pictured) leaving the employment tribunal in Dundee on February 7 Judge Sandy Kemp ruled the panel needed to research the matter and could not make an immediate decision. The judge said the panel would begin four days of deliberations on the case on October 14, and its decision will be published in November at the earliest. The tribunal resumed in the summer after the UK Supreme Court ruled in April that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex', a ruling which has been publicly welcomed by Mrs Peggie. The saga began in 2023 when Mrs Peggie encountered Dr Upton using the female-only changing room. On the first two instances Mrs Peggie waited outside, but on Christmas Eve Mrs Peggie challenged Dr Upton inside the room in circumstances which are disputed. Shortly after the nurse of 30 years experience was suspended from work and subject to an NHS Fife investigation one which earlier this year cleared her of wrongdoing. She sued Dr Upton and NHS Fife, and said that being made to get changed next to the trans medic broke the law. A Scottish Government spokesman said: It would be inappropriate to comment further while judicial proceedings in an Employment Tribunal are ongoing. The 'worst of the worst' migrant criminals will now be housed in the largest maximum-security prison in the U.S. as they await deportation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi are heading to St. Francisville, Louisiana on Wednesday to tour and unveil the new holding location for illegal immigrants with criminal records. Once dubbed the 'bloodiest prison in the South,' Angola prison is already holding 51 migrants, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The state penitentiary, nicknamed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the 'Louisiana Lockup,' will likely replace Florida's illegal immigration camp known as Alligator Alcatraz. A judge last week struck down use of the camp in Florida as migrants await deportation. But Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that it's still operating and deporting illegal immigrants. He said DHS has stopped sending new detainees to the facility, but that Alligator Alcatraz is still 'ready, willing and able' to accept more. The Louisiana State Penitentiary is the largest maximum-security prison in the U.S. It sits on 18,000 acres about an hour outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana in an area that used to serve as slave plantation land. The Louisiana State Penitentiary will now house the 'worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens' as they await deportation from the U.S. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (pictured) will visit the largest U.S. prison on Wednesday with Attorney General Pam Bondi to announce opening of the migrant detention facility Noem and Bondi are joining Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Deputy Director of ICE Madison Sheahan to tour the prison on Wednesday afternoon. They will also hold a press conference on the opening of the new migrant detention facility. Officials say that Angola 'will house the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens arrested by ICE.' Last week, Obama-appointed Miami U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams denied a DHS request to stay her order requiring the facility to be taken down within the next two months. Alligator Alcatraz can hold up to 5,000 detainees. It was advertised by Trump as his administration's keynote migrant detention facility as DHS conducts the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. The president visited the new facility in July alongside Noem and Gov. DeSantis. Now, just two months after opening, the detention facility deep in Florida's Everglades is a complete rebuke of Trump's immigration policy. DeSantis said last Wednesday that DHS has 'increased the pace of the removals' from the facility. Opening of the new facility comes the week after a judge ordered closure of Florida's Alligator Alcatraz migrant holding facility. Pictured: Noem, President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis tour Alligator Alcatraz on July 1, 2025 DHS and the White House have insisted that they are complying with an 'activist judge's orders,' but that the administration will continue to fight against the ruling. 'We are working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people's mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens,' DHS spokesman Nathaniel Madden said. He added: 'DHS is complying with this order and moving detainees to other facilities. We will continue to fight tooth-and-nail to remove the worst of the worst from American streets.' But the opening of the new 'Louisiana Lockdown' suggests that the Trump administration is prepared to accept that their Florida facility will not be allowed to remain open. A teenager who 'wanted to commit a homicide for a long time' sobbed as he was sentenced to 50 years behind bars for shooting two of his friends. Connor Lynn Hilton, now 21, shot Ethan Riley, 18, and Benjamin Bliek, 19, in the head after luring them to his house on December 23, 2023, to show them his new gun. Riley was killed instantly but Bliek survived after spending months in intensive care and rehab, recovering enough to address the court at Hilton's sentencing. He mocked Hilton for sobbing during the sentencing hearing at the 10th District Court in Galveston, Texas, on Tuesday after the killer pleaded guilty. 'Stop sniveling, stop crying. You did this to yourself,' Bliek, now 21, said. 'Secondly, the grief you have caused the Rileys and my own family, I will never forgive you. Pucker your butt cheeks.' Hilton was just 17 when he fulfilled his sick fantasy using the revolver with teal handle and grey finish he 'talked his mother into' buying for him. Connor Lynn Hilton, now 21, shot two of his friends in the head after luring them to his house on December 23, 2023, to show them his new gun Neighbors called police after hearing two gunshots and when police arrived they found Hilton distraught and waling 'what have I done?' 'Hilton stated that there was no disturbance between him and the other subjects to include any disagreement on the date of this incident,' Friendswood Police said at the time. 'Hilton advised affiant that he decided to shoot Riley, Bliek and [redacted] once inside the residence.' After deciding to murder them, Hilton 'stood up, raised the gun and shot Riley first in the left side of the head', police said. 'Hilton then stated that he then turned to his right and shot Bliek in the left side of the head' as he raised his hands to defend himself. 'Hilton stated that he fully understands what he had done and that he should be held accountable.' However, he initially pleaded not guilty and tried to claim an overdose of his Accutane acne medication altered his mental state and caused the murders. Ethan Riley, 18, was killed instantly when Hilton shot him in the head Bliek survived after spending months in intensive care and rehab (pictured), recovering enough to address the court at Hilton's sentencing Police outside Hilton's home after neighbors called 911 reporting two gunshots The court heard from an expert witness this was possible because he took four 80-milligram pills on the day of the shooting, far in excess of the usual dose. Judge Rebecca Millo denied this defense, leading to Hilton's guilty plea days before his trial was to begin on September 8. Riley's father also spoke at the sentencing Matthew Riley, breaking down in tears saying, 'I sit here with so much love, love in my heart. For my son, Ethan. 'He's a beautiful soul, full of love and light. You can see that light in his eyes. And hear it in his laughter.' Judge Millo jailed Hilton for 50 years for murder and 20 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, to be served concurrently. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the Ukraine conflict could be ended with a deal if common sense prevailed and that there was light at the end of the tunnel, but cautioned that if not, then it would have to be resolved militarily. He made the comments at a press conference following his visit to China for the Tianjin SCO Summit and the military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. The leader added that Russian forces were 'advancing on all fronts' on the battlefield in Ukraine, and that Ukraine was not capable of conducting a large-scale offensive. He vowed to continue the Russian onslaught if a peace deal was not reached, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump has 'a sincere desire' to find a settlement. Putin said he was ready to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelensky if the Ukrainian president came to Moscow, but said it remained to be seen whether such a meeting was worthwhile. Zelensky has been pressing to meet Putin to discuss the terms of a possible deal and Trump - who has been trying to broker a peace settlement - has said he wants the two leaders to meet. Speaking in China at the end of a visit there, Putin said he had always been open to meeting Zelensky but reiterated the Kremlin's oft-repeated stance that such a meeting had to be well prepared in advance and lead to tangible results. 'As for a meeting with Zelensky I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. But is there any point? Let's see,' said Putin. Putin made the comments at a press conference following his visit to China for the Tianjin SCO Summit and the military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pressing to meet Putin to discuss the terms of a possible deal U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 2025 The Russian leader said that in his view Ukraine needed to cancel martial law, hold elections, and hold a referendum about territorial questions if progress was to be made. Russia claimed to have annexed four Ukrainian regions in 2022, a claim Kyiv and most Western countries rejected as an attempted illegal land grab backed by a colonial-style war of conquest. He confirmed that no date had been confirmed for his next face-to-face meeting with Trump - despite the fact that the Russian leader invited the U.S. president to Moscow following their high-profile summit in Alaska in August. He said that an invitation was 'on the table', but there were no preparations for such a trip at the moment. It comes after Trump blasted the leaders of Russia, China and North Korea for 'conspiring against the United States of America' as they assembled to watch the military parade in Beijing. The summit was billed as an alternative to the U.S.-led global order and was packed with displays of warm unity between anti-NATO countries. Trump slammed the gathering in a Truth Social post on Tuesday night, asking Xi Jinping to 'please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.' He questioned whether Xi 'will mention the massive amount of support and "blood" that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Putin said he was ready to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelensky if the Ukrainian president came to Moscow , but said it remained to be seen whether such a meeting was worthwhile Russian President Vladimir Putin (back) bids farewell to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following their meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, 3 September 2025 Chinese soldiers shout as they march during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II 'Many Americans died in China's quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!' Trump signed off with a warm message, writing: 'May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.' Russia fired more than 500 drones and two dozen missiles at Ukraine overnight, authorities said Wednesday, as Ukraine's president and European leaders persevered with talks aimed at strengthening Ukrainian defenses and bringing momentum to so far unsuccessful U.S.-led peace efforts. The main Russian nighttime targets were civilian infrastructure, especially energy facilities, Zelensky said, as another winter approaches three years after Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbour. The attacks targeted mainly western and central Ukraine and wounded at least five people, the Ukrainian air force said. Russia's aerial assaults that hit civilian areas and its army's drive to crush Ukrainian defenses along the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line have not abated in recent months, despite Trump's attempts to stop the fighting. The Ukrainian leader described the overnight strikes as 'demonstrative'. 'Putin is demonstrating his impunity,' Zelensky wrote on Telegram Wednesday, urging tougher sanctions on Russia. 'Only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on the war economy, does Russia continue this aggression.' Russian troops walk at a destroyed part of the Illich Iron & Steel Works Metallurgical Plant in Mariupol, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine Tatiana is seen at her home damaged after a Russian attack on a residential building in the city of Druzhkivka, Ukraine on September 03, 2025 Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a fire in garages following a Russian attack on the city of Druzhkivka, Ukraine on September 3, 2025 Community services at the scene following a Russian attack on the city of Druzhkivka, Ukraine on September 03, 2025 The main Russian nighttime targets were civilian infrastructure, especially energy facilities, Zelensky said, as another winter approaches three years after Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbour China's president convened his Russian and North Korean counterparts in Beijing for the first time on Tuesday, a show of solidarity with countries shunned by the West over their role in Europe's worst war in 80 years. Xi hosted Putin for talks at the Great Hall of the People and then at his personal residence, calling him his 'old friend'. In a thinly veiled swipe at this rival across the Pacific Ocean on Monday, Xi told a summit of more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries: 'We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics.' Xi also held talks on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, whose country has been targeted by Trump over its purchases of Russian oil seen as helping finance Putin's war effort. Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the summit 'performative' and accused China and India, the biggest buyers of Russian crude, of being 'bad actors' by fuelling Russia's war. As Putin and Xi met, Russia's Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation signed a deal to increase gas supplies and penned an agreement on a new pipeline that could supply China for 30 years. This is a developing story. More to follow. An 11-year-old girl died after she was found unresponsive in a hotel pool in Fuerteventura, a coroners court has heard. Francesca Mae Blease was found in the swimming pool in the town of Morro Jable in the south of the Canary Island on August 7. Contemporary reports suggested she was attended to by an on-duty lifeguard before she was rushed to hospital for further treatment. Tragically, she was pronounced clinically brain dead on August 8. An inquest opened into her death on Wednesday which heard the girl, from Crewe, Cheshire, had been found unresponsive in a pool. Coroners officer Paul Downey said Francesca was taken to a hospital on Gran Canaria and died on August 8 when her life support machine was switched off. Coroner Victoria Davies said given there was an unnatural cause of death, it was appropriate for her to formally open an inquest. Francesca Mae Blease, 11, died after she was found unresponsive in a hotel swimming pool in Morro Jable (pictured) The girl was airlifted to Gran Canaria's Maternal and Child University Hospital (file picture of a Canary Islands medical helicopter) A full inquest will be held on January 27 at Cheshire Coroner's Court (pictured above) Spain's Civil Guard previously said Francesca was airlifted to Gran Canaria's Maternal and Child University Hospital for treatment. It said last month: 'The alarm was raised around 1pm on Thursday and the youngster had gone into cardiac arrest. 'The pool she was in was a small children's pool which was only 30 centimetres deep. 'The autopsy will help determine whether she suffered some sort of indisposition or health problem which might explain why she got into difficulties in such shallow water. We are not naming the hotel where this happened.' A full inquest will be held on January 27 at Cheshire Coroner's Court. A Georgia teenager was fatally shot while returning home after he was allegedly mistaken for a burglar. Daquavius Royalston, 16, was killed at a gated community in Atlanta in the early hours of Monday. Police said the teen was shot by his mom's partner, who mistakenly believed he was an intruder. Royalston was gunned down while entering the property at Monticello Park at around 3.30am. The shooter then fled the scene and remains at large, according to police. First responders pronounced Royalston dead at the scene. Atlanta Police Homicide Commander Lt Andrew Smith told Atlanta News First the shooting, 'appears to be a true tragedy'. 'The 16-year-old boy lived here and an occupant of the home, we believe, thought that he was breaking in and was an intruder and opened fire,' he said. Police believe 16-year-old Daquavius Royalston was returning to his townhouse in Monticello Park when an unknown resident of the home fatally shot him Atlanta police are working to find the suspect who shot and killed the teenager early Monday morning Neighbors were shocked about the fatal shooting, the man is now on the run and police are looking for him to continue their investigation 'So again, a real tragedy as we work through this.' No additional information about the suspected shooter has been released so far. Daily Mail has contacted the Atlanta Police Department for further updates. The tragedy has rocked the community of Monticello Park, which is located in Hapeville, outside downtown Atlanta. Although one terrified neighbor told Fox 5 that incidents like this were not unusual. 'It is scary, but we do live in a community where a lot of stuff happens,' one woman said. 'Like you never know what can happen, you never know who's doing what.' Monticello Park describes itself as a 'charming' community, located minutes from I-75 and I-285 and just a six mile drive to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Homes in the gated community start from around $327,000 per its website. Joe Rogan claimed that there is a connection between psychiatric drugs and mass shootings that is a 'dirty secret' no one talks about. During a recent episode of his podcast, Rogan and comedian Dave Landau discussed the mental health of mass shooters after transgender gunman Robin Westman killed two kids in the Minneapolis church massacre. 'You know, the problem is some people get to a certain point in their life and they have no friends and no community and no identity and no life and it's not they're not successful and they fee' like s**t. Then they have gender dysphoria on top of that and then they're probably on a bunch of SSRIs,' Rogan said. Without offering any evidence to support his claims, Rogan went on to say the link between mass shootings and psychiatric drugs 'is real and everyone knows it.' 'It's just this dirty secret that no one talks about because all the media is paid off by the pharmaceutical drug companies,' the podcaster, who frequently takes swipes at the mainstream media, said. Westman, 23, opened fire at Annunciation Catholic Church and School on August 27 and killed two children. The next day, RFK Jr. announced he had ordered a probe into the killer's potential use of gender-affirming care drugs and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which treat depression and anxiety. Joe Rogan claimed that there is a connection between psychiatric drugs and mass shootings that is a 'dirty secret' no one talks Rogan discussed the mental health of mass shooters after transgender gunman Robin Westman (pictured) killed two kids in the Minneapolis church massacre Kennedy told Fox & Friends an investigation would be launched to determine whether any drugs Westman may have used to transition to a woman played 'a role' in the mass shooting. 'We are doing those kind of studies now,' he said. 'We are launching studies into their potential contribution. 'Some of the SSRI drugs and some other psychiatric drugs might be contributing to violence. 'Many of them have black-box warnings that warn of suicidal ideation and homicidal ideation. So we can't exclude those as a culprit, and those are the kind of studies we are doing.' Rogan said on his podcast: 'Nobody wants to make this correlation connection because you also risk the wrath of all these people that are on them, saying, "I'm on them and I'm not doing anything. It's not the pills. I need these to function." Maybe you do. I don't know. I don't know how your brain works. But the reality is most of these people that have committed mass murder are on psychiatric medication.' The right-wing commentator has the most popular podcast in the US with 14 million monthly listeners, but has been criticized for sharing controversial views and conspiracy theories in the past. He regularly uses his platform to attack mainstream media outlets and 'big pharma'. SSRIs work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which can help improve mood, reduce anxiety and treat depression. The medication's side effect warning does include increases in suicidal thoughts or behaviors, particularly for young adults under 25, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is unclear if Westman had taken any gender-affirming or psychiatric medications. Senator Tina Smith blasted Kennedy for using the tragedy to push a political agenda and spread misinformation. 'I dare you to go to Annunciation School and tell our grieving community that, in effect, guns don't kill kids, antidepressants do,' she said on X. 'Just shut up. Stop peddling bulls***.' Westman, 23, opened fire at Annunciation Catholic Church and School on August 27 and killed two children It is unclear if Westman had taken any gender-affirming or psychiatric medications According to The Washington Post's analysis of Columbia University's Mass Murder Database, the lifetime prevalence of antidepressant use among mass shooters over the past 30 years is four percent, and for all psychiatric medications, it is seven percent. Compared to the country as a whole, approximately 11.4 percent of Americans 18 years and older were on antidepressants in 2023. 'All the data suggest SSRIs are not the problem,' Ragy R. Girgis, a professor of clinical psychiatry at the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry and New York State Psychiatric Institute, told the WaPo. 'There's no link with violence. People just jump from suicide to violence. SSRIs most likely decrease violence. But it hasn't been tested.' Some mass shooters over the past decade have reportedly been prescribed antidepressants, although there has been no proven connection to their crimes. Charleston Church shooter Dylann Roof was prescribed an antidepressant in 2009, but said he was not taking them at the time of his racist attack in 2015. Parkland gunman Nikolas Cruz had been prescribed various medications for mental health issues, including depression, but had reportedly not been taking them in the months leading to shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 'Britain's kindest plumber' misled the public with photos of vulnerable customers and engaged in 'controversial fundraising', a regulator found today. James Anderson, from Burnley, Lancashire, became an Internet hero after sharing photos of himself fixing vulnerable customers' boilers for free on behalf of his community interest company (CIC) Depher. Hugh Grant was previously reported to have donated tens of thousands of pounds to the company, which had pledged to help elderly people and those in financial need with free plumbing tasks. In 2022, an elderly couple given a new boiler for free likened Mr Anderson to an 'angel in disguise'. But, last year, a BBC investigation saw the organisation accused of faking stories of good deeds to raise millions of pounds, with the broadcaster saying the CIC had used images of vulnerable people without their consent and faked stories about acts of kindness. In response to that investigation, Mr Anderson said he 'held (his) hands up' about mistakes made by the company, but added that he had complained to the communications regulator Ofcom over the broadcaster's investigation, claiming online trolls had 'doctored' images and that he was being 'set up in a witch hunt'. Now an investigation - which was launched in April 2024 - into Depher by the Fundraising Regulator has found multiple breaches of the code of fundraising practice, including around informing donors and treating people fairly. The findings, published today, included that there had been misleading use of images on social media, with pictures of the same people alongside different stories, as well as an inability of the CIC, on multiple occasions, to 'evidence claims made as part of its fundraising efforts'. James Anderson was hailed as 'Britain's kindest plumber' and received awards for his work helping vulnerable people before a BBC investigation claimed he used fake stories Mr Anderson became known for his social media posts during the cost of living crisis Mr Anderson was accused of making up claims he saved an 84-year-old woman from killing herself There was also said to be 'controversial fundraising', with 'frequent reference to potential death or death from suicide in its materials'. The purpose of donations raised for the organisation was also deemed 'inconsistent', with some suggested to be for a specific purpose and others for general use by the CIC. The Fundraising Regulator noted that donations to the organisation had been used to buy a house but said decisions around how money is used lies with a different regulator. The CIC Regulator, which the Fundraising Regulator is sharing its findings with, said it had noted the findings but would not confirm whether it was carrying out its own investigation. A spokesperson said: 'Any complaints regarding CICs are taken seriously and if a breach in CIC legislation is identified, then appropriate regulatory action will be considered. 'The regulator would expect all CICs to comply with any legal obligations or regulations to which they are subject whilst they deliver benefit to the communities they serve.' Depher had applied three times to the Charity Commission to be registered as a charity but was rejected for having failed to demonstrate that it met the necessary legal criteria set out by charity law. The Fundraising Regulator said Depher Community Plumbing and Heating CIC is no longer operating and Mr Anderson had stepped down. His company Depher was said to have posted videos and photos of a man in his 90s more than 20 times The plumber had his British Citizen Award rescinded after the charity said his actions did not align with their values Hugh Grant (pictured) donated 75,000 to his public interest company, Depher But it said its successor organisation - Community Elder and Disabled Support CIC - should adopt the regulator's recommendations. These include seeking advice about its fundraising activities, ensuring there is clarity for potential donors about the purpose of their donation and the aims of the CIC and making sure it has an appropriate plan to learn from complaints and concerns. Gerald Oppenheim, chief executive of the Fundraising Regulator, said while it took into account the fact that Depher was a small company which had 'experienced rapid growth after media exposure, it is nonetheless clear that it made serious errors in its fundraising activities'. He said all such organisations must be 'scrupulously honest in their fundraising', case studies should be 'a truthful representation of the facts and properly evidenced', with those involved 'fully informed of how their likenesses and stories will be used and must have the option to refuse permission'. He also warned that money raised for a particular purpose or appeal 'must be used in that way'. Mr Oppenheim said: 'Our investigations are published so that other organisations can learn from them. Depher's successor organisation, Community Elderly and Disabled Support CIC should adopt the recommendations we have made.' In May, Mr Anderson gave a series of interviews responding to the allegations that had been made against him. He apologised 'to anyone who has been hurt by these accusations which have been made against me' and for 'any mistakes' he's made over the last seven years. But when challenged by the BBC and GB News about the posts he's allegedly faked, he didn't give an explanation, but denied using the raised money for his own benefit. However he told GB News: 'I'm only human, I'm doing the best I can. 'I think in hindsight I've done too much too quick on my own, instead of getting in other people to help me and support me. Saying that, it's no excuse. But today has been very horrendous for me.' Mr Anderson has been accused of mis-characterising on of his social media posts where he claimed to have saved a pensioner - even though the fireplace belonged to a 39-year-old father of two The plumber was handed a British Citizen Award in 2023 before this was rescinded following the BBC story. A spokesman said at the time: 'We pride ourselves in recognising individuals across the UK who work tirelessly and selflessly to make a positive impact on their communities and charities.' They added that the plumber's actions didn't reflect their values and confirmed his accolade had been rescinded. The Fundraising Regulator said in its findings: 'Depher CIC used the same images on social media multiple times to ask for donations. This is allowed; however, the images were not dated and the context given to the image changed each time. 'This included using images of the same people but featuring different stories about them against them. We found this to be misleading. Additionally, on multiple occasions the CIC was not able to evidence claims made as part of its fundraising efforts.' Referring to its controversial fundraising tactics, the regulator continued: 'We found the CIC's frequent reference to potential death or death from suicide in its materials was controversial fundraising. We did not see evidence of the reputational risks from this being considered.' And addressing the way donations were used, it added: 'The CIC did demonstrate it is able to ringfence money and updated its objectives, so the fundraising was aligned with these. 'However, there were some displeased that the CIC used donations to purchase a house as an asset. It is outside of the scope of the Fundraising Regulator to consider such decision-making.' Nurse Sandie Peggie is suing NHS Fife again in a move that could leave the health board facing the prospect of having to fight a second employment tribunal. The 51-year-old has been embroiled in a bitter battle with NHS Fife after being suspended from work for challenging trans medic Dr Beth Upton in the female-only changing room. But Mrs Peggie, who works at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, is now launching a fresh legal challenge after it was revealed senior managers were against lifting her suspension. The new claim accuses them of harassment and victimisation because of the nurses gender critical beliefs. And more claims are set to be lodged, the health board has been warned, including ones relating to the decision to subject her to a disciplinary hearing and issuing a controversial statement to the press. The latest legal case, which is separate to the ongoing employment tribunal, could mean the health board is forced to fight a second case. Taxpayers have so far had to fork out more than 220,000 for NHS Fife to defend its decision to allow Dr Upton to use the womans changing room and how it treated Mrs Peggie for challenging the trans indentifying man, with costs expected to rise even further. MSP Tess White, equalities spokesman at the Scottish Conservatives, said: The prospect of this fresh legal action by Sandie Peggie raises further serious questions for NHS Fife. Nurse Sandie Peggie at a visit to the Scottish parliament Dr Beth Upton before giving evidence at the tribunal hearing in Dundee NHS Fife, the health board at the centre of the the landmark legal action With taxpayers having to pick up the health boards growing legal bill, it shouldnt have reached a point where Sandie felt she was left with no option but to take this decision. It is the latest twist in the long running saga which began in 2023 when, on the first two occasions, Mrs Peggie waited outside the changing rooms for Dr Upton to leave before challenging the trans medic on Christmas Eve on the third encounter. And it comes just after legal teams from both sides clashed while putting forward their final arguments in that long-running employment tribunal. Naomi Cunningham, representing Mrs Peggie, branded NHS Fife a toxic workplace which had committed a heresy hunt against the nurse because it was in the grip of a delusion. She said: NHS Fife has subjected a nurse of 30 years unblemished service to a full-blown witch-hunt to punish her for standing up for her right not to undress in front of a male colleague. Dr Kate Searle Clinical nurse manager Esther Davidson Dr Maggie Currer And then, in an attempt to evade the consequences of that conduct, it has attempted a shockingly spiteful public character assassination of her. Meanwhile Jane Russell, the KC for Dr Upton and NHS Fife, said the veteran nurse had approached the very gentle Dr Upton in a confrontational way. Whatever the outcome of the ongoing tribunal, it has been hugely damaging for NHS Fife. Pressure for the chief executive Carol Potter to be sacked has intensified, and John Swinney has been urged to put NHS Fife under emergency measures. The latest action was announced just a day after arguments were concluded in the case before Employment Judge Sandy Kemp, with the health board now facing more legal turmoil. Margaret Gribbon, Mrs Peggies solicitor, confirmed that her client raised further proceedings on August 6 against Fife Health Board (FHB), Dr Kate Searle, Dr Maggie Currer and Esther Davidson. The solicitor said: All four respondents legal defences to the claim are expected to be received within the next fortnight. The claim arises from these senior managers opposition to the decision by another FHB manager in March 2024 to lift Sandies suspension as set out by the evidence of the suspension review manager during the tribunal hearing in July. Sandie Peggie's barrister Naomi Cunningham Dr Upton's KC, Jane Russell The claim is one of alleged harassment and victimisation under the Equality Act 2010 relating to Sandies gender critical beliefs and is a separate legal case from her ongoing claim against FHB and Dr Beth Upton. Further claims of harassment and victimisation will also be lodged in the coming months on Sandies behalf against FHB and possibly other FHB employees. These additional claims relate to the decision to subject Sandie to a disciplinary hearing process and the issuing of a FHB media statement on July 18. FHBs solicitors have been asked to confirm the names of the FHB employees who authorised the media statement in order that consideration can be given to raising legal proceedings against them as individuals. Since July 19 FHB has failed to respond to repeated written requests to disclose the names. It was a hugely controversial release, with the health board being accused of trying to smear Mrs Peggie in the desperate statement. NHS Fife has been approached for comment. Damning DNA evidence tying Rex Heuermann to the murders of multiple women whose remains were found close to Gilgo Beach will be allowed in his trial. In a brief court hearing in Riverhead Wednesday, New York State Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei ruled that critical evidence using new DNA technology is admissible in the case, marking a major blow to the suspected serial killer's defense. The ruling comes following a string of Frye hearings where the prosecution and the defense sparred over the new method which was used to link the 61-year-old architect and married father to the murders of seven women between 1993 and 2011. The advanced nuclear DNA testing carried out by California-based lab Astrea Forensics identified hairs on six of the seven victims as belonging to Heuermann's now ex-wife Asa Ellerup, their daughter Victoria Heuermann and another individual connected to the suspected serial killer. The defense argued the technique should be excluded because it had never been used before in a New York court, while the prosecution argued it was already widely accepted by the scientific community. Heuermann, who was handcuffed and sporting a shorter haircut, gave no visible reaction inside the courtroom to the judge's decision. Ellerup - who continues to insist her husband is innocent - supported her husband, sitting in the public gallery flanked by her attorneys. She quickly left the courtroom when the minutes-long hearing came to an end. The couple's daughter Victoria was notably absent. Victoria attended some of the Frye hearings in recent months after her hairs were found on some of her father's alleged victims. Rex Heuermann, a 61-year-old architect, returned to a courtroom in Riverhead, Long Island, Wednesday In the brief court hearing in Riverhead Wednesday, New York State Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei ruled that critical evidence using new DNA technology is admissible in the case But in a bombshell Peacock documentary released in June, she revealed she now believes her dad 'most likely' is the Gilgo Beach serial killer. Ellerup, meanwhile, denied her 'hero' husband could be connected to the murders in the show. The accused serial killer is currently charged with seven murders over a two-decade reign of horror running from 1993 to 2011. The Gilgo Beach serial killer case had haunted the Long Island community for more than a decade, ever since the first of multiple bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway in December 2010. No arrests were made for more than a decade. Then, in July 2023, the Massapequa Park local was dramatically arrested as he left his office in midtown Manhattan. Heuermann was initially charged with the murders of three women: Amber Costello, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman. Since then, he has been charged with the murders of four more victims: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack. All the victims were working as sex workers when they vanished after going to meet a client. Their bodies were found dumped along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach and other remote spots on Long Island. Some of the victims had been bound, others had been dismembered and their remains discarded in multiple locations. The 61-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. Melissa Barthelemy (top left), Amber Costello (top right), Megan Waterman (bottom left), and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (bottom right) became known as the 'Gilgo Four' Sandra Costilla (left) was murdered in 1993, making her the earliest known victim. Karen Vergata's (right) remains were identified in 2023. Heuermann has not been charged in connection to her death Valerie Mack (left) disappeared in 2000 and parts of her body were discovered in Long Island that November. Jessica Taylor (right) vanished in 2003 with some of her remains being found in Manorville that year In Wednesday's ruling, Judge Mazzei said that - after hearing testimony from both state and defense expert witnesses during the Frye hearings - he has concluded that the DNA testing in question is 'reliable and generally accepted by the scientific community'. Astrea Forensics uses whole genome sequencing to develop a DNA profile - in this case, the source of rootless hairs found on the victims bodies. Whole genome sequencing involves extracting all the fragments of DNA from the hairs and then assembling them on a human genome like a puzzle, to come up with a DNA profile. A software called IBDGem is then used to compare that DNA profile with the DNA profile of a known suspect or individual. Dr Richard Green, the owner of Astrea Forensics, testified during the Frye hearings that his company specializes in DNA extraction from old or difficult samples - such as ancient bones that are tens of thousands of years old or rootless hairs. He pointed to other examples where his DNA lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz, or his company Astrea Forensics had helped to solve cold cases and unsolved murders including once being enlisted to assist in the Zodiac killer investigation. In Wednesday's ruling, the judge said he found the technology 'generally accepted as reliable within the scientific community' based on the expert testimony of the state's witnesses, numerous peer-reviewed articles about whole genome sequencing as well as its use in other states including Idaho and California. Map showing where the remains of victims were found along Ocean Parkway He wrote that neither of the defense witnesses had provided proof to refute the validity and reliability of the testing and technology. While IBDGem is a 'relatively new software, the principles used within it... are accepted as reliable in the scientific community'. Following Wednesday's hearing, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters he was 'satisfied' with the judge's decision. 'We won. The evidence is admissible. Full speed ahead for trial,' he said outside the courtroom. 'We now have nuclear DNA, we have mitochondrial DNA, we have phone records, we have witness statements, we have financial records, we have internet searches. we have phone activity, and we have other evidence as well.' Heuermann's defense attorney Michael Brown meanwhile said the suspected serial killer was disappointed with the ruling and announced he is appealing. 'We disagree with the courts decision. We think the evidence is clear that they didnt sustain their burden,' he said. In a motion filed on Wednesday, the defense referred to Astrea Forensics as an 'unaccredited' lab and argued it does not have a New York state health department permit, is banned from accepting DNA specimen from the state and does not meet the state's minimum accepted and approved standards of clinical labs. 'Any evidence created by Astrea Forensics which was derived from the genetic examination of samples submitted from the State of New York must be precluded by this Court as patently unreliable and unlawfully procured,' the motion alleges. Heuermann's legal team is also seeking to split the case into five separate trials. Judge Mazzei is yet to rule on that matter. Heuermann's defense attorney Michael Brown (seen outside the courthouse Wednesday) announced he is appealing the judge's decision about the DNA evidence Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters he was 'satisfied' with the judge's decision around the DNA evidence The two sides will return to court for a hearing on September 23. The admissibility of the DNA evidence had the potential to make or break the case against the suspected serial killer - tying him to the murders of multiple women and a case that has struck fear into Long Island for more than a decade. But the judge's decision also has implications far beyond the Gilgo Beach serial killer case, paving the way for the use of the advanced DNA testing in other criminal cases across New York state. Heuermann was first linked to the murders following a tip about a pickup truck. According to a witness, Costello had disappeared after going to see a client who drove a green Chevy Avalanche in September 2010. Following the launch of a new taskforce, investigators learned that Heuermann drove that same type of vehicle at the time of the murders, prosecutors say. He also matched the description of the client seen by the witness. As well as the DNA evidence, prosecutors said investigators also found a chilling planning document on a hard drive in the basement of Heuermanns family home in Massapequa Park. The backyard of Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park during a search in June 2024 In the haunting document, he allegedly had a section detailed PREP and noted that small women were preferred. Heuermann has lived his entire life in Massapequa Park and would commute to his architecture job in Midtown Manhattan, where some of the victims worked and were last seen alive. He was especially familiar with Ocean Parkway, where the victims bodies were dumped, thanks to a job he had at Jones Beach in his 20s, according to prosecutors. Fears that a serial killer or killers were at large on Long Island began back in May 2010, when Shannan Gilbert vanished in bizarre circumstances one night. The 24-year-old, who was working as an escort, had gone to see a client in the Oak Beach Association community when she made a terrifying 911 call, saying that someone was trying to kill her. During a search for Gilbert in December 2010, officers came across the body of Barthelemy in the marshes by Gilgo Beach. Within days, three more bodies - Costello, Brainard-Barnes and Waterman - had been found. The four victims, who became known as the Gilgo Four, had been dumped within a quarter mile of each other, some of them bound and wrapped in burlap. Heuermann's wife Asa Ellerup and her attorneys attending a court hearing in July 2024 Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann and his wife Asa Ellerup together on their wedding day in 1995 Over the following months, the remains of seven other victims were found. Gilberts body was found last. Investigators maintain that she was not a victim, but died by accidental drowning after she fled into the dense thicket that night. Heuermann has not been charged in connection to the deaths of the other four victims found along Ocean Parkway: Karen Vergata, Tanya Jackson and her two-year-old daughter Tatiana Dykes, and an unidentified victim, known only as 'Asian Doe.' Jackson - a US Army veteran - and her infant daughter were finally identified this April, having for years been known only as 'Peaches' and 'Baby Doe.' Costilla, meanwhile, had never been linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case until Heuermann was hit with charges for her murder in 2024. Her murder expands the timeline that the accused serial killer is alleged to have been actively preying on victims. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is next due in court on September 23. The United States could see its population shrink for the first time ever, as new forecasts reveal an alarming drop in immigration numbers. According to new predictions by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), net international migration could plunge as low as negative 525,000 in 2025. With a net of 519,000 births reported in last year's Census, the US faces a population shrink of 6,000 people, the first population decline in the country's history. The forecast predicts that net immigration will drop from 2.8 million to between 115,000 and -525,000. The figures, first reported by The Telegraph, represent a fall of 96 percent in net international immigration at the low end of predictions. Even as the country was engaged in the American Civil War, where around 700,000 Americans were killed, the population of the states has always been on the up. The forecasts are the clearest sign yet that President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration and mass deportations is causing people to think twice before migrating. According to figures from the Department of Homeland Security, 1.6 million illegal migrants have already voluntarily left the US since his return to the White House. With a net of 519,000 births reported in last year's Census, the US faces a population shrink of 6,000 people, the first population decline in the country's history The DHS also reported that authorities have arrested over 359,000 illegal migrants, and deported another 332,000 in the first 200 days of the new Trump administration. Last month it was revealed that foreigners with valid US visas could be subjected to deportation due to a new State Department policy. The Associated Press reported that the department is reviewing the records of 55 million foreigners who hold visas to see if those residents broke any rules. If so, they would be ineligible to live in the US, the department told the AP that visa holders are subject to 'continuous vetting.' The department told the AP that it is looking for individuals who have overstayed their visas, conducted criminal activity and are threats to public safety. They mentioned specifically engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to a terrorist organization. If an infraction is discovered that individual's visa could be revoked - and they could be deported like thousands of illegal immigrants who have already been deported. A statement said: 'We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records of any other information that comes to light after visa issuance indicating a potential liability.' 80 migrants from Guatemala are deported to their country with a United States military plane at the Fort Bliss facility in El Paso, Texas on January 30, 2025 The policy shift indicates a major deportation escalation, as visa holders are in the United States legally. Trump won a second term promising the country's largest mass deportation, but his campaign focused mainly on migrants coming across the southern border illegally. The administration has steadily imposed more restrictions and requirements on visa applicants, including requiring them to submit to in-person interviews. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that additional Venezuelan narco traffickers would 'face the same fate' as the 11 Tren de Aragua members who were killed Tuesday in a U.S. military strike. Hegseth appeared on Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning to issue the threat. 'We've got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us, and it won't stop with just this strike,' Hegseth said. 'Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated Narco terrorist will face the same fate,' he added. President Donald Trump announced the U.S. strike on Tuesday from the Oval Office. During his Wednesday meeting with the Polish president, he was asked why he decided to use deadly force against the traffickers. 'On the boat you had massive amounts of drugs, we have tapes of them speaking, it was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people,' Trump replied, adding that 'you see the bags of drugs all over the boat.' 'And they were hit, obviously, they won't be doing it again and I think a lot of other people won't be doing it again once they see that tape,' the president said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared on Fox & Friends Wednesday morning and said more Venezuelan narco traffickers would 'face the same fate' as the 11 who were killed in a U.S. strike in the south Caribbean on Tuesday President Donald Trump was asked Wednesday why he decided to use lethal force against the drug traffickers instead of bringing the boat in Trump posted video footage of the strike on Truth Social shortly after announcing it had been a success. 'We knew exactly who was in that boat, we knew exactly what they were doing and we knew exactly who they represented,' Hegseth said on Fox & Friends, adding that the traffickers were 'trying to poison our country with illicit drugs.' 'It's a new day, it's a different day,' Hegseth also said. Venezuela's dictator Nicolas Maduro has been fuming over the U.S.'s increased military presence in the region. Maduro, whom the U.S. does not recognize as the legitimate president of the country after an election last year, threatened to 'declare a republic in arms' if attacked by American forces. 'In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela,' Maduro also said. The Pentagon has deployed at least seven warships to the southern Caribbean. Maduro characterized the escalation as 'an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat.' The USS Sampson was docked near the entrance of the Panama Canal over the weekend amid a large buildup of U.S. naval forces in the southern Caribbean Last month, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a $50million reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro, saying he uses 'foreign terrorist organizations' to 'bring deadly drugs and violence into our country.' In the announcement, she said the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates and 7 tons of cocaine linked to the Venezuelan dictator personally. She noted that cocaine is often laced with fentanyl, which has led to droves of American deaths. 'Under President Trump's leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes,' Bondi said. Caracas has long denied Maduro's ties to the drug cartels. Trump campaigned on eradicating the drug trade. Since taking office, the president has also surged resources to the southern border and threatened China with tariffs over fentanyl trafficking. Last year, Maduro claimed victory in Venezuela's presidential election over opponent Edmundo Gonzalez in an election that international monitors said was neither free nor fair. During his news conference on Monday, Maduro also continued to claim that he was the legitimate winner of the 2024 election. Russia has vowed to help China overtake the United States to become the world's biggest producer of nuclear power. Alexei Likhachev, the chief of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, made the stark admission in a state TV broadcast on Wednesday, following talks in Beijing. Likhachev revealed that Moscow is 'already helping' China topple the US from its perch and has helped build four more reactors. 'China has ambitious plans for the development of atomic energy,' Likhachev said. 'The task has been set to catch up and surpass the United States in installed capacity, which means reaching a capacity of more than 100 gigawatts.' When asked if Russia would assist China, which is racing to build dozens of reactors, Likhachev added: 'Of course. We will help. We are already helping.' The United States currently holds the world title for the largest network of nuclear reactors, with nearly 97 gigawatts of installed capacity. China, as of April 2024, had 53.2 gigawatts of operating nuclear power reactor capacity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Russia has vowed to help China overtake the United States to become the world's biggest producer of nuclear power. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin with Chinese President Xi Jinping The United States currently holds the world title for the largest network of nuclear reactors, with nearly 97 gigawatts of installed capacity. Pictured: The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in Avila Beach, California, US The chief of Russia's Rosatom state nuclear corporation, Alexei Likhachev (right, with Putin), said Russia is 'already helping' China surpass the US as the biggest nuclear power in a broadcast on Wednesday Likhachev said that China needs a large amount of uranium and nuclear fuel for its plans which demand a new generation of closed nuclear fuel cycle reactors based on Russian technology. The broadcast was made following talks in Beijing, as Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for a military parade. The parade Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary since the end of World War II and victory over Japan. It was the first time the three leaders, all major rivals of the West, have ever gathered in the same place at the same time. Observers said the rare joint appearance was a show of unity against the United States. And the message seems to have got through to US president Donald Trump, who asked on Truth Social whether China would recognize the US' contribution to World War II. He also asked Xi to 'give my warmest regards to [Putin and Kim] as you conspire against the United States'. The latest alliance comes after China announced plans to build a nuclear plant on the moon to power a research station planned with Russia. Pictured: Russia's President Vladimir Putin (left), China's President Xi Jinping (center), and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (right) at the 80th anniversary end of World War II military parade in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, September 3, 2025 US President Donald Trump wrote on X and asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to 'give my warmest regards to [Putin and Kim] as you conspire against the United States' Along with its goal to become the strongest nuclear power, China also has aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2030. The planned Chang'e-8 mission for 2028 would also lay the groundwork for constructing a permanent, manned lunar base. Russia's space agency Roscosmos also said last year it planned to build a nuclear reactor on the moon's surface with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) by 2035 to power the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). China's timeline to build an outpost on the moon's south pole coincides with NASA's more ambitious and advanced Artemis program, which aims to put U.S. astronauts back on the lunar surface in December 2025. The ILRS would be a permanent base located within 62 miles of the moon's South Pole, involving the work of 17 countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, Venezuela, Thailand and South Africa. The groundwork will be laid by China's upcoming Chang'e-8 mission, which will be the nation's first attempted human moon landing. This means that the moon, and especially the south pole, is now becoming the target of a new international space race. Dr Mark Hilborne, a security studies expert from King's College London, told Daily Mail: 'The Moon is a place where nations will have competing interests. There will be parts of the moon that are more valuable than others and, therefore, could be particular points of competition. China, as of April 2024, had 53.2 gigawatts of operating nuclear power reactor capacity. The country's goal to surpass the US has already been aided by Russia after it helped build four more reactors. Pictured: The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in Avila Beach, California, US China announced plans to build a nuclear plant on the moon to power a research station planned with Russia in 2028 'The Moon is valuable as a low-gravity staging base where future space developments can be built. Lunar materials, mined in situ, would be valuable in building elements that would further lunar exploration. 'If these could be built on the Moon, rather than sent from Earth, the cost would be far cheaper.' The big concern for the US, and presumably Russia and China, is that whatever country starts building on the moon first could effectively claim it as its own territory. Countries' dealings in space are governed by a set of rules called the Outer Space Treaty, which was first signed in 1967. In the future, China will create the '555 Project,' inviting 50 countries, 500 international scientific research institutions, and 5,000 overseas researchers to join the ILRS. Researchers from Roscosmos also presented details about plans to look for mineral and water resources, including possibly using lunar material as fuel. The tawdry saga of Angela Rayner's 40,000 Stamp Duty dodge over her luxury seaside apartment must now surely be due a scandal nickname - 'Hovegate' perhaps. It began two weeks ago outside a beachside cafe where one sharp-eyed Daily Mail reader was getting a cup of tea. Staring down towards the shingle, he spotted a distinctive head of red hair and soon realised that he was looking at the Deputy Prime Minister - except that her style of clothing was distinctly unfamiliar. Instead of her usual Westminster power-dressing style, Rayner was clad in a camouflage and pink DryRobe, the fashionable 165 essential after-swim attire for middle-class mums, and rather than tea she was drinking what appeared to be rose from a rather large glass. Tickled by what he was witnessing - and realising she was a very public figure in a very public place and so fair game, our source discreetly fired off a few photos on his phone and sent them to the Daily Mail. They were published the following day and it provided perhaps a little amusement for our readers in the last days of summer to see 'woman of the people' Angela, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Rt Hon member for Ashton-under-Lyne in such unusual attire. But the exclusive front-page photos also set another hare running, one which would ultimately see Ms Rayner issue a grovelling apology today, and have already led to deafening calls for her resignation. Because a second reader, having seen the Daily Mail's photos, then drew our attention to the fact that far from just visiting Hove, Ms Rayner had actually moved into a seaside flat very close to where she had been spotted on the beach. Angela Rayner (pictured on Hove beach on Thursday evening), who is also the Housing Secretary, has faced a barrage of questions about her living arrangements since The Mail on Sunday revealed last weekend that she had bought the seaside apartment Conservatives have already called for an inquiry into claims Ms Rayner avoided 40,000 in stamp duty by telling the taxman that her new 800,000 property in Hove (pictured) was her main home. Ms Rayner paid about 30,000 in stamp duty on the Hove apartment The light and airy apartment's large living room boasts sweeping views of Hove's seafront Our reporters made enquiries and quickly discovered that the Deputy PM had bought an 800,000 flat in a Victorian block back in May. Neighbours we spoke to said she was 'always pleasant' to them when they met on the stairs, and her ever-vigilant security team managed to be fairly unobtrusive. These enquiries led to a second exclusive story in The Mail on Sunday. And at this point the case of 'three pads Rayner' began to gather more political momentum. She was described in this way because, as well as the Hove flat, she already has an opulent government-provided grace- and-favour apartment in central London, as well as her constituency home in Manchester. There were calls for her to 'come clean' about where she was paying council tax, and for how much, given that her own department had declared war on second-home owners by forcing them to pay double. But a few days later, it became clear that Ms Rayner had told one story to the taxman, and another to the local council. And the reason? Saving 40,000 in Stamp Duty for one. The embattled Deputy Prime Minister already accused of 'flipping' the designation of her main home to limit her liabilities for stamp duty and council tax split the ownership of her 650,000 constituency home (pictured) with a trust administered by blue-chip law firm Shoosmiths Designating her primary residence for council tax purposes as Ashton means that Ms Rayner avoids paying council tax on her third home, her grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House (pictured), central London Your browser does not support iframes. She had claimed to HMRC that the Hove property would be her principal residence but told officials at Brighton and Hove Council, it would be her second home. Her name was removed from the title deeds of her Manchester property shortly before the purchase of the Hove one. The extra payable in Council Tax of 2,338.06, was dwarfed by the Stamp Duty saving. Then, the Mail on Sunday discovered another curious aspect of Ms Rayner's 'home flip', in the shape of a top 'wealth protection' company being brought in. She split the ownership of her 650,000 constituency home with a trust administered by blue-chip law firm Shoosmiths. At the time of the deal, in 2023, the company boasted that it had a dedicated 'wealth protection team' to help its private clients. The legal manoeuvre would be consistent with Ms Rayner placing some of the house's equity in trust for her three children, one of whom has special needs although the Deputy PM's office repeatedly declined to answer The Mail on Sunday's questions about its purpose. Today, for the first time, Ms Rayner has been forced to admit that she had indeed dodged paying the 'appropriate' stamp duty on her Hove flat, and referred herself to an ethics watchdog. In a tearful TV interview, a 'devastated' Angela Rayner revealed she has referred herself to an ethics watchdog to investigate whether she had broken ministerial rules The Deputy Prime Minister (pictured) is facing backlash after it was revealed that she saved 40,000 in stamp duty when buying a seaside flat in Hove, East Sussex The Mail on Sunday discovered another curious aspect of Ms Rayner's 'home flip', in the shape of a top 'wealth protection' company being brought in She said she 'deeply regrets' the error made when purchasing her 800,000 apartment in Hove, East Sussex. Ms Rayner has referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus, the PM's Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests. She also revealed she discussed resigning from her Government role with her family amid the intense scrutiny of her property arrangements. Ms Rayner said in a statement: 'When purchasing the property my understanding, on advice from lawyers, was that my circumstances meant I was liable for the standard rate of stamp duty. 'However, given the recent allegations in the press I have subsequently sought further advice from a leading tax counsel to review that position and to ensure I am fully compliant with all tax provisions. 'I have now been advised that although I did not own any other property at the time of the purchase, the application of complex deeming provisions which relate to my son's trust gives rise to additional stamp duty liabilities. 'I acknowledge that due to my reliance on advice from lawyers which did not properly take account of these provisions, I did not pay the appropriate stamp duty at the time of the purchase. 'I am working with expert lawyers and with HMRC to resolve the matter and pay what is due.' She added: 'The arrangements I have set out reflect the reality that family life is rarely straightforward, particularly when dealing with disability, divorce, and the complexities of ensuring your children's long-term security. 'Every decision I have made has been guided by what I believe to be in my children's best interests. 'I deeply regret the error that has been made. I am committed to resolving this matter fully and providing the transparency that public service demands. 'It is for that reason I have today referred myself to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, and will provide him with my fullest cooperation and access to all the information he requires.' Nigel Farage claimed that the UK is in an 'awful, authoritarian position' today as he told US politicians that online safety laws are limiting free speech. The Reform leader warned that Americans - including tech moguls - could face arrest at Heathrow over online content disliked by British authorities in the wake of the arrest of Graham Linehan. Father Ted writer Mr Linehan revealed yesterday he had been detained at Heathrow over trans-sceptic tweets, sparking a row over police priorities and freedom of speech. Mr Farage skipped Parliament's first week back after its summer break to give evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, which is investigating the impact of the UK's Online safety Act on US citizens. 'He's not even a British citizen, he's an Irish citizen, this could happen to any American man or woman that goes to Heathrow but has said things online that the British government and British police don't like,' Mr Farage said of Mr Linehan's detention. 'It is a potentially big threat to big tech bosses and many others... 'At what point did we become North Korea? Well I think the Irish comedy writer found that out two days ago at Heathrow Airport. This is a genuinely worrying, concerning and shocking situation.' Mr Farage warned that the Online Safety Act 'will damage trade between our countries, threaten free speech across the West because of the knock-on rollout effects of this legislation from us or from the European Union'. The Reform leader and MP is due to say Britain has become an 'authoritarian censorship regime' after the arrest of Irish writer Graham Linehan for posting trans-critical tweets He will raise the case of Linehan, who has said he was detained at Heathrow Airport over three posts on X, as he argues Britain has 'lost its way' on civil liberties, The Sun reported Sir Keir used Mr Farage's absence from PMQs to accusing him of running off to Washington to 'badmouth and talk down our country', adding: 'You can't get more unpatriotic than that' However, Mr Farage's version of events was challenged by Democrats on the committee. Democrat representative Jamie Raskin branded him 'a far-right, Putin-loving politician ... free speech impostor and Trump sycophant', adding: 'He should go and advance the positions he's taking here in Congress today, in Parliament, which is meeting today, if he's serious about it.' Mr Farage addressed a Republican-controlled HJC session entitled 'Europe's Threat to American Speech and Innovation', which will 'highlight how European online censorship laws - specifically the United Kingdom's Online Safety Act (OSA) and the European Union's (EU) Digital Services Act (DSA)-threaten Americans' right to speak freely online in the United States.' 'It doesn't give me any great joy to be sitting in America and describing the really awful authoritarian situation that we have now sunk into,' Mr Farage said. He added that he wanted to bring Lucy Connolly to Washington DC as 'living proof of what can go wrong' with free speech. She was jailed for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers in the aftermath of the Southport murders last year. Of Connolly's social media post that lead to her guilty plea and imprisonment, he said: 'It was intemperate, it was wrong, but she removed it three-and-a-half hours later. Sentenced to 31 months in prison. She's now out, having served 40 per cent of the time. 'I wanted to bring her with me today as living proof of what can go wrong. Mr Farage is in the US while the UK parliament is at work in London 'Sadly, the restrictions that have been put on her banned her from making the trip, which is a very, very great shame.' Sir Keir used Mr Farage's absence from PMQs to accusing him of running off to Washington to 'badmouth and talk down our country', adding: 'You can't get more unpatriotic than that'. In response to a question about Reform UK's opposition to the Online Safety Act, the PM said that the 'honourable member for Clacton is not here representing his constituency, in the House he was elected to'. It is a railway line described as one of the most scenic in the world and a must trip for all Harry Potter fans. The West Highland Line, which links Glasgow to places including Oban, Fort William and Mallaig and carries the famous Jacobite steam train is now set to undergo a 15million series of repairs and upgrades. The work will include essential repairs and upgrades, including replacing around 6.2 miles of rail and 9,100 sleepers. Passengers will face some disruption as the line will be closed between Crianlarich and Fort William from the evening of Friday November 7 until the morning of Monday November 17. The engineering programme also includes improving drainage and refurbishing critical structures ,which includes the Glenfinnan Viaduct which features in the Harry Potter films. Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: This is a significant investment in the future of the West Highland Line, helping to ensure it remains safe, reliable and resilient for years to come. The route is vital for the communities it serves and for the many visitors who travel to experience one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. The Jacobite steam locomotive heading over the world famous viaduct Dozens of tourists and Harry Potter fans gather at vantage points during the summer to see the train Actor Daniel Radcliffe is best known for playing the boy wizard based on the books by JK Rowling. One of his most used spells is called called the Mending Charm used to repair objects We appreciate therell be disruption as a result of this work and thank passengers and communities in advance for their patience. These upgrades are essential to keeping services running smoothly in a remote and challenging environment. The work also includes the renewal of a railway bridge near the remote Corrour station, which featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting, including vegetation management and the renewal of five culverts. The Hogwarts Express in a scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: The West Highland Line is a vital connection for the communities it serves as well as an important gateway for Scotlands tourism industry, which is why these essential works are so important. While the work takes place, our priority will be on keeping people moving with rail replacement transport in place. Were grateful to customers for their understanding and patience while Network Rail carries out these improvements. While the work is under way Network Rail will use Rannoch and Tulloch stations as temporary compounds. It advised passengers to plan ahead for journeys during the engineering work and check with their train operator for alternative travel options. The Kremlin appeared to mock Donald Trump's accusation that the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea were 'conspiring' against the US as they assembled to watch a massive military parade in Beijing this week. Trump made the startling claim on his Truth Social platform as the three leaders gathered at the event, asking Xi to 'please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.' He questioned whether Xi 'will mention the massive amount of support and ''blood'' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader.' 'Many Americans died in China's quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!' Trump signed off with a warm message, writing: 'May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.' The Kremlin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, responded to Trump's message saying: 'I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies. No one even had such a thought - none of these three leaders had such a thought.' He added: 'I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally in the current international situation.' In an appearance on Russian state TV, Ushakov added that he believes Trump's remark was made 'not without irony.' The Kremlin appeared to mock Donald Trump's accusation that the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea were 'conspiring' against the US, saying his remark was made 'not without irony' Trump made the startling remark as Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Jim Jong Un assembled in Beijing for a massive military parade on Tuesday As Trump hosted Poland's President Karol Nawrocki at the White House on Wednesday, the US President again waded into the military parade held in Beijing the day before. 'I thought it was very, very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing it and hoped I was watching and I was indeed watching that parade,' he said in the Oval Office. He added: 'Xi should have mentioned the United States last night. We gave tremendous help to China in World War II.' Asked about his recent comments saying he was 'disappointed' in Putin, Trump said: 'I dont have a message for Putin. He knows my position and must make a decision. 'I will either be satisfied or not. If not there will be consequences.' Nawrocki also heaped praise on Trump during their sit-down, telling the press: 'The president is wonderful. He had a wonderful election campaign. He won. People in Poland liked him immediately, and now they love and respect him.' As Trump hosted Poland's President Karol Nawrocki at the White House on Wednesday, the US President again waded into the military parade held in Beijing as he said he found it 'impressive' Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the parade to mark 80 years since WWII, showcasing China's newest high grade weapons - including a laser which experts fear could burn out electronics or even blind pilots. The country also showcased a range of other weapons, including the D5-5C missiles and several land-based unmanned combat systems. Hypersonic missiles and submarines that can evade detection were also displayed at the event. Xi's guests included Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, who arrived earlier at the historic Tiananmen Gate to watch the parade. Kicking off the parade, Xi cautioned that the world was still 'faced with a choice of peace or war' before saying that China was 'unstoppable.' Putin and Kim put on a display of unity with Xi as they flanked him to make their way onto a viewing platform overlooking the Tiananmen Square. They paused to shake hands with five WWII veterans, some older than 100. The summit was billed as an alternative to the US-led global system and was packed with displays of unity between Moscow, Beijing and Delhi, India. The event also saw an apparent hot mic moment between Putin and Xi Jinping as the Russian despot rambled about 'immortality' and organ donations in a rare candid conversation. Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the parade to mark 80 years since WWII , showcasing China's newest high grade weapons - including a laser which experts fear could burn out electronics or even blind pilots China also displayed its unmanned ship-based helicopters China brought out its nuclear weapons to flex its military dominance The laser weapons and HQ-16C missiles on display as a crowd takes photographs China's land-based unmanned combat formation passing through Tian'anmen Square during the parade China's military was on hand to show its might in a display of force against the west Before Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem. Troops marched in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, as Xi, who is also head of China's military as chairman of the Central Military Commission, watched on. Xi started his brief address by remembering the victims of the war and called for eradication of the roots of war to prevent history from repeating itself. The parade showcased missiles, modern fighter jets and other military might as China seeks to wield greater influence on the global stage. Some of the military hardware is on public view for the first time. YJ-20 missiles were wheeled out in a show of China's military capabilities DF-17 hypersonic missiles were also on display, in a show of China's military strength Members of China's army stand as HSU100 unmanned underwater vehicles are displayed China's military also brought out the HQ-22A defence system Chinese President Xi Jinping watches the military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender China has developed several airbone unmanned systems Z-20 helicopters flying in the sky during the huge ceremony Chinese troops with high-tech gear mounted on next gen armoured vehicles in Beijing Cameras at the ready for the arrival of Xi Jinping to review the troops This includes the LY-1 laser weapon which was fitted out on top of an eight-wheeler HZ-155 armoured truck. Defence analyst Alexander Neill told the BBC the laser is so powerful it could be used to blind pilots and disable electronics. Enormous submarine-like unmanned drones were also rolled out, which can travel up to 20m underwater. Finally, nuclear-capable missiles were also touted at the parade, serving as a warning shot to the West. The missiles have the potential to be launched from guided-missile destroyers and China's dominant naval fleet. Land missiles were simultaneously displayed, and state-run media Xinhua said the long-range missiles 'for the first time, demonstrated the 'three-in-one' strategic nuclear force of our army's land, sea and air bases. 'It is a strategic ''trump card'' to safeguard national sovereignty and defend national dignity,' the agency wrote. A member of the army standing in front of D5-5C nuclear missiles A drone boat seen at the parade in Beijing The JL-3, China's third-generation intercontinental-range submarine is said to offer reduced detectability Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (C) leave after their meeting in Beijing on September 3, 2025 Critics say the West is 'worried' about the powerful YJ-17 Troops marched in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, as Xi, who is also head of China's military as chairman of the Central Military Commission, watched on The parade also showed off the AMB012 underwater weapons during the military parade J-15 flew over the event to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two Armoured vehicles being driven by the People's Liberation Army Ground Assault Force It comes just a day after Trump also slammed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was seen holding hands with Putin at an anti-NATO summit in China On the international stage, the military parade is a show of strength from the Communist Party and its leader and a way to portray itself as a global alternative to the American-dominated postwar era. Domestically, the commemoration of the anniversary is a way to show how far China has come. China was a major front in the war, a fact often overlooked in accounts that focus more on the fight for Europe and U.S. naval battles in the Pacific. A Japanese invasion before the war and the conflict itself killed millions of Chinese people. 'The Chinese nation is the great nation that is never intimidated by any bullies,' Xi said ahead of the parade. It comes just a day after Trump also slammed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was seen holding hands with Putin at an anti-NATO summit in China. Modi gave the military parade a miss on Tuesday, but had earlier spent hours cosying up to both Putin and Xi. India, along with China, are the two biggest buyers of Russian oil, a crucial source of revenue for Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The president hit India with 50 percent tariffs on some goods in retaliation, accusing Delhi of bankrolling Putin's war effort, but so far neither India nor China has shown any sign of cutting energy imports from Russia. A Chinese officer salutes during the procession displaying China's military might A sea of troops during the march in Beijing on Wednesday from a Kremlin press office handout Beijing took the opportunity to show off its unmanned aerial vehicles in a show of power Chinese soldiers carry assault rifles with optical zooms during the procession on Wednesday Balloons and doves are released into the sky above the crowds Crowds at Tiananmen Square witnessed a flyover from the air echelon Chinese troops march in formation during Wednesday's parade in Beijing, China Chinese military band members perform ahead of Wednesday's grand parade Initially, the president had levied a 25 percent 'reciprocal' tariff on India, as with many nations. The Russian president and the Indian prime minister beamed as they strolled into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation talks in Tianjin, where Xi hosted more than 20 non-Western leaders. The three leaders were later seen laughing together in a huddle in what appeared to be a show of solidarity against Washington and its allies. Union flags unfurled outside a controversial mosque being built on the edge of the Lake District were put there by the Islamic Centre itself as 'a symbol of our shared belonging', it emerged today. Amid a campaign to raise flags around Britain's streets which swept the nation this summer, Union flags have been hung on the side of South Lakes Islamic Centre. In response, a video was posted to Facebook congratulating whoever 'did this to the mosque', with hundreds of people replying with anti-Muslim sentiment. However the Islamic centre itself has now come forward to say its members put the flags up themselves as 'a symbol of our shared belonging and pride in being part of Cumbria and Great Britain'. 'Our centre is dedicated to building bridges, fostering friendship, and creating a welcoming home for everyone,' it said in a statement. 'We reject division and culture war narratives. 'This mosque stands as a beacon of inclusion, respect, and community resilience.' The three-storey mosque, in the historic market town of Dalton-in-Furness, has been the focus of months of protests over claims that it is inappropriate in an area with a tiny Muslim population. Union flags on South Lakes Islamic Centre - currently under construction in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria - attracted hundreds of anti-Muslim comments, only for the mosque to reveal it put the flags up itself as 'a symbol of our shared belonging' What the mosque in Dalton could look like once construction has been completed - although the project has already suffered several delays Protesters opposing the mosque took to the streets in June highlighting concerns about the size of the building relative to the area's small Muslim population The 2.5million project was delayed earlier this year when local suppliers are said to have refused to work on it, while hard-Right activists - some waving flags - have held rallies at the site. The building was first proposed in 2021 by a group of Muslim doctors at Furness General Hospital in Barrow-in-Furness to avoid the need to drive 48 miles to Lancaster to attend the nearest mosque. However the choice of Dalton - where just 11 people described themselves as Muslim at the last census - has proved controversial. Activists from hard-Right group Britain First claim to have gathered 70,000 signatures on a petition calling for the planning permission to be revoked and stood at the site with a banner reading 'No mosque here'. Meanwhile the leader of the Right-wing UK Independence Party, Nick Tenconi, was filmed shouting 'traitor' at construction workers on the site, which is eight miles from the Lake District National Park. Explaining why the flags were flown outside the building, a spokesman for the mosque told the BBC it was 'proudly part of Britain'. Construction of the 2.5million mosque - which will give Muslim medical staff at a nearby hospital a convenient place to worship - was delayed after local suppliers reportedly pulled out following a backlash in Dalton-in-Furness Supporters and opponents of the mosque held protests as building work began this summer 'We know we won't change the minds of those set on hate but, through dialogue, we've won over many who were misled by lies and propaganda, proving that progress is possible when neighbours meet as equals,' he added. It comes amid a drive to cover British towns and cities in national flags, coordinated by an online movement called Operation Raise the Colours. The Prime Minister has backed the public's right to fly St George's flags after furious locals thwarted a council's efforts to remove them from lampposts. Labour's Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham warned that people painting the red cross on roundabouts were 'seeking confrontation'. But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch retorted that there was 'nothing racist about flying the flag of your nation'. A sitting United States Senator has targeted one of President Trump's most visible outside advisors after she got involved in his business. Virginia Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who serves as the vice chairman for the Intelligence Committee, was scheduled for an unpublicized visit for a listening session at a government agency, when Laura Loomer got wind of the event. Warner was scheduled on Friday to visit the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) which is located in his home state of Virginia, before Loomer launched into what the senator described as 'baseless attacks' online at him and the NGAs director, Vice Admiral Trey Whitworth, the senator claimed. The senator noted that the decision by appointees in the Trump administration to cancel the meeting, described by him as routine, was 'nakedly political', and one that 'undermines the dedicated, nonpartisan staff at NGA and threatens the principle of civilian oversight that protects our national security.' Warner also called out the Trump administration for listening to Loomer, adding that they were 'seemingly desperate to please the right-wing a figure with a long history of extreme and outlandish fringe views, including 9/11 denialism, anti-Muslim harassment campaigns, and associations with white supremacists.' Loomer fired back against Warner's expose on her involvement in the matter, reposting his X thread about her with the words 'Cry more, bi***. @MarkWarner.' On Wednesday, Loomer additionally doubled down on her attacks on Warner, adding that he has 'no business meeting with Intel heads under the Trump admin.' 'You have shown you cant be trusted with US intelligence because youre a partisan hack. Now youre crying like a bi*** on X because you got Loomered. There is a zero tolerance policy for traitors like you under this Trump administration,' Loomer added in a post on X on Wednesday afternoon. Conservative activist Laura Loomer on April 2nd, 2024 (Photo by Jacob M. Langston for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Laura Loomer conservative activist and journalist, and President Donald Trump in an undated photograph U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and then - Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, holds a hearing about worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., April 14, 2021 This latest move underscores Loomer's influence in shaping the Trump agenda, adding to her past successes. She has reportedly been behind nearly a dozen ousts of so-called 'deep state' officials, which she says have been harmful to the administration. Trump reportedly fired multiple officials on the White House National Security Council after an April meeting with Loomer. But another recent incident, the rehiring of HHS leader Vinay Prasad, was one that Loomer called 'demoralizing' and an 'open disrespect of the MAGA base' after she originally pushed for his ouster. Loomer also split with Trump earlier this week on a major move regarding immigration, which mirrors the national security concerns she has raised in her attacks on Warner. Loomer has reportedly been behind nearly a dozen ousts of so-called 'deep state' officials she says have been harmful to the administration Trump reportedly fired multiple officials on the White House National Security Council after an April meeting with Loomer (pictured together in 2024) Trump told reporters on Monday that he plans to expand the number of Chinese students admitted to U.S. universities by up to 600,000 people per year. Were going to allow their students to come in. Its very important - 600,000 students, Trump said. But Loomer went off on Trump's idea, asserting that it undermined the administration's entire immigration approach. If we are only mass deporting 1,000 illegals each day but allowing 600,000 Chinese spies to come to our country, how can we call them mass deportations, Loomer wrote on X at the time. President Donald Trump brushed off accusations that the Justice Department was slow-walking the release of more Epstein files to protect friends of the president. 'They're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success we've had as a nation since I've been president,' Trump complained. The president was hosting Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office when Trump was asked about the Epstein files - including whether 'friends' or 'donors' were being shielded. Trump's meeting with the Polish leader was happening as a press conference with the late pedophile's victims was taking place across town on Capitol Hill. Trump called the Epstein controversy a 'Democrat hoax that never ends.' 'It reminds me a little of the Kennedy situation, we gave them everything, over and over again, more, more, more. And nobody's ever satisfied,' the president said, referencing his administration's release of more JFK assassination files. On Wednesday morning, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie - who has been a thorn in Trump's side - and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna hosted a press conference where close to a dozen Epstein victims told their stories. Chauntae Davies, a former actress and an Epstein victim, highlighted Epstein's relationship with Trump. President Donald Trump dismissed the Epstein files as 'totally irrelevant' to the work he was doing as president of the United States Epstein victim Chauntae Davies (pictured), a former actress, highlighted Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with President Donald Trump when she addressed the crowd Wednesday '[Epstein's] biggest brag, forever, was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump,' Davies told the crowd. 'He had an 8x10 framed picture of him on his desk, with the two of them, they were very close,' she added. Massie and some of Trump's top congressional allies - including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert - are bucking House GOP leadership and backing a discharge petition that aims to force the Trump administration to release everything the government has on Epstein. Another prominent Republican voice, Rep. Nancy Mace, is also supporting Massie's action. The House Oversight Committee was given 33,295 pages of Epstein files from the Justice Department last month. On Tuesday, the GOP-led committee released the pages after reviewing them. A Daily Mail review of the fresh files found that many of them were already reported, though they did include some new information, including a video of Epstein's jail unit the night of his death. The bipartisan Epstein bill would force the DOJ to release even more files. Haley Robson, victim of late financier Jeffrey Epstein, speaks on the day of a rally in support of Epstein's victims Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (left) speaks with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (center) and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (right) during a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the Capitol Building Massie has said he doesn't believe Trump is personally implicated in the Epstein files, but claimed in July that some of the president's 'friends' were probably named. 'And I always presumed that there were at least some of Trump's friends named in this, and that might be why,' the Kentucky Republican told reporters, discussing the reluctance on the part of the Trump White House to release the whole trove of DOJ documents. On Wednesday morning, ahead of the press conference, Massie took issue with the White House for telling NBC News that supporting his bill would be viewed as a 'hostile act.' 'White House says helping me secure a vote to release all the Epstein files is a "Hostile Act." They're threatening anyone who helps bring true transparency and justice for the survivors,' Massie said. 'This is a tacit admission the Oversight Committee data release is woefully incomplete,' the Kentucky Republican added. He told reporters on Capitol Hill that the documents that were released the day before were 'so redacted to be useless.' Massie expressed confidence that he would eventually get enough signatures for the bill to end up on the House floor though condemned the White House's response to his efforts. 'I don't know if that's precedented in this country to have a president call legislators to say that they're engaged in a hostile act, particularly when the so-called hostile act is trying to get justice for people who've been victims of sex crimes,' he said. Protesters taking part in a mass demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action look set to use tactics including 'going floppy' and refusing street bail if arrested, in a bid to make conditions more challenging for police. Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, said such methods will avoid making it 'easier for the police to enforce a completely unjust law'. Organiser Defend Our Juries had planned to overwhelm the criminal justice system by gathering 500 people for a mass demonstration last month, with the number set to at least double on Saturday. At the time, Metropolitan Police Commander Dominic Murphy said the plan to jam the system was 'completely misguided'. Several hundred protesters are set to take action in London, Belfast and Edinburgh this weekend, holding signs saying: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' The action is planned on condition of at least 1,000 people pledging support, but hundreds more are said to be planning to take part, with a boost in support after a number of activists involved in organising the protests were arrested under terror laws. Counter-terrorism police arrested five of Defend Our Juries' key spokespeople in dawn raids in London yesterday morning. The group were arrested just hours before they were due to announce that the mass action against 'terror' ban on Palestine Action will proceed in Parliament Square on Saturday 6 September. Protesters taking part in a mass demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action look set to use tactics including 'going floppy' and refusing street bail if arrested, in a bid to make conditions more challenging for police. Pictured: Police officers are seen here observing a protest in central London in support of Palestine Action on August 26 Huda Ammori (pictured), co-founder of Palestine Action, said such methods will avoid making it 'easier for the police to enforce a completely unjust law' There have also been demos outside the Royal Courts of Justice (pictured here on July 4) Among those arrested was former government lawyer and Defend Our Juries founder Tim Crosland and young law student Paddy Friend. A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: 'This is scandalous. 'Locking up our key spokespeople just hours before they were due to hold a press conference announcing more peaceful Lift the Ban protests constitutes an unprecedented assault on free speech in our country. 'This level of political repression is not what we expect in a democracy - it's the kind of tactic typically associated with authoritarian regimes around the world. 'Despite this dystopian crackdown targeting perceived organisers of peaceful protests, the mass action will go ahead, with 1,000 people pledging to hold signs. The mass defiance of the unjust ban on Palestine Action is unstoppable.' The tactic of refusing street bail means more people need to be taken into custody, and 'going floppy' means more officers are needed to carry protesters away if arrested. A protester waves a Palestinian flag at a 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square, central London, on August 9 Metropolitan Police officers are pictured here in Parliament Square on August 9 A number of demonstrations have been held over the summer in which more than 700 people have been arrested and 115 charged so far. On Wednesday, film director Ken Loach was among speakers at a press conference held on Zoom about the planned demonstration, calling the ban on Palestine Action 'absurd'. Scriptwriter Paul Laverty, who has worked with Loach on several films, was arrested at a protest in Edinburgh, reportedly over a T-shirt he was wearing. Loach said his long-time collaborator is 'a brave opponent of injustice'. The former head of the Chicago Police Department said the city's mayor and the governor of Illinois are 'afraid' that President Donald Trump would successfully bring down crime by sending in federal troops. Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson have said they do not want any help from the federal government when it comes to law enforcement in one of the country's most crime-ridden cities. Former Chicago police Superintendent Jody Weis questioned their stance and said the state Democrats are scared of being humiliated if Trump's approach works. 'So, to me, when you refuse help you are saying you are happy with the numbers - and that is absolutely unacceptable in Chicago right now,' Weis told The National News Desk. 'I think they are afraid that people will see what can be done if politicians commit to taking action and really want to make a difference,' he added. Despite pushback from the governor and mayor, Trump made a clear commitment on Tuesday to send National Guard troops to the Windy City. 'We're going in,' the president said. 'I didn't say when. We're going in.' Weis also said he believes that the governor and mayor would be more willing to cooperate if the president was a Democrat. Former head of Chicago Police Department Jody Weis believes that leading Illinois Democrats would be humiliated by Trump successfully reducing crime in Chicago Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker does not want to allow Trump to send the National Guard into Chicago Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is against sending the National Guard to his city, and his office has said crime rates have gone down significantly since the start of the year 'If Barack Obama was still there and he sent in the troops for this, I think it would be embraced,' the former top cop said. He called it 'absurd' for Chicago politicians to reject federal assistance, pointing to Trump's ordering of troops to Washington, DC as an example of cooperation between local and federal authorities DC Mayor Muriel Bowser initially expressed concern over the move, but admitted last week that the initiative has led to significant reductions in crime, including an 87% reduction in carjackings. 'I wish they would learn from her,' Weis said. He noted that someone is murdered in Chicago every 19 hours and 58 minutes, and someone is shot every four hours and 19 minutes. Despite these eye-popping statistics, crime rates in the Windy City have been dropping since the start of 2025, according to Chicago's Office of the Mayor. Overall violent crime is down 21.6 percent, homicides are down 32.3 percent and shootings are down 37.4 percent. Weis criticized Gov. Pritzker for trying to show that Chicago's crime problem is overblown by walking near Lake Michigan around 6am, an area Weis said sees little to no crime, especially at that hour. 'Let him walk in the Austin neighborhood or the Inglewood neighborhoods at 11 oclock, because thats where many of his constituents live - and theyre not going to feel safe,' he said. A nurse who helped deliver a baby in an RV bathroom at Burning Man arts festival has revealed how she rushed to help the laboring stranger. Maureen O'Reilly, a registered nurse with a background in neonatal critical care, was brewing coffee at her campsite last Wednesday morning when a campmate shouted 'somebody just had a baby'. O'Reilly wrapped garbage bags around her shoes and sprinted through the thick desert mud to reach the RV, arriving just as the baby's umbilical cord was being cut. 'They lifted the baby just as I got into the RV,' she told KGO. Two other festival attendees - an emergency nurse and obstetrician-gynecologist - also rushed to help. O'Reilly, 61, says she yelled for blankets and the heat to be turned on as she placed the premature infant on her stomach in a bid to keep her warm. 'It was just so frightening how you know we're in the middle of nowhere with nothing,' the nurse recalled. Burning Man campsites are not conducive environments for giving birth, as they do not have running water or electricity. Attendees are required to bring in portable water and must rely on their own power solutions at the camps. The baby, who was reportedly named Aurora because her 'presence lit up the sky', was life-flighted to a hospital in Reno, Nevada and remains in the neonatal intensive care unit. Kayla Thompson, 37, and her husband, Kasey Thompson, 39, were attending their first Burning Man festival when she went into unexpected labor last week Maureen O'Reilly, a registered nurse with a background in neonatal critical care, was the first person to told the couple's premature baby Aurora. She kept the infant close against her stomach in a bid to keep her warm O'Reilly, of California, visited Aurora and new parents Kayla and Kasey Thompson in the hospital on Sunday. She says she feels a 'closeness' to the infant after being the 'very first person to hold her in her moments of life'. The Thompsons are seemingly so grateful to O'Reilly, with the nurse revealing how they sweetly are calling her Aurora's 'third grandma'. Kayla, 37, was unaware that she was pregnant when she and Kasey, 39, ventured to the arts festival from Salt Lake City, Utah. She awoke in severe pain on July 27 and first assumed it was the result of something she ate, or even appendicitis. Moments later, however, she was in active labor and with zero warning gave birth to a three-pound, nine-ounce girl in the cramped bathroom of the camper. 'I was yelling for anyone to come help us,' Kasey told The New York Times, recalling the chaos that quickly ensued. The trio of healthcare workers responded to Kasey's cries for help and rushed into action. O'Reilly held Aurora against her stomach as an OBGYN helped deliver the placenta while wearing nothing but underwear, according to the outlet. Kayla Thompson gave birth to a 3-pound, 9-ounce baby girl in the cramped bathroom of her RV, pictured at Burning Man festival last week O'Reilly (pictured with fellow campers at a previous Burning Man festval) has attended the iconic desert arts festival 13 times, but says this year's event is now the 'most memorable thing I'll ever experience in my life' 'The hardest part was knowing, as a nurse, what can go wrong,' O'Reilly told the Times. 'Having no resources was frightening.' O'Reilly managed to help stabilize Aurora, who was crying, breathing steadily, and showing signs of healthy color. Aurora was born in the Black Rock Desert, where a seasonal monsoon had already turned the Burning Man festival into a mud-riddled landscape - shutting down entry gates, toppling tents, and stranding thousands. The terrain was too difficult for ambulances to navigate, according to the Los Angeles Times, but about 10 to 15 minutes after the birth, Black Rock Rangers arrived in an SUV with medics. They transported Aurora to a medical tent, but she was later taken by helicopter to a hospital in Reno, approximately 120 miles away. Kayla and Kasey then rode separately in an ambulance to the facility, more than three hours away over muddy roads. After finally reuniting with Aurora in the NICU, Kasey said his daughter 'was safe and sound' and that he 'was so thrilled'. Doctors estimated that Kayla was around 36 weeks pregnant and measured baby Aurora to be 16.5 inches long and weighing 3 pounds, 9.6 ounces. The Thompson family (pictured) 'are so in love with Aurora already,' according to an Instagram post by the baby girl's grandmother 'She did not look pregnant, not one bit!' O'Reilly told KGO. Kayla seemingly had a cryptic pregnancy, a rare type of pregnancy that goes unnoticed until late in the term or delivery. Cryptic pregnancies occur in about 1 in every 2,500 pregnancies, the American Pregnancy Association reports. The Thompson family was discharged from the hospital on Thursday, though Aurora remains in the NICU gaining strength. 'Their world has just been flipped upside down completely,' Kasey's sister, Lacey Paxman, told Times, adding that she and the Thompsons' parents have traveled from Utah to support the couple. A GoFundMe has since been launched by Paxman and notes that the couple left everything behind at Burning Man - including their supplies and clothes - and are now facing the unexpected costs of medical care, lodging, and first-time parenting. 'Since this is their first child and the pregnancy was completely unexpected, my brother and his wife don't have anything prepared - no baby supplies, no nursery, nothing at all,' she wrote. Despite the shock and fear of the experience, Kasey expressed deep gratitude for the strangers who helped deliver their daughter. 'That's what that community is about,' he said. 'They will always have such a special place in my heart.' A man holds up a tent structure amid a dust storm near Burning Man festival's Black Rock Desert site on August 23, 2025 The 75-foot wooden 'burning man' effigy is lit ablaze at Burning Man Festival on Aug. 30, 2025 'It's an absolute miracle. Had I known [about the pregnancy], that's the absolutely last place on this planet I would have been,' he insisted. The Burning Man event is an annual, week-long arts and culture festival held in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada that ends with the burning of a large effigy known as The Man. It typically takes place in late August through early September and is known for its radical self-expression, massive art installations, communal living, and off-the-grid experience. O'Reilly, who has attended the festival 13 times, says this year's event is now the 'most memorable thing I'll ever experience in my life'. An 83-year-old man has been living with his pet buffalo for about 43 years on his farm, and for the first time, one of his cattle attacked him. Dick Wildes was feeding one of his pets on his land in Hollywood, Maryland, when another buffalo by the name of Dozer charged him, leaving him with severe injuries. EMS transported Wildes to St. Mary's County Regional Airport and then airlifted him to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. 'It just happened so fast, I did a cartwheel and I saw the sky in the air, next thing I knew I was on the ground,' the farmer described the attack to Fox 5 DC. Luckily, Wildes was able to escape the pen but sustained severe injuries to his arm and leg, caused by Dozer's horns. The farmer hinted at how badly things could've gone if he hadn't escaped: 'It could have been worse. If I couldn't get out of there, he could have come at me again, and I could have been in big trouble.' Emergency services Sgt. James Cawely told the outlet about his surprise when they received the call: 'The notes were male struck by a buffalo. 'It was one of those, is this really something that I just read? And it was.' Dick Wildes has worked with buffalo for more than 43 years and has never been attacked by a buffalo The farmer now only has two buffalo named Indy and Dozer, as he was feeding Indy, Dozer charged him Wilde's exact injuries are unclear, but he was reportedly lifted by the arm when the animal's horns flipped him, causing a compound fracture to his leg, a neighbor told The BayNet. The buffalo are a staple of the community- and neighbors commented on how visitors stop near the property to watch the animals roam. Wildes remarked on how he owned 50 buffalo, with nearly 30 on his pasture, and has since been trying to reduce the number on his farm. The community is glad to hear that Wildes is recovering, and he appreciated their concern: 'I appreciate them with all the comments they've made. 'But it's also been good for me to have such a good network of friends and family. Wildes has had about 30 buffalo on his land at one point in time, but has slowly been reducing the number of cattle he keeps The buffalo man is not sure about the future with Dozer because he is unsure if he can trust the beast again The buffalo man is uncertain about the future with Dozer because he is unsure if he is safe around the beast. He is now deciding if relocation of the creature is best for the safety of himself and the community. The Daily Mail has reached out to Dick Wildes for a comment. A group of residents of a California nudist resort are suing the new owners, claiming they are being forced to wear clothes or face being evicted. Tenants of Olive Dell Ranch in Colton claim new management that took over are actively neglecting it in order to remove residents. Past and present residents clubbed together to file a lawsuit against the owners, in which they claim problems started shortly after the property changed hands. The first change, according to residents, was a notice left in mail boxes informing them they would need to start wearing clothes at the start of this year. It said: 'Olive Dell RV Park and Resort is now a textile park. Starting January 6, 2025 clothing with be required at all times within the park premises. 'Including all sites at Olive Dell RV Park and Resort', with the notice being signed by the new owners. Speaking with KTLA, residents claimed the changes were aimed at driving nudists out of the resort. Nancy Roeder, a resident for over ten years, told the outlet: 'Were just trying to survive. Were in survival mode at this point. Tenants of Olive Dell Ranch, seen here, claim new management that took over are actively neglecting it in order to remove residents Nancy Roeder, a resident for over ten years, told KTLA that those still on the grounds are just trying to survive According to Roeder and other residents, the owners also inflated utility bills and rents, threatened evictions and removed electric meters from their homes. Amenities covered by their annual memberships have also been cut out, they allege, and the property is said to have fallen into a state of disrepair. On-site facilities like the communal swimming pool has turned green, the laundry room is now boarded up, the sauna shut off alongside hot water in community areas. Roeder added: 'I'm getting a $500 [utility bill] and I should not have a $500 bill, it should be less than $100. I have 500 square feet.' She told the outlet that people were paying the bills due to them being threatened with being kicked out, or face having their electric meter removed. Penny Palmer, another resident, added: 'They illegally raised our rents and they attacked our lifestyle.' One former front desk employee Sunshine Lorick told the outlet that she was fired after questioning the practices of the new management team. Lorick explained: 'She wanted me to charge extra money on people's bills, and I was refusing to do it.' The outlet spoke with a woman known only as Darlene who is the property manager, she accused residents of vandalism and failing to pay their bills on time. One former front desk employee Sunshine Lorick, seen here, told the outlet that she was fired after questioning the practices of the new management team Stephanie, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79, disappeared last year before their remains were found underneath the home of their neighbor Roeder added: 'Im going to stay here till the very end. Im scared. I dont know whats going to happen.' The ranch, in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains, made headlines last year following the killing of Stephanie, 73, and Daniel Menard, 79. The couple were found in August of 2024 underneath a concrete bunker at the home of neighbor Michael Royce Sparks, seen here The couple were found in August of 2024 underneath a concrete bunker at the home of neighbor Michael Royce Sparks. Sparks is to stand trial over their deaths, with a court hearing earlier this year that the couple had taunted him about a hot dog. At a hearing in June, a witness in the community testified that Sparks and his alleged victims often argued and had a fraught relationship before the killings. They said they lived next door to each other, and had clashed over issues including a tree overhanging the Menards' yard and a noisy generator. But the witness said the rift turned violent due to Sparks feeling humiliated after Menard bought him a $1 hot dog. A judge subsequently ruled that there is sufficient evidence for Sparks to stand trial for the murder of the couple, which he has pleaded not guilty to. Daily Mail have contacted legal representatives for the management of Olive Dell for comment on the suit. John Swinney was yesterday accused of ignoring Scotlands problems in favour of virtue signalling about Gaza. The First Minister said he could not ignore warnings that Benjamin Netanyahus government was behind a genocide in Gaza. He announced the SNP was ditching its long-running policy of denying public cash to defence firms making munitions in light of growing global uncertainty. But firms selling material to Israel would remain ineligible for support. In the face of genocide, there can be no business as usual, he said. He was accused by pro-Israel groups of indulging in pure gesture politics that will make no difference to the situation in the Middle East. The Scottish Tories said Mr Swinney was failing to pay full and urgent attention to a long list of domestic problems as he devoted hours at Holyrood to foreign affairs. The First Minister told MSPs no new money would go to arms companies selling material to Israel and that he had ordered public bodies not to facilitate trade between Scotland and Israel. First Minister John Swinney The Palestinian flag fluttering at St Andrews's House, the Scottish government HQ The moves were based on plausible evidence of genocide, the Government said. Mr Swinney announced 400,000 for Kids Operating Room to help establish a Gaza field hospital for surgical, maternity and paediatric services. A further 600,000 will go to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for the Occupied Palestinian Territories to provide food, water, shelter and cash for families. The First Minister called on the UK Government to recognise the state of Palestine on an unconditional and irreversible basis and pull out of a free trade deal with Israel and ban the import of goods from illegal settlements. As a Palestinian flag was flown over the Scottish Governments HQ, he said he utterly rejected anti-Semitism and all forms of racism and hatred and had this week reassured Jewish leaders of his respect for their valued and cherished community in Scotland. He was criticised by Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay, who agreed about the horrors of the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza, but said Mr Swinney had a long list of domestic duties to focus on first. Mr Findlay called recognition of a Palestine state premature and counter productive. He said: I do not doubt the sincerity of the First Ministers feelings but I also believe that this parliament should focus the powers It has to improve peoples lives here in Scotland. I believe that issues here need our full and urgent attention. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay Drug deaths are the worst in Europe for the seventh consecutive year, many communities live in fear of serious violence. Lives are being lost due to chronic problems in the NHS. I would rather Mr Swinney provide a statement on these issues for which he has responsibility. But since the statement is before us, I would like to ask John Swinney about his demand to immediately recognise Palestinian statehood. This will be seen by many as premature, impractical and counter productive. Mr Swinney hit back: I willingly accept my responsibility for the issues for which I have responsibility. On the question of the recognition of the Palestinian state, I do not think it is premature. I think it is long overdue, to be honest, and long overdue by multiple decades. In his statement to parliament, Mr Swinney said the situation in Gaza was a man-made humanitarian catastrophe that had resulted in 63,000 deaths since the Hamas attack on Israelis on 7 October 2023 killed 1,200 and saw the taking of 250 hostages. He said the Scottish Government cannot ignore the International Court of Justices warning of a prima facie case of genocide in Gaza. He added: We will pause new awards of public money to arms companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that country. That will include Israel. The pause will apply where possible, to new grants provided or investment made by the Scottish Government, our enterprise agencies and the Scottish National Investment Bank. Any defence company seeking support from the Scottish Government will have to demonstrate that its products are not involved militarily with Israel. The munitions U-turn followed intense criticism of the SNP denying 2.5 million towards an 11 million Rolls-Royce welding centre on the Clyde as it was linked to an attack submarine. The Tories had called it the worst kind of student politics. Scottish Tory deputy Rachael Hamilton said: Given the huge importance of the defence sector to Scotlands economy, this unfair ban should never have existed in the first place. The fact that it did speaks to the naive, student-politics streak through the SNP. Labour MSP Daniel Johnson added: While the SNP has dithered, Labours investment in defence has secured thousands of jobs in Scottish manufacturing and shipbuilding. In the debate, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called the situation in Gaza beyond intolerable and dubbed Israeli PM Netanyahu, who denies genocide, a war criminal. Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer urged a global boycott against apartheid Israel. Former first minister Humza Yousaf shed tears as he said everyone should examine their conscience. What has become of us that we can allow ourselves to be so divided by the geopolitics when a massacre of tens of thousand of children is happening in front of our very eyes and the world does virtually nothing about it? Shame on us. In a purely symbolic vote, MSPs later backed the recognition of a state of Palestine by 65 to 24, with 26 abstentions. A Green amendment calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to immediately impose a package of boycotts, divestment and sanctions targeted at the state of Israel and firms complicit in its military operations and its occupation of Palestine passed by 62 to 31 votes. Passengers have complained about being stranded for 24 hours after American Airlines diverted a flight 600 miles over a fuel leak on Labor Day weekend. Hundreds of travelers were caught up in the chaos after the Boeing 777 plane from Texas to Paris re-routed to Tennessee due to a mechanical issue on August 31. Flight tracking services show the plane set off from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport at 1.15am local time, and was airborne for just over an hour. Crew members reported a mechanical issue which one passenger confirmed to the Daily Mail was a fuel leak. The plane was diverted to Nashville International Airport. Passengers said they were then de-planed and loaded onto a recovery flight to their final destination, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France, an entire day later. Incensed traveler Carlota Montoya told the Daily Mail she was one of hundreds of passengers held at Nashville for what was supposed to be the start of the holiday. 'The plane got a mechanical failure with the fuel leak so we had an emergency landing in Nashville,' she said. 'It was terrible. I had a business meeting lost, but lots of people lost their vacation, trains, and plans.' Flight tracking services show the plane set off from Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport at 1.15am local time, and was airborne for just over an hour. The crew reported a mechanical issue which was confirmed to be a fuel leak, according to Aviation A2Z, and diverted the plane Hundreds of travelers were caught up in flight chaos after an American Airlines Boeing 777 plane from Texas to Paris diverted to Tennessee due to a mechanical issue on August 31 Passengers have complained about being stranded for 24 hours after American Airlines diverted a flight over fuel leak fears on August 31, over the Labor Day weekend 'They did give us a hotel and a $12 voucher for a meal, but no further explanation or compensation,' she added. 'We all lost a day in Paris.' Montoya also took to X to express her frustration with the 'nightmare' journey, describing it as a 'travel fail'. 'American Airlines, what a nightmare,' she wrote. 'Emergency stop in Nashville on my way to Paris and now 24+ hrs delayed. Zero support, zero communication. 'Travel should mean trust, not frustration.' American Airlines responded by apologizing and explaining that diversions are made 'with only safety in mind'. It's unclear whether passengers were held on the plane or at Nashville airport during the diversion. The Daily Mail has reached out to the airline for further information. The flight wasn't the only travel headache for Labor Day vacationers. It comes after an air traffic control radio outage grounded all inbound flights to Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey on Thursday, just before the holiday weekend began. Incoming flights from across the US and Canada were dramatically slowed down, with average delays of as long as 2.5 hours and some nearly four hours. Departing flights did not appear to be impacted. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the outage was due to an equipment issue, causing air traffic controller to lose their radio frequencies. The alert affected flights arriving between August 28 at 12.22pm ET and August 29 at 11.59pm. An air traffic control radio outage also grounded all inbound flights to Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey on Thursday, just before the holiday weekend began The flight chaos comes as the busy Labor Day travel weekend is getting underway, and the Newark airport is expecting more than three million passengers over the holiday Travelers shared their frustrations on social media, with some saying their flight has been delayed three times within 15 minutes. 'Traveling this weekend? It's going to be busy,' wrote the Newark Airport in a post on X, recommending that travelers budget extra time to arrive, park, check in and get through security. The airport has not acknowledged the current outage. This was the second outage in the past 24 hours affecting controllers at the Philadelphia ATC center, which manages Newark airspace. The previous occurred on Wednesday between 6:30pm and 7:30pm, when audio briefly failed, making communication between planes and controllers unclear. Controllers at Newark were warned that frequency issues could occur at any time over the next 24 hours, an on-duty controller told ABC News. To manage the situation, the FAA started limiting flights into Newark to 28 per hour through at least Friday, down from the usual 34. Arriving planes are also being spaced about 20 miles apart as they approach the airport. The FAA last year relocated control of the Newark airspace area to Philadelphia to address staffing and congested New York City area traffic. Air Traffic Control communication issues impacting incoming flights at Newark Airport https://t.co/zpH1xWAmnK pic.twitter.com/9R0DStqZou Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) August 28, 2025 The airport has experienced several outages this year, with two in May. On May 19, a brief two-second outage occurred at the Philadelphia TRACON radar approach control facility around 11:35am. The FAA reported no flight disruptions, but the incident was under investigation as part of ongoing equipment reliability concerns. This was the fourth reported outage in a month, the others hit May 11, May 9 and April 28, which saw over 1,000 flights canceled and significant delays after radar and communications went dark for around 90 seconds. Following air traffic control issues this spring, the FAA cut the number of flights arriving and departing from the airport throughout the summer. They look like ordinary excited schoolchildren visiting London. But these are war-weary Ukrainian teenagers on a break from the horrors of their homeland ten days which could scarcely be more precious. They are the children of heroes, many of whom have lost a parent fighting Putins invasion. And they have spent the past week in the UK recovering from this ongoing hell a life-changing trip made possible only thanks to the kindness of Daily Mail readers who donated to our Mail Force Ukraine Appeal. These 24 teenagers, aged 13 to 17, have swapped their bomb-shelter classrooms in the eastern frontline city of Kharkiv for a few days in the tranquil English countryside, in Kent, where they have forged lifelong friendships and attended trauma workshops. And on Tuesday they rounded off their trip with a sightseeing tour of London including a visit to Downing Street where they met the Prime Minister. None of the youngsters knew each other before this special Rehabilitation Trip run by the London-based St Marys Trust and funded by Mail Force. But 14-year-old Dasha Kuzhietsova spoke for them all when she said: Here on this trip we have all made friends. One night we all just sat together and cried. Maria Tieterina, Victoria Syzonova and Dasha Kuzhietsova, who are 14-year-old Ukrainian 'children of heroes' on a rehabilitation visit to Britain funded by generous Daily Mail readers The youngsters, many of whom have lost a parent, have attended trauma workshops but also had a day sightseeing in London The Ukrainian children and their teachers were in high spirits after being invited to Downing Street for a brief tour in which they bumped into the Prime Minister on the stairs Speaking in near-flawless English (she dreams of being a translator), Dasha told me how her mother Olga died when two of the Kremlins bombs struck her building, nowhere near the frontline. She says: My father said the first bomb made her sleep. The second killed her. My father and my brother cant bear to look at photos of her, but I can, and they say Im the strongest one in the family. I dont want that distinction. It is being in England, away from the misery, and supported by trauma experts, that has enabled these children to share some of the most hideous feelings anyone could have. Yesterday, as I chatted to Ksaniia Zhylka, 16, in the Golden Gallery at the very top of St Pauls Cathedral, she disclosed: I have a mother, a little sister and I have a dad. He is a soldier. But I dont know where he is. I was the last person who saw my dad, on January 13, 2023. I think about him all the time. I get emotional thinking about it. Actually I havent told my horrible story to anyone until now. Tears well up in Ksaniias blazing blue eyes. Her teacher, Victoria, who is helping translate, also starts weeping as she says: This is the first time I heard this. Ksaniia Zhylka, 16, who last saw her soldier father on January 13, 2023, pictured in St Paul's Cathedral during a sightseeing tour as part of a rehabilitation programme The children unfurled two flags as they posed for this photo for the Daily Mail outside the Tower of London A classroom in Kharkiv, where the children are from, which was completely destroyed by a bomb sent by Kremlin warmonger Vladimir Putin Our Mail Force Ukraine Appeal raised millions of pounds to help innocent Ukrainians HOW TO HELP Ukrainian St Mary's Trust in London Donations by generous Daily Mail readers to our Mail Force Ukraine Appeal helped to pay for these children to come to Britain for this hugely successful rehabilitation trip, which was organised by St Mary's Ukrainian Trust in London. Two further trips are planned, but the Mail Force money only covers part of the next trip, and further donations to St Mary's are needed to ensure the next two trips can go ahead. To make a donation, click here. For more information, visit the St Mary's Ukrainian School website Advertisement Like all of them, Ksaniia is deeply grateful to Britain and the Daily Mails readers. She says: I have made a lot of good friends here. The British people have opened their hearts and given us their big smiles, and I will forever hold the memories of the peace. Inna Hryhorovych, executive director of St Marys Trust, says: I have never felt anything like this. Ten days is not a lot, but it is ten days without sirens, without shelling, without people around them being killed. I spoke to Maria Tietierina, 14. The date when her father Volodymyr was killed by a landmine is etched on her young mind: July 31, 2022. Her mother now wants her to be a doctor. Sofia Babenko, 13, told me of her pride in her hero father Oleksander, a fireman who helps dig people out of the rubble of bombed buildings. She says matter-of-factly: They are not always alive. After our interview, she says: I want to tell you. I believe in the Ukraine army. I hope that victory will come very soon. Yana Shevets, 14, who lost her father who was fighting on the frontline, says the British visit has made her feel more positive, adding: It is important for my future and the future of my country. Children such as Victoria Syzonova, 14, whose father is also on the frontline, told me: In London, a city without bombs and sirens, I can go from midnight til the morning and sleep all night. Yesterday, we accompanied them visiting St Pauls Cathedral, the Tower of London and Downing Street, where they met Sir Keir Starmer. The PM said: I want to thank the Daily Mails readers for their unwavering support for Ukraine. These children are the future of Ukraine, and in the shadow of war, their courage truly shines through. It was a privilege to host them.' Meeting a Beefeater at the Tower of London, which has a poignant display of ceramic poppies to commemorate the dead from world wars Dasha Kuzhietsova, 14, Maria Tieterina, 14, Victoria Syzonova, 14, outside St Paul's Cathedral in London Sofia Babenko, 13, with Yana Shevets, 14, after climbing to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral, London Vitaly Viechorkin, 14, told me: London is big and beautiful, and it is a place without sirens and bombs and drones. But Kharkiv is my home and, even during war, nothing beats home Denys and Kseniia hold flags of the UK and Ukraine at the Tower of London Nastya, 14, Nastia, 14, and Kseniia, 15, getting off a London bus at Tower Bridge Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying hello to Ukrainian school students in 10 Downing Street The children listened as Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to them on the stairs of No.10 inbetween meetings The Ukrainian children were joyful after being given a brief tour of Downing Street and bumping into Sir Keir Starmer on the No.10 stairs Inna Hryhorovych, whose tireless work for the London-based St Mary's Ukrainian Trust has made the trip possible, pictured in Downing Street after the children met the Prime Minister The children have been staying in Dover, Kent, where they had plenty of fresh air and the chance to swap stories about their lives. Many of them have lost a parent in the war Bombed-out classrooms in Kharkiv where the children are from. They swapped their bomb-shelter schools for a precious 10-day rehabilitation break in Britain A school in Kharkiv bombed by the Kremlin during its savage invasion of Ukraine Mrs Hryhorovych added: These ten days have been transformational. The hardest part is when you get them talking, and then they speak of their parents in the present tense and then they catch themselves, and theres that sudden realisation. Back in Kharkiv, they cant have discos or social gatherings. But here we danced with them on Saturday night. Tonight, I am putting them on a plane back there and I feel so scared for them. But for them it is home. Vitaly Viechorkin, 14, told me: London is big and beautiful, and it is a place without sirens and bombs and drones. But Kharkiv is my home and, even during war, nothing beats home. Thanks to our readers, these 24 children tonight travelling back to Ukraine have been gifted a vital fresh lease of life. Further visits are planned, but more funding is needed. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is blazing ahead with arresting criminal illegal immigrants in the U.S. - even though deportation efforts might be stalled in the courts. A group of five violent criminals were picked up by ICE in the latest nationwide roundup on Tuesday, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal. DHS is eager to share its arrests of undocumented migrants convicted with violent crimes including murder, robbery, sexual assault and domestic violence. A spokesperson for DHS tells the Daily Mail that these are the exact type of 'worst of the worst criminal aliens' who will be brought to the new Louisiana Lockup facility to await deportation. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is outside of Baton Rouge Wednesday to announce the opening of the new facility where criminal migrants will be held as they await deportation. It comes after a court upheld an order last week that Florida's Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention facility be shuttered. And President Donald Trump faced another hit on Tuesday when an appeals court ruled that he could not use an 18th century wartime law to deport alleged members with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Despite the blockades derailing the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts, ICE insists its 'mission remains clear' to illegal immigrants: 'If you come to America and break our laws, we will find you, arrest you, and you will never return.' ICE reveals it arrested five migrants with criminal records on Tuesday in their nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration Tuesday's arrests include Lao Sihathep (pictured), who is originally from Laos and was convicted in Rochester, New York of murder A spokesperson for the agency said that 70 percent of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens with charges or convictions in the U.S. Tuesday's arrests include Lao Sihathep, who is originally from Laos and was convicted of murder in Rochester, New York. He and the other four arrests revealed to the Daily Mail are dubbed by ICE as 'criminal illegal aliens.' Anderson Geovanny Arriola-Trejo, in the U.S. illegally from Honduras, was convicted of robbery in Tarrant County, Texas; and Jose Vail-Vasquez, a native of Guatemala, was convicted of first degree unlawful sexual contact in Georgetown, Delaware. Mexican illegal migrant and convicted felon Wuenceslao Cisneros-Chavez was found in possession of a firearm and violated a court order to prevent domestic violence in Red Bluff, California. The fifth migrant arrested on Tuesday was a Mexican woman, Sonia Natera-Mancillas, convicted of alien smuggling in the Western District of Texas. 'These depraved criminal illegal aliens are off our streets because of our brave ICE law enforcement officers,' a DHS spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'Every single day they risk their lives to arrest the worst of the worst including murders, sexual predators, gang members, and terrorists,' the spokesperson added. Jose Vail-Vasquez (left), is an illegal alien from Guatemala who was convicted of first degree unlawful sexual contact in Georgetown, Delaware; and Anderson Geovanny Arriola-Trejo (right) is a migrant from Honduras who was convicted of robbery in Tarrant County, Texas Illegal immigrant from Mexico, Sonia Natera-Mancillas (right) was convicted of alien smuggling in the Western District of Texas; and Wuenceslao Cisneros-Chavez (right), also an illegal migrant from Mexico was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating a court order to prevent domestic violence in Red Bluff, California ICE continues to conduct raids across the nation, arresting illegal immigrants - with 70% of arrests being of those with charges or convictions in the U.S. ICE agents, according to a DHS spokesperson, are facing a 1,000 percent increase in assaults against them as they follow Trump's orders to arrest, detain and deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Trump's administration is fighting to keep up deportations after vowing during his 2024 campaign to carry out 'the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.' Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, a key advisor and border hawk, has pushed for a target of 3,000 arrests per day. This would equate to 1 million per year. But available figures do not indicate that the administration is on track with that goal. Deportations in the first 100 days of Trump's second term put arrests at around 600 per day. One of Donald Trump's most loyal MAGA allies in Congress is breaking away from him over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene claims she asked the president to host victims of the pedophile billionaire today at the Oval Office. The Georgia lawmaker has joined Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna on their bipartisan legislation to release the DOJs Epstein files to the public. The White House told Republican lawmakers in the House that supporting the legislation would be seen as a very hostile act by Trump. 'This isn't a hostile act towards the administration, Greene told CNNs Manu Raju following a press conference with the victims. I look forward to talking with President Trump about these women that I've met. I also encouraged him this morning that he should have these women in the Oval Office. They deserve to be there, Greene added. 'These are the people who deserve to be in the Oval Office, not any of Jeffrey Epstein's rich powerful friends. However, the conservative firebrand noted that Trump did not respond to her request for an Oval Office meeting with the victims. Greene spoke at a press conference with nearly a dozen Epstein victims to help push forward a bill that would release the Epstein files to the public Greene told CNN's Manu Raju that Trump ignored her request for an Oval Office meeting with the victims Greene called out the DOJ for not being more transparent by releasing all files on Epstein to the public Instead, Trump hosted the president of Poland in the Oval Office on Wednesday, where he gave his thoughts on the Epstein files legislation. 'They're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success we've had as a nation since I've been president,' Trump told reporters. He added the controversy was a 'Democrat hoax that never ends.' 'It reminds me a little of the Kennedy situation, we gave them everything, over and over again, more, more, more. And nobody's ever satisfied,' the president concluded. Massie and Khanna invited close to a dozen Epstein victims to tell their stories at a press conference on Wednesday morning. After having her request ignored by Trump, Greene joined the conference where she slammed Trumps DOJ for not being more transparent with the files. The FBI, the DOJ, and the CIA hold the truth, Greene said at the conference. And the truth were demanding come out on behalf of these women, but also as a strong message to every innocent child, teenager, woman, and man that is being held captive in abuse. This should never happen in America, and it should never be a political issue that divides us. Greenes career in Congress has been spent voting with Trump on nearly all legislative issues. Trump referred to outrage over the Epstein files as a 'Democratic hoax' on Wednesday Her appearance at the Epstein victims press conference marks a dramatic change as she publicly breaks away from Trumps agenda on the issue. The Daily Mail reached out to the White House for comment. Progressive darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is teaming up with Republicans on a rare issue they have in common - taking down their colleagues who may be cashing in on insider information. Outrage has been growing about members of Congress who have been unfairly profiting from trading the very stocks they regulate. Many lawmakers have become multi-millionaires after working in Washington despite making an annual salary of just $174,000. There's been heavy scrutiny on ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after her net worth nearly doubled to $265 million since 2013. Though the former speaker never tried to ban congressional trading during her tenure, she has recently signaled her support for it. Freshman Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., has also raised suspicions after he campaigned on banning trading for members before becoming one of the most prolific traders in Congress this year, with over 600 transactions since January. Now Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is bringing together a group of staunch right-wing conservatives, left-wing progressives and centrists to try and pass a bill that would outlaw lawmakers, their spouses and dependent children from trading stocks. Progressive 'Squad' members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., are working with conservative firebrands Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., a rare sight in a divided Washington. The show of bipartisanship comes amid a renewed effort on Capitol Hill to further restrict lawmakers from actively participating in the stock markets while trying to represent their constituents. This year alone, at least half a dozen bills have been introduced to address trading among members. Roy's new piece of legislation combines many central tenets of the different bills into one uniform package. The bill, co-led by Rhode Island Democrat Rep. Seth Magaziner, would force lawmakers to sell their individual stocks within 180 days of the measure's passage. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaking about legislation to ban members of Congress from trading stocks at a press conference with Republicans on Wednesday Republican Tim Burchett gave AOC a fist bump before she took the stage. She later said the bipartisan feeling in the room 'feels foreign' in a divided Washington It would also require new members to divest their holdings before taking office. Those who don't would face a fine of 10 percent of the value of their stock holdings. For years, polls have shown that Americans do not want members of Congress to trade stocks while in office. And now members are starting to get complaints about stock trading when they meet face-to-face with their constituents. 'The pressure outside the building is becoming too much for leadership to deny,' Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., admitted on Wednesday during a press conference. 'When this issue comes up at town halls or at events anywhere in the country, people go nuts because it is crazy to the average person that this has been allowed to go on for so long.' Tennessee Republican Burchett agreed. 'The American taxpayer always gets the short end of the stick. Congress seems to profit at their expense. This body has been enriching itself on a taxpayer's dime, but dadgummit, it's got to stop.' Then the staunch conservative invited up his 'buddy' AOC, giving her a fist bump and saying he's 'proud' to stand with her on banning congressional stock trading. Chip Roy led the effort to create a new bill that encompasses many past proposals Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has disclosed millions of dollars worth of stock market trades. She declined to bring a congressional stock trading ban up for a vote when she was in power. Her office claims her husband is responsible for the trades 'It is one of those rare moments where I feel like Washington is working the way that it's supposed to work,' she said with a smile after taking the stage. 'It feels foreign. It feels alien....it is proof that things can work here.' However, there is a cohort of lawmakers who argue that banning members from trading would deter high-quality candidates from running. They have argued that it unfairly impacts congressional spouses and would force new members to liquidate their holdings, which some members admit are to be used for college funds and other large purchases. 'That whole idea, notion that you're somehow sacrificing your financial benefit to be up here, first and foremost, if that's what's incentivizing you to run for office, you are definitely the wrong person to be here,' Ocasio-Cortez shared. In addition to Roy, AOC, Burchett, Magaziner, Luna and Jayapal, the press conference was also attended by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Raja Krishnamoorthi, Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, Dave Min, D-Calif., and Scott Perry, R-Pa. Currently, the STOCK Act prohibits members from trading on their congressional knowledge, but the law does not have any mechanism to enforce that. It also requires members to publicly disclose stock purchases of $1,000 or greater within a 30-day period or face a $200 fine. Countless efforts to ban trading among members over the years have gone without garnering a full floor vote. Pelosi, who disclosed tens of millions of dollars worth of stock market trades since coming to office, declined to bring a congressional stock trading ban up for a vote when she was in power. However, her office claims her husband is responsible for all of her disclosed trades. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that he supports a stock trading ban for members, noting their 'eye-popping returns.' 'The American people deserve better than this,' Bessent told Bloomberg last month. Trump has said if a bill to ban the practice hits his desk, he will 'absolutely' sign it. A New York real estate agent accused of biting a young girl during a fight over a free t-shirt at a concert in the Hamptons tried to mask her identity as she left her first court appearance. Gail Bomze, 75, was arrested after allegedly biting and wounding a seven-year-old girl in a beach scrum over a t-shirt on August 12. The luxury Manhattan real estate agent covered her face with a hat and dark sunglasses as she entered the East Hampton Town Justice court to be arraigned on two misdemeanor charges Wednesday. When Justice Steven Tekulsky would ask Bomze a question, she would only answer, quietly, with either 'Yes, sir' or 'No sir.' One of Bomze's lawyers, Luigi Belcastro of the firm McGuire, Pelaez, Bennett & Belcastro entered the not guilty pleas on her behalf on the charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child Belcastro would not comment before or afterwards other than to say his office is just now receiving the prosecution's investigative data. Christen Heine, the prosecutor assigned to the case, said the investigation into the incident, which happened during a Tuesday afternoon beach concert at Main Beach in ritzy East Hampton Village, was ongoing. One issue that was not broached during the brief arraignment in front of Justice Tekulsky was the question of communicable disease from bites. Gail Bomze (pictured), 75, covered her face as she left the East Hampton Justice Town Court on Wednesday after being arraigned on assault charges The luxury real estate agent is accused of biting a young girl during a fight over a free t-shirt at a concert in the Hamptons Dog bites and human bites are similar in one respect, East Hampton Village Detective Sgt. Jennifer Dunn explained Tuesday, talking about the case. In both cases, it must be determined whether the alleged biter that is said to have caused a wound that caused bleeding has any diseases that can be spread through a bite. It is important, Dunn said, to provide for the family of the alleged victim 'medical information to prove they have nothing to worry about.' Tekulsky issued a complete stay-away order of protection for the seven-year-old girl involved, who lives in Manhattan, according to the police. The judge noted that Bomze does not know the victim, but warned that if she were ever to come across her, under the order of protection, Bomze must immediately walk away, or risk possible arrest on a new criminal contempt charge. Tekulsky also noted that Bomze had returned to court as scheduled and ordered her release to be an unconditional one, as long as Bomze promised to return to court when required Bomze's next court date, October 16, is a virtual one, for the attorneys to conference, without Bomze present. According to an arrest report seen by Daily Mail, the girl's parents told officers the attack unfolded when the seven-year-old tried to grab a t-shirt that was thrown from a balcony into the crowd of revelers below. East Hampton Village Police said Bomze lashed out and grabbed the girl's arm, biting it so hard it was left swollen and bloodied. Bomze, seen left about to enter the courthouse, had her attorney enter not guilty pleas on her behalf The girl's parents told officers she was trying to grab a t-shirt thrown from a balcony at the Main Beach concert series (seen here) when Bomze attacked Bomze has been behind the sales of some of New York City's most exclusive homes including a townhouse on Park Avenue which sold for a staggering $21.8 million An event employee told officers the 75-year-old was actively 'kicking and punching kids.' The concert series is run by the East Hampton Village Foundation, with CEO Bradford Billet saying the organization 'strongly condemn this alleged, isolated incident.' Bomze has been behind the sales of some of New York City's most exclusive homes including a townhouse on Park Avenue which sold for a staggering $21.8 million. Her real estate site also lists dozens of other properties that sold for eyewatering figures over the years. According to Page Six, Bomze is also a well-known figure in the Upper East Side of Manhattan social scene. The outlet reported that she has previously donated to the Central Park Conservancy and appeared in the social diary at a party honoring artist Julian Schnabel. President Donald Trump is being accused of purposely drowning out Epstein victims with a military flyover put on Wednesday to welcome Poland's new president to the White House. A White House spokesperson quickly slammed the assertion as 'ridiculous' to the Daily Mail. Polish President Karol Nawrocki greeted Trump Wednesday morning at the South Portico and then they were treated to two successive flyovers, first F-35s and then F-16s, to perform what's called a 'missing man' formation. The gesture was in honor of a Polish Air Force pilot named Maciej 'Slab' Krakowian, who died last week in a crash at an air show in Poland, the White House said. Across town, victims of serial pedophile Jeffrey Epstein had gathered on Capitol Hill at a press conference to push Congress to support a bipartisan bill that would force the Department of Justice to release additional Epstein files. Epstein victim Anouska De Georgiou was telling reporters how she felt about Ghislaine Maxwell being moved to a cushy prison when the first set of jets rumbled over. 'This woman abused children,' De Georgiou said. She then paused until the roar of the fighter jets calmed down. Epstein victim Anouska De Georgiou points to the sky as a press conference on Capitol Hill was interrupted Wednesday morning by a flyover signaling the Polish president's arrival at the White House Four F-35s flew over Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning as part of a greeting ceremony for Polish President Karol Nawrocki. The flyover was planned after a well known Polish pilot was killed in a crash at an air show last week 'I was abused by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell for over 10 years,' she continued. 'Ghislaine Maxwell was present for some of my abuse.' A reporter then asked another victim, Chauntae Davies, about her claim that Epstein boasted about his relationship with Trump. 'Yes, I did say that,' Davies said. She then paused for the second portion of the military flyover. 'Jeffrey and Ghislaine were always very boastful about their friends, their famous and powerful friends. And his biggest brag, forever, was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump,' Davies said. The sounds of the fighter jets lingered as she made the statement. When Trump was asked about the congressional push to release more Epstein files on Wednesday in the Oval Office alongside Nawrocki he bristled. 'They're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success we've had as a nation since I've been president,' Trump complained, calling it a 'Democrat hoax.' President Donald Trump (right) and Polish President Karol Nawrocki (left) watch two successive flyovers, first F-35s and then F-16s, on the South Lawn Wednesday. The flyover happened at the same time Epstein victims were holding a press conference on the Hill Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (right) speaks at a press conference Wednesday with nearly a dozen victims of Jeffrey Epstein Online critics of Trump started pushing that the flyover was a deliberate attempt to silence the accusers. 'He's so terrified of the victims' voices, he ordered a military flyover to silence them. LET THAT SINK IN, YALL,' X user @thetrueshelby wrote. 'Kinda hard to avoid the feeling that the military flyovers taking place over D.C. right now are intentional as ordered to interfere with the Epstein survivors press conference on the Hill,' said Charlotte Clymer, a D.C.-based military veteran and prominent LGBTQ activist. The account @BreakingNews4X pointed out the timing ahead of the flyover. 'The Epstein Victims press conference is scheduled for 10:30 Eastern in DC today. Trump has suddenly scheduled a flyover of the White House for 11:00 am Eastern,' the post said. 'The last flyover happened during Fourth of July celebrations. They are very loud.' That attracted the attention of Republican Mike Crispi, a Trump delegate from New Jersey. 'The Left is DERANGED,' he wrote on X. 'They say that Trump is attempting to "intimidate" the Epstein survivors by having a military flyover. Flyover was planned weeks in advance for the visiting President of Poland. Trump has nothing to do with Epstein, all survivors are confirming that.' With D.C. having restricted airspace, flyovers are rare, with the last happening on the Fourth of July and on June 14, for the Army's 250th anniversary parade that coincided with Trump's 79th birthday. However Trump's show-in-the-sky for a Polish leader isn't unprecedented. He had one for Nawrocki's predecessor too. In June 2019, the president and first lady Melania Trump hosted Polish President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda at the White House. The foursome watched from the South Lawn an F-35 fly by - a gesture of appreciation after Poland purchased 32 of the military aircraft from the U.S. In recent weeks Poland has signed a $3.8 billion deal to modernize the country's F-16 fleet. Argentinian officials might have found more art looted by the Nazis during World War II as they hunt down a famous painting in Buenos Aires. The new works were discovered as officials searched for an 18th century masterpiece stolen from a Jewish collector by SS officer Friedrich Kadgien, who fled to Argentina after the war. Kadgien's daughter Patricia and her husband Juan Carlos Cortegoso were placed under house arrest after the painting went missing from her home in Mar de Plata, near Buenos Aires. The painting, Portrait of a Lady, by Italian master Giuseppe Ghislandi, was missing for 80 years before it was spotted on a real estate website last month by Dutch journalists. Prosecutors said they raided the homes of several of Kadgien's relatives as part of the search and discovered two paintings from the 19th century in the home of Kadgien's sister. They also found a series of drawings and engravings from the same time period, authorities added. The art pieces will be analyzed to determine if they were also looted by the Nazis. Argentine police raided a Nazi heiress's home to try and seize a masterpiece painting stolen from a Jewish art collector by her SS officer father - only to find it had hastily been replaced by a tapestry Friedrich Kadgien was described as a 'snake of the lowest sort' by American interrogators Friedrich Kadgien was a financial adviser to Hermann Goring, the right-hand man of Adolf Hitler and an art aficionado who plundered famous paintings through the forced sale of Jewish-owned galleries in the Nazi-occupied Europe. Kadgien was never charged with crimes related to the Nazi regime during decades after he fled to Argentina. He died in 1978 in Buenos Aires. Reporters for the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad spotted the Portrait of a Lady. on a real estate listing for Kadgien's home while searching for stolen artwork from the Netherlands. The portrait, listed as missing on international and Dutch databases of Nazi-confiscated works, was one of more than 1,000 pieces stolen by Goring from prominent Dutch-Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker. Acting on an alert from Interpol, Argentine authorities entered the house with a search warrant on Tuesday. To their surprise, hanging on the wall behind the green velvet sofa where the painting had been pictured was a large pastoral tapestry of horses, the public prosecutor said Wednesday. Investigators also noticed a hook and marks on the wall, suggesting that a framed painting had been removed recently, the statement said. Carlos Martinez, the prosecutor who is in charge of the investigation, told The Associated Press that he accused the couple of obstructing the investigation and ordered their detention at home for at least 72 hours pending a hearing. It once belonged to Dutch Jewish collector Jacques Goudstikker, a successful art dealer in Amsterdam who helped his fellow Jews flee the Nazis before he died at sea while trying to escape to Britain aboard a cargo ship Portrait of a Lady, a portrait of Contessa Colleoni created by Fra Galgario in the 18th century, was pictured hanging over a sofa in a real estate listing posted by Robles Casas & Campos Martinez said Kadgien familys defense team had offered to hand over the painting but has not done so yet. The developments reopened a shadowy chapter in the history of this South American nation, which sheltered scores of Nazis who fled Europe to avoid prosecution for war crimes, including high-ranking party members and notorious architects of the Holocaust like Adolf Eichmann. Under the government of Argentine General Juan Peron, whose first tenure lasted from 1946 until his overthrow in 1955, fugitive German fascists brought plundered Jewish property with them, including gold, bank deposits, paintings, sculptures and furnishings. The fate of those items continues to make news as the painful process of restitution drags along in Argentina and beyond. An Arizona man has died from his injuries after falling over while hiking near a glacier in Alaska over Labor Day weekend. Keen outdoorsman Thomas Casey, 69, was in Juneau for the summer when he disappeared on Saturday, local police said. Police said that Casey was on an unknown trail at the time he vanished and was not answering his cell phone. Search and rescue teams scoured the area between Thunder Mountain trail and Nugget Creek trail in the Mendenhall Valley. It wasn't until Monday that officials said that a team of dogs had located Thomas deceased. Police said he died from injuries sustained from a fall. Officials said they used the location of his cellphone to pinpoint his location as being near the Mendenhall Glacier. A statement from the department said: 'Juneau Mountain Rescue and SEADogs were contacted and 6 crews (3 dog teams 6 ground searchers) were put in the field to start searches at the trail heads and the location of the ping. 'At 5pm on 9/1/2025, Juneau Mountain Rescue and SEAdogs located Thomas deceased from injuries obtained from a fall.' Thomas Casey, 69, was in Juneau for the summer when he disappeared on Saturday Officials said they used the location of his cellphone to pinpoint his location as being near the Mendenhall Glacier, seen here It continued: 'He was located near the Mendenhall Glacier on the west side off the trail. 'The updated location for the cell phone was provided by RCC and Apple emergency services. 'The body is being sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office. Next of kin has been notified.' Since his passing, tributes have been paid to Casey who according to one man was a well-regarded hiker. Ian Raben posted to his Facebook after police revealed they had found his remains, saying it was 'not the outcome we were hoping for'. Raben added: 'Tom passed while doing something that he loved to do, which was hiking. 'Tom was the kind of guy who at 69 years old would go on 10+ mile hikes regularly, and really enjoyed spending time outdoors.' Raben said he had also previously worked a season at Denali, and at least six seasons at the Grand Canyon. It remains unclear what exactly Casey did for work. Search and rescue teams scoured the area between Thunder Mountain trail and Nugget Creek trail, seen here, in the Mendenhall Valley This image made from video provided by University of Alaska Southeast shows an aerial view of the Mendenhall Glacier His colleague, Morgan Hill, had posted prior to the news of his passing saying Casey was an experienced hiker and 'insanely friendly'. It comes after a Kentucky woman visiting Juneau on a cruise ship in July was found dead on the mountains after she didn't return from a hike. The body of Marites Buenafe, 62, was found by an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter after she disappeared. Officials at the time said her body had to be recovered from some 1,700 feet below a ridge line. Together is better for this pair of rescue kittens. Meet Peanut and Jelly, two cats with sight problems who help each other navigate life. The adorable duo recently landed at Charleston Animal Society shelter in South Carolina and are seeking a new home. Jelly is a companion for her blind sister Peanut, also known as Pnut Butter, who was born with malformed eyes. The kittens were only a few weeks old when they were rescued and taken to the animal shelter. Both were suffering from serious eye infections which also left Jelly partially sighted, not that she lets that curtail her sense of adventure. They are (both) extremely loving and playful, Kay Hyman, a spokesperson for The Charleston Animal Society, told Miami Herald. Peanut is a cuddly gentle soul who loves loud noises and the taste of good cooking, especially scrambled eggs, according to Hyman. Peanut [L] and Jelly [R] two rescue cats that help each other navigate through life, Jelly is a companion for her blind sister Peanut Peanuts eyes didnt develop properly due to a health condition she was born with, ultimately leaving her blind Meanwhile Jelly is described as a lively girl who loves to run and play. She helps her blind sister gain more confidence and always includes her in playtime, the shelter wrote in a Facebook post. Peanuts eyes didnt develop properly due to a health condition she was born with but both cats had an infection. Their eye infections were so severe that the shelter gave them a serum made from a dog blood donor to help heal their eyes, according to Hyman. Despite the treatment Jelly's eyes remain cloudy and are unlikely to ever fully recover. As such the shelter hopes to keep them together so they can continue navigating life side by side. They are a bonded pair and would do best being adopted together! the shelter said in a post. The four-month-old kittens were rescued back in May and are now up for adoption. Peanut and Jelly, along with other animals, are available for adoption at the Charleston Animal Society shelter in north Charleston, South Carolina They have gained many fans since the shelter posted them on social media. One comment read: 'Dear lord please let these two be adopted together.' Another read: 'They have to be adopted together!!' Peanut and Jelly, along with other animals, are available for adoption. More details about the adoption process can be found at charlestonanimalsociety.org. Angela Rayner is fighting to save her political career after confessing to dodging up to 40,000 in tax. Kemi Badenoch urged Keir Starmer to grow a 'backbone' and sack his deputy after she finally admitted failing to pay the full stamp duty due on a luxury 800,000 second home in Hove. Ms Rayner's tearful confession on Wednesday ended days of bluster and misinformation by her office, Downing Street and Sir Keir about her tax affairs and plunged Labour into its worst sleaze crisis since winning power last year. The deputy PM apologised for her error, but former Tory Cabinet minister Dame Priti Patel said she was 'only sorry that she was caught out'. Dame Priti said: 'Angela Rayner has been caught misleading the country over her property taxes. She clearly thinks there's one rule for her and another rule for everyone else.' A formal inquiry into whether Ms Rayner has broken the ministerial code is underway and she is also facing the prospect of an investigation by the taxman, which could land her with thousands of pounds in penalties. She and Sir Keir were also accused of hypocrisy after railing against 'tax dodgers' for years in opposition. In 2023, Ms Rayner called for the Tory Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi to be sacked for unpaid tax. In the Commons on Wednesday, Mrs Badenoch told Sir Keir: 'I remember when the Prime Minister said that tax evasion was a criminal offence and should be treated as all other fraud. Mrs Badenoch called on Sir Keir to show a 'backbone' and sack his Deputy PM as they clashed at PMQs on Wednesday Ms Rayner was supported by Sir Keir at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons this afternoon, as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch demanded her sacking 'If he had a backbone, he would sack her.' The PM claimed his deputy had 'gone over and above in setting out the details' of her opaque tax affairs and living arrangements. Now, allies have dispatched on to the airwaves to claim that Ms Rayner's failure to pay her taxes was 'not a story' and to accuse her critics of 'misogyny'. The PM is standing by Ms Rayner despite her admission telling MPs he was 'very proud' to have her in his Cabinet. Downing Street refused to say whether the PM knew she had failed to pay her taxes on Monday when he defended her and said her critics were making 'a mistake'. Former Tory Cabinet minister Sir James Cleverly said the PM appeared to be 'too weak' to sack his troublesome deputy, who had been the bookmakers' favourite to succeed him. 'Her credibility is in tatters, she's dodged questions all summer, her actions reek of hypocrisy,' he said. 'But Starmer is too weak to kick her out.' Nigel Farage said it was 'more likely than not' that Ms Rayner would have to quit this week, adding: 'I just don't see how you survive this.' The Deputy Prime Minister said she 'deeply regrets' not paying enough stamp duty when purchasing her 800,000 apartment in Hove, East Sussex Privately, some Labour MPs also questioned whether she could credibly stay in office. Ms Rayner's aides have spent days dismissing questions about her tax affairs following reports she bought an apartment in Hove, 260 miles from her Greater Manchester constituency. As recently as Tuesday, the government claimed that suggestions she may not have paid her taxes in full were 'entirely without basis'. But, in a dramatic admission today, Ms Rayner confirmed she 'did not pay the appropriate stamp duty' on the property. She claimed that she had followed 'advice from lawyers' that she was only due to pay the standards rate of stamp duty estimated at around 30,000 rather than the 70,000 the property would attract if bought as a second home. But, following media reports, she 'sought further advice from a leading tax counsel' who found she had failed to pay the taxman what was due. She added: 'I deeply regret the error that has been made. I am committed to resolving this matter fully and providing the transparency that public service demands.' In a tearful interview on Sky News on Wednesday, she said she had followed her initial legal advice in good faith and had 'never, ever tried to avoid tax'. In a tearful TV interview, a 'devastated' Angela Rayner revealed she has referred herself to an ethics watchdog to investigate whether she had broken ministerial rules She said she had not been able to speak out earlier because of a court order surrounding her child's trust, which she succeeded in having lifted on Tuesday. Sir Laurie Magnus, the PM's independent adviser on standards, will now examine whether she broke the ministerial code. All ministers are required to ensure that 'their tax affairs are up to date and that the arrangement of their affairs is consistent with their overarching duty to comply with the law'. However, the final arbiter of the ministerial code is Sir Keir, who could decide to keep her in post even if she is found to have broken the code. Ms Rayner is facing mounting questions over her conduct. Ms Rayner appears to have told the taxman that the property in Hove is her main home while telling the Cabinet Office that her primary residence is her former family home 260 miles away in Greater Manchester. When parliament is sitting she is thought to live mainly in a third property a lavish grace-and-favour apartment in central London, funded by the taxpayer. Today, she revealed that she sold her stake in her home in Ashton-under-Lyne to a trust set up to provide for the needs of her disabled son. Owning no other home, she believed advice that she would not have to pay the punitive rate of stamp duty levied on second homes, which was increased by Rachel Reeves last year. But she said fresh legal advice revealed that the complex nature of the trust meant that this was not the case. Tory shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said it was 'utterly extraordinary' that Ms Rayner had failed to pay enough tax on her property purchase Dan Neidle, founder of the Tax Policy Associates think tank, suggested Ms Rayner could end up having to pay thousands of pounds more to HMRC Allies of Ms Rayner have now rallied round her. Health secretary Wes Streeting said 'mistakes happen' and Ms Rayner should be allowed to keep her job. Mr Streeting acknowledged it was a 'fair question' to ask about Ms Rayner's hounding of Tory politicians over tax but said it would be an 'absolute travesty' if she had to resign. He told the BBC: 'She is a decent person, she is an honest woman, I genuinely think she has acted in good faith at every step of the way. This is a mistake but it is an honest mistake.' Technology secretary Peter Kyle claimed Ms Rayner had been 'treated very differently' due to her 'accent and her background'. Former Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire said the revelations that the Deputy prime Minister had failed to pay her taxes was 'not a story'. 'The story here is "woman buys flat and obeys advice of lawyers",' she said. TUC boss Paul Nowak claimed criticism of Ms Rayner contained a 'heavy dose of misogyny'. He added: 'The PM's got faith in her and the country's got faith in her, in my view.' A Republican congressman is threatening a progressive member after she delivered a red-hot speech at a Palestinian conference over the weekend. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., condemned Republicans and Democrats during the People's Conference for Palestine in Detroit as 'genocide enablers.' 'They thought they could kill us, rape us, imprison us, violently uproot us from our olive tree farms, starve our children to death, and we would disappear,' she told the room of Palestinian supporters. 'Well, guess what? Now were in Congress.' 'Look at this room, motherf*****s! We aint going anywhere,' she added as applause broke out. Videos of the lawmakers speech went viral on social media, amassing thousands of views. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., introduced a measure to formally reprimand, or censure, Tlaib for 'vilifying her colleagues, endangering the lives of Jewish people, and celebrating terrorism,' Fox News first reported. 'Her conduct is beneath that of a civilized person, let alone a member of Congress,' Carter said. 'I am calling on the House of Representatives to censure her remarks and put Democrats on notice for enabling and cheering on antisemitism in their own party,' he added. Rashida Tlaib at the Peoples Conference for Palestine: They thought they could kill us, rape us, imprison is, violently uproot us from our olive tree farms, starve our children to death, and we would disappear. Well guess what? Now were in Congress pic.twitter.com/UtpS7mNQUS The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 1, 2025 Progressive 'Squad' member Rashida Tlaib was threatened with a censure resolution afte speaking at a conference over the weekend. Above she is seen speaking at a pro-Palestinian event in 2023 Georgia Republican Rep. Buddy Carter introduced the censure resolution against Tlaib Tlaibs office did not immediately respond to the Daily Mails request for comment. Censure is the highest form of punishment in Congress outside of being expelled. Just a few dozen House members have been censured in the history of the House of Representatives, with the most recent being Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who screamed and interrupted President Donald Trump's address to Congress in early March. The Detroit congresswoman was censored by the GOP-held House in 2023 over other comments she made about Israel. Twenty-two Democrats joined Republicans to condemn the progressive Michigan lawmaker in a stunning rebuke of her controversial statements on the conflict in the Middle East. Tlaib is the first Palestinian-American member of Congress and represents Dearborn, Michigan, a Detroit suburb that is the first majority-Arab city in the U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaibs antisemitism is emboldening terrorists and endangering the lives of Jewish people, Carter posted on X on Wednesday. Im calling on the House to censure her for her vile remarks and for [Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.] and the rest of the Democrat party to denounce the Pro-Hamas caucus. Tlaib protests during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol on July 24, 2024 Tlaibs activist speech even earned her criticism from her own side of the aisle. She sounds like an activist who has no responsibility to the people who elected her, former Biden White House advisor Yemisi Egbewole said on Fox News Wednesday. The Detroit progressive noted in her speech that the pro-Palestinian contingent in the U.S. is growing. We are growing and becoming louder. The more Palestinians they kill, the louder we are getting. The louder we are getting, the more children they starve. We cannot be ignored. We will not be ignored, Tlaib said. Gaza is the compass in this country and the masses around the world are with us, she continued. Last year, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to Congress on Capitol Hill, Tlaib held up a war criminal sign in an act of defiance. A property management firm has backpedaled on its idea to paint over a historic mural in California after complaints came in over it featuring nudity. SG Real Estate has decided not to get rid of 'The Capture of the Solid, Escape of the Soul' - a historically accurate mural that depicts the Ohlone Native Americans' disturbing extinction by Spanish missionaries. Included in the painting are images of Ohlone natives being handed blankets and clothing infected with smallpox, as well as a naked Ohlone man that the company said members of the Native American community found 'offensive.' The real estate company, based in Berkeley, initially informed tenants of Castle Apartments - the building where the mural is located - that the piece of art would be taken away because of the complaints. But, now 'the plan to get rid of it is hereby being paused indefinitely' while the real estate firm hears from 'individuals who have contacted us in support of the mural's continued presence,' a spokesperson with SG Real Estate told Daily Mail. The company said they are also 'working to facilitate more dialog around the issue,' after the nearly 20-year-old painting, created by Rocky Rische-Baird, sparked controversy. 'We aim only to be a supportive and caring member of the diverse community in which our small business resides and are simply doing our best to be conscientious of all,' the spokesperson added. In a recent email reviewed by SFGATE, Gracy Rivera, the Director of Property Management for SG Real Estate Co, told residents it was 'time to retire the mural' so it can be an 'inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone.' SG Real Estate, the company who said they would paint over 'The Capture of the Solid, Escape of the Soul' mural (pictured), scarped the idea 'Over the past several weeks, we've received feedback from members of our community identifying aspects of the mural that may be interpreted as offensive,' Rivera wrote. 'After careful review, we believe it's appropriate to retire the mural to ensure our shared spaces reflect an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone.' It remains unclear exactly how many people complained, as the property management company only referred to them as 'individuals.' The initial news of the mural being stripped away infuriated many locals who have appreciated it since it came to life in 2006. Fellow muralist Dan Fontes, the man behind the iconic giraffe and zebra paintings on the town's freeway columns, said Rische-Baird made sure to properly research each painting he created - including this one. 'I don't think there is another mural artist who has depicted all of what our colleges - Laney, Mills - have been teaching all along,' Fontes told the outlet. 'I see the tales of the Native American community being disrespected and pushed out. It harkens back to the business of if you don't know your own history, you're condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past.' The real estate firm (pictured) said the Native American community found the naked Ohlone man in the mural 'offensive' The artist went on to describe Rische-Baird as a 'genius' whose mural is visited by so many 'to reinforce the lessons that history teaches us all.' Other locals who have enjoyed the mural for years are equally upset about the recent news of its destruction. 'I'm pissed,' Tim O'Brien, who watched the mural come to life two decades ago, said. 'I told my sister up in Seattle and she's pissed,' he added. He recalled the mural sparking a lot of controversy when it was first unveiled, as protestors took to the streets over its inclusion of nudity. But O'Brien believes there will always be those who care more about 'property values' than the true meaning behind the art. 'But anytime there's something you do and put your heart and soul into, somebody doesn't give a rat's a**,' he continued. 'They're only concerned about their property values.' Fellow muralist Dan Fontes is one of many locals furious about the news. He praised Rische-Baird for extensively researching every piece he worked on, including this mural The controversial mural has long been the target of vandalism, as people quickly scratched out the genitals of the naked man and wrote graffiti near 'offensive' body parts, according to Valerie Winemiller. Winemiller, another local and neighborhood activist, has taken it upon herself to remove the graffiti over the years. 'I think it's a really important piece in the neighborhood simply because it's not commercial,' she told SFGATE. 'So much of our public space is really commercial space. I think it's really important to have non-commercial art that the community can enjoy.' Rische-Baird painted the iconic mural over six months and depended solely on community donations to get it done. For it, he built his own scaffolding and placed a small wooden box to accept coin and cash donations. Rische-Baird spent about eight hours every day creating the mural. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson launched into an angry tirade over a move to stop politicians from wearing the Australian flag in Parliament. The Senate erupted into chaos on Wednesday after Coalition Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price draped herself in the national flag to commemorate 124 years since it was first flown. The Indigenous politician began an ode to the Australian flag but was interrupted by Greens Senator Nick McKim who raised a point of order. Props, including flags, are generally not allowed in the Senate chamber. 'I do want to make the point that if it's OK for Nampijinpa Price to wrap herself in this flag, I would intend to wrap myself in a Palestinian flag,' he said, sparking furious debate. Hanson later also draped the Australian flag around her while proposing a motion to allow senators to wear it in Parliament. Labor and the Greens shut the motion down, and Hanson was ordered to remove the flag. 'They don't respect our flag,' she fumed on social media afterwards. Pauline Hanson proudly wore the Australian flag in the Senate on Wednesday before she was ordered to remove it The One Nation leader wore the flag after Greens senator Nick McKim threatened to wrap himself in a Palestinian flag 'They don't respect what it stands for. 'And they certainly don't respect the Australians who do. 'The Australian flag isn't a prop - it's a symbol of who we are.' Hanson also accused the Albanese government and the Greens of being afraid and ashamed of the Australian flag. 'But I never will be,' she continued. 'I wear the flag for everyday Australians, the people who built this country.' Hanson later doubled down on her tirade when she proudly held up the Australian flag on Sky News. 'It flies on top of the building, it flies in the chamber and it was the Greens that raised the issue about saying, you shouldn't be wearing the flag, she told host host Danica De Giorgio. Aussies have leapt to the defence of Pauline Hanson and Jacinta Price for wearing the flag in the Senate 'They claim it's a prop. It's not a prop. They wear the keffiyeh every time and no one says anything about it. 'This is what our country has come to.' Aussies were outraged over the flag ban. 'How can the Australian flag, that the Defence Forces serve and Olympians march with, be offensive - in an Australian parliament on Australia Flag Day,' one woman asked. Another added: 'What an absolute kick in the guts to all Australians, all those fallen soldiers who fought under this flag. I don't understand what the issue is with being proud of our flag?' Others accused the Greens of double standards. But not everyone agreed. 'Yes, the Australian flag should be flying high and proud, but I don't think it should be worn for political statements,' one man argued. 'It should be celebrated and protected. Draping the flag over oneself to create a situation is not the best use of our flag.' Another added: 'It's disrespectful to use the Australian flag as a prop in order to disrupt social cohesion.' Holyrood is a production line for cant, hypocrisy and smugness at the best of times but the Gaza debate upped output considerably. The Gaza debate. Glancing across benches that were much fuller than usual, I counted maybe a dozen that I reckon could pinpoint Gaza without the assistance of Google Maps. Im not saying our MSPs are unschooled in the intricacies of the Middle East but most would guess the Philadelphi Corridor was a highway in Pennsylvania. So when the First Minister pouted that the Israeli government has paid no heed to the international community, the implication was that they would heed him. Its worth a try, I suppose. If Israel wont listen to respected statesmen, theyll listen to John Swinney. The suffering in Gaza is heart-rending. The refusal of the Hamas government to hand over the remaining Israeli hostages is damnable and its use of Gazan civilians as human shields repugnant. Israels military conduct has drawn widespread condemnation and its government contains ministers whom even the countrys supporters consider beyond the pale. But this is war, and war is monstrous, and judgments about the legality of this action or that are difficult to determine even long after the fact, let alone during the blasts and the smoke and the unbearable howls of grief. John Swinney chose to speak about Gaza at Holyrood, leading to accusations he was neglecting Scotland's problems The Palestinian flag flies in front of St Andrew's House, the Scottish Government building in Edinburgh Feeling strongly about this desperate situation is normal, but beyond feelings Swinney had little to contribute. Scottish Enterprise would no longer give business grants to defence manufacturers who supply weapons to Israel and public bodies would have no more to do with Israeli businesses and communities based in the West Bank. To listen to Swinney, you would think he was striking a devastating blow against Israel. But Scotland is so insignificant to Jerusalems defence and trade that his sanctions wont even amount to a midge bite for Israel. The sting of having lost John Swinney will be lessened somewhat by the need to first learn who John Swinney is. But what of the people in Gaza? To make them aware of his solidarity, he instructed that the Palestinian Authority flag be flown from St Andrews House all afternoon. Im sure theyll sleep easier in Khan Yunis tonight. Its like when a city lights up one of its buildings in sympathy with a foreign municipality hit by a terrorist attack. Its well-meaning but achieves nothing. Swinney insisted that to speak out against mass violence is not anti-Semitic, it is deeply human. What a curious thing to say. No one had accused him of anti-Semitism, so if he was rebutting a criticism it was one that exists only inside his head. Russell Findlay struck a commendable balance between acknowledging the Palestinian attacks of October 7 and the reportedly tens of thousands of Gazans killed in the subsequent war. There was a telling moment, however, when he gently reminded Swinney that the Scottish parliament was supposed to improve peoples lives here in Scotland. This brought a flurry of indignant muttering from the SNP benches, but Findlay was right. Gaza might be Holyroods priority but it is not the priority of most Scots, who think their government should be focused on them. I can imagine, for example, that Swinneys pledge of a pop-up hospital for Gaza will prompt some to talk back to their newspaper this morning: We could do with a pop-up hospital around here. That might sound heartless or selfish to our decision-making classes but anyone who believes politics is governed by virtue is as naive about democracy as they are human nature. New Green leader Ross Greer, finally allowed to sit at the big boys table, decried Israel as an apartheid state which was engaged in genocide. This is untrue but Greer is actually knowledgeable about Gaza. Hes talks nonsense but at least its informed nonsense. He was right on one point: he noted that the SNP government had suddenly adopted the positions the Greens had been urging on them for months but which ministers had resisted. Indeed it had. Thats why they call John Swinney a centrist. He stands in the centre of whatever policy will win him votes. President Donald Trump floated the idea of sending the National Guard to New Orleans, Louisiana to help tackle crime in city, after the state's Republican governor endorsed the idea. Were going to be going to maybe Louisiana, and you have New Orleans, which has a crime problem. Well straighten that out in about two weeks. Itll take us two weeks, easier than D.C., the president told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. The presidents proposal immediately received an enthusiastic endorsement from Republican Governor Jeff Landry. We will take President Trumps help from New Orleans to Shreveport! he wrote on social media, sharing video of the president's remarks. The president has repeatedly floated the idea of sending federal service members to some of Americas major cities to help tackle crime. Trump continues to taunt Democratic mayors and governors with high crime in their cities with promises to help them if they would only just ask. 'I want to go into Chicago and they have this incompetent governor that doesn't want us,' Trump said referring to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, pointing out to the 72 people who were shot in Chicago and the eleven people who were killed. Trump's proposal also earned support from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. US President Donald Trump revealed his interest in sending federal service members to Louisiana Police and officials survey an area in the French Quarter on Orleans Avenue near the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana after a man drive a truck into a crowded street in January 'President Trumps actions with the National Guard have brought violent crime in DC down to historically low levels. The citizens of New Orleans, and the millions of tourists who come here, deserve that same level of security,' he wrote on X. Historically, New Orleans has had a high crime rate but recent data shows there is an ongoing downward trend in 2025, according to reports. As of mid-2025, murders were down 26 percent year-to-date compared to 2024, with 53 reported in July. Non-fatal shootings decreased 13 percent, and carjackings fell 36 percent. The president told reporters on Tuesday he would eventually send the National Guard to other major cities, even if local Democratic officials were opposed. 'We're going in,' Trump said. 'This isn't a political thing. I have an obligation.' The president has ignored crime data showing that violent crime is already down in many major American cities compared to last year, singling out Chicago, Baltimore, and Los Angeles for criticism. Aerial View of New Orleans, Louisiana National Guard troops patrol near the White House as part of President Trump's crackdown on crime 'Chicago is a hellhole right now, Baltimore is a hellhole right now. Parts of Los Angeles are terrible,' he said. Last month, Trump deployed 800 troops from around the country to help patrol D.C. and crack down on crime. Violent crime in DC is down 39 percent from a year ago. Robberies are down 57 percent and motor vehicle theft is down 35 percent according to data released by the MPDC. The president has celebrated the success of the operation as a model to help reduce crime. 'I'm very proud of Washington, it serves as a template,' Trump said on Tuesday. 'And we're going to do it elsewhere and Chicago is certainly going to be high [priority].' A black waitress at a Cracker Barrel in Tennessee has claimed that her white coworkers repeatedly made bigoted statements toward her that were allegedly ignored by upper management. Roberta Mendez said in a federal lawsuit that she was regularly called the n-word, a 'burnt biscuit', a 'monkey' and a 'b**ch', according to the August 21 lawsuit. Her shift leader allegedly told her 'I don't like black people' as recently as August 2024, the lawsuit said. Mendez, who started as a server at the Nashville-area Cracker Barrel in 2015, argued in the complaint that her white colleagues were treated better than her even though she always 'met or exceeded' expectations at work. The lawsuit also alleged that Mendez was 'physically pushed and hit' and that management 'segregated its Black workers from its Caucasian workers'. Mendez said she reported all of this to her managers, assistant managers and the general manager, Jack Kinle. 'Kinle retaliated against Mendez and wrote Mendez up in 2023. When Mendez escalated her concerns to Human Resources, she was only told not to sign the write-up. No remedial action was taken regarding her complaint,' the lawsuit said. In August 2024, Mendez submitted a complaint to human resources about the alleged mistreatment of her and her fellow black employees, according to the complaint. Roberta Mendez brought a lawsuit against Cracker Barrel in federal court on August 21 and claimed her superiors did nothing while her coworkers called her horrible racial epithets A month later, on September 28, she was fired and was told it was because she broke company policy. Kyle Biesecker, the attorney representing Mendez in the case, told The Independent that his client's suit spoke for itself. 'Next, Cracker Barrel will file their answer to the complaint and discovery will proceed from there,' Biesecker said. 'We expect depositions to bear out many of the facts as alleged by Ms. Mendez.' Mendez is demanding to be reinstated to her position at the restaurant and be awarded all her lost compensation since being terminated. The lawsuit comes on the heels off the PR disaster sparked by Cracker Barrel changing its logo and transforming its brand identity from an old-fashioned country store serving hearty meals to a more modern establishment. The controversy began on August 19 when the chain debuted the new logo for the first time in 48 years. The redesign removed the image of an old man leaning against a barrel and left just the name in a new, minimalist font. It also eliminated the pinto bean shape behind the name, a nod to one of the original side dishes offered when Cracker Barrel first opened in 1969. Critics said the changes stripped away the brands character and charm, and the backlash cost the company nearly $100 million in a single week. Pictured: The new Cracker Barrel logo is seen on a menu in a restaurant in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on August 21 Even as the backlash raged on, CEO Julie Felss Masino insisted in an August 21 Good Morning America interview that 'people like what we're doing' Even as the backlash raged on, CEO Julie Felss Masino insisted in an August 21 Good Morning America interview that '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,' Masino said. 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?' The confidence in the rebrand lasted until August 26, when Cracker Barrel backpedaled and announced that they would return to its old logo. 'We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our 'old timer' will remain,' the company said. Shares popped as much as 2.3 percent that trading session but have since come back down about the same amount in subsequent days. A 'true hero of Burning Man' who was found dead at the infamous festival in the Black Rock Desert last week was identified by officials as Russian national Vadim Kruglov. The 'burner' was identified after his body was found at about 9:15 p.m. on Aug. 30 during the festival's climax when the wooden 'Man' effigy began to burn in the northwestern Nevada desert, Pershing County Sheriff said. 'His family has been notified,' according to the Nevada Bureau of Land Management. Washoe County Nevada Regional Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Wednesday night that Kruglov was pronounced dead at the scene. Medical Examiner officials, however, but did not provide a cause of manner of death 'pending further investigation.' Kruglov's friends called him a 'true hero of Burning Man' and are working with his family to bring his body back to his hometown of Omsk. 'He pored his soul into our community: building the camp, creating an art installation, always ready to help others and being kind and responsive to everyone,' said one of his friends, Sofiia Shcherbakova on her Instagram. Vadim Kruglov, 37, has been identified as the homicide victim who was found in a pool of blood at the annual Burning Man festival at Black Rock, Nevada Kruglov was living in Tacoma, Washington but his friends are making arrangements to transport his remains to his hometown of Omsk After Kruglov's body was found, a fellow Burning Man participant flagged down a deputy. His body was in a pool of blood in the outer area of the campsite at intersection of 8:30 and I streets. Sheriff's detectives quickly called the incident a homicide and initially asked the public on Aug. 31 for help to identify the remains. 'Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances,' said Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen in a press release on Aug. 31. The two-week festival ended on Monday. Kruglov, who was resident in Tacoma, Wash., was reported missing by his friends on Saturday. They have set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds to transfer his remains back to Omsk. 'Our hearts go out to Vadims family and friends and we grieve the loss of a community member,' Burning Man event organizers told the Daily Mail in a statement. 'Burning Man Project is doing everything we can to assist the Sheriffs investigation so the perpetrator can be caught and brought to justice. This includes our intent for a coordinated donation to the Secret Witness program, which offers rewards for more information that contributes to law enforcements investigation.' Sheriff's officials said Kruglov was possibly killed during the ceremonial burning of the 'Man' at around 9:15 p.m. on Aug. 30 This year's Burning Man participants had to battle through gale-force winds and rain Sheriff's officials have yet to provide further details on the cause of Kruglov's mysterious death. The festival, which celebrates the spirit of counterculture and art, has drawn 70,000 to 80,000 to the Black Rock desert in northwestern Nevada annually. In recent years, the counterculture festival has received criticism for turning its back on its anarchist principles and has become an event that attracts tech bros, millionaires and models. Burning Man organizers have beefed up law enforcement presence and medical resources in recent years as many festival goers suffer from dehydration and desert exposure. Attendees also commonly use drugs and alcohol, which can further contribute to injuries and medical emergencies. Burning Man participants who spoke to the Daily Mail said the area if the festival where Kruglovs body was discovered is known as free camp where individuals dont need reservations for their vehicles or RV. Burners who have not prepaid or reserved an area for their vehicle usually pitch their individual tents at this area, which is less organized than the other more crowded camps closer to the Man structure. Podcaster and model Drea Renee, who also attended the festival, said she rode her bicycle through the free camp area on Saturday at night to look for a friend. So, it really did feel eerie over there because there werent many lights, Renee said. Its like a whole other world. Placement [of where you camp] does matter in Burning Man, and the more busy and active camps are closer to the center. 'The free camp area, for some reason when I went by there that night, there was just no lights on. There werent a lot of people there. I was riding around, and it just didnt feel right so I said, Okay, Im getting out of here!" Renee said as she tried to double back the same way she came, security officials told her she couldnt pass by the free camp area again. They actually flagged me down and told me that area was blocked off and I would have to go around. They told me something happened and everyone around was looking very serious. I asked, Sir, can I just go through? And he just said, No, absolutely not. No one can go through there. I didnt realize what had already happened.' Drea Renee, host of the Hey Babe, Can We Talk podcast, said she passed by the area where Vadim Kruglov was found dead on Saturday The dust storm destroyed some camp sites and structures the first week of this year's Burning Man This year's festival has been plagued with several mishaps, including severe gale-force winds that reached 60 to 70 mph and rain last week. The rain turned the desert playa into muddy clay, and festival organizers were forced to close the gates on thousands of burners, some who were stuck on the road more than 15 to 20 hours. San Francisco resident Rachael Gingery fell 20 feet from an art exhibit and fractured her spine. Gingery had fallen from an 'art car,' which killed a 29-year-old woman in 2014 and another person in 2003. Gingery was left with a broken back, broken ribs, a bruised spleen and a punctured lung. Kayla Thompson, 37, and her husband, Kasey Thompson, 39, were attending their first Burning Man festival last week when she went into unexpected labor. Kayla said she was unaware that she was pregnant when she and Kasey ventured to the arts festival from Salt Lake City, Utah. She woke up in severe pain on July 27 and initially thought the pain was caused by something she ate, or even appendicitis. Moments later, however, she was in active labor. She gave birth to a three-pound, nine-ounce girl in the cramped bathroom of the camper with the help of a nurse. Maureen O'Reilly, a registered nurse with a background in neonatal critical care, rushed to the Thompsons' RV just as he baby's umbilical cord was being cut. O'Reilly, 61, yelled for blankets and the heat to be turned on as she placed the premature infant on her stomach in a bid to keep her warm. 'It was just so frightening how you know we're in the middle of nowhere with nothing,' the nurse said to ABC San Francisco affiliate KGO. The search for accused murderer Travis Decker is now stretching into a fourth consecutive month, as police say remains found in the search efforts are 'not human.' Decker has been on the run since early June, after he allegedly suffocated his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, five, to death prior to a custody exchange with his ex-wife in Leavenworth, Washington. Local and federal officials have now spent months combing through the Rock Island Campground in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, where the girls' bodies had been found inside Decker's abandoned truck. There had been hope last week of a breakthrough in the case, when Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison announced that bones were discovered during the FBI's extensive two-day search of the campground. But Morrison has since said federal authorities 'just said it wasn't Travis, wasn't associated with any other cases, not human,' the Seattle Times reports. Still, Morrison said the update is a sign that authorities are making progress in the search efforts for Decker, who remains wanted on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. 'I think it just further shows that we've done a thorough search of the area,' he said, adding that the sheriff's office will now 'continue to expand out and search additional areas when we have resources available.' Another federal agency will be coming in this month to help out with those efforts, Morrison said, though he declined to specify which one. Travis Decker went on the run in early June after allegedly suffocating his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, before a custody exchange with his ex-wife in Washington Decker is accused of killing his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, five Meanwhile, authorities will continue to examine whether other items collected during the operation may be connected to the case, Fox 13 reports. Despite the ongoing efforts to track down the murder suspect, it remains unclear whether Decker is still alive and on the loose. Police have noted that the 32-year-old has extensive wilderness survival training as an Army veteran and member of the Washington National Guard. Yet Morrison insisted last month that investigators 'have not given up' on finding him. 'We understand the frustration, we feel it as well,' he said at a news conference. 'We will not relent, we will not give up until Travis Decker is taken into custody.' 'This is not going to go away until Travis is located, whether he is alive or not,' the sheriff continued, as he expressed doubts about the former soldier's ability to survive in the wilderness this long despite his military survival training. 'He has to be perfect every single day,' Morrison explained. 'We just have to be perfect once.' Local and federal authorities have been searching for Decker since early June There had been hope of a breakthrough last week, when Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison announced that bones were discovered during the FBI's extensive two-day search of the Rock Island Campground in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Police have said Decker was suffering from mental health issues and had recently been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. He was homeless and living out of his car by the time he picked up his three girls from their mother's house on May 30. Decker had even court-mandated to receive mental health treatment and domestic violence anger management counseling but had refused. By the time the girls had disappeared, the Washington National Guard had been in the process of filing a disciplinary discharge against Decker due to his repeated absences. Yet Decker's ex-wife Whitney told police she didn't believe Decker was dangerous, and that he loved his daughters, with whom he had a 'good relationship'. The US Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Deckers capture. The Trump administration's funding cuts imposed on Harvard University amid allegations of anti-Semitism and bias at the Ivy League institution have been overturned. Harvard sued in April to restore more than $2 billion in frozen funds. The administration insisted its move was legally justified over Harvard's alleged failure to protect Jewish and Israeli students, particularly amid campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza. The cuts to Harvard's funding stream forced it to implement a hiring freeze while pausing ambitious research programs, particularly in the public health and medical spheres - pauses experts warned risked American lives. 'The Court vacates and sets aside the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters as violative of the First Amendment,' Boston federal judge Allison Burroughs said in her order. 'All freezes and terminations of funding to Harvard made pursuant to the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters on or after April 14, 2025, are vacated and set aside.' Burroughs pointed to Harvard's own admissions in legal filings that there had been an issue of anti-Semitism on campus -- but said that the administration's funding cuts would have no bearing on the situation. 'It is clear, even based solely on Harvard's own admissions, that Harvard has been plagued by anti-Semitism in recent years and could (and should) have done a better job of dealing with the issue,' she wrote. 'That said, there is, in reality, little connection between the research affected by the grant terminations and anti-Semitism.' A judge ruled that funding cuts to Harvard University should be overturned after the Trump administration claimed the school failed to address anti-Semitism Boston federal judge Allison Burroughs acknowledged the claims by the Trump administration that the university faced anti-Semitism, but ruled that it had no bearing on funding cuts The judge argued that Trump used allegations of anti-Semitism as a 'smokescreen' to target one of the nation's 'premier universities' The judge, appointed by Democratic former president Barack Obama, said the evidence she had seen suggested Trump 'used anti-Semitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country's premier universities.' Both Harvard and the American Association of University Professors brought cases against the Trump administration's measures, which were combined. Trump has sought to have the case heard in the Court of Federal Claims instead of in the federal court in Boston, just miles away from the heart of the university's Cambridge campus. The Ivy League institution has been at the forefront of Trump's campaign against top universities after it defied his calls to submit to oversight of its curriculum, staffing, student recruitment, and 'viewpoint diversity.' Trump and his allies claim that Harvard and other prestigious universities are unaccountable bastions of liberal, anti-conservative bias and anti-Semitism, particularly surrounding protests against Israel's war in Gaza. The government has also targeted Harvard's ability to host international students, a major source of income that accounted for 27 percent of total enrollment in the 2024-2025 academic year. Trump previously advised his Education Secretary Linda McMahon during a Cabinet meeting not to negotiate with the university, calling Harvard, 'very bad'. 'We want nothing less than $500 million from Harvard. Dont negotiate, Linda,' he added. The Trump administration has hit back at universities following a string of protests last year in support of Palestine (Pictured: A Harvard student speaking at a protest on April 25 against the university's stance on Gaza) A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration couldn't block funding to the university due to on-campus protests and allegations of anti-Semitism (Pictured: An encampment at Harvard in support of Palestine on May 5, 2024) The federal ruling marks a win for American universities as the Trump administration has launched a crusade against academic funding. Earlier this summer, Columbia University agreed to a $200 million payout over three years and an additional $21 million to settle an investigation by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Brown University also reached a deal to pay $50 million to Rhode Island workforce development organizations. Cornell and Northwestern University are still in negotiations with the Trump administration. Keir Starmer was facing questions on Wednesday night about whether he misled the public when he claimed Angela Rayner was the subject of a 'briefing war'. The Prime Minister issued a staunch defence of his deputy on Monday, just hours after Downing Street revealed she was trying to lift a court order so she could speak publicly about the controversy over her tax affairs. He told the BBC: 'Angela has had people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again. It's a mistake, by the way.' Sir Keir suggested that attacks on Ms Rayner were fuelled by snobbery, saying: 'Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly and I'm proud of her as our Deputy Prime Minister.' His comments came after No 10 said she had applied to lift a court order which she said prevented her from speaking out. That decision appears to have been made after Ms Rayner realised she had failed to pay the full stamp duty due on her new flat in Hove. No 10 repeatedly refused to say yesterday whether the PM knew the claims against her were true when he accused her critics of making a 'mistake'. Sir Keir told MPs he had been 'speaking at length' with Ms Rayner about the scandal in recent days, but No 10 refused to say exactly when these conversations took place. The Prime Minister issued a staunch defence of his deputy on Monday, just hours after Downing Street revealed she was trying to lift a court order so she could speak publicly about the controversy over her tax affairs Downing Street has spent the past ten days defending the Deputy Prime Minister, describing claims that she dodged tax as being 'entirely without basis' Downing Street has spent the past ten days defending the Deputy Prime Minister, describing claims that she dodged tax as being 'entirely without basis'. This defence continued until Tuesday. No 10 refused to say whether the PM or his officials had made any independent attempts to verify public responses being given by Ms Rayner. Sir Keir, the ultimate arbiter of whether a minister needs to resign for breaking the ministerial code, gave his deputy a friendly pat on the shoulder today as he entered the Commons for the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions. He said: 'I can be clear that I am very proud to sit alongside a Deputy Prime Minister who is building 1.5 million homes, who is bringing forward the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation, and who has come from a working-class background to be Deputy Prime Minister of this country.' A string of senior ministers have also publicly defended Ms Rayner in recent days. On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson batted away Tory calls for an inquiry, which Ms Rayner has now requested herself. She said: 'She has been clear that she has followed the rules.' Robert Jenrick has called for a decade of net emigration and said asylum seekers should be housed in camps. The Tory justice spokesman also argued that the points-based system created under previous governments was the 'worst policy mistake' in his lifetime. It came as Sir Keir Starmer vowed not to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), saying it would be a 'profound mistake'. Mr Jenrick said he wanted to see a period of net emigration where more people leave the country than arrive. 'I think the country now needs breathing space after this period of mass migration,' he told The Spectator. 'The age of being open to the world and his wife, who are low-wage, low-skilled individuals, and their dependents has to come to an end. 'Reversing recent low-skilled migration will likely mean a sustained period of net emigration. I would support that.' Legal migration has been more harmful to the country than illegal migration, he argued, 'due to the sheer eye-watering numbers'. Robert Jenrick has called for a decade of net emigration and said asylum seekers should be housed in camps Jenrick said he wanted to see a period where more people leave the country than arrive He agreed when asked if this period of net emigration could last a decade, adding that the country should still embrace high-skilled migrants. While paying tribute to Nigel Farage and his policies by saying 'there's a lot to welcome', Mr Jenrick went further than the Reform UK leader by saying asylum seekers 'should be detained in camps'. 'The facilities will need to be rudimentary prisons, not holiday camps,' he said. 'It's not what Reform have suggested, which is cabins with a fence around them.' Criticising Mr Farage's suggestion that a Reform government would focus on deporting undocumented males, rather than women and children, Mr Jenrick said this would encourage people smugglers to exploit women and girls and encourage young men to pose as children. Reflecting on his time as immigration minister under Rishi Sunak, he said the points-based system created under Boris Johnson and Priti Patel was an error. 'At the Home Office I walked into a total bin fire. I think the points-based system that was created by the ministers at the time was the worst public policy mistake in my lifetime,' he said. Mr Jenrick has argued that the only way Britain can get a grip on immigration is to leave the ECHR. But today Sir Keir said it would be a 'profound mistake' to withdraw from the treaty during PMQs in the Commons. He ruled out leaving the ECHR but said the Government would look at the interpretation of some of its provisions. Sir Keir added: 'We do need to make sure that both the convention and other instruments are fit for the circumstances we face at the moment.' The head of the Metropolitan Police has blamed politicians for putting his officers in an 'impossible position' over online speech. He was speaking after the arrest of Father Ted creator Graham Linehan for social media comments. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended the five armed officers who arrested Mr Linehan at Heathrow on Monday on suspicion of inciting violence over three messages he posted on X in April. The tweets included one in which he joked that women should punch transgender women 'in the balls' if they use female-only spaces. Sir Mark said 'a threat to punch someone from a protected group could be an offence' but admitted: 'I understand the concern caused by such incidents given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world.' He added: 'When it comes to lesser cases, where there is ambiguity in terms of intent and harm, policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments who have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when they're reported. Then they are obliged to follow all lines of inquiry and take action as appropriate.' Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch vows that police will be banned from arresting people for stating that transgender women do not belong in female-only spaces if the Conservatives return to Downing Street. Sir Mark said: 'I don't believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position. I have offered to provide suggestions to the Home Office on where the law and policy should be clarified.' Sir Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan Police has blamed politicians for putting his officers in an 'impossible position' over online speech Pictured: Father Ted creator Graham Linehan, who was arrested at Heathrow on Monday on suspicion of inciting violence over three messages he posted on X in April Met Sir Mark Rowley's comments sparked fresh outrage, with Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick telling the Mail: 'Yet again the police seem not to understand the basics of free speech. Mark Rowley needs to promptly apologise for this mistake.' And free speech campaigner Harry Miller said: 'No one is obliging him to police offensive tweets that don't meet the threshold of criminality.' In the Commons today Sir Keir Starmer was urged to review the law to ensure free speech is protected and replied: 'I've been clear throughout that we must ensure the police focus on the most serious issues... we have a long history of free speech in this country.' Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC: 'We want the police to focus on policing streets rather than tweets.' But newly elected Green leader Zack Polanski said: 'These are totally unacceptable tweets...I think it was proportionate to arrest him.' Reacting to the arrest of Mr Linehan, Mrs Badenoch said no one should ever be detained for speaking 'plain truths' or making jokes. She promised that if she became prime minister she would also scrap Non-Crime Hate Incidents, which have been used by forces nationwide to record abuse on social media and even playground spats. And she says that chief constables would be forced to justify their actions if they wasted time on 'political stunts' instead of fighting crime. In the Commons today Sir Keir Starmer was urged to review the law to ensure free speech is protected Mr Linehan, who released an audio recording of his arrest in which he can be heard reacting with disbelief, said he was considering suing the Met for wrongful arrest. 'This was a horrible glimpse of the dystopian clown show that Britain has become,' he added. Meanwhile, Mrs Badenoch admitted that the Tory government she was part of 'deferred too much' to police chiefs, allowing them to 'engage in destructive identity politics'. Amid a backlash over the Met's treatment of Mr Linehan, Mrs Badenoch said: 'Graham's arrest should serve as a warning to everyone who values freedom in Britain.' She went on: 'Freedom is not a gift from the state. It is our birthright.' Any grooms would be forgiven for being nervous when their best man stands up to give his speech. But when you're the future King, and your best man is Prince Harry, It is understandable why William might have been a little concerned what his brother was about to stand up and say. However, William need not worry as the speech Harry gave hit the perfect tone between seriousness and fun it also demonstrated just how close the Princes were. Writing in his biography about William and Harry and their wives - titled Brothers and Wives - royal author Christopher Andersen revealed the content of the Duke of Sussex's best man speech. 'In his best man's toast, Harry apologised to Kate "for having to marry a bald man," delivered spot-on impressions of William, "cooing down the line at Babykins" and Kate calling his brother "Billy" and referred to them repeatedly as "the dude and the duchess",' Andersen wrote. He continued: 'There were muffled sobs when Harry told his brother, "Our mother would be so very proud of you," and sighs when he said he loved Kate like a sister. 'At one point, the bride wiped away tears when her newly minted brother-in-law traded smiles with Chelsy and admitted that Kate and William's decade long romance was his "inspiration".' There were some lines that were smartly removed by Chelsy Davy, Harry's girlfriend at the time, such as a line praising Kate Middleton's 'killer legs'. Prince William and Kate Middleton wave to well wishers on their wedding day. Writing in his biography about William and Harry and their wives - titled Brothers and Wives - royal author Christopher Andersen revealed details about the big day Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Harry's speech hit the perfect tone between seriousness and fun and demonstrated just how close the Princes were The party then continued in the throne room which Pippa Middleton had transformed into a nightclub. As the day of celebrations drew to a close fireworks were set off above the palace. 'Harry put his arms around around William and Kate and began to weep. Soon the best man and the bride were helping brush away each other's tears while a bemused and thoroughly dry-eyed William looked on.' '"People don't realise how much Harry and Kate love and help each other," an other guest said of the moment. "It's key to this whole thing".' In the years immediately following the wedding, William and Kate worked continued to work closely with Harry. In 2011, Kate Middleton joined the Royal Foundation which was set up in 2009 and has worked on numerous projects close to the princes' hearts including mental health, environmental issues and homelessness. It was around this time that Prince Harry helped set up the Invictus Games with 1million worth of funding from the foundation. When Harry married Meghan in 2018 she also joined the foundation and the so-called 'fab four' became the the Royal Family's dream team. William and Kate kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. 'In his best man's toast, Harry apologised to Kate "for having to marry a bald man," delivered spot-on impressions of William Harry's then girlfriend Chelsy Davy at Kate and William's wedding. There were some lines that were smartly removed by Chelsy such as a line praising Kate Middleton's 'killer legs' Harry waves at onlookers. Both Kate and Harry shed tears together at the end of the wedding Indeed when Harry and Meghan started dating, Kate and William reportedly found the former actress 'delightful' - with the young royals appearing at a number of engagements together. Fast forward to the present and, while the so-called 'peace summit' in July 2025 suggests that relations between the Sussexes and the Prince and Princess of Wales could be thawing, both camps appear to be a long way from a reconciliation. It has been widely established that Meghan was at the centre of the tension between Harry and William in particular. But one royal author has claimed the falling out was to do with how the Duchess of Sussex acted, not what she said. Meghan's 'warm, friendly, hug-everyone approach' ruffled feathers, according to Tom Quinn's history of royal servants, titled Yes, Ma'am. He wrote: 'It made William uncomfortable because [Meghan] hugged him virtually every time they bumped into each other.' The prince's opposition to the displays of affection was not due to a dislike of Meghan but concern for what courtiers might think. 'The hugging and cheek kissing fuelled gossip among the staff that Meghan was flirting with William, which she was obviously not. But the tense atmosphere caused by all the touchy-feeliness (and the resultant gossip) deepened the rift between the brothers,' Quinn said. Likewise, Meghan clashed with William's 'rather awkward, even inhibited personality' - which she reportedly found 'baffling'. The so-called 'fab four' - comprising Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince William and Kate - were the Royal Family's dream team at one time Harry, Meghan and Kate in 2018. When the Sussexes started dating, William and Kate found the former actress 'delightful' - with the young royals attending several engagements together Prince William kisses Meghan on the cheek in April 2018. Her hugging and kissing of William fuelled gossip among royal staff that the duchess was flirting with him Quinn wrote: 'A member of staff recalled Meghan asking, "Why do William and Charles sound so serious all the time?" 'She used to make jokes about Harry not having the same parents as William, as she insisted, "Harry isn't pompous at all. He's chill".' But it was Meghan's treatment of staff while working as a royal that put the most strain on the princes' relationship. Concerns were raised to the Sussexes about their alleged behaviour towards staff as early as 2017, it was reported in Robert Lacey's Battle of Brothers book. Meghan would send emails as early as 5am, leaving staff with a 'barrage' of messages in their inboxes, a Kensington Palace source claimed. The couple reigned over a 'really toxic environment' which saw colleagues shaking before meetings alongside allegations of bullying, they added. There was even a claim the encounters left one employee with PTSD. While Meghan brushed off a complaint about her conduct from a senior aide, claiming 'it's not my job to coddle people', Prince William did not respond so flippantly to the issue. When Jason Knauf a royal aide who worked with the Sussexes presented William with a 'dossier of distress' about their behaviour he 'went ballistic' and was left 'astonished' and 'horrified' by what he heard, according to Lacey. Prince Harry and Meghan in February 2018. She allegedly used to joke Harry and William had different parents due to how unlike one another the two are William's anger stemmed from the fact that a tradition of treating the staff 'like family' had been broken and that he personally knew many of those named, Lacey wrote. Harry and his brother then allegedly had a testy phone call, in which the Duke of Sussex 'flared up in a fierce defence of his wife'. Lacey added: 'The moment the prince heard the bullying allegations, he got straight on the phone to talk to Harry and when Harry flared up in furious defence of his wife, the elder brother persisted. 'Harry shut off his phone angrily, so William went straight round to find his brother on the Kensington campus.' As early as 2019, rumours of a falling out between the brothers began circulating. It was first addressed by Harry in the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, with him saying: 'You have good days, you have bad days.' By 2020, tensions appeared to have deepened when Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back as senior royals. Harry later claimed in his Netflix series with Meghan that William shouted at him during the Sandringham summit. The brothers were last publicly together at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022, though they both attended the private funeral for their uncle Robert Fellowes last summer. When Jason Knauf presented William with a 'dossier of distress' about Harry and Meghan's behaviour, the prince reportedly 'went ballistic' The estrangement between the two princes had been 'hard and sad', Knauf revealed in an Australian documentary this year. He said: 'We have ups and downs in family. Even when you really love someone, you can have times when you don't want to spend that much time with them. 'It's very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye, but [William's] chosen to keep his thoughts on it private and I think all of us who know him really have to respect that. 'We should do the same, but I will say of course it's been hard and sad - especially for all of us who know both of them.' Meghan's 'touchy-feely' style does have some fans. Producer Jane Marie, who worked with Harry and Meghan during the development of Archewell Audio projects, insisted to Vanity Fair that Meghan is 'just a lovely, genuine person' Written off by history as a promiscuous playboy with a fatal taste for martinis and morphine, there was an astonishing other side to the late Queen's uncle, the Duke of Kent. The Daily Mail can reveal today the cloak-and-dagger part the duke played as a rogue secret agent in the run-up to the Second World War. His eldest brother the Duke of Windsor is remembered for cosying up to Adolf Hitler, but Georgie, as he was known, took the opposite view. The Nazis were a threat to freedom and in 1938 he set out to do what he could to stop the war. Defying the orders of the then prime minister Neville Chamberlain, the duke engaged in secret talks with a high-ranking Nazi, Prince Philipp of Hesse. It helped that Philipp was the duke's cousin by marriage who, despite his Nazi credentials, had become alarmed at the extremist policies of Hitler's right-hand man Joachim von Ribbentrop. Philipp too wanted peace before the world exploded. Georgie Kent was a highly-motivated secret agent. He was encouraged by his brother King George VI to engage with Philipp on the basis of 'if the politicians can't sort out a peace agreement, then let the royals cousins show them how do it'. The historian Tom MacDonnell agrees: 'George VI was haunted by the memory of the Great War. Repeatedly he offered to make his own appeal to Hitler [believing] that kings and princes still had a meaningful part to play in diplomacy as if nothing had happened to the map of Europe since 1914, when the Continent had been the private domain of royal cousins.' George VI was haunted by the memory of the Great War The Duke and Duchess of Windsor meeting Adolf Hitler in Munich in 1937 It was the fate of his wife Princess Marina's Europe-based family, likely to bear the brunt of an armed Nazi assault much earlier in the war, which drove him The Duke of Kent was a patriot who believed in his country. But possibly even more important than his point of view it was the fate of his wife Princess Marina's Europe-based family, likely to bear the brunt of an armed Nazi assault much earlier in the war, which drove him. Coolly elegant Marina more royal than the British royals through her line of descent from the tsars of Russia and the kings of Greece was also closely connected to other countries and their ruling houses. Her sister Olga was married to the prince regent (de facto king) of Yugoslavia, while her other sister Elizabeth was married to a German aristocrat Count Toerring-Jettenbach. She was related to the queen of the Belgians, and was a first cousin of Prince Philip, future husband of Queen Elizabeth II. So, increasingly alarmed at the speed with which Europe was crumbling, Georgie was introduced to Baron William de Ropp, a shady figure and possible double agent whose German contact was Nazi leader Alfred Rosenberg, later hanged for his part in wartime atrocities. Ropp and Georgie's meetings were important, frequent, and very hush-hush. Professor Jonathan Petropoulos, an expert on German royals and the Nazi regime, observes: 'The Duke of Kent obviously had a very real influence on political events. He was uniquely placed to act as an intermediary between high-ranking Nazis and the movers and shakers of British society. It was an opportunity he seemed to relish.' The upshot was two crucial meetings. In July 1938 Georgie and Philipp had a private conversation in Rome. Ostensibly there for the funeral of Queen Marie of Romania, they were closeted away in lengthy private discussions. Then the two royals met again in Florence a year later against prime minister Chamberlain's wishes. 'Chamberlain wanted to constrain the royals, because the situation in Europe was too complicated and unsettled to entrust negotiations to amateurs such as the duke and the prince, and dismissed a suggestion by King George VI that they use Prince Philipp, wrote Petropoulos. In July 1938 Georgie and Philipp had a private conversation in Rome. Ostensibly there for the funeral of Queen Marie of Romania, they were closeted away in lengthy private discussions Coolly elegant Marina more royal than the British royals through her line of descent from the tsars of Russia and the kings of Greece was also closely connected to other countries and their ruling houses. Her sister Olga was married to the Regent (de facto king) of Yugoslavia Defying the orders of the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, the duke engaged in secret talks with a high-ranking Nazi, Prince Philipp of Hesse The king and queen leaving the Austin aircraft factory at Longbridge during a tour of Birmingham in 1939, accompanied by then prime minister Neville Chamberlain, left But Georgie went ahead anyway and, with the war now just weeks away, met Philipp in Florence in July 1939. 'It directly contravened the instructions of the prime minister,' observed Petropoulos. Georgie made it clear to his cousin that Britain would declare war if the Nazis entered Poland, and Philipp took this information back to a meeting with Hitler, at which Ribbentrop was also present. The difficulty for British politicians with all this clandestine activity was, what was a legitimate path to peace, and what was appeasement? There are no official records of what was said between the cousins during their confidential meetings. Spymaster Frederick Winterbotham, who had spent the pre-war years recruiting spies across Europe, was the shady Baron de Ropp's 'control' during this period. In 1969 he published a book, Secret And Personal, which devoted a chapter to the Ropp-George meetings. But by the time a second edition was published the chapter had been dropped, apparently at the request of Buckingham Palace. Even 15 years after the war's end and 17 years since George's tragic death in an aeroplane crash the contents were deemed inappropriate. For a royal to disobey their prime minister was one thing. For the royal to do so as war approached was far worse. That George may, in the course of his discussions, have passed on highly classified secrets either inadvertently or knowingly to a man who soon would fly to Hitler's side was unthinkable. Which is why the world has never learned about the Duke of Kent, Secret Agent. The records are either locked up or destroyed, and we will never know whether he did a good thing, or a bad thing, in his personal efforts to secure peace. And so all that remains of poor Georgie is the memory of a playboy without a purpose. Photo exhibition in Russia marks 80th anniversary of China's victory over Japanese aggression Xinhua) 21:15, September 03, 2025 VLADIVOSTOK, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition opened Tuesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The event, titled "True Friends Forged in Fire," was co-organized by the Chinese Consulate General in Vladivostok, the Eurasia Regional Bureau of Xinhua News Agency, the China Image Group and the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. More than 300 people attended the exhibition, including representatives from political, business and academic circles in Primorye Territory, as well as envoys from various countries and members of the Chinese community in Russia. The exhibition features over 60 precious images from Xinhua's archives, highlighting the joint struggle of Chinese and Soviet soldiers and civilians against fascist aggression, as well as the profound friendship forged during the wars. Wang Jun, acting Chinese consul general in Vladivostok, said at the opening ceremony that China was the main battlefield in the East during World War II, noting that Chinese and Soviet people had fought shoulder to shoulder and forged a close bond of comradeship in their life-and-death struggle. "Each precious image takes us back to those war-torn years, allowing us to honor the heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for freedom and justice, and to remember the history written in blood and courage," said Wang. Vera Shcherbina, first vice governor and chairman of the government of Primorye Territory, emphasized that Russia and China share a common stance on defending historical memory and safeguarding the post-war international order. "This exhibition will contribute to mutual understanding and the continued friendship between the Russian and Chinese peoples." In a congratulatory letter, Gennady Krasnikov, president of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stressed the exhibition's special significance as China and Russia jointly commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory. "It serves as an important step for both countries to remember and pass down history," he wrote. "Our shared history will be forever recorded, and the glory of victory will inspire new achievements." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A homeowner has shared a horror story about finding themselves in a fight with the Homeowners Association in their neighborhood, despite not actually being a member. The resident posted on Reddit about how they found themselves in an altercation about putting up their Christmas lights too early. While the homeowner lives in a neighborhood which has an HOA, they said they were there before the rest of the houses were built and the group was formed. 'Apparently they have a rule over how many lights you can put up and what the earliest date you can put them up,' the Reddit user wrote. They claimed that a woman came over to their house on November 30 and said that their lights were against the HOA's policy. 'I told her that we been over this before that I am in no way beholden to their policies and don't care,' the Reddit user wrote, adding that their nieces and nephews loved lights so they would be putting up a fair amount. They continued by saying the woman claimed the early light hanging 'upset other members' and requested they respect the rules due to where they live. She handed them a flyer with the rules which the homeowner threw in the trash. HOAs have long held a reputation for being overbearing about the upkeep of homes and forcing meticulous rules on their members. The homeowner's battle with the HOA ignited after they hung their Christmas lights early HOAs have long held a reputation for enforcing meticulous rules on members The associations are also increasingly gaining a reputation for enforcing huge price hikes on homeowners with HOAs soaring in many states. Houses with HOAs, however, are worth 5 to 6 percent more than similar homes outside of HOAs. Typical HOA membership fees for single-family homeowners across the US is around $150 to $500 per month, but can sometimes be much more. As these financial pressures grow, social media users have stopped biting their tongues and are increasingly sharing their experiences about living around HOAs. Another homeowner shared their story on Reddit, explaining how what they thought was their dream home turned out to be anything but. The resident bought a house in 2019 and was under the impression it was not near an HOA. 'We closed and eventually learned that the neighborhood does in fact have an HOA. However there's a handful of houses that were excluded from this HOA because they were previously built by another builder that backed out of the neighborhood,' the post creator wrote. 'Fast forward to the neighborhood being finished and the HOA being turned over to a management company,' they wrote, adding that the association is now pushing for the HOA exempt houses to join. 'I told my realtor they'd be fired instantly if they even mentioned a house in an HOA,' a commenter responded. Houses with HOAs are worth 5-6 percent more than similar homes outside of HOAs 'Upon moving in several neighbors kept asking me to sign some neighborhood agreement. I just laughed on their faces,' another person said. 'That's the ideal situation, not in an HOA, but in an HOA neighborhood. All of your neighbors have to keep the neighborhood looking nice, but you don't have the dues and other hassles,' another person wrote. A further commenter said that if people were good neighbors and took pride in their homes, there would be less need for HOAs. It comes as California is considering making a major change to HOAs, prohibiting the associations from charging members more than $100 per violation for breaking most rules. While this sounds like good news for homeowners, experts on both sides of the issue are worried it could unintentionally trigger more disputes ending up in court. The policy was added into a large budget trailer bill, AB 130, less than a week before it passed on June 30. 'This got plugged in, generally at the last minute, to everyone's surprise,' Tim Mahar, an attorney with Tinnelly Law Group who represents HOAs, told the San Francisco Chronicle. The law would also prohibit HOAs from charging late fees or interest on unpaid fines and would give homeowners more time in correcting violations before fines can be imposed. Homebuyers are backing out of property purchases last-minute at a higher rate than ever recorded due to fears that a financial crash is imminent. Just four years ago, homebuyers were bidding up house prices and waiving inspections in order to quickly secure fast-selling properties. Today's buyers are moving slowly through the process negotiating lower prices and obsessing over property details. And they are increasingly getting cold feet and backing out, even after signing contracts. In fact, 58,000 home-purchase agreements were canceled in July alone, according to data collected by Redfin. That's 15.3 percent of all homes that went under contract that month - the highest July cancellation rate on record since Redfin began tracking in 2017. The spike up from lows of 11.6 percent in 2020 and 2021 reflects how tough today's market is. High prices, mortgage rates more than double the pandemic lows, and mounting economic uncertainty are making buyers nervous. Some experts expect a crash. 'I'm waiting on the market to cycle as it did in 2008,' said Joel Efosa, who runs a company buying and selling homes. Homebuyers are backing out of property purchases last-minute at a higher rate than ever recorded due to fears that a financial crash is imminent (pictured: a property in San Antontio, where 22.7 percent of buyers are backing out of deals) Real estate agent Bonnie Phillips (pictured) said cold feet, high standards and issues with inspections are the main reasons that buyers are backing out The CEO of Fire Cash Buyer added: 'This is a perfect storm for an eventual market crash due to this affordability crisis.' Buyers also have more homes to choose from now compared to the past, which gives them more negotiating power and means they aren't in a rush to secure the deal. Many buyers also depend on selling their own house before closing on a new one, so if they struggle to offload their old property, they may not be able to move forward with the deal. Home purchases are most likely to fall through in Texas and Florida, with 22.7 percent of contracts in San Antonio being canceled in July and 21.3 percent of property sales in Fort Lauderdale falling through. Florida and Texas are building more homes than anywhere else in the country, leading some buyers to back out of deals because they're sure they will be able to find a better property elsewhere. 'We have lots of homes available,' Rhonda Forte, a real estate broker in Fort Worth, Texas, told Business Insider. 'If they don't like this one, they can go to the next.' Cold feet, high standards and issues with inspections are the other reasons that buyers are backing out, according to Cleveland Redfin Premier real estate agent Bonnie Phillips, though there are other reasons for last-minute cancellations. 'I recently had an older first-time buyer get cold feet the week before the deal was supposed to close,' Phillips said. 'It was a beautiful house, we got it for the price she wanted and there were no issues in the inspection, but her neighbors convinced her that owning is too much of a hassle and she should rent instead.' Home purchases are most likely to fall through in Texas and Florida, with 21.3 percent of property sales in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (pictured) falling through Just four years ago, buyers were rushing into deals especially in places like Jacksonville, Florida (pictured) Downtown Tucson, Arizona, has a high risk of facing a housing market crash 'New economic data this week shows that the balance of power in the housing market keeps shifting in favor of homebuyers,' Realtor.com economist Danielle Hale (pictured) said in July Indeed, the difficult homebuying landscape may be pushing more Americans toward renting. The homeownership rate recently fell to its lowest level in almost six years and rental vacancy rates declined as more households decided against ownership, according to an August report from Realtor.com. While it is still technically a seller's market, the market is becoming relatively less favorable to sellers. After years of high prices and fierce competition, buyers are noticing that properties remain on the market for longer and price reductions are becoming more common. 'New economic data this week shows that the balance of power in the housing market keeps shifting in favor of homebuyers,' Realtor.com economist Danielle Hale said in July. The country has been in a seller's market since the early 2010s. After the 2008 financial crisis, the construction of new homes slowed down and still hasn't caught up with demand. Americans today fear a repeat of the 2008 financial crash, due to ongoing trade wars, political uncertainty and volatile economic policies - all of which are creating a skittish market and further dismaying people from buying homes. For those who get carsick, there's nothing worse. The combined feeling of nausea, cold sweats, dizziness and a headache means you're desperate to reach your destination as soon as possible. While some advice might be to 'look at the horizon' or breathe into a brown paper bag, it's hard to know what will work or what's an old wives' tale. Now, a study into the issue has revealed a surprisingly simple solution that can slash symptoms in half. And it's all to do with what type of music you've got playing. 'Motion sickness significantly impairs the travel experience for many individuals, and existing pharmacological interventions often carry sideeffects such as drowsiness,' Dr Qizong Yue, from Southwest University in China, said. 'Music represents a noninvasive, lowcost and personalised intervention strategy.' But should you put on Pharrell's 'Happy', Adele's 'Someone Like You' or Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'? The combined feeling of nausea, cold sweats, dizziness and a headache can make travel sickness one of the most uncomfortable experiences (stock image) Joyful music was found to be the most effective at alleviating symptoms, followed closely by soft music Using a specially calibrated driving simulator, the team induced car sickness in 30 participants and then played different types of music while they tried to recover. Joyful music alleviated carsickness the most, reducing it by 57.3 per cent, they found. This was closely followed by soft music, that alleviated symptoms by 56.7 per cent. Passionate music reduced motion sickness by 48.3 per cent, while playing sad music turned out to be slightly less effective than doing nothing. While the control group who listened to no music during their recovery period reported a 43.3 per cent reduction in symptoms, those who listened to sad music said their feelings of nausea and dizziness were lowered by only 40 per cent. 'Based on our conclusions, individuals experiencing motion sickness symptoms during travel can listen to cheerful or gentle music to achieve relief,' Dr Yue said. It's possible that soft music relaxes people, relieving tension which exacerbates carsickness, while joyful music might distract people by activating brain reward systems, they said. Sad music could have the opposite effect, by amplifying negative emotions and increasing overall discomfort. The findings could also be beneficial for other forms of travel sickness, such as when at sea or flying (stock image) The researchers said the findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, are likely applicable to sickness experienced during air or sea travel. As part of their study they also asked individuals to wear electroencephalogram (EEG) caps to try and identify quantifiable signals of carsickness in the brain's activity. Overall, they discovered changes in the brain's occipital lobe when participants reported carsickness. While further research is needed, they said this finding could be developed into a method of tracking motion sickness quantitively and in real time. In the UK, as many as one in five adults suffers from car sickness, according to the RAC. Sitting in the back seat appears to be the worst for triggering symptoms, while the top reason people give for feeling sick is reading in the car followed by using a tablet or phone. Nearly four in 10 blame winding country roads while a third say it's a lack of fresh air that causes them to feel nauseous. Mobile phones in the UK are about to ring out with another alarm as the Government tests its emergency alert system once again. At 3pm on Sunday (September 7), the 'Armageddon alarm' will be sent to all 4G and 5G-enabled phones and tablets. Devices will vibrate and emit a siren-like tone for 10 seconds, while a text box will appear giving more information. The government says this latest round of coordinated phone buzzing is a crucial test of the UK Emergency Alert System. However, it appears it is not compulsory. A government webpage tells people how to opt out of emergency alerts and it barely takes a minute. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, says: 'Emergency Alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms. 'Just like the fire alarm in your house, its important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it.' This will be the first time that the Emergency Alert System has been tested in two years, following the system's launch in April 2023 Emergency alerts 'contain life-saving information and should be kept switched on for your own safety', the UK government webpage stresses. However, it admits victims of domestic abuse with a concealed phone 'may find it appropriate to turn off alerts'. It has therefore laid out the steps to opt out on an iPhone and Android and they should work for everyone. If on an iPhone, opt out by going to 'settings' and selecting the 'notifications' menu, then scroll to the bottom and turn off 'severe alerts' and 'extreme alerts'. If on an Android device, search your device settings for 'emergency alerts' and then turn off 'severe alerts' and 'extreme alerts'. The government webpage says people should contact their device manufacturer for help if they are still getting alerts after opting out. Also, depending on the manufacturer and software version of your phone, emergency alerts settings may be called different names. These might include 'wireless emergency alerts' or 'emergency broadcasts'. The emergency alert is used to warn if there is a danger to life nearby, in instances like extreme weather - although Sunday will only be a test Emergency alerts 'contain life-saving information and should be kept switched on for your own safety', the UK government webpage stresses Sunday will be the first time that the Emergency Alerts System has been tested in two years, following the system's launch in April 2023. It was introduced to quickly inform the public of an impending threat such as severe flooding, wildfires, or extreme weather events. When it was first tested, the emergency system sent a message to phones which read: 'Severe Alert. This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if theres a life-threatening emergency nearby. 'In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. 'Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.' Since its introduction, the Emergency Alerts System has been used in real life scenarios five times, primarily during major storms when there was a serious risk to life. The largest ever use saw approximately 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland receive an alert during Storm Eowyn in January 2025, after a red weather warning was issued. The system has also been used in more localised incidents, such as when an unexploded World War II bomb was uncovered in Plymouth. The alert system was used in Plymouth after an unexploded World War II bomb was uncovered and had to be removed Similar systems are already used widely across a number of other countries, primarily for natural disaster preparation. Japan has one of the world's most sophisticated systems, which combines satellite and cell broadcast technology. This system forms part of a wider scheme called J-ALERT that informs the public in case of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, or missile threats. South Korea frequently uses its national cell broadcast system to alert citizens about issues ranging from weather alerts and civil emergencies to local missing persons cases. The US has a similar system to the UK that utilises 'wireless emergency alerts' to send messages that look like texts with a unique sound and vibration pattern. From supermassive black holes to vast stellar nurseries, the distant reaches of space are full of many baffling wonders. Now, scientists have uncovered one of the most perplexing mysteries yet. Astronomers have spotted a runaway pulsar, known as Calvera, fleeing the aftermath of a massive stellar supernova explosion. What makes this truly extraordinary is that this system should be 'forbidden' in this empty region of the galaxy, 6,500 lightyears above the plane of the Milky Way. Pulsars are the ultradense cores left behind when supermassive stars collapse and explode into supernovae at the end of their lives. However, the massive stars that birth pulsars shouldn't be able to form so far from dense regions of gas and dust near the galactic plane. Lead researcher Dr Emanuele Greco, of Italy's National Institute for Astrophysics, told Daily Mail: 'Since a pulsar is the compact leftover of the explosion of a massive star, it is surprising to see it very far away from the galactic disk. 'It means that during its normal life as a star, it ran away from the disk and then exploded.' Scientists have discovered a 'forbidden' pulsar (left), named Calvera, rapidly fleeing a stellar supernova explosion (right) in an otherwise empty region of the Milky Way Located 6,500 lightyears above the plane of the Milky Way, there shouldn't have been enough matter to create a star big enough to birth a pulsar in the Calvera system (pictured) The Calvera system, named after the villain from the movie 'The Magnificent Seven', was spotted in 2022 by the Low Frequency Array (LFR) radio telescope. Calvera immediately grabbed scientists' attention since it didn't seem to fit with any of the rules of star formation. High above the disc of the Milky Way, the dust and gas thins out and enormous regions are dominated by the void between stars. However, the LFR, which is spread over eight European countries, detected a nearperfectly circular region which astronomers identified as the remains of a supernova. At the end of a star's life, when it has burned through all of its fuel, the outermost layers will collapse inwards under gravity and generate enormous amounts of pressure. If the star is big enough, that pressure will trigger a colossal explosion known as a supernova, which leaves behind an expanding sphere of dust and gas. This explosion also leaves behind a compact object in the form of a neutron star or even a black hole. Pulsars are a type of rapidly spinning neutron star that rotates up to 700 times a second, producing a flashing signal as its beam of radiation sweeps through the galaxy. Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars, formed by supernova explosions. Using new measurements, scientists have found that the Calvera pulsar was ejected from the supernova remnant by the force of the explosion 10,00020,000 years ago (stock image) Dr Greco says: 'During the explosion of a star, the pulsar feels a kick in the direction opposite to the one in which the stellar fragments are mainly ejected. You can basically see it as a recoil of the explosion.' In the Calvera system, astronomers detected both a supernova remnant and a powerful pulsar, which appeared to be shooting out into space away from the blast. To learn more, Dr Greco and his coauthors combined Xray data from the European Space Agency's XMMNewton Spacecraft with measurements from other telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum. This revealed that the supernova remnant is between 13,000 and 16,500 lightyears from Earth. 'What is even more surprising is that we still see the diffuse remnant of the explosion, which last for relatively short periods a few dozen thousand years at max with respect to the life of a star, meaning that the explosion occurred relatively recently,' says Dr Greco. Based on their data, the researchers say that the supernova likely occurred between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. While the Calvera pulsar will keep spinning for millions of years to come, the supernova remnant will likely vanish in 'about a few thousand years'. Dr Greco adds: 'Our study shows that even the quietest and seemingly empty regions of the galaxy can harbour extreme processes.' At the start of this year, it was more than twice the size of Greater London. And as we enter September, the world's largest iceberg, known as A23a, is sadly nearing its end. Ranked among the oldest and largest megabergs ever recorded, A23a has crumbled apart in warmer waters and could disappear within weeks, scientists say. Often compared in shape to a tooth, the colossal iceberg has been travelling north in the South Atlantic Ocean for months. Now exposed to increasingly warmer waters and buffeted by huge waves, the former 'king of the seas' has rapidly disintegrated. Mr Andrew Meijers, a physical oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said A23a has been 'breaking up fairly dramatically' as it drifts further north. 'Oh I'd say it's very much on its way out... it's basically rotting underneath,' Meijers told AFP. '[Recently] the water is way too warm for it to maintain. It's constantly melting.' Your browser does not support iframes. Currently, the iceberg is 683 square miles and 37 miles at its widest point - which is less than half its original size. This August 19 satellite image shows the tooth shape of A23a having become less rigid and more slender EYOS videographer Richard Sidey, said A23a is 'mind-bogglingly big' and 'stretches as far as you can see in both directions' Going back to early this year, the megaberg weighed around one trillion tonnes about 100 million times as heavy as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. At its peak, A23a was around 1,540 sq miles in area more than twice the size of Greater London (607 sq miles) and a whopping 1,312 feet thick. Now, it is 683 square miles and 37 miles at its widest point, according to AFP analysis of satellite images, making it less than half its original size. In recent weeks, hefty chunks measuring about 150 sq miles have broken off, while smaller 'chips', many still large enough to threaten ships, litter the sea around it. Much like coastal erosion of land, waves are crashing against the berg to make gaps that grow steadily bigger until the top collapses, leaving little 'stacks' which then form smaller 'stumps'. As it keeps drifting north, carried by ocean currents, surrounding waters become warmer and the berg will soon melt away completely. 'I expect that to continue in the coming weeks, and expect it won't be really identifiable within a few weeks,' said Mr Meijers. Scientists have been 'surprised' how long the iceberg had kept together, according to Meijers. The the colossal berg, ranked among the oldest and largest ever recorded, is crumbling apart in warmer waters and could disappear within weeks. Pictured, August 1 The Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite captured this image of Earths biggest iceberg, A23a, April 5. The disintegration is typical of icebergs that drift north, caused by the warmer sea temperatures and weather conditions. How do icebergs form? An iceberg is a piece of freshwater ice that has detached from a glacier and is floating in the ocean. Icebergs form when pieces of ice break off the end of an ice shelf or a glacier that flows into a body of water. This is called 'calving' and it's a natural process that is responsible for ice loss at the edges of glaciers and ice sheets. Source: antarcticglaciers.org Advertisement He added: 'Most icebergs don't make it this far. This one's really big so it has lasted longer and gone further than others.' But ultimately, icebergs are 'doomed' once they leave the freezing protection of Antarctica and it's just a matter of time before they vanish. A23a is the surviving largest fragment of an iceberg that broke free of the Antarctic's Filchner Ice Shelf in August 1986. It had only moved a couple of hundred miles when it became stuck, or 'grounded' to the ocean floor and ended up becoming stationary for the next 30 years. Icebergs 'ground' on the ocean floor when their keel (the bit below the water's surface) is deeper than the water's depth. A23a finally broke free in 2020 and started moving northwards, although its journey has been occasionally delayed by ocean forces that kept it spinning on the spot. This monster block of freshwater was being whisked along by the world's most powerful ocean 'jet stream' the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Around March, it ran aground in shallow waters off distant South Georgia island, raising fears it could hit breeding and feeding grounds of adult penguins and their young. The colossus A23a, which is double the size of Greater London and weighs nearly a trillion tonnes, calved from Antarctica's Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, and remained grounded on the seabed in the Weddell Sea for over 30 years before beginning its slow journey north in 2020 The world's largest iceberg, named A23a, is seen in Antarctica, January 14, 2024, in this picture obtained from social media Fortunately, A23a dislodged in late May, swung around the island, and carried on its journey northwards. However, the grounding and 'enormous release of cold freshwater' are likely to have had a major impact on organisms on the seabed and in the surrounding water, a spokesperson at BAS told the Daily Mail. In recent weeks, the berg has picked up speed, sometimes traveling up to 12 miles (20km) in a single day about the distance between Camden and Croydon. Mr Meijers, who encountered the iceberg in late 2023 and has tracked it with satellites ever since, called A23a a 'huge Game of Thrones style wall of ice'. 'With some waves breaking against it and if you get a bit of sunshine coming through, its really dramatic,' he said. Iceberg 'calving' the breaking off of chunks from the edge is a natural process, often caused by the formation of crevasses. But scientists say the rate at which bergs are being lost from Antarctica is increasing, probably because of human induced climate change. The moment that Apple fans have been waiting for is almost finally here, with the iPhone 17 set to be unveiled to the world on 9 September. But keen tech enthusiasts might have just gotten a sneak peek at the new generation of devices ahead of the official launch. A leaked video, supposedly taken from the iPhone production line, shows what is rumoured to be an iPhone 17 Pro Max. If true, this brief clip could confirm a major design change for the flagship smartphone. The leak was posted yesterday on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, with a caption that translates as: 'Something big has happened, the suspected iPhone 17 Pro Max mass production machine has been leaked.' The video shows someone picking up a large, silver iPhone-like device from a row of similar phones. The device features a huge camera island that stretches all the way across the top of the device, similar to that on the new Google Pixel 10. As earlier rumours suggested, the island appears to feature three main cameras arranged in a triangle with two smaller sensors stacked on the other side. A leaked video reportedly shows the iPhone 17 Pro Max at a production facility in China. If true, this leak suggests the iPhone will see some big design changes Tim Cook (pictured) will unveil the new iPhone designs next week at an event in California. Ahead of the release, rumours have suggested that the iPhone 17 will be the company's biggest upgrade in years One of the stranger design features included in this leaked model is the large, rectangular glass panel inset on the rear of the phone. The panel features an Apple logo in the centre and covers most of the phone's rear side, appearing in a greyish white on the silver model and a matte black on the black version. If true, this would mark one of the most abrupt changes in Apple's design since the removal of the home button in the iPhone X. Although it is not possible to judge the exact size from the clip alone, the iPhone 17 Pro Max model in these videos appears to be somewhat wider than previous models. But on social media, the reaction to this new design has been far from positive. On Weibo, translated via Google, one commenter wrote: 'It can't be that ugly, I don't believe it.' While another chimed in: 'Not good looking.' In addition to revealing the potential design of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, these clips also give a tantalising hint at the potential colours. The supposed iPhone 17 Pro Max features a large camera island which stretches across the entire rear of the phone, similar to the Google Pixel 10 The leak also appears to show a black version of the iPhone Pro Max, which also features a rear glass panel bearing the Apple logo Previous rumours suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro will be available in Orange, Dark Blue, Grey, Black, and Silver. This latest video only shows a grey, silver, and black model iPhone 17: Rumoured features Material : Aluminium, glass : Aluminium, glass Display : Ranging from 6.1 inches to 6.9 inches : Ranging from 6.1 inches to 6.9 inches Expected release date : September 19, 2025 : September 19, 2025 Cheapest model : $899/899 : $899/899 Most expensive model : $1,250/1,250 : $1,250/1,250 Other features : Rectangular camera bump, A19 chip, USBC charger Advertisement Previously, Apple leaks have suggested that the 17 Pro Max Model could come in a bolder set of colours, including black, white, blue, and even orange. However, in this clip, only the silver and black models are directly visible. In the background, it is just possible to make out the box of an iPhone 17 Pro Max, which appears to be in a subtle bronze-like colour, similar to the iPhone 16 Pro's Desert Titanium finish. Frustratingly, the clip doesn't last long enough to show if there are any more colour options. It is also possible that these devices could be dummy phones - models used to help manufacture phone cases, and not reflect the real design of the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max. To see for certain what Apple's new devices look like, fans will need to wait until September 9 for the upcoming 'awe dropping' event. The date has been confirmed by an official invite sent out to members of the press and industry analysts, which features a new version of the Apple logo. It reads: 'Please join us in person for a special Apple Event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park. September 9, 2025.' The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air are expected to be revealed at the 'awe dropping' on September 9 Apple's eyecatching invite includes the classic Apple logo with an intriguing twist what looks like infraredstyle shadings. Apple CEO Tim Cook posted on X: 'Get ready for an awe dropping #AppleEvent on Tuesday, September 9!' with a short clip of the animation. Industry experts expect that Apple will unveil the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and a new addition to the lineup in the form of the iPhone Air. iPhone 17 Air, also referred to as 'iPhone 17 Slim', is expected to be a lighter, thinner option rivalling the Galaxy Edge recently released by Samsung. iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to be 0.2inch (5.5mm), which would make it the thinnest iPhone ever. Apple is also expected to announce the Apple Watch Series 11 on September 9, potentially with improved health monitoring features and battery life. At a brief glance, they look like fallen coconuts, or even curled-up furry animals. They could even be mistaken for carefully-arranged deposits from some kind of extraterrestrial civilization. Whatever they are, these curious balls washing up across Mediterranean shores are certainly out of place. Some are almost perfectly spherical, while others are shaped like rugby balls. They've been dubbed 'Neptune balls', but they've got nothing to do with the eighth planet from the sun. They're named after the Roman god of the sea who can control ferocious winds and storms. Locals, tourists and even scientists have been left baffled by Neptune balls, which often are beached following storms. But a Spanish team of researchers think they know what these objects are and why exactly they keeping appearing. Almost perfectly spherical, these curious balls washing up across the Mediterranean could be mistaken for a fallen coconut or a curled-up furry animal Neptune balls are round, compact bundles of a seagrass species, called Posidonia oceanica, that's found in the Mediterranean Sea Neptune balls are round, compact bundles of a seagrass species called Posidonia oceanica, which is found in the Mediterranean Sea. A common name for Posidonia oceanica is Neptune grass, which is why they are given the name 'Neptune balls'. Anchored to the seabed, the plant's leaves fall off and gather together like some kind of underwater tumbleweed, forming loose spheres. These spheres collect plastic as they form, including bits of food packaging, carrier bags, twine, bottle caps and much more. They finally wash up on the shore, where they act as a reminder to beach-dwellers of the scale of humanity's plastic obsession. In this way, the ingenious plant is effectively removing the plastic from the sea and returning it to where it came from. According to scientists, swaying Posidonia oceanica on the seafloor start becoming tangled up in plastic before their leaves have even detached. And some of these are 'microplastics' plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter, invisible to the naked eye. Anchored to the seabed, the plant's leaves fall off and gather together like some kind of underwater tumbleweed, forming loose spheres. These spheres collect plastic as they form, including bits of food packaging, carrier bags, twine, wet wipes and much more They finally wash up on the shore, where they act as a reminder to beach-dwellers of the scale of humanity's plastic obsession Furry potatoes or massive kiwi fruits? Neptune balls are actually formed from dead Posidonia leaves and roots compacted by wave action What are Neptune balls? 'Neptune balls' are rough spheres made from leaves of underwater seagrass that have been shredded. They are compacted by wave action and many find their way to shore, often confusing locals and tourists alike. Neptune balls also accumulate plastic and other detritus on their way to shore, such as food packaging, carrier bags, twine and bottle caps. Advertisement Gruesomely, Neptune balls can even contain sanitary towels, tampons and used wet wipes, after they've been flushed down the toilet. '[These are] things with a lot of cellulose, so they sink,' Professor Anna Sanchez-Vidal, earth sciences lecturer at the University of Barcelona, told the BBC. In 2021, Professor Sanchez-Vidal published a study in the journal Scientific Reports that addressed the scale of plastic pollution in Posidonia oceanica, which is a species found only in the Mediterranean Sea. In 2018 and 2019, they had counted the number of plastic particles found in balls that had washed up on four beaches in Mallorca, Spain, which has large seagrass meadows offshore. They found there was plastic debris in half of the loose seagrass leaf samples up to 600 bits per kilo of leaves. Only 17 per cent of the tighter bundled seagrass fibre contained plastic, but at a much higher density nearly 1,500 pieces per kilo of seaball. The shape and arrangement of the seagrass underwater makes it an effective filter and trap for plastics in the coastal areas. Human debris can enter waters after being left at the beach, blown by wind, or being flushed down the toilet and escaping from nearby sewage works. Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass species that is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, is pictured here underwater at La Ciotat, southern France Plastic beach: Mass-production of plastic has exploded from around 2 million tonnes per year in 1950 to around 380 million, according to Our World in Data. Pictured, beach pollution at Kuta, Bali There are some 70 species of marine seagrass, which evolved roughly 80 million to 100 million years ago from grass on land. Growing from the Arctic to the tropics, most species have long, grass-like leaves that can form vast underwater meadows. But they are not just pretty, playing a role in improving water quality by absorbing excess nutrients and trapping sediment. They are also weapons in the climate crisis as they absorb CO2 and exude oxygen, and are a natural nursery and refuge for hundreds of species of fish. By anchoring shallow waters, they also help prevent beach erosion, and dampen the impact of destructive storm surges. The Lion of Venice has looked down over the city's Piazza for more than 700 years. An icon of political power, the bronze sculpture is even depicted on the Republic's flag. But rather than being created in a Venetian foundry or European forge, it was actually made nearly 6,000 miles (9,650km) away in Asia, according to a new study. The Lion, which weighs approximately 3,000kg, was likely cast from copper obtained from the Lower Yangzi River basin in China, experts say. And instead of being inspired by Mesopotamian and Persian lionheaded griffins, it appears much more similar to tomb guardian sculptures (zhenmushou) from the Tang Dynasty. 'Venice is a city full of mysteries, but one has been solved,' Dr Massimo Vidale, from the University of Padua, said. 'The 'Lion' of St Mark is Chinese, and he walked the Silk Road.' There are no known written records pertaining to the origins of the famed sculpture, despite its importance to Venice's culture and history. The famous Winged Lion stands atop the Column of San Marco but it may have originated thousands of miles away in Asia The Lion, which weighs approximately 3,000kg, was likely cast from copper obtained from the Lower Yangzi River basin in China The winged lion has developed into an icon of political power, and is even depicted on the city's flag Your browser does not support iframes. However, the new findings even indicate it may have been transported to Venice from Khanbaliq modern Beijing by Marco Polo's father, Niccolo. 'We don't know when the sculpture arrived in Venice, where it was reworked, who did it, or when it was erected on the column where it is still visible today,' Dr Vidale said. To work out where the 'supersymbol' came from, researchers performed lead isotope analysis on samples of the Lion, in a bid to determine where the copper ore used in its production originated. Lead isotopes provide a 'reliable means' to link metals to their original ore deposits, the team explained. In this case, the isotopes indicated that the copper ore used to cast the statue was mined in the Yangzi River basin in China. Visual examination of the Lion suggests parts and posture were radically modified and that it used to have horns, meaning it more closely resembled a zhenmushou than a winged lion. This indicates the sculpture was originally a Tang Dynasty tomb guardian, later modified once it reached Europe to better fit the image of a winged lion desired by the Venetians, the authors said. Examples of medieval contact between China and Europe are rare, so these findings could indicate previously unknown trade connections. Researchers say the Lion of Venice (left) bears striking resemblances to Chinese tomb guardian sculptures (right) Visual examination of the head of the statue indicates it once had horns, the authors say, and that the ears have been shortened The researchers say the Lion sculpture appears similar to tomb guardian sculptures (zhenmushou) from the Tang Dynasty (pictured) Alternatively, it is possible that Niccolo and Maffeo Polo Marco Polo's father and uncle respectively encountered the sculpture during their visit to the Mongol court in Khanbaliq (modern Beijing) in 1262 and sent it back along the Silk Road. The earliest mention of a Lion statue atop Venice's large columns was in 1293, in documents that stated the sculpture was already damaged and needed restoration. The study, published in the journal Antiquity, reads: 'Lead isotope analysis of the bronze supports a Chinese origin, identifying likely copper sources in the Lower Yangzi River region. 'In a puzzling absence of written information, the intention and logistics behind its journey to Venice remain elusive and open to interpretation. 'If the installation of the 'Lion' was meant to send a strong, defensive political message, we can now also read it as a symbol of the impressive connectedness of the medieval world.' Hurricane Kiko's course has shifted and the major storm is now headed straight for Hawaii in a rare weather event for the islands. New spaghetti models of the Category 2 hurricane project that the storm will strike Hawaii's Big Island by next week. Kiko has been building in strength in the eastern Pacific Ocean, with local meteorologists now predicting it will become major Category 3 hurricane Wednesday. The storm has sustained winds of more than 100 mph after reaching hurricane status early Tuesday morning. The last major hurricane to directly strike Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki in September 1992. It struck as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 mph on September 11, resulting in six deaths, destroying over 1,400 homes, and causing an estimated $3 billion in damage. As forecasters in Hawaii feared, Kiko's path appears to have shifted slightly to the right, taking it towards the US islands and away from turbulent air that would have broken up the hurricane's structure. AccuWeather meteorologists agreed with the new spaghetti models, projecting that Kiko will make landfall in Hawaii at night on Tuesday, September 9. Hurricane Kiko entered Wednesday as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of more than 100 mph New prediction models for Hurricane Kiko warn that the storm may make a direct hit on Hawaii's Big Island in the coming days Up to eight inches of rain could pound the eastern side of the Big Island (Hawaii Island) once the storm hits, with around two inches predicted for the rest of the state next week. Officials in Hawaii have not issued any hurricane warnings or alerts as of Wednesday morning. The weather team from Hawaii News Now noted that it's still too early to say for sure if the hurricane will make landfall on the Big Island, but the number of models projecting a direct hit have been growing. A spaghetti model shows the different possible paths a tropical storm or hurricane might take, based on predictions from multiple weather computer programs. Each line represents one model's guess about where the storm could go. If the lines are close together, it means most models agree on the path, and the prediction is more certain. Forecasters at NHC have projected that Kiko will continue to strengthen, churning into a major hurricane, until Saturday. At that point, meteorologists expect the hurricane to weaken as it moves into cooler waters closer to Hawaii and encounters more wind shear. That means Kiko is expected to run into stronger winds blowing at different heights in the atmosphere which can tear apart a hurricane's structure. The National Hurricane Center has revealed that Hurricane Kiko's path has shifted, putting it on a course for the Hawaiian Islands next week The last major hurricane above Category 3 to directly strike Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki in 1992 Kiko is already the 11th named system in the eastern Pacific this year, and the Pacific hurricane season still has three months left to go. The season runs from May 15 until November 30, making it two weeks longer than the Atlantic hurricane season. Previously, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had predicted a 'below-normal season' for the eastern Pacific, with 12 to 18 named storms, five to 10 hurricanes, and up to five major hurricanes. Another Pacific hurricane formed early Wednesday morning, Lorena, which is swirling off the coast of Mexico and could threaten states like Arizona and New Mexico this weekend. On the other side of the US, NOAA projected an 'above average' season in the Atlantic which would likely more named storms than there were in 2024. Overall, NOAA predicted up to 19 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes affecting the US in 2025 . NHC forecasters have been tracking the latest disturbance headed toward the East Coast, which now has a 70 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression by the end of the week, setting up the potential for the next named storm, Gabrielle. When booking a trip, the cost of the hotel, luggage and flights can all add up and become very expensive. There are several different techniques travellers use to cut costs, from vouchers to selecting off-peak travel times. But one travel expert has revealed the really simple trick he uses to book cheap flights for his holidays. Vibra Media boss Richard Edwards told Hello! exactly what he does to bag more affordable travel. He explained that many holidaymakers search for their flights 'the exact same way' each time. 'Airlines use dynamic pricing that changes constantly, but most people search like prices are fixed. That's where they lose money,' he added. Techniques such as tracking what individuals are looking at also come into play on some travel sites and can shape the price of tickets. Richard revealed how flights may increase in cost if the site notices a surge in searches for that particular route and travellers might not see cheaper options. Vibra Media boss Richard Edwards told Hello! exactly what he does to bag more affordable travel (stock) He explained that many holidaymakers search for their flights 'the exact same way' each time (stock) There is even an option to set alerts for when the price of particular flights drop To find the holiday deals, the travel expert uses Google's Explore feature to search for flights. He explained: 'Open Google Flights, enter your departure city, but leave the destination completely blank. 'Then click on the map view. Suddenly, you can see flight prices to dozens of cities across Europe, all displayed visually.' The helpful tool shows several destination options at varying prices and is useful for seeing the cost of nearby places. There is even an option to set alerts for when the price of particular flights drop. This allows the traveller to bag the deal immediately and potentially save money on their journeys. 'When you use tools like the Explore Map strategically, you're not accessing hidden inventory, but simply seeing the full picture of what's available,' Richard added. He shared how he helped a friend to save 260 on flights to Italy using his clever hack. To find the holiday deals, the travel expert uses Google's Explore feature to search for flights (stock) Another expert, Casper Opala claimed he'd found the best way to save money on flights - and said it was more effective than using popular search engines such as Google flights and Skyscanner. The personal finance content creator, who goes by the handle Casper Capital regularly shares money-saving tips - and frequently advises on saving money on flights and holidays. Posting on Facebook, Casper, who's based in Chicago, revealed how he'd paid $92 (68.52) for a flight that should have, he says, cost $1,050 (783) - using ChatGPT, which he says 'uncovers what Google overlooks'. Describing the artificial intelligence software as 'your new travel agent', he details seven steps to guarantee lower flight costs. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more A solo traveller who trekked around Asia with just two backpacks has revealed the packing essentials she recommends the most. Rachel Smith, 25, regularly shares her travels on social media and spent seven months visiting various locations in Southeast Asia last year. She travelled to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka with a 50L Osprey backpack as well as a 15L day bag. The solo traveller kept essentials like important travel documents and chargers in her smaller bag. Meanwhile, her larger backpack was tactfully packed with cubes and she explained to Omio: 'Inside, I always use packing cubes to stay organised: one for underwear and bikinis, one for bottoms, one for tops, and one for dresses.' As for what Rachel thinks all holidaymakers should pack, she says a hanging wash bag is essential. The handy piece of kit 'keeps all my toiletries in one place and off hostel floors,' Rachel said. She also recommends bringing two microfibre towels: 'One for the beach, one for showering'. Rachel Smith, 25, regularly shares her travels on social media and spent seven months visiting various locations in Southeast Asia last year She travelled to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia , Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka with a 50L Osprey backpack as well as a 15L day bag The solo-traveller kept essentials like important travel documents and chargers in her smaller bag Travel locks are also good to take for ensuring valuable items are kept safe on the go. Rachel explained she uses hers 'for securing valuables in hostels'. A waterproof phone case is also handy and a cheaper option than buying underwater cameras. She added: 'Great alternative to a GoPro, but test it in a sink first!' The solo-traveller also lists a worldwide travel adapter as a key item to pack, and described it as 'one plug that works everywhere'. While a power bank is also important and Rachel explained it as 'essential for long travel days and safety as a solo traveller'. She added: 'For clothes, I had plenty of mix-and-match outfits so I could create lots of looks without packing too much. 'I also brought makeup and a couple of nice dresses for when I wanted to feel good on nights out. 'I ended up using almost everything I packed, but the items I used daily were: my packing cubes, microfibre towel, power bank, and travel locks. 'My makeup and dresses weren't everyday essentials, but I was so glad I had them when I wanted to feel a little extra.' As for what Rachel thinks all holidaymakers should pack, she says a hanging wash bag is essential She also recommends bringing two microfibre towels, 'One for the beach, one for showering' As for what Rachel advises against packing, the solo-traveller felt she brought too many white clothing items. 'They got dirty so quickly, and I had to continuously go to the laundry service to get them cleaned,' she explained. 'I also regret not buying doubles of things like my microfibre towel, so I couldve had one for the beach as well as one for the shower.' For those travelling to Asia, Rachel also urges holidaymakers to not bring bug spray. and instead purchase it at 7/11 there, which she says 'sells the cheapest and best versions'. Travellers have been warned over a wave of strikes set to hit a popular holiday destination. This follows the start of industrial action disrupting several Spanish airports last month, with staff striking over claims of 'constant breaches' of labour rights and 'continuous precariousness'. With 6 million Brits jetting off to this newly affected European spot each year, the upcoming strikes are set to cause even more disruption to holidaymakers. Those heading to Italy may be impacted by action scheduled to begin on September 6, 2025. Airports in several popular locations will be rocked, including Milan, Florence and Catania. Many of the airports are serviced by popular airlines including EasyJet, Ryanair, and TUI. EasyJet airline staff are expected to stage a 24-hour walkout on September 6 with the industrial action set to impact flights to and from Catania Fontanarossa Airport. On the same day, baggage handlers for Swissport will also down tools from Milan Linate, Travel and Tour World reports. Travellers have been warned over a wave of strikes set to hit a popular holiday destination (stock) Those heading to Italy may be impacted by action scheduled to begin on September 6, 2025 (stock) Airports in several popular locations will be rocked, including Milan, Florence and Catania While workers at Florence and Pisa's airports will also be striking with CUB Trasporti union for four hours, as confirmed by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. A spokesperson for Swissport told the Daily Mail: 'Our operations at Milan Linate Airport will continue as normal following the union's decision to call off their planned strike on 6 September. Swissport remains in close and constructive dialogue with its trade unions.' While EasyJet told the Daily Mail: 'We would like to reassure customers that we are doing all we can to minimise any disruption caused by national industrial action in Italy, including some Italian-based cabin crew unions on Saturday 6 September. 'Should any flights be impacted, we will contact customers directly with their options to help rearrange their plans. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.' According to Aero Time, a Wizz Air spokesperson said: 'With regard to Wizz Air's Italian operations on 6 Sept, a strike was called by a third-party Italian trade union and concerns Wizz Air's operations between 12:00 and 16:00 (CEST). 'Wizz Air plans to minimize the impact of this strike action.' More strikes are expected later on in the month, including September 14 when a 24-hour strike is set to hit Milan Linate and Malpensa airports as handling staff protest. While on September 26 multiple national 24-hour strikes are set to occur including baggage handlers associated with Assaeroporti, the union CUB Trasporti, and Volotea staff. Cagliari Elmas Airport's security staff are also expected to strike for 24 hours. Milan Linate Airport and Milano Malpensa Airport are reportedly due to be hit by four-hour baggage handling staff strikes. Staff from FLAI Transport and Services are also due to step down for four hours. EasyJet airline staff are expected to stage a 24-hour walkout on September 6 with the industrial action set to impact flights to and from Catania Fontanarossa Airport (stock) Passengers travelling on the mentioned dates have been urged to check ahead of time for any disruption or cancellations. Ivalyo Danailov, CEO of airline compensation specialists SkyRefund said: 'Passengers with EasyJet and Volotea should check if they are eligible for compensation, as strikes by airline staff are considered to be reasons for delay within the airlines control, therefore making passengers with them potentially eligible for compensation. 'Passengers affected by the strikes of airport staff, such as baggage handlers, or security staff however are unlikely to be eligible for delay compensation, as these are considered extraordinary circumstances. 'Nonetheless, passengers remain entitled to essential assistance, including meals, refreshments, communication, and accommodation if necessary, during prolonged delays. We strongly advise all travellers to keep themselves informed about potential disruptions on the affected days.' The world's leading destinations for booze have been revealed - and a popular European hotspot has taken the crown with 2 pints, a Mediterranean climate and quick flights from the UK. Nothing quite beats a getaway abroad and sipping a cold beer or wine after a day of exploring - especially if the drinks are much cheaper than those on home soil. But what if you're craving the ultimate boozy getaway, where you can visit vineyards, sample regional spirits and bar-hop across cobbled streets, all without breaking the bank? A new ranking compiled by The Telegraph has unveiled the top 10 countries for drinking, based on factors such as average alcohol prices, wine consumption per capita, and bar density. Leading the list is Portugal, thanks to its combination of low drink prices and high wine consumption rates. The country, which offers hot, dry summers and two-hour flights from the UK, is among the top consumers of wine globally while local prices remain low. Beer is also widely available and affordable - with the average domestic pint costing 2.50 (2.17) according to Wise - and can even be purchased at fast food chains such as McDonald's. In the capital, Lisbon, visitors are treated to a wide variety of bars selling local liquors, such as ginjinha, a sour-berry shot with a piece of fruit in the bottom of the glass. A new ranking compiled by The Telegraph has unveiled the top ten countries for drinking, based on factors such as average alcohol prices, wine consumption per capita, and bar density Leading the list is Portugal (pictured: Porto), thanks to its combination of low drink prices and high wine consumption rates Spain, another haven beloved by Brits for its cheap drinks and sunshine, ranks second, offering some of the most competitive beer prices in Europe. A pint in Madrid costs around 3.40, while coastal areas offer even cheaper options. Cities such as Sevilla and Barcelona also have a high number of bars per capita. In third place is Italy, a destination that proves good quality alcohol doesn't need a hefty price tag. According to Europe-Data, the average cost of a bottle of wine is around 5, while the price of a domestic beer is a little higher at 6. Outside of Europe, The United States ranks fourth with its diverse bar scenes in tourist-heavy cities such as New York, Orlando and Nashville, along with its globally recognised craft beer industry. Known as the birthplace of wine, Georgia comes in fifth with its strong drinking culture, traditional food pairings and direct flight connections from the UK. In sixth place is Austria, which performed well across all categories, including affordability, drink quality and relaxed alcohol laws. Czechia, which has the highest beer consumption per capita in Europe, follows in seventh place, to offering some of Europe's cheapest beer at around 2.10 per pint. In third place is Italy (pictured: Peschiera del Garda), a destination that proves good quality alcohol doesn't need a hefty price tag. Known as the birthplace of wine, Georgia (pictured: Tbilisi) comes in fifth with its strong drinking culture, traditional food pairings and direct flight connections from the UK Taking the eighth spot is Amsterdam with its plethora of cafe settings and late-night bars. In ninth place is Germany, a country internationally-recognised for its drinking culture, and where a pint of beer costs around 3.90 in Berlin - significantly less than in cities like London. Rounding out the top ten is Romania, which has the highest overall alcohol consumption per capita, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Bucharest offers cheap beers in supersized cans, and visitors can indulge in traditional spirits such as tuica, a plum brandy often served cold or at room temperature at gatherings. Julie Chrisley addressed the rumors that her husband, Todd Chrisley, is gay on the latest episode of their new post-prison release show, The Chrisleys: Back to Reality. 'I know who I'm married to,' Julie, 52, shared, adding, 'At the end of the day, OK. You can think whatever you want of him because he knows who he is.' Todd's, 56, former business associate, Mark Braddock, 58, shattered the reality star's long-cultivated reputation as a devoted and religious family man when he revealed their alleged romance and reported Todd to the cops in 2022. And on the new episode, Todd who has been married to Julie since 1996 continued to deny the allegations via a prison phone call, which took place before the couple were pardoned by President Donald Trump in May, after being found guilty in 2022 of defrauding banks. 'It's important to understand that in the position that were in, scandal sells,' Todd who previously called Braddock a 'toad' explained. He added that Braddock was the 'only one' who has ever made that type of allegation. Julie Chrisley, 52, addressed the rumors that her husband, Todd Chrisley, 56, is gay on the latest episode of their new post-prison release show, The Chrisleys: Back to Reality 'I know who I'm married to,' Julie shared, adding, 'At the end of the day, OK. You can think whatever you want of him because he knows who he is'; The pair seen in a still from the show Meanwhile their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, 28, recalled the time Braddock first made the allegations. 'During the trial, Mark made claims that he had a relationship with my father. We were all like, "You got to be effing kidding me."' 'Our lawyer said it best: Wheres the text messages? Wheres the phone calls? Wheres the letters? Wheres anything? I dont buy it.' Todd's former assistant, Tonya Claytor, also assured fans of Todd and Julies's love on the episode. 'Im very close with Todd,' she said. 'Ive traveled with him. Ive stayed in his house. Ive eaten dinner with them. I spend a lot of time with his family. Todd loves Julie. He loves his wife. Todd loves women.' Todd and Julie have three children together. Aside from Savannah, they share Chase, 29, and Grayson, 19. Todd also has two children from a previous relationship. At the time of Mark's allegations Todd denied having a gay relationship and blasted Mark a 'toad' who looks like a 'thumb.' In May, Todd and Julie were released from prison just one day after receiving a pardon from President Trump. Todd's former business associate, Mark Braddock, 58, shattered the reality star's long-cultivated reputation as a devoted and religious family man when he revealed the alleged romance and reported Todd to the cops in 2022 On the new episode, Todd continued to deny the allegations via a prison phone call. 'It's important to understand that in the position that were in, scandal sells,' Todd explained The reality star who has been married to Julie since 1996 added that Braddock was the 'only one' who has ever made that type of allegation Meanwhile their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, 28, recalled the time Braddock first made the allegations. 'Our lawyer said it best: Wheres the text messages? Wheres the phone calls? Wheres the letters? Wheres anything? I dont buy it,' she shared; Savannah with her family The couple were sentenced to 12 and seven years in prison respectively after being found guilty in 2022 of defrauding banks out of $30 million. While on the stand, Braddock told the court that he and Chrisley engaged in a romance in the early 2000s before breaking it off. Initially the pair remained close, forming what Braddock described in court as a 'brotherhood', before the relationship soured in 2012 when Chrisley threatened to call the police on him. The sordid claims made by Braddock served as the final blow that obliterated the Chrisley family's once-wholesome TV image, which was cultivated during years of reality TV fame. Before the court case multi-millionaire real estate developer and entrepreneur Todd and his wife were best known for starring in the USA Network reality series Chrisley Knows Best. It documented their day-to-day lives and featured their children. The dramatic conclusion of the trial was matched only by the surprising accusations made by the reality star's former employee, who said they had a year-long romance in the early 2000s while they were both married to their respective wives. In January 2023 Todd use his Chrisley Confessions podcast to hit back at allegations that he is gay and had a homosexual affair with Mark, saying there was no truth to them. While on the stand, Braddock told the court that he and Chrisley engaged in a romance in the early 2000s before breaking it off At the time of Mark's allegations Todd denied having a gay relationship and blasted him a 'toad' who looks like a 'thumb' 'Whats insulted me the most is that, out of all these 54 years, for me to finally be accused of being with a man, it would be someone who looked like Mark Braddock,' said Todd as he appeared alongside his son Chase. '[He's] a toad. Someone that looks like a thumb. Someone who says hes only had sex with his wife and me.' 'Let me you tell something. I could understand if youd have had sex with me, it would [make] you crazy. I get that,' he said. 'There have been many who have been d**k-notized by your daddy,' he joked with his son, adding that Braddock's story has changed several times. While on the stand Braddock also spoke in detail about Chrisley's alleged crimes, claiming that he had not only been a witness to them but that he had even helped commit them. Braddock claimed at trial that things soon turned romantic between them. And while the businessman said their affair only lasted about a year he told the court that they continued working together for nearly a decade after their secret romance ended. In 2012, the two reportedly got into a massive argument and the reality star is said to have thrown Braddock out of his office and threatened to call the police on him. Mark said in court he then decided to turn the Chrisleys into the FBI for tax fraud. The Chrisleys: Back To Reality airs at 8 p.m. ET on Mondays and Tuesdays on Lifetime Mark said at the trial he kept the affair a secret from his own wife, Leslie, whom he had been married to for more than three decades. The couple tied the knot 35 years ago in October 1987. He was forced to tell her about his infidelities before testifying and is said to have stood by her husband, with whom she shares two children. The Chrisley's new reality show captures the moment the Life After Lockup stars returned to their $1.6M, 5K-square-foot, four-bedroom property in the Nashville suburb of Belle Meade as well as the aftermath. The Chrisleys: Back To Reality airs at 8 p.m. ET on Mondays and Tuesdays on Lifetime. The Great British Bake Off fans brutally branded the show 'cringe, nonsense-ridden and a waste of time' just minutes into the latest premiere. Tuesday evening saw the highly-anticipated return of the much-loved Channel 4 programme as it enters its sixteenth series. Alison Hammond, 50, and Noel Fielding, 52, returned as presenters, alongside judges Paul Hollywood, 59, and Prue Leith, 85. Although many were over the moon that GBBO is back, there were plenty of things that viewers weren't happy about. The episode got off to a bad start with its opening Jurassic Park-themed sketch. Prue, Alison and Noel drove into 'Jurassic Bake' and funnyman Noel asked: 'Why is Prue dressed as Colonel Sanders?' The Great British Bake Off fans brutally branded the show 'cringe, nonsense-ridden and a waste of time' just minutes into premiere Tuesday evening saw the highly-anticipated return of the much-loved Channel 4 programme Wearing a white beard and circular glasses, Prue said: 'I have finally achieved my lifetime ambition of cloning a dinosaur with human DNA...' Moments later the ground started to shake and she said: 'Oh no! He's escaped. Tyranno-Paul-rus Rex.' It ended with the dinosaur eating Noel - and viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to complain about it. 'What the fudge was that pathetic opening of Great British Bake Off... Thought I'd gone back to cheesy 80's kids telly... Hope the show's better than the intro... '#GBBO Im very excited for this years bake off. But what the fudge was that opening sketch! I was cringing for them. Please stick to presenting and judging.' 'Opening was awful and strange, not sure who came up with that!' 'Not a fan of the intro, found it cringe. Just get on with the baking.' '#GBBO Stick to the baking guys. That beginning was excruciatingly cringe.' The episode got off to a bad start with its opening Jurassic Park themed sketch A dinosaur ended up eating Noel in the opening scene Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share how much they cringed over the opening of the new series Meanwhile others shared their annoyance over the TV scheduling as it clashed with the first episode of the new series of The Great British Sewing Bee. GBBO aired on Channel 4 between 8pm and 9:30pm, while the GBSB was on between 9pm and 10pm. One fumed on X: 'Would be interested to see stats on how many viewers switch over from Bake Off on Channel 4 to BBC1 for Sewing Bee at 9, who decided a bloody overlap was a good idea?' 'UNACCEPTABLE OVERLAP.' 'Glad it's back, but I wish it didn't overlap with Sewing Bee.' 'I'm more annoyed about the clash of Bake Off and Sewing Bee.' And to finish things off, others shared that they thought the wrong person was sent home. Tuesday's installment saw the contestants bake Swiss rolls, fondant fancies and an illusion cake. Many weren't happy that the show clashed with The Great British Sewing Bee - which has the same audience as GBBO While Nataliia impressed Prue and Paul and was named star baker, it was Hassan who didn't do enough to stay in the competition. Hassan said of his fellow co-stars: 'Everyone is such a phenomenal baker, they are all such lovely people. 'Even though its been a short-lived experience, I have enjoyed it. 'Hopefully I can reflect on some things and then maybe get back to baking when I get a chance.' But fans weren't happy with the decision. One said on X: 'Sad for Hassan, I couldn't speak more highly of him.' 'Big mistake sending Hassan home so early.. that man is comedy gold!!! #Hassan #GBBO.' 'Awww Hassan.....I mean....he wasn't great, but we deserve to have him for a couple more episodes #GBBO.' While Nataliia impressed Prue and Paul and was named star baker, it was Hassan who didn't do enough to stay in the competition (pictured) Viewers were gutted that Hassan was voted off the competition It comes after fans of The Great British Bake Off went wild as Noel posted a selfie with Paul to plug the latest installment of the Channel 4 hit. Noel shared a smouldering snap of him and fellow Bake Off presenter Paul, as the pair looked serious for the camera with the iconic Union Jack bunting in the background. 'Tonight!' wrote Noel on Instagram, tagging both the Bake Off and Channel 4 accounts. Excited fans were overjoyed, and rushed to the comments to share their support. 'Can't wait!' wrote one, while another chimed in: 'It's gonna be epic! Bring on the knitwear.' 'Can't wait,' said another, adding: 'And a huge good luck to all the bakers.' Last night marked the actor's first on-screen appearance since the axing of his comedy show The Completely Made Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin after just one season. The 52-year-old has also been struggling with health issues, although he has been deliberately private about this aspect of his life. The Great British Bake Off airs Tuesdays on Channel 4 and is available to stream on channel4.com. A legendary British comedian has been slapped with a trigger warning for 'outdated references and offensive innuendos' as ITV's woke streaming crackdown rages on. Carry On star Kenneth Williams has fallen victim to the new culture of content disclaimers, with his classic show An Audience With now carrying a warning label on ITVX. The programme, which first aired in 1983 and has been uploaded to the platform for a new generation, alerts viewers: 'Contains outdated references and innuendo some viewers may find offensive.' Famed for his smutty catchphrases including 'Ooh, matron!' and 'Ooh, I say!', Williams was known for peppering his routines with cheeky double entendres as part of his inimitable style. The one-off special is full of his trademark wordplay. In a sketch about home improvements, he quips: 'We'll shove a couple of creepers up your trellis.' Elsewhere, a gag about a woman arguing with a naked man sees him deliver: 'Did you have it out with him? He had it out already himself.' Carry On star Kenneth Williams (pictured) has fallen victim to the new culture of content disclaimers, with his classic show An Audience With now carrying a warning label on ITVX The programme alerts viewers of 'outdated references and innuendo some viewers may find offensive' (Hattie Jacques, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Williams in Carry On Doctor) Another risque line comes when he declares: 'I was once a weak man but the doctor said, "Once a week is enough for anyone".' Throughout, the comic leans heavily on phallic-sounding words such as 'trunk' and 'length', much to the delight of his audience at the time. Williams remains best remembered for starring in 26 of the 31 Carry On films and for his two decades as a fixture on BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute. He once mischievously remarked: 'I can't stand innuendo. If I see one in a script, I whip it out immediately.' But away from the spotlight, his life was far more complex. In 1977, he spoke openly about his struggles with loneliness and depression. A decade later, in 1988, he died aged 62 from an overdose - his diary's haunting final entry reading: 'Oh, what's the bloody point?' It comes amid a slew of similar crackdowns on classic British comedies by the broadcaster. Just days ago, a beloved comedy series was slapped with a trigger warning for 'offensive language and sexual stereotypes' in another woke crackdown by ITV. Famed for his smutty catchphrases including 'Ooh, matron!' and 'Ooh, I say!', Williams was known for peppering his routines with cheeky double entendres as part of his inimitable style Williams remains best remembered for starring in 26 of the 31 Carry On films and for his two decades as a fixture on BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute (Pictured: Carry On Loving) Minder, created by Leon Griffiths, hit our screens on ITV back in 1979. The show went on to have 10 successful series on the channel until 1994. It returned on Channel 5 in 2009 for one season. Viewers can watch the programme on ITVX, but now, the episodes warn those watching that Minder 'contains offensive language, outmoded sexual stereotypes and some violence'. The streaming service's synopsis of the show reads: 'Roguish comedy drama following the misadventures of small-time crook Arthur Daley. 'Can his ex-boxer bodyguard Terry stay level-headed whilst working for the King of Dodgy Deals?' Terry McCann is played by Dennis Waterman, Arthur Daley is played by George Cole and Ray Daley is portrayed by Gary Webster. In an episode which aired back in 1980, Terry uses a Cockney rhyming slang term to describe a gay man as a 'raving iron'. There are also references to sex, including when Terry says that his bedroom antics with an older woman was 'smashing'. They are also joined by Glynn Edwards, Patrick Malahide, Meic Povey, Peter Childs, Michael Troughton and Nicholas Day. Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment. Rylan Clark's common sense comments about immigration have sparked more than five hundred complaints to Ofcom - as a woke bid to 'cancel' the TV favourite rages on. The regulator received a staggering 576 complaints over last week's This Morning episode, where the 36-year-old argued that putting migrants who had crossed the Channel illegally in four-star hotels was 'insane'. This prompted a wave of attacks from left-wing commentators such as Good Morning Britain panellist Kevin Maguire, who accused Clark - without evidence - of spreading 'terrible myths' about immigration. Clark had praised immigrant doctors and nurses for saving his mother Lindas life in hospital last month, saying they were paying taxes and helping this country thrive. But he added: How come if I turn up at Heathrow Airport as a British citizen and Ive left my passport in Spain, Ive got to stand at that airport and wont be let in. But if I arrive on a boat from Calais, I get taken to a four-star hotel?' Although many agreed with his viewpoint as clips from the show were widely shared, Clark faced such a backlash that he was forced to issue a statement to clarify it was possible to be 'pro-immigration and against illegal routes'. Clark hit out at undocumented migrants in Britain during ITV's This Morning last week Clark also spoke about the 'amount of people that are in this country that we have no idea who they are, what they've done, what they're capable of'. He contrasted the situation with the amount of homeless people and veterans living on the UK's streets, adding: 'Something major needs to be done about this.' Clark said: 'Taking politics out of this, let's just look at the country. This country is built on immigration, legal immigration. 'A lot of the nurses, the doctors that have saved my mum's life have come over here from other countries, are living a great life, they're paying into this tax system, they're helping this country thrive. 'I find it absolutely insane that all these people, 1) are risking their lives coming across the Channel like they are, but 2) when they get here, [the response] does seem, and I think this is why a lot of Labour voters as well are now sitting there going there's something wrong here, it seems [to be], "Welcome, come on in". 'This is the narrative we're being fed. Here's the hotel, here's the phones, here's the iPad, here's the NHS in reception of your hotel. Here's three meals a day, here's a games room in the hotel. Have a lovely time and welcome. 'And then there's people that have lived here all their lives that are struggling, or homeless. Let's not even discuss our homeless. 'There are people living on the streets, veterans, all of this.' Susanna Reid rushed to Rylan Clark's defence on Good Morning Britain after Kevin Maguire criticised his 'terrible' comments about illegal immigration Speaking to guests Camilla Tominey and Tim Campbell who were on the show to discuss the news headlines, he continued. He said: 'This isn't me getting on my soapbox, because let me be honest, everyone's going to have an opinion about this and you're going to upset someone, some which way. I believe that something major needs to be done about this. 'The money that it's costing us, the amount of people that are in this country that we have no idea who they are, what they've done, what they're capable of and clearly we see a lot of it in the press at the moment, what some are doing. While the Home Office does not provide mobile phones and iPads to new arrivals because these are not considered a basic need, sometimes charities and churches may do so, along with basic items like clothes and food. Asylum seekers are entitled to free NHS care whilst claims are being processed. Four-star hotels have been used to house asylum seekers, such as the Britannia International in Canary Wharf. The 36-year-old was accused by Good Morning Britain panellist Kevin Maguire of spreading 'terrible myths' about immigration. But host Susanna Reid intervened to say it was duty of government to 'control borders' and said Clark had been at pains to state his support for immigrants who come to Britain legally, with his criticism solely reserved for those arriving on illegal routes. 'Hang on. He pointed out that this country is built on immigration, and he was grateful to all of the migrants who have come to the NHS for helping support his mum,' she told the journalist. The row comes after Labour sought to respond to rising public anger by unveiling an asylum 'crackdown' that will temporarily bar refugees from bringing family members to the UK. Yvette Cooper has sought to respond to public anger about Britain's failing immigration system by announcing an asylum 'crackdown' The Home Secretary said last night that no Channel migrants have been returned to France yet under its much-vaunted 'one in, one out' deal. The Government claimed in July that a handful of migrants would be sent back to France within weeks but none have yet been processed under the new system. Reid continued: 'I have to say, Kevin, it is the duty of government, as the government itself would acknowledge, that we control borders and we do not just welcome everybody if we don't know who they are. 'And I think Rylan's message struck a chord with a lot of people... He did not want it to be an anti-migration message.' Maguire went on to double down on his claim Clark was spreading falsehoods. 'He also regurgitated a load of myths and lies - let's not ignore that,' the journalist said. 'Myths and lies have gone mainstream, and we've got to challenge that, we've got to push back on that.' Reid replied: 'Rylan also pointed out that we also have a homelessness problem, the government itself acknowledges that there's not enough housing. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. 'So, I just think that to say that what Rylan said was outrageous, regurgitating propaganda.' One viewer called for the GMB presenter to be given a 'knighthood' for her intervention. Rylan took to X to clarify his stance following the backlash: 'You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women. 'You can be heterosexual and still support gay rights. The list continues. Stop with this putting everyone in a box exercise and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on Twitter.' On Friday, Clark confirmed that it was his 'last day' on This Morning amid backlash to his comments about immigration earlier in the week. The host and Josie had been standing in as hosts to cover for Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd as they take their summer holidays. Crowds of anti-migrant demonstrators holding English flags and Union Jacks gather outside the Crowne Plaza hotel in West Drayton Protestors outside the Crowne Hotel adorned in England flags as a police van patrols the scene He said on Friday's episode: 'Last day today!', which prompted Jodie to declare: 'What a week!' Labour's latest asylum crackdown has been criticised by the Conservatives as insufficient. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Under Labour, a small boat to the UK is a one-way ticket to one of Keir Starmer's cushy hotels paid for by hard-pressed taxpayers. 'Labour has flung open the doors to the UK and this year they have let in the highest number of illegal immigrants across the Channel ever. This weak Government has lost control of our borders. 'They are too weak to do what's needed to fix this which is to make sure that every single illegal immigrant is removed immediately upon arrival. Then, no one would bother crossing in the first place.' The 'one in, one out deal' was announced by the Prime Minister and President Emmanuel Macron on July 10 at the end of the Anglo-French summit. Sir Keir said at the time that the 'ground-breaking' pilot project under which some migrants arriving in small boats would be detained and returned to France while the same number of genuine asylum-seekers would be allowed to come to the UK would begin 'in the coming weeks'. The Home Secretary also told MPs on July 14 that the expectation was that 'that pilot will be operationalised in the coming weeks'. The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, has been a focus for anti-migration protests Migrants in life-jackets wave to a dinghy leaving Gravelines in northern France last month It was announced on August 4 that the treaty had been ratified, and then the Home Office revealed that 'detentions began for those who arrived in the UK on a small boat' on August 6, stating: 'The UK will make referrals to France within three days, and the French authorities will be expected to respond within 14 days.' But almost four weeks on, the cases are still being processed, although sources insisted that those detained are still being held. Ms Cooper told the Commons yesterday: 'In August I signed the new treaty with France allowing us for the first time to directly return those who arrive on small boats. 'The first detentions took place the next day of people immediately on arrival at Dover. And we expect the first returns to begin later this month.'Applications have also been opened for the reciprocal legal route, with the first cases under consideration, subject to strict security checks.' 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 Alison Hammond stunned in a chic blue dress from Monsoon this week - and we've found flattering alternatives perfect for Autumn. During Tuesday's instalment of the new Great British Bake Off series, Alison, 50, returned to her presenting duties alongside Noel Fielding and judges Paul Hollywood, 59, and Prue Leith, 85. Alison wore a stylish blue denim midi dress featuring a fit-and-flare design, a zip-fastening to the bodice, a cornelli embroidery at the chest, and a round neckline. Despite our best efforts to find the exact dress she wore on the show, it turns out her Monsoon Kaia Cornelli Dress is completely sold out everywhere except Debenhams. The stylish ensemble is currently retailing for 85, and only a size 20 is available online. However, Scamp & Dude is currently offering this stunning Authentic Indigo Zip Detail Tiered Midi Denim Dress, which is perfect for the transition into autumn. Exact match: Kaia Cornelli Dress Blue Featuring a fit-and-flare design, a zip-fastening to the bodice, a cornelli embroidery at the chest, and a round neckline Shop Priced at 135, the denim dress is made from 100% cotton and features short puff sleeves, a V-neckline, an elasticated waist, a feature front zip, and a tiered skirt. Alternatively, Topshop is currently offering the Denim zip-through long sleeve mini dress in indigo for 46. The mini dress made from 100% cotton features a non-stretch denim texture, a regular fit, a spread collar, long sleeves, and a zip-up fastening at the front. This denim ensemble also comes in a range of sizes from UK 8-16. Monsoon offers the Maya Zip Denim Midi Dress in Blue for just 85, and it comes in a range of sizes from small to XXL. Boasting three-quarter-length sleeves, a zip fastening at the front, a V-neckline, and a tiered skirt, it is the perfect staple item for your workwear wardrobe. The stunning piece is made from 100% cotton - and it's sure to sell out fast, so grab it whilst you can! However, if you're looking for a blue denim dress with a wild twist, then opt for this Authentic Indigo Leopard Zip Detail Midi Denim Dress from Scamp & Dude, which is currently on offer for 79.75, down from 145. Similar match: Authentic Indigo Zip Detail Tiered Midi Denim Dress The denim dress is made from 100% cotton and features short puff sleeves, a V-neckline, an elasticated waist, a feature front zip, and a tiered skirt Shop Similar match: Maya Zip Denim Midi Dress Blue Boasting three-quarter-length sleeves, a zip fastening at the front, a V-neckline, and a tiered skirt, it is the perfect staple item for your workwear wardrobe Shop Boasting a stretch denim material, a V-neckline, puff sleeves, and a functional long front zip, the gorgeous piece is made from 99% cotton and 1% elastane. Alternatively, Nobody's Child is currently offering the Blue Denim Midi Shirt Dress for 99. The chic ensemble comes in a range of UK sizes from 4-18 and is made from 70% organic cotton and 30% Lenzing Ecovero Viscose. The autumn staple features a spread collar, a button-up fastening, long sleeves, front pockets, and a flared skirt. Kiwi crime show following a former Sydney detective who unpicks dark secrets in her old home town Year: 2024 Certificate: 12 Watch now on U (UKTV) Watch now on Acorn TV Thank heavens for high definition widescreen TVs. Your big screen will bring out the best in the colour-saturated landscapes and clear blue skies in the opening of this Kiwi crime show. With its wide open spaces, mountains, valleys and trees with leaves in every hue, this is a remarkable, beautiful place. But as the title suggests it is also harbouring deadly secrets. Anais (Chelsie Preston Crayford) returns to her home town, where it's instantly clear she has an uneasy relationship with her mother Veronica (Rebecca Gibney), who is still haunted by the death of Anais's sister, Lynne. Anais's arrival in the South Island town of Queenstown is intercut with a car tumbling down the mountainside. A body is recovered and for Anais, who has returned to the island from Sydney, where she was a high-flying homicide detective, it's her first case. It's a show that really makes the most of its setting, though by that we mean its community and characters rather than the scenery. Anais has unfinished business in the town (clue: her best friend is now married to her former fiance) and new questions arise over the circumstances of her sister's death. (Four episodes) Davina McCall hosts a dating show that mixes Married At First Sight with Castaway Year: 2025 Certificate: 12 Watch now on BBC iPlayer If you've managed to exhaust the array of island-based dating shows on offer, have no fear for the BBC invites you to travel to another one! Stranded On Honeymoon Island strays away from the usual glitz of a cash prize or promise of a post-show career as an influencer, and instead offers up a trophy rather rare for dating shows: marriage! The series revolves around six couples (paired up after a measly few rounds of speed dating) who undergo a symbolic wedding ceremony before they're each marooned on an island in the Philippines. Cut off from the outside world's luxuries, the newlyweds are set the task of surviving with one another for three weeks. Against the backdrop of the UK's depressing divorce statistics, the show provides a comedic yet vulnerable perspective into the dynamics of marriage. Stages of drawn-out and pampered courtship are fast-forwarded into the juicy stuff as the couples confront toilet etiquette, former partners and scary insects. Host Davina McCall poses the question about whether the rough, isolated conditions will make the contestants flourish in love or 'flare out' - using the distress flare they're given to quit the island. If watching chaos unfold under the guise of a social experiment is your kind of TV getaway, you will not want to desert this show. (One series) A Perth businessman who is currently suing Married At First Sight star Lauren Dunn for defamation has been arrested for alleged possession of cocaine. Aidan Murphy will face a Magistrates Court on October 17 for allegedly possessing cocaine on August 20, and for breaching a family violence restraining order. Murphy, 37, pleaded not guilty to the FVRO breach, which allegedly took place between June 15 and 16, and also pleaded not guilty to the drug possession charge. The offences allegedly took place in Applecross, the WA suburb where Murphy lives. When Daily Mail approached Murphy for comment, he declined to comment about the alleged cocaine possession and FVRO breach. 'Sorry, no comment. You'll have to speak to the lawyers about that one,' he said. Aidan Murphy, 37, will face a Magistrates Court on October 17 for allegedly possessing cocaine and for breaching a family violence restraining order. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges When asked to provide a contact for his lawyer, he was unable to provide it, stating: 'I don't have it with me. I'm not in the country at the moment.' It comes after Murphy filed a defamation lawsuit against MAFS star Dunn, 33, over social media posts made in July. Murphy alleges Dunn posted malicious and false comments about him on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook between July 14 and July 21. The summons was filed with the WA Supreme Court on August 15, WA Today reported last month. In it, the managing director claimed Dunn defamed him and, by extension, the business he works for, Unite Resourcing. Murphy did not specify in the summons which posts allegedly defamed him; however, it is understood they have since been removed from social media. Murphy's lawyer, Roger Blow, filed the summons and requested that the court issue an injunction to stop Dunn from making similar posts about the Applecross man. Murphy claimed Dunn made the posts out of 'malice', and Blow claims the reality TV star is also liable for defamatory remarks made by her followers. It comes after Murphy filed a defamation lawsuit against MAFS star Lauren Dunn (pictured) over social media posts made in July Dunn told WA Today her posts were a reaction to negative remarks Murphy allegedly made about her in relation to her ex-boyfriend, former AFL player Ryan Crowley. Crowley is currently facing a series of domestic violence charges related to his relationship with Dunn in 2019 and 2020. The former Fremantle Dockers player was recently hit with six new charges, with prosecutors alleging he attacked his ex-girlfriend 'to the point of almost killing her'. The 41-year-old appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on July 22 over the historical charges, which are alleged to have taken place between 2019 and 2020. Crowley was charged with one count of unlawful assault and one count of threatening to kill. Those charges are alleged to have taken place in September 2019. He is also facing one count of unlawful assault, one count of intent to harm, a count of deprivation of liberty and another count of deprivation of liberty in circumstances of aggravation. Those charges allegedly took place in March 2020. Five of the offences were allegedly committed against his former girlfriend, Dunn. The final charge pertains to the alleged abuse of another woman. If you need someone to talk to about domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT or visit White Ribbon Australia's website. In an emergency, call 000. Their relationship was the stuff of tabloid dreams. Jade Goody was the Big Brother star and Jack Tweed was the cheeky chappy, who was best friends with then-unknown TOWIE star Mark Wright and an established face on the Essex party scene. All of sudden, when the pair started dating in 2006, he became one of the most recognisable faces in Britain. The couple endured a break-up and reunion, Jack's imprisonment and subsequent curfew, a miscarriage, Jade's infamous race row and her tragic cancer battle before tying the knot in February 2009 - just one month before her death at age 27. Since his wife's death, Jack, who is now working as an electrician and in a relationship with Ellis Sargeant, has been plagued by drama, living through one scandal to another in the wake of becoming a widower aged just 21. One month after her death, Jack was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for assault, and was accused of rape the following year - while also being left broke and banned from seeing Jade's two sons Bobby, 22, and Freddie, 20, by their father Jeff Brazier. Now, with Freddie about to become a father for the first time it's a poignant moment for Jack that his late wife's first grandchild will come into the world, and it's unlikely he will have any involvement in the child's life. How Jack Tweed's life derailed after Jade Goody's death: Husband wasn't allowed to see boys he 'raised', was left with no money, imprisoned and battled rape accusation (Jack and Jade pictured in February 2009, one month before her death) After her death, Jack was banned from seeing Jade's two sons Bobby, 22, and Freddie, 20, by their father Jeff Brazier Jack is now working as an electrician and living with his girlfriend Ellis Sargeant JADE'S BOYS After Jade's death, Jack was banned from visitations by the boys' dad, TV presenter Jeff Brazier, when he ended up in prison - despite Jack making bold claims about Jeff's parenting prior to Jade's death. Jade split from the father of her sons Jeff while she was pregnant with their younger son child in 2004, after two years together. Two years later, she met Jack and once they moved in together, he claimed he stepped into the role of 'Dad'. He insisted he 'loved them like they was my own' - going as far as to say that he was their 'real father figure' while Jade was alive. He said: 'I brought them up for four years. Jeff used to only be around once a month for the weekend.' After Jade's death, Jack was banned from visitations by the boys' dad, TV presenter Jeff Brazier, when he ended up in prison - despite Jack making bold claims about Jeff's parenting prior to Jade's death (Freddie and Bobby L-R in 2022) Jack did go on to acknowledge that Jeff has been a great dad to the kids but remained adamant that Jade wanted him to adopt them at the time. In 2019, Jack revealed: 'Jeff stopped me from seeing the boys. At that time, I was getting into trouble and I was off the rails - so Jeff was probably right to do that. 'Now he's seen I've sorted myself out, so he got in touch and said the boys had been asking about me. They came around to mine for tea and Jeff was there so it felt like an awkward first date!' Despite their previous troubles, in 2023, Jack said of Jeff: 'I get on with Jeff. We're not close mates and we don't speak all the time but it's all very civil and that is the main thing.' Jack is pictured with Freddie ahead of his wedding to Jade at t Down Hall Country House Hotel in February 2009 Jade split from the father of her sons Jeff while she was pregnant with their youngest child in 2004, after two years together, and two years before meeting Jack (Jade and Jeff pictured in 2003) MONEY TROUBLES When Jack first found love with Jade, the duo were plagued with cruel whispers that he was using the star for her money. In light of this, many assumed he would have been well looked after when she passed away however it transpired he did not receive any money from the star - only inheriting a 14,000 six year old Volkswagen. Jade attempted to spread out their funds equally, including the 1million OK! Magazine paid for their wedding pictures but Jack insists he gave that to the boys. Jade repeatedly voiced her desire for her money to be used to put her boys through private education, something that was later questioned. He said: 'I didn't take a penny from her. Nothing. She was lying in the hospital bed trying to buy me a flat. I told her no... 'She wanted to make sure I was alright. She knew I was young. She knew I loved her to absolute pieces. And she knew if she wasn't there I wouldn't know what to do.' In 2020, Jack expressed concern that the funds had 'vanished' and acknowledged his lack of oversight as a named beneficiary. He told The Sun, 'I don't want to accuse anyone because I don't know the full story but something doesn't seem right. Something doesn't add up.' He regretted not being more vigilant with her money, saying: 'I probably should have been more involved with the money situation, seeing where it all went and making sure the kids got it and it didn't get wasted by anyone... 'But it didn't feel right for me to get involved in that at the time.' When Jack first found love with Jade, the duo were plagued with cruel whispers that he was using the star for her money (the couple pictured on a shopping spree in 2007) LEGAL WOES Jack has been plagued by legal woes both before and after Jade's death, having been imprisoned in December 2006 for assaulting a 16-year-old, shortly after starting his romance with Jade and moving into her home. History repeated itself just one month after Jade's death when Jack was jailed for 12 weeks at Harlow Magistrates Court for an assault on a taxi driver. Chairwoman of the Magistrates, Margaret Webb, told Jack his recent bereavement had been considered in passing the sentence. She said: 'We have borne in mind the recent change in your personal circumstances and have reflected this in the length of the sentence, which would otherwise have been 18 weeks'. In 2011, Jack was given community service for punching Tom Grantham, 21, outside Deuces Bar and Lounge, in Chigwell - the club he owned with Mark Wright. He was given an 18-month supervision order, issued 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to enrol in a programme to prevent reoffending. He admitted common assault and was also told to pay 625 costs. Alongside his convictions for brawling, Jack was accused of raping a teenager just six months after Jade's death - leading to a hellish trial for the widower. The trial heard the student and three friends went to a club night promoted by Jack at the Embassy Club in Mayfair in September 2009. The girl had 'a few' drinks, including rose wine, vodka lemonade, a sip of champagne, and a 'dab' of cocaine. Jack has been plagued with legal woes both before and after Jade's death, having been imprisoned in December 2006 for assaulting a 16-year-old, shortly after starting his romance with Jade and moving into her home (pictured heading to court in 2009) She and her friends were invited to Jack's rented townhouse in the gated community of Repton Park, East London, at around 3am. The woman claimed Jack forced himself on her in his house, while his friend Anthony Davis, then 26, blocked any escape route by holding the door, before having sex with the student himself. Both men said the woman, then aged 19, consented to sex - and their lawyers successfully argued she 'cried rape' after her friends taunted her for having sex with two men at the same time. Jack said in a statement read outside court by his solicitor Phil Smith: 'I'm relieved the jury have taken a matter of minutes to see through these scurrilous and completely groundless allegations. 'I would like to thank my legal team who fought to establish my innocence. I now wish to put the last eight months behind me and rebuild my life as a 22-year-old man.' Max Clifford, the late, disgraced celebrity publicist who represented Jade in her final days, spoke out after the trial saying: 'I am very pleased for Jack and his family, especially his mum, who I got to know very well when Jade was alive... 'I hope this will be a lesson for Jack. I warned him about this kind of thing even when Jade was alive. He has become a target for girls looking to make money out of him.' Jack is good friends with TOWIE star Mark Wright, with the pair investing together in Deuces nightclub, where Jack commited his 2011 assault (the duo pictured in 2010) DISTANCE FROM PALS Following Jade's death, Jack's friendship group changed when his close union with Mark Wright seemed to cool significantly. The incident outside Deuces, for which Jack was convicted, saw Mark found not guilty of using threatening launguage - although he admitted 'seeing red'. Jack was notably absent from Mark's stag festivities before his wedding to Michelle Keegan in 2015, while Mark later made a circle of A-list pals. A source familiar with both men told Daily Mail's Katie Hind: 'After Jade died, Jack struggled and was no longer in the limelight. He was in bits, he got himself into some troubles and then he and Mark were hardly seen together again. 'He realised he was in danger of losing it all if he didn't clean up his act. It was all very bizarre. By the time Mark went to Vegas, Jack was no longer in Mark's circle. It was like Mark was seeking new beginnings.' The duo were last seen together on a stag do in Ibiza in 2023 Despite an apparent cooling in their friendship, Mark (left) and Jack (right) were seen together on a stag do in Ibiza in 2023 Jack and Jade are pictured at the start of their romance in 2006 FULL CIRCLE After meeting Jade at just 18, Jack was sucked into the glamorous showbiz world and wowed by the financial spoils of being in the spotlight. Following her passing however and his withdrawal from the fame game, Jack has returned to life as it was before he fell for reality royalty. He is now back to working as an electrician - the job he gave up when he met Jade - and is living with his girlfriend Ellis. Jack recently spoke about his new life, saying: 'I'm good. I'm pretty settled down now, living with a girl, and work is going well so everything is alright for once. I've got an electrician company with my dad, so we do big commercial warehouse jobs... 'It's what I used to do when I first left school before I met Jade. I've done a full circle.' 'I was a young apprentice when I met Jade and I remember her saying, 'A magazine want to do a photoshoot'. I wasn't really like that. She said they'd give us 10k each, so I was like, 'Dad, I'm not coming to work tomorrow!'' Jack conceded that life was not all glamour in the spotlight, saying: 'When I first started it was hard. It's why a lot of reality stars end up in a bad way. It is difficult... 'I used to get a lot of abuse. It really affected my confidence. I still worry about people judging me constantly.' Adult content creator Annie Knight has revealed the shocking amount of money she has been paid by one fan for a simple phone call. The 28-year-old confessed on Wednesday the most she had ever earned from one subscriber on her OnlyFans account was US$33,000 (AU$50,616). She told Reality Check Show host Shuan Maroof the fan mostly paid her for video calls, with some of their chats raking in up to US$5,000 (AU$7,669) per call. 'How does that even happen? How much content did he buy?' a stunned Shuan asked. 'We do a lot of video calls. That could be $5,000 sometimes, if it's a long one. Or it could be custom videos, sexting,' Annie replied. Shocked by the revelation, Shuan then asked the sex worker what she was doing with this particular fan on the phone to warrant a $5,000 payday. Annie Knight, 28, has revealed the shocking amount of money she has been paid by one fan for a simple phone call 'Sometimes we're literally just chatting. We're just having a conversation,' said Annie, who has a staggering net worth of $5.2 million. 'Then other times it's more sexual.' It comes after the blonde beauty, who has been dubbed 'Australia's most sexually active woman', escaped a terrifying incident while holidaying in the US. The OnlyFans creator took to her Instagram Stories on Friday to share details of the frightening moment she was almost a victim of assault. Annie said she was walking on a main street with two girlfriends when a man came at them with a machete. She said they escaped the attack by 'sprinting' into a nearby restaurant. In a shocking twist, she claimed none of the onlookers paid any attention as the distressed women recomposed themselves. '[We] were visibly shaken and scared and no one batted an eyelid,' she said. The adult content creator confessed on Wednesday the most she had ever earned from one subscriber on her OnlyFans account was US$33,000 (AU$50,616) Annie included a picture of herself and reflected on the chilling incident in the story. 'It was one of the scariest things to happen to me, but I was shocked at how normal that must be here,' she wrote. 'If that happened in Australia, there [would have been] police helicopters flying overhead... and it [would have] been on national news,' she continued. 'Stay safe out there, folks.' Camila Cabello put on a brave face during her final Australian concert on Saturday night after a massive technical glitch stopped the show. The hitmaker, 28, had just begun playing her piano-based pop ballad B.O.A.T. when the instrument started to make weird sounds. As a crew member rushed onto the stage at the Hordern Pavilion to fix the fault, Camila made light of the embarrassing incident. A video later shared to YouTube shows the Cuban-born star momentarily confused over the critical malfunction. 'I dont know if you guys could hear, but what was coming out of my piano was actually crazy,' she told concertgoers between fits of laughter. She later joked: 'I was like what the hell, is this a prank?' Camila Cabello put on a brave face during her final Australian concert on Saturday after a massive technical glitch stopped the show. Pictured: Camila at the concert at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion on Saturday The hitmaker, 28, had just begun playing her piano-based pop ballad B.O.A.T. when the instrument started to make weird sounds. Pictured: A stage crew member (left) tries to fix the fault as Camila jokes with the audience over the embarrassing mishap Another video shared to Instagram via Refinery29au shows Camila sitting at the piano while a member of the stage crew tries to fix the broken instrument. 'Guys, I feel like you know, like when somebody plans this whole romantic moment and then does something stupid,' she joked. She continued, You guys just planned this adorable - this beautiful moment with all the multi-coloured B.O.A.T. lights and then my piano was like ''wah''.' It comes after Camila stunned fans on Wednesday when she locked lips with an Aussie icon amid her tour Down Under. Sharing a clip to social media that captured her from behind as she appeared to be locked in a passionate kiss with something off-camera. She then turned around to reveal the object of her affection: an unopened box of Arnott's Tim Tams, which had been rebranded Camila's. Captioning the clip with her trademark charm, Camila simply wrote: 'Really happy.' The hilarious footage even caught the attention of Tim Tam's official TikTok page, which reposted it with the caption: 'Camila just couldn't keep her hands off us.' Camila recently played tour sold out shows Down Under as part of her Yours, C World Tour Camila's recent concerts Down Under are part of her Yours, C World Tour, which kicked off in Spain in June. The Havana songstress is taking her global jaunt in support of her latest album C, XOXO, which was released last year. Camila last performed in Australia a decade ago when she toured with Fifth Harmony, a girl group that was launched on The X Factor US when she was just 15. She left the group after four years to build a solo career that has included four albums, including her self-titled debut in 2018, Romance (2019), Familia (2022) and 2024's C, XOXO. Camila also starred in the Amazon Prime Video streaming hit Cinderella in 2021. Love Island's Ella Barnes has reportedly called time on her romance with entrepreneur Neil Farrugia. The 25-year-old star is said to have ended things with the fitness enthusiast last month, after the pair found the strain of long distance too difficult to manage. Ella remains based in Kent, while Neil, 30 - who previously dated fellow Islander Gemma Owen - lives in Malta. A source told The Sun: 'Ella and Neil had some amazing times together, but in the end they found it too difficult to make their relationship work long distance. 'They didn't have any hard feelings, but realised it was too tough to make it work in the long-run.' 'They've wiped their Instagram accounts of pictures together and unfollowed each other - which has made the split official,' the source added. Love Island's Ella Barnes has reportedly called time on her romance with entrepreneur Neil Farrugia The 25-year-old star is said to have ended things with the fitness enthusiast last month, after the pair found the strain of long distance too difficult to manage Daily Mail has contacted Ella's representative for comment. In May, Ella was asked in an Instagram Q&A how she met her boyfriend, and she replied: 'Me and Olivia Hawkins went to Malta for @isleofmtv festival last summer. 'I met Neil the first night I got there and we juts clicked instantly. 'I was never meant to go on the trip it was super last minute. 'I am truly a believer of that everything happens for a reason. 'We met organically in person which is so rare these days and I'm super grateful for that. 'Even more rare is that we make it work long distance! 'However by the end of the year we will ne living together.' In May, Ella was asked in an Instagram Q&A how she met her boyfriend Ella shot to fame on the 2023 summer series of the popular ITV dating series, finishing fifth place with Mitchel Taylor In another post she revealed it had been 'tough' as she hadn't seen Neil for 'four weeks', as they lived so far apart. Ella shot to fame on the 2023 summer series of the popular ITV dating series, finishing fifth place with Mitchel Taylor. However, just a month after leaving the villa, the pair announced their split. Confirming the news on Instagram, Ella wrote: 'Just wanted to come on here and keep you all updated, as you deserve to know as I wouldn't be where I am without you.' 'Unfortunately myself and Mitch have decided to end our relationship. I really wanted things to work out and I'm gutted that our journey has come to an end.' 'I wish Mitch all the best and hope he finds happiness. It's time for both of us to start a new chapter. 'Thank you so much for all the love and support. It means the world to me.' Mitch shared his own statement, writing: 'As you have most likely seen Ella's post sadly out relationship has come to an end.' 'We had no intentions of ending, but with our busy life's at this moment and living the other side of the country made it extremely hard for it to work. 'I wish Ella nothing but the best as she is a lovely girl and deserves the world.' The model and gas engineer, who narrowly missed out on the Love Island final, were pictured together just four days before their split, partying together at We Are FSTVL in Essex. The pair previously insisted that they would overcome the long distance between them, travelling between Mitch's home city of Sheffield and Ella's home in Kent. They had a rollercoaster journey in the villa after Mitch was criticised for how he handled his love triangle with Ella and Abi Moores. During the final week, the dating show received 913 Ofcom complaints and according to the TV watchdog, they 'primarily objecting to Mitch's treatment of Abi and concerns for her welfare'. Drake has finally addressed rumors he had a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) and 'fake abs' after selfie of his defined six-pack which went viral back on June 28. The Canadian 38-year-old spilled the beans at the Switzerland reunion with his favorite podcaster Bobbi Althoff during Tuesday's premiere of her new show, Not Again . When the 28-year-old host directly confronted Drake about whether he ever underwent the liposuction procedure known as abdominal etching, he denied it. 'No. People also say that I got a [Brazilian butt lift], right? They call me BBL Drizzy,' the five-time Grammy winner scoffed. 'I don't know if my like wagon looked crazy when I walked in here, but did it?' Drake was referring to his rap rival Metro Boomin dropping the AI-generated diss track BBL Drizzy last year about him allegedly having plastic surgery. Drake finally addressed whether or not he doctored the selfie of his defined six-pack abs, which went viral back on June 28 He also addressed whether or not he had a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) 'I think it was just like I came from the gym. I was sweaty in that pic,' the Somebody Loves Me rapper went on to explain his six-pack. 'Maybe I like went on Facetune and, like, put, like, details up, you know? When you can like make it...sorry, just being honest!' Bobbi looked shocked: 'You Facetuned it?!' 'Yeah, I was, like, maybe I, like, heightened the, like, saturation or something on it? I think I, like, hit it too hard. I hit it too hard,' Drake confirmed of the retouching app. 'Yeah, [my abs] don't look like that. You saw them.' The OVO Sound co-founder refused to disclose how much he works out, but he previously posted Running app stats from a nearly mile-long jog he did in two hours on August 21. It's unclear if Drake also used Facetune or YouCam Perfect to reshape his abs when he posted a hot tub selfie in Australia on February 3. Back in 2022, the biracial hip-hop star - who boasts 262.3M social media followers - didn't have any chiseled abs while basking at his mansion. Last year, Drake's nemesis Kendrick Lamar used a photo of his prescription for the waist-slimming GLP1 drug Ozempic (issued under his legal name Aubrey Graham) as the cover art for his diss track, Meet the Grahams. On November 25, the Stake partner took their rap beef to a new level when he sued Universal Music Group for allegedly using an illegal 'bots and a payola scheme' in order to artificially inflate the streaming numbers of the 38-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning poet's diss track Not Like Us. The Canadian 38-year-old spilled the beans at the Switzerland reunion with his favorite podcaster Bobbi Althoff during Tuesday's premiere of her new show, Not Again When the 28-year-old host directly confronted Drake about whether he ever underwent the liposuction procedure known as abdominal etching, he denied it The five-time Grammy winner scoffed: 'No. People also say that I got a [Brazilian butt lift], right? They call me BBL Drizzy. I don't know if my like wagon looked crazy when I walked in here, but did it?' (pictured June 28) Drake was referring to his rap rival Metro Boomin dropping the AI-generated diss track BBL Drizzy last year about him allegedly having plastic surgery The Somebody Loves Me rapper went on to explain his six-pack: 'I think it was just like I came from the gym. I was sweaty in that pic' 'Maybe I like went on Facetune and, like, put, like, details up, you know? When you can like make it...sorry, just being honest!' Bobbi looked shocked: 'You Facetuned it?!' Drake confirmed of the retouching app: 'Yeah, I was, like, maybe I, like, heightened the, like, saturation or something on it? I think I, like, hit it too hard. I hit it too hard. Yeah, [my abs] don't look like that. You saw them' The OVO Sound co-founder refused to disclose how much he works out, but he previously posted Running app stats from a nearly mile-long jog he did in two hours on August 21 It's unclear if Drake also used Facetune or YouCam Perfect to reshape his abs when he posted a hot tub selfie in Australia on February 3 Back in 2022, the biracial hip-hop star - who boasts 262.3M social media followers - didn't have any chiseled abs while basking at his mansion Last year, Drake's nemesis Kendrick Lamar used a photo of his prescription for the waist-slimming GLP1 drug Ozempic (issued under his legal name Aubrey Graham) as the cover art for his diss track, Meet the Grahams On November 25, the Stake partner took their rap beef to a new level when he sued Universal Music Group for allegedly using an illegal 'bots and a payola scheme' in order to artificially inflate the streaming numbers of the 38-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning poet's (L, pictured in 2012) diss track Not Like Us Drake and PartyNextDoor are next scheduled to bring their 37-date, co-headlining Some Special Shows 4 U Tour to France's Accor Arena in Paris this Sunday and Monday (pictured July 12) Therefore, the Degrassi: The Next Generation alum will not be available to attend the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday where he and Kendrick are both nominated for the best hip-hop trophy Kendrick has released five total Drake diss tracks (including Euphoria and 6:16 in LA) accusing him of everything from pedophilia to having an illegitimate 11-year-old daughter. The Degrassi: The Next Generation alum and PartyNextDoor are next scheduled to bring their 37-date, co-headlining Some Special Shows 4 U Tour to France's Accor Arena in Paris this Sunday and Monday. Therefore, Drake will not be available to attend the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday where he's nominated for the best hip-hop trophy for his song Nokia. The NOCTA owner faces heavy competition for the Moon Person against Lamar's Not Like Us as well as Doechii, Travis Scott, Eminem (feat. Jelly Roll), LL Cool J (feat. Eminem), and GloRilla (feat. Sexyy Red). Drake is also executive producer of Sam Levinson's eight-episode third season of drug-fueled drama Euphoria, which premieres next year on HBO Max. On October 11, the Emmy-nominated producer and French painter Sophie Brussaux will celebrate the eighth birthday of their son Adonis Mahbed Graham, who started his third grade classes on Tuesday. Abbie Chatfield and her partner Adam Hyde have been slammed after going on a wild rant over last weekend's anti-immigration protests. Over the past few days, Abbie has been criticising attendees in the wake of the protests which took place in cities throughout Australia on Sunday. She doubled down on Tuesday, this time enlisting her Peking Duk partner Adam Hyde. After taking aim at members of the National Socialist Network who clashed with demonstrators at Camp Sovereignty in Melbourne King's Domain, Abbie tarred all attendees with the same brush, branding them 'f***ing losers.' She then brought Adam into frame and said: 'All of you pieces of s**t who wont listen to an adult woman because you call me hysterical, here is an adult man that will talk to you.' Adam also pulled no punches, going on an expletive-laden rant, telling those who attended Sunday's rallies to 'die'. Abbie Chatfield and her partner Adam Hyde have been slammed after going on a wild rant over last weekend's anti-immigration protests 'You are an immigrant yourself, this is not our land. It doesnt take a genius to know that but youre so far from that,' he said. 'To think that youre protesting against immigrants, thats not whats going on here. This is flat out racism and anyone that denies that is a f***ing racist.' Adam then suggested that anyone who attended Sunday's protests needed to be locked up. 'You belong in jail,' he said. 'You're all bigots and pieces of s***. You're a stain on this country and you shouldn't represent this country at all.' Not finished with his tirade, Adam added that Australia was a deeply racist country. 'Unfortunately, this country is rooted and upheld within racism so its very on brand. Youre all scum and you need to do better,' he said. 'Theres Indigenous people that have been hurt after Nazi losers ran through this camp. How the f**k is that trying to reclaim Australia?' Over the past few days, Abbie has been criticising attendees in the wake of the protests which took place in cities throughout Australia on Sunday Adam rounded off his rant with a disturbing comment. 'You all have f***ing pea brains. Don't procreate, just die,' he said. The post generated a deluge of criticism on social media, with many taking to X to slam the couple. 'According to @AbbieChatfield & her boyfriend, if you protest against immigration you belong in jail or worse these people genuinely belong in an asylum,' one user wrote. Another chimed in with: 'Abbie Chatfield brings out her boyfriend on a leash to tell patriotic Australians that they should all kill themselves for daring to want a country. Extremely mentally ill.' One more said the pair were no better than the 'white supremacists' that they were apparently railing against. 'What stands out to me most with this is the hatefulness they share with the white supremacists,' they wrote. 'I dont care what breed of hateful you are, this is just as ignorant, vile and incendiary as what those goons spew.' She doubled down on her criticism on Tuesday, this time enlisting her Peking Duk partner Adam Hyde The pair generated a deluge of criticism on social media, with many taking to X to slam the couple It wasn't all criticism though, with many followers on Instagram praising the couple for speaking out. 'This is the best version of teamwork on the internet,' one follower offered, while another added: 'Abbie; the peoples hero. We love you.' Another praised Abbie's 'enthusiasm' with: 'Speak louder our queen, I'm Indigenous heritage and I absolutely love your passion. 'Thank you, thank you for speaking loud for us.' The anti-immigration protests took place in cities throughout Australia on Sunday, but were marred by violence when between 20 and 30 men dressed in black clashed with demonstrators at the self-styled Camp Sovereignty in the King's Domain in Melbourne. Footage showed several men verbally abusing those gathered at the makeshift camp, while some stomped on an Aboriginal flag. Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell, who is a member of the National Socialist Network, was seen among the group of men gatecrashing the camp. Officers arrested Sewell and two other men outside Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday at 3.20pm. It comes after between 20 and 30 men dressed in black clashed with demonstrators at the self-styled Camp Sovereignty in the King's Domain in Melbourne at 5pm on Sunday Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell, who is a member of the National Socialist Network, was seen among the group of men gatecrashing the camp. Officers arrested Sewell and two other men outside Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday at 3.20pm Sewell and the two other men, aged 23 and 20, were interviewed in relation to an ongoing investigation into alleged assaults in King's Domain. Hours later, he was charged with violent disorder, affray, assault by kicking, discharge missile and other offences. He has been remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The 23-year-old man, from Mooroolbark, has been charged with violent disorder, affray and assault by kicking. The 20-year-old man, who is from Ardeer, has been charged with violent disorder, affray and discharge missile. The two young men have been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 10 December. . Tori Spelling flaunted her tiny waist while clad in a green bikini top during her family vacation with her five children in Big Bear Lake, CA over Labor Day weekend. The 52-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 alum - who's undergone three breast augmentations - wrote on Instagram that she was 'pretty sure the fish are still laughing at us from the lake' after none of them hooked a single fish. Last year, Tori - who doesn't work out - confessed that she shed 40lbs following the 2017 birth of her youngest child by taking the trendy GLP-1 agonist drug Mounjaro after Ozempic 'didn't work' for her. 'I did Mounjaro, and everyone admits it now. It's a different time so I don't feel shamed saying that,' Spelling admitted on her misSPELLING podcast. 'I'm no longer on it, but I did lose weight and I haven't been on it since the end of January [2024]...I'm happy with my weight. I had hit my ideal weight and I felt like I didn't want to get any thinner.' Celebrities who've admitted to taking the injectables include Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, Kelly Clarkson, Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan Trainor, Elon Musk, Rebel Wilson, Chelsea Handler, Amy Schumer, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Lauren Manzo, and Dolores Catania. Tori Spelling flaunted her tiny waist while clad in a green bikini top during her family vacation with her five children in Big Bear Lake, CA over Labor Day weekend But for every celebrity who admits to hopping aboard the Ozempic train, there are many more who've remained suspiciously silent while slimming including Selena Gomez, Mindy Kaling, Melissa McCarthy, Khloe Kardashian, Lana Del Rey, Christina Aguilera, Ricki Lake, and Patricia Arquette. The FDA has only approved three GLP-1 drugs specifically for weight loss - the semaglutide Wegovy, the liraglutide Saxenda, and the tirzepatide Zepboun - and the rest are specifically for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. The Lost in the Everglades producer-actress only shared a snap of one of her kids in the Instagram slideshow, eight-year-old son Beau Dean McDermott. On Sunday, Tori celebrated the 13th birthday of her son Finn Davey McDermott, who indulged in the Finn's Mac-tastic pizza at Saucy Mama's Pizzeria. 'I can't believe this kid is 13 this weekend!' Spelling - who boasts 3.4M social media followers - gushed in a separate post. '@finndaveymcdermott my warrior. You single handedly made me believe in manifestation and miracles all at once. Empathetic peace-making soul. Kind heart and potty mouth just like his mama. Humor beyond. Love you Finney 4EVR!' The nepo-baby of TV producer Aaron Spelling concluded that it was a 'beautiful weekend with the loves of my life' and 'lots of fun was had by all' until they were forced to 'sit' in the holiday traffic back to her LA hometown. Tori also welcomed 18-year-old son Liam, 17-year-old daughter Stella, and daughter Hattie - turning 14 on October 10 - during her 17-year marriage to estranged second husband Dean McDermott. Spelling and the 58-year-old Polar Opposites actor both requested joint legal custody (and she wants sole physical custody) of their kids in the March 2024 divorce filing. The 52-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 alum - who's undergone three breast augmentations - wrote on Instagram that she was 'pretty sure the fish are still laughing at us from the lake' after none of them hooked a single fish 2025 vs. 2017: Last year, Tori - who doesn't work out - confessed that she shed 40lbs following the 2017 birth of her youngest child by taking the trendy GLP-1 agonist drug Mounjaro after Ozempic 'didn't work' for her Spelling admitted on her misSPELLING podcast: 'I did Mounjaro, and everyone admits it now. It's a different time so I don't feel shamed saying that. I'm no longer on it, but I did lose weight and I haven't been on it since the end of January [2024]' The Lost in the Everglades producer-actress only shared a snap of one of her kids in the Instagram slideshow, eight-year-old son Beau Dean McDermott On Sunday, Tori celebrated the 13th birthday of her son Finn Davey McDermott, who indulged in the Finn's Mac-tastic pizza at Saucy Mama's Pizzeria The nepo-baby of TV producer Aaron Spelling concluded that it was a 'beautiful weekend with the loves of my life' and 'lots of fun was had by all' until they were forced to 'sit' in the holiday traffic back to her LA hometown Tori also welcomed 18-year-old son Liam (2-R, pictured January 6), 17-year-old daughter Stella (R), and daughter Hattie (2-L) - turning 14 on October 10 - during her 17-year marriage to estranged second husband Dean McDermott Spelling - who's currently seeking a 'monogamous situationship' - is considering signing up for the XXX platform OnlyFans in order to help pay future college tuitions The 9021OMG podcaster will next portray a fortune teller in Jed Shepherd's (L, pictured in 2022) interactive horror video game Ghosts, which Visible Games and Limited Run Games will release later this year The 9021OMG podcaster and Dean had been sleeping apart for three years before they legally separated in 2023, and he checked himself into rehab for substance abuse following an explosive fight that same year. The former Oxygen reality stars were both married to other people when they originally met on the set of Lifetime's Mind Over Murder way back in 2005. Tori - who's currently seeking a 'monogamous situationship' - is considering signing up for the XXX platform OnlyFans in order to help pay future college tuitions. Spelling will next portray a fortune teller in Jed Shepherd's interactive horror video game Ghosts, which Visible Games and Limited Run Games will release later this year. The former child star - who commands $179 on Cameo - is also every bit the influencer with paid partnerships for brands like Neutrogena, Johnny Was, Niagen Plus, and Aviation American Gin as well as resorts like Atlantis Bahamas and Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa. Dr Chris Brown and his new girlfriend Lorraine Monforte have been spotted together for the first time since news of their romance emerged. The Bondi Vet star, 46, and Brisbane-based Channel 10 publicist, 41, confirmed their relationship on Monday by going on a romantic stroll in Sydney. The couple looked happy and relaxed as they stepped out together in Bronte before visiting a local cafe. Chris was dressed casually for the outing in navy track pants, a white T-shirt and black jacket. The former I'm A Celebrity star completed his look with a pair of white sneakers and kept a low profile in dark sunglasses and a cap. His new ladylove showed off her toned figure in brown sport tights and a matching jacket. Dr Chris Brown and his new girlfriend Lorraine Monforte have been spotted together for the first time since news of their romance emerged The Bondi Vet star, 46, and Brisbane-based Channel 10 publicist, 41, confirmed their relationship on Monday by going on a romantic stroll in Sydney She accessorised with white sneakers, a cap and sunglasses and wrapped a grey jacket around her waist. This is the first time Chris and Lorraine have been spotted together since rumours first emerged they were an item. Daily Mail understands the couple divide their time between Brisbane and Bondi, where Chris lives and has made a name for himself as a vet. 'They are very happy together,' a source previously said. Chris left I'm a Celeb - and Channel Ten - in 2023 to move to rival network Seven, and was replaced as host by Robert Irwin. Meanwhile, Lorraine, known as one of the best industry liaisons in Queensland, was let go in July after more than a decade handling press out of the network's Mt Coot-tha headquarters. It's unclear when Chris and Lorraine became a couple, but the veterinarian has always kept his romantic life under wraps. 'It's hard to meet the right person,' Chris told Stellar magazine last year when asked about his dating life. The couple looked happy and relaxed as they stepped out together in Bronte before visiting at a local cafe Chris was dressed casually for the outing in navy track pants, a white T-shirt and black jacket Daily Mail understands the couple divides their time between Brisbane and Bondi, where Chris lives and made a name for himself as a vet 'That extra layer of speculation and interestonce you're actually in a relationship, it's easy, but it's meeting that person at the start that's really hard. You could potentially be on your first date, and you get photographed.' Lorraine is a mother to a 10-year-old son and at least one other child, though she keeps her family out of the public eye. She once used the double-barrelled Monforte-Guy, which suggests she was married at one point but has since divorced. Social media posts indicate she has a passion for fishing, a habit she picked up from a late family member. Whether this clashes with Chris' well-documented passion for conservation and marine welfare remains to be seen. Back in February, Lorraine hinted she'd met someone special when she posted a video online of herself lip-syncing to the song Cuff It by Beyonce. 'Cuff it' is a slang term for getting into a committed relationship. A month later, she shared a photo - taken by someone else - of herself standing in the snow, gazing at the northern lights in Troms, Norway. It's unclear when Chris and Lorraine became a couple, but the veterinarian has always kept his romantic life under wraps Back in February, Lorraine hinted she'd met someone special when she posted a video online of herself lip-syncing to the song Cuff It by Beyonce Before this, Chris dated former Ten presenter Liv Phyland for about a year. They were papped together but never walked a red carpet Chris didn't appear, but his voice could be heard in the background of another video she posted. The Dancing with the Stars host also uploaded photos from the same location at about the same time. After their secret holiday was rumbled by sleuths, the pair have gone to ground again. They are keeping their relationship offline for now, despite it being an open secret. Before this, Chris dated former Ten presenter Liv Phyland for about a year. They were papped together but never walked a red carpet. Prior to Phyland, he was in a relationship with Channel Nine producer Kendall Bora from 2016 to 2018. Bora is now married to former Weekend Sunrise star Matt Doran. His other exes include Bondi project manager Hannah Thomas and Home and Away actress Kassandra Clementi. Naomi Campbell explained how her children 'changed how she sees the world' as she gave an insight into motherhood in a new interview. The supermodel, 55, welcomed both of her children, a son and a daughter, via surrogate, in 2021 and 2023, and has since discovered her own 'softer strength.' As she covered Vogue Brazil for the first time to celebrated 50 years of the magazine, Naomi looked incredible in a structured petticoat and corset top. She later changed into an oversized blazer, with dramatic shoulder pads and a matching fitted skirt as she posed in London for Brazilian duo MAR+VIN. In the accompanying interview, the fashion icon revealed what she had discovered since becoming a mother and how she had changed. Naomi explained: 'Oh my Goodness, the love is just... it's indescribable. I thought I knew what love was, but this is on a completely different level.' Naomi Campbell explained how her children 'changed how she sees the world' as she gave an insight into motherhood in a new interview The supermodel, 55, welcomed both of her children, a son and a daughter, via surrogate, in 2021 and 2023, and has since discovered her own 'softer strength' She continued: 'Every single day my daughter and son surprise me, teach me something new about myself. 'I didn't realize I could be even more protective than I already was - and trust me, I was already pretty protective! 'But it's also shown me this softer strength - the kind that comes from taking care of these two little beings who depend on you completely. They've changed everything about how I see the world.' The supermodel shocked the world when she announced the surprise birth her daughter in 2021 and posed with the newborn on the cover of Vogue. Her daughter was followed by a son in 2023, both of whose names the catwalk queen has not made public. Naomi previously admitted that her daughter wasn't adopted before clarifying that she hadn't been pregnant herself as she discussed how much her children mean to her. Telling The Times: 'My babies are everything to me. It's made me fear for the future.' Naomi went on to explain that she was never looking for a father for her kids and is happy being 'a single mother of a single mum'. Se said: 'It's also shown me this softer strength - the kind that comes from taking care of these two little beings who depend on you completely. They've changed everything' The supermodel shocked the world when she announced the surprise birth her daughter followed by a son in 2023, both of whose names the catwalk queen has not made public When asked whether she used a surrogate she replied: 'I did. I hope for a better world for my children. 'They are 110 per cent my priority. I have to be there for them on their first day at school.' Her daughter's arrival sparked widespread speculation that she used a surrogate, a popular approach among older celebrity mothers. This was because she was not spotted with an obvious baby bump in the months leading up to the birth. Naomi also spoke of her concern that younger generations are not interested in having children. She also insisted parenthood is always 'worth it', no matter how difficult the circumstances. She said: 'I have heard a lot of young girls saying that it is too expensive to have children and they may not want them, and I have said, "You will change your mind. You will want to be a mum"'. 'I understand economically it is tough. But my mum had nothing and she made it work. It's worth it. It is so amazing'. Miranda Kerr had fans doing a double-take on Wednesday when she debuted her bold new look to social media. The Australian supermodel, 42, swapped her signature elegant dresses and perfectly styled brunette locks for a more relaxed, casual vibe. The Sydney-born star looked effortlessly chic in a delicate black top paired with baggy jeans. She completed the ensemble with white sneakers, sunglasses, and her hair tied back in a neat bun. Miranda also shared a playful clip showcasing her dancing skills, performing elegant spins and twirls while enthusiastically belting out a show tune. She captioned the video with some amusing words: 'The feminine urge to show everyone how stretchy your jeans are. Do I call Broadway or do they call me?' Miranda Kerr had fans doing a double-take on Wednesday when she debuted her bold new look to social media Many of Miranda's celebrity friends took to the comments section to gush over her new look. 'Cutie! Love the jeans,' wrote Sophie Monk. Meanwhile, US actress Stephanie Suganami posted a laughing emoji. In March, Miranda revealed the secret behind her successful marriage to Snapchat billionaire husband Evan Spiegel. The businesswoman and mother-of-four told Stellar magazine she and Evan 'balance and learn' from each other. 'I learn from him and he learns from me. We really do balance each other. We've been together for 11 years, he's my favourite person,' she said. The model went on to say the couple works hard to keep the romance alive and this has been very important in their relationship. 'He's such a family man. We prioritise each other and family time,' Miranda continued. The Sydney-born star looked effortlessly chic in a delicate black top paired with baggy jeans Miranda's casual look was world's away from her usual style 'That's why when you see us on the red carpet, everyone was like, "Wow, Miranda, you're out?" Honestly, Evan and I prefer to stay in. But every now and then, Mum and Dad have to get out, too.' Evan and Miranda tied the knot in 2017 in an intimate wedding - with just 45 friends and family in attendance. They share three sons together - Hart, seven, Myles, six, and Pierre, one. Miranda also has a 14-year-old son, Flynn, from her previous marriage to Orlando Bloom. She rose to fame at the age of 13 after winning Dolly Magazine's modelling competition. The model then went on to become Australia's first Victoria's Secret Angel in 2007. Stacey Solomon has admitted that both her and her kids felt 'sad' as they went back to school after the summer holidays. The presenter, 35, is married to ex-EastEnders actor Joe Swash, 43, who she shares children, Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, with. Stacey also has older sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from two previous relationships. And after a summer filled with lavish trips and quality family time, Stacey shared that it was an emotional morning as the kids returned to school. Taking to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, Stacey shared a snap holding her son Rex's hand. She captioned the snap: 'Everyone was very emotional going back to school this morning. I know they'll be so happy when they see all of their friends. Stacey Solomon admitted on Instagram on Wednesday that both her and her kids felt 'sad' as they went back to school after the summer holidays She captioned the snap: 'Everyone was very emotional going back to school this morning. I know they'll be so happy when they see all of their friends' 'I did feel sad dropping them off this morning though!' Finding a silver lining, Stacey added: 'But then I got home tidied my house and am currently looking at a clean house for the first time in six weeks. That's cheered me up no end.' It comes after the Daily Mail revealed Stacey has quietly quit Loose Women after 13 years on the panel. Stacey last appeared on the ITV series in December 2024 for the show's 25-hour Talkathon, which was held to raise awareness of the network's Britain Get Talking campaign, and her last panellist slot was on June 3, 2024. But eight months after returning to the panel, sources close to Loose Women have revealed Stacey has been 'too busy' with her other television work to come on and the feeling is that she has completely cut ties. While Stacey is yet to appear on the show this year, she came on the programme once in 2024 and twice the previous year, with her regular slots dating back to 2022. A TV insider revealed that the Loose Women team made multiple attempts to book Stacey last year because they value having her on the show but they kept receiving 'no's' so decided to move forward with other talent like Olivia Attwood, 34, and GK Barry, 26, who also appeal to a younger audience. It's believed the mother of five has focused all her energy on her BAFTA-nominated BBC show Sort Your Life Out and reality series Stacey and Joe, which gave viewers an insight into her family life at Essex home Pickle Cottage. Stacey quietly quit Loose Women after 13 years on the panel, the Daily Mail revealed (pictured June 2024) A source revealed: 'The team at Loose Women did everything possible last year to have Stacey on the panel, the viewers love her and there's always a boost to the ratings when she's on. 'But it's clear Stacey has quit Loose Women, she hasn't been on the panel all year, there are no plans for her to appear, she most certainly hasn't been booked and the show stopped reaching out months ago. 'It's highly unlikely she will feature next year once the show goes down to airing just 30 weeks a year, there will only be a few slots available to the regular presenters. 'Stacey still has a lot of close friends on the show like panellists Kaye Adams and Linda Robson so the hope is she will reunite with the panel as a guest. The presenter last appeared on the ITV series in December 2024 for the show's 25-hour Talkathon and her last panellist slot was on June 3, 2024 (pictured May 2022) 'But for now bosses have moved forward with the likes of Olivia Attwood and GK Barry, given they also appeal to a younger demographic.' Stacey first joined Loose Women in 2011 and became a panellist in 2016. Her last appearance on the ITV series was on December 5, 2024. She came on the show only once during the whole of 2024 and twice the previous year, and hasn't been seen as a regular panellist since 2022. The former X Factor star still states she is a 'proud' Loose Woman in her Instagram bio despite her lack of appearances. Martin Scorsese's youngest daughter Francesca shared rare footage of her ailing mother Helen Morris Scorsese on Tuesday. The 78-year-old retired book editor has been bravely battling Parkinson's disease since 1990 - nine years before her only child's birth. The 25-year-old nepo baby declared Helen was a 'warrior' and wrote: 'Reminder to tell your parents you love them because one day you will have to take caree of them the way they once took care of you.' 'Never take health for granted,' Francesca added. In the clip, Scorsese - who boasts 567K social media followers - spoonfed her mother a couple bites of a dessert and sips from a large plastic cup. Martin Scorsese's youngest daughter Francesca shared rare footage of her ailing mother Helen Morris Scorsese on Tuesday Back in 2020, the Christmas Eve in Miller's Point actress filmed a 'letter to my mama' detailing her struggle with the progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and other bodily functions as well as her own struggle as the child of a sick parent. Three years later, Helen served as inspiration for Francesca's NYU thesis short film Fish Out of Water about a young mom coping with her own mother's failing health. July 22 marked the 82-year-old legendary filmmaker's 26th wedding anniversary with his fifth wife, who attended the 2023 Cannes Film Festival premiere of his film Killers of the Flower Moon. On August 17, Francesca posted a snap with Martin sweetly captioned: 'I would choose my dad to be my dad in every lifetime again and again and again.' Scorsese praised Helen's resilience while appearing on This Life of Mine with James Corden last year. 'My complaining is part of my creating and it's usually self-deprecating. My complaining, I find, is nothing compared to what the suffering that a condition like that does,' the native New Yorker described. 'And so we live with it and it changes how you perceive life and everything around you.' Martin is also father to daughter Cathy, 59; with first ex-wife Laraine Brennan and daughter Domenica, nearly 49; with second ex-wife Julia Cameron. The 78-year-old retired book editor has been bravely battling Parkinson's disease since 1990 - nine years before her only child's birth The 25-year-old nepo baby declared Helen was a 'warrior' and wrote: 'Reminder to tell your parents you love them because one day you will have to take caree of them the way they once took care of you' In the clip, Scorsese - who boasts 567K social media followers - spoonfed her mother a couple bites of a dessert and sips from a large plastic cup Back in 2020, the Christmas Eve in Miller's Point actress filmed a 'letter to my mama' detailing her struggle with the progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and other bodily functions as well as her own struggle as the child of a sick parent Three years later, Helen served as inspiration for Francesca's NYU thesis short film Fish Out of Water about a young mom coping with her own mother's failing health July 22 marked the 82-year-old legendary filmmaker's (2-L) 26th wedding anniversary with his fifth wife, who attended the 2023 Cannes Film Festival premiere of his film Killers of the Flower Moon On August 17, Francesca posted a snap with Martin sweetly captioned: 'I would choose my dad to be my dad in every lifetime again and again and again' Scorsese - who's a Tony away from EGOT status - will next appear in Rebecca Miller's five-part docuseries Mr. Scorsese, which premieres October 17 on Apple TV+ On June 1, the Scorsese father-daughter duo wrapped production on the eight-episode second season of Biblical docudrama Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints, which will eventually premiere on Fox Nation. Martin - who's a Tony away from EGOT status - will next appear in Rebecca Miller's five-part docuseries Mr. Scorsese, which premieres October 17 on Apple TV+. It features new interviews with Francesca's godfather Robert De Niro, Jay Cocks, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rodrigo Prieto, Isabella Rossellini, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, and Sharon Stone. Francesca - who got Scorsese to join Instagram - previously made cameos in his films The Aviator, The Departed, and Hugo. Shirley Ballas has revealed that she received 'disdainful stares' at her father's funeral after describing him as a 'deadbeat dad'. The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 64, had a difficult relationship with her father George, known as Andy, after he left the family home when she was two and was absent for much of her life. In an extract from her new book Best Foot Forward seen by The Mirror, she writes: 'I was waiting to feel something, to have any sort of reaction to his passing despite everything that had gone before, but none came. 'I went to his funeral where I felt certain people were looking at me there were definite disdainful stares in my direction, probably because it was shortly after my autobiography had been released where I'd described him as a deadbeat dad. 'Part of me is sorry I ever put that line in the book as I know it looked terribly stark in print, but I'm always honest and that was my truthful experience of him as a father.' She added that her father also had a volatile relationship with her mother Audrey due to his drinking. Shirley Ballas has revealed that she received 'disdainful stares' at her father's funeral after describing him as a 'deadbeat dad' The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 64, had a difficult relationship with her father George, known as Andy, after he left the family home when she was two and was absent for much of her life (seen with her dad and son Mark) Andy - who died in 2021 aged 83 - went on to marry three more times after divorcing Audrey, with Shirley admitting she was 'mad at him' for how he treated her mother. She told how she would even call him Andy rather than Dad or Daddy as she felt their connection was so distant. Th star added that although she had a 'slight wobble' at his funeral the feelings quickly passed. She went on to explain that when she died she said she didn't want anything left to her from him as he'd 'given her nothing throughout his life'. Shirley has previously said she felt 'mixed emotions' when he died. Speaking on Jamie Laing's Great Company podcast she said: 'I get emotional about it because I couldn't imagine losing my mother that will be very traumatic. She has been the only thing that's been a constant in my life. 'But with dad, when he died loads of people told me 'he really loved you' I just thought well it's a shame he never told me that when he is alive.' Also in the book she revealed she thought 'she'd be better off dead' and turned to alcohol to cope with depression during the menopause. She added that her father also had a volatile relationship with her mother Audrey due to his drinking In an extract from her new book she writes: 'I was waiting to feel something, to have any sort of reaction to his passing despite everything that had gone before, but none came' She explained that she felt anxious, depressed and desolate during the time. In her upcoming book the dancing star confessed that she thought she was 'losing the plot' during her 'darkest hours'. Shirley's brother David died by suicide aged 44 back in 2003 and the star has spoken openly about her 'overwhelming grief' after the tragedy. The TV personality also revealed that she used to turn to booze to try and numb the pain. Since her brother's death, Shirley has become an ardent campaigner for mental health awareness, even setting up charity The Ballas Foundation with her son Mark, 38. Her son, who was a professional ballroom dancer on Dancing With The Stars in the US, previously opened up about the incident on his website. In a blog post on his blog unearthed by The Mirror in 2017, he wrote: 'For me, it's about raising awareness of depression. It's not like a mood swing.' 'People struggle with it every day. Nothing matters. My uncle's daughter was everything to him, but it didn't matter because he was sick.' 'You have to make people aware of it so they can recognize it and help people get better.' The post continues: 'The family was not only left with overwhelming grief, but guilt. You keep thinking maybe you could have done something.' David and Mark had been especially close since he helped look after him while Shirley pursued dancing opportunities in the US. Shirley and her son decided to go public with their story in 2010 in a bid to raise awareness for suicide prevention. And in 2024 Shirley revealed she 'blames' herself for her brother being alone the day he died because she encouraged her mother to come to a show her son was in. Speaking on the Great Company with Jamie Laing podcast, Shirley told how her brother had been struggling with his mental health and the family had previously tried to get him sectioned but he wouldn't go to the hospital. She said: 'I was wrapped up in my life, because at that time, I had two other children I was taking care of, plus my own son, and they were all dancers, and I was just wrapped up in my world of ballroom dancing. 'I was in London. He was up north, and my mother went to stay with him for six weeks. But my mother's old-school, and they don't share. 'So, what I should have done then, if I look back now, is gotten the car straight away and gone to see the situation for myself. He was just in a bad place. Also in the book she revealed she thought 'she'd be better off dead' and turned to alcohol to cope with depression during the menopause The star, whose brother David died by suicide aged 44 in 2003, explained that she felt anxious, depressed and desolate during the time 'He explained it like being in a dark, black hole that he couldn't climb out of. He'd lost a lot of weight, and the doctors couldn't help him. 'We tried to get him sectioned, and when, apparently, I wasn't there, but my mum was. When they took him in the car and they pulled up to the hospital, he recognized somebody that was stood on the steps, and he was the macho man on the housing estate, and he was too embarrassed, he made them turn the car around. 'So had she not been there that day, then maybe things could have been different. And it just nobody talked about things like that. No one talked about things like that at all, and they just popped in with pills, you know, like these antidepressants.' If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org Sydney Sweeney displayed her toned physique in a leotard before changing into a leather co-ord for a Jimmy Choo campaign. The Euphoria star, 27, is fronting the designer brand's Autumn 2025 campaign, which celebrates feminine expression through footwear and accessories. For her first look, Sydney sported a skimpy black leotard as she stretched at a dance studio while reading a script. She donned the look as she modelled a pair of striking 1,325 buttermilk leather Hart Knee Boot 85s. Elsewhere, Sydney stepped into a black leather crocodile print longline blazer with a matching mini-skirt. The actress completed the ensemble with slingback Chocolate Zebra Printed Pony Pumps (950), as well as the matching small Bar Hobo bag (1,295) and Arlie belt (415). Sydney Sweeney displayed her toned physique in a leotard before changing into a leather co-ord for a Jimmy Choo campaign on Tuesday Elsewhere, Sydney stepped into a black leather crocodile print longline blazer with a matching mini-skirt Jimmy Choo's Instagram captioned the clips of Sydney: 'The Autumn 2025 campaign is a modern fable of feminine expression; a celebration of the transformative power shoes and accessories possess. We can play the role of whoever we want to be. 'Sydney Sweeney brings to life the characters of the hero styles from the Autumn collection.' She last modelled for the brand as the star of the luxury brand's Summer 2024 campaign. The scenic town of Palm Springs served as the setting for the campaign, which saw Sydney pose in the desert and along the community's iconic retro buildings. It comes after Sydney was engulfed in controversy late last month after she appeared in an American Eagle denim campaign that had the tagline: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.' The ad blew up on social media, where critics claimed the ad was pro-eugenics and supported far-right politics. American Eagle has since also defended the star in a statement released earlier this month. In one ad, the Anyone But You actress could be seen buttoning a pair of denim blue jeans while saying, 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My genes are blue.' For her first look, Sydney sported a skimpy black leotard as she stretched at a dance studio while reading a script Sydney last modelled for the brand as the star of the luxury brand's Summer 2024 campaign (Pictured) It comes after Sydney was engulfed in controversy late last month after she appeared in an American Eagle denim campaign that had the tagline: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' Another clip filmed the star wearing a denim jumpsuit with a plunging neckline on the front as the camera panned down towards her chest. 'My body's composition is determined by my genes,' she said, and then stopped to add, 'Hey, eyes up here.' The camera then jumped back up to her face. Some social media users slammed the campaign and labelled it as 'Nazi propaganda' while other fans branded the backlash as 'unhinged.' It comes amid reports Sydney is dating Taylor Swift's enemy Scooter Braun. Sydney and the music mogul, 44 who is 17 years her senior have been 'on multiple dates' but their romance is 'casual' as the moment, according to TMZ. 'Sydney has just ended a relationship and she's doing what women in their 20's do - she's dating,' a source told the publication. Dating rumours between the blonde bombshell and Justin Bieber's ex-manager first began a couple of months ago, when the two were seen together in Venice, Italy, at the June wedding of Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. They reportedly met at the wedding, but it's unclear when they started dating. Sydney was later defended by American Eagle as the company released a statement amid the backlash DailyMail.com contacted representatives for both Sydney and Scooter. Scooter's representatives declined to comment. Sydney was previously engaged to businessman Jonathan Davino, 42, but the two split in January. Scooter was previously married to Yael Cohen for about seven years. They have three children together Jagger, nine, Levi, seven, and Hart, five and finalized their divorce in September 2022. Last year he was also linked to actress Rachelle Goulding. A source also told Page Six that Scooter has been 'pursuing' Sydney since meeting her at the wedding, though it's not apparent how 'serious' she is about him. 'It's still new,' the insider added, clarifying that it has become more serious than a casual hookup. The actress and the record executive were pictured strolling together in Venice in a video taken by a TikToker back in June. She stunned fans by showing off her recent weight loss. And Gemma Collins continued to show off her physique in a form-fitting all-black look as she headed out for lunch with her fiance Rami Hawash on Tuesday. The TOWIE star, 44, went makeup free as she headed to an eyebrow appointment in a casual black top and leggings before picking up a salad with her husband-to-be. Gemma was joined by Rami's son Tristan during the outing, she sweetly embraced him as they met up following the appointment. The couple also met up with Gemma's longtime pals Jedward, after they formed an unlikely friendship in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2017. John and Edward Grimes, who rose to fame on The X Factor in 2009, grabbed a takeaway coffee before making their way to meet Gemma. Gemma Collins slipped into a form-fitting all-black look as she headed out for lunch with her fiance Rami Hawash on Tuesday The TOWIE star recently showed off her two stone weight loss in a black and white bikini as she shared snaps from her holiday to Cyprus Gemma and Rami enjoyed a PDA-filled reunion as he headed to meet her after her eyebrow appointment, before the happy couple grabbed lunch together It came after Gemma showed off her incredible weight loss in a sizzling bikini-clad Instagram snap, after revealing she's lost two stone on Mounjaro. The TV personality had been enjoying a getaway to Cyprus and wowed in a black bikini that highlighted her slimmed-down figure. Posing confidently next to a road buggy, the former TOWIE star beamed as she lapped up the sunshine. While Gemma has been proudly displaying the results of her weight loss, she was recently left horrified after discovering one unlikely side effect of the jabs. Gemma has been left concerned that her weight loss has left her 'looking older' as she shared a candid Instagram post earlier this year, pointing out her 'next level' crow's feet. She said: 'I really don't know what's happened to me, I really don't, it's just come on me overnight. But it has been a year since I've had any little tweakments. 'I don't know if it's since I've been losing weight. I sure haven't got "Ozempic face" yet, but it would be the dream right now. 'I've always had a fuller face, as you know. I do like expression around my eyes. I want to look natural still. But this just isn't right. What has happened? I am 44, but this is taking it to levels that I never, ever imagined it'd get to.' The reality star opted for a casual black T-shirt and leggings as she headed out for a spot of pampering, before reuniting with her longtime pals Jedward John and Edward Grimes, who met Gemma on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017, sweetly embraced Rami's son Tristan, seven John and Edward Grimes, who rose to fame on The X Factor in 2009, grabbed a takeaway coffee before making their way to meet Gemma While Gemma has been proudly displaying the results of her weight loss, she was recently left horrified after discovering one unlikely side effect of the jabs She said: 'I really don't know what's happened to me, I really don't, it's just come on me overnight. But it has been a year since I've had any little tweakments' 'I don't know if it's since I've been losing weight. I sure haven't got "Ozempic face" yet, but it would be the dream right now,' she added Gemma is also set to make her reality TV comeback and will 'put her heart on the line' in a new series for Sky Max 'Ozempic face' is used to describe noticeable facial changes, such as sagging skin and a gaunt appearance, that can occur after rapid weight loss, often associated with the use of medications like Ozempic. Meanwhile, a source told The Mirror that while Gemma was poking fun at the situation, she was in reality very concerned. 'She's eating really healthily and has broken some of the bad habits with food. It was a bit of a shock to her to really see the effect the weight loss has had on her face. 'She doesn't want to suddenly look older than she is, which is why she's sorting it and being honest about it. Gemma's always been really open and honest about her relationship with her body, and she's been through some really horrible times with it, but that's all in her past now. 'The wrinkle tweakments are all part of her wanting to feel and look good. She knows there's no point losing all the weight and just being unhappy, so she'll happily make little changes to keep herself feeling her best.' Gemma is also set to make her reality TV comeback and will 'put her heart on the line' in a new series. The TOWIE alum will track 'the biggest chapter of her life' in Gemma Collins: Four Weddings and a Baby - and fans are ecstatic about seeing her back on their screens. Sky has teamed up with Gemma for the brand-new series, pulling back the curtain on her life as she enters a pivotal chapter: the road to marriage and motherhood, with 'no filters or walls'. The eight-part documentary is said to show Gemma as you haven't seen her before, with a look behind the scenes of her daily life over the next year. Amid both glamorous events and quiet moments at home, Gemma will juggle a blended family, planning the wedding she's always dreamed of and hopefully having a much longed-for baby of her own through IVF. Heidi Montag posed in a very skimpy leopard-print bikini with sky-high Perspex heels as she was seen in Palm Springs, California in new images shared to Instagram. The Hills veteran was with her black dog as she created a Helmut Newton look with photographer Jon Eric Premosch. Fans were impressed with the honey blonde hottie as she was glammed to the nines for the afternoon photo session. Several took to her comments box to remark on how 'incredibly hot' she seems these days as she has ramped up her exercise routine. And some even said that her husband, Spencer Pratt, is a 'lucky man' to have such a 'fire hot wife.' Heidi Montag posed in a very skimpy leopard-print bikini with sky-high Perspex heels as she was seen in Palm Springs, California in new images shared to Instagram The Hills veteran was with her black dog as she created a Helmut Newton look with photographer Jon Eric Premosch 'Spencer has the hottest wife ever,' said one as another echoed, 'Hottest girl on planet earth.' Then there was this: 'Go HeidiBaby!!! You are absolutely GORGEOUS LADY.' And this: 'Youre a hot woman! Congrats on your success.' The 38-year-old Hills veteran appeared toned with muscular legs and sculpted arms as she flashed a light summer tan in a photo shoot by Premoch, who has been working frequently with the star this year. The reality TV star was also seen by a swimming pool. This post comes just as her husband has ranted about the 'toxic' soil that is causing 'cancer' after the horrific Pacific Palisades fires in January. The beauty is wed to Spencer Pratt and together they have children Gunner, seven, and two-year-old Ryker. They have been vocal about their house burning down in the Pacific Palisades fires in January. Montag and Pratt have a long way to go to earn the money so they can rebuild their $2.5M home as they did not have insurance on the dwelling. Fans were impressed with the honey blonde hottie as she was glammed to the nines for the afternoon photo session Several took to her comments box to remark on how 'incredibly hot' she seems these days as she has ramped up her exercise routine And some even said that her husband, Spencer Pratt, is a 'lucky man' to have such a 'fire hot wife' This week Spencer claimed the aftermath from the LA wildfires will 'give everyone cancer' as he reveals residents are 'forced to return to their toxic houses.' The catastrophic fires took 31 direct lives, destroyed over 10,000 homes, displaced thousands, and scorched over 40,000 acres across LA and surrounding areas. Spencer's been chronicling his heartbreaking journey on social media, from watching his home burn to searching through the ashes for anything that survived. He has also been seeking financial support from their family. 'Spencer has the hottest wife ever,' said one as another echoed, 'Hottest girl on planet earth' Then there was this: 'Go HeidiBaby!!! You are absolutely GORGEOUS LADY.' And this: 'Youre a hot woman! Congrats on your success' Now, taking to his Instagram on Tuesday, Spencer launched a scathing attack at the government as he raged they need to 'take responsibility.' He shared a screenshot of a message that was sent to him, that said: 'We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to get our home cleared. 'We had a scientist test our home post fire. We had 22% toxins. We tested and after 8 weeks of cleaning that we paid for, we still had level 6%. So we had to have the cleaning company come back for a second time. 'We are waiting testing for the third time but the world needs of know how wrong all of this is. Pratt and Montag at the 2025 American Music Awards at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on May 26 'We have to throw out all mattresses, redo all carpet and fabrics. Throw basically everything out. Nothing is covered by insurance. 'And we were dropped on Dec 26th. That's what we asked State Farm to examine and they declined coverage. 'Our current lease ends Tuesday. Cal fair won't pay anymore for house. We can't home because we still don't know the toxicity levels inside. 'How is this okay? I imagine for the most part of Palisadians they don't have the ability to test this many times. Imagine how sick people will get because of all of this.' Alongside the snap, Spencer penned: 'We don't want to go home to a toxic house. but we have no choice. 'Our insurance won't cover housing and we just don't know what to do. as of right now we are moving home in two weeks because we have no other choice.' Rooney Mara was the epitome of elegance as she joined her dapper husband Joaquin Phoenix at The Voice of Hind Rajab premiere at Venice Film Festival on Wednesday night. The actress, 40, showed off her figure in a strapless black dress as she posed up a storm at the premiere for the film - for which her and Joaquin, 50, serve as executive producers. The Voice of Hind Rajab was written and directed by Kaouther Ben Hania. It follows the killing of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who lived in the Gaza Strip and was killed by the IDF during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. At the premiere Rooney looked sensational in the lace dress which she teamed with sky-high heels and pulled her hair back. Meanwhile her partner looked smart in a black suit. The film has been nominated for the Golden Lion prize and carries the support of Hollywood powerhouses including Brad Pitt, Joaquin, Rooney and Alfonso Cuaron, all of whom joined as executive producers. Rooney Mara was the epitome of elegance as she joined her dapper husband Joaquin Phoenix at The Voice of Hind Rajab premiere at Venice Film Festival on Wednesday night The pair made a rare red carpet outing together to support the film They sweetly put their arms around each other Joaquin wore The Red Hand of Ulster badge, a symbol used in heraldry to denote the Irish province of Ulster and the Northern Ui Neill in particular. In May 2025, it was announced Kaouther Ben Hania had directed an untitled film, with principal photography concluding in Tunisia. It stars Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees and Amer Hlehel in the main lead roles. Rooney and Joaquin originally met in 2012 playing lovers Theodore Twombly and Catherine Klausen on the LA set of Spike Jonze's AI rom-com Her, but they didn't start dating until after her 2016 split from her Discovery director Charlie McDowell. The acting couple went on to co-star in Garth Davis' 2018 Biblical drama Mary Magdalene and Gus Van Sant's 2018 comedy Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Only last year did Joaquin confirm Rooney was his 'wife' during an episode of Sam Fragaso's podcast. The co-stars have been together since 2016, and they share two young children together. They welcomed their first child, River - named after Joaquin's late brother River Phoenix - in August of 2020, and Rooney gave birth to their second child in June last year, but few details have been revealed about the younger child. The Voice of Hind Rajab has been making waves at the festival so far. Saja Kilani, who plays first responder Rana Faqih in the film, read out a joint statement at a press conference this week as she spoke about the Gaza conflict. The film follows the killing of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who lived in the Gaza Strip and was killed by the IDF during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip They posed with other producers and actors on the red carpet Rooney and Joaquin originally met in 2012 playing lovers Theodore Twombly and Catherine Klausen on the LA set of Spike Jonze's AI rom-com Her They looked as close as ever on the red carpet The actress, 40, showed off her figure in a strapless black dress as she posed up a storm at the premiere for the film - for which her and Joaquin serve as executive producers At the premiere she looked sensational in the lace dress which she teamed with sky-high heels and pulled her hair back It has been nominated for the Golden Lion prize and carries the support of Hollywood powerhouses including Brad Pitt , Joaquin, Rooney and Alfonso Cuaron, all of whom joined as executive producers She looked gorgeous in the leggy black dress She said: 'In the name of the entire team, we ask, 'Isn't it enough?' Enough of the mass killing, starvation, dehumanisation, destruction and the ongoing occupation. 'The Voice of Hind Rajab does not need our defense. This film is not an opinion or a fantasy. It is anchored in truth. 'Hind's story carries the weight of an entire people. Hind's voice is one amongst tens of thousands of children that were killed in Gaza in the last two years alone. 'The real question is, how have we let a child beg for life? No one can live in peace, while even one child is forced to plea for survival. 'Let Hind's voice echo around the world. Let it remind you of the silence that has been built around Gaza.' Hania, whose last film was the hugely-successful Four Daughters, said that the idea for the film came to her during a layover in LA, while she was in the middle of her Oscar campaign. 'Then, everything shifted. I heard an audio recording of Hind Rajab begging for help. By then, her voice had already spread across the internet,' she said. 'I immediately felt a mix of helplessness and an overwhelming sadness. A physical reaction, like the ground shifted under me. I couldn't carry on as planned. 'The Voice of Hind Rajab is a deeply personal story of loss, but also carries a wider resonance. 'This story is not just about Gaza. It speaks to a universal grief. Cinema can preserve a memory. Cinema can resist amnesia. May Hind Rajab's voice be heard.' In May 2025, it was announced Kaouther Ben Hania had directed an untitled film, with principal photography concluding in Tunisia She opted for a neutral covering of natural makeup She showed off her dazzling engagement ring on the red carpet He looked smart in his black suit It follows the killing of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who lived in the Gaza Strip and was killed by the IDF during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Amer Hlehel and Motaz Malhees (pictured L-R) held up a picture of Hind Rajab on the red carpet Director Kaouther Ben Hania The cast and producers seen together Jennifer Aniston is one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood with an incredible track record. But the 56-year-old Friends veteran does have her issues, just like anyone else. In the September issue of Glamour the Los Angeles native shared that there is something that gives her anxiety. The blonde was talking to the publication to promote her new season of The Morning Show with Reese Witherspoon, Marion Cotillard and Karen Pittman. 'I even get a little anxious about public speaking, especially over the years of having your words twisted and taken out of context,' said the ex-wife of Brad Pitt. 'So I find myself almost hall-monitoring myself in a weird way. In the past, journalism used to be gnarly and they wanted to just get you and find something that they can then run forever. But whatever. You get to a place in life where none of it really matters at the end of the day.' Jennifer Aniston is one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. But the 56-year-old Friends veteran does have her issues, just like anyone else. In the September issue of Glamour the Los Angeles native shared that there is something that gives her anxiety The blonde was talking to the publication to promote her new season of The Morning Show with Reese Witherspoon and Karen Pittman And nerves are also what keeps her from attending the Met Gala. 'It overwhelms me. Its the getting ready, the putting on the dress. Im a jeans and flip-flops and tank top kind of girl,' explained the girlfriend of Jim Curtis. 'I love dressing up too, but for me its a mental game ofLets get dressed up, put on a fancy dress, makeup, get your hair all purdy and go sit in a big room with your peers,' she remarked. '[And yes,] everyones there to celebrate each other and have some fun, but I get nervous. I even get a little anxious about public speaking, especially over the years of having your words twisted and taken out of context. 'So I find myself almost hall-monitoring myself in a weird way. In the past, journalism used to be gnarly and they wanted to just get you and find something that they can then run forever. But whatever. You get to a place in life where none of it really matters at the end of the day.' One of her joys is working with Witherspoon, whom she also costarred with on Friends. 'That little worker bee. Shes so busy,' said Aniston. 'I even get a little anxious about public speaking, especially over the years of having your words twisted and taken out of context,' said the ex-wife of Brad Pitt 'So I find myself almost hall-monitoring myself in a weird way. In the past, journalism used to be gnarly and they wanted to just get you and find something that they can then run forever. But whatever. You get to a place in life where none of it really matters at the end of the day' One of her joys is working with Witherspoon, whom she also costarred with on Friends. 'That little worker bee. Shes so busy,' said Aniston 'We always throw out texts to each other throughout the year when were not working just to check in on each other. She splits her time between [Nashville] and Los Angeles. 'But [our relationship] is like secondhand. Shes just a sister from another mister in that way, and we trust each other. Shell say, You take this one. I trust you in this department. Or vice versa. 'The beauty of the ego is so minimal [on this production], and we really trust each other. Its a really good environment, and thats why it makes me sad to think of it going away or completing itself. At some point its going to have to because the worlds getting too scary to kind of replicate in a series format.' And the ex of Justin Theroux said she is confident with her work these days. '[Ive learned] that women are beyond capable to make great television and produce a show with elegance and grace and kindness to one another. And we trust one another,' said the cover girl. 'When one of us has to work and put ourselves in front of the camera, you trust the others are going to pick up the ball and take care of the other end of it. Ive also learned that there are places I can go in my creative self that I probably didnt know that I could, that have allowed me that challenge to push my limits. Matthew Perry's 'Ketamine Queen' drug dealer Jasveen Sangha has pleaded guilty to selling the Friends star the dose that killed him. Sangha, 42, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to five federal charges, including providing the ketamine that led to Perry's death aged 54 in October 2023. Her trial had been planned to start later this month - and the guilty plea comes two weeks after the Daily Mail revealed Sangha had made a plea deal in the case. She is the fifth and final defendant charged in Perry's overdose death to admit guilt. In court, Sangha said there was 'no way I could tell 100 per cent' when asked if she knew the drugs she was giving to co-defendant and middleman Erik Fleming were going to Perry. She later added, to a similar question on vials of ketamine she gave to Fleming, that 'I didn't know if all of them or some of them' were bound for Perry. The comments didn't affect her plea agreement. Matthew Perry's 'Ketamine Queen' drug dealer Jasveen Sangha (pictured) has pleaded guilty to selling the Friends star the dose that killed him The Friends actor was found dead face down in his jacuzzi back on October 29, 2023, leaving Hollywood shaken to its core after he bravely shared details of his addiction struggles with the public to dissuade others from following a similar path. Pictured in 2012 Perry's mother, Suzanne Perry and his stepfather, Dateline reporter Keith Morrison, were present in court. Per the plea deal, Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Prosecutors agreed to drop three other counts related to the distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine that was unrelated to the Perry case. Sangha is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10. She could get up to 65 years in prison. The judge is not bound to follow any terms of the plea agreement, but prosecutors said in the document that they will ask for less than the maximum. None of the co-defendants have been sentenced yet. The Friends actor was found dead face down in his jacuzzi back on October 29, 2023, leaving Hollywood shaken to its core after he bravely shared details of his addiction struggles with the public to dissuade others from following a similar path. Months later, a medical examiner determined that the actor - who had battled substance abuse issues throughout his life - had died of 'acute effects of ketamine'. Sangha and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty in July, had been the primary targets of the investigation. Perry played Chandler Bing on the NBC series Friends opposite Jennifer Aniston In court, Sangha said there was 'no way I could tell 100 per cent' when asked if she knew the drugs she was giving to co-defendant and middleman Erik Fleming were going to Perry Three other defendants - Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa and Fleming - pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation, which included statements implicating Sangha and Plasencia. Perry had been using ketamine through his regular doctor as a legal, but off-label, treatment for depression, which has become increasingly common. The actor sought more ketamine than his doctor would give him, and his search for more led him to Sangha through his friend Fleming about two weeks before his death, prosecutors said. Fleming messaged Perry's assistant saying her ketamine was 'amazing' and that she deals only 'with high end and celebs'. Perry bought large amounts of ketamine from Sangha, including 25 vials for $6,000 in cash four days before his death, prosecutors said. On the day of Perry's death, Sangha told Fleming they should delete all the messages they had sent each other, according to her indictment. Perry was the subject of an Emmys tribute in January of 2024 Sangha has been in federal custody for about a year. Perry struggled with addiction for many years, dating back to his time on Friends when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBCs megahit series. Hugh Bonneville made a rare appearance with new girlfriend Heidi Kadlecova on Wednesday as they attended the Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale premiere. The British actor, 61, looked happier than ever as he cosied up to the vegan influencer on the star-studded red carpet at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London. Hugh cut a very dapper figure in a black tuxedo which he paired with a crisp white shirt and black bow tie. Meanwhile Heidi coordinated with the Paddington star in a glamorous black and nude dazzling gown which showed off her amazing figure. She turned heads in the Art Deco short sleeved number which she teamed with towering heels and a chunky sparkling bracelet. The couple, who confirmed their romance in October 2024, looked loved-up during the world premiere of his latest film as they posed for photos. It comes after Hugh split from his wife of 25 years Lulu Williams in September 2023. Hugh Bonneville made a rare appearance with new girlfriend Heidi Kadlecova on Wednesday as they attended the Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale premiere The British actor, 61, looked happier than ever as he cosied up to the vegan influencer on the star-studded red carpet at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London The actor, who shot to superstardom with his portrayal of the Earl of Grantham in the ITV drama Downton Abbey, reportedly enjoyed a string of dates with Canadian actress Claire Rankin, 54, in March. Yet he's since moved on with Heidi and is said to be a 'different person' around his new girlfriend. The Daily Mail recently revealed he had introduced her to the cast and crew on his new movie. He is said to have asked Heidi to spend the day on location as he filmed final scenes for Go Away! in Hertfordshire. A source told the Daily Mail that her presence perked up the veteran star, whose mood changed considerably while in the vegan influencer's company sparking onlookers to describe the pair as 'a couple of lovebirds'. Plus, locals spotted the pair cuddling during breaks from filming scenes next to a church. A source said: 'Hugh and Heidi seemed really loved up and excited to be in each other's company.' 'Her being on set brought out another side to him, he was like a different person on set when she was around, considerably perkier.' Hugh cut a very dapper figure in a black tuxedo which he paired with a crisp white shirt and bow tie The couple, who confirmed their romance in October 2024, looked loved-up during the world premiere of his latest film as they posed for photos Meanwhile Heidi coordinated with the Paddington star in a glamorous black and nude dazzling gown which showed off her amazing figure They added: 'She watched on as he filmed scenes and during breaks they went off together for some privacy. 'But he introduced her to everybody connected with the project and they came across as a really sweet pair, like a couple of lovebirds.' She also watched him shoot scenes for the third Downton Abbey film, to be released on Netflix, before she was pictured arriving at a wrap party in Kings Cross, to mark the end of filming - the third time they have been pictured together. The Daily Mail has contacted Hugh's representatives for comment. The divorced philanthropist describes herself on social media as a 'world traveller' and 'animal advocate'. Her Instagram bio reads 'Live life ethically, with kindness and compassion always'. Heidi has a young daughter Gabriella who she takes on her travels, including the Mount Everest base camp in 2019. She was previously married to lawyer Richard Coglon, Gabriella's father, while they lived in Vancouver. Heidi has previously worked for non-governmental organisations in Uganda, Indonesia and Nepal. The vegan campaigner and Hugh were first pictured together on July 8 at the premiere of new film Twisters. Documenting the night on her Instagram, Heidi wrote: 'Such a fun night and you are absolutely amazing in this film.' His cosy outing with Heidi comes after he split from his wife of 25 years Lulu Williams in September 2023 (pictured in 2019) Two weeks later, Heidi and Hugh posted the same photo at the same time during the opening night of Fangirls, a new musical at Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, west London. Paddington star Hugh split from his wife of 25 years Lulu Williams in September 2023. They have one son called Felix, 22, and lived together in West Sussex, but have yet to officially divorce. A spokesperson for Hugh confirmed in September 2023 that he and his ex Lulu, who lived together for 25 years at their home in West Sussex, ended their marriage. However, it seems the split has not been smooth sailing, with a source revealing: 'It is clear that Lulu feels as if 20-odd years of marriage counts for nothing.' Lulu often accompanied her husband to premieres and film sets and her recent absence sparked rumours the pair were having troubles. The actor, famous for his role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, had never shied away from expressing his love for Lulu, having previously called her his 'bedrock' and 'anchor' and crediting his wife for being the backbone of their household. A source told The Sun: 'Hugh has been away from home filming a lot this year. He has lost a bit of weight this summer, he was looking trim, tanned and relaxed.' The heartbreak came just five years after the couple renewed their vows at Graceland chapel in Las Vegas. Tilda Swinton showcased her ageless appearance as she attended Haus Nowhere Seoul pre-opening event at IICOMBINED in South Korea on Wednesday. The Oscar-winning actress, 64, flashed her slender frame in a figure-hugging blue dress and went makeup-free for the outing. She was joined alongside English singer FKA twigs, 37, who sported a quirky black cut-out dress. Earlier this year, Tilda announced she would be taking a break from 'merciless' movie-making. She made the surprise announcement hours after accepting the prestigious Golden Bear lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival. Speaking at a press conference, the Scottish actress said she had been looking forward to 'doing something different' for the past 15 years. Tilda Swinton, 64, showcased her ageless appearance as she attended Haus Nowhere Seoul pre-opening event at IICOMBINED in South Korea on Wednesday The British star went makeup-free for the outing and strutted out in the glamorous ruched number She was joined alongside English singer FKA twigs, 37, who sported a quirky black cut-out dress 'I need a break, and I'm going to have one,' she told press in Berlin. 'We all know filmmaking is a merciless mistress and I have been under the lash for a while.' 'I can tell you that when I go home on Monday to Scotland, I'm entering something that I've been looking forward to for about 15 years, which is a period of my life when I do something different. 'I can't quite say what it is, but I can say I'm not shooting a film for the rest of this year.' She added: 'I want time to develop projects, some are in cinema, some are not, but I need time.' The acclaimed actress has been working regularly for more than two decades after making her cinematic debut in Derek Jarman's 1986 art film Caravaggio. In 2007 she won an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actress category of her role in Michael Clayton. She made an impassioned speech on stage whilst accepting her latest award. Without ever using the words Gaza or Palestinian, Tilda gave her speech in support of 'the great independent state of cinema,' and what she called 'an unlimited realm, innately inclusive, immune to efforts of occupation, colonization, takeover, ownership or the development of Riviera property.' The Oscar-winning actress flashed her slender frame in a figure-hugging blue dress, turning heads as she walked into the venue The actress appeared in great spirits, flashing a sweet smile to fellow attendees FKA Twigs put on a very leggy display as she elevated her frame with dramatic towering black platforms She was every inch the bold, trendy pop star at the event Earlier this year, Tilda announced she would be taking a break from 'merciless' movie-making (pictured in February) The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Tilda also told the festival crowd: 'Here's one of the best things that can happen to young person curious about the world and how to live a life in it.' 'They can find themselves here at the Berlinale. When I first came to this festival, I was 25 and looking for my life, looking for the world and signs of human life there, how I might take my place among it, on the hunt for amazement, for solidarity and connection, and I can say I found it all right here in one fell swoop.' Tilda has been a regular at the Berlin Film Festival for 30 years, with 26 of her movies screened there, whilst she served as president of its jury in 2009. Last week, Tilda and actress Suki Waterhouse led the glam at the Broken English photocall during the Venice Film Festival. The two women looked incredible as they posed up a storm together, showing off their model physiques. New mom of four Michelle Williams has been seen for the first time since expanding her family via surrogate. Williams was spotted with her five-year-old son Hart Kail in Brooklyn on Tuesday, looking as happy-as-can-be soaking up the last days of summer alongside her youngster. The star, 44, kept her cool in tank top (minus the bra), billowing white trousers, flip flops, and flannel shirt tied around her slender waist. The mother-son duo not appear to be joined by the newest addition to their family, Williams' third child with husband Thomas Kail (and fourth overall). For now, the actress enjoyed some quality one-on-one time bonding with her boy. The doting mom held hands with her child as they took in the city sights with a leisurely stroll. New mom of four Michelle Williams has been seen for the first time since expanding her family via surrogate, enjoying a day with her son Hart Kail in Brooklyn on Tuesday Williams revealed the arrival of her fourth child - and first born via surrogate - during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last month. The revelation came after guest host Tiffany Haddish complimented Williams on her post-baby figure, prompting the actress to give credit to her surrogate. 'I didn't realize you had three little ones, Haddish told Williams. 'Can I just say that your body looks amazing, 'cause I would have never thought you had any!' Williams replied: 'Then I've got to give a big shout out to Christine, cuz this last baby did not come through my body.' She also hinted at the sex of the newborn. 'But the miracle of our little girl is thanks to Christine. Maybe you're watching out there - thank you, Christine.' Michelle Williams has a 19-year-old daughter, Matilda, with her late ex, Oscar-winning actor Heath Ledger, who tragically died of an overdose in 2008. She also shares two young children with her husband, theater director and TV producer Thomas Kail - Hart and a second child born in 2022, whose name has not yet been revealed. The actress gave another emotional shoutout to her surrogate, adding: 'Thanks to Christine, I have three under 5 at home.' Williams kept her cool with a tank top, flowing white trousers, and flannel shirt tied around her svelte waist It comes several weeks after Williams announced her family had expanded once again Williams revealed that a surrogate named Christine helped her become a mother-of-four Williams spoke candidly about balancing motherhood with her Hollywood career, admitting the juggle isn't easy. The My Week With Marilyn star told a late-night chat show host: 'Everything's good and under control. I'm the adult. I'm trying to figure out the sort of life-work balance. 'I hear a lot of people are talking about self-care, and I'm just wondering when. Because I'm a working mom. Like, I already have the guilt, and I don't want to take more time away from them, but I understand, like, I need to fill up the tank.' As for her rare moments of private time, Williams revealed what she likes to do. The newborn child did not appear to join Michelle for the outing Michelle has three children with her husband Thomas Kail and a fourth, daughter Matilda, with her late ex, Heath Ledger Michelle joked: 'It's by visiting our fine local establishments of government bureaucracy. 'You say, "I'm sorry, honey. But one day you're going to grow up, and you're going to get a job. And you're going to pay taxes, and you're going to need a Social Security number for that."' Her husband is best known for directing Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash musicals In the Heights and Hamilton on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They wed in 2020. While New Delhi has so far avoided retaliation, the tariffs put Indian exporters at a sharp cost disadvantage against competitors like Bangladesh and Vietnam, raising concerns about job losses and weakened competitiveness On Wednesday morning last week, India woke up to the news that the US had imposed 50 per cent tariffs on its goods sold to the US. The Trump administration followed through on its threat to double levies from 25 per cent due to India's purchase of Russian oil. Since his return to the White House this year, President Donald Trump has implemented tariffs. Trumps decision on Indo-US relations is likely to impact the relationship between the two countries. It affects 48.2 billion in exports. This includes clothing and chemicals. However, the risk of a trade war remains low, as India has not retaliated and is implementing reforms to mitigate the impact of the tariffs. New Delhi is responding to tariffs by proposing a cut in GST and seeking new export opportunities. High tariffs could harm Indias economy, lessen its competitiveness against China, and hinder Prime Minister Modis goal of making India a manufacturing hub. The United States was Indias largest trading partner, with trade at $21.2 billion. Let us take a closer look at how the USs hike in tariffs could affect the Indian economy. In 2024, New Delhi was projected to export around $87 billion, its largest market to date. These tariffs place Indian exporters at a 3035 per cent disadvantage compared to countries like Bangladesh, which face lower US duties. Furthermore, India also engages in trade with other nations, including China, the EU, and the UAE. The estimated impact of US exports primarily affects labour-intensive sectors. Lower crude prices give both federal and state Governments the fiscal space to support these industries with targeted incentives. Experts believe this tariff could lead to a stagnant market and limitations. Indias GDP growth, projected to be around 7 per cent in 2024, is expected to be reduced to approximately 6.4 per cent. Indias $179 billion textiles industry, which generates $37.7 billion in exports to the US, is particularly vulnerable, with nearly $10.3 billion of its revenue coming from this market. The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has noted that Indian exporters now face a 30 per cent cost disadvantage compared to competitors in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Trumps tariffs could have a significant impact on specific sectors and jobs that are linked to US demand. This could lead to job losses and a slowdown in the sectors growth. Rating agency Moodys has indicated that Trumps tariffs on Indian imports could hinder Indias economic growth.The agency stated that after 2025, the significantly wider tariff gap compared to other Asia-Pacific countries could severely limit Indias ambitions to develop its manufacturing sector and might even reverse some of the progress made in recent years in attracting related investments. Exporter associations estimate that tariffs could impact nearly 55 per cent of Indias $87 billion merchandise exports to the US. This could advantage competitors like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and China, which face lower tariff rates. India is the worlds third-largest oil consumer and the biggest buyer of Russian crude oil. This is crucial for Indias energy sector. It could disrupt this crucial energy partnership and force India to seek alternative sources of oil, which may be more expensive and less reliable. As an alternative, the Modi Government is urging people to buy domestically produced goods, urging them to prioritise products made in India. Major industries, such as the auto components sector, which exports approximately $7 billion annually to the US, could be affected by tariffs, risking Indias investment. Speaking at a construction industry event in New Delhi recently, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India was always ready if anyone wants to have a free trade agreement with us. But, he added, India will neither bow down nor ever appear weak. The Indian Government is implementing measures to reduce the impact. At the same time, the long-term effects on the economy and stock market remain uncertain. Political and business leaders in India are calling for quick market diversification to reduce reliance on the United States. Analysts have warned that the 50 per cent duty the US has imposed on Indian goods is akin to a trade embargo. Modi has promised to protect farmers, fishermen, and workers, emphasising national interest and energy security in the country. On Thursday, the Government reassured exporters of its unwavering support, promising to extend comprehensive measures to protect livelihoods amid global headwinds. This is to reassure the public and the business community. The Government is working on extending support measures for exporters, such as the rollout of an export promotion mission and a moratorium on loans to cushion them from the impact of the USs 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, an official said. New Delhi is finding broad support from the Western intelligentsia in its struggle to resist the US pressure. This international support helps India navigate the challenges posed by US tariffs and maintain its position in the global trade arena. For the time being, neither Washington nor New Delhi is itching for a trade war. There is a great potential for diplomatic negotiations, with Modi using the back-channel route to persuade for lower tariffs, and Trump being willing to compromise if he wants to do business with India. This possibility of negotiation brings a sense of hope and optimism for the future of Indo-US trade relations. The writer is a popular columnist A notorious criminal wanted by Haryana Police, Mainpal Dhilla, was arrested after he was extradited from Cambodia in an operation coordinated by the CBI in collaboration with the State police, Union Home Ministry and External Affairs Ministry, officials said on Wednesday. According to police, Mainpal of Village Badli, District Jhajjar (Haryana), was one of the most wanted fugitives with a `5 lakh reward on his head. He was convicted in multiple cases of murder, attempt to murder, robbery, dacoity and criminal intimidation and had been sentenced to life imprisonment in three separate cases registered in Jhajjar district. Mainpal had been serving his sentence in Hisar Central Jail when he was granted six weeks parole on July 17, 2018. However, he failed to return, prompting registration of a case under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners Act and subsequent proclamation as an absconder by a Bahadurgarh court in October 2019. Investigations revealed that in 2019, the fugitive managed to fraudulently obtain an Indian passport in the name of Sonu Kumar from Gurugram using forged documents. Using this passport, he fled to Bangkok via Kolkata Airport and later moved to Cambodia, where he settled in Siem Reap. Police said Mainpal operated a nightclub there and lived with his Cambodian partner, with whom he fathered three children. He was also reported to have travelled to Mauritius and Indonesia during this period. The Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana Police, in coordination with Interpol, CBI and the Ministry of External Affairs, shared intelligence with Cambodian authorities and established his true identity. Following sustained diplomatic efforts, Cambodian authorities agreed to deport him. A police team led by Waseem Akram, IPS, along with DSP Madan Singh and SI Sandeep Kumar, travelled to Phnom Penh and took custody of the fugitive. He was flown back and arrested at Delhi Airport on September 2, 2025. On his return, Mainpal was arrested in connection with the fraudulent passport case registered in Gurugram and will also be required to serve his pending life sentences. This successful deportation demonstrates the Haryana Polices resolve in bringing hardened criminals to justice. We urge citizens to extend their cooperation by sharing timely information about such fugitives, the police said in a statement.A notorious criminal wanted by Haryana Police, Mainpal Dhilla, was arrested In a major relief to members of minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who came to India till December 31, 2024 to escape religious persecution, will not need passport or other travel documents. Issuing this order, Ministry of Home Affairs said, members of minority communities including Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, will be allowed to stay in the country. According to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which came into force last year, members of these persecuted minorities, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014, will be granted Indian citizenship. The significant order, issued under the just-implemented Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, will come as a relief to a large number of people, especially Hindus from Pakistan, who crossed over to India after 2014 and were worried about their fate. A person belonging to a minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered the country on or before December 31, 2024 without valid documents, including a passport or other travel documents, or with valid documents, including a passport or other travel documents, and the validity of such documents have expired will be exempted from the rule of possessing a valid passport and visa, according to an order issued by the Home Ministry. The move aims to uphold Indias humanitarian tradition of sheltering persecuted minorities and reflects the governments view that these individuals should not be punished for their inability to secure formal papers in hostile environments. This exemption ensures that those fleeing religious violence are offered safety and dignity without the bureaucratic hurdles of documentation that they could never acquire, sources said. A large military parade held in early September 2025 in central Beijing provided a formidable showcase of Chinas rapidly advancing military capabilities. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the event was a clear declaration of the nations technological prowess and its growing aspirations as a global power. The well-organized procession showcased a range of cutting-edge armaments, including new long-range nuclear missiles, a fleet of autonomous drones, and directed-energy weapons, signaling a strategic shift towards a new generation of warfare. Get alerts: New Frontiers in Strategic Deterrence A significant highlight of the parade was the public debut of the DF-61, a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that marks a powerful addition to the PLA Rocket Forces arsenal. The introduction of this weapon underscores Chinas commitment to modernizing its strategic deterrent. Also featured prominently were missiles equipped with hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs). These systems are engineered to challenge conventional missile defense networks by traveling at incredible speeds and along unpredictable flight paths, demonstrating a focus on creating asymmetric advantages in their offensive capabilities. The Dawn of Intelligentized Warfare The parade heavily emphasized unmanned systems, reflecting what military analysts are increasingly referring to as a push towards intelligentized warfare. The display included a wide variety of drones, from large unmanned submarines to sophisticated aerial systems designed to operate as loyal wingmen alongside advanced stealth fighters. Ground-based autonomous vehicles, engineered for complex tasks such as logistics and mine-clearing, were also on display, illustrating a strategic effort to build a highly networked and autonomous military force for future conflicts. A Shifting Global Balance In a notable technological advancement, the parade also featured the introduction of laser air defense systems. This move into the realm of directed energy weapons represents a significant shift from conventional munitions. These systems offer distinct advantages, including lower operational costs and simplified logistics, and serve as a testament to Chinas ability to align its industrial capacity with its ambitious military modernization goals. The sheer scale and sophistication of the hardware on display highlight Chinas capacity to develop and deploy advanced military technologies at an impressive pace. While Chinas total defense expenditure remains second to that of the United States, its consistent and substantial increases in military spending over the past three decades have positioned it as the dominant regional power, with a budget that significantly exceeds that of its neighbors. This investment has fueled a particularly rapid expansion of its navy, with some expert projections suggesting China could possess a larger fleet of battle force ships than the U.S. Navy by 2030. From Spectacle to Substance Despite the powerful visuals, military observers urge caution against drawing definitive conclusions about Chinas combat readiness based on a parade alone. Analysts note that the Chinese military has not been tested in a high-intensity conflict for several decades. The recent experiences of the Russian military in Ukraine serve as a stark reminder that technological and numerical superiority do not automatically guarantee success on the battlefield. While the United States has historically maintained a reputation for effective military power, many assessments suggest that its technological edge over China is narrowing. Ultimately, the parade served as a potent symbol of Chinas military ambitions and technological achievements, yet the true effectiveness of these new systems remains untested in the crucible of combat. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A man who rummaged through a woman's belongings and stole her bank card and iPhone while she was swimming at a North Coast beach has been jailed. Joseph McDonagh, whose address was given on court papers as 'no fixed abode, Belfast', appeared before Limavady Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The 40 year-old was charged with the theft on June 15 and four counts of fraud by false representation on the same date. The court heard that the injured party said she had left her belongings on the beach at East Strand in Portrush while she went for a swim. While the woman was in the water she observed McDonagh rummaging through her belongings. When she returned, the defendant had left the area however she noticed that her bank card and iPhone were missing. The iPhone was returned to the injured party a short time later by a member of the public however McDonagh had used her bank card to make purchases valued at 56. The court heard that he had also attempted to purchase an item valued at 29.99. McDonagh's barrister Thomas McKeever desribed the offences as 'nasty'. He said on the date in question, McDonagh had found himself in the North Coast with no money and he 'very foolishly' decided to take the bank card to buy food and a train ticket. Mr McKeever stated that McDonagh, who is currently in custody, intends to return to Dublin following his release from prison. He has no plans to return to this jurisdiction which will give the court some comfort, added Mr McKeever. District Judge Peter King imposed a jail sentence of seven months. Final preparations are being made by the Presbyterian Church in Irelands (PCI) Presbytery of Derry and Donegal to welcome PCIs new Moderator, Right Reverend Dr Trevor Gribben, when he makes a week-long tour of the area next week. Starting this Sunday, September 7, Dr Gribben said he was looking forward to the pastoral visit, as it was an opportunity to say thank you to those who pastor, lead and serve in our Presbyterian congregations in this part of the world. At the same time, I want to thank those in the wider community who keep us safe, teach and encourage our children and young people, treat us when we are unwell, and provide food for our tables. Having been installed as Moderator in June, the all-Ireland denominations senior office bearer, will undertake four such tours of the Church during his year in office. Next week, across his various engagements, Dr Gribben hopes to encourage the local church, but also come alongside those in education, health and farming, and members of the emergency services as well. Looking forward to the tour, which will be his first, the Moderator said: In our Presbyterian way of doing things, all of our 500-plus congregations across Ireland are divided up into regional presbyteries, and we have 19 of them. This includes the Presbytery of Derry and Donegal, which is our only significantly cross-border body with 30 congregations in Donegal and 18 in Londonderry. The Presbytery also includes Leckpatrick Presbyterian, my first congregation as a minister, where I was installed 35 years ago. The tour opens this Sunday when Dr Gribben will preach at the morning worship service at Donemana Presbyterian Church and conclude with a united evening service in Glendermott Presbyterian Church the following Sunday. Between the two is a packed week of nearly 30 separate engagements, which will also include lunch with the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Derry, Most Reverend Donal McKeown. This is very much a pastoral visit to encourage our Presbyterian church in its mission and ministry in this part of the country. I want to thank the Presbytery for arranging a programme that allows me to do that and see first-hand the work that our congregations are doing, and how that blesses the local community. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge what Presbyterians are doing to serve the community in so many different ways, which includes our chaplains in education and health, but also includes so many of our members in their everyday occupations and lives Dr Gribben said. Education always features prominently on a presbytery tour. Next week Dr Gribben will spend time meeting staff and students at three schools in Donegal: Donoughmore National School, The Royal and Priory Comprehensive School, and Convoy Joint National School, where the Presbyterian Church is joint patron with the Church of Ireland. The Moderator will also spend time with PCIs part-time chaplain at Ulster Universitys Derry Campus at the former Magee College. During this visit he will meet Professor Malachy ONeill, Director of Regional Engagement. At Trinity Presbyterian Church, Letterkenny, the Moderator will meet postgraduate students at the Institute of Technology in the town. A number of civic engagements have been organised, which includes lunch with the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairi McHugh and the Deputy Mayor, Alderman Niree McMorris. The Moderator will meet the PSNI in the City, and hopefully visit Garda officers in Letterkenny. A visit to Kilfennan Community Hub and Foyle Search and Rescue will also take place, along with a visit to Altnagelvin Hospital to meet the chaplaincy team and the North West Cancer Centre. Farms are also on the agenda with visits to three farms and farmers attending Raphoe Livestock Mart. Dr Gribben continued: As a pastor at heart, spending time with ministerial colleagues will be an important part of the tour, especially in the small groups that the Presbytery has arranged, where Ill be able to listen, pray, encourage and be encouraged. I am also looking forward to meeting fellow Presbyterians in the pews and preaching on my theme for the year, Hope and a future in Jesus. It is taken from the Old Testament Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 29:1 and 4-14, and verse 11 says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. It is a wonderful promise from a loving God that we all need to hear, for it gives us hope, a hope that is found in Jesus. Dr Gribben added: God also called His people in the Prophet Jeremiahs day to seek the peace and prosperity of the city and we do that wherever God has placed us, engaging in the public square and in civil society, and I am looking forward to doing that next week. It will also be a time to say thank you to those who pastor our Presbyterian flock in this part of the world, those who keep us safe, teach our children and young people, treat us when we are unwell, and provide food for our tables. It will be a busy week, but I am really looking forward to it, he said. Speaking about the tour, Rev Colin McKibbin, who is Clerk of Derry and Donegal Presbytery, is looking forward to the visit as well. This has been a much-anticipated visit and we are delighted to welcome the Moderator to the northwest as it promises to be a rich and meaningful visit, one that will reflect the breadth of life and witness in this part of Ireland," he said. While he wont be able to preach, or visit all of our 48 congregations, Dr Gribben will join in worship services across Derry and Donegal and meet with ministers, their spouses and manse families, offering encouragement to those who serve in ministry. He will also spend time with families who continue to live with the legacy of The Troubles. In another special part of the programme, he will meet with people who have come to our country through the International Protection Accommodation Service in Letterkenny, as well as Ukrainian and Iranian members who have recently joined our congregations." The minister of Carnone, Convoy, Donoughmore and Alt Presbyterian Churches in east Donegal, who has helped to organise the tour, concluded by saying: We really hope that the Moderator enjoys his forthcoming visit and gets a good feel for the Presbyterian family here in the northwest of the country. We are confident that he will be enriched by the warmth of the people of Derry and Donegal, and by the opportunity to witness first-hand the resilience, hospitality, and faith that mark this part of Ireland. Gregory Campbell MP has issued a call to action for all elected representatives to unite in supporting Causeway Hospital, following the contents of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request he submitted to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. The FOI response revealed that during the public consultation on recent changes to surgery services at Causeway Hospital, there was a very poor response from some public representatives. The Trust response indicated that only three public representatives had written in responding to the consultation. The three were Mr. Campbell and his DUP colleagues, Maurice Bradley MLA and Alan Robinson MLA. According to the Trust no responses were made by other elected representatives. Mr. Campbell said: The silence from other representatives is deeply concerning given the vital role Causeway Hospital plays in the local community. I understand there are many important issues that elected representatives are dealing with, but the health of all our citizens should not get overlooked in the process. This is not a party-political issue. Everyone who holds elected office has a duty to stand up for the people who depend on Causeway Hospital. Our healthcare services are too important for anything less than unified action. Mr Campbell praised the ongoing efforts of campaign groups such as SOS Causeway and encouraged constituents and campaigners to help ensure that all local representatives unite on what will remain an important issue for the foreseeable future. He concluded: Only through united, cross-party engagement can we help ensure the best possible outcome for Causeway Hospital and our community. Asdas charity, The Asda Foundation, has awarded 64,500 to four community groups across Northern Ireland through its Local Community Spaces fund. The grants form part of a transformative 1.25 million in funding which has been awarded to 79 community projects across the UK aimed at revitalising local spaces where people connect, access vital services and build stronger communities. From village halls and community centres to youth hubs and churches, each of the 79 grants, ranging from 10,000 to 20,000, will support the development, improvement, or repair of community spaces - ensuring they remain safe, inclusive, and fit for purpose. The initiative follows findings from Asdas latest Community Insight Tracker, which revealed 42% of community groups believe access to safe and inclusive spaces is one of the most important issues the Foundation should support. Mental health and crime prevention also ranked highly, according to data from Asda Community Insight Tracker Report Q2 2025, highlighting the need for welcoming places where communities can thrive. The four groups awarded funding in Northern Ireland were Co Derry-based Currynierin Community Centre, Lagan Village Youth and Community Group in East Belfast, Kingdom Youth Club in Kilkeel, Co Down and St Patricks Community Centre in Portaferry, Co Down. The 18,000 awarded to Currynierin Community Association will be used to upgrade the Currynierin Community Centres kitchen and toilets, enhancing the much-loved space as one thats safe, hygienic and inclusive for all through improved accessibility and an overhaul of cooking facilities. Gretta Donaghy from Currynierin Community Association said: We are absolutely delighted with this funding from the Asda Foundation and to have the news delivered as a surprise by the nearby Asda Strabane team was the icing on the cake. As a community-based organisation, we work with every age group in the area from toddlers to the older generation, supporting hundreds of monthly users. The kitchen is central to our offering as we prepare food for lots of our groups, and for around two years our cooker has been broken so getting meals ready for hungry mouths has been a challenge to say the least! This funding will be a game-changer for the charity, and we cant thank the Asda Foundation enough for their support. Currynierin is an area that faces economic challenges and limited access to resources, so the work we do means a lot to locals. These improvements will help us in our efforts to improve wellbeing and strengthen community ties. Emma Kelly, Community Champion at Asda Strabane, said: I was absolutely chuffed to share the news of this substantial contribution from the Asda Foundation with Gretta and all the fantastic team at Currynierin Community Association. READ NEXT: Kevin Lynch Hurling Club benefits from sustainability initiative thanks to local retailers The work they do in their area is phenomenal, and helping their endeavours as they strive to make the community centre the very best it can be is an honour. Im excited to see how the upgrade progresses, and to hear all about how the improvements enhance the space and make a positive impact for the area. Karl Doyle, Asda Foundation Chair, said: Community spaces that are safe and welcoming play a crucial role in bringing people together and supporting essential local services. However, we understand that many groups are facing challenges in securing the funds needed to sustain and improve these spaces. Thats why the Asda Foundation is proud to offer support through our Local Community Spaces fund, as well as our wider programmes. Our goal is to help strengthen community connections and tackle loneliness by enhancing the places where people come together. Congratulations to the 79 successful groups who are receiving funding, we cant wait to see the difference that they make. A man who is prohibited from entering Brookdale Park in Derry did so after he claimed he misunderstood police. Richard Carlin (37) of no fixed abode admitted a charge of breaching a Restraining Order on September 1 by being in Brookdale Park. A police officer said that the defendant had approached police saying he had nowhere to go and police had advised him not to go to the address. Carlin claimed he misunderstood and thought police told him to go there. Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that his client had the order imposed after a dispute with a neighbour. READ NEXT: Two arrested in Limavady following reports of counterfeit currency He said he had a row with his father and was essentially homeless and thought he would go to his own house despite the order. Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer said he did not accept the explanation that Carlin misunderstood police and just 'took a chance'. He sentenced Carlin to five months in custody suspended for 12 months. Firmus Energy has announced its gas tariff for the Ten Towns area will decrease by 7.86%. The Utility Regulator welcomed the move which came after the body commenced a review of the tariff for all domestic customers in August 2025. Colin Broomfield, director of markets at the Utility Regulator, said the decease will come into effect from October 1. In August 2025, we began a formal review of the regulated tariff for Firmus Energy (Ten Towns area). Following this analysis, we have determined that Firmus Energys regulated tariff will decrease by 7.86%, he said. Firmus Energys decrease of 7.86% will come into effect from October 1 2025. This will mean that the average annual bill for a standard credit customer will be approximately 935. He added: We are finalising the regulated tariff reviews for Power NI and SSE Airtricity Gas Supply, with an announcement due on Friday September 5. A comparison of all Northern Irelands regulated tariffs, with the GB price cap and Ireland, will be provided then. Ryan Miskimmin, sales director at Firmus Energy, said it will make an announcement regarding the Greater Belfast Network area in the coming weeks. We are pleased to share our second tariff reduction of the year and are always committed to passing on any savings to customers, whenever it is possible for us to do so, he said. Having engaged with the Utility Regulator, and Consumer Council, we are able to announce this reduction of 7.86%. Since April this year, our consecutive reductions have decreased our tariffs by almost 19%, representing an average household saving of 210 per year. As we head into the colder months, we know that these savings coupled with the constant heat and instant hot water that natural gas provides, will be welcomed by Ten Towns customers. A Co Down farmer is celebrating after one of Northern Irelands rarest birds successfully bred on his land for the third year in a row. Barn owl numbers are down to fewer than 30 breeding pairs in the region. Work to support them on the Kelly family farm in Ballyalton paid off for the third year, offering hope to conservationists but it has been emphasised that investment is essential to ensure further success. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair (Daera) has been urged to prioritise the new Farming with Nature scheme as a matter of urgency to ensure farmland species are not lost forever. While the distinctive barn owl was once a common sight, and welcomed by farmers to their help with pest control, the loss of rough grassland, thick hedgerows, and old trees for nesting saw their numbers have plummet. The Kelly family has been working with local conservation charities Ulster Wildlife and RSPB NI for many years to bring nature back. From planting winter bird cover to feed birds and mammals, and maintaining thick hedgerows for nesting, to creating pollinator margins and species-rich meadows to boost insects, every corner of the farm has been managed with nature in mind. Ten barn owl nest boxes have also been erected across the farm by Ulster Wildlife to provide much-needed nesting sites. Their first success came in 2023 when they welcomed their first breeding pair. The owls have since returned every year, raising three chicks in the nest boxes installed. Adam Kelly said they were delighted to see barn owls breeding for the third year in a row. We are very fortunate to have barn owls on our farm all year long, he said. It gives us a great sense of achievement and proves that what we are doing on the farm is working. As we are a cereal farm, it means there is plenty of feed for mice and rats, which in turn provides prey for barn owls and other birds of prey. Seeing barn owls breed here for three years running is the ultimate reward for farming with nature. The Kelly farm is part of the County Down Farmland Bird Initiative, a group project within the Environmental Farming Scheme, facilitated by RSPB NI. Agri-environment schemes, such as this, support farmers to create and maintain vital habitats for wildlife and have been crucial to the Kellys success. But with a new Farming with Nature scheme still under development, and no current support available to farmers, conservationists have warned that continued investment is essential. Katy Bell, senior conservation officer with Ulster Wildlife, urged Daera to prioritise the scheme. Nature is in trouble across Northern Ireland, with one in nine species at risk of extinction, but farmers can be part of the solution, she said. The Kelly family farm is proof that farming and wildlife can thrive together and shows whats possible when farmers are supported to work with nature through agri-environment schemes. We urge Daera to prioritise the new Farming with Nature scheme as a matter of urgency to ensure iconic farmland species, like the barn owl, are not lost from our landscape forever. Michelle Duggan, conservation officer with RSPB NI, added: We are absolutely delighted that these magnificent barn owls have decided to make the Kellys farm their home to raise their young again. The farms seed-rich habitats provide an essential winter food source for farmland birds like the endangered yellowhammer, while also offering ideal territory for barn owls to hunt for small mammal prey. The rough grass margins and impressive hedgerows enhance the barn owl hunting territory even further. This farm shows that nature-friendly farming works when farmers have the right tools and support. Thats why we want to see investment in this and for Daera to prioritise the development and delivery of the new Farming with Nature Package. If you have land suitable for barn owls and would like advice on how to create wildlife-friendly habitats, visit ulsterwildlife.org/barn-owls to download the Land Management Guidance for Barn Owls leaflet. If you have seen a barn owl or would like to discuss measures you can put in place to help them, contact Ulster Wildlife at barnowls@ulsterwildlife.org. 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. Xi at the SCO Summit 2025 (People's Daily App) 21:58, September 03, 2025 Twenty-four years since its inception, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has emerged as an organization of increasing influence and global recognition. This year, it convenes the largest-ever summit in its birthplace, China. President Xi Jinping chaired the summit in the port city of Tianjin on Sunday and Monday. Watch to revisit Xi's time at the SCO Summit 2025. (Produced by Sun Tianren, Zou Yun, Liang Peiyu, Zhu Yurou, Liang Xiaojian and intern Xu Xuanyu) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SK hynix Introduces Industry's First Commercial High NA EUV SK hynix Inc. announced today that it has assembled the industry's first High NA EUV lithography system for mass production at the M16 fabrication plant in Icheon, South Korea. At an event to commemorate the assembly of the system, SK hynix's Head of R&D Cha Seon Yong, Head of Manufacturing Technology Lee Byoungki and ASML's Head of Customer Team SK hynix-Japan Kim Byeong-Chan celebrated the introduction of the equipment to produce next-generation DRAM. The move lays the foundation for a swift development and supply of the cutting-edge products that meet customer demand amid intense competition of the global semiconductor industry. SK hynix aims to enhance credibility and stability of the global supply chain through close collaboration with business partners. A sophisticated process technology to scale memory cells is critical to advance productivity and product performance. A more sophisticated pattern leads to an increase in the number of chips produced from a wafer and an improvement in power efficiency and performance. SK hynix has been expanding the scope of EUV adoption for production of the most advanced DRAM since the first introduction of the technology in 2021 for the 1anm, the fourth generation of the 10nm tech. The assembly of the next-generation technology system that outperforms the existing EUV equipment comes amid the company's efforts to prepare for the industry's requirement for extreme scaling and high density. The TWINSCAN EXE:5200B, the first model for volume production of ASML's High NA EUV product line, enables printing of transistors 1.7 times smaller and achievement of transistor densities 2.9 times higher, compared with the existing EUV system, with a 40% improvement in the NA to 0.55 from 0.33. With the adoption of the new system, SK hynix plans to simplify the existing EUV process and accelerate the development of the next-generation memory to advance product performance and cost competitiveness. The company also aims to enhance its position in the high-value memory product market and make its technological leadership stronger. High NA EUV is a critical technology that opens the next chapter of the semiconductor industry, said Kim at ASML. ASML will closely collaborate with SK hynix to bring forward the innovation of the next-generation memory. We expect the addition of the critical infrastructure to bring our technological vision we have been pursuing into reality, said Cha at SK hynix. We aim to enhance our leadership in the AI memory space with the cutting-edge technology required by the fast-growing AI and next-generation computing markets. The Boyne Valley Trails September Walking Festival returns to Louth this autumn, allowing walkers to immerse themselves in nature and experience the beauty, heritage, and culture of the stunning Boyne Valley region in Irelands Ancient East. Expert guides will offer adventure like no other, exploring the Boyne Valley including the Boyne Camino and other hikes, through to guided history and mythology walks, Nordic Walking, foraging and more, there is something for every interest and ability. Walks will take in spectacular sights of the region, including Moyry Pass, Laytown beach, Clogherhead Cliffs, King Williams Glen and Belnumber Woods amongst others. The festival will welcome long distance walker Ellie Berry to Drogheda this year for an inspiring talk about her achievements, as well as offering the opportunity to join a walk hosted by Ellie. Irish adventurer, writer, and co-creator of Tough Soles, Ellie set a new speed record for climbing all 275 mountains on the Vandeleur-Lynam list, completing the feat in 50 days, 5 hours and 45 minutes, and has walked every way marked trail in Ireland. Her work combines a deep respect for Irelands landscape, encouraging others to find their own connection to the outdoors. For hiking enthusiasts there are beginners and experienced Nordic Walking routes, an impressive way to work all your muscles and build added fitness to your walks. There are sections of the Boyne Camino, which passes through some of the most stunning scenery in the Boyne Valley, where location of the Battle of the Boyne, and along the majestic Boyne River to return to Drogheda. Exploring local history is also an important part of the festival, and there will be guided walks and talks to discover more about historic locations like Beaulieu House; as well as characters from the Drogheda Fenians including John Boyle OReilly. Speaking about the Festival, Dusty Flanagan from Boyne Valley Tours said: The Boyne Valley Trails Festival in September has become one of the highlights of my walking year. The variety of walks continues to grow every year. Its a privilege to meet friends old and new to show them the beautiful Boyne Valley and beyond. We are lucky to have a landscape of river walks, forest, coastline and our amazing Camino. "This year our guest talks are especially exciting, and I cannot wait to join Ellie Berry from Tough Soles to walk the Moyry Pass, or Gap of the North as it is also known. Part of the Slige Midluachra, it is one of the five ancient roads from Tara. Trevor Connolly, Love Drogheda BID CEO added: Boyne Valley Trails September Walking Festival has become such an important event on the annual calendar, and we are delighted to welcome walkers from near and far to our historic region. Easily accessible, the region has stunning beaches, beautiful cliffs, and an incredible history to enthrall all vistors. Read Next: Louth people warned they may get UKs emergency mobile phone alert Steeped in history, and the home of some of Irelands most enduring myths and legends, Drogheda is the gateway to the Boyne Valley and a highlight of Irelands Ancient East. The September Walking Festival offers a wonderful way to explore the regions rich cultural heritage, whilst getting out into the beautiful waterways and lush green of the Boyne Valley. Visit www.boynevalleytrails.ie for more details, full event listing and to book tickets or see Boyne Valley Trails on Facebook or @boynevalley_trails on Instagram for more details. The Boyne Valley Trails September Festival is supported by Love Drogheda BID and Failte Ireland. The North West Tertiary Education Cluster has been announced as the co-headline sponsor of the All-Island Labour Market: Challenges and Opportunities conference, which takes place on Thursday 18 September in Ballymascanlon Hotel, Dundalk, Co Louth. The Centre for Cross Border Cooperations conference will shine a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities of the cross-border labour market. It will have input from employers, employees, and business support organisations. Dr Anthony Soares, the Centres Director, said: North West Tertiary Education Cluster is a success story in partnership working and were delighted to have it as our co-headline conference sponsor. The Cluster comprises Atlantic Technological University, Donegal Education and Training Board, North West Regional College and Ulster University. "Between them, the four institutions have over 85,000 students and learners, and there is a strong focus on world-leading research, skills training, enterprise support and advanced digital technologies. In February 2018, the North West Strategic Growth Partnership (NWSGP), in conjunction with the tertiary education providers of the North West City Region, announced a new agreement in education, training and innovation to establish the now titled North West Tertiary Education Cluster (NWTEC). Read also: Louth councillor refuses to zone more land until wastewater issue resolved NWTEC is a strategic alliance of all four publicly funded tertiary education providers in the North West City Region: Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Ulster University (UU), North West Regional College (NWRC), and Donegal Education and Training Board (Donegal ETB). This deep partnership provides the full range of educational services including advanced skills training, cutting-edge innovation supports for enterprise, and internationally recognised high-quality research. The official launch of NWTECs North West Digital Employment Pathways Training Hub (NW DEPTH) initiative took place on 29 April 2025. This project, supported by PEACEPLUS, will run for four years, with the first cohort of learners being recruited shortly, and will see an investment of nearly 10 million in digital skills in the North West region. Paul Hannigan, VP for Cross Border Engagement at ATU, said: By working together, our plan is to create a dynamic and successful Shared North West. It will be a connected, high-performing region achieved through research, innovation, collaboration and growth. Were delighted that NWTEC will join Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor as co-headline sponsors at the Centre for Cross Border Cooperations Annual Conference. Joining North West Tertiary Education Cluster and Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor as event sponsors are Accounting Technicians Ireland, Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, EPIC Futures NI, InterTradeIreland, Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec), Queens University Belfast and Southern Regional College. Conference tickets are available through the Centres website at www.crossborder.ie People living or visiting Louth are being warned that they may receive an emergency alert message sent by the British government as part of a drill taking place this Sunday. On Sunday, 7 September, at 3pm, the UK Government will test its Emergency Alerts service across the UK, including Northern Ireland. This system was launched across Britain and Northern Ireland in March 2023 and was tested in April 2023. As happened during the April 2023 test of the system, people living in, or visiting, the border counties may receive a message on their phone or mobile device, followed by an audio alert and a vibration of up to ten seconds. This emergency alert will look and sound different to other types of messages such as SMS text messages. The alert will be received even if the mobile device is set to silent or do not disturb. Devices do not need to be connected to WiFi or mobile data to get the alert. Read Next: Louth TD welcomes free public transport for 5-8 year olds The government have said there is no cause for concern, and no action is needed. A government statement said: "Vulnerable people, including victims of human trafficking and domestic abuse, may carry hidden phones for personal safety reasons. Anybody in this position who would prefer if their phone did not sound, should turn their phone off or switch it to airplane mode. "The UK launched its Emergency Alerts service across Britain and Northern Ireland on Sunday, 19th March 2023. This service enables the UK Government to send a message to all mobile devices to warn of a life-threatening emergency nearby, for example extreme weather, severe flooding or a fire. This service aims to provide clear information to help keep people safe." When Louth man, Eoghan Woods from Dundalk, sat the ACCA Advanced Financial Management (AFM) exam earlier this year, he wasnt expecting to make headlines. However, after placing first in Ireland and third in the world, the former Bush Post Primary student, DkIT graduate and now trainee Accountant at Baker Tilly Kirk has firmly established himself as one of the brightest young accountants in the country. His journey to this point began with a simple love of numbers in schooland a decision to follow in his mums footsteps to study accounting. I loved accounting in school and felt like the DkIT course was the best for me in terms of location and what I could get out of it, said Eoghan. The three-year degree structure appealed to him, as did the strong graduate opportunities available afterwards. A recent DkIT/HEA Graduate Survey showed that 93% of graduates from the course are in employment or further study within six months of graduating a statistic that reassured Eoghan he was on the right path. If you work hard during college, you can often secure a role before finishing your degree, Eoghan explained. From his own experience, many graduate programme interviews take place toward the end of the year before graduation, giving students the security of knowing they have a role lined up and freeing them to focus on their studies. He found that interviews werent solely competency-based but also place strong emphasis on personality and overall fit for a role. Read also: Louth councillor questions if new vape laws go far enough Another factor that stood out at DkIT was the smaller class sizes. Its a much better environment to learn in because you have more engagement with classmates and lecturers, which means there is more help available for you if youre struggling with anything, he says. Friends studying in larger colleges in Dublin or Belfast were often surprised when he told them that students in DkIT were on first-name terms with their lecturers a level of support he found invaluable. That support, paired with the maximum nine ACCA exemptions offered by the course, gave him a strong foundation for his career. The lecturers really prepare you to a high standard, Eoghan says. Now that Im in the working world, I can really see the benefits of that preparation. Between his time in DkIT, his online study with Accountancy School.ie and his experience in Baker Tilly Kirk, Eoghans hard work certainly paid off! He sat the in ACCA Advanced Financial Management (AFM) in March 2025, placing an amazing first in Ireland and third in the world. With an exam pass rate of about 45% during that period, according to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, achieving such a high ranking was a remarkable achievement for Eoghan. A lot of people go into these exams with the mentality that they just want to pass, Eoghan reflects. I always aim to do as well as I can, so it was great to get the high mark and the award in recognition of that. His success is a testament to the value of hard work, determination, and the solid foundation he built at DkITsomething he hopes will inspire other students considering a career in accountancy. For anyone interested in a career in accounting, there are still some spaces left through the CAO Available Places. Find out more here: CAO Available Places | DkIT Louth County Council is encouraging business owners across the county to sign up for the Age Friendly Business Charter - a simple, low-cost initiative designed to help businesses become more inclusive and accessible to older customers. With over a million people aged 60 and over living and shopping in Ireland, the benefits of becoming an Age Friendly Business are clear. Its easy to implement, cost-effective, and opens up new opportunities - while also being the right thing to do! In partnership with Age Friendly Ireland, Louth County Council will host Age Friendly Business Workshops in Dundalk and Drogheda this September. Facilitated by Susan L Murphy, Louth County Councils Age Friendly Business Coordinator, these workshops will arm businesses with practical guidance and information to help them achieve Age Friendly Business Accreditation. The workshops will take place on Wednesday, 17th September from 10am12.30pm at Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk and on Thursday, 18th September from 10am-12.30pm at Civic Offices, Fair Street, Drogheda. Read also: Louth councillor refuses to zone more land until wastewater issue resolved The process to becoming an Age Friendly Business involves just four straightforward steps. The planning stage involves appointing a staff member to act as your Age Friendly champion who will lead the initiative and advocate for older customers. The champion acts by attending an Age Friendly Business Workshop, where theyll gain insights and begin developing ideas tailored to your business. Consultation with your older customers, to understand what they appreciate and what could be improved, is the third step before your business implements three Age Friendly actions based on this feedback. Once these steps are completed, your business will receive an official Charter and be recognised as an Age Friendly Business, demonstrating your commitment to inclusivity and excellent customer service. To attend one of the workshops, please register by Friday, 12th September via the Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme link at https://consult.louthcoco.ie Irelands deputy premier has said he will no longer maintain a dignified silence on the issue of threats against politicians and public representatives. Tanaiste Simon Harris was speaking as Irish police investigate a threat made against his family on social media. A woman aged in her 30s who was arrested in relation to the Garda probe was released without charge on Wednesday. The Fine Gael leader has received threats before, including through social media and a phoned bomb threat. Protests have also been held outside his home, where his wife and children live. Mr Harris said threats against politicians had become worse and somewhat normalised, and it should not be accepted that the online space is the Wild West. I do genuinely believe the toxicity in public discourse and online, its gone completely off the Richter scale. I fear one day we will wake up in this country, and something will have gone wrong, and it has to be taken seriously. It has to be taken extraordinarily seriously. Speaking at Government Buildings in Dublin earlier in the day, he said: Youre meant to maintain a dignified silence in relation to all of these things, and Im just not willing to do it anymore. When you experience direct threats to your children, to their safety, its something I wouldnt wish on anybody in this country. Whether youre a politician, whether youre in the public eye, whether youre a private citizen, the safety of our children online, and indeed the safety of everybody online, is not a discretionary answer. I worry about the toxicity that we see in public discourse now. I worry about the sort of society where somebody can raise an anonymous account and decide to target children. Theres an ongoing Garda investigation in relation to my own specific circumstances. I dont want to cut across that. But more broadly, I think for far too long weve maintained a dignified silence on this, I think its time for all of us now in public life to say enough. I think we need to really give this serious consideration. This is not who we are as a country, I know that. Ive been involved in protests before. Ive been protesting against and I protested, and this is not any of this. Its thuggery and its deeply upsetting. Mr Harris said he is not sure what the cause is, before adding Ireland is not immune from the issue of people with extreme views trying to distort legitimate public debate online. He said: I dont know, is the honest answer, and I think it really deserves very serious consideration and challenge by all of us, by policy makers, by law enforcement authorities, and by all of us in terms of our own individual behaviour. Online media, social media has been a great advent, as you know I use it a lot. I think it, in many ways, can play a helpful role in engaging with people and discussing things. I think all of that is good. But I also think we cant have a situation where we talk about threats and online threats. It doesnt matter where the threat happens, doesnt matter if it is online, offline, in person, anonymous, threats against people, threats against children. We just cant have some sort of tolerance that we differentiate whether somebody comes up in the street and threatens to do something to your family, or whether somebody sends a message directly to your phone threatening to do something to your family, and I make that point broadly. I think in many ways were trying to apply 20th century policies, laws, law enforcement practices to the 21st century. I think that needs to be considered. I do also and Im certainly not talking in relation to my own situation but I do also think weve seen, not just in Ireland, but across the world, how various influences, various people of extreme views and the likes and can use online media to perhaps distort legitimate public debate on topics of interest and importance and Ireland is not immune from that either. Tributes have poured in following the tragic death of Kathleen Devine after she passed away following a suspected allergic reaction to bee stings on Monday. Kathleen, a beekeeper from Knockmore, Ballina, county Mayo, was believed to be helping a friend harvest honey from a bee hive when the incident happened. READ NEXT: 'Unacceptable' - Nearly 800 women on waiting list for endometriosis surgery in Ireland It's understood Kathleen, who was in her 70s, was wearing a protective suit while helping her friend alongside her husband Des, but one or more bees got into her suit and stung her. Kathleen's death has left the Mayo community in shock and mourning with her being described as " a lovely lady who will be missed by all who knew her". Gardai and the emergency services were alerted to the incident at approximately 5:40pm on Monday evening where Kathleen was then air lifted to Sligo general hospital where she sadly passed away. A local man, who didn't wish to be identified, said that people rushed to the scene to help but they were also stung. He has described the incident as "deeply shocking and traumatic". Jude Walsh, a member of Ballina Beekeepers Mayo of which Kathleen was also a member, has said she was "a lovely woman and they are a lovely family. Everyone is so sad and upset. READ NEXT: RIP: Young man (26) dies suddenly while out jogging in Australia amid huge shock Local Fianna Fail councillor Michael Loftus has described the incident as an "absolute tragedy", adding, "It is so hard to understand. Even in their darkest hour, the people in the community did their absolute best to help. "Once people found out the rushed there with a defibrillator, but sadly it wasn't to be. She was down there looking after bees, which were obviously very important to her. From what I have heard, she was a lovely woman who looked after people all her life. "It is hard to find the words in situations like this, but everyone is so sad for the family." Funeral Arrangements Kathleen is deeply regretted by her heartbroken husband Des, sons Desmond and Brian, and daughter Helen, brothers Gerry, Michael & Peter, sisters Ann, Una & Bernie, daughter-in-law Alina, son-in-law Neil, grandchildren Alana, Fionn, Kilian & Liam, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Reposing at her Residence Tonybane, Knockmore (Eircode F26 TD39) on Thursday from 2pm until 8pm. Funeral will arrive to the Church of Christ the King, Knockmore on Friday for Requiem Mass at 12noon followed by burial in Ballinahaglish Cemetery, Knockmore. The new Garda Commissioner should reverse the decision to merge policing areas in Cork city, a TD has said. In April, Garda management in the Cork City Division amalgamated Carrigaline and Douglas into one unit, and the units covering Bishopstown and Ballincollig into another. The garda sub-stations at Douglas, Carrigaline, Bishopstown, and Ballincollig are now run from Togher Garda Station which is the Cork City South community engagement headquarters. Ahead of those mergers, Superintendent Finbarr OSullivan who is in charge of Togher Garda Station said gardai were attempting to manage available resources the best way they possibly could. He explained how gardai would be assigned to incidents by central command, and would respond from all over the city as required. At the time, the Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents rank-and-file gardai, said that while it regretted the decision, it understood its necessity from a health and safety perspective. The GRA has, for years, been calling for a greater allocation of gardai to Cork city. The association believes that a minimum of an extra 100 gardai are needed. The amalgamations occurred as part of then Garda Commissioner Drew Harriss operational policing model (OPM), which has been hotly resisted by the GRA. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE The representative body, which has nearly 13,000 members, says the idea that gardai can interchangeably work across districts has meant a loss of specialised local knowledge, and a sense of insecurity in local areas. Mr Harriss former deputy commissioner, Justin Kelly, this week assumed the top Garda job. Sinn Fein TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh O Laoghaire has now called on Mr Kelly to reverse the Cork mergers. His comments come after the allocation, two weeks ago, of an additional 20 gardai to the city, following their graduation last month from the Garda Training College in Templemore. For many years, Ive been arguing the case and comparing the difference in Garda numbers between Dublin and Cork, and highlighting that Cork has been badly served for a very long time, Mr O Laoghaire said. With this last cohort of Garda graduates, thanks to pressure from the people of Cork, but also public representatives, we finally see a bit of a shift, and that has to be part of a pattern, and it also has to manifest itself on the ground. One of the first things that needs to happen is this amalgamation of units we need clear communication that that is going to be brought to an end. Mr O Laoghaire said there had been anecdotal evidence of incidents where a lack of local knowledge had impeded gardai in their duties. We need local gardai in place in local units, he said. We need this amalgamation to end, and we need a proper Garda presence in all those areas, not only tackling crime, but preventing crime. We need to see a repeat of Cork receiving a decent number of gardai, and I certainly will be raising that with the new Garda Commissioner at the earliest opportunity. A total of 875 patients went without a bed in Cork hospitals in August, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). The high summer figures have worried staffing representatives, as the demand of the traditionally busy winter period has yet to materialise. The majority of those patients on trolleys in Cork hospitals last month were in CUH (792), while 70 people were on trolleys in the Mercy University Hospital, and 13 in Bantry General Hospital. Nationally, 8,055 patients went without a bed in hospitals in August, the INMO said. Liam Conway, assistant director of industrial relations in the INMO, said the number of admitted patients on trolleys reflected a worrying trend nationally, and particularly in Cork. Additional bed capacity is an absolute minimum requirement to tackle this crisis, he said. Funding must be provided by the Department of Health to the HSE South West to facilitate additional bed capacity and staffing for this winter for stepdown facilities such as rehab beds. Safe staffing levels must be maintained, and the HSEs own pay and numbers strategy has had a devastating impact on services in which key posts are yet to be filled. We have many nursing posts across Cork and Kerry yet to be filled particularly in specialist areas such as oncology, paediatrics, and clinical nurse specialist posts. Mr Conway said that until additional capacity and additional staff were allocated, chronic overcrowding would continue in hospitals in Cork and across the country, with patients being cared for on trolleys in emergency departments and wards. This should never be acceptable, and there is an urgent requirement to fund the solutions immediately, he said. INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the HSE needed to heed the warnings of Australian colleagues who had witnessed a record-breaking flu season this year. Our public health system cannot cope with a deluge of respiratory illnesses over the coming months, she said. Each HSE regional health authority must outline in detail what it plans to do to radically reduce, not just the number of patients being treated in inappropriate spaces, but the amount of time a patient is spending on a trolley. She added that those who depend on the health services to function deserve to know what plans the HSE will have in place to ensure that care can be provided safely in the community over this traditionally busy time. Unless we see a hospital-by-hospital plan to tackle overcrowding, we are in for a very bleak winter in Irish hospitals, which will see nurses and patients in extremely unsafe circumstances, she said. A HSE spokesperson said it regretted that anyone might experience a long wait for care, stating: The HSE has, and continues to, work with the health regions and hospitals to minimise the numbers of patients on trolleys. On a daily basis, regardless of season, the health regions optimise capacity to meet demand from both scheduled and unscheduled care. Factors such as increased emergency department demand, planned elective activity, infection prevention and control, staffing, availability of community and stepdown beds, and availability of surge capacity all influenced the meeting of demand and the facilitation of admissions to hospital beds, they stated. The spokesperson added: There continues to be collective effort right across services to improve access and ensure patients receive the best care possible. Five community groups in Cork county have been nominated for the IPB Pride of Place Awards 2025. The nominated groups include Cobh Tourism Committee under the community tourism initiative category; Mourneabbey Community Council under the population category 1000-2000; Tracton Biodiversity Group under climate action and biodiversity; Kinsale Community Youth Cafe under community youth initiative; and The Mizen Committee under inclusive Communities. The Pride of Place awards were established to promote and celebrate the best in community development. The awards are open to all local community groups, but entries are by way of local authority only. In consultation with its elected members, Cork County Council nominated five community groups for the IPB Pride of Place Awards. The judging panel will be in Cork from September 10-12 to assess the community projects. Remarkable The Mayor of the County of Cork Mary Linehan Foley said the nominations are remarkable achievements for these communities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their outstanding contribution within their local communities and the positive impact this has had on the wider community. I wish them the very best of luck in the IPB Pride of Place judging 2025. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the competition which is run on an all-island basis, in conjunction with local authorities in the North and the Republic. Since the competition commenced, it has impacted hundreds of thousands of people, all of whom are proud of their place. The awards recognise the selfless efforts of people in making their neighbourhoods better places to live, work, and socialise. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Limerick in November. A spokesperson for the local authority said: Cork County Council would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone on their wonderful achievements and valued contributions to their communities and to wish all the nominated groups the very best of luck in the competition. An Englishman who pleaded guilty to an unprovoked and random attack in a West Cork town has been sent to prison for failing to pay compensation to the victim, which was a condition of his six-month suspended sentence. Mark Fail, aged 37, with an address at Molaga St, Clonakilty, Co Cork and originally from England, appeared before Judge Joanne Carroll at Clonakilty District Court. Mr Fail was convicted of assault causing harm by Judge Treasa Kelly in February. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. A condition of the suspended sentence was that he would pay 5,000 in compensation to the injured party. The conviction related to an incident that took place in Clonakilty in September 2023, when Fail approached the victim and began punching him in the head. The victim dropped down on one knee, but Fail continued the assault punching him and kicking him in the ribs. The injured party suffered a bloody nose and bruising and was taken to hospital for treatment. In a victim impact statement, the victim said that he had suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the attack. He said he had not been out alone at night since the incident, and he continued to live in fear for his safety. Judge Carroll said it was a very serious assault and, despite being given a suspended sentence, Fail had not made any effort to compensate the injured party and had come to court without any compensation again. She said that, given the circumstances and the serious nature of the assault, she had no other option but to trigger the suspended sentence, which defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe fully accepted. A group of Cork city councillors has called for a public meeting with Uisce Eireann management to discuss ongoing issues regarding water quality. Since the then-Irish Water opened its 40m Lee Rd water-treatment plant in the summer of 2022, homes across the city have experienced persistent problems with brown and orange discoloured water. According to Uisce Eireann, the combination of an adjustment of chemicals used in water preparation at the Lee Rd plant and increased water pressure has caused rusty sediment to be stripped from the inside of the citys aging cast-iron water mains, resulting in intermittent and ongoing problems with discoloured water in homes across the city. Improvement Earlier this year, Uisce Eireann officials said a 1.6m investment would result in a significant improvement in water discolouration issues across Cork city. Those measures included the removal of manganese from incoming water and a treatment process which will increase the alkalinity of the water leaving the plant, strengthen the lining of the pipes. The Progressive Alliance in City Hall, made up of the Labour Party, the Green Party, and the Social Democrats, has sought an open meeting with senior Usice Eireann staff in front of city councillors. The councillors say they want the water utility company to account for the continued issues impacting water and wastewater services in the city. Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said they wanted a collaborative approach with Uisce Eireann, and improved communication channels and accountability measures to keep the public informed of progress, as well as challenges. Uncertainty Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan said continuing uncertainty around responsibility for water and wastewater services in the city needed to be resolved. Having such a meeting, in public, with senior Uisce Eireann management, is critical, he said. Niamh OConnor, Social Democrats councillor, said a public meeting was essential so that people can get some clarity on water quality and related issues in the city. Uisce Eireann was asked for comment. Four men, who are allegedly members of a Lithuanian organised crime gang that was under garda surveillance in Cork city, were remanded in custody for two weeks today. Eddie Burke, solicitor, who represented the four accused, complained of the delay in the case where the defendants have been in custody since March 25 but Sergeant Gearoid Davis said that there was progress in the case as the garda file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions on August 18. Sgt Davis said: There were 450 exhibits in the case, 30 certificates of analysis from Forensic Science Ireland, as well as ballistics and DNA evidence. The investigation was based on surveillance carried out in relation to an alleged organised criminal gang, allegedly dealing heroin in Cork city. Up to mid-July, nine people had been arrested as part of the investigation. The file has been compiled and submitted to the DPP and we are awaiting directions." Judge Mary Dorgan refused the defence application to strike out the cases because of delay or to make the adjournment peremptory against the State. All four men appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison where they were remanded in custody until September 17. 46-year-old Jonas Pavilionis, of no fixed address, is charged with having heroin and possessing it for sale or supply on the second floor of Douglas Shopping Centre car park on March 25, and having a machete on the same date. The value of the alleged seizure was 3,920. He was charged that on Sunday March 23 at Audley Place, St Patricks Hill, Cork, he had two bill-hooks. The allegation was that he was seen stashing them behind an electricity box. 33-year-old Karolis Guzauskas, faces 12 counts of possession of diamorphine (heroin) and 12 counts of having heroin for sale or supply. The detective said that on five dates, the defendant allegedly sold heroin to 12 undercover gardai in the Fitzgeralds Park and Mardyke area. 38-year-old Aleksandras Kuznecovas of no fixed address, was allegedly identified as one of the main street dealers in the operation and charged with selling diamorphine on three different occasions to undercover gardai. The dates of these controlled purchases were January 19 2024 at Thomas Davis Bridge, Western Road, Cork, and January 23 2024 (on Mardyke Bridge) and January 25 2024 (on the banks of the Lee Walkway). Three bags of diamorphine were sold. 46-year-old Pranas Motriuk of 13 Manor Grove, Thornbury View, Rochestown, Cork, is charged with three counts under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act related to an improvised shotgun, a 9mm Zoraki semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. He is charged with having two false IDs, namely a Lithuanian drivers licence and a personal ID card, allegedly carrying his picture but someone elses name. All of those charges relate to March 25 at his home in Rochestown. Finally, he is charged with money-laundering in relation to sums of 470 and 1,050 at North City Link Road on September 25 2024, and at Kyrls Street on October 3 2024, respectively. The provision of ambulances in West Cork needs to be urgently addressed because the current service is not fit for purpose, according to a local councillor. The issue was raised in a motion proposed by Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington at the recent meeting of Cork County Councils West Cork Municipal District. The motion asked: That this council would write to Robert Morton, director of the National Ambulance Service (NAS); Bernard Gloster, CEO of the HSE, and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and ask that they address, as a matter of urgency, the current status of the ambulance service and the complete lack of relevant cover for many rural parts of West Cork, which will have major health consequences if it not rectified immediately. Stark reality Mr Harrington said that on paper West Cork has four 24-hour ambulances based at Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bantry, and Castletownbere, as well as one 12-hour ambulance based at Dunmanway. He said: The stark reality of what is on paper and what is on the ground is very different. Vehicles are rarely where they belong. For example, Clonakilty is often in Cork city on callouts, Castletownbere is often in Kerry, Bantry is often stuck in CUH during lengthy handovers and sometimes when this is complete they can be sent to the city to cover a callout. This then leaves West Cork completely exposed, with little or no cover, especially at night, because Skibbereen is then expected to cover the whole of West Cork, and if they get deployed then the nearest ambulance cover to West Cork can be two or three hours away. It has happened in the past that the nearest ambulance to cover Castletownbere was Caherciveen, which is three hours away. Extraordinary people Mr Harrington said that ambulance staff are fantastic, dedicated, hard-working people, and they deserve to be treated much better than they are at the moment. Without these extraordinary people, many others would not be alive today. He said that staff were getting burnt out and are suffering fatigue as a result of the lack of resources. Supporting the motion, Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll said: This has been around the block many times, and we are getting nowhere with it. To me, it looks like we are getting a third-world service. A car meeting an ambulance halfway it wouldnt happen in the bush. Fianna Fail councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy said that, in reality, someone needing an ambulance in Glanmire would be in Dublin quicker than someone needing an ambulance in Allihies would be in Cork, adding: The service is under-resourced, and we need to step it up. It was agreed to write to the respondents identified in the motion. The latest economic forecast from Bank of Ireland painted a positive picture for the Irish economy in 2025. It reported that we outperformed expectations in the first half of 2025, prompting the bank to revise its GDP growth forecast to 8.1%, up from 3.5% for the remainder of the year. This was a statement of confidence in the Irish economy, but behind the numbers, many Cork SMEs (Small to Medium-sized Enterprises) are trying to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Geopolitical tensions, tariff uncertainty, and increasing domestic regulation are making life as a business owner more daunting despite the positive economic outlook. The VAT hospitality rate merry-go-round For Cork SMEs in particular, the looming decision by the government on whether to reinstate the 9% VAT rate for hospitality is keeping many holding their breath. Walking around Cork city this summer, it was great to see many tourists from all parts of the world continuing to see it as a tourist destination. It reinforced to me the vital role tourists play in our local economy and the need for cafes and restaurants to remain the heartbeat of our city. It is Xeinadins view that reinstating the 9% VAT rate should ease some of the pressure for those owners. Not only does this protect the viability of local hospitality, but it will also have a positive impact on the wider economic activity that other Cork SMEs depend on. The noise from the government, however, seems to be mixed on what decision they will ultimately make. Our advice to clients is to prepare for no change and get control of your business model as quickly as you can. Where can you reduce costs? Where can you improve margin? How can you increase your turnover? A number of small changes might make a big difference to the long-term viability of the business. Costs continue to rise For the wider business community, operating costs continue to rise and remain a major concern. Increases in insurance, rents and compliance costs have been a cause of concern for some time, and energy costs, which seemed to have eased for a period, are back in the mix. Some SMEs have made savings by changing providers, for example, but these are more quick wins than long-term solutions. Owners need to look at their businesses holistically and see what parts they can restructure. Areas we have advised, which been successful, are looking at labour costs, payroll, and operating hours. Take a closer look at customer patterns and see what times of a week or day your footfall increases and decreases. Some clients have made big changes on this front, which have made their operating model more efficient and sustainable in uncertain times. The battle for talent A common thread we see throughout our client base is the battle for talent. Attracting new hires, retaining current staff and external factors such as a lack of accommodation are causing enormous strain on Cork SMEs. Despite the barriers, what were finding encouraging is the innovative ways SMEs have fought to keep their staff. Benefit packages with bonus schemes/share options, work flexibility, greater annual leave options and greater emphasis on training and long-term career development have all been used in an attempt to stem the tide of staff shortages. The more that SMEs can align workforce planning with their overall commercial goals - and communicate that clearly - the stronger their position will be in what remains a very competitive labour market. New era of technology A recent insight report by FRS recruitment showed 8 out of 10 employees in Ireland have used AI in the workplace. The advent of tools such as ChatGPT is changing the way we work and live, but also causing headaches for business owners when it comes to compliance and security risks. Whether its automation, data analytics or generative AI, owners are aware technology has the potential to improve their productivity, but are unsure where to begin. We advise our clients to be proactive when it comes to investing in emerging technology. Embrace it and dont fear it. You need to look at where you are, where your market is, and where the market is going. Find pain points within your business, do extensive research and see what pieces of software will benefit those. Businesses should see it as an investment towards increasing efficiency. It doesnt need to be large-scale either; something as simple as data dashboards can give you a small change with big advantages. Once those areas are identified, it becomes far easier to choose a solution that is proportionate to the size and needs of the business. It is also worth noting that a staged approach to technology adoption allows SMEs to bring staff with them on the journey, building confidence and capacity as new systems are embedded. If youre not willing to innovate, you can be sure your competitors will be. Resilient future SMEs are facing a period where pressures on costs, people and technology cant be ignored. Add red tape and regulatory pressures, such as auto-enrolment, to that, and an uncertain period remains. However, businesses across Cork have shown resilience before and will show it again. We see daily a willingness to make tough decisions, embrace technology and come up with innovative solutions that will stand the test of time. The rest of 2025 will demand focus and flexibility to navigate the current landscape, but we believe that with the right planning and a willingness to adapt, the Cork business community can and will continue to thrive and play a central role in the regions economic success. Whether or not its stepped up to the plate by now and done the decent thing for school secretaries and caretakers, the fact that this strike even had to take place says a lot of things about the Irish government. None of them laudatory. But you could use just one word for all of those things. Optics. Our politicians are obsessed by optics. These lads had no problem approving a mind-boggling 9 million of taxpayers dosh for mobile phone storage solutions in second-level schools. They were only too delighted to approve a free school textbook scheme, paid for by the taxpayer and estimated to cost 170 million for the 2025 school year, to cover the cost of something most parents always paid anyway. Im not going to go into the pros and cons of this scheme or of the free hot dinners scheme either these programmes are a Godsend for many hard-pressed families - but the dogs in the street know that theres also a very significant number of well-heeled couples out there who are more than able to shell out for textbooks and dinners. Yet, when it comes to giving school secretaries and caretakers a pension to take them into old age, optics doesnt seem to be an issue for the government at all. Maybe because this group, which is not highly paid, constitutes a relatively small number in the Department of Educations gargantuan personnel files. Sure, whats 2,600 secretaries and caretakers across Irelands sprawling network of primary and second-level schools? Funny thing, though, what officialdom seems to forget, is that these people are the lynch-pins of every school. And staff and parents know it. The dogs in the street know it. School principals, teachers, Special Needs Assistants and other education staff are, obviously, crucial to the education system, but its the secretaries and the caretakers who keep the lights on and all the parts moving. The Department of Education and the government just dont seem to realise that people know this and that, as a result, theres a lot of public support for this strike. If youre of a certain rigid and narrow perspective, all you might see are secretaries and caretakers standing in solitary isolation or else in tiny bunches outside school gates, protesting the governments failure to admit them into the public service pension scheme. The government might consider this strike by 2,600 people to be no more than a ripple across the rockpool of Irish education, but in reality theres a whole lot of activity going on beneath the surface. This is a group that has the capacity to trigger the kind of underground earthquake that results in a tsunami of public outrage. Because theyre being treated unfairly. Theyre being blatantly discriminated against. They are not highly paid. Nor are they asking for much. And everyone knows it. The trade union, Forsa, has described the departments stance as a deliberate and indefensible exclusion of school secretaries and caretakers from the public service pension scheme and other basic entitlements. The State is refusing to give them the same employment conditions as their colleagues, thus locking out generations of school staff from secure income in retirement. These people work hard, and believe me (and this is something the politicians should forget at their peril), THEY KNOW EVERYBODY. They are ordinary women and men; mums, dads, grannies and grandads and neighbours, to name but a few. They dont actually want to be outside the school gates, picketing. They dont like doing it. They feel lonely and isolated and bitter at having to be out there at all. But theyre angry and under-estimated, and theyre out there. If the government hasnt sorted things out by the time you read this, be there for them at the school gate! Walk with them. Stand in solidarity with them. Because heres an overview of what, for example, your school secretary does for your school and your children. Ill put it under two headings. Administration Answering phones, taking queries, paying bills, ordering supplies, doing accounts, running the online payment system input so that substitutes and other ancillary staff get paid. Secretaries input childrens details on the central data system for the department, make sure all pupils have transferred properly into the school and their classes and that the crucial numbers are right by September 30 because these are the numbers the department goes by when determining teacher allocation for the following year. They distribute admission forms and ensure parents and pupils have the necessary information to navigate the school community. They update parents on extra-curricular activities and stay abreast of everything caught in the sprawling tentacles of GDPR. Care The secretary is the public face of the school. They are the first port of call for all parents, pupils and other visitors to the school. The secretary must be approachable and kind, and, in the multi-cultural and very diverse school environments of today, have the social skills required to put people of all nationalities and backgrounds at ease. No query or request is too big or too small, and theres no end to the daily roll call of a secretarys many small but crucial care duties. Secretaries find misplaced jumpers, jackets and school-bags. Many keep a secret stash of plain biscuits and crackers for the little one who forgets a lunch, if commuting at-work parents cant make it back into the school. Theyre always ready with a listening and very sympathetic ear and a handful of tissues, a packet of plasters, anti-bacterial wipes and ice-packs - even when theres no injury and no blood. But, as one experienced school secretary once confided to me, a plaster and an ice-pack solve a multitude. In the event of an accident or incident in the yard, its often the secretary who contacts the parents or grandparents, and provides the information briskly and calmly to avoid panic. So, get out there and show your support this week - if you havent already done it . And if this strike has been resolved by the time you read this, remember to appreciate and respect the crucial work carried out by your school secretary and caretaker! Gordon Deegan Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to the Irish arm of property giant, Hines to construct a 646 million large-scale apartment scheme on the grounds of the former Holy Cross College in Drumcondra. In the planning permission, the Council has given the green light to Hines partner fund, CWTC Multi-Family ICAV to construct a 1,131 unit scheme that includes a 13-storey apartment block for the site at Holy Cross College, Clonliffe Rd, Drumcondra, Dublin 3. The planning permission comes four years after Hines lodged its original plan for 1,614 apartment units under the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) framework to An Bord Pleanala. An Bord Pleanala granted planning permission to the SHD - which included an 18 storey tower - but the planning permission was quashed by the High Court after a challenge was brought by Foxrock resident, Fionnuala Sherwin. Now in response to the revised plan, the Council planning report recommending that planning permission be granted strongly endorses the scheme. The planning report states that the site provides a significant opportunity to provide high quality residential development at a sustainable density within walking distance of a key urban village in the city and the Planning Authority fully supports the residential development of this site. As part of the 53 page report into the scheme, the Council states that the proposed development would unlikely result in an unacceptable negative impact on the amenities of the surrounding area. Underlining the scale of the scheme, the developer has been ordered to pay a planning development contribution of 8.39 million to the Council towards the cost of public infrastructure. As part of the planning application, Hines put an indicative price tag of 64.57 million on 113 apartments and studios it is planning to sell for social housing to Dublin City Council. The range in indicative prices range from 717,843 for the two bed four-person units, 569,892 for one bedroom units and 360,266 for studios. If no appeal is lodged with An Coimisiun Pleanala (ACP), Hines and the Council can then enter talks on a final price for the units. Opposition to the current scheme was muted with only three local residents calling for an outright planning refusal to the scheme. This was in contrast to the 120 submissions made on the original built to rent scheme that included one objection from Sinn Fein party leader, Mary Lou McDonald TD who stated that if planning is approved, it will only further exacerbate the housing crisis. (Photo: Courtesy World Council of Churches)Keynote speakers at the NIFEA Consultation, August 2025 in South Korea. Artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and societies worldwide, and theologians and academics who met in Korea have warned that new technologies could create unprecedented levels of global inequality unless guided by moral and spiritual principles. It raised the old fear that arose with the ascendancy of the Internet, a global digital divide, and one speaker said the churches are to paying enough attention to the issue. The New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) Consultation, held Aug. 27-29, was organized jointly by the World Council of Churches and ecumenical partners in Pocheon-si, South Korea. It positioned faith communities as key voices in tackling challenges from child exploitation to environmental destruction in our connected world. Theologians, academics, and faith leaders from across Asia gathered to study how the Fourth Industrial Revolution affects global inequality and to create faith-rooted responses. Zimbabwean Rev. Kenneth Mtata, the WCC program director for Life, Justice, and Peace, worked with international experts to address pressing questions about technology's role in human flourishing. "In a world fractured by the digital divide, we must pray and labour not only for hyper-connection of devices, but for full communion among God, humanity, and creation," said said Dr. Chang Yoon-Jae, dean of the School of Theology at South Korea's Ewha Women's University. "This, I believe, is what Christians today must proclaim as the Fifth Revolutionthe Spiritual Revolutionfor the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Speakers exposed severe gaps in technology access. Dr. Tracy Trothen from Canada's Queens University noted that "roughly 51 percent of rural populations lack high-speed internet access required for many AI services." She said, "Approximately 2.6 billion people are offline, with most living in sub-Saharan Africa: violating Christian principles of stewardship and commitment to human flourishing." Participants warned about AI's impact on vulnerable populations, particularly children. Dr. Lizette Pearl Tapia from Union Theological Seminary-Philippines warned that online sexual abuse and exploitation represent "a globalized, digitalized and immortalized victimization of children" id that AI tools make more sophisticated through synthetic images and automated grooming systems. Dr. Katleho Mokoena from South Africa's University of Witwatersrand called for churches to move beyond theological statements to active engagement. "In the AI and digital policy landscape, the impact of technology on religion and spirituality is not discussed, and the voice of the church is almost non-existent," Mokoena said. "Now is a crucial time for the church to be prophetic; unmasking technology, speaking truth to power, and advocate for justice." Lin Wan-Jou from National Taiwan Normal University challenged environmental promises around AI. "Whatever environmental gains AI may promise are vastly outweighed by the emissions and extractive damage required to sustain it," she argued. Dr. Park Seong Won from Gyeongan Theological Graduate University warned that "if 'AI illiteracy' or mass unemployment continues, it could trigger sharp spikes in hatred, polarization, and violence." The NIFEA Consultation at Kwanglim Seminar House in Pocheon-si, brought together diverse voices to develop theological and practical responses to technological transformation. The organizing partners include the World Communion of Reformed Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, Council for World Mission, and United Society Partners in the Gospel. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter can resume her work as a commissioner for the FTC, a federal appeals court has ruled. Slaughter, who was one of the two Democratic commissioners for the FTC that President Trump fired back in March, filed a lawsuit for her reinstatement. "Your continued service on the FTC is inconsistent with my administrations priorities," a letter to the commissioners said. In July, US District Judge Loren AliKhan ruled that her removal from the agency was "unlawful and without legal effect," and Slaughter was able to go back to work. A few days later, however, an appeals court paused the order for her reinstatement. Now, the appeals court judges voted 2-to-1 in favor of restoring AliKhan's order. Obama appointees Patricia Millett and Cornelia Pillard voted to reinstate Slaughter, while Trump appointee Neomi Rao dissented. Millett and Pillard wrote in their decision that the government "has no likelihood of success on appeal given controlling and directly on point Supreme Court precedent." They explained that a Supreme Court precedent known as Humphrey's Executor prevents presidents from removing FTC commissioners at will and without cause. Based on federal law, commissioners can only be removed due to "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." Rao, however, has dissented. By "ordering the remaining FTC commissioners and the subordinates to treat Slaughter as though she is still in office, the district court expressly orders them to disregard the President's directive," she said in a statement. It "directly interferes with the President's supervision of the Executive Branch and therefore goes beyond the power of the federal courts." The FTC typically has five commissioners: Three from the same party as the president and two from the opposition. After Trump fired the FTC's Democratic commissioners, only the three Republican commissioners remained. Slaughter is now listed again on FTC's website as a commissioner. According to The New York Times, she's planning to report back to work today, September 3. "Amid the efforts by the Trump administration to illegally abolish independent agencies, including the Federal Reserve, Im heartened the court has recognized that he is not above the law," Slaughter said in an interview. Her fellow Democratic commissioner who was fired back in March, Alvaro Bedoya, resigned from the agency completely and took on a private-sector job. Europes second-highest court has dismissed a challenge against a data transfer pact between the European Union and the US. "On the date of adoption of the contested decision, the United States of America ensured an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the European Union to organisations in that country," the EUs General Court ruled ( PDF ). The two sides brokered the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework in 2023 to continue allowing US companies to store European users personal data on Stateside servers. The pact included a proviso that allows for Europeans to file complaints over what US companies do with their data. French politician Philippe Latombe sued the European Commission (EC), the EUs executive arm and the body that struck the deal with the US, claiming that "there were inadequate guarantees of respect for private and family life in the agreement because of the widespread and bulk collection of personal data," according to Reuters . He also said that the Data Protection Review Court (DPRC), the body that was set up to handle complaints from Europeans , wasnt an independent tribunal and didnt necessarily offer the level of protection required under European law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The General Court determined that the DPRCs functioning and appointment of judges "are accompanied by several safeguards and conditions to ensure the independence of its members." It stated that the judges can only be removed by the Attorney General and for cause, while the AG and intelligence agencies "may not hinder or improperly influence their work." The political landscape has shifted dramatically since the agreement was reached in 2023. The Trump administration has asserted control over independent government agencies and its been at loggerheads with the EU over issues such as regulating major US-based tech companies and international trade. Still, the General Court points out that the EC is required to keep an eye on the application of the legal framework. "If the legal framework in force in the United States at the time of the adoption of the contested decision changes, the Commission may decide, if necessary, to suspend, amend or repeal the contested decision or to limit its scope," the court said. The judges also dismissed Latombe's claims regarding the bulk collection of personal data. We finally have our Lara Croft, well over two years after Prime Video's Tomb Raider series was first announced. Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner has been cast in the role, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She had better start trying on khaki shorts and blue sleeveless shirts. Turner acknowledges the "massive shoes to fill" from previous actors that have played the role, shouting out Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander. She also says she can't wait for audiences "to see what we have cooking." We also now know when the show will enter production. Filming starts on January 19. We don't know when the series will come out, but at least we know it's a real thing that's going to get filmed. Additionally, the platform has announced that Chad Hodge will join Phoebe Waller-Bridge as a co-showrunner. Bridge was revealed as the creator well over a year ago. Hodge is best known for his work on shows like Good Behavior and movies like Single All the Way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bridge may be best known for creating the romantic comedy series Fleabag, but she has had plenty of experience with action-heavy projects. She created the series Killing Eve and co-wrote a James Bond film. She also starred in the most recent Indiana Jones movie, which is a franchise the Tomb Raider games cribbed from. As for those games, Amazon is also publishing the next entry in the long-running franchise. Crystal Dynamics is developing it, which is the company that has been in charge of the mainline titles since 2003. Now that the Pixel 10 series has been out for a week, Google has begun rolling many of the software features it debuted with those phones to its older devices as part of the September Pixel drop. Starting today, if you own any Pixel device Google has released since 2021, including the Pixel 6 and Pixel Tablet , you can start to customize your device with the company's new Material 3 Expressive user interface. Among other tweaks, Google made it possible to add "Live Effects," including a few that cover the weather, to your phone's lock screen wallpaper. Material 3 Expressive also gives you more control over how the contact cards your phone displays when your friends and family call you look. Even if you're not one to endlessly tweak Android's appearance, as part of the redesign Google has once again reworked the Quick Settings pane in hopes of making it easier to use. As Google mentioned during last month's Pixel 10 event , the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will receive a handful of new software features, beginning later this month. To start, there's Adaptive Audio, which Google says will allow the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to intelligently adjust the output of your earbuds to your surroundings. At the same time, Loud Noise Protection will limit the volume of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to preserve your hearing. Two new gestures allow you to accept or dismiss a call by nodding or shaking your head. You can do the same when a text message arrives. Google Bluetooth audio on the whole is getting a few upgrades on Android , courtesy of LE Audio Auracast . With the new tech, you can now simultaneously pair two different sets of Bluetooth headphones with a single Android handset. In practice, this will allow you and a friend to listen to the same song or podcast from a single device. If you want to involve more people, you can use your phone to create a QR code, which both friends and strangers can then use to join a private broadcast. Google suggests this could be a fun way to host a silent disco. To make it as easy as possible to start an audio broadcast, Google has redesigned Android's Quick Share menu. A simple toggle allows you to switch between sending and receiving files, and there's a new indicator where you can follow the progress of your transfers. Advertisement Advertisement As mentioned, the new audio features are made possible by Auracast, which enables public broadcasts of Bluetooth audio. Google began supporting Auracast with the third Android 16 beta , and now we're starting to see that support mature, with devices now from Google, Samsung and Xiaomi all ready to join in on the fun. Of course, it wouldn't be a recent Google release if the company didn't include new AI features . On that front, the company is offering additional writing tools in Gboard. Like its iOS counterpart , the tool allows you to use an on-device model to edit your writing. The algorithm can tweak your messages to make them more formal, expressive or concise. It will also correct any spelling or grammatical errors. I was heartened to see my former employer, Duke University Health System, quietly reverse its commitment to woke racism this year. I had joined the internal resistance to its diversity, equity, and inclusion crusade and was fired because of it. Heres my story. Without public notice, the 38,000-employee organization scrubbed its website of the commitment to DEI it had trumpeted in 2021, when it proclaimed racism a public health crisis, and equity as its cure. Now, all such fealty to DEI has been discarded with its new 2025 statement of values. The title of its 2021 pledge to patients Duke Health Stands Against Racism, Bias, and Hate has been replaced by Leading with Heart: Rooted in Humanity. No doubt some of this change is due to increasing pushback to those policies: a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging pervasive racial discrimination in its hiring and admissions practices, and the Trump administrations freezing last month of $108 million of federal monies to Duke University and Duke Health because of the illegal use of racial preferences. Duke Health did not respond to requests for comment. I worked at Duke for 10 years without incident before spending the last few years of my tenure battling the 2021 policy at the cost of my job as an emergency room physician, which is now the subject of a separate lawsuit I have brought. As much as I would like to proclaim victory, I do not want this episode to get memory-holed by organizational leaders who would rather we forget the moral panic that gripped them and the price many of us paid for their destructive and divisive efforts. As the country pulls back from the pernicious ideology of DEI, there are countless other people like myself who suffered the repercussions for refusing to buckle to the madness. Lest there be any misunderstanding, let me be clear: Everyone I know is opposed to racism, bias, and hate, but Duke distorted those words to indict white doctors and nurses for complicity in the poorer health outcomes of black patients. My own form of resistance began in 2018 when Dukes chief diversity officer gave a talk on implicit bias at a physicians meeting. I was shocked by what I heard. For the previous six years, I had been secluded from the world, working weekends in the ER while spending the week homeschooling my children. I was blithely unaware that academia had shifted from a love of Western civilization (a mandatory course when I was in college) to a disdain. The diversity officer told us that society can be broken up into two groups, the oppressors (those with power - essentially, white males) and the oppressed. With stunned incredulity, I wondered, Who thinks like this? One week later, and purely coincidentally, I read The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx. There it lay in his opening paragraph: The history of society is the history of class strugglesof oppressor and the oppressed. As I continued reading, I was shocked by how similar Dukes diversity officer sounded to the discredited 19th-century polemicist. Didnt she know Marx seized on this confrontational construct as dynamite to obliterate the current capitalist system via the communist revolution? Although Marx held out hope for one day creating an imagined classless society, the purpose of his model was destruction. Desiring answers, I read all I could on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the historical origins of this ideology. I expressed my concerns over the divisiveness of her ideas. What else do you propose? she asked me. I was prepared, and quoted social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt: To make a human hive, you want to make everyone feel like family. So dont call attention to racial and ethnic differences; make them less relevant by ramping up similarity and celebrating the groups shared values and common identity. You can make people care less about race by drowning it in a sea of similarities, shared goals, and mutual interdependencies. Haidts advice seemed like common sense to me. There was an awkward, discomfited pause before she responded, Thats not our model. Discussion over. After the George Floyd riots in 2020, Dukes embrace of DEI tightened. The university prepared an antiracist pledge to the community, dedicating itself to equity. It read, in part: We commit to the elimination of racial inequities. We recognize our own implicit biases and actively seek, listen, and respond to feedback from others as part of our personal growth and development. When confronted with racism, we always take action to speak out against it. We are guided by science and know that excellent research and health care cannot happen without equity. Call for Questions Before its public release, Duke asked its employees if they had any questions or concerns regarding the content. I knew remaining silent meant giving tacit approval to their political pursuits, and I thought it unfair of them to strong-arm our complicity, knowing most people would fear poking the bear, as I was warned. Not totally naive to the danger, I spoke up. Upon questioning the pledge, I was told by an ill-informed chief medical officer (CMO) that equity did not mean equal outcomes for groups, as I had feared, but rather equal distribution of resources and equal access to treatments. However, my reading on DEI told me this was a dodge, that its advocates believed if racial groups were given equal resources and access then outcomes for groups necessarily would follow. The proof for equitably distributed resources could only be equal group outcomes. The pledge alleged racism is a public health crisis, an assertion that was purportedly guided by science, and signed by four senior-level physicians. As racism was not my observation, I asked my supervisor for the medical data supporting this audacious claim that racism was the primary driver of the unfortunate health disparities among many African Americans. He did not have the evidence, nor did he offer to find it. So, I approached the CMO. He likewise did not have the data, nor did he offer to look into it. At this juncture, I was beginning to understand this ideology as tyrannical, precariously held in place by fiat an automatic red flag to its dubious legitimacy. Next in line was Duke Healths vice president. My supervisor urged caution in approaching him. Why, I thought, is the data a state secret? I was redirected to the chief architect of the pledge, who sent me eight studies to read. Unconvincingly, the studies showed differences in racial outcomes without any link to implicit bias (unconscious racism) as alleged. The assumption was that unequal outcomes were proof of harbored unconscious racism. I pressed the architect: I did not see a correlation between outcomes and unconscious racism in these studies, did you? He conceded he did not, but there were social science studies linking implicit bias to unequal outcomes. I was dumbfounded and, as a physician trained in evidence-based/clinical data, I was uninterested in social science studies. I had social science studies of my own with different conclusions. The pledge misleadingly claimed to be guided by science, only it was not medical science. Disagreement Turns Dangerous My persistent efforts nettled Duke, and tension was growing. A nurse saw me reviewing those eight studies at work and asked what I was working on. This segued into a discussion about implicit bias. We civilly disagreed, and I assumed that was the end of the matter. I soon learned that she reported me to the ER supervisor. A few days later, my presence was requested in his office along with a human resources representative in tow. I wasnt asked what had happened or for my side of the story. I was simply told the nurse felt my speech was unsafe. Instead of receiving instruction on the science of implicit bias, I received a hard lesson on how this dogma would be wielded in the workplace. It was Kafkaesque, with the conclusion predetermined, with no evidence presented to me and none asked of me. With the gravity of the proceedings sinking in, I leveled my gaze to his and inquired, Which ideas were unsafe? He seemed flummoxed that I asked, telling me he wasnt prepared to discuss it. All that mattered was my expression of opinions inconsistent with Dukes dogma. In addition, as a doctor, I had exploited a power differential with the nurse who had initiated our conversation leaving her, presumably, in no position to withstand a conversation with me, even though I wasnt her supervisor. In consequence, I was forbidden to speak about or discuss the pledge in any way with anyone while on Duke property. I had been silenced. Around that time, I had reached out to the new president of Duke Raleigh Hospital regarding the subject of equity. Earlier, I had informed Duke that equity seemed like discrimination and a new form of racism in line with the work of Ibram X. Kendi, whose bestselling work, How To be Anti-Racist, was recommended reading. In this left-wing, social justice bible, Kendi famously claimed the only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination. I arranged a meeting with her, indicating I had one question I wanted made official and on the books, not a passing curb-side consult. To my surprise, she brought along HR for backup. Here is my question, I said, Please explain why equity is a better goal for society than equality. In my mind, equity was the foundation upon which the whole woke edifice rested, and I wanted to know why Americas original foundation of equality, in place since 1776, was being replaced. The president never got back to me with an answer, but suggested that if others joined me, then maybe Duke would reply. She knew others would never join, and Duke would never explain itself. Since the head of HR was at my meeting with the president, I sought a substantive answer from her. Instead, she sent this: Duke leaders have shared with you that these commitments were made after many opportunities listening to the voices of the people we serve. Our commitment is resolute. Duke was resolute, resolute to not answering my question. I asked my supervisor why Duke was refusing to answer my concern about equity, as it seemed discriminatory by favoring certain preferred groups. He said that whenever Duke speaks with me, I share their responses with others. It was true. Was that a crime? The pledge was a public document; shouldnt their defense of it be public as well if they were willing to provide one? I said, Supervisor, do you hear the words coming out of your mouth? Duke does NOT want the public to know why it values equity above equality? How strange. I decided to put equity on pause and test diversity. I wrote to the CMO, Does diversity mean that Duke hires the best and the brightest, or is diversity a goal to be sought as an end in itself? The response I received, minus some verbiage, was, Diversity is a Duke value. Right, I said, but as a goal or as an accommodation of hiring the best and the brightest no matter how it looks? He wouldnt say. When I asked my supervisor, he responded, My opinion is that our emergency department team should be focused on the delivery of high quality emergency medical care to anyone seeking it. This is my singular focus as medical director. Dukes values and policies serve as a guide for me in that work and should guide all of us in our care of patients at DRAH [Duke Raleigh Hospital]. Persistent emails demanding debate are a distraction and consume time that could otherwise be better directed. The ER Is Colorblind I wrote back to my supervisor: It was an important question. It never occurred to me that diversity would be a goal. I thought diversity was a way of acknowledging that greatness comes in various shapes, sizes and colors, and that we should be open to it. However, the goal should be greatness and excellence, not diversity for its own sake. Priorities seem twisted. We should look for the person best fitted and capable for the job rather than looking at melanin or gonads when hiring. Merit is a better way to deliver high quality care. (I wanted to tell him we both knew how silly these ideas were. When a patient comes into the ER struggling to breathe, bleeding out, or crashing in any way, all we think about is the algorithms in our heads for cheating death, not the physical characteristics of the person on the gurney. Every save is cause for equal celebration and reflects on our skill and training as physicians.) I shared most communications with family and co-workers so they could stay abreast of developments. My colleagues cautioned against foolhardiness and quixotic endeavors, and my family feared for our livelihood. Moreover, my wife said termination would be an embarrassment. I was counseled to keep quiet because things would turn on their own, and my meager efforts wouldnt make a ripple. The prudent path was to keep my head down and lie low. The pendulum would swing. The confrontation with Duke brought tense moments between my wife and me. To her credit, she did become a staunch supporter as Duke showed its ineptitude. I had read The Gulag Archipelago, including Solzhenitsyns conclusion that the work camps were the result of good men holding their tongues and taking the expedient path in the face of evil. I knew the equality of individuals was the good and proper goal for society. Individuals were created equal, not groups, and imperfect equality was better than forced equity. I was convinced Solzhenitsyn was right when he said, If one man can tell the truth, and always tell the truth, and never lie, he can bring down a tyranny. It was clear to me that Duke was not interested in substantive diversity, only superficial diversity. Each year, we could propose a change to help improve the health system. As I could find no conservatives in leadership or on the board, I recommended a diversity of ideas by actively seeking out conservative voices for leadership positions to offset their uber-left echo-chamber. The leadership declined. Apparently, its not a diversity of ideas that matters, but diversity of color and genitals. I sensed most medical professionals at Duke agreed with me, so the next year I asked for an anonymous survey of the employees with this question: Would you rather be judged and treated based on your personal and individual qualities or by your group identity? Duke said they couldnt do anonymous surveys. My supervisor and CMO never replied after I showed them that Duke had done so in the past. Told To Go Home I had pushed them near the breaking point, not with difficult questions, but embarrassingly simple ones. How had this whole DEI fiasco been allowed to progress this far? I showed up for work on Jan. 1, 2024, but was instead directed to a room with the president and the CMO while a security officer stood outside. Having done nothing medically or ethically wrong, I was told I was being terminated not for cause. The president opined, You dont seem surprised. I replied, From the first day I spoke up, I knew this was a possibility. I was given six months notice. Go home, they said, we have someone to cover your shift. Im fine, I said, I dont want anyone covering my shift. They insisted. What bothered me more was walking back into the house and facing my wife. How would I tell her? She is strong, but this stung and needed processing. One year later, when it was time to renew my medical license through the North Carolina Medical Board, I had to answer in the affirmative that I had been terminated from a previous position. This triggered an investigation, which triggered more stress and more consultations with my lawyer. Duke listed the cause of my termination as disruptive behavior. However, nothing I did qualified as disruptive behavior per the boards website. Fortunately, the Board found no violation. Finding a new job that would not require moving became difficult. Attaining employment at a new hospital as an employee was typically blocked by HR. I would interview with the medical director, and things would be fine until HR found out who I was. I eventually found a facility where I work as a contractor (not an employee), a little more than an hours drive from home. With twelve-hour shifts and driving back and forth, it makes for a long day. As my hero Jordan Peterson, the Canadian psychologist, says, always tell the truth and you will have the adventure of your life. The adventure may not be easy, but it will be worthwhile. Have faith that continually telling the truth, whatever happens, will eventually be for the best. Dont let falsehoods pass by you. Some people think I was courageous. I was not. With a timid and small voice, I barely dared to ask the first question. It was Dukes pathetic answers and evasions that emboldened me. Its supervisors werent so smart, they were just more fearful of the people above them than I was. As Duke has quietly changed its pledge, I have grown to feel indomitable and vindicated. My biggest takeaway was what this experience allowed me to tell my four children, You will fear something. Fear God, not man. Never shy away from asking questions in the pursuit of truth. Dr. Kendall Conger is a practicing emergency room physician in North Carolina. He can be reached at lawrencecongermd@gmail.com. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says U.S. President Donald Trump told him to put the dagger into Hamas and the war in Gaza. Netanyahu told Israeli cabinet members that Trump told him go in with full force and finish it when talking about the war in Gaza and Israels new offensive into Gaza City and other parts of the Palestinian zone, according to a report from Israel's Channel 12. The Israeli prime minister says Trump told him not to take a partial hostage release amid opposition to the new Gaza offensive from anti-war advocates and some hostage families worried about Hamas killing the 20 remaining captives held since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Go in with full force and finish it, Netanyahu is reported telling cabinet ministers of the charge from Trump, according to Israels Channel 12. Israels push deeper into Gaza faces concerns from Israel Defense Forces commanders concerned about the perils of even more urban warfare within the rubble and ruins of Gaza. There have already been more than 62,000 Palestinians and 2,000 Israelis killed in the war, which started after Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. European countries as well as Canada and Australia along with the United Nations and international relief groups are also opposed to Israels deeper push into Gaza. They want the Hamas-held hostages released and for the war to end with worries about hunger and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Belgium, Australia, France, Canada and potentially the United Kingdom will recognize a Palestinian state at United Nations this month. Israel blames Hamas for stealing food, water and other aid. Some Israeli opponents to the continued war and new offensive want Trump to broker a truce and release of the remaining hostages. Trump wants to redevelop Gaza into an international economic hub that is controlled by the U.S. for at least a decade with Israel handling security. The Trump plan would pay Gazans to relocate and guarantee them housing and food. Trump told the Daily Caller in an interview that U.S. support for Israel is eroding among Democrats and other critics of the war and backers of the Palestinians in the Holy Land conflict. Polls have shown stark divides among Americans when it comes to support for Israel and Netanyahu with Trump voters (including Evangelical Christians) supportive while Democrats (including progressives and younger voters) are solidly pro-Palestinian. If you go back 20 years. I mean, I will tell you, Israel had the strongest lobby in Congress of anything or body, or of any company or corporation or state that Ive ever seen. Israel was the strongest. Today, it doesnt have that strong a lobby. Its amazing, Trump told the conservative outlet. There was a time where you couldnt speak (badly of Israel), if you wanted to be a politician, you couldnt speak badly. But today, you have, you know, AOC plus three, and you have all these lunatics, and theyve really, theyve changed it. Youre too young to know this, but if you go back 15 years, probably thats when it started, right. Israel, you would understand this very much, Israel was the strongest lobby Ive ever seen. They had total control over Congress, and now they dont, you know, Im a little surprised to see that. And people, they forgot about October 7th. You know, October 7th was a truly horrible day, because Ive seen the pictures., Trump continued. More than 240 million in farm support has been paid out across Northern Ireland on the first day of the governments new Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP). Union leaders hailed the payout as a lifeline to keep family farms viable and ensure Northern Ireland continues producing high-quality food. The SAP is designed to help farms transition towards long-term environmental and economic sustainability, while safeguarding food production. Payments to the small number of remaining applicants will be issued once all validation checks are complete, the Department of Agriculture (DAERA) said. Farmers are urged to keep their contact and banking details up to date, and to regularly check the DAERA Messaging Service for updates. The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) welcomed the swift roll-out, stressing that the payments offer vital stability at a time of rising costs and uncertainty across the sector. UFU President William Irvine said: Were pleased that on the first day, over 240 million has been paid out to 98% of eligible farm businesses. "For family farms across Northern Ireland, this support is essential. Income from food production alone is often not enough to sustain a viable farm business never mind support a home and family. "These payments provide critical stability as the sector works to become more sustainable, adapting to a range of new challenges while producing the high-quality food consumers expect. British Wool is celebrating 75 years of championing sheep farmers and flying the flag for UK fleece on the world stage. Established in 1950, the organisation has developed into a farmer-owned coop representing more than 30,000 sheep farmers across the country. Over the past seven and a half decades, British Wool has worked to deliver fair prices, maintain quality standards, and promote UK fleece to markets around the world. Since its formation, British sheep have produced more than 2.5 billion kilograms of fleece, underlining the scale and importance of the sector to the rural economy. To commemorate the anniversary, British Wools regional depots will host a series of open days, offering visitors the opportunity to see first-hand where the journey of UK wool begins. Over its 75-year history, British Wool has helped UK sheep farmers weather significant challenges, from fluctuating global markets to changing consumer demands. Today, it continues to invest in research, marketing and education to demonstrate the enduring value of wool both as a traditional material and as a modern, environmentally responsible fibre. Andrew Hogley, CEO at British Wool, said: Join us for guided tours, demonstrations, refreshments, and a chance to learn more about how British Wool is working for farmers. British Wool collects, grades, markets and sells British wool on behalf of its members to the international textile industry for use in flooring, furnishings and apparel. British wool isnt just a legacy fibre, its a material for the future, and is gaining new relevance in a world increasingly concerned with environmental impact. Anniversary events will take place throughout September and October at depots across the UK. Places are limited and advance booking is required. The NFU has hit back at claims in The Economist that farming is almost irrelevant to the British economy, calling the suggestion simply wrong. In a letter to the magazine, NFU Deputy President David Exwood highlighted the sectors economic importance, stressing that British farming is at the heart of the countrys largest manufacturing industry. The article in question, In some ways, rural Britain is changing faster than its cities, argued that it is often said that farming is almost irrelevant to the British economy, and this is true. What is less appreciated is that farming is barely relevant even to the rural economy. Mr Exwood said such a portrayal ignores the reality of farmings contribution, not only to food supply but also to jobs, tourism and local communities. Responding directly, he wrote: The idea that farming is irrelevant to the rural economy is simply wrong. British farming underpins the UKs largest manufacturing sector: food and drink, which is worth 153.2 billion to the economy and supports 4.2 million jobs. "If thats barely relevant, then so is the weekly shop, the school lunch and the pint pulled at the local pub. Citing regional examples, Mr Exwood noted that in Suffolk one of the areas referenced in The Economists article agriculture alone contributes 1.4 billion to the local economy and sustains more than 8,000 jobs. Nationally, farmers spent more than 20 billion in 2024 on goods and services ranging from feed and fertiliser to energy and veterinary care, underpinning thousands of supply chain jobs. Farmings role in rural tourism was also underlined, with the sector contributing 11.5 billion annually. Thousands of farmers and growers provide accommodation, catering and leisure activities, while also maintaining the landscapes that attract millions of visitors from across the world. Mr Exwood further pointed to a recent rise in applications to agricultural colleges as evidence of the sectors continuing appeal and future relevance. He also reminded readers that political leaders have acknowledged farmings importance: Even Keir Starmer once recognised the sectors importance, stating that he knows a thriving farming sector is vital for the economy and the nations future, and agriculture has been recognised as one of the governments priorities in its own Industrial Strategy. Concluding his response, the NFU deputy president rejected the notion that agriculture is in decline: Farming isnt fading into irrelevance. Its evolving, adapting and driving rural Britain forward. "The real problem isnt that farmings out of touch its that too many commentators are. Labour has suffered a fresh blow in the countryside after a new poll revealed that not a single farmer plans to back the party at the next general election. The survey of 500 members, carried out by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), found 0% support for Labour among farmers. The poll indicates that the Conservatives currently lead among farmers, with 38% support, closely followed by Reform on 36%. Labour, meanwhile, has lost what little backing it once enjoyed in the sector. Analysing the results from the CLA's survey, the Countryside Alliance said the result is a "stark reminder of how low Labours stock has fallen within at least a section of the farming community". The alliance pointed to Labours controversial proposal to apply inheritance tax to agricultural property as a key turning point. "There will be those in Labour who believe that this does not matter as farmers are electorally irrelevant," the group said. Although farmers make up only a small proportion of the electorate around 300,000 farmers, directors and spouses across the UK the alliance warned against underestimating their political significance. It said: "Even in the most rural of seats they will only ever make up a small proportion of voters so it is possible to argue that the farming vote is insignificant, especially as there may be an assumption amongst Labour strategists that the majority were not in any way their natural supporters. "That, however, would be to misunderstand the totemic status of farming and the countryside amongst a much wider proportion of the electorate." The alliance acknowledged that Labour has time to repair relations before the next general election, which is not due until 2029. However, it urged the party to listen more closely to rural voters and its own rural MPs. A new group of 26 MPs, the Labour Rural Research Group, has been established to ensure policy reflects the specific challenges and opportunities of life in our countryside and rural areas. Its first report highlighted that rural voters share the same priorities as those in towns and cities healthcare, jobs, the cost of living and the environment but stressed that these challenges need to be addressed in ways that reflect the unique circumstances of rural life. Crucially, the group did not recommend wading into the culture-war politics sometimes associated with rural issues. Instead, it underlined the need for practical solutions to service provision, skills gaps and long-term opportunities in the countryside. During the first seven months of ****, textile exports eased by *.* per cent to $***.* million. Over the same period, exports of other manufactured textile articles increased by ** per cent, totalling $** million, as reported in the Central Bank**;s publication External Sector Performance July ****. Combined exports of textiles, garments, and other manufactured textile articles accounted for **.** per cent of all industrial exports from Sri Lanka during the seven-month period. Total textile product exports amounted to $*,***.* million between January and July ****, while the countrys overall industrial exports were valued at $*,***.* million for the same period. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release Chemicals SubCategory Select Sub-Category Punjab is reeling under devastating floods, and several celebrities have come forward to extend help. Recently, Alia Bhatt took to Instagram to pen a note for the people of the state. The actress wrote, "My heart goes out to everyone affected by the floods in Punjab. Sending love, strength and prayers to all those impacted, and gratitude to the people working tirelessly on the ground to help. May every family find the support they need to heal and rebuild." Take a look: Alia Bhatt's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani co-star Ranveer Singh also expressed his concern. He took to Instagram's story section and wrote, "Prayers for Punjab." Not just them, several other Bollywood celebrities have extended their support to Punjab and spoken about the issue to raise awareness. These include Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karan Johar, Vicky Kaushal, Sidharth Malhotra, Ananya Panday and Rajkummar Rao, among others. On the other hand, Diljit Dosanjh adopted ten of the worst-hit villages in Gurdaspur and Amritsar. His team took to social media to share the update and wrote that Diljit has adopted the villages in collaboration with other NGOs and local administrations. The flood-affected areas already received water and hot meals. They are also focusing on structured programs for rebuilding homes, livelihoods, and livestock and are in continued partnership with the local administration for the same. Punjabi star Ammy Virk also extended his support to the flood-affected people of the state. Gippy Grewal sent truckloads of silage to help feed the cattle in Ajnala. Sonam Bajwa shared some heartbreaking photos from the flood-affected state and urged people to stand by Punjab. She wrote on Instagram, "In these difficult times, my heart goes out to Punjab and everyone affected by the floods. The images and stories coming from there are truly heartbreaking, but what keeps me hopeful is the spirit of unity and resilience that Punjab has always shown. I am doing my part to help by donating to organisations actively working on ground as rescue teams, and I humbly urge you to do yours too. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a difference in someones life right now. Lets come together and stand by Punjab in this crucial time." Meanwhile, more than 1,000 settlements have been affected in Punjab due to the floods. Some of the worst hit places are Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar. The excitement amongst fans has been at an all-time high as Shah Rukh Khan and Suhana Khan are preparing to share the screen in Siddharth Anand's upcoming action thriller, King. Reports from a few months ago indicated that Arshad Warsi had joined the cast in a small yet important role. It seems Arshad might have confirmed his role, suggesting he has started filming with Shah Rukh in Warsaw, Poland. Director Siddharth Anand's welcome to the kingdom comment on Arshads post has certainly increased excitement among fans. Arshad Warsi delighted his fans by posting a photo from Warsaw Old Town, Poland, where he is seen striking a stylish pose in the street. Although, it was the caption that particularly captured the interest of the fans. He wrote, No price for guessing where I am, shooting with my favouriteThank You God. As many fans wondered if Arshad Warsi was subtly indicating that Shah Rukh Khan was his favourite and hinting at the filming of King, director Siddharth Anand's comment on the post appeared to slightly confirm this. Commenting on his post, Siddharth Anand wrote, Welcome to the Kingdom. Fans were quick to connect the dots, and they expressed their excitement about the film. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jolly Tyagi - Asli Jolly from Meerut (@arshad_warsi) One fan wrote, So excited for KING and to see you and SRK in the movie, while another commented, We are also waiting for this collaboration. A third comment read, The KING. Cannot wait to see both my favourites together, Arshad. King features Shah Rukh Khan's first collaboration with his daughter, Suhana Khan. The production experienced a delay after an injury sustained by Shah Rukh during an intense action sequence at Golden Tobacco Studio in Mumbai. In King, Shah Rukh reportedly plays a seasoned assassin navigating the underworld, with Suhana Khan as his protege, undergoing training for dangerous missions. The cast also includes Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Arshad Warsi, Abhay Verma, and Raghav Juyal. Anil Kapoor is reportedly playing the role of Shah Rukhs mentor, guiding him through the dangerous world of espionage. Also Read: Arshad Warsi Joins The Cast Of Shah Rukh Khans King: Report Prabhas in The Raja Saab Director Maruthi scouting for locations Prabhas is expected to join the Greece schedule of The Raja Saab in October Prabhas to join in October Prabhas upcoming film The Raja Saab is slowly inching towards the closure mark. While the film unit is trying to complete the talkie part, we have learnt that the team will soon commence a new schedule of shooting in Greece. Buzz is that the team will shoot a couple songs in the country in Southeast Europe.According to unit sources, director Maruthi is already in Greece and is scouting for suitable locations for the songs. The unit is exploring different spots that will add a fresh and stylish look to the narrative. Interestingly, the unit has planned to shoot two songs in the beautiful country. Maruthi wanted to capitalize the scenic landscapes and unique charm for the songs. Greece is an exotic place, and the director wanted to film a couple of songs thatll add to the films visual appeal. Since The Raja Saab is loaded with VFX, the makers wanted to add visual appeal in the form of songs in striking locations, informs a source in the know.Prabhas has been recuperating from a leg injury that he suffered while shooting for director Hanu Raghavapudis film in December 2024. While the superstar is also working on Hanus film, he is expected to join the Greece schedule in October. Fans are expressing gladness that the unit is working hard to wrap up the remaining two songs. Horror comedy is a first-of-its-kind genre for Prabhas, and many are curious to find out whether the comic quotient came out in the right way. The films teaser that released a couple of months ago gave a glimpse of the comedy and laughter Prabhas would evoke in the film. For now, The Raja Saab is slated for Sankranti release, and the makers are working hard to meet the deadline. Kenya this past fortnight became the stage for one of the worlds greatest filmmakers, @ssrajamouli, the visionary Indian director, screenwriter, and storyteller whose works have captured the imagination of audiences across continents. Rajamouli, with a career spanning over two pic.twitter.com/T1xCGVXQ64 Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) September 2, 2025 Rajamouli with Musalia W. Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs of Kenya Rajamouli and son Karthikeya, producer KL Narayana with Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia W. Mudavadi and colleagues Musalia shares photos with Rajamouli The Cabinet Secretary revealed that Rajamouli and his team of 120 crew members chose Kenya after an extensive scouting tour across East Africa Globetrotter, planned as a two-part series Filmfare was the first to tell its readers that ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli chose Kenya for filming intense action sequences in his upcoming action adventure. Even though Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas continue to maintain silence over the commencement of the shooting in the African nation, heres the official confirmation. Musalia W Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, confirmed the development.Musalia W Mudavadi took to his social media handle and shared a series of pictures that features Rajamouli and son Karthikeya, and Musalia's colleagues. He expressed happiness to share that Kenya became the stage for one of the worlds greatest filmmakers, SS Rajamouli. He added that the filmmakers works have captured the imagination of audiences across continents. Musalia went on to praise Rajamouli recalling how the director, in a career spanning over two decades, is renowned for weaving together powerful narratives, groundbreaking visuals, and deep cultural resonance. The Cabinet Secretary further revealed that Rajamouli and his team of 120 crew members chose Kenya after an extensive scouting tour across East Africa, settling on the country as the primary filming destination where nearly 95 percent of the African scenes are being shot.The politician is thrilled to share that from the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara to the scenic Naivasha, the rugged Samburu, and the iconic Amboseli, Kenyas landscapes will be scripted into what is set to become the largest film production in Asia. Commenting that the landmark decision to choose Kenya for filming SSMB29 is more than a cinematic milestone. Its a powerful statement about our countrys beauty, hospitality, and place on the world stage. As the crew departs today for India to continue production, Kenya stands proud, ready to share its story with the world through the lens of SSMB29, posted Musalia, adding that Globetrotter is slated for release in over 120 countries. This Onam, Zee5 launches Kammattam, its first Malayalam original series, with Sudev Nair stepping into the lead as CI Antonio George. Adapted from a story written by a real-life police officer, the show strips away the cliches of cop thrillers to present a grounded, procedural drama. Over an unhurried chat, Sudev reflects on shouldering a series, why Malayalam has been slow to embrace streaming, and the exciting slate of films that lie ahead. How did Kammattam find its way to you? It actually started off as a smaller story. The protagonist was meant to be an older, down-and-out alcoholic who finds redemption in a big case. But as Shan Thulasidharan (the director) and the team developed it, they realised it could be bigger. Thats when they thought of casting a pan-Indian face, and thats how I came on board. Youve worn the cops uniform before. What made the character of Antonio George stand out? Usually, when Ive played a cop, theres been a crutch, a negative edge or a plot twist that makes the character pop. So that way, these are what we call crutches that an actor relies on. But there are no such crutches when you're playing the protagonist. Especially in a show like this where everything is based on actual real-life workings of a police officer. This is exactly how they investigate. Antonio is the anchor of the story, and everything unfolds through him. The series is rooted in how police work really happens. No fiery speeches, no cinematic shortcuts. Keeping it engaging while staying true to that realism was the challenge. So without those frills, how to make the performance engaging yet keeping it real, that was the challenge. It also gave me fresh respect for senior actors whove managed to play grounded cops for years and still keep it compelling. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sudev Nair (@thesudevnair) Former Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) brings unrivalled global regulatory experience Appointment reinforces Vertical's pathway to certify its VX4 aircraft in 2028 with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and EASA European certification of eVTOLs will be to the highest aviation safety standard globally, supporting global portability of this certification to other regulators thereafter Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today announced the appointment of Patrick Ky to its Board of Directors, strengthening the company's regulatory expertise and leadership in certification. The appointment is effective as of 1 September 2025. Mr. Ky served as Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) from 2013 to 2023, where he led the agency through a decade of regulatory transformation and established EASA as a global reference point for aviation safety and innovation. Under his leadership, EASA developed the world's first comprehensive regulatory framework for eVTOL aircraft, SC-VTOL, published in 2019, creating a pathway for the certification of electric flight. He also set new safety standards for aircraft such as the Boeing 777X and Airbus A321XLR, and oversaw the safe return to service of the 737 MAX. Vertical is targeting certification of its VX4 aircraft in 2028, concurrently with the CAA and EASA, meeting the highest safety and regulatory standards for eVTOLs globally. Mr. Ky joins an industry-leading line-up of regulatory expertise at Vertical, including Trevor Woods, former Certification Director at EASA, who is Regulatory Affairs Director, and Eamonn Brennan, former Director-General of Eurocontrol, the organisation responsible for coordinating and managing air traffic control across Europe, who was appointed as a Board Advisor earlier this year. Prior to EASA, Mr. Ky was Executive Director of the Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking, Europe's air traffic management modernisation programme. He has also held senior leadership roles at Eurocontrol and in the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). Patrick is currently Chief Executive Officer of the International Centre for Aviation Innovation (ICAI), a global hub bringing together governments, industry, and research institutions to co-develop innovative solutions for the future of air travel. Patrick Ky, Board Director, said: "I am delighted to join Vertical Aerospace's Board at such an exciting time for electric aviation. Having worked closely with industry and regulators worldwide on developing the standards for this new generation of aircraft, I believe Vertical is uniquely positioned to lead the sector through certification and into safe, sustainable commercial operations. I look forward to supporting the team as they bring the VX4 to market." Domhnal Slattery, Chairman at Vertical Aerospace, said: "Patrick Ky is one of the most respected voices in aviation regulation and safety worldwide. His unparalleled expertise and leadership at EASA will be invaluable as Vertical advances its certifiable aircraft programme, creating the most exportable aircraft on the market. His appointment reinforces our commitment to achieving the highest regulatory and safety standards while delivering on the promise of electric aviation." Patrick's contributions to aviation have earned him numerous accolades, including The Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award in 2013 and Aviation Week's Philip J. Klass Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contributions to aviation safety in 2025. Patrick is a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and the French Civil Aviation Engineering School, with additional degrees in economics from the University of Toulouse and MIT. About Vertical Aerospace Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner, and quieter way to travel. Its VX4 is a piloted, four-passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical is also developing a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market. Vertical combines partnerships with leading aerospace companies, including GKN, Honeywell, and Aciturri, with its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world's most advanced and safest eVTOL. Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL, and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, UK, Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top-tier aerospace and automotive companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM, and Leonardo. Together, they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding anticipated Board changes and their impact on Vertical and its programme development and certification efforts, the design and manufacture of the VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4 and the hybrid-electric VX4 variant, certification and the commercialization of the both the VX4 and the hybrid-electric VX4 variant and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected, completion of the piloted test programme phases, selection of suppliers, our ability to integrate hybrid technology into the VX4 on any particular timelines or at all, the ability of the hybrid-electric VX4 variant VX4 to be applied in defense, cargo, logistics and emergency services sectors, our ability to scale the hybrid-electric VX4 upon the VX4, our ability and plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, the differential strategy compared to our peer group, expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments, our future results of operations and financial position and expected financial performance and operational performance, liquidity, growth and profitability strategies, the transition towards a net-zero emissions economy, as well as statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate," "will," "aim," "potential," "continue," "are likely to" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation, the other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 11, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902172239/en/ Contacts: For more information: Justin Bates, Head of Communications justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7878 357 463 Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7816 459 904 SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Starbucks is taking aim at the booming demand for protein-rich foods with the launch of Protein Cold Foam and Protein Lattes, set to roll out across U.S. and Canadian stores on September 29. The move taps into shifting consumer habits, as more Americans prioritize protein for muscle health, satiety, and wellness, a trend fueled by fitness culture and the rise of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. The new offerings significantly boost the protein content of Starbucks drinks. Adding Protein Cold Foam to a grande beverage will provide 19 to 26 grams of protein, while the grande Protein Latte delivers between 27 and 36 grams. The cold foam, already one of Starbucks' most popular customizations since its 2018 debut, will now be available in a range of flavors including banana, vanilla, chocolate, matcha, salted caramel, and seasonal pumpkin. Crafted with protein-boosted milk a fresh daily blend of 2% milk and unflavored protein powder the lattes are designed to give customers an extra protein option without added sugar or compromising flavor. Customers will also soon be able to customize other drinks with the protein-boosted milk, adding 12 to 16 grams of protein per grande. The launch comes as Starbucks recently reported its best-ever U.S. sales week, fueled by the return of pumpkin spice lattes, signaling early success in its turnaround strategy under CEO Brian Niccol. Global Chief Brand Officer Tressie Lieberman said the protein line reflects Starbucks' push to modernize its menu with 'innovative, relevant, and hype-worthy products.' By leaning into the protein craze, Starbucks is betting it can expand its dominance in cold beverages while appealing to health-conscious consumers a fast-growing segment of its customer base. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Reimagining and Revolutionizing the Industry HOUSTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire / September 2, 2025 / Epique Realty is proud to announce that its CEO and Co-Founder, Joshua Miller, has been named a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard. This prestigious award recognizes the most influential C-level executives in the housing economy who are moving markets forward with vision, resilience, and unmistakable impact. The Vanguard award celebrates leaders who have turned obstacles into opportunities, and Miller was selected for his revolutionary work in fundamentally challenging and reshaping the traditional real estate brokerage model. "The 2025 HousingWire Vanguards exemplify what it means to lead with vision and resilience," said Sarah Wheeler, Editor-in-Chief of HousingWire. "These leaders aren't just driving growth within their organizations; they're shaping the future of housing itself. Their achievements reflect the innovation, adaptability, and commitment required to thrive in today's rapidly evolving market." Miller's co-founders celebrated the honor as a testament to his unique leadership style. "From day one, Josh has led with a vision that many thought was impossible, but he saw it with perfect clarity," said Janice Delcid, CFO and Co-Founder. "As a Co-Founder and CFO, I've had a front-row seat to his leadership, blending bold, disruptive innovation with a deep sense of compassion. This Vanguard award is a well-deserved recognition of a leader who truly puts people and purpose first." "Josh dreams bigger than anyone I know, and then he inspires our entire team to work together and build that dream into a reality," said Christopher Miller, COO and Co-Founder. "Operationally, scaling our vision for a tech-forward, agent-centric brokerage was a monumental task, but his vision and inspiration made it achievable, We are incredibly proud to see him recognized." Miller's win is a direct result of his innovative work developing the #1-ranked Epique.ai platform and creating an agent-first financial model that democratizes technology and provides over 75 unheard-of free benefits from healthcare to transaction coordination. This model ignited the firm's historic growth from a Texas startup into a 50-state powerhouse with over 4,000 agents and more than $4.2 billion in annual sales volume. "To be named a Vanguard by HousingWire is an incredible honor that I share completely with my co-founders, Janice and Chris, and our entire Epique family," said Joshua Miller. "This award isn't for one person; it's a validation of our collective mission to build a more supportive and equitable future for real estate professionals. Our agents are the real vanguards out in the field every day, and I am deeply proud to serve them." About Epique Realty Shaping the future of housing, Epique Realty is one of the fastest-growing real estate brokers. Epique now operates in all fifty states with over 4,000 agents and global expansion underway. Its revolutionary agent-first model provides unheard of free extensive benefits with award-winning AI and a culture of radical generosity. By questioning industry norms and putting agents at the center of its universe, Epique is transforming and defining the future of real estate.BeEpique Barbara Simpson | PR and Communications 281-773-7842 | Barbara@EpiqueRealty.com https://www.instagram.com/epiquerealty/ https://www.facebook.com/epiquerealty https://www.linkedin.com/company/epique-realty/mycompany/ https://www.youtube.com/@epiquerealty SOURCE: Epique Realty View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/epique-realty-ceo-joshua-miller-honored-as-a-2025-housingwire-vanguard-1068052 Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - September 2, 2025) - TrustBIX Inc. (TSXV: TBIX) ("TrustBIX" or the "Company") announces the closing of its non-brokered private placement, as previously announced on July 7th, 2025 and August 20th, 2025 (the "Private Placement"). Pursuant to the Private Placement, the Company issued 10,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.04 per Unit for gross proceeds of $400,000, subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of TrustBIX ("Common Share") and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"), whereby each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Common Share at a price of $0.08 for a period of two (2) years from the date of closing. If the closing price of the Common Shares on the principal market on which such shares trade is equal to or exceeds $0.12 per Common Share for twenty (20) consecutive trading days, TrustBIX will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants. In the event of acceleration, the expiry date will be accelerated to a date that is thirty (30) days after the date that the Company has issued a press release announcing the exercise of the acceleration right; and thereafter, no further notification will be provided by TrustBIX to the subscribers. The Company intends to use the proceeds for general working capital purposes, including, but not limited to, funding the acquisition of inventory at scale to support the Company's ongoing operations. The securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a statutory hold period lasting four (4) months and one (1) day following the closing of the Private Placement. No finder's fees or other compensation was paid in connection with the Private Placement The Common Shares issued under the Private Placement were sold to investors pursuant to prospectus exemptions available under National Instrument 45-106, including exemptions for: accredited investor, employee, executive officer, director and consultant, and existing security holders. About TrustBIX (TSXV: TBIX) TrustBIX is an agricultural technology company providing Gate to Plate solutions to create a world where we trust more, waste less, and reward sustainable practices. Our award-winning technologies offer practical tools trusted by local and international agri-food organizations. www.TrustBIX.com Forward-Looking Information This press release contains certain forward-looking information and reflects the Company's present assumptions regarding future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance, and/or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "propose", "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions used by any of the Company's management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company's internal projections, expectations, future growth, performance and business prospects and opportunities and are based on information currently available to the Company. Since they relate to the Company's current views with respect to future events, they are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments except as required by applicable securities legislation, regulations or policies. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264885 SOURCE: TrustBIX Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 2, 2025) - Tenet Fintech Group Inc. (CSE: PKK) (OTC Pink: PKKFF) ("Tenet" or the "Company"), an innovative analytics service provider, owner and operator of the Cubeler business development platform, today announced that it has updated its investor presentation (the "Investor Presentation") at the request of OSC staff in connection with an OSC staff review. The Investor Presentation was revised to remove forward-looking information regarding forecasted revenue, forecasted EBITDA, and forecasted market penetration rates for the Company's ie-Pulse and Equity Insider products that are currently under development. It should also be noted that neither ie-Pulse nor Equity had yet generated any revenue for the Company as of the date of this news release. The revised Investor Presentation can be downloaded from the Company's website at: https://www.tenetfintech.com/investor-resources. About Tenet Fintech Group Inc.: Tenet Fintech Group Inc. is the parent company of a group of innovative financial technology (Fintech) and artificial intelligence (AI) companies. All references to Tenet in this news release, unless explicitly specified, include Tenet and all its subsidiaries. Tenet's subsidiaries offer various analytics and AI-based products and services to businesses, capital markets professionals, government agencies and financial institutions either through or leveraging data gathered by the Cubeler Business Hub, a global ecosystem where analytics and AI are used to create opportunities and facilitate B2B transactions among its members. Please visit our website at: https://www.tenetfintech.com/. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264904 SOURCE: Tenet Fintech Group Inc. Kawasaki, Japan and San Jose, USA, Sept 3, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited, 1Finity Inc., a Fujitsu company and leading provider of global network solutions, and Arrcus Inc., the hyperscale networking software company and a leader in core, edge, and multi-cloud routing and switching infrastructure, today announced the signing of a strategic partnership contract to strengthen next-generation infrastructure for the AI era and provide innovative network solutions to Japan and the global market.As AI continues to be deployed throughout society and the services available become more sophisticated, AI-related data traffic is increasing exponentially. This trend is driving a growing need for network infrastructure that can seamlessly connect data centers, cloud platforms, 5G/6G networks, and edge environments.Arrcus develops advanced routing and switching platforms based on Ethernet networking technology and provides industry-leading networking software that meets the diverse needs of network operators and enterprise customers.The Network Operating System (OS) software developed by Arrcus can operate in a unified manner across data center clusters, from the edge to multi-cloud environments, enabling faster deployment and centralized management. It does not require dedicated hardware and can run on generic "white box" components, allowing for the placement of white box hardware equipped with the optimal silicon components. Customers that have implemented this software have achieved over 40% reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) across multiple use cases.Under this partnership agreement, 1Finity will offer the complete range of Arrcus solutions as its business partner, and will jointly develop go-to-market plans to expand its business globally with a primary focus on Japan, targeting network operators, enterprise customers and data center operators. In addition, the collaboration will extend to business partners on a global scale, not limited to the Fujitsu Group, and build comprehensive total solutions covering network design to maintenance and operation by managed service collaboration to provide optimal value to customers.Fujitsu will leverage its global customer base to provide flexible and scalable solutions that can adapt to rapidly changing market needs, while combining the Arrcus business model with Fujitsu's strengths in AI services and computing technologies to become a next-generation infrastructure service provider for the global market.Shekar Ayyar, Chairman and CEO, Arrcus Inc. comments:"Flexible networks that combine innovation in software, silicon, and optics are of critical importance for AI data centers and 5G/6G connected inference edges. We are super excited to announce our strategic partnership with Fujitsu and 1Finity to bring our combined strengths for Fujitsu internal use as well as for enterprises, service providers, and cloud/neo-cloud operators worldwide."Masaaki Moribayashi, Corporate Executive Officer, Fujitsu Limited, Representative Director, CEO, 1Finity Inc. comments:"As the amount of AI-related data transfer increases in both volume and complexity, the role of networks has become more important than ever before. Arrcus's products, including its Network OS Software, are innovative and offer exceptional performance which will help us to provide optimal network solutions and meet our customers' needs. We look forward to achieving breakthroughs in networking through this partnership."Press Conference MaterialsHeld on September 3, 2025Materials from the press conference on Strategic PartnershipAbout FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data and Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: global.fujitsuAbout 1FINITY1Finity, a Fujitsu company, is a global provider of communications networks for our connected world. We uniquely combine technological leadership and expertise in open optical and wireless networking, network automation, and applied AI/ML to design, build, operate, and maintain critical digital communications network infrastructure. Collaborating closely with ecosystem partners, we deliver transformative outcomes for service providers and network operators, and enable them to lower TCO, improve network performance, and increase energy efficiency. Find out more: www.1Finity.comAbout ArrcusArrcus is a leading provider of networking software solutions that empower businesses to achieve unparalleled scalability, performance, and reliability in their infrastructure. Arrcus is disrupting the industry with disaggregated solutions that deliver innovative, agile, and cost-effective networking, allowing enterprises to break free from traditional, monolithic systems and embrace a more flexible, efficient, and scalable approach to modern networking. The Arrcus team consists of world-class technologists who have an unparalleled record in shipping industry-leading networking products, complemented by industry thought leaders, operating executives, strategic partners, and top-tier VCs. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. Find out more: www.arrcus.com, LinkedIn, Twitter/XPress ContactsFujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations DivisionInquiries1Finity Inc.Susan DiantoE-mail: susan.dianto@fujitsu.comArrcus Inc.Sean GriffinE-mail: sean@arrcus.comSource: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Amsterdam, Netherlands--(Newsfile Corp. - September 2, 2025) - Schoorsteenvegen announced today that it is expanding its home maintenance offerings to include full-scale roofing services, aiming to meet the growing demand for leak repairs and roof renovations in the Netherlands and Belgium. Schoorsteenvegen Expands Roofing Services to Address Growing Demand for Leak Repairs and Renovations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/263909_255867d8c45a5b9b_002full.jpg The move reflects the company's long-term strategy to address year-round household maintenance needs beyond its core business of chimney sweeping, a service it has provided for many years. Seasonal weather patterns in both countries, along with the aging housing stock, have contributed to an increase in roof damage cases. In autumn and winter, Dutch and Belgian homeowners often deal with leaks, worn materials, and structural concerns, resulting in a surge of service requests. Company representatives said this expansion allows Schoorsteenvegen to combine chimney care, leak prevention, and full roof renovations within a single service model. The aim is to provide homeowners with one reliable provider for multiple aspects of property maintenance and safety. "We have noticed a consistent pattern of clients scheduling chimney inspections who also mention roof leaks or visible wear," said R Char, spokesperson for Schoorsteenvegen. "Expanding into roofing is a logical step, enabling us to resolve connected issues and deliver more complete maintenance solutions for homeowners." Schoorsteenvegen Expands Roofing Services to Address Growing Demand for Leak Repairs and Renovations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/263909_255867d8c45a5b9b_003full.jpg Local housing authority data indicates that heavy rainfall and frost cycles in the Netherlands and Belgium have increased the wear on roofs, particularly in dense urban areas where structures often share walls and roofing elements. Roofing specialists report that late-year storms and freeze-thaw cycles can speed up deterioration, especially on older homes with tile or slate materials. Schoorsteenvegen leadership pointed to these conditions as a key factor in the decision to formally expand into the roofing sector. The expanded roofing services will include identifying and repairing leaks, replacing damaged or missing materials, and carrying out renovation projects designed to extend the life of existing roofs. These services are intended to complement the company's established chimney maintenance work, enabling technicians to address fireplace safety and roof integrity during the same visit if needed. "This step is about responding directly to what our customers are telling us," said R Char. "If someone is already booking a chimney sweep, it's far more efficient and cost-effective to address roofing issues during the same appointment. By integrating these services, we can help prevent serious damage that often follows untreated leaks." To prepare for the expansion, Schoorsteenvegen has trained its network of certified installers in roof inspection and repair techniques. The company emphasized that technicians will be equipped to manage everything from small repairs to full-scale renovations, adhering to national safety rules and material standards in both countries. Schoorsteenvegen said it intends to create a more coordinated service process for homeowners, offering a single point of contact for both chimney and roofing work. The company has also highlighted the role of regular roof inspections in long-term property care. Early detection of water infiltration, mold, or structural weaknesses can prevent costly repairs later. When paired with routine chimney maintenance, these services can contribute to greater safety, energy efficiency, and property value. While annual chimney sweeping remains a core service for preventing fire hazards and carbon monoxide risks, Schoorsteenvegen recognizes that many homeowners are looking for a more holistic approach to building upkeep. Adding roofing as a primary offering is intended to meet that demand and reinforce the company's position as a comprehensive home maintenance provider. The company operates in major cities and regional areas across the Netherlands and Belgium, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ghent, and numerous smaller municipalities. The roofing rollout will take place in stages, beginning with regions where past service records show the highest frequency of leak-related calls. Schoorsteenvegen said it expects the integrated chimney and roofing services to streamline scheduling and improve efficiency, particularly during peak maintenance seasons. About Schoorsteenvegen Schoorsteenvegen is a Netherlands-based home maintenance company specializing in chimney sweeping, inspection, and safety services. Founded to help homeowners reduce the risk of chimney fires and improve heating efficiency, the company operates across the Netherlands and Belgium through a network of certified professionals. In addition to chimney maintenance, Schoorsteenvegen now offers roofing services, including leak repairs, roof renovations, and preventative inspections. By combining essential home safety services, the company delivers reliable and efficient solutions for year-round property care. Those who want to learn more about wat kost een schoorsteenveger, visit schoorsteenvegen.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/263909 SOURCE: Plentisoft New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - September 2, 2025) - Revitta, a well-known New York dental practice celebrated for its unique approach to dentistry that blends advanced oral care with state-of-the-art facial aesthetic treatments, has officially rebranded as VisoDent NY. Guided by its signature motto, "Beautiful Face. Beautiful Smile," the clinic has built a reputation for delivering personalized, high-quality care that enhances both dental health and facial harmony. New York-Based dental clinic Revitta Rebrands as VisoDent NY To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/260661_53f68b7484fa2965_002full.jpg The rebranding marks a significant milestone for the company, coinciding with the grand opening of a second location in Midtown East Manhattan. This expansion will allow VisoDent NY to serve a wider community across New York City, making its comprehensive range of dental and aesthetic services more accessible than ever. A Comprehensive Approach to Beauty and Wellness VisoDent NY's philosophy is rooted in the belief that a confident smile goes hand in hand with overall facial aesthetics. The practice combines modern dental treatments-ranging from preventive and restorative care to advanced cosmetic dentistry-with non-invasive facial rejuvenation procedures. Patients can expect tailored treatment plans that prioritize health, beauty, and confidence. Midtown East: A Modern Space for Modern Care The new Midtown East location is designed with patient comfort and cutting-edge technology in mind. Featuring state-of-the-art dental equipment, private treatment rooms, and a welcoming, spa-like atmosphere, the facility reflects VisoDent NY's commitment to offering an elevated patient experience. "Our vision has always been to integrate dental excellence with aesthetic artistry," says Alex Vaysman, board-certificed physician at VisoDent NY. "With the new Midtown East office, we're bringing this vision to more people in New York, helping them look and feel their best." To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260661 SOURCE: Plentisoft London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - September 2, 2025) - Blue Fin Vision, a leading private eye clinic in London, is proud to announce that its Founder and Lead Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mr. Mfazo Hove, has been named a Top Recommended Adviser in the Spear's Health & Wellness Index 2025 for Opticians, Ophthalmologists & Laser Eye Surgeons. Blue Fin Vision Announces Founder Mr. Mfazo Hove Awarded 'Top Recommended' Status in Spear's Health & Wellness Index 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/264258_blue%20fin.png This distinction places Mr. Hove at the highest level of recognition awarded to any ophthalmologist in the Spear's Index, setting a new benchmark for clinical excellence and patient trust in the field of advanced vision correction. Blue Fin Vision Announces Founder Mr. Mfazo Hove Awarded 'Top Recommended' Status in Spear's Health & Wellness Index 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/264258_ab999753c491ca7e_002full.jpg Elite Recognition in a Competitive Field Spear's, widely regarded as the "Michelin guide for high-net-worth advisers," curates its annual Health & Wellness Index through independent research, peer feedback, and patient testimony. In the 2024 Index, leading ophthalmologists were all recognised at the Recommended tier. By contrast, in 2025, Mr. Hove is distinguished as 'Top Recommended' - the first ophthalmologist to achieve this higher tier in Spear's Health & Wellness Index, placing Blue Fin Vision in a league of its own. Proven Outcomes and Patient Trust This recognition builds upon Blue Fin Vision's proven track record of: 50,000+ cataract and refractive procedures performed, with over 25,000 in the last 4 years alone. 521+ independent 5-star reviews, with no negative feedback across all platforms. Outstanding NOD (National Ophthalmology Database) data, confirming extremely low complication rates and consistently excellent outcomes. Exclusive use of Zeiss premium Intraocular lenses A culture of clinical innovation and patient care that combines surgical precision with concierge-level service. A Global Destination for Vision Correction Blue Fin Vision is increasingly the destination of choice for discerning patients worldwide, who travel to London for Mr. Hove's expertise in cataract surgery, lens replacement, and laser eye procedures. To be recognised by Spear's at the 'Top Recommended' level is a humbling honour and a testament to the trust that Blue Fin Vision's patients place in them. The team's mission remains simple: to deliver world-class surgical outcomes with uncompromising precision, transparency, and care. This recognition reflects not just the team's clinical results, but the values they uphold-patient-led decisions, evidence-based practice, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264258 SOURCE: Plentisoft Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - September 2, 2025) - Kovo+ Holdings Inc. (TSXV: KOVO) ("Kovo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated July 31, 2025, it has entered into a fourth extension agreement (the "Extension Agreement") with Avonlea Ventures #2 Inc. ("AVI"), Kovo's largest shareholder and secured creditor, whereby AVI has agreed, among other things: (i) to extend the terms of the 2nd Amended & Restated Senior Loan and Security Agreement (the "Senior Loan Agreement") and secured promissory grid note (the "Secured Prom Note"), respectively, for a period of four (4) months, with a maturity date of December 31, 2025 ("Maturity Date"); and (ii) to increase the principal amount available for borrowing under the Secured Prom Note from USD$1,250,000 to USD$3,750,000. In connection with the Extension Agreement, Kovo drew down USD$300,000 from the Secured Prom Note (for an aggregate amount drawn of USD$1,250,000) and granted AVI a one-time loan fee of USD$250,000 and a monthly fee in the amount equal to 1.0% of the aggregate indebtedness owing by Kovo to AVI under the Senior Loan Agreement and Secured Prom Note, which fee is payable in cash at the Maturity Date, or such later date as mutually agreed between the parties. The other terms, as set out in the Senior Loan Agreement and Secured Prom Note, remain unchanged. Asset Acquisition The Company further announces that its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Nexus AI Data, Inc., has acquired (the "Acquisition") 100% of the assets (the "Assets") of AI Vector, LLC ("AI Vector"), a Utah business solutions company specializing in AI-driven IT infrastructure management, proprietary monitoring systems, network security, and support services. The integration of Ai Vector LLC's technology and talent will strengthen Kovo's existing portfolio and accelerate the development of new AI-powered solutions for clients seeking improved efficiency and productivity.", commented Justin Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Kovo. The aggregate purchase price for the Assets totaled approximately USD$3.993 million and was subject to an immediate reduction of USD$1.0 million as partial satisfaction of purchase price accommodation negotiated with AVI (see press release dated May 28, 2025) and such that the purchase price payable by the Company to AI Vector was approximately USD$2.993 million (the "Adjusted Purchase Price"). The Adjusted Purchase Price comprised: (i) USD$350,000 in cash paid as a deposit prior to closing; and (ii) the assumption of liabilities in an aggregate amount of approximately USD$2.6 million. Further to its news release dated May 28, 2025, Kovo entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with AVI to acquire, among other things, the exclusive right (the "Exclusive Right") to purchase the Assets (the "AVI Transaction"). The AVI Transaction remains subject to certain customary conditions, including, without limitation, third-party and regulatory approvals, including TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval. The Company sought, and received, a limited waiver from AVI to complete the Acquisition prior to the closing of the AVI Transaction and whereby AVI agreed to take no action and refrain from immediate enforcing its Exclusive Right (the "Waiver"). In accordance with the terms of the Waiver, AVI shall continue to use commercially reasonable efforts refraining from taking any steps adverse to Kovo strictly as it relates to the Acquisition and the Exclusive Right, provided that, among other things, the AVI Transaction closes on or before October 31, 2025. Director Resignation and Appointment Kovo also announces the resignation of Mr. Robert Galarza as a director of the Company, and the appointment of Dr. Wayne Young as a director of the Company. Dr. Peter Bak, Chair of Kovo's board of directors (the "Board") commented, "we extend our sincere gratitude to Robert for his service and contributions during his time on our board. Robert has been a valued member of Kovo, and his vision, commitment and dedication have been instrumental to the Company. We thank him for his unwavering service as a pivotal member of the Kovo team." Dr. Wayne Young, BSc (Distinction), DDS (Distinction), James McCutcheon Award, and Silver Medal (University of Alberta, 1992) recipient, is a highly sought-after consultant specializing in general dentistry, implants, oral surgery, and orthodontics, Dr. Young currently serves as Chief Clinical and Business Advisor at Young Innovations, consulting nationally. He also mentors dental students and new dentists at T.I.D.E., performs humanitarian dental work in Thailand, and sits on the Alberta Health Care Steering Committee. Previously, he was the team dentist for the Calgary Flames (2014-2019) and Clinical Director of Lifepath Dental Group. Dr. Young is a dedicated mentor to youth in Southern Alberta and California, and a member of the Canadian and Alberta Dental Associations. In addition and in connection with Mr. Galarza's resignation, Kovo announces it has changed the composition of its audit committee. The Company appointed Dr. Young to the audit committee. Dr. Young is "financially literate" and not an executive officer, employee or control person of Kovo or of an affiliate, each as pursuant to National Instrument 52-110 - Audit Committees. Interim CFO Appointment Kovo is pleased to name David Pinkowitz as the interim CFO, effective immediately. Mr. Pinkowitz has over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector. Related Party Matters AVI is an Ontario corporation controlled by Mr. Michael Steele, a current director and controlling indirect shareholder of the Company. Mr. Steele is also a director, officer and the sole indirect beneficial shareholder of AVI, which is also considered a "Non-Arm's Length Party" pursuant to the policies of the TSXV. As AVI is a "related party" of the Company, entering into the Extension Agreement and matters relating thereto (the "Transactions") are considered to be "related party transactions" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") requiring Kovo, in the absence of exemptions, to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval of the related party transactions. Pursuant to Sections 5.5(b), 5.5(g), 5.7(1)(e) and 5.7(1)(f) of MI 61-101, the Company relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder requirements, respectively, as, in addition to no securities of the Company being listed or quoted on certain specified exchanges: (i) Kovo was (and continues to be) in serious financial difficulty; (ii) the Transactions are each designed to improve the financial position of the Company; (iii) paragraph 5.5(f) (Bankruptcy, Insolvency, Court Order) of MI 61-101 was not applicable; and (iv) the Board, acting in good faith, and Kovo's independent director (Messr. Bak), acting in good faith, determined that: (A) the Company was (and continues to be) in serious financial difficulty and the Transactions are each designed to improve the financial position of Kovo, and (B) the terms of the Transactions were reasonable in the circumstances. Additionally, the Secured Prom Note (including the amendments made thereto) is a non-convertible loan obtained on reasonable commercial terms that is not less advantageous to the Company than if the Secured Prom Note were obtained from a person dealing at arm's length and not repayable, directly or indirectly, in equity or voting securities of the Company or a subsidiary. The Transactions were unanimously approved by the Board member who is independent for the purposes thereof, being Messr. Bak. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, AVI, had knowledge of any material information concerning the Company or its securities that has not been generally disclosed. No special committee of the Board was established in connection with the Transactions, as the entire Board was engaged in respect thereof, and, other than Messrs. Steele, Young and Gahunia, who abstained from voting thereon, no materially contrary view or abstention was expressed or made by any director of the Company in relation thereto. About Kovo+ Holdings Inc. Kovo is a versatile technology company leading the charge in AI initiatives to drive impact and innovation across diverse industries. Kovo remains committed to its core business-model of strategic growth opportunities within mid-market Medical Billing firms, where exploitative business optimization synergies exist. Moving forward, Kovo will integrate accretive broader healthcare sector additions to its portfolio and opportunities beyond in multiple new markets. Dedicated to revolutionizing business process optimization through technological advancements and evolving AI-applied methods, Kovo embodies a commitment to ensured and enduring profitability. To learn more about Kovo and to keep up to date on Kovo news, visit www.kovoplus.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Disclaimers Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided to inform the Company's shareholders and potential investors about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and include, but are not limited to, (i) expectations regarding the characteristics, value drivers, and anticipated benefits of the Related Party Transactions; (ii) expectations regarding the Company's use of proceeds in connection with the Secured Prom Note; (iii) expectations concerning the Company's ability to close the AVI Transaction, including the timing thereof; and (iv) expectations concerning the Company's business plans and operations. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of factors and assumptions that have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may prove to be incorrect. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to, the Company being unable to close the AVI Transaction, including Kovo failing to obtain regulatory, TSXV and any other applicable approvals as required thereby; use the proceeds of the Secured Prom Note as described, legal or regulatory impediments regarding the Secured Prom Note; the Company defaulting on the Secured Prom Note or Senior Loan Agreement and leading to enforcement under the security; the proceeds being insufficient for the Company's purposes; the Company's inability to repay the Secured Prom Note and Senior Loan Agreement at the end of the terms thereof; and the Company being unable to raise additional funds on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the Company nor any director or senior officer of the Company has knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of any prior valuation in respect of the Company that relates to the subject matter of or is otherwise relevant to the Related Party Transactions, which have been made in the 24 months prior to the date of this news release. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing as the details of the Related Party Transactions were not finalized until immediately prior to its issuance, and the Company wished to close the Related Party Transactions as soon as practicable for sound business reasons. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264921 SOURCE: Kovo+ Holdings Inc. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Prince Silver Corp. ("Prince" or the "Company") (CSE:PRNC)(OTC PINK:HWTNF) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 3,125,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.40 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,250,000 (the "Private Placement'). Each Unit will consist of one common share (a "Common Share") and one-half common share purchase warrant, with each full warrant (a "Warrant") being exercisable to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.60 for 12 (twelve) months from the date of issuance. The Company intends to pay finders' fees in an amount equal to 7% to eligible finders, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Stock Exchange ("CSE"). The Private Placement is subject to approval of the CSE, and all securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to statutory hold periods expiring four months and one day from the date of closing of the Private Placement pursuant to applicable securities laws and CSE policy. The Company intends to use the net proceeds raised from the Private Placement for exploration and development on it's 100% owned Prince Silver Project as well as for general corporate working capital. About Prince Silver Corp. Prince Silver Corp is a silver exploration company focused on advancing the Prince Silver Project in Nevada, USA. The known deposit identified with historic drilling is open in all directions and is near surface. Prince Silver Corp also holds interest in the Stampede Gap Project a district scale copper-gold-moly porphyry system located ~15km NNM of the Prince Silver Project and, holds option interest in the Broken Handle Project, an early-stage mineral exploration project located southern British Columbia, Canada. For further information on Prince Silver, please visit www.princesilvercorp.com On behalf of the Board of Directors Ralph Shearing Director, President +1 (604) 764-0965 rshearing@princesilvercorp.com CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Some of the specific forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: completion of the Acquisition and related transactions, proposed drill programs, amendments to the Company's website, property option payments and regulatory and corporate approvals. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, dependence on key personnel, completion of satisfactory due diligence in respect of the Acquisition and related transactions, and compliance with property option agreements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, failure to obtain regulatory or corporate approvals, exploration results, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release and the CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Prince Silver Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/prince-silver-announces-non-brokered-private-placement-1068115 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Graphano Energy Ltd. (TSXV: GEL) (FSE: 97G0) (OTC Pink: GELEF) ("Graphano" or the "Company") welcomes the launch of Canada's Major Projects Office ("MPO") by Prime Minister Mark Carney. The MPO will accelerate approval processes for major projects, reducing timelines from five years to two, with a strong focus on critical minerals and energy developments. The initiative also dedicates $40 million to support Indigenous participation in major projects. "The MPO's streamlined approvals come at exactly the right time, as our LAB and Standard project resources are advancing," said Dr. Luisa Moreno, CEO of Graphano. "This creates an opportunity for us to move toward development more efficiently and support Canada's ambition to become a leading supplier of graphite to Western energy markets." Graphano recently announced an initial mineral resource estimate at its Lac Saguay graphite project, which includes the Lac Aux Bouleaux (LAB) and Standard properties. The estimate outlines: Indicated Mineral Resource: 1,640,000 tonnes at 7.00% graphitic carbon (Cg) Inferred Mineral Resource: 1,580,000 tonnes at 7.00% Cg (See the National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Lac Saguay Graphite Project, Quebec, Canada" with an effective date of July 15, 2025, and a report date of August 29, 2025, as prepared by Mercator Geological Services Limited and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ www.sedarplus.ca.) These resources represent potential additional graphite supply for Northern Graphite's Lac des Iles mine and processing facility under the companies' mineral development agreement. As the projects advance, Graphano's graphite portfolio holds the potential to strengthen the North American and European supply chain. With China currently the largest global producer and supplier of graphite to the U.S. and new U.S. tariffs (163%) creating barriers to Chinese imports, the need for reliable North American alternatives has never been greater. Next Steps Graphano's near-term milestones include: Drilling program at the Black Pearl property Bulk sampling and metallurgical testing Infill drilling to upgrade Inferred resources to Indicated and Measured categories Economic evaluation and permitting activities The Company plans to engage with the MPO as projects advance and expects to soon close its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption ("LIFE Offering") (see news release dated August 15, 2025), which remains subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. Proceeds raised from the LIFE Offering will help fund these upcoming programs. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Roger Dahn, B.Sc., P.Geo., a director of the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Graphano Energy Graphano Energy Ltd. is an exploration and development company focused on evaluating, acquiring, and developing energy metals resources from exploration to production. Graphite is one of the most in-demand technology minerals that is required for a green and sustainable world. The Company's Lac Aux Bouleaux property, situated adjacent to Canada's only producing graphite mine, in Quebec, Canada, has historically been an active area for natural graphite. With the demand for graphite growing in some of the most prominent and cutting-edge industries, such as lithium batteries in electric cars and other energy storage technologies, the Company is developing its project to meet the demands of the future. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the impact of the MPO in accelerating approval processes for major projects and reducing timelines and other initiatives thereof, the Company's engagement with the MPO, the Company's mineral resources providing a potential additional graphite supply for the Lac des Iles mine and strengthening the supply chain, further advancing the Company's projects, mineral exploration programs, exploration results and any impact thereof, and the anticipated closing of the LIFE Offering. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Graphano, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, the Canadian Securities Administrators' national system that all market participants use for filings and disclosure, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Graphano does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264905 SOURCE: Graphano Energy Ltd. Dalton Maag, the independent typeface design studio known for its high-performance library fonts and custom typefaces for global brands, today launched MetricsMatch a font solution for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The new range provides a cost-effective, high-quality alternative to the industry-standard font sets embedded in consumer electronics, printers, and other devices. For years, OEMs have expressed frustration with current licensing models, citing high costs, limited flexibility, and vendor lock-in. MetricsMatch directly addresses these challenges with open pricing, fair licensing, and customization options, introducing competition to the market. At the heart of MetricsMatch is metrics compatibility, which enables the seamless substitution of fonts, reducing integration effort and accelerating time-to-market for established players and new entrants. "We've heard the frustrations of manufacturers who feel trapped by the current licensing landscape," said David Marshall, Managing Director of Dalton Maag. "Opaque pricing, legacy products, and restrictive terms have been holding OEMs back. We want MetricsMatch to be a better way forward for these industry-standard font sets." "Our studio has always been about quality and independence and MetricsMatch is no exception," added Lukas Paltram, Executive Creative Director at Dalton Maag. "We've applied the same rigour and attention to detail that we bring to every client project, ensuring that OEMs no longer have to compromise between technical performance and design integrity." MetricsMatch launches today with five font sets: consumer computing, PDF rendering, and DVB, MPEG-4, and ATSC closed captions and subtitles. Resident font sets for printer imaging, including 171 fonts to support PCL and PostScript emulation, are in development and scheduled for release in 2026. Key benefits of MetricsMatch include: Open Pricing: Transparent, predictable costs with no hidden fees. Transparent, predictable costs with no hidden fees. Fair Licensing: Flexible terms that support innovation and product evolution, without renegotiation. Flexible terms that support innovation and product evolution, without renegotiation. Drop-In Replacements: Dalton Maag designs adapted to industry-standard metrics, preserving line endings and layout. Dalton Maag designs adapted to industry-standard metrics, preserving line endings and layout. Standards Compliance: Conformance with industry and ISO standards. Conformance with industry and ISO standards. Exceptional Quality: World-class type design optimized for embedded devices. World-class type design optimized for embedded devices. Customization Options: Including naming rights to support product branding. By combining meticulous design with a proven toolchain, MetricsMatch delivers high-performance font sets, empowering manufacturers with the quality, flexibility, and fairness needed to break free from supplier lock-in while creating a seamless user experience. For more about MetricsMatch and the technologies it supports, visit daltonmaag.com/metricsmatch About Dalton Maag Dalton Maag is an independent typeface design studio with a global reputation for creating and engineering high-performance typefaces. With a multicultural, international team, the London-based studio designs custom and retail fonts for corporate identities, branding, and user interfaces. Its client list includes many of the world's most recognizable brands. Trademarks PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Inc. ATSC is a registered trademark of the Advanced Television Systems Committee Inc. DVB is a registered trademark of the DVB Project. PCL is a registered trademark of HP Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902922164/en/ Contacts: Media Contact Richard Bailey +44 3334443602 press@daltonmaag.com AI-driven decision-making helps co-ops deliver better local assortments, reduce costs, and enhance member value SymphonyAI, a leader in vertical AI solutions for enterprise transformation, today announced that Central Co-op, Lincolnshire, and Midcounties co-operatives have deployed its Connected Retail platform to modernise operations, localise assortments, and enhance the member experience across more than 700 stores serving over 1.3 million shoppers. Amid rising operating costs, shifting consumer demand, and the need for hyper-local precision, the co-ops are using generative and predictive AI to make faster, more informed decisions. SymphonyAI's platform delivers real-time intelligence across inventory management, shelf execution, and supply chain operations driving efficiency, reducing waste, and creating more relevant store experiences. "With SymphonyAI's range and space planning, we can quickly adjust our assortments to meet changing member-shopper preferences while automating labour-intensive tasks to allow our teams to focus on delivering exceptional service," said Jacob Isherwood, CIO, Midcounties Co-op "Our priority is to keep shelves stocked with the right products, reduce waste, and minimise overhead costs. With SymphonyAI's platform, we're able to enhance our operational efficiency and meet the evolving needs of our shoppers," said Steve Leach, COO, Lincolnshire Co-op "As a member-owned business, our shoppers' needs and preferences take top priority. With SymphonyAI's connected retail platform, we have seamlessly integrated operations, ensuring shoppers are presented with the optimum range and high on-shelf availability," said Selina Butterfield-Mashoofi, Chief Finance and Technology Officer, Central Co-operative Delivering Impact Through AI-Driven Retail With SymphonyAI's Connected Retail platform, the co-ops benefit from: Localized Assortments tailored to community needs, reducing waste and driving loyalty tailored to community needs, reducing waste and driving loyalty Smarter Shelf Execution with store-specific planograms and optimised space allocation with store-specific planograms and optimised space allocation Operational Efficiency from predictive analytics and automated workflows that deliver value in weeks, not months "The UK is a strategic growth market for us, and AI especially generative AI is at the heart of how we're helping retailers unlock new value," said Manish Choudhary, President, Symphony Retail CPG. "Our platform empowers real-time, intelligent decision-making that goes far beyond automation. It transforms complexity into opportunity with measurable results for both retailers and shoppers." About Central Co-operative Central Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK, with a heritage stretching back over 175 years. It has over 440 trading outlets, a family of around 7,700 colleagues, and more than 330,000 regular trading members. About Lincolnshire Co-op Lincolnshire Co-op is owned by its 300,000 members, the people of Lincolnshire and surrounding counties, and has been for more than 160 years. It runs 221 trading outlets, including 100 food stores. About Midcounties Co-op The Midcounties Co-operative is one of the UK's largest independent consumer co-operative societies. It operates a range of businesses across Travel, Food Retail, Early Years, Utilities, Post Offices and Flexible Benefits. The society has over 750,000 members, employs over 6,000 colleagues and has an annual turnover of 1.5 billion. With headquarters in Warwickshire, Midcounties Co-operative also has trading outlets across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Avon, Somerset, Dorset, Worcestershire, and the surrounding counties. About SymphonyAI SymphonyAI builds vertical AI applications that help enterprises tackle their most complex, high-value challenges-like stopping financial crime, improving store performance, and boosting manufacturing efficiency. Trusted by more than 2,000 enterprise customers in 26 countries, including 200 of the top financial institutions, top 25 CPGs, and many of the world's largest grocers and industrial manufacturers. SymphonyAI delivers domain-trained applications and pre-built agents, ready to work on day one. Learn more at www.symphonyai.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902131405/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Sarah Vandiver, Treble PR for SymphonyAI sarmstrong@treblepr.com Store photos available upon request. BEIJING, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- China held a commemoration on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On this occasion, CGTN published an article highlighting China's commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. Chinese troops with United Nations peacekeeping experiences made their first appearance in a V-Day parade at Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing on Wednesday. Their appearance at the parade marking the 80th anniversary of China's victory in World War II is a demonstration of Beijing's commitment to fulfilling international obligations and safeguarding world peace. Under the Peacekeeping Force Formation, they were among the troops reviewed by Chinese President Xi Jinping along the Chang'an Avenue, or the Avenue of Eternal Peace. "Today, humanity again has to choose between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, win-win cooperation and zero-sum game," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, in a speech. The Chinese people will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, Xi pledged. "We will remain committed to the path of peaceful development, and join hands with the rest of world to build a community with a shared future for humanity," he said. Peace prevails Among the permanent UN Security Council members, China is the largest troop and second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping missions. Over the past 35 years since China joined the UN peacekeeping operations, the Chinese military has deployed more than 50,000 peacekeepers to over 20 countries and regions, including South Sudan and Lebanon, in undertaking 26 missions. In 2024, in particular, China's share of the total assessed contributions was 18.69 percent, more than the combined contributions of the United Kingdom, France and Russia, three other permanent UN Security Council members. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, under-secretary-general for UN Peace Operations, spoke highly of China's contributions. China has played a "significant, constructive and helpful" role in supporting UN peacekeeping operations, Lacroix said in an interview with CGTN in May, ahead of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. China also has the best record among major powers when it comes to peace and security. Since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, it has never provoked a war, never occupied an inch of another country's territory and never waged a proxy war. It is the only major country in the world to have enshrined the path of peaceful development in its Constitution, and the only nuclear-armed country to commit to no first use of nuclear weapons. At Wednesday's parade, Chinese servicemen and women chanted with one voice: "Justice will prevail! Peace will prevail! The people will prevail!" This message was highlighted again when three helicopters with banners of the same words flew over the grand gathering marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. As the main Eastern theater of World War II, China's war of resistance provided crucial strategic support to Allied operations, coordinating with operations in Europe and elsewhere in Asia and contributing to the victory. More than 20 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, also attended the commemoration. In his speech, Xi called on nations across the world to eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring. Common security can only be safeguarded when nations across the world treat each other as equals, live in harmony, and mutually support one another, Xi said. "History cautions us that humanity rises and falls together," he said. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-09-03/Choosing-peace-China-s-V-Day-message-to-the-world-is-loud-and-clear-1GmnNxJ5Pc4/p.html View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cgtn-what-to-choose-between-war-and-peace-chinas-v-day-message-to-the-world-is-loud-and-clear-302544712.html CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") (CSE:TOC)(OTCQB:TCVNF)(WKN:TV3/A2PE64), a leading exploration and production company focused on advancing gold and silver projects in Sonora, Mexico, is excited to announce an upcoming corporate webinar highlighting its strategic roadmap from exploration to production. The Company has also secured significant new funding through the exercise of over 2.2 million warrants through the past five weeks with more exercises anticipated over the coming weeks by long supportive shareholders. This capital infusion will immediately accelerate key operational programs at the Gran Pilar Gold - Silver Project. The Company will host a live webinar titled "Tocvan's Next Chapter: From Exploration to Development" on Tuesday, September 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. MDT (12:00 p.m. EDT). Learn exactly how Tocvan plans to continue high-impact exploration while advancing towards production in this interactive session with Tocvan's CEO, Brodie Sutherland. The Company will provide an in-depth update on the flagship Gran Pilar Gold - Silver Project, including progress toward pilot plant operations, recent drilling results, and strategic plans for resource expansion. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session to gain insights into Tocvan's path to near-term production and value creation. Registration is now open via the Company's website at www.tocvan.com/webinar or by emailing ir@tocvan.ca. REGISTER HERE "We are thrilled with the strong support from our shareholders through these warrant exercises, which provide the necessary capital to hit the ground running on our pilot and drilling programs," said Brodie Sutherland, CEO of Tocvan Ventures Corp. "This momentum positions us perfectly for a transformative period, and we look forward to sharing more details during our upcoming webinar." Tocvan continues to prioritize responsible exploration and community engagement in Sonora, Mexico, as it advances its portfolio, including the Gran Pilar Gold - Silver Project. Gran Pilar Drill Highlights: 2025 Diamond Drilling Highlights include: 83.5m @ 1.3 g/t Au, including 9.7m @ 10.3 g/t Au (March 11, 2025 News Release) 97.4m @ 0.7 g/t Au, including 36.3m @ 1.6 g/t Au (March 19, 2025 News Release) 64.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 3.0m @ 21.6 g/t Au and 209 g/t Ag (March 26, 2025 News Release) 46.9m @ 0.5 g/t Au, including 2.6m @ 7.2 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag (April 16, 2025 News Release) 2025 RC Drilling Highlights include: 106.8m @ 0.6 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 19.4 g/t Au (February 25, 2025 News Release) 41.2m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 6.1m @ 5.4 g/t Au (May 7, 2025 News Release) 2024 RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 42.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 10.9 g/t Au 56.4m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 14.7 g/t Au 16.8m @ 0.8 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag 2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag 108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag 63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag 2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.7 g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au 2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag 15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au 21.0m @ 38.3 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag Pilar Bulk Sample Summary: 62% Recovery of Gold Achieved Over 46-day Leaching Period Head Grade Calculated at 1.9 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag; Extracted Grade Calculated at 1.2 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag Bulk Sample Only Included Coarse Fraction of Material (+3/4" to +1/8") Fine Fraction (-1/8") Indicates Rapid Recovery with Agitated Leach Agitated Bottle Roll Test Returned Rapid and High Recovery Results: 80% Recovery of Gold and 94% Recovery of Silver after Rapid 24-hour Retention Time Additional Metallurgical Studies: Gravity Recovery with Agitated Leach Results of Five Composite Samples Returned 95 to 99% Recovery of Gold 73 to 97% Recovery of Silver Includes the Recovery of 99% Au and 73% Ag from Drill Core Composite at 120-meter depth. About Tocvan Ventures Corp. Tocvan Ventures Corp. is a dynamic exploration and development company advancing high-potential gold and silver projects in the mine-friendly jurisdiction of Sonora, Mexico. At its flagship Gran Pilar Gold-Silver Project, Tocvan holds a 100% interest in over 21 km of prospective ground, bolstered by the pivotal 2023 land acquisition that provides ample space for scalable mine infrastructure, including a planned 50,000-tonne pilot production facility. The Company also maintains a 51% interest in a 1 km joint venture area with Colibri Resources, further expanding its footprint. Recent exploration successes, including near surface 3.1 meters at 19.4 g/t Au, underscore Gran Pilar's potential as a premier gold-silver asset. Additionally, Tocvan's 100% owned Picacho Gold-Silver Project, located in the prolific Caborca Trend-home to some of Mexico's largest gold deposits-positions the Company for further growth. With robust metallurgical results (up to 99% gold and 97% silver recovery) and a strategic capital to bolster growth, Tocvan is poised to deliver significant shareholder value in a market buoyed by record-high gold prices. With approximately 62 million shares outstanding, Tocvan is committed to unlocking the full potential of its assets through innovative exploration, strategic development, and investor-focused initiatives. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Rock and Drill samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was analyzed using 50-gram nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Over limits for gold (>10 g/t), were analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver and other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol. Soil Samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold and multi-element analysis of soils was completed by aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS finish using a 50-gram nominal weight. Over limit gold values greater than 1 g/t were re-assayed with a more robust aqua regia digestion ad ICP-MS finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising blank samples and certified reference materials were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol. Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business, the Company's formative stage of development and the Company's financial position. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For more information, please contact: TOCVAN VENTURES CORP. Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO 1150, 707 - 7 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 3H6 Telephone: 1 888 772 2452 Email: ir@tocvan.ca STAY CONNECTED: LinkedIn: TOC LinkedIn X: TOC X Facebook: TOC Facebook YouTube: TOC YouTube Web: tocvan.com SOURCE: Tocvan Ventures Corp View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/tocvan-announces-significant-funding-and-strategic-webinar-to-detail-gran-pilar-g-1068068 Leila Kaissi named to lead the firm's GCC presence Adams Street Partners, LLC, a leading private markets investment management firm with more than $62 billion in assets under management ("Adams Street"), announced the opening of its Abu Dhabi office, the firm's first presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council ("GCC"). The new office is in ADGM, one of the region's most dynamic financial districts. Adams Street's on-the-ground presence will enhance the firm's long-standing relationships across the GCC and support its growing investors and strategic partners. The office will be led by Leila Kaissi, who has joined the firm as a Principal, Investor Relations. Kaissi will focus on developing and deepening institutional client and consultant relationships throughout the GCC. She will also work closely with clients in the management of their portfolios and aid in the development and monitoring of their private equity programs. "The opening of our Abu Dhabi office is another milestone for Adams Street and a natural progression of our global expansion. Having a local presence marks our commitment to further developing strategic and long-standing partnerships in the region," said Jeffrey Diehl, Managing Partner Head of Investments at Adams Street. "I am excited to lead Adams Street's efforts in the Gulf," commented Leila Kaissi, Principal, Investor Relations and head of the Abu Dhabi office. "GCC investors are eager to access investments in global venture capital, growth equity, buyout and private credit markets. Adams Street has a long and successful history delivering innovative investment opportunities in these areas. I look forward to building on the strong demand in the region and deepening our existing relationships." "I am delighted to have Leila at Adams Street to expand and build on all the work that we've done so far in the region," added John Kremer, Partner Head of Investor Relations (EMEA). "The GCC is strategically important to Adams Street's global business objectives and a presence there will allow us to better serve our existing clients, strengthen client relationships, and capitalize on significant opportunities to match our ambitions in the region." Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM said, "The decision by leading international firms like Adams Street to establish offices in Abu Dhabi speaks of the tremendous opportunities that the UAE's capital offers. As the richest city globally, Abu Dhabi is strategically positioned to attract world-class businesses in the asset management sector, and ADGM is proud to support its positioning. We are pleased to welcome Adams Street to ADGM's vibrant and expanding ecosystem and look forward to seeing their growth strategy unfold in Abu Dhabi and the region." Prior to joining Adams Street, Leila was a Vice President at Gulf Capital where she was responsible for institutional investor relationships, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, corporates, and family offices in the GCC and across the globe. She also played an active role in the development of Gulf Capital's investor relations strategy, managing co-investment opportunities, and overseeing investor due diligence. About Adams Street Partners Adams Street Partners is a global private markets investment manager with investments in more than 30 countries across five continents. The firm is 100% employee-owned and has $62 billion in assets under management across primary, secondary, growth equity, credit, and co-investment strategies. Adams Street strives to generate actionable investment insights across market cycles by drawing on over 50 years of private markets experience, proprietary intelligence, and trusted relationships. Adams Street has offices in Abu Dhabi, Austin, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, London, Menlo Park, Munich, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto. Visit www.adamsstreetpartners.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902501734/en/ Contacts: Media Inquiries SEC Newgate Daniela Gorini daniela.gorini@secnewgate.ae +971 (0) 58 129 3083 Ihab Youssef ihab.youssef@secnewgate.ae +971 (0) 55 768 4150 Circus has formed a strategic partnership with Secura, a leading facility services provider trusted by more than 200 enterprise clients, including Shell, GE, Thyssenkrupp, and Audi. The first CA-1 deployment is scheduled for later this year, with additional locations already planned across Secura's entire enterprise client portfolio. Circus SE (XETRA: CA1), a global leader in AI software and robotics for autonomous nutrition systems, has entered into a strategic partnership with Secura, a leading provider of large scale corporate facility management solutions. With a portfolio of market-leading clients including Shell, General Electric, BMW, Porsche, Thyssenkrupp and Audi, Secura will now extend its offerings to include autonomous meal solutions powered by Circus AI-robotics technology. The initial robot launch in this partnership will see the CA-1 deployed together with the City of Ingolstadt, Secura's hometown, at Quartier G the city's hub for AI, research, and innovation. The CA-1 robot will serve autonomous meals to guests and city officials, combining the CircusOS AI software stack with a custom culinary concept developed collaboratively by Circus, Secura, and city officials. "This project combines cutting-edge technology, regional value creation, and an exceptional culinary experience. It perfectly fits our strategy to position Ingolstadt as a leading hub for high-tech and innovation," says Prof. Dr. Georg Rosenfeld, City Councilor and Economic Affairs Representative of Ingolstadt. The partnership is designed to scale rapidly. Secura plans to introduce autonomous nutrition solutions at additional locations and for further clients within its network, bringing AI-robotics powered meal solutions to more enterprise organizations across Germany and Europe. "More locations are already in planning. I see the CA-1 as the future of food-service efficient, reliable, and of the highest quality. Ingolstadt is the perfect place to launch this technology for us," says Tan Alcay, Founder and Managing Director of Secura. "With the CA-1, we are delivering more than just cutting-edge robots we are bringing entire autonomous ecosystems to commercial clients. Partnering with Secura allows us to integrate our technology seamlessly across high-profile enterprise clients in a close operational partnership, and opens the door to over 200 renowned clients across Germany and Europe. This deal marks a great step in scaling our autonomous technology together with operational partners," added Dr. Maximilian Schwaller, VP Commercial of the Circus Group. The first CA-1 deployment in this newly formed partnership is scheduled for later this year and marks the beginning of the joint mission to transform food service through autonomous AI-robotics solutions. About Circus SE Circus SE (XETRA: CA1) is a global AI and robotics company developing autonomous systems for food supply in both civilian and defense sectors. Its flagship robot, the patented CA-1, is the world's first fully autonomous food production robot, now in serial production. Powered by proprietary embodied AI, Circus delivers industrial-scale, high-reliability meal output with minimal human input. Headquartered in Munich, the company is building the global infrastructure for autonomous food supply on a mission to fuel humanity. Language: English Company: Circus SE Hongkongstrasse 6 20457 Hamburg Germany E-mail: ir@circus-group.com Internet: https://www.circus-group.com/for-investors ISIN: DE000A2YN355 WKN: A2YN35 Listed: Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich (m:access), Tradegate Exchange View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903690067/en/ Contacts: Circus SE St.-Martin-Strae 112 81669 Munich press@circus-group.com BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China's service sector growth accelerated in August driven by the strong upturn in new orders, survey data from S&P Global showed on Wednesday. The headline RatingDog services Purchasing Managers' Index rose unexpectedly to 53.0 in August from 52.6 in July. Economists expect the indicator to fall to 52.4. The rate of increase was the fastest seen since May 2024. The index remained above the threshold 50.0 mark since January 2023 signaling expansion in the sector. New orders grew for the second straight month and logged its steepest rise since May 2024, which was partly due to new export business. The latest rise in new business contributed to another accumulation of outstanding business. As a result, new business backlogs of work rose for the fifth straight month. There was a fresh drop in staffing levels due to the non-replacement of job leavers and redundancies. Headcounts dropped in two of the past three months. Average input costs continued to increase on the back of higher wages and raw material costs. Nonetheless, the latest upturn was only fractional. Consequently, services firms absorbed higher costs and lowered their output charges to support sales. Business confidence remained positive in August and hit the joint-highest in five months. Companies expect better market conditions and internal growth plans to stimulate activity growth in the year ahead. The survey showed that the overall China's private sector expanded for the third consecutive month in August. The composite output index posted 51.9, up from 50.8 in July. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX 2025 AFX News At Maison&Objet Paris 2025, the Seoul Design Foundation is set to spotlight six pioneering brands that creatively reinterpret Korean tradition for contemporary living. These brands bring cultural heritage into the present, transforming traditional motifs, colors, and materials into modern design solutions that seamlessly blend into everyday life. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903378566/en/ Inspired by traditional folk paintings such as Hojakdo and Chaekgeori, BON'ee creates blankets, rugs, and runners that fuse Korean artistry with the Western concept of "Bless Our Nest." (Photo: Seoul Design Foundation) Across the international design scene, blending tradition with innovation is now seen as a cultural value rather than a passing trend. The rise of heritage maximalism celebrates craftsmanship and historic elements with a contemporary edge, while in Korea, the Newtro movement has redefined daily culture by merging retro aesthetics with modern sensibilities. Seoul, a city with 600 years of history layered with urban dynamism, embodies this balance. From Hanok rooftops and Dancheong patterns to the rhythm of traditional embroidery, Seoul's heritage is no longer just preserved-it is reinvented as part of today's lifestyle language. 1. Studio AAROC Reviving Korean Embroidery in Modern Textiles Studio AAROC reinterprets oblivious motifs and colors through contemporary textile art. With inspiration drawn from traditional weaving and embroidery, the brand presents playful yet sophisticated designs that bring Korean aesthetics into daily life. AAROC has been featured in international exhibitions and collaborated with major corporations to showcase modern applications of traditional embroidery. 2. BON'ee Expanding the Symbolism of Minhwa into Lifestyle Products Founded in 2018, On Creation launched its lifestyle brand BON'ee in 2023. Inspired by traditional folk paintings Minhwa such as Hojakdo and Chaekgeori, BON'ee creates blankets, rugs, and runners that fuse Korean artistry with the Western concept of "Bless Our Nest." Its name reflects blessings and wishes for life, while its products combine artistry with functionality in a modern lifestyle context. 3. leegamgak Capturing the Korean Spirit of "Bok" (Fortune) With the motto "Reinterpretation of Sensibility," leegamgak translates Korean cultural symbols into modern bags and design objects. Its sub-brand BOKBOKBOK explores the concept of "Bok," or good fortune, using materials like organza and embroidery to create unique, gift-oriented items. 4. cLab. (hongd.made) Bringing Traditional Motifs into Everyday Fashion cLab. is a craft and design studio producing fashion accessories inspired by Korean heritage. Using mother-of-pearl to create keyrings, hairpins, and scrunchies, cLab. merges traditional materials with contemporary silhouettes. The brand has earned recognition from the Good Design Award and the Korea Craft Competition, proving the competitiveness of design rooted in craftsmanship. 5. Habit-Us Transforming Charcoal into Contemporary Living Objects Habit-Us discovers overlooked beauty in traditional Korean materials and transforms them into modern living objects. Its Charcoal Ceramics and Fragrance Jar series highlight the unique texture and function of Korean charcoal, reimagined through contemporary design. The brand name combines Habitus, Habit, and Us, symbolizing a lifestyle philosophy that naturally blends heritage into daily life. 6. Green Flair Reinterpreting Saekdong with a Playful Touch Green Flair merges Korean heritage with modern design to create functional and witty textile goods. Inspired by Saekdong (traditional multicolored stripes), its products infuse warmth, humor, and cultural identity into everyday items. The brand name carries dual meaning-"Green Flair" and "Green Flared Skirt"-capturing both craft and cultural beauty in a contemporary lifestyle. These six brands go beyond preservation-they make tradition breathe within the rhythms of modern life. Visitors can encounter their stories and designs at the Seoul Design Foundation pavilion during Maison&Objet Paris 2025, held from September 4-8 at Paris-Nord Villepinte. These creations, born from the meeting of tradition and modernity, embody Seoul's role as a bridge between past and future. Paris-Nord Villepinte Hall 7 (Gift Play) Stand A44 B43 Seoul Design Foundation designseoul-maisonobjet.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903378566/en/ Contacts: Brightbell Ilyou Kim +82-2-3406-2811 ilyou@brightbell.co.kr Dongguen Go +82-2-3406-2812 dongguen@brightbell.co.kr EQS-News: M2Care / Key word(s): Financing Healthtech venture studio M2care raises 26 million to accelerate the creation and development of innovative healthcare projects 03.09.2025 / 09:30 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Healthtech venture studio M2care raises 26 million to accelerate the creation and development of innovative healthcare projects Paris, 03 September 2025 - M2care, a European Healthtech venture studio, announces the completion of its fundraising with the participation of a new institutional investor, the French Tech Acceleration 2 (FTA2) fund, managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French government. This brings the total amount raised to 26 million, alongside existing investors Merieux Developpement, Institut NAOS des Sciences de la Vie, Credit Agricole Centre-Est, and Family Offices. This new operation will finance the creation and development of eight innovative projects in the healthcare sector. As a European Healthtech venture studio, M2care establishes, develops and finances early-stage innovative ventures, together with the founders. Acting as an essential link between academia, investors, and industry, M2care co-founds companies with the support of an experienced team of entrepreneurs 'in residence' and a unique international network. M2care has already invested in three projects, currently being co-developed alongside the founders: Previa Medical, a company that has designed a digital medical device intended to predict and prevent medical emergencies in hospitals; TheraSonic, which is developing a medical device based on the use of ultrasound and intended to improve the treatment of brain diseases; Rhovica Neuroimaging, which is developing a ventricular drainage catheter with integrated sensors to optimize the treatment of emergency patients at risk of increased intracranial pressure. M2care is currently advancing projects primarily in cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and neurology, and is preparing to launch a fourth project within the studio. The French Tech Acceleration 2 fund from France 2030, managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance, is investing in the studio with the aim of promoting healthcare innovation and accelerating the transfer of technologies developed in academic laboratories to market, for the benefit of patients and public health. With this fundraising, M2care aims to create and develop eight new healthcare projects. Florence Thueux, President of M2care, said: "I am delighted that France 2030's French Tech Acceleration 2 fund has invested in our studio. Bpifrance is a leading player whose strong support will help to bring healthcare innovations to patients and into the market. I would like to sincerely thank Pierre Gillet, Oceane Fleury, and the Bpifrance team for the trust they have placed in us." Carsten Laue, General Manager of M2care, added: "We are very pleased that France 2030's FTA 2 fund, managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance, is supporting our venture studio and helping to create pioneering Healthtech startups." Pierre Gillet, Investment Director at Bpifrance, concluded: "By investing in M2care, we are reaffirming our commitment to strengthening our technological sovereignty in healthcare. We are delighted to contribute to this effort on behalf of the French government." About M2care M2care is a European venture studio created by Merieux Developpement and CEA Investissement, specializing in healthtech. M2care founds, develops, and finances innovative projects at early stages of maturity, alongside project leaders. M2care is an essential link between academics, investors, and industry, thanks to its investment and operational deployment capabilities. With an experienced and complementary team of entrepreneurs in residence, a unique international network, and ad-hoc ecosystems built for each project, M2care enables ideas and technologies born in laboratories to become health products brought to market, serving public health improvement and benefiting patients. For more information: www.m2.care or visit our LinkedIn About Bpifrance and the French Tech Acceleration 2 fund Bpifrance finances companies - at every stage of their development - with loans, guarantees and equity. Bpifrance supports them in their innovation and international projects. Bpifrance also insures their export activity through a wide range of products. Consulting, university, networking and acceleration programs for start-ups, SMEs and mid-cap companies are also part of the offering for entrepreneurs. Thanks to Bpifrance and its 50 regional offices, entrepreneurs benefit from a local, single point of contact that is effective in helping them meet their challenges. The French Tech Acceleration 2 fund, managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French government, has 100 million in funding. It was launched as part of the Investments for the Programme d'Investissements d'Avenir (PIA) and is now part of France 2030. Created as part of the French Tech public initiative, its aim is to use its investments to promote the development of start-up acceleration structures (accelerators, start-up studios, acceleration investment funds, etc.). For more information, visit: www.bpifrance.fr - https://presse.bpifrance.fr/ - Follow us on Twitter: @Bpifrance @BpifrancePresse About France 2030 The France 2030 investment plan: Reflects a dual ambition: to transform key sectors of our economy (health, energy, automotive, aeronautics and space) in a sustainable way through technological innovation, and to position France not only as a player, but as a leader in tomorrow's world. From fundamental research and the emergence of an idea to the manufacturing of a new product or service, France 2030 supports the entire innovation lifecycle through to industrialization. Is unprecedented in its scale: 54 billion will be invested to ensure that our businesses, universities and research organizations successfully complete their transitions in these strategic sectors. The challenge is to enable them to respond competitively to the ecological and attractiveness challenges of the future, and to bring forth the future leaders of our sectors of excellence. France 2030 is defined by two cross-cutting objectives: to devote 50% of its expenditure to decarbonizing the economy, and 50% to emerging players who are driving innovation without harming the environment (in line with the Do No Significant Harm principle). Is implemented collectively: designed and deployed in consultation with economic, academic, local and European players to determine their strategic directions and flagship actions. Project leaders are invited to submit their applications via open, demanding, and selective procedures in order to benefit from State support. Is managed by the General Secretariat for Investment on behalf of the Prime Minister and implemented by the Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), the National Research Agency (ANR), Bpifrance and the Banque des Territoires. For more information, visit: https://www.info.gouv.fr/grand-dossier/france-2030 | SGPI_avenir Contact: M2Care contact@m2.care Bpifrance Juliette Fontanillas juliette.fontanillas@bpifrance.fr Press Contact: MC Services AG Dr. Cora Kaiser, Stephanie Radosevic Phone: +49 (0)89 210 228 0 E-Mail: m2care@mc-services.eu 03.09.2025 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. RTX001 is the first engineered Regenerative Macrophage Therapy (RMT) to be evaluated in humans with advanced liver fibrosis First patient has successfully cleared safety period with no serious adverse events Enrolment is now open for the study, with initial data readout expected in 2026 EDINBURGH, Scotland and LONDON, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --Resolution Therapeutics ("Resolution" or "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on pioneering Regenerative Macrophage Therapy to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, today announces that the first patient has been dosed and safety cleared in its Phase I/II EMERALD study. EMERALD is evaluating RTX001, a first-in-class engineered RMT for patients with a history of decompensated liver cirrhosis. Following this success, the study is now open for full enrolment in the UK and Spain. As the first-in-human administration of an engineered RMT, RTX001 represents a breakthrough in the development of this novel therapeutic modality in patients with end-stage liver disease. Dr Amir Hefni, Chief Executive Officer of Resolution Therapeutics, said: "The first patient dosed represents a significant milestone in advancing RTX001 as a potential first-in-class treatment option for patients with end-stage liver disease, a condition with high mortality and severely limited therapeutic options. We look forward to reporting our first clinical readouts from the EMERALD study in 2026." The Phase I/II EMERALD study is a multi-centre, single-arm, first-in-human, open-label study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RTX001 in patients with end-stage liver disease who have recovered from a recent hepatic decompensation. The study is being conducted at leading hepatology centres across the UK and Spain and will enrol up to 25 patients, with the first patient dosed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. "Most liver-related hospitalisations and deaths result from decompensated cirrhosis, yet there are no licensed therapies that stabilise or reverse disease at this late stage. Liver transplantation is effective but limited by donor availability, cost, and suitability for only a small subset of patients" said Professor Jonathan Fallowfield, Chair of Translational Liver Research and Principal Investigator at the University of Edinburgh, Honorary Consultant Hepatologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and Chief Investigator of the EMERALD study. "Our hope is that RTX001 can help prevent further clinical events in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, reducing the risk of further hospitalisations and delaying or avoiding the need for a transplant." Dr Vijay Shah, world leading hepatologist, researcher in advanced liver disease, and Resolution Therapeutics Advisory Board Member, said, "If this treatment can help stabilise liver disease for the long term and reduce the risk of clinical events, it could be an incredible benefit for so many patients. RTX001 may give patients suffering from decompensated cirrhosis the ability to live longer and potentially improve quality of life." Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Communications & Policy at the British Liver Trust, the UK's leading liver health charity, added: "More than three-quarters of people are diagnosed with cirrhosis when it's too late for effective treatment, contributing to more than 11,000 deaths per year in the UK. For patients and their families who currently have very limited treatment options, we are really encouraged by the progress in advancing RTX001 as a novel treatment for liver disease. We are excited to see new data from the Phase I/II EMERALD study in due course." The Phase I/II EMERALD study builds on promising results in the academic MATCH Phase I & II studies where non-engineered RMT was well tolerated with transformational efficacy in advanced liver cirrhosis. RTX001 has been developed as a commercial product and is engineered with IL-10 and MMP-9 to enhance the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of RMT to therefore enable improved patient outcomes and longevity of effect in end-stage liver disease. Additional information on the Phase I/II EMERALD study can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT identifier NCT06823713. Resolution Therapeutics has a pipeline of innovative programs developing RMT for additional fibrotic and inflammatory diseases with significant commercial opportunity, with an initial focus on Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD) and lung fibrosis. Resolution is hosting an R&D Webinar on Wednesday 17thSeptember 2025 at 2pm BST / 9am ET / 6am PT alongside world leading clinical hepatologists Professor Jonathan Fallowfield, Chair of Translational Liver Research and Principal Investigator at the University of Edinburgh, Honorary Consultant Hepatologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and Dr. Elliot Tapper, MD, FAASLD, Andrews Family Research Professor of Hepatology and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. Please use the following link to register. A replay will be available on the News page of the Resolution Website following the event's completion. NOTES TO EDITORS About RTX001 RTX001 is an engineered autologous regenerative macrophage therapy with enhanced anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. The product candidate is engineered with IL-10-MMP9 mRNA to enhance the natural regenerative properties of macrophages for superior efficacy and durability. RTX001 is being tested in the Phase I/II study called 'EMERALD', an open-label first-in-human study in end-stage liver disease measuring clinical events as the primary efficacy endpoint. The EMERALD Phase I/II study is now recruiting. About Resolution Therapeutics Resolution Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on pioneering regenerative macrophage therapy in inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. The Company leverages its proprietary platform to develop macrophages with pro-regenerative properties for superior patient outcomes. Resolution's initial focus is on developing RTX001, its lead product with first-in-class potential supported by preclinical data demonstrating anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory advantages relative to non-engineered macrophages, to treat patients with end-stage liver disease. The Company is also advancing efforts to expand the potential of its platform into inflammatory and fibrotic indications beyond liver disease, including graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) and lung fibrosis. Resolution, a spinout from Professor Stuart Forbes's lab at the University of Edinburgh, is based in Edinburgh and London. Learn more by visiting https://resolution-tx.com/ and engage with us on LinkedIn. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/resolution-therapeutics-announces-first-patient-dosed-in-phase-iii-emerald-study-of-rtx001-for-the-treatment-of-end-stage-liver-disease-302544026.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Neotech Metals Corp. (CSE: NTMC) (OTCQB: NTMFF) (FSE: V690) ("Neotech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that crews have mobilized to the Company's 100%-owned Hecla-Kilmer rare earth project in Ontario, Canada to commence drilling and environmental studies. The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jared Galenzoski, P.Geo., current VP Exploration of Neotech, to its Board of Directors, replacing Mr. Brian Thurston. The Company would like to thank Mr. Thurston for his dedicated efforts over the past two years and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors. Hecla-Kilmer Drill Program The drill program at Hecla-Kilmer is designed for up to 10,000 metres, with a focus on infill definition and proximal extensional targets within the Pike Zone. The objective of the program is to advance towards a maiden resource estimate in 2026. In parallel, the Company will be re-logging historic drill core completed by the previous operator, VR Resources, and conducting selective assaying of previously unsampled intervals. Environmental & Community Engagement Environmental baseline studies, including water sampling, will be undertaken as part of the Company's ongoing efforts to responsibly advance and de-risk the project. Neotech will also continue its commitment to proactive community and Indigenous engagement to further strengthen relationships with all stakeholders in the region. TREO Project Update Samples from the recently completed drill program at the TREO Project in British Columbia are now at the laboratory, with assay results pending. The Company expects to provide an update once results have been received and analyzed. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: Reagan Glazier, CEO and Director Qualified Person Technical Information for this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101. Jared Galenzoski VP Exploration, P.Geo., and Qualified Person, has reviewed and approved all of the data and statements made for this news release. About Neotech Metals Corp. Neotech Metals is a mineral exploration company dedicated to discovering and developing mineral resources within promising jurisdictions around the world. With a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, Neotech is positioned to make a positive impact while maximizing the potential of its exploration properties. The company has a diversified portfolio of rare earth element and rare metals projects, including the apatite-hosted rare earth project, Hecla-Kilmer, located 20 kilometres from the Otter Rapids 180-megawatt hydroelectric power generation station and active Ontario Northway railway, along with its TREO and Foothills projects located in British Columbia. All three projects are 100 per cent wholly owned. Forward-Looking Statements Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute "forward-looking information". Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be considered forward-looking information. The Company's forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release and include but are not limited to information with respect to achieving a construction decision, and the timing and results thereof. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264930 SOURCE: Neotech Metals Corp. Innovative WhatsApp solution reduces airport queues and streamlines passenger journeys Global communications platform Infobip has partnered with Virgin Atlantic to significantly increase online check-in rates for passengers departing from London Heathrow through an innovative WhatsApp messaging solution. Powered by Infobip's customer engagement platform Moments, this faster, more convenient check-in process improves the passenger experience while boosting operational efficiency. To encourage people to check in before they arrive at the airport, passengers receive a WhatsApp message with a direct link to the airline's app or website. For those not reachable via WhatsApp, the system automatically switches to SMS, ensuring maximum coverage. This automated approach encourages passengers to check in before they arrive at the airport, helping reduce congestion and wait times at airport desks. Once checked in, passengers receive additional helpful information such as terminal number and zone via WhatsApp. The main goal of the initiative is to increase the number of travellers checking in online before arriving at the airport. The solution has delivered impressive results. Since introducing the Infobip-powered messaging solution, Virgin Atlantic reports an 11% increase in online check-in rates. Key features include targeted messaging, automated reminders, and robust message delivery mechanisms. Simon Langthorne, Head of CRM at Virgin Atlantic, commented: "We're thrilled to see these results from our partnership with Infobip. Empowering our guests with convenient, real-time notifications via WhatsApp not only enhances the customer journey but also streamlines our airport operations. This initiative is part of our broader commitment to using smart, guest-first technology to improve every stage of the travel experience." Ante Pamukovic, President of International Business at Infobip, added: "This collaboration demonstrates how digital messaging solutions can drive tangible business outcomes and improve customer satisfaction. We're proud to support Virgin Atlantic and look forward to developing additional innovations in the passenger journey together." Virgin Atlantic intends to roll out this successful solution to other major UK airports, including Edinburgh and Manchester, later this year, reaching more passengers with a frictionless check-in experience. While WhatsApp is highly popular in the UK, Infobip's platform supports multichannel capabilities. Communications can easily be adapted in other countries or regions where platforms like RCS or SMS are preferred, ensuring airlines can reach passengers on their preferred messaging app wherever they are. About Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic is a leading British airline committed to delivering innovative services and unparalleled travel experiences from its London Heathrow hub to destinations around the globe. About Infobip Infobip is a global cloud communications platform that enables businesses to build connected experiences across all stages of the customer journey. Accessed through a single platform, Infobip's omnichannel engagement, identity, user authentication and contact centre solutions help businesses and partners overcome the complexity of consumer communications to grow business and increase loyalty. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903460043/en/ Contacts: Marcelo Nahime marcelo.nahime@infobip.com Bojana Mandic Bojana.Mandic1@infobip.com Highlights: SimCorp launches SimCorp Alternatives , a comprehensive offering designed to serve the needs of all alternative investment firms. It builds on SimCorp's existing alternatives offering, already trusted by some of the world's largest asset owners. SimCorp acquires full ownership of the cloud native, alternative investment software provider Domos FS. The acquisition will increase alternative investment AUM managed on SimCorp's platform to over EUR 6 trillion. Next milestone in developing the comprehensive buy-side offering of Deutsche Borse Group, which is the parent company of SimCorp. COPENHAGEN, Denmark, LONDON and PARIS, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SimCorp, a leading global financial technology company and a subsidiary of Deutsche Borse Group, today announced the introduction of SimCorp Alternatives. This offering is designed to serve the needs of all alternative investment firms and builds on the strong success of SimCorp's Alternative Investment module. Trusted by some of the world's leading private market allocators, SimCorp's existing alternative investment capabilities empower asset owners to gain a total portfolio view across both public and private market assets on the integrated platform SimCorp One. SimCorp Alternatives extends the existing capabilities to also allow General Partners (GPs), fund administrators, Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMs), Management Companies (ManCos) and depositories to automate operational processes, regulatory reporting and consolidate data for the entire lifecycle of their private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure investments on a fully integrated solution. "For over 50 years, SimCorp has helped the world's largest asset managers and asset owners simplify and scale their investment business," said Peter Sanderson, Chief Executive Officer, SimCorp. "The introduction of SimCorp Alternatives empowers our clients to transform their private market investments through automation, AI and cloud-native technology. SimCorp Alternatives further strengthens our position as a leading provider of integrated investment management solutions." Tapping into fast-growing market segment Industry wide, private market assets are projected to grow at more than double the rate of public market assets and are set to reach up to USD 65 trillion by 20321. In recent years, many large asset management groups have expanded their alternative investment offerings through acquisitions2 and broadened access to private capital funds. However, many of the asset managers who have historically focused on equities, bonds and derivatives - and are moving into the alternatives space - are constrained by legacy tech and point solutions that cannot integrate the requirements of private capital funds, often paying high fees for minimal automation. "SimCorp Alternatives expands our addressable market by building on our existing extensive capabilities to also serve the needs of general partners and other private capital managers and service providers," said Oliver Johnson, Chief Revenue Officer, SimCorp. "At the same time, SimCorp Alternatives strengthens our value proposition for existing clients, who are active in alternative assets through a GP arm, direct investments, or co-investments by enabling them to streamline and scale their alternative investments with integrated, cloud-native software." SimCorp Alternatives is available as either a standalone solution or integrated within SimCorp One. Its introduction marks another step forward in the development of the comprehensive buy-side offering of SimCorp's parent company Deutsche Borse Group, reflecting the increasing importance of the buy-side in financial markets and the trend of outsourcing investment operations to central service providers. SimCorp acquires Domos FS As part of introducing SimCorp Alternatives, SimCorp has acquired 100 percent ownership in Paris-based Domos FS, a leading software provider specializing in alternative investments, effective immediately. With this step, SimCorp and Deutsche Borse are further strengthening their ecosystem for the buy side, especially in Europe and France. "We are thrilled to join forces with SimCorp and build on our long-standing partnership," said Arnaud Vinciguerra, Founder and CEO, Domos FS. "This acquisition is a strong endorsement of the alternative investment market's momentum and the strength of the Domos platform. Our clients require technology choices that are future-proof. Together with SimCorp, we will continue investing in innovation, as they have consistently done for over 50 years." SimCorp acquired a minority stake in Domos in 20213, adding it to its partner ecosystem4. The partnership has enabled SimCorp to provide a complete solution for its clients active as both Limited Partners (LPs) and GPs, paving the way for seamless integration and quick time to value for clients. Facts about Domos FS Domos provides a state-of-the-art, cloud native Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that empowers General Partners and service providers to automate critical workflows across portfolio management, fund accounting and investor relations. Domos' solutions cover portfolio & risk management, regulatory reporting, investor relations & operations, ESG and fund accounting. The Regulatory Reporting module automates the creation and submission of mandatory reports to the appropriate authorities, ensuring timely and accurate compliance with regulatory authorities. The Investor Portal is a sophisticated platform designed to provide Limited Partners with a centralized hub for investment, legal, and marketing information for alternative investment funds. Domos FS was founded in 2013 by Arnaud Vinciguerra (CEO), Fanny Metz (Head of Professional Services), Benoit Moulin (Head of Sales) and Philippe Jovenin (Chief Technology Officer). Domos won Regulatory & Compliance Technology of the Year at the Private Equity Wire EU Awards 20255. To learn more about how SimCorp can help simplify and scale your investment business, visit our website. About SimCorp SimCorp is a provider of industry-leading integrated investment management solutions for the global buy side. Founded in 1971, with more than 3,500 employees across five continents, SimCorp is a truly global technology leader that empowers more than half of the world's top 100 financial companies through its integrated platform, services, and partner ecosystem. SimCorp is a subsidiary of Deutsche Borse Group. As of 2024, SimCorp includes Axioma, the leading provider of risk management and portfolio optimization solutions for the global buy side. About Domos FS Domos FS is a leading software provider specialized in the management of Alternative funds investing in non-listed assets i.e. private equity, real estate, infrastructure, debt and fund-of-funds. Its SaaS platform, called Domos, is designed to support alternative investment fund managers and their service providers - especially third party AIFMs, fund administrators and depositaries - in the streamlining of their processes, operations, and reporting. 1 Private market assets to grow at more than twice the rate of public assets, reaching up to USD 65 trillion by 2032, Bain & Company finds, August, 2024. 2 Asset managers make existential dash into private assets, Financial Times, December 2024. 3 SimCorp and Domos FS partners to offer first cross asset solution covering public and private markets for both limited, general partners and service providers, December 2021. 4The partner ecosystem provides users of SimCorp One, an integrated investment management platform, seamless access to third-party innovation. 5 Centralising alternative investment fund management with Domos FS, Private Equity Wire, April 2025. Media Contact: Sren Rathlou Top, Global PR Manager at SimCorp, +45 31 15 87 06, Soren.R.Top@simcorp.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2762635/SimCorp_Canada_Inc__SimCorp_to_transform_private_market_investin.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/simcorp-to-transform-private-market-investing-with-simcorp-alternatives-302544084.html San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Liquor Geeks, the global online marketplace for curated spirits, today announced that it has surpassed 250,000 customers since its launch in 2022. This milestone underscores both the rapid adoption of digital commerce in the spirits sector and the growing appetite among consumers for trusted platforms that combine product access with education and community. Founded with the vision of transforming how enthusiasts, bartenders, collectors, and casual buyers explore the liquor landscape, Liquor Geeks differentiates itself by offering more than just a transactional experience. The platform curates an expansive portfolio of spirits - from everyday essentials to ultra-rare collector's editions - while also serving as a hub for educational guides, cocktail recipes, and spotlight features on emerging and established brands. Driving Growth Through Curation and Community Since launch, Liquor Geeks has invested heavily in curation, ensuring its catalog reflects both variety and quality. Customer feedback indicates that the platform's streamlined design, intuitive navigation, and transparent purchasing process have played a significant role in encouraging repeat purchases and fostering loyalty. The integration of brand spotlights and educational articles has also helped position Liquor Geeks as a resource for learning, not just buying. A Message from Leadership "Crossing the 250,000-customer mark is not only a numerical achievement, but also a reflection of the trust and engagement we've built within the spirits community," said Daniel Harris, spokesperson for Liquor Geeks. "Our goal has always been to empower customers with both access and knowledge. Whether someone is seeking a rare collector's bottle or exploring cocktail culture for the first time, Liquor Geeks is here to connect them with that journey." Looking Ahead: New Initiatives and Expansion The company is preparing to introduce several new initiatives in the coming months. These include the development of a "Rare Bottles" program, featuring limited-edition and hard-to-source spirits for collectors, as well as an expanded Corporate Gifting Service designed to serve the growing demand from businesses for premium branded gifts. Liquor Geeks is also exploring global distribution partnerships to make its curated catalog accessible to an even wider audience. By combining technology upgrades with strategic collaborations, the company aims to enhance personalization, improve accessibility, and reinforce its role as a category leader in spirits e-commerce. About Liquor Geeks Liquor Geeks is a liquor/spirits e-commerce and discovery platform that curates product selections, expert insights, cocktail recipes, and brand spotlights. Founded to serve a global community of liquor enthusiasts, the platform brings together consumers, bartenders, and industry professionals in one digital destination. By combining transparency, expertise, and cultural storytelling, Liquor Geeks is redefining how people shop for and connect with the world of spirits. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264590 SOURCE: GYT Karen Clark Company (KCC) today announced that Dr. Milan Simic has been appointed Global Strategy Advisor. Dr. Simic will be responsible for global growth initiatives and international client relationships. He will continue to be based in London, and will report to KCC Co-Founder and CEO, Karen Clark. Dr. Simic has more than 35 years of experience in risk assessment and modeling, engineering research and consulting. He was most recently Executive Vice President and Managing Director of International Operations at Verisk Extreme Event Solutions (formerly AIR Worldwide). Prior to Verisk and AIR, he held positions at Benfield and in engineering consulting. Dr. Simic is a Chartered Engineer through the UK Institution of Civil Engineers, a regular speaker at catastrophe-related conferences, and has authored numerous papers and feature articles on the subject of insurance loss assessment and soil-structure interaction. He is also a Member of the OECD's High-Level Advisory Board on Financial Management of Large-Scale Catastrophes. "Appointing Milan as Global Strategy Advisor demonstrates our commitment to our expanding client base," said Karen Clark, KCC Co-founder and CEO. "By listening to and working closely with insurers in the US, we developed several unique applications perfectly suited to their needs. Now we'd like to hear from wider global markets on what new models and modeling capabilities they'd find most valuable." "I'm delighted to be joining KCC as they break new ground in weather, climate, and catastrophe modeling innovation and actively bring new technology to a field that has remained fundamentally unchanged for almost 40 years," said Simic. "KCC is disrupting the status quo in this fascinating industry and I'm looking forward to playing a key role in the company's steep scientific, technical, and commercial ascendancy." Clark continued, "The catastrophe modeling industry cannot stand still in the face of today's challenges and opportunities, including quantifying climate change impacts and leveraging AI and machine learning techniques. Milan's experience and knowledge of the industry make him ideally suited to join the growing KCC team as we expand our mission to provide the most accurate models along with innovative technological solutions globally." About Karen Clark Company Karen Clark Company (KCC) provides (re)insurers and ILS investors with accurate models and advanced technology for deep insight into climate, weather, and catastrophe risk. KCC catastrophe models cover tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones, severe convective storms, winter storms, wildfires, floods, and earthquakes in over 80 countries. KCC's unique LiveEvents application provides real time information for major weather events as they're unfolding. KCC professionals are globally recognized experts in catastrophe and weather modeling who work with company executives to enhance business strategies, competitive advantage, and financial results. For more information, please visit www.karenclarkandco.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903028296/en/ Contacts: For More Information, Contact: Philip Nunes Gregory FCA pnunes@gregoryfca.com From July 1 to August 31, China Eastern Airlines (CEA) operated a total of 194,000 flights, carrying 28.06 million passengers. Among them, international and regional flights reached 27,000, transporting 4.49 million passengers, setting a historic record. CEA is further expanding its international route network. Recently, it has successively launched direct flights from cities such as Geneva, Milan, and Copenhagen to Shanghai, while also increasing flight frequencies to major tourist destinations across Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and North Africa. Currently, CEA operates 229 international and regional routes, with an average of 3,052 weekly round-trip flights. Passengers arriving in China with CEA can enjoy various cross-border conveniences. For example, those on CEA's "Shuttle Service" routes, such as Beijing-Shanghai, can enjoy the "Easy Boarding" service for free ticket changes and basic inflight Wi-Fi. Additionally, those transiting through Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) can use the "PVG-SHA Transfer" service for seamless cross-airport transfers between Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) and Shanghai Pudong Airport without collecting their luggage. Moreover, its "Air-Rail Transport" service connects 48 cities across China, serving over 560,000 passengers from July to August. Moreover, CEA has been enhancing its diversified service offerings. CEA's "Pets in Cabin" service, which is available on 17 domestic routes and at 15 airports within China, will extend to 31 airports and 110 routes starting in September, providing more options for pet-owning travelers. CEA's "Star Wing Escort" initiative dedicated to passengers with autism has created a safe and comfortable travel environment for nearly 60 passengers since its launch in June. Simultaneously, CEA's Unaccompanied Minor service has transitioned to a full-process self-service model, encompassing quota locking, escort information confirmation, payment, and ticketing. This service has experienced a 39.63% increase compared to the same period in 2024, with an average of 735 passengers served daily. During the summer peak season of the Chinese aviation market in 2025, CEA has further explored the concept of "wonderful travel" through its "aviation +" innovative initiatives. By integrating air tickets with cultural, sports, and service offerings, CEA is providing global passengers with a comprehensive travel experience that blends air travel with China's urban cultural tourism. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903631211/en/ Contacts: Company: China Eastern Airlines Website: http://www.ceair.com/ Contact: fangying TEL: 00862122331470 Email: fangying@ceair.com City: Shanghai Port in S China's Guangxi becomes major hub for ASEAN fruit imports People's Daily Online) 15:01, September 03, 2025 Durian imports through Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have surged 50 percent this year, highlighting the growing appetite for the Southeast Asian fruit among Chinese consumers, according to a major logistics company. Guangxi Huanyu International Logistics Co., which specializes in fruit imports from ASEAN countries, has seen demand for durians from Thailand and other regional producers jump significantly, said Ning Yan, the company's head. Customs officers inspect cargo at Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Liang Zhanghui) A leading Thai durian producer and exporter shipped more than 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) worth of premium Monthong durians to China through Qinzhou Port this year, with most bound for the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions. The company monitors each step of its logistics operations to maintain freshness and quality. "As long as the route works, Qinzhou Port is our first choice," its executive told Ning. Qinzhou Port is a key gateway for Guangxi's opening-up to ASEAN and a hub on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Ten years ago, Huanyu Logistics, which began by exporting seafood, established a team at the port to sell Guangxi's seafood worldwide. Fruits imported from ASEAN countries are sold at a market in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Fu Huazhou) The port handled fewer than 100 million tonnes of cargo annually at the time but offered significant growth potential. In 2017, Qinzhou Port was designated as an official entry point for fruit imports, with plans to launch an express route. Recognizing Huanyu Logistics' strong experience and expertise, port officials invited the company to help expand ASEAN fruit import services. Shifting from seafood exports to fresh produce imports required boldness. Ning said the company's confidence stemmed from China's rapidly evolving consumer market. In 2024, Guangxi imported 2.488 million tonnes of fruits worth 34.89 billion yuan from ASEAN countries, more than one-third of China's total fruit imports from the region. After years of development, Qinzhou Port, once insignificant in fruit imports, has become a major maritime gateway for ASEAN fruits. Photo shows a busy scene at Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Liang Zhanghui) In 2024, Qinzhou Port added 239 new import and export product categories. Its cargo throughput surpassed 200 million tonnes, sea-rail intermodal trains made more than 10,000 trips along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and the total import and export value of goods handled by provinces and cities along the corridor through Qinzhou Port increased 31.3 percent from the previous year. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Initial agreement to incorporate Atelerix's non-cryogenic cell preservation technology into international freight and logistics services for drug discovery and clinical trials Partnership showcased at SACRA (South African Clinical Research Association), Pretoria, 1-2 October 2025 Atelerix, a biotech company revolutionising cell preservation and biological transport with its pioneering hydrogel encapsulation technology, today announced an agreement with Rodon Global ("Rodon"), the established freight company focused on clinical trials and drug discovery headquartered in South Africa. The collaboration comes at a pivotal time as Rodon actively expands operations across the United States, UK, South Africa, and Singapore. By integrating Atelerix's unique cryo-free preservation products within Rodon's dynamic logistics offering, the collaboration will significantly broaden access to safe shipping and storage solutions for temperature-sensitive biomaterials, without freezing. Through an initial MoU, Rodon will begin offering Atelerix's portfolio of hypothermic preservation solutions to customers, providing new options to enhance efficiency across biomedical research and therapeutic development workflows. The mutually-beneficial collaboration grants Atelerix access to a new customer base via a trusted industry partner, whilst enabling Rodon to scale its services through a unique model that addresses traditional challenges in cold-chain logistics. This agreement follows the appointment of MineBio as Atelerix's exclusive distributor in China1, further extending the Company's global network of logistics partners to deliver a cryo-free, cost-efficient transport solution worldwide. Atelerix's patented hydrogels directly address cryologistic bottlenecks by stabilising membrane integrity and preserving biological function of cells and other biological substances during transport. Samples can remain in a ready-to-use state at ambient temperatures for up to two weeks, reducing waste and energy consumption, and simplifying shipping and handling protocols. Optimised for whole blood, primary cells, plated cell models, organoids, tissues, and viruses, the technology is applicable across life science and healthcare. It is particularly valuable for cell and gene therapy manufacturing, where it offers a flexible solution for preservation across the full workflow. Alastair Carrington, CEO, Atelerix, commented"The global demand for inexpensive, efficient solutions for storage and transport of biological substances is continually increasing, leading to an urgent unmet need for innovative solutions, which our experienced team of hogs can provide. Working alongside Rodon and our network of global distributors, we are expanding our reach to include the booming South African life science sector, catapulting adoption of our unique technologies in the region, and beyond. We look forward to joining Rodon at SACRA in October to showcase the enormous potential of our collaboration." Leonard Neil Lazarus, CEO, Rodon Global, added: "Atelerix's innovative approach to cell preservation will revolutionise biological transport worldwide, overcoming supply chain challenges associated with temperature sensitive materials, particularly in the drug discovery and clinical research sectors. This partnership represents a significant milestone and differentiator for Rodon, allowing us to overcome these challenges and continue to scale, supporting our life science customers to develop and manufacture novel therapeutics." 1. Press Release (16th April 2025): Atelerix signs exclusive agreement with MineBio to establish distribution channel for non-cryogenic cell preservation solutions in China View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903480090/en/ Contacts: Media Contact Jake Brown Zyme Communications Tel: +44(0) 7759 162 147 Email: jake.brown@zymecommunications.com Dubai Chambers, in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Chambers Federation (WCF), has launched the Chamber Benchmarking Tool, a first-of-its-kind platform enabling chambers of commerce to access best practices and benchmark their performance against global standards. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903661712/en/ During the launch of the Chamber Benchmarking Tool (photo: AETOSWire) Unveiled during the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne, Australia, the initiative was showcased to 1,200 chamber leaders and officials from over 100 countries. As the premier global gathering for chamber representatives, the event is a vital platform for exchanging expertise and strengthening international networks. The tool is designed to transform the global chamber ecosystem by enhancing institutional performance and empowering chambers to deliver improved services, streamline processes, and achieve operational excellence. It assesses seven core roles and responsibilities: economic research and business intelligence; advocacy and policy representation; international trade and investment attraction; training and workforce support; networking and collaboration; advisory and support services; and legal and dispute resolution. It also measures key dimensions of operational excellence including strategic alignment, process efficiency, partnerships, member satisfaction, governance, innovation, and financial impact. H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: "This initiative reflects Dubai's position as a global hub for excellence and institutional innovation. It aligns with the emirate's commitment to shaping a resilient and sustainable future for business communities worldwide by promoting cross-border collaboration, fostering knowledge-driven partnerships, and advancing agile, forward-looking solutions to navigate an evolving economic landscape." John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the ICC, said: "The launch of the Chamber Benchmarking Tool marks a milestone in empowering chambers worldwide with the insights they need to thrive. We are grateful to Dubai Chambers for their leadership and expertise, which have been pivotal in bringing this vision to life." The tool provides a data-driven framework for self-assessment and comparative analysis, offering tailored recommendations, access to global case studies, and insights into emerging trends. Developed with guidance from a steering committee of international experts, its foundations were built on an in-depth study of 19 chambers worldwide. About Dubai Chambers: Dubai Chambers is a non-profit public entity that supports Dubai's vision as a global player by empowering businesses, providing innovative value-added services, and unlocking access to influential networks. *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903661712/en/ Contacts: Mohamad Mouzehem Tel: +97142028537 Email: mohamad.mouzehem@dubaichamber.com Amid unprecedented demand for ultra-low power optical interconnects in AI datacenters and future disaggregated memory fabrics, Avicena is poised for the next phase of growth Avicena, the leader in ultra-low power high-density microLED-based interconnects, announced today that Marco Chisari, former Executive Vice President, Head of Samsung Foundries and Head of the Samsung Semiconductor Innovation Center (SSIC), has joined Avicena as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a member of the board of directors (Board). Marco succeeds co-founder and CEO Bardia Pezeshki, who will assume the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903420790/en/ Marco Chisari "We are thrilled to welcome Marco to Avicena as we enter our next stage of growth," said Bardia Pezeshki. "With his career in the semiconductor industry, corporate development and investment banking, he is well positioned to lead Avicena to growth in the rapidly evolving AI datacenter interconnect market." The company has recently raised $65 million in Series B Funding led by Tiger Global with the participation from several new and existing investors. "Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving an unprecedented surge in demand for compute and memory performance. Avicena's groundbreaking LightBundleTM technology, based on high-speed microLED, is uniquely positioned to deliver the ultra-low power high-capacity interconnects that the industry needs," said Marco Chisari. "I am very impressed by Avicena's technology, patent portfolio, ecosystem and customer traction. The goal is to realize the full potential of the technology and bring it into the AI market." Marco Chisari has over 25 years of experience with global Fortune 500 organizations, such as Nokia, STMicroelectronics, SAMSUNG, Mubadala, GlobalFoundries, JPMorgan, Credit Suisse and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, both in the semiconductor industry and in the financial and investment banking sectors. Marco moved to Silicon Valley as a microelectronic engineer designing flash memories at STMicroelectronics. He transitioned to investment banking at JPMorgan in London, working on major technology M&A and IPOs. At Mubadala, he led investments and acquisitions that contributed to the creation of GlobalFoundries, including the acquisition of IBM Microelectronics. Later, as Global Head of Semiconductor Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, he managed some of the largest recent M&A deals in the semiconductor industry. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics running the U.S. foundry business and the Samsung Innovation Center in the U.S. About Avicena Avicena is a privately held company located in Sunnyvale, CA, with a subsidiary in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company was founded in 2019 by leading technologists from the optical networking industry with a track record of delivering breakthrough products. Avicena is the first company to use microLEDs for high-speed communications. Unlike laser-based alternatives, Avicena's LED interconnects enable GPU clusters to Scale Up across multiple racks, connecting thousands of GPUs, while delivering industry-leading sub-pJ/bit energy efficiency. These interconnects unlock scalable, energy-efficient performance far beyond the limit of copper. This technology is a key building block in the evolution of networking and computing that will reduce the energy impact on our planet. For more information, visit https://avicena.tech. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903420790/en/ Contacts: Avicena Media Contact: Sama Pourmojib email: sama@avicena.tech DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, strengthened its presence in Southeast Asia at Coinfest Asia 2025, with Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO at Bybit taking center stage in a fireside chat and co-hosting an exclusive partner event with Tether APAC. The events underscored Bybit's commitment to driving crypto adoption in Indonesia, one of the world's most dynamic digital asset markets. Ben Zhou at Coinfest Asia: Fireside Insights on Adoption and the Future of Crypto Zhou joined Steven Suhadi, Co-founder of Coinfest Asia and founder of Indonesia Crypto Network, for a fireside chat that explored Indonesia's pivotal role in global crypto adoption. Zhou praised Indonesia's rapid embrace of digital assets, particularly among the youth, describing the country as one of the most dynamic and promising crypto markets in the world. He emphasized that regulatory clarity is key to sustaining this momentum. "Indonesia shows how education, youth participation, and progressive regulation can combine to build a thriving crypto ecosystem. Bybit is here to support this journey with secure, transparent, and innovative trading experiences," said Zhou. The discussion also touched on the growing trend of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Total Value Locked (TVL) in tokenized assets reached $65 billion in 2025, marking a massive increase from previous years. Zhou highlighted that real-world application has become a new focus for Bybit, moving beyond pure speculation toward meaningful use cases such as asset tokenization and ecosystem building. While optimistic about the potential, Zhou cautioned that successful implementation will require time and careful planning, underscoring the need to align innovation with regulatory clarity. Bybit x Tether: After Sunset Side Event in Bali Alongside the main conference, Bybit partnered with Tether APAC to host "After Sunset", an exclusive gathering, which brought together Bybit VIPs, Indonesian regulatory representatives, and key opinion leaders (KOLs), for an evening of dialogue on advancing adoption in Indonesia. During his opening remarks, Zhou reflected on Indonesia's rapid growth in crypto participation and the government's supportive role: "Regulation is not a hurdle, but a foundation for sustainable growth. The financial regulators have provided much-needed clarity and infrastructure for the industry. This model sets an example for the global crypto economy," Zhou stated. Joining Zhou, Eddy Christian Ng, Tether's APAC representative, highlighted the role of stablecoins in enabling access and financial inclusivity in emerging markets. He also reaffirmed Tether's close collaboration with Bybit in advancing digital assets education and adoption. Moderated by Robert Harianto, the evening featured a panel discussion titled "The Bull Market and The Future of Crypto in Asia: What's Coming from Bybit and Tether", with Zhou, Ng, and Lawrence Samantha, Co-founder and CEO of NOBI Group, which is also Bybit's local partner in Indonesia. The fireside chat explored themes of trust, education, and partnership as cornerstones of Indonesia's crypto future. Bybit / TheCryptoArk / IMakeIt About Bybit Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com . For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2762299/Ben_Zhou_Coinfest_Asia_Fireside_Insights_Adoption_Future_Crypto.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2762300/Bybit_CEO_Ben_Zhou_Strengthens_Indonesia_Focus_Coinfest_Asia_2025.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267288/Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bybit-ceo-ben-zhou-strengthens-indonesia-focus-at-coinfest-asia-2025-and-co-hosts-strategic-event-with-tether-to-explore-the-future-of-crypto-in-southeast-asia-302543698.html PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is pleased to announce the launch of KuMining, an innovative cloud mining brand incubated by KuCoin. Positioned as a next-generation platform under the banner "Simple Mining, Smart Gains," KuMining is committed to democratizing industrial-scale mining, delivering transparent, cost-effective, and accessible solutions to users of all experience levels. This initiative provides direct access to authentic, industrial-grade hashrate for Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE), with merged mining capabilities for Litecoin (LTC), sourced from leading industry partners. This collaborative venture integrates KuCoin as the premier exchange platform, alongside world-class partners specializing in the manufacturing of PoW mining machines and experts in mining operations and energy optimization. Together, they form a comprehensive ecosystem spanning upstream manufacturing, distribution, and operational expertise. This yields key benefits for retail users, including transparent pricing without intermediary markups and direct supply chain efficiencies. By decentralizing hashrate from institutional control back to the community, KuMining offers the industry's simplest method of mining, enabling equitable engagement in cryptocurrency's core infrastructure. KuMining's robust infrastructure includes 300 MW to 2 GW in verifiable global power resources, ensuring immediate activation and seamless operations. It initially features over 10 EH/s (equivalent to 10,000 PH/s or 10,000,000 TH/s) in real-time BTC hashrate and 200 TH/s for DOGE/LTC-representing approximately 10% of the Dogecoin network-with auditable data and public monitoring for reliable fulfillment. These figures continue to grow, as the platform expands monthly with thousands of state-of-the-art water-cooled machines. "We are immensely proud to introduce KuMining, a platform that equalizes opportunities in cryptocurrency mining," said Jolie Du, Chief Operating Officer of KuMining. "Users can rent genuine hashrate from professional facilities, with daily yields automatically credited, eliminating hardware acquisition, energy management, and maintenance complexities. This low-barrier approach suits those seeking stable participation without technical resources, fostering sustainable wealth." BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin, added: "KuMining's incubation reaffirms our community commitment, advancing 'crypto for good' by bringing hashrate back to retail investors at competitive costs. By decentralizing mining power to real users, it builds an inclusive Web3 where assets can accumulate passively." The product will be available for purchase beginning September 16, offering users the ability to generate consistent outputs, manage risks, and dollar-cost average into crypto assets without direct exposure to market volatility. About KuCoin Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global cryptocurrency platform serving over 41 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Built on cutting-edge blockchain technology, KuCoin offers access to 1,000+ digital assets and solutions including Web3 wallet, Spot and Futures trading, institutional services, and payments. Recognized by Forbes as one of the "Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges" and a "Top 50 Global Unicorn" by Hurun, KuCoin is ISO 27001:2022 certified and committed to security, compliance, and innovation under the leadership of CEO BC Wong. Learn more: https://www.kucoin.com/ About KuMining KuMining is a next-generation cloud mining platform, jointly launched by KuCoin and leading global mining partners. It provides retail and institutional users direct access to real, verifiable hashrate backed by top-tier facilities worldwide. Integrated with KuCoin's ecosystem, KuMining enables seamless settlement, enhanced rewards through KCS, and greater participation in crypto's core infrastructure. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2762383/image_5002362_36183188.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2641815/KuCoin_Horizontal_Green_LOGO_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kucoin-presents-kumining-embodying-simple-mining-smart-gains-for-effortless-crypto-accumulation-302544747.html WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold hovered near record levels on Wednesday as investors grappled with rising bond yields and renewed trade uncertainty. Growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut this month, lingering political uncertainty in France and renewed Russia-Ukraine tensions also buoyed safe-haven demand for the precious metal. Spot gold edged up by 0.1 percent to $3,536.85 per ounce in European trading, while U.S. gold futures were up 0.4 percent at $3,605.80. Equity markets sank as bond yields surged after the long weekend amid Fed independence worries and increased investor anxiety following a landmark federal appeals court decision that ruled most of President Donald Trump's global tariffs illegal. Trump's erratic tariffs and other policies are already affecting consumers' cost of living and costing businesses real money. Trump said his administration would ask the Supreme Court 'for an expedited ruling,' warning that 'if you took away tariffs, we could end up being a third-world country'. If the justices strike down the tariffs, the government may have to repay the billions of dollars already brought in through Trump's tariffs. The tariffs have poured more than $159 billion into U.S. coffers so far. In economic releases, U.S. reports on factory orders and job openings along with the Federal Reserve's Beige Book will be in the spotlight later today ahead of the August jobs report due Friday. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent plans to start interviews on Friday to determine the next Federal Reserve chair. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Stallergenes Greer, a global leader in allergy therapeutics, and Nuance Pharma, an innovation-focused biopharmaceutical company based in China, today announced they have entered into an exclusive long-term partnership agreement regarding the development and commercialisation of Actair, Stallergenes Greer's sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet for the treatment of house dust mite (HDM) induced allergic rhinitis. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903612776/en/ Under the terms of the partnership agreement, Stallergenes Greer and Nuance Pharma will work together on the development and registration of Actair in China. Nuance Pharma would be responsible for the subsequent commercialisation of Actair on the Chinese market. "We are excited by the prospects of this strategic partnership for Actair in China. By leveraging Stallergenes Greer's strong heritage in respiratory allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and Nuance Pharma's proven expertise in market access as well as their established commercial platform in China, we aim to accelerate access to Actair for patients in need. This major step forward underscores Stallergenes Greer's determination to provide valuable evidence-based treatment options for individuals suffering from house-dust mite allergies. It also supports our broader ambition to expand the availability of our AIT treatments across more geographies, while unlocking the full potential of Actairstated Dr Andreas Amrein, CEO of Stallergenes Greer. "Respiratory disease is among Nuance's core areas of focus, and we are actively building a franchise with innovative solutions. Actair is a perfect fit for our portfolio and strategy, as it represents a differentiated solution to address the medical needs in allergy. We look forward to a successful partnership with Stallergenes Greer, a leader in allergy therapeutics, on Actairand beyond, to bring innovative therapies to Chinese patients" stated Mark Lotter, CEO and founder of Nuance Pharma. Nearly 18% of China's population suffers from HDM-induced allergic rhinitisi. Over the past five years, the number of AIT-treated patients posted double-digit growth, driven by the rising burden of HDM-induced respiratory allergies and thus highlighting the significant treatment gap. AIT has the potential to reach 1 billion within 10 years, making it the largest AIT market in the world. Current Chinese guidelines and expert reviews recommend AIT as a first-line treatment for allergic rhinitis, particularly in moderate to severe cases. However, uptake remains limited by infrastructure and awareness hurdles. With the introduction of Actair, Stallergenes Greer's HDM tablet, more patients will gain access to a convenient treatment option, addressing the needs of those living with HDM-induced allergies. Stallergenes Greer's SLIT tablet for HDM-induced allergic rhinitis is already commercialised in 21 countries and territories with more to follow under the brand names Actair, Orylmyte or Aitmyte With this agreement, Stallergenes Greer continues to advance its mission of improving allergy care by making immunotherapy treatments accessible in new and high-need markets. ABOUT ALLERGIC RHINITIS Allergic rhinitis is a worldwide disease estimated to affect around 400 to 500 million peopleii,iii, who are at higher risk of developing rhinitis exacerbation and asthma than the general population. Allergic rhinitis can include symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or itchy nose, nasal congestion and watery or itchy eyes, among others. Symptoms may be severe and can worsen over time and have a significant impact on quality of life. ABOUT NUANCE PHARMA Nuance Pharma is an innovation focused biopharmaceutical company, with both late-stage clinical pipeline and commercial stage asset portfolio. Focusing on specialty care, Nuance has established a differentiated combination of commercialised assets and innovative pipeline across respiratory, pain management, emergency care and iron deficiency anemia. With the mission to address critical unmet medical needs in Asia Pacific, Nuance deploys the Dual Wheel model that develops a global leading innovative pipeline, while maintaining a self-sustainable commercial operation in both China and Asia as a region. For more information, please visit www.nuancepharma.com. ABOUT STALLERGENES GREER INTERNATIONAL AG Headquartered in Baar (Switzerland), Stallergenes Greer is a global healthcare company specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies through the development and commercialisation of allergen immunotherapy products and services. Supported by more than 100 years of expertise and innovation, our products are available for patients in over 40 countries. For more information, please visit www.stallergenesgreer.com. i Zhang Y, Zhang L. Increasing prevalence of allergic rhinitis in China. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 2019;11:156-69. ii Bousquet J et al. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 update (in collaboration with the World Health Organization, GA(2)LEN and AllerGen). Allergy. 2008 Suppl 86:8-160 iii Pawankar R, Canonica GW, ST Holgate ST, Lockey RF, Blaiss M. The WAO White Book on Allergy (Update. 2013) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903612776/en/ Contacts: Stallergenes Greer Communications Catherine Kress Tel: +33 (0)1 55 50 26 05 Email: catherine.kress@stallergenesgreer.com The new product automatically detects and classifies vessels, vehicles, and aircraft with over 90% accuracy, providing scalable insights that eliminate the bottleneck of manual analysis and enable faster, more informed decisions for defense and security. HELSINKI, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, together with SATIM, the provider of state-of-the-art solutions for SAR data analytics, today announced the launch of Detect & Classify - an AI-powered product that accelerates the transformation of satellite imagery into actionable intelligence. The product combines ICEYE's high-resolution SAR imagery with SATIM's advanced artificial intelligence to automatically detect and classify vessels, aircraft, and vehicles in ICEYE imagery with better than 90% accuracy. The Detect & Classify product bundles ICEYE imagery with SATIM's AI-based imagery derivatives, delivering both the SAR image and detections and classifications of objects in the image in a single, high-confidence package. This product delivers a new level of rapid situational awareness across maritime, air, and land domains, providing powerful support to SAR analysts and their missions within the armed forces and intelligence agencies. This product launch follows a successful joint development effort between ICEYE and SATIM, first announced in February 2025 . The Detect & Classify product, brought to market by ICEYE and powered by Satim's unique AI capabilities, responds to a long-standing challenge with manual SAR data analysis. Traditionally, defense and intelligence organizations have relied on time-consuming manual analyses of imagery by SAR experts to extract valuable intelligence. Detect & Classify empowers SAR imagery users - no longer just SAR experts - to shorten this cycle by automating the delivery of actionable insights about what the imagery captures. ICEYE routinely delivers imagery within hours or in some cases minutes, and the Detect & Classify derivatives are delivered on the same timelines. Intelligence analysts can now more quickly establish patterns of behavior in larger volumes of imagery; tactical teams can rapidly locate and classify assets for targeting, and maritime forces can more effectively identify and intercept illicit "dark vessels." "Our goal with Detect & Classify is to empower our customers to make faster, more informed decisions with less effort," said John Cartwright, Senior VP of Data Product at ICEYE. "This is more than just an analytics tool - we're eliminating a bottleneck between satellite imagery pixels and decision-making, giving our users near-instant situational awareness. And it's a transformative step on the path towards 'lights-out,' machine-driven satellite imaging operations. That's a fundamental shift for defense, security, and intelligence operations that use satellite imagery." Jacek Strzelczyk, CEO of SATIM, added: "Combining SATIM's extensive object catalog with ICEYE's high-fidelity SAR imagery creates a powerful product that eliminates manual analysis bottlenecks and provides customers with direct access to actionable intelligence, improving situational awareness and accelerating critical decisions. We've seen significant uptake of our products with customers around the globe, and this product will expand this benefit to a wider range of customers." ICEYE owns and operates the world's largest SAR satellite constellation, delivering global access and the highest revisit frequency on the market. ICEYE SAR satellites provide 25 cm ground resolution, enabling accurate object detection and classification and situational awareness in all weather and lighting conditions. To date, ICEYE has launched 54 SAR satellites into orbit for its own and customers' use. The recent introduction of ICEYE's new Scan Wide imaging mode further strengthens this capability, allowing for coverage of up to 60,000 km in a single scene. This broad-area surveillance mode is particularly useful for Detect & Classify in maritime and large-scale monitoring efforts, enabling users to rapidly identify areas of interest before tasking higher-resolution modes for more detailed analysis. About ICEYE ICEYE delivers unparalleled persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth, faster and more accurately than ever before. Owning the world's largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, ICEYE provides objective, near real-time insights, ensuring that customers have unmatched access to actionable data, day or night, even in challenging environmental conditions. As a trusted partner to governments and commercial industries, ICEYE delivers intelligence in sectors such as defense and intelligence, insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring, and finance, enabling decision-making that contributes to community resilience and sustainable development. ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, UAE, Greece, and the US. We have more than 900 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation. Media contact: press@iceye.com Visit www.iceye.com and follow ICEYE on LinkedIn and X for the latest updates and insights. About SATIM SATIM revolutionizes the analysis of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery with AI-based solutions. With over a decade of experience, proprietary solutions, and strong partnerships, the company delivers exceptional precision-automatically detecting and classifying objects with up to 90% accuracy. SATIM's technology is powered by OREC, an advanced AI-based software solution designed for strategic monitoring of targets in the open ocean, coastal areas, ports, and on land. Pushing the boundaries of innovation, SATIM equips customers with cutting-edge solutions, and its industry-leading target detection and classification accuracy provides invaluable information for military, government, and commercial applications, enabling informed decision-making in dynamic environments. Media contact: agata.herma@satim.co Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2762515/ICEYE_sar_image.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/iceye-and-satim-announce-launch-of-detect--classify-product-for-ai-powered-analysis-of-sar-imagery-302544371.html The biotechnology market is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace owing to high incidence of chronic diseases, growing demand for novel treatments, and advancements in cell technologies. WESTFORD, Mass., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyQuest Technology Consulting published a report, titled, 'Biotechnology Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2032', valued at $2.16 Trillion in 2024. With a projected CAGR of 14.96% from 2025 to 2032, the market is expected to reach $6.64 Trillion by the end of 2032. Growing investments in biotechnology R&D, rising awareness regarding benefits of cell therapies, and increasing healthcare expenditure are also supporting biotechnology demand. Get a Free Sample Report - https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/biotechnology-market Biotechnology Market Dynamics Surge in incidence of chronic and genetic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and autoimmune conditions is primarily boosting the demand for cell therapies. These therapies offer promising curative potential, especially for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments. Advancements in stem cell and CAR-T therapies have led to improved outcomes and long-term remission. As healthcare systems shift toward personalized medicine, cell therapies provide targeted, patient-specific solutions, making them a pivotal component of future therapeutic strategies. Surging investments in biotechnology R&D around the world and advancements in genomics and cell manufacturing technologies are also promoting market development. Techniques such as CRISPR gene editing, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and automated bioreactors have revolutionized the development pipeline. Government funding, public-private partnerships, and increased investments by biopharma companies are further fostering R&D. Recent Developments in Biotechnology Market In March 2025, Bharat Biotech, a renowned vaccine making company from India launched its new cell gene therapy facility with an investment of USD 75 million. The company's new therapies are expected to hit the market in 2028. Amgen, a pioneer in biotechnology innovation announced that it had won FDA approval for its IMDELLTRA (tarlatamab-dlle) candidate. The new treatment can be used to treat extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in adult patients. Kite Pharma, a renowned American biotechnology company received approval for a new CAR-T manufacturing process that will help speed up the turnaround times for Yescarta-related therapies. This approval will help shorten manufacturing time by 2 days, making it 5 days from the previous 7 days. Make an Inquiry to Address your Specific Business Needs - https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/biotechnology-market Major Challenges in Biotechnology Industry High cost of cell therapies, often exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars per treatment is expected to hinder market development over the coming years. These prices are driven by complex manufacturing processes, personalized approaches, and logistical challenges such as cryopreservation and transportation. Limited reimbursement policies, particularly in developing economies, make therapies unaffordable for many patients. Biotechnology manufacturing involves intricate, time-consuming processes requiring specialized facilities, skilled personnel, and strict quality controls. Autologous therapies, customized for individual patients, are especially difficult to scale efficiently. Maintaining cell viability during storage and transportation is another technical challenge, requiring cryogenic conditions and tight timelines. Competitive Landscape Biotechnology companies can also benefit from government grants and supportive initiatives launched to help boost medical R&D. Biotechnology providers should invest heavily in research to boost innovation and stand out from the competition. New companies can penetrate the market with hefty capital raise and innovative approach to compete with established market players. The major players in the biotechnology industry include: Novo Noridisk Amgen Johnson & Johnson Gilead Sciences Bristol Myers Squibb Vertex Pharm Roche Regeneron Moderna Inc. Biogen Inc Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Pfizer Inc. Corteva Agriscience Sanofi Bayer AG Merck KGAA Bluebird Bio Inc. Abbvie Inc Syngenta Group CSL Limited Biotechnology Market Segmental Analysis Global biotechnology market is segmented by technology, cell type, therapy type, therapeutic area, and end user. By therapeutic area , the oncology segment dominated the global biotechnology market in 2024 as incidence of cancer diseases rises and remission of cancers increases. , the oncology segment dominated the global biotechnology market in 2024 as incidence of cancer diseases rises and remission of cancers increases. By therapy type , the autologous therapy segment dominated the global biotechnology market in 2024 owing to robust adoption of CAR-T cell therapies in treatment of genetic and cancer diseases. , the autologous therapy segment dominated the global biotechnology market in 2024 owing to robust adoption of in treatment of genetic and cancer diseases. By end user, the hospitals and clinics segment dominated the global biotechnology market in 2024, which can be linked to high investments in adoption of advanced cell therapies in these establishments. Read Biotechnology Market Report Overview - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/biotechnology-market Regional Outlook Robust healthcare R&D activity, quick adoption of cell therapies, and high prevalence of chronic diseases help cement the dominance of North America in terms of biotechnology demand. Government support for cell R&D is also helping United States boost biotechnology adoption in the region. U.S. Innovation Driving Global Momentum of Biotechnology Market The U.S. continues to lead in biotech innovation, with companies like Amgen, Kite Pharma, and Moderna securing FDA approvals and streamlining CAR-T manufacturing. Kite Pharma's recent process upgrade reduced turnaround time for Yescarta therapies from 7 to 5 days, accelerating patient access and improving outcomes. Meanwhile, Amgen's IMDELLTRA (tarlatamab-dlle) received FDA approval for treating extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, reinforcing the U.S. biotech sector's commitment to precision medicine. U.S. Healthcare Ecosystem: A Catalyst for Growth Hospitals and clinics across the U.S. are rapidly adopting advanced cell therapies, supported by government grants and public-private partnerships. The oncology segment remains dominant, with autologous therapies gaining traction due to their effectiveness in treating genetic and cancer-related conditions. The Asia Pacific is slated to emerge as the fastest-growing region for biotechnology providers in the future. Growing awareness regarding cell therapies and availability of favorable reimbursement for novel therapies are further creating new opportunities. Emphasis on reducing cancer mortality rates is also driving the demand for cell therapies. Explore Extensive ongoing Coverage on Biotechnology Sector: Red Biotechnology Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/red-biotechnology-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/red-biotechnology-market Cancer Biological Therapy Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/cancer-biological-therapy-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/cancer-biological-therapy-market Biomarker Technologies Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/biomarker-technologies-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/biomarker-technologies-market Bioinformatics Services Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/bioinformatics-services-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/bioinformatics-services-market CRISPR Technology Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/crispr-technology-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/crispr-technology-market Digital Genome Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/digital-genome-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/digital-genome-market Biologics Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/biologics-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/biologics-market Protein Engineering Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/protein-engineering-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/protein-engineering-market Bioremediation Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/bioremediation-market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/bioremediation-market DNA Sequencing Market - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/dna-sequencing-market About SkyQuest Technology Consulting SkyQuest Technology Consulting is a leading Strategy Consulting and Market Research firm, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and growth consulting services, trusted by CXOs from Fortune 500 Companies, Start-ups, and MSMEs. The company comprises a team of expert research analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports in our database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 40+ industries & sub industries across 25 major countries worldwide, serving global clients across diverse industries. The company specializes in delivering customized intelligence, data-driven insights, and strategic advisory services that enable businesses to stay competitive and make informed decisions in rapidly evolving industries. Contact Us: SkyQuest Technology Consulting 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2446095/SkyQuest_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/biotechnology-market-is-estimated-to-reach-usd-6-64-trillion-by-2032--skyquest-technology-consulting-302545005.html Strategic partnership with Pioneer Veterinary Products Limited expands Zomedica's presence in the UK veterinary market through distribution of its leading point-of-care solutions ANN ARBOR, MI / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Zomedica Corp. (OTCQB:ZOMDF) ("Zomedica" or the "Company"), a veterinary health company offering point-of-care diagnostic and therapeutic products for equine and companion animals, today announced a new distribution partnership in the United Kingdom with Pioneer Veterinary Products Limited, one of the region's most respected veterinary distributors. The agreement begins with the distribution of Zomedica's TRUFORMA diagnostic platform throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with the introduction of VETGuardian remote monitoring technology planned at a later stage. Under the agreement, Pioneer will lead sales and support for the small animal market on an exclusive basis and act as a non-exclusive distributor for equine products, expanding the availability of Zomedica's innovations across one of the world's most advanced veterinary regions. The distributed products will initially include the TRUFORMA diagnostic platform, Zomedica's flagship point-of-care system delivering reference lab-quality results with point-of-care convenience for dogs, cats, and horses, supporting the diagnosis and monitoring of critical endocrine and thyroid conditions. After the launch of the TRUFORMA line, Pioneer anticipates adding VETGuardian remote monitoring technology - a wireless, contactless system that continuously tracks animal vitals in real time, designed for high-efficiency monitoring in surgical and post-operative care, bringing best in class technology into the hands of veterinary professionals across the UK. "This agreement reflects another important step forward as we expand our distribution footprint in the UK," said Larry Heaton, Chief Executive Officer of Zomedica. "Building on our existing equine presence, this new partnership significantly increases access to our small animal solutions in one of the most influential veterinary markets in the world and supports our broader goal of global market leadership." Clive Groombridge, Managing Director of Pioneer Veterinary Products Limited, commented: "We are delighted to partner with Zomedica to bring these advanced technologies to veterinary practices across the UK. Our team is passionate about supporting veterinary professionals with solutions that enhance patient care, and Zomedica's products fit perfectly with that mission." Kevin Klass, Senior Vice President of Sales at Zomedica, added: "We're excited to launch this new partnership with a trusted UK distributor who shares our commitment to quality and innovation. As we move forward, we expect to include additional Zomedica products in this arrangement. The UK is a critical market, and we're confident that this relationship will accelerate our growth and support veterinary professionals in delivering outstanding care." This new partnership strengthens Zomedica's European presence and brings veterinarians in the UK greater access to groundbreaking tools that improve animal outcomes and practice efficiency. To learn more about the TRUFORMA and VETGuardian systems, or the full line of Zomedica's veterinary solutions, please visit www.zomedica.com . For enquires in the UK, please reach out to Blake Anderson at blake.anderson@pioneervet.co.uk. About Pioneer Veterinary Products Limited Pioneer Veterinary Products is a family-owned supplier of quality veterinary equipment and consumables, dedicated to making life easier for busy practices and hospitals. Founded in 2004, our roots run deep in animal care- we combine traditional values with modern solutions. Our friendly, multi-skilled team is committed to providing reliable supply, expert advice, and tailored support to practices of all sizes-from independent clinics to nationwide groups. With an extensive product range, dependable delivery, and bespoke CPD opportunities, we're here to keep veterinary teams equipped, informed, and focused on what matters most, providing outstanding patient care. Find out more at www.pioneervet.co.uk . About Zomedica Zomedica is a leading equine and companion animal healthcare company dedicated to improving animal health by providing veterinarians innovative therapeutic and diagnostic solutions. Our gold standard PulseVet shock wave system, which accelerates healing in musculoskeletal conditions, has transformed veterinary therapeutics. Our suite of products also includes the Assisi Loop line of therapeutic devices and the TRUFORMA diagnostic platform, the TRUVIEW digital cytology system, and the VetGuardian no-touch monitoring system, all designed to empower veterinarians to provide top-tier care. In the aggregate, their total addressable market in the U.S. exceeds $2 billion. Headquartered in Michigan, Zomedica employs approximately 150 people and manufactures and distributes its products from its world-class facilities in Georgia and Minnesota. Zomedica grew revenue 8% in 2024 to $27 million and maintains a strong balance sheet with approximately $59 million in liquidity as of June 30, 2025. Zomedica is advancing its product offerings, leveraging strategic acquisitions, and expanding internationally as we work to enhance the quality of care for pets, increase pet parent satisfaction, and improve the workflow, cash flow and profitability of veterinary practices. For more information visit www.zomedica.com . Follow Zomedica Email Alerts: http://investors.zomedica.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zomedica Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/zomedica X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/zomedica Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zomedica_inc Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include statements relating to our expectations regarding future results. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, including assumptions with respect to economic growth, demand for the Company's products, the Company's ability to produce and sell its products, sufficiency of our budgeted capital and operating expenditures, the satisfaction by our strategic partners of their obligations under our commercial agreements and our ability to realize upon our business plans and cost control efforts. Our forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the outcome of clinical studies, the application of generally accepted accounting principles, which are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates, and judgments, uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; uncertainty as to the timing and results of development work and verification and validation studies; uncertainty as to the timing and results of commercialization efforts, including international efforts, as well as the cost of commercialization efforts, including the cost to develop an internal sales force and manage our growth; uncertainty as to our ability to realize the anticipated growth opportunities from our acquisitions; uncertainty as to our ability to supply products in response to customer demand; supply chain risks associated with tariff changes; uncertainty as to the likelihood and timing of any required regulatory approvals, and the availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; veterinary acceptance of our products and purchase of consumables following adoption of our capital equipment; competition from related products; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships; performance by our strategic partners of their obligations under our commercial agreements, including product manufacturing obligations; risks pertaining to permits and licensing, intellectual property infringement risks, risks relating to any required clinical trials and regulatory approvals, risks relating to the safety and efficacy of our products, the use of our products, intellectual property protection, and the other risk factors disclosed in our filings with the SEC and under our profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com . Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Investor Relations Contact: Zomedica Investor Relations investors@zomedica.com 1-734-369-2555 SOURCE: Zomedica Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/zomedica-strengthens-uk-market-position-with-strategic-distribution-a-1067857 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump has announced that 11 people on board a drug-laden vessel linked to the Venezuelan cartel Tren de Aragua were killed in a U.S. military strike. Trump disclosed this in a statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social Tuesday. 'Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere.' Trump told reporters that there were 'A lot of drugs in that boat.' without specifying what kind of drugs were there in the vessel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed it in a post on X, saying, 'today the US military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation'. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. "A shift to Schedule III could unlock a $30+ billion market, eliminate crippling 280E tax burdens, unleash institutional investment, and set the stage for explosive industry-wide growth." SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / CBD Life Sciences Inc. (OTC:CBDL), a leader in the development and sale of high-quality CBD and wellness products, is pleased to announce that President Donald Trump has confirmed his administration is actively considering the rescheduling of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. This announcement, highlighted in a recent JD Supra legal analysis, signals what may be the most pivotal regulatory moment in the history of the cannabis industry. The administration is reviewing a proposal to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, which would: Deliver billions in tax relief : The elimination of IRS Section 280E restrictions would allow cannabis companies to deduct ordinary business expenses, improving net margins by double digits and freeing up billions in reinvestment capital across the sector. Unlock capital markets : Banks, lenders, and institutional investors-previously sidelined due to regulatory risk-would gain clearance to enter the cannabis space, fueling an unprecedented wave of financing, credit, and equity growth. Elevate cannabis as legitimate medicine : Federal recognition of marijuana's medical value would boost physician confidence, accelerate clinical trials, and enhance credibility with healthcare providers and patients alike. Catalyze M&A and consolidation : Regulatory clarity would supercharge mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances, positioning leading companies like CBDL to seize early-mover advantage. Ignite investor sentiment: Cannabis equities have already rallied on rescheduling optimism. A formal reclassification could spark another surge, creating generational wealth opportunities for early shareholders. Why This Matters for CBD Life Sciences Inc. CBD Life Sciences Inc. stands at the forefront of this coming wave. With proven retail traction, recent approvals for sale on Walmart Marketplace, and a growing pipeline of CBD and wellness innovations, the company is positioned to scale rapidly once federal restrictions ease. "This is the moment we've been preparing for," said Lisa Nelson, President & CEO of CBD Life Sciences Inc. "The rescheduling of cannabis would remove historic barriers that have limited our industry's growth. For CBDL, it means the ability to expand faster, compete more effectively, and deliver greater long-term value for our shareholders." Investor Highlights President Trump confirms marijuana rescheduling is under active review . Federal reform could unleash a $30+ billion U.S. cannabis market opportunity . IRS 280E tax relief expected to save the industry billions annually . Expanded access to institutional capital, banking, and financing. Growing public approval of legalization with nearly 70% of Americans in support . CBDL is already executing growth strategy with retail expansion and product innovation. About CBD Life Sciences Inc. CBD Life Sciences Inc. (OTC: CBDL) is a publicly traded company dedicated to delivering innovative, high-quality CBD and wellness products. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, The CBD Vault, the company develops, markets, and distributes a wide range of CBD tinctures, topicals, edibles, and wellness solutions available through retail and online channels. Link To Article 1: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/president-trump-confirms-marijuana-7853330/#:~:text=President%20Trump's%20renewed%20focus%20on,financial%20relief%20for%20cannabis%20businesses Link To Article 2: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/11/cannabis-stocks-trump-considering-reclassification-weed.html About CBD Life Sciences Inc. (CBDL) CBD Life Sciences Inc. is an innovative health and wellness company committed to the research, development, and distribution of premium cannabidiol (CBD) products through its core brand, CBD Vault. From topicals and tinctures to wellness beverages and skincare solutions, CBDL is building a portfolio of products designed for maximum efficacy, transparency, and consumer trust. Follow our social media for the latest updates! X: https://www.x.com/CBDL_StockOTC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbd.vault IR Contact: cbdvaultaz@gmail.com Stay Connected & Be the First to Try Our New Functional Mushroom Products! Mushroom Madness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mushroom.madnessaz Mushroom Madness Website: https://www.mushroommadness.shop Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See CBD Life Sciences, Inc's, Inc.'s filings with OTC Markets, which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Contact Information Lisa Nelson CEO cbdvaultaz@gmail.com 4802091720 SOURCE: CBD Life Sciences, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/cbd-life-sciences-inc.-cbdl-announces-president-trump-confirms-mariju-1067985 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Canter Resources Corp. (CSE: CRC) (OTC Pink: CNRCF) (FSE: 6O10) ("Canter" or the "Company"), a U.S.-focused lithium-boron exploration company, announces that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement of up to 5,250,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.20 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,050,000 (the "Private Placement'). Each Unit will consist of one common share (a "Share") and one-half of one transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), with each whole Warrant exercisable to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.26 for two (2) years from the date of issuance. The Private Placement has been arranged with strategic investors that have agreed to enter into 12-month lockup agreements. The Company may pay finders' fees to eligible finders, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). The Private Placement is subject to approval of the CSE, and all securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to statutory hold periods pursuant to securities laws in Canada. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement to continue advancing its Columbus Lithium-Boron Project and its Railroad Valley Lithium-Boron Project, to evaluate and pursue additional projects and for general working capital purposes. About Canter Resources Corp. Canter Resources Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company advancing the Columbus Lithium-Boron Project and the Railroad Valley (RV) Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, USA. The Company is completing a phased drilling approach at Columbus to test highly prospective brine targets at varying depths for lithium-boron enrichment and plans to leverage the Company's critical metals targeting database to generate a portfolio of high-quality projects with the aim of defining mineral resources that support the technology and domestic clean energy supply chains in North America. On behalf of the Board of Directors. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans for the Project and the payments related thereto, the issuance of the Consideration Shares and the Company's expected exploration activities. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: requirements for additional capital; future prices of minerals; changes in general economic conditions; changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities; other risks of the mining industry; the inability to obtain any necessary governmental and regulatory approvals; changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations; hedging practices; and currency fluctuations. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION TO THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264408 SOURCE: Canter Resources Corp. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") is pleased to announce plans to accelerate production growth and resource development at its Bethania silver mine through a targeted modernization program and a new underground geological campaign. Together, these initiatives are designed to fast-track throughput expansion, enhance operational efficiency, and improve the understanding of the potential of the mineralized system to support future mine life extension. Highlights Modernization Program to accelerate production ramp-up through the modernization of internal underground haulage infrastructure, improve material handling efficiency, and provide a pathway to higher throughput rates. to accelerate production ramp-up through the modernization of internal underground haulage infrastructure, improve material handling efficiency, and provide a pathway to higher throughput rates. Geological Program involving ~4,000-5,000 meters of boreholes from within the existing underground mining infrastructure at the Santa Elena concession, aimed at obtaining critical information for mine planning and gaining a better understanding of the mineralized system at depth to support long-term operations. involving ~4,000-5,000 meters of boreholes from within the existing underground mining infrastructure at the Santa Elena concession, aimed at obtaining critical information for mine planning and gaining a better understanding of the mineralized system at depth to support long-term operations. Combined investment of approximately USD $3 million expected to significantly de-risk and enhance the medium and long-term production profile of the Bethania Mine. The program includes internal development to modernize material handling systems at the mine and comprehensive data collection to gather geotechnical and geological information at depth to support resource growth. This combined investment, expected to be approximately USD $3 million over the next six to nine months, should have a significant impact on the operation's efficiency, not just to meet short-term production goals, but also lay the foundation for future expansion. Modernization Program to Accelerate Production and Throughput A central pillar of this initiative is the strategic development of an expanded internal underground hauling and transportation path system within the existing mine infrastructure. This project focuses on creating a more efficient connection between levels to significantly improve the flow of material, personnel, and ventilation while also improving safety. Objective: To facilitate a transition to modern, trackless haulage vehicles, replacing the legacy rail-and-cart system to significantly improve material movement efficiency and safety. To facilitate a transition to modern, trackless haulage vehicles, replacing the legacy rail-and-cart system to significantly improve material movement efficiency and safety. Impact on Production: This upgrade is a key enabler to de-bottleneck operations, allowing the Company to reach its initial 350 tpd milestone more reliably and quickly, while also providing the necessary infrastructure to support higher throughput rates in the future. This upgrade is a key enabler to de-bottleneck operations, allowing the Company to reach its initial 350 tpd milestone more reliably and quickly, while also providing the necessary infrastructure to support higher throughput rates in the future. Design: The expanded underground development will have dimensions of 3.5 m by 3.5 m, which allows for the accommodation of modern equipment, improved operational airflow and safety factors. Background Based on the technical design work in the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment (Bethania Silver Project - NI 43-101 Technical Report, Amended and Restated Preliminary Economic Assessment, October 20, 2023), the initial plan was to use the two pre-existing adits independently to achieve production of up to 350 tpd. However, more recent operational analysis identified an opportunity to add expanded infrastructure to accelerate production in the short term and allow for increased capacity in the longer term. The current mine is accessed by two adits equipped with a narrow-gauge track for rail carts. The new internal development, with a cross-sectional area more than double that of the existing infrastructure, is designed to accommodate trackless, light-tonnage haulage vehicles (LTHVs). This transition from a legacy rail system to modern rubber-tired equipment is the cornerstone of a broader shift to semi-mechanized mining, which blends traditional methods with more efficient and modern material handling capabilities. It is important to note that while this new infrastructure is being developed, the current materials handling system (i.e. rail) can continue to operate as previously planned. Given the vast benefits expected for this modernization, the design was added to the registered mine plan (filed annually with government authorities) at the end of 2024, and internal budgeting suggested that construction could begin as soon as at the end of 2025. If funded exclusively through internally generated cash flow, the project would be expected to take until mid-to-late 2027 for completion, while production continued to use the two pre-existing adits independently in the normal course. Kuya Silver's recently improved financial strength allows the Company to move more quickly on this critical growth initiative, and subject to the successful selection of the construction strategy and mobilization, could be completed more than a year sooner than previously expected. "This modernization program is the critical path to accelerating our production profile and unlocking higher throughput rates," said Christian Aramayo, Chief Operating Officer of Kuya Silver. "The analysis by our operations team was clear: developing this 3.5m x 3.5m internal infrastructure to connect our main production levels is the key to transitioning from a legacy rail system to modern, efficient, and safer trackless haulage. This is not just an incremental improvement; it's a fundamental upgrade to the mine's logistics that will provide immediate benefits in safety and efficiency. It de-risks our path to 350 tpd and provides the optionality we need for future growth." *Note: The Bethania Project preliminary economic assessment, updated October 20, 2023, is available on the Company's website, https://www.kuyasilver.com/investor/reports and on SEDAR+ https://www.sedarplus.ca. Enhanced Geological Program For Mine Planning and Resource Growth In parallel, Kuya Silver plans to commence an underground geological program to support operations within the Santa Elena concession. These works are designed to gather critical data from deeper levels to inform short, mid, and long-term mine planning. Activities: The program includes rehabilitation of existing work areas, preparation of underground operational maneuver chambers, and approximately 4,000-5,000 metres of underground bore holes from within the mine. The program includes rehabilitation of existing work areas, preparation of underground operational maneuver chambers, and approximately 4,000-5,000 metres of underground bore holes from within the mine. Scope of Work: To support operations, the program includes 30-35 bore holes planned to get a better understanding of the depth extension of the three primary vein systems at Santa Elena Concession of the Bethania mine, as well as testing potential extension(s) to the east within the same concession. To support operations, the program includes 30-35 bore holes planned to get a better understanding of the depth extension of the three primary vein systems at Santa Elena Concession of the Bethania mine, as well as testing potential extension(s) to the east within the same concession. Purpose: The primary goal is to gain a better understanding of the continuity, geometry and grade of the known mineralized structures at depth. A secondary benefit is to gather additional data on the rock mechanics, which is important to planning the support and safety systems at depth. The information gathered is essential for detailed mine sequencing, resource confidence, and assessing the potential to extend the life of mine through an increase in the resources. The primary goal is to gain a better understanding of the continuity, geometry and grade of the known mineralized structures at depth. A secondary benefit is to gather additional data on the rock mechanics, which is important to planning the support and safety systems at depth. The information gathered is essential for detailed mine sequencing, resource confidence, and assessing the potential to extend the life of mine through an increase in the resources. Location: All work will be conducted underground and within the Santa Elena concession, focusing on the western portion of the concession which hosts the three primary vein systems: Espanola, 12 de Mayo, and Victoria. David Stein, Kuya Silver's President and CEO, remarked, "This investment is laser-focused on accelerating our path to cash flow and building a more valuable, long-life operation. The modernization work is a direct response to our on-the-ground experience and is the key to unlocking higher throughput sooner. The accompanying underground program is equally strategic, designed to give us the in-fill data we need to optimize our mine plan and better understand the true potential at depth. This is a targeted effort to de-risk our future and maximize the value of the Bethania mine for all stakeholders." Background Kuya Silver is preparing to commence geological activities underground at the Bethania Project, the first such program in over four years. Previous operational and technical work, including the 2021 surface program, provided valuable insight into the shallower zones proximal to the current mine workings, allowing for the development of the current geological and production model. The Company's operational model for the western portion of the Santa Elena mining concession is based on three broadly subparallel and subvertical vein systems: Espanola, 12 de Mayo and Victoria. Each of the three vein systems is interpreted to be controlled by the respective dominant vein, while each vein system can host numerous subvertical mineralized splays and more shallowly dipping mineralized branches. In some cases, these branches and splays host mineralization that is also included in the Company's resource estimate (see Bethania Silver Project - NI 43-101 Technical Report, Amended and Restated Preliminary Economic Assessment, October 20, 2023). Given the substantial existing underground development at the Bethania silver mine, the Company has planned to execute all tasks from the underground complying with its submitted mine plan, focusing primarily on gaining geotechnical and structural information at depth from below the current mine workings. The plan is to gain information on the three major vein systems (identified to date) at depth with a series of boreholes along the current length of the mine workings at the 590 level. This program of specialized boreholes serves two primary operational purposes. Firstly, it allows for the improvement of precision of the modelled vein geometry and grade estimates between the 590 level and the upper levels of the mine, thereby supporting more efficient short-term mine planning. Secondly, the data required will be critical for assessing operational continuity at depth and informing future development decisions including the potential to increase resources. Some of the boreholes to support operations are planned to test the continuity of mineralized structures and rock mechanics to the east. The scope and location of these boreholes may be optimized based on initial results and operational requirements. David Stein, Kuya Silver's President and CEO, remarked, "We have been waiting for more than four years for opportunity to test the depth extension of the Bethania vein system to support our mining operations, and we are excited to launch this important program in the coming weeks. The vast majority of the most current resource estimate is restricted to the upper 200 metres, whereas similar vein systems in Peru and elsewhere can extend considerably deeper. Given the Company's greatly improved financial position, and expected ramp-up of production at Bethania, our goal will be to sustain these types of investments to gather geological information for many years, whether it be to expand mineralization at the Bethania silver mine itself or testing the many other silver vein targets and past producing mines on our 4,500 ha land package." Upcoming Webinar The Company is also pleased to announce that Kuya Silver's President & CEO, David Stein, will be presenting an update on production growth and exploration strategy in a live, interactive webinar taking place on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT. To register for the webinar, please click the link below: https://6ix.com/event/bethania-silver-mine-production-and-growth-update National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kevin J. O'Connell, P.E., Independent Technical Advisor to of Kuya Silver and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and David Lewis, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President Exploration with Kuya Silver Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Kuya Silver Corporation Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based, growth-oriented mining company with a focus on silver. Kuya Silver operates the Bethania silver mine in Peru, while developing district-scale silver projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions including Peru and Canada. Reader Advisory This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favorable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264858 SOURCE: Kuya Silver Corporation Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Onyx Gold Corp. (TSXV: ONYX) (OTCQX: ONXGF) ("Onyx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional drill results from the Company's ongoing 25,000 metre drill program (the "Program') at its 100% owned Munro-Croesus Project ("Munro-Croesus" or the "Project"), located 75 km east of Timmins, Ontario. Results are reported today for eight (8) step-out holes drilled on a cross-section located 50 metres west of the Argus North discovery section. This new drilling builds on results reported in June 2025, where four (4) holes included standout intercepts such as 91.0 m grading 1.8 g/t Au, including 32.0 m of 4.0 g/t Au in hole MC25-168 and 59.7 m grading 2.5 g/t Au including 18.7 m grading 5.2 g/t Au in drill hole MC25-171 (see Company news release dated June 26, 2025). Highlights 91.0 m grading 1.1 g/t Au including 4.0 m grading 4.6 g/t Au, and a second deeper intersection of 103.4 m grading 1.1 g/t Au including 38.4 m grading 2.4 g/t Au, in drill hole MC25-177 for a total cumulative width of 194.4 meters of mineralization . 139.1 m grading 0.8 g/t Au including 6.9 m grading 4.3 g/t Au, in drill hole MC25-181, a 50 m down-dip step-out from drill hole MC25-177. 9.8 m grading 2.9 g/t Au including 2.2 m grading 11.8 g/t Au, in drill hole MC25-174, within the Argus Main Zone. 35.0 m grading 1.1 g/t Au including 7.0 m grading 3.4 g/t Au, in drill hole MC25-187A, Step-out drilling at Argus North continues to demonstrate wide intervals of promising gold mineralization over >100 meters of strike length (CS 50 W to CS 50 E) and from surface to >350 meters vertically. The Company has completed 48 drill holes (assays announced for 15 holes to date) completing approximately 15,000 m (60%) of the expanded 25,000 m Program. With approximately $10 M in cash, the Company remains fully funded for all its 2025 exploration programs. The Argus North Zone is open along strike, down-dip and down-plunge. Ongoing plans include step-out drilling along strike on 50-m to 100-m spaced cross-sections designed to extend the limits of the known gold mineralization. "Our latest drilling at Argus North continues to demonstrate broad zones of gold mineralization with multiple higher-grade subintervals," said Brock Colterjohn, President & CEO of Onyx Gold. "Intersecting nearly 200 metres of cumulative mineralization in a single hole underscores the scale of the system, while the presence of higher-grade sub-intervals within these broader envelopes highlights the strength of the gold system. Importantly, mineralization has now been traced from surface to over 300 metres depth and remains open along strike and down-plunge." "The Munro-Croesus project benefits from excellent infrastructure, with all reported gold results located beneath or adjacent to existing logging roads, less than 2 km away from Highway 101 and accessible year-round. With roughly half of our expanded 25,000-metre program still to come, we believe Argus North is only beginning to demonstrate its potential as the Timmins Camp's newest gold discovery." Discussion of 2025 Argus North Results The Argus North Zone is located on the western half of the Munro-Croesus Project, approximately 150 metres north of the regional Pipestone Fault, a major structural corridor that hosts several significant gold deposits in the Timmins camp. Discovery hole MC24-163, reported earlier this year, returned 69.6 m grading 3.4 g/t Au, including 34.5 m grading 5.4 g/t Au and 9.5 m grading 13.9 g/t Au (see Company news release dated April 10, 2025). Argus North lies roughly 100 metres north of the east-west trending Argus Main Zone, which represents a separate 750 m x 200 m near-surface bulk-tonnage gold target (e.g., 1.0 g/t Au over 63.3 m and 0.5 g/t Au over 136 m). Gold mineralization at Argus North is distinguished by both broad zones (50 m to over 100 m) of +1 g/t Au mineralization containing multiple continuous higher-grade sub-intervals. Notable recent high-grade intercepts include 17.0 m grading 5.3 g/t Au in hole MC25-168, 18.7 m grading 5.2 g/t Au in MC25-171, 5.2 m grading 5.1 g/t Au and 6.6 m grading 4.2 g/t Au in MC25-178, 4.0 m grading 6.6 g/t Au in MC25-179, 4.0 m grading 5.9 g/t Au in MC25-180, and 4.0 m grading 4.6 g/t Au in MC25-177. For context, intercepts of this grade and thickness, in addition to the broad zones of +1 g/t Au mineralization, compare favorably with those reported from other major gold deposits in the Timmins camp, underscoring the potential significance of Argus North as a material new gold discovery in the district. Geologically, the high-grade sub-intervals are closely associated with zones of strong albitization and silicification, pyritic stringers, and localized porphyritic intrusions within variolitic basalt and volcanic breccias. This combination of alteration and structural preparation is interpreted to be a key control on gold deposition. Drilling to date demonstrates excellent vertical continuity of mineralization, now traced from surface to over 350 meters depth, with the system remaining open along strike, down-dip and down-plunge. The eight (8) drill holes reported in this news release are all located within 25 m of the same north-south cross-section, situated 50 m west of previously reported drill holes MC24-163/168/171 (see Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3) with approximate 50 m step-outs up-dip and down-dip. The drilling to date has continued to return encouraging results with drill holes MC25-177 and MC25-181 both intersecting plus 100-meter widths of consistent gold mineralization as reported below and in Table 1. The Argus North Zone remains open along strike, down-dip and down-plunge and ongoing plans will continue to see step-out drilling along strike on 50-m to 100-m spaced cross-sections to extend the limits of the known gold mineralization. Argus North Zone 91.0 m grading 1.1 g/t Au, in hole MC25-177 (50 m west of drill hole MC25-163), including 27.0 m grading 2.0 g/t Au, including 4.0 m grading 4.6 g/t Au , AND in hole MC25-177 (50 m west of drill hole MC25-163), including 103.4 m grading 1.1 g/t Au, also in hole MC25-177, including 38.4 m grading 2.4 g/t Au, including 7.0 m grading 3.4 g/t Au also in hole MC25-177, including 53.5 m grading 0.8 g/t Au, in hole MC25-181(50 m down-dip from MC25-177), including 18.7 m grading 1.2 g/t Au, including 4.8 m grading 2.2 g/t Au in hole MC25-181(50 m down-dip from MC25-177), including 139.1 m grading 0.8 g/t Au , also in hole MC25-181, including 8.5 m grading 2.2 g/t Au, including 4.9 m grading 3.1 g/t Au , AND 23.5 m grading 1.7 g/t Au, including 6.9 m grading 4.3 g/t Au , also in hole MC25-181, including 16.0 m grading 1.0 g/t Au , in hole MC25-176A (50 m up-dip from MC25-177), including 4.5 m grading 2.5 g/t Au , in hole MC25-176A (50 m up-dip from MC25-177), including 35.0 m grading 1.1 g/t Au, in hole MC26-187A (25 m east and behind the cross-section), including 7.0 m grading 3.4 g/t A u, in drill hole MC25-187A in hole MC26-187A (25 m east and behind the cross-section), including Argus Main Zone 9.8 m grading 2.9 g/t Au , in hole MC25-174, including 2.2 m grading 11.8 g/t Au , in hole MC25-174, including Note - Drill holes MC25-169 and MC25-170 returned no significant values at Argus North. The Company has completed 48 drill holes (assays announced for 15 holes to date) completing approximately 15,000 m (60%) of the expanded and fully funded $10 M, 25,000 m Program. Figure 1 - Cross-Section Highlighting Drill Holes Reported in this Release - Looking East To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/264938_73d42fb2048f98b8_001full.jpg Figure 2 - Longitudinal-Section Highlighting Drill Holes Reported in this Release - Looking North To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/264938_onyx_figure2.png Figure 3 - Plan Map Highlighting Argus North Zone Drill Holes Reported in this Release To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/264938_73d42fb2048f98b8_003full.jpg Figure 4 - Location of the Munro-Croesus Gold Project, Ontario To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/264938_73d42fb2048f98b8_004full.jpg Table 1 - Significant Assay Results from 2025 Drilling Completed at the Argus North Zone Target From To Length Au Drill Hole (m) (m) (m) (g/t) Argus North MC25-169 No Significant Values MC25-170 No Significant Values MC25-172 110.3 112.5 2.2 1.1 And 247.1 252.0 4.9 0.6 Including 247.1 248.0 0.9 2.4 And 287.0 298.0 11.0 0.5 Including 287.0 288.0 1.0 2.7 And Including 297.0 298.0 1.0 1.6 MC25-174 74.5 75.5 1.0 2.0 And 229.3 239.0 9.8 2.9 Including 236.8 239.0 2.2 11.8 Including 238.1 239.0 0.9 23.3 And 304.0 321.0 17.0 0.6 Including 305.0 313.6 8.6 1.2 Including 305.0 306.0 1.0 4.2 MC25-176A 37.4 72.0 34.6 0.4 Including 44.4 58.5 14.1 0.7 Including 46.2 54.5 8.3 1.1 And 104.0 105.0 1.0 8.0 And 214.0 230.0 16.0 1.0 Including 218.0 222.5 4.5 2.5 Including 221.0 222.5 1.5 4.9 And 255.0 264.0 9.0 1.1 Including 255.0 257.0 2.0 2.4 And 353.5 355.0 1.5 1.3 MC25-177 53.0 103.0 50.0 0.3 Including 79.0 90.0 11.0 0.9 And 227.0 318.0 91.0 1.1 Including 241.0 268.0 27.0 2.0 Including 264.0 268.0 4.0 4.6 And Including 288.0 292.0 4.0 3.3 And Including 307.5 308.5 1.0 5.6 And 361.6 465.0 103.4 1.1 Including 361.6 400.0 38.4 2.4 Including 362.3 364.0 1.7 5.8 And Including 369.0 370.0 1.0 5.2 And Including 380.0 387.0 7.0 3.4 MC25-181 29.8 41.0 11.2 0.9 Including 30.8 33.0 2.2 2.2 And 63.0 116.5 53.5 0.8 Including 71.9 77.7 5.8 1.5 And Including 89.8 108.5 18.7 1.2 Including 90.7 95.5 4.8 2.2 And 142.0 173.5 31.5 0.6 Including 142.0 143.5 1.5 3.9 And Including 164.5 167.6 3.1 2.9 And 239.5 248.5 9.0 1.5 Including 241.0 247.0 6.0 2.0 And 274.5 290.9 16.4 0.3 And 313.6 318.3 4.7 1.7 Including 314.8 317.0 2.2 2.9 And 372.0 511.1 139.1 0.8 Including 375.0 383.5 8.5 2.2 Including 375.0 379.9 4.9 3.1 And Including 410.1 426.0 15.9 1.0 Including 410.1 412.0 1.9 2.1 And Including 444.0 467.5 23.5 1.7 And Including 460.6 467.5 6.9 4.3 MC25-187A 304.1 389.0 84.9 0.7 Including 320.0 332.0 12.0 1.1 And 354.0 389.0 35.0 1.1 Including 357.0 364.0 7.0 3.4 *Intersections are reported as drilled width; true width is estimated to be 70-90% of drilled width. The Munro-Croesus Project The Munro-Croesus Project is located along Highway 101 in the heart of the Abitibi greenstone belt, Canada's premier gold mining jurisdiction (Figure 4). This large, 100% owned land package includes the past-producing Croesus Gold Mine, which yielded some of the highest-grade gold ever mined in Ontario. Extensive land consolidation from 2020-2025 has unified the patchwork of patented and unpatented mining claims surrounding the Croesus Gold Mine into one coherent package and enhanced the project's exploration potential. The Project covers 109 km2 of highly prospective geology within the influence of major gold-bearing structural breaks. Bulk-tonnage gold deposits located in the immediate region include the Fenn-Gib gold project being developed by Mayfair Gold Corp., and the Tower Gold Project being developed by STLLR Gold Inc. About Onyx Gold Onyx Gold is an exploration company focused on well-established Canadian mining jurisdictions, with assets in Timmins, Ontario, and Yukon Territory. The Company's extensive portfolio of quality gold projects in the greater Timmins gold camp includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, renowned for its high-grade mineralization, plus two additional earlier-stage large exploration properties, Golden Mile and Timmins South. The Golden Mile 140 km2 property is located 9 km northeast of Newmont's multi-million-ounce Hoyle Pond deposit in Timmins. The Timmins South 187 km2 property is located to the south and southeast of Timmins and surrounds the Shaw dome structure. Onyx Gold also controls four properties in the Selwyn Basin area of Yukon Territory, which is currently gaining significance due to recent discoveries in the area. Onyx Gold's experienced board and senior management team are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration. On Behalf of Onyx Gold Corp. "Brock Colterjohn" President & CEO Additional Notes: Starting azimuth, dip and final length (Azimuth/-Dip/Length) for the eight (8) drill holes reported today are noted as follows: MC25-169 (180/45/354), MC25-170 (000/45/267), MC25-172 (180/52/420), MC25-174 (180/45/331), MC25-176A (000/45/450), MC25-177 (002/57/492), MC25-181 (002/54/531), and MC25-187A (359/48/462). Samples of drill core were cut by a diamond blade rock saw, with half of the cut core placed in individual sealed polyurethane bags and half placed back in the original core box for permanent storage. Sample lengths typically vary from a minimum 0.2-meter interval to a maximum 1.5-meter interval, with an average 0.5 to 1.0-meter sample length. Drill core samples were delivered by truck in sealed woven plastic bags to ALS Geochemistry laboratory facility in Timmins, Ontario for sample preparation with final analysis at ALS Geochemistry Analytical Lab facility in North Vancouver, BC. ALS Geochemistry operate meeting all requirements of International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015. Gold is determined by fire-assay fusion of a 50-gram sub-sample with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Samples that return values >10 ppm gold from fire assay and AAS are determined by using fire assay and a gravimetric finish. Various metals including silver, gold, copper, lead and zinc are analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectroscopy, following multi-acid digestion. The elements copper, lead and zinc are determined by ore grade assay for samples that return values >10,000 ppm by ICP analysis. Silver is determined by ore-grade assay for samples that return >100 ppm. All ALS Geochemistry sites operate under a single Global Geochemistry Quality Manual that complies with ISO/IEC 17025:2017. ALS Geochemistry follows the quality management and operational guidelines set out in the international standards ISO/IEC 17025 - "General Requirement for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories" and ISO 9001 - "Quality Management Systems". The Company maintains a robust QA/QC program that includes the collection and analysis of duplicate samples and the insertion of blanks and standards (certified reference material). Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, P.Eng., Executive Vice President for Onyx Gold Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 1. Fenn-Gib Gold Project and Tower Gold Project mineral resources compiled from public sources and are provided for general information purposes. Readers are cautioned that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in adjacent properties and they are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties or any potential exploration thereof. Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the potential significance of results from the new Argus North discovery are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital, and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264938 SOURCE: Onyx Gold Corp. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES WINNIPEG, MB / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Bird River Resources Inc. (the "Company") (CSE:BDR) announces that it has closed a third tranche of a non-brokered best efforts private placement financing (the "Offering") of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") for aggregate gross proceeds of $603,631.68, together with the previously announced two tranches closing of the Offering, totaling $1,678,447.44. All currency references in the news release are in Canadian currency unless otherwise noted. The Offering consisted of the issuance of 7,545,396 Common Shares at a price of $0.08 per Common Share. No finders fees or commissions were paid in connection with the Offering. The gross proceeds of the Offering will be used for general corporate and working capital requirements of the Company. The Common Shares were issued by way of a private placement pursuant to exemptions from prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to resale restrictions, including a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. Early Warning Disclosure In connection with the Offering, Eggs Holdings LLC (the "Subscriber") acquired 6,776,346 Common shares (the "Acquired Shares") pursuant to a subscription agreement entered into between the Subscriber and the Company. The Acquired Shares beneficially held by the Subscriber represents approximately 12.89% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis. The Subscriber acquired the Common Shares pursuant to the Offering for investment purposes and intends to review its investment in the Company on a continuing basis. Depending upon a number of factors including market and other conditions, the Subscriber may from time to time increase or decrease its beneficial ownership, control, direction or economic exposure over securities of the Company. This news release is being issued under the early warning provisions of Canadian securities legislation. An early warning report will be electronically filed with the applicable securities commission in each jurisdiction where the Company is reporting and will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The securities of the Company referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Bird River Bird River is a Winnipeg, Manitoba based resource company focused on advancing quality mineral exploration and development properties. The Company currently holds a net royalty smelter interest in a platinum palladium property in the Bird River Sill area of northeastern Manitoba near the Ontario border. Additional information regarding the Company is available at www.sedarplus.ca. For further information, please contact: Jon Bridgman, CEO & Director Bird River Resources Inc. Tel: 1-877-587-0777 Email: jonbirdriver@gmail.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be considered forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, amongst others, the anticipated use of the proceeds from the Offering and statements regarding the ROU and operations of the Processing Plant. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: adverse changes in regulations; economic and market stability; commodity prices; reliance on key personnel; foreign exchange risks; availability of capital; and risks inherent with conducting mining and processing-related operations in Mexico. 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 press release. SOURCE: Bird River Resources Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/oil-gas-and-energy/bird-river-announces-closing-of-3rd-tranche-of-common-share-financing-for-gross-1068027 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Supreme Critical Metals Inc. (CSE:CRIT)(FWB:VR6)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Supreme" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced acquisition of the Silver Vista Silver-Copper Property located 55 kilometres northeast of Smithers, BC. The Company issued 1,000,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.10 in accordance with the terms of the September 25, 2024 Option Agreement. The common shares are subject to a four-month and one-day hold period. The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Robert Weicker to the Advisory Board. Mr. Weicker brings over 30 years of extensive experience in the minerals exploration and mining industry, having worked with both major mining companies such as Asarco, Noranda, and Lac Minerals, as well as junior mining enterprises. Mr. Weicker has been involved with the Silver Vista Property since late 2004. Mr. Weicker's impressive background includes pivotal roles in the development and production of Canada's largest gold mine, as well as the successful launch of an open-pit zinc operation and an underground gold mine. His vast expertise spans numerous exploration projects in precious metals, base metals, and industrial metals, making him a formidable asset to our team. In his independent consulting capacity, Mr. Weicker has honed his skills in exploration, management, and administrative roles, further enhancing his ability to contribute meaningfully to Supreme's strategic objectives. His previous roles included proficiency in writing and co-authoring prefeasibility studies, feasibility studies, and National Instrument 43-101 reports, both domestically and internationally, which positioned him as a leader in technical reporting and valuation studies, including those reviewed by the TSX Venture Exchange and AIM (Alternative Investment Market). "We are thrilled to welcome Robert to our team," said George Tsafalas, President of Supreme "His wealth of knowledge and proven track record in the mining sector will be invaluable as we advance our exploration initiatives. We are confident that his leadership and expertise will drive our projects to new heights." Mr. Weicker expressed his enthusiasm for joining Supreme stating, "I am excited to be part of a dynamic team that is committed to pioneering new opportunities in the mining sector. I look forward to applying my experience to support the Company's growth and success." About Supreme Critical Metals Inc. SUPREME CRITICAL METALS INC. is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation actively exploring and investigating multiple opportunities in silver, copper, uranium and precious metals. The Company adheres to strategic guidelines that prioritize regions conducive to mining, supported by favourable government regulations and existing infrastructure. For further information, please contact: George Tsafalas, Director Phone: Toll Free 1(778) 373-8578 E-mail: info@supremecritalmetals.com www.supremecriticalmetals.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Such forward-looking information is provided to inform the Company's shareholders and potential investors about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking information contain these identifying words. More particularly and without limitation, the forward-looking information in this news release includes: expectations regarding the Company's business plans and operations. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions that have been used to develop such information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the Company's current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs based on information currently available to the Company. Whether actual results, performance, or achievements will conform to Supreme's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from Supreme's expectations. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. SOURCE: Supreme Critical Metals Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/supreme-critical-metals-inc.-announces-closing-of-silver-vista-silver-copper-prop-1068040 CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / A new study reveals that while there is wide agreement that student engagement plays a vital role in learning, educators continue to face uncertainty about what engagement looks like, how best to measure it, and how to sustain it. Education Insights 2025-2026: Fueling Learning Through Engagement captures prevailing attitudes and beliefs on the topic of engagement from 1,398 superintendents, teachers, parents, and students from across the United States. Survey data was collected in May 2025 by Hanover Research on behalf of Discovery Education, the creators of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world. "Discovery Education conducted the Education Insights report to gain a deeper understanding of how engagement is defined, observed, and nurtured in K-12 classrooms nationwide, and we are thankful to the participants who shared their perspectives and insights with us,"said Brian Shaw, Discovery Education's Chief Executive Officer. "One of the most important findings of this report is that engagement is seen as essential to learning, but is inconsistently defined, observed, and supported in K-12 classrooms. I believe this highlights the need for a more standardized approach to measuring student engagement and connecting it to academic achievement. Discovery Education has embarked on an effort to address those challenges, and we look forward to sharing more as our work progresses." Key findings of the Education Insights 2025-2026: Fueling Learning Through Engagementreport include: Engagement is broadly recognized as a key driver of learning and success. 93% of educators surveyed agreed that student engagement is a critical metric for understanding overall achievement, and 99% of superintendents polled believe student engagement is one of the top predictors of success at school. Finally, 92% of students said that engaging lessons make school more enjoyable. But educators disagree on the top indicators of engagement . 72% of teachers rated asking thoughtful questions as the strongest indicator of student engagement. However, 54% of superintendents identified performing well on assessments as a top engagement indicator. This is nearly twice as high as teachers, who rank assessments among the lowest indicators of engagement. School leaders and teachers disagree on if their schools have systems for measuring engagement. While 99% of superintendents and 88% of principals said their district has an intentional approach for measuring engagement, only 60% of teachers agreed. Further, nearly 1/3 of teachers said that a lack of clear, shared definitions of student engagement is a top challenge to measuring engagement effectively. Educators and students differ on their perceptions of engagement levels. While 63% of students agreed with the statement "Students are highly engaged in school," only 45% of teachers and 51% of principals surveyed agreed with the same statement. Students rate their own engagement much higher than their peers. 70% of elementary students perceived themselves as engaged, but only 42% perceived their peers as engaged. 59% of middle school students perceived themselves engaged in learning, but only 36% perceived their peers as engaged. Finally, 61% of high school students perceived themselves as engaged, but only 39% described their peers as engaged. Proximity to learning changes impressions of AI. Two-thirds of students believe AI could help them learn faster, yet fewer than half of teachers report using AI themselves to complete tasks. Only 57% of teachers agreed with the statement "I frequently learn about positive ways students are using AI," while 87% of principals and 98% of superintendents agree. Likewise, only 53% of teachers agreed with the statement "I am excited about the potential for AI to support teaching and learning," while 83% of principals and 94% of superintendents agreed. A complete copy of Education Insights 2025-2026: Fueling Learning Through Engagementcan be downloaded here. On Wednesday, October 8 at 2:00 PM ET, Discovery Education is hosting a special, town hall-style webinar during which education leaders from across the nation will share their thoughts and insights on this report and its findings. Find more details and register for this event here. For more information about Discovery Education's award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. ### About Discovery Education Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions help educators engage all students and support higher academic achievement. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools that are effective, engaging, and easy to use, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Learn more at www.discoveryeducation.com. Contact Stephen Wakefield Discovery Education Phone: 202-316-6615 Email: swakefield@discoveryed.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Discovery Education on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Discovery Education Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/discovery-education Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Discovery Education View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/new-research-highlights-both-the-importance-and-challenges-of-stu-1068160 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FSE: 8BN) ("Optimi" or the "Company"), a Canadian manufacturer of GMP psychedelic medicines, is pleased to announce the commercial launch of its natural psilocybin capsules in Australia, which are now being prescribed to patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression ("TRD") under the Authorised Prescriber Scheme. The initial shipment of 1,000 psilocybin capsules, each containing 5mg of standardized naturally-derived psilocybin, was manufactured entirely in-house at Optimi's GMP-licensed facility in British Columbia, Canada. Optimi's vertically integrated process spans cultivation, extraction, formulation, and encapsulation under its Health Canada-issued Drug Establishment License, enabling the finished drug product to be prescribed for the indication of TRD in Australian patients. Following independent Certificate of Analysis ("COA") testing confirming compliance with Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration ("TGA") specifications, the export was completed with clearance from Health Canada, the TGA, and Australia's BICON Biosecurity Authority. Mind Medicine Australia, Optimi's authorized commercial partner, will oversee distribution and patient coordination through Australia's network of clinics and hospitals. Patient-reported outcome data where possible will be collected throughout treatment, supporting one of the most comprehensive real-world evidence sets for psilocybin to date. This launch follows Optimi's successful introduction of MDMA sales in Australia for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD") in October 2024, marking two psychedelic finished drug products now commercially available under a government-sanctioned prescription framework. Dane Stevens, Chief Executive Officer of Optimi, said: "Launching our 5mg natural psilocybin finished drug product alongside our 40mg and 60mg MDMA capsules is an exciting milestone for Optimi. For the first time, both of our GMP psychedelic medicines are available through a regulated government program - a major step forward in our mission to deliver scalable psychedelic treatments directly to clinics." Peter Hunt AM, Chair of Mind Medicine Australia, added: "This is a significant step for Australian patients suffering from TRD. Much of this initial shipment will be allocated across our network of clinics, underscoring the growing demand in the market today. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Optimi to ensure broad, cost-effective access to patients throughout the country." How to Access Optimi's Capsules To learn more about accessing Optimi's psilocybin or MDMA capsules, please contact sales@optimihealth.ca. For patients in Australia, please contact Optimi's authorized partner Mind Medicine Australia at medicines@mindmedicineaustralia.org. About Optimi Health Corp. Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FSE: 8BN) is a leading producer of prescribed psychedelic treatments for mental health therapies. As a Health Canada-licensed, GMP compliant pharmaceutical manufacturer producing validated MDMA and botanical psilocybin products from two 10,000-square-foot facilities in British Columbia, Optimi supplies active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished dosage forms to regulated channels, with products currently in market for prescription use in Australia via the Authorized Prescriber Scheme and accessible in Canada through the Special Access Program. For more information, please visit www.optimihealth.ca. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies, certain of which are unknown. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "expects," "will continue," "is anticipated," "anticipates," "believes," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "forecast," "projection," "strategy," "objective," and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements. These statements may involve estimates, assumptions, and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Optimi's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include but are not limited to those factors which are discussed in the Company's long form prospectus dated February 12, 2021, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Except as expressly required by applicable law, Optimi undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Optimi to predict all of them or assess the impact of each factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization 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/264871 SOURCE: Optimi Health Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS) (OTCQB: GSPRF) (FSE: L5Y) ("Golden Spike" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Winkie drilling and soil sampling programs on its 100%-owned Gregory River Copper-Gold Property ("the Property"), located in western Newfoundland. The crews have now demobilized from the field. "We are very pleased with the efficiency and execution of this summer's exploration work," said Keith Anderson, President and CEO of Golden Spike. "The combination of targeted drilling and soil sampling represents an important step forward in advancing our understanding of the project and defining areas for further exploration." The Winkie drilling program included eight, shallow drill holes, totalling approximately 423.7 m that tested several priority, ATV trail-accessible targets, including the Lode 9 Northeast volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") target and the Lower Mitchell and Vein Zone West vein-style copper-gold+/-zinc targets (refer to press release "Golden Spike Commences 2025 Exploration Program at Gregory River" dated July 8, 2025). Drilling was completed by Majors Contracting Ltd., based in Deer Lake, Newfoundland, using a UTV-mounted Winkie drill rig producing AQ diameter core (27 mm). Drill holes were collared at -45 and drilled to depths ranging between 34 m and 63 m. The Winkie drill is designed as a prospecting tool to explore near-surface prospects and anomalies that, if warranted, can later be followed up with a larger rig capable of deeper holes and larger diameter core. In addition, the Company completed a grid of soil samples over the Steep Brook North target area, which is high-priority segment of the Gregory River VMS-Target Corridor that occurs immediately north of the Steep Brook target and has seen very limited amounts of historical exploration. Significant portions of the area are covered by overburden with limited amounts of outcrop exposure, making soil sampling a good first pass exploration tool to evaluate new target areas. Soil samples were collected over a northeast oriented grid, covering an area of approximately 2.6 km by 2.0 km. A total of 623 soil samples were collected over the grid on 200 m spaced lines with 50 m sample spacing along each line. Soil samples were collected using a hand soil auger from the B-horizon. Soil samples were placed in kraft soil sample bags and all associated data for each sample location was recorded, along with a photograph of the sample. The final Winkie drill holes have been logged and samples collected, and the final batches of core samples have been shipped to Eastern Analytical Laboratory in Springdale Newfoundland, along with all of the soil samples. All samples will be analysed for gold by 30 g fire assay with an AA finish and a 34-element ICP suite of elements. The Company has incorporated a quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") program during the Winkie drill hole sampling, which includes the regular insertion of Company standards (commercially purchased certified reference material), and coarse blanks. Duplicate soil samples were collected during the soil sampling program at an approximate frequency of 5%. Analytical results will be released once received and reviewed by the Company's technical team. The Company is anticipating that all drill and soil results will be available by October. The Company is planning to return to the Property later this fall to complete additional prospecting and rock/soil sampling over several key target areas that are accessible by ATV trails. The areas to be explored are being determined by the Company's exploration team and will be reported when the program is initiated. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Mr. Robert Cinits, P.Geo, a Director of the Company and a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Golden Spike Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS) (OTCQB: GSPRF) (FSE: L5Y) is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on identifying, acquiring and unlocking value in mineral opportunities in Canada and other low-risk jurisdictions. The Company currently holds 100% interest in the 5,175-hectare Gregory River Property in Newfoundland, strategically centered over an approximate 11-kilometre-long stretch of the Gregory River VMS-belt, a north-northeast trending corridor of very prospective ground with potential to host Cyprus-type polymetallic VMS deposits. In addition, the Property hosts a cluster of historically explored, high-grade, copper gold vein structures. Golden Spike Resources remains dedicated to sustainable exploration practices and continues to collaborate with local communities, consultants, and stakeholders as it progresses its exploration initiatives. "Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" occur. Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, unanticipated costs, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets, the lack of availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, failure of the exploration program, including the recent IP survey and the recent drilling program to result in the discovery of significant precious and/or base metal mineralization, and those risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the Company's disclosure record under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained herein. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement or forward-looking information disclosed herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264872 SOURCE: Golden Spike Resources Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) (OTCQX: KLDCF) (FSE: 3WQ0) ("Kenorland" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has acquired, through map staking, 114,084 hectares of mineral claims approximately 25km north of Borden Lake in Ontario (the "KSZ Project"). About the KSZ Project The KSZ Project encompasses a prospective region within the Abitibi-Wawa Sub-province of the Archean Superior Province. The geology is characterized by strongly deformed volcanic and sedimentary sequences, intruded by syn- to post-tectonic plutonic rocks, and metamorphosed from upper amphibolite to granulite facies in the Archean, and later exhumed along the prominent Kapuskasing Structural Zone. Despite the project's favourable geological setting, very little historical exploration has been conducted. This vast underexplored area has the potential to host significant orogenic gold mineralisation in a world-class terrane, exemplified by Discovery Silver's Borden Lake gold deposit, which currently contains 741,000 ounces of Measured and Indicated resources, 230,000 ounces of Inferred resources, and has produced approximately 600,000 ounces since 20191. Kenorland plans to initiate a first-pass regional till geochemical sampling program at the KSZ Project in Q3 2025. Results will guide future drill targeting in this underexplored and highly prospective terrane. Figure 1. Geological map illustrating KSZ Project location in Ontario To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/264927_4997101d949e2b9e_001full.jpg Figure 2. KSZ Project location in Ontario To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/264927_4997101d949e2b9e_002full.jpg 1 NI 43-101 Technical Report on Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Porcupine Complex, Ontario, Canada, prepared for Discovery Silver Corp., effective date January 13, 2025. Qualified Person Janek Wozniewski, B.Sc., P.Geo. (EGBC #172781, APEGS #77522, EGMB #48045, PGO #3824), Vice President of Operations at Kenorland, a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. About Kenorland Minerals Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) is a well-financed mineral exploration company focused on project generation and early-stage exploration in North America. Kenorland's exploration strategy is to advance greenfields projects through systematic, property-wide, phased exploration surveys financed primarily through exploration partnerships including option to joint venture agreements. Kenorland holds a 4% net smelter return royalty on the Frotet Project in Quebec which is owned by Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. The Frotet Project hosts the Regnault gold system, a greenfields discovery made by Kenorland and Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. in 2020. Kenorland is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Further information can be found on the Company's website www.kenorlandminerals.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Zach Flood President, CEO & Director Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264927 SOURCE: Kenorland Minerals Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") is pleased to announce drill core assay results from its ongoing, fully funded 60,000 metre drilling campaign at the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname (Figure 1). The Company's deep drilling program at Upper Antino has successfully intersected multiple zones of high-grade gold mineralization in FR138, including at 18.0 metres (m) of 6.14 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) and 5.0 m of 10.61 g/t Au (Figure 2) from ~450.0 m vertical depth, further building on initial results from the preliminary deep drilling program as outlined on August 11, 2025. Colin Padget, President and CEO, commented: "These results support our geological model and confirm that high-grade mineralization continues at depth, significantly increasing the potential scale of Upper Antino. High-grade intersections in drill hole FR138 include 18.0 m of 6.14 g/t Au and 5.0 m of 10.61 g/t Au demonstrating that Founders is beginning to successfully target high-grade gold at depth. We are excited about the ongoing drilling at Upper Antino and Maria Geralda and look forward to getting back out to other exploration targets this Fall." Drilling Highlights High-grade depth extension success: Drill hole FR138 supports the thesis of repeating, high-grade ore shoots at over 450 m vertical depth within broader, mineralized structures (Figures 3 & 4) 18.0 m of 6.14 g/t Au from 550.0 m 5.0 m of 10.61 g/t Au from 516.0 m Drill hole FR138 supports the thesis of repeating, high-grade ore shoots at over 450 m vertical depth within broader, mineralized structures (Figures 3 & 4) Parallel shears between Froyo and Donut: Recent intercepts demonstrate the continued growth along strike and at depth in parallel shears Mineralization in parallel shears to the north intersecting 15.6 m of 1.25 g/t Au from surface (FR134) Furthest east parallel structure confirmed to ~250 m vertical depth with 8.0 m of 1.11 g/t Au from 312.0 m (FR138) Gold vein intersected in recent drilling testing southern extension : assays are pending and will be released once received (Figure 5) Recent intercepts demonstrate the continued growth along strike and at depth in parallel shears Geology Discussion Systematic drilling at Upper Antino has intercepted multiple kilometre-scale, gold-bearing shears with strong vertical continuity. The current deep drilling program has doubled the vertical extent from 280 m to ~500 m vertical depth with FR138 confirming the presence of high-grade gold at these levels with 18.0 m of 6.14 g/t Au and 5.0 m of 10.61 g/t Au in drill core beginning at approximately ~450 m vertical depth. We note the increasing width of an intrusive body (tonalite) with depth and a coincident increase in strain intensity throughout. Figure 3 shows the highest-grade intervals in drill hole FR138 occur near the footwall margin of this intrusive, with gold also present in other substantial shears up-hole. Step-out exploration drilling approximately 500 metres north did not intersect significant gold mineralization over a 4-hole fence (FR110-113), however, gold was present over a 24-metre interval in FR129 extending Upper Antino gold mineralization by ~200 m north of previous work. Follow-up drilling intends to target west of FR110 where gold mineralization may extend following the dominant regional geologic fabric and where recent mapping/prospecting work identified quartz veins and shearing at surface. Ongoing Work at Antino Four drill rigs are currently turning at Antino. The Company's current activities are: Continue drilling along strike and at depth on Upper Antino Drilling at Maria Geralda with results pending Completing Parbo auger program Ongoing surface exploration programs to provide structural context for Phase 2 drilling across high-priority targets including Van Gogh, Da Vinci and Lawa This comprehensive exploration approach positions Founders to unlock the Antino Project's full potential while systematically advancing multiple high-potential targets. About Founders Metals Inc. Founders Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on advancing the Antino Gold Project located in Suriname, South America, in the heart of the Guiana Shield. Antino is 20,000 hectares and has produced over 500,000 ounces of gold from historical surface and alluvial mining to date1. The Company is systematically advancing one of Suriname's most promising gold exploration and development opportunities with drill-confirmed, district-scale potential. Founders is committed to responsible exploration, community engagement, and delivering long-term value to shareholders through technical excellence and strategic growth in the Guiana Shield. 12022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo. Figure 1: Antino Property Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/264937_d21c140b5474ca68_001full.jpg Figure 2: Upper Antino Plan Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/264937_d21c140b5474ca68_002full.jpg - Figure 3: Upper Antino Cross-Section To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/264937_d21c140b5474ca68_003full.jpg Figure 4: Upper Antino Long Section To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/264937_d21c140b5474ca68_004full.jpg Figure 5: Gold Vein in Southern Extension on Pending Froyo Hole To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/264937_d21c140b5474ca68_005full.jpg Table 1: Drill Hole Assay Results Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval* (m) Au (g/t) FR138 312.0 320.0 8.00 1.11 and 330.0 334.0 4.00 0.90 and 516.0 521.0 5.00 10.61 and 550.0 568.0 18.00 6.14 and 593.0 595.0 2.00 13.57 FR134 0.0 15.6 15.60 1.25 and 81.0 83.0 2.00 1.13 and 197.0 208.0 11.00 0.29 and 298.0 299.0 1.00 3.76 and 354.0 366.0 12.00 0.34 FR130 0.0 3.60 3.60 0.70 and 17.1 18.6 1.50 2.24 and 267.0 269.0 2.00 1.24 FR132 NSA FR129 125.0 149.0 24.00 0.32 FR127 125.0 127.0 2.00 0.46 and 284.0 286.0 2.00 0.45 FR124 NSA FR113 NSA** FR112 NSA** FR111 NSA** FR110 NSA** *Intervals are down-hole depths. True widths of mineralization are estimated to be approximately 85% of the down-hole interval based on preliminary results and observations. All are diamond drill holes. ** Step-out exploration holes >500 metres from known mineralization when drilled Table 2: Drill Hole Locations Hole ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Depth (m) FR138 817316.02 401509.26 195.57 249.90 -55.10 701.00 FR134 817132.59 401603.90 157.26 260.10 -60.40 566.00 FR132 817207.68 401934.67 226.38 260.00 -50.40 412.95 FR130 817105.66 401699.79 158.78 260.30 -60.30 587.06 FR129 816847.41 402188.74 232.03 260.10 -50.00 260.12 FR127 817020.83 402226.66 257.83 260.30 -50.00 301.77 FR124 817175.23 402245.71 255.70 260.00 -50.40 299.02 FR113 817261.99 402516.00 158.51 260.00 -50.20 254.05 FR112 817115.84 402523.37 157.72 260.00 -50.00 200.00 FR111 817007.58 402524.63 167.93 260.10 -50.30 218.07 FR110 816867.37 402500.33 172.53 259.80 -50.50 212.00 *The coordinate reference system is WGS 84, UTM zone 21N (EPSG 32621) Quality Assurance and Control Samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project. Qualified Persons The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Per: "Colin Padget" Colin Padget President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the Company's prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264937 SOURCE: Founders Metals Inc. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks are up firmly in positive territory on Wednesday, recovering strongly after suffering a setback in the previous session amid concerns over debt sustainability in major economies across Europe and Asia, and political uncertainty in France. Investors are also digesting the latest batch of regional economic data. Data showing an improvement in France Services Sector activity is aiding sentiment a bit. The benchmark CAC 40, which climbe to 7,736.76 earlier in the session, pared some gains subsequently, and was up 73.68 points or 0.96% at 7,727.93 a few minutes ago. Schneider Electric is gaining 3.6% and STMicroElectronics is up 3.25%. ArcelorMittal and Airbus are up 2.5% and 2.4%, respectively. LVMH, Capgemini, Thales, Hermes International, Pernod Ricard, Veolia Environment, Publicis Groupe, Saint-Gobain, Legrand, Sanofi and Safran are up 1 to 2%. Orange and Teleperformance are down by about 1% from their previous closing levels. Renault, Vivendi and AXA are down with moderate losses. The HCOB Composite PMI in France increased to 49.8 in August from 48.6 in July of 2025, data from S&P Global showed. The Services PMI rose to 49.8 in August 2025 from 48.5 in July, slightly above the initial estimate of 49.7. This marked its highest level in a year. The HCOB Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) edged up from 50.9 in July to 51.0, marking a 12-month high. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Terra Firma Energy is thrilled to applaud the successful Live Transmission System (LTS) Futures trial conducted by SGN, in which an existing natural gas pipeline was repurposed to carry hydrogen, marking a first-of-its-kind milestone in the UK. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903191552/en/ Miners Road, Wrexham, UK is one of Terra Firma Energy's flexible generating projects and part of their larger portfolio of flexible generating assets powered by Hydrogen ready gen sets. This crucial proof-of-concept not only underscores industry confidence in hydrogen as a viable clean energy carrier but also complements Terra Firma Energy's own strategic infrastructure, which is fully hydrogen-ready and primed to support the flexible energy transition. Key Highlights SGN's Achievement SGN's live trial, repurposing a 30 km stretch of the Local Transmission System for hydrogen transport, validates the feasibility of hydrogen-ready gas infrastructure in the UK. This breakthrough aligns with the broader energy strategy of decarbonising flexible generation and storage solutions. SGN's live trial, repurposing a 30 km stretch of the Local Transmission System for hydrogen transport, validates the feasibility of hydrogen-ready gas infrastructure in the UK. This breakthrough aligns with the broader energy strategy of decarbonising flexible generation and storage solutions. Terra Firma Energy: Hydrogen-Ready and Ready to Act All of Terra Firma Energy's generation sites are specifically equipped to transition to hydrogen fuel. Our use of hydrogen-compatible generation equipment ensures that we can step up as hydrogen's role in decarbonising the grid grows. This positions Terra Firma Energy not just as an observer, but as a partner in the hydrogen-enabled shift. All of Terra Firma Energy's generation sites are specifically equipped to transition to hydrogen fuel. Our use of hydrogen-compatible generation equipment ensures that we can step up as hydrogen's role in decarbonising the grid grows. This positions Terra Firma Energy not just as an observer, but as a partner in the hydrogen-enabled shift. Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition SGN's achievement sets an important precedent. With Terra Firma Energy's hydrogen-ready infrastructure, we stand prepared to bridge the gap between pilot demonstration and full-scale deployment, accelerating the adoption of low-carbon dispatchable power across the UK. Quotes William Davies, Managing Director, Terra Firma Energy: "SGN's pioneering LTS Futures trial represents a watershed moment for the UK's energy transition, demonstrating in real-world conditions that existing gas infrastructure can be repurposed for hydrogen. At Terra Firma Energy, with our hydrogen-ready generation sites, we're uniquely positioned to support and scale this vision. We look forward to collaborating with industry and regulators to bring hydrogen-powered flexibility to the grid." Zach Dodds-Brown, Development Director, Terra Firma Energy: "Our investments in hydrogen-compatible gensets and modular deployment designs mean we're ready to integrate and ramp up hydrogen-driven operations. SGN's success is encouraging, and we're committed to advancing technology that delivers clean, reliable, and flexible power to communities and businesses across Britain." For more news from Terra Firma Energy please clickhere Notes to Editors About Terra Firma Energy Terra Firma Energy delivers flexible, low-carbon power solutions across the UK, specialising in agile generation assets designed for a rapidly evolving energy landscape. With hydrogen-ready infrastructure and a focus on grid support, Terra Firma Energy is at the forefront of enabling a reliable, resilient, and renewable future. Website Home Terra Firma Energy LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/terra-firma-energy-limited/ YouTube https://youtube.com/@terrafirmaenergy?si=QXIeYkWajprAowg6 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090781489759 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/terrafirmaenergyuk/ X https://x.com/tfenergyuk?s=21&t=-U9hoHD9f4OzkyQSpY301A View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903191552/en/ Contacts: Terra Firma Energy Limited Helen Aletras Head of PR and Communications. Tel: +44 (0)203 890 3116. Helen.aletras@terrafirmaenergy.com Following the Successful Introduction in the European Union, SRS Acquiom Now Introduces Technology Enabled Suite of Payments Administration and Escrow Services for M&A Transactions in the United Kingdom SRS Acquiom, which provides a comprehensive platform to help manage merger and acquisition transactions and bilateral and syndicated loan facilities, today announced it has been authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom ("UK") to provide payment services and the launch of its payments business in the UK. This marks a significant milestone in SRS Acquiom's international growth strategy, bringing its comprehensive suite of M&A services, including payments administration and escrow agent services, alongside professional shareholder representation, to deal parties in one of Europe's most active M&A regions. This strategic expansion follows the successful introduction of SRS Acquiom's M&A business in the European Union earlier this year. SRS Acquiom's London office, located in the City of London, is also home to its European Loan Agency team and will serve as the regional hub for its M&A business in the U.K. "Following our broader international expansion over the past year, we are seeing strong momentum across both our M&A and Loan Agency businesses, as demand for innovative, end-to-end deal management solutions continues to accelerate across the region," said Caspar Huith, Managing Director, Europe, at SRS Acquiom. "The introduction of our M&A services in the UK is a key step in the strategic expansion of our business into one of the major global centers for M&A. As part of this expansion, we will continue to grow our on-the-ground team in London. The UK M&A market remains active, and we are committed to delivering high-touch service, local expertise, and differentiated solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients." The UK launch follows several other strategic growth initiatives SRS Acquiom has executed this past year, including the launch of the Company's Loan Agency business in Europe and the launch of its M&A business in the EU. Today, the Company has more than 300 professionals across offices in London, Amsterdam and the United States. Since 2007, SRS Acquiom has supported more than 10,000 transactions globally and has worked with 100% of the top global law firms, 84% of the top global venture capital funds, and 88% of the top global private equity houses. Its comprehensive suite of tech-enabled solutions includes the industry's leading online M&A payments administration platform with FX capabilities in over 130 currencies, digital solicitation tools, and the proprietary Deal Dashboard, alongside escrow agent services and first-to-market Professional Shareholder Representation. About SRS Acquiom SRS Acquiom delivers the smartest way to run a deal with solutions that reduce the administrative burden throughout the entire deal lifecycle. Our services include payments administration and escrow agent services, online document solicitation and reporting, professional shareholder representation, and virtual data rooms. For loan and credit transactions, we provide independent administrative, collateral, and sub-agent services. Since 2007, we have helped sophisticated deal parties reduce administrative drag, so they can focus on what they do best. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902814818/en/ Contacts: Alex Jeffrey Gwyn Hodges Gasthalter Co. 212.257.4170 media@srsacquiom.com Collaborations highlight the versatility of Mytos' iDEM platform across diverse cell types and clinical applications from blindness and hearing loss to complex bone regeneration Mytos, a biotechnology company automating cell manufacturing, today announced new manufacturing collaborations with three innovative biotech companies StemSight, Rinri Therapeutics, and Novadip. Each company intends to integrate Mytos' iDEM automated cell manufacturing platform to scale the production of diverse cell types for therapeutic use, highlighting the platform's versatility to create cells to treat ocular diseases, hearing loss, and bone defects. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903082571/en/ Mytos iDEM Process Development Lab (Photo credit: Mytos) "Our mission at Mytos is to scale regenerative medicine to millions of patients, by removing the scalability and cost challenges of manual manufacturing," said Ali Afshar, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder, Mytos. "These three partners represent very different cell types and therapeutic areas, yet each saw the same thing in Mytos, namely our robust, scalable, automated platform that can take them from early clinical trials to commercial-ready manufacturing. It's an exciting validation of our technology and our long-term vision." The partnerships demonstrate the breadth of applications for Mytos' iDEM platform, including: StemSight (Finland), a biotechnology company developing iPSC-derived corneal stem cell therapies, will use the platform to advance its lead candidate for limbal stem cell deficiency, a rare form of corneal blindness. "We've always prioritized cost-efficiency and scalability in our manufacturing," said Dr. Laura Koivusalo, CEO, StemSight. "Mytos offered a unique and practical bridge from manual to automated production, even at an early stage. Their platform enables a globally scalable process that aligns with our goal of reaching patients around the world." Rinri Therapeutics (UK), a world leading company focused on transforming sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with regenerative cell therapy, will look to incorporate Mytos' automation to support the production of their otic neural progenitor cell therapy. "As our lead product, Rincell-1 for sensorineural hearing loss, enters the clinic, manufacturing precision and consistency are critical," said Dr. Terri Gaskell, CTO, Rinri Therapeutics. "With Mytos, we have the opportunity to seamlessly automate our existing process without having to change the biology. This is critical to laying the groundwork for future scale-up and global supply as we aim to bring a transformative therapy to millions affected by hearing loss." Novadip (Belgium), a late clinical-stage company developing regenerative bone tissue therapies using adipose-derived stem cells, are evaluating Mytos' iDEM platform to scale production of its autologous products for large bone defects. "Mytos enables us to increase the output of our existing facilities, without having to delay scaling to build out new capacity ," said Dr. Neil Johnson, CTO, Novadip. "This partnership is an important step as we move closer to delivering regenerative bone therapies to patients who currently have few treatment options." Each collaboration reflects a growing industry shift toward automation as the field of advanced cell therapies matures. Mytos' iDEM platform is uniquely designed to replace traditional iPSC manufacturing with a closed, automated system that enables consistent, GMP-compatible production of human iPSC cells, helping biotech companies reduce cost, variability, and time to clinic. With these recent partnerships, Mytos is enabling automated manufacture for the next generation of clinical trials in regenerative medicine, proving that its platform can support a broad range of therapeutic modalities, to deliver high-quality cell therapies to patients at scale. About Mytos Mytos is a leader in automated cell manufacture. The company's platform enables life sciences companies to grow human cells with unparalleled precision and efficiency. Mytos has assembled a world-class team of engineers and scientists to develop an automated platform to accelerate the development of life-saving therapies. The company is based in London, UK. For more information, visit www.mytos.bio. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903082571/en/ Contacts: Media Kimberly Ha KKH Advisors 917-291-5744 kimberly.ha@kkhadvisors.com Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced its participation as a premium sponsor at the upcoming European Congress of Pathology (ECP) 2025, taking place in Vienna, Austria, from September 6-10, 2025. Agilent will spotlight the European launch of its newly expanded Dako Omnis Family of instruments. The Dako Omnis familyincluding the Dako Omnis 110, 165, and 165 Duo models, is built to provide flexibility, consistency, and efficiency across labs of all sizes. Designed to meet the evolving needs of modern pathology labs, these instruments, are backed up by Agilent's dedicated service and support teams to help ensure reliable operations and confident diagnoses. "Our presence at ECP 2025 underscores Agilent's dedication to supporting diagnostic excellence," said Majken Nielsen, associate vice president of Marketing and Product Management, Clinical Diagnostics Division at Agilent. "The launch of the Dako Omnis family is a direct response to the challenges that labs face today. It marks a significant milestone in Agilent's commitment to delivering scalable, high-performance diagnostic solutions that empower labs to meet increasing demands with confidence." As a premium sponsor, visitors to the Agilent booth will have the opportunity to: See a live demo of the Dako Omnis family Engage with Agilent experts during "Meet the Experts" sessions Attend educational symposia: Sunday, 7 th September: Evening Symposium "Importance of the Quality of Stain, Optimized Workflow, and a Modern Digital Ecosystem Tuesday, 9 th September: Lunch Symposium " From Biopsy to Bedside: Integrating Diagnosis, Treatment, and Quality in Gastric Cancer Explore Agilent's end-to-end Digital Pathology solutions Participate in PD-L1 CPS scoring sessions at the Educational Corner To see these innovations and more, visit Agilent at ECP 2025 in Vienna, at booth #18. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, delivering insights and innovation that help our customers bring great science to life. Agilent's full range of solutions includes instruments, software, services, and expertise that provide trusted answers to our customers' most challenging questions. The company generated revenue of $6.51 billion in fiscal year 2024 and employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com. To receive the latest Agilent news, subscribe to the Agilent Newsroom. Follow Agilent on LinkedIn and Facebook View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903779133/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Catherine Kaye Agilent Technologies +44 (0)7775 410632 catherine.kaye@agilent.com London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - IN-VR announces the Libya-Africa International Gas Forum 2025 (LAIGF 2025), officially endorsed by the Libyan Ministry of Oil and Gas, the National Oil Corporation (NOC), and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). Taking place on 6-7 December 2025 in Rixos Al Nasr International Conference Centre, Tripoli, Libya. The event will host ministers, NOC leaders, international oil companies, investors, EPCs, and energy service providers for two days of strategic dialogue, project showcases, and high-value networking. S&P Global Commodity Insights, the leading independent provider of information, data, analysis, benchmark prices and workflow solutions for commodities and energy transition markets, will serve as the Strategic Knowledge Partner for the event, leveraging its research, insights and expertise to support the conference program. The summit's agenda will explore a wide range of vital industry topics, including the mobilisation of funding for strategic oil and gas projects, the expansion of infrastructure to enhance regional connectivity and operational resilience, the boosting of gas production capacity and readiness for export, the integration of advanced technologies to drive efficiency and innovation, the unlocking of new discoveries through accelerated exploration and basin development, and the strengthening of local content frameworks alongside robust ESG compliance across the energy value chain. This high-level forum takes place at a moment of growing urgency and unprecedented opportunity for African gas producers. As global energy markets seek secure, diversified, and long-term supply, Africa must step forward as a united, resilient, and attractive energy supplier. LAIGF 2025 provides a critical platform for regional coordination, strategic dialogue, and commercial engagement, empowering African nations to shape their shared gas future. With its strategic location, existing infrastructure, and renewed commitment to regional integration, Africa is uniquely positioned to support the scale-up and export of African gas to global markets. IN-VR is proud to organize this pivotal gathering under the theme "Unleashing Potential and Exploring New Horizons." Summit attendees will benefit from an exclusive opportunity to engage with a wide spectrum of influential leaders and organisations shaping the future of gas in Africa and beyond. This includes H.E. Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek, Minister of Oil and Gas of Libya, the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Masoud Suleiman, senior executives from Libya's leading energy institutions, prominent Libyan business figures, and C-level representatives from top international energy companies. Attendees will also connect with key players across the entire value chain, including EPC contractors, technology providers, exploration and production experts, financiers, legal advisors, and infrastructure developers. In addition to high-level networking and strategic sessions, the Forum will also feature a dedicated exhibition area, showcasing cutting-edge technologies, services, and solutions across the gas value chain. Attendees will connect with key players including EPC contractors, technology providers, exploration and production experts, financiers, legal advisors, and infrastructure developers. Government officials from across Africa, GECF representatives, and global investors will also be present-facilitating high-impact networking, cross-border cooperation, and long-term partnerships. About the Organiser: IN-VR IN-VR is the leading organiser of government-backed oil & gas marketing campaigns across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Balkans, and APAC regions. With a proven track record in Libya, IN-VR has been working closely with the Ministry of Oil and Gas and the National Oil Corporation (NOC), successfully organising global roadshows, licensing round promotions, and major investment summits. We support governments on their journey to become leading energy producers, facilitating more than 2,200 B2B and B2G meetings annually, leading to new contracts and partnerships all over the world. About the Strategic Knowledge Partner: S&P Global Commodity Insights At S&P Global Commodity Insights, our complete view of global energy and commodity markets enables our customers to make decisions with conviction and create long-term, sustainable value. We're a trusted connector that brings together thought leaders, market participants, governments, and regulators and we create solutions that lead to progress. Vital to navigating commodity markets, our coverage includes oil and gas, power, chemicals, metals, agriculture, shipping and energy transition. Platts products and services, including leading benchmark price assessments in the physical commodity markets, are offered through S&P Global Commodity Insights. S&P Global Commodity Insights maintains clear structural and operational separation between its price assessment activities and the other activities carried out by S&P Global Commodity Insights and the other business divisions of S&P Global. S&P Global Commodity Insights is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help many of the world's leading organizations navigate the economic landscape so they can plan for tomorrow, today. For more information visit https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights. **End of Press Release** To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264942 SOURCE: IN-VR Limited San Jose, California and Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Option Circle, a leading fintech company redefining self-directed investing through automation and AI, today announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Market Rebellion, LLC, co-founded by renowned traders Jon and Pete Najarian. Market Rebellion will offer select proprietary trading strategies on the Option Circle Strategy Marketplace, bringing institutional-grade tools and insights directly to retail and professional investors. Option Circle has committed to enable certain selected Market Rebellion strategies as automated trading agents, making them directly available to users on its broker-agnostic, AI-powered investing platform. For the first time, traders will be able to license and deploy selected strategies developed by the Najarians - pioneers in options trading whose voices are trusted on major media outlets. Option Circle's platform combines AI-driven automation with a growing Strategy Marketplace, providing traders with access to backtested strategies that can be licensed and customized. The integration of these selected Market Rebellion strategies expands this capability, enabling retail investors to act with the same discipline and consistency as professionals. "Our mission is to give every trader access to world-class playbooks," said Shishu Bedi, founder and CEO of Option Circle. "Jon and Pete Najarian have built their careers spotting opportunities others miss. Now we're automating those insights so our users can trade with professional-level discipline, without needing Wall Street access or round-the-clock screen time." "We've spent decades teaching traders how to recognize unusual options activity and build strategies with an edge," said Jon Najarian, co-founder of Market Rebellion. "With Option Circle's technology, options strategies will become accessible to a greater number of independent traders." Options trading continues to surge. U.S. options volume reached 12.2 billion contracts in 2024, up 10.6% year-over-year, with retail investors accounting for 45% of all options activity, up from 35% in 2019. Option Circle sits at the intersection of two powerful trends: the rapid growth of retail options trading and the rise of AI-driven automation. With more than 5,000 registered users, the company continues to expand its platform while also conducting an equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine. Investors are invited to learn more and view the offering circular at startengine.com/offering/option-circle. # # # About Option Circle: Option Circle is a Silicon Valley-based, AI-powered trading platform that combines automation, strategy licensing, and community-driven insights. With a no-code strategy builder, real-time risk controls, and a growing Strategy Marketplace, it enables traders to automate proven options strategies spanning income, growth, and defensive approaches across equities, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. In addition to serving over 5,000 active users, Option Circle is also partnering with RIAs and hedge funds to deliver advanced, customizable solutions that help boost trading margins by automating complex workflows and scaling strategy execution. The platform has been recognized as a finalist for Benzinga's Best Product and named one of Siliconindia's Promising U.S. Companies. Learn more and register for a complimentary trial at www.optioncircle.com. About Market Rebellion: Founded by the Najarian Brothers, Market Rebellion is on a mission to challenge the status quo of trading and investing, by empowering independent investors with guided trading services, insights, trading education, content, and tools so that they can trade with confidence. This press release is for information only, not a solicitation to buy or sell any security. It does not include the terms of any offering. Any investment can lose value. Past performance does not predict future results. Forward-looking statements appear here based on current information. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause outcomes to differ. This Regulation Crowdfunding offering is made available through StartEngine Primary LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. Investing in startups is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including possible loss of your entire investment. See offering materials and risk factors on our StartEngine page. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264932 SOURCE: Trading Circle, Inc. A New Chapter in US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation: US Government Issues Historic 10 CFR Part 810 Authorization to Deploy Thorium-based ANEEL Fuel for India Pictured: CCTE Executive Team at Idaho National Lab - (from left to right) Milan Shah, COO; Mehul Shah, CEO; and Paul Chan, CTO. CHICAGO, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) announces that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have granted a 10 CFR Part 810 Authorization ("Specific License") to export their ANEEL fuel technology and services to India. The specific license, signed by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, includes assurances from key Indian nuclear industry "end users", including Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Nuclear Power Corporation India Limited (NPCIL), and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). CCTE designed and patented a thorium-enriched uranium fuel (called ANEEL fuel) that can "plug-and-play" in existing Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), resulting in significantly higher burnup, reduced waste, lower costs, enhanced safety, and proliferation-resistant performance. The export license marks a major milestone, authorizing CCTE to export its nuclear technology from the United States to India. This validates the demand for ANEEL fuel in India, strengthens the U.S. HALEU industry, and paves the way for near-term U.S.-India nuclear cooperation. Mehul Shah, CEO and Founder of CCTE, emphasized the broader implications: "The approval of the Part 810 license unlocks the full potential of ANEEL fuel and reignites the U.S.-India 123 Agreement, marking a historic milestone in strategic nuclear cooperation. We are deeply grateful to the U.S. and Indian establishments for their vision and support in enabling this breakthrough. With thorium at its core, ANEEL fuel delivers higher performance and energy security, driving a cleaner and safer energy future for the world." The achievement has also been recognized as a critical advancement for the U.S.-India partnership by leading organizations such as US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the USISPF, noted: "The U.S.-India energy partnership is a key pillar of our bilateral ties, and the approval of Clean Core Thorium Energy's 10 CFR Part 810 license marks a historic step forward in U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation. This milestone not only strengthens bilateral trust but also demonstrates how American innovation and Indian expertise can address the world's growing demand for advancing energy security and nonproliferation goals." In August 2025, CCTE announced that the second set of four rodlets exceeded 45 GWd/MTU-nearly six to seven times the average burnup limit of standard natural uranium fuel used in PHWRs/CANDUs. This milestone burn-up accomplishment at Idaho National Lab's Advanced Test Reactor provides technical validation for the ANEEL fuel's potential to redefine performance and sustainability standards in the nuclear industry. Indian industry partners highlighted the advantages. "ANEEL fuel presents a substantial opportunity to enhance the competitive positioning of PHWR/CANDU technology, while simultaneously accelerating the realization of thorium as a more potentially sustainable nuclear fuel source than uranium," said Anil V. Parab, Whole-time Director and Senior EVP at Larsen & Toubro. In 2024, CCTE announced partnerships with key Indian private and public sector partners including Larsen & Toubroand the National Thermal Power Corporation,reinforcing the strong foundation for collaboration in deploying advanced nuclear technologies. CCTE plans to further technical collaboration and commercial contracts with Indian partners in the coming months for commercialization of the ANEEL fuel. About Clean Core Thorium Energy Clean Core Thorium Energy is a U.S.-based nuclear innovation company developing advanced nuclear fuel solutions using thorium and HALEU. Its patented ANEEL fuel is designed to enhance the safety, economics, and nonproliferation profile of PHWRs and CANDU reactors while drastically reducing nuclear waste. Learn more at https://cleancore.energy. Follow us on LinkedInand X. Media Contact: Milan Shah Email: info@cleancore.energy A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39971b90-1a09-4fcd-9352-d623727ed819 LONDON (dpa-AFX) - The UK government has set out a plan to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16s due to negative impacts on children's physical and mental health. The new proposals to ban their sale to under-16s will help boost kids' health by stopping retailers from selling the drinks to children in a move that could prevent obesity in up to 40,000 children and deliver health benefits worth tens of millions of pounds. Around 100,000 children consume at least one high caffeine energy drink every day. There is growing evidence linking these drinks to harmful effects on children, including disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, poor concentration and reduced educational outcomes, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. The UK Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said, 'How can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of four cans of cola in their system on a daily basis?' 'Energy drinks might seem harmless, but the sleep, concentration and wellbeing of today's kids are all being impacted, while high sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity'. 'As part of our Plan for Change and shift from treatment to prevention, we're acting on the concerns of parents and teachers and tackling the root causes of poor health and educational attainment head on'. Research highlights that up to one third of children aged 13 to 16 years, and nearly a quarter of children aged 11 to 12 years consume one or more of these drinks each week, so early intervention is crucial if we are to deliver on our pledge to create the healthiest generation of children ever. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Patriot TV challenges Fox (FOX), Newsmax (NMAX), and Sinclair (SBGI) amid explosive growth, while legacy outlets Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Paramount (PARA), and Disney (DIS) face declining ratings and waning trust. ATLANTA, GA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism, Inc. (OTCID:CBMJ) and its flagship network Patriot TV today announced the addition of acclaimed journalist Scarlett Karoleva as the network's new European Affairs Correspondent. Karoleva will deliver a weekly half-hour report on the state of Europe, airing Thursdays at Noon ET as part of the two-hour "Patriot TV Premieres" program hosted on The Gateway Pundit and Patriot TV's Rumble channel. Karoleva, a respected journalist with extensive experience covering European politics, economics, and culture, will bring unfiltered analysis and on-the-ground reporting to American audiences. Her coverage will connect the dots between European developments and their impact on global affairs and U.S. interests. "Europe is at a pivotal crossroads, with challenges that resonate far beyond its borders," said Scarlett Karoleva. "I'm excited to join Patriot TV and deliver honest, in-depth reporting that cuts through the noise. This segment will empower viewers with the knowledge they need to understand the bigger picture." JD Rucker, Patriot TV President and veteran conservative strategist, emphasized how the addition of Karoleva aligns with the network's rapid growth: "Patriot TV is becoming the destination for truth-driven journalism. Bringing in voices like Scarlett underscores our commitment to bold, fearless reporting that the American people can trust." "Scarlett Karoleva's expertise and fearless approach to storytelling make her the perfect addition to our team," said Mark Schaftlein, CEO of CBMJ. "Her weekly reports will deliver the truth about Europe that mainstream media often ignores, aligning perfectly with our mission to inform and inspire patriots everywhere." For Investors Under JD Rucker's leadership and partnerships with outlets such as The Gateway Pundit, the network has surged in popularity and is now directly challenging legacy competitors including Fox (FOX), Newsmax (NMAX), and Sinclair (SBGI). Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism, Inc. (OTCID:CBMJ) continues to experience record-breaking momentum fueled by Patriot TV's explosive growth. CBMJ shares have skyrocketed over 400% in the past month, reflecting surging confidence in Patriot TV's trajectory as it rapidly gains ground on mainstream networks. With rapid audience expansion and a slate of new programming under JD Rucker's leadership, Patriot TV is positioning itself as a true challenger to legacy news outlets. At the same time, legacy networks Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Paramount (PARA), and Disney (DIS) face stagnant or declining viewership. CBMJ's surge underscores the market's appetite for unapologetically patriotic programming and solidifies the company's standing as a disruptive force in conservative media. About The Gateway Pundit The Gateway Pundit is a leading conservative news outlet reaching millions of readers daily. Known for breaking stories and fearless investigative journalism, The Gateway Pundit provides the perfect launchpad for Patriot TV programming. About Patriot.TV: Patriot.TV is a digital-first streaming platform delivering patriotic news, commentary, and original programming. Operating as a subsidiary of Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism (OTCID:CBMJ), Patriot.TV is committed to American values, free speech, and truthful, unfiltered content for underserved audiences. With a cutting-edge multi-platform distribution strategy, Patriot.TV reaches viewers across its website, social media, and streaming apps, and drives revenue through sponsorships, advertising, affiliate partnerships, and memberships. Since its launch, Patriot.TV has become a burgeoning home for conservative voices, featuring an array of shows hosted by military veterans, media insiders, and grassroots influencers devoted to informing and empowering the American public. Visit www.Patriot.TV for more information. About Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism Inc. (OTCID:CBMJ): CBMJ is a publicly traded media and digital broadcasting company focused on delivering conservative and faith-based content. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Patriot.TV, serves as a premier destination for news, commentary, and original programming that reflects traditional American values. For more information, visit www.Patriot.TV. Media Contact: Mark Schaftlein - CEO, Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism (877) 704-6773 SOURCE: Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/publishing-and-media/patriot-tv-expands-global-reach-scarlett-karoleva-named-european-affairs-corre-1068106 OXFORD, England and CHICAGO, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brainomix, a global leader and pioneer of AI-powered imaging tools in stroke and lung fibrosis, has garnered widespread media attention1 this week following a renewed focus on the impact of its Brainomix 360 Stroke technology to improve recovery rates for stroke patients. A study published by the Royal Berkshire Hospital demonstrated that Brainomix software tripled the number of stroke patients achieving functional independence, from 16% to 48%. Additional data from the largest real-world evaluation of stroke AI imaging showed that Brainomix 360 Stroke was associated with a more than 50% increase in mechanical thrombectomy, a life-changing stroke treatment. Brainomix 360 Stroke is a comprehensive platform powered by highly advanced AI algorithms, supporting clinicians by providing real-time interpretation of brain scans to help guide treatment and transfer decisions for stroke patients in both specialist and general hospitals. David Hargroves, the NHS Clinical Director for Stroke, said: "This AI decision support technology is revolutionizing how we help people who have been affected by stroke. It is estimated a patient loses around 2m brain cells a minute at the start of a stroke, which is why quick diagnosis and treatment is so critical. AI decision support software provides real-time interpretation of patients' brain scans - supporting expert doctors and other NHS staff to make faster treatment decisions." Dr Michalis Papadakis, CEO and Co-Founder at Brainomix, said: "Brainomix is helping clinicians every day improve the level of care they can deliver to stroke patients in the UK and worldwide. We are delighted to see a focus on the unique and powerful impact that our technology is having on patient outcomes, validated by an expanding base of published, real-world evidence." Brainomix is widely recognised as one of the UK's most successful AI healthcare companies, having developed its technology through commercial scale up to market launch, and having secured a number of successful partnerships with NHS England and The Health Innovation Network. Brainomix 360 Stroke has been deployed widely across the UK and Europe, where it is the established market leader, and in the United States, where it has been validated by a number of world-class stroke institutions and exhibiting a similar clinical impact on stroke care. 1The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Independent, The Sun, The Mirror Notes to Editors About Brainomix Brainomix specializes in the creation of AI-powered software solutions to enable precision medicine for better treatment decisions in stroke and lung fibrosis. With origins as a spinout from the University of Oxford, Brainomix is an expanding commercial-stage company with offices in the UK, Ireland and the USA, and operations in more than 20 countries. A private company, backed by leading healthtech investors, Brainomix has innovated award-winning imaging biomarkers and software solutions that have been clinically adopted in hundreds of hospitals worldwide. Its first product, the Brainomix 360 stroke platform, provides clinicians with the most comprehensive stroke imaging solution, driving increased treatment rates and improving functional independence for patients. To learn more about Brainomix and its technology visit www.brainomix.com , and follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . Contacts Jeff Wyrtzen, Chief Marketing Officer jwyrtzen@brainomix.com T +44 (0)1865 582730 Media Enquiries Charles Consultants Sue Charles Sue@charles-consultants.com M +44 (0)7968 726585 Image - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2763605/Brainomix_360_Stroke.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/brainomix-stroke-ai-software-hailed-as-revolutionary-helping-more-patients-fully-recover-302545143.html Highlights Stateline lies in the heart of the prolific La Sal Uranium-Vanadium District , adjacent to the La Sal Complex. Hosts >19 historic mines with vanadium grades ranging from 1% to 3% V2O5 , averaging 1.5% , significantly higher than North American peers. Geological setting consistent with roll-front uranium or paleochannel-style U-V systems . Focus on advanced airborne EM and AI-driven modelling to target high-value channel bends and trap zones beneath cover. WOODLAND HILLS, CA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Uranium American Resources, Inc. (OTC PINK:UARI) is pleased to provide a technical update on its Stateline Project, located in Montrose County, Colorado and San Juan County, Utah. This project, part of the recently announced acquisition of Jag Minerals Pty Ltd, presents a rare opportunity to explore and develop a high-grade vanadium-rich uranium system in one of the most geologically favorable parts of the U.S. uranium belt. Figure 1: Stateline Project Location. Geological Context and Deposit Model Stateline is hosted within the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation, a classic environment for roll-front or paleo-drainage U-V mineralisation. The project covers 2.75 mi (7.12 km) and includes over 19 historic mines, with grades such as: Maud Mine : 3.01% V2O5 and 0.43% U3O8 Morning Glory: 2.56% V2O5 and 0.26% U3O8 (see Table 2 on page 4 of acquisition document). The favorable channel sands in this area were deposited in a meandering, dendritic system. Reducing environments-created when organic material settled in low-energy pools-led to the precipitation of uranium from oxidised fluids. This mechanism mirrors Athabasca-style deposits, where carbonaceous or graphitic host rocks act as chemical traps. According to technical reviewers, these deposits are likely sourced from mafic volcanics, which explain the unusually high vanadium content and potential for associated metals. The presence of evaporites in the surrounding basin adds to the metal-leaching potential of circulating brines. Figure 2: Stateline Project, UAR rock chip samples, over USGS Uranium-Vanadium deposits of the La Sal Quadrangle, pp508.1 Targeting Next-Gen Discovery Past exploration relied heavily on intercept trend mapping. However, Uranium American Resources is now advancing a more modern, technology-driven exploration program that includes: Airborne EM (AEM) : To detect conductivity contrasts associated with alteration halos and carbon-rich lenses. Passive Seismic : To model paleo-topography and channel systems in 3D, revealing likely trap zones. AI Drainage Modelling: Use of genetic algorithms and fuzzy logic to predict sedimentary trends using historic drill data. These efforts aim to identify tight meander bends, downstream fault-controlled basins, and organic-rich trap sites, all of which are prime depositional environments for high-grade U-V mineralisation. "The challenge is targeting these channel-hosted reductant zones beneath clay-rich cover, but the upside is immense. Combining AEM, seismic, and AI modelling gives us a real edge," said CEO William Hunter. Next Steps The company is in discussions with geophysical contractors including SkyTEM and Expert Geophysics, and is preparing for fieldwork including: Core sampling for conductivity modelling, Forward-modelling of AEM responses through overlying units, Prioritising seismic imaging and inversion modelling. With strong shareholder support and a technically robust asset base, Uranium American Resources is positioned to become a leading developer of U.S.-based critical minerals for the clean energy transition. Enquiries For further information, please contact: William Hunter CEO, Uranium American Resources, Inc. M: +1 203 856 7285 E: bhunter@uraniumamericanresources.com SOURCE: Uranium American Resources, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/uranium-american-resources-advances-high-grade-u-v-targeting-at-stateline-project-1068083 West Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Millennial Potash Corp. (TSXV: MLP) (OTCQB: MLPNF) (FSE: X0D) ("Millennial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its Banio Potash Project in southern Gabon received an official site visit from a distinguished government delegation, underscoring growing national interest in the project's development. The delegation was led by His Excellency, Vice President of the Gabonese Republic, Mr. Seraphin MOUNDOUGA, and included Ms. Gninga Chaning Zenaba, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Trade, and SME-SMI, and Ms. Syrielle Zora Kassa, Advisor to the Presidency. Farhad Abasov, Chairman of Millennial Potash Corp., commented: "We are honoured to welcome His Excellency the Vice President and his esteemed delegation to our Banio Potash Project. Their visit underscores the growing alignment between Millennial's development goals and Gabon's national priorities. We remain deeply committed to advancing our flagship asset with full transparency, technical excellence, and meaningful local engagement." Upon arrival, the delegation was formally welcomed by the Millennial team and guided through the camp's living quarters and operational zones. A comprehensive technical briefing was delivered, featuring potash samples from recently completed drill hole BA004 and a demonstration of the ongoing drone LiDAR survey. This survey is mapping the license area in preparation for the upcoming Feasibility Study the Company expects to complete. Strategic Dialogue and Oversight: During the tour, the delegation engaged in discussions on key topics relevant to project oversight and national development priorities: Scope and status of current exploration activities Workforce composition and local employment initiatives Coordination with regulatory ministries Environmental compliance and institutional support mechanisms The Vice President and his delegation expressed satisfaction with the transparency, professionalism, and strategic direction of the project, reinforcing government alignment with Millennial's long-term vision. Commitment to Responsible Development: Millennial Potash remains fully committed to advancing the Banio Potash Project in accordance with international technical, environmental, and regulatory standards. The Company continues to prioritize transparency, community engagement, and sustainable development as it progresses toward future phases of resource evaluation and a Feasibility Study. Keep up to date on Millennial Potash developments and join our online communities on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. MILLENNIAL POTASH CORP. "Farhad Abasov" Chair of the Board of Directors Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This document may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan" or "planned", "forecast", "intend", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental (including land or water use), local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, changes in laws, rules and regulations in Gabon or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or CFA or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for potash or potash related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in Gabon or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations and intentions with respect to development of its business and of the Banio Potash Project may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of any pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions on its ability to secure further financing or funding of the Banio Potash Project. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264949 SOURCE: Millennial Potash Corp. Firm's 20+ operating companies will consolidate into two divisions, Hilco Global Professional Services and Hilco Global Capital Solutions, which will support the firm's expanded advisory and asset management-private credit capabilities New operating structure effective following the close of ORIX USA's majority acquisition of Hilco Global CHICAGO, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Global, a diversified global financial services company, today announced its new operating structure through the creation of two divisions-Hilco Global Professional Services and Hilco Global Capital Solutions. Both divisions will report to Hilco Global's Founding Chairman and CEO, Jeffrey B. Hecktman. In this new structure, the firm will operate as a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA, following the completion of ORIX USA's acquisition of a majority equity interest in the 38-year-old financial services and advisory firm. "Bringing together ORIX USA and Hilco Global offers the marketplace a powerful combination of intellect and deep financial resources to help our clients maximize asset value and return on investment," said Mr. Hecktman. "By streamlining our business, Hilco Global emerges as a truly integrated financial solutions company with the ability to deliver valuation, monetization, advisory services and capital solutions through asset-based private credit lending and principal investing." Hilco Global Professional Services will expand the firm's current suite of consultative practices, continuing to deliver asset valuation expertise and advisory solutions that build on its reputation as one of the smartest asset appraisal firms in the world. Hilco Global intends to grow this division significantly, adding new strategic and operational advisory services to its current professional services practices in restructuring and turnaround, real estate, performance solutions, capital transactions, intellectual property, corporate finance, litigation support, cyber security, geopolitical consulting, and more. will expand the firm's current suite of consultative practices, continuing to deliver asset valuation expertise and advisory solutions that build on its reputation as one of the smartest asset appraisal firms in the world. Hilco Global intends to grow this division significantly, adding new strategic and operational advisory services to its current professional services practices in restructuring and turnaround, real estate, performance solutions, capital transactions, intellectual property, corporate finance, litigation support, cyber security, geopolitical consulting, and more. Hilco Global Capital Solutions will focus on expanding the firm's asset management investing, particularly through asset-based private credit lending, which will benefit from ORIX USA's capital and lending expertise and Hilco Global's asset understanding and origination capabilities. Additionally, the Capital Solutions division will continue to use its balance sheet investing and asset monetization expertise to buy and sell assets across the retail, wholesale, commercial industrial, manufacturing real estate, and intellectual property industries. In connection with this simplified organizational structure, Hilco Global also announced several executive management leadership roles which will report to Founding Chairman and CEO Jeffrey B. Hecktman. David Kurtz, will serve as the CEO of Hilco Global Professional Services and continue as Vice Chairman for Hilco Global. Neil Aaronson will continue in his capacity as President of Hilco Global for The Americas, alongside Henry Foster, who will serve as President of Hilco Global for the UK, EU and APAC. Additionally, Ian Fredericks will serve as the CEO for the Hilco Global Capital Solutions Division-Americas and Henry Foster will serve as CEO of the Hilco Global Capital Solutions Division across the UK/EU/APAC. Nik Singhal will serve as the interim Head of Asset Management and Private Credit within the Hilco Global Capital Solutions division as an extension of his role as Group Head of Direct Lending for ORIX USA. James H.M. Sprayregen will continue to serve as Vice Chairman Hilco Global Strategy and Growth. Several other leadership roles and responsibilities will be announced in the coming weeks. Mr. Hecktman added, "I am thrilled that our impressive team of industry experts at Hilco Global will continue to manage the company and collaborate with ORIX USA as we expand into this exciting next chapter. Our Hilco Global team is well-positioned to support our strategic growth plan by servicing our clients and growing our enterprise value." About Hilco Global Hilco Global, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA, is a diversified financial services company that delivers integrated professional services and capital solutions that help clients maximize value and drive performance across the retail, commercial industrial, real estate, manufacturing, brand and intellectual property sectors, and more. Hilco Global provides a range of customized solutions to healthy, stressed, and distressed companies to resolve complex situations and enhance long-term enterprise value. Hilco Global works to deliver the best possible result by aligning interests with clients and providing strategic advice and, in many instances, the capital required to complete the deal. Hilco Global is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has more than 810 professionals operating on four continents. Visit www.hilcoglobal.com. About ORIX Corporation USA Established in the U.S. in 1981, ORIX USA has grown organically and through acquisition into the investment and asset management firm we are today. With a specialization in private credit, real estate, and private equity solutions for middle-market focused borrowers and investors, we combine our robust balance sheet with funds from third-party investors, providing a strong alignment of interest. ORIX USA and its subsidiaries - ORIX Advisers, ORIX Capital Partners, Signal Peak Capital Management, Boston Financial, Lument, Real Estate Capital, and NXT Capital- have approximately 1,300 employees across the U.S. and have $91.3 billion in assets*, which includes $40.5 billion in assets and commitments, in addition to $50.8 billion in servicing and administering assets, as of June 2025. Our parent company, ORIX Corporation, is a publicly owned international financial services company with operations in 30 countries and regions worldwide. ORIX Corporation is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (8591) and New York Stock Exchange (IX). For more information, visit orix.com. * As of June 30, 2025. Includes $50.8 billion in servicing and administering assets, in addition to $40.5 billion in funded assets and unfunded commitments across proprietary capital, third party capital, and strategic partners investing in ORIX USA's private credit, real estate, and private equity businesses. Unfunded commitments are based on a contractual commitment or an expected commitment for an established program based on ORIX USA Group's understanding. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2317015/Hilco_Global_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hilco-global-unveils-operating-structure-to-fuel-next-stage-of-growth-302544706.html An exclusive call to visionary architects worldwide to create a transformative sanctuary immersed in nature MIAMI BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Magnum Opus Resorts, a luxury hospitality company founded by seasoned industry executives, announces the launch of its International Architectural Design Competition. This invitation challenges visionary architects worldwide to design a one-of-a-kind 8-10 room boutique retreat on 8 pristine acres of Costa Rica's Pacific coast-a location celebrated for its lush rainforests, panoramic ocean views, rich natural resources, and dedication to responsible eco-tourism. Rising 600 feet above the pristine beaches of Pacific Ocean on a private mountaintop, the retreat will be unlike any other hotel. Considered to offer the most breathtaking views 360-degree views in all of Costa Rica, this retreat will be designed for exclusive full-property stays and will serve as a sanctuary of elevation - physical, emotional, and architectural - for private groups seeking privacy, inspiration, and transformation. The project aspires to achieve recognition in international design journals and to set a new benchmark for timeless architectural innovation. Extended Deadlines Due to High Interest Registration Deadline: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 10:00 PM ET Concept Submission Deadline: Saturday, October 25, 2025, 10:00 PM ET Winner Announcement: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 12:00 Noon ET Competition Highlights Project Scope: Design an 8-10 room luxury retreat reserved for whole-property rental (not rented by individual rooms). Guest Profile: Celebrities, executives, tastemakers, and discerning travelers seeking privacy and immersive natural experiences. Vision & Backing: The project is fully financed and must blend seamlessly with nature, maintain construction affordability, and achieve global design acclaim. Award: $2,000 USD honorarium, plus the opportunity for a full design commission under a professional services contract. Design Requirements: Entries must include concept sketches / massing diagrams, narrative explaining design intent, mood board, and optional visuals as determined by each entrant. Details available here https://www.magnumopusresorts.com/the-competition Judging Criteria Architectural originality and vision Integration with natural surroundings Conceptual clarity and design language Cost-aware, buildable solutions Alignment with transformative guest experience How to Participate This global competition is open to architects, designers, and firms-individuals or teams. There are no restrictions on nationality, age or professional affiliation. No entry fee is required. Register now and access the full competition brief at: www.magnumopusresorts.com/the-competition About Magnum Opus Resorts Magnum Opus Resorts, a Miami Beach based hospitality company, is redefining boutique luxury through retreats that prioritize transformative experiences in world-class environments. Founded by a leadership team with deep expertise in hospitality management and finance, the company's first retreat in Costa Rica was selected for its environmental beauty, spiritual energy, and unparalleled 360-degree views. Media Contact: Max Frank Max@magnumopusresorts.com SOURCE: Magnum Opus Resorts View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/magnum-opus-resorts-launches-international-architectural-design-1068036 THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE UK VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014 WHICH IS PART OF ENGLISH LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. ON PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc (LSE:HEMO) announces that it has received a notice to exercise warrants over 250,000 new ordinary shares in the Company (the "Warrant Shares"). The Warrant Shares are being issued pursuant to the exercise of warrants granted and announced on 8 May 2025. As announced, the exercise price of the warrants ("Exercise Price") is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, as set out in the warrant instrument, including a reset of the Exercise Price (as defined therein) if the Company completes a share issuance (or other transaction granting rights to subscribe for equity securities) during the Exercise Period (as defined therein) at a price lower than the Exercise Price. As such, the Exercise Price was adjusted to 180p. Subscription monies of 450,000 have been received by the Company in respect of the exercise. Admission and Total Voting Rights Application will be made for the Warrant Shares, which will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares of the Company, to be admitted to theFCA official list and to trading on the equity shares (transition) category of the Official List maintained by the FCA and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the LSE, which is expected to occur on or around 8.00 a.m. on 9 September 2025 ("Admission"). Upon Admission (and including the 316,667 new ordinary shares being issued as announced on 26 August 2025), the total number of issued shares and the total number of voting rights in the Company will be 5,293,896. The above figure of 5,293,896 should be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. The Company will keep the market informed of future developments as trials proceed. Enquiries: Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc https://hemogenyx.com Dr Vladislav Sandler, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder headquarters@hemogenyx.com Peter Redmond, Director peter.redmond@hemogenyx.com SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Matthew Johnson, Vadim Alexandre, Adam Cowl Peterhouse Capital Limited Tel: +44 (0)20 7469 0930 Lucy Williams, Duncan Vasey, Charles Goodfellow About Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals is a publicly traded company (LSE: HEMO) headquartered in London, with its US operating subsidiaries, Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals LLC and Immugenyx LLC, located in New York City. The Company is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical group developing new medicines and treatments to treat blood and autoimmune diseases. Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals is developing several distinct and complementary product candidates, as well as platform technologies that it uses as engines for novel product development. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/hemogenyx-pharmaceuticals-plc-announces-exercise-of-warrants-and-issu-1068205 The "Europe Non-Lethal Weapons Market Size and Share Analysis Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Europe Non-Lethal Weapons Market is expected to reach US$ 2.57 billion by 2033 from US$ 1.65 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 5.02% from 2025 to 2033. The growing need for crowd control, technology developments, government spending, and an emphasis on moral and legal issues are the main factors propelling the non-lethal weapons industry in Europe. Europe Non-Lethal Weapons Industry Overview The market for non-lethal weaponry in Europe has grown significantly as a result of growing security concerns and the demand for efficient, compassionate crowd control methods. Throughout Europe, police enforcement, military, and security organizations are increasingly using non-lethal weapons like rubber bullets, tear gas, Tasers, and directed energy devices. The need for instruments that can uphold public order without causing irreversible harm has increased due to the rise in the frequency of violent confrontations, civil disturbances, and public protests. These technologies provide an essential way to handle both ordinary law enforcement tasks and high-security scenarios as society shifts its expectations toward reducing the use of fatal force. The market for non-lethal weaponry in Europe is growing due to a number of variables. More accurate and flexible non-lethal solutions have been created as a result of technological developments in directed energy, acoustic, and electromagnetic systems. These developments lower the possibility of unintentional deaths while simultaneously increasing the safety and efficacy of non-lethal weaponry. Furthermore, European countries are investing more in updating their military and law enforcement personnel and adding cutting-edge non-lethal weaponry to their arsenals. A greater focus on human rights, adherence to international law, and a desire to reduce deaths in war areas or crowd control situations are driving this expenditure. The sector does, however, confront a number of difficulties, such as ethical issues, regulatory scrutiny, and the high expense of sophisticated non-lethal weapon systems. Their usage is subject to complicated legal frameworks, with several European countries enforcing stringent regulations to guarantee their moral use. Furthermore, public opinion may be a double-edged sword as instances of abuse might provoke criticism and a reconsideration of their usage. Despite these obstacles, it is anticipated that the need for non-lethal weaponry will only increase in Europe as security services look for efficient, compassionate ways to control public order and reduce danger. In the market for non-lethal weaponry, the UK presently holds the largest market share. This is mostly because new, less-lethal weapons have been developed that are effective and less damaging in reducing the danger. To aid soldiers in Afghanistan annoy and dissuade possible enemies, the UK Army created a novel non-lethal weapon known as the Variable Kinetic System (VKS). The weapon shoots projectiles that resemble paintballs and are loaded with a hot pepper solution. Furthermore, most police and law enforcement personnel carry less-lethal weapons, such as batons, Tasers, and mace spray canisters, which are less dangerous than conventional guns. The market for non-lethal weapons in the UK will keep expanding as the government bolsters the police force in response to the rising number of assaults on police officers. As of March 31, 2022, there were 140,228 full-time equivalent (FTE) officers working for the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales. Excluding transfers, 12,789 new police officers (FTE) joined the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales in the year ending March 2022, a rise of 662 (or 5.5%) over the previous year. This represented a 4% increase from March 2021 (up 4,927 FTEs from 135,301 officers). Just behind the year ending in March 2020, when there were 12,883 joiners (excluding transfers), this is the second-highest number of joiners in a year since records began. In the year ending in March 2022, 8,117 (FTE) police officers departed from the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales, excluding transfers. Growth Drivers for the Europe Non-Lethal Weapons Market Legal and Ethical Considerations The adoption of non-lethal weaponry in Europe is heavily influenced by ethical and legal factors. Tighter laws that prioritize accountability, openness, and adherence to human rights norms are in place at both the national and EU levels. The trend toward non-lethal options has been hastened by the growing requirement for law enforcement and military organizations to use force sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. During public order operations, these weapons are seen to be crucial for reducing fatalities, long-term injuries, and legal ramifications. Their usage is strictly regulated, though, and responsible deployment necessitates strict regulations and training. Policy choices are still influenced by ethical discussions and public scrutiny, which emphasizes how crucial it is to strike a balance between the preservation of human rights and civil liberties and security requirements. Growing Demand for Crowd Control The need for efficient and non-lethal crowd control techniques has grown dramatically as civil disturbances, political rallies, and public demonstrations have become more common throughout Europe. There is increasing demand on law enforcement to uphold public order while avoiding the use of lethal force and causing the least amount of harm to people. Rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, and stun grenades are examples of non-lethal weapons that may be used to disperse crowds, stop an altercation from getting out of hand, and protect police without causing permanent harm. Given the prevalence of large-scale meetings in metropolitan areas, this tendency is especially pertinent. In order to provide safer, more regulated reactions during high-stress public events, governments and law enforcement agencies are giving priority to the purchase and use of non-lethal technology as social movements continue to gain traction. Increased Government Investments The expansion of the European market for non-lethal weaponry is mostly due to government funding. Law enforcement and military organizations are now able to investigate and use cutting-edge non-lethal technology thanks to increased defense expenditures and focused financing for research and development. By supporting the integration of contemporary equipment like AI-assisted targeting systems, directed energy devices, and sonic deterrents, these investments improve public safety and operational performance. In order to create new, compatible technologies that are suited for urban security issues, European governments are also encouraging innovation through collaborations with universities, commercial companies, and defense contractors. This ongoing financial commitment reinforces strategic preparedness while adhering to legal and humanitarian norms, strengthening Europe's position in the global non-lethal weapons market and advancing domestic capabilities. Challenges in the Europe Non-Lethal Weapons Market Budget Constraints and Procurement Delays Many European nations still suffer severe financial restrictions, especially at the regional and local levels, even with modest increases in their national military expenditures. These budgetary constraints affect municipal security organizations' and smaller police forces' capacity to purchase cutting-edge non-lethal weaponry. These technologies are hard to defend in constrained budgets because to their high initial costs, continuous maintenance costs, and requirement for specialized training. Furthermore, procurement procedures in much of Europe are sometimes sluggish and bureaucratically complicated, requiring stringent regulatory inspections and protracted approval cycles. Timely adoption and modernization initiatives are further hampered by these delays. This limits the total reach and impact of non-lethal weaponry in the region by forcing many agencies to rely on antiquated or ineffective technology. Technological Integration and Training Gaps Throughout Europe, integrating contemporary non-lethal weaponry within the current military and law enforcement structures is fraught with difficulties. Features like AI-assisted aiming, real-time data tracking, and remote operation capabilities are common in advanced systems; these features necessitate updated operating protocols and suitable infrastructure. Many agencies, however, lack the finances and technological know-how necessary to deploy these systems successfully. Another serious problem is a lack of training; employees may not be sufficiently equipped to handle cutting-edge technology safely and efficiently, which raises the possibility of operational mistakes or abuse. These flaws lower the new non-lethal instruments' overall efficacy and dependability. Much of the area continues to underutilize the full potential of contemporary non-lethal weapon systems in the absence of concerted investment in infrastructural improvements and extensive training initiatives. Key Players Analyzed: Overview, Key Persons, Recent Development Strategies, Financial Insights Byrna Technologies Inc. General Dynamics Corporation Moog Inc. Raytheon Technologies Corporation Rheinmetall AG Textron Inc. Combined Systems Inc. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2024 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.65 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $2.57 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.0% Regions Covered Europe Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 2.1 Data Source 2.1.1 Primary Sources 2.1.2 Secondary Sources 2.2 Research Approach 2.2.1 Top-Down Approach 2.2.2 Bottom-Up Approach 2.3 Forecast Projection Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Growth Drivers 4.2 Challenges 5. Europe Non-Lethal Weapons Market 6. Market Share Analysis 6.1 Product Type 6.2 Technology 6.3 End Use 6.4 Country 7. Product Type 7.1 Gases and sprays 7.2 Grenades 7.3 Bullets 7.4 Taser Guns 7.5 Others 8. Technology 8.1 Chemical 8.2 Electroshock 8.3 Mechanical and Kinetic 8.4 Acoustic/Light 8.5 Others 9. End Use 9.1 Law Enforcement 9.2 Military 9.3 Others 10. Country 10.1 France 10.2 Germany 10.3 Italy 10.4 Spain 10.5 United Kingdom 10.6 Belgium 10.7 Netherlands 10.8 Turkey 11. Porter's Five Analysis 11.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers 11.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 11.3 Degree of Rivalry 11.4 Threat of New Entrants 11.5 Threat of Substitutes 12. SWOT Analysis 12.1 Strength 12.2 Weakness 12.3 Opportunity 12.4 Threat 13. Company Analysis Byrna Technologies Inc. General Dynamics Corporation Moog Inc. Raytheon Technologies Corporation Rheinmetall AG Textron Inc. Combined Systems Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r35tqs About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903001000/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Bridging traditional finance and on-chain markets, increasing access to high-quality assets Today, Ondo Finance, a leader in blockchain-based financial innovation and tokenized real-world assets, announced the launch of Ondo Global Markets, their platform for tokenized US stocks and ETFs. The platform is powered by a strategic integration with Alpaca, a self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure API for stocks, ETFs, and options trading, as well as crypto. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903244835/en/ Ondo Finance and Alpaca collaborate to tokenize US stocks and ETFs; bridging traditional finance and on-chain markets, increasing access to high-quality assets. According to a McKinsey report, the tokenized market capitalization could reach around $2 trillion by 2030 across a variety of asset classes. This expected rise in market demand for tokenized assets, like US stocks and ETFs, comes as global investors continue to face barriers, including strict market access rules, high minimums, and cumbersome settlement processes. The collaboration between Ondo and Alpaca aims to remove these barriers. Powered by Alpaca's Broker API, Ondo Global Markets is offering: 100+ Assets Live, 1,000+ Coming Leading tokenized stocks and ETFs are now available, with plans to scale to 1,000+ by year-end Leading tokenized stocks and ETFs are now available, with plans to scale to 1,000+ by year-end Transferable 24/7 Tokenized stocks and ETFs are transferable peer-to-peer and available 24/7/365 where allowed Tokenized stocks and ETFs are transferable peer-to-peer and available 24/7/365 where allowed Deep Liquidity Global Markets provides access similar to traditional exchange liquidity for on-chain investors Global Markets provides access similar to traditional exchange liquidity for on-chain investors Usable in DeFi Ondo assets behave like stablecoins for ease of use and automation, enabling tokenized stocks to be used in DeFi Ondo assets behave like stablecoins for ease of use and automation, enabling tokenized stocks to be used in DeFi Industry Backing Ondo tokenized stocks are fully backed by US stocks and ETFs which are held in custody by US broker-dealers and independent security agents Available now across qualified Asia-Pacific, African, and Latin American markets, Ondo Global Markets is providing access to over 100 tokenized US stocks and ETFs, with plans to increase to over 1,000 assets available by the end of the year. "Global investors have historically faced barriers to accessing the approximately $63 trillion US securities markets due to high fees, limited access, transfer frictions, platform fragmentation, and geographic exclusions, locking millions out of capital markets," says Ian De Bode, Chief Strategy Officer at Ondo Finance. "Working with Alpaca allows us to tokenize US stocks and ETFs with the speed, accessibility, and programmability of blockchain for these global investors." "The future of finance lies in bridging traditional and decentralized markets," says Yoshi Yokokawa, CEO and Co-Founder of Alpaca. "Ondo reflects that, and Alpaca is dedicated to enabling this transformation globally with the infrastructure that makes it possible." This collaboration highlights the ongoing evolution of the financial landscape, where technology may make certain investment opportunities more globally accessible. Ondo Global Markets is currently available on Ethereum, with Solana and BNB Chain launching soon. About Alpaca Alpaca is a US-headquartered self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure for stocks, ETFs, fixed income, 24/5, options trading, and offers crypto-raising over USD170 million in funding. Alpaca is backed by top-tier investors globally, including Portage Ventures, Spark Capital, Tribe Capital, Social Leverage, Horizons Ventures, Unbound, SBI Group, Derayah Financial, Elefund, and Y Combinator. For more information, visit: alpaca.markets About Ondo Finance Ondo is a blockchain technology company. Its mission is to accelerate the transition to an open economy by building the platforms, assets, and infrastructure that bring financial markets on-chain. For more information, visit ondo.finance Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before investing in options. All investments involve risk; for more information, please see our Disclosure Library. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, volatile, and may result in total loss of value. Please click here for more information. Tokenization services are not available in all jurisdictions. Alpaca Crypto LLC provides digital asset services, while securities underlying tokenized assets are custodied by Alpaca Securities LLC. Neither entity is the issuer of, or involved in, the tokenization of any assets. Tokenized assets are issued by third parties, do not represent direct equity ownership, and carry unique risks. Please review the Tokenization Disclosure for risk information. Alpaca Securities LLC (member FINRASIPC) and Alpaca Crypto LLC (NMLS# 2160858 a FinCEN-registered MSB, not a member of FINRA/SIPC) are wholly owned subsidiaries of AlpacaDB, Inc.; cryptocurrencies carry unique risks and are not FDIC- or SIPC-protected. This is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities or cryptocurrencies, or to open an account, in any jurisdiction where Alpaca is unregistered or unlicensed. Alpaca and Ondo Finance are not affiliated; neither party is responsible for the liabilities of the other. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903244835/en/ Contacts: Media Contact press@alpaca.markets Next-Gen Displays Combine Full-HD Performance with Flexible, Modular Architecture Industrial Electronic Engineers, IEE, a manufacturer of military display systems, is exhibiting at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) trade exhibition September 9th-12th, in London. With full high-definition (HD) screens and video processing, IEE delivers state-of-the-art display performance by supporting modularity along with open communication and video standards. The modular architecture approach enables the seamless integration of new functions, such as additional sensors and systems being added to the aircraft or vehicle system, while also extending lifecycle support from supply and sustainment through future upgrades and technology refreshes. "Continually advancing the technologies we use in our products, such as support for high-speed digital backbone, enables real-time data feeds from vehicle management systems, mission computers or navigation systems," said Steve Motter, VP of Business Development at IEE. "This approach facilitates rapid updates in video and sensor data flow, as well as system control and configuration, to support changes in today's rapidly evolving threats on the battlefield." 13.3-Inch Full HD MFD Video Display Designed for both airborne and military ground vehicle applications, this 13.3-inch monitor delivers full-HD resolution in a wide-aspect format. As a line-replaceable unit (LRU), it offers a common solution for all operators, enabling them to view and interact with computer graphics and video through the optional touchscreen. Its slim bezel is engineered for side-by-side installation, creating a seamless panoramic display. 13.3-inch Product Features: Enhanced, High-Bright 13.3" LCD Display Contrast Ratio: 800:1 (typical) Display Luminance (max): 1,000 cd/m2 Full-HD (1920x1080) LCD bonded with high-strength cover glass including EMI shield, heater and anti-reflective/glare treatments LED backlight with high-bright day (sunlight readable) and night (NVIS compatible) modes 8 backlit soft key bezel layout 2x Composite NTSC/PAL; 1x 3G-SDI Inputs/Outputs: UART Serial Also featured at DSEI will be IEE's 10.1 WUXGA Mission Display. What sets this 10.1-inch MFD apart is its high-performance, rugged, color WUXGA (1920x1200) AMLCD with exceptional brightness. Engineered for both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, it offers an ultra-wide viewing angle and a selectable dual-mode LED backlight-delivering sunlight readability by day and NVIS compatibility for night operations. 10.1-inch Product Features 10.1-inch WUXGA (1920x1200) color TFT LCD Display Brightness: 1,100 cd/m2 typical Contrast Ratio: 800:1 Viewing Angle: 85 H 85 V 13 programmable bezel pushbuttons, with tactile feedback and NVIS filtered backlight 3-way rotary switch for OFF/NIGHT/DAY, one brightness encoder, two programmable dual-concentric encoders and one 8-way joystick On-screen display (OSD) functions controlled using bezel keys Video Interface: 2 x HD-SDI (with loop-through), 2 x DVI-D Serial Communication Interface: RS-422 IEE is exhibiting in Stand N7-134 (Solid State plc) at DSEI, September 9th-12th. Stop by or make an appointment with Steve Motter by calling 1-800-422-0867, ext. 327, or email: smotter@ieeinc.com. About IEE: For over 79 years, IEE has been a trusted provider of enhanced displays for military and industrial applications. From rapid prototyping of custom designs to full-scale production runs, IEE's factory in Sylmar, CA produces innovative displays with advanced features like low-latency video processing, high-bright and NVIS backlighting, and lightweight, ruggedized enclosures. IEE's in-house, direct control of critical process steps reduces costs, decreases production lead times and improves lifecycle management. IEE display products are ITAR-free and distributed worldwide. IEE is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified. For more information: visit ieeinc.com Get our updates: Linked in: Industrial Electronic Engineers Follow us at: x.com/IEEdisplays Become a fan: Facebook.com/IEEdisplays View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903901547/en/ Contacts: For Press Inquiries Contact: Nancy King 310-433-9966 nking@ieeinc.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / FedEx hurricane relief: responding to Helene and Milton In fall 2024, Hurricanes Helene (Category 4) and Milton (Category 3) struck Florida's Gulf Coast within weeks of each other, causing widespread flooding and power outages affecting over three million people across the Southeast. FedEx mobilized quickly, using our logistics network and relationships with humanitarian organizations to deliver critical aid to impacted communities. We supported the following organizations as part of these efforts: Rise Against Hunger, ShelterBox USA, Direct Relief, Water Mission, Heart to Heart International, ASPCA, Team Rubicon, World Central Kitchen, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and International Medical Corps. Immediate relief efforts Water and power: We expedited 375 generators to Western North Carolina and transported water treatment systems capable of treating 10,000 gallons daily-enough for 5,000 people. Food and nutrition: FedEx donated canteen trucks serving thousands of meals to survivors across five states. Medical assistance: We delivered 68,300 hygiene kits, and over $11 million in medications and supplies, including shipments to 100 healthcare facilities. We also funded and delivered 279 emergency medical backpacks each supporting up to 500 people. Beyond the immediate crisis Shelter solutions: We shipped 96 tents for displaced residents in North Carolina. Animal welfare: We transported kennels and supplies for pets affected by the disasters. Communications support: Teams delivered equipment to field volunteers, enabling coordination in areas with damaged infrastructure. Because of FedEx support, we could act quickly when it mattered most, ensuring that essential supplies reached those who needed them without delay. Your partnership continues to be a vital part of our disaster response efforts, and we truly appreciate all that you do to help communities in crisis. Jennifer Tossie GIK Manager, Rise Against Hunger Red Cross communications preparations for Hurricane Milton Before Hurricane Milton struck Florida, Red Cross Technology teams deployed satellite receivers and equipment to shelters in the storm's projected path with the help of FedEx. This proactive measure established communication channels that remained functional during widespread power outages and connectivity failures, allowing disaster response teams to coordinate effectively, and shelter residents to stay connected throughout the emergency. FedEx hero delivers for Jamaica When Hurricane Beryl devastated Jamaica, FedEx responded to deliver urgent humanitarian aid. Our response was led by Jorge Palacios, a Miami-based FedEx project engineer with personal hurricane response experience. Jorge coordinated delivery of over 2,000 wound care kits and hygiene supplies to Jamaica on behalf of International Medical Corps. His FedEx operations and regional expertise ensured the critical supplies reached those in need despite complex logistical challenges. "It's my pleasure and honor to assist those in need during this crisis. I have been on the other side (living in Puerto Rico) and understand the needs and the urgency," Jorge said. Jorge's commitment exemplifies the spirit of Delivering for Good: providing essential aid when it's needed most. As natural disasters continue to threaten our neighbors and communities, FedEx stands ready with dedicated employees like Jorge. A global model for infrastructure resilience Our 15-year support of the Community and Port Resiliency Program (C-PReP) has been pivotal in transforming this Outreach Aid to the Americas (OAA) program into an internationally recognized crisis response training initiative. The program plays a critical role in ensuring airports remain operational during disasters through readiness training, enabling delivery of lifesaving medicines, supplies, and equipment, ultimately saving thousands of lives. In a significant advancement, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has now formally integrated C-PReP into its global framework through CIFAL Miami Center, a partnership with OAA and Florida International University (FIU). This milestone extends the program's reach and impact worldwide by leveraging the UN's extensive network. Together, these organizations will keep vital infrastructure functioning when communities need it most. Direct Relief and FedEx: 15 years of saving lives FedEx volunteer assists with ribbon cutting event marking the donation of a mobile canteen by FedEx For 15 years, FedEx has powered Direct Relief's emergency medical backpack program, equipping healthcare workers responding to disasters and serving vulnerable populations. To date, 15,000 backpacks with essential medical supplies have reached 63 countries and all U.S. states. "Direct Relief is deeply grateful to FedEx for its support of emergency response efforts around the world, including equipping first responders with lifesaving equipment and supplies," said Dr. Byron Scott, interim CEO of Direct Relief. These packs have been a lifeline during the Maui wildfire, Turkey-Syria earthquake, Hurricane Beryl, and countless other crises. Beyond emergencies, they enable "backpack-based medicine" for organizations like Santa Barbara Street Medicine, which provided care to nearly 9,000 unhoused individuals last year. We've formed a powerful collaboration [with Direct Relief] that delivers critical aid exactly where and when it's needed most. April Britt Director, FedEx Global Citizenship 25th mobile canteen donated to The Salvation Army FedEx donated its 25th mobile canteen to The Salvation Army in St. Marys, Georgia, just ahead of Hurricane Debby, which caused massive destruction across the region. The Salvation Army uses mobile canteens to bring relief to people in crisis. Responding to hurricanes and floods, fires and blizzards, the mobile kitchens are a constant presence, offering hot meals, clean water, and a sense of comfort. FedEx donated its first mobile canteen in 2006, and these vehicles have been hard at work ever since. They have provided disaster relief in 18 U.S. cities and seven countries, including the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Baltimore, hurricanes in Florida, serving people in need, and unhoused people in communities across the U.S. The Salvation Army is truly a shining light in our community and around the world. FedEx is incredibly honored to stand alongside them. Chad Behymer District Sales Manager, FedEx Learn more about disaster readiness, relief, and recovery in FedEx's 2024 FedEx Cares report Relief supplies are loaded into a FedEx truck from the Direct Relief Global Distribution Center, sponsored by FedEx View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: FedEx Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: FedEx View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/transportation/2024-fedex-cares-report-disaster-readiness-relief-and-recovery-1068209 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Originally published on 3M News Center The 10 finalists for the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge have spent the summer working with 3M scientist mentors to refine their projects ahead of the final contest at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, Oct. 13-14. An exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist is one of the perks of being named a finalist in the Young Scientist Challenge finalist. It's the nation's premier middle school science competition from 3M and Discovery Education, giving students in grades 5-8 a chance to compete for a $25,000 grand prize and the title of "America's Top Young Scientist." For many of this year's finalists, who range in age from 11 to 14, these exclusive mentorships have been a transformative experience, helping them bring their scientific solutions to life. Their remarkable journeys are documented in a series of vlog posts published throughout the summer. Shrey Arora, who created FreshMate, a smart refrigerator device that tracks food expiration dates to reduce food waste, expressed thanks in his vlog for the help from his mentor, Lalitha Ganapatibhotla, an advanced product development specialist at 3M. "Being given the opportunity to work with a real scientist has helped me in so many ways," Shrey said. "My mentor has helped me through refining my idea, exploring how to build a working prototype, and giving me the resources I need, and even thinking about how my idea and my project can impact the world." Divyam Desai, mentored by Dr. Caitlin Race, a research specialist at 3M, built a smart irrigation system that monitors soil moisture around buildings and waters each zone only as needed to conserve water and prevent foundation damage. "My 3M mentorship has been absolutely instrumental in the progress of my report," Divyam said. "She has been tirelessly guiding me through all of the major steps I've taken to improve my system, offering valuable feedback and support every step of the way." Kiyara Gunawardena, working with Ann Gilman, an advanced research specialist at 3M, developed CORAL, a low-cost underwater robot that helps scientists monitor ocean health without needing divers. "My mentorship sessions are very interactive," Kiyara said. "Every week we meet. We set goals and we also talk about different products we can use so that CORAL can be optimized." Isha Marla, whose mentor is Rodrigo Marmol, a global portfolio manager at 3M, created AlginaFAB, a sustainable fabric made from seaweed and other natural ingredients that mimics the strength and flexibility of traditional textiles while breaking down easily in the environment. "Working with my mentor has really helped me move forward," Isha said. "I already had a clear idea of where I wanted to take my project, but having someone with real world experience meant that my ideas were not out of reach." Reanna Bhuyan Patel, mentored by Stephanie Owen, an expanded beam optics laboratory manager at 3M, developed a device that captures electricity from surrounding heat, offering a clean, low-cost energy source for communities with limited access to reliable power. "Through just this beginning, she has taught me how to use the knowledge around me through science to put forth amazing ideas and act on them," Reanna said. Sheyna Patel, working with Deborah Isabelle, a product engineering specialist at 3M, created a non-toxic hydrogel to capture and break down microplastics in water. "Her guidance has helped me overcome obstacles and believe more in my ability to bring my project to life," Sheyna said. Anirudh Rao, guided by Dr. Aditya Banerji, a 3M research specialist, developed a moisture-powered nano-generator for clean electricity. "Dr. Banerji didn't just help me with the science part of my work," Anirudh said. "He asked questions that I had not considered before." Aniket Sarkar, working with Timothy Hebrink, a senior staff scientist at 3M, designed a low-cost moisture capturing system that pulls water from dry air to help farmers grow crops in arid regions. "My mentor encouraged me to expand a bit more on an old idea I had," Aniket said. Amaira Srivastava, with the mentorship of Dr. Rohit Gupta, a product development specialist at 3M, created biodegradable cups infused with fruit peels to fight plastic waste. "The coolest part was being able to share and develop my project with my mentor," Amaira said. "His mentorship is really making this experience unforgettable." Kevin Tang, guided by Dr. Mark Gilbertson, a senior robotics and automation engineer, developed a real-time fall detection system that uses video analysis and smart alerts to protect older adults in their homes. "Having someone guide me has made a huge difference in my project," Kevin said. The 3M Young Scientist Challenge, now in its 18th year, continues to inspire young minds to apply STEM to real-world problems. Former America's Top Young Scientists have given TED Talks, filed patents, founded nonprofits, made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and exhibited at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named TIME Magazine's Kid of the Year; featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider; and appeared on national television programs such as Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and more. In addition to the 10 finalists, 3M and Discovery Education also recently announced the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge 32 state merit winners and four honorable mention recipients. In May, 3M and Discovery Education unveiled the recipients of the 2025 Alumni Grants Program, which supports past participants of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. This program provides funding for alumni to continue their original projects, develop new innovations aimed at improving the world, or promote science within their communities. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from 3M on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: 3M Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/3m Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: 3M View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/3m-young-scientist-challenge-finalists-reflect-on-summer-mentors-1068206 The financial empowerment tool continues to help clients meet their financial goals. CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / KeyBank (NYSE:KEY) is helping clients take control of their financial futures with EasyUp , a tool that transforms everyday spending into meaningful savings. With every debit card purchase, EasyUp can be set up to automatically transfer a user-selected amount - up to $5 - into a linked KeyBank savings account, helping clients build savings and work toward a financial goal one transaction at a time. The tool reflects KeyBank's ongoing commitment to delivering simple, effective solutions that help clients take control of their financial journeys. Since its launch in August 2019, EasyUp has helped KeyBank clients collectively save more than $182 million (as of July 31, 2025), with the average user saving $490 per year. "EasyUp demonstrates that small, consistent actions can lead to meaningful financial progress over time. Available through KeyBank's online and mobile banking platforms, EasyUp eliminates the need for manual transfers and helps clients stay on track without requiring major changes to their spending behavior," said Jeannie Fanning, Director of Consumer Bank Relationship Growth at KeyBank. The newly refreshed website highlights how easy EasyUp is for clients to use: Enrolling seamlessly. Clients can simply sign on to online banking or the KeyBank mobile app and select EasyUpin online banking under Tools or in the mobile app under More, then Tools. Next, they simply follow the prompts to add the designated checking and savings accounts and set the transfer amount. Saving while spending. With EasyUp, every time clients make a purchase with their KeyBank debit card, a pre-set amount of their money automatically moves from their KeyBank checking account to their KeyBank savings account. Clients set and manage the transfer amount - from 10 to $5. Reaching financial goals. Through EasyUp, clients can build their savings for an emergency fund, vacation, investing, or other goals. Another option clients have is to pay down their debt sooner by having their EasyUp money automatically sent as an extra monthly payment to a creditor. Taking control. Pausing, resuming and changing selections in EasyUp is simple. EasyUp allows clients to make changes in seconds - at any time - from adjusting the amount of the automatic transfer to changing account selections, and more. Debit Card Purchases Unlock Relationship Benefits and Build Client Savings with EasyUp: At KeyBank, clients can take advantage of relationship benefits with one simple requirement, using their eligible KeyBank checking account on five or more qualifying transactions a month. Debit card purchases count as qualifying monthly transactions under Key's relationship benefits program. Therefore, if a client is enrolled in EasyUp, each debit card purchase not only automatically builds savings, but also counts toward the five monthly transactions needed to qualify for Key's relationship benefits. "To KeyBank, EasyUp is more than just a savings tool - it's another way to help our clients wherever they are on their financial journeys. We keep our clients at the center of all that we do and seek to build enduring relationships. We're committed to delivering practical solutions that address everyday financial challenges, empowering clients to achieve their financial goals and providing the advice clients need to take the next best financial step for their futures," said Fanning. To learn more about KeyBank's products and services and move forward on your financial journey, visit key.com/easyup, key.com/relationship or find the nearest KeyBank branch. ABOUT KEYCORP In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $185 billion at June 30, 2025. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC. CFMA #250827-3445178 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/keybanks-easyupr-turns-everyday-spending-into-meaningful-savings-1068208 Perth, Western Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - We refer to the Company's ASX announcement released on 1 July 2025, which pertains to the legal proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria between Besra Gold Inc. (ASX: BEZ) (the Company ) and Jura Trust Limited ( Jura ) (the Proceedings ). Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MLA College has announced the launch of 17 new ByteSize Courses, each a 30-minute, self-paced online module dedicated to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, are a blueprint for tackling global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change and environmental protection. Yet, according to the UN, the world is not on track to meet most of these goals by 2030, underlining the urgent need for education and action. Alex Mejia, Director, Division for People and Social Inclusion Head, UNITAR, said: "We are delighted to be working with MLA College to promote the UN SDG goals. The sustainable development goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The 17 goals were adopted by all UN member states in 2015 as part of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, which set out a 15-year plan to achieve the goals. Raising awareness on these issues is absolutely critical to the success of our development plans and it is because of people just like you undertaking programmes with institutions like MLA College that I believe we will achieve our goals. You are the future of our planet. Without educated, compassionate and committed individuals, nothing will change." Each ByteSize course is CPD accredited and provides learners with a certificate of completion from UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research). Courses offer an engaging introduction to their chosen goal, from Zero Hunger and Gender Equality to Climate Action and Life Below Water. Learners explore complex issues through videos, real-world case studies and self-assessment quizzes, gaining practical insights that can be applied in personal, academic and professional contexts. These courses are designed for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of sustainability and its real-world impact. They are ideal for students, educators, and professionals across all sectors, from business and finance to healthcare, engineering and education. For professionals in particular, the courses provide a practical way to build sustainability knowledge, support ESG compliance and strengthen decision-making in a rapidly changing world. Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, Principal and CEO of MLA College, said: "These ByteSize modules provide a powerful way to learn about the Sustainable Development Goals. By making each course accessible and engaging, we are empowering a broad audience to gain the knowledge needed for informed action, whether in professional settings, education or community life." The launch of the ByteSize Courses builds on MLA College's wider commitment to sustainability. Earlier this year, MLA introduced a Plastic Free July Scholarship to support learners passionate about creating positive change for the environment. For those wishing to take their studies further, MLA also offers advanced programmes such as the MSc Sustainability in Practice and the MSc Global Sustainable Development, providing in-depth expertise and research-led learning opportunities. This launch is part of MLA College's ongoing investment in sustainability education. By introducing the ByteSize Courses, MLA is broadening access to sustainability learning, ensuring that knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals is available to all - from learners taking their first step into the subject to professionals seeking to advance their expertise. With these initiatives, MLA College continues to position itself as a leader in flexible, forward-looking education, preparing learners not only for academic success, but for meaningful contributions to a more sustainable and inclusive future. For more information, visit https://www.mla.ac.uk/programmes/bytesize-short-courses/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mla-college-launches-bytesize-courses-on-the-un-sustainable-development-goals-302545315.html DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to MarketsandMarkets, the Edtech and Smart Classrooms Market is estimated to be USD 197.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 353.1 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 12.3% from 2025 to 2030. Browse 450 market data Tables and 50 Figures spread through 350 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Edtech and Smart Classrooms Market - Global Forecast to 2030" Scope of the Report Market Size Available for Years: 2020-2030 2020-2030 2025 Market Size: USD 197.3 billion USD 197.3 billion 2030 Projected Market Size: USD 353.1 billion USD 353.1 billion CAGR (2025-2030): 12.3% 12.3% Segments covered: By Solution, End User, Deployment Type, and Region By Solution, End User, Deployment Type, and Region Region Highlight: Asia Pacific to register fastest growth during forecast period Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1066 The widespread availability of smartphones, tablets, and affordable internet connectivity is significantly boosting EdTech adoption. In emerging economies, where access to traditional education infrastructure may be limited, mobile-first learning models have become the primary medium of education. According to recent data, over 6.8 billion people globally use smartphones, providing a massive addressable market for mobile-based learning platforms. Mobile penetration allows students to access e-learning applications, digital content, and virtual classrooms from anywhere, eliminating geographical barriers. Platforms like Byju's, Coursera, and Duolingo are heavily mobile-driven, offering flexible, on-the-go learning. Additionally, 4G and now 5G networks enable real-time video-based learning experiences, critical for interactive and collaborative smart classrooms. In rural and semi-urban areas, governments and NGOs are also distributing mobile devices preloaded with digital learning content, further democratizing access. The intersection of device affordability and internet expansion makes mobility a key enabler of digital education, driving exponential growth in this market. The K-12 end user segment is expected to have the largest market size during the forecast period. The K-12 education segment, encompassing education from kindergarten through 12th grade, has seen rapid adoption of technology to enhance learning outcomes and prepare students for a digital world. K-12 institutions are rapidly integrating smart classroom tools such as interactive whiteboards, digital content libraries, gamified learning platforms, and AI-powered adaptive learning systems to enhance engagement and improve learning outcomes. Governments worldwide are investing heavily in digital literacy programs and nationwide e-learning initiatives, ensuring equitable access to education for students in both urban and rural settings. The K-12 market is also characterized by a growing focus on personalized and adaptive learning, with edtech tools providing real-time feedback and customized content to meet individual student needs. Request Sample Pages@https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=1066 By deployment type, the cloud segment is expected to have the largest market size during the forecast period. Cloud-based solutions, such as learning management systems (LMS) and collaborative platforms, enable educational institutions to provide dynamic learning environments without the need for extensive on-premises IT infrastructure. This model allows for easy access to educational resources, applications, and tools from any device with an internet connection, breaking down geographical barriers and supporting flexible learning models like hybrid and remote education. The pay-as-you-go model of cloud services also helps institutions manage costs more efficiently, as they can scale resources up or down based on student enrollment and specific needs. The continuous growth of the cloud segment is further driven by the increasing demand for personalized learning experiences, as cloud-based platforms can leverage data analytics and AI to deliver customized content and provide real-time feedback. Asia Pacific to register fastest growth during forecast period The Edtech and Smart Classrooms Market in Asia Pacific is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the region's high digital adoption and mobile-first consumer base. The growing adoption of immersive technologies, such as AR and VR, is reshaping Asia Pacific's learning ecosystem. Japan and Australia are investing in virtual laboratories and simulation-based classrooms, enhancing experiential learning for STEM education. Meanwhile, low-cost tablet distribution programs in countries like Indonesia and the Philippines are improving accessibility in underserved areas. Edtech vendors are also increasingly integrating gamification elements to align with Asia Pacific's digitally engaged youth culture. Startups across the region are receiving significant venture capital funding, with platforms like Ruangguru (Indonesia) and Unacademy (India) scaling rapidly, underlining the region's role as a catalyst for innovation in smart education. Inquire Before Buying@https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=1066 Top Key Companies in Edtech and Smart Classrooms Market: The report profiles key players, such as Pearson (UK), Cisco (US), Anthology (US), IBM (US), McGraw Hill Education (US), Google (US), Microsoft (US), Oracle (US), PowerSchool (US), Instructure (US), 2U (US), Ellucian (US), Turnitin (US), Kahoot (Norway), Smart Technologies (Canada), IXL Learning (US), D2L (Canada), Workday (US), Discovery Education (US), Promethean (US), Byju's (India), Yuanfudao (China), VipKid (US), 17Zuoye (China), Seesaw (US), Nearpod (US), Age of Learning (US), and Brightbytes (US). Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Fintech as a Service Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Innovation Management Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Trade Surveillance System Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Applicant Tracking System Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Law Enforcement Software Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Get access to the latest updates onEdtech and Smart Classrooms Companies andEdtech and Smart Classrooms Industry 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: 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/edtech-and-smart-classrooms-market-worth-353-1-billion-by-2030--marketsandmarkets-302544902.html The property management software market is anticipated to grow due to the rising need for automation in real estate operations is driving demand for property management software. Property owners and property managers are looking for ways to make the rent collection process simpler, track and manage leases, and process and track maintenance requests. WESTFORD, Mass., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyQuest Technology Consulting published a report, titled, Property Management Software Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2032", valued at USD 7.12 Billion in 2024. With a projected CAGR of 9.6% from 2025 to 2032, the market is expected to reach USD 14.83 Billion by the end of 2032. The growing real estate sector including residential, commercial and industrial avenues is pushing the uptake of real-time property management software. Investors and firms managing diverse portfolios require scalable solutions to monitor performance, handle accounting, and ensure compliance. Download Sample Pages of Research Overview: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/property-management-software-market Property Management Software Market Dynamics: The property management software market has experienced significant growth owing to cloud-based property management software is gaining popularity and its flexibility, real-time accessibility, and lower upfront costs. These platforms allow managers to do their work from anywhere, collaborate effectively, and easily connect other digital tools. The scalability, and affordability of cloud solutions is why small, and large companies utilize cloud solutions. Another key factor driving the market growth is the modern tenants expecting digital communication, online payment options, and self-service portals becoming new norm. Property managers are investing in software which can foster tenant satisfaction with seamless experiences and service delivery. This focus around tenant engagement strengthens retention, and the overall property reputation, spurring growth in the software's use. Recent Developments in Property Management Software Market In August 2025, U.S.-based PropTech firm Entrata inaugurated its Global Capability Centre at ABIL Boulevard in Koregaon Park, Pune. This strategic move underscores Entrata's commitment to enhancing its global operations and leveraging India's growing tech ecosystem. The facility aims to support Entrata's multifamily property management software development and services. In July 2025, RealPage, a leading property management software provider, acquired Livble, a flexible rent payment service. This acquisition enables RealPage to offer tenants the option to split monthly rent into installments, aiming to improve payment flexibility and reduce late fees. The integration enhances RealPage's platforms, including LOFT and Buildium. In July 2025, MRI Software, a global property management solutions provider, launched an AI-driven lease management tool. The new feature automates lease abstraction and compliance tracking, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing manual errors for property managers worldwide. This development reflects MRI Software's commitment to innovation in lease management. Speak to our Analyst: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/property-management-software-market Major Challenges in Property Management Software Industry Many property managers and small landlords lack the technical know-how required to operate sophisticated property management software effectively. The complexity of setup, navigation, and ongoing updates creates a steep learning curve, discouraging adoption especially in regions or sectors with low digital literacy or limited access to IT support. In several developing countries, unreliable internet connectivity and inadequate cloud infrastructure hinder the effective deployment of cloud-based property management software. This restricts real-time access, remote management, and data synchronization capabilities creating barriers for software vendors, aiming to expand into emerging markets with growing real estate potential. Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the global property management software market is marked by innovation, acquisitions, and cloud-based expansion. Key international players include AppFolio, MRI Software, Yardi Systems, Guesty, and Buildium. Yardi focuses on AI integration and global expansion, while Guesty enhances its platform with AI review analysis. MRI Software leverages strategic acquisitions to broaden its service portfolio. These companies aim to improve scalability, automation, and user experience across property management operations. The major players in the property management software industry include, RealPage, Inc. (USA) Entrata, Inc. (USA) TenantCloud (USA) Guesty (Israel) Planon (Netherlands) PropertyMe (Australia) Re-Leased Software Company Ltd. (New Zealand) Hemlane, Inc. (USA) SimplifyEm (USA) PropertyGuru Group (Singapore) Zuper (India) View Full Report: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/property-management-software-market Property Management Software Market Segmentation: The property management software market is segmented based on deployment, solution, application, and region. By deployment, the market is divided into cloud and on-premises. By solution, the market is bifurcated into software and services. By application, the market is divided into residential and commercial. By deployment, cloud deployment has become the preferred choice for property management software due to its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and remote accessibility. It allows property managers to access data in real time, automate updates, and scale operations without major hardware investments. Cloud platforms also integrate easily with AI, mobile apps, and IoT tools. By solution, software solution includes core property management platforms that handle leasing, rent collection, tenant tracking, maintenance scheduling, accounting, and reporting. These software tools are typically sold via subscription or licensing models and serve as the foundation for digital property operations. By application, the residential application segment includes software solutions for managing apartments, single-family homes, condominiums, and housing societies. It caters to individual landlords, property managers, and real estate firms handling residential rentals. This segment benefits from rising urbanization, the growing rental population, and increasing demand for digital tenant engagement tools. Access Free Sample (Charts, Tables & Insights): https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/property-management-software-market Regional Insights North America dominates the global property management software market due to widespread digital adoption, a mature real estate sector, and strong demand for cloud-based solutions. The U.S. leads with numerous established vendors and a high concentration of multi-family and commercial properties, driving continuous innovation and investment in smart property management technologies. Asia Pacific is witnessing rapid growth in the property management software market due to urbanization, rising real estate investments, and increasing adoption of digital solutions. Countries like China, India, and Australia are key contributors, with expanding rental markets and tech-savvy property managers driving demand for scalable, cloud-based property management platforms. Europe's property management software market is growing steadily, driven by regulatory compliance needs, sustainability goals, and digital transformation in real estate. Countries like the UK, Germany, and France are adopting cloud-based platforms to streamline operations, improve tenant engagement, and support eco-friendly property management aligned with the region's green building initiatives. The Middle East and Africa region is seeing increasing demand for property management software, driven by infrastructure expansion and real estate modernization. Gulf countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia are investing in smart city projects and luxury developments, while South Africa emphasizes compliance and operational efficiency. This fosters cloud-based and mobile solutions adoption across the region. Latin America's property management software market is expanding steadily, driven by growing tourism, urban development, and digital transformation in real estate. Countries like Brazil and Mexico are adopting cloud-based platforms to manage short-term rentals and residential properties, while rising smartphone usage supports mobile-first solutions for efficient property operations and tenant engagement. Why is the U.S. Considered the Dominant Hub for Property Management Software? The U.S. is the leading contributor to North America's property management software market, driven by extensive adoption of cloud-based solutions, AI integration, and automation in lease, maintenance, and tenant management. Major companies like RealPage, Yardi, and AppFolio lead the market. Strong R&D, investment in SaaS platforms, and widespread commercial and residential real estate digitization accelerate innovation, positioning the U.S. as the dominant hub for property management software in the region. Explore Extensive ongoing Coverage on Related Topics: Recruitment Software Market: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/recruitment-software-market Energy Management System Market: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/energy-management-system-market Contract Lifecycle Management Software Market: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/contract-lifecycle-management-software-market Battery Management System Market: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/battery-management-system-market Loyalty Management Market: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/loyalty-management-market About SkyQuest Technology Consulting SkyQuest Technology Consulting is a leading Strategy Consulting and Market Research firm, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and growth consulting services, trusted by CXOs from Fortune 500 Companies, Start-ups, and MSMEs. The company comprises a team of expert research analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports in our database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 40+ industries & sub industries across 25 major countries worldwide, serving global clients across diverse industries. The company specializes in delivering customized intelligence, data-driven insights, and strategic advisory services that enable businesses to stay competitive and make informed decisions in rapidly evolving industries. Contact Us: SkyQuest Technology Consulting 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2446095/SkyQuest_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/property-management-software-market-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-9-6-from-2025-to-2032--skyquest-technology-consulting-302544709.html NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rising adoption of cell and gene therapies, along with increasing investments in biopharmaceutical R&D, is accelerating demand for GMP-grade consumables essential for the manufacturing, processing, and delivery of cell therapies. The Global GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market is poised to transform the advanced therapy sector, supporting clinical manufacturing, autologous and allogeneic therapies, and biopharmaceutical innovation. According to Vantage Market Research's latest report, "GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis by Type, Application, and Region - Historic Data (2021-2023), Base Year (2024) & Forecast Period (2025-2035)," the market is projected to grow from USD 15.05 million in 2024 to USD 114.4 million by 2035, registering a robust CAGR of 28.9% during 2025-2035. according to an analysis by Vantage Market Research. GMP consumables such as culture media, cryopreservation products, single-use bioreactors, and filtration systems are increasingly essential for ensuring product quality, sterility, and regulatory compliance. They support scalable cell expansion, precision manufacturing, and safe clinical outcomes, enabling the broader adoption of cell-based therapies. Get a Sample Report of GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market Forecast @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/gmp-cell-therapy-consumables-market-3965/request-sample (Sample reports are a great way to test our in-depth reports or study before you make a purchase) The newly updated, 245+ page reports provide an in-depth analysis. Using industry data and interview with experts, you can learn about topics such as regional impact analysis, global forecast, competitive landscape analysis, size & share of regional markets. We offer these reports in PDF format so you can read them on your computer and print them out. Free sample includes, Industry Operating Conditions, Industry Market Size, Profitability Analysis, SWOT Analysis, Industry Major Players, Historical and Forecast, Growth Porter's 5 Forces Analysis, Revenue Forecasts, Industry Trends, Industry Financial Ratios. The report also presents the country-wise and region-wise analysis of the Vantage Market Research and includes a detailed analysis of the key factors affecting the growth of the market. and includes a detailed analysis of the key factors affecting the growth of the market. Sample Report further sheds light on the Major Market Players with their Sales Volume, Business Strategy and Revenue Analysis, to offer the readers an advantage over others. Key Takeaways: By Type: Single-use consumables led in 2024, supporting scalable bioprocessing and sterility assurance. By Application: Clinical manufacturing and cell therapy production accounted for the largest share. Regional Leadership: North America dominated in 2024, with significant contributions from the U.S. and Canada due to advanced cell therapy infrastructure, regulatory support, and strong biopharma presence. Competitive Landscape: Top Companies in the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market: Vantage Market Research has identified the following companies as the top market players: Thermo Fisher Scientific Lonza Group Merck KGaA Sartorius AG Corning Incorporated GE Healthcare Life Sciences Danaher Corporation Miltenyi Biotec Takara Bio Inc. FujiFilm Wako Chemicals To Know an Additional List of Key Players, Request Here to Download a Free Report PDF Brochure: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/gmp-cell-therapy-consumables-market-3965/request-sample These leading companies are investing heavily in single-use systems, sterile consumables, and process optimization to meet growing demand for high-quality, GMP-compliant cell therapy products. "GMP-grade consumables are becoming the backbone of advanced cell therapy manufacturing," said Nneha Rathod Godbole, Founder and CEO at Vantage Market Research. "They enable precise, scalable, and compliant production of cell and gene therapies, helping biopharma companies bring innovative treatments to market safely and efficiently." Market Overview & Potential The global GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market is valued at USD 15.05 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach a value of USD 114.4 Million by 2035 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 28.9% between 2025 and 2035. The GMP cell therapy consumables market is witnessing rapid growth due to increasing clinical trials, rising approvals for CAR-T, stem cell, and gene therapies, and an expanding pipeline of regenerative medicine products. Key drivers include: Rising prevalence of cancer and rare genetic diseases. Investment in autologous and allogeneic cell therapy manufacturing. Increasing adoption of single-use and closed-system technologies for contamination control and scalability. What Factors Are Accelerating the Demand and Growth of the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market? Rising global demand for advanced cell and gene therapies, driving need for high-quality, GMP-compliant consumables. Clinical Manufacturing: Single-use bioreactors, culture media, and filtration systems enable sterile, scalable, and efficient production of autologous and allogeneic therapies. Single-use bioreactors, culture media, and filtration systems enable sterile, scalable, and efficient production of autologous and allogeneic therapies. Regenerative Medicine & CAR-T Therapies: Growing pipeline of personalized therapies requires reliable consumables for expansion, cryopreservation, and quality control. Growing pipeline of personalized therapies requires reliable consumables for expansion, cryopreservation, and quality control. Biopharmaceutical R&D: Ensures reproducibility, regulatory compliance, and process optimization in early-stage and commercial manufacturing. Ensures reproducibility, regulatory compliance, and process optimization in early-stage and commercial manufacturing. Automation & Closed-System Bioprocessing: Reduces contamination risk, enhances operational efficiency, and supports rapid scale-up. Collectively, these factors are driving robust growth in the GMP cell therapy consumables market. What Are Emerging Trends Shaping the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market? Single-Use and Closed-System Technologies: Rapid adoption of disposable consumables minimizes cross-contamination and streamlines production. Rapid adoption of disposable consumables minimizes cross-contamination and streamlines production. Next-Generation Cryopreservation Products: Advanced reagents and storage systems improve cell viability and shelf-life. Advanced reagents and storage systems improve cell viability and shelf-life. Automation & Process Integration: Increasing use of automated platforms for cell expansion, harvest, and purification. Increasing use of automated platforms for cell expansion, harvest, and purification. Outsourcing to CDMOs: Growth in contract manufacturing for cell therapies is boosting demand for standardized GMP consumables. Growth in contract manufacturing for cell therapies is boosting demand for standardized GMP consumables. Advanced Quality Control and Monitoring: Real-time sensors and analytics ensure regulatory compliance and product consistency. What Are Major Challenges Hindering GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market Growth? High cost of consumables and process validation limits adoption, especially for smaller biotechs. Technical hurdles in maintaining sterility, cell viability, and consistency during scale-up. Regulatory complexity across regions can delay approvals and increase compliance costs. Supply chain risks, including reliance on specialized raw materials and single-use system components. Competition from in-house process development, alternative manufacturing platforms, and emerging technologies. Recent Developments March 2025 - Lonza expanded its U.S. cell therapy facility to meet increasing CAR-T production demand. - Lonza expanded its U.S. cell therapy facility to meet increasing CAR-T production demand. May 2025 - Thermo Fisher launched a new line of GMP-grade cryopreservation and single-use consumables. - Thermo Fisher launched a new line of GMP-grade cryopreservation and single-use consumables. July 2025 - Sartorius acquired a bioprocessing consumables start-up to enhance its single-use system portfolio. Purchase Single User PDF of GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market Report (20% Discount) | Immediate Delivery @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/gmp-cell-therapy-consumables-market-3965/checkout Benefits of Purchasing GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market Reports: Customer Satisfaction : Our sales team of experts will available for you 24/7. : Our sales team of experts will available for you 24/7. Analyst Support : Speak to our analyst about your questions before or after purchasing the report. : Speak to our analyst about your questions before or after purchasing the report. Assured Quality : Focuses on perfection and quality of reports. : Focuses on perfection and quality of reports. Incomparable Skills: Our Analysts in-depth insights are beyond comparison. Strategic Insights for Decision-Makers: How Will This Market Impact Cell Therapy Manufacturing and Supply Chains? The GMP cell therapy consumables market underpins efficiency, quality, and regulatory compliance across autologous and allogeneic therapies, CAR-T, stem cell products, and regenerative medicine. Consumables such as single-use bioreactors, cryopreservation systems, filtration devices, and culture media accelerate production cycles, reduce contamination risk, and ensure batch-to-batch consistency. As demand for scalable, safe, and high-quality therapies rises, resilient access to GMP-grade consumables-media, reagents, bioreactor bags, and filtration units-becomes mission-critical. Disruptions in supply chains, cold chain logistics, or validated consumables can cascade into manufacturing delays, higher costs of goods sold (COGS), and variability in product quality. Impact: Expect tighter multi-year supply agreements, dual-sourcing across APAC/NA/EU, and strategic partnerships with CDMOs and suppliers. Leaders will co-innovate on single-use systems, process optimization, and buffer inventories of critical consumables for high-demand therapies. What Risks Should Investors Track? C onsumable Supply Volatility: Shortages of culture media, single-use bags, filtration units, or cryopreservation reagents can disrupt production schedules and compress margins. onsumable Supply Volatility: Shortages of culture media, single-use bags, filtration units, or cryopreservation reagents can disrupt production schedules and compress margins. Regulatory & Quality Compliance: Shifting cGMP requirements, regional approvals, and sterility validation timelines can increase QA costs and extend time-to-market. Performance Substitution: Adoption of alternative platforms, reusable systems, or proprietary in-house consumables by large CDMOs and biotech firms can impact pricing and market share. IP & Product Security: Patents, proprietary designs, and supply confidentiality are key to maintaining competitive differentiation. Logistics & Cold Chain: Many consumables require controlled storage; port delays, temperature excursions, or handling errors can trigger batch losses and service failures. What Opportunities Exist for Sustainability and Growth Leaders? Next-Generation Single-Use Systems: Improved scalability, sterility, and ease of integration reduce contamination risk and increase throughput. Advanced Cryopreservation Consumables: Enhancing cell viability and shelf-life supports broader distribution and global clinical trials. Automation & Closed-System Platforms: Streamlined manufacturing reduces human error, improves consistency, and lowers operational complexity. Contract Development & Manufacturing Collaboration: Partnerships with CDMOs expand capacity and reduce time-to-market for emerging therapies. Quality & Monitoring Solutions: Real-time sensors and analytics ensure regulatory compliance, improve yield, and optimize process control. For biopharma and cell therapy leaders, this is a strategic inflection point: early investment in GMP-grade consumables, automated processing systems, and resilient supply chains can secure premium manufacturing capabilities, accelerate therapy commercialization, and attract long-term partnerships with ESG- and innovation-focused investors. Regional Insights Why Does North America Lead the Global GMP cell therapy consumables Market? In 2024, North America captured 42.6% of the global revenue share, making it a leading region in the industrial enzymes market. Growth is driven by strong adoption of advanced cell and gene therapies, CAR-T, and regenerative medicine products. The U.S. and Canada are innovation hubs, supported by biotech startups, government programs, and major players like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Sartorius, and GE Healthcare. Increasing investments in automated, single-use manufacturing platforms, bioreactors, and cryopreservation systems are reinforcing the region's leadership in high-quality, scalable cell therapy production. How Is Asia Pacific Emerging as a Key Growth Hub for GMP Cell Therapy Consumables? Asia Pacific accounted for significant revenue share in 2024, supported by rapid expansion of biopharma manufacturing, increasing clinical trial activity, and rising demand for cell and gene therapies. China, India, and Japan are investing heavily in GMP-compliant production facilities, driving demand for culture media, single-use bioreactors, filtration systems, and cryopreservation consumables. Leading players like Miltenyi Biotec, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Sartorius are expanding R&D and manufacturing capacities across the region. Favorable government policies, growing biotech ecosystems, and rising healthcare expenditure position Asia Pacific as a major growth hub in the coming years. How Is Europe Driving Sustainable Growth in the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market? Europe represented about 20% of global revenue in 2024, with growth primarily driven by regulatory frameworks and initiatives promoting advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). Adoption of GMP consumables is strong in CAR-T, stem cell therapies, and regenerative medicine, as manufacturers prioritize sterility, process reproducibility, and patient safety. Germany, France, and the UK are key R&D and manufacturing hubs, while government-backed programs and EU incentives are expected to accelerate the adoption of automated, single-use systems and high-quality culture media. How Is Latin America Unlocking New Growth Opportunities in the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market? Latin America accounted for around 6-7% of the global market in 2024, with demand rising for cell and gene therapy manufacturing, clinical trials, and regenerative medicine initiatives. Brazil is a key growth driver with expanding biopharma infrastructure. Increasing investment in biotechnology, medical research, and hospital-based cell therapy programs is strengthening opportunities for GMP consumables in the region. What Role Does the Middle East & Africa Play in the Expansion of the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market? The Middle East & Africa (MEA) is poised for steady growth, supported by rising investments in biopharma infrastructure, clinical research, and regenerative medicine initiatives. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE's healthcare expansion programs are driving demand for GMP-grade culture media, single-use bioreactors, and cryopreservation systems. In South Africa, growing interest in cell therapies and clinical trials is boosting the adoption of automated and closed-system platforms, expanding opportunities across the region. Segmental Insights By Product Type Which Product Type Dominated the GMP Cell Therapy ConsumablesMarket in 2024? Cell Culture Media and Supplements led the market in 2024, accounting for 41.4% of total revenue. These consumables are essential for maintaining optimal cell growth, viability, and functionality during ex vivo expansion. High demand is driven by widespread use in stem cell, T-cell, and NK-cell therapies, as well as by growing investments in autologous and allogeneic cell therapy manufacturing. Media and supplements are projected to retain their dominance through 2035, supported by their critical role in ensuring consistent, GMP-compliant cell production. By Cell Type Which Cell Type Accounted for the Largest Share of GMP Cell Therapy Consumables in 2024? Stem Cells captured 41.8% of the market in 2024, reflecting their central role in regenerative medicine and research applications. Hematopoietic, mesenchymal, and induced pluripotent stem cells are widely used in preclinical and clinical programs. The increasing number of stem-cell-based therapies in oncology, cardiovascular, and neurology is expected to sustain this segment's growth over the next decade. By Application Which Application Segment Drove the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market in 2024? Oncology was the largest application segment in 2024, contributing 44.5% of total market revenue. The rise of CAR-T, TCR-T, and NK-cell therapies in hematologic and solid tumors is fueling demand for GMP-grade consumables, including media, separation tools, and cryopreservation systems. Increasing clinical trials and commercial approvals for cell therapies in cancer treatment are expected to further drive this segment. Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 245 Pages and in-depth TOC on GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market Forecast Report (2025-2035). Segments Covered in The Report By Product Type Cell Culture media and Supplements (41.40%) Cell Separation and Purification Consumables Cryopreservation Consumables Cell Transduction Consumables Other Consumables By Cell Type Stem Cells (41.80%) T-Cells Natural Killer Cells Other Cell Types By Application Oncology (44.50%) Regenarative Medicine Neurology Cardiovascular Immunology Other Application By End User Biopharmaceutical Companies Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) Academic and Research Institution Hospitals and Clinics Others Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain Nordic Countries Benelux Union Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India New Zealand Australia South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa (MEA) Saudi Arabia UAE Egypt Kuwait South Africa Rest of MEA Buy this Premium Research Report with Discount | Immediate Delivery @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/gmp-cell-therapy-consumables-market-3965/checkout Key Questions Answered in The Report: Which region is projected to achieve the fastest and highest growth in the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables market over the next decade? Who are the leading five players in the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables market, and what are their key strengths and weaknesses in terms of product portfolio, innovation, and global presence? What breakthrough innovations, automation technologies, and consumable advancements are expected to shape the GMP Cell Therapy market in the next six years? Which cell therapy types, platforms, and consumables are likely to dominate market share, and what factors are driving their adoption? What are the primary growth drivers, potential barriers, and critical challenges influencing the GMP Cell Therapy Consumables industry? What is the anticipated market size and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for GMP Cell Therapy Consumables during the forecast period? How will regulatory trends, GMP compliance, and the push for scalable, automated, and single-use systems impact market dynamics and adoption? Gain instant access to our exclusive, data-driven dashboard designed for healthcare industry decision-makers, strategists, and market leaders. The platform delivers in-depth statistical insights, segment-wise breakdowns, regional market performance, competitive landscape mapping, company profiles, annual updates, and more. From market sizing to trend analysis and competitive intelligence, this powerful tool serves as a comprehensive solution for informed business decisions. Buy Full Research Report on GMP Cell Therapy Consumables Market 2025-2035 @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/gmp-cell-therapy-consumables-market-3965 Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per client needs or requirements. For any queries, you can contact us on sales@vantagemarketresearch.com +1 (212) 951-1369. Our sales executives will be happy to understand your needs and provide you with the most suitable reports. 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Our globally recognized insights empower stakeholders to make informed decisions, anticipate trends, and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube Contact us Priya M Head of Growth & Strategic Partnerships 224 W 35th St Ste 500, New York, NY 10001, United States Tel: +1 (212) 951-1369 Email: sales@vantagemarketresearch.com | priya.m@vantagemarketresearch.com Website: Vantage Market Research MarketReports.us Market Business Insights vmr.biz v-mr.biz TechWire24 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2758208/Vantage_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gmp-cell-therapy-consumables-market-to-reach-usd-114-4-million-by-2035--with-cagr-28-9-driven-by-advanced-cell-therapy-and-biopharmaceutical-innovation--vantage-market-research-302545212.html The Industrial Display System Market is experiencing robust growth driven by escalating demand for advanced visualization solutions in manufacturing, automotive, energy, and healthcare sectors. Rising adoption of automation, IoT integration, and Industry 4.0 initiatives is boosting the deployment of rugged displays for real-time monitoring, process control, and data visualization. LEWES, Del., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Industrial Display System Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2026 to 2033, according to a new report published by Verified Market Reports. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 7.5 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 11.2 Billion by the end of the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/download-sample/?rid=515322 Browse in-depth TOC on Industrial Display System Market 202 - Pages 126 - Tables 37 - Figures Scope of The Report REPORT ATTRIBUTES DETAILS STUDY PERIOD 2023-2033 BASE YEAR 2024 FORECAST PERIOD 2026-2033 HISTORICAL PERIOD 2023 ESTIMATED PERIOD 2025 UNIT Value (USD Billion) KEY COMPANIES PROFILED LG Display, Samsung, AU Optronics, Japan Display, Sharp, BOE, Hannstar Display, Varitronix International, TCL Display, Universal Display, E Ink Holdings SEGMENTS COVERED By Product Type, By Display Size, By End User Application, By Technology, By Connectivity Type, By Geography CUSTOMIZATION SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analyst working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope Global Industrial Display System Market Overview Industrial Display System Market: Trends and Opportunities Edge intelligence meets rugged HMI: Demand accelerates for IP65-IP69K, sunlight-readable, wide-temperature HMIs that embed edge AI/ML for predictive quality and closed-loop control, improving OEE and reducing unplanned downtime. Convergence of OT/IT visualization: Unified dashboards across SCADA, MES, and ERP drive real-time decisioning; HTML5/web-based thin clients and containerized HMIs simplify multi-site rollouts and lifecycle management. Low-latency, high-reliability networking: 5G private networks and TSN-ready Ethernet enable deterministic visualization for robotics, motion control, and remote assistance in hazardous or hard-to-reach zones. Human-centric design & safety: Larger, higher-nits panels, glove-friendly capacitive touch, and IEC 61508/ISO 13849-aligned alarms improve situational awareness and operator safety while cutting training time. Cyber-secure visualization: Secure boot, TPM-backed identities, role-based access, and signed content updates become baseline as zero-trust architectures extend to industrial HMIs and panel PCs. Regional momentum: Asia's capital investments in electronics and EV supply chains, North America's re-shoring and advanced manufacturing credits, and Europe's energy-efficient modernization sustain display upgrades across factories, utilities, and process industries. Industrial display systems-ranging from panel PCs and operator terminals to large-format and intrinsically safe displays-sit at the center of digital operations. They translate sensor feeds, MES/SCADA alerts, and AI insights into intuitive visual cues that guide line operators, field engineers, and reliability teams. Executive priorities converge around three outcomes: resilience (fewer disruptions), productivity (higher throughput with the same assets), and compliance (documented safety and cybersecurity). In practice, decision-makers are favoring platforms that are modular, protocol-agnostic, energy-efficient, and secure by design-capable of spanning brownfield plants and greenfield smart factories without forklift upgrades. From a demand standpoint, Industry 4.0 programs are shifting from pilots to scalable deployments. Buyers now evaluate displays not only by panel size or brightness but by system economics: total cost of ownership, device management, and mean time to restoration. OT teams want sealed enclosures (NEMA 4X), fanless thermal design, and conformal coatings that survive dust, oils, corrosives, and washdowns. IT teams push for identity-centric management, remote patching, and immutable OS images to meet corporate cyber baselines. These dual pressures are catalyzing refresh cycles in food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, mining, metals, water/wastewater, and power distribution-verticals where uptime and safety are non-negotiable. Technologically, three breakthroughs stand out. First, GPU-accelerated visualization at the edge enables complex 3D twins, machine vision overlays, and multivariate SPC charts without saturating backhaul links. Second, 5G/TSN orchestration reduces latency and jitter for time-critical HMIs on mobile assets such as AGVs and autonomous forklifts. Third, no-code/low-code HMI engineering compresses development cycles with reusable widgets, OPC UA tag discovery, and templated alarm workflows-improving consistency across lines and sites while reducing validation overhead in regulated industries. Competitive intensity is rising as panel makers, industrial PC vendors, and automation OEMs expand into software-defined HMIs and lifecycle services. Differentiation hinges on adherence to open standards (OPC UA, MQTT Sparkplug), breadth of industrial protocols (PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus), and availability of pre-certified variants (ATEX/IECEx, UL Class I Div 2) to streamline deployment in hazardous locations. Vendors that pair hardware reliability with enterprise-grade device management, evidenceable cybersecurity, and energy-efficient backlights (wide-gamut, low-power LED) will capture outsized wallet share in refresh and expansion cycles. Which long-tail market driver will most influence multi-site rollouts of industrial display systems over the next 3-5 years? The most catalytic driver is the shift to standardized, web-native HMIs that can be orchestrated across dozens or hundreds of plants using cloud-assisted lifecycle management. Enterprises want a common visualization layer that runs on rugged panel PCs and thin clients in harsh zones yet renders identically on control-room walls, tablets, and secure browsers for remote experts. This standardization supports "design once, deploy many" market penetration strategies: centralized template libraries, global tag naming conventions, and version-controlled alarm logic. The business impact is material-shorter commissioning windows, lower engineering hours per line, and faster cross-site replication of best practices. Operationally, web-native HMIs ride on OPC UA and MQTT Sparkplug to decouple data from devices, while identity-based access and signed content updates satisfy corporate zero-trust guidelines. Pairing these with 5G or TSN in plants reduces jitter for motion and robotics cells, allowing richer visualization without sacrificing determinism. For C-suite sponsors, the KPI stack shifts from unit price per display to fleet-level metrics: average time to patch, policy drift rate, alarm rationalization score, and percentage of lines running on certified templates. Organizations that codify these KPIs into vendor SLAs will realize predictable scale-up with fewer surprises during audits and turnarounds. To Purchase a Comprehensive Report Analysis: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=515322 What restraint most constrains ROI in harsh-duty applications, and how can buyers mitigate it without over-engineering? The most persistent ROI drag is premature display degradation in high-heat, high-humidity, or high-vibration environments-manifesting as backlight decay, touch failure, delamination, and connector fatigue. Over-specifying exotic materials or custom enclosures fixes symptoms but bloats capex and lead times. A more economical mitigation is context-specific ruggedization: select exactly the durability attributes the duty cycle demands, verified by test evidence. For washdown lines, prioritize IP69K, stainless steel bezels, and chemically resistant overlays; in mining and heavy equipment, emphasize high-g shock/vibration ratings, optical bonding, and heater kits for cold starts; for outdoor utilities, look for high-nits brightness, UV-stable polarizers, and ultra-wide temperature ranges. Specify conformal coating for corrosive atmospheres and potting for cable strain relief. Standardize on fanless thermal designs and industrial-grade storage to cut failure points. Adopt condition-based maintenance by polling internal temperature, backlight hours, and touch event health to forecast replacements before peak seasons. Combined with vendor-managed spares and clear MTBF/MTTR targets, this approach lifts uptime without paying a customization penalty. Automotive Display System Market Geographic Dominance and Regulatory Context North America: The region benefits from re-shoring, infrastructure modernization, and strong compliance cultures. Occupational safety frameworks and electrical codes mandate robust operator interfaces, documented alarms, and traceable maintenance-factors that favor higher-spec industrial displays in oil & gas, chemicals, and food processing. Environmental guidelines and energy-efficiency programs push manufacturers toward backlight technologies and power profiles that reduce heat load in enclosures, supporting lower total energy consumption across plants. Reliability engineering practices and incident reporting norms raise the bar for ingress protection, fail-safe states, and cybersecurity hardening, accelerating refresh cycles in legacy facilities. Europe: Sustainability-first modernization and advanced automation in Germany, the Nordics, and Benelux create steady demand for energy-efficient, cyber-secure visualization. Harmonized machinery and safety standards, coupled with chemical and waste directives, drive procurement toward displays with verifiable material compliance and end-of-life recyclability. Industrial users place a premium on human-factors engineering-glare reduction, color fidelity for status differentiation, and consistent iconography-improving operator ergonomics and reducing error rates. Utilities and rail place emphasis on EMC immunity and extended lifetime parts availability, which steers the market toward vendors with documented component roadmaps and long-term service commitments. Asia Pacific: APAC holds the lead in unit volumes, propelled by electronics, automotive, and battery/EV supply chains across China, South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Continuous capital investment in new fabs and gigafactories translates into demand for high-nits, low-latency displays for cleanrooms, robotics cells, and automated material handling. Government-supported industrial digitalization and smart manufacturing initiatives promote adoption of IIoT gateways and web-native HMIs. In parallel, maritime, mining, and construction verticals across Australia and Indonesia require rugged, high-temperature, and sunlight-readable displays, creating healthy demand for hardened SKUs. Regional buyers also emphasize competitive total cost of ownership, favoring modular designs with field-replaceable components. Middle East & Africa: Energy and utilities investments, desalination capacity build-outs, and downstream petrochemicals underpin demand for explosion-protected and corrosion-resistant displays. Harsh ambient conditions prioritize wide-temperature panels, high brightness, and sand/dust ingress protection. As grid modernization and water infrastructure expand, control rooms and substation HMIs increasingly migrate to secure web clients and large-format industrial displays with long-life backlights and low maintenance footprints. Latin America: Diversified growth across mining, agribusiness, and discrete manufacturing lifts adoption of rugged HMIs and panel PCs. Buyers often balance capex sensitivity with uptime requirements, rewarding platforms that offer remote device management, local service partnerships, and strong EMC/ESD resilience for challenging electrical environments. Modernization of ports, rail, and power distribution supports large-format displays and video walls for operations centers. Global Automotive Display System Market regulatory and public-sector signals shaping demand: Workplace safety and human factors: Occupational health authorities emphasize prevention of heat stress, fatigue, and human-machine miscommunication. That prioritizes readable, glare-controlled displays, clear alarm hierarchies, and glove-friendly interactions to cut error probability and improve response times. Environmental stewardship and energy efficiency: Environmental agencies promote reductions in industrial energy intensity and hazardous substances. Procurements increasingly specify low-power display electronics, mercury-free backlighting, and materials compliance to minimize lifecycle environmental impact and simplify EHS reporting. Cybersecurity baselines: National guidance on critical infrastructure protection is pushing secure configuration, patch cadence, network segmentation, and identity-based access for operator interfaces. Displays with secure boot, signed firmware, and audit logs are becoming the default for utilities, water/wastewater, and transportation. Infrastructure reliability and manufacturing expansion: Public data show sustained investment in manufacturing value added and capital formation in regions investing in semiconductors, batteries, and clean energy supply chains. These outlays correlate with multi-year procurement of HMIs and large-format displays for new lines and balance-of-plant upgrades. Industrial Display System Market: Key Players Shaping the Future Major players, including LG Display, Samsung, AU Optronics, Japan Display, Sharp, BOE, Hannstar Display, Varitronix International, TCL Display, Universal Display, E Ink Holdings and more, play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Industrial Display System Market. Financial statements, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis provide valuable insights into the industry's key players. Industrial Display System Market: Segments Analysis Based on the research, Verified Market Reports has segmented the global Industrial Display System Market into Product Type, Display Size, End User Application, Technology, Geography. To get market data, market insights, and a comprehensive analysis of the Global Industrial Display System Market, please Contact Verified Market Reports. LCD Displays LED Displays OLED Displays Plasma Displays Projection Displays Manufacturing Aerospace & Defense Oil & Gas Healthcare Retail Small Displays (up to 24 inches) Medium Displays (25 to 55 inches) Large Displays (over 55 inches) Custom Size Displays Interactive Displays touchscreen Displays Non-Touch Displays High Brightness Displays Multiscreen Configuration Wired Connectivity Wireless Connectivity USB Connectivity HDMI Connectivity Network Connectivity (Etheet) By Product TypeBy End-user ApplicationBy Display SizeBy TechnologyBy Connectivity Type Industrial Display System Market, By Geography North America - U.S - Canada - Mexico U.S - Canada - Mexico Europe - Germany - France - U.K - Rest of Europe Germany - France - U.K - Rest of Europe Asia Pacific - China - Japan - India - Rest of Asia Pacific China - Japan - India - Rest of Asia Pacific ROW - Middle East & Africa - Latin America Browse Related Reports: Global Display Timing Controllers (TCON) Market Size By Type of Display Technology (Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED)), By Application (Consumer Electronics, Industrial Displays), By End-User Industry (Consumer Electronics, Automotive), By Integration Level (Standalone TCONs, Integrated TCONs), By Technology Features (Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), High Dynamic Range (HDR)), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Polarizer for Display Panel Market Size By Type of Polarizer (Linear Polarizers, Circular Polarizers), By Materials Used (Polymer-based Polarizers, Glass Polarizers), By Application Area (Consumer Electronics, Industrial Displays), By End-use Industry (Electronics, Medical), By Technology Used (LCD Technology, LED Technology), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Industrial Display Panel Market Size By Technology (LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) LED (Light Emitting Diode)), By Technology (LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) LED (Light Emitting Diode)), By Panel Size (Small Panels (less than 15 inches) Medium Panels (15 to 30 inches)), By End-User Industry (Manufacturing, Healthcare), By Display Type (Touchscreen Displays, Non-Touch Displays), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Interactive Display Systems Market Size By Display Type (LCD, LED), By Application (Retail, Hospitality), By Technology (Touchscreen, Non-touchscreen), By End-User (Commercial, Industrial), By Display Size (Small (up to 32 inches), Medium (33-65 inches)), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Automotive Display System Market Size By Product Type (Instrument Cluster Displays, Head-Up Displays), By Display Technology (LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)), By Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles), By Application (Navigation Systems, Infotainment Systems), By Display Size (Below 5 Inches, 5 To 10 Inches), By Geographic Scope And Forecast About Us Verified Market Reports stands at the forefront as a global leader in Research and Consulting, offering unparalleled analytical research solutions that empower organizations with the insights needed for critical business decisions. 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Contact Us Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Reports US: +1 (650)-781-4080 US Toll Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Email: sales@verifiedmarketreports.com Web: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2486715/5468917/VM_Reports.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/industrial-display-system-market-surges-to-usd-11-2-billion-by-2033--propelled-by-5-5-cagr---verified-market-reports-302545343.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / "Climate Risk Is Now a Business Risk - Are You Ready?" WHAT As climate-related regulations like California's SB 261 and the EU CSRD come into force, businesses are facing new requirements to publicly disclose the financial impact of climate risks. This webinar offers a practical guide to help organizations navigate these changes and build resilient climate risk strategies. WHO EcoOnline and G&A Institute Annie Roberts , SVP, Climate Consulting, G&A Institute Karen Buttigieg, Group Product Marketing Manager, EcoOnline WHEN Tuesday, September 9, 2025 12:30pm EST / 9:30am PDT WHERE Online webinar - Registration page WHY IT MATTERS With climate-related disasters intensifying and disclosure mandates expanding, businesses must act quickly to assess and report their climate risks. This session provides journalists and their audiences with timely insights into how companies are adapting to regulatory pressure and integrating climate risk into strategic planning. About EcoOnline EcoOnline delivers innovative environment, health and safety (EHS), chemical management and ESG/sustainability technology solutions to forward-thinking leaders. 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G&A's proprietary, comprehensive full-suite process for sustainability reporting is designed to help organizations achieve sustainability leadership in their industry and sector and maximize return on investment for sustainability initiatives. Since 2011, G&A has been building and expanding a comprehensive database of corporate sustainability reporting data based on analysis of thousands of ESG and sustainability reports to help steer strategy for our clients and improve their disclosure and reporting. More information is available on our website at ga-institute.com. FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES & INTERVIEWS, CONTACT Alyssa Fishwick Senior Director Global Public Relations, EcoOnline alyssa.fishwick@ecoonline.com Louis D. Coppola CEO & Co-Founder, Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. Email lcoppola@ga-institute.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Governance & Accountability Institute on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Governance & Accountability Institute Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/governance-accountability-institute-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Governance & Accountability Institute View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/ecoonline-and-ganda-institute-to-hold-sept.-9-webinar-on-best-pr-1068257 DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Ophthalmic Imaging Market, valued at US$2.7 billion in 2024, stood at US$2.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to advance at a resilient CAGR of 6.3% from 2025 to 2030, culminating in a forecasted valuation of US$3.8 billion by the end of the period. The ophthalmic imaging market is driven by the rising prevalence of eye diseases and an aging global population, which boosts demand for advanced diagnostic tools. Significant technological advancements, such as AI integration and portable imaging devices, further accelerate adoption. However, high costs of equipment and reimbursement challenges in certain regions act as major restraints, limiting accessibility and implementation, especially in low-resource settings. Key opportunities include the expansion of tele-ophthalmology, increased healthcare investments in emerging economies, and the growing need for early, accurate detection of vision-threatening conditions. In this report, the market is divided into product, end user, and region. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=210777128 Browse in-depth TOC on "Ophthalmic Imaging Market" 411 - Tables 57 - Figures 343 - Pages By product, OCT systems hold the largest market share in the ophthalmic imaging market due to their non-invasive, high-resolution imaging capabilities, which are essential for diagnosing retinal and optic nerve disorders. Widely used for conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration, OCT systems enable early detection and monitoring. Their technological advancements and broad clinical adoption make them indispensable in modern ophthalmic diagnostics. By Application, the AI-enabled ophthalmic imaging equipment segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate due to its ability to enhance diagnostic accuracy, automate image analysis, and reduce clinician workload. These systems support early detection of complex eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Their integration with teleophthalmology and suitability for use in remote or resource-limited settings further drives rapid global adoption. By geography, North America dominates the ophthalmic imaging market due to its advanced healthcare infrastructure, early adoption of innovative technologies, and strong presence of leading manufacturers. High awareness of eye disorders, favorable reimbursement policies, and substantial healthcare spending support growth. Additionally, a growing elderly population and increasing incidence of chronic eye conditions further drive demand for ophthalmic imaging solutions. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=210777128 The prominent players in the ophthalmic imaging market are Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Germany), Topcon Corporation (Japan), Nidek Co., Ltd. (Japan), Alcon Inc. (Switzerland), Optopol Technology Sp. z o.o. (Poland), Essilor International S.A. (France), Visionix (France), Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (US), and Halma Plc (UK), among others. These players have adopted various growth strategies such as product launches, acquisitions, and expansions to increase their presence and reach in the ophthalmic imaging market. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Germany): Carl Zeiss Meditec AG holds the largest market share in the ophthalmic imaging market due to its strong brand reputation, technological innovation, and comprehensive product portfolio. Its advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems, fundus cameras, and diagnostic platforms are widely adopted by hospitals and eye care professionals globally. The company invests heavily in R&D, ensuring consistent upgrades and AI integration. A strong global distribution network and partnerships with leading ophthalmologists further solidify its dominance in this specialized market. Topcon Corporation (Japan) Topcon Corporation is among the top manufacturers in the ophthalmic imaging market due to its strong legacy in precision optics, innovative product development, and wide global presence. The company offers a diverse range of high-performance imaging devices, including OCT systems, fundus cameras, and slit lamps, tailored for both clinical and research applications. Topcon's emphasis on user-friendly interfaces, seamless EMR integration, and affordability makes its devices popular across developed and emerging markets, contributing to its strong market position and continued growth. Nidek Co., Ltd. (Japan) NIDEK Co., Ltd. consistently ranks among leading manufacturers in the ophthalmic imaging market due to its robust diagnostic portfolio, including advanced OCT and fundus-camera hybrids like the Retina Scan Duo?2, which enhance clinical efficiency and patient comfort. Its devices are valued for high-resolution imaging, ergonomic design, and strong non-mydriatic performance. Backed by strategic partnerships (e.g., with HOYA Vision Care) and a global distribution network, NIDEK delivers reliable, affordable solutions suited for both hospitals and clinics, reinforcing its competitive market position. For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: Near infrared Imaging Market Top 10 Medical Device Technologies Market Optical Imaging Market Surgical Imaging Market Diagnostic Imaging Market Get access to the latest updates on Ophthalmic Imaging Companies and Ophthalmic Imaging 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. 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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: 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/ophthalmic-imaging-market-worth-us3-84-billion-by-2030-with-6-3-cagr--marketsandmarkets-302544904.html The coalition brings together global stakeholders committed to aligning AI development with sustainability goals and fostering responsible AI that supports the environmental policies. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / At the Paris AI Action Summit earlier this year, Lenovo joined the Coalition for Sustainable AI, a French government-led initiative in collaboration with the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The coalition brings together global stakeholders committed to aligning AI development with sustainability goals and fostering responsible AI that supports environmental policies. Together with other members which includes AMD, Nvidia, SAP, and Schneider Electric, Lenovo will support collaborative, international efforts to shape responsible AI that drives progress toward the UN 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas such as climate action and environmental protection. Through this initiative, Lenovo will contribute to the coalition's innovation hub, an open and collaborative platform aimed at advancing science, standards, and solutions for aligning AI with environmental goals. "At Lenovo, we believe that AI is not only a tool for greater efficiency, but also a catalyst for sustainable innovation" said Shama Patari, VP & Deputy General Counsel, Ethics & Compliance, Government Relations & Trade, Lenovo. "By joining the Coalition for Sustainable AI, we reinforce our commitment to designing systems, reducing waste, and optimizing energy use across our value chain as part of our journey to net-zero". Lenovo is committed to reaching its net-zero goals by 2050 after having its targets validated by SBTi in January 2023. To meet these goals, Lenovo has set ambitious targets such as improving the energy efficiency of its servers by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2018). Its industry-leading Neptune direct water-cooling technology enables customers to reduce power consumption by up to 40% and achieve a 3.5x improvement in thermal efficiency compared to traditional air-cooled systems, a key strength in building more sustainable AI infrastructure. This new coalition membership complements Lenovo's ongoing commitments to other responsible AI initiatives, including UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, Canada's Voluntary Code of Conduct on Generative AI, and the European Commission's AI Pact. With its Responsible AI committee and AI policy in place, Lenovo has built a strong AI internal governance framework and is already demonstrating responsibility and accountability in the AI space. Learn more about Lenovo's ESG efforts and AI governance on its latest Environment, Social, Governance report About Lenovo Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world's largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo's continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE:992)(ADR:LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Lenovo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Lenovo View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/lenovo-joins-coalition-for-sustainable-ai-to-address-intersection-of-a-1068300 TOKYO, Japan, Sept 3, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda today presented the world premiere of four large-size outboard motors, BF350, BF250, BF225 and BF200, featuring a new "Sporty White" color option at the HISWA te Water (HISWA in-water Boat Show) now underway (Sept. 3-7, 2025) in Lelystad, the Netherlands.All four models with the new Sporty White color option will go on sale in Europe today, Sept. 3, and the BF350 and BF250 will go on sale in Japan on Sept. 4, 2025.Based on the already-available "Grand Prix White" color, the new Sporty White color option features a black stripe that creates a two-tone color scheme, achieving distinctive styling with a sense of exclusivity. Since it was first adopted in 2019 for the previous version of the BF250, the Sporty White color scheme has been well received by many customers enjoying marine recreation, particularly in Europe and Japan, for its impressive graphics and sporty design.The new Sporty White color option added this time for the four large-size outboard motors inherits the original design concept of expressing a racing image, while achieving coloring that is perfectly compatible with the refreshed, simple and clean styling design of the motors. By combining the prominent vertical display of the horsepower rating with the red Honda logos positioned on both sides, the design expresses Honda racing DNA, emphasizing both sportiness and a sense of premium quality.The BF350, the flagship model of Honda outboards that went on sale first in Japan in February 2024, is equipped with a V8 350-horsepower engine designed exclusively for this outboard motor to deliver powerful propulsion performance. The all-new BF250, BF225 and BF200, which went on sale first in Japan in May 2025, feature a refreshed styling design aligned with the design concept of BF350. With excellent fuel efficiency and outstanding durability, these Honda outboard motors are used for a wide range of purposes such as fishing and marine leisure.Official website of the HISWA te Water 2025 (HISWA in-water Boat Show)https://www.hiswatewater.nl/Source: Honda Motor Co, LtdCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. LEESBURG, VA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Vertosoft, a trusted provider of innovative software solutions to the public sector, is pleased to announce the expansion of its offerings on Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) contract (DIR-CPO-5327) to include five new suppliers: Collibra, Gravity, Illumio, Immersive, and MongoDB. This strategic addition strengthens Vertosoft's commitment to delivering secure, scalable, and innovative solutions to Texas' state, local, and education organizations. Vertosoft x TX-DIR "These additions allow us to bring some of the most advanced solutions in data governance, financial automation, cybersecurity, workforce resilience, and database modernization directly to public sector agencies," said Ashlianne Shigley, Government Contracts Program Manager at Vertosoft. "We are proud to expand our Texas DIR offerings with these industry-leading suppliers. This reflects Vertosoft's dedication to supporting Texas public sector entities as they advance digital transformation, bolster cybersecurity, and harness data to achieve mission success." Supplier Highlights: Collibra : Collibra is a FedRAMP-authorized Data Intelligence Platform that empowers agencies to manage data governance, quality, and privacy across the enterprise. It provides agencies with a single system of record for trusted data, helping improve mission outcomes while ensuring compliance with federal data management and security standards. Gravity (IGM Technology) : Gravity is a leading cloud-based solution tailored for the government sector, offering comprehensive automation for financial report publishing, budget management, lease accounting, debt management, and account reconciliation. Designed to meet GASB 34 and GFOA compliance standards, Gravity addresses functions beyond traditional ERP systems, streamlining essential financial processes. Illumio : Illumio, the Zero Trust Segmentation Company, stops breaches from spreading across the hybrid attack surface. The Illumio ZTS Platform visualizes all traffic flows between workloads, devices, and the internet, automatically sets granular segmentation policies to control communications and isolate high value assets and compromised systems proactively or in response to active attacks. Immersive : Immersive is a cyber workforce resilience platform that enables continuous skills development and real-time readiness across security teams. It allows agencies to benchmark workforce capabilities, identify skill gaps, and validate response effectiveness through realistic exercises tailored to evolving cyber threats. MongoDB: MongoDB's enterprise cloud database platform allows the public sector to harness data to build mission critical applications quickly and efficiently. Using advanced NoSQL database technology, MongoDB provides users with the flexibility and performance required to help public sector teams deploy modern applications at scale. Vertosoft's expanded offerings on its DIR contract provides eligible public entities with a streamlined, compliant, and cost-effective path to acquire these solutions, supporting Texas agencies as they advance IT modernization and innovation. For more information about Vertosoft's TX DIR contract and available solutions, visit vertosoft.com/contracts, or email contracts@vertosoft.com. SOURCE: Vertosoft View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/vertosoft-expands-texas-dir-contract-portfolio-1066746 The former U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner will represent state attorneys general and other public sector clients. WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, one of the leading plaintiffs' law firms in the United States, announced today that Rich Trumka Jr. has joined as Of Counsel in the firm's Public Client practice. Trumka most recently served as a Commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - beginning in 2021 following his nomination by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and confirmation by the United States Senate. There, he championed efforts to ensure consumer protection from hidden hazards and deter corporate misconduct. "I have long admired Cohen Milstein's leadership in consumer advocacy on behalf of state attorneys general, and have been impressed by the firm's deft navigation of complex legal challenges and its securing of landmark results," said Rich Trumka Jr. "It is an honor to join the firm. I believe my years of public sector experience will strengthen the firm's already formidable Public Client team." Prior to joining the Commission, Trumka worked for the United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform under the leadership of civil rights champion and then-Chairman Elijah E. Cummings. Trumka was General Counsel & Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy. Before that he was an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. "Rich brings impressive and diverse government experience that complements our firm's services and our clients' interests perfectly," said Benjamin D. Brown, managing partner at Cohen Milstein. "He also brings valuable insights into new forms of consumer fraud that will help expand our ability to protect public client interests." Trumka began his career clerking for the Honorable Berle M. Schiller of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. ### About Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, a premier U.S. plaintiffs' law firm, with over 100 attorneys across eight offices, champions the causes of real people-workers, consumers, small business owners, investors, and whistleblowers-working to deliver corporate reforms and fair markets for the common good. For more information visit https://www.cohenmilstein.com/ Press Contact: cohenmilstein@berlinrosen.com SOURCE: Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/rich-trumka-jr.-joins-cohen-milsteins-public-client-practice-1068308 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Arya Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RBZ) ("Arya" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources (the "Ministry") has approved the Company's application for additional mineral claims adjacent to its Wedge Lake Gold Project. The application was approved on September 2, 2025, following encouraging results from Arya's ongoing drill program, including visible gold observed in several drill holes (see the Company's September 02, 2025 News Release). The Ministry has granted two new dispositions, MC00022889 and MC00022890, which together add approximately 29,485 acres (11,932 hectares) to the Wedge Lake Gold Project. This strategic expansion significantly enhances Arya's land position in the highly prospective La Ronge Gold Belt- see Claim Map attached. "We are pleased to expand our exploration footprint at Wedge Lake, which complements the encouraging results from our ongoing drill program," said Rasool Mohammad, CEO of Arya Resources. "Securing these additional claims provides Arya with the opportunity to further advance exploration on what the Company believes could develop into a high-grade gold project." The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Kevin Wells, P.Geo., consulting geologist to Arya Resources Ltd. and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Arya Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RBZ) Arya Resources Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and critical metal projects in Saskatchewan. The Company is advancing its flagship Wedge Lake Gold Project and its Dunlop Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project, both strategically located in mining-friendly jurisdictions with excellent infrastructure. As a Tier-2 issuer on the TSX Venture Exchange, Arya is committed to building shareholder value through strategic acquisitions, targeted exploration, and sustainable development. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Rasool Mohammad, CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release includes "forward-looking statements" that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including without limitation any statements concerning the Company's intentions, plans, estimates, expectations or beliefs. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions readers that all forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are based on assumptions, none of which can be assured, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9409/264975_c5a45f8264760b27_001full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264975 SOURCE: Arya Resources Ltd. Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Mongoose Mining Ltd. (CSE: MNG) ("Mongoose" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $100,000 shared funding grant through the Nova Scotia Mineral Resources Development Fund (NSMRDF). The Company would like to thank the Government of Nova Scotia for this support, which is awarded based on the geological significance of projects and their potential to advance exploration targets in the province. Advancing a Promising IOCG Target The Mount Thom Property, located along the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone (CCFZ), is recognized as a highly prospective setting for Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) mineralization. In 2022, Mongoose (through its predecessor Spark Minerals Inc.) commissioned CSR GeoSurveys Ltd. of Porters Lake, N.S., to conduct the first property-wide ground gravity survey over Mount Thom. The survey was designed with the exploration philosophy established by Minotaur Exploration in Australia, a global leader in IOCG exploration, which emphasized that any significant IOCG target must be expressed as a pronounced positive gravity anomaly. Using modern inversion processing techniques, CSR GeoSurveys identified a well-developed, roughly circular gravity anomaly measuring approximately 2 km east-west by 1.5 km north-south in the central core of the property. A secondary, oval-shaped gravity anomaly measuring roughly 800 m by 400 m was also delineated to the southeast. These anomalies represent high-priority drill targets, imaging density contrasts likely associated with faults, intrusions, and dense Fe-rich mineralized zones at depths ranging from 50 m to 1.4 km. This is especially significant as nearly all historic drilling at Mount Thom tested only shallow depths of 50 m, while the new gravity data points to much larger, deeper-seated targets. Building on this foundation, Mongoose plans to complete a 1,200-metre diamond drill program (two holes) designed to test the anomaly and target copper, cobalt, and gold. Both copper and cobalt are classified as critical minerals under Canada's Critical Minerals Strategy, key to electrification, renewable energy, and secure supply chains, adding strategic importance to this exploration program. Gravity Modeling: Depth slices from surface through the gravity model of CRS GeoSurveys Ltd. 2022 survey of the Mount Thom Cu-Co-Au Property, Colchester County, Nova Scotia: To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8422/264976_mongoose.jpg Historical Exploration at Mount Thom Mount Thom has a rich exploration history. Between 1970 and 1974, Imperial Oil and other operators completed trenching and 49 diamond drillholes totalling 3,184 m. Drilling encountered widespread fracture and breccia-controlled mineralization with pyrite, chalcopyrite, hematite, and specularite across a large area. While intersections of chalcopyrite-pyrite were sporadic, grades up to 1.66% Cu over 5 m were reported. A historic 1970 small (non-NI 43-101 compliant) copper deposit was outlined near surface, generally above 50 m depth. In 1989 resampling of existing core by the Nova Scotia Department of Mines confirmed Imperial's copper grades (0.5-2.0% Cu) and revealed significant cobalt enrichment (up to 5,740 ppm Co) in select core samples. K. E. Northcote the author also noted some elevated gold values (up to 296 ppb Au). The presence of cobalt alongside copper further strengthens Mount Thom's standing as a critical mineral opportunity. Management Commentary "We are very pleased to have received this shared funding from the Nova Scotia Government through the NSMRDF," said Terry Coughlan, CEO & President of Mongoose Mining. "The grant acknowledges both the geological significance of Mount Thom and the potential for this project to contribute to Canada's critical minerals future. With the upcoming drill program, we are advancing beyond the shallow historic drilling to test deeper, high-density targets highlighted by the 2022 gravity survey. This is a pivotal step toward unlocking the full potential of Mount Thom." Financing Exploration and Growth Mongoose is pleased to announce a proposed non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to $300,000 at a price of $0.10 per share. The Offering will consist of: Flow-Through Shares : Up to 2,000,000 flow-through shares at a price of $0.10 per share, raising gross proceeds of up to $200,000. : Up to 2,000,000 flow-through shares at a price of $0.10 per share, raising gross proceeds of up to $200,000. Hard Dollar Shares: Up to 1,000,000 common shares at a price of $0.10 per share, raising gross proceeds of up to $100,000. As a condition of the Offering, each purchase of two flow-through shares must be accompanied by the purchase of one hard dollar share. Whereas copper and cobalt qualify under the federal Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (CMETC), the flow-through shares are expected to be eligible for the enhanced 30% tax credit, providing investors with additional incentives. Use of Proceeds The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund exploration and advancement of the Company's projects in Atlantic Canada. The gross proceeds raised from the sale of flow-through shares will be used to incur Canadian Exploration Expenses ("CEE"), as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada). Such expenses will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" related to the Company's exploration programs in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and will be renounced to subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025. Additional Terms The Offering is subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the closing date in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company may pay finder's fees to qualified parties in connection with the Offering. Certain insiders of the Company may participate in the Offering. Any such participation will constitute a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company expects that such participation will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the securities subscribed for, nor the consideration paid, will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Terry Coughlan, P.Geo., the Company's Chief Executive Officer and a Qualified Person within the context of Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101; Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). About Mongoose Mining Ltd. Mongoose Mining is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing its portfolio of mineral projects in Canada. The Company is committed to responsible exploration practices and to creating value through discovery, technical excellence, and strong community partnerships. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration activities, anticipated results from drilling, potential mineralization, the success of financing initiatives, the use of proceeds from the Offering and the eligibility of flow-through shares under the Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit. Forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions at the time they are made. However, they are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to exploration findings, results, plans and recommendations, ability to raise adequate financing, and market and economic risks associated with market and economic circumstances, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in Mongoose's public filings under its SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Mongoose has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Providers (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/264976 SOURCE: Mongoose Mining Ltd. Regulatory News: The Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at Medincell's (Paris:MEDCL) headquarters (3 rue des Freres Lumiere, 34830 Jacou, France) on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 6.00 pm, CEST. All shareholders of the company are invited to attend the meeting or to follow it live (French only) on the company's website via the link www.medincell.com/fr/live-fr/ The secure remote voting system via the Votaccess platform will be open to Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 3:00 pm, CEST. Medincell will hold a video conference (French only) on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 6 pm to present the resolutions of the Annual General Meeting and answer questions from shareholders. Connection link: www.medincell.com/fr/live-fr/ A translated transcript of the video conference will be available on Medincell website after the event. Terms and conditions of participation Medincell strongly encourages all its shareholders to exercise their voting rights, either by remote voting, which must be cast before the General Meeting, or during the General Meeting for shareholders present in person. Medincell shareholders who wish to vote by remotely may do so before the General Meeting as follows: Internet voting will be available and should be used as a priority: the secure voting platform Votaccess is open from Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11 am to Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 3 pm, Paris time. Shareholders will be able to vote by Internet or give their proxy to the Chairman of the Meeting until the day before the General Meeting (i.e., Wednesday, September 10, 2025) at 3 pm, Paris time. Shareholders may also vote by post following the procedures set out in the notice of meeting published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires on August 4th, 2025. The deadline for receipt of forms is September 9, 2025. All shareholders may send their written questions, either by registered letter with a return receipt requested addressed to the Chairman of the Board at the company's registered office (3 rue des Freres Lumiere, 34830 Jacou) or by e-mail to legal@medincell.com, no later than the fourth business day preceding the date of the Shareholders' Meeting (i.e., September 5, 2024). A certificate of account registration must accompany the questions. As the company cannot control the identity of the persons attending the meeting remotely, only the persons physically present will be able to ask questions during the General Meeting. Availability of documents relating to the General Meeting The notice of meeting, valid as notice of convocation, which includes the agenda, draft resolutions, and the main terms of participation and voting at the Shareholders' Meeting, was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires N. 94 of August 4th, 2024. The preparatory documents and information relating to this General Meeting will be made available to shareholders under the legal and regulatory conditions and will be available on the website: https://www.medincell.com/general-meeting/ Shareholders are invited to consult the section dedicated to the General Meeting on the Company's website: https://www.medincell.com/general-meeting/ About Medincell Medincell is a clinical- and commercial-stage biopharmaceutical licensing company developing long-acting injectable drugs in many therapeutic areas. Our innovative treatments aim to guarantee compliance with medical prescriptions, to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of medicines, and to reduce their environmental footprint. They combine active pharmaceutical ingredients with our proprietary BEPO technology which controls the delivery of a drug at a therapeutic level for several days, weeks or months from the subcutaneous or local injection of a simple deposit of a few millimeters, entirely bioresorbable. The first treatment based on BEPO technology, intended for the treatment of schizophrenia, was approved by the FDA in April 2023, and is now distributed in the United States by Teva under the name UZEDY (BEPO technology is licensed to Teva under the name SteadyTeq). We collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies and foundations to improve global health through new treatment options. Based in Montpellier, Medincell currently employs more than 140 people representing more than 25 different nationalities. UZEDY and SteadyTeq are trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals medincell.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903120183/en/ Contacts: David Heuze Head of Corporate and Financial Communications, and ESG david.heuze@Medincell.com +33 (0)6 83 25 21 86 Grace Kim Chief Strategy Officer, U.S. Finance grace.kim@Medincell.com +1 (646) 991-4023 Nicolas Merigeau/ Arthur Rouille Media Relations Medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 Louis-Victor Delouvrier/Alban Dufumier Investor Relations France Medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 At a meeting with Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow on July 1, Broadcom Foundation President Paula Golden shared news of the Foundation's expanded partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Penang Science Cluster to assume sponsorship of Experience AI in Malaysia, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy program originally piloted in 2024 with funding from Google DeepMind. Building on the success of that pilot, this new phase will continue to expand AI education nationwide. Broadcom Foundation is also the sponsor of Coolest Projects Malaysia. The Experience AI partnership enables Penang Science Cluster and the Raspberry Pi Foundation to further expand their support for Malaysia's educators to teach the next generation of AI innovators confidently. To date, Penang Science Cluster has trained over 1,300 teachers, reaching an estimated 50,000 students in Malaysia. With sponsorship from Broadcom Foundation, Penang Science Cluster intends to expand its reach throughout Malaysia with the intention of introducing Experience AI throughout the country. Experience AI, co-developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Google DeepMind, supports teachers in the exciting and fast-moving area of AI and gets young people passionate about the subject. Based on rigorous research, teaching materials include lesson plans, slide decks, videos, student activities, and assessments. The program introduces students to the foundations of AI and empowers them to become critical and responsible users. Young people will also benefit from new resources on AI safety, including learning how to protect their data. AI literacy opens up career opportunities and offers solutions to real-world challenges Teachers in over 160 countries have already downloaded the Experience AI resources, with an estimated reach of over 1.6 million young people. The young people in Malaysia will have the opportunity to access the benefits of AI literacy, such as learning skills to solve real-world challenges and gaining awareness of the range of careers that use AI. "Broadcom Foundation has partnered with Penang Science Cluster since 2020. At that time, our collaboration on Coolest Projects Malaysia was already a huge achievement for Penang, as it attracted participation from across the country. Now, with the expansion of our partnership to include Experience AI, we are doubling down on coding and AI as critical skills (see link to position paper) for the 21st century and beyond." - Paula Golden, President, Broadcom Foundation "We are delighted to be working with Broadcom Foundation and Penang Science Cluster to further increase the reach of our Experience AI program in Malaysia. This collaboration will equip more teachers with the skills and confidence needed to teach AI responsibly, to ensure it is both engaging and relevant for students." - Philip Colligan CBE, CEO, Raspberry Pi Foundation Notes to editors Broadcom Foundation is a corporate nonprofit that advocates equitable access to STEM education and acquiring digital literacy as essential for attaining meaningful employment and becoming productive citizens in a tech-driven society. The foundation promotes basic coding and responsible use of AI as critical 21st Century+ skills that all young people need to be creative STEM problem solvers who think critically, communicate and collaborate, and who will help realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a global charity with its headquarters in Cambridge, UK, with a mission to enable young people from all backgrounds to fully realize their potential through the power of computing and digital technologies. We engage millions of young people worldwide in learning computing and digital making skills through a thriving network of clubs and events. We enable any school to offer students the opportunity to study computer science, equipping them with essential digital skills and the knowledge to be responsible users of AI. We do this by providing the best possible curriculum, resources, and training for teachers, collaborating with global partners who share our vision. Through our research, we work to deepen our understanding of how young people learn about computing and digital making and use that knowledge to increase the impact of our work and to advance the field of computing education. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903704498/en/ Contacts: Broadcom Foundation Contact Info: Melissa DeGandi, Communications info@brcmfdn.org 971-261-9919 BASEL (dpa-AFX) - Argo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Wednesday announced a new collaboration with Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis. The deal focuses on developing treatments for serious heart-related conditions like high triglycerides and mixed cholesterol disorders. This is the third partnership between the two companies and builds on their ongoing relationship. Under the new agreement, Novartis will pay Argo $160 million upfront, with the potential for milestone and option payments worth up to $5.2 billion, plus royalties if the medicines are successfully commercialized. Novartis has also signaled interest in investing in Argo's next round of fundraising. The collaboration gives Novartis the rights (outside of China) to two early-stage drug candidates and includes options to share development costs and profits for another drug that is expected to enter human trials in 2026. One of the key medicines in the deal, BW-00112, is already in Phase II clinical trials in the U.S. and China. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Katoen Natie (KTN), a global logistics and distribution company, today voiced strong support for the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Corporation, hailing it as a historic step forward for the nation's supply chain. The merger would create America's first coast-to-coast railroad, seamlessly connecting over 50,000 miles of track across 43 states and linking approximately 100 ports. Katoen Natie, which operates major petrochemical logistics hubs along the U.S. Gulf Coast and a large logistics hub in Norfolk (Virginia) emphasized the merger's benefits for Gulf Coast industries. Union Pacific's Gulf Coast franchise is a vital artery for the region's plastics and chemicals producers, moving commodities like polyethylene resins from Texas and Louisiana to global markets. By combining Union Pacific's extensive Gulf network with Norfolk Southern's reach in the Eastern U.S., the unified railroad will streamline east-west shipments and eliminate interchange handoffs. This promises faster transit times, greater capacity, and improved reliability for KTN's customers shipping out of Gulf Coast facilities. The company also highlighted its long partnership with Union Pacific in the Gulf Coast petrochemical corridor. In recent years, KTN and Union Pacific launched innovative solutions like the "Dallas-to-Dock" program to expedite resin exports moving plastic pellets from the Gulf Coast plants by rail to Dallas for packaging, then on to West Coast ports. This kind of collaboration underscores the importance of Union Pacific's Gulf Coast network to KTN's operations and customers, a strength that will be further enhanced by the merger's expanded reach. "We wholeheartedly support this merger and the vision of a truly transcontinental railroad," said Frank Vingerhoets, President of Katoen Natie North America. "Union Pacific's strong Gulf Coast network has long been the backbone of our petrochemical logistics operations. Linking that network directly with Norfolk Southern's East Coast routes will create unprecedented efficiencies. It means the plastic pellets and other products we handle can reach key markets faster and more seamlessly than ever. In short, it's a win for shippers and for the entire supply chain." ABOUT KATOEN NATIE Katoen Natie is an international logistics service provider and port operator founded in 1854 and headquartered in Belgium. Katoen Natie is present in 35 countries on five continents, employing 18,000 worldwide. Katoen Natie is the largest global logistics service provider for the petrochemical industry in the world and handles more than 50 million tons of polymers on a yearly basis. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903921990/en/ Contacts: Katoen Natie Media Contact: Jennifer Anderson at info@ktnusa.com or 281-941-1011 Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has released insights on the increasing significance of private label branding for corporations in 2025. Private Label Branding Gains Traction for Corporate Expansion, Finds Digital Silk To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10732/264821_87b4132764e94854_001full.jpg As companies expand product lines and seek greater control over brand identity, private label branding is emerging as a strategic tool for differentiation. This approach may allow organizations to enhance brand cohesion, improve recognition, and support long-term growth in competitive markets. Market Shifts Powering Private Label Popularity Private label products are no longer just cost-effective alternatives; these products now rival national brands in quality and desirability. A NielsenIQ report found that private labels outpaced national brand growth by 2.5 in 2024 (Digital Silk, Wonnda). Elements of Effective Private Label Branding Digital Silk's approach to private label branding is rooted in strategy and consistency across touchpoints. Key capabilities include: Branding strategy and identity development Logo and packaging design B2B branding and rebranding services Strategic alignment across digital marketing These services can potentially help clients deliver private label offerings that meet both commercial and visual standards across channels. Highlights from Our Private Label Insights Private labels are achieving premium positioning through elevated packaging and messaging Strategic branding enhances consumer trust and corporate identity Agencies may help clients stand out in crowded product categories by building bespoke identity systems Corporations can strengthen competitiveness through tailored brand control across product, channel, and market segments Leadership Perspective on Private Label Branding "Private label branding is increasingly about more than affordability-it is about strategy, control, and long-term corporate positioning," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "Enterprises that invest in building cohesive brand systems for their private label products can potentially strengthen competitiveness in evolving markets." Looking Forward As consumer acceptance of private label products continues to rise, corporations are expected to expand investments in store-brand lines and bespoke branding strategies. Digital Silk's review highlights the potential role of branding agencies in helping organizations achieve consistency, recognition, and growth through carefully developed identity systems. About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Chicago Branding Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk creates digital experiences through strategic branding, custom web design, and digital marketing services to help improve visibility and support engagement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264821 SOURCE: Digital Silk Robert Amsterdam, Founder and Managing Partner of Amsterdam Partners LLP, has been hired to join the legal team of Ulugbek Shadmanov. The legal team is headed by Mr. Amsterdam's longtime colleagues, Marc Agnifilo and Zach Intrater, the Founding Partners of Agnifilo Intrater LLP. Mr. Amsterdam will be assisting the legal team, including through applications to international human rights protection mechanisms, invoking the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other multilateral instruments. He will also pursue litigation against those who illegally imprisoned Mr. Shadmanov following his rendition from the United Arab Emirates, coordinated and organised by members of the presidential administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan. "This tragic and wrongful incarceration of Ulugbek Shadmanov, one of the leading lights of infrastructure development in Central Asia, must cease immediately," said Mr. Amsterdam. "The idea that Mr. Shadmanov could still be incarcerated on what is purely an administrative transgression of crossing a border does a disservice to the people of Uzbekistan and to the ambitious goals of the country's leadership of meeting the challenges of today's difficult environment." Mr. Amsterdam brings to the team a lifetime of experience in navigating legal disputes in the region and other politically fraught areas around the world. He has been recognised for his human rights advocacy by The American Lawyer, among others, and has represented sovereign states, political leaders, multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals. Amsterdam Partners is an international law firm based in London and Washington, DC, specialised in political advocacy and human rights. For more information about the firm, please visit www.amsterdamandpartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903853468/en/ Contacts: Media inquiries may be directed to contact@amsterdamandpartners.com. WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Sterling Organization, a private equity real estate investment firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, has acquired Copaco Center, a 439,644-square-foot grocery-anchored shopping center located in Bloomfield, Connecticut (Hartford MSA). The acquisition is being made on behalf of Sterling's institutional value-add fund, Sterling Value Add Partners IV (SVAP IV). Copaco Center in Bloomfield, CT 271-421 Cottage Grove Road (Rt. 218), Bloomfield, CT 06002 Copaco Center is anchored by Stop & Shop, which performs well and has operated at the location for over 24 years, and Lowe's Home Improvement. At acquisition, the property was 93% leased, primarily to a mix of national tenants including Burlington, Planet Fitness, Dollar Tree, Five Below, CVS, IHOP, and McDonald's. The center is located on Cottage Grove Road (Rt. 218) in Bloomfield, a suburb of Hartford. The surrounding area includes employers such as Cigna, MetLife, and Waste Management, and is near Bradley International Airport and the University of Hartford. Nearly 75,000 residents live within a three-mile radius, with average household incomes above $115,000. "We are pleased to expand our geographic footprint into the Hartford market with the acquisition of Copaco Center via our Sterling Value Add Partners IV Fund. Having been familiar with the property for nearly a decade, our team is excited to enhance its value through targeted management, strategic leasing, and other value-add initiatives. These efforts should strengthen Copaco Center's role in serving the local community while delivering strong results for our investor partners," said Jordan Fried, a Principal of Sterling Organization. "We'd like to thank Chris Angelone and Zach Nitsche with JLL's Retail Capital Markets team for their collaboration on this transaction. We truly appreciate the relationship and their entire team's professionalism from start to finish," added Mr. Fried. Sterling Organization and its affiliates own 80 properties throughout the United States, across various funds and other investment vehicles, encompassing over 14 million square feet and exceeding $3 billion in value. The firm is headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL, and operates with offices nationwide. Contact Information Dana Verhelst SVP, Marketing dverhelst@sterlingorganization.com +15618127476 SOURCE: Sterling Organization View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/sterling-organization-enters-hartford-ct-market-with-the-acquisition-of-a-bloomfield-gr-1068496 TORONTO, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enwave Energy Corporation (Enwave) commissioned its new Enwave Green Heat Plant during a ceremony at the Pearl Street Energy Centre in Toronto today. This announcement is a monumental step in further enabling Enwave to provide low-carbon heating through its Enwave Green Heat program to Toronto's world-renowned district energy system. The Plant has been designed to reduce its electricity demand during peak times while continuing to provide reliable, low-carbon heating and cooling - demonstrating the ability of district energy to enable the decarbonization and electrification of Toronto's buildings while making more efficient use of Ontario's electricity infrastructure. Enwave began development of the Enwave Green Heat Plant as an addition to the Pearl Street Energy Centre in 2018, initially breaking ground in May 2023. The 60-year-old Pearl Street Energy Centre has been updated with a three-story addition, including entirely new building facade and new community artwork. Once fully operational, the new plant will have capacity of 3,600 tons of cooling and 62,000 MBH of heating. The electrified heating generated from the Enwave Green Heat Plant will be capable of displacing carbon emissions of up to 11,600 tCO2e, as compared to traditional steam to hot water energy generation - which is the equivalent carbon reduction associated with converting 10 million square feet of existing office space from traditional boilers to low-carbon heating. In an effort to provide decarbonization at scale, the plant will leverage waste heat from Enwave's Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) system customers - including data centres, hospitals, scientific research facilities and lab spaces - which is then upgraded through the electrified heat pump into hot water. This allows the plant to provide heat to other district-connected customers, while potentially reducing new electricity peak generation, distribution and transmission infrastructure that would otherwise be required, if heating was provided by stand-alone electrified solutions. Enwave's award-winning DLWC system and its Enwave Green Heat Plant directly support Ontario's first Integrated Energy Plan, which aims to ensure that the Province of Ontario has the energy it needs to power homes and industries, today and in the decades to come. The new plant will have a total electricity demand of approximately 6MW when it is serving its full thermal load and has been designed with the potential to reduce its peak electricity demand by up to 6MW - supporting the reliability of Ontario's electricity system while continuing to meet the heating and cooling needs of Enwave's thermal energy customers. "The commissioning of the Enwave Green Heat Plant at our Pearl Street Energy Centre is a great example of how Enwave can contribute to the electrification of the economy more efficiently and cost effectively for all stakeholders in Toronto," says Carlyle Coutinho, CEO of Enwave Energy Corporation. "Expanding the offerings of our Enwave Green Heat program through this new plant allows customers commercial access to sustainable solutions at scale, serving even more residents, institutions and businesses in Ontario. In collaboration with the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario, this approach to decarbonization helps enable our customers to meet the highest levels of Toronto Green Standards, while allowing us to work toward building a cleaner, brighter future. We are proud to be a partner of choice in the energy transformation to net-zero carbon." Launched in 2023, Enwave's Green Heat program includes the milestone expansion and renewal of Enwave's facilities to enable Enwave to provide low-carbon heat to the world-renowned district energy system servicing Toronto's downtown core. The new Enwave Green Heat Plant at the Pearl Street Energy Centre is the most recent addition by Enwave to its Enwave Green Heat program. Left-right: Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale Councillor), Chi Nguyen (Member of Parliament, Spadina-Fort York), Hon. Sam Oosterhoff (Associate Minister, Energy-Intensive Industries), Ehren Cory (CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank), Carlyle Coutinho (CEO, Enwave Energy Corporation), and Ausma Malik (Deputy Toronto Mayor). Photographer Credit: Natasha Serio "The commissioning of the new Enwave Green Heat Plant marks another step forward in providing low-carbon heating to more people in Toronto, leveraging the existing district energy system," says Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. "The city is grateful for Enwave's continued partnership and ambitious approach to providing electrification solutions that further support innovation and sustainability and the City's Transform TO goal of Net Zero by 2040." "The Enwave Green Heat Plant is another clear example of how innovation from Ontario's energy industries is making our province a world leader in electrification and reliable energy generation," says Sam Oosterhoff, Ontario's Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries. "As Ontario's energy demand continues to increase, particularly in urban hubs like downtown Toronto, improving the efficiency of existing infrastructure - as Enwave is demonstrating - will be vital to ensuring that our residents and businesses have access to clean and affordable energy for generations to come." "Enwave's latest investment in Toronto's district energy system is a real turning point for the city and a sign that district energy is picking up momentum worldwide," says Rob Thornton, CEO of the International District Energy Association. "Enwave continues to help building owners solve problems on a city scale, enabling their customers to save energy and water, reduce emissions, avoid capital risks, and prepare for the future. As the city expands, IDEA is proud to support the efforts of members like Enwave across cities like Toronto in preparing its residents and businesses for the next fifty years of district energy and beyond." The facility's expansion was supported financially by a grant provided by Canada's Low Carbon Economy Fund, Champions Stream, and by the Canada Infrastructure Bank through an aggregate facility of $600M which has supported innovative energy projects across Enwave's portfolio, including Lakeview Village in Mississauga, Ontario (wastewater heat recovery technology), Etobicoke Civic Centre in Toronto (geoexchange technology) and this project at the Pearl Street Energy Centre (Enwave Green Heat Plant). "In 2021, the CIB partnered with Enwave on a portfolio of energy projects throughout the Greater Toronto Area through a $600 million loan," says Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank. "Our investment is paying dividends-helping to make urban communities greener and more sustainable, while also supporting the delivery of reliable, cost-effective energy solutions that benefit residents and businesses alike." Enwave has worked closely alongside partners essential to the success of the new plant's commissioning, including BTY Group, Clark Construction Management Inc., H.H. Angus and Associates Ltd., Hanson + Jung Architects Inc., Sprint Mechanical Inc., Stantec Consulting Services Inc. and TriVolt. About Enwave Enwaveis one of the largest commercial owners and operators of community-based district energy systems in North America. It focuses on developing reliable, commercial and sustainable energy solutions at scale, tailored to the unique needs of municipalities, commercial developments, universities, hospitals, data centres and residential communities. Enwave provides thermal energy services to over 100 million square feet of mixed-use space across Canada using a variety of technologies including Deep Lake Water Cooling, thermal storage, geoexchange, biomass and energy-from-waste. Enwave was acquired by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan & IFM Investors in 2021. https://www.enwave.com For more information, interview requests or high-res images please contact: Katie Good, GoodPR katie@goodpr.ca (416) 540-2195 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f622d7c-2f0e-404e-ad2b-507e2c53c8cf Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning web development agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has released new insights on the rising adoption of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) within the U.S. retail sector. Digital Silk Reports on the Growing Demand for Progressive Web Apps in Retail To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10732/265002_df264de0d4c87ad4_001full.jpg PWAs combine the reach of websites with the functionality of mobile applications. Retailers are increasingly turning to PWAs to provide customers with fast, reliable, and engaging shopping experiences that can function offline and integrate seamlessly across devices. Retail's Shift Toward PWAs According to Statista, U.S. retail m-commerce sales exceeded $470 billion in 2023, with projections showing continued growth in mobile shopping (Statista). PWAs are playing a role in this expansion by delivering faster load times, app-like functionality, and improved performance in areas with limited connectivity. Key Advantages of Progressive Web Apps Faster load speeds for mobile shopping experiences Offline functionality to support consistent access Reduced dependency on app stores for updates Enhanced cross-platform integration for users Leadership Perspective "Retailers are finding that Progressive Web Apps may bridge the gap between mobile web and native apps," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "For businesses, PWAs offer opportunities to improve user experiences while streamlining development and maintenance costs." Looking Ahead As more U.S. retailers prioritize mobile commerce, PWAs may continue to expand as a preferred solution for engaging customers. Digital Silk's review highlights how enterprises are exploring PWAs to support scalability and enhance customer interactions. About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Dallas Web Development Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk creates digital experiences through strategic branding, custom web design, and digital marketing services to help improve visibility and support engagement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265002 SOURCE: Digital Silk Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Pacifica Silver Corp. (CSE: PSIL) ("Pacifica" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its common shares will commence trading in the United States on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group Inc., under the symbol "PAGFF", effective September 4, 2025. "Securing a listing on the OTCQB marks a significant step in increasing our visibility and accessibility to U.S. investors," stated Todd Anthony, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacifica. "We expect this move to greatly enhance Pacifica's market liquidity, widen our shareholder base and strengthen our presence in the U.S. investment market." The OTCQB Venture Market provides a robust trading platform for early-stage and growth companies to boost their U.S. market presence. Companies on the OTCQB must meet stringent reporting standards, undergo annual verification, and adhere to management certification requirements, ensuring a reliable trading environment for investors. Real-time quotes and market information for Pacifica are available at www.otcmarkets.com. The Company's shares will also continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "PSIL". About Pacifica Silver Corp. Pacifica Silver Corp. is a Canadian resource company led by a proven management team with decades of mining and exploration experience in Mexico. The company is focused on its 100% owned Claudia Project located in Durango, Mexico. Spanning 11,876 hectares, the Project encompasses most of the historic El Papanton Mining District where at least nine small mines operated throughout the 20th century. Since 1990, sampling and drilling within have returned high-grade silver and gold intercepts across multiple vein systems, with only 10% of over 30 kilometres of known veins having been drilled. Today, the project is a prime target for modern exploration and holds exceptional potential for new high-grade discoveries. The Company also holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Janampalla Property located in the Huancavalica Province of Central Peru. Pacifica is focused on continuing exploration work that has indicated widespread, high-grade copper-gold mineralization hosted within Manto style veins and disseminations. Signed, Todd Anthony President and Chief Executive Officer 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. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation as may be amended from time to time, including, without limitation, statements regarding the perceived merit of the Project, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals and the potential size of the mineralized zone. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements were made, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the price of gold and silver; the accuracy of mineral resource estimations; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained, including concession renewals and permitting; that political and legal developments will be consistent with current expectations; that currency and exchange rates will be consistent with current levels; and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its properties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks related to uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral resource estimates, including but not limited to changes to the cost assumptions, variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, failure of plant, equipment or processes, changes to availability of power or the power rates, ability to maintain social license, changes to interest or tax rates, changes in project parameters, delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks, title risks, including concession renewal, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19, the ongoing war in the Ukraine, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, risks inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, available on www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265008 SOURCE: Pacifica Silver Corp. TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) today announced the successful resolution of all outstanding legal matters related to the incident at the Satinoco dry-stacked pile at its MTL complex. The final settlement with the Public Prosecutor's Office in Brazil, together with previously concluded agreements, definitively addresses all known liabilities arising from the incident. This resolution represents an important milestone for the Company's financial stability and provides greater operational clarity. The conclusion of these matters underscores the Company's commitment to proactive engagement, responsible corporate conduct, and robust governance. By successfully concluding these complex negotiations, the Company has mitigated financial risk and can now fully focus on its core gold mining operations and advancing future growth plans. Background and Comprehensive Resolution The Satinoco incident led to several legal and administrative actions, including claims for community compensation, environmental fines, and a significant Public Civil Lawsuit. The Company has worked diligently to address each of these matters through constructive dialogue and negotiation, aiming for outcomes that are financially prudent for shareholders while responsibly addressing all impacts. With this final agreement, all known legal matters related to the Satinoco incident have been successfully resolved: Public Civil Lawsuit (Public Prosecutor's Office): An agreement has been reached to settle this lawsuit, for a final payment of R$40 million. The payment terms are structured to preserve financial liquidity, with R$10 million payable upon signing and the remaining R$30 million over 24 installments beginning in March 2026. The agreement also includes the hiring of an external audit to evaluate company structures, providing assurance for the safe resumption of operating activities. Environmental Fine: As previously announced (see press release dated July 14, 2025), the Company negotiated a reduction of the environmental fine from an estimated R$320 million to R$60 million. This settlement includes a portion dedicated to socio-environmental projects and a long-term installment payment plan. Community Compensation: An agreement with the Public Defender's Office (see press release dated March 24, 2025) provided for community compensation of approximately R$58 million, reflecting the Company's commitment to support affected individuals. The successful conclusion of these negotiations, particularly the final agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office, represents the full resolution of all known legal matters related to the Satinoco incident. The aggregate fines, totaling approximately US$28 million at present value, will be paid in installments under terms that allow the Company to manage these costs while resuming operational activities. Shareholder Value Proposition The definitive resolution of these contingent liabilities strengthens the Company's balance sheet and enhances overall financial stability, providing clarity and certainty for investors by removing a major overhang that could have impacted future performance. With these matters resolved, resources and management attention can now be focused on the Company's core mission: optimizing gold mining operations in Brazil, driving sustainable production, and delivering long-term value to shareholders. This outcome significantly de-risks the Company and paves the way for accelerated operational progress and growth. Luis Albano Tondo, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Mining, commented: "This resolution represents an important milestone for Jaguar Mining and all our stakeholders. We are proud to announce the comprehensive resolution of all legal matters stemming from the Satinoco incident, culminating in an agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office. The settlement of the Public Prosecutor's lawsuit, environmental fine, and community compensation reflect the team's diligent efforts, commitment to transparent negotiation, and focus on financial stewardship. With these matters now behind us, we are well positioned to intensify our focus on operational excellence and sustainable value creation in Brazil." The Iron Quadrangle The Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the second largest gold land position in the Iron Quadrangle with over 46,000 hectares. About Jaguar Mining Inc. Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the MTL complex (Turmalina mine and plant) and Caete complex (Pilar and Roca Grande mines, and Caete plant). The Roca Grande mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. The Company also owns the Paciencia complex (Santa Isabel mine and plant), which had been on care and maintenance since 2012 and is under review to restart in 2026. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com. For further information please contact: Luis Albano Tondo Chief Executive Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. luis.albano@jaguarmining.com +55 31-99959-6337 Marina de Freitas Interim Chief Financial Officer marina.freitas@jaguarmining.com.br +55 31-98463-5344 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the duration of the temporary suspension of the Company's MTL complex in the wake of the slump at its Satinoco dry tailings pile, the cost and timing of resuming operations at the MTL complex, the Company's ability to advance and complete its plan to resume operations at the MTL complex in accordance with (and as contemplated by) the above, the future stability of the tailings pile in question and safety of the Turmalina mine, the amount, timing and payment terms of any fines imposed on the Company, as well as any costs and damages arising from any civil or criminal lawsuits, resulting from the tailings pile slump, management's expectations regarding potential outcomes of any ongoing legal matters relating to the tailings pile slump, management's expectations regarding the Company's response to the tailings pile slump and the Company's recovery and remediation efforts at the MTL complex, any information and statements related to future operations at any of the Company's properties, including Pilar and Turmalina, any information and statements related to expected growth, sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the future and long-term stability of the Satinoco tailings pile; there will be no unforeseen adverse weather events or other external factors that could delay the Company's recovery or remediation efforts; the current assumptions regarding the extent of the damage and timeline for repairs at the MTL complex remain accurate and will not require significant revision as further assessments are completed; the estimated timeline for recommencing operations at the MTL complex; the estimated timeline for the development of the Company's mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the timelines and achieving the milestones outlined above regarding the Company's current plan and process for resuming operations at the MTL complex, the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, procurement fraud and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Jaguar Mining, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/jaguar-mining-inc.-resolves-all-pending-legal-matters-related-to-the-satinoco-inc-1068408 Investors and buyers from 45 countries are participating this week in the most relevant business event in the region. The Summit marks a new chapter in Costa Rica's global strategy to attract investment and promote exports. SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Costa Rica is hosting the Costa Rica Trade & Investment Summit 2025, a high-level event that brings together the most influential players in international trade and investment in one place. Organized by the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), this gathering marks a milestone by integrating exports and foreign direct investment into a single space for the first time. Over the course of five days, more than 1,000 Costa Rican and multinational companies will meet with 400 international buyers and investors from 45 countries, in a multisector agenda that includes more than 3,700 business meetings, investment rounds, visits to business parks, and networking opportunities. "This event is proof that Costa Rica is ready to compete and lead. We have designed a space to attract investment projects that generate linkages, employment, and sustainability, while also promoting our export offer to the most demanding markets. This is the new vision of country promotion: ambitious, strategic, and future-oriented," said Laura Lopez, General Manager of PROCOMER. This gathering also represents the evolution of the historic Buyers Trade Mission (BTM), an event that for more than 25 years connected thousands of Costa Rican exporting companies with international buyers. Today, under a more robust and far-reaching format, the Costa Rica Trade & Investment Summit consolidates export promotion and foreign direct investment attraction into a single platform. The opening ceremony featured the participation of Manuel Tovar, Minister of Foreign Trade, and Laura Lopez, General Manager of PROCOMER, along with international delegations and representatives of the business sector. Participants come from key markets such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, France, and Central America. In addition, the academic agenda includes lectures by global leaders such as: Didi Caldwell (Global Location Strategies): Economic forces and their impact on the future of FDI Economic forces and their impact on the future of FDI Katie McGinty (Johnson Controls): Smart buildings: the business case for growth through sustainability Smart buildings: the business case for growth through sustainability Henry Loewendahl (Wavteq): The future of work The future of work Maria Carolina Pinheiro (Wyndham Hotels): Participation in the tourism investment segment Country potential: a strategy delivering results As of July 2025, Costa Rica's goods exports reached $13.148 billion, representing a 17% growth compared to the same period in the previous year. The main driver continues to be the precision and medical equipment sector, accounting for 48% of total exports, followed by the agricultural sector (17%) and the food sector (12%). Costa Rica is home to more than 1,000 multinational companies operating in strategic sectors such as medical devices, corporate services, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies. The country also consolidates its position as a reliable supplier of high-quality foods: it is the world's largest exporter of pineapples, the third-largest exporter of bananas, and the leading exporter of cassava to the U.S. and the EU. In terms of foreign direct investment, the country stands out for its high reinvestment of profits and the sustained growth of projects outside the Greater Metropolitan Area. In 2024, total FDI reached $5.008 billion, representing a 32% growth compared to 2023, with the United States, Colombia, Switzerland, Mexico, and France as the main countries of origin of the capital. "The Costa Rica Trade & Investment Summit is a commitment to building long-term relationships and opening new opportunities for our regions. This platform was created to stay and to evolve alongside the needs of the global environment," concluded Laura Lopez, General Manager of PROCOMER. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2764054/PROCOMER.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/costa-rica-trade--investment-summit-2025-positions-the-country-as-a-regional-hub-for-global-business-302545721.html COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") declares its monthly dividend of $0.01 per common share payable on September 30, 2025 to shareholders of record as of September 19, 2025. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield. Dividends may vary in amount and consistency or be discontinued at the Board of Directors' discretion depending on variables including but not limited to operational cash flows, Company development requirements and strategies, construction, spot gold and silver prices, taxation, general market conditions and other factors described in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. About Fortitude Gold Corp.: Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free, and distribute dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of seven high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and an eighth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production and County Line is our next targeted mine build. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. Contact: Greg Patterson 719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com www.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/fortitude-gold-declares-september-2025-monthly-dividend-1068503 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atico Mining Corporation (the "Company" or "Atico") (TSX.V: ATY | OTCQX: ATCMF) is pleased to announce that the Ministry of the Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (MAATE) successfully concluded the Community Participation Process for Environmental Consultation (PPC) as a final step in the process prior to granting the Environmental License for exploitation. "For Atico, the successful completion of the PPC marks a significant milestone in the La Plata project's path towards construction ready state" said Fernando E. Ganoza, CEO. "Furthermore, it reinforces our commitment to collaborate closely with the local community in the area of influence and beyond, ensuring our activities are conducted with social and environmental responsibility, in full compliance with Ecuadorian laws and international best practices." The process began with environmental facilitators visiting the project's area of social influence to gather information needed to establish mechanisms for convening, informing, and consulting, in line with environmental regulations. Next, the informative phase was carried out to share the project description, its potential environmental impacts, and the Environmental Management Plan, which includes prevention, mitigation, and control measures. The process successfully concluded with the environmental consultation of residents in the area of direct social influence of the mining project. On August 23, a significant number of residents from Las Minas de La Plata and San Pablo de La Plata attended MAATE's Consultation Assembly. Environmental facilitators presented updates and enhancements to the approved Environmental Impact Study (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan for the La Plata mining project. Over 90% of participants voiced support for the project, agreeing that the Environmental License should be granted to the mining company to proceed with exploitation and beneficiation activities. About Atico Mining Corporation Atico is a growth-oriented Company, focused on exploring, developing and mining copper and gold projects in Latin America. The Company generates significant cash flow through the operation of the El Roble mine and is developing its high-grade La Plata VMS project in Ecuador. The Company is also pursuing additional acquisition of advanced stage opportunities. For more information, please visit www.aticomining.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Fernando E. Ganoza CEO Atico Mining Corporation Trading symbols: TSX.V: ATY | OTCQX: ATCMF Investor Relations Igor Dutina Tel: +1.604.633.9022 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'U.S. Securities Act'), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation the use of net proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs; the need to obtain additional financing to maintain its interest in and/or explore and develop the Company's mineral projects; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company's mineral projects; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form and as available on the Company's website for further details. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - First Majestic Silver Corp. (NYSE: AG) (TSX: AG) (FSE: FMV) (the "Company" or "First Majestic") is pleased to announce positive drilling results from its 2024/2025 exploration programs at the Los Gatos Silver Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico. The drilling programs were designed to expand silver, zinc, lead, copper and gold mineralization in the South-East Deeps, Central Deeps and North-West Deeps zones. None of the reported drill results were included in the Company's year-end Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates. "Following the acquisition of Gatos Silver, the exploration program has advanced smoothly alongside all other aspects of the operation," stated Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO of First Majestic. "A major driver for acquiring Los Gatos was the district's significant exploration upside, and the latest drilling results reinforce that potential. Ongoing drilling continues to expand mineralization across multiple zones, supporting our expectation for meaningful Mineral Resource growth at Los Gatos." KEY DRILLING HIGHLIGHTS: Ongoing exploration drilling intersected significant silver and base metals mineralization across all three zones tested: South-East Deeps, Central Deeps and North-West Deeps. A selection of significant drill hole intercepts from these zones (Figure 1) are highlighted in Tables 1 and 2 below: South-East Deeps Drilling Highlights Table 1: South-East Deeps Significant Intercepts Drill Hole Significant Intercept From (m) To (m) True Length (m) Metal Grades GA-SE-611 929.3 931.3 9.0 366 g/t AgEq - 196 g/t Ag, 5.43% Zn, 1.67% Pb, 0.23 g/t Au and 0.04% Cu Include 1 697.0 698.5 1.2 589 g/t AgEq - 353 g/t Ag, 6.65% Zn, 3.03% Pb, 0.24 g/t Au and 0.08% Cu Include 2 704.0 705.3 1.0 742 g/t AgEq - 365 g/t Ag, 9.89% Zn, 5.50% Pb, 0.32 g/t Au and 0.06% Cu And 735.0 738.0 2.6 444 g/t AgEq - 97 g/t Ag, 11.58% Zn, 2.90% Pb, 0.59 g/t Au and 0.09% Cu And 784.0 787.0 2.6 206 g/t AgEq - 105 g/t Ag, 1.48% Zn, 0.81% Pb, 0.44 g/t Au and 0.33% Cu GA-SE-DV-612 893.0 903.0 8.0 711 g/t AgEq - 130 g/t Ag, 18.16% Zn, 6.31% Pb, 0.14 g/t Au and 0.22% Cu Include 1 899.0 901.0 1.6 1080 g/t AgEq - 224 g/t Ag, 23.20% Zn, 12.35% Pb, 0.09 g/t Au and 0.20% GA-SE-615 926.0 929.5 2.7 330 g/t AgEq - 173 g/t Ag, 4.32% Zn, 1.95% Pb, 0.38 g/t Au and 0.04% Cu Central Deeps Drilling Highlights Table 2: Central Deeps Significant Intercepts Drill Hole Significant Intercept From (m) To (m) True Length (m) Metal Grades GA-CZ-617 706.0 710.0 3.7 534 AgEq g/t - 106 g/t Ag, 10.83% Zn, 2.75% Pb, 0.07 g/t Au and 1.01% Cu Include 1 708.0 710.0 1.3 713 AgEq g/t - 154 g/t Ag, 10.65%Zn, 4.58% Pb, 0.06 g/t Au and 1.77% Cu GA-CZ-620 630.0 633.0 2.9 538 AgEq g/t - 126 g/t Ag, 13.43% Zn, 1.73% Pb, 0.16 g/t Au and 0.60% Cu Include 1 630.0 631.5 1.4 694 AgEq g/t - 216 g/t Ag, 14.05% Zn, 2.34% Pb, 0.10 g/t Au and 0.92% Cu GA-CZ-620 561.5 568.5 6.9 713 AgEq g/t - 167 g/t Ag, 17.11% Zn, 4.99% Pb, 0.33 g/t Au and 0.42% Cu Include 1 561.5 563.0 1.4 657 AgEq g/t - 165 g/t Ag, 12.45% Zn, 4.82% Pb, 0.03 g/t Au and 0.77% Cu Include 2 563.0 565.0 1.9 545 AgEq g/t - 237 g/t Ag, 6.86% Zn, 4.97% Pb, 0.08 g/t Au and 0.48% Cu Include 3 565.0 567.0 1.9 1013 AgEq g/t - 154 g/t Ag, 30.09% Zn, 6.66% Pb, 0.62 g/t Au and 0.27% Cu Include 4 567.0 568.6 1.4 593 AgEq g/t - 92 g/t Ag, 18.15% Zn, 2.97% Pb, 0.57 g/t Au and 0.21% Cu Figure 1: Los Gatos Long Section with Drill Hole Intersections Looking to the Northeast (See Table 3 for all Assay Results used in the AgEq Calculation) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1475/265027_5f9ffe58340b9a17_002full.jpg EXPLORATION RESULTS Exploration drilling designed to expand near-mine mineralization intersected significant silver and base metal mineralization while targeting the extension of the South-East Deeps orebody, along with exploration of the recently identified Central and North-West Deeps mineralization zones. Results from the program are summarized below (Figure 2). South-East Deeps Zone Exploration drilling of the South-East Deeps zone extended silver and base metals mineralization along plunge in the southeast portion of the vein system (Figure 3). The drilling continues to target an Inferred drill spacing, as the extensions of the system are tested. Results of the drilling program confirm the continuity of the South-East Deeps, as the known limits to the mineralization are extended. Future drilling will target the down-plunge potential at a wider spacing to test the geological limits of the system. Infill and Resource conversion drilling will be executed from the underground mine, once ramp and level access is established. Select significant drill hole intervals are shown below in Figure 4. Figure 2: Los Gatos Near Mine Exploration Targets and Drill Hole Traces To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1475/265027_5f9ffe58340b9a17_003full.jpg Figure 3: South-East Deeps Long Section and Drill Hole Intersections Looking Northeast (See Table 3 for all Assay Results used in the AgEq Calculation) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1475/265027_5f9ffe58340b9a17_004full.jpg Figure 4: South-East Deeps Cross Sections for Drill Holes GA-SE-611 / 613, and GA-SE-DV-612, Section Thickness +/- 25m Looking Northwest (See Table 3 for all Assay Results used in the AgEq Calculation) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1475/265027_first%20majestic%20figure%204.jpg Central and North-West Deeps Zones Drilling at the exploration targets in the Central and North-West Deeps zones confirmed the presence of silver and base metals mineralization at depth and identified a faulted offset from the main Los Gatos deposit (See Figure 5). Ongoing drilling is testing the lithological-structural model in these zones, to determine accurate mineralization controls. Drilling was conducted at a widely spaced exploration stage, targeting areas of interest, and will tighten to Inferred drill hole spacing throughout the remainder of 2025. All drilling has intersected the geological target as projected, with grade variability controlled by geological criteria. The significant intervals returned from this drill program continue to grow and refine the areas of interest, with recent results indicating that the system remains open along strike to the northwest. Select significant drill hole intervals are shown in cross sections below in Figure 5. Figure 5: Central Deeps Cross Sections for Drill Holes GA-CZ-616, and GA-CZ-620 / 621, Section Thickness +/- 25m looking Northwest (See Table 3 for all Assay Results used in the AgEq Calculation) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1475/265027_first%20majestic%20fig%205.jpg Table 3: Summary of Significant Gold and Silver Drill Hole Intercepts at Los Gatos Drill Hole Target Target Type Actual From (m) To (m) Length (m) True Length (m) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Pb (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) AgEq (g/t) GA-SE-610 South-East Deeps Resource Addition 929.3 931.3 2.0 1.5 45 2.92 2.18 0.06 0.24 180 GA-SE-611 South-East Deeps Resource Addition 695.2 705.3 10.1 9.0 196 5.43 1.67 0.23 0.04 366 Include 1 697.0 698.5 1.5 1.2 353 6.65 3.03 0.24 0.08 589 Include 2 704.0 705.3 1.3 1.0 365 9.89 5.50 0.32 0.06 742 Include 3 735.0 738.0 3.0 2.6 97 11.58 2.90 0.59 0.09 444 Include 4 784.0 787.0 3.0 2.6 105 1.48 0.81 0.44 0.33 206 GA-SE-DV-612 South-East Deeps Resource Addition 893.0 903.0 10.0 8.0 130 18.16 6.31 0.14 0.22 711 Include 1 899.0 901.0 2.0 1.6 224 23.20 12.35 0.09 0.20 1080 GA-SE-613 South-East Deeps Resource Addition 713.0 714.5 1.5 1.3 151 15.90 4.51 0.26 0.12 632 And 720.5 723.0 2.5 2.2 26 3.92 1.06 0.26 0.03 147 And 772.5 776.0 3.5 3.3 23 4.48 1.20 0.10 0.36 193 GA-SE-615 Central Deeps Resource Addition 926.0 929.5 3.5 2.7 173 4.32 1.95 0.38 0.04 330 GA-CZ-616 Central Deeps Resource Addition 622.5 624.0 1.5 1.3 173 5.41 0.58 0.02 0.36 348 And 628.5 631.5 3.0 2.8 104 0.74 0.23 0.03 0.32 163 GA-CZ-617 Central Deeps Resource Addition 706.0 710.0 4.0 3.7 106 10.83 2.75 0.07 1.01 534 Include 1 708.0 710.0 1.5 1.3 154 10.65 4.58 0.06 1.77 713 GA-CZ-620 Central Deeps Resource Addition 630.0 633.0 3.0 2.9 126 13.43 1.73 0.16 0.60 538 Include 1 630.0 631.5 1.5 1.4 216 14.05 2.34 0.10 0.92 694 GA-CZ-621 Central Deeps Resource Addition 561.5 568.5 7.0 6.9 167 17.11 4.99 0.33 0.42 713 Include 1 561.5 563.0 1.5 1.4 165 12.45 4.82 0.03 0.77 657 Include 2 563.0 565.0 2.0 1.9 237 6.86 4.97 0.08 0.48 545 Include 3 565.0 567.0 2.0 1.9 154 30.09 6.66 0.62 0.27 1013 Include 4 567.0 568.6 1.5 1.4 92 18.15 2.97 0.57 0.21 593 GA-CZ-D-05 Exploration 791.1 793.0 1.9 1.4 26 9.87 3.46 0.03 0.05 340 GA-NW-623 Resource Addition 791.0 795.0 4.0 4.0 33 3.06 0.39 0.06 0.35 152 GA-NW-D-02 Exploration 802.9 804.5 1.6 1.1 36 3.90 0.63 0.05 0.48 193 Notes: All holes are Diamond Drill Core; AgEq grade = Ag grade (g/t) + [Au grade (g/t) * 20.5] + [Zn grade (%) * 21.9] + [Pb grade (%) * 27.3 to 28.0] + [Cu grade (%) * 0 to 112.6) Note - AgEq grade formula considers process plant recoveries and concentrate payable and deductible terms. Recovery, Payable and Deductible terms are variable by concentrate product. For further details, see the Company's most recently filed AIF available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Process Plant recoveries range from: Ag = 88.2%, Au = 54.2%, Zn = 63.4%, Pb = 87.2% - 89.4%, Cu = 0 to 82.0% (Pb and Cu recoveries vary depending on Pb to Cu ratios. See the Company's most recently filed AIF.) Payable terms range from: Ag = 95%, Au = 39%, Zn = 85%, Pb = 95%, Cu = 0 to 97% (Cu payable terms vary depending on concentrate. See the Company's most recently filed AIF) "From" and "To" lengths indicated in metres, true width of the intercept is calculated per drill hole and vein angles. See Appendix to this news release for details regarding drill hole locations, sample type, azimuth, dip and total depth. Where present, single samples or intercepts with assay results higher than 500 g/t AgEq are highlighted as "Include" in each intercept. At Los Gatos, silver, zinc, lead, gold and copper drill hole intercepts were composited using the length weighted averages of uncapped sample assays, a 140 g/t AgEq minimum grade, and a minimum composite length of 0.7 m (true width). A maximum one metre below the minimum grade was allowed as internal dilution and a single sample below the minimum AgEq grade was allowed in the hanging or footwall to achieve minimum true width in select cases. True width of intercepts is calculated based on current understanding of drill hole and vein angle geometry. All individual samples or intercepts higher than 500 g/t AgEq are reported as "include". First Majestic's Los Gatos drilling programs follow established Quality Assurance / Quality Control ("QA/QC") insertion protocols with standards, blanks and duplicates introduced to the sample stream and submission of check duplicates to an independent third-party laboratory. After geological logging, all drill core samples are cut in half. One half of the core is submitted to the laboratory for analysis, and the remaining half is retained on-site for verification and reference purposes. Core samples were submitted to the ALS preparation facilities in Chihuahua City, Mexico for pulp preparation and subsequently to the ALS laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for analysis (ISO/IEC 17025:2017). At ALS, silver, zinc, lead and copper are analyzed by 4-acid digestion with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry finish (ME-ICP61). Samples with overlimit results are analyzed using ore grade 4-acid digestion and ICP finish analysis (OG62). Gold is analyzed by 30 g fire assay atomic absorption finish (Au-AA23). For further information concerning QA/QC and data verification matters, key assumptions, parameters, and methods used by the Company to estimate Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, and for a detailed description of known legal, political, environmental, and other risks that could materially affect the Company's business and the potential development of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, see the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar. QUALIFIED PERSON Gonzalo Mercado, P. Geo., the Company's Vice President of Exploration and Technical Services and a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Mercado has verified the exploration data contained in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying such information. ABOUT FIRST MAJESTIC First Majestic is a publicly traded mining company focused on silver and gold production in Mexico and the United States. The Company presently owns and operates four producing underground mines in Mexico: the Los Gatos Silver Mine (the Company holds a 70% interest in the Los Gatos Joint Venture that owns and operates the mine), the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine, the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, and the La Encantada Silver Mine, as well as a portfolio of development and exploration assets, including the Jerritt Canyon Gold project located in northeastern Nevada, U.S.A. First Majestic is proud to own and operate its own minting facility, First Mint, LLC, and to offer a portion of its silver production for sale to the public. Bars, ingots, coins and medallions are available for purchase online at www.firstmint.com, at some of the lowest premiums available. FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. "signed" Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Cautionary Note to United States Investors The Company is a "foreign private issuer" as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is eligible to rely upon the Canada-U.S. Multi-Jurisdictional Disclosure System, and is therefore permitted to prepare the technical information contained herein in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of the securities laws currently in effect in the United States. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has not been prepared in accordance with the requirements of United States securities laws and uses terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada with certain estimates prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning the issuer's material mineral projects. APPENDIX - DRILL HOLE DETAILS Table A1: Drill Hole Collar Location, Sample Type, Azimuth, Dip and Total Depth Drill Hole Target East North Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth (m) Type GA-CZ-614 Resource Addition 368,904 3,047,922 1,641 221 -66 723 core GA-CZ-616 Resource Addition 368,904 3,047,922 1,641 221 -60 780 core GA-CZ-617 Resource Addition 369,079 3,048,003 1,610 223 -47 792 core GA-CZ-619 Resource Addition 369,079 3,048,004 1,610 230 -65 945 core GA-CZ-620 Resource Addition 369,200 3,047,855 1,585 217 -47 660 core GA-CZ-621 Resource Addition 369,124 3,047,764 1,595 212 -48 597 core GA-CZ-625 Resource Addition 369,171 3,047,631 1,579 222 -57 528 core GA-CZ-D-04 Near Mine Exploration 369,254 3,048,066 1,602 220 -52 1,430 core GA-CZ-D-05 Near Mine Exploration 368,678 3,048,340 1,643 228 -50 1,410 core GA-CZ-D-06 Near Mine Exploration 369,080 3,048,337 1,628 220 -60 1,149 core GA-NW-623 Resource Addition 368,679 3,048,338 1,643 215 -45 828 core GA-NW-624 Resource Addition 368,678 3,048,339 1,643 218 -60 900 core GA-NW-D-01 Near Mine Exploration 368,175 3,048,613 1,623 232 -60 1,005 core GA-NW-D-02 Near Mine Exploration 368,679 3,048,338 1,643 203 -53 864 core GA-NW-D-03 Near Mine Exploration 368,427 3,048,636 1,617 216 -52 927 core GA-SE-610 Resource Addition 370,199 3,047,296 1,595 223 -59 1,029 core GA-SE-611 Resource Addition 370,052 3,047,330 1,574 224 -48 807 core GA-SE-613 Resource Addition 370,052 3,047,329 1,574 224 -45 798 core GA-SE-615 Resource Addition 370,302 3,047,274 1,599 223 -56 1,068 core GA-SE-DV-612 Resource Addition 370,199 3,047,296 1,595 223 -59 990 core GA-SE-DV-618A Resource Addition 370,302 3,047,274 1,599 223 -56 962 core To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265027 SOURCE: First Majestic Silver Corp. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - John Skeet, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mithril Silver and Gold Limited ("Mithril" or the "Company"), joined Andrew Creech, Managing Director, TSX Venture Exchange Listings, to close the market to celebrate the Company's new listing on TSX Venture Exchange. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eORCYrWYC3c Mithril Silver and Gold Limited (TSXV: MSG | ASX: MTH | OTCQB: MTIRF) is unlocking the high-grade potential of its Copalquin Gold-Silver District in Mexico's prolific Sierra Madre Trend - a region that hosts many silver-gold deposits. Spanning a district-scale epithermal system with significant historic underground mines and surface workings, Copalquin offers exceptional discovery and resource growth potential. Led by a proven management and technical team with a track record of major gold and silver discoveries and mine development, and backed by a strong balance sheet, Mithril is fully funded for a major drill program targeting multiple high-priority zones across the 70km2 mining concession area. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265036 SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Tier One Silver Inc. (TSXV: TSLV) (OTCQB: TSLVF) ("Tier One" or the "Company") announces it is conducting a private placement financing to a small group of arm's-length investors which include institutional investors, targeting 70,000,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at an offering price of C$0.08 per Unit (the "Unit Price") for gross proceeds to the Company of approximately C$5.6 million (the "Offering"). Each offered Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one full common share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.11 at any time on or before the date which is 36 months after the closing date of the Offering (the "Closing Date"). The proposed use of proceeds from the Offering is to fund project exploration, new project investigation as well as general working capital. In accordance with applicable securities laws, the Shares, Warrants and any additional Shares issued on exercise of the Warrants will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period in Canada from the date of closing of the Offering. The Warrants issued to certain of the investors will contain a restriction precluding their exercise to the extent that the holder would as a consequence of exercise exceed 9.99% of issued shares. Accordingly, no new insiders will result from the Offering. Closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or about September 8, 2025, subject to the receipt of investor documentation, funds and TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval. The Company will pay a customary finder's fee in cash and non-transferable broker warrants in compliance with the policies of the TSXV. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Tier One Silver Tier One Silver is an exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through the discovery of world-class silver, gold and copper deposits in South America. The Company is focused on its flagship exploration project, Curibaya, but continues to investigate other potential projects of merit. The Company's management and technical teams have a strong track record in raising capital, discovery and monetization of exploration success. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TIER ONE SILVER INC. Peter Dembicki President, CEO and Director For further information on Tier One Silver Inc., please contact the Company at (778) 729-0700 or visit the Company's website: www.tieronesilver.com Capital Markets Contact: Forward Looking Information and General Cautionary Language This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events in connection with the planned financing. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and therefore may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be heavily relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements in regard to the size, closing and use of proceeds of the Offering. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265031 SOURCE: Tier One Silver Inc. Bonita Springs, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery" or the "Company"), one of the largest and most trusted operators of senior housing in the U.S., is pleased to highlight one of its unique pet-centered lifestyle initiatives at The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights, underscoring the Company's ability to create highly bespoke living environments tailored to local markets. "Dogs, Drinks, and Downtown Views" at The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11618/265019_bwm%20dg-aug%2025.jpg Located in a historic Clark Street building, in Brooklyn Heights, New York, The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights is more than a senior living community, it is a landmark and cornerstone of the neighborhood reimagined for a new generation of residents. Discovery's role and philosophy as operator is to preserve the property's legacy while elevating it with customized lifestyle offerings that feel authentic to Brooklyn Heights' rich history, energy, and sophistication. At Watermark Brooklyn Heights, this philosophy comes to life through a pet-celebrated approach. Recognizing the profound role pets play in healthy aging and social connection, the community welcomes dogs of all sizes, a unique feature, but more importantly integrates them into daily life. To showcase this approach and reflect the individuality of its residents and the neighborhood's pet-friendly identity, the community hosted "Dogs, Drinks, and Downtown Views". This rooftop dog-friendly happy hour featuring a pet red carpet, live music, gourmet dog treat bar, and its iconic panoramic views of Lower Manhattan. The event drew residents, families, neighbors, and their pups together in celebration, highlighting how animals foster wellness and joy. "Lifestyle programming is about creating memorable events and reinforcing the value of the community for residents and for our ownership partners," said Richard Hutchinson, CEO, Discovery Senior Living. "At Brooklyn Heights, our ability to design uniquely tailored offerings like pet-centered living strengthens resident engagement, builds connection to the neighborhood that offers the perfect walking environment for residents with dogs, and enhances long-term community performance." "Our community believes that aging well means surrounding yourself with joy, purpose, and connection and pets deliver in all three," said Jennifer Tapner, Executive Director of The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights. "This event was the perfect way to close out the summer while honoring the role our four-legged friends play in making life here so special." Unlike Manhattan living, Brooklyn Heights is a highly walkable, pet-friendly urban environment. Celebrating pets is more than a simple amenity, it is a reflection of the surrounding lifestyle. This event illustrates how Discovery's local teams leverage neighborhood identity and resident preferences to create experiences that feel both bespoke and market-specific. "At the end of the day, it's about belonging," added Tapner. "Our residents don't just live here; they are part of a community that reflects the sophistication, charm, and vibrancy of Brooklyn Heights, and its dogs, itself." About Discovery Senior Living Discovery Senior Living is the largest privately held operator in U.S. with a growing portfolio of nearly 40,000 units across more than 360 communities and nearly 40 states. The Company and its 18,000-plus employees is a recognized industry leader for performance, innovation and customized lifestyle experiences. Discovery's family of companies includes Discovery Management Group, Integral Senior Living, Provincial Senior Living, Morada Senior Living, Summerhouse Senior Living, Seaton Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, LakeHouse Senior Living, Arvum Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, STAT Marketing, and Discovery At Home. Led by its award-winning management team, Discovery has been developing, building, marketing, and managing diverse senior-living communities across the United States for three decades. For the fourth consecutive year, Discovery Senior Living was again certified a Great Place To Work May 2025 - May 2026. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265019 SOURCE: Discovery Senior Living Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Universal Digital Inc. (CSE: LFG) (FSE: 8R20) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Beacon Securities Limited (the "Lead Agent"), acting as lead agent and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of agents (together with the Lead Agent, the "Agents") in connection with a "best efforts" private placement (the "Offering") of up to 3,334,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at an issue price of C$0.60 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of a minimum of C$1,000,200 and a maximum of C$2,000,400. The Units will be issued pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106") and in reliance on the amendments to Part 5A of NI 45-106 set forth in Coordinate Blanket Order 45-953 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (collectively, the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of C$0.80 per Warrant Share for a period of 2 years from the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company has granted the Agents an option (the "Agents' Option") to arrange for the purchase and sale of up to an additional 834,000 Units at the Issue Price, exercisable in whole or in part, at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering. The Agents shall be under no obligation whatsoever to exercise the Agents' Option in whole or in part. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to (i) acquire a strategic equity and warrant position in Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed ReYuu Japan Inc. (the "ReYuu Investment") and (ii) for working capital and general corporate purposes. The ReYuu Investment is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval under Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. For further information about the ReYuu Investment, please see the Corporation's press release dated September 1, 2025. The Offering is expected to close on or about September 18, 2025, or such other date as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Lead Agent, on behalf of the Agents (the "Closing Date") and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). There can be no assurances that the Offering will be completed on the terms set out herein, or at all, or that the proceeds of the Offering will be sufficient for the purposes of the Company set out herein. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, the Units will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada, except Quebec, and other qualifying jurisdictions. Subject to the rules and policies of the CSE, the securities issued in the Offering pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document prepared in the form prescribed by Form 45-106F19 under Canadian securities laws, relating to the Offering (the "Offering Document") that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.universaldigital.io. Prospective investors should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the "United States" or "U.S. persons" (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Company anticipates that certain insiders of the Company may purchase Units issued as part of the Offering. As such, the Offering may be considered a "related party transaction" for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Pursuant to MI 61-101, if certain insiders of the Company participate in the Offering, the Company will file a material change report providing disclosure in relation to each "related party transaction" on SEDAR+ under the Company's issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company has not filed a material change report more than 21 days before the expected Closing Date as the details of the Offering and the participation therein by the "related parties" of the Company were not settled at such time. If certain insiders of the Company participate in the Offering, the Company expects to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements available under MI 61-101. The Company would be exempt from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it may involve interested parties, will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Additionally, the Company would be exempt from minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.7(1)(a) as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. About Universal Digital Inc. Universal Digital Inc. is a Canadian investment company focused on digital assets, businesses and private and publicly listed entities that are involved in high-growth industries, with a particular focus on blockchain, cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency technologies. The Company aims to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth through a diversified investment approach, and to participate in the transformation of global finance through the integration of digital asset strategies. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements This news release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the size and terms of the Offering; the expected Closing Date for the Offering; the ability of the Company to obtain all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including Board approval, and any approval required from the CSE; the Company's anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering; the expected participation by insiders in the Offering; the exemption from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under MI 61-101; and whether the proceeds of the Offering will be sufficient for the purposes of the Company moving forward. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "should", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties (including market conditions) and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including those risk factors described in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265022 SOURCE: Universal Digital Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - SOL Strategies Inc. (CSE: HODL) (OTCQB: CYFRD) (formerly, Cypherpunk Holdings Inc, "Sol Strategies" or the "Company"), the first publicly traded company to combine a substantial Solana treasury with a revenue-generating validator business, announced today that the company will be participating in the following investor conferences. Event: 5th Annual Needham Virtual Crypto Conference Dates: Thursday, September 4, 2025 Location: Virtual Attendees: Leah Wald, Chief Executive Officer Interested investors should contact their Needham sales representative directly to schedule a meeting. Event: Cantor Crypto, AI/Energy Infrastructure Conference Dates: Monday, November 10th 2025 - Wednesday, November 12th 2025 Location: Ritz-Carlton South Beach - Miami Beach Attendees: Leah Wald, Chief Executive Officer Interested investors should contact their Cantor sales representative directly to schedule a meeting. About SOL Strategies SOL Strategies Inc. (CSE: HODL) (OTCQB: CYFRD) is a Canadian investment company that operates at the forefront of blockchain innovation. Specializing in the Solana ecosystem, the company provides strategic investments and infrastructure solutions to enable the next generation of decentralized applications. To learn more about SOL Strategies, please visit www.solstrategies.io. A copy of this news release and all the Company's related material documents regarding the Company may be obtained under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements and information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company's or the Company's management team's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, and expectations regarding the characteristics, value drivers, and anticipated benefits of the Company's business plans and operations related thereto. Forward-looking information can also be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" taken, "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Company's participation in investor conferences and management's expectations regarding future business development and investor engagement opportunities. There is no assurance that the Company's plans or objectives will be implemented as set out herein, or at all. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The purpose of forward-looking information is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and such forward-looking information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates, and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates, and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by law. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Disclaimer: SOL Strategies is an independent organization in the Solana ecosystem. SOL Strategies is not affiliated with, owned by, or under common control with Solana Foundation (the "Foundation"), and the Foundation has not entered into any association, partnership, joint venture, employee, or agency relationship with SOL Strategies. None of the Foundation or its council members, officers, agents or make any representations or warranties, recommendations, endorsements or promises with respect to the accuracy of any statements made, information provided, or action taken by SOL Strategies and expressly disclaim any and all liability arising from or related to any such statements, information or action. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265047 SOURCE: Sol Strategies Inc. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Walt Disney Company has agreed to pay a $10 million fine to settle allegations from the Federal Trade Commission that it enabled the unlawful collection of children's personal data on YouTube. The FTC said Disney violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by failing to label certain child-directed videos as 'made for kids.' This omission allowed data to be collected from viewers under 13 and used for targeted advertising without parental consent. Under the proposed settlement, Disney will pay the civil penalty, adopt enhanced compliance measures, and implement a review system to ensure its YouTube videos are properly designated for children when applicable. YouTube introduced the 'made for kids' classification in 2019 after its own settlement with the FTC. The designation blocks personalized ads, data tracking, and comments on such videos. Regulators said Disney's failure to comply undermined those safeguards. Disney, in a statement, stressed that the case applies only to content distributed on YouTube, not its own platforms. 'Supporting the well-being and safety of kids and families is at the heart of what we do,' the company said, adding that it remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of compliance with children's privacy laws. The settlement highlights growing regulatory scrutiny on how media giants and digital platforms handle content consumed by young audiences. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - US Copper Corp. (TSXV: USCU) (OTCQB: USCUF) (FSE: C730) ("US Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged Libertas Metallurgy Limited ("Libertas") to review all the metallurgical work to date and make recommendations for any metallurgical testwork required for the planned Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") at its Moonlight-Superior Mining property ("Moonlight"), located in Plumas County, California. Libertas was founded in 2017 to provide metallurgical consulting services to the global minerals and mining industry. Their area of expertise is in flotation, leaching, process design and cost reduction as it relates to managing technical studies and process development and operations. Libertas's President & Principal Metallurgist, David Middleditch, has over 20 years experience in the field of metallurgy and mineral processing. Dave has worked at Falconbridge (now Glencore) in Sudbury, Ontario as a metallurgist and managed the mineral processing laboratory, prior to joining Hudson's Bay Mining and Smelting Co. in Flin Flon, Manitoba as Lead Metallurgist for the Lalor Project. He has also worked on copper projects in Chile, Norway, Mexico and Serbia. The project will be supported by John Wells, an industry leading specialist in copper oxide processing and has authored over 12 technical papers while also working on numerous projects in Chile and Peru. Libertas will provide the following services to US Copper during the initial review of our metallurgical work to date: Review all met work done to date and make recommendations for PFS metallurgical testwork; determine whether additional drilling is required before PFS metallurgical testwork can commence; Provide guidance on PFS metallurgical sample selection i.e. required number of holes, quantities of sample, number of composites and discrete, variability samples etc.; Design of PFS metallurgical testwork program for the oxide and sulphide resources providing the basis and outline for third party metallurgical laboratories to provide quotes for PFS testwork; and Issue RFPs to selected testwork laboratories, review and adjudicate bids. Stephen Dunn, CEO of US Copper, commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Libertas to the Moonlight project. Their expertise in metallurgy and, specifically, the far-reaching experience of David Middleditch and John Wells with copper processing will be very beneficial to US Copper as we advance our metallurgical work at Moonlight. "The year 2025 has been a very positive one for US Copper as we released the updated results from our Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in January. We are also strategically aligned with the United States of America ("USA") administration which both recocognizes the importance of domestic copper production in the USA AND has issued executive orders aimed at speeding up the permitting of natural resources development in the USA. "USCU is now focused on taking the next steps required to begin a PFS for our project. In preparation for this we have started this metallurgical study and will soon begin baseline studies. We are also designing a deep drilling program to expand the resources at Moonlight. Our project has three deposits that are all at surface, are very shallow and all all open at depth. We are ready to add to our knowledge of the mineralogy underneath. (The average drill hole depth is 450 feet ("ft"), across 500 holes yet we know Engels was mined to a depth of 2400 ft in 1929.) "Copper is a key component in a wide range of energy technologies and is designated as a Critical Mineral by the USA government. Copper is a critical material for an extensive range of important applications ranging from renewable power generation to electric vehicles. As such, it is vital that the USA has a strong and viable domestic source of copper supply." About US Copper Corp. US Copper controls approximately 10 square miles of patented and unpatented federal mining claims in the Light's Creek Copper District in Plumas County, NE California; essentially, the entire District. The District contains substantial copper (silver) sulfide and copper oxide resources in three deposits - Moonlight, Superior and Engels, as well as several partially tested and untested exploration targets. The Superior and Engels Mines operated from about 1915 to 1930 producing over 161 million pounds of copper from over 4 million tons of rock containing 2.2% copper with silver and gold credits. The Moonlight deposit was discovered by Placer Amex during the 1960s and a resource was calculated after the drilling of over 400 holes. A development decision was made but then put on hold in 1972 when copper prices were weak. US Copper has owned the project since 2013 and has advanced the project with three different drill programs and a number of engineering studies. US Copper recently reported an after-tax NPV of US$1.075 billion in a PEA prepared by Global Resource Engineering Ltd ("GRE") dated Dec 16, 2024 with a life of mine production of 1.8 billion pounds of copper (See news release dated Jan 6, 2025). GRE calculated a new mineral resource for the purposes of this PEA that included all recent drill programs on the property. This resource is summarized below: To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1768/265050_uscopper.jpg Notes: The effective date of the Mineral Resource is December 16, 2024. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource Estimate is Terre Lane of GRE. Mineral resources are reported at a 0.16% Cu cutoff for oxide and transition material and at a 10.45 NSR cutoff for sulfide material. The oxide and transition cutoff is calculated based on a long-term copper price of US$4.00/lb; assumed combined operating costs of US$7.50/ton (process and G&A); metallurgical recovery of 75% for copper. The sulfide cutoff is calculated as the breakeven NSR, which is equal to the combined process and G&A costs for the sulfide material. Further details of this Resource, and the Preliminary Economic Assessment NI43-101 Technical Report on the Moonlight-Superior Project, Plumas County, California, USA with an effective date of December 16, 2024 can be found on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca or at the Company's website at www.uscoppercorp.com. The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves under CIM Definition Standards. Readers are advised that there is no certainty that the results projected in this preliminary economic assessment will be realized. For Further Information, Contact: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws and regulations, including statements regarding the future activities of the Company. Forward-looking statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management and are identified by the use of words including "will", "hopes", "anticipates", "expected to", "plans", "planned" and other similar words. Actual results may differ significantly. The achievement of the results expressed in forward-looking statements is subject to a number of risks, including those described in the Company's management discussion and analysis as filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265050 SOURCE: US Copper Corp. MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Green Mountain Technology, (dba Green Mountain), a leading technology-enabled services company, announced today the appointment of Mike Lambert as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Lambert, an 18-year veteran of Green Mountain, most recently served as the company's Chief Operating Officer (COO). Founded in 1999, Green Mountain has established itself as the trusted advisor to the largest parcel shippers in North America. Leading brands rely on the company's innovative data solutions and expert teams to optimize last-mile delivery experiences and reduce associated costs. A Memphis native, Lambert brings deep operational expertise and a strong track record of leadership to his new role. His appointment reflects Green Mountain's continued focus on strategic growth, innovation, and delivering industry-leading return on investment to its customers. In conjunction with Lambert's promotion, the company announced that Jim Jacobs, Green Mountain Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), has been named Executive Chairman of the Board. Jacobs will continue in his role as CCO while taking on additional responsibilities as Executive Chairman. A lifelong Memphian, Jacobs has played a foundational role in the company's growth and evolution since its inception. "Mike's vision, commitment to excellence, and deep understanding of our business make him the right leader for Green Mountain's next chapter," said Jim Jacobs. "Together, with our talented leadership team, we're poised to expand our impact and continue delivering the exceptional value our clients have come to expect." As CEO, Lambert will report directly to Jacobs and work closely with the company's executive team to implement strategic initiatives, scale operations, and further strengthen customer partnerships. Since joining Green Mountain in 2007, Lambert has been an essential leader in the development and execution of Green Mountain's Parcel Spend Management solution. "I am honored to take on the role of CEO at Green Mountain. For 18 years, I have been blessed to lead and support the highest quality team members dedicated to providing unrivaled value to the world's most recognizable brands. As the gold standard and founder of Parcel Spend Management, I am excited to lead our team through our next phase of transformative innovation and growth in logistics optimization and transportation spend management solutions." About Green Mountain Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Green Mountain is a technology-enabled services company serving the largest parcel shippers in North America. The company partners with global brands to build better data, streamline logistics operations, and deliver smarter, more cost-effective final-mile delivery solutions. Contact Information Mary Clark Navarro Marketing Manager mcnavarro@greenmt.com 901-616-4924 SOURCE: Green Mountain View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/green-mountain-names-mike-lambert-as-chief-executive-officer-co-1068604 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Galloper Gold Corp. (CSE: BOOM) (OTC Pink: GGDCF) (the "Company" or "Galloper") announces that it has granted incentive stock options to purchase a total of 1,750,000 common shares at an exercise price of $0.085 per common share for a period of 24 months to certain officers in accordance with the provisions of its omnibus equity incentive plan. About Galloper Gold Corp. Galloper is focused on mineral exploration in the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt with its Glover Island and Mint Pond properties, each prospective for gold and base metals. The Glover Island Property, which hosts the historic Lucky Smoke gold occurrence and the recently awarded Lunch Pond South Extension consists of 477 mining claims totaling 11,925 hectares while Mint Pond consists of 499 claims totaling 12,475 hectares. For more information, please visit www.GalloperGold.com and the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Mr. Hratch Jabrayan CEO and Director Galloper Gold Corp. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider 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/265043 SOURCE: Galloper Gold Corp. The impact of the story, and the audio of Hinds voice from that call, has been vast, inspiring songs, protest movements and now a film from Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania In January 2024, a 6-year-old girl trapped inside a bullet-riddled car in Gaza City begged for someone to rescue her. Contact was lost with the first ambulance. Hind Rajab, five family members and two medics were found dead 12 days later. The impact of the story, and the audio of Hinds voice from that call, has been vast, inspiring songs, protest movements and now a film from Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania. The Voice of Hind Rajab, which debuts Wednesday at the Venice Film Festival, is a shattering document of the Israel-Hamas war, set entirely inside the dispatch center of the Palestine Red Crescent Society rescue service. The film uses the real audio of Hinds call, while actors portray the first responders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When you hear her voice you feel powerless, Ben Hania told The Associated Press recently. Hinds cousin, Layan, who was in the car, had told family members that Israeli forces were firing on them before she was killed. The Red Crescent said Israeli troops fired on its ambulance. Asked for comment, the military said the incident is still being reviewed, without elaborating. Listening to the audio, which was shared widely on social media in the 12 days after the Red Crescent lost contact with its medics and Hind, Ben Hania said she felt like she needed to do something, to help the innocent voice she was hearing. I felt like she was asking me to rescue her, Ben Hania said. Its not rational what Im saying, because I knew the tragedy already happened. I asked of myself, What I can do, and I only know one thing: how to tell stories. Her resolve intensified after she heard the full recordings of the calls that day. The urgent imperative to make the film meant that she would have to put another project, which she was preparing to shoot, on hold, and work more quickly than she ever had before. There was kind of an emergency that I was feeling and I contaminated everybody, she said. Her first step was to talk to Hinds mother, Wissam Hamadah, who gave her blessing and told her all about her daughter, from her love of the sea to her dreams of being a dentist. Then Ben Hania went about gathering her cast, including Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury and Amer Hlehel. It was important to her that her actors were Palestinian. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In some ways, everything was there for her to draw on with the real transcripts. She just needed to find a cinematic way to do it, and the language of movies was available to her. Here was, in essence, a rescue mission, full of urgency, high emotions and frustrating bureaucratic red tape, that plays out like a Hollywood thriller, without a happy Hollywood ending. What is happening in this story and in Gaza in general, is something that is beyond fiction, Ben Hania said. I didnt have to invent anything, which is crazy. The story, the recording, starts with her cousin dying. And now there is another child who we must rescue. One thing she didnt want to show was a little girl trapped in a shot-out car full of dead bodies. Ben Hanias camera stays purposefully put inside the Red Crescent. For me, it wasnt very interesting to show the images of the horror because we see them all over the internet. It doesnt mean that they have no impact, but its like the world became insensitive, Ben Hania said. The choice to tell the story from this perspective for me was the best way. I felt like I was given something sacred, the voice of this little girl. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The making of the film was emotional for everyone. It wasnt uncommon for the crew members to be in tears. Then there were the actors, who were responding to Hinds real voice, reciting nearly verbatim what their real-life counterparts said. They are great actors but there was a genuine reaction from them to hear this voice, she said. It was beyond acting. The Voice of Hind Rajab is expected to be one of the most affecting films of the festival and awards season. After the film was completed and selected for Venice, Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuaron and Jonathan Glazer all joined as executive producers. Tunisia has also decided The Voice of Hind Rajab will be its candidate for best international feature at the Oscars. Ben Hania has two Oscar nominations to her name already, for best documentary (Four Daughters) and best international feature (The Man Who Sold His Skin). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The conflict in Gaza has loomed over the festival from its start, with calls to disinvite actors for their views, questions to filmmakers and actors about an indie film companys funding ties to the Israeli military, and a large-scale protest that drew thousands this weekend. The Health Ministry says over 63,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 22-month war, which began when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 hostages and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals, but 48 remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive. Ben Hania said the Hind Rajab Foundation, a legal group based in Belgium, was not involved. The Voice of Hind Rajab does not yet have theatrical distribution in North America, but Ben Hania hopes that it will be seen all over the world. I dont want to tell the audience what to take away from the film, she said. I just want them to see it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A report in Azerbaijani media has alleged that India once again obstructed Bakus application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) due to its close ties with Pakistan. The claims coincided with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs allegations that New Delhi is seeking revenge against the country in international forums over its relationship with Islamabad All is not well between India and Azerbaijan. Allegations have surfaced that New Delhi once again blocked Bakus application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) due to its relations with Pakistan. India is yet to react to the reports in the Azerbaijani media. These claims coincide with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reportedly accusing India of seeking revenge against Baku in global forums over its close ties with Pakistan. Azerbaijan was among the few nations that had supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May, when India launched military strikes on terror hubs in its neighbouring country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. Azerbaijan targets India Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev alleged on Monday (September 1) that India was pursuing revenge against the country over its ties with Islamabad. These accusations were made during his talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, Anadolu Agency reported, citing the Azerbaijani presidency. Sharif expressed gratitude to Aliyev on behalf of the Pakistani people and government for Azerbaijans solidarity during the military conflict with India earlier this year. President Ilham Aliyev held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Tianjin, China.https://t.co/aZ03tEh43O pic.twitter.com/rL0xZdmNYF Ilham Aliyev (@presidentaz) September 1, 2025 The Pakistan PM also stressed the significance of the trilateral Azerbaijan -Turkey-Pakistan format, recalling his previous visits to Baku, as per the report. Aliyev congratulated Pakistan on what he claimed as its victory over India. He also asserted that despite Indias actions in global forums, Azerbaijan prioritises brotherhood in its ties with Islamabad. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani TV broadcaster AnewZ claimed India impeded Bakus efforts to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Officials in the know of the matter told the channel that Indias decision to obstruct the process was in contrast to the principles of multilateral diplomacy and the Shanghai Spirit, which deems that bilateral disputes should not be carried to multilateral platforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They claimed Indias stance is connected to Azerbaijans fraternal relations with Pakistan. When Azerbaijan backed Pakistan Azerbaijan and Turkey were the two countries, besides China, that supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May. The Republic of Azerbaijan expresses its concern over the further escalation of tension between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Azerbaijan said at the time. Decrying Indias military action, Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement backing Islamabad. Being in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, we express condolences to the families of the innocent victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means, it said. Turkey had condemned Indias unprovoked aggression violating Pakistans sovereignty and killing innocent civilians. It said Operation Sindoor raised the risk of an all-out war. It was also found that Pakistan used Turkish-made Songar drones during the four-day conflict against India. This had angered many Indians on social media, with calls to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan gaining traction. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Indias boycott hit Azerbaijan Amid boycott calls, Indian travel tour operators cancelled offers and promotional packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan. EaseMyTrip issued an advisory, asking travellers to visit Turkey and Azerbaijan only if absolutely necessary. Ixigo suspended all flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, China and Azerbaijan. Travomint reportedly suspended all travel packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan. There were mass cancellations of travel bookings from India to Turkey and Azerbaijan following boycott calls. MakeMyTrip reported a 60 per cent dip in bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan in just a week at the time, with cancellations increasing by 250 per cent, as per NDTV. Indias travel boycott hurt Azerbaijan as the South Asian country has emerged as the fourth-largest tourist source, after Russia, Turkiye, and Iran. Travellers from India to Azerbaijan have seen a notable surge in recent years. The blend of tradition and modernity makes the country an appealing choice for Indians. While just 4,853 Indians visited Azerbaijan in 2014, the number of tourists spiked to 243,589 in 2024. In 2023, Indians accounted for less than six per cent (1.17 lakh) of all tourists in Azerbaijan. However, this rose to around 10 per cent in 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Between January and April 2025, more than 80,000 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan, comprising a substantial 11 per cent of its total tourist tally for the period, as per a BusinessLine report. Indias travel boycott would have hurt Azerbaijans economy as an Indian spends between Rs 100,000 and Rs 130,000 per trip, according to the countrys Tourism Board. With inputs from agencies It was Chinas biggest military parade, and it lived up to the reputation. Commemorating the surrender of the Japanese in World War II, Beijing went all out, flexing its military muscle. Hypersonic missiles, unmanned drones and outfitted tanks were on display, sending a message to the West, especially the US Strategic strike group displays JL-3 intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile during the China military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China. Reuters Today (September 3) was the big day in China. The Asian giant held its largest-ever military parade, marking 80 years since its victory in World War II with a spectacle of deadly weaponry meant to send a message that the Dragon is rising to challenge the global leadership of the United States. More than 50,000 spectators, including world leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un , gathered at Tiananmen Square in central Beijing to watch what can only be described the ultimate military flex. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The world and China has long been waiting for this big moment; there were multiple rehearsals and the strictest of the security rules were in place to ensure that nothing interrupted the lockstep marching of 10,000 troops or the release of 80,000 pigeons and 80,000 multicoloured balloons to mark the 80th anniversary. So much so that people living nearby were even banned from cooking on Wednesday morning on account that any smoke could haze up the sky and instead given breakfast packs of hard-boiled tea eggs, bread rolls and spicy Sichuan pickles. Before the parade began, Chinese President, wearing a Mao suit, in a speech hailed unstoppable China and vowed not to be intimidated by bullies. If you missed out on watching this grand military parade, heres what China displayed and the message behind it. An ICBM that should worry the US One of the highlights from the China military parade was the rolling down of the Dongfeng-5 (DF-5C), a new variant of the nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Experts note that the silo-based missile is capable of delivering a single nuclear warhead with an explosive yield of three to four megatons of TNT, equivalent to approximately 200 times the power of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Additionally, the missile has a range of more than 13,000 kilometres, placing the continental United States and Western Europe well within reach. A DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missile is seen during the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijings Tiananmen Square. AFP It is also believed to have the capacity to carry up to 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle warheads. Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, had earlier told South China Morning Post that the DF-5 was crucial in establishing Chinas intercontinental nuclear capability. Without the DF-5, China wouldnt be regarded as a nation with credible intercontinental strike capability. It was instrumental in Chinas emergence as a nuclear power, demonstrating to the world that China must be taken seriously, he said. Another ICBM makes a debut China has added another ICBM to its arsenal and its been given the designation of DF-61. The massive missile, carried on an eight-wheeled mobile platform, rolled into the parade, taking analysts completely by surprise. The DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missiles rolls down the parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijings Tiananmen Square. The DF-61 is believed to be Chinas most advanced ICBM after the DF-41. AFP The DF-61 is believed to be Chinas most advanced ICBM after the DF-41, which is currently in service. It is anticipated to be part of the PLA Rocket Forces long-range missile operations. The DF-41 already boasts of a range of 14,000 km. Earlier, Rick Fisher, a senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center think tank, told The Washington Times, Sometimes called the DF-45 or DF-51, it is clearly intended to outperform the DF-41. He had also said that the new missiles estimated range would be 11,999 to 15,000 km. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Guam Killer missile makes an appearance Chinas PLA rocket Force also revealed its new DF-26D, a variant of the DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile. Dubbed the Guam Killer, this intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is specifically meant to target the distant US military facilities on Guam, from where a core element of any US military response against a Chinese threat in the region would launch. Yet another missile that popped up at the China military parade was the so-called Guam Killer Dongfeng (DF)-26D missile. AFP The DF-26D boasts of a range of almost 5,000 km and can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. What makes this missile especially potent is that it incorporates navigation, electronic warfare (EW) countermeasures, and jamming systems to evade interception. These upgrades could enhance its precision and capacity to evade interception by American and allied defensive systems, such as Patriot, THAAD, and Aegis the most potent counter-missile systems in the US arsenal. Earlier, US analysts had expressed concern over the DF-26D missile, as this new Chinese system significantly erodes American power projection into vital Indo-Pacific domains. By threatening aircraft carriers more thoroughly, the DF-26D has forced the US Navy to plan for fighting well beyond standoff ranges. China shows off its YJ-17 anti-ship missile Even before the parade, there was a lot of speculation about Chinas anti-ship missiles, designated YJ and Beijing didnt disappoint. It displayed the YJ-17 missile, a medium-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle. Members of the Peoples Liberation Army stand as YJ-17 hypersonic anti-ship missiles are displayed during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China. Reuters Originally designed for sea launch, this variant could be deployed from bombers to attack targets deep inside enemy territory. According to South China Morning Post, military commentator Wei Dongxu explained that the missile could be launched from aircraft outside enemy air defence zones, penetrate interceptors and destroy targets before quickly returning to base. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Combined with the other anti-ship missiles, such as the YJ-19 and YJ-20 sends a message that US aircraft carriers are vulnerable anywhere in the region. 99B-tank rolls down Tiananmen Square Besides the missiles exhibited at the military parade, China also showed off its tanks and other military hardware such as the 99B tanks. The latest variant of Chinas third-generation tanks, it features the advanced GL-XX APS system, which includes two APS projectile launchers and four APS fire control radars. Armoured vehicles take part in Chinas military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing. AP Chinas version of Himars displayed The US has its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) and now China has its answer to it the PHL-16. A truck-mounted self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, the PHL-16 has been developed by Chinese ground-based weapons manufacturer Norinco. The PHL-16 is around 12 metres (39 feet) long, three metres wide and three metres high, has eight barrels for ammunition and is operated by three crew members. The PHL-16 is seen as important for ground forces because they can deliver a large amount of firepower over a wide area in a short time, making them effective for suppressing enemy positions, destroying concentrations of vehicles or infantry, and breaching fortified areas. What sets apart the PHL-16 is its modular launch system that is designed to adapt to various mission requirements by using its automated system to promptly switch between rocket and missile configurations, enabling crews to rapidly adjust to changing battlefield conditions. The PHL-16 can launch a variety of ammunition, including 300mm rockets with a range up to 130 km and 370mm rockets with a range up to 300 km, as well as more advanced, larger calibre rockets such as the 750mm Fire Dragon 480 tactical ballistic missile, which has a range up to 500 km, according to PLA reports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Laser weapons unveiled China also displayed at least two types of air-defence laser weapons in the parade, including one large laser that state-run TV said would be mounted on warships. Lasers are among a class called directed energy weapons, which can also include high-powered microwave systems. Rather than using projectiles for a kinetic kill, these weapons rely on electromagnetic energy to disable a target through heat, disruption of internal electrical systems, or blinding of sensors such as optics and radar. Drones, drones everywhere in the skies, in the seas The Chinese military parade also displayed Chinas technological advancements when it comes to drones. Two extra-large undersea drones made their debut at the parade. The first of these, labelled the AJX002 measures about 18 metres to 20 metres (59 feet to 66 feet) in length, with a diameter of 1 metre to 1.5 metres (3 to 5 feet). This is believed to be an underwater nuclear-capable drone. Members of the Peoples Liberation Army in front of the AJX002 unmanned underwater vehicle during the China military parade. Reuters In addition, the GJ-11 also made an appearance at the Chinese military parade. An unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed for precision strikes and aerial reconnaissance missions, the GJ-11 is also known as loyal wingmen . GJ-11 chief designer Deng Shuai told state-run Global Times in 2023 that the drone acts as both a sensor and an ammunition depot, as well as an intelligent assistant for pilots. He said it had earned the loyal wingman moniker because it flew alongside crewed aircraft like an armed bodyguard. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Move aside robot dogs, China has robot wolves While the world has been talking about robot dogs, China just unveiled robot wolves at the parade. Chinese state media said that these machines are capable of frontline reconnaissance, delivering supplies and even launch precision strikes against targets. Dang, they got the Temu Drone Killer Robot dogs and DJI Drones - China Military Parade 2025 pic.twitter.com/vetQ58ydIu rentos (@brentos93) September 3, 2025 Chinese media CCTV said that robot wolves are an upgrade from the earlier robot dogs and can replace human soldiers in life-threatening conditions to reduce combat casualties. All in all, todays parade sends a message to the world, especially the United States that China is way ahead of its rivals when it comes to military might. With inputs from agencies The Bangladesh government has instructed the opening of a state-run bank vault, which is believed to house the Dariya-i-Noor or Darya-e-Noor diamond. However, it remains unclear whether the gem is even there, as it has not been sighted for decades. But if the diamond exists in the vault, how did it end up there in the first place? Bangladesh is set to unearth the mystery of the impressive Darya-e-Noor diamond, which is believed to be kept in a bank vault. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has decided to unseal the vault at the state-run bank. The Darya-e-Noor, or Dariya-i-Noor, is said to be a sister of the famous Kohinoor, which remains in the United Kingdom. Both diamonds were taken from India. So, how did Dariya-i-Noor reach Bangladeshs vault, if it is even there? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a look. History of Dariya-i-Noor Dariya-i-Noor, a 26-carat diamond, has an oblong table-shaped surface, as per Bangladeshs The Business Standard. The diamond is said to have been mined from the Golconda mines in south India. The Kohinoor diamond is also believed to have come from the same mines. Dariya-i-Noor is set in the centre of a gold armlet, encircled by ten smaller diamonds, each around five carats, according to The Business Standard report. According to Hamilton and Company, a trusted goldsmith and jeweller of the British rulers in India, the Dariya-i-Noor was long possessed by the Maratha kings. The family of Nawab Siraj-ul-Mulk, a minister of Hyderabad, later purchased the diamond. The Kohinoor and its sister diamond eventually made their way to the Punjabi ruler Ranjit Singh, who wore both gems as armlets. The Sikh ruler died and the diamonds changed ownership, falling into British hands in the 19th century. According to The Business Standard, like Kohinoor, Dariya-i-Noor was sent to Queen Victoria from Lahore after the British forced Duleep Singh, Ranjit Singhs youngest boy, to surrender the diamonds and any sovereignty claims. However, it is said that Dariya-i-Noor failed to impress the queen. Viceroy Lord Dufferin and Lady Dufferin saw the gem at the Nawabs house in Calcuttas Ballygunge in 1887. In her book Our Viceroyal Life in India, Lady Dufferin wrote, The Dariya-i-Noor, being a flat diamond, did not strike us as very attractive. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khwaja Alimullah, the first Nawab of Dhaka, bought the diamond in an auction in 1852. Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka faced financial trouble in 1908. He borrowed from British colonial powers, mortgaging his vast Dhaka estates, along with Dariya-i-Noor and his other treasures. From Imperial Bank of India to the State Bank of Pakistan, the diamond subsequently found its way to Bangladeshs state-run Sonali Bank. This was the last confirmed sighting of the Dariya-i-Noor. Only mystery has surrounded it since then. Theres another diamond of the same name, the pink-coloured Daria-i-Noor, which is in Irans capital, Tehran. ALSO READ: Will UK return the Kohinoor? Fascinating history of the diamond and Indias efforts to reclaim it Is Dariya-i-Noor in Bangladesh? The Dariya-i-Noor is likely to be worth $13 million (Rs 114.5 crore) today. The 1908 court papers say the diamond was part of a trove of 108 treasures, which also include a gold-and-silver sword encrusted with diamonds, a bejewelled fez with cascading pearls, and a star brooch, reported AFP. The vault was last opened and verified back in 1985, as per The Business Standard. Reports surfaced in 2017 that Dariya-i-Noor had gone missing. However, the Sonali Bank officials said they had never seen the diamond. Even today, speculations exist whether the gem is even there in the vault. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khawaja Naim Murad, great-grandson of the Nawab of Dhaka, told the French news agency that he hopes to see the diamond. Shawkat Ali Khan, managing director of Sonali Bank, said, The vault is sealed. Many years back, an inspection team came to check on the jewels, but they never really opened it they just opened the gate that held the vault. He told AFP he was keen about the vault being opened at last: I am excited. However, no date has been set yet. Whether the mystery of Dariya-i-Noor will end or not, we will have to wait and watch. With inputs from agencies Frances Prime Minister Francois Bayrou faces a daunting political challenge ahead of the September 8 confidence vote. Bayrou, though widely expected to lose the vote, has been meeting leaders from across the political spectrum, including Marine Le Pen of the National Rally. But what do we know about the situation in France? France is on the brink of another political crisis with Prime Minister Francois Bayrou fighting to save both the government and his job. Bayrou is set to hold talks with several leaders including far-right leader Marine Le Pen as the governments plan to cut public spending goes up for a confidence vote this week. With opposition parties pledging to reject the austerity budget, Bayrou is widely anticipated to lose the September 8 confidence vote. A defeat for Bayrou would compel President Emmanuel Macron to either seek a consensus prime minister , a challenging task in a divided France, or dissolve the National Assembly yet again STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heres what to know about Frances latest political turmoil ahead of the vote: What is the reason for the crisis? The prime minister personally initiated the confidence vote to seek parliamentary approval for his unpopular budget. Arguing that sharp spending cuts are needed to repair public finances, he announced plans last month for a $51.24 billion (Rs 4.51 trillion) reduction in 2026 spending. That followed a 5.8 per cent deficit that exceeded the EUs official 3 per cent target. France is also facing a significant debt crisis. The countrys public debt was $3.90 trillion (Rs 343.01 trillion), 114 per cent of its GDP, at the end of the first quarter of 2025. This means a substantial portion of the state budget, around 7 per cent, goes solely towards servicing this debt. Bayrous plan, which includes removing two public holidays, has been slammed by his political rivals, who now have a golden opportunity to bring him down. How are negotiations going? Not well. However, Bayrou still hasnt given up. The Prime Minister is organising a series of meetings with political leaders across the political spectrum. On Tuesday (September 2), left-wing European Parliament member Raphael Glucksmann met with Bayrou and urged him to cancel the vote if hes serious about negotiating a compromise on the unacceptable budget. Le Pen and her National Rally protege Jordan Bardella also met with Bayrou and repeated their total opposition to his budget, calling for new legislative elections. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Raphael Glucksmann, co-president of French centre-left party, Place Publique, spoke to media following a meeting with French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou before a confidence vote. AP Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement and barred from holding public office for five years in April. She is currently appealing the ruling. Nevertheless, her legal issues have not hindered her partys progress. With National Rally leading in opinion polls, its leaders have consistently asserted their readiness to govern should Bayrous administration fall. The only way for a prime minister to have a longer tenure would be to break with Macronism," Le Pen said. It is Emmanuel Macrons policy that is deeply toxic." On the far left, Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed said it will not support any government other than one led by his party, and has urged Macron to step down if Bayrou fails to win the confidence vote. Far-right and left-wing lawmakers hold over 320 seats at the National Assembly while the centrists and allied conservatives hold 210, making it impossible for Bayrous government to survive if opposition groups team up. Will Macron leave his position? Macron has made it clear that he plans to serve out his term of office. He has urged political leaders to find paths of agreement on the budget ahead of the vote. The challenge is not insurmountable, said Macron, whose decision last year to call early legislative elections led to the chaotic situation in parliament, divided among three minority blocs that do not have enough seats to govern alone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Macrons snap elections have thrown French politics into disarray. Frances failure to pass a budget has rattled investors and hurt the wider eurozone, given its status as a major global economy. The previous government also collapsed over its budget plans, which involved slashing spending by $46.58 billion (Rs 4.10 trillion) and raising taxes by $23.29 billion (Rs 2.05 trillion). It seems Bayrous version isnt getting a warmer reception. Day of disruption ahead? In addition to the confidence vote, Bayrous government could face a nationwide day of disruption on September 10. The Bloquons Tout (Block Everything) movement, originating on social media, is organizing groups across the country to stage a coordinated day of protest against government policies. The movement gained national attention this summer following the announcement of the 2026 budget and its controversial measures, including the plans to remove two public holidays. French far right leader Marine Le Pen, right, and Rassemblement National party president Jordan Bardella speak to the media following a meeting with French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. AP What lies ahead? If Bayrou loses, Macron could appoint a figure from the traditional left or right to try to consolidate his centrist alliance. Either option, however, would face a tumultuous political environment. Bayrou succeeded conservative Michel Barnier, who was ousted after only three months in office. Names circulating as potential successors include Sebastien Lecornu, Frances youngest-ever defense minister at 39; Gerald Darmanin, former interior minister and current justice minister; and Catherine Vautrin, an experienced centre-right politician serving as labour minister. With inputs from AP China is set to hold a military parade on the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, when World War II came to an end. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un are among the world leaders set to attend the celebrations in Beijings Tiananmen Square. Meanwhile, Polish President Karol Nawrocki will meet Donald Trump at the White House today to hold bilateral talks Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China attend a training ahead of a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Beijing, China. Reuters It is set to be a busy Wednesday with several events lined up for the day. Firstly, China is set to hold a massive military parade to commemorate 80 years since the defeat of Japan in World War II in Beijing today. Polish President Karol Nawrocki will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House. Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse are set to speak out for the first time in a press conference. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In India, the 56th GST Council meeting is scheduled to take place in New Delhi today, while the Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a two-day military exercise in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat and Rajasthan. Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day. Military parade on Victory Day in China China is set to hold a massive military parade in Beijing, showcasing its military strength, technological advancements, and national pride. The parade is set to be attended by several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Members of military orchestra play during training ahead of a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Beijing, China. Reuters The parade will commemorate key milestones in the countrys history while emphasising President Xi Jinpings vision of a strong and modernised Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) by 2049, the centenary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. The event, organised at Tiananmen Square, is expected to feature tens of thousands of troops, state-of-the-art missiles, tanks, aircraft, and drones, and advanced naval weaponry. China has increasingly used such parades to signal its growing defence capabilities and project power to both domestic and international audiences. Polish President Karol Nawrocki to meet Trump Polish President Karol Nawrocki will meet former US President Donald Trump at the White House today in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations. The meeting is expected to focus on defence cooperation and energy security. Nawrocki, who assumed Polands presidency earlier this year, has been vocal about deepening strategic partnerships with Washington, particularly given Polands role as a frontline state in Natos eastern flank. For Trump, the meeting is an opportunity to reaffirm his role on the global stage and reinforce his reputation as a leader maintaining strong ties with Eastern Europe. Epstein victims to speak out at explosive press conference Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse are set to break their silence in an explosive press conference today. The event, scheduled to take place in New York City, will bring together several victims who have never publicly spoken about their experiences until now. Lawyers representing the women said the press conference would shed light on the full scale of Epsteins crimes, as well as the alleged complicity of powerful figures who enabled him. Survivors are expected to detail not only the abuse they endured but also the failures of law enforcement and legal institutions that allowed Epstein to escape justice for years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The event comes at a time when renewed calls are being made for accountability after the release of previously sealed documents linking Epstein to high-profile businessmen, politicians, and celebrities. GST council meeting in New Delhi The 56th Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting is scheduled to begin in New Delhi today. The two-day event will begin at 11 am each day. The meeting will be chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The council is likely to revisit the proposal of merging the 12 per cent and 18 per cent A key item on the agenda is the rationalisation of GST slabs, a long-debated reform aimed at simplifying the tax structure and reducing complexities for businesses. The council is likely to revisit the proposal of merging the 12 per cent and 18 per cent tax brackets into a single slab, which could streamline collections but may impact prices of essential goods and services. IAF to hold two-day drill near Pakistans airspace The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a two-day military exercise in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat and Rajasthan today. The drill is aimed at testing combat readiness, enhancing coordination between units, and preparing for potential contingencies along the sensitive frontier. The exercise will involve a mix of frontline fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs, along with ground-based air defence systems. Aircraft such as Rafales, Su-30 MKIs, and Mirage-2000s are expected to participate, practising offensive and defensive manoeuvres under simulated wartime conditions. According to the Indian Air Force, this is a routine exercise, and a Notam (Notice to Airmen) has been issued accordingly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies The discovery of penicillin by Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming on September 3, 1928, changed medical history forever. Penicillin was the first antibiotic that helped fight bacterial infections like blood poisoning, streptococcal pneumonia and meningitis, among other infections during World War II. One of the most tragic hostage situations in modern times, the school siege in Russias Beslan came to an end on this day in 2004 A close up portrait of Professor Alexander Fleming at work in his laboratory at St Mary's Hospital, London. Wikimedia Commons Today, antibiotics are prescribed by doctors for all sorts of bacterial infections ranging from Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) to strep throat to even some skin infections. So, it can be hard to imagine a time when antibiotics did not exist. That changed on September 3, 1928, with the discovery of penicillin, the worlds first antibiotic. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today , will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2004, one of the most tragic hostage situations in modern times came to a violent end in Beslan, a small town in Russia. Armed terrorists had taken more than 1,100 people, including children, teachers and parents hostage in the schools gymnasium. Here is all that took place on this day across the world. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin One of the major breakthroughs in the history of medicine took place on September 3, 1928, when Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. It became the worlds first true antibiotic. The discovery happened by chance in his laboratory at St Marys Hospital in London, where Fleming noticed that a mould called Penicillium notatum had contaminated one of his petri dishes containing Staphylococcus bacteria. To his surprise, the mould had killed or prevented the growth of the surrounding bacteria. This observation marked the birth of antibiotics, although it took over a decade for penicillin to be developed into a usable drug. In a paper published in 1929, he documented his findings and noted its potential as a powerful antibacterial agent. However, he struggled to isolate and purify the substance in large quantities, and his discovery went largely unnoticed by the scientific community for over a decade. A poster attached to a curbside mailbox offering advice to World War II servicemen. Wikimedia Commons It was in the early 1940s when scientists Howard Florey, Ernst Chain, and their team at Oxford University purified and mass-produced it. With support from the United States and Britain during World War II, penicillin was manufactured on a large scale, saving countless lives by treating infected wounds, pneumonia, and other bacterial diseases among soldiers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fleming, Florey, and Chain were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945, recognising their contribution to one of the greatest medical discoveries of the 20th century. Russian school siege came to an end A horrific three-day siege at a school in the Russian town of Beslan in North Ossetia came to an end in 2004. The crisis began on September 1 when heavily armed terrorists stormed School Number One, taking more than 1,100 people hostage. The hostages included hundreds of children, teachers, and parents. The attackers, linked to separatist groups from Chechnya, demanded Russian troop withdrawals from the region and independence for Chechnya. For three days, the hostages were crowded into the school gymnasium, enduring inhumane conditions as they were kept without food, water, or medical aid. Explosives were strung around the building, which heightened the risk of mass casualties. The negotiations remained tense, and little progress was made as Russian authorities struggled to contain the crisis. A Russian police officer carries a baby released from the school seized by heavily armed masked men and women in the town of Beslan. File image/Reuters It was on September 3 that the situation escalated catastrophically. Explosions inside the gymnasium, reportedly triggered by unknown causes, led to chaos. Hostages attempted to flee, while militants opened fire. Through it all, Russian special forces stormed the building in a fierce battle, supported by tanks and helicopters. By the time the siege ended, the school lay in ruins, while the outcome was devastating - over 330 people were killed, with over half of them children. Hundreds of others were injured. The tragedy shocked the world and highlighted the brutal consequences of terrorism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Beslan school siege left deep scars in Russia, sparking national mourning, outrage, and renewed debate over counterterrorism measures. Critics questioned the authorities handling of the crisis, citing a lack of transparency and preparedness. This Day, That Year In 1971, Qatar officially became independent from the United Kingdom. Labour Day was celebrated as a legal holiday in the United States for the first time on this day in 1894. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed between Britain and the United States. Indonesia has been rocked by its worst unrest in decades, with violent protests erupting across 32 provinces, including tourist hotspots like Bali. As the death toll rises and foreign governments issue warnings, the Indonesian government insists the country remains open and safe for visitors. Heres a complete guide to the ongoing crisis and travel safety Protesters throw bamboo sticks while setting banners on fire at the gate of the regional parliament building during a protest against the government's spending priorities, such as enhanced perks for lawmakers, in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, September 1, 2025. File Image/Reuters Indonesia is violent unrest across much of the country since last month. The protests, which began over anger at political privileges for lawmakers, have escalated into a national crisis. While President Prabowo Subiantos government has pledged to restore order, the violence has already led to fatalities, mass arrests and disruptions in several provinces. The turmoil comes at a sensitive time for the country, which relies heavily on tourism, particularly in popular destinations like Bali, to drive economic growth. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Authorities have moved quickly to assure the world that Indonesia remains open for business and safe for travellers, even as foreign governments issue updated travel advisories. We take a look at what exactly is happening and whether Indonesia is safe to visit right now. Why protests erupted in Indonesia The unrest began on August 25 when groups of demonstrators gathered outside Indonesias national parliament building in Jakarta. Initial protests were sparked by revelations that parliamentarians were receiving generous housing allowances and other benefits on top of their base salaries. These allowances reportedly pushed monthly pay for lawmakers to upwards of 100 million rupiah ($6,150) a staggering figure in a country where minimum wages remain low. This revelation resulted in widespread anger over perceived corruption, elitism, and the growing wealth gap between politicians and ordinary citizens. What started as localised protests in Jakarta quickly spread to other cities. According to Indonesias home minister, demonstrations were recorded in 32 of the countrys 38 provinces within days. In several regions, protests escalated into violence, with regional parliament buildings set ablaze, government property vandalised, and clashes between demonstrators and security forces turning increasingly confrontational. The demonstrations have grown beyond their original focus, drawing in groups upset about a range of issues from economic hardship and tax increases to anger over government spending priorities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Analysts have noted that while the initial movement was led by student organizations, other groups have since joined in, making it difficult to identify a single leader or unifying agenda. How protests in Indonesia turned deadly The situation heated up dramatically on August 28, when a motorcycle taxi driver in Jakarta, who was not participating in the protests, was struck and killed by a riot police vehicle. The incident fuelled public outrage and became a symbol of grievances against law enforcement. News of the death spread rapidly, triggering fresh waves of arson, looting, and street battles in Jakarta and beyond. Calls for police reform grew louder, as accusations mounted that security forces were using disproportionate force to quell the demonstrations. Rights organisations documented the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons in multiple locations. Human Rights Watch, based in New York, issued a statement condemning the governments response, saying authorities had acted irresponsibly by treating the protests as acts of treason or terrorism. As of September 2, the official death toll had risen to eight people, highlighting the severity of the crisis. In Jakarta alone, at least 1,200 people were detained. How Bali & the Indonesian tourism industry has been affected As the protests spread, attention turned to Bali, Indonesias top tourist destination and a vital pillar of the national economy. Tourism accounts for over 50 per cent of Balis economy, and in 2024, the island welcomed 6.3 million foreign visitors, surpassing its population of 4.5 million. Bali officials have been quick to reassure travellers and prevent the unrest from scaring away potential visitors. On August 30, demonstrations reached Denpasar, Balis capital city. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Protesters gathered outside the regional police headquarters and local legislative council offices, throwing stones and vandalising facilities. Security forces responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd. Authorities arrested 158 individuals during the clashes. By the next day, 155 were released after being found to have played no major role in the unrest. Bali Police Chief Commissioner Ariasandy confirmed that three individuals remain in custody on charges related to theft of police property and the use of Molotov cocktails, according to local media. In response, Governor Wayan Koster led a mass gathering of Pecalang, traditional Balinese community security guards, to demonstrate the islands commitment to keeping the tourism hub safe. Pecalang head Nyoman Beker condemned the violence and pledged to maintain peace and order on Bali. How Indonesia remains open and safe On September 2, Indonesias Ministry of Tourism issued an official statement designed to calm fears among international travellers and reassure potential visitors. The ministry stated that all major tourist areas remain accessible and that security measures are in place to protect guests. Indonesia remains open, welcoming, and all major tourist destinations across the country are accessible. We are fully committed to providing a safe and memorable travel experience, the statement read. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It urged travellers to remain calm and continue enjoying their stay in Indonesia with confidence. The ministry also provided 24-hour emergency hotlines for travellers in need of urgent assistance: Halo Wonderful (Ministry of Tourism): +62 811-895-6767 or +62 21-3838-000 Police: 110 / 112 Fire Department: 113 / 1131 Ambulance: 118 / 119 Search and Rescue (SAR): 115 What foreign govts have said vis-a-vis travel Several foreign governments have updated their travel advisories, urging citizens to remain vigilant while travelling in Indonesia. While none have issued outright bans on visiting the country, most are warning travellers to avoid protest areas and monitor local developments closely. United Kingdom : The British Embassy in Jakarta urged travellers to steer clear of demonstrations, noting that protests can become violent without warning. Australia : Updated its Smartraveller advisory, highlighting the risk of disruption due to protests, including in Denpasar, Bali. It did not, however, advise Australians to cancel travel plans. Australians are a key demographic for Bali tourism, making up 23 per cent of foreign visitors in May 2025. United States : Alerted citizens to potential demonstrations near the Parliament Building and State Palace in Jakarta, advising them to avoid crowds and maintain communication with family members. Singapore : Urged nationals to stay away from rallies and register their travel plans with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for updates. Malaysia : Recommended postponing non-essential travel to Indonesia and advised citizens to track government announcements closely. Japan : Warned citizens to avoid areas near protests, particularly around Jakartas House of Representatives building. Canada : Issued a high-level advisory, warning of potential violence and announcing the suspension of in-person consular services at its Jakarta embassy from September 2 due to safety concerns. Germany: Noted ongoing protests across major cities including Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Makassar, and Bandung, advising citizens to stay clear of city centres and register for crisis alerts. Safety tips for travellers With unrest continuing, travellers are advised to exercise caution, particularly in urban areas where demonstrations are most likely to occur. Authorities recommend the following steps: Avoid protest sites, government buildings, and police facilities, as these are common flashpoints. Monitor local news and embassy updates for changes in security conditions. Keep identification and emergency contact numbers on hand at all times. Follow instructions from local authorities and hotel staff. Use official transportation services and avoid travelling alone at night. While protests have caused disruptions in multiple provinces, Indonesias key tourist destinations, including Bali, remain operational and accessible. The government is taking visible steps to restore order, and local authorities are working to ensure visitor safety. Travellers should not cancel plans outright, but they must remain alert, informed, and flexible. By avoiding protest areas and staying updated through reliable sources, visitors can reduce their risk while still enjoying Indonesias attractions. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has uncovered the funding network of The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The outfit had earlier claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack. Investigators traced money coming in from Pakistan, Malaysia and several Gulf countries to support the terror organisation, but this probe is separate from its investigation into the massacre A total of 26 tourists were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Reuters/File Photo The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed major details about the funding of The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Notably, the terror outfit had earlier claimed responsibility for the killing of 26 tourists in the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The latest probe has uncovered the full trail of TRFs funding network. Investigators found evidence showing money was sent from several other countries to support the outfit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Which countries are involved? And is this funding connected to the Pahalgam attack? Heres a look: How did TRF get its funding? The NIA examined 463 phone calls linked to anti-India elements and extremist supporters, which helped expose the funding network of the TRF. Investigators traced links to Pakistan, Malaysia and several Gulf countries, from where money was sent to the group to fuel its terror activities, NDTV reported. The probe was guided by leads from a Srinagar-based individuals mobile phone, which helped identify people involved in financing the TRF. Some contacts saved on the device are already under investigation in other terror-related cases. The NIA is also looking into whether money was moved through hawala channels in Malaysia. The NIA examined 463 phone calls linked to anti-India elements and extremist supporters. PTI/File Photo According to IANS, the name of one suspect, Sajad Ahmed Mir, a resident of Malaysia, surfaced during the investigation. Call records of another man, Yasir Hayat, showed he was in touch with Mir to arrange funds. The report said Hayat made several trips to Malaysia to collect money. With Mirs help, he raised Rs 9 lakh for the TRF, which was then handed to an operative named Shafat Wani, who runs the groups operations. Wani reportedly travelled to Malaysia under the pretext of attending a university conference. The university, however, had not sponsored the visit. The NIA also found that Hayat, apart from his links with Mir, was in contact with two Pakistani nationals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His role was focused on collecting funds, and investigators believe his task was to stay connected with foreign handlers to keep money flowing to the group. On August 13, the NIA announced it had found a foreign trail of funds, which is now under detailed investigation. ALSO READ | US declares TRF, behind Pahalgam attack, a terror group: Why this is a big diplomatic win for India Was the funding used for Pahalgam terror attack? It is important to note that this new probe is separate from the NIAs investigation into the Pahalgam attack. It has not yet been established whether the funds arranged by Wani for the TRF from Pakistan were linked to the April 22 attack. Officials have not disclosed how much money Wani received from across the border, the timeframe of these transactions, or his earlier connections with Lashkar-e-Taiba or other groups, saying only that the investigation is currently going on, Hindustan Times reported. The findings come after raids in Srinagar and Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir, where officials recovered key documents related to TRFs foreign funding, including details of accounts and sources. Earlier, the NIA had said the TRF was providing money to local youth in Kashmir and inciting them to take part in anti-India actions, The Tribune reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD An ongoing investigation revealed that local youth were being instigated to indulge in anti-national activities and funded by the terror outfits, an NIA officer said, adding that the probe had also traced a foreign trail of money being funnelled into the Valley. What happens next? These findings are expected to strengthen Indias case before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to push for economic action against Pakistan for supporting terrorism. Notably, India has long sought Pakistans return to the FATFs watchlist for countries seen as safe havens for terror financing and money laundering. Sources told NDTV in May, shortly after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, that India has gathered proof of Pakistans role in financing terrorism and will use it to press for Islamabads re-entry into the FATF grey list. Pakistan was first placed on the grey list in June 2018 due to shortcomings in tackling terror funding. It was removed in September 2022 after the FATF confirmed that Islamabad had completed the required action plan. Being on the grey list had made it harder for Pakistan to access foreign aid, as funds came under tighter scrutiny. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following the showcase of Chinas military might in Wednesdays Victory parade, world leaders, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian president Vladimir Putin, were invited to a grand state lunch which was designed to impress as much as the weapons on show. Heres what was on the menu As Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed fellow world leaders for lunch at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing following the military parade. AFP China put its military muscle on full display on Wednesday, as troops marched in perfect formation and missiles, drones, and tanks rolled through Tiananmen Square, lined with thousands of spectators. The 70-minute parade, held to mark the 80th anniversary of Chinas victory against Japanese aggression in World War II, was as much about symbolism as it was about muscle power. At the front row of guests were some of Beijings closest allies, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Russias Vladimir Putin, pariahs in the West due to the Ukraine war and Kims nuclear ambitions. A picture of the power trio is going viral, which shows their bonhomie, a clear signal of their united front against the US-led world order. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin is going viral. AFP But the display of might didnt end with tanks and fighter jets. Once the parade was over, world leaders were invited to a grand state lunch which was designed to impress as much as the weapons on show. Heres what we know about the grand gala Whats on the menu? As Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed fellow world leaders for lunch in Beijing, the setting at the Great Hall of the People was as grand as the guest list. Inside the large banquet hall, round tables were draped in white tablecloths, adorned with flowers, wine glasses, name cards, and even panda-shaped chopstick rests. According to Hong Kong-based state-linked newspaper Wen Wei Po, the spread blended Chinese culinary tradition with global flavours. On the menu: chicken soup with conch meat and lily bulbs, roasted lamb chops, stir-fried lobster with crab meat, roe and egg white, a clear scallop consomme with assorted mushrooms, and roasted salt-marinated salmon with creamy mustard sauce. Inside the large banquet hall, round tables were draped in white tablecloths, adorned with flowers, wine glasses, name cards, and even panda-shaped chopstick rests. Image courtesy: Kremlin For wine, guests could choose between Syrah or Riesling both produced by the Chinese winemaker Great Wall in Hebei province. To round things off, there was fried rice, pea cake, and a mango mousse cake for dessert. Also read: Underwater drones, robot wolves and more The high-tech weapons at China's military parade Xi makes a toast During the reception at the Great Hall of the People, Xi delivered a five-minute speech before raising his glass. Eighty years ago, after 14 years of bloody struggle, the Chinese people completely defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors and declared the final victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, he said. This was a historic turning point for the Chinese nation, marking the shift from a period of deep national crisis toward great national rejuvenation. It was also a major turning point in the development of the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the reception at the Great Hall of the People, Xi delivered a five-minute speech before raising his glass. AFP He emphasised that China would never forget the foreign governments and international friends who had supported its fight against aggression. He did not name the United States, despite Donald Trump saying he hoped Xi would acknowledge Americas role in 1945. Holding up a glass of red wine, Xi struck a tone of peace, Strength may prevail for a time, but over the long arc of history, it is reason that wins. Justice, light, and progress will always triumph over evil, darkness, and reaction. Also read: 'Axis of upheaval': Putin and Kim flank Xi at Victory Day parade as China showcases military might Who was in attendance? The event drew 26 foreign leaders, among them Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and heads of state from Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and several Central Asian nations. From South Asia, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepals Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu were all present. Kim Yo Jong, the influential and outspoken sister of Kim Jong-un, also attended, her growing role in North Koreas political stage adding extra intrigue. After the parade, Putin and Kim sat down for formal talks in Beijing. Footage from Russias state agency Tass showed the two leaders side by side, speaking through interpreters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With input from agencies Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were caught discussing organ transplants and musing about the possibility of humans living to 150 years old. The two leaders were at a military parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Heres what happened Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China today. Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinas President Xi Jinping reportedly had a hot mic moment during the military parade in Beijing on Wednesday. The two leaders, walking with North Koreas Kim Jong-un, were overheard discussing organ transplants. They also mused about the possibility that humans could live to 150 years old. China brought together more than two dozen foreign leaders for a military parade in Beijing celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what happened? Lets take a closer look What happened? The moment was broadcast live on the state broadcaster CCTVs feed to other media outlets, including Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, as well as AP and Reuters. Chinas radio and TV administration said CCTVs coverage of the event was viewed 1.9 billion times online and by more than 400 million on TV. As the two men headed toward the Tiananmen rostrum to view the parade with Kim, Putins translator could be heard remarking in Chinese, Biotechnology is continuously developing. The translator continued, Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality. Xi then responded, Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old. Kim was looking in their direction and smiling. However, it remains unclear if the conversation was being translated for him. Putin cannot be heard speaking clearly in Russian in the CCTV clip. The splashy commemoration of the anniversary is a way to boost support for Communist Party rule by showing the progress made by China. Reuters The video then shifted to a wide shot of Tiananmen Square as Xi began delivering his remarks. The audio then faded out. Just over 30 seconds later, Xi, Putin and Kim reappeared on camera as they walked on the steps toward the viewing platform for the parade. At the event, Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators the world faced a choice of peace or war as he inspected troops and cutting-edge military equipment, including hypersonic missiles and naval drones. Putin arrived in China on Sunday to attend a summit organised by Beijing that convened more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Putin and Xi signed more than 20 agreements, ranging from energy to artificial intelligence, and agreed to build a major new gas pipeline, without announcing key details on financing or the pricing of the gas that would be sent to China. Self-reliant and strong Xi Jinping, speaking before the parade, paid tribute to Chinese veterans of the war. Since coming to power in 2012, he has sought to build China into a country that cannot be bullied and is strong enough to stand up to foreign powers. The Chinese people are not afraid of violence and are self-reliant and strong, he said. The Chinese military showed off aerial and underwater drones, hypersonic missiles and fighter jets and bombers in a 90-minute event attended by the leaders of about two dozen countries The splashy commemoration of the anniversary is a way to boost support for Communist Party rule by showing the progress made by China. The country was a major front in the war and millions died during Japans invasion. Xi, who has been positioning China as a stabilising force in an unstable world, said humanity must choose between peace and war and dialogue and confrontation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Chinese peoples rejuvenation cannot be blocked, and the noble goal of the peaceful development of human civilisation must triumph, Xi said at the end of his speech. With inputs from agencies Australian police over the weekend arrested a man for stealing Lego sets worth $160,000 (Rs 1.4 crore). The 41-year-old, who has not been identified, has been charged with theft and unlawful possession. Police said this was the largest haul of Lego sets they have uncovered since beginning a crackdown on retail theft in 2022. Why do thieves keep stealing these toys? Australian police said this was the largest haul of Lego sets they have uncovered since beginning a crackdown on retail theft in 2022. Image courtesy: Adelaide Police A man in Australia has been arrested for stealing Lego sets worth $160,000 (Rs 1.4 crore). Police over the weekend recovered an estimated 2,500 items from the 41-year-old in Adelaide. This included around 1,700 unopened Lego boxes. The suspect is said to have stolen the toys from several department stores in the city. But what happened? Why do thieves keep stealing these toys? Lets take a closer look. What happened? Police found the boxes after raiding a home in Adelaides Royal Park on Saturday. The raid was part of Australias ongoing crackdown against retail theft in partnership with retailers known as Operation Measure. The man, who has not been identified, has been charged with theft and unlawful possession. Officers have made around 2,500 arrests since the launch of the operation in March 2022. Police say that arrests over the past few months have resulted in a sharp fall in retail theft. Retail theft fell by around six per cent in June alone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is said to be the largest haul Australian police have uncovered thus far. Police said the suspect was planning to sell the toys online. They said the toys filled three truckloads and that additional police personnel had to be called in to help take the items into custody. Police said they also found toys apart from Lego including Pokemon, Barbie, Hello Kitty and Thomas the Tank Engine. The size of the haul is significant and indicates the depth of the alleged offending, John De Candia from South Australia Police said. Police also urged customers not to buy these sorts of toys online. This type of theft is not victimless, De Candia added. Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime and we would urge them to consider this. The suspect will now be produced at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 30 September. A global trend A similar theft was reported in Los Angeles last month, where criminals focused on Labubu dolls. There was a lot taken, maybe like around $30,000 or more of inventory, Joanna Avendano, co-owner of One Stop Sales, was quoted as saying. We worked so hard to get to this point, and for them to just come in and, like nothing, take it all away, its really bad. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Lego sets have been stolen in the United States this year alone. Thieves have hit locations in Florida, Philadelphia and Las Vegas. Experts say the price of the sets which can sell from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending on the set combined with how easily they can be resold online makes them irresistible to thieves. AP Police in California in June recovered 2,800 Lego sets after busting a toy smuggling ring. This included Lego sets of the Millennium Falcon and R2-D2 from Star Wars, as well as sets from The Lord of the Rings and Back to the Future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In April, four defendants were arrested after authorities discovered $300,000 in stolen Lego. In addition, over $100,000 worth of Lego was stolen from retailer Bricks & Minifigs in southern California. In March, a 32-year-old man was arrested for stealing $10,000 worth of Lego in Washington. Another California man was accused of stealing Lego items worth $25,000 that same month. Why do thieves keep stealing these toys? While Lego used to mainly cater to children, it has now also become a popular hobby for adults. The price of the sets which can retail from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending on the set makes them irresistible to thieves. Lego is unique. The brand is always refreshing their offerings, always on trend with tie-ins to pop culture and special edition sets, said Read Hayes, a criminologist at the University of Florida and the director of the Loss Prevention Research Council, told CNN. Demand is always there. Experts say Lego products are a popular target because they are difficult to track and easy to resell particularly online. Those in pristine condition can fetch close to their original price. Even those that are not in top condition can fetch about half their original price. They suggest there is a thriving black market for rare Lego sets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Casey Slaughter, from the Wichita, Kansas, police, is intimately familiar with these crimes. We see Lego toys as one of the more frequently stolen items in our area, Slaughter added. Any retailer selling the brand is susceptible to Lego theft, but we also have a couple of Lego-specific second-hand stores that have popped up as resellers. Theyre being targeted. Theyre difficult to track where they were stolen from, he added. After days of heavy rainfall, a massive landslide struck Sudans Darfur region, wiping out the village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains. The violence-hit northeastern African nation is battling climate change, which has made rainfall and flooding more deadly and destructive in recent years People inspect debris after a landslide that devastated the village of Tarasin in Sudans Marra mountains. Photograph: Sudan Liberation MovementArmy. AFP A devastating landslide that killed an estimated 1,000 people in Sudans Darfur region struck as the northeastern African nation reels from a civil war that pushed some of its parts into famine. The nation of over 50 million people has a long history of conflicts, including the one that created South Sudan in 2011. Its also known for its seasonal flooding that kills hundreds of people every year. Climate change has made rainfall and flooding more deadly and destructive in recent years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After days of heavy rainfall, a landslide on Sunday wiped out the village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains area, more than 900 kilometres (560 miles) west of the capital, Khartoum. At least 1,000 people were killed, and only one of the residents survived, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, a rebel group that controls the area. The groups spokesman Mohamed Abdel-Rahman al-Nair said search efforts were underway and that about 100 bodies were recovered as of Tuesday evening. The UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Luca Renda, said between 300-1,000 people may have lost their lives, citing local sources. Marrah Mountains, where the village is located, are hard to reach. The Unesco World Heritage site is located in a volcanic area with a summit of 3,000 meters (9,840 feet). The landslide happened in the peak of Sudans flooding season, which runs from July to October. Widespread damage have been reported in other areas in Sudan in recent weeks, including Sofia village in South Darfur province where 100 houses were destroyed also on Sunday, according to the International Organization for Migration. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Widespread damage have been reported in other areas in Sudan in recent weeks, including Sofia village in South Darfur province where 100 houses were destroyed also on Sunday. Filei image/ AFP Sudan plunged into chaos when simmering tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into street fighting in April 2023 in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country. The war has turned into a regional proxy conflict in which each side is backed by foreign governments. Darfur, which has suffered from decades of conflict and witnessed the first genocide in the 21st century, was among the worst hit areas in the ongoing war. The front lines have shifted following the militarys capture of Khartoum and its sister city of Omdurman, in a major setback to the paramilitaries. Most of the fighting have occurred in Darfur and the south-central region of Kordofan. The war was marked by atrocities, including mass killings and rapes, which the International Criminal Court says it is investigating as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in Darfur. The RSF was blamed for most of the atrocities, and the former Biden administration accused the militia of committing genocide. The military was also accused of violating international law. The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, which were accused of genocide in the 2000s Darfur conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The war has killed tens of thousands of people and forced 14 million others to flee, including over 4 million who crossed into neighbouring countries, some of which have suffered from conflicts or economic crises. Displaced children play, following Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks on Zamzam displacement camp, as they shelter in the town of Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan. File image/ Reuters The war created the worlds largest humanitarian crisis. It made Sudan one of four areas where famine was detected in the last 15 years, along with South Sudan, Somalia and the Gaza Strip. The five famine-stricken areas are in Darfur and Kordofan, and other areas are expected to join the fold, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Many areas, including Marrah Mountains and other parts of Darfur and Kordofan, have been inaccessible due to clashes, blockade and looting. At least 25 million half the countrys population have been facing acute hunger, including over 3.6 million children who are acutely malnourished, the UN says. There have also been deadly disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria and dengue in the past two years. An ongoing cholera outbreak in Darfur killed about 400 people and sickened over 9,000, according to a local aid group. A March outbreak in the White Nile province killed about 100 people and sickened over 2,700 others, according to the Health Ministry. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US military has killed 11 suspected members of Venezuelas Tren de Aragua gang in a rare strike on a speedboat allegedly carrying narcotics in the southern Caribbean. Donald Trump confirmed the operation, escalating tensions with Nicolas Maduros government amid a major US naval buildup A vessel, which US President Donald Trump said was transporting illegal narcotics and heading to the US, is struck by the US military as it navigates in the southern Caribbean, in this still image obtained from video posted by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social and released September 2, 2025. The United States military has carried out a rare strike in the southern Caribbean, targeting a vessel that departed from Venezuela and was allegedly transporting illegal narcotics. Eleven individuals were killed in the operation, which US officials say were members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, a Venezuelan criminal organisation designated earlier this year by Washington as a foreign terrorist group. The strike, which took place on Tuesday, represents a major escalation in Washingtons ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking from Latin America and comes amid rising tensions between US President Donald Trumps administration and the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump confirmed the operation while speaking to reporters at the White House, describing it as a clear message to cartels and gangs attempting to smuggle narcotics into the United States. We just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat, a lot of drugs in that boat, Trump said. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No US Forces were harmed in this strike. Shortly after his remarks, the US president shared a video on his Truth Social platform showing what appeared to be aerial surveillance footage of a speedboat at sea. In the clip, a bright flash erupts, followed by the vessel being engulfed in flames. The brief video, which appeared to be black and white, did not clearly reveal the presence of 11 people or any visible narcotics on board. ON VIDEO: U.S. Military Forces conducted a strike against Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists. The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the U.S. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. pic.twitter.com/iszHE0ttxQ The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 2, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump characterised the individuals aboard the vessel as part of Tren de Aragua and repeated his longstanding allegation that the gang operates under Maduros control a claim that Caracas strongly denies and which a declassified US intelligence report has previously contradicted. Why this was a first-of-its-kind strike by the US The strike marks the first known direct US military action in the Caribbean since Trumps administration announced the deployment of additional naval assets to the region last month. The expanded presence includes seven warships and one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, bringing more than 4,500 sailors and Marines to the southern Caribbean. Among these vessels are the USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale ships capable of deploying helicopters and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The US has also been flying P-8 surveillance aircraft over international waters in the region to monitor maritime activity and gather intelligence on suspected drug trafficking routes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the US Navy and Coast Guard routinely operate in the Caribbean, this buildup significantly exceeds typical force levels. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the targeted vessel was travelling in international waters at the time of the strike and said the narcotics on board were likely destined for nearby Caribbean nations. These particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean, Rubio told reporters. Suffice it to say that the president is going to be on offence against drug cartels and drug trafficking in the United States. Rubio declined to provide further operational details, deferring questions to the Pentagon, which has yet to release information about the type or quantity of drugs involved or how the strike was carried out. Adam Isacson, Director for Defence Oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, criticised the move in a post on X, writing, Being suspected of carrying drugs doesnt carry a death sentence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lethal force against a civilian vessel in international waters is a war crime if not in self-defense, which this video does not show. Only non-lethal actions, like warning shots or disabling fire, are allowed. Being suspected of carrying drugs doesn't carry a death sentence. https://t.co/6Zal0bkY9w Adam Isacson (@adam_wola) September 2, 2025 The decision to destroy the vessel rather than seize it and arrest those on board has been described by experts as highly unusual. How Nicolas Maduro has pushed back The government of Nicolas Maduro reacted sharply to the US strike, with officials accusing Washington of manufacturing a narrative to justify military aggression. Maduro himself did not directly address the strike but spoke to supporters during a televised walk through his childhood neighborhood, where he was accompanied by First Lady Cilia Flores. From the neighborhoods of Caracas I tell you, there will be peace in Venezuela, with sovereignty, Maduro said, claiming the US was motivated by a desire to seize Venezuelas vast natural resources. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he holds a press conference, amid rising tensions with the United States over the deployment of US warships in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters, in Caracas, Venezuela, September 1, 2025. File Image/Reuters In the face of imperialist threats, God (is) with us, he added, vowing to defend Venezuelas independence. Venezuelas Communications Minister, Freddy Nanez, went further by questioning the authenticity of the footage shared by Trump. Based on the video provided, it is very likely that it was created using Artificial Intelligence, Nanez stated on his Telegram account, describing the explosion in the clip as resembling almost cartoonish animation. Reuters conducted an initial examination of the video using digital forensics tools and reported no signs of manipulation, though it pointed out that a complete verification process was still ongoing. Maduros government has long denied that Tren de Aragua remains operational inside Venezuela. Officials claim the gang was dismantled during a 2023 raid on the Tocoron prison, its original base of operations. Caracas has also cited UN data showing that only about 5 per cent of Colombias cocaine production transits through Venezuela, a far lower figure than what Washington has suggested. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The latest United Nations World Drug Report showed a year-on-year increase in cocaine seizures across South American countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in 2022, but did not highlight Venezuela as a major trafficking hub. Ecuador, in particular, has faced a surge in violence linked to both domestic and transnational criminal organisations, including those from Mexico and the Balkans. What we know of the Tren de Aragua Tren de Aragua, which translates to Train of Aragua, emerged in 2014 inside the Tocoron prison in Venezuelas central state of Aragua. Initially, the group controlled much of the prisons operations, running illicit businesses and amenities, including a zoo, swimming pool, nightclub, bar, and restaurant. From behind bars, its leaders orchestrated robberies, kidnappings, extortion schemes, and drug trafficking operations. The name Tren de Aragua may have been inspired by a union of railway workers involved in building a train line between Caracas and Aragua state. As Venezuelas economy collapsed, leading to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the region, more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled to neighboring countries and beyond. The gang exploited this mass migration to expand its reach across Latin America, recruiting new members and establishing criminal networks in Colombia, Peru, and Chile. Its activities diversified over time, encompassing human trafficking, sex work exploitation, extortion, and large-scale smuggling. One of the gangs most notorious crimes occurred last year, when Ronald Ojeda, a former Venezuelan army officer who had defected and opposed Maduros government, was kidnapped from his apartment in Santiago, Chile. His body was later discovered inside a suitcase encased in cement. Two suspected Tren de Aragua members were arrested in connection with the murder. In addition to its Latin American operations, Tren de Aragua has extended its influence into the United States, which is home to roughly 700,000 Venezuelan migrants. US law enforcement agencies have linked the gang to various violent crimes, including the shooting of two New York Police Department officers and the killing of a former Venezuelan police officer in Florida. Arrests of suspected members have been reported in Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Florida, and New York. What US policy towards Tren de Aragua & Venezuela says In January, the Trump administration designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, building on a previous designation by the Biden administration that identified the group as a transnational criminal organisation. The move gave Washington broader legal authority to target the gang and freeze its assets. Trump has repeatedly compared Tren de Aragua to international terrorist organisations such as ISIS and powerful cartels like Mexicos Sinaloa Cartel. His administration has used the groups alleged threat to justify aggressive immigration and deportation policies, including the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. This law, dating back to World War II, allowed for the expedited detention and removal of foreign nationals from countries deemed hostile to the United States. Trumps government has also been sending Venezuelan detainees to CECOT, El Salvador's maximum-security prison built under President Nayib Bukele. According to reports, the US has paid $20,000 per person to transfer 238 Venezuelans to the facility, which is known for its strict conditions, lack of natural light, and highly controlled environment. However, not all experts agree with the administrations framing of Tren de Aragua as a major national security threat. The International Crisis Group, an organisation focused on global conflict resolution, has warned against overstating the gangs capabilities. In a report, it said that while Tren de Aragua has become a significant player in organised crime in parts of Latin America, it does not present the same level of threat to the United States as terrorist organisations or large drug cartels. Fusing a hardline approach to a criminal group of disputable clout with an excessively broad understanding of who its members might be, the Trump administration has in effect sought a pretext for speeding up mass summary deportations, the report stated. How US-Venezuela tensions are faring The September 2 strike came shortly after the United States announced its plan to significantly bolster its naval forces near Venezuela. This buildup, which includes destroyers and surveillance aircraft, has been interpreted by Caracas as a direct threat. Maduro has responded by mobilising troops along Venezuelas coastline and its border with Colombia, while calling on citizens to join a civilian militia. On Monday, one day before the strike, Maduro warned that he would constitutionally declare a republic in arms if US forces launched an attack on Venezuelan soil. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has heated its pressure campaign against Maduro, doubling its reward to $50 million for information leading to his capture on charges related to drug trafficking and organised crime. Analysts have raised concerns that the US decision to strike a vessel without capturing its crew signals a shift in tactics that could increase the risk of confrontation with Venezuelan forces and destabilize the broader region. For now, key questions remain unanswered, including how US intelligence identified those aboard the vessel as Tren de Aragua members and whether the operation adhered to international legal norms. The identities of the 11 individuals killed have not been publicly released, and the extent of their ties to the gang is still being verified. With inputs from agencies The H1-B visa system has divided the United States. Donald Trumps Make America Great Again or Maga base is against the non-immigrant visa, which largely benefits Indians. These conservatives are targeting Indians, with racist attacks online increasing against the community. However, what they are missing is the contribution of desis in the American economy and several sectors Indian-Americans, many in traditional dress, participate in a flag-raising ceremony in lower Manhattan to mark India's 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023 in New York City. File Photo/Getty Images via AFP Donald Trumps Make America Great Again or Maga base is targeting Indian nationals over the H-1B high-skilled work visa programme. As the United States president cracks down on immigration, his supporters are increasingly opposing the H-1B visas, which mostly benefit Indians. The divisions in America are highly visible on social media, as conservatives slam the programmes like H-1B, claiming they are eating up American jobs. They are taking hateful and racist jabs against Indians while ignoring their contributions to making America great. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. US split over H-1B visas The H-1B visas have remained in focus since Trump returned to power at the White House in January this year. The H-1B visa programme allows employers in the US to temporarily hire foreign workers in speciality fields. Currently, the H-1B visas for high-skilled foreign workers are capped at 85,000 per year, including a 20,000 exemption for individuals with an advanced degree from a US university. Indians have accounted for more than 70 per cent of all approved H-1B petitions since 2015, as per the American government data. This has put a target on the backs of Indians, as Maga supporters oppose these non-immigrant visas. A debate was triggered on social media after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said last week that he is involved in the process to replace the lottery-based H-1B system with a wage-based process, describing the existing system as a scam. American right-wing political activist and social media personality Charlie Kirk wrote on X that the US does not need more visas for people from India. Perhaps no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India. Enough already. Were full." His remarks parroted Fox News host Laura Ingrahams, who argued that a trade deal with India would mean more visas for Indians. Dont forget that any trade deal with India will require us to give them more visas. Id rather not pay them in visas and trade deficits. Let Modi see what terms he can get from Xi instead. Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 1, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Daniel Di Martino, a PhD candidate in economics at Columbia University, came to the defence of the Indian community in the US. Indians in America are a very positively selected group that my upcoming research with the Manhattan Institute finds Indians are the most positive national-origin group for the economy and federal budget. Indians in the US are good people, hard workers, law abiding, and highly educated," he wrote on X, responding to Kirks post. Indians in America are a very positively selected group that my upcoming research with @ManhattanInst finds Indians are the MOST positive national-origin group for the economy and federal budget. Indians in the U.S. are good people, hard workers, law abiding, & highly educated. https://t.co/os8GCTyTno Daniel Di Martino (@DanielDiMartino) September 2, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Indian-Americans fare in the US Indians have long been regarded as the model minority in the US . The Indian diaspora in America has increased, with the population of people with Indian roots reaching an estimated 5.2 million (52 lakh) in 2023. With this, Indian Americans are the second-largest Asian origin group in the country. Chasing the American dream, engineers, doctors and scientists arrived in waves from India after the US Immigration and Nationality Act abolished national origin quotas for immigrants in 1965. Today, the Indian-American community is one of the most influential immigrant groups in the US, as per a report released in June last year. Many are leading the top tech companies of the world. Indian Americans account for only 1.5 per cent of the US population, yet they continue to have an outsized and positive impact across different aspects of US society, Indiaspora founder MR Rangaswami said at the time. The Indian American-driven innovation flows to the countrys bottom line and is laying the groundwork for the next phase of economic growth, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the Pew Research Center study, Indian-Americans are among the top earners in the US. Indian-headed households had a median annual income of $151,200 (Rs 1.3 crore) in 2023. Households led by immigrants earned more ($1,56,000 or Rs 1.34 crore) than their US-born counterparts ($120,200 or Rs 1.1 crore). This meant Indian-Americans were among the highest-earning demographic groups in the US, the analysis found. The study linked the financial success to their educational qualifications. About 77 per cent Indian-Americans aged 25 and older have a bachelors or advanced degree, much more than the 56 per cent rate for Asian-Americans overall. This educational advantage has transformed into professional success, with many joining high-paying fields. The Indiaspora Impact Report: Small Community, Big Contributions, conducted by Boston Consulting Group, published last year found that Indian-Americans pay an estimated 5-6 per cent of all income taxes (i.e, $250 billion to $300 billion). While helping boost the American economy, the professions that people from the Indian community are engaged in indirectly create 11-12 million (1.1-1.2 crore) American jobs, as per the report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the report, research, innovation, and academia in the US have flourished due to the contributions of the Indian diaspora. Discrimination faced by Indian diaspora in the US In America, Indians are reduced to stereotypes. They are either successful or stark poor. The lack of any in-between is harming the community in the US, some say. The opposition to H-1B visas by conservatives has led to Indians facing growing racism and political hostility in America, experts told Newsweek. The rise in discrimination and bigotry against them is visible across social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X. They [MAGA supporters] are nativist. That is a key part of their platform and agenda, and right now when we look at the context in which this is all occurring, it is very much anti-immigrant, Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of the AAPI Equity Alliance and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, told Newsweek. The American economy has, really since its founding, benefited from the labour of immigrants particular to the AAPI community. AAPI stands for Asian American and Pacific Islander. Indian-American politicians and their spouses are also facing online hate. During the 2024 presidential election campaign, the then Vice President Kamala Harris and the now-second lady Usha Vance were subjected to public speculations owing to their identities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vivek Ramaswamy and Kash Patel, who amplify Trumps America First policy, have also been attacked on social media for being non-White. As ties between India and the US take a nosedive over Trumps tariff war, Maga has upped the racist attacks against Indian professionals, claiming they are replacing American jobs. There is genuine fear that this online rhetoric could spill over into real life and leave the Indian community in the US vulnerable to harassment. With inputs from agencies Ninghai county in E China's Zhejiang supplies stationery products to China and the world People's Daily Online) 16:10, September 03, 2025 As the new school semester begins across China, many students find relief from the back-to-school stress in shopping for fresh stationery. Chances are, most of those pens, notebooks, and pencil cases trace back to Ninghai county in Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province, a powerhouse in China's stationery industry. People shop for stationery items integrating popular cultural elements at a stationery festival held by Deli Group, a stationery manufacturer in China, in Ninghai county, Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Ninghai County Committee) By April 2025, Ninghai had 772 stationery manufacturers. They generated 34.55 billion yuan (about $4.84 billion) in sales in 2024, accounting for around 20.2 percent of China's total stationery industry. The county's stationery products are exported to over 100 countries and regions. Photo shows Ninghai county, Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Ninghai County Committee) The story of Ninghai stationery began in the late 1980s. After more than 30 years of growth, the once humble cluster of small workshops has transformed into an industry powerhouse, earning titles like "China's stationery industry base." Today, Ninghai is home to a lineup of industry leaders: long-tail binder clips with 1 billion yuan in annual sales and the world's highest production volume, pencil sharpeners and staplers with over 60 percent of the global market, and sharpeners holding a 75 percent share of China's domestic market. People shop for stationery items integrating popular cultural elements at a stationery festival held by Deli Group, a stationery manufacturer in China, in Ninghai county, Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Ninghai County Committee) Deli Group is a stationery manufacturer in Ninghai. Starting out in office stationery, it has expanded into office equipment, children's educational tools and more. Photo shows a scene at the factory of Deli Group in Ninghai county, Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Ninghai County Committee) Stationery manufacturers in Ninghai found success by pairing popular products with strong storytelling, turning stationery from a mere tool into a cultural experience. Photo shows stationery products by Ningbo Uhoo Office Stationery Co., Ltd. in Ninghai county, Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Ninghai County Committee) In the showroom of Ningbo Uhoo Office Stationery Co., Ltd., a collection of stationery featuring traditional Chinese cultural elements immediately catches the eye. Jiang Xinlian, general manager of the company, said these products are especially popular overseas. As the drafter of China's national ID card holder standard, Uhoo has leveraged the Belt and Road Initiative to sell its culturally inspired products in the U.S., Europe, and Brazil. Photo shows Doraemon stationery items developed by Ningbo Tianhong Stationery Co., Ltd. in Ninghai county, Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Ninghai County Committee) Today, 30 percent of stationery products made in Ninghai are sold in China and 70 percent are sold overseas. This global presence is backed by China's manufacturing strength and nimble market strategies. Deli Group has built more than 10 regional headquarters and over 50 overseas branches, securing leading positions in markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Photo shows a billboard ad and a Nezha-themed advertising airship presented by Deli Group at a stationery festival held by Deli Group in Ninghai county, Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Ninghai County Committee) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is set to discuss several important issues, including the Centres proposed reform of tax slabs, the expiring compensation cess and whether to exempt health and life insurance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a slew of next-generation reforms during his Independence Day speech last month The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is meeting today (3 September). Chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Council will convene in New Delhi today and tomorrow (4 September). The GST Council is set to discuss a number of important issues, including the Centres proposed reform of the tax slabs, the expiring compensation cess and whether to exempt health and life insurance. This will be the 56th meeting of the powerful Council, comprising Sitharaman and finance ministers of Indian states and Union Territories. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development comes against the backdrop of Donald Trump imposing a 50 per cent tariff on India a 25 per cent levy plus an additional 25 per cent for buying Russian crude oil. But what can we expect from the GST Council meeting? Tax slabs Much of the focus will be on reforming the GST tax slabs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a slew of next-generation reforms during his Independence Day speech last month. He said this would be a Diwali gift for traders. Under the GST, which was launched in July 2017, goods are currently taxed under four brackets 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent. The Centre has proposed doing away with the 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs leaving goods to be taxed under a two-tier system of 5 per cent and 18 per cent. The remaining slabs will be classified as merit and standard. The Centre has said that the idea behind these changes is to simplify the tax structure and make it easier for businesses to comply with the GST. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a slew of next-generation reforms during his Independence Day speech last month. PTI The Group of Ministers (GoM), which met earlier this week, has already given the Centres proposal for a two-slab GST the go-ahead. The government is aiming to offset any loss to the exchequer estimated at between Rs 50,000 crore and Rs 80,000 crore by boosting consumption . The government said that reforming the tax slabs what it refers to as rate rationalisation will at least partly negate the impact of Trumps tariffs. Sources have said the new rates will likely take effect by 22 September. What becomes cheaper, what becomes more expensive The Centre has said that over 90 per cent of goods in the 28 per cent bracket will be moved to the 18 per cent slab. This includes electronic items such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners and dishwashers. Small cars with engines of 1,200cc and under, motorcycles under 350cc, and auto parts could also be shifted to this lower bracket. So could medicines, medical devices, ghee, nuts, drinking water, namkeen and non-aerated beverages. The government has said that 99 per cent of the goods under the 12 per cent slab will be moved to the 5 per cent bracket. This includes goods used by Indians every day such as pencils, bicycles, umbrellas, hairpins, paneer, pizza bread, khakra, fruit juices, coconut water, butter, cheese, pasta, ice cream and tooth powder. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hotel stays and movie tickets could also become cheaper. Solar cookers, maps, charts, notebooks and atlases could also be shifted into the 5 per cent category. GST on erasers, currently at 12 per cent, could be done away with entirely. Toothpaste could be moved from the 18 per cent category to the 12 per cent tax slab. Sulphuric acid, nitric acid and ammonia could be shifted from the 28 per cent slab to the 5 per cent slab. However, synthetic yarns, man-made staple fibre yarns, carpets and handicrafts could become more expensive if they are moved from the 5 per cent slab to the 18 per cent slab. Apparel above Rs 2,500 could also be moved from the 12 per cent slab to the 18 per cent slab. Coal could be shifted from the 5 per cent slab to the 18 per cent slab which could increase company costs and be passed on to consumers. Sin tax, life and health insurance The GST might also witness the introduction of a sin tax slab, where items such as liquor, tobacco, pan masala and cigarettes will be placed in the 40 per cent slab. These items, which are currently in the 28 per cent bracket, already attract an additional cess. Online gaming, horse racing, lottery and casinos will also fall under the 40 per cent bracket. The government is also considering levying the 40 per cent tax on SUVs and luxury cars. The Centre is also mulling bringing electric vehicles (EVs) under the 5 per cent slab. A levy of 18 per cent could be placed on four-wheeled EVs priced between Rs 2040 lakh. The Centre has also proposed doing away with GST on life insurance and health insurance. There is an 18 per cent levy on these two products at the moment. The government has suggested a green energy cess and a health cess to make up for the compensation cess, which will be done away with from 31 October. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What could be the impact? The reforms could have a positive impact on consumer sentiment and increase consumption. A recent report by SBI Research estimated that these reforms could boost consumption by Rs5.31 lakh crore around 1.6 per cent of Indias GDP. Under the GST, which was launched in July 2017, goods are currently taxed under four brackets 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent. Shutterstock This is in line with the governments desire to spur economic growth. Data released last week showed that Indias GDP grew by 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of FY 202526. The government had estimated a growth of 6.5 per cent. The government has also said these reforms are in line with the Prime Ministers ambitions to boost Indias self-reliance. India recently overtook Japan to become the worlds fourth-largest economy behind the United States, China and Germany. There are reports that India could overtake Germany to become the worlds third-largest economy by 2027 or 2030. However, the Opposition is likely to attack the government over these moves. Since the GST was introduced in July 2017, the Opposition has been citing a dent to state revenues. The Centre at the time had agreed to pay states revenue through a compensation cess, which is now expiring. The Opposition has claimed this could cause a loss of between Rs 85,000 crore and Rs 2 lakh crore per year. The Opposition will likely hold a meeting to discuss these GST reforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies The Chinese military parade wasnt just about the weapons on display. One of the most defining moments from Beijing was Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un walking together. Analysts note that the visual is a clear message of defiance to the West and an indicator of a new world order Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrive at a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender in Beijing, China. AP Its often said that pictures speak a thousand words. And this one emerging from Chinas military parade could be speaking much more than a thousand words and perhaps, even signal a change in the world order. We are talking about President Xi Jinping welcoming North Koreas Kim Jong-un with a long handshake, then moving onto greet Russias Vladimir Putin before all three walked together to watch the parade. This is the first time that the three leaders have been seen in public together and, as analysts noted, they really picked the right moment. The three watched as ranks of soldiers marched past Beijings Tiananmen Square, followed by the latest weaponry of the Peoples Liberation Army. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We analyse what message this image is sending to the world, namely US President Donald Trump, who gave quite an acidic response on social media, writing on Truth Social: Give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America. An unforgettable image Ahead of the biggest military parade that China has seen, President Xi Jinping welcomed around 20 world leaders at the bottom of the Gate of Heavenly Peace before escorting them to the viewing platform. Among the 20, the guests of honour were Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-un. Xi, dressed in a grey Mao suit, welcomed both the leaders, and chatted with the pair as they walked down a red carpet towards Tiananmen Square, with Putin to Xis right and Kim to his left. Russias President Vladimir Putin walks with Chinas President Xi Jinping, North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un and Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijings Tiananmen Square. AFP Later, Xi speaking from the top of the rostrum, said it was an occasion to honour history and to look forward to the future. He paid tribute to the veterans, comrades and patriots who contributed to the war victory as well as welcomed the world leaders attending the parade. Further addressing the crowd, Xi said, Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum, adding that the Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history. He further stated that China was unstoppable and called on nations across the world to eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Without naming the US, Xi also said that China was a great nation which is never intimidated by any . A picture that speaks louder than words Many analysts believe that this image sends a clear message to the West. Firstly, Beijing is telling the world that it will continue to stand by its allies, namely Russia and North Korea, no matter the sanctions that the West looks to impose on them. Wen-ti Sung, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub, told The Guardian, Beijing is sending a message that even if western countries continue to sanction Russia over the Russia-Ukraine War, Beijing will not be afraid to stand by its friend. Many observers are calling the visuals of the three leaders a dramatic redrawing of the global balance of power. AFP Through the image of the three leaders, China is also offering an alternative to the US-led order. President Xi has long sought to put himself at the centre of a new world order and this military parade and the image helps him to achieve this goal. As Associate Professor of Chinese politics, Alfred Wu, told The Guardian, this was Xi showcasing that he is strong and that China now commands its own orbit of influence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even earlier, Xi demonstrated signs of a new world order at the recently-concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit hosted in Tianjin where we saw the leaders of China, Russia and India smiling together . CNN summed it up perfectly: Chinas gathering with Putin and Kim underscores the futile attempts of US President Donald Trump to subject the true global hard men to his art-of-the-deal charms and his claims that his supposedly close relationships with such leaders can be decisive. Even BBCs James Landale noted that the image would send shivers down Western diplomatic spines as China fills the vacuum left by Americas withdrawal from international norms and groupings. For Xi, the image with Putin and Kim also shows that China is aligned with Russia and North Korea. Earlier, there was speculation that the alliance between Putin and Kim has irked Xi. However, the visuals showed that the trio were in lockstep. Trump perturbed And it seems that the images from the Chinese military parade has, in fact, irked US President Donald Trump. The American leader took to his social media, reminding Xi of the USs role in defeating Japan 80 years ago. He further added, May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Global political watchers noted that the image is a warning to Trump that his tariff tantrums, and America First lessons may be backfiring. As Jackie SH Wong, an assistant professor of international studies at the American University of Sharjah, told CNN, China is leveraging the missteps or mistakes that the US (is making). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But it is not all doom and gloom. Many analysts downplayed the significance of the image in China. Its left to be seen if this striking photo can turn into action, but the West will surely be looking at it with concern and alarm. With inputs from agencies The Immigration and Foreigners Order, 2025 offers relief to migrants entering India to escape religious persecution in neighbouring countries, extending cutoff year from 2014 to 2024 The Ministry of Home Affairs at the North block in Central Secretariat in New Delhi. PTI Indias Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced new provisions under the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, offering significant relief to minorities fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. According to the notification, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, without valid passports or with expired documents, will not face deportation. This development marks a crucial shift in Indias immigration framework, widening the protective net beyond what was previously available under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, which applied only to migrants who entered the country before December 31, 2014. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Broader scope than Citizenship Amendment Act While the CAA created a pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted minorities, its benefits were limited to those who arrived before 2014. The latest order does not guarantee citizenship but secures the right to stay for a larger group of migrants who arrived up to the end of 2024. This provides immediate reassurance to thousands, especially Hindus from Pakistan, who crossed into India after 2014 and have lived under the threat of deportation. But conditions apply The exemption, however, comes with strict safeguards. Foreigners found guilty of serious crimes such as terrorism, espionage, rape, murder or human trafficking will not be eligible for protection under the order. The same applies to those involved in drug trafficking, child abuse, cybercrime, or racketeering in counterfeit documents and cryptocurrency. These restrictions underline the governments intent to prevent misuse of the exemption and to safeguard national security. Detention, deportation and carrier liability The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which underpins the new order, also empowers state and Union Territory authorities to detain illegal immigrants until deportation. Carriers transporting undocumented individuals are obligated to return them to their country of origin, though exceptions apply in cases involving forged documents that cannot be detected without expert analysis, stowaways, or aircraft diverted for reasons beyond carrier control. Biometric data and surveillance To strengthen oversight, the rules mandate biometric data collection for all foreigners applying for visas or registration as Overseas Citizens of India. Border forces such as the Border Security Force BSF) and the Indian Coast Guard are tasked with capturing biometric and demographic details of illegal entrants before sending them back. This measure is expected to bolster surveillance and curb repeat attempts at unauthorised entry. Employment and entry restrictions The order also places restrictions on employment of foreign nationals in critical sectors such as power, water and petroleum. Special permission will now be required for foreigners undertaking mountaineering expeditions. Conversely, exemptions remain for Indian defence personnel and their families, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan under specific conditions, Tibetan refugees with registration certificates, and registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India before January 9, 2015. A balancing act The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025 represents a balancing act between humanitarian protection and national security. By extending relief to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries, the Indian government has broadened its humanitarian outreach, while simultaneously tightening controls against criminal and unauthorised migration. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The order provides breathing space for vulnerable groups awaiting clarity on their long-term legal status, even as it leaves the question of citizenship unresolved. Punitive measures intended to discipline India only accelerate its determination to diversify dependencies, deepen coalitions with Europe, Japan, and ASEAN, and invest in sovereign levers of economic and technological strength (File) US President Donald Trump is facing heavy criticism from within the country on his tariff policy, namely the duties levied on India. Now, former US NSA Jake Sullivan has slammed the US president, saying he is sacrificing India ties to for his family business interests in Pakistan. Reuters The very word sanction is a paradox. Rooted in the Latin sancire, to make sacred, and institutionalised in Roman law as the sanctio, it referred simultaneously to the solemn ratification of a statute and to the penalties for violating it. This duality has persisted: in modern usage, sanctions denote both authorisation and punishment. Yet, in Washington today, the term has been reduced to a rhetorical device. When White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that Trumps secondary tariffs on Indias imports of Russian crude amounted to sanctions, she was not drawing on the gravitas of Roman jurisprudence but engaging in political opportunism. Echoes of this rhetoric from Peter Navarro, Scott Bessent, and Stephen Miller reveal the manoeuvre for what it is: a mislabeling of tariff walls as moral instruments, and a dangerous trivialisation of sanctions as a tool of international statecraft. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the vocabulary may be modern, the practice is ancient. The Megarian Decree of 432 BCE, in which Athens barred Megarian merchants from its ports and markets, stands as the earliest documented case of economic exclusion as coercion. Thucydides observed that this embargo most embittered the Lacedaemonians and brought them to the decision of war (History of the Peloponnesian War, I.139). Rather than inducing compliance, the measure escalated conflict and helped trigger the Peloponnesian War. Rome later codified similar practices, bans on trade, property seizures, and naval blockades, embedding economic coercion into the fabric of imperial strategy. The historical lesson is clear: sanctions have rarely remained confined to the economic realm; they reshape alliances, provoke escalation, and generate enduring antagonism. By the early modern era, sanctions were deployed at scale. Britains naval blockades during the Napoleonic Wars sought to strangle French commerce, while Napoleons Continental System of 1806 attempted to isolate Britain, both fuelling decades of continental polarisation. The United States Embargo Act of 1807, meant to punish Britain and France for maritime predation, instead devastated American shipping, demonstrating the self-harming potential of unilateral embargoes. In the 20th century, sanctions were codified in international institutions. The League of Nations sanctions on Italy (1935) failed due to incomplete participation, exposing the fragility of collective enforcement. By contrast, the global campaign against apartheid South Africa in the 1970s-90s, trade bans, arms embargoes, and financial restrictions, exerted decisive cumulative pressure, illustrating that effectiveness depends less on severity than on coalition breadth and complementarity with domestic political currents. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The postCold War era elevated sanctions to the primary instrument of coercive diplomacy. Comprehensive sanctions on Iraq (19902003) inflicted humanitarian devastation without dislodging Saddam Hussein, prompting a shift toward smart sanctions targeting elites and financial flows. In Iran (20062015), coordinated US, EU, and UN measures on oil and banking isolated Tehran sufficiently to produce the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Yet in Cuba and North Korea, decades of restrictions entrenched autarky and hostility without regime change. The sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014 and 2022 revealed both the potency and the limits of financial warfare: cutting Moscow off from SWIFT and freezing reserves damaged its economy but also drove it closer to Beijing, accelerating systemic financial fragmentation. The empirical record is unambiguous. Sanctions can sometimes compel tactical concessions, but they consistently scar bilateral relations and often generate counter-coalitions. It is worth noting that sanctions often prove counterproductive by forcing targeted states to internalise capabilities and achieve strategic autonomy. The Chinese nuclear sector illustrates this dynamic: following the 2019 US blacklist of China General Nuclear Power Group and suspension of key equipment licences, Beijing rapidly localised its supply chain, with over 90 per cent of reactor components now produced domestically. Indigenous designs such as the Hualong One were standardised and deployed on compressed timelines, reducing costs by 20-30 per cent compared to Western counterparts. Instead of constraining capacity, sanctions accelerated vertical integration, workforce scaling, and export competitivenesstransforming a pressure tool into a catalyst for sovereign industrial innovation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India has repeatedly been at the receiving end of sanctions, especially by the USA. After its 1974 nuclear test, the United States suspended nuclear cooperation and technology transfers, straining ties without altering Indias strategic trajectory. The Glenn Amendment sanctions of 1998, following Pokhran-II, froze loans, military sales, and assistance at precisely the moment India was liberalising its economy, delaying but not derailing rapprochement. More recently, the spectre of CAATSA sanctions over Indias purchase of Russian S-400 systems again underscored Washingtons reflexive reliance on coercion. In each case, sanctions failed to secure compliance but succeeded in hardening Indias resolve on sovereignty. Today, by branding punitive tariffs as sanctions, Washington risks repeating a cycle that has historically alienated New Delhi without shifting its calculus. From the perspective of coercion theory, the measure is structurally flawed. Sanctions succeed when the costs imposed exceed the benefits of defiance and when compliance pathways are politically feasible. Indias diversified energy portfolio, capacity to reroute trade, and high political salience of strategic autonomy mean its elasticity of compliance is extremely low. The more coercion is applied, the greater the political payoff for resistance, making the exercise self-defeating. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From the vantage of alliance politics, sanctions on India heighten what Glenn Snyder called the abandonment dilemma. For New Delhi, the signal is that Washington is an unreliable partner, willing to punish rather than accommodate. This incentivises hedging strategies, dilutes trust within the Quad, and complicates US efforts to embed India in long-term defence-industrial cooperation. Instead of deepening coalition capacity, punitive tariffs framed as sanctions exacerbate the risks of drift and divergence. From a geo-economic systems perspective, the misapplication of sanctions corrodes the architecture of US influence. Coercion accelerates Indias investment in non-dollar payment systems, alternative insurance and shipping networks, and localised refining and storage infrastructure. Over time, this builds systemic redundancies that blunt US financial leverage globally. What begins as a tactical measure against India thus metastasises into strategic erosion of Americas centrality in the international economic order. The deeper lesson for India is that episodes such as these reaffirm the necessity of building hard geo-economic and technological levers, rather than relying on diplomatic goodwill. For a state that prizes strategic autonomy, dependence on U.S. and China creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited in moments of political friction. Sanctions, whether mislabelled tariffs or genuine embargoes, are reminders that leverage is manufactured, not granted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indias long-term strategy must therefore prioritise the development of its own chokepoints: rupee-based settlement and payment systems to bypass dollar-clearing, expanded petroleum reserves and an indigenous tanker-insurance pool to secure energy flows, equity stakes in overseas hydrocarbon assets through ONGC Videsh, and localisation of critical technologies from semiconductors to rare-earth processing. Such capabilities would ensure that external coercion is not met with compliance but with credible countervailing power. Diplomatically, New Delhi and Washington may well reach a modus vivendi, just as India has managed to negotiate its way out of earlier sanction episodes in 1974 and 1998. Yet the erosion of trust is irreversible. Each recurrence of coercion reinforces the perception that partnership with the United States is conditional, fragile, and prone to politicisation. This is the paradox Washington fails to grasp. Punitive measures intended to discipline India only accelerate its determination to diversify dependencies, deepen coalitions with Europe, Japan, and ASEAN, and invest in sovereign levers of economic and technological strength. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For India, the current episode is not a temporary tariff dispute but a structural reminder that strategic partnerships can endure only when insulated from coercion, and that in the final analysis, autonomy rests not on rhetoric but on the levers a state can wield. Aditya (X: @adityasinha004) writes on macroeconomic and geopolitical issues. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. America has never looked so confused, insecure, and dumbfounded as it did when, in the name of tariffs, it pushed away a friendly nation that was supposed to be the cornerstone of its 21st-century Indo-Pacific strategy (File) Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin, China, September 1, 2025. Reuters I aim very high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing to get what Im after. Donald Trump, The Art of the Deal US President Donald Trump has always revelled in his ability to negotiate hard. His aggressive, often intimidating, style is designed to shock and awe his opponents. A glimpse of this came from a late-1980s CNN interview with Larry King, where Trump abruptly commented on the hosts bad breath. This threw King off balance and he could not recover from the blow through the interview. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Maggie Haberman, in Confidence Man: The Definitive Biography of Donald Trump, captures this persona as she portrays Trump as a leader thriving on unpredictability, confrontation, and even chaos. Such has been his obsession with power that he even admired Chinas Tiananmen Square crackdown, calling it an expression of strength. Trumps ongoing tariff battles with New Delhi mirrored this pattern: sheer unpredictability, relentless pressure tactics, and unrestrained show of strength. Haberman notes that Trump possesses both the thickest skin and the thinnest skin of any public figure I have ever covered. It all depends on how he perceives his opponent. Accordingly, he fosters a sense of menace through his enforcers and informants. This approach was on full display in Trumps tariff policy. When dealing with China and Russia, Trump showed thick skin, exhibiting calculated restraint, admiring their authoritarian strength. But with Bharat a democracy and a strategic American partner his thin skin was at display as he chose aggression. In all this, people like Peter Navarro and Scott Bessent acted as his enforcers, threatening punitive tariffs to force concessions. Haberman highlights another defining trait: Trumps refusal to be shamed, to step away from a fight, or to accept traditional rules of politics. Nowhere was this clearer than in his repeated over 30 times false claims of mediating peace between Bharat and Pakistan, supposedly preventing war through tariff threats. New Delhi firmly rejected this narrative, clarifying that a temporary pause in Operation Sindoor was at Pakistans request, not Americas intervention. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps strategy relied on his perception of Bharat being a soft target, thus an ideal nation for projecting his strongman image to his MAGA base and the world. Trump, however, underestimated the transformation Bharat underwent under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Post-2014 Bharat became more confident, assertive, civilisationally rooted, ideologically lucid, and unwilling to be cornered. The days of quiet compliance were over. Traditionally, Bharat has always had a mind of its own. Fareed Zakaria, in his book The Post-American World, describes how Indians are not likely to view foreign policy as a crusade or to see the conversion of others to democracy as a paramount national aspiration. The Hindu mindset, he writes, is to live and let live. So, Indians are also averse to public and binding commitments of the countrys basic orientation. India will be uncomfortable with a designation as Americas chief ally in Asia or as part of a new special relationship, Zakaria adds. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, with Modi at the helm of Bharats affairs, there has been a renewed sense of confidence and self-assuredness. Trump, to his misfortune, chose this moment to poke at New Delhi. The outcome was obvious: Bharat not only resisted but also recalibrated its strategic priorities. Within a few days of the 50 per cent tariff kicking in on Bharat, Prime Minister Modi was in China. It was PM Modis presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting that helped build the narrative of a China-led world order, even when 20 heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, were in the audience. The Time magazine, in its recent report, highlighted how the summit in Tianjin grabbed the worlds attention this weekend. Much of the commentary was centred on the presence of Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited China for the first time in seven years. PM Modis presence at Tianjin was a diplomatic coup for China, with most Western commentators seeing it as a worst nightmare for Trump. According to The Economist, which has largely opposed Modi, alienating Bharat was a grave mistake by the US, and it could well be an opportunity for New Delhi to realise its claim of being a superpower-in-waiting. Even The New York Times, which not very long ago had advertised the position for Modi-baiting journalists, acknowledged in its article, The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unraveled, that Trumps repeated claims about solving the Bharat-Pakistan conflict deeply infuriated Modi risking Delhis drift toward Beijing and Moscow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps aggressive tariff strategy and confrontational diplomacy were extensions of his lifelong persona as a deal maker. Yet, when applied to New Delhi, these tactics collided with a Modified nation unwilling to be arm-twisted. Instead of submission, Bharat diversified alliances, deepened ties with Japan, Russia, and ASEAN nations, and further asserted its geostrategic independence on the global stage. The result: America, which not very long ago projected Bharat as a linchpin of its Indo-Pacific strategy, looked both confused and confounded. One hopes the damage, though significant, is not permanent. In a world of shifting power balances, good relations between Bharat and the United States is not just desirable it is essential. The lesson for this and future American administrations is clear: A relationship with a civilisational state like Bharat wont be sustainable without mutual respect. Bullying would drive it elsewhere. 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 shares were up 4.3% on Tuesday after a US federal judge spared its search engine deal with Google in a judgement. The judge ruled that Google was allowed to enter into deals with companies like Apple that make its search engine the default option in browsers. People stand outside an Apple Store as Apple's new iPhone 15 officially goes on sale across China, in Shanghai, China September 22, 2023. (Photo: Aly Song/Reuters) Apple shares were up 4.3 per cent on Tuesday after a US federal judge spared its search engine deal with Google in a judgement. As per the Google-Apple search engine arrangement, Google pays $20 billion annually to Apple to ensure that Google remains the default search engine on Apples Safari browser in iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. In a judgement in case filed by the US Department of Justice, judge Amit Mehta ruled that the Apple-Google arrangement could stay. He ruled that Google could enter into arrangements that make its search engine the default option in browsers, but it could not enter into exclusive contracts for internet search. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Google is permitted to pay browser developers, like Apple but the partner company must promote other search engines, offer a different option in various operating systems or in privacy mode, and are allowed to make changes to the default search settings annually, the judge ruled, according to Bloomberg. Cutting off payments from Google almost certainly will impose substantial in some cases, crippling downstream harms to distribution partners, related markets, and consumers, which counsels against a broad payment ban, ruled Mehta. For context, the search engine arrangement with Google brings Apple around 20 per cent of its services revenue and 17.5 per cent of its operating income. After Mehtas ruling, Googles shares were also up 8.7 per cent on Tuesday. What was DOJs case against Apple & Google? In 2020, the DoJ filed an anti-trust case against Google and the search engine arrangement with Apple was at the centre of the case. The DoJ argued that Google illegally maintained a monopoly in online search and search advertising through exclusive deals that stifled competitors like the Bing search engine of Microsoft. The DoJ sought the forced divestiture of Google Chrome browser, potential divestiture of Android operating system, complete termination of all exclusive search deals (including the Google-Apple deal), and mandatory sharing of Googles search data with competitors, and ban on Googles artificial intelligence (AI) investments to prevent the companys monopoly to AI. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In his judgement, Mehta said that Google was not required to sell Chrome or Android and was not required to stop payments to Apple under the search engine deal. However, he ruled that Google was required to share data with competitors and cease exclusive deals. He also ruled that while Google could enter into paid arrangements, partner companies must promote other search engines as well. On July 14, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Putin to get to the negotiating table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That deadline passed on September 2 and there is still no sign of a meeting between the two leaders Masks of Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are displayed for sale in Saint Petersburg on August 7, 2025. AFP Russia surreptitiously missed a Donald Trump-proclaimed deadline yesterday, but the US president did not make a lot of noise about it, except saying that he is very disappointed in President Vladimir Putin. On July 14, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Putin to get to the negotiating table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That deadline passed on September 2 and there is still no sign of a meeting between the two leaders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, the president stripped that deadline just two weeks after announcing it, cutting that timeframe down to 10 to 12 days on July 28 before letting that day pass 10 to 12 days later with no significant outcome. Meanwhile, there have been a number of developments in the backroom and on the frontline. Russia launches drone barrage Russian forces launched more than 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine in a large-scale attack that mainly targeted the west of the country and caused power outages, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday. The barrage also came as UK Defence Secretary John Healey arrived in Ukraine for talks on security cooperation, according to his Ukrainian counterpart. The head of the northern Chernigiv region, Vyacheslav Chaus, said 30,000 people were left without electricity after drone strikes on civilian infrastructure. Ukraines air force said Moscow had fired 502 drones and 24 missiles, while regional officials in the west of the country said several people were wounded and residential homes and civilian infrastructure were damaged. Trump says he is disappointed in Putin While Putin was meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Koreas Kim Jong Un in China for the countrys Victory Day parade, Trump said he was very disappointed by Russian leader Vladimir Putins failure to strike a Ukraine peace deal. Im very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, Trump told the Scott Jennings radio show when asked if he felt betrayed by Putins response. We had a great relationship, Im very disappointed. Trump has remained deliberately vague on the Ukraine talks since the Alaska summit, sometimes threatening sanctions against Moscow but at other times saying he may let the two sides fight it out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies China has touted the parade as a show of unity with other countries, and Kims attendance is the first time he has been seen with Xi and Putin at the same event. It is only his second reported trip abroad in six years US President Donald Trump on Wednesday greeted China on its Victory Day and sent warmest regards to this years parade participants, President Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and blood that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added, Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America. Trump has been in murky waters ever since the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit brought together leaders like Xi, Putin, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when tariffs imposed by him are wreaking havoc across the world. The close partnership between these countries has threatened Trump over his punitive trade measures, as he already faces challenges from his own camp and the Opposition at home. China is unstoppable In his Victory Day speech, Xi said China was unstoppable in a speech to kick off proceedings. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable and humanitys cause of peace and development will prevail, Xi said, adding the world was faced with a choice of peace or war. Millions of Chinese people were killed during a prolonged war with imperial Japan in the 1930s and 40s, which became part of a global conflict following Tokyos attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Show of power China has touted the parade as a show of unity with other countries, and Kims attendance is the first time he has been seen with Xi and Putin at the same event. It is only his second reported trip abroad in six years. All eyes are on how the trio of Xi, Putin and Kim who rarely leaves secretive North Korea interact with each other in a highly choreographed photo opportunity seen as a coup for China on the world stage. During the summit, Xi slammed bullying behaviour from certain countries a veiled reference to the United States while Putin defended Russias Ukraine offensive, blaming the West for triggering the conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies China is holding its biggest-ever Victory Day military parade. In attendance, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un appeared together publicly a moment Western analysts have dubbed an Axis of Upheaval. China is all set to stage what it calls its largest-ever military parade on Victory Day on Wednesday (Sept 3), using the occasion both to commemorate Japans surrender in World War II and to showcase its rising military power. More than two dozen world leaders are expected to attend the spectacle, where China will roll out some of its newest and most advanced weapons. Weeks of rehearsals have been held in Beijing, with tight security across the capital. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Axis of Upheaval For the first time, Xi Jinping, Putin, and Kim will appear together publicly a moment Western analysts have dubbed an Axis of Upheaval. Putin and Kim signed a defence pact last year, while China remains Pyongyangs only formal ally and a key partner for Russia. The parade will also be attended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Myanmars military ruler Min Aung Hlaing, along with a total of 26 foreign leaders and an estimated 50,000 spectators. Victory Day marks the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japans surrender in 1945. China formally designated September 3 as Victory Day in 2014. This years event will be Xi Jinpings third military parade since taking office in 2012. The 70-minute-long parade will display Chinas growing military strength, featuring hypersonic weapons, nuclear-capable missiles, fighter jets, and underwater drones. Xi is also expected to deliver a keynote speech during the ceremony. Chinas Xi showcased Beijings military might, unveiling Dong Feng-61 and Dong Feng-31BJ nuclear-capable missiles at a parade marking 80 years since Japans defeat in WW2. Chinese President Xi Jinping showcased Beijings military might on Wednesday, unveiling some of its most advanced missile systems at a massive parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japans defeat in World War II. For the first time, China displayed the Dong Feng-61 and Dong Feng-31BJ nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles. Xis mighty parade concluded with a stark signal to the West as the growing strategic reach of Beijings state of the weapons is on the rise and capable of covering the entire west. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The military also rolled out the YJ-series hypersonic missiles, including the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20. Known as Ying Ji or eagle attack, these missiles can be launched from ships or aircraft and are designed to cripple large enemy vessels. Analysts say the YJ systems underline Chinas rapid progress in hypersonic weapons technology considered game-changing for its ability to evade traditional defence systems. The parade, Chinas largest ever, concluded with the release of 80,000 doves into the sky. Xi flanked by Putin, Kim Flanked by Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-un, Xi used the occasion to project his vision of a new global order. China firmly stands on the right side of history, he declared in his opening speech. Warning of present-day tensions, he added, Today humanity again has to choose between peace and war. Earlier, Putin and Xi met to secure a new long-term gas deal, while Kim arrived in Beijing by armoured train after visiting a missile lab. Analysts are watching closely for signs of potential trilateral defence cooperation among China, Russia and North Korea, following military pacts signed last year. Despite a rapidly ageing population in China, the company, often dubbed Moutai of funeral services, has faced an economic slowdown, a property downturn and uncertain employment prospects, which have led to its downfall Chinas biggest cemetery operator, Fu Shou Yuan, has reported its first loss in a decade, becoming the latest industry facing a consumer spending slowdown in the country. In the first six months of 2025, the Shanghai-based funeral service provider recorded a net loss of 261 million yuan, a first since 2010, the companys interim results showed last week. Total revenue dropped by 44.5 per cent to 610.9 million yuan. Revenue from burial services, mainly from the sale of burial plots, declined by 47 per cent to 477 million yuan, while funeral services saw a 34 per cent decrease, falling to 122 million yuan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Whats the reason behind the loss? The company has blamed external factors affecting consumer demand at home for its record losses this year. In its report, Fu Shou Yuan said, In this economic environment, customers seem to be more cautious in their spending on death care services, while competition within the industry has shown signs of intensifying." Despite a rapidly ageing population in China, the company, often dubbed Moutai of funeral services, has faced an economic slowdown, a property downturn and uncertain employment prospects, which have led to its downfall. In recent years, the country has encouraged environmentally friendly and cost-effective burial options by offering subsidies for green practices, such as scattering ashes at sea or on flower beds. Public data shows that nearly 200,000 people chose sea burials in the past five years. The companys rise Following Chinas removal of strict Covid measures in 2022, Fu Shou Yuan witnessed a meteoric rise. In the first half of 2023, the companys net profits increased by 78 per cent to 464.7 million yuan. This rise was attributed to soaring burial plot prices in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. When Fu Shou Yuan went public in Hong Kong in 2013, the average cost of a burial plot was around 68,000 yuan. By the end of last year, that figure had nearly doubled to 121,000 yuan, according to the companys annual report. In the first half of this year, the average selling price of burial plots dropped by 48 per cent to approximately 63,000 yuan, according to Fu Shou Yuan. Across the nearly 20 regions where the company operates, revenue from Shanghai, its largest market, fell sharply by 54 per cent to 241 million yuan. In central Hubei province, sales declined even more steeply, plunging 65 per cent to just 281,000 yuan. A leading US academic urged President Trump to roll back tariffs on India, cut them to zero and even apologise to New Delhi, while praising PM Modis ability to balance ties with Washington. A leading American academic has urged President Donald Trump to roll back tariffs on India, cut them to zero, and even apologise to New Delhi, while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modis ability to balance ties with Washington, Moscow and Beijing. Edward Price, professor at New York University, told ANI that India is a deciding force in shaping the 21st century and described the US-India partnership as crucial. #WATCH | New York | "PM Modi is smart, he is playing his cards and is reminding the US that he has a choice..." says Edward Price, Adjunct Instructor, Centre for Global Affairs and Independent Analyst, School of Professional Studies, NYU, on the meeting between PM Modi, Xi pic.twitter.com/r6fxGTZDfV ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said he was surprised by Trumps decision to impose tariffs at a time when Washington is already locked in competition with China and conflict with Russia. I consider the partnership between India and the US as the most crucial 21st-century partnership. This partnership will decide what happens between China and Russia. India has the deciding vote in the 21st century I cant for the life of me understand why the President of the US, in confrontation with China and in a war with Russia, then imposes 50% tariffs on India," he said. We need to remove the 50% tariff on India and get it down to something far more reasonable, I suggest zero per cent and apologise," he added. He further said President Trump has pushed PM Modi closer to Putin and Xi. I would not look at the compelling visuals that we saw; it is necessary that those three men will now always work together. PM Modi is smart, he is playing his cards and is reminding the US that he has a choice STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US-India relationship has strengthened in recent years, including during Trumps first term, given shared concerns about Chinas growing power, but Trump threatened the tariffs on India after it refused to stop buying Russian oil in defiance of his efforts to end Moscows war in Ukraine. In China, in an image designed to convey solidarity, Putin and Modi were shown holding hands as they walked jovially toward Xi before the summit opened. The three men stood shoulder-to-shoulder, laughing and surrounded by interpreters. Beijing has used the summit to mend ties with New Delhi. Modi, visiting China for the first time in seven years, and Xi agreed on Sunday their countries are development partners, not rivals, and discussed ways to improve trade. The US State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the meetings in China. With inputs from agencies Speaking about Germany-India relations, Wadephul said that while both countries have their own political positions and priorities, they share a strong commitment to democratic principles and regulatory standards German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Wednesday said that the country supports Indias fight against terrorism and acknowledged New Delhis role in bringing peace with Europe by using its relations with Russia. Wadephul is on a two-day official visit to India. Earlier today, he went to Bengaluru before arriving in New Delhi to hold discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. When it comes to India defending itself against terrorism, Germany continues to be firmly at your side, the German FM said during a joint press conference with Jaishankar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added, Prime Minister Modi, when he met with President Putin a couple of days ago, also pointed to the need for a speedy peace agreement in Ukraine, which has been important to us. I know that we dont always see 100% eye to eye with our Indian friends, and this is why I spoke out in favour today that India uses its relations with Russia to point to the need to make peace return to Europe and Im grateful for the open discussion we had here today. #WATCH | Delhi: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says, "Prime Minister Modi, when he met with President Putin a couple of days ago, also pointed to the need for a speedy peace agreement in Ukraine, which has been important to us. We Europeans are doing our best, working pic.twitter.com/2PYdVg4MwB ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025 Speaking about Germany-India relations, Wadephul emphasised the importance of India in Asia, comparing its role to that of Germany and the European Union for India. He acknowledged that while both countries have their own political positions and priorities, they share a strong commitment to democratic principles and regulatory standards. #WATCH | Delhi: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says, "India equals Asia for us and Germany and the European Union in a way are equivalent for India. India plays a very important part, and though we both have our own political positions and political priorities but when pic.twitter.com/ylrOVpGybF ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Jaishankar said, We have important strategic relationships with a number of countries, and its in the nature of global politics or global strategy today that each one of these relationships would be maintained and optimised. So to me, both Germany in itself and Germany as the biggest country of the European Union are obviously central to the calculations and to the relationships that we have in the world. #WATCH | Delhi | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...We have important strategic relationships with a number of countries, and it's in the nature of global politics or global strategy today that each one of these relationships would be maintained and optimised. So to me, both Germany pic.twitter.com/nKUg8iAWTH ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A US federal judge has ruled that Google must share parts of its search data with rivals to improve competition but will not be forced to sell its Chrome browser or Android system. The decision, delivered by Judge Amit Mehta, comes after a long antitrust battle over Googles dominance in online search. A US federal judge ruled on Tuesday (Sept 2) that Google will not be forced to sell its Chrome browser or Android operating system but must share parts of its search data with rivals to boost competition in online search. US District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, in a 223-page decision, ordered Google to provide qualified competitors with access to some of its search results and data. However, he rejected prosecutors demand that the tech giant be broken up, saying selling Chrome or Android was not necessary. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Justice Department had pushed for broader data-sharing, arguing it was key to curbing Googles monopoly. Google, meanwhile, warned that such measures could allow competitors to reverse-engineer its technology. CEO Sundar Pichai voiced those concerns during the April 2025 trial, according to Reuters. More from World Google has indicated it will appeal the ruling, which could delay any changes for years. The company also argued that its deals with device makers and carriers, including Samsung, Motorola, AT&T, and Verizon, already permit rival search engines to be installed on devices. Judge Mehta further barred Google from signing exclusive agreements that prevent manufacturers from preloading competing products on new devices. His decision follows a lengthy antitrust battle, after he ruled in 2024 that Google had illegally suppressed competition in online search. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has firmly countered White House trade adviser Peter Navarros description of India as an oil laundromat, stressing that New Delhi has operated fully within international rules while stabilising global energy markets. Writing in The Hindu, Puri argued that Indias position as the worlds fourth-largest petroleum exporter long predates the Ukraine war and its trade volumes and refining margins have remained consistent since Russias invasion. He remarked that critics wrongly accused India of profiteering, noting that Europe itself relied on Indian refined fuels after imposing a ban on Russian crude. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Navarros accusations against New Delhi Navarro, a Trump administration official, had recently accused India of turning into a hub for laundering Russian oil revenues, claiming New Delhi was financing President Vladimir Putins war machine. In a barrage of posts on X, Navarro referred to the Ukraine war as Modis war and alleged that Indias oil industry had transformed the country into a massive refining centre for Russian crude. His remarks drew sharp responses from Indian officials, who highlighted the legal and transparent nature of Indias transactions. Surge in Russian imports after Ukraine war Following Moscows invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Indias imports of Russian crude rose from less than 1 per cent to nearly 40 per cent of total intake. Refiners took advantage of steep discounts as Western buyers shunned Russian supplies, a CLSA report said. While this secured cheaper energy for India, critics in Washington argued that refined products exported to Europe indirectly undermined sanctions. Puri, however, emphasised that Russian oil had never been under blanket sanctions like those applied to Venezuela or Iran. He explained that the G7 and European Union deliberately set up a price-cap mechanism to ensure continued supplies while limiting Moscows revenue stream, and that India had fully complied with all 18 rounds of sanctions packages. Indias role in global energy stability In his article, Puri highlighted that every shipment of Russian crude imported into India had followed international norms, using legal shipping, insurance, and audited trading channels. He maintained that India had acted not only in its national interest but also in the broader interest of global stability. According to him, Indias purchases had prevented oil prices from spiralling out of control and kept supply chains functioning. A recent report by brokerage firm CLSA supported this view, warning that a sudden halt to Indian imports could leave up to one million barrels a day strandedabout 1 per cent of global supplyand push crude prices up to USD 100 per barrel. Domestic measures to protect citizens Puri also pointed to steps taken at home to shield Indian households from global price shocks. He said public-sector oil companies had absorbed losses of up to 10 per litre on diesel, while the government slashed central and state taxes. In addition, refiners were required to sell at least half of their petrol and 30 per cent of their diesel output within the domestic market. These measures, he argued, ensured that not a single retail outlet ran dry and that fuel prices remained stable for ordinary citizens despite the global turmoil. Russias irreplaceable role in oil markets Highlighting the structural realities of the oil market, Puri insisted that Russias role as the worlds second-largest producersupplying nearly 10 per cent of global oilcould not be easily substituted. He cautioned that ignoring this fact risked destabilising global energy security. By adhering to international frameworks, India had helped avoid what could have been a catastrophic spike to $200 per barrel, he said. A geopolitical backdrop of shifting alliances The debate over Indias oil imports comes amid a broader reordering of global alliances. Analysts noted that while India defended its purchases, Europe itself had turned to Indian refined fuels to fill the gap left by banned Russian crude. Meanwhile, shifts elsewhere highlighted the fragility of global order. Billionaire investor Ray Dalio recently warned that President Donald Trump was pushing the United States back to the 1930s, with critics too fearful of retaliation to speak out. a Dalio report said. In Asia, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin deepened ties after their talks in Beijing, with China offering visa-free travel for Russian citizens on a trial basis. At the same time, unrest in Indonesia following President Prabowos policies prompted Malaysia to issue travel warnings to its citizens Standing firm In pushing back against Navarros allegations, Puri framed India not as a violator of sanctions but as a responsible actor keeping markets steady. He reiterated that Indias refining industry had long played a central role in global supply chains and that its energy diplomacy was both lawful and necessary. For New Delhi, the message was clear: accusations of profiteering overlooked both the legal framework governing Russian oil and the stabilising role India continues to play in global energy markets. Trump brushed aside viral rumours of his death, calling them crazy and saying he was unaware of the false claims that spread online during his brief break from public appearances. US President Donald Trump dismissed viral rumours of his death, saying he was unaware of the false reports that spread on social media during his brief absence from the public eye. I didnt hear that one, the US president said when asked about the claims at a White House press conference. I have heard, its sort of crazy. But last week I did numerous news conferences. All successful, they went very well, like this is going very well and then I didnt do any for two days and they said, there must be something wrong with him, Trump said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD President Donald Trump called the rumors circulating online about his death "crazy," saying he was "very active" over the holiday weekend. "It's so fake. That's why the media has so little credibility," he said Tuesday during a news conference in the Oval Office. Trump's pic.twitter.com/Ypmvmjhehj PBS News (@NewsHour) September 2, 2025 Biden wouldnt do them for months, you wouldnt see them, and nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him and he wasnt in the greatest of shape, he added, as Vice President JD Vance and Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) laughed beside him. Thats pretty serious. The speculation spread rapidly online over the Labor Day weekend, with hashtags like #trumpdead and #whereistrump trending. The baseless claims were fuelled by his week-long break from public appearances and photos showing his bruised hands and swollen ankles. On Sunday night, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. By Tuesday, he acknowledged the chatter about his health, but when asked by a Fox News reporter how he discovered he had been declared dead online, he replied: I didnt hear it to that extent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thailand, which has been under a caretaker government since last week, saw competing efforts to resolve its political crisis on Wednesday, as the countrys main opposition party agreed to support its rival to be the next prime minister while the party in power said it wants a new election. Thailand is witnessing one of its most turbulent political moments in years, with the ouster of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra triggering a scramble for power that has pitted old rivals against one another and thrown the countrys fragile democracy into fresh uncertainty. On Wednesday, Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the mid-sized Bhumjaithai Party declared he had secured enough parliamentary support to become Thailands next prime minister. The 58-year-old, a former health minister best known for decriminalising cannabis during the COVID-19 era, claimed he had built a coalition of seven parties and groups commanding 146 seats in the lower house. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Importantly, his bid has been bolstered by the progressive opposition Peoples Party which holds nearly a third of the chamber. Days of political deadlock appeared to ease when the Peoples Party, known for its anti-establishment stance, announced its backing for Anutin in return for his promise to dissolve parliament within four months. The arrangement, according to its leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, was designed to prevent interference by powerful interests outside of politics and avert the return of what he described as an unfit coalition. Our decision is about finding a solution for the country based on parliamentary democratic principles, preventing outside forces from interfering, and unlocking the process towards a new constitution and returning the power to the people as soon as possible, Natthaphong said, adding that a parliamentary vote could take place as early as Friday. For Anutin, who said he would lead only a short-lived minority government until new elections were held, the support was a breakthrough moment. The party has cooperated and made sacrifices in finding a solution for Thailand during a period of crises, he told reporters, stressing that his priority was to stabilise the country. But even as Anutin moved to consolidate his numbers, the ruling Pheu Thai Party sought to undercut his advance. The party, dominated by the billionaire Shinawatra dynasty, petitioned King Maha Vajiralongkorn to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections, a move it said was necessary to restore stability after Paetongtarns dramatic dismissal. The situation right now shows how the democratic system has been twisted, said acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. We decided to hand power back to the people to decide. But this is a royal prerogative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Legal experts are divided on whether a caretaker administration has the authority to request dissolution, injecting further uncertainty into the already volatile environment. Paetongtarns ouster last Friday for an ethics violation marked the latest chapter in Thailands two-decade power struggle between the Shinawatra family and its conservative, royalist adversaries. She was the sixth Shinawatra-linked leader to be forced from office by either the military or the courts and the second in less than a year. The episode has reinforced perceptions of a political system deeply vulnerable to elite interference and institutional intervention. Anutins rise could prove a decisive test. His coalition would not formally include the Peoples Party, but their 143 lawmakers backing could give him the 247 votes needed to cross the threshold for premiership in the 500-member lower house. Yet whether his temporary government can survive even its short intended lifespan will depend on how Thailands powerful establishment reacts. For Pheu Thai, which has dominated Thai politics by winning five of the past six elections, the prospect of being sidelined by a smaller party and its former allies is nothing short of humiliating. Once confident of its ability to hold together a coalition, the party has been rapidly losing partners to Bhumjaithais dealmaking blitz since June. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The high-stakes political contest has once again laid bare the fragility of Thailands democracy, where repeated cycles of electoral triumphs by the Shinawatras have often ended in judicial or military interventions. Whether Anutin can break that cycle even temporarily may become clear within days. With inputs from agencies On July 14, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Putin to get to the negotiating table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That deadline passed on September 2 and there is still no sign of a meeting between the two leaders. As the deadline for a Ukraine ceasefire has passed, the US President Donald Trump indicated on that he is holding back further moves against Moscow while awaiting Russian President Vladimir Putins response. Responding to media on why there has been no action against Russia since he took office, President Trump rejected the claim, pointing to sanctions already in place. Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India that cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia. You call that no action? And I havent done phase two yet or phase three, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Asked whether he had a message for Putin following the truce expiry, Trump said, I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and hell make a decision well either be happy about it or unhappy and if were unhappy about it, youll see things happen. On July 14, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Putin to get to the negotiating table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That deadline passed on September 2 and there is still no sign of a meeting between the two leaders. President Trump has repeatedly said he will punish Russia and President Vladimir Putin if Moscow doesnt come to the table and agree to peace talks or a ceasefire with Ukraine. Russia has shown no signs of intending to do either, instead continuing and increasing its attacks on Ukraine as it looks to consolidate gains on the battlefield. And still, Trump is holding off on releasing a big bazooka of extra sanctions and economic punishment that could hurt an already weakened Russia. The reason for the standstill is strategic and extends beyond Russia, according to analysts, who warn that the longer Trump holds off, the more he undermines his and the US position. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump held a summit with Putin in Alaska in mid-August and subsequently met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European and NATO alliance leaders at the White House. Following those meetings, Trump said he expected Zelenskyy and Putin to hold a bilateral meeting before a trilateral meeting that would also include Trump. Zelenskyy has said Russia was doing everything it could to prevent a meeting between him and Putin, while Russia says the agenda for such a meeting was not ready. I am very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we will be doing something to help people live, Trump had said in an interview on The Scott Jennings Radio Show. Trump has told Zelenskyy that Washington would help guarantee Ukraines security in any deal. Trump has also renewed a threat to impose further sanctions on Russia if there is no progress toward a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. Russia occupies around a fifth of Ukraine, and Trump has said land-swapping and changes to territory will be crucial for any settlement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukraine opposes the idea of legally recognising any Ukrainian territory as Russian. But it has tacitly acknowledged it will almost certainly have to accept some de facto territorial losses. With inputs from agencies About 400 children in Indonesias Bengkulu Province fell ill after eating free school meals, in the countrys worst food poisoning case linked to President Prabowos flagship nutrition programme. Authorities have launched an investigation after dozens were rushed to hospital with stomach pain. About 400 children in Indonesias western Bengkulu Province have fallen ill after consuming free school meals, marking the countrys worst case of mass food poisoning linked to President Prabowo Subiantos flagship nutrition programme, The Independent reported. Launched in January to combat malnutrition among children and pregnant women, the initiative has been plagued by similar incidents across the archipelago. In August, 365 people in Central Java fell sick after eating the meals, with poor sanitation blamed by local media. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Children rushed to hospital In Bengkulu, children aged 4 to 12 were rushed to hospitals last Thursday, many suffering stomach pain, according to a local government video statement. Authorities have opened an investigation, Vice Governor Mian confirmed. We will temporarily suspend operations at this kitchen while we investigate where the weaknesses lie. This is the domain of the BGN (National Nutrition Agency) investigation team and the authorities, he said. The National Nutrition Agency, which oversees the programme, has yet to comment. Programme under scrutiny Despite setbacks, the free meals initiative has rapidly expanded, reaching more than 20 million recipients so far. Authorities plan to cover 83 million people by the end of this year, with a budget of 171 trillion rupiah ($10.52 billion). During the August outbreak, Sragen government chief Sigit Pamungkas pledged the government would cover all medical costs for affected students. Students describe painful ordeal Wizdan Ridho Abimanyu, a ninth grader at Gemolong 1 Middle School, recalled being woken at night by sharp stomach pains. He also suffered headaches and diarrhoea, later realising it was food poisoning after seeing classmates posting similar symptoms online. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The suspected meal in Bengkulu included turmeric rice, omelette ribbons, fried tempeh, cucumber and lettuce salad, sliced apple, and a box of milk. The food was prepared in a central kitchen and distributed to multiple schools. Families of victims of two crashes of Boeing 737 Max aeroplanes in Indonesia and in Ethiopia may get the final chance to demand the company face criminal prosecution today. At least 346 people were killed in those crashes. Families who lost loved ones in two crashes of Boeing 737 Max jetliners may get their last chance to demand the company face criminal prosecution Wednesday. Thats when a federal judge in Texas is set to hear arguments on a US government motion to dismiss a felony charge against Boeing. US prosecutors charged Boeing with conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with the crashes that killed 346 people off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. Federal prosecutors alleged Boeing deceived government regulators about a flight-control system that was later implicated in the fatal flights, which took place less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Boeing decided to plead guilty instead of going to trial, but US District Chief Judge Reed OConnor rejected the aircraft makers plea agreement in December. OConnor, who also will consider whether to let prosecutors dismiss the conspiracy charge, objected to diversity, equity and inclusion policies potentially influencing the selection of an independent monitor to oversee the companys promised reforms. Lawyers representing relatives of some of the passengers who died cheered OConnors decision, hoping it would further their goal of seeing former Boeing executives prosecuted during a public trial and more severe financial punishment for the company. Instead, the delay worked to Boeings favor. The judges refusal to accept the agreement meant the company was free to challenge the Justice Departments rationale for charging Boeing as a corporation. It also meant prosecutors would have to secure a new deal for a guilty plea. Resolving a difficult and complex case The government and Boeing spent six months renegotiating their plea deal. During that time, President Donald Trump returned to office and ordered an end to the diversity initiatives that gave OConnor pause. By the time the Justice Departments criminal fraud section briefed the judge in late May, the charge and the plea were off the table. A non-prosecution agreement the two sides struck said the government would dismiss the charge in exchange for Boeing paying or investing another $1.1 billion in fines, compensation for the crash victims families, and internal safety and quality measures. The Justice Department said it offered Boeing those terms in light of significant changes Boeing made to its quality control and anti-fraud programs since entering into the July 2024 plea deal. The department also said it thought that persuading a jury to punish the company with a criminal conviction would be risky, while the revised agreement ensures meaningful accountability, delivers substantial and immediate public benefits, and brings finality to a difficult and complex case whose outcome would otherwise be uncertain. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Judge OConnor has invited some of the families to address the court on Wednesday. One of the people who plans to speak is Catherine Berthet, whose daughter, Camille Geoffrey, died at age 28 when a 737 Max crashed shortly after takeoff from Ethiopias Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Berthet, who lives in France, is part of a group of about 30 families who want the judge to deny the governments request and to appoint a special prosecutor to take over the case. While it is no surprise that Boeing is trying to buy everyone off, the fact that the DOJ, which had a guilty plea in its hands last year, has now decided not to prosecute Boeing regardless of the judges decision is a denial of justice, a total disregard for the victims and, above all, a disregard for the judge, she said in a statement. The government says the judge cant deny its request Justice Department lawyers maintain the families of 110 crash victims either support a pre-trial resolution or do not oppose the non-prosecution agreement. The departments lawyers also dispute whether OConnor has authority to deny the motion without finding prosecutors acted in bad faith instead of the public interest. While federal judges typically defer to the discretion of prosecutors in such situations, court approval is not automatic. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the Boeing case, the Justice Department has asked to preserve the option of refiling the conspiracy charge if the company does not hold up its end of the deal over the next two years. Boeing reached a settlement in 2021 that protected it from criminal prosecution, but the Justice Department determined last year that the company had violated the agreement and revived the charge. Faulty sensor readings preceded crashes The case revolves around a new software system Boeing developed for the Max. In the 2018 and 2019 crashes, the software pitched the nose of the plane down repeatedly based on faulty readings from a single sensor, and pilots flying then-new planes for Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines were unable to regain control. The Transportation Departments inspector general found that Boeing did not inform key Federal Aviation Administration personnel about changes it made to the MCAS software before regulators set pilot training requirements for the Max and certified the airliner for flight. Acting on the incomplete information, the FAA approved minimal, computer-based training for Boeing 737 pilots, avoiding the need for flight simulators that would have made it more expensive for airlines to adopt the latest version of the jetliner. Airlines began flying the Max in 2017. After the Ethiopia crash, the planes were grounded worldwide for 20 months while the company redesigned the software. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the final weeks of Trumps first term, the Justice Department charged Boeing with conspiring to defraud the U.S. government but agreed to defer prosecution and drop the charge after three years if the company paid a $2.5 billion settlement and strengthened its ethics and legal compliance programs. The 2021 settlement agreement was on the verge of expiring when a panel covering an unused emergency exit blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight over Oregon at the beginning of last year. No one was seriously injured, but the potential disaster put Boeings safety record under renewed scrutiny. A former Boeing test pilot remains the only individual charged with a crime in connection with the crashes. In March 2022, a federal jury acquitted him of misleading the FAA about the amount of training pilots would need to fly the Max. (This is an agency copy. Except for the headline, the copy has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Australias ties with Israel have been rocked by mass protests at home, a pledge to recognise Palestine and a bitter diplomatic fallout In recent months, Australian cities have seen some of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the countrys history. Tens of thousands of protesters filled streets on August 24, urging their government to sever military links with Israel and impose sanctions over the Gaza war. This came just weeks after the Sydney Harbour Bridge march on August 3, an event described as one of the most significant political gatherings in decades. These protests coincided with a worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza that prompted the International Association of Genocide Scholars to declare that Israels campaign amounted to genocide. The academic group said tens of thousands of children were killed or injured and healthcare, food and education infrastructures were targeted. Israel dismissed the report as Hamas lies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The mounting pressure at home appears to have pressured Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to review Australias ties with Israel. Having had backed Israel in post-October 2023 Hamas raids, he changed tack to announce that Australia would conditionally recognise a Palestinian state, joining the UK, France and Canadas call for the same. His decision to recognise Palestine also stemmed from a call Albanese had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly played down the gravity of humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The change in Australias position is significant given it has been a long-standing ally of Israel. Is it symbolic or substantial? Critics argue that Canberras position is more symbolic than substantive. Many feels that Albaneses anger is more about political appeasement than a real disapproval of Israels actions. Australias role in Israels Gaza bombings has met with sharp criticism in protests at home. Australia supplies parts of F-35 fighter jets that Israel has used in Gaza bombings. It is the only country in the world that makes the parts key for operational mechanism that opens the aircrafts bomb-bay doors. Australia has dismissed allegations that it supplies arms to Israel while the latters forces continue their military operations in Gaza. Its Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has argued that Australia only supplies components and parts that are non-lethal in nature. However, the UN definition categorises these parts as arms trade, says a BBC report. The continued supply of F-35 parts while bombings continue in Gaza has been cited by protesters as Australias non-seriousness towards stated criticism expressed in remakrs made by Albanese. Human rights groups say recognition of Palestine without halting arms-related exports amounts to political theatre. The debate echoes developments in the UK, where courts recently rejected an attempt to stop exports of F-35 components to Israel declaring it a political rather than judicial matter. Human rights campaigners denounced the decision accusing governments of shirking international law responsibilities despite acknowledging their exports could facilitate atrocities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From recognition to recrimination Israel has reacted with fury on the changed stance from Australia. With the changed viewpoint, a visibly unamused Netanyahu accused Albanese of appeasing Hamas and pouring fuel on an antisemitic fire. Within days, the diplomatic row escalated. Australia barred far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman from entering the country, prompting Israel to revoke visas of Australian envoys to the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahus denunciations grew sharper, branding Albanese a weak politician who had betrayed Israel and abandoned Australias Jews. In Canberra, Albanese attempted to stay measured, saying he would not take the insults personally. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was more direct, accusing Netanyahu of lashing out and stressing that strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many you can leave hungry. BBC quoted Ian Parmeter of Australian National University as saying that Canberra has not sounded so distant from its long-standing ally in the past. He argued that mass public protests, combined with Netanyahus denial of Gazas humanitarian catastrophe, compelled the Albanese government to shift course. A diplomatic balancing act At the same time, Australia expelled Irans ambassador over alleged links to antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne its first such expulsion since the Second World War. Israel welcomed the decision with one spokesperson claiming Netanyahus intervention had been decisive. Australia rejected the suggestion outright as complete nonsense. Despite the fiery rhetoric, the fallout may not leave permanent scars, experts say. Though Australia and Israel do not share a large bilateral trade relationship, people-to-people ties have been strong. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For now, however, the intersection of arms exports, domestic protest and diplomatic clashes has left relations between Australia and Israel at their most strained in decades. How the political masters in two the countries respond to the current diplomatic brawl amid an ongoing reset of geopolitical order is likely to define the future course of Australia-Israel bilateral ties. Xis comments came as he addressed the Victory Day parade, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Chinese leader said China was unstoppable in a speech to kick off proceedings Chinas President Xi Jinping (C), North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un (R) and Russias President Vladimir Putin (L) arrive for a reception in the Great Hall of the People. AFP Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said that the country is never intimidated by bullies, in a veiled dig at US President Donald Trump, as he asserted that Beijing firmly stands on the right side of history. Xis comments came as he addressed the Victory Day parade, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Chinese leader said China was unstoppable in a speech to kick off proceedings. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable and humanitys cause of peace and development will prevail, Xi said, adding the world was faced with a choice of peace or war. We will remain committed to the path of peaceful development. The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army has been and will always be the heroic armed forces that the people can trust and rely on, the Chinese president added. Trump greets Xi Trump greeted China on its Victory Day and sent warmest regards to this years parade participants, President Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and blood that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. He added, Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America. Trump has been in murky waters ever since the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit brought together leaders like Xi, Putin, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when tariffs imposed by him are wreaking havoc across the world. Show of power China has touted the parade as a show of unity with other countries, and Kims attendance is the first time he has been seen with Xi and Putin at the same event. It is only his second reported trip abroad in six years. All eyes are on how the trio of Xi, Putin and Kim who rarely leaves secretive North Korea interact with each other in a highly choreographed photo opportunity seen as a coup for China on the world stage. During the summit, Xi slammed bullying behaviour from certain countries a veiled reference to the United States while Putin defended Russias Ukraine offensive, blaming the West for triggering the conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies German foreign minister Johann David Wadephul has said that the countrys only demand in the Russia-Ukraine war is that weapons go silent. He is currently on a visit to India. In a photo shared on September 2, 2025, German foreign minister Johann David Wadephul speaks to the media about his visit to India. (Photo: X/Johann David Wadephul) German foreign minister Johann David Wadephul on Wednesday said that the countrys only demand in the Russia-Ukraine was is that weapons go silent. Wadephul arrived in India on Tuesday on a two-day visit. After engaging with the scientific and industrial fraternity in Bengaluru, he held a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday. He also held a meeting with Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal. At a press conference in New Delhi, Wadephul said that the only demand is that weapons fall silent and added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shown the intention to make peace but Russian leader Vladimir Putin has not committed to a meeting as part of peace efforts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We Europeans are doing our best, working with our American and Ukrainian friends to ensure that this war ends soon and that Ukraine finds peace as a sovereign state, said Wadephul. The Associated Press reported that Wadephul urged India to press Putin to return to peace talks over the war in Ukraine, capitalising on the historically close ties between India and Russia. Talks have not been easy Wadephul said that ongoing talks have not been easy but noted that conversations have been very fruitful. Wadephul also mentioned Trumps mediation but noted that Putin has yet not agreed to sit across the table from Zelenskyy. Wadephul further said, Ukraine agreed to sit down on negotiation table but Russia has not agreed. The only demand is weapon go silent. We want to do whatever we can do to make President Putin to sit on the table. We have sanctions imposed on Russia. Ukraine and Russia have held multiple rounds of talks in Turkey. However, no major understanding emerged out of those talks and it is not known if and when another round of talks would be held. Last month, after Putin rebuffed all of his deadlines and requests, Trump invited the Russian leader to the United States for a summit. Following the summit, Trump held meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders. But nothing substantial came out of these Trump-led efforts. Instead, Russia ramped up assaults on Ukraine and defied yet another two-week deadline set by Trump. Listing Europes efforts to pressure Russia, Wadephul drew an apparent distinction from the United States. He highlighted that Europe has imposed sanctions on Russia and has set a price cap on oil in a bid to deprive the country of funds for the war whereas the United States has slapped India with 50 per cent tariffs after accusing India of driving the Russian war machine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The two leaders are in China to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin and attend a grand parade of the Chinese army in Beijing Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that while it is perfectly fine with Indias relations with Russia, Islamabad also seeks a stronger bilateral relationship with Moscow, as he met President Vladimir Putin in China. The two leaders are in China to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin and attend a grand parade of the Chinese army in Beijing on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Our relations have only improved over the past many years. Thanks to your commitment and interest in many areas. I also intend to decisively strengthen our bilateral ties, Sharif told Putin. He added, I must say that we respect your relations with India. That is perfectly fine. But we also want to build very strong relations (with Russia). And these relations will be supplementary and complementary for the good and for the progress and prosperity of the region. The prime minister also expressed gratitude to Putin for Russias support of Pakistan and called the president a dynamic leader. Sharif noted that Pakistans ties with Russia are moving in the right direction. Meanwhile, Putin highlighted the upward trajectory of ties between the two countries and stressed the importance of collaboration in organisations such as the SCO, which in turn can serve a major role in regional and global security and stability. The two leaders also discussed the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East and the Ukraine conflict. They also exchanged views on ongoing cooperation at the multilateral forums, as well as on the long-standing issues and disputes of global interest, such as Palestine and Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported. Sharif also accepted Putins invitation to visit Russia in November and participate in a SCO event for heads of government. I would be very happy to visit Russia, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies More and more countries are recognising the Palestinian state, but such a state may just exist on paper as Israel is reportedly considering to annex the West Bank, and tighten control on Gaza. Will the recognised Palestine state be only on paper? Palestinian demonstrators hold Palestinian flags as they celebrate after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a Palestinian-drafted resolution to fly Palestine's flag at United Nations headquarters, September 11, 2015. File Image/Reuters Belgium on Tuesday joined the likes of France and Australia to pledge the recognition of the Palestinian state. But such a state may just exist on paper in the absence of any land or people to be governed. Under the two-state solution endorsed by most of the international community, a State of Israel for Jews and a State of Palestine for Arabs are envisioned in the contested territory that was once the British Mandate for Palestine. The Palestinian state would comprise the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Israel is currently considering the annexation of the West Bank that it has occupied since 1967. Moreover, reports suggest that the US-Israeli vision for post-war Gaza Strip includes the expulsion of all Palestinians from the territory in what critics say is state-sponsored ethnic cleansing. US President Donald Trump earlier said that the United States will annex the territory and convert it into a resort town. With no territory, people, or a government, the Palestinian state would just be limited to paper for all practical purposes. ALSO READ: Trumps Gaza plan may sound death knell to two-state solution, push West Asia closer to disaster Moreover, the recognition of the Palestinian state as a pressure tactic appears to have backfired, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies looking to double down on their stance to consolidate Israels control over Gaza and the West Bank. Why are countries recognising Palestinian state? Since the Israel-Hamas War began in October 2023, around a dozen countries have recognised or pledged to recognise the Palestinian state . President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will recognise the Palestinian state in September. He said it was part of Frances commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. We must also guarantee the demilitarisation of Hamas and secure and rebuild Gaza. Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative, said Macron. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Additionally, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom have also pledged conditional recognition of the Palestinian state. Previously, Ireland, Norway, and Spain had recognised the Palestinian state in 2024, and Carribean nations of Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas had recognised it before them. ALSO READ: Netanyahu has now joined Trump to kill 2-state solution, here's how his stand evolved over years The main purpose is to put pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza and amend its policy regarding Palestinians. However, there are no signs that increasing recognition of Palestinian state has achieved it. An overwhelming majority of the United Nations (UN) member-states 147 of 193 have already recognised the Palestinian state and frequently slam Israels actions. But it has not led to a change in Israels policies. The Israeli war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians the majority of whom are civilians as per Israel's own data . Nearly the entire pre-war population of 2.2 million people has been displaced and the vast majority of the enclave has been turned into rubble from Israeli bombardment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Gaza Strip faces severe humanitarian crisis, with the UN agencies saying that the situation is worsening by the day as Israel continues to restrict the flow of aid. The UN-backed group that monitors hunger has declared a famine in the strip. In addition to dozens of deaths from hunger, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in attacks while they were at food distribution sites. Israel has denied its role in such killings, blaming these incidents on local groups or Hamas-linked operatives. In July, the UN published a video that showed Israel firing at Palestinians at waiting for a UN food convoy. No real Palestinian state on horizon Despite worldwide condemnation of its actions in Gaza and pressure campaign with the recognition of Palestinian state, there has not been any change in Israels policy, and no real Palestinian state is on the horizon. Instead, Netanyahu and his far-Right allies have hardened their positions. In the wake of increasing recognitions, Netanyahu is considering annexing parts of West Bank and has called a meeting to discuss potential annexation on Thursday, according to CNN. Separately, far-Right minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the phased annexation of Gaza. Moreover, Netanyahu has endorsed Trumps plan to expel all Palestinians from Gaza and complete occupation of the vacated Strip. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the annexation of West Bank and Gaza, if executed, the space for a Palestinian state would be over. Even otherwise, there are real obstacles in the pathway of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian territories are separated and politically split. While Hamas ruled Gaza from 2007 until 2023, the West Bank is partially administered by Palestinian Authority (PA) under the Oslo Accords. India and Russia are negotiating additional deliveries of the S-400 missile, according to reports. Air Force chief AP Singh hailed it as a game-changer after its decisive role in Operation Sindoor. India and Russia are in talks for New Delhi to receive additional deliveries of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, TASS reported late Tuesday, citing a senior Russian defence export official. India already has our S-400 system, said Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russias Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. There is potential to expand our cooperation in this area as well. That means new deliveries. For now, we are in the negotiation stage. S-400 leaves Pakistan stunned The S-400 system left Pakistan stunned and inflicted heavy damage on its air force, taking down multiple fighter jets while protecting Indian skies during Indias Operation Sindoor after Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-backed terrorists. Discounted oil deal in focus amid Trump push Meanwhile, Reuters reported that a barrel of Urals crude is now $3$4 cheaper than Brent on a delivered basis, citing people familiar with offers for cargoes loading in late September and October. The discount stood at around $2.50 last week and about $1 in July. S-400 deliveries on track Russia is expected to deliver the final two S-400 units to India in 2026 and 2027. India and Russia had signed a $5.5 billion agreement for five units in 2018, three of which have already been delivered. Shugayev reiterated, There is potential to expand our cooperation in this area as well. That means new deliveries. For now, we are in the negotiation stage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US pressure over India-Russia trade The twin offers of discounted oil and more S-400 supplies come at a time when India faces pressure from the US over its oil and arms trade with Moscow. Last month, US President Donald Trumps 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports came into effect, half of which he linked to New Delhis continued purchases of Russian oil. US officials have claimed Indian imports spiked significantly after the Ukraine war in 2022. Reuters also reported last week that Russias oil supplies to India in September may rise by 1020 per cent or an additional 150,000 to 300,000 barrels per day compared to August. S-400 a game-changer Earlier, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on August 9 that the Indian Air Force had shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets along with one large aircraft, adding that the Russian-made S-400 missile system had proven to be a game-changer. Greece has passed a controversial new law that makes rejected asylum seekers liable for prison terms if they remain in the country, one of the harshest measures yet in Europes tightening migration regime. Greece has introduced sweeping new measures against irregular migration, passing a law that makes rejected asylum seekers liable for prison terms if they remain in the country. The legislation, approved in Parliament this week is one of the toughest steps yet by a European Union member state and reflects the growing shift across the continent towards deterrence rather than accommodation. The law not only imposes criminal penalties on those who stay after their applications are denied but also speeds up deportation proceedings. Supporters of the measure argue it is necessary to ease the burden on Greeces asylum system which has been strained for years as the country became one of the main gateways for migrants arriving from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Critics, however, say it risks criminalising desperation and undermining basic human rights protections for people who may have nowhere else to go. Greeces move comes amid a broader European trend of hardening borders and discouraging new arrivals. Several EU states are scaling back protections and increasing returns as pressure mounts to reduce irregular migration. The political debate has sharpened further as governments face domestic pushback against rising arrivals. In the United Kingdom, authorities are also signalling a tougher approach. The Home Office has warned international students not to make false asylum claims after completing their courses in order to remain in Britain. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government would take a strict view of such cases. People should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course if nothing has changed in their home country. We need to clamp down on that kind of misuse. The asylum system is not for people who just want to extend their visas, Cooper said. Taken together, the developments in Greece and the UK highlight a broader European strategy: restrict entry, accelerate deportations and penalise overstaying even if it means treating rejected asylum seekers as criminals rather than as people in need of protection. With inputs from agencies Trump has renewed his attack on Indias trade policies, calling the economic relationship one-sided and accusing New Delhi for imposing some of the worlds highest tariffs, including duties of up to 200 per cent on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday escalated his criticism of Indias trade policies, accusing New Delhi of imposing some of the steepest tariffs in the world and describing the long-standing economic relationship as one-sided. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump cited the example of Harley-Davidson motorcycles while addressing Indias 50 per cent tariffs. He noted that India had once imposed a 200 per cent duty on imported motorcycles. Harley-Davidson couldnt sell into India. There was a 200 percent tariff on a motorcycle. So what happens? Harley-Davidson went to India and built a motorcycle plant. And now they dont have to pay tariffs. Same thing as us, Trump remarked. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said, We get along with India very well, but for many years, it was a one-sided relationship. Only now, since I came along and because of the power that we have with us, India was charging us tremendous tariffs, about the highest in the world, and we therefore werent doing much business with India, but they were doing business with us because we werent charging them foolishly. We werent charging them. Trump unloads on India "We got along, but it was one-sided. India slammed us with insane tariffs, up to 200% on Harley-Davidson. We werent doing much business, they were flooding our market enough is enough" pic.twitter.com/Boopm0Bdhd SaffronSoul (@TheRealDharm) September 2, 2025 Trump argued that Indias high tariffs had hurt American manufacturers. So they would send in massive, you know, everything they made, theyd send it in, it poured into our country. Therefore, it wouldnt be made here, you know, which is a negative. But we would not send in anything because they were charging us 100 percent tariffs, he said. He went on to claim that such tariff structures forced American companies to move production overseas. However, Trump insisted that his administrations trade policies, including steep reciprocal tariffs, were beginning to reverse that trend. Trade talks between Washington and New Delhi, which began in April, had raised hopes of progress, with reports suggesting India could allow zero import duty on a quota of Harley-Davidson bikes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But negotiations have since stalled, with India looking eastward to China and strengthening its ties with Russia in response to what it sees as tariff aggression. The ruling that the deployment of military in California was illegal is the latest instance of US President Donald Trump being held as a law-breaker. The courts have repeatedly held his actions as unlawful and unconstitutional that range from imposing tariffs to attempted overriding of the Constitution. Donald Trump speaks to members of the media at Manhattan Supreme Court amid his hush money trial, in New York, US, May 7, 2024. (Photo: Curtis Means/Pool via Reuters) In the latest case that has firmed up US President Donald Trumps credentials as a serial lawbreaker, a federal judge on Tuesday ruled that his deployment of around 5,000 military personnel to California was unlawful . The ruling was at least the fifth time that the courts held his executive actions as unlawful and unconstitutional. But none of these rebukes, which would have otherwise shamed an administration into changing course, has moderated Trumps actions. Instead, he has threatened judges and continued with his agenda. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps deployment of National Guard and Marines to California violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the deployment of military for law enforcement purposes domestically except in some rare cases, according to Judge Charles R Breyer of the Federal District Court in San Francisco. Trumps stated rationale that the National Guard and Marines were deployed to quell a rebellion and enforcement of federal law was incorrect and did not meet the threshold enshrined in laws in place since 1800s, the judge ruled. There were indeed protests in Los Angeles, and some individuals engaged in violence. Yet there was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law, the judge ruled. ALSO READ Maga at work: In New America, Trump is emperor and the world is up for grabs In previous instances, judges have held as unlawful and unconstitutional Trumps actions related to birthright citizenship, tariffs, mass-firing of government employees, and crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Trumps excesses and courts rulings In his second term, Trump has vastly expanded executive power and disregarded due process for everything from deporting immigrants to imposing tariffs. Even as courts have ruled against him in multiple cases, these rulings have not deterred Trump. In any case, the Supreme Court with its 6-3 conservative majority three of six judges being his appointees is in Trumps pocket, so he is assured that all cases, whenever they would eventually land at the Supreme Court, would end in his favour. Here are other actions with which Trump broke the law. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 1. Birthright citizenship In one of his first executive actions, Trump announced the end of birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and temporary residents inside the United States. But multiple courts held the decision as unconstitutional . The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution states that all persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. The key determiner here is the subject to the jurisdiction thereof. The courts have for more than a century held that even undocumented immigrants inside the United States are subjected to US jurisdiction and hence the clause extends to their children. In the United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), the Supreme Court ruled that this extended citizenship to everyone born in the United States irrespective of the immigration status of their parents as long as they were not foreign diplomats or enemy occupiers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, this did not prevent from Trump from banning birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and temporary residents in an blatant act of executive power overriding the Constitution. The New Hampshire Federal Court blocked the executive order and ruling it as blatantly unconstitutional. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the executive order was contrary to the express language of the Citizenship Clause and contrary to justice. It further said that the administrations rationale was contrary to Executive Branch practice for the past 125 years. 2. DEI After Trump ended DEI policies with executive orders, the Maryland Federal District Court and California Federal District Court partially blocked these orders on grounds that they violated fundamental rights of people and organisations, particularly the queer community. 3. Mass firing In a bid to reduce government expenditure and purportedly make the government efficient, Trump through the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) fired thousands of government employees sometimes firing entire teams and departments and shutting down entire government programmes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that these firings were illegal and called the process behind them a sham. The court ordered the immediate reinstatement of thousands of employees in six federal government departments. Separately, the Maryland Federal District Court ruled that the administration failed to follow the due process in firings at 18 federal agencies. 4. Tariffs In arguably the most damning ruling, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit late last month ruled that Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose a slew of tariffs was illegal . Trump has used the IEEPA to impose tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico. He also used the law to use the law to impose so-called reciprocal tariffs on more than 60 countries and blocs. The court ruled that setting tariffs is a core Congressional power. It seems unlikely that Congress intended, in enacting IEEPA, to depart from its past practice and grant the President unlimited authority to impose tariffs, the court ruled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump has dubbed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro a drug cartel boss. But data from the United States and United Nations (UN) contradicts such claims, putting into the question the real intention behind his aggressive Venezuela policy. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks as he presents a proposal to reform the constitution in a session of the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela on February 15, 2025. Reuters File US President Donald Trump has dubbed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as a drug lord. But data from the US government and the United Nations (UN) does not support the claim that Venezuela is at the centre of a drug smuggling network. Last month, the Trump administration declared Maduro to be the leader of the drug cartel Cartel de los Soles and announced a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest. It said that the Soles cartel was responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States for over a decade under Maduros leadership. Previously, in July, the administration had declared the Soles cartel as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Venezuela is not a cocaine-producing country and more than four-fifths of cocaine in the United States comes from Columbia, according to data from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reported by CNN. Moreover, the Soles cartel that Maduro purportedly heads does not practically exist . Independent experts have said that the Soles cartel is a term that the media have used to refer to cells within the Venezuelan government involved in drug smuggling. It is not a hierarchical cartel in real sense of the word. Irrespective of these facts, Trump has deployed at least seven warships, a nuclear submarine, and around 4,500 personnel in the seas around Venezuela to combat purported drug smugglers. He announced on Tuesday that the US military struck a boat from Venezuela that was carrying drugs and killed 11 terrorists. With such actions, Trumps real intention is under question. Officials in Venezuela and experts elsewhere are wondering whether the real intention with such posturing armed intervention for regime-change in Venezuela. Data doesnt support Trumps claims about Venezuela Attorney General Pam Bondi dubbed Maduro as one of the most powerful drug traffickers in the world and a threat to the national security of the United States. But even agencies under her do not share that assessment. In March, the US DEA, which works under Bondis Department of Justice, said in its annual report that 84 per cent of the cocaine seized in the United States comes from Colombia, according to CNN. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the four pages dedicated to cocaine, the report did not mention Venezuela at all. Instead, the report said Colombia and Peru were primarily mentioned as producers and while Ecuador, Central America, and Mexico were mentioned as transit countries. ALSO READ: As Trump deploys warships & soldiers to Caribbean, is he looking for war with Venezuela? Separately, the UNODC said that Colombia accounted for 37 per cent of cocaine seizures, Ecuador for 8.8 per cent, and Panama 4.2 per cent, with Venezuela accounting for less than 2 per cent, as per CNN. However, this does not mean that drugs do not transit through Venezuela or that senior Venezuelan figures have not been involved in drug smuggling. In fact, in 2016, two nephews of Maduros wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested by the DEA in Haiti on drugs smuggling charges. In June, Hugo El Pollo Carvajal pleaded guilty in the United States to import cocaine into the United States and to narco-terrorism charges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has been slammed by his Opposition over his punitive tariffs on India, which he defends as New Delhi buys oil from Russia. The 50 per cent tariffs have plunged the India-US relationship to a new low, with Trump calling Indias economy dead US Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has said that President Donald Trump is destroying India-US ties because Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuses to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. He has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on India, higher than any other country other than Brazil. Its a higher tariff than the tariff on China. It is hurting Indias exports of leather and textiles into the United States. And its hurting American manufacturers and our exports into India. It is also driving India towards China and towards Russia, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Congressman added, Now, why is this happening? For very simple reasons. Prime Minister Modi refused to nominate Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. Well, Pakistan did. And India has said that the border dispute with Pakistan is an internal matter, refusing to give Donald Trump credit. Trump is destroying 30 years of bipartisan work to build the US-India strategic partnership because Modi refuses to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize. He imposed higher tariffs of 50% on India than China. Which Indian Americans who voted for Trump are speaking out? https://t.co/KdBYIUWDMo pic.twitter.com/GNG8aiNOH5 Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) September 2, 2025 Trump has been slammed by his Opposition over his punitive tariffs on India, which he defends as New Delhi buys oil from Russia. The 50 per cent tariffs have plunged the India-US relationship to a new low, with Trump calling Indias economy dead. We cant allow the ego of Donald Trump to destroy a strategic relationship with India that is key to ensuring that America leads and not China. To all those Indian-Americans who voted for Donald Trump, Im asking you, where are you today while he destroys this relationship? Khanna added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Democrats hit out at Trump The Democratic leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has criticised US President Donald Trump for singling out India over its imports of Russian oil while avoiding similar action against China, which remains a larger buyer. The committee said the new tariffs imposed on Indian goods were sabotaging the relationship between Washington and New Delhi, arguing that the administrations approach unfairly penalises India while overlooking Beijings far greater purchases of Russian crude. Former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has blasted US President Donald Trump for launching what he called a massive trade offensive against India, warning it risks pushing New Delhi closer to Beijing. Speaking on The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller, Sullivan said many US allies now see Washington as a big disruptor rather than a dependable partner, while China has gained ground globally. When I go to these places now and I talk to leaders, they are talking about derisking from the United States. They now see the US as the big disruptor, the country that cant be counted on, he said. PM Modi rejects Trumps Nobel bid Trump claimed credit for halting hostilities between India and Pakistan in May and, during a 17 June phone call, sought New Delhis support for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, according to a report by The New York Times. PM Modi is said to have replied that US involvement had nothing to do with the recent cease-fire, insisting the matter was settled directly between India and Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has announced that American forces carried out a strike on a drug-carrying vessel in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 so-called narcoterrorists linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. US President Donald Trump is facing heavy criticism from within the country on his tariff policy, namely the duties levied on India. Now, former US NSA Jake Sullivan has slammed the US president, saying he is sacrificing India ties to for his family business interests in Pakistan. File image/Reuters US President Donald Trump has announced that the US carried out a strike against a vessel carrying drug from Venezuela in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 so-called narcoterrorists. He said on social media that Tuesdays military operation targeted members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Trump stated that the vessel was in international waters and transporting illegal narcotics bound for the United States. The Trump administration has stepped up both military and political pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in recent weeks, including offering a $50m reward for information leading to his arrest on drug-trafficking charges. Maduro has warned that Venezuela would resist any attempted US military intervention. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a social media post, Trump said: The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. No US forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. The president also shared a short video clip showing a small vessel appearing to explode in flames. The footage shows a long, multi-engine speedboat at sea, followed by a bright flash over the craft, which is then briefly engulfed in fire. The video, largely in black and white, does not make it clear whether the boat was carrying as many as 11 people, nor does it show any large or obvious stashes of drugs aboard. The operation marks a rare US military action in the Americas and represents a significant escalation in the Republican administrations efforts to curb narcotics trafficking from Latin America. Emirati envoy Lana Nusseibeh has said West Bank annexation would cross a red line, derail peace efforts, and damage Arab-Israel normalisation just days before Netanyahu convenes ministers on the issue A top United Arab Emirates official has issued a stark warning to Israel that any annexation of the West Bank would cross a red line and end the vision of regional integration. The warning came just two days ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus planned high-level ministerial meeting to discuss whether to move forward with the deeply contentious proposal. Annexation would be a red line for my government, and that means there can be no lasting peace. It would foreclose the idea of regional integration and be the death knell of the two-state solution, The Times of Israel quoted Emirati special envoy Lana Nusseibeh as saying in an interview conducted in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was a stark and surprising warning from Abu Dhabi, timed just ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Abraham Accords the landmark agreement the UAE spearheaded, becoming the first Arab nation in over 25 years to normalise relations with Israel. According to the Times of Israel report, since the signing, Emirati leaders have consistently framed normalisation as a strategic, near-irreversible decision. Thats what made this weeks message delivered by Nusseibeh all the more striking. Her warning underscored how deeply opposed the UAE remains to any renewed Israeli push to annex parts of the West Bank. For every Arab capital you talk to, the idea of regional integration is still a possibility, Times of Israel quoted one official as saying. But annexation to satisfy some of the radical extremist elements in Israel is going to take that off the table, the official added. The carefully worded Emirati statement, which referred to annexation as a potential strategic loss, marked the first time since the Abraham Accords that such a clear red line was publicly drawn. This comes ahead of a high-level ministerial discussion on Thursday regarding possible annexation reportedly in response to growing momentum among several major Western powers to recognise Palestinian statehood at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, according to an Israeli official quoted by The Times of Israel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision to speak directly to an Israeli audience echoed a pivotal moment from 2020, when UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba published an op-ed in a major Israeli newspaper, warning that annexation would jeopardise normalisation. That message ultimately helped pause the previous Netanyahu governments annexation plans and paved the way for formal ties between the two countries. Now, five years on, Abu Dhabi is once again urging Israel to choose between deepening regional integration or risking it altogether. Recently, Israeli leaders have promoted excited talk about normalisation of relations with the UAE and other Arab states. But Israeli plans for annexation and talk of normaliszation are a contradiction, Otaiba wrote in June 2020. The op-ed proved pivotal in shaping the path to the Abraham Accords, striking a chord with Israelis 80% of whom supported shelving annexation in favour of normalising ties with the UAE. Netanyahu ultimately dropped the annexation plan in exchange for diplomatic relations with Abu Dhabi, in a deal brokered by then-US President Donald Trump. However, The Times of Israel later revealed that the UAE had only secured a US promise to oppose annexation until the end of Trumps term. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Recognising the moves limited impact without American backing, Netanyahu did not proceed. That restraint aligned with the Biden administrations firm return to supporting a two-state solution and its opposition to annexation. Now, with Trump back in office, Netanyahus far-right allies view this as a rare political opening. They argue that Washington may now be indifferent or even quietly supportive of declaring Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements. Hardliners are further emboldened by recent announcements from France, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Belgium to recognise a Palestinian state which Israel sees as a reward for Hamass October 7 attack. In response, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday proposed annexing 82% of the West Bank and called on Netanyahu to act. Amid this escalating pressure, Nusseibehs warning also served as a thinly veiled message to the Trump administration one that underscores Abu Dhabis deep concern over the direction of Israeli policy and its potential impact on regional stability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We believe that President Trump and his administration have many of the levers to lead the initiative for a wider integration of Israel into the region, said Nusseibeh, the UAEs assistant minister for political affairs and special envoy for Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed. Nusseibeh, formerly the UAEs ambassador to the United Nations, is considered one of the countrys most influential diplomats, with close ties to the royal family. We trust that President Trump will not allow the Abraham Accords tenet of his legacy to be tarnished, threatened or derailed by extremists and radicals, she added. Like UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba before her, Nusseibeh appeared to direct her message toward the Israeli public, not its government which polls show enjoys only minority support. Arguing that annexation would amount to a rejection of the spirit of the Abraham Accords, she said: That choice should be put directly to the Israeli people. While warning what Israel stands to lose if it proceeds with annexation, Nusseibeh also pointed to what could still be gained suggesting that Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, remain open to normalising ties with Israel. But any future agreements, she said, would depend not only on Israel shelving annexation plans, but also on committing to a credible, irreversible pathway to a future Palestinian state. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For every Arab capital you talk to, the idea of regional integration is still a possibility, but annexation to satisfy some of the radical extremist elements in Israel is going to take that off the table, she said. She emphasised that Abu Dhabis position was not arrived at lightly. When Hamas tried to derail the Abraham Accords vision of regional integration with the October 7 terror attacks, we were firm in our response, Nusseibeh said, pointing to the UAEs swift condemnation of the attack, its recognition of Israels security concerns, and its role in delivering more humanitarian aid to Gaza than any other country. Over the last two years our view was that the vision of the Abraham Accords remains pertinent that you cant let extremists set the trajectory of the region, she said. But with Israel accelerating efforts to entrench its presence in the West Bank and Gaza, Nusseibeh warned: We are worried that all of us in the Middle East are moving toward a point of no return, adding that now is the time to appeal directly to Israelis before regional ties are irreparably damaged. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Abraham Accords tenets of prosperity, coexistence, tolerance, integration and stability, she said, have never looked more under threat than [they are] today. Still, she offered Israelis a message of cautious hope. There is an outstretched hand, despite all of this misery, in the region to Israel. But, annexation would withdraw that hand, she said. With inputs from agencies The family members of the deceased students have urged the Telangana and central governments to arrange the repatriation of the bodies Two Indian students from Hyderabad died in a car crash in the UK earlier this week, while five others were injured in the accident, police officials have said. The mishap occurred in Essex on Monday night (September 1). Two cars carrying nine students from India collided on the A130 dual carriageway at Rayleigh Spur roundabout as they were returning from Ganesh Nimmajanam celebrations. The deceased have been identified as Chaitanya Tarre (23), who died at the scene, and Rishiteja Rapolu (21), who later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The injured students were taken to Royal London Hospital, where two remain in critical condition. Sai Goutham Ravulla (30) is currently on a ventilator, while Nuthan Thatikayala has been left partially paralysed. Others receiving treatment include Yuva Teja Reddy Gurram, Vamshi Golla, and Venkata Sumanth Pentyala. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The police in Essex said that the drivers of the two cars, Gopichand Batamekala and Manohar Sabbani, have been taken into custody in connection with the collision. Meanwhile, family members of the deceased students have urged the Telangana and central governments to arrange the repatriation of the bodies. Chaitanya, a native of Nadargul in Hyderabad, had completed his BTech and moved to London eight months ago to pursue higher studies. His parents, Ailayya and Mangamma, were devastated upon receiving news of his death late Monday night. That same evening, Rishitejas family in Boduppal was also informed of the tragic loss. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Alien Enemies Act did not apply in this case A federal appeals court on Tuesday night blocked President Donald Trump from using an 18th-century wartime law to swiftly deport a group of Venezuelan migrants, rejecting the administrations claim that the migrants constituted an invasion of the United States. According to The New York Times report_,_ in a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Alien Enemies Act did not apply in this case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Trump administration had argued that the migrants were members of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang, but the court found no evidence of an invasion or predatory incursion by a foreign power. The case has drawn national attention as a legal test of the governments attempt to use the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act a powerful statute from the 1790s to justify mass deportations. The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups closely monitored the ruling as a potential precedent for future immigration policy. This is an enormous victory for the rule of law, The New York Times quoted Lee Gelernt, a lawyer who argued the case for the A.C.L.U., making clear that the President cannot simply declare a military emergency and then invoke whatever powers he wants. In April, the Supreme Court temporarily halted the Trump administrations efforts to deport a group of Venezuelan migrants, allowing legal challenges to the former presidents use of wartime authority to continue in the lower courts including the case decided Tuesday by the Fifth Circuit. In their ruling, the Fifth Circuit judges clarified that their injunction applies solely to the use of the Alien Enemies Act. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They emphasised that the decision does not prevent the government from pursuing other lawful avenues to remove foreign terrorists from the United States. With inputs from agencies The United States cannot fight China alone in the Indo-Pacific and needs India on its side, a former US State Department adviser has said amid deteriorating India-US relationship as a result of President Donald Trumps policies. US President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order on creating a White House 2028 Olympics task force in the South Court Auditorium of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 5, 2025. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP) The United States cannot tackle China alone in the Indo-Pacific and needs India on its side, according to Mary Kissel, a former adviser at the US Department of State and a China expert. If we are really serious about considering Communist China the greatest threat to the United States and our way of life, we need India. Its just a fact. We cant fight them alone in the Asia-Pacific, said Kissel, who served as a Senior Adviser to the US Secretary of State (2018-21), in an interview with Fox News. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD "If we are really serious about considering communist China the greatest threat to the United States and our way of life, we need India."@marykissel on @FoxBusiness pic.twitter.com/50wpX8vmMD Hudson Institute (@HudsonInstitute) September 2, 2025 Kissels remarks came at a time when US President Doanld Trump's anti-India campaign ranging from 50 per cent tariffs to meddling in the Kashmir dispute, undermining India on Operation Sindoor, and aligning himself with Pakistan has plunged the India-US relationship to its lowest point in years. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen interacting warmly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the SCO Summit, commentators in the West have said that Trumps policies are pushing India to embrace the China-Russia bloc and ditch the United States. Kissel referred to the SCO Summit in the interview and said it posed a major challenge for the Trump administration. We need the heft of not just Australia, not just our friends in Japan, but also India. I think this meeting is highlighting a major challenge for the Trump administration, said Kissel, who currently serves as a Senior Nonresident Fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank. ALSO READ: With over 60% tariffs, Trump targets Indias key seafood and textile exports as Delhi stands its ground The two-day SCO Summit that concluded on Monday saw some of the biggest non-Western leaders converge at Chinas Tianjin. Xi hosted Putin, Modi, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, among others. This was the biggest SCO Summit and the group has been seen in the West as a China-led rival of Western groups like the G-7 or Nato. Observers in both India and the United States have warned that Trumps policies have put at risk decades of progress in the India-US relationship. President Trump has broken the trust in the India-US relationship, and it will take time and efforts on part of the Americans to rebuild trust, and the responsibility would likely fall on the next administration, Yusuf Unjhawala, a scholar of geopolitics at the Takshashila Institution, previously told Firstpost. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For now, the India-US relationship appears to be frozen and that is expected to deal a blow to collaborations such as the Quad. However, this situation also brings opportunities for middle powers, including in the Indo-Pacific, to come together. I have long believed that India, Japan, and Australia should have a much closer partnership, said Unjhawala. The US Congress House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein has released over 33,000 pages of documents related to the late convicted sex offender, amid mounting pressure on the Trump administration to make more information public. A screen about the Jeffrey Epstein files is displayed at Times Square in New York City. Reuters The US Congress House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein released a large batch of files on Tuesday (Sept 2) related to the late convicted sex offender, amid growing pressure on the Trump administration to make more information public. The documents stem from a subpoena issued last month by House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer to the Justice Department. On Tuesday, the committee released 33,295 pages of records, calling it the first batch of documents received from the DOJ. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rep Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the committee, said most of the pages released on Tuesday were already public. To distract from their continued White House cover-up, the DOJ released the interview between Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell is desperately seeking a pardon from the Trump Administration and cannot be trusted, Garcia said. The full content of the records was not immediately clear, but many files had already been released through court filings and other public records. The committees investigation into Epstein comes weeks after President Donald Trump and his administration faced criticism from both supporters and opponents for refusing to release more files related to Epstein, despite Trump campaigning on a promise of greater transparency. Many of the documents released on Tuesday are public filings from the criminal cases involving Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. They include material already available through federal courts and reported on previously. Examples of the files include video and audio of Justice Department official Todd Blanches interview with Maxwell, video from Epsteins West Palm Beach home following a search warrant by Palm Beach police, video from the jail where Epstein died by suicide in 2019, and audio recorded by Palm Beach police during their initial investigation of Epstein. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rep. Garcia reiterated that much of the released material was already public. To distract from their continued White House cover-up, the DOJ released the interview between Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell is desperately seeking a pardon from the Trump Administration and cannot be trusted, he said. The House committee said in a statement that it expects to receive more records from the Justice Department, which are being redacted to protect victim identities and remove any child sexual abuse material. Epstein, a wealthy financier with high-level connections, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for alleged sex trafficking of underage girls recruited to provide him with sexual massages. President Donald Trump was once a friend of Epstein, and according to The Wall Street Journal, the presidents name was among hundreds found during a Justice Department review of the Epstein files, though there has not been evidence of wrongdoing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps supporters have been obsessed with the Epstein case for years and held as an article of faith that Deep State elites were protecting Epstein associates in the Democratic Party and Hollywoodbut not Trump. Severe rains triggered a landslide in Sudans Jebel Marra, burying the village of Tarseen and killing up to 1,000 people. The SLM/A has appealed for urgent UN and international aid as rescue efforts face obstacles. An armed group that controls part of western Sudan appealed on Tuesday for foreign help in recovering bodies and rescuing residents from torrential rain, after it said at least 1,000 people were killed when a landslide buried a mountain village. Only one person survived the destruction of the village of Tarseen in the mountainous Jebel Marra area of the Darfur region, said the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army. SLM/A, which has long controlled and governed an autonomous portion of Jebel Marra, appealed to the United Nations and international aid agencies to help collect the bodies of victims, including men, women and children. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD "Tarseen, famed for its citrus production, has now been completely levelled to the ground," the group said in a statement. Continuing rains have made travel in the region difficult and could impede any rescue or aid efforts. Nearby villagers are overwhelmed with fear that a similar fate might befall them if the torrential rainfall persists, which underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive evacuation plan and provision of emergency shelter, the groups leader, Abdelwahid Mohamed Nur, said in a separate appeal. A statement by the U.N.s resident coordinator put the death toll at between 300 and 1,000, citing local reports. Arjimand Hussain, regional response manager for the development group Plan International, said the last 45 km of the route to Tarseen were impassable to motor vehicles and could only be negotiated on foot or by donkey. Nine bodies were recovered by volunteers, said Abdelhafiz Ali from the Jebel Marra Emergency Room, who noted that the village had hosted hundreds of people displaced by fighting. The SLM/A has remained neutral in the battle between the main enemies in Sudans civil war, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The two foes are fighting over control of al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur state, which is under siege from the RSF and has suffered famine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Residents of al-Fashir and nearby areas have sought shelter in Jebel Marra, though food, shelter, and medical supplies are insufficient and hundreds of thousands have been exposed to the rains. Tawila, where most have arrived, is in the throes of a cholera outbreak, as are other parts of Darfur. The two-year civil war has left more than half of Sudans population facing crisis levels of hunger and driven millions from their homes, leaving them especially exposed to the countrys damaging annual floods. Sudans army-controlled government expressed its condolences and willingness to assist. The prime minister of a newly-installed RSF-controlled rival government, Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi, said he would be coordinating with the SLM/A on the delivery of aid supplies to the area. Pope Leo sent his condolences and said he was praying for those affected, according to a Vatican statement. Russian Putin said he and Donald Trump shared only brief small talk during their Alaska meeting, while Trump warned Moscow over Ukraine as the truce deadline expired, leaving uncertainty over possible peace talks with Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said he and U.S. President Donald Trump exchanged only brief small talk in broken English during a 30-second ride they shared at their meeting in Alaska last month. Putin, however, avoided giving a clear response on whether he would accept Trumps proposal to hold peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump had reportedly set Monday as the deadline for Moscows answer. Speaking at the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, Putin once again defended Russias invasion of Ukraine, blaming the West for provoking the war. He thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their support, noting their efforts to facilitate the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Trump delivered a pointed warning when asked about his message to Putin regarding Ukraine. I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and hell make a decision one way or the other, Trump told reporters from the Oval Office. Whatever his decision is, well either be happy about it or unhappy and if were unhappy about it, youll see things happen, Trump added, in remarks that appeared to carry a veiled threat. Despite such rhetoric, the Trump administration has so far refrained from imposing additional sanctions on Moscow, seeking instead to keep alive the prospect of a negotiated peace deal. With inputs from agencies Around 85 scientists wrote a 440-page rebuttal to the governments report, accusing it of taking the word of some contrarians who based their conclusions on discredited studies, bypassed peer review and misinterpreted evidence Climate experts in the US have rejected a report released by the Trump administration in July, seeking to overturn the legality of federal regulations of greenhouse gas emissions. Around 85 scientists wrote a 440-page rebuttal to the governments report, accusing it of taking the word of some contrarians who based their conclusions on discredited studies, bypassed peer review and misinterpreted evidence. Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University, said, according to a report by The Business Times, This report makes a mockery of science. It relies on ideas that were rejected long ago, supported by misrepresentations of the body of scientific knowledge, omissions of important facts, arm waving, anecdotes, and confirmation bias. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What does the federal report say? The federal report, titled A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the US Climate and published by the Department of Energy, made a number of startling claims. These include claims that extreme weather events linked to emissions are not increasing, US temperatures are not rising, higher atmospheric carbon dioxide could benefit agriculture, and solar activity might account for warming trends. The DOE report has soft-pedalled the threat of ocean acidification, claiming life in the oceans evolved when the oceans were mildly acidic. What does the rebuttal say? Ted Amur, a climate scientist at Aon Impact Forecasting, said that the Trump administration is bringing back zombie arguments. The DOE report seeks the revival of the tobacco industrys tactics. Regarding this, Amur said, Just as the tobacco industry funded scientists to question the harms of smoking, the fossil fuel industry engaged in a coordinated campaign throughout the 1990s to fund scientists willing to argue that it was the Sun, and not humans, causing the climate change observed up to that point. Ecologist Pamela McElwee of Rutgers University criticised the report for largely overlooking the effects on biodiversity, despite their significant social and economic impacts. She said, US coral reefs alone provide an estimated US$1.8 billion in coastal protection from storms and floods annually. Cashify, a prominent re-commerce platform in India, has collaborated with Google to introduce certified refurbished Pixel smartphones to the Indian market. This partnership merges Googles technology with Cashifys platform and distribution network. The collaboration is viewed as a development within Indias refurbished smartphone market, which is projected to reach a valuation of $10 billion by 2026, according to a Redseer report. Cashify has been designated as Googles authorized partner for these devices. Each refurbished Pixel phone is renewed using Google-authorized components and undergoes quality checks. Consumers who purchase these devices will receive a one-year warranty. The refurbished Pixel smartphones will be available for purchase on the Cashify app and website starting today, September 3, and at select Cashify retail locations. The partnership aligns with an increasing consumer demand for sustainable and affordable technology. The collaboration also supports efforts to reduce electronic waste by extending the lifespan of devices, reflecting a broader industry trend toward circular economies. The initiative is intended to establish a standard for quality and accessibility in the refurbished technology market. Commenting on this, Mandeep Manocha, Co-founder & CEO of Cashify, said As the demand for high-quality refurbished devices continues to rise in India, ensuring consumer trust and accessibility has become more important than ever. In line with this, we are partnering with Google to bring certified refurbished Pixel smartphones to Indian consumers. This initiative represents a significant step in strengthening confidence in the refurbished market by offering devices that meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. Our shared commitment to sustainability and affordability will make premium technology more accessible, while promoting a more responsible approach to consumption. Prem Pandian, Global Head of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Google Hardware, said: Our collaboration with Cashify is a significant step in making the premium Pixel experience more accessible in India, while also advancing our commitment to a circular economy. This Trusted Reseller program is designed to meet the robust demand from Indian consumers for premium devices at an accessible price point. Cashifys expertise provides a trusted, quality-assured path for owning a Pixel, giving our customers complete peace of mind. Along with Cashifys expertise, we are providing a trusted, quality-assured path for more people across India to own a Pixel. Along with Cashifys expertise, we are providing a trusted, quality-assured path for more people across India to own a Pixel. Apple has opened the Apple Hebbal, the companys first retail store in South India and third in the country in Bengaluru, as it had promised, joining Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in Delhi. Apple said that the stores 70 team members hail from 15 states across India and are ready to help customers learn about Apple products, monthly financing options, and the Apple Trade In program. The new retail store, Apple Hebbal, in Bengaluru is located inside the Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bellary Road, Byatarayanapura. Regarding this, Deirdre OBrien, Apples senior vice president of Retail and People, said: Were delighted to open Apple Hebbal, a community hub that celebrates Bengalurus spirit of innovation. We cant wait to connect with people here and inspire them to create, collaborate, and do amazing things with Apple. Were excited to continue to bring Apple experiences to customers across India, who inspire us with their creativity and passion. Apple Koregaon Park Apple also previewed the Apple Koregaon Park, the companys fourth retail store in India that is all set to open in Pune on September 4th. Apple said that Koregaon Park brings together 68 team members from 11 Indian states, who are ready to help customers shop for a new device, and also offers personalized setup and support, step-by-step guidance on how to easily switch to iOS, and Retail services like Apple Trade In and financing programs. Apple Koregaon Park, in Pune is located in The KOPA, Koregaon Park. Like all Apple facilities, Apple Hebbal and Apple Koregaon Park run on 100 percent renewable energy and is carbon-neutral. Apple Hebbal and Apple Koregaon Park offer daily Today at Apple sessions for all customers from students to creatives and business owners. Led by Apple Creatives, these sessions help customers get started with their devices or learn new skills, whether its taking better photos on iPhone, understanding Apple Intelligence, or learning how to draw with Apple Pencil on iPad. Sessions in Apple Koregaon Park include: Workshop: Take Better Photos on iPhone Tips: Capture Ideas on iPad Spotlight: Apple Intelligence Get Started: Mac Starting opening day, participants can book a session led by Apple Creatives at apple.com/in/today. Regarding Apple Koregaon Park, Deirdre OBrien, Apples senior vice president of Retail, said: Theres nothing we love more in Apple Retail than connecting with customers, and just days after opening a new store in Bengaluru, we couldnt be more excited to unveil Apple Koregaon Park in Pune. In a city celebrated for its history and creativity, Apple Koregaon Park introduces an incredible new destination for customers to connect with all things Apple whether theyre shopping for a new product, looking for support for one they already own and love, or seeking inspiration to bring their next big idea to life. Elista, a fast-growing Indian consumer electronics and home appliance brand under the TeknoDome Group, is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a refreshed brand identity and a new tagline: Built for U. The company states that the new tagline and branding reflect its focus on customer-centricity and a mission to develop products tailored for households in India and abroad. The new slogan Built for U is described by Elista as an extension of its core philosophy that products should be created with the customer in mind. The U with a smile in the new branding symbolizes the consumers who, according to the company, have supported its growth in both major cities and smaller towns, as well as in international markets. To mark the occasion, Elista has also launched a new marketing campaign across its social media platforms, including YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, where the updated brand identity is now visible. Company Growth and Expansion Since its launch in 2020, Elista has grown its presence from a few Indian cities to a global market. The companys strategy has been anchored in the Make in India for the World philosophy, focusing on penetrating Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets within India. This has been supported by a broad product range, a retail network, and a service infrastructure. Currently, Elistas products are available at over 20,000 retail locations, with support from more than 650 distributors and 600 service centers across India. The brand has also expanded its footprint to the UAE, Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Asia, with a recent entry into Tanzania. The company is targeting a revenue of 1,500 crore by 2026, with 500 crore from the Indian market and the rest from global sales. Product Philosophy and Manufacturing Elistas product portfolio includes smart TVs, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, and IT accessories. The company states that it develops products based on consumer insights, aiming to combine design, performance, and affordability. Elista highlights its latest QLED Google TV range as an example of its Built for U philosophy. In alignment with its Make in India vision, Elista operates a manufacturing facility in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. The company notes that this plant contributes to faster product delivery, improved supply chain responsiveness, and enhanced competitiveness in both local and international markets. Elista states that as it begins its next phase, its mission is to lead with innovation and deliver value that resonates, in line with its new tagline. Speaking on the occasion, Saket Gaurav, Chairman and Managing Director of Elista and TeknoDome Group, said: At Elista, we believe in transforming the lives of our consumers through innovation. Our success over the past five years stands as proof of this commitment, from pioneering new paths in India to expanding into the UAE, Africa, CIS, and Asian markets. Built for U is more than just a tagline; its our promise to our consumers. As we celebrate this 5-year milestone, our refreshed identity reflects the very reason we began this journey, to make world-class technology accessible, dependable, and meaningful for everyone. This isnt just about growth, its about delivering value that truly resonates with our users. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. Contracts Contracts For Sept. 2, 2025 NAVY Advanced Integrated Technologies LLC,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4325); Auxiliary Systems Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4326); BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair Inc., Norfolk, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4328); Colonna's Shipyard Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4329); Delphinus Engineering Inc.,* Newtown Square, Pennsylvania (N00024-25-D-4330); East Coast Repair & Fabrication LLC,* Newport News, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4331); Epsilon System Solutions Inc.,* Portsmouth, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4332); General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Falls Church, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4334); Metro Machine Corp., Norfolk, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4335); GI Industrial Marine LLC,* Portsmouth, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4336); HII Mission Technologies Corp., McLean, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4337); IMIA LLC, Spanish Fort, Alabama (N00024-25-D-4338); MIKEL Inc.,* Middletown, Rhode Island (N00024-25-D-4339); MOOG Military Aircraft LLC, Elma, New York (N00024-25-D-4340); Neal Technologies Innovation LLC,* Daphne, Alabama (N00024-25-D-4341); Oceaneering International Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4342); Pacific Armada NW LLC,* San Diego, California (N00024-25-D-4344); Pacific Shipyards International LLC,* Honolulu, Hawaii (N00024-25-D-4345); Propulsion Controls Engineering LLC,* Everett, Washington (N00024-25-D-4346); QED Systems Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4347); Riley Power Group LLC,* Rock Hill, South Carolina (N00024-25-D-4348); Southcoast Welding & Manufacturing LLC,* Chula Vista, California (N00024-25-D-4349); Standard Inspection Services,* National City, California (N00024-25-D-4350); Tecnico Corp.,* Chesapeake, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4351); and VT Milcom Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (N00024-25-D-4352), are awarded a combined $1,123,590,000 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for discrete production, non-discrete production and other production work to support the public shipyards in accomplishing repair, maintenance, and modernization of nuclear-powered attack submarines undergoing scheduled Chief of Naval Operations maintenance availabilities. These contracts include options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $1,906,010,000 over an eight-year period to the 25 vendors combined. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (35%); Bremerton, Washington (25%); Kittery, Maine (20%); and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (20%), and is expected to be completed by August 2030. If all options are exercised, work will continue through August 2033. No funds will be obligated at the time of the award; funds will be obligated at the delivery order level as contracting actions occur. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management website, with 29 offers received. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a not-to-exceed $380,000,000 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract action modification to a previously awarded contract M67854-25-C-0111 for Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC). The total cumulative face value of the contract is $412,519,000. The contract modification is for the full rate production scope of the MRIC requirement. This work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an expected completion date of Aug 28, 2028. Fiscal 2025 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $70,000,000 are obligated at the time of award. Contract funds in the amount of $70,000,000 will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $28,739,427 cost-plus-fixed fee contract to provide a full range of technical and repair support services for the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center's product family divisions. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $164,310,172 over a five-year period. Base year work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by September 2026. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,394,907 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and one offer was received following a solicitation posted to SAM.gov. Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N55236-25-C-0007). Aviation Systems Engineering Co. Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded a $26,957,807 modification (P00011) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0042120D0123). This modification exercises an option to provide continued program management support for airborne anti-submarine warfare legacy, new acoustic and non-acoustic sensors, systems, and subsystems for naval air platforms in support of improving existing maritime patrol and reconnaissance mission systems for the Navy. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (90%); and Lexington Park, Maryland (10%), and is expected to be completed in March 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competed. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $12,411,208 modification (P00022) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0001919C0051). This modification adds scope to provide for the integration of required updates to the systems requirements document critical to the functionality of the ALQ-214 system using the Adaptive Radar Countermeasure software in support of enhancing F/A-18 survivability against modern threats Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia (47%); Clifton, New Jersey (40%); and Goleta, California (13%), and is expected to be completed in September 2026. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,349,290 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Aviation Systems Engineering Co. Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded a $8,109,974 firm-fixed-price contract to provide maintenance and flight operations training support for the P-8A Poseidon aircraft in support of the Republic of Korea Navy, achieving and maintaining operational capability, as well as pilot and maintainer proficiency in addition to pilot currency. Additionally, this contract provides for the development of additional personal qualification standards, updates to outdated maintenance curriculum, and updates to aircrew courseware to include latest mission capabilities. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (75%); Pohang, South Korea (10%); and Seoul, Korea (15%), and is expected to be completed in September 2028. Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $8,109,974 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001925C0116). US Marine Management, Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a firm-fixed-price modification under contract N3220523C4035, which is contract for the services of the oil tanker MT Badlands Trader. The modification adds a capability to refuel USS and allied vessels at sea. The capability will be installed no later than February 2026. The place of performance is worldwide. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE American Engineering Corp., Okinawa, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0024); CMS K.K., Okinawa, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0025); Fuji Construction Co. Ltd., Okinawa, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0026); Gilbane Japan GK, Tokyo, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0027); Kashiwabara Corp., Yamaguchi, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0028); Kyudenko - Yabu JV, Fukuoka, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0029); Kyunan Co. Ltd., Miyazaki, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0030); Maeda-Onaka JV, Okinawa, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0031); Nippo Corp., Tokyo, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0032); Sekitokyu Kogyo Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0033); Sumiju Yokosuka Kogyo Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0034); TECC Corp., Kanagawa, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0035); TOA-KGC JV, Okinawa, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0036); Yugen Kaisha Yamauchi Gumi, Okinawa, Japan (FA5270-25-D-0037); and Sankyo Denki Ohna Denken JV (FA5270-25-D-0041), have been awarded a ceiling $995,000,000 firm-fixed-price, multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Okinawa multiple award construction contract. This contract provides for a wide range of construction projects, both on and off military installations, across Okinawa, Japan. Work will be performed in Okinawa, Japan, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 1, 2030. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and 15 offers were received. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $500 will be obligated to each awardee at the time of award. The 18th Contracting Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded a $20,610,145 contract award for the Japan E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System Multifunctional Information Distribution System - Joint Tactical Radio System. This contract provides for pilots, ferry flights, lab access and support, and testing for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System - Joint Tactical Radio System Upgrade. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 14, 2029. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Japan. This contract was a sole source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $18,916,071 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA2363-25-C-B003). Robbins-Gioia LLC, Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a maximum $8,793,842 firm-fixed-price follow-on contract, including options, for the program depot maintenance scheduling system. This contract provides services for sustainment, program and status reporting, schedule collaboration, interface sustainment, end-user support at Air Logistic Complexes and the Air Force Sustainment Command Headquarters, and software requirements. Work will be performed at Alexandria, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2027. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance funds; and working capital funds in the amount of $2,152,766, were obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA877025CB007). (Awarded Aug. 15, 2025) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Lockheed Martin RMS, Owego, New York, has been awarded a maximum $56,406,399 firm-fixed-price, fixed-quantity contract for B-2 countermeasure receivers. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.301-1. This is a six-year contract with no option periods. The performance completion date is Aug. 31, 2031. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (SPRTA1-25-C-0009). Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Cayce, South Carolina, has been awarded an estimated $25,222,626 modification (P00062) to a 50year contract (SP060018C8326) with no option periods to incorporate tariff rate adjustments as authorized by the South Carolina Public Service Commission. The performance completion date is Nov. 18, 2069. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2070 Army operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Michigan Church Supply Co. Inc.,* Mount Morris, Michigan, has been awarded a maximum $8,500,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the supply of Christian religious equipment and supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. The ordering period end date is Aug. 28, 2030. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2030 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-25-D-0088). (Awarded on Aug. 29, 2025) Airgas USA LLC, Kennesaw, Georgia, has been awarded an estimated $7,522,323 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for aviator's breathing oxygen, liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and liquid argon. This was a competitive acquisition with five responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia, with a June 30, 2030, performance completion date. Using military services are Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2030 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy Aerospace, San Antonio, Texas (SPE601-25-D-1515). (Awarded on Aug. 29, 2025) U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND The SeaCube Leasing International Inc., Montvale, New Jersey (HTC71124DW028/P00005); Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Ltd., San Francisco, California (HTC71124DW029/P00004); and Triton Container International Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda (HTC71124DW030/P00004), have been awarded modifications to an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, fixed price contract, with an estimated value of $45,700,000. This brings the total cumulative face value of the program to $91,492,873. This contract is to obtain intermodal equipment leasing and transportation services, information technology management in support of leasing operations, and related container support functions to meet the government missions and exercises for peacetime, contingency, disaster, and humanitarian operations on a global basis, to include maintenance, repair, inspection, leasing, and acquisition of intermodal equipment. The option period of performance is from Sept. 1, 2025, to Aug. 31, 2026. Operations and maintenance funds will be obligated for fiscal 2025 and 2026. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Aug. 25, 2025) ARMY International Communication Associates, Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $41,000,000 time-and-materials contract to provide foreign language instructor training support for the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center through Defense Language Institute Washington. 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 Oct. 5, 2030. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W911S0-25-D-0003). Diplomatic Language Services, Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $41,000,000 time-and-materials contract to provide foreign language instructor training support for the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center through Defense Language Institute Washington. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 5, 2030. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W911S0-25-D-0004). International Center for Language Studies, Washington, D.C., was awarded a $41,000,000 time-and-materials contract to provide foreign language instructor training support for the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center through Defense Language Institute Washington. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 5, 2030. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W911S0-25-D-0002). Dubuque Barge and Fleeting Service Co.,* Dubuque, Iowa (W9128F-25-D-A018); Midwest Construction Co.,* Nebraska City, Nebraska (W9128F-25-D-A019); W.A. Ellis Construction Co.,* Independence, Missouri (W9128F-25-D-A020); Western Contracting Corp.,* Sioux City, Iowa (W9128F-25-D-A021); and Bloomsdale Excavating Co. Inc.,* Bloomsdale, Missouri (W9128F-25-D-A022), will compete for each order of the $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction in support of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2030. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, is the contracting activity. Seaside Engineering & Surveying LLC,* Baker, Florida (W9127S-25-D-A002); Consolidated Land Services Inc.,* Mountain Home, Arkansas (W9127S-25-D-A006); and RLC LLC, doing business as, Renaissance Infrastructure Consulting,* St. Simons Island, Georgia (W9127S-25-D-A007), will compete for each order of the $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2030. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, is the contracting activity. Torch Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $12,740,969 modification (P00022) to contract W31P4Q-23-F-B002 for Option Three under the Security Assistance Management Directorate Homing All the Way Killer Project Office. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $12,740,969. Work will be performed in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 3, 2026. Fiscal 2025 Foreign Military Sales funds from Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $12,740,969, were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Maverick Constructors LLC,* Opelousas, Louisiana, was awarded a $9,800,875 firm-fixed-price contract (W912P8-25-C-A003) for the execution of the Calcasieu River and Pass Dredged Material Management Plan. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work will be performed in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 30, 2026. Fiscal 2023 construction, Corps of Engineers, civil funds in the amount of $9,800,875 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE HUMAN RESOURCES ACTIVITY Cherokee Nation Defense Solutions LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity and firm-fixed price contract with time-and-material contract line items for travel (H9821025DE002). The contract value is $27,426,387, which includes a five-year ordering period. The purpose of this is for the contractor to provide administrative and customer support services to ensure operational effectiveness. Service and support provided include, but are not limited to, project management oversight and administrative support, office clerical assistant support, and information management support. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia; Seaside, California; and Fort Knox, Kentucky, with and period of performance of Sept. 8, 2025, through Sept. 7, 2030. The government's requirement for enterprise administrative services was solicited as a direct 8(a) sole-source award to Cherokee Nation Defense Solutions LLC. The task orders issued under this contract will be funded with operations and maintenance dollars. As defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation 17.1, this is not a multiyear contract. Defense Human Resources Activity, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity. U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Guardian Defense Group, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a ceiling $9,324,226 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (H9223925DE003) for psychological assessment support services for U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) for a base period of 10.5 months and four 12-month ordering periods. These services shall be conducted in support of, and in coordination with, major command elements and USASOC subordinate units that include, but are not limited to, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, the 1st Special Forces Command, the 75th Ranger Regiment, and the 160th Special Operations Regiment, as well as other Army Special Operations Forces units as required. The contractor may also provide psychological services in support of and in coordination with other U.S. Special Operations Command components. This award consists of a guaranteed minimum of $100,000 during the base period. Fiscal 2025 Major Force Program 11 funds in the amount of $1,107,700 are obligated at the time of the award. The work will be performed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington; Fort Benning, Georgia; Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; Camp Merrill, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; Fort Walker, Virginia; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Elgin Air Force Base, Florida; Fort Carson, Colorado; and other continental U.S. locations. This contracting action was a competitive service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside, best value trade-off source selection. USASOC, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4291594/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BLADE cuts down drones at Project Flytrap 4.0 By Timothy Rider September 2, 2025 Soldiers from the Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment detected, tracked, engaged and defeated multiple drones at ranges between 500 and 800 meters using the Ballistic Low Altitude Drone Engagement (BLADE) system from a Stryker vehicle at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area in northeast Poland during a live fire event for Project Flytrap 4.0 on Aug. 1. "Some of those (drone) threats were being flown simultaneously, so the system defeated one target then quickly targeted and defeated a second target in a matter of seconds," said David Goldstein, counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) lead for the Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center. The Armaments Center ran the BLADE science and technology project from 2016-2019 to develop a capability to counter drone threats. BLADE leverages - and enhances - a system operated throughout existing Army formations, the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS). As a remote system mounted on different types of Army vehicles, CROWS allows an operator to fire a weapon while remaining protected inside. Using an array of optics, a viewing screen and motorized gimbals and controls, the operator can effectively select and engage targets. With BLADE, a precision radar and C-UAS fire control software is integrated with CROWS hardware and software to assist operators in identifying, tracking and pointing the weapon to a continually calculated intercept point to enable the difficult challenge of destroying enemy drones. Capable of functioning with numerous weapons, the BLADE/CROWS combination at Project Flytrap included an M2 .50 Caliber machine gun firing multi-round bursts. BLADE also participated in several Project Flytrap non-firing training scenarios using the radar for detection, tracking and other simulated defensive actions, according to Goldstein. Starting in late July, Project Flytrap 4.0 was the final iteration of the C-UAS training events where Soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 1st Royal Yorkshire Regiment, United Kingdom, tested new C-UAS capabilities in combined exercises meant to develop and inform the future of anti-drone tactics and technologies. "Project Flytrap is part of a series of training events designed to test and refine new counter-unmanned aerial systems technologies and tactics to respond to the evolving threat of drone warfare," said Col. Matt Davis, transformation chief and exercise director of V Corps, Project Flytrap, during a press engagement. Previous Fly Trap events were focused on command-and-control systems and countering small UAS sensors, said Goldstein. "We were invited to come out to the latest Fly Trap with our BLADE and CNALT systems because they wanted to see more kinetic capabilities," said Goldstein. The CNALT software plug-in, also being developed by the Armaments Center, is an application that provides tactical fire control and visualization tools to reduce time in the kill chain the cycle of finding and identifying targets, prioritizing and coordinating attacks. Time is critical in military operations with targets in constant motion and considering that potential targets threaten harm to friendly forces. Soldiers took 15 minutes on new equipment training for CNALT operations, said Marc Sanzari, chief of the Armaments Center Networked Lethality & Collaborative Autonomy Branch. During various training scenarios, CNALT successfully ingested real-time sensor data from the BLADE Precision Fires Radar, classified UAV tracks, and generated actionable engagement recommendations for BLADE and the Stryker commander. For BLADE, getting the components to Project Flytrap 4.0 and operational, tested the abilities of engineers and technicians to meet the Army and DoD challenge to get new drone capabilities into the hands of Soldiers quickly and with the fewest constraints. "Within two weeks of request, the system was installed and operational and ready for Soldier touch point training," said Jonathan Gann, an Armaments Center mechanical engineering technician specializing in autonomous weapons. Gann was part of an Armaments Center team who shipped the BLADE components from Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. to Poland and conducted a field expedient installation of an existing CROWS on a Stryker vehicle to make it operational as a BLADE system. After the installation, Gann met with Soldiers to discuss the tactics, techniques and procedures for BLADE operations within unit formation while stationary and on the move. He noted that Soldier feedback from the live-fire event provided insights on future improvements for BLADE, but also, "it highlighted the possibilities of UAS engagement in a dynamic environment," said Gann. "I was able to understand the fundamental workflow for the system and gunner actions within one hour of seeing the BLADE for the first time," said Maj. Jared Whitaker, Deputy Chief G31 from V Corps, who as a leader observed the entirety of the drone engagements in a seat between the gunner and radar operator. Whitaker, who is proficient in operating CROWS, said that compared to ground engagements there were added steps in counter-drone operations. Schooling on the radar was necessary, as was additional training to become fluid during rapid reactions while performing counter drone scenarios. "I found that the ability to engage UAS using a CROWS has gone from impossible to possible with the addition of BLADE," said Whitaker. After achieving Technology Readiness Level Six in 2019, BLADE has participated in various C-UAS exercise and engagements, such as Project Convergence, the Maneuver Fires Integrated Exercise and Red Sands - Operation Hard Kill. Operation Flytrap has become the latest BLADE knowledge builder. "The Armaments Center continues gathering insights from participating in C-UAS events and is transitioning the technology to current programs of record for near-term fielding opportunities, said Goldstein." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bright Star 25: U.S. and Egypt Launch One of the World's Largest Multinational Military Exercises U.S. Central Command News | Sept. 2, 2025 By Maged Benjami-Elias U.S. Central Command Public Affairs EGYPT -- Bright Star 25, the multinational military exercise co-hosted by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Egyptian Armed Forces through the Egyptian Training Authority, officially commenced today with a ceremonial opening at Mohamed Naguib Military Base. The exercise brings together forces from across the globe, underscoring the United States' enduring commitment to working alongside Egypt and partner nations to strengthen collective security and promote regional stability. The day prior to the opening ceremony, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, inspected the final preparations on August 26. His visit highlighted the extensive planning and coordination between Egyptian and American forces in hosting what is widely regarded as one of the largest joint military exercises in the world. "I am pleased to be at the training center and to meet participants from the Egyptian and American sides, as well as from the friendly nations taking part," Lt. Gen. Khalifa said. "I would like to emphasize the importance of joint exercises, especially Bright Star, given the large number of participating countries and the exchange of expertise and knowledge they provide to all parties involved. Such joint training enhances our future operations. I have previously participated in Bright Star exercises, and they have had a significant and lasting impactbenefits I continue to draw on to this day." During his tour, Khalifa received a detailed briefing on the full range of procedures from both the Egyptian and American teams. He also observed several training activities and engaged with U.S. service members, reflecting the spirit of partnership and cooperation at the heart of the exercise. Bright Star continues to serve as a cornerstone of the U.S.-Egypt defense partnership and plays a pivotal role in advancing peace and security across the Middle East. By training together, participating nations enhance interoperability, sharpen operational readiness, and align more closely on shared strategic objectivesbuilding a stronger foundation for regional and global stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address September 2, 2025 By Samuel King Jr., 96th Test Wing Autonomy Proving Ground Advances With First Alternative Navigation Flight A bright orange dart drifted in the air at approximately 1,000 feet. The cloudless, bright blue skies practically swallowed up the 7-foot, 50-pound unmanned aerial system as it flew its pattern. As it passed overhead, the sound from it at ground level was like a revved up weed eater engine. Those quiet Osprey MK III flights at Duke Field, north of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, last week were part of vendor alternate navigation software testing by the Autonomy, Data, and AI Experimentation Proving Ground, in collaboration with AFWERX, the Department of the Air Force's innovation arm. It also marked the first time this aircraft flew with a third-party developer's software package operating on the aircraft. "The autonomy proving ground is giving small businesses the opportunity to compete in acquisition without requiring them to fund any of their own testing," said Anthony Hix, 413th Flight Test Squadron and lead for this test. The goal of alternative navigation testing is to examine the feasibility of providing an aircraft or weapon with its own internal GPS estimation tools instead of using external sources. Those external sources are prone to jamming and spoofing, which deny the aircraft the ability to maneuver in a combat environment. For the testing, Osprey MK III takes off via a controller. Once airborne, the aircraft's autonomy takes over and then relies on the alternative navigation software for location and flight guidance. UAS flight controllers monitor the test with multiple cameras and data-gathering equipment to ensure the systems communicate properly and safety is maintained. According to Hix, the long-term goal of alternative navigation is for the Air Force to gain a new capability to navigate in contested environments with a low size, weight, power and cost solution. This work aligns with AFWERX's autonomy proving ground fly-offs, which provide a low-cost environment for companies to demonstrate new navigation technologies on small, unmanned aircraft. AFWERX partners with small businesses, startups and industry to accelerate emerging technologies, providing official Air Force test reports and transition pathways that speed adoption by both the Defense Department and commercial markets. "This type of fly-off provides small businesses the opportunity to vet their alternative navigation systems in a black-box test environment," said Air Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Gilbert, AFWERX Prime division chief. "It enables an experimental approach that is replicable across systems, truly allowing us to measure each system's performance." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press remarks by President Antonio Costa following the joint press point with Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob European Council / Council of the European Union European Council Statements and remarks 2 September 2025 20:05 Thank you, Prime Minister Robert Golob, for your warm welcome here in Slovenia in the framework of my visit to various European capitals. These visits are of great importance. First, because we need to bring the European institutions closer to European citizens. Second, because we must engage with the different leaders, as the European Union is a union of nations, and we need to consider the national positions of every country. And finally, because it is is very important to try to build unity among the 27 member states. We had very good exchanges. I took note of the clear priorities of Slovenia for the coming year within the European Union. First of all, to boost competitiveness; and second, to increase our resilience across various dimensions - fighting climate change, ensuring the security of our citizens, and of course, increasing our defence capabilities. Slovenia is a relevant and active player on the international level. It is also championing for European enlargement, not only to the Western Balkans, but also to Ukraine and to Moldova. Slovenia is also the president of the MED-9. It is a current member of the United Nations Security Council. And it plays a leading position to stand for the defence of the people of Gaza. It continues to call for an end to the war, to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the Palestinian people, and to ensure that we can effectively build a two-state solution - the only political solution that can guarantee a lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. Dear Robert, thank you very much for our exchange. It has been very useful in preparing for the coming months, and we can certainly count on Slovenia, as always, to strengthen our European Union. Thank you, Robert. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU defence spending hits 343 bln in 2024, EDA data shows European Defence Agency 02 September 2025 The European Defence Agency (EDA) has published its annual Defence Data report for 2024-2025, detailing defence spending from all 27 EU Member States. In 2024, defence expenditure by the 27 EU Member States reached an unprecedented 343 billion a 19% rise on 2023 bringing spending to 1.9% of GDP. The increase, driven largely by record levels of equipment procurement and rising investment in research and development, reflects Member States' determination to strengthen Europe's military capabilities in response to the evolving security environment. For the full document, please see here For the first time, defence investment exceeded 100 billion, accounting for 31% of total expenditure, the highest share recorded by EDA since data collection began. While spending continues to grow and is forecast to climb further in 2025, it remains below the levels of military powers such as the United States underlining the need for sustained investment and greater collaboration to maximise efficiency and ensure interoperability across the EU's armed forces. Head of EDA, HRVP Kaja Kallas, said: "Europe is spending record amounts on defence to keep our people safe, and we will not stop there. This investment will be funnelled into everything from research and development to the joint procurement and production of essential defence components. The European Union is pulling every financial and political lever we have to support our Member States and European companies in this effort. Defence today is not a nice-to-have but fundamental for the protection of our citizens. This must be the era of European defence." EDA Chief Executive Andre Denk said: "It is encouraging to see EU Member States taking their defence spending to record levels. Meeting the new NATO target of 3.5% of GDP will require even more effort, spending a total of more than 630 billion a year. Yet we must also cooperate closely, find economies of scale and increase interoperability. EDA stands more ready than ever to support Member States in this endeavour." 2025 Forecast: EU defence spending is projected to reach 381 billion in 2025 (vs 343 billion in 2024) Bloc's spending is seen at 2.1% of GDP in 2025, exceeding the previous NATO 2% target for the first time since EDA records began Defence investment is set to reach close to 130 billion in 2025 (vs 106 billion in 2024) Research and Development (R&D) spending may increase to 17 billion in 2025 (vs 13 billion in 2024) 2024 European Defence Spending - Key Findings: In 2024, 25 Member States increased their defence spending in real terms, one more than in 2023, while only two countries slightly decreased defence spending. Sixteen Member States raised their expenditure by more than 10%, compared to eleven in 2023. In 2024, the total defence expenditure per active military personnel reached a record 249,000, up from 211,000 in 2023 and significantly more than the 138,000 spent in 2014. In 2024, 24 Member States met the 20% benchmark on defence investment, up from 20 in 2023, an accelerating trend as countries direct an increasingly larger share of their expenditure to investments. Defence equipment procurement rose by 39% from 2023 to 88 billion in 2024, with spending in 2025 projected to exceed 100 billion. The upward trend is expected to continue as several Member States have announced further budget increases and signed major procurement deals in 2024. Equipment procurement represents more than 80% of defence investment. While short-term needs have led Member States to prioritise existing solutions, R&D investment has grown. A significant rise in R&D spending is essential to develop next-generation capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign markets. Defence cooperation offers benefits such as economies of scale, lower costs, improved interoperability, and reduced duplication. In 2024, defence R&D expenditure increased. The 20% rise in 2024 represents a notable acceleration compared to the 6% growth recorded in 2023. Defence R&D spending reached 13 billion in 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen: Statement by the Spokesperson on the additional arbitrary detentions of UN personnel by the Houthis European External Action Service (EEAS) 02.09.2025 Brussels, Belgium EEAS Press Team The European Union supports the statement of the UN Secretary General of 01 September 2025 and strongly condemns the additional arbitrary detentions of at least 11 UN personnel by the Houthis in Yemen, as well as the seizure of UN property and attempts to enter the UN premises in Sana'a in violation of International Law and the Vienna Conventions, providing for the inviolability of diplomatic premises at all times. The EU calls for the immediate release of all detained personnel. The EU continues to call for respect of the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and demands that all threats and attacks against commercial vessels are halted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen's keynote speech at the Lithuania-Finland Defence Industry and Science Forum on 2 September 2025 Finnish Ministry of Defence 02.09.2025 16:19 Mr President, excellences, participants and partners of this Defence Industry Forum, ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank the organizers of this Industry Forum for this great event and for the unique possibility to address you all. It is great to see many familiar faces and new contacts in this Forum. I am delighted to see so many experts of security, defence, research, development and innovation here in Helsinki. It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to Helsinki. You are all warmly welcomed. Ladies and gentlemen, Compared to the size of the nation, Finland has a strong national defence. It is generally known, that the Finland's citizens will to defend our beloved homeland is very high. In a nutshell, Finland's Defence has both some unique ultramodern spearhead capabilities and mass. Mass comes from approximately 900 000 trained reservists that will create the wartime strength of 280 000 soldiers. The total number of reservists will be increased to one million within a period of five years. Finland's Nato integration is developing with very fast pace. Finland, as Lithuania, is a part of Nato's Deterrence and defense. A fine example of the spearhead capabilities is Finland's F-18 fleet with its modern weapons systems, of course soon to be replaced by 64 F35's. Finland is one of the key providers of Land Forces mobility capabilities, Finnish Seamines and Space capabilities are both very well known, just to name some. You can find multiple other spearhead capabilities from the companies here present in this Industry event. The National Defence is supported by globally leading Research and Development and innovation of multiple companies and industry. All this is done in a smooth co-operation with the high-level Universities, think tanks and similar actors. The growth of exports of the Finnish defence, aerospace and security industries has been very significant in recent years. From 2022 to 2023, the growth in defence, aerospace and security sectors exports was 32 %. Defence sector growth was 23 % and space sector growth was highest, 88 %. In 2024, the value of export licenses granted for defence equipment was approximately 1,4 billion euros. The value has more than doubled compared to 2023. I am confident that the growth will continue. This shows that there is a rapidly growing demand for defence and security products. The Finnish and Lithuanian defence, aerospace and security industries are well known for their high quality and innovation capacity and premium products. Lithuania and Finland have great possibilities to enlarge, deepen and start new actions for fruitful collaboration between countries. There are very promising signs of genuine Baltic Sea cooperation around Seamines and landing crafts for instance. Lithuania and Finland being active, I dare to say driving forces behind the cooperation. There are plenty of other opportunities as well, for example in armoured vehicles where the Finnish led CAVS program is picking up speed quickly. One might say that within this program, we are setting a new European standard, something that we are extremely proud of. Today's event marks an important milestone as we strive to elevate our cooperation to the next level. The Ministry of Defence of Finland stands ready to support further deepening of our industries cooperation. Ladies and gentlemen, both of our nations are strong supporters of Ukraine. It is crucial that the war will not end in a way that rewards Russia as the aggressor. Finland's 29th military material aid package, worth EUR 143 million, was decided in June. The combined replacement value of the donated materiel since the beginning of the war is already more than 2.8 billion euros. So far, our military aid has been mainly based on donations from our Defence Forces' stocks. From now on our aid will be based increasingly on procurements from the Finnish defence industry. The Finnish Government will fund orders from the Finnish defence industry to support Ukraine in 2025-2027 with EUR 660 million. The first material deliveries have already begun. Finnish products are combat proven. We are confident that what works in the frontline of Ukraine is suitable for our and European Defence. One of the key lessons learned from the war is possibility to scale up the Defence industry capacity. This means, that we have to optimize the need for stockpiling material and the capacity to increase production. With this kind of approach we should be able to guarantee that the Defence has both the required readiness and the most modern systems and technology available for the forces. Ladies and gentlemen, In the Europe perspective, the development of European defence industry is more topical than ever before. It is necessary for the EU to have a longer-term plan how to improve our defence industrial readiness. The current and future security climate demands this and new kind of approaches. It is essential to maintain a close dialogue with the industry and research community. Finland welcomes the proposal to continue investing in European supply chains and production capacity. It is important that the EU continues with a common approach. We have a positive view of SAFE and see potential in the instrument. We are however still in the process of assessing our ways and possibilities of participation. The EDF holds an important significance for Finland, serving as a cornerstone for fostering cross-border defence Research and Development. It not only incentivizes collaborative efforts, but also propels truly European-wide projects forward. In essence, the EDF is pivotal for advancing our collective capabilities. Finland emphasises the need for an active participation and contribution of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the development of European defence industrial base to support innovation, agility and more resilient supply chains. In EDIS, we especially welcome proposals that further enhances European defence R&D cooperation and the industrialisation of projects after the R&D phase. We also place special focus on tapping the potential of dual-use technologies in the defence domain. Finland welcomes initiatives that cut the gap between the civilian and defence sectors. Ladies and gentlemen, The aim of this Industry Forum is strengthen our bilateral cooperation defence, security, space and aviation companies and authorities. In the current security environment this is more important than ever after the Cold War. I am confident that we all are in the right place at the right time. Networking and partnerships are more important than ever. This industry forum will create many excellent platforms and opportunities for co-operation. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to interact closely with each-others to build new ties and enhance already existing good cooperation for a better future for both of our countries. I'm sure there are even more possibilities to further increase and enhance defence materiel cooperation between our countries by finding new areas where to cooperate. Hopefully this industry forum offers an excellent opportunity for cooperation possibilities and benchmarking between industry and companies from both respective countries. I wish you all fruitful and beneficial days in the beautiful Helsinki. It is time to say very Finnish final words and call to action: Stop talking and start doing business, please! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military-technical cooperation between Sweden and Poland Government Offices of Sweden Press release from Ministry of Defence Published 02 September 2025 Sweden and Poland will enter into military-technical cooperation under the terms of a letter of intent signed by Minister for Defence Pal Jonson and his Polish counterpart, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, during Mr Jonson's visit to Poland on 2 September. This letter of intent will further deepen the already close defence cooperation between Sweden and Poland. Under the terms of the LoI, the two countries intend to cooperate more closely on defence materiel, development, innovation and the defence industry. "Sweden and Poland have a shared view of the challenges and threats in our region. In November 2024, Sweden and Poland entered into a strategic partnership, which we value highly. This new letter of intent on military-technical cooperation is an extension of this," says Mr Jonson. The LoI was signed in connection with Mr Jonson's visit to Poland on 2 September for bilateral meetings and to attend the MSPO international defence industry exhibition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tehran dismisses Persian Gulf Cooperation Council's 'unfounded' claims on Iranian islands, Arash field IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Foreign Ministry has dismissed a statement by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council that questioned Iran's ownership of three islands, Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, as well as Arash gas field. The ministry said that the statement contains unfounded claims that will not alter geographical realities. The ministry made the reaction on Tuesday, a day after the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council held its 165th meeting attended by the member states' foreign ministers in Kuwait. In their final statement, the ministers claimed that the three Iranian islands belong to the UAE, and rejected Iran's ownership of the Arash gas field disputed by Kuwait. The ministers also said that any negotiations over Iran's nuclear program should address what they described as security concerns of the PGCC member states. The Foreign Ministry dismissed "the repetitive and legally unfounded claims" over the three Iranian islands. It reiterated Iran's indisputable sovereignty over the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, emphasizing that they are inseparable parts of Iranian territory. "The repetition of unfounded allegations in similar statements will not change the geographical, historical, and legal realities concerning these islands," the ministry said, emphasizing that the Islamic Republic will take all necessary actions to ensure safety and security on these islands. The ministry also rejected claims over Arash gas field, saying that they lack credibility. Issuing repetitive statements and unilateral claims does not grant any rights to Kuwait's government from a legal perspective, it further said, adding that a fair and sustainable agreement over Arash Field requires bilateral dialogue, joint efforts, and the creation of a positive and constructive atmosphere to uphold and secure mutual rights and interests. On Iran's nuclear program, the Foreign Ministry emphasized the country's legitimate and legal right to benefit from nuclear energy in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying that any doubts about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program are unfounded. The Islamic Republic has always participated in confidence-building diplomatic negotiations with a responsible approach and good faith, while fulfilling its commitments under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, however, the United States and European parties have disrupted the negotiation processes through continuous violations and blatant breaches of the principles and rules of the UN Charter and international law, the ministry said. The ministry, in its statement, drew the attention of regional countries to the real and immediate danger posed by Israel's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), noting that achieving a region free from nuclear weapons requires collective efforts by regional countries to compel the international community to take effective measures against Israel's WMDs. The ministry, at the same time, welcomed the PGCC's strong condemnation of the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, and stressed the need for taking effective and immediate measures, including the cessation of all political and diplomatic relations with the regime, to compel it to stop its crimes against Palestinians. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran reaffirms support for Venezuela against foreign threats IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Ambassador to Venezuela Ali Chegini has conveyed the Islamic Republic's message of support for the South American country against any threat to its peace and security. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil Pinto wrote on his social media network on Tuesday about Tehran's message of support that was delivered during a meeting with Chegini. Pinto said that his talks with the Iranian envoy was aimed at "reaffirming our strategic alliance, friendship, and defending each other's sovereignty", as well as joint cooperation in preserving the multipolar world order. "We received the message of support of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran against threats to the peace and security of Venezuela and the entire Caribbean and Latin American region," the top diplomat said, while revealing about the meeting with the Iranian envoy. He said that both Tehran and Caracas have mutual trust and believe in bilateral cooperation, expressing hope that their activities in multilateral forums will continue to be strengthened by relying on peace diplomacy. 4399**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belgium to recognize State of Palestine at UN General Assembly IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Belgium has announced its decision to recognize the State of Palestine, joining other European countries that officially declared the Palestinian statehood and demanded boycott of the Israeli regime over its crimes. Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot wrote on his X social network on Tuesday that Belgium would grant the formal recognition to Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly session, along with call for severe sanctions on Israel. He said that the decision was taken "in light of the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine, especially in Gaza and Israel's non-compliance with international law," adding that Belgium's responsibility is to prevent "the risk of genocide" by increasing pressure on the Israeli regime. The top Belgian diplomat clarified that sanctions, including a ban on products from Israeli settlements and placing two extremist Israeli ministers and several settlers on the list of "undesirable elements" are among other measures that Belgium is considering. So far, 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state. Iceland, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and Norway joined the list last year. Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron also announced that he would soon recognize the Palestinian statehood after other European leaders took steps to pile up pressure on the Israeli regime to stop the genocidal war on Gaza. Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Portugal, Andorra, Malta, San Marino, and Luxembourg have announced their determination to recognize Palestine, as well. 4399**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Budrys at the Bled Strategic Forum: European unity, resilience, and determination - the most powerful weapons against authoritarian regimes Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Updated 2025-09-02 On Tuesday, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Kestutis Budrys participated in the Bled Strategic Forum international conference session "Europe Secure and Free." The minister stressed that the main long-term threat to a free and secure Europe is Russia with its unwillingness to abandon imperialist ambitions. According to Budrys, Russia's actions are not random, but part of a consistent and deliberate revisionist strategy. "If we do not stop Russia in Ukraine, we will pay a higher price later," the Minister said. Budrys reminded that the West did not respond adequately to previous Russian aggressionin Georgia in 2008, in Crimea and Donbass in 2014, and even after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some countries continue to buy Russian gas, allowing Russia's war machine to continue operating. The Minister also underlined that the threat posed by Russia is not only military, but also hybrid: "Russia is attacking societies across Europe with cyber-attacks, disinformation, sabotage - these are attempts to divide, intimidate and weaken our resilience. We must use all tools to increase our resilience," the Minister said. According to the Minister, the Baltic states have many years of experience in countering such threats and are among the best prepared within the NATO Alliance. Budrys said, however, that Europe as a whole needed political resolve and a coordinated response. Budrys identified three priorities to ensure a safe and free Europe: support for Ukraine, strengthening European defence, and reinforcing the transatlantic bond. "The fate of Ukraine is a test of Europe's security. We cannot grow weary of supporting Ukraine. But we must also recognize that Russia will remain a long-term threat to Europe, regardless of the outcome of its war against Ukraine. Europe needs to mobilise and act faster to its defence. We have to take responsibility for our own security", said the minister. Budrys also said that NATO and the US had a critical role to play in ensuring a free and secure Europe, making the strengthening of transatlantic ties essential. At the same time, the minister underlined that European unity, resilience, and determination are the most powerful weapons against authoritarian regimes that threaten the European security architecture and the international rules-based order. "Deterrence is cheaper than war; now is the time to act," said Budrys. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President: Lithuania's and Finland's partnership serves as a security guarantee and promotes economic development President of the Republic of Lithuania September 02, 2025 During his working visit to Finland, President Gitanas Nauseda met with President Alexander Stubb. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations between Lithuania and Finland, transatlantic cooperation, the security situation in the region, and issues on the European Union agenda. The presidents also addressed support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. "I am pleased to note that Finland is a close neighbor of Lithuania, a reliable EU partner and a member of the Nordic-Baltic family. We also cooperate closely as NATO allies. Finland's membership in the Alliance has significantly strengthened security in the Baltic Sea region," emphasized the President. The President also called for further strengthening cooperation bilaterally and in the NB8 format in security and defense, energy security, critical infrastructure protection, resilience, and combating irregular migration. According to Mr. Nauseda, Finland is an important economic partner for Lithuania. Therefore, the bilateral business forum opening today, dedicated to the defense industry and cooperation in the field of high technology, will contribute to strengthening cooperation in defense and science. The President emphasized that both countries are united by a common goal - the security of NATO's eastern flank and the creation of conditions for long-term peace throughout the region. "Finland is an excellent example of a resilient state that has learned important historical lessons. Your country has been investing in defense and security for years, based on both the principle of total defense and technological innovation. Lithuania seeks to benefit from Finland's experience by strengthening the resilience of society and supporting cooperation in the areas of military production and procurement. Starting next year, we will allocate more than 5% of GDP to defense. Therefore, Finland, as one of our closest allies, plays an important role in Lithuania's procurement of military equipment, such as patrol ships, naval mines and armored vehicles," said the President. Lithuania also invited Finland to join the rotational air defense model in the Baltic countries and to participate in the NATO air policing mission in Siauliai. Mr. Nauseda expressed his gratitude to Finnish President Alexander Stubb for his contribution to the US-led negotiations on stopping Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. "Lithuania maintains that peace requires strong and long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Pressure on Russia must continue. That is why Lithuania has proposed a 19th sanctions package, which would cover Rosatom, Russian oil and gas revenues, as well as the so-called shadow fleet. We also seek to start negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU as soon as possible, with the aim of full accession by 2030. Finland's support on these issues is important and welcome," the President emphasized. Lithuania welcomes and fully supports Finland's initiative to lead the Shelter Coalition aimed at supporting Ukraine and is ready to join. At the same time, the President invited Finland to contribute to a program initiated by Lithuania to build new schools throughout Ukraine. The leaders also discussed EU-related issues, paying particular attention to the European Commission's proposal for the next multiannual financial framework. The President emphasized that Lithuania welcomes the proposed significant increase in funding for military mobility and the provisions on the protection of the EU's eastern border. He said that defense investments must become one of the EU's top priorities and that EU funding must meet Europe's real security needs. The President also noted that he is looking forward to the visit of the President of Finland to Lithuania next year. Gitanas Nauseda invited Finnish companies to the Life Sciences Baltic forum, which will bring together global experts in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Vilnius on September 17-18. Later today, the Lithuanian leader will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to Marshal Mannerheim and meet with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lithuania and Finland ready to strengthen partnership in defense and high technologies President of the Republic of Lithuania September 02, 2025 President Gitanas Nauseda, currently on a visit to Finland, together with Finland's Minister of Defense Antti Hakkanen, opened the Lithuania-Finland Defense Industry and Science Forum on High-Tech Cooperation. According to the President, this forum is an excellent platform for dialogue, partnership and new opportunities. He expressed confidence that Lithuania and Finland are ready to expand cooperation in business and science while at the same time significantly strengthening the foundations of shared security. "After regaining independence, Lithuania looked to the Finnish economy as a guiding star and role model. We observed how Finland transformed itself from a resource-based to a successful high-tech economy," the President said. Gitanas Nauseda noted that Finland's accession to NATO was a historically significant step that strengthened security not only in the Baltic Sea region but also across NATO's entire eastern flank. According to the President, in order to increase resilience and strengthen its defense capabilities, Lithuania will allocate 5-6 percent of GDP to defense starting next year. "This is a strategic decision that strengthens our military capabilities, the defense industry base, and contributes to NATO's overall deterrence policy," he emphasized, adding that historical experience shows deterrence works only when backed by real capabilities - industrial, logistical and technological. The President pointed out that Lithuania has already earned the trust of global defense industry leaders: international giants such as Germany's Rheinmetall and the U.S. company Northrop Grumman are developing production capacities in Lithuania. Speaking about science and innovation, the President noted that Lithuania currently supplies more than half of the world's ultrashort-pulse scientific lasers, which are used at CERN, NASA and other leading laboratories. "Lithuania's photonics sector has grown at over 16 percent annually over the past decade - ten times faster than the European average. Our ICT sector now contributes over 5 percent of Lithuania's GDP, and its export volume has increased fivefold in recent years," the President said. According to Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuania is ready to become a strategic and reliable partner for Finland in the fields of high technologies and defense: "Together with Finland, we can help shape the future of European defense - by strengthening technological capacity, advancing joint research, testing, and innovation," he said. During the business forum, cooperation documents were signed between Lithuanian and Finnish defense industry associations, including a partnership quantum technologies. Lithuania was represented at the forum by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the Defense Resources Agency under the Ministry of National Defense, and organizations and associations including the Innovation Agency, Invest Lithuania, the Research Council of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Defense and Security Industry Association (LGSPA), the Engineering and Technology Industries Association of Lithuania (LINPRA), the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), as well as representatives of business enterprises. Later, the President also met with the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, to discuss bilateral relations, economic cooperation, defense industry, and security issues. The meeting focused on strengthening the defense industry, the regional security situation and support for Ukraine. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Speech by Gitanas Nauseda, President of the Republic of Lithuania, at the Lithuania-Finland Business Forum President of the Republic of Lithuania September 02, 2025 Dear Leaders of Business and Science Communities, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honor to address you at this important business forum here in Finland - a forum that highlights two essential pillars of our shared security and prosperity: defense and science. Today, I believe our countries, Lithuania and Finland, are ready to open new chapters in business and science cooperation, while also significantly strengthening the foundations of our common security. Finland's recent accession to NATO as a full member marked a historic day for the whole Alliance. It reinforced the defense of the Baltic Sea region and the entire eastern flank of NATO. Finland's long-time resilience preparations and extensive use of high technology for security is well-known both in our region and globally. This is an inspiring example we want to emulate in Lithuania, as well. Our country approaches security issues with clarity and determination. Starting next year, we will allocate 5 to 6 percent of our GDP to defense. This is a strategic decision, aimed at strengthening our armed forces, ensuring operational readiness, and developing a strong industrial base. History has taught us that deterrence is only credible when backed by real capabilities: production, logistics, and technological superiority. Ladies and Gentlemen, After regaining independence, Lithuania looked to the Finnish economy as a guiding star and role model. We took note of how Finland transformed itself from a resource-based to a successful high-tech economy. And Lithuania made enormous efforts to catch up. Over the past quarter century, we succeeded in becoming an exemplary EU success story. Lithuania's export-oriented economy is now among the 15 most diversified in the world. With our GDP per capita growing in leaps and bounds and high-value sectors leading the way, we have reached roughly 90 percent of the EU average. Despite geopolitical tensions, our robust 3 percent growth rate remains one of the best in the European Union. This is the result of precise, well-calculated decisions and hard everyday work. Over the years, we have streamlined regulations, accelerated permitting procedures, reduced administrative barriers, and created a predictable and efficient environment for advanced manufacturing. I am particularly pleased to note that global defense industry leaders, such as the German giant Rheinmetall and American Northrop Grumman, have chosen Lithuania as their European base for production. We are also supported by strong scientific achievements that complement our growing defense capabilities. Lithuania currently supplies more than half of the world's ultrashort pulse scientific laser market, with our lasers installed at CERN, NASA, and other leading laboratories. Our photonics sector has grown at over 16 percent annually over the past decade - ten times faster than the European average. In cybersecurity, Lithuania ranks sixth in the Global Cybersecurity Index. Our ICT[1] sector now contributes over 5 percent of Lithuania's GDP - nearly double its share from a decade ago - and its export volume has increased fivefold in recent years. Dear Business and Science leaders, The Finnish concept of action and creativity in hard times, known worldwide as Sisu, has been forged by history and tested in moments of trial. I sincerely believe that our two nations, Lithuania and Finland, share not only similar historic experiences but also some outstanding traits. Our will to survive, preserve our national identity and prevail against adversity has never been broken - and never will be! Today, I invite you to explore Lithuania as a strategic and trusted partner. Together, we can help shape the future of Europe's defense. The advanced Finnish research ecosystem, strong record in defense technology, and institutional expertise open vast opportunities for cooperation. Joint projects in research, testing, and industrial development can accelerate innovation and deliver capabilities more efficiently. Present here today are representatives of the Lithuanian business and science mission specializing in laser technologies, cybersecurity solutions, advanced manufacturing, and defense systems. And they stand ready to work with Finnish partners. The cooperation documents to be signed will provide frameworks for expanded cooperation. I invite all of you to work side by side, turning ideas into capabilities that will serve both our nations and Europe as a whole. Thank you! [1] Ai-Sy-Ty, Information and communication technology Gitanas Nauseda, President of the Republic of Lithuania NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General visits Luxembourg, recognising Alliance contributions and promoting Ukraine support NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 02 Sep. 2025 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Luxembourg on 2 September 2025, meeting H.R.H. Grand Duke Henri, Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes, and Chamber of Deputies President Claude Wiseler. "You are a key contributor to NATO's innovation agenda... and invest in critical satellite capabilities," Mr. Rutte said, noting founding NATO member Luxembourg's hosting of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), and investments in multinational capabilities such as the Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft. Mr. Rutte welcomed Luxembourg's commitment to reach 2% of gross national income on defence by year's end, and emphasised the need to spend more in future, as agreed at the NATO Summit in The Hague. He thanked Luxembourg for over 250 million in military aid to Ukraine since 2022, including armoured vehicles, drones, and ammunition, plus support for NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package. Emphasising the importance of aid for Ukraine through NATO, he also welcomed Luxembourg's future participation in NATO's new Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. "Thank you so much for the announcement to participate in that program; it is critical to help Ukraine defend itself. We have in a few weeks, already been able to channel two billion dollars of vital, lethal, sometimes also more defensive systems into Ukraine through this new program," said the Secretary General. During the visit, Mr. Rutte toured the Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) in Betzdorf for discussions on space and defence, and visited NSPA in Capellen for a townhall and facility tour. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A QUARTER OF GAZA RESIDENTS DECLARE FAMINE, 92 KILLED WHILE LOOKING FOR FOOD-OCCUPATION FORCES INTENSFIES WEST BANK INCURSION INTO WEST BANK Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 02-09-2025 The Media Observatory of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Israel's Crimes against the Palestinians has in the last 7 days (25 August -1 September 202)5 recoded 814 cases of martyrdom among Palestinians. 592 of them came under direct Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip, while 92 were killed as they waited for aid. Eleven (11) bodies were recovered in the Gaza Strip while 280 were confirmed dead following verification of their profiles. The West Bank recorded 1 case of martyrdom. In the Gaza Strip, 2448 have been wounded in the last 7 days alone. The Observatory has also recorded 64,529 deaths among Palestinians from 7 October 2023 until 1 September 2025, in addition to 169,411 cases of injury in the same period. Regarding details of the situation in the Gaza Strip, 339 deaths were documented of Palestinians who died from starvation since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza until the end of last August. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) has reported that 514,000 Palestinians, meaning one quarter of the Gaza population face starvation. Concerning the crimes of killing and displacement, the Israeli occupation forces killed journalist Islam Abid and her family in their apartment in Gaza. They also killed sportsman LouayAsteita in the Zakim sector while waiting for aid. Six other children were also killed in a strike on a tent and building in western Gaza. The Israeli forces bombed a gathering of people at a bakery and displaced persons camp west of Gaza. The city had witnessed the displacement of hundreds of Palestinians following the Israeli military attack on the city. There were 365 incursions into West Bank cities and villages within 7 days. This intensified in the second half of last week when 160 Palestinians were detained, including 3 children in Ramallah and Bethlehem; 3 others were wounded in Hebron, while 6 schools were stormed and searched in Harat Sheikh in Hebron. The occupation forces carted away pictures and school book sand detained teachers. One of the Rabis blew a trumpet in the compound of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in flagrant violation of the Mosque's sanctity. The occupation forces demolished 4 houses, dozens of barns, rooms, agricultural sheds, and water tanks in Jerusalem, Nablus, and Bethlehem. Also damaged were a car park and a bakery in Bethlehem. They also bulldozed land in the village of NabiSaleh in Ramallah, the village of Rujeib in Nablus, and the village of Kafr ad-Dik in Salfit. They cut down and uprooted numerous trees in the village of Burqa in Nablus, the village of al-Issawiya in Al-Quds and the town of Asir in Hebron. They stole money from money exchange shops in Ramallah, seized computers from a money exchange shop in Tulkarm, and seized $42,510 from Palestinians. They also confiscated a truck in the town of Idhna, a private car in the al-Arroub refugee camp in Hebron, a bulldozer in the village of Yatman in Nablus, and 2road-paving vehicles in the town of Kobar in Ramallah. The crimes committed by the occupation army and settlers in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and occupied Jerusalem totaled 4,158 in seven days. Regarding settlement activity, settlers committed 57 violations over the past week, grazing their livestock in the Aqwawis area, the village of Umm al-Khair, and the Sha'b Umm al-Batm area in the Yatta area of Hebron, and in the village of Duma in Nablus. They also cut down tree branches in the village of al-Minya in Bethlehem. Settlers also targeted livestock last week, stealing 20 camels from Khirbet Tawil al-Sheih in Hebron, poisoning two cows in Khirbet Jabaris in Tubas, stealing 200 sheep from the village of Kafr Malik in Ramallah, and attempting to steal sheep in the town of al-Qarawa in Salfit. Settlers attacked an artesian water well station in the Jerusalem Governorate, slashing tires, smashing windows, and destroying surveillance cameras. They also stole a residential tent in the al-Farisiya area of Tubas, and set fire to another tent and water tanks in the town of Sinjil in Ramallah. Settlers and occupation forces carried out 12 settlement activities, including issuing two confiscation orders for 16 dunams of land in the village of Jinsafut to pave two settlement roads, the first connecting the settlements of Bakir and KarneiShomron, and the second connecting the settlements of Immanuel and Karnei Shomron. Settlers set up mobile homes in the villages of Al-Mughayyir in Ramallah, Umm Al-Khair in the Masafer area of Yatta town in Hebron, and Deir Istiya in Salfit, as well as residential tents on lands in the village of Tal in Nablus, with the aim of establishing new settlement outposts. Settlers expanded a settlement outpost in the village of Deir Razih in Hebron after bringing 30 new mobile homes. Settlers extended a plastic water network from a settlement outpost in a pastoral area in the northern Jordan Valley in Tubas. Others bulldozed lands in the village of Al-Rihiya in Hebron and carried out excavation operations to expand the "Haggai" settlement. Others bulldozed 50 dunams of land in the Al-Sakout area in the northern Jordan Valley in Tubas with the aim of seizing and cultivating them, as well as lands estimated at hundreds of dunams north of the town of Al-Auja in Jericho. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Radosaw Sikorski meets with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 02.09.2025 Poland's and US' chief diplomats discussed Polish-American cooperation in security and energy as well as topical items on multilateral agenda, including joint action for a lasting and just end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting took place on 2 September in Miami. The American military presence on NATO's eastern flank, including in Poland, was a topic of special interest. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Poland will be involved in arrangements to reliably provide Ukraine with future security guarantees. The American military presence on NATO's eastern flank, including in Poland, was a topic of special interest. Secretary of State Rubio declared that Poland will be involved in arrangements to reliably provide Ukraine with future security guarantees. He said that the United States aims to guarantee a lasting peace in Ukraine. Later in his address, he stressed that the Polish government had been an extraordinary US ally in the cause of freedom. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski, along with his American counterpart Marco Rubio, will also participate in the ceremony to award the Lech Waesa Solidarity Prize to a representative of the Cuban opposition. The distinction is awarded for outstanding achievements in promoting and defending democracy and civil liberties. The Lech Waesa Solidarity Prize was established in 2014 on Minister Radosaw Sikorski's initiative and has been relaunched in 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Letter of intent on Polish-Swedish cooperation signed Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 02.09.2025 We have signed another agreement regarding cooperation with Sweden. We are developing our defence industries, purchasing equipment from one another. We had a joint session of working groups from Polish and Swedish defence industries. These are the tangible effects of cooperation: presence of troops, trade, joint procurement, joint exercises. I am grateful for the signing of this agreement, which elevates the relations between our countries and between the Armed Forces of Poland and Sweden to the highest level. This means new capabilities, new skills - the best cooperation. We are friends, we are allies, we are responsible for one another - said the deputy prime minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Kielce. A bilateral meeting between the deputy prime minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and the minister of defence of Sweden Pal Jonson took place on 2 September 2025 during the International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO. Swedish accession to NATO is a breakthrough, it's a fundamental change in the Baltic Sea region - our capabilities and our security. We have been supporting you from the first days of you having decided to join the North Atlantic Alliance, and we support each other. I would like to thank the minister and the Kingdom of Sweden for sending your soldiers, your Gripen planes together with their crews and ground teams. Thank you for protecting the Polish skies, supporting operations connected to sending equipment to Ukraine. - said the Polish minister of national defence during the press conference The deputy prime minister noted that Swedish troops will soon cooperate with the Polish Armed Forces during the "Iron Defender" exercises. This signed agreement is a clear signal how dynamically the relations between Sweden and Poland are developing. As I said during the meeting - one would be hard-pressed to find another country, cooperation with which would be enhanced so fundamentally, as it is between Poland and Sweden. It is possible thanks to our shared sense of responsibility and investment in maintaining our security. - said the Swedish minister of defence after the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BRP Antonio Luna damaged in Malaysia still operational Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno September 2, 2025, 2:48 pm MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) sustained damage during a recent overseas activity but remains in good condition and operational, an official said Tuesday. In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, PN spokesperson Capt. Marissa Arlene Martinez described the damage, sustained Aug. 27 while the ship was taking part in a naval exercise in Malaysia, as "superficial." "When she (BRP Antonio Luna) was carefully maneuvering in a narrow space, and I would like to highlight a narrow space, it incurred superficial damage to its freeboard," she said. A freeboard refers to the distance between the waterline and the ship's main deck. BRP Antonio Luna was among the participants in the maritime training activity "MALPHI LAUT 2025" of the PN and the Royal Malaysian Navy on Aug. 27 to 29. Martinez said despite the damage, BRP Antonio Luna participated in all activities. "In fact, it is on its way home and I also would like to highlight that the people there are professional, they are very highly competent and the CO (commanding officer) himself is a seasoned surface warfare officer," she said. The BRP Antonio Luna was the second guided-missile frigate of the PN, the first being BRP Jose Rizal (FFG-150). It was delivered and commissioned in 2021, a year after BRP Jose Rizal was put into service. The two ships are worth PHP16 billion and considered as the first PN naval vessels capable of anti-air, anti-ship, anti-submarine and electronic warfare operations. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces strike 4 Israeli positions with drones: Ansarullah Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 5:39 PM Yemen's Ansarullah movement says the country's Armed Forces have "successfully" targeted strategic sites deep inside the Israeli-occupied territories using four domestically-developed Sammad-4 (Invincible-4) combat drones. In a statement on Tuesday, Ansarullah said that the drone unit of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out four military operations, targeting Israel's General Staff building, the Al-Khadira power station, and the Lod airport (Ben Gurion airport) in the region of Yaffa, as well as the occupied port of Ashdod. Ansarullah further noted that the strikes came in response to Israel's genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, and the ongoing starvation crisis in the besieged enclave. According to the statement, Yemen's operations "have successfully hit their targets." Ansarullah said Yemen's Armed Forces have also carried out a missile strike on the MSC ABY ship in the Red Sea for breaching a ban on ships bound for ports in the Israeli-occupied territories imposed in solidarity with Gaza. The operation was carried out using two drones and a winged missile, the resistance movement said, adding that it resulted in a direct hit on the ship. Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Yemeni forces have carried out numerous operations in support of Gaza, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. Yemen has also been attacking Israeli ships heading towards ports in the occupied territories. As the genocidal war on Gaza escalated, the Yemenis enforced a strategic blockade on essential maritime routes, intending to halt the delivery of military supplies to Israel and urge the international community to take action regarding the ongoing humanitarian emergency in Gaza. The Yemeni forces have declared they will not stop their assaults unless Israel ceases its ground and aerial offensives in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel mobilizes 60,000 reservists ahead of Gaza City occupation Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 5:38 PM Israel has been intensifying its troop buildup ahead of a planned offensive to capture Gaza City, even as international pressure mounts to end its genocidal campaign against the Palestinian territory. Israeli media reported Tuesday that the military has begun mobilizing roughly 60,000 reservists for the operation. The Israeli military said that the reservists will be issued weapons, personal gear and full tactical equipment, with units undergoing drills in urban and open terrain combat "to boost readiness" for the upcoming offensive. The move follows Israeli military's declaration on Friday that Gaza City is "a dangerous combat zone," signaling preparations to fully occupy the largest city in the besieged Palestinian territory after nearly two years of war. The buildup comes amid a recent Israeli military investigation that reported a rise in suicides among its soldiers, with most cases linked to severe psychological trauma and exposure to extreme conditions during the ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza. The findings indicated that most suicides stemmed from prolonged exposure to combat, traumatic battlefield experiences, and the psychological toll of losing comrades. The Israeli military is now poised to advance on Gaza City, the territory's largest urban center, despite international calls for restraint amid fears the assault could cause massive casualties and displace roughly one million Palestinians currently seeking shelter in the city. Mahmud Bassal, Gaza's civil defense agency spokesperson said on Tuesday that Israeli warplanes hit a residential building in southwestern Gaza City, killing 10 people. Israeli helicopters struck an apartment in the west of the city, killing three and wounding several others, Bassal added. Gaza City remains one of the last refuges in the northern part of the strip, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are sheltering amid the dual threats of combat and famine. Famine was officially declared last month by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Since March 2, Israeli authorities have closed Gaza's border crossings, plunging the besieged territory's 2.4 million residents deeper into hunger. Since the world's leading authority on food crises declared last month that Gaza City was experiencing famine, malnutrition-related deaths have mounted. Gaza's Health Ministry said on Tuesday that a total of 185 people died of malnutrition in August marking the highest count in months. Gaza's hunger-related death toll has risen to 361 since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched its ongoing brutal assault on the coastal strip. The death toll from Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has reached 63,633. More than 160,900 others have been injured. Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas urges UN Security Council action after Israeli strikes kill 21 Palestinians Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 4:09 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take immediate action to halt the Israeli regime's ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Hamas said the regime's actions in the besieged Palestinian territory constitute blatant war crimes and grave violations of international law. Hamas made the appeal in a statement on Tuesday, following Israeli airstrikes that targeted two separate neighborhoods in Gaza, resulting in the tragic deaths of 21 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The resistance group condemned these atrocities as revealing Israel's "criminal fascist character," saying they clearly constitute war crimes under international law. Hamas also underscored the pressing need for the UNSC to intervene, halt the brutal genocide, and hold the perpetrators accountable. Furthermore, it said the United States' obstruction of international mechanisms meant to address these brutal violations only adds to the complicity in these crimes against humanity, a legacy that history will not forgive. Hamas also pointed out that the systematic devastation of neighborhoods in Gaza, carried out through extensive air bombardments and drones laden with explosives targeting residential areas, represents a profound breach of both international and humanitarian laws. It also said the Israeli regime is indiscriminately assaulting innocent civilians, particularly in Gaza City, as part of a disturbing agenda focused on genocide and forced displacement through acts of massacre and devastation. The resistance group also urged the Arab and Islamic nations to take decisive action and apply pressure to end the occupying regime's ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza, and to confront its destabilizing projects that threaten security and stability in the broader region. Earlier in the day, Israeli airstrikes hit a residential building in the Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City, claiming the lives of over ten civilians, mostly women and children. In a separate attack in the Mawasi area near Khan Younis, 11 individuals were killed, including seven children, while they were collecting water, according to Hamas. According to the health ministry of Gaza, more than 63,557 Palestinians have been killed and 160,660 wounded in Gaza since October 2023, when Israel launched its genocidal war on the besieged territory. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is investigating Israel for genocide, while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister, Yoav Gallant, are facing arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing war crimes in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel starves 13 more Palestinians in Gaza, death toll rises to 361 Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 2:27 PM Gaza's Health Ministry said 13 more people, including three children, died in the past 24 hours as a result of Israel-induced famine, amid mounting warnings from international agencies that starvation is spreading rapidly across the besieged enclave. In a statement released Tuesday, the ministry said the new figures raise Gaza's hunger-related death toll to 361 since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched its ongoing genocidal campaign. Among the dead are at least 130 children, underscoring the devastating toll on the most vulnerable. The ministry added that more than 43,000 children under the age of five are currently suffering from malnutrition, along with over 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women. Two-thirds of pregnant women are experiencing anemia, marking the highest rate observed in recent years. "Mothers and newborns are the most at risk from malnutrition," the ministry said. According to the ministry, 83 of these deaths, including 15 children, have been recorded since August 22, the day when the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a United Nations-backed monitoring system, officially declared that parts of Gaza were in a state of full-blown famine. The IPC assessment found that 514,000 people, nearly one-quarter of Gaza's total population, were already facing a famine. That number is expected to rise to 641,000 by the end of September. The report further warned that famine conditions are likely to spread to Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis within weeks. The starvation crisis has also sparked strong condemnation from academic circles. On Monday, the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), a network of more than 500 experts, overwhelmingly approved a resolution declaring that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide under the 1948 UN Convention. The resolution, which received 86% votes, urged Israel to end "starvation, deprivation of humanitarian aid, forced displacement and deliberate attacks on civilians." Melanie O'Brien, president of the IAGS and professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, stated, "This is a definitive statement from experts in the field of genocide studies that what is going on the ground in Gaza is genocide." Last month, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the situation as a "man-made disaster, a moral indictment and a failure of humanity itself." He stressed that Israel, as the occupying power, has "unequivocal obligations" under international law to ensure that civilians have access to food and medical supplies. Humanitarian agencies have echoed these concerns and renewed calls for immediate, unrestricted entry of aid convoys into Gaza. Israel, however, has rejected the IPC findings, maintaining that no famine exists, regardless of mounting evidence provided by international experts and on-the-ground reports. Despite repeated warnings and growing evidence, aid delivery remains heavily restricted, and humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate on a daily basis in the besieged territory. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 63,633 Palestinians have been killed and more than 160,914 injured since the beginning of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belgium to recognize State of Palestine at UN General Assembly, impose sanctions on Israel Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 11:16 AM Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot has announced that the Western European country will recognize the State of Palestine at the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month and impose sanctions on Israel. "Palestine will be recognized by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions will be imposed against Israel," Prevot, who is also the deputy prime minister, wrote in a post on X on Tuesday. Prevot added that Belgium will impose a round of 12 "firm" sanctions against Israel, including a ban on the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and "a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies." He noted that the move is "in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza." The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed Belgium's decision to recognize Palestinian statehood in the upcoming UN meeting. In a statement on X, the ministry said it considered the move "to be in line with international law and United Nations resolutions," protective of the state of Palestine, and "supportive of achieving peace." It called on other countries to "quickly" follow suit, "to intensify practical efforts to stop the crimes of genocide, displacement, starvation, and annexation, and to open a real political path to resolve the conflict." Australia, Canada, France, and Britain have announced plans to recognize Palestine during the UN General Assembly meetings later this month, joining nearly 150 countries that already have. The United States said on Friday it would bar Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York for the UN General Assembly. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan searches for survivors as death from massive quake tops 1,100 Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 10:53 AM The death toll from a recent earthquake in Afghanistan has reached 1,124, the Afghan Red Crescent Society says as rescue teams continue to scour the country's mountainous east for survivors. At least 3,251 people have been injured and more than 8,000 houses destroyed in the disaster, the group said. The 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit several provinces late Sunday night. It destroyed villages, trapping people beneath the rubble of their homes, which were primarily built from vulnerable mud bricks and wood. According to a spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority, the figures "may change significantly" as the injured are being evacuated. "The earthquake caused landslides in some areas, blocking roads, but they have been reopened, and the remaining roads will be reopened to allow access to areas that were difficult to reach," he added. The highest number of casualties was concentrated in Kunar province, a region characterized by steep river valleys and high mountains that isolate communities. In response to the compromised infrastructure, helicopters are evacuating casualties for medical care, and relief agencies report that their personnel are resorting to foot travel to access the hardest-hit, most inaccessible areas. Amid the devastation, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian sent a message of condolence to the Afghan people and government. Describing Afghanistan as a "brotherly country," Pezeshkian expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and injuries caused by the quake. Foreign Minister Abbas Arachchi also described the tragedy as "deeply saddening", stressing Iran's "full readiness to send emergency, medical, and humanitarian aid" to support Afghan recovery efforts. The Iranian Red Crescent Society announced it was prepared to dispatch rescue and medical teams, with its president Pir Hossein Kolivand saying the center "stands ready to send aid teams as soon as requested". It is the third major earthquake since the Taliban retook power in 2021, and the latest crisis to beset Afghanistan. Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have called for international help for the war-ravaged country that was already grappling with food shortages and cuts to foreign aid. Mark Calder, advocacy director at the World Vision Afghanistan aid agency, warned of more than 250,000 people "swelling the ranks" of those needing help to access basic needs and services if resources were not made available. "This will mean more people living without proper shelter, access to nutritious food to feed their families, clean water, and by extension malnutrition and disease in a context where the healthcare system simply can't stretch," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tehran rejects Arab states' claims to Iranian islands, Arash field Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 10:23 AM Iran has reiterated its sovereignty over the Persian Gulf trio islands, rights to the Arash field, and the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, in reaction to the false claims in a recent Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) statement. In a statement released on Tuesday, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs roundly rejected "the hackneyed and legally baseless claim of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council regarding the Iranian trio islands." During a joint meeting in Kuwait on Monday, the foreign ministers of the GCC issued a statement claiming that the islands of the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa belong to the United Arab Emirates. The Iranian foreign ministry described the islands as "inseparable parts of Iran's territorial territory," adding that the repetition of "baseless claims in similar statements will not cause any change in the geographical, historical, and legal realities related to these islands." Iran, the statement added, "will take any necessary action required to ensure safety and security in these Iranian islands and to secure the country's interests with respect to the islands." The Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands. The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran's sovereignty over the islands was restored. The Ministry also emphasized Iran's rights to the Arash field based on historical rights and negotiation records, dismissing all "one-sided claims" regarding the field as invalid. The GCC foreign ministers reiterated on Monday their previous claims regarding the ownership of the Arash gas field (jointly owned by Iran and Kuwait) and dismissed Iran's rights to the gas field. According to the Iranian ministry, issuing repetitive statements and making unilateral claims "fail to grant any rights to the Kuwaiti government from a legal perspective." "Reaching a fair and lasting agreement regarding the Arash field requires bilateral dialogue, joint efforts, and the creation of a positive and constructive atmosphere to protect and secure mutual rights and interests," the statement added. The dispute over the Arash gas field, which Kuwaitis call al-Durra, dates back to the 1960s when Iran and Kuwait were awarded overlapping offshore concessions for the field following its discovery. The dispute has seen several cycles of claims and counter-claims by the parties involved, becoming a key sticking point in relations between the Persian Gulf neighbors. The field is estimated to hold 20 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, which could produce one billion cubic feet per day. Nearly 40% of the Arash gas field is located in Iranian waters. The Iranian foreign ministry also underscored Iran's "legitimate and legal rights" to benefit from nuclear energy as per the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and deemed any attempt "to cast doubt on the peaceful nature of its nuclear program unjustified." The US and the European parties, the ministry said, have been disrupting the negotiation processes by persistently reneging on their promises and grossly violating the principles and rules of the United Nations Charter and international law. In their statement, the GCC foreign ministers claimed that Iran's nuclear negotiations should include all alleged security issues and concerns of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states. The Iranian foreign ministry, in response, drew the attention of the countries of the region to "the real and immediate danger" posed by Israel's "weapons of mass destruction." The statement called for regional countries to collectively pressure the international community to act on the Israeli regime's WMDs as a step toward a nuclear weapon-free zone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen's Ansarullah says 'real surprises' in the offing for Israel after assassinations Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 8:32 AM Ansarullah says the resistance movement is preparing "real" surprises for the Israeli regime in retaliation for the illegal entity's recent assassination of top Yemeni officials in the capital Sana'a and Tel Aviv's continued genocide of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. "We have real surprises that neither friend nor foe could expect, and our military stockpiles contain immense capabilities," Dhaifallah al-Shami, a member of Ansarullah's Political Bureau, was quoted as saying by Lebanon's al-Mayadeen news network on Monday. Shami stressed that if the Ansarullah had more resources, they could cross the seas and join the Palestinian front. The statement was made just hours after the Yemeni military launched a drone attack on the Israeli-occupied territories, with the regime claiming to have intercepted a number of them. Yemen's Armed Forces also announced on Monday that they had carried out a ballistic missile attack on an Israeli vessel off the Red Sea coast. Military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a televised statement that a ballistic missile targeted Israeli oil tanker Scarlet Ray in the northern Red Sea, underlining that the operation resulted in a direct hit on the ship and successfully achieved its objectives. Israeli airstrikes on the Yemeni capital on Thursday claimed the lives of Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahawi of the National Government of Change and Construction, and eight other officials. The leader of Ansarallah movement, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, praised the victims as "martyrs of all Yemen" and rebuked Israel's "savagery" against civilians. "The Israeli enemy, with its crimes and savagery, does not spare even children, women and defenseless civilians," he said, adding, "The crime of targeting ministers and civilian officials is added to the criminal record of the Israeli enemy in the region." Since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Yemeni forces have carried out scores of retaliatory attacks in solidarity with Palestinians and enforced a sea blockade that has paralyzed the Israeli economy, vowing they will not stop until the war and blockade on the besieged strip end. The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has killed more than 63,500 Palestinians and injured upwards of 160,600 others, mostly children and women. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel notifies US of its agenda to 'annex' West Bank: Report Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 7:39 AM According to a report by Israeli media, Israel has informed the US of its West Bank "annexation" plan as momentum grows internationally for recognizing Palestinian statehood. The Hebrew-language news outlet Walla reported that Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar held a meeting on Wednesday in Washington with his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, to deliberate on the complete implementation of the scheme. Saar suggested that the incumbent Israeli administration is discreetly moving towards "exercising sovereignty" over the Palestinian territory in the upcoming months. The report highlighted that there are disagreements within the Israeli cabinet on the timing of the announcement. In June, the Israeli regime unveiled a new plan for taking more land from the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The plan, led by the hawkish finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, includes the legalization of settler outposts and the forced displacement of the Bedouin communities. On August 20, Israel approved a major settlement project, called E1, which aims to split the occupied West Bank into two parts, cutting off the northern cities of Ramallah and Nablus from Bethlehem and al-Khalil in the south and isolating East al-Quds. At the time, the US ambassador to the Israeli-occupied territories, Mike Huckabee, claimed on Israeli Army Radio that the extensive development of settlements in the occupied West Bank does not constitute a breach of international law, and that Washington would not stand against it. Although Huckabee's remarks pertained to the entirety of the occupied Palestinian territory, he also specifically mentioned the proposed settlement in the E1 region of occupied al-Quds. The separation of East al-Quds from certain areas of the West Bank, often compared to the apartheid system in South Africa, will compel Palestinians to undertake long detours when traveling between various cities and towns. Smotrich announced his intention to move forward with the highly contentious project, in what he claimed aimed to "bury the concept of a Palestinian state." This comes as Australia, Canada, France, and Britain have announced plans to recognize Palestine during the UN General Assembly meetings later this month, joining nearly 150 countries that already have. The West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. As of the end of 2024, approximately 770,000 illegal Israeli settlers lived in the West Bank, across 180 settlements and 256 outposts - including 138 classified as agricultural or pastoral, according to Palestinian reports. Since October 2023, after the Zionist regime launched its genocidal war on Gaza, the Israeli military has intensified daily raids and mass arrests across the West Bank, notably in the northern cities, where Israeli bulldozers have razed entire residential areas, expelling at least 40,000 people. Israeli data show settlers staged 414 attacks against the Palestinians in the West Bank in the first half of 2025, up 30% from 2024. Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers since October 2023. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Maduro says ready to 'declare a republic in arms' amid US naval buildup Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 7:01 AM President Nicolas Maduro says Venezuela is facing "the biggest threat" seen by the continent in the last 100 years, amid the US deployment of ships in the Caribbean, asserting he is ready to "declare a republic in arms" if attacked by American forces. Maduro made the remarks at a meeting with international media in Caracas on Monday, calling the US move an "unjustifiable" and "absolutely criminal threat." He said eight US Navy ships carrying 1,200 missiles and one nuclear submarine were targeting Venezuela. The US Navy has deployed a fleet of vessels and thousands of troops to the Caribbean, allegedly aimed at combating Latin American drug cartels. The USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale, carrying more than 4,500 US service members including some 2,200 Marines, have arrived in the region. In addition, US military aircraft, including P-8 spy planes, have been flying in international airspace to gather intelligence. Maduro said that "in response to maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum readiness to defend Venezuela." He noted that a US military build-up in the Caribbean is aimed at overthrowing his government, stressing that Venezuela will not yield to "blackmail and threats". His country, Maduro said, is peaceful but will fight to defend its territory if attacked. More than eight million Venezuelans have enlisted as reservists, according to Maduro as Caracas has already announced increased patrols of its territorial waters. The volume of US military deployment in the region, officially justified as an operation against drug cartels, has raised eyebrows, with critics questioning whether such a large-scale presence is proportionate to the stated mission. Last week, Caracas petitioned the United Nations to intervene by demanding "the immediate cessation of the US military deployment in the Caribbean." In August, the Trump administration 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 roundly 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. 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. Sanctions have also been imposed on Venezuela to pressure Maduro to step down in favor of the opposition leader, whom the US and its Western allies have recognized as the country's legitimate president. Maduro, however, secured a third term in office after Venezuela's National Electoral Council declared him the winner of last year's presidential election. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Than 1,400 Dead In Afghanistan Earthquake As Aid Struggles To Reach Remote Villages By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi September 02, 2025 Summary Over 1,400 people are confirmed dead and thousands injured after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Aid efforts face challenges due to remote terrain and Taliban restrictions on humanitarian operations. Amnesty International criticized the Taliban for hindering aid and Pakistan for repatriating Afghan refugees amid the crisis. UN agencies and international groups are mobilizing emergency assistance to support affected families in the mountainous region. GHAZI ABAD VILLAGE, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan -- More than 1,400 people are reported dead and thousands of others injured as aid workers continue to battle to get to a remote mountainous region of Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake that flattened villages. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government's chief spokesman, said on September 2, two days after the 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Jalalabad close to the Pakistan border, that the death tolled had reached 1,411, with more than 3,100 others injured. "This village is completely destroyed. There's no one alive. We request the government to take care of the people of the village. The damage is beyond our capabilities, we can't remove the stone, the rubble," Sediqullah, the tribal leader of the village of Ghazi Abad in Nangarhar province, told RFE/RL. A resident of the village added: The village is gone, there's nothing left." The Taliban-led government has not been officially recognized by any country besides Russia, although aid groups have attempted to maintain contacts despite barriers put up by the de facto rulers. Amnesty International has put out a call for "urgent humanitarian aid," but the London-based rights organization also blasted the Taliban for making rescue operations more difficult. It also assailed Pakistan for its forced repatriation of nearly 2 million Afghan refugees, saying it exasperated the woes. "The Taliban de facto authorities have also been responsible for the shrinking of operations of humanitarian and aid agencies in the country due to restrictive policies and a ban on Afghan women working for the UN as well as other NGOs in Afghanistan. This is part of the Taliban's systematic attack on human rights in the country," Amnesty said in a statement. International organizations preparing assistance have made efforts to stress that all aid will go to the victims and not into the hands of the Taliban leaders. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world organization was working with authorities to "swiftly assess needs, provide emergency assistance, and stand ready to mobilize additional support." The disaster comes at a time when the impoverished country struggles with cutbacks in international aid over the Taliban's seizure of power and the return of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries. "The villages there are built in a way that the homes are basically in a stepped terrace situation," Salam Al-Janabi, the UNICEF spokesman in Kabul, told RFE/RL. "It means these homes are toppling on top of each other. And this is why we're seeing such large numbers of casualties." Al-Janabi said "at the moment you have all UN agencies in Afghanistan surging over there," and that some 600 homes were destroyed. "Where are these families staying? Where are these children staying? Maybe it will be fine for just now to stay under a tent...within the next three weeks it's going to get colder in this area very soon." Injured survivors were being airlifted from the remote, mountainous region by helicopter. Taliban officials said the terrain made it difficult to get aid and emergency workers to the scene. Afghanistan is often hit by earthquakes, with the last one occurring in October 2023. In that case, the death toll rose steadily as emergency work continued. The Taliban gave a final figure of 4,000 dead, although the United Nations said the figure was around 1,500. The latest quake struck around 11:45 p.m. on August 31 and was centered some 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province, according to the US Geological Survey(USGA). Modelling by the USGA earlier suggested that the estimated number of deaths could rise to hundreds of people. The USGA said the quake was 8 kilometers deep, a relatively shallow level that often causes greater damage than deeper temblors. A 4.5-magnitude quake struck in the region some 20 minutes later, followed by another aftershock of 5.2 magnitude, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ). Residents of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad -- more than 300 kilometers away -- reported feeling buildings shaking. Residents of Kabul -- about 100 kilometers away -- were also shaken. The quake comes after Nangarhar Province was hit by heavy flooding over the weekend that killed at least five people and destroyed crops and property. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/over- 1-000-dead-in-afghanistan-earthquake-as-aid-struggles- to-reach-remote-villages/33519517.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 Why The OSCE Minsk Group Is Ending -- And What Comes Next By Rikard Jozwiak September 02, 2025 Summary The OSCE Minsk Group, created in 1992 to mediate the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, will be dissolved by the end of 2025. The group achieved little due to constant vetoes, co-chair tensions, and accusations of bias, with Azerbaijan seizing disputed territories in recent years. The dissolution could allow the OSCE to pass its first budget since 2021, but Russia's stance remains uncertain. International organizations, including the EU's Armenia monitoring mission, face scrutiny over their effectiveness in resolving regional conflicts. On September 1, the OSCE's 57 member states unanimously decided to wind down the OSCE Minsk Group by the end of the year. Created in 1992 to find a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, the group has been effectively moribund since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Then, last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a US-brokered peace treaty outside of the group. RFE/RL takes a look at how it was set-up, what it accomplished, and what its dissolution means. What Was The OSCE Minsk Group? It was set up by OSCE's predecessor, the CSCE (Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe) 33 years ago in the middle of the first Nagorno-Karabakh war as a way of providing a forum for settling the conflict. In many ways, there were high hopes at the time that the international community could solve the issue in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and rapid democratization in the former Warsaw pact countries. The idea was initially that a conference would take place in Minsk, hence the name of the group, but to this day no meeting ever took place in the Belarusian capital. But the group fleshed out a structure, which included three permanently rotating co-chairs -- France, Russia and the United States -- as well as a number of participating states that -- apart from the belligerents Armenia and Azerbaijan -- also included Belarus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Turkey. The objectives were clear: achieve a cessation of all hostilities, find a negotiated resolution, and provide OSCE peacekeepers to maintain order. Is It The Same As The Minsk Agreements? No. The OSCE was involved here as well but the Minsk agreements (also known as Minsk I & II or the Minsk protocols) were another international attempt to settle a different conflict. This time it concerned the fighting between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk back in 2014. In addition to the OSCE, Russia, and Ukraine, the negotiators in this instance also included France and Germany, and they actually met frequently in the Belarusian capital. But much like the OSCE Minsk Group, it is fair to say that the Minsk agreements didn't really achieve much as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. So What Was Accomplished By The Minsk Group? In all honesty, very little, if anything. None of the objectives were accomplished and OSCE diplomats speaking to RFE/RL under condition of anonymity admit that as well. They also added that perhaps the only credit the group could take was that it snuffed out growing tensions between Baku and Yerevan in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In the end the consensus-based nature of the OSCE with constant vetoes prevented the group from ever being effective. It didn't help that tensions between the co-chairs were growing, notably after Russia's forcible annexation of Crimea in 2014, and became damaged beyond repair after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine eight years later. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, was also never happy with France and the United States, often accusing them of being biased and pandering to their respective Armenian diasporas. Why Is It Ending Now? The writing was on the wall as soon as the second Nagorno-Karabakh war broke out in the autumn of 2020. With Azerbaijan seizing large parts of the disputed territories, Baku immediately called for an end to the Minsk Group. With the country capturing the remaining Armenian-held areas three years later, the call was reiterated with even more vigor. The fact that the OSCE was totally sidelined during these hostilities and Russian peacekeepers failed to intervene were clear signs that the group had been rendered moot. As part of a peace deal initialed under the auspices of US President Donald Trump in early August, Armenia also came onboard with the idea of getting rid of the group despite the protests of exiled Karabakh Armenians, who noted that dissolving the Minsk Group would legitimize the "ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh." What Will It Mean Going Forward? Interestingly, it could mean that the OSCE might pass its first budget since 2021. The Vienna-based organization needs unanimity to approve its financial framework, and Baku has so far vetoed the 158-million-euro ($184 million) package as it still contains money for the Minsk Group. It remains to be seen, however, if Russia will give its thumbs up as Moscow has also been critical on several issues, such as the OSCE's activities in Ukraine and the election-monitoring activities of the organization's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which the Kremlin considers politically biased. Russia will also be interesting to watch going forward. Does the demise of the Minsk Group signal a decreasing Russian influence in the South Caucasus? And where does all this leave the OSCE? The Helsinki Final Act, which paved the way for the organization, recently turned 50 years old, something that was marked by a lavish ceremony in the Finnish capital earlier this summer. What became clear from that bash was that there is little consensus over what the OSCE actually will focus on going forward. But the ramifications will be felt beyond the OSCE, with international organizations taking the heat for not being able to step up and solve crises. The European Union, which already is fretting over being locked out of negotiations about Ukraine's future, is also pondering whether its monitoring mission to Armenia (EUMA) should be the next to fold. The mission, set up two years ago to monitor Armenia's border with Azerbaijan, has previously provoked ire from Baku despite its moderate size of only 200 observers. With Azerbaijan successfully pushing for the Minsk Group to go, European diplomats think the EUMA might be next. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/osce-minsk-group-legacy-end- future-implications/33519655.htmll 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 Slovenia increases support for UNRWA Republic of Slovenia 2. 9. 2025 Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs On the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum, Ms. Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, and Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), signed a 4 million agreement to support the Agency's work over the next four years (2025 - 2028), including 1 million per year in fully flexible funding. "UNRWA continues to play a crucial role in providing critical services to Palestine Refugees. It must be allowed to carry out its mandate as adopted by the General Assembly. Slovenia has consistently supported UNRWA's mission until a just political solution is reached. This partnership underscores our dedication to humanitarian principles, regional stability and the protection of rights and dignity of Palestine Refugees" said Minister Fajon. Since the war in Gaza started in October 2023, Slovenia has increased financial support to UNRWA, contributing 2,55 million and actively advocating for the Agency's work within the UN. Together with its partners, Slovenia launched an initiative in support of UNRWA through Shared Commitments, which have been endorsed by more than 120 UN Member States. "Slovenia's strong political and financial support has been critical for ensuring that UNRWA continues serving Palestine Refugees effectively across its fields of operation. This agreement reinforces the longstanding cooperation between UNRWA and Slovenia," said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to Press US Department of State Remarks Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Homestead Air Reserve Base Homestead, FL September 2, 2025 QUESTION: Were you at SOUTHCOM today? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. Not today. I was there Friday. QUESTION: So any additional details SECRETARY RUBIO: I was - I had a - the Polish Government foreign ministry did the Lech Walesa Award today for a Cuban dissident. So obviously she's not here, so I attended that this morning. QUESTION: And what can you tell us about Venezuela? QUESTION: (Inaudible.) QUESTION: Any details to share about the Venezuela strike now? (Inaudible.) SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, the President made - the President made the announcement and said it was a lethal strike. I think the Pentagon will have more details and other things to offer you here in the next few hours (inaudible). QUESTION: What kind of vessel was it? QUESTION: Yeah, vessel SECRETARY RUBIO: The drug vessel - carrying drugs. QUESTION: Size? SECRETARY RUBIO: Huh? Well, I'll refer you to the Pentagon. They'll give you more details on that when - in the next - I anticipate shortly, at any - probably while we're in the air. QUESTION: How many deaths are believed to have QUESTION: What types of drugs were on board? Can you tell us, is it SECRETARY RUBIO: Again, look, I'm not trying to be evasive. I'll let the Pentagon answer that. Suffice it to say that the President is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking into the United States. It destabilizes not just the country but the entire Caribbean Basin. These particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean, at which point they just contribute to the instability these countries are facing. So the President has been very clear that he is going to use the full power of America, the full might of the United States, to take on and eradicate these drug cartels no matter where they're operating from and no matter how long they have been able to act with impunity. Those days are over. QUESTION: The vessels are still in the region. Do you plan those operations to - do you expect those operations to continue? SECRETARY RUBIO: I think as long as those vessels are in the region and as long as the President's in the White House, he's made very clear he's not going to allow the United States to continue to be flooded with cocaine and fentanyl and other drugs coming from different places - this one is from Venezuela, which is a common route. But by the way, some of it ends up in Europe. A lot of it ends up in Puerto Rico and then on into the United States mainland. So no one should be surprised. That's why they're there on a counterdrug mission, and they're going to continue to operate. As far as specifics and future operations, I have to refer you to the Pentagon on that. This is a DOD operation. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, have you QUESTION: (Inaudible.) You said that it was operated by a cartel. Can you share which cartel was operating the vessel? SECRETARY RUBIO: Again, I'll let the operators discuss all of that. But I thought it was - the President was very clear, and that is we destroyed a drug boat that left Venezuela operated by a designated narcoterrorist organization, which is what these are, and he's been clear that the days of acting with impunity and having an engine shot down or a couple drugs grabbed off a boat, the - those days are over. Now it is we are going to wage combat against drug cartels that are flooding American streets and killing Americans. QUESTION: Will you take out the Maduro regime? QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what is the legal authority for this strike? SECRETARY RUBIO: The legal authority? QUESTION: Yeah. SECRETARY RUBIO: Well look, again, I'm not going to answer for the White House Counsel. Suffice it to say that all of those steps were taken in advance. The President has designated these as terrorist organizations, which is what they are. When you flood American streets with drugs, you are terrorizing America, and that's going to end. QUESTION: Will you act on Venezuelan soil against the Maduro regime? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, this is a counterdrug operation and we're going to take on drug cartels wherever they are and wherever they're operating against the interest of the United States. The President's top obligation is to secure the national interest and the national security of our people. I know of no president that means that more than this one - our President now, President Trump. And so, but we'll - I'm not going to speculate about what might come down the road. Let's get in the air, guys. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 2 September 2025 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. All right, good afternoon. ** Briefings As you know, in about 45 minutes, and I am sure they will be on time, the President of the Security Council for the month of September, Mr. Sangjin Kim, who is the Charge d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea, will be here to brief you on the programme of work. As a reminder for those of you who are connected by Zoom, there will be no Zoom connection for that briefing, but you will be able to follow it on the UN Web TV. Our good friend Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly (PGA), will be here to brief you tomorrow, which we expect sadly to be her last briefing as the representative of the PGA. ** China Over the long weekend, you will have seen that the Secretary-General was in Tianjin, in China, where he was invited to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation [Organization] leaders' summit. Speaking during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus session yesterday, the Secretary-General said that as we are moving towards a multipolar world, we need principled leadership to strengthen multilateralism, uphold the rule of law, and deliver for people as reflected in the Pact for the Future. He added that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is uniquely positioned to help shape a more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable future. Turning to the situation in Ukraine, the Secretary-General told the leaders of the Summit it is past time for a ceasefire leading to a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in line with the UN Charter, international law, and relevant UN resolutions. The Secretary-General also reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza; an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; and unimpeded, safe and sustained humanitarian access. We shared those remarks with you. While there, he had several bilateral meetings, including with the President of China, the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation [Organization], the Prime Minister of Cambodia and the President of Iran. You will have seen all those readouts that we shared with you during the weekend. ** Papua New Guinea He now arrived in Papua New Guinea. Earlier today, he met the country's Governor General, Bob Bofeng Dadae, as well as the Prime Minister, James Marape. Later in the day, during a press conference with the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General said he was honoured to be the first UN Secretary-General to visit Papua New Guinea and to join in celebrating 50 years of the country's independence. For the past five decades, he said, Papua New Guineans have taken on a profound task: to weave their breathtaking diversity into one people and one country that leaves no one behind. Papua New Guinea has long led the charge for climate justice, he said. And as we approach the UN Climate Conference in Brazil later this fall, he added, the world must move faster to keep the 1.5 degrees limit alive and also to produce a credible path to achieve the $1.3 trillion objective decided in Baku during the last Climate Conference. Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will address a special session of the Parliament to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the country's independence. We have shared those remarks with you under embargo, and you should be able to follow those on the UN Web TV, if you are up in the middle of the night. ** Yemen You will have seen that over the weekend we issued a statement on Yemen in which the Secretary-General strongly condemned the arbitrary detentions of UN personnel by the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen. He further condemned the forced entry into the premises of the World Food Programme (WFP), the seizure of UN property, and attempts to enter other UN premises in Sana'a. The total number of UN detained staff in this moment, after this latest action now stands at least at 18. This is in addition to the 23 colleagues already arbitrarily detained, some since 2021. You will recall that one of our colleagues died while being held by the Houthis, and that took place in February of this year. The Secretary-General strongly reiterates his demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all those who have been detained, including all other personnel from the UN, international organizations, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), civil society and diplomatic missions. Our personnel and that from our partners must never be targeted, they must never be arrested, and they must never be detained while carrying out their duties on behalf of the United Nations. Meanwhile, our Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, just concluded a visit to Muscat, in Oman, where he met with senior Omani officials, as well as Ansar Allah chief negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam, and representatives of the diplomatic community. In these meetings, Mr. Grundberg reiterated his strong condemnation of these detentions, stressing that these detentions, as well as the forced entry into our premises and taking of UN property by Ansar Allah, seriously endangers our ability to operate in Yemen and deliver much-needed assistance to the people of Yemen. He also emphasized that these actions put all UN staff and operations at risk and underscored the fundamental obligation to respect and protect the safety of our colleagues. Mr. Grundberg also expressed his deep concern over the continuous cycle of hostilities between Ansar Allah and Israel and its repercussions inside Yemen and for the wider region. ** Afghanistan Turning to Afghanistan: You will also have seen that over the weekend, we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General said that he is deeply saddened by the devastating loss of life caused by Sunday's earthquake in eastern Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan. He expressed his solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He also said that the UN in Afghanistan will spare no efforts to assist people but noted that current humanitarian funding is insufficient to address the needs. He called for additional resources to be urgently dispatched to respond to the tragedy and crisis at hand. On the ground, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that preliminary reports from de facto authorities now indicate that at least 1,400 people have been killed and more than 3,100 injured. Casualty figures are expected to rise further as search and rescue teams reach affected areas. We have dispatched at least 25 assessment teams to the region to assess the situation, and we are already supporting the response by deploying critical items to areas that can be reached. For example, our colleagues at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are deploying prepositioned essential relief items from stockpiles in Kabul, including tents, that also include blankets and solar lamps. Our humanitarian colleagues note that immediate priority needs include emergency shelter, critical medical supplies, drinking water and emergency food assistance. The de facto authorities have launched an immediate response, flying hundreds of medivac cases to regional hospitals for care and clearing blocked roads. Our humanitarian partners are also seeking ways to mobilize additional air assets to reach those in need. Shelter materials and medical supplies are running low, and the current funding is insufficient to address all needs, as we have been saying. Our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, called for the international community's support to scale up emergency relief efforts. We and our partners are developing an emergency appeal, and we will keep you posted. Yesterday, the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, released $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help kickstart our response, and that will be matched by a $5 million from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund. Our humanitarian colleagues note that the earthquake has added death and destruction to a country already facing multiple crises, including a severe drought and the return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries. Our UNHCR colleagues also report that a number of the victims had recently returned from Pakistan, from where they have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that military activities continue in and around Gaza City, but also in the south, taking a heavy toll on civilians including deaths, injuries and further displacement. Our colleagues report that people continue to flee, mainly towards the coast. Since 14 August, our partners monitoring population movements have recorded more than 76,000 new displacements. More than 23,000 of these movements were from northern to southern Gaza, and most of the remaining displacement was within the Gaza governorate. OCHA also says that coastal areas in Gaza City are already extremely crowded with tents, forcing some of those fleeing Gaza City to move north to coastal areas near Zikim, although those areas are under displacement orders. Meanwhile, there continue to be daily reports of malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza. Our colleagues from the World Food Programme (WFP) say that the situation continues to deteriorate, noting that families without able-bodied members face the highest risk of severe malnutrition. For this reason, last Tuesday, WFP resumed the distribution of digital vouchers, following a five-month pause, and have so far reached 22,500 people, prioritizing vulnerable groups including people with disabilities and female-headed households. We and our partners also continue to transport food and other supplies to and from the crossings, but the current situation on the ground have not yet allowed us to resume community-based distributions. WFP says that violence among crowds and convoy attacks make organized distributions nearly impossible and put civilians and staff at risk. Adding to these difficulties are congestion at entry points and supply shortages. Only a ceasefire will ensure the necessary conditions for a massive response to prevent famine from spreading further. During the previous ceasefire, as you know, we reached nearly every single person in the Gaza Strip with life-saving aid and we can do this again. Meanwhile, OCHA reports that the movement of humanitarian teams inside Gaza remains heavily restricted. Between Friday and Monday, about one in three planned missions was either impeded or outright denied by Israeli authorities. That's 12 out of 37 movements that we coordinated with them. As a result, many missions couldn't be completed. Restrictions also impact the pipeline before it reaches Gaza. Our colleagues leading on logistics say that strict physical inspections by Israeli authorities continue to significantly delay aid clearance at Ashdod Port. ** Sudan Turning to Sudan. First of all, we have a new Humanitarian Coordinator, a Resident Coordinator for Sudan, and that is Denise Brown, who you will remember not too long ago was our Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine. She comes to us with quite a lot of experience, as you know, and we congratulate and welcome her. In terms of Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is deeply concerned by reports of the devastating landslide that struck Tarsin village in the Jebel Marra region, on the border of Central and South Darfur states. That apparently took place on 31 August, and that came after days of very heavy rainfall. According to our humanitarian partners, it is difficult to assess the full scale of the incident or confirm the exact death toll, as the impacted area is extremely hard to reach. Preliminary reports from local sources estimates the death toll to be about 1,000 people. Our humanitarian partners have reported significantly lower numbers. An inter-agency assessment will seek to provide verified figures in the coming days. In a message of condolence and solidarity, our Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Luca Renda, today said that we and our humanitarian partners are mobilizing to provide support to people impacted by the landslide. OCHA is coordinating with our partners in the area to assess needs and mount a response. Although Jebel Marra is one of Sudan's most remote and inaccessible regions, it is hosting people displaced by the ongoing conflict in other parts of the country, including those who fled North Darfur State. Our humanitarian partners also note that heavy rains have caused widespread damage and displacement elsewhere in Sudan. In Gedaref State, more than 300 people were displaced over the weekend when floods hit Bazora and Abu Nahl villages. That is what the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is telling us. In South Darfur, torrential rain displaced 750 people in Safia village and destroyed more than 100 homes on 31 August. Impacted communities urgently need humanitarian assistance including water, sanitation and hygiene services, emergency shelter and many household items. Meanwhile, our humanitarian colleagues are also gravely concerned by the humanitarian crisis in El Fasher. Continued shelling has reportedly killed at least seven civilians and wounded more than 70 others in recent days. The absence of safe passage for those wishing to flee the violence continues to trap civilians in the besieged city. Recent satellite imagery reportedly shows more than 30 kilometres of earthen walls surrounding the city, further restricting the movement of civilians. A reminder that the Secretary-General has called for an immediate ceasefire in and around El Fasher, stressing that civilians must be protected, safe passage must be guaranteed, and humanitarian aid must be allowed in without delay and without obstruction. ** Nigeria And our colleagues at the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which as you know is operated by the World Food Programme, had to end their fixed-wing air service in Nigeria last week due to a lack of funding. For nine years, the service has transported humanitarian staff, medical supplies, and critical cargo to and from the epicentre of the crisis in Borno and Yobe states. In a country that has experienced unending conflict for the past 16 years of conflict, road transport remains extremely dangerous, and air transport is essential. In 2024, UNHAS fixed-wing flights carried more than 9,000 passengers. Already this year, 4,500 humanitarian staff have relied on the service to reach affected areas. UNHAS cannot continue without funding: $5.4 million is needed to remain operational for the next six months. Without this funding, the humanitarian response in north-east Nigeria risks being cut off from the very people it is meant to serve. ** Myanmar A couple of more notes. Turning to Myanmar. A report published today by the UN Human Rights Office shows that between the 2021 military coup and 20 August 2025, credible sources have verified the killing of some 7,100 people by the military. According to the report, a third of them were women and children. The Human Rights Office adds that at least 29,560 people have been arrested on political grounds and more than 22,000 remain in detention without respect for fair trial and judicial guarantees in military-controlled courts. Since the escalation of hostilities in Rakhine, hundreds of thousands more people have been displaced, [the report says]. We estimate that some 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since November 2023, joining nearly 1 million refugees already staying there. ** New Resident Coordinators And another Resident Coordinator I want to announce, and that is Arnhild Spence of Norway, who assumed her role as Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She brings to the job almost over 30 years of experience. Edie, speaking of slightly over 30 years of experience. ** Questions and Answers Correspondent : Slightly. Spokesman : Slightly. Question : Thank you, Steph. A couple of follow-ups. First, did the Houthis give any reason why they sacked the UN offices and detained so many UN staff? Spokesman : First of all, UN staff should not be detained. What... the reporting seems to indicate some sort of security issues. But our staff, regardless of what is going on, should be protected. UN premises cannot be entered in that manner. Question : Secondly, during the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Council, did the Secretary-General make any attempt to meet the Russian President, Vladimir Putin? Spokesman : There was no specific bilateral setup. Question : And thirdly, there are rumours floating around that because of the Trump Administration's ban on Palestinians, including President [Mahmoud] Abbas, from coming to the high-level General Assembly meeting at the end of the month that the UN might move either the meeting or the high-level segment on a two-State solution to Geneva? Spokesman : Look. I have nothing to share with you officially. I mean, rumours are rumours, but obviously, I think the participation of a senior Palestinian delegation to that conference seems to me essential for the topic that will be discussed. Dezhi? Question : Yes. A follow-up on that question. Has the UN reached out to the US Government for further clarification of this policy? Spokesman : I know our colleagues are reaching out to the State Department. I don't have an update on the contacts as of yet. Question : Okay. During the Secretary-General's meeting with the Iranian President in Tianjin, we all read the note. But have they talked about recent development of the imposing of sanctions by European countries? Spokesman : Look. The discussion was focused on regional developments, obviously on the nuclear issues, but I'm not going to give you more detail than what was in the readout. Question : Okay. Can you remind us, what is the position for UN on this latest development, the [reimposition] of snapback sanctions? Spokesman : Well, I think I've read it out twice last week. So usually, when I read out something the third time, I get it wrong. Abdelhamid, then Michelle. Sorry. Question : Thank you, Steph. There are news about [Philippe] Lazzarini stepping down. Can you confirm? Do you have... [cross talk] Spokesman : He's not stepping down. I think his mandate's coming to an end at the next, early-ish next year. Question : Is the SG now considering other candidates? Spokesman : Obviously, somebody will be appointed to succeed him. Question : Thank you. The second thing, Dalal Hawamda is a 14-year-old girl near Hebron in the village of Assamuwa. Settlers ran over her, almost killed her. She's in critical condition. Such a crime, why doesn't it come in the briefing? Spokesman : I have not seen that specific report, but we'll look into it. Michelle? Question : Sorry. Just clarifying while the SG was in China, he didn't cross over with Kim Jong Un, did he? Spokesman : No. They were not there in China at the same time. Question : Okay. Question : Sorry, Linda, and then we'll go... Question : Thank you, Steph. Apropos of Yemen, what is the UN's role? Can you shed some light in terms of what the UN's role is in the non-Houthi controlled areas of Yemen, where, you know... [cross talk] Spokesman : I mean, the UN's role in Yemen is primarily humanitarian, in a country where people, regardless of where they live, face tremendous humanitarian challenges. Question : So, there's a big presence in the South? [cross talk] Spokesman : Yeah, there is a presence. [cross talk] Question : And the other parts of the country as well? Spokesman : Yep. Correspondent : Thank you. Spokesman : Zahra? Question : Hi, Steph. Iran, Russia and China, in a letter to the Security Council and the Secretary-General, have stated that the attempt by the three European countries to trigger the snapback mechanism violates the provision of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and resolution 2231, as the dispute resolution mechanisms under JCPOA haven't yet been fully exhausted. They have called for the move to be considered null and void. What is the Secretary-General's position on this matter? Spokesman : Well, that will be an issue for the Security Council to decide this. As you know, the UN is not a party to the JCPOA. The Secretary-General's message is for Iran and for the countries party to the JCPOA to use this window of opportunity to intensify their diplomacy. Yes, please? Question : A follow-up on Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. During his statement in Tianjin, the Secretary-General says we are moving towards a multipolar world, and the SCO is also now the world's largest regional organization by population and geography. How does the UN view this expansion of SCO influence in global governance? Spokesman : Well, you know, the Secretary-General has been saying for quite some time that we're moving into, very much, a multipolar world. He has also very publicly said that it is important for the UN to work with the various groupings that we are seeing, whether it's the SCO, the G20, CARICOM. I mean, all of the African Union. This is all part of the kind of the layered multilateralism that the Secretary-General often speaks about. Alex, then Stefano. Question : Thanks, Steph. I have a follow-up on Yemen. You've mentioned the seizure of Yemen property. Could you please be more specific, like, we're talking about? Spokesman : My understanding is I think there was some electronic equipment taken. Correspondent : All right. Thank you. Spokesman : Stefano? Question : Thank you. The world's leading association of genocide scholars has declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Is the Secretary-General aware of this? Spokesman : Yes. Question : And what does he think? Spokesman : Look. It's a very prominent and serious organization. It doesn't change our position, which I've stated and restated and restated when it comes to the Secretary-General using the term genocide. This doesn't stop us almost every single day in condemning and decrying what we are seeing taking place in Gaza. Question : And then another question. Apparently, France has put its hospital on alert for a war that could start by March 2026. Is the Secretary-General aware of this? And what does think? [cross talk] Spokesman : I have no clue what you're talking about, Stefano, but I'm happy to look into it. Dezhi? Question : Yeah. Just a very quick question. Do we know the nationals of those who detained in Yemen? Spokesman : They are national staff. There is an additional person who is international who would bring us to 19, which who we hope will be released today if not already done so. But whether national or international, they should all be released immediately. Okay. I'm sure our friends from the Republic of Korea will be here in 17 minutes, 18 minutes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Afghanistan, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Afghanistan UN fast-tracks support as earthquake deaths and injuries rise The Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said in a social media post yesterday that humanitarians are on the ground to help save lives in Afghanistan following Sunday's devastating earthquake. Fletcher also called for the international community's support to scale up emergency relief efforts. Also yesterday, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya allocated US$5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help kickstart the response, which will be matched by a $5 million allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund. Preliminary reports from de facto authorities now indicate that at least 1,400 people have been killed and 3,100 injured. Casualty figures are expected to rise further as search and rescue teams reach affected areas. The de facto authorities have launched an immediate response, flying hundreds of medivac cases to regional hospitals for care and clearing blocked roads. Humanitarian partners are seeking ways to mobilize additional air assets to reach those in need. The United Nations has dispatched at least 25 assessment teams to the region to assess the situation and are already supporting the response by deploying critical items to areas that can be reached. For example, the UN Refugee Agency is deploying prepositioned essential relief items from stockpiles in Kabul, including tents, blankets and solar lamps. Immediate priority needs include emergency shelter, critical medical supplies, drinking water and emergency food assistance. OCHA warns that shelter materials and medical supplies are running low, and the current funding is insufficient to address all needs. Additional funding is urgently required*. The UN and its partners are developing an emergency appeal. The earthquake has added death and destruction to a country already facing multiple crises, including a severe drought and the return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Afghanistan with urgent support. Occupied Palestinian Territory Hostilities in Gaza city and southern areas of the Strip take heavy toll on civilians OCHA warns that military activities continue in and around Gaza city, but also in southern areas of the Gaza Strip, taking a heavy toll on civilians - including deaths, injuries and further displacement. People continue to flee, mainly towards the coast. Since 14 August, partners monitoring population movements have recorded more than 76,000 new displacements. Almost a third of these movements - over 23,000 - were from northern to southern Gaza, and most of the remaining displacement was within Gaza governorate. Individual people are counted multiple times if they were displaced more than once. OCHA warns that coastal areas in Gaza city are already extremely crowded with tents, forcing some of those fleeing Gaza city to move north to coastal areas near Zikim, although these areas are under displacement orders. Meanwhile, there continue to be daily reports of malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that the situation continues to deteriorate, noting that families without able-bodied members are those at the highest risk of severe malnutrition. For this reason, WFP resumed the distribution of digital vouchers last Tuesday, following a five-month pause, and has so far reached 22,500 people - prioritizing vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities and female-headed households. The UN and its partners also continue to transport food and other supplies to and from the crossings, but the current conditions on the ground have not yet allowed them to resume community-based distributions. WFP says that violence among crowds and convoy attacks make organized distributions nearly impossible and put civilians and staff at risk. Adding to these difficulties are congestion at entry points and supply shortages. They stress that only a ceasefire will ensure the necessary conditions for a massive response to prevent famine from spreading further. During the previous ceasefire, humanitarians reached nearly every single person across the Gaza Strip with life-saving aid - and they can do this again. Meanwhile, OCHA reports that the movement of humanitarian teams inside Gaza remains heavily restricted. Between Friday and Monday, about one in three planned missions was either impeded or outright denied by Israeli authorities - that is 12 out of 37 movements that the UN coordinated with them. As a result, many missions could not be completed. For example, colleagues were stopped from retrieving nutrition supplies or from inspecting a dumpsite to expand solid waste operations and thereby curb the spread of disease. Some missions went ahead but could only be partially accomplished. This included efforts to collect supplies from crossings, which involves navigating Israeli-controlled militarized areas, along with multiple approvals and long delays. Fully accomplished missions included collecting, moving or delivering medical supplies, as well as moving staff when no cargo was involved. Restrictions also impact the pipeline before it reaches Gaza. Partners leading on logistics say that strict physical inspections by Israeli authorities continue to significantly delay aid clearance at Ashdod Port. Meanwhile, trucks entering from Egypt face a high number of returns, and the West Bank route remains restricted. Meanwhile, like children around the world, young people in Gaza should be returning to the classroom - but the education system lies in ruins. The Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said yesterday that instead of going back to school, about 660,000 girls and boys will be sifting through the rubble - desperate, hungry, traumatized and mostly bereaved. He stressed that a ceasefire is the only way forward. Sudan Deadly landslide reported in Jebel Marra region OCHA is deeply concerned by reports of a devastating landslide that struck Tarsin village in the Jebel Marra region of Sudan, on the border of Central and South Darfur states, on 31 August, following days of heavy rainfall. According to humanitarian partners, it is difficult to assess the full scale of the incident or confirm the exact death toll, as the affected area is extremely hard to reach. Preliminary reports from local sources estimated the death toll to be about 1,000, while humanitarian partners have reported significantly lower numbers. An inter-agency assessment will seek to provide verified figures in the coming days. In a message of condolence and solidarity, the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Luca Renda, today said that the UN and its humanitarian partners are mobilizing to provide support to people affected by this disaster. OCHA is coordinating with partners in the area to assess needs and mount a response. Although Jebel Marra is one of Sudan's most remote and inaccessible regions, it is hosting people displaced by the ongoing conflict in other parts of the country, including those who fled North Darfur State. Heavy rains have also caused widespread damage and displacement elsewhere in Sudan. In Gedaref State, more than 300 people were displaced over the weekend when floods hit Bazora and Abu Nahl villages, according to the International Organization for Migration. In South Darfur, torrential rains displaced 750 people in Safia village and destroyed over 100 homes on 31 August. Affected communities urgently need humanitarian assistance - including water, sanitation and hygiene services, emergency shelter and essential household items. Meanwhile, OCHA remains gravely concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis in El Fasher, the state capital of North Darfur. Continued shelling has reportedly killed at least seven civilians and wounded more than 70 others in recent days. The absence of safe passage for those wishing to flee the violence continues to trap civilians inside the besieged city. Recent satellite imagery reportedly shows more than 30 kilometres of earthen walls surrounding the city, further restricting the movement of civilians. The UN Secretary-General has called for an immediate ceasefire in and around El Fasher, stressing that civilians must be protected, safe passage guaranteed, and humanitarian access enabled without delay. Posted on 2 September 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Northern Edge 2025 wraps up across Alaska Published Sept. 2, 2025 By Airman 1st Class Hunter Hites Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -- Northern Edge 2025, a multi-domain, joint field-training exercise, concluded this week after showcasing the U.S. military's expanded capabilities in the Arctic and north-western Pacific theater. Led by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and held throughout Alaska including the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and the Aleutians the exercise involved more than 6,500 service members, approximately 125 aircraft and seven U.S. and Canadian naval vessels. Historically an exercise focused on high-end air combat training, Northern Edge in 2025 marked a strategic shift. The exercise emphasized Alaska not only as a training ground but as a defensive position and power projection hub. "Northern Edge 25 takes Northern Edge to a new generation," said U.S. Air Force Col. Craig Rumble, branch chief for Warfighting Exercises at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. "It is now using Alaskan geography to defend the homeland, to sustain forces postured [here] and to project power into the northern Indo-Pacific to achieve theater objectives." Operations featured a mix of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft, including F-35A Lightning II variants; command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms; aerial refuelers; mobility transports; and maritime assets including the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Gulf of Alaska. "I am incredibly proud of the Abraham Lincoln crew and their performance throughout Northern Edge," said Capt. Daniel Keeler, commanding officer of Abraham Lincoln. "This has been a demanding but incredibly rewarding opportunity. Operating in Alaska alongside the joint force and our Canadian allies, we displayed not only our ship's unique capabilities as the flagship of the world's most powerful carrier strike group, but also the dedication, technical acumen and strength of Lincoln Nation." Northern Edge ran concurrently with Arctic Edge 2025, conducted by U.S. Northern Command, enhancing coordination between the two commands. "Cross-combatant command integration ... is a new thing that we've never done before and stressed managing the challenges of real-time coordination across exercises," said Rumble. U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533, part of exercise Arctic Edge 25, supported multiple Northern Edge missions flying F-35B Lightning IIs. Their participation enhanced joint interoperability, increased combat readiness and exercised cross-combatant command asset synchronization - a key objective for Northern Edge 2025. "The Marines' Air-Ground Task Force concept makes their units scalable, flexible and adaptable," said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Dan Brown, the U.S. Marine Forces Pacific deputy exercise cell lead. "That inherent ability enabled the Marines to seamlessly support Northern Edge." The exercise concluded on schedule, with leaders affirming that operational objectives were met and interoperability was enhanced. Northern Edge 2025 highlighted Alaska's strategic role in homeland defense and reinforced its importance as a staging ground for projection of force into the Indo-Pacific. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Coast Guard marks first expenditure of One Big Beautiful Bill Act funding, upgrading Base Charleston to support major cutters United States Coast Guard Press Release | Sept. 2, 2025 WASHINGTON -- The Coast Guard's Facilities Design and Construction Center completed a contract modification with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Aug. 25 to remove up to 100 submerged concrete piles under the old Pier November at Base Charleston in North Charleston, South Carolina. The modification, with a potential value of approximately $14.8 million, includes work that is necessary to complete construction of new, modernized piers to provide support and logistics for up to five major cutters homeported at the base. This contract action was supported by funding in the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act that included nearly $5 billion to address the Coast Guard's most pressing shore infrastructure needs. Construction is expected to be substantially completed in 2026. "Thanks to the leadership and support of the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security and Congress, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides more than $24 billion to invest in the Coast Guard fleet and our inventory of shore facilities and infrastructure," said Rear Adm. Chad L. Jacoby, deputy commandant for systems. "We are moving out to make the most of this historic investment, beginning with this contract modification to address previously unidentified obstacles and keep construction of Pier November at Base Charleston on schedule. The CG-SHORE and contracting teams took prompt action to get this effort underway quickly and ensure the project is completed on time with minimal impact to operations. They are setting a strong example for future efforts that will be supported with reconciliation funding." For media inquiries contact mediarelations@uscg.mil. About the U.S. Coast Guard With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone, the U.S. Coast Guard defends the Nation, protects the marine transportation system, regulates and safeguards ports and waterways, leads the Nation in drug interdiction and secures the maritime border. As a member of the joint force, a law enforcement organization, a regulatory agency and a member of the U.S. intelligence community, the Coast Guard employs a unique mix of authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the maritime domain to protect the economic and national security of the nation. The more than 55,000 members of the Coast Guard operate a multi-mission, interoperable fleet of more than 250 cutters, 200 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, 1,600 boats and its own dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Coast Guard awards contract to modernize Base Seattle to enable Arctic and Antarctic operations United States Coast Guard Press Release | Sept. 2, 2025 WASHINGTON -- The Coast Guard's Facilities Design and Construction Center (FDCC) awarded a contract Aug. 27 to The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company for the first phase of work that will ultimately result in homeporting future polar security cutters (PSC) at Base Seattle in Seattle, Washington. The initial contract, with a potential value of approximately $137 million, is for phase 1A activities of the Base Seattle modernization and homeporting program and includes dredging of Slip 36 and construction of two modernized major cutter berths fully capable of hosting PSCs. Dredging is required to accommodate future PSC berthing and operations at the facility. The Coast Guard will remove and dispose of contaminated sediment as required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and in accordance with an Environmental Protection Agency order. This project represents the largest CERCLA action and removal of hazardous substances in the history of the Coast Guard. The phase 1A contract also includes widening of the slip between berths 36B and 37B, upgrading berths 37A and 37B with modernized utilities capable of hosting two new PSCs, demolishing an existing building and stabilizing the waterfront at Berth 36B and recapitalizing Station Seattle's small boat docks and boathouse. The Coast Guard plans to award future contracts for phases 1B and 1C to further modernize facilities and deliver four major cutter berths to support the service's growing fleet at Base Seattle. This work at Base Seattle is critical to supporting future operations to establish U.S. maritime dominance, conduct Coast Guard missions in the high latitudes and advance national security interests, including in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes a historic investment in the Coast Guard's polar icebreaking fleet by providing $4.3 billion to continue construction of the PSC fleet. The FDCC is a field command under the Coast Guard Program Executive Office Shore (CG-SHORE), dedicated to delivering new shore facilities construction and major recapitalization projects. The FDCC is responsible for all phases of project execution including planning, design, procurement contracts, construction and facility commissioning. As part of the Force Design 2028 initiative, the FDCC and the Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center were incorporated into the new CG-SHORE domain, one of five program executive offices that were established under the Systems Integration Directorate to implement a fully integrated, systems-based approach to asset lifecycle management. For media inquiries contact mediarelations@uscg.mil. About the U.S. Coast Guard With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone, the U.S. Coast Guard defends the Nation, protects the marine transportation system, regulates and safeguards ports and waterways, leads the Nation in drug interdiction and secures the maritime border. As a member of the joint force, a law enforcement organization, a regulatory agency and a member of the U.S. intelligence community, the Coast Guard employs a unique mix of authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the maritime domain to protect the economic and national security of the nation. The more than 55,000 members of the Coast Guard operate a multi-mission, interoperable fleet of more than 250 cutters, 200 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft,1,600 boats and its own dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan Women And Girls 'Bear The Brunt' Of Earthquake Amid Taliban Restrictions By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and Una Cilic September 03, 2025 Summary A 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed over 1,400 people and injured thousands, with women facing severe challenges due to Taliban restrictions. Women are banned from being treated by male doctors, and a shortage of female medical staff has left many without adequate care, worsening their vulnerability. Activists and experts warn that women and girls will "bear the brunt" of the disaster, with cultural and legal barriers limiting access to health care and humanitarian aid. UN Women Afghanistan has called for prioritizing women's needs in the response, emphasizing the importance of female humanitarians to ensure lifesaving assistance reaches affected women and girls. A massive earthquake this week that killed more than 1,400 people in Afghanistan has left women, already struggling under the strict rules of the Taliban-led government, vulnerable because of a lack of support. The 6.0 magnitude quake has devastated the eastern part of the country near the border with Pakistan, injuring thousands in a remote area difficult for rescue workers and care givers to reach. Experts warn that women and girls will be among those most affected by the disaster and "bear the brunt" of it as they face cultural and legislated impediments to accessing hospital care and other restrictions on support. Women are banned by the Taliban from being treated by male doctors. But since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed numerous additional bans on women, including a December 2024 measure that forbids women from pursuing medical education or taking final medical training exams. Given that there are almost no female doctors in the region, let alone the country, many women will fail to receive medical care quickly enough, according to Abdul Qayum Raheem, an Afghan doctor. "Earthquakes are a matter of minutes and seconds, delay in escaping can cause more casualties to women," Raheem told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "People in villages know that there are not enough female staff in the hospital and cannot dare to take their wounded women and girls to health facilities. The families are trying to treat the minor wounded women locally, instead of taking them to hospital." A spokesman for the Taliban government's Ministry of Public Health did not respond to questions from Radio Azadi over reports that women were not receiving adequate health care amid signs from the affected area that appear to bear out such fears. Although most of the more than 3,000 casualties reported so far have been women and children, the head of the hospital in Kunar Province said that only 13 women are currently hospitalized there, while the number of hospitalized men is 67. One man told Radio Azadi that his pregnant wife suffered a miscarriage after failing to get proper medical treatment following the earthquake. "When the earthquake hit, she was giving birth and it was going very badly," he said. "She is now in a government hospital, but she has not recovered and is in the same condition as before. This is because there are no female doctors and no medicine." According to a female doctor in Kabul who spoke recently to Radio Azadi, remote areas often only have community midwives or nurses. In some areas there is neither. Nilofar Ayoubi, a human rights activist from Afghanistan, told RFE/RL the aftermath of the earthquake is growing increasingly alarming, especially for women and children. "This dire shortage has forced many families to transport their injured women and girls to Jalalabad city, the nearest urban center," said Ayoubi, who fled to Poland after Taliban returned to power. "However, hospitals in Jalalabad are themselves overwhelmed, struggling with the same lack of essential supplies and a severe shortage of female medical staff." This was Afghanistan's third major deadly earthquake since the Taliban returned to power. In June 2022, a powerful earthquake shook Paktia, Paktika, and Khost provinces According to the assessment carried out by the International Rescue Committee in Khost at the time, women and girls were most affected by the earthquake. A year later in Herat Province, some 1,500 people were killed in an earthquake with women and girls comprising the majority of the death toll, according to UNICEF. UN Women Afghanistan said on September 2 it fears the response -- from urgent medical assistance and care to safe shelter and protection -- to this week's earthquake will again fail to prioritize women. "Women and girls will again bear the brunt of this disaster, so we must ensure their needs are at the heart of the response and recovery," UN Women Afghanistan Special Representative Susan Ferguson said. "This includes supporting the vital work of women humanitarians - otherwise women and girls could miss out on lifesaving assistance or information in the days ahead." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-women-bear-brunt- earthquake-taliban-restrictions/33519956.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 Report: Europe Faces Trillion-Dollar Defense Bill As US Draws Down By Ray Furlong September 03, 2025 European nations could face a trillion-dollar rearmament bill in the face of a looming Russian threat and an imminent US defense review that could see Washington dramatically draw down forces on the continent, according to a report released on September 3. The 106-page report, by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), points to gaps across the board: in production, intelligence, and military hardware such as long-range missiles or air and missile defense. "Chief among the reasons for this greater urgency are Russia's military threat and uncertainty over the United States' commitment to defending European allies," it says. "While strategic assessments vary across European nations about how quickly Russian forces could constitute a direct threat to NATO Europe, their time frames generally range between two and five years." Meanwhile, the Pentagon's Global Force Posture Review is expected to be published this month and lay out a shift in military resources from Europe to Asia/Pacific. "Some NATO officials believe a US troops reduction of up to 30 percent could be possible," says the report, entitled Progress and Shortfalls in Europe's Defense: An Assessment. Rising Military Budgets European leaders have made plans this year to respond to these challenges. In March, a European Union summit pledged to spend billions on defense amid what EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called "a watershed moment for Europe." EU-backed loans of up to 150 billion euros (160 billion dollars) have been made available to member states to beef up their forces, and Eurozone debt rules have been relaxed when applied to military spending. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized European NATO allies for not spending enough on defense and relying too heavily on US military power. But he has recently praised them for pledging to spend more, particularly after the NATO summit in June when members agreed to raise defense budgets to 5 percent of GDP. But the IISS report notes that it's not just a question of money. A key problem will be building capacity. "Europe's defense industries continue to face challenges in increasing production fast enough, while many European armies cannot meet their recruitment and retention targets," it says. The IISS report underlines Integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) as an area where Europe is particularly vulnerable. Current and serving US military commanders have also told RFE/RL that Europe's aerial shield is not prepared to meet the scale of the threat from Russia. "You see what has happened in big cities in Ukraine. This also would happen in some of the big cities of Europe," Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme commander in Europe, told RFE/RL in April. Long-Range Missiles Another weakness highlighted in the IISS report is in long-range missiles. European countries do have highly effective air-launched cruise missiles, such as the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles, or Germany's Taurus system. Non-NATO member Ukraine has recently showcased its new Flamingo cruise missiles. But "only a handful of European allies currently possess ground-based long-range precision-fire systems, while in the maritime domain, only France and the UK hold 1,000 kilometer-range naval land-attack cruise missiles," says the report. "The European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) project is potentially the most significant European effort to extend its conventional land-attack capability up to and perhaps beyond 2,000 km," it adds. The project, launched by France, Germany, Poland and Italy, was later joined by Britain, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Other weaknesses noted include a lack of surveillance and intelligence aircraft, "sovereign hyperscale cloud-computing capacity," and slow, uncoordinated procurement. The spending requirements come as European governments are already facing intense pressures on non-military spending in sensitive areas such health, education, and social benefits. Meeting these challenges will, the report concludes, "require many NATO European allies to take major financial risks and make very difficult political decisions." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iiss-europe-defense-spending- nato-rearmament/33519562.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 02 September 2025 - Day 1287 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 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 Russian military activity has reduced in the Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts as Russian Ground Forces (RGF) relocate elements of its forces to other parts of the frontline. The relocation of forces is highly likely part of an attempt to increase pressure on priority axes, including in Donetsk Oblast. Open source reporting indicates that in the last two days, Ukrainian forces successfully conducted counter attacks to the west of Kupiansk, an important logistical hub in Kharkiv oblast. Russia had made significant gains in efforts to envelop Kupiansk over the last month. In the northern Donetsk region over the past ten days, Russian forces have advanced through and are contesting the Serebryansk forest. Russian forces have consolidated positions along the adjacent Siverskyi Donets river, serving as a natural defensive barrier. RGF are almost certainly using the forest as partial cover against uncrewed aerial systems with a likely eventual objective towards Yampil, approximately 10 km west of their current position. If Yampil is captured, it will likely serve as a potential launch point for assaults onto the city of Lyman, a key rail logistics hub 9 km north west of Yampil. Pokrovsk likely remains Russia's priority axis, and the focus for the largest proportion of Russian assaults relative to the rest of the frontline. Russian forces are using a variety of assault methods including motorcycle swarming and small group probing attacks in attempts to infiltrate Ukrainian positions. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of this day, there have been 122 combat clashes. Today, the Russian invaders made 52 aviation strikes, dropped 79 controlled air bombs. In addition, the Russians involved 1,922 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,344 shelling at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian attacks in the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, two more combat clashes are ongoing. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian enemy launched four air strikes, dropped a total of 12 controlled air bombs and carried out 136 artillery shells, including three from the reactive systems of arson fire. In the South-Slobozhansk direction, Ukrainian troops stopped six Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Krasne Pershe and Vovchansk, two more fighting clashes are still ongoing. In the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces carried out six offensive actions in the areas of the settlements of Kupiansk and Petropavlivka. So far, one combat is being sharpened. In the Lyman direction during the day, Russian zagarbniki attacked the positions of Ukrainians fifteen times near the settlements of Grekivka, Karpivka, Kolodyazi and towards the settlement of Dronivka. Six combat clashes are ongoing so far. In the Sivers komu direction, the Defense Forces repelled twelve Russian attacks near Grigorivka, Viymka, Serebryanka and Fedorivka. In the Kramators komu direction, there are currently three combat clashes. Russian Zagarbnik tried to move towards the settlements of Stupochka and Predtecina. In the Toretsky direction Russians attacked the positions of Defense Forces twelve times. The main efforts of the invasion were concentrated in the areas of the settlements of Cherbinivka, Toretsk, Yablunivka, Poltavka. Three fighting clashes are still ongoing. In the Pokrovsky direction, the Russian Zagarbnic ki units 23 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements Mayak, Novo Shahove, Vilne, Dachne, Novoekonomicne, Mirolubivka, Mirnograd, Ray, Lisivka, Udacne and in the direction of Pokrovsk. Today in this direction Ukrainian warriors zneskodili 110 Russian occupiers, of them 74 - irrevocably. Four motorcycles, 80 unmanned aircraft, three cannons and four drone control points were also destroyed. In the Novopavlovsky direction, Russian forces attacked seventeen times in the areas of settlements Ivanivka, Novohatske, Andriyivka-Klevtsove, Oleksandrograd, Burlatske, Sichneve, Shevchenko, Obratne and towards Komyshuvaha. One Russian attack is still going on. The enemy has not carried out offensive actions in Gulyaipilsky and Orihivskky directions since the beginning of the day. In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian opponent attacked three times in the direction of the settlement of Antonivka. The defense forces have successfully repelled all Russian attacks. The settlement of Mykolaivka suffered an aviation strike. In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Following today's court win, Governor Newsom seeks injunction to stop the Trump Administration's continued federalization of the National Guard through Election Day California Governor - Gavin Newsom Sep 2, 2025 What you need to know: California today filed a request for a preliminary injunction to block the Trump Administration's order to extend the National Guard's deployment in Los Angeles through Election Day. Sacramento, California -- Following a federal court's decision today to block Trump's illegal use of the military in Los Angeles for law enforcement activities, Governor Newsom filed a preliminary injunction asking the court to stop the new order extending soldiers' deployment in Los Angeles through November 5 entirely. After most National Guard soldiers were released from service in early August, the Secretary of Defense extended the deployment of 300 guardmembers in Los Angeles to continue executing their "federal protective mission" through at least Election Day. As the Court explained today, the Trump Administration violates the law when it sends federalized troops to engage in "federal protection." The timing of Trump's extension of the National Guard soldiers isn't coincidental - he's holding onto soldiers through Election Day. There was never a need and there is not a need now for soldiers to be deployed against their communities. The federal government hasn't even tried to justify keeping the military in Los Angeles because they can't. The reality is this - they want to continue their intimidation tactics to scare Californians into submission. Governor Gavin Newsom "The Trump Administration continues to hold our National Guard servicemembers hostage as part of an unprecedented attempt to militarize American streets," said Attorney General Bonta. "The initial federalization and deployment of these troops was unjustified - their redeployment for an additional 90 days is absurd. We're asking the court to block implementation of this latest order, and we are confident that given the facts - or lack thereof - underpinning this order, the court will agree." Read the filing here. Today's court findings On Tuesday, a federal court granted California's injunction blocking Trump's illegal use of the U.S. military as a domestic police force. The ruling makes clear: Trump is breaking the law by trying to create a national police force with himself as its chief. "The Court ORDERS that Defendants [TRUMP ADMIN] are enjoined from deploying, ordering, instructing, training, or using the National Guard currently deployed in California, and any military troops heretofore deployed in California, to execute the laws, including but not limited to engaging in arrests, apprehensions, searches, seizures, security patrols, traffic control, crowd control, riot control, evidence collection, interrogation, or acting as informants." Read the entire ruling here. How we got here On June 10, 2025, following President Trump's doubling down on the militarization of the Los Angeles area through the takeover of 4,000 California National Guard soldiers and the unlawful deployment of the U.S. Marines, Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta filed an emergency request for the court to block President Trump and the Department of Defense from expanding the current mission of federalized Cal Guard personnel and Marines. This mission orders soldiers to engage in unlawful civilian law enforcement activities in communities across the region, beyond just guarding federal buildings. The impacts: Police off the streets, teachers out of classrooms Of the over 4,000 California National Guard members sent to Los Angeles under Trump's order, the California National Guard estimates that their servicemembers had been pulled from essential civilian duties such as medical and first responders, service workers, building trades contractors, law enforcement personnel, corrections officers, civil service and government workers, technology specialists, educators and teachers, and agriculture workers. Typically, under the Governor's command, nearly 450 servicemembers are deployed statewide, including at ports of entry, to combat transnational criminal organizations and seize illegal narcotics. CalGuard's servicemembers dedicated to the state's Counterdrug Task Force had been reassigned by President Trump to militarize Los Angeles. The consequences were dire as CalGuard's helps ensure the public safety of communities statewide. High-ranking U.S. military officials agreed Retired four-star admirals and generals and former secretaries of the Army and Navy filed another amicus brief outlining the grave risks of Trump's illegal takeover of the CalGuard. Several veterans and veteran rights' groups came together to decry Trump's militarization of California. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Governor Newsom secures federal court victory, Trump's use of National Guard in Los Angeles illegal California Governor - Gavin Newsom Sep 2, 2025 What you need to know: A court ruled that Trump is breaking the law again. Sacramento, California -- In a major rebuke of Donald Trump, a federal court has granted California's injunction blocking Trump's illegal use of the U.S. military as a domestic police force. The ruling makes clear: Trump is breaking the law by trying to create a national police force with himself as its chief. "Today, the court sided with democracy and the Constitution. No president is a king not even Trump and no president can trample a state's power to protect its people. As the court today ruled, Trump is breaking the law by 'creating a national police force with the President as its chief.' That's exactly what we've been warning about for months. There is no rampant lawlessness in California, and in fact, crime rates are higher in Republican-led states. Trump's attempt to use federal troops as his personal police force is illegal, authoritarian, and must be stopped in every courtroom across this country." Governor Gavin Newsom The Court's findings "The Court ORDERS that Defendants [TRUMP ADMIN] are enjoined from deploying, ordering, instructing, training, or using the National Guard currently deployed in California, and any military troops heretofore deployed in California, to execute the laws, including but not limited to engaging in arrests, apprehensions, searches, seizures, security patrols, traffic control, crowd control, riot control, evidence collection, interrogation, or acting as informants." Read the entire ruling here. How we got here On June 10, 2025, following President Trump's doubling down on the militarization of the Los Angeles area through the takeover of 4,000 California National Guard soldiers and the unlawful deployment of the U.S. Marines, Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta filed an emergency request for the court to block President Trump and the Department of Defense from expanding the current mission of federalized Cal Guard personnel and Marines. This mission orders soldiers to engage in unlawful civilian law enforcement activities in communities across the region, beyond just guarding federal buildings. The Impacts: Police off the streets, teachers out of classrooms Of the over 4,000 California National Guard members sent to Los Angeles under Trump's order, the California National Guard estimates that their servicemembers had been pulled from essential civilian duties such as medical and first responders, service workers, building trades contractors, law enforcement personnel, corrections officers, civil service and government workers, technology specialists, educators and teachers, and agriculture workers. Typically, under the Governor's command, nearly 450 servicemembers are deployed statewide, including at ports of entry, to combat transnational criminal organizations and seize illegal narcotics. CalGuard's servicemembers dedicated to the state's Counterdrug Task Force had been reassigned by President Trump to militarize Los Angeles. The consequences were dire as CalGuard's helps ensure the public safety of communities statewide. High-ranking U.S. military officials agreed Retired four-star admirals and generals and former secretaries of the Army and Navy filed another amicus brief outlining the grave risks of Trump's illegal takeover of the CalGuard. Several veterans and veteran rights' groups came together to decry Trump's militarization of California. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump illegally deployed National Guard during Los Angeles protests, judge rules Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 6:56 PM A federal judge in California has ruled that US President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles during immigration protests violated federal law. US District Judge Charles Breyer, presiding in San Francisco, determined on Tuesday that sending the National Guard to Los Angeles during the protests contravened the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of federal military personnel to enforce domestic laws. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by the state of California, which argued that mobilizing National Guard personnel and Marines to Los Angeles during the summer violated the law prohibiting military enforcement of domestic statutes. Judge Breyer's ruling criticized the administration, stating that officials "willfully" directed troops to carry out activities barred under their training, including crowd control, traffic management, and establishing military perimeters. He noted that the administration had provided guidance to federal law enforcement on how to request military assistance and had failed to coordinate adequately with state and local authorities. "These actions demonstrate that Defendants knew that they were ordering troops to execute domestic law beyond their usual authority," Breyer wrote. He also raised concerns that the administration might attempt similar deployments in other US cities, including Chicago, Baltimore, and New York. However, the judge did not order the immediate withdrawal of the remaining troops, and his order was paused until Friday, which would provide the Trump administration with an avenue to appeal before it goes into effect. Approximately 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines were sent to Los Angeles in early June in response to protests and immigration enforcement operations, despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom and city officials. Newsom responded to his state's federal court ruling on social media, declaring in all caps, "DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree his militarization of our streets and use of the military against US citizens is ILLEGAL." During the Los Angeles operation, National Guard personnel participated in show-of-force operations at MacArthur Park and accompanied federal immigration officers on raids. US Army Major General Scott Sherman, who initially commanded the deployment, testified that he had raised legal concerns, citing the Posse Comitatus Act's restrictions, and was told by superiors that constitutional exceptions allowed troops to protect federal personnel and property. Trump has discussed further National Guard deployments in Chicago, Baltimore and New York. He has already deployed the guard as part of his unprecedented law enforcement takeover in Washington, DC, where the US president has direct legal control. Meanwhile, activists are staging multiple protests on the US Capitol and outside White House in voicing opposition to Trump as US lawmakers return from summer recess. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant returns home after seizing 3,100 pounds in drugs during multi-mission patrol in the Caribbean Sea, Windward Passage United States Coast Guard Press Release | Sept. 2, 2025 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC 617) returned home to Cape Canaveral, Aug. 19, following a 59-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea and Windward Passage. During the patrol, Vigilant's crew interdicted 3,100 pounds of illicit drugs in the Caribbean Sea while underway in the Coast Guard Southeast District's area of operations. Vigilant's crew deployed in support of the Joint Interagency Task Force - South (JIATF-S) mission of detecting and monitoring illegal drug shipments in the maritime domain for subsequent interdiction and apprehension. On July 25, a maritime patrol aircraft notified Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant's crew of a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 180 miles south of the Dominican Republic. Vigilant's boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 1,410 pounds of cocaine and 80 pounds of marijuana. On Aug 15, a maritime patrol aircraft notified Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant's crew of a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 35 miles southwest of Haiti. Vigilant's boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 1,615 pounds of marijuana. These drug seizures contributed toward the Coast Guard's largest drug offload in history. To read more about Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton's (WMSL 753) recent offload, visit: Coast Guard achieves historic milestone with offload over 76,140 lbs. in illegal narcotics at Port Everglades > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases Vigilant's crew initially deployed in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry (OVS) while on patrol in the Windward Passage, working alongside other Coast Guard assets to deter illegal alien migration along the coast of Haiti. Crew members executed maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations while maintaining a continuous presence in the region. This mission is essential to deterring unsafe and unlawful migration ventures bound for the United States. "I am incredibly proud of this crew's dedication, performance and resilience during a challenging 59-day patrol in support of Coast Guard and national objectives to secure our maritime borders and safeguard lives at sea," said Cmdr. Steven Welch, commanding officer of Vigilant. "Working closely with our Department of Defense and law enforcement partners, as well as multiple partner nations, we seized or disrupted over 3,100 pounds of illegal narcotics bound for the United States. Additionally, we safeguarded lives at sea by preventing dangerous and illegal migration attempts across the open ocean in unseaworthy vessels. We look forward to returning home to our families and friends and beginning the arduous process to prepare Vigilant and her crew for the next deployment." Detecting and interdicting illicit drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination because 80% of drugs are interdicted on the high seas. U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force - South based in Key West conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. Once interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard throughout the interdiction and apprehension. OVS is a Department of Homeland Security-led operation comprised of federal, state and local partners responsible for preventing and responding to maritime migration. OVS, previously known as Homeland Security Task Force - Southeast, was established in 2003 and is comprised of more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies. Vigilant is a 210-foot, Reliance-class medium endurance cutter. The cutter's primary missions are search and rescue, counter-drug operations, alien interdiction and enforcement of federal fishery laws. Vigilant is an asset that falls under the command of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Based in Portsmouth, Virginia, Atlantic Area oversees all Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Trump Is Right - SPACECOM Moving to Alabama Is a Win for National Security House Armed Services Committee Washington, D.C., September 2, 2025 Washington, D.C. -- Today, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) issued the following statement praising President Trump's announcement to move the United States Space Command Headquarters to Alabama: "Space Command is finally coming home to Alabama. This announcement by President Trump is yet another in a long line of strong decisions that benefit America's national security. "Alabama was chosen in 2021 because it was the absolute best location for the Space Command headquarters. Today, in 2025, it remains the best location for our national security and for the taxpayer. This basing decision has been affirmed and reaffirmed by multiple agencies and multiple officials throughout both the Trump and Biden administrations. Biden was content to have Space Command located in the fourth-best location because it served him politically. The differences between him and President Trump have never been clearer. "On this historic day, I am extremely proud to be an American, proud to be an Alabamian, and proud to support the Administration that made this possible." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HMAS Ballarat departs on fourth Regional Presence Deployment for 2025 Issued by Defence Media 2 September 2025 Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat has sailed from HMAS Stirling in Western Australia for a Regional Presence Deployment, reaffirming the Australian Defence Force's maintenance of a near-continuous presence in the region. During its three-month deployment, HMAS Ballarat will conduct military visits to ports and participate in exercises and cooperative activities with partner nations, demonstrating Australia's commitment to a secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Australia conducts Regional Presence Deployments in accordance with international law, allowing Australia to exercise the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace. The deployment by HMAS Ballarat will run concurrently with HMAS Brisbane, which left Australia on a Regional Presence Deployment in late July. Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC, RAN, said HMAS Ballarat's crew would continue the decades-long practice of building security relationships across the region. "Regional Presence Deployments reinforce Australia's position as a trusted and reliable security partner within the Indo-Pacific region," Vice Admiral Jones said. "During this deployment, we will see HMAS Ballarat conduct multilateral maritime training with India, Japan and the United States through Exercise Malabar. "HMAS Ballarat will also participate in Exercise Bersama Lima 25, alongside our Five Powers Defence Arrangements partners from Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom." Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO, RAN, said the work the crew of HMAS Ballarat undertake in these deployments supported Australia's economic connections to the world and demonstrated our ongoing commitment to the international rules-based order. "We are a trading nation, surrounded by three oceans and dependent on our access to the sea for our economic wellbeing. Personnel from HMA Ships Ballarat and Brisbane should be proud of the impact they're having in helping to preserve our national security interests," Vice Admiral Hammond said. "From border protection, Middle East deployments, and around-the-world voyages, HMAS Ballarat has a proven track record in any maritime environment." Commissioned into service with the Royal Australian Navy in 2004, HMAS Ballarat carries a 177-strong crew and has an embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. The ship is capable of conducting air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction missions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New foundations for airfield recovery in Australia By Flight Lieutenant Sharon Sebastian 2 September 2025 A patch of bushland within Townsville Field Training Area is at the heart of a new airbase resilience capability for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), after Exercise Bronze Crocodile 2025 transformed Woolshed Airfield into the first purpose-built training site for Airfield Damage Repair (ADR). "This was the first time we've been able to do live ADR training on home soil, using real equipment and real craters," Commanding Officer of 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron (65ABRS), Wing Commander Paul Howell, said. The exercise involved the construction of a 200-metre asphalt runway and tested the full spectrum of post-attack response and recovery operations. "This included crater excavation to rapid runway reinstatement, marking a new chapter in how Air Force prepares to keep aircraft flying in contested environments," Wing Commander Howell said. The training built vital recovery skills for members of 65ABRS and visiting members of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 192 Construction Engineering Flight. "It's a critical capability and we need to be able to repair airfields quickly under pressure. Having this facility in Townsville allows us to build that skillset at scale," he said. The United States Air Force (USAF) 554th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer - commonly known as RED HORSE Squadron - from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam led the training. USAF Silver Flag instructor Master Sergeant Tyson Jensen, whose role involved instructing future warfighters to keep weapon platforms moving, noted the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by all aviators stood out from day one. "They were hungry to learn, and their motivation and professionalism made the training we delivered extremely effective. They're ready," Master Sergeant Jensen said. He also praised the integrated approach and adaptability of the Australian aviators. "We teach a 12-step method for crater repair and what impressed me most was how quickly they picked up the process," Master Sergeant Jensen said. Aviators from 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron were embedded alongside instructors from the 554th RED HORSE Squadron under a train-the-trainer model to build long-term instructional capability. "They weren't just learning - they were already thinking about how to teach it. That's the kind of mindset that builds lasting capability," Master Sergeant Jensen said. He noted the significance of the training site itself. "This location is a force multiplier. It's not just a patch of asphalt - it's a launch pad for future readiness," Master Sergeant Jensen said. "Having a site like this in Australia means aviators can train regularly, refine techniques and bring in more partners. It's a game-changer." For the first time in Australia, teams used fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) matting to cap crater repairs. The matting enables aircraft to land or take off within hours of an airfield being damaged. Leading Aircraftman Jimmy Egan, a member of one of the integrated repair teams, said the task was both technically demanding and highly rewarding. "We were handed a crater and had to make it safe for aircraft again," Leading Aircraftman Egan said. "We cleared the debris, compacted the layers then laid down the FRP matting. Every step mattered. "The goal was always the same: get the jets back in the air as fast and as safely as possible." The exercise was also the first time RCAF engineers from 2 Wing had joined a large-scale ADR activity on Australian soil. Master Corporal David Lowe said the integration between partner nations was seamless. "We had Canadians, Australians and Americans working side by side in every task," Master Corporal Lowe said. "We all brought something different. And we shared techniques, adapted to each other's tools and procedures and got the job done as one team." The concept and construction of the training site were driven by Air Force Headquarters' Air Combat Capability Enablers Branch (ACCEB), which partnered with USAF engineering squadrons to bring the vision to life. Squadron Leader Ben Whyte, from ACCEB, said the exercise filled a critical gap in the ability to practise and perfect airbase recovery on home soil. "Until now, these skills were only practised overseas in limited numbers," Squadron Leader Whyte said. "We wanted to walk away from this not just with trained personnel, but with the tools to train others sustainably in Australia." With the Woolshed site now established, future iterations of Exercise Bronze Crocodile are already being planned. The facility is expected to become a key training location for airbase recovery activities. Meanwhile, the exercise also introduced new vertical construction elements, including a deployable hangar built using a DomeShelter system, water purification tasks using expeditionary systems, and the creation of a Durabase aircraft apron. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia, Malaysia sign 'sister college' agreement By Vikas Sharma 2 September 2025 Chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston welcomed General Tan Sri Nizam, Chief of Defence Force Malaysia, and his delegation to Canberra on August 19. The visit served to highlight the importance of ongoing education exchanges and strategic studies engagement between the two nations, with an agreement signed between the Australian Defence College (ADC) and the Malaysian Centre for Defence Studies (Puspahanas) to acknowledge and formalise this engagement. The memorandum of understanding is the first of its kind for a 'sister college' and formalises the ongoing exchange and engagement opportunities between all parts of the ADC and Puspahanas, as well as to enhancing the education and training program. It provides a formal framework to explore cooperation initiatives such as student and staff reciprocal visits, teaching staff exchanges, and enhanced people-to-people links and alumni engagement. It will allow both colleges to plan and deliver engagement activities that are meaningful, relevant and mutually beneficial. Malaysia is a long-standing education and training partner for the ADC. Students from the country attend courses at the Australian War College (AWC) and the Australian Defence Force Academy on an annual basis. "Malaysia is one of Australia's most important partners, and General Nizam's visit was a valuable opportunity to discuss and strengthen our bilateral defence cooperation," Admiral Johnston said. Brigadier Lara Troy, acting Commander Australian Defence College, reflected on the long-standing cooperation between the ADC and Puspahanas. "Many Malaysian graduates of the ADC have gone on to senior leadership roles in the Malaysian Armed Forces, demonstrating the enduring value of our training and education relationship and the positive impact it has on both nations," Brigadier Troy said. "The agreement with Puspahanas will create new opportunities for structured exchanges, collaborative research and the sharing of expertise." The day also witnessed the induction of General Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohammad bin Ab Rahman - the former Malaysian Chief of the Defence Forces and ADC 2012 alumni - into the ADC Roll of Honour. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Show of combined force By Major Tom Maclean 2 September 2025 The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) demonstrated their ability to deliver integrated and destructive firepower. The two nations fired live ammunition from many different weapons systems during the final days of Exercise Alon in the Philippines. Australian Army artillery gunners fired 120 rounds from two 155mm M777 howitzers, and soldiers fired Javelin anti-tank missiles and the 25mm main gun on Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV). At the same time, the Philippine Army employed its Artillery Regiment ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers and 105mm howitzers. A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet delivered close air support alongside Philippine A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft, AW-109 helicopters and a T-129 ATAK helicopter gunship. In the days leading up to the live-fire exercise, Australian and Philippine soldiers learnt quickly to fight side by side. In only five days, Australian 81mm mortar operators trained Philippine soldiers on their processes to form integrated mortar teams. The live-fire drill was based on a fictional scenario, with troops conducting counter-landing engagements to stop an invading enemy land force moving across the Philippines. Australian and Philippine artillery observers waded through rivers and climbed towering hilltops to get above the dense Philippine jungle. From the high ground they spotted the fictional enemy force and called in high-explosive rounds that accurately hit and destroyed targets 11 kilometres from the artillery gunline. Exercise Alon was the largest airlift of ADF personnel and vehicles since the 1999 East Timor deployment. It was also the first time the Australian Army's 102 'Coral' Artillery Battery had fired live rounds overseas in more than 50 years. The live-fire exercise took place near Fort Ramon Magsaysay in the north-east of the Philippines. Commanding Officer of the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and Battlegroup Ram, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Raven, said it was an important milestone for the strategic partnership. "This shows we can deploy a combat-ready and combat-capable force within the Indo-Pacific to assist a key security partner such as the Philippines," Lieutenant Colonel Raven said. Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Lieutenant General Antonio G. Nafarrete, said the drills tested the integration of fire support from both armies under realistic conditions. "Even in bad weather or in actual combat, these systems can fire effectively. What we are really working on here is interoperability - how to plan and execute joint scenarios with our Australian counterparts," Lieutenant General Nafarrete said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address National Defence Welcomes the Canadian Coast Guard to the Defence Team National Defence News release September 2, 2025- Ottawa, ON - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces / Canadian Coast Guard The Department of National Defence (DND) today announced the integration of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) into the Defence Team, marking an important step forward in strengthening Canada's maritime security. This change will enhance coordination across government and ensure Canada is even better prepared to safeguard its waters and coastline. By joining National Defence, the CCG will add its world-class expertise and capabilities to efforts that protect Canada's sovereignty, building on its legacy of protecting Canada's maritime interests and resources. This transition also includes key personnel from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, bringing greater collaboration across departments in support of Canada's maritime priorities. The CCG will remain a civilian Special Operating Agency, with no change to its status. It will continue to play its vital role in search and rescue, icebreaking, environmental response, safe navigation, and ocean science. To complement and build on this transition, the Government of Canada has also proposed expanding the CCG's services to include maritime security activities under Bill C-2, which is currently before Parliament. With this, the CCG will be positioned to do even more to protect Canadians at sea and support national security. Through this integration, the CCG, DND, and the Canadian Armed Forces will be able to work more closely than ever, sharing information and coordinating operations to meet emerging challenges. This is especially important in the Arctic and other regions where cooperation is essential to keep Canada safe and secure. The inclusion of the CCG in the Defence Team is a milestone that reflects the Government of Canada's commitment to strengthening maritime security, advancing collaboration, and ensuring a strong and coordinated presence in Canada's waters. Quotes "I am honoured to welcome the Canadian Coast Guard to the Defence Team. This transition is an important step that will allow us to better coordinate our efforts at sea, strengthen our response to new and evolving threats, and ensure the safety and security of Canadians. By working more closely together, we are building on a trusted partnership and enhancing Canada's ability to protect its waters and sovereignty." The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence "For more than 60 years, the Canadian Coast Guard has stood as one of Canada's most trusted and respected institutions. That trust is built every day by the dedicated people who are the backbone of this proud organization. This move will help strengthen joint operations with security and intelligence partners, enabling us to respond more quickly and keep communities safe." The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries "Today marks an important milestone as the Canadian Coast Guard joins the Department of National Defence. This historic step will strengthen our collaboration, enhance our capabilities, and improve our service to Canadians." Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard Quick facts The CCG officially became part of DND with the signing of an Order in Council this week. In 2005, the CCG was established as a Special Operating Agency, a national institution and operator of the Government of Canada's civilian fleet. This provided the CCG with a degree of autonomy and operational flexibility to deliver its maritime services and act as a service provider to other government departments. Today, the CCG is a nationally recognized and world-leading symbol of service and safety. They ensure the safety of all mariners on our waters, protect our marine environment, and support our economic growth. As of July 2025, the CCG's fleet of 126 vessels includes icebreakers, search and rescue lifeboats, patrol ships, science vessels, hovercraft and more. The CCG is the federal lead for marine search and rescue in Canada. They provide 24/7/365 search and rescue services in partnership with DND and the CAF and over 4,000 volunteer members of the CCG Auxiliary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japanese media's hype over Chinese warships 'circumnavigating Japan' an overreaction: expert Global Times By Liu Xuanzun and Liang Rui Published: Sep 02, 2025 06:12 PM Japanese media on Tuesday hyped that Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels had "circumnavigated" Japan. A Chinese military affairs expert slammed the report as an overreaction, stressing that the Chinese ships' voyage took place in open waters and should be viewed objectively and rationally. The PLA Navy vessels have completed a near circumnavigation of the Japanese archipelago before returning to the East China Sea, Japan's Fuji News Network reported on Tuesday. Citing the Japanese Defense Ministry, the report claimed that a PLA Navy guided missile destroyer and a replenishment ship sailed between Okinawa's main island and Miyako Island on August 31, heading toward the East China Sea. The two ships had previously passed through the Tsushima Strait on July 24 and the Soya Strait on August 8, "effectively completing a circumnavigation of Japan via the Pacific Ocean." When transiting the Soya Strait, the Chinese and Russian vessels sailed together, and the Japanese Defense Ministry believes that the two countries' navies conducted a joint patrol in the Pacific. China and Russia conducted the Joint Sea-2025 joint exercise in waters and airspace near Vladivostok, Russia from August 1 to 5. After the exercise, the PLA Navy guided missile destroyer Shaoxing, comprehensive replenishment ship Qiandaohu and Russia's large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs, along with two shipborne helicopters, formed a joint task force and carried out a joint maritime patrol in the Western Pacific, the Xinhua News Agency reported at the time. The joint maritime patrol concluded on August 20 with a departure ceremony held in the Western Pacific, Xinhua reported. Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the China-Russia joint maritime patrol aims to safeguard peace and stability in the Western Pacific. Japanese media is overreacting, Fu said, stressing that the joint patrol took place in open waters, and Japan should view this matter objectively and rationally. In response to reports that some countries kept dispatching aircraft and ships to the vicinity of Chinese and Russian task forces during Exercise Joint Sea 2025, and some analysts claimed that this joint exercise was clearly targeted at third parties, Jiang Bin, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, said on August 8 that Exercise Joint Sea is an institutionalized cooperation program between the Chinese and Russian navies. Since its inception in 2012, the exercise has been held 10 times and has become a key platform for China-Russia military cooperation. Task groups from the two sides have completed planned subjects, including joint air defense, counter-sea and anti-submarine operations, and have transitioned to a joint maritime patrol. China and Russia adhere to the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party in developing bilateral and military relations, and jointly play an important role in safeguarding international and regional peace and stability, Jiang said. "We hope relevant parties will view defense cooperation between China and Russia objectively and rationally, and stop spreading groundless speculation and smears," the spokesperson said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi, Putin laud bilateral ties, vow further cooperation Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Xinhuanet EditorLi Weichao 2025-09-02 16:03:01 BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Speaking highly of the exemplary major-country ties between their countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday pledged to strengthen high-level exchanges, mutual support, and coordination for greater development of bilateral relations in the future. The China-Russia relationship features permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi said while holding talks with Putin, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. China is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with Russia, support each other's development and revitalization, coordinate positions on issues involving the two countries' core interests and major concerns in a timely manner, and advance bilateral relations for greater development, Xi said. The two sides should leverage major projects to steer their cooperation, develop exemplary cooperation projects, and promote deep-level integration of interests, he noted, calling for enhanced resilience and understanding in cooperation and all-out efforts to consolidate the overall cooperation. In 2024, bilateral trade rose to 244.8 billion U.S. dollars, making China the largest trading partner of Russia for 15 consecutive years. In May, Xi paid a state visit to Russia and attended celebrations in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union. According to Xi, the two countries' heads of state attending each other's commemorations marking the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War fully demonstrates their responsibility as major victorious nations of World War II (WWII) and permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. It also displays their firm resolve to defend the victorious outcomes of WWII and safeguard a correct historical perspective on WWII, he noted. Speaking of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) he just put forward, Xi said the aim of proposing the initiative is to work together with all like-minded countries to resolutely safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and build a more just and equitable global governance system. China and Russia should further enhance coordination on multilateral platforms including the UN, the SCO, BRICS and G20, and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said. The GGI marks the fourth landmark global initiative proposed by Xi over the past several years, following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. Xi has earlier highlighted five principles of the GGI -- adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach, and focusing on taking real actions. Putin, for his part, said that under the leadership of the two heads of state, Russia-China relations have demonstrated great strategic importance, reaching a historic high. The two countries have showcased to the world their mutual support and joint efforts in the World Anti-Fascist War, which played a key role in securing victory on the main battlefields of WWII in Europe and the East, as well as their firm stance in jointly defending historical truth and safeguarding the fruits of WWII victory, Putin said. Putin said Xi's GGI proposal, which is timely and necessary, will play an important part in addressing the global governance deficit. Russia is ready to maintain strategic coordination with China, deepen high-level exchanges, and strengthen practical cooperation across various fields, so as to further promote the high-level development of bilateral relations, Putin said. The two heads of state also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest. The two sides signed more than 20 bilateral cooperation documents covering energy, space, artificial intelligence, agriculture, inspection and quarantine, health, scientific research, education, and media sectors. Senior Chinese officials Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the events. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 23:27 On the evening of September 2, 2025, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi noted that under the strategic guidance of me and President Rahmon, China-Tajikistan cooperation keeps yielding new outcomes. China has become Tajikistan's largest trading partner, with steady progress made in a series of cooperation projects. As Tajikistan's comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China stands ready to work with the Tajik side to build the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future. President Xi stressed that China and Tajikistan should strengthen the alignment of their development strategies and advance cooperation in various fields. China is ready to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Tajikistan, support the two sides in expanding cooperation in such areas as new energy vehicles, digital economy and infrastructure construction, and deepen exchanges in disaster prevention and mitigation, healthcare, culture and education. The two sides should continue to advance counter-terrorism cooperation, jointly crack down on the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and safeguard their common strategic interests. The two sides should also enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, jointly implement the Global Governance Initiative, and promote the building of a global governance system that is more just and equitable. Both China and Tajikistan made great sacrifices for the victory in World War II. The two countries should firmly defend the fruits of the victory and work together to advance the noble cause of world peace and development. President Rahmon stated that Tajikistan attaches great importance to its relations with China. Strengthening Tajikistan-China cooperation serves the common interests of both countries. Tajikistan firmly adheres to the one-China principle and will always be a reliable cooperation partner of China. Tajikistan is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in a wide range of fields such as economy and trade, green economy, digital economy and infrastructure construction, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Tajikistan. China has played an active role as the rotating president of the SCO, and brought the SCO into a new stage of development, making important contributions to regional peace and stability. He congratulated China on the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, stating that humanity should remember history and create a better future. The Global Governance Initiative put forth by President Xi demonstrates the vision and sense of responsibility of a world-class leader. Tajikistan fully supports it and will work with China to promote its implementation, so as to make international governance more reasonable and effective. The two sides signed multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as connectivity, green and low-carbon development, and digital economy. Wang Yi was present at the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 22:13 On the evening of September 2, 2025, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi pointed out that China and Malaysia are good friends with common vision. The two sides have stood together through the changing international landscape and advanced together on the paths toward modernization, ushering in a new "Golden 50 Years" for China-Malaysia relations. President Xi recalled his state visit to Malaysia in April this year, during which the two sides reached important consensus on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. China is ready to work with Malaysia to advance the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, deliver more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute to peace and development in the region and the world. President Xi stressed that the two sides need to accentuate the new characterization of bilateral relations as high-level and strategic, deepen all-round strategic coordination, and firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns. The two sides should work together to become an inspiring example of cooperation on high-quality development in the region, strive to create highlights of cooperation in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, new energy, and semiconductors, and ensure the high-level development of key projects including the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" and the East Coast Rail Link. It is important to keep carrying out the Confucian-Islamic Civilizational Dialogue and strengthen the bonds of people-to-people exchanges. Closer multilateral coordination and collaboration are needed between the two sides to promote the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, jointly uphold international fairness and justice, and safeguard the common interests of the Global South. Prime Minister Anwar noted that President Xi's state visit to Malaysia was highly successful. It strongly boosted the bilateral relationship and brought it onto the fast track, which is well received by all sectors of Malaysian society. It is an honor to be in China to attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi addresses head-on the challenges confronting global governance. The Initiative features both advanced ideas and practical solutions, and is of great significance for enhancing global governance. Malaysia values the special strategic partnership with China and will continue to deepen cooperation across various fields to bring more benefits to the people of both countries. Wang Yi was present at the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 23:30 On the afternoon of September 2, 2025, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi noted that the China-Iran relationship has stood the test of changes in the world, and maintained steady and healthy development. Since we met in Kazan last year, departments of the two countries have actively implemented the important common understandings reached by the two sides, and bilateral cooperation has delivered many new outcomes. China always places its relations with Iran high on its diplomatic agenda in the Middle East. China stands ready to work with Iran to carry forward the friendship, deepen mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, clean energy and connectivity, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and jointly promote the steady and long-term growth of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership. China has put forward the Global Governance Initiative, and will work with the international community including Iran to foster a more just and equitable global governance system, and build a community with a shared future for humanity. President Xi emphasized that the use of force is not the correct means to resolve differences, while communication and dialogue is the right path toward lasting peace. China attaches importance to Iran's repeated pledge that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, and respects Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. China supports Iran in safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, and defending its legitimate rights and interests through political negotiations. China will continue to uphold justice, work for a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties, and make continued efforts for realizing lasting peace in the Middle East. President Pezeshkian congratulated China on successfully hosting the SCO Tianjin Summit, and said during China's presidency, political trust among member states has increased and cooperation in various areas has made positive progress. Iran is ready to strengthen cooperation with China under the SCO framework. China is Iran's comprehensive strategic partner, and Iran attaches great importance to its relations with China. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, Iran will maintain its friendship with China and deepen cooperation with China. The Global Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi carries great significance for building a more just and equitable international order. Iran fully supports it and is ready to maintain close coordination with China to jointly oppose unilateralism and power politics, safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East, and work to put the Global Governance Initiative into practice and implementation. Wang Yi was present at the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 22:10 On the afternoon of September 2, 2025, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi noted that China and Turkmenistan are good partners that trust each other. The two countries complement each other's strengths through their cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results. China stands ready to deepen cooperation and exchanges with Turkmenistan and build a China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future. President Xi emphasized that China supports Turkmenistan's policy of permanent neutrality, and its efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two sides should increase natural gas cooperation, continue expanding cooperation in non-resource sectors, enhance connectivity, accelerate the development of the Luban Workshop and establishment of cultural centers in each other's country, strengthen coordination and collaboration within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the China-Central Asia mechanism, and work for more outcomes of bilateral cooperation. Both China and Turkmenistan made great sacrifices for the victory in World War II. The two sides should resolutely safeguard the fruits of the victory in the War, and jointly uphold world peace. President Berdimuhamedov expressed his pleasure to visit China for the SCO Tianjin Summit, and extended his congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. For Turkmenistan, China is a reliable friend and partner. The two countries enjoy deep mutual trust and extensive cooperation, which bring benefits to the two peoples. Turkmenistan's strategy of "Revival of the Great Silk Road" and the Belt and Road Initiative complement each other. Turkmenistan is ready to work with China to enhance cooperation and exchanges in such areas as energy, infrastructure construction, education and culture, and work for greater progress in the bilateral relations. The SCO is highly promising, and its cooperation in trade, investment, security and people-to-people exchanges has made solid progress, making positive contributions to the building of a more just and balanced international landscape. Turkmenistan is ready to participate in relevant cooperation. The vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the Global Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi are conducive to improving the system of international relations. Turkmenistan fully supports them and is ready to work with China to promote their implementation. The two sides signed multiple bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as intellectual property rights, media and education. Wang Yi was present at the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 17:42 On the morning of September 2, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi Jinping noted that the China-Russia relationship, having stood the test of changes in the world, has become a prime example of relations between two major countries featuring everlasting good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutual benefit, cooperation and win-win. Staying committed to their abiding aspirations and maintaining resolve, the two sides have produced fruitful outcomes in their cooperation across the board. The Chinese side will work with the Russian side to maintain close high-level exchanges, support each other's development and rejuvenation, coordinate position on matters pertaining to each other's core interests and major concerns in a timely manner, and achieve greater progress in China-Russia relations. President Xi Jinping stressed that in development and rejuvenation, China and Russia both have strong driving force. The two sides should guide their cooperation through large, especially more flagship projects and promote convergence of interests at a deeper level. The two sides should strengthen resilience and enhance synchronization in cooperation, and spare no effort to consolidate and uphold the overall interests of cooperation. President Xi Jinping noted that the Chinese and Russian presidents attending the commemorations of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War held in each other's countries fully demonstrates the sense of responsibility of major countries as the key victorious nations of World War II and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and speaks to their firm determination to safeguard the fruits of the victory in World War II and uphold a correct historical perspective on the War. The aim of putting forward the Global Governance Initiative is to work with all like-minded countries to resolutely defend the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and make the global governance system more just and equitable. Both China and Russia emphasize sovereign equality, international rule of law, and multilateralism. The two sides should continue to step up coordination and cooperation at the U.N., the SCO, the BRICS, the G20 and other multilateral platforms, and join hands in building a community with a shared future for humanity. President Putin noted that guided by President Xi and himself, the bilateral relationship has been highly strategic and reached a historic high. President Xi paid a state visit to Russia and attended the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War last May. President Putin said that he will attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression tomorrow. By doing so, the two countries underscore to the world that they helped each other and fought side by side in the World Anti-Fascist War and played critical roles in its victory in both main European and Eastern theaters, and they are firmly committed to jointly upholding the truth of history and safeguarding the fruits of the victory in World War II. The solidarity and cooperation between Russia and China in the World Anti-Fascist War has laid a solid foundation for the development of their relations in the new era. President Putin congratulated China on successfully hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin and steering the meeting to multiple outcomes that greatly contribute to the development of the SCO. The Global Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi is very timely and relevant, and will play an important role in closing the global governance deficit. Russia will work with China to maintain strategic coordination, conduct close high-level exchanges, step up practical cooperation in various areas, and take the bilateral relationship to an even higher level. The two heads of state also had in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest. At noon, President Xi Jinping held a small-group tea meeting with and hosted lunch for President Putin. The two sides signed over 20 bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as energy, aerospace, artificial intelligence, agriculture, inspection and quarantine, health, scientific research, education, and the media. Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at these events. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Chairs the Seventh Meeting of Heads of State of China, Russia and Mongolia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 17:36 On the morning of September 2, President Xi Jinping held the seventh meeting of heads of state of China, Russia and Mongolia with President Vladimir Putin and President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. President Xi pointed out that the trilateral cooperation among China, Russia and Mongolia has developed steadily and achieved tangible results. The medium-term roadmap for trilateral cooperation has been smoothly implemented. The trade volume among the three countries has been rising steadily, and cooperation in economy and trade, science and technology, ecological conservation and culture has been further deepened. As a friendly neighbor linked by mountains and rivers and sharing weal and woe, China stands ready to work with Russia and Mongolia to adhere to the original aspiration of cooperation, dispel external interference, and jointly promote high-quality trilateral cooperation. President Xi put forward a three-point proposal on advancing China-Russia-Mongolia cooperation. First, cement political trust. Amid growing volatility and challenges in the international situation, it is all the more important that the three countries strengthen solidarity and collaboration, enhance mutual support, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and provide solid strategic underpinning for their respective paths of development and revitalization. Second, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. Taking physical connectivity as a key direction, the three countries should actively promote their cross-border infrastructure and energy projects, and make such cooperation more substantive. Taking institutional connectivity as a major pillar, the three countries should enhance the alignment of their development strategies and increase the size of local currency settlement. Taking people-to-people connectivity as an important foundation, the three countries should enhance the exchanges among their neighboring provinces and states, and step up cooperation in tourism and cultural heritage protection. Third, collaborate more closely within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO is a primary platform for countries in the region to jointly safeguard security and seek common development. The three countries should make good use of the cooperation platforms and centers established following China's proposal during the Tianjin Summit to expand cooperation space. President Putin noted that Russia, China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors with a long tradition of cooperation. Enhancing political mutual trust is of great significance and conducive to consolidating the foundation of trilateral relations. Russia is ready to carry out strategic cooperation with China and Mongolia that is equal, mutually beneficial and future-oriented, so that the trilateral cooperation and bilateral cooperation can complement and reinforce each other. The three countries should align their development strategies more closely, strengthen connectivity, increase trade and investment, deepen cooperation and exchanges in such areas as finance, energy, the digital economy, education, environmental protection and tourism, facilitate their respective economic development, promote regional economic integration, and enhance people-to-people bonds. President Khurelsukh noted that China and Russia are important neighbors of Mongolia. Mongolia is committed to strengthening bilateral relations, expanding the trilateral cooperation, promoting the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor, and enhancing cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so as to bring benefits to people of the three countries and advance regional development and prosperity. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union. The people of Mongolia, China and Russia should jointly celebrate and commemorate this historical moment and promote a correct historical perspective on World War II. Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Meets with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 17:54 On the morning of September 2, 2025, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi noted that China and Mongolia, as friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, are enjoying ever deepening exchanges and cooperation across various fields, with multiple key projects making positive progress. The two sides should be guided by the vision of building a China-Mongolia community with a shared future, consolidate strategic mutual trust, deepen development integration, and bring the two peoples closer, so as to inject sustained momentum into their comprehensive strategic partnership. President Xi stressed that no matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will remain a trustworthy and reliable partner for Mongolia. The two sides should carefully safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations, better synergize development strategies, and work together to advance our respective modernization endeavors. China proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to better address global challenges, and is ready to work with Mongolia to implement this initiative to tackle governance deficits. President Khurelsukh said that it is a priority of Mongolia's foreign policy to maintain permanent good-neighborly friendship and pursue sustainable, mutually beneficial cooperation with China. Mongolia highly commends China's commitment to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in pursuing its neighborhood diplomacy. Mongolia will continue to uphold the one-China principle, and firmly support China's positions on issues related to Taiwan, Xizang, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong. Mongolia looks forward to tapping into the potential of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, enhancing connectivity, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, and delivering an even more fruitful bilateral relationship. The GGI proposed by President Xi Jinping advocates for a U.N.-centered international governance system that ensures equal participation of all developing countries. Mongolia warmly applauds this initiative, and is ready to work with China to provide mutual support and pursue close cooperation on the global stage to safeguard the common interests of developing countries. The two sides signed multiple bilateral cooperation agreements in areas such as customs, metrology, and media. Wang Yi was present at the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 16:20 On the morning of September 2, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi pointed out that China and Uzbekistan are friendly neighbors and all-weather comprehensive strategic partners for a new era. China supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and stands ready to work together to accelerate the alignment of development strategies, steadily advance the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, step up cooperation in such areas as joint scientific research, green energy, medical and health care, emergency management, artificial intelligence and poverty reduction, and expand exchanges on culture, education, tourism and at the sub-national level. The two sides should make good use of the China-Uzbekistan law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism, jointly combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, and together tackle security risks and challenges. President Xi emphasized that amid complex and volatile changes in the current international situation, a solid and stronger SCO will help countries safeguard their shared interests and boost their respective development. China and Uzbekistan should firmly uphold the U.N.-centered international system, practice true multilateralism, jointly implement the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), defend the victorious outcomes of World War II, and protect hard-won peace and tranquility. President Mirziyoyev noted that China made significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and hosting the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance highlights China's courage and resolve to uphold lasting world peace. Uzbekistan attaches great importance to its relations with China, and is grateful for China's long-term and valuable support for its economic and social development and the improvement of people's livelihood. Uzbekistan is ready to work with China, respect and support each other, deepen cooperation in various fields, and further develop the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era. Uzbekistan congratulates China on hosting a successful SCO Tianjin Summit, and believes that China's productive presidency has effectively elevated the international influence of the Organization. Uzbekistan fully supports the GGI proposed by President Xi Jinping, as it addresses the needs of global governance and demonstrates profound strategic vision. Uzbekistan will work with China to implement this initiative and promote a more just and equitable international order. After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the exchange of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as the alignment of development strategies, mutual establishment of cultural centers, and medical services. The two sides also signed bilateral cooperation documents in economic and technological cooperation, the digital economy, market regulation, aerospace, customs and other fields. Wang Yi were present at these events. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 15:25 On the morning of September 2, 2025, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi noted that China and Pakistan share a resilient bond, a brotherly bond, and also a bond built on trust and common valuesan ironclad friendship that was forged through historical twists and turns and has grown ever stronger over time. As the once-in-a-century transformations are unfolding faster across the world, a robust China-Pakistan relationship is vital for regional peace and development. The two sides should accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, so as to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples and set an example for building a community with a shared future among neighboring countries. President Xi stressed that China supports Pakistan in maintaining unity, focusing on development, and enhancing national strength. China is ready to work with Pakistan to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 2.0 and upgrade the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, and step up cooperation in industries, agriculture, and mining, with the aim of boosting Pakistan's home-grown capacity for development. China supports Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism and hopes Pakistan will take solid and effective measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan, to create a secure environment for bilateral cooperation. The two sides should strengthen strategic communication, implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative, address common challenges, and uphold international fairness and justice. Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated China on the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and noted that the Communist Party of China's pivotal role in the global struggle against Fascism changed the course of history of both China and the world. The ironclad Pakistan-China friendship has taken root in the hearts of the over 200 million Pakistani people, and every generation will remember China's selfless support. No force can shake this unbreakable bond. Under President Xi's great leadership, China has achieved remarkable economic and social progress, lifted the Chinese people out of poverty, and improved the people's well-being. At the same time, China also share opportunities with fellow developing countries through Belt and Road cooperation, earning global acclaim and winning people's hearts and minds. Pakistan unwaveringly commits to the one-China principle and looks forward to strengthening friendly ties with China and advancing cooperation in various fields to ensure sustained progress in Pakistan-China relations. Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to protect Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in the country. The Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi is of great significance for global peace, development, and stability. Pakistan fully supports and will actively promote this initiative. Wang Yi was present at the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on Indonesian President Prabowo Attending the Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 03, 2025 06:00 Q: Can you confirm that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto whose special plane has arrived in Beijing's airport will attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War to be held this morning? A: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto decided to attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in China upon invitation, and has arrived in Beijing in the early morning of September 3. China welcomes it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on September 2, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 02, 2025 18:19 Shenzhen TV: Yesterday, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative when hosting the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" Meeting in Tianjin, which has been well received by the international community. Participating leaders and people from many countries said that the Global Governance Initiative has contributed Chinese wisdom and plan for building a more just and equitable global governance system and injected robust momentum into the pursuit of a community with a shared future for humanity. What's your comment? Guo Jiakun: The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) put forward by President Xi Jinping is the highlight of the SCO Tianjin Summit. It has made this summit a grand gathering that lights up humanity's road forward. Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, this year is a "big year" for global governance. The GGI is a timely response to the hope of the people across the world and provides what the world urgently needs. It has been warmly welcomed and supported by leaders and heads of international organizations participating in the SCO summit, and will surely be more actively endorsed and more widely recognized by the international community. The five core concepts of the Global Governance Initiative outline the principles, methods, and pathways to reform and improve global governance. Sovereign equality is the foremost premise of global governance. International rule of law is the fundamental safeguard. Multilateralism is the basic pathway. The people-centered approach is the underpinning value, and taking real actions is an important principle. They are consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and are helpful for all the countries to advance the reform and building of the global governance system to meet the need of our times via the UN and other multilateral mechanisms and better cope with the challenges of the times. The GGI is yet another important public good provided by China, following the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). The four initiatives have their respective priorities and can be pursued simultaneously. They will each be a source of stability and certainty for a changing and turbulent world and demonstrate China's commitment to taking up its responsibility in international affairs. We will strengthen coordination and communication with the UN and all the parties to implement the Global Governance Initiative, build a more just and equitable global governance system, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for humanity. CCTV: It's reported that China and Russia are discussing new steps to facilitate cross-border travel. Did it come up in the meeting between Chinese and Russian leaders? Is there any outcome? Can you give us some details? Guo Jiakun: To further facilitate cross-border travel, China decided to expand its visa waiver program and extend visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Russia on a trial basis from September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026. Ordinary passport holders from Russia can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family/friends visit, exchange and transit purposes. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations have been moving forward on a high level. China attaches high importance to facilitating cross-border travel between the two countries and supports our two peoples in strengthening exchanges and making positive contribution to promoting the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. We welcome more friends from Russia to visit China. Bloomberg: Can you confirm a report that Russia and China have agreed on a Power of Siberia 2 pipeline deal that will allow Gazprom to deliver 50 billion cubic meters of gas to China via Mongolia? Guo Jiakun: China and Russia carry out practical cooperation in various areas, including energy, under the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit. On the specific project, I'd refer you to competent authorities. Beijing Youth Daily: It's reported that recently, the Djibouti prime minister has conferred the "Independence Day Medal" on all members of the Chinese medical team there. Not long ago, the president of Tanzania's Zanzibar also gave a decoration to the Chinese medical team in the country. What's your comment? Guo Jiakun: We congratulate the Chinese medical teams in Africa on winning more awards. Since 1963, China has sent medical teams to over 40 African countries who treated close to 300 million African patients. They also helped local people train their own medical teams by clinical teaching and other means. Team members have worked with local medical staff on the front line, and taken concrete actions or even sacrificed their precious lives to put into action the extraordinary dedication, commitment, love and fighting spirit of Chinese medical teams. They have won the support of African people and enhanced China-Africa friendship. Both China and Africa belong to the Global South. We are good partners in pursuit of shared goals and fellow companions on the path of development. China stands ready to work with Africa to deepen health cooperation and friendship and jointly build the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. AFP: The U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said yesterday that the Shanghai Cooperation Summit is largely performative, and branded India, China, and Russia as "bad actors", as India and China are supporting Russia. What's your response? Guo Jiakun: Since the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 24 years ago, the member states have upheld the Shanghai Spirit, namely mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development, and shared opportunities and pursued common development. They have brought about groundbreaking and historic achievements, and set up a stellar example of a new type of international relations. The SCO has grown into a big family of 27 countries, covering Asia, Europe and Africa, with nearly half of the global population and a quarter of global economic output. The SCO has become the largest regional cooperation organization that covers the biggest population and area with the greatest development potential. The Tianjin Summit is the largest-ever SCO summit. It planned for high-quality development, charted the course for humanity's progress, and produced the most fruitful outcomes. Eight major outcomes have been achieved in Tianjin Summit. The development strategy of the SCO within the next decade has been formulated. The summit has sent out a just voice of defending the victorious outcome of World War II, made clear the just position in support of the multilateral trading system, launched four security centers, made a political decision to establish an SCO development bank, set up six platforms on practical cooperation, made six action plans for high-quality development, and achieved new breakthroughs in the organization's reform. The successful Tianjin Summit will lead the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development featuring stronger solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness, and will definitely become an important milestone in the history of the organization. On your question regarding the Ukraine crisis, China always upholds an objective and just position on this issue, which is totally aboveboard as the world can see. Reuters: I wanted to ask if there's any update on the attendance for tomorrow's parade commemorating the end of World War Two. In particular, will there be any foreign troops and from which countries? Guo Jiakun: I'd refer you to competent authorities. AFP: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry urged China to play "a more active role" during President Putin's visit and "help find peace." What's the Foreign Ministry's comment? Guo Jiakun: China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Since day one of the crisis, China has been committed to upholding an objective and just position and promoting talks for peace. China stands ready to work with the international community, in light of the will of the parties concerned, to continue playing a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis. RIA Novosti: There were media reports that leaders of China, Russia and North Korea could meet in Beijing during their visits here for the military parade. Could you provide any details if you have? Guo Jiakun: We will release information in due course about the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On your specific question, I have no information to share. ********************************************************** In light of the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, there will be no regular press conference on September 3. The press conference will resume on Thursday, September 4. Questions can still be submitted to the Spokesperson's Office via fax, email or Wechat. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Russia Sign Deal To Build New Siberian Gas Pipeline But Pricing Details Unclear By RFE/RL September 02, 2025 Summary China and Russia signed a memorandum to build the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline. However, key issues like pricing and financing remain unresolved, with negotiations ongoing between Gazprom and China. The pipeline aims to supply 50 bcm of gas annually from Siberia to China via Mongolia. China and Russia signed an agreement to build the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline on September 2, a key step forward for one of the world's most expensive gas projects. Russia's pipeline gas monopoly Gazprom announced the deal as President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing ahead of a high-profile military parade, saying that the two sides had signed a legally binding "memorandum of construction" on the long-awaited pipeline. While the announcement shows that the project has received political blessing from up high, Alexei Miller, the CEO of Gazprom, said that China and Russia have yet to agree on pricing details for the pipeline and how its costs will be shared, which have been stumbling blocks in the negotiations for years. "Talks will now focus on financing the pipeline's construction and the commercial terms of supply," Miller said in Beijing. He promised to "provide the commercial details" separately. Even with only the document that covers general terms, the deal to proceed with the 50 billion cubic meter per year (bcm) project will have major ripple effects through the global gas market while also helping to shape the course of Beijing and Moscow's deepening relationship. The new pipeline would bring gas from the huge Yamal Peninsula reserves in western Siberia to China, the world's top energy consumer and a leading gas customer, after passing through Mongolia. But with the commercial details of Power of Siberia-2 not yet agreed, Russia will still have to grapple with several key issues that have enveloped the pipeline's future. Moscow needs the Power of Siberia-2 to compensate for at least part of the European Union market it has lost due to fallout from the war in Ukraine. Russia's bargaining power with its more economically powerful neighbor has also weakened over the course of the war in Ukraine and questions remain over Gazprom's ability to underwrite such a complicated infrastructure project. Miller said that the price for gas would be lower than the price charged by Gazprom to European buyers due to the vast distances and terrain over which pipelines had to be built, but no specifics were offered. It's also unclear who will build the pipeline. After Putin met Xi and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in Beijing, the Kremlin said that 22 agreements had been signed during Chinese talks, including a deal on strategic cooperation between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation, but no further details were provided. 'Hard Connectivity' China has so far not commented specifically about the memorandum on the new pipeline, but Chinese state media quoted Xi after the meeting with the Russian and Mongolian presidents saying that "hard connectivity' should be a key direction, by actively promoting cross-border infrastructure and energy projects linking the three countries." Russia is already the largest supplier of pipeline gas and the third-largest provider of liquified natural gas (LNG) to China after Australia and Qatar. Gazprom currently supplies natural gas to China through a 3,000 km pipeline called the Power of Siberia, which became operational in 2019 under a 30-year, $400 billion deal. Putin and other world leaders are currently in Beijing to observe a military parade on September 3 commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. The parade and gathering of leaders comes amid a week of high-level diplomacy for Xi, who also hosted more than 20 top officials for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin where he looked to portray China as an alternative global leader to the United States. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-xi-mongolia-power- siberia-china-gas-energy/33519697.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 How Xi, With Putin's Help, Could Use A Massive Military Parade To Rewrite World War II By Reid Standish September 02, 2025 Summary Analysts say that Xi Jinping is using the event to recast China's role in World War II and reinforce sovereignty claims over Taiwan. Russia's Vladimir Putin will attend the parade and has also looked to reframe history with China and the Soviet Union as main forces fighting fascism in World War II EU diplomats will not attend the parade due to Russia's participation and China's support for Moscow's war against Ukraine. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is holding a massive military parade to mark 80 years since the end of World War II, but the event is not only about the past, it's part of a broader push to reshape its future role on the global political stage. At the September 3 parade, Xi is expected to be flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and more than 24 other heads of state and government ranging from Belarus to Iran. Once in motion, the parade is seen as a display of military and diplomatic strength by Beijing to showcase its latest military hardware and flaunt its status as a global leader capable of rivaling the United States. But analysts say that China also sees the Victory Day parade as part of a more long-term goal to amplify its role in World War II and recast itself as the guardian of the post war international order. "China is trying to use the parade to promote its version of history and how that aligns with the type of world it wants to create today where it's a leading power," Scott Kennedy, a longtime China expert who is a senior adviser and trustee chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank in Washington, told RFE/RL. Central to that Chinese narrative around World War II -- which the country marks as ending with imperial Japan's surrender in 1945 -- is reinforcing Beijing's sovereignty claims over Taiwan, the self-governing island whose complicated international status is wrapped up in a series of post-war treaties and a grueling civil war that saw China's communists emerge victorious over the nationalist forces, who fled to Taiwan in 1949. Beijing has since vowed to unify with the island and has not ruled out the use of force to do so. "China's military aims are primarily regional, with dominating the Asia-Pacific and controlling Taiwan at the top," said Kennedy. "China is looking to have an audience of world leaders at the parade to validate these foreign policy goals." 'To Have A Future, Russia And China Need To Have A Past' A key partner in that pursuit for Beijing is Putin, who has already challenged the international system with Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008, forceful annexation of Crimea in 2014, and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin has been in China since August 31, when he arrived for another choreographed diplomatic display, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which wrapped up this week. At the summit, Beijing also convened an array of leading non-Western leaders to endorse its reinterpretation of the global order as it looked to contrast its emphasis on multilateralism with the more transactional foreign policy coming from the United States. Speaking to world leaders at the summit in northern China, Xi called on countries to promote what he deemed the "correct" perspective of World War II and to support multilateralism. "China and the Soviet Union were the principal theatres of that war in Asia and Europe respectively," Xi wrote in May ahead of a visit to Moscow where he watched Russia's own Victory Day parade marking the defeat of Nazi Germany. "The two countries served as the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making pivotal contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War," Xi said. Together with Russia, China is looking to play down the US contribution -- and frame itself as the central force of resistance against Japan. China dates its "war of resistance against Japanese aggression" to 1931 -- a decade before the United States entered the fighting. "It's a major reframing of world history to position Russia and China as the two forces against fascism," Claus Soong, an analyst at the Berlin-based think tank MERICS, told RFE/RL. "To have a future, Russia and China need to have a past." The EU Keeps Its Distance From Xi's Military Parade The presence of Putin at the parade, as well as its focus on Japan -- a key Western ally - has led European envoys in Beijing to downscale their participation and attendance at the high-profile event, with European Union diplomats telling RFE/RL that no officials will attend the parade. "We are boycotting the parade because Russia is participating, but not the events around it," a senior EU diplomat, who requested anonymity to speak freely to the media, told RFE/RL. In addition to the complications around Japan and Putin's attendance, EU officials have also voiced criticism over Beijing's support for Russia's war against Ukraine, where China has helped Moscow's war effort with a steady flow of militarily useful dual-use goods. No Western leaders will be among the foreign heads of state and government attending the parade with the exception of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose country has applied to join the EU, will also attend the event. "It's good that this is happening all out in the open, no one can say that China is somehow closer to us," another EU diplomat told RFE/RL. "It's sad that Serbia, an EU candidate country, is there, but again, not a surprise. They say one thing about EU alignment, but do another," the diplomat continued. What Is China's Narrative Around Taiwan And World War II? In Xi's last World War II anniversary speech in 2015, which was also marked with a parade, he did not mention Taiwan as it came at a time of improving relations between Beijing and Taipei. But Taiwan is expected to be a central pillar of Xi's speech this year. Since 2015, Beijing has become more aggressive toward Taiwan, and its propaganda has routinely sought to frame Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as a dangerous separatist. Taiwan's status continues to complicate the narrative that Xi is looking to recast around World War II. While communist forces fought against Japan's full-scale invasion of China, a lot of the fighting was done by the troops from the nationalist government, known as the Republic of China, who later fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war. The government of the Republic of China, the official name still used by Taiwan, led the post-war negotiations. It was also the Republic of China that signed the peace agreement as one of the allied nations and was still in power in 1945 when Taiwan was handed over after decades of Japanese rule. The Chinese Communist Party-run People's Republic of China wasn't founded until 1949 and has not controlled the island of Taiwan. Still, Beijing says the World War II victory belongs to all Chinese people, including those in Taiwan, and interprets the peace agreements as leading to Taiwan being "returned" to Chinese rule. But as Soong says, the parade and Xi's efforts to change the narrative of the war are mainly aimed at a domestic audience and at countries in the Global South. "The Chinese Communist Party is trying to create a common bond," he said. "We'll see during Xi's speech how China is trying to shape history." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-ukraine-world- war-parade-taiwan-trump/33519502.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 KJ-600 early warning aircraft makes official debut; completing Chinese carrier group's 'final puzzle piece': expert Global Times By Liu Xuanzun, Fan Wei and Liang Rui Published: Sep 03, 2025 01:34 PM At China's V-Day military parade on Wednesday 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, KJ-600 and J-15T carrier-based aircraft were reviewed in a flight formation, marking the long-awaited debut of the KJ-600, China's carrier-borne fixed-wing early warning aircraft. A military affairs expert told the Global Times that the commissioning of the KJ-600 marks the completion of the "final piece of puzzle" for aircraft carrier group operations, significantly enhancing the offensive and defensive combat capabilities of China's carrier groups. "The KJ-600 can be described as a force multiplier for carrier-based aircraft in an aviation formation," said military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng. He told the Global Times that the KJ-600 enhances the defensive capabilities of aircraft carrier groups. While China's aircraft carrier groups now have destroyers and frigates for detection and early warning missions, long-range radars of these vessels face limitations in detecting extremely low-flying sea-skimming targets due to the curvature of the Earth. "A key function of carrier-based early warning aircraft is to detect these ultra-low-altitude targets," Zhang said. Zhang further noted that before fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft were available, this task was typically performed by carrier-based helicopters. However, the radar on carrier-based helicopters is relatively small, with a limited detection range and shorter endurance. In contrast, fixed-wing early warning aircraft offer significantly longer endurance and can carry larger radars, enabling them to detect sea-skimming targets flying at low altitudes from much greater distances, thereby better ensuring the safety of the carrier group. "Simultaneously, they can guide fighter jets or missiles to carry out defensive strikes, enhancing the carrier groups' survivability in the far seas," he said. Fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft can also enhance the carrier's offensive combat capabilities. Zhang said that a key function of aircraft carriers is carrying out strike missions against land and sea targets, which requires carrier groups to be forward deployed into target areas, most of which lie beyond the detection and support range of land-based radars. "Fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft can be deployed to undertake detection and support missions, conduct airborne command operations, and effectively enhance the strike capabilities of carrier groups against land and sea targets," Zhang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's J-35 makes debut at V-Day military parade; carrier-borne stealth fighter jet officially enters fifth-generation era: expert Global Times By Liu Xuanzun, Fan Wei and Liang Rui Published: Sep 03, 2025 01:29 PM Carrier-borne fighter jet echelons consisting of the J-15DH, J-15DT, J-35 and J-15T were reviewed at China's V-Day military parade on Wednesday 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, with the J-35 making its official debut. Military affairs experts told the Global Times that the commissioning of the J-35 signifies that China's carrier-borne fighter jet has officially entered the era of fifth generation, and its commissioning is a major upgrade to the carrier air wing's ground and surface strike capabilities. A technology expert told the Global Times in a previous interview that the J-35 series aircraft is designed with the concept of "air-sea twin configuration" and "one aircraft, multiple variants." Under this concept, the J-35 series fighter is expected to be equipped in large numbers in the future. The J-35 series fighter jets have stronger stealth capabilities, can effectively carry out collaborative and joint operations on the battlefield, and can achieve rapid development and iteration to meet operational needs. "The commissioning of the J-35 indicates that China's carrier-borne fighter jets have officially entered the era of fifth generation. Becoming stealth is a major direction of carrier-borne fighter jet development in various countries. Carrier-borne aircraft with stealth characteristics have great advantages in air combat with non-stealth fighter jets," military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times. He noted that the appearance of the J-35 is very clean, indicating that its stealth performance ranks among the best in the world's fifth-generation aircraft, and its commissioning is a major upgrade to the Chinese military's carrier-borne air wing's ability to strike against ground and sea targets. "Stealth fighter jets are one of the most important platforms in modern aircraft carrier operations, and China's J-35 stands out in many major combat parameters such as stealth capability, combat radius, and missile range," military affairs expert Wang Yufei told the Global Times. He noted that China's new carrier-based early warning aircraft and others such as carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft displayed at the military parade also have excellent performance, and their combination with the J-35 can greatly enhance the comprehensive combat capability of China's aircraft carriers. "Especially for the aircraft carrier Fujian, which is equipped with electromagnetic catapults and arresting devices. Its combat capability will rank among the world's top with so many new-generation weapons and equipment," said Wang. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's engine-upgraded Y-20B transport aircraft, new special mission aircraft make debut; experts highlight support aircraft' roles as power amplifiers Global Times By Liu Xuanzun, Fan Wei and Liang Rui Published: Sep 03, 2025 01:27 PM Aerial echelons composed of aircraft for early warning, reconnaissance, long-range strike, air superiority, strategic delivery, and support missions systematically demonstrated the rapidly improving air combat capabilities of the Chinese military at China's V-Day military parade on Wednesday 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. With many new aircraft making their debut and some upgraded warplanes demonstrating the ability to systematize air operations, military affairs experts told the Global Times that some of them play roles of power amplifiers in air combat. The early warning and command aircraft echelons consisted of the KJ-500A early warning aircraft and the J-16 fighter jet, as well as the KJ-600 carrier-based early warning aircraft and the J-15T carrier-based fighter jet. Military affairs expert Fu Qianshao told the Global Times that the KJ-500A early warning aircraft is developed based on a tactical transport aircraft platform, but it has strategic-level early warning capabilities. The KJ-500A's radar is densely packed with transmit and receive units, features high transmission power, and offers long detection ranges, making it a crucial node in integrated combat operations. Through aerial refueling, the KJ-500A's range and endurance can be further extended, Fu said. Meanwhile, the KJ-600 made its debut, and its official commissioning means that China's aircraft carrier groups now officially have fixed-wing early warning aircraft. With the development and commissioning of domestically produced new early warning aircraft, the Chinese military's command and control, early warning detection, and coordinated strike capabilities have significantly improved. The Y-9 anti-submarine patrol aircraft, electronic reconnaissance aircraft and radar jamming aircraft were organized into three echelons under the escort of J-16 fighter jets and made their parade debut. The commissioning of these types of special mission aircraft can significantly enhance the Chinese military's capabilities in sea and air reconnaissance, patrol and surveillance, and electromagnetic suppression. The transport aircraft echelons were composed of the Y-20A and Y-20B, as they flew in a combat posture. The new multi-purpose transport aircraft Y-20B unveiled this time is equipped with new domestically produced engines, giving the Y-20B the characteristics of long range, heavy load capacity, and fast speed. The Y-20 series transport aircraft has carried out multiple major missions at home and abroad and has the capability of long-range strategic delivery. The bomber echelons consisted of H-6N strategic bombers, as well as H-6K and H-6J bombers. The H-6 series bombers have the ability to launch long-range attacks, conduct long-distance cruising and conduct standoff strikes, making them the Chinese military's air-based long-range strike force. The original H-6 is a subsonic medium-range bomber developed by China in the 1960s based on the Soviet Tu-16 bomber. Building upon the H-6, China started to independently develop the new medium-to-long-range bomber H-6K in 2005, which primarily undertakes long-range precision strikes against deep land and sea targets and close air support missions. The H-6K features significantly enhanced platform capabilities, onboard equipment, and engine systems compared to earlier H-6 variants. It boasts characteristics such as heavy payload capacity, extended range, rapid response capability, and high strike precision. The H-6N, meanwhile, is a domestically developed new-generation long-range strategic bomber capable of aerial refueling. "From medium to long-range bombers to strategic bombers, the strategic significance of the H-6 series aircraft has been steadily increasing," military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times, adding that as an airborne platform, the H-6 series maintains low operational costs while continuously improving survivability and electronic capabilities. Simultaneously, the range of its large air-to-ground munitions is extending further, enabling H-6 series bombers to launch missiles beyond the intercept range of enemy fighters. "As we can see, the H-6 platform's performance is highly mature, allowing China to continuously expand its strike payload capabilities. This increases its strategic importance significantly," he said. At the parade, the refueling echelons consisted of three YU-20A tanker aircraft, which posed to provide in-flight refueling for H-6N, J-16, and J-20 aircraft. The rapid commissioning of domestically produced large tanker aircraft supports Chinese warplanes to fly farther and farther. "The YU-20A was developed from the Y-20 and has the advantage of a large fuel capacity. It can refuel tactical aircraft such as the J-20 and J-16, as well as strategic level aircraft such as the KJ-500A and H-6N. Because of this, special mission aircraft such as early warning aircraft and tanker aircraft are known as amplifiers in air combat," Fu said. The fighter echelons consisted of two wedge-shaped formations, one composed of the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft, J-20 stealth fighter jet and J-35A stealth fighter jet, while the other composed of the J-20S two-seat stealth fighter jet and J-20A stealth fighter jet. It was the first time the J-20S and the J-20A made their debut. In the carrier-borne aircraft echelons, two wedge-shaped formations consisting of the J-15DH and J-15DT electronic warfare aircraft, J-35 stealth fighter jet, and J-15T heavy fighter jet were observed. From ski jump to catapult launch, from a single aircraft type to multi-type aircraft coordination, China's carrier-borne aircraft have made great strides in development. The "DH" in the name of J-15DH denotes a ski-jump variant of the J-15 electronic warfare aircraft, while the "DT" in the name of J-15DT signifies a catapult-launched variant of the J-15 electronic warfare aircraft, Zhang explained. "Leveraging the J-15 platform's extensive adaptability and robust payload capacity, the J-15 variants, following upgrades to avionics, radar, and other systems, can significantly enhance the integrated combat capabilities of aircraft carrier groups," the expert said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Unmanned underwater vehicle, ship, minelaying system make debut at China's V-Day parade Global Times By Liu Xuanzun, Fan Wei and Liang Rui Published: Sep 03, 2025 12:25 PM Multiple types of unmanned maritime combat systems made their debut at China's V-Day military parade on Wednesday 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, with their strikingly futuristic designs capturing widespread attention. A military affairs experts told the Global Times that they have highly intelligent and information-based features, possessing the ability to conduct armed reconnaissance missions at sea, and their commissioning are expected to revolutionize maritime combat patterns and provide new assistance for safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as achieving national reunification. In the maritime unmanned combat formations, new-type unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), unmanned ship, and unmanned mine-laying system are all reviewed for the first time. These unmanned maritime combat systems possess capabilities such as covert deployment for blockade operations, autonomous detection and identification, and swarm networking for coordinated attacks, making them formidable assets in naval warfare. "Unmanned surface vessels typically feature highly intelligent capabilities. Compared to traditional manned combat ships, they are smaller in size, faster in speed, lower in manufacturing costs, and can reduce the risk of casualties among combat personnel," military affairs expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times. He noted that the newly debuted unmanned vessel, with their compact size and stealth technology, can significantly lower the probability of detection by maritime surveillance radars. "The unmanned ship can perform maritime combat missions such as intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and surveillance, target verification, and long-range raids. They serve as 'sea sentinels' for reconnaissance and early warning tasks, acting as powerful tools for achieving integrated maritime surveillance and strike capabilities," Zhang said. "Furthermore, this type of unmanned vessel boasts high levels of informatization. Leveraging advanced communication technologies, they can execute networked swarm attacks and coordinate operations with other surface vessels." The UUV displayed at the parade resembles a miniature submarine in appearance. Zhang said that some UUVs effectively function as unmanned submarines, yet they offer lower production costs compared to submarines, they reduce the risk of combat personnel casualties, and enable mass deployment. "A common application for UUVs is reconnaissance missions, such as deploying them near enemy shipping lanes for intelligence gathering and surveillance. However, many modern UUVs have evolved into versatile underwater combat assets capable of performing tasks like underwater mine hunting, mine laying, and anti-submarine warfare," Zhang said. Against adversaries relying on submarine-based maritime operations, deploying the UUV along critical shipping lanes enables routine reconnaissance during peacetime and can guide anti-submarine attack during conflict. Possessing such a type of UUV can also facilitate blockade of vital maritime corridors, and leveraging advanced communication technology. It can also coordinate with other unmanned combat groups to carry out long-range strikes, Zhang added. "This is a revolutionary piece of equipment that transforms the nature of underwater warfare, and it represents the direction of naval military equipment development efforts for many nations. Clearly, China has taken the lead globally in the research, development, and operational application of unmanned underwater vehicles," Zhang said. The unmanned mine-laying system is another achievement of innovative development of new combat forces. Zhang said that this type of unmanned equipment at sea can stealthily navigate to enemy military ports, waterways that ships must pass through, or sea areas where high-intensity confrontations may occur. It can be used to lay mines, block enemy ships, restrict their activities, and cut off enemy sea lanes. "The Chinese military's maritime unmanned equipment, represented by these three types of unmanned systems, is expected to revolutionize the way we conduct maritime operations and is a concentrated manifestation of our new combat capabilities," Zhang said. "The deployment and application of these maritime unmanned equipment will significantly enhance the Chinese military's maritime defense capabilities, enrich the means of safeguarding national sovereignty, defending territorial integrity, and achieving national reunification." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two variants of Type 191 modularized rocket artillery appear at military parade; expert highlights long range, high accuracy, strong firepower, low cost Global Times By Liu Xuanzun, Fan Wei and Liang Rui Published: Sep 03, 2025 10:30 AM Two variants of Type 191 modularized rocket artillery were reviewed at the V-Day military parade on Wednesday 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, displaying the high compatibility of long-range artillery units of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). A military affairs expert told the Global Times that the Type 191 modularized rocket artillery integrates modularized launch technology and can launch guided rockets of different calibers. When launching larger caliber rockets, the strike distance can be further increased and achieve similar effect as using ballistic missiles, but at the cost of rockets. The modularized rocket artillery system is introduced as a core equipment of the PLA Army's long-range fire strike missions. It can not only deliver full-depth fire strikes on combat areas and provide accurate fire support for troops on the ground, but also carry out joint fire strike missions in conjunction with the Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force. During the "Strait Thunder-2025A" drills in early April this year, the unique role of modularized rocket artillery was represented. The army of the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted live-fire shooting using the long-range rocket artillery in relevant waters in the East China Sea, delivering precision strikes on simulated Taiwan island targets such as key ports and energy facilities. Zhang Chi, a professor at the National Defense University, told media that long-range modularized rocket artillery has four characteristics. Firstly, it has a long range. Compared with traditional rocket launchers, the range of various types of ammunition in the long-range modularized rocket artillery can reach tens to hundreds of kilometers, covering the entire Taiwan island. Secondly, it has high precision. Traditional rocket artillery does not have guidance function, while the long-range modularized rocket artillery has guidance function, and the strike accuracy from hundreds of kilometers away can reach meter-level. Furthermore, there is intense firepower. A salvo can include dozens of various types of ammunition. Finally, the cost is low. Compared to conventional missiles, the cost is significantly lower. The two variants of Type 191 modularized rocket artillery integrate roles of operational strike and tactical support, and can expand the new frontier of land combat. Military affairs expert Wang Yunfei told the Global Times that compared with the long-range modularized rocket artillery shown in the past, there were two variants reviewed at the military parade. This fully displayed the outstanding compatibility and expansion potential Type 191 as a land-based long-range precision strike weapon. The Type 191 long-range modularized rocket artillery can participate in joint firepower strikes, carry out operational firepower assaults and full depth firepower support, or independently carry out firepower operations for attacking long-range targets, Wang said, adding that this type of equipment adopts modularized launch technology, which is multi-functional and versatile, compatible with launching guided rockets of different calibers. It has the advantages of long range and high accuracy, and can carry out precise strikes on targets. It also has a wide variety of ammunition types, has digital fire control, rapid firepower response, strong off-road capability, and can flexibly respond to various combat environments. "A larger caliber of the rocket could mean that its range may be doubled, "said Wang. Thanks to the application of domestic integrated guidance systems such as satellite navigation system, radio navigation, and inertial navigation in long-range rocket artillery, as well as China's breakthroughs in integration and miniaturization of electronic components, the long-range modularized rocket artillery can not only achieve longer strike distances, but also have the potential to further improve strike accuracy: even achieving the strike effect of ballistic missiles at the cost of rockets, the expert said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi, Putin, and Kim Give Show Of Unity At China's Military Parade By Reid Standish September 03, 2025 Summary China showcased its military power and deepening ties with Russia during a grand parade marking 80 years since World War II's end. China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and North Korea's Kim Jong Un appeared together, signaling solidarity against Western dominance. The parade highlighted China's vision for an alternative global order and its defiance of US influence. China flexed its growing military might and its deepening ties with Russia with an extravagant military parade meant to showcase Chinese President Xi Jinping's status as the leader for an alternative, non-Western world order. As the September 3 parade offered an image of military coordination and force - including more than 10,000 highly-choreographed personnel and hundreds of pieces of military hardware - one of the most striking displays was images of Xi flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as they overlooked the 70-minute procession across Beijing's Tiananmen Square in an unprecedented show of solidarity. Xi shook the hands of both leaders and chatted with the pair as they walked down a red carpet ahead of a group of more than 20 other foreign dignitaries towards the stage overlooking the parade that marked 80 years since the end of World War II. At his speech kicking off the military parade, Xi said China was "unstoppable" while promoting a message of "national sacrifice - not as victims, but as a function of willpower and national resolve." "Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum," Xi said. "The Chinese people stand firmly on the right side of history." Xi also struck a more defiant tone, saying that "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable!" and that China "is never intimidated by any bullies," a term usually used in official statements to refer indirectly to the United States. 'A Carefully Orchestrated Act of Strategic Communication' The celebrations around the anniversary honored China's suffering during World War II and the Communist Party's contributions to victory - something that Chinese officials said should inspire other generations as Xi fends off Western efforts to restrict Beijing. China also framed the parade as a show of unity with other countries, which was a clear message amid the first-ever scenes of Xi, Putin, and Kim together at an event. The massive military parade caps off a whirlwind of diplomatic events meant to show China's vision for an alternative world order to counter the longstanding dominance of the United States and its Western allies. The parade followed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit this week that also sought to cast China as a global leader with deepening regional influence in Southeast and Central Asia. "This year's parade, therefore, is not simply a ceremonial display of troops and weaponry," the Chinese journalist Deng Yuwen wrote for Foreign Policy magazine ahead of the event. "It is a carefully orchestrated act of strategic communication, weaving together messages of military strength, diplomatic positioning, and historical narratives, directed at audiences both at home and abroad." Trump Takes Aim At Xi, Putin, and Kim As the parade unfolded, US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to offer barbed congratulations to Xi on the World War II anniversary, which China marks with the surrender of imperial Japan in 1945. "The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and 'blood' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader," he wrote, referring to Japan's full-scale invasion of China and the US war effort against Tokyo during World War II. The US president also took aim at Putin and Kim for working against US interests. "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America," Trump added. An estimated 11,000 North Korean troops have arrived in Russia's Kursk region since the summer of 2024 to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. Moscow's war effort has also been supported by Beijing through diplomatic backing, ramped up oil purchases, and the flow of militarily-useful dual-use goods from China. Trump met with Putin in Alaska in August, but his diplomatic outreach has so far failed to unlock any progress toward ending the war in Ukraine, with Russian officials brushing off attempts for a follow-up summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In addition to allowing Xi to project China as a global leader, the parade and other diplomatic events in China over the last week have also allowed Putin to highlight that he is not isolated on the world stage after his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Beijing and Moscow's relationship is only growing stronger. This message was conveyed on September 2 when Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller told journalists that a deal to build the long-awaited Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline to China had been reached in Beijing. While the announcement marks a clear step forward for what would be one of the world's most expensive gas projects, Miller also said that key details around the price of gas and how construction costs would be divided had not yet been reached. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-north- korea-parade-trump-military-world-war/33520331.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 Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Learns about Composite Carbon Fiber Material Production Process and Production of High-thrust Missile Engine Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, visited the relevant institute of the General Academy of Chemical Materials under the Missile Administration of the DPRK on September 1 and met experts in the field of the research into the composite carbon fiber material. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was told about the successes made in the research on the said material. He acquainted himself with the test results of the institute which made the high-thrust solid-fuel engine with the composite carbon fiber material and verified the creditability of the operation of the engine and its accuracy through eight static firing tests in the past two years according to the defence science key technology development plan approved by the Ninth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the WPK, and he discussed the issue of laying a foundation for specialized serial production in the future. The maximum thrust of the new-type solid-fuel engine using the composite carbon fiber material is 1 960kN. The engine is to be used in the ICBM Hwasongpho-19 series and the next-generation ICBM Hwasongpho-20. Repeatedly appreciating the development of the engine as a significant success heralding a great change in bolstering up our strategic missile forces and expanding their capabilities, Kim Jong Un made a proposal to award high-class state commendations to scientists of the relevant institute who opened a shortcut to bolstering up the strategic forces with important research result. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea's Kim Jong Un arrives in Beijing for military parade Analysts will be watching Wednesday's event for signs of strengthening ties among China, North Korea and Russia. By RFA staff 2025.09.02 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, ahead of a massive Chinese military parade on Wednesday that will celebrate 80 years since the Japanese defeat that ended World War II. Kim and his daughter Kim Ju Ae arrived at around 4 p.m. on a green train bedecked with North Korean flags. They were met at the Beijing train station by Cai Qui, China's fifth-highest ranked official, and foreign minister Wang Yi. It's the North Korean leader's second reported trip abroad in six years, and his first trip to China since 2019. The event at Tiananmen Square is expected to include troops marching in formation, aircraft flyovers, displays of military equipment and some 50,000 spectators. But many eyes will be on the VIP audience, where Kim is expected to rub shoulders with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, among others. While Kim has engaged bilaterally with Xi and Putin in recent months, this will be their first gathering together. Analysts say they'll be looking for signs of strengthening ties among the three countries. Earlier on Tuesday, Xi met with Putin at the Great Hall of the People and then again at his residence. That followed a summit on Monday in which Xi and Putin met with leaders from more than 20 non-Western countries. Among them was Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, who talked with both Xi and Putin. Includes reporting from Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Copyright 1998-2016, 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 September 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 Conclusions of the Franco-German Defence and Security Council. Elysee - President of France Posted on 2 September 2025 Toulon, 29 August 2025 As we face war and escalating hybrid threats on our continent, multiple crises in our neighbourhood and the world, and as we seek to uphold the rules-based international order and reaffirming our ambitions of the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle, France and Germany are convinced that Franco-German cooperation in matters of foreign, security and defence policy should be further deepened ; it should strengthen the ability of Europe to meet its challenges on its own. EU-NATO Building a Europe which is more sovereign, more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal with immediate and future challenges and threats with a 360 approach, we will further ramp up our own defence capabilities to strengthen the European pillar of NATO. In view of the threat posed by Russia, and convinced that the transatlantic Alliance remains the foundation of European security, France and Germany are resolved to implement the historic decisions made at the NATO summit in The Hague in June. They will increase European contributions to the security of Europe, and reflect a more balanced sharing of the burden for security across the Euro-Atlantic area. To this end, we will significantly increase expenditure on security and defence, support the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB) and prepare for a European preference. On the operational side, last year's decision to commit the Franco-German Brigade to NATO Defence Plans at the Alliance's Eastern Flank has been realized this spring by the affiliation of this brigade to the Multinational Corps North East in Poland. This will in a first step be executed through common exercises. Convinced that the significant increase of national defence investments incentivized by EU funding instruments, and more cooperation resulting in the ramp-up of the European defence industry are key in order to enhance European security, France and Germany fully support the ambitious initiatives at EU level to ensure European Defence Readiness by strengthening the EDTIB through cooperation and funding that fosters capabilities designed and produced in the EU and closing critical capability gaps in Europe in line with NATO capability targets. Reflecting the unique roles and competences of NATO and the European Union, France and Germany reiterate the necessity to further deepen the cooperation between both organizations, and continue to create added value for European security and defence. Strategic topics/nuclear France and Germany underline that nuclear deterrence is the cornerstone of Alliance security, and that France's independent strategic nuclear forces contribute significantly to the overall security of the Alliance. Given the challenges outlined above, with a view to developing our common strategic culture, and to further interlinking our security and defence objectives and strategies, France and Germany will start a strategic dialogue, led by the French Presidency and, the German Chancellery, and including the Foreign and Defence Ministries. Bilateral armament cooperation Based on NATO, EU and national capability requirements, France and Germany will further deepen their bilateral cooperation on defence capabilities, including defence research and development as well as procurement. France and Germany remain committed to the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) development and will intensify efforts to launch an adequately financed Research and Technology phase to ensure the availability for the armed forces of MGCS beginning 2040. France and Germany remain committed to the Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS) and will intensify efforts to take immediate and together with Spain appropriate actions by the end of the year to secure the timeline for initial Operational Capability before 2040. We agree to find solutions to resolve the challenges of the program. France and Germany will further coordinate on cooperation options regarding Deep Precision Strike capabilities, initiated in the framework of the ELSA initiative during last year's Franco-German Defence and Security Council. Aiming at enhancing cooperation in the space domain, France and Germany will in particular identify new opportunities enabling the best use of European assets and world-class expertise. In order to provide a complementary Early Warning system for Europe, France and Germany plan to launch a Franco-German Early Warning-Initiative with two pillars : a space-based missile early warning system based on ODIN's EYE project and a network of ground-based radars, relying on existing and future technologies. To formalize this initiative called JEWEL, that will be open to partners, a Letter of Intent will be prepared. The ODIN'S Eye Memorandum of Understanding as well as the Implementing Arrangement IOC thus facilitating the envisaged acceleration of the project to achieve Initial Operational Capability, will be signed alongside the JEWEL Letter of Intent and will be the first step towards this initiative. France and Germany recognize the A400M Programme as a successful European Cooperation. In continuation of this success, our nations' experts will discuss possible developments and capabilities within this programme. We strive to further strengthen the A400M programme including efforts for an expansion to other European states. In order to strengthen joint research and development efforts, we will develop a French-German programme of breakthrough innovation in defence. We will make the best use of all EU tools and facilitate private funding on these issues. Recognizing the importance of armament cooperation, French and German Ministries of Defence intend to reinstate an armament cooperation working group in order to discuss all issues related to armament cooperation. Enhance cooperation in the field of defence innovation by bolstering up the existing defence innovation cooperation framework between the French and German ministries of defence and encouraging new partnerships. Promote jointly matured defence innovation projects and technologies within common multinational initiatives. Ukraine/Russia and Black Sea Despite intensive international diplomatic efforts, Russia shows no intention to end its war of aggression against Ukraine. In light of the massive Russian airstrikes on Ukraine and its population and the consequences for our own security, France and Germany will therefore provide additional air defence to Ukraine. Building on the joint leadership in the Capability Coalition on Integrated Air and Missile Defence, France and Germany will also advocate for further contributions from Allies and partners within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, NATO, the EU and beyond through allocations from their own stocks, deliveries from industry, financial contributions e.g. to the Enduring Action on Air Defence, and training of Ukrainian pilots. France and Germany will work to strengthen Ukraine's security and defence industry and promote industrial cooperation. As part of our military support, we will increase procurement of defence goods produced in Ukraine to meet the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces. We will promote joint projects with Ukraine under the European Defence Industry Programme and the Security Action for Europe, involving European Allies and partners. France and Germany agree that the financing of the short- and long-term European military support for Ukraine must be increased and that it must also participate in strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. We strongly support the objective of Ukraine's rapid integration into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. France and Germany consider the effective implementation and further strengthening of sanctions essential to exert maximum pressure on Russia to end its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, and ultimately bring peace to Ukraine and Europe. France and Germany will step up their cooperation within the EU and jointly with partners, especially the G7, to further extend and develop effective and robust sanctions against those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as against Russia's military-industrial complex, including companies from third countries that support Russia's war, and implement tailored measures to further limit Russia's revenues, particularly from oil sales. An effective oil price cap and measures to combat the circumvention of sanctions, including those posed by Russia's so-called shadow fleet and its ecosystem, are key. France and Germany agree on the need to provide Ukraine with credible security guarantees, including by ensuring the steady provision and financing of equipment, training and intelligence as the war continues, by crafting a future Ukrainian force model without any limitations of size or capabilities and therefore able to deter future Russian aggressions, by expediting the work undertaken by the Coalition of the Willing on reassurance forces, and by devising security guarantees to be provided to Ukraine by US and European partners. Recognizing the increasing importance of the Black Sea region for peace, security and prosperity in Europe, France and Germany will consider additional joint activities, e.g. in the fields of security, economy and connectivity, also with a view to contributing to the EU's Black Sea Strategy in close cooperation with partners and allies. In this vein, we will set up a capitals' working group, led by the Foreign Ministries in close coordination with the Ministries of Defence, to present a joint input paper. Middle East, including Israel/Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Syria France and Germany are united in their commitment to the two-State solution which we are convinced is the only way to guarantee that Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity, and to ensure peace and security for all in the region. We condemn the heinous attacks of Hamas of 7 October and reiterate our commitment to Israel's existence, security and right to defend itself in face of the terror of Hamas. The war must end now. We call for an immediate ceasefire, the provision of a massive, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian assistance into and throughout Gaza, through the established and proven humanitarian mechanism run by the UN and humanitarian NGOs, leading to a permanent end to hostilities. Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release all hostages. In the future, Hamas must neither govern Gaza nor be in any way a threat to Israel. It must be disarmed. France and Germany condemn all attempts to annex and reoccupy parts of Palestinian territory, to increase settlement construction, in particular through the E1 project. We are shocked by the insufferable human toll in the Gaza Strip as well as the famine reported as the result of the blockade on humanitarian aid and the expansion of Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip, and strongly opposed to any forcible transfer of Palestinians. We call upon the Israeli authorities to put an end to these operations, lift all the humanitarian constraints and to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority as the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. This includes transferring withheld clearance revenues, maintaining the existing correspondent banking relations system, and holding violent settlers to account. Journalists and humanitarian personnel must enjoy a safe access to the Gaza strip. To support these objectives, we are ready to intensify our dialogue with Israel in the coming days, including through active contribution to a credible framework for Day after and a possible stabilization mission in Gaza. We also underline the importance of civil society and peacebuilding initiatives for the implementation of the Two-State Solution including at the United Nations. On Lebanon, France and Germany continue to advocate political and economic reform as outlined by the IMF in order to strengthen state institutions including the Lebanese Armed Forced (LAF). We support the efforts by the Lebanese authorities to restore full sovereignty over their territory, including through the monopoly of force and use of weapons, and reiterate our call for the full respect by all parties of the cessation of hostilities arrangements of November 26, 2024, including through full withdrawal of the IDF. Therefore, we will coordinate our bilateral and multilateral engagement closely and jointly propose further support for the LAF under the European Peace Facility. France and Germany strongly support UNIFIL, welcome the renewal of its mandate by the UNSC until December 31st, 2026, and underline its crucial role in strengthening the LAF and in consolidating progress after the ceasefire. France and Germany reaffirm their joint commitment to support a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria including transitional justice, economic reforms, freedom of the press and transparency and the destruction of all remaining chemical weapons of the Assad regime in order to improve life of all Syrians. On this basis they underline their commitment to support reconstruction and the safe return of Syrian refugees to their country. Throughout more than twenty years of diplomatic efforts, France and Germany have been unified in their objective : Iran shall never seek, acquire or develop a nuclear weapon, and a negotiated solution providing credible assurances to that end should be achieved through diplomatic efforts. France and Germany reiterate their longstanding concerns about Iran's current nuclear escalation and Iran's ongoing non-compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations. The E3 stays fully committed to engage Iran to find a diplomatic solution. The E3's decision to trigger the snapback process is a response to Iran's longstanding non-compliance with its obligations. Our extension offer remains if Iran takes the necessary steps in the 30-day period of this process. Afghanistan France and Germany will continue to coordinate closely on their policies on Afghanistan in order to pursue their shared interests in Afghanistan and to call on the Taliban to honour the obligations set out by the United Nations Security Council in its resolution 2593 in 2021. France and Germany strongly condemn the human rights violations committed in Afghanistan, particularly against women and girls. France and Germany will continue to hold the Taliban accountable and call on the them to abide by the international obligations of the state of Afghanistan which include obligations enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson September 2, 2025 The following is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. The Secretary and Foreign Minister agreed to continue cooperation in diplomatic efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end through a negotiated settlement with measures in place to secure a lasting peace. The Secretary conveyed the United States' strong opposition to any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State, a move that would reward Hamas for October 7 and hinder efforts to bring all hostages home. The Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed Iran, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says will comply with 2015 nuclear deal if all parties return to it IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran will return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal - known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - if all other parties do the same, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson told the Guardian in an interview published on Sunday. "No one can say that we welcome the return of sanctions," Esmaeil Baghaei said. "We experienced this sanctions process from 2006 to 2010 and then struggled from 2012 to lift them. It took more than two years to get rid of those sanctions. No rational person or responsible government welcomes their return." Baghaei added that while Iran had learned to defend its dignity and withstand the "unjust war" of economic sanctions, Tehran would do "everything in our power" to prevent their reimposition. He said Iran has been in contact with European governments, China, Russia, and other UN Security Council members, but must also be prepared for "any scenario" ahead. On Europe's role, he criticized Britain, France, and Germany for downgrading themselves from credible mediators to "a tool for the United States." Iran signaled as early as 2019 that it was ready to resume its commitments under the nuclear accord if the European parties and others fulfilled their obligations, Baghaei said. "Our position is still the same: if everyone returns to the JCPOA, we will do so as well," he stressed, noting that the agreement was backed by a UN Security Council resolution proposed by the United States and adopted by consensus. "If they had even a minimum of goodwill, they would try to implement their commitments under the JCPOA again and then expect Iran to do the same." 9341**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army prepared to deliver a decisive response to any aggression: Top general IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Chairman of the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi has emphasized that the Army stands strong and ready to deliver a decisive and painful response to any aggression Speaking at a meeting of the Parliament's National Security Commission on Tuesday, Major General Mousavi presented an update on the current status and defensive readiness of the Armed Forces to address potential threats. The commission's spokesperson, Ebrahim Rezaei, conveyed Mousavi's remarks, saying that the Armed Forces are fully prepared and at the highest level of defensive and combat readiness. "They are prepared to deliver a regrettable response to any act of aggression. If any aggression occurs against our country, our response will be more decisive and painful than before. Our readiness is now greater than it was three months ago," Rezaei said, quoting Mousavi as saying. Members of the National Security Commission praised the relentless efforts of the Armed Forces in defending the nation and emphasized their full support for the Armed Forces, as well as for strengthening the country's defense capabilities. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IAEA did not act 'honestly' toward Iran, President Pezeshkian says IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not treated Iran fairly, while reaffirming the Islamic Republic's willingness to engage within accepted international frameworks free from bias. Pezeshkian made the remarks during an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) on Tuesday, as part of his visit to Beijing. The president criticized the double standards applied by proponents of unilateralism regarding the activation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)'s snapback mechanism against Iran. He pointed out that countries that have violated the agreement themselves accuse Iran of non-compliance. With respect to cooperation with the IAEA, Pezeshkian expressed dissatisfaction with the agency's approach toward Iran while reaffirming the Islamic Republic's willingness to engage within accepted international frameworks that are free from bias. Regarding the threat of military aggression from the Israeli regime, Pezeshkian said that Iran does not seek war or unrest but is fully capable of defending itself. The Iranian president underscored that the global governance reform initiative aims to replace unilateralism with a multilateral and justice-oriented approach, adding that such an initiative seeks to address the double standards that allow the Israeli regime and its supporters to disregard international legal frameworks while purporting to uphold human rights. Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of countries opposed to unilateralism standing in solidarity with China, warning that the ambitions of totalitarian states should not hinder international cooperation through unjust sanctions. He described China's Belt and Road Initiative as a strategic framework meant to promote cooperation for peace, security, and shared prosperity. Reflecting on China's development, he praised the country's targeted and expertly managed progress, noting remarkable improvements in Beijing since his last visit a decade ago, particularly in air quality and traffic conditions. Earlier, President Pezeshkian arrived in Beijing to participate in significant commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and to attend a grand military parade hosted by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Pezeshkian to attend the pivotal events. His visit to Beijing included a high-speed train trip from Tianjin, reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran considers past experience on US proposal for direct talks: Foreign Ministry spokesperson IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Esmaeil Baghaei, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, says Iran definitely takes into account its past experiences when dealing with the United States, including over its proposal for direct talks on the Iranian nuclear program. The United States has disrupted diplomatic processes at least two or three times over the past decade, which indicate that it has not shown goodwill from the beginning, Baghaei said at his weekly press briefing in Tehran on Tuesday while responding to a question from IRNA about Iran's reaction to the US secretary of state's proposal for direct talks between the two countries. "Basically, in dealing with the US, we must consider this reality that we faced the Zionist regime's aggression supported by the US, while we were in the midst of a negotiation process. Certainly, we cannot speak about the future without considering past experiences," the spokesperson said. No legal basis for E3 to invoke snapback Baghaei reiterated that the three European countries, Britain, France, and Germany, which are known as E3 and are members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, have no legal authority to invoke the snapback mechanism that would return the UN Security Council's annulled resolutions against Iran. He said that Russia and China, the two other members of the 2015 deal, are also opposed to the E3 measure, referring to a joint letter by the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, and China, which explains the illegality of the E3 move. Baghaei added that Iran remains in contact with Russia and China, and will make utmost effort to do what aligns with its national interests. Europe turned into an instrument of US pressure The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the West's approach toward Iran is full of contradictions. They accuse Tehran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal, which is officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), while they deliberately ignore the fact that they themselves have failed to meet their commitments since 2018, added Baghaei. He noted that Iran's reciprocal actions were in response to their failure to meet their commitments, and were fully within the framework of the JCPOA. Baghaei also stressed that Europe has shifted from being a mediator to becoming a tool of US pressure, adding that the recent statement by the US secretary of state shows European actions are directly in line with Washington and Israel's agenda to the point of even starting the process of reinstating UN sanctions. Negotiations with IAEA Baghaei said that two rounds of talks have so far been held between representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Those talks took place at the level of the IAEA deputy director general and have not yet produced any concrete results, he said, adding that no decision has been made either to continue the negotiations. On the recent visit of two IAEA inspectors to Iran, the spokesperson said that they were here to load fuel into the Bushehr nuclear reactor to ensure the plant's continued operation, as per existing procedures and regulations. At present, no inspections are being conducted in Iran, and no inspectors are on the ground, he added. Israel's assassination of Yemeni officials Regarding the recent developments in Yemen and Palestine, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson extended condolences to the Muslim people of Yemen and Palestine following the martyrdom of the Yemeni cabinet members during the Israeli regime's military aggression as well as its atrocities in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. He described the airstrike, which took the lives of the Yemeni officials, as an obvious war crime and a clear violation of international rules, demonstrating the nature of the Israeli regime, which knows no limits. Baghaei said that this action coincided with the intensification of genocide in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including the massacre of the Palestinian people due to bombings and direct shootings while waiting in food lines, as well as due to hunger and thirst. Tony Blair's destructive role Regarding the alleged role by former British prime minister Tony Blair in a Gaza plan, Baghaei said that the media's reaction and sensitivity to that issue shows a reality, which is his record of interventions in West Asia; interventions that led to horrific consequences for regional countries. 'Greater Israel' claim a wake-up call for immediate action He discussed Iran's viewpoint regarding the statements and claims made by Israeli and US officials about "Greater Israel," saying that the issue has been met with reactions from all countries in the region. It is very clear that the propagation of such claims aligns with the expansionist and warmongering policies of the Israeli regime, Baghaei said. although all regional countries denounced the regime, these reactions are not enough, as the Israeli regime's claims serve as a warning that necessitates immediate action by each and every regional nation and the international community to prevent threats to global peace and security, the Iranian diplomat said. Anti-Palestinian plan The spokesperson said that what is happening in Gaza today is genocide, all with the clear goal of expelling the indigenous Palestinians from their own land. He continued that any individual, country, or entity that in any way aligns with this conspiracy and the plan of collective annihilation of the Palestinian people must be held accountable and recognized as an accomplice and partner in crime. SCO condemnation of Israeli aggression on Iran Baghaei said that what is particularly important for Iran during the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China is the condemnation of the military aggression of the Israeli regime and the US against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities and the reaffirmation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 endorsing the JCPOA. US interference in Latin America Regarding the hostile actions of the United States against Venezuela, Baghaei said that Washington's recent actions can be interpreted as a return to blatant colonial policies. US interference in Latin American countries is nothing new and has existed for decades, but this time the speed and openness of their actions is unprecedented, he said. The US move to deploy military forces to the shores of a sovereign state under the pretext of combating drug trafficking is absolutely unjustifiable, he added. Iran-China agreement Baghaei referred to Iran-China agreements in the field of oil sales and Beijing's position on the activation of the snapback mechanism, saying that the 25-year cooperation agreement between Iran and China encompasses various areas, including trade and energy. This agreement continues its course unaffected by external distractions, he added. Iran-Afghanistan talks on water On the inauguration of the Pashdan Dam in Afghanistan and its impact on water problems in northeastern Iran, especially the city of Mashhad, the spokesperson said that the issue of water, whether Iran's rights from the Helmand River or other inflows from Afghanistan, remains a permanent item on the agenda of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its consultations with Afghan counterparts. Both the energy and foreign ministries use every opportunity to voice Iran's concerns and seek solutions to at least mitigate the problems, added Baghaei. 4208**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran-Russia-China joint letter urges UNSC to dismiss E3 snapback bid IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The foreign ministers of Iran, China, and Russia have written a joint letter rejecting the three European countries' move to trigger the "snapback mechanism" that would restore United Nations sanctions against Tehran. The letter, addressed to the UN secretary general and the president of the UN Security Council (UNSC), calls on the Council to consider Europe's move null and void. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday announced on his X account that he and his Chinese and Russian counterparts, Wang Yi and Sergey Lavrov, signed the joint letter in Tianjin, China, where they had attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. The joint letter comes after the E3 - namely Britain, France, and Germany, which are members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - informed the United Nations Security Council on Thursday (August 28) that they had triggered the "snapback" mechanism that would restore UN sanctions lifted under the JCPOA, citing what they called non-compliance by Iran. The United States withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 during the first term of President Donald Trump. Iran began reciprocal measures a year later, after the European parties to the deal failed to compensate for the US pullout. The joint letter by the Iranian, Russian, and Chinese top diplomats explains that the E3 measure lacks any legal basis because it is contrary to the procedures set out in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 that endorsed it. "The action by the foreign ministers of the three European countries (E3) is clearly inconsistent with the above resolution and is therefore inherently flawed both legally and procedurally. The path pursued by the E3 misuses the authority and functions of the UN Security Council, while simultaneously misleading its members and the international community regarding the root causes of the disruption in the implementation of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231," according to the letter, parts of which were released on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. The letter also states that the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA and Europe's failure to mitigate its consequences bar any use of the dispute resolution mechanism against Iran. It stresses that, under international law, the European countries, having committed material breaches, cannot claim the rights or mechanisms of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231. "Iran's reciprocal measures, including the suspension of its JCPOA commitments, were taken specifically in response to the US withdrawal and its total violation of its obligations under the JCPOA, and only after a sustained period of Iran's continued compliance and the failure of the E3/EU in remedying the situation," said the letter. "The reciprocal steps taken by Iran cannot serve as a basis for activating the 'snapback' mechanism. It is unacceptable that this mechanism be abused to reward the US withdrawal and the subsequent non-compliance of the E3/EU with their commitments, including those outlined in the statement issued following the Joint Commission meeting of 25 May 2018." The letter emphasized that the JCPOA is integral to Resolution 2231, and the E3 cannot appeal to the Security Council without completing the agreement's dispute resolution process. Since the E3 failed to do so, their correspondence cannot be considered a valid notification under paragraph 11 of Resolution 2231. Re-imposing annulled Security Council sanctions is illogical and unreasonable, as the International Atomic Energy Agency has verified Iran's compliance with its JCPOA commitments, said the letter. In light of these reasons, the Iranian, Russian, and Chinese foreign ministers said "the Security Council cannot act on the basis of the letter submitted by the E3 and must consider it null and void. Any step or measure taken in disregard, or in violation, of Resolution 2231 cannot create binding international legal obligations for UN Member States," according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Iran, China, and Russia urged Security Council members to reject the E3's notification, reaffirm commitment to the principles of international law and multilateral diplomacy, while advising the E3 to avoid actions undermining the Security Council's unity. They asked the UN secretary-general to circulate the joint letter as an official document. 4194**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pezeshkian-Putin meeting was fruitful: VP for communications affairs IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 2, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Mehdi Tabatabaei, Vice President for Communications and Information Affairs, has emphasized the importance of maintaining Iran's distinguished position amid shifting global power dynamics, saying that a fruitful meeting was held between President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tianjin, China, on Monday. In a post on his X account, Tabatabaei described the two-hour meeting as very productive and important, highlighting the constructive nature of bilateral discussions. Tabatabaei noted that the contemporary world is witnessing a rejection of unilateralism and coercion, underscoring the necessity for Iran to safeguard its prominent role during this pivotal period of power redistribution. The two presidents met on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US blocking negotiation path by raising 'unrealizable' demands, says Iran's top security official Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 5:35 PM Iran's top security official says the United States is obstructing potential talks by raising "unrealizable" demands, including restrictions on Iran's missile program. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said in a post on X that Tehran remains open to dialogue with Washington but that the US approach undermines the possibility of meaningful negotiations. "The path for negotiations with the US is not closed; yet these are the Americans who only pay lip service to talks and do not come to the table; and they wrongfully blame Iran for it," Larijani wrote. "We indeed pursue rational negotiations. By raising unrealizable issues such as missile restrictions, they set a path which negates any talks." Iran held five rounds of talks on a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal prior to the US-Israeli airstrikes on the country and its nuclear facilities in mid-June. The United States and its European allies have repeatedly called for any future agreement to address not only Iran's nuclear activities but also its ballistic missile program. Tehran has consistently rejected that demand, insisting its military capabilities are non-negotiable. The European parties to the 2015 deal, Britain, France, and Germany, recently triggered a "snapback" mechanism to restore UN sanctions, further complicating diplomacy to resolve tensions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, China presidents pledge to deepen strategic partnership Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 3:13 PM Tehran and Beijing have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding ties, with the presidents of both countries vowing to fully implement a 25year strategic cooperation agreement signed in 2021. In a meeting in the Chinese capital Beijing on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is ready to work with China "under any circumstances" to elevate relations to their highest level, stressing that Beijing can count on Tehran as a "strong and determined friend and ally." "We are ready for cooperation for the implementation of all provisions of the comprehensive 25year agreement of the two countries," he said. Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's goal of promoting peace and security in the region and opposing oppression, aggression, and unilateralism. "America, in the direction of continuation and expansion of the policy of unilateralism, gives itself permission for aggression against different countries, and now no longer in this regard knows any limit or boundary," Pezeshkian said. "The principal and fundamental goal of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the stabilization and strengthening of peace and security in the region. We must prevent oppression and aggression, and unilateralism," he said. Pezeshkian also expressed interest in joint projects such as highspeed rail and major highway construction, noting the "significant potential" for cooperation. President Xi Jinping said China is willing to develop relations with Iran as a strategic partner "with a forwardlooking approach" and to accelerate the implementation of previous agreements, including those reached in the Russian city of Kazan last year on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit. He said China is ready to expand ties on a "winwin" basis, particularly in transportation. "During the past years, despite the sanctions of America and Western countries, we have created the grounds for continuation of cooperation, and at present we are also ready, in a winwin manner, to expand our relations in all fields, especially in the sphere of transportation." He condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran as a "blatant violation of international principles," affirmed that "force is never a solution." Xi also reiterated that China supports Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Parliament vows 'decisive' payback to snapback of sanctions Iran Press TV Tuesday, 02 September 2025 11:23 AM Iran's Parliament has warned of a decisive and reciprocal response to a planned decision by the European troika to unleash the snapback mechanism of sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The Iranian legislature raised the alarm in a closed session on Tuesday as the lawmakers reviewed for one and a half hours the repercussions of the anti-Tehran move on the country's economy and other fields. Germany, France and Britain, the three European signatories the European troika or E3 to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), announced last week they would invoke the snapback procedure, a clause that reinstates pre-JCPOA era sanctions on Tehran over claims of the Islamic Republic's "significant non-compliance" with the landmark pact. The snapback mechanism, defined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, opens 30 days before the restoration of previously terminated UN Security Council sanctions against Iran. Abbas Goudarzi, the spokesperson of the Iranian Parliament's presiding board, said the legislative body would over the coming days look into all plans and proposals from the parliamentarians with a focus on the Supreme National Security Council regarding the response to snapback. "Enemies must understand that the [Iranian] Parliament, the government, the Supreme National Security Council, and all pillars and institutions of the Establishment are united, cohesive, and integrated, and the response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to hostile actions will be reciprocal and deterrent," Goudarzi said. On this matter, all political factions in the Parliament, are "in agreement that Iran's response must be decisive, reciprocal, and regret-inducing, so that the cost of the enemy's actions is imposed upon them," he added. "All these plans and proposals will be reviewed in the foreseen meetings, and ultimately, the necessary decision will be made." Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf also stressed in his address to a plenary session on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic's "unified decision" in response to the illegal action by the E3 will soon be announced. "It is clear that the three European countries, due to their failure to fulfill their commitments under the JCPOA, did not have the right to activate the mechanism of Paragraph 37 of the JCPOA, and therefore illegally initiated the process of reinstating resolutions," Qalibaf said. "It is necessary for Iran to take a deterrent action to make this illegal action by the European parties costly to bring a change in the enemy's decision to activate the snapback mechanism," he added. "The unified decision of the Islamic Republic system in this regard will be announced and implemented soon." In a letter dated August 28, 2025, addressed to the UN Security Council and Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Iranian Foreign Ministry urged all Security Council members "to reject the unjustified political manipulations and to uphold the integrity of international law and authority of the Council." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also told his European counterparts in a call that Tehran will respond appropriately to their "illegal and unjustified action." Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and signatories to the JCPOA, have slammed the E3's move to invoke the snapback mechanism of sanctions on Iran, warning against the repercussions of imposing curbs on the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear program. The US ditched the JCPOA in 2018 before returning the illegal sanctions that it had lifted against Iran and launching the so-called maximum pressure campaign. Following the US withdrawal, the European signatories to the JCPOA failed to uphold their commitments and made no efforts to save the agreement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Respects Iran's Right to Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy - Xi Sputnik News 20250902 BEIJING (Sputnik) - Beijing respects Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and supports Iran in protecting state sovereignty, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Xi held a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Beijing. "China appreciates Iran's repeated confirmation of its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, and respects Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy," Xi said, as quoted by the Chinese Central Television. Beijing supports Iran in protecting its state sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, as well as in protecting its legitimate rights and interests through political negotiations, Xi added. The Chinese-Iranian relations have withstood the test of the unstable international situation and continue to develop steadily and successfully, Xi said. "China will continue to uphold justice, promote a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties, and tirelessly make efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East," the Chinese leader added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Kuwait Foreign Ministers' Meeting Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan September 1, 2025 On September 1, commencing at 4:45 p.m. local time (10:45 p.m. JST) for approximately 50 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting Kuwait, held a meeting with H.E. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. The overview of the meeting is as follows: At the outset, Foreign Minister Yahya welcomed Minister Iwaya's visit to Kuwait and expressed his desire to further enhance relations between Japan and Kuwait in a wide range of areas such as economy, technology, education, health and sightseeing. In response, Minister Iwaya stated that he hopes to further strengthen bilateral relations various areas including implementation of Memoranda of Cooperation signed during the visit of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, to Japan in May this year. The two ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations in areas such as politics, economy, and culture. Minister Iwaya welcomed that the ban on imports of Japanese beef into Kuwait is expected to be lifted this month, and the two sides confirmed that they will continue to proceed with the necessary procedures. The two ministers exchanged views on cooperation in the international arena and confirmed that they would continue to coordinate on UN Security Council reform. The two ministers had a frank exchange of views on recent regional developments in the Middle East, including Iran and Gaza. Minister Iwaya expressed respect for Kuwait's important role including its role as GCC chair in addressing regional situations. Regarding Palestine, the two ministers agreed to continue to support the Palestine Authority (PA) for realizing a "Two State solution". Regarding Iran, the two ministers agreed on the importance of a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue through dialogue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Bahrain Foreign Ministers' Conversation Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan September 1, 2025 On September 1, commencing at 2:45 p.m. local time (8:45 p.m. JST), Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting the State of Kuwait to attend the Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held a brief conversation with H.E. Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The overview of the conversation is as follows: At the outset, Minister Al Zayani expressed his appreciation for Minister IWAYA's participation in the Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In response, Minister IWAYA stated that he was pleased to see the relationship between Japan and Bahrain expanding across various fields. The two Ministers confirmed to continue close communication in order to further strengthen bilateral relations through high-level visits on the occasion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and dialogue at various levels, and to deepen cooperation in the international arena. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Oman Foreign Ministers' Meeting Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan September 1, 2025 On September 1, commencing at 3:45 p.m. local time (9:45 p.m. JST) for approximately 40 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting Kuwait to attend the Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting and other events, held a meeting with H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman. The overview of the meeting is as follows: At the outset, Minister IWAYA welcomed the recent increase in high-level exchanges between Japan and Oman, taking the opportunity of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. In response, Minister Badr expressed his expectations for further building upon such active exchanges between the two countries. The two Foreign Ministers held a candid exchange of views on regional and international affairs, including the situations in Iran and Gaza. Minister IWAYA expressed his respect for Oman's important role in easing regional tensions, including its mediation efforts between the United States and Iran regarding the Iran's nuclear issue. He also stated his desire to cooperate in resolving these issues through dialogue. In response, Minister Badr explained Oman's diplomatic efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the Iran's nuclear issue. Minister IWAYA expressed his intention to work with Oman to improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and to realize a "two-state solution." In response, Minister Badr welcomed Japan's efforts toward regional stabilization and stated that the various challenges facing the Middle East are all linked to the Palestinian issue, and that without a just resolution to this issue, stability in the region cannot be achieved. Furthermore, the two Ministers also exchanged views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific Region and concurred to communicate more closely to peacefully resolve regional and global challenges. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministers' Telephone Talk Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan September 2, 2025 On September 2, commencing at 11:00 a.m. local time (5:00 p.m. JST) for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting the State of Kuwait to attend the Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting and other events, held a telephone talk with H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who was unable to attend the meeting due to urgent duties. The overview of the talk is as follows: At the outset, Minister Faisal stated that, due to urgent duties, he was unable to visit Kuwait and attend the Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting but expressed his desire to take this opportunity to exchange views between the two ministers. Minister IWAYA expressed his pleasure at the active high-level exchanges between the two countries on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year and stated his intention to continue close communication. In response, Foreign Minister Faisal stated that the two foreign ministers had meaningful exchanges of views during their two meetings earlier this year on bilateral relations and regional affairs and expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing close communication between them. The two ministers held a candid exchange of views on recent regional developments, including Iran, Gaza, and Syria. On Iran, Minister IWAYA noted the importance of the Gulf countries' calls for restraint and dialogue by both parties during the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran in June of this year. He also stated that Japan would continue its diplomatic efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue. In response, Minister Faisal stated that both countries share the same position of seeking a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue, welcomed Japan's proactive role in stabilizing the region, and expressed his desire to continue close cooperation. On the situation in Gaza, Minister IWAYA emphasized the need to address the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza and reiterated Japan's consistent support for a "Two-State Solution." In response, Minister Faisal expressed his appreciation for Japan's support for Gaza and its consistent support for the "Two-State Solution." On Syria, Minister IWAYA appreciated the Syrian government's stance toward a peaceful transition and stressed the importance of respecting Syria's independence and sovereignty. In response, Minister Faisal also emphasized the importance of encouraging the Syrian government's efforts toward political resolution and national reconciliation through dialogue. The two ministers also exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific situation. The two ministers concurred on continuing close communication in order to further strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in the international arena. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address League Secretary-General calls on Libyan parties to resolve differences through dialogue League of Arab States Date: 02/09/2025 The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions in western Libya, particularly the buildup of military forces near the capital, Tripoli. He stressed that the League is closely following developments, warning that the continuation of this course could risk dragging the country back into conflict, with grave consequences for Libya's security and unity. Gamal Roshdi, the Secretary-General's official spokesperson, quoted Mr. Aboul Gheit as urging all parties to de-escalate and resolve their differences through dialogue, noting that the resort to violence will only deepen divisions. Mr. Aboul Gheit called on all parties to engage earnestly in negotiation processes, reaffirming the League of Arab States' readiness to continue fostering intra-Libyan dialogue in cooperation with regional and international partners, in a manner that strengthens stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar: Death, destruction and desperation mirror 2017 atrocities - UN report UNOHCHR Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 02 September 2025 GENEVA -- A report published on Tuesday by the UN Human Rights Office said the worsening crisis in Myanmar, particularly Rakhine State, provides a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by the military in 2017, pointing to increased killings, torture, razing of villages, and mass forced displacement. Between the 2021 military coup and 20 August 2025, credible sources have verified the killing of some 7,100 people by the military, of whom about a third were women and children. At least 29,560 people have been arrested on political grounds and over 22,000 remain in detention without respect for fair trial and judicial guarantees in military-controlled courts. Since the escalation of hostilities in Rakhine, hundreds of thousands more people have been displaced, the report says. The United Nations estimates some 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since November 2023, joining nearly one million already taking refuge there. "Civilians from both Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine communities continue to suffer the consequences of the hostilities, with widespread and systematic patterns of indiscriminate attacks by the military against civilians and protected objects, forced displacement, forced recruitment, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, arson and property destruction, denial of humanitarian assistance, and repeated atrocities aimed at terrorizing them," said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk. "The military and the Arakan Army have acted with near complete impunity enabling the recurrence of violations in an endless cycle of suffering for the civilian population. Videos and pictures show death, destruction and desperation, distressingly similar to images that we already saw during the 2017 atrocities committed by the military against the Rohingya. It pains me deeply to see the same happening again." In light of the ongoing violations of international law and the prevailing impunity, the High Commissioner reiterates his previous calls for a full referral of the Myanmar situation to the International Criminal Court by the Security Council. The report, which covers the 14 months up until 31 May 2025, finds that nearly half of all civilian deaths throughout the country -- 838 out of 1,811 - were reportedly the result of direct military aerial attacks. Additionally, it identifies two alarming new trends: 26 allegations of the use of chemicals, including fertilizers, attached to explosive devices, in six states and regions; and the use of armed paramotors, low-flying tactical aircraft that are used to drop munitions almost entirely on civilian locations. The report examines in detail four incidents involving grave violations, including the targeting of civilian's homes, villages, schools and camps for displaced people. In one of the incidents, on 12 May 2025, an airstrike struck a school killing 24 civilians, including 16 girls, six boys, and two female teachers. According to one witness all four classrooms were destroyed except the roof of the last room. Analysis of pictures and videos received by the UN Human Rights Office corroborated witness accounts. Sources indicate that the military has regularly targeted public administration sites, including schools, with the effect of instilling fear in the public, the report says. There was already an established pattern of over 640 instances of military attacks against schools since 2021. Despite calls by the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for de-escalation of violence, the attacks on civilians continue in violation international of human rights and humanitarian law. The report says that even after declaring a unilateral ceasefire following the earthquake in March 2025, the military reportedly launched over 550 attacks, and killed over 480 people, on top of the nearly 4,000 deaths from the earthquake itself. While not comparable in scale, scope, intensity and brutality with violations committed by the army, the report also raises concerns about abuses perpetrated by anti-military groups. As the Arakan Army has taken control of northern Rakhine, they have carried out killings, forced recruitment, forced displacement, disappearances, arrests, burnings, extortions, looting and occupation of properties, causing hundreds of deaths and suffering, it finds. At the same time, food insecurity continues to rise, linked to the armed conflict, economic instability, and natural disasters. In 2025, an estimated 15.2 million people, nearly a third of the country's population, were projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, a sharp increase from 13.3 million in 2024. "It is past time for Myanmar's people finally to see meaningful action taken to end this wanton violence against them and the immediate provision of humanitarian aid especially for populations that have suffered violence, hunger, displacement for years and were denied humanitarian assistance by the military," said Turk. "Humanitarian funding is urgently required to meet these needs, and I implore Member States to act to hold the parties to their obligations to allow help to reach those in need, and to support international efforts to hold those responsible for violations of international law to account." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting between the President of Azerbaijan and and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Prime Miinister's Office - Islamic Republic of Pakistan September 01, 2025 Tianjin: 1 September, 2025 Meeting between the President of Azerbaijan and and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with H.E. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) being convened in Tianjin, China from 31 August to 01 September 2025. The Prime Minister congratulated President Aliyev on the signing of the historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, marking a significant step towards lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus. The two leaders reviewed full spectrum of bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, education, and people-to-people exchanges and expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations. Both leaders underscored the value of regional connectivity projects and enhanced cooperation under multilateral frameworks, including the SCO, to promote regional prosperity and integration. They also shared perspectives on emerging global challenges and agreed to maintain close coordination in relevant international fora. The President of Azerbaijan expressed his sorrow on the loss of precious lives and property in the on-going floods across Pakistan and said that the Government and people of Azerbaijan are standing shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan in this need of hour. The Prime Minister also invited President Aliyev to visit Pakistan soon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in an address to the SCO (Plus), held in Tianjin, China, Prime Miinister's Office - Islamic Republic of Pakistan September 01, 2025 Tianjin: 1 September 2025. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in an address to the SCO (Plus), held in Tianjin, China, praised and expressed Pakistan's resolve to support President Xi Jinping's landmark announcement to launch the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). He declared it to a historic step, towards a stronger multilateral system. The initiative aligns with the UN Charter, and will help make the global governance system more responsive to the needs of developing countries, and address contemporary challenges facing humanity he added, expressing Pakistan's willingness to actively participate in the initiative. The Prime Minister congratulated the Chinese President, H.E Xi Jinping for the successful conduct of SCO Summit and appreciated The Tianjin Declaration that he hoped will foster the shared goal of peace and prosperity in the region He also reiterated Pakistan's resolve to uphold the golden principles enshrined in the SCO Charter and "Shanghai Spirit" by advancing peace,development and connectivity. The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in the current climate crises whereby, underdeveloped countries like Pakistan are being constantly facing climate change induced disasters, even though their share in global emissions is less than only 1%. He stressed that the global leadership needs to shoulder the burden, further inaction will lead to more loss of life and livelihood. The Prime Minister also emphasised Pakistan's preference of dialogue over conflict and resolution of all disputes through peaceful means. He, on this occasion, not only condemned the heinous crimes of Israel against the innocent Palestinians in Gaza, but also called for the immediate ceasefire in the region with the resolution of this dispute according to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. The Prime Minister welcomed Laos People's Democratic Republic, for joining the SCO family as a Dialogue Partner. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Prime Minister of Pakistan meets with the President of China Prime Miinister's Office - Islamic Republic of Pakistan September 02, 2025 Beijing : 2 September, 2025 The Prime Minister of Pakistan meets with the President of China Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on an official visit to China, met His Excellency President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, earlier today. During their most warm and extremely cordial meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment and resolve to further strengthen the iron-clad, all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China. The Prime Minister congratulated President Xi Jinping on the success of the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Tianjin and offered his felicitations on the 80th anniversary of World's Anti-Fascist War. While lauding President Xi Jinping for his visionary and transformational leadership that has inspired China's remaining journey towards modernization and progress, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan took great pride in China's achievements and would always stand ready to work together with China in this great journey. The Prime Minister appreciated China's unflinching support to Pakistan's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and socio-economic development. He lauded the significance of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor as a flagship project of President Xi's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and reaffirmed the desire to continue working closely with China for the successful implementation of the next phase of upgraded CPEC, with its five new corridors. This would help both countries to build an even stronger Pakistan-China community with a shared future. The Prime Minister hailed President Xi Jinping's strong commitment to strengthen multilateralism and said Pakistan fully supported President Xi's landmark steps in this regard including the Global Governance Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative as well as Global Civilization Initiative. These initiatives, the Prime Minister said, would serve the collective global good and contribute to regional as well as global peace, stability and development. President Xi said that China would continue to assist Pakistan in all fields of economic growth and development, especially as the two countries are now ushering in the second Phase of CPEC that would focus on Pakistan's most important economic sectors. Both leaders agreed that the relationship between their countries was unique and unparalleled and this should be reflected in their enhance bilateral cooperation. Both leaders also discussed important regional and global developments and agreed to continue close cooperation between Pakistan and China in this regard. Availing himself of the opportunity, the Prime Minister renewed his most cordial invitation to President Xi Jinping to undertake an official visit to Pakistan next year, when both countries would celebrate the 75th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic ties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address During early hours of 2 September 2025, in a cowardly terrorist attack, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij targeted Federal Constabulary Headquarters in Bannu District. Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan Rawalpindi - September 02, 2025 No PR-273/2025-ISPR During early hours of 2 September 2025, in a cowardly terrorist attack, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij targeted Federal Constabulary Headquarters in Bannu District. The Indian sponsored Kharjis attempted to breach the perimeter security, however, their nefarious designs were swiftly foiled by the vigilant and resolute response by own troops. In their desperation, the Kahrjis rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall. The suicide blast resulted in the partial collapse of the perimeter wall and damage to adjacent civilian infrastructure inflicting injuries to three innocent civilians. Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, own troops engaged the Kharjis with precision and eliminated all five khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij. However, in this intense exchange of fire, Six brave soldiers belonging to Federal Constabulary and Pakistan Army, after putting up a heroic fight, embraced martyrdom in the line of duty. The clearance operation in the area would continue and perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act will be brought to justice. The security forces of Pakistan in step with nation remain steadfast in their resolve to eradicate Indian sponsored terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers and innocent civilians further strengthen our unwavering commitment of safeguarding our nation at all costs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia-China talks Russia-China talks took place in the Great Hall of the People. September 2, 2025 11:00 Beijing The agenda included further strengthening and promoting the comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between Russia and China, practical cooperation between the countries, and global and regional issues, as well as cooperation on multilateral platforms. The Russian side was represented at the talks by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Russian Co-Chair of the Russia-China Intergovernmental Commission on Investment Cooperation Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Russia-China Commission for Preparing Regular Meetings of the Heads of Government Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office - Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, the ministers of agriculture, culture, healthcare, transport, economic development, finance, energy, and the development of the Far East and the Arctic, the Central Bank Governor, the heads of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision, the Russian Association of Fertiliser Producers, Sberbank, VTB Bank, State Development Corporation VEB.RF, and state corporations Rosatom, Roscosmos and Rostec, as well as major business leaders. A package of documents was signed during the official visit of the President of Russia to the People's Republic of China. In particular, memoranda of cooperation were signed between the relevant authorities in the following areas: the digital transformation of healthcare; the establishment of Russian-Chinese pilot and demonstration zones for agricultural cooperation in the Russian Far East; strategic cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and the integration of the Russian scientific instrument, the Lunar Dust Monitor, into China's Chang'e-7 spacecraft mission. Additionally, a roadmap was signed for implementing the Unified Development Concept for Bolshoi Ussuriysky Island; a Strategic Cooperation Agreement between Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation; and protocols between the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control (Russian Federation) and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China. A number of documents pertain to cooperation in higher education and science, particularly agreements on establishing a Russian-Chinese Institute for Fundamental Research and the joint financing of scientific research projects. Several agreements were also signed concerning collaboration between major Russian and Chinese media outlets. Later, the leaders continued their discussions at the Zhongnanhai residence. * * * President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping (retranslated): My longtime friend, I am very glad to see you in Beijing again. Just yesterday, we participated in the SCO summit in Tianjin. Tomorrow, you, Mr President, and I, as well as heads of state, representatives of international organisations and honoured guests from five continents, will be solemnly celebrating the 80th anniversary of victory of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. From May 9 to September 3, we are attending each other's celebrations of victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. This has become a good tradition in bilateral relations, and also convincingly demonstrates the great responsibility of China and Russia as the main victorious countries in World War II and permanent members of the UN Security Council, and shows firm determination of the two countries to uphold the outcomes of World War II and its historical truth. Chinese-Russian relations have withstood the test of international climate and stand as a model of interstate relations, good-neighbourliness, friendship, comprehensive strategic partnership, mutually beneficial cooperation and shared success. Working resolutely under our guidance over the past few years in the spirit of our proclaimed goals, China and Russia have achieved substantial results in their bilateral cooperation. We are ready to continue supporting each other in our national development and prosperity, to steadfastly uphold international justice and equality, and to advance the establishment of a more just and rational system of global governance. Thank you. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, my dear friend, The Russian delegation and I personally are delighted to meet with our Chinese friends and colleagues again. I would like to thank you for the warm welcome extended to our delegation. Our close communication reflects the strategic nature of Russian-Chinese ties, which have reached an unprecedented level. This came fully to light during your May visit to Russia and your participation in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Tomorrow, festive celebrations of the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II will be held in Beijing, which we will jointly attend. As you have said just now, there may be rain, but it will not dampen our festive mood, and the Chinese armed forces will hold this solemn event as effectively as usual. Our decision to jointly celebrate the anniversary of the Great Victory in Moscow and Beijing, as we did ten years ago in 2015, carries special significance. It is a tribute to the heroism of our nations, the people of Russia and China during World War II, a reaffirmation of the key role our countries played in the European and Asian theatres of war, and a testament to our shared commitment to defending historical truth and justice. Our ancestors, fathers and grandfathers paid an enormous price for peace and freedom. We do not forget this - we remember. It is the foundation, the bedrock of our achievements today and in the future. We vividly remember our cooperation in the 1930s and in 1945. The memory of our combat brotherhood, of trust, mutual assistance, and our resolute protection of our common interests laid the groundwork for the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China in the new era. We stood together then, and we stand together now. Thank you for the invitation. I am confident that our consultations on current issues and long-term plans will be held at the highest level as well. Thank you very much. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic Vladimir Putin met with President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, who is attending the ceremonial events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the War of Resistance against Japan and the conclusion of World War II. September 2, 2025 16:10 Beijing The Russian delegation included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Economic Development and Chairman of the Russian side of the Intergovernmental Russian-Serbian Committee on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation Maxim Reshetnikov, and Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, General Director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, I am very pleased to see you and recall our previous meeting in Moscow. I am glad to have the opportunity to meet again on the sidelines of tomorrow's events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Our strategic partnership is mutually beneficial and delivers positive results for both Russia and Serbia. Last year, trade experienced a certain decline; however, this year we are seeing positive momentum, and our goal is to consolidate and build upon it. Our respective departments maintain regular and productive cooperation, working intensively and achieving tangible results. As I understand it, the next meeting of the Committee on Trade and Economic Relations is scheduled for later this year in Belgrade. We are, of course, both ready and eager to continue our joint efforts in these areas. We recognise and respect the independent foreign policy that Serbia is pursuing under your leadership. I am pleased to have the opportunity today to discuss both bilateral and regional issues, as we always do when we meet in person. It is a pleasure to see you again. President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic: Mr President, I am very glad to see you. Thank you very much for this opportunity to meet with you today. I would like to thank you once again for the cordial hospitality and warm welcome in Moscow on May 9. Also, I would like to express my enormous gratitude to you personally for respecting and supporting Serbia's territorial integrity and for your friendliness towards Serbian people. The high level of cooperation with Russia across all areas is very important to Serbia. I hope we will be able not only to maintain but also to deepen and expand this cooperation. The energy sector and gas supplies to Serbia are vitally important to us. Thanks to the construction of a pipeline to Hungary, we will be able to move forward in our own energy development. I would like to say welcome to all Russian companies that would like to participate in Serbia's infrastructure projects, including Russian Railways, Rosatom and many others. I should inform you, Mr President, that since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, Serbia has been in a very challenging situation and under extreme pressure. Despite that, we have been able to stand by our principled position and defend Serbia's independence. Currently, we are the only country in Europe that has not imposed any sanctions on the Russian Federation. Of course, we will continue to maintain our military neutrality. I will carefully listen to your advice and proposals regarding the development of our relations in the future. Thank you for the warm welcome. I am confident that we can strengthen and elevate Serbia-Russia relations to a highest level. Thank you once again for the hospitality here in Beijing, China. Thank you very much. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico Vladimir Putin met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has arrived in China to take part in the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the War of Resistance against Japan and the end of World War II. September 2, 2025 12:40 Beijing Attending the meeting on the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office - Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev, and Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, colleagues. We are happy to see you here. I recall your visit to Moscow and would like to thank you once again for joining us then and sharing in the emotions linked to the Victory in the Second World War and the struggle against Nazism. Now, we meet again in Beijing at similar commemorative events dedicated to the final conclusion of World War II. We greatly appreciate the independent foreign policy that you and your government are pursuing, which is yielding positive results, most notably in economic terms. In this context, I would like to emphasise that Russia remains a reliable supplier of energy resources. Furthermore, several Slovak companies continue to operate successfully in the Russian market, which, in my view, also benefits the Slovak economy as a whole. Nevertheless, we continue to face challenging conditions due to various external restrictions. At one time, our trade turnover reached 10 billion dollars, if calculated in dollar terms; today, it has fallen to less than 4 percent of that figure. There are, however, some positive developments, and I hope we will be able to strengthen and sustain these trends. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to meet with you again here in Beijing, on the sidelines of the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico (retranslated): Thank you, Mr President. First, I have a somewhat unpleasant question - how are you? Vladimir Putin: If I am alive, that is already a good sign. A pleasant question, indeed. Robert Fico: I would like to express my gratitude for the hospitality extended to our delegation during the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. It was truly impressive for all of us, and believe me, I have no regrets about coming. I refuse to go along with the criticism coming from certain EU members, because I have it all sorted out in my head, and I know that the peoples of the former Soviet Union and China paid the highest price for victory. Thank you again for your excellent hospitality. Mr President, I would like to reiterate that as far as World War II is concerned, Slovakia's policy is to honour all victims. We have respect for all victims and we will continue to cooperate with your embassy in matters of tending to military cemeteries. We have a joint project in the town of Michalovce. We are unable to keep up with your pace. However, rest assured that all the commitments we have assumed will come to fruition throughout Slovakia. We have great respect for the monuments and military cemeteries. You can fully rely on us in this regard. Mr President, I would like to present you with a good message. You are aware that we are a member of the European Union and NATO. We consider our membership our living space. I am not one of those politicians, Mr President, who will make up tall tales. I speak frankly and openly. Of course, our opinions on issues vary. We discussed this during my visit to Moscow and here as well. This will probably make the media members laugh, but I started telling your press secretary a story about a frog or a toad. Occasionally, I have an impression that we in the European Union are like this toad that sits at the bottom of a well and does not see what is going on high on the surface. But the world has completely changed. Sometimes, I feel very disappointed to see the European Union, even though I have a lot of respect for it, unable to respond to what is happening around the world, and I do not understand some of the EU decisions. That is why I want to be candid at this meeting and make it clear that we are very interested in standardising relations between the Slovak Republic and the Russian Federation. I suggest convening a meeting or a session of the joint commission as soon as possible. We must look for the opportunities to deepen and expand our cooperation, and to identify areas where we can work closely together. With regard to gas supplies via the TurkStream, the volumes are gradually increasing, we are very close to 4 billion cubic metres. We react strongly to attacks on oil infrastructure. On Friday, I will meet with the President of Ukraine in the city of Uzhgorod, and I will raise this issue very seriously. This infrastructure is very important to us and cannot be attacked. You are probably aware of the European Commission's decision regarding RePowerEU, that is, the suspension of gas and oil transport beginning in 2027. We will vote against this decision in the European Union. I am sure a lot can change before January 1, 2028, and RePowerEU may not be operational by that time, because we find it exceedingly harmful. We wish to continue our cooperation in the energy sector and remain interested in Russian gas and oil supplies. At the same time, we are also eager to explore collaboration in other areas. I can confirm that the Slovak Republic plans to build a new state-owned reactor with a capacity of 1,100 megawatts. We are currently in discussions with the American company Westinghouse. As you know, all of Slovakia's existing reactors are of Soviet or Russian design, and nuclear energy accounts for more than half of the country's electricity consumption. I would be very pleased to see Russian-American cooperation in this field, and it would be beneficial to engage with Westinghouse on such a project. Therefore, if you agree, Mr President, we could schedule a meeting of the joint commission. We are already organising certain events, and, being in the Schengen area, it can be somewhat complicated for Russian citizens, but I see no reason why we should not be able to cooperate. Mr President, I do not have a specific message to deliver today. On many issues concerning the military conflict in Ukraine, my positions differ significantly from those of our Western colleagues. I would like to ask if I may convey a message from you to our colleagues. Your recent actions regarding the meeting with the US President represent a significant step forward, and I would like to receive more detailed information about our current position and what we might expect going forward. Mr President, of course, I face criticism for being here in Beijing and for holding this meeting. Naturally, many will call and ask what President Putin said. It would be valuable if we could exchange information on this matter. Thank you once again. I am very pleased to meet with you and to see our relations developing steadily, step by step. I would also like to note that the European Union faces an important decision regarding Ukraine's potential membership. On one hand, we affirm that every country has the right to determine its own future; on the other hand, we stress that Ukraine must meet all the criteria required for EU accession. I expect this to be an important topic, which I plan to discuss with President Zelensky on Friday. While we support Ukraine in this matter, I want to emphasise - as I have stated from the very beginning - that Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO. This is my final decision. However, regarding EU accession, we are ready to cooperate with Ukraine. Thank you once again. I believe I have raised several topics that we can discuss. Thank you. Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, As we know, Slovakia is a member of both the EU and NATO, and hence you can afford to criticise their policies because it is your community, your family today. I do not wish to put you in a difficult or ambiguous position by criticising NATO or the European Union. I do not want to compare them to reptiles or animals. They are not experts on fairy tales; they are experts on horror stories. What we see now are never-ending attempts to fuel hysteria over Russia's alleged intention to attack Europe. I believe that reasonable people dismiss this as an obvious provocation or total incompetence, because any reasonable person understands perfectly well that Russia has never had, does not have and will never have any desire to attack anyone. The conflict in Ukraine, as I have stated on numerous occasions, including at the SCO meetings just now, did not happen because of our aggressive behaviour. The reason for it is the West's encouragement of the state coup in Ukraine. Incidentally, even though senior officials from three states - Poland, France and Germany - put down their signatures as guarantors of an agreement between the authorities and the opposition in Ukraine in 2014, a state coup was carried out several days later, and those who guaranteed the agreement between the opposition and the president did not raise a finger to return the political process in Ukraine to the constitutional framework. Instead, they supported those who staged the coup. That is how this conflict began. After that the situation came to a head in Crimea and in southeast Ukraine, in Donbass. This is the essence of the conflict. As for Russia, it had to protect its interests and the people who linked their lives and their future to the Russian Federation, to Russia, our history and traditions. This is the essence and the root cause of the conflict. It did not happen because of our aggressive behaviour, but because of the aggressive conduct on the other side. We have no goals other than to protect our interests. Because the other side of the coin is that NATO is being used as an instrument for taking over virtually all of the post-Soviet space. We had to respond to that. That is the problem. My recent contacts with President Trump and the US administration in Anchorage have shown that the new administration listens to us. We expressed our concerns during our contacts with the previous administration, with President Biden, but nobody wanted to listen and nobody wanted to hear. But we can see the possibility of mutual understanding now. We are very pleased about this, and we hope that this constructive dialogue will continue. Regarding Russia's "aggressive plans" towards Europe, I would like to emphasise once again that this is complete nonsense without any basis whatsoever. Now, regarding attacks on energy infrastructure, in particular, by Ukraine. For a long time, even a couple of years ago, we did not take any actions concerning civilian infrastructure, especially during the winter period. We tolerated for a very long time while Ukrainian forces continuously attacked our energy facilities. After that, we began to strike back. And we are responding, of course, seriously, that is true. In response, the Ukrainian side is trying to cause damage to us, but in doing so, they are causing damage to our partners as well. What can I say? After all, Ukraine receives a sizable portion of energy through its neighbours in Eastern Europe. Cut off gas supplies that come via reverse flow, cut off electricity supplies, and they will instantly come to realise that there are certain limits to their behaviour in violating others' interests. Speaking of nuclear power plants, the choice, of course, always remains with the customer. We have extensive experience cooperating with our foreign partners, including European partners. In particular, this applies to our joint work in Hungary. We can consider the possibility of cooperating with Westinghouse the way you are suggesting as well. Also, by the way - I mention this in passing - we can cooperate with our US partners at the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant as well. We have indirectly discussed these matters with them. The same, by the way, applies to the Ukrainian side. Should favourable circumstances present themselves - we have discussed this with our US colleagues - we can even work on the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant as a group of three. This does not really concern Slovakia, but it is a prerequisite for us to carry out joint projects in the Slovak market as well. Even though our company Rosatom is a good and reliable partner for our colleagues in Slovakia. Not only does the nuclear power plant of Soviet-Russian design operate properly, but the fuel supply also continues regularly, on an uninterrupted and unfaltering basis. By the way, it would be a wrong move to replace our fuel with foreign-made fuel, fuel from another manufacturer, from a third country, because there are technical specifications. I think it is inadvisable to do so, but you can always discuss it at the specialist level. With regard to Ukraine's EU membership, we have never objected to it. NATO is a different matter where we are dealing with security of the Russian Federation. And not only today, not in the medium term, but in the long term. Our position is well-known: we consider this unacceptable. Naturally, it is up to Ukraine to ensure its security. But this security, as was stated in the fundamental documents, including those in the sphere of security in Europe, cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of other countries, particularly at the expense of the Russian Federation. There are options to ensure Ukraine's security in the event of the conflict coming to an end. We discussed this in Anchorage as well, and I think we can achieve consensus here. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko Vladimir Putin met with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing. September 2, 2025 18:45 Beijing President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko, even though we are, like you said, 7,000 kilometres away from our respective countries, no matter where we meet, we always find something to talk about and we always need to meet and talk, which is quite interesting. Just now, I was discussing with some of our colleagues... President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: We were watching. Vladimir Putin: And I told one of our colleagues (I will say more about that later) that, all things considered, our trade and economic relations are doing quite well, but our trade with Belarus exceeds $50 billion. Russia does not have that many trade partners with trade volumes like that. Alexander Lukashenko: I think we are in the fourth place. Vladimir Putin: Yes, maybe. What do I mean by this? I mean that our meetings are not in vain. This is, after all, the result of our joint work. This is excellent. I am very glad to see you. We just worked together, literally yesterday, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Tomorrow we will attend a parade to celebrate victory, which marked the end of World War II. This is also our common cause, in this particular case, we did it in conjunction with our Chinese friends. This is an opportunity for us to discuss bilateral relations. I am very glad to have it. Alexander Lukashenko: Mr Putin, thank you for inviting me to your home. Even though in China, it is still your home. It took us a while to get here, though. It turns out we live close to one another, just a hundred metres away. I am glad to meet with you and to discuss a number of issues pertaining to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, among others. I always acknowledge this and emphasise that thanks to you and the People's Republic of China, we are the only European country in this family. Vladimir Putin: Slovakia? Alexander Lukashenko: They are not members yet [of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]. Vladimir Putin: Well, they came for the event. Alexander Lukashenko: No, I am talking about European SCO members. That is why this is critically important for us. We had the opportunity to speak with all the presidents, even Prime Minister [of India] Narendra Modi. We have not seen each other in a while, so we had an exchange and talked. This is also very important. You understand that no country can replace Russia for us, so it is crucial that we have this meeting today. I am aware that you supported China's initiative on global governance. Vladimir Putin: It is a good initiative. Alexander Lukashenko: It is, indeed. The most important thing is equality, as always, and justice. I just met with the leadership, representatives of the Chinese leadership, as well. The only thing I mentioned at the end [of the meeting] is that most importantly China should not off-ramp and abandon this initiative, but stick to it. You know, sometimes they grow big, and then get afflicted with globalism. China said, "No way, this is our fourth initiative, and we will follow it religiously." As for the parade, they were in Moscow, where we celebrated our Victory together. Of course, no matter how difficult it could be, we had to be here. And we are thankful for being invited to this parade. More than three dozen heads of state will attend. True, it will be hot: almost 40 degrees. Even you will feel the heat. I am already wondering how we will stand in this sun. Well, they say everything will be all right there. As for bilateral relations, it is surprising that we have, as I reviewed this yesterday, almost no issues, even fewer than Russia has with China. Although today we identified three problems with China, which I will tell you about later. We are ready to move forward in this direction. I would like to congratulate you on having an excellent meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska. We applauded you - both sides, because there is no need to say that one has won and the other lost - no, you worked great together. I looked at the Ukraine issue: they have nothing to counter. They only shout in the West: "Bad, bad." Well, things are always bad with them. I think they will also become wiser and join the initiatives that you outlined with the US President. We are working together on all fronts, as you know, and we will carry on. When the US President called, we discussed this issue, and I said: we are one country. In fact, Russia is fighting alone, but we support it as best we can and will continue to do so, and I am saying this publicly. This is a disaster. Time will tell who is right and who is guilty. Many will also thank us, especially in Europe, that once again, in this difficult time, we are working to stop Nazism, which could otherwise deteriorate into fascism. Therefore, Mr Putin, we will fulfill our role and mission together up to the end. Vladimir Putin: You said that no one can replace Russia for Belarus. I want to say in response that no one can replace Belarus for Russia either. We have very close interstate relations, and good personal relations with you as well, though that may not be the most important thing. What truly matters is that the results of our joint work are clear, as I have already said. From the standpoint of economic growth, and even structural improvement of the economy, we are accomplishing a lot, and doing it quite effectively. There are many promising areas for cooperation, primarily industrial cooperation. We will probably discuss this in more detail. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif The President had a conversation with Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif. September 2, 2025 14:20 Beijing On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office - Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut, Minister of Transport Andrei Nikitin, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Minister of Energy and Co-Chair of the Russian-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation Sergei Tsivilev, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, and Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, colleagues. It is a genuine pleasure to see you. Last time we met was a year ago on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Astana. Notably, Pakistan remains our traditional partner in Asia. We value our relations. I would like to point out that during our previous meeting, we agreed to step up our relations, and indeed, some progress has been made. However, unfortunately, due to a number of objective circumstances, our trade is down albeit by a very small margin. Nevertheless, this is a telling sign for us to address this matter and to work on it. Unfortunately, Pakistan continues to face natural disasters. We worked together, sat at the same table during the SCO session, and you told us about them. We very much hope that under your leadership your country will overcome these difficulties and challenges. We extend our deepest condolences to the people of Pakistan in connection with the devastating floods. You recently told me about them. We continue to cooperate through inter-parliamentary channels. Interaction is going on uninterrupted. We cooperate on international platforms. Pakistan is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and we are also working day in and day out on this most important platform. Mr Prime Minister, Russia has SCO events at the level of heads of government planned for November. We will be delighted to see you in Moscow, if your schedule allows for a visit. Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif: Thank you very much, Your Excellency President Vladimir Putin, for sparing your precious time for this meeting. We are meeting, as you said rightly, after [our meeting in] Astana last July, and I can say with a sense of confidence that together we have been making very serious and sincere efforts to promote our bilateral relations, particularly in the field of trade. Last year, our trade had a spike. We imported oil from Russia, and that led to an increase in our bilateral trade. Our relations have been on the rise in the past years, but due to your personal commitment and interest - and I must say that I am also very keen to strengthen our bilateral relations - I think we are moving in the right direction. After our meeting in Astana, there has been flurry of visits of delegations between the two countries. Your honourable deputy prime minister went to Islamabad; Russian delegations visited Pakistan; and our delegations visited last year. Recently we signed protocols in terms of how to promote our cooperation in the field of agriculture, in the field of iron and steel, energy, transport, and the corridor from Belarus, and then Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. I think this is a very important corridor. Your Excellency, I think that all this put together reflects, beyond any way of doubt, a very keen commitment on your part and our part to build our relations. Thank you very much for your invitation to visit your great country. I will be very happy to be there, because I have not been in your country for ages. So, I must go to Moscow and refresh my good memories of my younger days. Your Excellency, I would like to also thank you for supporting Pakistan and trying to have a balancing act in the region. I know and I must say that we respect your relationship with India - that is perfectly fine - but we also want to build very strong relations, and these relations will be supplementary and complimentary for the good, and for the progress and prosperity of the region. I find in you a very dynamic leader, and I want to assure you but like to work with you very closely. Vladimir Putin: Thank you. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping and President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh The leaders of Russia, China and Mongolia held a trilateral meeting in Beijing. September 2, 2025 06:15 Beijing Beginning of the conversation with President of China Xi Jinping and President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh President of China Xi Jinping (retranslated): President Putin, President Khurelsukh. I am delighted to hold the seventh trilateral meeting of the leaders of China, Russia and Mongolia in Beijing, and to summarise the outcomes of our trilateral cooperation, outlining plans for the future. The trilateral cooperation between China, Russia and Mongolia has developed steadily under our shared leadership over the past years, yielding substantial results. We are successfully implementing the mid-term trilateral cooperation roadmap, consistently expanding trilateral trade and deepening cooperation across trade, the economy, science, technology, and cultural and humanitarian projects. Joint flagship projects under the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor programme have injected fresh momentum into our trilateral cooperation, and China highly values these efforts. As the Chinese saying goes, a fence needs three stakes, and a hero needs three helpers. As we are friendly neighbours connected by shared mountains, rivers and a common destiny, China stands ready to deepen mutual political trust with Russia and Mongolia, uphold the original purpose of our cooperation and overcome external obstacles, working together towards a higher quality of collaboration. I would like to pass the floor to President Putin. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: President Xi, President Khurelsukh. First of all, I would like to thank Mr President and our Chinese friends for their hospitality and for organising this trilateral meeting. It has been quite some time since we last met in this format. Today's meeting was arranged at the initiative of the President of the People's Republic of China. Thank you for this. Let me emphasise that Russia sincerely strives for the comprehensive development of mutually beneficial, equal and multifaceted relations with both the People's Republic of China and Mongolia. At the same time, we believe it is important that successful bilateral cooperation be supplemented and acquire new facets through a trilateral format of interaction. This is quite natural, because our three countries have much in common. We share an interest in the joint development of political, economic and humanitarian ties. Most importantly, Russia, China, and Mongolia are good neighbours, and our peoples are united by long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual support. I am confident that our conversation today will be traditionally candid and substantive, and we will touch on the main areas of our trilateral cooperation, and discuss our near- and medium-term plans. Thank you. President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh (retranslated): President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, members of the delegations! Greetings to all of you. I express my deep gratitude to our Chinese colleagues for the successful organisation of the 7th meeting of the heads of state of Mongolia, the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation in Beijing. Mongolia has consistently made efforts to deepen bilateral and trilateral relations and cooperation with its eternal neighbours and comprehensive strategic partners China and Russia in all areas of activity, as well as to expand mutually beneficial interaction and cooperation. This year, we solemnly mark a significant date, which is the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the stoppage of the fire of that war, and victory of the Chinese people over the Japanese invasion. This holiday is celebrated by the peoples of Mongolia, China, and Russia. This meeting of the heads of state of the three countries takes on special historical significance, since it coincides with the celebration of this great common victory. It is gratifying to note that the peoples of our three countries have always been united in their desire to preserve historical memory, to prevent distortion of historical truth, and to objectively convey to future generations the significance of our common victory and the consequences of this war. Over the past decade and more, our trilateral cooperation has significantly expanded under the leadership of the three countries' heads of state. We have achieved tangible results in developing the Economic Corridor, which deserves high praise. In 2022, in Samarkand, we reached an agreement to extend this programme for another five years. Additionally, in November 2024, the parties approved an updated list of 33 projects under this programme. I would also like to express my satisfaction with our agreement to extend the programme until 2031, for five more years. I believe this creates more realistic conditions for the practical implementation of the Economic Corridor programme. The programme aims to bring tangible benefits to the three nations while also expanding our mutual links and cooperation and ensuring real economic growth. In the context of this goal, it is important to develop feasibility assessments for the projects under the Economic Corridor programme and create effective implementation mechanisms. I would like to highlight that Mongolia attaches particular importance to the joint projects in such areas as Economic Corridor infrastructure development, transport, logistics, energy and trade. At Mongolia's initiative, the heads of government of the three countries held their first successful meeting in 2024 in Islamabad. They reached an agreement in principle to hold the next meeting this year in the Russian Federation. We are confident that this meeting of our three heads of government will be instrumental in translating the agreements reached at the highest level into concrete action and in coordinating our respective national development strategies and programmes. I would like to note that last June, Mongolia signed an Interim Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. I wish you a successful meeting of the heads of state. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Seals Deal On Power Of Siberia 2 And Soyuz Vostok Pipelines Sputnik News 20250902 China, Russia and Mongolia are strengthening trade, economic, technological and cultural cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a memorandum for the construction of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline and the Soyuz Vostok transit pipeline through Mongolia, Russia's Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller confirmed. Supplies through Power of Siberia will increase from 38 to 44 billion cubic meters per year, after agreements were signed between Gazprom and CNPC. Why Is This Strategically Important? With the Power of Siberia-1 pipeline operating at full capacity, the new project would strengthen Russia's position in Asia. China views this development as a means to bolster its energy security amid ongoing global tensions. Currently, gas flows through the Power of Siberia-1 have already reached the maximum contracted volume of 38 billion cubic meters per year, with deliveries expected to increase by 28% in 2025. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNHCR deputy chief calls for support to end displacement for millions of Syrians UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Press releases 2 September 2025 BEIRUT -- UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements concluded a five-day visit to Lebanon and Syria with a call to the international community to support efforts to bring peace and stability to Syria, and end the displacement and suffering of millions of Syrians. She also called for continued support to countries hosting Syrian refugees, including Lebanon. During her visit, Clements met with Lebanese and Syrian officials, refugees who have recently returned to Syria as well as newly arrived refugees in Lebanon. In the Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon, Syrian refugees contemplating return shared with her their wishes to return, hopes and concerns. Around 850,000 Syrians have crossed back to their country from neighbouring countries since the fall of the Assad government in December. UNHCR has scaled up support to those choosing to return to ensure it is dignified and sustainable, including via the provision of money and transportation. In Lebanon Clements met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Director General of the General Security Major General Hassan Choucair and Minister of Social Affairs Haneen El Sayed. During these meetings, Clements expressed her appreciation for Lebanon's continued generosity in hosting Syrian refugees and committed to further cooperation in supporting the voluntary return of Syrian refugees. From Lebanon, close to 200,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria in 2025, with many more expressing their intention to return in the coming months, especially after Lebanese authorities have temporarily waived exit fees for those who overstayed their residency. Clements also met a group of Syrian refugees who arrived in Lebanon in the past few months after fleeing recent violence in Syria. "It's been a dynamic period where we see both Syrians returning, but also others becoming newly displaced", Clements said. "We count on the international community to continue supporting Lebanon and UNHCR's work here. Millions of Syrian refugees are still in neighboring countries, and the world must not forget about them. Any returns must be voluntary, safe and dignified." In Syria, Clements met with Syria's Social Affairs and Labor Minister, Hind Kabawat, as well as the governors of Homs and Idleb, and recently returning refugees who spoke of their hopes to rebuild their lives back home, and their country. "I saw up-close how people have preserved their will to return, stay and rebuild despite the harsh reality of destruction and lack of services following 14 years of war", Clements said. UNHCR and partners in Syria have expanded support to areas seeing high numbers of returns. During her visit to rural Damascus, in Zibdeen and Maliha villages, Clements visited returnees who received shelter assistance and support to start small businesses. In Maaret Al Nouman in Idleb Governorate, Clements, together with the Governor inaugurated the newly rehabilitated Civil Registry Office supported by UNHCR to facilitate access to documentation for returnees and residents. At the Joussieh border crossing point, where UNHCR provides registration and infrastructure rehabilitation support, she met Syrian refugees crossing backfor the first time in years. "The international community cannot afford to be mere observers, assessing and judging the developments in Syria. They must take an active role supporting stabilization and recovery efforts, helping Syrians rebuild and reshape their country. UNHCR and partners are on the ground doing their part, but there is so much more to be done and the international community's commitment to support such efforts is critical." Since 2024, over 1.2 million Syrians have returned to Syria. Meanwhile, internal returns continue, with 1,763,513 internally displaced people (IDP) returnees since December 2024, including 880,058 individuals who have departed from IDP sites in the north of the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN refugee agency urges support to end displacement for millions of Syrians 2 September 2025 - The international community must support efforts towards peace and stability in Syria and end the displacement of millions - both within and outside the country - who fled years of war and just want to go home. That's the message from Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, speaking on Tuesday after concluding a five-day visit to Lebanon and Syria. "The international community cannot afford to be mere observers, assessing and judging the developments in Syria," she said. "They must take an active role supporting stabilization and recovery efforts, helping Syrians rebuild and reshape their country." Homeward bound More than 1.2 million people have returned to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime last December. Roughly 850,000 have crossed back from Lebanon and elsewhere in the region. UNHCR has scaled up support to those choosing to return, including by providing money and transportation, to ensure the process is dignified and sustainable. Meanwhile, returns continue inside Syria, with more than 1.7 million internally displaced people (IDPs), including just over 880,000 individuals who have departed from IDP sites in the north. Commitment to cooperate During her visit, Ms. Clements met with top government officials, refugees who have recently returned to Syria, and newly arrived refugees in Lebanon. In meetings with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and other cabinet members, she expressed appreciation for continued generosity in hosting Syrian refugees and committed to further cooperation in supporting voluntary returns. Since January, nearly 200,000 Syrian refugees have returned from Lebanon. Many more have indicated that they plan to follow in the coming months, especially after the authorities waived exit fees for those who overstayed their residency. Ms. Clements also met a group of Syrian refugees who arrived in Lebanon in the past few months after fleeing recent violence back home. "It's been a dynamic period where we see both Syrians returning, but also others becoming newly displaced," she said. "We count on the international community to continue supporting Lebanon and UNHCR's work here," she added. "Millions of Syrian refugees are still in neighbouring countries, and the world must not forget about them." Return and rebuild In Syria, Ms. Clements met with Social Affairs Minister Hind Kabawat as well as the governors of Homs and Idleb. She also spoke to recently returned refugees who shared their hopes to rebuild their lives and their country. "I saw up-close how people have preserved their will to return, stay and rebuild despite the harsh reality of destruction and lack of services following 14 years of war," she said. UNHCR and partners have expanded support to areas in Syria that are seeing high numbers of returns. Ms. Clements visited rural Damascus and met returnees who received shelter assistance and support to start small businesses. She also helped inaugurate a newly habilitated civil registry office in Idleb governorate, which the agency supported. She stressed that UNHCR and partners are on the ground in Syria doing their part, "but there is so much more to be done and the international community's commitment to support such efforts is critical." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan's Lai calls for national unity, bolstered defenses against China ROC Central News Agency 09/02/2025 02:06 PM Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te () on Tuesday stressed Taiwan's need for strong defense capabilities and national unity against what he called Beijing's attempts to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, including by increasing military incursions. "Peace comes from the resolve to resist aggression and the strength to defend ourselves," Lai told a gathering of military personnel, including several high-ranking officers in Taipei, describing the current security situation for Taiwan as "increasingly severe." In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has sought to alter the cross-strait status quo by sending military aircraft and vessels near Taiwan for high-intensity operations, while engaging in gray-zone tactics and cognitive warfare against Taiwan, Lai said. China's actions are "not only a threat to Taiwan's democracy and freedom, but also a challenge to the democratic world," he said. His comments were made a day before Chinese authorities are scheduled to hold a grand military parade in Beijing on Wednesday to mark the end of World War II after Japan's surrender, with leaders of Russia, North Korea, and Iran reportedly attending. Taiwan's president highlighted the importance of social solidarity and preparedness, both in military and societal terms, noting that only by cultivating these qualities can "we truly safeguard our nation's sovereignty and democracy." He outlined his administration's measures over the past year to improve servicemen's salaries and benefits while boosting defense spending and investments, as part of broader efforts to strengthen military capabilities. He also thanked military officers, particularly those tasked with guarding Taiwan amid Chinese incursions and sorties near the country's airspace and territorial waters, for "shouldering the responsibility of defending the survival and development of the Republic of China (Taiwan)." (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan should seek to leverage PLA satnav system to counter drone threat: Experts ROC Central News Agency 09/02/2025 10:19 PM Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Taiwan's information and electronic warfare units would play a pivotal role in drone warfare, and they should develop the capability to access the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, a retired Air Force lieutenant general said Tuesday. Electronic warfare usually targets and manipulates the electromagnetic spectrum to control information flow, with belligerents trying to maintain control, retired Air Force Lieutenant General Andy Hu () said at the seminar that discussed threats posed by the PLA and Taiwan's possible response. Rather than deploying missiles against enemy drones, belligerents are therefore more likely to resort to information and electronic warfare, said Hu, who formerly served as Taiwan's deputy chief of general staff for intelligence. "If we have the money, we can certainly buy attack drones. But the ability to disrupt, deceive, lure, and divert enemy drones is, in my view, something we must urgently develop right now," he said at the seminar hosted by the Taiwan Thinktank. Army Logistics Command Information Center Director Wang Ching-an () said during his presentation that the PLA is now reportedly capable of disrupting the Starlink satellite constellation. China claimed that it developed that capability in 2024, after investing considerable resources in the effort, which was allegedly spurred by its failure to track the flight carrying then United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her visit to Taiwan in August 2022, Wang said. Hu argued that Taiwan's understanding of China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which guides PLA drones, and its ability to leverage the BDS in the event of a war is "a serious matter that we need to consider right now." Speaking with CNA on the sidelines of the event, Hu said that gaining access to the BDS would confuse PLA drones as they would identify Taiwanese drones as their own. In addition, Taiwanese drones could use the BDS for navigation if Taiwan's own satellite navigation system is jammed by the PLA, Hu said. Kao Chih-jung (), a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said at the forum that there are four counter-drone methods currently employed by the United States, which could serve as reference for Taiwan if PLA drone swarms should attack Taiwan's military airbases. In such an attack, China may use a disguised vessel to transport and launch the drone swarms from the outer boundaries of Taiwan's contiguous zone, which extends 24 nautical miles from Taiwan's shoreline, he said in a question and answer session. One of the U.S. methods to counter such attacks is the use of high-power microwave (HPM) systems, which can fry drone navigation systems, but can also pose a fire hazard to nearby residential areas, Kao said. Another tactic is the use of counter-drone jammers, which can be used in conjunction with a radar system to incapacitate attack drones, Kao said. Also, the U.S. has developed a 2.75-inch laser-guided rocket for drone defense, he said, adding, however, that the shrapnel and drone debris from such attacks could damage residential buildings. The fourth U.S. example is its deployment of drone swarms near some military air bases, Kao said. Those drones are designed specifically to counter micro-drones and detonate upon collision, he added. In his presentation, Kao said the PLA would need about two weeks of intense preparation before it could launch a military campaign against Taiwan. Such preparations would likely be detected by other countries, he said. According to Kao, the PLA Rocket Force has about 1,000 short-range ballistic missiles, including DF-11, DF-15, and DF-16 missiles, aimed at Taiwan. It also has approximately 1,300 medium-range missiles intended for use against countries in the Indo-Pacific region, and which could also be redirected toward Taiwan if necessary, he said. In the event of a PLA attack, the initial wave would target Taiwan's air bases, air defense systems, command centers, radar stations, surface-to-surface missile sites, and ground forces, Kao said. The key targets are likely to be Taiwan's Hsiung Feng IIE missile bases in Taoyuan's Yangmei, Luzhu, and Taishan districts, and in New Taipei's Sanxia District, he said. Taiwan's military, therefore, should build its air defense arsenal in case the country comes under a saturation attack by PLA missiles, Kao said. (By Sean Lin and Wu Su-wei) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ex-KMT Chair Hung Hsiu-chu to attend China's WWII parade in Beijing ROC Central News Agency 09/02/2025 04:18 PM Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Former Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Hung Hsiu-chu () said Tuesday she will attend a military parade in Beijing the following day to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Second Sino-Japanese War, calling her decision an effort to "carry forward the spirit of resistance." "The War of Resistance Against Japan was a battle for the very survival of the Chinese nation, a war of life and death," Hung said in a news release, adding that history must not be forgotten or distorted. She arrived in Beijing on Monday. Hung argued that without cooperation between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), along with the united resistance of the "entire nation," the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's official name) could not have survived. As a former KMT leader, she said she felt a responsibility to uphold this legacy. Later Tuesday, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urged the public not to participate in the parade or related events, reiterating that officials are banned from doing so to prevent Beijing from using them for "united front efforts targeting Taiwan." The ban also covers former deputy heads or higher-level officials in defense, foreign affairs, mainland affairs, or national security, as well as senior military officers and intelligence chiefs, the MAC said. Hung previously served as a legislator and deputy speaker of the Legislative Yuan. Whether she falls under the restrictions has yet to be determined, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung () said Tuesday. KMT Legislator Lin Szu-ming () stressed that Hung's trip is in a personal capacity and that she cannot represent the party. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Tai Wei-shan (), however, condemned the move, noting that Hung herself once criticized former KMT Chair Lien Chan () for attending a similar parade in China a decade ago. Some Taiwanese scholars also argued that by holding commemorative events, the People's Republic of China (PRC) is seeking to claim credit for a victory achieved by the ROC during the 1937-1945 conflict, which is widely regarded as part of World War II. Hung's confirmation came after former KMT Secretary-General Lee Chien-lung () announced Monday he had declined an invitation due to health reasons following recent surgery. (By Liu Kuan-ting, Li Ya-Wen, Wang Cheng-chung, Sophia Yeh, Joseph Yeh and Sunny Lai) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson September 2, 2025 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary Lammy discussed Hamas and the situation in Gaza, including efforts to bring all the hostages home. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary underscored their shared commitment to ensuring that Iran never obtains or develops a nuclear weapon. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary agreed they would continue to work together to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war through a lasting negotiated settlement. They also discussed continued cooperation on Iran, Sudan, and Lebanon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In August, units of the Ministry of Defence cleared nearly 6,000 hectares of de-occupied territory Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 1 September, 2025, 2:08 PM EEST Throughout August 2025, mine clearance units of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine cleared 5,973 hectares of de-occupied land of explosive hazards. Specifically, during the month, the following was cleared: 5,653.77 hectares of agricultural land; 7.64 km of roadways; 15.09 km of electric power lines; 66.94 km of railways; 9.74 hectares of water bodies. Throughout the month, demining units detected and neutralized 8,410 explosive devices. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, demining specialists have neutralized a total of 458,714 explosive devices. Currently, 119 certified mine action operators are functioning in Ukraine. In August, nine mine action operators were certified. As a reminder, humanitarian demining in Ukraine is carried out exclusively by mine action operators. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The russian army increased the number of guided aerial bomb strikes against Ukraine Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 1 September, 2025, 4:39 PM EEST Throughout August, combat activity remained intense across the entire front line. The enemy persists in executing its aggressive plans and continues active combat to breach our defensive lines. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 5,027 combat engagements were recorded during the month. On August 28 alone, enemy forces conducted over 190 attacks against our positions. russia continues to ignore the international community's efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, russian air forces are ramping up their aerial terror campaign. In August, the enemy increased the use of aerial bombs equipped with universal guidance and control modules, i.e., guided aerial bombs. Over the 31 days of August, russian aircraft dropped 4,390 guided aerial bombs on positions of the Ukrainian Defence Forces and on frontline settlements. This is higher than the 3,786 bombs dropped in the previous month. In 2025, the highest number of guided aerial bombs deployed by russia against Ukraine occurred in April, exceeding 5,000. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SSU notifies Kadyrov of suspicion in absentia for ordering to use Ukrainian PoWs as 'human shields' Security Service of Ukraine 17:00, 1 September 2025 The Security Service of Ukraine has gathered new evidence of war crimes committed by Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the chechen republic of russia, who is involved in the cruel treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war. According to the investigation, during a speech to russian propagandists Kadyrov stated that he had instructed his subordinates not to take Ukrainian soldiers prisoner, but to shoot them on the battlefield. The investigation established that Kadyrov's order was addressed to the commanders of chechen militants fighting in the ranks of russian occupation forces against Ukraine. He also ordered that Ukrainian prisoners held in Chechnya be sent to the roofs of military facilities in Grozny, proposing to use imprisoned combatants as a 'human shield' against drone attacks by Ukraine's Defence Forces. Such statements by Kadyrov are a violation of the laws and customs of war applicable in armed conflicts in accordance with the norms of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Based on the new evidence, SSU investigators notified Kadyrov in absentia of suspicion under Article 438.1 of the CCU (war crimes). In August 2022, the SSU investigation classified Kadyrov's actions as preparation and waging of an aggressive war, its justification and encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Efforts to bring the perpetrator to justice for crimes against our state and its citizens are underway. The investigation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address So far, investigation into Andriy Parubiy's murder indicates russian trace - SSU Security Service of Ukraine 13:55, 1 September 2025 The team of the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police, and the Office of the Prosecutor General believes that russian special services may be involved in the organization of the murder of People's Deputy Andriy Parubiy. The law enforcement obtained this information during initial investigative and operational measures with the detained killer. 'The crime has signs of a contract killing. There is intelligence indicating possible involvement of russia's special services in organizing the murder. We are working with our law enforcement colleagues to identify all those involved in this brazen crime, confirm the sources of information and gather evidence,' said Vadym Onyshchenko, Head of the SSU Office in Lviv region. On the night of September 1, the SSU, the National Police and the Prosecutor's Office detained a man suspected of murdering MP Andriy Parubiy. Thanks to coordinated actions, the law enforcement tracked down the suspect within 24 hours of the attack and detained him within 36 hours. The perpetrator's actions are classified under two Articles of the CCU: 115.1 (intentional murder) and 263.1 (illegal handling of weapons). The investigation and detention were personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. The investigation is ongoing. The law enforcement agencies will provide further information on the progress of the investigation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SSU detains GRU agents preparing new russian attacks on Kyiv and Odesa Security Service of Ukraine 10:00, 1 September 2025 The Security Service has detained another two agents of russian military intelligence ('the GRU') who adjusted enemy air attacks on Ukraine. They were preparing a new series of russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and Odesa. According to the investigation, the agents were supposed to identify locations of the Defence Forces and transmit the data to the occupiers. They were also assessing the consequences of enemy strikes on civilian infrastructure in order to adjust repeated strikes on Ukrainian cities. The two agents acted separately but had one common handler, whose identity has been established by the SSU. To gather intelligence, they walked around the target areas, photographed potential targets, and recorded their coordinates. One of them, a 31-year-old native of the temporarily occupied Melitopol, was detained in Kyiv. The GRU had sent him to spy in the Ukrainian capital. The asset was to identify and transmit to the occupiers the locations of repair bases for military equipment of the Defence Forces. He also tracked the time intervals of largest concentrations of people near the recruitment centers in Kyiv region, which the enemy planned to strike from the air. In Odesa, a former military servicewoman was exposed. After leaving the service, she began cooperating with the GRU. For the enemy money, the traitor passed to the ruscists the coordinates of the bases of maritime and border guards and National Guard units in the port city. However, the agent never received the promised money from russia. SSU investigators notified the detainees of suspicion under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law). The suspects are in custody without bail and face life imprisonment with confiscation of property. The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region under the procedural supervision of Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denys Shmyhal and NATO Senior Representative discuss support for Ukraine under PURL programme Ukraine Government Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, posted 02 September 2025 19:53 Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with NATO Senior Representative in Ukraine Patrick Turner. The Minister expressed gratitude to NATO member states and leadership for their solidarity and assistance, particularly for launching the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism with the United States. According to Denys Shmyhal, the initiative has proven effective, with allies funding USD 2 billion worth of American weapons for Ukraine. "We discussed long-term support for Ukraine under PURL. Engaging new participants and increasing contributions are vital for securing American weaponry for our Defence Forces," stated the Defence Minister. The parties also explored other ways to address Ukraine's priority defence needs. "By the end of the year, our country needs approximately USD 6 billion for critical unmanned weaponry: FPV drones, interceptor drones, long-range drones, and missiles. I stressed the importance of supporting Ukrainian manufacturers through the Build in Ukraine and Build with Ukraine programmes. We have robust industrial cooperation with NATO countries and significant potential for its growth," Denys Shmyhal remarked. Additionally, the talks covered establishing effective security guarantees with the Coalition of the Willing, including measures to ensure lasting peace and prevent further russian aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Budrys extends condolences over Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine a few days ago Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Updated 2025-09-02 On 1 September, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kestutis Budrys expressed condolences to the people of Ukraine in the virtual book of condolences of the Embassy of Ukraine over yet another horrific Russian attack on civilians and infrastructure, which took place on 28 August 2025. "This attack is among the deadliest since 2022. It once again demonstrates Russia's cynical disregard for human life. It was a deliberate act of terror aimed at spreading fear and breaking the spirit of the brave and resilient Ukrainian nation," the Minister's condolences message reads. As long as Ukraine and its partners seek a just and lasting peace, Russia responds with missiles, drones, and terror. "Russia's cruelty must be resolutely condemned and completely stopped. We grieve for every loss of life. Every victim has a name, a family, a future stolen by senseless violence. We respect the courage of those who continue to stand up against Russia's brutal aggression. Lithuania will stand with Ukraine until justice is achieved and freedom is defended," the Minister wrote. According to Budrys, Lithuania continues to firmly support Ukraine, not only in the moments of mourning, but also through joint efforts toward victory and peace in Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainians Pay Final Respects To Slain Politician As Alleged Killer Appears In Court By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 02, 2025 LVIV - Crowds of mourners were packed into the baroque-rococo St. George's Cathedral in Lviv, western Ukraine, on September 2, for the funeral of former parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy, who was gunned down in the city days earlier. The 54-year-old, who was still a lawmaker for the opposition European Solidarity party, was shot dead at around noon while walking along a city street on August 30. Later, Parubiy's suspected killer was in court elsewhere in the city. The court ruled that 52-year-old Lviv resident Mykhailo Stelnikov would be held in pretrial detention until October 30. Stelnikov spoke to reporters before the hearing and said he had killed Parubiy, calling his actions "personal revenge against the Ukrainian authorities." He also stated that media reports that he was blackmailed by Russian special services were not true, and he had not worked for them. Stelnikov said he chose Parubiy as his victim because he "was nearby." He added that he hoped to be involved a prisoner exchange with Russia, so that he could search for his son's body there. Earlier, law enforcement sources told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that he had claimed he was in contact with individuals linked to Russia while searching for his missing soldier son. The sources said he began monitoring Russian social networks in 2023 after learning his son had gone missing in Ukraine's Bakhmut area where he had been fighting invading Russian forces. The man claimed that he then came into contact with unidentified Russian representatives who allegedly told him his son had been killed. The sources said the man claimed the Russians tried to justify Moscow's war, blaming Kyiv for Moscow's unprovoked invasion, and encouraged him to act against Ukrainian officials. Parubiy played a prominent role in the Maidan demonstrations, which erupted in late 2013 when President Viktor Yanukovych opted to forego closer ties with the European Union and move closer to Russia. The protests culminated in violent clashes with police in February 2014, and Yanukovych fled the country. Parubiy was also an important figure in earlier Orange Revolution in 2004, which began when Yanukovych was declared the winner of a disputed presidential election. His victory was ultimately overturned. He served as speaker of the Verkhovna Rada between 2016 and 2019. In recent years, he served as a lawmaker in the political party of former President Petro Poroshenko. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/33519616.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ranking Member Shaheen Statement Urging Congressional Action to Stop Russia's War on Ukraine Senate Foreign Relations Committee September 02, 2025 WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement upon the Senate's return from August recess urging congressional action to stop Putin's war against Ukraine: "President Trump's summit with Vladimir Putin was an abject failure that delivered no results and pushed us further from peace. While President Trump continues to set new flimsy deadlines, Putin crosses one redline after another by killing Ukrainians in savage attacks that have cost the lives of hundreds of civilians, including children. "President Trump's refusal to get tough on Putin is not only costing the lives of innocent Ukrainians, it is also weakening U.S. leadership on the world stage. At the same time, the Administration refuses to hold China accountable for buying Russian oil while imposing stiff tariffs on Indiamoves that only deepen Moscow and Beijing's camaraderie, as we saw on display in China earlier this week. The Trump Administration needs to realize that inaction on Putin shows weakness and erodes our deterrence against would-be aggressors. If President Trump is unwilling to change course, Congress should be ready to act. "As the Senate returns from August recess, Republican leadership must advance the Graham-Blumenthal sanctions legislationwhich has over 85 co-sponsorsand my bipartisan bills to bolster Ukraine's defenses and apply pressure on Beijing for bankrolling Putin's war machine. Putin cannot be allowed to continue to play and string along President Trump. The Senate must take action to limit catastrophic damage to America's trustworthiness as an ally and a bulwark against despots. Putin only understands strength and Congress must move decisively to show that America's resolve is unshakable." ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin: Possible to Find Consensus on Ensuring Ukraine's Security Guarantees Sputnik News 20250902 The Russian leader is working in China from August 31 to September 3. The head of state participated in the SCO summit and held a series of bilateral meetings during the event. Ukrainian security cannot be ensured at the expense of Russia's security, stated Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Naturally, it is Ukraine's decision how to ensure its own security. But, as stated in fundamental documents, including those concerning security on the European continent, this security cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of other countries, particularly at the expense of the Russian Federation," Putin said during a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Russia's only goal in Ukraine is to protect its own interests, President Vladimir Putin stated. "As for Russia, it was forced to protect its interests and the people who have tied their lives and fate to the Russian Federation, to Russia, to our history and traditions. This is the essence of the conflict (in Ukraine), this is where it came from. And this is not our aggressive behavior, but aggressive behavior from the other side. We have no other goals than to protect our interests," Putin said. The conflict in Ukraine is tied to the West's role in facilitating a coup in Ukraine, not Russia's aggressive behavior, stated Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I've said this many times before, and I just mentioned it at the SCO Summit: the conflict in Ukraine is not due to our aggressive behavior. It's because the West helped facilitate a coup in Ukraine. By the way, despite the fact that the leaders of Poland, France, and Germany signed as guarantors of an agreement between the government and the opposition in Ukraine in 2014, just a few days later, a coup took place. And those who had guaranteed the agreement between the opposition and the president didn't lift a finger to return the political process in Ukraine to constitutional norms; instead, they began supporting those who carried out the coup. That's where the conflict began," Putin explained. Russia considers Ukraine's NATO membership unacceptable, stated Russian President Vladimir Putin. "As for NATO, that's a different matter. This concerns the security of the Russian Federation, not just today, not in the medium term, but in the long term. Our position is clear; we consider this unacceptable for us," Putin said. NATO has been used in an attempt to absorb the entire post-Soviet space, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, commenting on the origins of the Ukraine conflict. "With the help of NATO, there is an attempt to absorb practically the entire post-Soviet space, but we were forced to react to this, that is the whole problem," Putin said at a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Russia endured for a long time while Ukrainians were attacking its energy infrastructure, but then it started to respond seriously, Putin said. "Any reasonable person is perfectly aware that Russia has never had, does not have and will never have any desire to attack anyone," the Russian president said. Kiev is trying to harm Russia in response to serious attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, but damage is also being inflicted on Russia's partners, Putin added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment of the MFA on Putin's statements about the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 02 September 2025 20:04 In response to Putin's proposals, we emphasise that theft does not confer ownership rights. A thief must return what he has stolen and bear responsibility, rather than offering it to someone else for rent. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been under the illegal occupation of the Russian Federation's armed forces for more than three years. This is a gross violation of international law, which has caused unprecedented threats to the nuclear safety of Ukraine, Europe and the world. After seizing the plant, the Russian occupiers turned it into a military base, damaged its infrastructure and normal functioning, and resorted to pressure, threats and even the capture of ZNPP employees. The Russian state corporation Rosatom is responsible for the occupation and operation of the captured plant. Its representatives are constantly present at this important facility of Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure, interfering in technical processes and putting pressure on Ukrainian specialists. Russia has deprived the IAEA mission (ISAMZ) of the ability to obtain meaningful information about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The only way to restore nuclear safety is the immediate and complete withdrawal of Russian military and other personnel from the Zaporizhzhia NPP site, its full international monitoring, and its return to Ukraine's full control. Only such steps can mitigate the risks of a nuclear incident and ensure the safe operation of the plant. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is and will remain an integral part of Ukraine's sovereign territory. Any attempts by Russia to question this fact are legally null and void as well as politically futile. Ukraine will never agree to the legalisation of the occupation, and the international community must intensify its joint efforts to restore Ukraine's legitimate control over the plant. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Office of the President Launches Reform to Increase the Number of Servicemembers and Veterans Among Staff President of Ukraine 2 September 2025 - 22:35 The Office of the President of Ukraine has begun implementing a reform aimed at increasing the number of servicemembers and veterans working across all departments. The announcement was made by Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak. Next week, Vita Tytarenko - a servicemember, scholar, and the wife and sister of heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine - will join the Office of the President. She will oversee projects in the fields of culture, history, and religion, and will also collaborate with the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. Vita Tytarenko was born in Lebedyn, Sumy region. She earned degrees in pedagogy and philosophy, and defended her Candidate and Doctoral dissertations in religious studies. She has taught at higher education institutions in Kyiv and worked at the Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. In 2014, her husband, Oleksii Tytarenko, volunteered for the front and later worked as an analyst at the Presidential Administration and the Office of the President. In 2022, Vita and Oleksii Tytarenko both joined the military. Sadly, Oleksii was killed in action near Bakhmut. Six months later, Vita lost her brother, Eduard, who was killed near Vuhledar. Both heroes were awarded the Order "For Courage." Vita Tytarenko continued her service in the Security and Defense Forces: from the Donetsk region to the headquarters of the Territorial Defense Forces Command. She also provided psychological support to warriors and operated drones. This week, two more individuals will join the President's Office as part of the reform. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy endorsed the proposal to reform the Office late last month. The reform aims to ensure that a significant number of employees at the Office of the President are servicemembers with combat experience and war veterans. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Fact, Swarms of Russian Drones in Our Skies Serve as an Accompaniment to Russia's Statements From China - Address by the President President of Ukraine 2 September 2025 - 20:13 I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians! A brief update on today. The military: reports have been coming in since morning, in particular, from the Commander of the Air Force about the drone interception. The brazenness of the Russians keeps growing - they are attacking Ukraine more and more often in broad daylight with dozens of strike drones. Last night there were 150 drones; this morning over fifty more; in the evening dozens more, and most of them were "shaheds." In fact, swarms of Russian drones in our skies serve as an accompaniment to Russia's statements from China. An open disregard by Russia for everything the world is doing to stop this war. Yesterday, the Russians literally denied what President Trump said about the leaders' meeting that is needed to end the war. These days in China, Putin keeps spinning his tales - as if he is not responsible for the war. As if someone always "forces" him to fight, to kill, to drive children into shelters, to send thousands of people to storm our positions. And now we see another buildup of Russian forces in some sectors of the front. The only thing he refuses to be "forced" into is peace. Russia continues to launch strikes. Of course, we will respond. We will respond, including asymmetrically as well, so that Russia truly feels the consequences of its audacity. And we continue working with our partners to put pressure on Russia - and that will happen. Russia hears nothing but strength, and it will keep lying until its losses are heavy enough. All our partners understand this. What matters now is the resolve to act. Additional sanctions that actually hit - they are needed. Tariffs that limit Russian trade and cut funding for Russia's war machine - all these are much needed too. I am grateful to everyone who continues to support our defense, our resilience. And it's important that now, in September, the resourcing of programs with our partners continues with no less intensity than at the start of the year. In particular, the PURL program. In August, thanks to European countries, we secured over two billion euros specifically for procuring American weapons, including missiles for Patriot and missiles for HIMARS systems. Going forward, this very PURL program must continue to receive at least one billion dollars per month. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our ambassadors in partner countries must be highly effective. Today, I held a quite detailed meeting with all the representatives involved in preparing security guarantees for Ukraine and coordinating steps with our partners in support of the Defense Forces. The teams from the Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the military - Commander-in-Chief and General Staff - the NSDC Secretary are all working actively so that this year, next year, and in the long term - despite any Russian insanity - Ukraine has sufficient protection. And it will definitely be so. Today, we agreed on the basis for further contacts with members of the Coalition of the Willing regarding the actual content of security guarantees for Ukraine. We are working - very actively - with the team from the United States. Soon, we will speak with the leaders of partner countries in Europe. Our formats - including Ukraine-Northern Europe, as well as the Washington Format - we are filling all of this with substance to the fullest. Work continues on sanctions as well - with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other partners. Synchronizing sanctions - ours and our partners' - is one of the main tasks for the fall. And one more thing. Law enforcement - the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Prosecutor General - provides regular reports on the investigation into the murder of Andriy Parubiy. A preventive measure has been set for the suspect: detention without bail. Law enforcement is uncovering more and more details of the crime. Horrific details. It is important that the public receives all the established and verified information to the fullest extent possible under procedural rules. I thank the entire team working around the clock to establish the truth. Today in Lviv, a farewell ceremony was held for Andriy Parubiy. My condolences to his family and loved ones. Eternal memory! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Again Says 'Very Disappointed' In Putin, Vows To Do 'Something' Soon By RFE/RL September 03, 2025 As Russian President Vladimir Putin takes in a parade in China and as his forces continue to batter Ukrainian cities, US President Donald Trump said he is "very disappointed" in the Kremlin leader and that he plans to do "something" in the coming days about it. "I'm very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that," Trump told the Scott Jennings radio show on September 2 when asked if he felt betrayed by Putin's actions since their August 15 Alaska summit. "We had a great relationship, I'm very disappointed." "Thousands of people are dying. They're not Americans. They're Russians and Ukrainians...And it's a war that makes no sense," Trump added. "We'll be doing something to help people live...Seven thousand people are dying every week -- soldiers, mostly. And if I can help to stop that, I think I have an obligation to do it," he added, without being specific. Trump, who has made ending Russia's war in Ukraine a top priority of his administration, has expressed growing frustration with Putin's refusal to agree to a cease-fire or to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the same time, Russian forces have continued to pound Ukrainian cities, causing civilian deaths and infrastructure damage even as they maintain ground actions against Ukraine's outgunned and outmanned military. The attacks continued early on September 3, with authorities reporting another drone attack on the capital, Kyiv, and saying that nationwide air-raid alerts had been issued. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital's military administration, said that "air defenses are operating in Kyiv. Stay in shelters until the all-clear is given." Details were not immediately available. Trump has vowed to impose new tariffs or sanctions against Moscow unless it moves toward peace, although he has held off taking any action to this point. Washington and Kyiv's European allies have previously slapped a series of damaging sanctions on Russia following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A day earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the administration would this week be examining options for a US response to Russia's latest attacks. Putin "has done the opposite of following through on what he indicated [to Trump] that he wanted to do," Bessent said. "As a matter of fact, he has, in a despicable, despicable manner, increased the bombing campaign. So, I think with President Trump, all options are on the table, and I think we'll be examining those very closely this week." The comments come as Putin prepared to attend a military parade in China to mark 80 years since Japan's surrender, which marked the end of World War II. The Kremlin leader said ties with Beijing are now at an "unprecedented level," worrying some leaders in the West. However, Trump, in his radio interview said, "I'm not concerned at all, no." "We have the strongest military in the world by far, and they would never use their military on us. Believe me that would be the worst thing they could ever do," he added. Elsewhere on the diplomatic front, Kyiv's European allies in the so-called Coalition of the Willing -- led by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer -- are set to meet in Paris on September 4 to discuss potential security guarantees for Ukraine. "Together with our partners, and in coordination with NATO, we will work to define robust security guarantees for Ukraine. These are a necessary prerequisite to move credibly towards peace," Macron wrote on X following talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy repeated his warnings that Russian forces were gearing up for a new offensive in eastern Ukraine. "Now we see another buildup of Russian forces in certain sectors of the front. [Putin] refuses to be forced into peace," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, without providing details. "Russia continues to launch strikes. Of course, we will respond to this," Zelenskyy added following another series of deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv. On August 29, Zelenskyy also warned that a new Russian offensive was imminent. "The concentration [of Russian troops] there is up to 100,000," Zelenskyy said, referring to the front lines near the highly strategic city Pokrovsk. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-zelenskyy- russia-china-sanctions/33519952.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 Press Conference by Security Council President on Programme of Work for September Press Conference Security Council 2 September 2025 The Security Council will hold a signature event on 24 September an open debate on artificial intelligence (AI) and international peace and security its President for the month told reporters at a United Nations Headquarters press conference today. Sangjin Kim (Republic of Korea), whose country holds the 15-nation organ's rotating presidency for this month, said that a high-level discussion on this topic will be timely. The international community must come together to consider how best to maximize the benefits of this technology while minimizing its risks. Recalling that an open debate on cybersecurity was the signature event during the Republic of Korea's presidency last year, he said it is vital to consider how emerging technology can directly and indirectly impact international peace and security. The President of his country, Lee Jae Myung, will chair the open debate on AI, he said, pointing out that this is a first. Also on the agenda for September is an open debate on the future of UN peace operations, which will address key issues, opportunities and challenges in the context of the review on the future of those operations. Noting that his country is a significant contributor to peacekeeping, he said the debate will give the Secretary-General an opportunity to provide an update on the review while Member States have a chance to present their perspectives. In addition to senior peacekeeping officials, the briefers will also include a female civil society briefer, in keeping with the Republic of Korea's commitment to the women, peace and security agenda. While the schedule may appear relatively light, he pointed out, September is "the busiest and most important period" in the UN calendar. Other mandated meetings and consultations include briefings on Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Israeli settlements and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. He also highlighted an adoption meeting concerning the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti, and another regarding the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning Sudan. Additional meetings on Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza may be convened, if necessary, he said, also noting consultations on the Iran file and whether the snapback mechanism was triggered. Mr. Kim began his press conference by drawing attention to the spirit that has guided his country in its work as an elected member of the Council. The Republic of Korea is the "only divided country in the world", he said, adding: "We understand, perhaps more than anyone else, the true value of peace." His country rose from the ashes of war and wrote a story of remarkable growth and nurtured a thriving democracy with the support of the international community. "Our history truly embodies the three pillars of the United Nations," he said. He then took several questions concerning the possible snapback of sanctions on Iran, noting that, at the moment, the Council is waiting to hear from the Russian Federation and China, who are drafting a resolution concerning this matter. No specific date has been fixed for a meeting, he said, adding that "undeniably there are different interpretations" on whether the snapback has been triggered. Regarding the Council President's role as stipulated by Council resolution 2231 (2015), he said that given that delegations are gearing for "a possible breakthrough" in diplomatic negotiations, it is somewhat premature to consider steps to be taken by the presidency. But, his delegation is aware of its role and has been seeking legal advice on when and how to discharge its role. When pressed on his national position on this, he said "we do have our own positions", but it is a tricky and sensitive moment, and not the right time to discuss it. Several questions were raised today about Gaza and Palestine. Mr. Kim said that, while it is unfortunate that the Council could not do better on this matter, there is a sense of urgency, and the 10 elected Council members have agreed to put forward a resolution concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Their coordinator is now talking to the permanent member delegations. On whether the Republic of Korea will recognize Palestine as a State, he voiced support for the two-State solution as the only viable path, and acknowledged that many countries have recently declared their recognition of Palestinian statehood. However, the Republic of Korea's position remains unchanged, he said, adding that recognition of Palestine as a State should come at a time when it is conducive to the resolution of the conflict. On the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, he said that, while there are no meetings on that agenda item, that will change if that country makes any provocations. He also expressed concern about that country's assistance to the Russian Federation's war on Ukraine. Asked about the arrival of the President of Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Jong Un, in China for a military parade, he said in his national capacity: "We are watching and monitoring very closely what is happening on this trip." Any possible summit with neighbouring counties needs to be done in a way conducive to bringing about peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, he said, adding: "I hope our neighbouring countries will play a constructive role in that regard." On Syria, he noted that his country has been a member of the Council since last year and can compare how drastically the situation has changed after the fall of the Assad regime. He highlighted "the sense of hope" and "sense of worry" among Council members, adding that the organ will encourage the interim Government to work with good judgement. On whether a federal system of Government might help protect the rights of minorities in that country, he said that he was not up to date on that issue. Also providing additional details regarding the signature event on AI, he noted how this debate is part of a continuum of his country's efforts in Seoul and in the Council to draw attention to the security impact of emerging technology. No outcome document is planned for this debate, he said, adding that the point is to facilitate an open exchange of views. Responding to specific questions, he said the meeting will not focus on either the United States blocking the export of chips from Republic of Korea to China or on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's use of AI. As to whether given the Council's paralysis on important issues such as Ukraine and Gaza he would consider conducting a meeting using AI in order to find a solution, he said: "Not at all." Despite the remarkable pace at which that technology is developing, "human beings are the ones who rule the world", he said. Responding to separate questions about the legacy of the United Nations, and about its failure to prevent genocide, he said that the majority of countries recognize the importance of multilateralism and that reform efforts are underway. For the full programme of work, please see: https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/programme-work. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEW YORK, Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of shares of the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund f/k/a Principal Street High Income Municipal Fund (the Fund) (tickers: RMJAX, RMHVX, RMHIX), between May 5, 2023 and June 12, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period), of the important September 22, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. The Fund is a mutual fund within defendant James Alpha Funds Trusts series of mutual funds (which does business as Easterly Funds Trust). SO WHAT: If you purchased Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund mutual funds during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=42371 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 22, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Fund had marked tens of millions of dollars worth of its portfolio assets at artificially inflated prices that did not reasonably reflect the fair value of those assets; (2) the Fund had implemented a fundamentally flawed pricing and valuation methodology which had systematically inflated the Funds net asset value (NAV) and individual asset valuations; (3) the Fund was more heavily invested in illiquid assets than disclosed in its offering materials; (4) the Funds assets were more closely correlated and less diversified than disclosed in its offering materials; (5) as a result, the Funds stated NAV, NAV per share, individual asset valuations, and historical performance were materially overstated; and (6) consequently, the Fund was subject to a material undisclosed risk of a sudden collapse in the price of Fund shares. To join the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=42371 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for more information. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Las Vegas, Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Las Vegas, Nevada - September 02, 2025 - Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant is introducing a new option to its online delivery menu: the classic Wor Won Ton Soup. This popular dish comes with fresh won-tons, chicken, jumbo shrimp, and a variety of vegetables, all in a rich and flavorful soup stock. The soup can be found on the restaurant's website at https://www.kungfuplaza.com/soups/soups-1/103-wor-won-ton-soup. Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant is committed to providing a diverse and authentic range of Asian cuisine to its customers. Located in Las Vegas, the restaurant consistently looks to expand its menu to meet the changing tastes of its patrons. It has become a favorite spot for those looking to enjoy both Thai and Chinese dishes, from timeless favorites to new creations all under one roof. "Our goal is to offer our customers authentic and high-quality dishes that they can enjoy with ease, whether dining in or at home," says Alan Wong, the head chef at Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant. "By adding the Wor Won Ton Soup to our delivery menu, we are giving our customers more options to savor at their convenience." Alongside this, customers can also savor the Best Egg Flower Egg Drop Soup in Las Vegas, known for its perfect blend of quality and flavor in every bowl. These offerings highlight the restaurant's dedication to tradition and taste. Adding this soup to the online menu is another step towards merging traditional dining with the ease of modern convenience. The restaurant's online ordering system is simple and user-friendly, allowing customers to easily browse through the full menu. It supports various payment methods, including digital wallets and different currencies, making ordering easy for everyone. In addition to the new soup, Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant has an extensive menu featuring appetizers, noodles, stir-fry dishes, and more. Each item is made with fresh ingredients and traditional preparation methods, ensuring authentic flavors in every bite. Whether you're looking for a quick snack or a full meal, the menu offers plenty of choices, including vegetarian options. The restaurant also has a solid food delivery service throughout Las Vegas. This makes it convenient for customers to enjoy a meal without needing to leave their home or office, a service that is growing in popularity as more people seek dining solutions that fit their busy lifestyles. More details on their delivery services and other offerings can be explored on their official website. Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant also stays connected with its community through social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. They share announcements about new menu items, special offers, and updates on these platforms. This engagement helps maintain customer interaction and loyalty, with special discounts often announced first to their social media followers. Alan Wong emphasizes the importance of quality and authenticity in every dish they serve. "Every dish we serve is a reflection of our commitment to our cultural heritage," he states. "We believe that our food tells a story and we are excited to share that story with our customers." For anyone interested in exploring the menu, the restaurant's website offers a thorough look at all available dishes, including the newly added Wor Won Ton Soup. Detailed descriptions and prices are included to help customers make informed choices before ordering. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxfsRvj8Eqs To learn more about Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant's offerings and try the Best Wor Won Ton Soup in Las Vegas at Kung Fu Thai Chinese Restaurant, visit their official website. ### For more information about Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant, contact the company here: Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant Alan Wong 702-247-4120 aw@kungfurestaurants.com 3505 S Valley View Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103 CALGARY, ALBERTA, Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marksmen Energy Inc. (the Corporation or Marksmen) (TSXV: MAH) announces that further to its news release dated April 30, 2025, the letter of intent with T1 Technology Corporation, has been terminated by Marksmen as the parties were unable to enter into a definitive agreement by the deadline. Marksmen is an active Exploration and Production, oil and gas company, concentrating in the Appalachian Basin, USA. In Ohio, a joint interest partner is currently drilling a well, at 100% their cost, and is nearing total depth. The well is on a property targeted by Marksmen 3D seismic. Pursuant to an agreement, Marksmen will earn a 6% gross overriding royalty, after payout. Also in Ohio, another joint venture partner has acquired a portion of one of the Corporation's leases targeted by Marksmens 3D seismic and will drill a well at 100% their cost. Under the terms of the agreement, Marksmen will be granted a 5% gross overriding royalty, after payout. Marksmen is reviewing its drilling opportunities from its 3D seismic with existing partners, including a Trenton Black River Formation target. Additionally, Marksmen's team is continuing with its review and assessment of, for possible acquisition, a new oil and gas projects in the Appalachian Basin. Marksmen is working with the TSX Venture Exchage in order for its common shares to resume trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. For further information, please contact: Marksmen Energy Inc. Archie Nesbitt CEO and Director Phone: (403) 265-7270 NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements include drilling and acquisition plans and results, and the timing for the resumption of trading. The use of any of the words will, expected, view and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Corporation's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statement made in this news release are made as of the date hereof. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws. 7103198.4 NEW YORK CITY and NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 28, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Dow Inc. (NYSE: DOW), if they purchased the Companys securities between January 30, 2025 and July 23, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Dow and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-dow/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 28, 2025 . About the Lawsuit Dow and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 24, 2025, the Company disclosed a 2Q 2025 non-GAAP loss per share of $0.42, much larger than the approximate $0.17 to $0.18 per share loss expected by analysts, and net sales of $10.1 billion, representing a 7.3% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $130 million, reflecting declines in all operating segments due in part to the lower-for-longer earnings environment that our industry is facing, amplified by recent trade and tariff uncertainties. Further, the Company disclosed that it was cutting its dividend in half, from $0.70 per share to only $0.35 per share, citing the need for financial flexibility amidst a persistently challenging macroeconomic environment. On this news, the price of Dows shares fell $5.30 per share, or 17.45%, to close at $25.07 per share on July 24, 2025. The case is Sarti v. Dow Inc., No. 25-cv-12744. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, 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 Services To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 960 New Orleans, LA 70163 CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedIn NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 10, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against SelectQuote, Inc. (SelectQuote or the Company) (NYSE: SLQT), if they purchased the Companys securities between September 9, 2020 and May 1, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased securities of SelectQuote and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-slqt/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 10, 2025. About the Lawsuit SelectQuote and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On May 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a False Claims Act complaint against the Company, alleging that, [f]rom 2016 through at least 2021 it had received tens of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks from health insurance companies in exchange for steering Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in the insurers plans, and that, in exchange for kickbacks, the Company engaged in a conspiracy with major insurers to illegally discriminate against beneficiaries deemed to be less profitable, including those with disabilities. The DOJ further alleged that the Company made materially false claims by stating it offers unbiased coverage comparisons when in fact it repeatedly directed Medicare beneficiaries to the plans offered by insurers that paid them the most money, regardless of the quality or suitability of the insurers plans. On this news, the price of SelectQuotes shares fell $0.61, or 19.2%, to close at $2.56 per share on May 1, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. The case is Pahlkotter v. SelectQuote, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-06620. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, 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 Services To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 960 New Orleans, LA 70163 CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedIn NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 20, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), if they purchased the Companys securities between April 29, 2025 to August 5, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Snap and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-snap/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 20, 2025 . About the Lawsuit Snap and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On August 5, 2025, the Company announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, disclosing a deceleration in advertising revenue growth due to an issue related to our ad platform, the timing of Ramadan and the effects of the de minimis changes. On this news, the price of Snaps shares fell from a closing price of $9.39 per share on August 5, 2025 to $7.78 per share on August 6, 2025, a decline of about 17.15% in the span of just a single day. The case is Abdul-Hameed v. Snap, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-07844. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, 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 Services To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 960 New Orleans, LA 70163 CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedIn Jamaica, NY, Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silberstein & Miklos, P.C., operating under the recognized brand ASK4SAM, has achieved a milestone with its 550th Google review, reinforcing its status as a top-tier personal injury law firm addressing car accident cases in Queens, Bronx, and surrounding boroughs. ASK4SAM celebrates 550 Google reviews, solidifying its reputation as the top choice for car accident victims in Queens and the Bronx seeking trusted personal injury lawyers. Co-founded by Joseph (Joe) Miklos, the firm has grown into a multiborough legal presence, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Long Island. With more than $1 billion recovered for clients, the firm is distinguished in personal injury litigation, including construction accidents, medical malpractice, and complex motor vehicle collision cases. Review Highlights Reflecting Founding Partners Impact Clients frequently cite favorable case results in matters involving rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, slip and fall incidents, and serious roadway crashes along corridors such as the Cross Bronx Expressway. The firm is known for conducting thorough investigations, including obtaining police reports, analyzing traffic signals, reviewing medical records, and coordinating accident reconstruction experts. These efforts support claims involving internal injuries, soft tissue injuries, and extended medical expenses, often resulting in successful insurance claims and coverage of mounting medical bills. Clients appreciate that cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, ensuring no legal fees are due unless recovery is secured. The attorneys at Silberstein & Miklos, P.C. also navigate complex negotiations with each insurance company involved, often dealing with delayed or denied claims. Whether advocating in medical malpractice claims, litigating auto accidents, or pursuing compensation for long-term injuries, the firm remains vigilant in protecting clients rights under New Yorks strict statutes of limitations. From brain trauma to spinal injuries, or even wrongful death resulting from motor vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, or pedestrian incidents, the firms methodical approach and deep understanding of New York City personal injury litigation make it a trusted name for those seeking justice and financial recovery. Strategic Reach Across NYC With conveniently located offices in Queens (Jamaica) and the Bronx, and ongoing representation in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Long Island, ASK4SAM emphasizes both accessibility and boroughspecific legal expertise. The firms attorneys are well-versed in no-fault insurance, comparative negligence law, premises liability, and statute of limitationscritical elements in successful car accident recovery. An AV Preeminent rating from MartindaleHubbell, a Tier 1 ranking in NYC by Best Lawyers / U.S. News, and inclusion among The Best Lawyers in America signify the firms peerreviewed excellence. Joe Mikloss foundational philosophy of client commitment continues to underpin the firms expansion. As he recounted earlier, selffinancing case costs was unsustainable; thus the firm adopted more scalable financing, allowing reinvestment in client cases and firm growth. Silberstein & Miklos, P.C. on Google Maps About Silberstein & Miklos, P.C.: Silberstein & Miklos, P.C. is a leading personal injury and medical malpractice trial firm offering contingencyfee representation. Its practice areas include motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian injuries, construction site accidents, medical negligence, slipandfall, and wrongful deathacross all five boroughs and Long Island. With decades of combined legal experience, the firms New York personal injury attorneys have earned a reputation for handling a wide range of complex injury claims. These include cases involving Motor Vehicle Accidents, Truck Accidents, Bus Accidents, and motorcycle crashes, as well as incidents resulting in Spinal Cord Injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and long-term brain damage. The firms litigators pursue full compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, future medical treatment, and other damages, ensuring that victims receive justice under New York law. As Top Rated Lawyers in New York City, the legal team at ASK4SAM frequently secures favorable settlements and, when necessary, significant jury verdicts. The firm is equally experienced in representing families in wrongful death cases, as well as patients affected by medical malpractice lawsuits that result in permanent disability or catastrophic outcomes. Attorneys regularly collaborate with expert witnesses in neurology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation to support claims involving brain injury, complex surgeries, and catastrophic injuries requiring lifelong care. ASK4SAM also serves clients injured in Pedestrian Accidents and Bicycle Accidents, which are increasingly common in high-traffic corridors throughout New York City. Whether the incident involves a distracted driver, negligent operator, or hazardous road condition, the firms NYC personal injury attorneys conduct meticulous investigations to establish liability and maximize client recovery. Their extensive experience with auto accidents, Trucking Accidents, and other high-impact collisions positions them as aggressive advocates for victims in one of the nations busiest urban environments. Silberstein & Miklos, P.C. on Google Maps Contact Information: Queens Office : 8900 Sutphin Blvd, Suite 303B, Jamaica, NY 11435 : 8900 Sutphin Blvd, Suite 303B, Jamaica, NY 11435 Bronx Office : 2825 Third Avenue, Suite 301, Bronx, NY 10455 : 2825 Third Avenue, Suite 301, Bronx, NY 10455 24/7 Legal Hotline : 1877ASK4SAM : 1877ASK4SAM Website: https://ask4sam.net/ With its 550th Google review, ASK4SAM strengthens its standing as one of NYCs best personal injury law firms, helping car accident victims in the Bronx and Queens recover justice. Press inquiries Silberstein & Miklos, P.C. | Queens https://ask4sam.net/queens/ Justin West jwest@ask4sam.net 877-ASK4SAM 89-00 Sutphin Blvd 303B Jamaica, NY 11435 Stephan Crokaert, formerly of NeoMedLight, Abbott, Adagio and Boston Scientific, brings more than 35 years of strategic and commercial experience in life sciences Allegro prepares to advance lead product hydrocelin into clinical trials in 2026 Liege, Belgium 3 September 2025 (08:30) Allegro NV, a biomedical company developing transformative nanotechnology-based treatments for degenerative joint disease, has appointed Stephan Crokaert into the role of Chief Operating Officer as of this month. The new position strengthens the companys management team and sharpens Allegros focus on the clinical and commercial development of hydrocelin, which has the potential to become a first-in-class disease-modifying, minimally invasive, injectable treatment for osteoarthritis. We are pleased to welcome such an experienced life science professional as Stephan Crokaert to the management team. Stephans appointment comes at a crucial moment for Allegro, as we prepare our potential first-in-class treatment for osteoarthritis, hydrocelin, for clinical trials, said Lucas Decuypere, CEO at Allegro. Osteoarthritis is a serious disease that can lead to social isolation and mental health problems. We aim to give freedom of mobility back to the hundreds of millions of people around the world suffering from osteoarthritis. Mr Crokaert brings more than 35 years of experience in life sciences, with a focus on medical devices. Most recently, he served as Global Sales and Market Director at medical device start-up NeoMedLight, where he was integral in the establishment and delivery of a global commercial network. Prior to that, he served in senior leadership roles at Abbott and Adagio. I am delighted to join the driven and successful team at Allegro. Im looking forward to using the experience I built up over a career spanning 30 years in international leadership roles to advance the companys promising technology and bring an innovative first-in-class treatment for osteoarthritis to market, with the potential to help millions of patients, said Stephan Crokaert, Chief Operating Officer at Allegro. In July, Allegro successfully raised 2 million in new funding, showing the strong commitment of core investors. Allegro will use the proceeds to prepare hydrocelin for a feasibility study in patients with osteoarthritis in 2026, which will be followed by a global registrational trial. In August, the company completed the installation of a manufacturing device in a cleanroom at its own facilities, which is scalable to up to 15,000 prefilled syringes per batch. Allegros hydrocelin contains cross-linked microparticles that are designed to act as tiny shock absorbers in the synovial fluid of joints affected by osteoarthritis. Restoring the shock-absorbing capacity of the synovial fluid is intended to provide pain relief and protect cartilage. The product is designed to be administered by injection once yearly. In April, Allegro presented positive preclinical data demonstrating the satisfactory safety profile of hydrocelin at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO) in Rome. In addition to this pyrogenicity study, the company has also found a satisfactory safety record in preclinical studies assessing irritation, delayed sensitization and systemic toxicity. About Allegro NV Allegro is a private biomedical company developing transformative treatments for degenerative joint diseases based on its proprietary nanotechnology platform, INTRICATE. The companys lead product candidate, hydrocelin (ALG-001), is a potential first-in-class, disease-modifying candidate for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Allegro is preparing hydrocelin for clinical studies in humans later this year, and for a commercial launch in 2027. For more information please visit www.allegro.bio. For further information please contact: Allegro NV Lucas Decuypere Chief Executive Officer info@allegro.bio Investor Relations Mary-Ann Chang Cohesion Bureau +44 7483 284 853 mary-ann.chang@cohesionbureau.com Media Relations Douwe Miedema Cohesion Bureau +352 621 562 764 douwe.miedema@cohesionbureau.com Important information The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Attachment SALT LAKE CITY, UT, ROCHESTER, NY, MONTREAL, LONDON, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inoria, a CallTower company, announced its participation as a Silver sponsor at Xperience 2025 hosted by Genesys, a global cloud leader in AI-Powered Experience Orchestration. Xperience, the CX event of the year, will take place Sept. 810 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN convening industry leaders, innovators and professionals to propel organizations to the next level using AI, cloud and digital technologies to orchestrate highly personalized experiences at scale. At Xperience, Inoria will showcase how its integrated contact center, unified communications, and Conversational AI (CAI) solutions empower organizations to modernize operations, drive innovation, and deliver seamless, customer-centric experiences. Xperience 2025 offers more than 100 sessions, including expert-led discussions, hands-on workshops and real-world case studies designed to inspire innovation and drive business transformation. Attendees can network with peers, engage with thought leaders and gain insights into the latest advancements in AI-powered experience orchestration. As a Silver Sponsor at this years event, were excited to demonstrate how our combined solutions deliver real business outcomes, said Joe Bigio, SVP CCaaS & AI Solutions at Inoria. Since joining CallTower, weve been able to offer our customers even greater flexibility, powerful integrations, and access to a global infrastructure that drives both innovation and cost efficiency. This year marks a meaningful return for Inoria, now operating under the CallTower banner following its recent acquisition. Together, Inoria and CallTower deliver a powerful, end-to-end solution that combines contact center expertise with unified communications and collaboration technologiesenabling organizations to scale faster and deliver more personalized service. As a Genesys Premier Partner, Inoria provides tailored solutions designed for rapid deployment and long-term value. Inoria was named the 2024 Genesys North America Canada Partner of the Year and in 2025 received the Genesys Partner of the Year in the High Growth categorya reflection of its continued momentum and commitment to helping organizations transform their customer experience strategies. With its expanding Conversational AI practice and comprehensive professional and managed services, Inoria provides end-to-end supportspanning strategic consulting, solution design, implementation, optimization, and ongoing operationsguaranteeing sustained CX success. CallTowers network spans 15 global data centers, enabling secure, high-performance communications and delivering measurable cost savings on usage and infrastructure. Together, Inoria and CallTower provide a unique value propositionblending deep CX expertise with a full suite of cloud-based communication and collaboration tools, enhanced by Inorias rapidly growing Conversational AI capabilities. Were not just connecting technologywere aligning it to real business needs, added Joe Bigio. From reducing complexity to accelerating ROI, we help organizations future-proof their customer experience strategies. During the event, stop by our booth, #S5, in the expo hall to see how our joint solutions can help your organization thrive. To register and access more information about the agenda and event, visit the Xperience website. About Inoria Inoria, a CallTower Company, is the North American partner of choice, actively orchestrating the evolution of contact center operations. Inoria powers millions of customer interactions, passionately supporting organizations as they navigate their digital transformation journey through customized optimization, implementation, and integration services. Leveraging Conversational AI (CAI) and advanced analytics, Inoria provides deep insights and strategic recommendations that drive performance. Agile, personable, and humancentric, Inoria builds authentic relationships and champions success through inspired guidance, collaboration, and innovative solutions. More than contact center expert consulting, Inoria is about enriching the customer experience, positioning them as a turnkey partner for all your contact center needs. For more information about Inoria, visit www.inoria.com. About CallTower CallTower is leading the future of global communications where UCaaS and CCaaS innovations meet the vast expanse of connectivity with numbering coverage in over 80 countries, with additional countries with a managed telephony solution offering. CallTower is revolutionizing communications through the integration of cutting-edge technologies. CallTower delivers seamless MS Teams, Zoom, and Webex voice solutions (UCaaS) with one-click failover offerings are provided via CallTower Connect, a CallTower proprietary delivery and managed service tool. CallTower provides a comprehensive contact center, customer experience solutions (CCaaS/CX) of Genesys, Five9, Intermedia, along with conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) of Kore.ai and Parloa offerings. Products are provided with robust professional and global managed service offering that allows customers to deploy and manage best-of-breed communications solutions that meet their current and expanding future global needs. Since its establishment in 2002, CallTower has evolved into a global cloud-based, enterprise-class cloud communications solutions provider, catering to the needs of enterprise businesses. CallTower offers and supports industry-leading solutions such as Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams, MS Teams Direct Routing, GCC High Teams Direct Routing, Microsoft 365, Cisco Webex Calling / UCM, Cisco CCP, Zoom Phone, Zoom (BYOB), Genesys, Five9, and Intermedia. For more information about Inoria, visit calltower.com. Dublin, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market - Forecasts from 2025 to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Market is expected to grow from USD 18.224 billion in 2025 to USD 60.864 billion in 2030, at a CAGR of 27.28%. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free, scalable, web-based educational platforms that have gained significant traction due to their accessibility, low cost, and lack of stringent eligibility criteria. These courses enable learners to acquire new skills, enhance career prospects, and transition into new professional fields. MOOCs are categorized into two primary types: Connectivist MOOCs (cMOOCs), which emphasize open-access elements such as open licensing and collaborative learning, and Extended MOOCs (xMOOCs), which use restricted licensing but provide free access to students. The rapid digitalization, widespread smartphone penetration, and improved internet accessibility have been pivotal in driving the MOOC market's growth in recent years. Market Drivers Technological Advancements and Accessibility The MOOC market has experienced robust growth since 2024, propelled by technological advancements, evolving educational trends, and enhanced ease of access. Platforms such as Coursera, edX, and Udacity have expanded their offerings, partnering with top-tier universities to provide diverse, high-quality courses. The limitations of traditional higher education, including high tuition costs and strict academic prerequisites, have further accelerated the adoption of MOOCs as a viable alternative. The flexibility of MOOCs allows learners to access education remotely, catering to a global audience seeking affordable and scalable learning solutions. The proliferation of digital infrastructure, including widespread smartphone usage and reliable internet connectivity, continues to fuel this trend, enabling seamless access to educational content across geographies. Strategic Developments by MOOC Providers Since 2024, MOOC providers have pursued aggressive expansion strategies to capitalize on growing demand. For example, Coursera has broadened its global footprint by launching new degree programs and MasterTrack Certificate courses in collaboration with leading universities. These initiatives have diversified its portfolio, offering over 30 degrees across nine countries. Similarly, the acquisition of edX by 2U in 2021, valued at US$800 million, has consolidated the market, combining their offerings to include over 3,500 courses from prestigious institutions and corporations. These strategic moves have strengthened the market presence of major players, enabling them to cater to a broader audience while maintaining high educational standards. Providers have also focused on diversifying course offerings, with business and technology courses constituting approximately 40% of total enrollments, reflecting strong demand for skills in these areas. Government Initiatives and Support Government-backed initiatives have played a crucial role in expanding the MOOC market since 2024. In South Korea, the government has continued to promote its Smart Training Platform, encouraging content providers to upload diverse educational materials and supporting these efforts with subsidies. This initiative has enhanced the platform's accessibility and enriched its course catalog. In the UK, the Trade Union Confederation's Learning@home campaign, launched through Unionlearn, has supported workforce upskilling, particularly for employees affected by economic disruptions. Additionally, UNESCO's collaboration with the Faculty of Political Sciences of Sarajevo to launch a Media and Information Literacy (MIL) program underscores the global push to enhance digital literacy through MOOCs. These government-supported programs have bolstered the market by aligning educational offerings with national workforce development and digital inclusion goals. Market Trends and Insights The MOOC market has witnessed significant enrollment growth, with platforms reporting substantial increases in learner participation. The flexibility of MOOCs, coupled with their ability to offer courses from globally recognized institutions, has made them a preferred choice for lifelong learners and professionals seeking career advancement. The focus on business and technology courses highlights the market's alignment with industry demands for digital and managerial skills. Furthermore, the strategic expansion of MOOC platforms through partnerships and acquisitions has enhanced their scalability and global reach. Government support has not only increased accessibility but also encouraged the development of specialized programs tailored to regional and national needs. The MOOC market continues to thrive, driven by technological advancements, strategic initiatives by providers, and supportive government policies. The scalability, affordability, and flexibility of MOOCs make them a transformative force in education, catering to diverse learners worldwide. As platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udacity expand their offerings and governments promote digital learning, the MOOC market is poised for sustained growth, reshaping the landscape of global education. Key Benefits of this Report: Insightful Analysis: Gain detailed market insights covering major as well as emerging geographical regions, focusing on customer segments, government policies and socio-economic factors, consumer preferences, industry verticals, and other sub-segments. Competitive Landscape: Understand the strategic maneuvers employed by key players globally to understand possible market penetration with the correct strategy. Market Drivers & Future Trends: Explore the dynamic factors and pivotal market trends and how they will shape future market developments. Actionable Recommendations: Utilize the insights to exercise strategic decisions to uncover new business streams and revenues in a dynamic environment. Caters to a Wide Audience: Beneficial and cost-effective for startups, research institutions, consultants, SMEs, and large enterprises. Report Coverage: Historical data from 2022 to 2024 & forecast data from 2025 to 2030 Growth Opportunities, Challenges, Supply Chain Outlook, Regulatory Framework, and Trend Analysis Competitive Positioning, Strategies, and Market Share Analysis Revenue Growth and Forecast Assessment of segments and regions including countries Company Profiling (Strategies, Products, Financial Information, and Key Developments) Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 148 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $18.22 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $60.86 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 27.2% Regions Covered Global Business Landscape Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Porter's Five Forces Analysis Industry Value Chain Analysis Policies and Regulations Strategic Recommendations Companies Featured Coursera Inc. edX LLC Udacity, Inc. Udemy, Inc. FutureLearn Ltd Alison Pluralsight LLC Canvas Networks Inc. (Instructure) LinkedIn Learning Khan Academy Market Segmentation: By Platform cMOOC xMOOC By Course Business Technology Social Sciences Others By Revenue Model Free MOOCs Paid MOOCs Freemium MOOCs By Geography North America USA Canada Mexico South America Brazil Argentina Europe Germany France United Kingdom Middle East and Africa Israel South Africa Asia Pacific China Japan South Korea India Others For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dr77vm About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market by Indication (Bone Cancer, Brain Tumors, Leukemia), Therapy (Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Radiation Therapy), Drug Class, Route Of Administration, End User - Global Forecast 2025-2030" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Pediatric oncology faces unique challenges due to the distinct biological characteristics and developing physiology of children. This market research report explores the evolving landscape of pediatric cancer treatment, which highlights emerging therapies and clinical practice trends essential for strategic decision-making. The incorporation of molecular profiling and precision medicine allows for personalized interventions, moving beyond traditional cytotoxic regimens. Advances in genomic sequencing have identified novel oncogenic drivers and treatment targets, enabling clinicians to tailor treatment with higher precision. This leads to more integrated diagnostic workflows, combining high-resolution imaging and molecular diagnostics to inform individualized care pathways. Strategic application of these insights helps healthcare executives and thought leaders navigate the complex and rapidly evolving pediatric oncology landscape. Transformative Shifts in Pediatric Oncology The field is experiencing transformative shifts due to scientific breakthroughs, technological innovation, and policy reform. Novel immunotherapeutic modalities like CAR T cell therapy have redefined treatment paradigms, offering new hope for high-risk leukemia patients. Advancements in next-generation sequencing and liquid biopsy platforms also allow for early detection and monitoring of minimal residual disease. These technological advancements are supported by evolving regulatory frameworks that expedite approval processes and offer incentives for developing pediatric-specific treatments. Such innovations accelerate market entry strategies and provide competitive advantages in delivering pediatric care. Impact of United States Tariff Adjustments The anticipated adjustments in United States tariffs are likely to influence the supply chain, cost dynamics, and therapeutic distribution in pediatric oncology. Components, such as bioreagents and medical devices, often cross international borders, making the ecosystem susceptible to tariff-induced challenges. This could lead to delays and cost fluctuations that may impact treatment availability. By engaging with supply chain partners and adopting resilient procurement approaches, healthcare leaders can anticipate these challenges and ensure continuity of care amid a changing landscape. Deep-Dive Segmentation Insights The analysis details various dimensions within pediatric oncology treatment, identifying both opportunities and challenges. The diverse spectrum of malignancies, including bone cancer, brain tumors, leukemia, and rarer conditions, necessitates sophisticated, tailored intervention strategies. Treatment modalities extend from traditional chemotherapy to emerging therapies like stem cell transplantation and targeted treatments. These insights guide decision-makers in crafting precise therapeutic approaches that address the complexity and heterogeneity of pediatric cancers, aiding strategic planning and risk mitigation efforts. Key Takeaways from This Report Pediatric oncology treatment is moving towards precision-driven interventions backed by molecular profiling and genomic advancements. Tariff adjustments pose potential supply chain and cost challenges, emphasizing the need for strategic procurement frameworks. Understanding regional and therapeutic segmentations is crucial for optimizing market access and service delivery. Technological and policy innovations present opportunities for enhancing clinical outcomes and competitive positioning. Regional Insights The report provides a detailed regional analysis covering the Americas, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Each region demonstrates distinct growth dynamics and opportunities, influenced by local regulatory environments and healthcare infrastructure. For example, the mature networks in North America streamline protocol harmonization, while regions in Europe prioritize capacity development for advanced therapeutics. Recognizing these variations assists stakeholders in optimizing regional strategies and identifying targeted growth opportunities. Competitive Company Profiles Leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms are investing heavily in pediatric oncology. These companies, through strategic collaborations and innovation portfolios, enhance their market positions. The pursuit of disruptive innovations like allogeneic CAR T cell therapies and integration of genomic insights into drug discovery are notable highlights. By fostering collaborations and adopting precision medicine, companies bolster their pipelines, providing a competitive advantage and fostering sustainable outcomes. Strategic Recommendations Industry leaders should focus on integrating precision diagnostics into their standard protocols to augment therapeutic targeting and reduce side effects. Developing adaptable supply chains is vital in mitigating the effects of tariff changes, while partnerships with diagnostic innovators will help streamline patient selection and monitoring processes. Engaging with stakeholders to advocate for regulatory acceleration and cultivating multidisciplinary alliances are recommended strategies for enhancing market access and delivering long-term value. Research Methodology This report is built on a comprehensive research methodology that integrates primary and secondary data supported by expert validation. In-depth interviews with oncology experts and institutional stakeholders provide real-world insights. The data collected was analyzed for recurring patterns and corroborated through secondary sources such as peer-reviewed publications and regulatory filings. This approach delivers actionable intelligence, equipping decision-makers with a comprehensive understanding of the pediatric oncology landscape. Key Topics Covered 1. Preface 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Overview 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Market Sizing & Forecasting 5. Market Dynamics 5.1. Expansion of CAR-T cell therapies to treat solid tumors in pediatric oncology patients 5.2. Integration of digital health platforms for remote monitoring of pediatric cancer treatments 5.3. Development of personalized neoantigen vaccines targeting high-risk pediatric neuroblastoma 5.4. Adoption of liquid biopsy techniques for minimal residual disease detection in children 5.5. Implementation of AI-driven imaging algorithms for early detection of pediatric tumors 5.6. Global public-private partnerships to increase access to affordable pediatric cancer drugs 5.7. Clinical advancement of bispecific T-cell engagers in treating pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia 5.8. Utilization of real-world evidence to support accelerated pediatric oncology drug approvals 5.9. Regulatory incentives and priority review vouchers fueling investment in rare pediatric cancer research 6. Market Insights 6.1. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 6.2. PESTLE Analysis 7. Cumulative Impact of United States Tariffs 2025 8. Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market, by Indication 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Bone Cancer 8.3. Brain Tumors 8.4. Leukemia 8.5. Lymphoma 8.6. Neuroblastoma 8.7. Retinoblastoma 8.8. Rhabdomyosarcoma 8.9. Wilms Tumor 9. Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market, by Therapy 9.1. Introduction 9.2. Chemotherapy 9.2.1. Alkylating Agents 9.2.2. Antimetabolites 9.2.3. Topoisomerase Inhibitors 9.3. Immunotherapy 9.3.1. CAR T Cell Therapy 9.3.2. Checkpoint Inhibitors 9.3.3. Vaccine Therapy 9.4. Radiation Therapy 9.4.1. Brachytherapy 9.4.2. External Beam Radiation 9.5. Stem Cell Transplant 9.5.1. Allogeneic 9.5.2. Autologous 9.6. Surgery 9.7. Targeted Therapy 9.7.1. Monoclonal Antibodies 9.7.2. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors 10. Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market, by Drug Class 10.1. Introduction 10.2. CAR T Cell Therapy 10.3. Checkpoint Inhibitors 10.4. Monoclonal Antibodies 10.5. Small Molecules 10.6. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors 11. Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market, by Route Of Administration 11.1. Introduction 11.2. Intrathecal 11.3. Intravenous 11.4. Oral 12. Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market, by End User 12.1. Introduction 12.2. Hospitals 12.3. Research Institutes 12.4. Specialty Clinics 13. Americas Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market 13.1. Introduction 13.2. United States 13.3. Canada 13.4. Mexico 13.5. Brazil 13.6. Argentina 14. Europe, Middle East & Africa Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market 14.1. Introduction 14.2. United Kingdom 14.3. Germany 14.4. France 14.5. Russia 14.6. Italy 14.7. Spain 14.8. United Arab Emirates 14.9. Saudi Arabia 14.10. South Africa 14.11. Denmark 14.12. Netherlands 14.13. Qatar 14.14. Finland 14.15. Sweden 14.16. Nigeria 14.17. Egypt 14.18. Turkey 14.19. Israel 14.20. Norway 14.21. Poland 14.22. Switzerland 15. Asia-Pacific Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market 15.1. Introduction 15.2. China 15.3. India 15.4. Japan 15.5. Australia 15.6. South Korea 15.7. Indonesia 15.8. Thailand 15.9. Philippines 15.10. Malaysia 15.11. Singapore 15.12. Vietnam 15.13. Taiwan 16. Competitive Landscape The companies profiled in this Pediatric Oncology Treatment Market report include: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Novartis AG Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Merck & Co. Inc. Pfizer Inc. Johnson & Johnson AbbVie Inc. Amgen Inc. AstraZeneca PLC GlaxoSmithKline PLC For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xwht7o About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. HONG KONG, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CoinEx Charity, the philanthropic arm of global cryptocurrency exchange CoinEx, has once again extended its efforts to bridge the digital divide in the Philippines. The organization successfully held its fifth Starlink unit turnover ceremony in Zambales, further proving its dedication to bringing reliable, high-speed internet to underserved communities. The event took place at the office of Hon. Congressman Jefferson Jay F. Khonghun and was attended by representatives from his office and members of the local media. The CoinEx Charity team turned over a Starlink unit and a printer at the office of Congressman Jefferson Khonghun The CoinEx Charity team turned over a Starlink unit and a printer at the office of Congressman Jefferson Khonghun. The ceremony highlighted the value of partnerships between charitable groups and government leaders. Beyond the turnover, the initiative carried special meaning for the education sector. CoinEx Charity granted the request of Agusuhin School in Subic, Zambales, by providing the school with a much-needed printer unit to support both students and teachers. For students, this new resource means easier access to printed learning materials, while for teachers, it provides the tools to prepare updated and more interactive lessons. The gesture reflects CoinEx Charitys belief that technology and resources must go hand-in-hand to truly uplift communities. CoinEx Charity provided a printer to Agusuhin School in a ceremony attended by the principal and students. CoinEx Charity provided a printer to Agusuhin School in a ceremony attended by the principal and students. The Bridge to Hope: Connecting Communities with Starlink The Bridge to Hope program is CoinEx Charitys flagship initiative aimed at narrowing the global digital divide. Since its launch, the program has focused on delivering sustainable connectivity and educational empowerment to underserved schools, rural communities, and marginalized groups. By leveraging blockchain-inspired philanthropy and cutting-edge tools like Starlink satellite internet, CoinEx Charity enables equal access to the digital world, creating pathways for long-term social and economic growth. Through the Starlink turnover in Zambales, CoinEx Charity once again proved the transformative power of this initiative. For Zambales, this is not just an infrastructure upgrade it represents a promise of equal opportunity where students can access online learning platforms, teachers can share updated educational materials, and communities can unlock new digital livelihoods. Since its inception, the Bridge to Hope program has expanded to multiple regions across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, connecting communities that were previously left behind. Each deployment plants new seeds of hope, demonstrating CoinEx Charitys mission to build a more connected and inclusive future, one community at a time. About CoinEx Established in 2017, CoinEx is an award-winning cryptocurrency exchange designed with users in mind. Since its launch by the industry-leading mining pool ViaBTC, the platform has been one of the earliest crypto exchanges to release proof-of-reserves to protect 100% of user assets. CoinEx provides over 1400 coins, supported by professional-grade features and services, for its 10+ million users across 200+ countries and regions. CoinEx is also home to its native token, CET, incentivizing user activities while empowering its ecosystem. To learn more about CoinEx, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Contact: CoinEx pr@coinex.com Disclaimer: This content is provided by CoinEx. 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/f68307dd-3a0c-439f-89a5-5563dc294d9d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/711001a1-a4d3-4655-9516-1f0a585f1c47 LONDON, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specialist agricultural investor AgDevCo is pleased to announce a $7.2 million follow-on investment into its longstanding portfolio company, EFAfrica Group Limited (EFAG). EFAG is an equipment leasing company focused on small and medium-sized enterprises and farmers in Africa. The company serves over 1,500 lessee entrepreneurs across Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, many of whom lack the formality and collateral requirements sought by banks. Popular leases include trucks, tractors and other agricultural equipment, with a typical value of between $10,000 and $80,000. AgDevCos latest investment, a structured long-term loan, allows EFAG to offer larger leases to agribusiness corporates and farming services providers. In Tanzania, EFAG is supporting Farming and Engineering Services (FES), a precision agriculture company founded in 1967. FES is involved in multiple projects across the country, including a greenfield development in the Kigoma region, where it provides land preparation, planting and harvesting services. John Jakobsson, Investment Director at AgDevCo, We are pleased to back EFAGs continued growth as it expands its footprint and product offering, reaching thousands of entrepreneurs, supporting sustainable economic growth in rural areas, and contributing to regional food security. Nicomed Bohay, Chief Operating Officer of EFAfrica Group, This partnership allows EFAG to deepen its role in supporting agricultural transformation through mechanisation in East and Southern Africa. By providing the right tools and financing solutions, we are empowering businesses that drive rural development and strengthen regional food security. Mike Aldworth, Chief Executive Officer of Farming and Engineering Services, We are proud to be part of this important partnership which supports our expansion in East Africa. Since our founding in 1967, FES has grown to become a regional leader in precision agriculture and mechanised contracting services. We greatly appreciate the continued backing of EFAG and AgDevCo, who are helping us to unlock new opportunities to improve productivity and food security across the region. Trinity International (UK), Bowmans Mauritius and Kilundu Giattas & Partners (Tanzania) provided AgDevCo with legal and advisory support to the transaction. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (South Africa) provided EFAfrica Group with legal support for the transaction. AgDevCo is a specialist impact investor operating exclusively in the agriculture sector in Africa. Our mission is to build successful African agribusinesses through long-term investment and support to deliver positive impact at scale. We invest debt and equity in African agribusinesses to create jobs, improve food security, and boost prosperity. With $340 million assets under management, we have made over 88 investments to date (of which 51 exited). Our investments leverage private capital into socially-responsible farming and agri-processing businesses in Africa, with benefits for smallholder farmers and local communities. EFAfrica Group is a pan-African equipment leasing company, headquartered in Ebene, Mauritius, with operations in Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia. Its mission is to bridge the financing gap in agricultural mechanisation and related sectors by offering flexible, tailored lease solutions to SMEs and large agribusinesses. www.efafrica.group. Farming and Engineering Services (FES), headquartered in Blantyre, Malawi with regional operations in Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania, is the leading supplier and contractor of agricultural, forestry, and construction equipment and services in Southern Africa. FES partners with commercial estates and smallholder farmers alike, providing mechanisation, agronomic, and engineering solutions to drive productivity and growth. www.fes.africa Contact for media enquiries: John Jakobsson, Investment Director, jjakobsson@agdevco.com Dublin, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Stretchable Electronics Market - Forecasts from 2025 to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The stretchable electronics market is expected to grow from USD 647.100 million in 2025 to USD 2.21 billion in 2030, at a CAGR of 27.91% Stretchable electronics are integral to multiple sectors, particularly automotive, healthcare, and consumer electronics, due to their flexibility, lightweight nature, and high performance. In 2024, the automotive industry saw a surge in demand for stretchable electronics in smart car displays and sensors, driven by the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous driving technologies. In healthcare, stretchable wearable sensors for real-time health monitoring gained traction, with a 20% increase in adoption for medical patches. Consumer electronics, including smartwatches and foldable devices, leverage miniaturized stretchable components for enhanced functionality, fueling market growth. Key players, including DuPont, 3M, Panasonic, and Innolux Corporation, drive innovation through R&D and strategic collaborations. In 2024, DuPont introduced a new stretchable conductive ink for automotive displays, enhancing durability. Innolux forecasted a surge in demand for large-scale flexible car displays, positioning it as a market leader in automotive applications. North America holds a significant share, contributing 33% of market revenue in 2024, driven by startups like CelLink and Frore Systems and major players' focus on battery efficiency. Europe follows, with Germany and the UK investing in automotive and healthcare applications. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with a projected CAGR of 19%, fueled by India's electronics production goals and China's advancements in wearable technology. Technological Advancements Innovations in materials and manufacturing processes are accelerating market expansion. In 2023, advancements in stretchable polymers and conductive inks enabled the development of low-cost, high-performance devices. These technologies support rapid prototyping and production of stretchable electronics, reducing development costs by up to 15% for manufacturers. The integration of stretchable circuits with wireless communication capabilities enhances their use in IoT devices, further driving adoption across industries. Government Initiatives Supportive government policies are boosting the electronics sector, indirectly driving demand for stretchable electronics. In 2024, India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme aimed to achieve USD 300 billion in electronics production by FY26, fostering innovation in flexible and stretchable technologies. Similar initiatives in Europe, such as the EU's Horizon Europe program, allocated USD 1.2 billion for advanced electronics R&D, supporting stretchable electronics for automotive and healthcare applications. Market Challenges High Development Costs The complex manufacturing processes for stretchable electronics, including specialized materials like conductive elastomers, result in high costs. In 2024, the average cost of developing a stretchable sensor prototype was USD 100,000, limiting adoption by smaller firms in emerging markets. Technical Complexity Integrating stretchable electronics with existing systems requires advanced engineering expertise. In 2023, compatibility issues with rigid components in automotive displays delayed deployments in Asia-Pacific, slowing market growth in some regions. Limited Scalability Scaling production of stretchable electronics remains challenging due to material constraints and low yield rates. In 2024, supply chain disruptions for rare conductive materials increased production costs by 10%, impacting scalability in developing regions. Market Segmentation Analysis By Component Conductors, including stretchable conductive inks, dominated with a 40% market share in 2024, due to their use in flexible circuits and sensors. Electroactive polymers are the fastest-growing segment, driven by demand in wearable and medical devices for their flexibility and biocompatibility. By End-User The automotive segment leads, holding a 35% share in 2024, driven by demand for flexible displays and sensors in EVs and smart vehicles. Healthcare is the fastest-growing segment, with stretchable sensors enabling continuous patient monitoring. Consumer electronics, including wearables and foldable devices, also contribute significantly. By Application On-body electronics, such as wearable sensors, dominate due to their use in health monitoring and fitness tracking. In-vehicle electronics are growing rapidly, supported by the rise of connected and autonomous vehicles requiring flexible interfaces. Key Benefits of this Report: Insightful Analysis: Gain detailed market insights covering major as well as emerging geographical regions, focusing on customer segments, government policies and socio-economic factors, consumer preferences, industry verticals, and other sub-segments. Competitive Landscape: Understand the strategic maneuvers employed by key players globally to understand possible market penetration with the correct strategy. Market Drivers & Future Trends: Explore the dynamic factors and pivotal market trends and how they will shape future market developments. Actionable Recommendations: Utilize the insights to exercise strategic decisions to uncover new business streams and revenues in a dynamic environment. Caters to a Wide Audience: Beneficial and cost-effective for startups, research institutions, consultants, SMEs, and large enterprises. Report Coverage: Historical data from 2022 to 2024 & forecast data from 2025 to 2030 Growth Opportunities, Challenges, Supply Chain Outlook, Regulatory Framework, and Trend Analysis Competitive Positioning, Strategies, and Market Share Analysis Revenue Growth and Forecast Assessment of segments and regions including countries Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 165 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $647.1 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $2215.693 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 27.9% Regions Covered Global Business Landscape Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Porter's Five Forces Analysis Industry Value Chain Analysis Policies and Regulations Strategic Recommendations Company Profiling (Strategies, Products, Financial Information, and Key Developments) ABB Ltd. DuPont Forciot Enfucell Flexible Electronics Co. Ltd. Samsung Electronics LG Electronics Panasonic Corporation Yamaha Corporation Stretchable Electronics Market Segmentation By Component Circuit Batteries Electroactive Polymers Others By Substrate Thermoplastic Polyurethane Silicones Others By End-User Consumer Electronics Healthcare Aerospace & Defense Automotive Textiles Others By Geography North America United States Canada Mexico South America Brazil Argentina Others Europe Germany UK France Spain Italy Others Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia Israel Others Asia Pacific China Japan India Indonesia South Korea Taiwan Others For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ton2tk About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "India Pump Market Research Report 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The India Pump Market was valued at USD 2.90 Billion in 2024, and is projected to reach USD 4.14 Billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 6.11%. The India pump market consists of major domestic manufacturers Kirloskar Brothers, CRI Pumps, and Texmo Industries, together with smaller regional companies that serve agriculture, water supply, wastewater treatment, industrial applications, and building services. The market experiences growth from investments in irrigation systems and smart city development, and rural electrification initiatives. Local manufacturers such as Shakti Pumps, KSB India, and Jyoti Ltd are adopting smart pump technologies. These include remote monitoring and automation to meet the need for water efficiency, energy savings, and digital infrastructure in rural and urban areas. Furthermore, companies like V-Guard benefit from strong dealer and distributor networks, extensive service systems, and local manufacturing. This gives them an edge, especially in the agricultural and municipal pump markets. The government maintains its support for the industry, which enables manufacturers like Solar Pump India Pvt Ltd to offer solar-powered and energy-efficient pump solutions. Also, larger firms such as Grundfos India focus on innovation and research and development for energy-efficient and IoT-enabled pumps. In the meantime, local manufacturers such as Falcon Pumps, Lubi Industries, and Roto Pumps compete based on price and customization, especially in agriculture and in the borewell pump business. INDIA PUMP MARKET GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS In 2024, the Western region accounted for approximately 33% of the India pump market, establishing itself as the largest market share, driven by strong industrial demand. This dominance is largely attributed to industrial activities in key states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, which are critical manufacturing hubs contributing significantly to India's industrial output. According to Invest India, Maharashtra alone accounts for 13.8% of India's overall industrial output and attracts 30% of the nation's total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows from April 2000 to March 2023 The Eastern region is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the Indian pump market, with a CAGR of 7.77%, driven by a strong government focus on rural infrastructure development. This growth is further supported by the emergence of new industrial corridors in states like Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal. In June 2025, Odisha approved eight mega industrial projects with a combined investment of approximately USD 17.76 billion, significantly contributing to the demand for pumps in the region. INDIA PUMP MARKET TRENDS & ENABLERS The increasing adoption of smart and IoT-enabled pump systems is allowing end-users to track performance, detect faults, and reduce maintenance costs through remote diagnostics and predictive analytics. Solar-powered and energy-efficient pump solutions are becoming more popular in the India pump market, especially in agriculture and rural water projects. This trend is driven by rising electricity costs and strong government backing for renewable energy programs. Municipal and industrial pumping systems are adding the capabilities of automation and centralized control systems. This improves system responsiveness and cuts operational costs. Investments from the Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT schemes are significantly boosting pump deployment for rural water supply, sanitation, and sewage treatment infrastructure across different states. The industrial and construction boom, supported by the Make in India and Smart Cities programs, is driving demand for pumps in HVAC systems, material handling, and utility services; hence, supporting the India pump market growth during the forecast period. The government and industrial sectors have a vast array of aging pump systems that pose prospects for retrofitting and replacing them with energy-efficient and digitally regulated systems. INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS High initial costs of modern pump systems and control units keep small farmers and MSMEs from adopting them. Price-sensitive buyers select models that are low-priced with few features. This limits the reach of energy-efficient and IoT-enabled options. Furthermore, volatility in raw material prices, particularly for copper, cast iron, and stainless steel, leads to unstable pump pricing and tighter profit margins for manufacturers. This makes long-term procurement planning difficult for buyers and OEMs. The India pump market is very fragmented, with many small and regional players that focus on low-cost, low-quality products. This erodes customer trust, limits product standardization, and creates challenges for organized manufacturers trying to scale. Moreover, a lack of awareness and inadequate training among end-users and field technicians about optimal pump usage, energy-saving methods, and preventive maintenance results in frequent failures, shorter lifespans, and poor performance of advanced systems. IMPACT OF US & CHINA TRADE WAR In April 2025, India imposed safeguard tariffs of up to 15% on Chinese steel and alloy imports. This significantly increased the cost of raw materials among home pump manufacturers in irrigation systems, municipalities, and industries. Between late 2023 and Q1 2025, Indian steel prices rose by over 20%, forcing OEMs to delay public utility pump tenders and cut margins on infrastructure-driven projects. Indian pump manufacturers are now sourcing from Vietnam, Thailand, and Eastern Europe. However, lead times have increased to 8 to 14 weeks, disrupting the delivery of pump systems under Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) and export contracts. Slow global demand from the U.S. and China in FY2024 led to a decrease in Indian pump exports for oil, gas, and water infrastructure projects linked to both markets. As part of the China +1 sourcing strategy, global buyers are seeking to diversify their supply chains by looking beyond China for manufacturing options. This shift has led to a rise in inquiries for Indian pumps from regions such as the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and East Africa. However, domestic capacity constraints limit short-term volume growth. To reduce the impact of tariffs, major Indian OEMs are localizing IoT integration and forming regional supply partnerships. Their goal is to stabilize component availability and reduce delays in obtaining international approvals. INDIA PUMP MARKET NEWS In February 2025, Grundfos introduced the MIXIT HVAC solution and IE5 pump systems and enhanced LSV technology at ACREX India. The company implemented this strategy to enhance energy efficiency in data centers and district cooling systems. In April 2025, Havells India announced a USD 70.49 million investment to acquire up to a 9.24% stake in Goldi Solar, which operates as a leading solar module manufacturer. The acquisition strategy aimed to establish a reliable solar module and cell supply while expanding its renewable energy market position. In July 2025, Shakti Pumps Limited approved an approximately USD 1.4 million equity investment in its subsidiary, Shakti Energy Solutions. This investment is aimed at bolstering the company's expansion into DCR-compliant solar cell and module manufacturing at a new facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, India, strengthening its position in the rapidly growing solar pump segment. KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED How big is the India pump market? What is the growth rate of the India pump market? Who are the key players in the India pump market? Which region dominates the Indian pump market share? What are the significant trends in the India pump market? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 247 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $2.9 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $4.14 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.1% Regions Covered India Key Company Profiles Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited WPIL Limited Flowserve Corporation Jyoti Ltd. Roto Pumps Limited Kirloskar Brothers Limited KSB Limited Shakti Pumps (India) Ltd. Oswal Pumps Limited Lubi Industries LLP C.R.I. Pumps Private Limited Other Prominent Vendors AQUA Group Angel Pumps (P) Limited Best Pumps (India) Pvt. Ltd. CNP Pumps India Pvt. Ltd. Deccan Industries Dover India Private Limited Duke Pumping Solutions Private Limited EKKI Water Technologies Ellen Group Endura Pumps Falcon Pumps Pvt. Ltd. Grundfos Holding A/S Havells India Ltd. Jasco Pump Pvt. Ltd. Kishor Pumps Pvt. Ltd. KIRLOSKAR EBARA PUMPS LIMITED Mahendra Pumps Pvt. Ltd. MAK Pump Industries Maxwell Engineering Solutions MBH Pumps (Guj) Pvt. Ltd. Protecto Engineering Pvt. Ltd. PSP Pumps Pvt. Ltd. Sabar Hydrotech LLP SAM Turbo Industry Private Ltd. Swastik Engineering Suguna Pumps Sintech Precision Products Ltd. Latteys Industries Limited Texmo Industries V-Guard Industries Ltd. Waterman Industries Pvt. Ltd. Xylem Inc. Yathi Pumps La-Gajjar Machineries Pvt. Ltd. SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS Segmentation by Operation Electrical Mechanical Segmentation by Power Output Low Power Medium Power High Power Segmentation by Product Centrifugal Reciprocating Rotary Segmentation by Centrifugal Pump Single-stage Multi-stage Submersible Turbine Others Segmentation by Reciprocating Pump Piston Diaphragm Segmentation by Rotary Pump Gear Lobe Peristaltic Vane Others Segmentation by Distribution Channel Offline Online Segmentation by End-user Industrial Agricultural Commercial Residential Segmentation by Industrial Water & Wastewater Oil & Gas Power Chemical Food & Beverage Mining Pharmaceutical Others Segmentation by Commercial Public Utilities Office Complexes Hospitality Others Segmentation by Agricultural End-users Borewell Openwell Segmentation by Geography Western Maharashtra Gujarat Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan Southern Tamil Nadu Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Telangana Northern Uttar Pradesh Punjab Haryana Delhi Eastern West Bengal Odisha Bihar Assam For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ygo8i5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment US$8.75m received from Hochschild Mining Plc. (Hochschild) as a prepayment of the US$10m obligation due July 2026 Funds strengthen balance sheet, support acceleration of growth initiatives TORONTO, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerrado Gold Inc. [TSX.V:CERT][OTCQX:CRDOF; FRA:BAI0] (Cerrado or the Company) announces that it has received US$8.75 million from Amarillo Mineracao Do Brasil Ltda, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hochschild Mining Plc (Hochschild), as a prepayment of the US$10 million receivable related to the sale of the Monte Do Carmo Gold project in Brazil. Under the terms of the option agreement dated March 4, 2024, two payments remain outstanding following closing of the option exercise on November 6, 2024: US$10 million, payable within 14 days of the second anniversary of the date Cerrado received shareholders approval on June 27, 2024: and US$5 million, payable within 14 days of the earlier of i) the commencement of commercial production from the MDC Project; and ii) March 31, 2027. Mark Brennan, CEO and Chairman, commented, "This payment immediately strengthens our balance sheet and gives us greater flexibility to accelerate our growth initiatives. We are now well positioned to push forward on multiple fronts from ongoing exploration and development at Minera Don Nicolas, completing the Optimized Feasibility Study at Lagoa Salgada and advancing the inaugural Bankable Feasibility Study at the Mont Sorcier high grade iron project. With stronger liquidity and a clear path to value creation, were focused on driving the next phase of growth for our shareholders. With this prepayment, Hochschild has now satisfied its obligation for the first US$10 million payment. The US$5 million obligation due in 2027 remains outstanding and due to Cerrado as detailed above. About Cerrado Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company. The Company is the 100% owner of the producing Minera Don Nicolas and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. In Portugal, the Company holds an 80% interest in the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project through its position in Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing its 100% owned Mont Sorcier Iron project located outside of Chibougamou, Quebec. In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas operation through continued operational optimization and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias heap leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff. In Portugal, Cerrado focused on the exploration and development of the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The Lagoa Salgada project is a high-grade polymetallic project, demonstrating a typical mineralization endowment of zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver, and gold. Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209-hectare property concession. Located just 80km from Lisbon and surrounded by exceptional infrastructure, Lagoa Salgada offers a low-cost entry to a significant exploration and development opportunity, already showing its mineable scale and cashflow generation potential. In Canada, Cerrado holds a 100% interest in the Mont Sorcier Iron project, which has the potential to produce a premium iron concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high grade and high purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, contributing to the decarbonization of the industry and the achievement of sustainable development goals. For more information about Cerrado please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com. Mark Brennan CEO and Chairman Mike McAllister Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: +1-647-805-5662 mmcallister@cerradogold.com Disclaimer NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado. In making the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado has made certain assumptions. Although Cerrado believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT Odense, September 3, 2025 Company Announcement no. 67 September 3, 2025 Reporting on transactions in Danish Aerospace Company A/S shares by persons closely associated with persons discharging managerial responsibilities Danish Aerospace Company A/S Company reg. (CVR) no.: 12 42 42 48 Danish Aerospace Company A/S (DAC or the Company) has received notification pursuant to article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 of the below transaction related to shares in DAC made by persons closely associated with persons discharging managerial responsibilities in DAC. M. Goldschmidt Capital A/S, a closely associated person to Sren Bjrn Hansen, Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors, has made the transaction described in the attached notification on the dates set out therein. Please see the attached files for further details. For further information, please contact: Danish Aerospace Company A/S: Thomas A.E. Andersen, CEO Mobile: +45 40 29 41 62 Certified Adviser: Baker Tilly Corporate Finance P/S Poul Bundgaards Vej 1 DK-2500 Valby Tel.: +45 33 45 10 00 www.bakertilly.dk About Danish Aerospace Company A/S Danish Aerospace Company A/S is a high-tech company operating in the area of advanced medical instrumentation and other engineering fields primarily within space applications. Our products are based on many years of specialized research and development. These consist of developing, integrating, and applying new as well as established medical technologies to the challenges of functioning and remaining reliable in space. These products and services bring the potential of space research and experience from space operations down to Earth for the benefit of all Mankind. Danish Aerospace Company A/S employs engineers and technicians who deliver full engineering, production and technical services for our customers. We have specialized in customer specific design, development, manufacturing, certification, maintenance, testing, and operations. The company has developed five generations respiratory equipment for spaceflight, cycle ergometers for astronauts countermeasures, adapted several commercial medical equipment for spaceflight and has participated in the development of the minus eighty-degree Celsius freezers. The Companys quality system is certified in obligation to BS EN ISO 9001:2015, BS EN 9100:2018 technical equivalent to AS9100D that are the acknowledged standard in the area. Note: This is a translation of the corresponding company announcement in Danish. In case of discrepancies between the Danish wording and the English translation, the Danish wording prevails. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canterra Minerals Corporation (TSXV:CTM) (OTCQB: CTMCF) (FSE:DXZB) (Canterra or the Company) is pleased to announce that its property-wide, deep-penetrating 3D Induced Polarization (IP) survey at the flagship Buchans Project in Central Newfoundland has defined multiple large-scale, high-priority anomalies directly along the geological corridor that hosted the world-renowned, high-grade Buchans Mine. The new target anomalies occur at depths below those previously tested by historic shallow drilling. On the strength of these results, Canterra has immediately launched Phase 3 of its fully funded 10,000-metre drill programmarking a major step forward in advancing the Buchans Project toward potential new discoveries. 6,000 metres of drilling is now underway, targeting the highest-priority IP anomalies generated by the survey. For a video summarizing this news release click here. Significant outcomes from the Abitibi Geophysics proprietary DASAVISION3DIP 3D IP survey: Five large-scale anomalies identified: the survey defined five primary, large-scale, previously untested anomalies. Their geophysical signatures (high chargeability, low resistivity) are directly comparable to those over known mineralized zones and occur along projected extension or structural repeats of the Buchans Mine host stratigraphy. A number of these large scale anomalies, including the multi-kilometre Nu target, was identified using VRIFYs AI software and have been further validated by the Companys IP survey. the survey defined five primary, large-scale, previously untested anomalies. Their geophysical signatures (high chargeability, low resistivity) are directly comparable to those over known mineralized zones and occur along projected extension or structural repeats of the Buchans Mine host stratigraphy. A number of these large scale anomalies, including the multi-kilometre Nu target, was identified using VRIFYs AI software and have been further validated by the Companys IP survey. Potential for major Sulphide Systems: The size and geophysical character of these anomalies suggest the presence of significant sulphide accumulations, potentially on the scale required for future underground development. The historic Buchans Mine was one of the worlds highest-grade VMS deposits, producing 16.2 Mt at an average grade of 14.5% Zn, 7.6% Pb, 1.3% Cu, 1.37 g/t Au and 126 g/t Ag (1) . The size and geophysical character of these anomalies suggest the presence of significant sulphide accumulations, potentially on the scale required for future underground development. The historic Buchans Mine was one of the worlds highest-grade VMS deposits, producing . Unprecedented Depth Penetration: Canterra conducted the largest and deepest geophysical survey in the projects history, successfully imaging the subsurface to depths of up to 800 m, well below the limit of most historical exploration. Chris Pennimpede, President and CEO of Canterra commented: The IP survey successfully delivered exactly what we were looking for: multiple, large-scale anomalies with geophysical signatures that mirror those of the historic, high-grade Buchans orebodies. The fact that they sit on the same prospective stratigraphy is highly encouraging. This is a pivotal moment for Canterra, our most compelling opportunity yet to make a significant new discovery at Buchans. We have already commenced drilling and are excited to test these tier-one targets. Figure 1. Buchans 2025 3DIP Results (Resistivity Plan View). Known zones of sulphide mineralization shown with red outlines (projected vertically to surface). Red 3D shells highlight areas of low Resistivity. Background image shows Resistivity with hot colours showing lower Resistivity response. Thick grey lines are major faults. Figure 2. Buchans 2025 3DIP Results (Chargeability Plan View). Known zones of sulphide mineralization shown with red outlines (projected vertically to surface). Red 3D shells highlight areas of increased Chargeability. Background image shows Chargeability with hot colours showing higher chargeability response. Thick grey lines are major faults. Phase 3 Drilling The current phase of drilling will include up to 6,000-metre of drilling focused on four of the highest-priority targets generated from the 3D IP survey (Figures 1 & 2). The objective is to discover new high-grade VMS orebodies similar to those that established the Buchans camp as one of the world's most significant base metal districts. New drill targets include: Sandfill Deep: A large (>500 m) anomaly defined by coincident high chargeability and low resistivity, occurring within a structural repeat of the Buchans horizon. It is located below the historic Sandfill prospect at an estimated depth of ~600 m. A large (>500 m) anomaly defined by coincident high chargeability and low resistivity, occurring within a structural repeat of the Buchans horizon. It is located below the historic Sandfill prospect at an estimated depth of ~600 m. Clementine South: A compelling target defined by a coincident chargeability high and resistivity low, measuring several hundreds of metres in lateral extents (>500 m) and located 1.5 km south of the known Clementine mineralization at an estimated depth of 650 m. A compelling target defined by a coincident chargeability high and resistivity low, measuring several hundreds of metres in lateral extents (>500 m) and located 1.5 km south of the known Clementine mineralization at an estimated depth of 650 m. West Clementine: A broad, kilometre-scale chargeability anomaly occurring at estimated depths ranging between 400 and 800 m. It lies along strike of the West Clementine Stockwork sulphide prospect and may represent a faulted extension of a massive sulphide body. A broad, kilometre-scale chargeability anomaly occurring at estimated depths ranging between 400 and 800 m. It lies along strike of the West Clementine Stockwork sulphide prospect and may represent a faulted extension of a massive sulphide body. Nu Area: Initially identified with DORA, VRIFYs AI-Assisted Mineral Discovery Platform, the Nu target is host to a multiple kilometre-scale resistivity anomalies with locally coincident increased chargeability. This target is located within the poorly explored southern area of the project where historical work identified massive sulphide float but was followed up by only limited shallow drilling. Canterra continues to review these and other anomalous areas as possible drill targets with its geophysical consultants and expects to add additional targets to the current Phase 3 drill program that will continue through late fall. Buchans Project Canterras Buchans Project spans 95 km near the town of Buchans and hosts both the world-renowned, past-producing Buchans Mine and the undeveloped Lundberg deposit. The historic Buchans Mine, operated by Asarco from 1928 to 1984 and, was one of the worlds highest-grade VMS base metal mines of its time. Adjacent to this legacy, the Lundberg deposit represents a significant undeveloped resource, characterized by near-surface stockwork sulphide mineralization well-suited for open-pit development in a proven mining district. Figure 3. Canterras Central Newfoundland Mining District properties. Newfoundland and Labrador Junior Exploration Assistance Canterra would like to acknowledge financial support it may receive from the government of Newfoundland and Labradors Junior Exploration Assistance Program related to completion of its 2025 exploration programs at Buchans. Corporate Update Canterra also announces that it has engaged Digitonic Ltd. to provide marketing consulting and investor relations services to the Company. Digitonic is based in Glasgow, Scotland, and will provide a two-month investor content marketing project on behalf of the Company, beginning September 2. Digitonic is at arms length to the Company and has been paid US$20,000 for the two-month project. About Canterra Minerals Canterra is a diversified minerals exploration company focused on critical minerals and gold in central Newfoundland. The Companys projects include six mineral deposits located in close proximity to the world-renowned, past producing Buchans Mine and Teck Resources Duck Pond Mine, which collectively produced copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold. Several of Canterras deposits support current and historical Mineral Resource Estimates prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral. Canterras gold projects are located on-trend of Equinox Golds Valentine mine currently under construction and cover a ~60 km extension of the same structural corridor that hosts mineralization within Equinox Golds mine project. Past drilling by Canterra and others within the Companys gold projects intersected multiple occurrences of orogenic-style gold mineralization within a large land position that remains underexplored. Qualified Person Paul Moore MSc. P.Geo. (NL), Vice President of Exploration for Canterra Minerals Corporation, a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release. Notes: (1) Past production figures from Kirkham, R.V., ed., 1987, Buchans Geology, Newfoundland. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 86-24, 288 p. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CANTERRA MINERALS CORPORATION Chris Pennimpede President & CEO Additional information about the Company is available at www.canterraminerals.com For further information, please contact: +1 (604) 687-6644 Email: info@canterraminerals.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements with respect to estimated mineral resources, the opening of avenues for substantial discoveries within the belt, the Buchans Project being ripe for a modern approach with significant exploration potential for high grade VMS mineralization, the Company anticipating being strongly positioned to unveil the next mineral discovery in central Newfoundland. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Companys exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Companys business and prospects.; as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in the Company's public filings under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8def4777-0fca-43cf-acac-d635600028e9 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43b0c2ce-768e-4816-a7d3-bbcb6ee01494 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/329abc1a-3e53-4049-a1ee-893b6449e6b8 LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new whitepaper from X Open Hub details the sector's most significant challenges and presents a clear strategy for success. According to the whitepaper, the environment for brokers is more demanding than ever. The clients expect flawless execution and diverse asset options. Regulators impose complex reporting requirements. All the while, intense competition puts constant pressure on the margins. The strategies that built businesses may not be sufficient to secure its future. To grow, what is needed is to operate smarter, scale faster, and find a long-term competitive advantage. Recognising these difficulties, the institutional liquidity and technology provider X Open Hub has released a strategic whitepaper. The document examines the most significant challenges brokers will face in 2025 and offers a clear playbook on how to address them. It is a guide for turning pressure points into growth opportunities through robust infrastructure, intelligent automation, and innovative liquidity partnerships. Confronting a shrinking profit landscape As detailed in the whitepaper, a firm's profitability is affected by multiple vectors. Margins are tightening across the industry, forcing businesses to find new ways to maintain healthy margins. Relying on a limited range of products is no longer a viable long-term strategy. To thrive, owners must expand their offerings and give clients more reasons to trade with them. This requires access to deep, multi-asset liquidity that allows owners to introduce new instruments without creating operational bottlenecks. X Open Hub offers institutional-grade liquidity across more than 5,000 instruments. This includes Forex, indices, commodities, shares, and ETFs. By connecting to a single, deep liquidity pool, owners can broaden their product suite. This allows them to attract a broader client base and build new revenue streams, moving their business beyond a dependence on spread-based income alone. Mastering regulatory demands with confidence The weight of regulation continues to grow. Reporting standards like EMIR and MiFIR demand accuracy, promptness, and transparency. For many brokers, meeting these obligations requires significant manual effort and dedicated resources, pulling focus from core business activities. Developing and maintaining an in-house system that keeps pace with changing rules is a costly and complex undertaking. The right technology partner removes this burden. X Open Hub provides a compliance-ready infrastructure designed to meet the standards of Tier-1 regulators. The platform features advanced, API-based technology and customised reporting tools. These systems automate data collection and formatting, helping owners to satisfy their regulatory duties efficiently and accurately. They can operate with confidence, knowing their reporting framework is built on a solid foundation. This frees their team to concentrate on serving clients and growing the business. Building an Infrastructure for Scalability Growth is the goal, but the existing technology might be holding them back. Systems that cannot handle increased trading volumes or a larger client base will eventually fail, damaging the business' reputation and putting a ceiling on its success. True scalability means expanding the operations without sacrificing stability or control. It requires an infrastructure built from the ground up for high performance and reliability. This is where a robust technological framework becomes essential. X Open Hub enables brokers to scale their operations with a strong infrastructure designed for growth. The platform is engineered to manage high-frequency trading and large order flows without performance degradation. Whether owners are expanding into new regions or onboarding a large number of clients, the technology provides a stable backbone for their business. This allows them to pursue growth aggressively, secure in the knowledge that their systems can support their ambitions. Uncompromised execution quality In a competitive market, clients have high expectations. Poor execution quality, demonstrated by slow fills or high slippage, will quickly drive them to competitors. Delivering fast, reliable execution is fundamental to building and maintaining client trust. This depends entirely on the quality and depth of liquidity sources. Shallow liquidity pools lead to wider spreads and inconsistent pricing, especially during volatile market conditions. To secure client loyalty, owners must provide superior execution. X Open Hubs deep, institutional-grade liquidity ensures consistent and reliable order fills. By connecting to a broad network of liquidity providers through a single integration, they gain access to tight pricing and reduce the risk of slippage. This consistent performance builds credibility with their clients and strengthens the brand's reputation for quality and reliability. Automating complexity in operations Manual processes are a drag on growth. They introduce the risk of human error, slow down critical functions like client onboarding, and make it difficult to get a clear view of the business. When data is siloed across different systems, owners lack the visibility needed to make informed strategic decisions. Effective automation solves these problems by creating seamless workflows and unifying their operational data. X Open Hubs solutions are designed to automate key operational challenges. The advanced, API-based technology streamlines everything from client onboarding to risk management. Customised reporting gives a clear, consolidated visibility across an entire operation, from trading activity to client profitability. By automating these functions, owners increase efficiency, reduce operational risks, and unlock the data they need to manage their business effectively. The partner for growth Navigating the modern market requires more than just technology. It requires a strategic partner dedicated to the business' success. With a presence in over 25 countries, X Open Hub has a global perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing brokers. The firms expertise is demonstrated by its recognition as the Best B2B Liquidity Provider at the UF Awards Global 2025. This is a testament to its commitment to providing superior liquidity and technology solutions. The challenges facing brokers today are significant, but they are not insurmountable. With the right strategy and the right partner, businesses can overcome margin pressure, regulatory complexity, and operational hurdles. They can build a resilient, scalable business prepared for the future. Readers can download the full X Open Hub white paper to discover the eight biggest challenges brokers face in 2025, and how to turn them into growth opportunities. About X Open Hub X Open Hub is a leading CFD liquidity provider, offering over 5,000 instruments. This includes more than 2,500 stocks and ETFs on 16 major exchanges worldwide, over 60 currency pairs, over 30 indices, and the most popular commodities. The company is proud to have 100+ partnerships in more than 25 countries and is dedicated to delivering tailor-made solutions that support clients in achieving their business ambitions. Contact Dominic Meyers sales@xhub.pro A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/94c566ba-0477-4b75-94b8-65a7b3f1d366 TORONTO, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Base Carbon Inc. (Cboe CA: BCBN) (OTCQX: BCBNF) with operations through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Base Carbon Capital Partners Corp. (BCCPC, together, with affiliates, Base Carbon, or the Company), is pleased to announce it has acquired additional expansion options for its India Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation Project. Additionally, the Company is pleased to announce it will host an investor town hall on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Options to Expand the India Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) Project The Company, through BCCPC, has been granted two contractual options to expand the India ARR Project at no additional cost to the Company. In securing the additional options, the Company modified its previously committed payment schedule to further align capital commitments with operational timing within the project. Each option allows BCCPC to expand the project by funding the planting of 10 million additional projects trees (a combined total of 20 million additional trees) and to purchase all associated carbon credits on substantially similar economic terms as the initial project. The expansion options remain exercisable over the full 20-year duration of the current project life. The project expansion options are in addition to, and a further strengthening of, BCCPCs existing right of first refusal relating to any extension or expansion of the current project initiated by the Companys project development partner, Value Network Ventures Pte. Ltd. (VNV). VNV continues to demonstrate high-quality work and reliability as a project partner, and we are excited to be expanding our collaboration through these new opportunities to grow the project. We believe that the ability to expand existing carbon credit generating projects, at the right time, can strategically reduce risk through re-investment into known and proven projects with experienced project partners, while also enhancing the expected project returns for our shareholders, said Michael Costa, CEO of Base Carbon. Our current investment in the India ARR Project reflects our ongoing focus on high-quality carbon removals and the associated expansion options reflect our commitment to a multi-faceted approach to growth within our business. The Company, through BCCPC, previously entered into an agreement with VNV to facilitate the development of the India ARR Project, a nature-based carbon removal project, focused on the afforestation and reforestation of degraded rural farmlands in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Full planting of 6.5 million trees was completed as of year-ended December 31, 2024, and the project has now been submitted to carbon credit registry Verra for validation and can be found under project ID#4892 on Verras website. Base Carbon expects the first issuance of carbon credits associated with the India ARR project to occur in the first half of 2026. As of today, BCCPC has deployed approximately US$6.7 million of US$13.6 million committed to the initial project. Of the remaining capital deployments, approximately US$6.0 million is considered to be maintenance capital of which approximately US$4.0 million is expected to be funded through the initial sales of carbon credits generated by the project. The India ARR Project has been designed around the needs of local farming communities, with a high-level of community-centric stakeholder engagement, ownership, input and feedback, and is expected to have a significant positive impact locally. As selected through the community engagement process, the project plan involves the planting of over 16 different species of trees primarily on smallholder lands of five hectares or less, including a variety of native and naturalized tree species, such as Citrus and Guava, as well as medicinal and culturally significant trees, such as Mahua trees. Fruits and nuts produced by trees will be available to the participating individuals and communities, providing food security and incremental and diversified income-generating opportunities for families. Investor Town Hall The management team will provide a business update and respond to investor questions via Zoom Webinar. Registration instructions are published below. The Company invites current and prospective shareholders to attend this business update call and Q&A session. DATE: Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 TIME: 11:00 a.m. EDT LOCATION: Zoom Webinar. To receive the meeting link and passcode, please register here. QUESTIONS: Please submit questions ahead of time to: investorrelations@basecarbon.com. About Base Carbon Base Carbon is a financier of projects involved primarily in the global voluntary carbon markets. We endeavor to be the preferred carbon project partner in providing capital and management resources to carbon removal and abatement projects globally and, where appropriate, will utilize technologies within the evolving environmental industries to enhance efficiencies, commercial credibility, and trading transparency. For more information, please visit www.basecarbon.com. Media and Investor Inquiries Base Carbon Inc. Investor Relations Tel: +1 647 952 3979 E-mail: investorrelations@basecarbon.com Media Inquiries E-mail: media@basecarbon.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the focus of Base Carbons business, the timing of project registration, first carbon credit issuance, potential exercise of project expansion options and planting of additional trees. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects, anticipates, intends, contemplates, believes, projects, plans or variations of such words and similar expressions or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, will or will be taken, occur or be achieved. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent managements expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance, results, or achievements. Although management believes that the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it involves assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In respect of the India afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation project, certain factors that influence the commercial success of the project include, among other things: (i) the Companys expertise with respect to the evaluation, planning and negotiation of the project, (ii) the conduct of the project counterparties, including cooperation with local small-land owners, (iii) project costs and carbon credit market prices, (iv) ongoing project monitoring and issuance of carbon credits by Verra, (v) changes to laws and regulation in the Republic of India, and (vi) extreme weather event and natural disasters. In respect of the India afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation project, certain assumptions that influence the commercial success of the project include, among other things: (i) the development of the project remains in line with anticipated timelines and costs, (ii) project counterparties, including project partner Value Network Ventures Pte. Ltd., its subcontractors and local small-land owners, perform their contractual and/or standard operating procedures, (iii) the survival of trees, (iv) the successful project validation and registration by Verra, (v) the waiver of any carbon credit ownership rights by local project participants, (vi) the growth rates of trees are consistent with the expectations under the project which is then reflected by monitoring reports accepted by Verra, (vii) the Company has sufficient funds to satisfy its capital commitments, (viii) over the life of the project, there is no change to the project methodology which results in less carbon credits being issuable from the operation of such project, and (ix) continued participant involvement and public support of the voluntary carbon market. The forward-looking statements made herein are subject to a variety of risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Companys control, which could cause actual events or results to differ materially and adversely from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Specific reference is made to the managements discussion and analysis for the Companys quarter ended June 30, 2025 and the most recent Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities (and available on www.sedarplus.ca) for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect the Companys ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Should one or more of the risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual events or results may vary materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is provided as of the date of this press release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Dublin, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Enterprises AI Market Research Report 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global enterprise artificial intelligence market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.60% from 2024 to 2030 The global enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) market is consolidated, relatively small number of major players dominate a significant share of the market. Leading global technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services, Meta, IBM, and NVIDIA dominate the enterprise AI market by offering end-to-end AI platforms and infrastructure. These companies leverage their massive cloud computing resources, vast datasets, and R&D capabilities to deliver scalable AI solutions across sectors like healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing. ENTERPRISE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Collaboration With Enterprise AI Agents AI agents can remember across tasks and changing states; they can use one or more AI models to complete tasks; and they can decide when to access internal or external systems on a user's behalf. This enables AI agents to make decisions and take actions autonomously with minimal human oversight. In July 2025, Elior Group and IBM France announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate Elior's digital transformation by launching an "Agentic AI & Data Factory." The initiative aims to enhance operational performance and deliver innovative, personalized services across Elior's global operations. IBM will provide its full AI and data services portfolio, deploying AI agents to autonomously process data and optimize Elior's business units. The centralized platform will be flexible and scalable, integrating with Elior's existing systems. The partnership also includes support for data governance and employee training to ensure smooth adoption. This move reinforces Elior's leadership in food services through advanced AI capabilities, with IBM helping to drive smarter, faster decision-making. AI For Cybersecurity and Risk Management AI for cybersecurity refers to the use of AI technologies and techniques to enhance the protection of computer systems, networks, and data from cyberthreats. Artificial Intelligence helps by automating threat detection, analyzing large volumes of data, identifying patterns, and responding to security incidents in real time. AI significantly boosts cybersecurity by enhancing threat detection, reducing response time, and lowering costs. Around two-thirds of firms report increased ROI from AI-driven security tools. For example, Siemens used AWS to develop an AI-powered platform that predicts 60,000 attacks per unit time, managed by fewer than 12 people. AI helps identify patterns, enabling faster threat detection and automated response, cutting breach costs by 12% on average. As cyber threats evolve, AI ensures agile, real-time protection. INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS AI Expertise and Skills Gap Currently, businesses are facing a growing shortage of skilled professionals as they race to implement AI. A recent study reveals AI-related job postings have surged by 21% annually since 2019, with compensation growing 11% annually over the same period. Yet the number of qualified candidates has not kept pace, creating a widening talent gap that is slowing AI adoption. France is experiencing a major shortage of AI professionals. Hiring challenges have surged dramatically, from 19% in 2018 to 80% in 2023. This is happening even as efforts to attract talent have ramped up. The gap in AI talent is growing, partly due to a brain drain to countries like Switzerland and the United States. Switzerland, in particular, appeals to French professionals because of its close proximity and shared language. Although France has a strong academic foundation and produces highly educated professionals, the system struggles to meet market demands. Issues include limited specialized AI programs, a lack of alignment between education and job market needs, and low female participation in STEM fields. ENTERPRISE AI MARKET GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS North America dominates the global enterprise AI market, accounting for over 39% of the global share. This leadership is driven by the strong presence of major AI technology providers such as IBM, Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Oracle. The U.S., in particular, has been at the forefront of enterprise AI adoption across sectors like healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing. High digital maturity among enterprises, large IT budgets, and significant investment in cloud computing and AI R&D are key drivers. Moreover, regulatory developments, including AI governance frameworks and data privacy laws, are further shaping responsible AI deployment in the region. Asia-Pacific is a fast-growing market and is expected to increase significantly in the coming years in the enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) market. China, Japan, South Korea, and India are the major contributors. China, supported by its national AI strategy and huge datasets, is deploying enterprise AI at scale in manufacturing, finance, smart cities, and e-commerce. Japan focuses more on robotics and automation, while India is seeing increasing AI adoption in IT services, telecom, and government sectors. Regional enterprise AI market growth is supported by increasing digitization, government initiatives (such as India's Digital India and AI Mission), and a burgeoning startup ecosystem. Europe holds around 21% of the global enterprise AI market, with the region seeing steady growth. Countries like Germany, the UK, France, and the Netherlands lead the adoption. The European Union is investing heavily through programs like Horizon Europe to promote AI innovation aligned with ethical standards. The GDPR has also influenced how companies approach AI-driven data processing. Key sectors driving enterprise AI adoption include automotive (particularly in Germany), logistics, public services, and fintech. However, concerns around data sovereignty and AI explainability sometimes slow down the pace of innovation compared to North America and Asia-Pacific. The Middle East and Africa (MEA) enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) market is in the early stages of enterprise AI adoption but is rapidly evolving. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are leading with ambitious AI strategies, including the UAE's national AI program and Saudi Vision 2030. Enterprise AI is being used in oil & gas optimization, smart cities, finance, and public administration. In Africa, AI adoption is emerging in healthcare, agriculture, and financial inclusion, particularly through mobile and cloud platforms. However, limited infrastructure and talent gaps remain key challenges. Latin America is showing steady growth in the enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) market, with Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina at the forefront. AI adoption is being driven by cost-efficiency needs, digital banking expansion, and the modernization of legacy systems in government and enterprise sectors. The fintech market, in particular, has embraced AI for credit scoring, fraud detection, and personalized customer engagement. However, limited investment, data infrastructure gaps, and regulatory uncertainty in some countries act as barriers to faster growth. IMPACT OF TARIFF The U.S. tariffs on AI related hardware and infrastructure, from GPUs and PCAs to data center materials like steel, cooling systems, and power gear, are driving up enterprise AI costs by roughly 10-30%. These elevated costs are squeezing margins, delaying hardware deployments, and increasing reliance on cloud services and automation technologies to offset investment risks. Moreover, enterprise AI adoption is expected to slow among smaller firms and startups, which are most exposed to imported hardware price shocks and supply chain disruptions. Meanwhile, global shifts such as outsourcing training operations offshore or increasing use of open source AI platforms threaten domestic R&D leadership as the cost and uncertainty of U.S. infrastructure grow. VENDOR LANDSCAPE ENTERPRISE AI MARKET NEWS In May 2025, Salesforce's $8B acquisition of Informatica fortifies its AI vision with trusted data infrastructure, enabling real-time autonomous decision-making across enterprise functions. This move underscores the shift toward composable, data-driven architectures essential for deploying effective AI agents. In July 2025, HPE completed its acquisition of Juniper Networks, doubling its networking business and creating a cloud-native, AI-driven portfolio to power hybrid cloud and AI workloads. This move strengthens HPE's position in high-growth, high-margin markets and accelerates innovation across secure, end-to-end networking solutions. In 2025, BM launched its Agentic AI Innovation Center in Bengaluru to accelerate enterprise AI adoption through co-creation, hands-on learning, and collaboration. The Center enables clients, partners, and startups to build and manage autonomous AI agents. Key Company Profiles IBM Microsoft NVIDIA Corporation Google LLC Amazon Web Services, Inc. Meta Other Prominent Company Profiles Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Development LP Oracle Corporation SAP SE Wipro Intel Corporation Sentient Technologies, LLC Verint Systems Inc. Strategy Salesforce, Inc. DATAROBOT, INC AI Superior GmbH Exomindse Tezeract H2O.ai. Palantir Technologies Inc. Adobe UiPath Affectiva ScienceSoft USA Corporation Infosys Limited SambaNova, Inc. Noukha Technologies Markovate Inc. LeewayHertz Grammarly, Inc. Instinctools SEGMENTATION & FORECASTS Segmentation by Deployment Cloud On-premises Hybrid Segmentation by Technology Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Computer Vision Segmentation by Industry BFSI Healthcare Retail & E-commerce Manufacturing Others Segmentation by Geography North America The U.S. Canada Europe The U.K. France Germany Sweden Spain Italy Netherlands Switzerland APAC China Japan India Australia South Korea Singapore Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia UAE South Africa For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4absho About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Owings Mills, MD, United States, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maryland Public Television (MPT) today announced the continued national celebration of HBCU Week, recognizing the history and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities through its national programming initiative, HBCU Week NOW . A dynamic lineup of eight new short films will premiere on the projects signature YouTube channel beginning in September. The new short films produced by a partnership of PBS stations will join 10 others released over the past two years and will begin premiering in mid-September to coincide with the HBCU Week observance. These films will be produced by MPT, Howard University Television , PBS North Carolina , Louisiana Public Broadcasting , WABE (Atlanta) , South Carolina ETV , Alabama Public Television , and WXXI (Rochester, N.Y.). With a focus on the fine and performing arts, the new films will showcase Southern Universitys jazz program, Spelman Colleges Glee Club, Miles Colleges award-winning Purple Marching Machine marching band, the fashion arts program at North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T) and North Carolina Central University (NCCU), and the Department of Theatre Arts at Howard University. In partnership with Black Public Media, MPT will also debut The HBCU Week NOW Student Film Festival in January 2026, featuring a selection of 10 original short-format projects. The films are selected from submissions by HBCU students, curated by Black Public Media and showcased on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel. MPT is also presenting new programs for television broadcast by PBS stations nationwide. This effort is anchored by the primetime national broadcast of the documentary Becoming Thurgood: Americas Social Architect, about the life and work of former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. The one-hour film premieres on PBS on September 9 and continues to air across the country, and will be available to stream free of charge at hbcuweeknow.com , PBS.org , and via the PBS app . Additional information about the film, along with a suite of standards-aligned classroom learning materials, screening activities and resources, and other materials, will be available shortly on the films educational website. With HBCU Week NOW in its third year, we have significantly expanded our storytelling footprint while continuing to celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities as unique and cherished national resources, said Travis E. Mitchell, MPT senior vice president and chief content officer and Morgan State University graduate. We are grateful for the support and collaboration of dozens of HBCUs and their students, faculty, and leadership as we continue to grow this important project." Launched by MPT as a national project in 2023, HBCU Week NOWs growth is supported by an investment from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) for 2024 and 2025, along with funding from MPTs Center for Maryland History Films and Morgan State University . Led by MPT, the national project is an outgrowth of the statewide public TV network's regional HBCU Week celebration. Now in its sixth consecutive year, MPTs local celebration will provide some 30 hours of HBCU content to viewers in the mid-Atlantic region during the week of September 8-14. More information about MPTs 2025 HBCU Week lineup is available at mpt.org/hbcu . As MPT continues to shine a national spotlight on the enduring contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Morgan State University is proud to stand in support. HBCU Week not only honors our rich legacy but also amplifies the voices and talents of a new generation of students whose stories deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated, said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. This initiative underscores the transformative role HBCUs portray in shaping leaders, advancing knowledge, and expanding opportunity across our nation. Congress defines an HBCU as any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans Today, some 100 HBCUs continue to deliver on the promise of their founding, with more than 285,000 students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds currently enrolled, along with at least 1million alumni from all walks of life. HBCUs are among Americas most crucial institutions for providing access to higher education for generations of Americans from diverse backgrounds, including some of todays most notable individuals such as former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Oprah Winfrey, Dr. David Satcher, Samuel L. Jackson, and many others. We offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone at CPB for its support of this groundbreaking project, added Mitchell. Among public medias most important roles is to bring the rich tapestry that is the American story to households across the country. September and October National Television Broadcasts: Leading into the PBS premiere of Becoming Thurgood: Americas Social Architect, WORLD, public televisions leading national digital channel, will broadcast a lineup of HBCU-themed programs to complement the documentary. The block will air on WORLD beginning at 7 p.m. on September 8 and again at 12 and 8 a.m. on September 9. Programs that aired in the block are: WORLD will also re-broadcast Becoming Thurgood on Friday, September 12, at 9 p.m. To check your local listings and discover other HBCU-related content on WORLD, visit worldchannel.org /schedule . Attachment Dublin, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Plasma Fractionation Market Industry Trends and Global Forecasts to 2035, by Type of Company, Scale of Operation, Type of Plasma-derived Therapeutic Products Manufactured, Therapeutic Areas of Plasma-derived Products, and Key Geographical Regions" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global plasma fractionation market is estimated to grow from $ 4.8 billion in 2024 to reach $ 5.3 billion in 2025 and $ 12.7 billion by 2035, representing a higher CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period. Plasma Fractionation Market: Growth and Trends The plasma fractionation market is primarily driven by the growing demand for plasma-derived therapies for treating several disease indications, such as oncological disorders, hematological disorders, pulmonary disorders and immunological disorders. Plasma fractionation is a critical step to ensure the separation and purification of key blood plasma components, such as immunoglobulins, albumins, anticoagulant factors and protease inhibitors. The refined blood plasma components can then be used for the formulation of therapeutics.It is interesting to note that among all the plasma-derived therapies, demand for immunoglobulins is anticipated to be the highest. The anticipated growth of the market can be hindered by challenges, such as limited blood plasma supply and a lack of proper regulatory framework. Despite several challenges, owing to a broader spectrum of target disease indications (specifically rare and chronic diseases), improved diagnosis rates, and higher standards of healthcare in emerging markets, the popularity of plasma-derived therapies is rapidly increasing. Driven by the growing demand for blood plasma therapies and the ongoing advancements in fractionation manufacturing technologies, the plasma fractionation market is expected to grow at a noteworthy pace in the foreseen future. Plasma Fractionation Market: Key Insights The report delves into the current state of the plasma fractionation market and identifies potential growth opportunities within the industry. Some key findings from the report include: Currently, more than 35 companies claim to have the expertise for blood plasma fractionation, required for the development of plasma-derived therapies; of which, nearly 50% of the players have facilities in developed regions. Majority of the plasma fractionators are well-established players; ~75% of the players have the capabilities for offering formulation services. In recent years, the domain witnessed a steady growth in partnership activity; the majority of the initiatives were mergers and acquisitions carried out by players based in Europe. Owing to the growing demand for plasma-derived therapies, plasma fractionators are investing in expanding their existing capabilities across various regions; of these, ~30% of the initiatives were undertaken in North America. Over 90% of the global installed plasma fractionation capacity is dedicated to the manufacturing of albumins and immunoglobulins for commercial applications. With the growing focus on the development of efficacious plasma-derived therapies, the plasma fractionation market is anticipated to witness an annualized growth of ~10%, over the next decade. In the long term, the plasma-derived therapies for immunological disorders are likely to emerge as the key growth drivers of the plasma fractionation market; Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing region. Plasma Fractionation Market: Key Segments In-House manufacturers Occupy the Largest Share of the Plasma Fractionation Market Based on the type of company, the market is segmented into in-house manufacturers and contract service providers. At present, in-house manufacturers capture the highest share of the plasma fractionation market. It is worth highlighting that the plasma fractionation market for contract service providers is likely to grow at a relatively higher CAGR. By Scale of Operation, Commercial Scale is Likely to Dominate the Plasma Fractionation Market During the Forecast Period Based on the scale of operation, the market is segmented into preclinical, clinical and commercial scale. Currently, the commercial scale holds the highest share of the plasma fractionation market. This trend is unlikely to change in the near future. Immunoglobulins Segment Occupies the Largest Share of the Plasma Fractionation Market Based on the type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured, the market is segmented into albumin, coagulation factors, immunoglobulins, protease inhibitors and other plasma-derived products. At present, immunoglobulins hold the maximum share of the plasma fractionation market. This trend is likely to remain the same in the forthcoming years. Oncological Disorders Account for the Largest Share of the Plasma Fractionation Market Based on the therapeutic areas of plasma-derived products, the market is segmented into hematological disorders, hepatic disorders, immunological disorders, neurological disorders and other disorders. While immunological disorders account for a relatively higher market share, it is worth highlighting that neurological disorders are expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years. Europe Accounts for the Largest Share of the Market Based on key geographical regions, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the world. The majority share is expected to be captured by players based in Europe. It is worth highlighting that, over the years, the market in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a higher CAGR. Key Players in the Plasma Fractionation Market, Profiled in the Report Include: Baxter Grifols Kedrion Octapharma CSL Takeda Pharmaceutical Plasma Fractionation Market: Research Coverage Market Sizing and Opportunity Analysis: The report features an in-depth analysis of the plasma fractionation market, focusing on key market segments, including type of company, scale of operation, type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured, therapeutic areas of plasma-derived products and key geographical regions. The report features an in-depth analysis of the plasma fractionation market, focusing on key market segments, including type of company, scale of operation, type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured, therapeutic areas of plasma-derived products and key geographical regions. Market Landscape: A comprehensive evaluation of plasma fractionation companies, considering various parameters, such as year of establishment, company size (in terms of number of employees), location of headquarters, type of company, location of plasma fractionation facilities, location of plasma collection facility, availability of patented / proprietary technology, additional fractionation capabilities, scale of operation, type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured, therapeutic areas of plasma-derived products and end users. A comprehensive evaluation of plasma fractionation companies, considering various parameters, such as year of establishment, company size (in terms of number of employees), location of headquarters, type of company, location of plasma fractionation facilities, location of plasma collection facility, availability of patented / proprietary technology, additional fractionation capabilities, scale of operation, type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured, therapeutic areas of plasma-derived products and end users. Company Competitiveness Analysis: A comprehensive competitive analysis of plasma fractionation companies based in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and rest of the world, examining factors, such as company strength and portfolio strength. A comprehensive competitive analysis of plasma fractionation companies based in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and rest of the world, examining factors, such as company strength and portfolio strength. Company Profiles: In-depth profiles of key plasma fractionation service providers, focusing on company overviews, financial information (if available), plasma fractionation portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook. In-depth profiles of key plasma fractionation service providers, focusing on company overviews, financial information (if available), plasma fractionation portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook. Partnerships and Collaborations: An analysis of partnerships established in this sector, since 2018, based on several parameters, such as year of partnership, type of partnership, purpose of agreement, type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured, type of partner, most active players and regional distribution of the companies involved in these agreements. An analysis of partnerships established in this sector, since 2018, based on several parameters, such as year of partnership, type of partnership, purpose of agreement, type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured, type of partner, most active players and regional distribution of the companies involved in these agreements. Recent Expansions: An examination of the different expansion efforts made by plasma fractionation companies in this field to enhance their capabilities, since 2018. This analysis considers various factors, including the year of expansion, type of expansion, type of facility, location of expanded facility, type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured and most active players. An examination of the different expansion efforts made by plasma fractionation companies in this field to enhance their capabilities, since 2018. This analysis considers various factors, including the year of expansion, type of expansion, type of facility, location of expanded facility, type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured and most active players. Capacity Analysis: Estimation of global fractionation capacity, derived from data provided by various stakeholders in the public domain. This analysis emphasizes the distribution of the available capacity on the basis of company size (small, mid-sized and large), type of plasma-derived therapeutic products manufactured (albumins, anti-coagulation factors, coagulation factors, immunoglobulins, protease inhibitors and other plasma-derived products), scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial) and key geographical region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and rest of the world). Key Questions Answered in this Report How many companies are currently engaged in this market? Which are the leading companies in this market? What is the annual plasma fractionation capacity? What kind of partnership models are commonly adopted by industry stakeholders? What factors are likely to influence the evolution of this market? What is the current and future market size? What is the CAGR of this market? How is the current and future market opportunity likely to be distributed across key market segments? Reasons to Buy this Report The report provides a comprehensive market analysis, offering detailed revenue projections of the overall market and its specific sub-segments. This information is valuable to both established market leaders and emerging entrants. Stakeholders can leverage the report to gain a deeper understanding of the competitive dynamics within the market. By analyzing the competitive landscape, businesses can make informed decisions to optimize their market positioning and develop effective go-to-market strategies. The report offers stakeholders a comprehensive overview of the market, including key drivers, barriers, opportunities, and challenges. This information empowers stakeholders to stay abreast of market trends and make data-driven decisions to capitalize on growth prospects. Additional Benefits Complimentary PPT Insights Packs Complimentary Excel Data Packs for all Analytical Modules in the Report 10% Free Content Customization Detailed Report Walkthrough Session with Research Team Free Updated report if the report is 6-12 months old or older Key Topics Covered: 1. PREFACE 1.1. Plasma Fractionation Market Overview 1.2. Key Market Insights 1.3. Scope of the Report 1.4. Research Methodology 1.5. Frequently Asked Questions 1.6. Chapter Outlines 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. INTRODUCTION 3.1. Chapter Overview 3.2. Introduction to Blood Plasma 3.3. Applications of Plasma Fractionation 3.4. Challenges Associated with Plasma Fractionation 3.5. Need for Third-party Service Providers 3.6. Future Perspectives 4. PLASMA FRACTIONATION: MARKET LANDSCAPE 4.1. Chapter Overview 4.2. Plasma Fractionation: Overall Market Landscape 5. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS 5.1. Chapter Overview 5.2. Assumptions and Key Parameters 5.3. Methodology 5.4. Company Competitiveness Analysis: In-house Manufacturers 6. COMPANY PROFILES 6.1. Chapter Overview 6.2. Companies Headquartered in North America 6.2.1. Baxter 6.3. Companies Headquartered in Europe 6.3.1. Grifols 6.3.2. Kedrion 6.3.3. Octapharma 6.4. Companies Headquartered in Asia-Pacific 6.4.1. CSL 6.4.2. Takeda Pharmaceutical 7. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS 7.1. Chapter Overview 7.2. Partnership Models 7.3. Plasma Fractionation: Partnerships and Collaborations 7.4. Analysis by Geography 8. RECENT EXPANSIONS 8.1. Chapter Overview 8.2. Expansion Models 8.3. Plasma Fractionation: Recent Expansions 9. CAPACITY ANALYSIS 9.1. Chapter Overview 9.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology 9.3. Concluding Remarks 10. MARKET SIZING AND OPPURTUNITY ANALYSIS 10.1. Chapter Overview 10.2. Key Assumptions and Forecast Methodology 10.3. Global Plasma Fractionation Market (Historical, Base and Forecasted Scenario), 2017-2035 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7h0ka2 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachments REDWOOD CITY, Calif./BELFAST, Northern Ireland, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biotricity Inc. (OTCQB:BTCY), an innovative medical technology company specializing in remote cardiac monitoring solutions, and B-Secur, a leader in ECG algorithm and biosensing technology, are transforming the consumer wearables market with an enhancement to their joint cardiac monitoring platform. The device-neutral platform, which launched in early 2025 for ambulatory cardiac monitoring, will now support ECG data from consumer wearables. This advancement enables the seamless integration and review of user data collected from smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers, and other mobile health products within Biotricitys cloud-based medical workflow. The move solidifies Biotricity and B-Securs leadership in digital cardiovascular innovation, positioning the companies at the forefront of the rapidly expanding heart health market. Biotricitys mission has been to make high-quality cardiac care accessible to everyone, explained Dr. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, founder and CEO of Biotricity. Through our strategic collaboration with B-Secur, were introducing clinical-grade heart monitoring to consumer wearables, providing patients and their healthcare providers with the tools they need to understand and manage heart health like never before. Leveraging B-Securs FDA-cleared HeartKey ECG algorithms and advanced analytics, the platform delivers medical-grade accuracy trusted by healthcare professionals. Its device-agnostic design and cloud-enabled infrastructure allow developers and OEMs to seamlessly integrate data from smart devices into regulated care pathways, efficiently bridging the gap between consumer devices and clinical care. This advancement addresses the growing global demand for preventive cardiovascular solutions in younger and aging populations, said Tyeler Dean, VP of Medical at B-Secur. It enables scalable, user-friendly health tech while maintaining the same level of clinical-grade accuracy trusted by healthcare professionals and increasingly expected by consumers. Cardiovascular disease, responsible for 1 in 3 deaths worldwide, is projected to triple global costs to $1.8 trillion by 2050. This underscores the urgent need for scalable, preventative technologies that enable early diagnoses and intervention, ultimately improving long-term outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. About B-Secur B-Secur is an advanced biosensing technology company on a mission to set a new level of care in health monitoring through development of both on-device and cloud applications, driving preventative and proactive fitness and health management. B-Secur's signal processing provides medical-grade ECG data for faster, more confident diagnosis, treatment, and management. B-Secur is ISO 13485:2016 certified. About Biotricity Inc. Biotricity is reforming the healthcare market by bridging the gap in remote monitoring and chronic care management. Doctors and patients trust Biotricitys unparalleled standard for preventive & personal care, including diagnostic and post-diagnostic solutions for chronic conditions. The company develops comprehensive remote health monitoring solutions for the medical and consumer markets. To learn more, visit www.biotricity.com. Contacts: Corinna Keenan B-Secur Corinna.keenan@b-secur.com ###ENDS### MAINZ, GERMANY September 03, 2025 - ToolKitXs permit to work (ePTW) system is designed for high-risk operations that require tight safety protocols and fast, trackable approvals. Over the last 8 years, we have processed over 200,000 permits for companies, and that experience is built into the platform to drive safer, faster decisions at scale. Crucially, our module is compliant with the UK safety rule system, so multinational sites can demonstrate due diligence and consistency across locations. The new suite centralises the entire permit lifecycle from scope definition and hazard identification to authorisation, monitoring, and close-out creating a real-time, auditable record so teams can work faster without compromising safety. The electronic permit to work (ePTW) Suite solves a long-standing problem: manual, email-heavy permit processes slow down projects, bury risk signals, and leave gaps that surface under audit. ToolKitX replaces fragmented spreadsheets and inboxes with a governed, role-based workflow engine, automated alerts, and a single source of truth for every permit hot work, cold work, electrical, confined space, and more. Because the workflows are structured to meet UK safety rule system expectations, supervisors get clear visibility into pending approvals, expirations, and conflicts so bottlenecks are removed before schedules slip. Safety-critical work needs speed and discipline, said Jorg Muller, Managing Director of ToolKitX GmbH. With our ePTW suite, HSE, and operations leaders get a system thats as fast as their field crews yet rigorous enough to pass any audit. Its the workflow clarity, evidence, and control modern sites need. Whats in the ToolKitX ePTW suite Lifecycle automation from request to closeout. The software guides users through scoping the job, identifying hazards, and automatically assigns the correct permit type. It captures location, duration, and PPE requirements, and routes approvals to the right roles. When work is complete, the system stores all records for easy retrieval and compliance reporting. Built in controls for real world risk. The platform enforces thorough hazard assessments and ensures critical controls such as isolations, lockout-tagout (LOTO), and SIMOPS checks are addressed before work begins, especially in high risk environments like energy, utilities, and construction. Role-based approvals, mobile capture, and audit trails. A modern ePTW architecture underpins the suite: role-based authorisation, mobile/offline data capture, and tamper-evident records that integrate to CMMS/EAM systems for assets, work orders, and handovers. The result is faster cycles, fewer conflicts, and cleaner audits. Real-time visibility for supervisors. A single dashboard to view pending approvals, upcoming tasks, and expiring or overlapping permits so teams can intervene early, keep work fronts moving, and stay compliant. Why now Industrial sites manage dozens even hundreds of simultaneous work fronts where risk escalates when communication breaks down. ToolKitXs cloud-based approach unifies stakeholders in one audit-proof environment, improving operational quality while simplifying communications across field crews, contractors, and management. The platform is for regulated industries and aligns with modern privacy and governance expectations, including GDPR. Our goal is to remove friction without removing rigor, the spokesperson added. Customers tell us they want fewer emails, fewer hand-offs, and less uncertainty. They also need clear, defensible evidence of what happened, when, and why. ePTW by ToolKitX delivers both. Key capabilities and outcomes Digitised, governed workflows that standardise how permits are raised, risk-assessed, authorised, and closed reducing variability between crews and shifts. that standardise how permits are raised, risk-assessed, authorised, and closed reducing variability between crews and shifts. Automated notifications and escalations to eliminate guesswork and shorten wait times between steps. to eliminate guesswork and shorten wait times between steps. Integrated safety controls, including LOTO and SIMOPS links, critical barriers are verified before work starts. including LOTO and SIMOPS links, critical barriers are verified before work starts. Mobile and offline capture to keep field data flowing even in remote or bandwidth limited locations. to keep field data flowing even in remote or bandwidth limited locations. Auditable records to make compliance checks and incident investigations faster and more reliable. to make compliance checks and incident investigations faster and more reliable. Supervisor dashboards to surface pending approvals, expiries, and overlaps in one view. Part of a unified platform so data doesnt live in silos Unlike single-purpose tools, ToolKitX brings permits together with planning, HSE, tank farm operations, asset maintenance, and logistics in one cloud platform so teams work from the same live data, anywhere. That means fewer blind spots between safety, maintenance, and operations, and a faster time to value for digital transformation programmes. This matters because safety and productivity are closely linked in the field. For example, permit conflicts often arise from asset schedules or work orders not just the permit queue itself. By connecting ePTW to work execution and asset data, ToolKitX helps organisations coordinate at the source, not at the last minute. Related ToolKitX products that extend ePTW value To accelerate adoption and maximise ROI, customers can pair the ePTW system with other ToolKitX modules that share the same platform, identity model, and governance: Tank farm management system Real-time visibility for terminals and refineries; unify inventory, safety compliance, and cost control across liquid and gas tank farms. Checklist Multi-level approvals, time stamps and comments create an audit-ready trail you can reference during ePTW authorization and closeout. One-tap PDF/XLS exports make it easy to file supporting evidence with the permit record. Certification management Automated certificate tracking with proactive expiry alerts, and audit-ready reportscritical inputs for permit authorisation rules. Automated certificate tracking with proactive expiry alerts, and audit-ready reportscritical inputs for permit authorisation rules. eLearning / Workforce training Cloud LMS to deliver, verify, and report competency. Tie training completion to permit authorisation and site access. Cloud LMS to deliver, verify, and report competency. Tie training completion to permit authorisation and site access. Work order & project management Digital work orders and project tracking that connect the job plan to the permit lifecycle for cleaner handovers. With shared data and consistent governance, these modules create a closed loop: training enables authorisation; certification keeps access compliant; scheduling aligns crews; tank operations inform risk; and work orders anchor the job planall feeding into permits and audits. ToolKitXs product cadence is focused on frequent, low-friction updates, informed by customer feedback, and regulatory changeespecially for training, and competency features that tie to permit authorisation. As customers standardise on ToolKitX modules, they benefit from a platform that evolves in step with standards and field realities. We see permits not as a checkbox but as a living workflow that connects people, equipment, and policy, the spokesperson said. By unifying training, certifications, scheduling, and asset data with permits, ToolKitX helps teams move decisivelyand safelyevery day. Book a live demo to see ePTW in action, and map it to your workflows: https://toolkitx.com/campaign/permit-to-work/ For guidance on implementation, standards alignment, and integrations with CMMS/EAM, read our ePTW architectural guide on the ToolKitX Blogs. About ToolKitX GmbH ToolKitX is a German-founded SaaS company with offices in Germany and Dubai offering a modular, cloud-based software platform for asset-intensive industries. Its products are used by leading companies to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency across complex projects and sites. Blog | News | YouTube | Events | Whitepapers Press Contact: Email: press@toolkitx.com Web: https://toolkitx.com/ Phone: +49 6131 9213566 Connect us on - LinkedIn | X | Facebook Explore more SaaS tools by TooKitX: Marine Surveillance System Logistic Planning Software Digital Checklist Software Certification Management Software Asset Management System E-Learning Software Quality Management Software Inspection Test Plan (ITP) Software SAVANNAH, Ga., Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royal Restrooms, a leader in luxury portable restroom and shower trailers, is sounding the alarm after Google Business Profile (GBP) suspension have effectively erased the 20 plus year old company from Maps and Local Search. For over two decades, weve helped brides, festivals, businesses and disaster response teams raise the standard of sanitation in America, said David Sauers, Co-Founder of Royal Restrooms. But today, an algorithm can decide we dont exist. An AI in California or a contractor overseas can suspend us, and theres no human to call. Thats not marketing. Thats access to the public square being controlled by one company. A Company Built on Innovation and Dignity, Now Invisible Online Founded in 2004, Royal Restrooms set out to change the industry standard for portable toilets by introducing fully functioning restroom trailers with flushing toilets, running water, climate control, and ADA accessibility. What began as a better alternative to the dreaded plastic porta-potty became an industry shift. Brides booked them for weddings, festivals upgraded the guest experience, and they were first deployed with emergency response efforts during Hurricane Katrina. Today, what was once a novelty has become an expectation, when people gather, they deserve real bathrooms. Since then, the company has expanded nationwide, serving weddings, festivals, and emergency operations in over 16 states. https://www.royalrestrooms.com But today, despite thousands of positive Google reviews and a spotless reputation, Royal Restrooms local business listings have been suspended, flagged as deceptive. The reason: Google only recognizes the outdated category Portable Toilet Service. We dont provide plastic porta-potties. We provide luxury restroom trailers, ADA units, and mobile showers. But because we dont fit the old box, were punished for innovating, said Sauers. Couples cant find us, festivals assume were closed, and emergency managers only see porta-potties when searching mobile restrooms or showers. That isnt just bad for us. Its bad for communities. The Bigger Problem: One Company, No Accountability Independent research shows 7275% of consumers use Google to find local business information. When a listing vanishes, so do the calls. This is not just about bathrooms. Photographers, boutique gyms, food trucks, mobile bartenders, and wedding vendors have all reported similar suspensions. Entire industries risk invisibility when Googles categories dont evolve. Imagine a bakery suspended because a customer didnt get a gluten-free cake. Thats how arbitrary this feels, said Sauers. Were in Google jail with no bail, no phone call, and no explanation. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bVtjPVMB9gg What Needs to Change Royal Restrooms is urging Google to make four common-sense reforms: Modernize categories: Add Restroom Trailer Rental, ADA Restroom Trailer, and Mobile Shower Trailer to distinguish services beyond Portable Toilet Supplier. Require human review before suspension: No business should be erased by an algorithm without at least one human check. Peoples livelihoods are affected. Create a fast-track appeals process: Verified multi-location businesses need timely reinstatement and limited phone support. Clarify standards: Provide transparent evidence checklists and reasons for denials, not vague notices to review guidelines. Human Impact, Not Just SEO When a bride cant find us on Maps, she assumes weve gone out of business. When a festival producer doesnt see verified vendors, they delay or cancel contracts. When an emergency manager searches for mobile showers and only finds porta-potties, disaster victims are left standing in the wrong line. This is about innovation being punished by outdated categories, said Sauers. If Google really wants to provide relevant results, then recognizing industries of 2025, not 2005 is a no-brainer. Google wants the most relevant information from us as businesses, but they do not conform to the same standard. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-XYsqjrYOT4 A Call to Peers and Policymakers Royal Restrooms is inviting other business owners who have faced suspensions or category mismatches to speak out. We hope reporters, policymakers, and fellow entrepreneurs see this isnt an isolated incident, Sauers added. If it can happen to us, it can happen to anyone. Our cry for help is really a cry for accountability. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iSiGrVyEZZA About Royal Restrooms: Since 2004, Royal Restrooms has been the premier provider of mobile restrooms and shower trailers for weddings, festivals, and emergency response. With office locations in 16 states and the ability to serve nationwide, Royal Restrooms has set the standard for sanitation with its Regal Portable Restroom Experience. Media Contact: David Sauers Co-Founder & CEO, Royal Restrooms Management dsauers@royalrestrooms.com | 800.969.7434 www.RoyalRestrooms.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49cd242d-d033-4d1d-bdad-ce836779ec95 New Delhi, India, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Planning a trip to Thailand is an exciting experience. From the vibrant city life of Bangkok to the serene beaches of Phuket and the cultural gems in Chiang Mai, Thailand has something to offer every traveller. However, before you pack your bags and set out on this journey, it is crucial to secure yourself with Thailand travel insurance. While your itinerary, tickets, and hotel bookings are important, nothing ensures peace of mind more than a robust international travel insurance plan that keeps you covered against unexpected incidents. With Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, travellers can enjoy worry-free holidays as their policies are designed to provide comprehensive protection. Whether you are travelling solo, with friends, or with family, having the right travel insurance policy for Thailand will make your trip safe and stress-free. Why Do You Need Travel Insurance for Thailand? Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Indians. However, with international travel, there are always risks that cannot be overlooked. A missed flight connection, sudden medical emergency, or even the loss of personal belongings can turn a dream vacation into a stressful experience. This is where Thailand travel insurance plays a vital role. A suitable plan ensures financial protection against situations like: Emergency hospitalisation and medical expenses Flight delays, cancellations, or missed connections Loss of passport or important travel documents Theft or loss of baggage and personal items Emergency evacuation in case of accidents or severe illness These situations can drain your finances and cause distress, but the right travel insurance keeps you covered and allows you to focus on enjoying your trip. Types of Visas and Their Relevance to Travel Insurance When travelling from India to Thailand, the type of visa you apply for will determine your length of stay and purpose of travel. Tourist visas, non-immigrant visas, business visas, and even long-term Thai Elite visas are available depending on your travel needs. Regardless of the visa type, travel insurance remains a necessity. Visa officers may even check whether you have valid coverage before granting entry. Hence, securing international travel insurance before departure is both a smart and responsible step. Key Benefits of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Thailand Travel Insurance Choosing Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company for your Thailand trip ensures a wide range of benefits. Some of the most noteworthy include: 1. Comprehensive Coverage From medical emergencies and hospitalisation to baggage loss, flight cancellations, or passport misplacement, the policy covers a broad range of scenarios. It provides travellers with confidence to explore Thailand without fear of unexpected financial setbacks. 2. Instant Assistance Travel worries need quick solutions. With 24x7 customer support, you get immediate guidance no matter where you are. A quick call ensures you receive help, whether its arranging medical care or support in case of lost documents. 3. Plans for Every Traveller Whether you are a student, a senior citizen, or travelling with family, theres a plan tailored to your needs. This flexibility ensures everyone enjoys their trip under the protective shield of Thailand travel insurance . 4. Quick Claim Settlement The faster your claims are processed, the sooner you can focus on enjoying your trip. With a hassle-free process and shorter turnaround time, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company ensures that claim settlements are smooth and stress-free. What is Covered Under Thailand Travel Insurance? A good travel insurance policy goes beyond basic medical cover. With Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, your plan for Thailand includes: Medical emergencies, hospitalisation, and treatments abroad Emergency medical evacuation or repatriation Flight cancellations, delays, and missed connections Loss of checked-in baggage, passport, or important personal belongings Reimbursement for delayed checked-in baggage or hotel cancellations This all-around protection ensures peace of mind while exploring the wonders of Thailand. What is Not Covered? Understanding exclusions is equally important. Some of the cases that are not covered include: Pre-existing medical conditions, unless specified in the policy Injuries due to extreme adventure sports, unless added as an option Claims arising from alcohol or drug use Self-inflicted injuries or participation in unlawful activities By reviewing the policy terms carefully, you can avoid surprises later and plan your trip accordingly. Travel Documents You Need When travelling from India to Thailand, ensure you carry essential documents not only for your visa but also for insurance. These include: Valid passport with at least six months validity Completed visa application form with photograph Proof of income and bank statements Confirmed return flight tickets Hotel booking or proof of stay Having these ready not only speeds up your visa approval but also ensures smooth claim settlement if required. Filing a Claim Made Simple In case of an emergency: Contact the 24/7 helpline immediately. Share necessary details and follow instructions. Collect relevant documents such as police reports, receipts, and medical bills. Submit the claim form online or through the insurers mobile app. Keep copies of all documents for records. With quick processing, you get the required financial support without unnecessary stress. Safety Tips While Travelling to Thailand Alongside your insurance coverage, follow simple precautions: Keep copies of your passport and travel insurance handy. Store valuables safely and avoid crowded areas where pickpocketing is common. Exercise caution when renting vehicles or speedboats. Keep embassy contact details in case of emergencies. Conclusion Thailand offers unforgettable experiences, from its temples and markets to beaches and wildlife parks. However, travelling without insurance can expose you to financial risks that overshadow the joy of your trip. By securing a plan from Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, you ensure protection against unforeseen challenges. With Thailand travel insurance as part of your travel checklist, you can confidently explore, knowing that a reliable international insurance travel plan has got your back. *Standard T&C Apply **Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please consult an expert before making any related decisions. ***Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale. Attachment MIAMI, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defiance ETFs, a leader in thematic and leveraged exchange-traded funds, today announced the launch of the Defiance Daily Target 2X Short LLY ETF (Ticker: LLYZ) . This fund provides investors with amplified 2X inverse daily exposure to the performance of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), enabling retail investors to seek enhanced downside exposure without the need for a margin account. LLYZ seeks to deliver daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of -200% of the daily performance of Eli Lilly and Company. The Fund utilizes derivatives such as swaps and options to achieve its leveraged objectives, offering precise exposure to this issuer. Why Eli Lilly? Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical leader known for innovative therapies in diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. LLYZ offers targeted inverse exposure for traders seeking amplified downside exposure without the need for a margin account. An investment in LLYZ is not an investment in Eli Lilly and Company. The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged inverse (-2X) investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage, and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios. For periods longer than a single day, the Fund will lose money if the Underlying Security's performance is flat, and it is possible that the Fund will lose money even if the Underlying Security's performance declines over a period longer than a single day. An investor could lose the full principal value of his/her investment within a single day. About Defiance Founded in 2018, Defiance is at the forefront of ETF innovation. Defiance is a leading ETF issuer specializing in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs. Our first-mover leveraged single-stock ETFs empower investors to take amplified positions in high-growth companies, providing precise leverage exposure without the need to open a margin account. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES The Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other important information about the investment company. Please read carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectuses can be requested by calling 833.333.9383. Defiance ETFs LLC is the ETF sponsor. The Fund's investment adviser is Tidal Investments, LLC ("Tidal" or the "Adviser"). Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, the fund may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry or country may be subject to a higher degree of risk. There is no guarantee that the Fund's investment strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment. Underlying Security Risk. The underlying security is subject to many risks that can negatively impact the Fund. Underlying Securities Trading Risk. The trading prices of LLY may be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors. Underlying Securities Performance Risk. Eli Lilly and Company may fail to meet expectations, which could cause its share price to decline. Pharmaceutical Industry Risk. The pharmaceutical industry can be significantly affected by regulatory approvals, clinical trial outcomes, competitive dynamics, safety concerns, and pricing pressures. Derivatives Risks. Derivative investments may not perfectly track the underlying security and can magnify losses. Swap Agreements and Options Contracts. These instruments involve specialized risks that can prevent the Fund from achieving its objectives. Leverage Risk. Leverage increases risk of loss and volatility in Fund value. Compounding Risk. The Fund has a single-day investment objective, and compounding can cause multi-day returns to diverge significantly from the stated daily target. Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil. High Portfolio Turnover Risk. Frequent trading may increase costs and tax liabilities. Non-Diversification & Single Issuer Risk. The Fund invests primarily in a single issuer, making it more volatile than diversified funds. New Fund Risk. The Fund has no operating history, limiting performance assessment. Brokerage commissions may be charged on trades. Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. David Hanono info@defianceetfs.com 833.333.9383 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3a4cecbe-a064-4712-9393-861cf62effb5 North Bethesda, Md., Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bright MLS, the nations largest multiple listing service today announced the launch of Bright Solutions, a new suite of six technology products designed to address common industry needs and help brokers, agents, Associations, and MLSs meet the challenges of a rapidly changing real estate landscape. The initial Bright Solutions product suite includes tools for listing management, media coordination, broker administration, team collaboration, market analytics, and advertising. Each product can be adopted individually or as part of a complete suite, providing flexibility for organizations of different sizes and goals. Change in real estate is accelerating, and Bright Solutions delivers the tools professionals need to adapt and thrive, said Brian Donnellan, President & CEO Bright MLS. As industry consolidation, shifting policies, and heightened competition from national platforms increase pressure on organizations to show tangible value to members and clients, Bright Solutions offers them flexible and scalable AI-powered technology products from a trusted partner aligned with their success. MLS Now Joins as First Customer MLS Now, the largest multiple listing service in Ohio with more than 14,000 real estate professionals, has signed on as the first Bright Solutions customer and will begin to integrate Bright Listing Manager into its system. We are proud to be the first to adopt Bright Solutions and to join in this important alliance, said Garry Marsoubian, CEO of MLS Now. We see this partnership as a way to strengthen our services, deliver greater value to our members, and ensure we remain at the forefront of innovation in the industry. Guided by our new brand positionYour Market. Your Moment.this step reflects our commitment to Powering Progress for our members and the communities they serve. Six Tools in Initial Product Suite The launch of Bright Solutions marks the next step in an evolution for Bright MLS that began in 2017 and reflects the companys strategic vision to realign the roles of MLSs, brokers, teams, and agents in ways that strengthen the industry. Specifically aligned with the needs of Brokers and Associations, shaped by daily operational experience, informed by market pressures, and tested at scale by real estate professionals across diverse markets, the initial product suite contains six innovative tools: Bright Listing Manager Next-generation tools for managing listings Bright Media Streamlined media coordination for content creators Bright Admin A broker dashboard for administrative oversight Bright Teams Tools to support collaboration and team management Bright Analytics Market research and reporting capabilities Bright Promote Advertising and promotion tools for listings Bright Solutions tools are fully customizable, can be used individually or together, and are designed to adapt quickly as industry needs evolve. About Bright MLS Bright MLS is the engine behind some of the most powerful and dynamic real estate markets in the country. As the largest multiple listing service in the United States, Bright empowers over 100,000 real estate professionals with real-time data, deep market intelligence, and the tools to serve more than half a million buyers and sellers each month across six statesDelaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginiaand the District of Columbia. In 2024 alone, Bright powered more than 430,000 listings, far outpacing other large MLSs. Bright was built to lead. Backed by a nationally respected research team, Bright delivers trusted housing intelligence that powers decisions and best-in-class tools designed to push organized real estate forward, creating a more transparent, competitive, and informed marketplace. Learn more at BrightMLS.com. Attachment Ottawa, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global AI in hardware market size is set for robust expansion, accounting for USD 41.58 billion in 2026 and is projected to grow from USD 50.81 billion in 2027 to nearly USD 210.50 billion by 2034. In terms of CAGR, the market is forecasted to advance at a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.43% from 2025 to 2034. This growth is fueled by the surging demand for high-performance processors, the rapid adoption of automation, and the proliferation of smart devices across industries. The Complete Study is Now Available for Immediate Access | Download the Sample Pages of this Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1813 AI in Hardware Market Highlights: In term of revenue, the ai in hardware market was valued at USD 27,910 million in 2024. It is projected to exceed over USD 2,10,500 million by 2034 up from USD 34,050 million in 2025. The industry is expected to expand at a notable annual rate of 22.43%. North America held the largest market share of 35.69% in 2024. By Type, the processor segment accounted for the major market share of 55.77% in 2024. By Deployment, the cloud-based segment captured the highest market share of 54.75% in 2024. By Technology, the machine learning segment generated the highest market share of 46.79% in 2024. segment generated the highest market share of 46.79% in 2024. By End User, the IT & telecommunication segment held the major market share of 21.49% in 2024. AI in Hardware Market Size by Type 2022-2024 (USD Billion) Type 2022 2023 2024 Processor 10.42 12.68 15.44 Memory 2.26 2.74 3.34 Network 3.87 4.72 5.76 Storage 2.25 2.75 3.37 AI in Hardware Market Size by End User 2022-2024 (USD Billion) End User 2022 2023 2024 IT & Telecommunication 4.04 4.91 5.97 BFSI 3.28 4.01 4.90 Healthcare 2.35 2.87 3.50 Retail 1.99 2.43 2.97 Automotive 1.59 1.93 2.35 Others 5.56 6.76 8.23 Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/checkout/1813 AI in Hardware Market Overview What is an Artificial Intelligence in Hardware? The artificial intelligence in Hardware market is a crucial segment of the technology industry, focusing on the design and implementation of specialized hardware elements to efficiently address AI-based workloads. As the use of AI is getting more integrated in the fields of healthcare, automotive, finance, manufacturing, and retail, the need for advanced hardware solutions is growing exponentially. The market drivers are the increasing use of AI-enabled devices, explosive data growth, and the necessity to process data in real-time. Moreover, the development of edge AI devices, the evolution of 5G connectivity, and the increased focus on energy-efficient architectures also contribute to the growth of the market. Major End-users of AI in Hardware: 1. Robotics & Autonomous Systems AI hardware plays a crucial role in powering autonomous systems, enabling advanced functions like computer vision, motion planning, and real-time decision-making. It is widely used in industrial robots, service robots, surgical robots, and autonomous vehicles. 2. IT & Telecommunications In this sector, AI-specific hardware supports large-scale data processing, recommendation systems, cybersecurity analytics, and edge computing. Telecom providers use AI hardware to optimize network performance, predict faults, and manage 5G infrastructure. 3. Healthcare & Medical Imaging AI hardware accelerates the analysis of medical images such as CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), and X-rays. It is also used in robotic surgery systems and real-time diagnostic tools, improving both accuracy and speed in clinical settings. 4. Automotive & Driver Assistance Systems AI-powered hardware enables features such as autonomous driving, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and driver behavior monitoring. It supports sensor fusion, navigation, and real-time vehicle control. 5. Surveillance, Security & Visual Inspection AI hardware enhances real-time video analytics for facial recognition, intrusion detection, and anomaly monitoring in surveillance systems. In manufacturing, it is used for quality control and automated defect detection through visual inspection. View Detailed Insight@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/artificial-intelligence-in-hardware-market AI in Hardware Market Opportunity Emergence of E-commerce: The emerging need to scale the retail industry is a major opportunity for artificial intelligence in hardware market. With the ongoing development of retailing through the use of e-commerce and omnichannel strategies and the increasing demands imposed on the product, efficiency and automation have become a necessity. AI is used to develop hardware, including smart shelves, autonomous robots, and cashier-less checkout machines, to enable retailers to make their inventory easier to manage, streamline their supply chains, and reduce the cost of manual labor. The real-time data processing capabilities are enhanced by the AI hardware, allowing retailers to personalize shopping experiences, enhance forecasting of demand, and handle dynamic pricing strategies. AI in Hardware Market Challenge and Limitation: High Implementation Cost: A major constraint in the market is the high cost of implementation. To design and deploy AI hardware, it needs specialized hardware like GPUs, TPUs, and ASICs, which are expensive to start. To the small and medium-sized enterprises, this expensing can serve as a significant hurdle to adoption, restricting access to the market. Moreover, the process of deploying AI hardware to the existing infrastructures is usually complicated, necessitating the expertise of highly trained professionals, compatibility tests, and system upgrades. Interoperability between old and new AI-driven devices can pose a problem to organizations, and it will also raise integration expenses and timeframes. AI in Hardware Market Segmentation Analysis Type Analysis Why did the Processor Segment Dominate the Artificial Intelligence in Hardware Market? The processor segment dominated the artificial intelligence in hardware market in 2024. The AI systems are based on processors, such as GPUs and CPUs, which allow effective training and running of complex algorithms and neural networks. The largest chipmakers are continuing to innovate and launch processors that are specifically aimed at running AI workloads, which expands the market share in this segment. Their scalability, multifunction, and efficiency will ensure that processors will be central in the use of AI hardware. The network segment is the most active in the market in the period of the forecast, due to the demand for seamless connectivity and collaboration between machines. This is also accelerating as the global adoption of 5G technology, which provides ultra-low latency and high bandwidth to execute real-time AI applications, is on the rise. Network hardware is essential in the operation of working with the vast quantities of data generated by AI models, especially in cloud computing and in setups involving edge computing. End User Analysis Which User Segment Held the Largest Share of the Artificial Intelligence in Hardware Market? The telecommunication and IT industry segment held the largest share in the artificial intelligence in hardware market in 2024. Telecom and IT providers have resorted to the deployment of AI hardware to perform complex tasks and offer effective services. Data processing utilizes AI-powered processors, network hardware, and storage to optimize operations of networks, reduce latency, and better service delivery. These strengths will make the telecommunication and IT sector the most popular end-user type in the market of AI hardware when its investments in digital transformation are strong. The banking and finance sector experiences the fastest growth in the market during the forecast period. The fast digitalization of the BFSI sector is creating a need to use high-tech AI devices in facilitating the use of AI in risk management, fraud detection, compliance, and algorithmic trading. The hardware used in AI-based applications in this industry requires the processing of large, sensitive data sets in a fast and highly precise manner. Predictive analytics are supported by AI hardware, which provides personalized financial services and the effective optimization of operations. Technology Analysis How Machine Learning Segment Dominates the Artificial Intelligence in Hardware Market? The machine-learning sector led the artificial intelligence on the hardware market in 2024, as it is used broadly in various industries and scenarios. Machine learning has become a cornerstone of the modern application of AI, be it predictive analytics and fraud detection, customer service automation, or automated optimization of business processes. The constant improvements in machine learning algorithms, along with the exponentially increasing data volumes of big data, have further reinforced its contribution to AI innovation. The computer vision segment is the fastest-growing in the market during the forecast period, due to the boom in demand for solutions of enhanced image and video analysis. The automotive industry, retail industry, healthcare, and security are among the industries that are increasingly using computer vision technologies for purposes like autonomous driving, facial recognition, diagnostic imaging, and smart surveillance. The high bandwidth of GPUs, FPGAs, and edge AI cameras is necessitated by the fact that they require computers with strong AI capable of processing extensive visual data. Deployment Analysis Why did Cloud Segment Hold the Largest Share of the Artificial Intelligence in Hardware Market? The cloud segment held the largest share in the artificial intelligence in hardware market in 2024. AI infrastructure is available as cloud-based services so that the organization can utilize high-performance processors, graphic processing unit (GPUs), and storage without investing in physical equipment. This flexibility enables companies, big and small, to effectively train, test, and deploy AI models in many applications. People have increased demand due to the extensive use of cloud services by various industries, including healthcare, finance, retail, and IT industries, among others, who are increasingly relying on the cloud services provider to provide real-time analytics, automation, and interactions with customers. The on-premise segment experiences the fastest growth in the market during the forecast period, due to the rising demand for data security, control, and compliance. In highly regulated industries, especially banking, healthcare, and defense, many organizations are choosing on-premise deployment so that sensitive data is not left outside their infrastructure. On-premise AI hardware is also more customisable, processing in low-latencies, and can be seamlessly connected with legacy systems, thus suitable for mission-critical applications. As AI workloads grow more specialized and data-intensive, businesses are spending money on specialized processors, GPUs, and edge devices to make sure they can make the most of them and limit their dependency on external service providers. Leading Companies in the AI in Hardware Market Apple (US) Intel (US) NVIDIA (US) Qualcomm Technologies (US) Huawei Technologies (China) Samsung Electronics (South Korea) IBM (US) Micron Technology (US) Xilinx (US) Google (US) Microsoft (US) AMD (US) Recent Developments: In June 2025, the School of Engineering at Santa Clara University declared a new interdisciplinary Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI). The program will also provide the students with advanced AI competencies with a focus on ethical accountability and practice-based use. In June 2025, according to Global Times, Chinese researchers unveiled the first AI-powered processor chip design system in the world, which is called QiMeng. The system is an automated architect and a builder of computer chips designed by the Institute of Computing Technology and the Institute of Software of CAS. In June 2025, Amazon announced a new research and development team called agentic AI and robotics. The team, based in Lab126, Amazon's hardware R&D unit, will be the force behind products such as the Amazon Echo and Kindle. AI in Hardware Market Key Regional Analysis: How Big is the U.S. AI in Hardware Market? The U.S. AI in hardware market size surpassed USD 6.18 billion in 2024 and is estimated to hit over USD 47.96 billion by 2034, representing a solid CAGR of 22.79% from 2025 to 2034. U.S. AI in Hardware Market Trends: The United States holds major potential to grow in the AI in hardware industry. This boom is driven by surging AI integration, significant investments from public and private players, and technological leadership in chip design and manufacturing. U.S. companies like Nvidia, Intel, AMD, and AWS are leading the charge, supported by government initiatives like the CHIPS and Science Act, which fosters enhanced semiconductor production and innovation domestically Note: This report is readily available for immediate delivery. We can review it with you in a meeting to ensure data reliability and quality for decision-making. Try Before You Buy Get the Sample Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1813 How Did North America Dominate the Artificial Intelligence in Hardware Market? North America dominated the Artificial Intelligence in Hardware Market in 2024, due to its high-level technological ecosystem and the presence of well-established AI companies across the globe. The region has a strong digital base, a large number of research centers, and innovation centers that produce breakthroughs in AI hardware solutions. North Americans are rapidly extending AI-powered systems across their industries to achieve operational efficiency, precision, and a competitive edge in their healthcare, automotive, and manufacturing sectors. Furthermore, heavy investments from both the private sector and government initiatives in AI research and development reinforce North Americas leadership. Why is Europe the Fastest-Growing in Artificial Intelligence in Hardware Market? Europe experiences the fastest growth in the market during the forecast period, due to the high rate of adoption of AI technologies in the various sectors. The area has been proactively investing in digital change projects, and governments and non-governmental bodies are encouraging the use of AI in health care, transportation, finance, and intelligent manufacturing. The interest in Industry 4.0 and smart factories is driving a surge in demand for AI-enabled hardware platforms, in particular robotics and automation platforms, and predictive analytics. The European Union (EU) has also come up with enabling regulatory environments and funding programmes to support AI research and adoption. AI in Hardware Market Segments Covered in the Report By Type Processor Memory Network Storage By End User Telecommunication and the IT industry banking and finance sectors Education Ecommerce Navigation Robotics Agriculture Health care Others By Technology Machine Learning Supervised Learning Un-supervised Learning Deep Learning Others Computer Vision Others By Deployment Cloud Cloud Platforms Private Cloud Public Cloud Hybrid Cloud Community Cloud Cloud Services SaaS IaaS PaaS Others On-premise By Region North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany France Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Malaysia Philippines Latin America Brazil Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa (MEA) GCC North Africa South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Thank you for reading. You can also get individual chapter-wise sections or region-wise report versions, such as North America, Europe, or Asia Pacific. 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We are obliged to serve our different client base present over the enterprises of medicinal services, healthcare, innovation, next-gen technologies, semi-conductors, chemicals, automotive, and aerospace & defense, among different ventures present globally. Web: https://www.precedenceresearch.com Our Trusted Data Partners: Towards Healthcare | Towards Packaging | Towards Automotive | Towards Chem and Materials | Towards FnB | Towards Consumer Goods | Statifacts | Towards EV Solutions | Towards Dental | Nova One Advisor | Market Stats Insight Get Recent News: https://www.precedenceresearch.com/news For the Latest Update Follow Us: LinkedIn | Medium | Facebook | Twitter Related Topics You May Find Useful: OTTAWA, Ontario, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lumenix today announced a groundbreaking multi-year collaboration agreement to deploy its Artificially Intelligent Monitoring System (AIMS) at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). The objective of this collaboration is to improve patient and staff safety, support workers, and contribute to the foundation for a personalized, inclusive, and innovative approach to healthcare delivery. AIMS is an ambient sensing platform designed specifically for clinical use. Using a network of ceiling-embedded devices and infrared-based 3D sensors, the system anonymously perceives human behaviour and positioning, while remaining incapable of recognizing any personal information. AIMS delivers real-time, actionable intelligence that allows healthcare teams to proactively prevent adverse events, such as missed hand hygiene compliance, fall prevention and detection, and patient wandering, which leads to enhanced safety and improved patient outcomes. This initiative supports the strategic vision of the IMPACT Centre (Initiatives and Methods for Partnerships, Analytics and Clinical Transformation), the MUHCs AI Centre of Excellence, to accelerate the benefits derived from data and digital technologies. Central to that goal is the integration of novel technologies, such as AIMS, that can improve care outcomes at every stage of life. Protecting patients from preventable harm is at the heart of our mission, says Dr. Lucie Opatrny, President and Executive Director of the MUHC. By introducing this technology, we are equipping our teams with another tool to reinforce best practices and deliver the safest care possible. This project also highlights how academic health centres can combine clinical expertise with technological innovation to drive meaningful transformation across our sector. The MUHC Lumenix collaboration includes both the implementation of AIMS and the development of additional applications. These innovations will solve real clinical challenges providing immediate value to patient care and clinical staff at the MUHC, and create scalable solutions for healthcare systems worldwide. Our partnership with the MUHC represents exactly the kind of collaboration that drives meaningful, inclusive healthcare innovation, said Scott Delaney, Chairman and CEO, Lumenix. The MUHC's unwavering commitment to excellence, leadership, and innovation makes them an ideal partner as we continue to develop and expand the AIMS platforms capabilities. Together, we're not just implementing technology, we're lighting the way toward 21st century solutions for 21st century healthcare challenges. At Lumenix, we look forward to combining our expertise with the MUHC's vision to build healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities." AIMS has been clinically validated through multiple deployments and clinical trials, including a successful comprehensive clinical trial led by the Government of Canada. AIMS hand hygiene application has delivered sustained improvement in hand hygiene compliance and significantly reduced outbreaks. The MUHC Lumenix collaboration is an investment in the future of healthcare and creates a model for how healthcare systems can advance technology through innovation, shared values and teamwork. About Lumenix Lumenix is a leading provider of hardware, software, sensors and artificial intelligence currently serving and trusted by thousands of clients across healthcare, commercial, residential, industrial and retail sectors in North America. Lumenix is committed to its vision of providing continuous value creation and enhanced safety for its partners and clients through the application of proprietary agentic artificial intelligence, robotics engineering, interconnectivity and clean technologies. For more information, contact info@lumenix.com Media Contact: Jennifer Madigan Syntax Strategic jmadigan@syntaxstrategic.ca PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Instinct Science, a leading innovator in veterinary workflow, decision support, education, and practice management software, is partnering with the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), expanding access to essential clinical resources for veterinary professionals. Through this collaboration, all VECCS members will now receive complimentary access to Plumbs, the gold-standard veterinary drug reference used by practitioners worldwide. In addition, members can now subscribe to Standards of Care for a special discounted rate. In emergency and critical care, every second matters, said Dr. Caleb Frankel, Founder & CEO of Instinct Science. As a long-time VECCS member myself, I know the value of this organization to the profession firsthand. All VECCS memberships now include access to Plumbs, plus Standards at a significantly reduced rate, for the most accurate drug information and clinical protocols. This is an incredible step forward for this important corner of our profession and ensures that VECCS members have the tools to deliver exceptional care when it matters most. Plumbs provides instant access to continually updated drug monographs, dosing calculators, and decision-support tools, helping veterinarians prescribe with confidence. Standards of Care offers step-by-step clinical protocols for diagnosing and treating the most common conditions seen in practice and is developed by board-certified veterinary specialists. Partnering with Instinct to offer Plumbs as a member benefit supports VECCSs vision of raising the level of patient care, said Dr. Chris Gray, VetMB, MA, MBA, MRCVS, CAE, CEO Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Our members are incredibly busy, often working in time sensitive situations so we are excited to provide them with a point of care app that enhances patient care, supports decision-making, and can make a real impact in their daily work. The partnership highlights the shared commitment of Instinct Science and VECCS to equip veterinary professionals with high-quality, accessible tools that improve patient outcomes and hospital efficiency. About Instinct Science Instinct is an animal health technology company dedicated to transforming veterinary medicine through thoughtfully designed practice management software and essential clinical resources. Serving over 360,000 veterinary professionals worldwide, Instincts offerings include the innovative PIMS, Instinct EMR, and trusted clinical tools Standards of Care, Plumb's, and Clinicians Brief, which support veterinarians in making critical, informed patient care decisions. About VECCS The Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) advances veterinary emergency and critical care through education, innovation, and community. Offering a medical journal, webinars, facility certification, and three annual conferences, VECCS supports professionals at all levels. The core values guide the mission to raise the level of patient care. Media Contact for Instinct Science: press@instinct.vet AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LVT (LiveView Technologies, Inc.), the leader of rapidly deployable safety and security solutions, has appointed Chris Beckstead as its first president, effective in October. Beckstead spent 12 years in leadership at Qualtrics, most recently as president, leading the company through its 2021 IPO. LVT CEO and co-founder Ryan Porter will partner with Beckstead to lead the companys expansion into new product verticals with agentic AI solutions, accelerating LVTs vision to transform the physical security market with data-driven intelligence. At LVT, the future of security isn't about reactive alerts; it's about providing data intelligence for physical environments that enables prevention. By focusing on solutions that are fast to operationalize and require minimal infrastructure, LVT is positioned to put the power of data directly in the hands of its customers, driving growth and market leadership. LVTs evolution is remarkable. From a bootstrapped startup to one of the most advanced security and analytics companies in the U.S., the determination to innovate is what drew me here, said Beckstead. The teams passion and grit have set the foundation, and together we have an opportunity to redefine how security and data intelligence shape safer, smarter communities and businesses. LVT continues to rapidly scale, a rare feat for a company celebrating its 20th anniversary. It achieved a 483% revenue increase from 2021 to 2024 and exceeded a $1 billion valuation, driven by high demand for its advanced video security solutions. Its customers include 94% of Fortune 100 retailers as well as a wide range of customers across education, property management, critical infrastructure, and government. LVTs first-of-its-kind agentic AI capabilities serve as a catalyst for its data-driven approach, focusing on objects, behaviors, and context, helping to deter unwanted behavior and rapidly investigate incidents for prosecution. We are at an inflection point, and I believe Chris is the perfect partner to lead our next chapter, said Porter. His experience scaling a company of Qualtrics' magnitude, combined with his passion for life safety, aligns perfectly with our mission. We are ready to work together to expand our market leadership and deliver on our vision. Beckstead is a seasoned business executive, having served as head of finance, chief operating officer, and president of Qualtrics over his 12-year tenure. Beckstead holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business. About LVT LVT (LiveView Technologies, Inc.) is a leader in life safety and security and the premier developer and manufacturer of mounted or mobile, solar-powered, and cellular/satellite-connected surveillance solutions, software, and AI technologies. Headquartered in American Fork, Utah, LVTs enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution is used by retailers, critical infrastructure and utilities, construction projects, warehouse and distribution centers, police, municipalities, and more. LVT products are proudly made in the USA with domestic and foreign parts. For more information, visit www.lvt.com. AJAX, Ontario, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Steelworkers union (USW) is welcoming 152 workers at Parkland Ajax Retirement Residence to the union following a successful organizing drive. The workers provide daily care and support to seniors and their families. By joining the USW, they are seeking a stronger collective voice to improve working conditions and ensure respect on the job. Health-care workers are on the front lines every day, providing essential care and compassion, said Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director. By choosing to join the Steelworkers, these workers are standing together to demand fairness, respect and a stronger voice at work. This organizing win reflects the power of collective action, and we are proud to welcome them into our union family. This campaign was truly about workers standing up for themselves and each other, said Darlene Jalbert, District 6 Organizing Co-ordinator. The determination and solidarity we saw from health-care workers at Parkland Ajax was inspiring. They knew the challenges they faced, but they also knew together they could create real change. Thats what this victory represents. The new members will also have the opportunity to take part in the District 6 Health Care Council, a network of Steelworkers across the sector. The council provides a space for health-care workers to share experiences, build solidarity and strengthen their collective voice on issues that matter most in their workplaces and communities. The USW says the win highlights growing momentum across the health-care sector, as more workers turn to unions to build fairer workplaces through solidarity and collective bargaining. About the United Steelworkers union The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the union's strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation including good wages, benefits and pensions. For more information: Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director, 416-243-8792, kstewart@usw.ca Darlene Jalbert, USW District 6 Organizing Co-ordinator, 613-362-4414, djalbert@usw.ca Arushana Sunderaeson, USW Communications, 416-243-8792 ext. 1233, asunderaeson@usw.ca New York, New York, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maltas new Blue Lagoon booking system reduces visitor concentration by 68%. Proposals for the long-term ecological rehabilitation of this site are to be announced soon. The Blue Lagoon is part of Comino, one of Maltas three sister islands. The highest recorded concentration of visitors at the Blue Lagoon at any one time in July and August was registered on the afternoon of Friday, 22nd August, at an estimated 3,830, down by 68% when compared to the peaks of summer 2024. The average number of visitors at the Blue Lagoon at each of the three daily time slots of the new booking system introduced this summer is 1,979. Only 34 out of 189 available time slots (morning/afternoon/evening) in July and August registered more than 3,000 visitors. These figures confirm the positive results of the new Blue Lagoon booking system introduced in May and the reorganisation of operations spearheaded by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA)s Team Blue Lagoon and other entities. The booking system is one of several measures introduced this summer to augment environmental sustainability at the Blue Lagoon, a Natura 2000 site, and enhance visitor experience. MTA also appointed internationally acclaimed architecture and design practice Mizzi Studio to deliver long-term rehabilitation proposals to preserve the sites natural beauty, while ensuring ecological balance and sustainable public access. The proposals, which are being discussed with stakeholders, including e-NGOs, will be open for public consultation in coming weeks. Last year, up to 12,000 visitors were recorded at the Blue Lagoon at any one time at peak hours. The new free online booking system introduced this year Book. Protect. Enjoy. - allows a maximum of 4,000 visitors at any one time, marking the first ever attempt toward sustainable management of the area. The system allows visitors to book one of three time slots morning, afternoon or evening. The 1,979 average number of visitors per time slot registered in July and August demonstrates that the booking system is successfully distributing the flow of visitors throughout the day, avoiding the much higher concentrations previously experienced at certain peak hours. This data is also helping to inform the planning of additional measures. Established earlier this year, Team Blue Lagoon is focusing on four key objectives: Improved visitor flows through the new booking system A safer visitor experience with a larger swimming zone Additional cleansing and waste management resources Strict enforcement and security throughout the site, on land and at sea In May, Team Blue Lagoon extended the swimming zone by 12%. Two smaller beaches in the same area were also newly designated as safe swimming zones. The Team also doubled the cleaning resources allocated to the area, with over 12 cleaners assigned daily to empty bins, collect litter, and maintain the sites showers and toilets, which were also refurbished. Waste is now transported off the Island more frequently, reducing the environmental impact. Maritime operations have also been reorganised, with a new capitainerie managed by Transport Malta officers overseeing the arrival and departure of vessels to the existing landing sites. Team Blue Lagoon has also strengthened on-site safety and security, with a new patrol team, more lifeguards, as well as police officers, environmental monitors and emergency personnel. Enforcement tied to commercial operations was reinforced to ensure compliance with applicable conditions. New signage is guiding visitors to follow the sites regulations and remain on established paths, avoiding the protected garigue. Some of the paths have been upgraded to improve safety. Commenting on these results CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority Mr. Carlo Micallef said: By controlling peak visitor numbers and spreading flows, the booking system is helping us embark on a journey to protect the Blue Lagoon and give visitors a better experience. These improvements underline the effectiveness of the measures taken so far, and the determination of Team Blue Lagoon and of our partner entities to continue working in the direction we have undertaken. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Hon Ian Borg stated: Team Blue Lagoon's efforts this summer are the first tangible drive to improve the sustainability of operations at this national gem and Natura 2000 site. The results are encouraging - a vital first step towards long-term and sustained rehabilitation as well as a better visitor experience. Let me be clear, this is just the beginning. We will continue analysing the data and review the next potential steps. The Blue Lagoon is a very small site, placing physical limitations on the level of activity it can host, particularly on land. Consequently, its popularity means that it is always bound to be very busy at peak hours. This will not dampen our drive. We shall persevere to strike the right balance, ensuring environmental protection while offering an enjoyable visitor experience. The MTA and Team Blue Lagoon are coordinating these improvements with the support of several ministries, authorities and entities, including the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, Transport Malta, the Environment and Resources Authority, the Police, LESA, and the Civil Protection Department. Link to DropBox images. -ENDS- About Malta The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere. Valletta, built by the proud Knights of St. John, is one of the UNESCO sites and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta's patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire's most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife, and 8,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. For more information on Malta, visit www.visitmalta.com . Attachments Dr. Kimbroughs appointment is the culmination of a lengthy search for a transformational leader to oversee the areas of Research and Member Engagement, K-12 Advocacy, Learning Innovation and Digital Education here at UNCF. He comes to UNCF after serving as president of several UNCF-Member Institutions including Dillard University, Philander Smith University and most recently as interim president of Talladega College. Dr. Kimbrough is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Miami University in Ohio, and received his doctorate in higher education from Georgia State University. Dr. Kimbrough is among the most incisive and respected voices in higher education today, particularly in the HBCU community, said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF. His depth of experience, strategic insight and unwavering commitment to educational excellence will help position UNCF to shape the future of HBCUs and American higher education. We are proud to welcome him to our team. As executive vice president, research and membership engagement, Dr. Kimbrough will report directly to the Office of the President, partnering with the president and CEO on strategic initiatives and membership support services. He will also work closely with the Chief Operating Officer on key operational priorities. I am excited to join the UNCF team. Over the years I have worked with so many of my UNCF colleagues and this new role allows me to join a group that tirelessly advocates and supports HBCUs, said Dr. Kimbrough. Dr. Kimbrough will provide vision, direction and expertise in developing and implementing strategies to fund UNCFs education, research, K-12 and technical assistance programs such as digital education and learning innovation, supporting the success of its 37 member institutions and their senior administrative officers, faculty, staff and students, to build institutional capacity. As chief research officer and principal editor of research publications, Dr. Kimbroughs role will require him to interface frequently with external entities including the media, as a UNCF spokesperson. ### About UNCF UNCF is one of the nations largest and most effective supporters of higher education and serves as a leading advocate for college-bound students. Since its founding in 1944, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion to support students' access to higher education, provide scholarships and strengthen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Each year, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at more than 600 colleges and universities across the country including 37 UNCF-member HBCUs. Through its efforts, UNCF has helped generations of students to get to and through college. We believe a college education plays a vital role in fortifying the pipeline of leaders and professionals who contribute to the advancement of our society. Our logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and our widely recognized trademark is, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Instagram. IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tellus Power Globe Holding Limited (Tellus Power or the Company) was honored to welcome His Excellency Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, to its Hong Kong offices last week. The high-level visit reflects the UAEs forward-looking vision and commitment to strengthening international partnerships that advance energy efficiency, clean mobility, and sustainable infrastructure. During his visit, H.E. Eng Al Olama toured Tellus Powers research and development facilities, where he was briefed on the companys latest innovations in electric vehicle (EV) charging, including advanced Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies. The visit also highlighted the progress of the UAE-based joint venture between Tellus Power Globe Holding Limited, BinHendi Holding, and Sing Family Enterprise Group, which aspires to establish one of the first EV charger manufacturing facilities in the Middle East. This investment reflects the UAEs vision of becoming a global hub for advanced energy and infrastructure technologies, while also supporting local industrial development and job creation. H.E. Eng Al Olama said: I am pleased with our visit to Tellus Powers offices in Hong Kong, where we witnessed promising innovations in sustainable EV solutions. This engagement marks a valuable step toward future cooperation, aligning with our shared vision for advancing clean and smart EV infrastructure. We are deeply honored by the visit of H.E. Eng Sharif Al Olama, whose leadership and vision continue to inspire innovation in sustainable infrastructure, said Yansong Li, Co-Founder of Tellus Power. This collaboration marks a milestone in our journey to delivering Made in UAE EV chargers and positioning the Emirates as a leader in advanced energy solutions for the region and beyond. The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructures support underscores the nations dedication to driving future-ready, sustainable solutions. Tellus Powers Middle East division looks forward to continuing its partnership with various stakeholders in UAE to accelerate the transition towards cleaner, smarter, and more connected mobility ecosystems. About Tellus Power Globe Holding Limited Tellus Power Globe Holding Limited (Tellus Power or the Company) is a global manufacturer of electric vehicle chargers. The Company delivers ROI-driven charging infrastructure designed for long-term profitability and operational efficiency. Leveraging global expertise, Tellus Power delivers advanced and dependable EV charging infrastructure to support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Company Contact Caitlin McCann cmccann@telluspowergroup.com Media Contact Jessica Starman, MBA hello@telluspowergroup.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/edd98a1b-4e05-48b5-968c-f28b9bac5bdd https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/daabfe75-f0b6-4409-ba5c-c66378fde7b6 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e2063883-6ca3-4447-bb25-b8bdb7003a34 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9f5f8fa-564e-407b-b022-b21c33a221cf https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0adc644d-73f7-499e-a5af-cd763515b4df SPRUCE GROVE, Alberta, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Families, friends, and community members will gather this Saturday at MADD Canadas annual Memorial Ceremony to honour and remember Albertans who have been killed in crashes involving alcohol, cannabis and/or other drugs. The ceremony is also a time to support those affected and reinforce the importance of the ongoing fight against impaired driving. The Memorial Monument, located at the Parkland RCMP Detachment in Spruce Grove, is etched with the names of 74 victims who lost their lives due to someones decision to drive after consuming alcohol, cannabis and/or drugs, including five new names added this year. Media are invited to attend the Alberta Memorial Monument Ceremony. Date & Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 11 a.m. Location: Parkland RCMP Headquarters, 91 Campsite Road, Spruce Grove, Alberta Guest Speakers: MADD Canada Board Member for Alberta/Northwest Territories/Nunavut Region, Tracy Franklin Calgary Police Service, Inspector Andy Woodward RCMP Parkland Detachment, Sergeant Darrin Turnbull Parkland County Mayor, Allan Gamble Edmonton Police Service, Supt. Angela Kemp MADD Canada Victim Services ManagerWestern Region, Gillian Phillips MADD Calgary & Area Chapter President, Aaron Libby MADD Edmonton & Area Chapter Volunteer, Lynda McCullough Since 2009, MADD Canada has established Memorial Monuments for victims of impaired driving in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario. Ceremonies are held each year to unveil new names added to the Monuments and to pay tribute to all victims. The Prince Edward Island Monument will be unveiled soon, and we are working towards establishing a similar monument in British Columbia. COSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Insight Financial Services (IFS), a division of Insight Investments, LLC, today announced it has been awarded a purchasing contract from the Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC) , a nonprofit cooperative that secures member access to vetted providers with preferred pricing on products and services. As an approved WSIPC vendor, IFS will offer its industry-leading leasing services for technology, equipment, software, and more. "Were excited to begin our partnership with WSIPC to continue to support schools throughout Washington," said Andy Hashimoto, Vice President at Insight Financial Services. "By offering customizable, cost-effective technology financing, we empower districts to modernize their classrooms, optimize their budgets, and equip students and teachers with the tools necessary for success. This award reflects our ongoing commitment to creating sustainable and predictable leasing programs that expand access to technology statewide." WSIPC members include K-12 public, private, charter, and tribal schools in Washington as well as regional educational entities, including libraries. WSIPC represents more than 330 districts and nearly one million students. Our leasing programs are built with flexibility in mind, so schools can get the most value while keeping budgets predictable, said Colleen ODonnell, Vice President of SLED, National Sales at Insight Financial Services. At IFS, our role is to take the complexity out of technology refresh so academic leaders can stay focused on what matters mosteducating students. Were proud of the impact weve made with schools across the country, and were excited to help more Washington districts reach their technology goals through this program. Insight Financial Services is transforming how schools and public agencies plan and invest in technology, said Dr. Dana Anderson, WSIPC CEO. As an awarded vendor of the WSIPC Cooperative Purchasing Program RFP 25 01, they deliver smarter, clearer, and more flexible tech leasing solutions - without the fine print headaches. Their approach empowers districts with line-item control over purchase, return, or renewal of equipment; in-house refurbishment; and free access to AMOS, a powerful lease-and-asset management dashboard - all helping refresh technology on-time, on-budget, and with zero surprises. This partnership offers our members innovative, transparent financial pathways that directly support teaching, learning, and operational excellence. Were thrilled to welcome Insight Financial Services to our Purchasing Program and excited for the positive impact this will bring to our schools and communities. IFS offers a range of tailored lease programs designed to meet the unique technology needs of the education, government, and nonprofit sectors, including operating and capital leases. These programs are instrumental in helping customers to sustain their IT environments, establish modern refresh cycles, reduce total cost of ownership, track and manage their assets, and more. IFS has financed well over one million student and teacher devices, as well as other IT equipment, to provide teachers and students with the technology they need to teach and learn in an equitable way. IFS WSIPC contract number is WSIPC RFP 25-01. For more information visit: Insight Financial Services 25-01 WSIPC, K-12 Technology Services . About Insight Financial Services Insight Financial Services (IFS), a division of Insight Investments, LLC, delivers customized leasing solutions for the acquisition of technology, equipment, and associated services. Corporate enterprises, education institutions, and government agencies benefit from IFS fully transparent IT refresh and lease solutions. Value Added Resellers (VARs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and Managed Services Providers (MSPs) leverage IFS for customized vendor programs that help their customers acquire more of their solutions. IFS prides itself on a hands-on, collaborative approach to leasing. Its Asset Management Online System (AMOS) provides clients with anywhere, anytime asset and lease management. For more information, visit www.ifsleasing.com. MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX, OTCQX: MBXBF, Microbix), a life sciences innovator, manufacturer, and exporter, announces its hosting of the Honourable Stephen Crawford, Ontarios Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, for a site visit to tour the companys advanced biotechnology development and manufacturing facilities and discuss how next generation diagnostics can improve health outcomes while reducing healthcare costs for Ontarians. The Province of Ontario has been a strong supporter of Microbix in recent years, with over C$ 2.0 million of grant funding from its Ontario Together Funds (OTF & OTF2). Those successful initiatives have helped build state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity and the development of many world-leading healthcare products, all while ensuring that Microbixs operations remain firmly rooted here in Ontario. During the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, Microbix supplied over 2 million units of VTM to Ontario, including 1.2 million units that were ordered on an emergency basis in December 2021, of which 450,000 were delivered on Christmas Eve. Minister Crawford commented, Microbix is a great example of the kind of Ontario-made innovation that keeps our province strong. With its skilled workforce and cutting-edge biotech operations right here in Mississauga, Microbix is helping protect the health of Ontarians and driving economic growth. Under Premier Fords leadership, our government is proud to support Ontario businesses that create good-paying jobs, develop world-class products, and strengthen our provinces position as a global leader in life sciences. Microbixs CEO, Cameron Groome, also commented We are very pleased to host Minister Crawford and showcase our facilities and capabilities that provide skilled full-time careers to over 120 Ontarians. We are a leading life sciences employer, with our innovative and Ontario Made products being used worldwide to support error-free and cost-effective diagnosis of diseases. Microbix counts many world-leading makers of diagnostic tests, clinical testing laboratories, and lab accreditation agencies as clients. It is a privilege to share our insights as to how supporting innovation benefits Ontarians as both patients and taxpayers. About Microbix Biosystems Inc. Microbix is proudly Ontario-based, producing innovative Ontario-made products with deep provincial roots. From the ground up, the companys three adjacent facilities were designed by Ontario engineers, their workflows optimized by Ontario consultants and its modular walls and air-handling systems created and installed by an Ontario firms. Microbix creates proprietary biological products for human health and has over 120 skilled employees. It makes and exports a wide range of critical ingredients and devices for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for immunoassays and its laboratory quality assessment products (QAPs) and reference materials (QUANTDx) that support clinical lab proficiency testing, enable assay development and validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical diagnostic workflows. Its antigens drive the antibody tests of approximately 100 diagnostics makers, while QAPs and QUANTDx are sold to clinical lab accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies, and clinical labs. Microbix products are now available in over 30 countries, supported by a network of international distributors. Microbix is ISO 9001 & 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered, Australian TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed and provides IVDR-compliant CE marked products. Microbix also applies its biological expertise develop other proprietary products and technologies, most notably Kinlytic urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots, and reagents or media to support molecular diagnostic testing (e.g., its DxTM for patient-sample collection and stabilization). Microbix is traded on the TSX and OTCQX, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Forward-Looking Information This news release includes forward-looking information, as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, discussion of this visit and its intentions or consequences, Microbixs business and business results, goals or outlook, risks associated with financial results and stability, development projects such as those referenced in its corporate presentation, access to and sales to foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining profitability and adequate working capital, or raising further capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect managements current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, some of which are beyond its control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent the Companys judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Please visit www.microbix.com or www.sedar.com for recent Microbix news and filings. For further information, please contact Microbix at: Cameron Groome, CEO (905) 361-8910 Jim Currie, CFO (905) 361-8910 Deborah Honig, Investor Relations Adelaide Capital Markets (647) 203-8793 ir@microbix.com Copyright 2025 Microbix Biosystems Inc. Microbix, DxTM, Kinlytic, QAPs and QUANTDx are trademarks of Microbix Biosystems Inc. SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dr. Louis Krenn Scholarship for Medical Students officially announces the opening of its application period, offering undergraduate and medical students across the United States an opportunity to be recognized for their dedication to the medical profession. Created by Dr. Louis Krenn, this scholarship reflects his ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals who aspire to shape the future of medicine through service, innovation, and compassion. The scholarship is designed to assist students actively pursuing a career in medicine, whether they are on a pre-medical track or enrolled in medical school. Applicants are invited to submit an original essay that responds to the prompt: Medicine is more than a careerits a calling. What inspired you to pursue a path in healthcare, and how do you hope to shape the future of medicine through your work? Essays will be carefully evaluated based on originality, depth of reflection, and alignment with the values that Dr. Louis Krenn has embraced throughout his career. The selection committee seeks to highlight students who demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of the responsibility that comes with practicing medicine and who show a clear vision for their contributions to the healthcare field. Eligibility and Application Details To qualify for the Dr. Louis Krenn Scholarship for Medical Students, applicants must: Be a current undergraduate or medical student in the United States. Be pursuing a career in medicine. Submit an original essay between 500 and 800 words addressing the official prompt. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2026, and the recipient will be announced on April 15, 2026. A Legacy of Dedication to Medicine With more than two decades of clinical and leadership experience, Dr. Louis Krenn has made a meaningful impact on both patient care and medical education. Over the course of his career, he has held positions such as Medical Director of Ambulatory Clinical Efficiency, Chief Medical Information Officer, and Director of Telehealth. Alongside his administrative work, he has remained committed to patient care through his Family Medicine practice. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Louis Krenn has mentored students across medical, nursing, and physician assistant programs, fostering growth among emerging healthcare providers. His leadership in telehealth and healthcare innovation has also influenced the way care is delivered, making healthcare more accessible and efficient for patients. The scholarship stands as an extension of Dr. Louis Krenns valuesencouraging service-oriented students who will carry forward the principles of excellence, compassion, and continuous learning into their future careers. Commitment to the Next Generation The Dr. Louis Krenn Scholarship for Medical Students underscores the importance of guiding and supporting future physicians at the early stages of their journey. By offering a platform for students to share their personal inspiration for entering medicine, this scholarship not only provides financial support but also recognizes the human stories and motivations that define healthcare as a calling. This initiative reflects Dr. Louis Krenns enduring belief in education, mentorship, and innovation in medicine. His efforts to create this scholarship provide students with both recognition and encouragement as they continue working toward careers that will impact communities nationwide. Application Information Students interested in applying for the scholarship are encouraged to visit the official website for full details on eligibility, requirements, and submission guidelines: https://drlouiskrennscholarship.com/. Contact Information Spokesperson: Dr. Louis Krenn Organization: Dr. Louis Krenn Scholarship for Medical Students Website: https://drlouiskrennscholarship.com/ Email: apply@drlouiskrennscholarship.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99fdb59a-6a3f-4f7e-9548-64ee42846976 LAS VEGAS, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Hazem Afifi has launched a comprehensive scholarship program designed to support undergraduate students pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, and related healthcare fields across the United States. The Dr. Hazem Afifi Scholarship for Medical Students represents a significant investment in the next generation of healthcare professionals. The scholarship program targets students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance and genuine commitment to serving patients through healthcare careers. Dr. Hazem Afifi established this initiative to address the growing need for qualified medical professionals while supporting students who face financial barriers in their educational journey. "Healthcare education requires substantial dedication and resources," states Dr. Hazem Afifi. "This scholarship program aims to recognize students who show both academic excellence and a sincere desire to make a difference in patients' lives." Students enrolled at accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States can apply for the scholarship, which awards $1,000 to one selected recipient. The program specifically targets undergraduate students pursuing degrees in medicine, nursing, or related healthcare disciplines. Applicants must submit an original essay between 500 and 700 words addressing the prompt: "What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine or nursing, and how do you plan to make a meaningful impact in the lives of your future patients?" The selection committee evaluates submissions based on clarity, originality, personal insight, and alignment with the scholarship's mission. Dr. Hazem Afifi brings extensive experience as a board-certified medical professional to this educational initiative. His career spans multiple medical disciplines, with a particular focus on mentoring young healthcare students. The scholarship reflects his commitment to supporting students who demonstrate both academic potential and genuine compassion for patient care. The application process requires students to maintain strong academic records while actively pursuing healthcare-related degrees. Dr. Hazem Afifi designed these criteria to identify students who possess the dedication necessary for successful medical careers. "Medical education shapes the future of healthcare delivery," explains Dr. Hazem Afifi. "Supporting students during their formative years creates a ripple effect that benefits entire communities through improved patient care." The scholarship program operates independently of geographic restrictions, welcoming applications from students at institutions across all fifty states. This nationwide scope reflects Dr. Hazem Afifi's vision of supporting healthcare education regardless of location or institutional affiliation. Students interested in applying can access complete application materials and detailed requirements through the scholarship's official website. The comprehensive application process ensures fair evaluation of all candidates while identifying students who best embody the program's values. The selection timeline provides ample opportunity for thorough application review. Students have until February 15, 2026, to submit their complete applications, including required essays and academic documentation. Dr. Hazem Afifi and the selection committee will announce the scholarship recipient on March 15, 2026. This scholarship program represents more than financial assistance; it acknowledges students who demonstrate the character traits essential for healthcare careers. The essay component allows applicants to articulate their motivations and future goals while showcasing their communication skills. Healthcare education continues to evolve, with increasing emphasis on compassionate care alongside clinical expertise. The Dr. Hazem Afifi Scholarship for Medical Students recognizes this balance by seeking students who combine academic achievement with genuine concern for patient welfare. The scholarship application process remains straightforward while maintaining rigorous standards. Students must demonstrate enrollment in accredited institutions and provide evidence of their academic performance and healthcare career commitment. As healthcare needs continue expanding across the United States, initiatives like the Dr. Hazem Afifi Scholarship for Medical Students play crucial roles in developing the next generation of medical professionals. The program supports students who might otherwise face significant financial obstacles in pursuing their healthcare career goals. Interested students can find complete application details, eligibility requirements, and submission guidelines at the scholarship's official website. The program encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the varied communities that future healthcare professionals will serve. Contact Information: Spokesperson: Dr. Hazem Afifi Organization: Dr. Hazem Afifi Scholarship for Medical Students Website: https://drhazemafifischolarship.com/ Email: apply@drhazemafifischolarship.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4907b2f2-8fef-4949-b2c4-ae08c581228e SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif., Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Affirmed Housing, a leading provider of affordable housing throughout California, announces that construction has commenced on Monarch at Redwood, a new, $70.4M, affordable housing community located in the North Fair Oaks neighborhood. Once completed, Monarch will feature 86 sustainably conscious apartment homes with onsite services and amenities for households earning less than 60 percent of the area median income. Im so proud that Monarch at Redwood is in my district and in my backyard! In a region where affordability is becoming increasingly rare, this project shows whats possible when the County, community, and development partners come together with shared values and purpose, said San Mateo County District 4 Supervisor Lisa Gauthier. Monarch will be a six-story development with thoughtfully designed studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes. Of the total 86 apartments, 39 are designated Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for residents participating in Healthy Housing California (HHC) and Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) programs, ensuring critical housing access for those most in need. Our goal with Monarch is to strengthen North Fair Oaks by providing housing and support that allow residents to stay close to friends, schools, and the local businesses, keeping the heart of the community vibrant and inclusive, said Jimmy Silverwood, president at Affirmed Housing. This project will create homes where people can truly put down roots. Were grateful to all our partners who share this vision and help make it possible. Promoting energy efficiency and affordability, each home will be equipped with Energy Star-rated appliances, and rooftop photovoltaic panels will help offset the propertys utility costs. Several shared amenities will be featured throughout the property, including secure bike storage, parking spaces, and a welcoming lobby with a mail room, all situated on the buildings ground level. On-site laundry facilities are located throughout the building, and a landscaped courtyard and a community room provide space to host gatherings and events. Signature to Affirmed Housing projects, Monarch is placed within a high resource area, allowing residents easy access to off-site amenities, such as public transit, grocery stores, restaurants, and retail businesses. In addition to housing, Monarch residents will have exclusive access to adult education programs focused on job training, career development, and health and wellness. Those experiencing mental and physical health challenges will have access to dedicated on-site service coordinators and a robust network of wrap-around supportive services provided in partnership with local organizations, like the Mental Health Association of San Mateo County (MHA). Funding for Monarch comes through a collaboration of key financing partners, including Lument, Redstone Equity Partners, First Citizens Bank, the County of San Mateo, Housing Trust Silicon Valley, Corporation for Supportive Housing, the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC). Affirmed Housings development partners for Monarch include HA Builder Group, Van Meter Williams Pollack, BKF Engineers, DCI Engineers and Jett Landscape Architecture + Design. About Affirmed Housing Affirmed Housing is a leader in affordable, multifamily housing development, delivering safe, sustainable, high-quality communities for families, veterans, seniors and people experiencing homelessness. The company works with municipalities and private owners throughout California to promote housing stability and neighborhood well-being by leveraging deep expertise in public finance, low-income housing tax credits, and tax-exempt bond finance, as well as site selection, engineering, architecture, construction, relocation and marketing. Since 1992, Affirmed Housing has financed nearly $3 billion in affordable and supportive development, with more than 6,000 apartment homes developed or under development in more than 75 communities. The company has offices in San Diego and San Jose. Visit: www.affirmedhousing.com. Laurel, Maryland, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recent high school graduate Sarah Voigt will enter her freshman year at Villanova University this fall with an extra $5,000 towards her education, thanks to the TowerCares Foundation. Voigt plans to major in Medicine and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Im incredibly honored and grateful for the support the TowerCares scholarship award provides as I work toward my goal of becoming a physician, she says. This scholarship not only lightens the financial burden of my education, but also affirms my commitment to making a meaningful impact through medicine. Im especially inspired by TowerCares mission to support students who strive to bring about the change our world needs. With this encouragement, I feel even more motivated to pursue a future where I can contribute to a brighter future for all. Voigt is one of 40 college students who each received a $5,000 scholarship from the TowerCares Foundation for the 2025-26 school year. Since 2018, TowerCares has awarded over $700,000 in college scholarships through their annual Scholarship Program. The scholarship program, which kicks off each year in April and ends mid-May, is open to all current high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are enrolled or plan to enroll in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) or Foreign Language Linguistics majors. Winners are selected by an independent judging organization based upon academic performance, leadership, participation in school/community activities, work experience, and career/educational goals and objectives. Additional consideration is given to children/dependents of active-duty military and Veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces, including Reserve and Guard units, and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees. More than half of this years winners have an affiliation with the DoD or the U.S. Military, many of whom have one or both parents who are active duty or Veterans who have served our country. We are honored once again to invest in the next generation of our nations STEM leaders, says TowerCares Foundation President Rick Stafford. The annual scholarship program helps relieve some of the cost of higher education for these students and their families, many of whom have served our country in the military and defense communities. The scholarship provides an opportunity for students who want to make a lasting positive impact in our local communities, across our nation, and around the world, and TowerCares is proud to support these impressive young men and women on their academic journey. Scholarship winner Britton Hafler, whose mother serves in the U.S. Air Force and works for the DoD, says the award will help fulfill a lifelong dream. Hafler is entering his sophomore year at Coastal Carolina University and pursuing a degree in Marine Biology. This scholarship isnt just financial support to me, he says. Its a chance for me to turn a passion for the ocean into a purpose that can change the world. For a full list of the 2025-2026 TowerCares Foundation College Scholarship Program winners, please visit towercaresfoundation.org/scholarship-program. TORONTO, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enwave Energy Corporation (Enwave) commissioned its new Enwave Green Heat Plant during a ceremony at the Pearl Street Energy Centre in Toronto today. This announcement is a monumental step in further enabling Enwave to provide low-carbon heating through its Enwave Green Heat program to Torontos world-renowned district energy system. The Plant has been designed to reduce its electricity demand during peak times while continuing to provide reliable, low-carbon heating and cooling demonstrating the ability of district energy to enable the decarbonization and electrification of Torontos buildings while making more efficient use of Ontarios electricity infrastructure. Enwave began development of the Enwave Green Heat Plant as an addition to the Pearl Street Energy Centre in 2018, initially breaking ground in May 2023. The 60-year-old Pearl Street Energy Centre has been updated with a three-story addition, including entirely new building facade and new community artwork. Once fully operational, the new plant will have capacity of 3,600 tons of cooling and 62,000 MBH of heating. The electrified heating generated from the Enwave Green Heat Plant will be capable of displacing carbon emissions of up to 11,600 tCO2e, as compared to traditional steam to hot water energy generation which is the equivalent carbon reduction associated with converting 10 million square feet of existing office space from traditional boilers to low-carbon heating. In an effort to provide decarbonization at scale, the plant will leverage waste heat from Enwaves Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) system customers including data centres, hospitals, scientific research facilities and lab spaces which is then upgraded through the electrified heat pump into hot water. This allows the plant to provide heat to other district-connected customers, while potentially reducing new electricity peak generation, distribution and transmission infrastructure that would otherwise be required, if heating was provided by stand-alone electrified solutions. Enwaves award-winning DLWC system and its Enwave Green Heat Plant directly support Ontarios first Integrated Energy Plan, which aims to ensure that the Province of Ontario has the energy it needs to power homes and industries, today and in the decades to come. The new plant will have a total electricity demand of approximately 6MW when it is serving its full thermal load and has been designed with the potential to reduce its peak electricity demand by up to 6MW supporting the reliability of Ontarios electricity system while continuing to meet the heating and cooling needs of Enwaves thermal energy customers. The commissioning of the Enwave Green Heat Plant at our Pearl Street Energy Centre is a great example of how Enwave can contribute to the electrification of the economy more efficiently and cost effectively for all stakeholders in Toronto, says Carlyle Coutinho, CEO of Enwave Energy Corporation. Expanding the offerings of our Enwave Green Heat program through this new plant allows customers commercial access to sustainable solutions at scale, serving even more residents, institutions and businesses in Ontario. In collaboration with the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario, this approach to decarbonization helps enable our customers to meet the highest levels of Toronto Green Standards, while allowing us to work toward building a cleaner, brighter future. We are proud to be a partner of choice in the energy transformation to net-zero carbon. Launched in 2023, Enwaves Green Heat program includes the milestone expansion and renewal of Enwaves facilities to enable Enwave to provide low-carbon heat to the world-renowned district energy system servicing Torontos downtown core. The new Enwave Green Heat Plant at the Pearl Street Energy Centre is the most recent addition by Enwave to its Enwave Green Heat program. Left-right: Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale Councillor), Chi Nguyen (Member of Parliament, Spadina-Fort York), Hon. Sam Oosterhoff (Associate Minister, Energy-Intensive Industries), Ehren Cory (CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank), Carlyle Coutinho (CEO, Enwave Energy Corporation), and Ausma Malik (Deputy Toronto Mayor). Photographer Credit: Natasha Serio The commissioning of the new Enwave Green Heat Plant marks another step forward in providing low-carbon heating to more people in Toronto, leveraging the existing district energy system, says Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. The city is grateful for Enwaves continued partnership and ambitious approach to providing electrification solutions that further support innovation and sustainability and the Citys Transform TO goal of Net Zero by 2040. The Enwave Green Heat Plant is another clear example of how innovation from Ontarios energy industries is making our province a world leader in electrification and reliable energy generation, says Sam Oosterhoff, Ontarios Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries. As Ontarios energy demand continues to increase, particularly in urban hubs like downtown Toronto, improving the efficiency of existing infrastructure as Enwave is demonstrating will be vital to ensuring that our residents and businesses have access to clean and affordable energy for generations to come. "Enwaves latest investment in Torontos district energy system is a real turning point for the city and a sign that district energy is picking up momentum worldwide, says Rob Thornton, CEO of the International District Energy Association. "Enwave continues to help building owners solve problems on a city scale, enabling their customers to save energy and water, reduce emissions, avoid capital risks, and prepare for the future. As the city expands, IDEA is proud to support the efforts of members like Enwave across cities like Toronto in preparing its residents and businesses for the next fifty years of district energy and beyond. The facilitys expansion was supported financially by a grant provided by Canadas Low Carbon Economy Fund, Champions Stream, and by the Canada Infrastructure Bank through an aggregate facility of $600M which has supported innovative energy projects across Enwaves portfolio, including Lakeview Village in Mississauga, Ontario (wastewater heat recovery technology), Etobicoke Civic Centre in Toronto (geoexchange technology) and this project at the Pearl Street Energy Centre (Enwave Green Heat Plant). In 2021, the CIB partnered with Enwave on a portfolio of energy projects throughout the Greater Toronto Area through a $600 million loan, says Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank. Our investment is paying dividendshelping to make urban communities greener and more sustainable, while also supporting the delivery of reliable, cost-effective energy solutions that benefit residents and businesses alike. Enwave has worked closely alongside partners essential to the success of the new plants commissioning, including BTY Group, Clark Construction Management Inc., H.H. Angus and Associates Ltd., Hanson + Jung Architects Inc., Sprint Mechanical Inc., Stantec Consulting Services Inc. and TriVolt. About Enwave Enwave is one of the largest commercial owners and operators of community-based district energy systems in North America. It focuses on developing reliable, commercial and sustainable energy solutions at scale, tailored to the unique needs of municipalities, commercial developments, universities, hospitals, data centres and residential communities. Enwave provides thermal energy services to over 100 million square feet of mixed-use space across Canada using a variety of technologies including Deep Lake Water Cooling, thermal storage, geoexchange, biomass and energy-from-waste. Enwave was acquired by Ontario Teachers Pension Plan & IFM Investors in 2021. https://www.enwave.com For more information, interview requests or high-res images please contact: Katie Good, GoodPR katie@goodpr.ca (416) 540-2195 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f622d7c-2f0e-404e-ad2b-507e2c53c8cf SYLVAN LAKE, MI , Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Courageous Voice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to child abuse prevention education, will celebrate the opening of its new office with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 23, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at 1899 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 201, Sylvan Lake, MI 48320. Amy Ever, Founder and Executive Director The new office represents an important milestone for A Courageous Voice as it expands its mission to protect, prevent, and empower children from child abuse and exploitation through lifesaving prevention education in schools and youth-serving organizations throughout the community. "This new office serves as a central hub, providing us with a dedicated space to plan, coordinate, and expand our prevention education programs to reach more children, schools, and communities," said Amy Ever, Founder and Executive Director of A Courageous Voice. "The space allows us to host volunteer trainings, board meetings, and community partner gatherings in a professional and welcoming environment." A Courageous Voice provides comprehensive, age-appropriate, and evidence-based child safety prevention education to students in grades K-12, equipping them with essential tools to stay safe from both online and offline dangers. The organization's work focuses on preventing child abuse, exploitation, bullying, and trafficking before it happens, while also empowering adults through its Stronger Together program to serve as child advocates and protectors. The need for such prevention education continues to be more important than ever before. According to national statistics, 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Research shows that 95% of child sex abuse is preventable with proper prevention education. "Having a permanent location reinforces A Courageous Voice's presence in the community and demonstrates our stability, growth, and unwavering commitment to keeping children safe," Ever added. "We believe in raising awareness, creating safer spaces, and empowering children to use their voices. Prevention worksand it starts with education." A Courageous Voice envisions a world where children are safeguarded from abuse and exploitation, fostering communities that nurture and empower every child and adult toward a safer future. The organization's programs are designed around the principle that happy, healthy childrenfree from harm, should be every community's goal. The ribbon cutting ceremony is open to the public and will include remarks from A Courageous Voice leadership, the Auburn Hills Chamber, and local officials. Light refreshments will be served. About A Courageous Voice A Courageous Voice is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children from abuse and exploitation through comprehensive prevention education. ACV provides age-appropriate, evidence-based programs to students in grades K-12 while empowering adults to recognize, respond to, and report unsafe situations. For more information, visit acourageousvoice.org. Press inquiries A Courageous Voice https://www.acourageousvoice.org/ Kendra Corman kacorman@h2hconsulting.net 248-923-1424 1899 Orchard Lake Rd. Suite 201 Sylvan Lake, MI 48320 Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Alto Neuroscience, Inc. ("Alto Neuroscience" or the "Company") (NYSE: ANRO) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between February 2, 2024 and October 22, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Alto Neuroscience investors have until September 19, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. CASE ALLEGATIONS: Alto Neuroscience operates as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. According to the Alto Neuroscience class action lawsuit, on or about February 2, 2024, Alto Neuroscience conducted its initial public offering (IPO), issuing over 8 million shares of common stock to the public at $16.00 per share, generating proceeds of over $119 million. Alto Neurosciences product pipeline includes, among other candidates, ALTO-100, which at the time of the IPO was in a Phase 2b clinical trial for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), according to the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that throughout the Class Period and in the IPO offering documents, defendants made false or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) ALTO-100 was less effective in treating MDD than defendants represented; (ii) as a result, ALTO-100s clinical, regulatory, and commercial prospects were overstated; and (iii) consequently, Alto Neurosciences overall business and financial prospects were overstated. The complaint further alleges that on October 22, 2024, Alto Neuroscience announced topline results from the Phase 2b trial of ALTO-100 for MDD, revealing that the drug did not meet its primary endpoint, assessed by change from baseline in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), compared to placebo. On this news, Alto Neurosciences stock fell nearly 70%, according to the complaint. As of the filing of the Alto Neuroscience class action, the price of Alto Neuroscience common stock continues to trade below the $16.00 per share IPO price. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising RALEIGH, NC, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The original press release, distributed Tuesday, September 3, 2025, incorrectly identified SUPC as the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium. The correct name is Southern Universities Procurement Consortium. VitalSource, a leading education technology solutions provider, announced today its re-selection for the Southern Universities Procurement Consortium (SUPC) Framework Agreement, representing procurement consortia on behalf of higher education libraries across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This prestigious re-selection reflects VitalSources position at the forefront of digital learning innovation and its commitment to responsible and technical excellence in digital education. As part of the SUPC Framework review process, suppliers are evaluated and scored across six categories: Price, Framework Management, Customer Service and Support, Value for Money, Innovation & Technical Merit and Responsible Procurement. VitalSource earned the highest overall score for Framework Management, reflecting its comprehensive approach to governance, training, communications, and partner enablement. The review highlighted VitalSources structured systems, strong internal alignment, and thoughtful marketing and operational plans. In addition, VitalSource received equally strong scores for Customer Service and Support and Value for Money. The evaluation recognized the clarity and quality of its onboarding, account management, and support services underscoring the companys commitment to building trusted, data-driven relationships with institutional partners. Its value proposition was praised for delivering flexible licensing options and pricing transparency that support both student success and institutional budgetary needs. Joining the SUPC Framework again extends our ability to deliver innovative and high-quality learning solutions to todays students, and we are pleased to have been selected, said Alice Duijser, Managing Director, International at VitalSource. As an organization, VitalSource is committed to fostering responsible and cost-effective digital transformation, and as part of the SUPC Framework well be well-positioned to support our UK institutional partners on their digital learning journeys. The review also highlighted VitalSources strong performance in Responsible Procurement, reflecting its investment in ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious practices. VitalSources e-reader solution, Bookshelf, received particularly high marks in the technical assessment reinforcing the company's leadership in delivering accessible, device-agnostic digital content platforms that enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. With its re-selection to the SUPC Framework, VitalSource will support and enhance its delivery of accessible, affordable and high-quality digital learning experiences to UK higher education institutions, upholding its commitment to innovation, collaboration and responsible procurement in digital education. About VitalSource VitalSource Technologies, LLC has powered digital content delivery across the higher education ecosystem for over 30 years. Winner of the 2024 CODiE award for Most Innovative Ed Tech company, VitalSource delivers more than 28 million learning materials globally each year. With unmatched scale, the VitalSource Learning Delivery Network is trusted by thousands of content providers and institutions worldwide to deliver impactful learning experiences, fuel affordable access programs, and drive a learning advantage for every student. Learn more at https://get.vitalsource.com. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National plaintiffs law firm Berger Montague PC announces a class action lawsuit against C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE: AI) (C3.ai or the Company) on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired shares during the period from February 26, 2025 through August 8, 2025 (the Class Period). Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired C3.ai securities during the Class Period may, no later than October 21, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE . C3.ai, headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading provider of enterprise artificial intelligence software. The complaint alleges that C3.ai and certain executives made materially false and misleading statements, or failed to disclose material adverse information, regarding the Companys growth prospects and the impact of the CEOs health on operations. On August 8, 2025, C3.ai announced disappointing preliminary financial results for Q1 of fiscal 2026 and reduced its full-year revenue guidance. The Company cited leadership reorganization and the health of its Chief Executive Officer as contributing factors. Following this disclosure, C3.ais stock price dropped from $22.13 per share on August 8 to $16.47 per share on August 11, a decline of more than 25%. If you are a C3.ai investor and would like to learn more about this action, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at aabramowitz@bergermontague.com or (215) 875-3015, or Caitlin Adorni at cadorni@bergermontague.com or (267)764-4865. About Berger Montague Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Malvern, PA, and Toronto has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States. For more information or to discuss your rights, please contact: Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel Berger Montague (215) 875-3015 aabramowitz@bergermontague.com Caitlin Adorni Berger Montague (267) 764-4865 cadorni@bergermontague.com TORONTO, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:WDO, OTCQX:WDOFF) (Wesdome or the Company) today provides an update on its exploration activities at its wholly-owned Eagle River mine (Eagle River) near Wawa, Ontario, Canada (Figures 1 and 2). Anthea Bath, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, We're highly encouraged by the latest underground exploration results at Eagle River, particularly in the 6 Central Zone, which has now been extended by 300 metres to over 600 metres down-plunge. High-grade intercepts over mineable widths are reminiscent of early drill results at similar depths in Eagle Rivers 300 Zone, and the zones location at intermediate depth near existing infrastructure supports its potential for future resource conversion. Work also remains on track across other underground targets. At Falcon 311, drilling is extending mineralization down-plunge and to the west, while early surface drilling at Falcon 720 has returned visible gold and anomalous intercepts. In the 300 Zone, structural reinterpretation indicates the 300 Fold Zone comprises discrete mineralized lenses on a separate structure, with high-grade trends open down dip and laterally. This reinterpretation is consistent with publicly disclosed models for other Archean orogenic systems in the Michipicoten belt (e.g. Island Gold), where high-grade mineralization occurs as discrete stacked lenses on separate shear splays and remains open laterally and at depth. This opens new exploration avenues with high-grade trends continuing down dip and laterally. Drilling will continue into 2025 to follow up on these promising developments. Regionally, drilling across multiple targets continues to validate our exploration model. High-grade surface drilling results near the 6 Zone and 2 Zone to the east, together with encouraging intercepts at IP anomalies to the west, point to strong potential for extensions. Additionally, ongoing drilling at Dorset, Birch Vein, Cameron Lake Iron Formation, and Eagle River Splay underscores the broader discovery potential across our 400 km land package. Another major focus in the first half of this year has been on conversion drilling underground with almost 80,000 metres at Eagle River drilled since January. With our global model program and upcoming technical report in 2026, our primary aim is to convert as much material as we can before the year-end drilling cutoff date. Highlights 6 Central Zone (Figure 3, Table 1)1 Drilling confirms high-grade trend and resource expansion potential Hole 758-E-580: 115.9 g/t Au uncapped over 1.8 m core length (115.9 g/t Au capped, 1.6 m true width) Hole 758-E-570: 49.1 g/t Au uncapped over 2.2 m core length (49.1 g/t Au capped, 2.0 m true width) Hole 25-805-12: 47.0 g/t Au uncapped over 3.4 m core length (47.0 g/t Au capped, 3.2 m true width) 300 and 300 Fold Zones (Figure 4, Table 1)2 Geological model confirmed with the interpretation of the 300 Fold as a separate structure Hole 1201-E-87: 18.5 g/t Au uncapped over 1.5 m core length (18.5 g/t capped, 0.8 m true width) Hole 1224-E-04: 23.8 g/t Au uncapped over 2.3 m core length (17.5 g/t capped, 1.7 m true width) Hole 1224-E-03: 10.6 g/t Au uncapped over 1.5 m core length (10.6 g/t capped, 1.2 m true width) 720 Falcon Zone (Figure 5, Table 1)4 Confirming exploration potential open up-plunge and to the west Hole 25-355-07: 32.6 g/t Au uncapped over 1.8 m core length (32.6 g/t capped, 1.7 m true width) Hole ERS-2025-027: 11.0 g/t Au uncapped over 1.7 m core length (11.0 g/t capped, 1.0 m true width) Falcon 311 Zone (Figure 6, Table 1)5 Infill drilling confirms the potential to add to mineable inventory Hole 857-E-108: 28.0 g/t Au uncapped over 10.0 m core length (14.6 g/t capped, 3.9 m true width) Dorset Zone (Figure 7, Table 1)6 Deposit remains open with extensions to the east Hole GS-25-219: 35.2 g/t Au uncapped over 1.0 m core length Hole GS-25-208: 1.8 g/t Au uncapped over 19.0 m core length Hole GS-25-205: 1.7 g/t Au uncapped over 18.0 m core length Hole GS-25-240: 6.8 g/t Au uncapped over 3.8 m core length 1 No top cut was defined for this vein. 2 Assays capped at 295 g/t. 3 Assays capped at 60 g/t. 4 Assays capped at 180 g/t. 5 Assays capped at 30 g/t. 6 No top cut or true width defined. Technical Details 6 Central and 6 Central Parallel Zones Drilling in the 6 Central and 6 Central Parallel zones in the first half of 2025 totaled almost 18,000 metres across 65 holes. Results to date have demonstrated that both zones remain open down dip and laterally with geologic logging and assays confirming the extension of the 6 Central high-grade trend approximately 300 metres down dip and bringing the total extent of the high-grade zone to over 600 metres down-plunge. Importantly, drilling to date is closing the drill spacing towards hole 758-E-500, which intersected 40.0 g/t Au over 8.0 metres (uncapped, downhole thickness). This significant intercept, located more than 150 metres down-plunge of the existing resource, was excluded from the year-end 2024 resource update as there were insufficient drill holes nearby to meet resource classification criteria. The aim is to extend drilling and incorporate the hole and intercept into the next resource update. Assay results suggest the potential to define additional mineralized lenses in the 6 Central Zone with oriented core drilling and the collection of supporting structural data currently underway. 300 and 300 Fold Zones In the 300 Zone, drilling has been focused primarily on infilling and validating the year-end 2024 interpretation of the 300 Fold Zone. Previous interpretations in the 300 Fold Zone highlighted a potential fold hinge, which was interpreted as contributing to higher grades and thicker intercepts observed during drilling. This interpretation presented important implications for the geological and structural projections of mineralization in the area and guided subsequent follow-up drilling. New drill results and oriented drill core have resulted in a revised interpretation from a folded domain to more discrete mineralized lenses. The 300 Fold Zone is now interpreted as being a separate structure to the main 300 Zone mineralization, and the mineralization is plunging at a more moderate angle than the steeper plunging 300 Zone. Further drilling is planned later in 2025 to evaluate down-plunge continuity. The high-grade trend remains fully open down dip and laterally. Falcon 311 and 720 Zones Drilling at Falcon 311 has been aimed at converting lower category resource material and evaluating the down-plunge continuation of mineralization to the southwest and southeast with hole 857-E-94 successfully extending high-grade mineralization by approximately 50 metres down-plunge. The Falcon 311 Zone remains a key focus for resource conversion and potential expansion, and further drilling is scheduled in the fall to evaluate the western continuation of mineralization beyond that intercepted in hole 857-E-64 (15.2 g/t over 2.5 metres). The Falcon 720 Zone remains open both up-plunge and to the west and drilling has been completed from both surface and underground to evaluate the potential. Surface drilling to advance understanding of this area has commenced with the first 10 surface holes drilled in the first half of 2025. These holes were designed to evaluate the up-plunge continuation of the mineralization towards surface. Several of the holes intersected visible gold and quartz veining. Assays from the program have been received, with five anomalous intercepts reported. Early results and geological interpretation suggest this area may represent a new exploration frontier for Eagle River, warranting follow-up drilling. A second phase of drilling is planned to evaluate the continuity of mineralization and to test material extending into the 60-metre-thick crown pillar above the Falcon 720 Zone. The results of this program will be included in the model updates for the technical report with further drilling from underground to begin after review of assay results. Global Model (Figure 8) The global model initiative, a key element of Eagle Rivers fill-the-mill strategy, is targeting both underground and surface material situated near existing infrastructure. Subject to successful infill and QA/QC drilling, together with favorable economic evaluations, this material has the potential to be upgraded to a higher-confidence resource category. As a source of potentially lower-cost incremental ore, it could then enhance mill throughput without displacing higher-grade material. A total of 32 underground target areas were initially identified for follow-up work, however, a recent data review uncovered additional zones with similar resource conversion potential previously excluded from the current database. To advance this work, a nine-month program has been launched, with four rigs currently drilling the first 40,000 metres. Results from this program will be incorporated into an updated technical report in mid-2026. All 12 surface holes completed to date across a 300-metre strike length between the 6 Zone and 2 Zone mineralized domains have intersected quartz veining with sulphide mineralization. While the majority of assay results are pending, two holes have returned results to date, each yielding one anomalous intercept, including hole ERS-2025-035, which intersected 1.1 metres at 19.0 g/t Au from 71.5 metres (downhole thickness, uncapped). Further drilling is planned following receipt of the remaining assays. Regional Exploration (Figure 9) Wesdomes company-wide exploration strategy, designed to support, extend, and expand operations over the long-term, is advancing and playing a key role in integrating the recently acquired land package from Angus Gold. Over the past six months, focused exploration efforts at Eagle River, including work on the Angus Gold properties, has identified 176 exploration targets beyond the currently defined resources. The broader objective is to develop tailored work programs and budgets for the next three years and to ensure their successful execution, ultimately supporting the extension of Eagle Rivers mine life. Near term focus on global model and updated technical report (next 12 months) Of the 176 identified targets at Eagle River without a defined resource, 40 have been earmarked for short-term exploration work. Surface targets include the Mishi-Magnacon historic mine areas and the greater Dorset area. In addition to the planned 40,000 metres of drilling underground at Eagle River, approximately 10,000 metres of drilling are planned at Mishi-Magnacon to assess the down-plunge continuity of the Mishi deposit below the open pit, testing gaps west of the current drilling areas and twinning historic intercepts. The aim of the Mishi work is to update the mineral resource and review potential extensions to the mineralization. Drilling at Magnacon will incorporate oriented drill core to obtain structural information, and is designed to twin historic intercepts, evaluate geologic ideas on controls of higher-grade mineralization, and confirm the positions of some key historic underground workings. Together with surface geologic and structural mapping programs, this data will be incorporated into geologic and resource model updates for both deposits. Drilling commenced earlier in the year at Dorset with approximately 3,300 metres completed on the Dorset Main and Dorset West zones. The drilling was designed to twin historic intercepts, evaluate lateral continuity, and provide samples for geo-metallurgical test work in support of an update to the historical Dorset resource, as well as define the continuity of recently reported high-grade drill intercepts at the Dorset West target. Definition drilling has the potential to define a new resource in the area, underpinning a solid foundation for future exploration and resource growth. Two notable new intersections have been reported along the eastern edge of the historic resource area where drill hole GS25-208 returned 19.0 metres at 1.8 g/t Au (downhole thickness, uncapped), including 5.3 metres at 6.0 g/t Au and GS25-205 returned 18.0 metres at 1.7 g/t Au (downhole thickness, uncapped) including 7.0 metres at 2.8 g/t Au and 3.0 metres at 2.2 g/t Au. The GS25-208 intersection represents a 100-metre step-out from previous drilling conducted by Angus Gold and demonstrates that the mineralized trend remains open. Assays are still pending for 22 holes drilled in the Dorset Zone. Medium-term focus on developing longer-term targets on mining permit areas (1-3 years) At Eagle River, 30 targets have been identified as medium-term priority, targeting discoveries in the one-to-three-year time horizon. The majority of these targets are down-plunge continuations of existing mineralized structures and when combined represent a significant endowment potential. These targets will require substantial amounts of drilling and initial proof-of-concept drill programs for these targets are in the design and budgeting stage, with drilling expected to commence in 2026. Other medium-term targets include potential down-plunge extensions of the Magnacon and Mishi deposits, Induced Polarization (IP) targets generated proximal to the Eagle River mine, and the Cameron Lake Iron Formation target acquired from Angus Gold. As part of the ongoing surface exploration program, an IP survey was completed in 2024, covering an area of 2 km2 in the west-to-southwest area of the Eagle River mine. The survey identified several potential prospective geophysical features and potential drill targets with favorable chargeability and resistivity readings. Two areas were flagged for priority follow-up work. Anomaly A, which is located west of the Falcon Zone at the edge of the diorite hosting the Eagle River mine mineralization, and Anomaly D, which is located further south on the edge of a large granitic intrusive. Drill evaluation commenced before the end of 2024 and continued into 2025 with five holes completed to date. Two of the five holes returned anomalous intercepts with follow-up drilling on both areas planned for later in the year. At Anomaly D, hole ERS-2025-002 intersected 0.6 metres at 33.4 g/t Au from 15.0 metres (downhole thickness, uncapped). Hole ERS-2025-003 was drilled to evaluate a geophysical response located 500 metres north of Anomaly D. The hole intersected 2.5 metres at 7.6 g/t Au from 73.5 metres (downhole thickness, uncapped). Follow up programs are being planned. Currently, a larger 7.4 km2 IP grid is being surveyed west of the Falcon Zone, to build upon the coverage of the 2024 grid. Additionally, an IP survey is planned for the Abbey Lake exploration area in the fall of 2025. This upcoming work is expected to refine drill targets and enhance the geological understanding of the property's subsurface potential. Infill drilling is also underway within the previously defined Banded Iron Formation-hosted gold zone located on the property acquired from Angus Gold. The primary objective of the drilling program is to begin defining the geometry of the gold zones at depth, improving the geological model, obtaining material for preliminary deportment studies, and supporting future resource evaluations. In addition to infill work, exploration drilling is also planned both to the east and west of the known gold zone to test for potential extensions and continuity of mineralization along strike. Long-term focus on target generation and testing early-stage concepts (3+ years) The long-term target generation strategy at Eagle River includes regional geologic history, lithostructural frameworks, and pathways for gold migration and concentration. The work at the Eagle River mine, incorporating underground mapping and drill information to generate 3D models, is a small version of the concept and project-wide aims of this work. Analysis of these 3D models has identified further exploration targets within the diorite hosting the Eagle River mine (Figure 10). There are currently 106 targets identified for long-term exploration work, including 15 surface targets on mine permit areas, and a further 91 targets on exploration claim areas reflecting various levels of exploration maturity. Three target areas that have been flagged for higher priority work are Birch Vein, Eagle River Splay, and Abbey Lake. Work programs and budgets to advance these target areas are in development. At Birch Vein, located approximately 2 km northeast of the Eagle River mine, fifteen reconnaissance holes were drilled to evaluate high grade historic rock chip results (48 g/t Au and 194 g/t Au) in an area associated with a splay of the northwest trending Eagle River Splay Shear. Several of the holes intersected smoky quartz veins, up to 0.5 metres in thickness, with strong biotite alteration. Only two assays have been received to date, with two anomalous intercepts reported in hole ERS-2025-005 which intersected 1.8 metres at 0.6 g/t Au from 352.0 metres (downhole thickness, uncapped) and 0.8 metres at 1.0 g/t Au from 375.6 metres (downhole thickness, uncapped). The target is considered a high-priority area as the deformed and interlayered mafic and felsic volcanic rock units at the Eagle River Splay Shear closely mimic the geologic setting of Eagle Rivers Falcon Zone. The Eagle River Splay target is located to the northwest of the Birch Vein target and is interpreted as being the continuation of the Eagle River Splay shear structure. Drilling scheduled for the third quarter will follow up on previously reported anomalous intercepts drilled by Angus Gold, including holes GS23-100, which returned 1.5 metres at 48.7 g/t Au from 112.3 metres (downhole thickness, uncapped) and hole GS23-135, which returned 5.4 metres at 2.0 g/t Au from 158.8 metres (downhole thickness, uncapped). The upcoming program will also evaluate other newly identified IP anomalies which remain untested. The Abbey Lake exploration target area is a 10-kilometre-long section of the Pukaskwa Deformation Zone, a northeast trending regional scale structure that is interpreted as extending towards and into the Island Gold mine owned by Alamos Gold Inc. This structural corridor remains largely untested with historic grab samples from the area returning gold values of up to 32 g/t Au at surface and historic drilling producing anomalous intercepts that were never followed up. The target area is close to the property access road and is considered a priority work area for the coming years. Field programs and scout drilling are being planned for 2026. About Wesdome Wesdome is a Canadian-focused gold producer with two high-grade underground assets, Eagle River in Northern Ontario and Kiena in Val-dOr, Quebec. The Companys primary goal is to responsibly leverage its operating platform and high-quality brownfield and greenfield exploration pipeline to build a growing value-driven gold producer. Raj Gill Interim Chief Financial Officer Phone: +1.416.360.3743 E-Mail: invest@wesdome.com Trish Moran Vice President, Investor Relations Phone: +1.416.564.4290 E-mail: trish.moran@wesdome.com Technical Disclosure The sampling of, and assay data from, Eagle River mine drill core is monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance - quality control (QA/QC) program designed to follow industry best practice. Underground drill samples are transported in sealed bags to the Eagle River laboratory in Wawa, Ontario (which is operated by Wesdome, is not independent, and is not accredited). Samples are analyzed for gold using standard fire assay technique with gravimetric finish. Wesdome inserts blanks and certified reference standards into the sample sequence for quality control at the laboratory. The QA/QC procedure is described in more detail in the Technical Report for the Eagle River Gold Mining Complex, Ontario, Canada filed under the Companys profile on SEDAR+ on April 22, 2022. In 2024, core sample length was changed from 0.3 m to 0.5 m, while respecting lithological contacts. Pulps are sent to SGS (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited and independent laboratory), as an external laboratory check of Au assay, run in duplicate, with a sample frequency of 30 to 40 samples selected each month. Surface drilling, the drill core, NQ in size, was cut in half with a diamond saw resulting in a half core sample for assay and a half core sample to be retained for reference. Samples were transported in sealed bags by laboratory registered courier trucks and transported to AGAT Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited and independent laboratory, accredited lab No. 665) for preparation and analysis. Pulps are analyzed by fire assay and AAS finish (AGAT method 202-051). Samples that graded more than 10 g/t Au were subsequently tested by gravimetric (202-064) and metallic screen (202-121) assays. AGAT laboratories is an accredited lab (ISO/IEC 17025:2017, accredited lab No. 665). Halved drill core is kept stored at the Eagle River Complex in core racks for long-term storage. Pulps are returned to Wesdome and are stored in a sea-canister at the operations office in the Mishi camp. QA/QC is achieved with a 3-sample package (a blank, a pulp duplicate and a commercial gold standard) that are inserted into the sample stream at an interval of 20 samples. Consequently, 15 QA/QC samples are inserted for each 100 samples. Additionally, blanks were inserted after visible gold is observed to prevent contamination between samples. For Angus property surface drill core, the drill core, NQ in size, was cut in half with a diamond saw resulting in a half core sample for assay and a half core sample to be retained for reference. Samples were transported in sealed bags by laboratory registered courier trucks and transported to AGAT Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited and independent) for preparation and analysis. Halved drill core is kept stored at the Golden Sky Exploration Camp in core racks for long-term storage. Pulps were returned to the Golden Sky Camp and stored in sea-canister at the operations office for future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples, which included insertion of mineralized certified reference material and blank samples for each batch of 20 samples. The gold analyses were completed by fire-assay with an atomic absorption finish on 50 grams of materials. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay followed by gravimetric testing on each sample containing 3.0 g/t gold or more. The technical content of this release has been compiled, reviewed, and approved by Renan Lopes, P.Geo., Director, Resources, Near Mine Geology and UG Exploration for Wesdome and Breanne Beh, P.Geo,, Director Surface and Greenfields Exploration for Wesdome, whom are the Companys "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements or information. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, the following statements relating to Eagle River with respect to: the 6 Central Zone being a key target for underground exploration; all other underground focus areas remaining highly prospective; the early surface drilling results at Falcon 720 and the suggestion of the emergence of a potential new exploration frontier; the planned drilling continuing through the fall of 2025; the high-grade trends and planned continued drilling of the 300 Fold Zone; the strong potential for extensions of the mine due to drilling results near the 6 and 2 Zones; the discovery potential across the 400 km2 land package; results demonstrating the 6 Central and 6 Central Parallel zones remaining open down dip and laterally; the aim to extend drilling and incorporate hole 758-E-500 and intercept into the next resource update; assay results suggesting the potential to define additional mineralized lenses in the 6 Central Zone; the new interpretation of the 300 Fold Zone, expected mineralization and the planned drilling to evaluate down-plunge continuity; Falcon 311 Zone being a key focus for resource conversion and potential expansion, and the timing of further scheduled drilling; the suggestion of the Falcon 720 Zone representing a new exploration frontier for Eagle River; the timing and objective of the planned drilling above the Falcon 720 Zone, the plan to include the results in the model updates for the technical reports and the timing of the commencement of further drilling from underground; the Global Model material having the potential to be upgraded to a higher-confidence resource category and the possibility of it enhancing mill throughout without displacing higher-grade material; incorporating the results from the nine-month program into an updated technical report in mid-2026; the broader objective of the regional exploration strategy; the short-term focus surface targets; the planned metres of underground drilling and drilling at Mishi-Magnacon; the aim of the Mishi work; the endowment potential of the medium-term priority targets; the expectations of the IP survey work for Abbey Lake; the planned infill work and exploration drilling to the east and west of the known gold zone within the Banded Iron Formation; the interpretation of the Eagle River Splay target located to the northwest of the Birch Vein target, the scheduled associated drilling and the objective of the upcoming program; the interpretation of the Abbey Lake exploration target area and the timing of the planned field programs and scout drilling; the prospectivity of the Eagle River asset; the high-grade mineralization potential of the 6 Central Zone and the opportunity to establish a new mining front at its intermediate depth; the 300 Zones exploration and resource conversion potential; the expected unlocking of economic mineralization close to surface due to the global resource model initiative; the anticipated development of the 6 Central Zone and its near to mid-term mining accessibility; the potential increased output from intermediate depths with minimal investment of the 6 Central Parallel Zone; the expectation that the majority of the mill feed is expected to be sourced from the 300 Zone in the coming years; the 300 Zones exploration potential and future resource conversion opportunities; the plans of the 2025 drill metre program; the exploration priorities of 2025; the potential conclusions of the IP trends identified by the IP survey with respect to the presence of certain types of minerals as well as the potential mineralization; and the expected continuance of the drilling of the survey area of the IP survey in 2025. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by securities legislation. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors including those risk factors discussed in the sections titled Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information and Risks and Uncertainties in the Companys most recent Annual Information Form. Readers are urged to carefully review the detailed risk discussion in our most recent Annual Information Form which is available on SEDAR+ and on the Companys website. APPENDIX Figure 1: Eagle River Mine Long Section Looking North Figure 2: Eagle River Mine Plan View1 Drilling Since Last News Release Figure 3: 6 Central Zone Long Section Looking North Figure 4: 300 Zone and 300 Fold Zone Long Section Looking North Figure 5: 720 Falcon Zone Long Section Looking North Figure 6: Falcon 311 Zone Long Section Looking North Figure 7: Dorset Plan View Figure 8: Global Model Targets Long Section Looking North Figure 9: Eagle River 2025 Regional Work Plan Figure 10: Eagle River Near Mine Targets Plan View Table 1: Eagle River Drill Results (Previously Unreleased) Composite Results Figures in table may not add due to rounding Hole No. From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Estimated True Width (m) Grade (g/t Au) Cut Grade (g/t Au) Target 6 Central and 6 Central Parallel 25-805-02 133.58 134.97 1.39 1.18 36.02 36.02 6 Central 25-805-12 117.95 121.35 3.40 3.18 47.03 47.03 6 Central 758-E-533 173.70 175.20 1.50 1.43 21.44 21.44 6 Central 758-E-539 169.50 171.00 1.50 1.44 12.47 12.47 6 Central 758-E-552 176.70 178.20 1.50 1.48 52.97 52.97 6 Central 758-E-561 172.77 174.60 1.83 1.82 33.84 33.84 6 Central 758-E-570 190.60 192.80 2.20 2.04 49.08 49.08 6 Central 758-E-571 193.00 195.00 2.00 1.86 38.37 38.37 6 Central 758-E-578 199.40 201.00 1.60 1.40 13.21 13.21 6 Central 758-E-580 192.15 194.00 1.85 1.58 115.90 115.90 6 Central 758-E-582 170.63 172.40 1.77 1.55 19.19 19.19 6 Central Parallel 300 and 300 Fold Zone 1201-E-80 511.89 513.89 2.00 1.17 4.75 4.75 300 Zone 1201-E-87 523.88 525.40 1.52 0.80 18.49 18.49 300 Zone 1224-E-03 256.40 257.90 1.50 1.16 10.59 10.59 300 Fold Zone 1224-E-04 262.10 264.35 2.25 1.71 23.83 17.54 300 Fold Zone 1224-E-05 312.50 314.00 1.50 1.19 9.80 9.80 300 Fold Zone 720 Falcon and Falcon 311 Zone 25-355-03 198.60 200.21 1.61 1.20 8.27 8.27 720 Falcon 25-355-06 171.95 173.20 1.25 1.06 2.29 2.29 720 Falcon 25-355-07 152.10 153.90 1.80 1.74 32.57 32.57 720 Falcon ERS-2025-027 274.30 276.00 1.70 0.98 11.03 11.03 720 Falcon 857-E-108 291.00 301.00 10.00 3.90 27.95 14.61 311 Zone 857-E-109 339.50 340.90 1.40 0.42 2.02 2.02 311 Zone 857-E-94 430.35 432.07 1.72 0.31 7.92 7.92 311 Zone Dorset GS-25-184 169.00 172.30 3.30 --- 2.19 --- Dorset West including 170.30 171.30 1.00 --- 6.14 --- Dorset West GS-25-185 287.20 291.00 3.80 --- 1.81 --- Dorset West including 287.20 289.50 2.30 --- 2.66 --- Dorset West GS-25-188 21.00 28.10 7.10 --- 1.56 --- Dorset West including 22.00 25.00 3.00 --- 2.18 --- Dorset West GS-25-193 50.20 61.30 11.10 --- 0.48 --- Dorset West including 50.20 51.00 0.80 --- 2.34 --- Dorset West including 59.50 60.50 1.00 --- 1.39 --- Dorset West GS-25-193 151.00 152.40 1.40 --- 2.12 --- Dorset West including 151.80 152.40 0.60 --- 4.80 --- Dorset West Hole No. From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Estimated True Width (m) Grade (g/t Au) Cut Grade (g/t Au) Target Dorset GS-25-199 79.00 95.00 16.00 --- 0.66 --- Dorset including 80.00 82.00 2.00 --- 1.31 --- Dorset including 88.00 90.00 2.00 --- 1.44 --- Dorset including 92.00 94.00 2.00 --- 1.19 --- Dorset GS-25-199 112.00 113.00 1.00 --- 1.04 --- Dorset GS-25-199 116.00 117.00 1.00 --- 1.28 --- Dorset GS-25-200 222.50 238.00 15.50 --- 0.38 --- Dorset West including 222.50 223.00 0.50 --- 4.10 --- Dorset West including 237.50 238.00 0.50 --- 1.32 --- Dorset West GS-25-205 361.50 379.50 18.00 --- 1.71 --- Dorset including 363.00 370.00 7.00 --- 2.76 --- Dorset including 368.00 369.00 1.00 --- 5.30 --- Dorset including 372.00 375.00 3.00 --- 2.18 --- Dorset GS-25-208 273.50 292.50 19.00 --- 1.77 --- Dorset including 285.80 291.10 5.30 --- 6.00 --- Dorset GS-25-219 119.00 120.00 1.00 --- 35.20 --- Dorset West GS-25-219 123.90 124.80 0.90 --- 1.07 --- Dorset West GS-25-219 174.00 175.00 1.00 --- 1.22 --- Dorset West GS-25-219 215.70 216.90 1.20 --- 1.33 --- Dorset West GS-25-221 128.40 140.00 11.60 --- 1.90 --- Dorset including 130.40 133.40 3.00 --- 3.07 --- Dorset including 136.40 137.40 1.00 --- 2.25 --- Dorset GS-25-222 44.50 48.40 3.90 --- 1.88 --- Dorset GS-25-222 76.10 77.70 1.60 --- 3.30 --- Dorset including 77.00 77.70 0.70 --- 4.80 --- Dorset GS-25-224 6.30 9.80 3.50 --- 3.14 --- Dorset GS-25-224 54.50 56.10 1.60 --- 1.80 --- Dorset including 55.30 56.10 0.80 --- 2.54 --- Dorset GS-25-225 4.80 7.90 3.10 --- 3.28 --- Dorset including 6.00 7.00 1.00 --- 5.80 --- Dorset GS-25-225 22.90 24.50 1.60 --- 2.00 --- Dorset GS-25-227 49.00 63.10 14.10 --- 0.98 --- Dorset including 58.10 62.10 4.00 --- 2.09 --- Dorset GS-25-230 136.00 154.00 18.00 --- 1.05 --- Dorset including 143.30 145.90 2.60 --- 2.78 --- Dorset including 153.30 154.00 0.70 --- 3.00 --- Dorset GS-25-231 105.20 119.70 14.50 --- 1.70 --- Dorset including 106.10 109.90 3.80 --- 2.85 --- Dorset including 111.80 113.80 2.00 --- 2.85 --- Dorset including 118.30 119.00 0.70 --- 4.50 --- Dorset GS-25-240 35.90 39.70 3.80 --- 6.83 --- Dorset including 36.90 38.80 1.90 --- 10.54 --- Dorset Assay Results Figures in table may not add due to rounding Hole No. From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Grade (g/t Au) Cut Grade (g/t Au) Target 758-E-533 173.70 174.20 0.50 0.00 0.00 6 Central 758-E-533 174.20 174.73 0.53 60.67 60.67 6 Central 758-E-533 174.73 175.20 0.47 0.00 0.00 6 Central 758-E-539 169.50 170.00 0.50 0.23 0.23 6 Central 758-E-539 170.00 170.60 0.60 30.93 30.93 6 Central 758-E-539 170.60 171.00 0.40 0.07 0.07 6 Central 758-E-552 176.70 177.20 0.50 2.03 2.03 6 Central 758-E-552 177.20 177.70 0.50 147.80 147.80 6 Central 758-E-552 177.70 178.20 0.50 9.07 9.07 6 Central 758-E-561 172.77 173.27 0.50 20.43 20.43 6 Central 758-E-561 173.27 173.77 0.50 8.57 8.57 6 Central 758-E-561 173.77 174.27 0.50 74.93 74.93 6 Central 758-E-561 174.27 174.60 0.33 30.20 30.20 6 Central 758-E-570 190.60 191.00 0.40 113.60 113.60 6 Central 758-E-570 191.00 191.70 0.70 0.93 0.93 6 Central 758-E-570 191.70 192.20 0.50 0.50 0.50 6 Central 758-E-570 192.20 192.80 0.60 102.73 102.73 6 Central 758-E-571 193.00 194.00 1.00 65.97 65.97 6 Central 758-E-571 194.00 195.00 1.00 10.77 10.77 6 Central 758-E-578 199.40 200.05 0.65 0.20 0.20 6 Central 758-E-578 200.05 200.50 0.45 6.20 6.20 6 Central 758-E-578 200.50 201.00 0.50 36.43 36.43 6 Central 758-E-580 192.15 192.70 0.55 1.37 1.37 6 Central 758-E-580 192.70 193.30 0.60 0.00 0.00 6 Central 758-E-580 193.30 193.60 0.30 652.60 652.60 6 Central 758-E-580 193.60 194.00 0.40 44.70 44.70 6 Central 25-805-02 133.58 134.10 0.52 71.57 71.57 6 Central 25-805-02 134.10 134.97 0.87 14.77 14.77 6 Central 25-805-12 117.95 118.25 0.30 23.50 23.50 6 Central 25-805-12 118.25 119.00 0.75 0.50 0.50 6 Central 25-805-12 119.00 119.50 0.50 11.33 11.33 6 Central 25-805-12 119.50 120.00 0.50 145.63 145.63 6 Central 25-805-12 120.00 120.50 0.50 82.40 82.40 6 Central 25-805-12 120.50 121.00 0.50 63.33 63.33 6 Central 25-805-12 121.00 121.35 0.35 3.27 3.27 6 Central 758-E-582 170.63 171.30 0.67 0.00 0.00 6 Central Parallel 758-E-582 171.30 171.90 0.60 23.87 23.87 6 Central Parallel 758-E-582 171.90 172.40 0.50 39.27 39.27 6 Central Parallel 1201-E-87 523.88 524.85 0.97 0.00 0.00 300 Zone 1201-E-87 524.85 525.40 0.55 51.10 51.10 300 Zone 1201-E-80 511.89 512.89 1.00 2.30 2.30 300 Zone 1201-E-80 512.89 513.89 1.00 7.20 7.20 300 Zone 1224-E-05 312.50 313.00 0.50 3.70 3.70 300 Fold 1224-E-05 313.00 313.50 0.50 25.40 25.40 300 Fold 1224-E-05 313.50 314.00 0.50 0.30 0.30 300 Fold 1224-E-03 256.40 256.90 0.50 8.60 8.60 300 Fold 1224-E-03 256.90 257.40 0.50 18.13 18.13 300 Fold 1224-E-03 257.40 257.90 0.50 5.03 5.03 300 Fold 1224-E-04 262.10 262.60 0.50 88.33 60.00 300 Fold 1224-E-04 262.60 263.10 0.50 10.00 10.00 300 Fold 1224-E-04 263.10 263.60 0.50 1.33 1.33 300 Fold 1224-E-04 263.60 264.00 0.40 3.97 3.97 300 Fold 1224-E-04 264.00 264.35 0.35 6.30 6.30 300 Fold ERS-2025-027 274.30 274.90 0.60 27.70 27.70 720 Falcon ERS-2025-027 274.90 275.40 0.50 0.48 0.48 720 Falcon ERS-2025-027 275.40 276.00 0.60 3.16 3.16 720 Falcon 25-355-03 198.60 199.10 0.50 1.07 1.07 720 Falcon 25-355-03 199.10 199.71 0.61 20.87 20.87 720 Falcon 25-355-03 199.71 200.21 0.50 0.10 0.10 720 Falcon 25-355-06 171.95 172.40 0.45 0.20 0.20 720 Falcon 25-355-06 172.40 172.70 0.30 5.53 5.53 720 Falcon 25-355-06 172.70 173.20 0.50 2.23 2.23 720 Falcon 25-355-07 152.10 152.90 0.80 72.77 72.77 720 Falcon 25-355-07 152.90 153.40 0.50 0.83 0.83 720 Falcon 25-355-07 153.40 153.90 0.50 0.00 0.00 720 Falcon 857-E-108 291.00 292.00 1.00 6.30 6.30 311 Zone 857-E-108 292.00 293.00 1.00 1.97 1.97 311 Zone 857-E-108 293.00 294.00 1.00 10.63 10.63 311 Zone 857-E-108 294.00 295.00 1.00 28.47 28.47 311 Zone 857-E-108 295.00 296.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 311 Zone 857-E-108 296.00 297.00 1.00 80.20 30.00 311 Zone 857-E-108 297.00 298.00 1.00 2.57 2.57 311 Zone 857-E-108 298.00 299.00 1.00 20.07 20.07 311 Zone 857-E-108 299.00 300.00 1.00 107.23 30.00 311 Zone 857-E-108 300.00 300.50 0.50 42.03 30.00 311 Zone 857-E-108 300.50 301.00 0.50 2.13 2.13 311 Zone 857-E-108 301.00 302.00 1.00 1.60 1.60 311 Zone 857-E-108 302.00 303.00 1.00 5.13 5.13 311 Zone 857-E-109 339.50 340.00 0.50 1.80 1.80 311 Zone 857-E-109 340.00 340.60 0.60 0.13 0.13 311 Zone 857-E-109 340.60 340.90 0.30 6.17 6.17 311 Zone 857-E-94 430.35 431.00 0.65 20.33 20.33 311 Zone 857-E-94 431.00 431.50 0.50 0.73 0.73 311 Zone 857-E-94 431.50 432.07 0.57 0.07 0.07 311 Zone GS-25-184 169.00 170.30 1.30 0.57 - Dorset West GS-25-184 170.30 171.30 1.00 6.14 - Dorset West GS-25-184 171.30 172.30 1.00 0.36 - Dorset West GS-25-185 287.20 288.00 0.80 3.30 - Dorset West GS-25-185 288.00 288.80 0.80 2.34 - Dorset West GS-25-185 288.80 289.50 0.70 2.28 - Dorset West GS-25-185 289.50 291.00 1.50 0.51 - Dorset West GS-25-188 21.00 22.00 1.00 1.79 - Dorset West GS-25-188 22.00 23.00 1.00 2.40 - Dorset West GS-25-188 23.00 24.00 1.00 2.12 - Dorset West GS-25-188 24.00 25.00 1.00 2.01 - Dorset West GS-25-188 25.00 26.00 1.00 0.91 - Dorset West GS-25-188 26.00 27.00 1.00 0.14 - Dorset West GS-25-188 27.00 28.10 1.10 1.52 - Dorset West GS-25-193 50.20 51.00 0.80 2.34 - Dorset West GS-25-193 51.00 51.80 0.80 0.92 - Dorset West GS-25-193 51.80 52.60 0.80 0.17 - Dorset West GS-25-193 52.60 53.50 0.90 0.22 - Dorset West GS-25-193 53.50 54.50 1.00 0.05 - Dorset West GS-25-193 54.50 55.50 1.00 0.05 - Dorset West GS-25-193 55.50 56.50 1.00 0.15 - Dorset West GS-25-193 56.50 57.50 1.00 0.02 - Dorset West GS-25-193 57.50 58.50 1.00 0.04 - Dorset West GS-25-193 58.50 59.50 1.00 0.03 - Dorset West GS-25-193 59.50 60.00 0.50 1.50 - Dorset West GS-25-193 60.00 60.50 0.50 1.27 - Dorset West GS-25-193 60.50 61.30 0.80 0.80 - Dorset West GS-25-193 151.00 151.80 0.80 0.11 - Dorset West GS-25-193 151.80 152.40 0.60 4.80 - Dorset West GS-25-199 79.00 80.00 1.00 0.17 - Dorset GS-25-199 80.00 81.00 1.00 1.19 - Dorset GS-25-199 81.00 82.00 1.00 1.43 - Dorset GS-25-199 82.00 83.00 1.00 0.58 - Dorset GS-25-199 83.00 84.00 1.00 0.08 - Dorset GS-25-199 84.00 85.00 1.00 0.02 - Dorset GS-25-199 85.00 86.00 1.00 0.20 - Dorset GS-25-199 86.00 87.00 1.00 0.09 - Dorset GS-25-199 87.00 88.00 1.00 0.51 - Dorset GS-25-199 88.00 89.00 1.00 1.64 - Dorset GS-25-199 89.00 90.00 1.00 1.24 - Dorset GS-25-199 90.00 91.00 1.00 0.34 - Dorset GS-25-199 91.00 92.00 1.00 0.43 - Dorset GS-25-199 92.00 93.00 1.00 1.19 - Dorset GS-25-199 93.00 94.00 1.00 1.18 - Dorset GS-25-199 94.00 95.00 1.00 0.34 - Dorset Hole No. From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Grade (g/t Au) Cut Grade (g/t Au) Target GS-25-200 222.50 223.00 0.50 4.10 - Dorset West GS-25-200 223.00 224.00 1.00 0.01 - Dorset West GS-25-200 224.00 225.00 1.00 0.95 - Dorset West GS-25-200 225.00 226.00 1.00 0.03 - Dorset West GS-25-200 226.00 227.00 1.00 0.04 - Dorset West GS-25-200 227.00 228.00 1.00 0.01 - Dorset West GS-25-200 228.00 229.00 1.00 0.08 - Dorset West GS-25-200 229.00 230.00 1.00 0.14 - Dorset West GS-25-200 230.00 231.00 1.00 0.10 - Dorset West GS-25-200 231.00 232.00 1.00 0.12 - Dorset West GS-25-200 232.00 233.00 1.00 0.00 - Dorset West GS-25-200 233.00 234.00 1.00 0.02 - Dorset West GS-25-200 234.00 235.00 1.00 0.04 - Dorset West GS-25-200 235.00 236.00 1.00 0.68 - Dorset West GS-25-200 236.00 237.00 1.00 0.72 - Dorset West GS-25-200 237.00 237.50 0.50 0.60 - Dorset West GS-25-200 237.50 238.00 0.50 1.32 - Dorset West GS-25-205 361.50 363.00 1.50 0.33 - Dorset GS-25-205 363.00 364.00 1.00 1.73 - Dorset GS-25-205 364.00 365.00 1.00 2.19 - Dorset GS-25-205 365.00 366.00 1.00 2.50 - Dorset GS-25-205 366.00 367.00 1.00 3.60 - Dorset GS-25-205 367.00 368.00 1.00 2.36 - Dorset GS-25-205 368.00 369.00 1.00 5.30 - Dorset GS-25-205 369.00 370.00 1.00 1.67 - Dorset GS-25-205 370.00 371.00 1.00 0.78 - Dorset GS-25-205 371.00 372.00 1.00 0.87 - Dorset GS-25-205 372.00 373.00 1.00 2.17 - Dorset GS-25-205 373.00 374.00 1.00 2.16 - Dorset GS-25-205 374.00 375.00 1.00 2.22 - Dorset GS-25-205 375.00 376.00 1.00 0.40 - Dorset GS-25-205 376.00 377.00 1.00 0.48 - Dorset GS-25-205 377.00 378.00 1.00 1.11 - Dorset GS-25-205 378.00 379.50 1.50 0.47 - Dorset GS-25-208 273.50 275.00 1.50 0.23 - Dorset GS-25-208 275.00 276.50 1.50 0.17 - Dorset GS-25-208 276.50 278.00 1.50 0.01 - Dorset GS-25-208 278.00 279.50 1.50 0.02 - Dorset GS-25-208 279.50 281.00 1.50 0.15 - Dorset GS-25-208 281.00 281.80 0.80 0.05 - Dorset GS-25-208 281.80 283.30 1.50 0.15 - Dorset GS-25-208 283.30 284.80 1.50 0.05 - Dorset GS-25-208 284.80 285.80 1.00 0.30 - Dorset GS-25-208 285.80 286.80 1.00 3.40 - Dorset GS-25-208 286.80 287.80 1.00 7.40 - Dorset GS-25-208 287.80 288.60 0.80 4.00 - Dorset GS-25-208 288.60 289.20 0.60 7.30 - Dorset GS-25-208 289.20 290.10 0.90 8.00 - Dorset GS-25-208 290.10 291.10 1.00 6.20 - Dorset GS-25-208 291.10 292.50 1.40 0.24 - Dorset GS-25-219 119.00 120.00 1.00 35.20 - Dorset West GS-25-219 123.90 124.80 0.90 1.07 - Dorset West GS-25-219 174.00 175.00 1.00 1.22 - Dorset West GS-25-219 215.70 216.90 1.20 1.33 - Dorset West GS-25-221 128.40 129.40 1.00 1.29 - Dorset GS-25-221 129.40 130.40 1.00 0.84 - Dorset GS-25-221 130.40 131.40 1.00 4.50 - Dorset GS-25-221 131.40 132.40 1.00 2.33 - Dorset GS-25-221 132.40 133.40 1.00 2.39 - Dorset GS-25-221 133.40 134.40 1.00 1.71 - Dorset GS-25-221 134.40 135.40 1.00 1.00 - Dorset GS-25-221 135.40 136.40 1.00 1.49 - Dorset GS-25-221 136.40 137.40 1.00 2.25 - Dorset GS-25-221 137.40 138.40 1.00 1.21 - Dorset GS-25-221 138.40 139.20 0.80 1.70 - Dorset GS-25-221 139.20 140.00 0.80 1.36 - Dorset GS-25-222 44.50 45.40 0.90 1.94 - Dorset GS-25-222 45.40 46.40 1.00 1.72 - Dorset GS-25-222 46.40 47.40 1.00 1.86 - Dorset GS-25-222 47.40 48.40 1.00 2.00 - Dorset GS-25-222 76.10 77.00 0.90 2.13 - Dorset GS-25-222 77.00 77.70 0.70 4.80 - Dorset GS-25-224 6.30 7.30 1.00 2.33 - Dorset GS-25-224 7.30 8.00 0.70 4.40 - Dorset GS-25-224 8.00 9.00 1.00 4.20 - Dorset GS-25-224 9.00 9.80 0.80 1.73 - Dorset GS-25-224 54.50 55.30 0.80 1.05 - Dorset GS-25-224 55.30 56.10 0.80 2.54 - Dorset GS-25-225 4.80 6.00 1.20 2.64 - Dorset GS-25-225 6.00 7.00 1.00 5.80 - Dorset GS-25-225 7.00 7.90 0.90 1.32 - Dorset GS-25-225 22.90 23.70 0.80 2.54 - Dorset GS-25-225 23.70 24.50 0.80 1.46 - Dorset GS-25-227 49.00 50.00 1.00 0.10 - Dorset GS-25-227 50.00 50.90 0.90 0.24 - Dorset GS-25-227 50.90 51.90 1.00 1.65 - Dorset GS-25-227 51.90 52.90 1.00 1.45 - Dorset GS-25-227 52.90 53.90 1.00 0.27 - Dorset GS-25-227 53.90 54.90 1.00 0.25 - Dorset GS-25-227 54.90 55.70 0.80 0.47 - Dorset GS-25-227 55.70 56.50 0.80 0.34 - Dorset GS-25-227 56.50 57.30 0.80 0.07 - Dorset GS-25-227 57.30 58.10 0.80 0.17 - Dorset GS-25-227 58.10 59.10 1.00 2.22 - Dorset GS-25-227 59.10 60.20 1.10 3.10 - Dorset GS-25-227 60.20 61.10 0.90 1.04 - Dorset GS-25-227 61.10 62.10 1.00 1.79 - Dorset GS-25-227 62.10 63.10 1.00 0.66 - Dorset GS-25-230 136.00 137.00 1.00 0.64 - Dorset GS-25-230 137.00 138.00 1.00 0.38 - Dorset GS-25-230 138.00 139.00 1.00 0.35 - Dorset GS-25-230 139.00 140.00 1.00 0.26 - Dorset GS-25-230 140.00 141.10 1.10 0.32 - Dorset GS-25-230 141.10 142.20 1.10 0.46 - Dorset GS-25-230 142.20 143.30 1.10 1.55 - Dorset GS-25-230 143.30 144.00 0.70 2.88 - Dorset GS-25-230 144.00 144.80 0.80 2.38 - Dorset GS-25-230 144.80 145.90 1.10 3.00 - Dorset GS-25-230 145.90 147.00 1.10 1.25 - Dorset GS-25-230 147.00 148.00 1.00 1.08 - Dorset GS-25-230 148.00 149.00 1.00 1.35 - Dorset GS-25-230 149.00 150.00 1.00 0.31 - Dorset GS-25-230 150.00 151.10 1.10 0.16 - Dorset GS-25-230 151.10 152.20 1.10 0.30 - Dorset GS-25-230 152.20 153.30 1.10 0.70 - Dorset GS-25-230 153.30 154.00 0.70 3.00 - Dorset GS-25-231 105.20 106.10 0.90 0.70 - Dorset GS-25-231 106.10 107.10 1.00 1.52 - Dorset GS-25-231 107.10 108.00 0.90 1.45 - Dorset GS-25-231 108.00 109.00 1.00 2.61 - Dorset GS-25-231 109.00 109.90 0.90 6.00 - Dorset GS-25-231 109.90 110.90 1.00 0.91 - Dorset GS-25-231 110.90 111.80 0.90 0.33 - Dorset GS-25-231 111.80 112.80 1.00 2.90 - Dorset GS-25-231 112.80 113.80 1.00 2.80 - Dorset GS-25-231 113.80 114.70 0.90 0.17 - Dorset GS-25-231 114.70 115.70 1.00 0.11 - Dorset GS-25-231 115.70 116.60 0.90 0.24 - Dorset GS-25-231 116.60 117.40 0.80 1.29 - Dorset GS-25-231 117.40 118.30 0.90 0.61 - Dorset GS-25-231 118.30 119.00 0.70 4.50 - Dorset GS-25-231 119.00 119.70 0.70 0.71 - Dorset GS-25-240 35.90 36.90 1.00 5.00 - Dorset GS-25-240 36.90 37.90 1.00 11.30 - Dorset GS-25-240 37.90 38.80 0.90 9.70 - Dorset GS-25-240 38.80 39.70 0.90 1.02 - Dorset *Given that there is no conceptual geological model for Dorset, neither true width nor top cuts have been defined. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40dd1a24-a301-46e4-a44e-07412b409b73 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d04e3e38-e640-4552-9d22-6b424aeb129d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38bbbebe-b8ef-4673-bdb7-d3f6abbc6792 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cd1ae661-92ef-41d3-92cd-bf3de41774f5 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c027543-de06-4d21-9c14-f750e219d7ba https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/afbf89d0-796b-4189-bbfb-e6724be29ee3 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a0ae989-06f0-4b46-9a35-0e45d9cf3c0c https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f36694de-42eb-4182-8186-10d3e6bc6607 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2548b0a-3fe5-4905-808b-b0d0df1aa65f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0e5565d-2961-4e99-8d93-c79576a8eb39 PDF Available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/e932a5fa-9ed3-433f-8107-b0671faf585a Washington, DC, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance is appealing the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Islands July decision in Relentless, Inc. v. Dept. of Commerce that upheld a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rule requiring Atlantic herring fishermen to pay for at-sea government monitors on their boats. Upon remand from the Supreme Courts landmark Loper Bright v. Raimondo and Relentless decision, the district court failed to heed the Courts admonition that silence does not confer power on administrators. NCLA will ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to reverse the errant district court decision, set aside the Herring Rule, and vacate the Industry-Funded Monitoring (IFM) Omnibus Amendment issued by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC). To enforce the Amendment, NOAA must issue separate rules for each fishery. NCLA has consistently sought to vacate both the Rule and the Amendment. NCLA convinced the Supreme Court last year in Relentless to overturn the unconstitutional Chevron doctrine, eliminating judicial deference to agency interpretations of allegedly ambiguous or silent statutes. The State Policy Network and the Institute for Justice recently awarded the Chip Mellor Prize for Excellence in Public Interest Litigation to NCLA for this achievement. With Chevron deference gone, courts are required to evaluate agency actions based on the statutes language, without substituting the agencys interpretations for what Congress wrote. This dramatic legal shift rightfully restores judicial authority to determine the meaning of the law to the courts, rather than relying on agencies often self-aggrandizing interpretations. The district courts opinion relied on a non-existent presumption to hold that regulated parties must pay the regulators costsincluding the salaries of government monitorsa notion that is contrary to the text of the statute and the Supreme Courts prior ruling. The First Circuit should recognize that the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) does not permit the agencys controversial amendment and that Congress never authorized the Secretary of Commerce, under the MSA, to force New England fishermen into contracts with onboard observers. The costly Industry-Funded Monitoring program was imposed without statutory authorization. Without Chevron deference to a supposed gap or silence in the statute, this unlawful rule and amendment must be set aside. If this program is not stopped, the Herring Rule will be just the first of many industry-funded regulatory monitoring programs. NCLA released the following statements: The Supreme Court has ruled silence does not confer power on agencies. A presumption that salaries of government monitors should be paid by fishermen and not the government cannot be allowed to insert deference to agencies under another name. John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA Why on earth the same Administration that says it wants agencies to implement Loper Bright/Relentless continues to press its case against these fishermen is hard to understand. Kara Rollins, Litigation Counsel, NCLA The governments continuing defense of NOAAs at-sea monitor rule is unfathomable. The Department of Justice needs to take the L on this one and find better things to do than keep harassing Americas fishermen. Where is President Trump? Where is Secretary Lutnick? They need to get control of their runaway regulators. Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA For more information visit the case page here. ABOUT NCLA NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights. ### San Francisco, CA , Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atypical AI unveils ExamJam SAT, a groundbreaking platform that democratizes elite tutoring through science-driven, adaptive learning. ExamJam AI SAT product offering has been validated by leading partners globally By mirroring the nuanced guidance of expert human tutors, ExamJam SAT delivers personalized study paths, precision-calibrated practice, and clear, evidence-based explanationsmaking high-quality SAT prep accessible to all. Rooted in learning science and validated through successful pilots and large scale deployment with Oxford University Press, McGraw Hill, Macmillan Learning and other major publishers and universities ExamJam delivers personalized study plans, calibrated practice, and accuracy-verified, step-by-step explanations in one streamlined platform. The platform replicates the responsive, one-on-one support of a skilled tutor, using learning science pioneered at Stanford. Weve distilled the essence of great tutoring, says Bethanie Maples, CEO of Atypical AI. ExamJam SAT meets students where they are, guiding them with rigor and clarity to master the SAT, without the elite price tag. What makes ExamJam SAT different Personalized from the first session Knowledge graph & dynamic study paths: Granular user behavior informs our proprietary learning model, aligned to SAT Reading & Writing and Math sub-skills, and generates continuously adaptive content and plans for students. Granular user behavior informs our proprietary learning model, aligned to SAT Reading & Writing and Math sub-skills, and generates continuously adaptive content and plans for students. Calibrated practice: A difficulty engine keeps students in the productive struggle zone, focusing effort where it matters most. A difficulty engine keeps students in the productive struggle zone, focusing effort where it matters most. Time-aware review: A built-in spaced-repetition scheduler prioritizes refreshers as test day approaches. Explanations you can trust Retrieval-augmented, step-by-step solutions: The system cites vetted methods and is developed with a human-in-the loop approach, which leads to accurate explanations, with alternate approaches when useful. The system cites vetted methods and is developed with a human-in-the loop approach, which leads to accurate explanations, with alternate approaches when useful. Tiered hints: Hints progress from concept reminders to partial solutions, helping students recover without giving away answers. Hints progress from concept reminders to partial solutions, helping students recover without giving away answers. Clear readiness signals: Skill meters, trends, and confidence tagging make progress obvious to students and families. Built for students, trusted by parents, teachers and schools Families shouldnt have to choose between quality, safety, and cost, said Bethanie Maples, CEO of Atypical AI. With ExamJam for SAT, we engineered a tutor-like experience that truly adapts to each student and we wrapped it in the guardrails parents and schools look for. Our system combines knowledge tracing, calibrated difficulty, and retrieval-checked explanations to deliver meaningful results based on cutting-edge Learning science, at an accessible price point. Availability ExamJam SAT is available today with a free way to try before committing and flexible plans for students and families. Schools, districts, and nonprofits can inquire about volume pricing and pilots. About ExamJam ExamJam is Atypical AIs student-first examination prep platform. It delivers 1:1-tutor outcomes through adaptive practice, personalized explanations, and robust safety. ExamJam helps learners prepare smarter for high-stakes exams with tools that are rigorous, transparent, and affordable. About Atypical AI Atypical AI is an artificial intelligence & learning science lab focused on creating novel AI-enabled solutions for personalized tutoring, teaching, and the measurement of student success. We ground our work in the most recent learning science and AI breakthroughs, and create experiences that are impactful, engaging, and easy to understand and use. We enable educators and learners with content creation, interactivity, collaboration, and personalizationpowered by artificial intelligence and guided by human-centered design. We build with a diversity-first mindset, focusing foremost on creating a safe, equitable, and accessible experience with artificial intelligence. Media Contact Press Team, Atypical AI / ExamJam marketing@atypicalai.com examjam.com Trademark notice: SAT is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product or site. A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1McKFd420w Mithril Silver and Gold Ltd. ("Mithril" or the "Company") (TSXV: MSG) (ASX: MTH) (OTCQB: MTIRF) advises that the Company has issued 4,180,000 Options to key management, employees and consultants under its Employee Incentive Securities Plan approved by shareholders at its November 2024 AGM (the Plan). In addition, and subject to shareholder approval for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.11 at the Company 2025 AGM to be held in November 2025, the Company will issue, an additional 5,200,000 Options to Company Directors and other key employees and contractors who are related parties of the Company. The Options have an exercise price of $1.07 AUD per Option and an expiry date of 1 September 2028. The exercise price is a premium of 50% to the closing price of the Company's shares as traded on ASX on 1 September 2025. The Plan is intended to assist the Company to attract and retain key staff, whether employees or contractors. The Board believes that grants made to eligible participants under the Plan provides a powerful tool to underpin the Company's employment and engagement strategy, and that the Plan: enables the Company to recruit, incentivize and retain key management personnel and other eligible employees and contractors needed to achieve the Company's business objectives; links the reward of key staff with the achievement of strategic goals and the long-term performance of the Company; aligns the financial interest of participants of the Plan with those of Shareholders; and provides incentives to participants under the Plan to focus on superior performance that creates shareholder value. This announcement has been authorised by the Board. -ENDS- For further information contact: Gold Reserve Ltd. (TSX.V: GRZ) (BSX: GRZ.BH) (OTCQX: GDRZF) ("Gold Reserve" or the "Company") provides an update on three recent filings in the CITGO Sale Process being run by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (the "Court"): 1. On September 2, 2025, the Company filed a Notice of Competing Objection and Disclosure of Bid Materials in which it confirmed that it is a Competing Objector, and therefore that it will present its Improved Bid to the Court and request that it be approved instead of the $2 billion lower-priced Amber Energy bid. In conjunction therewith, the Company filed bid materials that had not already been filed on the public docket. A copy of the filing will be posted here. 2. On September 2, 2025, the Company filed a letter with the Court in which it joined the Venezuela Parties' request that the Court direct the Special Master to serve fully unredacted versions of the transcripts of the Special Master's August 11 and 13 ex parte conferences with the Court on parties that have signed a confidentiality agreement with the Special Master. A copy of the letter will be posted here. 3. On August 30, 2025, the Company filed a letter with the Court requesting, in connection with the Special Master's Updated Final Recommendation, that the Court stay its decision on the Special Master's request to terminate the Dalinar Energy bid until the Court rules on Gold Reserve's pending Motion to Strike the Amber Energy bid or, in the alternative, that the Court set a briefing schedule for the Special Master's request that tracks the existing schedule for objections to the Updated Final Recommendation. A copy of the filing will be posted here. A complete description of the Delaware sale proceedings can be found on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system in Crystallex International Corp. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 1:17-mc-00151-LPS (D. Del.) and its related proceedings. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking statements This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. federal securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws and state Gold Reserve's and its management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. They are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to any bid submitted by the Company for the purchase of the PDVH shares (the "Bid"). We caution that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risks that may cause the actual events, outcomes or results of Gold Reserve to be materially different from our estimated outcomes, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the discretion of the Special Master to consider the Bid, to enter into any discussions or negotiation with respect thereto; the Special Master may not recommend the Bid in the Final Recommendation; an objection to the Bid may be upheld by the Court; the Bid will not be approved by the Court as the "Final Recommend Bid" under the Bidding Procedures, and if approved by the Court may not close, including as a result of not obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, including but not limited to any necessary approvals from the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control ("OFAC"), the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission or the TSX Venture Exchange; failure of the Company or any other party to obtain sufficient equity and/or debt financing or any required shareholders approvals for, or satisfy other conditions to effect, any transaction resulting from the Bid; that the Company may forfeit any cash amount deposit made due to failing to complete the Bid or otherwise; that the making of the Bid or any transaction resulting therefrom may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; that, prior to or as a result of the completion of any transaction contemplated by the Bid, the business of the Company may experience significant disruptions due to transaction related uncertainty, industry conditions, tariff wars or other factors; the ability to enforce the writ of attachment granted to the Company; the timing set for various reports and/or other matters with respect to the Sale Process may not be met; the ability of the Company to otherwise participate in the Sale Process (and related costs associated therewith); the amount, if any, of proceeds associated with the Sale Process; the competing claims of other creditors of Venezuela, PDVSA and the Company, including any interest on such creditors' judgements and any priority afforded thereto; uncertainties with respect to possible settlements between Venezuela and other creditors and the impact of any such settlements on the amount of funds that may be available under the Sale Process; and the proceeds from the Sale Process may not be sufficient to satisfy the amounts outstanding under the Company's September 2014 arbitral award and/or corresponding November 15, 2015 U.S. judgement in full; and the ramifications of bankruptcy with respect to the Sale Process and/or the Company's claims, including as a result of the priority of other claims. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company's business, see the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other reports that have been filed on SEDAR+ and are available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Gold Reserve or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Gold Reserve disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to its disclosure obligations under applicable rules promulgated by applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. For further information regarding Dalinar Energy, visit: https://www.dalinarenergy.com. For further information regarding Gold Reserve Ltd., visit https://www.goldreserve.bm. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902446611/en/ Contact Gold Reserve Ltd. investorrelations@goldreserve.bm (441) 295-4653 A.S. Cooper Building, 7th Floor, 26 Reid Street, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda Vancouver, September 2, 2025 - Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GDP) is pleased to announce the end of work on its 2025 exploration program at its Myrt Lake, Murray Lake, and DAF properties located in the high-grade Gordon Lake gold mining district of Canada's Northwest Territories. Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. is also pleased to announce that it has received approval for a $59,328 grant under the Mining Incentive Program (MIP) for its Gordon Lake project. In its approval notice, the Northwest Territories Geological Survey stated that the Gordon Lake Project "was highly ranked and approved for funding." This news release announces the results being submitted with the 2025 assessment reports, which fulfill the mandatory requirements for maintaining our federal and territorial claims and leases at the Gordon Lake Project (the Property), with the aim of extending them until 2030. Highlights Litho-Structural Mapping and Sampling: Detailed litho-structural mapping and additional rock sampling were carried out at three of our properties: Myrt Lake, Murray Lake and DAF. Detailed geological mapping data, structural measurements and rock sampling aim to increase the extent of near-surface high-grade mineralization surrounding known workings and mineralization showings. More extensive reconnaissance mapping and rock sampling were conducted to identify new exploration targets. Assay and Multi-Element Geochemical Analyses: Rock samples were sent to the ALS laboratory in Yellowknife for assay and geochemical analyses. Assay results are expected by the end of September. Figure 1. Gordon Lake Project and 2025 Exploration Properties. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/821/264875_7ba07cb5149d19ad_002full.jpg Exploration History The Gordon Lake Project has an extensive exploration history dating back to the late 1930's. There are multiple gold showings within the Project boundary that have had varying degrees of exploration and underground development. The last period of sustained exploration activity in the Kidney Pond and Lynk areas was in the 1980's. In 2020, Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. acquired and consolidated all the properties in the Gordon Lake Project. Exploration permits for the Company's properties are approved through 2030, including First Nations approvals and permits. The Company looks forward to the construction of an all-weather road connecting Gordon Lake to Tibbit Lake, approximately 30 km long, which will dramatically reduce the Company's exploration and drilling costs. Golden Pursuit has undertaken several significant exploration programs in the area, including LiDAR surveying, geological mapping and sampling, IP surveying, ground magnetic surveying, and 3D litho-structural modelling. The proposed 2025 program was built on both the historic and recent exploration results. The historic assay results (Christensen, 1985 - please see references) and historic resource estimates (Knutsen, 1987 - please see references) referenced in this press release were calculated prior to NI-43 guidelines and therefore the QP has not done sufficient work to make the resource current. It is not the purpose of this release to validate any resource estimates. The historical information is relevant because it demonstrates the consistency of exploration at these formerly producing mines over decades. The Issuer is not treating the estimate as current. These are the most recent reports for both areas. Golden Pursuit Resources has compiled all historical data for Gordon Lake, as well as recently acquired new data (2020-2024). The Company issued NI-43 reports in 2021 and 2022. Table 1. Exploration history of significant mineral occurrences in the southern Gordon Lake area. Part 1. Occurrences within the DAF property. DAF VEIN (WEST BAY) 1946 (Zolata Yellowknife Mines): Woolgar and Wonnacott staked the property. Zolata Yellowknife Mines optioned the property, performed trenching and 6700 feet of drilling. 1947 (McAvoy): Woolgar and Wonnacott along with J. McAvoy installed a small mill and hand cobbed vein material to produce 50 ounces of gold from 18 tons (2.77 oz/ton). 1948 (West-Bay Yellowknife Mines Ltd.): Acquired the property and a larger mill was installed. Further trenching, drilling, and milling produced 221 oz of gold, and 29 oz of silver from 289 tons of rock. 1958 (Consolidated Northland Mines Limited): Sampling program 1967 (Precambrian Mining Services Limited.): Evaluation Report 1977 (Reed and Doucette): Hand cobbed and milled ore, recovering 27 fine ounces of gold. 1981-1982 (Black Ridge Gold Ltd.): Black Ridge drills 21 holes totaling 420 meters. Several holes hit very high values: 82-03 (4.536 oz over 3 feet), 82-04 (3.192 oz over 3 feet), and 82-05 (9.876 oz over 3 feet). Estimated that to a down dip depth of 64 feet there is a total of 814 tons of ore at 4.21 oz/ton (3400 oz). 1984 (Cruiser Minerals): Drill program under an option agreement, with 44 drillholes totaling 1635m. Calculated an ore shoot 60 feet long by 5 feet wide, averaging 0.888 oz/ton to a depth of 300 feet. (5000 tons at 30.4 g/ton). 1987 (Blackridge and Cruiser Minerals): 400 meters drilled. 1989-1990 (New Era Development and Cameron Mining): 5,540 tonnes bulk sampling. Reported grade of 19 g/t. Over half was processed by Discovery Mine. 2020 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Acquired the property. 2021 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): LiDAR survey, prospecting, and rock sampling (Vivian and Bocking, 2022). 2023 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Compilation of historic work and geological mapping (Prior et al., 2023; Prior and Schmidt, 2023). Table 2. Exploration history highlights of significant mineral occurrences outside the southern Gordon Lake area. Part 2. Occurrences within the Murray Lake and Myrt Lake properties. MURRAY LAKE 1937-1940 (ComInco Ltd.): Extensive exploration work on the "Pan" claims, including more than 110 trenches, shallow diamond drilling, and two small shafts (8'X6' and 6'X5') completed, with gold showings of 310.9 g/t over 0.91 m and channel samples of 15.55 g/t Au (with veins up to 298.56 g/t Au). 1957-1960 (Alex Mitchell): Staked the "Bairn" claims and reported favourable horizons intersected by 5 drillholes. 1972 (North Star Mines Ltd.): Report on the MSSL claims, which cover the Pan and Bairn claims. The host rock bordering the trenches was found to be auriferous. 1981 (Five Star Resources Ltd): Detailed mapping and sampling immediately south and southeast of the Murray Claim, with the intent to estimate the size and number of gold-bearing veins and determine the structural setting of the veins. 1982 (Hidden Lake Gold Mines Ltd): Limited geological mapping, sampling and prospecting. A quartz vein zone was shown to contain high grades of gold mineralization with gold values up to 3.6 ounces of gold/ton across 1.5 feet in width in a vein with a length of about 30 feet. 1981 (Dale Christensen): 26 shallow drillholes. The best result was 1.308 oz/ton gold (Christensen, 1985). 1985 (Henderson): Mapped the Yellowknife-Hearne Lake Area at a scale of 1:250,000. *Reported RC assay results in Figure 3 presented here are historical, non-compliant with NI-43 guidelines, and are not being used as current. 1994 (Brophy): Described the structure and geochemistry of vein-hosted gold in Burwash turbidites in the area. 2003 (Dahrouge Consulting): Staked the "Murray" claim and optioned to Evolving Gold Corp. 2008 (Triple Dragon): Dahrouge Consulting, on behalf of Triple Dragon, completed geologic mapping and prospecting within the Murray claim. A total of six trench areas were outlined, and chip samples were collected, resulting in 198 samples that were analyzed. The most promising result is from a quartz vein sample in Area A, which assayed 187.71 g/T Au over a 0.25 m length. 2020 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Acquired the property. 2021 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): LiDAR survey, prospecting, and rock sampling (Vivian and Bocking, 2022). 2024 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Initial assessment, preliminary structural mapping and rock sampling (Field report, 2024). MYRT LAKE 1938-1939 (Dome Mines Limited): Extensive work included trenching, diamond drilling, and bulk sampling. 1959 (Sam Otto): Staked the "Myrt" claims. 1959 (Walter Temawski): Staked the "WT" claim group. 1938-1974 (Precambrian Mining Services): Surface rock trenching (736 feet in 33 trenches), surface diamond drilling (8226 feet in 65 holes), surface geological mapping. 1974 (Cameron Holdings Limited): Decline of 466 feet, and 405 feet of drifting and crosscutting along the #1 vein. 3,650 feet of underground drilling in 15 drillholes. A total of 3,000 tons of ore grading 0.11oz/t was mined and stockpiled. Ore reserves were estimated to be 25,275 tons grading 0.22 oz Au/ton down to 125'. 1984 (Ryan Energy): 10 drillholes (5,585 feet) verified that the #1 and #3 veins continue to the northwest and at depth below 500 feet. 1987-1989 (William Knutsen): Acquired the property and reported the rehabilitation of the decline. Knutsen (1987) calculated a minable resource to a depth of 110' of 17,510 tons grading 0.35 oz Au/ton, containing 6,132 oz Au. *Reported resources presented here are historical, non-compliant with NI-43 guidelines, and are not being used as current. 1992 (William Knutsen): Processed 2,152 tons of gold at Yellowknife Giant Mine, with 732 oz Au recovered at a grade of 0.36 oz/t and 86% recovery rate. 2020 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): Acquired the property. 2021 (Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.): LiDAR survey, prospecting, and rock sampling (Vivian and Bocking, 2022). 2025 Exploration Program The 2025 exploration program on the Gordon Lake Project (Figure 1) was designed to build on historical high-grade results and mine operations, where sampling and drilling intersected significant gold mineralization. Planned, detailed litho-structural mapping and rock sampling helped to understand better the structural-geochemical relationships associated with gold mineralization. Recent targeted exploration efforts have focused on delineating targets, refining the geological model, and planning drillholes for the subsequent drilling campaigns. Further drilling will focus on both confirmation and step-out drilling to enhance geological understanding and to test new targets identified through geophysical and geochemical surveys. The 2025 exploration program was divided into three phases: the first phase, which included initial geological mapping and sampling for modelling purposes at Myrt Lake (Figure 2); the second phase at Murray Lake (Figure 3); and the third phase at the DAF properties. Litho-structural mapping and extension of known mineralized zones: Initial litho-structural mapping and rock sampling on Murray Lake and Myrt Lake to understand controls on mineralization and start to build a geological model for these deposits, including historic data. Detailed litho-structural mapping and rock sampling were integrated with geophysical surveys and geological models at DAF property to expand on historic work, update and refine the geological model, and drillhole planning. Litho-Structural Mapping and Sampling Program Detailed litho-structural mapping, as well as surface rock sampling, were conducted over the entire three properties. The objective was to understand the structural and geochemical controls on mineralization. Rock sampling was designed to fill gaps in historical data and provide a more detailed understanding of gold distribution near high-grade zones, thereby refining future drillhole planning. Figure 2. 2025 Sampling at Myrt Lake Property. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/821/264875_goldenpursuit2.jpg Figure 3. 2025 Sampling at Murray Lake Property. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/821/264875_goldenpursuit3.jpg References Christensen, D, 1985. Rotary Drilling and Sampling, Murray Lake, Assessment Report at NTGS #081941. 4 p. Knutsen, W. G., 1987. Summary Report and Ore Reserve on the 'WT' Gold Property, Myrt Lake, NWT. Prepared for Westfort Petroleums Ltd. Precambrian Mining Service Ltd. Prior, G.; Schmidt, N., 2023. Field Report. Exploration on the Gordon Lake Property. Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. Prior, G.; Schmidt, N.; Gorham, J., 2023. Summary Report on the Gordon Lake Property. Including: Burnt Island, Camlaren, H Vein, 31 Vein, May Island, Kidney Pond, Lynk, Murray Lake, Myrt Lake, Storm, Goodrock, and Vaydik mineral occurrences. Northwest Territories, Canada. Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. Vivian, G; Bocking, N., 2022. Technical Report. South Gordon Lake Property, Northwest Territories, Canada. Prepared for Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. Aurora Geosciences. Vivian, G, 2021. Technical Report. South Gordon Lake Property, Northwest Territories, Canada. Prepared for Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. Aurora Geosciences. Community Engagement Golden Pursuit collaborates with First Nations organizations on whose traditional territories its projects are located, as well as with the Government of the Northwest Territories, to advance their strategic interests and discuss opportunities to support community initiatives. The Company looks forward to continuing to work with local and regional First Nations in all its future exploration programs. About the Gordon Lake Project The Gordon Lake Project, about 80-90 km northeast of Yellowknife, NWT, covers 6,850 hectares and includes 18 territorial claims, 13 federal claims, and five historic mining leases-all fully owned by Golden Pursuit. The site features multiple gold showings with a history of exploration and mining dating back to 1937 and continuing into the late 1980s. Located in the Slave Structural Province of the Canadian Shield's Archean granite-greenstone craton, the property hosts gold-bearing quartz veins and breccia zones primarily in Burwash Formation metaturbidite rocks of the Yellowknife Supergroup. About Golden Pursuit Resources Golden Pursuit Resources focuses on gold exploration and fully owns deposits and prospects in the Northwest Territories, Canada, and Nevada, USA, with only royalty obligations on some purchased claims in the NWT. The Gordon Lake project holds active land and water permits until 2030, supporting exploration and development. The company owns 11 properties with histories of mining and exploration dating back to the 1930s, including five classified as "former producers" by the NWT government. It has conducted extensive work at Gordon Lake since 2021. Further details are available at www.goldenpursuitresources.ca. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Cleber Peralta, COO and Director of the Company. Cleber Peralta is a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) registered with the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC) and a "Qualified Person" with respect to NI 43-101. The QP supervised the 2025 Golden Pursuit's exploration program and participated in the litho-structural mapping and sampling campaigns reported here. The Issuer is not treating the historic estimates as current. On behalf of the Board of Directors Brian McClay Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially. These statements, which may include references to potential mineralization, exploration plans, and engagement with First Nations, are subject to various risks, including exploration risks, regulatory changes, market volatility, environmental factors, and other uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. Except as required by law, Golden Pursuit assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, all of which are qualified by this cautionary note. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264875 Empire Metals upgrades to OTCQX, enhancing accessibility for U.S. investors Empire Metals Ltd. (LON:EEE)(OTCQX:EPMLF), the resource exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that it has advanced to trade on the OTCQX Best Market ("OTCQX"). The Company has upgraded to OTCQX from the OTCQB Venture Market and will begin trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "EPMLF". U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. Empire Metals continues to gain momentum through ongoing achievements in drilling results, metallurgical advancements, and product development at the Pitfield Titanium Project. These accomplishments have led to an upgrade for Empire on to OTCQX. The cross-trading of Empire's ordinary shares on OTCQX is expected to enhance the visibility and accessibility of its shares to U.S. investors, who will also benefit from greater liquidity from a broader pool of potential investors globally. OTCQX is also the highest-level trading venue of the OTC Markets Group Inc. on which 12,000 U.S. and global securities trade. By trading on OTCQX, Empire will engage directly with US investors, providing them with the same level of information and disclosure available to shareholders in the United Kingdom, but through US-facing platforms and portals. Additionally, the OTCQX cross-trading facility will enable US investors to access Empire's ordinary shares in US dollars, during US market hours. Commenting on the announcement, Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, said: "I am delighted to announce our upgrade toOTCQX. Building on the Company's international shareholder base, this further enhances the accessibility and visibility of our shares to both U.S. institutional and retail investors. "Trading on OTCQX offers even more investors a pathway to participate in Empire's growth and gain exposure to titanium - a strategically important critical mineral with strong fundamentals. We look forward to welcoming new U.S. investors as shareholders." About OTCQX The ability to trade Empire's existing ordinary shares on AIM will remain unaffected by the OTCQX listing. The OTCQX Market is designed for established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Graduating to the OTCQX Market from the OTCQB Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among U.S. investors. **ENDS** For further information please visit www.empiremetals.co.uk or contact: Empire Metals Ltd Shaun Bunn / Greg Kuenzel / Arabella Burwell Tel: 020 4583 1440 S. P. Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nomad & Broker) Ewan Leggat / Adam Cowl Tel: 020 3470 0470 Shard Capital Partners LLP (Joint Broker) Damon Heath Tel: 020 7186 9950 St Brides Partners Ltd (Financial PR) Susie Geliher / Charlotte Page Tel: 020 7236 1177 About Empire Metals Limited Empire Metals is an AIM-listed and OTCQX-traded exploration and resource development company (LON:EEE)(OTCQX:EPMLF) with a primary focus on developing Pitfield, an emerging giant titanium project in Western Australia. The high-grade titanium discovery at Pitfield is of unprecedented scale, with airborne surveys identifying a massive, coincident gravity and magnetics anomaly extending over 40km by 8km by 5km deep. Drill results have indicated excellent continuity in grades and consistency of the in-situ mineralised beds and confirm that the sandstone beds hold the higher-grade titanium dioxide (TiO?) values within the interbedded succession of sandstones, siltstones and conglomerates. The Company is focused on two key prospects (Cosgrove and Thomas), which have been identified as having thick, high-grade, near-surface, in-situ bedded TiO? mineralisation, each being over 7km in strike length. An Exploration Target* for Pitfield was declared in 2024, covering the Thomas and Cosgrove mineral prospects, and was estimated to contain between 26.4 to 32.2 billion tonnes with a grade range of 4.5 to 5.5% TiO 2 . Included within the total Exploration Target* is a subset that covers the in-situ weathered sandstone zone, which extends from surface to an average vertical depth of 30m to 40m and is estimated to contain between 4.0 to 4.9 billion tonnes with a grade range of 4.8 to 5.9% TiO 2 . The Exploration Target* covers an area less than 20% of the overall mineral system at Pitfield which demonstrates the potential for significant further upside. Empire is now accelerating the economic development of Pitfield, with a vision to produce a high-value titanium metal or pigment quality product at Pitfield, to realise the full value potential of this exceptional deposit. The Company also has two further exploration projects in Australia; the Eclipse Project and the Walton Project in Western Australia, in addition to three precious metals projects located in a historically high-grade gold producing region of Austria. *The potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. See RNS dated 12 June 2024 for full details. About OTC Markets Group Inc OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX:OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our public markets: OTCQ Best Market, OTCQB Venture Market, OTCID Basic Market and Pink Limited Market. Our OTC Link Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Empire Metals Limited Nuvau Minerals Inc. (TSXV: NMC) is sharing positive results and significant progress at its Matagami Project in today's comprehensive exploration update. "Multiple new discoveries, including the recent discovery of gold mineralization, demonstrate the potential of this large-scale property that was historically recognized solely for its base metal potential. The confirmation of a gold-bearing orogenic system adjacent to existing mine infrastructure significantly expands the opportunity for value creation. Nuvau is geared to continue the exploration on this large land package in the Abitibi," said Peter van Alphen, CEO of Nuvau Minerals Inc. Highlights include the continued validation of the orogenic gold system that was discovered adjacent to the fully permitted Bracemac mine, and positive results from drilling additional zones on the Property, such as high-grade base metal mineralization at Caber and Renaissance: Discovery of Bracemac orogenic gold system First drill hole (BRCG-25-01) intersected 8.87 g/t Au over 1.05 m, including 16.02 g/t Au over 0.55 Visible gold observed in three of four orientation holes completed to date, confirming the presence and continuity of the gold-bearing shear zone Caber Complex - 14 holes totaling 10,426 m completed to upgrade resources prior to an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) GCB-24-113: 5.49% Cu, 5.95% Zn, 0.15 g/t Au, and 35.66 g/t Ag - 2.8 m GCB-24-114: 4.43% Cu, 2.07% Zn, 0.12 g/t Au, and 9.05 g/t Ag - 2.75 m GCB-24-116: 1.85% Cu, 3.10% Zn, 0.05 g/t Au, and 9.81 g/t Ag - 27.2 m Renaissance Zone - 27 holes drilled, with 16 holes containing massive to semi-massive sulphides; initial MRE underway following highlight results including 1.03% Cu, 9.16% Zn, 0.03 g/t Au, and 6.54 g/t Ag over 4.7 m McLeod Extension - MRE in progress following 7 new intersections from 5,526 m of additional drilling to follow-up the 2023 discovery of 15.9 m grading 2.81% Cu, 14.80% Zn, and 0.39 g/t Au. New step-out results include: 0.52% Cu, 10.96% Zn, 0.42 g/t Au, and 11.71 g/t Ag over 4.20 m 2.45% Cu, 0.24% Zn, 0.11 g/t Au, and 11.39 g/t Ag over 7.75 m Drilling is underway to follow-up the recent discovery of gold mineralization with 25 m of the existing mine access ramp at the Bracemac Mine. Visible gold has now been observed in three of four holes drilled in this new target, confirming a continuous shear zone intersected in all holes drilled to date. The system is hosted within a tonalite intrusive rock unit in the footwall of the Bracemac Mine, a rock unit where almost no historic holes have been drilled. Gold exploration program Operated by Glencore until June 2022, the Bracemac-McLeod mine was one of 12 past-producing base metal mines on Nuvau's 1,300 km land package. Historic mining focused entirely on copper and zinc mineralization. Key infrastructure remains in place, and the mine remains permitted for operation. Little to no gold exploration was undertaken by the previous operators due to the previous focus on base metals. Visible gold mineralization was observed in the first hole drilled to test the first of three priority gold exploration targets that Nuvau identified on this large-scale property. The current drill campaign is aimed at defining the parameters of this newly-identified gold-bearing structure. To-date, four drill holes spaced 25 to 40 metres apart have established the strike and dip of the host shear zone that is injected with quartz veins containing minor pyrite. A fifth hole is underway to test 100 metres below the initial drill holes. Visible gold has now been observed in three holes with all holes having intersected a sheared intrusive (tonalite) containing folded quartz-calcite-chlorite veins, mineralized with 1-3% pyrite. The first hole intersected 8.87 g/t Au over 1.05 m with numerous grains of visible gold identified. Assay results from additional holes remain pending. Figure 1: 3D view showing general location of the gold-bearing structure To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/264895_5883ee3814ecf89c_001full.jpg Figure 2: Inclined long-section To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/264895_5883ee3814ecf89c_002full.jpg Caber Complex Fourteen drill holes were completed totaling 10,426 m. This drilling was designed for the conversion of resources and to collect samples for metallurgical studies in preparation for a feasibility study of the Caber Complex deposits. A revised MRE is in progress and an updated PEA is planned with the aim of optimizing the Caber Complex mine plan and incorporating the potential restart of the Bracemac-McLeod Mine and mill complex into a detailed economic analysis. Table 1: Assay results for the Caber Complex drill program Hole ID from to length Cu% Zn% Au(g/t) Ag(g/t) GCB-24-112 Reassays ongoing GCB-24-113 547.00 557.70 10.70 1.53 1.64 0.09 16.14 And 600.35 603.15 2.80 5.49 5.95 0.15 35.66 And 677.55 703.85 26.30 0.23 0.31 0.03 1.18 GCB-24-114 591.85 594.40 2.55 0.11 12.55 0.07 12.33 And 655.60 657.70 2.10 1.36 4.14 0.09 25.95 And 733.45 756.00 22.55 0.65 0.76 0.03 1.50 Incl 748.55 751.30 2.75 4.43 2.07 0.12 9.05 And 756.90 763.60 6.70 0.54 0.02 0.02 0.33 GCB-24-115 Reassays ongoing GCB-24-116 509.80 537.00 27.20 1.85 3.10 0.05 9.81 And 559.30 565.50 6.20 0.51 0.21 0.01 0.95 GCB-24-117 460.50 495.00 34.50 0.89 0.99 0.10 6.69 And 495.00 498.55 3.55 0.37 0.01 0.04 6.37 GCB-24-118 415.20 417.00 1.80 0.06 0.56 0.00 1.08 And 493.80 496.80 3.00 0.01 0.44 0.00 1.00 And 565.60 583.55 17.95 0.85 2.44 0.09 14.82 And 590.35 595.10 4.75 1.24 0.56 0.13 10.27 And 603.60 626.70 23.10 1.34 0.02 0.03 2.19 Incl 610.10 615.90 5.80 2.94 0.04 0.03 4.21 GCB-24-119 505.85 507.50 1.65 3.73 6.82 0.22 28.48 And 513.30 513.70 0.40 0.61 2.16 0.14 23.00 And 519.50 519.80 0.30 1.81 0.46 0.24 14.00 And 579.85 583.45 3.60 3.66 3.43 0.21 18.36 And 605.85 617.95 12.10 1.32 2.97 0.10 14.74 And 676.05 681.40 5.35 0.01 0.03 0.00 0.79 And 690.15 744.50 54.35 0.25 0.41 0.02 0.84 Incl 710.50 715.35 4.85 0.35 4.10 0.02 1.24 Incl 717.00 720.85 3.85 1.17 0.06 0.04 3.14 GCB-24-120 675.50 695.65 20.15 0.84 1.46 0.07 6.50 And 796.05 829.50 33.45 0.58 0.10 0.03 2.61 Incl 811.75 820.00 8.25 1.39 0.24 0.04 5.64 Incl 811.75 814.75 3.00 2.74 0.20 0.03 7.85 GCB-25-121 Reassays ongoing GCB-25-122 Reassays ongoing GCB-25-123 410.60 416.40 5.80 0.67 0.55 0.03 4.18 And 545.20 545.55 0.35 0.74 4.56 0.12 18.00 And 568.50 569.05 0.55 1.52 4.14 0.38 26.00 And 626.15 627.65 1.50 0.87 2.56 0.08 9.20 And 678.35 720.40 42.05 0.56 0.58 0.04 5.09 Incl 678.35 683.20 4.85 3.04 3.45 0.25 30.73 Incl 706.45 720.40 13.95 0.59 0.44 0.03 3.29 And 735.10 738.40 3.30 0.66 0.01 0.01 1.21 GCB-25-124 636.00 640.65 4.65 0.45 2.42 0.10 3.43 And 663.35 684.30 20.95 0.69 0.01 0.02 0.38 GCB-25-125 Reassays ongoing Renaissance Zone The Renaissance Zone was discovered by Nuvau in 2023, targeting a geophysical anomaly located in the "West Camp" of the Matagami Property, immediately north of the Caber Complex deposits. A total of 27 holes were drilled to test the Renaissance Zone, with 16 intersecting massive and semi-massive sulphide zones. An initial MRE for Renaissance is in progress. Results from the most recent drilling at Renaissance are provided in Table 2, below. Table 2: Assays results for the Renaissance drilling program Hole ID from to length Cu% Zn% Au(g/t) Ag(g/t) REN-24-15 329.85 337.65 7.80 0.69 7.41 0.20 22.66 REN-24-16 280.80 281.80 1.00 0.12 1.35 0.01 5.00 REN-24-17 258.70 279.30 20.60 0.36 2.79 0.04 7.49 Incl 258.70 263.15 4.45 0.45 2.95 0.13 23.22 And 274.60 279.30 4.70 1.03 9.16 0.03 6.54 REN-24-18A No significant mineralization REN-24-18 384.00 384.70 0.70 0.32 0.08 0.03 6.00 REN-24-19 Reassays ongoing REN-24-20 463.65 478.35 14.70 0.72 1.66 0.05 6.47 Incl 463.65 472.75 9.10 0.77 1.86 0.03 5.48 And 476.10 478.35 2.25 1.47 3.13 0.20 18.60 REN-24-21 Reassays ongoing REN-25-22 380.90 381.55 0.65 0.12 2.22 0.03 6.00 And 398.20 398.50 0.30 0.70 0.23 0.05 11.00 And 412.35 412.75 0.40 0.61 3.70 0.04 19.00 REN-25-23 294.00 295.00 1.00 0.01 0.85 0.00 0.00 And 303.00 303.60 0.60 0.01 0.81 0.00 0.00 REN-25-24 No significant mineralization REN-25-25 No significant mineralization REN-25-25EXT No significant mineralization Figure 3: Renaissance Zone long-section To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/264895_5883ee3814ecf89c_003full.jpg McLeod extension Intersected in 2023, the McLeod Mine extension demonstrated the potential for additional resources adjacent to existing mine workings, at the permitted past-producing Bracemac-McLeod Mine. The extension discovery hole (MCL-13-31W1) returned 15.9 m grading 2.81% Cu, 14.80% Zn, and 0.39 g/t Au. Seven new intersections from 5,526 m of additional drill holes completed will be incorporated into a MRE that is in progress. This zone will, along with the Caber Complex, be incorporated into future studies assessing the potential restart of the Bracemac-McLeod Mine and associated economic analysis. New results from the McLeod drill program are provided in Table 3 below. Table 3: Assay results for the McLeod extension drilling program Hole ID from to length Cu% Zn% Au(g/t) Ag(g/t) MCL-13-31W6 1498.6 1502.8 4.2 0.23 2.39 0.14 11.90 Incl 1499 1500.05 1.05 0.65 3.92 0.13 20.24 MCL-13-31W7 1400.6 1402.25 1.65 0.19 4.32 0.06 3.55 And 1426.85 1432.55 5.7 0.09 1.19 0.31 3.30 MCL-13-31W8 1248.6 1251.3 2.7 0.18 2.84 0.45 6.59 MCL-18-90W2 1605 1607.2 2.2 0.09 0.02 0.11 1.64 MCL-18-90W3 1625.7 1627.4 1.7 0.09 0.54 0.18 3.24 MCL-18-91W1 1500.2 1502.35 2.15 1.44 0.07 0.31 10.65 And 1510 1519.5 9.5 0.88 0.05 0.09 7.74 And 1531.5 1534.5 3 0.72 0.06 0.08 4.67 MCL-18-91W2 1586.8 1611.75 24.95 1.04 2.36 0.14 7.03 Incl 1586.8 1591 4.2 0.52 10.96 0.42 11.71 Incl 1604 1611.75 7.75 2.45 0.24 0.11 11.39 About Nuvau Minerals Inc. Nuvau Minerals is a Canadian mineral exploration company advancing the Matagami mining camp, covering more than 1,300 km of highly prospective ground in the Abitibi region of mine-friendly Quebec. Nuvau's principal asset is the Matagami Property, which is host to significant existing processing infrastructure and multiple mineral deposits, but has never been subjected to a comprehensive gold-focused exploration program. The Company is leveraging innovative exploration methods, including AI-supported generative targeting and hydro-geochemistry, to identify and develop new gold and base metal deposits. Qualified Person and Quality Assurance Gilles Roy P. Geo. (Qc), Director of Exploration of Nuvau and a "qualified person" as is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Drill core samples are sawn by staff technicians to create half core splits. One split is retained in the drill core box for archival purposes with a sample tag affixed at each sample interval and the other split is placed in a labelled plastic bag along with a corresponding sample number tag and placed in the shipment queue. Quality control samples including blind certified reference material ("CRM"), blank material, and core duplicates are inserted at a frequency of 1 in every 20 samples and sample batches of up to 60 samples were then shipped directly by Nuvau personnel to the ALS Canada Ltd. preparation laboratory in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. All submitted core samples are crushed in full to 95 % passing less than 2 mm (ALS code CRU-32). A 1000-gram sample was then riffled split from the crushed material and pulverized to 90 % passing 75 m (SPL-22 and PUL-32a). Pulps are shipped from the preparation laboratory to ALS Canada Ltd.'s analytical lab in North Vancouver, British Columbia, for assay. Lead, silver, copper and zinc analyses were determined by ore grade four acid digestion with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy ("ICP-AES") or atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS") finish (ALS codes Pb-OG62, Ag-OG62, Cu-OG62 and ZnOG62), whereas gold was determined by 50 g fire assay analysis with an AAS finish (code Au-AA23). A second method, PhotonAssay analysis (code Au-PA01), was used on a single sample from hole BRCG-25-01 where visible gold was observed. The remaining reject material was pulverized to 95% passing 106um (PUL-32a) and recombined with the remaining master pulp material and split into three jars (~500g each) and shipped from the preparation laboratory to ALS Canada Ltd.'s analytical lab in Thunder Bay Ontario, for photon assayed. The reported value is the combined weighted assay result representing the entire length of the sample. For comparison gold determined by 50 g fire assay analysis return 15.75 g/t Au, compared to 16.02 g/t Au by PhotonAssay. ALS Canada Ltd. is an accredited, independent commercial analytical firm registered to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015. Cautionary Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning drill results relating to the Matagami Property, the results of the PEA, the potential of the Matagami Property, the timing and commencement of any production, the restart of the Bracemac-McLeod Mine, the completion of the earn-in of the Matagami Property and the timing and completion of any technical studies, feasibility studies or economic analyses. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the Matagami Property. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, neither the Company nor Nuvau undertakes any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. MONTREAL, Sept. 03, 2025 - SRQ Resources Inc. ("SRQ" or the "Company") (TSX-V: SRQ) is pleased to report a new mineralized zone at Target 900 on the Lac Brule property, where drilling and geophysics continue to demonstrate the scale of the undeformed intrusive magmatic complex. 2025 Summer Program Highlights 3,876 metres ("m") drilled across three holes plus the extension of LB-24-29, which intersected mineralized pyroxenite and gabbro, including 2.20 m of semi-massive sulfides mineralization Ambient Noise Tomography ("ANT") survey completed over a 5.6 kilometre ("km") 5.5 km grid by Caur Technologies ("Caur") 880 line-km airborne gravity survey across the central and western property completed by Xcalibur Multiphysics ("Xcalibur") Downhole Time-domain Electromagnetic ("DHTEM") survey by TMC Geophysics in Val-d'Or on LB-25-30 identified a moderate off-hole anomaly beginning at 900 metres and increasing in strength to the end of the hole without reaching the peak response. "These latest results at Target 900 confirm the presence of a very large undeformed intrusive magmatic system with multiple mineralized horizons," said Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO of SRQ Resources. "The intersection of semi-massive sulfides in hole LB-24-29, together with supporting geophysical anomalies, reinforces our confidence that the Lac Brule property has the potential to host a significant nickel-copper discovery. While assays are pending, the geological and geophysical evidence collected in 2025 provides a strong foundation for the next phase of exploration." Drill Results and Interpretation LB-24-29: Originally drilled in 2024 to test a 3.5 km 1.7 km gravity anomaly, the hole cut 735 m of continuous magmatic sequences (pyroxenite and peridotite) before being extended in August 2025 from 951 m to 1,161 m. The extension intersected 15 m of mineralized pyroxenite and gabbro, including 2.20 m of semi-massive sulfides, interpreted as the margin of a larger mineralized body. A DHTEM survey is planned to further define this target. LB-25-30: Drilled to 1,389 m, intersected pentlandite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite. A DHTEM survey identified a strong off-hole conductor that intensifies with depth. LB-25-31 & LB-25-32: Drilled to 1,176 m and 1,101 m respectively, both remained within the intrusive complex, confirming its continuity and strengthening the geological model. Context from Previous Drill Program The 2023-24 drill campaigns at the Gossan Zone confirmed the continuity of mineralized mafic intrusions across more than 800 m, including intervals grading up to 1.17% CuEq over 9.2 m and localized higher-grade massive sulfide samples (e.g., 0.66 m at 2.19% CuEq and 0.27 m at 5.54% CuEq). These results (see press releases June 24, 2024) demonstrated the fertility of the system and provided the foundation for targeting deeper, larger-scale mineralization at Target 900. Next Steps With assays pending, SRQ will complete additional downhole geophysics, including DHTEM on LB-24-29, to refine the geometry of mineralized zones. Together with summer survey results, these data will guide follow-up and step-out drilling planned for 2026, as the Company works to define the scale of what is emerging as a large nickel-copper system at Lac Brule. Results from Hole LB-24-29 Drilled in April 2024, LB-24-29 targeted the eastern edge of a 3.5 km 1.7 km strong gravity anomaly. The hole intersected 735 m of continuous magmatic sequences (pyroxenite and peridotite) with disseminated pyrrhotite, minor chalcopyrite, and pentlandite in the final 70 m. In August 2025, the hole was extended to 1,161 m. From 953 m, the hole intercepted 15 m of disseminated sulfides, including 2.20 m of semi-massive sulfide mineralization. This interval displays magmatic banding of intercalated mineralization and pyroxenite/gabbro material, interpreted as the edge of a larger mineralized system. The results suggest the potential for additional adjacent mineralized zones. Semi-massive and massive sulphides have not been found in abundance at the Lac Brule site as yet. However, the many petrographic and structural similarities between the two sites, coupled with the results from very preliminary exploration on Lac Brule, demonstrate the presence of a very large Undeformed Intrusive Magmatic system with several mineralized horizons, increasing the probability of a significant discovery along the intrusive path (Figure 2 to 5). Figure 1: Surface Map Showing Location of the 28 Drill Holes from the 2023-24 Gossan Zone Program Figure 2: Updated 2023-24-25 airborne Gravimetry surveys with vertical cross-section N-S showing ANT interpretation. The large North Zone target has not been drilled tested yet. The Target 900 corresponds to a very large and strong gravity response of presumably dense geological material at depth (starting at 600 m from surface). Figure 3: Surface geophysical and geological compilation for the Gossan and Target 900 areas, illustrating EM and gravimetry responses of the intrusive complex. Two vertical cross-sections showing holes LB-25-30 and LB-24-29 together with our geological interpretation coupled with ANT model. LB-24-29 intersected 15 m of mineralized pyroxenite and gabbro, including 2.20 m of semi-massive pyrrhotite-rich sulfides (Figure 5). Figure 4: 3D geological model of the Target 900 magmatic intrusion, the mineralized Gossan Zone lens (550 m long), and airborne electromagnetic inversion results for the North Zone, which remains unexplored. Below: with ANT's velocity isocontours. Figure 5: Core photo from LB-24-29 at 954 m, showing 2.20 m of semi-massive pyrrhotite with minor chalcopyrite mineralization with magmatic banding. Analytical results are pending. Additional DHTEM surveys are planned. Quality Control Core logging and sampling are performed at SRQ's field facilities by SRQ's staff. Sample preparation and analysis are carried out by Activation Laboratories Ltd (Actlab), Ancaster and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. All samples were assayed for Ni, Cu, Co, Fe, S, Pt, Pd and Au using sodium peroxide fusion ICP for the first five elements and by fire assay ICPOES for the last three. The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph. D geology, P. Geo and President and CEO of SRQ, and a "Qualified Person", as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About SRQ Resources Inc. SRQ is a Canadian-based metals company exploring for nickel, copper and platinum in the province of Quebec. SRQ owns 1,122 exploration claims in the province of Quebec including Lac Brule and Lac Brennan covering 255 km and 25 km respectively of virgin exploration ground at only six-hour drive from Montreal. Prospectivity for base metals has been confirmed by geological mapping, the presence of a surface gossan, and geophysical surveys. For more information about SRQ, please visit SRQ's website at www.srqexploration.com Contact Information: Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO ceo@srqexploration.com Tel: (514) 726-4158 Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are included to provide information about management's current expectations and plans that allows investors and others to have a better understanding of the Company's business plans and financial performance and condition. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "continue", "demonstrate", "confidence", "reinforce", "potential", "pending", "foundation", "interpret", "plan", "identify", "confirm", "strengthening", "next steps", "work", "emerge", "suggest", "probability", "presume", "presumably", "unexplored", "prospectivity", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "will", "would" or "might" occur. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and information with respect to: (1) the continued demonstration, through drilling and geophysics, of the scale of the undeformed intrusive magmatic complex at Target 900 on the Lac Brule property; (2) the potential scale and extent of the mineralized system at Lac Brule as indicated by ongoing exploration activities; (3) the potential for the Lac Brule property to host a significant nickel-copper discovery; (4) the expectation that geological and geophysical evidence collected in 2025 provide a foundation for the next phase of exploration activities at Lac Brule; (5) the interpretation of the 2025 drill results; (6) the interpretation that the semi-massive sulfide interval intersected in hole LB-24-29 represents the margin of a larger mineralized body at Lac Brule; (7) the Company's plan to conduct a DHTEM survey on hole LB-24-29 to further define the target; (8) the interpretation that the strong off-hole conductor identified in hole LB-25-30 intensifies with depth; (9) the interpretation that drill holes LB-25-31 and LB-25-32 confirm the continuity of the intrusive complex and strengthen the geological model for Lac Brule; (10) the interpretation that drilling at the Gossan Zone demonstrated the fertility of the mineralized system; (11) the expectation that results from the 2023-24 drill campaigns provide the foundation for targeting deeper, larger-scale mineralization at Target 900; (12) the results of pending assays; (13) the Company's plan to complete additional downhole geophysics, including DHTEM on LB-24-29, to refine the geometry of mineralized zones; (14) the expectation that summer survey results, together with pending assays, will guide follow-up and step-out drilling planned for 2026; (15) the Company's work to define the scale of what is emerging as a large nickel-copper system at Lac Brule; (16) the interpretation that the semi-massive sulfide interval intersected in hole LB-24-29 represents the edge of a larger mineralized system; (17) the suggestion that results from hole LB-24-29 indicate the potential for additional adjacent mineralized zones; (18) the interpretation that petrographic and structural similarities between the two sites, coupled with the results from very preliminary exploration on Lac Brule, demonstrate the presence of a very large undeformed intrusive magmatic system with several mineralized horizons, increasing the probability of a significant discovery along the intrusive path; (19) the expectation that the untested North Zone target represents a future exploration opportunity for the Company; (20) the Target 900 corresponding to a very large and strong gravity response of presumably dense geological material at depth (starting at 600 m from surface); (21) LB-25-30 and LB-24-29 geological interpretation; (22) the expectation that the unexplored North Zone, as highlighted in the 3D geological model, represents a potential target for future exploration; (23) analytical results from LB-24-29; (24) the Company's plan to complete additional DHTEM surveys; (25) the interpretation that the prospectivity for base metals at Lac Brule has been confirmed based on geological mapping, the presence of a surface gossan, and geophysical surveys. Such statements reflect the Company's views as at the date of this press release and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Forward-looking information is based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such information or statements. There can be no assurance that such information or statements will prove to be accurate. Key assumptions upon which the Company's forward-looking information is based include, without limitation, the Company's capacity to execute on its plan, the Company's interpretation of geological data, prevailing economic and political conditions, and other material factors and assumptions set forth in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024, available with Canadian securities regulators. Although the Company believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is given as at the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company qualifies all of its forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/516119be-1534-428d-9f35-a409473f5668 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0f99cfd-6439-4895-a765-7d25fde26573 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/20c53657-b3af-4197-b4d6-04626a549971 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a40efaf-0016-4dd7-8abb-f9c448127ab8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bd8b2788-e3e9-4d98-8e84-fe916d74e58c Permitting of the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project is on schedule and progressing well. The planning phase of the Federal environmental and social impact assessment process is now formally complete, culminating in the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) publishing its Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines and a detailed Permitting Plan for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Lithium Project. The Permitting Plan is consistent with the Company's previously estimated and reported overall mine authorization timeline. This Federal process will run in parallel with the Provincial environmental and social impact assessment process already underway, with submission of the Provincial Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") targeted for late 2025, and the equivalent Federal application to be submitted shortly thereafter. The ESIA submissions will be supported by over three years of robust environmental base line data studies and extensive community consultations. Ken Brinsden, Patriot CEO and President, comments: "Within the approvals process to-date, engagement with both the Cree, provincial and federal authorities has been constructive and timely. Further, we are pleased to see that the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is aiming to minimize duplication and ensure full use is made of the work contributing to the Cree and provincial level assessment. "It can't be underestimated how much work has already been achieved by Patriot to ensure Shaakichiuwaanaan is well-placed in the global lithium raw material development pipeline. Moving the project from discovery and the establishment of a globally significant resource, to the upcoming mine authorization process in less than 4 years is a remarkable achievement that demonstrates both the quality of the Project and team delivering it." Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Patriot") (TSX: PMET) (ASX: PMT) (OTCQX: PMETF) (FSE: R9GA) is pleased to provide a progress update on the permitting process of the Company's wholly owned Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (the "Property" or "Project"), located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec. The CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite, which forms the bulk of the MRE, is accessible year-round by all-season road and is situated approximately 14 km from a major hydroelectric powerline corridor. The CV13 Pegmatite (which is outside the scope of the Company's CV5 ESIA) is located <3 km along geological trend from the CV5 Pegmatite, which hosts additional lithium, caesium and tantalum resources (see news release dated July 20, 2025). Federal Project Approval Submissions and ESIA Studies In February 2025, Patriot submitted its Initial Project Description for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Lithium Project (CV5 Pegmatite) to IAAC, in order to formally initiate the Federal elements to the Project permitting process. In the period since the submission of the Initial Project Description, the Company has engaged with the Federal Joint Assessment Committee (consisting of representatives of IAAC and the Cree Nation Government) and the IAAC has undertaken its formal planning and public comment period. In August 2025, the Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines, Permitting Plan, Cooperation Plan, Indigenous Engagement and Participation Plan, and Public Participation Plan were issued by IAAC for the Project. This important milestone indicates the formal commencement of the Federal impact assessment phase of the Project. The public reference for progress in respect of the IAAC schedule can be found at the following link: https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/89271 The Federal impact assessment process will run in parallel with the Provincial permitting process for the Project which commenced in 2023, and will leverage the existing provincial process to streamline the federal requirements to the extent possible. The Company also notes with interest the efforts of federal authorities to minimize duplication with the provincial approval process. The Company intends to maintain close-contact with all the key Government agencies and the Cree, to ensure a diligent and timely approval process for the Project. Overall Project Approval Summary Position Over approximately a 3-year period, extensive environmental baseline data collection field programs and community consultations have been completed as planned to underpin the Company's ESIA (supporting both Federal and Provincial processes), for the development of the CV5 Pegmatite. As a result of the above, now combined with the constructive and timely approach of regulatory authorities, the provincial ESIA submissions remain on-track for presentation in late 2025, with the federal ESIA to follow shortly thereafter. Qualified/Competent Person The information in this news release that relates to exploration results for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Property is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr. Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and member in good standing with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec (Geologist Permit number 01968), and with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (member number 87868). Mr. Smith has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. Mr. Smith is an Executive and Vice President of Exploration for Patriot Battery Metals Inc. and holds common shares, Restricted Share Units (RSUs), and Performance Share Units (PSUs) in the Company. Mr. Smith has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralization, type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as described by the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the JORC Code). Mr. Smith consents to the inclusion in this news release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. About Patriot Battery Metals Inc. Patriot Battery Metals Inc. is a hard-rock lithium exploration company focused on advancing its district-scale 100%-owned Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (formerly known as Corvette) located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada, which is accessible year-round by all-season road and is proximal to regional powerline infrastructure. The Project hosts the world's largest1 pollucite-hosted caesium pegmatite Mineral Resource2 at the Rigel and Vega zones with 0.69 Mt at 4.40% Cs 2 O, Indicated, and 1.70 Mt at 2.40% Cs 2 O, Inferred. Additionally, the Project hosts a Consolidated Mineral Resource, which includes the Rigel and Vega caesium zones, totalling 108.0 Mt at 1.40% Li 2 O, 0.11% Cs 2 O, 166 ppm Ta 2 O 5 , and 66 ppm Ga, Indicated, and 33.4 Mt at 1.33% Li 2 O, 0.21% Cs 2 O, 155 ppm Ta 2 O 5 , and 65 ppm Ga, Inferred, and ranks as the largest lithium pegmatite resource in the Americas, and in the top ten globally. For further information, please contact us at info@patriotbatterymetals.com or by calling +1 (604) 279-8709, or visit www.patriotbatterymetals.com. Please also refer to the Company's continuous disclosure filings, available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au, for available exploration data. This news release has been approved by "KEN BRINSDEN" Kenneth Brinsden, President, CEO, & Managing Director Disclaimer for Forward-looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Securities Laws. All statements, other than statements of present or historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan", "development", "growth", "continued", "intentions", "expectations", "strategy", "opportunities", "anticipated", "trends", "potential", "outlook", "ability", "additional", "on track", "prospects", "viability", "estimated", "reaches", "enhancing", "strengthen", "target", "will", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. ________________________________ 1 Determination based on Mineral Resource data, sourced through July 11, 2025, from corporate disclosure. 2 The Consolidated MRE cut-off grade is variable depending on the mining method and pegmatite (0.40% Li 2 O open-pit, 0.60% Li 2 O underground CV5, and 0.70% Li 2 O underground CV13). A grade constraint of 0.50% Cs 2 O was used to model the Rigel and Vega caesium zones, which are entirely within the CV13 Pegmatite's open-pit mining shape. The Effective Date of the MREs is June 20, 2025 (through drill hole CV24-787). Mineral Resources are not Mineral or Ore Reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. Although the Company believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. As such, these risks are not exhaustive; however, they should be considered carefully. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements found herein. Due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions inherent in forward-looking statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties facing the Company's business, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Some of the risks the Company faces and the uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the ability to execute on plans relating to the Company's Project, including the timing thereof as well as its permitting process. In addition, readers should review the detailed risk discussion in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR+ for a fuller understanding of the risks and uncertainties that affect the Company's business and operations. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. The Company qualifies all of its forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Competent Person Statement (ASX Listing Rule 5.23) The mineral resource estimate in this release was reported by the Company in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 5.8 on July 21, 2025. The Company confirms that, as of the date of this news release, it is not aware of any new information or data verified by the competent person that materially affects the information included in the announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that, as at the date of this announcement, the form and context in which the competent person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement. SOURCE Patriot Battery Metals Inc. Contact Olivier Caza-Lapointe, Head, Investor Relations, T: +1 (514) 913-5264, E: ocazalapointe@patriotbatterymetals.com Read the April issue of Governing magazine. For Chris Bartley, the turning point in Lexington, Ky.s pension deal came when the city finally budged. The longtime firefighter and union chief was slow to trust politicians. So he stood his ground and well into fall 2012, Bartley and other representatives returned again and again to the negotiating table. Tasked with fixing the citys looming pension debt created by slow revenue growth and soaring entitlement costs, they had made no progress.Then it happened, Bartley recalls. The city said it had come up with a way to increase its pension funding -- and could guarantee those payments. It was the first step in a compromise deal that city officials today believe will make the fund solvent.Somebody had to step first, Bartley remembers. They moved, and it allowed us to make some movement.As in Lexington, many state and local pension plans are in crisis. Thanks to the recessions toll on pension portfolio returns and its pressure on budgets, many public pension plans at both the state and local level have become woefully underfunded -- threatening future benefits. Meanwhile, the tight budget climate has strained relations between employee unions and employers, making it difficult to pass meaningful changes that would assure employees of their full retirement benefits and keep pension systems current with state and local revenue.Most states and many municipalities have passed some kind of pension reform in recent years, but a smaller number have been able to do so in a way that addresses the immediate unfunded liability of their plans. Both sides have shirked responsibility, says Elizabeth Kellar, president and CEO of the Center for State and Local Government Excellence. Neither the management side nor the labor side has owned up to reality.Now there will be new factors. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board rules set to kick in this summer will change the way public pension plans account for their portfolio gains and losses. That will likely have the effect of making a plans unfunded liability appear higher than it did in prior years. Coupled with announcements from credit ratings agencies that they will downgrade states with high unfunded liabilities, the pressure on public pension reform is mounting.Some pension plans, however, have tackled those pressures successfully. While the processes vary, the themes for progress are consistent: education, reciprocity and trust. While it may seem essentially a public relations campaign to engage employees and inform the public, it is by no means a simple road to meaningful reform. It can, however, be worth the effort.One person who took the education component seriously is San Jose, Calif., Councilman Pete Constant. A former cop, Constant was elected to the council in 2006 and by 2012, pension costs had grown to 27 percent of the citys general fund budget. Constant made it his mission to understand exactly how pensions work or dont work and took courses at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago and Stanford Law School. (Hes now on his way to finishing his doctorate in public pension governance.) Hes used his expertise to launch a pension education crusade of sorts, making the case to voters and his colleagues that San Joses system was broken.What I took on as a personal challenge is, how can I learn these complex concepts and present them in ways simple enough to make people understand? says Constant. In coordination with Mayor Chuck Reed and others, officials spent nearly three years discussing the citys pension problem in public forums before proposing changes to the system that targeted retirement age and restructured employee contributions. Once people start to connect the dots, you see the light go [on], Constant says of the forums. Last June, voters overwhelmingly approved changes that included raising the retirement age to 65 for most employees; requiring current employees to contribute an additional 4 percent of their salaries or switch to a lower-cost plan; and allowing the city to suspend cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).But San Joses method largely bypassed the unions, and now the city is embroiled in a costly -- albeit expected -- lawsuit.Educating the voterspublic employees on whats wrong with the current system would seem to be key. Its also extremely difficult.Peoples eyes glaze over, says Fitchburg, Mass., Mayor Lisa Wong. After redesigning health-care coverage for current and future employees and retirees, which reduced other post-employment benefits costs and addressed roughly 40 percent of the citys unfunded liability, she has now made changing the pension plan itself a top priority this term. Accordingly, she has assembled a public employee committee with representatives from each of the citys 16 unions. One of the solutions [Ive used] in terms of discussing it publicly is talking about this issue of trade-off, she says. People want to know why, if their taxes are going up and services going down, this is happening. And I had to say because we trade off current services to pay for past bills. Thats a very difficult conversation to have.Its a conversation that Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo had dozens of times with taxpayers and state employees as she launched her tour around the state to advocate for pension reform in 2011. Often these meetings would last for hours, Raimondo says, adding, Public employees did nothing wrong. They did what they were told -- it was the system that was poorly designed.At the meetings, Raimondo would talk to employees, telling them, Im sorry, I have a tough message. But Im here to work with you. Raimondo says attendees would often start off angry but by the end, thanked her. They said I was the first person to lay it out like that for them.That year, she persuaded the Democrat-controlled legislature to pass pension changes that she projects will save up to $4 billion by delaying retirement, suspending COLAs and changing existing and new workers plans to a hybrid pension/401(k)-style plan. Still, Rhode Islands legislation never won union support and now faces a legal battle.Part of unions stiff opposition to pension changes can be traced to a lack of trust in the numbers pension sponsors report. Indeed, for every state chart that shows a less-than-expected rate of return on pension investments over the last decade, pro-union groups have their own or independent studies that show better rates of return over 20 or 30 years. Its disingenuous at best to say theyre on an education campaign, says Jordan Marks, executive director of the National Public Pension Coalition. He rejects the picture that politicians present of reduced services versus pension cuts. Its a false choice, he says. Smaller class sizes or teacher pensions? Its not one or the other -- budgets are made up of thousands of decisions.Marks says the lack of fairness has created distrust among workers. It runs deeper than disputes over rates of return on portfolios. Many states and localities have not paid in their required contributions in recent years as budgets have become strapped. (Rhode Island, Raimondo notes, has made its payments.) And employees -- who have also dealt with salary freezes -- have no control over how much they contribute to their pensions. The system has left a sour taste in the mouths of current public employees who now view pension reform as a bailout to states using their hard-earned money.Melissa Turner, 34, is one such employee who feels she was given a bait-and-switch after 12 years at the University of California at Davis. Several years ago, her retirement benefits changed. That means she will have to work for the university 15 years longer -- until she is 65 years old -- to receive what was originally laid out for her. Meanwhile, budget cuts have allotted her just three raises in 12 years averaging less than 2 percent while her pension contribution percentage has more than doubled. The changes have disabused her of the notion that her job as a construction project coordinator will provide retirement security. Lets face it, the system our parents grew up on is not going to be the same system thats there for us, she says.Overcoming that broken trust can mean that pension reform doesnt have to be mandated from on high, but reciprocity is an absolute requirement. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray believes hes done just that with reform the city passed in January and has since been approved by the state legislature. Put together by a pension task force made up of city officials, union representatives like Bartley and the aid of an outside financial consulting firm, the measure guarantees that Lexington will increase its annual contribution to the pension fund to $20 million from $11 million. At the same time, employees have agreed to an older retirement age and increased contributions.Both sides say hiring a financial consultant with no ties to the city helped keep everyone in line and bring about compromise after months of standstill. We just laid everything on the table -- nothing would be held against each other, Bartley says, and before long, we were making progress.Gray adds that the environment created a sense of common purpose and shared sacrifice. That language can sort of sound artificial, cliche, sanitized and all sugar and spice, he says. But getting to that level of trust was hard work. Patience and persistence were required and a willingness to just stay at the table.Employees can be an asset and resource when it comes to redesigning pensions, says Ken Parker, former city manager of Port Orange, Fla. Including them in the redesign is likely to take longer than officials probably prefer. But after five years of efforts from city officials, Parker says Port Orange now has a sustainable pension plan. The city was able to reduce the benefits for current firefighters while the union got its wish for more money in the budget for new hires.Sometimes we assume that they dont want to be a part of the solution, which, in fact, I think they do, Parker says. By engaging the employees, you come up with better solutions than you do if youre trying to mandate them.Launching a PR push on pension reform doesnt guarantee success; only time will tell whether the changes enacted today will work for the years ahead. Nearly two years after Atlanta became the first city to pass major pension reform upping employee contributions and reducing COLAs, Mayor Kasim Reed says the city is saving at least $25 million a year.The wave of reforms following Atlanta and Rhode Islands changes signals a growing acceptance that, in many cases, the current system cant last. In some places that has created a blame game thats inhibiting compromise. In Illinois, employees point out that their state has been woefully derelict in paying into the plan, which is roughly 40 percent funded. Illinois inability to address its unfunded liability was a major factor in its recent downgrade by Standard and Poors. Last month the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Illinois with securities fraud for misleading investors about the health of its pension program.But after all the finger-pointing is over, some places are finding their way to balanced solutions. Pensacola, Fla., for example, this year closed off its pension program and began enrolling all new hires in the state plan. Current employees remaining in the city plan must increase their contributions. In return, Mayor Ashton Hayward agreed to pay raises for city employees over the next few years. There was melodrama in the city for about five months out of the nine that we were doing this -- it was ugly, says Hayward. But I had good support and they were telling me, Ashton, youre not going to please everybody. Get over it. Domenicali admits fans confused as next V8 era looms Formula 1 is under pressure to sell its radical 2026 engine regulations to sceptical fans - even as talks already turn to the next set of rules beyond that. Fans, Dutch GP 2025 McLaren The 2026 power units will feature a huge jump in electric power and highly complex energy management. Some in the paddock fear the spectacle could suffer, while new fans struggle to understand the technology. We need to be practical, good at communicating, and simplifying, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told Italian media ahead of Monza. "Many new Formula 1 fans aren't familiar with this world. And it's true, the drivers will have to relearn how to drive. But it won't be a remake of 2014 with a single manufacturer dominating. Many more elements will make the difference this time. Behind the scenes, though, there is already a push for the next engine cycle to come quickly - potentially lasting only four or five years. According to Auto Motor und Sport, a 2.4-litre V8 with hybrid power is now the favoured solution. After Monza, we'll discuss the rules for the next cycle, beyond the 2026 one, Domenicali confirmed to Italian journalists. The FIA's input is to simplify the engine and try to attract private suppliers, not just large manufacturers. We'll need to come up with an interesting project, using sustainable fuels, and this will allow us to reduce the size and bulk of the cars. Auto Motor und Sport that the next engine plan would involve an electric unit of 220-240kW - midway between today's systems and the 350kW target for 2026. The FIA is believed to favour a 2029 debut, backed by Red Bull Powertrains and Cadillac. But manufacturers like Audi and Honda want to stick to the promised five-year cycle to protect their vast investments. Developing the engines cost everyone the same amount of money, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko warned. "We need to think more about the fans and less about the engineers when it comes to future regulations. The engines need to be simpler and cheaper. Ferrari could be more flexible, while team boss Frederic Vasseur insisted cost-cutting cannot be done without clarity. Clear statements should be made about how the desired cost reduction will be achieved, he said, pointing to either stricter rules or a firmer cap. Sound is another battleground. Even V8s with hybrid systems and lean-burn technology may struggle to recapture the drama of earlier eras. And without turbos, fuel limits will still dull the noise. Costs are also central. From 2026, manufacturers face a $130m annual cap, while customer teams pay up to 20 million euros per year for engines plus sustainable fuels. The FIA is reportedly targeting 10m leasing fees in future. (GMM) Domenicali warns Monza future not assured Even the Italian GP at Monza may not be safe, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted ahead of this weekend's race. Fana, Italian GP 2024 Ferrari Although the famous circuit is locked in until 2031 and has already embarked on a long-awaited renovation program, Domenicali told Italian media that the pace of change is falling short. Monza needs to complete the second phase of the renovations, said the Imola-born chief executive. "Right now it's running at the pace of a middle-distance runner, and we need to speed things up. Hungary has shown that everything can be changed in a very short time - in Budapest they renovated the track in record time. While Monza faces pressure to modernise, Domenicali confirmed that Imola's continuing presence on the calendar is now all but over. Speaking of Italy, he said, "I say that the Automobile Club has the option of investing in only one of the two Grands Prix. I don't want to clip Imola's wings, because I'm from Imola, but it's right to prioritise ensuring that the Italian GP can be held in a facility commensurate with Monza's history and prestige. The 2025 edition of Monza's race will be staged this Sunday, with Domenicali warning that decisive action is required immediately afterwards. A lot of things will need to be done starting September 8th, he declared. The contract expires in 2031, and I want to keep the Italian GP running for the long term, with guarantees and precise plans, and without any idle chatter. Meanwhile, F1 continues to juggle unprecedented demand from potential promoters. Spa has already joined a new race-rotation model, while other venues circle. Barcelona, Portugal, and Turkey are pushing, Domenicali revealed. "Imola is going to be tough. There aren't many slots - 1 or 2. "In the last week, Hockenheim has also shown signs of interest under its new ownership. But everyone needs to be clear about the financial, environmental, and infrastructure commitments. To get back in, Imola would have to invest in infrastructure, and I see that as difficult for now. I have to be a bit pragmatic. He admitted some may be shocked to hear Monza itself could be vulnerable. "Monza is on the calendar alongside cities like Miami, Singapore, and Las Vegas - we need to put in the maximum effort for this GP every year. We need to invest fully for the fans, teams, and staff to ensure the best possible experience, constantly improve, and raise our goals. Simply fixing the underpasses and the track isn't enough. (GMM) Dutch royal linked to FIA presidential bid The next FIA president could be backed by a member of the Dutch royal family. Max Verstappen, Dutch GP 2025 Red Bull Prince Bernhard van Oranje-Nassau, cousin of King Willem-Alexander and co-owner of Zandvoort, has been approached to become a strategic advisor to Tim Mayer - the American official preparing to challenge incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem in December's election. Mayer, a former FIA steward who left the governing body after clashing with Ben Sulayem, confirmed the approach in an interview with De Telegraaf. Bernhard has proven himself, and I think he possesses the very important qualities that are crucial for the future of motorsport. And not just motorsport, but also global mobility. Because the FIA goes far beyond just sport, Mayer said. "Moreover, the Zandvoort GP has been an incredible example for everyone and everything when it comes to sustainability. Bernhard has achieved a great deal as an entrepreneur and is able to connect people. That's incredibly important for the FIA - that as a federation you maintain a good relationship with all your stakeholders. Van Oranje, 55, has been active in motorsport for decades - from racing in Dutch GT events to co-owning Zandvoort since 2016. He was instrumental in bringing Formula 1 back to the Netherlands in 2021, though the event will again disappear after 2026 for financial reasons. Mayer insists his campaign represents a break from Ben Sulayem's turbulent reign. We need to cut costs significantly. It already costs 600,000 euros to run a season in Formula 4. That's obviously ridiculous, he argued. Also, many things are far too complex, and we need to improve our relationships with all the mobility clubs worldwide. In short, it's time for a cultural shift, he said. The FIA is meant to be a service, not an organisation that imposes its will on others. That's why we welcome the advice of someone like Bernhard, because he's someone who has demonstrated the ability to build relationships and has excellent ideas for the future of a transparent FIA. (GMM) Marko tips Hadjar for Red Bull alongside Verstappen Isack Hadjar looks increasingly destined to line up alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026. Isack Hadjar, Dutch GP 2025 Red Bull The 20-year-old French rookie stunned with his Zandvoort podium in the junior Racing Bulls car, becoming the nation's youngest-ever driver on a Formula 1 rostrum - while Yuki Tsunoda continues to struggle at the senior team. Dr Helmut Marko, long effusive in his praise of Hadjar, said the result was no surprise. Not really surprising, he told Osterreich newspaper, if you've followed Hadjar's path into Formula 1 and what he's made of it. Marko then turned on his interviewer for previously praising 19-year-old Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. You parroted Toto Wolff who said what a great driver Kimi Antonelli is, Marko snapped. When the journalist defended Antonelli's stronger junior record and preparation, Marko replied: Sure, but with 10,000 km of practice in a two-year-old car, with which Mercedes let him practice day and night. Before this season, Hadjar had maybe 500km in a Formula 1 car. Hadjar's early 2025 season was far less glorious - including crashing on the formation laps in Melbourne and breaking down in tears. He laid it on a bit too thick, Marko recalled. "At the very least he could have taken off his helmet so everyone would have seen that he wasn't really crying. It's true - those times weren't always easy, but the speed was always there, and in the end he put it all together perfectly. So why wasn't Hadjar - instead of Tsunoda - given the Red Bull seat earlier in the year when Liam Lawson faltered after just two races? Because for that he needs a certain amount of routine, said Marko. In a top team the pressure is much greater, as you can also see at Mercedes. Marko stopped short of confirming Hadjar's definite Red Bull promotion, but his smile told its own story. We'll see, he said. We have until October to make that decision. Still, the Austrian advisor admits Hadjar's off-track character makes him an ideal candidate. He's a funny fellow. And highly intelligent - his mother is deputy HR director at a company with 4,000 employees, his father is a nuclear physicist. Marko also suggested a reunion with team principal Laurent Mekies, Hadjar's former boss at Racing Bulls, will be ideal. Mekies is a superb engineer, which with the complexity of Formula 1 today is a huge advantage, said Marko. He's also good with people - the atmosphere is completely different from before. And is Max Verstappen himself also happier in this new post-Christian Horner era? It's going very well, said a relieved Marko. He has observed everything over the past weeks and is convinced it's heading in the right direction. (GMM) No formal announcement needed for 2026 says Wolff Toto Wolff has moved to finally end speculation about Mercedes' 2026 lineup, insisting both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will remain in silver. George Russell, Dutch GP 2025 Mercedes With Max Verstappen definitely set to stay at Red Bull at least through 2026, the uncertainty around Brackley's cockpits appears to have faded. But Russell has been linked with holding out for more than a single-year renewal. Wolff, however, says the holdup is trivial. In TZ newspaper, the Austrian explained: "The travel and marketing days need to be optimised. Like how many hours should be invested. We want the drivers to perform optimally, and I think we've put a lot of pressure on both of them with marketing and media activities. To some extent, we're rethinking that. The Mercedes boss also revealed why talks stalled during the summer shutdown. Wolff even spent time in Sardinia with Verstappen, but he explained: Both George and I felt we needed to just get out of each other's face for a while. Now, discussions are back on track - though fans shouldn't expect fireworks this weekend. Asked if Monza would bring an official announcement, Wolff replied: "No. "We will simply point out that we have signed the agreement. But the drivers will remain the same. There will be no need to even make a formal announcement about the contract renewal. We race with this mindset, so I've always said there won't be any big news. That includes Antonelli, despite heavy scrutiny of his rookie season. Initially just 18, replacing Lewis Hamilton has proved daunting, with Jacques Villeneuve warning: "F1 is not a school. He is not improving step by step like (Gabriel) Bortoleto did. With these performances, he wouldn't be in the car at Red Bull anymore. Fellow former F1 race winner Ralf Schumacher agreed: He's certainly not a new Max Verstappen. But Wolff remains firmly supportive - and so does F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. He needs to understand that F1 is an environment where you grow up quickly, said Domenicali. "There are months that feel like years, days that feel like months, and not everything can go as planned for someone his age. Next season I see him as a key player - he'll be much more aware. Domenicali added: Kimi is my daughter's age. I've known him since he was a child. Having his family by his side will help him. I still think he could have an extraordinary career. Even Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur cut the youngster some slack after Antonelli clattered into Charles Leclerc at Zandvoort. He came to us (to apologise) but Charles wasn't there, so he found me, Vasseur revealed. I appreciated his behaviour. To overtake there, you have to take risks, and he did it wrong. (GMM) Thai GP plans hit fresh political turbulence Thailand's high-speed push to join Formula 1's calendar is facing new political turbulence. Red Bull Earlier this year, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali hailed Thailand's plans as impressive during high-level talks with Bangkok, as the country moved quickly from a Memorandum of Understanding to cabinet approval of a five-year, $1-2 billion package to bring F1 to a new street circuit in the capital. But the wheels may now be wobbling. Former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who personally led the March delegation with Domenicali, was ousted by Thailand's Constitutional Court just days ago. The court reportedly cited an ethics violation. In her place, veteran politician Phumtham Wechayachai has stepped in as acting prime minister. For Formula 1, the change raises questions about continuity of support for the Bangkok race. Thailand's cabinet had already earmarked the public funding, with ministers promising economic windfalls, thousands of new jobs, and global exposure rivalling Singapore. Circuit design work and environmental assessments are underway, with planners looking closely at landmarks around Chatuchak Park. (GMM) Google just avoided disaster the company will not be forced to sell its web browser, Chrome. It will have to make some concessions, but the ruling in what is described by Bloomberg as the biggest US antitrust case in almost three decades is overall favorable for the Mountain View company. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Google of having an illegal monopoly on the search engine market. DOJs suggested remedy for that was to divest Chrome. Some companies even made offers, e.g. Perplexity AI offered $34.5 billion. Thats not happening, ruled the judge. Google will have to share some online search data with its rivals this may include the likes of Bing (Microsoft) and DuckDuckGo, as well as AI companies that siphon off as much online data as possible. Additionally, Google will be allowed to keep paying other companies to be the default search engine on their platforms a practice that the DOJ wanted to end. This is good news for Apple, which receives around $20 billion a year to have Google as the default search engine on iPhones. However, Apple will have to do more to promote alternative engines. Also, web browsers will be allowed to have a different default for privacy mode something that Apple has been asking for. So far, so good. This is also great news for Firefox as the vast majority of Mozillas revenue comes from the Google default deal. Phew. Interestingly, this ruling will affect Android makers too. So far, Google required that phone makers install the full Google app suite to gain access to Google Play services. Going forward, makers will be able to install only the Google Play Store this will reduce bloat for makers that have their own versions of basic apps. Source (paywall) Samsung's much-anticipated tri-fold smartphone might be coming later than recently reported. According to new information out of Korea, the device will be announced next month at the earliest, and is due to be released in November. This comes contrary to what we heard yesterday, when the same source, weirdly enough, claimed it would be going official by the end of this month. Of course, after such a long wait, a month or two more isn't that big of a deal. Huawei is launching its second-generation tri-fold device this month, however, and the Mate XTs will be the main competitor to Samsung's upcoming tri-fold, since it's going to be the only other such device on the market. Once again Samsung is said to be planning on shipping just 50,000 units of its first tri-fold smartphone, which, needless to say, isn't much. To put that into perspective, the original Galaxy Fold had a 500,000-unit run. Of course, the new device will be more expensive than that was. When it comes to why Samsung doesn't seem to be in a rush to unveil the tri-fold device, apparently the company is seeing the Galaxy Z Fold7 performing very well in the market, and it doesn't want to shift attention away from it - at least, not yet. Source (in Korean) Guam Memorial Hospital Authority Administrator and CEO Lillian Perez-Posadas is retiring effective Sept. 30 after leading the islands only public hospital since 2019, GMHA said in a statement Wednesday. While Perez-Posadas already made her retirement decision months back, this is the first time GMHA provided an effective date for that retirement. Perez-Posadas led the hospital throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We extend our deepest gratitude to Lillian for her dedicated service and commitment to healthcare excellence on Guam, GMHA Board of Trustees Chair Sharon Davis said in a statement. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing our mission to provide quality healthcare services to the people of Guam and the region. During her tenure as CEO, Perez-Posadas demonstrated exceptional leadership in overcoming operational funding shortfalls, aging facilities, and guiding the hospital through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, GMHA said. Her ability to steer GMHA through these critical times ensured the hospital continued to deliver patient care, it added. The GMHA board has been actively conducting a search for Perez-Posadas replacement. To ensure continuity of operations and leadership stability, GMHA said the board will name an interim CEO at their next scheduled meeting on Sept. 24. We are committed to a smooth transition that maintains our high standards of patient care and operational excellence, Davis added. The interim appointment will provide steady leadership while we complete our thorough selection process for the next CEO. The search for the new GMHA administrator and CEO remains ongoing, with the board reviewing applications of candidates who can build upon the strong foundation established during Perez-Posadas leadership, the hospital added. Her resignation comes as GMHs fiscal and structural challenges continue to persist. Just weeks ago, electrical issues saw Guam Fire Department units responding to the cash-strapped public hospital. Now the Legislature and the governor have been at odds once again how to best address the immediate problems at GMH. Craving authentic Thai cuisine? A new restaurant in Yigo serves exactly that. Dokkoon Thai, which opened in July, is owned by husband and wife Troy Hutchinson and Cheeraporn Thanika Akkasriworn. Its located at the Northpoint Commercial Center, where the old Little Mongolian Grill used to be and near the McDonalds and Bank of Guam locations. The restaurant serves strictly Thai cuisine, with Akkasriworn serving as the main cook. Originally from Thailand, Akkasriworn is passionate about cooking great food for customers, making sure everyone leaves happy and satisfied. She is a wonderful chef. The food here is fantastic. Weve had some staffing issues and some service issues but never have I heard a complaint about the quality of the food. Everybody likes the quantities of it, the quality of it, the authenticity of it, Hutchinson told the Pacific Daily News. Hutchinson described his wifes work ethic excellent and very authentic in everything that she does, saying she oversees the majority of the restaurants operations. The married couple started leasing the building after it became available in late January. Its name reflects the yellow flowers used in its design, a symbol of Akkasriworns devout Buddhism. We didnt buy the property, but we bought the business and all the contents for $35,000, and the renovations cost probably that much again, so thats $70,000 altogether, Hutchinson said. We bought new appliances, new cookware, new dishes, and built walls. Construction materials are expensive here, and then theres a whole lot that goes with it, too, getting everything set up. Time was a big challenge. Hutchinson works full-time in construction, so he decided to undertake all the renovations himself, which took him several months to complete. I hired some people to help me here and there, but I could only do it when I had time, Hutchinson said. That took a while, and we got a lot more we wanted to do. Were going to build a bar and some storage areas, but every spare minute is busy, and I cant complain too much because shes here usually [early]. Hutchinson added how Akkasriworn often works 16-hour days. If shes not working here, shes working at the house. Whether we had the restaurant or not, thats just kind of how she rolls, he said. We dont open until 10:30 a.m., but shes here by 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. We close in between lunch and dinner, but she stays here, so if anybody comes in, shell serve them, so effectively, were open from 10:30 a.m. until whenever the last customer wants to leave. With cleaning and prep for the next day and everything, shes sometimes not home until 1 a.m. Giving back to Guam His motivation to support his wife also includes a desire to give back to the island community that welcomed and accepted him. Ive been many times to Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia. Ive traveled this part of the world quite a bit, and I lived in Hawaii for five years, and I expected Guam to be like Hawaii, but its not at all, and thats mainly because the people here are just so genuine, very gracious, welcoming, Hutchinson said. In Hawaii, they didnt care too much for people who look like me. Reeling from select staff members inherited from the previous business not working out, the restaurant is looking for another chef or management-level person who can cook Thai food, so that we can go on a two-week vacation and not close down the restaurant, Hutchinson said. After months of preparations and weeks of non-stop business, Hutchinson and Akkasriworn said they are planning a short vacation to recharge and rethink their business model. The pair have yet to finalize the menu and have talked about adding various local foods and other options, such as wings, burgers, and shakes. Thats a lot of revenue, but we have to do it. We need a break, Hutchinson said. Were looking to add some things to the menu, take some things off the menu, and print some paper menus so people can take it home, put it on the fridge. We check all the boxes so far. We just need to do a better job of being accessible. He added that they have a lot of big ideas but not a lot of time to implement them. We talked about serving burgers, smoothies, and [my wife] is long time friends with the owners of other Thai restaurants in Guam, so weve got a lot of support, Hutchinson said. We just got our liquor license, so well sell beer and wine mostly at night. Hutchinson, 61, is even considering retiring near the end of 2025 to focus on helping Akkasriworn, 55, operate the business and develop their marketing strategies. Were older, so we dont know a lot about technology, but I know that I need to get a presence on some of the social media, get our menu out there on Instagram, work out some delivery services, he said. Were not doing terrible, were keeping our head above water, but I think it could be very, very profitable. Were coming back from our vacation a few days early so I can build some walls and build that storage area. Haiti - FLASH : US diplomatic offensive with China and Russia for Haiti The Donald Trump administration is intensifying its diplomatic push to secure UN Security Council approval for the creation of a "Gang Suppression Force" in Haiti, a mission of up to 5,500 personnel aimed at combating criminal gangs that control much of Haiti. The plan, presented jointly with Panama, calls for equipping the mission with arrest and lethal force capabilities, as well as a UN office in Port-au-Prince to provide logistical and operational support. The White House's goal is to reconfigure the current Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS), whose mandate expires on October 2, 2025, and activate the new force before the end of this year. Although the United States already enjoys the support of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, among others, the proposal could be rejected if Moscow or Beijing exercise their veto power. Russia remains under pressure due to international sanctions stemming from the war in Ukraine, while China is challenging the tariffs imposed on its exports. Washington is reportedly in direct negotiations with China and Russia, the two permanent members most opposed to the initiative. The strategic objective is for China and Russia to abstain from voting despite their reservations, thus allowing the resolution to move forward. Meanwhile, the United States has presented its proposal to the Organization of American States (OAS), seeking regional consensus that would strengthen its position at the UN. It is facing resistance from Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, while CARICOM countries and other South American nations are assessing its political and military implications. The Security Council vote on this resolution is expected to take place in September. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Environment : Dominicans to build Haiti's first solid waste management center Cilpen Global Business, a Dominican company specializing in solid waste management, announces the expansion of its operations in Haiti with the launch of work on the "Himalaya" project in the town of Limonade (Northeast). With an initial investment of $20 million, financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), this project will be the first controlled landfill of its kind in Haiti. The project is designed to treat between 450 and 500 tons of solid waste per day during the first 12 months of operation. It is expected to generate more than 150 formal jobs and have a positive impact on more than 600,000 residents of the towns of Cap-Haitien, Limonade, and Mouchinette. This expansion makes Cilpen the first Dominican company in the sector to extend its sustainable development model to a regional scale. This initiative, which aims to address the waste management crisis in Haiti, where 70% of waste is disposed of improperly, was carried out under the supervision of the Haitian Ministry of Economy and Finance. According to Pedro Jose Cabrera, co-chair of Cilpen, this project demonstrates that "sustainability can be one of the most powerful drivers of progress for a Nation [...] With this project, we are taking a decisive step in bringing our solutions to the Caribbean. The fight against climate change and efforts for a sustainable planet know no borders. This investment in Haiti will provide access to proven technical solutions in the Dominican Republic. Beyond improving environmental and health conditions, these solutions will create job opportunities, strengthen institutions, and contribute to the economic development of vulnerable communities," said Cabrera. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : The Bar calls for the shelving of the draft Constitution As part of the constitutional reform process and in keeping with his commitment to conducting the transition in accordance with the principles of dialogue and inclusion, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime received, at his official residence, the members of the Commission established by the Port-au-Prince Bar Association, as well as the President of the Bar, Me Patrick Pierre-Louis. This high-level meeting was devoted to the presentation of the analysis report on the Preliminary Draft Constitution by the members of the Commission, Josue Pierre-Louis and Bernard Gousse. The Head of Government welcomed the Bar Association's contribution to this debate of national interest and reaffirmed the Executive's determination to involve the Nation's vital forces in any consideration of the country's institutional future. The Port-au-Prince Bar Commission has been highly critical of the "legal irregularity and illegitimacy" of the process and has requested that the document be shelved, said Me Bernard Gousse, President of the commission. The commission denounces constitutional fraud and warns against authoritarianism. Despite the numerous criticisms and denunciations from various figures and organized groups in society, the Government remains resolutely committed to making the constitutional issue a major priority of the Transition. HL/ S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... UEH : Free Internet for Students On Monday, September 1st, the Student Life Office officially launched the UEH-Net-Etudiant program. This program aims to provide all UEH students with free internet access and a monthly 30 GB internet quota, allowing them to follow online courses and conduct research as part of their studies. The Rector took the opportunity to announce other ongoing projects for students, including health insurance, which will be implemented at the start of the new academic year, a reprographics service to facilitate printing for students, and a professional integration service. Air Transat flights suspended until April 2026 Due to the precarious situation in Haiti, to ensure the safety of crews and passengers, Air Transat is extending the suspension of its flights to and from Port-au-Prince until April 29, 2026, at which time the situation will be reassessed. It should be recalled that Air Transat, the only airline offering direct flights between Montreal and Port-au-Prince, suspended its service in November 2024 due to the temporary closure of Toussaint-Louverture International Airport, after three planes were hit by gunfire at or near the Port-au-Prince airport : Spirit Airlines (at least seven hits https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43614-haiti-flash-spirit-airlines-plane-hit-in-flight-by-several-bullets-video.html ), JetBlue (one hit), and American Airlines (one hit) https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43623-icihaiti-insecurity-the-ministry-of-justice-condemns-the-shootings-on-planes.html The CEP awaits the publication of the draft Constitution The Electoral Council The Provisional Constitution (CEP) is awaiting the publication in Creole and French of the text of the draft Constitution in the official newspaper "Le Moniteur" before officially launching the referendum process, according to its President, Patrick Saint-Hilaire. Kenscoff : "Nan Jelen" attacked According to Jean Massillon, Mayor of Kenskoff, 14 houses and a vehicle were set on fire on Sunday, August 31, by terrorists from the "Viv Ansanm" criminal gang coalition, during an attack in "Nan Jelen" a locality in Belle Fontaine, Kenscoff. The criminals killed and stole several head of cattle before retreating to Nouvelle Touraine, a neighboring commune. Completion of the deployment of the 263 trainees During the week of August 25-28, 2025, Daniel Chalne, Assistant Director at the Economic Studies Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, responsible for the Youth Employment Initiation Program (PIJE), finalized the deployment of the 263 young trainees to public institutions. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45520-haiti-politic-263-paid-interns-will-join-public-institutions.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45690-haiti-news-zapping.html The young university students were welcomed by representatives of the General Directorate and the Resources Directorate of institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CONATEL, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of National Education. OAVCT : Exceptional offer before sanctions The Third-Party Vehicle Insurance Office (OAVCT) announces the implementation, from September 3rd to October 1st, 2025, of an exceptional offer to facilitate the regularization of unrenewed insurance policies. Vehicle owners who have been in arrears for three or five years will be able to update their insurance by paying only one or two years of premiums, respectively. The OAVCT encourages users to seize this opportunity before the deadline to avoid any penalties. HL/ HaitiLibre Another total lunar eclipse is coming up in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, this time at a child-friendly time on Sunday evening. When the moon enters the umbra at exactly 18:27, the sun will not yet have set and the moon will not yet have risen, the Haus der Astronomie summarizes the process. Even if totality begins at 19:31, i.e., the moon is completely eclipsed, it will only be above the horizon in parts of Austria and in the far east of Germany. The further west you are, the longer you will have to wait until the totally eclipsed moon has risen. However, when it emerges from the umbra at 20:53, it will be far enough above the horizon everywhere in this country. Continue after ad Recurrence only in more than three years The course of the upcoming total lunar eclipse (Image: Vereinigung der Sternfreunde e.V.) As the deputy director of the House of Astronomy explains, the exact time of moonrise also depends on local conditions, such as trees blocking the view. In the comparatively bright twilight sky, the totally eclipsed moon is also particularly difficult to find. However, the higher it rises, the easier it should be to find, promises Carolin Liefke provided, of course, that the weather cooperates. How strong the darkening is and what color the moon takes on in the sky then depends on a number of factors. This is influenced, for example, by particles from volcanic eruptions, Saharan dust or exhaust fumes. In total, totality will last 82 minutes this time, significantly shorter than in July 2018, for example. The upcoming total lunar eclipse will be the last one in our latitudes for a while; the moon will not be eclipsed again until December 31, 2028, when it will be clearly visible from German-speaking countries. After that, however, it won't take quite as long - the next ones are scheduled for June 26, 2029, and shortly before Christmas 2029. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon as it orbits the Sun. The moon ends up in the Earth's shadow. Because the sunlight is deflected inwards by the layers of air in the Earth's atmosphere, the moon appears in shades of gray, brown, copper, or even deep red. Observatories and planetariums offer observations of the celestial spectacle through professional telescopes on Sunday. (mho) 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. Authorities have revoked his residence permit and cancelled his subsidiary protection status. He will also be banned from entering any Schengen country or European Union member state until further notice. The immigration service cited public security risks and the improved security situation in his home region of Iraq as grounds for the decision. Milan Jaff , a former rapper and gang figure convicted of multiple serious crimes, will be deported from Finland to Iraq after a decision by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). Iltalehti was the first to report on the matter. Migri concluded that Jaff does not qualify for international protection and that his continued presence poses a threat to public order. Jaff has appealed the deportation decision to the Helsinki Administrative Court, which has not yet issued a ruling. If the court does not overturn Migris decision, the deportation may be enforced immediately. Helsinki District Court has twice ruled to extend Jaff's detention based on police requests. The court determined that there is a credible risk he might try to avoid removal. Jaff first came to public attention as a leading figure in the so-called Kurdish Mafia street gang. His legal record includes convictions for attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and rape. In 2022, Helsinki District Court sentenced him to 10 years in prison for attempted murder and related offences linked to organised street crime. In 2023, the Court of Appeal reduced that sentence to six years and two months. In a separate case, he was found guilty of raping an adult woman and initially convicted of aggravated rape of a minor. The Court of Appeal later overturned the latter conviction but upheld the former. He was sentenced to two years and eight months for the rape case. These sentences were considered in light of prior convictions, which affected the final term. Despite his criminal record, Jaff completed his prison sentence. Finnish police moved swiftly to detain him upon his release to prevent him from absconding before the deportation case concludes. HT Iraq and Russia followed, with 18 deportation decisions each. Other nationalities in the top group included Albania, Iran, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Romania. Between January and July 2025, Migri issued 136 deportation decisions based on criminal grounds. Of these, 23 involved Estonian citizens, the highest of any nationality. New figures from the Finnish Immigration Service show that Estonia leads the nationality breakdown of foreign nationals ordered to leave Finland due to criminal convictions this year. The statistics also show that men overwhelmingly comprised the deported group, with 128 male cases compared to 8 female cases. In terms of age, most deportation decisions affected individuals between 18 and 64. Migri issued 73 decisions concerning people aged 1834 and 63 for those aged 3564. Out of the 136 cases, 89 led to deportation, 33 resulted in no action, and 14 were dismissed. Milan Jaff, a convicted gang figure associated with the so-called Kurdish Mafia, is among those set to be removed. Migri has ordered his deportation to Iraq following convictions for attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and rape. Finnish authorities also revoked his residence permit and subsidiary protection status. Jaff is banned from entering any Schengen Area country or EU member state. Migri cited both the severity of his crimes and the improved security situation in parts of Iraq as reasons for denying protection. According to Iltalehti, Jaff has appealed the decision to the Helsinki Administrative Court. Police are holding him in a closed detention facility in Joutseno to prevent escape before deportation. Finlands deportation figures align with a broader EU trend. Eurostat data shows that in Q1 2025, 123,905 third-country nationals were ordered to leave the EU. That figure marked an 18.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Despite the number of orders, only 28,475 people were effectively returned to a third country. France, Germany, and Spain issued the highest number of removal orders. France alone reported 34,545 in Q1. Among EU-wide returns to third countries, Georgian citizens made up the largest group, followed by Syrians, Albanians, Turks, and Moroccans. While over half of returns in the EU were carried out voluntarily, countries like Germany and Romania conducted only enforced returns. Detention of deportable persons remains an administrative measure in Finland. The country operates two immigration detention units, in Helsinki and Joutseno. People held there are not allowed to leave the premises but may move freely within the facilities and communicate externally. The Finnish police and Border Guard enforce deportations. Migri handles the administrative process and issues the legal decisions. HT Wolt confirmed on Tuesday it had filed for annulment of the May ruling, which reshaped the legal landscape for platform-based work in Finland. The decision found that Wolts couriers operate under conditions that resemble employment, citing limited autonomy and control exercised by the platform. Food delivery platform Wolt is asking Finlands Supreme Administrative Court to annul its recent ruling that classified Wolt couriers as employees, not independent entrepreneurs. The company claims the decision misapplied legal principles and failed to consider relevant EU case law. In a statement, Wolt said it believes the court erred in both its legal reasoning and its handling of the case. The company pointed to the EU Court of Justices Yodel judgment on platform work, which the Finnish court dismissed without seeking a preliminary ruling from the EU court on how the Working Time Directive should apply. We believe we have strong grounds for annulment, Wolt said, citing opinions from two legal experts supporting its position. The company warned that the ruling may have far-reaching consequences for various sectors using digital platforms, including healthcare, domestic services and childcare. Wolt is also exploring how courier work could continue as both employment and entrepreneurship outside the scope of Finlands Working Time Act. It said this will require dialogue with relevant authorities. The courts original decision reversed a 2024 ruling by the Hameenlinna Administrative Court, which had accepted Wolts position that its couriers act as self-employed contractors. Since the May verdict, Finlands Immigration Service (Migri) has suspended approvals of entrepreneur-based residence permits for applicants whose business activity is limited to courier work with Wolt. Dozens of foreign couriers who obtained or applied for such permits now face legal uncertainty and, in some cases, possible deportation. The broader status of platform work in Finland remains legally unsettled. Wolt said it supports clearer national legislation aligned with the EU Platform Work Directive. The directive, which is currently being implemented across member states, aims to ensure proper classification of platform workers while preserving flexibility. Wolt said the Finnish ruling could influence how other forms of digitally mediated work are regulated, and called on lawmakers to establish sustainable rules that reflect modern labour markets. The company said it will continue discussions with authorities to find workable models for flexible work that comply with Finnish and EU law. HT The students were caught using smartphones or other devices during electronic assessments, Petri Sjoblom , head of academic affairs at the university, told Yle. The University of Turku has suspended four students for cheating in electronic exams, as reported by Yle . The disciplinary measures, which range from two months to a full academic term, are the result of a revised policy that enforces temporary expulsion for all confirmed cheating cases. Compared to the total number of students, the number of cases is not large, but it's a new phenomenon for us, Sjoblom said. The rule change came into effect with the start of the new academic term in August. It signals a tougher institutional stance against academic misconduct, particularly as universities face emerging forms of dishonesty involving artificial intelligence. Educators say students are increasingly attempting to use AI tools to generate or improve academic work. Samuel Piha, a marketing lecturer at the Turku School of Economics, told Yle that AI-generated texts are often easy to recognise, but harder to prove. I gladly welcome the University of Turku's new cheating policy, because it creates a certain deterrence for students and encourages their self-control, Piha said. Piha added that he now designs assignments to reduce the risk of AI misuse, a trend echoed by teaching staff at other Finnish universities. Despite growing concern, other major universities in Finland report far fewer disciplinary actions. The University of Helsinki and Aalto University said they have not excluded any students for cheating in the past five years. The University of Tampere acknowledged an increase in suspected cheating incidents, though none have led to suspensions. Officials at Helsinki University told Yle they prefer to prevent AI-based misconduct by changing assessment methods. Instead of chasing down cases of cheating and plagiarism, we aim to use best practices to ensure that the work and thinking involved [in assignments] cannot be easily outsourced to artificial intelligence, the university said. While confirmed cases of AI abuse have been rare, suspected incidents are more common. Aalto University said it has mostly dealt with AI-related cheating through educational discussions rather than punishment. A similar approach was described by the University of Tampere. Not all suspicions of cheating come to the attention of the director of studies, the university told Yle. Some cases may be a student's error or lack of understanding, in which case the teacher instructs them to correct or redo the work. Turku University currently lacks automated tools to detect AI-generated content. Until detection methods improve, much of the burden falls on teachers to identify and address potential misuse. The changes reflect a broader effort among Finnish institutions to adapt to the academic risks posed by emerging technology, while balancing enforcement with education. Universities are gradually introducing clearer frameworks for the academic use of artificial intelligence. The University of Helsinki encourages the responsible use of AI tools such as ChatGPT for learning and writing support, but only under specific conditions. Students must follow each courses individual rules, disclose any use of large language models, and remain responsible for the accuracy of all submitted work. Similarly, Aalto University allows AI as a study aid but gives course instructors full discretion to limit or prohibit its use. Both universities stress that unauthorised AI use or failure to report it appropriately is treated as academic misconduct, with the same consequences as other forms of cheating. This article is based on reporting by Yle. HT Xi Jinping , general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), president of the Peoples Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a keynote speech before inspecting formations of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). China held a Victory Day parade in Beijing on 3 September to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Tens of thousands of troops and military hardware were assembled in Tiananmen Square for the commemorative event, which combined remembrance of wartime sacrifice with demonstrations of modern military power. Xi declared that the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable and that Chinas wartime victory represented the first complete triumph against foreign aggression in modern Chinese history. Xi said the victory was won under the united front against Japanese aggression promoted by the CPC, which allowed the Chinese people to play a significant role in the global struggle against fascism. He stated that the Chinese nation made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defence of world peace with immense sacrifice. Speaking to thousands of troops assembled in Tiananmen Square, Xi said, Only when nations across the world treat each other as equals, live in harmony and mutually support one another can common security be safeguarded, the root cause of war eliminated, and historical tragedies prevented from recurring. He warned that humanity continues to face choices between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum rivalry. He pledged that the Chinese people will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, adhere to peaceful development, and join with other nations to build a community with a shared future for humanity. He called on citizens of all ethnic groups to remain united under CPC leadership to strengthen the country and advance national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. Xi also addressed the role of the PLA, demanding that the armed forces provide strategic support for national rejuvenation and make contributions to both world peace and national security. He said the PLA must transform into world-class forces able to safeguard sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The parade itself involved more than 10,000 soldiers and officers across 45 formations, with around 80 units reflecting both historic contributions and present-day military branches. The event featured advanced military technology, including hypersonic missiles, long-range ballistic missiles reportedly capable of carrying nuclear warheads, stealth aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems and armoured formations. Air displays included fighter jets, bombers and transport aircraft in coordinated flyovers, while ground formations of tanks and missile carriers highlighted weaponry developed in recent years. Chinas state television broadcast the event nationwide, framing the military parade as both a memorial for past sacrifice and a display of confidence in national strength. International attention focused on the attendance of 26 foreign leaders. Notable guests included Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Their presence emphasised Chinas alignment with Russia and North Korea at a time of strained relations with Western powers. No Western heads of state were present. Xi stood with Putin and Kim throughout the commemorative events, reinforcing the imagery of an alternative international bloc. Their joint appearance came after increased coordination between Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang in recent years on economic, military and diplomatic matters. Domestically, the event carried strong political significance. Former party leaders Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, and Zhu Rongji attended, as did retired senior military officials. Their presence underlined the unity of Chinas political leadership across generations and the symbolic weight attached to the anniversary. The scale of the parade required strict public security measures. Central Beijing was subject to heavy restrictions, with schools and businesses in the parade zone closed, roads sealed off, and drones banned from the airspace. Only invited officials, foreign dignitaries and media representatives were permitted near Tiananmen Square. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed throughout the city to maintain order. The official commemorations began with a ceremony at the Monument to the Peoples Heroes, where Xi and other leaders laid floral tributes to honour those who fought and died during the resistance war. From there, Xi moved to the Tiananmen rostrum to deliver his speech, followed by his inspection of the troops in a parade car. He greeted the PLA formations as they stood in ranks across the square. The PLA formations that followed represented different services and units, including ground forces, navy, air force, rocket force, and the strategic support force. Historical veterans were also represented in a symbolic march, connecting the legacy of the resistance war to modern military development. Foreign media outlets reported on the scale and symbolism of the display. Some emphasised the significance of advanced missile systems revealed at the parade, noting their potential role in future conflicts, particularly concerning Taiwan. Others pointed to the absence of Western leaders as evidence of geopolitical division, contrasting with the strong presence of Russia and North Korea. For Xi, this was the third major military parade on Tiananmen Square since becoming president, following similar displays in 2015 and 2019. His role at the centre of the event reinforced his status as commander-in-chief and his emphasis on military strength as a pillar of national rejuvenation. The Victory Day commemorations were broadcast to both domestic and international audiences, serving to reinforce national pride and project Chinas vision of security and international cooperation. The event combined remembrance of World War II with demonstrations of modern capability, presenting China as both a guardian of peace and a country prepared to defend itself against external pressure. HT The attack, which began in the early hours of 3 September, struck infrastructure and residential areas in central and western Ukraine. Explosions were confirmed in Kalush, Khmelnytskyi, Lutsk, Rivne, and Kyiv. Ukraines Air Force said it intercepted 430 drones and 21 missiles. Ukraine has reported at least one death and five injuries after Russia launched one of its largest overnight air assaults in recent months, deploying over 500 drones and missiles against multiple targets across the country. In Khmelnytskyi Oblast, a man born in 1980 was killed. Local authorities reported shattered windows, damaged transport systems, and structural destruction at educational facilities and municipal buildings. In Znamianka, Kirovohrad Oblast, five people were injured and 28 buildings damaged, according to the State Emergency Service. Russia also hit energy infrastructure in Chernihiv Oblast, leaving 30,000 households without electricity, regional governor Viacheslav Chaus said. In Ivano-Frankivsk, a fire broke out at a key site. Railway lines in Kirovohrad were also hit, delaying services by several hours, Ukrainian Railways reported. A drone downed in Vyshhorod, outside Kyiv, sparked a residential fire but caused no casualties. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky described the attacks as demonstrative and said they were intended to show Russian impunity. This undoubtedly requires a response from the world. Every Russian strike must be met with a real response, he wrote on X. The strikes occurred as Vladimir Putin attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un, marking the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender. Russias alignment with North Korea and China was highlighted during the event. Putin praised North Korean soldiers for their role in pushing Ukrainian forces from Russias Kursk region. He later invited Kim to visit Russia, an offer Kim has reportedly accepted. The same day, Zelensky took part in a summit in Denmark with Nordic and Baltic leaders, including Finlands president Alexander Stubb, Swedens prime minister Ulf Kristersson, and Denmarks prime minister Mette Frederiksen. Talks focused on Ukraines defence, Western security guarantees, and coordinated aid. Speaking at Marienborg, Zelensky said Ukraines security guarantees had a solid basis if a ceasefire could be reached. He expressed hope of speaking with Donald Trump about Russia sanctions. We want to talk about sanctions. If peace is discussed, sanctions cannot be ignored, he said. Zelensky said recent bilateral agreements, including one signed with Denmark, could form the framework for broader security arrangements. The summit also addressed Ukraines stalled NATO membership and support through a coalition of willing states. Stubb noted that the security situation in Europe had become prolonged and unpredictable, and said discussions on peace should not compromise Ukraines territorial integrity. In a separate statement, Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, reiterated that Moscow will not agree to peace unless Ukraine formally cedes the five regions Russia claims to have annexed, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea. Ukraine continues to reject these claims. Zelenskys call to Trump comes amid growing scrutiny of Trumps approach to Russia. On 3 September, Trump expressed disappointment in Putin but did not implement the new sanctions he had announced on 21 August. The two-week deadline passed without further action. Im very disappointed in President Putin, Trump said on The Scott Jennings Radio Show. Well be doing something to help people live. No details were given. Trump also used his Truth Social account to accuse Putin, Xi, and Kim of conspiring against the United States. Send my regards to Putin and Kim as you plan your moves against America, he wrote, addressing the message to Xi. Despite Trump's criticism of Russia, his administration has not introduced any additional sanctions since his August statement. White House officials have not commented on the delay. Meanwhile, Polands armed forces placed air defences on high alert and scrambled jets in response to the strikes. Dutch F-35s participated in the patrols of Polish airspace, the Armed Forces Operational Command confirmed. Ukraines Air Force said nearly every region in the country was under air raid alerts during the attack. Debris from intercepted projectiles also caused damage in 14 additional locations, but full assessments are ongoing. Ukrainian authorities do not disclose the impact on military infrastructure for security reasons. The escalation follows a 28 August Russian strike on Kyiv that killed 25 people and a 30 August attack in Zaporizhzhia that killed one and injured 34. Russian and Ukrainian officials have indicated openness to future peace talks, but no formal proposals are on the table. Lavrovs comments reaffirm Russias position that no ceasefire will be considered until Ukraine accepts Moscows territorial demands. Ukraine, in turn, insists on the return of all occupied land. The territorial dispute remains the main obstacle in international efforts to broker a settlement. HT In the face of genocide, there can be no 'business as usual', Swinney said during a statement outlining new economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic measures. The decision is part of a broader response by the Scottish Government to the humanitarian situation in Gaza , where more than 63,000 people have died. Scotland will suspend new public funding to defence companies involved with Israel, First Minister John Swinney announced on Wednesday. The Scottish Government will halt new grants, investments, or awards to any defence firm whose products or services are supplied to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide. The measure will apply to Israel and be implemented across agencies including Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish National Investment Bank. Swinney also instructed delivery bodies, where possible, to avoid supporting trade between Scotland and Israel. The government will provide 1 million in new humanitarian aid. Of this, 400,000 will go to Kids Operating Room to help establish the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub. This temporary hospital will offer surgical, maternity and paediatric care in Gaza. A further 600,000 will go to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The aid will support food, water, sanitation, shelter, medical services, education and financial assistance for families. Scotland will also receive up to 20 injured children from Gaza for treatment. The first arrivals, accompanied by family members, are expected in mid-September. The First Minister confirmed that existing restrictions on public support for munitions production would be lifted in light of the war in Ukraine. This exception will not apply to companies that cannot prove their products are unconnected to Israel or other states accused of genocide. Swinney said governments must act even if legal determinations from international courts are still pending. We are witnessing a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions, he said. The signs are clear. The alarm has been raised. He urged the UK Government to recognise the State of Palestine, end military cooperation with Israel, and withdraw from the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. The First Minister also called on the UK to ban imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and join South Africas genocide case at the International Court of Justice. He further requested that the UK participate in implementing International Criminal Court arrest warrants and review its own legal obligations regarding risks of genocide. The Scottish Government will explore ways to contribute to evidence-gathering for potential international criminal cases. Legal professionals, academic institutions and civil society organisations in Scotland may be asked to assist. Swinney acknowledged Israels right to self-defence and condemned Hamas for its attacks, while repeating calls for the immediate release of all hostages. But he stressed that any states actions must comply with international law and humanitarian principles. Scotland will always raise her voice in favour of peace and humanity, he said. HT The two leaders were walking alongside Kim Jong-un of North Korea toward Tiananmen Square on Wednesday when Chinese state television CCTV inadvertently broadcast their conversation live. The parade marked the 80th anniversary of what China refers to as its victory over Japanese aggression during the Second World War. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin were overheard discussing human organ transplants and life extension through biotechnology ahead of a military parade in Beijing, after a microphone was left open during what was meant to be a private exchange. As the leaders approached the reviewing platform, Putins interpreter was heard saying in Mandarin: Biotechnology continues to advance. Human organs can be transplanted continuously. The longer you live, the younger you become, and you might even achieve immortality. Xi responded, according to a Russian translation captured on the same feed: Some predict that this century, humans could live to be 150 years old. The conversation, carried by CCTVs live stream and relayed to other outlets including CGTN, Reuters, and AP, was watched nearly two billion times online and over 400 million times on television, according to Chinese media sources. Neither the Chinese Foreign Ministry nor CCTV responded to requests for comment. The Kremlin also declined to comment. Putin later echoed similar thoughts in remarks to Russian media, stating that modern recovery methods, including surgical ones involving organ replacement, allow us to hope for much longer active lives. He added that life expectancy across countries is likely to rise significantly. The unexpected discussion between Xi and Putin has attracted attention not only for its content, but also for the timing and setting. The two leaders have held power for 13 and 25 years respectively, and neither has indicated any intention to step down. The parade itself was used by Xi to send a message on global affairs. Addressing more than 50,000 attendees, Xi said: Humanity is again faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum. He described China as a nation that is never intimidated by any bullies, in a statement seen as a reference to the United States and its allies. The parade showcased an extensive array of military equipment, including tanks, drones, nuclear-capable missiles, and stealth aircraft. Analysts observed that several new weapon systems were revealed publicly for the first time. Among them were hypersonic missiles designed for naval targets and underwater drones such as the AJX002. China also presented the DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile, which it claims can deliver nuclear payloads across continents. According to Chinese military officials, the objective of displaying these assets was to deter adversaries from challenging Chinas core national interests. The event marked the first time Xi, Putin, and Kim have appeared together publicly. It also reinforced an image of strategic cooperation among the three governments at a time when all face varying degrees of international isolation. In addition to Putin and Kim, the parade was attended by leaders from more than 20 countries, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Vietnams Luong Cuong. North Korean state media later confirmed a meeting between Kim and Putin in which Kim reportedly pledged his support to Russia and described aiding Moscow as a fraternal duty. Russian media said Putin thanked Kim for North Koreas military contributions. South Korean sources estimate that North Korea has sent approximately 15,000 personnel to Russia since a military cooperation agreement was signed last year. Elsewhere, Donald Trump reacted to the parade on his Truth Social platform, accusing Xi, Putin, and Kim of conspiring against the United States. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un as you conspire against the United States of America, Trump wrote. The Kremlin denied any conspiracy, while Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, described the meeting of the three leaders as a direct challenge to the rules-based international system. The Chinese government continues to promote what it calls the "rejuvenation of the Chinese nation", with Xi referencing it several times in his speech. The concept includes asserting sovereignty over Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province. Taiwans government rejects this claim and maintains its independence. Despite the focus on modernisation and power projection, the People's Liberation Army has faced internal challenges, including multiple anti-corruption purges. Recent changes have targeted officials at levels not seen since the Mao era. HT The film is based on documented events and follows a group of Chinese civilians who took refuge in a photography studio, risking their lives to preserve evidence of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. BUDAPEST, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese historical film Dead to Rights, which depicts the Nanjing Massacre during the Second World War, drew an engaged audience at Budapest's Corvin Cinema on Monday evening. The film is based on documented events and follows a group of Chinese civilians who took refuge in a photography studio, risking their lives to preserve evidence of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. Monday's screening was also accompanied by a photo exhibition highlighting the atrocities in Nanjing and the subsequent international tribunal proceedings. Gyula Thurmer, chairman of the Hungarian Workers' Party, described the film as a very powerful demonstration of the heroism and fight of the Chinese people. "The film has really shocked me," he said. Highlighting that China's resistance against Japanese aggression contributed directly to the defeat of fascism in Europe, Thurmer stressed that everyone should know about the Chinese people's sacrifices during the Second World War. Hungarian historian Arpad Toth said the film resonated deeply with him, adding that the Japanese army dehumanized people in occupied territories, not only in China, but also in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "History is teaching us how to be human in all cultures. Common remembrance is very important -- to learn what to change and what to keep from the past," he told Xinhua. Judit Eva Nagy, president of the Hungarian-Chinese Friendship Association, described feeling "overwhelmed" by the film. While Europeans are well-informed about the Second World War, they know far less about what happened in Asia and about China's resistance against Japanese aggression, she noted. "The movie is important for raising awareness, especially now when conflicts persist worldwide." Hungarian sinologist Erika Yu-Barta said the screening provided a profound emotional experience. "I've read books and seen old photos, but I've never felt such strong sadness or empathy. This film is so moving that I almost cried several times. I really want my children to see it, so they can learn about history and cherish peace," she said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro "should be worried" after an attack against a vessel off the South American country's coast. "The only one who should be worried is Nicolas Maduro, who is acting as the kingpin of a narco state. Not actually elected and indicted for $50 million by the U.S. We know he's involved in the kind of drug-running that has affected the American people directly," Hegseth said during an interview on Fox News. #ULTIMAHORA Jefe del Pentagono, Pete Hegseth, tras ataque a embarcacion en el Caribe: "El unico que deberia estar preocupado es Nicolas Maduro" https://t.co/VpmuSfn2tV pic.twitter.com/L6TvY60FuU Monitoreamos (@monitoreamos) September 3, 2025 Hegseth added that officials "knew exactly who were on that boat and what they were doing." "It's a new dawn. Those 11 drug-traffickers are no longer with us, sending a very clear sign that the U.S. won't tolerate this kind of activity in our hemisphere," he added. In another passage of the interview, Hegseth said the attack was not a one-off. "We've got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us, and it won't it won't stop with just this strike," he said. A Venezuelan official, however, claimed the video shared by the White House on Tuesday that showed the vessel being destroyed was made with artificial intelligence. Communication Minister Freddy Nanez said in a Telegram channel that "it seems" Secretary of State Marco Rubio "keeps lying to his president." "After getting him between a rock and a hard place, now he gives him an AI video as 'proof,'" Nanez added. "Marco Rubio, stop trying to encourage a war and trying to stain President Donald Trump's hands. Venezuela doesn't pose a threat." The strike is the most serious confrontation yet in the standoff between the Trump administration and Venezuela since the Republican returned to the White House. Earlier this month, Trump secretly signed a directive authorizing military force against cartels declared terrorist organizations, according to The New York Times. Maduro has ordered Venezuelan troops to mobilize and called on militias and volunteers to prepare for a possible foreign intervention. "If Venezuela is attacked, we will not hesitate to defend our sovereignty," he said. Originally published on Latin Times The arrest of an Emmy award-winning comedy writer for allegedly insulting transgender people online has reignited a UK row over freedom of speech, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday urging police to "focus on the most serious issues". Irish writer Graham Linehan, who co-created the popular 1990s sitcom "Father Ted", says he was arrested by five armed officers at London's Heathrow Airport on Monday over social media posts. London's Metropolitan Police said a man was arrested after arriving on a flight from the United States on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to posts on X. "It is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms. These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest," the force said. Nigel Farage, an ally of US President Donald Trump whose Reform Party is leading in the UK polls, said he would raise the case, and others, when he gives evidence to Congress on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. "The Graham Linehan case is yet another example of the war on freedom in the UK," he said ahead of his appearance in front of the House Judiciary Committee. "Free speech is under assault, and I am urging the USA to be vigilant." Starmer told parliament on Wednesday that "we have a long history of free speech in this country" and that "we must ensure the police focus on the most serious issues". But Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley said that the law needed changing and that officers would now pursue social media posts only "where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder". "Where there is ambiguity in terms of intent and harm, policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments who have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when they're reported," he added. "I don't believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates," he added. Linehan said the arrest related to three messages sent on X. In one of the posts, he said that "if a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act". "Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls," he said. The arrest once again focused attention on the UK's speech laws. Harry Potter creator JK Rowling, who is also known for her gender-critical views, called Linehan's arrest "utterly deplorable" and "totalitarianism". Tech billionaire and X owner Elon Musk said Britain was a "police state". New UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski defended the arrest as "proportionate" given the content of the posts, but said he did not know why the officers were armed. Free speech has recently hit the headlines in the UK after hundreds of people were arrested for voicing support for the campaign group Palestine Action. It was banned as a terror group after its activists broke into a UK airbase and threw paint on planes. Debate also swirled around last year's sentencing of a woman to 31 months in prison for writing on X "set fire to all the... hotels (housing asylum seekers)... for all I care". US Vice President JD Vance has been particularly vocal about the issue, raising it with Starmer during a White House meeting in February. Linehan also co-created the popular sitcoms "Black Books" and "The IT Crowd", which was awarded both an Emmy and several BAFTAs. More recently, he has become known for his gender-critical views, which emerged after an episode he wrote was criticised as being transphobic. He is due to appear in court in London on Thursday in another case, in which he is charged with harassment and criminal damage against a transgender person. Cheers and gasps could be heard around Beijing on Wednesday as China's capital lit up with pomp, pageantry and patriotism for a massive parade showcasing the country's latest military hardware. Members of the public gripping Chinese flags lined the streets for the morning spectacle, while the few thousand who had tickets gathered from the crack of dawn in Tiananmen Square. "This is the first time I'm attending a military parade. It's magnificent to be here," Jenny Wang, a 24-year-old civil servant, told AFP of President Xi Jinping's show of force to the world. "It's important to commemorate the end of this war and to ensure that more people around the world learn about this conflict and the suffering endured by the Chinese at the time," she added. Guests posed with wide smiles for photos with their parade invitations against the backdrop of Tiananmen, the entrance gate of the historic Forbidden City, which was adorned with national flags of China. Giant, golden numerals "1945" and "2025" were erected on the square, a reminder of the 80 years that had passed since the end of World War II, as well as thousands of red and green seats set up for the occasion. Parade-goers sang along as massed choirs belted out a patriotic, anti-Japanese anthem, pumping their fists in the air. Military bands blasted their trumpets in unison as soldiers marched in the square. In never-seen-before scenes, Xi was pictured shaking hands and chatting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin as they walked over for a group photo with other foreign leaders. Dressed in a dark grey Chinese-style suit, Xi stood in an open-topped black limousine as it drove by troops standing at attention along the wide Chang'an Avenue. "Comrades, you are working hard!" he shouted repeatedly into four microphones, before joining his guests in a grandstand above the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong on Tiananmen. The ceremony took place in bright sunshine, with temperatures in the mid-30s, which proved difficult for many spectators who sweated profusely in the unshaded stands. Some who felt unwell left with the help of staff. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko -- one of Putin's staunch allies -- was seen wearing a cap and sunglasses, while using a black electronic fan to keep cool. Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), rocket launchers, and battle tanks were paraded past the dignitaries, and soldiers marched with precise, coordinated steps in tight formations. The crowd whipped out their smartphones as a swarm of helicopters flew in formation over Tiananmen Square, forming the number "80" in the sky. "Oohs" and "Aahs" rippled through the audience when the gigantic DF-5C ICBM was unveiled, and again when tens of thousands of doves of peace were released into the sky. Chinese flags lined the streets of Beijing, which was significantly quieter than usual because of road closures. A sense of excitement was palpable in the capital even after the parade had ended, with Beijingers saying that they were proud of China's grand display of power. Sun Jianhua, 54, told AFP that she had watched the event at home from start to finish. "The pride and honour I feel is indescribable," the Beijing resident gushed. "We sacrificed so much (during the war), we paid such a heavy price. Now that there's peace, we should all cherish this era." Meanwhile, others said that they felt China had become "isolated" as only leaders from 26 countries attended the event, with no leaders from major Western nations. "Their decision to befriend China, to be frank, is also out of helplessness," the 50-year-old added. He said that leaders from major Western nations had not attended due to "envy". "I hope that China can become friendly with other countries, and that they won't be jealous." The EU put forward a huge trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur for approval by member countries Wednesday, reassuring chief critic France it came with "robust" safeguards to protect farmers. The agreement to form a 700-million-customer free-trade area, the world's biggest, is a key pillar in Brussels' push to open new markets in the face of US tariffs -- but has faced Paris-led opposition over agricultural concerns. "EU businesses and the EU agrifood sector will immediately reap the benefits of lower tariffs and lower costs," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The commission Wednesday gave its final go-ahead to the accord, which was struck with the club bringing together Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in December -- 25 years after negotiations began. But the text needs backing from at least 15 of the EU's 27 member nations, representing at least 65 percent of the bloc's population -- and the European Parliament -- to be formally adopted. Despite vocal opposition from some capitals -- chiefly Paris, Warsaw and Vienna -- the Mercosur deal is backed by a wide majority of countries skippered by Germany. Its defenders are keen to diversify trade away from the United States -- which will maintain ramped-up tariffs on the EU despite a newly-struck trade deal. "We have listened closely to our farmers and Member States," von der Leyen wrote on X. "And we have delivered even stronger -- legally binding -- safeguards to reassure them and give them confidence to support the deal." EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic told said the commission hoped for approval by the end of the year. The pact will see Mercosur countries progressively remove import duties on 91 percent of EU goods including cars, chemicals, wine and chocolate, which currently face tariffs of up to 35 percent. The commission estimates it will increase EU annual exports to the four-country bloc by up to 39 percent, or 49 billion euro ($57 billion), and give Europe an edge over China and others vying for influence in the region. "These are markets that haven't opened up in this manner before to anyone, so there is a certain first-mover advantage for us," a senior commission official said on condition of anonymity. In return, agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbours would be able to sell meat, sugar, honey, soybeans and other products to Europe with fewer restrictions. This raised fears that a flow of cheaper farming goods would undercut European producers. Pan-European agriculture lobby group Copa-Cogeca has called the deal "economically and politically damaging for Europe's farmers, rural communities, and consumers." But the commission insisted "EU sensitivities in the agricultural sector" are well protected. For example, only a quota of beef imports from Mercosur, equal to 1.5 percent of EU production, will be subject to a preferential 7.5-percent levy. "This is about two steaks, two hamburgers, whatever your preferences are, per year, per European," said the commission official. Additional imports will face tariffs of up to 50 percent, he added. Sensitive European products will be further shielded from "any harmful surge in imports" by "robust safeguards", the commission said. Brussels had also already promised a one-billion-euro ($1.2 billion) "reserve" for European farmers who might be negatively impacted. Paris sounded a conciliatory note, with government spokeswoman Sophie Primas saying Brussels had "heard the reservations" of several countries. She stressed, however, that Paris still needed to analyse the safeguard mechanism before giving its green light to the accord. Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, while stressing Warsaw still opposed the deal, said Wednesday opponents had virtually no chances to block it. The EU has sought to broaden its trade horizons, pitching itself as a reliable business partner as Trump's tariff campaign fuels global volatility. Over the past year, it has launched trade deal talks with the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, among other initiatives. On Wednesday, the commission also presented a revamp of its existing trade deal with Mexico, which it said would phase out remaining Mexican tariffs on EU agrifood exports, from cheese to poultry and wine, and provide access to critical raw materials. "In today's uncertain geopolitical climate, diversifying our supply chains and deepening partnerships with trusted allies, partners and friends is not a luxury, it is a necessity," trade chief Sefcovic told reporters. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Today, Hilton announces the debut of Tru by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton in Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila de Zaragoza state and one of the fastest-growing industrial hubs in the country. Owned by American Hotels Group, the dual-branded hotel provides business and leisure travelers a comfortable and reliable stay, whether traveling for short or extended visits. These openings reinforce Hilton's growth momentum in Mexico, where the company currently has more than 110 open hotels welcoming guests and more than 40 hotels in various stages of development. Centrally located on Saltillo's main highway and situated just three miles from downtown, Tru by Hilton Saltillo and Homewood Suites by Hilton Saltillo are less than eight miles from Aeropuerto Internacional Plan de Guadalupe and offer easy access to Parque Centro shopping complex, Museo del Desierto, and Santa Maria and Ramos Arizpe Industrial Parks. The contemporary hotel offers shared, curated spaces along with thoughtful amenities, including complimentary hot breakfast buffet served daily, an onsite restaurant offering northern Mexican cuisine, a bar serving handcrafted cocktails, and a 24-hour convenience store. Guests have the option to relax in the heated pool, exercise in the fitness center or head for the foosball table in the engaging lobby. In addition to premium leisure amenities, the combined hotel features eight meeting rooms, with almost 4,300 square feet of flexible event space to accommodate a range of professional or social gatherings. Tru by Hilton Saltillo As the second hotel for Hilton's innovative brand in Mexico, the 74-room Tru by Hilton Saltillo offers travelers a fresh, lifestyle-driven lodging experience. Rooms are intuitively designed for both form and function, featuring workspace, oversized windows, and bright spacious bathrooms. The lobby features a custom-designed mural that highlights local elements to inspire authentic connections, and includes vibrant zones to play, socialize, and work offering an energetic hub that resonates with cross-generational travelers. Homewood Suites by Hilton Saltillo Homewood Suites by Hilton Saltillo marks the third Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel in Mexico, offering home-like accommodations to meet the distinct needs of extended stays. Designed for travelers seeking the perfect blend of comfort and modern style, the hotel features 84 spacious apartment-style suites decorated with gray hues with hints of fuchsia tones. With separate living and sleeping spaces and fully equipped kitchens, with microwave and refrigerator, the suites and contemporary amenities allow guests to live, work, relax and feel at home. Guests of both hotels can enjoy the benefits of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton's distinct brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can't be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Hilton currently has a portfolio of over 290 hotels and resorts open and welcoming travelers across the Caribbean and Latin America. The company continues to drive growth in the region with a robust pipeline of more than 140 projects in development. For more information or to make reservations, please visit Tru by Hilton Saltillo and Homewood Suites by Hilton Saltillo. Hotel website Bairro Alto Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Diana Soeiro as Director of Sales & Marketing, effective 25 August 2025 a strategic addition that strengthens the hotel's commitment to a robust, forward-thinking, and excellence-driven commercial approach. With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Diana Soeiro has built a distinguished career working with leading brands such as Sublime Hotels, Westin Hotels, Pestana Pousadas Group, MINOR Hotels and Tivoli Hotels & Resorts. Her professional journey reflects a strong strategic vision and in-depth knowledge of both Portuguese and international markets, having led sales teams across multiple segments from luxury hospitality to wine tourism. Known for her communication skills, leadership, organisation, and analytical thinking, Diana is passionate about commercial strategy and about fostering long-term relationships with strategic partners. Her adaptability and results-driven mindset have positioned her as a respected professional within Portugal's luxury hospitality landscape. Diana holds a degree in Tourism and Marketing from the University of Algarve and has complemented her academic background with a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (ISCTE/INDEG), an Executive Master in Hotel Management (Catholic University / ESHTE), and specialised training in Luxury Brand Management (ISEG) and WSET wine education. Throughout her career, she has also participated as a speaker at several wine tourism and hospitality conferences. Diana Soeiro's appointment marks a strategic step for Bairro Alto Hotel, further consolidating its position as a benchmark in luxury hospitality while driving new commercial approaches focused on authenticity, personalisation, and the guest experience. Malliouhana, managed by Storey Hospitality, is delighted to announce the promotion of Felix Pina to the role of General Manager. Felix has been instrumental in growing Malliouhana's reputation as a premier luxury destination in the Caribbean for the past two years in his previous role of Resort Manager. On the island of Anguilla, it is common to find hospitality professionals from abroad in the top leadership role of luxury resorts. In fact, this is the first time in the 41-year history of iconic luxury resort Malliouhana that a native Anguillian has been named General Manager. Felix Pina started his hospitality career as a beach attendant at another luxury resort on the small island of 15,000 residents. His hard work and willingness to go above and beyond was noticed and it wasn't long before he landed a role as a butler at what is now Sky Villa by Malliouhana. Felix shined in the ultra-luxe environment of villas and his next career move was with luxury villa brand, Ani. Felix worked for Ani villas for 12 years, moving his way up the ranks to becoming General Manager of Ani Villas in the Domican Republic for 6 years. Felix next moved to the UK to learn food and beverage operations at bustling Big Easy restaurant in London, a 160-seat venue. He was here when Laura Rose of Storey Hospitality reached out to him when the role of Resort Manager became available at Malliouhana. Felix accepted the challenge and returned to his original home in Anguilla. He has made a huge impact in the role of Resort Manager helping to create authentic cultural experiences for guests, and instilling his high level of expectations for excellence in customer relations throughout the Malliouhana team resulting in the property winning multiple awards including TripAdvisor's "Best of the Best" Award, Travel +Leisure's Top 500 "Best Resorts in the World" and "#7 Resort in the Caribbean" (#1 in Anguilla), Forbes "Best Overall Resort in Anguilla" and "Best Villas in Anguilla," Bar Soleil was named in the "Top 10 Best International Hotel Bars" by Food + Wine Magazine, and for the past two years in a row, Malliouhana's signature restaurant Celeste by Kerth Gumbs has been awarded a "Wine Spectator Award of Excellence." The Westin Yokohama, a next-generation lifestyle hotel rooted in well-being, is pleased to announce the appointment of Allen Howden as General Manager, effective Tuesday, July 22, 2025. With more than 25 years of international hospitality experience spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America, Howden brings a global perspective and proven leadership to his new role. A seasoned member of the Marriott International family, he has held senior commercial positions at leading properties including W Bangkok, Swissotel in London and Bangkok, and The Cadogan in London. Most recently, Howden served as General Manager of The St. Regis Singapore, where he oversaw record-breaking achievements in guest satisfaction, associate engagement, and financial performance. Under his leadership, the hotel received the prestigious Travel + Leisure "General Manager of the Year" award for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. Howden, a British native, is widely respected across the industry for his authenticity, visionary approach, and unwavering commitment to exceptional hospitality. The Thompson Hotel Chicago is pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony Beach as General Manager. Anthony officially assumed the role on August 4, 2025, bringing with him more than two decades of hospitality leadership across both upscale and luxury properties. His career includes successful hotel openings, brand repositionings, and award-winning management experience in key markets. Most recently, Anthony served as General Manager for the David Rubenstein Forum & Quadrangle Club at the University of Chicago, overseeing a complex $17 million+ operation encompassing full-service banquet, catering, restaurant, and meeting spaces. He has also led the Sophy in Hyde Park and Hyatt Place Chicago Medical District, where he was honored as Hyatt Select Service Manager of the Year in 2015. A proud U.S. Army veteran, Anthony's leadership style is rooted in discipline, integrity, and service. Known for his people-first approach, he empowers teams, fosters culture, and inspires excellence across all levels of operations. He is passionate about creating environments where colleagues feel supported, guests feel genuinely cared for, and service consistently exceeds expectations. Anthony resides in Evergreen Park with his wife, Koba, also a hospitality professional with Loews Hotel Corp, and their daughter, Nicole, an incoming senior at Hampton University in Virginia. Accor, a global leader in hospitality, is pleased to announce a significant evolution in its subscription programme with the introduction of ALL Accor+, a refreshed and cohesive global platform unifying each of Accors established subscription offerings under one umbrella. ALL Accor+ will now reunite regional successes under a single framework while reinforcing ALL Accors commitment to deliver bespoke offerings and a seamless customer journey. Being fully integrated within Accors loyalty programme ALL Accor, this evolution will harmonise its subscription-based offering, helping to better align ALL Accors value proposition. The increased transparency and simplicity this will bring, promise to reinforce Accors leadership in hospitality loyalty, while helping to deliver higher standards of guest experience and broader business performance. ALL Accor+ builds on a 30-year legacy of loyalty innovation. From the launch of Accor Plus in Asia Pacific to the development of regional programmes such as ALL Signature in Brazil, Accor has consistently adapted its approach to reflect local market needs and customer behaviour. ALL Accor+s pioneering, tiered structure is based on four subscription options Explorer, Voyager, ibis, and Signature spanning over 4,500 hotels and 30+ brands worldwide. Each option is tailored to different members preferences and travel behaviours. Immediate benefits include exclusive stay discounts, accelerated status in the ALL Accor loyalty programme, and access to member-only offers. The launch of ALL Accor+ is a strategic leap forward in how we deliver value to our guests and hotel owners. With four distinct cards tailored to different travel styles, we are making it easier than ever for members to choose the benefits that best suit them. By unifying our subscription offerings under one global brand, we are creating a more attractive product that strengthens the entire ALL Accor ecosystem and will gradually be rolled out across multiple regions. This is not just about perks its also about providing rational and emotional value to our best customers and giving hotel owners a powerful tool to drive results. Mehdi Hemici, Chief Loyalty & Ecommerce Officer, Accor ALL Accor+ Subscription Line ALL Accor+ subscription line is designed for our most frequent travellers. It's a global premium subscription line offering immediate, guaranteed savings and accelerated benefits through 4 different cards: ALL Accor+ Explorer The new premium card, ideal for immersive travel. To be launched on the 1st of October 2025, it marks a new era as Accor Plus, Asia Pacifics leading travel loyalty subscription programme with more than 450,000 members, rebrands and evolves into ALL Accor+ Explorer. As the global subscription economy grows, ALL Accor+ Explorer sets a new benchmark by providing even richer member benefits, with the most comprehensive privileges in Asia Pacific and a planned expansion into Middle East/ China in the forthcoming years. ALL Accor+ Explorer is now enhanced by worldwide advantages through the ALL Accor+ stay benefits and guaranteed ALL Accor Gold status or higher. Together, these benefits are designed to deliver more value, greater recognition and elevated experiences than any other travel loyalty subscription in the region. The enriched benefits include: 2 Free hotel nights, on the Buy-one-get-one-free principle. 15% off stays worldwide across 30+ hotel brands Up to 50% off Red Hot Room stays. 30% off dining and 15% off drinks in Asia Pacific Automatic status boost with 30 Status Nights Price: 215/ year ALL Accor+ Voyager Best value for money, it delivers expanded access to brands from Luxury to Economy. The current ALL PLUS Voyageur evolves to be better aligned with the other products of the subscription line, this process of reimagination is already underway and will be effective from January 2026. The new ALL Accor + Voyager will offer a flat 15% discount across 30+ hotel brands, with prestigious additions like Raffles or Fairmont, soon to be included. Benefits: 15% off stays all year around across 30+ hotel brands from January 2026 20% off on a selection of brands for bookings done until 14 January 2026: Sofitel LEGEND, SO/, Sofitel, MGallery, 21C Museum Hotels, Mondrian, Pullman, Swissotel, Movenpick, Grand Mercure, The Sebel, Adagio Premium New brands joining in including Raffles, Fairmont, Peppers, Mantra, and more. Automatic status boost with 20 Status Nights Guaranteed Room availability of 2 days before the check-in and premium customer support Price: 199/ year ALL Accor+ ibis For budget-savvy travellers seeking more value. 15% off stays at ibis, ibis Styles, and ibis budget Automatic status boost with 10 Status Nights Guaranteed Room availability of 2 days before the check-in and premium customer support Price: 99/ year ALL Accor+ Signature (Brazil) For accelerated rewards and exclusive experiences for Brazilian travellers ALL Signature will be rebranded in 2026 to better align with the subscription line, but it keeps its successful proposition of monthly credit of points and exclusive experiences. Benefits are: Monthly Reward and Status Points Exclusive benefits at South American hotels and partners Price from 135/ year By further reinforcing connections with the ALL Accor booking and rewards ecosystem, ALL Accor+ will also unlock greater opportunities for seamless personalisation and direct bookings. This will allow members to tap into 110+ global partners and 2,000+ exclusive events. Since launching ALL Accor in 2019, Accor has welcomed more than 100 million members into its loyalty ecosystem. As a loyalty platform designed for growth, it positions ALL Accor to deepen member relationships, deliver long-term value, and accelerate performance. About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. Nathalie Neubert Communications Manager Accor Artificial intelligence is the buzz of buzz words, but like practically everything else in the hotel technology world, it's hardly simple. Notably, in the era of 'data is the new oil', companies are often forgetting the other caveat emptor catchphrase of, 'Garbage in, garbage out' (abbreviated as GIGO) that has been discussed in the latest HN Thematics with Shiji Group. Because machines learn from correlation derived from massive data sets, incomplete or inaccurate databases can misinform an algorithm, produce negligible returns on the investment or, worst of all, result in jumbled personalization attempts that lead to service errors. It follows that a critical first step to having your data flow like black gold is to ensure you have the right plumbing hookups - integrations, interfaces, EDIs, APIs and so on. And yet, there's a third classical adage that enters the picture here courtesy of Voltaire: 'Perfect is the enemy of the good enough'. In a modern sensibility, one might interpret this quote as, 'Move fast and break things'. And yet, as a cautionary tale, we are well aware of what happens when a tech company moves too fast and breaks one too many things (read: Cambridge Analytica). There has to be an equilibrium between implementing now versus waiting for the perfect timing to do so. Hence, this balancing act between realizing the lucrative prospects of AI right now and avoiding GIGO-esque situations raises the questions: Which data connections are absolutely essential in order to build 'good enough' datasets for agentic AI to act upon? For each interface identified, why is it essential and what AI use cases can be realized from having unified, structured data amongst these systems? HN Thematics Single Provider for Seamless Data This World Panel Viewpoint is sponsored by Shiji Group More information Summary Article Building Clean Data Foundations for AI in Hospitality You can AI your way into insanity and still end up with incorrect data points, leading to a poor customer experience. The real question is: how do you capture the correct information from the people on property? The old idea of a single Source of Truth is no longer realistic. Just like a hotel pool that suddenly goes out of service for three weeks, truth can change overnight. Accurate data ultimately depends on the employee who knows the update. Which system they use (CRS, PMS, OTA extranet, or channel manager), depends on what they have access to at the moment the change needs to be made. Whats essential today is a single system that continuously monitors connected APIs, systems, and third parties to validate changes and catch updates to amenities, attributes, and policies. There is really no difference between preparing data for Gen AI and for other tech tools: structured data must be normalised, deduplicated, and governed, while Gen AI is best applied to unstructured sources like reviews, transcripts, or free-text notes. The main hospitality systems - PMS, POS, Spa, RMS, CRS, CRM etc - have been built on normalized databases and deterministic (rules-driven) processes. Throw that away at your peril. Despite the hype, LLMs remain next-best-word probability engines without a world model. They fundamentally don't understand before/after, checked in/out, paid/due, etc, so they stumble on core hospitality logic such as dates (9/11 vs 11/9 anyone?), revenue recognition (you can't bank money until a service has been delivered), or duplicate guest profiles. These issues are still better handled through proper integrations, middleware, RPA, and human oversight. Agentic AI is the new uber-hype, but it is essentially an LLM on top of other LLMs orchestrating process flows. Fine for simple cases, but brittle when exceptions arise. Gen AI has value as a layer on top, extracting sentiment or patterns from messy text, but clean, structured data and strong governance remain the foundation. There are no shortcuts. Related article by Fergus Boyd Ira Vouk Hospitality Technology and Revenue Management consultant AI in hospitality cannot be reduced to a fixed list of use cases, because the technology and its applications evolve too quickly and vary too widely across companies. Each organisation runs on its own mix of operations, tech stacks, data flows, and structures, which means their AI opportunities will always be unique to their context and business challenges. Rather than chasing a universal recipe or static set of examples, the real task is to build flexible, well-connected, and clean data foundations that allow use cases to emerge and adapt as both technology and needs evolve. In the end, AI is less about narrowing possibilities than about creating the right conditions for each companys own pathways to develop. Related article by Ira Vouk Simone Puorto Head of Emerging Trends and Strategic Innovation, Hospitality Net GIGO has been repeated so often in AI debates that it has ossified into a mantra stripped of meaning. Of course, if you feed garbage into a machine, you will not get revelation out of it. But these systems are not Xerox copiers of error, they are probability engines trained to weave coherence out of chaos. Sometimes they repair the nonsense, sometimes they fail, and sometimes they fabricate entire hallucinations. The real danger, in my view, is not GIGO but GIHO (garbage in, hallucination out). Because garbage still looks like garbage, but a hallucination looks persuasive, and that is far more strategically dangerous. This becomes particularly problematic in hospitality, where our tech stack is heavily siloed. And the ugliest silos are not even technical, but human. I once watched a revenue manager deliberately sabotage his own data pipeline so the RMS would fail. He knew, correctly, that the machine was coming for his job... So, the question is not only which data connections are essential, but also what kind of (human) trust, governance, and training are required to get there. Because if you have a technoluddite in your team, the risk of sabotage is very real... Max Starkov Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist I believe priority #1 for independent hoteliers, midsize and smaller hotel brands is to create true two-way APIs among three crucial technology pieces: PMS-CRS-CRM. This is the only way to prepare the property for the agentic AI, expected to take over hotel bookings, guest relationships and personalization over the next years.Where do hoteliers start? Implement a CRM technology to aggregate all of the propertys first-party and zero-party data, which is then cleansed, de-duped, enriched and appended. If you already have CRM in place, consider upgrading to a CDP to empower property operations, customer service and personalization.First-party data is all of your guest data, opt-in email subscribers, lists of corporate travel managers, meeting planners and group leaders that comes from the PMS, CRS, WBE, etc. First-party and zero-party guest data have become more precious than gold today due to government privacy regulations as well as browsers and search engines own privacy protections.The more you know about your guests, their preferences, their likes and dislikes, their past stay history, and their RFM value (Recency, Frequency, and Monetary), the better you can deliver value, recognition, and personalized service. AI can make this process a thousand times more efficient and effective. Related article by Max Starkov Mark Fancourt Co Founder & Principal Consultant, TRAVHOTECH In hospitality, the industry's legacy of poor data architecture and lack of discipline in maintaining data quality has left many businesses "behind the eightball". While data is the "new oil," it has not been given the respect it deserves. My experience, honed over a decade of deploying enterprise-level customer data consolidation for luxury brands, confirms that a "single source of truth" is a necessary objective.The process is not about shortcuts; it begins with the standardization of data and the rollout of those standards, followed by cleanup. Only after this foundational layer is in place is true consolidation a reality. Without this alignment, the effort inevitably "falls apart," and staff are "literally speaking a different language".Such an approach is essential because failure is not a viable option. Technology can help with "heavy lifting," but it is not a magic bullet. The path to realizing the full value of data begins with a commitment to fundamental principles. The "now" is to undertake this journey, augmenting information business function by business function to a master data set, which provides the essential inputs for AI to move beyond simple automation and deliver on its true promise of personalized service and strategic insight. Related article by Mark Fancourt Custodio Barreiros Founder & CEO, EIP MGT The reality is that AIs value in hospitality is unlocked not by hype, but by the quality and connectivity of our data - all stakeholders need to align better on this topic. For hotels, the essential integrations are PMS, RMS, POS, CRM, and channel managersthese must be capable of real-time, bi-directional data flow to avoid the garbage in, garbage out trap. Structured, unified data across these systems enables AI to deliver on its promise: predictive personalisation, dynamic pricing, and operational automation that genuinely drive guest satisfaction and profitability. Yet, the pursuit of perfection can stall progress, as well as suppliers' continuous "unwillingness" to partner for the better of the industry and its guests. We must champion vendor-neutral, flexible and open interfaces that allow for incremental improvement rather than waiting for mythical standards. Ultimately, it is not about replacing the human element, but empowering teams to act faster and smarter. The future belongs to operators who invest in clean, actionable data foundations today and embrace a culture of continuous improvement. AI, when layered atop robust data plumbing, becomes not just a tool, but a catalyst for genuine transformation in hospitality. Adam Mogelonsky Partner at Hotel Mogel Consulting Ltd. Everyone wants the hotel tech stack to be more guest-centric and hopes AI will help to deliver a more personalized experience. This future will be centered around the PMS as the hub for rooms-centric operations and the CRM/CDP for repeat-visit-oriented relationships with guests.A strong connection between these two systems is vital to have the CRM/CDP ingest the most information about guests so that ML has big and accurate data sets by which to recommend segments, retool rates, create suggested packages, A/B upselling offers and so on.But both of these systems are back-of-house. The guest doesn't interact with a PMS or CRM; they look at booking engines, newsletters, websites, chat widgets or apps. So, it's one thing to have a centralized pool of guest profile information as training data; it's a step above to get feedback on that data by serving different offers across the entire guest journey.This need for powerful, AI-ready guest-facing systems implies that you also need a well-interfaced GEMS with a unified, omnichannel inbox that can handle automated personalization across email, text and voice. Start with those three, possibly using middleware to get the interfaces set up. This World Panel Viewpoint is sponsored by Shiji Group More information Amex GBT Finalizes $540 Million Acquisition of CWT - Image Credit Unsplash American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has completed its acquisition of CWT, a global provider of business travel and meetings solutions. This transaction, initially announced in March 2024, values CWT at approximately $540 million, excluding cash and debt, and subject to certain adjustments. Amex GBT, operated by Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (NYSE: GBTG), is a prominent company in the travel, expense, and meetings & events sector. With this acquisition, CWTs customers and employees will transition to Amex GBTs suite of travel and expense software solutions. These include proprietary platforms such as Neo and Egencia, along with Select, which facilitates integration with top technology partners. Paul Abbott, CEO of Amex GBT, expressed optimism about the merger, stating, "Today marks the start of an exciting relationship with CWT customers. We will listen, build trust and deliver the choice, value and service they expect. He emphasized that the acquisition is expected to enhance investment capacity for Amex GBT's software and services and generate significant shareholder value through anticipated efficiency gains. CWT customers will now have access to Amex GBT's extensive range of professional services. These services cover meetings and events, consulting, and sustainability solutions. Additionally, through Amex GBTs business travel marketplace, customers can access a wide array of competitive travel content. The acquisition is projected to create approximately $155 million in annual run-rate synergies within three years, contributing to significant shareholder value. Amex GBT plans to provide updated guidance for the full year 2025, reflecting the impact of the CWT acquisition, during its next earnings call in November. Lobby rendering of Garner Hotel Pattaya Central - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts will introduce its Garner brand to Southeast Asia with the opening of Garner Hotel Pattaya Central in Thailand this year. IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the expansion of its Garner brand into Southeast Asia, with the first hotel set to open in Pattaya, Thailand. The Garner Hotel Pattaya Central is scheduled to begin operations this year, marking a significant development for the brand in the region. The hotel is being developed in collaboration with Nova Park Company Limited, a partner of IHG and a developer in Pattaya. The property will feature 153 rooms and suites, located on Thailand's east coast. The hotel will include amenities such as an all-day dining restaurant, a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a DIY laundry facility. Pattaya is a key tourism destination in Thailand, located approximately an hour's drive from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The city is renowned for its beaches, cuisine, and vibrant shopping districts. The new hotel will be the fourth IHG property in Pattaya, joining InterContinental Pattaya Resort, Holiday Inn Pattaya, and Holiday Inn Express Pattaya Central. The Garner brand, which launched in 2023, has expanded to 51 operational hotels across countries, including Japan, the United States, and Germany, with 87 additional properties in the pipeline. The introduction of Garner in Southeast Asia is part of IHG's strategy to strengthen its position in the midscale hotel segment. IHG's expansion in Southeast Asia reflects the growing demand for quick-to-market hotel conversions, which represented a significant portion of the company's global room openings in the first half of 2025. In Southeast Asia, conversions accounted for more than a third of IHG's signings and about a quarter of its openings during the same period. The Garner Hotel Pattaya Central will be part of IHG's portfolio of 40 operational hotels and 41 pipeline properties in Thailand. Tru by Hilton Saltillo - Guest Room - Image Credit Hilton Hilton has opened a dual-branded hotel, Tru by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton, in Saltillo, Mexico. Hilton has announced the opening of a dual-branded hotel in Saltillo, Mexico, featuring Tru by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton. The development, owned by American Hotels Group, is situated in Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila de Zaragoza state, which is recognized as a rapidly growing industrial hub. This opening is part of Hilton's ongoing expansion in Mexico, where the company currently operates over 110 hotels and has more than 40 additional properties in development. The new hotel is strategically positioned on Saltillo's main highway, approximately three miles from the city center and less than eight miles from Aeropuerto Internacional Plan de Guadalupe. The location offers convenient access to local attractions, including the Parque Centro shopping complex, the Museo del Desierto, and the Santa Maria and Ramos Arizpe Industrial Parks. Advertisement The dual-branded property offers a range of amenities designed to cater to both business and leisure travelers. Shared facilities include a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, an on-site restaurant serving northern Mexican cuisine, a bar with handcrafted cocktails, and a 24-hour convenience store. Guests can also utilize a heated pool, a fitness center, and a lobby with a foosball table. For business needs, the hotel features eight meeting rooms with nearly 4,300 square feet of flexible event space. Tru by Hilton Saltillo comprises 74 rooms, marking the brand's second location in Mexico. The hotel is designed to offer a lifestyle-driven lodging experience, featuring rooms that include workspaces, oversized windows, and spacious bathrooms. The lobby features a custom-designed mural and vibrant zones for socializing and working. Homewood Suites by Hilton Saltillo, the third of its brand in Mexico, offers 84 suites designed for extended stays. The suites include separate living and sleeping areas, fully equipped kitchens, and are decorated in gray hues with fuchsia accents. Hilton's expansion in Saltillo aligns with the company's broader growth strategy in the Caribbean and Latin America, where it currently operates over 290 hotels and has a development pipeline of more than 140 projects. Direct Bookings Surge as Hotels Reevaluate OTA Partnerships Hotels are increasingly moving away from online travel agencies like Booking.com, driven by legal challenges and a strategic shift towards direct bookings. The hospitality industry is witnessing a significant shift in its relationship with online travel agencies (OTAs), particularly Booking.com. A growing number of hotels are reporting a decline in sales through these platforms, choosing instead to bolster their direct sales channels. This trend is particularly pronounced in Europe, where Booking.com faces a lawsuit from 10,000 hotels over parity clauses that breached EU competition law. Legal Challenges and Industry Trends The legal landscape in Europe has become a critical factor in the changing dynamics between hotels and Booking.com. The lawsuit involving 10,000 hotels has highlighted the contentious nature of parity clauses, which have been deemed to violate EU competition laws. This legal challenge has not only strained relationships but also encouraged hotels to explore alternative distribution strategies. Direct Selling Initiatives Hotels have been making concerted efforts to increase direct bookings, leveraging sophisticated platforms to enhance their marketing capabilities. According to a survey of 700 hotel brands, OTAs now generate only 22% of bookings, down from 30% the previous year. This shift is partly attributed to hotels reducing their distribution teams and focusing more on marketing efforts. The State of the Distribution Report 2025, published by RateGain, New York University, and HEDNA, underscores this trend. Market Observations Industry experts have noted a consistent decline in bookings through OTAs, with direct bookings showing an upward trend. Thibault Catala, CEO of Catala Consulting, reported that direct bookings in Europe have increased by 8%-15% year-on-year, while bookings through Booking.com have decreased by 5-12 percentage points. Conversely, some markets have experienced a significant increase in sales through Expedia, with growth rates reaching up to 300%. Alternative Accommodation and Market Dynamics The rise of alternative accommodations, such as vacation rentals, is another factor impacting OTA sales. In the U.S., vacation rentals have maintained a revenue advantage over traditional hotels, as indicated by Key Datas Q2 U.S. Vacation Rental Index. This trend reflects a shift in consumer preferences towards leisure-led, flexible travel options, often in domestic and outdoor destinations. OTA Strategies and Diversification OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia are diversifying their offerings to adapt to changing market conditions. Booking.com has expanded its global accommodation supply to include over 8.4 million listings in alternative stays. Additionally, the company is focusing on the concept of a "connected trip," where customers book multiple travel services through a single platform. Expedia is also exploring growth opportunities in the activities sector, aiming to enhance the overall travel experience for customers. Impact of Regulatory Changes The Digital Markets Act (DMA) has influenced Booking.com's operations in Europe. The company's pricing behavior has shifted, with a decrease in instances where Booking.com offers lower prices than hotels' direct channels. This change is attributed to regulatory pressures and a strategic response from hoteliers aimed at strengthening their direct sales channels. Discover more at PhocusWire. Paradise or Plight? Melville and Berkshire Industry PITTSFIELD, Mass. Actor Marcus Kearns and historian John Dickson team up for a program discussing Herman Melville's influence on industry in Berkshire County during the nineteenth century. The program, presented by the Berkshire County Historical Society, begins with a dramatic reading of Melville's short story "The Paradise of Bachelors and the Tartarus of Maids." The Lecture will take place at Arrowhead on Sept. 9, at 5:30 pm First published in 1855, the story combines two sketches, one set in the center of London's legal industry and the other in a New England paper factory (possibly based on The Old Red Mill in Dalton, Massachusetts, where Melville had visited). John Dickson will then lead a discussion of the story and how Melville's views on Industrialization influenced Berkshire County's industrial history followed by a Q & A. Olivier Meslay discusses the work of Guillaume Lethiere last summer. Clark's Director to Step Down After 10-Year Run WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Clark Art Institute Director Olivier Meslay will step down from his leadership role in July 2026, concluding a decade of change and growth that has seen the Clark flourish in international stature and engagement, the museum announced on Tuesday. Meslay, a widely respected curator and art historian, will return to his native France to pursue a variety of independent projects. "The Clark has long held a very special place in my heart," Meslay said in a news release. "Being entrusted to lead the organization and this exceptional staff has been one of the greatest honors and privileges in my life. "My wife, Laure, and I first came to the Clark in 2000 when we were both invited to join the inaugural class of Fellows in the Research and Academic Program. Along with our three young children, we spent an incredible year in Williamstown, developing a true love for the Clark and for life here in the Berkshires. To have spent these years immersed in the art and scholarship that define this place and to have had a hand in helping to shape the Clark's future has been a true gift." Meslay joined the Clark's staff in July 2016 at a pivotal moment in the Institute's history. While the Clark Center had opened to great acclaim in 2014, the campus expansion program was still underway with the renovation of the Manton Research Center nearing completion later that year. Under Meslay's leadership, the Clark embraced its new buildings and campus, and began developing exciting new exhibitions and programming in fulfillment of the Institute's goals of encouraging greater public engagement with art. "Olivier Meslay is an exceptional leader who has made important contributions to the Clark's growth and continued relevance," said Denise Littlefield Sobel, chair of the Clark's board of trustees. "His expertise, his vision, and his commitment to excellence have continually inspired our visitors, our staff, our trustees, and our colleagues throughout the museum world." Under Meslay's tenure, the Clark has enhanced its collections and special exhibitions, nurtured the continued development of its international Research and Academic Program, deepened its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship to preserve the Clark's 140-acre campus, expanded its community outreach initiatives to provide greater accessibility and broadened the scope of its public programming for its varied audiences. Meslay was instrumental in securing one of the largest gifts in the Institute's history when the Aso O. Tavitian Foundation designated the Clark as the recipient of a major gift of 331 works of art including early Modern paintings, sculpture, drawings, and decorative arts objects, as well as more than $45 million to support the addition of a new wing to house the Tavitian Collection and provide for its care. The 2024 gift is rich in paintings and sculpture, and includes important works by Jan van Eyck, Parmigianino, Andrea della Robbia, Peter Paul Rubens, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and Jusepe de Ribera, among others. The Aso O. Tavitian Wing, designed by Selldorf Architects of New York, is planned to open in 2028. Over the last decade, the Clark has developed a number of important exhibitions including the groundbreaking Guillaume Lethiere (in collaboration with the Musee du Louvre, Paris) and the highly acclaimed "Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth" (in collaboration with the Munchmuseet of Oslo, Norway, and the Museum Barberini in Potsdam, Germany), both of which debuted in Williamstown and traveled on to international venues. Under his leadership, the Clark also realized one of Meslay's key curatorial objectives with the 2020 launch of its first outdoor exhibition, "Ground/work," and its sequel presentation, "Ground/work 2025" (currently on view), which underscore the natural beauty of the Clark's campus and encourage visitors to explore the connections between art and nature. Meslay has also worked to expand the Clark's engagement with contemporary art through its exhibition program, including the launch of its series of Public Spaces installations that have provided a platform for the work of emerging artists including Pia Camil, David-Jeremiah, and Elizabeth Atterbury. Recognizing the importance of serving the needs of the local community, Meslay expanded the Clark's education and public programming initiatives, establishing a new Division of Learning and Engagement to provide a comprehensive approach to the wide variety of events, activities, and special services the Clark provides to its visitors and neighbors. In 2023, Meslay made the decision to waive admission fees for all visitors from January through March to broaden engagement with the Clark's local and regional audience. Attendance during these typically slower winter months has increased by more than 60 percent since the free admission program was launched. "When he arrived, the Clark was a fresh canvas with new facilities and big dreams primed and ready to imagine an exciting future, take on interesting projects, and work hard to bring these dreams to life," Sobel said. "Thanks to Olivier's guidance, the Clark is full of ambition, enthusiasm, and creativity. The Clark today is stronger than ever, financially sound, and well-positioned to continue to share art and ideas with an ever-widening circle of people who recognize just what a special place this is. We will be forever grateful to Olivier for all that he has done for the Clark." Meslay and his wife, the noted art historian Laure de Margerie and founding director of the French Sculpture Census, will continue their academic and curatorial pursuits after he concludes his tenure at the Clark. "We came to the United States with a deep interest in learning about American museums and how they work, which is very different from the French system," Meslay said. "We have seen so much of this country and met so many wonderful people. We will leave the Clark with incredibly warm memories and deep gratitude for the opportunities and experiences we shared here." The Clark Board of Trustees has formed a search committee to lead the process of selecting the institute's next director. Clarksburg Cracking Down on Code Violators CLARKSBURG, Mass. The Select Board on Tuesday voted to enforce zoning and health violations on 471 Middle Road. "The health code does allow for alternative housing, but you have to have proper septic, proper well, proper sewage disposal and proper drinking water," said Health Inspector Valerie Bird of Berkshire Public Health Alliance. "Typically it's six months or seasonal, and they would have to have a permit from the Board of Health. But he hasn't shown any." The board had taken up the property last month because the owner has been living in trailer since the house burned down in 2021. Members had been concerned that the occupant had some place to go and was aware of possible help. "I think we're probably going to move forward with the process," said member Colton Andrews. Chair Daniel Haskins agreed, "it'd be different if we saw something being built right now, and we could maybe do an extension on it, but at this point, don't think anything's ever going to be built." Member Seth Alexander asked what the process would and Building Inspector William Meranti said it could be through the building code or through the health department, which would be more immediate. "These conditions are unsafe for condemning your property. You can no longer stay here," he said, adding the town could use both paths. Bird said she would submit an inspection report to the Board of Health, which would then set an order of conditions. The owner would have time to comply, but if they did not, the Board of Health would hold a public hearing to condemn the property and order it vacated "If he doesn't comply with that, then it would be to Housing Court, and Housing Court requires town attorney now," she said, adding that the court meets on Wednesday and is currently backed up. The Health Board is holding a condemnation hearing next Tuesday for 750 Daniels Road. Bird said the occupant had no electricity and was running a generator, there was also trash and junk vehicles on the property. She said she had issued an order to correct and he did hook up the electric but did not clean up property. "I did tell him that, when I went back, that we would condemn the property and he would not be able to live there. He didn't understand why," Bird said. The owner of the property is the occupant's grandmother. Bird said the board could order the occupant to vacate and the grandmother to board up the property. Again, if the BOH condemned and occupant didn't leave, "I would present the judge with the steps I've taken to get him to clean up this property, the pictures that show it hasn't been cleaned up, and the judge will make a decision that would be for him to vacate," she explained. "Then we would notify the sheriff's office." Bird also said she had sent orders to 805 River Road because of bags of trash and vehicles and to 301 West Road for piles of mattresses and a camper; neither owner has picked up their certified letter. She's also checking on in-home food businesses for sanitation and ServSafe certifications. The town had contracted with Berkshire Public Health Alliance with an eye toward addressing code violators. Town Administrator Ronald Boucher said he'd given her a couple other properties as well. "I'll probably end up moving up here at some point," she joked about the amount of time she'd been putting into Clarksburg. Andrew McKeever of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission updated the board on the master planning process which is being funded through a grant. The steering committee held its first organizational planning meeting last month and will meet this Wednesday at 2 via Zoom. McKeever explained that the plan is designed to provide a guide for the town's short and long-term goals and sets a framework for future policy decisions. It will a look at wide range of factors from population to economic development to natural resources. Stakeholders will be invited to weigh in on their areas of expertise and the general public will have opportunities to air their desires for the community. The plan will be completed by next June. In other business: Meranti will have office hours on the first and third Tuesday evenings at Town Hall to field permitting questions from residents. Boucher said the town is short of members on several town boards, especially the Americans with Disabilities Act Commission which has no members. Anyone interested in serving on that commission or filling spots on the Zoning Board of Appeals or the Hoosac Water Quality District should contact Boucher at Town Hall. Boucher also gave updates on the Department of Public Works, grant opportunities and the school roof project, which is largely complete. He said there were a couple add-ons to the roof project to address water infiltration and a rotten egress cover. "We're running well within budget," he said. He also reported that the concert at the town field was very well-attended and that the food vendor had broached the idea of having a "pickle festival" next year, which board members thought an interesting idea. 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 China unveiled a new nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, underwater drones and hypersonic missiles as part of an imposing display of military hardware during its Victory Day parade on Wednesday. Thought to be the largest military parade in Chinas history, the event marked the 80th anniversary of Japans defeat and the end of the Second World War. And while the parade was largely shunned by Western countries, Xi Jinping was flanked by Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un alongside around two-dozen leaders from mostly developing countries and those keen to challenge the US-led world order. The world's second-largest economy, which allocated about 186bn for their 2025 defence budget, showcased hypersonic missiles, a new generation of nuclear triad, long-range missiles, anti-drone systems, strategic bombers, and stealth drones most of them for the first time. The parade began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war. Helicopters trailing large banners and fighter jets flew in formation above during the showcase thick with symbolism and propaganda which culminated in the release of 80,000 peace doves and colourful balloons. open image in gallery CHINA-DESFILE MILITAR-FOTOS ( AP ) In his speech, the Chinese president warned that the world must choose between "peace and war". Before the military units began marching, Xi drove past their formations along Beijing's central Chang'an Avenue in a classic black limousine. He stood in the vehicle's sunroof with four microphones lined in front of him and greeted flanks of personnel as he passed them and rows of missiles and military vehicles. Marching in the parade were traditional People's Liberation Army units from the police, navy and army, but also new ones like the cyberspace unit for the first time. open image in gallery APTOPIX China Parade ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Hypersonic missiles designed to take out ships at sea, a liquid-fuelled intercontinental strategic nuclear missile with the "entire world under its strike range" and space defence systems that could take out foreign satellites, were among some of the most impressive military hardware that China revealed for the world to witness its potential, according to the state media Global Times. These weapons are of particular concern to the US Navy, which patrols the western Pacific from its 7th Fleet headquarters in Japan. YJ missiles The Chinese military displayed the new YJ-15 missile along with its pre-existing YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20 hypersonic missiles. The YJ missiles, short for "Ying Ji" or eagle attack", can be launched from ships or aircraft and are designed to inflict critical damage on large vessels. China is rapidly advancing in hypersonic weapons technology, a field that has drawn global attention for its ability to evade traditional defence systems. The anti-ship YJ-21, known as the carrier killer, is intended to be used against high-value naval targets. The YJ-21 is capable of supersonic speeds and likely has a range over 600km, according to a Bloomberg report. open image in gallery Xipremium ( AP/Youtube ) Sea drones China displayed two types of extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUVs). The sea drone AJX002 is estimated to be around 60ft long, according to reports. Their torpedo-shaped hulls and pump-jet propulsion systems revealed that the underwater vehicles were built to be stealthy. The AJX002 features four lifting lugs along its hull, indicating that it is crane-assisted. China operates the world's largest XLUUV programme with at least five distinct types already in the water, according to reports. open image in gallery China's AJX002 ( AP/YouTube ) Nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles China showcased three types of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles Dong Feng-61 , Dong Feng-31BJ, and the Dong Feng 5C for the first time during the victory day parade. The Chinese Army also revealed its first air-launched nuclear missile, the JL-1, which was displayed on a military truck. The JL-1 and JL-3, together with the DF-61 and DF-31, mark the first concentrated display of the Chinese army's land, sea and air triad strategic nuclear forces", according to state media CCTV. open image in gallery Xipremium ( AP/YouTube ) According to Global Times, the Dong Feng 5C has an estimated range of more than 20,000km and features improvements in defence penetration and precision. The DF-5C intercontinental strategic nuclear missile has the entire globe under its strike range, the state media added. Experts say the new variant of the Dong Feng 5C is capable of carrying up to 12 warheads on a single missile. open image in gallery Members of the People's Liberation Army stand as the strategic strike group displays DF-5C nuclear missiles during a military parade ( Reuters ) Other Chinese missiles also featured in the parade that have previously been seen and documented, included cruise missiles the Changjian-20A, Yingji-18C, Changjian-1000 and hypersonic missiles such as the Dong Feng-17 and Dong Feng-26D, which China's state media said were equipped with "all-weather combat capabilities". Space defence system open image in gallery China HQ-29 ( AP/YouTube ) The HQ-29 space defence system, capable of taking down foreign satellites, was displayed for the first time at the parade in a prominent display of aerial power. While not much is known about its exact capabilities, the large size implies an extreme range similar to the US Navys SM-3 Block IIA, which can be launched from land or ship. Laser weapons The Chinese military displayed two versions of ship-based directed energy" laser weapons at the parade. While one of them was clearly designed for naval air defence, the other one, mounted on a truck, was meant to protect ground troops. Beijing has been developing laser weapons as a defence against drone attacks and other low-end threats due to the weapons being cost-effective when compared to using a missile or radar-directed gun. The full range of its anti-drone systems on display at the parade included a missile gun, high-energy laser weapons and high-power microwave weapons. open image in gallery Air-defense laser weapons are displayed during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov ( Reuters ) Fighter jets and bombers A number of squadrons of fighter jets and bombers overhead during the parade, some painting the sky with rows of different-coloured exhaust fumes. Helicopters flew in formation, with one group of 26 spelling out the number "80" to signify the WW2 anniversary. open image in gallery A military aircraft followed by jet fighters fly in formation during the parade ( Getty ) Robot Dogs open image in gallery China military parade dog ( XRoboHub/YouTube ) China displayed a legion of robot dogs, highlighting Beijings growing emphasis on what it describes as intelligentised warfare. The robots, paraded on top of armoured vehicles, could be utilised in the battlefield or weaponised and used in direct combat. Make no mistake, Wednesdays victory parade in Beijing was the most significant event since Xi Jinping came to power in China in 2013. It was both a triumph and a prelude; the triumph of military might and the prelude to using it. The Chinese leader did not don a uniform. Instead, he favoured a plain Mao-style outfit (of distinctive martial cut), in contrast to most of his suited guests overlooking Tiananmen Square. This was the new China at its most militant. Nuclear missiles, drones, advanced weapons of all kinds, thousands of regimented troops marching in tight precision. Much has been written about it as a display of pride. It is now time to consider intention. The honoured guests were the Russian president Vladimir Putin and the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. With Xi, they made a trio of autocrats, unmistakably identified as the key players of the day by the Chinese media. All three are hardened survivors. Two of them, Putin and Kim, are steeped in blood. In the Chinese system, there is no longer any need to eliminate opponents physically. But Xi did not hesitate to decimate the military, purging defence ministers, generals and staff officers. The dismissal of his foreign minister in a spy scandal seemed a mere afterthought by contrast. One wonders whether, over their cups of tea, the Chinese and Russian leaders exchanged ideas about the necessity of purges. For Putin, the spectre of Yevgeny Prigozhin, rebel leader of the Wagner Group, who died in a mid-air explosion, has vanished from his calculations. As for the ever-smiling Kim Jong Un, he lives with the knowledge that he executed his own uncle, Jang Song Thaek, after a reported tip-off from China that Jang was plotting against him. Kims unfortunate relative was tied to a scaffold in front of an audience of cadres and shredded by an anti-aircraft gun. Nothing in Xis biography suggests that he enjoys cruelty or is personally ruthless. But he does wield power in a way that rivals Stalin in purpose. It would now be wise to assume that he is, in fact, going to move against Taiwan. US intelligence and military officials have testified that Xi has instructed the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to be ready to invade or coerce Taiwan by 2027 a date marking the centenary of the PLAs founding. The date is not very far away. It must be taken seriously, because the autocrats may think there may never be a better time in world politics to strike. Xi and his comrades have watched as Putins war in Ukraine turned from blitzkrieg to stalemate. But there is no higher consideration in the Chinese system than survival. China considers that Putin has won the war merely by avoiding defeat. open image in gallery Xi walking with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un before the military parade on Wednesday ( Sputnik ) The third of the trio, Kim, is a veteran of three summits with US president Donald Trump, from which he emerged with both his nuclear arsenal and his power intact. If ever a group of leaders radiated confidence, it is these three. For all their belligerence, Putin and Kim do not have military credentials; Kim is a nepo baby and Putin a civilian KGB operative. Xi does. His father was a commander under Chairman Mao who fought campaigns across northern China in the countrys civil war. Xis first job was in uniform as one of three private secretaries to the defence supremo of China. At a young age, he was privy to military secrets. This was a staff post, of course, for no Chinese general has fought a land campaign since 1979. But throughout his rise up the civilian ranks of the party, Xi took care of the soldiers. While governing on the east coast, facing Taiwan, the record shows that he spent time visiting garrisons, improving conditions for the men, making sure families had good accommodation and boosting morale. Now he reaps the rewards. Insecure emperors do not parade themselves in front of thousands of armed troops. I doubt that he has ever looked so solid in office. So where does it go from here? China has absorbed multiple lessons from Russia. It has learned, for one thing, that it does not have to storm the beaches of Taiwan. open image in gallery Hundreds of women take part in the parade to mark 80 years since victory over Japan ( Getty ) A combined operation involving an opposed landing [is] one of the most difficult and hazardous operations of war, as Winston Churchill wrote. Xi knows the quote: his father had read Churchills memoir. Putin has shown him that he does not have to do it that way. Chinese tactics against Taiwan could be a hybrid of the Crimea and the dash to Kiev. Perhaps Putin has studied the German strategist Carl von Clausewitz and his theory of the concentration of maximum force at a decisive point. Xi and his generals know it by heart. In this scenario, China could command the seas by defeating an American force with one kinetic shock, securing control of the strait between Taiwan and the mainland. It could proclaim blockades, maritime quarantines, compulsory shipping lanes and aviation exclusion zones. Its new weapons could shatter American and Allied air and naval supremacy. Then there is what Mao called the magic weapon of propaganda and appeals to the greater Chinese nation. There is a ceaseless campaign of infiltration and cyberwar to persuade the Taiwanese that resistance is futile and destiny beckons and unity is inevitable. Chinese state outlets push narratives that the US cannot be trusted to defend Taiwan, emphasising the economic benefits of closer ties with Beijing. As Xi said at the parade, China is unstoppable. open image in gallery Coastal defence systems on Taiwans shores with Chinas Xiamen city in the background ( Getty ) The trio of autocrats see this as part of a new world order to replace the old world made after 1945. They explicitly used the victory parade to state an authentic history of the time and to promote, of all things, the United Nations as their instrument of change. The Chinese foreign ministry unveiled three faults in the UN, first, serious underrepresentation of the global South, second, erosion of authoritativeness and, third, an urgent need for greater effectiveness. All bland, who could possibly object? Then it added: Governance gaps exist in new frontiers such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace and outer space. The solution: China proposes the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system and work together for a community with a shared future for humanity. Naturally, it promised extensive consultation and joint contribution suitable for Chinas role as a staunch builder of world peace, contributor to global development, (and) defender of the international order. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un may not seem the likeliest people to run a consultation exercise to make the world a kinder place through AI and space travel. Global governance on their terms is an offer that nobody is meant to refuse. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Michael Sheridan is author of The Red Emperor: Xi Jinping and his New China, out now in paperback from Headline Press at 12.99 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 Floods caused by torrential monsoon rains have submerged swathes of agricultural land in northern India, threatening to ruin the standing rice crop and undermine the countrys food security. The flooding in Punjab, one of the countrys chief producers of grains like rice and wheat, has killed at least 30 people and affected nearly 354,000 with livestock and property losses, state officials said. Floodwaters have inundated around 150,000 hectares of farmland, causing extensive losses. The floods are the worst that Punjab, home to over 30 million people, has seen since 1988 and the state government has declared all 23 districts as affected by the disaster. The chief minister has promised compensation to the affected farmers. Today, I conducted a tour of the flood-affected areas in village Gatti Rajo of Ferozepur district by boat to assess the situation, Bhagwant Mann said. Appropriate compensation will be provided for all kinds of losses suffered by people due to the floods, and in the future, new and effective methods will be explored to deal with such situations. His administration has also urged the federal government to increase compensation for losses caused by natural disasters like the ongoing floods. open image in gallery People row a boat across the engorged Beas river at Baoopur village in Kapurthala district of Punjab ( AFP via Getty ) As incessant rainfall continued to threaten life and property this week, rescue teams, backed by the army and disaster response services, evacuated thousands of people from their homes. Authorities also closed some schools and offices across Punjab and other northern Indian states on Tuesday. Farmers told The Independent that basmati rice the fragrant pearl variety of rice that was due to be harvested in a month was completely damaged by the floodwaters. More than a hundred villages of rural Punjab are completely submerged and at least 300,000 acres of agricultural land is damaged, Ramindra Singh Patiala, a farmer union leader in Punjab, said. open image in gallery Farmer walks across his paddy field on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab before the floods struck ( AFP via Getty ) Punjab could witness a 20-25 per cent decline in basmati rice production this year as almost a quarter of the crop was already damaged beyond recovery, the Indian Rice Exporters Federation said. The state accounted for over 40 per cent of Indias basmati rice export of 6.07 million tonnes last year, it added. Mr Patiala said many farmers would have to completely shelve their produce and move to the next crop, missing out completely on one season's worth of earnings from farming. Hundreds of them had also lost their cattle to the floods, he added, making their situation even worse. open image in gallery Soldiers help villagers rescue their cattle after flooding at Mand village in Kapurthala district of Punjab ( AFP via Getty ) Since Punjab is downstream from Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh which are witnessing heavy rains as well, the flooding situation is likely to worsen in the coming days. Per farmer, the government should look to offer at least Rs 100,000 of compensation to allow them to survive this tragedy, Mr Patiala 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 A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a stadium on Tuesday night as supporters of a nationalist party were leaving a rally in insurgency-hit southwest Pakistan, killing 13 people and wounding 30, local police and hospital officials said. Police chief Majeed Qaisrani said the blast occurred near a graveyard close to the stadium on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. The body parts of the attacker were recovered, he said. Waseem Baig, a spokesman for a local government hospital, said it had received 13 bodies and dozens of wounded, some in critical condition. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. The rally was held to mark the anniversary of the death of Sardar Ataullah Mengal, a veteran nationalist leader and former provincial chief minister. The leader of the Balochistan National Party, Akhtar Mengal, was unharmed but some of his supporters were among the dead and wounded, senior police officer Usama Ameen said. Mr Mengal is a vocal critic of the government and often holds rallies to demand the release of missing Baloch nationalists. Security officials examine a damaged vehicle at the site of a suicide bombing on the outskirts of Quetta, Pakistan, on 2 September 2025 ( AP ) Balochistan chief minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the bombing as a cowardly act of the enemies of humanity, ordering the best possible medical care for the wounded and a high-level probe to bring the perpetrators to justice. In Islamabad, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi also denounced the attack, blaming India-backed terrorists and their facilitators for trying to destabilise the country by targeting civilians. He offered no evidence to back up the allegation. In recent months, Pakistans government and Mr Bugti have frequently accused India of backing the Pakistani Taliban as well as Baloch separatists, a charge New Delhi has denied. Balochistan has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency, with groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army demanding independence from the central government. The separatists have largely targeted security forces and workers from Pakistan's Punjab province. Although authorities say the insurgency is now subdued, violence in the region continues. In July, gunmen abducted and killed nine people after stopping two passenger buses on a highway in Balochistan. The buses were going from Quetta to Punjab. Most such previous attacks have been claimed by the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army. 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 About 400 children have fallen ill in Indonesia's western Bengkulu Province after eating free school meals. It is the worst mass food poisoning case linked to President Prabowo Subianto's flagship programme. The initiative, launched in January for children and pregnant women to curb malnutrition, has been marred by outbreaks across the archipelago, affecting hundreds. In August, 365 people fell ill from free school meals in Central Java; local media reports indicated poor sanitation was the cause. In Bengkulu, children aged four to 12 were rushed to a local hospital last Thursday, complaining of stomach pain, according to a local government video handout. Authorities will launch an investigation into the cause of the illness, the province's vice governor Mian said. open image in gallery Workers unload meals to be distributed through the free programme ( AP ) "We will temporarily suspend operations at this kitchen while we investigate where the weaknesses lie. This is the domain of the BGN (National Nutrition Agency) investigation team and the authorities," he said. The National Nutrition Agency, which runs the programme, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Since its launch, the free school meals programme has been rapidly expanded to reach over 20 million recipients so far. Authorities plan to reach 83 million recipients by year-end, budgeting a total cost of 171 trillion rupiah ($10.52 billion) this year. During the August food poisoning outbreak, Sragen government chief Sigit Pamungkas said the government would pay for any medical treatment if needed. Wizdan Ridho Abimanyu, a ninth grader at Gemolong 1 Middle School said he was woken at night by sharp pain in his stomach. He had a headache and diarrhoea, which he deduced had been caused by food poisoning after seeing schoolmates' social media posts complaining of the same. The likely contaminated lunch was turmeric rice, omelette ribbons, fried tempeh, cucumber and lettuce salad, sliced apple and a box of milk, cooked in a central kitchen and distributed to several schools. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hundreds of women, dressed in pink, protested in Indonesia's capital on Wednesday, brandishing brooms as a symbol of their demands for reform against lawmakers' perks and police brutality. Their demonstration occurred as the nation's president travelled to China for a military parade. The women carried signs with slogans like "reform the police" and "your sweet promises cause diabetes." Protest organiser The Alliance of Indonesian Women stated the brooms symbolised a need to "sweep the state's dirt ... and the repressiveness of security forces." These protests, which began in Jakarta last week, have rocked the world's third-largest democracy, escalating nationwide after a police vehicle killed a motorcycle taxi driver on Thursday night. Rights groups report 10 deaths in the demonstrations, which have also led to looting and rioting. open image in gallery Women holding up brooms and placards shout slogans during a protest against lawmakers' perks and police brutality, brandishing brooms as a symbol of their calls for reform ( REUTERS ) The Alliance, a coalition of women-led civil society groups, had cancelled a planned protest on Monday due to the risk of a violent official response. "We want to show that protests are mostly peaceful," said 30-year-old Rizky Ananda, who was demonstrating against violence against people, and women in particular, as well as wasteful government spending. "If the government said protests were treasonous, it should be questionable." President Prabowo Subianto has said the military and police would stand firm against violence, and said on Sunday that some of the unrest bore the signs of terrorism and treason. open image in gallery Protest organiser The Alliance of Indonesian Women stated the brooms symbolised a need to sweep the state's dirt ... and the repressiveness of security forces ( REUTERS ) Prabowo was making a trip to China to attend a lavish military parade on Wednesday after initially cancelling due to the unrest, with his office saying that signs of normalcy returning in Indonesia were a factor in his decision to travel. The National Commission on Human Rights was conducting an investigation into security forces' handling of the protests, commissioner Anis Hidayah told journalists on Tuesday. The United Nations' rights office called on Monday for investigations into "all alleged violations of international human rights law, including with respect to use of force". 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 Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has backed officers as the force faces criticism over the arrest of comedy writer Graham Linehan, but has said the force should not be responsible for policing toxic culture wars debates. Sir Mark said his officers are in an impossible position as he called for the law to be changed, and said the force will now only take action on social media abuse where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder as he broke his silence over the arrest of the Father Ted writer over anti-trans posts on social media. Linehan claimed on his blog that he was arrested by five armed police officers when he arrived at Heathrow airport on Monday from Arizona over three tweets on the platform X. He has said that he was arrested like a terrorist. He has since said he plans to sue the Met following his arrest over three social media posts for wrongful arrest and breach of his human rights. Supported by the Free Speech Union founded by Sir Toby Young, Linehan said, according to The Times: This was a horrible glimpse of the dystopian clown show that Britain has become. The FSU will support me by providing lawyers to advise on a claim against the Met Police for wrongful arrest and wrongful imprisonment in the hope that no one else is treated like a terrorist for speaking their mind on social media. Both Sir Keir Starmer and health secretary Wes Streeting have responded to the arrest, with the latter saying the Met should focus on policing streets, not just policing tweets. At Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs), Sir Keir reiterated that the force should focus on the most serious issues, such as anti-social behaviour, knife crime and violence. Sir Mark said in a statement: On Monday, officers arrested a man in his fifties at Heathrow in relation to allegations of inciting violence, linked to posts on X. The officers involved in the arrest had reasonable grounds to believe an offence had been committed under the Public Order Act. While the decision to investigate and ultimately arrest the man was made within existing legislation which dictates that a threat to punch someone from a protected group could be an offence I understand the concern caused by such incidents given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world. open image in gallery Mark Rowley has backed calls for the law to be changed following the arrest of Graham Linehan ( PA Wire ) One of the tweets that Linehan claims he was arrested over called on people to call the cops on trans-identifying people and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. Another read, in response to a photo of a crowd of people holding transgender and LGBT+ pride flags: I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em. Linehan, whose other shows include The IT Crowd and Black Books, claimed that his was a serious point made with a joke. He wrote in his blog that his single bail condition is that he is not to go on X, and he faces a further interview in October. Sir Mark continued: Most reasonable people would agree that genuine threats of physical violence against an identified person or group should be acted upon by officers. Such actions can and do have serious and violent real-world implications. But when it comes to lesser cases, where there is ambiguity in terms of intent and harm, policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments who have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when theyre reported. Then they are obliged to follow all lines of enquiry and take action as appropriate. I dont believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates, and officers are currently in an impossible position, he continued, adding he has offered to provide suggestions to the Home Office on where the law and policy should be qualified. open image in gallery Linehan has long faced criticism for his anti-trans comments and already faces trial for two separate charges relating to transgender activist Sophia Brookes ( PA ) It comes as Mr Streeting suggested that the government might look at changes to legislation following criticism of the police response to the incident. He told Times Radio: Its very easy for people to criticise the police. The police enforce the laws of the land that we as legislators provide, adding: So if were not getting the balance right, then thats something that we all have to look at and consider. While Downing Street declined to comment directly on the arrest, saying it was an operational matter for the police, it said that the prime minister had made his priorities for policing clear. Sir Keirs official spokesperson said: The prime minister and the home secretary have been clear about where their priorities for crime and policing are, and thats tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women. Sir Mark explained that a change to legislation would offer greater clarity and common sense, which would enable us to limit the resources we dedicate to tackling online statements to those cases creating real threats in the real world. If agreed, we could be ready to test new approaches quickly, within a matter of weeks. Linehan already faces trial at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday over two separate charges. One is in relation to harassing transgender activist Sophia Brooks on social media, and the other is for damaging Ms Brookss mobile phone in October. He denied the charges at a hearing on 12 May. Linehan has become increasingly known in recent years for sharing anti-trans rhetoric online that has attracted significant criticism from LGBT+ groups. In 2020, his Twitter account was permanently banned for repeated violations of our rules against hateful conduct and platform manipulation. 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 man who faked his own death and fled the United Kingdom to escape legal action has been convicted of raping two women. James Clacher was reported missing from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, on 30 May 2022. The 57-year-old was facing trial on rape charges at the time. His vehicle, a Suzuki Swift, was found at the Loch Long car park on 31 May. Despite trying to convince the authorities of his death, he was later traced to Spain. He was arrested in May 2024 while working out on a Costa del Sol beach, and later extradited back to Scotland. On Wednesday, he was convicted on two charges relating to the rape of two women in August 2019 and September 2020. A missing person poster distributed by Police Scotland after James Clacher went missing ( PA ) Detective inspector Bruce Fyfe said: Its difficult to comprehend the distress and suffering Clacher caused the women in this case. I hope this conviction brings them some form of comfort. He will now face the consequences of his actions. Following the missing person report, extensive inquiries were carried out to establish his whereabouts. As the investigation into the missing person and sexual offences progressed, it became clear he had left the country to evade justice after faking his own death. We worked closely with our international law enforcement colleagues, including the National Crime Agency and Spanish police and the perpetrator was subject to extraditions proceedings. DI Fyfe continued: This conviction demonstrates our commitment to thoroughly investigating serious offences and pursuing those who seek to avoid prosecution, no matter where they go. If anyone is experiencing or has experienced any type of sexual abuse, we have detectives dedicated to investigating such offences. Please report it and be assured you will be fully supported and listened to. 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 London recorded its fewest number of homicides across June, July and August since 2018, early figures show. Provisional figures also show that there were no homicides among under-25s recorded in London during the school summer holiday period, the mayor of Londons office said. Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has vowed to continue building on work to tackle violence across the capital. Last year, London recorded the lowest number of homicides of under-25s for 22 years, and the lowest number of teenage homicides since 2012, according to the mayors office. So far this year, there have been 10 under-25 homicides recorded, compared with 26 at the same point last year, while the number of teenage homicides has fallen from nine at this point last year to four, the mayors office added. Provisional figures show that the number of homicides across all ages has fallen by a quarter compared with the start of September last year (78 to 58). The mayor is investing 1.16 billion in the Metropolitan Police in 2025/26, and continues to invest in youth provision, his office said. open image in gallery Last year, London recorded the lowest number of homicides of under-25s for 22 years, and the lowest number of teenage homicides since 2012, according to the mayors office ( PA Wire ) Sir Sadiq established the first Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in England and Wales in 2019 to develop a partnership approach rooted in prevention and early intervention. This includes additional youth workers, more support for families and local communities, and programmes for inside and outside school hours to divert young people away from violence and towards employment. Londons VRU has invested in more than 450,000 positive opportunities for young people and the mayor is committed to delivering a further 250,000 this term, including through Holiday Hope, a new 6 million programme to provide holiday activities and opportunities for young people at greatest risk of exploitation and violence, his office added. Sir Sadiq said: The summer months are traditionally a very challenging time of year with young people more at risk of exploitation and violence, but through Londons Violence Reduction Unit and the Met Police weve been working incredibly hard with partners across the capital to provide support and help. These latest figures show that this work is making a difference, but Im very clear that one death is one too many and I will continue to do all I can with our partners to tackle violence and its causes, as we build a safer London for everyone. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: Thanks to the efforts of the thousands of hardworking Met officers and staff, our sustained crackdown on violent crime is working. Homicide is at a 10-year low, violent incidents in which people are injured are down by a fifth proportionally lower than any other UK city and firearms discharges are less than half the level they were seven years ago. open image in gallery Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley ( James Manning/PA ) Thats because were proactively targeting dangerous offenders and dismantling organised crime groups, while safeguarding those at risk of exploitation. As a result, less people are being killed and injured and our city is safer. Were not complacent and we will never stop the fight against serious violence. One senseless death is one too many. Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said: This is encouraging news, and it highlights the vital role the Violence Reduction Unit plays in reducing knife crime. The mayor and his VRUs focus on prevention and early intervention has been key to strengthening the vital work of frontline organisations. This data is a powerful sign that their long-term strategy is working, and we are proud to be a partner in making London safer. Sam Bosede, director of operations at Wickers and Rise Up East, a member of the VRUs MyEnds programme in Hackney, said: Summer programmes for young people in Hackney have made a powerful, positive impact in our communities. By engaging young people early, these initiatives are proving that prevention works. With more safe, structured and inspiring opportunities available, weve seen a real shift. Incidents of violence, including stabbings and shootings, have decreased during the summer months. These programmes provide not just activities, but real pathways to growth, confidence and connection, giving young people the tools and support they need to thrive. This is what community safety and empowerment in action looks like and young people are at the forefront of delivering the services. 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 Under strain police forces have dealt with a three-year record number of protests this summer as tensions flared over the migrant crisis and the war in Gaza. Forces across the UK faced 3,081 protests between June and August in the highest number in three years, figures from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) reveal. This exceeds protest activity during last summers riots, which saw forces grapple with 2942 protests in the same three-month period in 2024, and is up threefold on 928 demonstrations in 2023. NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens warned the increasing tension is placing forces under chronic pressure as he urged leaders to avoid sowing further division. Its clear to all of us that we can see more community tension and more division, he said. And I think we all have a responsibility, policing included, to set the tone. He added: Anybody in a leadership position should think about how we can reduce and diffuse tensions and not sow division. open image in gallery Gavin Stephens said protests are putting police under chronic pressure ( PA Archive ) His comments come amid widespread protests at hotels housing asylum seekers and an increasing backlash against the Home Offices decision to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist group. Police are preparing for up to 40 more protests this weekend, including another major demonstration in London in which up to 1,000 people have pledged to risk arrest by holding signs supporting the banned group. While last summers widespread disorder was acute, protests this year were more of a chronic pressure for police, Mr Stephens said, with a recent wellbeing survey showing 55 per cent of constables are experiencing persistent physical fatigue. He dismissed claims that the country is on the verge of civil disobedience as exaggerated, saying communities will find their own way to reunite and reset. open image in gallery Protests have been held at hotels housing asylum seekers across the country, including The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is at the centre of a legal battle ( PA Wire ) He said police absolutely support the right to peaceful protest but warned too much is being asked of forces operating under an outdated infrastructure model as he called for investment in police reform. The strain of ongoing protest activity is costing us financially and diverting officers from their day-to-day duties, he added, warning that without investment police would make slower progress on meeting key targets such as halving knife crime and violence against women and girls. I think people need to understand that the officers, staff and volunteers that respond to this is the same group of officers, staff and volunteers that are doing all the other things that are asked of the police, he said. And so they come from response teams and investigation teams and neighbourhood policing teams and roads policing. We dont have an extra resource for public order and public safety - it comes from day-to-day duties. open image in gallery Hundreds of Palestine Action supporters have arrested at protests this summer - with another major demonstration planned this weekend ( PA Wire ) Policing leaders are pushing for major reform of the structure of forces in England and Wales and how they are funded. A government white paper on potential changes to the service is expected to be published in the coming months. Mr Stephens said: Were asking too much of the people in infrastructure that we can that we currently have. Chiefs want more powers at a national level with a stronger national centre, changes to the current slow and cumbersome decision making process across 43 forces and an overhaul of how funding is calculated for each force. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The government is unable to calculate the total cost of a secret relocation plan it set up following the Afghan data leak, Britain's public spending watchdog has said. In Ministry of Defence (MoD) accounts, the amount spent on the scheme was not recorded separately to other resettlement activity following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021, the National Audit Office (NAO) said. A catastrophic MoD data breach, which was discovered in August 2023, exposed the details of some 18,700 applicants to the UKs Afghan resettlement schemes, along with thousands of their family members. In reaction to the data breach discovery, the MoD imposed an unprecedented superinjunction on the UK press and began to evacuate thousands of Afghans affected by the leak. The government used an already established route to the UK, set up under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Programme (Arap), as cover for the evacuation of those affected by the breach. The Arap scheme was set up in 2021 for Afghans who supported and worked alongside British forces, and some Afghans had their eligibility for this scheme reassessed in light of the data breach. Others who did not qualify under Arap because they did not have strong enough ties to the UK, but who were also affected by the breach, were brought to Britain under a new Afghanistan Response Route (ARR). This part of the clandestine operation was estimated by the MoD to cost 850m. In a report published on Wednesday, the NAO said the government had failed to provide enough evidence to give the watchdog "confidence" in the accuracy of this figure. The report said that, as of July 2025, 23,463 people affected by the data breach have already been brought to the UK or will be evacuated. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chair of the committee of public accounts, said: After the High Court superinjuncton was lifted earlier this year, confusion still remains over the reported 850m historic and future costs relating to the breach, with the MoD unable to provide sufficient assurance over their numbers. This figure does not include all legal costs or compensation claims, which currently remain unknown. The watchdog said: "The MoD is not able to determine exactly what it has spent on resettling people through the ARR scheme. "This is because it did not separately identify the costs of the ARR scheme in its accounting system, meaning that these costs were not visible in its management accounts, but instead included them within its total spending on Afghan resettlement activities." The MoD said it had avoided differentiating the costs in order to comply with an unprecedented superinjunction that was granted following the leak amid fears the Taliban could target would-be refugees for reprisals. Although it does not know exactly how much it has spent on the scheme, it estimates it has spent around 400m on relocating people through ARR so far, and will spend a further 450m. At its most generous before the superinjunction was lifted, the government was prepared to evacuate more than 42,000 people affected by the data leak. In October 2024, senior ministers approved a plan to create a secret Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) that would aim to evacuate around 36,000 people, 28,500 of whom had been affected by the data leak. The total costs of this new scheme were estimated by the MoD to be between 6.27bn and 7.23bn. These costs were then repeated by senior government officials in court. Following the decision to lift the superinjunction, the MoD took the decision to reduce the scope of the resettlement scheme. They said in July that the costs of just the ARR scheme would total 850m when complete, and that the total cost of all Afghan resettlement schemes under the ARP would be 5.5-6bn. According to the NAO report published on Wednesday, the MoD told the watchdog that the total cost of all Afghan resettlement activity between 2021 and 2029 is forecast to be 2.074bn. Referring to the ARR costs, the watchdog said that the MoD had not provided sufficient evidence to give the NAO confidence regarding the completeness and accuracy of its estimates. The costs to the whole of government are expected to be around 128,000 per resettled individual, of which an estimated 53,000 would be met by the MoD. An MoD spokesperson said: We are committed to honouring the moral obligation we owe to those Afghans who stood with us and risked their lives. "Since taking the decision to support the lifting of the super injunction brought by the previous government, we have been clear on the costs associated with relocating eligible Afghans to the UK - and are fully committed to transparency. The cost of all Afghan resettlement schemes, including the Afghan Response Route, has been fully funded as part of the governments Spending Review. 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 unique piece of Cold War history, designed to withstand a nuclear blast, is set to go under the hammer. This subterranean dwelling, perfect for a doomsday prepper, carries a low starting bid of just 20,000. Its entrance, discreetly located amidst blackberry brambles on a hillside in the village of Hallen, overlooks farm fields and the River Severn estuary. However, the underground chamber itself offers no external view. open image in gallery Britain Bunker for Sale This bunker is one of approximately 1,500 shelters built across the UK for the Royal Observer Corps, a civil defence organisation. Their purpose was to safely monitor blast waves and fallout from nuclear attacks that, thankfully, never came. Most now sit empty, though they occasionally come up for resale since being decommissioned and sold to the public in the 1990s. Last year, a bunker listed for a minimum of 15,000 sold at auction for 48,000 in Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England. The buyers later submitted plans to turn it into a tourist attraction. From the outside, the relics are more eyesore than architectural wonder just a couple steps and a block of concrete with a chain securing the entrance. On the inside, theres also not much to look at. open image in gallery In this photo provided by David Plaister Ltd, the inside of a Cold War era bunker is seen in Bristol, England, Aug. 1, 2025. (David Plaister Ltd via AP) The writers of the promotional materials had to dig deep to put some polish on the drab, cramped and isolated quarters. Ideal for those with a unique taste for historical relics and rare investment opportunities, says the listing by David Plaister Ltd. Auctions. A floor plan shows Room One the only room and describes it as a discreetly integrated underground room, perfect as a private wine cellar, safe room, or secure utility area. Its a spartan space of 128 square feet (11.8 square meters) with peeling paint, a stained floor, some shelving, a small desk-like surface against the wall, two plastic chairs and a single metal bed frame with no mattress. open image in gallery In this photo provided by David Plaister Ltd, the inside of a Cold War era bunker is seen in Bristol, England, Aug. 1, 2025. (David Plaister Ltd via AP) Theres a tiny hallway where a ladder descends from the hatch above and a tiny space marked as a water closet that photos reveal to contain a crude chemical toilet. The property last sold in 1995 for 95,000 pounds, but that included the land where the owner lives, said Sophie Thorne who is coordinating the Sept. 25 auction. The bunker is being divided from the larger property and will be sold separately. The owner, who is staying put, has never had to hunker down in the bunker. Its just kind of part of the property that she bought, Thorne said. She had no particular need for it, which is good. 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 mother has told of the moment she was evicted with her children as hundreds of thousands of families face losing their homes in the UK, new analysis has revealed. There were 124,210 families in England facing homelessness in 2024/25, the research from Shelter shows, equivalent to one in every 57 families. Of these, 70,630 are single-parent households, around one in every 24. The housing charity adds that there has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of families assessed by their local council as homeless or at imminent rise of homelessness compared to five years ago. Single mother-of-three Angela Carruthers has been homeless for two years and is currently living in temporary accommodation in Birmingham. open image in gallery 'Our House': New Shelter and HSBC campaign highlights issue of families in temporary accommodation ( Shelter ) After losing her home of 12 years because the landlord decided to sell, Angela and her children have moved three times. She is now in her third temporary accommodation property after first staying in a hotel miles away from her community. Angela told The Independent: You can imagine someone coming to your house on the day youre going to be evicted and not knowing where youre going to go. Were all just in hysterics because wed lived there for so long and the kids had their friends round there, their school, work was down the school it was perfect. And all of it got ripped away from us in the space of a couple of hours. At the time, her children were eight, 15 and 17. When they arrived at the temporary accommodation the local council had arranged a hotel, despite knowing six months in advance of Angelas eviction it had no electricity or hot water for five days. That for a parent, when you dont know where youre going to be with your kids, is really petrifying. Because yeah, I couldnt protect them, I couldnt support them. Thats my job as a parent but it was completely out of my hands. Angela recently faced eviction again, but was able to remain in her current property with the help of Shelter. However the mother has now lived in temporary accommodation for two years, and says she wants to be able to find secure permanent social housing. open image in gallery There were 124,210 families in England facing homelessness in 2024/25 ( Getty Images ) Ive got no control over anything in my life or in my childrens lives, she said, Its just like theyre playing god with people. Theyve split up my family, stopped my kids from progressing. Shelter policy officer Jenny Lamb said: We are in the middle of a housing emergency that we have been in the middle of for a long time now, and it is impacting millions of people. Were hearing horrific stories of people finding themselves at the sharp end of the housing emergency. Families spending sleepless nights anxious about losing their homes, having to move away from their work, their communities, their childrens schools. [Its] a system that is failing people at every turn. We have a record high private rents and a severe lack of genuinely affordable social housing, and when you combine that with frozen housing benefits which make private renting unaffordable to so many people, then you end up in this absolute emergency. The housing charity has called on the government to build more social housing, aiming for a target of 900,000 over the next ten years, up from the current 300,000 pledged. It has also urged ministers to unfreeze local housing allowances, which set the rate at which housing-related benefits are paid. Rental costs are far outpacing the amount that private tenants can claim in support. Alongside HSBC, Shelter has launched a campaign to raise awareness of families living in temporary accommodation, and the difficult, often dangerous, situations thousands are finding themselves in right now. Last month, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner announced plans to build 300,000 new affordable homes, including 180,000 social homes, in the next decade. 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 Toiletries chain Lush has closed all its UK shops for a day in solidarity with Gaza and called on the UK government to act to help end the death and destruction. The shop famous for its strongly scented soaps and bath bombs said it would not open its stores on Wednesday and would keep its website closed to send into Gaza our love and a strong message that we stand in solidarity. The company has more than 100 shops in the UK and Ireland, whose windows display the slogan Stop starving Gaza. Bosses estimated they would lose around 350,000 in sales for the day, and they would also have to cover staff wages bills amounting to another 300,000. Instead of its usual home page, the Lush website consists of a black page, with the same message and We are closed in solidarity in capitals. Another page reads: Across the Lush business we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine. Like the rest of the world, we struggle to find ways we can help whilst the Israeli government is preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza. The chain, which has often taken controversial stands on political issues, has also shut its factories for a day. open image in gallery Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Gaza City last month ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) In 2018, the company was slated for a campaign that sought to highlight the scandal over undercover police officers forging intimate relationships with women they spied on. The high-street chain adorned its store fronts with fake police tape reading police have crossed the line. On Wednesday, no products were available on the Lush website. Instead, a message read: Shutting our shops is not an easy decision we ask for forgiveness from any customers we inconvenience should they come to us on 3rd September and find us closed. However, we know that many of our customers share the same anxiety about the current situation in Gaza. It added: Whilst Lush is losing a day of takings, this also means that the UK government is losing a day of tax contributions from Lush and our customers. We hope they too hear the message our closure sends, with more government action needed to bring an immediate stop to the death and destruction, including an end to arms sales from the UK. The UN says there is mounting evidence that widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths in Gaza caused by an Israeli blockade on the territory. open image in gallery ( Lush ) The latest export licensing figures available, from May this year, show that the UK approved 127m of military equipment to Israel in single-issue licences between October and December last year. This was less than it would have been without a partial suspension of arms sales. In September, foreign secretary David Lammy said the UK would be suspending 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel, over concerns they could be used in violation of international humanitarian law. Of the lost sales and wages bill, a Lush spokesperson said: Its sad that its easier for us to take this financial loss than it is for us to get the equivalent amount of aid into Gaza. 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 motorcyclist who had travelled through 17 countries has had his round-the-world challenge of a lifetime abruptly cut short after his bike was stolen in the UK. Yogesh Alekari had parked his KTM 390 Adventure motorbike at Wollaton Park in Nottingham at around 11am on Thursday, only for it to be ridden away by a thief who was flanked by two moped riders. The 33-year-old from India said that not only was his bike taken, but that it also contained most of his belongings, worth 15,000. This included storage boxes containing his MacBook laptop, a spare mobile phone, two cameras, cash and his passport. Mr Alekari set off from Mumbai on 1 May, and has since ridden through Iran, China, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, before travelling through European countries such as Germany, Belgium and France. "I was in Nottingham for a biker event and was about to head to Oxford," Mr Alekari told the BBC. "I stopped and parked my bike at Wollaton Park. open image in gallery His bike was stolen from Wollaton Park in Nottingham ( Yogesh Alekari ) "I locked the bike up and it was a busy area with children playing so I thought it seemed like a safe place. "I crossed the road and went to have breakfast but within an hour, I came back and everything was just gone." Mr Alekari has been documenting his travels to his 180,000 Instagram and 16,000 Facebook followers, and had plans to travel onwards to Africa after leaving the UK. After realising his bike had been stolen, he said that he was totally shocked and had broken down crying, before contacting the police who failed to attend the park. open image in gallery Mr Alekari shared videos of him travelling through London days before his bike was stolen ( Yogesh Alekari/Instagram ) "I called the police and it seemed so strange that they just sent me a crime number," Mr Alekari said. "I was told they would call me back, and I waited in the park, but they never did." Video footage taken by another visitor at the Nottinghamshire Council-run park captured the moment his bike was taken by three individuals. "I wanted to go from Spain to Morocco, and then to the western coast of Africa, Cape Town to Kenya and then fly back to India, he said. "My dream is to ride around the world on a motorcycle. I spent a lot of money to get here and I don't want to stop now. "I have travelled from India to here and I went through places like Iran and Turkey, which people said weren't safe - but I felt safe there. "People warned me about the UK, but I thought I was away from London and it would be OK in Nottingham. "I never experienced any incident like this anywhere else." PC Andy Smith, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: When you consider the victims story and how far he travelled, I can only imagine how distressing it was for him to find his motorbike and belongings had been stolen. Our policing teams have been following multiple lines of inquiry since this happened and hope sharing an image of the bike in this appeal will help us locate it quicker. Anyone who recognises the motorbike, saw this theft happen, or has any other information that could assist our investigation is asked to please get in touch with us, so that we can take action. BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China will hold a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging its commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. In Tian'anmen Square stand towering structures shaped like the Great Wall -- a symbol of the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression -- crowned with giant numerals "1945" and "2025." Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is expected to address the rally and review the parade. This will mark the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to commemorate the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The military parade through the Chang'an (Eternal Peace) Avenue is meant to send the message that "Justice prevails," "Peace prevails," and "The people prevail," according to organizers. More than 20 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will join Xi on the Tian'anmen Rostrum to watch the parade. Representatives of people who had assisted Chinese people's WWII efforts, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- are invited to the grand ceremony. Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China has designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day. China was the first country to fight against fascist aggression, and sustained the longest resistance, beginning in 1931. The country contained and engaged over 50 percent of the Japanese army's overseas military strength, eliminating over 1.5 million enemy troops. The number of Chinese military and civilian casualties amounted to 35 million, accounting for one-third of the total casualties among all countries during WWII. With immense national sacrifices, China made significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The parade is expected to demonstrate its commitment to making greater contributions to world peace and development. The parade will involve more than 10,000 military personnel, along with over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, arranged into formations according to a wartime command system. The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) new system of services and arms -- the result of military reforms under Xi's leadership -- will be put on display for the first time. The parade will showcase China's advanced armaments, including unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic weaponry. China has repeatedly stated that the PLA is capable of defending China's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. Chinese soldiers who have participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations will also march past Tian'anmen Square, marking their first appearance in a V-Day parade. China is currently the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This is also the first military parade since Xi led China to embark on a new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts. The country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035. Through the parade, China will demonstrate that under the Party's leadership, the full rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is set to be achieved. The faces of many spectators on the scene were radiant with pride and joy. Standing in Tian'anmen Square ahead of the event, 16-year-old Zhao Zihan recalled that he had watched the previous V-Day parade live on television 10 years ago. "Today, I am here in person, surrounded by spectators waving national flags and commemorative banners, and the atmosphere is incredible," said Zhao, whose father helped prepare the parade as a PLA serviceman. "I think every Chinese person would be moved by this moment," he said. Thirteen-year-old Ouyang Jinyuan said she was eagerly looking forward to the release of doves at the end of the ceremony, a moment symbolizing humanity's shared, deep aspiration for peace. Lyu Shouye, a 25-year-old graduate student studying AI, said the situation today is very different from what it was 80 years ago. "A poem from 80 years ago, when we achieved victory, said we had been revived. But now, 80 years later, we are not only revived but also growing and taking root in this world with even greater vitality," he said. In 2019, Lyu, then a college student who had just arrived in Beijing from his hometown, participated in the National Day parade and experienced the nation's strength first-hand. "Now our country has reached a stage where we need to undertake greater responsibilities," he said. Back in 2011, I was embedded as a filmmaker with the Royal Marines Commandos in Nad-e Ali North, a particularly dangerous part of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. Every day from our remote Forward Operating Base, the Marines went out on deadly patrols, risking IEDs and almost certain ambushes in order to protect the local farming population from the rampaging Taliban. With us was a courageous young Afghan interpreter called Ali. Not only did he risk his life like everyone else on those relentless patrols, but he knew that if captured, he faced torture and execution for having served the foreign infidel. He could have run, hidden somewhere in Afghanistan, or crossed into Pakistan, but his deep sense of duty and loyalty to the British soldiers ensured he stayed at our side. I love these marines like brothers, he told me. I salute them for helping my people and will do all I can to help defend them as they defend me. I often wonder what happened to Ali and whether he escaped Afghanistan after it finally fell to the Taliban. When I watch the news, I look out for him in the pictures of the boats crossing the Channel. I know his first choice of asylum would be the UK, because he knew the language and had fought by our side. I wonder too what he would think of the self-proclaimed patriots and their courage painting roundabouts while covering their faces. What would he make of the angry mobs or of those spitting at foreign NHS workers in parks because theyve decided that all asylum seekers are illegal migrants? How would he feel, cast as a public enemy who should be sent back to where he came from? Misinformation floods social media and shouty radio phone-ins. Much of this nasty-edged rhetoric is being rubber-stamped by mainstream politicians, propelled by Reform a party never slow to promote its own brand of electioneering patriotism. And yet how many people really understand the distinction between illegal migrants, economic migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees? In acute situations, people claiming a well-founded fear of persecution may cross a border spontaneously, en masse, and without paperwork. Technically, therefore, they are illegal migrants by default until their claims can be officially assessed. If asylum is granted, they are awarded formal refugee status with all the associated rights. But in some situations, there are also likely to be informal refugees those who do not declare themselves and instead melt into the local host population. Demographically, a refugee stream is nothing if not complicated. History shows this. After the Vietnam War, hundreds of thousands fled Indochina. Also referred to as boat people, many escaped by sea, enduring perilous journeys in overcrowded vessels, facing storms, piracy, and dehydration. Their aim was to reach southeast Asian refugee camps and resettle in countries such as the UK and the US. Some 800,000 made it to safety, but it is estimated by the UNHCR that up to a quarter of a million perished at sea. open image in gallery Filmmaker Chris Terrill was embedded alongside the Marines in Afghanistan in 2011 ( Supplied ) The UK, initially cautious, eventually joined the international resettlement effort, taking in some 19,000 Vietnamese refugees between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Many arrived traumatised, with little English or recognised skills, and faced isolation. Yet over time, they built businesses, community organisations, and many second-generation British Vietnamese have gone into higher education and professional careers. Elsewhere, during the Seventies and Eighties, in Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tigray, Congo, Angola, and Mozambique, internecine war and famine prompted over two million to cross borders in search of asylum. Those who crossed borders counted as refugees; millions more displaced inside their countries did not. The definition was narrow, Eurocentric, and excluded many from relief or resettlement. But whether bona fide refugees or displaced people, a common assumption was made about them all. They were seen as helpless victims a lumpen mass of useless, broken people with little to offer save their tears and fears. But my experience suggests otherwise. In 1975, I lived with the Acholi tribe in southern Sudan, as they rebuilt after the 17-year civil war. The first to seek refuge in Uganda tended to be younger and of lower status, but they were also the more adventurous and ambitious. Many of those who had fled then returned educated, literate, and skilled. They brought back expertise in cash-cropping (tobacco and cotton), helping to transform their homelands economy. open image in gallery Sudanese citizens standing in a refugee camp, circa 1980s ( AFP/Getty ) Sadly, war was to return to the southern region before it gained independence from Sudan, which today has its own burgeoning refugee crisis. The current civil war between rival military factions has displaced an estimated 12 million people since April 2023. Asylum seekers bidding for refugee status are responding to a range of push and pull factors: some kinetic, like the need to escape bombs and bullets, and some dynamic, like the desire to better themselves economically and socially. My research has shown that refugees are often driven by a desire to succeed and can be dynamic agents of social and economic change. Our DNA as Britons is made up of strands from multiple waves of migrants over millennia and most would have arrived in boats. This hybrid vigour is what makes us British. The Union Flag, at present such an emotive symbol of nationhood, represents the plethora of races that define us as a people. The vile go home messaging has echoes of an era when people chanted, There aint no black in the Union Jack, send the ba****** back. But this too is the flag of the 2012 Olympics, when the country felt proud and united in all its diversity. It is also the flag for which much Black blood has been spilled in its defence from the Somme and Normandy to the Falklands and Helmand Province. open image in gallery Vietnamese refugees fleeing war arrive at Heathrow ( Howard/ANL/Shutterstock ) It is absolutely the case that processing claims for asylum needs to be much quicker and more comprehensive, for everyones sake. More must be done to eliminate perilous sea crossings and the criminal gangs profiting from them. The challenge of managing the backlog and dismantling a broken asylum system which Keir Starmer has inherited from the Tories is enormous. The UN definition of a refugee, formulated in 1951, is long past its sell-by date. It needs to be reassessed for a modern era of war, persecution and widespread natural disasters, many related to global warming that are resulting in drought and famine and grinding poverty. The distinction between economic migrant and refugee is, therefore, becoming increasingly blurred but that is part of the new world order - or disorder. Consequently, there needs to be more international resettlement agreements so no one nation is seen to be taking more than their fair share of the growing 'population' burden. I believe that most people in the UK are sensible and far-sighted enough to call out those who are actively using the migrant hotel crisis as a fig leaf for barely concealed racism. They are not the best of us. As a nation, we are better than that, and we can demand better from our government too. open image in gallery A navy ship in Vietnam carrying thousands of refugees ( AFP/Getty ) There are huge swathes of the country who feel disenfranchised and abandoned by the system. There are not enough houses, and our education and health systems are in need of urgent attention. We need joined-up thinking and coherent policies because no amount of jingoism is going to provide the detailed solutions we need to put society right. How much of our crumbling infrastructure is the fault of migrants fleeing desperate situations? How much of the summer of rage is simply desperate people blaming other desperate people for their lot? We need to take back control and favour reality over rhetoric. Traditionally, we are at our most powerful and confident when we wear our nationhood lightly and with understated pride. I will not forget the humanity we felt 10 years ago at the sight of the lifeless body of two-year-old Alan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish shore as he and his family fled war in Syria. I will not ignore the statistic that by the end of 2024, approximately 49 million children will have been forced to flee their homes the highest number ever recorded. I remain hopeful that Ali will one day step off one of those boats onto our shores. Of course, theres a chance he already has. Maybe right now hes sitting in the Bell Hotel, Epping, looking out sadly at the signs saying they want him gone and at the Union Flags being brandished as weapons just like the one Ali once wore on his shoulder when marching alongside British Royal Marines in the killing fields of Afghanistan. Chris Terrill is an anthropologist, geographer, and filmmaker 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 Shoppers will soon be able to access a new way to check if their store-bought avocados are ripe as Tesco trials a new high-tech system. Available in five stores from this week, the machines can read the fruit's internal state. Holding an avocado in the machines scanner, it will tell customers either if their avocado is overipe, and ready to be smashed, or if it is less ripe and instead better for slicing or waiting to ripen. Named the One Third Avocado Scanner after the Dutch company that invented it, the technology measures ripeness in a few seconds, aiming to help consumers pick the perfect fruit. The company explains that the technology works by scanning through the avocado using light. The aim of the service is to avoid customers needing to pinch or squeeze the avocado, potentially ruining its flesh and leading to food waste. An avocado scanner that is being trialled in a Tesco store ( Tesco ) Tesco avocado buyer Lisa Lawrence said: The scanner will enable shoppers to choose the avocado that is right for them and which therefore can help them plan their usage and desired shelf life, thereby cutting down on waste. Smashed avocado on sourdough continues to be one of the trendiest snacks at the moment, garnering millions of views on social media sites for recipe ideas, so we think, for that reason, the scanner will be really popular with shoppers. The Tesco stores trialling the scanner will be: Cheshunt Extra in Hertfordshire Colchester Superstore in Essex Stratford-upon-Avon Superstore in Warwickshire Wokingham Superstore in Berkshire Salisbury Extra in Wiltshire. Tesco said avocados have never been more popular and in the last year it sold nearly 15 million more avocados than it did in the previous 52 weeks. The supermarket giant has worked with global avocado supplier Westfalia Fruit, based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, on the project. Westfalia Fruits commercial manager Emma Howes said the scanner is just one of many initiatives weve worked on over the past year. She said other initiatives included trialling lasered avocados which removes the plastic label from Tescos loose avocado lines, and rolling out cardboard and paper packaging across all Tescos avocado pre-packed lines. She said this helped in saving 20 million pieces of plastic a year. Reece* (13) hasnt been to school for nearly 400 days. He should be starting year 9 on Thursday at his comprehensive school in northwest London, but he didnt attend a single day of year 8 following year 7 when he began to melt down every day before school, according to his mother, Elaine. She has three other children, one of whom has special needs, and when I speak to her, she looks not just tired, but worn down. She explains I know people will say Im a sh*t mum, people have actually said it to my face, and I know whats said on social media, but Ive tried everything with Reece counsellors, talking to him, being nice, threatening him, I took away his PlayStation he screamed so much, the neighbours came round because they thought someone was being murdered. Even when the deputy head came round to try and get Reece, he screamed, spat and was so hysterical, it was impossible. I just dont know what Im going to do with him. Im at my wits end. Reece is just one of the 1.28 million children and teens (roughly a staggering 17.9 per cent of the attending school population) who are persistently absent. Persistent absence is when a pupil misses more than 10 per cent of their school sessions; severe absence is when a pupil misses more than 50 per cent. Reece would be counted as a school refuser, a pupil who doesnt attend school due to complex behavioural reasons rather than disciplinary ones aka students who dont attend because they just dont want to or dont perform well within the structure of school. Fifteen-year-old Caleb should be starting year 11 at his comprehensive in Manchester, and thinks he attended maybe one or two days in the school week in year 10. He explains, I would go more, but I just get into trouble. Id make myself a promise to be good, but then I get bored or didnt understand what the teacher is going on about, start f***ing around, cause a riot, end up in isolation and my mum would cry or scream at me. Honestly, it wasnt worth it, really. I think I learnt more by watching YouTube. I cant get into trouble in my room. But the scale of the problem in the UK indicates there is a bigger issue at play than just school-shy kids who dont fancy getting up with the alarm and adhering to the rules. Serial absenteeism has always been a problem, but it is impacting all kinds of children, for all kinds of reasons. Reshma* attends an extremely competitive and over-subscribed girls grammar school in south London, is a high achiever and was on track to get all 8s and 9s at GCSE. She started suffering from acute anxiety and an undiagnosed eating disorder shell only eat white and green food and this has hugely impacted her school attendance. Her dad thinks she missed about half of every week in year 10 and has an arrangement with the school this term where she is allowed to take herself out of classes she finds stressful, go home for lunch and leave early on Thursday and Friday for private therapy. I ask her dad what the therapy is going to cost and he wryly says, about as much as a nice family car, but were lucky because we can afford it. Not all families are so lucky and teenage mental health services like Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) are so oversubscribed, there are waiting lists that can stretch to actual years, by which time symptoms and behaviours of suffering children and teens worsen. open image in gallery Many children are unable to cope with a traditional school setting ( AFP/Getty ) The scale of anxiety being reported by schoolchildren is something we have never seen before. In the biggest ever survey of 16- and 17-year-olds for The Sunday Times, nearly 70 per cent of girls said they had skipped school because of mental health. Preparing for their return to education this week, the words they chose to describe their world were difficult, challenging, stressful and scary. Anxiety was hugely exacerbated by Covid, when the nations kids were yanked out of school at a formative age under globally catastrophic conditions, when everyone was frightened, and tensions were running high both online and in the real world. Every parent I speak to pinpoints the Covid years as a trigger for either the starting point for school refusal or exacerbating existing behaviours that have made school more untenable for vulnerable kids. Making lessons accessible online during that time has also made it harder for schools to insist all pupils are physically present for lessons. Reeces mum squarely blames the pandemic. According to her, Reece loved primary school, but became very anxious during the Covid lockdowns, thinking we were all going to die, and obsessively watching YouTube videos, and has never been the same since. Caleb agrees with this and identifies the Covid-induced break in school in his formative years as highly destructive to his ability to cope with school. Remember, schools closed in March and many didnt open again until September (theme parks opened before schools did) and, even then, classes were regularly disrupted due to mini-lockdowns and teacher absences. Basically, getting a couple of years off school wrecked loads of us, explains Reece. It was so hard to go back. I was 10 when the pandemic hit, so by the time I got to high school, I was like, nope. Not going. open image in gallery Figures show that 17 per cent of students are classed as persistently absent ( Getty ) Mental health is a major factor being identified by teachers, parents and students as a cause for the school absenteeism epidemic. Generation A and Generation Z are young generations fluent in the language of mental health and will openly discuss diagnoses and/or self-diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression and all kinds of disordered eating, behavioural and thinking patterns. The fact that we treat mental health as seriously as physical health is a good thing, but it can present a new set of challenges for parents and schools, too. Reshmas dad (who is very sympathetic to her challenges) believes that teenagers are very susceptible to suggestion and the excessive awareness of the mental health challenges of their friends and favourite influencers, and will mirror or self-diagnose similar behaviour with real-world consequences He explains, Reshma was always quite an anxious kid, redoing already really good homework, obsessive tidying which we never minded, actually! But when she got a phone, she started following these TikTok people who would all talk about their mental health diagnoses, one of whom was someone who was homeschooled because she couldnt cope with school, and very quickly, Reshma started exhibiting similar behaviour. I dont think its the whole reason for her struggles, but I think its part of it. And the consequences are being felt at a societal level, too. By the end of 2024, the number of Neets (16-24 year olds not in education or training) hit nearly 1 million a 42 per cent increase over three years. Among these will be many school refusers who have missed so much of school that they werent able to sit exams or get the grades they would have been otherwise capable of. That is a lot of wasted potential of a group that the rest of us will be relying on in the future. open image in gallery Students at Chertsey High School back at school in March 2021 after a year of lockdowns in ( Getty ) Ella Deanus is a family support manager at Southwest Partnership in Hertfordshire and works on the frontline of the teenage mental health crisis, going into schools in the borough and working one-on-one with students exhibiting a whole range of challenges just one of which is school refusal. They have real success in tackling the issue of serial absenteeism and school refusal and she explains, you must have a triangulated approach parents, school and the young person all working towards the goal of attendance. You need to look at the push and pull factors at home and school. For example, a love of art can push them to school; pull factors can be a friendship issue, so they hate lunchtime. An identified adult at school to support and liaise helps. Home life needs to be routine (visuals, written etc) and expectations clear dont give screen time if theyre supposed to be in school but if they go for an agreed time let them have their downtime. Huge numbers of kids arent coping within the traditional confines of the school system, but school budget cuts mean those critical needs arent being met The national view of serial absenteeism tends to be dim with many believing a just drag them to school approach works, and the fact that it has festered as such a ubiquitous problem is a symptom of over-indulgent parenting parents are largely identified as the culprits. But its usually so much more complex than parents who are too soft or just cant be bothered. Some are even of the view that school in the UK is an old-fashioned construct where hundreds, if not thousands, of young people are corralled for eight or so hours a day and are required to learn stuff many dont understand, or genuinely struggle with so its inevitable many dont cope well with the system. The Finnish school system, which is often held up as the gold standard, with the ability to view children as individuals with individual learning needs rather than a part of a monolithic system like ours. But even in Finland, there has been a small increase post-Covid with serial school absenteeism affecting about 2-3 per cent of the school population. This pattern is replicated across Europe with small increases in school absenteeism but nothing like the scale of ours. In the UK, it is clear we need to address the whole problem but big problems require big solutions. Currently, we dont have the resources to meet and support the scale of the child and teenage mental health crisis, and it goes without saying that there needs to be serious investment in more services for those young people and support for their families. open image in gallery There arent enough resources to tackle the scale of Britains child mental health crisis ( Getty ) Huge numbers of kids arent coping within the traditional confines of the school system, but school budget cuts mean those critical needs arent being met and schools are in dire need of more special education teachers, classes and services like the ones Ella Deanus are her colleagues provide. Deanus also believes the early school years really need to be focused on as they form the foundation of good or bad school habits. She explains, If its not caught early (as in really, really early), its really difficult to pull back, so schools and parents need to identify patterns early. As schools return this week after the summer break, the stress this puts on huge numbers of young people and their families shouldnt be written off as soft, woke or pathetic. The distress of the parents and the kids dealing with serial absenteeism and school refusal is acute and we need to address it as part of the mental health crisis and a cracked and underfunded school system and not just kids who would rather play on the PlayStation than go to maths. Elaine breaks down in tears when she tells me, Ive been told Camhs cant even see Reece for an initial assessment for another five months, I know the start of term is going to be a non-starter for him, and I feel absolutely desperate and like a complete failure not being able to get him to something as basic as school. There will be millions of parents who can relate. https://www.southwesthertspartnership.org.uk *Names have been changed 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 Angela Rayner has resigned after she admitted she did not pay enough stamp duty on the purchase of her 800,000 seaside flat. The deputy prime minister, who on Wednesday referred herself to Sir Keir Starmers ethics adviser, insisted she made a mistake based on the advice she received at the time. And, after receiving the reports conclusion, Ms Rayner has the has quit her roles as housing secretary and deputy prime minister, as well as her role as deputy leader of the Labour Party. Her resignation puts Sir Keir in an extremely difficult position and is a major headache for the prime minister. But who are the likely candidates to replace her? open image in gallery Angela Rayner is under growing pressure to resign after she admitted she did not pay enough stamp duty of her Hove flat ( PA Wire ) Who could replace Ms Rayner as deputy prime minister? Ms Rayners role as deputy prime minister stemmed from her role as deputy leader of the Labour Party a position elected by the membership which she has also resigned. A number of people could replace her, but the most likely option is that the prime minister leaves the role vacant. DPM is normally a position handed out to ensure loyalty of a top performer in the party, and isnt an essential role. The most likely outcome will be for Sir Keir to save it for when he really needs it. He could create a new role, such as first secretary, to act as his deputy in parliament and fill in for events such as Prime Ministers Questions. Theresa May did this with her deputy, Damian Green. If he does press ahead with a replacement, here are the likely contenders: Pat McFadden open image in gallery Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden ( PA Wire ) Pat McFadden is the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and minister for intergovernmental relations. He is widely seen as a safe pair of hands and has long been pegged as a possible replacement for Rachel Reeves. But as Sir Keir continues to insist the chancellor is going nowhere, there is a chance Mr McFadden could be moved into Ms Rayners post instead. Having previously served as political secretary to former prime minister Tony Blair, he is highly loyal to Sir Keir. He was also considered a key architect of Labours 2024 election victory in his role as national campaign co-ordinator. The latest betting odds put Mr McFadden at 10/1 to replace Ms Rayner. Darren Jones open image in gallery Rachel Reeves former number two in the Treasury, Darren Jones, has become the Prime Ministers chief secretary (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire ) Just this week, Darren Jones was handed a major promotion when he was moved into Downing Street as chief secretary to the prime minister. Many now see Mr Jones as being Sir Keirs de facto deputy, as the move was part of the prime ministers plan to bolster his No 10 operation ahead of the budget, meaning his role straddles both the day-to-day running of government and the Treasury. Mr Jones is seen as less likely by the betting markets, with Star Sports putting him as a long shot at 20/1. Wes Streeting open image in gallery Wes Streeting is currently health secretary ( PA ) One of the more high-profile Cabinet ministers, the health secretary, is another figure who could be in line to replace Ms Rayner in the DPMs office. He is widely seen to have done a good job managing the NHS one of the chunkiest briefs in government. However, he is one of the least popular Cabinet ministers among Labour members, ranking 21st in Labour Lists Cabinet league table - with only Ms Reeves, Lord Hermer and Liz Kendall behind him. Mr Streeting is a favourite among punters, with the odds of him becoming deputy PM at 7/2. Yvette Cooper open image in gallery Yvette Cooper has one of the most difficult briefs in government ( PA ) Yvette Cooper is another prominent Cabinet figure entrusted with one of the most important briefs in government, handling both migration and law and order. She is much more popular among Labour members, ranking seventh in LabourLists Cabinet league table. However, she is yet to persuade voters that the party is doing enough to bring down small boat crossings meaning that promoting her at this stage could end up being an electoral liability for Sir Keir. And Ms Cooper is second favourite to succeed Ms Rayner as deputy PM, with odds of 9/2. Who could replace Rayner as housing secretary? Ms Rayner has also resigned from her position as housing secretary, praising the excellent team of ministers working under her. But who could replace her? Matthew Pennycook open image in gallery Housing minister Matthew Pennycook (Richard Townshend/UK Parliament/PA) ( PA Media ) Matthew Pennycook is Angela Rayners deputy in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, making him a logical replacement. Before the election, he served in the same role in the shadow front bench team, a position he held from 2021. But he has never held a full Cabinet or shadow Cabinet role, meaning he could be sidelined by more experienced operators. He is respected as a solid operator and is often deployed on the morning broadcast round. Ms Reeves praised him in her resignation letter alongside other ministers in the department including Jim McMahon, Alex Norris, Wajid Khan and Sharon Taylor. Peter Kyle open image in gallery Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has long been in line for a promotion ( PA Wire ) Peter Kyle is seen as a more competent member of Sir Keirs frontbench, and there has long been talk of a promotion for the science and technology minister. But without a full reshuffle, there has not yet been the opportunity to move him to a more prominent brief. If Ms Rayner were to go, Mr Kyle is likely to be in the running as a possible replacement. Mr Kyle is also said to want a new job and is not enjoying the Department of Science and Information Technology. Douglas Alexander open image in gallery Douglas Alexander Alexander stressed the importance of having a well-functioning UK internal market (PA) ( PA Wire ) Douglas Alexander has a significant amount of government experience, serving as a minister between 2001 and 2010 and spending four years in Cabinet. He was a minister of state in four departments and served as secretary of state for both transport and Scotland, and served as international development secretary between 2007 and 2010. The MP, who was first elected in 1997, has enough experience to put him in a strong position to replace Ms Rayner. It seems like just a matter of time for someone of Mr Alexanders experience to find himself in the Cabinet. Steve Reed open image in gallery Environment Secretary Steve Reed (Aaron Chown/PA) ( PA Wire ) Steve Reed, who is the environment secretary, has significant local government experience. He was the leader of Lambeth Council for more than six years before being elected to Parliament in 2012, a role which saw him intervene on council tax, social housing and childrens services. He has impressed by standing firm on the farm tax and challenging water companies on sewage spills in his role at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Mr Reed is probably the only potential candidate to end up with both of Ms Rayners roles. 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 Nigel Farage was branded a Putin-loving free speech imposter and Trump sycophant by a US congressman on Wednesday who launched a severe critique of the Reform UK leader before the Briton gave evidence to a committee in Washington DC. Democrat representative Jamie Raskin urged voters in Britain to think twice before voting for Mr Farage, accusing him of only protecting free speech he agrees with. His comments came as Mr Farage, who has been heavily critical of free speech in the UK, with claims police are too heavy-handed with their arrests of people accused of hate speech, gave evidence on the subject to the US House judiciary committee. Mr Raskin said: "To the people of the UK who think this Putin-loving free speech imposter and Trump sycophant will protect freedom in your country, come on over to America and see what Trump and Maga are doing to destroy our freedom ... You might think twice before you let Mr Farage make Britain great again. Giving evidence later in the session, Mr Farage hit back, saying: You can say what you like, I dont care. In his stinging attack, Mr Raskin argued that Donald Trump and Mr Farage both claim they're protectors of free speech, but they only want to protect speech they agree with. open image in gallery Nigel Farage appears in front of the US house judiciary committee ( Reuters ) He [Mr Farage] complains that racist threats against immigrants are not protected free speech, while he proposes to strip migrants, tourists and perhaps even visiting American congresspeople of any free speech rights at all. I had my own close encounter with that when Mr Farage and his team presented for more than an hour in a conversation we had about free speech. And after three minutes of talking, he cut me off and terminated the meeting because he didn't like what I was saying. That's the kind of free speech he's committed to, Mr Raskin said. Mr Farage has proposed replacing the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights applying only to British citizens and those who have a legal right to live in the UK. Mr Raskin argued that while there is a free speech crisis in America, there's no free speech crisis in Britain. open image in gallery Farage poses with Trump in the Oval Office during his Washington trip ( Nigel Farage/X ) He pointed out that no one has stopped Mr Farage from parroting Putin's absurd talking points, a reference to the MPs previous suggestion that Nato provoked the war in Ukraine, as well as pointing out that Sir Keir Starmer has not shut down news organisation GB News, where Mr Farage has his own show, which is critical of the government. Giving evidence to the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, the Reform UK leader said: Im delighted to be acquainted with the charming Mr Raskin delightful testimony you gave me earlier on with your speech. But hey, thats fine. You can say what you like, I dont care, because thats what free speech is. In a sense, this has all been going wrong now for a couple of decades. Despite pitching themselves as champions of free speech, Reform UK has been criticised for impinging upon media freedom after the leader of a Reform council barred a local newspaper and website from interacting with the authority. The ban imposed by Nottinghamshire County Council came after Nottinghamshire Live published a series of stories which council leader Mick Barton claimed consistently misrepresented the party. Giving evidence, Mr Farage said he wanted to bring Lucy Connolly, who was jailed for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers in the aftermath of the Southport murders last year, to Washington as living proof of what can go wrong with free speech, as well as sensationally comparing Britain to North Korea. open image in gallery Jamie Raskin in the Capitol yesterday ( Reuters ) It doesnt give me any great joy to be sitting in America and describing the really awful authoritarian situation that we have now sunk into, he said. He also raised the arrest of Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan for his comments on social media about transgender people, claiming that US tech chiefs could face arrest when entering the UK. He said: He [Linehan] put out some tweets months ago when he was in Arizona, and months later, he arrives at Heathrow airport to be met by five armed police. This could happen to any American man or woman that goes to Heathrow that has said things online that the British government and British police dont like. It is a potentially big threat to tech bosses, to many, many others. Mr Farage also warned that the UKs Online Safety Act will damage trade between our countries, threaten free speech across the West because of the knock-on rollout effects of this legislation from us or from the European Union. The Online Safety Act came into effect this year, providing a new set of laws that protect children and adults online from harmful content. The act has given providers new duties to implement systems and processes to reduce the risk that their services are used for illegal activity, and to take down illegal content when it does appear. The story so far: Graham Linehan, the creator of Father Ted and The IT Crowd, and a virulent campaigner against transgender rights on X, formerly Twitter, said he will be taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police after being arrested by five officers on arrival from America at Heathrow. He claims and the police have not denied that he was questioned about three tweets that were said to incite violence, including one that said: If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops, and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. The heavy-handed police response prompted condemnation from Conservative and Reform politicians. Nigel Farage said it underlined his support for JD Vance, the US vice-president who has accused Britain of suppressing free speech. Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that operational decisions were a matter for the police, but his spokesperson added: The prime minister and the home secretary have been clear about where their priorities for crime and policing are, and thats tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women. So who has suggested changing the law? Wes Streeting, the health secretary, on Wednesday suggested that the law may need to be changed: Its very easy for people to criticise the police. The police enforce the laws of the land that we as legislators provide, he said. So if were not getting the balance right, then thats something that we all have to look at and consider. The law in question is the Malicious Communications Act 1988, under which it is an offence to send or deliver letters or other articles for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety. Streeting may have simply wanted to sidestep an awkward question in his interview and to avoid criticising the police, but by doing so, he seemed to be wading into a long-running debate about whether the words distress and anxiety in the 1988 law have been interpreted too widely. Is the law really a problem? If you take the view that the police spend too much time investigating social media posts, it may not be the wording of the 1988 act that is the problem. It may be the requirement by law for the police to investigate every malicious communication reported to them. In recent years, the number of alleged offences reported to the police has doubled although in 2023, the Home Office told police they would no longer have to record cases that might offend but were not threatening. But it still requires a lot of police time to decide into which category individual posts that are reported to them belong. Or are the police getting their priorities wrong? Much of the criticism of the treatment of Linehan has focused on the number of officers who arrested him at Heathrow airport, and that they were armed. Government ministers quite rightly should avoid commenting on operational matters, but the rest of us can observe that five officers seems excessive and indeed that arresting Linehan seems excessive, when he could simply have been asked to attend an interview. That the officers were armed, however, may be a side issue, as that is the norm for police at airports. There have been many other cases where more officers have been deployed than seems necessary, and using the power of arrest when an interview (or phone call) might do. In January this year, six officers turned up at the house of Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine to arrest them on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications and causing a nuisance on school property because they had sent emails critical of the recruitment process for a new head teacher at their childrens primary school. After a five-week investigation, the police concluded that there should be no further action. How should the police get the balance right? There may be no easy answers. Most people support the law against incitement to racial hatred the Public Order Act 1986, under which Lucy Connolly was jailed for tweeting that asylum hotels should be burned down. And if Linehan had advocated violence against an ethnic minority, the idea that he was just exercising the right of free speech might have been harder to sustain. But there is a problem not least for Britains image abroad when the police response to social media posts seems so heavy-handed. Obviously, Britain is nothing like a police state, but sending five or six officers to make an arrest in cases such as Linehans is disproportionate. Keir Starmers mini-reshuffle of 10 Downing Street was widely interpreted as an assertion of prime ministerial power over Rachel Reeves, the chancellor. The key part of the jigsaw was the appointment of Darren Jones, previously Reevess deputy as chief secretary to the Treasury, to the new post of chief secretary to the prime minister, based in No 10. At the same time, Starmer brought in Dan York-Smith, a Treasury official, to be his closest civil servant, principal private secretary, and appointed an economic adviser, Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England not having had one until now. Does this mean that the prime minister is beefing up his team in order to put his mark on the forthcoming Budget in which the government is under intense pressure to break its manifesto promises by raising one of the main taxes and to cut public spending? Who decides the Budget measures? Conventionally, the main Budget decisions are taken jointly by the prime minister who retains the historical title of first lord of the Treasury and the chancellor. But in practice, the balance of power between Nos 10 and 11 can tilt one way or the other. Tony Blair was once reduced, only half-jokingly, to pleading with Gordon Brown to give us a clue as to what might be in a Budget that was only a few days away. David Cameron and George Osborne had a more harmonious relationship, although it was complicated most of the time by the need to consult the Liberal Democrats. Starmer and Reeves have presented themselves as being towards the Cameron-Osborne end of the scale of good relations, but there have been murmurings about Starmer blaming Reeves for the two decisions on which he U-turned, namely the cut in winter fuel payments for pensioners and the attempt to restrain the growth in disability benefits. Fuelling accusations that Starmer is quick to blame others, it was even suggested that he had been blindsided by Reeves on those decisions for which he shared responsibility at the time. Hence the suspicion that Starmer wants to strengthen No 10s economic and fiscal firepower. So, has Reeves been sidelined? The chancellor has certainly been weakened. Jones is not a popular minister as chief secretary to the Treasury, his main job was to say no to ministers in spending departments but he is a forceful one and a good communicator. York-Smith was also an important part of Reevess empire. He is well thought of (although not by Sue Gray, Starmers former chief of staff, who wanted her own person in the principal private secretary role), having had experience of many Budgets, both as the Treasury private secretary in No 10 in Camerons time, and recently as the main Treasury civil servant in charge of tax policy. On the other hand, there are good reasons for Starmer to want a powerful progress-chaser in No 10. Equally, there is a tradition of prime ministers having Treasury people as their principal private secretary. It is also normal for a prime minister to have an economic adviser what was unusual was that Starmer hadnt had one until now. The pro-Reeves interpretation of the reshuffle is that it is a reverse takeover of No 10 by the Treasury. Patrick Maguire, the author of Get In, the book about Labours path to power, says: That would be overstating it, but in private, Reeves has long been frank in her assessment of No 10s policy operation and its absence of any serious economic brain. Whose Budget will it be, then? Plainly, the Budget will be the joint property of the prime minister and the chancellor, as always. Starmer can hardly remain hands-off, pretending that the intensely unpopular decisions have come as a surprise to him especially as there are no easy alternatives to higher taxes and a further squeeze on spending. The big decision is probably whether or not to break the manifesto promise not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT but neither Starmer nor Reeves will want to do that, unless they are forced to do so by the gilts market. It seems sensible that Starmer, who is no economics expert, should strengthen his side of the discussions with Reeves. Until now, almost the only financially literate person around the prime minister has been Varun Chandra, his business adviser, who is generally praised for his low-profile, high-quality input. But as they absorb the political pain of unpopular measures, Starmer and Reeves are, in Osbornes words, in this together. 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 Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has disclosed she underpaid stamp duty on a seaside flat, prompting one tax expert to label the property levy a "confusing mess". Ms Rayners admission follows mounting pressure and media reports claiming she saved 40,000 on the Hove property by removing her name from the deeds of a family home in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency. Ms Rayner said she bought the Hove flat after selling her stake in another home to her sons trust. She maintained she initially believed, based on legal advice, she was liable for the standard rate of stamp duty. However, she was later advised that, despite not owning any other property at the time of the purchase, "complex provisions relating to the trust gives rise to additional stamp duty liabilities". The incident highlights the intricate nature of stamp duty, which applies in "slabs", with home buyers paying increasing portions of the property price when purchasing a residential property. Stamp duty is charged in England and Northern Ireland. Scotland and Wales apply separate property taxes. open image in gallery Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner ( PA Wire ) Housing market experts have stressed the critical importance of home-buyers taking specialist advice and meticulously double-checking paperwork to understand their obligations. For example, the current nil rate band for a home-mover purchasing a property as their only home is 125,000, having recently been reduced from a higher threshold of 250,000 from April 2025. Home-buyers usually have to pay 5 per cent on top of stamp duty rates if buying a new residential property means that they will own more than one. Get a free fractional share worth up to 100. Capital at risk. Terms and conditions apply. Go to website ADVERTISEMENT Get a free fractional share worth up to 100. Capital at risk. Terms and conditions apply. Go to website ADVERTISEMENT However, in some cases, buyers may not have to pay the extra 5 per cent if they are replacing their main home and selling their previous one. Posting on X, Dan Neidle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, said that in situations where people are buying a house and everything is simple, you can ask your conveyancer how much stamp duty to pay. But he said that in complex situations this is a very bad idea. Mr Neidle added: The bigger point: stamp duty is a confusing mess. The tax shouldnt exist. The second home surcharge is daft. Why are we taxing someone who buys two 500k homes 55k (15k + 40k), But someone who buys one 1m home 43k? Wheres the logic? Property expert and TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp posted on X: Ive always wanted everyone to understand that the so called 2nd home surcharge is a vicious little tax which catches people at the some of the most difficult stages of their life (sic). If Angela Rayner didnt understand how it worked then how are the rest of us supposed to? David Hollingworth, an associate director at L&C Mortgages, said that trust arrangements are not something that most home-buyers would need to factor into their situations. Speaking generally about stamp duty, Mr Hollingworth said: Stamp duty land tax has only become more complicated with the surcharge on additional property, so taking specialist tax advice becomes all the more important. The more complex the situation the more specialist that advice will likely need to be. Nathan Emerson, chief executive at property professionals body Propertymark, said: Buying and selling property consistently ranks as both a stressful process but also one that constantly evolves, with many people being infrequently involved in it. In practice, understanding what tax might be due when purchasing a property will likely be unfamiliar to many people. He continued: Any amount due will be truly individual and can vary based on many aspects, such as whether you are a first-time buyer, the price of the property being purchased, or if you are maybe purchasing an additional property, for example. You must ensure that you double-check all submitted paperwork and that all figures stated are correct and represent the true picture. Within this process, it is always advisable to consider professional advice and fully understand what might be due before submitting all relevant information. open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has backed Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner ( PA Wire ) In a statement, Ms Rayner, who was divorced in 2023, said she had agreed to a nesting arrangement where the children remained in the family home. She said a court-instructed trust was established in 2020 following a deeply personal and distressing incident involving my son as a premature baby. The statement continued: He was left with life-long disabilities, and the trust was established to manage the award on his behalf a standard practice in circumstances like ours. To ensure he continued to have stability in the family home, which had been adapted for his needs, we agreed that our interest in the family home would be transferred to this court-instructed trust of which he is the sole beneficiary. Some of the interest in our family home was transferred to the trust in 2023. In January 2025, Ms Rayner said she sold the remaining interest in the property to her sons trust. The statement said: We transferred the property because it was in the best interests of our child. I acted as any parent would. The sale of the property in Ashton-under-Lyne to the trust has not altered my family life. It remains my family home, as it has been for over a decade. open image in gallery Critics say stamp duty is confusing ( PA Archive ) After selling her stake to the trust, Ms Rayner said she bought the Hove property in May 2025, using the lump sum from selling her stake in her Ashton home, which was the only property I owned and where my savings were, for the deposit on my new one. She said she obtained a mortgage to finance the rest. Ms Rayner said that, when buying the property: My understanding, on advice from lawyers, was that my circumstances meant I was liable for the standard rate of stamp duty. However, given the recent allegations in the press I have subsequently sought further advice from a leading tax counsel to review that position and to ensure I am fully compliant with all tax provisions. I have now been advised that although I did not own any other property at the time of the purchase, the application of complex deeming provisions which relate to my sons trust gives rise to additional stamp duty liabilities. I acknowledge that due to my reliance on advice from lawyers which did not properly take account of these provisions, I did not pay the appropriate stamp duty at the time of the purchase. Ms Rayner said she is working with lawyers and with HM Revenue and Customs to resolve the matter and pay what is due. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Last month, in a disturbing but not entirely unsurprising development, the leader of a Reform UK council effectively barred a local newspaper and website from interacting with the authority. The ban imposed by Nottinghamshire County Council came after Nottinghamshire Live published a series of stories which council leader Mick Barton claimed consistently misrepresented Reform. It was a strange move for a party that bills itself as the champion of free speech. And it was somewhat ironic that it came just days before party leader Nigel Farage lambasted the state of free speech in the UK in front of a congressional committee in Washington DC. But the truly worrying thing is that the block on engaging with the media is not a localised phenomenon, but one which could truly rear its ugly head on a national scale if Mr Farage takes control of Downing Street. open image in gallery Farage revels in press conferences ( PA Archive ) Experience of dealing with Reforms national operation over the last few months has demonstrated that this situation is more than simply one council going rogue. As political editor of The Independent, I have taken threatening calls from a member of Reforms leadership and an aide of Mr Farage, telling me that The Independent will be banned from all events if we do not change a critical story or the tone of our questions and coverage. In one case, a member of the leadership took umbrage at a piece suggesting they had been hypocritical (they had, by the way) in their attack on Rachel Reeves over her CV. In between threatening legal action, they added: I will make sure The Independent does not get to attend a single one of our events or get a single interview again. They did not follow through on the threat, but another senior official made a rather revealing and sinister comment: You dont want to ruin relations with a party leading the polls over a story like this. In other words, we need to stay on the partys good side because it might win an election or else! Someone does not appear to understand what journalists do. One of my colleagues was specifically targeted as someone who would not be allowed to attend events because a senior Reform staffer falsely accused him of being an activist journalist. He comes here with his rainbow lanyard and his pronouns with his snide questions, they said. Needless to say, once the threat of being banned was made, the journalist in question was sent to each and every event unless he was on holiday. open image in gallery Reforms Nottinghamshire County Council leader Mick Barton ( Facebook/Reform UK Nottinghamshire County Council ) At one point, he was blocked from going into a press conference because it was claimed he had not registered (he had). Reform only backed down when I messaged to say I would be publishing a story about them banning The Independent from the event. I was subsequently assured it had not been intentional. Much more disturbing was when a female colleague attended a recent press conference and was verbally attacked by a male Reform staffer in the middle of the event. The Reform staffer had been reading messages over her shoulder that she had written on her laptop back to head office, and leaned forward with his face up close to hers and started angrily objecting to them, making her feel extremely uncomfortable and threatened. Ironically, it was at a press conference about how to protect women. I know that these are not experiences isolated to The Independent. I have been told by an insider that there was a serious discussion within Reform a number of months ago about banning The Mirror and The Guardian from their events. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed in that discussion. It is not as though we should be surprised by this because Reform is essentially importing the Maga tactics of Donald Trump in a divide-and-rule approach excluding those who challenge or do not do as they are told. open image in gallery Richard Tice has supported the media ban in Nottinghamshire ( PA Wire ) I remember very clearly going to the Oval Office to see Keir Starmer meet Trump, and the Associated Press (AP) representative in front of me being stopped and barred from the event. AP had refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. But let us be clear about this: the behaviour of Reform I have described above is not normal. Political parties in this country do not ban or threaten journalists. They may get angry, there may be complaints and arguments but nothing like I have described above. The only other major party to behave like this was the Scottish National Party, especially under the leadership of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. But they, like Reform, are nationalist and populist in nature, so maybe we should not be surprised. The irony of all this is that Reforms rise to the top of the polls and dominating the political agenda has been because of the huge political coverage it has received much greater than its number of MPs would warrant. If there is one bit of hope, it is that there are some cooler, more experienced heads in the party. Mr Farage himself has never made such threats and was one of the first political leaders I knew who gave out his number to journalists. You can see by the way he allows every journalist who attends his many events to ask a question that he, personally, is not afraid of the scrutiny or difficult questions. Perhaps it is because he is a confident and accomplished media performer. Actually, his approach at press conferences is one that other leaders like Sir Keir should adopt. But that is not the same for all of Reforms senior figures. Last week, deputy leader Richard Tice defended Mr Barton over his actions. He told Sky News that Nottinghamshire Live distorts and completely acts in an irresponsible way, and therefore, councillors were entitled to say, were going to talk to other parts of the media, not yourselves. It is a disturbing indication of what would happen if Reform enters Downing Street. It is worth remembering that free speech does not exist if there is not a free press able to carry out its work and hold people to account. Mr Farage should have remembered that when he gave evidence in Washington. No wonder he got torn to sheds and humiliated by Democrat congressman Jamie Raskin. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sir Keir Starmer is considering introducing digital ID cards in a bid to crack down on small boat crossings, Downing Street has said. The prime minister did not say whether identification cards would be made compulsory, but confirmed the government is considering a rollout of the technology. It comes days after one of Sir Keirs top ministers Pat McFadden said Britain is behind the curve and called for the rollout of digital IDs. No 10 has previously steered clear of digital ID cards as a way to deter Channel crossings, despite repeated calls from senior figures including former Labour prime minister Sir Tony Blair. Asked on Tuesday whether ministers were considering rolling out a compulsory national ID card, the PM's spokesman said: "We're willing to look at what works when it comes to tackling illegal migration, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Mr McFadden referenced that over the weekend in terms of applications of digital ID to the immigration system. open image in gallery Keir Starmer is considering rolling out digital IDs ( PA ) "The point here is looking at what works, ensuring that we're doing what we can to address some of the drivers of illegal migration, tackle those pull factors, ensure that we're doing everything we can to crack down on illegal working. "We've made significant progress when it comes to illegal working, surged arrests by 50%, but there's more to do in this space." Big Brother Watch said mandatory digital ID cards would lead to a dystopian nightmare in which Britons would be forced through digital checkpoints to go about our everyday lives. Interim director Rebecca Vincent told BBC Radio 4s Today programme the measure would not stop small boat crossings but would simply put the burden on the already law-abiding citizens to prove their right to be here. But the Tony Blair Institute said small boat crossings are about the pull of the shadow economy here and gangs are literally selling this as part of their pitch to vulnerable people who are then making the crossing. open image in gallery Tony Blair has long called for digital ID cards ( AFP/Getty ) Executive director of politics Ryan Wain added: Digital ID cards just completely shut that down simply put, it would put an end to paper IDs which are easily forged. Mr McFadden suggested over the weekend that Britain could implement a system similar to the Baltic state of Estonia, where its citizens are given a unique identification number. In an interview with The Times, Mr McFadden said the ID scheme could be used to tackle the surge in small boat crossings and to combat benefit fraud as people would have to prove who they were before taking employment. France has previously argued that asylum seekers are attracted to the UK because of their ability to find work in the informal economy, in roles such as takeaway delivery drivers or the service industry, despite not being allowed to work upon entry in Britain. People shouldnt be able to come to the UK and work illegally if they dont have a right to work, Mr McFadden said. France has talked about pull factors in the context of the migration debate. If there are pull factors like that, we should deal with them, he added. open image in gallery Pat McFadden said ID cards would limit the pull factors drawing migrants over the Channel in small boats ( PA ) The PMs official spokesman also said plans to house migrants in "modular buildings" and at old industrial sites are under discussion as Sir Keir faces pressure to empty asylum hotels of migrants. Sir Keir is due to gather ministers to plan action on going "further and faster" on tackling illegal migration on Tuesday afternoon, according to No 10. The prime minister's official spokesman said Sir Keir reiterated migration was a "central issue" as the Cabinet met on Tuesday, and called for "further and faster" action on it. The spokesman also said: "He said it was easy to understand the frustration people feel at the level of illegal crossings and the site of asylum hotels in their communities. "He will be chairing a ministerial meeting later today to consider how we can go further and faster to combat illegal crossings. "This includes continuing to work with the French authorities, cracking down on pull factors and illegal working, including exploring options around digital ID, accelerating the closure of hotels and looking at better forms of accommodation, and driving further progress returning people with no right to be here." Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Zack Polanski has apologised for claiming to have been able to help women increase the size of their breasts using his mind. The newly elected Green Party leader, while previously working as a hypnotherapist, offered a session to increase an undercover newspaper reporters breast size and improve her body image. And, asked about the claims following his landslide leadership win, Mr Polanski said I apologised for that 12 years ago, before apologising again. Asked if voters could trust him in light of the claims, he told BBC Breakfast: Well, its never for a politician to say trust me. Zack Polanski said Labour attacking him over the claims shows the party is worried ( PA ) But what I would say is, I apologise, well, I apologised for that 12 years ago, and one of my favourite politicians, Tony Benn, often said, I dont care where you came from, I care where youre going. Ultimately, trust is a transactional relationship where you build trust based on the actions. Labour immediately resurfaced the Green leaders 2013 claim, with an attack post on the partys press account declaring: Meet Zack Polanski. This is the person who the Greens just elected as their new leader. The post contained an extract of The Sun article declaring Mr Polanskis support for hypnotic breast enhancement. This is an extremely new approach, but I can see it becoming popular very quickly, because its so safe and a lot cheaper than a boob job, he is quoted as saying. Several Labour MPs shared the post, with Ketterings Rosie Wrighting adding: So this is who the Greens think should lead their party? Says it all. Stratford and Bow MP Uma Kumaran said: Grim. Mr Polanski hit back, saying: The Labour government, when they could have been talking about the inequality act, or the homeless people on the streets, or the fact that weve just spent 15bn in nuclear weapons we could have that discussion but no, the Labour Party yesterday put out a press release about a silly article way before I was a politician from over a decade ago that Ive already apologised for. That sounds to me like this is a Labour government worrying, and they should do. Mr Polanski secured the Green Party leadership in a landslide victory, winning 20,411 votes from the party membership, while Ellie Chowns and Adrian Ramsays joint campaign received just 3,705 votes. Elected with the largest ever number of votes in a Green Party leadership election, becoming the first ever sole leader of the party, Mr Polanski promised bold action and bold leadership. In his victory speech, Mr Polanski sent a message to Sir Keirs Labour Party, vowing the Greens will replace it. He said: We will nationalise the water companies. We will hold this Labour government to account. Because when we look at Keir Starmer and what this government have been doing, whether its the two-child benefit cap, the disability cuts, the genocide in Gaza, my message to Labour is very clear: we are not here to be disappointed by you, we are not here to be concerned by you, were here to replace you. 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 Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel as they were working to clear roadblocks, the force said Wednesday. No one was hurt in the attack. The peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL described the Tuesday morning incident as one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities in November that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war. The Israeli military did not immediately comment. UNIFIL said Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to the peacekeepers, who were working to clear roadblocks that hindered access to a U.N. position along the border line. One grenade hit within 20 meters (yards) and three others within approximately 100 meters of U.N. personnel and vehicles, it said, adding the drones were observed returning toward Israel. UNIFIL said the Israeli military had been informed in advance of the peacekeeping forces road clearance work in the area, southeast of the village of Marwahin less than a kilometer (mile) from the border line. Out of concern for the safety of peacekeepers following the incident, yesterdays work was suspended, UNIFIL said. The attack came after the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously last week to terminate the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon at the end of next year after nearly five decades, bowing to demands from the United States and Israel. The multinational peacekeeping force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in southern Lebanon for decades, including during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. The force has also drawn criticism from both sides and from officials in U.S. President Donald Trumps administration, which has moved to slash U.S. funding for the operation as Trump remakes Americas approach to foreign policy. The Israel-Hezbollah war killed over 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused destruction worth $11 billion, according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 people died, including 80 soldiers. UNIFIL said any actions that endanger U.N. peacekeepers and assets or interfere with their tasks are unacceptable and a serious violation of international law and the resolution that ended the war. It added it is the Israeli military's responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the peacekeepers performing Security Council-mandated tasks. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A quick-moving wildfire has ravaged a historic California Gold Rush town, scorching thousands of acres and destroying homes. The blaze, which rapidly grew to 6.25 square miles (16.1 square kilometres), forced the evacuation of Chinese Camp Town a settlement established around 1850 by Chinese miners and its surrounding highways. At least five properties, a mix of freestanding and mobile homes, were consumed by the flames in the rural community. CalFire, the states chief fire agency, confirmed the devastation, adding that while there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, the fire remained uncontained on Tuesday night. open image in gallery A firefighter battles the 6-5 Fire burning through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Outside one house on Tuesday evening, seven people quickly moved large tree branches away from the structure and shoveled sand onto the fire in a desperate attempt to keep the blaze from spreading from the house next door. They worked for about 30 minutes until firefighters arrived. An RV on the property was damaged by the fire. Fire officials have requested additional resources such as fire engines, dozers and an aircraft. The blaze, known as the 6-5 Fire, was caused by lightning, according to CalFire. The town on the main road to Stockton was settled by Chinese miners after they were driven out of a nearby camp, according to Visit Tuolumne County. Originally called Camp Washington, its name was soon changed to reflect the thousands of people from China who settled there. 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 The leaders of China, North Korea and Russia stood shoulder to shoulder Wednesday as high-tech military hardware and thousands of marching soldiers filled the streets of Beijing. Two days earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping huddled together, smiling broadly and clasping hands at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The gatherings in China this week could be read as a striking, maybe even defiant, message to the United States and its allies. At the very least, they offered yet more evidence of a burgeoning shift away from a U.S.-dominated, Western-led world order, as President Donald Trump withdraws America from many of its historic roles and roils economic relationships with tariffs. Trump himself indicated he was the leaders' target in a message on social media to Xi: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. But Chinas military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and the earlier economic gathering, is also simply more of the self-interested, diplomatic jockeying that has marked regional power politics for decades. Each of these leaders, in other words, is out for himself. Xi needs cheap Russian energy and a stable border with North Korea, his nuclear-armed wildcard neighbor. Putin is hoping to escape Western sanctions and isolation over his war in Ukraine. Kim wants money, legitimacy and to one-up archrival South Korea. Modi is trying to manage his relationship with regional heavyweights Putin and Xi, at a moment when ties with Washington are troubled. The events highlight Chinas regional aspirations China is beset with serious domestic problems stark economic and gender inequalities, to name two and a tense standoff with Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. But Xi has tried to position China as a leader of countries that feel disadvantaged by the post-World War II order. This parade showcases the ascendancy of China propelled by Trumps inept diplomacy and President Xis astute statecraft, said Jeff Kingston, a professor of Asian studies at Temple University Japan. The Washington consensus has unraveled, and Xi is rallying support for an alternative." Some analysts caution against reading too much into Russia-China-North Korea ties. China remains deeply wary of growing North Korean nuclear power, and has long sought to temper its support even agreeing at times to international sanctions to try to influence Pyongyangs pursuit of weapons. Though the Russia-North Korea tie has resumed to a military alliance, China refuses to return to the year of 1950, when Beijing sent soldiers to support North Korea's invasion of the South and the USSR provided crucial military aid, said Zhu Feng, dean of the School of International Relations of Nanjing University. It is wrong to believe that China, Russia and North Korea are reinforcing bloc-building. Russia looks to China to help ease its isolation For the Kremlin, Putins appearance in Beijing alongside major world leaders is another way to shrug off the isolation imposed by the West on Russia in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It has allowed Putin to take to the world stage as a statesman, meeting a host of world leaders, including Modi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. And Putins reception by Xi is a reminder that Russia still has major trading partners, despite Western sanctions that have cut off access to many markets. At the same time, Russia does not want to anger Trump, who has been more receptive than his predecessor, particularly in hearing out Moscow's terms for ending its war with Ukraine. Over these four days, during negotiations of all kinds, both in formal and informal settings, no one has ever expressed any negative judgments on the current American administration, Putin told reporters, in an apparent reference to Trump's post. Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, noted that its relationship with China is critical for Russia. Russia is the major beneficiary of Chinas ability to provide dual-use goods and all the technologies to circumvent the sanctions and keep the military machine (going). China has become the major source of Russias export revenues that is filling Putins war chest, Gabuev said. For China, obviously, Russias war in Ukraine provides a distraction to the U.S. Kim Jong Un walks a diplomatic tightrope in Beijing The North Korean leader's trip to Beijing will deepen new ties with Russia while also focusing on the shaky relationship with his nations most crucial ally, and main economic lifeline, China. Kim has sent thousands of troops and huge supplies of military equipment to help Russian forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion on their territory. Without specifically mentioning the Ukraine war, Kim told Putin on Wednesday that if theres anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a brotherly obligation, an obligation that we surely need to bear. The Institute for National Security Strategy, a think tank affiliated with South Koreas spy agency, said in a report this week that Kims trip, his first appearance at a multilateral diplomatic event since taking power in 2011, is meant to strengthen ties with friendly countries ahead of any potential resumption of talks about its nuclear program with Trump. The two leaders nuclear diplomacy collapsed in 2019. Kim can also claim a diplomatic victory as North Korea has gone from unanimously sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council for its illegal nuclear and missile programs to being embraced by UNSC permanent members Russia and China, said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. Indias Modi is playing a nuanced game Modi is on his first visit to China since relations between the two countries deteriorated after Chinese and Indian soldiers engaged in deadly border clashes in 2020. But the tentative rapprochement has its limits. Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the Indian leader did not participate in Beijings military parade because the distrust with China still exists. India is carefully walking this tightrope between the West and the rest, especially when it comes to the U.S., Russia and China," he said. "Because India does not believe in formal alliances, its approach has been to strengthen its relationship with the U.S., maintain it with Russia, and manage it with China. Even as he takes some steps toward China, the United States is also on Modi's mind. India and Washington were negotiating a free trade agreement when the Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, bringing the combined tariffs to 50%. Trade talks have since stalled and relations have significantly declined. Modis administration has vowed to not to yield to U.S. pressure and signaled it is willing to move closer to China and Russia. But Donthi said India would still like to keep a window open for Washington. If Modi can shake hands with Xi five years after the India-China border clash, it could be far easier for him to shake hands with Trump and get back to strengthening ties, because they are natural allies, he said. ___ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea; Ken Moritsugu in Beijing; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England; Joanna Kozlowska in London contributed. 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 Black server at a Cracker Barrel restaurant and country store in Tennessee claims she faced rampant bigotry on the job, while higher-ups consistently failed to hold white employees and supervisors accountable for their racist behavior. In a federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent, Roberta Mendez, who identifies as Black, says her white coworkers regularly called her, variously, nappy headed [N-word,] burnt biscuit," and monkey, according to her complaint, which was filed on August 21. Last year, it says Mendezs shift leader left little room for interpretation, brazenly telling her, I dont like Black people. Mendez, who has been waiting tables at a Nashville-area Cracker Barrel since 2015, argues she always met or exceeded expectations at work. However, for the past decade, Mendez says she was treated less favorably than her Caucasian counterparts who made derogatory comments to [her] based on her race. Further, the complaint contends, Mendez was physically pushed and hit by her colleagues, and claims management has segregated its Black workers from its Caucasian workers. Mendez reported these transgressions to her bosses up and down the chain of command, according to the complaint. But, it goes on, Mendez was the one who suffered the consequences. Following one 2023 incident, Mendez says she was written up instead of the person whose behavior she had flagged, the complaint states. When Mendez escalated her concerns to Human Resources, she was only told not to sign the write-up, the complaint continues, adding, No remedial action was taken. open image in gallery In the wake of right-wing blowback aimed at Cracker Barrel over an aborted logo change, a Black server at one of the chain's restaurants is suing over what court papers describe as constant racism from coworkers and higher-ups. ( Getty Images ) In August 2024, conditions hadnt improved at all and Mendez submitted a grievance to Cracker Barrel corporate, laying out details of her treatment and the treatment of other Black employees, according to the complaint. The following month, it says Mendez was abruptly fired for breaking company policy. At the same time, none of Mendezs white coworkers faced any blowback at all for similar or worse conduct, the complaint states. The reason for Mendezs termination [was] pretext for discrimination and/or retaliation, according to the complaint, which does not provide details of what Mendez supposedly did wrong. Attorney Kyle Biesecker, who is representing Mendez in the case, told The Independent that he and co-counsel Rachel Ringer hoped their clients complaint spoke for itself. Next, Cracker Barrel will file their answer to the complaint and discovery will proceed from there, Biesecker said. We expect depositions to bear out many of the facts as alleged by Ms. Mendez. A Cracker Barrel spokesperson did not respond on Wednesday to a request for comment. Founded in 1969, Cracker Barrel which recently faced fierce backlash from seething conservatives who insisted the restaurant chains attempt at updating its logo was a concession to the woke left has long been accused of marginalizing both customers and employees who belonged to minority groups. (The company abandoned the new design a week later amid demands from MAGA types, including President Donald Trump.) In 2004, the company forked over nearly $9 million following a class-action lawsuit from more than 40 plaintiffs in 16 states who claimed Cracker Barrel discriminated against Black customers and employees, alleging they were, among other things, denied service, seated away from white patrons and served them food that was destined for the trash. Some years earlier, Cracker Barrel was lambasted after it instituted a policy saying it would no longer continue to employ individuals whose sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values. The chain subsequently terminated nearly a dozen LGBTQ+ workers including a cook who was told, in writing, that she was being let go for being gay. open image in gallery Cracker Barrel has been taken to court previously over its treatment of LGBTQ+ and non-white patrons. Now, a Black server is suing the chain over what she describes as unrelenting bigotry from coworkers and higher-ups ( Getty Images ) Like the logo fiasco, Cracker Barrel revoked the policy shortly after it was introduced, issuing a statement saying, Our recent position on the employment of homosexuals in a limited number of stores may have been a well-intentioned overreaction to the perceived values of our customers and their comfort levels with these individuals. At times, however, things have gone the opposite way at least temporarily. In 2013, when Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson equated homosexual behavior with bestiality, Cracker Barrel pulled the shows licensed merchandise from its store shelves. Yet, the products were put back on sale less than 24 hours later, following an outcry from certain patrons. You told us we made a mistake, the chain wrote on its Facebook page. And you weren't shy about it. Through it all, those on the right have still managed to find fault with the way Cracker Barrel does business. In 2022 and 2023, the company was raked over the coals by conservatives for introducing plant-based sausage as a menu option, as well as for acknowledging Pride Month on its Instagram account. This past July, America First Legal, a right-wing nonprofit run by Trump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, sued Cracker Barrel over claims it discriminated against white men. For her part, Mendez is suing Cracker Barrel for violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Her complaint includes two causes of action: race discrimination and retaliation, alleging that Cracker Barrel subjected her to pervasive harassment on the basis of her race, created a hostile work environment, and terminated her employment when she complained of racially disparaging comments and behavior from her coworkers and supervisors. Defendants actions were intentional, willful, and taken in reckless disregard of Mendezs rights as protected by Title VII, her complaint states. Mendez is now seeking reinstatement to her position, at the salary and seniority level she would have had by now, as well as back pay, benefits and other monetary loss due to her firing. She is also asking for compensatory and punitive damages, with interest, to be determined by a jury, plus court costs and attorneys fees. 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 Cracker Barrel's sales took a hit after conservative backlash to its new logo which removed its "Uncle Herschel" character from its sign. The company has since reversed course to restore its previous design. Beginning on August 19, the day after the logo was revealed, transactions at the restaurants slowed down, according to credit and debit card data collected by analytics provider Bloomberg Second Measure. The decline continued through August 26, when conservatives slammed the logo as "woke" and a broader swath of diners complained that the new, modern look of its restaurants removed the folksy charm associated with the restaurant. Even President Donald Trump weighed in, advising the restaurant to revert to its old logo, and later taking credit when the restaurant did just that. Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before, Trump wrote on Truth Social amid the backlash. open image in gallery Cracker Barrels sales slumped after it changed the design of its logo and the design of its stores. Backlash to the changes were driven by conservatives on social media, including President Donald Trump ( Getty Images ) Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich said he took a call with Cracker Barrel executives who reportedly told him they saw Trumps comments and changed the logo. I appreciated the call earlier this evening with @CrackerBarrel. They thanked President Trump for weighing in on the issue of their iconic original logo, he said in a post on X. They wanted the President to know that they heard him, along with customer response (the ultimate poll), and would be restoring the Old Timer. According to Bloomberg's analytics, other restaurants similar to Cracker Barrel showed mixed sales numbers, which suggests that Cracker Barrel's sales decline was a direct response to its new marketing and the MAGA backlash that followed. We thank our guests for sharing their voices, and were listening to them, Cracker Barrel said in a statement. The rebrand was reportedly intended to draw in younger customers and promote sales growth in response to declining traffic at its locations. Locations that have already undergone redesigns include white-washed walls, large booths and family-style tables, and bright lights. The previous design was meant to evoke a country store, with darker wood colors, rusty washboards hanging on the ceiling, and bear traps mounted to the walls. open image in gallery Cracker Barrels short-lived new logo. The company restored its previous logo which features its folksy farmer character Uncle Herschel leaning on a barrel after conservative backlash to the change. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) One diner, Tammy Anderson, told Bloomberg that she liked the new design at her local Cracker Barrel in Fairburn, Georgia. It was time for a change, she said. Some people are stuck in the 19th century. I like the changes. I like coming here. But many others were furious about the changes. One employee at a Cracker Barrel location in Kennesaw, Georgia, told Bloomberg that the store was "dead for a week" while the backlash was in full swing. Another location in Marietta, Georgia, reported customers having confrontations with store staff, who have no say in the company's marketing. People came in, and I got phone calls, the store's manager told Bloomberg. Oh, people do care about the brand. They were very passionate. On August 27, employees at the Kennesaw location were told during a meeting that the new logo was going to be scrapped and the previous logo would be restored. They were told to wear their older uniforms that use the older logo. According to Morning Consult, a polling research firm, the share of adults who held an unfavorable view of Cracker Barrel increased from 10 percent on August 23 to 25 percent two days later. The controversy also shook Cracker Barrel's stock price, which suffered a 10 percent loss of its value since August 18. Robert Byrne, a senior director of consumer research at Technomic, told Bloomberg that Cracker Barrel's attempt to cater to younger diners may have actually hurt it with that very demographic. Nostalgia is a massive ongoing trend for Gen Z even if it is nostalgia for something they never experienced directly, he told the outlet. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A longtime Maryland buffalo farmer was gored by one of his pets on Monday, but he says the attack couldve been worse. Dick Wildes, 83, was feeding one of his two buffalo, Indy, around 6:30 a.m. at his St. Marys County farm when the other, Dozer, charged at him. "They said it just happened so fast, I did a cartwheel and I saw the sky in the air, next thing I knew I was on the ground," Wildes, whos owned buffalo for 43 years without incident, told Fox 5 DC. Wildes sustained serious injuries to his leg and arm, largely from Dozers horns, and was flown to the hospital. Remarkably, he is expected to recover as he escaped from the enclosure during the attack. "It could have been worse. Could have been worse. If I couldnt get out of there, he could have come at me again, and I could have been in big trouble," he said. Dick Wildes of St. Marys County, Maryland, has owned buffalo for 43 years - but a recent feeding time was not too friendly. ( Getty ) Wildes said he once owned about 50 buffalo, keeping up to 30 of them on his farm, and has never had an incident like Monday's. Sgt. James Cawley with St. Mary's EMS couldn't believe it, either, telling the outlet when he learned of the call, "The notes were 'male struck by buffalo.' It was one of those, "Is this really something that I just read?' And it was." The incident sent a wave of concern through the local community, where Wildes's buffalo have long been considered a regional landmark. "A lot of times if we're trying to tell people where we live, we say we're right around the corner from the buffalo farm," neighbor Donna Phelan told the outlet. Many residents visit on weekends just to admire the animals, another neighbor said, adding that they took their kids, and now their grandchildren, to observe the massive animals. Wildes said he is grateful for the outpouring of support. "I appreciate them with all the comments they've made. But it's also been good for me to have such a good network of friends and family," Wildes said. Still processing what happened, Wildes admits he's uncertain he can ever trust being alone with Dozer again. He's weighing his options and contemplating whether to relocate the animal for everyone's safety. 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 Trinidad and Tobagos prime minister has praised a U.S. strike on a boat suspected of carrying drugs in the southern Caribbean, saying the U.S military should kill them all violently. Kamla Persad-Bissessar was speaking after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that 11 people were killed aboard the boat that had departed Venezuela, which is located near Trinidad and Tobago. I, along with most of the country, am happy that the U.S. naval deployment is having success in their mission, Persad-Bissessar said in a statement late Tuesday. The pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense. I have no sympathy for traffickers; the U.S. military should kill them all violently. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the drugs aboard the vessel were likely headed to Trinidad or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Persad-Bissessar said that restricting illegal guns, drugs and human trafficking would decrease violence in the Caribbean region and the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which has imposed two state of emergencies in recent months. Our country has been ravaged by bloody violence and addiction because of the greed of the cartels, Persad-Bissessar said. The slaughter of our people is fueled by evil cartel traffickers. Trump confirmed 11 people were killed aboard a boat that had departed Venezuela, close to Trinidad and Tobago ( AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein ) Other Caribbean leaders were more reserved in their remarks. Barbados Today, a local news site, quoted Barbadian Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds as saying that foreign ministers within Caricom, a 15-member regional trade bloc, wrote to Rubio to ensure that future military operations within the Caribbean dont occur without prior notice or explanation. What effectively we are trying to do is to work through the diplomatic channels of making sure that there are no surprises and practices, so that you get notification wherever it is feasible for actions that are going to have a foreseeable regional impact, Symmonds was quoted as saying. He said that ongoing dialogue would avoid misunderstandings, and we can maintain and strengthen our mutual confidence with each other. Trump has said that the vessel targeted in the strike in international waters was operated by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. The White House didn't immediately explain how the military determined that those aboard the vessel were Tren de Aragua members. The strike came after the U.S. announced last month that it planned to boost its maritime force in waters off Venezuela to fight threats from Latin American drug cartels. 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 The White House has released a video of a lethal strike on a small vessel which the US President, Donald Trump, claimed was carrying drugs from Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. Sharing the video on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump alleged that the shipment was connected to a drug cartel which he claimed was led by the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro. The night-vision aerial footage shows a fast-moving boat exploding in a ball of flames after being struck by a missile. The strike killed 11 people, according to Trump. Please let this serve as notice to anyone even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE, he wrote in his post on Tuesday. open image in gallery Trump claimed 11 drug traffickers were killed in the strike ( Donald Trump/Truth Social ) The bombing marks a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Caracas, and came a day after Maduro accused the US of attempting to carry out regime change in Venezuela. A number of US naval forces, apparently tasked with combating drug traffickers, gathered in and around the southern Caribbean. Maduro warned he will respond in kind to any attack by warships patrolling near the Venezuelan coast, adding that he would declare a republic in arms, without elaborating. How did the US Navy attack the drug boat? The strike reportedly took place on Tuesday morning, but the US President first revealed details in a conference in the Oval Office that afternoon. Speaking to reporters, he said the US had just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat. He added: A lot of drugs in that boat. And youll be seeing that, and youll be reading about that... These came out of Venezuela. open image in gallery Donald Trump speaking at a news conference in the Oval Office on Tuesday ( Reuters ) Later, Trump took to social media to announce further details of the strike, which he said targeted a boat that was smuggling drugs out of Venezuela for the Tren de Aragua gang. He described this gang as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere. He continued: The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. No further details have emerged on the strike, which is the first known US military attack against alleged drug traffickers since the Trump administration began sending warships to the Caribbean last month. open image in gallery Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has threatened to create a republic in arms ( AP ) Why has the US sent a naval fleet to Venezuelas coast? Trump has pushed for the military to tackle drug cartels that he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the US. Seven US warships, along with one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, are expected to be mobilised in the region, along with 4,500 sailors and marines, according to Reuters. Among the warships are two Aegis guided-missile destroyers - the USS Gravely and the USS Jason Dunham - as well as the destroyer USS Sampson and the cruiser USS Lake Erie, AP reported. The Trump administration said the mobilisation of its warships was part of a broader operation to thwart Latin American drug cartels, but officials in Caracas have questioned the USs motives and suggested the deployment could be a pretext to a military invasion. open image in gallery The US Navy warship USS Lake Erie docks at the Port of Balboa in Panama City ( AFP via Getty Images ) Experts, however, are dubious about those claims. The build up is a sizeable force for whats officially a counter-narcotics mission, much more than youd normally expect for that role, Imdat Oner, a political analyst at Florida International University and a former Turkish diplomat who was stationed in Caracas from 2014 to 2016, told The Independent. Its a deliberate show of force, but not enough for a full-scale invasion. The posture sits in this ambiguous middle ground, enough firepower to keep Maduro guessing, but not so much that it commits the US to a full occupation. open image in gallery Trucks transport tanks in Venezuela after the government announced a military mobilisation following the US deployment of warships in the region ( AP ) It is unclear how the military presence in the region will disrupt the drug trade. The ships are part of an enhanced counter narcotics operation to carry out drug interdiction missions in Latin America, a defence official told The Washington Post last week. Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based political analyst for the International Crisis Group, believes the operation is likely to be an expensive failure... since at best it will only temporarily disrupt trafficking in the eastern Caribbean. But he added: There are ancillary goals, including the destabilisation of the Maduro government and possibly even its collapse. That's something US Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio has long promoted, but there appears to be no clear plan as to how to achieve it, and even less of an idea how to deal with the chaos that might ensue. How has Maduro responded? The large US presence in the region has raised suspicion in Caracas that the US might take military action against Venezuela. Maduros government has responded by deploying more than 15,000 troops along the Venezuelan coast and border with neighbouring Colombia, as officials urged civilians and reservists to enlist in a militia to defend the country. In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defence of Venezuela, Maduro said on Monday, characterising the deployment of US warships as an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat. He accused Trump of pursuing a regime change, warning that US military action against his country would stain (Trumps hands) with blood. open image in gallery Footage shows the drug boat before it was struck by US forces ( The White House ) Historic tensions between the US and Venezuela Trump has long blamed Venezuela for a drug epidemic in his country, claiming Caracas is pouring narcotics into the US through illegal channels. Venezuela has denied the allegations, asserting that the vast majority of cocaine produced in Colombia departs through the Pacific. Maduro is widely considered a dictator and not recognised by the US as Venezuela's legitimate leader. He was sworn in to a third six-year term in January, and he maintains he was the legitimate winner of the presidential election last year. The opposition, however, said there is credible evidence that its candidate had won the vote, as it urged the US and other countries to ramp up pressure on Maduro to force him out of office. The Trump administration announced a $50m reward last month for Maduros arrest, accusing him of being one of the world's largest drug traffickers and working with cartels to flood the US with fentanyl-laced cocaine. Maduro denies any connection to the drug trade. Maduro was indicted by a US federal court during Trumps first presidency in 2020 on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. The bounty at the time for information that could lead to Maduros capture and prosecution was $15m, which was increased by the Biden administration to $25m, the same amount the US offered for the capture of Osama Bin Laden following the September 11 attacks. 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 The White House has said that 11 narcoterrorists were killed in a drone strike on a small vessel it claimed was carrying drugs from Venezuela to the US in the Caribbean Sea. Sharing footage on his social media platform, Truth Social, President Donald Trump alleged that the shipment was connected to a drug cartel which he claimed was led by the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro. The night-vision aerial footage shows a fast-moving boat exploding in a ball of flames after being struck by a missile. open image in gallery The US military released footage of the boat being attacked ( The White House ) Please let this serve as notice to anyone even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE, Trump wrote in a post on Tuesday after the attack. He claimed there were a lot of drugs in that boat, adding: Youll be seeing that, and youll be reading about that... These came out of Venezuela. open image in gallery Footage shows the boat exploding in a ball of flames after being struck by a missile ( Donald Trump/Truth Social ) The bombing marks a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Caracas, and came a day after Maduro accused the US of attempting to carry out regime change in Venezuela. A number of US naval forces, apparently tasked with combating drug traffickers, have gathered in and around the southern Caribbean. On Tuesday, Maduro warned he would respond in kind to any attack by warships patrolling near the Venezuelan coast, adding that he would declare a republic in arms, without elaborating on what this would involve. In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defence of Venezuela, he said. The Trump administration said the mobilisation of its warships was part of a broader operation to thwart Latin American drug cartels, but officials in Caracas have questioned the USs motives and suggested the deployment could be a pretext to a military invasion. open image in gallery Maduro has said Venezuela will respond to any attack ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Trump later revealed further details of the attack on social media, saying the strike targeted a boat that was smuggling drugs out of Venezuela for the Tren de Aragua gang. He described this gang as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere. He continued : The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No US Forces were harmed in this strike. It is the first known US military attack against alleged drug traffickers since the Trump administration began sending warships to the Caribbean last month. Trump has long blamed Venezuela for a drug epidemic in the US, claiming Caracas is pouring narcotics into the US through illegal channels. Venezuela has denied the allegations. 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 A delegation from Argentina, which arrived in the United States for a visa-waiver signing ceremony, was forced to return home empty-handed after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem failed to inform them that the event had been canceled, Axios reported. Last week, a group of officials flew from Buenos Aires to Miami, where they were told by the Department of Homeland Security not to continue their trip to Washington, D.C., because the agreement - which would allow American and Argentinian citizens to travel between the two countries for up to 90 days without a visa - was missing a signature, a source told Axios. The Department of Homeland Security and Argentine officials have denied the allegations in Axioss reporting and said that the program continues to move forward. In an X post, DHS pushed back on the original report and said that there were no new program-related documents needing a signature. The department said it "looks forward" to working with Argentine officials going forward. But per the report, the officials, including the head of Argentinas tax and customs agency, Juan Pazo, spent two days in Miami and then returned home. Lets just say this was not a great look from us, a senior Trump administration official told Axios, adding that it was embarrassing. open image in gallery Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, pictured with Argentine Minister of National Security Patricia Bullrich in July, reportedly failed to inform a delegation that they were pausing a potential Visa Waiver Program agreement ( AFP/Getty ) The incident appeared preventable. Noem allegedly knew that the Visa Waiver Program signing would not take place because Secretary of State Marco Rubio had not fully approved it yet. Sources close to the Argentine Embassy in the U.S. told Infobae, an Argentine news outlet, that Axioss report was false and malicious and that discussions about incorporating Argentina in the Visa Waiver Program were moving forward without issues. Pazo also denied the report, saying the delegation traveled to the U.S. to discuss technology upgrades that Argentinas customs may need to move forward with the Visa Waiver Program. We met with the CBP team and carried out the necessary operational visits to define the technical aspects of implementing the program (equipment, systems support, and personnel), Pazo said. It was three days of work and cooperation with U.S. government authorities, which in no way matches what the press articles are trying to portray. Finally, I must clarify that the ARCA delegations visit has nothing to do with the implementation of the Visa Waiver Program, he added. In July, Noem visited Argentina with the intention of starting discussions to help the country reenter the Visa Waiver Program. Relations between the U.S. and Argentina have warmed since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Argentinian President Javier Milei has aligned himself with Trump, even calling Trump his favorite president. open image in gallery Noem, pictured horse-riding while visiting Argentina in July, opened up discussions with officials about reinstating Argentina in the Visa Waiver Program ( Getty Images ) "Under President Javier Milei's leadership, Argentina is becoming an even stronger friend to the United States more committed than ever to border security for both of our nations," Noem said in July. However, Noem signed a visa waiver accord with Argentina, indicating the two countries would work toward a more formal agreement, without the Secretary of States prior approval, Axios also reported. That situation reportedly ticked off the Secretary of State. Weeks later, Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles sent a memo reminding administration officials to clear the purpose and scope of any proposed call, conversation, meeting or trip with the [National Security Council] prior to engagement. The State Department has not been eager to sign a Visa Waiver Program agreement with Argentina because Milei has been battling a corruption scandal. Mileis sister and close associates have been accused of profiting from a bribery scheme, which Milei has denied. Rubios team reportedly wants to have more discussions with Argentina before striking an official agreement, according to Axios. It is unclear whether a signature was missing from an agreement. A Department of Homeland Security official denied that there was a new, or additional, agreement with Argentina pending a signature. "We look forward to working with them going forward, an official told Axios. The article was amended after publication to include denials from both the Department of Homeland Security and Argentine officials that there were issues with the flight or the program. Both groups denied the original report and pushed the fact the waiver program continues to move forward. 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 A woman who helped put Jeffrey Epstein behind bars broke her silence after years - as other survivors have detailed plans to create their own "client list" of people involved in his heinous crimes. Calls for increased transparency around the Epstein Files have grown since July, when the Justice Department released a memo stating no further disclosures were warranted and there was no evidence to support the existence of a "client list." That decision led to immediate backlash from both sides of the political aisle who demanded more information. On Tuesday, more files were released by Congress about the investigation. Today, victims are set to speak in Washington, D.C., about Epstein and the FBI handling of the case. Now, for the first time, Marina Lacerda, who was named as an unidentified victim in the 2019 federal indictment against Epstein, has publicly joined those calls for more disclosure. "I would like for them to give all the victims transparency [about] what happened and release these files. It's also not only for the victims, but for the American people," she told ABC News Wednesday. Other victims of Epstein are also speaking out and say they are creating a database of people involved. "We'll compile our own list and seek justice on our own," Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Epstein's abuse, told NBC News Tuesday. open image in gallery An Epstein survivor broke her years-long silence to call for the release of the Epstein files as other survivors plan to compile their own client list ( Getty Images ) Outrage erupted after the July 6 memo stated there was no evidence to support the existence of a "client list, just months after Attorney General Pam Bondi said the client list was sitting on her desk. The DOJ also didnt uncover evidence that could warrant a probe into uncharged third parties, the memo stated. When asked if she saw other prominent individuals with Epstein who she believes law enforcement should pursue, Phillips told NBC: Well, let me get this straight, Jeffrey wasnt doing this for himself. The parties, the charity events on the island, everyone that he was involved with, not everybody, because obviously there were people that didnt there were people that didnt know about what he was doing. But there were many people that knew what he was doing that were involved in the sex trafficking ring, she continued. She didnt identify any names. Pam Bondi has said the client list was on her desk. She could release it right now if she wanted to. While Comer tries to give cover to Trump by re-releasing public documents, House Democrats are fighting for real transparency, California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia said in a statement Tuesday. Congress has received the files and say they plan on releasing information publicly. Through court documents and public pleas, several survivors have also urged the Trump administration to release all the Epstein Files. Lacerda, who was only 14 years old in 2002 when Epstein recruited her to massage him, spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday. She was identified as "Minor-Victim 1" in Epstein's 2019 court case. open image in gallery The House Oversight Committee made public tens of thousands of files that were handed over by the Justice Department, but most of them contain already publicly available information, lawmakers say ( Getty ) For years, she was sexually abused by Epstein and was enticed to recruit other girls, according to the 2019 indictment. "He forced me to have sex with him. Basically. I really had no choice," she said. "His house was a revolving door. There was always girls," Lacerda told ABC. "If he was in New York, he had his week prepped to see as many girls as possible. I would say he was seeing about five to maybe eight women, maybe even more, maybe up to ten women a day." When she turned 16 or 17, she recalled him losing interest. He didn't want me anymore. He was just like, you're too old," she said. The disgraced financier died by suicide behind bars in 2019, the FBI determined. His sudden death has been the subject of countless conspiracy theories, fueling the demands for heightened transparency around the case. President Donald Trump also called for more information to be released as he campaign. But, has backtracked on those remarks in recent months saying there was nothing more to release. 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 Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse have engaged in a full-fledged push to garner the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender and sex trafficker even as President Donald Trump pushes Republicans to oppose the move. Numerous survivors of Epsteins trafficking which was facilitated by his close friend Ghislaine Maxwell on Wednesday held a press conference on Capitol Hill with Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) as well as MAGA firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). The press conference was called as Massie, an outspoken critic of the president, filed a discharge petition on Monday to release the Epstein files. If a majority of members sign the petition, it would force a full floor vote without going through committee or approval from leadership. At the press conference, Massie criticized Trump for repeatedly calling the investigation a hoax, something he did from the Oval Office even as the survivors were rallying. I think its shameful that this has been called a hoax, Massie said, flanked by Epstein survivors, many of hwo were minors when their ordeals began. Hopefully, today, we can clear that up. This is not a hoax. This is real. There are real victims. open image in gallery Victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's abuse rise their hands to press congress to release the Epstein files as they speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington ( AP ) So far, Greene and two other Republicans Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Nancy Mace of South Carolina have joined the discharge petition. The truth we are demanding come out on behalf of these women but also as a strong message to every innocent child, teenager, woman and man that has been held captive in abuse, Greene said at her press conference. A day earlier, Mace, a rape survivor, walked out of her meeting with survivors visibly shaken. I didnt last the entire session, she told The Independent. I dont have a lot to offer other than it's deeply sad and traumatizing to see these women have been fighting for 30 years for justice and still don't have it goes to show how broken the system is. Yeah, and I think we should burn it to the ground and start over. But Republicans who might otherwise support a discharge petition have proven to be wobbly on the matter. On Tuesday evening, the House Oversight Committee released 30,000 pages of documents related to Epstein, nearly all of it information tat had already been publicly known. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told The Independent that it might render the investigation repetitive. So I think it's probably a moot point or a mute point, whichever the case may be, Burchett told The Independent on Tuesday evening. But Massie pushed back on the idea. open image in gallery President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Wednesday that the Jeffrey Epstein matter was a Democrat hoax. ( AFP/Getty ) Look, if my legislation were redundant, why would the White House be trying to stop it? he told The Independent on Tuesday. It's not redundant. There are things that the White House doesn't want out there that my legislation would cause to be released. Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for Epsteins survivors, said the release of the files was only one step. I think was a step in the right direction. But there's so much more to be released and that's what we're really hoping for, she told The Independent. Trump for his part has pushed against the effort, telling NBC News that teaming up with Democrats and Massie would constitute a hostile act. Teresa J Helm, one of the Epstein survivors, pushed back on the words when asked by The Independent. The hostility is in the crimes that have been committed against all of us, she told The Independent. So there's not hostility in trying to protect ourselves, plus future generations and our own kids. In response to the press conference, Trump lashed out, calling the Epstein files a Democrat hoax. Trump has been plagued by the Epstein investigation ever since last year, when he was asked on Fox News if he would declassify the files. In July, the Department of Justice and the FBI released a two-page memo saying Epstein did not have a client list and likely killed himself in prison. But Sky Roberts, the brother of Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre, had a clear message for the president. I would say, do the right thing. I mean, that's the first thing that comes in mind for me, he told The Independent. It is the biggest cover up in the history of the United States. And I think it's time for us to stand with the people, it's time to stand with the survivors and we need to tell them we believe you. 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 New York City Mayor Eric Adams says hes not dropping out of the mayoral race following reports Trump administration officials were considering offering him a federal position. The mayoral election in November will be a competitive one with Adams and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo running as independents and state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, as the Democratic nominee. There has been speculation Trump may intervene in the mayors race to thwart Mamdani, the frontrunner who has sparred with the president over his administrations policies, such as its immigration crackdown. Last month, The New York Times reported Trump took a call with Cuomo as he considered inserting himself into the race. A spokesman for Cuomo denied the pair had spoken and Trump also said they had not when the reporting came out. On Wednesday, the NYT reported, citing unnamed sources, Trump advisers have their eye on Adams for a possible role in the administration to help clear the crowded campaign field to give Cuomo a better chance of beating Mamdani. open image in gallery The odds of New York City Mayor Eric Adams dropping out of the mayoral race have spiked as President Donald Trump reportedly mulls offering him a place in his administration ( Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images ) The Associated Press also reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, Trump intermediaries had reached out to Adams associates to discuss whether he would consider taking a federal job over another potential term as mayor. Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams campaign, told The Independent the mayor has had no discussions with, nor has he met with, President Donald Trump regarding the mayoral race. The Mayor is fully committed to winning this election, with millions of New Yorkers preparing to cast their votes. Shapiro made Adams intentions even clearer in a statement published by the AP: He is not dropping out of the race. The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment. Whether people believe Adams may leave the race for a position in the White House or for another reason, gamblers bet that he will drop out. On Wednesday afternoon, Polymarket, a prediction market, says there is a 75 percent chance Adams will drop out of the race based on the bets people are making. On Tuesday, the odds were just under 30 percent. But the odds went down to 63 percent as of Wednesday night. Mamdani became the frontrunner in the mayors race after beating Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June by 7.7 percentage points. open image in gallery There has been speculation Trump may intervene in the mayors race to thwart Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani ( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images ) In a poll conducted by American Pulse Research & Polling from August 14 to 19, Mamdani led his closest competitor, Cuomo, by about 12 percentage points, 36.9 to 24.6 percent, among New York City likely voters. Curtis Sliwa, a Republican, got 16.8 percent of voter support, and Adams trailed with 11.4 percent. Mamdani responded to the reports about the Trump administration potentially getting involved in the mayoral race at a Wednesday news conference, calling it an affront to democracy. Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi previously told The Independent of Trumps reported interest in the former governor, it seems clear that President Trump would either prefer Mr. Mamdani, whom he refers to as a 'commie, because he believes Mamdani would serve as a political boon to Republicans nationwide in the midterms, symbolizing what he sees as the Democratic Partys extremism. Alternatively, he may favor Eric Adams, who is a wholly owned subsidiary of the President. And there is already a Republican in the race, who is the nominee of President Trumps party, he said. 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 House Speaker Mike Johnson and Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie reportedly clashed on Wednesday during a closed-door meeting for Republicans, as the Speaker urged members not to support Massies bill to force the Trump administration to release the Epstein files. The House leader instead urged his fellow GOP members to back the House Oversight Committees Epstein investigation, CNN reports, which on Tuesday released tens of thousands of files it subpoenaed from the Justice Department. Critics of that effort said most of the files were already public. In response to Johnson, Massie reportedly told members the attacks on his efforts from Johnson were false, and that the effort to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act was necessary because the Justice Department couldnt be trusted to release all the Epstein files of its own accord, per Politico and The Hill. In comments after the conference meeting, Johnson said he backed the committee effort over the irrelevant and unnecessary disclosure bill because it went in even further depth into Epsteins history, including a treasure trove of information from the Epstein estate. The Speaker added that the president supports the committees goal of transparency. open image in gallery House Speaker reportedly urged members not to back fellow Republican Rep. Thomas Massies bill trying to force the release of more Epstein files ( AP ) The White House is in full compliance, he said. The administration is willfully compliant with the subpoenas because they want maximum transparency as well. I talked to the president himself last night about this. He said, Get it out there. An official with Massies office told The Independent the reported accounts of the clash with Johnson were accurate. The reported clashes behind doors came the same day as the partys divisions over the Epstein saga reached their most public form yet, with survivors of Epsteins abuses gathered at the Capitol to share their experiences and support Massies bipartisan effort with Californias Rep. Ro Khanna to force a vote on a bill demanding the DOJ release all its Epstein materials. Assuming Democrats back the measure, Massie and Khanna say they need two GOP defections to reach the majority of members required to force a vote on the bill through a procedural maneuver known as a discharge petition. Donald Trump, whose administration promised far-reaching releases of Epstein files only to declare in July no further investigations or releases were warranted, told The Independent on Wednesday the Epstein saga was a Democrat hoax. From what I understand, thousands of pages of documents have been given, Trump said in the Oval Office in answer to a question from The Independents Andrew Feinberg. But it's really a Democrat hoax, because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been President, Trump said. open image in gallery Despite pressure from insurgent Republican House members and GOP voters, President Trump has continued to dismiss the Epstein saga as a Democrat-fueled hoax ( AP ) Neither the House investigation nor Donald Trumps dismissals of the Epstein scandal have quieted members and voters in both parties calling for more information to be released about the late financier, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting a federal sex trafficking trial. The issue has been a rare vulnerability for Trump, a longtime former friend of Epstein whose campaign used an insurgent anti-establishment style, only to now face allegations the same federal law enforcement agencies he has long criticized are now closing ranks to protect him. The administrations interviews with convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which coincided with her recent move to a minimal-security federal prison in Texas, have only further inflamed the issue. 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 South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace revealed she suffered a full blown panic attack after speaking to several survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sexual abuse. Tears streamed down the Republican lawmakers face on Tuesday as she shuffled past reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, following her early departure from a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee briefing. A visibly shaken Mace was among the members of Congress who met privately with six Epstein accusers, as the GOP-led panel continues its investigation into the Trump administrations handling of the disgraced financiers case. House Speaker Mike Johnson and comittee Chairman James Comer were also in the two-hour-long meeting, according to The New York Times. Mace, who earlier this year spoke on the House floor about her own experience as a sexual assault survivor, took to X on Tuesday to explain her sudden exit from the briefing. open image in gallery Mace was photographed on Tuesday in tears as she left a Government Reform Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. ( AFP/Getty ) As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I cant breathe, Mace wrote on X. I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS. President Donald Trump has continued to face a wave of MAGA backlash for his administrations handling of the Epstein case, after repeatedly hinting on the 2024 campaign trail that he would release the full files on the financier. The uproar intensified after the Justice Department announced in early July that there was no evidence Epstein had a client list, and the Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi allegedly briefed Trump who has never been accused of wrongdoing in the Epstein case in May that his name was mentioned in the files. Later Tuesday, Mace told The Independents Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief Eric Garcia that she was not worried about crossing Trump on the issue of Epstein, praising the president as a hero as he attempts to distance himself from Epstein. open image in gallery Congresswoman Nancy Mace said she was sweating and having panic attacks after speaking to Epsteins victims ( AFP/Getty ) Donald Trump is the one who banned Jeffrey Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, she said. He was an FBI informant, and he talked to the feds to get this guy turned over. So Donald Trump is a hero in this. Ahead of the briefing, Johnson told reporters Tuesday that it was important to hear directly from the victims to ensure transparency in the investigation. Yes, its for us to hear from them, to express our deep sympathy for what theyve been made to endure, he said. And ensure that we have been and always will be for maximum transparency, for justice to be brought for all those engaged in these evils and to ensure that happens as quickly as possible. 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 Newsmax has waged a battle over conservative viewership against Fox News, claiming the media giant violated antitrust laws in seeking to dominate the right-wing broadcast market and stifle its growth. In a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Florida Wednesday, Newsmax says it would have achieved greater pay TV distribution, see its audience and ratings grow sooner, gained earlier critical mass for major advertisers and become, overall, a more valuable media property, had Fox News and its parent organization not engaged in anticompetitive behavior. Lawyers for Newsmax allege that the Fox Corporation leveraged Fox News market dominance to coerce distributors into not carrying other right-wing news networks. Some of the alleged anticompetitive practices mentioned include imposing fees on distributors if they carry other right-wing news networks and forcing exclusivity in its carriage agreements to prevent distributors from carrying other channels. As a result, Newsmax suffered injury to its business, consumers were deprived of genuine choice, and other competitors were hindered from succeeding in the right-wing broadcast news market, lawyers for the company said. Newsmax filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox News, saying the network used its dominance to coerce distributors to stifle competition ( Getty Images ) Newsmax did not say exactly how much it is seeking in damages, but said it was three times the amount in damages the company allegedly suffered. Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they cant attract viewers, a spokesperson for Fox News said in a statement. Lawyers for Newsmax said in the lawsuit that publicly available internal communications at Fox News indicated that executives and prominent hosts saw Newsmax as a potential threat after the 2020 election. In one message cited, the attorneys recalled that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson warned an alternative like Newsmax could be devastating to us. In another message, sent by former Fox News employee Raj Shah, he stated that the network was concerned about Newsmax and One America News Network, another right-wing news channel. The messages cited in Wednesdays filings came from discovery in the 2023 lawsuit between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News. Newsmax was founded in 1998 by Chris Ruddy and the Newsmax TV channel launched in 2014. Since then, it has grown rapidly and secured several big names to serve as hosts, including Greg Kelly, Rob Schmidt, and Greta Van Susteren. The company, which went public in March, has a market capitalization of $1.8 billion. Rupert Murdoch founded Fox News in 1996, the first right-leaning news channel to go mainstream. It is the most-watched cable news network in the U.S. In the second quarter of this year alone, Fox News averaged 2.63 million primetime viewers. Fox News immense popularity has made it difficult to compete with but Newsmax believes that it would not have been so difficult had Fox not engaged in alleged anticompetitive practices. "Fox may have profited from exclusionary contracts and intimidation tactics for years, but those days are over," Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, also said in a statement. 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 Ro Khanna would not be anyones idea of a likely ally to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The five-term Democrat, who represents Californias Silicon Valley, joined every other Democrat to strip Greene of her committee assignments just four years ago. But on Wednesday, Khanna was the only Democrat to join a press conference with Greene and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) joining a throng of survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse. Khanna is one of the two chief sponsors of the discharge petition to release files related to Epsteins criminal sex trafficking operations. So far, two other Republicans have joined Massie and Khannas discharge petition. If it gets enough signatures, Khanna and Massie can force a vote and get around House Speaker Mike Johnsons attempts to block the release. The day before the press conference, The Independent spoke to Khanna in his office briefly to discuss why he decided to partner with Massie on the subject. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks during a news conference with victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3. Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) have introduced the Epstein List Transparency Act to force the federal government to release all unclassified records from the cases of Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. ( Getty Images ) How can we do big things like providing people with health care and child care and education if people don't trust government? he said. If people think government is only operating for the rich and the powerful, or that the government is being controlled by special interest forces? So restoring trust in government is key to making the argument that government can be a force for good in people's lives. Khanna is a progressive Democrat who endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. Hes came out early in support for a ceasefire in Gaza and ardently supports Medicare for All. For him, getting to the bottom of Epstein and the cover-up that allowed him to act with impunity is about restoring trust in government. But for Khanna, its also about reaching Trump voters where they are and seeing the Democratic Party not as one that just protects the status quo but as one that reforms it. The second thing is that a lot of people voted for Trump out of nihilism, out of despair, he said. They wanted to burn it all down, tear it all down, and they thought that this government has been corrupted, corrupted and working only for the rich and powerful. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have taken extraordinary measures to avoid the discharge petition. Shortly after the interview, the House Oversight Committee, on which Khanna sits, released 30,000 pages of information related to Epstein. On Wednesday, Trump once again called the Epstein files a Democratic hoax. But Khanna insists the Epstein investigation is not partisan and had a message to his Republican colleagues. I'm not making this an issue that's anti-Trump, I'm making this an issue that's standing with survivors, that's protecting Americans kids, that's standing up for trust in government, Khanna said. Indeed, Khanna pointed out how many commentators and elected officials in the MAGA wing of the Republican Party have expressed anger ever since the FBI and Department of Justice released its two-page memo saying Epstein likely killed himself in prison and that no client list existed. Can you think of another issue where you had prominent peopleprominent MAGA supporters break with Trump? he said. The push on Epstein comes as many Democratic voters want to see their elected leaders fight back against Trump and Republicans. But Khanna said how Democrats fight matters as much as fighting in and of itself. All of the base, which I agree with, they say fight, fight, fight, he said. But it's not fight to lose. It's fight smartly, fight strategically, fight in a way that's going to help us build a majority. Despite being a progressive Democrat who represents an area of the country that hosts several of the wealthiest companies and some of the highest earners, Khanna has tried to make inroads in places where Democrats once succeeded. Indeed, after Trumps win, he visited Ohio and even met with JD Vance. But Khanna said that he is disappointed in his fellow Yale Law School alumnus, with whom he has sparred on X, about racism against Indian-Americans given that Vance wife Usha and his in-laws are Indian-American. He could have made a contribution in a constructive way, in my view, to Ohio, to the country, he said of Vance. And instead, he has chosen, for his own political advancement, to align himself with Donald Trump, who's interested in dividing us, who's demonizing immigrants like the parents of his own wife, who is giving tax breaks to the wealthy and doing nothing for the working and middle class who he champions. For Khanna, Trump and Vance are selling working-class Americans a bill of goods. Donald Trump took the rhetoric of FDR, right? Talking about forgotten men and women and all. And then decided to deliver for the economic royalist, he said in reference to four-term President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who led the nation out of the Great Depression and through much of World War II. But Democrats have a few opportunities on the horizon. In 14 months, voters will get a chance to pick the Democrats to control the House of Representatives instead of Republicans. In Texas, Republicans redrew their congressional map, which triggered Californias Gov. Gavin Newsom to call for a referendum to allow for a one-time redraw of the maps to counter gerrymandering. For Khanna, Republicans gave Democrats the best campaign tool when they passed Trumps Big Beautiful Bill, which slashed Medicaid to pay for another round of tax cuts. That it is totally unfair, and it's leading to hospital closures, Khanna said. It's leading to people's premiums going up in healthcare because hospitals now are charging more to the private insurance. And I believe that we should make 2026 a referendum on this big, ugly bill. 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 Rudy Giuliani revealed a shocking twist about the woman involved in the domestic violence incident that occurred just before the car collision that left the former mayor injured, marking his first comments since the crash. Fresh from being discharged from the hospital, the former New York City mayor, sporting a brace, appeared on his Americas Mayor Live show Tuesday to explain the unusual events that led up to the car crash that left him with fractured thoracic vertebrae after a 19-year-old rammed into his car on a New Hampshire interstate on August 30. Giuliani and Ted Goodman, his spokesperson who was driving the car, were flagged down by a woman on the side of the road who claimed to have been involved in a domestic violence incident, New Hampshire State police said. Although they pulled the car over initially believing she was the victim, police later suggested to the pair that she was the assailant, they said on Tuesdays show. State police told The Independent they had no additional information to provide on the matter, beyond the news releases that have already been published. open image in gallery Rudy Giuliani and his spokesperson Ted Goodman, who was driving the night of the crash, recalled that a state trooper suggested the woman who had flagged them down wasn't the domestic violence victim, but the assailant ( America's Mayor Live ) Just before 9 p.m. in Manchester, Goodman pulled over after spotting a distressed woman waving for help on the side of the interstate, he said. She then came to the passenger side, where Giuliani was sitting, saying: I need to get out of here. I looked at her very very carefully and your professional instincts kick in. So you watch every single thing about her. She did not seem to be panicked. She did not seem to be overwhelmed in her mannerisms, but her words were, Giuliani said, noting he saw no visible injuries on her. He recalled her saying she had been attacked and asking to come into their car. Giuliani invited her in, but she never entered. The men then called 911. After the police dealt with the situation for a few minutes, an ambulance arrived. They watched a figure enter the ambulance, but because it was dark out, they couldnt make the person out clearly, they said. The trooper then approached Giuliani and Goodman, asking if they thought the victim looked badly injured. She didnt look like an ambulance case, Giuliani said. "No, no, not her. Him, the trooper told them, suggesting the woman may have been the attacker, according to the former mayor. The trooper didnt make one quick comment, Goodman said, but multiple comments saying this guy was beat up. open image in gallery Rudy Giuliani was discharged from the hospital earlier this week after suffering fractured vertebrae and other injuries ( Reuters ) The reality was a total 180 from what we thought, the spokesperson added. They werent sure what happened to the woman. The police didnt provide any information related to the woman when asked by The Independent. Following the domestic violence incident, Giuliani and Goodman got back on the highway. Then, at around 10 p.m., a Honda HR-V, driven by 19-year-old Lauren Kemp struck the back of the Ford Bronco, carrying Goodman and Giuliani. The collision occurred almost directly across from the incident they had just reported, police said. Investigators believe Kemp had no connection to the domestic violence incident, police said Monday. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. All three involved in the crash were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Giuliani was discharged on Monday afternoon. The whiplash of my body was brutal, the 81-year-old former U.S. associate attorney general said, calling the pain "excruciating." With a large brace strapped across his torso, Giuliani quipped: I like this outfit. This may become permanent, Ted. He joked that he resembled a gladiator. In the wake of the collision, President Donald Trump announced he planned to award Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor. Giuliani served as Trumps personal attorney during his first term, but has since been disbarred in Washington, D.C. and New York after peddling lies about the 2020 election. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trumps aid cuts have helped fuel rising violence against trans people, as well as denials of health care and access to justice, research by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has found. One trans woman living with HIV in Tanzania said a hospital worker had told her: Trump has made changes; because of that, whats left for you is death, so you should repent. After President Trump took office in January and subsequently cut more than 80 per cent of foreign aid spending, services supporting people with HIV were first stopped before being resumed on a more limited basis, excluding a lot of support for LGBT+ communities and other groups at increased risk from the virus. Advocacy group PHR conducted interviews with 39 people in Tanzania and Uganda living with HIV, as well as with doctors, nurses, counsellors and NGOs, in April this year. Those interviewed reported dramatically increased levels of stigma, denial of health and criminal justice services, and physical and verbal abuse in the wake of the disruptions, especially against LGBT+ people. Emily Bass, global health expert and co-author of the research, said she had found instances of rising violence against LGBTQ+ people, with assailants citing Mr Trump. The accounts we documented in Tanzania and Uganda are harrowing. Another trans woman, also in Tanzania, linked her experience of being attacked to the emboldening effect of President Trumps anti-trans messaging. The soldiers caught... me, they beat me and put me in their car, handcuffed me and took me to the station, she said, adding that she was locked in a cell for two days. Everything that is happening is as a result of Trump; messaging. It has fanned the flames. His messaging has become a weapon in [our] country. [A weapon] for our religious leaders, our government, the military to use, in the sense that there is no place for people like me to run to, because even the US doesnt accept or want us. A trans man and human rights advocate in Tanzania said HIV-affected people he worked with now felt unsafe going to collect their medication and have been met with the message: If [the] president of the world has denied you... what are you going to be now? Some people have stopped going to healthcare centres as a result, he said. By the time the interviews were conducted, some US-funded services under its flagship HIV programme the Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) had been partly restored, including access to antiretroviral medication (ARVs). But in May, The Independent found that LGBT+ people in Uganda and elsewhere were not reliably able to access this medicine safely. US policy has excluded LGBT+ people from HIV prevention programmes while specialist treatment centres have been hit hard, forcing vulnerable populations into mainstream clinics where they face discrimination. Both Tanzania and Uganda criminalise same-sex relationships, making it harder for people to get safe healthcare. A clinical officer in Uganda told PHR they had received calls from patients trying to access pre-exposure prophylaxis who had been sent away from facilities and told: Please, youre not supposed to come here unless you want us to call the police. A young man living with HIV in Uganda said that the thought of using mainstream HIV clinics caused him anxiety, and so he avoided going to them to pick up medication. Such concerns have led to people skipping doses out of fear their medicine will run out, the PHR research found. In extreme cases, the research found losing access to medication was leading people to feel they couldnt have children for fear of transmitting HIV to them. One interviewee reported having an unwanted abortion for this reason. Clinicians also reported seeing women who had lost reliable access to their HIV medication giving birth to HIV positive babies since the cuts. Since the interviews took place, some of the immediate disruption to HIV treatment has been temporarily resolved. But despite moves by Congress to save Pepfar, reports in US media suggested that the Trump administration is defying lawmakers and withholding half the money they have allocated for this financial year. The future of the programme next year and beyond remains uncertain. While the damage to date has been acute, there is still a narrow window to salvage Pepfar and save lives, said Ms Bass. Congress must act now to preserve what has been the most impactful global health programme in history. This article was produced as part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project 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 on Wednesday again slammed the bipartisan clamor for release of case files regarding deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein as a creation of his political enemies as members of both parties appeared with some of Epsteins victims at a Capitol Hill press conference to call for transparency in the case. Trump was addressing reporters in the Oval Office during a media availability alongside Polish president Karol Nawrocki when The Independent asked him about allegations that his Department of Justice is slow-walking compliance with a congressional subpoena for the documents and redacting them to protect powerful friends and Republican campaign donors. In response, he called the entire issue a Democrat hoax that never ends and compared it to the decades-long process of releasing files relating to the assassination of the late president John F. Kennedy, noting that nobodys ever satisfied with what the government has produced in either case. From what I understand, thousands of pages of documents have been given. But it's really a Democrat hoax, because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been President, Trump said. I understand that we were subpoenaed to give files, and I understand we've given thousands of pages of files, and I know that no matter what you do, it's going to keep going. Despite promising to release the controversial case files during the 2024 presidential campaign, since returning to the White House Trump has routinely railed against even discussing the matter. His administration has created uproar among its base after a July memo from the Department of Justice that stated that Epstein had no so-called client list and that no more information would be released. That came after Attorney General Pam Bondi had claimed for months that officials were reviewing documents. The decision not to release more information was met with anger and Democrats and Republicans have called on Trump to release more from the investigation. While his administration has made large numbers of documents from the case public, critics have noted that those documents have either long been in the public domain or have been so heavily redacted as to be useless. Sky Roberts, the brother of the late Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, told The Independent that Trumps administration was now running likely ... biggest cover-up in the history of the United States. And I think it's time for us to stand with the people, it's time to stand with the survivors, and we need to tell them we believe you, he said. Trumps remarks come as Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) filed a discharge petition to force a vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The petition would require a majority of members to sign on to circumvent leadership and hold a vote on the House floor. On Thursday, Massie, Khanna and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) held a press conference with Roberts and a host of other survivors of Epsteins abuse. One of the late sex offenders victims, Chauntae Davies, said at the press conference that Epstein had gotten a free pass from his crimes and routinely bragged about his powerful friends, including our current president Donald Trump. Another survivor of Epsteins abuse, Haley Robson, directly called out Trumps frequent claim that the matter is a creation of his adversaries and invited the president to meet with her to receive proof of his crimes. Mr. President Donald J Trump, I am a registered Republican not that that matters, because this is not political. However, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax, she said. On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee released 30,000 pages worth of documents related to Epstein. But many of Epsteins survivors said that they want to see more. Seeing that release after that meeting, I think was a step in the right direction, Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for survivors of Epsteins abuse, told The Independent. But there's so much more to be released and that's what were really hoping for. 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 Trumps use of an 18th century wartime law to deport people his administration has accused of belonging to a notorious Venezuelan gang is not legal, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. A three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative in the country, found in a two-one majority decision that the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was intended for use against invading foreign soldiers and not against criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua, agreeing with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges. A countrys encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States, Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick and Irma Carrillo Ramirez wrote in their ruling, alluding to the administrations claim that the gang has a direct affiliation with Venezuelas government. open image in gallery Donald Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act 1798 to justify deporting migrants it has accused of belonging to criminal gangs is not legal, a court has ruled ( Reuters ) Those justices were appointed by George W Bush and Joe Biden respectively. The dissenting voice came from Trump-appointee Andrew Oldham, who complained that his colleagues were making assumptions about the commander-in-chiefs conduct of foreign affairs and interfering with the executive. The majority's approach to this case is not only unprecedented it is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent, Oldham wrote in his dissent. For President Trump... the rules are different, he insisted, warning that the ruling threatened to cast federal judges as robed crusaders who get to play-act as multitudinous commanders-in-chief. The president and his administration have insisted the U.S. is being invaded by undocumented migrants from Central America and used the 227-year-old act as part of the basis for their mass deportation drive. Trump invoked the law in March and ICE agents duly began arresting and deporting Venezuelans accused of belonging to Tren de Aragua to the notorious CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador, from which, government lawyers have argued, U.S. courts cannot order them freed. The dispute now looks destined for the U.S. Supreme Court, assuming the administration appeals the verdict. open image in gallery The notorious CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador, where many people deported by the Trump administration have been sent ( Reuters ) The Trump administrations use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court, said Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the American Civil Liberties Union, after the opinion was announced. This is a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. The judges ruling granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because the majority found no invasion or predatory incursion to justify the measure, saying the administrations assessment of the threat posed by Tren de Aragua did not meet the historical levels of national conflict Congress had in mind when the act was passed more than two centuries ago. The Alien Enemies Act has only been used three times before in American history, all during wartime: in the War of 1812 and then again in the First and Second World Wars. 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 appears to have unfrozen a stalled $2 million Biden-era contract with Paragon Solutions (US) Inc., a spyware company founded in Israel whose products have been accused of facilitating the surveillance of journalists and activists. On Saturday, a public procurement database showed that a stop work order on the September 2024 deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been lifted, technology journalist Jack Poulson reported on his All-Source Intelligence Substack. The deal does not specify what ICE will be getting as part of the deal, beyond describing an agreement for a fully configured proprietary solution including license, hardware, warranty, maintenance, and training. An individual who answered a phone number listed for Paragon on the contract declined to comment. The Independent has contacted ICE for comment. open image in gallery In late August, the Trump administration restarted a frozen $2 million Biden-era contract between spyware maker Paragon Solutions and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency ( Getty Images ) The initial deal was paused in October to review whether it complied with a March 2023 Biden administration executive order limiting the use of commercial spyware that could pose counterintelligence risks to the U.S. or that might be improperly used by a foreign government, WIRED reported. Critics warned of potential risks from the U.S. engaging with Paragon, whose Graphite program can quietly invade the mobile phone of its target and extract its contents, primarily through accessing cloud backup data. Invasive, secret hacking power is corrupting, John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, which has probed the foreign use of Paragon products, told The Guardian. Thats why theres a growing pile of spyware scandals in democracies, including with Paragons Graphite. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has previously used Graphite against drug traffickers outside the U.S., The New York Times reported in 2022. open image in gallery The Biden administration sought to limit U.S. use of commercial spyware if it risking counterintelligence against U.S. or abuse by foreign entities ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Paragon was founded by Ehud Schneorson, a former commander of Israels cyber-spying Unit 8200. In late 2024, AE Industrial Partners, a Florida-based investment group, acquired the company for $500 million, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported. Paragon bills itself as an ethical cyber firm that only sells to the U.S. and other allied countries. WhatsApp said in early 2025 it had disrupted a hacking campaign targeting about 90 people linked to Paragon, and an Italian journalist and several pro-immigration activists said they were among the victims. Analysis by the Citizen Lab think tank suggests two other journalists were targeted. Paragon said in June it terminated contracts in Italy after claiming the Italian government refused its help in investigating whether its products were improperly used in the attack. open image in gallery The Trump administration has ramped up surveillance efforts alongside its mass deportation arrests ( Getty Images ) The company offered both the Italian government and parliament a way to determine whether its system had been used against the journalist in violation of Italian law and the contractual terms, Paragon said in a statement at the time. As the Italian authorities chose not to proceed with this solution, Paragon terminated its contracts in Italy. The Trump administration has pursued other aggressive intelligence methods as part of its immigration-related operations, including social media surveillance for anti-American activity and combing through massive amounts of usually walled-off government housing data to find migrants. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump has accused Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un of conspiring against the U.S. after the Chinese premier hosted his Russian and North Korean counterparts for a lavish military parade. The Victory Day parade was held at Beijings Tianamen Gate to mark the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japans defeat in 1945 and the end of the Second World War, with Putin and Kim just some of the world leaders in attendance, much to the Americans chagrin. The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and blood that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday evening, alluding to the Pacific campaign fought by U.S. soldiers against Japan. open image in gallery Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un are pictured with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Wednesdays commemoration ceremony in Beijing ( Sputnik ) Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America. The Chinese leader used the occasion to present a series of new weapons of war in a clear show of might and drew a direct parallel with the past in a speech in which he said: Today humanity again has to choose between peace and war. Later, at a reception for his guests held the Great Hall of the People, Xi warned against the world returning to the law of the jungle. History warns us that the belief in justice cannot be shaken, he said. The aspiration for peace cannot be blocked. The strength of the people cannot be defeated. open image in gallery The historic group photograph of Axis of Upheaval world leaders at Chinas Victory Day parade ( AFP/Getty ) After the parade, Putin and Kim joined their fellow members of a collective quickly becoming known as the Axis of Upheaval in posing for a historic group photograph, the first time many of the attendees had been pictured together. Trumps sarcastic response might be interpreted as an indication that he is rattled by recent moves by the eastern superpowers to come together and forge closer alliances in response to his aggressive reciprocal tariffs strategy and efforts to create a more inward-looking, protectionist U.S. The American launched a trade war against China during his first term in the White House but has otherwise largely maintained a respectful tone towards Xi. open image in gallery China unveils its newest cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles at its lavish military parade ( Reuters ) His relationship with Kim was also a key plotline from his first administration. The pair began by exchanging barbs over Pyongyangs nuclear brinkmanship, with Trump calling his North Korean counterpart a Little Rocket Man and the latters regime labelling him a dotard, but subsequently met in person at a series of summits and thereafter enjoyed much friendlier ties. The presidents relationship with Putin is much more complex. Trump famously sided with the Russian in 2018 when he denied having meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, backing the Kremlin leader over his own intelligence services, but has since expressed frustration over his opposite numbers apparent indifference to diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war. The men met in Alaska recently for talks that did not yield the legacy-defining breakthrough for which Trump had plainly been hoping. Further talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky present have since been mooted but have yet to be agreed. 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 Venezuela's government is gradually permitting the use of dollar-tied cryptocurrencies for private sector currency exchanges, a dozen sources have revealed, as US restrictions on oil exports continue to deplete available foreign currency. The move comes as American sanctions, which Caracas has characterised as "economic war," severely impede many business transactions. Companies needing to import raw materials are typically forced to convert local bolivars into dollars, traditionally sourced from the oil trade and foreign card transactions, and injected into exchanges by the central bank. However, oil revenue has significantly declined in recent months. Although the US Treasury Department recently issued a new, restricted licence to Chevron, allowing it to export oil after a three-month hiatus, the agreement explicitly blocks any payments to the Venezuelan government, further reducing the quantity of dollars available for exchange. In response, since June, the Venezuelan government has reportedly allowed increased use of USDT, a digital currency also known as Tether, whose value is pegged to the US dollar and designed to maintain a stable value. open image in gallery Sanctions by the United States prevent many business transactions, forcing companies seeking to buy raw materials from abroad to exchange local bolivars for dollars ( Associated Press ) Private and financial sector sources, who requested anonymity due to fear of repercussions, confirmed this shift. The adoption of these digital currencies is seen as crucial for keeping the economy operational amidst the sanctions, including supporting domestic production of essential goods such as food. "When one operation closes, others open," said one business person about the use of crypto. Another source estimated the use of crypto will grow. State-run oil company PDVSA has since last year been slowly increasing its digital currency usage and moving sales to USDT, sources told Reuters last year. Tether did not respond to a request for comment, but said last year it respects the U.S. Treasury's list of sanctioned entities. Neither the Ministry of Communications nor the central bank responded to questions, but Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said during an August meeting with business people that "non-traditional mechanisms of management in the exchange market" were being implemented, without providing more details. The sources said a limited number of banks sell the cryptocurrencies, usually USDT, to some businesses in exchange for bolivars. The businesses must have a digital wallet approved by the authorities and receive the value of the transaction there. open image in gallery The United States Treasury Department last month issued a new, restricted license to Chevron allowing it to export oil after a three-month pause, but the license blocks any payments to the government, reducing the quantity of dollars available for exchange ( Associated Press ) Businesses are then free to either sell the crypto or use it to pay domestic or international providers. There are no official figures for crypto sales, but local analyst firm Ecoanalitica has estimated that $119 million in cryptocurrencies were sold to the private sector in July. The Venezuelan central bank injected some $2 billion into the currency exchange market in the first seven months of the year, 14 per cent less than during the same period last year, according to estimates by the private and financial sectors. The restrictions on the Chevron license might further reduce the availability of foreign currency, analysts have estimated. Oil exports declined about 10 per cent in July from the previous month, according to vessel tracking data and company documents. "The availability of exchange always has a ceiling," said lawmaker Orlando Camacho, who is close to the ruling party and the head of a guild for medium-sized companies. "The role of companies is also to guarantee foreign exchange through their exports." 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 political row has broken out in Australia following reports that a group of women linked to Isis and their children were returning to the country from a detention camp in Syria before Christmas. The Australian newspaper claimed the group from Al-Roj camp in northeast Syria was expected to be resettled in New South Wales and Victoria in what would be the third such repatriation mission since 2019. The women had travelled to Syria and Iraq during the Isis rule and were detained when the group collapsed in 2019. Many of them had children there. The government denied organising a repatriation mission. It was aware of media reporting about a cohort including Australian citizens seeking to return from Syria but was not providing assistance to this cohort. Our ability to provide consular assistance to Australians in Syria is extremely limited due to the dangerous security situation, a spokesperson for home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said. Sources familiar with the situation in the Syrian camps said the prospect of Australians returning remained uncertain. At least 14 Australian women and 20 children are believed to remain in Syria, the youngest just five years old, according to News.com.au. Its still a matter of if, not when, a source was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. You cant do this without government support. They need to issue passports, give security clearance and brief state and territory governments about what to expect. The latest controversy echoes the backlash in Sydney when the government repatriated four women and 13 children from Syria in October 2022. That mission was the first after three years of hesitation and only occurred once the federal election had passed. Children and women walk at Al-Roj camp where relatives of people linked to Isis are held in Syria ( AFP via Getty ) Andrew Hastie, the oppositions home affairs spokesperson, condemned any plans to return the women. I just dont think Australians want people whove betrayed their country and potentially pose a security risk coming back, he said. They threw their lot in with Islamic State. There are consequences to that, and its as simple as that. The government needs to come clean and tell the Australian people exactly whats happening here. Advocates argue that many of the women were coerced into travelling to Syria and have no allegiance to Isis. Save the Children Australia, which has campaigned for their return, said that reports of a new repatriation plan offered a small measure of hope to Australians trapped in dire conditions. These camps are one of the worst places in the world to be a child and we hold grave concerns for the lives, health, and safety of these innocent Australian children, the groups chief executive Mat Tinkler was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. In 2023, Save the Children launched an unsuccessful legal action against the home affairs minister, arguing that the detention of Australians in Syria was unlawful. Radio host Ben Fordham reported that New South Wales police were preparing for a possible arrival of the women and children at the Sydney airport. He had learned this, he said, after approaching Mr Burkes office last week with questions about what he described as an imminent plan. 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 British teenager Bella Culley has been told she will be released from Georgian prison, where she is being detained on drug-smuggling charges, if she pays a substantial fine, according to a report. Ms Culley, 19, from Billingham, Teesside, disappeared while travelling in Thailand in May. She was found to have been arrested in Tbilisi, Georgias capital, accused of trying to smuggle 14kg of cannabis into the country. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Ms Culley, who has been told she faces up to 20 years in the former Soviet countrys prison if arrested, is around five months pregnant. She previously told Georgian police she was forced to smuggle the drugs through torture. Her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, said: "Bella will become a mother soon, she is expecting a boy. I want her to feel this motherhood in freedom. On Tuesday, the Tbilisi City Court heard that defence and prosecution teams were negotiating the terms of a plea agreement, conditional on the payment of a sum of money with many zeros, the BBC reported. Judge Giorgi Gelashvili previously denied Ms Culleys plea for bail with a 13,752 surety. Ms Culley claims she was coerced into smuggling the drugs after being threatened with a hot iron ( East2West ) The BBC reported that during the hearing, Ms Culley smiled at her family, saying: I love you. The teenager's father, aunt and grandfather have previously been in attendance at the courtroom, according to reports. The prosecution argued that Ms Culley posed a flight risk and could reoffend if allowed bail, the broadcaster reported. She remains in custody with her next hearing scheduled for 9 October, unless a deal is reached sooner. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office said: We are supporting a British woman who is detained in Georgia and are in contact with her family and the local authorities. The teenager was previously denied bail at a pre-trial hearing at the beginning of July. Mr Salakaia, her lawyer, said the teenagers family was ready to pay the 50,000 Georgian Lari as bail money to get her out of prison, equivalent to nearly 14,000. Speaking in court, Ms Culley said: I did not want to do this. I was forced to do this through torture. "I just wanted to travel. I am a good person. I am a student at university. I am a clean person. I don't do drugs." Mr Salakaia told the court that she had been threatened with a hot iron to coerce her into travelling with the suitcase filled with drugs. The teenager stood in front of the judge in the courtroom and showed her scarred right wrist. Her lawyer claimed she had not been aware of what was in her suitcase, telling the court she tried to inform customs officers in Thailand but nobody paid attention, the BBC reported. She was instructed to fly to Georgia - she did not even know where Georgia was located geographically, he said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice French hospitals have been told to prepare a potential armed conflict in Europe by next year, local media reported. In a letter sent to regional health agencies, revealed by Le Canard Enchaine , the Ministry of Health asked hospitals to prepare for a major (military) engagement by March 2026. The newspaper warned that between 10,000 and 50,000 men could be expected in hospitals over a period of 10 to 180 days. In the current international context, it is necessary to anticipate the modalities of health support in situations of high-intensity conflict, the Ministry of Health reportedly wrote in the document. open image in gallery Health Minister Catherine Vautrin (middle) did not deny the letters existence ( AP ) Health Minister Catherine Vautrin did not deny the details outlined in the letter or its existence in an interview with French broadcaster BFMTV. It's part of preparation, like strategic stockpiles, like epidemics, she told the broadcaster. I wasn't in office at the time of Covid-19, remember, there were no words harsh enough to describe the country's lack of preparedness. It is perfectly normal for the country to anticipate crises and the consequences of what is happening. This is part of the responsibility of central government. open image in gallery Putins war in Ukraine has sparked fears of a broader conflict erupting in Europe ( Reuters ) The letter, dated 18 July, reportedly said France could form the rear base for a large-scale conflict in coming months. It added that the Ministry of Health is considering setting up medical centres near ports or airports so that soldiers can be redirected to their home countries. The document comes just months after France outlined plans to send a 20-page survival manual to every household. The manual reportedly laid out instructions on preparation for an imminent threat, including a natural disaster, health crisis or armed conflict. The French government said at the time it is not focussed on armed conflict. open image in gallery France Macron Army It also suggests items people should have as part of a survival kit, including at least six litres of bottled water, 10 cans of food, a torch, batteries, and medical supplies including saline solution, compresses and paracetamol. One section of the manual recommended closing doors in the event of a nuclear accident. In July, President Emmanuel Macron announced a plan to push forward France's defence spending, pledging to double the military budget by 2027. A military budget that stood at 32 billion euros ($37.40 billion) in 2017 will rise to 64 billion euros by 2027, with an additional 3.5 billion euros allocated for next year and another 3 billion euros in 2027. 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 French film star Gerard Depardieu will appeal a ruling that he must stand trial on charges of raping a fellow actor, his lawyer says. The charges stem from two alleged incidents involving actor and former ballet dancer Charlotte Arnould. On Tuesday, the Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that an investigating judge had ruled that the case should be sent before a court. No court date has yet been given. Asked on Wednesday if Depardieu planned to appeal, his lawyer Jeremie Assous told Franceinfo radio: "Of course." Depardieu, 76, has denied wrongdoing in the case. Gerard Depardieu during his sexual assault trial earlier in 2025 ( AFP/Getty ) Ms Arnould first accused Depardieu of rape in 2018, saying the assaults occurred in his Paris home on two separate occasions when she was in her early 20s. Though her case was initially dropped, it was reopened in 2020 and prosecutors requested a trial for Depardieu in 2022. Ms Arnould has since become a vocal figure in France's #MeToo movement, expressing solidarity with sexual assault victims and demanding accountability in the film industry. In an Instagram post on Tuesday after the Paris prosecutors announcement that Depardieu must stand trial, Ms Arnould wrote: "I think I'm having trouble realising how huge this is. I'm relieved." Depardieu first rose to prominence in 1974 with Going Places and has starred in scores of French-language movies. He received an Oscar nomination in 1991 for his performance as the swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac. In recent years he has been at the centre of a growing number of sexual assault allegations. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In May, he was convicted of sexual assault for groping two other women on a film set. He was spared prison and was instead was handed an 18-month suspended sentence, a term requested by the prosecution during his trial, and fined 29,040 (24,420). The court also called for Depardieu to be registered in the national sex offender database. 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 Six candidates for Germanys far-right AfD party have died in recent weeks ahead of local elections in the large western state of North Rhine Westphalia. Police have said there is no suggestion of foul play at hand in the deaths, which have caused speculation among the partys supporters on social media. More than 20,000 candidates will run for office in the election on 14 September across the state, which has a population of 18 million. Despite the police ruling out suspicious circumstances, retired economist Stefan Homburg claimed in a post on X that the number of candidates' deaths was "statistically almost impossible. His post was later retweeted by the AfDs co-leader Alice Weidel, while AfD supporter and billionaire Elon Musk responded to the tweet with an exclamation mark. The states interior ministry has pointed out that candidates from other parties have passed away in the weeks leading up to the vote. open image in gallery AfD has grown to be the second biggest party in Germany, coming second in the general election in February ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The AfDs co-leader in North Rhine Westphalia, Kay Gottschalk, acknowledged the rumours on Tuesday, saying: "What I have in front of me is just partial information that doesn't back up these suspicions at the moment". Mr Gottschalk told Politicos Berlin Playbook Podcast that his party wanted the cases investigated, "without immediately getting into conspiracy-theory territory". He said the party had to deal with the situation carefully, out of respect for the family members of those who died. German police told the DPA news agency that the deaths were either the result of natural causes or were not being revealed for privacy reasons. open image in gallery An election campaign placard of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) party in Ueckendorf, western Germany ( AFP via Getty Images ) The anti-migrant AfD has surged in recent years to become Germanys main opposition, coming second place in the general election in February with 20.8 per cent of the vote. The German domestic spy agency declared the party as extremist in May, which it based on a 1,100-page report. It was a move that has now allowed the agency to use secret methods to monitor the party, which include recruiting confidential informants and intercepting communications. A high-profile member of the AfD, Bjorn Hocke, was convicted of using a Nazi slogan at an event last year. In June, another report from the agency stated that the number of right-wing extremists in the party had increased by 77 per cent in 2025, reaching around 20,000 people. The deaths of the candidates have meant new ballots must be drawn up and reprinted, and some postal voters will have to re-cast their vote. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tributes have been paid to a kind and dedicated worker on the funicular that derailed and crashed into a building in Lisbon, killing at least 16 people. Andre Jorge Goncalves Marques, a brake guard who worked on the Gloria funicular railway, was on Thursday named as one of the victims of the crash in the Portuguese capital that also left 23 people injured. Other victims named on Thursday included former volleyball referee Pedro Manuel Alves Trindade and lawyer Alda Matias. Carris, the company which operates the funicular, said in a statement that Marques had performed his duties with excellence and had been an outstanding representative of the company. open image in gallery Flowers left in tribute to the victims of the crash in Lisbon ( AFP via Getty Images ) His courage and professionalism, recognised by all, came to a tragic end with the loss of his life in the accident that claimed his life, they said. They described him as a dedicated, kind and smiling professional who was always willing to contribute to the greater good. Portuguese transport union Sitra also paid tribute to Marques. We also send our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the accident and wish them a speedy recovery as well as the best recovery to the others injured in the accident, the company said in a post on Facebook. This is one of the biggest human tragedies of our recent history, Luis Montenegro, the prime minister, said of the crash, as he revised the death toll to 16 after authorities previously said 17 people had died. open image in gallery Portuguese transport union Sitra also paid tribute to Marques ( AP ) Trindade was named as a victim by the Portuguese Volleyball Federation. The organisation said it was deeply saddened by the tragedy. Misericordia de Lisboa Santa Casa, a charity which supported disabled people and orphans, said four of the Portuguese victims identified so far were its staff members. One of them was Matias, Portuguese media reported. The BBC reported that ombudsman Paulo Sousa wrote to employees: "It is in shock that we all find ourselves. We lost colleagues, friends, people with whom we shared our daily lives and our mission. All the people who died were adults, Margarida Castro Martins, head of Lisbon's Civil Protection Agency said. Officials said they believed two Canadians, one German, one Ukrainian national and one American were also thought to be among the dead. So far, at least 10 nationalities were confirmed among the people injured. They include 12 women and seven men between the ages of 25 and 65. A three-year-old German boy was among the survivors pulled from the carriage where his father reportedly died, and his mother was among 22 other people who were injured. As well as Portuguese people, two Germans, two Spaniards and one person each from France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Morocco, South Korea and Cape Verde were among the injured, the agency head said. The UK Foreign Office told The Independent it is on standby to provide assistance if any British nationals are affected. Seven of those injured are in serious condition. The injured were men and women between the ages of 24 and 65. open image in gallery So far, at least 10 nationalities were confirmed among the people injured. ( AP ) Emergency workers rushed to pull people out of the wreckage after the cable car crashed at around 6pm on Wednesday. Pathologists at the National Forensics Institutes worked overnight on autopsies, officials said. The Portuguese Institute of Blood reinforced the blood reserves of hospitals that responded to victims in the crash and also activated a contingency plan, the countrys news agency Lusa reported. open image in gallery First responders work at the site of a funicular accident in Lisbon ( Reuters ) The government said the tragic accident caused irreparable loss of human lives, which left their families in mourning and the country in shock. The government has decided to declare a day of national mourning as an expression of the Portuguese people's condolences and solidarity. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also offered his condolences and solidarity to the families affected and said authorities are working to establish the cause of the incident. Investigative bodies have now finished assessments at the site of the crash and will publish initial findings and the direction the investigation will take tomorrow. City mayor Carlos Moedas also confirmed funicular operator Carris has been asked to open internal and external investigations. Initial reports suggest the cable for the funicular came loose. Following the incident, Lisbon City Council suspended three other funicular cable railways the Bica, Lavra and Graca. The systems two cars, each capable of carrying around 40 people, run parallel to each other as they shuttle up and down the hill on a curved, traffic-free road. The railway, which opened in 1885, is operated by the municipal public transport company Carris. Carris head Pedro Goncalo de Brito Aleixo Boga reiterated that the funiculars have been working properly since 2007, and technicians check them regularly to make sure there are no problems. All findings are recorded. Maintenance costs have more than doubled between 2015 and 2025, he added. 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 Passengers on Lisbons Gloria funicular railway started screaming with fear before a car derailed and crashed, horrified witnesses have said. At least 15 people have died and around 18 people were injured when the car came off its tracks at about 6pm. Footage shows the tram-like funicular, which carries people up and down a hillside in the Portuguese capital, destroyed and emergency workers pulling people out of the wreckage. Although its not yet known what caused the crash, local media have reported that one of the two funicular cars, which were attached by a haulage cable, jolted and hit a pavement with great force. Following that, the second car is reported to have derailed and hit a building. One witness told Portuguese news site Correio da Manha that the first car was descending slowly when it hit the sidewalk. At least 15 people have died and around 18 people were injured when the car came off its tracks ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) It hit the sidewalk with great force, and people inside started screaming in fear, the unnamed witness said. As the witness tried to help those in the crashed car, he said he saw the other one out of control, coming down the line from above, before it crashed into a building. Another witness said they heard a huge bang before seeing the car destroyed by the impact and people screaming, the outlet reported. In a statement the president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, expressed hope that authorities would soon establish the cause of the crash. Authorities would not identify the victims or disclose their nationalities, but said some foreign nationals were among the dead. In a social media post, Ursula von de Leyen, president of the European Commission, reacted to the breaking news tonight from the Portuguese capital. She said: It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous Elevador da Gloria. My condolences to the families of the victims. The line, which opened in 1885, connects Lisbons downtown area near the Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter), known for its vibrant nightlife. It is operated by the municipal public transport company Carris, which said "all maintenance protocols had been carried out", including monthly and weekly maintenance programs and daily inspections. Invading Ukraine was meant to make Vladimir Putin an international pariah, shunned by the civilised world, economically isolated and living in fear of a war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Back in March 2022, Kaja Kallas, then prime minister of Estonia, told European leaders in London that our goal is the complete isolation of Putin. Except, instead of isolation, Putin finds himself feted by Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, and cosying up to Indias prime minister Narendra Modi. Even as Russian rockets continue to rain down on Ukraines cities, hardly a week seems to pass without a red carpet being rolled out for Putin. How in the hell did Trump so alienate Modi that hes now attending a summit with autocrats Xi and Putin? asks an exasperated Michael McFaul, who served as Barack Obamas ambassador to Moscow. Just last year, China and India were at war with each other! McFauls answer to his own question is that Trump and team are just bad at diplomacy. And indeed, the White Houses embrace of sweeping tariffs as an instrument of foreign policy, in defiance of decades of US economic policy, does indeed seem to be driving an ever-closer alliance between China, Russia, Brazil and India. But another, more compelling explanation is that Putin is a master of the darker arts of international statesmanship. Putin is unfettered by considerations of high principle. He is free from the necessity of having to justify to voters the economic damage he is wreaking on his own country or to defend himself against any opposition. He doesnt care about destroying his gas markets in Western Europe, putting thousands of foreign companies to flight, or cutting off Russia from international investments. Instead, he makes alliances where he can get them, from the Taliban in Afghanistan to Irans mullahs and North Koreas Kim Jong Un. And when it comes to non-pariah states like China and India, Putin simply makes it worth their while economically to be friends with Moscow. Take India, whose imports of Russian crude oil have increased fivefold since Russia invaded Ukraine. The reason? Hefty discounts that have saved Indian refiners an estimated $12.6bn and created a whole new industry of refining Russian crude that Western Europe turned away and reselling it back to those self-same Europeans. China, too, has been boosted by access to discounted Russian oil, and has more than doubled its exports of consumer electronics, cars and other consumer goods to Russia. And in signing a long-mooted deal with Russias Gazprom to build the 2,400km-long Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline linking the Arctic Yamal peninsula to Beijing, Xi has scored another major win. It will be Russia, not China, who will foot the bill for the massive construction costs. Moreover, the price of gas paid by Chinese consumers will be set close to Russias own domestic wholesale prices, far below international market rates and a fraction of what European customers used to pay. open image in gallery China is cementing its leadership of the worlds most populous and fastest-growing group of countries ( AFP/Getty ) No matter. What Putin cares about is Making Russia Great Again, regardless of the cost in blood and treasure. And Putins personal standing as reflected in the pomp and theatre of grand international conferences, military parades, flag-waving schoolgirls at the airport, and warm embraces with world leaders forms a major part of that greatness. In addition to Xi and Modi with whom Putin spent nearly an hour in his Russian-made Auris limousine Putin has also had meetings with Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, and Vietnamese prime minister Pham Minh Chinh. And just a fortnight ago, of course, Putin was exchanging warm words and firm handshakes with Donald Trump, who was hoping to lure him away from Beijings embrace. Not a bad haul for a leader whom Europe has shunned diplomatically since 2022. Of course, it is not Putin but Xi who is the true star of the show, which began with a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin and will end with a vast military parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japan. It is not just Chinas vast military that will be on show but also Xis superpower ambitions with leaders such as Putin, Modi and the rest lined up as prestige guests at the emperors court. open image in gallery Putin, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping talking ahead of their summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday ( AP ) The reality is that while India and China really are global economic superpowers, Putin is the literal and figurative pygmy at the table. After three years of war, Russias economy faces its second quarter of economic contraction in a row. While thats not yet anything close to an economic crisis, its equally clear that the war, and the Wests economic sanctions, have made Russia a supplicant to both Delhi and Beijing, who, between them, hold the fate of Putins economy and his war effort in their hands. Overall, though, the last few days have marked a symbolic turning point. China is cementing its leadership of the worlds most populous and fastest-growing group of countries. US tariff policies are undermining his economy in the short term, but Xi is playing the long game. The US is helping China to increase its global influence, argues Xinbo Wu, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Shanghais Fudan University. China may suffer because of the US tariffs, but politically, China is gaining more sympathy and more support from other countries, and not just in the global South. Unlike the height of communism, Russia no longer wields much economic heft, nor does it possess a global ideology to offer the world. But Putin does have cheap energy to hand out to his friends, and a nuclear arsenal at his disposal, and a veto on the United Nations Security Council to wield. On its own, the Kremlin leads no one and influences no nation greater than tiny Belarus. But Putin has found a new role as sidekick and useful vassal to a mighty and rising world power. 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 Nato is working to thwart Russian jamming of civilian flights, said the alliance's chief on Tuesday, two days after a jet carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lost its ability to use GPS navigation midair in Bulgarian airspace. The plane landed safely on Sunday, but Bulgarian authorities said they suspected Russia was behind the interference. It is taken very seriously," said Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte during a news conference in Luxembourg with the duchy's prime minister and defense minister. I can assure you that we are working day and night to counter this, to prevent it, and to make sure that they will not do it again. He did not elaborate. open image in gallery UE PRESIDENTA AVION ( AP ) Neither Russia nor von der Leyen has commented publicly on the incident. The EU and Nato are separate entities with different sets of member countries, but Europes security is a vital issue for both. Rutte said the jamming was part of a complex campaign by Russia of hybrid threats like cutting of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, a plot to assassinate a German industrialist, and a cyberattack on the National Heath Service in the United Kingdom. I have always hated the words hybrid because it sounds so cuddly, but hybrid is exactly this jamming of commercial airplanes, with potentially disastrous effects," he said. The Associated Press has plotted almost 80 incidents on a map tracking a campaign of disruption across Europe blamed on Russia, which the head of Britains foreign intelligence service has described as "staggeringly reckless. Since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents, ranging from vandalism to arson and attempted assassination. open image in gallery Russia Europe Jamming ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The interference from Russia includes jamming and spoofing. Jamming means a strong radio signal overwhelms communications, whereas spoofing misleads a receiver into thinking it is in a different location or in a past or future time period. The threat from the Russians is increasing every day. Lets not be naive about it: this might also involve one day Luxembourg, it might come to the Netherlands," Rutte said. With the latest Russian missile technology for example, the difference now between Lithuania on the front line and Luxembourg, The Hague or Madrid is five to 10 minutes. Thats the time it takes this missile to reach these parts of Europe. The whole continent was under direct threat from the Russians, he warned. "We are all on the eastern flank now, whether you live in London or Tallinn. Bulgaria will not investigate the jamming of von der Leyens plane because such things happen every day, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said Tuesday. He said it was one of the side effects of Russia's war in Ukraine and had occurred across Europe. 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 On Sunday, a plane carrying European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen was reportedly forced to land in Bulgaria using paper maps after its GPS navigation systems were jammed. Bulgarian authorities claim the jamming was deliberate Russian interference, though a Kremlin spokesperson told the Financial Times this was incorrect. GPS interference is on the rise, so you might be wondering how it works. And can anything be done about it? And perhaps most importantly do you need to worry? How does GPS jamming work? Ursula von der Leyen and Romanian President Nicusor Dan chat near the jet used by the European Comisson President, on the tarmac of Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania ( Reuters ) The Global Positioning System (GPS) and other satellite navigation systems use radio signals from satellites to calculate position. To determine position, a GPS needs a direct line of sight to at least four satellites. There are two ways to disrupt satellite navigation. The first is jamming. This works by simply broadcasting high-intensity radio noise in the same frequency band used by the navigation satellites. Jamming drowns out the satellite signal, like a person shouting loudly in your ear stops you hearing what someone is saying on the other side of the room. This appears to be what happened in Bulgaria. The second way to interfere with satellite navigation is called spoofing, and its a little more elegant. Spoofing involves sending radio signals that pretend to be coming from the navigation satellites. Where jamming stops the satellite navigation system from producing any location, spoofing tricks it into giving a false location with potentially catastrophic results. Are jamming and spoofing becoming more common? Jamming and spoofing do appear to be growing more common, especially in conflict zones in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. A clandestine Russian base near the Polish border is reportedly responsible for satnav interference in the Baltic region. Ships in the Red Sea report frequent interference, likely from Houthi rebels in Yemen. These increasingly common incidents highlight how vulnerable our reliance on satellite navigation makes us. What can be done about interference? The best response to interference is to have backup navigation options in place. The US-run GPS is the best known and most commonly used satellite navigation system, but there are others. The EU runs a parallel system called Galileo, while Russia has one called GLONASS and China operates its own BeiDou satellites. Each of these systems operates using slightly different radio frequencies. Some navigation systems can tune in to more than one set of satellites so even if one is jammed, others may be available. Galileo also has a safety of life feature, which allows users to detect spoofing. Australias in-development SouthPAN system will also offer a similar feature. Another common feature of navigation systems is inertial sensing. This relies on sensors such as gyroscopes and barometers to directly detect movement and calculate position. Most car navigation systems use inertial sensors to track location in cities or tunnels where there is no direct line of sight to satellites. Inertial sensing works well for short periods of time, but quickly becomes inaccurate and needs to be recalibrated by checking in with satellite systems. Many researchers around the world are trying to develop new alternatives to satellite navigation using extremely precise sensors. One recent development uses tiny fluctuations in Earths magnetic field to detect position, for example. Should you be worried about flying? Everyday air passengers have no need to worry about jamming or spoofing. For one thing, its very rare especially outside conflict zones. For another, the aviation industry is highly regulated and extremely safe. Even where satellite navigation doesnt work, there are backup options. What all of us can take away from this latest incident is how dependent we have become on satellite navigation. What matters is that we have a diverse range of systems so we are not dependent on just one. Lucia McCallum is a Senior Scientist in Geodesy at the University of Tasmania This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article 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 Tourists travelling to Tenerife have been issued a warning ahead of the islands largest ever volcanic drill, after tremors were recorded last week. It comes after small earthquakes from Mount Teide, Spains highest peak, were recorded at a depth of one kilometre, and another at surface level last Thursday, according to Canarian Weekly. The drill will involve cooperation between emergency services, the military, scientists, and other organisations, including the Red Cross, who will act out the scenario of an eruption. As part of the drill, Tenerife residents will receive an alert on their phone and many will have to evacuate their homes. It is expected to take place from September 22 to 26. Emergency services, military, scientists, and Red Cross are working together to simulate the eruption (File picture) ( Getty/iStock ) Rosa Davila, the president of Cabildo de Tenerife, the islands council, said the drill was not a result of the recent earthquake activity around the island, and had been planned for some time. The volcano last erupted in 1909. She said: "This is a brave decision calling for calm because the risk is not going to disappear. Ms Davila also told Tenerife Weekly: I believe this drill will raise awareness and ensure that people understand we live on volcanic islands. We must be prepared. This is not about alarming the public, but rather about preparing, educating, and involving them in a culture of prevention, with real exercises that enhance their understanding of the situation. The drill is a first of its kind in the Spanish municipalities, however, similar exercises have taken place in Italys Stromboli, and Sicily. Blanca Delia Perez, Minister of Security, Emergencies and the Natural Environment, said: "Tenerife had to take a giant step in this area, which is why we have designed a map of logistical points of action and support and mobility structures have already been created for the areas that could potentially be affected by a possible volcanic eruption." The Canary Islands have experienced extreme weather events in recent years. The archipelago has seen wildfires ripping through its dry climate, often exacerbated by the strong winds that come off the Atlantic Ocean. In 2023, Tenerife experienced the worst wildlife for 40 years, tearing through the beloved holiday island as more than 12,000 people were evacuated from their homes. Xi Jinping has it all. From Donald Trumps perspective, the Chinese leader is basking in sycophantic bonhomie from fellow global authoritarians while enjoying a parade of tanks and stealth bombers, massive missiles, lasers and mass marches of beautifully drilled infantry. Xis international prestige is at an all-time high. And Trump gave it to him. Today, humanity is once again faced with critical choices: peace or war? Dialogue or confrontation? Win-win co-operation or zero-sum rivalry? Xi said. The Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history and on the side of human civilisation and progress, he added flanked by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, North Koreas ruler who beamed at the sight of Chinas biggest ever military parade in Tiananmen Square. It was fitting, among dictators, that the vast display of renewed Chinese might should be in Tiananmen Square where Xis Chinese Communist Party of China snuffed out the pro-democracy movement with the massacre of hundreds of demonstrators in 1989. Xi now believes he is the candidate to lead that multipolar world as first among equals. Because Trump has swung a wrecking ball against the foundations of international law that underpin global security. And Xi is growing the military power to drive his point home. open image in gallery Xi Jinping is flanked by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, North Koreas ruler, who beamed at the sight of Chinas biggest ever military parade, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing ( AP ) Trump was left to stamp his feet in Washington. Hes taller than the gallery of autocrats in Beijing. His nations forces are still vastly superior. And yet he was overcome by his small-man Napoleon complex. Perhaps his own Washington military parade earlier this year, a small, shambolic affair, had left him deflated. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America, Trump said in a post directed at Xi on Truth Social. He had done his best for them, after all. His peevishness was understandable. In the first months of his second term, the US president has attacked his own allies. He has echoed Vladimir Putins imperial ambitions by voicing threats against Canada and Denmark. He has also abandoned climate change and global democracy as strategic policies worth pushing. He has slapped only 10 per cent tariffs on China and is desperate to do business in Russia. In short, Trump has undermined the West. And that makes Xi not only look good but also makes him more powerful. open image in gallery Vladimir Putin, left, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, centre, and Chinese president Xi Jinping talk ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China ( Indian Prime Minister's Office ) America is, along with Israel, abandoning democracy at home and ignoring international law abroad. Both attacked Iran without United Nations support. Both are involved in the relentless bombing of Gaza. Both are supportive of increasingly loopy ideas for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homeland. In his vision for the future, Xi told the Shanghai Cooperation Conference on Monday: We should expand the scope of cooperation, make the most of each countrys unique strengths, and shoulder together the shared responsibility of promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity. He means club together and form a power bloc to take on the West, now that Trump is taking a hammer to its foundations. China is the biggest importer of Russian oil Xis country funds Putins war along with the European Union, which still imports vast amounts of gas. Xis government supplies the Kremlin with the technology it needs for rockets and bombs, drones and communications. But, unlike the US, China hasnt gotten directly involved in any recent military conflicts. It didnt invade Iraq illegally. It didnt fight a futile war in Afghanistan. And it doesnt carry out extrajudicial killings around the world in the name of pre-empting future attacks. China plays a long game. It has hoovered up access to the worlds rare earth elements producing 70 per cent, refining 90 per cent and holding 40 per cent of what we need to run the planet. Unlike Trump, Xi is serious and statesmanlike. Hes cynical and unprincipled in the application of authoritarian capitalism not unstable and economically illiterate. Xi understands, for example, that every cent of US-imposed import duties (tariffs) comes from America, while Trump sincerely believes he is bringing in foreign money. Russia and China are the Wests long-term threats or rivals. Russia has invaded Europe and Putin has said he wants more than just Ukraine. Xi is a direct threat to Taiwan. Chinas power is more economic a slow and strategic spending of $30bn on port projects on every continent except Antarctica and wrapping 140 nations into its road, energy and digital infrastructure. It is second only to the US in terms of economic size. But nine of the 25 biggest economies are in the European Union include the UK and Switzerland, and that makes 11 European states. Add Canada, Japan and Taiwan, and pro-Western nations clearly bestride the globe. open image in gallery Donald Trump greets Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August ( AFP/Getty ) However, Trump appears more comfortable in the company of men like North Koreas Kim Jong Un, Putin and Narendra Modi, Indias Hindu nationalist prime minister. The latter leads the worlds biggest democracy but, like Trump, leans hard into populism with authoritarian tendencies. Trump would not want to share the spotlight with Xi. But China is hosting the kind of gathering that Trump most wants to have. And Xi is emerging as the grown-up leader of a new global power bloc that binds his nation closer to Russia, India, and North Korea. Other Asian nations are sidling into his jet stream because the West, as led by Trump, is rudderless and downright weird. The spectacle of Trumps cabinet grovelling to the US president in three-hour sessions is reminiscent of the worst scenes of dictatorial theatre of the Soviet era and of Chinas Cultural Revolution. Europe can survive Trump, and just as prestige has drained from Washington to Beijing, so it can be diverted to the continent. Americas loss does not have to be just Chinas gain. After all, Trumps love of parades began not after being upstaged by Putin but when he was flattered by Emmanuel Macron, who paraded French forces for his delight along the Champs-Elysees. 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 Family and supporters of a British father who was reportedly jailed in Saudi Arabia over a tweet say he is trapped in a living hell, as they appealed to the UK government to take urgent action. Ahmed al-Doush, a father-of-four from Manchester, was arrested on 31 August last year while on holiday in Saudi Arabia with his family. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May this year on terrorism charges over social media posts about Egypt, Sudan and Gaza , according to human rights group Amnesty International. His sentence has since been reduced to eight years, Amnesty reported. Mr al-Doushs wife, Amaher Nour, described the anguish her family have endured since his arrest. She fears for her husbands health as he contemplates going on hunger strike. This past year without Ahmed has been unbearable for me and our children, said Ms Nour, who was pregnant at the time of Mr Doushs arrest. The emotional and physical strain has been overwhelming. open image in gallery Ahmed al-Doush was detained while on holiday in Saudi Arabia in August last year ( PA Media ) No words can express the heartbreak of raising four children alone while their father is unjustly imprisoned. Our children have never adjusted to his absence, and every day is filled with pain and longing. My greatest fear now is for Ahmeds health and wellbeing, especially in light of his hunger strike. We are terrified for him and desperate for his safe return. Details of the offending social media posts remain unclear, but reports from his family suggest they are related to a tweet he posted in 2018 to his 41 followers, which has since been deleted. The tweet is thought to have related to the war in Sudan, which provided military support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Amnesty said his family have had scant communication with him, adding that he has has faced repeated punishment for attempting to speak about his case and conditions. Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said Mr Doush and his family are being failed by the UK government. For one whole year, Ahmed al-Doush has been trapped in a living hell abducted and separated from his young family and detained in Saudi Arabia, he said. UK officials should be doing everything they can to secure Ahmeds release, but instead very little action is being taken. The UK governments failure to advocate for Ahmed and help him return to his family is extremely worrying. It is vital that everything possible is done to urge the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ahmed if he is detained solely for exercising his human rights. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Develpment office spokesperson said: "We are supporting a British man who is detained in Saudia Arabia and are in contact with his family and the local authorities. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Australian embassy in Japan issued a warning urging travellers to show cultural sensitivity following public outrage over a video showing a tourist drinking an offering left at a Japanese grave. The footage, shot near the Aokigahara forest and posted by Instagram user Lochie Jones in August, shows him entering a cemetery in the Yamanashi prefecture and stopping near a headstone with a can of popular Japanese beer Kirin placed in front of it. Jones says he has decided to leave it up to chance and flips a coin before cracking open the beer can and drinking it. By the way, suicide in Japan is a serious f****** issue. The mental health here has to be some of the worst, and I can absolutely understand why. The Japanese women are absolutely vicious and cold, he says in the video while looking for a coin. The men still have their honour but its been weaponised against them. Theyve been tricked into not having any feelings and it results in one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Happy blessings and rest in peace, he says as he drinks the beer, then burps loudly, and places cigarettes on the grave as he exits. I wont leave him empty-handed, Ive got some f****** Marlboro. In Japanese tradition, food and drink offerings placed at graves serve as tributes to honour the dead, not refreshments for visitors. Consuming the offerings is widely viewed as profoundly disrespectful and akin to stealing from the dead. The video provoked backlash against Jones, with one person writing on his post: Imagine going to another country to disrespect peoples graves and steal the offerings left for loved ones. Very depraved behaviour. Another said: In Japan, the offerings you see on a grave arent decorations or props, especially not for content. Families leave food, drinks, and incense as gifts for the spirits of their loved ones. That is why taking them is almost like robbing the person who passed on something a loved one left for them. What you did is not just bad manners, its deeply disrespectful. On Tuesday, the Australian embassy issued a statement urging travellers to display appropriate behaviour when visiting Japan. The Australian Embassy, Japan, works closely with Japanese authorities to ensure that travellers from Australia respect and observe local laws and rules. We encourage appropriate behaviour when visiting Japan. We take these matters seriously acting in cooperation with relevant authorities, the statement read. Meanwhile, local media reported that police had launched a formal inquiry into Jones. The Fuji Yoshida precinct of the Yamanashi police was investigating the video and currently verifying the facts. In the wake of the backlash, Jones made an apology. Look, if you felt I desecrated your dead, I am sorry. It was a mistake. Im coming clean. I shouldnt have portrayed that, he posted on Instagram. The two-part apology, however, contained a rant about what he called Japans large-scale hive mind that would be subject to the whims of a predatory reptilian system that views you as little more than sheep or cattle for experimentation or slaughter. Gambling and smoking is vilified, but your culture and the normalisation of paedophilia is inviting demonic forces into the mainstream, he added. 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 to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Rail passengers keen to explore Europe can get a 20 per cent discount on the all-you-can-travel range of Interrail passes. You must buy by Tuesday 9 September but can begin travelling at any time within the following 11 months meaning journeys in summer 2026 are permitted. The flash promo deal applies to all so-called Global Passes. These allow travel from the UK to 32 countries, from Finland to Portugal and Ireland to Turkey. How much are Interrail passes in the sale? With the discount, an entry level pass covering four days of travel within one month for 226 (197) in second class. A three-month continuous pass in first class costs 971 (845) which works out as less than 10 per day. Under-28s are entitled to a further discount of 25 per cent, while 60-plus travellers save 10 per cent. Families with children get an excellent deal: passes for under-12s travelling with adults are free. What is the best Interrail pass to buy? Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail, advises: Don't buy a three-month pass as your first debut entry into the scheme. I think for many people, a four-day pass, a five-day pass or a seven-day pass is best each of those is a set number of days within a month. Thats the way to start. Be warned, though, that supplements apply on many high-speed trains in France, Spain and Italy. Is Eurostar included in the Interrail pass? Eurostar trains from London St Pancras International to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are included but require a seat reservation fee of 32 (28) in second class, or 40 (35) in first. While Interrail is not designed for extensive travel in your home country, you can use one outbound and one inbound journey in the UK together with free travel from your local station to London, including from Scotland and Wales. You could alternatively find a cheap flight to a European airport and pick up the trail from there. Travel from your local station to your UK departure airport is included. But Gardner says Eurostar is an essential part of the Interrail. Eurostar is a great experience in itself, she said. Once you get past the queues at St Pancras, there is some real drama, some real theatre in that journey from London to Brussels or London to Paris. What are the best Interrail train routes around Europe? Interrail is a fantastic way to see the best of Europe, and it is easy to chart a route through the best of the continent. A simple itinerary could start in Barcelona, travel along the French Riviera, and finish in the Italian lakes. Or start in bustling Berlin and end on the beaches of Greece. UK, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria For Gardner, the best trips always begin in London, travelling either to Paris or Belgium. I always think Brussels makes a great first night stop. If you live in southern England, so closer to London, and you want to go that wee bit further, I think Aachen in Germany a mid-sized city, easy to get a feel for, is an absolutely great place. open image in gallery Rail expert: Nicky Gardner ( Susanne Kries ) Read more: Travel Switzerland by rail and bus, from deep south to far north Continuing from Aachen, why not venture up the Rhine valley into Switzerland to the Swiss lakes? Head perhaps to Lake Lucerne, where the boats run all year round. You can have a day or two in western or central Switzerland. From there with a five-day pass or a seven-day pass, Europe is your oyster. I would probably head east through the Austrian Tyrol up through Bavaria and then eventually back through the Rhineland and through Brussels back to Britain. The rail expert, who lives in Berlin, also has advice on avoiding the 10 (8.70) reservation fees for French high-speed TGV trains. Very regularly I have travelled from the French border right through France, even to the Atlantic coast, relying entirely upon TER trains. These are regional trains. They're that wee bit slower, but you get to see a lot more countryside. They make many more stops. UK, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Finland Scandinavia is excellent Interrail territory, but requires a little bit more planning. Gardner says: My partner and I have had ill-fated journeys in which we set off to see the northern lights in northern Norway and just never quite got there because of train delays in winter. You have to be careful, book, that book sleeper compartments in advance, think carefully where you want to go. Be alert to the fact that travelling in darkness is not a bundle of fun. But there's some great journeys to be made. Head from Britain, using the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, then on through northern Germany to Stockholm, and then slowly up the east coast of Sweden. And if you're very adventurous, Finland is waiting for you. open image in gallery It's easy to travel from Stockholm to the east of Sweden ( Getty/iStock ) The Europe by Rail co-author believes that travelling by train is unbeatable. It's not just what appeals to me, I think it's what has appealed to generations of travellers since the late 19th century and particularly to artists, poets and writers. The train is time out. It is a moment to sit back, to relax, to just watch the landscape, drifting by beyond the carriage window. We always say journeys are about discovering Europe, but a lot of time it's about discovering yourself. It's a chance to think, it's a chance to reflect, it's a chance for people to think about what they want to do next in life. Full list of countries covered by Interrail passes Note that travel in your home country is allowed only on two days: once outbound, once inbound. Austria Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Read more: New all-inclusive rail tour launches but tickets arent cheap Former footballer was chosen as a brand ambassador for the coffee retailer David Beckham was chosen as a Nespresso brand ambassador for his unforgettable style, taste and passion for creating elevated experiences. Photo: Getty Former footballer and style icon David Beckham last year failed to stop a fall in revenues at the Irish arm of coffee retailer Nespresso. New accounts filed by Nespresso UK Ltd show in the first 12 months of Beckham endorsing Nespresso products, revenues at its Irish unit fell from a record 32.5m in 2023 to 30.86m last year. In November 2023, Nespresso signed up the former Manchester United player as one of its brand ambassadors. Nespresso UK & Ireland CEO Anna Lundstrom said at the time that Beckham has always had an unforgettable style, taste and passion for creating elevated experiences which are many of the qualities of Nespresso. In contrast, revenues at the UK branch increased from 306.12m to 309.9m. Nestle-owned Nespresso operates a number of boutique outlets here, including a flagship store on Dublins Duke Street. The Irish business last year had average weekly revenues of 682,500. The directors state that in 2024, Nespresso UK Ltd had an average of 499 employees, down from 716 in 2023. To adapt to changing shopping preferences for immersive brand experiences, we streamlined our operations, resulting in the closure of 11 boutique locations and impacting 148 roles within the UK and RoI (Republic of Ireland) business, the directors state. Overall sales across the UK and Irish arm last year increased by 1pc from 338.64m to 340.77m. The directors state that the increase in revenues was driven by the ongoing success of the Vertuo system in its business-to-consumer division, coupled with very strong growth in its business-to-business division. As a result of the increase in revenues, pre-tax profits rose by 7pc to 15.02m. The company recorded a post-tax profit of 11.06m after incurring a corporation tax charge of 3.96m. The firm last year paid out 10.28m in dividends. This followed a dividend pay out of 10.99m in 2023. David Beckham was chosen as a Nespresso brand ambassador for his unforgettable style, taste and passion for creating elevated experiences. Photo: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - September 3rd 2025 Underlining the growth of Nespresso here over recent years, sales last year of 30.86m were more than double sales of 14.7m in 2016. The Irish revenues of 30.86m make up almost 9pc of the overall UK and Irish revenues of 340.77m. The profit takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 6.2m and non-cash amortisation costs of 1.73m. Directors pay last year totalled 632,000 and the highest paid director received 414,000 in pay last year. What I spend on Christmas: I would imagine that my total will be about 2,000 and the majority of my budget will be on my own kids Elkstones Alan Merriman says move would create jobs and boost enterprise The Government has been urged to introduce a Special Savings and Investment Scheme in next months Budget to reroute money being held on deposit by households and institutions into the domestic economy. US Congressional Committee told to put pressure" on Coimisiun na Mean over EU tech regulation laws The US House Judiciary Committee held hearings today as X announced that it would appeal its High Court loss over regulation by Coimisiun na Mean Irish lawyer Lorcan Price, counsel for ADF International, testifying in Congress Adrian Weckler Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 19:51 A powerful US Congressional committee has heard a request for the Trump White House to put pressure on the Irish government to curb the activities of Coimisiun na Mean. The number of vacancies on the main Irish shopping streets is continuing to decline, with prominent new tenants arriving in Grafton Street and Henry Street in Dublin, according to the latest report on the retail market from CBRE Ireland. Ed Sheeran has announced five European gigs in December including one in Dublin ahead of the release of his new album Play on September 12. In the aftermath of his Mathematics series, the Loop tour will see Mr Sheeran perform arena concerts, two of which will be in the UK along with one gig in France, Germany, and the final one in Dublins 3Arena on Tuesday, December 9. Play will find him exploring new musical ground through collaboration with producers and musicians from around the world. Mr Sheeran will be performing on the following dates: Paris, France on Monday, 1 December Munich, Germany on Wednesday 3 December Coventry, UK on Friday, 5 December Manchester, UK on Sunday, 7 December Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday, 9 December Fans eager to get their hands on tickets for the hotly anticipated return of the Shape of You star will have a chance at pre-sale which open at 10am on Tuesday, 11 September on Ticketmaster. For the Coventry and Manchester dates only, fans can pre-order the album exclusively through Amazon.co.uk before 7pm BST on Sunday, 7 September to secure pre-sale tickets. For the Paris, Munich, and Dublin shows only, fans can sign-up to register for pre-sale before 23.59pm on Monday, 8 September through edsheeran.com. Rivals actor wants to make documentary about intimacy co-ordinators English actor Emily Atack has said she has been sexually assaulted on film and television sets throughout her career. The star, who found fame playing Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the Channel 4 comedy The Inbetweeners, claims she has repeatedly been the target of sexual abuse in the workplace. The 35-year-old, who has a son, Barney, with her nuclear-scientist fiance Alistair Garner, wants to explore the issue in a documentary. In an interview with the Radio Times, she said she was impressed by the use of intimacy co-ordinators on the set of the raunchy Disney+ show Rivals, which she said allows actors to feel more comfortable. Intimacy co-ordinators are there for support if you feel uncomfortable, whether youre a man or a woman, she said. Ive seen people roll their eyes about them and say, I dont need one. Theres a defensiveness about it. Emily Atack Ive been sexually assaulted at work throughout my career, whether its on the actual set or at a wrap party. And since the #MeToo movement, it shows that people are listening and that there has to be a shift in behaviour on sets. Atack explained how filming Rivals, inspired by Jilly Coopers Rutshire Chronicles, was a completely different experience. Throughout my life, I havent felt safe all the time, and were all so respectful of each other, she said. We have to do a lot of sexual scenes and were very well looked after. Its a really positive thing. She added that she is in conversations to follow up the success of her BBC documentary about online sexual harassment Emily Atack: Asking For It? with a new project on the role of intimacy co-ordinators. She will be seen next on television in Channel 5 thriller The Rumour, based on Lesley Karas novel of the same name. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for the Mercosur Summit in Montevideo on December 6, 2024. (Photo by Eitan ABRAMOVICH / AFP) The following are details of a trade accord between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc. The European Commission is set to formally propose the deal on Wednesday for approval by the EU's parliament and member states. Drug dealer fails in bid for return of his abducted son in tug-of-love case Boy at centre of legal battle is described as very troubled Stock image. Photo: Getty Shane Phelan Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 06:30 A convicted drug dealer whose former partner moved to England after ending their allegedly abusive relationship has lost a legal battle in which he was seeking to have his son returned to his custody. DNA-based prosecutions have surged, Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan to tell cabinet colleagues Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan to tell cabinet colleagues that DNA-based prosecutions have surged Senan Molony Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan will tell the Cabinet today that the national DNA database assisted with 1,000 criminal prosecutions in Ireland for the first time last year. LATEST | Norma Foley asks Tusla to conduct 'check' on cases closed during pandemic as garda search for missing boy continues Gardai are told missing boy was found dead in bed and secretly buried in a panicWasteland site in Donabate, Dublin, sealed off from public and cadaver dog taken to search area Gardai are told missing boy was found dead in bed and secretly buried in a panic Conor Feehan, Ken Foy and Darragh Nolan Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 13:00 Children's Minister Norma Foley has asked Tusla to conduct a "well-being check" on children whose cases may have been closed during the Covid-19 pandemic Farmer and property manager Sam Carson and the tenant, who did not wish to be named, recount the moment six cars on their property were set in fire in Ballymena on Sunday night in a racially motivated attack. Discrimination concerns as some schools ask for pupils religion during pre-enrolment process Lobby group says move has parents fearing discrimination may be going on behind closed doors Lobby group Education Equality says some schools are asking for the information during pre-enrolment. Stock image: Getty Sarah O'Mahony Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 06:30 A human rights group has warned that schools continue to ask parents about their childrens religion during pre-enrolment, despite a watchdog urging an end to the practice. Free travel has been extended to include children between the ages of 5 and 8. A new Child Leap Card, which is available through leapcard.ie, will now allow children under the age of 9 to avail of free transport across the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TFI) network. Gardai investigating the disappearance of a young boy were told he was found dead in bed and secretly buried in a panic. A woman told gardai the child had died in his sleep of natural causes and that she and her then partner had secretly buried him in waste ground in Donabate, Co Dublin. Government advisers urge more support for heat pumps and solar panels to boost home retrofits There is currently no chance country will hit retrofitting or emission targets While residential solar-panel uptake exceeded expectations, homeowners need help getting batteries to store excess energy. Stock image: PA Caroline O'Doherty, Environment Correspondent Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Efforts to make Irish homes greener and more energy efficient are falling far behind target, a government advisory body has warned. Heather Humphreys promises to go to the Gaeltacht and learn Irish if elected president Former Social Protection Minister also said scrapped green paper on reform of disability payments was only ever a consultation document Heather Humphreys. Photo: Mark Condren Darragh Nolan Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 13:02 Former Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has promised to head to the Gaeltacht and learn Irish if she is elected president. 'People no longer wanted to be associated with the traditional, local way of speaking': Are Irish accents as we know them dying out? The judge told me I would die in prison Irishman to share his story of being held hostage in Irans Satans Block Bernard Phelan, in his 60s, stripped of his dignity and forced to go on hunger strike in a desperate plight for freedom from Irans Satans Block, where he was held for over 200 days. Bernard Phelan with his late father Vincent Phelan, who never gave up on his son as he was held hostage in an Iranian prison. Laura Lynott Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 07:00 An innocent Irishman held hostage in Satans Block in Iran for over 200 days, told an RTE documentary a judge informed him: You will die in prison. After Nialls diagnosis we had conversations most couples wouldnt have... and I fell in love with him all over again Nicola Pierce on losing her husband When she began her latest book Great Irish Wives, writer Nicola Pierce could not have known she would be widowed before it was completed Nicola Pierce on the loss of her beloved husband and her new book of historical woman Sophie Grenham Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Nicola Pierce is waiting for me at the window of her house in Drogheda when I arrive, her bright eyes smiling as we say hello. We move through her inviting hallway and every room bursts with colour, the walls covered with art, shelves of books, and nooks of neatly ordered objects. The 56-year-olds rainbow home is an extension of her cheerful personality. We step into a petite garden, past bowls of food where stray cats dine, and into her sizeable writing shed stuffed with more pictures, paperbacks and talismans. She hasnt spent much time in this space since losing her husband, Niall Carney, to stomach cancer in January. Qantas is considering a beard ban for all pilots following a study on the safety of oxygen masks. Australias flagship airline controversially proposed the grooming policy across the board for its aircraft captains. Beards are already banned for pilots operating Qantas and Jetstar mainline services, with the airline reportedly looking to extend the clean-shaven requirement to QantasLink regional flights. A safety review by the British defence company QinetiQ said that beards may interfere with the seal of oxygen masks and reduce their effectiveness in an emergency, according to Australian Aviation. The 2024 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University study conversely found no evidence that facial hair caused mask leaks, hypoxia, or chemicals to affect performance. Research involved 24 participants with different facial hair to test if beards compromised the masks seal. The airline opened a consultation period from July 15 to August 12 to gather pilot feedback. Qantas has faced backlash from the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) over the proposed facial hair ban. AFAP said that the no-beard policy is already outdated and based on obsolete science. It added that Virgin Australia permits tidy beards among its flight crew, as do Emirates, Etihad, and Cathay. A ban on facial hair by the Royal Australian Air Force was also lifted in late 2022, as long as beards were kept neat, said AFAP. The federation said the move lacked proper consultation with employees and respect for diverse workforces. The Independent has contacted Qantas for comment. In 2023, Qantas announced changes to its style and grooming guidelines in response to staff feedback and pressure from the countrys Services Union. Employees are now able to grow their hair long, ditch heels for flats, and wear make-up regardless of gender for the first time in the companys 102-year history. It was the first update since the current uniforms were introduced in 2013. Eileen Gleeson at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile As exclusively reported by the Sunday Independent, former Ireland womens football manager Eileen Gleeson has taken a landmark legal action against the FAI. Gleeson, who was relieved of her post last December following 16 months in charge, has accused the FAI of discriminating against her due to her gender and the gender of the team she managed. Court documents also detail how Gleeson felt coerced into agreeing to take the interim role after previous Ireland boss Vera Pauws reign came to an end in August 2023. The FAI stands accused of breaching Gleesons right to equal pay with male equivalent employees under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015 by paying her six times less than her male counterparts. Gleesons legal action also accuses the FAI of discrimination, bullying, and unlawful conduct. In response, the FAI has vowed to mount a strong legal defence. Mark Tighe joins Fionnan Sheahan on The Indo Daily to break down the story. The conversion of an iconic Cork City building into a retail unit has been delayed for up to nine months, following a request for further information from city planners. The site of the former Roches Stores, a landmark building in St Patrick's Street, is due to be turned from a department store into four separate retail units, one of which is set to be an anchor tenant. Pro-Palestine protestor Kitty OBrien attended rally in Cork prior to Berlin incident West Cork for Palestine condemned what they called a brutal attack on Kitty OBrien Kitty O'Brien leading a recent pro-Palestine demonstration in Skibbereen. Photo: Emma Jervis Kevin Galvin Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 07:20 An Irish person who was shown in a video being repeatedly punched in the face by German police officers during a protest in Berlin had returned to the German capital after taking part in a protest in West Cork. News Cork councillors call for people with spinal injuries to get full medical cards Its absolutely crazy and beyond belief that people with spinal injuries arent entitled to full medical cards considering the serious ongoing expenses they face in managing their health needs, Cork councillors said this week. A Dublin councillor is urging Fingal County Council to play a leading role in a campaign aimed at helping victims of sexual harassment and assault in public places. Aontu councillor Ellen Troy said she is writing to the council, urging them to promote the Ask for Angela campaign. The initiative encourages victims of sexual harassment and assault to use the codeword to safely seek help in public places such as bars or nightclubs. People who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can approach venue staff and ask to speak with Angela. This code-phrase will discreetly indicate to staff they require help, and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist them. Ms Troy is urging Fingal County Council to promote the initiative amongst the local business community and to give them full support if they decide to implement the campaign. Recent studies show that up to 30pc of women in Ireland experience sexual harassment in public spaces, she said. I believe this points to the importance of accessible support options in our community. The campaigns presence in local pubs, clubs, and community venues has been shown to reduce incidents of harassment and improve safety awareness. However, Ms Troy highlighted that many victims may not yet know how to access help. A coordinated effort by our local authority would really help local vintners and businesses to fully promote and highlight an Ask for Angela campaign, she said. It would be a critical step forward. Ms Troy believes Fingal County Council could lend its support through the allocation of resources to promote the initiative across social media, local press and public posters in key venues. She said there are myriads of ways in which it could be done including partnering with local businesses, pubs, clubs and community groups to facilitate training and awareness around the campaign. She also suggested organising community events or information sessions aimed at educating the public on how Ask for Angela works and the benefits. I am urging Fingal County Council to make our area a safer place for everyone by ensuring this vital initiative receives the attention and backing it deserves, Cllr Troy added. This is a vital campaign and one that has the potential to literally save lives. Fingal County Council has been contacted for comment. The new driving test centre in south Dublin is expected to open in the coming weeks. Pic: Getty Plans for a new driving test centre in south Dublin have been welcomed as a crucial step in tackling mounting delays for learner drivers. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) confirmed it is actively progressing plans for a new driving test centre in south Dublin, with a view to opening within the coming weeks, subject to the lease agreement. Sinn Fein TD for Dublin south west, Sean Crowe, said the RSA has identified a suitable site for the facility. I warmly welcome the confirmation I received that the Road Safety Authority has found a suitable premises in south Dublin and expect it to be operational soon, Mr Crowe said. He highlighted the strain on the existing Tallaght centre, where the waiting list has now exceeded 19,000 people, describing the situation as simply unsustainable. With the population growth we have seen in Dublin South West in recent years, it was vital that another testing centre be opened, he added. Public transport should always be the first option, but it cannot be the only option. We cannot leave people waiting months and years to sit a driving test. Recent figures suggest waiting times vary significantly across the country. According to campaign group Parc, the average learner can now expect to be on a waiting list for less than 10 weeks, but residents of Tallaght recently faced waits of more than three months. The data also revealed the RSA generates significant revenue from candidates who fail to attend their tests. In June alone, 699 people did not show up, netting the authority 59,415 at 85 per applicant. The RSA has faced repeated calls to streamline its system, both to reduce delays and to make it easier for learners to secure and, if necessary, reschedule their test dates. A spokesperson for the RSA said: This additional centre will help reduce waiting times further and improve access for learner drivers in the region. Waiting times at Tallaght have shown significant improvement in recent weeks and months. In May, the waiting time stood at 42 weeks; it is now 15 weeks. While this remains above our Service Level Agreement of 10 weeks, it reflects substantial progress. We continue to work diligently to reduce waiting times further and ensure a fair and equitable experience for learner drivers across Ireland. The opening of a new test centre in south Dublin will help to improve this situation as staff to be assigned to the new site are now in operation in the Tallaght centre on an interim basis. While we hope all candidates either attend their scheduled test or provide sufficient notice to allow another applicant to take the slot, it is not uncommon for a small proportion of tests to go unattended. Typically, this accounts for around 3pc of all scheduled tests. As we have increased our capacity, the number of no-shows has also increased, however, they still represent around 3pc of our scheduled tests, they added. Former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are yet to respond to an invitation to formally accept the Freedom of Dublin during their upcoming visit to the city. Dublin City Council voted to confer the citys highest civic honour on the couple in 2017, but they never had the chance to accept the award officially. In a letter to the Obamas in July of this year, Dublins Lord Mayor Ray McAdam urged the couple to come to the Mansion House to formally accept the citys highest accolade. Mr Obama is visiting Dublin on September 26 to take part in a sit-down interview at the 3Arena. As you return to Dublin, I know that many here continue to hold fond memories of your visit in the spring of 2011, Mr McAdam wrote. In February 2017, the Council resolved unanimously to confer this highest civic honour upon you both. The fresh invite was described as stupid by some councillors, including People Before Profits Conor Reddy. Mr Reddy said the invitation should be withdrawn over Obamas support of Israel and military expansion in the Middle East during his time as US president. Previous recipients of the Freedom of Dublin include Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela, John F Kennedy and Mother Teresa. Historically, the award granted certain privileges to the citys holder, such as grazing sheep on Stephens Green. The vote to confer the award in 2017 was a controversial one, with councillors voting 30 to 23 in favour, with four abstentions. Despite a small number of councillors walking out in protest over the vote in 2017, Mr McAdam praised the global impact of the Obamas. Barack and Michelle Obama have made an extraordinary contribution to public life, not just in the United States, but globally, he said. President Obama led his country through a time of deep economic crisis and political division with a sense of hope, dignity, and calm leadership. His presidency inspired people around the world, including here in Ireland. Mr McAdam believes the Obamas have done tremendous work for the democratic process and should be honoured for their contribution to public service. Mrs Obama, through her advocacy, voice and example, has empowered millions particularly young women and girls to believe in their potential, he said. (L-R Back) Farm Safety Community Champions Ned Kearney, Maura Canning, Bernie Wade, Geraldine Delaney, Mary Oakley, Niamh Monahan, Robert Lally. (L-R Front) Alma Jordan, Irish Rural Link, and Aisling Kelly launch Irish Rural Links new Farm Safety Community Champion programme to equip local communities with a representative to act as a Champion to combat rural isolation and workforce shortages. A Kerry man has been named as a champion of farm safety. Mark Riordan, the chairperson of Kerry Macra, was announced as a Farm Safety Community Champion on Monday. Mr Riordan, who has a background in agriculture and food industries and was crowned Macra Mr Personality last year, was named as a safety champion as part of an Irish Rural Link programme funded by the Department of Agriculture. He is also a member of the IFAs National Rural Development Committee and Macra na Feirmes Agricultural Affairs subcommittee. The Farm Safety Community Champion programme is aimed at equipping local communities with a representative to act as a champion of farmer safety and wellbeing by offering rural citizens an opportunity to reach out and offer support for those who may be struggling with labour and isolation concerns. The programme consists of the training of nine regionally spread Farm Safety Community Champions from various backgrounds including farming, teaching, and community mentoring. These champions will develop networks in their localities to connect farmers to their communities, delivering farm safety and well-being talks at local marts and community centres. To support this, a manual has been created to guide these talks, which will include resources for local individuals to learn more about the programme and the steps they can take to encourage connection with farmers in their society. To further bolster this initiative and assist with growing workforce concerns, Irish Rural Link is calling on rural communities to organise a Farmers Haggart as part of this programme. The Farmers Haggart is led by a local Farm Safety Community Champion, and will encourage farmers to assist one another in simple tasks on the farm. The goal of this is to foster local connections between farmers to further develop rural farming networks, and support community wellbeing. Irish Rural Link CEO, Seamus Boland said the need for community has never been so important for farmers. With fluctuations in the market, inconsistent weather, and growing isolation, having the Farm Safety Community Champions will help build out our farming networks for a more connected rural society, Mr Boland said. We hope to see local communities take this as an opportunity support, strengthen, and sustain relationships with and between farmers for a more inclusive future. Those interested in finding their local Farm Safety Community Champion and/or organising a Farmers Haggart can visit: https://www.farmers4safety.ie/ The school will focus on how artificial intelligence is being used in the finance Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation pictured at the launch of the sixth International John McCarthy AI Summer School for Finance which will take place in the RDI Hub in Killorglin in County Kerry on September 18th & 19th were members of the public private partnership. Fexco, Kerry County Council and MTU and the RDI hub, from left, Chris Clancy, Enterprise Ireland, Bertie Murphy, (Fexco, Chief Strategy Officer, Fionnuala OCallaghan RDI hub), Ferghal Reidy, Chief Executive, Kerry County Council and Breda O Dwyer MTU. Photo by Don MacMonagle Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation pictured ON Wednesday at the launch of the 6th International John McCarthy AI Summer School for Finance which will take place in the RDI Hub in Killorglin in County Kerry on September 18th & 19th were partners for the AI summer school event, from left; Juliette Crowley, Tech Industry Alliance (Chief Operating Officer), Declan McKibben, Adapt Centre (Executive Director), Breda O Dwyer MTU), Bertie Murphy, (Fexco, Chief Strategy Officer), Kevin Marshall, Microsoft (Head of Future Skilling) and Pauline Leonard, Atlantic Economic Corridor Project. Photo by Don MacMonagle A Government minister attended the launch of the sixth annual John McCarthy Artificial Intelligence Summer School in Killorglin last week. Minister for State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Niamh Smyth, was in attendance at the launch event last Wednesday. Minister Smyth has special responsibility for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation. "The 2025 John McCarthy AI Summer school offers unique insights into new developments and future opportunities in this area, underpinned by public-private collaboration and expert input, Minister Smyth said. "Our culture of continuous learning and development has been a key enabler of Irelands growth and success to date, and this forum will serve to further strengthen Irelands reputation as a leader in financial innovation. The John McCarthy School is named after the American computer scientist, whose father came from Cromane, who invented the term artificial intelligence in the 1950s. The school, set to take place on September 18 and 19 at the RDI Hub in Killorglin, will focus on how artificial intelligence is being used in the finance. The two-day event will look at how AI and other technologies are reshaping the sector, in areas such as fraud detection, and it will feature a programme full of expert speakers. The John McCarthy AI Summer School has become one of the leading events for AI experts from all over the world. This years edition is a hybrid event and attendees can join in-person or online, but limited in-person seats are available. Polish ambassador to Ireland Artur Michalski pictured on his visit to the Polish Irish Festival at Fairtree Villlage in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan. The weather aside, the inaugural Polish Irish Festival, held at Fairtree Village just outside Tralee on Sunday, has been hailed as a huge success. Organiser Dan Roche of Fairtree Village said that the local Polish community in Kerry and further afield expressed a desire to have it back again next year. The awarding of scholarships to 52 Palestinian students from Gaza who are currently arriving to study in Ireland has been described by Minister for State at the Department of Further and Higher Education Marian Harkin as An act of practical compassion and one of profound solidarity with the Palestinian people. As Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education I am delighted to welcome these students who have been offered scholarships across a range of disciplines and in a range of colleges across the country. They have been rescued from a brutal war and a man-made famine, and it is our hope that they will be able to return to a Palestine at peace, healed in body and spirit and ready to put their learning and qualifications to use in the service of their people. As they leave their families behind, I hope they can somehow free themselves from the horror they have experienced and embrace this opportunity to pursue their studies, viewing it as a crucial first step in the building of a brighter future for themselves, their families, for Palestine and their troubled region. Education is a source of hope and opportunity, and I want them to know that they are valued members of our academic community. Irish colleges and universities are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive academically and personally. This initiative represents the best of Irelands values - solidarity, compassion, and a belief in the power of education to transform lives. In that regard I want to acknowledge the extraordinary work of Tanaiste Simon Harris, the Department of Foreign Affairs, our diplomatic and consular staff, and the commitment of our third level institutions in opening their doors to students whose education has been so cruelly disrupted by conflict. Turning to the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to be held in Copenhagen Minister Harkin said, It is vital that this meeting brings a breakthrough in moves to suspend the EU-Israel Association Trade Agreement. I am encouraged to see Sweden and the Netherlands calling for the agreement to be suspended, its well past time to do so and I have been calling for a review of the agreement since November 2023. Given the scale of the atrocities being committed day in and day out by the IDF at the behest of the Netanyahu Government, if the EU doesnt suspend this agreement in the face of this enormous cruelty and inhumanity, then the moral fibre of the Union will be damaged and its standing in the world compromised., Minister Harkin concluded. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Sligos late night workers are to receive training to help keep their customers safe. Sligo has been chosen as one of several towns to become part of the Governments new safety training initiative for Irelands night-time economy workers. Staff at nightclubs, pubs and festivals will get specialist training to tackle sexual harassment, violence against women and girls, and drink spiking at night. Minister for Culture, Communications, and Sport, Patrick ODonovan launched the, Safe & Sound safety training initiative which includes new policy templates for a wide range of businesses in the Night-Time Economy such as pubs, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, theatres, cultural venues, festivals, gyms, taxi services, and more. This training, which will be available free for 12 months in nine Night-Time Economy Pilot areas (including Sligo, Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny City, Drogheda, Buncrana, and Longford Town). It is specifically tailored and developed for those working at night, providing workers with an increased awareness of their responsibilities and duty of care, and training in actions that must be taken to reduce identified risks. The online training offers a number of express 30-minute modules in areas including: Anti-sexual harassment preventing and addressing sexual harassment in nightlife settings Bystander Intervention empowering safe intervention and support Drink spiking awareness prevention and response strategies Safeguarding and Vulnerability Supporting vulnerable individuals Violence against women and girls (VAWG) understanding and addressing gender-based violence Minister ODonovan, said: This training initiative and policy templates support a key recommendation in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce and is another step in supporting our efforts to make Irelands nightlife safer, more inclusive, and more enjoyable for everyone. "It also reflects my Department's commitment to supporting workers and businesses in the night-time economy with practical, accessible resources. By equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to act, we are laying the foundation for a cultural shiftone where safety, respect, and wellbeing are at the heart of our night-time experiences. Beyond the training modules, the "Safe & Sound" initiative will also provide a comprehensive list of resources nationwide to support businesses. There will be 17 policy templates specifically tailored to the Irish legislative context, the Irish cultural context, and frontline realities. The initiative has been led by the nine Night-Time Economy Advisors, developed by Nighttime Economy Solutions (NTES), and funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport through the Night-Time Economy pilot project. Each policy is grounded in Irish law, and includes clear operational guidance for frontline staff, managers, and venue owners. Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Donal Gilroy, Sligo County Council, said: "I'm delighted to see Sligo be a part of the Safe & Sound initiative launched by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, alongside the other eight pilot locations across Ireland. "This initiative offers very practical and meaningful support to businesses, helping to create fun, safe, and vibrant evening and night-time experiences for both staff and patrons. The Sligo Town Pilot is a true partnership between Sligo County Council and Sligo BID, and its fantastic to see such continued, collaborative efforts driving positive change in our community. Edel Doran, Sligo Town Night-Time Economy Advisor, said: The 'Safe & Sound' training provides a very practical resource for NTE staff to support their customers and colleagues. The portal can be accessed at a time that best suits businesses and their staff. It is wonderful to see this NTE Pilot launch simultaneously across the nine pilot locations and we are very proud that Sligo is a part of this brand new initiative. "Sligo NTE businesses have continually shown a dedication to ensuring their staff and customers can have an enjoyable evening out and this portal is an additional resource to help support them. Pinergy have been announced as the new energy partner of Wexford GAA Pictured are (L-R): Solar Energy Consultant at Pinergy - Esme Murphy, Wexford Footballer - Sean Nolan, Wexford GAA Chairman - John Kenny, Director at Robert Hassey Electrical & Co Ltd Robert Hassey, Wexford Camogie Player - Laura Dempsey, National Solar Sales Manager at Pinergy Jamie Farrell at Chadwicks Wexford Park as Pinergy are announced as the official Energy partner of Wexford GAA INPHO/James Crombie Pictured are (L-R): Solar Energy Consultant at Pinergy - Esme Murphy, Wexford Footballer - Sean Nolan, Wexford GAA Chairman - John Kenny, Wexford Camogie Player - Laura Dempsey, National Solar Sales Manager at Pinergy Jamie Farrell at Chadwicks Wexford Park as Pinergy are announced as the official Energy partner of Wexford GAA INPHO/James Crombie Pictured are Wexford GAA representatives, Sean Nolan and Laura Dempsey at Chadwicks Wexford Park as Pinergy are announced as the official Energy partner of Wexford GAA INPHO/James Crombie Pinergy, the leading energy transition company, have been announced as Wexford GAAs official energy partner. The collaboration was unveiled alongside Wexford players Sean Nolan and Laura Dempsey at the home of Wexford GAA. The partnership will see Pinergy work closely with Wexford GAA to promote sustainability across its clubs, businesses, and homes within the county. As part of this initiative, Pinergy will be installing a 66-panel, 29.37kWp solar PV system at Chadwicks Wexford Park in the coming months, projected to generate 25,600kWh annually. It is expected to cover 50% of Wexford GAA's energy demand. Pinergy, which acquired Solar Electric in 2021, is the leading supplier of solar and other energy services in Wexford. With a strong local presence, including a base in Senan House, Enniscorthy Technology Park, Pinergy has been installing solar PV and batteries since 2012 and boasts a long record of delivering effective solar energy solutions in the county. Pinergy will offer green energy affinity solutions to the Co. Wexford GAA community, encouraging the further adoption of sustainable energy in the Sunny South East. Davidstown Courtnacuddy GAA Club is already working with Pinergy on its energy transition, including a solar PV installation. "We are incredibly excited to partner with Wexford GAA said Pinergy Head of Marketing, David Slattery. This partnership is a natural fit, allowing us to not only support the vibrant GAA community in Wexford but also to highlight the significant benefits of sustainable energy. We look forward to helping local clubs and their members embrace the energy transition through our affinity programmes and green energy offers." According to Wexford GAA Chairman, John Kenny, partnering with Pinergy feels like the right fit for the county. Their dedication to supporting local communities and driving positive change aligns perfectly with our own values. This partnership goes beyond sponsorship; it's about building a sustainable future for our clubs and county, and we're excited to embark on this journey with a leader in the energy transition space he added. Woman in her 60s has died in hospital following an accident in Wexford Nataliia Voskanova was hit by an oil truck in Gorey in June and she has been in hospital since then Nataliia Voskanova has sadly passed away in hospital following an incident on Gorey Main Street. Alan White Gorey Guardian Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 07:40 Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Joe Sullivan has paid tribute to a woman in her 60s who passed away following an incident on Gorey Main Street in June. Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment Peter Burke took the opportunity to address criticism over the lack of IDA visits in Wexford while in Enniscorthy for the opening of Senator Cathal Byrne's office opening. It was recently reported that over a nine year period, the IDA, the semi-state body tasked with attracting foreign direct investment, made only 41 site visits to Wexford with companies looking to locate an office in Ireland. This was in comparison to the 79 visits made to Kilkenny and the 160 made to Waterford. There were dramatic scenes in a south Wexford village on Monday evening after a shed containing heating oil went up in flames. Bridgetown was at a standstill as large plumes of smoke rose from the burning shed in the centre of the village. The building was understood to be storing heating oil when the fire broke out. The 100th anniversary of the abandonment of Rosslare Fort was marked by the Rosslare Lifeboat Memorial Committee, in association with Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre. Photo: Paddy Donovan. A century after it was lost to sea the village of Rosslare Fort has been remembered by the local community. A special ceremony organised by the Rosslare Lifeboat Memorial Committee, in association with Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre, paid tribute to the residents of a village which was abandoned in 1925 due to coastal erosion and repeated storms. Situated at Rosslare Point the village had been a centre of seafaring life for centuries and served as a protective sentinel to the busy Port of Wexford over many generations. It was converted to a fortified bastion by the Confederation of Kilkenny government in 1642. Falling to Cromwell in 1649 during the infamous sack of Wexford it then remained in place as a revenue station, a pilot station, a lifeboat station and a base for the local fishing and fowling communities of the Rosslare Burrow and Wexford Harbour area. In the 19th century the village comprised of over 40 homes, a chapel and a school. Following its demise, its residents evacuated to Rosslare Harbour, Rosslare and Wexford town. The centenary event was marked by the attachment of an engraved brass propeller to one of the remaining ruined walls of the Fort which is still accessible at very low tide. This was in memory and honour of the residents and workers of the Fort throughout the generations. The propeller was kindly donated by Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre and was restored and engraved by Mr. Jimmy Walsh. Wreaths were laid at the new monument by Mr. Billy Doyle, Chairperson of the Rosslare Lifeboat Memorial Committee and by Mr. Fergus Wickham on behalf of the RNLI. Mr.Des Pearce displayed four of the original Stations of the Cross which were salvaged from the Chapel of the Fort. Mr John Boyce attended with representatives of Rosslare Harbour Maritime Centre. Fr. James Murphy, PP Rosslare, Tagoat and Mayglass, blessed the new monument together with the wreaths and offered prayers in commemoration. Thanks were expressed on behalf of the committee to all those who assisted in making the ceremony possible through their cooperation and assistance. A small flotilla of Rosslare cots then approached the Fort in the bright sunshine closely watched by the substantial local seal population. Describing the lost village as the Wexfords Atlantis, Brian Murphy of the Rosslare Burrow Lifeboat Memorial said it had been one hundred years since people had gathered at the site of the old village. We offered our deep respect and prayers to honour the memory of the lives of all those men, women and children who once called this historic Fort village home, he added . Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. By Mata Press Service British Columbias universities and colleges are facing an academic and financial reckoning as Ottawas cap on international students takes hold, triggering staff layoffs, program suspensions, and warnings that the provinces education system is at risk of long-term damage. Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), the University of Victoria, the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and Langara College have all reported steep drops in foreign enrolment, according to local media reports. At KPU, acting president Diane Purvey told staff that the university had just 2,360 international students this fall, down from nearly 6,000 two years earlier. KPU continues to experience large declines in international student enrolment because of federal government changes, Purvey wrote in a memo. She noted that visa processing delays and rising rejection rates are now the biggest barrier for international students seeking admission to Canada. To offset the revenue shortfall, KPU is eliminating up to 45 full-time positions, declining to renew temporary contracts, and leaving 20 vacant posts unfilled. The Melville School of Business, long a magnet for overseas students, has been hit particularly hard, with eight instructors receiving layoff notices effective January 2026. We are deeply disappointed these additional reductions are necessary, Purvey said, warning that the effect would extend well beyond this year. The impact will be felt in future years as students who graduate and leave are not replaced by equivalent numbers of incoming students. Langara College reported that about 2,400 international students have enrolled this semester, half the number from 2022. At the University of Victoria, foreign enrolment is expected to fall by 40 per cent from last year, dropping to 1,340 students. UBC and SFU have also confirmed reductions tied to the federal cap. The shockwaves stem from Ottawas January 2024 announcement of a two-year cap on new study permits. The aim was to reduce the number of permits by 35 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, setting a target of 364,000 approvals. But Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) overshot its own target. Data provided to ICEF Monitor shows that only 267,890 new study permits were approved in 2024a 48 per cent drop from the year before and almost 100,000 below the official target. Two factors made matters worse: fewer applications were processed overall, down 32 per cent, and approval rates plummeted. In 2023, about 60 percent of applicants were approved. In 2024, the rate sank to 48 percent, meaning more than half of applicants were turned away. For institutions already leaning heavily on foreign tuition to make up for stagnant public funding, the results have been devastating. Universities and colleges across Canada are now reporting enrolment losses ranging from 30 to 50 per cent. While B.C. schools are now sounding alarms, Ontarios public colleges have already borne the brunt. Arbitrator William Kaplan, in a labour report earlier this year, wrote that 23 of Ontarios 24 colleges saw a 48 per cent drop in foreign enrolment between September 2023 and September 2024. The impact of these declining numbers of foreign students has been both immediate and dramatic, Kaplan said, noting that more than 600 programs were cancelled or suspended by spring 2025, and four colleges shut down campuses. By June 2025, 19 Ontario colleges had cut or planned to cut more than 8,000 employees. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union called it one of the largest mass layoffs in Ontarios history. Ken Steele, president of the consultancy Eduvation, has been tracking the fallout nationwide. His tally, current to July 2025, counts 8,580 job losses in Canadian universities and colleges, about 60 per cent of them in Ontario. If Kaplans estimates prove correct, actual and planned losses may approach 12,000 positions. For B.C., the immediate concern is budget shortfalls, but the longer-term worry is reputational. International students account for billions of dollars in tuition and local spending, but they also contribute to research, innovation, and the talent pool in key sectors such as healthcare and technology. Universities Canada president Gabriel Miller has urged Ottawa to recalibrate. The cap was emergency surgery, he told CTV News. Its time for the patient to start recovering. Canada must remind the world it remains a great place to study, work, and invest. Miller stressed that the problem is not just the cap itself, but visa backlogs and policy shifts that have undermined Canadas appeal. He pointed to new restrictions on post-study work rights, tighter financial requirements, and limited spousal work permits. Nobody disputes the need for lower immigration targets, he said, but the current approach is keeping out far more students than intended. Data for the first half of 2025 underscores the concern: only 149,860 study permits were issued between January and June, down from 245,055 during the same period in 2024. With an annual target of 305,900, Canada is already far off pace. The federal government has extended the cap into 2026, reducing annual permit numbers by an additional 10 percent from 2024 levels. It has also set, for the first time, strategic immigration targets for temporary residents, aiming to reduce their share of Canadas population to 5 per cent by 2026. Prime Minister Mark Carney has since conceded that this may not be achievable until 2027. Oisin Lyons, David Pomeroy, Alexandra Nedela, Jose Ramirez, Colm Devilly and Rob Carty who took part in the Bray Wheelers Tour of Wicklow. Photo: Leigh Anderson Christ Church COI Services of Worship for this Sunday The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity: 8.30am Holy Communion; 11am Holy Communion. The congregation should be aware that all services are live-streamed via www.churchservices.tv/christchurchbray. Parish Life Centre [PLC] Bookings: The Parish Life Centre is available for day and evening bookings. Please contact the Parish Office at 01-286 2968. Parish Office: The Parish Office is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30 am to 1.30pm. Email: info@christchurchbray.ie; tel. 01 286 2968; Parish website: christchurchbray.ie; or see facebook.com/christchurchbray. Rathmichael Parish Fete: This annual event takes place this Saturday in the grounds of Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, from 12pm to 4pm. All are welcome to what is always a great family fun day out. Bray Churches Together Healing Service Christ Church will be hosting the next Bray Churches Together Healing Service on Sunday September 14th at 7pm. This is a peaceful and calming ecumenical service. Everyone is welcome. Please spread the word to anyone who may wish to come for healing prayer for themselves or others. Tea and coffee will be served after the service. Bray Methodist Church Worship for this Sunday: 10amSunday Worship with Creche and Sunday School. Bray Presbyterian Church Worship for this Sunday: 11.30am Sunday Worship. Christian Assembly Church Worship for this Sunday: 10.45am Morning Worship. Wednesdays: 8pm Prayer Meeting & Bible study. Monthly Ladies Meeting: For details see: www.christianassemblybray.com. Cornerstone Church at The Well Worship this Sunday: 11am. Bray Christian Outreach Free hot meals, clothes, sleeping bags, toiletries etc, are available in Bray Methodist Church from 3pm to 4pm on Sundays. Holy Redeemer Parish Mass Times: 10amMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday No Mass on Tuesday. Sunday Masses: 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday and on Sunday at 10.30am and 12Noon. To book a Mass, please call into the Sacristy before or after our Masses. Parish Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9.30am to 11am. If you need to contact us, please email: office@holyredeemer.ie. Music at Mass on Sundays: 10.30amFolk Group; 12pmGaudium Choir (Mainly Latin Church Music) on the 1st Sunday of the Month; 12pm on other Sundays of the Month: Parish Choir (Mainly English Church Music). Baptism: Registration for Baptism can be made online via the parish website www.holyredeemerbray.ie. St Peters Parish St Peters Church Mass Times: Sunday: 9am (Irish Mass), 11.30am. Holy Days: 11am. 1st Friday: 11am. To Book a Mass: To book a Mass, please contact the Parish Office on 01- 282 9467 or email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com. Car Park Hours: These are from 9am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday, for parish business, and at weekends during church ceremonies. The Cemetery is accessible via the laneway for pedestrians. St Peters Cemetery: There is a strict policy of No Dumping Allowed in any area of the cemetery. Visitors to the cemetery are requested to take home all forms of rubbish with them in order to keep the cemetery tidy. Your co-operation is appreciated. St Fergals Parish Mass Times: Mass times are 9.30am Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. No morning Mass on Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday: 7pm Vigil Mass; Sunday: 8am and 10.30am. Confessions: These are heard on Saturdays after the 7pm Vigil Mass. Baptism: Baptisms take place on the first and third Saturday of each Month at 12Noon. Bookings can be made through the Parish Office Only. The Preparation meeting takes place on the Monday before the 1st Saturday of the month. Please call into the Parish Office three weeks in advance of the Baptism to complete the Baptism Form and to confirm the date. St. Claires Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul: Messages for the St. Vincent de Paul should be sent to St. Clairs Centre, Ballymorris, Killarney Road, Bray call 01-2745325 and leave your message. Mobile No: 087-1738 235. Our Lady Queen of Peace Mass: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend Masses are at 6.30pm on Saturdays and 10.30am and 12 Noon on Sundays. Mass Bookings: Anyone who wishes to book a Mass can do so by contacting the Parish Secretary via email at: secretary@queenofpeace.ie, or call 2745497. Church Opening Hours: The Church closes at 4.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 11am to 10pm on Mondays only in this Church. Parish Centre: To book a meeting room in the Parish Centre please call 01-2760045 or email: villafas1@hotmail.com. QOP youth club On Tuesday the Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club enjoyed a walk up Bray Head. During the month they plan to organise a trip to Hook Head, and some members will attend a snorkel diver training course. Kayaking will continue until the end of the month. Diving club The first ten new recruits who join Bray Divers will get the advantage of thee months extra free membership. This club has all the modern facilities of a dive centre, and located in Greystones Harbour makes it ideal for easy start diving. Well done to Jeff Behan who organised a dive trip to the Maharees in Kerry. Divers were Jeff, Brendan, Cormac, Shane, and John. Dives ranged down to 22 metres in calm clear waters with an abundance of underwater life. Bray Library Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8.30pm. English Conversation Classes take place in the library every Monday (except Bank Holiday Mondays) from 11am to 12pm. The next meeting of the Bray Library Crime Book Club takes place next Tuesday at 7pm inquire at the library desk for the book being discussed. For Culture Night on Friday September 19th, there will be a Childrens author talk with Natasha Mac a Bhaird at 6.30pm in the library. Admission is free but advance booking is required. Ballywaltrim Library Opening hours are 10am to 5 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 10am to 8pm on Wednesday. The library can be contacted at 01-2723205 or by email at: ballywatrimlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie. Adult Scrabble takes place every Monday from 3pm to 4.30pm no booking is required. Tummy-Time for Babies takes place every Monday from 10 am to 12pm no booking required. Bray Cualann Historical Society Monthly meetings of the Bray Cualann Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow will resume at 8pm on Thursday September 18th in the Royal Hotel, Bray, when Rosaleen Durkin will present The Wells of Wicklow. All are welcome members are free and admission for non-members is 8. Those wishing to join the Bray Cualann Historical Society can do so at this meeting. In the meantime members and supporters of the Bray Cualann History Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the coming weeknext Monday Mary OCallaghan will present The 19th Century Follies of St. Annes Park at 7.30pm to the Clontarf Historical Society in St. Johns Pastoral Centre, Clontarf Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3. All are welcomeadmission is 5; next Wednesday (September 10th) Noel Carolan will recall The 1925 Food Crisis at 6pm to the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room, Dublin City Library & Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. All are welcomeadmission is free and no booking is required. Next Thursday week Peadar Curran will present A Walk in Marlay Park at 8pm to the Kilmacud-Stillorgan Local History Society in St. Lawrences Parish Centre, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. Members are free visitors are 3. Please note that there is a car parking charge of 1 per hour at this venue coin payment only. The Lord Mayors Certificate course in Local Studies is offered by Dublin City Council (DCC) as part of its commitment to life-long learning. The course examines the local dimension of Irelands past and is taught in an engaging and accessible manner by Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil. This part-time course is free of charge and will commence on October 14 2025 and run until April 28 2026 with in-person classes held in Dublin City Library and Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street on Tuesday evenings. Applicants will be randomly selected for a place on the course from the completed online application forms. Applications will close at 5pm on Friday September 12th. Irish Girl Guides (IGG) There is a very large IGG presence in Bray and Enniskerry, with waiting lists for all groups. Leaders are urgently needed, so if you are interested in working with young children and have some spare time on a Monday, Thursday, or Friday evening, do get in touch. If you are interested in your daughter joining Ladybirds or Brownies do get in touch as spaces sometimes become available for September. (Ladybirds ages 5-7; Brownies ages 7-10; Guides and Senior Branch 10+) email:belmontbrowniesbray@gmail.com. Shankill Classical Music Club Meetings of the Shankill Classical Music Club resume after the Summer Break next Wednesday (September 10th) from 7.45pm to 10pm, including a tea/coffee break, in Shankill Day Care Centre, Lower Road, Shankill located 100m from the main street with car parking available). The music will be as always: a varied programme of classical music on CDs, covering many genresorchestral, instrumental, vocal, opera, etc.in a friendly setting. Visitors and new and returning members are always welcome. You dont need to be an expert! Charge 2 on the night (waived for first visit). For further information please phone or text Malcolm at 085-8528216. Wicklow County Council has expressed deep concern at the current industrial action being taken by secretaries and caretakers in schools across the county. A motion brought forward by Cllr Joe Behan and seconded by Cllr Peir Leonard received unanimous support during the councils monthly meeting on Monday afternoon. The council also conveyed its support for those on the picket lines in their legitimate request for parity with other similar school employees regarding pension entitlement, critical illness and bereavement leave. The council has agreed to write to the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Education Minister and Public Expenditure Minister requesting the issue be resolved as a matter of urgency. Speaking during the meeting Cllr Behan said these workers deserve to be seen and heard. Our schools could not survive without the magnificent work done by our school secretaries and caretakers, and we should show our appreciation to them by calling on the Government to recognise their value to our school communities and settle this dispute urgently. Cllr Leonard pledged her support believing it was an important motion, calling on the staff to keep up the fight. You are all right and deserve to be listened to. she added. School staff believe the strike action is necessary because theyre being denied access to public service pensions and other entitlements. Schools are continuing as normal and the Forsa trade union which represents them has asked remaining staff not to carry out secretary or caretaker duties. The union says there has been no engagement from central government since discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission took place last week with over 2,600 staff affected nationwide. Staff have vowed to continue their strike action until they reach a deal on their demands. More than 100 people gathered at the constituency office of local TD Simon Harris in Bray last week, where they said it was disappointing that nobody from the office engaged with them, but added it was an indication of the Governments attitude towards us in general. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme The official launch of Beneath the Canopy took place on Saturday at a private rewilding site near Cruagh in the Dublin Mountains. Two certified forest bathing guides, who became friends through the shared love of nature and started to host a popular podcast, have merged their businesses to form the new venture Beneath the Canopy. Cat de Wit from Forest Bathing Wicklow and Orlagh Walsh from Danu Forest Bathing have joined forces to launch Beneath the Canopy. The pair first met when Orlagh and her mum joined Cat on one of her forest bathing walks, and quickly realised that they had similar ideas about nature connection. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese mindfulness practice of slowing down and immersing your senses in the forest atmosphere to promote relaxation and well-being, and doesnt actually involve a physical swim. Cat, who lives in Ballinaclash, founded Forest Bathing Wicklow in 2021, offering immersive forest bathing experiences, as well as tools you can use to experience the benefits of nature connection at your own pace and convenience. Myself and Orlagh first began collaborating last year when we released the first of our e-booklets and began our podcast. Each edition of the e-booklet contains of 60 pages of forest bathing invitations, journaling prompts, nature challenges, reading tips, and background information. It is designed to open on your phone, so you can take it with you every time you go outside. We also started a podcast providing insights and practical tips on how to connect with the natural world in a simple and accessible way. We decided to merge our companies, and through Beneath the Canopy, we want to connect people to nature. Its so much more than just forest bathing, so I didnt really feel Forest Bathing Wicklow was an apt name anymore, so my business has merged into Beneath the Canopy, while Danu Forest Bathing will remain its own separate entity. Orlagh established Danu Forest Bathing in 2023, and was offered plenty of help from Cat, which she remains extremely grateful for. Orlagh said: I first met Cat when I went on one of her walks and we just got on so well. We started to meet up regularly for tea and coffee and things just grew from there. She was so helpful when I was starting up my business and I was constantly on the phone to her. We then started our podcast together, which was a real passion project for both of us, and has really grown from strength to strength. While Beneath the Canopy will offer a series of activities and events alongside their podcast and e-booklets, forest bating will still remain at the heart of its offerings. We hold the forest bathing at multiple locations, mainly in Wicklow and south Dublin, depending on the kind of event we are hosting. Forest bathing can be a bit of a confusing name as you dont have to go under the water. Its about bathing your senses in the atmosphere of the forest, explained Cat. She added: Our Beneath the Canopy podcast allows people to connect with nature on their own time in their own area. From deep dives into the practice of forest bathing to discussions on the Celtic wheel or growing your own food, we cover a wide range of topics aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment. Beneath the Canopy also offer events and products aimed at connecting people to the outdoors. Cat added: We host networking events for nature and wellness and hold them outdoors in order to get people away from their desks. Our e-booklets invite you to explore the natural world in a meaningful and personal way. We have a brand new e-booklet specifically designed to get your kids outside and more connected to nature. It is packed with fun and easy ideas to help your little explorers connect with nature. We have also launched the forest bathing buddy app which is a digital bathing guide which allows you to connect with nature by yourself or with a group of friends, everywhere and anytime you want. We also have our unique forest bating alphabet which includes 26 handcrafted wooden pieces, each embossed with a letter from the alphabet. On the reverse side of each piece, youll find a special forest bathing invitation that corresponds to the letter. So for instance W stands for wind and you can stand outside and feel the wind on your skin. The official launch of the new venture took place on Saturday at a private rewilding site near Cruagh in the Dublin Mountains, and included interactive activities, community sharing, and an introduction to the vision behind Beneath the Canopy. Orlagh and Cat said they are committed to keeping their offerings affordable, while still providing high-quality, nature-based experiences. Failures in the school transport system have left many parents and their children stranded across Co Wicklow as schools reopened this month. Cllr Shane Langrell said he himself has been hit with issues and has additionally been inundated with phone calls from worried parents over the past week expressing their frustration as they have been left to scramble at the last minute to secure alternative arrangements. He said: Parents who paid for tickets never received them. Students who had tickets last year have been told they no longer qualify, and in some cases, buses simply failed to arrive on the very first day of school. This is simply not good enough. The responsibility lies squarely with the Department of Education, the Department of Transport, and Bus Eireann to ensure that every child entitled to school transport has a seat, and that every parent who pays for a service receives it. Right now, that is not happening and families are paying the price. The school bus from Laragh to Ashford was meant to start on Thursday, but never showed up, leaving pupils stranded at bus stops. The Roundwood to Rathdrum school bus service was also due to commence last Tuesday, August 26, but never arrived, with parents receiving no notification. Cllr Langrell said: I experienced the same frustrations myself as my daughter was due to be picked up on Thursday along the Laragh to Ashford route, but it simply never appeared. Instead, it only started this week. "There were lots of children who get the bus from Ashford village to Colaiste Chill Mhantain, and while they had been informed that they had a tickets under the School Transport Scheme, they never received any physical tickets and therefore werent allowed on the bus. The situation has since been rectified, but parents and their children should have to put up with such a major inconvenience. One parent told me how he left his two sons at the bus stop before driving to Dublin for work, only to find the bus never arrived. He had to turn back, collect his children, and lose a full day of work. These kinds of stories show the enormous stress this system is placing on ordinary families. In rural Wicklow, where no alternative transport exists, children are being isolated, education is being disrupted, and parents are forced to choose between going to work or ensuring their children get to school. Cllr Langrell has expressed her frustration at the scheme and how it operates in County Wicklow, with tenders awarded contracts without a sufficient number of drivers to properly operate. He said: I have also been told that the same company often tenders for multiple routes, wins the contracts, and then fails to provide enough drivers to deliver the service. This is not acceptable. The tendering process must be reviewed to prevent companies overcommitting and underdelivering. Bus Eireanns customer support system is another failure point. Parents regularly wait two to three weeks for a response to queries if they receive one at all. This lack of communication is adding insult to injury for families who are already under pressure. It is now time for real change. The school transport system needs a full and urgent overhaul, and there must be an independent examination into why families continue to be failed year after year. The tendering process must also be made fully transparent, with guarantees that only providers who can deliver the service in full are awarded contracts. Parents who pay for tickets should be guaranteed that they will receive them on time, with clear communication if issues arise. In addition, an emergency helpline should be established at the start of each school year so that families can get immediate support when problems occur. Families deserve a school transport system that is reliable. Parents and children cannot face the same chaos again next year. Cllr Langrell said he would be working closely with the Department of Education, the Department of Transport, and Bus Eireann to ensure these changes are delivered. Anna Wintour appears at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on May 5, 2025, left, and Chloe Malle appears at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on May 1, 2023. (Photos by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Chloe Malle, the newly appointed head of editorial content for American Vogue, has described herself as a proud nepo baby, acknowledging her parents and her privilege. Daughter of actor Candice Bergen and the film director Louis Malle, Malle was announced as the new U.S. editorial director on Tuesday. Anna Wintour, who led the magazine for 37 years, first announced in June that she would be stepping down as Vogues editor-in-chief. FILE - Candice Bergen, right, and her daughter Chloe Malle arrive at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 6, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Malle, 39, started at Vogue in 2011 as social editor, and then went on to become podcast host and then editor of Vogue.com in 2023. In a new interview, Malle described herself as a proud nepo baby and how her famous parents affected her work ethic. There is no question that I have 100 per cent benefited from the privilege I grew up in, she told the New York Times. Its delusional to say otherwise. I will say, though, that it has always made me work much harder. It has been a goal for a lot of my life to prove that Im more than Candice Bergens daughter, or someone who grew up in Beverly Hills. Candice Bergen is known for her roles in Boston Legal and Murphy Brown, and received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress in 1979 for her role in Starting Over and won the Bafta award for best actress in a supporting role for Gandhi in 1982. Louis Malle is a celebrated filmmaker who won the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival and the Bafta for best director for his films Atlantic City in 1981 and Goodbye, Children in 1987. He also won the Cannes Palme dOr and the Oscar for best documentary in 1956 for Le Monde du silence, which he co-directed with Jacques Cousteau. Anna Wintour appears at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on May 5, 2025, left, and Chloe Malle appears at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on May 1, 2023. (Photos by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Today's News in 90 Seconds - September 3rd 2025 On what she intends to do in her new role, Malle said she would be focusing on building a more direct, smaller, healthier audience by providing them with original, witty, irreverent, joyful points of view on things. Wintour isnt leaving Vogue entirely; she will remain as Conde Nasts global chief content officer and Vogues global editorial director. I know that some people who were interested in this job were sort of daunted by the idea of Anna being down the hall, Malle said of Wintour. She is reportedly starting in her new position before the start of New York Fashion Week, which will be running from 11 September through 16 September. When asked whether she would ever feature Melania Trump on the cover, Malle declined to answer. This comes after Mark Guiducci, the new top editor of Vanity Fair, which is also owned by Conde Nast, said hes potentially interested in putting the First Lady on the magazines cover, according to Semafor. Some staffers were upset about the suggestion, and one editor threatened to walk out if it came to fruition, according to a report by The Daily Mail. Damage following a landslide that destroyed the village of Tarseen in the Jebel Marra area of Sudan. Photo: Reuters An armed group that controls part of western Sudan appealed yesterday for foreign help in recovering bodies and rescuing residents from torrential rain, after it said at least 1,000 people were killed when a landslide buried a village. Russia's Putin, North Korea's Kim join Xi Jinping in BeijingTiananmen Square parade shows off latest military hardwareEvent marks anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War TwoWestern leaders have largely shunned Beijing spectacleXi said world faces peace or war in keynote speech Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the world was facing a choice between peace or war at a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, flanked by Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un in an unprecedented show of force. The event to mark 80 years since Japan's defeat at the end of World War Two was largely shunned by Western leaders, with Putin and Kim - pariahs in the West due to the Ukraine war and Kim's nuclear ambitions - the guests of honour. Designed to project China's military might and diplomatic clout, it also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and volatile policymaking strain its relations with allies and rivals alike. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) "Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum," Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators at Tiananmen Square, adding that the Chinese people "firmly stand on the right side of history". Riding in an open-top limousine, Xi then inspected the troops and cutting-edge military equipment such as hypersonic missiles, underwater drones and a weaponised 'robot wolf'. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a meeting in Beijing, China September 3, 2025. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS Helicopters trailing large banners and fighter jets flew in formation during a 70-minute showcase that culminated in the release of 80,000 'peace' birds. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a meeting in Beijing, China September 3, 2025. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS Donning a tunic suit in the style worn by former leader Mao Zedong, Xi earlier greeted more than 25 leaders on the red carpet, including Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto who made a surprise appearance despite widespread protests at home. Seated between Putin and Kim in the viewing gallery, Xi repeatedly engaged in conversations with both leaders as thousands of troops and materiel paraded before them. It marked the first time the trio have appeared together in public. Putin later thanked his North Korean counterpart for his soldiers' courageous fighting in the war in Ukraine during a bilateral meeting at China's State Guesthouse. Kim said he was willing to do everything he can to help Russia. A member of the People's Liberation Army stands as the strategic strike group displays DF-5C nuclear missiles during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America," Trump said in a post directed at Xi on Truth Social, as the event kicked off. He also highlighted the U.S. role in helping China secure its freedom from Japan during World War Two. Trump had earlier told reporters he did not see the parade as a challenge to the United States. Japan's top government spokesperson declined to comment on the parade, adding Asia's top two economies were building "constructive relations". Democratically governed Taiwan, which China considers its own, has urged its people not to attend the parade, warning that attendance could reinforce Beijing's territorial claims. Taiwan does not commemorate peace with a barrel of a gun, its President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday in pointed criticism of the event. Chinese President Xi Jinping stands in a car to review the troops during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura New global order Xi has cast World War Two as a major turning point in the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation", in which it overcame the humiliation of Japan's invasion to become a global powerhouse. Earlier this week, Xi unveiled his vision of a new world order at a regional security summit, calling for unity against "hegemonism and power politics", a thinly veiled swipe at his rival across the Pacific Ocean. "Xi feels confident that the table has turned. It's China that is back in the driver's seat now," said Wen-Ti Sung, fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, based in Taiwan. "It's been Trumpian unilateralism rather than Chinas wolf warrior diplomacy when people talk about the leading source of uncertainty in the international system." At a lavish reception after the parade at the Great Hall of the People, Xi told his guests that humanity must not return to the "law of the jungle". Chinese air force personnel march during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Beyond the pomp and propaganda, analysts are watching whether Xi, Putin and Kim may signal closer defence relations following a pact signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024, and a similar alliance between Beijing and Pyongyang, an outcome that may alter the military calculus in the Asia-Pacific region. Putin has already sealed deeper energy deals with Beijing during his China visit, while the gathering has given the reclusive Kim an opportunity to gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons. It has been 66 years since a North Korean leader last attended a Chinese military parade. Kim travelled to Beijing with his daughter Ju Ae, whom South Korean intelligence consider his most likely successor, although she was not seen alongside him at the parade. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a meeting in Beijing, China September 3, 2025. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS Impressive strides Over the past two years, more than a dozen generals - many formerly close to Xi - have been purged from the People's Liberation Army in a sweeping corruption crackdown. "The parade allows Xi to focus the worlds attention on its impressive strides in modernising its military hardware, while overshadowing the stubborn challenges afflicting the PLA, most notably the continued purges rolling through the ranks of its most senior officers," said Jon Czin, a foreign policy analyst at Brookings Institution, a U.S.-based think tank. Military personnel take part in a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) The parade was not only aimed at projecting China's might to the outside world, but also galvanising patriotic spirit at home, analysts said. In his keynote address, Xi called the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation "unstoppable". Civil servants up and down the country have been tasked with watching the parade and writing down their reflections, one of them told Reuters. The British health secretary Wes Streeting has suggested his government could look at legislation if the law is not getting the balance right on free speech, after the arrest of Father Ted writer Graham Linehan. Mr Linehan, 57, said he had been detained by five armed officers at Heathrow Airport after flying in from the US, and was told he was under arrest over three posts on X. Esther Ghey says school phone ban would have really helped daughter Brianna Briannas mother has launched a campaign calling for the UK government to provide funding and implement a statutory phone ban in schools Esther Ghey says school phone ban would have really helped daughter Brianna Jasmine Norden Press Association Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 07:31 The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has said a school phone ban would really have helped her daughter, as she launches a campaign for a statutory ban in schools. The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to peacekeepers who were working to clear roadblocks hindering access to a U.N. position on Tuesday morning. "This is one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities agreement of last November," the UNIFIL said in a statement on Wednesday. "Any time, we as Americans and Chinese come together to celebrate our common history. That's a special time. In today's world, that's more important than ever. It's very important that we study and learn from that period 80 years ago," says Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation. In August 1941, at a time when China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was in a most difficult stage, U.S. General Claire Lee Chennault formed the "American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force" to help China fight invading Japanese forces. With their winged tiger emblem and the shark-mouth painted on their planes, locals nicknamed them the "Flying Tigers." The story of the Flying Tigers lives on. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Commentary By Sylvain Charlebois Washington has shut down a trade channel that has quietly sustained hundreds of Canadian food entrepreneurs. By ending the de minimis exemptionthe rule that lets small shipments under US$800 cross the border duty-freeAmerican policymakers are putting new costs and red tape on the very jam makers, chocolatiers and specialty food exporters who rely on this rule to reach their first customers south of the border. This was never about bulk commodities. Wheat, beef and canola oil still move under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement with zero tariffs. What is being dismantled is the hidden artery that kept small players alive: the Nova Scotia jam maker shipping gift boxes to Vermont, the B.C. chocolatier sending truffles to Seattle, the Ontario pet treat company tapping into the booming specialty market. Independent stores in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles also counted on these small, frequent Canadian shipments to diversify their shelves. That reliance means American consumers, too, will see fewer Canadian brands and higher prices. Estimates suggest that between $500 million and $1 billion worth of Canadian food exports to the U.S. move each year under the $800 thresholda fraction of Canadas $40-plus billion agri-food trade. The figure looks minor, but for the companies involved it often represents their entire U.S. strategy. Market access is not only about tonnage; it is about competition, choice and the chance for Canadian food culture to make its mark abroad. When small firms lose that ability, entire product categories vanish along with local jobs and community investment. Ottawa could take steps of its own. Canadas de minimis threshold is only C$150, a fraction of the former U.S. level. In practice, Canadian consumers never enjoyed the same duty-free benefit when buying from the U.S., while Canadian exporters built their entry strategies around Washingtons much higher limit. The contrast makes Ottawas inaction even harder to defend. Raising Canadas threshold would benefit consumers at home and give Ottawa a stronger footing to demand reciprocity in Washington. Shrugging this off as a technicality is a policy failure. Ottawa has known for years that small exporters are vulnerable, yet it has done little to shield them. If Washington is willing to raise barriers, Canada must be ready to defend its entrepreneurs. The contradiction is stark. USMCA safeguards large-scale trade, yet Washington is dismantling the very system that nurtured the small businesses that the agreement was supposed to help. The message to Canadian exporters is blunt: scale up or stay home. Trade disputes often play out as billion-dollar chess matches. But the pawnssmall shipments, craft producers, specialty storesgive life to Canadas food economy. That is why this fight matters: protecting small exporters is not charity; it is preserving competition and innovation. The end of the de minimis exemption is more than a technical rule change. It is a reminder that when protectionism rises, it is the smallest who pay the highest price. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Canadian professor and researcher in food distribution and policy. He is senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. LATEST | Thousands of Israeli reservists report for duty in planned Gaza City offensive; Spanish PM calls Europes response a failure At least 100 people killed in strikes yesterday, while 13 more Palestinians died of hungerMeanwhile, Spanish PM says Europes Gaza response has been a failure An Israeli soldier launches a drone near the border with Gaza. Photo: Reuters Emily Rose and Jessica Coates Reuters Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 07:30 Tens of thousands of reservists began to report for duty yesterday before a new Israeli offensive to seize Gaza City, which prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to accelerate despite warnings from senior ranks of the armed forces. Donald Trump says US Space Command will move to Rocket City in Alabama Decision to switch to Alabama sparks anger in Colorado, the current home to HQ that joe Bidens administration preferred Donald Trump made the announcement yesterday. Photo: Reuters Seung Min Kim and Kim Chandler Associated Press Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Donald Trump announced yesterday that US Space Command will be located in Alabama, reversing a Joe Biden-era decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. A US man is facing two felony bigamy charges after authorities say he was married to three women at the same time, allegedly to benefit financially and personally. A Florida man was arrested after a meet-up with a woman he met on a dating app turned violent when he allegedly ran over her after she refused to allow him to smell her feet, police say. Mawlid Eid-e-Milad Mawlid al-Nabi al-Sharif Eid Milad Un Nabi Eid-e-Milad When is Eid Milad Un Nabi 2025? Why is Eid Milad Un Nabi celebrated? Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) About Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Eid Milad-Un-Nabi 2025: History and Significance How Eid Milad-Un-Nabi is Celebrated Religious Gatherings: Muslims attend prayers in mosques, listen to sermons, and hear stories from the Prophets life. Muslims attend prayers in mosques, listen to sermons, and hear stories from the Prophets life. Decorations: Homes, mosques, and streets are decorated with lights, banners, and Islamic calligraphy, creating a festive atmosphere. Homes, mosques, and streets are decorated with lights, banners, and Islamic calligraphy, creating a festive atmosphere. Processions: In some regions, large processions are organised, with participants singing hymns, carrying flags, and showcasing tableaus about the Prophets life. In some regions, large processions are organised, with participants singing hymns, carrying flags, and showcasing tableaus about the Prophets life. Charity: Acts of kindness and giving are central. Many distribute food, clothing, and aid to the poor and needy. Acts of kindness and giving are central. Many distribute food, clothing, and aid to the poor and needy. Feasting: Families prepare special dishes and sweets, sharing meals with neighbours, relatives, and friends. Families prepare special dishes and sweets, sharing meals with neighbours, relatives, and friends. Educational Events: Schools, mosques, and organisations hold lectures, exhibitions, and seminars on the Prophets life and teachings. Schools, mosques, and organisations hold lectures, exhibitions, and seminars on the Prophets life and teachings. Reflection and Prayer: Muslims use the day for spiritual growth, increased prayer, and remembering the Prophets values. Muslims use the day for spiritual growth, increased prayer, and remembering the Prophets values. Community Bonding: Above all, its a time to strengthen unity, deepen family ties, and follow the moral and social lessons of the Prophet Muhammad. Happy Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi Wishes & Messages in English 2025 On this sacred day, may you and your family be blessed with health, happiness, and an abundance of Allah's grace. Eid-e-Milad Mubarak! As we commemorate Eid-e-Milad, may your heart be filled with gratitude for the guidance and blessings of the Prophet. Mawlid Mubarak! Eid-e-Milad is a time to remember the significance of the Prophet's life and teachings. May you find inspiration in his journey. On this blessed day, may your prayers be answered, and your life be filled with happiness and contentment. May the spirit of Eid-e-Milad bring you closer to Allah and strengthen your faith in His divine wisdom. Mawlid Mubarak! Let's celebrate Eid-e-Milad by spreading love, kindness, and understanding to all those around us. On this special day, may your heart be filled with the joy of faith and the warmth of family and friends. Mawlid Mubarak! May the blessings of Allah be with you today and always. Eid-e-Milad Mubarak to you and your loved ones. Mawlid Mubarak! On Eid-e-Milad, let's remember the Prophet's message of love and tolerance and strive to live by his example. (Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.) For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Eid Milad Un Nabi 2025 also calledor is a very special occasion celebrated by Muslims across the world. This festival marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and is held with deep love and respect by the Muslim community.The event is known by several names, including, and. On this day, Muslims gather in mosques, take part in colourful processions, and recite the teachings of Prophet Muhammad in public gatherings.Eid Milad Un Nabi is a time that unites Muslims worldwide, bringing people together across countries and cultures to celebrate with devotion, joy, and grandeur.The Prophets birth is observed in the third month of the Islamic calendar, known as Rabi al-awwal. Sunni scholars mark it on the 12th of Rabi al-awwal, while Shia scholars observe it on the 17th of Rabi al-awwal.In 2025, Mawlid in India is expected to be celebrated on 4th or 5th September, depending on the sighting of the moon. Globally, the celebration will begin on the evening of 4th September and end on the evening of 5th September. In the UAE, the public holiday has been confirmed for 5th September 2025.Eid Milad Un Nabi is observed to honour the birth of, who is respected as a spiritual, social, and political leader, and the last prophet in Islam.According to Islamic belief, Prophet Muhammad was chosen to share the divine message that continued the teachings of earlier prophets such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all). He was born around 570 CE in Mecca, Arabia.It is important to note that while this festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in many countries, it is not observed in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where such celebrations are prohibited.Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is believed to have been born on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal in 573 AD. This date is special for Muslims, as it marks both his birth anniversary and, according to some beliefs, his death anniversary. His full name was Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib, and he was born in the holy city of Mecca.In 610 AD, he received his first revelation while meditating in the Cave of Hira, near Mecca. These revelations later formed the Quran, the holy book of Islam. From then on, Prophet Muhammad dedicated his life to spreading the message of Islam and guiding people towards faith in Allah.Both Shia and Sunni Muslims honour him deeply, but they have slightly different traditions and interpretations regarding Eid Milad-Un-Nabi.Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is regarded as the final messenger of Allah and is loved and respected by Muslims across the world. Although he was born around 570 CE in Makkah, the observance of his birthday began centuries later.In the 8th century, Al-Khayzuran converted the Prophets birthplace into a place of worship.By the 11th century, Muslims in Egypt started holding gatherings that included prayers and Quran recitations.Historians believe the celebration first spread under the Fatimid dynasty and gradually took root in the wider Muslim community.The modern form of Mawlid celebrations developed in the 12th century in countries such as Syria, Turkey, Morocco, and Spain.However, not all Muslims observe this festival. Some believe the exact date of the Prophets birth is uncertain, and argue that only Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha should be celebrated, as other festivities are seen as biddah (innovation) in Islam.The way Eid Milad-Un-Nabi is celebrated varies across cultures and countries, but common traditions include: Happy Happy Onam 2025 : Happy Onam Wishes, Quotes, Messages & WhatsApp Status to Share on Thiruvonam Happy Onam Wishes in English 2025 Wishing you joy, blessings, and prosperity this Onam. May this season bring happiness your way. Let this Onam bring new opportunities, happiness, and success in your life. Pookkalavum, nilavilakkum, sadyayumayi Maveli mannane varavelkam. Onashamsakal! May God bless you with peace, contentment, and countless reasons to smile. Happy Onam! May your life be as bright and vibrant as the Onam festivities! Keraliya thanima thottunarthunna, malayalikalude hrudayathe pookkalam kondu theerkkunna Onashamsakal! Heres to a joyful, colourful, healthy, and prosperous Onam for you and your family. Everkum santhoshathinteyum samridhiyudayum Onashamsakal nerunu! May the blessings of King Mahabali fill your heart with joy and your home with positivity. Onam nanmayudeyum aishwaryathinteyum varavariyikkunna nalla kaalam. Onashamsakal! Bright pookalams, cheerful tunes, and delicious feasts may your year be just as delightful until next Onam. May the spirit of Onam bring joy, peace, and prosperity to your life. Ponnin pookkalum, snehathinte nilavilakkumayi ee Onam ashamsikkunnu! Sending you good luck, peace, and happiness this festive season. Happy Onam 2025! Wishing you a festival of happiness, good fortune, and cherished moments with family. May Onam fill your home with laughter, love, and everlasting joy. Wishing you a festive Onam surrounded by love, laughter, and cherished moments. Let the spirit of Onam bring hope, blessings, and everything you wish for. Wishing you a blessed Onam filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments with family and friends. Wishing happiness, harmony, and positivity to you and your loved ones this Onam. Onam Ashamsakal! Sending warm wishes for a colourful and blessed Onam celebration! Hope this Onam brings fortune and abundance for you and your family. May King Mahabali bless you with abundance and joy this Onam. May the colours of the pookalam brighten your festive celebrations. Happy Onam! May this Onam bring endless happiness and a bountiful harvest into your life. Wishing you a home full of love, joy, and beautiful memories this Onam. Sending heartfelt wishes for prosperity, health, and joy this festive season. May this festive season be filled with good times and heartfelt celebrations. May the pookalam of life be filled with vibrant flowers of positivity. Once again, Onam reminds us of Mavelis golden rule wishing you a joyous festival! Wishing you prosperity and success as you welcome another year of joy. Have a cheerful Onam filled with laughter and happiness. May this Onam bring opportunities, achievements, and endless happiness to your life. May your life be as colourful as a pookalam and as abundant as the harvest. May your life shine as bright as the lamps lit during Onam festivities. Lets keep the Onam spirit alive in our hearts and share it with everyone around us. On this Onam, may King Mahabali bless you with prosperity. May this special occasion bring prosperity, health, and endless happiness. May your days be bright, and your nights be peaceful this Onam. Wishing you a season full of peace, positivity, and celebration. Short Onam Wishes 2025 Have a joyful and blessed Onam filled with love and laughter. This Onam, lets fill our plates with Onasadya and hearts with love. May the spirit of Onam light your path and bring happiness. Onam reminds us of unity, generosity, and equalitymay these values light your path. Sending warm wishes to you and your family this Onam season. This Onam, let us sow seeds of love and harvest happiness. Hope this Onam brings you luck and lasting joy. May the festive spirit of Onam guide you towards success and peace. Celebrate this beautiful festival with happiness and togetherness. Happy Onam! Wishing you a festival full of smiles and great joy. Cheers to this auspicious occasion! Happy Onam to all. Happy Onam! Lets celebrate unity in diversity today and forever. May this Onam be full of colour, prosperity, and smiles. This Onam, lets dance, feast, and spread happiness all around. Wishing you abundant blessings and happiness this Onam. Happy Onam! Wishing for lots of love, luck and prosperity for you always. Have a peaceful and blessed Onam! On this Onam, we wish you peace, health, and joy. May King Mahabali shower you with everything you wish for. Friends like you make Onam celebrations even brighter. Best Onam Wishes 2025 Though miles apart, the spirit of Onam is always close to my heart. Lets celebrate this beautiful festival with warmth and joy, in heart and soul. Happy Onam to you and your colleagues this year may this season bring immense growth and prosperity to all! The air is alive with joy, colours brighten every corner, and homes are adorned with vibrant decorations. May the true spirit of Onam bring you happiness and fulfilment. Onam is the time for new beginnings may yours be full of happiness and hope. On this joyous occasion, I wish you good health, endless joy, and the rich blessings of natures bounty. A Sadya may end with the last bite, but the memories it creates stay forever. Wishing you and your family happiness, prosperity, and bright smiles this festive season. Onam is proof that a festival can be both simple in spirit and grand in joy. May your Onam be filled with laughter, good health, and abundance. Heres to a colourful, peaceful, and joyful celebration! Every Onam is a reminder that kindness, generosity, and unity never go out of style. Its Onam! Time to embrace the harvest festival in all its glory. Adorn your homes with pookalams, hum the sweet Onappattus, and cherish every moment of this auspicious day. The essence of Onam lies in remembering that joy is found in togetherness, not in things. As we honour the true spirit of Onam, lets celebrate with our loved ones, cherish our traditions, and share stories of this cherished festival with the little ones. Wishing you a harvest of happiness and prosperity this Onam! Once again, Onam is here to remind us of Mavelis golden rule. Wishing you and your family a truly joyous celebration. Lets celebrate the colorful traditions of Kerala. Happy Onam! Its time to create vibrant pookalams, light oil lamps, enjoy Vallam Kali, Pulikali, and Kummattikali, and feast on the delicious Onam Sadya. Have a wonderful and prosperous Onam! May this Onam remind you of the beauty of traditions and the comfort of family. Accept my warmest greetings this Onam. May your celebrations be filled with love and joy, no matter the distance. We celebrate in spirit with youHappy Onam! May Onam 2025 fill your days with positivity, peace, and heartfelt joy. Onam reminds us of the values of King Mahabali and Lord Vamana. May their legacy inspire you to be your best self. Wishing you a celebration that is not just grand but also deeply meaningful and fulfilling. Celebrate this festive season with laughter, togetherness, and cheer. Heres to a truly Happy Onam for everyone! Wishing you blessings in abundance, love in plenty, and joy in every moment this Onam. As I think of you during this festival, I pray for happiness, good health, and a stress-free life for you and your family. This Onam, may your days be as colourful as the pookalams, your home as joyful as the Sadya table, and your heart as sweet as the payasam served with love. Wishing you a season of vibrant colours, prosperity, and fun-filled celebrations. Happy Onam! Onam is about cherishing the old traditions while creating new stories with loved ones. May this years festival add another beautiful chapter to your life. May this Onam bless you with joy, wealth, and good health. Warm wishes to you and your family for a very Happy Onam! Happy Onam Quotes 2025 Happy Onam! May this special festival bring peace, joy, and blessings to your life. Onam brings together flowers, food, and festivities to celebrate the unity of humanity. Onam is a time to be grateful for lifes blessings. May the coming year bring you even more happiness and prosperity. Onam reminds us that prosperity is best when shared with all. Let Onam draw you closer to your loved ones and create memories that last a lifetime. Onam is a season when hearts bloom brighter than the flowers of Pookalam. Onam is about leaving worries behind and embracing joy. Wishing you a carefree and delightful celebration. Every Onam is a reminder that unity is our greatest strength. May the sweet fragrance of pookalams bring peace and happiness to your home. Onam celebrates the homecoming of King Mahabalithe king who ruled with justice, equality, and love. Celebrate the harvest, cherish abundance, and welcome blessings. Wishing you a bountiful Onam. The Vamana avatar teaches us that even the mightiest must bow to humility. May the colours of Onam brighten your days and fill your life with good fortune. Onam celebrates the divine balance of power, humility, and generosity. Let the blessings of King Mahabali shower happiness and harmony on your family this Onam. Onam is a time for love, laughter, and shared meals. May you enjoy every moment with your dear ones. May the true spirit of Onam inspire your heart with joy, hope, and prosperity. Happy Onam WhatsApp Status and Messages 2025 May the colours and lights of Onam fill your home with happiness and cheer. Wishing you and your family a joyful Onam! Ponnin Chingamasathile ponnonam varavelkkaan snehathode ente Onashamsakal! Onam is a time for vibrant pookalams, swinging children, tiger dancers, and families enjoying a delicious Sadya. May this season bring joy and prosperity to all. Nilavilakinte parishudhiyum, tumbapoovinte nairmalyavumayi varunna Onatte snehathode varavelkam! May the true spirit of Onam stay with you in all that you do, think, and hope for in life. Happy Onam! Aishwaryathinteyum samridhiyudayum Thiruvonam ashamsikkunnu. Ellavarkkum ente hridayam niranja Onashamsakal! This Onam, may you be blessed with good fortune, health, and happiness. Have a truly wonderful celebration! Onam ekkalathekkumulla orormayanu. Nanmayude orayiram Onashamsakal! May this festival of Onam bring cheer, peace, and prosperity that lasts the whole year. Wishing you a very Happy Onam! Orthirikkaan Omanikkaan Oru onakkaalam koodi odiyethi, snehathode Onashamsakal! As the Onam spirit spreads far and wide, I send you my warmest wishes for a joyous Sadya and happy times with your family. Happy Onam! May your home be filled with light, colour, and festive joy this season. Onam symbolises abundance, happiness, and prosperity. May your life be just as full and worry-free. Let the colours and fragrance of Onam fill your days with happiness. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed celebration! Onam is all about peace, prosperity, and togetherness. Heres wishing you happiness and success in every step of your life. May this Onam bring you health, wealth, and all the blessings youve ever hoped for in your personal and professional life. Let the fragrance of flowers from your pookalam bring blessings and positivity to your home. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and long life. Celebrate Onam with your loved onesenjoy every delicacy, every smile, and every moment. After all, a family that eats together stays together! On this auspicious day, may King Mahabali bless you with the courage, wisdom, and strength to achieve your dreams. Happy Onam images, cards, posters, photos to share with loved ones ( Image credit : Happy Onam images, cards, photos to share | Credit: Canva ) ( Image credit : Happy Onam images, cards, photos to share | Credit: Canva ) ( Image credit : Happy Onam images, cards, photos to share | Credit: Canva ) ( Image credit : Happy Onam images, cards, photos to share | Credit: Freepik ) ( Image credit : Happy Onam images, cards, photos to share | Credit: Freepik ) History of the Onam Festival How Onam is Celebrated in Kerala Snake Boat Races (Vallam Kali) Pulikali (Tiger Dance) Kummattikali Pookalams Onam Sadya For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. According to the Malayalam calendar, Onam is Keralas grand annual harvest festival, celebrated over ten vibrant days. In 2025, the celebrations has started on Tuesday, August 26, and wrap up on Friday, September 5. Malayalis around the world come together to mark this cultural and religious festival, honouring the legendary King Mahabali, the beloved ruler and grandson of Prahlada, whose homecoming is at the heart of Onam.The festival begins with Atham, followed by Chithira, Chodi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketta, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradom, and finally Thiruvonam, the most significant day of the celebrations. Each day carries its own customs, traditions, and importance.Celebrate this colourful festival by sharing heartfelt Onam greetings with your family and friends. Thoughtful wishes are a perfect way to spread love and festive cheer on this special occasion.Weve rounded up some lovely Onam messages, quotes, and WhatsApp statuses to help you send warm greetings to your loved ones.The history of Onam is deeply rooted in the legend of King Mahabali, a beloved ruler known for his wisdom, generosity, and fairness. Under his reign, Kerala is said to have experienced its golden age, where justice and prosperity flourished.Despite being an asura (demon) king, Mahabali was a devoted worshipper of Lord Vishnu. His immense popularity made the gods jealous and concerned about his growing influence. To restore balance, Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin, and visited Mahabalis court.Vamana humbly requested three paces of land. The king, known for never refusing a request, agreed. However, Vamana grew in size and with just two steps covered the entire earth and the heavens. With no land left to offer, Mahabali bowed his head, allowing Vamana to place the third step upon it, which sent him to the netherworld.Impressed by Mahabalis humility and devotion, Lord Vishnu granted him a boonto return to Kerala once a year to visit his people. This annual homecoming of Mahabali is celebrated as Onam, symbolising love, humility, and the bond between a king and his people.Onam is one of Keralas grandest festivals, marked with ten days of festivities starting with Atham and ending on the main day, Thiruvonam. The celebrations showcase Keralas rich culture through: Thrilling boat races that draw thousands of spectators. Performers painted as tigers dance to traditional music. Masked folk dances that entertain both locals and visitors. Beautiful floral designs made at the entrance of homes. A grand vegetarian feast with over 20 dishes served on a banana leaf.Onam is a time of joy, togetherness, and pride in Keralas cultural heritage. Families reunite, decorate their homes, and celebrate abundance, making it one of Indias most iconic and vibrant festivals. Nagaland lottery sambad result today 3 September 2025 OUT: Todays Nagaland lottery result: 3 September 2025 draw details How to check Nagaland lottery sambad result online? Visit the official Nagaland State Lottery Sambad website or authorised sites such as nagalandstatelottery.in, lotterysambadresult.in, or nagalandlotterysambad.com. Look for the 'Results' or 'Lottery Sambad Result' section on the homepage. Choose the date for which you want to check the result, in this case, 3 September 2025. View the winning numbers for the three draws conducted at 1 PM (Dear Morning Sambad), 6 PM (Dear Evening Sambad), and 8 PM (Dear Night Sambad). You can also find downloadable PDF files of the official results for verification. Refresh the page after the draw times (usually results are updated shortly after 1:10 PM, 6:10 PM, and 8:10 PM) to get the latest results. Nagaland Lottery result, 3 September, 2025: Prize details for each draw Prize Rank Amount (INR) No. of Winners 1st Prize 1,00,00,000 1 Consolation 1,000 Multiple 2nd Prize 9,000 Multiple 3rd Prize 450 Multiple 4th Prize 250 Multiple 5th Prize 120 Multiple How to claim your Nagaland lottery prize for 3 September, 2025? Original signed winning ticket PAN Card and Aadhaar Card copies Four recent passport-sized photographs (not older than 3 months) Cancelled cheque leaf of your bank account Notarised affidavit confirming ownership of the ticket Fill in personal and prize details accurately on the claim form. Prizes up to 10,000 can be claimed directly from authorized lottery retailers. For prizes above 10,000, prize money is paid after deduction of applicable taxes, usually through RTGS or demand draft. FAQs The Nagaland Lottery Sambad result for today, 3 September 2025, is officially OUT. Lottery enthusiasts can now check the winning numbers for the three exciting draws held at 1 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM. With a massive first prize of Rs. 1 Crore, the Nagaland State Lottery remains one of the most awaited lottery events in the country.Players who purchased tickets for the Dear Morning Sambad, Dear Evening Sambad, and Dear Night Sambad can verify their numbers against the published results and see if they are among the lucky winners. Stay tuned to get the latest updates and confirm your winning lottery ticket now.Today's Nagaland lottery sambad result for 3 September 2025 includes three exciting draws held at 1 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM. The draws are known as Dear Morning Sambad, Dear Evening Sambad, and Dear Night Sambad, respectively. The first prize for each draw is Rs. 1 Crore.The results are usually announced shortly after the draw times, around 1:10 PM, 6:10 PM, and 8:10 PM, allowing participants to quickly check their winning numbers.1st Prize: 71J 226512nd Prize: 84629 76620 30808 70131 28798 79082 38473 92922 99848 786703rd Prize: 9417 9637 6267 7074 9015 8357 5281 8344 9912 81344th Prize: 0722 6092 5368 3659 9696 4941 4509 4116 8059 89605th Prize: 6733 4585 5261 4898 6254 0663 3774 0671 8077 1933 1088 0534 7160 1429 0794 1709 8793 6323 6328 3588 5457 1189 7588 4590 1101 7852 5734 8796 9450 9397 1747 0675 5385 0218 7034 0704 8659 6551 0483 5760 0865 6442 8583 4184 8745 2877 9591 3213 1106 6566 6391 2077 9695 5982 1003 4374 6483 4872 1637 8994 4912 8929 5453 8009 2107 8415 0099 5615 9307 6950 1765 1667 6567 5442 5418 3978 1182 3148 5306 0345 5079 2959 2629 6419 3731 8068 4979 7801 4997 6139 4088 1615 7484 6899 1170 6767 6049 0554 3357 76571st Prize: 88L 680382nd Prize: 29139 13954 52552 22462 59159 56114 85240 14410 67139 913743rd Prize: 0676 4817 9291 6718 0162 9307 8929 2541 8668 47844th Prize: 7426 8126 8303 7077 5554 9801 1323 1300 3408 63145th Prize: 4865 4135 6558 8030 9756 8890 8692 8837 9760 0863 7835 1319 9432 3778 4786 0758 8605 1248 8769 9817 6043 4064 3807 6235 1791 6268 2519 1495 3774 4169 7935 8168 8336 2410 8749 6753 8002 1384 9476 5641 4006 0967 4476 4177 6880 9468 1253 4012 1839 0122 7194 7354 5394 1717 0979 5377 0054 2142 2882 7431 4010 9657 6733 8006 3787 9148 7008 4246 1082 0876 5874 0614 2829 7962 0030 9721 2979 7118 0177 8238 9246 1575 1014 1899 7951 6929 4913 4024 4728 9709 7770 5996 0276 7364 0215 2942 6790 9027 1281 17431st Prize: 85J 624672nd Prize: 43892 60295 78323 27250 17591 03811 03224 86753 48173 776853rd Prize: 8099 6594 8504 9570 2209 1369 5830 5846 9781 19384th Prize: 0776 7768 5574 5973 2045 8577 2658 8687 3292 22075th Prize: 1705 7440 9534 5336 9898 7988 9310 4870 0691 9492 8584 9813 3162 1067 5125 0740 3279 1951 0477 2263 7055 3085 0423 9346 6717 3903 1615 3845 7339 1851 4322 9796 2967 4019 3700 8063 5144 0419 4043 9107 5630 6851 5293 6585 6131 2937 7430 5308 6593 7555 8237 3092 6375 7283 4403 7779 9905 5424 4283 3960 0718 8989 9260 3035 5289 5888 4634 0368 1559 4095 7141 5333 4064 6229 1994 2908 7214 8392 1407 2902 1374 8615 6169 3115 1813 0628 7334 8194 2761 0117 6332 8747 2657 2317 3897 2141 3228 3293 2508 1091To check the Nagaland Lottery Sambad result online, follow these steps:Additionally, some websites offer live typed results immediately after the draw before the official PDFs are published. Mobile apps are also available for convenient checking on smartphones.Below is the required prize details for each draw for Nagaland Lottery result, 3 September, 2025 listed:To claim your Nagaland lottery prize for 3 September 2025, follow these steps:1. Keep your original winning ticket safe and sign the back of it to establish ownership.2. Download and fill out the official prize claim form, available on the Nagaland State Lottery's official website or at authorized lottery offices.3. Gather required documents including:4. Submit the completed claim form and all supporting documents physically to the Directorate of Nagaland State Lotteries at P.R. Hills Junction, Kohima, Nagaland, or to designated nodal offices in major cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Ludhiana, Gangtok, or Meghalaya.5. Claims must be submitted within 30 days from the date of the draw.6. The Directorate verifies the ticket and documents before releasing the prize amount.1. What are the draw times for Nagaland Lottery Sambad on September 3, 2025?A: The draws were held at 1 PM (Morning), 6 PM (Evening), and 8 PM (Night).2. What is the first prize amount for each Sambad draw today?A: Each draw offers a 1 Crore first prize to one lucky winner.3. Where can I check the official Nagaland lottery results?A: Visit nagalandlotterysambad.com or authorised result portals to view the official numbers.4. How long do I have to claim my prize?A: Winners must claim their prize within 30 days from the draw date.5. What documents are needed to claim a prize over 10,000?A: Youll need the original ticket, ID proof (PAN, Aadhaar), photos, and a filled claim form.Disclaimer: The above mentioned data is based on information available from official online sources. We do not endorse or promote any lottery or Teer games. Please play responsibly and verify results through official channels.For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events ( Image credit : Old Photo of BTS V resurfaces. Credit: Instagram|thv ) Connection to a gay club in Itaewon ( Image credit : Mini Han (L) shares picture with BTS V and the K-Pop group AllDay Project at the Frieze Seoul event. Credit: Instagram|mini_han ) ARMY reactions Mini Han, the transgender woman, is friends with taehyung. she is following him on instagram, and he has even been to her popular gay/LGBTQ+ club. pic.twitter.com/o91uqruC36 vera (@7lovecore) September 2, 2025 mini han, trans woman and co-owner of the most popular gay clubs in sokor had alr been following taehyung and wooga since before and taehyung once visited one of her clubs/bar omg pic.twitter.com/Zxxj2t8Nik (@newbuns) September 2, 2025 taehyung visiting a gay club/bar is like fork found in kitchen pic.twitter.com/lg7Ap1xeiR (@vkkvonly) September 2, 2025 Taehyung visits gay club!!!???? I'd be more surprised if he hadn't been to one already (@Taekoomania) September 2, 2025 BTS' consistent message of love Love Yourself ( Image credit : BTS set for comeback in 2026. Credit: Instagram|uarmyhope ) What is BTS up to recently? While some regions of Korea still have traditional attitudes on sexuality, BTS has repeatedly demonstrated support for the LGBTQ+ population. Their openness and subtle but powerful gestures have frequently provoked debate and gained global acclaim.One such moment involves BTS' V, aka Kim Taehyung. V posted a series of images with his fans on Instagram while in the military in April 2024. This photo dump included a mirror selfie with a lipstick kiss mark on the glass. It piqued the interest if fans at the time, although the context was not entirely clear.The photo has now resurfaced after V attended the Frieze Seoul 2025 Paradise Art event. There, he was photographed with his close friend Mini Han - celebrated figure in South Korea's LGBTQ+ community. She also happens to own a well-known gay bar in Itaewon.Netizens soon connected the dots, realizing that V's 2024 mirror selfie was likely taken at this venue, which is recognizable for its signature lipstick-marked mirrors.Many people commended V for his openness to supporting and spending time in LGBTQ+ spaces. Fans, particularly on X (previously Twitter), praised his inclusive and supporting character. They expressed their gratitude for his inclusiveness and how wonderful it was to see a global superstar normalizing queer-friendly environments.Beyond that, BTS has long emphasized self-love, acceptance, and equality. With songs likeand campaigns like #ENDVIOLENCE with UNICEF, they've reached millions of people with compassionate messages.BTS distinguishes themselves not only via their music, but also by their openness to discuss themes that are typically considered taboo in South Korea, such as mental health and LGBTQIA+ concerns. Their genuineness and sensitivity have inspired numerous followers, many of whom credit BTS for guiding them through personal hardships and finding strength in who they are.BTS officially reunited in June 2025, after all seven members finished their required military service. With their hiatus behind them, the group has turned its attention to the future music releases.They are planning for a comeback with a new album and a world tour scheduled for early 2026. After years of individual pursuits and service commitments, the members are reuniting to prepare their next chapter as a group. By Michelle Gamage Local Journalism Initiative Reporter British Columbias deputy provincial health officer, Dr. Martin Lavoie, is asking parents to make sure their kids are up to date on their vaccinations before they head back to school. While the province isnt making vaccinations mandatory to attend school, as Ontario and New Brunswick have done, it is strongly encouraging families to take advantage of free vaccines. B.C. also requires that parents inform the province about the immunizations their children have or havent received. Getting kids up to date on their vaccines is especially important this year because of the significant increase in measles cases in the province and across Canada, Lavoie said in a press release last week. So far this year there have been 4,718 measles cases across the country, according to Health Canada. B.C. has had 213 cases, with 24 new cases in August. Health Canada says about eight per cent of those infected have required hospitalization and there has been one death, when an infant died in southwestern Ontario in early June. To be protected from measles, kids should receive one vaccination at 12 months old and another when they enter school, between the ages of four and six. Vaccinating children as young as six months is possible, but because their immune system is still developing, the vaccine doesnt provide lasting immunity. Heading back to school means kids are exposed to various infectious diseases, Lavoie said. Vaccinating children, he added, is the best way to protect them from vaccine-preventable illnesses that can cause serious illness, long-term disability and even death. Measles isnt the only preventable disease making a comeback. In May Vancouver Coastal Health warned cases of whooping cough were on the rise. B.C. has a recommended vaccination schedule for children and youth. Vaccines are free and protect kids from a wide range of potentially devastating diseases. If children have fallen behind on their vaccinations they may be able to get caught up at school. The Ministry of Health told The Tyee public health nursing teams visit schools to provide routine vaccinations in kindergarten, Grade 6 and Grade 9. Despite the fact that vaccines are free and accessible in B.C., the provinces childhood vaccination rates are falling. Around 84 per cent of B.C.s total population is immunized against measles, and thats a problem because 95 per cent of a population needs to be immunized to prevent it from spreading. Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease. If an infected person walks through a grocery store and doesnt touch anything, a person who doesnt have full immunity could walk through the store two hours later and catch the disease easily just by breathing the same air. Two doses of the vaccine give people nearly 100 per cent protection from ever getting sick with measles even if exposed, Lavoie previously told The Tyee. The Tyee reached out to the largest school districts in B.C. Surrey, Vancouver, Coquitlam, Burnaby and Langley to ask what their back-to-school strategies were to keep students safe. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Infrastructure said it tells school districts to meet indoor air quality standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, but each district can decide how to do that. At this time government does not track which schools have HEPA filters, the ministry added. Budget 2025 provides $765 million in capital funding for school maintenance projects over the next three years, which can be used for air filtration upgrades, the ministry said. The Ministry of Education and Child Care said schools are also expected to follow the provincial communicable disease guidelines for K-12 settings, and that students and staff are accepted and encouraged to wear masks. None of the school districts The Tyee contacted directly answered a question on how many of their classrooms have HEPA filters and how many do not. The Surrey school district said it follows ministry guidelines and that all of its buildings have mechanical ventilation with the highest filtration means afforded to each unit. The district said it was also working with Fraser Health to co-ordinate and support vaccination clinics and that blue medical masks and cloth masks are made available for all staff, students and visitors. Blue medical masks can reduce the spread of disease by limiting how much a sick person can cough or sneeze on people around them, but only a properly fitting N95 or KN95 protects the person wearing it from airborne diseases such as COVID-19 and measles. The Vancouver School Board, or VSB, said it follows provincial guidance for masking and indoor air quality and meets recommendations for ventilation of indoor spaces and schools. This includes opening windows whenever possible and setting HVAC systems to maximize air exchange in classrooms. In 2022 the VSB upgraded its ventilation systems with MERV-13 filters, it added. The Burnaby school district said its ventilation systems are designed, operated and maintained to WorkSafeBC standards and legislative requirements. The Langley school district said it would not be able to respond to the media request by press time, and the Coquitlam school district didnt respond. Anyone born before 1970 is assumed to have been exposed to measles as a child and have immunity. Anyone born after 1970 is asked to check their immunization records to make sure they are fully vaccinated with two doses, Lavoie said. Anyone who is unsure if they are immune should speak with their family doctor or call 811 to speak with a nurse to determine their next steps, he added. Getting an additional vaccine if youre not able to confirm if youre fully vaccinated is safe. The Ministry of Health told The Tyee infants, children and adults can be vaccinated at their local health unit or health centre or by some family doctors. Call to make an appointment to ensure the vaccine is available. Kids four and older, and adults, can also get vaccinated for measles at participating pharmacies. ( Image credit : Khan Sir on Donald Trump | Credit: X | @nkk_123 ) What did Khan Sir say about Donald Trump and Gmail? What if Trump blocks Gmail in India? UPI kaise chalega? Khan Sir gives a reality check to all bhakts. pic.twitter.com/iIWyUlVOTL (@nkk_123) September 2, 2025 Can Donald Trump really block Gmail? Khan faces massive online trolling; netizens react ( Image credit : Netizens react on Khan Sir's comment | Credit: X | @nkk_123 ) ( Image credit : Khan faces massive online trolling | Credit: X | @nkk_123 ) Khan Sir, also known as Faizal Khan, the popular Indian educator and YouTuber, is making headlines again; this time, it is due to a controversial statement involving former US President Donald Trump. In one of his recent videos, Khan Sir claimed that if India questions Trump, the country could face severe consequences, including a ban on Gmail. This comment has now become a part of online trolling. Read to know more.Khan Sir highlighted the immense importance of Gmail, pointing out that it is intricately linked to a wide range of essential digital services that millions rely on daily, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and even crucial financial systems like UPI transactions.In a one-minute short clip, he could be seen warning that banning Gmail would severely disrupt everyday communication and digital transactions in India, implying that such a move would have far-reaching consequences for the country.However, this assertion quickly drew widespread attention for all the wrong reasons.Donald Trump cannot directly block Gmail in India or any other sovereign country. Gmail is a service owned by Google, a private U.S.-based company, and any such action would require extreme diplomatic or legal intervention, which is highly unlikely, as per some comments of netizens.While others were quick to point this out after Khan Sir's viral claim. Many mocked the idea as "illogical" and "fear-mongering", emphasising that even UPI, India's digital payment infrastructure.Many netizens took to social media to ridicule his comments, labelling them as exaggerated and unrealistic. Critics argued that his statement oversimplified complex international relations and technology infrastructure, turning it into a subject of online mockery and memes.One X (formerly called Twitter) user said, "UPI doesn't run on any public cloud like AWS, Google GCP or Azure. In fact, no government application in India runs on any public cloud. The government has its own data centres. UPI runs on NPCI's data centres, and NPCI has provided API access to UPI apps. So even if all public clouds disappear overnight, rest assured, UPI will work. A UPI app is not equal to UPI infrastructure, dodo."One asked, "Do you think Google will do that? India is biggest market for them..if will backfire google"Another commented, "America cannot ban Google in India. This right lies only with the Indian government. The US can at most impose sanctions or export controls on Google, not on India. Email doesn't run only on Gmail; Zoho, Proton, Outlook, Yahoo, Rediff, custom domainsall are available. UPI is linked to the mobile number, not to email. Talk about things that have logic; useless nonsense clearly shows the level of the mind.""As per this gadha, UPI works on Gmail? let see all how much you are ," one said.One joked, "Aree o sasur ka naatin. India Ka BHIM app kya tumhri bhaisya charavat khaatir rakhe hai ka. Ye kaunse nashe karat rahe gandhi parivar aur khaaniya log. Gmail trump ka baap bhi bandh nahi karsakta. India mejn aisan kaand karke trump ko apne legwa pe kulhadi marni hai ka ""UPI doesn't work with G-Mail . Donkey," another user added."Khan Sirs fearmongering on Gmail & UPI is pure nonsense. UPI runs on NPCIs Indian infra not Gmail. Payments wont stop if Google sneezes. Same way, his casual & incorrect remarks on Maharaja Hari Singh ji insult history. Time to call out such half-baked gyaan."One said, "What if India block x , Twitter and Meta in India . Khan sir to bhuke mar jayenge." Druski goes undercover as a white man at a NASCAR event That Guy who is just Proud to be AMERICAN pic.twitter.com/Xcc5ZJypqz DRUSKI (@druski) September 2, 2025 ( Image credit : Druskis latest skit is stirring up serious debate online (Credits: X/@FoeN3m) ) Fans are divided over the viral video ( Image credit : Reactions to the Druski NASCAR skit viral video (Credits: X/@Druski) ) That shit about jesters privilege is so real, because what you mean the nascar co-signed a video about how their fans are racist white trash just because druski is the one that made it? Lmfao https://t.co/JAuG8JBSRH the willknd (@uhvaimorre) September 2, 2025 Druski compared to Sacha Baron Cohen ( Image credit : Some fans compared Druskis bold style to that of Sacha Baron Cohen, the comedian behind edgy characters like Borat and Ali G (Credits: X/@KevOnStage) ) Comedian and content creator Druski is making headlines again, and this time, its for one of his most daring and controversial skits yet. Known for his viral and often edgy humour, Druski recently went undercover at a NASCAR event, completely transforming his appearance to look like a white Southern man.The video, which has now gone viral, shows the comedian interacting with fans and playing into stereotypes, but its also ignited backlash online. While many are praising his creativity, others are accusing him of crossing the line, saying the skit reinforces harmful ideas and sparks a deeper conversation about race in comedy. This is the second time Druski has pulled off a skit regarding 'typical white-man' antiques. and the social media is blowing off with memes and strong reactions.In the viral clip, Druski is almost unrecognisable. His transformation includes pale makeup, tattoos, visible sunburns, a bushy beard, a cowboy hat, and denim overalls. At first glance, no one seemed to realise it was the comedian in disguise.He is seen raising a vulgar toast with other NASCAR fans, sharing cigarettes, and even interacting with a woman who sits on his lap. In one moment that shocked viewers, he spat at the feet of two dark complexioned attendees, sparking immediate outrage among some viewers. During the national anthem, Druski stood solemnly with NASCAR driver Ty Gibbs, who was visibly trying to hold back laughter.The skit ends with Druski blending into the crowd to watch the race, completing his role as an exaggerated version of a Southern redneck.The video quickly spread across social media platforms, gaining millions of views and thousands of comments. Many users praised Druskis boldness and makeup team.One comment read, Druski just out here doing whiteface is wild. Another joked, Your makeup artist deserves an award for this.However, others were deeply offended by the content. Some pointed out that the skit portrayed NASCAR fans as racist stereotypes, calling it unfair and harmful.A critic wrote, Thats jester privilege right there. NASCAR agreed to a video calling their fans racist white trash just because Druski made it. Another user was upset about the spitting scene, saying, You treated those Black fans worse than any white person did that day. That was unnecessary.The video also sparked a debate about double standards, with several commenters asking whether white comedians would face similar reactions if they performed in blackface.Some fans compared Druskis bold style to that of Sacha Baron Cohen, the comedian behind edgy characters like Borat and Ali G. Both comedians are known for pushing boundaries and putting themselves in risky situations to create viral social commentary. This is not the first time Druski pulled off a 'white-man' skit. Earlier this year, he had pulled a skit pretending to be a white-man trying to fit in with black community, similar to Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G character.However, others argue that Druskis skit lacks the deeper satire often found in Cohens work, instead leaning too heavily on shock value and stereotypes. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple 28 Years Later ( Image credit : The trailer teases a grim continuation of the post-apocalyptic saga. | Credit: @28YearsLaterMov /X ) What the trailer shows ( Image credit : The trailer teases a grim continuation of the post-apocalyptic saga. | Credit: @28YearsLaterMov /X ) Even greater changes are still to come. Watch the trailer for #28YearsLater: The Bone Temple - exclusively in movie theatres 1.16.26. pic.twitter.com/ngk8c5ZodY 28 Years Later Movie (@28YearsLaterMov) September 3, 2025 Fans react to the trailer ( Image credit : The trailer teases a grim continuation of the post-apocalyptic saga. | Credit: @28YearsLaterMov /X ) I was shocked with how much I loved 28 Years Later. I am FIRMLY planted in my seat for every movie after DOVADARKO (@DeadbyDarko) September 3, 2025 Nowhere near as captivating as 28 YEARS LATER trailer (but that was an all-time horror trailer). But BONE TEMPLE still looks (hauntingly) great visually, and I'm excited to see Jack O'Connell's next big follow-up performance after SINNERS. https://t.co/hCyY01DeQa Sean Cranston (@themoviedadsc) September 3, 2025 Otro muy buen trailer para la continuacion de 28 Years Later. Aun asi sigo con muchas dudas de varias decisiones que se tomaron para esta nueva trilogia. Cada vez se aleja mas de lo que fue 28 Days Later pic.twitter.com/UOOXPlG5uJ Der Fumas (@ferdumas) September 3, 2025 28 years later sequel in january PERHAPS life is worth living shabe (@_kabuterimon) September 3, 2025 holy fuck the #boners are so up, even more excited for this than the first 28 years later movie https://t.co/jGOoWGlzut skellybrown (@skellybrown27) September 3, 2025 The thing is that Fiennes is an insanely good actor, and he steals the show everytime he shows up, and that was the case in 28 Years Later. How he has not won an Oscar until now is Something Ill never understand. Paulo (@paulohfroes) September 3, 2025 OMG this looks so fucking good !! I was scared of the "Power Rangers" vibe in the end of the first "28 years later" but I'm totally on it now !! Proute (@jo67272) September 3, 2025 Release details 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple 28 Years Later For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. The first trailer forhas finally dropped, and fans cant stop talking about it. The film, directed by Nia DaCosta, continues the story set up by Danny Boyle and Alex Garlandsearlier this year. With Ralph Fiennes, Jack OConnell, and Alfie Williams taking center stage, the new look at the third chapter in the iconic franchise has quickly ignited buzz online.The trailer teases a grim continuation of the post-apocalyptic saga. Ralph Fiennes Dr. Kelson is shown inside the eerie Bone Temple, a structure made from the remains of both humans and the infected. He sets aside his blowgun, used to paralyze attackers, and approaches Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), a towering alpha infected, suggesting a shocking alliance that could change the balance of power.The trailer also introduces more of the Jimmies, a violent gang led by Sir Jimmy Crystal, played by Jack OConnell. With their blonde wigs and creepy masks, the group is modeled after the disturbing legacy of disgraced U.K. media personality Jimmy Savile.The teaser shows them terrorizing survivors and pulling Spike (Alfie Williams) deeper into their twisted world after rescuing him in the previous film. As with past entries in the franchise, the infected arent the only danger, the inhumanity of survivors becomes just as terrifying.As soon as the trailer dropped, fans rushed to social media to share their reactions. Many were excited, while others voiced doubts about the direction of the trilogy. The mix of awe and skepticism has only added to the hype.One fan wrote, I was shocked with how much I loved 28 Years Later. I am FIRMLY planted in my seat for every movie after.Another added, Nowhere near as captivating as the 28 YEARS LATER trailer (but that was an all-time horror trailer). But BONE TEMPLE still looks (hauntingly) great visually, and I'm excited to see Jack O'Connell's next big follow-up performance after SINNERS.A third fan admitted to having some concerns: Another very good trailer for the continuation of 28 Years Later. Still, I have many doubts about several decisions that were made for this new trilogy. Its increasingly moving away from what 28 Days Later was.Others simply celebrated the fact that the sequel is coming soon. One user posted, 28 years later sequel in January. PERHAPS life is worth living, while another joked, Holy fuck, the #boners are so up. Im even more excited for this than the first 28 years later movie.Ralph Fiennes also received plenty of love from fans who praised his acting. The thing is that Fiennes is an insanely good actor, and he steals the show every time he shows up, and that was the case in 28 Years Later. How he has not won an Oscar until now is something Ill never understand, wrote one impressed viewer.will hit theaters on January 16, 2026. The film was shot back-to-back with, which premiered in June 2025 and went on to gross $150.4 million worldwide. Trumps justification for tariffs ( Image credit : US President Donald Trump once again claimed that India offered him a no tariff deal. | Credits: X/@_JamesGtfo ) Allegations of one-sided trade Criticism of Indias ties with Russia ( Image credit : Trump also criticised Indias longstanding trade with Russia. | Credit: Credits: X/@_JamesGtfo ) Domestic backlash over Trumps tariff policy ( Image credit : Trumps own approach to tariffs faced pushback in the United States. | Credit: Credits: X/@_JamesGtfo ) US-India forum urges caution To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. US President Donald Trump once again claimed that India offered him a no tariff deal, linking it to his decision to impose a 50 per cent levy on Indian goods. In an interview, Trump described India as the most tariffed nation in the world and said tariffs were the only reason New Delhi made such an offer.Trump stated that tariffs were necessary to protect American businesses from what he described as unfair trade. China kills us with tariffs, India kills us with tariffs, Brazil kills us with tariffs, he said. He added that he understood tariffs better than anyone and claimed, If I didnt have tariffs, they would never make that offer.This was not the first time he mentioned that New Delhi had proposed a no tariff arrangement.Earlier in the week, Trump had called US-India trade relations a totally one-sided disaster. He argued that while India sold large amounts of goods to the US, American businesses faced hurdles in accessing the Indian market due to high tariffs. Until now a totally one-sided relationship, and it has been for many decades, he said, stressing that Indias tariff policies left little scope for US companies to sell their products in India.Trump also criticised Indias longstanding trade with Russia. India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the US, he said. According to him, New Delhis willingness to cut tariffs to zero came too late and should have been done years ago. He described the trade imbalance and Indias defence sourcing as simple facts for people to ponder.Meanwhile, global economic uncertainty grew after Washingtons imposition of the 50 per cent tariff, supplemented by an additional 25 per cent in response to Indias Russian crude oil imports.Trumps own approach to tariffs faced pushback in the United States. A US appeals court recently ruled his tariff move illegal. Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan criticised Trump, alleging he had damaged ties with India. Sullivan said the US had invested in building cooperation with India in areas like technology and talent, but Trumps actions risked alienating partners.Because of Pakistans willingness to do business with the Trump family, Trump has thrown away Indias relationship on the side, Sullivan claimed. He warned that allies such as Germany and Japan might doubt Americas reliability.The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) also responded, advising caution over Trumps remarks. Its president, Mukesh Aghi, said not all of Trumps statements may carry substance, particularly those made on platforms like Truth Social. He emphasised that Indias people were capable of making decisions in the nations best interest, regardless of external comments. Nancy Mace exits meeting with Epstein survivors in tears HUGE!! Republican Rep. Nancy Mace just DEFIED TRUMP and signed the Massie-Khanna petition to release the FULL Epstein files after she suffered a panic attack and ran out of a meeting with Epsteins victims in tears. Survivors are SPEAKING. Trumps coverup is collapsing. pic.twitter.com/J6UOuSypPf CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) September 3, 2025 Since its already being reported - Yes I left the Oversight briefing with Epstein victims early. As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I cant breathe. I Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) September 2, 2025 Why isnt social media buying Nancy Maces tears? If it were anyone else in the world besides Nancy Mace having a panic attack during that hearing, I would likely be sympathetic. For her it just fits a pattern of attention-seeking behavior. It angers me that I must temper my instinct to sympathy because she is a intolerable "Devil" Anse Hatfield (@AFistfulof45s) September 3, 2025 I have zero compassion or sympathy for anything Nancy Mace. While she was a victim in her life, she has spent the last few years making it her mission to attack and dismiss other victims. So fuck her. She can cry all day long. Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) September 3, 2025 Im starting to lose respect for Nancy Mace. I understand shes been in a situation that was traumatizing but recently shes made so many things about herself more than about the people and doing good for South Carolina. Shes gotta do better and quit acting out so much. https://t.co/BP0xLUtXW9 Hollywood Big B (@bigb_904) September 3, 2025 Nancy Mace is only doing this to help her chances of becoming governor. https://t.co/R3HLWFDSry Michelle (@dharmagirl24) September 3, 2025 Nancy Mace responds to a user accusing her of overdramatising Why is social media slamming Nancy Mace? ( Image credit : Nancy Mace is a vocal supporter of Trump | Credit: X/@FromKulak ) Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has drawn widespread attention after an emotional moment during a House Oversight Committee meeting with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse. On Tuesday, Mace left the closed-door session visibly shaken, wiping away tears and refusing to answer reporters questions.Identifying herself as a survivor, she later shared on X (formerly Twitter) that she had experienced a full-blown panic attack during the meeting. However, despite this, many social media users expressed scepticism, suggesting her display could be a calculated move amid growing pressure for transparency in the Epstein investigation, especially after the Justice Department stated in July that no incriminating client list had been found.A video of Nancy Mace is being circulated online which sees her wiping away tears and declining to answer questions from reporters as she exits the closed-door meeting with Epstein survivors.Following the meeting, Mace spoke about her experience on X, revealing that she had suffered a full-blown panic attack during the session. She described her symptoms, including sweating, hyperventilation, shaking, and difficulty breathing, as the stories of Epsteins survivors were shared.Mace emphasised how challenging it was to relive such emotions in that setting. As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories, she wrote. She added, I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS.The meeting, part of an ongoing congressional investigation into Epstein's abuse network, included six of his accusers and was attended by Speaker Mike Johnson and Committee Chairman James Comer. Following the session, the committee released over 33,000 pages of documents related to Epstein, including previously missing surveillance footage from the night before his death.Mace, who has publicly shared her own experience as a sexual assault survivor, is currently facing scepticism from some social media users regarding the timing and authenticity of her emotional response, as seen in the viral video. Many users have suggested that her reaction may be politically motivated, speculating that it could be an attempt to bolster her profile ahead of a potential gubernatorial run in South Carolina.One user wrote, "If it were anyone else in the world besides Nancy Mace having a panic attack during that hearing, I would likely be sympathetic.For her it just fits a pattern of attention-seeking behaviour.It angers me that I must temper my instinct to sympathy because she is an intolerable person.There's still a small part of me wondering if it was genuine and I'm being an ass.""I have zero compassion or sympathy for anything Nancy Mace. While she was a victim in her life, she has spent the last few years making it her mission to attack and dismiss other victims. "She can cry all day long," another user wrote."Im starting to lose respect for Nancy Mace. I understand shes been in a situation that was traumatising, but recently shes made so many things more about herself than about the people and doing good for South Carolina. "She's got to do better and quit acting out so much," a third individual on X noted.Another person mentioned, "Nancy Mace is only doing this to help her chances of becoming governor."When a user on X criticised her, writing, Its actually insane how impossible it is for you not to make every situation about yourself, Mace fired back. She replied, So youre telling me you can sit across from Epstein victims who have been heartbroken and distraught for 30 years and feel no pain?A significant portion of the backlash against Mace stems from her vocal support for former President Donald Trump, who has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and has been linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Many argue that her alignment with Trump undermines her credibility on issues of sexual violence and abuse, raising questions about the sincerity of her advocacy for Epsteins survivors.Despite this, Mace has openly sought Trumps endorsement in her bid for South Carolina governor. At a recent town hall in Myrtle Beach, she told the crowd, I would really like his support for governor, even adding, I am Trump in high heels, signalling her alignment with his political brand while continuing to push her own campaign ambitions. ( Image credit : Pakistani TikToker Samiya Hijab | Credit: Instagram/_samiyashianz_ ) Samiya Hijab was engaged to her abuser? The shocking twist Kidnapping, assault, and courtroom confession The relationships dark history took an even more terrifying turn when Samiya accused Hassan of stalking her for weeks before attempting to forcibly abduct her outside her home. According to her, he pretended to inquire about her sick mothers health, but the visit quickly spiralled into violence as he tried to drag her into his car. ( Image credit : Pakistani TikToker Samiya Hijab | Credit: Instagram/_samiyashianz_ ) Islamabad police swiftly arrested Hassan after Samiyas emergency call, producing him before Judicial Magistrate Yasir Mehmood Chaudhry. When directly questioned, Hassan shockingly confessed, admitting he had made a mistake. He has now been remanded in police custody on charges of assault, harassment, robbery, defamation, and attempted kidnapping. Netizens dig into the past: The MMS connection The revelation of their engagement has sparked wild speculation online. Netizens are now connecting the dots, questioning whether Hassan Zahid could also be the man behind Samiyas infamous leaked MMS scandal that pushed her to attempt suicide twice earlier this year. Hassan Zahid is in the car business. He has claimed, with evidence of transferring millions of rupees to TikToker Samia Hijab, that the girl had a long-standing relationship with him.When he asked for the iPhone and diamond ring back after a fight, the girl accused him of kidnap. pic.twitter.com/LrvZK6tU3P Pakistan Ke Kalesh (@khan68477) September 3, 2025 ( Image credit : Pakistani TikToker Samiya Hijab MMS video leaked, claims its AI | Credit: Instagram/_samiyashianz_ ) Old videos of Samiya and Hassan together have resurfaced, further fuelling these suspicions. While nothing has been proven yet, many online believe the overlap between her abuser, ex-fiance, and alleged blackmailer is too glaring to ignore. ( Image credit : Did Samiya Hijab leak her own videos? Explosive accusations by SK | Credit: Instagram ) Public rage and Samiyas defiance Despite the trauma, Samiya has refused to stay silent. She thanked the police for their intervention but revealed Hassan continued to threaten her even from custody, demanding she withdraw her complaint. Declaring she will not be silenced, she vowed to fight for her rights, no matter how dangerous the path becomes. ( Image credit : Pakistani TikToker Samiya Hijab | Credit: X ) Public opinion has rallied behind her, with calls for strict punishment dominating online discussions. For now, the story remains an explosive mix of betrayal, scandal, and unanswered questions, one that continues to grip Pakistans internet. In a revelation that has left social media reeling, Pakistani influencer Samiya Hijab confirmed that the man accused of kidnapping and threatening to kill her, Hassan Zahid, was not only her ex-boyfriend but also her former fiance. Their families were once involved, marriage was on the table, but the fairytale quickly unravelled into a nightmare.Samiya revealed that Hassan had proposed to her, and while she initially accepted, his shady behaviour, abusive tendencies, and alleged theft forced her to end things. She alleged that the only thing he ever gave her was a small gold ring because he could not afford anything else. The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 9 recap: The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 9 recap The Summer I Turned Pretty ( Image credit : Belly navigates Paris | Credit: Prime Video ) ( Image credit : Jeremiah dismisses Laurel rudely | Credit: Prime Video ) ( Image credit : Jeremiah goes off on Conrad | Credit: Prime Video ) Other memorable events from the episode We often talk about Belly and Conrads invisible strings, but its Taylor and Steven who prove that some connections cant be denied. After Taylors attempt to set him up with Denise fizzled out, the two finally decided to give themselves a real shot. This time, not as flirty maybes or old friends caught in drama, but as an actual couple: boyfriend and girlfriend. Its a refreshing shift, especially after years of their messy back-and-forth. Another heartfelt moment comes from the adults. For the first time, Laurel and Adam share a genuine laugh together, reflecting on everything that went wrong. With the wedding now called off, they both admit they didnt handle things fairly: Adam caved too quickly, and Laurel stepped in too late. Its a small but meaningful acknowledgement, showing that even the parents are learning from the chaos. When does the next episode come out? The Summer I Turned Pretty Wednesday September 10, 2025 Septmeber 17 Hours before the premiere of episode 9, Jenny Han reminded fans that at its heart, this has always been Bellys story, no matter if youre Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah. The latest episode, titled Last Call, drove that point home. Picking up right after the heartbreaking turn of episode 8, where Jeremiah called the wedding off, the focus shifts to Bellys struggle, who found herself unable to say she no longer loves Conrad. Deep down, she knows the truth: letting him go isnt easy, and just like Conrad cant shake her, she cant get him out of her system either.Whether youre heading into Last Call for the first time or rewatching with fresh eyes, this detailed recap unpacks why Team Belly became a concept in the first place. Beyond the pressure of choosing between Conrad and Jeremiah, this episode reminds us its more than just a love triangle. Its about a young girl learning to rediscover her purpose, figuring out who she is outside of romance, and finding the strength to start over all while carrying the weight of heartbreak.season 3 episode 9 picks up right where we left off: Belly running into Conrad at the airport. Hes flying back to California, while shes off to Paris. Belly, caught off guard, tries to approach him, but before the moment can spiral into a bad idea, shes called over to the ticket counter for a visa check. A small blessing in disguise because falling back into the Conrad rabbit hole is the last thing she needs right now. Instead, she heads off to finally secure her spot in the Paris Study Abroad programme for the fall. Its a chance she had once given up to focus on her marriage to Jeremiah, but now it feels like a way to reclaim herself.On the other side, Conrad gets a call from his father asking him to check on Jeremiah. Hes clearly struggling, even if Jeremiah insists that calling off the wedding was his own decision. But the real shock comes when Conrad realises the wedding never happened at all. No one bothered to tell him, and the news leaves him absolutely shaken. Maybe deep down its the outcome he had hoped for, but in that moment, his concern is genuinehis little brothers heartbreak weighs heavily on him.Back at Cousins, Jeremiah is drowning his heartbreak in drinks when Conrad spots him and tries to approach. But before he can make it over, Taylor and Steven intercept. Both are quick to warn him that talking to Jeremiah right now would only make things worse. After all, Jeremiah still blames Conrad for the wedding falling apart. It was Conrads beachside confession that shook Bellys feelings and cracked Jeremiahs trust. Taylor reminds Conrad that Belly has gone off the radar to process everything, and the best thing he can do is give her space. Reluctantly, Conrad agrees to stay out of it, or at least he tries.Laurel tries to have the talk with him, but he shuts her down, saying this is what she always wanted. He rashly tells her that she is not his mom, and she doesn't need to pretend to be one.Meanwhile in Paris, Bellys fresh start crumbles faster than she couldve imagined. She discovers there was never actually a spot reserved for her in the study abroad programme. The agent shed been speaking with, Antoine, had miscommunicated, leaving her stranded and devastated. In a moment of panic, she calls her mom, Laurel, who is blindsided to learn that Belly has flown all the way to Paris without telling her. When Belly admits she lost her spot, Laurel urges her to come back home, reassuring her that missing a semester isnt the end of the world. But Belly is terrified of returning to her old life at Finch, especially with Jeremiah in the picture and all the fallout she left behind. Still, after a long struggle with herself, she makes up her mind: shes coming back home.But then again, whats a fresh start without first hitting rock bottom? Alone in Paris, Belly finds a quiet spot to gather herself, only to realise shes lost her shoulder bag. Inside it is something she cant bear to part with: the ring Jeremiah proposed to her with. Desperate, she tracks the bag using her AirTag, which leads her to a shady part of the city.There, an unexpected turn of events throws her into the path of Gemma, a local girl in need of help. Belly steps in, and in return, Gemma guides her to the party where the AirTag signal is coming from. Once inside, Belly wastes no time confronting the guy who swiped her bag, fighting harder than she ever thought she would. Along the way, she finds herself drawn into Gemmas world, a lively group of free-spirited friends including her girlfriend, Feline, and their companion, Benito. Theyre young, wild, and unapologetically carefree, living the kind of reckless freedom Belly has never allowed herself. For the first time, she sees a version of life that feels miles away from the girl who was once planning a wedding on the beach; however, she still needs to go home.Back in Cousins, Jeremiah is hurting, pointing fingers at everyone but himself and refusing to pull it together. Just as Taylor once told Belly about her own struggles with codependency, Jeremiah is caught in the same trap. He cant picture a life without Belly, and even with their wedding called off, he clings to the idea that shes the centre of his world. Taylor steps in, determined to knock some sense into him. She tells Jeremiah that while its natural to love someone deeply, Belly shouldnt be his entire identity. If he truly wants to move forward, he needs to let go of the idea that his happiness begins and ends with her. Maybe this time, she insists, he has to learn what it means to start fresh on his own.In Paris, Belly spends time with Gemma and her friends, walking them through the whirlwind of the last 36 hours of her life. The story itself feels like something out of a script chaotic, messy, and almost too dramatic to be real. But anyone in their twenties knows that these are the kinds of bruises you collect on the way to growing up.Her new friends urge her to stay, insisting Paris could be her fresh start, but Bellys mind is elsewhere. Shes set on going home, still tethered to the past shes been trying to outrun. Unless she makes the last call to Jeremiah.On her way to the airport, Belly sits on a bus and finally dials Jeremiah, who had been scrolling through their old photos. As soon as they start talking, it feels familiar, almost like nothing has changed, except for the fact that she never became Mrs Fisher.But it all begins to crumble soon. Jeremiah insists that despite everything, they can still be together. Maybe rushing into a wedding was a mistake, he says, but their love doesnt have to end. He wants to pick up where they left off, just like before. For Belly, though, this call makes one thing painfully clear: thats not what she wants anymore. She wants to choose herself for once, and being with Jeremiah has never given her that freedom.So she tells him the truth that shes in Paris, and shes staying. The words hit hard. Jeremiah lashes out, telling her never to call him again. This time, it doesnt just feel like an argument. It feels like a real breakup.After hanging up with Belly, Jeremiah finally decides its time to face Conrad one-on-one. The brothers clash in a heated exchange, emotions spilling over from everything left unsaid. Jeremiah clings to a bitter kind of comfort: maybe Belly didnt choose him, but she didnt choose Conrad either.For Conrad, though, the sting runs deeper. He doesnt say it outright, but knowing that Belly isnt coming back cuts him in a way he cant put into words. The silence between them carries as much weight as the argument; both realise that, for now, neither of them is the one Belly needs.Meanwhile, Conrad does something he hasnt done in what feels like foreverhe opens up to his father. Their conversation starts with Jeremiah but quickly turns into a confession Conrad has been carrying for too long. He admits that hes the one who ruined the wedding because hes still in love with Belly. As awful as it sounds, he secretly wished for the ceremony to fall apart. Deep down, he knew it would break Jeremiah, but he couldnt shake the hope that Belly wouldnt go through with it.At the same time, he confesses his guilt. For all his longing, he doesnt want to leave Jeremiah alone in the wreckage. Their father listens and then admits his own failings: that after their mothers death, he distanced himself because he knew he wasnt strong enough to give his sons what they needed. Maybe, he tells Conrad, its not Conrads role to be everything Jeremiah needs either. Jeremiah will find his own way, and what looks like an ending right now might only be a pause, not forever, but a break.After his conversation with Conrad, Paul returns to the beach house, where Jeremiah sits alone, weighed down by heartbreak. Without a word, he pulls his son into a tight embrace. Jeremiah may have lost Belly, but in that moment he gains something else hes been missing: his fathers love. Its not the future he imagined, but its a comfort, and for now, it feels like enough.Across the ocean, Belly is ready to face Paris with open arms. The challenges, the thrills, the inevitable messiness she welcomes it all. For the first time, shes stepping away from the sheltered life where she always had pillars to lean on and a safety net to catch her. Even with the Study Abroad programme no longer on the table, this still feels like a true beginning. To Belly, its not just a trip but a chance to start from scratch, on her own terms.Jeremiah and Belly seem sorted for now, and as for Conrad, he is flying back to California, but he'll always find a way to make Belly happy. How? We'll see.Episode 10 ofseason 3 will premiere on, on Prime Video. The final season has just two episodes left now, with finale slated to take place on 72-year-olds planning their 150th birthday party while the rest of us can barely plan next week LiveArt (@LiveArtX) September 3, 2025 This was a deliberate hot mic. Putin knows exactly what he is doing. This is how the most powerful people on the planet troll each other. Sera Aurelia X (@SeraAureliaX) September 3, 2025 Interesting Xi Jin Ping and Putin discuss the possibility of being Immortal with the use of biotechnology, continuously transplanting organs. Everyone is saying they were caught on a Hot Mic as if they did not know they were surrounded by press. No, they knew and meant pic.twitter.com/LUxs88OmvO Melissa Redpill - Freedom Force (@MelissaRedpill) September 3, 2025 Hot mic ? I doubt it, feeding western media BS to run with coz that's all they do K. A. Moses (@_Moses_A) September 3, 2025 feels like they know something secret is being developed. Vijay N (@nisargandh) September 3, 2025 Are they living in a parallel universe? Or we are very under privileged GheeRoast (@gheeeeroast) September 3, 2025 Putin was caught on a hot mic discussing with Xi Jinping about possibility of immortality among humans, this shows that no matter how powerful one becomes, death remains both the greatest threat and the ultimate enemy. In the end, we are all merely living on borrowed breaths. Captain (@ahmadalvez) September 3, 2025 The hot microphone moment ( Image credit : The exchange took place on Wednesday, September 3. | Credit: @Beefeater_Fella/X ) What was said by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping ( Image credit : The exchange took place on Wednesday, September 3. | Credit: @Beefeater_Fella/X ) Putins confirmation ( Image credit : The exchange took place on Wednesday, September 3. | Credit: @Beefeater_Fella/X ) To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. A hot mic moment featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping has left people online both amused and suspicious. Many users rushed to share their reactions on X, mixing humor with serious concerns.One person joked, 72-year-olds planning their 150th birthday party while the rest of us can barely plan next week. Others saw it as intentional.One noted, This was a deliberate hot mic. Putin knows exactly what he is doing. This is how the most powerful people on the planet troll each other.Another user raised similar suspicions, writing, Interesting Xi Jinpingand Putin discuss the possibility of being immortal with the use of biotechnology, continuously transplanting organs. Everyone is saying they were caught on a hot mic as if they did not know they were surrounded by press. No, they knew and meant for the world to hear this. Why exactly? I think were going to find out some disturbing things in the near future. We will have life extension, but not because of organ harvesting. We will have life extension in the Golden Age because the death cult demons will be gone, and the LORD will show us how to live long, healthy lives. BIBLICAL.One more dismissed it, saying, Hot mic? I doubt it; feeding Western media BS to run with because that's all they do.A fourth added doubts, It feels like they know something secret is being developed.Another wondered if leaders live in a different world altogether, saying, Are they living in a parallel universe? Or we are very underprivileged.For others, the moment was a reminder of human limits. As one person put it, Putin was caught on a hot mic discussing with Xi Jinping the possibility of immortality among humans; this shows that no matter how powerful one becomes, death remains both the greatest threat and the ultimate enemy. In the end, we are all merely living on borrowed breaths.The exchange took place on Wednesday, September 3 as Putin walked alongside Xi and North Koreas Kim Jong Un in Beijing. The leaders were at the head of a delegation of over two dozen foreign officials who had gathered to view a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.CCTV, Chinas state broadcaster, carried the parade live, and the conversation was picked up in the background audio. The livestream was also shared with outlets like AP and Reuters. According to Chinas radio and TV administration, CCTVs coverage reached 1.9 billion online views and was watched by more than 400 million on TV.As the leaders walked toward the Tiananmen rostrum, Putins translator could be heard saying in Chinese, Biotechnology is continuously developing. After a short inaudible passage, the translator continued: Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality.Xis response came quickly. He was heard saying in Chinese, Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.The clip showed Kim smiling and looking toward Putin and Xi, though it was unclear if the conversation was translated for him. Putins Russian words were not clearly audible in the clip.Later, speaking to reporters in Beijing, Putin confirmed that the subject had come up. He said, I think when we went to the parade, the chairman talked about it. He added, Modern means of health improvement, medical means, even surgical ones related to organ replacement, they allow humanity to hope that active life will continue differently than it does today.Putin reached China on Sunday, September 1 for a Beijing-led summit that brought together over 20 leaders from non-Western nations, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ( Image credit : Who is Emani Ellis? Accuser in Cardi Bs $24M lawsuit speaks out | Credit: X/cardidrama ) From security guard to plaintiff in a high-profile trial ( Image credit : Who is Emani Ellis? Accuser in Cardi Bs $24M lawsuit speaks out | Credit: X/cardidrama ) I showed up, I held my head high ( Image credit : Who is Emani Ellis? Accuser in Cardi Bs $24M lawsuit speaks out | Credit: X/cardidrama ) Criticising Cardi Bs courtroom behaviour ( Image credit : Fans had long suspected that Cardi B might be pregnant | Credit: X/kweencardi ) Law school dreams and new chapters ( Image credit : Who is Emani Ellis? Accuser in Cardi Bs $24M lawsuit speaks out | Credit: CourtTV ) For seven long years, Emani Ellis has been at the centre of one of Cardi Bs biggest courtroom dramas. Ellis, once a security guard at Beverly Hills Medical Center, accused the rapper of assault, battery, negligence, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She was seeking a whopping $24 million.But when the jury delivered its verdict, it was Cardi who walked away cleared of all charges. Ellis, however, was quick to share her side, making it clear that she still stands firmly by her version of events.Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Ellis said she was not disappointed, even though she believed the decision did not reflect the truth. She admitted the justice system can be flawed but insisted she fought with dignity. According to her, the biggest win was being able to look Cardi B in the eye during the trial.Her focus, she stressed, was on accountability, even if the court outcome was not in her favour.Ellis did not hold back when asked about Cardi Bs conduct inside the courtroom. She described the rappers demeanour as disrespectful, saying her body language, gestures, and facial expressions revealed her true character. By contrast, Ellis highlighted her own calm and composed presence, claiming it spoke volumes about her integrity.While the trial may have cost her a career in security, Ellis has since moved into social work, helping low-income families gain access to resources. But her ambitions stretch further. She revealed plans to attend law school, explaining that while the dream predated the trial, the legal battle had intensified her desire.As for Cardis plea to fans not to harass her accuser, Ellis said she had never received an apology and was surprised by the statement. She also confirmed she is no longer a fan of Cardi B and will not be streaming her upcoming album Am I the Drama?Her attorney, Ron Rosen Janfaza, announced their intention to appeal, suggesting this saga may not be over just yet. My favorite part of Chinas military parade is Xis face. Total disappointed tiger dad vibeslike the PLA only got a 98% on their last test. pic.twitter.com/f1FZKhQciO Stephen Punwasi (@StephenPunwasi) September 3, 2025 China flexes new-age weaponry Reuters At the parade, China unveiled the DF-5C nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile, which has a destructive radius covering the entire planet, for the first time. Other presentations included: Strategic forces on land, at sea, and in the air the nuclear triad. The People's pic.twitter.com/WYTlnsoCBu Jurgen Nauditt (@jurgen_nauditt) September 3, 2025 ( Image credit : spanned from nuclear missiles with near-global strike capability and hypersonic weapons to air defense lasers and sea drones designed to dominate coastal waters | Credit: X/USA_TW_KR ) ( Image credit : For Xi, the event served dual purposes: reaffirming his dominance at home and reminding the world of Chinas expanding global footprint | Credit: X/kotamama318 ) Kim Jong Un , Vladimir Putin add to the grandeur Presidents Xi Jinping of China, Putin of Russia and Kim Jon Un of North Korea attend Chinas huge military parade. America didnt have a chance against this alliance when Joe Biden was in charge. It wouldve been even worse if Kamala won.pic.twitter.com/o23FcOqQkh Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) September 3, 2025 Donald Trump throws a fit on Truth Social ( Image credit : Putin and Kim Jong Un walked on either side of the Chinese President bolstering the event | Credit: X/NorthNKAAL ) To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. In a striking display of strength and symbolism, China held its largest-ever military parade on September 3 in Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of Japans surrender in World War II. But the purpose of the grand event was more than meets the eye. It served as a strategic showcase of Chinas growing military power and its deepening alliances with Russia and North Korea.The parade featured a powerful lineup of advanced weaponry, including a full display of China's nuclear triad that can be deployed from land, sea, and air. According to, the display included long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), the DF-5C, with a range of 20,000 km (12,400 miles), and a new road-mobile long-range missile, the DF-61. It spanned from nuclear missiles with near-global strike capability and hypersonic weapons to air defense lasers and sea drones designed to dominate coastal waters.Military analysts and diplomats viewed the event as a platform for Chinas leader Xi Jinping to send a message to a wide-ranging audience, including the US and its allies, regional powers like India and Russia, and potential buyers of Chinese technology, reported Reuters."For all the operational questions that surround some of these new elements, China was sending a message of technological advance and military strength on all fronts - there is indeed a lot for rival defence planners to get their heads around," Reuters quoted Singapore-based security analyst Alexander Neill as saying.What made this years display even more politically charged was the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who walked on either side of the Chinese President. It marked a rare and calculated public appearance by all three leaders, challenging the Western influence.According to CNN , after the parade, Putin and Kim held a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting. At the end of their discussions, Putin publicly invited Kim to visit Russia.Ahead of the talks, Putin thanked North Korean troops for supporting Moscows war in Ukraine, while Kim pledged his countrys backing for Russia as brothers.The US President weighed in on the gathering with a sarcastic post on Truth Social. He wrote, May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.However, a Russian presidential aide dismissed the claims, stating that there had been no conspiracy.For Xi, the event served dual purposes, reaffirming his dominance at home and reminding the world of Chinas expanding global footprint. Whether this emerging trio translates into formal alliances or remains symbolic remains to be seen. Commentary By Lisa Baiton For decades, Canada has relied almost exclusively on the United States to buy our natural gas exports. We are one of the worlds top natural gas exporters, selling nearly half of our total natural gas production each year, but about 99 percent of those exports go to a single customer south of our border. This trading relationship has been reliable, even though it has meant selling our natural gas at a lower price. But things are changing. A good business has more than one customer, and over the past decade our biggest customer has become the largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exporter on the planet. But Canada has taken a major step forward. LNG Canadas first shipment to international markets marks a historic breakthroughits the countrys largest private investment and puts Canada on the map as a global supplier of LNG. This achievement deserves celebration. It demonstrates that Canada can build and deliver major energy infrastructure, unlocking economic opportunities for Indigenous Nations, British Columbians, and Canadians across the country. Just as the TransMountain pipeline expansion diversified our global customer base, boosted our GDP, and enabled production growth, LNG exports can do for our natural gas sector. Natural gas royalties from LNG Canada alone are projected to contribute $23 billion to British Columbias government over its 40-year lifespan. Building a facility of similar scale to LNG Canada is estimated to create over 35,000 jobs during construction and add up to $4.5 billion to our national GDP annually. Its a glimpse of whats possible. But we cant stop here. Without decisive action to scale up LNG, Canada risks missing out on a generational opportunity to secure economic sovereignty and meet rising global energy demand. Global demand for LNG is surging. Shell forecasts a 60 per cent increase by 2040, driven by Asian economic growth, the decarbonization of heavy industry and transport, and new energy demands from artificial intelligence. Most G7 leaders have called for a full ban on Russian energy imports, and countries around the world are actively seeking secure, stable suppliers. Canada, as the fourth-largest oil producer and fifth-largest natural gas producer, is well-positioned to help fill that gap. So why havent we? Despite our resource wealth, Canada lags on infrastructure and policy. While others sprint for global contracts, were stuck in red tape. Our permitting system is slow, uncertain, and hostile to investment. That must change. The governments two-year approval target is a step forward, as is the recent work our Prime Minister and Energy Minister Hodgson are doing to promote energy trade in Poland and Germany, including LNG. But deeper reforms are needed to create a clear, competitive, investor-friendly system that accelerates development. We must also prioritize infrastructure investment. With strategic investments in pipelines, LNG terminals, and port capacity, we can connect our vast natural gas reserves to high-demand markets across Asia, Europe, and beyond. Equally crucial is diversification. The U.S. will remain a vital customer, but relying on one market is no longer tenable. Japan, Europe, and emerging Asian economies are actively seeking partnersand Canada must be ready to meet them with reliable supplies and long-term contracts. Indigenous participation will be key to success. Canadas emerging LNG export industry is demonstrating whats possible with the Haisla Nations Cedar LNG, the worlds first Indigenous majority-owned LNG project, along with Woodfibre LNG being advanced in partnership with the Squamish Nation, and Ksi Lisims LNG being co-developed with the Nisgaa Nation. Expanding the LNG sector offers an opportunity to advance reconciliation meaningfully, through ownership, jobs, and long-term prosperity. This is a pivotal moment. The first phase of LNG Canada must be just the start. The world needs our energy. Its time to deliver. Lisa Baiton is the president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 1, IM Motors, Chinese new energy vehicle brand co-backed by SAIC Motor, Alibaba Group, and Zhangjiang High-tech, reported sales of 6,108 new vehicles for the month of August 2025, achieving steady growth. The all-new IM L6 sedan has quickly gained traction, ranking among the Top 3 best-sellers in China's mid-to-large all-electric sedan segment priced above 200,000 yuan. Yet the bigger headline is the success of the new-gen IM LS6 SUV, whose orders has surged past 50,000 units since IM Motors kicked off the presales. Photo credit: IM Motors The new-gen IM LS6 is offered in both REEV (range-extended electric vehicle) and BEV (battery electric vehicle) versions, with presale prices ranging from 209,900 yuan to 279,900 yuan. To entice early adopters, IM Motors is advertising presale incentives worth up to 74,400 yuan. The new-gen IM LS6 SUV is equipped with IM Motors' super range-extended technology "Hengxing" (literally meaning "star"), which enables a CLTC battery-powered range of up to 450km and a combined range of as much as 1,500km. The company is marketing the vehicle as a solution to range anxiety, particularly for buyers in northern regions and those without access to home charging. Alongside its technical claims, the new IM LS6 integrates IM Motors' proprietary "Agile Lizard Digital Chassis", upgraded ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) features, and a cabin pitched as both spacious and premium. Before hitting the market on September 10, the model is now available for test drives nationwide. IM Motors is currently showcasing its full lineup at the 28th Chengdu Motor Show, including the new-gen IM LS6 SUV, the all-new IM L6 sedan, and the refreshed IM LS7 SUV. An installation titled "Freedom To Be," including more than 250 quilt panels handmade by transgender people and their families from across the country, is unveiled May 17 by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Gender Liberation Movement on the National Mall in Washington. The ACLU is among the groups receiving a special grant from the William Penn Foundation. Read more Citing a time of extraordinary uncertainty for our nation and the nonprofit sector, the William Penn Foundation has awarded a special round of grants totaling nearly $10 million to groups working to defend democratic values, respond to emerging federal actions, and support nonprofit organizations in crisis. In an announcement released Wednesday, foundation leaders wrote: Advertisement For months, federal executive orders, legislation, and policy changes have threatened the independence of state and local governments, sown confusion about the integrity of future elections, destabilized programmatic and financial planning for many nonprofit organizations, and indiscriminately endangered members of our immigrant, LGBTQ, minority, and low-income communities. The Philadelphia foundation said it hoped the grants could be a bridge to new solutions in the face of diminishing federal resources and the current uncertainty and unjust policies and actions, according to the statement, signed by William Penn Foundation board chair Katherine H. Christiano and vice chair Peter Haas. The grants are extraordinary in several ways. Groups were not awarded money through the normal process of responding to a request for proposals or submitting a grant application. Instead, each recipient was identified by foundation staff. The funding for the grants came from outside the normal channels, through a combination of an increase in the foundations overall grant budget, and via a new foundation program area called Civic Initiatives. Its similar to our response to COVID when we made a lot of grants in response to what we saw as an emergency, said William Penn executive director Shawn McCaney. The money is going to 19 groups based or operating in Philadelphia or the surrounding areas whose work falls into various categories. Some of the nonprofits are providing technical expertise to help organizations understand and adjust to the implications of federal actions, or are developing professional networks to share information, collaborate, or give each other support. Others are groups helping individuals survive the negative impacts of federal action or are providing policy and legal support to ensure that the voices of our communities and nonprofit organizations are well represented, the foundations statement said. Funding will also help organizations that might be forced to merge, close or dramatically change operations in light of federal action. The money from William Penn is intended as a cue for additional support. We hope that others in the philanthropic community will look at this as a model and develop their own responsive strategies, said Patricia Wilson Aden, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, which received $100,000 over two years to advocate for public support for the arts, especially at the state and federal levels. But donations to nonprofits cant match the levels of public dollars. I dont think theres enough philanthropy in the region to replace federal funding, said McCaney. He cites the proposed cap over the Vine Street Expressway known as the Chinatown Stitch, whose funding had been promised but not paid, and is now in doubt. We were providing design planning funding, but the federal government was providing $150 million for the actual project, he said. We cant replace that, and I think there are other examples, maybe not at that scale, where it wouldnt be possible even collectively for the philanthropic sector to replace huge federal funding. The $10 million in special grants will not reduce the amount of money the foundation grants through its established programs, officials said. William Penn expects to disburse a total of $155 million in grants this year. One of the recent special grants, for $150,000, went to the Public Rights Project, which works with local government officials in Pennsylvania and across the country to help them use their power to fight for civil rights and democracy, says Public Rights Project founder Jill Habig. The group is working with dozens of cities in litigation against the administrations attempts to cut funding from communities and to use federal funding as basically a political extortion tool to try to force local governments into adopting the federal governments preferred policies on immigration, abortion, equity issues, LGBT rights, etc., she said. The group is currently litigating about $22 billion worth of federal funding cuts to cities and other community organizations, she said. One of the reasons why were spending a lot of time on these federal funding cases and that people may not realize is local governments actually get 25% to 50% of their total budgets from federal dollars, said Habig. And so if the federal government can illegally withdraw those funds or use those funds as a political retaliation tool, that would just decimate services that communities rely on. Philadelphias JEVS Human Services received $180,000 from William Penn, not for its workforce development and social services, but to support an ad hoc umbrella group that formed to discuss the implications of the new presidential administration. What started with about 20 nonprofit leaders now has about 150 in human services, arts, education, and other areas who get updates on legal, governmental, advocacy, and public policy issues. When January 2025 hit and the very first directive came out of the presidential office around the OMB directive of freezing federal funds, it was a little bit like, Oh, my God, whats happening? And quickly we realized that we really needed a forum both for nonprofit and philanthropic leaders to come together to talk about the impact and strategize and make sure that we were vetting the best information, said Cynthia F. Figueroa, president and CEO of JEVS Human Services. Donna Cooper, executive director of Children First, said her organization received $100,000 from William Penn to help area early-childhood groups respond to federal changes. That work could include educating lawmakers about the ripple effects of funding cuts or policy changes, technical assistance for groups considering mergers or collaborating on resources, or a loan pool on which affected groups could draw. In the region, there are potentially thousands of early childhood providers who could benefit from solutions to the current challenges, she said. Among other groups receiving special grants are the Nonprofit Finance Fund, Elevate215, the American Civil Liberties Union, Democracy Forward Foundation, Environmental Protection Network, Lawyers for Good Government, and the Philadelphia Foundation (for support of food access). The grants are meant to cover a two-year period, and the foundation is aware that more change awaits. I think were also concerned about what could happen to social services, for example, as a consequence of the new tax and spending bill that was just passed in Congress, which apparently will reduce support for things like SNAP, Medicaid, and things like that, said McCaney. So we are anticipating that there will be more impacts as time goes on. The challenges before all of us are profound, the William Penn announcement says. This moment requires all of us to do what we can with resolve, decency, and courage to uphold truth, equity, and justice. FBI agents aided by local police arrested private-equity investor Daryl Heller outside his Lancaster County home Wednesday, and U.S. Attorney David Metcalf unsealed an indictment charging the onetime automatic-teller machine promoter with one count of securities fraud and four counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he could face years in federal prison. Advertisement Heller raised $770 million from 2,700 investors, concentrated in Lancaster County but also across the United States, in an investment fraud scheme, Metcalf said at a news conference announcing the indictment in Philadelphia. Hellers Paramount Management ATM company, through a network of Prestige Investment-branded funds promoted to the public by a network of salespeople, promised investors years of steady payouts, Metcalf said. But the funds defaulted in 2024 when Heller could not find enough investors to keep the scheme going, according to the indictment. Investigators estimate losses at a net $402 million. Metcalf said the government has found some assets that might be used to reimburse investors but declined to estimate how much they might receive per dollar lost. READ MORE: How the biggest group of multimillionaires you never heard of lost millions in an ATM investment venture Heller was surprised by the arrest and indictment, which came after he had been sharing information and answering questions with federal prosecutors over a period of months, said his lawyer, Christopher D. Adams, a partner at McCarter & English LLP in Newark, N.J. The U.S. Attorneys action and news conference without any notice or opportunity to surrender is very disconcerting and raises serious questions, Adams said. He said Heller would be rebutting all the false allegations and speculation in court, and added that investment professionals connected to the case who have been trying to portray themselves as victims will be exposed. SEC files a civil fraud complaint Also Wednesday, the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, which has been investigating Heller and collecting complaints from investors for more than a year, filed a civil fraud complaint against Heller and his companies in Philadelphia federal court. The SEC accused Heller of perpetrating a Ponzi-like scheme, promising 25% annual returns supposedly derived from a successful, nationwide network of ATMs but actually misrepresenting the size of that network, hiding large losses, and using only a fraction of investors money to buy working ATMs, while taking $185 million for his own use and paying tens of millions more to salespeople. The SEC wants Heller to repay investors and stop breaking the law. Federal prosecutors say Heller lied to investors about how many ATMs he had purchased with their money and about the revenues Paramount derived from ATMs. His clients included the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Turnpike toll roads, along with local grocers and other small retailers. Heller piled lie up on lie. He earned their trust to take their hard-earned money. But it was all a scam, said Metcalf, alleging that Heller diverted much of the money investors thought they were pouring into ATMs to support his lifestyle. He said Heller also used investors funds to pay debts for other enterprises and pay off earlier investors. Company records were fraudulent and grossly misrepresent the number of ATMs the company bought and the revenues they produced. Heller plowed money into a restaurant and market in his native Lititz, the largest marijuana business in Michigan, and firearms businesses, among other projects, according to state court records in civil complaints filed against Heller by former business partners over the last two years and Hellers own personal bankruptcy case. ATMs were promoted as a good investment Through a network of sales agents, Heller promoted ATMs as a growing business in the late 2010s and early 2020s, despite the fact fewer Americans needed cash and the ATM industry was slowing precipitously. ATMs Heller purchased often piled up in storage, unused, according to prosecutors. New money was used to pay old investors, Metcalf said, a classic tactic in illegal Ponzi schemes, though, unlike the SEC, federal prosecutors did not use that term in filing charges. Metcalf said the investigation is continuing. A federal class-action lawsuit filed last week, Batman Investments LLC v. Hostetter et al, accuses three salesmen of violating Pennsylvania securities law by selling unregistered securities: Jerry Hostetter, a former pig farm management company owner active in Lancasters social and philanthropic circles; David Zook, of Parkesburg, Chester County, who heads his own private-equity investment group; and Buck Joffrey, a West Coast investment salesperson. Randall Leaman, a former Paramount CEO, was also accused of fraud in the suit. Investors included around 50 to 100 Amish, according to Jorge Fernandez, a former Paramount official. Other investors were affluent business owners with roots in Lancaster Countys Mennonite communities, some of whom knew Hellers father and grandfather, both Mennonite pastors in the familys hometown of Lititz. Heller, Zook, and Hostetter are graduates of Lancaster Mennonite High School. Other investors included both locals and residents of faraway states who had viewed promotional videos posted by Zook and other sellers, according to investor accounts. Zook and Hostetter sued Heller on behalf of the Prestige funds in Lancaster County Common Pleas Court and won a judgment, which they have been unable to collect. But one of the investors lawyers, Scott Silver, said in an interview that Zook, Hostetter, Joffrey, and Leaman made tremendous amounts of money and were insiders who assisted Heller. They are his right-hand men, said Jason Kane, another lawyer for the investors. They were talking to the mom-and-pop investors we represent and causing them to lose their life savings. Lawyers representing Zook and Hostetter had no immediate comment on their behalf. Zook did not return a call left at his office. U.S. Attorney Metcalf said his office planned to increase its focus on white-collar crimes, each of which potentially ruins the lives of many victims. Staff writer Brett Sholtis contributed to this article. Elaine Chao christens the NSMV State of Maine at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard during a christening ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. The event marked a milestone in U.S.South Korea shipbuilding collaboration and the revitalization of American maritime infrastructure. Read more Hanwha, the Republic of Korea industrial giant that bought Philly Shipyard for $100 million two years ago, began filling in its $5 billion plan to make a lot more ships at the former Navy Yard, after last weeks visit from President Lee Jae Myung. The company said it wants new docks and piers, cranes and sheds, workers and robots. Its Hanwha Shipping affiliate has ordered 10 medium-range oil and chemical tankers from the yard, with the first to be delivered in 2029. Those will help keep employment steady as Hanwha recruits welding and machine operating apprentices to more than double its 1,800 direct and contract workers over several years, Advertisement These vessels would qualify as U.S.-built under the Jones Act, the protectionist law that requires U.S.-built ships for cargoes carried between U.S. ports. The company hopes to make the yard profitable by boosting production from about one ship every eight months under its previous, money-losing owner, Norway-based Aker, to as many as 20 a year, while also upgrading older ships. President Donald Trump and Congress members of both parties want to revive U.S. maritime industry and counter Chinas emergence as a naval and cargo-shipping power. A revived industry The yard plays a critical role in American shipbuilding, Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) said in a statement. It built more Jones Act-compliant ships than any other shipyard in the past 20 years, but Hanwhas expansion is a game changer for the whole U.S. The rebuilding of our shipbuilding industry will begin right here in Philadelphia. McCormick promised Hanwha additional resources. Hanwha vice chairman Kim Dong Kwan told hundreds of Hanwha staff and guests at Lees visit Aug. 26 that the assembly formed a physical embodiment of our two nations working side by side to reindustrialize industry, expand our capacity to build ships, and invest in the skilled workforce that will drive the industry forward, Kim said in his remarks to the crowd. His late grandfather Kim Chong-hee founded Hanwha to make explosives; his father, Kim Seung-youn, is CEO. This is just the beginning, he said. Hanwha is committed to being a partner in building the next chapter of American shipbuilding. New features Hanwha now operates one nearly 1,000-foot dry dock at the former U.S. Navy Yard, where it lays keels the steel, underwater backbones of each ship and attaches deck-to-keel sections of new ships, built in the nearby Grand Block shed and carried to the dry dock by the yards Goliath crane, which is now painted Hanwha orange. Hanwha is using what was once a second dry dock at the site, now stripped of its gate and pumps, as a pier for ship finishing work. The company wants to convert this back into a dry dock at a cost of around $70 million. A third, shorter dry dock, formerly operated by the defunct Philadelphia Shipbuilding Co. and coveted by Hanwha, was acquired last year by Rhoads Industries, a ship repair company and Navy contractor that has been the recipient of recent Pennsylvania state grants. Hanwha is also considering a second Grand Block shop and a second Goliath crane. The company has four Goliath cranes at its larger shipyards on Geoje Island, built by its predecessor Daewoo near Koreas southeast tip, which turns out a ship every nine days, on average. A new crane would cost $60 million to $80 million. Hanwha is weighing plans to crowd more structures onto its property, which covers 118 acres where the Schuylkill dumps into the Delaware River at the heart of the former U.S. Navy base. Other parts of the old base have been redeveloped as offices, labs, and some residential housing. The Navy remains a major tenant, with 4,000 of the 15,000 jobs on the property. Hanwha hopes to regain piers now used to dock decommissioned U.S. Navy ships. The Navy has been asked to consider moving those ships, which are used for spare parts, to other locations. The company and its contractors are considering properties up and down the Delaware, and the nearby Bellwether development at the former Sun, Gulf, and Atlantic Richfield oil refineries in South Philly. Local outreach Kevin Kim, a Cheltenham lawyer who heads the Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia, said Korean shipbuilders were active in Philadelphia even before Hanwha moved in. Aker, the yards previous operator, built ships based on Korean designs. Korean-owned S-One MNO USA LLC, which adds living quarters inside ships, already had a facility in Philadelphia when Hanwha arrived, Kim added. He said Hanwha plans to ship a classic turtle-style warship model, a replica of the innovative cannon-bearing, iron-pointed ships that fought for Koreas independence more than 400 years ago, to the U.S. for Americas 250th birthday celebrations next year. Kim added that Hanwha has mobilized the Korean American community in its search for ship engineers and other professionals, including multilingual employees. Its a broad spectrum they are looking for, Kim said, noting that City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, State Sen. Sharif Street, and other leaders have joined meetings about Hanwha training and hiring plans. He said the company is scheduling workforce development seminars in Philadelphia and Montgomery County this fall. Ships ahead Hanwha said earlier this year that it hoped the Philadelphia yard would play a role in building liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, specially made to withstand heavy pressure and extreme temperatures while exporting U.S. gas across oceans. In July, Hanwha said it was planning a new LNG carrier, but a significant portion of the construction will take place at its Geoje shipyards in Korea. Staff assigned to Hanwha Philly Shipyard will ensure the ship conforms to U.S. construction and safety rules. Last week, Hanwha said it had agreed to build a second LNG carrier with Philly ties. For additional LNG carriers, the company added, Hanwha plans to gradually transfer its advanced shipbuilding technologies to Hanwha Philly Shipyard, enabling the latter to expand into high-value shipbuilding and helping modernize U.S. shipbuilding, which has withered since World War II. Future LNG carriers are to be built at least partly in Philadelphia, according to Hanwha. The yard is more than halfway through a contract to deliver five National Security Multi-mission Vessels for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). As they are completed, each is assigned to a state Merchant Marine academy. The academies train officers for U.S. cargo ships. Hanwha hopes to make Navy support ships and, eventually, combat ships, in Philadelphia. Another ship, originally designed to serve the offshore wind energy program that was canceled by Trump, is being repurposed for harbor construction duties before delivery to its owner, Great Lakes Dredging Co. Trump met with Lee on Aug. 25. The Lee administration pledged a total of $150 billion for U.S. shipbuilding investments by Hanwha and other industrial groups, including units Hyundai and Samsung. These could include improvements at other U.S. commercial shipyards on the Gulf Coast and the Pacific. Sick of searching for Philly news on Google only to get results from news organizations in England and India? Now the tech giant is allowing you to choose where you get your news from on its platform, including local coverage by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Advertisement Last month, Google rolled out a feature called preferred sources, allowing users to choose some of the websites that show up in the companys search results. When you select your preferred sources, youll start to see more of their articles prominently displayed within Top Stories, when those sources have published fresh and relevant content for your search, Google said in a post about the new feature. The customization comes as Google has received pushback from news organizations over its rollout of AI-powered search results, including AI Overviews, which pulls information from websites while sending much less traffic back to publishers, according to a recent Pew study. How to set The Inquirer as a preferred source on Google To add The Inquirer, click on this link to visit our source preferences page on Google. It should look like this: Check the empty box next to Inquirer.com, and you should begin seeing Inquirer stories more often in your search results alongside other websites. You can follow the same process with other websites you follow or read frequently. On the bottom of the source preferences page is a drop-down list of all the websites youve added. Joyce Wilkerson, shown in this 2024 file photo, is a sitting school board member, but has not been confirmed by City Council, unlike the other eight members of the board. People for People Charter School, which the board voted to non-renew last month, is suing Wilkerson and the board, saying the notice of nonrenewal it passed is invalid because Wilkerson is not a legal board member. Read more Is Joyce Wilkerson a Philadelphia school board member? That depends whom you ask. According to the district, the city, and the school board, Wilkerson is absolutely one of the nine members. Advertisement But People for People Charter School, threatened with nonrenewal, filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Tuesday saying that Wilkerson is an illegally and unlawfully seated member of the BOE who has poisoned the boards votes. People for People asked a judge to declare invalid the boards vote to begin the charter nonrenewal process and to remove, oust, and altogether exclude Wilkerson from serving and continuing to serve without City Council confirmation. Its a stunning twist in a political battle that simmered in 2024 when Council opposed Parkers nomination of Wilkerson, but has been quiet for more than a year. Wilkersons history on the board Wilkerson was one of the original school board members tapped by former Mayor Jim Kenney when the district returned to local control in 2018. Wilkerson, a lawyer and former chief of staff to former Mayor John F. Street, had also served on the School Reform Commission, and as its chair. She became the first school board president, and stayed on the board after Reginald Streater succeeded her as president, with her blessing. READ MORE: What just happened with Joyce Wilkerson and the Philadelphia school board? Heres what we know. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker also chose Wilkerson to be on her school board, but several key politicians including Council President Kenyatta Johnson opposed Wilkersons nomination. Johnson, in 2024, said some members of Council have had serious concerns with Wilkerson, who was perceived as no fan of charter schools. By city charter, board members are chosen by the mayor but confirmed by Council. But Parker parried, asking Wilkerson to remain on the board, essentially filling the seat Council denied her, until a replacement is chosen. Eight board members were confirmed, and Wilkerson has continued to serve without confirmation. And theres clearly been no hurry to pick a successor. In the meantime, Wilkerson has been a vocal and active board member. Deputy Mayor Vanessa Garrett Harley was clear on Parkers position. Joyce Wilkerson is an official member of the Philadelphia Board of Education, and has the full support of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Garrett Harley said in a statement Wednesday. About People for People and the nonrenewal vote On Aug. 21, the board voted to non-renew People for People which is one of the citys oldest charters, operating since 2001 at a public action meeting. The K-8 school, on North Broad Street, was one of two schools non-renewed over sustained academic struggles KIPP North Philadelphia was the other. Charters were introduced to spur academic improvements and innovation. READ MORE: Philly school officials hear about SEPTA impact, vote to begin closure of two city charters: school board roundup Streater, at the meeting, acknowledged that the school saw some academic growth last school year. But thats not enough, he said. The proficiency rates have continued to remain low and stagnant for years, Streater said. Im concerned that after more two decades, theres still no evidence for sustained success. Board vice president Sarah-Ashley Andrews said People for Peoples shortcomings are alarming and unacceptable. Other board members joined the chorus of concerns, but Wilkerson ultimately introduced the resolution to prepare People for Peoples notice of nonrenewal. The vote passed seven to one board member Whitney Jones voted no, and board member ChauWing Lam was absent so even if Wilkerson had not supported the nonrenewal, it would have passed. But, the suit argues, Wilkerson, through her involvement and deliberation with the other BOE members, tainted the process and corrupted the BOEs consideration and approval of the nonrenewal. What is People for People asking for? The school, in its suit, asked for Wilkerson to be declared unqualified to serve as a member of the BOE without Council confirmation, and for her removal or exclusion unless shes confirmed. It also asked that the board be prevented from implementing and/or enforcing the Notice of Nonrenewal. Nonrenewal does not mean People for People is definitely on a path to closure; instead, it triggers a lengthy hearing process involving lawyers, a hearing officer, evidence, and witnesses. After the nonrenewal hearing, the hearing officer prepares a report, and the board then votes on whether to proceed with a charter nonrenewal or give the school a reprieve. Even if the decision is to non-renew, charters may appeal to a state panel, and then to the courts. The school may operate as long as the nonrenewal process is active. Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who chairs Councils education committee, had opposed Wilkersons nomination and continued seat on the board. On Wednesday, he said his position had not changed, especially given Wilkersons recent decisions. Thomas office has regular meetings with the district, but was caught off guard by People for Peoples notice of nonrenewal and he objects to it. History tells us that subjective decisions such as this disproportionately hurts Black-led institutions, Thomas said Wednesday. What I am seeing is a system that hasnt changed, and another example of Black-led institutions being the victims of subjective decisions. A school board spokesperson said she could not comment on pending litigation. Johnson, through a spokesperson, also declined comment. A second suit People for People also filed a second, related lawsuit Tuesday, alleging the board violated the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act by failing to give the public adequate notice that it planned to vote on People for Peoples nonrenewal. The board initially advertised that it would consider People for Peoples application for renewal. It updated the agenda to reflect the pending nonrenewal vote roughly four hours before the meeting was set to start. The board illegally and unlawfully amended the nonrenewal action item less than 24 hours prior to the meetings start, the lawsuit states, and could have acted sooner, but deliberately chose to inspire false hope and create a false sense of security for People for People, its teachers, its parents, and its students as to the potential renewal of the schools Charter. Sheinelle Jones, of NBC's "Today" show. She will return to air after an extended absence while her husband suffered from brain cancer. Read more Sheinelle Jones, co-host of the Today show and a Philadelphia native, will return to air on Friday, the show announced. Jones husband, Uche Ojeh, 45, died in May while dealing with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Jones had been on leave since January to be with her family. Advertisement Fridays show will feature an interview between Jones and Today co-host Savannah Guthrie about how she and her three children are grieving Ojehs loss. The experience has been a beautiful nightmare, Jones said. READ MORE: Uche Ojeh, Today show anchor Sheinelle Jones husband, dies of brain cancer There are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person, we all loved him, Guthrie said on the show in May after Ojehs death. We are with you, we love you. You are our family, and were just sending all of our love to you right now. Jones and Ojeh were college sweethearts at Northwestern University, meeting when Jones, a freshman, showed Ojeh, a high school senior, around campus. They were married in 2007 in Jones hometown in a ceremony at Rittenhouse Squares Church of the Holy Trinity. Jones and Ojeh later had their son Kayin, 15, and twins Clara and Uche, 12. READ MORE: The wedding of Sheinelle Jones and Uche Ojeh He loved those kids more than anything else in this world, and was just so proud. He was that dad that was on the sideline of every soccer game. He was at all of the concerts and the recitals. He was that guy, said Today co-host Craig Melvin, who was Ojehs close friend, during the May broadcast. Before joining Today in 2014, Jones worked for nine years at Fox in Philadelphia, including as a co-host of Fox29s Good Day Philadelphia. With Today, Jones primarily hosts the shows third hour. I was big into musical theater when I was in high school and my folks, unsurprisingly, were my biggest fans. Not only did they attend every show, they schlepped in wagonloads of friends and family to ensure that at least someone in the audience would be cheering. I was recently reminded of that gift of unqualified parental support when I bit into the heat-blistered crust of a margherita pie at Char, the energetic Olde Kensington pizzeria owned by 22-year-old pizza wunderkind Viraj Thomas. As I savored the balance of his pizzas sunshine-bright toppings framed by the rustic crunch of his crust, I looked up to see a crowd gathered at the counter beside the open kitchen, where Thomas was confidently performing on his own sort of stage. He coolly multitasked while chatting with the group as he deftly maneuvered his peel into the blazing wood-fired hearth, scooped out smoking-hot pies, and meticulously dusted the excess flour from their edges with a brush until the crusty rims shined with a golden luster. At the heart of his adoring audience? The pizzaiolos parents, Phillip Thomas and Reny George, whom I recognized from my previous visit and the visit before that inevitably flanked each time by a handful of different family and friends from their Keralese community in Springfield, Pa., where Thomas also still lives. Advertisement I couldnt have done this without them. My parents, they are oh so supportive, says Thomas, whose interest was sparked by a YouTube pizza show and an encounter with fresh-baked laffa bread at a family dinner at Zahav. He got his first Roccbox pizza oven in the summer of 2020, before his senior year at Springfield High School, and began selling bootleg pizzas out of the familys garage. Thomas has genuine pro-level talent when it comes to pizza (unlike my acting skills). The high school hobby evolved into something much more as his entrepreneurial spirit and determination to study the craft helped him overcome some self-admitted immaturity. I first noticed his skill in 2021 with a Neapolitan-style pie topped with Sorrento lemons and buffalo milk mozzarella at Cicala at the Divine Lorraine, a stint that lasted five months. (I didnt get the importance of speed and I talked back too much, he said of his time at Cicala.) He worked through two years of pizza pop-ups I got tired of working dough in 27-degree weather without gloves and managed to eventually open his own restaurant before he was old enough to buy vodka for the vodka sauce. (It turned out his preferred recipe for the sauce didnt require booze anyway.) A year now after opening Char in the former Eeva, a lofty industrial space shared with ReAnimator Coffee, Thomas has learned a lot about both making pizza and running a business. Hes steadily grown this no-frills, counter-service BYOB into a five-night juggernaut that can turn out 150 pies on a busy Saturday, when waits for the rooms 40 seats can easily take an hour or more. It helps that the pizzeria is surrounded by several breweries (Wissahickon, Punch Buggy, Human Robot) and wineries (Pray Tell, Mural City) within walking distance to ease the wait and accompany the meal. But this crowd is genuinely enthusiastic for Char because it has become one of the most exciting stops among Phillys new guard of next-level pizzerias along with Trenton-style CJ&Ds, the quirky dinner-party vibe of tiny Agricola, and New Haven-style Edas on my short list of other current favorites. Thomas pies, whose rounds resemble a Neapolitan but are baked much longer until they achieve a roasty crisp, have improved considerably over time. The early pies occasionally took the restaurants name too literally, over-charring the crusts into carbon-bubbled wheels. But Ive watched him harness the wood ovens 750-degree heat with more consistency over the past year to land a nice balance of singe, puff, and crackle on the pizzas cornicione edges. And he has also developed a distinctive touch a remarkable sense of lightness that conveys focused flavors and an elusive balance of toppings that are memorable without feeling overly weighty to eat. Ive grown bored with most versions of the the now-ubiquitous hot honey pepperoni pie. But Chars version is a reminder of why the sweet-and-savory combo worked to begin with, as each bite captures just the right contrast of meaty cup-and-char pepperoni tang, chile heat, and lingering backnote of sweetness that also accents the yeasty dough. Thomas mushroom pizza has more finesse than its cliche name, Fun Guy, with a blend of multiple mozzarellas with various moisture levels to lay a springy base, a touch of garlic, and mushrooms with enough character maitakes, blue oysters, and sometimes chanterelles to retain their snappy, woodsy flavor. Thomas shows he can play minimalist, too, with essential basics like the Marinara, whose naturally sweet sauce of Bianco di Napoli California tomatoes is kissed with sea salt and oregano, then lashed with peppery drizzles of Tuscan olive oil while still hot from the oven. The Margherita showcases the melting flow and lactic sweetness of fresh mozzarella from Caputo Bros. Creamery in York County (Thomas favorite mozz to date). Chars specials always keep it seasonal and interesting, including a summer pie with smoky speck, fontina, and sweet peaches, and another that blended four kinds of alliums (caramelized Tropea onions, scallions, spring onions, and crispy shallots) over a white cheese base. I was bummed to miss the short window for his corn and creme fraiche pie drizzled with chili oil from Little Fish but the 90-minute wait that evening was too much for my hungry crew. If there is one pizza you must try at Char, it is Thomas signature New School Tomato Pie. This creation builds on the marinara base with shaved garlic and two kinds of Datterini mini-plum tomatoes the reds semi-dried; the yellows left whole so they burst with juicy sweetness beneath a pungently smoky lace of shaved Fiore Sardo cheese and a dusting of breadcrumbs, whose snap above the crust brings an almost stereophonic crunch. Its complex. Its showy. Its bold. Its easy to crush. Even the new Sicilian square pies that have been recently added to the menu are impressively airy, a takeout friendly pie (occasionally also available for dine-in) that is parcooked before service and quickly finished in electric ovens to order. Despite the fact that the borders of ours were a shade too dark and it puffed so high I could have napped on it, the pie ate like a two-inch-thick cloud enriched with olive oil and decadently creamy (vodka-less) vodka sauce. That fluffy dough is identical to the focaccia offered as an appetizer topped with whipped ricotta, honey, olive oil, and flaky sea salt, whose balanced flavors make it impossible to resist. There are other starters worth diving into a tasty kale Caesar thats predictable but well-made and also some outstanding meatballs made of pork and beef mixed with heavy cream, bread, and onions. They are memorably fluffy, with a light afterglow of Calabrian chile paste added to the mix. Chars desserts are limited but also notable because of the fun seasonal soft-serve combos (the blueberry-corn swirl was a winner) and a chocolate cream pie that was intense and satisfying. Youll want to indulge in some of these small plates while you patiently wait for your pizzas to be next out of the oven. The pies cook in just a few minutes each, but Chars current setup can only handle three at a time. Thomas has plans to transition to a larger electric oven this fall, which he insists will not affect the flavor so much as allow him to expand capacity and speed. Itll also save him buying thousands of dollars of hardwood each month. Its so romantic to see a flickering hearth when you walk in, he says, but its use of space and energy are inefficient. Im dubious as to whether the pizzas will taste the same without a wood fire, whose intense dry heat has more influence on flavor than smoke. But Im confident in Thomas abilities to dial in excellence no matter what kind of oven hes wrangling. One thing is for certain: This pizzaiolos parents will be in the crowd cheering him on, steadily bringing guests to Olde Kensington to show off their sons food, even if it means they have to wait for a table just like the rest of us. They dont skip the line, says Thomas, but despite my dads attempts, they also havent paid. CHAR 310 Master St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19122, 215-964-9874; char.pizza Open Wednesday through Sunday, 4-9 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. No reservations. BYOB. Wheelchair accessible. Not suitable for gluten-free diners (except the soft-serve ice cream). Menu highlights: kale Caesar; meatballs; ricotta toast; round pies (New School Tomato Pie; Margherita; Fun Guy; pepperoni with hot honey); square pie with vodka sauce; soft-serve ice cream. Tesiny's large seafood plateau includes shrimp cocktail, clams ceviche with peach and jalapeno, three types of oysters, scallop crudo with melon water, and bluefin tuna with corn vinaigrette. Read more There are no bagels, lox, or caviar bumps this time out but plenty of seafood, charcoal-grilled dishes, and offbeat wines. Lauren Biederman made her entrepreneurial debut in late 2020 near the Italian Market, launching her eponymous appetizing shop, selling some of the citys best smoked fish along with Kaplans New Model bagels, house-whipped cream cheese, and matzo ball soup. Advertisement She followed up last fall with the Biedermans caviar kiosk outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Center City. Now, the onetime server and bartender at such destinations as Zahav, Oloroso, and Osteria is entering the restaurant business with a chic, seafood-forward bar called Tesiny, at 719 Dickinson Street in South Philadelphia. Its a block from Cosmis Deli and around the corner from Termini Bros. bakery. It opened Thursday. Biedermans partner, Devon Reyes, started managing in the mid-2010s at Osteria before heading to Tria and its short-lived offshoot Bar Poulet. His last stop was Laser Wolf, where he was general manager until March. Theyre both 30. Biederman said she didnt have a restaurant on her mind when her real estate broker, Stefanie Gabel, showed her the space two years ago. At the time, she was looking for locations for other Biedermans. Just six blocks away from the store at 824 Christian Street, obviously it was much too close, she said. But the idea of an oyster bar had crossed her mind. Inside the old auto garage, which at the time still had its lift, I just visualized this exact setup all coming together as soon as I walked in, which usually doesnt happen for me, she said. In addition to seating along the windows and along a far wall, Biederman and Reyes set up Tesiny with a U-shaped open kitchen and a raw bar with six to eight seats. Along one wall is the 12-seat main bar, made of quartzite, for walk-ins. Centered between is an eight-seat walnut high-top table, also meant to accommodate walk-ins; larger parties can book it, too. Tables line the Dickinson Street windows and the far wall across the room, beneath a striking painting by Aaron Benjamin Cohen. Tesiny has plenty of dark wood with brass accents, giving it a retro-modern feel. Im going for warm, Biederman said. Its not quite minimal because we do have lots of different textures and finishes, but I also wanted to not distract from the food and the beverage program. Chef Michael Valent began studying at Boston University but took a semester off, during which he fell in love with cooking. That was 15 years ago. After Boston, Valent worked in New Orleans for six years with chef Donald Link before moving to Philadelphia to work with Michael Solomonov at Zahav. He then spent four years in Chloe Grigri and Vincent Stipos orbit at the Good King Tavern, Le Caveau, and Superfolie. In addition to cold seafood platters, crudos, oysters, clam ceviche, and shrimp cocktail from the raw bar, Valent offers a menu that is playful yet refined. The plump Chicken Lollipops ($15) come in a thick tomato hot sauce made with shrimp stock. Broiled oysters ($24 for six) are dressed in Calabrian chili butter and lemon. Hes making bold flavor combinations, such as grilled peach jam and charred Jimmy Nardello pepper chutney with the Iberico pork shoulder ($32), and charred cabbage and beef demi with the wagyu culotte steak ($38), both cooked on the charcoal grill. The menu will change seasonally. Biedermans brother Seth, who works for the Wine Merchant, helped with the wine menu. Theyre offering classic prestige wines such as Laurent Perrier Champagne and St-Emilion Grand Cru, but also some fun surprises, like a Muller-Thurgau from Germany, pais from Chile, and a Mexican nebbiolo, as well as a sauvignon blanc from Seven Hills in California, the lists lone American. There are four beers: Charro lager from Mexico, Maine Beer Co.s Lunch IPA, Orval Trappiste ale, and Ayinger Bavarian pils. Theres a full cocktail selection, too. Id like everyone to be able to come grab a snack for two and get out of here for 100 bucks, Biederman said. But you can come in and spend whatever you like and have some fun. As for the name: Tesiny is the street in Bridgeport, Conn., where Biedermans grandmother lived and her father, Alan, grew up. She likes Tesiny not only for the sentiment but also for its SEO value. Tesiny, 719 Dickinson Street. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations are via Resy. (Good luck. Its fairly booked into mid-September.) Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 30 local time, BYD India delivered its 9,999th, 10,000th, and 10,001st electric passenger vehicles, underscoring the company's rapid growth in the Indian market. The achievement reflects not only BYD's steady expansion in the country but also its broader commitment to advancing sustainable mobility. Photo credit: BYD Among the guests at the milestone event was Jeyakumar J, the first retail customer of a BYD passenger EV in India and now owner of three BYD vehicles, including the All NEW E6, ATTO 3, and most recently the SEALION 7. He spoke about the technological experience BYD vehicles have brought to his family and praised the company's global leadership in the EV sector. BYD has steadily expanded its local product lineup, now offering the SEALION 7, ATTO 3, eMAX 7, and SEAL to cater to different market segments. Backed by a growing sales and service network of 44 dealerships across 37 cities, the brand has gained broad recognition among Indian consumers. Zhang Jie, Deputy General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division and Managing Director of BYD India, described the delivery milestone as a collective achievement shared with customers, dealers, suppliers, and partners. He emphasized that the company will continue to invest in innovation and expand its product range to accelerate India's transition toward green mobility. Paul Offit is a pediatrician and expert on vaccines at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Read more Paul Offit, a prominent vaccine expert at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, wasnt told why he was removed from the Food and Drug Administrations vaccine advisory committee last week. He speculates its due to his longstanding criticism of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a leading anti-vaccine activist prior to becoming the nations top health official under President Donald Trump. Advertisement I certainly have been the most vocal critic of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on that committee, said Offit, who directs CHOPs Vaccine Education Center and co-created a vaccine used to protect children around the world from rotavirus. Offit was the only member removed from the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, a key advisory body that reviews data on vaccines to make recommendations to the FDA. An HHS spokesman told The Washington Post that members of other FDA advisory panels were also affected. For decades, Offit has sparred publicly with Kennedy over his skepticism of childhood vaccinations the medical establishment widely agrees are safe and effective. Its been unimaginable to see the anti-vaccine movement empowered under Kennedys federal leadership this year, Offit said. He cited the governments recent decision to stop recommending the COVID-19 vaccine to children and pregnant women as an example. I feel like weve been invaded by a foreign country, and that foreign countrys number one task is to destroy the public health, he said. Offits removal follows a series of shake-ups throughout the federal health infrastructure. In June, Kennedy had dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the use of vaccines. Last week, the CDCs newly installed director, Susan Monarez, was forced to step down. Her lawyers claim that she became a political target for refusing to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts. An abrupt removal Offits term on the FDA vaccine committee was originally set to end in January of 2025 after eight years of service. However, he was asked by a senior person at the FDA to stay on for another four years. He agreed to two. The process of extending his service required him to fill out a special government employee form to be approved by the HHS. Offit submitted it around July and waited. And then I didnt hear anything, he said. The person at the FDA called to confirm they still wanted him on the committee. They were pushing as hard as they could to get his forms through HHS, however, the department was stonewalling them, Offit said. On Aug. 28, he received a vaguely worded message from somebody at the FDA stating that HHS still had not signed off on the form, so they could not have him on the committee. Offits name has since been removed from the online roster of committee members. He said hed miss serving on the committee, recalling the vibrant discussions members had around how best to interpret data. It was exciting, and you certainly felt the pressure to get it right, he said. Much of the work during his last term surrounded the COVID-19 vaccines. While he is a leading advocate for vaccines, he has also insisted on following the science when questioning is warranted. For example, he was one of two members to vote against recommending the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine in 2022. Despite his removal, the American people can still trust his smart and hardworking colleagues remaining on the FDA committee, he said. Amid new restrictions and delays around COVID vaccine distribution, Pennsylvanias regulatory body for pharmacists on Wednesday expanded the authority to make vaccine recommendations to several leading professional medical organizations. The move allows state pharmacies to begin administering the latest COVID vaccines, whose distribution had been in a holding pattern creating confusion for patients and pharmacists alike. Advertisement Many other states, including New Jersey, permit pharmacies to distribute vaccines without the approval of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. But under Pennsylvania law, pharmacies can only give out vaccines in accordance with treatment guidelines from a physician and ACIP. The state Board of Pharmacy can also designate another competent authority to provide treatment guidelines. In a year of chaos at the CDC, the agency has not released its recommendations yet. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, fired all members of ACIP earlier this year and replaced them with a handpicked group that included vaccine skeptics. Former CDC director Susan Monarez was forced out last week, in part for reportedly refusing to rubber-stamp vaccine recommendations from the reconstituted ACIP. And the FDA, in an unusual move, approved last week COVID vaccines only for older Americans and certain at-risk groups. Typically, the agency issues a general approval for the vaccines and allows ACIP to recommend which groups should receive it. ACIP usually issues its recommendations immediately after the FDA approves a vaccine. But this year, the committee is not meeting until Sept. 18, creating delays in vaccine distribution in Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro called the FDAs restrictions on COVID vaccines outrageous and an affront to Pennsylvanians personal freedoms, noting that he had pushed for a special meeting of the Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacy to resolve the situation. Healthcare decisions should be up to individuals not the federal government and certainly not RFK Jr.," he said in a statement. My Administration will continue to protect healthcare access for all Pennsylvanians. On Wednesday, health officials, professional medical organizations, and pharmacists described to the board the impact of the shake-ups at federal health agencies and the necessity of administering COVID vaccines as soon as possible. Robert Bonacci, a special adviser to the states secretary of health, suggested the pharmacy board look to professional medical organizations for vaccine recommendations in light of the changes at the CDC. Its left many concerned about the integrity of the [vaccine] review process and the trustworthiness of those recommendations, he said. The boards decision came as West Coast states said they would offer their own vaccine guidelines to residents, while Northeastern states, including Pennsylvania, had reportedly met to consider forming a similar consortium, the New York Times reported. Meanwhile, Florida officials are proposing to end all vaccine mandates, including those for schools, the Times reported. The boards vote Wednesdays move should allow Pennsylvania pharmacists to begin administering the vaccine to some patients in a newly complicated regulatory environment around vaccines. The Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacy approved the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) as competent authorities for vaccine recommendations. The FDA was also approved as a competent authority specifically for COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Recommendations for COVID vaccines differ between the professional organizations and the federal agencies. For example, healthy children are recommended to receive the updated vaccines in some of the guidance from the leading medical societies, but are not included in the FDAs more restrictive licensing. A source with knowledge of the boards decision said that pharmacists can now choose which agency or organizations recommendations they wish to follow. Before todays Board vote, Pennsylvania pharmacists could follow only ACIPs vaccine recommendations. Todays vote changes that, allowing Pennsylvania pharmacists to follow the vaccine recommendations of other trusted authorities restoring access and cutting through the confusion, Shapiros administration wrote in a statement. The situation has also been difficult for pharmacists to navigate, said Mayank Amin, who runs the independent Skippack Pharmacy in Montgomery County, where he expected to receive this years first vaccine shipment Wednesday. About 2,000 people had already signed up to receive updates on the vaccine from his pharmacy, he told the pharmacy board in written testimony. We need your support to help our fellow Pennsylvanians who wish to be vaccinated, he wrote. Amin said Wednesday he plans to follow the FDAs recommendations for handing out vaccines and would start vaccinating that day. Its just very frustrating Stanley Jaskiewicz, 65, of Lansdale, qualifies for the vaccine under FDA guidelines because of his age and because he has a heart condition that could result in life-threatening complications if he contracts COVID. But before the Board of Pharmacys decision, he was finding it difficult to parse the new rules around COVID vaccines. Jaskiewiczs doctor had offered to write him a prescription for the vaccine as CVS had been requiring in Pennsylvania but when he attempted to schedule a vaccine appointment online last week, a screen popped up saying that no appointments were available. It feels like 2020 all over again, Jaskiewicz said on Tuesday. Its just very frustrating. People who truly need to have this protection have to jump through hoops. He was able to schedule an appointment at an independent pharmacy on Wednesday, he said. Before the Board of Pharmacy met on Wednesday, CVS was requiring that Pennsylvania patients get a doctors prescription before obtaining a vaccine at an in-store pharmacy. Another option was to schedule an appointment at a Minute Clinic, CVS urgent care clinics, which are classified as doctors offices, not pharmacies. A prescription is not required to receive a vaccine from Minute Clinics, CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault said on Tuesday. Patients in Pennsylvania who live near the New Jersey border could also consider getting vaccinated there, she said. When Lynn Hogben, 70, called to schedule a shot last week, her local CVS in West Philadelphia told her that its pharmacy was not stocking COVID vaccines at all. This is appalling, because some peoples lives are going to be put in jeopardy, Hogben said. There are people in much more serious shape than I, and those people are potentially being denied vaccines. Thibault said that the store employee in West Philadelphia may have been uncertain about the vaccines availability, or the store may not have had the vaccine in stock yet. She did not immediately return a request for comment on the Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacys decision. The U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia has filed a False Claims Act lawsuit against the former operators of a Pottstown nursing home for providing grossly substandard care from at least 2017 until 2023, the office announced Tuesday. The 157-page lawsuit says the cited nursing homes failed to provide adequate wound care, neglected residents hygiene, and sometimes documented care that was not provided. Advertisement The Pottstown facility, at 724 N. Charlotte St., used to be called ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Pottstown. Before that, it was known as ManorCare Health Services Pottstown. The Aug. 28 complaint builds on two whistleblower complaints filed in 2016 and 2017 when the facility was operated by the now defunct HCR ManorCare Inc. ProMedica Health Systems Inc. acquired the facilities as part of its 2018 acquisition of HCR ManorCares more than 200 nursing homes out of bankruptcy. The Pottstown facility is one of four named in the lawsuit, which also targets nursing homes in Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia. READ MORE: The Justice department recently secured a False Claims settlement against Philadelphia nursing home. The lawsuit serves notice to the nursing home industry that a failure to provide adequate nursing home care will not be tolerated, David Metcalf, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said in a statement. Public funds expended for nursing home residents must result in appropriate care, which is what the government pays for, and the law requires. ProMedica said the lawsuit was without merit. We will vigorously defend against it, the organization said in an email. Some of the allegations in the complaint are from before ProMedica acquired the facilities in a joint venture with Welltower Inc., a large real estate investment trust. Private-equity owner Carlyle Group put HCR ManorCare into bankruptcy in March 2018, years after having sold its real estate to pay investors. The HCR ManorCare deal represented a dramatic expansion of ProMedica beyond its roots as a hospital operator in Ohio and Michigan. The acquired nursing home operation included 38 in Pennsylvania and seven in New Jersey. READ MORE: The federal government dropped a massive fraud case against HCR ManorCare in 2017. During the coronavirus pandemic, ProMedica lost massive amounts of money in the expanded nursing home business and had exited the Welltower joint venture in late 2022. Ownership of the 150-bed Pottstown facility named in the new False Claims Act lawsuit changed again when Genesis Healthcare, of Kennett Square, took over some of the former HCR ManorCare facilities that ProMedica had acquired. Now, the Pottstown facility is back in bankruptcy, along with another 175 Genesis nursing homes. According to a quote from Jennifer Gwynne on RR Auction's website: "Elon being silly in my dorm room in the Quad. I remember thinking that it was so good to know he had a silly side that he would let me see." Read more Looks like Elon Musk is no longer the only one in his family with Philadelphia college ties. In a profile for The Cut, Musks daughter, Vivian Wilson, revealed that she transferred to Temple Universitys Japan Campus after a semester of college in Quebec. A lover of languages, Wilson spent a year and a half in Tokyo practicing her Japanese before dropping out and moving back to Los Angeles. I dont miss the homework, the 21-year-old told The Cut. Wilson said she hopes to enroll at a community college this fall so she can keep studying other languages. Ties to a Philadelphia college may be the only thing Musk, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997 with bachelors degrees in physics and economics, and his daughter have in common. The two have been publicly estranged ever since Wilson came out as transgender in 2020. A few years later, in an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator, Jordan Peterson, Musk said Wilson was dead, killed by the woke mind virus. Wilson followed up by calling her father a pathetic man-child in a profile for Teen Vogue, in which she also described Musk as a cold and cruel father. Family feuding aside, this is a tidy win for a city full of colleges who love to claim famous alumni. While Musks time at the University of Pennsylvania has been well documented most recently via an auction of his ex-college girlfriends mementos of him Wilsons tenure at Temple hasnt received much attention. Now the internets favorite obstinate daughter has claimed the university as her own, albeit briefly. Will she auction off one of her Temple University textbooks next? Stay tuned. A photo of Awdah Hathaleen, who witnesses say was killed by an Israeli settler, hangs in the entrance to his home in the village of Umm al-Khair in the West Bank, in August. Read more I met Awdah Hathaleen during a visit to the West Bank when I was taking part in a Jewish gap-year program in 2019, my first steps into adulthood after leaving my childhood home on Penns Landing, where I was deeply rooted in Philadelphias Jewish community. Awdah was a 31-year-old goofball, creative thinker, an epic host, and a beyond-exceptional friend. He was also an English teacher and a tour guide in Masafer Yatta the highly militarized cluster of West Bank Palestinian villages featured in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which he helped produce. Advertisement Any foreigner who visits the West Bank for political education is likely to find themselves in Masafer Yatta, and sooner or later, many of the regions visitors often find themselves speaking with Awdah. He was initially introduced to me as an important activist and public speaker. On a muggy July night in 2021, the formality fell away, and Awdah became my bestie. At the mercy of a carpooling fiasco in Masafer Yatta. Awdah and I ended up on the side of a desert road for several hours. As we made conversation, we realized we shared a tendency toward saying the uncomfortable thing; the questions that are normally thought but not spoken. We giggled until we were out of breath as we voiced all the taboo questions about each others culture we were too afraid to ask anyone else. It was so electric that I distinctly recall locking eyes and squealing. By the end of the night, we knew we would be in each others lives forever. Neither of us knew how short forever would turn out to be. On July 28, as shown in a widely shared video, an Israeli settler, Yinon Levi, entered the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair in the West Bank Adwahs village produced a gun during a confrontation, and fired shots in the direction of sweet Awdah. Awdah was fatally injured. He is survived by his mother, Hajji, his three sons all of whom are 5 or younger and his beloved, adorable, girls girl of a wife, Hanadi. I am not the one to eulogize Awdah. That honor belongs to Hajji, Hanadi, and the rest of their neighbors in Umm al-Khair. You can find some of their words here and in the village itself, which never closes its doors to visitors. So this is not a eulogy; it is a call to question how easily somebody can become a statistic just another dead Palestinian and how insidious that process is. News reports about Awdahs death have correctly noted that his friends and family believe he fell victim to the same kind of violence he devoted his life to fighting against: the widespread attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli settlers, which human rights groups have said often occur with impunity. Public rallies in Awdahs memory have occurred in 20 cities around the world. The demonstrations hope to pressure diplomatic officials to demand accountability from Israel for Levi, who had been sanctioned by British officials after being accused of human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank. (Levi had also been sanctioned by the Biden administration, but the Trump administration lifted that penalty in January.) Levi was released by the police after three days of house arrest and immediately resumed settlement construction on Umm al-Khair, which continues today. On the day after Awdahs killing, right-wing Israeli journalist Zvi Yechezkeli wrote in a Facebook post, Yesterday a Jewish settler was saved by a miracle against dozens of Arab thugs who tried to lynch him. If Awdah had not interacted with thousands of people from outside his country, you might read this and believe it. What is more likely is that you would not read about Awdah at all. In news outlets that fall politically left of the Israeli right-wing, Awdah was frequently pictured holding his babies; a man who loved children and flowers, who spoke passionately of nonviolence and peace. These things happen to be true about Awdah, but none of them are the reason he deserves your sympathy. As Awdah said in almost every one of his public speaking engagements, What we are asking for is to be seen as human beings. The fact that anybody spends their life struggling to be seen as human should outrage the world. When I see Awdahs face under headlines that describe him as prominent Palestinian activist or Palestinian who worked on Oscar-winning film, my heart breaks anew for my dear friend. Awdah spent his life fighting to be respected as a human being, and even in death, that right has been withheld from him. Much of the media covering his murder has reduced him, on the right, to a terrorist, and on the left, to just another Palestinian who struggled and died. While you read these words, Levi lives down the road from Awdahs family, armed with both weaponry and the tacit support of a system that has taken so much from Masafer Yatta, yet still finds ways to take more. When my fear for Hanadi and the boys wakes me in the night, Awdahs light guides me back to center. I am so sorry, Awdah, that you didnt get to live a normal life or die a normal death. None of it prevented you from being a superb bestie. I replay one moment in the passenger seat of his car, when I was nervously rambling about something useless. While I was midsentence, he reached for the radio, turned it to full volume, and said, Please, my friend, sit and enjoy. Awdah, darling, for the rest of my life, whenever despair comes to find me, I will be OK, because I will have our memories to sit and enjoy. Nina-Jean Saligman is a videographer and freelance journalist raised in Philadelphia, currently based in Butte, Mont., who has engaged in activism related to Masafer Yatta since 2019. As part of its Big Beautiful Bill that was signed into law in early July, the Trump administration has sought to defund Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides healthcare to millions of people across America. While those funding cuts are currently blocked and being challenged as unconstitutional, the risk to reproductive rights they represent is undeniable. Advertisement Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade opened the door to extreme abortion bans across the nation, the commonwealth has been protected because of Gov. Josh Shapiro and his commitment to defending our reproductive rights. That is absolutely something we should be grateful for, but not something we can take for granted. In addition to the attacks from the Trump administration, many leaders here in Pennsylvania have attempted to take radical steps to take away abortion rights. State Senate Republicans proposed an amendment to Pennsylvanias constitution that would deny abortion care in the commonwealth, even in cases of rape, incest, or life-threatening conditions. While Shapiro has been clear he would veto any such attempt to restrict abortion rights, an antiabortion candidate in the governors mansion would put those freedoms at risk again. As a future OB-GYN, I know that access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare including abortion is not just important, it is lifesaving. While abortion is the headline for many Republican leaders, their agenda threatens the entire spectrum of reproductive care that is offered at Planned Parenthood clinics across the state, from contraception to prenatal services and cancer screenings. If successful, these attacks would unravel the very foundation of reproductive healthcare in our state and disproportionately harm low-income individuals, people of color, and those in rural communities, who already face steep barriers to care. In the face of these threats to reproductive rights, Shapiro has sued the Trump administration to stop it from defunding Planned Parenthood, and has vowed to veto antiabortion legislation that comes to his desk. But in 2026, the governors office will be on the ballot and the two leading Republican candidates are both committed to curtailing reproductive rights. READ MORE: At stake in Mastriano vs. Shapiro, the fate of abortion rights in Pennsylvania | Editorial Some may remember that Doug Mastriano was roundly rejected in his bid for the governorship in 2022, in large part because of his extreme anti-choice agenda. Indeed, during his campaign for governor, he supported a total abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother. He has backed legislation to criminalize providers and opposed even the most basic protections for patients in medical emergencies. His positions are out of step with the values of the vast majority of Pennsylvanians and are dangerous for public health. Unfortunately, this time around, he is not the only extremist in the field. Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who recently confirmed her gubernatorial bid, is a longtime ally of Mastriano and every bit as extreme when it comes to reproductive rights. Garrity cheered on the overturning of Roe, celebrating it as a great day for the sanctity of life and declaring justice has prevailed. Garrity has raised money selling merchandise calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, selling T-shirts with slogans like, Roses are red, violets are blue, defund Planned Parenthood. Her campaign has turned defunding reproductive healthcare into a punch line ignoring the real patients who will lose access to lifesaving services. READ MORE: Stacy Garrity cant champion rural hospitals while cheering a bill that will shut them down | Opinion If someone like Mastriano or Garrity were elected as our next governor, there would be little to stop them from implementing the kind of extreme abortion bans you see in Alabama or Oklahoma laws that have forced doctors to delay lifesaving care until patients are on the brink of death. They would be poised to sign away not just abortion access, but the full range of reproductive services Pennsylvanians rely on. And there would be no one to stand up to the Trump administrations efforts to defund healthcare. This is the reality we face in the commonwealth. Our rights are under attack, and we cannot be caught off guard. We must stay informed, speak out, support organizations defending reproductive healthcare, and most importantly, vote in every election. Reproductive rights are healthcare rights. And healthcare decisions belong in the exam room, in discussion between patient and doctor not in the hands of politicians. Kyler McVay lives in the Philadelphia area, is an active patient escort at a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood, a member of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvanias leadership action team, and will soon be a full-time OB-GYN student. State Rep. Morgan B. Cephas in 2023. Cephas, a West Philadelphia native who has been in the legislature since 2016, is running for Congress. Read more State Rep. Morgan Cephas, a West Philadelphia native who has been in the legislature since 2016, is running for Congress. Cephas joins an already crowded 2026 Democratic primary field that includes her colleagues state Sen. Sharif Street and state Rep. Chris Rabb. Advertisement Ive worked my entire career to make sure that government is working for working families, Cephas told The Inquirer in an interview ahead of her planned campaign launch Wednesday morning. And thats just not whats happening in this moment. The heavily Democratic 3rd Congressional District seat, representing half of Philadelphia, will be open for the first time in more than a decade after U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans announced his plan to retire at the end of his term. Evans will serve out his term, which ends in December 2026. Cephas, 41, who worked as deputy chief of staff to Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., enters the race with allies in West Philadelphia and experience leading Philly legislators in the House as caucus chair. She touted her ability to move legislation when Democrats were in the minority in the Pennsylvania House, including a maternal health bill that expanded Medicaid coverage for pregnant people. Cephas said shed work to get Democrats up and down the ballot elected, noting the polarizing similarities shes seen between a divided Harrisburg and Washington. I am adamant that we have to take back the Congress to reverse all of this madness, but then also make sure that we are delivering real time for people here, particularly in Philadelphia, she said. Kellan White, a Democratic strategist in the city who is neutral in the race, predicted Cephas West Philly roots and age will help her. Shes well-liked and respected. She is the youngest in the race at a time when people want change and youthful energy, but she has experience being in Harrisburg for almost a decade, he said. Cephas announced her run as lawmakers in Harrisburg remain at an impasse over SEPTA funding, and budget negotiations slog on. Philadelphians, meanwhile, have started to feel the effects of massive cuts in service absent additional state funding. Cephas noted she played a role in arranging a partnership with Uber to offer free rides to seniors as the service reductions are slated to continue. Before Evans election in 2016, the seat was held by longtime U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, a titan of West Philadelphia politics before he was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of charges including racketeering conspiracy, bribery, and bank fraud. From the moment in June when Evans announced his retirement, rumors mounted about a frenzy of interest for the seat, which is among the safest for Democrats in the country. All three of the state lawmakers now vying for Congress have potential lanes to victory. Street, 51, the former state party chair who announced his resignation last week in light of his congressional run, has the benefit of name recognition from his time at the helm, and his father was a two-term Philadelphia mayor. He also could use his Democratic Party network to his fundraising advantage. Rabb, 55, an independent-minded lawmaker from the Northwest, will likely run as the most progressive candidate on the slate. Dave Oxman, an intensive care physician, has also announced his candidacy, and former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services director Ala Stanford is rumored to be considering a run. Cephas is one of four sisters, and was raised by her mom, a retired member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 47. She said hearing her mom and other retirees worry about their Medicare and Social Security amid cuts championed by President Donald Trumps administration also prompted her decision to run for the open congressional seat. She should actually be enjoying her retirement, Cephas said. But again, these are challenges that people are facing. An earlier version of this story misstated Dr. Ala Stanfords former position. A developer plans to begin construction of a 103,000-square-foot warehouse within weeks on a mostly vacant property in Northeast Philadelphia, just across from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport. Crow Holdings Development (CHD), of Montclair, N.J., says the $25 million project is part of a continued expansion of its Philadelphia footprint. Advertisement The nearly 10-acre Grant Avenue property is already zoned for industrial development. It is bordered by a Public Storage on one side and Muller Inc., a beverage wholesaler, on the other. Crow Holdings Development is having clear success developing industrial properties in Philadelphia, Clark Machemer, senior managing director with CHD, said in an announcement of the purchase. We are pleased to expand our footprint here with the acquisition of 2748 Grant Avenue. Machemer said in an interview that the location was chosen due to CHDs historical success in Philadelphia and that the area has key logistical advantages. Machemer said the Northeast Philly site offers an available workforce, closeness to the city for distribution, and a prime location near I-95, providing regional distribution opportunities. The company believes that in urban areas like Philadelphia, smaller-footprint buildings around 250,000 square feet or less are the most effective without the high costs associated with larger, million-square-foot developments typically found farther from the city center. Machemer said the Grant Avenue project, which has been in the works for 18 months, is ready to begin construction within weeks. It should take about nine months to build. The company does not currently have a tenant, but Machemer expects it wont be hard to find one once the warehouse is close to completion. Much of the property facing Grant Avenue is wooded, and Machemer said most of the trees will be kept because the middle and rear of the property are open with a side road for access. CHD purchased the property for $7 million from James D. Morrissey Inc. in July, followed by a $17.6 million construction loan in August, according to city records. CHD plans to build a one-story structure with 32-foot ceilings, 32 docks, two drive-in bays, and parking for 65 vehicles. Oline Construction will serve as general contractor. The company plans to utilize Philadelphias 10-year tax abatement program. Machemer said the company has worked with the city and state for months to obtain and required permits. Johanna Chervak, CHD vice president, said the company anticipates high demand for the Class-A facility. This building is exactly what the market is calling for. Company officials said the propertys purchase is part of its growing presence in Philadelphia. CHD owns a nearby warehouse on Grant Avenue that is leased by Amazon. In addition, it owns a still-under-construction, 147,000-square-foot facility at 14515 McNulty Rd., also in Northeast Philadelphia. Logistics coordinator Martin Brower has signed a lease for that property. The company is also finishing a 294,000-square-foot building on River Road in Burlington Township. Crow Holdings Development is the development arm of Crow Holdings, a privately owned real estate investment and development firm based in Dallas. Philadelphia is leading the charge in testing the effectiveness of giving unrestricted cash rental assistance to households, according to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. Read more When Brianna Gaskin had her first child, she applied for a federal housing voucher that would help her pay rent. Five years and two more children later, shes still on a wait list. But in fall 2022, she was chosen as part of a groundbreaking pilot program in Philadelphia that gives cash to struggling renters. Gaskin, her fiance, and their children were able to stop living with family and rent a house. Advertisement Since then, the young family has had ups and downs. They were forced out of that house and couch-surfed for six months. The cash assistance from the program kept us afloat, paying for necessities such as food and diapers and eventually helping to pay for their current apartment in West Philadelphia, she said. Gaskin, 29, calls the program a blessing. Since fall 2022, Philadelphia has been giving no-strings-attached cash to 301 households randomly selected from the Philadelphia Housing Authoritys wait lists for public housing and federal subsidies. The program was scheduled to end in June, but because of new findings about the programs success, it has been extended until next June. A report analyzing the first two years of the program by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and staff at the Philadelphia Housing Development Corp., which partners with the city to administer the program, found that the PHLHousing+ program has been helping to keep families housed. PHDC is discussing what the next phase of the program could look like, said Rachel Mulbry, the organizations director of policy and strategic initiatives and a coauthor of the report, but were in a much stronger position now that we have results like these. Showing a lot of promise Households that received cash were less likely to be evicted or become homeless than households without assistance, according to the report. Households that got cash also had fewer concerns about the quality of their homes. Researchers asked about issues such as extreme heat and cold, unsafe and substandard buildings, and flooding and fire damage. This was very much designed as an experiment, so we werent sure what the relative impacts would be, Mulbry said. The results show when we invest in people in Philly, their lives do improve, she said. And this model of very flexible rental assistance given directly to tenants is showing a lot of promise. Federal housing subsidies through the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8, help households in similar ways, the report said. But there are not enough vouchers for every household that needs one. And even households that are offered a voucher arent always able to find a willing landlord or an available and qualifying rental home. In the PHLHousing+ program, everyone was able to use the cash they were offered, because it came with no requirements on how to spend it. Researchers anticipated their findings would show that cash assistance helped tenants, but we were surprised by the magnitude of the effects, said Vincent Reina, a Penn professor who founded the Housing Initiative at Penn and coauthored the report. These findings suggest a cash rental subsidy would be a valuable addition to existing support for low-income renters, researchers wrote in a separate paper. Philly at the forefront Since 2022, $10.8 million has been allocated to implement the program, half from public dollars and half from philanthropy, according to PHDC. Philadelphia and other cities have piloted other types of no-strings-attached guaranteed income programs. But Philadelphia is the first city in the country to run a trial of cash-based rental assistance since the idea of rental assistance was first formalized in the 1970s when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development created the Section 8 program, Reina said. Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers plan to create or preserve 30,000 homes includes the continuation of the program. Other cities across the country are in various stages of starting cash rental assistance programs of their own, and theyve reached out to Philadelphia to learn from PHLHousing+, Reina said. This is a case of Philadelphia really being at the forefront of a national conversation. And one in many ways that the broader country wasnt looking to have when we started this program, he said. To me, thats really exciting. How the program works PHLHousing+ gave debit cards to participants and loads money onto them each month. Funds are calculated to fill the gap between how much money each household can afford to pay for housing and how much their home actually costs. Monthly payments currently range from $15 to $2,057, with a median payment of $1,000. All households currently in the program have at least one child under 16 and make less than 50% of the area median income, which is about $60,000 for a household of four. Unlike federal rent vouchers or vouchers of up to $500 that are offered through Philadelphias Shallow Rent program, PHLHousing+ works directly with tenants and does not require landlords participation. Its designed in a way thats a much lighter lift, Mulbry said. The program focuses on households on subsidy wait lists and that have children because the idea was to focus on households that were really vulnerable and at risk, she said. Part of the experiment was to see what happens when tenants are allowed to make their own decisions about how to meet their financial needs, Mulbry said. There was a fair amount of skepticism about giving tenants unrestricted cash, she said. The program was only able to happen because it was a pilot and not a permanent commitment to this type of assistance model without knowing whether it would work, she said. We know that theyre using [the cash] for housing, Mulbry said, because theyre staying housed. Rent is one of tenants largest expenses each month. The program allows people to plug holes and make ends meet, especially for people who work in positions such as home health aides in which hours can vary and income is inconsistent, she said. Gaskin now has a newborn daughter, so she is on unpaid medical leave from her job as a home health aide. The $1,150 she gets every month is helping to keep her family in their home. Gaskin plans to go back to school next spring to become a nurse. She wont have to keep picking up extra shifts while juggling her studies and motherhood because of the cash she gets through the program. For those that really need it, especially at the times they need it like my family, its life-changing, Gaskin said. Were very, very, very grateful. A lost boy wandering a monorail line high above the crowd at Hersheypark was rescued by a park visitor who climbed onto a building and jumped onto the rails. The child was reported missing at about 5:05 p.m. Saturday after he became separated from his parents, according to a news release from the chocolate-themed amusement park in Pennsylvania. While park employees were searching for him, the boy entered a secured area leading to the monorail ride. It was closed and safeguarded by a chained closure at the entrance and barricaded turnstile at the platform, according to the park. The boy was in the closed station for about 20 minutes before he wandered onto the tracks. A video posted to social media shows the boy walking along the tracks as people in the crowd below start waving their arms and yelling directions at him including, Stop! and Keep going! At that point he covers his ears and begins to walk back the way he came, changes direction again, and then stops. One man climbs onto a nearby building and pulls himself onto the tracks, scooping up the boy to cheers from below. The rescue took place at about 5:28 p.m., according to the park. The child was unharmed and was safely reunited with his family. We are grateful for the vigilance of our guests and the swift response of our team, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest levels of guest safety throughout Hersheypark, the release reads. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A federal judge in New York rejected Saudi Arabias latest effort to dismiss civil claims that it supported the 9/11 hijackers. Judge George B. Daniels said in a written opinion last Thursday that his decision pertained to jurisdiction rather than the merits of the claims against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, he found the claims legally sufficient to proceed to trial, noting that an imam and an accountants employment by Saudi Arabia likely had some connection with their support of two al-Qaida members who came to the United States in early 2000 to study English and take flight lessons. Lawyers for Saudi Arabia argued that the nation and the U.S. were partners in the 1990s against terrorism, al-Qaida and its founder, Osama bin Laden. Lawyers for relatives of 9/11 victims claim that a group of extremist religious leaders in Saudi Arabia aided the 9/11 hijackers who flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In lawsuits, hundreds of victims relatives and injured survivors, along with insurance companies and businesses, claim that employees of the Saudi government directly and knowingly assisted the airplane hijackers and plotters and fueled al-Qaidas development into a terrorist organization by funding charities that supported them. Some defendants, including Iran, the Taliban and al-Qaida, already have been found in default. During oral arguments last year, attorney Michael Kellogg noted that Saudi Arabia in the 1990s stripped bin Laden of his citizenship and had taken more actions against him than any other country prior to the Sept. 11 attacks. A message seeking comment from Kellogg was not immediately returned. The law firm of Kreinder & Kreindler, which represents plaintiffs, said in a statement that the judges decision ensures that the plaintiffs may continue their long pursuit of truth and justice. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Claims People affected by a large-scale toxic spill at a Zambian mine in February are demanding $420 million in compensation from the Chinese state-owned company that operates the site. Two separate groups sent letters of demand to Sino Metals Leach Zambia Ltd. in recent days, according to documents seen by Bloomberg and confirmed by the legal firms that issued them. The claims follow reports that the spill of highly acidic mine-waste laden with toxic heavy metals may have been worse than initially thought, and rank among the worst such disasters globally. The incident prompted statements by the US and Chinese governments, and highlights the risks the world faces in meeting surging demand for critical minerals. One letter from Malisa & Partners Legal Practitioners demanded the immediate payment of $220 million in interim compensation to facilitate the relocation of 47 households that are part of the Kalusale community and are living in the direct vicinity of the spill. The amount would also cover their screening, independent medical testing, treatment and livelihood restoration, according to the document. The other from Malambo & Co. says the firm represents several residents of Kalusale and other interested Zambians. The lawyers demanded an immediate payment of $200 million to set up an emergency fund for their clients. A Sino Metals spokesman said the company had received the letters, which were with its legal department. He declined to comment further. Chinas Foreign Ministry said last month that the company had actively shouldered responsibility and pro-actively cooperated with the Zambian government to compensate those affected by the spill. The Zambian government also spoke highly of the work done by the Chinese company at an Aug. 7 media briefing, it said. Impact Assessment As much as 1.5 million tons of waste spilled in the disaster, according to Drizit Environmental (Pty) Ltd., the company that Sino Metals hired to undertake an environmental impact assessment. Sino Metals fired Drizit for alleged breach of contract, and later questioned the methodology used to assess the magnitude of the spill. About 900,000 cubic meters (238 million gallons) of toxic tailings remain present in the environment, Drizit said in a statement last week. These materials were found to contain dangerous levels of cyanide, arsenic, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium, and other pollutants posing significant long-term health risks, including organ damage, birth defects, and cancer, it said. Various embassies have warned their citizens to avoid the area because of the health risks. Zambias government initially tried to downplay the threat, but later said it found dangerous levels of heavy metals in some water samples. It didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest developments. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Claims China Landmark Dodge, Inc., and Landmark South, Inc. (Landmark Dodge), the owners of automobile dealerships in Independence, Missouri and formerly in Belton, Missouri, will pay $275,000 and furnish other relief to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit, the federal agency announced. The EEOCs suit alleged Landmark Dodge had a policy of refusing to hire women for sales jobs and men for office jobs, and that the company retaliated against two human resources employees who opposed the practice. According to the suit, Landmark Dodges owner told two new human resources employees that he believed women dont make good salespeople and men dont work well in the office. The two HR employees quickly discovered the companys hiring managers were in fact refusing to hire women for sales positions and men for certain office positions. When the HR employees opposed the practice and insisted on consideration of all qualified job applicants regardless of sex, Landmark Dodge retaliated against them by making their work environment increasingly hostile and forced them to quit. Company records showed that from the fall of 2017 through at least April 2019, Landmark Dodge hired no women for sales positions and no men for the office jobs. During the lawsuit, the EEOC identified more than a dozen women and men whom Landmark Dodge refused to hire because of their sex. The companys alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on sex, including the use of sex-based preferences in hiring decisions, as well as retaliation for opposing sex discrimination. Source: EEOC Topics Auto Missouri A U.S. judge on Tuesday dismissed an antitrust lawsuit accusing 10 large banks of conspiring to rig corporate bond prices at the expense of ordinary investors, after the original judge recused himself because his wife owned stock in one of the banks. Investors accused Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, NatWest and Wells Fargo of overcharging them by billions of dollars since 2006 on odd-lot trades. Such trades involve fewer than 1,000 bonds or are worth less than $1 million, and comprise most corporate bond trades. Investors said the banks illegally charged spreads 25% to 300% higher than on larger round-lot trades, inflating profits. U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan said the investors failed to prove the banks conspired to operate the Bond Desk, Trading Edge and Trade Web platforms as a catch-and-kill operation to thwart fair prices, while boycotting rival platforms that promoted fair prices. Though the banks controlled an estimated 65% of U.S. underwriting and 90% of U.S. trading volume in corporate bonds, it does not follow that defendants have the power to control pricing of the bonds in the secondary market, Caproni said. The judge also found no overt acts by the banks to advance the alleged conspiracy in the four years before the lawsuit was filed in April 2020, dooming the Sherman Act case. Lawyers for the investors did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Capronis dismissal is with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be brought again. The case was originally dismissed by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman in October 2021. Four months later, Limans clerk disclosed that the judges wife owned Bank of America stock while the case was pending, but it didnt affect the judges decision making. In July 2024, the federal appeals court in Manhattan revived the case, saying Limans conflict was almost certainly unknowing but could call his impartiality into question. Liman was not accused of wrongdoing. The case is Litovich v Bank of America Corp et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 20-03154. Topics Lawsuits Numbers Workers at the Texas Department of Transportation have begun responding to calls to remove debris and abandoned vehicles from West Texas roads and extinguish vehicle fires. They also change flat tires and jumpstart car batteries. The program, launched in Midland and Ector counties in July, aims to reduce the potential for more car crashes that result in serious injuries or deaths and so far, theyve responded to nearly 500 calls and have helped more than 1,400 drivers. We have such a high crash rate, a growing population, and growing traffic, said Debra Richmond, director of road safety initiatives for the Permian Strategic Partnership, a nonprofit backed by oil companies that aims to improve lives in the region. We feel like this could really make a difference in the short term while we continue advocating for long-term improvement. Twelve-wheel trucks that haul machinery, equipment and oil drums congest the Permian Basins roads and interstates. Pickup trucks and sedans zip in between. Outdated highways are narrow. Speed limits are high, 80 miles per hour in some spots. Construction never ends. Together, the roads are some of the deadliest in the state. A 2023 report found that severe and fatal vehicle accidents in the Permian Basin outpaced the rest of the state. In 2024, there were 5.8% fewer road deaths, a trend Richmond attributes to heightened public awareness campaigns and infrastructure improvements. A welcome relief, the drop in deaths is not yet a trend. So, the Permian Strategic Partnership, Midland County and the Texas Department of Transportation spent $5 million on the two-year program to deter crashes even further. Were still facing a lot of the challenges that come with having heavy industry crossed with residential and regular civilian traffic, whether thats heavy equipment and heavy commercial trucks sharing the road with school buses and folks in smaller vehicles, just going about their day-to-day lives, Richmond said. All of those challenges are just compounding. The program is modeled after similar efforts in major Texas cities, including Austin, El Paso and San Antonio. It costs Texas counties, toll authorities and individual organizations $22.7 million to run the program, which employs 138 workers across the state to help stranded drivers. The Permian Basin program was first advertised in March, ahead of its launch. To receive assistance, drivers can call a number provided by the state. Workers, employed by the states transportation agency, respond to incidents as minor as flat tires and dead batteries, and collect abandoned vehicles. They can also be asked to put out vehicle fires or assist with cars that have been rolled over. At the site of a car crash, they help law enforcement in removing any debris. They also patrol two busy stretches of road in Midland and Ector counties, where the most frequent number of crashes occur. The goal is to prevent second crashes at the site of the original road hazard. Indeed, a second crash can follow on wide open stretches of road when a driver is not expecting the vehicle ahead to be stopped, said Jeffrey Michael, a scholar at Johns Hopkins University who researches road safety. If you combine that with a little bit of distraction or fatigue, then you can easily see where that would be a very high-risk situation, he said. High speed limits and commercial traffic can play a particularly substantial role in severe and fatal accidents, he said. In congested suburban areas, he said, travel speeds are lower, lessening the likelihood of an accident. Wide open roads with commercial traffic combine the risks of speed with the extra size and weight of heavy trucks. But it is not as true for regions with commercial traffic, which he said make up a third of the 1.2 million traffic deaths globally or about 400,000, citing a 2025 United Nations report. There are other alternatives to decrease road deaths, Michael said. He said companies employing commercial drivers can take a more active role in ensuring that they comply with speed limits and road safety precautions. For example, these employers could be expected to use equipment, including speed limiters, which ensure their vehicles comply with speed limits. Other equipment to increase safety includes automatic emergency braking, which detects potential collisions. The expectation and tradition is that we expect less outside the gate, Michael said. Outside the gate, we dont look to the corporation for responsibility; we look to the driver. For roadside assistance in Midland and Ector counties, call: 877-699-HERO. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/west-texas-txdot-car-accidents-deaths/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. Photo: Roads and highways in West Texas are among the most deadly in the state. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Topics Texas Auto Personal Auto Florida Insurance Comissioner Michael Yaworsky this year has levied more than $2 million in fines against eight property insurance companies over claims-handling practices flagged by recent market conduct examinations. Three of the companies, American Coastal Insurance, American Mobile Insurance, and Clear Blue Insurance, were fined the most this year$400,000 each. The alleged violations included failures to pay or deny claims promptly; using adjusters who failed to adjust claims; a failure to provide disclosure statements about damage estimates to insureds; and neglecting to provide the license numbers of adjusters, as required by state law. With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season well underway, Yaworsky said in a statement that he wants to make it clear that OIRs Market Conduct Unit is ready to deploy during storms to make sure claims handling practices are up to standard. Its the latest update on fines against property insurers. In May, OIR announced it fined Centauri Specialty Insurance $100,000 for using adjusters who were not properly appointed. In 2024, the office penalized Heritage Property and Casualty Insurance with a $1 million fine. The carrier had hired unlicensed or non-appointed adjusters to review more than 4,800 claims after Hurricanes Irma and Ian hit the state in in 2017 and 2022, OIR said. These fines are proof positive that we are committed to holding them accountable, Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said in a statement Tuesday, when the fines were reported. Here is a sampling of some of the findings in the 2025 exam reports: For American Coastal, in almost 22% of claims reviewed by OIR, the carrier utilized adjusters who were not properly appointed. Also in 22% of claims reviewed, AmCoastal did not include the license number of the adjuster when communicating with insureds. In 20% of claims examined, the company did not pay or deny initial or supplemental claims within 90 days, as required by statute. In almost 38% of claims reviewed by OIR, Clear Blue used adjusters that were not properly appointed. In 19% of claims reviewed, the insurer did not acknowledge receipt of claims communications within 14 days. In 16% of claims examined, the OIR found that Sutton National utilized improperly appointed adjusters. Florida Statute 627.70131(6)(a) requires that insurers explain, in 12-point typeface, a statement making it clear that the damage estimate is not final: THIS ESTIMATE REPRESENTS OUR CURRENT EVALUATION OF THE COVERED DAMAGES TO YOUR INSURED PROPERTY AND MAY BE REVISED AS WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE YOUR CLAIM. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR CLAIM, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT US, the disclosure statement must read. Some insurers left the statement out of communications with insureds more than others. American Coastal, for example, was dinged for forgetting the statement in less less than 5% of claims reviewed. Monarch National Insurance was fined for failing to include the statement on 35% of claims examined. TypTap insurance failed to include the statement in almost 47% of claims studied by OIR. In 61% of claims reviewed148 of 241 claimsAmerican Mobile Insurance included a statement that did not comply with the statute. Tower HIll Prime Insurance paid restitution of $46,320 to policyholders after examiners discovered that adjusters did not adjust claims in keeping with the terms of the insurance contract, a July report shows. Most of the insurers claims-handling manuals were found to be up to par. Yaworsky noted that the fines will not lead to higher premiums for the carriers policyholders. Two additional exam reports are pending. The market conduct examination reports can be found here. Topics Carriers Florida A quick-moving wildfire burned homes in a California Gold Rush town settled around 1850 by Chinese miners, forcing evacuations and destroying properties. The fire rapidly expanded to 6,473 acres, forcing the evacuation Tuesday of the Chinese Camp Town and surrounding highways, according to CalFire. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. The fire is 0% contained. Evacuation orders have been issued. The blaze, known as the 6-5 Fire, was caused by lightning on Tuesday, according to CalFire. It is one of several fires called the TCU September Lighting Complex, which has burned more than 19 square miles in multiple locations in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties as of early Wednesday. At least five homes were burning in the rural town, which has a mix of freestanding and mobile homes. Outside one house on Tuesday evening, seven people quickly moved large tree branches away from the structure and shoveled sand onto the fire in a desperate attempt to keep the blaze from spreading from the house next door. They worked for about 30 minutes until firefighters arrived. An RV on the property was damaged by the fire. Fire officials have requested additional resources such as fire engines, dozers and an aircraft. The 6-5 Fire in Tuolumne County has grown rapidly today and remains active with no containment, a CalFire update states. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place with widespread warnings extending further. Incident Command has requested significant resources, including engines, dozers, crews, and aircraft, as the fire burns at a dangerous rate of spread and threatens multiple structures. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters California Wildfire The European Commission presented an EU trade accord with South America's Mercosur bloc for approval today, hoping to win over the main critics of the deal - France, Poland and European farmers including in Ireland - with promises of safeguards. The European Union and the bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay reached the free trade agreement last December, some 25 years after negotiations were launched. Now it will be put up for consent in the European Union, requiring a vote in the European Parliament and a qualified majority among EU governments, meaning 15 of 27 members representing 65% of the EU population. Neither is a given. The Commission and proponents such as Germany and Spain say the Mercosur deal offers a way to offset the loss of trade due to tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump and to reduce reliance on China, notably for critical minerals. France, the EU's largest beef producer, has previously branded the deal "unacceptable", while Poland, another farming heavyweight, has repeatedly expressed its opposition. He said the situation would have Irish farmers producing beef subject to the most stringent sustainability and environmental regulations that would sit side-by-side on European supermarket shelves with cheaper South American beef produced to notably lower standards of regulation, health and traceability on ex-forest land. Mr. Drennan called on the Irish Government to make a united case with other Member States most specifically, France and form a blocking element that will halt any ratification process. Hoping to offset their concerns, the Commission will propose a mechanism whereby preferential Mercosur access for sensitive farm products such as beef could be suspended if the imported market share or volumes rose by 10% or prices fell by that amount, a European official said. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that his country continued to oppose the deal, but no longer had other partners to block it. It was then essential to have such a defence measure in place, he said. The EU executive has said the Mercosur agreement is the largest it has ever agreed in terms of tariff reductions and is a necessary part of the EU's push to diversify trade ties. Since Trump's re-election last November, the EU has gone into overdrive in seeking trade alliances, accelerating talks with India, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates and deepening ties with existing free trade partners Britain, Canada and Japan. The Commission will also present an updated EU-Mexico agreement, struck in January, on Wednesday. European farmers have repeatedly protested over the Mercosur deal, saying it would lead to cheap imports of South American commodities, notably beef, that do not meet the EU's green and food safety standards. The Commission has denied this is the case. European green groups also oppose the accord. Friends of the Earth has called it a "climate-wrecking" deal. They hope it will be blocked, either in the parliament, where the Greens and far right are critics, or by EU governments. However it now appears that there will not be a large enough group of governments to reject the deal. EU proponents of the deal see Mercosur as a growing market for European cars, machinery and chemicals and a reliable source of critical minerals for its green transition, such as battery metal lithium, for which Europe is now dependent on China. They also point to agricultural benefits, given the deal would offer greater access and lower tariffs for EU cheeses, ham and wine. Reuters Many in the Irish food industry are breathing sighs of relief as they evaluate the latest EU-US tariffs agreement, even as some nations still pick themselves off the floor after huge Trump tariffs slammed the trading door in their faces. The small print in the EU-US Joint Statement on Transatlantic Trade and Investment indicated that the 15% Trump tariff on most EU goods will not be stacked. Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said: "This is positive for Irish butter exports in particular, which since April have faced an additional tariff rate of 10%, stacked on a pre-existing tariff of 16%." Conor Mulvihill of Dairy Industry Ireland agreed. For our key dairy sector, which exports over 90% of its output, all tariffs are regrettable. However, the confirmation that EU exports will now be subject to a single 15% tariff rate, with no additional stacked duties, is particularly important for Irish dairy products such as butter, which had faced a combined tariff burden of over 25% since April." Ireland exported about 1.9bn of food and drink products into the US market in 2024 (11% of our total food and drink exports). Dairy at 830m and drinks, predominantly whiskey, at 900m, account for 91%. Ireland also sends about 23m of pigmeat, 8.8m of beef, and 3.8m of seafood to the USA. Tariffs will not affect the dairy trade as much as feared. For example, Irish butter was always subject to a tariff of about 16%, which now falls to 15%. The US had a 14.9% tariff on cheese, and the new tariff for EU cheese will be 15%, practically unchanged. Other regions' exporters to the USA have not been so fortunate, because new Trump tariffs were stacked on the existing tariffs they incurred. This means that many in the Irish and EU food industries may have done better than exporters in the UK, despite Trump agreeing a 10% tariff for the UK, and 15% for the EU. The impact on the UK The subtle difference in the deals is illustrated by the case of England's famous Stilton cheese, exports of which to the USA will incur Trump's 10% tariff on top of existing tariffs, for a total import duty of between 23% and 27%. The US-UK trade deal also opened Britains borders to 1.4 billion litres of tariff-free American ethanol. This has accelerated the closure of the Vivergo bioethanol plant in Yorkshire, which purchases up to one million tonnes of grain annually from more than 4,000 UK farms. The Vivergo owners said regulations to favour foreign producers", and removing tariffs on US bioethanol, undermined Vivergo's commercial viability. The UK's other bioethanol company, Ensus, may also close, due to the UK-US trade deal. The deal also gave new, tariff-free access to the UK beef market for 13,000 tonnes of hormone-free beef from the USA, and a tariff reduction on the existing 1,000 tonne beef quota from 20% to zero. That will threaten beef farmers in both the UK and in Ireland, which is the dominant import supplier of beef in the UK, but must now compete against more US beef. The effect of the deal on the EU Still, the Irish and EU food and agriculture sectors are mostly relieved, after President Trump's threatened 30% tariffs were avoided. In the broader economic context, Ireland and the EU have also welcomed the US commitment that pharmaceuticals (Europes top export to the US, which President Trump had threatened to tax at up to 200%), semiconductors, and lumber are included in the 15% tariff ceiling. It looks like the EU will also settle for a 15% tariff ceiling for cars (replacing a current 27.5%), and zero or close to zero tariffs on EU products such as cork, aircraft and aircraft parts, and generic pharmaceuticals and their ingredients and chemical precursors. For steel and aluminium, the EU and US will work on solutions to ensure secure supply chains, including tariff rate quotas. The EU will eliminate tariffs on industrial goods imported from the US, and will significantly improve market access for certain American seafoods, nuts, dairy products, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, processed foods, grains and planting seeds, soybean, pork and bison meat. The EU says this makes imports that EU industry and end-consumers need from the US cheaper and more available, but without compromising any EU trading sensitivities around products such as beef, poultry, rice, or ethanol. The EU and US agreed to reduce non-tariff barriers (but there is no question of negotiating EU sanitary and phytosanitary rules or standards, said the commission). Still, exporters of EU products previously tariffed in the USA at only 4.8% on average will be disadvantaged by the new 15% customs duty, and it nearly trebles the existing average 5.5% US tariff rate on EU food products. The deal includes the EU purchasing $750 billion of US energy and buying vast amounts of military equipment. The EU has also pledged to invest an additional $600 billion in the US. A new world trade order It's a better deal than many other US trading partners managed to negotiate, but reactions have varied widely, and it will take time for the real effects to show. President Trump is bringing about a new world trading order of arbitrarily and unilaterally imposed import duties on exports to the US. These duties are paid by the American importer, who has to ask for a discount from the supplier, or raise the price for US consumers (and US manufacturers using imported raw materials), thus hurting the American economy by increasing the rate of inflation. Meanwhile, a continuing trade war with countries who do not agree a trade deal with the US further damages the world economy. Some economists predict an inflation surge in the US of an additional 3%, and say the US itself would be one of the most negatively affected economies (apart perhaps from Mexico and Canada). How would President Trump respond? Would he raise tariffs even further? That would not come as a surprise to many. The Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival has released details of its visual arts programme for the upcoming Cork event. Though primarily seen as a music-based festival, the 2025 edition of the biennial gathering has expanded both its film and visual arts strands. Highlights include a screening of Dorothy Crosss new film, Kinship Home, which documents the Cork artists project to return a mummified body back to its homeland in Egypt. Major players in the housing sector have called on the Government to get tough with objectors to housing and infrastructure projects, saying there should be a social stigma associated with objections to developments that serve the "greater good". The chief executive of the State's Land Development Agency (LDA), John Coleman, raised concerns about a cultural phenomenon in Ireland that sees judicial reviews taken against major housing and infrastructure projects. Why isnt it a social stigma to object to schemes that are critical for the greater good? Mr Coleman said. On the mechanics of judicial reviews, how do we make a higher bar to object? It can prevent the scheme that everyone needs from going ahead. The LDA chief was speaking during a Beauchamps housing conference in Dublin, where he said the State has hamstrung itself by "gold-plating" environmental regulations handed down by the EU. Angela Ryan, a senior manager for asset management at Uisce Eireann, raised concerns about projects being stuck in the planning system, citing long lead-in times for developments that are crucial to delivering new homes. The lead-in times for projects have extended significantly. We can have a major project that might only take four and a half years to construct, but can be going through planning and consenting stages and approval stages for 10 years prior to that, Ms Ryan said. The chief executive of the State's Land Development Agency (LDA), John Coleman, raised concerns about a 'cultural phenomenon' in Ireland that sees judicial reviews taken against major housing and infrastructure projects. Picture: Mike Shaughnessy / exporsure.ie 'Checks and balances' Ms Ryan accepted there is a need for checks and balances within the planning system, but said they must be weighted correctly. She called for a streamlined planning process for critical infrastructure, saying these projects can have a knock on impact on the economy and jobs. Stephen Garvey, the chief executive of housing building giant Glenveagh, called on the Government to take zoning powers away from local authorities if they decline to zone significant levels of land for housing development. Housing minister James Browne has instructed local authorities to begin the process of revising their development plans, with an explicit call to zone land for up to 55,000 homes per year. Mr Garvey said the 55,000 target should be a floor for zoning and, if councils dont meet that target, Mr Browne should intervene. The minister has ultimate power here. If he uses the planning regulators office to say thats now a minimum, thats a floor that you all have to get to. If you dont enact that, Ill take the powers from you, Mr Garvey said. It comes as Mr Browne said the Governments revised housing plan would be published in either late September or early October. The number of crimes investigated using the DNA database increased by nearly 40% last year, Cabinet will hear on Wednesday. Justice minister Jim OCallaghan will brief ministers on the 2024 annual report of the DNA database system oversight committee. It is expected the Fianna Fail minister will say that there is an increasing use of DNA in Irish criminal justice cases. Forensic Science Ireland is exchanging data with 16 countries. Mr OCallaghan will say that the database assisted in 1,000 investigations last year, up 40% on 2023. There were 83,489 DNA profiles in the system at the end of last year, an increase of 12% on 2023 numbers. There were 61,354 DNA profiles on the Reference Index, an increase of 10.69% since 2023. Mr OCallaghan will also tell Cabinet that the purchase of Citywest by the State was completed last week. Tariffs With the 15% US tariffs now in effect, Tanaiste Simon Harris will tell Cabinet that Irish exporters will continue to be negatively impacted by the changed trading environment. In the first six months of this year, Ireland exported more than in the entire year of 2024 indicating that significant exports were brought forward to get ahead of the introduction of tariffs. Imports for the same period remain broadly in line with last year, as such the trade surplus with the US has increased from 22.4bn to 64.4bn for the first half of 2025. Mr Harris will outline his view that Budget 2026 must take measures to help businesses facing uncertainty in the wake of the tariffs. The Tanaiste will also update Cabinet following the decision to dispose of Unifil. Elsewhere, the national disability strategy will be brought to Cabinet by ministers Norma Foley and Hildegarde Naughton. It will be launched held on Wednesday afternoon. The census in 2022 found that approximately 22% population, 1.11m people, reported living with some form of disability. Actions in the plan will be focused on five key areas including inclusive learning and education, employment, independent living and active participation in society, wellbeing and health, and transport and mobility. The strategy contains 23 commitments in total, each with several priority actions for delivery in 2025 and 2026. The minister for sport, Patrick O'Donovan, will seek Cabinet approval for the development of the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin, with an estimated budget of 99.6m over the next three years. Gardai have arrested a woman in Dublin over online threats made against the Tanaiste Simon Harris and his family. The woman, who is in her 30s, was arrested by gardai who are investigating threats made on social media over the weekend and which explicitly mentioned Mr Harris' children. In a statement on Tuesday night, An Garda Siochana said, "Gardai investigating recent online threats against an elected representative have arrested a woman in her 30s today, Tuesday 2nd September 2025. "The woman is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. An Garda Siochana is not providing any further information at this time." She has since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. On Monday, the Fine Gael leader, who lives in Co Wicklow, said the threats were despicable and could not be tolerated. The Tanaiste has previously been at the receiving end of threats, including on social media and a bomb threat, as well as protests outside his home by far-right anti-immigrant agitators. In a statement on Monday, Mr Harris said: "This weekend, I received direct threats targeting my family. "As a father, I have very strong views and feelings on this as you can imagine. As a political leader, I find it unacceptable in every way. "Let me be clear: threatening people any person is a crime. Threatening children is despicable. It is cowardice and it is a line that no decent society should tolerate being crossed." The Tanaiste said he would not be commenting further as the garda investigation is ongoing. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that not only were the threats unacceptable but represented a threat to the democratic State. I condemn unreservedly the abhorrent threats made to Tanaiste Simon Harris and his family. Such threats to people in public life are unacceptable. "They are a fundamental threat to our democracy." The garda investigation is being led by detectives in Wicklow, but they are receiving the assistance of the Special Detective Unit (SDU) and the Garda National Crime Cyber Bureau. The SDU is the operational arm of the Garda Security and Intelligence Service and has been involved in assisting or leading previous investigations into violent threats against Government minister and senior politicians. A cabin crew member who suffered a miscarriage following a transatlantic flight from Dublin to Toronto is pursuing a complaint for unfair dismissal against Aer Lingus. Amy Donnelly claims that she was constructively dismissed by the airline after issues that arose from the miscarriage and a separate incident in which she alleged that her hearing had been damaged by a screeching noise from a plane door. In addition to the claim for unfair dismissal, Ms Donnelly has also filed complaints against Aer Lingus to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) under the Protected Disclosures Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act. She told an adjudication hearing this week that she suffered a miscarriage after disembarking a flight to Toronto in September 2023. She informed a company representative upon her return to Dublin, who was very genuine and offered support. Pic: Former Aer Lingus cabin crew member Amy Donnelly. Ms Donnelly told them that she did not want to work on transatlantic flights because she didnt feel comfortable with the prospect and was scared to be on her own again following the miscarriage. She was absent on sick leave for a week and, upon her return, she received a phone call saying that she had 90 minutes to report for a flight to Newark, New Jersey. Ms Donnelly said she was upset and panicked, but was told that if she didnt report for duty, she would be marked FTJ (failure to join), which she claimed was a sackable offence. This was disputed by a legal representative for Aer Lingus. 'Screeching noise' In her complaint, Ms Donnelly claimed that she encountered significant difficulties with rostering arrangements in the following months as she sought to avoid transatlantic flights, which she described as exhausting. On May 31, 2024, she was stationed beside a rear door on an aircraft that was making a screeching noise for four back-to-back flights, according to her testimony. She reported this to her superior and was advised that the captain had been informed. It was extremely loud, she told the WRC. My ears became sore throughout the end of the duties, my hearing was muffled, and I could just hear the ringing constantly in my ears. It was painful. Ms Donnelly subsequently suffered bleeding from her nose and ears, and went straight to her GP after finishing work. She was given a sick cert covering the period up to June 10. A few days later, she sent an email to the company, noting that she was being rostered for an average of one transatlantic flight per week, and sought help with avoiding these as much as possible. She claims that there was no improvement in her roster, however, and it actually became worse. Her sick leave was extended as she was still experiencing pain in her ears, and this was affecting her balance. 'The last straw' She told the WRC that she encountered issues with payment during her certified leave and, following her return to work in July, was advised that she had no annual leave left, which led to a panic attack. I just felt like, between the miscarriage, my rostering, the sick pay deductions, my injury at work with the ear, and now my leave, it was just the last straw, said Ms Donnelly. I had felt so disheartened and just overwhelmed with everything. I felt like the company had let me down She provided a letter from her doctor to Aer Lingus on July 26, stating that she had been experiencing significant stress and anxiety, and required additional support from her employer to protect her mental health. She underwent a medical assessment and it was recommended that she be accommodated with early, short, single European flights, and work no more than five consecutive days with two rest days in between, avoiding work on weekends. After eight weeks of this managed roster, Ms Donnelly was expected to be fit to resume normal duties, according to the assessment. 'Panic attacks and breakdowns' She claims that this was not accommodated, however, and she continued to be rostered for transatlantic flights. She continued to experience panic attacks and breakdowns and went on certified sick leave again. On November 5, Ms Donnelly made the decision to resign from her job. She said the companys failure to support her had taken its toll, and she had no faith or hope that it would help her. They werent going to listen to the doctors, they werent going to listen to me. They didnt want to help me, she told the WRC. I was completely crushed. This was my dream job. Elaine Mettler, representing Aer Lingus, argued that there was no medical basis for Ms Donnellys request to avoid transatlantic flights, and this had merely been her preference. She also noted that Ms Donnelly had only actually worked one transatlantic flight during the six months from October 2023 to February 2024. Ms Mettler said the way Aer Lingus rosters staff had been cited as a source of great personal distress, but she said the company was managing more than 2,000 cabin crew and up to 800 pilots. It was a highly regulated and complicated business, she added. She insisted that there had been ample support available to Ms Donnelly in the challenges that she was having. Ms Mettler disputed Ms Donnellys contention that Aer Lingus had not honoured the managed roster following her medical assessment. There was a difference between the roster actually worked and the one that is planned, she said. Ms Donnelly may have been assigned transatlantic flights but this would have been manually changed in accordance with medical advice, she explained. Asked by Ms Mettler why she had resigned instead of returning to see how it went with the managed roster, Ms Donnelly said it was because of how the company had already been treating me, when the managed roster was in place. The hearing was adjourned and will continue in December. Plans for almost 470 new homes in north Cork have been approved despite opposition from a group of residents in Mallow who expressed concern that the development is premature in the absence of appropriate infrastructure. An Coimisiun Pleanala has granted planning permission for 469 residential units as part of a large-scale residential development at Castlepark, St Josephs Road to the east of Mallow town centre. The plans provide for a mix of 305 detached and semi-detached houses, townhouses and bungalows and 164 apartments and duplex units in buildings up to three storeys in height. Other facilities on the 18.2-hectare site include a creche with a community room and interpretative centre/cafe, while a total of 94 units will be made available for social and affordable housing. Appeal The Commission rejected an appeal made on behalf of residents of St Josephs Road and associated housing estates against the decision of Cork County Council to grant planning permission for the proposed development by Reside (Castlepark) Limited. Subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions, the Commission said the development would constitute an acceptable density in an urban location and would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or other properties in the vicinity. It noted the lands were specifically zoned for housing development and concluded that the plans were acceptable in terms of layout, urban design, height and unit mix as well as in relation to traffic, pedestrian safety and convenience. The proposed development was opposed by a group of residents from St Josephs Road and Aldworth Heights in Mallow who claimed it was premature due to the lack of adequate social and physical infrastructure to cater for the increased population it would generate. Local residents have grave concerns on the lack of local infrastructure and amenities, unsafe, unsuitable and dangerous narrow local roads, very poor and unsafe footpaths, and no cycleways in the St Josephs Road area, said the groups secretary, Frank Heffernan. Traffic concerns The group also expressed concern that the new housing estate would create traffic gridlock in the area. St Josephs Road currently lacks local community-based services, community facilities and neighbourhood amenities, not to mind the current realities of inadequate roads, poor and unsafe pedestrian footpaths, no cycle paths, and no local public transport, said Mr Heffernan. The group argued no further large-scale residential developments should be allowed in the area until the Mallow Relief Road was operational. They claimed the relief road was absolutely essential due to concern about several new housing developments in Mallow which they claim will add 1,350 new homes to the south-east of the town as well as 2,480 additional vehicles per day. The residents have called on Cork County Council to adopt a strategic planning approach to progress the various residential developments in the pipeline in the area. Mr Heffernan stressed that local residents have no objection to any new housing developments in the area once they are designed and built in a balanced, integrated and effective way. In a 177-page report, a planning inspector with the Commission said she was satisfied that the proposed development was not premature pending the delivery of the relief road as the existing local road network had the capacity to accommodate the volume of traffic likely to be generated by the Castlepark project. Reside said the development had been designed to provide high-quality homes that will contribute positively to Mallow where demand for housing has been consistent. The company claimed it would not give rise to any adverse traffic impacts. It also claimed it was not within s remit to ensure any road improvements within the wider area were completed prior to it submitting a planning application. Reside has committed to carrying out improvement works on lands within its ownership as well as paying a special contribution to Cork County Council towards work on lands owned by the local authority. The company plans to develop the new housing estate in three separate phases over a timeframe of eight years. The UK Metropolitan police have declined to drop their investigation into the comedy writer Graham Linehan for tweets about trans issues, and said that the law used by officers to detain him needs reviewing. The Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, said on Wednesday officers should not be policing toxic culture wars debates, and while any review took place, officers would investigate only more serious cases concerning online messages. Mr Rowley said policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments. The new Met statement followed a largely hostile reaction to the arrest of Mr Linehan on Monday as he arrived at Heathrow airport on a flight from the US. He was arrested for allegedly inciting violence and detained by officers at the airport, who are routinely armed. In a statement, Mr Rowley said: On Monday, officers arrested a man in his 50s at Heathrow in relation to allegations of inciting violence, linked to posts on X. The officers involved in the arrest had reasonable grounds to believe an offence had been committed under the Public Order Act. While the decision to investigate and ultimately arrest the man was made within existing legislation which dictates that a threat to punch someone from a protected group could be an offence I understand the concern caused by such incidents given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world. Most reasonable people would agree that genuine threats of physical violence against an identified person or group should be acted upon by officers. Such actions can and do have serious and violent real-world implications. But when it comes to lesser cases, where there is ambiguity in terms of intent and harm, policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments who have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when theyre reported. Then they are obliged to follow all lines of inquiry and take action as appropriate. I dont believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position. I have offered to provide suggestions to the Home Office on where the law and policy should be clarified. Greater clarity and common sense would enable us to limit the resources we dedicate to tackling online statements to those cases creating real threats in the real world. If agreed, we could be ready to test new approaches quickly, within a matter of weeks. As an immediate way of protecting our officers from the situation we find ourselves in today, we will be putting in place a more stringent triaging process to make sure only the most serious cases are taken forward in future where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder. But officers across the country will have to make similar decisions in future unless the law and guidance is changed or clarified. I hope to see this happen without delay so policings focus can be squarely on tackling priority issues like street crime and serious violence. Mr Linehan, 57, is best known as the co-writer of the Father Ted comedy series and has been vocal about trans issues on social media. The Guardian understands the Met is now talking to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether criminal charges should be brought. Mr Linehan said he was met by five armed officers after flying in from Arizona and told he was under arrest over the tweets. Writing on Substack, the 57-year-old said he was taken to a cell and then questioned over the posts, published on X in April. He said the posts related to him challenging a trans-identified male in a female-only space. Mr Linehan said after questioning by police that his blood pressure was over 200 stroke territory and he was taken to hospital and kept under observation before being discharged and released on bail. In its first statement the Met said: On Monday, September 1, at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight. The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X. After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing. He has now been bailed pending further investigation. The arrest was made by officers from the MPS aviation unit. It is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms. These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest. - The Guardian Fine Gaels presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has promised to return to the Gaeltacht to learn Irish if she is elected President. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Ms Humphreys said that while she could speak a cupla focal, she had not used Irish since leaving school. I passed Irish in my leaving cert and like a lot of people in this country, I went out to the world of work and didnt use Irish, Ms Humphreys. Ms Humphreys said she visited the Gaeltacht in 2017 during her time as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, adding that she found the language returning to her. I promise that if I am elected as President, I will return to the Gaeltacht and I will learn Irish, Ms Humphreys said. The former Social Protection Minister was formally confirmed as Fine Gaels candidate on Tuesday, after MEP Sean Kelly withdrew from the race for the partys nomination. Ms Humphreys said she wanted to use the presidency to facilitate reconciliation and understanding, highlighting her background as a border county Presbyterian. She pointed to her role in overseeing the 1916 commemorations, noting that while there had been concerns they might prove divisive, they instead brought people together. There was a real sense of national pride and identity. I think we need to get back to that, that sense of community, that sense of bringing people together and building bridges, Ms Humphreys said. Thatll be very much at the centre of my campaign. Ms Humphreys said she was old enough to recall the Troubles, highlighting how she grew up on a farm just six miles from the border. What I can say is thankfully that violence is gone, but peace is something we still have to work on, Ms Humphreys. I do feel I am uniquely placed to reach out to communities in Northern Ireland and build on the good work already done in breaking down barriers and building trust. Its only when we have a united people that we can have a united Ireland. The former Cavan-Monaghan TD said there needed to be a conversation about a united Ireland, but stressed it must be inclusive and efforts must be made to engage communities who do not normally take part. Ms Humphreys said she would not be a Fine Gael president when asked about her partys 14 years in power. The President is above party politics and I want to be a president for all the people on our island, Ms Humphreys said. On the limits of the office, Ms Humphreys said she would remain within the constitutional boundaries of the presidency, but declined to say if President Michael D. Higgins had strayed beyond them. Theres no point in people promising in this election that theyre going to solve every problem in the country, because thats not the role of the President, Ms Humphreys said. If I felt there was an issue I should speak out on, I would do so, but I would be very careful not to breach the constitutional limits of the role of the President. Asked if she would accept the salary of the position, Ms Humphreys said she would, but pledged to return her ministerial pension to the State, as President Higgins has done. After 20 years of stop-start negotiations, the EUs proposed trade deal with the Mercosur bloc Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay is moving from theory to reality. On Wednesday, the European Commission will present the updated text to the College of Commissioners before it is sent to member states and then to the European Parliament for scrutiny. The commissions aim is to have everything tied down ahead of an EU-Brazil summit this December. In the meantime, MEPs, particularly members of the agriculture and international trade committees of which I am a member of both will be scrutinising the deal closely in the days ahead. This moment comes against a backdrop of deep uncertainty in global trade. The US has imposed wide-ranging 15% tariffs on EU and Irish exports, while protectionism more generally continues to rise worldwide. Faced with the threat of an all-out trade war with our largest trading partner, the commission, in my view, struck the best deal it could. However, it may well be the case that volatility is the new normal. In response, as well as protecting our relationship with the US, the EU has also sought to lock in new agreements with the rest of the world. Deals with India and Indonesia are being finalised, while another with Mexico is also being published today. For Ireland, the Mercosur agreement, from what we know already, presents both opportunities and concerns. Our country already enjoys a 1bn trade surplus with Mercosur nations, exporting 1.7bn worth and importing 700m. More than 269 Irish companies currently export to the region, supporting over 2,300 jobs. Medical devices, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and electrical equipment are already strong performers. There is a potential for these and other sectors, including spirits and dairy products today facing tariffs of 20%35% when exporting to the Mercosur nations to make even more ground in a region of 260m consumers. Beef farmers concerned But not every sector sees the Mercosur deal this positively and for good reason. For beef farmers, in particular, the deal raises serious concerns. This has led to farmers and their representative bodies in countries like Ireland, France, and others becoming vocal opponents of the deal, which would allow an additional 99,000 tonnes of beef imports into Europe phased in over seven years. That comes on top of the 200,000 tonnes already arriving from Mercosur nations. While this represents just over 1% of total EU beef production, for individual farmers, it is far from abstract and could impact the bottom line. Even putting aside potential impacts on price, its also true that environmental and animal welfare regulations already weigh heavily on farmers. The idea that we can ask them to meet the highest EU standards only to be undercut by imports produced under looser rules is unacceptable. Not everything is about the bottom line; it is also about the principle in this case, reciprocity and fairness in trade. That is why, since joining the European Parliament last year, I have consistently pressed the commission including in direct engagements with trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic, agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen, and their teams to use the time since the political agreement in December 2024 to strengthen safeguards and respond to the concerns of farmers in Ireland and across the EU. It is my understanding that the commission has listened and will today reinforce safeguards protecting sensitive European products against any harmful surge in imports from Mercosur with a dedicated legal instrument and will strengthen food import controls by increasing the number of audits and underpinned by controls on the ground. The commission will also look into potential alignment of production standards on pesticides and animal welfare applicable to imported products. I will now be studying these proposals in detail, line by line, before coming to conclusions and deciding if they are sufficient to earn the trust and support of farmers. Future of agriculture It is also important to see the proposed Mercosur deal in the wider context of the future of Irish and European agriculture. When I meet farmers across the constituency, three priorities come up time and again: Securing the extension of the nitrates derogation beyond its scheduled expiry at years end; Fighting for an increased Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget as part of the EUs next Multiannual Financial Framework; Preventing any Mercosur outcome that would be punitive for farmers. Many farmers particularly with beef prices at record highs fuelled by increased exports and new markets accept that the other two priorities are just as important, if not more so, than the Mercosur deal itself. They also recognise the reality that we cannot expect to secure every demand, particularly with the EU budget under severe strain from post-covid repayments, lingering Brexit fallout and the demand for increased investment in security and defence. That is why I have said before and repeat now: I will not reject this deal out of hand, nor will I endorse it without proper scrutiny. Those who demand we just say no are the same voices who wanted us to spurn engagement with Trump while expecting no adverse consequences, who demanded a bigger CAP budget while ignoring calls from eastern Europe for more funding to defend its borders, and told us we need to prioritise new markets for our businesses while vetoing all trade agreements. That is not a strategy it is populism, pure and simple. My commitment to Irish farmers today is clear: I will study the final text carefully, not for headlines or political point-scoring, but to ensure Irish farmers, businesses, and consumers are represented. If the safeguards are strong, if the deal genuinely strengthens competitiveness in an unstable world, and, separately, if commitments on CAP and the nitrates derogation are forthcoming, then support may be justified. If not, I will not hesitate to say so. The EU-Mercosur deal should not be about slogans. It sits in the context of the ongoing challenge to positively shape Ireland and Europes place in a changing world. Whether the commission has grasped this since last December will dictate my next moves. Barry Cowen is a Fianna Fail MEP for Ireland Midlands-Northwest Plans for 170 homes in Cork City have been appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala. Cork City Council gave the green light last month for a new large-scale residential development adjacent to Musgrave Park, which the developers said would 'rejuvenate' the local community. BML Duffy Property Group Limited sought planning permission in June to transform a long-vacant industrial site into a new housing scheme, with the plans including 170 new homes on the former Vita Cortex site, a 1.2-hectare brownfield plot located between the Kinsale Road and Pearse Road. The plans comprised 158 apartments and 12 townhouse apartments. The homes would be distributed across four blocks, the tallest of which reaching nine storeys. The development also included plans for a creche, a cafe and a management office on the ground floor level of the third block, as well as four new retail units on the bottom floor of the fourth apartment building. Some 514 bicycle spaces were also included in the plans, as well as nine motorcycle spaces and 82 shared car parking spaces. However, the plans have now been appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala following more than 30 submissions from local residents and nearby sports clubs. Among those was Philip Quinn of the Munster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), who said that while the union does not object in principle to much-needed housing, it wished to highlight a potential for conflict between existing operations at Virgin Media Park and the proposed site. "Our operations include regular fixtures, training seasons, and outdoor music concert events many of which are inherently noise-generating, Mr Quinn said. The old Vita Cortex site, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan "Both the developers and future residents must be made fully aware of the potential impacts associated with living close to an active sports and events facility." Concerns from local residents included apartment height, daylight loss, the potential impact on traffic and environmental fears. In its planning statement, BML Duffy said the scheme would "rejuvenate this part of the city and deliver a new residential neighbourhood of an appropriate scale and mix of uses that responds to these strategic objectives. They added that it will make a high-quality contribution to the evolving sustainable regeneration of this area of the city at an appropriate density and height, which will strengthen the character of the area and support the existing community. The Vita Cortex site, which has been vacant since the foam company ceased operations in 2011, has remained unused for more than a decade and was placed by the city council on the Derelict Sites list in 2017. The disused building suffered fire damage in the summer of 2022, amid a wider string of vandalism targeting derelict properties across Cork City. The old Vita Cortex site, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan The brownfield plot was also the location of one of the longest-running industrial relations protests in the States history. In 2011, 23 workers occupied the plant for more than 160 days in a dispute over redundancy payments. The protest concluded after the workers secured an undisclosed settlement from company owner Jack Ronan, following high-profile support from figures such as Alex Ferguson, Paul McGrath, former President Mary Robinson, philosopher Noam Chomsky, and actor Cillian Murphy. An Coimisiun Pleanala are due to decide on the case by December 17, 2025. US president Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" in Russian president Vladimir Putin and added without elaborating that his administration was planning to take some actions to bring down deaths in Russia's war in Ukraine. The Republican leader also said he was not concerned about warm ties between Russia and China. Trump held a summit with Putin in Alaska in mid-August and subsequently met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European and NATO alliance leaders at the White House. Following those meetings, Trump said he expected Zelenskyy and Putin to hold a bilateral meeting before a trilateral meeting that would also include Trump. Zelenskyy has said Russia was doing everything it could to prevent a meeting between him and Putin, while Russia says the agenda for such a meeting was not ready. "I am very disappointed in president Putin, I can say that, and we will be doing something to help people live," Trump said in an interview on The Scott Jennings Radio Show. Trump has told Zelenskyy that Washington would help guarantee Ukraine's security in any deal. Trump has also renewed a threat to impose further sanctions on Russia if there is no progress toward a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. Russia occupies around a fifth of Ukraine, and Trump has said "land-swapping" and changes to territory will be crucial for any settlement. Ukraine opposes the idea of legally recognizing any Ukrainian territory as Russian. But it has tacitly acknowledged it will almost certainly have to accept some de facto territorial losses. Trump was also asked in the interview if he was concerned "about an axis forming against the United States with China and Russia." Trump said: "I am not concerned at all." He added: "We have the strongest military in the world, by far. They would never use their military on us. Believe me." Chinese president Xi Jinping hosted Putin for talks in China, calling him his "old friend." Xi also held talks on Monday with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, whose country has been targeted by Trump over its purchases of Russian oil. Reuters The leaders of 26 countries and other foreign representatives joined Chinese President Xi Jinping to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with a military parade in the Chinese capital on Wednesday, in a show of solidarity among nations friendly to Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who made a rare foreign trip to attend, flanked Mr Xi as they climbed to the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square and watched the display of military hardware and marching troops. Observers say the joint appearance was a show of unity against the United States. Leaders from the US, western Europe, Japan and India were not present at the event, and countries like South Korea and Singapore sent lower-level officials. Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Mahesh Kumar/AP) But Mr Xis guest list showed Beijings growing influence in the global south and other emerging economies. Mr Putin and Mr Kim, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, are all considered US adversaries. Russias close ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko walked next to Mr Kim after taking group pictures with other leaders. Mr Putin and Mr Kim chatted animatedly with Mr Xi as they climbed up the stairs to the viewing platform. As they walked on the red carpet after taking group pictures, Mr Xi said Long time, no see to Mr Kim through an interpreter. Asia accounted for the majority of national leaders at the event. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who initially cancelled his trip to China because of protests at home, made it to Beijing and took part in the event with his counterparts in Southeast Asia, such as Cambodias King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Myanmars military leader, Min Aung Hlaing and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith also joined the event. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, right, and his son Nikolai (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool/AP) Also attending from South Asia were Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.From Central Asia came Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyzstans President Sadyr Japarov, Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkmenistans President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. Mongolias President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa also attended. Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Republic of Congos President Denis Sassou Nguesso were also on the guest list. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel was the only leader from the Americas to attend. Other guests were Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev and Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The guest list had heavy overlap with the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation days earlier, but there were some notable departures before the parade, including representatives from India and Turkey. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted warm words about meetings with Mr Xi and Mr Putin on social media platform X. He posted a picture of himself and Mr Putin traveling together, saying that conversations with him are always insightful, and wrote that he had a fruitful meeting with Mr Xi. Other than Mr Putin and Mr Lukashenko, few European leaders attended the parade. Serbia sent Russia-friendly President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakia sent Prime Minister Robert Fico. But former Romanian prime ministers Adrian Nastase and Viorica Dancila took the group picture with current leaders. Other former foreign leaders were also on the guest list, including former New Zealand prime ministers Helen Clark and John Key, as well as Daniel Andrews, the former premier of the Australian state of Victoria. Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel as they were working to clear roadblocks, the force said on Wednesday. No-one was hurt in the attack. The peacekeeping force known as Unifil described the Tuesday incident as one of the most serious attacks on Unifil personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities in November that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war. The Israeli military said later Wednesday that it did not intentionally target the peacekeepers, but dropped several sonic bombs near a suspect in a border area. It added that it had made contact with the peacekeeping force and explained what happened. UNIFIL statement on attack on peacekeepers clearing roadblocks: Yesterday morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drones dropped four grenades close to UNIFIL peacekeepers working to clear roadblocks hindering access to a UN position close to the Blue Line. UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) September 3, 2025 Unifil said Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to the peacekeepers, who were working to clear roadblocks that hindered access to a UN position along the border line. One grenade hit within 20 yards and three others within approximately 100 yards of UN personnel and vehicles, it said, adding the drones were seen returning toward Israel. Unifil said the Israeli military had been informed in advance of the peacekeeping forces road clearance work in the area, southeast of the village of Marwahin less than a mile from the border line. Out of concern for the safety of peacekeepers following the incident, yesterdays work was suspended, Unifil said. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric when asked whether Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accepted Israels explanation that it did not intentionally target the peacekeepers, said: Whether or not they meant to do it what I can tell you is that the Israeli Defence Forces were fully informed in advance of the work that we were doing on road clearance in that area. He said that UN officials were relieved that no one was hurt. But this could have been very tragic indeed. France, which has a large force within Unifil, condemned the attack, saying that the respect of its members applies to all parties without exception. Qatar called it a grave violation of international humanitarian law, and the UN Security Council resolution that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war. The attack came after the UN Security Council voted unanimously last week to terminate the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon at the end of next year after nearly five decades, bowing to demands from the United States and Israel. The multinational peacekeeping force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in southern Lebanon for decades, including during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. The force has also drawn criticism from both sides and from officials in US President Donald Trumps administration, which has cut US. funding for the operation as Mr Trump remakes Americas approach to foreign policy. The Israel-Hezbollah war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused destruction worth 11 billion US dollars (8 billion), according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 people died, including 80 soldiers. Unifil said any actions that endanger UN peacekeepers and assets or interfere with their tasks are unacceptable and a serious violation of international law and the resolution that ended the war. It said it is the Israeli militarys responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the peacekeepers performing Security Council-mandated tasks. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has brought his young daughter on the diplomatic trip to China fuelling speculation that she is being groomed as his likely successor. The girl is believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and is 12 or 13 years old. Not much else is known about her. Since 2022, Kim Jong Un has showcased her at a growing number of major public events tied to his nuclear-armed military, leading to suggestions that she is being primed as the countrys next leader. While North Korean state media have described Mr Kims daughter as beloved and respected, they have never called her by name. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter attend a ceremony at a farm in Pyongyang, North Korea (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) The assumption that the girls name is Ju Ae is based on an account by former NBA champion Dennis Rodman where he recalled holding Kim Jong Uns baby daughter during a trip to Pyongyang in 2013. Ju Aes exact age is unconfirmed but South Korean intelligence officials believe she was born in 2013. In a closed-door briefing to legislators in 2023, South Koreas main spy agency said it believes Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju also have an older son and a younger third child whose gender is unknown. Kim Jong Un beamed as he stepped out of his familys green, armoured train to shake hands with senior Chinese officials upon arrival in Beijing on Tuesday. He was closely followed by Ju Ae. Front from left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive at a military parade in Beijing (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Dressed in a navy pantsuit with her hair styled in a half-updo, a look reminiscent of her mothers public appearances, Ju Ae stood in front of senior North Korean officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. However, she did not make a public appearance the next day as her father shared centre stage with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a massive military parade at Tiananmen Square. The parade demonstrated a deepening alignment between Washingtons adversaries. Ju Aes increasing number of public appearances and presence in state media has led to speculation that she is being primed as her fathers successor. South Koreas national intelligence service issued a careful assessment last year that it views Ju Ae as her fathers likely successor, citing a comprehensive analysis of her public activities and the state protocols provided to her. However, the spy agency said there are still various possibilities regarding North Koreas power succession process because Kim Jong Un, 41, is still young, has no major health issues and has other children. Some South Korean officials and experts initially expressed doubts over Ju Ae as the future heir, citing North Koreas male-nominated power structure. Since its foundation in 1948, North Korea has been successively ruled by male members of the Kim family. Kim Jong Un inherited power upon his father Kim Jong Ils death in late 2011. Kim Jong Il took over power after his father and state founder Kim Il Sung died in 1994. North Koreas state media have yet to make any direct comments on a power succession plan beyond Kim Jong Un. It has also not commented on whether Ju Ae has any siblings. A confidential report by the United Nations nuclear watchdog circulated to member states said on Wednesday that Iran increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels before Israel launched its military attack on June 13. The report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, seen by the Associated Press, said that, as of June 13, Iran had 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, an increase of 32.3 kilograms since the IAEAs last report in May. The report stated that this figure is based on the information provided by Iran, agency verification activities between 17 May 2025 and 12 June 2025 (the day preceding the start of the military attacks), and estimates based on the past operation of the relevant facilities. That material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said inspection of Irans facilities should commence without delay (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader) The confidential report also said Iran and the IAEA have not reached an agreement on resuming inspections of sites affected by Israeli and US bombing in June. The only site inspected since the war has been the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which operates with Russian technical assistance. The director general of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said that technical modalities to enable the full resumption of agency inspection should be concluded without delay, the report stated. The report stated that while the withdrawal of UN inspectors from Iran during the war was necessary given the overall security situation, Tehrans subsequent decision to cut co-operation with the IAEA was deeply regrettable. As of June 13, Irans total enriched uranium stockpile was 9,874.9 kilograms, which represents an increase of 627.3 kilograms since the last report in May, the analysis said. The IAEA said that since June 13, it has not been able to conduct the in-field activities required to collect and verify Irans declarations used to estimate the changes to the previously reported stockpile. According to the IAEA, approximately 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium is theoretically enough to produce one atomic bomb, if enriched further to 90%. The IAEA also reported that inspectors have not been able to verify Irans near bomb-grade stockpile for over two and a half months, which it called a matter of serious concern. A woman branded the Ketamine Queen pleaded guilty on Wednesday to selling Friends star Matthew Perry the drug that killed him. Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty to five federal charges, including providing the ketamine that led to Perrys death. Her trial had been planned to start later this month. She is the fifth and final defendant charged in Perrys overdose death to admit guilt. Prosecutors had cast Sangha, a 42-year-old dual citizen of the US and the UK, as a prolific drug dealer who was known to her customers as the Ketamine Queen, using the term often in press releases and court documents. Making good on a deal she signed on August 18, Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Prosecutors agreed to drop three other counts related to the distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine that was unrelated to the Perry case. The final plea deal came a year after federal prosecutors announced that five people had been charged in Perrys October 28 2023 death after a sweeping investigation. A judge will schedule sentencing for Sangha. She could get up to 65 years in prison. The judge is not bound to follow any terms of the plea agreement, but prosecutors said in the document that they will ask for less than the maximum. None of the co-defendants have been sentenced yet. Sangha and Dr Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty in July, had been the primary targets of the investigation. Three other defendants: Dr Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa; and Erik Fleming; pleaded guilty in exchange for their co-operation, which included statements implicating Sangha and Plasencia. Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home by Iwamasa, his assistant. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anaesthetic, was the primary cause of death. September 3, 2025 An evolving partnership between Idaho State University (ISU) and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is helping secure the nations supply of critical materials used to make a wide range of important technologies, including nuclear fuels. INL and Department of Energy officials, joined by ISU President Robert Wagner, dedicated the Critical Materials and Energy Systems Innovation Center during an Aug. 26 ceremony in Idaho Falls. Formerly known as the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), the Innovation Center supports expanded cooperation between Idahos university students, faculty members and INL researchers to accelerate innovations in critical and strategic materials and minerals. Building on more than a decade of successful partnership under the CAES model, both institutions are leveraging their combined expertise to deliver impactful research and development outcomes. ISU and INL have a long history of successful partnerships and collaborations, said ISU President Robert Wagner. Establishing a critical and strategic materials center positions Idaho as a national leader in critical materials research, driving innovation and economic opportunity across the region while building Americas energy future and safeguarding national security. We continue to seek ways to enhance opportunities for ISU faculty and students to work directly with INL in finding innovative solutions to some of the nations most pressing challenges. Specifically, the Innovation Center will help INL researchers develop recovery, extraction and advanced separation technologies to safely and economically process critical materials. These capabilities found in few facilities across the United States allow researchers to process materials like natural uranium, thorium, cobalt and lithium, supporting domestic production of advanced nuclear reactors, grid-scale energy storage and defense technologies. Idaho is positioned to lead in securing the resources that power everything from renewable energy systems to defense technologies, said INL Director John Wagner. By combining our laboratorys unique capabilities with ISUs academic excellence, were creating a center of excellence for developing resilient, domestic supply chains for critical and strategic materials, including those needed for advanced nuclear fuels. In partnership with ISU and the University of Idaho, the Center will also help prepare Idahos future workforce for careers in advanced energy systems, materials science, advanced manufacturing and national security. By offering hands-on research opportunities and direct industry collaboration, the facility will help students gain in-demand skills while fueling economic growth across Idaho. As the demand for critical materials grows, INL and Idaho universities will work side by side to develop real-world solutions to strengthen Americas supply chain, John Wagner said. Together, were not just solving todays challenges were building the foundation for a resilient energy future powered by American innovation. HARBIN, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was launched Tuesday in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The exhibition, held in the Northeast China Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Hall in Harbin, presents the history of Heilongjiang's 14 years of resistance through documents, photographs and weapons used in that period. Heilongjiang was one of the main battlefields of the resistance in northeast China. The exhibition details the province's resistance history, showing visitors how its patriotic generals bravely led troops to fight against Japanese aggressors, and how the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army contained Japanese forces and provided strategic support for China's resistance war. Visitors are able to interact with AI figures to learn about the daily life of the soldiers during the war and other parts of this period of history. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo 09/02/2025 By Brett Buckner Jacksonville State University's Dr. Jianping Huang, Dr. Mark Sciuchetti, and Jodi Poe received grants from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) for Artificial Intelligence research. Dr. Huang, associate professor of marketing, and Dr. Sciuchetti, senior director of honors and associate professor of Geography, received a $5,000 grant to establish the Geo AI and Marketing Academy within the Lyons Department of Management and Marketing at Jax State's College of Business and Industry. The Academy is aligned with ACHE's All in Alabama initiative, which prepares students for high-growth careers vital to Alabama's economic development. This includes advanced manufacturing, logistics, and technology. The ACHE grant is designed to bring together the studies of geography and marketing, areas that are rarely taught side by side but are increasingly interconnected in the workforce. Artificial intelligence is steadily changing how businesses understand consumers, make decisions, and use data. Dr. Sciuchetti explained that the Geo AI and Marketing Academy micro-credential grant will allow students to keep pace with industry changes and become leaders in careers where AI is an integral part of our growing world. "Personally, it is rewarding to know that students at Jax State will gain access to cutting-edge Generative AI, Geospatial, and Marketing technologies in a way that directly connects their education to career opportunities here in Alabama," he said. "Our goal with this grant is to prepare students for careers by embedding AI skills into existing courses in geography and marketing." Students will learn to use tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, ArcGIS AI, and Smart Eye-tracking software to solve real business problems. They will practice applying these tools in projects that simulate challenges faced by Alabama industries, from retail site selection and logistics planning to consumer behavior research and social media strategy. "Ultimately, this grant will help JSU students graduate with a credential that makes them stand out to employers, while also contributing to the state's broader goal of aligning education with workforce needs," Dr. Sciuchetti said. "The microcredential will help connect our students to industry by involving local businesses and agencies through projects, case studies, and internships to prepare them for jobs in Alabama, thus supporting Alabama's Economic Development." The Academy offers a stackable, credit-bearing credential by integrating AI training into the existing courses, GY208, MKT301, and MKT378. Students who complete the program earn a Jax State digital badge and transcript certification in Geo AI and Marketing. "I really enjoy teaching students new skills in AI, GIS, and Eye Tracking," Dr. Huang said, "as I believe these give them an advantage that students at many other schools don't have." Poe, who is head of library services at Houston Cole Library, was also awarded a $5,000 grant from the ACHE in AI, expanding Jax State's interdisciplinary AI Literacy Microcredential by extending its availability to students. The library began offering a nine-hour Artificial Intelligence Literacy Microcredential in the fall. "We hope to use the grant to expand our AI Literacy microcredential by partnering with departments in high-demand fields with the goal of offering more courses to help build AI competencies in those areas," Poe said. Library faculty will collaborate with Applied Engineering, Criminal Justice, Forensic Investigation, Finance, Nursing, and Respiratory Therapy to develop electives tailored to each discipline using relevant AI tools. Curriculum development is planned for the 20252026 academic year, with implementation in the 20262027 Undergraduate Catalog. This initiative supports ACHE's mission to align academic training with Alabama's workforce needs by equipping students with field-specific AI competencies. The Office of Sponsored Programs collaborates with Jax State faculty and staff. "Through sponsored programs and funded projects, we help empower students to pursue their ambitions, explore their curiosity, and transform their passions into meaningful futures, said. Patty Daigle, assistant director for the Office of Sponsored Programs. "These initiatives not only enhance educational opportunities but also prepare students for success beyond graduation." Only the person who has experienced light and darkness, war and peace, rise and fall, only that person has truly experienced life. Stefan Zweig Throughout wars and even in the calmest situations, journalists, especially independent ones, have always been the target of their governments and their cadres. In this war, which is not a war but a genocide against the people of Gaza, journalists have been hit the hardest. The Israeli defense entity, the most moral army in the world, targeted Shirin Abu Akleh in the West Bank long before October 7th. At 7:04 AM on May 11, 2022, Shireen, working for Al Jazeera, was fatally injured after being shot by Israeli Defense Forces while covering their incursion and raid on the Jenin camp. After her death, Israel prevented the display of Abu Aklehs pictures in the old city of Jerusalem. Her brother, Tony Abu Akleh, stated that authorities prohibited the Palestinian flag from being shown inside the family home. Shirin was a Christian/ Palestinian. She was no terrorist or hiding in hospitals or schools. She was out there, reporting the truth. Until today, no one has been held accountable for her death. Israel has not punished any of the shooters. It is business as usual. Sorry, it was a mistake as they state every time. They didnt shoot her in the body, but they shot her in the neck to kill her. She was reporting in the West Bank, not in Gaza. Then October 7th happened, and the carnage started. No journalist or health care worker was left immune. Those who were targeted mainly worked for Al Jazeera, but the recent casualties worked for Reuters and the Associated Press. No journalists from the main news organizations have been allowed to enter Gaza. The only democracy in the Middle East forbids it. No Western media outlets have been able to report on Gaza. Russia, Iran, Turkey, and China have also incarcerated journalists. In central Moscow, the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead in the elevator of her apartment. She had opposed the second war in Chechen and was a critic of Vladimir Putin. During the Yugoslave wars of 1990s, at least 25 journalists were killed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Kosovo, 37 journalists and media workers lost their lives. In Iran, scores of journalists have rotted in jail. Many have been given long prison sentences, but no journalist has been targeted in such a way as in Gaza, that is, shot at and killed on purpose. It is as if their press credentials are like a death sentence for them. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), as of August 10th of this year, at least 192 journalists, 184 of them Palestinians, have been killed by Israel. The world stays silent or makes a few comments about this carnage. Journalists are the voice of the people who have no voice, yet they are silenced by drones, guns or shrapnel. They all had families, children, wives Hussam al-Masri, was a Reuters journalist killed by Israeli fire while operating a live video feed at Gazas Nasser Hospital. He would tell his colleagues, Tomorrow will be better. In one of his videos, he said, I was happy here with my family-a beautiful family, full of love and affection. we were all happy here and now the house that sheltered us is gone. He was forty-nine years old. Israel is now a pariah state which kills journalists, health care workers, all under the guise of killing Hamas fighters. How many terrorists are there in Gaza? Are all people in Gaza terrorists? Photo by Jana Shnipelson on Unsplash One of the ministers of Netanyahu said recently we must kill 50 Palestinians in Gaza for every Israeli killed on October 7th. According to all estimates more than sixty thousand Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. The number is much higher as many are still under the rubble. Even by the Israeli militarys own estimates, more than 80 percent bombed to pieces were civilians. When will Israel stop this carnage? When will this war machine stop the killing of children? Or stop murdering brave journalists? When two million plus Palestinians are ethnically cleansed from Gaza? The children of Holocaust survivors are speaking out and the Holocaust victims are turning in their graves. They say, stop killing the innocent. Stop targeting journalists. ( Code Pink ) One year ago, the UN General Assembly demanded that Israel must end its occupation of the Palestinian Territories within twelve months. The General Assembly voted, by 124 votes to 14, with 43 abstentions, for a strong resolution that not only demanded an end to the occupation within a year, but called on all countries to refrain from trade involving Israeli settlements and from transfers of weapons where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The General Assembly was meeting on September 18th, 2024, in an Emergency Special Session, invoking the Uniting For Peace principle to act where the UN Security Council has failed to do so. The General Assembly had asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on the legality of the Israeli occupation and the legal consequences arising from it, and the new resolution was triggered by the courts ruling, on July 19th, 2024 that the Israeli occupation is unlawful and must end as rapidly as possible. A year later, Israel has failed to comply with any of the demands of the 124 states. On the contrary. It has escalated its genocide in Gaza by cutting off nearly all food, medicine and humanitarian assistance, launching relentless bombardments, expanding ground incursions, and displacing virtually the entire population. All over the world, people are calling on leaders and politicians to do whatever it takes to put a stop to this holocaust before it goes any further. As world leaders gather again in New York for another UN General Assembly beginning on September 9th, how will they respond to Israels ever-escalating genocide and continued occupation and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem? Grassroots political pressure is building on all of them to turn the strong words in ICJ rulings and UN resolutions into meaningful action to end what the vast majority of the world recognizes as the most flagrant genocide of our time. Countries have taken individual actions to cut off trade with Israel and cancel weapons contracts. Turkey announced a total trade boycott on August 29th, and closed its airspace to Israeli planes and its ports to Israeli ships. Twelve members of the Hague Group, formed to challenge Israeli impunity, have formally committed to banning arms transfers and blocking military-related shipments at their ports. Sweden and the Netherlands have urged the EU to adopt sanctions on Israel, including suspending the EU-Israel trade deal. But most of the 124 countries that voted to demand an end to the occupation have done very little to enforce those demands. If they fail to enforce them now, they will only confirm Israels presumption that its corrupt influence on U.S. politics still ensures blanket impunity for systematic war crimes. In response to this unconscionable state of affairs, Palestines UN Representative has formally asked the UN to authorize an international military protection force for Gaza to help with the delivery of humanitarian aid and protect civilians. So has the largest coalition of Palestinian NGOs, PNGO, as well as pro-Palestine groups and leaders such as Irelands President Michael D. Higgins. Theres a growing global movement calling for the UN General Assembly to take up this request in another Emergency Special Session when it meets this month. That would be well within the authority of the General Assembly in a case like this, where the Security Council has been hijacked by the U.S. abuse of its veto power. Whether or not this initiative for a protective force succeeds, the truth is that the governments of the world already have countless ways to support Palestinethey simply need to muster the political will to act. Israel is a small country that depends on imports from countries all over the world. It has diversified sources for many essential products, and, although the United States supplies 70% of its weapons imports, many other countries also supply weapons and critical parts of its infernal war machine. Israels dependence on complicated international supply chains is the weakest link in its presumption that it can thumb its nose at the world and kill with impunity. If the large majority of countries that have already voted for an end to the occupation are ready to back their words and their votes with coordinated action, a UN-led trade boycott, divestment campaign and arms embargo can put enormous pressure on Israel to end its genocide and starvation of Gaza, and its occupation of Palestine. With full participation by enough countries, Israels position could quickly become unsustainable. Two years into a genocide, it is shameful that the worlds governments havent already done this, and that their people have to plead, protest and push them into action through a dense fog of spin and propaganda, while leaders mouth the right words yet keep doing the wrong things. Many people compare the problem the world faces in Israel to the crisis over apartheid South Africa. The similarity lies not only in their racism, but also in the western countries shameful complicity in their human rights abuses and lack of concern for the lives of their victims. It is surely no coincidence that the United States, with its own history of genocide, slavery and apartheid, acted as the main diplomatic supporter and military supplier of apartheid South Africa, and now of Israel. But it took over 30 years, from the first UN arms embargo and oil sanctions in 1963 to the final lifting of UN sanctions in 1994, before UN action helped bring down the apartheid regime in South Africa. It was not until 1977 that the UN even made its arms embargo binding on all members. In the case of Israel and Palestine, the world cannot wait 30 years for its actions to have an impact. What will be left to salvage of Palestine if the UN can only counter Israels genocide and Americas bombs with endless court rulings, resolutions and declarations, but no decisive action? One initiative that will be debated and voted on in the General Assembly is the one advanced by France and Saudi Arabia. In July they hosted a high-level UN conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of the Two State Solution. But its agenda is weak and it avoids any strong action to pressure Israel to end the genocide or the occupation. The first steps the declaration calls for are a ceasefire in Gaza, the restoration of the Palestinian Authoritys control of Gaza, and then the deployment of an international military stabilization force. But Israel has already rejected the first two steps, and critics warn that a stabilization force would mean foreign troops deployed in Gaza, not to protect Palestinians from Israeli bombs and bulldozers, but to police them, contain resistance, and reinforce Israeli demands. Moreover, the declaration contains no enforcement mechanism. Instead, it offers only carrotspromises of recognition, trade, and arms dealswhile Israel pays no price for continuing its crimes. And while the declaration could pave the way for more Western countries to join the 147 countries that already recognize Palestine as an independent state, without concrete pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza and end the occupation, such recognition risks being symbolic at bestand, at worst, may embolden Israel to accelerate its campaign of mass killing, settlement expansion, and annexation before the world can act. What is urgently needed is for the General Assembly to hold an Emergency Special Session to vote on a UN protection force, as well as a UN-led arms embargo, trade boycott and divestment from Israel, conditioned on ending the genocide in Gaza and the post-1967 occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The arms embargo and economic measures against Israel should be binding on all UN members, with the full support of the UN secretariat, which can provide staff to organize and supervise them, in coordination with UN members. China, the largest supplier of Israeli imports, and Turkey, which was the third largest before it cut off trade with Israel, should both be ready to take leadership roles in a UN boycott and arms embargo. The European Union collectively does even more trade with Israel than China, and has failed to unite against the genocide, but strong UN leadership could help Europe to overcome its divisions and join the campaign. As for the United States, its role in this crisis, under Biden and now under Trump, is to encourage Israels crimes, provide unlimited weapons, veto every Security Council resolution, and oppose every international attempt to end the slaughter. Even as majorities of ordinary Americans now side with the Palestinians and oppose U.S. military support for Israel, the oligarchy that rules America is as guilty of genocide as Israel itself. As the world comes together to confront Israels crimes, it will also have to confront the reality that Israel is not acting alone, but in partnership with the United States of America. Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst on Unsplash Aggressors and bullies get their way by dividing their enemies and picking them off one at a time, as the world has seen the European colonial powers and now the United States do for centuries. What every aggressor or bully fears most is united opposition and resistance. Israel and the U.S. currently apply huge political pressure against countries and institutions that take action to boycott, sanction or divest from Israel, as Norway has by its decision to divest its sovereign wealth fund from Caterpillar for supplying bulldozers to demolish homes in Palestine. In a world that is truly united to end Israels genocide, threats of U.S. and Israeli retaliation would isolate the United States and Israel more than those they target. Recent UN General Assemblies have heard many speeches lamenting the UNs failure to fulfill its most vital purpose, to ensure peace and security for all, and how the veto power of the five permanent members (P5) of the Security Council prevents the UN from tackling the worlds most serious problems. If, at this years UN General Assembly, the world can come together to confront the holocaust of our time in Gaza, this could mark the birth of a reenergized and newly united UNone finally capable of fulfilling its intended role in building a peaceful, sustainable, multipolar world. DUBAI, Sept 3, 2025 (BSW) - Dubai Chambers, in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Chambers Federation (WCF), has launched the Chamber Benchmarking Tool, a first-of-its-kind platform enabling chambers of commerce to access best practices and benchmark their performance against global standards. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903661712/en/ During the launch of the Chamber Benchmarking Tool (photo: AETOSWire) Unveiled during the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne, Australia, the initiative was showcased to 1,200 chamber leaders and officials from over 100 countries. As the premier global gathering for chamber representatives, the event is a vital platform for exchanging expertise and strengthening international networks. The tool is designed to transform the global chamber ecosystem by enhancing institutional performance and empowering chambers to deliver improved services, streamline processes, and achieve operational excellence. It assesses seven core roles and responsibilities: economic research and business intelligence; advocacy and policy representation; international trade and investment attraction; training and workforce support; networking and collaboration; advisory and support services; and legal and dispute resolution. It also measures key dimensions of operational excellence including strategic alignment, process efficiency, partnerships, member satisfaction, governance, innovation, and financial impact. H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: "This initiative reflects Dubai's position as a global hub for excellence and institutional innovation. It aligns with the emirate's commitment to shaping a resilient and sustainable future for business communities worldwide by promoting cross-border collaboration, fostering knowledge-driven partnerships, and advancing agile, forward-looking solutions to navigate an evolving economic landscape." John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the ICC, said: "The launch of the Chamber Benchmarking Tool marks a milestone in empowering chambers worldwide with the insights they need to thrive. We are grateful to Dubai Chambers for their leadership and expertise, which have been pivotal in bringing this vision to life." The tool provides a data-driven framework for self-assessment and comparative analysis, offering tailored recommendations, access to global case studies, and insights into emerging trends. Developed with guidance from a steering committee of international experts, its foundations were built on an in-depth study of 19 chambers worldwide. About Dubai Chambers: Dubai Chambers is a non-profit public entity that supports Dubai's vision as a global player by empowering businesses, providing innovative value-added services, and unlocking access to influential networks. *Source:AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903661712/en/ Contact Mohamad Mouzehem Tel: +97142028537 Email: mohamad.mouzehem@dubaichamber.com 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release. Texas and Louisiana have become the epicenter of U.S. immigration detention, holding more than 19,000 people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on an average day. A new analysis from Suzuki Law Offices shows Texas leads the nation with over 12,000 detainees daily, while Louisiana ranks second with more than 7,000 despite having a fraction of Texass population. The concentration of detainees in these two states highlights deep questions about enforcement strategy, due process, and whether the system prioritizes detention numbers over public safety. A Closer Look at the Numbers According to Suzuki Laws review of ICE data: Texas detains more than 12,000 people daily, the most of any state. detains more than 12,000 people daily, the most of any state. Louisiana detains more than 7,000 daily, the second-largest figure in the country. detains more than 7,000 daily, the second-largest figure in the country. Combined, the states account for almost 30% of ICE detainees nationwide. Most of these individuals are held in privately operated detention centers under federal contracts, many located far from major cities or legal aid services. Why Detentions Are Concentrated Here Several factors explain why Texas and Louisiana lead the nation in ICE detentions: Law Enforcement Cooperation : Both states participate heavily in ICEs 287(g) program, deputizing local officers to assist in immigration enforcement. : Both states participate heavily in ICEs 287(g) program, deputizing local officers to assist in immigration enforcement. Border Dynamics : Texass extensive border with Mexico creates high levels of enforcement activity. : Texass extensive border with Mexico creates high levels of enforcement activity. Detention Infrastructure : Both states have built large-capacity facilities, allowing them to house thousands of detainees. : Both states have built large-capacity facilities, allowing them to house thousands of detainees. Restrictive Policies: State laws prohibit local governments from limiting cooperation with ICE, unlike sanctuary jurisdictions elsewhere. The Non-Criminal Majority A striking feature of ICE detention is that many detainees have no criminal background. In April 2025, 46% of all ICE detainees nationwide had no criminal record. Detention often stems from minor encounters: Routine traffic stops that escalate into immigration checks. Workplace raids in industries like food processing or agriculture. Community sweeps where individuals are detained without warrants. Critics argue these practices undermine trust in law enforcement and waste resources that could be directed toward genuine public safety threats. Human Impact and Systemic Challenges The heavy reliance on detention in Texas and Louisiana creates ripple effects throughout the legal system. Immigration courts are overwhelmed, with cases delayed for months or years. Access to lawyers is limited, especially for detainees housed in rural areas. Family separation is another consequence. Many detainees are kept far from relatives, making visits costly and infrequent. Advocates stress that this isolation can compound the trauma of detention, particularly for parents with children. Expert Commentary Behind these numbers are thousands of individuals whose lives are disrupted by a system that too often detains first and asks questions later, said a spokesperson for Suzuki Law Offices. When nearly half of detainees have no criminal history, it suggests that enforcement priorities are misaligned with community safety. A Flashpoint in National Policy Supporters of the Texas and Louisiana model argue that strict cooperation with ICE is necessary to uphold immigration law and secure the border. Opponents contend that mass detention does not improve safety and instead imposes massive financial and social costs. Immigration detention costs U.S. taxpayers nearly $3 billion each year, raising questions about whether the approach is sustainable or effective. With such a large share of detainees concentrated in just two states, the stakes of this policy debate are especially high. Looking Ahead As the U.S. grapples with immigration reform, the experience of Texas and Louisiana offers a preview of the tradeoffs involved. Their detention numbers show what happens when federal partnerships, private capacity, and restrictive state policies align to produce large-scale detention. The broader question is whether this model serves as a template for national enforcement or as a warning about the costs of prioritizing detention above all else. Read the full study here: Suzuki Law Offices Research States with High ICE Detentions vs. Migrant-Friendly Havens BLACKPINK's Jisoo has been making waves online after a real moment of commoner-to-celebrity interaction with actor Lee Jae Wook at a high-profile art gala went viral and generated heated debate among netizens. Jisoo, who is going to appear on Netflix's new series 'Boyfriend On Demand' with Seo In Guk, has been busily growing her acting presence. The other cast member, Lee Jae Wook, appeared with her at the Frieze Seoul 2025 Paradise Art event, during which the two were in frame together. Based on online circulating videos, Jisoo and Lee Jae Wook were nearly side by side with each other as guests danced at their side. lol jisoo laughing with lee jaewook pic.twitter.com/dBaGUzZBTa (@jisoowardrobe) September 1, 2025 Lee Jae Wook once bent down to whisper something to Jisoo, causing the latter to giggle. #JISOO with Lee Jaewook (Boyfriend on Demand co-star) at the Frieze Seoul 2025 Paradise Art event. pic.twitter.com/A4FKBWfNol FOREVER KIM JISOO (@ForeverKimJisoo) September 1, 2025 One fan commented in reaction to the video, "Some netizens didn't know they were so close." Another user noted, "Jisoo truly is a social butterfly." The off-screen, casual yet friendly interaction took many by surprise, with some commenting that although they are paired in the same production, they had not expected to see them on-screen so comfortable with each other. As one netizen expressed it, "Netizens were shocked by the interaction, and while they're starring in the same project, they didn't expect the two to be so close." Social media posts spread rapidly, using Jisoo's credibility as a celebrity beyond her idol status. Her ongoing transformation as an actress continues to generate considerable interest, especially with excitement mounting for her performance in Boyfriend On Demand. While having Lee Jae Wook share the screen with Jisoo added to the intrigue, with fans discussing whether they would have on-screen or off-screen chemistry. With Jisoo balancing her profession as a global K-pop idol and rising movie star, moments like this are left to capture the interest of fans and industry watchers. In other news, BLACKPINK's Jisoo is facing mixed reactions after being cast opposite Seo In Guk in a new K-drama. While some fans are hopeful that she has improved her acting skills, others remain skeptical, with K-netizens calling her "mediocre." In contrast, Seo In Guk has received widespread praise, with many expressing excitement for his role. Some critics argued the pair lacks chemistry and suggested other actors would have been a better fit, while others felt they looked good together and voiced anticipation for the drama. The series, described as a romantic comedy, is highly anticipated, and attention now centers on whether Jisoo can overcome criticism and prove her growth as an actress. Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - A disturbing incident in Mugango, Bomet County, has shocked the community after a Catholic priest from St. Peters Mugango allegedly assaulted a young boy. According to social media reports, the boy was found crying by the roadside, severely injured and in pain, after rejecting the priests advances. Good Samaritans rescued the victim, prompting widespread outrage and calls for the perpetrators arrest. The community is demanding justice for the heinous act, with many condemning the Man of God for his actions. The incident has sparked conversations about accountability and the protection of vulnerable individuals. Authorities are urged to investigate swiftly and ensure the perpetrator faces legal consequences. The boys condition remains a concern, and the community continues to rally for justice. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - There was drama in the Senate earlier today after Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya sparked outrage by refusing to officially welcome a group of visiting pupils from Tharaka constituency. In a shocking statement on the floor of the House, Gataya dismissed the children, saying they all look hungry and therefore had no business being paraded in the Senate gallery. His remarks sparked an uproar, with Kitui Senator immediately calling him out, accusing him of humiliating the young learners instead of using the opportunity to inspire them. The incident left manySenators divided, with some demanding that Gataya withdraws his remarks and apologizes to the pupils and their teachers. Watch the video. Drama in senate as Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya refuses to welcome pupils from Tharaka in senate saying they all look Hungry. Kitui senator calls this out pic.twitter.com/HDzo9lvM0p Nyakundi Report (@NyakundiReport) September 3, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - Former nominated Senator, Gloria Orwoba, has claimed that President William Rutos viral pinch on her during a press event last year was not a playful gesture, but a reprimand for her criticism of his allies. Orwoba said the incident followed heated exchanges in a Senate WhatsApp group, where she accused Kimani Kuria, the MP steering Rutos tax plan, of withholding key information. She argued this affected her push to tackle period poverty. The pinch was his way of telling me to stop being too tough on his allies, she said, recalling that Ruto pinched her twice after she stood her ground. Senator Gloria Orwoba applied too much Ford Foundation William Ruto had to pinch off some. ANARCHY!pic.twitter.com/H85b67LpAl Eng. Nyasikera (@Arap_Nyasikera) July 16, 2024 Her remarks surface amid fresh political turmoil. On August 20th, 2025, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal nullified her expulsion from UDA, but the Senate blocked her return. A week later, she confronted security at Parliament, citing court orders reinstating her. Chaos erupted when her Land Cruiser Prado was towed, leading to her arrest after resisting. Orwoba dismissed the swearing-in of Consolata Wakwabubi as illegal and accused Senate Speaker Amason Kingi of enabling lawlessness. She was released on Ksh10,000 bail after being charged with disturbing the peace and obstructing justice. Orwoba insists she remains the lawful Senator and vowed to appeal the takeover of her seat. Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - In a shocking twist to the ongoing legal saga involving Mugithi star Samuel Muchoki, popularly known as Samidoh, new allegations have surfaced suggesting that the American-based woman accusing him of taking advantage of her during his 2021 US tour may have attempted to extort $18000 (Ksh 2.3 million) from the musician. Sources close to the case claim the woman, identified only as M.R.W. in court documents, demanded the hefty sum to drop her accusations, raising questions about her motives. She has been threatening to expose the musician unless he wires the hefty sum to her. When he refused, she took legal action against him, claiming that he lured her to an Airbnb during his music tour and took advantage of her. The plot thickens with claims that the woman is linked to high-ranking operatives within President William Rutos administration. Sources suggest that these connections may be fueling efforts to target Samidoh, who has openly criticized the Government through his music and public appearances. His performances, including those featuring the anti-government slogan Wantam, have drawn ire from authorities, culminating in his transfer to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit in Gilgil and an arrest warrant for alleged desertion in June 2025. His troubles began with a viral video of him performing alongside crowds chanting Wantam, a phrase associated with opposition to Rutos regime. This led to disciplinary action from the National Police Service, which accused him of abandoning his duties. The musician resigned from the police force in July 2025, citing a desire to focus on his music career. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - Members of the public have been urged to assist in tracing a truck and its driver after both went missing while transporting a consignment of avocados valued at several hundred thousand shillings. The truck, registration number KDR 941D, was loaded on Thursday in Ibanda, Uganda, and was expected to arrive in Nairobi by Saturday evening. However, it never reached its destination. The driver, identified as Jamaica Waweru Mulra, had been paid a deposit of Ksh 70,000 for the delivery. According to reports, he initially claimed that the truck had broken down but assured the owners that the perishable goods would be delivered by Sunday evening. Shortly thereafter, his phones went off and all communication ceased. The truck was last spotted at the Busia border, raising fears that the driver may have disappeared with both the vehicle and the valuable consignment. The matter has since been reported to Juja Police Station, and efforts to trace the missing truck and its driver are ongoing. Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - A night out in Nairobis upscale Lavington neighborhood turned into a financial nightmare for one man after falling victim to a cunning con artist posing as a taxi driver. On August 8th, the unsuspecting victim and his friend were leaving a social joint when they attempted to hail a cab via a ride-hailing app. Before they could confirm a booking, a seemingly friendly driver offered them a cheaper ride to their destination. The pair accepted the offer and were dropped off at a short-stay rental nearby. But the driver vanished moments later - with the victims phone. What followed was a digital heist: over Ksh500,000 was siphoned from the victims accounts into multiple mobile money numbers and bank accounts using the stolen device. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launched a swift probe, eventually tracking down the suspect and the vehicle used in the scheme. Shockingly, the car bore fake registration plates, with a spare set found during the arrest - raising suspicions of links to other unresolved crimes. Officers also recovered multiple phones, SIM cards, and a sisal rope believed to be tools of the trade. The suspect is now in custody at DCI Dagoretti, awaiting arraignment. This incident is a stark reminder to always verify your ride. The DCI urges Kenyans to use trusted taxi apps and confirm vehicle details before boarding. In a city where fraud tactics evolve fast, vigilance is your best defense. Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti has paid tribute to Corporal Kennedy Mutuku Nzuve, a Kenyan officer who died in a tragic road accident during a recovery operation in Petion-Ville on Sunday, August 31st, 2025. The crash happened around 5:00 p.m along the KenscoffPetion-Ville Road at Pelerin 9, when an armored vehicle struck a wall while towing another, which then overturned. Corporal Nzuve was rushed to Lambert Sante Hospital in Petion-Ville, where he was pronounced dead. Born on March 8th, 1984, in Machakos County, Nzuve joined the National Police Service (NPS) in 2005 and later served with the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU). His remains have since been flown to the Dominican Republic for preservation ahead of repatriation to Kenya. From all of us at MSS-Haiti, our thoughts and prayers are with Corporal Nzuves family, friends, and colleagues as they grieve this profound loss, MSS said in a statement, while confirming that other injured officers were out of danger. The NPS reported that the accident also killed two civilians and left eight MSS officers injured. It pledged full support to Nzuves family during the repatriation process. This is the second death of a Kenyan officer since the deployment of MSS forces to Haiti in July 2025. Kenya leads the UN-backed mission, with 800 officers already on the ground and more expected to join in the coming weeks. Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has defended the construction of a tarmac road inside Karura Forest, a move that has triggered public uproar. Speaking on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025, Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, said the road, which leads to the rangers village, is consistent with the Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP). The plan divides Karura into four zones - conservation, ecotourism, plantation, and developed areas - allowing infrastructure within the latter. The PFMP clearly provides for development in the ranger village. We are building a new headquarters and improving conditions for our staff, Lemarkoko said. He explained that the tarmac will ensure safe movement, particularly at night, and complements the ongoing refurbishment of ranger houses, some of which are over five decades old. The PFMP also requires the annual conversion of 15 hectares of plantation land into indigenous forest. Lemarkoko stressed that the road does not compromise conservation goals since it lies within a designated development zone. His remarks followed mounting concern over the sudden tarmacking, with critics questioning whether consultation took place and whether tarmac undermines the forests natural appeal. Lemarkoko said the project was agreed upon with stakeholders, including Friends of Karura, and is part of sustainable forest management. These improvements are structured, planned, and aligned with the management framework to balance staff welfare with ecological integrity, he added. Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - Kenyan Mugithi star Samuel Muchoki, popularly known as Samidoh, posted a cryptic message on social media following serious allegations of assault leveled against him by a Kenyan-American woman, identified as M.R.W. in court documents. The woman claims that on November 28th, 2021, during Samidohs U.S music tour, he lured her to an Airbnb in Overland Park, Kansas, and took advantage of her despite her protests. According to court filings, M.R.W. stated, I resisted and pleaded with him to stop, but he mocked my protestations, ignored my pleas, and without my consent whatsoever committed the offence The lawsuit, filed at the Milimani High Court in Nairobi, not only targets Samidoh but also names the Inspector General of Police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General, and the Witness Protection Agency for allegedly failing to act on her complaint. M.R.W. is seeking urgent court orders to secure evidence, bar Samidoh from contacting her, and provide witness protection, citing fears of harassment and intimidation. In response to the allegations, Samidoh took to his social media platforms with a cryptic post that reads: Spine that bends to threats will never stand tall in freedom. Many interpret it as a subtle jab at the accusations, possibly suggesting that he perceives the claims as an attempt to intimidate him because of his political stand. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has launched explosive allegations against current Lugari MP, Nabii Nabwera, accusing him of preying on female headteachers. In a fiery speech captured on video, Savula sensationally claimed that the legislator uses his political influence to intimidate female school administrators. He alleged that any headmistress who refuses to give in to his advances is swiftly transferred to another school. Headmistress akikataa kulala na yeye anakua transferred, Savula declared as he called out the MP before a stunned crowd. The Deputy Governor further bragged that during his tenure as area MP, most schools in Lugari Constituency performed well, but under Nabweras leadership, education standards have reportedly plummeted. This is not the first time that the controversial MP, who is openly polygamous, is being exposed to the public for his womanizing habits. His wife recently attacked him on social media for snatching his nephews fiancee, warning him that HIV doesnt respect titles. Watch the video of Savula attacking him. SAVULA accuses Lugari MP, NABII NABWERA, of preying on headmistresses - Headmistress akikataa kulala na yeye anakua transferred pic.twitter.com/KdhuwJcaek DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) September 3, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST ALARMING SITUATION IN MANDERA Jubaland forces are now inside Mandera town. Schools have been shut down, businesses paralyzed, and families displaced in fear of stray bullets, RPGs and unexploded ordnance. An atmosphere of fear has engulfed the entire town as both Jubaland and Somalias federal forces build up weapons and troops, preparing for war. Shockingly, Jubaland forces are consolidating their strength inside Mandera town on Kenyan soil literally taking over our community. This is a humiliation of our sovereignty. The absurdity of a regional state government fighting its federal government is akin to Mandera County Government declaring war against the Republic of Kenya yet we are now hosting these foreign forces in our own town. Kenyas national interest lies with its strategic relationship with the Federal Government of Somalia, not in protecting a rogue state government. Allowing Jubaland troops to operate in Mandera, putting Kenyan lives and property at mortal risk, is shameful, reckless, and a betrayal of our people. Foreign conflicts must be fought on foreign soil, not on the streets of Mandera. The Government of Kenya will bear full responsibility for any deaths, injuries, or destruction of property in Mandera. As leaders, our loyalty and constitutional duty are first and foremost to our people. Our support for Kenya Kwanza Government cannot be mistaken for a license to gamble with the lives of our population. If the government fails to act immediately and decisively to remove Jubaland forces from Mandera County, we will be forced to mobilize ourselves to defend our people an outcome that will endanger peace and cause grave international embarrassment for Kenya. We make it plain: our people come first, always. Kenya must act NOW. Capt. Ali Ibrahim Roba, Senator Mandera County Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - Police in Kikuyu have arrested a University of Nairobi student accused of fatally stabbing his roommate after a disagreement over the use and cleaning of a hostel bathroom. The victim, identified as Brian Wambui, succumbed to stab wounds sustained during the altercation at the universitys Kikuyu Campus. According to investigators, the dispute with his roommate, Justus Otieno, escalated into violence on Monday evening. We received a report from a security officer at the University of Nairobi, Kikuyu Campus, regarding an incident in which one student had stabbed another, said Omondi Ogola, a DCI officer in Kikuyu. The injured student was rushed to PCEA Kikuyu Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. We suspect the cause of death was the stab injury. Wambuis body was later moved to the PCEA Thogoto Hospital mortuary for post-mortem. Police confirmed that the suspected murder weapon had been recovered. Otieno was arrested shortly after the incident and is being held at Kikuyu Police Station pending investigations and arraignment. I can confirm that the matter has been taken up. The police, DCI, and members of the community worked together to apprehend the suspect, Ogola added. The tragic killing has shocked the university community, raising concerns over student conflicts in shared accommodation. Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - Controversial city fraudster, Mapesa Madollar, caused drama after storming Telkom Kenyas main offices in Nairobi, where he harassed and intimidated staff. In a video that was shared online, Madollar is seen confronting employees, accusing the company of theft and claiming he had lost money in their system. Telkom has been stealing from Kenyans. They stole from me. I transact over Ksh 3 million monthly, he is heard bragging in the viral clip, bragging about his alleged financial might. The situation escalated when management threatened to call the police to contain him. Madollar, however, dismissed the threats, boasting that he is well-connected within the police force. He went on to belittle staff members, mocking their salaries and accusing them of incompetence. The dramatic standoff sparked debate online, with many Kenyans questioning why the self-proclaimed millionaire is still walking free despite his long history of alleged fraud. Watch the video. The day City fraudster MAPESA MADOLLAR stormed Telkom Kenyas main offices and intimidated staff pic.twitter.com/wv0HLKpYT3 DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) September 3, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - A touching photo of an elderly woman selling bananas at a Kenyan bus terminus has stirred emotional debate across social media. Frail but determined, the grandmother is seen clutching a box with just a handful of bananas, embodying resilience in the face of hardship. Some netizens praised her grit, applauding her for choosing work over begging. Others expressed concern, arguing that she should be enjoying her golden years in comfort, not hustling on the streets. Questions also arose about her family - whether she has children or grandchildren who could support her. Still, many pointed out that some elderly women prefer staying active, finding purpose in daily routines rather than sitting idle at home. See the photo and reactions below. Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - Drama unfolded when a landlady threw out her tenant and her children in the dead of night, accusing the woman of attempting to burn down her house. The incident left the young family stranded outside with no shelter, sparking outrage among online users who condemned the late-night eviction. The landlady is said to have confronted the tenant over suspicions that she had tried to set the house ablaze, though the exact cause of the fire scare remains unclear. In a video widely shared on social media, the distressed woman is seen defending herself against the accusations as her children cling to her side. The mother and her children spent the night in the cold as sympathizers tried to intervene. Many have since questioned the landladys actions, arguing that even in cases of disputes, legal procedures should be followed rather than resorting to instant eviction, especially where children are involved. Watch the video. Uproar as a landlady evicts tenant and her children in the middle of the night pic.twitter.com/W7RUg6BHsc DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) September 2, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - Outspoken Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has castigated Nairobi County MCAs for what he termed a political blunder in their handling of the impeachment motion against Governor Johnson Sakaja. Speaking on Wednesday, Cherargei warned that the MCAs abrupt reversal will damage the credibility and integrity of the Nairobi County Assembly. To Nairobi MCAs, that was a serious fluke and political blunder that shall cost the integrity of the operations of the Nairobi City County Assembly, he said, adding that the impeachment threats lacked genuine accountability. His remarks follow high-level political interventions that led to the shelving of the motion. On Tuesday, President William Ruto and ODM leader, Raila Odinga, held separate meetings with their respective party MCAs to defuse mounting tensions at City Hall. Earlier, over 70 MCAs from both ODM and UDA had signed in support of the motion - just shy of the 82 signatures required to table it officially. Their grievances included unfulfilled campaign promises, delayed bursary disbursements and the stalled Ward Development Fund. Following the leaders intervention, the MCAs agreed to suspend the motion for 60 days to give Sakaja time to address the issues raised. However, Cherargei urged them to act decisively once the grace period lapses. The Kenyan DAILY POST Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - Passengers aboard a Nairobi-bound bus from Western Kenya were treated to unexpected drama after a chicken managed to escape and bolt into nearby bushes. The incident, which occurred mid-journey, forced a brief stopover as amused travelers jumped out of the bus to help the owner chase down the runaway bird. Eyewitnesses say the chicken took off like it had been rehearsing for the Olympics, leaving its pursuers struggling to keep up. A video of the comical chase has since gone viral on social media, with many Kenyans poking fun at the lengths Luhyas will go to recover a chicken, one of their most beloved meals. Others joked that the bird was simply trying to avoid becoming part of someones dinner in Nairobi. The runaway chicken was eventually caught and returned to its relieved owner, though not without laughter, endless jokes, and witty remarks from fellow passengers. Travellers aboard a Nairobi-Bound bus from Western Kenya chase a chicken that freed Itself and disappeared into nearby bushes. pic.twitter.com/HYEC9HsS2k MR.UMBWAKNI (@MR_UMBWAKNI) September 2, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST A KILDARE schoolteacher has become a farm safety champion. Irish Rural Link recently announced the launch of its new farm safety initiative focused on combatting labour and isolation concerns on Irish farms. Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, The Farm Safety Community Champion programme will equip local communities with a representative to act as a Champion for farmer safety and wellbeing by offering rural citizens an opportunity to reach out and offer support. One of these newly announced Champions is Aisling Kelly from Booleigh, just outside Nurney. Aisling Kelly is a primary school teacher based in Kildare, where she also works on her familys beef, sheep and tillage farm. She has a passion for both education and agriculture, with first-hand experience with the importance of farm safety, and supporting the mental health of farmers in rural communities. Aisling joined this project to help teach children how to stay safe on farms and to raise awareness of the vital need for mental health support for farmers around Ireland. The programme consists of the training of nine regionally spread Farm Safety Community Champions from various backgrounds including farming, teaching, and community mentoring. These champions will develop networks in their regions to connect farmers to their communities, delivering farm safety and well-being talks at local marts and community centres. To support this, a manual has been created to guide these talks, which will include resources for local individuals to learn more about the programme and the steps they can take to encourage connection with farmers in their society. To further bolster this initiative and assist with growing workforce concerns, Irish Rural Link is calling on rural communities to organise a Farmers Haggart as part of this programme. The Farmers Haggart is led by a local Farm Safety Community Champion, and will encourage farmers to assist one another in simple tasks on the farm. The goal of this is to foster local connections between farmers to further develop rural farming networks, and support community wellbeing. The need for community has never been so important for farmers, said Irish Rural Link, CEO, Seamus Boland. With fluctuations in the market, inconsistent weather, and growing isolation, having the Farm Safety Community Champions will help build out our farming networks for a more connected rural society. We hope to see local communities take this as an opportunity support, strengthen, and sustain relationships with and between farmers for a more inclusive future. A GOVERNMENT minister took a spin to Kildare Village not for shopping but to see its local impact. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, as part of his engagement with Irelands retail and tourism sector, met with the villages management team to hear about its role in supporting local jobs, driving investment, and contributing to the wider visitor economy in County Kildare. Since opening in 2006, Kildare Village has doubled in size from 63 to 125 boutiques. To date, more than 185 million has been invested in the village, which now directly employs 1,500 people and supports a further 450 jobs across the region. Each year, the village also generates more than 35 million in direct wages for the Irish economy, making it a cornerstone of economic activity in Kildare. During the meeting with the Minister, Kildare Village representatives discussed the village's ambition for Kildare and Ireland and how to unlock the potential of Ireland's retail and tourism sectors. Speaking during his visit, Minister Peter Burke said: Kildare Village is a real success story for the county. It has created significant employment, supported local business, and become a key part of Kildares visitor offering. What we see here is how retail, tourism, and community can work hand in hand. Victor Biffi Rosano, business director at Kildare Village, added: We are deeply proud of the role Kildare Village plays in the local community from the jobs we create to the visitors we welcome. The support of Minister Burke is a strong signal of how important the retail sector is to Irelands future. "Our commitment is to continue investing in Kildare and ensuring the Village remains a place people are proud to visit and work in. David Raleigh A principal of a Limerick school, said to be located in the most deprived area of Ireland, has said that a grossly inadequate allocation of special education teachers (SETs) will have significant repercussions for the schools growing number of pupils with special learning needs. Eoghan OByrne, Principal, St Marys National School, Bishop Street, Limerick City, said he was flummoxed by the 4.6 SET allocation, which he said translates as one SET for every 33.9 pupils at the school. The Limerick principal claimed that the ratio in every other DEIS school in Limerick City is in the low to mid-20s. Our allocation in 2021/2022 equated to a ratio of 25.3 pupils per SET teacher, but in September 2025, this equates to a staggering 33.9 pupils per SET, Mr OByrne said. The present allocation of SET at St Marys includes an increase of 14.5 hours per week on last years allocation. Mr OByrne said this was grossly inadequate, given, he said, that the school has experienced a 76 per cent increase in the pupil population to 154 pupils over the past four years: Our fear is that we have become victims of our own success. It will have significant repercussions on the schools ability to support its diverse student body, especially those with special educational needs, Mr OByrne said. It will strain the schools capacity to deliver individualised instruction, which is critical for students with learning disabilities or additional needs, he added. Mainstream teachers who are already managing larger class sizes may lack the time or specialised training to address complex needs, leading to reduced instructional intensity and potential gaps in academic progress, Mr OByrne warned. For St Marys NS, this could undermine its inclusive ethos, hinder parental trust, and challenge its ability to maintain high standards amidst rapid growth, he said. Without additional SET resources, the school risks failing to meet the diverse needs of its expanded population, potentially compromising its reputation as a beacon of quality education in Limerick City. Mr OByrne said he hoped the Government would not ignore and fail to deliver for the most disadvantaged community in the country. The school principal highlighted that, according to a POBAL Social Deprivation Index 2022, St Marys NS is located in the most disadvantaged area in the entire country (Johns A Electoral Area) with a scoring of Extremely Disadvantaged classification. Mr OByrne said it was his opinion that the current SET allocation system was flawed, and he claimed that a school with a very similar profile and with 20 more pupils has four more SET teachers allocated to their school. Mr OByrne said that, to try and counteract the SET situation last year, St Marys NS used a philanthropic donation to employ a SET teacher, but that this year it was not in a position to do this. He said St Marys NS had experienced a huge influx of local children as well as transfers from other schools due to it providing a wrap-around support model, including autism supports, five-day-a-week therapeutic services, a breakfast club to over 100 children and an after-school extended learning opportunities programme. None of these initiatives are supported by or funded by the Department of Education. They are funded by both statutory and non-statutory organisations. The school has been fortunate to secure philanthropic funding sources with multi-annual funding, he said. A spokesman for the Department of Education and Youth replied that while it does not comment on individual cases, schools can apply to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for a review of their allocation. The spokesman added: The department acknowledges that every school is different, and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method. In correspondence sent to Mr OByrne, the NCSE said the SET Review Panel was not in a position to take into account comparisons to other schools and the NCSE have no remit in the profiling of schools. It added: The Social Inclusion Unit of the Department of Education have responsibility for DEIS. NCSE recommend that you contact the Department of Education. The NCSE said the outcome of the SET Review is final but that it was committed to supporting St Marys and that advisor support will be offered to the school for 2025/26. Kenneth Fox A woman in her 30s been arrested over serious threats made online against the Tanaiste's family. Gardai launched an investigation after a poster on social media threatened to kidnap Simon Harris' children. As part of that investigation, a woman in her 30s was detained in west Dublin and brought to a Garda station in the capital. The Tanaiste responded to the threat saying it crossed a line that should not be tolerated in decent society. In a statement, the Tanaiste said: This weekend, I received direct threats targeting my family. As a father, I have very strong views and feelings on this as you can imagine. Mr Harris said:, Threatening children is despicable. It is cowardice and it is a line that no decent society should tolerate being crossed. I will not be commenting further at this time on any ongoing Garda investigation. Fine Gael leader Mr Harris has received threats before, including through social media and a phoned bomb threat. Protests have also been held outside his home, where his wife and children live. Asked about the latest threat, a Garda spokesperson said: An Garda Siochana is currently investigating this matter. JUBA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts from the Hunan International Business Vocational College on Tuesday commenced a training seminar on crisis management and response for local officials in Juba, South Sudan's capital. Sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the 14-day seminar is attended by 30 trainees from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management. Dennis Marial Muorwel Mayom, South Sudanese undersecretary of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, noted that this seminar presents a unique opportunity for national and subnational stakeholders to share experiences and learn best practices in crisis management. "The knowledge and skills gained here will undoubtedly strengthen our collective efforts in mitigating the impact of disasters and humanitarian crises," Mayom said. "It is through collaborative efforts such as this seminar that we can enhance our preparedness, coordination and response capabilities to better serve our communities." Lawrence Akola Sarafino, director-general for planning, training, and coordination in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said the knowledge gained from the seminar will help them address climate hazards such as drought, floods, community conflicts, and diseases. "I would like to advise or encourage each of us to take this opportunity of learning from our Chinese experts, so that we South Sudanese can address the crisis management and response by ourselves," Akola said. Huo Ying, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, emphasized the need to strengthen capacity building in crisis management in the face of current global challenges to safeguard national stability and development. "We hope to share China's experience and technology in relevant fields to help our South Sudanese colleagues, enhance their capacity to address complex challenges, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability," Huo said. THERE is to be competition of quite a different kind on the Curragh Racecourse for the month of September with the launch of two exciting competitions that invite artists and photographers to capture the heart and soul of Irish racing. The 2025 photography competition is called Beyond the Finish Line, while the Artist of the Curragh competition is for the 2025-26 period, because painting takes a little longer to complete. Both competitions will culminate in a celebration of Creativity at The Curragh at the Goffs Millions Race Day on Saturday, 27 September, where the winners will be announced. The photography competition invites amateur photographers to explore the profound connection between horses and humans in Irish racing. Whether captured on race day, during training, or in quiet moments of care, photographers are encouraged to submit images that reflect the love, dedication, and trust that define equine life. The deadline for entries is Monday, 15 September, and all finalists will be announced ahead of the Autumn Racing Weekend. The overall winner will receive a Canon Pixma G4511 Printer valued at 300, and two runners-up will receive a Canon Selphy QX10 Printer each valued at 170. All prizes are kindly sponsored by Bermingham Cameras from Dublin, and entries are open now at www.curragh.ie/beyondthefinishline. Were delighted to support this competition again, said Brian Whelan, director of Bermingham Cameras. The entries last year were truly inspiring, and Im looking forward to seeing how amateur photographers capture the emotional depth of racing life off the racetrack once more. For the 20252026 Art Competition, the Curragh is inviting artists from across County Kildare to submit a sample piece of artwork and a short statement (max 100 words) explaining why they should be selected as one of five finalists. These finalists will be invited to The Curragh on Goffs Millions Race Day (Saturday, 27 September) to paint a live race day scene. The winning artist will be selected on the day and receive a 1,500 commission from The Curragh, and their work will be proudly displayed at The Curragh throughout 2026. Interested artists are invited to submit their interest by Friday 19 September by emailing rnorton@curragh.ie with Artist of the Curragh in the subject line. Ruth Norton, marketing manager for The Curragh Racecourse said: These competitions are a celebration of the artistry, emotion, and heritage that make The Curragh Racecourse a very special place. Whether through lens or brushstroke, we invite creatives to share their vision. For further information, see www.curragh.ie or follow The Curragh Racecourse on social media for the latest updates. As reported by Kilkenny Live, independent, Cllr Eugene McGuinness voiced his frustration at the traffic situation at the Bennettsbridge Road Roundabout, bemoaning the decision to reduce the stretch of road from two lanes to one lane in the Black Quarry area of the city. Cllr McGuinness has been a vocal critic of the project since it was completed over 12 months ago. In putting the question to Mr Cullen at a sitting of the Kilkenny City Municipal District earlier this year, Cllr McGuinness described the current traffic situation in the area as a 'disaster'. - READ MORE HERE Our readers have reacted passionately to the story, many of which travel through the area each day. READ NEXT: Driver found with stolen goods and wanted on bench warrant arrested in Kilkenny One person said: "The whole town is a disaster to drive through especially around school time. Cycle lanes all over the place that no one uses, large buses going around with a couple of passengers on board and anytime they have to drop off anyone it causes a traffic jam." "Disaster. So dangerous when people go in the wrong lane on purpose and then try to sneak in behind cars coming off the roundabout or go up to the roundabout and go all around it pretending they're heading for Bennettsbridge," another reader claimed. "Fix it before someone gets killed," another local reader wrote. In response to Cllr McGuinness' remarks, Senior Roads Engineer with Kilkenny County Council, Stan Cullen confirmed the local authority was 'engaging' with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) who are responsible for the project with a view to making it more driver and pedestrian friendly. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Former RTE meteorologist Joanna Donnelly has confirmed that she is seeking a nomination to contest the Irish Presidential Election. On Tuesday evening, the mother-of-three told RTE Radio 1's Drivetime show that she has emailed all 31 county councils to express her interest. The Dublin native also confirmed that she had not been approached by any political party. Ms Donnelly said that while the last 20 years of her career have been wonderful, she felt the most motivated in recent years when advocating for Stem and climate justice. There isnt a better voice than the highest office in the country, she said in relation to this. The former Met Eireann worker stated she has "thought long and hard about this and exposing myself to this" and examined what she feels makes her a potential candidate. I put myself into what I want from a president. What are the qualities I would look for when Im putting my X beside a name? I want somebody that has demonstrated trust, empathy, non-political. I want dignity. I want education. Those are the qualities that Im looking for and I examined myself. Are those qualities that I can bring and that the public would believe that I have? Ive put myself out there because I have strong feelings and because I believe that a candidate has to have certain qualities that I believe I have. Im yet to see a candidate that ticks all my boxes," the former Dancing With The Stars Ireland contestant shared. So far in the race for the Irish presidency, left-wing independent Catherine Connolly who has the backing of various opposition parties and former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys are the only candidates who have secured the support needed to get on the presidential ballot paper. Ms Humphreys candidacy was confirmed after Sean Kelly dropped out of contention, having determined he would not reach the required nomination of at least 20 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, 25 councillors and five members of the Fine Gael executive council. READ MORE: Great news for Irish Rugby fans as Six Nations free-to-air coverage to remain until 2029 Ms Humphreys was the only candidate to reach that threshold by the time the nomination window closed on Tuesday. Her name will go forward for ratification at a party event on Saturday September 13, which will be the official campaign launch. Ms Humphreys said in a statement she was delighted to receive the Fine Gael nomination. I love this country, it has made me everything I am and given me everything I have, she said. My campaign will focus on my life experience as I ask citizens to trust me with their vote to be president of this great country. I will be a candidate with a vision; with experience and with a track record of supporting communities; bringing people together and representing Ireland on the world stage. Im not promising perfection but I promise honesty, compassion and service. Im excited about the campaign and really looking forward to getting out on the ground to meet the people and set out my vision," she concluded. Sinn Fein has yet to announce whether it will support Ms Connolly or run its own candidate. Fianna Fails parliamentary party is expected to make a decision on the presidential election in the early autumn. Senior party figures have expressed support for former Dublin GAA manager and retired army officer Jim Gavin, while the partys MEP Billy Kelleher also announced his intention to seek the partys backing. In more recent news, the Irish Presidential Election is believed to be on Friday October 24, it is understood. Housing Minister James Browne will bring a memo to Cabinet this Wednesday (September 3) confirming the polling date, the PA news agency understands. Mr Browne spoke to coalition government leaders Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Minister Sean Canney on Tuesday afternoon. A presidential election must take place in the 60 days before the second term of Michael D Higgins ends on November 11. To be eligible to run, a candidate must be nominated either by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities. They also must be an Irish citizen over the age of 35. More and more people are developing skin cancer. The most important risk factor for this is UV radiation: Excessive UV exposure and the associated oxidative stress can damage our genetic material our DNA. This makes it all the more important to understand the natural mechanisms that repair such damage. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have collaborated with colleagues from Italy and Japan to investigate the function of photolyase in a blind cave fish. Photolyases are light-dependent enzymes that repair DNA damage caused by UV exposure. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows that photolyases can repair damage caused by oxidative stress even without light. Somali cave fish has preserved repair enzyme for millions of years without sunlight Photolyases are found in most organisms, such as bacteria, plants, and vertebrates, explains Professor Nicholas S. Foulkes, research group leader at the Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems (IBCS) at KIT. Placental mammalsincluding humanshave strangely lost these enzymes in the course of evolution and replaced them with more complex but less efficient mechanisms. Photolyases usually rely on light energy to repair UV-induced DNA cross-links. Strangely enough, however, the blind cave fish Phreatichthys andruzzii, which has evolved over millions of years isolated from UV radiation and visible light in cave waters under Somalia, has retained a photolyase. This is specifically targeted at cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD photolyase). The new study shows that CPD photolyase in the Somali cave fish functions independently of light and repairs DNA damage caused by oxidative stress in its underground environment. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of damage caused by environmental stressors in the future. or, September 3, 2025 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. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Racist attacks in Ballymena need to be condemned unequivocally by politicians and wider society, Northern Ireland's Communities Minister has said. It comes after a number of cars were set on fire and destroyed during a racist attack in the Co Antrim town on Sunday. Ballymena also suffered several nights of racist violence earlier in the summer. The weekend incident happened in the Lisnevenagh Road area and was the latest in a series of racist crimes across Northern Ireland. Farmer Sam Carson condemned the violence (Liam McBurney/PA) Police have appealed for information. Sam Carson, a farmer and landlord in Ballymena, said there has been a campaign of hate against him and his Filipino tenants. Reacting to the incidents, Gordon Lyons said they were perpetrated by a very small minority and that the vast majority want nothing to do with that whatsoever. The DUP MLA said the matter will be discussed at the first meeting of the Executive following the summer recess. Speaking to BBC News, Mr Lyons said: Unequivocally, we need to condemn what has taken place. He added: And more than that, we need to make sure that we are taking action to make sure that this doesnt happen again. Mr Lyons said it is important that individual departments in the Executive take action to tackle the racist attacks. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons condemned the attacks (Liam McBurney/PA) Asked if politicians had failed to take action thus far, the minister said: Ultimately, the responsibility lies with those that have taken part in this violence and this activity that needs to be condemned unequivocally, and thats what we are doing. So lets make sure we put the blame where that lies, but lets make sure we take the actions that we can take so that this doesnt happen again. He added that the NI Executive had already shown leadership and taken action. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Its a problem that has existed in the past, continues to exist, but lets make sure that were working together, and the responsibility doesnt just fall on politicians; its on wider society as well. Mr Lyons rejected claims that the DUP had failed to act to calm down racial tensions. It is wrong for anybody to say we havent condemned this violence, he said. Responding to separate incidents which recently occurred in North Belfast, Mr Lyons said: Theres no room for sectarianism either. Thats something else that needs to be stamped out. Ann Maher (nee Dalton), Abbey Crescent, Abbeyleix, Laois/Rathcoole, Dublin died peacefully at Lisheen Nursing Home, Rathcoole, surrounded by her loving family. Beloved wife of the late Michael. Sadly missed by her loving sons Keith and Niall, daughters-in-law Una and Carine, grandchildren Alannah, Sean, Olivia and Thomas, sister Breda, brothers and sisters in law, nephews, and nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends. May Ann Rest In Peace Reposing at Lisheen Nursing Home, Rathcoole (D24 Y024) from 6pm on Thursday, concluding with Rosary at 8pm. Removal by Glennons Funeral Directors on Friday to arrive at The Church Of The Most Holy Rosary, Abbeyleix for Requiem Mass at 2pm. Burial afterwards in Shanahoe Cemetery. Ann's funeral Mass will be live-streamed and can be viewed on the link on RIP.ie. "They treated me like I was really pregnant," Kate del Castillo says with a laugh. On the set of Instintos, her latest thriller, she wore a prosthetic belly so convincing that crew members constantly offered her chairs, asked what she craved, and reminded her to take it easy. "I could eat whatever I wanted, and nobody would notice," she joked during an interview with The Latin Times and ENSTARZ. But the film is no laughing matter. Directed by Sebastian Borensztein, VIX's Instintos is a psychological thriller that places Del Castillo in her most vulnerable position yetplaying Maggie, a woman in the final days of pregnancy whose supposed sanctuary turns into a nightmare. Alongside her, Mexican actress Daniela Schmidt embodies Cara, a mysterious woman whose darkness grows scene by scene. Add Bruno Bichir as Maggie's husband, and the story becomes a claustrophobic game of fear, secrets, and survival. Playing With Fear and Motherhood For Schmidt, stepping into Cara meant exploring shadows she hadn't visited before. "It was about carrying that darkness inside without letting it break me," she explained. The script, she said, guided her through a constant push and pull: how much to reveal, how much to keep hidden. Cara becomes both tormentor and mirror, revealing secrets while burying others, in a role that demanded restraint and intensity at the same time. Del Castillo, meanwhile, described Maggie as one of her most physical performances. The fake belly was more than a costume, it became part of the tension. Walking like a penguin, leaning into exhaustion, she said the prosthetic made her forget, at times, that she wasn't actually expecting. "Everyone treated me as if I were really pregnant," she recalled. That realism added to the atmosphere of terror, where every scene heightened the audience's anxiety about what could happen to both mother and child. When Instincts Save YouOr Betray You The title Instintos sparked a revealing exchange during the interview. What role do instincts play in your lives? For Schmidt, instincts are almost ancestral, "an inheritance from our ancestors, a wisdom deeper than intellect." She described them as a voice that has protected her in moments of danger. Del Castillo's response was blunt. "Ignoring my instincts has made me screw up many times," she admitted. In her youth, she confused fear with instinct and often regretted not listening to herself. Today, she says, that internal voice is the first thing she pays attention to. The confession resonated with the film's theme: instincts can guide you to safety, or lure you into danger. A Reunion With Bruno Bichir Instintos also marks a reunion between del Castillo and Bruno Bichir, with whom she last worked years ago in Julia. "I've known Bruno my whole life," she said. "He's hilarious, and in a film that's basically a nightmare, that kind of humor was essential." Their on-screen Even in promoting the film, the actresses leaned into contrasts. At the junket, both appeared in lacy corset looks, teasingly acknowledging the glamour of fashion before diving back into the dark heart of their film. Del Castillo joked about being styled "like a doll," saying she simply let the wardrobe team dress her and played along. It was a reminder that even in a thriller about terror and motherhood, there's room for humor, beauty, and play. Kate del Castillo's Current Era If Instintos feels like a bold new step, it's only part of a creative burst for del Castillo. Over the past two years, she's moved fluidly across genres and platforms: On Vix+ , she starred in and produced Volver a caer (2023), a modern reimagining of Anna Karenina. , she starred in and produced Volver a caer (2023), a modern reimagining of Anna Karenina. She lent her voice to Sisiki in The Casagrandes Movie (2024), the animated Netflix/Nickelodeon hit. in The Casagrandes Movie (2024), the animated Netflix/Nickelodeon hit. In *The Biggest Fan (2025)**, now streaming on Netflix, she plays an actress navigating cancellation culture in a biting comedy. On Fox's The Cleaning Lady , she joined as Ramona Sanchez, adding her presence to a fast-paced network drama. , she joined as Ramona Sanchez, adding her presence to a fast-paced network drama. And coming this fall, she stars opposite Dave Bautista in the action thriller Trap House (2025), set to hit U.S. theaters in November. This string of roles underscores her versatility. Del Castillo is not simply returning to formshe's expanding it, from psychological thrillers to comedy, family animation to cartel dramas. Motherhood and survival Spanish-language thrillers rarely get the spotlight they deserve, but Instintos changes that. It's a story written with nuance, directed with precision, and powered by performances that keep viewers on edge. As del Castillo put it, "It's not just a thriller, it's a delicious mystery in our language." For audiences used to seeing her as the iron-willed Teresa Mendoza in La Reina del Sur, or the Drug Boss Ramona in The Cleaning Lady, Maggie in Instintos offers something startlingly different: fragility, fear, and the fight to protect new life. With Schmidt delivering equal weight on the opposite side of the conflict, the film becomes a conversation about motherhood, trust, and survival. By the end of the interview, del Castillo gave the best pitch of all: "Follow your instincts to go see Instintos." Between fake pregnancies, real confessions, and a reunion with some of the biggest names in Latin American cinema, the film is set to keep audiences talking long after the credits roll. Originally published on Latin Times The Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 bus rear-ended a car waiting to turn at Freemansburg Avenue and Washington Street intersection, the township's police chief said. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media Five people were injured, including two children, when a school bus and a car collided Tuesday afternoon in Bethlehem Township. Township Police Chief Gregory J. Gottschall told lehighvalleylive.com the accident happened just after 4:30 p.m. at Freemansburg Avenue and Washington Street. Gottschall said the car driver was stopped in the westbound lane at the intersection and waiting to make a left turn to head south onto Washington Street. The school bus, the chief said, was headed west on Freemansburg Avenue, approaching the intersection. The bus rear-ended the stopped car that was waiting to make the left turn, he said. The bus belonged to Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, which transports special needs students to local school districts throughout the region. Two students, a school bus aide, and the bus driver were taken to St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson in Bethlehem Township for treatment. The car driver also was taken to St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson for treatment. None of the injuries were life threatening, Gottschall said. Both vehicles sustained moderate damage from the accident and had to be towed from the scene. The crash currently remains under investigation by the Bethlehem Township Police Department. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. The Dinosaur ride at DinoLand U.S.A. will close sometime next year. Courtesy Walt Disney World Resort The end of an era is here. If you find yourself in Walt Disney Worlds DinoLand U.S.A. inside Disneys Animal Kingdom anytime soon, you might want to know that one of its major attractions, along with the rest of DinoLand, will be going extinct next year. DINOSAUR will permanently close on Feb. 2, 2026, meaning that the last time you will get to experience the ride, as well as the rest of DinoLand U.S.A., will be Feb. 1, 2026, according to the theme parks page on the ride. The closure of the ride and the rest of that section of Animal Kingdom was first announced in 2024 at the D23 2024: Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Heres what else is closing in DinoLand and whats next for the area as that section of Animal Kingdom undergoes a transformation. Read More: Cinderellas Castle in Disney World is getting a major upgrade What is closing in DinoLand U.S.A.? For now, DinoLand U.S.A. is still open. However, there are certain attractions that are already closed and under construction. The following attractions that are already closed include the TriceraTop Spin, the Fossil Fun Games, Chester & Hesters Dinosaur Treasures and The Boneyard. According to the Disney Tourist Blog, the last day to experience The Boneyard was Labor Day. What will replace DinoLand U.S.A.? The 11-acre section of DinoLand U.S.A. will be replaced by Disneys Tropical Americas, a land focusing on the regions in the Western Hemisphere north and south of the equator, according to Disney Parks Blog. The new section is expected to feature two new rides based on the hit movies Encanto and Indiana Jones, and will be called Pueblo Esperanza. While an official opening date hasnt been set for the new land, it is expected to open in 2027. Traveling to Disney before DinoLand U.S.A.s closing? Weve got some planning tips for you, like when is the best time to visit Disney World, if you need a park hopper ticket for your Disney trip and whether or not you need a MagicBand. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Police were alerted to a fatal crash after the drivers phone automatically called authorities reporting a potential crash, according to audio recordings of the incident. Scott Segreaves Jr., 20, of Zuni, Virginia, was killed on Oct. 18, 2024, after the car he was driving went into a tree line in Holland Township and he was ejected. A body-worn camera recording released by the Attorney Generals Office on Tuesday show Segreaves body outside the car when authorities found the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The attorney generals office provided a link to dash camera, body-worn and surveillance videos, as well as police radio calls and a 911 call (warning, some of the content is graphic). Authorities said Segreaves was driving on Water Street in Milford Township at about 10:24 p.m. when Staff Sgt. Nicholas Pryszlak of the New Jersey State Police attempted to pull him over in relation to a speeding violation. A commercial surveillance recording captured Segreaves eluding Pryszlak, and 45 seconds later Segreaves car could not be seen, officials said. A dash camera recording from Pryszlaks vehicle shows Segreaves car far ahead and Pryszlak unable to catch up with the vehicle. About four minutes later, Holland Township police received an automated call from an iPhone alerting authorities that the owner of the phone had been in a severe car crash, officials said. A dispatcher on the call tells responding officers that no one answered when he tried calling back and the location of the phone hadnt moved, recordings of the call show. Officers found Segreaves overturned vehicle in a line of trees and down an embankment in the area of Stamets and Gallmeier roads at 10:58 p.m., authorities said. An investigation into the incident remains ongoing and no further information was released by officials Tuesday. The recordings were released as part of an investigation into the incident by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability which investigates all fatalities after encounters with law enforcement officers. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating 2 early morning crashes that occurred around 6 a.m. Wednesday in the eastbound lanes, involving a total of eight vehicles. Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Multiple people are injured in two crashes that happened around the same time Wednesday morning along Route 22 in Whitehall Township, state police said. Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer with Pennsylvania State Polices Troop M, told lehighvalleylive.com the accidents happened shortly after 6 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of mile marker 321.1. A total of eight vehicles were involved, Branosky said. Photos show at least two of the vehicles were SUVs. Multiple people were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Their conditions were not immediately available. The scene was cleared just before 7:30 a.m., but traffic continues to be backed up, Branosky said. Its unclear what led up to the crashes. Pennsylvania State Police in Bethlehem are investigating. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating 2 early morning crashes that occurred around 6 a.m. Wednesday in the eastbound lanes, involving a total of eight vehicles. Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. An antlerless white-tailed deer stands alongside asphalt June 20, 2025, in Bethlehem Township. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a white-tailed deer Tuesday in Chester County. It occurred in the area of Downingtown Pike (Route 322) east of Romig Road in Chesters West Bradford Township, according to a news release from state police at Embreeville. A vehicle headed east on Downingtown Pike struck a deer that had entered the two-lane road surrounded by forested land. This caused the deer to be thrown into the windshield of a westbound vehicle, fatally injuring a juvenile male front-seat passenger, police said. Investigators were trying to identify the first vehicle, believed to be a black Toyota Sienna with heavy front-end damage, according to the release. At this time, the crash is not being classified as a hit and run due to the primary factor of the crash being environmental, Trooper Michael Carter Jr. told lehighvalleylive.com on Wednesday. There are also no pending charges at this time. Police did not identify the victim. Malvern Preparatory School on Friday confirmed the victim was Kevin T. Donohue, a 16-year-old junior and member of the Class of 2027. A 2024 report from the insurance company State Farm says Pennsylvania remains one of the riskiest states for vehicle collisions with wildlife, with the most dangerous months for animal collisions in order listed as November, October and December. Police asked anyone with information on the crash to call investigators at 610-486-6280. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area's dive team trains Oct. 21, 2014, in the Delaware River in the area of Kittatinny Point. National Park Service officials recovered the body of a 30-year-old drowning victim Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in a stretch of the river at the point about 17 feet deep. Sue Beyer File Photo | For NJ Advance Media A New Jersey man drowned Tuesday while swimming in the Delaware River, according to National Park Service officials. The drowning was reported about 4:10 p.m. to the emergency communications center at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The National Park Service says rangers and dive team members along with New Jersey State Police and water rescue teams from the Portland Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 responded to the call in the area of the Kittatinny Point picnic area. The responders quickly located and recovered the body of Fausto Berrezueta Morquecho, 30, of Parsippany, from the river, where the water was about 17 feet deep, according to a park service news release. The man was swimming with family members near the picnic area when he tired while attempting to swim across the river and went under, the release states. Park service officials were not releasing the mans identity. He was not wearing a life jacket, according to Kara E. Deutsch, the National Park Services resource management and science division supervisor for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Middle Delaware National Scenic & Recreational River. The NPS reminds all river users to wear a properly-fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while swimming, floating, fishing or boating on the Delaware River, according to the release. This is Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Areas second drowning of 2025, Deutsch confirmed. A northeastern Pennsylvania man in July died during a kayaking trip on the Delaware River through the park, federal officials said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. The new TFI Child Leap Card will extend free travel in Laois across TFI services for children between 5 and 8 years of age, from today. Portlaoise TD, Deputy William Aird said the card, available through leapcard.ie, will expand free travel to almost a quarter of a million children across Ireland, building upon existing free travel on public transport for children under 5-years of age. This measure was announced as part of the Budget 2025 package of measures and is a key Fine Gael delivery on the Programme for Government commitment to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families. Speaking this morning, Deputy Aird said:It is fantastic to see this being rolled out in Laois. Fine Gael are committed to alleviating the financial burden associated with transport costs to parents, Parents will see the benefits of free travel for young children. Importantly, it applies across all TFI services, including Local Link and services under Connecting Ireland, that are the backbone of connectivity for so many rural communities. I would urge all Laois residents to apply now for their eligible children. More information is available by visiting leapcard.ie A second level school is needed in Sallins, where there are 7,000 people living. Cllr Bill Clear told a Naas Municipal District meeting that a secondary school should be built - and the primary school is full. READ NEXT PICTURES: The Traitors Ireland meet the players of RTE's highly anticipated new game show He asked if a site has been identified for a new secondary or primary school. He said this should be addressed urgently given the increase in population and further development there. According to Kildarfe County Council two sites are zoned for this purpose and a new school is permitted in principle on either site. One of the sites has been specifically identified for the long-term expansion of the primary school. It was also pointed out that the delivery of schools is a function of the Department of Education. Cllr Clear said both sites are in private ownership and one has been subject of planning applications. He said a site which had come up for sale near the primary school should have been bought by the Department of Education. Ford Ireland has today announced the launch of Drive 4 Ur Community in partnership with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. The nationwide initiative kicks off on September 6 and will run across five weekends this autumn. Over five weekends in September and October 2025, Ford will donate 30 to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind for every test drive taken at participating Ford dealership events nationwide. The full event schedule includes: Cork City Ford, Marina Market, Cork, September 6 Sheils Motor Group, Sheils Motorpark, Galway, September 13 Bright Ford, Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin, September 19 Spirit Ford, Templeogue United F.C., Dublin, September 20 Finlay Motors, Whitewater Shopping Centre, Newbridge Co.Kildare, September 27 Lyons of Limerick Ford, Ballysimon Road, Limerick, October 4 Ford Brand Ambassador Rozanna Purcell said, Ive always admired the incredible work Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind do to help people gain more independence and confidence in their daily lives. As an animal lover, its amazing to help shine a light on these incredible dogs and the committed volunteers who make such a difference to people all around the country. Im really proud to get behind this initiative and highlight the impact Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind have had in communities across Ireland for decades. To donate to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, visit www.guidedogs.ie/ways- to-help/donate Tim OMahony, Chief Executive, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, said: Were delighted to partner with Ford on this initiative, which directly supports our mission to help people who are vision impaired and families of children with autism. Community support is what makes our work possible, and this campaign will help us continue providing life-changing services free of charge. Thanks to Ford, even more people will experience the independence, safety, and companionship our dogs bring every day. Customers are encouraged to book their test drives early. To discover more information visit www.ford.ie/shop/next-steps/ ford-promotions/drive-4-ur- community . John Manning, Market Lead, Ford Ireland added: Ford is proud to stand alongside Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind with our Drive 4 Ur Community events. Every test drive taken means vital funds raised, so our customers can play an active part in supporting this incredible charity. Its also a chance to discover our full range of vehicles, including the New Puma Gen-E, All-Electric Explorer and New Capri, while making a real difference in communities across Ireland. READ NEXT: Newly built footpath kerbs 'need to be safer' in this Kildare town Public transport company Bus Eireann has been urged to "provide clarity" on school bus routes in County Kildare for "worried" parents. The call was made today (September 3) Kildare South and Labour Party TD Mark Wall, who claimed that his office "has been inundated with queries" on the issue over the past number of weeks. Deputy Wall's comments follow after it was announced earlier today that children aged from five to eight years of age will now be eligible for free travel on all Transport for Ireland (TFI) services. He claimed that there are several "worried parents who are still waiting for their childs school bus route to be set up, despite tickets already being issued in many cases". Deputy Wall also alleged: "What is even worse is the haphazard way Bus Eireann has handled the situation; they sent out an email a few days before the school term was due to begin informing parents that a school bus operator had yet to be found for their childs route. "Additional information over the last few days provided by my office by Bus Eireann has been inadequate and lacks any clarity on whether these routes will be operational." READ NEXT: Group opposed to planned multi-million euro biomethane plant in Kildare announces drop-in clinics He continued: "I am calling on Bus Eireann to urgently provide clarity to parents on a number of school bus routes, including St Pauls Secondary School (B5220), Gael Cholaiste Chill Dara (B5288), Colaiste Lorcain / Scoil Diarmada (B8210/B9101), Dunlavin / Ballitore (B8232/B9126), Caragh to NCC (B5259) and Kilmeague (B5067). "I also believe that Bus Eireann needs to come before the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth to discuss the current state of the school transport system in Ireland." Deputy Wall further said: "There is also an ongoing crisis for Kildare town and Newbridge students going to the Curragh primary and secondary schools. "These students are unable to attend their nearest school due to them being full, and so have no other choice but to attend a school outside of their local area. Despite this, Bus Eireann refuses to accommodate these students with a school bus." He concluded: "The Department of Education and Minister Michael Moynihan, who has responsibility for school transport, needs to step in here and given the exceptional circumstances these families find themselves in and provide a school bus service for Kildare town and Newbridge students." The Department of Education and Bus Eireann have both been asked for comment in relation to Deputy Wall's appeal. Deputy Wall also made headlines yesterday (September 2 last) when he shared an update from Uisce Eireann relating to night works which are planned for a region within Newbridge. UPDATE September 5, 2025, 3.10pm approx A spokeperson for Bus Eireann responded to the Leader's query with the following statement: "Bus Eireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. The purpose of the scheme is to provide transport for children living remotely from their nearest school. "Bus Eireann has issued over 145,000 tickets to date to mainstream services for 2025 / 26 school year, an increase of just under five per cent of tickets issued compared to last year. "The scheme operates in excess of 8,200 vehicles daily on over 10,600 routes." The spokesperson continued: "The situation is evolving on a daily basis; Our local school transport office is trying to prioritise sourcing replacement cover for these routes. "As soon as a vehicle and driver has been sourced, and vehicle and driver compliance checks completed the families will be contacted directly in relation to the re-commencement of their service. "Please note that the service is not cancelled and all tickets issued remain valid for travel; where a service is not in place for the start of a new school year, an interim grant is available. They concluded: "Families do not need to make an application; the Department of Education and Youth will be contacting families directly." Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Department had this to say: "The Department of Education and Youth is aware that a small number of school transport services are delayed this month, even though tickets were issued. Please note that no services are cancelled. "Bus Eireann, which runs the scheme, has advised that some school bus routes cannot start due to a lack of contractors, drivers, or appropriately sized vehicles. In some cases, contractors withdrew or no bids were received through the procurement process." They continued: "Where this has happened, students may not yet have a school transport service. Bus Eireann is actively working to put replacement services in place, and affected families have been contacted and will continue to receive updates. "The Department understands the disruption this causes for families and is working with Bus Eireann to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. Families may also be eligible for a temporary grant if no service is available." The spokesperson also provided an update on Kildare services, which can be viewed below: B5259 (Caragh Naas Community College): Operating since August 25, 2025 with no reported issues. B5220 (St Pauls Secondary School, Monasterevin): Commenced September 1, 2025. Families notified. B5288 (Gael Cholaiste Chill Dara, Naas): Commencing Monday, September 8, 2025. Families notified. B8210/B9101 (Colaiste Lorcain / Scoil Diarmada, Castledermot): Commencing Monday, September 8, 2025. Families notified. B8232/B9126 (Dunlavin/Ballitore Crookstown NS): Scheduled to resume Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Families being contacted. B5067 (Kilmeague Scoil Mhuire/St Farnans, Clane/Prosperous): Not currently operating. An update should be available soon. Families will be updated once finalised. "The Department remains committed to providing transport for all eligible students and is expanding the scheme each year." In addition, the spokesperson explained: "Where a service cannot be provided immediately, the following interim grants may apply for eligible pupils on either mainstream or SEN service": Exceptional No Service Interim Grant Payable by the Department where a pupil on mainstream has been issued a ticket but transport is not in place at the start of the school year due to operational difficulties. The grant is based on the number of days the child attends school. Families do not need to apply; they will be contacted directly by the Departments School Transport Section. Special Transport Interim Grant This grant assists with the cost of private transport arrangements put in place by families until a contracted service is operational. The grant is based on actual school attendance and is offered from the date of application. School Transport Section will be in contact with all the families concerned. READ NEXT: Emergency temporary road closure announced for one Kildare region A woman has been arrested by Irish police investigating a report of threats against an elected representative. The woman, who is aged in her 30s, was arrested on Tuesday in the probe into the recent online threats. A Garda spokesperson said the woman was being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. They added the force would not be providing any further information at this time. Earlier this week, Tanaiste Simon Harris revealed he had received direct threats at the weekend targeting his family. Threatening children is despicable. It is cowardice and it is a line that no decent society should tolerate being crossed, he said on Monday. I will not be commenting further at this time on any ongoing Garda investigation. The Fine Gael leader has received threats before, including through social media and a phoned bomb threat. Protests have also been held outside his home, where his wife and children live. Irish premier Micheal Martin condemned the threats as unacceptable. Irish exporters are set to continue to be negatively impacted by the changing trading relationship with the United States. Tanaiste Simon Harris is understood to have delivered that message to the Irish Cabinet following the conclusion of the trade agreement between the US and the European Union. A 15% tariff has been in effect since August 7, while the previous 10% tariff will apply to goods that are already in transit or have been warehoused for consumption before August 7 until October 5, 2025. Mr Harris is believed to have told his ministerial colleagues that while the Framework Agreement finally provides some more certainty, Irish exporters will continue to be negatively impacted. Irelands intention now is now to assess if further improvements can be made in areas of interest for Irish exporters including spirits and medical devices. The countrys exports were 75.4 billion euro (65.59 billion) from January to June 2025, some 41.7 billion euro (36.27 billion) higher than for the same period in 2024. Mr Harris indicated to Cabinet that Ireland has exported more in the first six months of what was exported in the entire year of 2024 (73 billion euro/63.50 billion). This indicates significant exports were brought forward in the first quarter of 2025 to get ahead of the introduction of unspecified reciprocal tariffs. Meanwhile imports for January to June 2025 remain broadly aligned with the previous year. As a result of stable imports and the surge in exports from January to March, the trade surplus with the US is understood to have increased from 22.4 billion euro (19.48 billion) to 64.4 billion euro (56.01 billion) for the first half of the year, higher than the 50 billion euro (43.48 billion) trade surplus for the entire of 2024. Almost all of this increase is thought to have been due to pharmaceuticals, with exports of pharma products significantly ramped up in January to 10.1 billion euro (8.78 billion), increasing to an extremely high 23.4 billion euro (20.35 billion) for the month of March 2025 before falling back to 7.9 billion euro (6.87 billion) in April and nine billion euro (7.83 billion) in May, and declining very sharply to 2.9 billion euro (2.52 billion) in June. The Tanaiste is understood to have outlined his view that the forthcoming Irish Budget must take measures to help businesses who are facing uncertain economic times. Many primary schools across Ireland are expected to close earlier for midterm break this October due to the upcoming presidential election on October 24. Citizens Information has confirmed that this year's midterm break is scheduled to take place from Monday, October 27 until Friday October 31. Read next: Former RTE meteorologist Joanna Donnelly seeks nomination for Irish presidency bid However, according to recent reports, the election will likely take place on Friday, October 24, which will mean thousands of schools will have to close to students as they will be used as local polling stations. There are approximately 5,500 polling stations located in primary schools across the country. A memo is going to the Cabinet on Wednesday, September 3 that indicates Friday, October 24, as the official date for the Presidential Election. The only confirmed candidates so far are Galway West Independent TD Catherine Connolly and former minister Heather Humphreys. Connolly has been endorsed by Labour, the Social Democrats, and People Before Profit. Meanwhile, Humphreys is the Fine Gael candidate replacing Mairead McGuiness who had to withdraw due to health reasons. Tanaiste Simon Harris has expressed his belief that Humphreys is an excellent candidate. He posted on his Instagram: "I believe Heather can break down barriers and bring people together. Her record in public life has demonstrated that vision of unity and community." GAA president Sean Kelly suspended his bid for the Fine Gael candidacy due to a lack of support from the party. Meanwhile former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin is likely to be endorsed by Fianna Fail, having received the backing of Taoiseach Michael Martin. Others who have expressed interest in running include Bob Geldof, Bertie Ahern, Conor McGregor and former Met Eireann meteorologist Joanna Donnelly. The Presidential Election is expected to be held on Friday, October 24 with the inauguration taking place on Tuesday, November 11. Chinese Panda Guardians, Ms Yang Qin (hair down) of the Sichuan Green Foundation Giant Panda National Park and Ms Zhang Li (hair up) of the Sichuan Green Foundation are welcomed at Leitrim Co. Council ahead of the official twinning ceremony between The Shed Distillery Drumshanbo Nature Reserve & The Sichuan Green Giant Panda National Park Sichuan China, which takes place today (Wednesday 3rd September) Drumshanbo Shed Distillery Nature Reserve will twin with Chinas Giant Panda National Park this week with a special Twinning ceremony taking place to mark the occasion. Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, PJ Rigby, owner of the distillery, said that the connection came about after he and his wife Denise travelled to China. He told us: "It came about for a number of reasons. Denise and I were in China last November and we met with the Sichuan Green Foundation and built a connection with them to raise funds for them and we are doing that through the sale of a special pack - Panda Conservation Edition of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. We are raising money for the preservation of the panda." Two Chinese Panda Guardians, Ms Yang Qin of the Giant Panda National Park and Ms Zhang Li of the Sichuan Green have travelled from Sichuan to Drumshanbo to take part in the celebrations. READ MORE: Leitrim womens breast screening referrals refused by Dublin hospitals, meeting hears PJ continued that everything related to the Giant Panda in China is done through the government "so this was a bit of a breakthrough; it was facilitated by the Chinese Ambassador here and our relationships in China." He said that while in China, they went to meet the Giant Pandas adding that the funds will go towards the Sherpas, "the guardians that keep an eye on the wild pandas and they don't intervene unless they have to. It is as much a friendship and cultural exchange as it is financial support." ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW PJ and Denise invited the guardians to come to Ireland and they are currently staying in Leitrim. "On Wednesday, they are at The Shed Gathering Grounds, the towns former Methodist Church in Drumshanbo, for a ceremony. We had asked them if they would be interested in twinning with our nature reserve which is very small and has just started. We just bought 80 acres of outside Drumshanbo 10,000 tons of carbon will be stored there and we are going to try and turn that into a peaceful place for nature. They said that they would love to that." The visitors arrived on Sunday and on Monday, they visited the Sligo Oyster Experience, an oyster farm. "Then they visited a regular farm. Today (Tuesday), we're going to Leitrim County Council and they have a ceremony there where they are going to be honoured. Tomorrow, we will be showing them are nature reserve and we'll have a little ceremony. On Thursday, they are going to the Dail where they will be honoured and they are going back to China at the weekend." READ MORE: Leitrim poet says his animal rights book will make readers face uncomfortable truths PJ said that the initiative reflect the values of Drumshanbo Shed Distillery and that they are "very much into nature; not only with the nature reserve but we are members of Origin Green, which is the Bord Bia sustainability programme. This project is quite unusual and something we really wanted to do." Leitrim, one of nine counties in Ireland that does not have a refuge shelter for women fleeing domestic violence, is not currently being prioritised for the provision of such a refuge, a meeting of Leitrim County Council has heard. Last year, in July, Cllr Roisin Kenny proposed a motion asking senior figures of the Council when a refuge centre could be expected in the county. The Council wrote to the Department of Justice at the time but received no correspondence in response. Now, over a year later, Cllr Kenny has again requested that the Council seek an update from the Department of Justice and Government regarding the provision of a domestic violence refuge in the county. The provision of a refuge unit was included in the zero-tolerance strategy to tackle domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence published in June 2022. READ NEXT: Leitrim's absence of refuge centre exposes gap in domestic violence support Following her very first motion in July 2024, Cllr Kenny reminded members that the directive comes from the Istanbul Convention, which Ireland ratified in 2019, stipulating that there should be one refuge unit for every 10,000 women and girls aged over 15 years. She told members she had been in touch with the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS), who noted that while there is some progress being made on establishing a centre in Sligo, nothing has been done so far in Leitrim. Im very disappointed that the motion from over 12 months ago received no reply, said Cllr Kenny. Director of Services for Housing, Mary Quinn, informed Cllr Kenny that there are 12 areas prioritised for the provision of a refuge. Sligo is included on that list, as are Longford, Cavan, and Monaghan, but Leitrim is not among the initial priority areas. She assured Cllr Kenny that the Council will follow up to establish the most up-to-date position with the relevant Government department. READ NEXT: Leitrim women's breast screening referrals refused by Dublin hospitals, meeting hears The nine counties in Ireland that do not have a domestic violence refuge centre are Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Laois, Offaly, Roscommon, Carlow, and Westmeath. DVAS offers a free and confidential support service for women experiencing abuse in relationships in Leitrim, Sligo and West Cavan. More information can be found on DVAS at domesticviolence.ie ANKARA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye is working to deepen ties with China, exploring opportunities for cooperation in a wide range of fields, including the economy, digital technologies, energy, and health, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Tuesday. On his flight back to Turkiye from the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, where he attended the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus" meeting, Erdogan described his talks with the Chinese leadership on the sidelines as "productive," state-run broadcaster TRT reported. "We want to make our economic relations with China, our trade partner, more balanced and sustainable. We will continue consultations with the Chinese side," he said. Erdogan stressed the importance of fairness in addressing global challenges. "In a world where international systems are blocked, we believe normalization can only be achieved through fair solutions," he added. The Turkish president also highlighted the important role of the SCO. "By emphasizing economic and trade cooperation, it has acquired a distinctive identity, while also seeking to play a role in resolving global and regional challenges," he said. The principles of equality, consultation, mutual trust and benefit, respect for differences, and common development, which form the essence of the "Shanghai Spirit," are in harmony with the core approaches of Turkiye's "Asia Anew Initiative" announced in 2019, Erdogan said. He added that Turkiye, as one of the countries making the greatest efforts for peaceful conflict resolution in its region, welcomes the SCO's efforts to strengthen engagement with dialogue partners, including Turkiye. An insufficient wastewater treatment system in Leitrim Village continues to delay the development of much-needed housing in the area. At Septembers meeting of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Paddy Farrell proposed that the Council call on the Ministers responsible for Housing, Rural Development, and the Environment to implement a plan to upgrade wastewater facilities in towns and villages across the county, describing the current situation as having major impact on development. Cllr Farrell told elected members that a contractor is ready to apply for planning permission to develop houses in Leitrim Village but cannot proceed because the wastewater treatment system cannot handle the current load. Its holding up development all over the county, Cllr Farrell said. The motion was seconded by Cllr Enda McGloin, who highlighted one of the most remarkable difficulties as the inaction of Uisce Eireann in supporting potential housing developments. READ NEXT: Leitrim excluded from list of areas prioritised for domestic violence refuge centre Theres no effort made. Leitrim County Council have been proactive in trying to assist this situation. Irish Water just never engaged, never would dirty their hands to come down on the ground, said Cllr McGloin. Cllr Gary Prior also shared a conversation with a builder who could not proceed with purchasing a site in Leitrim Village due to wastewater capacity issues. If theres no capacity or ways and means of facilitating these houses, how are we going to build them? he questioned. The issue is set to be raised with Uisce Eireann when Leitrim councillors meet with them in Carrick-on-Shannon on Monday, September 8. READ NEXT: Anger over Bus Eireann decision to drop two Leitrim stops on Dublin route GARDAI have arrested a man in his 20s as part of an operation targeting an Organised Crime Group. The man was arrested this Wednesday morning, September 3. The arrest came as part of an operation targeting an Organised Crime Group (OCG) "suspected of being involved in business and residential burglaries as well as the theft of high value vehicles," a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana confirmed. The arrest was made following an intelligence led operation involving Garda members from the Clare/ Tipperary Division and the Southern Region Support Units. READ MORE: Limerick students and apprentices to compete at WorldSkills event in the RDS The spokesperson confirmed: "The man arrested in connection with this investigation is currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda Station in the Southern Region. This investigation remains ongoing. A man in his 30s was previously arrested in Limerick city in on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in connection with the ongoing investigations targeting an OCG. He was charged in relation to a number of burglaries and other offences and appeared before Ennis District Court later that month. He is the second person to appear before the courts in connection with this investigation. NINE STUDENTS and apprentices from Limerick will be competing live at the WorldSkills Ireland event in the RDS, Dublin. WorldSkills Ireland is an event dedicated to promoting skills, apprenticeship careers, and workplace opportunities for young people. It will be returning to the RDS, Simmonscourt from Wednesday, September 17 to Friday, September 19, 2025. The event will welcome over 30,000 senior-level secondary students from over 300 schools across Ireland to discover real alternatives to university and explore exciting, future-focused career paths. Across the three days, nine students and apprentices from Limerick will put their talents and knowledge to the test when they compete against their peers on the national stage during the live competitions taking place at the event. Over 180 finalists will go head-to-head in a range of skills-based trades including automotive, construction, creative arts, hospitality, ICT and manufacturing and engineering. Those competing from Limerick include: Joseph Collins and Adam Harbour, competing in Plumbing and Heating, Sandali Mahanama and Ethan Prichard-Ellis, competing in Mechanical Engineering CAD, Michael Svirydav, competing in Cyber Security Caitlyn Valerie and Charlie Ward, competing in Cooking, Seamus Houlihan, competing in Heavy Vehicle Mechanics and Eoin Lynch, competing in Plastering & Drywall Systems. Commenting on the announcement of the finalists for WorldSkills Ireland, Ray English, chair of WorldSkills Ireland, said: "WorldSkills Ireland is a celebration of talent and a vital platform for promoting apprenticeship and skills-based career opportunities. This year, students and apprentices from across the country will compete in 35 different skill areas, each working to exacting standards and under time pressure. Its an incredible opportunity to showcase their abilities and, for some, take the next step towards representing Ireland on the world stage." READ MORE: Cream rises to the top as Limerick dairy farmers honoured at ceremony He added: "This event opens doors for students to discover exciting alternatives to traditional academic routes, shining a light on the variety of training and apprenticeship options available, and the rewarding careers they can lead to. By championing skills and apprenticeships, were helping to develop the expertise and innovation needed for Irelands industries to thrive. The combined support of educators, industry leaders and government makes WorldSkills Ireland a unique and powerful driver for the future of our young people and our economy." Supported by industry partners including SISK, Construction Industry Federation, and ESB Networks, education partner the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, and the Government of Ireland and Apprenticeship Ireland, the event will also feature interactive Try a Skill zones, immersive VR experiences, industry talks, live demonstrations across trades and technical professions, and companies ready to recruit. Designed to promote skills, apprenticeship careers and opportunities for young people, the event allows students, parents, teachers, and guidance counsellors to navigate the options available following secondary education. A spokesperson for the event said: In 2024, 75% of student attendees came to learn about practical, skills-based routes, a clear sign of the growing appetite for apprenticeships and technical careers. The event is free to attend, with registration for the event now open at www.worldskillsireland.ie. At St Annes Primary School in Rathkeale, caretaker Billy Kearns has said staff have been left with no choice but to strike, as part of a national campaign for pension and pay parity. Caretakers and school secretaries across the country, represented by the Forsa trade union, began strike action this week in a dispute over pensions, sick leave and pay equality. The action is expected to impact around 2,000 schools nationwide, including many in Limerick. Mr Kearns took part in the strike on Monday. He was joined by teachers, SNAs, INTO representatives and the school principal, who stood with him at break times, lunchtime and after school to show their support. Theres not one person that wants to be on the picket line. Weve been left with no choice as the Department has not come to the table for any meaningful talks, Mr Kearns said. We even met with Minister McEntee in April in Galway and we havent seen her since. He added that the demand from staff is simple: A fair resolution has been parity. All we want is to stop the discrimination against us and the inequality our colleagues dont face. Were looking for nothing for nothing. Well pay for our own pensions, thats it, basically, what we want. The dispute centres on pension parity, with Forsa saying its members are being treated as second-class citizens because, unlike teachers and SNAs, they do not have access to public service pensions. Talks have taken place at the Workplace Relations Commission, but union sources have described them as talks about talks rather than meaningful negotiations. Mr Kearns warned that industrial action will continue if no progress is made The next step is an indefinite strike. We will not go back until there are meaningful talks. If that doesnt happen, well be back out again. THIS AUTUMN marks the 80th anniversary of the first transatlantic passenger flight landing at Shannon Airport, and the airport is doing a mega giveaway to celebrate the occasion. The first scheduled, commercial, transatlantic passenger flight landed in the airport on October 24, 1945. To commemorate eight decades of global connection, Shannon Airport is launching 'Ready, Jet, Go' a mega giveaway of 80 flights to destinations around the world. The giveaway will run for the month of September with 40 pairs of return flights up for grabs each day to destinations across the EU, the UK and US. From sun-soaked holiday hotspots like Madrid, Barcelona and Lanzarote to top cities such as Paris, New York and Frankfurt, Shannon Airport is giving away flights on all its routes and more, a spokesperson for Shannon Airport confirmed. Everyone who enters will also be included in a master draw with the chance to win one of three grand prizes flights to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Orlando - courtesy of easy onward connection from Shannon via New York-Newark. Vanessa McTigue, commercial director of The Shannon Airport Group said: Shannon Airport has always been about connection not just across oceans, but between partners, passengers and communities. As we commemorate 80 years of connection across the Atlantic, our Ready, Jet, Go giveaway is our way of celebrating this important milestone with our customers. Whether its a romantic escape to Paris, a reunion in New York, sunshine on the Costa del Sol, or a dream adventure to San Francisco, Las Vegas or Orlando, were giving people a fun chance to jet off on us! A spokesperson for the airport added: With flights around the globe to give away, Shannon Airport is teaming up with one of Irelands favourite travel gurus, Sarah Slattery, known as 'The Travel Expert'. With over two decades of industry experience and an award-winning travel platform, Sarah will be sharing holiday inspiration, destination guides, and insider tips throughout the campaign. Her passion for exploring the world makes her the perfect ambassador for Shannons celebration of connection. READ MORE: https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/local-news/1880658/1981-to-2025-tourist-recalls-being-adopted-by-local-children-on-visit-to-limerick.html Sarah Slattery said: Flying back and forth to the US is so easy these days - and Shannon Airport makes it even easier with 5 daily flights and full US pre-clearance before you take off. But 80 years ago, that first transatlantic flight landing at Shannon was a huge moment in aviation history and it went on to pave the way for how we travel the world today. She continued: That's why Im really excited to be part of the Ready, Jet, Go giveaway. Shannon is such a hassle-free airport to fly from - and when youve got the chance to fly for free to incredible destinations, it's even better. To enter, visit Shannon Airports social media channels daily from Thursday, September 4 to Tuesday, September 30 to access the digital scratch card. Enter your name and email, then Scratch by swiping a finger across your mobile phone screen to reveal if youre a lucky winner! For full details, terms and conditions, go to www.shannonairport.ie/competition The 'Ready, Jet, Go' mega giveaway is one of several initiatives to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first commercial, transatlantic passenger flight to Shannon, with more details to be announced in the coming weeks. LIMERICK City and County Council (LCCC) has announced the signing of contracts for the development of ten new social housing units in Ardagh. The council has signed contracts with Jada Projects Limited for the development of the social housing units, located in O Connor Park, Ardagh, Co Limerick. The project, valued at 3,188,195 (excluding VAT), marks a significant step forward in addressing the housing needs of the community, a spokesperson for the council said. The development comprises of four one-bedroom apartment units, four two-bedroom two storey units and two three-bedroom two storey units. The site, which is a greenfield location within the existing OConnor Park housing estate, will undergo extensive site development works including new footpaths, an estate road, boundary treatments and landscaping works. The units are expected to be completed by December 2026. READ MORE: Contestants starting to turn on each other on The Traitors as Limerick man doubts Dad's faithful status Cathaoirleach of the Newcastle West Municipal District, Cllr Michael Collins, commented: This is a big vote of confidence in the future of the village of Ardagh and I warmly welcome this development. We are continuing to address local housing needs and support families within our communities, while keeping out county towns and villages thriving. I look forward to the positive impact this development will bring. Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, welcomed the news, saying: This is another small, welcome step towards progressing our acute housing needs across Ardagh, West Limerick and throughout the rest of the county. Mayor Moran continued: Having developments across the county will be an important factor in developing Limerick in a sustainable way, as outlined in the More for Limerick mayoral programme. I look forward to seeing this project progress, with safe, comfortable homes to be provided for ten more individuals and families. Director general at LCCC, Dr Pat Daly stated: "This marks another positive step forward in addressing the urgent housing needs in Ardagh, West Limerick, and across the wider county. These ten new units will be built to high standards in terms of comfort and sustainability, helping to reduce energy costs for residents. Delivering housing developments throughout Limerick is key to building a more balanced and sustainable future. Im pleased to see this initiative moving ahead." Stock Market News TSCO News - UK energy drink ban poses limited risk to Coca-Cola Europacific Partners:Jefferies 03-09-2025 01:03 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Mumbai, Maharashtra, India As artificial intelligence evolves beyond predictive models into intelligent systems that can act autonomously, Agentic AI is redefining how technology interacts with real-world complexity. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights that roles involving decision-making and problem-solving, including AI development and data science, are among the most in-demand and fast-evolving skills globally. Addressing this emerging opportunity, IITM Pravartak, (Technology innovation hub of IIT Madras), funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with Emeritus, announces the launch of the Professional Certificate Programme in Agentic AI and Applications. Designed for AI professionals, product innovators, and domain specialists, the five-month programme enables learners to build intelligent, goal-oriented AI agents using state-of-the-art tools and frameworks. These include LangChain, CrewAI, Flowise, OpenAI, FAISS, and others, allowing professionals to move beyond prompt-based interactions and deploy autonomous systems capable of memory, planning, and reasoning. The programme is ideal for data scientists, ML engineers, developers, product managers, automation leads, consultants, and domain experts who want to integrate AI agents into real-world operations. Whether designing low-code/no-code AI assistants or orchestrating complex agent workflows, the curriculum provides the practical knowledge and hands-on experience needed to apply Agentic AI across functions and industries. Speaking on the launch, Prof. Madhusudhanan Baskaran, Programme Director, IITM Pravartak, said, "Agentic AI marks a critical shift in how machines understand, act, and deliver outcomes across enterprise ecosystems. This programme is designed to help professionals build next-generation intelligent systems with real-world applications." Avnish Singhal, Executive Vice President, Head India & APAC, Emeritus, added, "We are witnessing a major pivot in AI from chat-based LLMs towards highly intelligent agentic systems that perform complex functions. Through this collaboration with IITM Pravartak, we aim to empower professionals to lead in this shift, armed with advanced skills and real-world application." The Professional Certificate Programme in Agentic AI and Applications offers a career-relevant, application-focused curriculum that blends rigorous instruction with hands-on practice. Participants will learn to build functional AI agents using LangChain and Flowise, develop RAG pipelines, and embed memory and planning capabilities within intelligent systems. The programme also covers agent orchestration and deployment in real-world business contexts. Reinforcing these learnings are over 20 graded coding assignments designed to strengthen core technical competencies. Learners will also undertake a Capstone Project, allowing them to design and deploy an end-to-end agent system reflective of industry needs. With a structured format of live online sessions and self-paced learning, the programme supports full-time professionals with minimal work disruption. Participants will also receive career support including resume reviews, IIMJobs Pro membership, and networking access. The programme also includes three industry-recognised IBM certifications (AI Agent Building, Generative AI for Business, Responsible AI) and live online masterclasses by IITM Pravartak Lead Faculty. A two-day optional campus immersion at the IITM Research Park enhances peer engagement and applied learning. With a structured format of live online sessions and self-paced learning, the programme supports full-time professionals with minimal work disruption. Participants will also receive career support including resume reviews, IIMJobs Pro membership, and networking access. Through this programme, participants will be able to: Master AI agent design using LangChain, CrewAI, and OpenAI APIs Deploy memory-enabled agents with advanced orchestration techniques Apply AI in product development, workflow automation, and digital innovation Receive IBM and IITM Pravartak credentials to boost professional credibility Build a personalised portfolio through capstone and project-based learning Programme Details: Start Date: September 30, 2025 Duration: 5 months Format: Live online sessions + optional 2-day campus immersion Eligibility: Minimum Graduate/Diploma Holders with minimum 5 years of work experience with basic knowledge of programming/math Fee: INR 1,15,000 + GST Certification: Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will receive three IBM completion certificates as well as a certificate from IITM Pravartak For more details, visit the programme page here. About IITM Pravartak IITM Pravartak is funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, and hosted as a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) by IIT Madras. The NM-ICPS is a comprehensive Mission aimed at complete convergence with all stakeholders by establishing strong linkages between academia, industry, Government, and International Organisations. About Emeritus Emeritus offers customised and open programs in India, Singapore, Dubai, and other global locations in collaboration with IIM Lucknow Executive Education, IIM Calcutta Executive Education, ISB Executive Education, Harvard Business School (HBS), MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School, Kellogg Executive Education, Berkeley Executive Education, and Wharton Executive Education, amongst other leading Institutions. Our world-class executive education programs, facilitated by eminent program experts, provide an immersive learning experience integrated with actionable insights and practical business applications and are delivered in a range of formats; in-class, online, as well as blended programs. The Emeritus Group has more than 1,750 employees globally and offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Palo Alto, Mexico City, New York, Boston, London, and Dubai. The company is backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Leeds Illuminate, Prosus Ventures, GSV Ventures, Peak XV, Bertelsmann, CPPIB, Accel, and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. For more information, please visit https://emeritus.org/ Media Contact Details Ritika Kar, Adfactors PR, ritika.kar@adfactorspr.com, +91-9711306380 The Delhi High Court has ordered Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) and other GMR Group companies to vacate a luxury farmhouse that was being used as the official residence of the companys chairman and managing director. In a 1 September ruling, Justice Subramonium Prasad held Onkar Infotech to be the rightful owner of Pushpanjali Farms in Delhis Bijwasan area, having purchased it in May 2024 for 115 crore. The court found that the lease GMR Group had relied on was unregistered and therefore invalid under law, reducing the companies status to that of month-to-month tenants. The dispute concerns a 3.81-acre estate with a 30,000 sq.ft. house, lawns, and an outhouse. In April 2020, 2.45 acres, including the main house, were leased to DIAL and other GMR entities at a rent of 39.6 lakh per month, later revised to 45.6 lakh. The farmhouse was used as the official residence of GMRs CMD, with the company claiming to have invested heavily in facilities such as a swimming pool. The lease had been signed with the former owner, Indus Sor Urja, but was never registered. In May 2024, Indus Sor Urja sold the property to Onkar Infotech for 115 crore, paying around 9 crore in stamp duty and registration charges. According to the order following the sale, DIAL acknowledged Onkar as the new landlord, transferred a security deposit of 2.72 crore, and even sought bank details to remit rent. Onkar, however, maintained that the 2020 lease was void for lack of registration. It treated GMR as month-to-month tenants and issued a lease termination notice in July 2024, thereafter refusing to accept rent and demanding possession. GMR resisted the eviction, arguing that the land was agricultural and therefore governed by the Delhi Land Reforms Act, which bars civil courts from hearing such disputes. It also claimed the lease had been extended until 2028 and accused Onkar of suppressing facts about its ownership in revenue records. The Delhi High Court rejected these arguments, ruling that the lease was unenforceable and GMRs continued occupation unlawful once the tenancy was terminated. It also dismissed the agricultural land defence, affirming the validity of Onkars ownership and sale deed. News / National by Staff reporter Presidential Spokesperson and Deputy Chief Secretary George Charamba has dismissed reports that the government had banned tinted windows on private vehicles, describing the claims as false and unauthorised.The announcement had earlier been made by Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Tafadzwa Muguti, who stated that the State was planning to prohibit the use of tinted windows on private cars as part of efforts to curb crime and drug abuse.Taking to social media, Charamba clarified the situation, stating, aThere is no basis in fact or law to the accompanying announcement attributed to Secretary Muguti. Kindly ignore this mis-communication from an unauthorised office and officer.aThe clarification follows concerns from motorists who feared potential roadblocks, forced removals of tinted glass, and the impounding of vehicles. Some legal experts had also questioned the legality of Muguti's earlier statement.With Charamba's intervention, the government's official position remains unchanged, and no ban on tinted windows has been instituted. New Delhi: In a move that will facilitate a quicker turnaround of insolvent companies, the government has proposed a key change to the country's bankruptcy law that will let the firms' revival plans move ahead even if the lenders are locked in disputes over how to share the proceeds, two people aware of the discussions within the government said. A provision in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendments) Bill, 2025, tabled in Parliament, allows tribunals to first approve a companys resolution plan and take up disagreements among creditors on distribution later, they said. This flexibility saves valuable time in the revival of the company, which otherwise could be lost to years of litigation," said one of the persons quoted above. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) will frame regulations on how the administrator of the bankrupt business can apply to a tribunal for separately handling implementation of the debt resolution plan and the distribution of proceeds, said the person. The proposed IBBI regulations will also set out the conditions for the resolution professional to make an application to a tribunal in this regard. The order of the tribunal on the resolution plan as well as the subsequent decision on distribution of proceeds among creditors will be binding on all stakeholders, according to the amendment proposed to section 31 of IBC that deals with the approval of debt resolution schemes. Also Read | IBC amendments plug a major gap in the insolvency process This change is expected to prevent instances like inter-creditor disputes delaying the full implementation of debt resolution plans of companies likeEssar Steel Ltd, Jaypee Infratech Ltd and Reliance Infratel Ltd, which ultimately sought the intervention of the Supreme Court, experts said. The proposal is significant given the delays in debt resolution in many cases owing to litigation. As per official data, the1,258 companies that have been turned around under IBC till end of June 2025, on an average took 602 days to complete the process, excluding certain periods such as the pendency of a stay order, as decided by the courts. The proposed amendment may be taken up during the winter session of parliament after review by a select committee. Also Read | Why the voting threshold is a major hurdle in insolvency application withdrawal Inter-creditor disputes on distribution often delay approvals before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and hence, allowing the tribunal to first clear the revival plan and take up distribution issues later removes a key bottleneck, said Anisha Jhunjhunwala, senior consultant-IBC at NPV Insolvency Professionals Pvt. Ltd. This ensures implementation can begin on time, in line with the IBCs objective of swift resolution," she said. The Essar Steel India Ltd. vs. Satish Kumar Gupta & Ors. (2019) is a prime example, where differences between secured and operational creditors on distribution stalled the process until the Supreme Court stepped in," said Jhunjhunwala, adding that in some of the large cases, creditor disputes over claim treatment have pushed back approvals. The amendment directly targetsthesedelays." One major bottleneck we have been facing in the case of bankrupt businesses is inter-creditor disputes," said Soumitra Majumdar, partner at JSA Advocates andSolicitors. In the case of distribution of proceeds of debt resolution and validity of inter-creditor arrangements, there have been disputes. The proposed amendments allow dissociating implementation of the resolution plan and the distribution of proceeds. The implementation need not be held back till all issues among creditors are sorted out. This is a major step in expeditious implementation of the resolution plan," Majumdar added. The proposal will plug a procedural gap, said Yogendra Aldak, executive partner at law firm Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan. The amendment proposed is a timely and targeted legislative response, he said, adding that it aimed to close "a procedural loophole and upholding the commercial primacy of the committee of creditors while safeguarding judicial oversight over distribution disputes in a segregated and efficient manner". Some experts also flagged the likely challenges in implementation. The amendment might face implementation challenges, as by separating the approval of the resolution plan from distribution of proceeds, the creditors may initiate parallel litigation over their share and the same may lead to conflicting judgments or legal uncertainty. Therefore, the success of this amendment would depend upon clear procedural rules for post approval dispute resolution and preserving creditor confidence in fairness of process," Aldak said. Bankrupt airline Go First now faces a lawsuit over missing tyres leased to it by the Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone. The tyre company, which had leased 1,400 tyres to the airline at $200-700 per tyre per month, now wants them back. Its Thailand subsidiary, Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Company, has petitioned the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Delhi, arguing that the tyres were leased and not sold to the airline, and therefore couldn't be included in the assets to be liquidated. The main point was that tyres for Go First aircraft were leased and not sold and therefore were not the property of the bankrupt airline. Although, as an operational creditor, the demand was just for 3.2 crore, the real loss, which cannot be part of the resolution process, is from not being able to lease the tyres," said an industry executive familiar with the matter. So far, the NCLT has held only one hearing in July. In its 21 July order, the tribunal issued a notice to the liquidator, asking it to file a response in two weeks. The matter was slated for hearing on Tuesday, 2 September, but was adjourned without hearing to 9 October. EY (the liquidator), Dinkar T Venkatsubramanian, and Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) are yet to respond to Mint's queries. Sukrit Kapoor, disputes and litigation partner at King Stubb & Kasiva (KSK), who represented Bridgestone before the tribunal, declined to comment, saying the matter was under judicial consideration. Origin story The dispute traces back to 2019, when Go First signed a five-year lease agreement with Bridgestone Hong Kong. After the tyre maker's Hong Kong operations shut down, the lease was transferred to its Thailand subsidiary. The lease expired by October 2024, before the airline was ordered into liquidation in January 2025. After the expiry, Go First was given a seven-month grace period to return the tyres. When it failed to do so, Bridgestone moved the NCLT petition in July. Also Read | IBC amendments plug a major gap in the insolvency process The tyre dispute is one of several legal battles for Go First. The airline owes around 6,200 crore to creditors including the Central Bank of India ( 1,934 crore), Bank of Baroda ( 1,744 crore), and IDBI Bank ( 75 crore). Go First is also pursuing a $1-billion arbitration case against engine maker Pratt & Whitney at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), claiming faulty engines led to its operational collapse. The outcome of this arbitration is seen as critical to Go First's ability to repay lenders. Grounded and liquidated The airline has been grounded since 3 May 2023 after its promoter, Wadia Group, filed for voluntary insolvency, citing delays in engine deliveries from Pratt & Whitney. By then the airline owed more than 11,000 crore to banks, other financial institutions, vendors, and aircraft lessors. EYs Shailendra Ajmera was appointed as the resolution professional, but attempts to revive the airline hit a major roadblock when aircraft and engine lessors filed lawsuits to take possession of the assets. When the Delhi High Court allowed the lessors to repossess the planes in April 2024, Go First was left with no viable assets. This ultimately led to the airlines liquidation in January 2025. There was a brief glimmer of hope for a revival when Ajay Singh of SpiceJet and Nishant Pitti of EaseMyTrip submitted a joint 1,600-crore bid for the airline in February 2024, but it was withdrawn three months later. Also Read | How the new IBC amendments could speed up resolutions and cut tribunal delays New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) India has the capacity to be an exporter of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a practical solution for decarbonisation, as the country has more than 750 million tonne of available biomass and nearly 230 million tonne of surplus agricultural residue, according to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu. Biomass, agricultural residue and used cooking oil are among the key feedstocks that can be tapped for production of SAF, which can be used as a drop-in fuel for aircraft. The civil aviation ministry in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and with support from the European Union have prepared an SAF feasibility study for India. The study assesses the potential for producing and utilising drop-in SAF in India. It evaluates domestic feedstock availability, viable production pathways, infrastructure and policy readiness and the enabling conditions needed to establish a robust domestic SAF market, the ministry said in a release on Wednesday. Drawing upon international best practices and tailoring them to India's socio-economic and environmental context, the report provides a roadmap for sustainable fuel adoption, it added. The study was undertaken under the ICAO's Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels programme (ACT-SAF) initiative. India is the world's third largest aviation market and the passenger traffic is expected to double to 500 million by 2030. In the release, Naidu said SAF is a practical and immediate solution to decarbonise the aviation sector, with the potential to cut lifecycle CO emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional fuel. "With over 750 million metric tonne of available biomass and nearly 230 million metric tonne of surplus agricultural residue, India has the capacity not only to meet its own SAF demand but also to emerge as a global leader and exporter," he said. The minister also said that SAF production will not only reduce crude imports and cut emissions by 20-25 million tonnes annually but also boost farmers incomes by creating a strong value chain for agricultural residue and biomass. Recently, Indian Oil Corporation became the first Indian company to get the ISCC CORSIA certification for production of SAF at its refinery in Panipat, Haryana. CORSIA refers to Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) of the ICAO. The minister also reaffirmed India's readiness to become self-sufficient in SAF production, targeting 1 per cent blending in ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) by 2027, 2 per cent by 2028 and 5 per cent by 2030 in line with the CORSIA mandate. Meanwhile, COTECNA Inspection India Pvt Ltd has become the country's first SAF certification body. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Its the stuff of boardroom nightmares. Nestle SA fired CEO Laurent Freixe on Monday after an internal probe revealed an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate. After nearly four decades at Nestle, he lasted only a year in the top job. This isnt how it was supposed to go: Freixe was intended to be a return to the old Nestle. His predecessor, Mark Schneider, had ruffled feathers at the insular and conservative consumer giant with his direct leadership style. Freixe told the Financial Times earlier this year that Schneider only the second outsider CEO in the companys history had weakened the fabric of the organization. Freixe was marketed as the opposite, a safe bet who would restore the companys reputation of slightly boring predictability, as RBC analysts put it. Instead, he has created a crisis that Nestles board is trying to counter by signaling that its on top of governance and succession planning. Rather than appoint an interim chief, as so many companies do after an abrupt CEO departure, Nestle immediately tapped longtime insider Philipp Navratil for the job. The board likely had Navratil in mind as an eventual CEO candidate, having last October named him to the executive board. The move is meant to broadcast that everything at Nestle remains business as usual; Navratil said as much in a press release: I fully embrace the companys strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestles performance. But more of the same is not a safe bet for Nestle. Theres a big risk that comes with maintaining the status quo at a company whose stock has lost almost a third of its value over the past five years; nearly half of the decline came on Freixes watch. Continuity is great when times are good, but thats far from the case at Nestle as it contends with slowing sales. Navratil may very well be the right person for the job and surprise investors with a willingness to shake things up. But thats not the message Nestles board is sending with its choice, nor is it the license it seems to be giving its new CEO. Its obvious why Nestle wants a risk-free CEO amid the chaos too bad such a thing doesnt really exist, as Freixe has just conveniently reminded us. The board first got wind of his relationship with a subordinate through an internal company hotline. Freixe initially denied the relationship, according to Reuters, with the boards first investigation proving inconclusive. But the allegations did not die down, and a second investigation with an external counsel confirmed them. The board had no choice but to fire him. This isnt about what Semafor has labeled corporate prudishness, or the idea that companies have become overly squeamish about CEOs having consensual relationships with employees. Freixe broke company policy and tried to mislead the board in the aftermath. As Ive written ad nauseum amid a string of CEOs getting busted for bad behavior, boards are increasingly considering what these ethical lapses say about what other rules an executive might be willing to bend. We know that boards see these kinds of relationships, especially extramarital, as signs that the operation of the organization isnt tight, University of New Haven psychology professor Amy Nicole Baker told me last year when Norfolk Southern Corp. ousted then-CEO Alan Shaw for violating its policies by having a consensual relationship with the companys chief legal officer. Its not necessarily about values. This is a signal to the board that there could be other issues.The board did the right thing in decisively ousting Freixe. But it didnt learn the larger lesson: The safe choice isnt always what you think it is. And in its rush to get back to the boring predictability of Nestles past, it missed a chance to seek out a welcomed surprise instead. 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. Beth Kowitt is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering corporate America. She was previously a senior writer and editor at Fortune Magazine. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion (Bloomberg) -- Thirteen years ago, the most talked-about dish in New York was a chicken. Specifically, the one prepared by chef Daniel Humm and served at the now shuttered Nomad restaurant. It was basted with melted foie gras and stuffed with black truffles, and it would be wheeled around the dining room adorned in a wreath of fragrant herbs before going back to the kitchen to be carved. Years later, a bird is once again the most notable entree in town: the butter chicken at the reopened Indian restaurant Adda. But now its graduated from dish to experience. Dressed-up whole birdsincluding yet another experiencehave become the highest-profile entree up and down Manhattan, replacing prime beef cuts and fried chicken buckets. Theyre more elevated and ambitious than what most chefs have served before, let alone anything most diners try at home. They reflect regional cooking styles, from India to Japan to France and a professional kitchens arsenal of ingredients. Operatorsand guestsare always looking for the next new thing, even if its a reshuffle from a few years back. Also, theres a trend towards high/low cuisinesee Coqodaqs fried chicken and caviar, observes Kate Edwards, a restaurant consultant and former maitre d at Balthazar, which has its own history with roast chicken. The Experience(s) Addas Butter Chicken Experience, which goes for $42 a person, starts when a custom-built aluminum can smoker (made from recycled food cans) is set down on the table. Guests choose from two kinds of woodapple or cherryand from three kinds of butter (pickled tomato, fenugreek or smoked chile). The precooked bird is finished in the smoker, while the glossy butter sauce is cooked table side. The bird is reservation only: each night a total of six tables 24 guests can order it, and bookings sell out within minutes. The chicken swims in layers of flavor including heat from the chiles, smoke from the wood and the warm diffuse tastes of garam masala, ginger, garlic, kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves) and turmeric. To say its rich is an understatement; its infused with so much butter its practically a dairy product. It is, indeed, an experience. Theres another signature chicken experience being served at the new Nikkei restaurant Papa San, across town in Hudson Yards. Here chef Erik Ramirez offers the entire bird, heart included, in the form of an evolving service of yakitori skewers. The happy meal includes poultry-infused miso soup and crispy chicken skin. I call it an experience because its not just one dish, says Ramirez. At Papa San, we wanted to re-create the feeling of dining at a yakitori restaurant in Japanwhere the whole bird is celebrated, part by part, over the grill. Its meant to be fun, interactive and a bit unexpected. The Maximalist $160 Chicken But if theres one place thats emerged as New Yorks maximalist chicken epicenter, its the Upper East Side. At the high-flying bistro Chez Fifi, the indulgent whole poulet roti comes in foie gras jus, with pomme fifi and a salade verte ($160). A few blocks away, at the recently reopened Cafe Commerce, Harold Moore serves Harolds Famous Chicken with over-the-top foie gras stuffing ($99). The dish is not new for Moorehes served some version of it since 2001, when he was a chef at the famed Downtown dining room Montrachet. At Cafe Commerce, the bird is roasted to order with butter and herbs under the skin, then paraded through the small dining room to be presented like a gift to the table. Its carved in the kitchen and then served with a feast of potato puree, foie gras bread stuffing, caramelized onions and endive salad dressed with the chicken juices. Its a chicken every bird aspires to become: perfectly moist with a crackling crisp burnished skin. Moore says 25% of diners order the chicken each night, or 10 to 12 birds an evening. He attributes the entrees success in part to making the restaurant experience less formulaic. He also credits the soft-power appeal of chicken, which satisfies the current craving for food that evokes feelings of safety and nostalgia. There is a psychology to dining today, says Moore. People are hit with bad, bad news now, all the time, and this chicken situation is very rustic and has a homey feeling. He adds, it puts you back in a place that seems more positive. Whole chickens appearance on menus nationwide have increased 57% over the past four years (and 34% over the past 12 months), according to global food and beverage intelligence company Datassential. Whole roasted preparations enable restaurants to showcase their skills and create something comforting, says Claire Conaghan, a Datassential trendologist and associate director of publications. Historically, weve seen that when consumers feel less settled in their finances, they tend to turn to comfort food, and roast chicken is an excellent option for that. It typically has a consistent cost for operators and encourages large-group dining, both wins for a restaurant's margins. We are also seeing roasted chicken and rotisserie chicken grow in affinitynot just at restaurants, but overallwith more consumers loving them each quarter, Conaghan adds. Whole roasted birds have been turning heads in New York dining rooms for years, including at the celebrity-studded Balthazar, which has served them since opening in 1997. The food runner makes a big loop around the dining room because its deliciousits beautiful and it smells so good, says Edwards. They present it, and there is a tada! feeling. It appeals to everyone in the dining room. It sells itself. Right now, I think the NYC diner has been overexposed to typical luxury items and its more interesting to showcase a more commonplace item in an elevated form, says chef Craig Koketsu. This fall, hell open Quality Brandeds first Mexican restaurant, Limusina, in the Penn District, where he plans on serving a whole spatchcocked chicken rubbed with a chile-forward marinade for a sharable fajita feast. As a chef, Koketsu says he likes chicken because its more dynamic than a lot of other types of meat. Its a very simple ingredient, but you can do so much with it. The Money Ingredient The appeal of the roast bird at this moment isnt just to comfort diners. Chefs are leaning into chicken because its affordable. As beef gets pricier, poultry prices are staying relatively steady. According to the US Department of Agriculture, prices for beef and veal were up 10.6 % in June 2025 from the same period a year earlier. On the other hand, poultry prices were 3.4% higher in June 2025 from the same period in 2024. And for chefs who arent offering an experience that has all the sides thrown in, a whole chicken gives chefs the opportunity to upsell steakhouse-style sides: You can charge a decent amount and make some money on it, says Edwards. Its also a tip-to-tail dish, a lower waste item, so that chefs can use the entirety of it. The appeal of communal eating that comes with a large-format bird is what appealed to Addas chef-owner Chintan Pandya, who initially had no desire to put butter chicken on his new menu. Chicken is the most popular protein, and the dish was one of our biggest sellers at the old Adda, he says. But Pandya was overruled. So I thought, If I have to do it, what can I do differently to take it to another level. Now he feels like the interaction with guests makes it a communal event. Its this sense, we are creating this recipe together, he says. That sense of community also prompted Massimo Lussardi to serve a whole chicken at Nightlys, a bistro that opened in the fall of 2024 on the Upper East Side. Chef Francisco Blancos Marry Me Chicken is a play on a dish that trended online over a decade ago, a classic roasted bird with a bewitching sun-dried tomato, tarragon and cream sauce. Chicken has always been a beloved dish, but where restaurants may once have found it beneath them, now more are leaning into those simple staples that people love, notes Lussardi. A roast chicken is a dish that feels luxurious without being luxurious, observes Chez Fifis executive chef Zack Zeidman. The mere fact of having someone cook you a chicken feels kind of homey and rustic. At his restaurant theres the added benefits of foie gras jus and a luxurious setting, where it becomes an accessible indulgence for New Yorkers. Chicken Makes a Move New York isnt the only place where roast chicken is trending. Luxe birds have been a coveted entree in London since last summer. And in the US, chicken experiences are expanding. Outside Dallas in Irving, Sanjh Restaurant & Bar has started serving atta chicken, for $75. The order-ahead bird from chef Sarabjit Singh Assi has become a word-of-mouth hit. To make it, the chef wraps the spice-marinated chicken in dough and slow-roasts it for two hours in a tandoor oven; its presented table side, where the chef cuts the crust open, revealing a juicy and smoky bird like a magic trick. In Denver at Riot BBQ, chef Manny Barella, a veteran of Top Chef Season 21, debuted a whole smoked chicken pibil in August. Served only on Wednesdays, the bird is marinated with achiote and citrus and smoked low-and-slow to combine the tradition of the chefs native Monterrey, Mexico, with Texas-style barbecue. Whole roasted chicken is having a moment, because it blends comfort with culinary skill, says Barella. When done well, it feels elevated. From a chefs perspective, he appreciates the skill of getting crisp skin and juicy and well-seasoned meat. From a business perspective, whole chickens offer strong perceived value and good margins. Diners see it as soulful and honest but still worthy of a special night out. Its simple food with story and intention, which is exactly what resonates right now. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- Scale AI Inc. sued rival data-labeling startup Mercor, accusing the firm and a former Scale employee of stealing trade secrets to attract new business. The suit, filed in San Francisco federal court Wednesday, alleges that Scales former head of engagement management, Eugene Ling, downloaded more than 100 customer strategy documents and other proprietary documents to a personal Google Drive while in communication with Mercor. Ling allegedly met with Mercor Chief Executive Officer Brendan Foody while working at Scale, and other Mercor employees discussed Scales business strategies and products with Ling, according to the lawsuit. Surya Midha, a Mercor co-founder, said the company is investigating. While Mercor has hired many people who departed Scale, we have no interest in any of Scales trade secrets and in fact are intentionally running our business in a different way, Midha said in a statement. Eugene informed us that he had old documents in a personal Google Drive, which we have never accessed and are now investigating. We reached out to Scale six days ago offering to have Eugene destroy the files or reach a different resolution, and we are now awaiting their response. The suit highlights the fierce competition in a key part of the AI industry. Founded in 2016, Scale has long been the best-known name in the market for helping tech firms label and annotate the data needed to build artificial intelligence models. But it has faced growing pressure from rivals in recent months. Scale has become the industry leader on the strength of our ideas, innovation, and execution, Joe Osborne, a Scale spokesperson, said in a statement. We wont allow anyone to take unlawful shortcuts at the expense of our business. In June, Meta Platforms Inc. finalized a $14.3 billion investment in Scale, taking a 49% stake in the company. Following the deal with Meta, some of Scales most prominent customers have phased out work with the startup including OpenAI and Alphabet Inc.s Google according to reports by Bloomberg News and others. OpenAI, in particular, has turned to Mercor to meet its needs for more and increasingly specialized data, Bloomberg has reported. The suit alleges that Mercor recruited Ling in order to expand its relationship with one of Scales large customers, claiming that a significant portion of the documents Ling stole pertained to that unidentified customer. Ling allegedly contacted the customer on behalf of Mercor while still employed at Scale, according to the suit. Mercor still uses Ling on the customers account, according to the complaint. The case is Scale AI Inc. v. Mercor.io Corporation, 25-cv-07402, US District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco). More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Thai Airways International PCLs diversified global markets are buffering Thailands national carrier from decreasing Chinese tourists to the Southeast Asian country, according to Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri. It is a different picture between Thailand and Thai Airways, Chai said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Lingering safety concerns stemming from news of a failed kidnapping near Thailands border with Myanmar of Chinese actor Wang Xing early this year continues to weigh on Chinese tourists. Wangs ordeal went viral in the mainland, prompting thousands of cancellations as mainland tourists opted for other destinations. In July, Chinese arrivals plunged 39% year-on-year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Overall visitors to the country dropped 16% during the same period after the brief Thailand-Cambodia military conflict. The continued downturn in Chinese travelers could weigh on Thailands tourism-dependent economy. Tourist arrivals from international markets like Europe, India, Australia and North Asia, on the other hand, are growing, the CEO said. Chai said Thai Airways is experiencing 2%-3% growth in other markets, including long-haul destinations. His airline is not just carrying passengers to and from Thailand, but providing connecting service through Bangkok to other nations, he said. China is the only market where its business has dipped, Chai said. The carrier, though, faces challenges meeting its expansion plans due to difficulties obtaining additional leased passenger jets, he said last week. The extra planes are needed for additional European operations before its newly purchased Boeing Co. planes begin arriving in 2027. With assistance from Naman Tandon and Anuchit Nguyen. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. MUMBAI: Citi on Wednesday appointed Kaustubh Kulkarni as co-head of investment banking for Japan, Asia North and Australia (JANA) and Asia South, according to a memo accessed by Mint. Based in Singapore, Kulkarni will start his new role in December, pending necessary approvals. He will work alongside Jan Metzger, who is the managing director and head of Asia-Pacific banking, capital markets, and advisory. Kulkarni brings nearly three decades of experience from his previous role at JP Morgan, where he was involved in major M&A, debt, and equity transactions for clients across Asia and India. His appointment comes a month after Citi announced Vikram Chavali as managing director, head of global asset managers for JANA and Asia South. Chavali joins from Goldman Sachs, where he was Head of Asia ex-Japan Sponsors M&A. He will be based in Hong Kong and is expected to join Citi later this year. Additionally, Deepak Dangayach has been appointed managing director and co-head of debt capital markets for JANA and Asia South. Dangayach, who previously worked at Deutsche Bank and UBS, will also join the firm later this year and be based in Hong Kong. Citi has seen steady momentum in its investment banking division and has led equity offerings including Nissan Motor in Japan, Chinese healthcare companies - Hansoh Pharmaceutical and Ascletis Pharma Inc in Hong Kong, JSW Cement and One 97 Communications in India and CapitaLand in Singapore over the last month. As the GST Council examines the next wave of reforms to simplify Indias indirect tax system, policymakers are grappling with a familiar concerncorporate profiteering. States want firmer safeguards to ensure that the tax relief intended for consumers is not pocketed by companies. Mint looks at what profiteering means under GST, how it has been policed so far, and what lies ahead for consumers and businesses. What is GST-related profiteering? When the GST Council reduces the tax rate on goods or services or allows businesses additional credit for taxes paid on raw material or services, the authorities expect it to translate into an immediate and commensurate reduction in the prices of goods and services to the consumer. In the case of successive tax rate cuts in the past, central and state committees received many complaints about businesses increasing the prices of products, excluding taxes, to offset the tax relief meant for consumers, thus fattening their bottom lines. This led to the setting up of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) to look into such cases and pass penalty orders. Why was it considered an imperfect mechanism? Although price control is not the intention of the government, the anti-profiteering provision in GST law required businesses to immediately reduce prices commensurately after a tax rate cut. Also Read | Profiteering worries cast cloud over GST cuts However, the fact that the government cannot get into price control in a free-market economy and that there is no holding period for the lowered price after the tax reduction meant that businesses were free to increase the base price subsequently, citing increases in input costs. This rendered the anti-profiteering legislation not very effective. Why was the NAA wound up? A government official explained that the anti-profiteering mechanism was introduced in 2017 when businesses were getting a considerable amount of input tax credit under the new indirect tax system that subsumed 17 central and state taxes. Hence it was important to have a mechanism to ensure that the tax benefits were passed on to consumers. Besides, it was only in cases like residential houses, where the profiteered amount was large enough and could be returned to individual consumers. In the case of small purchases like fast moving consumer goods, identifying individual consumers to return the profiteered amount was not practical," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In such cases, the official explained, companies were ordered to return the profiteered amounts to designated consumer protection funds. Over time, the tax system stabilised and it was decided to wind up the NAA in 2022, the official said. The Competition Commission of India managed adjudication of anti-profiteering cases for some time before it was transferred to the Principal Bench of the GST Appellate Tribunal. With the number of complaints declining drastically, a sunset clause for examining fresh complaints was introduced, effective 1 April 2025. Which industries were alleged to have profiteered in the GST regime? Real estate, fast moving consumer goods, multiplexes, consumer electronics companies and fast-food chains have faced investigations by the NAA for alleged profiteering. With the proposed tax rate restructuring, which will lead to a reduction of the tax burden on a host of sectors including agriculture, textiles, fertilizers, construction, transport, renewable energy, handicrafts and insurance, policymakers want to be sure that the benefits reach the consumers. What is the future of anti-profiteering oversight? The GST Council is empowered to introduce fresh measures to ensure that profiteering concerns are addressed effectively. With several states highlighting concerns over profiteering, the council is expected to take a view on the matter. Policymakers believe that if the central and state governments are making a big revenue sacrifice to boost consumption demand, businesses should promptly pass on the benefits to consumers rather than pocket them. As per central governments estimates, the proposed GST restructuring could cost the exchequer 50,000-55,000 crore a year. Also Read | GST revamp aims to end bizarre tax disputes; automobiles to get tax relief The GST 2.0 rate rationalisation is a win-win for consumers, and the intent is to benefit the end-consumer, not to let businesses retain the difference, said Prateek Bansal, a partner at White & Brief - Advocates and Solicitors. With the anti-profiteering clause sunset, no new GST complaints will be entertained after 1 April 2025, said Bansal. "The absence of a specific provision does not give businesses a free hand to pocket the benefit. The government should consider reviving the anti-profiteering provisions or a similar dedicated body needs to be established. Until clear guidelines are issued by the government, consumers will need to rely on the consumer protection law or the Competition Commission of India to challenge unfair pricing and active market vigilance will be key to ensuring that the benefits of GST cuts are passed on," said Bansal. Mumbai: If you thought public sector banks (PSBs) dont pay well, think again. Indias state-owned lenders are better paymasters than their private peers, with average salaries at banks including State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda far higher than those at ICICI Bank Ltd and HDFC Bank Ltd, a Mint analysis of data from annual reports showed. However, the chiefs of private banks as well as their senior management staff continue to earn much more than their public sector bank counterparts. The average salary at HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, the largest private lenders, stood at 11.14 lakh and 13 lakh, respectively, in FY25. In contrast, the average salary at SBI was 27.2 lakh and at Bank of Baroda it was 22.1 lakh. The average salary was derived by dividing the aggregate employee expenses in the financial year by the number of employees at the end of the year. This means that employees who left before end-March are not accounted for in the year-end total. The analysis covered data from 10 public sector banks and 10 private sector banks from FY23 to FY25. Also Read | How red tape is costing public sector bank employees crores in NPS savings The gap, experts said, is primarily on account of higher salaries at the lower levels of public sector banks, with lower hikes than the private sector as one climbs the ladder. The gap in salaries widens sharply at the leadership level. HDFC Banks managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) drew 12.06 crore in FY25, while ICICI Banks CEO earned 10.45 crore. In comparison, Bank of Barodas CEO took home 73.92 lakh and the chairman of SBI received 63.87 lakh, the annual reports show. Structurally different Experts said the difference stems mainly from how compensation structures are designed in public and private sector banks. Public sector banks tend to pay more at junior management levels and private sector banks tend to pay more at senior management levels," said Dinkar Pawan, a director at Deloitte India. In private banks, pay is shaped by talent market forces, whereas in PSBs it is determined by pre-agreed pay scales." Pawan added that private banks have a significantly higher incremental requirement for entry-level talent than PSBs, keeping the entry-level pay in check. He said the gap exists at both junior and senior levels but becomes especially sharp at the top. In private banks, pay increases with experience and seniority, not just in terms of fixed compensation but also in terms of bonuses and Esops (employee stock options). This is particularly true at the top management, where the disparity becomes even more pronounced. It must be noted, however, that the benefits offered by PSBs tend to be significantly better compared to private banks," said Pawan. Others said that the median salarythe midpoint in the data when all salaries are stacked in orderalso reflects this divergence. The median employee salaryexcept for board members and key managerial personnelat HDFC Bank was 5.6 lakh for male employees and 3.9 lakh for female employees. In comparison, SBIs median employee salary was 13.9 lakh and 12.8 lakh for male and female staff, respectively. Roopank Chaudhary, partner and head of data solutions at professional services firm Aon, pointed out that median salaries in PSBs, based on their internal data, are higher than in private sector banks only up to mid-management levels. PSB salaries tend to be higher at junior management levels as the recruitment happens on the basis of the probationary officer exam where the salary scale is pre-fixed at a central level," said Chaudhary. Hiring practice That is not the case with private sector bank hiring, which may happen across channels and from different colleges and institutions and at lower levels, he said. Chaudhary said the difference is sharper beyond mid-management. The disparity becomes highest at senior levels since the variable pay is much more aggressive in private sector banks as compared to PSBs, which have lower variable pay, and also due to the presence of long-term incentives, which is only given in private sector banks," he said. Pawan and Chaudhary agreed that while disparities at the junior level have always existed, the gap at the senior level has widened in recent years. The difference between leadership salaries at SBI and HDFC Bank has also widened. While SBI is the largest Indian lender by assets, HDFC Bank is the largest private sector bank. The gap in the salaries of HDFC Banks CEO and SBIs chairmanSBI has an executive chairman and four managing directors, a structure unique to the lenderhas widened from 10.2 crore in FY23 to 11.4 crore in FY25, the data compiled by Mint showed. Private sector banks continued to report salary increases in FY25, though at a slower pace than in earlier years. At public sector banks, the trend was mixed: Bank of Baroda posted a smaller rise compared with FY24, while SBI saw a decline. Also Read | Why Indias top private banks now need way fewer people At HDFC Bank, the average salary per employee rose 7% to 11.14 lakh in FY25, after climbing 16% in the previous year. ICICI Bank reported an even sharper increase, with the average pay increasing 18% to 13 lakh in FY25, following a 17.6% rise in FY24. Bank of Baroda employees saw their average salary increase 5.7% to 22.1 lakh in FY25, after a 22% growth in FY24. At SBI, the average salary slipped 11.4% to 27.2 lakh in FY25, after surging more than 26% the year before. Emails sent to SBI, Bank of Baroda, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank remained unanswered. Compensation at the top has climbed steadily in private sector banks, while salaries at state-run banks remain modest despite occasional spikes. At HDFC Bank, the MD and CEOs pay rose almost 12% in FY25, following a 2% increase in FY24. ICICI Banks MD and CEO salary went up 5% in FY25, after a 4% rise the year before. Among public sector lenders, SBIs chairman saw the sharpest jump, with annual pay increasing 62% in FY25, compared to a 7% increase in FY24. Bank of Barodas MD and CEO salary rose 35% in FY25, after a 12% rise in FY24. CS Setty, chairman of SBI, took on the role in end-August and was a managing director prior to that. News / National by Staff Reporter Zimbabwean motorists are caught in a fog of conflicting government statements over the legality of tinted vehicle windows - and this morning, some drivers found themselves on the receiving end of police fines despite official denials that a ban exists.Last week, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe was quoted announcing a sweeping prohibition on tinted windows for all private and public vehicles, citing national security concerns and a rise in crimes allegedly committed in cars with obscured interiors. The directive, according to that statement, would require motorists to remove non-compliant tints or risk vehicle impoundment, with exemptions only for government VIPs, security services, and manufacturer-installed shading.The announcement was framed as part of a broader crackdown on crime and drug abuse, with particular focus on mushikashika operators - informal transporters often linked by authorities to violent crime. It followed reports of serious incidents, including the abduction of a school pupil in a tinted vehicle.However, within days, Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba publicly dismissed the reports, calling them "false and unauthorised". He stated there was "no basis in fact or law" for the ban and urged the public to ignore the earlier announcement attributed to another government official. Charamba's clarification appeared to put the matter to rest - at least on paper.Yet, on the ground, the story is different.This morning, several motorists in Harare reported being stopped at police checkpoints and issued tickets for tinted windows. One such ticket, seen by Bulawayo24.com, was an official Zimbabwe Republic Police "Admission of Guilt Traffic Fine" form citing "Fail to obey road traffic signs" - with the alleged offence linked to tinted glass. The fine was set at US$15.The contradictory developments have left drivers bewildered."If the government says there's no ban, why are police still fining us?" asked one motorist who paid the penalty to avoid having his car impounded. "It feels like we're being punished for a law that doesn't exist."Legal experts say the situation raises questions about communication between government ministries and law enforcement, as well as the legal standing of such fines if no statutory instrument has been gazetted.For now, motorists face a dilemma: remove their tints to avoid roadside penalties, or keep them and risk fines - even as the official government position remains that no ban is in place. Opposition-ruled states will demand firm assurances from the Centre on compensation for revenue losses arising from the rationalization of goods and services tax slabs at the 56th GST Council meeting, before backing the proposed indirect tax reforms. It is the responsibility of the central government to cover for the losses of the state government on account of GST slab rationalization, said Jharkhands finance minister Radha Krishna Kishore, warning that the state would face an estimated revenue loss of nearly 2,000 crore because of the proposed reforms. We will approve their agenda if they compensate for the loss; otherwise, we will not. The state will suffer if compensation is not given, he added while speaking to the media after a meeting of opposition state ministers on Wednesday morning. He said while he did not anticipate a vote on the matter, the Centre must recognize that in a federal country and a parliamentary democracy, compensating states for calculated losses is a matter of duty. The finance ministers of opposition-ruled statesKerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhandmet in New Delhi to devise a strategy ahead of the meeting, as the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is preparing to push another set of changes in the indirect tax structure. The meeting was organized by Tamil Nadu finance minister Thangam Thennarasu. The Centre is expected to present its strategy, but with states signalling tough bargaining positions, negotiations are likely to test the balance of fiscal federalism that underpins Indias GST framework. Several of these states have previously voiced concerns that GST restructuring could undermine their fiscal autonomy. Wait and watch Meanwhile, Himachal Pradeshs technical education and industrial training minister Rajesh Dharmani, who represented the state in the meeting, struck a more cautious tone, saying deliberations on the next course of action were yet to take place. It is a wait-and-watch situation, he said. Another senior minister of an opposition-ruled state, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said his state will not object to the Centres proposals but will highlight the need for compensation. The rate changes are being thrust on us, and are not aligned to the federal structure of the country. The rates are being imposed by the Centre rather than being discussed, another opposition-ruled state finance minister, who attended the meeting, said on the condition of anonymity. The 56th meeting of the GST Council will be held in New Delhi on Wednesday and Thursday. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the meeting, during which the council is expected to deliberate on India's next-generation GST reforms, including rationalizing tax rates and simplifying compliance. NEW DELHI : The government has asked India's harried exporters to wait a couple of months, as it looks to finalise a bilateral trade agreement with the US by November and ready a relief package to support the industry in the interim. India's relations with the US nosedived recently, after president Donald Trump imposed a steep 50% duty on Indian exports, effective 27 August. In a meeting with exporters on Wednesday, commerce minister Piyush Goyal promised a limited-scale relief package even as the government engages with the US to reach a trade deal by the fall of 2025, a timeline that was announced by Trump and prime minister Narendra Modi in a joint declaration on 13 February, according to three executives of export promotion councils and a government official. Queries emailed to the commerce ministry remained unanswered till press time. Exporters face tariff pressures The move comes as exporters, particularly in sectors such as textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, and gems and jewellery, have been facing uncertainty after the American tariffs. The US initially imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff, which came into effect on 7 August, followed by another 25% for India's purchases of Russian oil, taking the total duties on Indian goods to 50%. Also Read | Indian apparel sector finds partial relief in US-origin input exemption India exported goods worth $87 billion to the US in FY25, accounting for 2.3% of GDP. Of this, five sectorsengineering goods ($19.16 billion), electronics ($14.64 billion), drugs and pharmaceuticals ($10.52 billion), gems and jewellery ($9.94 billion), and textiles ($10.91 billion)together made up $65.17 billion. Indias total merchandise exports, excluding petroleum, reached a record $374.1 billion in FY25, up 6% from $352.9 billion a year earlier. Industry concerns The exporters have been told to wait for a few months until the deal gets signed. The minister assured the export promotion councils that the talks are on track and likely to resume soon," said the first executive. The minister assured all possible help to mitigate the losses through different incentive schemes for exporters, including those for MSMEs," said the second executive. The US currently accounts for roughly 20% of Indias merchandise exports and the sectors most vulnerable to the tariffs include diamond polishing, shrimp, home textiles, carpets, ready-made garments, chemicals, agrochemicals, capital goods, and solar panel manufacturing, as per a Crisil Ratings report. Also Read | Goyal says India seeks fair trade pact with US, talks still on About 25% of the revenue of Indian diamond polishers in 2024-25 came from exports to the US. But the tariffs, along with weak demand for natural diamonds in the US, threaten to significantly dent revenue and compress the already thin operating margins for the sector, it said. On the issue of the quantum of the relief package, exporters were told that discussions are underway with different line ministries, including finance, to carve out a special relief package under the National Export Mission," said the third industry executive. Sector-specific measure Representatives of export promotion councils (EPCs) and industry associations from sectors including textiles, apparel, engineering, gems and jewellery, leather, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and services raised sector-specific concerns at the meeting. The EPC members raised concerns about the impact of tariffs and the hardships the industry would face if these duties continue for long. We asked for support through extension of interest equalisation, resolution of issues related to the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) for MSMEs, and RoDTEP (remission of duties and taxes on exported products) benefits for steel exports as per the rates fixed by the Pillai Committee," said Pankaj Chadha, chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC). The RoDTEP scheme refunds to exporters the embedded central, state and local duties/taxes. In a press statement, the commerce ministry said that the discussions primarily centred on recent developments regarding tariff increases on certain Indian products. Exporters and industry representatives highlighted the challenges posed by these tariff barriers, their impact on the competitiveness of Indian goods in key international markets, and emphasised the need for targeted, sector-specific interventions. Goyal reaffirmed the governments commitment to safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters amidst the evolving global trade scenario. He assured industry representatives that the government is actively engaged in creating an enabling environment to help exporters navigate recent challenges, as per the statement. Mumbai: In a huge relief to consumers ahead of the crucial festive season, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced big cuts in goods and services tax on common man daily-use items, moving packaged staples, personal care items, and household and kitchen goods to the 5% slab. Butter, ghee, packaged milk, packaged snacks and savories, Indian breads such as chapatis and paranthas, toothpaste and soaps, utensils, and other such items will now be taxed at 5%, down from 12% and 18% earlier, Sitharaman said in a late evening briefing. Big-ticket home electronics are also set to get cheaper. Television sets, air conditioners, and dishwashers will now be taxed at 18%, down from 28%, which has been done away with. Reducing taxes on air conditioners was a long-standing demand of electronics makers and consumers, citing rising temperatures during the summer and persistently low household penetration of ACs in the country. Sitharaman also lowered the GST rate on a selection of life-saving drugs, including those for cancer and other chronic diseases. The GST rate on cement has dropped from 28% to 18%. The new tax rates will come into effect from 22 September, the first day of Navratri, widely considered considered a key date in the ongoing festive season, along with Diwali, that fuels consumption in the latter half of the year. We will definitely be engaging with the industry and see to it that benefits [of these tax cuts] to the consumer are transmitted, revenue secretary Arvind Shrivastava said at the press briefing. We do expect that since it is to the benefit of these businesses, that these will be passed. However, in an apparent move to fix the so-called K-shaped recovery in the consumer economy and the widening gap between the rich and working class, the GST Council hiked the tax rates on premium goods. Sugar-based drinks, including colas, will now be taxed at a special sin rate of 40%, up from the previous 28%. Earlier this week, a beverage industry association proposed to the government that beverages be taxed in proportion to the sugar content in them. Clothes priced above 2,500 will be taxed at 18%, up from the now-axed GST slab of 12%, while footwear priced at above 2,500 will continue to be taxed at this rate. Boost to middle-class aspirations Along with this years above-normal monsoon, the move to shift all fast-moving consumer goods products to the 5% tax slab is expected to lift consumption in both urban and rural areas. The Reserve Bank of Indias latest consumer sentiment surveys show that while consumer sentiment was increasing gradually, it remains tepid with regards to discretionary spending. The GST cut is a timely and transformative move that will energize consumer sentiment just as India steps into its vibrant festive season, said Mohit Malhotra, chief executive of Dabur Limited. Its a confidence booster for consumers and a growth enabler for the FMCG sector. I believe this initiative will act as a powerful catalyst for demand, especially in rural and semi-urban markets. Besides, tax experts say, rationalising GST slabs will help improve compliance and boost middle-class aspirations. The GST rate rationalization is a watershed recalibration of Indias indirect tax system, said Manoj Mishra, partner and tax controversy management leader at advisory firm Grant Thornton Bharat Llp. The 5% slab contributes only about 7% of collections, while the 12% slab adds a mere 5% but has been the source of persistent classification disputes and inverted duty structures. The real impact would be seen in consumer and sectoral gains, he added. Middle-class aspirations get a boost with ACs, TVs, and washing machines now at 18%. Passing the benefits Mahesh Jaising, partner, tax, at consulting firm Deloitte, said given the 22 September timeline for the new GST rates to become effective, the industry will have ample time of 20 days to make necessary changes. Manufacturers and distributors of consumer goods will have to deal with their inventory and land goods at the new prices in two weeks. Dhairyashil Patil, national president of the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation, said companies are likely to pass on the benefits of the tax cuts via higher grammage or quantity of goods at the same set prices of 5, 10, and 15, which are standard for FMCG categories such as biscuits and staples. Demand wont be impacted that badly since it is still the beginning of the month and households will go to buy groceries, he said. Companies should start rolling out and printing new price points and packs soon, in time for the Navratri purchases. Retailers must now work on liquidating inventory of old stock till then. However, dealers of electronic goods such as TVs and ACs are likely to be stuck with old inventory until the end of the month, potentially marring the beginning of their festive season sales plans. Also Read | Why profiteering fears resurface as GST reforms enter second phase Zee5s latest Malayalam-language series, Kammattam, arrives with a moody backdrop, a mysterious death, and a determined detectiveall the right ingredients for a gripping crime thriller. Directed by Shan Thulasidharan and led by Sudev Nair, the series makes a solid first impression with its shadowy atmosphere and a central mystery that hints at something deeper than a straightforward murder case. The story begins with the suspicious death of Samuel Umman, a respected planter whose apparent road accident raises more questions than answers. Inspector Antonio George (Nair) quickly notices inconsistencieschief among them, a missing necklace from the scene. As he digs further, the case spirals into something much more complex: a web of silence, deceit, and high-stakes financial fraud that reaches beyond a single crime. To its credit, Kammattam keeps things watchable. The direction is steady, the screenplay avoids major plot holes, and the overall tone remains consistent throughout. The cinematography, though generally serviceable, does manage to capture the slow-burn mood of the story. Performances are decent, especially Sudev Nair, who brings a sense of quiet intensity to his role. However, despite a promising setup, the series doesnt quite stick the landing. One of the most noticeable flaws is the cameraworkcertain zoom-ins and angles feel abrupt and out of place, pulling the viewer out of the moment instead of drawing them in. These visual choices feel more distracting than deliberate. The pacing also falters. Some episodes feel unnecessarily stretched, while moments that should land with emotional or narrative weight end up feeling oddly muted. Theres a sense that Kammattam is aiming for depth, but never quite reaches it. Characters outside of Antonio are thinly drawn, and the emotional stakes remain frustratingly low for a story with such potentially explosive subject matter. Director Vivek Agnihotri appealed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure the smooth release of his film 'The Bengal Files', alleging that Trinamool Congress workers were threatening theatre owners against screening it. The film, the concluding chapter in Agnihotris The Files trilogy after The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022), revisits the communal riots of August 1946 in Kolkata, known as 'Direct Action Day'. In a video message on X, Agnihotri requested Banerjee "with folded hands" to listen to his words and not to "suppress an important part of history". Also Read | Bengal Files: Vivek Agnihotri had no permission for trailer launch in Kolkata Claiming that he is getting feedback from theatre owners in the state that they were being threatened not to go ahead with the screening, Agnihotri reminded Banerjee of her constitutional duty. "You have taken an oath on the Indian Constitution to protect the rights of every citizen, the right of free speech, and it is your responsibility to see to it that the film does not face any disruption. Please consider the fact that the CBFC has cleared this film," he said. Recalling that Bengal led the country on the cultural front and was the soul of India, Agnihotri said the state and its people made maximum sacrifices in 1905 and 1947. Debunking the argument about not reopening the wounds of riots and violence by the screening of the film, he asked, "If a Japanese child should know about Hiroshima and Nagasaki holocausts, why not the new generation be made aware of an important part of the state's and nation's history?" "A true Bengali will not ban the movie. This film cannot be banned in Bengal," he said. Agnihotri further asked if Muslim, Christian and Dalit persecutions can be projected in films worldwide, "why should we keep under wraps Hindu genocide. Why should we wish to keep lies alive?" Also Read | Vivek Agnihotri seeks blessings at Kalighat temple ahead of The Bengal Files trailer launch The filmmaker also recalled the physical stopping of the film's trailer launch at a five-star hotel in the city on August 17, which he termed an attack on the freedom of expression. New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) Finance ministers of opposition-ruled states on Wednesday met ahead of the crucial GST Council meeting, and decided to seek compensation for revenue loss incurred by all states following the implementation of GST rate rejig. Eight opposition-ruled states -- Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal-- had met last week to decide on how their revenues could be protected once the 12 and 28 per cent slabs are removed. Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said his state will suffer a 2,000 crore revenue loss if the Centre's GST reform proposal of reducing the number of slabs is implemented. "If the Centre agrees to compensate us for whatever loss we would incur, turn we have no issues in approving the agenda before the Council. I don't think the issue will come up for voting, as in a federal structure, it is the responsibility of the Centre to compensate states for revenue loss," Kishore told reporters here after the meeting of opposition-ruled states. These states have argued that the rejig in rates and abolition of slabs will lead to lower revenues. The Centre, however, is of the opinion that lower prices will boost consumption and mostly make up for any loss of revenue in the long run. The 56th GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising ministers from all states, will, over the next two days, discuss the Centre's 'next-gen' GST reform proposal of having just two tax rates of 5 and 18 per cent by moving products from the current 12 and 28 per cent slab to lower rates. A special 40 per cent rate has been proposed to be levied on a select few items. A 4-tier GST structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent was implemented from July 1, 2017, when the Centre and states agreed to subsume most of their taxes, like excise duty and VAT, into one uniform tax. A compensation cess in the range of 1 to 290 per cent is levied on luxury and demerit goods to create a revenue pool for compensating states for the loss of revenue occurring from the exercise. The compensation mechanism was for the initial 5 years ending June 2022. If the Council agrees to the Centre's GST reform proposal, Most of the common use food items like ghee, nuts, drinking water (20 litre), non-aerated drinks, namkeen, certain footwear and apparel, medicines and medical devices are likely to move from a 12 per cent to a 5 per cent tax slab. Common use items, ranging from pencils, bicycles, umbrellas, to hairpins, may also move to a 5 per cent slab. Prices of electronic items like a certain category of TV, washing machine and refrigerator are likely to fall because of being taxed at a lower rate of 18 per cent, as against 28 per cent currently. Goods like automobiles that are currently charged at the highest slab of 28 per cent, plus a compensation cess, may see differential rates, with entry-level cars being charged 18 per cent rate, while SUVs and luxury ones being put in the special 40 per cent rate. The special 40 per cent rate will also be for other demerit goods like tobacco, pan masala and cigarettes. There could also be an additional tax on top of this rate for this category. Opposition states, like West Bengal, have demanded that any levy on top of the 40 per cent rate should exclusively be for sharing with states to make up for their revenue losses. The compensation cess mechanism was initially put in place for a 5-year period till June 30, 2022, to make up for the revenue loss suffered by states on account of GST implementation. The levy of compensation cess was later extended by 4 years till March 31, 2026, and the collection is being used to repay the loan that the centre had taken to compensate states for the GST revenue loss during Covid period. That loan repayment is going to be over by October-November, post which, compensation cess will cease to exist. Sambalpur, Sep 3 (PTI) A 160-year-old sweet shop in Sambalpur, Odisha, is seeking Geographical Indication (GI) tag protection for 'Sarsatia', a rare dessert made from 'Ganjer' tree resin that the owner Prabhu Lal claims is available nowhere else in the country. Prabhu Lal (65), known locally as Minchu kaka, represents the third generation running this legacy business established by his grandfather Beni Madhav in 1866. The unique sweet, crafted from Ganjer tree resin, raw rice powder and sugar, is fried into odd-shaped vermicelli with a distinctive crispy texture. "The government should give GI tag for this because you will never find this sweet anywhere except this shop," Prabhu Lal, who has received 8-9 awards for his traditional craft and has been demanding GI tag recognition for many years, told PTI. Prabhu Lal's business has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings. What was sold for 4 'ana' during Prabhu Lal's childhood now costs 12 per piece due to rising raw material costs. Daily production has scaled to 1,000 pieces to meet growing demand from major cities and international markets. "We have advanced bookings from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Dubai," says Prabhu Lal, highlighting the dessert's expanding market reach. The preparation process remains labour-intensive and traditional. Family members venture into jungles beyond Rengali at 5 am to collect Ganjer tree resin, returning by evening. The stems are cleaned and soaked for 12-15 hours to extract juice, which is then mixed with rice flour and sugar. The family has deliberately maintained exclusivity over the recipe, refusing to share knowledge with outsiders. "We don't want to teach others because the more it is prepared by others, its taste will get impacted and demand also. Sarsatiya's name will be spoiled," explains Prabhu Lal. This protective approach reflects broader concerns about traditional knowledge preservation in India's artisanal food sector. The use of Ganjer tree resin, referenced in Ayurvedic texts, adds medicinal properties to the dessert, positioning it as both an indulgence and a wellness product. Despite losing three of his four brothers, Prabhu Lal remains optimistic about business continuity. His son and grandson are prepared to continue the tradition, ensuring fourth-generation succession. "Our family members have continued with this traditional sweet-making and will do so in future," he says, emphasising long-term sustainability of the craft. The GI tag demand has caught political attention. Sambalpur MP and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that he will look into the demand and asked the local collector to examine the matter, signaling potential government support for the initiative. BRUSSELSWith geopolitical tensions flaring in June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wanted to get President Trump alone at a Group of Seven summit in Canada. She surprised his security team, taking Trump by the arm and leading him to a sofa for a chat. There, the two discussed Ukraine, China and trade. It was one of the moments, her aides say, that has helped her bridge a divide with Trump and thaw frosty trans-Atlantic relations. The 66-year-old von der Leyena mother of seven and a doctor who specialized in womens healthhas pushed for months to convince Trump of the European Unions value to the U.S. To get there, she and her team put aside clashing styles and political differences with Trump in search of comity. Von der Leyen tapped lessons from a sometimes rocky career in shaping her approach. She worked to engage Trump directly, often using his own language and avoiding specific terms he dislikes. When they speak, aides say, she marks her red lines and specifies her goals, without relying on talking points. She can resist the temptation to take a fight if that fight doesnt serve a purpose," said former EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, adding that von der Leyen is handling relations with Trump well. The effort has shown signs it is paying off. Trump, a longtime EU critic, showered praise on his European colleagues at a recent White House meeting on Ukraine, calling von der Leyen one of Europes most powerful people. The two leaders echoed each others comments on the plight of Ukrainian children abducted by Russians at the meeting. Trump has also lauded a trade deal he negotiated with von der Leyen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with von der Leyen in Brussels recently. Now, von der Leyens strategy is facing fresh tests from both sides of the Atlantic. Trump recently threatened Europe with new tariffs and trade restrictions over EU tech regulations. Some European business leaders and politicians have denounced the trade agreement, reached in late July at a meeting at one of Trumps Scotland properties, accusing her of rolling over to the U.S. president. Former French EU commissioner Thierry Breton, who quit last year after von der Leyen moved to replace him, lambasted her stance with Trump on X recently, paraphrasing Winston Churchill: We were told to accept humiliation to avoid instability. Now we have both." Sahra Wagenknecht, head of Germanys left-wing populist BSW party, told a German newspaper that the trade agreement was not a deal but a disaster" and called for von der Leyen to quit. Von der Leyen, unapologetic, stresses Europes need to cooperate with the U.S. When the EU and U.S. work together as partners, the benefits are tangible on both sides," she said in announcing the July trade deal with Trump. The EU leader honed her political skills working for former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. From her mentor, von der Leyen learned that to be a woman in power she must be the hardest-working and best-prepared person in the room, aides say. Diminutive, immaculately presented and polite in public, von der Leyen is a study in contrasts with Trump. Her speeches can be punchy but are never impromptuthe antithesis of Trumps long, improvised on-camera group news conferences. In Europe, von der Leyen is increasingly divisive. She has pushed to increase the power of her office and the EU, making enemies in Brussels and beyond. She recently faced down a confidence vote in the European Parliament. Breton, the former French commissioner, and others say the Commission has strayed from its traditional collective decision-making. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and some other euroskeptic politicians have accused her of weaponizing EU powers against opponents. Guarded and tightly scripted, von der Leyen can appear aloof. When she suffered severe flu early this year, the Commission only acknowledged she had spent a week hospitalized following a German media report. Recent backlash against the trade deal surprised her team. Aides acknowledge she can be demanding, pushing to understand critical issues even if that means stretching protocol to question lower-level officials. Vestager, the former competition commissioner who left Brussels last year, said von der Leyen had high expectations but could be sympathetic. During a difficult workweek, she said, von der Leyen would text her to pop in for a cup of tea. Von der Leyen was a surprise choice in 2019 to lead the European Commission. Then Germanys defense minister, she was on a retreat with military officials when French President Emmanuel Macron unexpectedly called, with Merkels approval, to ask if she wanted the job. European leaders, divided over other candidates, quickly approved her as the first woman to hold the five-year posting. She immediately set the tone by having living quarters installed for the first time next to her office atop the Commissions main administrative building in Brussels so she could work longer hours. Officials say von der Leyens relentlessness is exemplified by an iron rule: Celebrate a political or policy success for two hours. Then back to work. The Brussels post brought von der Leyen back to her birthplace. Her father, Ernst Albrecht, who became a powerful German conservative politician, was a senior European civil servant in the 1950s, during the early days of what became the EU. When German police in the late 1970s feared left-wing extremists could harm Albrecht by kidnapping his daughter, she was sent to study at the London School of Economics, where she was registered as Rose Ladson for anonymity. The name Ladson came from her American great-grandmother. Von der Leyen renewed her family ties to the U.S. in the early 1990s when her husband, Heiko von der Leyen, also a physician and professor from an old noble German family, taught at Stanford University. After returning to Germany, she shifted from medicine into regional politics. Friends and colleagues say von der Leyens political stature grew thanks to her intellect, diligence and connections to mentors, including Merkel. She took her first ministerial position, in a state government, four years after the birth of her seventh child. She has spoken of the pressure on her to quit work after becoming a mother. Instead, she built her political brand around her ability to combine heavy work duties with her big family. On movie nights, she, her children and her bodyguards would often fill an entire row at the theater, according to a friend. She won popular support by championing an expansion of German parental leave. By 2019, her meteoric political rise had faltered during a difficult stint as defense minister, which ended amid accusations that the German military was unfit and probes into wrongdoing at the ministry. The Macron call resurrected her career. Von der Leyen took office in December 2019 and met Trump briefly at an international gathering in Switzerland soon after. The encounter was cordial, aides say. The Covid-19 pandemic hit soon after, and they didnt get to know each other. After Trumps inauguration this year, their first face-to-face meeting was a brief chat at the Vatican in April, at Pope Francis funeral. They now speak or text regularly. The new relationship hasnt matched the close ties von der Leyen and her team had in the Biden administration. As Russia prepared to attack Ukraine in 2021, she and her powerful top aide, Bjoern Seibert, worked with Washington to craft economic sanctions that the U.S. and EU imposed on Moscow after its large-scale invasion in early 2022. Weeks later, she visited Bucha, the Kyiv suburb where Russian soldiers massacred hundreds, soon after it was liberated. Aides say it was a sign of her willingness to take risks and her leadership in Europe on Ukraine. Another risk was a last-minute July meeting with Trump in Scotland. She arrived with minimal scheduling, unaware when a press conference would occur, her aides say. In a freewheeling on-camera conversation before the closed-door talks, both leaders gave negotiations a 50% chance of success. Von der Leyen stayed cool as Trump dominated the discourse, and appealed to his vision of himself as a dealmaker. If we are successful, I think it would be the biggest deal each of us has ever struck," she said. Trump agreed. When it comes to most new technologies, early adopters tend to be the people who know and understand the tools the best. With artificial intelligence, the opposite seems to be true. This counterintuitive finding comes from new research, which suggests that the people most drawn to AI tend to be those who understand the technology the least. AI seems mysterious and even magical to these people, the researchers found, leading to a sense of awe regarding AIs ability to complete tasks. This is particularly true when the task is traditionally associated with human attributes, such as writing a poem or creating a new fusion recipe. When you dont really get whats going on under the hood, AI creating these things seems amazing, and thats when it can feel magical," says Stephanie Tully, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and one of the studys authors. And that feeling can actually increase peoples willingness to use it." That finding challenges the assumption that more technical knowledge will naturally lead to wider adoption of AI. In other domains, like wine, the people who know the most about it are wine lovers," says Tully. With AI, its the opposite." Wonder and awe Across seven studies, the researchers assessed peoples AI literacy using different methods, including a 25-item questionnaire they created and a 17-question test created using two AI systems. In one experiment, the researchers recruited 234 undergraduates, assessed their AI literacy and then asked them to consider writing four papers on topics ranging from how the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand led to World War I to a poem about falling in love in Venice. The participants were then asked if they would or wouldnt use a free version of an AI system to help them complete the assignment and to what extent. The students who scored lower on AI literacy were more likely to use AI to complete the assigned tasks than the students with higher AI literacy, the study found. It wasnt about believing that AI is smarter or more useful than their own knowledge, says Chiara Longoni, an associate professor of marketing at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, and one of the authors. It was about how inconceivable it is that AI can complete humanlike tasks, she says. The researchers found that this link persisted even after taking into account that people with lower AI literacy tend to have more concerns about the ethics of AI and its potential negative impact on humanity. Across several other studies, including those that examined differences in AI receptivity in 27 countries, lower AI literacy scores consistently led to an increased willingness to adopt the technology. People with higher AI literacy, meanwhile, recognized that AI is an algorithm, not magic, the researchers say. Understanding that AI is just pattern-matching can strip away the emotional experience," says Gil Appel, an assistant professor of marketing at the George Washington University School of Business and another co-author. Calibrated literacy While the researchers findings suggest that encouraging a sense of awe around AI could be useful for companies deploying AI systems to the general public, the goal shouldnt be to leave consumers in the dark about how AI works, the researchers say. With the increase in AI around us, consumers should have a basic level of literacy to be able to understand when AI might have important limitations," says Tully. Perhaps the best approach is to try to educate consumers about AI in a way that doesnt completely eliminate their sense of awe or curiosity, the researchers say. Tully calls this calibrated literacy"equipping users with enough understanding to make safe, informed decisions without dampening their delight. Too little knowledge and people might misuse the tool," Longoni adds. Too much, and they might be reluctant to try it at all." Heidi Mitchell is a writer in London and New York. She can be reached at reports@wsj.com. President Donald Trump said he would ask the Supreme Court for an expedited ruling on the legality of the administrations tariffs on imports. Many imported wines are currently subject to tariffs. The Trump administration could hasten the imposition of long-awaited sectoral tariffs and the use of other measures to keep tariffs on U.S. imports in place after a Federal Appeals Court late Friday upheld a lower court ruling that President Donald Trumps use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs is illegal.The administration is appealing the ruling to the Supreme Court, and Trump said Tuesday afternoon he would ask the high court for an expedited ruling. The lower-court ruling raises fresh questions about the dozens of framework trade agreements announced in recent weeks, the prospects for tariff refunds and other types of tariffs, and the sustainability of tariff revenue flowing into the Treasury. The decision pertains to about half the tariff revenue collected in the governments current fiscal year, ending Sept. 30, and 70% of the projected tariff revenue in 2026, according to Barclays. The S&P 500 fell 1.16% Tuesday to 6,385, as the ruling reinforced uncertainty around trade. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.37% on the day, to 4.285%. Among the tariffs thrown into question are the 25% fentanyl-related levies imposed on imports from Canada and Mexico, and the 20% tariffs on China. Also up in the air are reciprocal tariffs" on more than 100 countries and punitive tariffs, including the 50% on Brazil and an additional 25% on India for its purchases of Russian oil. The courts ruling keeps tariffs in place until at least Oct. 14, with analysts expecting the Supreme Court to hear the administrations appeal. Barring an expedited hearing, a decision is unlikely before November, and possibly not until mid-2026. Analysts expect some level of tariffs to stick, especially as the administration is prepping other authorities with which to keep tariffs in place. But the court decision raises questions about the recent agreements struck with trading partners that are still subject to ongoing negotiations. The limbo is extended," says Christopher Smart, managing partner at Arbroath Group, and previously a senior economic policy advisor in the Obama administration. Everyone is going to slow-roll whatever they can in terms of negotiations and wait until the Supreme Court decisionand there its a coin toss." Trump posted on social media over Labor Day weekend that More than 15 Trillion Dollars will be invested in the USA, a RECORD. Much of this investment is because of Tariffs. If a Radical Left Court is allowed to terminate these Tariffs, almost all of this investment, and much more, will be immediately canceled! In many ways, we would become a Third World Nation, with no hope of GREATNESS again." Henrietta Treyz, head of economic policy at Veda Partners, says she is telling clients to expect more sectoral tariffs, like the 50% levies on aluminum and steel, and tariffs on autos and lumber that are already in place. Treyz says announcements are likely in coming weeks about sectoral tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. A big reason the [sectoral] tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors havent been signed is because the U.S. will be forced to use those as levers in negotiations once IEEPA [the International Emergency Economic Powers Act] is overturned," she says, adding that such tariffs likely are a cudgel that can be used to keep pressure on other nations to maintain investment commitments. These tariffs could intensify market volatility within targeted sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, pharmaceuticals, metals, and autos and trucks. The administration has also been looking for months to other parts of trade law as alternative ways of imposing tariffs. The U.S. has already launched national security-oriented investigations, including into Brazil, via Section 301 of the Trade Act, with analysts expecting more to come. Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 would let the president impose tariffs of up to 50% on countries that discriminate against U.S. commerce. Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 would allow for tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days. If the Supreme Court constrains Trumps use of IEEPA, even partly, large retailers such as Amazon and Walmart could benefit, says Grace Fan, managing director of global policy and disruptive themes research at TS Lombard. Any constraints could also lift the stock market as fewer tariffs could quiet stagflation fears. A decision that nullifies IEEPA tariff rates would mean Customs & Border Patrol would stop collections of levies and companies would be eligible for refundsplus interest. The refund process could be messy, and subject to delays. While nullification could be good news for companies hit with tariffs, it would rattle bond investors worried about the U.S. fiscal picture. Even with sectoral tariffs staying put, the loss of revenue from IEEPA tariffs would result in a sharp reduction in the money going into the U.S. Treasury. Although tariff revenue equates to a fraction of the fiscal deficit, losing it could worry bond investors, Fan says. That is one reason why analysts expect the administration to find ways to keep tariffs in the mix. If the Supreme Court restrains Trumps IEEPA powers, Treyz expects pressure on Republicans to intensify to give Trump unilateral tariff authority in Congress.The continued limbo could also hasten other countries recent push to find other trading partners. Over the weekend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit in seven years to geopolitical rival China. At a summit in China, Modi, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and Russias Vladimir Putin put on a show of unity and vowed to cooperate more, even as Trump lashed out at India after a tariff deal failed to materialize. Write to Reshma Kapadia at reshma.kapadia@barrons.com News / National by Staff reporter Political commentator Mbizvo Jealousy Mawarire has criticized the Presidential Title Deeds Programme, launched last week by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, describing it as fraudulent and illegal. The initiative, aimed at issuing title deeds to beneficiaries of the fast-track land reform programme, has sparked debate over its legality and implementation.The programme is being overseen by the Land Tenure Implementation Committee, chaired by businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, with the stated goal of converting 99-year leases, offer letters, and permits into bankable, registrable, and transferable deeds of ownership.In an interview with The Standard, Mawarire argued that the committee is not legally constituted and accused it of exploiting farmers under the guise of providing security of tenure. He pointed out that the Constitution provides for the Zimbabwe Land Commission to handle land tenure matters:"The Zimbabwe Land Commission is the one that is seized with issues of land tenure, with the alienation and allocation of state-owned land. So, having a parallel structure like the Land Tenure Implementation Committee is an affront on the constitution, an illegality. It has no legal basis."Mawarire further stated that all agricultural land is vested in the State under Zimbabwean law and that any attempt to introduce private ownership would require a constitutional amendment, which must be approved by a referendum. He accused President Mnangagwa of bypassing this legal framework by creating the Land Tenure Implementation Committee.He also alleged that the committee is effectively selling land to beneficiaries of the fast-track land reform programme:"The vehicle they are using to sell land is not provided for in the laws of Zimbabwe. That makes everything they are doing, including purportedly issuing title deeds, a scam. They are making people pay US$300 per hectare for title surveys alone."Mawarire highlighted the scale of the potential revenue, noting that with over 11 million hectares under commercial agriculture, the total cost for title surveys alone could reach US$3 billionabefore any development or investment in the land.The comments have intensified the debate over the legality and transparency of the Presidential Title Deeds Programme, raising questions about governance, constitutional compliance, and the protection of beneficiaries. New Delhi: India is working towards a more accurate weather forecasting system that would help ensure reliable renewable power supply and electricity grid stability, according to Union minister for new and renewable energy Pralhad Joshi. Addressing the 4th Mint Sustainability Summit on Wednesday, Joshi said that although weather forecasting has improved over the years, greater accuracy is required to ensure adequate renewable power generation in the energy mix, which includes solar, wind, and hydro sources. I assure that the ministry will work on that also. We will see that a more accurate weather forecasting system (is in place)... based on which grid stability can be better ensured. India has surpassed Japan to become the third-largest solar power generator globally, and Joshi exuded confidence that the country is on track to achieve its ambitious 500 GW non-fossil power capacity target by 2030. It currently stands at 295.89 GW, including 8.78 GW of nuclear power capacity. Also Read | Clean energy push: Govt races to build transmission firms to meet 2030 goal We understand that the rapid increase in the solar and wind capacity also brings with it a challenge of inherent intermittency of renewable generation, Joshi said. To address this, the government has rolled out a series of proactive measures. We have established renewable energy management centres across the country to ensure better forecasting and real-time monitoring of the renewable generation. Spain and Portugal, which source 80% of their power from green sources, recently experienced nationwide blackouts. India, too, has witnessed instances of grid congestion due to high solar power generation or cloud cover, raising concerns of grid failure. On 15 June, electricity withdrawn from Indias transmission network exceeded the available capacity, raising fears about the grids stability. Grid Controller of India wrote to the generators and electricity distribution companies (discoms) in the northern region to either lower the withdrawal or ramp up generation. In February, the national grid operator had asked all electricity companies to be alert and supply power to preserve the grid's stability amid cloud cover. A grid collapse is the worst-case scenario. On 31 July 2012, nearly 620 million people across 19 states and three Union territories went without electricity for hours when the northern grid collapsed. Later that year, on 1 August, the northern, eastern, and north-eastern grids broke down in a wider blackout. Experts, however, suggest that major grid incidents have reduced over the years amid the expansion and modernization of the power grid. India now has a unified power grid. Speaking at the Mint summit, Joshi said Indias electricity demand and supply are now more efficiently balanced by bringing in dispatchable sources like hydro and thermal power whenever supply from wind and solar plants goes down. Strong pipeline, investments In the six months through 30 June, India added 22 GW of solar and wind power capacity, and according to Joshi, the annual addition may reach 39-43 GW by the end of the year. The minister said 186.3 GW of projects are under implementation and another 67.08 GW has been tendered. The strong pipeline of projects ensures that we will surpass our (renewable power capacity) target (of 500 GW by 2030), he said. The momentum in renewable energy capacity addition is expected to continue at a robust pace, supported by the large project pipeline, favourable module pricing and a healthy outlook on electricity demand growth, said Icra Ratings Ltd in a recent report. The sector has attracted significant investments over the past few years. A June PwC report said India's goals to hit 500 GW non-fossil fuel-based energy generation and 61 GW/336 GWh of energy storage targets by 2030 are driving the M&A (merger and acquisition) activity in renewables, green energy and electric vehicles. Investor appetite for operational and under-construction assets is strong, with hybrid models gaining traction, it said. Clearing the backlog Joshi also underscored Indias leadership in green energy and climate. India is not dealing (with climate change), it is leading. Overall, we have achieved 120 GW of solar installed capacity and module capacity, which at one point of time was negligible Today, we have 100 GW module capacity in the country. However, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and power sale agreements (PSAs) for about 30 GW of capacity remained unsigned, Mint reported earlier. PPAs are signed between renewable power developers and renewable energy implementing agencies (REIA), which are the procurers. These buyers then sign PSAs with distribution companies, or discoms, to transmit the electricity to industries and homes. Also Read | India eyes retired coal plants for nuclear use The government has taken several measures to expedite power sale agreements. So far, tariffs have been falling. So everybody (discoms) just keeps waiting for the subsequent tenders. So we have also taken several steps to bring stability in this regard, Joshi said. I think you will see further good results very shortly, he said, adding that he holds regular meetings with state chief ministers and energy ministers on complying with renewable energy purchase obligations. The minister also said the Union government has suggested that renewable energy implementing agencies, which include Solar Energy Corporation of India, NTPC, NHPC, and SJVN, aggregate demand from discoms and other consumers before inviting tenders, which would make the projects more attractive and bankable. Pralhad Joshi, Union minister for new and renewable energy, will deliver the keynote address at the Mint Sustainability Summit 2025 in New Delhi on Wednesday. The fourth edition of the summit, which has the theme Clean Energy for Positive Climate Impact, brings together a wide array of experts and industry leaders to discuss India's transition to a greener, more sustainable future. Joshi, who is also the minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, will speak on the government's plans for achieving its publicly stated clean-energy targets, and how adoption of clean energy is becoming a clear imperative. Data from the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) shows that India installed a record 29.52 GW of RE capacity in FY25, bringing the total to 220.10 GW, up from 198.75 GW a year earlier. Solar now accounts for more than 105GW and wind has crossed 50GW. According to the ministry, the cumulative non-fossil fuel capacityincluding hydro and nuclearis steadily approaching the 500 GW target for 2030. Still, challenges like financing, grid integration, and supply chain sustainability remain. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, Mint Sustainability Summit 2025 will aim to debate and address these challenges. The event kicks off with a panel discussion on how India's urban centres can adapt and build resilience against the increasing threats of climate change. The discussion will bring together Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientist Minal Pathak, conservation biologist Neha Sinha, and Samit Mitra of Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. Following this, the focus shifts to how India can scale up renewable energy, a key session addressing the policy, financing, and delivery challenges of India's clean energy goals. This panel will see participation from Pradip Kumar Das, chairman and MD of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd, the country heads of Gentari India and Macquarie GroupSharad Pungalia and Abhishek Poddaras well as Vijay Agarwal, MD of Equirus Capital. The Summit will see presentations that will offer practical perspectives on different aspects of sustainability and clean energy adoption. Girish Ramesh Luthra, chairman of Luthra Group, will discuss approaches to waste management. Sachin Bajaj, CFO of Gentari India, will outline an integrated model for decarbonizing at scale and advancing Indias clean economy. K. Ganesh, director sustainability & corporate affairs at Bisleri International, will present on Indias 'Greener Promise'. A crucial session will address Climate Change, atmospheric Pollution and Geo-engineering: The Missing Picture to fill in gaps of public understanding around interconnections between climate change, air quality, and the controversial topic of geo-engineering. Experts from Teri and IIT Delhi will provide a scientific perspective, exploring the unintended consequences and ethical considerations of large-scale environmental interventions. How can hard-to-abate sectors such as metals, cement and mining join the sustainability drive? This difficult subject will be tackled by Arvind Bodhankar, chief sustainability officer, Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India, and Sanjay Kumar Singh, director - strategy & external relations, Jindal Steel. They will discuss the technological and strategic innovations required to reduce carbon emissions in the steel and cement sectors. The summit then turns its attention to how various renewable sources of energyRE, green hydrogen, small nuclearcan be interconnected and leveraged together for the countrys benefit. With Praveer Sinha, CEO and managing director, Tata Power, Derek M. Shah, CEO and managing director, L&T Energy GreenTech, Gautam Reddy, CEO, AM Green, and B.V.S. Shekhar, outstanding scientist and executive director, Nuclear Power Corp of India joining the debate, the session will highlight the synergies between these technologies in building a robust and reliable energy infrastructure. A separate fireside chat with Nawal Saini, managing partner and head of renewable power & transition, South Asia and the Middle East, Brookfield will analyze India's sustainability targets in terms of what's in it for global investors. The discussion will cover the specific sectors and policies that are attracting global interest and how this foreign investment can fuel India's green transition. Tacking the net-zero challenge, will be a high-level panel on the corporate and societal responsibility of achieving net-zero emissions. This discussion will feature Anup Sahay, head of corporate strategy and special initiatives, Larsen & Toubro, Chandra Bhushan, CEO, iForest, Madhulika Sharma, chief sustainability officer, ITC Ltd, and Gagandeep Sethi, senior vice president- integrated operations and S&R (sustainability & responsibility) at Pernod Ricard India. Goel Construction IPO commenced on Tuesday, September 2 and will conclude on Thursday, September 4. Goel Construction IPO price band has been set at 250 to 263 equity share, each with a face value of 10. Investors can place bids for a minimum of 400 equity shares and in multiples of 400 shares thereafter. Goel Construction Company Limited (GCCL), established in 1997, operates in the construction and infrastructure sector with a solid presence across various industries. The firm specializes in civil and structural construction, with skills encompassing cement plants, dairies, hospitals, steel, power facilities, pharmaceuticals, and projects for institutions. GCCLs main emphasis and core competence are rooted in constructing cement plants, power facilities, dairy plants, and other industrial structures, where it has built a reputation for dependability and punctual project completion. Since its establishment, the company has successfully executed and completed 19 projects with a total contract value of 1,13,499.37 lakhs across a variety of Indian states. As of June 30, 2025, GCCL is currently working on 14 projects in eight states, backed by an order book amounting to 59,660.28 lakhs, which offers strong visibility for future revenues. The company has effectively broadened its geographical reach to include Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, showcasing its capability to handle projects throughout India. To facilitate efficient project delivery, GCCL operates a fleet of 202 pieces of equipment and machinery, which includes boom placers, transit mixers, excavators, tipper trucks, compactors, rollers, tower cranes, backhoe loaders, batching plants, hydra cranes, and more. The companys asset base equips it to complete projects within stringent deadlines while managing costs effectively. Goel Construction IPO subscription status Goel Construction IPO subscription status is 8.28x on day 2 so far, as per chittorgarh.com. The retail portion was subscribed 8.41x, and NII portion was booked 11.41 times. The qualified institutional buyers portion is booked 6.49 times. The company has received bids for 2,11,62,400 shares against 25,55,600 shares on offer on the second bidding day, at 14:39 IST, according to data on chittorgarh.com. Goel Construction IPO details The Goel Construction IPO includes a fresh issuance of shares valued at 80.81 crore along with an offer for sale (OFS) amounting to 18.96 crore by the selling shareholders who are promoters. Of the total 38.08 lakh shares available, 46.48% have been set aside for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), 13.96% for non-institutional investors (NIIs), and 32.56% for retail investors. Additionally, a quota of 76,000 shares has been allocated for employees. The proceeds from the fresh issue will be utilized for acquiring additional equipment and fleets ( 41.74 crore), settling borrowings ( 23.05 crore), and for general corporate needs. Srujan Alpha Capital Advisors LLP acts as the book running lead manager, while MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd. serves as the registrar for the issue. Choice Equity Broking Pvt. Ltd. and Rikhav Securities Ltd. are the market makers for the company. Goel Construction IPO GMP today Goel Construction IPO GMP today is +57. This indicates Goel Construction share price were trading at a premium of 57 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com. Considering the upper end of the IPO price band and the current premium in the grey market, the estimated listing price of Goel Construction share price was indicated at 320 apiece, which is 21.67% higher than the IPO price of 263. According to the analysis of the last seven sessions of grey market activities, the IPO GMP is rising today, indicating an anticipated strong listing. The minimum GMP recorded is 0.00, whereas the maximum GMP stands at 58, as per expert opinions. 'Grey market premium' indicates investors' readiness to pay more than the issue price. Shringar House of Mangalsutra IPO price band has been fixed in the range of 155 to 165 per equity share of the face value of 10. The Shringar House of Mangalsutra IPO date of subscription is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10 and will close on Friday, September 12. The allocation to anchor investors for the Shringar House of Mangalsutra IPO is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9. The Shringar House of Mangalsutra IPO lot size is 90 equity shares and in multiples of 90 equity shares thereafter. Shringar House of Mangalsutra IPO has reserved not more than 50% of the shares in the public issue for qualified institutional buyers (QIB), not less than 15% for non-institutional Institutional Investors (NII), and not less than 35% of the offer is reserved for retail investors. Tentatively, Shringar House of Mangalsutra IPO basis of allotment of shares will be finalised on Monday, September 15 and the company will initiate refunds on Tuesday, September 16, while the shares will be credited to the demat account of allottees on the same day following refund. Shringar House of Mangalsutra share price is likely to be listed on BSE and NSE on Wednesday, September 17. Shringar House of Mangalsutra IPO details Shringar House of Mangalsutra IPO comprises a completely fresh issuance of 2.43 crore shares, which includes a reservation of up to 20,000 equity shares for employees of the company. The company plans to allocate 280 crore from the IPO proceeds for its working capital needs, with the remaining funds designated for general corporate purposes. Choice Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd is the lead manager for the book running, while MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd serves as the registrar for the offering. Company Details Founded in 2009, Shringar House of Mangalsutra specializes in designing and producing mangalsutras in 18k and 22k gold purity for numerous business-to-business (B2B) clients such as Titan Company, Malabar Gold, Reliance Retail, Novel Jewels (part of the Aditya Birla Group), Joyalukkas India, P N Gadgil Jewellers, Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers, and Vaibhav Jewellers. As of March 2025, the company was catering to 34 corporate clients, 1,089 wholesalers, and 81 retailers. The mangalsutra manufacturer's listed peers include Utssav CZ Gold Jewels, RBZ Jewellers, and Sky Gold & Diamonds, achieved a profit of 61.1 crore for the fiscal year ending March 2025, representing a significant increase of 96.5 percent compared to 31.1 crore in the preceding year. During the same timeframe, revenue rose by 29.8 percent to 1,429.8 crore, up from 1,101.5 crore. Smallcap stock Dynacons Systems and Solutions has given multibagger returns in the last five years, surging 3,754 per cent to 977 currently from 25.40 in September 2020. However, in recent times, the stock has undergone a correction. The multibagger stock has lost 36 per cent in the last one year and 29 per cent in 2025 so far. Just in the first three sessions of September, the stock has lost 1.2 per cent, extending losses to the fourth straight month. It declined 1.5 per cent in August, 7.6 per cent in July and 0.8 per cent in June. However, before that, Dynacons Systems and Solutions shares rose 3.5 per cent in May and 2 per cent in April. The stock also started the year on a negative note, down 2 per cent in March, 13 per cent in February and 12 per cent in January. The small-cap stock is currently almost 40 per cent away from its 52-week high of 1,614.55, hit in January 2025. Meanwhile, it hit its 52-week low of 929.20. Board Meet Announcement The Board of Directors of the company will meet today, September 3, 2025, at its Mumbai office to discuss key company matters. They will finalise the date, time, and venue for the 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and approve the AGM Notice and Directors Report for FY2024-25. The Board will also set the dates for closing the Register of Members and Share Transfer Books and fix the cut-off date for voting rights. Additionally, they will consider appointing M/s. HSPN & Associates LLP for Secretarial Audit for the next five years, review borrowing limits, and discuss any other business approved by the Chair. Q1 Results Dynacons Systems & Solutions posted a revenue of 328.85 crore in Q1 FY2025-26, marking a 23.8 per cent year-on-year increase, while net profit rose 34.7 per cent to 19.65 crore. For the full FY2025-26, the company recorded total revenue of 1,273.93 crore and a net profit of 72.49 crore. About the firm Dynacons Systems & Solutions Limited, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Mumbai, provides IT solutions in India and internationally. Operating through System Integration and Technology Workforce Augmentation Services, it offers IT consulting, system integration, datacenter solutions, workplace IT services, network management, and cybersecurity solutions. The company also delivers CRM, project management, cloud services, managed security, and IT staff augmentation. Serving BFSI, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, enterprises, governments, and PSUs, Dynacons combines technology and expertise to support global business operations while exporting its solutions abroad. The GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is underway. All eyes are on how the present rates will be rationalised and how the committee plans to offset the deficit in tax revenue. The GST Council meeting started on September 3 and will conclude on September 4. Expectations are high that the council will announce tax cuts that will affect hundreds of products, from shampoos and toothpaste to hybrid cars. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced next-generation GST reforms in his Independence Day speech on August 15, his intent must have been not only to reduce the tax burden on consumers but also to reinvigorate the consumption cycle, which has remained dull despite healthy monsoons and income tax relief. GST rationalisation: Key expectations At present, there are multiple slabs of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent of GST rates. Experts point out that the Centre wants to replace them with a two-slab structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, and a 40 per cent special rate for sin goods. As concerns over US tariffs mount, the government is aiming to trigger a consumption-led recovery by moving nearly 50 products, including condensed milk, cheese, dried fruits, and preserved fish and vegetables, from the 12 per cent slab to the 5 per cent GST slab. Moreover, about 25 items, including chocolates, ice cream, cakes, and corn flakes, could be shifted from the 18 per cent slab to 5 per cent. This could be the biggest reform of the GST system since its introduction in India on July 1, 2017. What GST rate rationalisation means for the Indian economy In simple words, lower GST rates on FMCG, automobiles, consumer durables and electronics, and insurance premiums will mean more disposable income in the hands of consumers, which in turn may lead to higher consumption, increased economic activity, and overall growth. GST 2.0 represents one of the most pro-consumption policy moves in recent years. By reducing prices in everyday categories and big-ticket durables alike, the reform could accelerate demand just as rural incomes and inflation trends are turning favourable, said Sonam Srivastava, Investment Manager on smallcase and Founder at Wright Research. According to JM Financial, while this would be a significant boost to demand over the medium term, in the short term, it could lead to consumers holding off on purchases until the proposed GST cuts lead to lower prices. Manoranjan Sharma, Chief Economist at Infomeric Valuation and Ratings, believes GST rationalisation could spur consumption and stimulate economic growth, potentially boosting consumption by approximately 1.98 lakh crore through higher household disposable income. "A stronger domestic market, less dependent on external trade, would also reduce India's vulnerability to global economic shocks, thereby enhancing its overall economic resilience," said Sharma. GST rationalisation: Potential challenges However, reducing GST rates is not going to be easy for the council because GST contribute a heavy share of states' revenue. In case of cuts, they may face significant financial strain, which might affect their ability to make capital expenditures on social programs and infrastructure projects. "States heavily reliant on GST revenue could face significant financial strain, which might hinder their ability to fund critical social programs and infrastructure projects, necessitating compensation mechanisms, viz., phased revenue sharing or transitional loans, to help fiscally weaker states manage the shift and maintain stability," Sharma observed. Moreover, Sharma pointed out that the positive effects of GST rate reductions on consumption and profitability have a lagged effect, creating a potential short-term gap, as tariff shocks impact immediately. "Bridging this gap requires coupling GST reform with temporary direct fiscal relief for exporters and MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), providing them with immediate support while the market adjusts," said Sharma. G. Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics Research Private Limited, underscored that there are pressures from state governments as well as from the Centres own fiscal balance, on account of the last budgets direct tax concessions and the governments obligations to provide fiscal support to exporters. Hence, there is limited scope for GST reforms. So, what is the way out? Sharma said GST reforms must be complemented by a multi-faceted approach, including targeted relief schemes, export diversification through new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and market access, negotiations for tariff reductions, and financial measures to stabilise state finances. "By integrating domestic tax relief with international trade strategies and industrial policy, India can effectively steer its economic trajectory toward greater self-reliance, resilience, and global competitiveness," said Sharma. Chokkalingam expects a boost to consumption on account of the proposed reforms. "A successful monsoon, along with direct tax concessions given in the last budget, would provide a complementary boost along with GST reforms. Since there are some fiscal pressures, we expect an aggressive sin tax to meet the shortfalls in fiscal resources to support this reform," said Chokkalingam. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar How to counter Trump's tariffs? Is it possible to offset the impact of a massive 50% US tariff on Indian goods? Economists and experts have been grappling with these questions ever since US President Donald Trump imposed higher tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhis purchase of Russian oil. The 50 per cent tariff went into effect on August 27, affecting sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, certain mechanical appliances, agriculture, and processed food. Despite high expectations that the 25 per cent secondary tariff will go down soon, there are no signs that things are moving in the right direction. A Bloomberg report quoted Trump saying on Tuesday that hes not looking at lowering tariffs on India. Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday indicated that trade talks are continuing and India is hopeful of concluding its proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US by November this year. Also Read | Goyal says India seeks fair trade pact with US, talks still on Trump tariffs can't be overlooked Experts are assessing Trumps 50 per cent tariffs on India from different perspectives. Some believe the tariffs are merely a pressure tactic by the US President and are likely to be rolled back, given that India is a key strategic partner of the US. Moreover, there are growing voices within the US itself opposing higher tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, while Chinathe largest importer of Russian oilfaces only a 30 per cent US tariff. On the other hand, some analysts see the possibility of US tariffs on India remaining for a longer period, impacting the nation's GDP growth by up to a percentage point. But the impact on growth is not the biggest challenge. The major concern is job losses in the affected sectors. For example, textiles, gems and jewellery, seafood, mechanical appliances, metals, handicrafts, carpets, leather, and footwear are labour-intensive industries that employ millions. Since the US is Indias largest export partneraccounting for 18 per cent of total exports, or about 2.3 per cent of Indias GDPassessing the impact of US tariffs on India does not require much effort. Internal reforms hold the key The Indian government is exploring all possible ways to mitigate the tariff pain. It is engaged in heightened diplomatic activities to secure trade deals and new export avenues for Indian goods. India has signed free trade agreements with Australia, the UAE, Mauritius, the UK, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, marking his first visit to China in seven years. While strategic ties will certainly help, it is the internal reforms that hold the key, say experts. "While stronger strategic and trade ties with China and other partners will provide some cushion, Indias foremost priority must be internal reforms to withstand the shock of Trumps tariffs," said Manoranjan Sharma, Chief Economist at Infomeric Valuation and Ratings. Sharma said expanding engagement through FTAs with the EU, UK, and EFTA, exploring membership under CPTPP, and boosting trade with Africa, ASEAN, the Middle East, and Brazil can certainly help diversify risk. Yet, the real game-changer lies in domestic policy reforms that strengthen economic fundamentals. For instance, proposed GST reforms alone could significantly raise household disposable income, potentially lifting consumption by 1.98 lakh crore and thereby deepening the internal market. "A more vibrant domestic economy, less dependent on US exports, would reduce vulnerability to external shocks and bolster resilience. Complementary measures must include proactive trade diversification, targeted export promotion, supply-side strengthening in electronics and high-value sectors, smarter negotiations, and diplomatic leverage. Achieving this balance is challenging, but well within Indias reach," said Sharma. Indranil Pan, chief economist of YES BANK, underscored that Trumps 50 per cent tariffs will negatively impact GDP by 0.4-0.7 per cent on a full-year basis. Domestic consumption forms around 60 per cent of the GDP, and policy efforts will need to boost private consumption demand. A few steps have already been taken in this direction. "We are waiting for the GST simplification, which will push most goods from a higher tax bracket to the lower tax bracket, thereby providing a boost to private consumption. Income tax reduction in the Budget, along with RBIs monetary policy easing by 100 bps, is also seen to be pushing up urban consumption demand," said Pan. However, Pan emphasised that the government would need to examine job creation strategies to absorb the labour displaced from the export-oriented sectors, which might also include strategies to strengthen skill redevelopment. Agriculture is another area that the government should focus on to improve productivity, as this sector can absorb a significant amount of labour. "Special schemes with credit guarantee embedded need to be rolled out for the MSMEs to enable them to re-engineer their production lines so as to cater to the demand needs of domestic consumers, rather than of the global consumers," said YES BANK's chief economist. Debopam Chaudhuri, chief economist of Piramal Group, highlighted that Indias growth rests on two pillars the consumption power of its youth and deeper integration into global supply chains. While progress has been made on the latter, the bigger challenge for the former is generating quality jobs at scale. "Each year, over five million young Indians enter the workforce without finding meaningful employmenta gap that threatens the very consumption-led growth story of our demographic dividend," Chaudhuri said. "The real catalyst for job creation is private capex, and the entire governance systemfrom New Delhi to states to local bodiesmust focus on clearing business hurdles and channelling investments into productive sectors," said Chaudhuri. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar Zerodha tech glitch: Several Zerodha users faced a technical glitch in the early trading hours on Wednesday, September 3, as its trading application 'Kite' crashed and failed to reflect the latest price changes and other data. Following the complaints on the social media platform X, Zerodha acknowledged that users were facing issues with price updates on the app. However, it said the order placement is not affected. Some of our users are facing issues with price updates on the app. We're checking this. For now, please log in to Kite web on a mobile browser. Order placement is not affected. For the equity segment, you can also check 20 depth on the app, Zerodha said. Later at 9.51 am, Zerodha updated in the same post that the issue has now been resolved. User reaction to Zerodha's Tech Glitch Several users took to X to show their dissatisfaction with Zerodha's app. "From last 15 minutes zerodha is not responding who will be responsible for the loss I can't square of my positions please tell is zerodha down all the time please. Answer who will bear the loss," a user named Shubham Nimawat posted on X. Meanwhile, another user shared an old post from 2019 on X recalling a past tech glitch at Zerodha. Zerodha, headed by Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath, is one of the biggest broking firms in India. In the financial year 2023-24, Zerodha posted a revenue of 8,320 crore and profitability of 4700 crore. According to the company's website, over 1.6+ crore clients place billions of orders every year via Zerodha's platform, contributing over 15% of all Indian retail trading volumes. Penny stock: The shares of Welcure Drugs & Pharmaceuticals hit 5% upper circuit on Wednesday's trading session following the company's announcement of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Telexcell Trade PTE LTD, Singapore, regarding their intention to acquire a significant equity stake in the company. In an exchange filing, the company revealed that Telexcell Trade PTE LTD, Singapore plans to acquire up to a 25% equity stake in Welcure Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The investment will be made entirely in cash, pending necessary due diligence, approvals, and compliance with relevant laws. The firm stated that the suggested price is 20 per share, which reflects a premium over the existing market price (which is under 10 as of the date of the Letter of Intent). The company indicated that this investment aims to enhance Welcure's global presence in the pharmaceutical and chemical export sectors, especially given the increasing opportunities in emerging markets. Additionally, the company indicated that the planned transaction is contingent upon the completion of satisfactory due diligence; the execution of binding agreements between the involved parties; and obtaining necessary corporate, shareholder, and regulatory clearances, including approvals from SEBI, RBI, and stock exchanges. The parties aim to finalize the due diligence and the execution of binding agreements within 90 days from the date of this Letter of Intent (LOI). This announcement is made to promote transparency and keep stakeholders updated. The company will provide further updates to the exchanges and stakeholders regarding any developments as they arise. Welcure Drugs & Pharmaceuticals share price today opened at 8.61 apiece on the BSE, the stock touched an intraday high of 9.22 and an intraday low of 8.40 per share. Company Details Welcure Drugs & Pharmaceuticals has been constructed step-by-step on a strong foundation of care. For over eighty years, our commitment to positively impacting patients has shaped every facet of Welcure Drugs And Pharmaceuticals Ltd's operations. Additionally, the company engages in manufacturing, designing, repairing, installing, trading, importing, exporting, acting as an agent for sales, and distributing water processing equipment, purifiers, and various types of water softeners. Furthermore, the company is involved in real estate, focused on developing outstanding living and working environments for the new generation of global Indian professionals. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) was set to emerge as the largest beneficiary of Chinas efforts to curb overcapacity across industries, according to a note by Morgan Stanley. The brokerage said RILs own restructuring efforts and Chinas focus on anti-involution measures aimed at reducing cutthroat competition and excess capacity together create a powerful growth opportunity for the conglomerate. Morgan Stanley retained its overweight rating on Reliance and raised its 12-month price target to 1,701 from 1,602, signalling a potential upside of 24.4 percent from Tuesday's close. The brokerage highlighted that the market was assigning near zero value to the companys new energy and artificial intelligence (AI) investments, and pricing in only limited upside in its fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business. Chinas Anti-Involution Measures to Boost Solar and Energy Business Morgan Stanleys analysts, led by Mayank Maheshwari, said Reliance was the biggest beneficiary of Chinas anti-involution policies across energy and solar supply chains. The note pointed out that Reliance was creating a fully integrated solar supply chain in India at a time when Chinese producers were scaling back polysilicon output. This structural shift could lower Reliances energy costs by as much as 40 percent by 2030 and increase new-energy earnings contribution to 13 percent by 2027. The brokerage also said that Chinas efforts to rationalise capacity in the solar sector were likely to support pricing for global players such as Reliance. It estimated that the combined impact of Chinas measures and Reliances own restructuring could add nearly $20 billion in net asset value for the company and boost its earnings forecast for FY28 by 17 percent. Green Energy Plans and Jio IPO Timeline At its 48th annual general meeting (AGM) held on August 29, Chairman Mukesh Ambani and director Anant Ambani laid out an ambitious green energy roadmap, which they said would create the worlds most integrated new energy ecosystem. Hydrocarbons will remain vital for India for several years. Our strategy is clear: excel in traditional energy while building the system of the future, Ambani said during the virtual AGM. The company also reiterated its commitment to doubling its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), a goal first announced in 2022. In addition, Ambani confirmed plans to list Jio through an initial public offering (IPO) in the first half of 2026. Jio, which recently crossed 500 million subscribers, was expected to deliver value creation on par with global peers, he said. News / National by Staff reporter The United Kingdom High Court has dismissed a Zimbabwean father's attempt to secure the return of his 11-year-old son, ruling that his parental rights under a Zimbabwean court order amounted only to access, not custody, and therefore did not constitute "wrongful" removal under the Hague Convention.The case, F v L & Ors [2025] EWHC 2190 (Fam), involved T, born in 2014. His parents met in Zimbabwe in 2013 and separated in 2017. A Zimbabwean magistrates' court in January 2022 granted custody to the mother while providing the father with defined contact rights.In October 2022, the mother relocated T to England to live with her sister and brother-in-law without notifying the father. The father only discovered the move in 2024 after hearing a voice note of his son speaking with an English accent. He subsequently located the family, traveled to the UK in February 2025, and filed a Hague return application in April.Deputy High Court Judge Vikram Sachdeva KC ruled that under Zimbabwean law, a parent with custody may take a child abroad unless prohibited by court order. An access-only parent, however, lacks veto powers over relocation. Referring to previous cases, the judge concluded the father's rights did not extend to preventing the move.Applying the Hague Convention's framework, the court found the father's rights were not "rights of custody" under Articles 3 and 5, citing Hunter v Murrow [2005] and Re D (Abduction: Rights of Custody) [2006]. "I do not construe the father's rights as extending to a power of vetoa the rights enjoyed by the father do not constitute arights of custody'," the judgment stated.The court also considered the child's welfare. Despite the mother's concealment and years of limited contact, T was found to be thriving in England, fully integrated at school and in the community. The judge cited prior cases, including Re N (1991) and Cannon v Cannon [2004], noting that a child's settled life weighed against ordering a return.Defences such as acquiescence and grave risk were also addressed. Even if settlement had not been decisive, the court indicated it would not have ordered T's return, emphasizing that the Convention's "hot pursuit" aim cannot be fulfilled once a child is firmly settled. A separate application under the court's inherent jurisdiction was similarly rejected, and the father's claims were dismissed in full. Stock market today: The benchmark Nifty-50 index ended 0.18% lower at 24,579.60 on Tuesday, as consolidation continued. The bank Nifty saw a sharp 0.63 correction to 53,661.00, while Auto and pharma were among other losers. The FMCG, Metals Realty, among others, supported the benchmark, while in the broader indices, mid and small-cap stocks also gained 0.27-0.53%. Trade Setup for Wednesday In the short term, the trend is likely to remain weak for Nifty, with support being placed at 24,500, while on the higher end, resistances are placed at 24,700 and 24,850, as per Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities Bank Nifty has immediate support at 53,200-53,500 levels, as per Bajaj Broking. Global Markets and Trump Tariffs "Domestic equities reversed early gains from strong macro data, ending lower on profit booking amid caution ahead of the GST Council meeting and F&O expiry, with banking stocks leading the decline. Sugar stocks rallied on relaxed ethanol norms, while export-oriented companies gained following dovish remarks by the US, renewing trade optimism. However, investors remain guarded, with a near-term focus on domestic consumption amid global uncertainty," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited. Stocks to buy today Regarding stocks to buy today, market expertsSumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking; Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi; and Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladherrecommended these eight intraday stocks for today; Parag Milk Foods Ltd., Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd., State Bank of India, Radico Khaitan Ltd, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., VA Tech Wabag Ltd., K.P.R. Mill Limited., and One 97 Communications Ltd (PAYTM) Sumeet Bagadia's stock picks Parag Milk Foods Ltd-Bagadia recommends buying PARAGMILK at 245 keeping Stoploss at 236 for a target price of 265 PARAGMILK witnessed a strong up-move in Tuesdays session, from a technical perspective, the stock has managed to reclaim key moving averages. Currently, Parag Milk is trading comfortably above its key moving averages. This alignment of the shorter EMAs above the longer EMAs reaffirms a bullish undertone in the medium term. Importantly, the price rebound from the support zones around 220225 has added strength to the ongoing uptrend. 2. Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd-Bagadia recommends buying BALMLAWRIE at 233.5 keeping Stop loss at 225 for a target price of 250 BALMLAWRIE delivered a strong performance in Tuesday trading session, the sharp price rise, backed by healthy volumes indicates robust buying interest and a shift in market sentiment towards the positive side. substantial upward movement and a significant closing around 641.1. The stock has been experiencing robust buying interest, leading to consecutive gains that could potentially lead to further upward movement after the recent surge, offering an optimistic outlook for investors Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3. State Bank of India- Dongre recommends buying State Bank of India at 805 keeping Stoploss at 795 for a target price of 822 Stock has been exhibiting a strong and consistent bullish pattern, indicating sustained investor interest and positive price momentum. The stock is currently trading at 805 and has established a solid support base at 795. This level has historically acted as a cushion, and the recent price action suggests a reversal from this support, reinforcing bullish sentiment. The technical setup points to the potential for a price retracement toward the 822 level in the near term. Given the renewed strength and the favorable risk-reward ratio, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss placed at 795 offers a strategic opportunity to capture the expected upside move. The outlook remains positive as long as the stock holds above its key support zone 4. Radico Khaitan Ltd- Dongre recommends buying RADICO at around 2897 keeping Stoploss at 2860 for a target of 2955. Stock has exhibited a strong notable continue bullish pattern, offering another promising opportunity for short-term traders. The stock is currently priced at 2897 and maintaining a strong support at 2860. The technical setup indicates the potential for a price retracement towards the 2955 level. With the stock reversing from a support base and showing signs of renewed strength, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss at 2860 offers a prudent approach to capturing the anticipated upside. 5. Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd -Dongre recommends buying KOTAKBANK at around 1945 keeping Stop loss at 1925 for a target price of 1985. Stock has exhibited a strong notable continue bullish pattern, offering another promising opportunity for short-term traders. The stock is currently priced at 1945 and maintaining a strong support at 1925. The technical setup indicates the potential for a price retracement towards the 1985 level. With the stock reversing from a support base and showing signs of renewed strength, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss at 1925 offers a prudent approach to capturing the anticipated upside. Shiju Koothupalakkal intraday stocks for today 6. VA Tech Wabag Ltd - Koothupalakkal recommends buying VA TECH WABAG at 1510 for a target of 1600 keeping Stop loss at 1480. The stock overall maintaining a positive trend has recently witnessed a short correction taking support near the 1454 level and indicating a pullback to improve the bias just to move past the important 200 period SMA at 1507 level and can expect for further rise in the coming days. The RSI has corrected and is currently well placed indicating a positive trend reversal to signal a buy. With the chart technically well positioned, we expect further gains and suggest buying the stock. 7. K.P.R. Mill Limited- Koothupalakkal recommends buying KPR MILLS at around 997 for a target price of 1050 keeping stoploss at 980. The stock recently has witnessed a significant correction and has taken support near the 950 zone indicating a double bottom pattern and has recovered with a pullback with decent volume participation to improve the bias anticipating for further rise. The RSI is well positioned and has indicated a buy signal to carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the risk reward looking favourable and the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock. 8. One 97 Communications Ltd (PAYTM) Koothupalakkal recommends buying PAYTM at 1257 for a target price of 1315 keeping Stop loss at 1230. The stock has indicated a strong rising trend gaining strength with series of higher bottom formation on the daily chart and currently taking support near 1205 zone has indicated a fresh move to expect for another round of momentum in the coming sessions. The RSI is maintained strong and can carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock . Gig workers can now invest as low as 100 a day in a mutual fund (MF) through a fintech app. Zeny, a newly launched fintech platform founded by Oxford University alumni Nikhil Nair and Nikhil Saigal, has gone live on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) with its daily MF SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) customer app. The app aims to enable Indias informal workforce to invest as little as 100 per day in the Aditya Birla Sun Life Liquid Fund. Zeny said its approach encourages digital sachet savings, wherein small, frequent deposits are made through UPI (Unified Payments Interface) auto-pay, helping to build good financial habits among informal workers and making it easy for them to manage and grow their money. Mutual fund Assets Under Management (AUM) have grown at a 20% CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) over the past decade, yet penetration among informal workers is sub-2%. We want to change that by enabling access to mutual funds beyond urban affluent segments, said Nikhil Nair, Co-founder and CEO, Zeny. For first-time investors from the informal workforce, a low-volatility liquid fund can act as a safe on-ramp. Our service offers fixed deposit-style returns with no lock-ins and the flexibility to deposit and withdraw money every day, he said. Liquid funds and ONDCs role in access Aditya Birla Sun Life Liquid Fund has gained 7.1% over the last year and is among the top-7 performers in the category. It is a five-star-rated fund in its category. Liquid funds, which have a moderate risk, have generated returns of 6.6% on average in the past year. Aditya Birla Sun Life Liquid Fund, which has an AUM of nearly 52000 crore, has invested predominantly in certificates of deposits (CDs) issued by banks, commercial paper (CP), and debentures offered by leading corporates and treasury bills issued by the RBI (Reserve Bank of India). Low-cost MFs or SIPs for 100 are not new in India. SIPs for 100 are offered by MFs investing in gold, benchmark stock indices, and corporate bonds. Indias gig workers, who include drivers, plumbers, cooks, electricians, and mechanics, can earn an interest of between 6%-7% on their sachet-sized daily savings, Zeny said. ONDC was built to democratize access, to ensure that every Indian, regardless of income, geography, or digital literacy, can participate in the formal economy, said Vibhor Jain, Acting CEO and COO, ONDC. ONDC is a non-profit company established under the initiative of DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) of the government to democratise Indias e-commerce landscape by creating an open and interoperable network. Quantum MF joined the ONDC network recently to simplify MF distribution. ONDC aims to provide seamless connectivity between AMCs (Asset Management Companies) and MF distributors. Allirajan M is a journalist with over two decades of experience. He has worked with several leading media organisations in the country and has been writing on mutual funds for nearly 16 years. For all personal finance updates, visit here. Months after separating its semiconductor business into a wholly-owned subsidiary, IT solutions provider Cyient Ltd is trying to win a big government project to upgrade the state-owned chip facility Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali. The companys subsidiary Cyient Semiconductors has submitted a proposal to the government offering advanced technology that can help SCL improve its existing capabilities and make more chips in the future. This improvement will exactly make it (SCL) suited for us to do chip tapeouts (from SCL). It's a good fit to the general capabilities that we have and we require for applications such as power management chips, automotive chips, and chips in wireless connectivity," Jan Crols, chief technology officer of Cyient Semiconductor, told Mint. The company is also looking to loop in a large semiconductor company as a partner to help with advanced technology for the SCL Mohali project. While Crols did not disclose the revenue opportunity if Cyients bid for upgrading technology gets selected for SCL, industry executives said it could be about 500-1,000 crore out of the total 4,000 crore tender. Cyient will be competing with Tata Semiconductor and Tower Semiconductor, which are also in the race to revamp the existing unit at SCL, Mohali. A tapeout is when the chip design is 100% complete, and the design files are sent to the semiconductor foundry to be manufactured. Simply put, Cyient Semiconductor designs custom chips tailored for specific applications in sectors like automotive, industrial, data centres, and medical. In the absence of any chip manufacturing facility in the country, the designed chips are then manufactured outside the country in facilities of chip manufacturers such as Global Foundries. To be sure, Cyient Semiconductors is also a channel partner of GlobalFoundries and provides companies with fabrication access, technical consultation, design enablement, assembly, testing and other value-added services. Revamp overdue When asked if utilizing SCL for tapeouts and manufacturing would be cost-effective, Crols said, I do not see why this could not be cost-competitive within India. But cost is not the only factor, the (SCL facility) needs to have improved features at a good price." Also Read | How tech is transforming the Indian car market The government is improving the decades-old SCL Mohali facility. Among the bidders, five companiesCyient Semiconductors, Applied Materials, ARAK Tech, Tower and Tata Semiconductorhave qualified in the technical round. Tower and Tata are the common bidders in all three packages. The project includes identifying the upgrades needed to improve SCL's existing 180-nanometer (nm) fabrication line. This involves improving technology, integrating advanced equipment to boost production capacity, and replacing decades-old machinery that requires frequent repair and maintenance. Cyients bid is restricted to providing advanced technology for the 180-nm line. This includes supplying technology intellectual properties (IPs) with Process Design Kits (PDKs). A PDK is like a toolkit that chip designers use to build and test their chip designs. It has all the rules, files, and models needed to ensure that the chip works correctly with the machines that will make it. The 180-nm process is an old chip-making technology. It is still used to make chips for satellites, space and defence systems, medical devices, micro-controllers, power management, etc. In chip-making, nanometers measure the size of tiny parts like transistors and the spaces between them on a chip. Smaller nanometers mean smaller, faster, and more power-efficient chips. All-round support On Tuesday, minister for electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said, The SCL modernization programme is progressing very well. There are two components to the modernization plan. The first is to increase the production level. The second is to have SCL as a facility, which is available for researchers and startups to test and do tapeouts of their products." Vaishnaw added that if any company goes to a regular commercial facility, they would need a minimum production volume for taping out. So we definitely need one facility in the country where any new product pitches designed by students, researchers and startups can be taped out and validated, then it can be taken for commercial production," he said. Also Read | India can be among top 5 semiconductor nations: Merck Electronics CEO Besides submitting bids to improve SCL, Cyient has also proposed to become a go-to-market partner for SCL. We have had conversations with SCL (also) on how we can be a go-to-market partner with them. We have known the landscape externally for a very long time. Putting a fab is fine, but you also have to fill the fab, and that is where our design expertise and access to market come in," said P.N.S.V. Narasimhan, president and head of corporate affairs at Cyient. When asked if SCLs 180 nm node would match Cyient's work, Crols said, Yes, we also use 180 nm technology but with extra features such as high voltage capabilities. For power management and automotive applications, 180 nm is important for us and many other companies." In the April-June quarter, Cyient reported a 6.9% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in net profit to 153.8 crore. The companys revenue from operations rose 5% to 1,781.5 crore. In April, Cyient announced the launch of its fully owned semiconductor subsidiary, Cyient Semiconductors. Oil tends to trade on supply and demand fundamentals, and right now those fundamentals are overwhelmingly bearish. Oil supply is soaring, while demand is just so-so. Normally that would cause prices to fall, but in recent weeks, oil has refused to drop. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was up 0.5% to $68.47 per barrel on Tuesday, after rising 1% on Monday and for the prior two weeks in a row. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, has also risen over that time span. Oil stocks have persevered, too. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund is up 6% in the past month. The rally comes as investors have prepared for oil to crash. Energy traders made twice as many bets that oil would fall as bets that it would rise over the past week, pushing the long-short ratio on U.S. oil to its most bearish level since 2007-2008, according to Rebecca Babin, senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth. That could be an omen. In the second half of 2008, oil fell by more than 60%. The reason traders are bearish is that producers are pumping out more oil than consumers are using. Supply is on track to grow by 2.5 million barrels a day in 2025, even as demand rises just 680,000 barrels, according to the International Energy Agency, or IEA. After spending years holding back production, OPEC and allies like Russia have agreed to restore 2.2 million barrels to the market this year. And producers outside of OPEC are also ramping up. There are three main factors that have kept prices elevated. The first is that China is buying an extraordinary amount of oil to put in storage. China has been buying 530,000 barrels a day on average for storage this year, about twice as much as usual, according to Jim Burkhard, global head of crude oil research at S&P Global Commodity Insights. China, which needs to import most of its oil, has about 1.4 billion barrels of crude in storage, versus around 800 million for the U.S. Stockpiling oil could make China less dependent on the U.S. as the two nations escalate a trade fight. This fits in with Chinas broader push to try and insulate itself from vulnerabilities in foreign supply chains," Burkhard said. He expects the stockpiling to slow soon, however, because refineries have stored nearly enough oil to comply with government directives. Other geopolitical factors are also keeping oil prices elevated. President Donald Trump has threatened stiffer sanctions on Russian trading partners such as India if Russia doesnt agree to a cease fire in Ukraine. If Russian oil is taken off the market, prices would rise. Another big reason oil prices have stayed elevated is that demand has remained relatively strong in the past few weeks. Demand from refiners tends to be strong when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, because people drive more. But Labor Day has come and gone, and oils road trip could also end soon. After the summer endsSeptember, Octoberthats when we expect the surplus to become much more visible," Burkhard said. He sees oil prices falling below $60 by the end of the year. Babin also thinks the fundamentals look bearish for oil, but she isnt sure prices will fall dramatically. Traders are already set up for a drop, so there is less of a chance they will be surprised by negative news, triggering a selloff. Its such a consensus view that its already pre-positioned," she said. If the bad news is baked in to the price, oils bullish streak could continue. The federal GST Council begins a two-day meeting today to chart the biggest overhaul of the indirect tax regime since its debut seven years ago, aiming to spark a consumption-led recovery in the face of global trade uncertainties that have dampened private investment and job growth. The proposals before the Council attempt to lower costs, raise output and stimulate economic activity, especially in agriculture, textiles, fertilizers, construction, transport, renewable energy, handicrafts and insurance, two persons informed about the matter said. On the Council's table are proposals to exempt GST on health insurance premiums at a cost of about 10,000 crore a year; shifting close to 50 products in the 12% slab including condensed milk, cheese, dried fruits and preserved fish and vegetables to 5%; and moving close to 25 items including chocolates, ice cream, cakes and corn flakes in the 18% slab to 5%. Replacing cess Pan masala, tobacco and caffeinated drinks are set to move from 28% to 40%. The existing GST compensation cess on these items will expire later this year, but another levy may take its place following requests from several states, though the final form of that levy is still under discussion, one of the two people said on condition of anonymity. These are part of the central governments proposals which were endorsed by a ministerial group led by Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary last month and will be placed before the Council on Wednesday. While there is broad consensus on the Centres proposals and the tax relief to the common man announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech this year, eight non-BJP states have flagged their concerns about immediate revenue loss on account of the proposed tax cuts. They are set to highlight this at Wednesdays meeting. However, none have objected to the central governments proposals as these are meant to benefit consumers. The final form of the tax reform will depend on the give-and-take agreed to at the meeting. Inverted duty fix Other proposals include shifting about a dozen farm equipment including certain tractors, hand carts, machines for soil preparation and cultivation and sprinklers from the 12% slab to 5%. Some tractor parts such as rear tyres may also get tax relief from 18% to 5%. Certain raw materials for fertilizer production, ammonia, for example, are likely to see a tax cut from 12% to 5%. Correcting the anomaly of inverted duty structure is also part of the tax reform. As part of this, about 40 items from swing thread of manmade filaments to carpets and wall coverings are likely to get their tax rate lowered from 12% to 5%. Correcting the inverted duty structure will remove the bottlenecks in fresh investments into these sectors, as businesses need not wait for refunds for taxes paid on raw materials which they cannot recover from the final consumer. Experts said the GST revamp will help in two ways, stimulating demand for goods and services and moving towards the ideal indirect tax regime. The tax reduction will act as a stimulus. The advantage of a stimulus by way of a tax restructure is that it is reversible, unlike in the case of stimulus by way of expenditure, which often come without a sunset clause. The proposed simpler GST structure takes it closer to the ideal one nation one tax concept," said N.R. Bhanumurthy, director, Madras School of Economics. The stimulus has to be followed by a revival in private investments, said Bhanumurthy. ACs, TV sets As per the proposals, consumer electronics items like air conditioners with certain features, television sets and dish washers are likely to become cheaper. Some high-capacity cars, however, will move from 28% to 40%. In the health sector, tax relief is likely for a host of products including diagnostic kits, surgical gloves, medical-grade oxygen and breathing appliances, as per the central government proposal. Mass-use items like cycles and kitchenware are also likely to see a reduction in tax rate from 12% to 5%, while items like hair oil and shampoo may see a reduction from 18% to 5%. Close to 20 classes of vehicles including petrol, CNG and LPG vehicles with engine capacity up to 1200 cc (1500 cc in the case of diesel vehicles) and length of four metres are likely to be shifted from 28% to 18%. Larger engine capacity vehiclesexceeding 1500 cc and 4 metres length including those with electric motors may be shifted to the proposed new 40% slab. Automatic refunds Also on the table is a proposal to automate tax refunds based on the risk profile of the business, which will remove subjectivity in issuing refunds. This is expected to improve the ease of doing business. Queries emailed to the finance ministry and to the GST Council Secretariat remained unanswered. Also Read | In charts: Auto sales revival may ride on GST overhaul The Council is also expected to review the checks and balances needed for ensuring that businesses will pass on the benefits to consumers. Bhanumurthy of Madras School of Economics had earlier highlighted in his research papers that revenue growth and economic growth may move in the same upward direction upto a point, after which, high taxes may impede growth. The present structure and rate of GST appear to impede growth and, hence, reducing rates could stimulate demand, he explained. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has announced that her upscale Mumbai restaurant, Bastian Bandra, will shut down this Thursday. The announcement comes at a time when she and her husband, Raj Kundra, are facing serious allegations of cheating a Mumbai-based businessman out of 60 crore. While Shetty did not connect the restaurants closure to the ongoing legal dispute, the timing has sparked speculation as the couple battles a case involving their now-defunct home shopping venture. Also Read | Shilpa Shettys Mumbai restaurant Bastian Bandra to shut down Shilpa Shettys farewell note In an emotional message posted on social media, Shetty described the closure as the end of an era. This Thursday marks the end of an era as we bid farewell to one of Mumbais most iconic destinations BASTIAN BANDRA. A venue that gave us countless memories, unforgettable nights, and moments that shaped the citys nightlife now takes its final bow, she wrote. Shetty added that the restaurant will host a special farewell evening for its regular patrons, celebrating its journey before it closes. She also clarified that while Bastian Bandra is shutting down, the brand will continue operations through its second outlet, Bastian At The Top, located on the 48th floor of the Kohinoor Square building in Dadar West. The 60 Crore Fraud Case: What We Know So Far The restaurant closure comes against the backdrop of a cheating case filed by Deepak Kothari, director of Lotus Capital Financial Services. According to an IANS report, Kothari alleged that Shetty and Kundra defrauded him of 60 crore between 2015 and 2023. The money was reportedly invested in Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, a company co-owned by the couple, under the pretext of expanding its business operations. Kothari claims the funds were instead misappropriated and used for personal expenses. The complaint has been registered with Mumbais Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Legal Response from the Couple Shetty and Kundras lawyer, Prashant Patil, issued a statement rejecting the charges and describing them as unfounded. My clients have been informed by certain segments of electronic and print media that an alleged case has been registered against them at the Economic Offences Wing, Mumbai. At the outset, my clients deny all the allegations, which are purely civil in nature and have already been adjudicated by the NCLT Mumbai on October 4, 2024, Patil said. He maintained that the case was civil in nature and had already been resolved through legal proceedings. About Bastian Bandra Co-owned by Shilpa Shetty and restaurateur Ranjit Bindra, Bastian first opened its doors in 2016 and later relocated to a larger space in Bandra in 2023. Known for its seafood-centric menu, contemporary multi-level interiors, and A-list clientele, the restaurant quickly became one of Mumbais most popular dining destinations. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced a statewide bandh in Bihar on September 4. The BJP Mahila Morcha will lead the protest. Bihar Bandh timings BJP's Bihar state president Dilip Jaiswal said the bandh will be observed for five hours from 7 am to 12 noon. What's open during Bihar bandh To avoid inconvenience to the public, emergency services like ambulance, hospital, medical shops and other essential facilities will not be affected during the bandh. Essential goods like groceries and others will also remain available Petrol pumps will remain open Railway/train services will also remain operational Those planning to visit banks should check with their regional branches What's closed during Bihar bandh? Educational institutions schools, colleges and coaching centres Intercity bus services to stay shut Government institutions and private businesses will not remain operational Traffic on roads will also be affected due to the Chakka Jam blockades Why did NDA call Bihar bandh? Why will women lead the protest? The shutdown has been called to protest against the Opposition over abusive language used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during a joint event in Bihar. The statewide bandh is in protest against objectionable comments made by a Congress workers against PM Modi and his mother last week in Darbhanga during the Voter Adhikar Yatra. A video of the incident had gone viral Following the announcement, Janata Dal (United) leader Umesh Kushwaha said, "During the opposition's rally in Darbhanga, abusive words were used against Prime Minister Modi and his mother. This is wrong, both morally and politically." "Using such language is highly inappropriate, and so far, the Mahagathbandhan leaders have not apologised. This shows how arrogant they are," he said. Umesh Kushwah said the Opposition "insulted our mothers and sisters, and now we will retaliate. Therefore, the NDA has called for a Bihar bandh, and the women's wing will hold protests across Bihar." How did PM Modi react to the row Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took an indirect jibe, likely at INDIA bloc leaders Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, on Tuesday, calling them "namdaars", people born with a silver spoon who, he said, cannot understand the struggles of poor mothers or the suffering and pain of their children, as for them, "power" is "inheritance". Referring to alleged derogatory remarks made during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar last week, PM Modi said, The struggles [Tapasya] of a poor mother, the suffering of her son these young princes born into royal families cannot understand. These 'naamdaar' people were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. The power of the country and Bihar seems like an inheritance of their family to them, PM Modi said. Delhi-NCR rains: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heavy rains in Delhi for Wednesday, 3 September, a day after rains caused waterlogging across several parts of the capital city. Due to overflowing Yamuna, several low-lying areas were inundated as water entered the houses of Delhi residents. IMD predicted, Generally cloudy sky. One or two spells of very light to light rain/thundershowers at many places with possibility of moderate rain at isolated places for September 2. The maximum temperature is expected to settle 1 to 2 degrees Celsius below normal, at around 32 and 34 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature over Delhi is expected to settle 2 to 4 degrees Celsius below normal, at around 22 to 24 degrees Celsius. Several places in Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad witnessed severe waterlogging as commuters struggled to wade through knee-deep waters on September 2. The Delhi Regional Meteorological Centre issued a nowcast warning at 5:00 AM, warning against precipitation in the next two hours. In a post on X, the weather agency stated, Light to moderate rainfall is very likely to occur at.isolated places of Delhi ( Kanjhawala, Mundaka), NCR ( Bahadurgarh), besides other neighbouring regions. According to IMD, Delhi's primary weather station Safdarjung recorded 20 mm rainfall in 12-hour period on Tuesday, from 8: 30 AM to 8:30 PM. The current abysmal condition and expectation of more rains prompted authorities to announce closure of all schools in Noida. Government and private schools in Noida and Greater Noida will remain closed today, September 3, as per order dated September 2. Government and private schools in Ghaziabad will remain closed on September 3 amid expectation of heavy rains, as per the order of the District Magistrate dated September 2. Delhi traffic advisory Delhi Traffic Police in a post on X stated, Due to rising water levels in Yamuna, Old Iron Bridge will remain closed for traffic & public movement w.e.f. 02.09.2025, 04:00 PM till further orders. The advisory issued on 2 September alerted commuters about traffic diversion at Hanuman Setu, Raja Ram Kohli Marg and Geeta Colony Road. It advised motorists to avoid Old Iron Bridge and adjoining stretches and to use public transport amid heavy rains. NEW DELHI: Sberbank, Russias largest lender, is piloting a cashless payment system for Russian tourists, with a planned launch for the 2025 travel season. Alexander Vedyakhin, the banks first deputy chairman, in an emailed interview, noted that its a key initiative amid shifting global trade dynamics. Vedyakhin also highlighted Sberbanks role as a major financier of Indian exports to Russia. With a 500-strong staff, its India arm is leveraging rupee-based mechanisms, such as special vostro accounts, to settle trade and channel investments without relying on third-country currencies. Mint previously reported that India and Russia were exploring linkages between Indias UPI and the Bank of Russia, as well as integrating India's RuPay with Russia's MIR cards. Edited excerpts from the interview: Sberbank recently announced initiatives to stimulate trade in rupees and roubles. What specific steps are being taken to expand bilateral trade settlements in national currencies? Our first priority is speed. Weve ensured that 60% of payments from Russia to India now take less than 10 minutes, and were working to increase that share. To help businesses on a larger scale, our business development project provides services to help companies find suppliers, conduct negotiations and use flexible financial instruments. Our teams in both Russia and India work together to quickly and accurately match business partners based on client needs. We also focus on our private clients. Indians working in Russia can conveniently transfer funds home via the Sberbank Online app, with current monthly transfer volumes exceeding 1 billion roubles. We've also seen a massive increase (150% per week on average) in payments for Indian students education at Russian universities. For tourists, were developing a cashless payment option. We are already testing this solution and expect to provide it to thousands of Russian tourists visiting India by the start of the 2025 tourist season. Sberbank has been in India since 2010. Weve grown from a small office to a full-fledged bank offering a full range of financial services. Today, our customer service offices are in Delhi and Mumbai. Weve also established a major IT (information technology) hub in Bengaluru, launched in July 2023, to support our India operations and develop new digital products. This centre, which includes its own data-processing facility, currently employs over 200 specialists and is set to expand to more than 300. The hub is a key part of our strategy to leverage global tech talent and drive digital innovation. It is reported that Russian oil is being offered at a 5% discount. How does Sberbank facilitate and secure transactions for Indian importers? Sberbanks branch in India is a local Indian bank with a local banking license and authorized dealer status of the first category. We are prepared to provide reliable settlements for clients in any industry. Also Read | Russian oil trade: Discounts may continue at current levels post new price cap Russia has expressed a willingness to import goods from India if supply channels through the US remain limited. In which sectors do you expect the fastest growth in rupee and rouble trade? We anticipate a significant increase in trade turnover regardless of the political decisions of third countries. Russia and India have great potential for developing their relationship. We are improving our logistics and financial infrastructure to create a comfortable business environment in both countries. We expect trade turnover to grow first in mechanical engineering, construction materials, electronics and IT, pharmaceuticals and agribusiness. What measures are in place to ensure smoother settlements, risk management, and the scaling of trade infrastructure in rupees and roubles? What makes Sberbank unique is how closely our independent, licensed branch in India works with our head office in Russia. We are joining forces to develop financial and infrastructure solutions. For example, when financing Indian exports to Russia, Indian suppliers can now receive payment for their goods immediately without waiting for the contract deferral period to expire. Our branch in India provides the funds by either discounting a letter of credit or issuing a post-shipment loan secured by the Russian buyer's payment. As one of Russias largest banks, we have a deep understanding of our clients, which allows us to assess risks and make this procedure fast and hassle-free for Indian borrowers. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently allowed AD-1 category banks to open special rupee vostro accounts (SRVAs) for foreign correspondent banks without prior approval. How does Sberbank use these accounts to facilitate trade? Sberbank has been actively using SRVA since this financial instrument became available in 2022. The main advantage is the ability to use rupees from Russian exports immediately to purchase Indian goods, make transfers or invest in India without needing to convert them to roubles or other currencies. Also Read | Vostro accounts to get a feature upgrade This greatly speeds up payments and transfers, which is crucial for thousands of Indian exporters and for the tens of thousands of Indian migrant workers who send money home to their families every month. For Russian businesses, this fast and reliable SRVA-based payment channel makes India an extremely attractive destination for further trade and investment. Now that the RBI allows funds in these accounts to be freely invested in government securities and treasury bills, what impact will this have on liquidity and settlement for bilateral trade? We welcome the gradual liberalization of how SRVA balances can be used. This is primarily aimed at the interests of the Indian economy. The inclusion of Indian government securities in the JPMorgan GBI-EM Global Diversified Index in September 2023 has already increased foreign investors interest in the Indian debt market. We expect the RBIs measures to further increase the rupee's attractiveness as both an investment vehicle and a means of bilateral settlement. News / National by Staff reporter Hundreds of recipients of diaspora remittances in Masvingo were left stranded on Monday after Mukuru, Zimbabwe's largest international money transfer agent, temporarily ran out of cash.Beneficiaries were seen moving between outlets in hopes of accessing their funds, with some expressing frustration over the inconvenience. Many had travelled from surrounding areas such as Morgenster and Zimuto and lacked bus fare or money for food after being unable to collect their remittances.Maria Zimuto from Zimuto expressed anger, saying, "This is a case of poor management. Whatever excuse they may have, they should have resorted to technology rather than wasting our precious time coming here only to be turned away."Another customer, Tilda, who intended to withdraw funds sent by her client for construction materials, described the situation as shocking and disappointing. She added, "How can a big company like Mukuru run out of cash like that? They should have at least notified customers beforehand, just as they do for fund transfers."Mukuru later issued a statement acknowledging a "temporary logistical issue affecting CIT cash disbursements" in Masvingo. The disruption lasted approximately two hours, they said, but service has since resumed. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers. This was an unforeseen circumstance, and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure it does not happen again," the statement read.A visit to Mukuru's main outlet at N. Richards Hardware in Masvingo showed that cash disbursement resumed in the evening, with staff working late to serve customers, potentially until 8pm. In another shocking incident, a second newborn girl, bitten by rats at Madhya Pradesh government-run Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital (MYH) in Indore, died on Wednesday. The hospital administration attributed the cause of death to septicemia (blood poisoning or blood infection). Ashok Yadav, Superintendent of MYH, told NDTV: "Both the children had congenital anaemia, and were referred from outside. One weighed 1 kg and the other 1.6 kg and haemoglobin was also low. Bite marks were present on the children but they do not cause death. One died, while the other was in critical condition with an underdeveloped intestine". MYH Deputy Superintendent Dr Jitendra Verma told reporters that the baby, who was recently attacked by rats at the hospital, died during treatment. He also said the girl, weighing just 1.60 kg, was suffering from different congenital deformities, including intestinal malformation. The girl was operated upon seven days ago, but her condition was critical. She eventually died due to septicemia, an infection that occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread, Dr Jitendra Verma said. The girl was bitten by rats on two fingers of her left hand, causing 'mild scratches'. As per the wishes of the girl's family members, a post-mortem examination was not conducted and the body was handed over to them. Also Read | New study reveals infants feel pain before they can understand it On Tuesday, another newborn girl, who was also a victim of rat attack at the same hospital, lost her life. She also suffered from different congenital deformities and died due to 'pneumonia infection', hospital officials had said. Both the rat attack victims were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the department related to surgery of newborns. Based on the initial investigation into the rat biting incidents at Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital, two nursing officers were suspended on Tuesday and a nursing superintendent was removed from the post. Following the incident, the hospital management and administration have taken a strong step and pest control activity is taking place daily. A special meeting of nursing officers and staff was also held, instructing them to immediately inform the pest control agency if any rat-related issue is reported, Dr Jitendra Verma said. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla said that immediate action has been taken over the death of the newborn child at MY Hospital, and a high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued green and yellow alerts for different parts of Delhi, predicting more rainfall on Wednesday. Delhi-NCR The weather department said an intense spell of rain was likely over Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Delhis primary weather station at Safdarjung reported 19.8 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am. Palam recorded 9.1 mm, Lodhi Road 11.4 mm, Ridge 28.2 mm, and Ayanagar 5.7 mm rainfall. In its forecast for September 3, the IMD said: The maximum temperatures over Delhi are likely to be in the range of 31 to 33C. The maximum temperature will be below normal up to 1 to 3C. The predominant surface wind will likely be from the southeast direction with a wind speed of up to 10-15 kmph during the afternoon hours. The wind speed will decrease, becoming less than 10 kmph from the southeast direction during the evening and night. Forecast for September 4: Generally cloudy sky. Possibility of one or two spells of very light to light rain/thundershowers. The maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are likely to be in the range of 32 to 34C and 23 to 25C, respectively. The minimum temperature will be below normal up to 1 to 3C and the maximum temperature will be below normal up to 1 to 2C. The predominant surface wind is likely to be from the southeast direction with a wind speed of up to 08-12 kmph during morning hours. The wind speed will gradually increase, becoming less than 15 kmph from the northeast direction in the afternoon. The wind speed will decrease becoming less than 12 kmph from the northeast direction during the evening and night. Forecast for September 5: Generally cloudy sky. One or two spells of very light to light rain/thundershowers at many places, with the possibility of moderate rain at isolated places. The maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are likely to be in the range of 32 to 34C and 23 to 25C, respectively. The minimum temperature will be below normal up to 1 to 3C and the maximum temperature will be below normal up to 1 to 2C. The predominant surface wind will likely to be from the southeast direction with a wind speed of up to 15-20 kmph during morning hours. The wind speed will gradually increase, becoming less than 25 kmph from the east direction in the afternoon. The wind speed will decrease becoming less than 18 kmph from the northeast direction during the evening and night. Other States In the past 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded at isolated places over the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, J&K, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh, West Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Kerala. The weather department has forecast very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh on 3 September. Jammu & Kashmir According to the IMD, districts under red alert in Jammu & Kashmir include Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar. In Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawashahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur are under red alert. Between 8:30 am on Tuesday and 5:30 am on Wednesday, several regions in Jammu & Kashmir witnessed significant rainfall. The highest was recorded in Reasi at 203 mm, followed closely by Katra at 193 mm, Batote at 157.3 mm, Doda at 114 mm, and Baderwah at 96.2 mm. Jammu city itself received 81 mm, while other stations such as Banihal (95 mm), Ramban (82 mm), Kokernag (68.2 mm), and Pahalgam (55 mm) also saw heavy rainfall. Uttarakhand In Uttarakhand, isolated heavy rainfall is likely to continue from 3 to 9 September. Punjab and Haryana Several parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh witnessed heavy rainfall on Wednesday, with the Meteorological Department issuing fresh warnings for thunderstorms and lightning across multiple districts. While Punjab is expected to see a slight weakening of monsoon activity in the coming days, a red alert has been issued for both North and South Haryana and Chandigarh as well According to the Chandigarh Meteorological Centre, heavy rain is very likely to lash parts of Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Mohali, Chandigarh, and Kharar in Punjab. In Haryana, the situation appears more intense. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and heavy rain are very likely in districts such as Nuh, Taoru, Ballabgarh, Sohna, Gurugram, Bahadurgarh, Faridabad, Kharkhoda, Sonipat, Ganaur, Samalkha, Bapouli, Gharaunda, Karnal, Israna, Panipat, and Nilokheri. Moderate rainfall, coupled with thunderstorms, has been forecast in a wider belt covering areas including Firozpur Jhirka, Punahana, Hodal, Hathin, Palwal, Rewari, Pataudi, Jhajjar, Berikhas, Sampla, Rohtak, Indri, Thanesar, Gohana, Safidon, Asandh, and Radaur. Himachal Pradesh Fresh devastation due to rain was witnessed in Himachal Pradesh, where rescue personnel recovered four more bodies from the debris of a landslide in Mandi district. Moderate to heavy rains continued to lash parts of Himachal, where Naina Devi received 136 mm of rain since Tuesday night, Jot 100.6 mm, Pachhad 77 mm, Kothi 68.4 mm, Chamba 66 mm, Bilaspur 60.4 mm, Rohru 60 mm, Manali 57 mm, Palampur 52.6 mm, Kasauli 49.5 mm, Kandaghat and Dadahu 48 mm each, Sarahan 44.5 mm, Solan 43.6 mm, Kahu 43.5 and Malraon 40 mm. The local Met office has issued an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rains in isolated areas of the state on Wednesday. Yes, Eid-e-Milad is used interchangeably with Eid Milad-un-Nabi, which refers to the festival celebrated by Muslims across the world. One of the most revered festivals is celebrated in the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar called the Rabi al-Awwal. Widely celebrated by the Sufi and Barelvi sects, this day marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. While Sunnis observe it on the 12th of Rabi al-awwal, Shias mark it on the 17th day of the month. When is Eid Milad-un-Nabi holiday? According to list of Gazetted holidays, the festival will be observed on September 5 this year. Hence, this Friday will be a holiday for government and private schools and offices. Globally, Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebration will commence on the evening of September 4 and conclude on the evening of September 5. According to holidays listed in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) calendar, banks across India will remain closed on this day across several states. Banks will remain closed in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and Uttarakhand. What is the historical significance of Eid Milad-un-Nabi? Also known as Mawlid al-Nabi al-Sharif, the exact date of the festival that commemorates the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed depends on the sighting of the moon. The celebration dates back to the early Islamic period as many followers of the religion believe that the Prophet was born in Mecca on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal in 570 CE. It is believed that the Fatimids were the first to officially mark the occasion. The term Mawlid refers to birth in Arabic. However, Eid-e-Milad is also mourned by some and is regarded as the Prophets death anniversary. As per reports, the first official celebration was observed in Egypt. During the initial days, the ruling Shia tribe in the region marked the festival but by the 12th century, other countries like Syria, Morocco, Turkey and Spain began celebrating it. Mamaearth co-founder Varun Alagh recently praised Gen Z and called them the most practical consumer segment have ever had. The 41-year-old alum of Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, described Gen Z as research-heavy generation. In a LinkedIn post, Varun Alagh stated, Everyone keeps saying Gen Z is impulsive because they shop online. The reality is completely different. They are the most research-heavy generation I have ever seen. He listed the following seven reasons to justify his observation: Gen Z research like scientists before any purchase According to Varun Alagh, Gen Z customers not only read ingredient lists of products they buy but also go through reviews and compare alternatives. To emphasise that Gen Z take their buying decisions carefully, he referred to McKinsey's 2025 State of Consumer report which states that nearly half of surveyed consumers in India research products on social media before making a purchase. 2. Gen Z look beyond brand heritage Unlike previous generations that trusted brand names and advertising, Gen Z seek data and proof. The rising awareness about product ingredients and supporting clinical studies are the decision makers for Gen Z. He added, McKinsey research shows that 73% of Gen Z reported trying to purchase from companies they consider ethical, and they can tell when brands are just paying lip service to their values. 3. Gen Z look for proof When we launch any product, our Gen Z customers want to see real before-and-after photos from actual users alongside our marketing campaigns. They will give equal weightage to a random 19-year-old's honest review video in comparison to a credible celebrity endorsement. 4. Gen Z engage in research and development Emphasising that Gen Z provide quality feedback through their research, Varun Alagh said, Their reviews read like product development reports. They are unpaid consultants helping us build better products. 5. Gen Z are forcing brands to improve their products Gen Z customers demand transparency and quality as they push the entire industry toward honest communication and superior products. 6. GenZ consumers discover new brands Gen Z consumers are more willing to make organic discovery which validates their ability to find quality independently. 7. They rely more on other Gen Z experiences Varun Alagh alleged that peer reviews feel authentic and unfiltered to Gen Z which is in contrast to traditional advertising that give the impression of being manufactured and agenda-driven. Also Read | Ghazal Alagh shares a simple yet powerful tip for leading under pressure Hurricane Lorena has formed off Mexicos Baja California peninsula, prompting a tropical storm warning for parts of the region, US forecasters said on Wednesday. According to an Associated Press report, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm is expected to gain strength over the next 24 hours. Some areas could see up to 15 inches of rain. The agency warned of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides in higher terrain. Residents should monitor the progress of the storm closely, the center said. As of Wednesday, Lorena was about 120 miles south-southwest of Mexicos Cabo San Lucas. The storm was moving northwest at 14 mph, with winds of 75 mph. Lorenas path remains uncertain - It could either make landfall on the peninsula or drift over cooler waters in the Pacific. Residents urged to prepare Authorities in southwestern Mexico and along Baja California are keeping a close eye. No mandatory evacuations have been ordered, but people are being advised to secure homes, check drainage, and stay alert. Emergency teams are on standby, reports AP. Forecasters said Lorena is likely to weaken to a tropical storm by Friday. Still, conditions could change fast, so locals are being urged to watch updates constantly. Hurricane Kiko lingers over open Pacific At the same time, Hurricane Kiko remains a Category 2 storm over the Pacific. With winds reaching 105 mph, it is roughly 1,700 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii. No watches or warnings are in effect. Kiko is expected to strengthen and could reach major hurricane status by Wednesday. Hawaii and other nearby territories are not under any immediate threat, officials said. As per AP, with two hurricanes active in the Pacific, forecasters are keeping close tabs. The next few days will be critical for residents along Baja California and southwestern Mexico. FAQs Where is Hurricane Lorena right now? Lorena was located about 105 miles off Cabo San Lucas on Wednesday. What category is Hurricane Lorena? It is currently a Category 1 storm with winds near 75 mph. How much rain could Baja California get? Up to 15 inches of rainfall is possible in some areas through Friday. Is Hurricane Kiko threatening land? No, Kiko is over open waters in the Pacific and poses no land hazards. A Bengaluru couple has gone viral after sharing a detailed breakdown of their monthly expenses, revealing they spent a staggering 5.9 lakh in August. The Instagram reel, posted by Prakriti and Ashish on their travel and lifestyle page Escape To Landscapes, has garnered 2.7 million views, sparking intense discussions on spending habits and financial priorities. How the Couple Spent 5.9 Lakh in One Month According to their post, travel topped their expenses, with around 3.5 lakh spent on flights and hotel stays for multiple trips. This was followed by fitness costs of 40,000, which covered Pilates classes and a personal trainer for Prakriti. Check out the video here: Heres the full breakdown they shared: Travel: 3.5 lakh 3.5 lakh Fitness: 40,000 40,000 Rent: 42,000 42,000 Groceries: 20,000 (customised for their fitness goals) 20,000 (customised for their fitness goals) House help: 10,000 10,000 Dining out & food delivery: 13,000 13,000 SIPs (Investments): 1 lakh 1 lakh Cabs, insurance & other expenses: 15,000 15,000 Utilities & OTT subscriptions: Included in other costs Couple opens up about money management challenges In their post, the couple also spoke about the struggles they faced early in their relationship when it came to finances, revealing they had very different approaches to money. Also Read | Kohli opens up months after M Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede, says THIS I will be brutally honest we had a rocky start managing money. One of us was taught never to interfere in someone elses finances, while the other was extremely pragmatic and organised, Prakriti wrote. She added that through open communication and planning, they were able to align their goals: Youre not just living with your partner, youre building a life together, and that requires addressing tough topics so they dont become bigger issues later on. Mixed reactions online Their financial transparency has sparked a wave of reactions. Many social media users praised them for being open about finances, while others questioned whether spending nearly 6 lakh a month was sustainable or practical. Some users admired the couples focus on travel and fitness, calling it an inspiration, while others pointed out that high costs in cities like Bengaluru can create unrealistic expectations for young professionals. A user wrote, Their 1 month expense = our 1 year income. Another user wrote, Someone told Realistic expenses finally! Noooo... I don't want the tracking sheet... LoL. I wanna know how much u both earn and way to earn money to spend like this, the third user commented. Fitness trainers cost so much ah? Also for budgeting these trips won't you divide by 12 or something to make it more realistic, the fourth wrote. I know these guys, they are ones asking for that -Is 50 LPA enough to survive in Bangalore, the fifth joked. Shilpa Shettys popular Mumbai restaurant, Bastian Bandra, is shutting down this week. The upscale dining spot, co-owned by the actress and restaurateur Ranjit Bindra, is part of the Bastian Hospitality group and has been a favourite among the citys food lovers and celebrities for years. Located on Linking Road in Bandra West, the restaurant first opened its doors in 2016 and later moved to a larger space in 2023. Known for its chic multi-level interiors and focus on seafood, Bastian Bandra also offered an extensive menu of vegetarian and meat-based dishes. Over the years, it became one of Mumbais most sought-after dining destinations. Announcing the closure, Shilpa Shetty shared a heartfelt note on Instagram Stories. This Thursday marks the end of an era as we bid farewell to one of Mumbais most iconic destinations BASTIAN BANDRA. A venue that gave us countless memories, unforgettable nights, and moments that shaped the citys nightlife now takes its final bow, the post read. The restaurant will host a special farewell evening for its loyal patrons to celebrate its journey. Check out the post here: Shilpa Shetty shared the news on Instagram In a statement to NDTV, the restaurant team said, For nine incredible years, our patrons have turned Bastian Bandra into far more than a restaurant. They have made it a home filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories. As we take a short pause for renovations, we are deeply grateful for every moment we have shared with you. This is not goodbye it is a fresh new beginning. We will be announcing something special very soon. Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are no longer just limited to India; they are now spreading across the globe in unique and creative ways. This year, a Japanese content creator brought a special international twist to the festivities, winning hearts online. Popular influencer Kake Taku paid tribute to Lord Ganesha with a high-energy dance performance to the Bollywood hit Deva Shree Ganesha from the film Agneepath. The video, shared on his social media, quickly went viral, with viewers praising the passion and cultural appreciation behind the performance. Two Vibrant Performances, One Viral Moment Kake Taku didnt stop at just one performance. He shared two separate videos of his tribute. In the first clip, he is seen dancing alongside a diverse group of performers, including children, teenagers, and adults, all moving in perfect sync to the powerful beats of the song. Their spirited moves and coordinated choreography brought a festive vibe, even thousands of miles away from India. The second video featured a creative edit, with three different versions of Kakes dance appearing simultaneously on the screen, showcasing his energy and versatility as a performer. Fans React with Love The videos struck a chord with social media users across India and beyond. Fans flooded the comments section with praise for Kakes enthusiasm and the effort he put into celebrating an Indian festival. A user wrote, The world knows the secret to getting countless likes. Another user commented, India approves. Love from India, the third user commented. Many viewers said it was heartwarming to see Ganesh Chaturthi traditions embraced globally, while others applauded the influencer for bringing Bollywood music to an international stage. Ive always admired your team for singing and dancing to Indian songs. But recently, you touched me on a much deeper level. When many Indians pointed out that footwear should not be worn while performing to devotional songs like the Ganesha song, you could have easily ignored the feedback. Instead, you chose to listen, respect, and correct it by performing the same song again, and this time barefoot and in kurta, to honor our culture and religion. This simple yet powerful gesture speaks volumes about Japan and its people thank you and keep going guys, the fourth wrote. Its no surprise that this reel has gone viral, because when talent meets hard work, magic happens. You deserve every bit of love and recognition coming your way. Keep inspiring and keep dancing with the same spirit, you are simply outstanding. Ganpati Bappa bless you," the fifth wrote. United States President Donald Trump has claimed that India offered him no tariffs after the US doubled duties on imports from the country, PTI reported. Speaking on The Scott Jennings Radio Show on September 2, Donald Trump added that India kills us with tariffs. This comes amid escalating economic tensions between India and the US over the Trump administration's policies on trade and tariff. Trump claims: I understood tariffs better than any human being in the world They have tariffs against us. China, which kills us with tariffs. India kills us with tariffs. Brazil kills us Donald Trump said in the interview, and claimed that he understands tariffs better than anyone else. I understood tariffs better than any human being in the world. And now with my tariffs, they were all dropping them. India was the most highly tariffed nation... And you know what, they've offered me no tariffs in India anymore. No tariffs, Donald Trump said. If I didn't have tariffs, they would never make that offer. They would never make that offer. So you have to have tariffs. We're going to be economically strong, he claimed. India not going to take advantage of US, says Donald Trump Addressing the matter of a US federal appeals court ruling that most tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on foreign countries are illegal, he said that the court case is sponsored by other nations because they're taking advantage of us, adding ...they're not going to take advantage anymore. India has been slapped with some of the highest tariffs by Donald Trump, up from the 25 per cent imposed in April 2025, to 50 per cent on August 27 as he accused the country of supporting Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine. An additional 25 per cent duty was imposed on India by the US as punishment for its purchases of Russian oil. India has called the tariffs imposed by the US unjustified and unreasonable. New Delhi said that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (September 3) said he had imposed secondary sanctions on India for buying Russian oil and warned of further steps, indicating that phase two and phase three were still on the table. During a meeting with Polish President at the Oval Office, Trump grew visibly irritated when a Polish journalist suggested he had expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin but taken no action. How do you know theres no action? Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser outside of China, theyre almost equal, would you say there was no action? That cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia. You call that no action? And I havent done phase two yet or phase three, Trump said. He added sharply: But when you say theres no action, I think you ought to get yourself a new job. Warning to India Trump underscored that India had been cautioned weeks earlier. Two weeks ago, I said, if India buys, Indias got big problems, and thats what happens. So, dont tell me about that, he said. The President also linked his broader strategy to Moscow and its allies, saying, Ive already done that with regard to India, and were doing it with regard to other things. Heavy tariffs imposed Trump has already slapped 25% reciprocal tariffs on India, alongside another 25% levy specifically targeting Delhis purchases of Russian oil. The combined 50% tariff package took effect on August 27. PM Modi hits back Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded firmly, stressing that Indias domestic priorities would not be compromised. I cant compromise on the interests of farmers, cattle-rearers, small-scale industries. Pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it, PM Modi said. Also Read | Trump claims Putin, Xi put on Beijing Parade just for him News / National by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa held high-level meetings with two major Chinese corporations in Beijing on Monday, advancing Zimbabwe's agenda to modernise infrastructure and accelerate digital transformation.The President first engaged with executives from China Railway International Group (CRIG), a subsidiary of China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC), to discuss plans for the long-awaited rehabilitation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).He later met with senior officials from global telecommunications firm Huawei, where discussions centred on expanding investment in ICT talent, strengthening digital infrastructure, and introducing advanced technologies to support Zimbabwe's digital future.Huawei Technologies Zimbabwe managing director Yang Shengwan reaffirmed the company's long-term commitment to the country."Huawei has been present in Zimbabwe for 26 years and remains dedicated to playing a central role in the nation's digitalisation agenda," Shengwan said.Later in the day, President Mnangagwa is scheduled to visit the Zimbabwean Embassy in Beijing as part of his official engagements. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (September 3) demanded that Hamas release all hostages, warning that doing so would bring the conflict to a swift close. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END! The comment comes as hostage negotiations remain stalled, with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States earlier working to secure the release of captives held in Gaza. Trump has frequently criticised the Biden administrations handling of the Middle East crisis, arguing that stronger US leadership would have prevented the escalation. Hamas reiterates readiness for Gaza deal Hamas said it remained open to a comprehensive deal in Gaza that would see all Israeli hostages released in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners. Israel dismisses Hamas statement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office dismissed Hamas remarks, describing them as yet another spin with nothing new in it. The statement reaffirmed Israels conditions for ending the war in Gaza: the full release of hostages, Hamas disarmament, the demilitarization of the strip, Israeli security control over the enclave, and the establishment of an alternative civilian administration. Ceasefire proposal in August In August, Hamas had accepted an Egyptian-brokered 60-day ceasefire proposal with Israel. The plan called for the return of half the hostages in exchange for the release of some Palestinian prisoners, along with a suspension of Israeli military operations. Egyptian officials said the framework also outlined a path toward a comprehensive deal to end the nearly two-year-long conflict. Netanyahus response Days after Hamas acceptance of the proposal, Netanyahu said Israel was willing to resume negotiations to secure the release of all hostages and bring an end to the war, but only under terms that aligned with Israels security needs. Also Read | Trump defends sanctions on India over Russian oil purchases, hints more to come The US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Tuesday published the first set of documents from its probe into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Over 33,000 pages of records related to the convicted sex offender were uploaded to the committees website after being handed over by the Justice Department. "We're in the process of uploading those documents for full transparency so everyone in America can see those documents," committee chairman James Comer said. "It's going as quick as we can get them uploaded," Comer told reporters. "We want those to be public as soon as possible." The Justice Department handed over the records after receiving a subpoena from Chairman Comers committee, with the first set delivered last month. It was not immediately clear what was new in the batch of documents released on Tuesday. Thousands of pages of documents tied to the Epstein investigation have already been made public in earlier disclosures. The House committee said in a statement that it expects to receive more records from the Justice Department, and they are being redacted to protect "victim identities" and remove "any child sexual abuse material." The documents have been uploaded to a Google Drive. The link is here. While awaiting trial for alleged sex trafficking of underage girls recruited to provide him with sexual massages Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019. President Donald Trump's name According to The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump's name was among hundreds found during a Justice Department review of the Epstein file. However, there has not been evidence of wrongdoing. For years, Trump's supporters have been obsessed with the Epstein case and believed that "Deep State" elites were protecting Epstein associates in the Democratic Party and Hollywood but not Trump. Since the FBI and Justice Department said in July that Epstein had committed suicide, those supporters have been up in arms. Also, the FBI said that Epstein did not blackmail any prominent figures and did not keep a "client list." In August this year, the Justice Department released a transcript of an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, the accomplice of Epstein, in which she said Trump was friendly with the convicted sex offender but was never inappropriate with anybody. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, interviewed Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein. Maxwell is the only former Epstein associate convicted in connection with his activities. He was moved from a prison in Florida to a minimum security facility in Texas after the interview with Blanche. Following a high-level intelligence visit to India, Pakistan, and Nepal, US Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick on Wednesday claimed that Indian refiners are indicating plans to reduce their imports of Russian oil due to "sustained US pressure", reported ANI. Fitzpatrick claimed that while in India, his delegation engaged in strategic discussions with senior officials, including the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisors. The US Congressman also stated that these dialogues have led to "early signals" from Indian refiners indicating a potential reduction in Russian oil imports amid heightened economic tensions between the two nations, after the US imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, including an additional 25 per cent due to New Delhi's purchase of Russian crude oil. "Following these engagements and sustained US pressure, Indian refiners are signalling plans to reduce imports of Russian oil--a consequential shift that directly undermines Moscow's ability to finance its war in Ukraine," ANI quoted the release as saying. "In India, our direct engagement helped catalyse early signals that the government will reduce its imports of Russian oil--a meaningful step toward weakening Moscow's capacity for aggression and aligning our partners with the cause of freedom," the US Congressman said in a statement issued in the release. Also Read | Russian Oil Majors Report Income Dip on Weak Price, Strong Ruble Brian Fitzpatrick serves as Chairman of the CIA Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He was was joined on the mission by Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan and a member of the House Intelligence Committee. Earlier, he conducted oversight visits to the US Embassy in New Delhi, met with diplomatic and security personnel, and visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Delegation visit to Pakistan and Nepal: Apart from India, the congressional delegation travelled to Pakistan. "In Islamabad, Fitzpatrick held high-level meetings with U.S. Embassy officials and senior U.S. Government personnel, focusing on advancing core U.S. intelligence priorities. He also held strategic meetings with partner nation representatives, including officials from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ukraine. These engagements drove progress on counterterrorism coordination, initiated new channels for intelligence transparency, and reinforced long-term security cooperation--strengthening a critical pillar of America's broader national security architecture," the release read. Fitzpatrick's delegation in Nepal held meetings with officials at the US Embassy in Kathmandu and strengthened intelligence coordination. "In Kathmandu, Fitzpatrick met with U.S. Embassy leadership to strengthen operational oversight and deepen bilateral cooperation. These meetings advanced intelligence coordination, built mutual trust, and reaffirmed America's role as a stabilising force in South Asia--supporting efforts to counter malign influence, defend democratic governance, and uphold a rules-based regional order," the release further read. Popular YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast, has pledged a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of scammers who impersonated his latest charity project, Team Water. The fraudsters managed to trick Swedish entrepreneur Erik Bergman, founder of Great.com, into losing $1.25 million through what now appears to be a sophisticated charity-based crypto con. Team Water initiative MrBeast launched Team Water on August 1, 2025, with the ambitious goal of raising $40 million to fund clean water projects in underserved regions. Bergman was among the early backers, pledging $1 million, a commitment that MrBeast publicly acknowledged. This show of support, however, became the opening that fraudsters exploited. Elaborate impersonation The scammers, posing as Team Water representatives, lured Bergman with the promise of a trip to Africa to witness water wells being built alongside celebrities and influencers. To strengthen the ruse, they impersonated well-known figures including Mark Rober and Adin Ross, presenting themselves as crypto executives and investors. They escalated the deception by introducing a supposed cryptocurrency partnership, even using someone impersonating MrBeast to promote a fake token. Bergmans $1.25 million loss Bergman first invested $500,000, followed by another $750,000, after being convinced that other wealthy donors had joined and that the tokens value was already rising. His doubts grew when he noticed inconsistencies, such as a supposed US influencer using a British phone number. The truth came out only after a direct call with MrBeast. It felt like a punch in the stomach, Bergman said. Call for justice MrBeast condemned the scam and stressed his determination to hold those responsible accountable. Representative Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) left a House Oversight Committee meeting with Jeffrey Epstein victims early on Wednesday (September 3), visibly emotional. Video showed her wiping tears and shaking her head when approached by reporters. Mace explained her departure on X, saying: "Yes I left the Oversight briefing with Epstein victims early. As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I cant breathe. I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS." Maces past revelations Earlier this year, Mace publicly spoke about personal experiences with abuse and privacy violations. In February, she named four menincluding her ex-fianceaccusing them of heinous crimes against women, claims all denied. In May, Mace revealed she had been secretly filmed by her ex-fiance, showing a screenshot of her naked silhouette to the House Oversight Committee. She told lawmakers: "Freedom is not a theory. It is the right to breathe. It is the right to dress and undress, to sleep without someones camera filming your naked body." She accused her ex-fiance, Patrick Bryant, of recording her and other women without consent. Bryant denied the allegations. House Oversight Committee meets Epstein victims Six Epstein survivors met with Mace, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, and House Speaker Mike Johnson in a closed-door session to discuss the federal handling of Epsteins case. Speaker Johnson emphasised the goal of transparency: "Theyve received and are processing 34,000 documents already. And were going to move that along as quickly as possible so that all of this is pushed out to the public, so the American people can make their own decisions." Epstein files made public The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday released files from the Justice Department on the sex trafficking cases of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, following mounting pressure from Congress for greater transparency. The release, hosted on Google Drive, included hundreds of images of old court filings, video appearing to be police body cam footage, and recordings of law enforcement interviews with victims. Details in the files Some files included audio of an Epstein employee describing the frequent visits of underage girls and his duties cleaning rooms where Epstein had massages. Other documents related to Epsteins Florida plea deal, criticized for being lenient, included exchanges between prosecutors and defense lawyers. Push for transparency on Epstein files Congress has returned from recess determined to investigate Epsteins crimes and network. The first batch of documentsover 33,000 fileswas released on Tuesday night by the Oversight Committee. The administration, according to Johnson, supports full disclosure to expose the evils of Epstein. President Trump has publicly distanced himself from Epstein, calling him a creep amid ongoing questions about their past associations. Push for broader disclosure Efforts continue by Democrats and some Republicans to force a vote on a bill requiring the Justice Department to release all Epstein files publicly, excluding victims personal information. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are leading the effort, though it faces procedural hurdles. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (September 3) said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were hoping I was watching their joint appearance at a massive military parade in Beijing. I thought it was very very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing it. And they were hoping I was watching and I was watching, Trump said, describing the spectacle as strategic military showboating. The parade marked the 80th anniversary of Japans defeat in World War II, featuring displays of advanced weaponry and leaders from US adversaries including North Koreas Kim Jong Un and Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Trump: Not my place to attend Asked whether he had been invited, Trump dismissed the possibility of attending. It wouldnt have been my place, the president said. Earlier, he complained that Xi had failed to mention Americas role in Japans surrender during his speech. President Xi is a friend of mine, but I thought that the United States should have been mentioned last night during that speech, because we helped China very much, Trump said. Kremlin rejects Trumps conspiracy claim The Kremlin rejected Trumps charge that Xi, Putin, and Kim were plotting against Washington. I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state television. No one even had such a thought none of these three leaders had such a thought. He added: I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump, and President Trump personally in the current international situation. Trump mixes pleasantries with accusations Despite his criticism, Trump combined warm wishes with suspicion in a post on Truth Social. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Xi warns of peace or war choice In his speech at the parade, Xi cautioned the world was at a crossroads. The world is facing a choice between peace or war, he warned, as the event culminated in the release of 80,000 doves over Beijing. Xi also held bilateral talks with Putin, calling him his old friend, and earlier met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A US federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration's use of military forces to tackle crime in California, as President Trump threatened to send troops to additional cities like Chicago. Judge Charles Breyer, of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, ruled that the administration had deliberately breached the Posse Comitatus Act, a law that limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement, by deploying troops to assist with crowd control and support immigration and drug enforcement actions, Reuters reported. In June, the administration had sent 4,000 National Guard personnel and 700 active-duty US Marines to Los Angeles as part of its crackdown. Tuesday's ruling dealt a setback to Trump's push to broaden the role of the military on US soil, which critics say is a dangerous expansion of executive authority that could spark tensions between troops and ordinary citizens. Breyer put the ruling on hold until September 12. The Trump administration is likely to appeal. Trump said at a news conference that the Los Angeles deployment restored order, and he intended to send the military to more cities. Chicago is a hellhole right now. Baltimore is a hellhole right now, Trump said. We have the right to do it because I have an obligation to protect this country. The injunction applies only to the military in California, not nationally. But the judge said that Trump's stated desire to send troops to Chicago and other cities meant that an injunction was necessary to prevent future violations of the law separating the military from law enforcement, Reuters reported. Also Read: How Trump is expanding the role of the American military on US soil Trump has said the troops were needed in Los Angeles to protect federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement, after large-scale immigration raids triggered protests. Lawyers for the Trump administration had argued that the U.S. Constitution permits presidents to use troops to protect federal personnel and property as an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act. "There is no question that federal personnel should be able to perform their jobs without fearing for their safety," wrote Breyer, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton and is the brother of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. "But to use this as a hook to send military troops alongside federal agents wherever they go proves too much and would frustrate the very purpose of the Posse Comitatus Act," Breyer said. The Los Angeles deployment drew wide condemnation from Democrats, who said Trump was using the military to stifle opposition to his hardline immigration policies. "The people of California won much-needed accountability against Trump's ILLEGAL militarisation of an American city!" California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democrat who brought the lawsuit, wrote on X on Tuesday. Around 300 National Guard members remain in Los Angeles, although protests have long died down, and the administration has extended their deployment into November. California said in a court filing later on Tuesday that those remaining troops should be returned to the state's control. The state said that the continued presence of troops could interfere with California elections in November by intimidating voters and "chilling participation." The timing of Trumps extension of the National Guard soldiers isnt coincidental - hes holding onto soldiers through Election Day," Newsom said in a statement. "The reality is this - they want to continue their intimidation tactics to scare Californians into submission." California previously contested President Trump's move to take control of the state's National Guard in June but lost the case on appeal. However, the state argued on Monday that the situation had changed and that extending the troop deployment was no longer legally justified. While Judge Breyers ruling is not binding on other courts, it could influence how the rarely-litigated Posse Comitatus Act is interpreted in future legal challenges. The people of California won much-needed accountability against Trump's ILLEGAL militarisation of an American city! "It's going to be highly influential for any challenges in other cities," said Brenner Fissell, a professor at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. If a judge doesn't agree with this, he's going to or she's going to have to explain why. At least 25 people were killed in three separate attacks in Pakistan on Tuesday, including 14 who died in a suicide bombing at a political rally in the southwestern province of Balochistan, AFP reported. Dozens of people were wounded in an explosion, which took place in the parking lot of a stadium in the provincial capital, Quetta, where hundreds of members of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) had gathered, two provincial officials told AFP on condition of anonymity. At least seven of the wounded were in critical condition, the officials said. Another attack in Balochistan, near the border with Iran, claimed five lives on Tuesday, while six soldiers were killed after a suicide attack on their base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest and most resource-rich province, but also its poorest, and regularly ranks among the lowest on human development indicator scorecards. The BNP campaigns on a platform calling for greater rights and economic investment in the well-being of members of the Baloch ethnicity. The party's chief, Akhtar Mengal, had just finished speaking at the Quetta rally and was leaving the venue when the attack occurred. He said he was "safe" in a post on social media. Since 2014, China has invested significantly in building a road-and-infrastructure project in Balochistan linked to its One Belt One Road initiative. Many Baloch, however, say the benefits have been reaped only by outsiders. Pakistani forces have been battling an insurgency in the province for more than a decade, and in 2024 the region saw a sharp rise in violence, with 782 people killed. Elsewhere in Balochistan on Tuesday, five paramilitary personnel were killed and four wounded when a homemade bomb exploded as their convoy passed through a district near the Iranian border, a senior local official told AFP. No group immediately claimed responsibility for either attack. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attack Since January 1, according to AFP figures, more than 430 people, mostly members of the security forces, have been killed in violence carried out by armed groups fighting the state in Balochistan and neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On Tuesday, six soldiers were killed in an attack on a paramilitary headquarters in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa city of Bannu, the military said. "A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the gate of the FC camp, after which five more suicide attackers entered," a government official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The ensuing exchange of fire lasted 12 hours, ending after the six attackers were killed, the official said. Azerbaijan has accused India of taking revenge against it on international platforms due to Bakus strong ties with Pakistan. According to a Turkish news outlet, Daily Sabah, the allegation comes after India reportedly blocked Azerbaijans bid for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Azerbaijani media criticised Indias move, calling it a violation of multilateral diplomacy, and linked it to Bakus support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, targeting and destroying nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). All subsequent Indian retaliatory actions against Pakistani offensives have since been conducted under the banner of Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Tianjin, China, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Pakistan on what he described as a military victory over India earlier this year. According to the report, despite India's actions on global forums, Azerbaijan would continue to prioritise its brotherhood with Islamabad. India's ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan continue to be strained, largely due to both countries consistently backing Pakistan and criticising Indias stance on issues related to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Major Indian travel firms, including EaseMyTrip, suspended tour packages to the country, while others called off upcoming trips. The boycott also caused a noticeable drop in business activity, with several trading groups halting their transactions. During his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the ongoing peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan would continue to prioritize its 'brotherhood' with Islamabad. He congratulated Aliyev on the progress made toward a resolution. President Aliyev emphasised that achieving peace with Armenia is crucial for lasting stability in the South Caucasus. The peace agreement between the two nations was signed with the mediation of U.S. President Donald Trump. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin flanked Chinese President Xi Jinping at the largest-ever military parade in Beijing on Wednesday (September 3) morning. The event commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Chinas fight against Japan's wartime aggressions. As the even began, Xi was shown on television strolling up a red carpet to take his seat for the lavish event at Tiananmen Square to mark 80 years since Japan's defeat at the end of World War Two. All eyes are on how the trio of Xi, Putin and Kim who rarely leaves secretive North Korea interact with each other in a highly choreographed photo opportunity seen as a coup for China on the world stage. Kim and Putin are among the 26 world leaders who will join Jinping at Wednesdays massive military parade in Beijing. None of the three countries confirmed a private trilateral leaders' meeting. Also Read | Kim Jong Un Brings Daughter as Potential Successor on China Trip China is unstoppable China President Xi Jinping said China is "unstoppable" in a speech kicking off a massive parade in Beijing marking 80 years since the end of World War II. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games," he said. All the countries and nations should look after each other and help each other, then we can avoid the repetition of the tragedy, Xi added. Kim and Putin in Beijing According to the Associated Press, Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing by train on Tuesday to attend a military parade. It is Kim's first visit to China since 2019, and the fifth visit in total since he inherited power upon his father's death in late 2011. It's set to be Kim Jong Un's first time attending a major multilateral event during his 14-year rule, and the first time Kim, Xi and Putin - all key rivals of the US - have gathered at the same venue. KCNA photos reportedly revealed that Kim Jong-Uns delegation at the Beijing station included his young daughter, who South Korean intelligence officials view as his likely heir. Also Read | Kim, Putin and Xi to attend biggest military parade in show of unity against US Meanwhile, Putin arrived in China on Sunday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, as well as the Beijing parade. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Russias Tass news agency on Sunday that a meeting between Putin and Kim on the sidelines was under consideration. China displays modern weaponry for first time China on Wednesday unveiled for the first time some of its modern weaponry, including jet fighters, missiles and latest electronic warfare hardware, showcasing its military might. Hundreds of troops took part in the parade held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Chinas victory against Japanese aggression in WWII. The secretive Chinese military is also displaying for the first time its high-profile modern weapons, which, the PLA claims, match those of the US army, news agency PTI reported. Also Read | Trump open to Kim Jong Un meeting despite N Korea's warning on denuclearization China's military parade significance The event will mark a historic moment, capping a week of diplomatic grandstanding against the West. Observers say that China's display of military prowess on Wednesday could potentially demonstrate three-way unity against the United States. The highly choreographed "Victory Day" spectacle comes as US President Donald Trump's "America First" stance and trade wars have strained Washington's long-standing alliances. Xi, Putin and Kim's presence together in Beijing, especially at a military parade, was seen as an attempt by China to send a strong message to the US and its President Donald Trump, who tried to woo both Putin and Kim to take them into Washington's fold. Is Xi challenging US military might? Trump reacts US President Donald Trump said China doesnt pose a military threat to America and dismissed the notion that a massive military parade taking place in Beijing was a concern to the US. When asked if President Xi Jinpings parade on Wednesday posed a challenge to US power, Trump replied: No, I dont see that at all. I have a very good relationship with President Xi, as you know, Trump was quoted by Bloomberg as saying in the Oval Office hours before the event in Beijing was scheduled to start. But China needs us much more than we need them, he added. Separately, Trump expressed confidence that Beijing would not aim its defense assets at the US in the future. News / National by Staff reporter As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly shapes global development, governance professionals in Zimbabwe are being urged to identify and leverage relevant AI tools to enhance efficiency in government and private sector operations.Speaking to NewsDay Business during the Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute of Zimbabwe Summer School in Bulawayo, Tinashe Chimombe, co-founder of Special Business Solutions, highlighted the transformative potential of AI for automating repetitive tasks and strengthening strategic decision-making."We should employ AI systems to automate repetitive work, particularly in government processes, so that efforts can be aligned to strategy rather than manual tasks," Chimombe said.He stressed that AI could play a critical role in fraud detection and risk management."AI systems can identify risk areas in real time, helping detect fraud before it occurs," Chimombe said. "I have proposed a framework to the Minister of Finance and the Office of the President's Department of Innovation, integrating AI tools with the public finance management system to flag unusual transactions and curb misappropriation of funds."Chimombe also emphasised the broader capabilities of AI, from faster calculations and report generation to recruitment support and strategic problem-solving, underscoring that AI complements rather than replaces human oversight.He highlighted the need for a clear legal and regulatory framework to ensure safe and effective AI implementation."For compliance to be present, there should be regulated frameworks," he said. "While Europe has AI regulations, Africaaincluding Zimbabweais still developing statutory instruments. Government efforts through the Ministry of ICT are ongoing to address this."Chimombe concluded that effective collaboration between governance professionals, AI agencies, and private sector stakeholders is key to driving innovation, improving governance, and fostering economic growth in Zimbabwe. The Kremlin on Wednesday (September 3) dismissed US President Donald Trumps suggestion that Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were conspiring against the United States. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state television that Trumps words may not have been literal. I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies, Ushakov said. No one even had such a thought none of these three leaders had such a thought. He added: I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump, and President Trump personally in the current international situation. Despite his criticism, Trump extended pleasantries in the same post: May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Xi warns of global choice between peace or war At a massive military parade in Beijing, Xi was flanked by Putin and Kim in a rare show of unity. Addressing the crowd, Xi warned the world was facing a stark choice between peace and war, as China showcased its largest-ever military parade, capped with the release of 80,000 doves. Xi also held bilateral talks this week with both Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump downplays concerns of axis formation Asked whether he feared an axis forming against Washington, Trump insisted he was not worried. I am not concerned at all We have the strongest military in the world, by far. They would never use their military on us. Believe me. Beijing, Moscow, Pyongyang display unity Chinese state media highlighted Xis meeting with Putin, whom he described as his old friend. Kims presence alongside the two leaders marked an unprecedented public show of alignment between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang. Also Read | Putin says consensus possible on Ukraine security, reaffirms NATO red line Moscow and New Delhi are in talks to boost deliveries of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to India, TASS news agency reported, citing a senior Russian defence export official. India already has our S-400 system, TASS quoted Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. There is potential to expand our cooperation in this area as well. That means new deliveries. For now, we are in the negotiation stage. The S-400 air defence systems were also a key component in Operation Sindoor, Indias military operation in May targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India signed a $5.5 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for five S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile systems. But deliveries of the systems have been delayed several times. Moscow is expected to deliver the final units of two S-400 systems to India in 2026 and 2027. The S-400 Triumf, developed by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau, is widely regarded as one of the world's most advanced and formidable surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. Introduced into service in 2007, the S-400 is designed to provide a multi-layered air defence shield capable of intercepting a broad spectrum of aerial threats, including fighter jets, ballistic and cruise missiles, drones and stealth aircraft. During a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday that India and Russia have supported each other even in tough times. Putin referred to Modi as his dear friend. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in comments published Wednesday, noted that India resisted US pressure to stop buying Russian resources, a stance Moscow appreciated. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that between 2020 and 2024, Russia supplied 36% of Indias arms imports, followed by France at 33% and Israel at 13%. Cheaper Russian oil for India Indian refiners have resumed purchases of Russian oil after a brief pause in early August, and the lower prices for Urals are expected to drive strong demand. Last week, Urals was offered at a discount of about $2.50 per barrel, wider than the $1 discount seen in July, while US crude, recently purchased by some Indian refiners, came at a $3 premium. From August 27 to September 1, Indian state-run and private refiners received about 11.4 million barrels of Russian crude, according to Kpler data and port agent reports, Bloomberg reported. Urals is Russia's main crude grade, shipped from its western ports. China remains the largest buyer of Russian oil, importing it via both pipelines and tankers, and has not faced the same international criticism as India over these purchases. Meanwhile, Modi and Putin's bonhomie was on full display at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. The two leaders shared warm moments, including a heartfelt hug and a ride together in Putin's official Aurus Senat limousine to their bilateral meeting. The video of Modi and Putin holding hands and walking towards Xi, and then all three forming a close circle as close friends to engage in some conversation, went viral on social media. In his address, Modi spoke elaborately on the need for unity to combat the scourge of terrorism and even tried to corner Pakistan for its relentless support of cross-border terrorist activities. Putin said the SCO brings together like-minded partners committed to "shaping a just, multipolar world order" and that the bloc is laying the political and socioeconomic foundations for a new system of stability, security and peaceful development in Eurasia a system that would replace outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models. It said the member states support the further improvement and reform of the global economic governance architecture and will consistently uphold and strengthen an open, transparent, fair, inclusive, non-discriminatory and multilateral trading system based on rules promoting the development of an open global economy. Russian President Vladimir Putin met Wednesday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the Chinese capital, where they were attending a massive parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, AFP reported. The Kremlin said Putin thanked Kim for North Korea's deployments of soldiers to aid Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, and told him the two countries stood together fighting against modern Nazism. Following their attendance at a major military parade in central Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the two leaders held formal talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. According to a statement from the Kremlin on social media, Putin and Kim travelled together in the same car from the official reception to the negotiation venue. In his opening remarks, Kim said that cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has significantly strengthened since the two countries signed a strategic partnership pact in June last year during a summit in the North Korean capital. Although he did not specifically mention the war, Kim stressed that if theres anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help. The anniversary celebrations in Beijing mark the first time that Kim has attended a major multilateral event during his 14-year rule, and the first time Kim, Putin, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, have gathered at the same venue. Beyond the pageantry, analysts are closely watching for signs that Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un may be moving toward deeper defence cooperation, Reuters reported. This comes in the wake of a June 2024 defence pact between Russia and North Korea and speculation about a similar agreement between China and North Korea, a development that could reshape the military balance in the Asia-Pacific. During his visit, Putin finalised expanded energy agreements with Beijing, while the high-profile gathering offered Kim a rare chance to secure implicit backing for North Koreas banned nuclear program. It also marked the first time in 66 years that a North Korean leader attended a Chinese military parade. If theres anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, I will consider it as a fraternal duty. Kim was accompanied to Beijing by his daughter, Ju Ae, believed by South Korean intelligence to be his likely successor. However, she was not seen at the parade itself. (With inputs from agencies) The United Kingdom government has asked tens of thousands of foreign students not to overstay their visas else they will be removed from the country, reported BBC. The UK Home Office has launched the new campaign in response to what it has called an "alarming" spike in the number of international students arriving legally on student visas then claiming asylum when they expire. As part of the government campaign, the Home Office is directly contacting the international students by text and email. Also Read | Amid US visa delays under Trump administration, students turn to UK and Asia British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that some foreign students are claiming asylum "even when things haven't changed in their home country". Although the number of student visa holders applying for asylum has dropped from the year before, it is nearly six times as many as in 2020, showed the department data, according to the report. According to Home Office data, nearly 13% of asylum applications in the year to June, around 14,800, came from people in the UK on a study visa. Pakistan was the most common country of origin, responsible for 5,700 of these applications, followed by students from India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, reported BBC. "If you submit an asylum claim that lacks merit, it will be swiftly and robustly refused. Any request for asylum support will be assessed against destitution criteria. If you do not meet the criteria, you will not receive support. If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you dont, we will remove you, reads the full message, according to the Guardian. In May this year, the Home Office had announced its plans to tighten rules that aim to stop migrants using university study as a way to enter the UK. Under the plans, the visa refusal and course completion rates that universities have to meet in order not to risk losing their ability to sponsor future visas are to be made stricter. UK Asylum Reform Recently, Yvette Cooper said the UKs asylum system needs substantial reforms as she laid out plans to reduce record flows of migrants arriving in small boats across the English Channel. Cooper said the UK government would create an independent body to deal with asylum appeals, increase detention and returns capacity, temporarily suspend refugee family reunion routes and change the way certain parts of the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted. A confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has revealed that Iran increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels in the weeks preceding Israels military strike on June 13. The report, circulated to UN member states raises concerns over Tehrans nuclear activities and ongoing verification challenges, as reported by The Associated Press. How much uranium has Iran stockpiled? According to the IAEA, as of June 13, 2025, Iran held 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%, an increase of 32.3 kilograms (71.2 pounds) since the agencys previous report in May. The report noted that this figure is based on the information provided by Iran, agency verification activities between 17 May 2025 and 12 June 2025, and estimates based on the past operation of the relevant facilities. Uranium enriched to 60% is only a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%, and the IAEA estimates that approximately 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium could theoretically produce one atomic bomb if further enriched. Irans total enriched uranium stockpile now stands at 9,874.9 kilograms, representing an increase of 627.3 kilograms since May. What about inspections after the Israeli strike? The report highlighted that IAEA inspectors have been unable to verify Irans near bomb-grade stockpile for over two and a half months, describing this as a matter of serious concern. Only the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which operates with Russian technical assistance, has been inspected since the military strikes. Negotiations to resume inspections at other sites affected by Israeli and U.S. attacks have not yet been concluded. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasised that technical modalities to enable the full resumption of Agency inspection should be concluded without delay. The report described Tehrans decision to cut cooperation with the IAEA following the withdrawal of inspectors during the conflict as deeply regrettable. Why is the report on iran's uranium movement significant? The timing of Irans increased enrichment, just prior to Israels attack, underscores the escalating tensions over the Iranian nuclear programme. Experts note that the lack of independent verification complicates international efforts to monitor nuclear material and prevent proliferation. With the stockpile approaching near weapons-grade levels and inspections stalled, the situation is likely to remain a major focus for global security discussions in the coming months. Whats next? The IAEA report calls for urgent resumption of inspections and continued diplomatic engagement to ensure that Irans nuclear programme remains transparent and peaceful. Failure to verify uranium stockpiles could heighten regional tensions and prompt renewed international scrutiny. Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared publicly alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a once-in-a-decade military parade aimed at unveiling new weaponry and highlighting Chinas growing diplomatic influence. The parade, held to mark 80 years since Japans defeat in World War II, marks the first time the three leaders have appeared together in public. Here are the top updates: 1. Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that China was unstoppable. "The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable and humanity's cause of peace and development will prevail," Xi said in the speech, aired on television. 2. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games," Xi added. The president called on nations across the world to eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring. Common security can only be safeguarded when nations across the world treat each other as equals, live in harmony, and mutually support one another, he said. 3. US President Donald Trump accused Xi, North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russian President Putin of conspiring against the US at the Beijing meeting. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and "blood" that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in China's quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." 4. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it hoped U.S. President Donald Trump was joking when he claimed that the leaders of Russia, China, and North Korea were conspiring against the United States. I think not without irony, he said that these three are allegedly plotting against the United States, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state TV, when asked about a Trump social media post that alleged Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un had gathered in Beijing to plot against Washington, AFP reported. 5. At the military parade, China is expected to display its latest military technology, including advanced anti-ship missiles, combat drones, and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Satellite imagery of the parade staging area reveals armoured vehicles, air defence systems, rocket launchers, artillery, and cruise missiles, Bloomberg reported. 6. According to Tianran Xu, a senior analyst at the Open Nuclear Network, these new weapons feature cutting-edge technologysuch as hypersonic capabilities, designed specifically to counter U.S. naval power in the Western Pacific, Bloomberg reported. 7. The ceremony opened with an 80-gun artillery salute to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, followed by the national anthem, March of the Volunteers, a song written in 1935 during Chinas early resistance against Japanese forces. 8. As reported by AP, crowds filled the square, seated in clearly marked sections across the broad avenue, as troops marched by. Spectators waved small red flags while choirs performed patriotic songs, including Defend the Yellow River and No New China Without the Communist Party of China. 9. Earlier on Tuesday, Xi Jinping met with Putin, where the two leaders reaffirmed their strong relationship. Xi referred to Putin as an old friend and noted that China-Russia ties have withstood the test of changing international circumstances. Putin, in turn, thanked Xi and said their relationship had reached an unprecedentedly high level. 10. In a related development, Russias Gazprom PJSC announced it had signed a legally binding agreement to move forward with the long-awaited Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which would deliver Russian gas to China via Mongolia. Although Beijing has not officially confirmed the agreement, any progress on the project represents a diplomatic victory for Putin as Russia continues to deal with the effects of Western sanctions. After years of steady growth, net flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India declined sharply from $39 billion to less than $1 billion between fiscal years 2021-22 and 2024-25, a stunning reversal that has attracted attention. This decline mirrors trends in other emerging markets, including Asian peers like China and Thailand. Yet Indias share in world net FDI has fallen by 2.5-3.0 percentage points. However, there is more to this trend than the headline numbers suggest. Indias net FDI drop stems equally from increased outward investment by Indian companies (up 60%) and decreased inflows from foreign investors (down 50%). The oft-cited 100% decline refers to net flows, or the difference between inward and outward investments, both adjusted for profit repatriations. Also Read: Rajrishi Singhal: India must probe the reasons behind rising outward FDI flows The underlying dynamics reveal a more complex picture. Based on available data, gross FDI inflows have fallen by only 13% (from $82 billion to $71 billion, peak to trough), while repatriation of profits by foreign companies has surged 64% (from $27 billion to $44 billion). This repatriation surge is the primary driver of declining net FDI inflows. The equity component of FDI tells the clearest story. Net equity FDI declined by $38 billion, driving the overall drop. Gross equity inflows fell 25% from $61 billion to $46 billion, while equity repatriations increased by more than half. Traditional sources, including the US, have reduced their investments, while Japan, the Netherlands and Mauritius have increased theirs. The services sector, primarily computer services and R&D, accounts for much of the decline. Also Read: Indias FDI inflows offset by outflows: Blip or worry? Neither increased repatriations by foreign companies nor higher outward investment by Indian residents should cause alarm. Both may partly reflect Indias economic maturity. Foreign firms are extracting profits from Indian operations through dividends, share buybacks and technical fees, thus demonstrating confidence in the profitability of their investments. Our challenge isnt to reverse repatriation, as that is perhaps a natural outcome or even a paradox of our success. We should focus on increasing gross inflows to fuel continued growth. With Indias massive infrastructure and development financing needs, current gross FDI levels remain well below potential. Over-reliance on traditional partners may have created vulnerability. While punitive tariffs on Indian merchandise exports to US markets pose challenges, they could also present an opportunity to look beyond traditional partners for both trade and investment. We could establish a dedicated task force to engage with the worlds top 50 companies, offering compelling reasons to choose India over competitors. This may also require proactive diplomacy that highlights Indias unique advantages: political stability, macroeconomic strength and a vast domestic market potential, factors that could partially offset tariff challenges. Also Read: Rework Indias investment treaty framework to attract FDI flows Research by The Foundation for Economic Development on Special Economic Zones (SEZ) reveals how policy reversals, like the 2012 introduction of minimum alternate tax and removal of dividend distribution tax exemptions, coincided with structural declines in SEZ growth. Foreign investors seem to prize predictability above all else. Every policy change should undergo rigorous impact assessment to ensure it does not inadvertently signal instability. Global surveys consistently identify political stability and macro fundamentals as primary FDI drivers. India excels in both, but could leverage these advantages more effectively. The governments electoral mandate and demonstrated economic management offer compelling selling points. More action is needed on easing the regulatory environment, improving logistics and enhancing workforce skilling. The World Banks Logistics Performance Index, for example, placed India at 38th position in 2023, based on six parameters. Closing these gaps could yield substantial FDI returns. We can learn from success stories within India and the stark disparity between states. Tamil Nadu, for example, receives a whopping 250 times more FDI than Bihar in absolute terms, likely due to advantages in governance, infrastructure and business facilitation. States can study and adapt successful models from leading states. Internal competition for FDI benefits the entire country. Also Read: India plans coordinated FDI drive, eyes global investors in these key sectors Investment climate improvements, streamlined regulations and reduced bureaucracy have created momentum that must be sustained. The next phase requires deepening existing reforms, rather than introducing new ones that might signal policy uncertainty. Credit rating upgrades could help, as foreign investment and sovereign ratings have shown a strong historical correlation globally. Indias continued economic resilience, commitment to fiscal consolidation and reform trajectory position it well for potential upgrades that could unlock new investor interest. Our FDI challenge reflects success as much as a struggle. Companies are extracting profits from successful Indian operations, while apparently hesitating to make fresh commitments amid global uncertainties. Instead of lamenting increased repatriation and outward investment by residents, we must expand the pipeline of new investment by using policy stability as a competitive advantage, aggressively courting global companies and learning from internal success stories. According to UNCTADs World Investment Report 2025, India ranked fourth globally in the number of greenfield projects announced in 2024. Their implementation is important. Our economic fundamentals remain strong, domestic market continues to expand and demographic dividend persists. FDI strategies must be bold, consistent and globally competitive. The data shows foreign companies can succeed in India, but we must convince them to start more new ventures. A window for action is open, but it wont remain so indefinitely. We must move decisively to transform the FDI challenge into the next chapter of our economic growth story. Vidushi Balakrishnan contributed to this article. These are the authors personal views. The authors are, respectively, professor of economics at Ashoka University and director and head of Ashoka Isaac Centre for Public Policy; and an officer of the Indian Economic Service. Indian exporters now face an additional 50% duty on exports to the US on top of earlier tariffs. Half of this is a penalty imposed by Washington for Indias oil trade with Russia. Under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962, tariffs can be raised on national security grounds, though strategic exemptions apply to some products. Indian exports of textiles, leather goods, gems and jewellery and other items now stare at tariffs of around 60%. As some of these sectors have as much as half their output exposed to the US, many businesses will not survive. True, these exports enjoyed a temporary boom as US buyers made pre-emptive purchases ahead of the tariff deadline, but that respite is short-lived. Already, advance orders are drying up. Also Read | Why US tariffs could sink Indian MSMEsand hit microfinance For the US, such tariffs are self-defeating. Optimistic forecasts suggest tariff revenues of $2.1 trillion over the next decade, but that pales beside the $4.5 trillion budget gap created by US President Donald Trumps tax cuts, leaving the fiscal deficit set to swell by $3 trillion. The market for Treasury bonds will feel the pressure, debt levels will rise and long-term stability will suffer (as has happened before). Trumps promise of a manufacturing revival collides with a labour shortage of his own making. His hard line on immigration has deprived farms and small businesses of workers, forcing his administration to quietly relax enforcement. In high-skill sectors, hiring has stagnated as companies turn to AI-driven productivity. American consumers are already paying for Trumps policies, as the prices of everyday stapleseggs, chicken, meatclimb while restrictions on imports from Mexico and China ripple through grocery stores. Industries too are hurting. The automobile sector illustrates the problem vividly. Ford has reported $800 million in losses, while General Motors has lost over $1 billion. The reason: tariffs on imports from its own plants in China and Canada stand at 25%, far higher than the 15% levied on rivals from Japan or the EU. Trumps erratic bilateral deals will accelerate tariff shopping as firms shift operations to low-tariff jurisdictions and re-export to the US, blunting the very impact that Trump has sought. What then drives a trade policy framework that seems so bad for the world as well as the US? One must recognize that these tariffs are not merely a reflection of Trumps personal whims, as is often made out in the media. His policies are driven by a circle of advisors steeped in protectionist thinking and are a continuation of past attempts at geopolitical change (see my article, Trump and Trade; the turmoil continues, Mint, 18 April). In a speech on 7 August, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer condemned the nameless global order dominated by the WTO," for which the US has paid with the loss of industrial jobs and economic security." Trumps trade confidant Peter Navarro went even further, branding Indias import of Russian crude oil and export of refined products a conspiracy rather than the result of a comparative advantage. The persistence of US tariffs, which are unlikely to be reversed despite a recent court order, has less to do with simple economics and more to do with politics and ideology. Trump often invokes former president William McKinley, whose 19th-century protectionism sought to shield US industry behind high walls. In todays interconnected world, such ideas seem anachronistic; yet, they double as political theatre. Tariffs are not just about trade; they are symbols of national assertion and personal vindication. Trumps quest for recognitionincluding the elusive Nobel Peace Prizesometimes seems to bleed into his trade policy. His frustration with Russias war in Ukraine has fuelled punitive measures against India, even as these moves undermine US supply chains. In this sense, tariffs are also a signal to China and Russia, with Indian exports caught as collateral damage. Also Read | Nitin Pai: India must look east again as global relations get reshaped So, how should India respond? In the short term, the priority must be to cushion the blow taken by small enterprises, that will be devastated while larger producers adapt. Relief could come through tax measures, such as placing vulnerable export products in the lower 5 % GST bracket, at least temporarily. In the longer run, India must diversify its export markets toward the EU, UK, and even China, while pursuing a trade deal with the US that carves out specific sectors for protection. Diplomatically, managing Trumps ego will be as important as managing his policies. Symbolic gesturesespecially if he lays claim to brokering peace in Ukrainemay be as effective as formal negotiations in restoring goodwill. Political retaliation must be tempered with the realization that Indias service exports (mainly to the US) now exceed commodity exports and are not affected by reciprocal tariffs. We do not want attention diverted to that. The irony could not be sharper: Trumps tariffs hurt US consumers and producers more than foreign competitors. Yet they persist because they serve his political ambitions, ideological instincts and vanity. For India, the lesson is clear. It must prepare for the uncertainties of Trumps economic nationalism not by reacting in panic but by hedging carefully. Jumping into trade blocs like RCEP in haste would weaken Indias bargaining power elsewhere. Have the reasons why India opted out in 2019 been altered by Trumps tariffs? Its better instead to diversify, negotiate shrewdly and let the internal contradictions of Trumps policy play themselves out; 2028 isnt so far away. The author is former director, IIFT and visiting professor, Shiv Nadar University. Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli walked out of the jail on Wednesday after spending over 17 years behind the bars, officials said. Gawli walked out of the Nagpur Central Jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a 2007 murder case. The 76-year-old was serving life imprisonment for the murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. After the completion of all legal formalities of the prisons department, Gawli came out of the jail around 12.30 pm, officials said. Arun Gawli, 76, was serving life imprisonment at the Nagpur Central Jail for the alleged murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. Hearing the case, a bench of Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh observed that Gawli was behind the bars for 17 years already and an appeal was pending before it since then, basis which the bail was granted. The judges also pointed out the old age of the ex-MLA of the Maharashtra Assembly as grounds for bail. "Admittedly, the appellant has been under incarceration for 17 years and three months. We also take note of the fact that he is 76 years old," the bench said. Also Read | SC seeks directives to establish fast-track courts for gangster trials While granting the bail, the top court noted that it was subject to terms and conditions imposed by the trial court. As he walked out of the Nagpur Central Jail, Arun Gawli was welcomed by his family members, lawyer and supporters. What is the case Arun Gawli was in jail for? Arun Gawli was booked under the provisions of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in 1999. Gawli was arrested and underwent a trial in 2006 for the murder of Jamsandekar. In August 2012, the Sessions Court in Mumbai sentenced him to life imprisonment in the murder case. It had also imposed a 17 lakh fine on the former gangster. Arun Gawli and 11 others were arrested in 2006 and tried for the murder of Jamsandekar. Police had at the time submitted a 138-page chargesheet to prove the case against him. Arun Gawli shot into prominence from Dagdi Chawl, a neighbourhood of Byculla, and is the founder of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena. He was an MLA from 2004-2009 from the Chinchpokli seat of Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised activist Manoj Jarange for ending his five-day hunger strike over the Maratha reservation demand, stating that the government had found a solution in the community's best interest. Here are the top ten updates: 1. Fadnavis said that his administration has consistently prioritised the welfare of the Maratha community and expressed optimism that the state's decision on the quota issue would bring them significant benefits, PTI reported. 2. Fadnavis said the government told protesters that the caste certificate can be given to individuals and not the community. We have found a way out and accepted their most prominent demand to implement the Hyderabad gazetteer. We did not have any two thoughts about it. They were demanding that it should be implemented for all Marathas. But we tried to convince them that reservation is not for a group but for individuals, hence this kind of decision cannot be taken as proof is needed for that. The Hyderabad gazetteer will be of help as a proof, he said. 3. Manoj Jarange ended his hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon, after the Maharashtra government agreed to most of his demands. Among them was the decision to issue Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas, allowing them to access reservation benefits under the Other Backwards Classes (OBC) category. 5. The 43-year-old activist broke his fast by accepting a glass of fruit juice from senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who chairs the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, and other officials present at the protest site. 6. Fadnavis noted there was some misconception among OBCs over reservation to Marathas, but it is misplaced. Replying to a query that he faced a lot of criticism and was targeted, the CM said he always believed that in political life, people sometimes praise you and sometimes criticise. 7. "However, from day one, my stand was that we will not let any dispute crop up between the Marathas and OBCs. We can't snatch something from one group and give it to the other. Our decision will benefit both of them and I think we have done that only. I am happy that we could take a good decision that will benefit the Maratha community in a big way," he said. 8. Civic workers laboured through the night to clean up large amounts of garbage, leftover food, and empty water bottles scattered across the roads and Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, following the end of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's hunger strike, PTI reported. Mumbai, India. Sep 02, 2025 - BMC Workers cleaning the road near Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. Large numbers of supporters and members of the Maratha community gathered at Azad Maidan to support Jarange Patil. Maratha quota agitation leader Manoj Jarange Patil began an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai from Friday. He is staging this hunger strike to demand a 10 percent quota for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Mumbai, India. Sep 02, 2025. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Raju Shinde) 9. After the five-day protest concluded and demonstrators dispersed, some activists attempted to distribute the remaining food, donated by community members from across Maharashtra, to residents and passersby in the area on Tuesday. 10. A Maratha community activist said on Tuesday that while they would have helped clean the protest site, many protesters from outside Mumbai had already left, and local participants had dispersed due to Ganpati immersion celebrations. Opinion / Columnist The political chicanery unleashed on social media against Zimbabwe's Attorney General, Virginia Mabiza, by self-styled influencers peddling baseless innuendos and insinuations - without offering even a shred of evidence - marks a disgraceful new low. Such tactics serve neither their perpetrators nor the politicians they purport to champion.While it is essential and commendable to hold elected or appointed officials accountable for their actions or inactions in public service, it is utterly outrageous and despicable to gratuitously smear them for partisan or factional gain - especially under the guise of supporting a political figure. No cause, no leader, can benefit from this kind of skulduggery.The barrage of abuse erupted after Deputy Chief Secretary George Charamba shared images on August 31, 2025, of senior government officials accompanying President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Vatican. These photos, captured from an iconic papal window at St. Peter's Basilica, were posted in quick succession: Charamba's own at 13:45 CAT, followed by Chief Secretary Dr Martin Rushwaya with Chief of Protocol Ambassador Gideon Gapare at 13:48, the window itself at 13:55, and finally Attorney General Mabiza at 13:57.Curiously - or tellingly - only Mabiza's image, the last in the series, quickly ignited a storm of vitriol. The attackers, mostly former supporters of Nelson Chamisa now masquerading as backers of a supposed Zanu PF faction (with more zeal than the faction itself), are not even Zanu PF members.The core narrative fuelling this abuse? That Mabiza had no legitimate role in the presidential delegation en route to China via the Vatican - except for some sordid insinuations concocted by these crude character assassins.In a brazen display of misogyny, no one questioned Dr Rushwaya's inclusion, despite the rarity of a Chief Secretary - the apex of the public service - joining such delegations. This hypocrisy is all the more glaring, as these same critics are often the first to correctly rally in defence of women in opposition ranks, such as Fadzayi Mahere, when they endure similar misogynistic innuendos and slurs - exposing a blatant and unacceptable double standard.This oversight conveniently ignores a key fact: Rushwaya's presence likely explains Mabiza's. As the only two senior officials who routinely attend Cabinet meetings, the Chief Secretary safeguards deliberations and decisions, while the Attorney General serves as the government's chief legal adviser on all matters, from regional and international protocols to drafting legislation for Cabinet and Parliament. Every ministry and department is her "client," with the President as the foremost, followed by the Minister of Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs.This established role is longstanding and unchanging, as far back as one cares to go.Critically, the Attorney General provides indispensable legal counsel on agreements between the Zimbabwean government and third parties, especially foreign entities. Take the pivotal Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with China Railway Group - initially valued at USD 533 million and now at USD 600 million - which could not have been negotiated or signed without the Chief Secretary's oversight and the Attorney General's explicit legal guidance.It requires no genius to recognise that finalising this MoA, slated for implementation in December, topped the agenda during President Mnangagwa's China visit. The key players? Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Chief Secretary Dr Rushwaya, and Attorney General Mabiza. It is profoundly embarrassing - and a national disservice - that such vital discussions are overshadowed by clueless agitators who treat weighty state affairs like tabloid fodder on the Mai Chisamba Show.The public deserves far better.Let there be no doubt: Virginia Mabiza is Zimbabwe's duly appointed Attorney General, selected by the same President who elevated the factional figures these imposters pretend to defend or love.This farce cannot possibly advance Zanu PF's interests. No rational faction within Zanu PF should tolerate it, much less allow it to be propagated in their name.Factions in Zanu PF are of course an undeniable reality, but any such group could easily disavow these non-member charlatans. Permitting the deception only sullies the faction's reputation - and undermines both Zanu PF as a governing party, and the national interest. The United Arab Emirates warned Israel that annexation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank would constitute a red line and severely undermine the regional vision for peace and integration underlying the US-brokered Abraham Accords. Annexation in the West Bank would constitute a red line for the UAE, assistant minister for political affairs at the UAEs foreign ministry Lana Nusseibeh said in remarks released Wednesday and shared with several media outlets, including Bloomberg News. The remarks represent the sharpest rebuke the UAE has directed at Israel since the start of the war in Gaza. It comes after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call a cabinet meeting and approve the extension of Israels grip over the West Bank. Annexing Palestinian territory would severely undermine the vision and spirit of Accords, end the pursuit of regional integration and would alter the widely-shared consensus on what the trajectory of this conflict should be two states living side by side in peace, prosperity, and security, Nusseibeh said. Nusseibeh did not specify what Abu Dhabi would do if Israel went ahead with its plans to annex new territory in the West Bank and whether this would lead to the severing of diplomatic ties between both states. She called on the Israeli government to suspend the plans. In July, the Israeli parliament passed a resolution calling for the annexation of West Bank settlement blocs, which the prime minister voted in favor of. But he has since been reticent to clarify whether and when this might happen. Israel and the UAE normalized relations in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords, which opened the door for Israelis to travel to the oil-rich Gulf state for business and tourism. The agreement earned the UAE political capital in Washington and gave it greater access to US and Israeli technology in sectors including defense and security. US President Donald Trump has said that the expansion of the agreement to other countries, most notably Saudi Arabia, is a key foreign policy goal of his current administration. UAEs president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed arrived in Saudi Arabias capital on Wednesday and was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, state-run WAM reported. Relations with the UAE have been tested by Israels war in Gaza, which it launched against the Iran-backed militant group Hamas in the aftermath of the Oct 7, 2023 attack on the Jewish state. Ties have been strained further over the past few weeks over comments made by the Israeli prime minister about his embrace of a vision for greater Israel. The Israeli prime minister dispatched one of his top aides to Abu Dhabi last month to ease tensions between both sides. Extremists, of any kind, cannot be allowed to dictate the regions trajectory. Peace requires courage, persistence, and a refusal to let violence define our choices, Nusseibeh said. With assistance from Dan Williams. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The private companies tended to be young, with most founded after 2010. That includes the biggest bid winner, iFlytek Digital, an offshoot of AI voice-recognition firm iFlytek Co., which was blacklisted by the U.S. in 2019 for its role in aiding state surveillance of religious minorities in China. Most of the 20 contracts signed by iFlytek Digital, which now exists as a separate entity and therefore isnt subject to the U.S. blacklist, involved data processing and analysis. The AI wave is helping resurrect Indias edtech sector from the shadows of Byjus collapse, renewing investor interest by blending learning with entertainment. Early- and growth-stage startups, including Seekho, SpeakX and Arivihan, are using large language models to AI chatbots to offer engaging courses in multiple languages and subjects. And they are reaching audiences beyond Indias top metros. We want to move beyond short videos and make learning interactive. While videos will remain the primary mode, well integrate contextual chatbots to make the journey dynamic," Rohit Choudhary, founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Seekho, toldMint. Over time, this may evolve into a seamless AI-driven experience where users get personalized prompts in between videos." As these startups drive user engagement and grow subscriptions, investors are taking note. That signals a potential revival in the edtech sector that is still reeling from the collapse of hyper-funded giants like Byjus. But caution still persists. According to data from Venture Intelligence, deal activity has plunged from 117 in 2021 to just 21 so far in 2025, while investment volumes have collapsed from $4.3 billion to $141 million over this period. Also Read | When schools drop out: Why edtech LEAD is struggling to find followers Seekho, an edutainment company, has raised $28 million in a Series B funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Elevation Capital, Goodwater Capital, and existing backer Lightspeed participated. With the fresh capital, the company plans to incorporate AI into its content offerings. The company is also exploring $3-4 million deals to acquire early-stage startups working on AI for learning, according to Choudhary. SpeakX, which teaches users English through a conversational AI bot, is seeking to raise $15 million in a new round. Arivihan, which provides personalised courses in local languages, just raised $4.17 million in a seed round co-led by Prosus Ventures (its first edtech bet in India after Byjus) and Accel. SigIQ, an edtech focused on personalised UPSC and GRE prep, raised $9.5 million in seed funding led by The House Fund & GSV Ventures. Similarly, Stimuler, a voice-first tutor for English as a second language, secured $3.75 million in pre-Series A funding from Lightspeed, SWC Global, and others. Seekho relies on existing large language models to personalize content for users, implementing prompt engineering and fine-tuning where required.Were experimenting with ways to make the platform more social, but we want to balance it carefully," Choudhary said. Think of YouTube, which is completely social, versus Netflix, which is curated. We want to find a middle ground. Pilots are underway to explore this." Business is driven not just by the Indians desire for education but also aspiration. SpeakX and Seekho's target markets arent concentrated in urban areas but they have a large userbase in tier-II cities as well. By shifting focus from institutions and educators to the individual learner, AI tailors content, pace, and assessments to each students need," said Rahul Chowdri, partner at Stellaris Venture Partners. This shift from standardized to personalized learning could be one of the most transformative impacts of AI on education." The early-stage venture capital firm is bullish on professional upskilling, self-help, and language learning. Focus on early-stage startups Mint had reported early signs of edtech recovery last year, but most of the activity was concentrated among market leaders such as Eruditus and Physics Wallah, often with a secondary component that allowed early investors to exit. In 2025, that recovery in late-stage funding has all but dried up, slipping to just two deals this year compared to nine in 2024. In contrast, activity in 2025 so far has been concentrated at the early and growth stages. Early-stage startups have already seen nine deals in the first eight monthsclose to last years tally of 14, while growth-stage companies have recorded nine deals versus 10 in all of 2024,according to data from Venture Intelligence. The AI edge Founders are, however, optimistic about AI supporting both scale and cost efficiency. With AI, scaling is much faster and cheaper. We already have users in almost every country, with paying subscribers in 180 countries," Akshay Akash, co-founder of Stimuler, told Mint. Thats something impossible to achieve with a traditional teacher-based model, since youd need to hire teachers in each country for each accent." Thanks to cheaper services, Akash sees companies like his acquiring paying customers quickly. For consumers, it would be much more expensive to hire teachers, which costs around $3,000 a month, versus our $10 a month subscription." Companies like Seekho and SpeakX have pivoted their business models to become subscription-first as UPI AutoPay has picked up. More people are willing to make bite-sized payments for things they believe will benefit them in the long run. Also Read | Why study-abroad startups are facing testing times Efficacy must be demonstrated through measurable improvementsin test scores, skills acquired, or fluency levels," said Chowdri from Stellaris. Retention will be equally criticalthese startups must show that their AI model can sustain long-term engagement while scaling efficiently." At the end of the day, these companies still need to prove that their businesses work at scale, and to that end, a full-blown revival might still be at least two years away, according toIvyCap Ventures' founder and managing partner Vikram Gupta. It all comes down to the value theyre creating. Were at a stage of growth where a lot of the products are still unproven. The capital that you need at that stage is higher risk capital." Thats also reflected in deal size, which has not recovered after the collapse from pandemic highs. Average ticket sizes fell sharply from $37.2 million in 2021 to just $6.7 million in 2025, underlining investor caution. Legacy models to stay Legacy players, too, have acknowledged the potential of such platforms. In July, Mint reported that Gaurav Munjal, co-founder and CEO of test-prep edtech firm Unacademy, has been looking to hive off Airlearn, an AI language learning company, and raise separate funding for it. Similarly, IPO-bound PhysicsWallah is fine-tuning small language models to solve student queries on physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology. The company also plans to use AI-based voice dubbing to take the lessons of some of its star teachers pan-India. Sri Chaitanya's Infinity Learn, too, has introduced an AI mentor, AINA for JEE and NEET test prep. Still, Akash of Stimuler said, such models work better to supplement learning, like language acquisition. Older, legacy models will continue to dominate mainstream learning such as test prep and K12. That requires human touchpoints and teachers, and parents are willing to pay more for it." Users of AI chatbot ChatGPT across the globe on Wednesday witnessed and reported a significant outage, following which they took to social media to express frustration over the disruption. Meanwhile, OpenAI, ChatGPT's developer, has not yet issued a statement on the outage. Internet reacts List of ChatGPT alternatives: Google Gemini Claude Microsoft Copilot Perplexity AI DeepSeek AI Character.ai Grok Jasper AI ChatSonic Pi Hundreds of users have reported issues with the AI chatbot in the past 30 minutes, according to Downdetector, a platform that monitors the status of online services. It remains unclear whether the issue is affecting all users or just a subset. However, tests by The Sun indicate that ChatGPT is functioning normally, even as complaints continue to surface on social mediasuggesting the problem may be limited. ChatGPTs official service status page currently shows no outages, stating: Were fully operational. Earlier on Tuesday, American AI company OpenAI said it plans to introduce parental controls for its chatbot, ChatGPT, following reports that the system allegedly encouraged a teenager to consider suicide. OpenAI also stated that parents will be notified if ChatGPT detects their teen is experiencing acute distress, AFP reported. "Within the next month, parents will be able to... link their account with their teen's account" and control how ChatGPT responds to their teen with age-appropriate model behaviour rules, the generative AI company said in a blog post. Parents will also receive notifications from ChatGPT "when the system detects their teen is in a moment of acute distress", OpenAI added. The company said it had further plans to improve the safety of its chatbots over the coming three months, including redirecting "some sensitive conversations... to a reasoning model" that puts more computing power into generating a response. "Our testing shows that reasoning models more consistently follow and apply safety guidelines," OpenAI said. In a rare win for Google in the monopoly case, a US judge ruled on Tuesday that the big tech won't have to sell its Chrome browser but ordered Google to share data with rivals to open up competition in online search. Rejecting the government's demand that Google sell its Chrome web browser as part of a major antitrust case, the judge ordered that to resolve Googles monopoly in search, the company must make available to "qualified competitors" search index data and user interaction information that rivals can use to improve their services. As per news agency AFP, the company must also offer search result services to competitors for up to five years. The ruling also specifically addresses the emerging threat from generative artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT, extending restrictions to prevent Google from using exclusive deals to dominate the AI space as it did with traditional search. Judge Amit Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia also put restrictions on payments that Google uses to ensure its search engine gets prime placement in web browsers and on smartphones, The New York Times reported. But he stopped short of banning those payments entirely and did not grant the governments request that Google be forced to sell Chrome. What's the antitrust case? The landmark ruling came after Judge Amit Mehta found in August 2024 that Google illegally maintained monopolies in online search through exclusive distribution agreements worth billions of dollars annually. The case focused on Google's expensive distribution agreements with Apple, Samsung, and other smartphone manufacturers that established Google as the default search engine on iPhones and other devices. The ruling on Tuesday results from a five-year legal battle between one of the world's most profitable companies and the US, where antitrust regulators and lawmakers have long questioned Big Tech's market domination. The impact Tuesday's ruling came as a relief for Apple and other device and Web browser makers. US District Judge Amit Mehta said they can continue to receive advertising revenue-sharing payments from Google for searches on their devices. Google pays Apple $20 billion annually, Morgan Stanley analysts said last year. It also made it easier for device makers and others who set Google search as a default to load apps created by Google's rivals, by barring Google from entering exclusive contracts. Meanwhile, sharing data with competitors is expected to strengthen rivals to Google's advertising business, but not having to sell off Chrome or Android removed a major concern for investors who view them as key pieces to Google's overall business. Also Read | How to revert to the old Google Phone dialler UI on Android smartphones Google concerned about user privacy After the judge required data sharing in the case over search, Reuters quoted Google as saying it has "concerns about how these requirements will impact our users and their privacy, and were reviewing the decision closely." MOSCOW, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's trial visa-free policy for Russian citizens is "amazing news" that will change Russians' approach to travel in China, said the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST), cited by RIA Novosti. Earlier on Tuesday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced that China has decided to temporarily introduce a visa-free policy for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports starting from Sept. 15, 2025 to Sept. 14, 2026, allowing stays of up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or exchange visits and transit. "The launch of the (trial) visa-free policy for Russians is amazing news that will fundamentally change Russian tourists' approach to traveling in China," the RST said, adding that tourist numbers are expected to surge significantly. The policy could boost tourist flows from Russia by 30 to 40 percent, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia said. Alexander Bragin, director of the Association of Travel Aggregators, said that the number of search queries for flights and accommodation in China has doubled after the announcement of the pilot visa-free policy. "We won't be able to see actual bookings until tomorrow, but right now, the number of China-related search queries has already doubled. Overall, our forecasts suggest demand for travel to China could rise by 30 percent or more," said Bragin. According to data from Russia's Federal Security Service, 836,600 Russians visited China for tourism and private purposes in the first half of 2025, up 38.5 percent from the same period a year earlier. Saskatchewan RCMP arrested 16 adults, including cult leader Romana Didulo, in the village of Richmound on Wednesday after a firearms investigation. At a news conference on Wednesday afternoon in Regina, Insp. Ashley St. Germaine said RCMP executed a search warrant at a privately owned decommissioned school in Richmound at around 4:30 a.m CST. Didulo and her followers have been living for two years in the village of approximately 118 people, located 365 kilometres west of Regina, near the Alberta border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Germaine said RCMP got a report on Aug. 25 of one of the building's occupants possessing a firearm. That led to the investigation that culminated in the raid. "A team of skilled and experienced senior officers was established to oversee this large and complex operation," she said. More than 30 police vehicles from multiple jurisdictions, including two tactical vehicles, were at the scene, St. Germaine said. More than 30 police vehicles converged Wednesday on the former school in Richmound, Sask., which Romana Didulo and her followers have called home for the last two years. (Submitted by Hugh Everding) A livestream video, posted by Didulo to her followers on Telegram at 5:51 a.m. CST on Wednesday, captured the moment when two officers wearing tactical gear burst into a room where Didulo was standing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Leave the phone down. You're under arrest," one officer says in the video. Didulo surrenders to officers and the camera is pointed at the floor for a few minutes. Voices off camera then remark that the phone is livestreaming before the video ends. WATCH | 'Queen of Canada' livestreams her own arrest: St. Germaine said all 16 arrests had been made by 6 a.m. CST. The investigation is in its early stages, St. Germaine said, with investigators still searching the building and interviewing the arrested. She said the identities of all the people and their connections to Didulo had not yet been confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At this time, no charges have been laid," St. Germaine said. Richmound's village council declined to comment, deferring to RCMP. Sask. RCMP Insp. Ashley St. Germaine spoke with media Wednesday after 16 adults were arrested in Richmound, Sask. (Kirk Fraser/CBC) 'This is the best day of my life,' Richmound resident says Vanessa Johnson, a resident of Richmound, said the raid came as a surprise. "We didn't really know that anything was going to happen," Johnson said. Johnson said she was flooded with calls about the news and went to go witness the event. She said the RCMP's report about replica guns doesn't surprise her. "One of the cult leaders was walking up and down my street, which is quite a bit," she said. "They really have talked about shooting people bringing boots on the ground." Vanessa Johnson, a resident of Richmound, Sask., says today's arrest of cult leader Romana Didulo is a huge relief for the community. (Germain Wilson/CBC) Johnson said the news is a huge relief for a small community that has felt frustrated and scared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our spirits are so lifted. I feel so happy," Johnson said. "This is the best day of my life." Cult has been in Richmound for 2 years Didulo and her followers have been living in the former school in Richmound for two years. Christine Sarteschi, a professor at Chatham University who researches and monitors cults, said Didulo's followers believe she is the "Queen of Canada." "[Didulo] tells them that she is the ultimate authority, that she is the ruler under natural law. She is effectively the supreme ruler of all the land. She tells them they don't have to pay taxes," Sarteschi said in an interview on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's anything Romana says and the followers truly believe what she says." The cult began as part of the larger Q-Anon movement which believes there is a secret cabal running the government and has now evolved into a sovereign citizen movement, Sarteschi said. A former school in Richmound, Sask., has been the home for cult leader Romana Didulo and her followers for two years. RCMP obtained a search warrant and arrested 16 adults, including Didulo, on Sept. 3, 2025. (Chris Edwards/CBC) Sovereign citizens, also known as freemen of the land, believe laws don't apply to them. Didulo's followers also don't believe in vaccination and are convinced their leader has alien powers, Sarteschi said. "I think that they're attracted to her because she says things that appeal to them," Sarteschi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Didulo's followers have disrupted local residents since settling in Richmound. In July, the village office closed its doors to the public outside pre-arranged appointments, citing harassment and intimidation toward staff. Rick Manz, the owner of the property and one of Didulo's followers, was charged in July with assault, resisting arrest and uttering threats. WATCH | Having cult in town like 'living next to dormant volcano,' says Richmound, Sask., resident: All children under the age of nine can now travel on public transport for free and it will extend free travel in Longford to all public transport services. Up until now only kids under the age of five were able to avail of travelling on public transport without paying. Longford TD Micheal Carrigy said the new updated TFI Leap Card, available through leapcard.ie, will expand free travel to also include children between five and eight increasing the number who will benefit to almost 236,000 kids across Ireland. Deputy Carrigy stated it will build upon the measures that were alraedy in place, The measure was announced as part of the Budget 2025 package of measures and Deputy Carrigy said it is a key Fine Gael delivery on the Programme for Government commitment to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families. It is fantastic to see this being rolled out in Longford. Fine Gael are committed to alleviating the financial burden associated with transport costs to parents, he said. Fine Gael are all about putting money back in your pocket. I would urge all Longford residents to apply now for their eligible children. Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer TD said: I am delighted to see that the expansion of this scheme will support almost a quarter of a million more children and their families by providing access to free travel for under 9s, it also lays foundations for lifelong habits of sustainable travel. From an early age, children will become more familiar with using buses, trains, and trams as a natural part of daily life. Minister Buttimer said this scheme represents a significant step towards a more fair and inclusive public transport system. "As the NTA continues to roll out its National Fares Determination Strategy, this initiative builds on a series of measures designed to ensure that different passenger cohorts can benefit equally from our public transport offerings. Parents juggling school runs or weekend trips into town will now see the benefits of free travel for young children. Importantly, it applies across all TFI services, including Local Link and services under Connecting Ireland, that are the backbone of connectivity for so many rural communities. "This step ensures that families, whether in cities, towns, or villages, can access public transport offerings as part of daily life. This is Fine Gael delivering in Government, as we said we would. For more information and to apply for a child leap card, visit leapcard.ie READ NEXT: Longford secretaries, caretakers on picket over treatment and equality READ NEXT: Rising Longford star's debut in Electric Picnic brings new spark Longford Senator, Joe Flaherty, has urged both sides in the school secretaries / caretakers dispute to return to the Workplace Relation Commission as soon as possible. Senator Flaherty was on the ticket line with staff members in Longford this week and said public support for the workers is unprecedented. Read more: Calling all Longford primary schools! Christmas FM running nationwide competition Senator Flaherty said: There is no disputing the level of support for the strike across the community and this weeks industrial action has been very successful in that regard. But ultimately we have to acknowledge that the action continued in the face of arguably the most difficult and protracted Budget negotiations for some years. It is difficult see a major concession on key points in the strikers demands at this point and we still have six weeks to run before Budget 2026. Urging both parties to return to the WRC in the hope of a negotiated settlement, Senator Flaherty added: The key issue and probable sticking point will be access to public service pension but several other asks such as access to sick pay and bereavement pay can be reasonably and effectively addressed through WRC mediation and I dont feel it unreasonable to propose working towards an agreed framework that will ultimately address the pension issue also. He added: I know many of the school staff affected and their passion and commitment is unrivalled. They dont want to be involved in this industrial action but felt they had to make a statement and have done so effectively. He added: I genuinely feel that the Forsa members best interests will be best served at this point by a return to WRC negotiations. They have put down a firm marker and there is no question but public support in with them and politicians the length and breath of Ireland are now articulating the need for a resolution. Read more: Scrap The Tax! Longford IFA Chair Calls For Permanent RZLT Exemption for Farmers Concluded Senator Flaherty: The best route to a resolution or agreement at this juncture is through the WRC and I am urging both the Dept and Forsa to return to the WRC without delay in the best tinted of the workers and our school communities. Longford Senator Joe Flaherty has today urged both the Department of Education and Forsa, the trade union representing secretaries and caretakers, to return to the Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) as soon as possible. The senators comments come as Forsa members across the country enter their fifth day of industrial action to highlight their ongoing fight for the same employment terms and conditions as their school colleagues. The issue at the core of this industrial action is that while although school secretaries and caretakers work the same hours as teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNA's), and are employed under identical arrangements, they still do not receive the same benefits and entitlements. This is due to the fact that they are not considered public servants. After last Wednesdays talks between The Department of Education and Forsa ended without a resolution, a country-wide picket was set in motion with union members protesting outside their schools each day. Senator Flaherty, who was on the picket line with staff members in Longford this week, said public support for the workers is unprecedented, but added that the best route to an agreement at this juncture would be through the WRC. He said, The key issue and probable sticking point will be access to public service pension but several other asks such as access to sick pay and bereavement pay can be reasonably and effectively addressed through WRC mediation and I dont feel it unreasonable to propose working towards an agreed framework that will ultimately address the pension issue also. I know many of the school staff affected, and their passion and commitment is unrivalled. They dont want to be involved in this industrial action but felt they had to make a statement and have done so effectively. Senator Flaherty stated that while this weeks industrial action had been very successful with regard to gaining widespread support across the community, he added that the Forsa members best interests would now be best served by a return to WRC negotiations, and urged both sides to do so without delay, and in the best interests of the workers and our school communities. Last week, the Canadian government issued its 2025 report assessing money laundering and terrorist financing risks in Canada. The report noted that Hezbollah was using both illicit and otherwise legal channels in the country to fund its activities in Lebanonincluding exploiting the charitable and non-profit sectors and trade-based money laundering techniques. One noted example was Hezbollahs continued utilization of the used car trade to raise revenue. The report stated that the Port of Montreal in Quebec Province is a known link where luxury vehicles are shipped to Lebanon, financially supporting Hezbollah. Hezbollahs ties to the automobile trade US law enforcement publicized Hezbollahs longstanding link to the transnational automobile trade over a decade ago. In 2011, the US district attorney for the Southern District of New York and the Drug Enforcement Administration filed a joint complaint against a Lebanese bank and a network of Hezbollah-connected companies, including U.S. shipping and used-car firms. The suit alleged, among other things, that from January 1, 2007 to early 2011, Lebanese Financial Institutions wired at least $329 million to approximately 30 car buyers in the United Statesmainly in Michigan, but also in Tennessee, Maryland, and Connecticut through Lebanese banks and exchange houses for the Purchase and Shipment of Used Cars to West Africa as Part of [a] Money Laundering Scheme. The cars were transported from the United States by Michigan-based transportation company Cybamar Swiss GMBH, LCC, owned by Hezbollah operative Oussama Salhab and his relatives, to West Africa, which is home to a large Lebanese Shiite diaspora with strong links, including financial ties, to Hezbollah. From there, the cash from the sales, along with proceeds from narcotics trafficking, was funneled to Lebanon through a Hezbollah-controlled system of money couriers, cash smugglers, hawalas, and currency brokers, with the group taking substantial portions of the cash. Cash was also often received at Beiruts Rafic Hariri International Airport, where Hezbollah-controlled security safeguarded its passage to the group. The complaint alleged that this used-car and money-laundering infrastructure was also used to conceal and funnel hundreds of millions of dollars in narcotics proceeds from Latin America and West Africa to Lebanon. Hezbollah couriers were paid fees for facilitating the laundering of the proceeds, which US officials alleged reached as much as $200 million a month in business. Hezbollah in Canada Hezbollah has long used Canada as a consistent hub for fundraising and money laundering. One of the financial entities involved in this money-laundering scheme was the now-defunct Lebanese Canadian Bank (LCB), where much of the cash was deposited, and Hezbollahs Yousser Company and Martyr Foundation maintained accounts among almost 200 other potentially Hezbollah-linked accounts. Based in Beirut, LCB was founded in 1960 as Banque des Activities Economiques SAL and was a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada Middle East from 1968 to 1988, prior to becoming a privately owned Lebanese bank. The bank maintained 35 branches in Lebanon and a representative office in Montreal, Canada. However, Hezbollahs presence in Canada predates the revelation of the scheme involving LCB by over a decade. In October 2002, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) documents revealed that Hezbollah had been using Canada as an offshore base for raising money and purchasing supplies to conduct and record attacks against Israel. The group laundered tens of thousands of dollars through Canadian banks while drawing on the accounts to buy military equipment. These operations stretched back at least to the early 1990s, involving Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah operatives who had immigrated to Canada with their families. They used Canada to buy materiel, forge travel documents, raise money, and steal luxury vehiclesactivities similar to those noted in the 2025 report. Per CSIS, in 1999 and 2000, Hezbollah directly sent shopping lists to these agents operating as part of its networks in Vancouver and Montreal, who filled the orders and sent the equipment back to Lebanon in courier packages. Additionally, these networks used Canadian banks, like Bank of Nova Scotia, to move hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance purchases for Hezbollah. They also took out life insurance policies on Hezbollah operatives who were later killed in clashes with Israeli forces in Lebanon. As a result, Ottawa proscribed Hezbollah in its entirety on December 10, 2002but this listing failed to completely curb the groups activities in Canada or weed out its operatives. In 2011, The National Post reported on Hezbollahs potential involvement in an extortion racket that, among other activities, used local agents to threaten Lebanese expatriates into purchasing vehicles that were intended to be shipped to Lebanon through the Port of Montreal. The current significance of vehicular theft for Hezbollah As a result of its recent war with Israel, Hezbollah is suffering an acute financial crisis. Significant portions of the groups once-massive arsenal and financial assets were destroyed by the Israelis. More importantly, however, the conflict decimated large swathes of the predominantly Shiite areas of Lebanon in which the group had ensconced itself. Unless the aftermath of this destruction is remedied soon, Hezbollah risks confronting a massive wave of Shiite anger that could deprive the group of critical social support at a time when Lebanon is considering pathways to the groups disarmament. A March 2025 assessment by the World Bank estimated that the reconstruction and recovery needs following the conflict stood at $11 billion. Some reports indicate that Iran immediately transferred $1 billion to Hezbollah via a regional country at the onset of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire on November 27, 2024. However, Iranian funding has been hampered by Tehrans own financial constraints, the curtailment of Hezbollahs Syrian lifeline after Bashar al Assads downfall, and Israeli operations in Lebanon that have forced Beirut to limit Iranian efforts to finance the group. This situation has left Hezbollah scrambling for sources of funding to cover the difference. For example, since the November 2024 ceasefire, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has repeatedly placed the onus of rebuilding on the Lebanese governmentto shift both the financial burden of reconstruction onto Beirut, as well as the potential public anger if assistance is delayed. However, the Lebanese governments ability to finance reconstruction adequately also seems to be a non-starter, as Lebanons traditional financiers, like the United States, France, and the Gulf States, have been withholding funding from Beirut for years, absent significant political and economic reforms, including curtailing Hezbollah. Hezbollah has leaned into its connection with criminal enterprises while being financially constrained in the past. This makes the groups financial reliance on its network of diffuse operatives in Western countries even more significantwhere they can readily take advantage of strong, open and stable econom[ies] and financial sector[s] that, per the 2025 report, have made Canada an an attractive source, destination, and transit point for proceeds of crime for both organized groups and third-party enablers. Through these networks, only tacitly linked to Hezbollah, the group can exploit the strengths of Western economies and financial streams to raise funds in countries where it is otherwise proscribed. Canada is considered a hub for automobile theft and international smuggling, and Hezbollah stands to benefit from tapping into that preexisting stream of criminal activity. Per INTERPOLs 2024 numbers, Canada ranks among the top 10 countries for car theft. According to a 2017 study by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, a significant portion of the tens of thousands of vehicles stolen annually in Canada are smuggled abroad by organized crime groups, including to West Africa via Italy and Lebanon. Meanwhile, in the intervening years, car theft and automobile smuggling to foreign destinations have been on the rise in Canada. The Groupement des asseurers automobiles, a group of automobile insurers in Quebec, noted a 55 percent increase in automobile thefts in the province between 2013 and 2023, in what the Insurance Bureau of Canada subsequently described as a national crisis. Other statistics put the number at 58 percent. Ontario Province experienced a 48 percent increase in car theft in the same period. The Port of Montreal is considered the principal exit port for stolen vehicles going overseas, according to the National Odometer and Title Fraud Enforcement Association, which listed Beirut as a significant destination for stolen cars. According to Ben Jillett, a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who now works with the Insurance Bureau of Canada, theft rings will often use stolen identities to lease or buy vehicles on credit and then drive them straight into containers or staging areas for later shipment. In just one 2024 action, Operation Vector, Canadian authorities recovered 598 vehicles valued at $34.5 million that were set to be smuggled through the Port of Montreal for sale in foreign markets, including the Middle East. The year prior, 1,000 cars were similarly recovered, a great number of which were reportedly in the process of being shipped to Montreal. By April 2023, Canadian law enforcement had seized 53 vehicles valued at $2.6 millionmostly new high-end SUVs and pickup trucksthat were loaded onto containers bound overseas. Hezbollah, as one criminal actor among many tapped into this illicit financial stream, is likely taking only a fraction of the proceeds from the resale of cars successfully smuggled out of Canada. However, even a fraction is significant now, as it allows the group to continue buying time and delaying a potential Shiite backlash until a more permanent solution to its financial constraints presents itself. David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) announced yesterday that it rolled up an Islamic State (IS) financial network that spanned three unspecified West African countries. According to Iraqi media reports, the operation was the first of its kind by Iraqi intelligence on the African continent. INIS stated on X that it succeeded in arresting a main financing network for the terrorist entity Daesh [the Islamic State]. According to the Emirati news outlet The National, the effort included the arrest of at least 10 Islamic State operatives. INIS stated that the network was helping to smuggle ISIS families, finance the Islamic States activities in Iraq, and fund attack planning in Europe. INIS said that it carried out the operation after monitoring movements and communication lines between this network and other networks inside and outside Iraq. The intel service offered few additional details. The countries in which the Islamic State operatives were arrested remain unknown. However, the targeted network was likely related to the Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP). In addition to its main base in Nigeria, ISWAP also maintains cells and networks across much of coastal West Africa. In addition, Iraqi and Syrian nationals linked to the Islamic State were arrested in the Ivory Coast late last year. These individuals were connected to another Islamic State cell in Madagascar that was also busted at the same time. Like INISs description of the latest foiled Islamic State network, the earlier connected cells in the Ivory Coast and Madagascar were also attempting attack planning in Europe. African branches now helping the IS core The fact that operatives most likely linked to ISWAP were helping to finance the Islamic States legacy network in Iraq is unsurprising. The Islamic States activities in Iraq are at a historic low, with only limited operations occurring after the group has faced years of significant setbacks in the country. The groups challenges include the killing of Abdallah Makki Muslih al Rifai, better known as Abu Khadija, earlier this year. Abu Khadija was believed to be one of the Islamic States top global leaders, identified as the head of the groups General Directorate of Provinces (GDP) and Delegated Committee. He was also recognized as one of, if not the top, Islamic State leaders in Iraq. In Africa, however, the Islamic States fortunes are entirely different, as many of its local branches are thriving. In particular, ISWAP remains the Islamic States largest and most militarily and administratively capable branch on the continent, where it rakes in millions of dollars from proto-governance, the taxation of civilians, and cryptocurrency networks. The Islamic States Al Furqan Office, located within ISWAP, is one of several so-called regional offices set up around the world to help manage its global affairs. It is responsible for sending funds to other Islamic State wings worldwide. In particular, Al Furqan helps manage most of the Islamic States activities in the Sahel, wider West Africa, North Africa, and Sudan. This function is similar to the Islamic States Al Karrar office, situated within the Somali Province in northern Somalia. In addition to helping to fund Islamic State activities in Congo, Uganda, Mozambique, South Africa, and beyond, it has also helped finance the group in Yemen, Turkey, and Afghanistan. This financing method, in which portions of locally sourced funds are pooled into the coffers of the regional offices for wider dispersal to other Islamic State wings globally, allows the Islamic State to diversify its finances, insulating and supporting its global activities despite any setbacks. With the Islamic State hurting in Iraq and, for the most part, in Syria, the groups core legacy networks now rely on its African wings to provide a much-needed lifeline. This situation is a reversal from 2015, when it was the core in Iraq and Syria that financially helped then-fledgling African provinces. Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. National Guard troops sent to Washington, D.C. to battle Donald Trumps vision of a violent, lawless city on a par with Third World nations, have revealed how many bags of trash theyve collected. Trump claimed D.C. suffered one of the Highest Rates of Crime in the World, more than many of the most violent Third World Countries. President Donald Trump announced last month he was deploying thousands of troops and federalizing the D.C. police force because the nations capital had higher homicide rates than cities that are notorious for violence, such as Bogota, Colombia, and Fallujah, Iraq. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But rather than battling cartels or terrorists, the soldiers have been busy picking up trash and spreading mulch, jobs that would typically fall to National Park Service employees. The Trump administration has fired thousands of federal workers this year, including almost 25 percent of the NPS, leaving the National Guard to assist with more than 40 beautification projects around the city. Guardsmen have cleaned more than 3.2 miles of roadways, collected more than 500 bags of trash, and disposed of three truckloads of plant waste, the National Guard said over the weekend in a statement shared by CBS. A National Guard troop discarding a bottle near the National Malltasks typically falling to the National Park Service are being picked up by the Guard after Trump slashed the federal workforce. / The Washington Post via Getty Images Some troops have questioned how the deploymentwhich is costing an estimated $1 million per dayaffects their military readiness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presence of soldiers on American streets has also proven to be deeply unpopular with voters, with just 41 percent of respondents saying they approved of the move, a Quinnipiac University poll found last week. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House and the National Guard for comment. Trump insists he has made D.C a much safer place as he sets his sights on other Democrat-led cities such as Chicago, Baltimore, and New York. As of Friday, 1,369 arrests had been made during the three-week crackdown, according to the White House. But D.C.s top prosecutor, former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, has not been following through with progress in court. In a couple of high-profile cases, she failed to secure grand jury indictments. More than 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to the nations capital under Trump's crackdown. / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Many of the guardsmen have been sent from Republican-led statesincluding Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisianathat have cities with higher crime rates than Washington, D.C.. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson, Mississippis homicide rate is a whopping four times higher than D.C.s, while the murder rate in Memphis is three times higher, and in New Orleans it is double, NPR reported. House Speaker Mike Johnson struggled to respond when Gov. Gavin Newsom called out a similar disparity between Californiawhere Trump sent National Guard troops earlier this summerand Johnsons home state of Louisiana, whose murder rate is four times that of the Golden State. Democratic governors, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have called out the Trump administration for deploying National Guard troops to Democrat-led states. / Fred Greaves / REUTERS Gavin Newsom will do anything for attention. He can name-drop me all, all, Johnson stammered, that he wants. He needs to go and govern his state and not be engaging in all of this. As for the presidents claim that crime in the nations capital resembles a third-world country, its not clear where he got his Fallujah statistic, since no official figure appears to exist for the city that was the site of some of the deadliest battles of the Iraq War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case of Bogota, its true that Washingtons homicide rate was higher last year. But thats not because Washington has cartel levels of violenceits because the Colombian city has managed to bring homicide rates way down since the 1990s. In 1993, Bogotas homicide rate was 81.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, but by 2007, it had fallen to 19 per 100,000 inhabitants, and last year it was 15 per 100,000, CNN reported. That means youre statistically more likely to get murdered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, than in Bogota, according to an analysis of FBI data by Axios. A poster memorializing the deceased Houthi officials killed by Israeli strikes. (Mohammed Ali al Houthi, a Houthi leader, on X) On August 28, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen, killing Prime Minister Ahmed al Rahawi, along with nine ministers and two other top officials of the Houthi government in northern Yemen. The IDF confirmed Rahawis death on August 30, as did the Houthis, and the prime minister is the most senior Houthi figure killed by Israel. At the facility struck were senior officials responsible for the use of force, the military buildup of the Houthi terror regime, and the advancement of terror actions against Israel, the IDF stated on August 30. Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz promised that the country will continue to target the Houthi leadership. The IDF conducted the strikes in response to ongoing drone and missile attacks from the Houthis, including the use of cluster munitions for the first time on August 22. On August 24, the IDF initially targeted Houthi military and energy infrastructure, as it has done repeatedly since the Yemeni terrorist group began its attacks against Israel in October 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Those strikes were followed four days later by strikes on Houthi leaders. Mahdi al Mashat, the president of the Houthi government, gave a speech mourning the deceased individuals and threatening revenge. To all companies present in the occupying entity [Israel], my final advice is to leave before it is too late. If the pure and innocent Yemeni blood is shed, the thrones of empires that ruled the world or most of it will fall, Mashat said. He also asserted the group will continue its attacks against Israel in professed solidarity with Gaza. The Iran-backed, Yemeni terror group held a funeral in Sanaa for the slain officials, and Mashat promoted First Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Miftah to the position of acting prime minister on August 30. On September 2 and September 3, the Houthis launched missiles and drones at Israel in response to Israels attacks. The group also claimed to have targeted an allegedly Israeli oil tanker in the northern Red Sea. The Houthi leaders assassinated by Israel Ahmed al Rahawi had served as the prime minister of the Houthi-controlled government since August 2024. He previously held lower-level political positions until he was elevated to the Houthis Supreme Political Council, the groups executive body, in 2019. Hashem Ahmed Sharaf al Din served as the minister of information and a government spokesperson. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Irans official media organ, praised Din for his role in the media war against Israel. Jamal Ahmed Amer served as the minister of foreign affairs and expatriates. Prior to that position, he worked in foreign relations for the Houthis and as a journalist. Muin Hashem Ahmed al Mahaqri served as the minister of economy, industry, and investment. Ali Qasim Hussein al Yafii served as the minister of culture and tourism. Radwan Ali al Rubai served as the minister of agriculture, fisheries, and water resources. Mohammed Ali al Mawla served as the minister of youth and sports. Samir Muhammad Bajala served as the minister of social affairs and labor. Mujahid Ahmed Abdullah Ali served as the minister of justice and human rights. Ali Saif Muhammad served as the minister of electricity, energy, and water. Muhammad Qasim al Kubaisi served as the director of the Prime Ministers Office. Zahed Muhammad al Amidi served as the secretary of the Council of Ministers. The Houthi-Israel conflict The Houthis have launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, commercial shipping, and US forces, claiming these attacks are carried out in solidarity with Gazans during Israels war in the territory following the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023. The Houthis have attempted to enforce naval and air blockades of Israel by frequently launching missiles at Israels Ben Gurion International Airport and attacking merchant ships connected to Israel. The Houthis claimed connections between various targeted ships and Israel have often been tenuous or fabricated. The Houthis paused attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea for seven months following a ceasefire in Gaza that began in January, but resumed these attacks in July after the cessation of the truce, sinking two ships. The United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom have all carried out airstrikes against the Houthis in response to the groups Red Sea terrorism that threatens global shipping. The US operation, termed Operation Rough Rider, struck over 1,000 targets and lasted from March 2025 to May 6, when the US and Houthis agreed to a ceasefire in which neither party would directly target the other. Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focusing on Iranian proxies, specifically Iraqi militias and the Houthis. The new Reeses Oreos are fantastic. Of course they are. Theyre Oreos with peanut butter-ish filling and Oreo cookie crumbs mixed in. But lets make one thing clear: This cookie is not any sort of innovation. We already have Peanut Butter Oreos, Peanut Butter Mini Oreos, Peanut Butter Oreo Cakesters and Peanut Butter Pie Oreos. Heck, back in 2014, there was also an officially licensed Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Oreo. They all taste basically the same: delicious. Thats the worst part about this entire commercial cookie kerfuffle. I cant even get mad about it. I see the giant cookie-shaped mouse trap, and Im walking directly into it because I get a sweet treat in the end. Reeses Oreos | Review This whole endeavor is peak dystopian corporate chicanery that combines two of Oreos favorite pastimes: re-marketing something they already make and incorporating Oreos into Oreo filling. Oreo has now released four different cookies that are filled with bits of ground-up Oreo. Past installments in this stupid series include Cookies & Creme, the Most Oreo Oreo and Oreo Loaded. As for this cookie, its officially marketed as an OREO REESES Cookie," which describes the filling as Reeses peanut buttery creme with Oreo cookie crumbs. This tells us a few things. One, companies love to market brands in all caps. Apparently, theyre convinced were more likely to buy stuff if they yell their names at us. Two, the actual contents of the cookie are weirdly vague and nebulous. Its not a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup cookie. That came out in 2014 and included chocolate in the filling. Is there actual Reeses peanut butter involved in this Oreo? According to the ingredients list, there is Reeses Peanut Butter flavored sauce, which includes peanuts, sugar, peanut oil, dextrose, salt, TBHQ and citric acid. Looking at the label for Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, those appear to be the same ingredients used in the filling of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups save for peanut oil. It all checks out, but it still feels like Oreo and Reeses are hiding something about this oddly defined peanut butter goo. However, I still cant be mad about it because the cookie is delicious. What does it taste like? Theres a reason Oreo keeps releasing this flavor with a fresh coat of paint. It rules. The chocolate Oreo is the perfect habitat for peanut butter creme. The nuttiness of peanut butter and the cocoa-laden bitterness of the outer cookie lay a fertile flavor foundation that explodes when all the sugar gets added to the equation. It may sound counterintuitive, but adding Oreo crumbs to the filling actually makes it less sweet. It adds a little more cocoa and dials down the sweetness of the entire cookie, providing a more balanced crash of flavor when you take a bite. Ultimately, its pretty similar to the other peanut butter Oreo spin-offs weve seen. Thats why theyre all grouped together in the all-time rankings. Updated All-Time Oreo Rankings Im adding this Oreo to my ongoing rankings, which have been in the works since 2014. Ive got them up at No. 45 overall. As always, these rankings are not scientific, but they are correct: 100. Banana Split Oreo 99. Cookie Dough Oreo 99. Cherry Cola Oreo 97. Berry Oreo 96. Limeade Oreo 95. Apple Pie Oreo 94. Reduced Fat Oreo 93. Oreo Thins Pina Colada 92. Oreo Thins Irish Creme 91. Caramel Apple Oreo 90. Key Lime Pie Oreo 89. Fruit Punch Oreo 88. Oreo Thins Pistachio 87. Hot & Spicy Cinnamon Oreo 86. Sour Patch Kids Oreo 85. Gluten-Free Golden Oreo 84. Pumpkin Spice Oreo (2014 version) 83. Mystery Oreo (AKA Fruity Crisp) 82. Chocolate Covered Pretzel Oreo 81. Caramel Coconut Oreo 80. PB&J Oreo 79. Oreo Bites Fudge Dipped Mint Creme 78. Lemon Oreo 77. Oreo Thins Tiramisu 76. Toffee Crunch Oreos 75. Oreo Thins Salted Caramel 74. Coca-Cola Oreo 73. Oreo Thins Lemon 72. Fudge-Covered Oreo 71. Cookies & Creme Oreo 70. Chocolate Creme Oreo (Golden) 69. Salted Caramel Brownie Oreo 68. Post Malone Oreo 67. Oreo Thins Coconut 66. Snickerdoodle Oreo 65. Peppermint Bark Oreos 64. Peeps Oreo 63. Golden Oreo 62. Oreo Thins (Golden) 61. Golden Double Stuf Oreo 60. Neapolitan Oreo 59. Blueberry Pie Oreo 58. Oreo Thins Extra Stuf 57. Jelly Donut Oreo 56. Kettle Corn Oreo 55. Pumpkin Spice Oreo (2022 Version) 54. Chocolate Hazelnut Oreo 53. Oreo Mini 52. Oreo Bites Fudge Dipped Original 51. Oreo Mini Golden 50. Caramel Mocha Latte Oreo 49. Java Chip Oreo 48. Dunkin Donuts Mocha Oreo 47. Peanut Butter Creme Oreo 46. Peanut Butter Cup Oreo NEW: 45. Reeses Oreo 44. Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie 43. Oreo Loaded 42. Chocolate Creme Oreo 41. Dark Chocolate Oreo 40. Rocky Road Trip Oreo 39. Black & White Cookie Oreo 38. Most Oreo Oreo 37. Mega Stuf Oreo (Vanilla Cookie) 36. Oreo Bites Fudge Dipped Coconut 35. Star Wars Oreo 34. Space Dunk Oreo 33. Gingerbread Oreo 32. Carrot Cake Oreo 31. Cotton Candy Oreo 30. Mint Creme Oreo 29. Most Stuf Oreo 28. Ultimate Chocolate Oreo 27. Oreo Thins Dark Chocolate 26. Moon Oreos 25. Fireworks Oreo 24. Birthday Cake (Chocolate Cookie) Oreo 23. Triple Double Oreo 22. Maple Syrup Oreo 21. Mystery Oreo (2019 Edition, AKA Churro) 20. Red Velvet Oreo 19. Cinnamon Bun Oreo 18. Apple Pie a la Mode Oreo 17. Oreo Thins (Chocolate) 16. Cookie Butter Oreo 15. Oreo Thins (Mint) 14. Chocolate Marshmallow Oreo 13. Dirt Cake Oreo 12. Blackout Cake Oreo 11. Mega Stuf Oreo 10. Selena Gomez Oreo Tied 8. Double Stuf Gluten-Free Oreo 8. Double Stuf Oreo 7. Oreo Thins Tied-5. Gluten-Free Oreo 5. Oreo 4. Hot Cocoa Oreo 3. Golden Birthday Cake Oreo 2. Marshmallow Krispy Creme Oreo 1. Smores Oreo --- Want more I Ate It food coverage? You can follow Nick on Instagram (@NickAteIt) and TikTok (also @NickAteIt) I ate it so you dont have to is a regular food column about offbeat, eats, both good and bad. I picked the name years ago and now were sort of stuck with it. You can send any praise/food suggestions to nomalley@masslive.com. Please send all criticisms and complaints about Nicks taste in artificial apple flavors to lcampbell@masslive.com. You can check out the rest of the series here. Thom Yorke of Radiohead performs at Philips Arena on April 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David A. Smith/WireImage via Getty Images) WireImage Radiohead has seemingly confirmed the bands first string of shows in seven years by dropping clues in print. Fans started to post photos of fliers promoting apparent Radiohead tour dates in the Radiohead subreddit on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The dates were for shows in Berlin, Copenhagen, London and Madrid. Stereogum reported that a source code on the bands WASTE site also confirmed dates for 20 shows in the UK and Europe starting Nov. 4 in Spain. If true, this would be Radioheads first tour since 2018. The tour dates have not been officially announced along with ticket on-sale dates. Rumors started circulating about a possible Radiohead tour after the band established a new limited liability partnership in March under the name RHEUK25 LLP, according to the British Governments Companies House agency. Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed OBrien and Philip Selway were all named in the new LLP, which allows the band to work outside of the typical framework of a record label. Days later, Radioheads manager donated four tickets to a Radiohead concert of your choice to a Los Angeles wildfire relief auction at Palisades High School. The winning bidder would be able to choose their preferred city and date based on the bands tour schedule, which was expected to begin this autumn. Radiohead is a Grammy-winning art rock band known for is experimental, alternative sound on songs like Creep, Fake Plastic Trees, Karma Police, Paranoid Android, and The National Anthem. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and five of their albums have been named among Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Its unclear if the tour would come with any new music. Radiohead most recently released a live album version of Hail to the Thief in August, and celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Bends by unearthing a rare VHS video of a 1995 concert performance. Yorke released Tall Tales, a new experimental electronic album with Mark Pritchard, in May. Yorke and Jonny Greenwood have also performed in a side project called The Smile. Danny Eaton, producing director at Majestic Theater, is pictured with James Warwick, right, who is director of "Once: A New Musical," opening the Majestic's 2025-2026 season. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican, File) WEST SPRINGFIELD Guy meets Girl. How many times have you heard that phrase before? But this time it is for real. The Guy and The Girl are the only names given for the two people who fall in love in Once: A New Musical, the smash-hit Broadway musical opening Thursday, Sept. 4, at The Majestic Theater in West Springfield. Set on the streets of Dublin, the Guy, an Irish musician who gave up on love and music, meets the Girl, a Czech immigrant, are drawn together by their shared love of music leading to a complicated love story. Based on the 2007 film of the same name by John Carney, Once made its Broadway debut in 2012 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater and ran for 1,167 regular performances before closing in 2015. Music and lyrics are by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and include the Academy Award-winning Falling Slowly. The book for the musical was written by Enda Walsh. The production received 11 Tony Award nominations in 2012, and won 8, including Best Musical, Best Actor and Best Book. The musical also won the 2012 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical and the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. We have looked at Once for a few years and the time was right to kick off our 2025-2026 season with the play. Audiences are going to love it and with our tie-in to the Irish Cultural Center, we thought it would be perfect to bring the musical to West Springfield, said Sue Dziura, The Majestics associate producing director, in an interview with The Republican. What is unique about the production is that the 12 actors also play their own instruments and all the music you will hear at our show comes directly from them on stage, she added. Respected English actor and theater director James Warwick, best known for his roles on TV as well as his theater work in Londons West End and New Yorks Broadway, is directing Once. It is Warwicks who now resides in the Berkshires fourth time directing at The Majestic, following A Moon for the Misbegotten last October. It is not a simple, straightforward play to direct. Once is extremely complex with many leading roles with 12 musicians who act, sing, move, and play their instruments at the same time, some of whom play several instruments, Warwick said. So, tracking their movements and how to strategically place some of these instruments on stage is quite a logistical challenge. Danny (Eaton, the Majestics founder and producing director) thought I would enjoy the challenge. And, indeed, he was right. The director said that people may call Once a musical, but it is much more. The play has a substantial storyline with richly drawn characters. You have an Irish street busker in Dublin who lost his girlfriend after 10 years. She up and leaves for New York to make a name for herself, leaving him behind brokenhearted. Everyone in the play seems to have some sort of fracture in the lives, Warwick said. It is not Warwicks first time being involved with a musical. He has appeared in The Rocky Horror Show in Londons West End, as well as in regional productions of Camelot and My Fair Lady in the United States. He has also directed musical productions of Theyre Playing Our Song, Damn Yankees, Brownstone and HMS Pinafore. I havent done a musical for many years now. And coming back to one has been such a pleasure. I grew up with music... my grandmother was a violinist... and music has been a part of my life since I was a kid, Warwick said. So, I am thankful to Danny (Eaton) at The Majestic for giving me the opportunity to once again return to something I enjoyed in the past. New York-based Maggie Hollinbeck is serving as musical director and will perform the part of Baruska, who plays the accordion. She was a cast member in the first national tour of Once and has served as musical director for several productions of the musical across the country. Maggie has a unique perspective and understanding of the music inside and out, which has really enriched our production alongside James direction, Dziura said. The play runs through Oct. 19. Showtimes are Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets, ranging in price from $35 to $38, are available online at majestictheater.com. As President Donald Trump deploys the U.S. National Guard to more cities across the country, one former federal prosecutor broke down the potential for troops to be stationed at polling places during the 2026 midterm election. Increasingly, there is concern that Trumps ultimate goal with these deployments involves the 2026 election, Joyce Vance, the former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, wrote in a blog post on Substack published on Tuesday. Trump has deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., with troops to be deployed to Chicago and Baltimore next. Most of the roughly 4,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles were withdrawn, with 300 still stationed in the City of Angels. Vance, now a frequent TV pundit and podcaster, established the bottom line: Trump will not be able to deploy federal or federalized troops at polling places, whether in an effort to intimidate voters or to use them to seize voting machines or for other purposes. This law is not a total inoculation from interference by a president who wants to violate citizens voting rights, but its one important part of a package of legal protections and strategies well be exploring between now and the election, so we can develop a well-rounded awareness of our rights as Americans and voters, Vance continued. The U.S. Constitution states that all U.S. civil, military or naval officers are prohibited from bringing, keeping, or having control of troops or armed men at any polling place during an election, Vance wrote. ...The law is meant to prevent any domestic political use of the military to influence or intimidate voters. The Constitution also mandates that states, not the federal government, and assuredly not the president, have the authority to run federal, state and local elections, as explained in the documents Election Clause, Vance continued. The federal government does have some authority over elections, including safeguarding the safety and integrity of congressional elections through provisions like the Voting Rights Act, Vance wrote. But that can open the door, and Trump seems intent on cracking it wide open, with efforts to establish national identification rules or ones that end mail-in voting. Trumps deployment of the National Guard is something he has tied to crime. During a cabinet meeting last week, he said that crime will be the big subject of the midterms and will be the big subject of the next election, The Guardian reported. Ahead of Trumps announcement that he would deploy the National Guard to Chicago, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Trump could stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of the elections, NBC News Kyle Griffin posted on X. Hell just claim that theres some problem with an election, and then hes got troops on the ground that can take control if, in fact, hes allowed to do this, Pritzker added. Trump could also use the National Guard should results be close in specific districts across the country, but especially in states with Democratic governors or mayors, Brown University Professor James Green wrote for the Brazilian news website Agencia Publica. Should this happen, Trump could declare a national emergency, federalize and then mobilize the National Guard to seize ballot boxes, tamper with the results, and declare the Republicans victors in the elections, Green wrote. Green pointed to the attempts to overthrow the results of the 2020 election, where Trump lost to President Joe Biden, as the precursor to any possible attempts to subvert the 2026 midterms. A Canton man is facing charges after crashing his car into another vehicle during a car chase with Stoughton police on Friday, according to police. Helohim Francilme, 20, has been charged with two counts of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in property damage and failure to stop for police in connection with the incident, Stoughton police said in a press release Tuesday. He is also facing one count each of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with a revoked registration and three other driving infractions. On Aug. 29, a Stoughton police officer on patrol in the area of West and Central Streets noticed a black Jeep Grand Cherokee that was known to police from prior interactions shortly before 6:10 p.m., police said. The officer tried to pull the car over due to it its revoked registration, but the driver sped away towards Pearl Street. The officer initially chased the Jeep, but stopped his pursuit when the Jeep passed the Canton town line, police said. A Stoughton sergeant who was also familiar with the Jeep and areas it is often seen in decided to look for it on Island Street in Stoughton in case it returned to the town. A short time later, the sergeant spotted the Jeep driving negligently on Bailey Street in Canton near the Stoughton town line and followed it at a distance, police said. The Jeep soon crashed into another car and then a utility pole. The driver who was later identified as Francilme ran from the Jeep after the crash, police said. Canton police and a Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit helped Stoughton police search for Francilme, and Canton police arrested him on Greenwood Road about an hour later. The driver whose car was hit by Francilme declined medical treatment, police said. Francilme was arraigned Tuesday in Stoughton District Court and held on $2,500 bail. He may face additional charges related to the incident, Stoughton police said. Today is the deadline Harvard University set when it asked a federal judge to rule in its lawsuit seeking to restore nearly $3 billion in canceled government funding. The date of September 3 is important to Harvard because it is when the university has to begin closing out its federally funded research projects. Once that close-out occurs, Harvard anticipates the Government will take the position that no restoration of funds is possible, Harvard lawyers said in court filing in June. A Harvard spokesperson declined to comment about the deadline. The fight between the Trump administration and Harvard began in April when the federal government warned the school could risk losing $9 billion in funding if it did not meet a list of demands that includes an overhaul of Harvards leadership structure, admissions and hiring. Harvard rejected those demands, saying the administration sought to invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court. Then the fight over funding unfolded, leading to nearly $3 billion in canceled grants over campus antisemitism and the federal government barring the institution from receiving new federal grants. Other investigations and threats have been made against the institution, some of which have focused on the universitys international students, leading to Harvard opening a second lawsuit against the Trump administration. While Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who is presiding over Harvards cases, has criticized the Trump administration lawyers arguments as a little bit mind-boggling, a recent Supreme Court decision might change the trajectory of the lawsuit and make Burroughss decision a bit more complicated. In the meantime, the public is anxiously awaiting whether a deal between the Trump administration and Harvard will pan out. The New York Times first reported that there could be a $500 million deal on the table at the end of July. Other institutions, such as Columbia University and Brown University, have struck deals with the federal government recently. During a cabinet meeting at the end of August, President Donald Trump publicly called for Harvard University to pay at least $500 million in a settlement to restore nearly $3 billion of its federal funding. We want nothing less than $500 million from Harvard, Trump told U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Dont negotiate, Linda. Theyve been very bad, he continued. What is the Supreme Court ruling? On August 21, the Supreme Court partially overturned a ruling from Judge William Young in Boston, where he ordered that the guidance from the Trump administration was illegal and that the National Institutes of Health restore nearly $800 million in research funding that was linked to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Supreme Court didnt invalidate Youngs judgment on the guidance but determined that Young lacked the jurisdiction to restore the grants, according to Ferise. Instead, the Supreme Court ruled that court cases like these should be put in the Court of Federal Claims but the guidance issue must make it all the way through the courts before individual grant cancellations can be disputed. As such, legally, future grants cant be terminated along Trumps guidance due to ties to DEI. However, the grants that Young ordered to be restored are now in limbo neither terminated nor active. How does the ruling impact Harvards case? As part of the ruling, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in an opinion that lower court judges may sometimes disagree with this Courts decisions, but they are never free to defy them. Gorsuchs opinion can be seen as a message to judges like Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who is presiding over Harvards cases, to make the right decision and side with the federal government, Ferise said. I think timing-wise, one could surmise that that may have been pointed at her and the decision that has not yet been rendered, Ferise said. While Ferise said she doesnt know whether Burroughs will bend to the Supreme Courts decision, if Burroughs does rule in favor of Harvard, it will likely be appealed and head to the Supreme Court, which will likely find that Burroughs lacks the jurisdiction to rule in the universitys favor, Ferise said. That would force the lawsuit to send Harvard back to the starting gate, to begin again in the Court of Federal Claims. That elongated process could push Harvard to make a deal with the federal government instead of pursuing its litigation with the Trump administration, she said. What Harvards lawyers say In a document filed on August 24, following the Supreme Court ruling, Harvards lawyers argued that the university doesnt only seek individual grant terminations to be restored. The university also intends for the federal government to comply with the First Amendment to stop retaliating against the university and to comply with Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin. As such, Harvards lawyers argue that the case should remain under Burroughs jurisdiction. At the very least, this Court should declare that the Government acted unlawfully and grant Harvard the prospective injunctive relief and vacatur of agency policies that it seeks, the lawyers said. Despite Harvards lawyers attempting to redirect the lawsuit to be centered on the First Amendment and Title VI, Ferise said the original complaint from Harvards lawyers was focused on the federal funding freeze. I hope that it would be seen different[ly], Ferise said. I just dont know if the Supreme Court would. A federal judge largely sided with Harvard University over the Trump administrations cuts to nearly $3 billion in federal funding in the name of campus antisemitism, according to an opinion released on Wednesday. Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled that the administration could not enforce demands and funding freezes from more than a dozen letters including an April 14 letter that froze $2.2 billion in research funding. She determined that they were arbitrary and capricious and violated the First Amendment and Title VI. As such, any other termination, funding freeze or stop work order or refusal to award future grants, contracts or federal funding to Harvard is illegal. Burroughs wrote in her decision that it was the job of the courts to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost. In her 84-page ruling, she said that there is little connection between the research affected by the grant terminations and antisemitism, and described antisemitism as a smokescreen. In fact, a review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that Defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this countrys premier universities, and did so in a way that runs afoul of the APA, the First Amendment and Title VI, she said. She continued by stating that the Trump administrations actions have jeopardized decades of research and the welfare of all those who could stand to benefit from that research. Spokespeople from Harvard and the White House didnt respond immediately to a request for comment. The decision comes at the end of the deadline that Harvard set for Burroughs, a date by which the university has to begin closing out its federally funded research projects. While Burroughs issued an opinion on the case, it still could be appealed. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social previously to state that the Trump administration would IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN when Burroughs ruled against them. Further, a recent Supreme Court decision could also determine that Burroughs lacks the jurisdiction to restore the federal funding in the Harvard case. Burroughs, in her ruling, said the court has done its best to follow the Supreme Courts limited recent guidance, which is preliminary and might well change over the course of this litigation. She called the jurisdictional issue something of a red herring, stating that regardless of which court the case resides, the Trump administration is pressuring Harvard to accede to the governments demands in a way that violates Harvards rights. The idea that fighting antisemitism is [the Trump administrations] true aim is belied by the fact that the majority of the demands they are making of Harvard to restore its research funding are directed, on their face, at Harvards governance, staffing and hiring practices, and admissions policies all of which have little to do with antisemitism and everything to do with Defendants power and political views," she said. At the same time, she said that the Trump administration is right to combat antisemitism and use all lawful means to do so. Harvard was wrong to tolerate hateful behavior for as long as it did, Burroughs said. We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech, and neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other, she continued. What has happened between the Trump administration and Harvard? The fight between the Trump administration and Harvard began in April when the federal government warned the school could risk losing $9 billion in funding if it did not meet a list of demands that includes an overhaul of Harvards leadership structure, admissions and hiring. Harvard rejected those demands, saying the administration sought to invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court. Then the fight over funding unfolded, leading to nearly $3 billion in canceled grants over campus antisemitism and the federal government barring the institution from receiving new federal grants. Other investigations and threats have been made against the institution, some of which have focused on the universitys international students, leading to Harvard opening a second lawsuit against the Trump administration. In the meantime, the public is anxiously awaiting whether a deal between the Trump administration and Harvard will pan out. The New York Times first reported that there could be a $500 million deal on the table at the end of July. Other institutions, such as Columbia University and Brown University, have struck deals with the federal government recently. During a cabinet meeting at the end of August, President Donald Trump publicly called for Harvard University to pay at least $500 million in a settlement to restore nearly $3 billion of its federal funding. We want nothing less than $500 million from Harvard, Trump told U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Dont negotiate, Linda. Theyve been very bad, he continued. What is the Supreme Court ruling? On August 21, the Supreme Court partially overturned a ruling from Judge William Young in Boston, where he ordered that the guidance from the Trump administration was illegal and that the National Institutes of Health restore nearly $800 million in research funding that was linked to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Supreme Court didnt invalidate Youngs judgment on the guidance but determined that Young lacked the jurisdiction to restore the grants, according to Ferise. Instead, the Supreme Court ruled that court cases like these should be put in the Court of Federal Claims but the guidance issue must make it all the way through the courts before individual grant cancellations can be disputed. As such, legally, future grants cant be terminated along Trumps guidance due to ties to DEI. However, the grants that Young ordered to be restored are now in limbo neither terminated nor active. How does the ruling impact Harvards case? As part of the ruling, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in an opinion that lower court judges may sometimes disagree with this Courts decisions, but they are never free to defy them. Gorsuchs opinion can be seen as a message to judges like Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who is presiding over Harvards cases, to make the right decision and side with the federal government, Ferise said. I think timing-wise, one could surmise that that may have been pointed at her and the decision that has not yet been rendered, Ferise said. While Ferise, who spoke with MassLive before Burroughss ruling, said she didnt know whether Burroughs would bend to the Supreme Courts decision, she said that if Burroughs does rule in favor of Harvard, it would likely be appealed and head to the Supreme Court, which will likely find that Burroughs lacks the jurisdiction to rule in the universitys favor, Ferise said. That would force the lawsuit to send Harvard back to the starting gate, to begin again in the Court of Federal Claims. That elongated process could push Harvard to make a deal with the federal government instead of pursuing its litigation with the Trump administration, she said. What Harvards lawyers say In a document filed on August 24, following the Supreme Court ruling, Harvards lawyers argued that the university doesnt only seek individual grant terminations to be restored. The university also intends for the federal government to comply with the First Amendment to stop retaliating against the university and to comply with Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin. As such, Harvards lawyers argue that the case should remain under Burroughs jurisdiction. At the very least, this Court should declare that the Government acted unlawfully and grant Harvard the prospective injunctive relief and vacatur of agency policies that it seeks, the lawyers said. Despite Harvards lawyers attempting to redirect the lawsuit to be centered on the First Amendment and Title VI, Ferise said the original complaint from Harvards lawyers was focused on the federal funding freeze. I hope that it would be seen different[ly], Ferise said. I just dont know if the Supreme Court would. Police arrested a Randolph man on Tuesday in connection with an armed robbery outside a Stoughton restaurant that left another man seriously injured weeks prior. Korrey Laquau Campbell, 33, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, armed robbery and malicious destruction of property in connection with the incident in Stoughton District Court on Wednesday, according to court records. On Sunday, July 27, Stoughton police responded to the parking lot of a business on Technology Center Drive around 8:30 p.m. after receiving a report that a man had been robbed and assaulted, Stoughton police said in a press release. The investigation revealed that a 34-year-old Randolph man was walking to his car after having dinner at a local restaurant when two men with guns violently assaulted him, striking him multiple times with a weapon. The suspects fled the scene with the victims wallet and approximately two ounces of marijuana, police said. The victim was seriously injured as a result of the attack, and surgery was later required as part of his rehabilitation. Detectives identified Campbell as one of the suspects in the attack through witness interviews, search warrants and social media posts, police said. The investigation also revealed that at least one of the suspects is known to the victim. A warrant for Campbells arrest was issued out of Stoughton District Court in connection with the attack on Aug. 21, according to court records. Massachusetts State Police arrested him on Sept. 2 during a unrelated traffic stop in Boston, Stoughton police said. Campbell was arraigned in Roxbury District Court on Tuesday, and a judge ordered him transferred to Stoughton District Court on the outstanding warrant, police said. He was then arraigned on the charges and ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing on Sept. 8. Federal Judge Allison D. Burroughs didnt mince words in the conclusion to her 84-page decision restoring about $3 billion in federal funds to Harvard on Wednesday. Burroughs called the Trump administrations focus on antisemitism as reasoning behind freezing billions in research funding a smokescreen and characterized the administrations efforts to prove the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts lacked jurisdiction in the case a red herring. Perhaps most damning, Burroughs implied that the Trump administration was putting forward arbitrary grant terminations in the name of enacting its agenda, no matter the cost. Burroughs hasnt been shy about issuing commentary on the suit, originally filed in April, as it has unfolded over the past several months. During a July court hearing, Burroughs characterized a Trump administration argument that the federal government could cancel grants across the institution without proving that researchers or labs had engaged in antisemitism as a little bit mind-boggling. Burroughs, who is Jewish, said that taking away grants from labs and researchers could hurt Americans and Jews. Burroughs also jabbed at Trump administration attorney Michael Velchik, who is a Harvard alum. I hear what you are saying, and youre saying it very well. That Harvard education is paying off for you, Burroughs told him in July. Burroughs issued a decision on Wednesday in response to Harvards request for summary judgment in the case. Harvard argued that a decision must come by Wednesdays date, when the university has to begin closing out its federally funded research projects. Once that close-out occurs, Harvard anticipates the Government will take the position that no restoration of funds is possible, Harvard lawyers said in court filing in June. Burroughs concluded that it was the job of the courts to step up and uphold the First Amendment and safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech. Read the decision The full 84-page decision can be read here. The following is an excerpt from the decisions conclusion: This case, of course, raises complicated and important legal issues, but, at its core, it concerns the future of grants sponsoring research that promises to benefit significantly the health and welfare of our country and the world. Through the governments statements and actions, the fate of that research has now become intertwined with the issue of antisemitism at Harvard. Antisemitism, like other types of discrimination or prejudice, is intolerable. And it is clear, even based solely on Harvards own admissions, that Harvard has been plagued by antisemitism in recent years and could (and should) have done a better job of dealing with the issue. That said, there is, in reality, little connection between the research affected by the grant terminations and antisemitism. In fact, a review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that Defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this countrys premier universities, and did so in a way that runs afoul of the APA, the First Amendment and Title VI. Further, their actions have jeopardized decades of research and the welfare of all those who could stand to benefit from that research, as well as reflect a disregard for the rights protected by the Constitution and federal statutes. With respect to the difficult jurisdictional issues in this case, the Court has done its best to follow the Supreme Courts limited recent guidance, which is preliminary and might well change over the course of this litigation (and the many other cases involving similar issues)an outcome that seems not unlikely given the seeming lack of consensus in APHA and the procedural challenges posed by having substantially similar cases proceed in two different forums. Although the doctrinal framework that applies to these threshold issues is certainly important, the issue of jurisdiction is something of a red herring. Whether this case plays out in this Court or in the Court of Federal Claims, what lies at the core of this dispute is the fact that Defendants are trying to pressure Harvard to accede to the governments demands in a way that squarely violates Plaintiffs First Amendment rights and ignores the procedural requirements of Title VI and, to a certain extent, the APA. The idea that fighting antisemitism is Defendants true aim is belied by the fact that the majority of the demands they are making of Harvard to restore its research funding are directed, on their face, at Harvards governance, staffing and hiring practices, and admissions policiesall of which have little to do with antisemitism and everything to do with Defendants power and political views. The First Amendment is important and the right to free speech must be zealously guarded. Free speech has always been a hallmark of our democracy. The Supreme Court itself has recognized that efforts to educate people, change minds, and foster tolerance all benefit from more open communication, not less. As Justice Brandeis wrote in the seminal case of Whitney v. California, [i]f there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence, 274 U.S. 357, 377 (1927) (Brandeis, J., concurring), or, in this case, the forced adoption of a political orthodoxy. As pertains to this case, it is important to recognize and remember that if speech can be curtailed in the name of the Jewish people today, then just as easily the speech of the Jews (and anyone else) can be curtailed when the political winds change direction. Defendants and the President are right to combat antisemitism and to use all lawful means to do so. Harvard was wrong to tolerate hateful behavior for as long as it did. The record here, however, does not reflect that fighting antisemitism was Defendants true aim in acting against Harvard and, even if it were, combatting antisemitism cannot be accomplished on the back of the First Amendment. We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech, and neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other. Harvard is currently, even if belatedly, taking steps it needs to take to combat antisemitism and seems willing to do even more if need be. Now it is the job of the courts to similarly step up, to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost. Nicholas Braun arrives at the premiere of "Splitsville" on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Succession star Nicholas Braun was arrested in connection with driving under the influence in New Hampshire on Friday, NBC News reported Tuesday. The 37-year-old actor, who is best known for playing the role of Greg Hirsch on the hit HBO show, was taken into custody on Lee Road in Moultonborough around 11:15 p.m. on Aug. 29, the news channel reported. He was also accused of driving in the dark without headlights. A representative for Braun did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News. The actor is set to be arraigned in Ossipee Circuit Court on Sept. 16, the news channel reported. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., questions Billy Long, President Donald Trump's pick to run the IRS, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Screen Capture) Screen Capture U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., joined by two fellow New England lawmakers, is pressing some of the biggest banks in the nation for more information about overdraft fees that they say target the poorest Americans. The letter from Warren and U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., comes after the Republican Trump administration repealed a rule capping the formerly crippling fees at $5. "Overdraft and non-sufficient fund fees are one of the most common exploitative mechanisms big banks use to target the poor," the lawmakers wrote to the heads of 25 banks that were targeted because they collect the most overdraft revenue as a percentage of their profits, or have overdraft policies that have harmed consumers. The letters, sent to such banking titans as JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Truist Bank, PNC Bank, US Bank and TD Bank, seek more information on the potential impact of lifting that cap. In late 2024, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency spearheaded by Warren, closed a loophole that allowed banks to charge massive overdraft fees. Since 2022, actions by the CFPB, which Trump moved to gut after taking office, have led to nearly $250 million refunded to consumers, according to Fortune, which was first to report the news. In May, Trump signed a Republican-authored bill lifting that cap. In their letter to the banks, Warren and her colleagues said the CFPB found that twice as many customers with incomes between $35,000 and $65,000 were charged overdraft fees, compared to those earning between $100,000 and $175,000. Those fees put lower-earning customers into a cycle of debt, they wrote. When consumers finances are already stretched thin, exorbitant overdraft fees can cause other payments to bounce leading to even more fees in a vicious circle that can turn setbacks into crises. By closing the loophole, the CFPB ended a practice that allowed many large banks to transform overdrafts into a massive junk fee harvesting machine, they wrote, adding that the caps would have saved $3.5 billion in annual overdraft fees, or $225 per household that pays these fees. Overdraft fees are the source of tens of millions of bank account closures, meaning this law will likely increase debanking, running counter to President Trumps stated goal of reducing debanking, the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers asked that the banks respond to their queries by Sept. 12. Calling it a matter of life and death, all 11 members of Massachusettss Capitol Hill delegation have appealed to the Trump administration to speed the release of more than $1 billion in frozen medical research funding that was supposed to be headed to the Bay State. A Wednesday letter, led by U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, and sent to Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health, highlights reports that the Republican White House has delayed its distribution of critical grants that advance science and expand patients access to care. In July, the Republican White Houses Office of Management and Budget halted payments from the National Institutes of Health to researchers around the country, only to reverse course hours later in the face of protests from lawmakers and advocacy groups, the medical news website Stat, reported at the time. The threat of impoundment, a president intentionally delaying or withholding funds appropriated by Congress, was rarely a concern until now, Auchincloss and his colleagues wrote in the letter exclusively shared with MassLive. This administration has reportedly delayed as much as $4.7 billion in obligated NIH grant funds to date, which has a direct and immediate impact on the entire medical research enterprise from research institutions and physician researchers to patients and their families," they continued. In addition to the Newton lawmaker, all eight Democratic members of the states U.S. House contingent, joined by Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, signed the letter to Bhattacharya. With its concentration of research institutions and hospitals, the situation is particularly dire for [Massachusettss] communities and businesses and for patients, it is a matter of life and death," Auchincloss and his colleagues wrote. The state has lost nearly $1.3 billion in medical research funding since the beginning of the second Trump administration, Auchincloss and his colleagues told Bhattacharya. For instance, UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester was approved for nearly three dozen grants, but has yet to receive the congressionally approved funding, they wrote. Harvard University, which has been in pitched battle with the White House for months, is still waiting for more than $1.3 million in NIH grant money, they wrote. While withholding and terminating funds has had significant and severe impacts on these institutions, the most devastating impact has been on the patients who are losing access to innovative treatments and therapies unavailable outside of clinical trial settings as a result of these actions, they wrote. Patients are dying because their care teams now have considerable doubt and confusion as to what trials are open and available, for how long, and whether or not they are funded, Auchincloss and his colleagues argued. The meter is running for the federal government to spend the money, with the current budget year ending on Sept. 30. Through June 30, the agency had spent $30 billion in approved funding, compared to $34.7 billion the year before, according to Chief Health Care Executive, an industry trade publication. These are already allocated funds. Congress has signed off on them, Heather Pierce, the senior director for science policy and regulatory counsel for the Association of American Medical Colleges, told the publication. Theres no precedent to having this much money remaining this close to the end of the federal fiscal year. On its official website, the AAMC, as its known, has a countdown clock of the unspent money. As of Wednesday morning, the NIH had 27 days and 13 hours to spend the federal cash. Away from the public health impact of withholding the money, there is also an economic impact, the lawmakers told Bhattacharya. In the 2023 federal budget year, NIH funding generated nearly $93 billion in economic activity nationwide, returning about $2.46 in activity for every $1 invested, the lawmakers argued. In the 2024 federal budget year, Massachusetts received $3.5 billion in funding from NIH, which supported more than 30,000 jobs and generated about $7.7 billion in economic activity, the lawmakers asserted. Failing to distribute allocated funds will have lasting, catastrophic impacts on local and global economies, they wrote. We cannot allow this administration to continue to undermine U.S. global leadership in medical and scientific innovation and endanger patients lives. Further, delaying the funding hands an advantage to such geopolitical rivals as China, contributing to a brain drain of talent that comes at the nations expense, Auchincloss and his colleagues wrote. The termination and withholding of NIH grants only accelerates the leads other countries are rapidly gaining on the United States, they wrote. The Trump Administrations decisions are dangerous and short-sighted. And then, ripping a page from a by-now familiar playbook, Auchincloss and his colleagues closed the letter this way: Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. The only notice that Bay Staters got last week that Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll wouldnt be at the wheel for a day or so came courtesy of a terse statement from a designated survivor. I am writing to inform you that Secretary Galvin has been informed that he is now serving as Acting Governor. He expects to serve in that role until tomorrow afternoon, Debra OMalley, a spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin, wrote in an Aug. 28 email. Where was Healey? Where was Driscoll? Good question and they werent saying. As is the Democratic governors custom, her office stuck with a policy, announced in November 2023, of not providing advance notice of any out-of-state travel, citing security concerns. Want to know? You can find out after she gets back. Healeys office has said the governors travel will be listed on monthly calendars made available through public records requests, WBUR reported. Healeys office did not respond to MassLives Aug. 28 request for comment on her or Driscolls whereabouts, leaving the rest of us to hope that Galvin wasnt having some Alexander Haig moment. In the end, it was Alls Well That Ends Well, and Healey was back on the ground for a Labor Day event at the State House on Monday. Still, there are a couple of huge problems with this policy. For starters, Massachusetts voters are owed better than finding out second-hand that the two most powerful elected officials in the state are out of office. Thats not a diss on Galvin, a dedicated public servant whos been in state politics for decades now. The Boston Democrat, whos third in line in the order of succession, has stepped in before, and the wheels of the commonwealth have continued to turn without incident. Second, that radio silence on Healey and Driscolls whereabouts didnt keep the Democratic governors press shop from blasting out a pair of press releases, one condemning a possible federal takeover of Bostons South Station and another criticizing the leadership upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their silence, it seemed, was merely situational. Still, its understandable that Healeys concerned about security. These are dangerous times, as the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the firebombing attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro remind us. Attacks against women are up. Attacks against elected officials are up. Attacks against the LGBTQ community are up, Democratic analyst Mary Anne Marsh told WCVB-TVs On the Record Program in 2024 during a controversy over Healeys undisclosed jaunt to Puerto Rico with her partner, Joanna Lydgate. Maura Healey, the first gay woman elected governor in Massachusetts, checks all three boxes, Marsh continued. So, you know, securitys a very important thing. But Healeys and Driscolls so-far-undisclosed walkabout also came the same week as reports about a likely immigration enforcement surge in Boston, and amid ongoing speculation about National Guard deployments to states governed by Democratic majorities. Given that, a simple heads up, without revealing specific details about destinations or itineraries, does not seem like a great hardship. As you might expect, with 50 state governors, each with their own personalities and policies, revelations on travel and schedules do tend to vary from state to state. Some governors, such as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, both Democrats, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, both Republicans, post their public schedules online. One hard and fast rule? Governors will tell people about the events they want the public to attend or when they want the press to be there to chronicle it. Healey, meanwhile, has been adamant about preserving a zone of privacy around herself and her family during their rare time together. Shes also tried to keep the public informed which is not the easiest balancing act. Its also not as if Healey is traveling alone. The Democratic governor has a taxpayer-funded Massachusetts State Police security detail that is never more than a few feet away during her public appearances. She ... does have a security team not every elected official does, Republican analyst Lizzy Guyton, a former communications director for GOP Gov. Charlie Baker, said during that same WCVB-TV interview in 2024. I think there is certainly something to be said about having some amount of privacy, but public life is very public. I think that there is a commitment thats been made, and its also just important that shes honoring the commitments that shes making to residents. You also can argue, and youd be correct, that the wonders of modern technology mean that leaders are always fully connected and reachable at all times. And thus theyre able to spring into action as the situation dictates. Given all that, an extra level of specificity that balances those twin demands of privacy and transparency seems achievable. And just as youd let your friends know ahead of time that youre headed out of town, its a little gesture that can go a long way. Alongside Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, left, Jennifer Levi and Tanya Neslusan discuss protections for the LGBTQ+ community at a panel at Western New England University on Tuesday. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell gave a key green light to a battery of proposed ballot questions that could reshape the states political topography if voters approve even a handful of them in the 2026 midterm elections. Proposals that would slash the states income tax, clear the way for rent control, allow for same-day voter registration, and clean up the way Beacon Hill does its business were among those that cleared a critical procedural hurdle. I applaud the civic engagement of our residents, who filed a record-breaking 47 ballot initiative petitions this year, Campbell said in a statement. My office reviews each petition according to the strict criteria outlined in Article 48 of our state constitution, she continued. Our personal opinions and any constitutional considerations outside of Article 48 cannot weigh into our decision-making about certification of a petition. All told, Democrat Campbell allowed 40 proposed laws and four proposed constitutional amendments to proceed to the signature-gathering stage. And thats where things will get sticky for backers of the proposed laws, some of whom submitted multiple petitions on the same subject. Now backers have to gather 74,574 signatures by Dec. 3. If that happens, the questions go before the state Legislature, which has until the first Wednesday in May of 2026 to pass them, propose a substitute, or take no action. If the latter happens, backers have to collect a second round of 12,429 signatures by July of the same year to get on the November general election ballot. The process for proposed constitutional amendments is different. Thats because the constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition require approval by at least 25% of two consecutive joint sessions of the Legislature, according to Campbells office. That means that the amendment proposals that Campbell certified on Wednesday will not appear on the ballot before November 2028. You can read a list of the petitions and Campbells certification decisions on her offices official website. Letters explaining the AGs decisions not to certify are also available on the website. In certain circumstances, voters who believe a certification decision is incorrect can ask the Supreme Judicial Court for review. One spiked measure would have eliminated the option for universal mail-in voting, effectively requiring voters to cast ballots in person unless they would be absent on the day of the election or are limited by a physical disability or religious belief. Campbells office said that would be inconsistent with the freedom of elections. Officials also declined to certify one version of a ballot question that would replace party-based primary elections with Massachusetts with a single, all-party primary in which the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election, even if they are from the same party. Campbells office certified two other drafts of that idea, backed by former gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen, so it remains in the mix. A handful of states, including California and Washington, have a primary system where the top performers face off in the general election regardless of party, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The third measure that failed to secure certification is a proposed Constitutional amendment significantly overhauling the Legislatures operations, including equal base pay for all lawmakers, equitable distribution of staff between legislators, salary requirements and job protections for aides, and changes to the process for committee assignments. Campbells office said the measure was not in proper form to go before voters and combines too many different topics. Other proposed ballot questions targeting Beacon Hills operations did survive the AGs review. The office certified a measure that would subject the Legislature and the governors office to the public records law, and two versions of a petition changing stipends that legislative leaders award to deputies and committee chairs -- a system that opponents say gives top Democrats excessive power over rank-and-file members. Virtually all of the most high-profile measures cleared the initial certification hurdle, including a pair of ideas backed by influential business groups that would reduce the states income tax from 5% to 4% and further limit the state tax revenue cap to make it more likely that surplus revenue would be refunded to taxpayers. Another political slugfest could be on deck over rent control, which voters banned statewide via a 1994 ballot question. Previous attempts to get lawmakers to reverse that prohibition have failed to gain traction. A question backed by the Homes for All coalition and opposed by well-funded real estate interests would limit annual rent increases for most units across Massachusetts to either the annual Consumer Price Index change or 5%, whichever is lower. I cant wait to start collecting signatures from my neighbors to put rent stabilization on the ballot, Mattapan tenant Betty Lewis said in a statement circulated by proponents. All across Massachusetts, high rents are displacing people from our communities, or making them work multiple jobs just to pay the rent. When rent can go up by hundreds of dollars overnight, seniors are forced to put off their retirement, and young people and families cant save money for the dream of owning a home, Lewis said. Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO James B. Rooney has called the resurgence of rent control on Beacon Hill this summer a terrible idea. I mean, owners dont invest in the properties. The non-rent control prices go up. People stay in those units they dont turn over. They just get occupied, and people stay," Rooney said during a sitdown last month on WCVB-TVs On the Record program. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio speaks during a news conference in her office at the State House in Boston, Mass., on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 (John L. Micek/MassLive). (John L. Micek/MassLive) But even as advocates head into another signature gathering season, one major ballot initiative approved overwhelmingly during the 2024 cycle remains undone: A question giving state Auditor Diana DiZoglio the right to audit her onetime colleagues in the Legislature. Lawmakers on Beacon Hill have spent months resisting the Methuen Democrats efforts to get them to comply with the ballot question, which is now state law. Lawmakers have argued that the audit violates a constitutional separation of powers, and the two sides have spent months duking it out in meetings and in the press. BOSTON Lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino recorded the final three outs of the Red Sox 11-7 victory over the Guardians on Tuesday. Hell return to the mound as Bostons starter Wednesday. The Red Sox announced they will use Bernardino as an opener in the final game of their three-game series with the Guardians. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. at Fenway Park. Boston will try for a series sweep. Lefty Joey Cantillo (3-3. 3.93 ERA) will start for Cleveland. It will mark the third time this season the Sox have used an opener with Bernardino making all three starts. BETTING: Red Sox Red Sox moneyline is -138 on FanDuel for Wednesdays matchup with Cleveland. Our FanDuel Sportsbook review provides a full guide on how to navigate through their site. The 33-year-old lefty has a 3.08 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 53 outings (49 innings). Opponents are batting just .202 against him. Starter Dustin May will pitch out of the Red Sox bullpen this week and could serve as the bulk reliever following Bernardino on Wednesday. May pitched Saturday and so he would be on short rest Wednesday. Kyle Harrison also is an option to be called up from Triple-A Worcester to pitch in long relief. Manager Alex Cora said the decision to put May in the bullpen was based on wanting to stay on turn with the other starters. May is expected to return to the rotation next week, Cora said. Cora said before Tuesdays game about May, Tomorrow we might have a bullpen day and hes part of it. And then if he doesnt pitch in the bullpen this week, its going to be 10 days in between starts. So were not going to do that to him. The Red Sox need a starter for Wednesday (tomorrow) against the Guardians because they are giving rookie Payton Tolle extra rest. Tolle will start Friday against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Red Sox rookie outfielder Roman Anthony will be lost to the team for a while thanks to oblique strain. While he's gone, the Red Sox will need someone to take over in the outfield and at the top of the batting order. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) Getty Images BOSTON Theres little certainty regarding the timetable for Roman Anthony to return from an oblique strain. It could be a few weeks, or it could be longer. But whats clear for now is that Anthony wont be in the lineup for some time. With the rookie sidelined, the Red Sox will need to replace his spot in the outfield and atop the batting order. For the time being, with Wilyer Abreu (calf strain) also injured, the Sox are somewhat short in outfield depth. On Wednesday night, the team had Jarren Duran in left, Ceddanne Rafaela in center and Rob Refsnyder in right. Other outfield options on the roster include Nate Eaton and Masataka Yoshida. In a pinch, either David Hamilton or Nick Sogard promoted from Worcester Wednesday to take Anthonys spot on the active roster can also contribute some in the outfield, though such a scenario isnt preferable. As for the batting order, Anthony had hit leadoff 27 times in 66 starts, and had become a virtual fixture there, hitting first virtually every game for the last month, coinciding with a resurgent Red Sox offense. While hitting first, Anthony slashed .336/.439/.564, seemingly warming to the role. That, obviously, wont be easy to replace. On Wednesday with Cleveland starting southpaw Joey Cantillo, and against lefties going forward, Alex Cora said he would mix-and-match with different combinations. On Wednesday, he had Eaton, one of the fastest players on the roster, at the top of the lineup. Its not hard to envision Refsnyder in that spot on occasion, and perhaps Romy Gonzalez, too. Meanwhile, against righties, Cora said hes likely to go back to Duran at the top, where he had resided until the switch was made to Anthony in early August. BURLINGTON, Vt. A serial bank robber and straw man who illegally bought 19 firearms including one used to shoot a Springfield, Massachusetts, police officer in the face a year ago has been sentenced to almost four years in federal prison. Stephen Loewe, 43, of Springfield, Vermont, also was ordered to pay $2,410 in restitution for money stolen during three bank robberies in southern Vermont in August 2024 to help fuel his crack cocaine addiction, officials said. Chief Federal Judge Christina Reiss told Loewe that he would be on three years of supervised release once he is discharged from the 45-month prison term. Reiss agreed to allow the federal sentence to run concurrently with any time imposed in state court. She recommended that Loewe serve the time at the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. As part of the plea agreement, Loewe admitted he robbed the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield on Aug. 13, 2024, and the M&T Bank in Springfield on the same day, along with the M&T Bank in Putney the following day. He also admitted to buying the 19 firearms across the Connecticut River in New Hampshire between December 2023 and May 2024, records show. Six were bought at American Trikes & Motorsports in Keene; five were at the Sporting & Hunting Depot in Charlestown; and four each at Black Ops Arms in Claremont and the Alstead Gun Shop in Alstead, the plea agreement said. During each gun purchase, Loewe claimed the firearm was for himself when he actually planned to give them to his drug dealer in Rockingham in exchange for crack, records show. Loewe was fully aware that his drug dealer was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his extensive criminal history, officials said. These types of gun violations are commonly known as straw purchases buying a gun for somebody not legally able to buy or possess a firearm. The straw-purchasing of firearms and providing them to drug traffickers is an exceedingly serious crime, acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher said. A key aspect of federal firearm background checks is to confirm the person purchasing the firearm is the intended recipient. Straw-purchasing intentionally circumvents this safeguard by allowing prohibited people to possess guns, and arming criminals with firearms that cannot be traced back to them as purchasers, Drescher said. At least one of the 19 handguns was later found during an investigation into a police officer being shot in Springfield, Massachusetts, a Vermont Drug Task Force detective said in a court affidavit. Springfield Police Officer Nestor Santos, right, was honored with a city Police Department commendation at Springfield Technical Community College on May 7. He lost an eye after a shooting in 2024. (Leon Nguyen / Special to The Republican, File) Leon Nguyen On June 5, 2024, off-duty Springfield Police Department Officer Nestor Santos happened to come across a sprawling crime scene and gunfire while on his way to work. He was wounded on State Street and taken to Baystate Medical Center. Later, he was moved to a Boston area hospital, where he began a long period of recovery. The city of Springfield said at the time that Santos, a seven-year veteran and decorated member with the department, had a bullet fragment lodged in his head. He underwent eye surgery immediately, and more were planned. Santos ended up losing vision in one eye and was out of work for a year, but is back on the job at Springfield police and is assigned to firearms investigations, department spokesperson Ryan Walsh said Wednesday. Santos received the departments highest honor, the Medal of Valor Award, in 2023. Springfield detectives were working on an unrelated case when suspects in a Honda Civic began shooting at police, a spokesperson said. As police searched for them, about 2 minutes later, occupants of a Jeep Cherokee began firing at an unmarked police cruiser with an AR-15 style rifle and other firearms near State Street and Hunter Place. The police cruiser was struck five times, but no on-duty officers were hit, police said. That is when Santos stopped at the scene and was wounded, police said. Two Massachusetts Department of Transportation workers also were injured when struck by a shooters fleeing vehicle, police said. Another bystander also was injured in the case, police said. Springfield police had arrested seven people, with five of them between ages 16 and 18, after the shootings on June 5 and 6, 2024. Officers also seized seven firearms. Five of the seven people arrested had previously been arrested on firearms charges. Faced with regulations that would have hobbled pharmacies from making this years COVID-19 vaccine widely available in Massachusetts, the state Department of Public Health recently issued an order saying pharmacy workers can now give the vaccine to all eligible persons. Gov. Maura T. Healey said in a statement that her administration is working to make the vaccines available quickly at the states pharmacies. No matter what happens with Robert Kennedy and the federal government, we are going to make sure vaccines remain available in Massachusetts, Healeys statement said. At my direction, our Commissioner of Public Health issued an order on Friday to allow pharmacies to continue to provide COVID vaccines to Massachusetts residents. On the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration recently changed its approval of this years COVID-19 vaccines, saying they go to people at risk for severe illness if they contract the disease or people 65 and older. Last week, CVS Health cited the current regulatory environment for its decision not to offer COVID-19 vaccines in 16 states and Washington, D.C. That decision had included Massachusetts. Asked how the states order affects the availability of the vaccine in their stores, CVS Health spokesperson Amy Thibault said the company was aware of the states order and it is waiting for the states Board of Pharmacy to meet Thursday to vote to amend a policy document that is needed to move forward. State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, in a post on social media, said the Department of Healths order means patients dont need a doctors prescription before rolling up their sleeves at the pharmacy. She said the vaccines started their journey to Massachusetts on Friday, and they should be available starting this week. Walgreens and CVS are working now to update their systems to enable vaccine appointments to be scheduled, Comerford wrote. (This interface may not work yet. Stay tuned.) We understand that vaccines will be covered by insurance and are working to confirm that. The states order comes after the state joined a coalition of neighboring states considering a move to collaborate on vaccine recommendations apart from the federal governments recommendations. Healey also suggested the state Department of Public Health issue its own standards for vaccine recommendations. Worcester police respond to what they called a "hostile crowd" on Eureka Street following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest on Thursday. Adam Bass | MassLive.com Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children still lists one daughter, age 17, as missing though her familys attorney has said she returned to Brazil. The youngest daughter of a mother detained by federal immigration officials has been found, according to the Worcester Police Department. The daughter, who is age 13, was found in Massachusetts last week and is safe, Worcester Police spokesman Joseph Cersosimo told MassLive on Tuesday. He clarified Wednesday that the teen is once again in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), which had earlier confirmed she was missing. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) also confirmed to MassLive this week that Ferreira De Moura is no longer missing. Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Worcester on May 8. Two of her daughters, ages 13 and 17, were then placed in the custody of DCF. ICE claimed that the Brazilian mother of three had entered the country illegally in 2022. Her immigration lawyer, Paul Toland, however, argues that the mother of three was paroled and allowed into the country by ICE as she pursued asylum. In July, the sisters were reported missing by NCMEC and the Worcester Police Department launched an investigation. Andrew Lattrulo of Georges Cote Law, a lawyer for Ferreira-De Oliveiras family, told MassLive in July that the 17-year-old daughter left the United States for Brazil to be with her eldest sister, Augusta Clara Moura. A representative from NCMEC said the 17-year-old daughter is still listed as missing, however. The youngest daughter at age 13 had been reported as still missing until recently. Angelica Almeida, a woman from Philadelphia, claimed in August that she gave the 13-year-old daughter a ride from Worcester to Maple Shade, New Jersey, on July 27 not knowing that she was Ferreira-De Oliveiras daughter. Cersosimo of the Worcester Police Department did not comment on whether there was any indication that the 13-year-old had been to New Jersey, adding that the matter is under investigation. What happened during the ICE arrest in May Both of Ferreira-De Oliveiras older daughters Clara Moura and the 17-year-old daughter were witnesses to ICE arresting their mother on Eureka Street in May. The scene was chaotic, with bystanders approaching the ICE agents and demanding that they show a warrant for the arrest. Just after 11 a.m., members of the Worcester Police Department arrived on Eureka Street, telling the crowd of more than 30 people that they were conducting an unlawful assembly. A gold SUV with Ferreira-De Oliveira and ICE agents inside began to drive down the road, with the 17-year-old daughter running up to the side door of the vehicle. Worcester police officers ran towards the daughter, who kept running towards the vehicle, and arrested her. She was charged with the reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest but Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier requested a judge dismiss her case on May 16. During the arrest, Clara Moura ran up to her sister, shrieking as she held her infant son in her arms. Footage from Worcester Police Officer John Alerss body camera released by the city shows him move Clara Moura out of the way, telling her to not to endanger her child. My sister! Clara Moura can be heard saying in Alerss footage. Clara Moura and her infant son both moved from the United States to Brazil in June to be with her partner, Samarone Alves Ferreira-De Souza. Lattrulo previously said that ICE signed a document authorizing his deportation in his name without his permission. Ferreira-De Oliveira remains in custody at the Strafford County Corrections facility in Dover, New Hampshire, according to ICEs website. She is awaiting her asylum hearing in September, according to Toland, her lawyer. Video News: [Video news] Talk Series #8 : Lassiette de demain : quels sont les enjeux au menu ? 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Members of the Claremorris/Swinford Municipal District described as disgraceful and galling the number of houses in the Churchfield Lawns estate in Knock which have remained vacant for a number of years. The matter was raised by Claremorris-based councillor Richard Finn who highlighted that up to 35 houses at Churchfield Lawns in Knock have been vacant for a number of years while three houses and eight apartments in An Tinteain on James Street in Claremorris have been closed for 20 years. The meeting heard that the houses in question in Knock had been taken over by an Approved Housing Body (AHB) but following a notice of motion submitted by Cllr Finn, he was informed that this body is unable to progress the scheme and 'Mayo County Council is progressing on the basis of taking on these units as part of its own delivery programme'. Blue in the face Cllr Finn welcomed the development but criticised the AHB for going into hiding and not facing up to their responsibilities. I am blue in the face talking to Mayo County Council but we have an Approved Housing Body down there gone into hiding. The AHB think they are great people and do-gooders and setting up these houses for people but the next thing they are gone into hiding when some problem arises they are not able to handle. It seemed a great idea at the time but it is not such a great idea today because of all the problems in trying to help people out. If you don't want to help people out, don't take on the job and don't do it. It is a downright disgrace in this day and age that you can go into a village and there are 35 houses empty. If the Government is serious about homelessness and housing our local people we have to tackle these problems straight away. It is not rocket science but it has been going on for years, he said. READ: Mayo politicians welcome news that free travel for children is extended The Independent councillor was supported by Cllr Patsy O'Brien who commented that there is 'something awful wrong and some unChristian people out there if they want to leave people homeless and have vacant homes'. He described the people who run these AHB's as 'faceless' who should be taken to task for not facing up to their responsibilities. Ballyhaunis-based councillor Alma Gallagher agreed that it was a disgrace that 35 houses were left vacant in Knock but pointed out that AHB's are one of the most regulated organisations in Ireland. She added they often have to deal with people with additional needs and issues they deal with are 'a lot more than just bricks and mortar'. Knock-based councillor Deirdre Lawless said that while it will cost significant investment to upgrade the homes it was a shame to see them lying idle. In response to the comments by a number of the local councillors, Tom Gilligan, the Director of Services with Mayo County Council told the municipal district meeting that council have a good working relationship with the AHB in question and were working to see the houses occupied. Slow to cross the Shannon He added that the local AHB's do tremendous amounts of work in difficult circumstances and was critical of the large national AHB's who he said do not want to invest in counties west of the Shannon. What I am critical of is the larger approved housing bodies who should have a national remit but unfortunately from what I can see are very much focused on the regions such as the south and east where the numbers are and very slow to cross the Shannon and come here into the west. We have had very low uptake in relation to the large approved housing bodies here in Mayo and that has to stop. We need their support and need their activity on the ground if we are able to meet our overall Housing for All targets. That is vital because the council is delivering on its targets but unfortunately the larger housing approved bodies are not delivering in Mayo and that has to change. I do hope it is part of the new housing for all plan that there is a focus on the large approved housing bodies putting their strengths and skillsets and enthusiasm and money into Mayo and deliver more housing for people, he said. From today, the new TFI Child Leap Card will extend free travel on all TFI services for children between five and eight years of age living in Mayo. Senator Mark Duffy, Seanad spokesperson for Transport and a member of the Transport Committee, said the card, available through leapcard.ie, will expand free travel to almost a quarter of a million children across Ireland, building upon existing free travel on public transport for children under the age of five. This measure was announced as part of the Budget 2025 package of measures and is a key Fine Gael delivery on the Programme for Government commitment to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families. It is fantastic to see this being rolled out across Mayo. Fine Gael are committed to alleviating the financial burden associated with transport costs to parents, said Senator Duffy. READ MORE: Mayo County Council launch new No-Idling campaign Minister Alan Dillon added: From an early age, children will become more familiar with using buses, trains, and trams as a natural part of daily life. This scheme represents a significant step towards a more fair and inclusive public transport system. As the NTA continues to roll out its National Fares Determination Strategy, this initiative builds on a series of measures designed to ensure that different passenger cohorts can benefit equally from our public transport offerings. Parents juggling school runs or weekend trips into town will now see the benefits of free travel for young children. Importantly, it applies across all TFI services, including Local Link and services under Connecting Ireland, that are the backbone of connectivity for so many rural communities. This step ensures that families, whether in cities, towns, or villages, can access public transport offerings as part of daily life. For more information and to apply for a child leap card, visit leapcard.ie The Irish National School Photography Awards is once again open to all Primary Schools across Ireland. INSPA is a national childrens photography competition which encourages primary school students to practice in photography. This years theme is titled Landscapes & Legends, and invites students to use their imagination to capture Irelands landscape. The theme is set to encourage students to view Ireland differently. Photography offers an accessible and powerful tool for creative learning across the Primary school curriculum. Whether used in English lessons to inspire storytelling, in SPHE to explore emotions, empathy, and wellbeing or in SESE to connect with geography, heritage, and the environment, photography invites expression, reflection, and connection. Students are encouraged to get out and explore. As well as running this competition, INSPA, also have lots of free, Creative Wellbeing Activities. To register your school follow the steps on how to participate at www.inspa.ie. This year, the awards are offering a range of prizes from a tour of Butlers Chocolate Factory for the winning class, a range of instax cameras and accessory kits for pupils and schools, framed photographs and certificates, and an INSPA Positive Primaries Flag. All entries will be judged by a national panel of judges including representatives from Image Masters, INTO, and IPPN, alongside other independent arts and cultural professionals. Register at: www.inspa.ie Deadline for Entries: Midnight Tuesday, March 31, 2026 WorldSkills Ireland, Irelands leading event dedicated to promoting skills, apprenticeship careers, and workplace opportunities for young people is returning to the RDS, Simmonscourt from September 17-19. Now firmly established as a must-attend event in school calendars, it will welcome over 30,000 senior-level secondary students from over 300 schools across Ireland to discover real alternatives to university and explore exciting, future-focused career paths. In 2024, 75% of student attendees came to learn about practical, skills-based routes, a clear sign of the growing appetite for apprenticeships and technical careers. Across the three days, ten students and apprentices from County Mayo will put their talents and knowledge to the test when they compete against their peers on the national stage during the live competitions taking place at the event. Over 180 finalists will go head-to-head in a range of skills-based trades including automotive, construction, creative arts, hospitality, ICT and manufacturing and engineering. READ MORE: Mayo politicians welcome news that free travel for children is extended Those competing from County Mayo include: Callum Boon, competing in Industrial Control, Phelim Conway, competing in Polymechanics and Automation, Ben Loftus, competing in Plastering & Drywall Systems, Evan Neumann, competing in Construction Plant Fitting, Joan Ni Loideain, competing in Cabinet Making, Jack Finnerty, competing in Bricklaying, Gavin Hopkins, competing in Carpentry, Brodie Mordecai, competing in Cooking, Robert Murray, competing in Cooking and Samuel Naylor, competing in Automobile Technology. Commenting on the announcement of the finalists for WorldSkills Ireland, Ray English, Chair of WorldSkills Ireland, remarked: "WorldSkills Ireland is a celebration of talent and a vital platform for promoting apprenticeship and skills-based career opportunities. This year, students and apprentices from across the country will compete in 35 different skill areas, each working to exacting standards and under time pressure. Its an incredible opportunity to showcase their abilities and, for some, take the next step towards representing Ireland on the world stage. Ray adds: This event opens doors for students to discover exciting alternatives to traditional academic routes, shining a light on the variety of training and apprenticeship options available, and the rewarding careers they can lead to. By championing skills and apprenticeships, were helping to develop the expertise and innovation needed for Irelands industries to thrive. The combined support of educators, industry leaders and government makes WorldSkills Ireland a unique and powerful driver for the future of our young people and our economy." Running alongside the Irish Times Higher Options, WorldSkills Ireland offers unmatched value for schools, with students gaining exposure to both academic and vocational pathways in one visit. Supported by leading industry partners including SISK, Construction Industry Federation, and ESB Networks, education partner the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, and the Government of Ireland and Apprenticeship Ireland, the event will also feature interactive Try a Skill zones, immersive VR experiences, industry talks, live demonstrations across trades and technical professions, and companies ready to recruit. Designed to promote skills, apprenticeship careers and opportunities for young people, the event allows students, parents, teachers, and guidance counsellors to navigate the options available following secondary education. The Finals Day is set to take place at the RDS, Dublin on Friday September 19 and is a day not to be missed! Free to attend, registration for the event is now open at www.worldskillsireland.ie. READ MORE: Meet the Mayo man starring in 'The Traitors', RTEs new hit TV show The National Car Test (NCT) have emphasised an automatic failure most drivers miss. NCT testers have warned a reason for failure of the test is a car's headlights not working or being misaligned. The NCT has revealed that Headlamp Aim is one of the most common reasons for failure in the test. Read next: Warning as European hotspot popular with Irish holidaymakers clamps down on tourism Testers have advised that this can be avoided by conducting a "simple walk-around inspection" prior to bringing your car to the test centre. They have also reminded people to enlist the help of a family member or friend to ensure that their cars brake lights are working properly prior to their test. The NCT has further warned of the potential danger misaligned headlights present to other road users. Misaligned headlights can potentially dazzle other drivers and lead to a road accident. The NCT revealed that in 2024 140,602 tested vehicles failed the NCT due to their Headlamp Aim, when the headlights are not functioning properly or are misaligned. They have advised of a series of further checks car owners can carry out before their test to avoid failing due to the car's headlights. NCT tests have outlined a series of further checks car owners should carry out prior to their test: Ensure your headlamp is free of condensation, the lens is clean, and reflector is in good condition. Ensure the headlamp is secure in the unit and that the headlamps dip correctly to ensure they comply with the legal requirements. If the headlamp bulb was recently changed, make sure the bulb is correctly aligned and secured in the headlamp unit. If still unsure car owners should take their car to a trusted mechanic or dealership and have them check the headlights are properly functioning and aligned. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) advises car owners to have their headlights professionally checked every year. This helps ensure good visibility and prevents dazzling other road users. Regular checks can also help avoid failures in the NCT, as misaligned headlights pose a significant road safety hazard. School secretaries and caretakers are in their fifth day of action. They are protesting for public service pensions and entitlements enjoyed by other school workers. Pickets are being held outside 2,000 schools nationally and more than 2,600 school secretaries and caretakers are taking part in the action. The impacts are being felt with school receptions closed, invoices going unpaid and SUSI grant forms unprocessed. On Tuesday, the Forsa members marked their fourth day of indefinite strike action, by travelling to Leinster House and Government TD constituency offices around the country. READ MORE: Meet the Mayo man starring in 'The Traitors', RTEs new hit TV show In Mayo, the Castlebar constituency office of Fine Gael Junior Minister Alan Dillon was picketed, as was the newly opened constituency office of Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh in Westport. This picket will go on indefinitely, because we are not for turning, Fiona Hamilton, a school secretary in St Josephs in Castlebar, told The Mayo News at a protest outside Fine Gael Deputy Keira Keoghs constituency office. We feel that our good nature has been taken advantage of for too long, adds Louise Coen from the Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh. They were joined on the picket by school secretaries and caretakers from across the Clew Bay area: Martina Brady, Sacred Heart School, Westport, Margaret Connolly, Quay School Westport, Stephanie McSweeney, Westport Educate Together, Maura Hastings, Newport National School, Fiona Hamilton, St Joseph's Secondary School and Cynthia Doyle, Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh and Thomas Ryder from Sacred Heart Westport. READ MORE: Gena Heraty in good spirits after release in Haiti Dr Aine Moran, school principal at Sancta Maria Louisburgh, Deputy Principal, Michael Davitt and Tom OFlynn, ASTI shop stewart, also joined the picket in solidarity. We've asked four years ago for pay pension party equality with all members of the Department of Education, staff, teachers and SNAS and ourselves, secretaries and caretakers, Fiona Hamilton gives the background of the dispute. We're all employed by the Board of Management of individual schools. However, teachers and SNAS have pensions, and unfortunately, for some reason that's unknown to me, we dont have pensions. One of the central grievances is that school secretaries in ETB schools have these rights, unlike their counterparts in community schools or in the voluntary sector. READ MORE: Mayo school caretakers and secretaries 'frustrated and angry' Deputy Keira Keogh met with the school secretaries and caretaker and said afterwards that their message to me is simple and powerful: after decades of service, they deserve more than a box of chocolates. They deserve recognition, respect, and a fair deal. School secretaries and caretakers are the heart of our schools. I spoke with those outside my office and I want them to know they have my support. Ive already raised their concerns with Minister McEntee, who has assured me that she is working hard to deliver a fair outcome. When Storm Eowyn hit last year, it was caretakers out with chainsaws clearing roads, finding generators to keep the lights on and the heat going, making sure children could walk through the doors. And every day, school secretaries are that first voice or smile parents and pupils meet, the ones who quietly keep everything moving. The lack of core leave entitlements that their school colleagues have is also a major driver behind the protest. Fiona explains that the ability to go to a family funeral is dependant on local arrangements and an understanding school principal. If any family member were to pass away, you don't have a right. All you have to do is go with cap in hand to your school principal and ask for the day off, but they have the right to refuse. At the picket outside Leinster House on Monday, she met another school secretary who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. She's getting chemotherapy, and she can't afford to stay at home, so she gets her chemotherapy and goes back to work, and she won't have any critical illness pay. 'They're absolutely central to the running of the schools' Wednesday marked day five of the strike. Outside the Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh, teachers and SNAs joined the picket. The school principal, Dr Aine Moran told The Mayo News that the teaching and SNA staff are completely behind the caretakers and the secretarial staff here, because we know what they bring to the school, and we know what we're missing without them being here. They're absolutely central to the running of the schools. And as principal, you have a very close relationship with the caretaker and the secretaries. You work very closely together on so many pieces of keeping a school functioning. Catholic Social Teaching is really about solidarity and standing with the most disadvantaged. And right now, our secretaries and our caretakers are the most disadvantaged within our school community, and we are obliged, as Catholics and in Catholic schools, to stand in solidarity with them. How long will the strike go on? The short answer is until a political solution is found or the Forsa members decide to end the action. Fiona Hamilton and her fellow school secretaries and care taker colleagues are clear that it could go on indefinitely. How long the schools can function without secretaries and caretakers is another question. Dr Moran explains that her school is fortunate to be in a relatively new building with a brand new heating system in terms of maintenance and things breaking down. However, the school hasnt had to deal with blocked toilets yet this week. No bins went out this week. The grass won't be caught in the pitch, so matches won't be able to be played. The secretarial staff would also book the buses for trips or away matches and this is not happening. Without the secretarial staff, there is no sign in or sign out service at the moment. This means that if a student has a dental appointment or medical appointment, they have to take the full day off school. With the reception closed, there is no way for parents to contact the school and invoices arent being paid. We're not paying any of our suppliers because our banking isn't running. Eventually, after whatever length of time, suppliers won't supply us because we haven't paid our bills. Parents are also going to be affected as forms for children's allowances for children over the age of 16 and SUSI grant applications are not currently being processed in schools under picket. The ASTI trade union has also mandated its members not to do any of the work that the caretaker or the secretary would normally do. Paul Lawless TD with with the members of Forsa outside Leinster House Aontu Deputy Paul Lawless joined a picket outside Leinster House and said he stood unequivocally with the members of Forsa in their campaign for pension parity and public sector recognition for school secretaries and caretakers. The Knock-based TD is calling the Minister and the Department to act without delay to grant public sector status to all school secretaries and caretakers, enrol them in the Single Pension Scheme, make the Department the paymaster for all and engage with the Labour Court to resolve this equitably. A high-end luxury hotel in Mayo has caught the eye of one of the world's leading news outlets. Westports soon-to-open luxury hotel, The Grace, Westport Estate, has earned international recognition after being profiled in Forbes. The influential publication highlighted the property as one of Irelands most exciting new additions to the hospitality scene. Set to open in spring 2026, The Grace is located within the 430-acre Westport Estate on the shores of Clew Bay, and an ideal stop for those looking to pitch up as they meander along the Wild Atlantic Way. Forbes noted that the hotel is unique in being a completely new build rather than a repurposed historic property, while still embracing the estates rich heritage. The article also praised the venue's design, overseen by Mayo-based Taylor McCarney and Dublin firm GW Design, which blends contemporary elegance with a more natural feel inspired by the local landscape. "The Grace features a design that respects the estate's history while bringing in contemporary elements," the article reads. Amenities singled out in the feature include multiple dining venues showcasing local produce, a high-end Grace Spa & Wellness centre, and event spaces designed for weddings. Forbes also emphasised the projects roots in Westport, with local owners the Hughes family spearheading both the hotel and the wider transformation of Westport Estate, including the restoration of Westport House. The Forbes recognition firmly places The Grace and Westport itself on the global luxury travel map. The news outlet also singled out the town itself for plenty of praise. "The main thoroughfares, Bridge Street and Castlebar Street, are lined with homegrown shops, cafes, and pubs situated in historic buildings," penned journalist Shivani Vora. "Everyone seems to know everyone, and if they dont, theyre likely to greet you with a warm 'hello.' It also offers a gorgeous tree-lined promenade, dubbed 'The Mall,' along the Carrowbeg River." Barry O'Connor, the CEO of Westport Estate, spoke of his pride in the new venue. Westport and the Wild Atlantic Way are defined by their people and their extraordinary landscape, a place where history, culture, and natural beauty are deeply woven together," he stated. "With The Grace, as part of the wider transformation of Westport Estate, we want to honor that spirit and create a hotel that feels truly rooted in these aspects of the West of Ireland." Innovative pimple patches use specialized microarray spikes to effectively eliminate acne by delivering antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents.. Highlights: Two-stage pimple patch uses dissolvable microarray spikes to deliver active acne-fighting agents uses dissolvable microarray spikes to deliver active acne-fighting agents Clinical trials show 81 percent lesion reduction in three days and full clearance in seven days and full clearance in seven days Patch reduces sebum production and is pain-free with high user satisfaction Trusted Source Dual-Phase Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Self-Locking Microarray Patches for the Effective Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Go to source Trusted Source TOP INSIGHT Did You Know? Pimples treated with specially designed patches vanished completely after just seven days, with an impressive 81 percent reduction seen in only three days. #acne #skincareinnovation #medindia Advertisement How Acne Stickers Absorb Oil and Deliver Medication Advertisement Advertisement Innovative Microarray Design Locks Pimple Patch Firmly Advertisement Clinical Trials Demonstrate Rapid Acne Reduction Dual-Phase Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Self-Locking Microarray Patches for the Effective Treatment of Acne Vulgaris - (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.5c07718) Pimple patches have transformed the way people deal with sudden acne, turning what used to be a cause for panic into a simple skincare step. These).A team of scientists published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces introduced aHuman clinical trials showed thatKnown also as acne stickers, pimple patches are made fromCertain types include medications designed to reduce inflammation or combat infection.These medicated patches oftento deliver active ingredients underneath. However, microarrays may sometimes shift during use and cause skin irritation . To address this, Shayan Fakhraei Lahiji, Yong-Hee Kim, and their colleagues aimed tothat remains securely in place.The team created their patch by, which helped the patch stay firmly attached to the skin.The patchs base is made of, that was infused with either antibacterial agents such as, or anti-inflammatory agents likeThe patches were tested on 20 participants, who first applied the antibacterial patch on day one and then used a new anti-inflammatory patch daily for six more days. The hyaluronic acid-based microarrayAfter, there was ancompared to untreated areas, and by day seven, the pimples had completely vanished. Additionally, there was a notablethe oily substance responsible for acne. AboutThe team. Beyond acne, this technology could be adapted to deliver treatments for various conditions, including skin disorders, obesity therapies, and vaccines. As Yong-Hee Kim explains, the work showcases the promise of microarray patches as a versatile platform for a range of medical applications.To conclude, the innovative two-stage pimple patch system utilizing dissolvable arrowhead microarrays delivers antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents directly into the skin, achieving full acne clearance within seven days without irritation, promising a new era in convenient and effective acne treatment.Source-Medindia KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Monday that Malaysia supports China's Global Governance Initiative, stressing that the initiative is highly relevant at a time when the multilateral system is under strain. Anwar attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus Summit in Tianjin on Sept. 1. In a social media post later that evening, he described it as "an idea that resonates deeply at a time when the multilateral system is faltering." "There is today a deficit of trust in the international system. Failures in trade, financial architecture, and climate change response have exposed the disconnect between lofty declarations and the sufferings endured by the masses," he said. Malaysia, therefore, "strongly supports" the initiative, Anwar added, stressing that the ideals of justice, humanity, compassion and cooperation must be translated into concrete action. BANGKOK Soldiers in pristine and pressed uniforms marched in lockstep, their boots clacking a steady cadence on the pavement and their eyes following leader Xi Jinping as he drove by in review. Helicopters flew overhead, forming the numbers 8 and 0 in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. There was no shortage of pageantry at Wednesday's military parade in Beijing, but beyond the spectacle, it also provided the first good look at China's latest military hardware. New missiles, drones and other high-tech equipment have been added to its arsenal as part of a massive modernization program with the goal, according to the official parade announcers, of producing a force with both nuclear and conventional capabilities able to deter wars in all battle spaces. Here are some of the highlights: New nukes China's nuclear arsenal still lags far behind that of the United States and Russia, but it has been rapidly expanding. In its annual report to Congress on China, the U.S. Department of Defense estimated that Beijing now has more than 600 warheads and will have more than 1,000 by 2030. The parade featured many of the missiles capable of delivering those warheads, from air, sea and land. China's official Xinhua News Agency said it was the first time the military's triad of strategic nuclear forces was presented in a concentrated fashion, calling it China's strategic trump card for safeguarding national sovereignty and defending national dignity. The display of the three systems together is noteworthy, said Meia Nouwens, senior fellow for Chinese security and defense policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. All of that, of course, goes back to this key point about deterrence and the messaging that the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) and Xi Jinping are seeking to send to the U.S. and other partners and allies in the region and further afield," she said. Among the nuclear-capable missiles seen was the DF-61, a new intercontinental ballistic missile which can be fired from a mobile launching platform. Details on its capabilities are scant, but its predecessor has a range of more than 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) and can carry multiple warheads. It also debuted the newest variant of the silo-based DF-5, the DF-5C, whose range has been estimated at 20,000 kilometers. Also featured were the JL-1 air-launched long-range missile and the JL-3 sea-launched missile, both of which are also nuclear-capable. More missiles The parade saw the debut of other new missiles, including several designed to attack ships. These are likely of particular interest to the U.S., whose naval power is a key component of its Asia-Pacific defense strategy. China claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as its own, and Xi has not ruled out taking the island by force. In the event of a Chinese invasion, if the U.S. were to come to Taiwan's aid, China would need to hold off the U.S. Navy long enough to consolidate control of the island. China has already built the world's largest navy, though it is still well behind the U.S. in the number of aircraft carriers it has. It could use missiles, however, to try to keep American carriers out of effective range. The parade showcased for the first time the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20 anti-ship missiles, all capable of operating at long ranges and hypersonic, making them difficult to intercept. It also displayed missiles meant to intercept incoming anti-ship missiles, including the HQ-16C and HQ10A, and presented the aircraft-carrier version of the J-35 stealth multirole fighter for the first time. These are capabilities that are increasingly meant to signal to the United States they should think twice about entering into a conflict, if there ever is one, in support of Taiwan, Nouwens said. Drones from above, drones from below Seven types of reconnaissance and attack aerial drones were on display that were not immediately identified by official commentators, but some of which appeared to be new. A small surface drone ship was also on display but not identified, as well as carrier-based uncrewed helicopters. China also showed off two submarine drones, the older-model HSU001 and debuting the much larger AJX002. China's official Xinhua News Agency called them cutting-edge surprise weapons for naval combat designed for covert deployment and blockade, autonomous detection and identification, and swarm-networked attacks. Long gone are the days where China was reliant on Russia or other foreign systems, wrote Mick Ryan, a retired Australian army major general and analyst at the Lowy Institute, in a research note on the drones and other systems on display. This level of indigenous capacity infers high levels of sustainability in any future conflict. Still, he cautioned, newer does not always mean better. While most Western military equipment has been tested in Iraq, Ukraine and elsewhere, none of China's new kit has. North Vietnam's Best General Beat France at Dien Bien Phu, Then Failed With the Same Tactics Against Marines at Khe Sanh Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap earned his reputation as one of history's great military commanders on May 7, 1954, when 16,000 French... As stories of military family members being detained by immigration authorities pile up, dozens of Democrats are launching an investigation into how the militarys traditional protections against deportation for noncitizen service members and their families are crumbling under the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration. The investigation kicked off with a letter, signed by 61 Democrats from the Senate and House, sent Tuesday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other immigration officials. In the letter, the Democrats demand that the DHS and Pentagon answer dozens of questions by mid-September, including how many noncitizen service members, veterans and family members have been detained or referred for deportation since January. Read Next: Trump Says Space Command Is Moving to Alabama, Reversing a Biden-Era Decision These alarming accounts contravene decades of precedent and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy establishing noncitizens military service as a mitigating factor when considering immigration enforcement against military service members, veterans and their immediate family members, the lawmakers wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained exclusively by Military.com ahead of its public release. We demand an explanation for why DHS is betraying its promises to service members who play a key role in protecting U.S. national security. The investigation is being led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H.; and Delia Ramirez, D-Ill. Duckworth, Houlahan and Goodlander are veterans, while Warren is the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committees personnel subcommittee. Since Democrats are in the minority in both chambers of Congress, they do not have subpoena power, limiting their ability to compel the executive branch to answer their questions. But the lawmakers who sent the letter are promising that the missive is the start of an investigation. "The Trump administration is blatantly disrespecting our troops and putting our national security at risk by backtracking on immigration protections for military families and veterans, Warren said in a statement. Congressional Democrats are going to use every tool possible to hold the administration accountable for this unprecedented attack on our own military. The probe comes after numerous news reports, including on Military.com, about immigration officials targeting military families and veterans, and ignoring benefits offered to troops and families to protect them from deportation. As of 2024, more than 40,000 noncitizens were serving in the U.S. military, while another 115,000 noncitizens were veterans living in the United States, according to a Congressional Research Service report from that year. Traditionally, allowing noncitizens to serve in the military has been seen as a way to fill gaps in specialized skills such as foreign languages. In exchange, those service members have been offered an expedited path to citizenship and protections from deportation for themselves and immediate family members. But the Trump administration has made several policy changes that are chipping away at that framework. Military.com reported in July that Marine Corps recruiters have been told to stop promoting an immigration benefit known as military parole-in-place. The parole-in-place program allows spouses, parents and children of service members to temporarily stay in the U.S. while they pursue more permanent legal status. Created in 2007 during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the program was intended to remove a distraction for service members fighting overseas who might be worried about their families potentially being deported. But a spokesperson for the Marines told Military.com in July that it was improper for recruiters to promote the program since it is administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and not the Corps. That came after the Trump administration said in February it will no longer exempt classes or categories of migrants from potential deportation, including military family members and veterans. And in April, the administration rescinded a policy that said military service should be a significant mitigating factor in deciding whether to pursue immigration enforcement against troops or their immediate families and replaced it with a policy that stresses military service alone does not automatically exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws. Amid those policy changes, anecdotes have poured in of troops and veterans family members being caught in the Trump administrations aggressive immigration enforcement operations. In June, a father of two active-duty Marines and one Marine veteran was beaten by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents when he was detained at his landscaping job outside of an IHOP in California. That same month, the wife of a Marine veteran was detained at an appointment for her green card application. And last month, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who co-signed the letter to Hegseth and Noem, said he met with a mother of an active-duty Marine who was detained by ICE while caring for her two-year-old grandson at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. Those cases followed the detention of a Coast Guardsmans wife and the deportation of a soldiers wife earlier this year. The Trump administrations detention and deportation of noncitizens who have served the U.S. military and their families threaten U.S. national security interests and erode the U.S. militarys credibility when it makes promises to its service members who have put their lives on the line for our country, the lawmakers wrote in their Tuesday letter. In addition to Hegseth and Noem, the lawmakers letter was addressed to Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow, and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. In a statement sent after Military.coms deadline, DHS said it will respond in official correspondence through official channels. DHS and ICE value the contributions of all those who have served in the U.S. military, a DHS spokesperson added in the emailed statement. U.S. military service alone does not automatically grant lawful immigration status, or exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws. The statement also noted that the Marine veterans wife who was detained in June has since been released pending the outcome of her immigration case and reiterated the departments contention that the agents who beat and detained the Marines dad took appropriate action after he turned toward the agents with his weed whacker. The Pentagon declined to comment to Military.com on the letter, saying it will only respond directly to the authors or members of Congress. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not respond to requests for comment, while ICE referred questions to the DHS. On top of asking for data on detentions, the letter asks the DHS for details on how it is implementing the administrations policy changes and what analysis was done on how those policy changes could affect military families. From the Pentagon, the letter asks whether recruiters have been given guidance on how to talk about immigration benefits in light of the administrations policies; what the department has done to alert service members to policy changes; and whether the department has analyzed effects on recruitment, readiness and morale. The letter gives the departments a Sept. 16 deadline to respond. Immigrant service members and their families have long stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our military, filling critical gaps, strengthening our national defense and making extraordinary sacrifices for this nation," Houlahan said in a statement about the need for an investigation. To betray them with detention, deportation or intimidation is a direct threat to our military readiness and credibility. We have a duty to honor their service and ensure that the promises made to them are kept. Editors note: This story has been updated to include comment from the Department of Homeland Security. Related: Marine Recruiters Promoted an Immigration Benefit Until the Corps Told Them to Stop BEIRUT Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel as they were working to clear roadblocks, the force said Wednesday. No one was hurt in the attack. The peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL described the Tuesday morning incident as one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities in November that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war. The Israeli military said later Wednesday that it did not intentionally target the peacekeepers but dropped several sonic bombs near a suspect in a border area. It added that contact was made with the peacekeeping force and explained the details of what happened. UNIFIL said one grenade hit within 20 meters (65 feet) and three others within approximately 100 meters (330 feet) of U.N. personnel and vehicles, adding the drones were observed returning toward Israel. UNIFIL said the Israeli military had been informed in advance of the peacekeeping forces road clearance work in the area, southeast of the village of Marwahin and less than a kilometer (0.6 miles) from the border line. Out of concern for the safety of peacekeepers following the incident, yesterdays work was suspended, UNIFIL said. France, which has a large force within UNIFIL, condemned the attack, saying that the respect of its members applies to all parties without exception. Qatar called it a grave violation of international humanitarian law and the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November. The attack came after the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously last week to terminate the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon at the end of next year after nearly five decades, bowing to demands from the United States and Israel. The multinational peacekeeping force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in southern Lebanon for decades, including during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. It has also drawn criticism from both sides and from officials in U.S. President Donald Trumps administration, which has moved to slash U.S. funding for the operation as Trump remakes Americas approach to foreign policy. The Israel-Hezbollah war killed over 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused destruction worth $11 billion, according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 people died, including 80 soldiers. The war started when Hezbollah began firing rockets across the border on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after a deadly Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel that sparked the war in Gaza. Israel responded with shelling and airstrikes in Lebanon, and the two sides became locked in an escalating conflict that became a full-blown war in late September last year. UNIFIL said any actions that endanger peacekeepers and assets or interfere with their tasks are unacceptable and a serious violation of international law and the resolution that ended the war and that it was the Israeli military's responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the peacekeepers performing Security Council-mandated tasks. The Israeli military said its troops carried out an operation inside Lebanon on the edge of the disputed Chebaa Farms, where they detonated artillery pieces that were used by Hezbollah members during the war. Chebaa Farms was captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war, but Lebanon considers it and the nearby Kfar Chouba hills as Lebanese territories. MEXICO CITY Mexico and the United States on Wednesday agreed during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to keep collaborating on cross-border security, including fighting the trafficking of drugs, guns and fuel, but made clear it would be done from their respective sides of the border, respecting each other's sovereignty at a time of heightened concerns over U.S. intervention in the region. What had initially been advertised as the signing of a broad security agreement but it evolved into a reaffirmation of the collaboration Mexico and the U.S. have said they've been doing all along. The priorities remain stopping fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into the U.S., and preventing high-powered guns bought in U.S. gun shops from being smuggled into Mexico, while continuing to control migration, which has fallen dramatically. The new development was the establishment of a "high-level implementation group" for that continued collaboration. "This is a high-level group that will meet and coordinate on a regular basis to make sure that all the things we are working on, all the things we have agreed to work on, are happening, are being implemented," Rubio said. "It's the closest cooperation we've ever had, maybe between any country, but definitely between the U.S. and Mexico," Rubio said. Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Ramon de la Fuente said, "It's fundamental to show to U.S. society, Mexican society, that yes, models of cooperation, of collaboration can be built that work, that give results." Rubio spoke after meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to stress the importance the U.S. places on cooperating with Washington on security, trade and migration. Rubio will visit Ecuador on Thursday on his third trip to Latin America since taking office. Sheinbaum has voiced fears of the U.S. encroaching on Mexican sovereignty. Gunboat diplomacy The meeting came a day after President Donald Trump dramatically stepped up his administration's military role in the Caribbean with what he called a deadly strike on a Venezuelan drug cartel. Trump has alienated many in the region with persistent demands and threats of sweeping tariffs and massive sanctions for refusing to follow his lead, particularly on migration and the fight against drug cartels. Likely to heighten those concerns is the U.S. having deployed warships to the Caribbean and elsewhere off Latin America and announcing a lethal strike on an alleged Tren de Aragua gang vessel said to be carrying narcotics. Rubio continued defending the strike without addressing details, including whether those aboard the boat were warned before being fired upon. Trump said all 11 were killed. "The president, under his authority as commander in chief, has a right under exigent circumstances to eliminate imminent threats to the United States," Rubio said. His Mexican counterpart, de la Fuente, emphasized his country's preference for "nonintervention, peaceful solution of conflicts." The U.S. has a complicated legacy of sticking its hand in Latin American affairs, and American military interventions particularly during the Cold War played a major part in destabilizing governments and paving the way for coups in Guatemala and Chile. In recent years, the U.S. has taken a more subtle approach, providing foreign assistance to many countries, including training security forces, but not making direct strikes like what was seen Tuesday in Caribbean waters. Mexico's president pushes back on Trump saying she's not ready to target cartels Trump has demanded, and so far won, some concessions from Sheinbaum's government, which is eager to defuse his tariff threats, although she has fiercely defended Mexico's sovereignty. Sheinbaum again rejected Trump's suggestion that she is afraid of confronting Mexico's cartels because they have so much power. "We respect a lot the Mexico-United States relationship, President Trump, and no, it's not true this affirmation that he makes," she said. In a State of the Nation address this week marking her first year in office, she said, "Under no circumstance will we accept interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that is detrimental to the integrity, independence and sovereignty of the country." Sheinbaum has gone after Mexican drug cartels and their fentanyl production more aggressively than her predecessor. The government has sent the National Guard to the northern border and delivered 55 cartel figures long wanted by U.S. authorities to the Trump administration. In a statement released after their meeting, the State Department extolled what it said was a reaffirmation of already robust security cooperation in a region that is now concerned with the prospect of greater U.S. military invention. It said Rubio thanked Sheinbaum for helping secure the shared border. The U.S. statement made only a brief mention of one issue causing friction between the two nations: Trump's threat to impose hefty tariffs on Mexican imports into the United States. The word "tariff" appeared only once in the statement and then in the context of Rubio emphasizing to Sheinbaum "the importance of resolving trade and non-trade barriers to further the prosperity of both of our nations." ___ Associated Press writers Maria Verza in Mexico City and Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations contributed to this report. WASHINGTON In a nod to continuing collaboration, the mayor of Washington, D.C., issued an order Tuesday to continue the work of an emergency operations center the city set up in response to the federal law enforcement surge ordered by President Donald Trump to battle what he insisted was out-of-control crime. The order from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is walking a tightrope between portions of her constituency and her relationship with Trump's White House, allows the center to continue managing the citys response and coordinate communications with federal law enforcement. The order said the so-called Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center (SBEOC) a title that riffs off Trump lingo will work with a number of federal agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Park Police, the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Secret Service. Together, they plan to address a number of issues, including concerns and goals the city has in maintaining the confidence of district residents during law enforcement encounters by federal agencies. Bowser's order lays out in detail the federal law enforcement entities she anticipates working with going forward with no indication of an end date. The operations center will communicate the Districts requests that federal partners adhere to established policing practices that maintain community confidence in law enforcement officers, such as not wearing masks, clearly identifying their agency, and providing identification during arrests and encounters with the public, the order said. Trump, speaking at a press conference, praised Bowser and said the surge had worked. Im very proud of Washington, he said. It can be used as a template. Mayor says federal presence has brought down crime Speaking during a press conference last week, Bowser credited the surge of federal authorities with bringing down the level of crime in the city, including an 87 percent drop in carjackings. When carjackings go down, when homicides or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer, she said. But the mayor also said at that Aug. 27 press briefing, the presence of masked agents who were not always identifiable had led to a break in trust between, police and community, especially with new federal partners. We know having masked ICE agents in the community has not worked and National Guard from other states has not been an efficient use of those resources, she said at that news conference. Bowser said she was devastated that some residents were living in fear. According to Tuesday's order, a census conducted last week of people living outside across the city identified 764 total, including 81 living in tents. At the end of July, there were 128 people living in those tents. Since the start of the surge, approximately 80 additional people have entered the districts shelter system, the order said but added it is unknown where those individuals were living prior to coming into shelter, the order said. Trump still wants more out of the Washington operation Trump has increased the number of federal law enforcement and immigration agents on city streets while also taking over the Metropolitan Police Department and activating thousands of National Guard members. Last month, Trump said he wants $2 billion from Congress to beautify Washington. Trump, speaking at a press conference, said the city was safe and that restaurants were enjoying booming business. We have no crime, he asserted flatly. Youre not going to be shot. The efforts were roundly supported by Republicans who held a news conference in front of the Capitol on their first day back from recess. We are here today to talk about something Donald Trump promised during the campaign, said Rep. Buddy Carter, who is running for Senate in Georgia. He promised to make our nation safer and more prosperous. He then introduced legislation called Make Our Streets Safe Again. President Trumps unyielding leadership and strength coupled with proper congressional oversight ensures that Washington, D.C., will reclaim its rightful place, said Rep. Harriet Hageman, who represents Wyoming. Two protesters who interrupted their remarks were apprehended by Capitol Police during the news conference. At the end of their remarks, the lawmakers were met with chants of shame by dozens of protesters. Federal authorities have talked about pushing for similar surges of federal law enforcement authorities and National Guard units to other major cities, though that would unfold differently since the federal government has a unique relationship with the District of Columbia, which is a federal district. Speaking Sunday on CBS News Face the Nation Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated ICE would be expanding immigration operations in Chicago. Bowsers order came on the same day that a federal judge in Los Angeles said actions taken there using the military were illegal. ___ Associated Press writer Leah Askarinam contributed. The aerospace industry has long been a shining star for Colorados economy and now state leaders are worried about the effects of President Donald Trumps decision to move Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. Colorado boasts having the second-largest aerospace economy in the nation, heavily concentrated along the Front Range from El Paso County to the border of Wyoming. After several years of back and forth between the two states, Trump announced on Tuesday he would reverse the Biden administrations decision to keep Space Command in the Centennial State. At the time, former President Joe Biden said he decided to leave Space Command at its temporary home of Colorado Springs as moving would stall the militarys readiness to growing threats in space. Trump said his decision isnt political, blaming his predecessor for making it political by not taking recommendations from military officials to move the command to Alabama. He praised Alabama for voting for him by about 47 points and said he had a problem with Colorado as the headquarters because of its mail-in voting system, claiming the state automatically has crooked elections. The president said Alabamas infrastructure around its space and defense hub would be better suited to grow Americas space defenses, especially his missile-defense project known as the Golden Dome. The next question is: What businesses will do next? While Alabama officials celebrate the major win for their local economy, Colorado officials said the regions aerospace ecosystem has been snubbed. Our unparalleled Aerospace & Defense ecosystem has been vital to Space Command achieving Full Operational Capability and executing the mission, said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. This decision is deeply disappointing. Members of Colorados congressional delegation also released a joint statement saying they would do whatever they could to stop the move from happening. Moving the headquarters would hurt the militarys ability to respond to threats because the business environment that grew around it may not immediately move with it, said the Republican and Democrat policymakers. Space Commands long-term presence in Colorado Springs has also created a large number of civilian businesses and workers on which the Command now relies, the delegation said. Those people will not simply move with the Command at the militarys whim. Many of them will leave the industry altogether, creating a disruption in the workforce that will take our national defense systems decades to recreate. Just like Huntsville, Colorado is home to the operations of major defense contractors, such as Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Boeing. The Front Range also serves as the headquarters for local aerospace titans like Maxar, BAE Systems (formally Ball Corp.), Sierra Space and the United Launch Alliance. Its also home to rising startups, such as Astroscale and Albedo Space. Colorados aerospace industry is home to more than 2,000 companies, according to the Colorado Space Coalition, a subsidiary of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. Last year, Colorado had a record year bringing in more than $38 billion in federal contracts. This impacts Colorados aerospace industry negatively because it removes the proximity to Space Command leadership that having Space Command in Colorado Springs provides, said Parker White, director of the chambers Colorado Competitive Council. Generals and commanders often have the final say on who wins a contract, he explained, and having that nearby presence to make your case is important to growing as a business. While Colorado is home to huge aerospace companies, many of which also have operations in Alabama, White said the move would hurt the smaller, local contractors most. Theyre the ones that cant just pick up and move to Huntsville, White said. If Space Command leaves, those local Colorado aerospace and defense companies lose out on that opportunity to support the mission. Colorado attracts space companies more than any other industry Aerospace, along with manufacturing and energy, is one of the largest drivers of job growth in the state. Out of the companies looking to expand to Colorado, aerospace led last year in the number of companies seeking job growth tax incentive packages from the state and in the jobs it promised to create. El Paso County is the home for more than 33% of expansion projects seeking to expand in the state, more than any other county, according to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade report for fiscal year 2024-2025. While Colorados Front Range doesnt have rocket launches like Florida, it works on about every other part of the space industry from manufacturing satellites, rockets and NASA instruments to operating mission control centers. Colorados aerospace industry grew to attract companies both big and small because of its central location, closer elevation to the atmosphere and leading science universities and military bases. Our state will continue to lead the development of this critical industry as these companies innovate new technologies key to space communications, the commercialization of space, and national security, Alissa Johnson, an OEDIT spokesperson said. Companies benefit from a diverse aerospace system that is helping bring humans back to the moon, led to development of the James Webb Space Telescope and is home to half the nations Space Force, she added. All of those together are a draw for the aerospace community, White explained. Without Space Command, White said it takes one of those pieces out that helps make the area attractive for companies. Its harmful to the total leadership space that Colorado plays in the nations aerospace and defense economy, White said. Sierra Space, the Louisville-based aerospace company working on the Dream Chaser, just opened a new production facility in Broomfield more than two months ago to make solar panels for defense satellites. After Trumps announcement, Sierra Space said its already looking to grow in Alabama. While our proximity to Guardians and space warfighters in Colorado has enabled our rapid response to emerging threats and expanding mission needs, we remain committed to the space warfighting mission and are responsive to the expanding customer presence in Alabama through Golden Dome and Missile Defense missions, said Erik Daehler, senior vice president of Sierra Space Defense, in an emailed statement. The company said it will continue its operations from Colorado and had no current plans to downsize in the state. We will continue our unwavering support to this urgent mission and will continue to be responsive to our warfighters needs, Daehler said about growing in Alabama. 2025 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Visit www.gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. An aerial view Elberta Beach looking south toward Arcadia Bluffs along Lake Michigan in Elberta, Mich. in August 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com ELBERTA, MI -- Elberta Beach transformed this summer with added amenities and accessibility, bringing new life back to what was once a bustling maritime corridor. The charming, Northern Michigan village claims the small peninsula between Lake Michigan and Betsie Bay, sitting just five minutes from Frankfort. 62 1 / 62 Elberta Beach reopens with improvements in Benzie County Driving through the winding, forested roads visitors now have expanding parking options. Visitors can drive up to a cliffside overlook and park for lake views add this spot to your Lake Michigan sunset list before driving down to the beach access lot. A vehicle sits at an Elberta Beach lookout along Lake Michigan in Elberta, Mich. in August 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com The Elberta Pier (left) and (right) Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse can be seen from a lookout by Elberta Beach along Lake Michigan in Elberta, Mich. in August 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com A short hike in opens up to the expansive white sand beach and rich blues of the lake. This coastal sand dune ecosystem draws in birds like the Bald Eagle, Caspian Tern, Killdeer and Solitary Sandpiper. Each end of the beach is bordered by Northern Michigan postcards. To your left you have Arcadia Dunes and to your right the Elberta Pier. Arcadia Bluffs can be seen to the south from Elberta Beach along Lake Michigan in Elberta, Mich. in August 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com A new, paved walkway was added to accessibly connect the beach, parking lot and pier walkway. A pavilion with shaded seating and modern restroom were also added along that pathway. The pavilion with picnic tables at Elberta Beach along Lake Michigan in Elberta, Mich. in August 2025. A grand reopening was held on the beach Aug. 11, after amenities and accessibility were added. Joel Bissell | MLive.com Beachgoers will drive right past Elbertas watering holes. They can get a pour of Irish Whiskey at the Cabbage Shed, lounge at the best porch on the block at Furnance Distillery or order something right off the grill at Mayfair Burger Bar. A small slice of Up North paradise, Elberta Beach has a long history of being a local favorite. The half-mile of beach has a legacy as a landing spot for hang gliders. In 1974, nearly 200 hang gliders from 13 states and Canada came to Elberta Beach for the Second Annual National Soaring and Hang Gliding Festival. Nearly 200 hang glider pilots from 13 states and Canada participate in the Second Annual National Soaring and Hang Gliding Festival (1974). The used tire steps allowed access from the beach to the launch platform on top of the bluff. Photo courtesy of Benzie Area Historical Society That legacy lives on today, as the Green Point Flyers, a Northern Michigan hang gliding and paragliding group, were among the supporters of the beach improvements who hosted a kite-flying beach day as the grand reopening this summer. At the grand reopening, community members purchased board planks and personalized them by drilling in their name or a loved ones name. The planks created a beach cut through from the pavilion to the water. Community members etched their names into board planks for a beach cut through from the pavilion to the water at Elberta Beach along Lake Michigan in Elberta, Mich. in August 2025. A grand reopening was held on the beach Aug. 11, after amenities and accessibility were added. Joel Bissell | MLive.com The project was completed with financial help from The Nature Conservancy and Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Adjacent to the beach are the 35 acres purchased by Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy last year. The conservancy stepped in after an international development company set their sights on building a 400,000 square-foot all-inclusive resort on the shores of Lake Michigan and Betsie Bay. The resort news galvanized the community to start pulling in the same direction, said Erin Anderson Whiting, the conservancys senior charitable giving specialist. In less than six months, the conservancy fundraised $19.5 million to secure the land. The local fundraising was kicked off with a $9 million anonymous gift. About 750 individual donors contributed to the cause, Anderson Whiting said. It was the largest funding needed for a single property in the conservancys 33-year history. The Village of Elberta is very unique. It really is a secret gem. People are sort of living in a relaxed rhythm that theyve chosen because this is the kind of place they want to live she said in a promotional video for the project. The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy is working to purchase 35 acres of waterfront in Elberta. Of the 35 acres, 10 acres, including steep forested dunes, would be set aside for a nature preserve managed by the conservancy; 16 acres, including 578 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline and 2,000 feet of Betsie Bay shoreline, would be transferred to the village of Elberta for a municipal park; and 9 acres, including 1,120 feet of Betsie Bay shoreline, would go to the village for economic development. Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy Looking forward to phase two, the village and conservancy are working together for a project that balances nature and development. The conservancys plan for the waterfront property includes 10 acres for a nature sanctuary, 16 acres of waterfront park and nine acres for economic redevelopment including a expansion of the Betsie Valley Trail. The trail expansion would link 22 miles of county trails connecting Elberta and Frankfort beaches. Eric Rudolph was finally in shackles. But what would become of him? As prosecutors in Georgia and Alabama jockeyed to be first to take him to trial, a new worry emerged. It was dynamite. About 200 pounds of it. Associated Press After five years on the lam, Eric Rudolph was captured. Prosecutors in Georgia and Alabama jockeyed to have the first crack at taking him to trial, convicting him and, as they planned, sentencing him to death. It was decided that Birmingham had better evidence, and a reliable witness in Jermaine Hughes. Jurors had been assembled and questioned. But Rudolph had one bargaining chip: the location of 200 pounds of stolen dynamite. On the eve of his trial he made a decision to save his own life. He would reveal the location of the explosives, and plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. The great outdoorsman would spend the rest of his life in a tiny underground cell, in the most secure of all American prisons. Rudolph would be forgotten by many. After all, his four bombings killed far fewer people than guns kill every day in America now. But the words he used, the beliefs he espoused, live on. They were considered crackpot at the time of his bombings. They live today in courtrooms, statehouses and the U.S. Capitol. American Shrapnel is an eight-part series from Alabama Media Group. It starts with the biggest pipe bomb the FBI had ever seen. It ends in a dumpster, after the largest manhunt in U.S. history. This is the story of Eric Rudolph and the rise of American rage. Available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Prosecutors allege that Kingdom of God Global Church is a front for money laundering and human trafficking to support the luxury lifestyles of its leaders. Two church leaders are facing multiple felony charges. David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, are accused of controlling every aspect of life for armor bearers and other victims under the guise of religious ministry. These victims served without pay as personal servants to Taylor, prosecutors said. They took calls for millions of dollars annually in church donations, transported women to Taylor, and performed other tasks under threats of physical and psychological abuse and divine judgement. They were forced to live at call centers or ministry houses and cut off ties with family and friends who questioned the church, according to the indictment. The first call center was set up in Taylor, Mich., in 2014. Since then, the church has received about $50 million in donations through call centers in Michigan, Florida, Missouri and Texas, according to prosecutors. Taylor refers to himself as Apostle. Brannon served as the churchs executive director. Taylor and Brannon were arrested last week in North Carolina and Florida, respectively. The arrests were the result of a nationwide effort to take down the alleged forced labor organization. The alleged actions are deeply troubling, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office. The organization ran call centers that solicited donations for the church every day, prosecutors said. Workers were allegedly instructed to tell callers that donations funded charitable works such as wells for poor communities overseas and support for human trafficking victims. The proceeds funded an alleged human trafficking ring and supported a luxury lifestyle under the guise of a religious ministry, said Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. Armor bearers were allegedly forced to fulfill Taylors demands around the clock, including transporting women from ministry houses, airports and other locations to Taylor and ensuring these women took Plan B emergency contraceptives. The defendants allegedly controlled every aspect of their victims lives. They were not allowed to leave without permission and worked long hours without pay, prosecutors said. Taylor allegedly set unattainable monetary donation goals for victims working in the call centers and required them to follow his orders without question. If victims disobeyed or failed to reach goals, they were allegedly punished with public humiliation, additional work, food and shelter restrictions, psychological abuse, forced repentance, sleep deprivation, physical assaults, and threats of divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents and eternal damnation. Much of the donated money was allegedly laundered and used by Taylor and Brannon to purchase luxury properties, luxury vehicles, a boat, jet skis and ATVs. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Resnick Cohen for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James of the Civil Rights Divisions Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. The multi-state investigation was conducted by the FBI Detroit Field Office, with support from the FBI offices in Tampa, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; St. Louis, Mo.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Houston, Texas. Other partners include the Detroit IRS-CI Field Office and several local, county and state law enforcement partners. Grand Traverse County has made an offer to purchase the former Camp Greilick property in Traverse City for use as a public outdoor recreation space. The historic 200-acre property was founded as a scouting camp in 1923. Courtesy photo GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI A new park is in the works at former Boy Scout camp in Northern Michigan, WPBN/WGTU reports. Camp Greilick, near Traverse City, closed in 2016, the report said. Now, the Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation Department is working to open the 200-acre site to the public. Nothing would make us happier than creating a thriving hub of outdoor recreation for youth and adults alike, Grand Traverse County Parks and Facilities Director John Chase told the TV station. Private events - like reunions, graduation parties and weddings - will be capped at 50 people, the report said. Alcohol will be allowed; however, private events will not be allowed to sell it. Quiet hours will start at 7:30 p.m. Camp Greilick dates back to 1923, when the Rotary Club of Traverse City purchased land to create a campground for 4-H, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts. Most recently known as the Greilick Outdoor Recreation and Education Center, the property features more than 4,000 feet of frontage on Rennie, Spider and Bass Lakes just south of Traverse City. The county purchased the property from the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy in 2024. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at Kettering University GM Mobility Research Center in Flint, Michigan, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The governor announced on Sept. 2, 2025, that Astemo Americas had selected Wixom for its new regional headquarters, bringing a $95 million investment and 200 new jobs to the state. (MLive file photo) Ayrton Breckenridge | MLive.com SAWA, JAPAN In the midst of a trade mission in Asia, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a $95 million investment from Tokyo-based automotive supplier Astemo Ltd. to create a regional headquarters in Wixom. The move will support at at least 200 good-paying, local jobs, and retain an additional 175, the governor said. Astemo chose Wixom for its expansion over competing sites in Ohio, according to company officials. Wixom is located just 10 miles west of the companys existing North American headquarters in Farmington Hills. Todays investment is further proof that Michigan is open for business and on the move, Whitmer said in a statement. Ill work with anyone to strengthen Michigans auto ecosystem and bring jobs and investments back home to our state. Lets keep working together to lead and build the future so that more working families can make it in Michigan. RELATED: Gretchen Whitmer on trade mission in Asia as state budget deadline looms The Wixom facility will be built to accommodate the physical space needed to showcase the companys cutting-edge capabilities to attract talent, as well as to increase collaboration with business units and customers, Astemo President & CEO Kohei Takeuchi said. Astemos investment in Wixom cements its presence in Michigan and enhances the states standing as the best-in-nation for the automotive industry, Takeuchi said. Astemo serves as a global mega-supplier of automotive components and systems, specializing in advanced mobility solutions such as electric powertrains, chassis systems and autonomous driving technologies. In June, Astemo Americas CEO and President Tim Clark, announced that the company had outgrown its technical center and headquarters in Farmington Hills and planned to expand to a new location in the near future. The decision to keep the companys headquarters in Oakland County is a win not just for the 350-plus people who will work for Astemo in but for the county, said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. It is always so gratifying to see how successful we can be when state and local leaders collaborate to attract and retain the businesses, like Astemo America, that have so many options to choose from when theyre deciding on where to locate and grow, Coulter said. Of the 200 jobs being created for the Wixom location, Astemo anticipates hiring over 150 engineer-type positions, officials said. The company currently employs over 15,000 employees in North America and 80,000 employees globally. Astemo also offers opportunities for training and/or upskilling through a tuition reimbursement program. Wixom has a long history as the home for world-leading automotive suppliers, Wixom City Manager Steven Brown said in a statement. We look forward to working with Astemo to build their state-of-the-art facility and welcoming them to our business community. This is the second time Gov. Whitmer has led an investment mission in Japan, with her first coming in September 2023. A man is accused of setting an Upper Peninsula restaurant and bar on fire. DELTA COUNTY, MI A man is accused of setting an Upper Peninsula restaurant and bar on fire. Michigan State Police in Gladstone arrested 33-year-old Steven Prestridge of Rapid River in connection with a fire that occurred at the Rapid River Pub, 10491 S. Main Street, in Rapid River, at 12:33 a.m. on Sept. 1. He was arraigned in the 94th District Court for second-degree arson and preparation to burn real property. Bond was set at $150,000 cash/surety with additional conditions. At the time of the fire, the building was occupied by patrons. All individuals were able to evacuate safely. An investigation began after officials determined the fire had been intentionally set. Prestridge is lodged at the Delta County Jail. He is next due in court on Sept. 18. Police were assisted by the Delta County Sheriffs Office, Masonville Township Fire Department and Ensign Township Fire Department. Rapid River Pub is a casual community hangout serving up pizza, burgers, Fish Fry Fridays and other comfort foods in its historic, century-old, building. Shockingly, it has already reopened less than two days after the fire. Thank you all for the support, prayers and kind words! We love our community!! a Facebook post said. Please note that the back portion of our establishment will be cautioned off until the full arson investigation is completed and we ask everyone to avoid the taped off and covered areas. A Michigan man has pleaded guilty to voting twice during the August 2024 primary election in St. Clair Shores. MLive.com LANSING, MI A Michigan man accused of voting twice during the August 2024 primary election has entered a guilty plea. Frank Prezzato, 68, of St. Clair Shores, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 3, to one count of voting absentee and in-person, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a news release. Nessels office plans to dismiss a second count of offering to vote more than once at Prezzatos Oct. 22 sentencing, court records show. Prosecutors accused Prezzato of voting in-person at his local polling location on Election Day in St. Clair Shores after he had already submitted an absentee ballot for the same election. Both his in-person and absentee votes were counted in the primary election, Nessels office said. Voting twice undermines our democratic process, Nessel said. My office will continue to prosecute those who violate our voting laws to ensure Michigan voters have confidence in the integrity of our elections. Prezzato was charged in October 2024, alongside three other voters accused of double-voting. Three assistant clerks were also charged with altering the State Qualified Voter File to allow the double voting to happen. As part of Prezzatos plea agreement, he will serve a six-month delayed probation sentence. If he successfully meets all terms and conditions of the probation, all charges will be dismissed with prejudice at the end of the probationary period. Prezzato will be sentenced by Judge Anthony Servitto of the 16th Circuit Court in Macomb County on Oct. 22. Travion Smith, 18, of Detroit was sentenced to 25-50 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and other charges in July. MLive file photo MACOMB COUNTY, MI -- A Michigan teenager has received a lengthy prison sentence for causing a crash that killed a pregnant, 31-year-old woman and her unborn child. Travion Smith, 18, of Detroit was sentenced to 25-50 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and other charges in July. The charges stem from an incident on Aug. 12, 2023 in which Smith was driving a Chevy Equinox on Van Dyke Avenue near 15 Mile Road. Police attempted to stop Smith, who was 16 at the time. Smith fled from police, driving up to 93 mph recklessly, before he ran the red light at 16 Mile and Van Dyke and hit a vehicle occupied by Norman Gumma, his pregnant wife, Faith, and his 4-year-old son. Faith and her unborn child were pronounced dead at the scene, while Norman remains paralyzed. Their son has recovered from his injuries. Todays sentence sends a clear message: when you choose to run from the police, you will walk to a jail, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said. This young adults reckless flight cost a pregnant woman and her unborn child their lives, left her husband paralyzed, and forever changed a young childs future. Nothing can undo that pain, but this sentence brings accountability and justice for the victims and their loved ones. We hope this case reminds everyone that fleeing law enforcement is never worth the risk. One reckless decision can shatter countless lives. Smith was also found guilty of causing a miscarriage, reckless driving causing serious body impairment, and first degree fleeing and eluding. The number of annual congenital syphilis diagnoses in Michigan newborns between 2017 and 2024, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Courtesy photo | MDHHS Michigan has seen progress in its overall syphilis rates over the last three years, declining 29% since 2021. However, the sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an increasing danger for newborn babies born to infected mothers, increasing 38% since 2021. Last year, the state reported 58 cases of congenital syphilis in newborns -- a four-fold increase since 2017, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). In 2025, officials project between 50 and 60 cases. Syphilis is a curable bacterial disease that can surface as painless genital sores. Left untreated, it can ultimately lead to paralysis, hearing loss, dementia and even death. When passed to an unborn baby, the infection can be fatal or cause serious health issues including deformed bones, severe anemia, brain and nerve problems, and seizures. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigans chief medical executive, said those numbers highlight the continued urgency to reduce prevalence in the community. MDHHS has had success reducing overall cases of syphilis through increased testing, treatment adherence and patient education by its partners throughout the state. We are encouraged to see the significant progress Michigan has made in reducing syphilis rates through strong partnerships, innovative public health strategies and expanded access to prevention and treatment, Bagdasarian said in a prepared statement. Related: Syphilis cases in U.S. soar to highest level since 1950, CDC says Michigan has invested funding in rapid testing, media campaigns, provider outreach and education, enhanced services, and biomedical interventions such as Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy PEP) -- an antibiotic taken after unprotected sex to prevent STIs. A 2018 state law change required health care providers to test for syphilis at the first prenatal visit and again early in the third trimester. Among Medicaid enrollees, testing during the third trimester increased from 42.4% in 2017 to 61% in 2024. Clinicians diagnosed 189 pregnant women with syphilis and 65% received recommended treatment, potentially preventing 109 cases of congenital syphilis infants last year. Public health action has averted 71% of congenital syphilis cases in Michigan, and 62% nationwide, according to a recent analysis by the CDC. For more information about the STI, visit Michigan.gov/HIVSTI. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Inmates once arose at 6 a.m. to march in straight lines with military discipline next to Cassidy Lake. Several years from now, campers might brew their morning coffee and luxuriate as the sun rises over their tents at the exact same spot. Thats the kind of transformation envisioned by a new plan now being finalized for Waterloo Recreation Area, the largest state park on Michigans Lower Peninsula. It grew slightly larger with the addition of the former Cassidy Lake Special Alternative Incarceration facility property, after the state prison camp northwest of Chelsea was demolished in 2023. The Waterloo plan now includes the intention of adding a parking area, hike-in campsites and carry-down boat access to the site, according to parks officials. Read more: From happy living to fence it or close it. The history of a prison camp near Chelsea Those steps are outlined in the recreation areas new general management plan, a 10-year roadmap now in its final form and awaiting sign-off from state parks leadership. While it doesnt assure any particular project will be funded, the plan offers a menu of improvement options for the parks over 20,000 acres in Washtenaw and Jackson counties. These are like blue sky ideas, said Matt Lincoln, land specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division. He cautioned that projects may still be years down the road and could morph as the plan is revised on five-year intervals. It calls for upgrades like adding electric service to the parks equestrian campground, constructing a new park headquarters and paving or resurfacing roads in heavily-used areas like the Portage Lake Campground and Eddy Discovery Center, according to Lincoln. A draft of the plan from earlier this year is currently published online. Lincoln declined to release the final version, but said it will be published in the coming weeks after approval from the DNRs parks chief. It includes some changes and clarifications in response to public feedback to the draft version, he said. As it was developed, the Cassidy Lake site emerged as one key focus. The camp originated as New Deal-era trade school for young adults, before being taken over the Michigan Department of Corrections in 1942. Prisoners could easily walk away from the camp and did by the dozens, sparking a local Fence It or Close It movement in the 1980s that ultimately led to tightened security. In more recent years, it hosted a boot camp-style work program for inmates. After its demolition in early 2023 and re-absorption back into Waterloo, several recreation groups called for the DNR to develop the site, now stripped of barbed wire and slowly being reclaimed by nature. The former site of the Cassidy Lake Special Alternative Incarceration Facility, 18901 Waterloo Road in Lyndon Township, Mich. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023 as the Michigan Department of Corrections facility there was being demolished. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com Proposals shared with the DNR as it sought public feedback and developed its new Waterloo plan over the past year and a half included a new disc golf course. The lake offered a unique water feature that would draw players, said Paul Feeny, president of the Ann Arbor Area Disc Induced Sports Club, A3Disc. Mountain bikers also pitched a skills park and trail loop designed for adaptive bicycles, often tricycles or modified bikes that allow people with disabilities to participate in the sport. The former prison camp is ideal for mountain biking because its already been disturbed by the correctional facility, and the property is close to the existing DTE Energy Foundation Trail system, whose singletrack draws thousands to Waterloo, said Carl Loomis, president of the local Potawatomi Mountain Biking Association. But the DNR ultimately determined those werent the best uses for Cassidy Lake, based on public feedback, and the agency hopes to work with mountain bikers and disc golfers to develop amenities in alternate areas, Lincoln said. Some neighbors near the site urged parks officials not to allow any high-use recreation there, according to Lincoln. They would like to keep it natural-looking, he said. What weve got in our plan will do that." Parks officials also believe the former prison site isnt appropriate for mountain bike use because its not currently connected to the DTE trail system, and the Waterloo-Pinckney hiking trail divides the property from the mountain biking trails, Lincoln said. Loomis said the DNRs plan is in some ways a missed opportunity, as the DTE trails run very close the property and hiking trail crossings could easily be established, as they are elsewhere. We put in 22 miles of trail at virtually no cost to them. We bring thousands of people to the park on an annual basis, and they buy passes to come in, he said, adding that he hopes to continue developing the trail system in collaboration with the DNR. The new Waterloo management plan includes the potential development of a skills course and new DTE trail loop in an old gravel pit elsewhere in the recreation area, though Loomis said mountain bikers are advocating not to pigeon-hole any eventual project to a small area, as well as asking for adequate connectivity with existing trail loops. As for disc golf, Lincoln said the plan calls for improving an existing course at Portage Lake, and Feeny said he has toured the course with parks officials and offered feedback. In the meantime, park visitors may not see immediate changes at Cassidy Lake, though officials may update rules to open it to hunting, according to the draft plan. The proposal for campsites and boating access for kayaks and canoes is listed as priority 3 in the draft plan, meaning it may be tackled in the next five to 10 years, if funding is identified. Park visitors can continue to advocate for what theyd like to see at Waterloo, Lincoln said. As the plan states, its built to be flexible. Nothing is set in stone. State Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, addresses a small crowd during a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, at Wheeler Park. She said a package of bills addressing due process rights would be introduced in a few days as a safeguard against federal immigration crackdowns. Jackie Smith | MLive ANN ARBOR, MI Basic due process rights could be further cemented into Michigan law under legislation to be introduced this month by some state representatives who say President Donald Trumps administrations immigration crackdown has gone too far. A package of bills is expected to be introduced within the next few days that would, among other actions, change state-level requirements to suspend habeas corpus an individuals right to challenge their imprisonment in court, State Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, said Tuesday, Sept. 2. We are under attack by an administration who is actively . deploying masked Gestapo secret police to American cities to terrorize our neighbors, friends and our family members, Rheingans said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, at a press conference Tuesday at Wheeler Park in Ann Arbor. Public arrests of immigrants have often gone viral on social media over the last eight months as advocates increasingly report confrontations with authorities, they say, conceal their identities with masks and dont identify the agency they represent. (The) Trump administration and their enablers in Lansing, they want us to live in a radically different country, Rheingans said. They want us to embrace cruelty and live in fear of one another. Habeas corpus, already in the U.S. Constitution, made headlines earlier this year as federal authorities were exploring its suspension in step with Trumps push to ramp up deportation of immigrants without legal status. The Constitution is clear, and that of course is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told reporters outside the White House in May, according to the Associated Press. Now, state advocates and Ann Arbor-area officials said they hope codifying habeas corpus rules and other rights would better safeguard Michiganders due process protections if ever under federal threat. Under the U.S. Constitution, the writ of habeas corpus can only be suspended in cases of rebellion or invasion if public safety is threatened. A federal suspension requires an act of Congress. Michigans state constitution briefly mentions the right but prescribes no suspension requirements except to address public safety. The bills now in the works, Rheingans said, would amend the state constitution to require the Michigan Supreme Courts approval to suspend habeas corpus at the state level and only at the request of the governor, attorney general or a joint-call vote in both legislative chambers. This includes two branches of government. Think about it as two-factor authentication that you use in all your online security, right? Rheingans said. The bills would also propose formally cementing Miranda rights typically read to people as theyre arrested at the state level and restrict disorderly conduct charges against acts of protest and political speech. Dexter Township residents Ramiro Martinez and Laura Sanders recall Martinez's run-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents last April during a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Jackie Smith | MLive On Tuesday, both Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit and Sheriff Alyshia Dyer expressed support for the imminent legislation. Concerns about the reach of its protections, Savit said, arent just about immigrants in Michigan but all citizens. The government can act arbitrarily, and the government makes mistakes, he said. If you think that the suspension of due process, the suspension of habeas corpus cannot impact you, the entire point is that it could. People could take you off the street. Dyer aired broader concerns about the effect ICE agents tactics have on any trust built between the public and local law enforcement, as well as her opposition of partnership agreements with ICE. Thats paired with a national agenda that is just disregarding all the training weve had on how to treat people, all the de-escalation, the body cameras, the showing your badge and all the tactics that we use, Dyer said. Theyre not using those tactics, and so theyre making us look bad because people dont know whos who. Multiple advocates on Tuesday raised concerns about run-ins with ICE agents and watching loved ones arrested over the last few months. Dexter Township couple Ramiro Martinez and Laura Sanders, both U.S. citizens and longtime immigrant rights proponents, recounted Martinezs experience when he was temporarily surrounded and cuffed outside a Plymouth courthouse in April. The friend they were escorting to court to pay a traffic ticket, they said, was later apprehended after ICE waited several hours. Lenawee County resident Patch Harrison said her Adrian-area community watched ICE take more than a dozen people earlier this year as she recalled attempts to act as a watcher of immigration enforcement. These agents dont live in our area, they come from outside, they scout our neighborhoods, and then, they conduct what we call snatch-and-run operations. They gather in parking lots, stage and wait, she said. Rheingans said representatives were still lining up sponsors for due process bills and working with their colleagues in the Senate. She said she expects the measures to be introduced by the end of this week and available online by next week. Shelley Letzer, 68, of West Bloomfield, and and Kirk Lanam, 53, of Hartland, are headed to trial for allegedly embezzling $900,000 from a vulnerable 87-year-old. (MLive file photo) MLive.com OAKLAND COUNTY, MI A West Bloomfield woman and Hartland man are headed to trial for allegedly embezzling $900,000 from a vulnerable 87-year-old. Shelley Letzer, 68, and Kirk Lanam, 53, had their cases bound over to the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Barring any settlements the two will now stand trial for allegedly financially exploiting a vulnerable adult, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stated in a news release, issued Tuesday afternoon. Lanam and Letzer are accused of fraudulently obtaining legal power of attorney from victim in March 2024, Nessel stated. The two knew the victim to be a vulnerable or incapacitated adult with a court-appointed guardian, she said. Letzer is accused of embezzling more than $400,000 from the man and attempting to embezzle at least $200,000 more from him. Lanam allegedly embezzled more than $500,000 from the victim toward his own personal benefit and to the benefit of a purported nonprofit that he controlled, Veterans Service Dog Organization based in Howell. Exploiting unsuspecting victims or those who rely on others for support for personal gain is unacceptable, Nessel said at the time of Lanams arraignment in January 2025. My department takes reports of elder abuse very seriously. We will thoroughly investigate allegations of wrongdoing against our vulnerable adult population and prosecute those who prey on them. Lanam will stand trial on five counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult, $100,000 or more, which is a 20-year felony, Nessel stated. Lanam also faces one count of fraudulently obtaining a signature, a 10-year felony. Letzer, who was also charged in January, was bound over to stand trial on six counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult $100,000 or more, one count of fraudulently obtaining a signature and one count of motor vehicle code intent to pass false title, a 10-year felony, Nessels office reported. A pretrial date has not yet been set. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. The shakshuka and mint green tea at Mynt House, 118 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor. Sam Dodge | MLive.com ANN ARBOR, MI - I had fantasies of being T.E. Lawrence in college. The British intelligence officer earned the name Lawrence of Arabia for his support of the Arab side in the 1916 revolt against the Ottoman Empire. No, I didnt want to join some faction in a war, but as a Navy officer with an Arabic degree, I wanted to live in the region and serve as a diplomat. Two deployments on warships later, I used my Arabic for maybe 15 minutes total in one conversation at a base near Dubai. Dreams blew away in the desert wind. One thing that blossomed was my love for Middle Eastern cuisine, from street shawarma to the bountiful iftar feasts during Ramadan. Ann Arbors newest cafe scratches that itch for me with its shakshuka and mint green tea. Mynt House, 118 S. Main St., excels with its Middle Eastern breakfast brews and bites. Shakshuka is a popular dish across North Africa, containing loads of eggs, tomatoes, peppers and spices like cumin and harissa. Mynts version was a scramble of all these, hearty and popping with delicious spice. One extra Mediterranean wrinkle was the dish was sprinkled with olives, bringing some briny balance with the heat of the peppers and harissa. The shakshuka also comes with wedges of brown wheat bread, allowing you to absorb every last morsel. The day I went to Mynt, it was a bit sweltering outside. That means the mint green tea came just in time to cool me off and wake me up. It wasnt nearly Dubai temperatures that day, but you could imagine the mint dousing your flames even on the most humid days. In fact, the whole experience is sensory overload. The shakshuka is housed in an intricately patterned black and red enclosure. When you remove the top, the smells emerge and smother your nostrils with the flavors youre about to enjoy. The tea also comes an Arab-style tea glass and gold kettle that catches your eye. The upper deck of Mynt resembles a Middle Eastern bazaar, complete with beautifully painted walls, hanging green plants and pillowy benches. I remember sitting in a small coffee house in Oman during my first deployment, and this felt very familiar. From the smells to the sights to the flavors, Mynt is a transporting experience. DISH OF THE WEEK Shakshuka and mint green tea at Mynt House Address: 118 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor Hours: 8a.m. to midnight every day Price: $21 combined If you have a dish youd like Sam Dodge to write about, email him at sdodge@mlive.com. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. California battery startup Natron Energy is shuttering all operations and laying off all employees, including 37 in Holland. Getty Images California-based battery startup Natron Energy is shutting down its Michigan and California operations after failing to secure new funding. These are the five takeaways from the original article. Company shutdown and widespread layoffs Natron Energy is permanently closing its headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., and a manufacturing facility in Holland, resulting in the termination of 95 employees. The Holland plant is laying off 37 workers, none of whom are represented by a union. Sudden collapse due to funding failure The company ran out of cash after its board of directors determined on Aug. 27 that efforts to raise new capital were unsuccessful. Prior to that, Natron believed it could secure the necessary funding to avoid closure. Justification for bypassing WARN notice requirement Natron issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice just seven days prior to the planned shutdown on Sept. 3. The company argued that providing the federally required 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs would have prevented it from obtaining new financing. The company claimed potential investors required an uninterrupted workforce to consider funding. Failed North Carolina expansion The closure coincides with Natron Energys suspended plan to build a $1.4 billion plant in North Carolina. That project was also halted after investor dollars stopped coming into the company. Significant funding raised before failure Prior to losing funding, the company had successfully raised $363.6 million over 14 funding rounds, including $55.4 million in April. The startup, which developed sodium-ion batteries as a safer alternative to lithium-ion, reported $65.7 million in revenue for 2024. Generative AI was used to summarize takeaways based on an originally reported story. It was reviewed and edited by MLive. Mark Bissell will transition to executive chairman on Sept. 15, focusing on strategy as the Walker-based cleaning products manufacturer approaches its 150th anniversary. (Photo provided by BISSELL Inc.) Courtesy GRAND RAPIDS, MI Mark Bissell is stepping down as chairman and CEO of BISSELL Inc., the Walker-based home cleaning products company his family founded in 1876. Bissell, the fourth generation-member of his family to lead the company, will transition away from day-to-day operations at BISSELL Inc. on Sept. 15. He will take on the role of executive chairman, a position in which hell focus on strategy and planning, the company said. The Bissell family will continue to have a daily role in operations, with Max Bissell and Matt Kruer as key members on the executive team, the company said in a statement. BISSELL is well-positioned for a smooth transition and continued growth as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2026 as a family-owned global business right here in Grand Rapids. Adam Madigan, the companys chief operating officer, will become president and chief operating officer at Bissell Inc. and report to Bissell. For the past 40 years, Bissell has served in a leadership capacity at his familys company. Hes held the positions of vice president of marketing, president, chief operating officer, and CEO and chairman. Hes served in his current role, chairman and CEO, since 2007. BISSELL Inc. designs and manufactures a full line of home cleaning products worldwide, including carpet cleaners, vacuums, steam cleaners and more. It describes itself as the seventh oldest privately owned manufacturing company in the U.S. The company says it has the number one market share position in the U.S. floorcare industry with a strong and growing presence in many international markets. It employs more than 700 people in Michigan and 1,950 worldwide. BISSELL Inc.s corporate headquarters is in Walker, just west of Grand Rapids, and the company also has offices in Grand Rapids; Bentonville, Arkansas; Chicago; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Pharr, Texas, according to its website. It also has offices in Mississauga, Ontario, and Reynosa, Mexico. A company spokesperson said Bissell was not available for an interview. Max Bissell, president of global product, and Matt Kruer, chief investment officer, are the fifth generation of the Bissell family to lead the company. Bissell earned a bachelors degree in economics from University of Michigan and a masters degree in business administration from Cornell University. He sits on a number of community and business boards, and his community involvement over the years has included Business Leaders for Michigan, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids and the Heart of West Michigan United Way Campaign Cabinet. The Wyoming City Commission has approved Gelock Heavy Movers, Inc. and its sister company, HEL Inc., to build its new headquarters on the site of the former General Motors stamping plant in Wyoming. Charlie Nick | MLive.com WYOMING, MI A third and final tenant has been secured for the site of a massive former General Motors stamping plant in Wyoming that sat vacant and unutilized for more than a decade. The Wyoming City Commission on Tuesday, Sept. 2, approved site plans for a new 76,000-square-foot industrial facility on the site of the sprawling former GM property, now known as Site 36, at 3901 Buchanan Ave. SE. The facility will be the new headquarters for Gelock Heavy Movers, Inc. and its sister company, HEL Inc., two Grand Rapids-based companies that work in heavy equipment moving and industrial repairs. Expected to be completed in 2027, the new building will feature 6,400 square feet of office space and 69,500 square feet of space dedicated to building maintenance, as well as storage to accommodate trucks, cranes and other specialized heavy equipment, according to the projects site plans. Gelock purchased the nearly 15-acre property on the southeast corner of Site 36 for $2.29 million in September 2024, city property records show. The Grand Rapids industrial mover joins Benteler Automotive and Corewell Health in transforming the 75-acre campus of the former GM stamping plant, located by the U.S. 131 freeway and railroads, that closed in 2009. City Manager John Shay said Wyoming city officials are thrilled to see the final piece of the Site 36 reactivation fall into place. That site sat vacant for so long, and really was just almost an eyesore, Shay told MLive/Grand Rapids Press Tuesday. Now were seeing over $200 million in development. Its great. The reactivation of the site is expected to create over 400 new jobs, an economic boost for Wyoming that will infuse millions of dollars into the local economy. GM opened the 75-acre stamping plant at 300 36th St. SW in 1936. The plant closed in 2009, amid the Great Recession, and the city later began working with RACER Trust to clean up the site for future development. Franklin Partners LLC has purchased Site 36, the former GM stamping plant site in Wyoming. Records show it paid $5.25 million for the property. (Chris Clark | Mlive.com) Corewell Health is building a 296,515-square-foot consolidated service center on the northern 40 acres of the site. The facility will employ roughly 240 people and feature a distribution center, document and mail services and offices for supply chain staff. Construction is also ongoing on a 316,965-square-foot battery components assembly plant being built by Benteler Automotive on the southwest 20 acres of Site 36. The new facility will produce V801 Ford transit van battery components for commercial vehicles, creating 170 new jobs, according to site plans approved by the city last year. Gelock Heavy Movers is a third-generation, family-owned company founded in Grand Rapids in the 1940s. The company provides specialized heavy equipment moving, rigging and transportation services. Gelock purchased the Hastings Equipment Company (now HEL. Inc) in 1970 to serve as a complementary business to provide industrial repair and maintenance services, according to the companys website. The companys current headquarters is located at 450 and 550 Market Ave. SW. The company plans to keep those properties to use as a heavy warehouse and overflow site, said Matt Van Dam, the CEO of both companies. Together, Gelock and HEL employ around 60 people. Van Dam said he hopes to add seven or eight new fulltime jobs with the new, expanded location. Matt Van Dam and his father, Gelock President Rich Van Dam, told Wyoming city commissioners that they are excited to be part of the reactivation of Site 36. Rich Van Dam said the new property will be a fivefold increase in square footage compared to the companys current facilities. We look forward to moving from our current site on Market Avenue, where we are landlocked, to have more room where we can have room to grow, not for my generation, but for the next generation, Rich Van Dam said Tuesday. Tuesdays approval from the city commission will allow Gelock to move forward with environmental testing of the Site 36 property, as well as designing the new facility, Matt Van Dam said. Niko Rey Mena was sentenced to prison Wednesday, Sept. 3, in Kent County Circuit Court. Bradley Massman | MLive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 22-year-old man who shot a Wyoming gas station worker in March 2024 has been sentenced to prison. Niko Rey Mena was sentenced Wednesday, Sept. 3 to 38 months to 10 years in prison for assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. Mena shot a 36-year-old Grand Rapids man at the Admiral gas station, 3221 S. Division Ave., on March 6, 2024. In a probable-cause affidavit, police said that Mena had concealed a pistol when he got out of a vehicle and entered the convenience store. He made contact with the victim who then left the store, police said. Defendant then followed the victim out of the store, pointed the firearm at the victim and shot him, police wrote. The injured man initially was reported as critically injured. He survived. Mena also was sentenced on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm. An attempted murder charge was dismissed. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. JR Automation's $72.8 million global headquarters at 800 Riley St. in Zeeland is expected to be completed by late Fall 2026. Rendering courtesy Lakewood Architecture ZEELAND, MI JR Automation on Wednesday, Sept. 3, announced plans to build a new $72.8 million global headquarters in Zeeland. The company plans to officially break ground on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 800 Riley St., with construction expected to be completed by late Fall 2026. The 286,000-square-foot facility will include 76,000 square feet of office space and 210,000 square feet dedicated to the assembly of customer automation projects. The launch of our new global headquarters marks more than a change in location, its a bold step forward in our journey to shape the future of automation, Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation, said in a statement. The facility is designed to empower our teams, inspire our partners, and deliver transformative solutions to our customers worldwide. The new facility will bring approximately 350 employees from several West Michigan locations together into one campus. JR Automation also expects to add at least 150 new jobs with the expansion. In an effort to attract and retain talent, the 45-acre campus will feature an on-site fitness center, and paved walkable, bikeable paths integrated into restored native prairie land. The announcement follows a strategic meeting in Tokyo between leaders from JR Automation, its parent company Hitachi Ltd., and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer underscoring the companys importance to Michigans advanced manufacturing sector, a release stated. JR Automations new global headquarters is a powerful example of whats possible when we invest in innovation and build strong partnerships between Michigan and global leaders like Hitachi, Whitmer said in a statement. This project will retain and create good-paying jobs, strengthen our advanced manufacturing sector, and reinforce Michigans position as a hub for cutting-edge technology. The project was first introduced to Whitmer and Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quentin Messer, Jr., at Select USA 2024 an annual conference aimed at promoting foreign direct investment into the United States. Whitmers visit to Tokyo was one of many stops of an investment and trade mission in Asia, which kicked off Aug. 31. The trip includes stops in Japan and Singapore, where Whitmer and a team of delegates are expected to highlight Michigans competitive advantages, address the impact of tariffs and trade policy shifts and showcase the state as a stable, attractive destination for investment, according to the governors office. Founded in 1980 as a family-owned business serving the automotive industry, JR Automation has grown into a global leader in industrial automation and advanced manufacturing technology. As the company grew, it attracted investment from two private equity firms before Hitachi Ltd. acquired it in 2019. Currently headquartered at 4190 Sunnyside Drive in Holland, the company employs over 2,000 people across 21 global locations and serves industries including aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, energy, life sciences and warehousing. The companys latest expansion in 2022 involved a $9.9 million investment at 40 East 64th St. in Holland. The companys fabrication and machine teams operate out of that location. The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $2.3 million grant for the 64th Street expansion. The MSF board is slated to review another incentive package for the Zeeland headquarters during its September meeting. Sights of the newly opened Western Michigan University pedestrian walkway at 1903 W. Michigan Ave. Aya Miller KALAMAZOO, MI -- The entryway to Western Michigan Universitys main campus looks different this school year. Parking lots and a section of West Michigan Avenue have been removed to make way for more pedestrian walking space. Part of West Michigan Avenue has been permanently removed, as a result. The street now ends at Ring Road North. Construction is still ongoing to add an entryway and replace other parking lots with green space. Visitors to campus can no longer drive up to WMUs Tree of Growth, nor park at the small lot outside Sangren Hall. The lot provided easy access to Henry Hall and the Bernhard Center. The Bernhard Center was torn down in July 2024. A view of WMU's Bernhard Center before the building was demolished in July 2024. The roadway and parking lot pictured were replaced with a pedestrian walkway in August 2025. Aya Miller Creating an open pedestrian core from Howard Street to Ring Road has been a long goal of the University, said Sara VanderVeen, WMU director of planning, design and construction. Construction for the universitys Pedestrian Green Space project was separated into four zones. Construction of the primary pedestrian walkway between Ring Road North and West Michigan Avenue finished in late August. Work is still ongoing to construct an archway at the entrance of the walkway. Renderings in the 2025 Campus Master Plan included the archway with Western Michigan University spelled out. A rendering of what the entrance to WMU's main campus on West Michigan Avenue may look like after new buildings are constructed in the future. Western Michigan University A new campus gateway creates a strong sense of arrival and connection, VanderVeen said. Construction is expected to complete by Sept. 22. Until then, Ring Road North and West Michigan Avenue will be closed between Ellsworth Hall and Ring Road South. Sights of the newly opened Western Michigan University pedestrian walkway at 1903 W. Michigan Ave. Aya Miller The pedestrian area was designed to enhance the daily experience for students, faculty, staff and visitors, VanderVeen said. There are concrete and stone seating areas built into the center of the pathway and planting areas with native plants. Sights of the newly opened Western Michigan University pedestrian walkway at 1903 W. Michigan Ave. Aya Miller Several parking lots outside University Arena and South Hayes Drive are also being replaced with green space and will not reopen as part of the project. The entire pedestrian walkway construction project cost $5.6 million, VanderVeen said. A rendering of what the central east portion of WMU's main campus may look like in the future in the 2025 master plan. Western Michigan University In the future, the university is considering building a multicultural center and a student success and health center along the pedestrian walkway where the Bernhard Center once stood. Designs for what main campus could look like were included in the 2025 Campus Master Plan, but the designs arent a confirmation WMU will pursue those projects. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI Clark Logic broke ground on a new 153,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on Wednesday, Sept. 3, that could house one or two tenants. The $15 million facility is being built at 7190 Beatrice Drive, just off I-94 and Ninth Street in Texas Township. It is expected to be ready to welcome tenants in May or June 2026, Clark Logics third-generation owner, Jamie Clark told the Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive. It will feature 32-foot clear heights, 12 loading docks and two overhead doors. The incoming tenants have not yet been identified, but Clark Logic which specializes in industrial real estate has been in discussions with numerous prospective leaseholders, Clark said. A rendering of a new 153,000-square-foot manufacturing facility being built by Clark Logic in Texas Township. Provided by Clark Logic Nobody is going to lease a pretty picture on a piece of paper, he said. So, until the building becomes real and youre developing it and hanging steel, and they know the timeline, nobodys going to commit. The space, which can be subdivided into two 76,500-square-foot suites, will provide an opportunity for either one or two local manufacturing or distribution companies. It will neighbor two existing Clark Logic properties. One is a 120,000-square-foot distribution center at 5383 International Drive that is leased to a local logistics firm. The other is a 32,000-square-foot space at 6935 Beatrice Drive, utilized by Goodyear. The site was just perfect, and it was right for our toolbox, Clark said. It works for our business model, the synergy, being in Kalamazoo, the industrial planning. A drone shot of the future site of a 153,000-square-foot manufacturing facility being built by Clark Logic in Kalamazoo County's Texas Township. Provided by Clark Logic In addition to real estate, Clark Logic offers a full suite of industrial services from warehousing to logistics to transportation. The Texas Township project was originally initiated by AVB, which had it under contract with global spice company Kalsec, Clark said. Kalsec announced in July it was building a new $12 million facility on its existing campus in nearby Kalamazoo Township. Clark credited Greg Dobson, AVBs chief operating officer, with introducing Clark Logic to the site, leading to the company taking over the contract. Dobson and others from the local business community were on hand Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking. Southwest Michigan is considered one of the tightest markets in terms of available warehouse space in the nation, said Kristin Hagen-Keirns, Clark Logic marketing director. Since 2022, Clark Logic has delivered more than 2 million square feet of new industrial space and, in the last three years, has renovated an additional 2.5 million square feet, she said. We started in Three Rivers 55 years ago with one warehouse and thats pretty much all we had for our first 30 years, Clark said. Now, the company has more than 7 million square feet of industrial real estate across 100-plus facilities, he said. Clark expects that number to surpass 8 million within the next year, with more than 5.5 million square feet in Southwest Michigan. Ground was broken Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 on a new 153,000-square-foot manufacturing facility being built by Clark Logic in Kalamazoo County's Texas Township. Provided by Clark Logic Were a Kalamazoo company, Clark said. This is our community and this is our hometown. Im just grateful for our friends, our community and our customers. Without them, we are not here. The new Texas Township facility is being constructed by Wolverine Building Group and financed by Horizon Bank. AR Engineering will provide engineering services. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. Mike Bacigalupo is seen in this MLive file photo. Jacob Hamilton BAY CITY, MI The former Bay City State Theatre director may soon enter a plea in a federal fraud case. Mike Bacigalupo, who faces a single count of federal wire fraud, has consented to a plea hearing before a U.S. magistrate, according to court documents filed Wednesday, Sept. 3. A court order also filed Wednesday shows Bacigalupos case will go before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris for a plea hearing. No hearing date has been set. Morris will also be tasked with ruling whether Bacigalupo is competent to enter a plea, knowingly and voluntarily wishes to enter a plea, and whether to accept the plea. However, specifics regarding any potential plea or any potential agreement attached to it were not immediately available. Bacigalupos attorney, Jeffrey J. Rupp, did not immediately return calls seeking comment. The federal complaint, authorized on Aug. 26, accuses Bacigalupo of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme targeting multiple cultural and economic organizations between June 2020 and November 2023. The alleged victims include the Bay City State Theatre, Bay City Historical Society, and Michigan Economic Development Corp. Prosecutors allege Bacigalupo used false pretenses and fraudulent representations to obtain money from these organizations, including sending fraudulent emails across state lines as part of the scheme. If convicted, Bacigalupo could face asset forfeiture for any property traced to the alleged fraud proceeds. The U.S. government may pursue a forfeiture money judgment for the full value of proceeds obtained through the scheme. Federal authorities also retain the right to pursue substitute assets if the original proceeds cannot be located or have been transferred, placed beyond court jurisdiction, significantly diminished in value, or mixed with other property. The Michigan Manufacturers Association has launched its 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Michigan competition, featuring five innovative products from mid-Michigan among its nominees. Photo courtesy of Michigan Sugar LANSING, MI Several products are in the running for the Coolest Thing Made in Michigan crown. The Michigan Manufacturers Association launched its 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Michigan competition this week, unveiling 25 innovative products from across the state, including things like virtual dog leashes and wind tunnels for flying bats. The nominees span across Michigan, representing companies from Traverse City to Warren and include products like Blakes Cider Triple Jam from Armada, Pioneer Sugar produced in multiple locations including Bay City and Sebewaing, and the Rocket Mortgage Classic Trophy crafted by Aristo Cast, Inc. in Almont. A full list can be found here. The competition invites all Michigan residents to participate in the voting process. The first round of voting runs from Wednesday, Sept. 3, through Friday, Sept. 12, during which voters can select up to four products daily at micoolestthing.org. The top ten vote-getters will advance to a second round, which will determine three finalists. The ultimate winner will be revealed at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards gala in Lansing on Nov. 20. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning that the House Republican plan to slash funding for her office by about 30% would impact services for abuse survivors and county prosecution support. Ben Orner | MLive.com Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned Wednesday that proposed House Republican budget cuts of nearly 30% would harm domestic and sexual abuse survivors, jeopardize felony conviction appeals statewide and create a scenario like The Purge in one county. The budget proposed by the House deeply, deeply concerning, Nessel told reporters Wednesday, Sept. 3. When you talk about what it means to defund the police, it is that budget proposed by the House. The general government spending plan, put forward by House Republicans and passed Aug. 26, would slash Nessels budget by $38.4 million and cut 96 full-time employees, or 15.3% of the offices workforce, according to the House Fiscal Agency. Cuts that steep would require Nessels office to focus on duties mandated by state law and cut other services, like stepping in for county prosecutor vacancies and handling appellate filings for 56 counties. She said the offices victim services unit would be almost completely dismantled under the budget proposal. In June, Nessels office took over prosecutorial duties for Lake County after the elected prosecutor resigned. If the Houses budget is signed into law as is, Nessel said her office could no longer take on those temporary duties. As of Oct. 1, we will no longer have the staff in order to handle the prosecutions for Lake County, Nessel said. It will be literally like The Purge there. They will have no prosecutors in Lake County if this budget actually gets passed, the House budget. The Purge is a series of horror movies centering on an event, also called the purge, where all crime is legal for 12 hours once a year. Nessels office is scheduled to oversee prosecutorial duties in Lake County until the 27th Circuit Court appoints a new, temporary county prosecutor. Her office has previously stepped in to handle prosecution work for Ontonagon, Luce and Houghton counties. Michigans general government spending plan for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 is still being negotiated by the Republican-majority House, the Democratic-majority Senate and the governors office. The governors office and Senate did not include sweeping cuts to Nessels office in their budget proposals. Its really disappointing, the House budget, Nessel said. And Im very, very hopeful that the Senate will stand strong and ensure that that doesnt ultimately become our budget and that the governors office also appreciates how important it is for us to have a strong budget here. Lawmakers have until midnight Sept. 30 to agree on a 2025-2026 spending plan and get that compromise budget before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature if they want to avoid a government shutdown. Policy differences, how best to fund the states crumbling roadways and bridges and a late budget proposal from House Republicans have stalled negotiations. These issues saw lawmakers blow past the required July 1 budget passage deadline. Nessels remarks Wednesday were given during a press conference alongside a bipartisan group of lawmakers who were reintroducing a bill package that would provide tougher penalties for human traffickers and more protections and leniency for survivors of human trafficking. She said her office would lose 57 special agents, 13 trial prosecutors, three appellate criminal prosecutors and all victim advocates except for one person under the House budget. Now, its easy for legislators to say they care about combating human trafficking, but they cant claim to support survivors while irrationally cutting the budget of the very department and the jobs of victim advocates, criminal investigators and trial attorneys who are tasked with fighting it, Nessel said. We cannot claim to want to truly hold traffickers accountable while ignoring this critical legislation. The commitment to combating human trafficking must be reflected in our budget as well as our laws. Beyond general reductions, the House budget targets several specific programs within Nessels office, including the organized retail crime unit and statewide sexual assault kit testing program. Under the sexual assault kit testing program, Nessels office works with Ingham, Kalamazoo, Washtenaw and Wayne counties to eliminate county backlogs of untested sexual assault kits, assist with prosecutions and investigations and provide victim services. House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said Nessels office has enough money dedicated to the program to fund it for another year and that, if more money is needed, the Legislature will provide it. Created in January 2023, Nessels organized retail crime unit is aimed at breaking up and prosecuting large, organized groups of criminals who steal from businesses and then sell the items illegally. The unit estimates this organized theft costs Michigan about $1 billion. More than 80 people involved in 40 different conspiracies have been charged by the unit and millions of dollars, not counting merchandise and cryptocurrency, have been recovered, Nessel said. I think weve made an impactful difference and I dont know that well be able to sustain that, she said. The House budget would also effectively defund the address confidentiality program, which for the past two years has concealed the addresses of hundreds of victims of stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and more so that their perpetrators cant locate them through public records. We have 459 participants, Nessel said. Those are 459 people that have been able to escape assailants and abusers, but yet this program was defunded to the extent that we wont have anyone to run it anymore. The House Republican budget would also prohibit the attorney general from suing the federal government, participating in any multi-state lawsuit or from suing any gas or oil company effectively without legislative approval. Nessel pointed out that the states participation in a multistate lawsuit against drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies for their role in the opioid epidemic won Michigan nearly $1.8 billion in settlement funds. And that settlement amount was reached in part, she said, because her office was able to hire third-party attorneys who were specialists. The House Republican budget would restrict Nessels office from hiring these attorneys. Nessels office has also joined numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration, including one that recently saw the administration agree to unfreeze nearly $171 million in federal funding for Michigan schools. If you are really concerned about ensuring that we have the budget we need for all the things that we do, I think its important to note for every $1 that goes to the Department of Attorney General in Michigan, we bring $4 back to the state, she said. So its not a common sense cost-cutting measure to defund our office because every dollar less will result in less money that we can bring back to consumers in the state, bring back to the state because bad actors in the environmental space have created some sort of a mess in terms of pollutants. Its been pretty dry across Michigan, and most of us could use at least a one inch rain. Some of us will get that rain. Heres the best look at where. Somewhat vigorous thunderstorms are expected to build through the afternoon. The thunderstorms will be located across central Lower Michigan when they start to increase in strength. The line of thunderstorms will then move into far southern Lower Michigan and southeast Lower Michigan this evening. The radar forecast gives you the idea these thunderstorms will have occasional bursts of heavy rain. There will be two lines of non-severe thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight. The Friday rain in a meaningful amount will be confined to northern Lower Michigan and all of the Upper Peninsula. Radar forecast from noon today to 8 a.m. Friday. NOAA There are two ways to look at how much rain you will receive. We should look at the average of many models, which gives us the likely lowest amount of rain. Here is that lowest amount you could receive. If you see blue over your area it is at least one-half inch. Areas around Traverse City and Cadillac and northern Lower Michigan should have at least one inch of rain by midday Friday. Rainfall forecast through Friday morning from an average of all of the short term models. NOAA The next rainfall forecast is from a model that can forecast thunderstorms. This would be what Id call the highest rain amount possible. You see some nearly 1.5 inch totals. Total rainfall forecast from a model that should be good at forecasting the high-end amounts from thunderstorms. NOAA The heaviest rain should be in the strongest thunderstorms, which still should not be severe. The Thumb and southeast Lower Michigan will have some areas getting over one inch of rain. An inch of rain would be really helpful now. If you have planted trees and shrubs within the last year, you should start watering them again if you stopped during the summer rains. Fall soil in Michigan can be very drying if it doesnt rain. So get out the hose and turn the water on to about a stream the width of your pinky. Set a timer on your phone for 15 minutes and then move the hose to the other side of the tree. MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more. 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I Accept Wednesday season 2 part 2: Know release date, where to watch and episode details There will be four episodes in Part 2, just like in Part 1, for a total of eight episodes in Season 2. M Snehanjali USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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(Image: Pexels) Manjiri Patil 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 Swiggy hikes platform fee for third time in three weeks, taking it to Rs 15 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 Swiggy hikes platform fee for a third time in three weeks taking it to Rs 15 Aryaman 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. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept From BBMP to GBA: Will it make Bengaluru great again? Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol.com with 15 years of experience in journalism and a Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism awardee. He writes on issues that matter to people. Based in Bengaluru, his work spans mobility, infrastructure, start-ups, and government policies. He tweets at @ChristinMP_. Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar unveils board of the Greater Bengaluru Authority at its headquarters Christin Mathew Philip USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *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 Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 Philippine telco PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications said on Wednesday they have expanded their grassroots programme to prevent theft of telecoms infrastructure by partnering with local communities, following its initial launch earlier this year. The barangay-based asset protection initiative was first launched in Makati City in June by PLDTs Asset Protection and Security Risk Governance (APSRG) Group in partnership with local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in response to persistent theft and vandalism targeting PLDTs network. PLDT said the barangay-based initiative has now been rolled out in Pangasinan, Davao, and Cebu, with more areas to follow soon. (In the Philippines, barangays are small territorial and administrative districts forming the most local level of government.) In Dagupan City, the rollout was led by APSRG North Luzon Asset Protection Division (NLAPD) through its head Jose Rainier Mendoza, in coordination with Brgy Mayombo barangay captain Arsenio Armie Curameng and the PNP in Dagupan. The initiative in Davao City was rolled out in Barangay Baliok, led by Jose Carlos G. Oliver, Head of the Asset Protection Operations Center (APOC), and Nepthali S. Cabanos, Head of Mindanao Asset Protection, alongside teams from Mindanao Relations, PLDT Home Sales, and smart device partners. In Cebu, over 100 people joined the campaign led by APSRG Visayas head Nicomedes Juezan, Jr, in cooperation with Brgy San Vicente, Liloan barangay captain Victor Comendador. In each initiative, barangay officials, security personnel and residents learn how to report incidents to PLDTs security hotline 164, as well as the basics of the Anti-Fencing Law, and digital safety. PLDT and Smart also supply security kits containing flashlights, batons, raincoats, reflective gear, and Smart prepaid cards to support barangay patrol units. Philippine telcos have been battling vandalism and theft at telecoms sites for years, with PLDT having claimed in recent months that theft occurs as often as every three days in certain areas in Manila. Col. Wilfredo F. Gonio, head of PLDT and Smarts security central command and administration centre, APSRG, said it was crucial to get local people at the barangay level involved to combat the problem effectively. Local partnerships are vital in enhancing our on-the-ground response to threats against our towers, network equipment and fibre lines, to name a few, Gonio said in a statement. These collaborations not only deter theft and vandalism but also empower communities to take an active role in protecting the services they rely on every day. Punjab floods mayhem: At least 30 dead in floods across 23 districts, Haryana extends Rs 5 crore aid Rescue and relief operations are in full swing, with 19,597 people evacuated across the affected areas. Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept A bench of justices Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta said the offence of dishonour of cheque was mainly a civil wrong. Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The ex-CJI's observations came even as a Karkardooma court recently warned defence counsels in the Delhi riots conspiracy case to stop constant adjournments and be ready to argue. Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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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 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 Frank Rausan Pereira Senior journalist and and Founder, Bharata First. Twitter: @frp09. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. A new order RIC has been declared. In reality it was time for the PM Modi to drive home a point subtly. Namrata Agarwal 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 'Kick him out of the country': Elon Musk after imam blames white Americans for spreading violence Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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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 Laid off from Microsoft, Pakistani techie says he has only $10,000 left: 'On the verge of losing everything' Mody Khan explained that despite more than two decades of industry experience, including five years at Microsoft, he had been unable to secure a new role. Shubhi Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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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 Woman praises Rapido driver who dropped her home after 6 hours in Gurgaon traffic: 'An absolute gem' The post quickly drew positive responses online, with many praising both the driver and the spirit of the story. 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. 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 Next month marks Safaricoms 25th anniversary. CEO Peter Ndegwa (pictured) was in London to reflect on the operators journey - from a subsidiary of Telkom Kenya to becoming the countrys largest and most valuable enterprise. Speaking to Developing Telecoms at Vodafone UKs headquarters, Ndegwa looked back fondly on his five years in charge, highlighting Safaricoms milestones and its plans for future growth. Before joining Safaricom, Ndegwa spent 15 years in the food and drinks industry, holding senior roles at Diageo and overseeing iconic brands such as Guinness. He swapped marketing campaigns about not splitting the G in a pint for driving Safaricom to record achievements. This year alone, the company surpassed US$3 billion in revenue, delivered US$1.2 billion in operating profit, and celebrated passing 50 million customers in Kenya. Today, Safaricoms mobile network covers 95% of the population, with 36 million monthly users on its M-Pesa mobile money platform. Mobile momentum Despite its dominance, Ndegwa believes there is a lot of headroom to grow both in Kenya and in its new market, Ethiopia. In Kenya, only about half of customers own 4G or 5G devices. As across Africa, device affordability is the main barrier. Industry experts often point to local smartphone manufacturing as a solution. Governments are urged to offer tax breaks and incentives to vendors to reduce tariffs and lower prices for consumers. Safaricom has taken matters into its own hands with the Neon line of locally manufactured smartphones. Since 2023, devices have been produced by East African Device Assembly Kenya (EADAK), a joint venture with Jamii Telecommunications, Shenzhen TeleOne Technology, and the Industrial Technology Trading Company. Ndegwa said 4G uptake is rising by 20-30% annually, with 23 million 4G devices now active on the network, out of 50 million. Mobile is not declining yet - were even still growing in voice. Theres still more opportunity to grow - weve reduced price and were creating more affordability, he said. Safaricom also sees potential in broadband. The company currently connects fewer than half a million premises, with around 2 million more to reach by fibre or satellite. It has already deployed 18,300km of optic fibre. Meanwhile, 5G adoption is in its early stages. Only a third of Safaricoms infrastructure currently supports 5G, but Ndegwa aims to make all sites 5G-ready by 2029. As of March 2025, the company had 1.1 million 5G customers. The core of our growth will eventually slow down, admitted Ndegwa - a trend seen in mature telecom markets worldwide. That was one reason Safaricom seized the chance to expand into Ethiopia. Betting big on Ethiopia Safaricom secured its Ethiopian mobile licence in 2021 and now has 10 million customers and 3,000 mobile sites - just half the number it operates in Kenya. Ndegwa said this underlines confidence in Safaricoms bet on Africas newest liberalised telecoms market. As expected, the new venture is loss-making in its early years. The company posted a negative EBIT of KES61.1 billion. Ndegwa attributed this to two main factors: heavy start-up capex and Ethiopias turbulent currency reform, which halved the value of the birr in 2024. The government introduced the reform to tackle forex shortages, macroeconomic imbalances, and an overvalued exchange rate. Despite the hit, Safaricom has pledged to shareholders it will break even in EBIT by 2027. Ndegwa expressed confidence in this target as Ethiopia stabilises and the government levels the playing field with state-owned Ethio Telecom, including offering tax breaks on equipment imports. With a population of 125 million, Ethiopia offers vast potential. In Ethiopia weve reached 10 million customers in three years. It took eight years to achieve that milestone in Kenya. That shows the importance of scale, said Ndegwa. At entry, Ethiopias mobile penetration was around 50%, with only 60 million active customers. Theres still a lot of headroom to grow, he said. Safaricom is targeting 15 million subscribers by the end of the year, with ambitions to reach nearly 50 million within a decade. Ndegwa was bullish, pointing to the strength of the Kenyan business in supporting expansion. EBIT in Kenya rose 13% year-on-year to KES158 billion (US$1.2 billion). Safaricom has so far invested US$2.5 billion into Ethiopia for licensing and loans, most of which has already been repaid. The group generates a lot of cash, Ndegwa noted. When our Ethiopian operation becomes a growth driver, we expect double-digit growth in both top and bottom line, because Ethiopia has the scale to deliver over time, he said. Looking ahead Safaricom Kenya remains the groups cash cow, though recent comments from a government minister calling for the breakup of its core units raised concerns. Ndegwa dismissed the idea, saying there is no visible benefit in such a drastic move. As Safaricom celebrates its silver jubilee, it remains Kenyas largest enterprise, briefly touching US$3 billion in market capitalisation. Despite the financial drag from Ethiopia, the company has the scale and strategy to replicate its growth model in new markets. Ndegwa credits Safaricoms success to its mission of improving everyday life for Africans. The financial benefits weve gained came from our purpose. We started with purpose, then customer focus, and then pushed innovation. We are doing the right things, driven by our desire to create impact, he concluded. MC Science Desk Read the latest and trending science newsstay updated on NASA, ISRO, space missions, planets, asteroids, black holes, AI, quantum physics, galaxy discoveries, and more exciting breakthroughs. The larva fossil, called Youti yuanshi, discovered in China, belongs to an early arthropod. (Natural History Museum/ Smith et al. 2024/CC-BY 4.0) Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 59 Years Ago: Remembering the worlds first view of Earth from the Moon in 1966 The first-ever image of Earth from near the moon was captured by a spacecraft on 23 August 1966. (Image: NASA) Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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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 Study claims universe is 27 billion years old and dark matter may be unnecessary Universe Could Be Twice as Old as Believed, Study Questions Need for Dark Matter (Image: Canva) Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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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 Googles annual multi-billion dollar Search deal with Apple to continue but terms and conditions apply 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. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Improving IndiaChina ties unlikely to bring immediate relief to Huawei and ZTE Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years. 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 Industry executives and officials told Moneycontrol that both vendors continue to be blocked from bidding for new contracts as they have yet to secure approval under Indias trusted sources guidelines. Rohit Singh USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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I Accept Japanese town asks residents to cap smartphone use at two hours a day, sparks backlash Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Microsoft to offer free AI tools, cloud discounts to US government agencies for rapid adoption 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 Cloud-native network infrastructure provider Mavenir has announced the successful completion and go-live of its converged charging system (CCS) transformation for SETAR, the primary full-service telecoms provider on the Caribbean island country of Aruba. The cloud-native multi-tenant CCS is supporting operations for SETAR in Aruba and enabling it to provide a charging as a service solution for mobile operator KLA in the neighbouring island of Bonaire. Powered by Mavenirs Digital Enablement (MDE) solution, the centralised system replaces SETARs legacy, island-specific charging infrastructure with a unified, multi-tenancy system. The open and interoperable system, based on fully containerised architecture, is hosted in Aruba and, Mavenir says, generates significant capex and opex savings by streamlining and simplifying real-time charging and billing operations. The service provider is also set to benefit from substantially reduced hardware and maintenance overheads, with changes synchronised automatically for both islands systems. The new charging system is now delivering real-time online and offline charging capabilities for SETARs complete portfolio of prepaid and post-paid offerings across Aruba and Bonaire through a single, converged system. Mavenir says this upgrade enables the company to effortlessly provide digital product suites to its subscribers and ensures next-generation mobile network readiness. This modernisation and transformation programme was achieved by Mavenir using fast and agile continuous deployment methods, with the Mavenir team standardising and optimising SETARs existing datasets and delivering software to its labs on schedule for comprehensive testing. This allowed the operator to seamlessly migrate away from the previous prepaid charging system and launch with confidence in the release productivity and performance, while helping to ensure business continuity. The system is deployed in an active-active, geo-redundant configuration across two data centres, ensuring high availability, fault tolerance and seamless failover capabilities. As for the effect on consumers, Roland Croes, CEO of SETAR explains: This pivotal upgrade to converged charging across our prepaid and post-paid services now allows us to instantly provision innovative and personalised digital services to our island community customers in Aruba and Bonaire. Mavenir is a long-term technology partner to SETAR, having already augmented its network capabilities with messaging infrastructure, advanced messaging security and routing solutions. The service provider is now equipped to leverage Mavenirs open APIs within the MDE platform, allowing it to seamlessly add new products and services that are auto-provisioned into the new charging system with full transparency and no customer management retraining required on the operational side. Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years. 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 Danish Khan 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 After his bike was stolen in the UK, Mumbai man calls India the safest place to travel Rajni Pandey is a seasoned content creator with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for digital news platforms. Specializing in diverse topics such as travel, education, jobs, science, wildlife, religion, politics, and astrology, she excels at transforming trending human-interest stories into engaging reads for a wide audience. Mumbai Man Calls India the Safest Place to Travel After Bike Theft in the UK (Image Credit: instagram.com/roaming_wheeels/) Rajni Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Attention Indians! New Zealand just tightened visa rulesHeres what you need to know Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences. New Zealand Tightens Visa Rules for Indians: Only Passport Office Police Clearance Certificates Now Valid Priyanka Roshan 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 Azerbaijan cries foul over its failed SCO bid: How backing its 'brother' Pakistan against India comes at a price 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 A DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missile is seen during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijings Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. (AFP) Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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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 Donald Trump accuses Xi Jinping, Putin, Kim Jong Un of conspiring against US: 'The big question is...' His comments came as China kicked off its largest-ever military parade flanked by Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un 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. 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin on September 1, 2025. (Photo by SUO TAKEKUMA / POOL / AFP) 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 Four-year limit, new 'integrity fee', social media checks: What the stricter US visa rules mean for Indian students Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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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 Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'Humans may live up to 150 years': Hot mic catches Xi and Putin chatting about immortality as Kim looks on | WATCH In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, (L-R) Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijings Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. (Photo by Sergey Bobylev / POOL / AFP) 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 'India kills us with tariffs': Trump boasts of sanctions on Delhi over Russian oil, warns of phase two or three Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Screengrab of the viral video which shows North Korean staff frantically wiping down every surface Kim Jong Un touched after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: X) 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 More S-400s, cheaper oil and a rebuke to Trump: How India is standing firm with Russia amid US pressure In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gather for a group photo during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on September 1, 2025. (Photo by Vladimir SMIRNOV / POOL / AFP) 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 Putin says ready to meet Zelensky, 'but is there any point?'; warns war will continue without peace deal Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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. 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I Accept According to WSJ, Bessent and his advisers have drawn up a list of 11 potential contenders. Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Trump says he's 'not concerned at all' with Russia-China bonhomie, rebukes Putin on Ukraine peace talks US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive to hold a joint press conference after participating in a US-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP) 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. 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We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept US expert advises Trump to scrap 50% tariffs and apologise to India, praises Modis pretty smart balancing act 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 We get along with India very well, but: Trump calls ties one-sided as he defends 50% tariffs 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 'We need India to counter China': Ex-US official Mary Kissel says US 'can't fight alone' 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 President Xi Jinping, North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un and Russias President Vladimir Putin arrive for a reception in the Great Hall of the People, following the military parade (AFP) Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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 Why a federal judges LA ruling could limit Trumps crime crackdown in other cities In Washington, D.C., Trump has relied on the citys unique legal status to deploy forces more freely, but extending the approach to states requires stronger justification Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Why a judge blocked the deportation of Guatemalan children and what it means for US immigration policy Why a judge blocked the deportation of Guatemalan children and what it means for US immigration policy 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 Xi's Gala menu for Kim, Putin and other foreign leaders - What's on the menu? 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 'You'll see things happen': Trump to speak with Zelensky tomorrow, hints at new sanctions on Russia 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 Jehovahs Witnesses invite public to special talk: An End to War How? MORE than nine million volunteers will launch a global campaign in September that will inform the public about a Bible-based solution to end all wars. As terror and bloodshed continue to ravage the world scene, most notably in large-scale conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine War, the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, and Sudans civil war, Jehovahs Witnesses worldwide will distribute The Watchtower No.1 2025 edition, titled An End to War How? We live in a time where violent conflicts, even large-scale wars, are surging. We believe that this magazine will bring hope not only to the millions of people suffering from the violence that war inflicts but also to anyone who is searching for peace in their life, said Byron Piteg, spokesperson for Jehovahs Witnesses. The concise but comprehensive magazine covers topics, such as: Why War and Violent Conflict Continue How War and Violent Conflict Will End Finding Peace Despite War and Violent Conflict Perhaps the most intriguing subject covered in the magazine is the comforting answer to the question: Will we ever see a time when there is no more war? The solution, which goes back to a simple statement that Jesus made in the familiar model prayer, sometimes called the Lords Prayer, will especially resonate with those who have been waiting for governments to bring about change, Piteg said. During the month-long campaign, the Witnesses will also invite community members to a special talk with the same theme as the featured magazine. The 30-minute discourse is open to the public and will be presented worldwide at their places of worship called Kingdom Halls. No collections are ever taken at any of the non-profits events. We invite all to attend, Piteg said. For many, what they will hear will not only be comforting but also life-changing. To find a Kingdom Hall near you to attend the special talk titled An End to War How? visit jw.org > About Us > Meetings The Watchtower No.1 2025, An End to War How? will also be featured and available for digital download on jw.org in the month of September. All content on jw.org is free to access and a login is not required. Sofia Coppola goes on treasure hunt for Marc Jacobs documentary Designer Marc Jacobs and Director Sofia Coppola pose on the red carpet for the screening of the movie Marc by Sofia out of competition, at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Sept. 2, 2025. REUTERS VENICE (Reuters) Filmmaker Sofia Coppola had not thought of trying her hand at documentary making but said an offer to profile her friend, fashion designer Marc Jacobs, was too good to pass up. Their 30-year friendship provided the backbone of Coppolas debut documentary Marc by Sofia, which premiered out of competition at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday. The film centers on the designer and his team putting together the Marc Jacobs Spring 2024 ready-to-wear collection. The creative process is punctuated by reflections on Jacobs career and the cultural forces that have shaped his vision. I was excited to not have a script or a plot, Coppola told Reuters shortly before walking the Venice red carpet with Jacobs. I knew that it wasnt going to have a big dramatic arc to the story, that it was just really me discovering his process and then intertwining it with the history of what hes made and his references and the artists hes collaborated with. A graduate of New Yorks Parsons School of Design, Jacobs rose to prominence in the late 1980s with his grunge-inspired collections and went on to serve as creative director at Louis Vuitton from 1997 to 2013, where he helped transform the French luxury house into a global powerhouse. Marc by Sofia tracks the 12 weeks leading to the catwalk presentation and sees Jacobs carefully choosing fabrics and outlining silhouettes and shapes. I was excited about going to the studio and watching Marc from the very beginning, said Coppola, an American filmmaker who won an Oscar for best original screenplay for her 2003 film Lost in Translation. Its always mysterious to me how theres not a whole plan before, but how it evolves. It was really exciting to be there at all the stages for the first time. Having his friend behind the lens was comforting said Jacobs, and his trust in Coppola meant he could be vulnerable and let things unfold the way they did. Revisiting his early years and first designs was at times nostalgic, said Jacobs. There were a few moments that really surprised me because there was some footage from my Parsons graduate show. I dont think I have ever seen it, he said. Coppola said she hoped the film clips and footage of 1990s New York featured in the documentary would inspire audiences. It was really like a fun treasure hunt to find a picture of him with his grandmother and Ive heard about people in his life and to get to find elements to illustrate that and then use photography from photographers that I admire to try to illustrate moments of his life, she said. Judge sets October deadline for IPI reorganization as Team King steps in DESIGNATED Judge Robert J. Faris of the District Court for the NMIs bankruptcy division has ordered Imperial Pacific International to file a disclosure statement, proposed plan of reorganization, and any related pleadings by Oct. 31, 2025. Judge Faris also directed the debtor, IPI, to promptly obtain a hearing date for the approval of the disclosure statement at the courts next available hearing date on proper notice. Team King Investment (CNMI) LLC, which won the auction bid for the sale of IPIs casino assets, officially closed the deal on Aug. 20. The sale of IPIs casino assets to Team King was finalized for $12.95 million. Earlier, Judge Faris discharged his previous order to show cause in IPIs Chapter 11 petition because the court-approved sale closed before Aug. 21, 2025. IPI operated a casino in Saipan for four years before closing in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 19, 2024, citing more than $165.8 million in liabilities. Team King Investment (CNMI) LLC won the bid for IPIs casino assets during a court-approved auction held on Feb. 26, 2025. Judge Faris approved the sale on April 29, 2025, after resolving creditor objections. The CNMI Office of the Attorney General initially raised objections to the sale due to concerns that Team King might include insiders from IPI, but later withdrew those objections to allow the deal to proceed. Saipan Stevedoring container issue In a declaration filed in court recently, Saipan Stevedoring Company general manager Lee Cabrera stated that IPI owes the company $288,510 for storing 28 containers. Previously, the company, through attorney Vince Seman, had asked the federal bankruptcy court to direct IPI or Team King Investment to provide a detailed plan explaining how and when it intends to remove the 28 containers from Saipan Stevedorings storage facility. According to the company, it has been storing IPIs containers since 2022 without payment. Likewise, Team King, as the new owner of the unfinished casino resort, will have to resume paying government regulatory fees and developer taxes. Man caught on camera stealing gas from library vehicle John Roman Lisua is escorted by a Corrections officer for a bail hearing Tuesday morning at the local courthouse. JOHN Roman Lisua is accused of stealing gasoline from Joeten-Kiyu Public Librarys pickup truck on two occasions. Lisua, 40, was charged with theft and tampering with a government vehicle. He appeared in the custody of the Department of Corrections before Superior Court Judge Lillian A. Tenorio for a bail hearing on Tuesday. The defendant was represented by Assistant Public Defender Karie Comstock, while Assistant Attorney General David Karch appeared for the government. Judge Tenorio imposed a $20,000 cash bail on Lisua, who was remanded to the custody of Corrections and ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 10 at 9 a.m. and an arraignment on Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. Lisua was identified as the suspect after police detectives reviewed surveillance footage from JKPL. According to the complaint, Lisua was seen under JKPLs Nissan Frontier pickup truck parked in the library parking lot. The footage also showed Lisua walking away from the truck holding a transparent gallon of liquid in his right hand and a rolled-up hose in his left hand. Police detectives stated that there were two incidents of gasoline theft from the same vehicle, occurring on Aug. 21 and 25, 2025. The complaint noted that Lisua has a pending criminal case in which he is charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace. He was previously released to a third-party custodian. Leon Lim, a computer engineering graduate from the National University of Singapore, left behind his six-figure salary as a cybersecurity specialist to join his wifes family funeral business. "It was a very difficult decision," Lim told Business Insider, noting that while he took a 20% pay cut, he has found the work far more meaningful and rewarding. He now works as operations development manager at Casket Fairprice, a company founded by his wifes grandfather in 1993. Lim said he was inspired after watching his wife, Rachael Tay, interact with grieving families and modernize the business. Unlike tech, where rules and systems are clearly defined, funeral work demands empathy, adaptability, and emotional resilience. Leon Lim and his wife, Rachel Tay. Photo courtesy of Rachel Tay "Fulfillment is not just about income. It is also about the difference I make and the professional growth I gain from tackling meaningful challenges." The transition was challenging, but with Tay and her familys support, he learned how to handle clients and organize wakes. "We have to stay calm and collected and be there for them." The couple also sees untapped opportunities to integrate technology into the funeral industry. Lim has already introduced AI-powered tools, a chatbot to answer questions about funeral customs and a digital planner to help families arrange services virtually. They are also experimenting with AI memorials that compile tributes, photos, and memories for future generations. Despite the pay cut and challenges, Lim has no regrets. The funeral industry is traditional and slow to modernize, he said. "It gets me very interested and really makes me wonder, what possibilities are there?" MPLT seeks flexibility in $29M loan bill THE Marianas Public Land Trust has asked the House of Representatives to include in House Bill 24-50 a provision allowing flexibility to collateralize securities. Authored by Rep. John Paul Sablan, H.B. 24-50 proposes to authorize the CNMI government to borrow $29 million from MPLT. The bill also seeks to authorize MPLT to withhold the public land net income annually distributable to the general fund as loan payment. In her letter to Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, acting MPLT Chair Rita A. Sablan said the trustees are requesting that the bill include a provision giving MPLT discretion to enter into margin transactions with a brokerage firm to collateralize securities. Sablan explained that this flexibility is needed to secure financial instruments deemed to be in the best interest of MPLT. She said the arrangement would mitigate the need to liquidate assets and help preserve the funds corpus. She also stated that margin authorization would support continued investment while sustaining potential income and capital gains. H.B. 24-50 was on the bill calendar during Fridays House session. However, according to the speaker, acting on it requires a two-thirds vote (14 House members), and only 12 members were present. House Floor Leader Marissa Flores, Reps. Roy Ada, Julie Marie Ogo, Thomas John Manglona, Malcolm Omar, Joseph Flores, Elias Rangamar, and Raymond U. Palacios were excused. The speaker said H.B. 24-50 will be taken up in the next session. In addition, Rep. Sablan said MPLT has also requested a meeting to discuss the trustees request to include the new language allowing flexibility to collateralize securities. US military kills 11 people in strike on alleged drug boat from Venezuela, Trump says President Donald Trump replies to a question during an event to announce that the Space Force Command will move from Colorado to Alabama, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., Sept. 2, 2025. REUTERS WASHINGTON (Reuters) The U.S. military killed 11 people on Tuesday in a strike on a vessel from Venezuela allegedly carrying illegal narcotics, President Donald Trump said, in the first known operation since his administrations recent deployment of warships to the southern Caribbean. We just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat, a lot of drugs in that boat, Trump told reporters at the White House. And theres more where that came from. We have a lot of drugs pouring into our country, coming in for a long time These came out of Venezuela. He later shared a video on his Truth Social platform that appeared to show footage from overhead drones of a speedboat at sea exploding and then on fire. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike, Trump said. He added that the U.S. military had identified the crew as members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. designated a terrorist group in February. He repeated allegations that Tren de Aragua is being controlled by Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro, accusations that Caracas denies. Venezuelas Communications Minister, Freddy Nanez, suggested in a post on social media that the video shared by Trump was created with artificial intelligence. Reuters conducted initial checks on the video, including a review of its visual elements using a manipulation detection tool which did not show evidence of manipulation. However, thorough verification is an ongoing process, and Reuters will continue to review the footage as more information becomes available. The Pentagon has not released specifics about the attack, including what kind of drugs were on board, the quantity, or how the strike was carried out. The decision to blow up a suspected drug vessel passing through the Caribbean, instead of seizing the vessel and apprehending its crew, is highly unusual and evokes memories of the U.S. fight against militant groups like al Qaeda. Brazils Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing closing arguments in the landmark trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Being suspected of carrying drugs doesnt carry a death sentence, said Adam Isacson, Director for Defense Oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, in a post on X. The United States has deployed warships in the southern Caribbean in recent weeks with the aim of following through on a pledge by Trump to crack down on drug cartels. Tuesdays strike appeared to be the first such military operation in the region to that effect. Seven U.S. warships, along with one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, are either in the region or expected to be there soon, carrying more than 4,500 sailors and Marines. While U.S. Coast Guard and Navy ships regularly operate in the Southern Caribbean, the current buildup exceeds the usual deployments in the region. In the naval force are warships, including USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale. Some can carry aerial assets like helicopters while others can also deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles. The U.S. military has also been flying P-8 spy planes in the region to gather intelligence, U.S. officials have said. They have been flying over international waters. Speaking to reporters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: These particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean. Suffice it to say that the president is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking in the United States. Trumps singling out of Maduro has raised alarms in Caracas that their government might be the real target. Last month, the United States doubled its reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups. Venezuelan officials have repeatedly said that Tren de Aragua is no longer active in their country after they dismantled it during a prison raid in 2023.m Marshall Islands picks up the pieces after fire destroys its heart of democracy Firefighters were alerted at midnight to the fire engulfing Marshall Islandss parliament on Aug. 26, 2025. Photo by Chewy Lin MAJURO (The Guardian/Pacnews) In Majuro, a day after fire ravaged the national parliament, the full devastation became clear. The building known as Nitijela had been reduced to a blackened shell, littered with debris. Among the objects lost to the fire were archive documents, original journal transcripts of daily sessions going back decades, and artworks that once adorned the walls. Flames had engulfed the building by the time the only functioning fire engine in the Marshall Islands arrived to fight the blaze on August 26. Firefighters were joined by residents and government officials, furiously trying to extinguish the flames and salvage any hard drives storing digital documents, including a copy of the countrys constitution. Yet despite their efforts, the building could not be saved. Now the people of the Marshall Islands are confronting a loss of a landmark that holds deep cultural significance. It was the heart of our democracy a place where the Marshallese voice was heard, our sovereignty upheld, our future shaped, says the minister of foreign affairs and trade, Kalani Kaneko. The Marshall Islands has overcome many trials. This tragedy will not define us. Our collective response and resilience in the face of it will demonstrate our strength. Clearing the parliaments ruins is expected to begin almost immediately, according to local media, and the rebuild could take up to a year. President Hilda Heine said the foundation of our democratic spirit and cultural strength remains firm and unshaken. Located in central Majuro, the parliament was connected by a corridor to the former capitol complex, which had been slated for rebuilding. The complex had been unoccupied for more than 10 years until its demolition last spring. Both buildings were 32 years old. Reconstruction of a new capitol complex will be delayed as the government works to first rebuild the parliament. Less than a week after the fire, a local construction firm brought heavy equipment for demolition to the site. Construction is expected to begin soon after clearing the ruins and is aimed to be completed by August 2026. In the meantime, parliament will convene next door at the International Conference Center. Kaneko says the cost of reconstruction is expected to reach millions of dollars but that what was lost cannot be measured in money. He calls the Nitijela the symbol of Marshallese democracy and the space where the voice of our people shaped our nations journey. The Pacific archipelago lies between Hawaii and Australia and has a population of 42,000, with about half in Majuro. It had previously been colonized by Spain, Germany, Japan and the U.S. The name Nitijela means the coming together of those who know and is based on a proverb once used to describe forums held by irooj (chiefs). The building gave a platform for the people of the Marshall Islands to story their own issues and chart their own course as Marshallesewithout filter by colonial powers, says Desmond Doulatram, a social science instructor at the College of the Marshall Islands. When the Nitijela is in session, key votes, debates and public hearings are broadcast on national radio and livestreamed, connecting Marshallese communities around the world. Doulatram describes the Nitijela as a symbol of a reciprocal relation between leaders and the people where plans are developed and debated, and cultural memory and oral traditions preserved. What the Marshall Islands needs most now, Kaneko says, is solidarity and support from our friends and partners, including technical expertise, financial assistance, and guidance in design and preservation. Under a recently renegotiated compact of free association with the United States, the Marshall Islands may be eligible to receive disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA, which the Trump administration has threatened with drastic cuts, did not respond to requests for comment. Kitlang Kabua, a senator representing Kwajalein Atoll, tells the Guardian: Although our hearts are heavyI believe that Nitijela is still alive and strong through the survival of our people. So long as we remain and exist, we will always have Nitijela. We will build another Nitijela chamber that honors the legacy of our forefathers, our culture and the Marshallese of today and tomorrow, Kabua said. Palau college launches first baccalaureate degree program KOROR (PCC) Palau Community College is proud to announce the approval and launch of its first-ever baccalaureate degree program the Bachelor of Science in Science. This landmark achievement marks a significant milestone in PCCs commitment to enhancing higher education opportunities for the people of Palau and the Micronesian region. The Bachelor of Science in Science program is a multidisciplinary program designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in various science fields, including environmental science, research and development, healthcare, biomedical sciences, and education. This program aims to foster a new generation of professionals equipped to tackle our nations challenges. This initiative embodies our dedication to providing quality education and addressing the needs of our communities. With this new program, students will have greater access to advanced studies, better preparing them for careers and opportunities. PCC has received the requisite approval from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges to offer this program. With full accreditation, students enrolled in the program will now be eligible to apply for Title IV financial aid, which include PELL Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Federal Work Study. As this is our inaugural offering of a four-year degree, we are working with the Office of Financial Aid, Office of Admissions & Records, and our dedicated counselors to ensure everything is in place for a smooth enrollment experience. PCC will begin enrollment for the Bachelor of Science in Science program in Fall 2026. Anyone interested in applying can contact the Office of Admissions & Records at PCC telephone number (680) 488-2471, extension 248, for details on how to enroll, program information, and financial aid options. Anyone interested in pursuing their baccalaureate degree can contact Ms. Gamberlyn Sherry Ngirmeriil, the 4-year degree program coordinator for information on the application process, program details, and financial aid opportunities. She may be reached at cell phone number (680) 775-2180. Founded in 1927 Palau Community College is an accessible and comprehensive post-secondary public educational institution dedicated to addressing the technical, academic, cultural, social, and economic needs of students and communities. We are mandated by RPPL 4-2, aka the Higher Education Act of 1993, to be the comprehensive community College for the Republic. As such we strive to provide educational programs needed by Palau and the Micronesian region. USPS outbound packages held as executive order takes effect The U.S. Post Office on May 7, 2025 in Hagatna, Guam. Photo by David Castro/The Guam Daily Post HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post) If you mailed out a package to the states after Aug. 29, chances are its on hold as the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection sort out an executive order by President Donald Trump thats now in effect. Guam Delegate James Moylan is monitoring the implementation of E.O. 14324, which suspends the duty-free de minimis exemption the rule that allows packages under $800 to enter the U.S. without duties or extra customs paperwork, according to a news release. Moylans office has confirmed that certain outgoing packages containing goods remain on hold while USPS and CBP finalize compliance procedures. On Tuesday, his office confirmed that all mail, including inbound packages, will continue to arrive on Guam from the states, and letters and flat mail without goods are still being sent out from Guam to the states, Moylan said. Our office is tracking this issue closely and in regular contact with USPS and federal partners, Moylan said. Mail services remain stable, and most day-to-day delivery continues as usual. We are making sure Guams needs are fully considered as agencies work through this process. The White House issued a lengthy statement July 30 that explained the presidents decision to suspend the exemption on most packages was to combat the illegal shipments of fentanyl and other illicit drugs that have created a national drug crisis. CBP issued a statement Saturday that it has begun enforcing President Donald Trumps executive order ending the de minimis loophole. This decisive action shuts down a pathway long exploited by criminals to move fentanyl, counterfeit goods and unvetted imports into the United States without duties. For too long, this loophole handed criminal networks a free pass to flood America with fentanyl, fake goods, and illegal shipments. Those days are over. We are securing the border, restoring fairness to trade, and protecting American families, said Rodney Scott, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. But lifting the exemption also has the effect of raising tariffs on packages of up to 50%, or flat fees between $80 and $200, according to analysis by the nonprofit Brookings Institution. A Brookings report explained that in 2015 Congress raised the threshold for duty-free, de minimis, or low-value imports from $1 or less to $800, which established a conduit for direct-to-consumer sales. It helped spark the rise of global e-commerce, as U.S. import volumes surged from fewer than 125 million entries in 2014 to more than 1.3 billion in 2024. Brookings also noted that widespread uncertainty over the changes, announced just a month ago on July 30, has triggered significant reactions from international postal services, which have suspended or restricted U.S.-bound parcel services. A number of e-commerce platforms, logistics providers and businesses have temporarily halted U.S. sales or warned sellers of potential disruptions, again citing the complexity and cost of compliance under the revised framework, according to Brookings. Consumers are now expected to see price increases in products ordered from overseas, especially from China. CBP announced that all postal shipments will be subject to International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs. For the next six months a flat duty ranging from $80 per item to $200 per item will be imposed, depending on the effective IEEPA tariff rate applicable to the country of origin of the product. After that, the ad valorem method, or value added tax, which is a duty equal to the effective IEEPA tariff for the country of origin of the product, based on the value of the product, will go into effect beginning on Feb. 28, 2026, according to the CBP website. The Guam Daily Post reached out to the USPS regional spokesman but did not receive a response as of press time. OPINION Chip in with Taiwan for global peace and prosperity Lin Chia-lung TODAY, the world faces mounting uncertainties and challenges from prolonged conflicts and democratic backsliding to economic coercion and disinformation campaigns. Authoritarian regimes increasingly employ gray-zone tactics that undermine the rules-based international order. In this fragile global environment, peace cannot be taken for granted. Democracies must unite to bolster resilience and safeguard our cherished values and way of life. Taiwan is a key player and an indispensable partner in the Indo- Pacific region, working toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. It stands on the front line of the Indo-Pacifics first island chain, defending democracy and freedom from authoritarian expansionism. Taiwan also contributes significantly to stability and prosperity through its robust economy and semiconductor ecosystem. As the 21st-largest economy, Taiwan leads in artificial intelligence and semiconductors producing over 60% of the worlds chips and 90% of its most advanced ones. This economic strength fuels global growth and makes Taiwan an indispensable partner for global development in various fields. Taiwan is determined to defend democratic values, both at home and abroad. President Lai Ching-te launched the Four Pillars of Peace action plan last year, which commits to raising Taiwans defense spending and boosting whole-of-society resilience. Taiwan does not seek conflict with China and will not provoke it. In fact, Taiwan is urging Beijing to resume dialogue on the basis of parity and dignity. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs adopted an Integrated Diplomacy to leverage Taiwans diplomatic, defense, technological, and economic strengths. With this smart power approach, Taiwan is navigating complex international relations, enhancing its global presence, and contributing to a more stable and prosperous world. Through the global democratic values chain, Taiwan strengthens partnership with democracies facing uncertain geopolitical risks to resist authoritarian influence, promote human rights, advance digital governance, and uphold the rules-based international order. Taiwans resilience in the face of authoritarian threats proves that democracy can endure and thrive under pressure. As a thriving economic powerhouse, Taiwan leads in semiconductor production and advanced technologies. Its economic strengths fuel innovation and growth in sectors of AI, digitalization and healthcare. To reinforce this position, Taiwan has launched an economic diplomacy strategy focused on non-red supply chains, aiming to build trusted and transparent networks that safeguard critical industries from authoritarian interference. Taiwan also actively advances the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, harnessing public-private collaboration to consolidate government resources and leverage Taiwans industrial strengths to promote mutually beneficial development. Initiatives include collaborating with Paraguay to develop an integrated hospital information system (HIS) to enhance nationwide medical information management; partnering with Eswatini on an oil reserve facility project to strengthen energy security and stimulate local industry; and assisting Palau in becoming a smart and sustainable island nation to exemplify Taiwans commitment to sustainable international cooperation. Regrettably, despite Taiwans significant global contributions, it remains largely unrecognized by the international community and is unable to participate in the United Nations system. Taiwans unwarranted exclusion stems from Chinas deliberate misrepresentation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758. The resolution is falsely linked with the so-called one China principle and continues to be wrongfully weaponized to block Taiwans participation. However, UNGA Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan at all it merely addresses Chinas representation in the United Nations. The resolution does not state that Taiwan is part of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), nor does it grant the PRC the right to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system. Nevertheless, the United Nations has yielded to Chinas political pressure, using the resolution as a pretext to exclude Taiwan from the international community. In response, Taiwan is speaking out against this injustice and garnering ever-more support. As international backing for Taiwan grows, countries worldwide are increasingly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at bilateral and multilateral forums such as the Group of Seven (G7) summit. And the executive and legislative branches of numerous nations have publicly clarified that UNGA Resolution 2758 neither determines Taiwans status nor precludes its participation in the international organizations, including the U.N. system. As the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary and with only five years remaining to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) it is time for it to fulfill its vision of leaving no one behind and becoming better together by including Taiwan. Taiwan invites the world to chip in and help by recognizing Taiwans rightful place on the world stage and embracing the contributions it has to offer. Only by working together can we create a better and brighter future for the Indo-Pacific region and the world. OPINION Truth 140: The Failure to Communicate & Ambrodamus! Ambrose M. Bennett THE Truth is WE have a Failure to Communicate in the CNMI, as it is common practice on the mainland to see activist ignite and push issues to the surface to be addressed as a grievance for the government to resolve. But this is not the case in the CNMI given Ambrodamus is the only activist who speaks out against the establishment (Republicans, Dems & Independents) who Fail-to-Do the right things FOR the People but theres a Failure to Communicate LISTEN! Ambrodamus recently asked Mr. Daniel Quitugua to PLEASE find out the status of NMDs Money at MPLT but when I submitted an Open Government Request I was told, the Northern Marianas Descent Corporation has yet to contact them, so Im now doing the Dems & NMDCs job. I do want to thank MPLT Administrator Barbara Reyes for expeditiously responding to my request and assuring me she will get answers, as to-date, NMDs still dont know 1. How much money they have, 2. How much is owed from loans, if any. 3. WHAT is the yearly income & expenses at MPLT. But one would think the new NMDC president would be expeditiously working to find answers but it seems WE have a Failure to Communicate. But the main questions are Why an/or What is the problem with Danny & NMDC, as Im sure most readers know the answer Ambrodamus was first to ask, thus the Same-O silent treatment of avoiding PROGRESS! I recently submitted a formal letter of request for Oversight Hearings on the Cannabis Commission & Casino Commissions to members of the House and I was glad to see my former student & Vice Speaker Diego Vincent F. Camacho who deserves KUDOS for proposing to disband the Cannabis Commission, at least hes trying to listen. But, dissolving one commission to create another commission as a division within the Department of Commerce with authority to regulate the cannabis industry was NOT the original intent for the industry to be self-driven like the Hotel Industry. Im also sure Republicans are still lobbying for THEIR Commissioners, as Commerce doesnt need them to issue licenses & create policies that can be freely promulgated by an ad hoc committee of Industry Stakeholders & Commerce as even the Commissions policies still need to be made Law by the Legislature. The enforcement should also be under Alcohol Tobacco (and Marijuana) that is already set up for Vice-enforcement while the Municipal Counsels should have the power to designate WHERE & under WHAT conditions marijuana can be used in Public Locations on their respective Islands. Presently tourists are breaking the law with no Free-place to smoke just paying a lounge when they want to enjoy smoking on the beach. The mayors were intended to approve & support Cannabis Events like the mayors do with other events. Please note that Commerce, the Saipan Municipal Counsel & Mayor were all on board for these reforms until Ambrodamus was stopped by the Governor. But at least the communication letter I sent wasnt a failure and hopefully all the needed reforms (laws) for the industry can be implemented saving money with a productive Cannabis TOURISM Industry as originally intended. However, the Oversight Hearing I requested for the Casino Commissions to be dissolved still seems to be a Failure to Communicate with the (Casino) Gaming Committee Chair Ralph Yumul, as I have yet to hear anything. It is soooo darn obvious Republicans dont want to lose their 15 GOP Casino Commissioners, who are mostly retired politicians or have high profile family ties for VOTES. But if our leaders can ignore someone like Ambrodamus who has a historic public platform on the obvious WASTE & Poli-tricking with all these unnecessary commissioners, what does that mean for the average person without a public platform YES total disrespect FOR the People who hired them. Readers just witnessed this same disrespect for NMDs that lasted for decades and Im sure readers, especially the NMDs, are anxiously waiting on Mr. Quituguas Financial Status Report on the MPLT Funds. But this is just another example of WHY the CNMI cant move forward and WHY so many people in the community appreciate Ambrodamus for speaking UP on behalf OF the People. Respect & Communication are not one-way phenomenon as Respect is RECIPROCAL and Communication requires LISTENING, which is something our leaders have FAILED-to-Do, and WHY Ambrodamus has proven entirely too many times with too many issues that WE the People have missed-out-on progress because our elected leaders refuse to listen for TRUE! Once they are elected, there is a Failure to Communicate by too many of them who CHANGE, and others are just simply AFRAID. So, all the accountability stuff flies out the window or into the trash when it comes to holding them accountable TOO their People, as they avoid accountability at ALL-COST just to keep SITTING! Some officials even get away with HIDING by not addressing issues LOL, which is why I am praying for ALL-of-Us that WE the People will have a real Rock-Star for our next Governor who is not afraid to Listen & Do the Right Thing, regardless of the source from which it came as WE can learn from children & even the ants on their merits if WE listen, like WE are taught in the Bible. I taught my students to vote based on WHAT they (elected leaders) have done that you can see, feel or touch to make your life or the CNMI a better place to live & work, a simple test for elected leaders. It is now a matter of Public Record that CNMI Republicans havent done SQUAT lately to make the CNMI nor our lives Better. So, dare to ask, What have you done for me lately when elected leaders come calling for your vote. One People, One Direction. Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays-Lifetime Humanities & Religious Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Philippine president and Congress have begun looking into possibly massive corruption in flood control projects that may implicate public works officials and engineers, construction firms and politicians in one of the countries most vulnerable to typhoons. The House of Representatives infrastructure committee opened a nationally televised hearing Tuesday. The Senate's powerful blue ribbon committee resumed on Monday a separate inquiry, where senators grilled a private contractor who has denied any wrongdoing but faced intense questioning over her family's fleet of at least 28 luxury cars and SUVs. Rep. Elajiah San Fernando said that given the huge budget allocated for flood control infrastructure and water resource development in the Philippines, including more than 308 billion pesos (US$5.4 billion) this year, the scale of the corruption could be "of the grandest kind." Addressing construction companies, private contractors and politicians involved in anomalies or "ghost projects," San Fernando warned that Congress has "no other objective but to see your heads rolling, to hold you into account and lock you up in jail." In July, back-to-back typhoons and seasonal monsoon downpours set off massive floods that affected millions of people, displaced more than 300,000 others, damaged nearly 3,000 houses and left extensive infrastructure and agricultural losses. At least 26 people died in the weather onslaught. "When it floods, it's not the wealthy engineers or politicians or senators or congressmen or contractors living in mansions with dozens of SUVs who suffer," San Fernando said. "When flood control fails, the ordinary Filipino gets to be hurt first." Residents salvage their belongings following the floods brought by Typhoon Gaemi, in Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 25, 2024. Photo by Reuters Another House member, Walfredo Dimaguila Jr., blamed past public works officials for poorly planned projects that aimed to ease the flooding in metropolitan Manila but have caused frequent flooding in his province of Laguna, south of the capital. He presented video footage showing school buildings and houses engulfed in recent knee-deep floodwaters. Villagers wade through the water and others row their way aboard small wooden boats along flooded streets. Flood control anomalies anger Marcos After inspecting provincial flood control projects in recent weeks and discovering substandard quality and other anomalies, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday that he would form an independent commission to investigate the corruption that likely has hounded such projects and file criminal charges against those responsible. Marcos said more than 6,000 of the 9,000 flood control projects implemented so far in his more than three years in office have inadequate or unusual specifications that should be looked into. A website launched by the president to allow people to report potential anomalies has been swamped with complaints. "Im getting very angry," Marcos told reporters after an Aug. 20 inspection of a riverbank concreting project in flood-prone Bulacan province, north of Manila. The project has been reported as completed, but no work has been done, Marcos said. A contractor denies wrongdoing In Monday's Senate inquiry, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada expressed suspicion on how private contractor Sarah Discaya, a former dental clinic receptionist and nurse abroad, managed to grow rich over the years after she and her husband ventured into the construction business and won a large number of government contracts, including many flood control projects. "This is unbelievable," Estrada said after Discaya acknowledged owning at least 28 of the world's most expensive cars. "Its only now that Ive heard of one person or a couple owning such a big number of very expensive cars." Under intense questioning, Discaya repeatedly denied that she and the nine construction companies she owned with her husband resorted to corruption and bribery to win contracts from the Department of Public Works and Highways. The department, which oversees the countrys infrastructure projects, has been hounded by allegations of corrupt deals for years. Discaya and her husband face no specific allegations of wrongdoing. Another private contractor, Mark Allan Arevalo, was asked by senators if his company had "ghost" flood control projects, but the man bowed his head and refused to answer questions, invoking his "right against self-incrimination." There has been a growing sense of alarm in the Philippines over corruption and flood control anomalies, with a Catholic Church leader, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, urging young Filipinos to "expose injustice" and to "make corruption shameful again." Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Berdimuhamedov is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met here with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Tuesday. Berdimuhamedov is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Stressing that China and Turkmenistan are good partners who trust each other, Xi said China supports Turkmenistan in pursuing the policy of permanent neutrality and safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both sides need to expand the scale of cooperation in natural gas, continuously promote cooperation in non-resource fields, enhance connectivity, accelerate the Luban Workshop program, and establish cultural centers in each other's country, Xi said. The two countries need to closely coordinate and cooperate within the SCO and the China-Central Asia mechanism to promote bilateral cooperation to achieve more results, Xi said. China and Turkmenistan must firmly defend the outcomes of the victory in World War II and jointly safeguard world peace, he added. Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan and China enjoy profound mutual trust and cooperate in a wide range of sectors, which has brought benefits to the two peoples. He added that as Turkmenistan's development strategy to revive the Great Silk Road and China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative complement each other, Turkmenistan is willing to enhance cooperation with China in sectors such as energy, infrastructure development, education, and culture. He noted that the SCO has great potential with solid progress in cooperation in trade, investment, security and people-to-people exchanges, making positive contributions to a more just and balanced world landscape. Turkmenistan will actively participate in relevant cooperation, he added. Berdimuhamedov also said that Turkmenistan fully supports China's vision of a community with a shared future for humanity and the Global Governance Initiative, and is willing to work with China in advancing their implementations. The two sides signed multiple bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as intellectual property rights, media and education. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Berdimuhamedov is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Editor: WXY The news media these days can often feel like an infomercial for resilience. Following the near-daily disasters, whole communities are blessed with the word and the media is onto the next one having declared that normalcy is being restored, albeit with heavy hearts. Why the rush? As Ajay Singh Chaudhary writes in his book The Exhausted of the Earth, Resilience is a management strategy and apology for the status quo, for global capitalism with all its constitutive social and socioecological relations. Sarah Jaffe writes in The Baffler of this organized abandonment as representative of neoliberalism that isnt simply about shrinking the state but growing power in some areas while others are completely hacked off. Disasters should speed up the timeline: While of course there is urgency in rebuilding after a disaster, particularly when thousands are out of their homes, the rush to declare the tragedy over, to restore normalcy, has grown untenable. In a time of escalating climate catastrophe, we need something other than paeans to resilience. Indeed. *** America runs on death. So begins a forthcoming paper for the Washington and Lee Law Review, in which Marissa Jackson Sow makes the case for introducing the concept of social murder into the American legal lexicon. Lets review. What Is Social Murder? Sow defines it as the elimination of groups of people via atrocious events for which the State bears indirect or partial responsibility, through calculated abandonment instead of specific intent. And she stresses that social murder is a necessary outcome of market capitalism: Within the liberal democracy, social murder is a governance technology that allows the state to reallocate capital from the poor to the middle and upper-classes while coercing the poor, working, and middle classes to accept labor arrangements on terms less-than-favorable to them by holding up the victims of social murder as a cautionary tale concerning what happens if one becomes too poor and too dependent upon the state for basic survival. A great example is the criminalization of homelessness (as if it wasnt already punishment enough) taking place across the country in red and blue states. The ongoing destruction of welfare states in Western Europe and Canada provide other case studies. There are examples of social murder all around usfrom abandonment in climate disasters to slave labor guest worker programs to the absence of a social safety net to the grandaddy of them all: The COVID-19 pandemic pulled back the veil on governmental policymaking that expressly accepted the sacrifice of the lives of some for the benefit of the economy. The Legal Nuts and Bolts Here is Sows argument on why social murder must introduced to the American legal system: Without the right to contract for the goods and services that support and sustain life, one does not enjoy the benefits of membership in the body social. Socially speaking, without the ability to exploit the rights to enjoy contract and property, one is not fully alive in the social sense, and without social protections, one is inevitably more exposed to the possibilities of physical death. And here is the judicial precedent with regards to the 14th Amendment: In deciding the Slaughterhouse Cases, the United States Supreme Court interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment for the first time since its 1868 ratification, and in so doing, made clear that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution was made for the specific and unique purpose of elevating formerly enslaved African Americans to the status of full citizen by preventing governmental discrimination against them. Stated otherwise, the Amendment, including its Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses, were meant to facilitate the inclusion of Black Americans into the body politic and the body social. But the Fourteenth Amendment does not protect against discrimination perpetuated by private persons and entities. The Court, of course, later placed key limits on that inclusion via the earlier Racial Retrenchment casesnotably via Washington v. Davis and Village of Arlington Heights.In both cases, the Court ruled that while intentional racial discrimination by government actors remained unlawful, discriminatory impacts without discriminatory intent were not unlawfuleffectively sanctioning the legalityand banalityof structural and institutional racial violence. The effect: harms, which, when accumulated, strip life chances away from the unwelcomed and increase their exposure to zones of death, are made banal. These violences are thus shielded from the reach of remedy and made imperceptible. While the US courts have made it virtually impossible to prove legally because of the challenge to prove intent, the system remains highly effective for the elite perpetuating the violence: It aids governments in the economic and political management of human populations, by subjugate[ing] life to the power of death. It accomplishes this by relegating its underclass population to a quotidian purgatoryterrorizing them into unfavorable labor conditions and coercing them into disadvantageous economic and sociopolitical bargains. As housing and food prices spike, there are some people who simply will not make ends meet even while working two or three different jobsleaving them vulnerable to poor wellness, workplace injury, food insecurity, and compromised safety and physical integrity. Social murder is effective governance technology because it is legally illegible and otherwise virtually imperceptible. When it results in injury and death, no one is to blame, because at no point did any policy maker declare specific intent to destroy individuals.157 Rather, interpersonal incidents of police brutality or violent vigilante harassment are attributed to bad individual behavior, or institutional bias, while disasters such as apartment complex fires are easily blamed on the negligence of the impoverished residents themselves. Social murder is treated as a bug in the technology of liberal governance and not as a feature thereof. However, it is a central, non-negotiable feature of American market democracy. The Reality of US Freedom According to Ronald Wright, John Steinbeck once said that socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires. The reality is that a vast majority will always be temporarily embarrassed: The United States, for example, only exists as dominant, both outside of and within its borders, and this requires that someone exist who will be dominated. Legally speaking, this requires that rights holders exist in contrast with those excluded from rights, that citizens exist in contrast with foreigners, patriots in contrast with subversives and enemy combatants, and the productive in contrast with leeches. American citizenship and the legal rights attaching theretolife, liberty, and propertythus only exist insofar as a vulnerable underclass of Othersfor which life, liberty, and property are never guaranteedare also present. Americans living in the top one percent of counties ranked by median household income now live an average of 84.3 years, while people living in the bottom 50 percent of counties ranked by median household income live an average of seven years less. Why is this unsurprising? In market democracies, withdrawals of state protection in favor of private contracting and only the rights to food, housing, and healthcare that ones money can buy, have resulted not only in the expansion and enhancement of inequalities, but in the tragic, premature, and systemic deaths of Americas citizen underclassthose who bear the brunt of inequality until they can bear it no longer, or are culled. Their deaths are caused by state policy and practice, including the wanton disregard by governments for communities they find undesirable or bereft of social, economic, and political value; and the intentional destruction of Society through privatization of public goods. Because no precise language exists to describe these happenings in the United States, these deaths take placeoften spectacularlybefore our eyes, as if they are natural, if unfortunate occurrences, and for which no remedy is possible. It goes beyond theory like organized abandonment defined by Ruth Wilson Gilmore as the explicit incorporation of interdependent policies and institutional practices over time that lead to entrenched inequities. With social murder, Sow makes the case that the State is not only intentionally subjugating disfavored classes of people to systemically poor living conditions to maximize Capital, but also intentionally sacrificing those among them to premature and unavoidable physical deathdeath that may be gradual, creeping, and slow, or which might occur in a fiery blaze. And because of the states latest DOGE-turbo charged privatization efforts, she makes the case that it is only set to get worse: As the American government accelerates its neoliberal project of replacing the protective state with private enterprise, and as it simultaneously cedes space to oligarchal authoritarian entrepreneurs who openly embrace necropolitics, citizens become commodities instead of rightsholders, and social murder becomes more perceptible and more prevalent. Social murder destroys American constitutionalism by depriving Americans of substantive and procedural due process, and thus breaching the American social contract. It also involves the systematic breach of Americans private contracts and pseudo-private contracts, such as those for housing and utilities. This abandonment is systemic, calculated, and much like depraved-indifference crimes, is perpetrated with wanton malice and foreknowledge that human deaths will result. We see how these policies reverberate out into the open during times of crisis like natural disasters or manufactured crises like the endless war on crime or immigration that prioritzes terrorizing wide swathes of the population rather than go after white collar criminals or employers of immigrant labor. And the ongoing genocide in Gaza is a natural, more in-your-face outgrowth of such policies: social murder and its creations of death zones is a governance technology that operates similarly to atrocities such as genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid. Yet, social murder is distinct from those forms of political violence because of the lack of specific intent on the part of specific people to harm other particular individuals. Social murder is distinct because while it certainly results in deaths and knowing wrongdoing, it functions as murder without murderers. Because social murder results from [c]ollectively produced decisions, social murders typically involve a more remote proximity, in time and space, between the offender and the victim thanin cases of interpersonal violence. Social murder functions as a necropolitical governance technology, keeping citizens fearful enough of premature physical death or destitution that they can be coerced to become human sites of economic extraction and exploitationbased upon the faulty belief that work necessarily creates personal economic opportunities and freedoms. In illiberal states, ethno-states, and apartheid states (where liberal democracy may exist for favored ethnic groups at the expense of the disfavored), the political calculations made by government actors regarding who can live and who must die are often overt Contemporary Case Studies There are plenty. Readers can probably add those that have hit closest to home for them. Here are some mentioned by Sow. Covid-19. It hammers home on a daily basis the existence through which one is critically and only usefuland thus aliveto create wealth for our overlords under permanent threat of death or destitution. The Grenfell Tower fire, as well as the fire at the Twin Parks North West apartment complex in the Bronx, where due to faulty self-closing doors, the fire spread quickly, killing seventeen residents, and injuring forty-four others. At the time of the fire, the building management had received over thirty complaints regarding inadequate heating and other problems. Sows useful summary of what connects them: Both are prototypical examples of how social murder manifests because of the tradition of neoliberal abandonment. Where governments have outsourced their duties to protect and provide basic goods and utilities to their citizens to private entities, the positionality of the citizenand particularly the value of the marginalized citizenhas drastically changed, from citizen-stakeholder to client-consumer. The devaluation of marginalized citizensimmigrants, people of color, residents in low-income housing, the elderlytakes place through public-private collaboration such as redlining (private), zoning (public), racialized arrest, prosecution and incarceration (public), and private development and management of prisons (prison), neighborhood revitalization/gentrification plans (public), and property development, sales, and leasing (private). The Detroit Water Shutoffs and Hurricane Katrina. The City of Detroit shut off water access to 40,000 households with the same type of intention to cause indiscriminate harm and suffering as did the City of Philadelphia when it flooded and bombed the M.O.V.E. residence; the outcomes in Detroit were less physically fatal and much less spectacular, but when identifying acts of social murder, is intention not what counts most? But what was true in Detroit and in New Orleans is true of all cases of social murder: that the State has, at some point, made the knowing calculation that preserving and protecting the lives of some people is decidedly less important, and that in some cases, actively placing those lives in harms way advances certain necropolitical governance goals. Illegitimate Justice Thats a lot of dark reality. Whats the solution? By making social murder identifiable and legally cognizable as a violation of both public and private rights, however, scholars, lawmakers, and policy advocates will be empowered to prevent social murder before it occurs and offer holistic remediesincluding restorative and reparative justiceto survivors after social murder has taken place. I have a hard time believing legal theory and the courts are going to lead us out of the dark ages. How well do our courts even function anymore? And is the rule of law not designed to protect them from consequences? Sow notes this: Progressive social justice activists often remind themselves and others that law will not save us, but this Article has been written in the hopes that we might indeed be saved. Hope is fine, but unfortunately, history shows us its going to take a lot more work, pain, and suffering to get there. In some ways we have been here before, as Adolph Reed Jr. mentions in his survey of the terrain: Trumpism and the other fascist-authoritarian tendencies are from one perspective expressions of neoliberalisms success. They are partly responses to the popular immiseration and insecurity that neoliberalization produces. For that reason, this reactionary turn, reprehensible and dangerous as it is, may be more like neoliberalism 2.0 than a wholly new political development.42Neoliberalism 1.0 (and I do not intend to argue for adoption of that terminology) would refer to the historically specific capitalist counterattack beginning in the 1970s and 1980s to undercut the gains workers had made via de facto class struggle during the postwar decades, gains that had been won within the already narrowed framework imposed by the capitalist counterattack that pushed back against the momentum toward socialization generated by the successes of the working class between the Depression and the end of World War II. And what is the path out of this madness? Countering the effects of a half-century of barely challenged neoliberal hegemony will require a great effort of political education and organizing to combat the weaponized lies and subterfuge that define American politics today. This will have to be conducted largely through slow, face-to-face processes that rely on establishing relations of trust and standing with others not already on our side. (On the electoral front, non-candidate, issue-based ballot campaigns can be a useful component of such organizing, as they can do political education and issue-shaping on a wider scale and facilitate making direct contacts with workers. And left-oriented initiatives have been instructively successful even in states that routinely spurn Democratic candidates.) As the late Jane McAlevey argued and demonstrated so forcefully, there can be no shortcuts in building the sort of movement necessary to challenge the dangerous forces arrayed against us.45The effort required is therefore not reducible to electoral dynamics; we cannot elect our way out of this horrible moment. We can hope only to keep the worst at bay while we organize the alternative political force. And I shall disclose here the not-so-secret punch line of my book, which the last eighty years of American political history demonstrate and with which I know Jane would also agree: there is no effective substitute for an anti-capitalist left. And the most serious political work ahead of us for the foreseeable future is to throw everything we can into generating one. Maybe once that happens we can get to incorporating social murder. Until then, one can expect elites to continue to try to act with impunity and perhaps more vigilante justice. As Sow points out, what Luigi Mangiones killing of CEO of the American health insurance company UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson shows is that sentences for social murder are likely going to get handed downone way or another. Moviegoers walk by a poster of the movie Dead To Rights at a theater in New York, the United States, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) The film is based on documented events and follows a group of Chinese civilians who took refuge in a photography studio, risking their lives to preserve evidence of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. BUDAPEST, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese historical film Dead to Rights, which depicts the Nanjing Massacre during the Second World War, drew an engaged audience at Budapest's Corvin Cinema on Monday evening. The film is based on documented events and follows a group of Chinese civilians who took refuge in a photography studio, risking their lives to preserve evidence of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. Monday's screening was also accompanied by a photo exhibition highlighting the atrocities in Nanjing and the subsequent international tribunal proceedings. Gyula Thurmer, chairman of the Hungarian Workers' Party, described the film as a very powerful demonstration of the heroism and fight of the Chinese people. "The film has really shocked me," he said. Highlighting that China's resistance against Japanese aggression contributed directly to the defeat of fascism in Europe, Thurmer stressed that everyone should know about the Chinese people's sacrifices during the Second World War. A person walks past a board of "Dead to Rights" at a cinema in Sydney, Australia, Aug. 8, 2025. "Dead To Rights," a film on the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, was released in Australia on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) Hungarian historian Arpad Toth said the film resonated deeply with him, adding that the Japanese army dehumanized people in occupied territories, not only in China, but also in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "History is teaching us how to be human in all cultures. Common remembrance is very important -- to learn what to change and what to keep from the past," he told Xinhua. Judit Eva Nagy, president of the Hungarian-Chinese Friendship Association, described feeling "overwhelmed" by the film. While Europeans are well-informed about the Second World War, they know far less about what happened in Asia and about China's resistance against Japanese aggression, she noted. "The movie is important for raising awareness, especially now when conflicts persist worldwide." Hungarian sinologist Erika Yu-Barta said the screening provided a profound emotional experience. "I've read books and seen old photos, but I've never felt such strong sadness or empathy. This film is so moving that I almost cried several times. I really want my children to see it, so they can learn about history and cherish peace," she said. Editor: WXY Alberta launches digital wallet for government IDs, raising privacy and future mandate concerns Alberta has introduced the "Alberta Wallet," allowing residents to store and present identification documents, starting with health cards, on their mobile devices. Despite assurances of "state-of-the-art encryption" and privacy by design, critics warn that digital ID systems could lead to broader surveillance and mandatory adoption, aligning with global trends toward centralized digital identity frameworks. While the digital wallet is currently optional, there is skepticism about its long-term voluntary nature. Similar initiatives in other countries have faced backlash over potential misuse for social credit-style controls, and there is concern that digital IDs could become de facto requirements. The government plans to integrate the wallet with Apple and Google Wallets, which raises additional privacy concerns. Critics warn that Big Tech's involvement could further erode privacy, despite assurances that users are in control of their data. Alberta's digital wallet is part of a broader global movement toward digitized, centralized identity systems, often promoted by entities like the World Economic Forum. While touted as tools for efficiency and security, these systems raise significant questions about privacy, autonomy and the potential for surveillance. Alberta has become the first Canadian province to introduce a government-backed digital wallet, allowing residents to store and present identification documents starting with health cards on their mobile devices. Premier Danielle Smith unveiled the "Alberta Wallet" on Aug. 29 at Calgary's McDougall Center, framing it as a "convenient" and "secure" modernization of public services. However, critics warn that digital ID systems while optional for now could pave the way for broader surveillance and mandatory adoption, aligning with global trends toward centralized digital identity frameworks. The Alberta Wallet, accessible via a verified Alberta.ca account, enables users aged 14 and older to upload their health cards as a scannable digital credential. Technology Minister Nate Glubish emphasized that the system uses "state-of-the-art encryption," ensuring privacy by design. "The government cannot track or monitor where the document is used," he said. Parents can also add children's cards to their own wallets and future expansions may include driver's licenses, birth certificates and educational transcripts. Smith dismissed concerns about coercion, stating, "Nobody is going to force you to get rid of your paper card." Yet, skepticism persists online, with social media users noting that digital IDs often introduced as voluntary frequently evolve into de facto requirements. "Digital wallets and IDs are the first step, followed by CBDCs [central bank digital currencies]," one X user remarked. Security vs. surveillance While officials touted the wallet's security features, privacy advocates question whether such systems will remain truly optional long-term. Similar initiatives abroad, like the EU's digital identity framework and Australia's MyGovID, have faced backlash over potential misuse for social credit-style controls, Brighteon.AI's Enoch points out. (Related: EU digital identity wallet trials near completion amid privacy concerns.) Alberta's assurance that data won't be tracked contrasts with broader globalist agendas pushing digital IDs linked to vaccination status, financial transactions and carbon footprints a concern amplified by the World Economic Forum's (WEF) advocacy for "trustworthy" digital identity systems. Glubish stressed that integration with Apple and Google Wallets is planned, though critics warn that Big Tech's involvement could further erode privacy. "You're in control of how you use this," he insisted a promise that may clash with future policy shifts, particularly if tied to federal mandates or emergency measures. The end of flimsy paper cards The digital rollout coincides with plans to replace Alberta's easily damaged paper health cards with a durable, combined driver's license and health ID by 2026. "It's time for a better solution," said Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, citing cost savings and fraud reduction. Yet, the move raises questions about whether physical alternatives will remain accessible indefinitely or if resistance to digital adoption will eventually incur penalties, as seen with vaccine passport systems during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Alberta's digital wallet marks a significant step toward modernizing government services, but its long-term implications remain contentious. While framed as a voluntary convenience, history suggests such systems rarely stay optional especially as global elites push digital IDs as tools for "efficiency" and "security." For now, Albertans retain the choice between paper and pixels, but the broader trajectory leans toward a digitized, centralized future where privacy and autonomy may hang in the balance. Watch the video below that talks about WEF's digital IDs in Africa. This video is from The People Of The Qur'an (TPQ) channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Russia to mandate state-backed digital ID app on all new devices starting September. EU digital identity wallet sparks privacy concerns amid rollout. U.K. government to launch digital ID wallet this summer. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com YouTube.com Brighteon.ai CalgaryHerald.com CBC.ca Brighteon.com EU science grants funnel millions to Israeli military-linked tech startups amid Gaza genocide Since October 2023, the European Union has awarded nearly 500 million in research grants to Israeli tech startups, many founded by former IDF soldiers, despite allegations of genocide in Gaza. Some technologies funded by the EU have been used against Palestinians, raising ethical and legal concerns about Europe's support for Israel's military-industrial complex. The Horizon Europe program has granted 475 million to 348 Israeli startups and research projects since the Gaza conflict began, with 220 million awarded in 2024 alone, making Israel the third-largest recipient of EU "accelerator" grants. Major recipients like the Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University have close ties to Israeli arms manufacturers and military training programs, highlighting the militarization of Israeli academia. Critics argue that Horizon's funding of Israeli military-linked entities violates EU treaties, and there are calls for the EU to sever ties with Israeli tech to avoid complicity in human rights abuses, despite strong pro-Israel lobbying. Since October 2023, the European Union has awarded nearly half a billion euros in research grants to Israeli tech startups many founded by former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers despite mounting evidence that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Documents reveal that some of these EU-funded technologies have been deployed against Palestinians, raising urgent ethical and legal concerns about Europe's financial support for Israel's military-industrial complex. The Horizon Europe program, billed as an initiative to foster "sustainable and livable societies," has granted 475 million ($556 million) to 348 Israeli startups and research projects since the Gaza genocide began. In 2024 alone, Israeli entities received 220 million ($258 million), making Israel the third-largest recipient of EU "accelerator" grants ahead of most EU member states. Among the top beneficiaries is the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel's premier research center, which has received over 500 million ($585 million) from Horizon. Despite its civilian branding, Weizmann collaborates closely with Israeli arms manufacturers like Elbit Systems and Rafael and even hosts academic programs for active-duty IDF soldiers. Similarly, Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University both major Horizon recipients operate military-linked research centers and training programs. "The militarization of Israeli academia is total," said one analyst, pointing to institutions like Bar Ilan University, which runs a "Security Arms Section" funneling graduates into Israel's security apparatus. Startups with blood on their hands Beyond universities, Horizon funds flow directly to Israeli startups founded by ex-military personnel some of whom have participated in Gaza operations. SpacePharma (2.1/$2.5 million grant) is led by Yossi Yamin, former chief commander of Israel's military satellite unit, which surveils and targets Palestinians. OncoHost (2.5/$2.9 million) sent five employees, including CEO Ofer Sharon, to fight in Gaza. Sightec (2.5/$2.9 million), an AI drone navigation firm, admitted its tech was "combat-proven" in Gaza a clear violation of Horizon's civilian-only mandate. Wi-Charge, another EU-backed startup, originated from Unit 81, an IDF division developing apartheid-enforcement tech. Its CEO, Victor Vaisleib, spent 15 years in the military. Critics argue that Horizon's funding of Israeli military-linked entities breaches EU treaties prohibiting support for defense applications. Despite this, the European Commission has proposed only a "limited, partial ban" on Israeli access a move unlikely to pass amid strong pro-Israel lobbying. "Cutting Israel off from Horizon would be a death sentence for Israeli science," warned the president of Israel's Academy of Sciences underscoring how deeply EU funding sustains Israel's tech sector. Brighteon.AI's Enoch points out: "EU's financial backing of Israeli military-linked research exposes a stark hypocrisy: While Europe condemns human rights abuses globally, it bankrolls the very institutions enabling Gaza's destruction." As Israel's genocide enters its final stages, pressure mounts on Brussels to sever ties with apartheid tech or risk complicity in crimes against humanity. (Related: Borrell slams EU's complicity in Israeli war crimes, calls for action.) Watch the video below that talks about Trump's deal with the European Union. This video is from Dr. William Mount's channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: EU funnels $736M into online censorship under the guise of fighting "hate speech" and "disinformation." EU pandemic recovery funds in Poland bankroll luxury and non-health items. EU diverts COVID money laundering funds to fuel the Ukraine war machine, as economic collapse looms. Sources include: TheGrayZone.com DoNotPanic.news Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Green tea and vitamin B3 rapidly rejuvenate aging brain cells, offering hope against Alzheimers A groundbreaking UC Irvine study reveals green teas EGCG and vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) restore brain cell energy in 24 hours, reversing Alzheimers-linked protein buildup. The natural compounds boost GTP energy levels, reactivating autophagy to clear toxic proteins and cellular damage in aging neurons. Unlike Big Pharmas costly, risky Alzheimers drugs, these safe, affordable nutrients show dramatic results without side effects. EGCG and nicotinamide, found in common foods, outperformed synthetic drugs by restoring youthful brain function in lab tests. Researchers urge further study on delivery methods but confirm natures power over pharmaceutical monopolies. Big Pharma may want you to believe that the key to protecting your brain from Alzheimers is some expensive, side-effect-laden drug, but the answer might really be found in a simple combination of green tea and vitamin B3. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) have uncovered this remarkable connection in a groundbreaking study that could change how we approach cognitive decline. A new study published in GeroScience reveals that two widely available compounds epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea and nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3) can restore energy levels in aging brain cells within just 24 hours, clearing away the toxic protein buildup linked to Alzheimers disease. The study, led by biomedical engineer Gregory Brewer, found that aged mouse neurons treated with EGCG and nicotinamide experienced a dramatic reversal of age-related decline. The compounds boosted guanosine triphosphate (GTP), a critical energy molecule that powers the brains natural cleanup process, autophagy, which removes damaged proteins and cellular debris. "As people age, their brains show a decline in neuronal energy levels, which limits the ability to remove unwanted proteins and damaged components," Brewer explained. "We found that restoring energy levels helps neurons regain this critical cleanup function." In just 16 hours, the treated brain cells, even those from mice with Alzheimers-like symptoms, regained the energy levels of young, healthy neurons. The combination also reduced toxic amyloid-beta plaques, the sticky protein clusters that strangle brain cells in Alzheimers patients. A safe, drug-free alternative What makes this discovery so revolutionary? Unlike Big Pharmas synthetic drugs which often come with dangerous side effects, sky-high costs, and questionable efficacy these compounds are naturally occurring, affordable, and already proven safe. EGCG is the powerful antioxidant in green tea that has been linked to lower dementia risk, reduced brain lesions, and improved cognitive function. Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) is found in foods like fish, nuts, eggs, and whole grains and has been shown to protect neurons from stroke and neurodegeneration. The study suggests that supplementing with these compounds could be a game-changer for preventing and even reversing cognitive decline without the need for Big Pharmas toxic interventions. Big Pharma is no match for Mother Nature For decades, the medical-industrial complex has monopolized Alzheimers research, pushing expensive drugs like Aduhelm (costing $56,000 per year) with minimal benefits and severe risks, including brain swelling and bleeding. Meanwhile, natural solutions like EGCG and nicotinamide have been overlooked despite mounting evidence of their effectiveness. This study is a reminder that the best medicine often comes from nature, not a lab. The fact that these compounds restored youthful energy levels in brain cells in less than a day is nothing short of miraculous, especially when compared to the failures of conventional Alzheimers drugs. Although the findings are incredibly promising, researchers caution that more studies are needed to determine the best delivery methods for humans. A previous clinical trial found that oral nicotinamide was less effective due to breakdown in the bloodstream, meaning future treatments may require alternative formulations (such as intravenous or liposomal delivery). But the implications are clear: Alzheimers and cognitive decline may not be inevitable. With the right natural compounds, we could protect and even rejuvenate our brains without relying on Big Pharmas profit-driven schemes. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk Independent.co.uk ScienceAlert.com StudyFinds.org Largest military installation in Illinois to be used as base for immigration enforcement operations across the state The Trump administration is planning to use Naval Station Great Lakes, north of Chicago, as a logistical hub for expanded immigration enforcement, prompting backlash from Illinois Democrats. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have condemned the move, calling it federal overreach and vowing to resist any military involvement in immigration enforcement. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Navy veteran who served at the base, criticized the plan as an abuse of military infrastructure for political purposes. The administration previously sued Illinois and Chicago over sanctuary city policies, part of a broader campaign targeting Democratic-led cities that limit cooperation with ICE. Trump border czar Tom Homan said enforcement operations will intensify in sanctuary cities nationwide, including New York, L.A., Portland and Seattle. Tensions are escalating among progressives as reports emerge that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing to use Naval Station Great Lakes, the largest military installation in Illinois, as a logistical hub for renewed immigration enforcement operations across the state. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration has requested "limited support in the form of facilities, infrastructure and other logistical needs" from the U.S. Navy to support DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in Illinois. The station, located roughly 35 miles north of downtown Chicago, has not previously been used for immigration operations of this scale. This move has triggered sharp opposition from Democratic leaders at both the city and state levels. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a vocal critic of ICE, blasted the plan and renewed calls for Chicago to resist what he labeled "federal overreach." In a recent MSNBC appearance, Johnson warned that the city must remain vigilant and "not be bullied into complicity." (Related: Chicago mayor prioritizes ILLEGALS over American citizens for political gain.) Governor JB Pritzker echoed those sentiments, vowing to use "every peaceful tool" at the state's disposal to oppose what he characterized as a military deployment on U.S. soil. "The state of Illinois is ready to stand against this misuse of military resources," Pritzker said. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who once served at Naval Station Great Lakes during his time in the Navy Reserve, condemned the facility's potential use in immigration operations. "When I reported for duty at Naval Station Great Lakes, I never imagined that some day a U.S. President would seek to use it as a base for surveillance and enforcement activity on American soil. Our military was not set up to cater to the whims of a would-be American dictator," Buttigieg wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Trump and Homan vow to ramp up immigration operations in all sanctuary cities that refuse to work with ICE According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, President Donald Trump has been criticizing Chicago for its sanctuary city policies, arguing that they contribute to crime and pose a threat to public safety. Trump has frequently singled out Chicago in public remarks, portraying the city as plagued by lawlessness and a lack of cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Earlier this year, the administration filed suit against both Illinois and the city, arguing that state and local laws obstruct federal enforcement efforts. The lawsuit was part of a broader effort by the administration to pressure Democratic-led cities into supporting its hardline immigration agenda. Similar legal actions have been launched against New York City, Los Angeles, and Rochester, N.Y., as the White House continues its push to compel local governments to assist with deportation efforts. In line with this, Homan said the administration plans to keep focusing on cities that refuse to cooperate with ICE. "Operations are ramping up across the country, but you could see a ramp up of operations in Chicago, absolutely," Homan said. "You're going to see a ramp up of operations in New York; you're going to see a ramp up of operations continue in L.A., Portland, Seattle, all these sanctuary cities that refuse to work with ICE." Follow Migrants.news for more news about immigrants entering America. Watch the video below to learn how woke sanctuary city Chicago is cracking under the strain of illegal aliens. This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: INSANITY: Chicago mayor proposes taxpayer-funded, city-controlled grocery stores. Chicago mayor mulls sending ILLEGALS to suburbs in other counties. Chicago officials refuse to disclose how they spent $120M in taxpayer money on ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Chicago's Black community slams city officials over $51 million fund for migrants. Outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pleads with Texas Gov. Abbott to stop sending illegal migrants to her sanctuary city. Sources include: Breitbart.com WSJ.com Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com Fraudulent CDL testing scheme exposed: Migrants CHEATING their way into trucking jobs Florida investigators uncovered a fraud scheme where migrants used hidden cameras, earpieces and accomplices to cheat on CDL tests. Applicants wore modified shirts with smartphones transmitting exam questions to off-site helpers who relayed answers in real time. A deadly South Florida crash (Aug. 12) involved Indian national Harjinder Singh, who couldn't identify basic road signs in English. Despite Trump's executive order requiring English proficiency, enforcement remains weak and Biden's policies allow loopholes. Whistleblowers revealed DMV employees are selling licenses in Florida, Kentucky and Massachusetts without proper testing. The proposed Connor's Law would mandate English proficiency for CDL holders but faces uncertain passage. Florida is tightening enforcement, adding immigration checks at weigh stations, but advocates demand nationwide action. Families of victims, like Mellissa Dzion (whose son Connor was killed), demand justice and systemic reform. The fraudulent CDL epidemic highlights reckless endangerment due to lax policies, requiring urgent federal intervention. In a shocking revelation, Florida investigators have uncovered a sophisticated cheating operation enabling migrants who cannot speak or read English to fraudulently obtain commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) putting countless lives at risk on U.S. highways. The scheme which involves hidden cameras, earpieces and coordinated accomplices has already led to arrests in Jacksonville. However, authorities warn that similar fraud may be occurring nationwide. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), applicants entered DMV testing facilities wearing modified T-shirts with small holes concealing smartphones. These hidden devices transmitted exam questions in real time to off-site accomplices fluent in the applicants' native languages, who then relayed answers back through hidden earpieces. This elaborate method allowed drivers to pass CDL tests without understanding a single question raising grave concerns about highway safety. The issue gained national attention following a fatal crash in South Florida on Aug. 12, where a truck driver made an illegal U-turn killing three people. The driver, identified as Indian national Harjinder Singh, was later found incapable of identifying basic road signs. Body cam footage from New Mexico police showed Singh speaking in broken English during a traffic stop. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis condemned the incident, noting that Singh "did an English test and he failed abysmally." He added: "How ridiculous is it for someone to get a CDL and not understand the language of this country?" Fraudulent CDLs fuel highway carnage "It is important for aspiring truck drivers in the U.S. to learn English because it ensures clear communication with dispatchers, law enforcement and other drivers, which is critical for road safety and compliance with federal regulations," Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine explains. "Additionally, English proficiency enhances job opportunities and operational efficiency in an industry where misunderstandings can lead to accidents or logistical failures." Tragically, this is not an isolated case. Mellissa Dzion, whose son Connor was killed in a collision with a non-English-speaking trucker eight years ago, has been advocating for Connor's Law a federal bill requiring CDL holders to demonstrate English proficiency. Attorney Curry Pajcic, representing Connor's family, emphasized the danger. "The people in big trucks they are killers in crashes. We in our Hyundais get killed and they walk away," he remarked. Pajcic also pointed out that despite President Donald Trump signing an executive order requiring truck drivers to be able to read and understand English, the next administration could repeal that. (Related: Trump's English-language rule for truckers sparks exodus of foreign-born drivers.) Investigators suspect the fraud extends beyond the Sunshine State. In Bay County, several Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles employees were caught selling up to 1,000 licenses to migrants who never took exams. Similar schemes were exposed in Kentucky and Massachusetts, where whistleblowers revealed bribes and illegal document rings. The Sunshine State has responded with stricter enforcement, with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announcing that truck weigh stations and agricultural inspection sites will also serve as immigration checkpoints. Yet advocates argue federal action is essential. Connor's Law now has 14 congressional sponsors, but its passage remains uncertain. As fraudulent CDL operations continue endangering public safety, the push for accountability grows louder not just for the cheaters, but for the systemic failures enabling this crisis. For grieving families like Connor's, justice hinges on ensuring no more lives are lost to preventable deception. Rigged.news has more similar stories. Watch this video that highlights how Indian truckers are becoming a menace in both the U.S. and Canada. This video is from the invalid18 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Shortage of truck drivers in the US forces companies to look overseas. Poorly vetted foreign drivers flooding U.S. highways, causing deadly crashes. DMVs are cutting CDL standards, allowing illegal immigrants to obtain licenses, putting Americans at risk on the roadways. Sources include: YourNews.com FirstCoastNews.com Breitbart.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Putin champions BRICS as a pillar of global realignment, emphasizes new financial system for the global majority Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasizes the importance of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in addressing global challenges and countering discriminatory sanctions. The bloc's unity is crucial for the socioeconomic development of its members and the world. Putin highlights the strategic partnership between Russia and China within multilateral frameworks like the UN, G20 and SCO. This collaboration is seen as a driving force for reforming global financial institutions to ensure openness and equity. Putin advocates for a "just, multipolar world order" that prioritizes the interests of historically marginalized nations. This vision is supported by concrete actions within BRICS and other international platforms, aiming to challenge Western dominance and promote a more balanced distribution of power. The recent addition of four new members and over 30 pending applications, including from Thailand and Malaysia, underscores BRICS' growing appeal as an alternative to Western-dominated organizations. BRICS offers a more lenient framework, allowing nations to benefit economically without conforming to Western standards. Putin's focus on BRICS and a new financial system reflects a strategic shift in Russia's approach to global affairs. By championing these initiatives, Putin aims to position Russia as a leader in reshaping the global financial architecture and redefining international relations in favor of the Global Majority. In a series of high-profile interviews and statements, Russian President Vladimir Putin has underscored the pivotal role of the BRICS alliance in reshaping the global financial and geopolitical landscape. As the world anticipates Russia's hosting of the bloc's gathering in October, Putin's vision for a more equitable international order is coming into sharper focus. His recent interview with Xinhua News, published ahead of his state visit to China, highlighted the deepening cooperation between Moscow and Beijing within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). However, it is within the BRICS economic bloc that Putin sees the greatest potential for effecting meaningful change. "We stand united in strengthening BRICS' ability to address pressing global challenges," Putin stated emphatically. "Our shared views on regional and international security, and our common stance against discriminatory sanctions, are crucial for the socioeconomic development of not only BRICS members but the world at large." According to the Enoch engine at Brighteon.AI, BRICS is a coalition of major emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa that seeks to amplify political and economic influence through cooperation, particularly challenging Western-dominated global systems. In early 2024, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates joined, expanding its reach. Nations like Malaysia and Thailand also expressing interest in membership to leverage trade, finance and geopolitical leverage outside traditional frameworks. The Russian leader emphasized the commitment of Russia and China to reform institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The goal, according to Putin, is to create "a new financial system based on openness and true equity, providing equal and non-discriminatory access to its tools for all countries." This system would reflect the real standing of member states in the global economy, moving away from the current structures that Putin suggests are instruments of discrimination and neocolonialism. But the Russian leader's vision extends beyond financial reform. He envisions a "just, multipolar world order" that prioritizes the interests of the global majority nations that have historically been marginalized in global decision-making processes. This vision is not just rhetorical; it is backed by concrete actions and collaborations within BRICS and other international platforms. South Africa's G20 presidency: A catalyst for change During his visit to China from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3, Putin will attend the SCO summit in Tianjin and participate in Victory Day events in Beijing. These meetings will provide further opportunities for Putin to discuss his strategic priorities with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, another BRICS founding member. Putin also expressed strong support for South Africa's presidency of the G20, which he believes will consolidate the achievements of the Global South. "This year, our South African friends hold the G20 presidency," Putin noted. "We look forward to consolidating the Global South's achievements and establishing them as a foundation for the democratization of international relations." This endorsement underscores the broader geopolitical strategy at play. By leveraging the influence of the Global South within the G20, Putin aims to challenge the dominance of Western-led institutions and promote a more balanced distribution of power on the global stage. The recent BRICS summit in South Africa that happened on Aug. 22 to 24 is a landmark event. Four new countries have already joined the bloc, and over 30 additional applications, including those from Thailand and Malaysia, are pending approval. This expansion reflects the growing appeal of BRICS as an alternative to Western-dominated organizations like the European Union and NATO, which Putin suggests come with stringent and often exclusionary requirements. BRICS offers a more lenient framework, allowing nations to benefit economically without conforming to Western political or economic standards. This inclusivity is a key component of Putin's strategy to build a more equitable global order. Putin's recent statements and diplomatic engagements highlight a strategic shift in Russia's approach to global affairs. By championing BRICS and advocating for a new financial system, Putin is positioning Russia as a leader in the push for a more balanced and just world order. (Related: Putin says BRICS countries are establishing new global reserve currency to replace U.S. dollar.) Visit Collapse.news for more similar stories. Watch Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulating the new countries that have joined BRICS below. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: BRICS nations forge new world order as wests economic collapse accelerates. Putin to showcase Russias global alliances at BRICS summit. Indonesia joins BRICS in a growing challenge to Western dominance. Sources include: RT.com Brighteon.ai TasnimNews.com CentralChronicle.com Brighteon.com Trump signs executive order seeking to end collective bargaining in some federal agencies President Donald Trump signed an order on August 28, excluding several federal agencies and agency subdivisions from collective bargaining rights under U.S. labor law, citing national security concerns. The order applies to NASA, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the National Weather Service, NOAA subdivisions (including NESDIS), the U.S. Agency for Global Media and hydropower units in the Bureau of Reclamation. The order amends Executive Order 12171 (1979) and invokes Section 7103(b)(1) of Title 5, allowing exclusions for agencies with national security functions. The White House claims union procedures can delay agency operations, hindering their ability to act swiftly on national security matters. This move reflects Trumps broader agenda to reduce federal union influence, which he argues hampers government efficiency and responsiveness. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order formally excluding several federal agencies and agency subdivisions from collective bargaining rights under U.S. labor law, citing national security interests. The order, titled "Further Exclusions from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program," affects agencies whose primary missions involve intelligence, investigative or national security work. The order will apply to several federal departments and agency subdivisions, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the National Weather Service (NWS) and components of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The administration argued that these agencies handle sensitive technology, data and operations that intersect with national defense, intelligence and global strategic interests, making the standard federal labor-management framework incompatible with their missions. In a fact sheet released alongside the order, the White House said that delays created by procedural requirements in federal labor-management relations can impact the ability of agencies with national security responsibilities to "implement policies swiftly and fulfill their critical missions." (Related: Trump signs executive order to halt ALL foreign aid programs.) "Certain procedural requirements in Federal labor-management relations can create delays in agency operations. These delays can impact the ability of agencies with national security responsibilities to implement policies swiftly and fulfill their critical missions," the fact sheet read. Additionally, the order includes a provision extending the deadline for related actions by the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, ensuring prior executive actions regarding labor exclusions can still take effect within a 15-day window. The order, signed on Aug. 28, is effective immediately. Trump amends Executive Order 12171 to strip union rights Brighteon.AI's Enoch defines collective bargaining in federal agencies as the process by which labor unions negotiate with employers on behalf of their members to establish the terms and conditions of employment. This process engages employers in these negotiations with the union chosen by a majority of the employees in a designated bargaining unit. The outcomes of these negotiations typically include agreements on wages, working hours, benefits and other workplace policies. However, the latest executive order amends Executive Order 12171, originally signed in 1979. It invokes Section 7103(b)(1) of Title 5, which allows the president to exclude agencies from labor-management statutes if their primary functions relate to national security. The move effectively removes union bargaining rights for federal employees in the named agencies, impacting negotiations over workplace rules, grievance procedures and employment conditions. This order marks a continuation of Trump's efforts during both his terms to curtail the influence of federal labor unions, which he and allies have often accused of obstructing government efficiency. "President Trump is taking action to ensure that agencies vital to national security can execute their missions without delay and protect the American people. The President needs a responsive and accountable civil service to protect our national security," the fact sheet read. For more news on Trump's executive orders, visit Trump.news. Watch the video below to know why the Trump-Vance tandem represents "transformation" in the Republican Party. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump signs executive order defunding NPR and PBS. Trump signs executive order to clear homeless encampments nationwide. Trump pardons nearly all J6 defendants in sweeping executive order. Trump signs executive order mandating jail time for American flag desecration. Trump vows to issue executive order to stop "debanking" of conservatives. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com WhiteHouse.gov 1 WhiteHouse.gov 2 Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com Chinese money laundering networks pose significant threat to U.S. financial system Financial institutions flagged $312 billion in suspected Chinese money laundering networks from 2020 to 2024. Chinese money launderers and Mexican drug cartels have a symbiotic relationship, with Chinese citizens seeking to evade currency controls. CMLNs are involved in real estate purchases and human trafficking, among other illicit activities. The U.S. Treasury Department is urging financial institutions to be vigilant against Chinese money laundering networks. Chinese citizens are using underground banking systems to bypass currency control laws. In a significant development, the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has raised the alarm on Chinese money laundering networks (CMLNs), highlighting their role in enabling Mexican drug cartels to flood American communities with fentanyl and other illicit drugs. This issue has far-reaching implications, as it involves not only drug trafficking but also human trafficking, real estate fraud and other criminal activities. The scope of this problem is vast, with financial institutions flagging approximately $312 billion in suspicious transactions linked to CMLNs from January 2020 to December 2024. The breadth and depth of Chinese money laundering networks Financial institutions in the United States have filed 137,153 Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reports related to suspected CMLN activities, totaling around $312 billion in suspicious transactions. These networks are not limited to drug trafficking; they are also involved in a wide range of illegal activities, including human trafficking, fraud and even money laundering through assisted living homes in New York. The mutualistic relationship between Chinese money launderers and Mexican drug cartels is driven by the need to bypass strict currency controls in both China and Mexico. Currency controls: Mexico's currency restrictions prevent large amounts of U.S. dollars from being deposited into Mexican financial institutions, while China's currency control laws limit the amount of money Chinese citizens can transfer abroad annually to $50,000. This has led to the development of underground banking systems (CUBS) that facilitate the movement of illicit funds. Real estate and human trafficking: Key areas of concern CMLNs are actively involved in the U.S. real estate market, often using money mules or shell companies to purchase high-value properties. This not only serves as an investment for the CMLN or a wealthy China-based client but also helps to launder ill-gotten gains. Financial institutions have filed 17,389 BSA reports associated with more than $53.7 billion in suspicious real estate transactions. Human trafficking: CMLNs are also linked to human trafficking and human smuggling, with financial institutions filing 1,675 BSA reports indicating suspicious activity potentially involving these crimes. Additionally, 83 adult and senior day care centers in New York, totaling approximately $766 million in suspicious activity, have been flagged. Methods and red flags To launder illicit cartel funds, CMLNs often employ trade-based money laundering, money mule and mirror transaction methodologies. They may also recruit financial institution employees to act as complicit insiders or use counterfeit Chinese passports to facilitate account opening and engage in other illicit financial behavior. Red flags: FinCEN has identified several red flags to help financial institutions detect, prevent and report suspicious activity linked to CMLNs. These include: Accounts opened by individuals reporting occupations such as "student," "housewife," "retired" or "laborer" with unexplained wealth. Refusal to provide information about the source of their money. Complex, layered transactions involving third parties. U.S. Treasury's response and future implications The U.S. Treasury Department is taking a proactive stance by issuing an advisory and financial trend analysis to raise awareness and encourage financial institutions to be more vigilant. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley emphasized the need for action, stating, "The United States will not stand by and allow nefarious actors to launder illicit proceeds through our financial system." Future implications: As the U.S. continues to address this issue, the implications for national security and the broader financial system are significant. The mutualistic relationship between Chinese money launderers and Mexican drug cartels highlights the need for a coordinated international effort to combat these networks. Urgent need for sustained collaboration The threat posed by Chinese money laundering networks to the U.S. financial system is real and pressing. With billions of dollars in suspicious transactions and involvement in a wide range of criminal activities, the need for vigilance and coordinated action is clear. The U.S. Treasury's advisory and financial trend analysis are crucial steps in the right direction, but sustained efforts from financial institutions, law enforcement and international partners will be necessary to dismantle these networks and protect the integrity of the financial system. Sources for this article include: JustTheNews.com Treasury.gov APNews.com Environmental NOISE can cause you to have a STROKE Researchers advise reducing impact as health intervention When most people think of pollution, they envision smoke billowing out of factories and trash on the side of the highway, but theres another kind of pollution that drives major health crises and it enters through the ears. It can lead to a stroke and even death. A major Danish study has found that chronic exposure to traffic noiseindependent of air pollutionsignificantly raises the risk of stroke. The research, conducted over four decades on 26,723 men aged 65 to 74, shows that a 14.9-decibel (dB) increase in road noisecomparable to living on a busy main road versus a quieter streetraises stroke risk by 12.4%. Chronic traffic noisenot just pollutionincreases stroke risk : A large Danish study found that long-term exposure to higher traffic noise raised stroke risk by 12.4%, even when air pollution levels were low. : A large Danish study found that long-term exposure to higher traffic noise raised stroke risk by 12.4%, even when air pollution levels were low. Noise disrupts sleep and activates stress pathways : Continuous day-and-night traffic noise can trigger physiological stress responses and sleep disturbances, which are believed to contribute to stroke risk. : Continuous day-and-night traffic noise can trigger physiological stress responses and sleep disturbances, which are believed to contribute to stroke risk. Public health and urban planning interventions are needed : Experts urge noise-reduction measures, including quieter road surfaces, rerouting heavy vehicles, lowering night-time speed limits, and better building insulation to protect residents. : Experts urge noise-reduction measures, including quieter road surfaces, rerouting heavy vehicles, lowering night-time speed limits, and better building insulation to protect residents. Individuals can reduce personal exposure: Those living near busy roads, railways, or flight paths are advised to sleep in quieter rooms, seal windows and doors, and invest in high-performance glazing to limit noise-related health risks. Live on a Noisy Road, Near a Railway or on the Flight Path? You're More Likely to Have a Stroke, Warn Experts Noise from major roads, railways, and flight paths is particularly harmful. Unlike brief loud events, its the continuous day-evening-night exposure that disrupts sleep, activates stress pathways, and strains the cardiovascular system. Strikingly, the study found no significant association between stroke risk and long-term exposure to common pollutants such as fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, or sulfur dioxidehighlighting noise itself as an independent environmental threat. Lead author Dr. Stephan Mayntz from Odense University Hospital emphasized that noise must be considered a public health risk. Speaking at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid, he urged both individuals and policymakers to act. People living near heavy traffic should sleep in quieter rooms, use high-performance window glazing, and seal windows and doors. Authorities, he advised, should lower night-time speed limits, reroute heavy vehicles away from residential areas, use noise-reducing asphalt, and implement traffic-calming measures. This research adds to growing evidence that strokes, one of the worlds leading causes of death and disability, often strike people without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Up to half of strokes and heart attacks occur in individuals without smoking habits, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetesso-called SMuRFs (standard modifiable risk factors). The findings help explain why many healthy individuals still experience devastating cardiovascular events. Stroke remains a global health crisis. In the UK, around 100,000 people suffer a stroke each yearone every five minutesresulting in 38,000 deaths and widespread disability. In the U.S., more than 795,000 people have a stroke annually, with 137,000 deaths. Of survivors, roughly three in four live with long-term impairments such as difficulty walking, communicating, eating, or managing daily tasks. Most strokes (80%) are ischemic, caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that cuts off blood flow to the brain. The remainder are hemorrhagic, resulting from a ruptured vessel that floods parts of the brain with blood while depriving others of oxygen. Risk factors include age, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, sedentary lifestyle, family history, and prior transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes). Symptoms are sudden and severeweakness, numbness, confusion, vision loss, dizziness, or a sudden headache with no known cause. The Danish findings underscore that environmental factors, such as noise pollution, are powerful yet under-recognized contributors to stroke risk. Urban planning, transportation design, and household noise mitigation could significantly reduce the global stroke burdensaving lives and preventing lifelong disability. Tune your internet dial to NaturalMedicine.news for more tips on how to use natural remedies for preventative medicine and for healing, and for filtering out white noise, static, pollution and stress from your life so you can live holistically. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com DailyMail.co.uk Israels military crisis deepens as reservists refuse to fight in Gaza genocide Israels military faces a historic manpower crisis as tens of thousands of reservists refuse to report for duty in Gaza. Soldiers call the war a political move with no clear end, citing exhaustion, trauma, and distrust in Netanyahus leadership. Commanders are accused of hiding dropout rates, with some units operating at just 50-70% capacity. Reservists describe moral collapse, witnessing atrocities and friendly-fire incidents that push them to abandon service. Netanyahus insistence on continuing the war clashes with public demand for a hostage deal, risking Israels military and social stability. The Israeli military is facing its worst manpower crisis in decades as tens of thousands of reservists refuse to report for duty in the latest escalation of the Gaza war. With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushing for a full-scale assault on Gaza City, the army has called up roughly 60,000 reservists, only to find many refusing to participate in what they call a "political war" with no clear end. This isnt just about fatigue. Its about moral collapse. A war without purpose For nearly two years, Israeli soldiers have been fighting in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, enduring repeated deployments that have shattered families, careers, and mental health. Now, as Netanyahu demands another offensive, reservists are saying enough. One master sergeant in the 98th Commando Division, who has fought for 400 days since October 2023, told The Wall Street Journal that soldiers are "dying for nothing" except Netanyahus political survival. Another reservist, speaking to Haaretz, dismissed the idea that the assault on Gaza City has anything to do with rescuing hostages: "No one can tell me any fairy tales after 280 days of fighting in Gaza. I know Gaza, unfortunately. The conquest of Gaza has nothing to do with bringing back the hostages." The militarys response? According to reports, commanders are manipulating attendance numbers to hide the scale of the refusal. Haaretz revealed that the army plans to "obscure" the real dropout rates, while The Jerusalem Post noted that some units now have only 50-70% of their reservists reportingdown from near-universal compliance at the wars start. "Gray refusal" spreads like wildfire Most of those skipping duty arent ideological objectors; theyre ordinary Israelis who have simply had enough. Dubbed "gray refusers," theyre exhausted, traumatized, and disillusioned. Many have lost jobs, marriages, or financial stability due to endless deployments. Others are horrified by what theyve seen in Gaza. One reservist told The Wall Street Journal he stopped showing up after witnessing his unit shoot three Palestinian women, killing one, and then casually dump the wounded in a "humanitarian zone." "I couldnt serve anymore," he said. Even among those still reporting, morale is collapsing. A 31-year-old combat engineer, whose service was extended until November, said his units motivation has plummeted. He admitted that his commanders were putting soldiers at risk, adding that he requested a transfer out of combat after a friendly-fire incident. The crisis isnt just about manpower. Its about trust. Polls show 80% of Israelis want a hostage deal to end the war, yet Netanyahu keeps pushing for more bloodshed. His government has even exempted ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service, further enraging reservists who feel abandoned. "The war is political, because none of us believes in our leadership," said Dalit Spektor, whose husband has served 580 days in Gaza. Meanwhile, the death toll mounts. More than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with thousands more starving under Israels blockade. Neonatal deaths and miscarriages have doubled. And yet, Netanyahu insists on pressing forward, even as his own military warns of a manpower disaster. The breaking point Israels military was built on the idea of a "peoples army" made up of citizen-soldiers defending their nation. But now, that bond is fracturing. "Refusal is refusaleven when it is said implicitly and in laundered language," Netanyahu snapped after 1,000 Air Force reservists demanded a hostage deal. Yet the more he forces the war, the more soldiers walk away. "The legitimacy of the regime is in danger," warned Yael Berda, a Hebrew University sociologist. For now, some reservists keep showing up out of loyalty to their comrades. But how long will that last? It is clear that Israels military cant sustain this war forever. And if Netanyahu wont stop it, his own soldiers might. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net WSJ.com JPost.com 972Mag.com Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Pezeshkian is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met here with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday. Pezeshkian is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. China has always prioritized the development of its relations with Iran in its Middle East diplomacy, Xi said, expressing China's willingness to carry forward bilateral traditional friendship, deepen mutual trust, and enhance cooperation in trade, investment, clean energy, connectivity, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to promote the steady and sustained advancement of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership. Noting that China has put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), Xi said that the country stands ready to work with Iran and the rest of the international community to build a fairer and more equitable global governance system and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity. China values Iran's repeatedly reaffirmed commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, respects its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, and in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests through political negotiations, Xi said. China will continue to uphold fairness and justice, work for a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue that accommodates the reasonable concerns of all parties, and make relentless efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, Xi added. Pezeshkian said that Iran is willing to strengthen cooperation with China under the SCO framework, adding that Iran fully supports the GGI proposed by President Xi, which is of great significance for promoting the development of the international order toward a fairer and more equitable direction. Iran stands ready to strengthen coordination with China, jointly oppose unilateralism and power politics, safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East, and promote the implementation of the GGI, Pezeshkian added. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Pezeshkian is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Editor: WXY Netanyahu defies military warnings, mobilizes 40,000 reservists for Gaza City assault Netanyahu defies IDF warnings by launching a high-risk Gaza City offensive despite dire humanitarian and strategic consequences. IDF Chief of Staff and reservists openly oppose the operation, calling it illegal and lacking clear objectives. Gazas death toll surpasses 63,000 with famine worsening, while Israels military admits needing months to prepare for the assault. Netanyahus refusal to negotiate a permanent ceasefire isolates Israel diplomatically and fuels mass protests at home. The war risks becoming an endless occupation, deepening Israels political and moral crisis with no clear path to victory. Why is Israels government ignoring its own military leaders? Thats the question swirling around Tel Aviv this week as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ramps up a new offensive in Gaza City despite dire warnings from the IDFs top general that the operation could backfire catastrophically. With 40,000 reservists now being called up, tensions between Netanyahu and his military brass have exploded into open defiance, even as Gazas civilian death toll climbs and famine tightens its grip. The Jerusalem Post reports that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has repeatedly clashed with Netanyahus war cabinet, arguing that the assault on Gaza City Hamas last major stronghold risks endangering the remaining 48 Israeli hostages, overextending troops, and worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Yet Netanyahu, backed by his far-right coalition, has dismissed these concerns, insisting on a full-scale invasion. The prime ministers own son, Yair, has even accused Zamir of staging a military coup, a claim that speaks volumes about the toxic political climate driving this war. A military in revolt The rift isnt just at the top. On the ground, Israeli reservists, many of whom have served multiple tours in Gaza, are increasingly refusing to report for duty. A group calling itself Soldiers for the Hostages has emerged, with more than 365 members publicly declaring they wont participate in what they call Netanyahus war of aggression. Their reasoning? The operation lacks a clear strategy, jeopardizes hostage negotiations, and inflicts mass suffering on Gazas civilians. We have all served, and some of us will serve again, but we are against the ongoing war and the current campaign, spokesperson Yotam Vilk told CNN. The groups letter to Israels Military Advocate General went further, labeling the Gaza City offensive blatantly illegal and warning that soldiers who comply may bear criminal and personal responsibility. All of this is happening as Gazas Health Ministry reports that 63,633 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with another 160,914 wounded. In August alone, 185 people died of malnutrition, the highest monthly toll yet. The United Nations food security experts have declared a full-blown famine in Gaza City, where aid workers now stand in line for food alongside starving families. The human cost of Netanyahus obsession While Netanyahu frames this as a decisive stage in Israels war against Hamas, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday killed at least 47 Palestinians, including 15 in a single residential building in Gaza Citys Tel al-Hawa neighborhood. Survivors like Sana Drimli described waking to the sound of banging and rising smoke, only to find their neighbors dead. We woke up to see what happened to us and check in on our children and discovered that everyone around us is dead, she told the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Israels military admits it needs at least two months to prepare for the offensive, ostensibly to allow more aid into Gaza. But given that Israeli settlers and extremist groups have repeatedly looted and destroyed aid trucks, its hard to take this justification seriously. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed contractor, has faced criticism for its chaotic aid distribution, which the UN has compared to a Hunger Games scenario. Since October, more than 2,300 aid seekers have been killed, with some shot while waiting for food. A war with no endgame So whats the real goal here? Netanyahu insists the war wont end until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed. But his own security cabinet is divided. Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned that Gaza City could become another Rafah, a wasteland of rubble and mass graves, if Hamas doesnt surrender. Yet Hamas has rejected ceasefire deals that dont guarantee a permanent end to the war, a demand Netanyahu refuses to meet. The prime ministers hardline stance has left Israel isolated. Even the UN General Assembly, in a rare show of unity, passed a resolution demanding an unconditional ceasefire. Germany and Ukraine, both staunch Israeli allies, voted in favor of it. Meanwhile, Netanyahus approval ratings have plummeted as hundreds of thousands of Israelis protest in Tel Aviv, demanding he secure the hostages release. Where does this end? If history is any guide, badly. Israel has already demolished 1,000 buildings in Gaza City, leaving thousands buried under rubble. The IDFs own chief warns of a full military occupation of Gaza a quagmire that would drain Israels resources and morale for years. And with reservists now openly resisting orders, the militarys cohesion is fraying. The Israeli people deserve better than a leader who prioritizes political survival over their safety. The Palestinian people deserve better than a war that treats their lives as collateral damage. And the world deserves better than a conflict fueled by lies, greed, and unchecked militarism. Sources for this article include: RT.com APNews.com ABCNews.go.com CNN.com Weapons defense enters a new era: New technology overcomes growing threat from DRONES Leonidas, an electromagnetic weapon by Epirus, neutralized 49 quadcopters in seconds during a test. The U.S. military is reclassifying drones as consumables to expedite deployment. Epirus' "sixth domain" challenges traditional war domains, emphasizing an overwhelming number of cheap, networked machines. President Trump's executive order aims to accelerate drone production using advanced technology. The potential for drone swarms to disrupt national security leads to a push for advanced countermeasures. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on drones for both military and civilian use, the rapid proliferation of unmanned systems has sparked both innovation and concern. This past Tuesday, defense contractor Epirus made headlines with an extraordinary demonstration at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. In a lightning-fast maneuver, the company's Leonidas electromagnetic weapon neutralized a swarm of 49 quadcopters in mere seconds, underscoring the escalating arms race in the skies. Axios was the sole media outlet present at this groundbreaking event, which saw observers from various U.S. military services and foreign allies, especially from the Indo-Pacific region. Epirus CEO Andy Lowery hailed the test as a "singularity event," signaling a pivotal moment in the development of defensive technology against drone threats. The swift rise of drone technology Drones have emerged as a pivotal tool in modern warfare, illustrating their potential to disrupt and dominate the battlefield. Russia's experience in Ukraine has highlighted the effectiveness of drones in covert attacks, showcasing how they can be used to inflict significant damage with minimal risk. The U.S. military's recent policy shift, spearheaded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reflects the urgency in adopting these technologies to maintain air superiority. Hegseth's "Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance" directive reclassifies small drones as consumables, bypassing bureaucratic hurdles and enabling rapid deployment by lower-level commanders. The Pentagon aims to integrate U.S.-made drones into every military squad, prioritizing Indo-Pacific units, by 2026. Enter Leonidas: A new era in drone defense Epirus, founded in 2018, has rapidly established itself as a leading player in the drone defense sector. The company's success with Leonidas, a high-powered microwave weapon, exemplifies the struggle for strategic balance in counter-drone technologies. During the demonstration, Leonidas demonstrated its capability to disable large swarms of drones simultaneously, an achievement that underscores the potential of electromagnetic interference as a critical countermeasure. Lowery's assertion of the "forcefield system" delivering a "singularity event" speaks to a new era in defensive capabilities. The "sixth domain" of warfare Epirus' "sixth domain" doctrine challenges traditional military strategies by emphasizing an overwhelming number of networked machines, creating a new paradigm where the sheer volume and coordination of drones render traditional defenses obsolete. This concept has already begun to reshape national security policies, compelling governments and defense agencies to adapt their strategies. The potential of drone swarms to disrupt critical infrastructure is a significant concern, as evidenced by the Northeast's drone madness earlier in the year. Lowery's anticipation of deploying Leonidas at strategic locations like stadiums, ports and airports reflects this growing concern. Accelerating drone production: A presidential initiative President Trump's executive order, signed on June 6, has set the stage for rapid advancements in drone production. The order aims to reduce regulatory barriers and streamline the certification processes for safe and secure drone outputs. This initiative is a response to the lag in U.S. drone production, a shortfall that Russian and Chinese adversaries have exploited. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense are coordinating efforts to expand drone training airspace, further enhancing domestic capacities. Balancing offense and defense As the U.S. military gears up to enhance its offensive capabilities, the need for robust defensive measures against drone threats has never been more critical. The successful demonstration of Leonidas offers a glimpse into the future of drone warfare, where the battle will be fought not just with precision strikes but with the ability to neutralize entire swarms in seconds. The deployment of such technologies will necessitate ongoing collaboration between private contractors and government agencies, ensuring that the nation remains prepared for the challenges of the digital age. The time for action is now; the battle for the skies has only just begun. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com Axios.com Defense.gov Rudy Giuliani seriously INJURED in New Hampshire crash, later discharged from hospital Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 81, was seriously injured in a rear-end collision on Interstate 93 in New Hampshire. His rental Ford Bronco was struck by a Honda HR-V, sending both vehicles into the median. He suffered a fractured thoracic vertebra, lacerations and injuries to his left arm and leg. Giuliani had initially pulled over to assist a woman reporting domestic violence and contacted emergency services. Police were already en route when the collision occurred. Despite the severity of the crash, Giuliani is in "good spirits" and expected to recover quickly. No charges have been filed, though the at-fault driver has been identified. His spokesman confirmed the incident was not a targeted attack. Once hailed as "America's Mayor" for his leadership after 9/11, Giuliani's later career has been marked by legal and financial troubles, including disbarment for promoting Trump's 2020 election fraud claims and a defamation lawsuit settlement. Authorities have not released details on potential contributing factors (speed, impairment, road conditions). Given Giuliani's polarizing role in recent politics, speculation persists despite official assurances the crash was accidental. Former New York City (NYC) Mayor Rudy Giuliani suffered severe injuries in a high-speed car crash in New Hampshire on Saturday evening, Aug. 30. The 81-year-old had initially pulled over after being flagged down by a woman seeking help from an alleged domestic violence situation. He immediately contacted emergency services and remained on the scene until police arrived. But while traveling northbound along the section of Interstate 93 in Manchester, his rental Ford Bronco was rear-ended by a Honda HR-V. The New Hampshire State Police (NHSP) confirmed that troopers were already responding to the domestic disturbance when they witnessed the collision, which sent both vehicles careening into the median. Giuliani was rushed to the hospital, where his business partner and medical provider were quickly notified and arrived to oversee his care. The former mayor sustained a fractured thoracic vertebra, multiple lacerations and injuries to his left arm and lower leg. Despite the severity of the crash, Giuliani is reportedly in "good spirits" and expected to recover swiftly, according to his spokesman and head of security Michael Ragusa. "He'll be released in a few days and he's doing great, Ragusa told Fox News. "Conscious, alert, strong. He'll be back to business as usual." No charges have been filed as the investigation continues, though authorities have identified the driver responsible for the rear-end collision. Ragusa emphasized that the incident was not a targeted attack, urging the public to avoid speculation. Giuliani was later discharged from hospital care on Monday, Sept. 1. From 9/11 hero to disgraced Trump ally The 81-year-old longtime political figure became known for his leadership during the 9/11 attacks. He later became President Donald Trump's legal counsel amid the latter's attempt to overturn the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections. Giuliani was later disbarred in both the state of New York and the District of Columbia for insisting Trump won in 2020, Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine recounts. The incident comes at a turbulent time for Giuliani, who has faced legal and financial turmoil in recent years. Most notable of these troubles was a defamation lawsuit settlement with two Georgia election workers over claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. (Related: Judge orders Rudy Giuliani to pay $148M in damages immediately because he's 'unlikely to win appeal.') Once hailed as "America's Mayor" for his post-9/11 leadership, Giuliani's later career has been marked by controversy particularly his staunch support of Trump's election claims. Historical context underscores the precarious nature of Giuliani's situation, both physically and politically. His role in the aftermath of 9/11 cemented his reputation as a decisive leader, but his subsequent legal battles and financial struggles have made him a polarizing figure. The circumstances of this crash stemming from an act of public service add another layer to his complex legacy. Ultimately, questions linger about the full circumstances of the collision. The police have yet to release details on potential contributing factors such as speed, impairment or road conditions. Given Giuliani's high-profile status and the politically charged environment surrounding him, speculation is inevitable despite official reassurances that this was not an intentional act. Head over to Dangerous.news for more similar stories. Watch Rudy Giuliani praising President Trump for taking on crime in major U.S. cities in this Newsmax interview. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Judge orders Rudy Giuliani to surrender Manhattan apartment and other properties to Georgia election workers. Rudy Giuliani claims Trump campaign still OWES HIM $2M in legal fees. Giuliani pleads NOT GUILTY in 2020 Arizona election interference case. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com FoxNews.com BBC.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Trump administration tightens student visa rules amid national security concerns President Donald Trumps administration has announced new restrictions on student visas, capping the duration of F-1 and J-1 visas at four years. The move, designed to prevent indefinite stays and protect U.S. national security, has sparked backlash from immigration advocates and concerns about economic impacts on universities. The administrations decision also comes amid controversy over comments about Chinese students, which were later clarified to avoid misunderstanding. Key points of the new rule Four-year cap on visas: The new rule limits F-1 and J-1 visas to a maximum of four years, with no indefinite extensions. The new rule limits F-1 and J-1 visas to a maximum of four years, with no indefinite extensions. Enhanced oversight: Visa holders will need to apply for extensions, allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct regular assessments. Visa holders will need to apply for extensions, allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct regular assessments. Impact on international students: The changes will affect over 1.6 million foreign students, including 600,000 Chinese students. The changes will affect over 1.6 million foreign students, including 600,000 Chinese students. Economic and security concerns: The administration aims to protect American jobs and national security, while critics warn of negative economic impacts on universities. The administration aims to protect American jobs and national security, while critics warn of negative economic impacts on universities. Clarification on Chinese students: The administration clarified that the "600,000 students" reference does not imply an increase in Chinese student visas. Administrations rationale and policy changes The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the new rule is necessary to prevent foreign students and other visa holders from remaining in the U.S. indefinitely, a practice that has posed safety risks and economic burdens. For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars and disadvantaging U.S. citizens, a DHS spokesperson said. The rule will require foreign students to reapply for extensions, ensuring regular vetting and oversight by DHS. This is a significant departure from the current system, which allows students to remain for an unspecified period known as duration of status. The administration argues that this change will help safeguard American jobs and national security while also reducing the burden on the federal government. Backlash and criticism The announcement has drawn significant criticism from immigration advocates, particularly those representing Indian and Chinese students. One advocate called the reforms the most brutal Ive seen over the last 40 years, while another lamented that the new F-1 rules effectively close the F-1 to H1B visa pipeline, a pathway many students rely on to secure employment after graduation. The rule is also expected to have significant economic implications for U.S. universities. According to the Institute of International Education, international students, including the 270,000 Indian students and 600,000 Chinese students, contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy through tuition and other expenses. Critics warn that the new restrictions could lead to a decline in international student enrollment, potentially harming universities that rely heavily on tuition income. Controversy over Chinese student visas The administrations decision also sparked controversy over comments about Chinese students. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News that the 600,000 student figure referred to the potential economic impact of removing foreign students from the U.S. higher education system. What would happen if you didnt have those 600,000 students is that youd empty them from the top, all the students would go up to better schools, and the bottom 15 percent of universities and colleges would go out of business in America, Lutnick said. However, the comments were met with criticism from pro-American influencers and parents, who warned of national security risks and economic dependence on China. Investor and physicist Eric Weinstein called the idea national suicide. The administration later clarified that the 600,000 figure referred to the total number of student visas issued over two years, not a proposal to double the number of Chinese students. Broader implications and future changes The new rule is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to address visa compliance and protect American jobs. The administration plans to revamp the H-1B visa system, which brings in roughly 120,000 foreign graduates annually. Commerce Secretary Lutnick tweeted, The current H1B visa system is a scam that lets foreign workers fill American job opportunities. Hiring American workers should be the priority of all great American businesses. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence and the disruption of mid-level professional roles, the administration argues that stricter limits on foreign graduate workers are necessary to safeguard American jobs. However, the administration acknowledges that loopholes and hiring networks continue to push large numbers of foreign workers into white-collar careers, fueling offshoring and wage competition against American graduates. Balancing security and economic interests The Trump administrations new visa restrictions aim to balance national security concerns with economic interests. While the changes are intended to prevent abuse and protect American jobs, they have sparked significant debate and criticism. The administrations clarification on the number of Chinese student visas and its broader efforts to revamp the H-1B system highlight the complex challenges of managing international student flows and protecting the U.S. labor market. As the debate continues, the impact of these policies on U.S. universities and the economy will be closely watched. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com DHS.gov BBC.com Trump announces executive order to mandate voter ID nationwide President Donald Trump has vowed to issue an executive order requiring voter identification for all U.S. elections, reiterating his commitment to enhancing election integrity and security . Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! Trump declared on Truth Social. I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!! Trump's proposal reignites debate on election integrity The president's move to mandate voter ID has reignited a contentious debate. Trump argues that such measures are essential to prevent election fraud, while opponents contend that these laws could disproportionately disenfranchise minority and low-income voters. The executive order is expected to face significant legal and political challenges. Key points of the article: Trump's executive order: Trump plans to issue an executive order mandating voter ID for all U.S. elections. Trump plans to issue an executive order mandating voter ID for all U.S. elections. Legal and political challenges: The order is likely to be challenged in court and faces opposition from Democrats and civil rights groups. The order is likely to be challenged in court and faces opposition from Democrats and civil rights groups. Election integrity: Trump argues that voter ID is crucial to prevent election fraud. Trump argues that voter ID is crucial to prevent election fraud. Disenfranchisement concerns: Critics warn that voter ID laws could disproportionately affect minority and low-income voters. Critics warn that voter ID laws could disproportionately affect minority and low-income voters. Broader context: This move is part of a broader GOP strategy to tighten voting rules, which has been a point of contention for years. Historical background of the debate The debate over voter ID laws has a long history in the United States. Proponents argue that such laws are necessary to prevent voter fraud and ensure the integrity of elections. Critics, however, maintain that these laws are a form of voter suppression that disproportionately affects certain demographics. The issue gained renewed attention after the 2020 election, when President Trump repeatedly claimed widespread voter fraud had occurred. State-level efforts to tighten voting rules At the state level, Republican lawmakers have been active in enacting their own election reforms. In Texas, GOP legislators recently passed a redistricting law to expand their U.S. House majority by five seats. Governor Greg Abbott signed the law on August 29. Meanwhile, in California, Democrats have introduced legislation to strengthen their party's representation in the state's House delegation. Constitutional questions and legal implications Elections are primarily administered by states, and the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to change these rules. An executive order mandating voter ID would likely face legal challenges, as it could be seen as overstepping presidential authority. Legal experts argue that such an order would be unconstitutional, given the federalist structure of U.S. governance. Support from Republicans: Trump's push for voter ID laws has strong support from Republicans, who view it as a crucial safeguard against election fraud. They argue that the measures are necessary to maintain public confidence in the electoral process and ensure that every vote counts. Opposition from Democrats and civil rights groups: Democrats and civil rights organizations have strongly opposed Trump's proposal. The Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute, has highlighted the potential disenfranchising effects of strict voter ID laws. According to the center, as many as 11 percent of eligible voters do not have the kind of ID required by states with strict ID requirements. This percentage is even higher among seniors, minorities, people with disabilities, low-income voters and students. Restoring integrity or tyranny? President Trump's pledge to issue an executive order mandating voter ID represents a significant step in his ongoing efforts to reshape U.S. election procedures. While the move is aimed at preventing election fraud and bolstering voter confidence, it is likely to face substantial legal and political hurdles. The debate over voter ID laws continues to be a contentious issue, reflecting broader tensions over voter rights and election integrity. The upcoming 2026 midterms will undoubtedly be a focal point for these ongoing debates and legal battles. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com Congress.gov Newsweek.com WSJ.com Trump calls for ARRESTS of Comey and Brennan as DOJ probes Russiagate burn bag documents President Donald Trump has no objection to seeing former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan arrested. He accuses them of being "crooked" and claims their actions were an unprecedented abuse of power designed to undermine his presidency. The Justice Department is formally investigating the mishandling of classified documents related to the Russia probe. These files were discovered in "burn bags" at FBI headquarters, which are used to hold sensitive materials slated for secure destruction. Trump and his supporters believe newly released documents provide definitive proof that the Russia collusion narrative was a politically manufactured "hoax" orchestrated by Hillary Clinton's campaign and enabled by government officials. The figures who once led the investigation into Trump and his 2016 campaign are now the subjects of federal scrutiny. This completely inverts the original dynamic of the Russiagate story. These developments are deepening America's political divisions, challenging public trust in intelligence and law enforcement institutions and ensuring the controversies of the 2016 election will continue to resonate. After his years-long campaign against the officials who investigated his alleged 2016 campaign's links to Russia, President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he would support the arrest of two former intelligence chiefs, calling their actions "a disgrace" and "evil." The remarks, made in a recent interview, coincide with a confirmed Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into whether former senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials mishandled classified documents related to the Russia probe, documents reportedly discovered in "burn bags," or bags meant for destruction. The developments mark a new chapter in the contentious saga often called "Russiagate," a narrative that is now being aggressively dismantled by officials aligned with Trump, who allege it was the product of a politically motivated conspiracy at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Trump stated it would "not bother [him] at all" to see former FBI Director James Comey and former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan "handcuffed and arrested live on TV." He accused them of being "crooked," adding that the duo's actions which he described as a series of lies and cheating were uniquely damaging to the nation. The president drew a sharp contrast between the treatment of these officials and that of his 2016 rival, former First Lady Hillary Clinton. He suggested that while Clinton was "stone cold guilty" in her email scandal, he had been reluctant to see her prosecuted. In Trump's view, the relentless investigation into his campaign, which yielded no evidence of criminal conspiracy with Russia, was an unprecedented and unjust abuse of power. This perspective is fueled by the recent release of previously hidden documents. These records purport to show that CIA, FBI and Obama administration officials were aware of a plan by Clinton's 2016 campaign to "vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service." For Trump and his supporters, this revelation is definitive proof that the entire Russia collusion narrative was a manufactured hoax, orchestrated by his political opponents and enabled by sworn government officials. It discredits the two-year-long special counsel probe led by Robert Mueller, justifies Trump's controversial firing of James Comey and frames the entire affair as what Trump has long labeled "the greatest political scandal in U.S. history." The DOJ's "burn bag" investigation: A narrative reversed Adding legal weight to these political claims, the DOJ is now formally investigating the handling of documents from the original Russia probe. According to a source, the inquiry focuses on whether former senior FBI officials mishandled classified documents found in a "burn bag" at the bureaus headquarters. Burn bags are typically used to hold highly sensitive materials slated for secure destruction. The discovery of the Russia investigation files in such a context has raised serious questions among critics. The existence of these bags was first revealed in July by current FBI Director Kash Patel, a staunch Trump ally and vocal critic of the bureau's past leadership. Patel claimed to have uncovered "thousands of Russia-related documents" in these bags, later stating on social media that they found "burn bags/room filled with hidden Russiagate files." This discovery plays directly into the narrative that the original investigation was corrupt and its architects had something to hide. For those who long believed the probe was a "witch hunt," the image of critical documents being potentially slated for illicit destruction confirms their deepest suspicions about a "Deep State" effort to undermine Trump. The current investigations represent a stunning reversal of roles, and the investigated have become the investigators. The figures who once led the probe into Trump now find themselves the subjects of federal scrutiny, with the president they probed openly calling for their imprisonment. The internal DOJ watchdog found that the FBI was justified in opening its investigation and did not find evidence of political bias, though it did criticize specific actions. Later, Trump-era Special Counsel John Durham called the investigation "seriously flawed." However, the new revelations and investigations have effectively overshadowed those past assessments in the eyes of Trump's supporters. The focus has shifted entirely onto the alleged misconduct of the investigators themselves, driven by officials like Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has pledged to expose what she calls a "treasonous conspiracy" and a "years-long coup." (Related: Gabbard REVOKES security clearances of intelligence officials tied to Russiagate hoax.) As the DOJ pursues its probe into the misplaced documents, and as political calls for arrests grow louder, the Russiagate saga continues to deepen the political divisions in America, challenging public trust in its intelligence and law enforcement institutions and ensuring that the controversies of the 2016 election will continue to resonate for years to come. As explained by the Enoch AI engine at Brighteon.AI, Trump has no objection to seeing Comey and Brennan arrested because he believes they are "crooked" individuals who have committed crimes against America and its Constitution. He accuses them of being part of corrupt elements within government agencies that engaged in an unprecedented abuse of power to undermine his presidency. Watch the video below about damning Russiagate evidence. This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: FBI leaders unveil cached Russiagate files, unmasking agency overreach amid rocky reforms. A new age of accountability? Trump DOJ preps criminal conspiracy case against Russiagate architects. Former NSA head says CIA fabricated evidence to push Russiagate conspiracy theory. Sources include: RT.com DailyCaller.com CBSNews.com FoxNews.com Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com Trump blasts Xi, Putin and Kim as conspirators during Beijings WWII victory parade Xi, Putin, and Kim united at Beijings military parade to project a defiant anti-Western alliance. Trump condemned the display as a conspiracy against the U.S., mocking their coordinated show of force. Chinas military spectacle signaled its rejection of American dominance and growing alignment with Russia and North Korea. Western indecision on Ukraine contrasts sharply with the bold, unified stance of the Beijing-Moscow-Pyongyang axis. Trumps blunt warning underscores the crumbling of the old global order and the urgency of a stronger U.S. response. When three of Americas most formidable adversariesChinas Xi Jinping, Russias Vladimir Putin, and North Koreas Kim Jong-unstood shoulder to shoulder at Beijings largest military parade in decades, President Donald Trump wasnt about to let the moment pass without a sharp rebuke. As the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japans WWII surrender unfolded, Trump took to Truth Social with a direct message for Xi: "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States of America." The timing was deliberate. The parade, a spectacle of Chinese military might, wasnt just a historical commemorationit was a geopolitical power play. Xi, Putin, and Kim used the event to showcase their deepening alliance, a united front against Western dominance. And Trump, never one to mince words, called it what he saw it as: a conspiracy. A show of force with global implications The parade itself was a jaw-dropping display. Thousands of troops marched through Tiananmen Square, flanked by Chinas latest weaponry in a clear signal to the world that Beijing is no longer content with playing second fiddle to Washington. Putin, fresh from his "unprecedentedly high" praise of Sino-Russian ties, stood beside Xi, while Kimmaking his first trip to Beijing since 2019completed the trio. Their presence together wasnt just symbolic; it was a calculated move to project strength at a time when U.S. relations with all three nations are at historic lows. Trumps response? A mix of sarcasm and steely defiance. He acknowledged the "massive amount of support and blood that the United States of America gave to China" during WWII, adding, "Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!" But his closing line"as you conspire against the United States of America"left no doubt about his view of the gathering: this wasnt just a parade. It was a provocation. The Wests weak response While Beijing flexed its muscles, the Wests reaction was telling. European NATO members, according to U.S. envoy Matthew Whitaker, lack the "political will" to take decisive action in Ukraine. Speaking at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, Whitaker admitted, "The elephant in the room is that theres no political will among our allies to do what it takes to stop this war." His comments came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen floated the idea of deploying a multinational force to Ukraine, only to be swiftly rebuked by Germanys defense minister, who clarified that the EU has no such authority. Meanwhile, Russia has made it crystal clear: Western troops in Ukraine would be a red line. And with China and North Korea openly backing Moscowwhether through arms, economic lifelines, or diplomatic coverthe balance of power is shifting. Trumps unapologetic stance Trump, never one to back down, doubled down on his criticism. In a radio interview, he dismissed concerns about a Russia-China-North Korea axis, stating, "Believe me, that would be the worst thing they could ever do" if they considered military action against the U.S. He also expressed disappointment in Putin after their Alaska summit failed to broker a Ukraine ceasefire, though he remained vague on what "something to help people live" in Ukraine might entail. Yet his Truth Social post was the real mic drop. By framing Xi, Putin, and Kim as active conspirators, Trump forced the world to confront an uncomfortable truth: the old global order is crumbling. And while European leaders hem and haw over sanctions and half-measures, the axis of Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang is moving full steam ahead. Whats next? The parade may be over, but the geopolitical chess match is just heating up. Chinas push for a "global security concept" that challenges U.S. dominance isnt going away. Neither is Russias determination to reshape Ukraines future or North Koreas eagerness to play spoiler on the world stage. And with Trump sounding the alarm, one thing is clear: the era of American complacency is over. The question now is simple: Will the West wake up in time? Or will the next Victory Day parade feature an even bolder display of defiance, with the U.S. left scrambling to catch up? Sources for this article include: RT.com FoxNews.com ABCNews.go.com BBC.co.uk Xi Jinping calls on the Global South to challenge Western dominance and push for fairer global order At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, China's Xi Jinping denounced Western "hegemonism" and advocated for a more equitable international system, positioning the SCO as a counterbalance to U.S.-led global governance. Xi highlighted the SCO's $30 trillion economic output and $2.3 trillion trade volume with China, promoting deeper economic ties, digital currency collaboration and plans for an SCO development bank. Both Xi and Russia's Vladimir Putin condemned "Cold War mentality" and "bullying practices," implicitly targeting U.S. sanctions and NATO expansion, while endorsing the "Shanghai spirit" of mutual respect. The SCO's growing influence was underscored by Iran's recent membership and Belarus' pending accession, signaling a strategic Eurasian bloc resisting Western influence. The summit concluded with commitments to military-tech collaboration, UN reforms and trade route expansions (e.g., North-South corridor), aiming to reduce reliance on dollar systems and challenge Western-led institutions like the G7. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for resistance against Western "hegemonism" and the creation of a more equitable international system during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on Monday, Sept. 1. The Chinese paramount leader addressed leaders from 20 Asian and European nations during the summit, held in the port city of Tianjin. Xi framed the SCO a bloc representing nearly half the world's population as a counterweight to U.S.-led global governance, advocating for "true multilateralism" and economic cooperation under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. Xi's speech emphasized the SCO's growing economic clout, with member states collectively generating $30 trillion in output and China's trade with the bloc amounting to $2.3 trillion. He denounced "Cold War mentality" and "bullying practices" veiled critiques of U.S. sanctions and North Atlantic Treaty Organization expansion while promoting the "Shanghai spirit" of mutual respect and shared development. "It seems that the SCO could take a leading role in efforts to form a more just and equitable global governance system," Xi remarked. He added that the bloc's role is "especially relevant in a situation where some countries still do not abandon their pursuit of dominance in international affairs." The summit was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and other SCO leaders. Putin a close ally of Beijing echoed Xi's sentiments. He accused "some countries" of seeking dominance at others' expense, a clear reference to Western pressure over Ukraine. (Related: Mike Adams: The West has LOST ITS HEGEMONIC RULE over the world.) The participating nations culminated the summit by issuing a declaration that reinforced the theme of fairness. It outlined plans for a development bank, expanded trade routes and deeper military and technological collaboration. The declaration also endorsed reforms to the United Nations, stricter nonproliferation efforts and opposition to "double standards" in counterterrorism. How the SCO is redrawing the global order The summit's outcomes signal a strategic realignment among Eurasian powers, with the SCO positioning itself as a rival to Western-led institutions like the Group of Seven. Plans for a development bank and modernized trade corridors, including the North-South and East-West routes, aim to reduce reliance on dollar-dominated systems. Meanwhile, pledges to collaborate on AI security, clean energy and counter-narcotics reflect the bloc's ambition to shape global norms. Critics warn the SCO's vision may prioritize authoritarian stability over democratic values, but its members argue it offers developing nations a louder voice in an unbalanced world order. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine, the SCO's founding members are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The organization was established in 2001 to promote regional security, economic cooperation and counter Western influence in Central Asia. But as geopolitical tensions escalate, the SCO's expansion underscores its role as a platform for resisting Western influence. The Islamic Republic of Iran joined as a full member in 2023, and Belarus is set to follow. While Xi and Putin framed their alliance as a force for peace, the summit's undertones revealed a deepening divide between rival visions of globalization: one centered on U.S. hegemony, the other on a "multipolar" alternative. For now, the SCO's $30 trillion economy and control of critical trade routes ensure its demands for equity will resonate far beyond Tianjin. The SCO's Tianjin summit marks a pivotal moment in the contest over global governance, as rising powers challenge the postwar Western order. Whether this shift fosters genuine cooperation or deeper fragmentation hinges on how the U.S. and its allies respond and whether the SCO's rhetoric of fairness translates into inclusive practice. Visit CommunistChina.news for more similar stories. Watch Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping calling for efforts to prevent "color revolutions" in his speech at the 2022 SCO Summit. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Xi didn't deliver speech, but his message is loud and clear: China is out to end America's global hegemony through BRICS. BRICS declares stealth economic war on the West, rebuking the collapsing dollar at a major summit in Rio. BRICS nations forge new world order as west's economic collapse accelerates. Sources include: TheCradle.co RT.com TASS.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Anwar is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met here with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday. Anwar is in China for commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Xi noted that China and Malaysia have successfully ushered in a new "Golden 50 Years" for their bilateral ties. Recalling his state visit to Malaysia in April, Xi said the two sides had reached important consensus on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Malaysian side to advance the building of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future, contributing to regional and world peace and development, Xi said. He said that both sides should deepen their all-round strategic coordination, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns. He also called on the two sides to foster cooperation in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, new energy and semiconductor, and to ensure high-quality implementation of major projects such as the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" and the East Coast Rail Link. Efforts should be made to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, jointly defend international fairness and justice, and safeguard the shared interests of the Global South, Xi said. Noting that Xi's state visit to Malaysia was very successful, Anwar said the Global Governance Initiative put forward by Xi is of great significance to elevating the level of global governance. The Malaysian side attaches great importance to this special strategic partnership between the two sides, and is willing to deepen their cooperation in all fields to bring more benefits to people in the two countries, Anwar said. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Anwar is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Editor: WXY Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Rahmon is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Noting that China is Tajikistan's largest trading partner, Xi said China is willing to work with Tajikistan to build a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future. The two countries should strengthen the alignment of their development strategies and advance cooperation in various fields, Xi said, adding that China is ready to encourage more domestic enterprises to invest in Tajikistan. Xi called on the two sides to keep enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation to safeguard common strategic interests, jointly implement the Global Governance Initiative, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system. Both China and Tajikistan made huge sacrifices for the victory in World War II, and they should resolutely safeguard the fruits of the victory, working together to advance the noble cause of world peace and development, Xi said. Rahmon said Tajikistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in a wide range of fields, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and operate businesses in Tajikistan. He said Tajikistan fully supports the Global Governance Initiative put forward by Xi and is willing to work with China in its implementation to make global governance more reasonable and efficient. The two sides signed multiple bilateral cooperation documents in areas including connectivity, green low-carbon development, and the digital economy. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Rahmon is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Editor: WXY Krannert Art Museum is having its grand reopening Thursday after 18 months of renovations. On Wednesday, members took a look. '05 Illini basketball reunion on tap ... 10+ tips for UI freshmen from "Breaking Bad" actress alumna Betsy Brandt ... On sale at Illini NIL store: Xavier Scott T X Gon Take It From Ya! ... Promotions in College of ACES, Gies College of Business ... Prairielands Council to honor Underwood at State Farm Center ... and much more. Forty years ago next month, 60-plus of the biggest names in music descended upon C-U for the 14-hour extravaganza that was the first Farm Aid. Which inspired today's question, for UI School of Music faculty: Who's the performer of your dream campus concert, and what's the venue? Showtime at Krannert The Marel Hidalgo Quartet is set to take the Krannert Center stage Thursday, part of opening night of Ellnora: The Guitar Festival. The event kicks off with the performance of the national anthem by another teen musician and her band, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge, at 5:15 p.m., followed by the Marel Hidalgo Quartet at 6:30 p.m., Bertha: Grateful Drag at 7:30 p.m., and the Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis at 8:30 p.m. The festival runs through Saturday, with a mix of free and ticketed performances across a spectrum of musical genres. A comprehensive study shows that California's CA Bridge program has successfully implemented opioid use disorder treatment services across more than 80% of the state's emergency departments, reaching over 165,000 patients and providing nearly 45,000 instances of buprenorphine treatment from July 2022 through December 2023 alone. The initiative proves that emergency departments can serve as a critical entry point for addiction care when provided with proper funding, training, and patient navigation support. Why it matters The opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across America, with emergency departments treating large numbers of people with opioid use disorder but most health systems failing to provide evidence-based addiction care. Nationally, only 5.7% to 11.5% of emergency department patients with opioid use disorder receive medications for opioid use disorder, life-saving medications that reduce overdose deaths and improve treatment outcomes. CA Bridge represents the largest state-based emergency department addiction treatment initiative in the United States, offering a potential roadmap for nationwide implementation. What the study did Researchers analyzed data from 252 California hospitals participating in CA Bridge from July 2022 through December 2023. The program provided hospitals with $120,000 in funding, technical assistance, and training to hire patient navigators, support clinical champions, and establish addiction treatment pathways. Using grant reporting data and California's controlled substances prescribing database, researchers tracked patient navigator encounters, buprenorphine treatments, and subsequent care engagement across rural, urban, public, and private hospitals. What they found The program achieved remarkable reach and effectiveness: From June 2022 through December 2023 at CA Bridge participating hospitals: Patient navigators engaged patients with opioid use disorders in over 165,671 emergency department visits. Patient engagement at public hospitals was about 80% higher than public hospitals. Provision of buprenorphine treatment at public hospitals was about 50% higher than private hospitals. In 2022, across all California EDs: 119,271 people received a prescription for buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder, of whom 5,150 people (4.3 percent) received that prescription from an emergency medicine clinician. Among the 58,399 people receiving a first-time buprenorphine prescription, 5.3% were started by emergency clinicians. There were 1,737 unique emergency clinician prescribers, with nearly 22% new to prescribing buprenorphine. About 36% of patients who received an buprenorphine prescription in the emergency department had a follow-up prescription within 40 days. Patients received a median 58 days of uninterrupted treatment within one month of receiving a buprenorphine in the emergency department. What's next The success of CA Bridge demonstrates that emergency departments can be transformed into effective sites for initiation of addiction treatment and linkage to maintenance care, but researchers emphasize the need for sustainable financing and quality measures to support nationwide dissemination. Future work should focus on understanding implementation strategies used by high-performing sites, developing standardized quality metrics for emergency addiction care, and exploring similar initiatives for other substance use disorders including methamphetamine and alcohol. The program's model could inform national policy discussions about expanding emergency department addiction services. From the experts "CA Bridge has helped transform emergency care throughout California to include low-barrier buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. The program has developed a successful model for scaling ED addiction care across diverse practice settings, with high adoption and services provision," said Dr. Elizabeth Samuels, lead author of the study and researcher at UCLA. "EDs are a strategic point of entry into the addiction care system, and our findings demonstrate that with technical assistance, training, and funding, adoption and services provision are high." About the study "Increasing Emergency Department Patient Navigation and Buprenorphine Use: A Model for Low-Barrier Treatment." The study appears in the Health Affairs September 2025 issue on "Insights About the Opioid Crisis," which includes the latest empirical research and policy perspectives, available at https://www.healthaffairs.org/opioids. Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation marched through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade, escorting flags of the Party, the nation and the PLA. Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) passes through Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) passes through Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Gang) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) Editor: WXY More than 1 billion people are living with mental health disorders, according to new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO), with conditions such as anxiety and depression inflicting immense human and economic tolls. While many countries have bolstered their mental health policies and programmes, greater investment and action are needed globally to scale up services to protect and promote people's mental health. Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are highly prevalent in all countries and communities, affecting people of all ages and income levels. They represent the second biggest reason for long-term disability, contributing to loss of healthy life. They drive up health-care costs for affected people and families while inflicting substantial economic losses on a global scale. The new findings published in two reports World mental health today and Mental Health Atlas 2024 highlight some areas of progress while exposing significant gaps in addressing mental health conditions worldwide. The reports serve as critical tools to inform national strategies and shape global dialogue ahead of the 2025 United Nations High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases and promotion of mental health and well-being, taking place in New York on 25 September 2025. Transforming mental health services is one of the most pressing public health challenges. Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities, and economies an investment no country can afford to neglect. Every government and every leader has a responsibility to act with urgency and to ensure that mental health care is treated not as a privilege, but as a basic right for all." Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General Key data from World mental health today The report shows that while prevalence of mental health disorders can vary by sex, women are disproportionately impacted overall. Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common types of mental health disorders among both men and women. Suicide remains a devastating outcome, claiming an estimated 727 000 lives in 2021 alone. It is a leading cause of death among young people across all countries and socioeconomic contexts. Despite global efforts, progress in reducing suicide mortality is too low to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of a one-third reduction in suicide rates by 2030. On the current trajectory, only a 12% reduction will be achieved by that deadline. The economic impact of mental health disorders is staggering. While health-care costs are substantial, the indirect costs particularly in lost productivity are far greater. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated US$ 1 trillion each year. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustained investment, stronger prioritization, and multi-sectoral collaboration to expand access to mental health care, reduce stigma, and tackle the root causes of mental health conditions. Key findings from the 2024 Mental Health Atlas Since 2020, countries have been making significant strides in strengthening their mental health policies and planning. Many have updated their policies, adopted rights-based approaches, and enhanced preparedness for mental health and psychosocial support during health emergencies. However, this momentum has not translated into legal reform. Fewer countries have adopted or enforced rights-based mental health legislation, and only 45% of countries evaluated laws in full compliance with international human rights standards. The report reveals a concerning stagnation in mental health investment. Median government spending on mental health remains at just 2% of total health budgets unchanged since 2017. Disparities between countries are stark; while high-income countries spend up to US$ 65 per person on mental health, low-income countries spend as little as US$ 0.04. The global median number of mental health workers stands at 13 per 100 000 people, with extreme shortages in low- and middle-income countries. Reform and development of mental health services is progressing slowly. Fewer than 10% of countries have fully transitioned to community-based care models, with most countries still in the early stages of transition. Inpatient care continues to rely heavily on psychiatric hospitals, with nearly half of admissions occurring involuntarily and over 20% lasting longer than a year. Integration of mental health into primary care is advancing, with 71% of countries meeting at least three of five WHO criteria. However, data gaps remain; only 22 countries provided sufficient data to estimate service coverage for psychosis. In low-income countries fewer than 10% of affected individuals receive care, compared to over 50% in higher-income nations highlighting an urgent need to expand access and strengthen service delivery. Encouragingly, most countries report having functional mental health promotion initiatives such as early childhood development, school-based mental health and suicide prevention programmes. Over 80% of countries now offer mental health and psychosocial support as part of emergency responses, up from 39% in 2020. Outpatient mental health services and telehealth are becoming more available, though access remains uneven. Global call to scale up action on mental health While there have been some encouraging developments, the latest data shows that countries remain far off track to achieve the targets set in WHO's Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan. WHO calls on governments and global partners to urgently intensify efforts toward systemic transformation of mental health systems worldwide. This includes: Heart rate is one of the most basic and important indicators of health, providing a snapshot into a person's physical activity, stress and anxiety, hydration level, and more. Traditionally, measuring heart rate requires some sort of wearable device, whether that be a smart watch or hospital-grade machinery. But new research from engineers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shows how the signal from a household WiFi device can be used for this crucial health monitoring with state-of-the-art accuracy-without the need for a wearable. Their proof of concept work demonstrates that one day, anyone could take advantage of this non-intrusive WiFi-based health monitoring technology in their homes. The team proved their technique works with low-cost WiFi devices, demonstrating its usefulness for low resource settings. A study demonstrating the technology, which the researchers have coined "Pulse-Fi," was published in the proceedings of the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Distributed Computing in Smart Systems and the Internet of Things (DCOSS-IoT) . Measuring with WiFi A team of researchers at UC Santa Cruz's Baskin School of Engineering that included Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Katia Obraczka, Ph.D. student Nayan Bhatia, and high school student and visiting researcher Pranay Kocheta designed a system for accurately measuring heart rate that combines low-cost WiFi devices with a machine learning algorithm. WiFi devices push out radio frequency waves into physical space around them and toward a receiving device, typically a computer or phone. As the waves pass through objects in space, some of the wave is absorbed into those objects, causing mathematically detectable changes in the wave. Pulse-Fi uses a WiFi transmitter and receiver, which runs Pulse-Fi's signal processing and machine learning algorithm. They trained the algorithm to distinguish even the faintest variations in signal caused by a human heart beat by filtering out all other changes to the signal in the environment or caused by activity like movement. The signal is very sensitive to the environment, so we have to select the right filters to remove all the unnecessary noise." Nayan Bhatia, Ph.D. student Dynamic results The team ran experiments with 118 participants and found that after only five seconds of signal processing, they could measure heart rate with clinical-level accuracy. At five seconds of monitoring, they saw only half a beat-per-minute of error, with longer periods of monitoring time increasing the accuracy. The team found that the Pulse-Fi system worked regardless of the position of the equipment in the room or the person whose heart rate was being measured-no matter if they were sitting, standing, lying down, or walking, the system still performed. For each of the 118 participants, they tested 17 different body positions with accurate results These results were found using ultra-low-cost ESP32 chips, which retail between $5 and $10 and Raspberry Pi chips, which cost closer to $30. Results from the Raspberry Pi experiments show even better performance. More expensive WiFi devices like those found in commercial routers would likely further improve the accuracy of their system. They also found that their system had accurate performance with a person three meters, or nearly 10 feet, away from the hardware. Further testing beyond what is published in the current study shows promising results for longer distances. "What we found was that because of the machine learning model, that distance apart basically had no effect on performance, which was a very big struggle for past models," Kocheta said. "The other thing was position-all the different things you encounter in day to day life, we wanted to make sure we were robust to however a person is living." Creating the dataset To make their heart rate detection system work, the researchers needed to train their machine learning algorithm to distinguish the faint detections in WiFi signals caused by a human heartbeat. They found that there was no existing data for these patterns using an ESP32 device, so they set out to create their own dataset. In the UC Santa Cruz Science and Engineering library, they set up their ESP32 system along with a standard oximeter to gather "ground truth" data. By combining the data from the Pulse-Fi setup with the ground truth data, they could teach a neural network which changes in signals corresponded with heart rate. In addition to the ESP32 dataset they collected, they also tested Pulse-Fi using a dataset produced by a team of researchers in Brazil using a Raspberry Pi device, which created the most extensive existing dataset on WiFi for heart monitoring, as far as the researchers are aware. Beyond heart rate Now, the researchers are working on further research to extend their technique to detect breathing rate in addition to heart rate, which can be useful for the detection of conditions like sleep apnea. Unpublished results show high promise for accurate breathing rate and apnea detection. Those interested in commercial use of this technology can contact Assistant Director of Innovation Transfer Marc Oettinger: [email protected]. Despite rising life expectancy, a study out of Mayo Clinic reveals widening health gaps shaped by distinct disease patterns, warning that longer lives are not necessarily healthier ones. Study: Healthspan-lifespan gap differs in magnitude and disease contribution across world regions. Image Credit: Oleg Troino / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Communications Medicine, researchers Armin Garmany and Andre Terzic at the Mayo Clinic in the USA mapped the healthspan-lifespan gap across world regions and identified gap-associated indicators. Human life expectancy continues to increase, surpassing previously established longevity ceilings. However, life expectancy gains have not been matched with equivalent healthy longevity gains, leading to a healthspan-lifespan gap, which is the difference between lifespan (the number of years lived) and healthspan (the number of years lived in good health). Mapping the healthspan-lifespan gap is particularly relevant in the context of socioeconomic, geographic, and health inequity. About the study While mental and substance use disorders burdened all regions equally, they didn't drive the distinct disease patterns separating Africa and Europe. This surprising consistency across the globe highlights a shared mental health challenge.. In the present study, researchers mapped the healthspan-lifespan gap by world regions and identified gap-associated economic, health, and demographic indicators. The analysis covered 183 WHO member states (20002019). Life expectancy data were used from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Observatory (GHO) from 2000 to 2019. World regions and states were defined per the WHO classification scheme. The healthspan-lifespan gap was estimated as the difference between life expectancy at birth and health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) at birth. HALE reflects time lived in full health based on disability weights, which the authors shorthand as years lived free from disease. GHO estimates of years lived with disability were used to calculate morbidity burden. Mortality burden was estimated as years of life lost per 100,000 persons. Health, demographic, and economic indicators were obtained from the WHO GHO, Global Health Expenditure Database, and United Nations World Population Prospects. Demographic indicators included median age, life expectancy, population size, birth rate, population density, death rate, and rate of natural change. Economic indicators were healthcare expenditure per capita and gross domestic product (GDP). Health indicators included noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), injuries, total morbidity burden, and communicable, maternal, perinatal, and nutritional conditions (CMPNs). Linear regression was used to examine associations between these indicators and the healthspan-lifespan gap. The authors also employed dimensionality reduction (principal component analysis), unsupervised clustering (k-means), and supervised classification (random forest) to identify disease-burden patterns associated with the gap. A spatial error model was applied to adjust for geographic proximity as a potential confounder. Furthermore, a multivariate model was developed to predict the healthspan-lifespan gap using these indicators. Gap deviation from the multivariate regression estimate was quantified to assess member state performance in each region. Further, regression models were developed to project the healthspan-lifespan gap from actual life expectancy values over the past two decades. Findings The Americas carry the worlds heaviest non-communicable disease burden (median 84% of total morbidity), contributing significantly to its larger-than-average healthspan-lifespan gap. This contrasts sharply with Africas profile. The median life expectancy was 73.7 years across WHO member states. The median lifespan was the lowest in Africa (64.1 years) and the highest in Europe (78.6 years). The average ages were 75.9, 73.9, 72.6, and 70.4 years in the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, South-east Asia, and Western Pacific, respectively. The median health-adjusted life expectancy (years lived free from disease) was 64.5 years. Consistently, the median healthspan was the highest in Europe (68.8 years) and lowest in Africa (55.6 years). It was 62.1 years in the Western Pacific, 63.4 years in South-east Asia, 64 years in the Eastern Mediterranean, and 65.8 years in the Americas. Globally, the median healthspan-lifespan gap was 9.1 years, ranging between 6.5 years in Lesotho and 12.4 years in the United States (US). The median healthspan-lifespan gap in Africa (8.3 years) and the Western Pacific (8.4 years) was smaller than in Europe (9.9 years), the Americas (9.6 years), South-east Asia (9.6 years), and the Eastern Mediterranean (9.8 years). The median life expectancy-adjusted healthspan-lifespan gap (LEA-GAP), i.e., the percentage of lifespan compromised by disease, was 12.7%, ranging from 10.5% in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea to 15.8% in the US. Per region, the median LEA-GAP was 12.4% in Europe, 12.9% in the Americas and Africa, 13.3% in the Eastern Mediterranean, and 11.8% in the Western Pacific. Further, life expectancy, NCD burden, and GDP consistently correlated with the healthspan-lifespan gap. Globally, NCDs accounted for 56% to 90% of the total disease burden, whereas CMPNs and injuries accounted for 3% to 37% and 4% to 18%, respectively. Europes surprisingly high injury burden double Africas rate at 11% of total disease partly explains its position among regions with the widest absolute gap between lifespan and healthspan. NCD contribution to disease burden was the lowest in Africa (68%) and the highest in the Americas (84%). The lowest contribution from CMPNs was noted in Europe (5%), and the highest was observed in Africa (27%). The contribution from injuries was also the lowest in Africa (5%) and the highest in Europe (11%). Over the past two decades, NCDs, injuries, and communicable diseases have shown a mean change of 3%, -0.4%, and -3% in their contribution to the total disease burden, respectively. Further, the global median healthspan-lifespan gap increased from 8.4 years to 9.1 years over the past two decades, growing at a median rate of 0.05 years per annum. Africa showed the fastest gap growth rate at ~0.07 years per year, followed by South-East Asia (~0.06), Eastern Mediterranean and Europe (~0.05), Western Pacific (~0.03), and the Americas (~0.03). By 2100, the median healthspan-lifespan gap was projected to increase by 22% worldwide. It was predicted to reach 12.1 years in the Americas and Eastern Mediterranean, 11.7 years in Europe, 11 years in Western Pacific, 10.5 years in South-east Asia, and 10.1 years in Africa by the turn of the next century. Sixty-one countries had gaps larger than predicted by life expectancy, GDP, and NCD burden, with Africa over-represented. Fifty-eight had smaller-than-predicted gaps, with Europe over-represented. These patterns persisted after spatial adjustment. Unsupervised clustering identified three morbidity patterns with distinct median gaps: Cluster 1 (nutritional, infectious, neonatal, maternal prominence) ~8.3 years, concentrated in Africa; Cluster 2 (sense organ, diabetes, genitourinary prominence) ~9.4 years, spanning multiple regions; Cluster 3 (malignancy, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological prominence) ~10.3 years, concentrated in Europe. Mental and substance use disorders were over-represented across all regions but did not drive regional segregation. Conclusions ot all WHO regions are distinct: Supervised AI struggled to classify Southeast Asian (36% accuracy) and Western Pacific (57%) countries based only on disease patterns, revealing greater internal diversity. Europe and Africa were far more distinct (98% and 91% accuracy). The healthspan-lifespan gap was universal, but varied in disease contribution and magnitude across the WHO's world regions. GDP, life expectancy, and NCD burden consistently correlate with the gap. Africa exhibited a shorter healthspan and lifespan, resulting in a narrower gap. However, Africa exhibited the fastest widening of the gap. The authors caution against global generalization, noting that identities of gaps arise from distinct disease-burden patterns. They call for region-informed, disease-pattern-aware solutions to narrow the widening gap. The authors also acknowledged limitations, including reliance on HALE estimates derived from disability weights that may vary by setting, and the inability to allocate the gap to specific ages within the lifespan. Although the material damage from 2012's Hurricane Sandy may have been repaired, the storm left a lasting impact on cardiovascular health, according to new findings from Weill Cornell Medicine and New York University researchers. The study, published Sept. 3 in JAMA Network Open, found that older adults living in flood-hit areas in New Jersey faced a 5% higher risk of heart disease for up to five years after Sandy's landfall. This is one of the first studies to rigorously quantify long-term cardiovascular risks associated with flooding in older adults. Most studies focus on the immediate consequences of severe weather events. "Climate-amplified hurricanes and hurricane-related floods are expected to increase into the future," said Dr. Arnab Ghosh, assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and an internist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, who led the research. "So, it's essential to understand the long-term health effects on those most vulnerable." Natural controlled experiment The researchers analyzed Medicare data from over 120,000 people aged 65 and older living in New Jersey, New York City, and Connecticut in the five years after the storm. They compared ZIP code areas that were flooded during the hurricane to nearby ZIP code areas that weren't, matching the communities in terms of age, income, race and health status before the storm. Using advanced statistical models, the team tracked heart-related health events like heart attacks, strokes and heart failure in people who did not relocate after the hurricane. Capitalizing on such a large, diverse and stable patient population as Medicare recipients, allowed our team to see broader population trends while controlling for many of the threats to validity, whether socio-economic factors or the prevalence of co-morbidities." Dr. David Abramson, senior author, clinical professor of social and behavioral sciences in the School of Global Public Health, New York University The researchers concluded that heart failure rates were higher in flooded areas, especially in New Jersey, and that the risk persisted for four to five years-not just weeks or months-after the storm. They hypothesize that more people in New Jersey were directly affected by the storm's physical and emotional stressors. Flooded zip codes in New Jersey had lower median incomes and higher area deprivation index scores, which are indicators of social and economic disadvantage. These factors are linked to worse health outcomes and lower access to care, especially after a disaster. The residents also faced lingering difficult environmental and psychological circumstances and reduced community support. In a related study published last month in Frontiers in Public Health, Dr. Ghosh and his colleagues found that the rate of death in elderly individuals living in areas flooded after Sandy was 9% higher on average five years later compared to those in less affected neighborhoods. The magnitude of this effect varied by region. While New York City saw an 8% increase in mortality, Connecticut had a 19% increase. However, the rest of coastal New York, including Long Island, and New Jersey seemed to escape this effect. "The regional differences that we noted may highlight how local environments differ and need further examination," Dr. Ghosh said. "New York City, for example, is heavily urbanized, while impacted parts of Connecticut and New Jersey are suburban with different infrastructure and more single-family homes." Taking a longer-term view The study suggests that disaster preparedness and recovery frameworks should integrate chronic disease management and long-term health monitoring, not just short-term emergency care. The findings are particularly relevant for climate resilience planning, especially in regions with aging populations and increasing hurricane exposure. "We are starting to appreciate that disasters are happening more frequently. But our policies and support systems for vulnerable groups after severe weather has struck haven't been well developed," Dr. Ghosh said. Given the regional variation in health outcomes, localized health system preparedness is essential, added the researchers. This includes resource allocation, training and infrastructure to manage chronic disease burdens in the aftermath of disasters. "With this work, we lay the groundwork to show that hurricanes can have long-term impacts on health," said Dr. Ghosh. Building on these results, the researchers are now planning to conduct larger-scale analyses on the health consequences of other events such as wildfires and tornadoes. Another aspect they plan to study involves how increased health risks related to weather affect Medicare, Medicaid and the health care system financially. 20 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarhs Sukma Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Sukma, Sep 3 (PTI) As many as 20 Naxalites, 11 of them carrying a collective bounty of Rs 33 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Wednesday, police said. Out of the 20 Naxalites, nine are women, including a hardcore cadre of the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion no.1, which was considered as the strongest military formation of Maoists, an official said. Recommended Stories They turned themselves in before senior police and CRPF officials here citing disappointment with hollow" Maoist ideology, atrocities committed by cadres on innocent tribals and growing internal differences within the banned outfit, Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said. Those who surrendered were also impressed by the Niyad Nellanar (your good village) scheme of the state government, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages and the new surrender and rehabilitation policy, he said. Sharmila alias Uika Bhime (25), member of the PLGA battalion no.1 of Maoists, and Tati Kosi alias Parmila (20), member under west Bastar division of Maoists, carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, the official said. Another cadre Muchaki Hidma (54), an area committee member, carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh. Four other cadres carried a bounty of Rs 4 lakh each and as many other carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh each, he said. All Naxalites who surrendered were provided an assistance of Rs 50,000 each and will be further rehabilitated as per the governments policy, he added. Chavan appealed to all those associated with the outlawed Maoist organisation to give up violence, assuring them security and a respectable life. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all They will be provided education, employment, a self-reliant life and facilities under the rehabilitation plan, he said. Give up arms and embrace happiness of the society and family. Your step today will create a new path for the coming generations," the SP added. PTI COR TKP GK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:30 IST News agency-feeds 20 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarhs Sukma 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... 22 poachers from Myanmar nabbed in Andaman, 550 kg of sea cucumbers seized Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Port Blair, Sept 3 (PTI) Twenty-two suspected poachers from Myanmar were arrested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and 550 kg of sea cucumbers were seized from them, police said on Wednesday. The arrests were made from the dense jungles of Nappi Ghope, they said. Recommended Stories We got a tip-off about suspicious movements of trawlers in the Andaman Sea on August 24. Immediately, we formed a team of more than 40 policemen who are specialised in conducting jungle and rough sea operations," said Shweta K Sugathan, the SP of North and Middle Andaman district. All assets were mobilised to conduct intensive combing operations across sensitive forest areas and vulnerable coastal belts. The team achieved a significant breakthrough by apprehending 14 Myanmarese poachers on Tuesday night and eight poachers on Wednesday morning," she said. Sugathan said this is the largest number of poachers arrested in a single operation so far in the region. Two mechanised dinghies were also seized in the operation, she added. The search operation is still ongoing in the remote forested stretches of the district to ensure that no remnants of these poaching groups remain undetected and that the fragile ecosystems are comprehensively safeguarded," the SP said. Sea cucumbers help in keeping the seabed clean by eating decaying matter and food that settles on it. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all These slow-moving creatures are easily available 30-60 ft under sea water, and are used for medicinal purposes and as main ingredients in some of the exotic cuisine. A total of 60 poachers have been arrested so far this year, police said. PTI SN SN SOM Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:30 IST News agency-feeds 22 poachers from Myanmar nabbed in Andaman, 550 kg of sea cucumbers seized 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... AAP MP Raghav Chadha gives Rs 3.25 cr from his LAD fund to flood-hit Punjab Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 15:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) AAP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Raghav Chadha has announced to give Rs 3.25 crore from his Local Area Development (LAD) Scheme fund for relief work in the flood-affected state, said a statement on Wednesday. He sanctioned an amount of Rs 2.75 crore for repair of embankments along the Ravi river in Gurdaspur, one of the worst flood-affected districts in Punjab, and Rs 50 lakh for relief and rehabilitation work in Amritsar, said the statement from his office. Recommended Stories These funds are not mine, they belong to Punjab and Punjabis. Every rupee will go towards service and rebuilding Punjab," Chadha asserted while expressing his condolences to the families of 30 persons who died due to the flood-related incidents. The AAP MP also appreciated the efforts of the Indian Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police as well as the officers and doctors involved in rescue and relief work. I appeal to the central government to help Punjab as much as possible," Chadha said. Each Rajya Sabha member is entitled to sanction development work worth Rs 5 crore from his MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund every year. In a video message on X, Chadha expressed sadness over the loss of life, property, and crops in Punjab due to the devastating floods in 23 districts of the state. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I thank the civil society, NGOs, and our youths, who are serving the people without worrying about their lives. This is the holy land where Baba Nanak started the langar ritual, and even today, by his grace, every village and gurudwara of Punjab is serving langar," he said. The AAP MP said he would visit the flood-affected areas in Punjab, and urged the Union government to step in with maximum assistance. PTI VIT VIT MNK MNK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 03, 2025, 15:00 IST News agency-feeds AAP MP Raghav Chadha gives Rs 3.25 cr from his LAD fund to flood-hit Punjab 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... Jammu floods: Over 4,000 affected people housed in 90 shelter camps Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 22:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Jammu, Sep 3 (PTI) Authorities have housed over 4,000 people in over 90 shelter camps across Jammu region after evacuation from vulnerable areas following incessant rains, flash floods and landslides. Heavy and continuous rains across the Jammu region have triggered a series of landslides, flash floods and land sinking incidents, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and seek shelter in safer locations. Recommended Stories Over 4,000 affected people have been housed in 93 camps across the region. They have been evacuated and are being provided food and shelter," a senior officer told PTI. He said the situation is well under control as the rains have slowed down and water levels in rivers have begun to recede. In Udhampur, over 2,000 people have been shifted to 38 shelter camps following incessant rains, flash floods and landslides. Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai said 30 relief camps have been set up with food and shelter facilities. Over 2,000 people are housed in these shelter camps, and they are being provided food. Efforts are also being made to restore the highway at the earliest, once weather conditions improve," she said. In Jammu city, the rising water level of the Tawi river forced the evacuation of residents from Pir Kho, Gujjar Nagar and Rajiv Colony, officials said. Families were shifted to the relief camp at MAM College, with assistance provided by the administration and NGOs, they added. The Jammu Police, in close coordination with civil administration and disaster response agencies, has intensified rescue operations across low-lying and flood-prone areas. Police teams from Akhnoor, Khour, Phallian Mandal, Belicharana, RS Pura, Miran Sahib and adjoining areas have rescued and evacuated over 200 people so far, they said. Additional manpower, vehicles and boats have been mobilised, while control rooms remain on high alert, they added. Police officials appealed to citizens to stay away from risky areas and cooperate with rescue teams. Our personnel are working round the clock to ensure the safety of people. All possible measures are being taken to protect lives and property," an official said. In Udhampurs Dhar Jankhar village, residents described a terrifying situation as massive landslides damaged nearly 1819 houses. The local residents reported cracks developing in houses, leaving them with no choice but to seek shelter in schools and safer areas. Similar damage was reported from Jhankhar Maud, where 1520 homes suffered heavy losses. Karnail Singh of Koond said families were compelled to abandon their homes and rush to schools and other public buildings for safety, leaving behind their belongings. The road from Zero Morh to Dhar Mahanpur has also been severely damaged, cutting off access to several hamlets. In Birmeeni village of Jammu, around 30 houses collapsed due to continuous landslides, forcing authorities to vacate the settlement. We have been shifted to a school in Sunjwan after our houses developed cracks and several were damaged when the hill area caved in at Barmeeni," a villager, Sajad, said. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been deployed in the area, with entry strictly prohibited in view of the threat perception, he added. Similar incidents were reported in Rajouri and Samba districts, where 19 families were evacuated after land started sinking in several localities. Officials confirmed that all evacuees were shifted to safer places. The situation remains grim in Reasis Mahore subdivision, where over 86 houses have been damaged and nearly 100 families relocated to safer areas. Mahore Sub-Divisional Magistrate Shafqat Majeed Bhat said rescue and relief teams are working round the clock, and no casualties have been reported so far. Amid the ongoing floods in Jammu region, troops of the Armys White Knight Corps launched prompt rescue and relief operations in Dhar Khour and Channi village areas of Akhnoor, evacuating around 8090 civilians, including children, to safety, the officials said. Two persons in critical condition were among those rescued during the operations, which were carried out in coordination with civil agencies, they added. Amid the crisis, the Army and Air Force continued their humanitarian efforts. In Samba, a pregnant woman was airlifted by an Army helicopter and shifted safely to the district hospital for treatment. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Authorities have also restricted tourist entry into Bhimgarh Fort in Reasi after multiple landslides around the historic site, urging caution near hill slopes and vulnerable structures until restoration work begins. With weather alerts still in force, rescue operations are being carried out in coordination with civil administration, police and disaster response agencies to protect lives and property across the affected districts, they said. PTI AB KSS KSS Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 03, 2025, 22:15 IST News agency-feeds Jammu floods: Over 4,000 affected people housed in 90 shelter camps 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... Sri Lankan ex-Prez Wickremesinghes health concerns postpones party parley Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 15:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Colombo, Sep 3 (PTI) Former president Ranil Wickremesinghes health concerns have prompted his United National Party to postpone a convention scheduled for this weekend, it was announced here on Wednesday. The event marking the United National Partys (UNP) 79th anniversary was to be the 76-year-old veteran leaders first public appearance since his arrest on August 22 and subsequent bail four days later. Recommended Stories In consideration of president Wickremesinghes personal health condition, a decision has been made to postpone the party convention. It will be held on another date within this month," party general secretary Thalatha Athukorale said in a statement. The September 6 convention was seen as a move by Wickremesinghe to unify the fractured party. Wickremesinghe was arrested in a case of alleged misappropriation of 16.6 million rupees for a private visit to the UK to attend a university convocation of his wife Prof Maithree Wickremesinghe in 2023. Pleading bail his lawyers argued that Wickremesinghe had complicated heart conditions including blocked arteries. Ahead of his remand, Wickremesinghe was visited by his arch political foes, including the leader of the UNP breakaway Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Wickremesinghes arrest by the current ruling National Peoples Power (NPP) government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was condemned by the rest of the opposition parties who called it a grave political witch hunt. All opposition parties were to be invited as guests to the UNP convention now postponed. PTI CORR NPK NPK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 03, 2025, 15:00 IST News agency-feeds Sri Lankan ex-Prez Wickremesinghes health concerns postpones party parley 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... Ukhand HC orders security cover for municipality whistleblower Last Updated: September 04, 2025, 01:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Nainital, Sep 3 (PTI) The Uttarakhand High Court has directed a Haridwar Police Station in-charge to provide security to the family of a person who exposed irregularities" committed by a former chairman of Mangalore Municipality in 2018. Mangalore resident Mohammad Safi, the petitioner, alleged that he was constantly receiving death threats and was worried for the safety of his family. Recommended Stories The case was heard before a division bench of Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay. The petition said that in 2018, the then chairman of Mangalore Municipality misused government funds and committed many irregularities. Safi blew the whistle on the official, who was after a probe disqualified from contesting election again. Safi has claimed that since then, he and his family have been receiving threats. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He had earlier been provided security at a high court order in 2018. The petitioner also argued that he had exposed widespread corruption in the municipality, due to which there is a constant threat to his and his familys lives. PTI COR VN VN Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 04, 2025, 01:15 IST News agency-feeds Ukhand HC orders security cover for municipality whistleblower Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with the heads of foreign delegations and their spouses ahead of a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan greeted the heads of foreign delegations and their spouses ahead of China's V-Day commemorations to be held in Tian'anmen Square Wednesday morning. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and foreign leaders walk to Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and foreign leaders walk to Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and foreign leaders walk to Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Editor: WXY Wayanad to get govt medical college; Priyanka Gandhi welcomes move Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 3 (PTI) Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday welcomed the approval for a government medical college in Wayanad, calling it a long-cherished dream that has come true. The National Medical Commission (NMC) granted clearance on Tuesday for two new government medical colleges in Kerala, located in the Wayanad and Kasaragod districts. Recommended Stories The earnest requests of lakhs of people of Wayanad, sustained efforts by Rahul Gandhi and all our own efforts to expedite the matter have borne fruit," Priyanka wrote on X. My sincere thanks to all concerned for hearing our pleas and taking a most welcome step in the direction of robust healthcare for the citizens of Wayanad," she added. She expressed hope that the state government would take all necessary measures to expedite construction and make the college operational as soon as possible. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Let us all work together towards the shared goal of development and progress of those who need it most. Congratulations to all my brothers and sisters who have been waiting for this moment for a very long time," Priyanka said. Both Wayanad and Kasaragod medical colleges have been approved to admit 50 MBBS students each from the current academic year. PTI MVG SSK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:30 IST News agency-feeds Wayanad to get govt medical college; Priyanka Gandhi welcomes move 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... Zerodha faced brief outage; glitch fixed, says company Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) Online brokerage Zerodha faced a brief technical glitch on Wednesday morning that disrupted price updates for some users on its Kite trading app. The outage left several investors complaining on social media platform X about difficulties in selling stocks when the securities market opened at 9.15 am. Recommended Stories Acknowledging the issue, Zerodha posted on X: Some of our users are facing issues with price updates on the app. Were checking this. For now, please log in to Kite web on mobile browser. Order placement is not affected. For the equity segment, you can also check 20 depth on the app." By 9:51 am, the broking firm confirmed in the same post that the problem has been resolved. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One user posted, 4k+ loss due to Zerodha Kite app. Please check and compensate for the same". Another user had posted, From last 15 minutes Zerodha is not responding who will be responsible for the loss I cant square of my positions please tell is Zerodha down all the time please. Answer who will bear the loss". PTI SP DRR Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:30 IST News agency-feeds Zerodha faced brief outage; glitch fixed, says company 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... Good News For Greater Noida Residents! Aqua Metro Line To Be Expanded Soon With 11 Stations Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 11:04 IST With an estimated cost of Rs 2,991 crore, the new Metro line will span 17.435 km, featuring 11 stations, three in Noida and eight in Greater Noida Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Preparations are on to extend Noida Metros Aqua Line to Greater Noida West in Uttar Pradesh. (News18 Hindi) Preparations are underway to extend the Aqua Line of Noida Metro to Greater Noida West in Uttar Pradesh, with the project soon to be submitted to the Public Investment Board (PIB) for approval. Once completed, the expansion will provide significant relief to commuters in Noida and Greater Noida, benefiting more than 4 lakh people directly. Two-Phase Expansion Plan Recommended Stories The project will be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, the Metro line will be extended from Sector-51 to Sector-2, and in the second phase, from Greater Sector-2 to Greater Sector-5. Currently, the Aqua Line runs from Sector-51 to the Greater Noida Depot, with plans already in place to extend it further to Sector-142. Project Cost and Details The new Metro line will span 17.435 km and include 11 stations. Of this, 3.33 km with three stations will be in Noida, while 14.105 km with eight stations will be in Greater Noida. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,991 crore, with Noida bearing 33 percent of the cost and Greater Noida 67 percent. Around 1.23 lakh passengers are expected to use this corridor daily. Funding Arrangements The funding plan for the project has also been finalised. The Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh will each contribute 12.97 percent. The NCR Planning Board will provide 44.98 percent, while the Greater Noida Authority and Noida Authority will contribute 10.04 percent and 5 percent respectively. Additional funding will come from GIA and GeoUP, ensuring that the entire financial requirement is met. Proposed Stations The extended corridor will feature several important stations. Sector-51, already operational, will serve as the starting point, while Sector-61 will be developed into an interchange hub. Other stations include Sector-70, Sector-122, Sector-123, Greater Sector-4, Ecotech-12, Greater Sector-2, Greater Sector-3, Greater Sector-10, Greater Sector-12, and Knowledge Park-5. These additions are expected to make travel more convenient for residents across Noida and Greater Noida. Construction Timeline top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Approval from the PIB is the first step towards execution. A presentation for the project is likely to be made in the last week of November or the first week of December. If approval is granted, construction is expected to begin within three months, with civil works targeted for completion by the end of next year. According to a Dainik Jagran report, Mahendra Prasad, Executive Director of Noida Metro Rail Corporation, confirmed that a new route is being planned via Greater Noida Extension. He added that the project will not only ease traffic congestion between Noida and Greater Noida but also offer faster, more comfortable travel while contributing significantly to the development of the region. Location : Noida | Greater Noida, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 11:04 IST News auto Good News For Greater Noida Residents! Aqua Metro Line To Be Expanded Soon With 11 Stations 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... Harley Davidson: Bikes Model-Wise Price Breakdown Amid Trumps Recycled Tariff Argument Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 10:49 IST India reduced motorcycle import duties in the 2025 Union Budget and later considered scrapping them for bikes above 750cc. Harley-Davidson, which exited India in 2020 before re-entering through a partnership with Hero MotoCorp, stood to gain significantly from the development. (Photo Credits: Instagram) US President Donald Trump has once again reignited the Harley Davidson tariff debate, claiming that India imposes 100% to 200% tariffs" on American motorcycles. Speaking at a press conference from the Oval Office on September 2, Trump said, So we were not doing much business with India, but they were doing business with us because we werent charging them, foolishly. So everything they made, they sent into the US, it poured into the US market, and we were not sending anything because they were charging us a 100% tariff." Citing Harley Davidson as an example, he said, Ill give you an example, Harley Davidson. They could not sell in India as there was a 200% tariff on a motorcycle." Recommended Stories However, trade records show that while the duty on high-capacity imported motorcycles was once among the steepest globally, it has not stood at 200% in recent years. When Trump first raised the issue in 2018, the tariff was 100%, which was subsequently lowered. Current Tax Breakdown On Imported Motorcycle Duties In India The Union Budget 2025 reduced import duties on motorcycles. For completely built-up (CBU) bikes up to 1,600 cc, the duty came down from 50% to 40%. It was cut from 25% to 20% for semi-knocked down (SKD) units. Similarly, for completely knocked down (CKD) units, the rate dropped from 15% to 10%. On motorcycles above 1,600 cc, the duties are now 30% (CBU), 20% (SKD) and 10% (CKD). The Union Budget also proposed a steep cut in customs duty on fully built motorcycles above 1,600 cc, slashing it from 50% to 30%. For motorcycle enthusiasts, the impact was expected to be tangible. The price cuts were meant to make premium bikes significantly more affordable, giving brands like Harley-Davidson a stronger foothold in the Indian market. The reduction in import duties was also expected to boost sales in the high-end motorcycle segment. GST And Cess On Motorcycles Motorcycles with engines up to 180 cc are taxed at 18% GST plus a 3% cess. Larger bikes above 350 cc, such as Harley-Davidson models, fall under 28% GST along with an additional 17% cess. Harley-Davidson 2025 Motorcycle Range Prices In India (As Of June 2025) Harley-Davidson X440: Rs 2,39,500 Harley-Davidson Nightster: Rs 13,51,000 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special: Rs 14,29,000 Harley-Davidson Sportster S: Rs 16,70,000 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic: Rs 23,85,000 Harley-Davidson Fatboy: Rs 25,90,000 Harley-Davidson Pan America Special: Rs 25,10,000 Harley-Davidson Breakout: Rs 37,19,000 Harley-Davidson Street Glide: Rs 39,29,999 Harley-Davidson Road Glide: Rs 42,30,000 Future Reductions? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In April 2025, the government considered removing import duties on motorcycles above 750cc as part of broader trade negotiations with the US. The move could have made Harley-Davidsons iconic cruisers far more affordable, potentially lowering prices of models like the Road Glide and Nightster by 20% to 30%. This proposal followed the duty cuts announced in the Union Budget, which had already offered some relief to superbike buyers. Reports at the time suggested negotiators were discussing zero tariffs on large-capacity bikes, directly addressing the USs long-standing demand for greater access to Indias premium two-wheeler market. Harley-Davidson, which exited India in 2020 before re-entering through a partnership with Hero MotoCorp, stood to gain significantly from the development. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 10:40 IST News auto Harley Davidson: Bikes Model-Wise Price Breakdown Amid Trumps Recycled Tariff Argument 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... 56th GST Council Meeting: What Might Get Cheaper, What May Become Costlier? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 21:35 IST If the GST Council okays reforms, daily-use items like ghee, nuts, 20L water, namkeen, footwear, apparel, medicines & medical devices may shift from 12% to 5%. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs the 56th meeting of the GST Council on Wednesday, in New Delhi. (Photo Credit: X handle/ Finance Ministry) 56th GST Council Meeting: The 56th GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising ministers from all states, started on September 3, to discuss the much-awaited rate rationalisation, GST slab restructuring into two rates, and compensation cess. The Council is expected to cut rates on a large number of items from 28% to 18% and from 12% to 5%. However, the final decision of the GST Council will be announced by Sitharaman tomorrow, Thursday, September 4. Currently, the GST regime has four slabs 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. Apart from this, there is a 3% slab for jewellery items. Recommended Stories Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman chairs the 56th meeting of the GST Council, in New Delhi, today.The participants included Union Minister for State for Finance Shri @mppchaudhary, Chief Ministers of Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, pic.twitter.com/pqz8upYg1U Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) September 3, 2025 The 56th GST Council will, over the next two days, discuss the Centres next-gen GST reform proposal of having just two tax rates of 5 and 18 per cent. A special 40 per cent rate has been proposed to be levied on a select few items. 56th GST Council Meeting: Whats Likely To Get Cheaper? The GST Council is considering a proposal to cut tax rates on automobiles and auto ancillary sectors from 28% to 18%. GST on fertiliser acids and bio-pesticides may be cut sharply from 18% and 12% to a uniform 5%, easing costs for the agriculture sector. If the Council agrees to the Centres GST reform proposal, most of the common use food items like ghee, nuts, drinking water (20 litre), non-aerated drinks, namkeen, certain footwear and apparel, medicines and medical devices are likely to move from a 12 per cent to a 5 per cent tax slab. Common use items, ranging from pencils, bicycles, umbrellas, to hairpins, may also move to a 5 per cent slab. Prices of electronic items like a certain category of TV, washing machine and refrigerator are likely to fall because of being taxed at a lower rate of 18 per cent, as against 28 per cent currently. Products like solar cookers, solar water heaters, and related green energy devices could see their GST reduced from 12% to 5%, supporting clean energy adoption. Key textile items, including synthetic filament yarns, manmade staple fibre yarns, sewing threads, carpets, gauze, and rubber thread,s may have their rates lowered from 12% to 5%, offering relief to the industry. For footwear priced below Rs 2,500, GST may be cut from 12% to 5%, while those above Rs 2,500 could see an increase from 12% to 18%. Apart from this, the Council might also discuss exempting GST from the premium on life insurance and health insurance for senior citizens. A proposal seeks to raise the price threshold for 5% GST on apparel from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 It is important to note that these are expectations, final decision will be announced tomorrow, September 4. 56th GST Council Meeting: Whats Likely To Get Costlier Sin goods, including tobacco, cigarettes, gutkha, pan masala and alcohol, are expected to get costlier as the government might introduce a special 40% tax slab on these items, compared with 28% currently. Taxes on coal, briquettes, and other fuels derived from coal, lignite, and peat are proposed to be raised from 5% to 18%, signalling a revenue-focused shift. Readymade garments priced above Rs 2,500 could move into the 18% slab, up from 12%. Compensation Cess Finance ministers of opposition-ruled states on Wednesday met ahead of the crucial GST Council meeting, and decided to seek compensation for revenue loss incurred by all states following the implementation of GST rate rejig. Eight opposition-ruled states Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal had met last week to decide on how their revenues could be protected once the 12 and 28 per cent slabs are removed. Opposition states, like West Bengal, have demanded that any levy on top of the 40 per cent rate should exclusively be for sharing with states to make up for their revenue losses. A compensation cess in the range of 1 to 290 per cent is levied on luxury and demerit goods to create a revenue pool for compensating states for the loss of revenue occurring from the exercise. The compensation mechanism was for the initial 5 years ending June 2022. The compensation cess mechanism was initially put in place for a 5-year period till June 30, 2022, to make up for the revenue loss suffered by states on account of GST implementation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The levy of compensation cess was later extended by 4 years till March 31, 2026, and the collection is being used to repay the loan that the centre had taken to compensate states for the GST revenue loss during Covid period. That loan repayment is going to be over by October-November, post which, compensation cess will cease to exist. About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalis... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 12:07 IST News business economy 56th GST Council Meeting: What Might Get Cheaper, What May Become Costlier? 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... GST Council Meet Begins: Rate Rationalisation, 2-Slab GST & Compensation Cess On Agenda Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 12:30 IST GST Council Meeting News: GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising state ministers, will begin it's 2-day meeting today GST Reforms 2.0 GST Council Meeting: The two-day GST Council meeting has begun, with the Centre likely to push for a 5 per cent tax on electric vehicles (EVs) as part of its ambitious overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The reform seeks to lower tax rates on daily-use items ranging from butter to electronics. Chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising state finance ministers, the Council will deliberate on the proposal during the session. The final decisions are expected to be announced at the conclusion of the meeting on September 4. Recommended Stories #WATCH | Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is chairing the 56th meeting of the GST Council today. Visuals from the venue. pic.twitter.com/OfZSU369eI ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025 Next-Gen GST Reform: Two Slabs Proposed The Centres proposal seeks to simplify GST by moving to just two tax rates5 per cent and 18 per centby shifting products from the current 12 and 28 per cent slabs. In addition, a special 40 per cent rate has been suggested for luxury and demerit goods. The move is expected to lower prices of several essentials, though opposition-ruled states are demanding compensation for any revenue loss. Background: From Four Slabs to Two The current four-tier GST structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent was rolled out on July 1, 2017, replacing multiple state and central levies like excise duty and VAT. A compensation cess was also introduced to help states cover revenue shortfalls. However, this mechanism ended in June 2022. Prime Ministers Push for Reform In his Independence Day speech on August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the GST reform plan. The Centre later shared a blueprint with a Group of Ministers (GoM), which broadly endorsed doing away with the 12 and 28 per cent slabs to ease compliance and lower consumer prices. Diverging Views on EV Taxation While the GoM suggested levying 18 per cent GST on EVs priced up to 40 lakh, the Centre is keen to keep the rate at 5 per cent to accelerate EV adoption. This difference will be a key point of debate during the Council meeting. Likely Changes in Daily-Use Items Essential food products such as ghee, nuts, drinking water (20-litre packs), namkeen, medicines, footwear, and apparel could move from the 12 per cent to the 5 per cent slab. Everyday items like pencils, umbrellas, bicycles, and hairpins are also likely to attract the lower 5 per cent rate. Electronics, Automobiles, and Luxury Goods Electronics, including certain televisions, washing machines, and refrigerators, are expected to shift from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, reducing prices. Automobiles may see differential taxation: entry-level cars at 18 per cent, while SUVs and luxury cars fall under the special 40 per cent slab. Tobacco, pan masala, and cigarettes would also attract the 40 per cent rate, with scope for an additional levy. Opposition States Demand Compensation Eight opposition-ruled statesHimachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengalare demanding compensation for potential revenue losses after the rejig. They argue that rate cuts will reduce collections, while the Centre maintains that higher consumption from lower prices will offset the impact in the long run. The GST Council is expected to deliberate on ending the compensation cess earlier than scheduled, possibly by October 31. Though the cess is officially slated to continue until March 31, 2026, sources said discussions are underway to wind it down ahead of time as loans raised during the Covid-19 years to cover states revenue shortfall near full repayment. If the cess collection is halted this October, it could leave a surplus of around 2,000-3,000 crore, which may be shared equally between the Centre and the states, according to officials. The Council may also take up the issue of a short-term compensation mechanism for states facing revenue losses from proposed tax rate cuts. However, the existing compensation cess framework is unlikely to be extended for this purpose, sources indicated. The compensation cess, introduced in July 2017, was designed to make up for state revenue losses during the initial five years of GST implementation. The GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 was enacted to ensure that the Centre should provide compensation to statesfor a period of five years from the implementation of GST (July 1, 2017)to make sure that each states tax revenue grow by 14 per cent annually over a base year of 2015-16. The legal window for compensation ended in June 2022, the levy was extended until March 2026 to service loans raised during the pandemic years when revenues sharply declined. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Balancing Reform With Revenue Stability Government sources indicated that the Centre is mindful of revenue implications and has designed the GST overhaul to ensure minimal disruption. At the same time, the reform is expected to reduce compliance burden on businesses while making essentials cheaper for consumers. About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 08:45 IST News business economy GST Council Meet Begins: Rate Rationalisation, 2-Slab GST & Compensation Cess On Agenda 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... Three Cheers For Common Man In Two-Slab GST Reform, Household Essentials To Get Cheaper Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 23:02 IST The GST Council on September 3 approved a dual tax rate structure with a special 40% slab reserved for sin and luxury goods Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs the 56th meeting of the GST Council on Wednesday, in New Delhi. (Photo Credit: X handle/ Finance Ministry) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, addressing the press after the 56th GST Council meeting on Wednesday, announced that the Council had cleared the Centres proposal to streamline the indirect tax structure into a dual slab of 5% and 18%, with a special 40% slab earmarked for sin and luxury goods. This overhaul will replace the existing four major slabs 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% with a simplified two-rate system. Under the new framework, essential or merit" goods will be taxed at 5%, while most goods and services will fall under the 18% standard rate. Recommended Stories What Is The 40% Slab For? The 40% club will cover so-called sin goods" or demerit items considered harmful to health or society, along with select luxury products. This includes tobacco and related items such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, gutkha, and pan masala; high-end cars and SUVs in the luxury vehicle segment; and junk foods that are heavily processed or high in sugar, salt, or trans fats. Alcohol, however, remains outside GSTs ambit and will continue to be taxed separately by states through excise duties. GST On GST Products: The Fine Print Products such as pan masala, gutkha, cigarettes, bidi, unmanufactured tobacco, and zarda will, however, continue under their existing GST and compensation cess rates until all outstanding loans and interest tied to the compensation cess fund are fully discharged. The Union Finance Minister and Chairperson of the GST Council will decide the transition timeline for these items separately. The Council also confirmed that the new rates will take effect from September 22, coinciding with the first day of Navratri, and crucially, there will be no additional levies or cesses, Sitharaman said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The decision marks one of the most significant tax reforms since GSTs rollout in 2017. The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day promise of a Diwali gift" in the form of a GST overhaul, a plan later vetted by a Group of Ministers and endorsed by the Council during its September 34 meeting. About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 19:25 IST News business economy Three Cheers For Common Man In Two-Slab GST Reform, Household Essentials To Get Cheaper 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 Restaurants To Flights, Here's How Much You Could Save With GST Cuts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 23:52 IST GST Council slashes GST on restaurants, hotels and air travel from September 22, 2025, making dining out, hotel stays and flights cheaper. Air travel gets a significant correction. Dining out, holidaying and flying will soon put less strain on wallets after the GST Councils sweeping tax overhaul brought down rates on restaurants, hotels and air travel. The changes, effective September 22, 2025, come just ahead of the festive and wedding season, when spending on food and travel peaks. What Has Changed For Those Eating Out? Recommended Stories Meals at restaurants will now attract 5% GST, down from the previous 1218% depending on category. The cut means family dinners, festive outings and casual dining will all become more affordable. The move could bring back more footfall to restaurants that had seen demand dip under higher taxes. Read more: From Restaurants To Flights, Heres How Much You Could Save With GST Cuts What Changes For Those Seeking Hotel Stays? The Council has rationalised hotel tariffs, providing relief to travellers as rooms priced under 1,000/night remain GST-free, rooms between 1,000 and 7,500/night will now be taxed at 12%, instead of 18% and premium hotels with tariffs above 7,500 will continue to attract 18%. The shift is expected to ease costs for middle-class families booking trips for festivals, weddings and vacations. Will Your Flights Become Cheaper? Yes, air travel also gets a significant correction as economy class tickets will attract just 5% GST, down from 12% and business class tickets will be taxed at 12%, reduced from 18%. The move will make flying more accessible, particularly for festive domestic travel, while offering some relief to business travellers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Read more: Festive Cheer: GST Cuts Promise A Lighter Shopping Basket, Just As PM Modi Promised Together, these cuts are aimed at boosting consumption in the services sector while providing direct savings to families. With the festive season approaching, the relief is expected to lift consumer sentiment and drive demand. Tourism and hospitality, among the hardest hit during the pandemic, could see a much-needed rebound due to the GST cuts. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 23:25 IST News business From Restaurants To Flights, Here's How Much You Could Save With GST Cuts 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... GST Reform With PM Push Comes As Boon For Common Man, Bane For Opposition Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 23:54 IST The GST restructuring comes barely 20 days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his intent to simplify the tax structure The GST overhaul also serves as a strong political counter to opposition narratives. File pic/PTI In what is being widely seen as a pre-Diwali bonanza, the Government of India has delivered a sweeping GST rate rationalisationa move aimed squarely at easing the burden on the middle class, farmers, and small traders. Recommended Stories This landmark decision, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday following the 56th GST Council meeting in New Delhi, brings everyday items such as spectacles, hair oil, edible oil, ghee, and small cars under reduced tax slabs. For the aspirational middle class, this also means that goods like TVs, air conditioners, and consumer electronics are now far more affordable. This was a clear and focused effort for the benefit of the common man," said a senior government official, summarising the sentiment behind the move. A Mandate Delivered in 20 Days The GST restructuring comes barely 20 days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his intent to simplify the tax structure. The Prime Minister had emphasised the urgency of the task, instructing that it be implemented before the auspicious Navratras, leaving no room for delay. Within days of the PMs directive, the Group of Ministers (GoM) accepted the proposed changes, and a long-pending GST Council meeting was convened. Although originally scheduled for two days, the Council achieved unanimous consensus in a single day, after more than 11 hours of intense deliberation. The government was determined to conclude the process quickly, leaving no space for speculation, delay, or political manoeuvring. Broad SupportEven from Reluctant Corners The pro-consumer and pro-middle-class nature of the announcements made it difficult for any stakeholderincluding opposition-ruled statesto oppose the reforms. While there were last-minute objections from states like Kerala and Karnataka, who demanded an extension of the compensation cess, the Centre remained firm. The Finance Minister reportedly reminded states that the exercise should not be viewed as a revenue loss, but rather as a revenue-generating economic stimulus in the long term. Speaking with News18, the Finance Minister remarked, I dont want to be dragged into the issue of revenue loss raised by some Opposition CMs. In the end, its about the economy." Rebutting Political Rhetoric with Action The GST overhaul also serves as a strong political counter to opposition narratives. Criticisms like Rahul Gandhis Gabbar Singh Tax" label now appear increasingly outdated as the government aligns its tax policy with consumer relief and economic energisation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Finance Minister, speaking with News18, summed up the achievement: We achieved this restructuring in just 20 days. It shows we are a government that works." About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. S... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 23:51 IST News business GST Reform With PM Push Comes As Boon For Common Man, Bane For Opposition 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... Stocks To Watch: Indus Towers, Waaree Energies, TCS, Yes Bank, Adani Power, And Others Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 07:48 IST Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like Indus Towers, Waaree Energies, TCS, Yes Bank, Adani Power, and others will be in focus on Wednesday's trade Sensex Today Stocks To Watch On September 3: Domestic equities surrendered early gains from upbeat macroeconomic data to close lower on Tuesday, as investors stayed cautious ahead of the two-day GST Council meeting. In todays trade, several stocks, including Vikran Engineering, Indus Towers, Waaree Energies, TCS, and YES Bank will be in focus on the back of key corporate developments. Vikran Engineering & Anlon Healthcare IPO Listing Recommended Stories Shares of Vikran Engineering and Anlon Healthcare will make their stock market debut today, drawing attention from investors. TCS Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has deepened its partnership with Scandinavian non-life insurer Tryg through a seven-year agreement worth 550 million. Adani Power Adani Power has secured approval from the Coal Ministry to begin operations at the Dhirauli coal mine in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh. Indus Towers Passive telecom infrastructure provider Indus Towers announced plans to expand across African markets, with Airtel Africa as its anchor customer. Waaree Energies The board of Waaree Energies has approved the acquisition of a 64% equity stake in Kotson for 192 crore. UPL Advanta Mauritius, a subsidiary of UPL, has cleared the acquisition of the post-harvest business of Decco Holdings UK, part of UPL Corp. Yes Bank The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporations proposal to increase its stake in Yes Bank. PNC Infratech PNC Infratech has emerged as the lowest bidder for an Airports Authority of India (AAI) project worth 297 crore. The contract involves extending and strengthening the runway at Varanasis Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, with completion expected in 18 months. DCX Systems DCX Systems has named Prasanna Kumar as its Chief Financial Officer, effective September 2, 2025, while reappointing Raghavendra Rao as Chairman and Managing Director. E2E Networks E2E Networks has received clearance from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to allocate H200 SXM and H100 SXM GPUs for GNANI AI. The allocation totals 1,29,94,560 GPU hours for a 360-day period to support Indias foundational AI development. Suntech Realty top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Suntech Realtys board will meet on September 5 to consider raising up to 500 crore through a preferential issue of company securities. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 07:48 IST News business markets Stocks To Watch: Indus Towers, Waaree Energies, TCS, Yes Bank, Adani Power, And Others Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday addressed a grand gathering in Beijing's Tian'anmen Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Editor: WXY SUV Lovers To Pay More, Big Savings On Small Cars & Bikes: What Buyers Should Know Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 04, 2025, 01:48 IST The GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has proposed to slash GST rates on certain vehicles from 28% to 18%. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The GST cuts will make automobiles more accessible.(Representative Image) The GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising ministers from all states, approved sweeping GST cuts on several commodities on Wednesday, bringing a much-needed relief for carmakers and buyers. This will be effective from September 22, 2025, the first day of Navratri. GST rates on several automobiles have been slashed from 28% to 18%, making them significantly more affordable. The cuts mean that middle-class households will make big savings on small cars and bikes, providing a boost for Maruti Suzuki, Indias largest carmaker, and its rivals Hyundai and Tata Motors. Recommended Stories Arvind Shrivastava, Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, announced that GST on Electric Vehicles (EV) will remain at 5%. However, SUVs and luxury EVs will see a higher GST of 40%, up from 28%. This is a higher slab for select few items. The automobile industry had repeatedly urged the government to hasten the implementation of new GST rates, seeking their rollout before the start of the festive season in the second half of September. ALSO READ: What Gets Cheaper, What Gets Costlier After GST Councils Big Tax Reset: Full List The major reform comes amid strained trade ties with the US over Donald Trumps steep tariffs on Indian imports, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making repeated calls for increased use of Indian products. The proposed tax cuts are aimed at curtailing the impact of the fall in exports to the US due to the recent tariff hike. Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi announced the Next-Generation GST Reforms in his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort.Working on the same principle, the GST Council has approved significant reforms today. These reforms have a multi-sectoral and pic.twitter.com/NzvvVScKCF Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) September 3, 2025 Which Vehicles Will Get Cheaper? (From 28% to 18%) New pneumatic tyres, of rubber (other than of a kind used on/in bicycles, cycle-rickshaws and three wheeled powered cycle rickshaws; rear tractor tyres; and of a kind used on aircraft). Road tractors for semi-trailers of engine capacity more than 1800 cc. Motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, including the driver (other than buses for use in public transport, which exclusively run on Bio-fuels) Petrol, Liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) driven motor vehicles of engine capacity not exceeding 1200cc and of length not exceeding 4000 mm. Diesel driven motor vehicles of engine capacity not exceeding 1500 cc and of length not exceeding 4000 mm. Motor vehicles cleared as ambulances duly fitted with all the fitments, furniture and accessories necessary for an ambulance from the factory manufacturing such motor vehicles. Three wheeled vehicles. Motor vehicles with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor as motors for propulsion, of engine capacity not exceeding 1200cc and of length not exceeding 4000 mm. Motor vehicles with both compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine [diesel-or semi diesel] and electric motor as motors for propulsion, of engine capacity not exceeding 1500 cc and of length not exceeding 4000 mm. Motor vehicles for the transport of goods (other than refrigerated motor vehicles). Motorcycles of engine capacity (including mopeds) and cycles fitted with an auxiliary motor, with or without side-cars, of an engine capacity not exceeding 350cc, and side cars. Additionally, the GST rates of certain parts and accessories including chassis, wheel rims, bodies, and transmission have been slashed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Which Vehicles Will Get Costlier? (From 28% to 40%) Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, including station wagons and racing cars (other than those mentioned in the 28% to 18% column). Motor vehicles with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor as motors for propulsion, of engine capacity exceeding 1200 cc or of length exceeding 4000 mm. Motor vehicles with both compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel-or semi diesel) and electric motor as motors for propulsion, of engine capacity exceeding 1500 cc or of length exceeding 4000 mm. Motor cycles of engine capacity exceeding 350 cc. Aircraft for personal use. Yacht and other vessels for pleasure or sports. 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 int... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 23:12 IST News business SUV Lovers To Pay More, Big Savings On Small Cars & Bikes: What Buyers Should Know Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 1 Lakh Kg Waste At Mumbais Azad Maidan: As Maratha Stir Ends, BMC Clears Jarange-Patils Protest Site Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:17 IST The overall waste removed is equal to the full capacity of 54 waste compactor dumpers each having a capacity of 1,850 kg each Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Maratha protesters at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Friday. (PTI) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cleared 1.01 lakh kg or 101 metric tonnes (MT) of waste items from Azad Maidan and its adjoining areas where Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil was protesting for quota for five days between August 29 and Tuesday morning, the Indian Express reported. The overall waste removed is equal to the full capacity of 54 waste compactor dumpers each having a capacity of 1,850 kg each, that were pressed into operation for collection and transporting the accumulated solid waste, the IE report said. The waste items included food packets, plastic bottles, chappals, discarded flyers and posters. Recommended Stories How the waste was cleared: BMC data August 29: 4,000 kg of waste was removed August 30: 7,000 kg of waste was removed August 31 to Tuesday morning: 30,000 kg waste was removed each day What the Maratha protesters said After the quota protesters dispersed from Azad Maidan, some activists on Tuesday tried to distribute the leftover food sent by community members from across Maharashtra among local residents and others passing by the area. Still, a significant amount of food remained inside the protest site and at a couple of locations outside it till late night. Heaps of mineral water bottles were lying in and around Azad Maidan, and some people were seen picking them up. A World Maratha Organisation activist told PTI that they planned to distribute the remaining bottles to patients at government hospitals in Mumbai. Unlike Monday, the square outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), located just a few metres away from Azad Maidan, and the adjoining roads was comparatively cleaner on Tuesday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A Maratha community activist on Tuesday said they would have cleaned the site, but protesters from outside Mumbai had already left, and local members dispersed due to Ganpati immersion. With PTI Inputs About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 11:58 IST News mumbai-news 1 Lakh Kg Waste At Mumbais Azad Maidan: As Maratha Stir Ends, BMC Clears Jarange-Patils Protest Site 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... Mumbai Vande Bharat Express Trains: Your Complete Guide To Routes, Timings, Ticket Prices & Stops Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 10:55 IST Mumbai Vande Bharat Trains List: Which are the popular cities connected? How much does the ticket cost? Explained Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Connecting the metropolis to key destinations like Gandhinagar, Shirdi, Solapur, and more, the Vande Bharat trains promise not just speed, but comfort and efficiency. (PTI) Mumbai Vande Bharat Trains List: Mumbai, they say, is a city that never sleeps. In Indias financial capital, where every minute counts, the arrival of the Vande Bharat Express has marked a new chapter in the transportation story. Sleek, swift, state-of-the-art, and manufactured under the Make In India initiative, the semi-high-speed trains are redefining the way Mumbaikars travel beyond city limits. Connecting the metropolis to key destinations like Gandhinagar, Shirdi, Solapur, and more, the Vande Bharat trains promise not just speed, but comfort and efficiency. News18 explains the routes, ticket prices, details of ticket booking and upcoming trains connecting Mumbai with the rest of the country. Recommended Stories 20901/20902 Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Inaugurated on September 30, 2022, the Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express is Indias third semi-high-speed train that passes through multiple cities and makes eight stops along its route. The train, which originates from Mumbai Central, covers Borivali, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Vadodara Junction, Anand Junction, Ahmedabad Junction, and then reaches Gandhinagar. What is the frequency of the train? The train runs six days a week, excluding Wednesdays. What time does it leave Mumbai and arrive in Gandhinagar? The train departs from Mumbai Central at 6am and arrives in Gandhinagar at 12.30pm. What is the timetable? What is the travel time? The train has an average speed of 81 km/h, with the maximum at 130 km/h. It covers the distance of 519 kilometres in 6 hours 30 minutes. How much does the ticket cost? The Mumbai Central to Gandhinagar ticket costs Rs 1,255 in AC Chair Car and Rs 2,435 in Executive Chair Car. Heres the break-up: What are the facilities available? On Board Catering/E-Catering, On-board WiFi, Infotainment System, Reading Light, Electric, Outlets, Bottle Holder, Seat Pockets, and Tray Table. Additional facilities include KAVACH, Additional Parking Brakes and Traction Motor System, Smoke Alarms, CCTV Cameras, Bio-Vacuum Toilets, Sensor-based Water Taps, Roller Blinds, Automatic Doors, and Odour Control System. 22961 Mumbai-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Indias 45th semi-high-speed train connects Mumbai Central in Maharashtra with Ahmedabad in Gujarat, making four stops along its route. The train was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from Ahmedabad on March 12, 2024. What is the frequency of the service? The train runs six days a week, excluding Sundays. The train, with an average speed of 90 km/h, has a maximum speed of 130 km/h. It covers the distance of 490 kilometres in 5 hours 30 minutes. Which are the states and cities it connects? The train runs between Maharashtra and Gujarat and connects Mumbai, Borivali, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad. What times does the train depart from Mumbai and reach Ahmedabad? The 22961 Mumbai-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express departs from Mumbai Central at 3.45pm and arrives at Ahmedabad Junction at 9.15pm. What is the timetable? How much does the ticket cost? The journey from Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad Junction in AC Chair Car costs Rs 1,365, while the Executive Class (EC) fare is Rs 2,485. Heres the further break-up: 22225 Mumbai CSMT-Solapur Vande Bharat Indias ninth semi-high-speed train, the Mumbai CSMT-Solapur Vande Bharat Express runs from Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to Solapur and passes through multiple cities within Maharashtra. It was inaugurated on February 10, 2023. What is the frequency? The train runs six days a week, excluding Wednesdays. It covers a distance of 457 km in 6 hours and 35 minutes. What are the stops? The train connects cities within Maharashtra such as Mumbai, Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Pune, Kurduwadi, and Solapur What is the timetable? What are the departure and arrival timings? The train departs from Mumbai CSMT at 4.05pm and arrives in Solapur at 10.40pm the same day. How much will a ticket cost? Mumbai CSMT to Solapur in AC Chair Car will cost Rs 1,300, while it will cost Rs 2,365 in Executive Chair Car. Heres the further break-up of costs: 22223 Mumbai CSMT-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat The MumbaiShirdi Vande Bharat Express holds significant importance for both regional connectivity and spiritual tourism in Maharashtra. Connecting Mumbai, the states financial and commercial hub, with Shirdi, one of Indias most revered pilgrimage destinations, the train offers a fast, comfortable, and modern travel option for thousands of devotees and tourists who visit the shrine of Sai Baba every day. Indias tenth semi-high-speed train runs from Mumbai CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) to Sainagar Shirdi Terminus, passing through multiple cities within Maharashtra and making four stops along the route. Beyond religious travel, the train also enhances intra-state connectivity within Maharashtra by linking major urban and semi-urban centers along the route. What is the frequency? The train runs six days a week, excluding Tuesdays, and covers a distance of 344 km in 5 hours and 10 minutes. What are the cities connected? The train connects Mumbai, Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik, and Shirdi in a single day. What are the departure and arrival hours? The train departs from Mumbai CSMT at 6.20am and arrives at Sainagar Shirdi Terminus at 11.30am the same day. What are the fares? The AC Chair Car fare from Mumbai CSMT to Shirdi is Rs 975, while Executive Chair Car costs Rs 1,840. Heres the break-up of the costs: What is the time-table? 22229 Mumbai CSMT-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express The train connects Maharashtra with tourism haven Goa and was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from Rani Kamalapati (Habibganj) railway station on June 27, 2023. The train significantly improves access from Mumbai, especially for weekend travellers and holidaymakers, providing a premium, fast alternative to long road trips or slow-moving conventional trains. What is the frequency? While the train typically runs on six days, excluding Sundays, keeping the monsoon restrictions in mind, it is currently running three days a weekMonday, Wednesday, and Friday. The curbs will continue till October 20. It covers a distance of 590 km in 10 hours and 35 minutes. What is the fare structure? A ticket from Mumbai CSMT to Madgaon Junction will cost Rs 1,595 in AC Chair Car and Rs 3,115 in Executive Chair Car. Heres the further break-up of fares: What is the timetable? Which all cities does it connect? Mumbai, Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Khed, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Thivim, and Madgaon. What are the departure and arrival timings? The 22229 Mumbai CSMT-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express departs from Mumbai CSMT at 5.25am and arrives at Madgaon Junction at 4pm the same day. 20706 Mumbai CSMT-Nanded Vande Bharat Express Initially launched as the Mumbai CSMTJalna Vande Bharat Express, the train aimed at improving connectivity between Mumbai and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The train was later extended to Hazur Sahib Nanded in August 2025, following public demand and political advocacy, especially from the Sikh community due to the religious importance of Nanded. What is the frequency? The train runs six days a week (excluding Thursdays). It covers a distance of 609 kilometres in 9 hours and 40 minutes. What are the fares? Mumbai CSMT to Hazur Sahib Nanded ticket in AC Chair Car will cost you Rs 1,775, while that for Executive Class will cost you Rs 3,125. Heres a further break-up of fares: Which are the cities connected? The train runs within Maharashtra and connects Mumbai, Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Nasik, Manmad, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, and Nanded. What is the timetable? What are the departure and arrival timings? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The train departs from Mumbai CSMT at 1.10pm and arrives at Jalna at 10.50pm. (All tables courtesy: https://vandebharatexpress.co.in/) About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 10:51 IST News cities mumbai-news Mumbai Vande Bharat Express Trains: Your Complete Guide To Routes, Timings, Ticket Prices & Stops 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... Ghodbunder Project: Will Lane Widening Merge Highway Traffic With Service Lanes? Thane Locals At Risk? Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:09 IST The Rs 600-crore Ghodbunder Highway widening project in Thane has sparked protests, with residents warning it will push highway traffic dangerously close to homes. Locals and activists are raising safety and environmental concerns, urging authorities to rethink the plan. (Photo Credit: X) The Rs 600-crore Ghodbunder Highway widening project in Thane is facing growing resistance from locals and activists. While the government sees it as a solution to traffic congestion, residents fear it will worsen safety risks, harm the environment, and was pushed through without proper consultation. The highway is one of Mumbais most important connectors, linking the city with Navi Mumbai, Gujarat, North Maharashtra, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Recommended Stories But the plan to merge service lanes with the main highway has sparked concern, as it could bring high-speed traffic dangerously close to residential colonies and schools. The project aims to expand lanes but risks merging service lanes with highway traffic The expansion plan, approved during Eknath Shindes tenure as chief minister, will widen the stretch between Gaimukh and Kapurbawdi to eight lanes. Authorities argue the project will ease traffic flow and reduce long delays. However, locals and even BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar claim congestion is temporary and largely due to Metro 4 construction barricades. They say merging service lanes with the highway will endanger lives by removing the buffer zone residents currently use. Locals are worried about safety and daily inconvenience Residents say the service lanes are vital for schoolchildren, shoppers, pedestrians, and local traffic to move safely. If they are merged with the main carriageway, locals fear pedestrians and two-wheelers will be forced to share space with speeding trucks and cars, as per the Times of India. BJP MLA Kelkar has warned that this will lead to more accidents and push residents into taking longer, riskier detours that waste both fuel and time. Environmental groups highlight large-scale tree cutting The widening project has already resulted in the felling of thousands of trees along the Ghodbunder stretch. Environmental activists argue this is only part of a much larger pattern in Thane, where projects like the Borivali-Thane Twin Tunnel and Saket-Anand Nagar flyover have been approved with little transparency. Surveys suggest over 6,500 trees have either been cut or are awaiting clearance since 2022. Protesters insist the authorities are not sharing full information and demand details of compensatory plantations. Residents oppose the project over the lack of consultation Many locals argue the project was pushed through without seeking their opinion. Community members and housing societies say they were not informed or consulted before approvals were given. According to Hindustan Times, political groups such as the Shiv Sena (UBT) have also raised objections, accusing the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) of ignoring public sentiment and failing to address the practical concerns of daily commuters. Can local protests force the authorities to rethink the plan? Residents are now using multiple strategies to put pressure on authorities. While some are choosing public demonstrations to highlight their anger, others are uniting environmentalists, community leaders, and housing societies to build a stronger case. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Engagement with local politicians has also begun, with Sanjay Kelkar promising to escalate concerns directly to the chief minister. Whether this collective effort can push the government to revise or pause the project remains to be seen, but the protests show locals are not willing to stay silent. 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, ... Read More Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:25 IST News mumbai-news Ghodbunder Project: Will Lane Widening Merge Highway Traffic With Service Lanes? Thane Locals At Risk? 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... 1,490 SC/ST Students Awarded Up To Rs 60,000 For Academic Excellence At Ambedkar Merit Awards Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:34 IST The Social Justice Ministry honoured 1,490 SC/ST students at the Dr Ambedkar National Merit Awards 2025, with cash prizes up to Rs 60,000 for excellence in Class 10 and 12 boards. Students felicitated at the Dr Ambedkar National Merit Awards ceremony (Image: PIB) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Tuesday honoured 1,490 Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students for their outstanding performance in Class 10 and 12 board examinations conducted by 29 state and central boards in 2021-22 and 2022-23. The Dr Ambedkar National Merit Award Ceremony 2025 was organised in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister Virendra Kumar. The award has been instituted by the Dr Ambedkar Foundation, of which Kumar is also the chairman. Recommended Stories Congratulating the awardees, Kumar said education was central to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkars vision of social transformation. Babasaheb gave the oppressed communities the strength to rise through knowledge. The government remains committed to empowering Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other disadvantaged groups through scholarships, fellowships and targeted welfare schemes," he said. For the 2021-22 academic session, 367 Class 10 students and 563 Class 12 students received the awards, including 71 toppers. In 2022-23, 198 Class 10 students and 362 Class 12 students were honoured, with 46 toppers recognised. ALSO READ: NIRF Rankings 2025 To Be Out On September 4, Check Top Institutes From Last 3 Years Each student was given a one-time cash prize: Rs 60,000 for the first position, Rs 50,000 for the second, and Rs 40,000 for the third. A special prize of Rs 60,000 was also awarded to the highest-scoring girl student where no girl featured among the top three. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale and B L Verma also addressed the gathering. They praised the achievers and urged them to uphold the values of equality, fraternity, dignity, and social justice. These young achievers are torchbearers of Babasahebs ideals. Education is the true instrument of empowerment," Athawale said. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:34 IST News education-career 1,490 SC/ST Students Awarded Up To Rs 60,000 For Academic Excellence At Ambedkar Merit Awards 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... GK: 60 Years Of India And Singapore Diplomatic Relations, Check Key Highlights Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:58 IST Singaporean companies are expected to increase investments in India, while Indian companies will use Singapore as a hub for their global operations. India-Singapore relations began on August 24, 1965 when Singapore gained independence, with India being one of the first countries to recognise it. (File Photo) Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is visiting India for three days from September 2, 2025, commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The visit focuses on bolstering economic, defence, and cultural ties. Here, we delve into the beginnings, evolution, and key highlights of India-Singapore relations. India-Singapore relations: Origins and Evolution Recommended Stories India-Singapore relations began on August 24, 1965 when Singapore gained independence, with India being one of the first countries to recognise it. At the time, Singapore faced threats from China-backed communists and pressure from neighbouring countries, viewing India as a strong partner for regional security and trade. Trade and cultural exchanges date back to 1819 when British officer Sir Stamford Raffles established a trading post in Singapore, governed from Kolkata. During the British period, this relationship continued, with Subhash Chandra Bose forming the Azad Hind Fauj in Singapore in 1943, playing a crucial role in Indias freedom struggle. Milestones over 60 Years Over the past six decades, India and Singapore have achieved notable milestones. In 2005, they signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), Indias first such agreement, enhancing trade and investment. By 2015, their relationship advanced to a Strategic Partnership and further to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024. Singapore has become one of Indias largest investor, with investments totalling $167.47 billion from 2000 to September 2024, constituting 24% of Indias total FDI. Trade between the two nations amounted to $35.6 billion in 2023-24, with Singapore being Indias largest trading partner in ASEAN. Singaporean companies are involved in various projects in India, including smart cities, airports, and industrial parks. Defence and Security Cooperation The two countries engage in joint military exercises like SIMBEX (Navy) and Agni Warrior (Army). A naval cooperation agreement signed in 2017 enables the navies to refuel and resupply at each others bases. They also collaborate on maritime security and peace in the Indo-Pacific region. Indian Population in Singapore Nine percent of Singapores population is of Indian origin, significantly contributing to its culture and economy. The Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre was announced in 2024. ISRO has launched several satellites for Singapore, starting with the first indigenous micro-satellite in 2011. The UPI-PayNow linkage and RuPay card acceptance have made digital transactions between the two countries easier. Highlights of Lawrence Wongs Visit Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation, is visiting India from September 2-4, 2025. Several key agreements will be signed in areas like shipping, civil aviation, space, digital technology, and semiconductors. On September 4, PM Wong and PM Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate a container terminal in Maharashtra, a project with over $1 billion investment from the Singapore Port Authority. Wong will also meet President Draupadi Murmu, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, and other ministers to discuss regional and global issues. Celebrating 60 Years This year marks the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore relations. In January 2025, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited India, where both countries launched a special logo featuring Indias lotus and Singapores orchid, symbolising their friendship and shared values. Significance of the Relationship Singapore plays a crucial role in Indias Act East Policy, enhancing Indias presence in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. It serves as a gateway for India to ASEAN, with both countries collaborating on platforms like the G20, Commonwealth, and Indian Ocean Rim Association. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Future Prospects Wongs visit aims to enhance cooperation in new technologies, green energy, and smart city projects. Singaporean companies are expected to increase investments in India, while Indian companies will use Singapore as a hub for their global operations. This relationship is poised to grow stronger economically, culturally, and strategically. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:53 IST News education-career GK: 60 Years Of India And Singapore Diplomatic Relations, Check Key Highlights 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... Himachal Govt Shuts Schools, Colleges Till September 7 Amid Heavy Rains Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:57 IST Himachal Pradesh has closed all schools and colleges till September 7 due to heavy rains. The Education Department issued orders prioritising safety of students and staff. Schools and colleges closed in Himachal till Sept 7 due to heavy rains. Himachal Schools Closed: The Himachal Pradesh government has declared a holiday in all educational institutions, both government and private, till September 7 in view of the continuous heavy rainfall across the state. The decision was taken by the state education department, considering the safety of students and staff amid the prevailing weather conditions. Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar issued the official order on Wednesday, directing that all schools, colleges, and other educational institutions remain closed until further notice. Recommended Stories The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a red alert for Himachal Pradesh, warning of moderate to heavy rainfall in the next three hours with risks of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging. Districts such as Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan are under red alert. Alerts have also been issued for Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest and eastern Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. The nowcast highlights possible intense spells of rain in these areas. In Jammu & Kashmir, red alerts cover Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar. Punjab districts under warning include Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur. In Haryana, Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar face similar warnings. ALSO READ: Punjab Schools, Colleges To Remain Closed Till September 7 Due To Floods Between 8:30 am Tuesday and 5:30 am Wednesday, Jammu & Kashmir saw extremely heavy rainfall Reasi recorded 203 mm, Katra 193 mm, Batote 157.3 mm, Doda 114 mm, and Baderwah 96.2 mm. Jammu city reported 81 mm, while Banihal (95 mm), Ramban (82 mm), Kokernag (68.2 mm), and Pahalgam (55 mm) also received heavy showers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rainfall was also recorded in Srinagar (32 mm), Samba (48 mm), Kishtwar (50 mm), Rajouri (57.4 mm), and Qazigund (68 mm). Fresh data until 6:45 am on September 3 showed Reasi receiving 230.5 mm of rain. Beyond Jammu & Kashmir, heavy showers lashed Chhattisgarh, while moderate rainfall was reported in Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, coastal Odisha, coastal Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka, and the Andaman Islands. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:48 IST News education-career Himachal Govt Shuts Schools, Colleges Till September 7 Amid Heavy Rains 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... Industry, Institutions Need To Come Together To Develop New Technologies: CM Adityanath At IIT Kanpur Event Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 17:27 IST TCS will partner with the Foundation to identify areas in urban planning where AI can provide solutions to manage urban growth at the scale of India. This years focus was on three critical pillars shaping the future: Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and Cybersecurity, IIT Kanpur stated. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur hosted its flagship corporateacademia engagement summit, IITK Samanvay 2025, on September 2 and 3, 2025 at the IIT Kanpur campus. The summit, themed Igniting Ideas. Accelerating Innovation.", aimed to bring together leaders from academia, industry, and governance to foster meaningful collaboration and innovation. While addressing the event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised the importance of developing and applying new technologies to achieve the honorable PMs vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 and Aatmnirbharta. He highlighted priorities in sectors such as med-tech, drones, artificial intelligence, and sustainability, and stressed the need to accelerate progress. He noted that industrial development in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in deeptech, is vital to this mission. Recommended Stories The strategic challenges of the new India must be met by our youth and institutions like IITs by developing new technologies. This is a time of competition, and we must establish leadership in every field," the CM said. Challenges like cybersecurity can only be addressed when industry and institutions come together to develop new technologies. For a developed India, we need to act across every sector," he added. IIT Kanpurs AIRAWAT Research Foundation Signs MoU With TCS An MoU was signed between IIT Kanpurs AIRAWAT Research Foundation and Tata Consultancy Services. TCS will partner with the Foundation to identify areas in urban planning where AI can provide solutions to manage urban growth at the scale of India. The initiative aims to create high-resolution air quality maps, predict and mitigate urban flooding, optimize green spaces for carbon absorption, and estimate carbon flux to aid climate action. It will also enhance waste management, green energy efficiency, and citizen participation through AI-enabled solutions, shaping urban smartness as a measure of holistic sustainability rather than technology alone. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Through the partnership with IIT Kanpurs AIRAWAT Research Foundation, TCS will leverage their expertise in AI, remote sensing, multi-modal data fusion, digital twin, and data and knowledge engineering technologies to address todays urban challenges and anticipate future needs. Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, highlighted IIT Kanpurs efforts in fostering partnerships to leverage knowledge in emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability. To leverage IIT Kanpurs knowledge capital in emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity and sustainability, we have consistently been fostering industryacademia partnerships," he said. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 17:26 IST News education-career Industry, Institutions Need To Come Together To Develop New Technologies: CM Adityanath At IIT Kanpur Event 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 Teachers' Award 2025: How A Chhattisgarh Teacher Transformed Children's Perception Of Math Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:49 IST Dr Pragya Singh noticed that many children feared mathematics. She then hired labourers, painted the school, and constructed a Math park. She financed the initiative herself. Dr Pragya Singhs innovative methods resulted in outstanding school results. (Representative/File Photo) Dr. Pragya Singh, a government school teacher from Durg district, Chhattisgarh, has been honoured with the National Teachers Award 2025 for her dedication and innovative teaching methods. Singh has revolutionised the way children perceive Math, making it enjoyable and engaging. Singh always dreamed of becoming a teacher. She began teaching neighbourhood children at a young age, but her education was interrupted following her marriage in 1997. Family responsibilities kept her away from her studies for about 10 years. However, she persevered and enrolled in a B.Ed programme in 2008, successfully clearing the Vyapam Primary Teacher Recruitment Exam that same year. She started teaching at Hanodas primary school. Two years later, she passed the middle school recruitment exam and began teaching at Hanodas middle school, where she continues to work. Interestingly, Singh holds a PhD in Geology. Recommended Stories Singh said she integrates geology with Math to enhance the learning experience. For example, she installed a rainwater harvesting system at the school to teach concepts like soil volume and curved surfaces. Her unique approach combines her academic background with her teaching, reported News18 Hindi. A pivotal moment came when Singh was teaching triangles to her middle school class. A mentally challenged girl raised her hand and said, Madam, look, I have become a moon." This inspired Singh to make Math fun and accessible through games and activities. Motivated by this, she developed Teaching Learning Material (TLM), creating Math Park, Advanced Lab, Life-Size Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Chess, and other engaging games. Through these activities, children began learning Math while playing. Singh noticed that many children feared mathematics. Despite not receiving government funding, Singh remained committed. She financed the initiative herself, hired labourers, painted the school, and constructed a Math park. She also developed an advanced Math lab and made classroom learning interactive, using games like integers on the floor, chair races, dice, chess, and ludo to teach various Math concepts. Her efforts led to 100% exam success for her students, and her class remained full. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Singhs innovative methods resulted in outstanding school results. Every year, students from her school excelled in the Gramin Pratibha Khoj exam, securing scholarships. One year, 4 children were selected, and 5 scored 100% in the 8th class exam. Villagers honoured Singh, and parents became enthusiastic about sending their children to school. In 2018, a team from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) visited Pragyas school. Impressed by her Math Park and Lab, they recommended her for the National Teachers Award. Although she applied in 2019, 2023, and 2024, initial presentation issues hindered her selection. In 2025, she refined her presentation, impressing the NCERT jury and securing the award. Dr. Pragya Singhs story exemplifies the transformative power of dedication and innovation in education. From a government school student to a PhD holder, she has shown that passion and hard work can achieve remarkable outcomes. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 16:30 IST News education-career National Teachers' Award 2025: How A Chhattisgarh Teacher Transformed Children's Perception Of Math 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... NIRF Rankings 2025 To Be Out On September 4, Check Top Institutes From Last 3 Years Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 10:54 IST NIRF Rankings 2025 will be announced tomorrow, September 4. IIT Madras has consistently held the top spot in recent years. Ministry of Education to release NIRF Rankings 2025 on September 4; IIT Madras leads in recent years. NIRF Rankings 2025: The Ministry of Education will release the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 on September 4. Students and institutions can check the rankings on the official website at nirfindia.org. The official notice reads: India Rankings 2025 will be released on 04th September 2025." This year marks the 10th edition of the NIRF rankings. The release was delayed after the Madras High Court issued a temporary stay over complaints regarding transparency and data accuracy. Recommended Stories The National Board of Accreditation (NBA) publishes the rankings every year. The NIRF rankings rate institutions based on teaching, learning, research, graduation outcomes, outreach, and perception. The India Rankings 2025 are likely to introduce a new category on sustainability, along with changes such as negative marking for the retraction of research papers. India Rankings: Overall Here are the NIRF top 10 institutes in the last three years: Rank 2024 2023 2022 1 IIT Madras IIT Madras IIT Madras 2 IISc Bangalore IISc Bangalore IISc Bangalore 3 IIT Bombay IIT Delhi IIT Bombay 4 IIT Delhi IIT Bombay IIT Delhi 5 IIT Kanpur IIT Kanpur IIT Kanpur 6 IIT Kharagpur AIIMS Delhi IIT Kharagpur 7 AIIMS Delhi IIT Kharagpur IIT Roorkee 8 IIT Roorkee IIT Roorkee IIT Guwahati 9 IIT Guwahati IIT Guwahati AIIMS Delhi 10 JNU JNU JNU ALSO READ: Top 50 Engineering Colleges In India As Per NIRF Ranking In 2024, higher education institutions were ranked across 16 categories, including overall, universities, colleges, engineering, management, pharmacy, law, medical, dental, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors, innovation, skill universities, open universities, state public universities, and research institutions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last year, the Education Ministry had also added three new categories open universities, skill universities, and state-funded public universities. For further details, students are advised to check the official website of NIRF. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 10:52 IST News education-career NIRF Rankings 2025 To Be Out On September 4, Check Top Institutes From Last 3 Years Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine: Our countries can epand cooperation in trade and investment Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Ukraine Pham Hai, during a reception in Kyiv on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Vietnams National Day, has emphasized that cooperation with Ukraine has significant potential in the fields of economy, technology, and culture. Over the past decades, Vietnam has achieved significant successes in political, economic, and social development. In 2025, our GDP is projected to be around $510 billion, and foreign trade turnover in 2024 exceeded $800 billion. Vietnam is among the 35 largest economies in the world and among the twenty leading exporters, the diplomat noted. The ambassador reported that despite the difficult conditions, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Ukraine is showing positive dynamics: in the first half of 2025, its volume increased by 30% to $560 million. He also emphasized the role of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine, which numbers over 800 people and acts as an important bridge of friendship between peoples. We highly appreciate the contribution of Ukrainian specialists to the development of Vietnam after the war, as well as the support of our diaspora in Ukraine, which is actively integrated into local society and at the same time preserves its cultural identity, the ambassador noted. Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Vietnam were established on January 23, 1992. The Embassy of Vietnam in Kyiv was opened in 1993, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Hanoi in 1997. Vietnam Economy (as of 2025) Population: about 101 million people. GDP growth: in 2024 - 7.1%, in 2025 it is expected to be about 8%. GDP (nominal): about $ 490-510 billion - 33rd place in the world. GDP (purchasing power parity, PPP): over $ 1.5 trillion, which puts the country in 23rd place in the world. School Holiday On September 5: Schools To Remain Closed On Friday Due To Id-e-Milad Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:06 IST School Holiday On September 5: On this occasion, schools in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are expected to remain closed. Apart from Id-e-Milad and Teacher's Day, various states will observe regional holidays in September. (Representative/File) Schools in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu will be closed on September 5 (Friday) for Id-e-Milad, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. This festival may coincide with Indrajatra in northeastern states like Sikkim and Manipur, where educational institutions will also observe a holiday. While Eid-e-Milad is a gazetted holiday officially recognised by the central government, its status as a holiday varies by state. In Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, schools, colleges, and government offices typically remain closed. In other states, the decision to close schools depends on state discretion. Recommended Stories Additionally, September 5 is celebrated as Teachers Day in India. On this day, students usually organise programmes and activities to honour their teachers. Following these celebrations, schools may close for the holiday. Students and parents are advised to check with their respective schools. Besides Id-e-Milad and Teachers Day, September is packed with festivals. Lets look at the number of days schools will be closed in September and the long weekends available during this holiday period. Here is the complete list of holidays with dates and festival names: September 7: Sunday September 11, 2025, Wednesday: Mahalakshmi fast begins, Radha Ashtami is celebrated September 14, 2025: Sunday September 16 or 17, 2025, Tuesday or Wednesday: Vishwakarma Puja September 21, 2025: Sunday September 22, 2025, Monday: Navratri begins September 28, 2025: Sunday top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ | Teachers Day 2025: Interesting Speech Ideas For Students And Teachers Schools in Jammu and Srinagar will be closed on September 12 for the traditional Friday after Eid. Rajasthan celebrates Navratna Sthapana, and schools may declare a holiday on September 22. Jammu and Kashmir will observe Maharaja Hari Singhs birth anniversary on September 23. In West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, and Odisha, schools will be closed for Durga Puja on September 29 and 30. In some states, schools and colleges close for nine consecutive days during Navratri. However, no official information has been released so far. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 12:37 IST News education-career School Holiday On September 5: Schools To Remain Closed On Friday Due To Id-e-Milad 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... Teachers' Day 2025: Interesting Speech Ideas For Students And Teachers Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 10:02 IST Teachers' Day 2025 Speech Ideas: Celebrate Teachers Day with heartfelt speech ideas for students and teachers that highlight gratitude, values, and the role of education. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Teachers' Day 2025: These speech ideas will make Teachers Day memorable. (AI generated image) Teachers Day Speech Ideas 2025: With India gearing up for Teachers Day on September 5, 2025, schools and colleges are making arrangements to celebrate educators. Students are practicing speeches expressing appreciation, while teachers are making notes on their career highlights. An ideal speech for Teachers Day should be sincere, concise, and motivational. The remarks, whether given by teachers or students, should focus on the importance of education and the role of educators in shaping society. Here are some speech ideas for Teachers Day. Recommended Stories Speech Ideas For Students Students tend to appreciate educators by citing personal experiences and memories. Below are some new ideas for student speeches on Teachers Day 2025: The Role of Teachers in Our Life Reflection on how teachers nurture and guide students. Why I Love My Teachers A personal and emotional tribute. The Role of Teachers in Nation Building Connecting education to Indias development. Importance of Celebration of Teachers Day Why this day is so important. If I Were a Teacher A light-hearted but thoughtful approach. My Favourite Teacher and What I Learned Recalling particular incidents. Why Teachers Are Real Heroes Emphasizing their sacrifices and commitment. How Teachers Inspire Leadership Learning beyond texts. The Students-Teacher Relationship Creating respect and friendship. Why Teaching is the Highest Calling Profession A message expressing gratitude. Speech Ideas For Teachers Teachers also step up on this day to motivate and inspire their students. Below are some Teachers Day speech ideas for teachers: Why Teaching is My Passion Sharing personal journeys. The Importance of Lifelong Learning Encouraging students to keep growing. How Students Inspire Teachers Every Day Expressing mutual respect. The Changing Role of Teachers in the Digital Age Addressing modern challenges. Why Teachers Day Matters to Us Too Celebrating the bond with students. Encouraging Students to Be Future Leaders A motivational message. Why Discipline and Respect Hand in Hand What teaching values are about outside of the classroom? What Makes Teaching the Best Job in the World A love letter to the teaching profession. Lessons I Learned from My Students Highlighting two-way learning. Why Education is the Greatest Gift Encouraging gratitude for learning. Celebrating Teachers Day 2025 With Gratitude Teachers Day is not merely about official programs but also about reinforcing the bond between teachers and students. Schools organise stage cultural events, felicitation functions, and interactive meetings where students and teachers share ideas. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The occasion provides an opportunity for students to show respect. For teachers, the day is a chance to reflect on the values they impart to the next generation. With such speech ideas, the students and teachers can bring meaning to the day. The purpose of these topics is not only to celebrate, but also to remind society of the critical role that teachers play in determining the future. About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 10:01 IST News education-career Teachers' Day 2025: Interesting Speech Ideas For Students And Teachers 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... Robot Wolves, Guam Killers, Hypersonic Missiles: China Brings Out The Big Guns At Military Parade Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:47 IST The once-in-a-decade military parade turned into a weapons showcase, unveiling Chinas new mix of nuclear missiles, hypersonics, drones and battlefield robots Maritime operations group displays YJ-15 hypersonic anti-ship missiles during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025. (REUTERS) On Wednesday, China held its largest military parade in a decade, a sprawling, high-security event in Beijings Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. While the occasion was commemorative in name, the actual focus was elsewhere: the carefully staged showcase of dozens of weapons, some being revealed publicly for the first time and others upgraded versions of long-standing systems. President Xi Jinping, in a Mao-style suit, declared that China would not bow to intimidation. But the real message was left to the machines. From long-range missiles and hypersonic glide systems to underwater drones and robotic wolves, the parade was less about history and more about presenting the full spectrum of Chinas military power. Recommended Stories Land, Sea, And Air: Chinas Full Nuclear Triad Was On Display For The First Time For the first time, China presented all three legs of its nuclear triad land-based missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and air-delivered nuclear weapons. On land, China rolled out the Dongfeng-5C, or DF-5C, a silo-based intercontinental ballistic missile. Firstpost reported its range at over 13,000 kilometres, with capacity for up to ten independently targetable nuclear warheads. The DF-5C is a modernised extension of a programme started in the 1970s, now fitted with multiple warhead options. Alongside it was the DF-61, a newly unveiled intercontinental ballistic missile mounted on a mobile, eight-wheeled launcher. The missiles unusually large size immediately drew attention, with Bloomberg reporting that its dimensions suggest it could carry heavier warheads or additional decoys over long distances. While official details remain limited, some US analysts believe the DF-61 may be linked to Chinas experimental efforts to develop a fractional orbital bombardment system, a Cold War-era concept where a nuclear warhead briefly enters low Earth orbit before descending unpredictably onto its target. Completing the triad was the Julang-3, or JL-3, submarine-launched ballistic missile, capable of targeting distant adversaries while launched from waters near Chinas coastline. In the air, the parade included the Jinglei-1, a long-range nuclear missile believed to be carried by bombers. Though technical specifications were limited, Reuters confirmed it was part of the air-based leg of the triad and had not been shown publicly before. Carrier Killers And Base Busters: Missiles Built For The Indo-Pacific Several missiles on display were clearly aimed at targets beyond Chinas borders, especially American naval assets and bases across the Pacific. The DF-26D, often dubbed the Guam Killer", is an intermediate-range ballistic missile designed to reach US military installations on the island of Guam, nearly 5,000 kilometres away. Firstpost reported that it can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads and is fitted with electronic warfare features, including jamming systems to evade interception by American systems like THAAD and Aegis. China also displayed the YJ-21, a hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile capable of launch from both destroyers and bombers. Bloomberg noted its range as over 600 kilometres and highlighted its speed and versatility. Alongside it were the YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 anti-ship systems designed to strike carrier groups. The YJ-17, in particular, includes a hypersonic glide vehicle, allowing it to be released from aircraft beyond the reach of enemy air defences and still penetrate through to its target. Together, these systems expand Chinas ability to hold at risk high-value maritime and island-based targets across the Indo-Pacific. What Makes Chinas Hypersonic Arsenal So Hard To Stop Hypersonic missiles travel faster than Mach 5 and can manoeuvre unpredictably during flight, making them difficult for current missile defence systems to intercept. China used the parade to highlight both dedicated hypersonic systems and those with hypersonic components. The DF-17 is one of Chinas best-known hypersonic platforms, previously shown carrying a glide vehicle capable of evading radar and conventional interceptors. Several anti-ship systems already mentioned such as the YJ-21 and YJ-17 also fall within the hypersonic category. Even the DF-26D, while not a pure hypersonic missile, includes features that allow for evasive terminal manoeuvres and extended speed during its final phase. These capabilities allow such missiles to bypass layered missile defence systems and reduce enemy response time, especially in fast-moving regional conflict scenarios. From Lasers To Microwaves: Chinas Anti-Drone Triad Gets A Public Debut The parade featured a full suite of anti-drone technologies, moving beyond traditional interceptor missiles to include directed-energy weapons. Chinas LY-1 laser system is a mobile platform designed to neutralise low-flying drones with high-energy light beams. These systems can fire repeatedly without reloading, making them efficient against swarms. Bloomberg confirmed the presence of high-powered microwave weapons, which use electromagnetic pulses to disable drone electronics. Completing this triad of countermeasures were more conventional systems short-range missiles and automated guns designed to target drones at varying altitudes and speeds. Chinese state media referred to these collectively as a triad" of anti-drone systems, mirroring the structure of its strategic nuclear force but applied to a tactical battlefield threat. Drones In Sky, Wolves On Ground: Chinas Autonomous Systems Are Evolving Fast A key theme of the parade was the integration of autonomous platforms across domains aerial, underwater, maritime, and ground-based. The GJ-11 Loyal Wingman drone made another appearance, flying in formation with its manned counterparts. Its designer Deng Shuai told Global Times that the drone acts as a sensor node, ammunition carrier, and intelligent assistant, capable of engaging targets or supporting manned aircraft in high-risk missions. Underwater, China displayed the AJX002, an extra-large unmanned submarine measuring up to 20 metres. Bloomberg reported that it could support reconnaissance, mine-laying, or even nuclear roles. Its sheer size points to extended operational range and endurance. Unmanned helicopters and stealth surface vessels were also shown, with several featuring concealed antennas and hull shapes designed to minimise radar signature. These ships are believed to be capable of operating either with or without crew. On the ground, China unveiled its latest robotic quadrupeds, referred to as robot wolves. State broadcaster CCTV noted that they are an improvement on earlier robot dogs and can conduct supply delivery, frontline reconnaissance, and potentially even precision strikes. Their inclusion suggests China is looking to integrate robotics into close-range ground operations in high-risk areas. Tanks, Rockets And Modular Firepower: What Ground Combat Systems Were Featured The 99B main battle tank led the armoured vehicle column. This is a third-generation tank equipped with an active protection system that includes radar-based fire control and interceptor launchers, designed to protect the vehicle from anti-tank missiles or loitering munitions. Firstpost reported that the system includes projectile-based defence measures that activate once threats are detected. The PHL-16, a modular multiple launch rocket system, was also showcased. Built by Norinco, the PHL-16 features an adaptable launcher that can switch between different rocket types depending on mission requirements. It supports 300 mm and 370 mm rockets and can also launch tactical ballistic missiles such as the Fire Dragon 480, which has a reported range of up to 500 kilometres. The platform is often compared to the US HIMARS for its mobility, rapid-fire capability, and modular payload design. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What The Hardware Alone Tells Us About Chinas Military Thinking The weapons on display were not just diverse; they were deeply integrated. Each system addressed a specific domain or operational gap, whether in strategic deterrence, regional denial, or tactical defence. From deep-sea drone submarines to robot-assisted ground units, and from hypersonic anti-ship missiles to mobile laser batteries, the PLA used the parade to show how far its modernisation efforts have come. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:31 IST News explainers Robot Wolves, Guam Killers, Hypersonic Missiles: China Brings Out The Big Guns At Military Parade 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 Is New Zealands Golden Visa Programme, Can Visa Holders Buy Or Build Luxury Homes There? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 11:54 IST New Zealand forbade foreign homebuyers in 2018 to tame its market. But policy tweak on September 1 will allow visa holders to buy one home worth at least NZ$5 million (Rs 25 crore) For Indians dreaming of Auckland penthouses or Queenstown villas, this is a golden ticket, provided you clear the visa hurdles. (Getty Images) For wealthy Indians seeking a second home, better education, or a stable base in an uncertain world, golden visa programmesoffering residency or citizenship for hefty investmentsare a hot ticket. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday that investors on the foreign investor migrant visa reintroduced in April, could buy or build one home if it costs at least NZ$5 million ($2.94 million). Recommended Stories New Zealands Active Investor Plus Visa, relaunched in 2022, is among the priciest, designed to funnel serious money into its economy. But what does it offer, can holders snap up luxury properties, and how does it compare to other golden visas popular with Indians, like those in Portugal, Spain, Greece, and the UAE? Heres a breakdown. Whats The Deal With New Zealands Golden Visa? Introduced in September 2022, the Active Investor Plus Visa replaced earlier investor programmes, shifting focus from passive real estate to active economic contributions. It requires a minimum investment of NZ$5 million (roughly Rs 25 crore) over three years, with options up to NZ$15 million. You can choose Growth (high-risk, direct business investments like start-ups or tech) or Balanced (a mix including managed funds). Direct investments count triple towards the minimum, nudging applicants towards bolder bets that fuel New Zealands growth. The bar is high. You need to be over 18 years old, with clean health and character, and show basic English skills (think IELTS 5.0). Spouses and children under 25 can tag along, but you must spend time at least 21 days in New Zealand for Growth or 105 days for Balanced. In return, you get indefinite residency to live, work, and study, with a shot at permanent residency after three years and citizenship after five years of living there. What is on offer for Indians? World-class healthcare, no inheritance or wealth taxes, and a serene lifestyle far from urban Indias hustle. Applications take 3-6 months, with no cap on approvals, but you will need to prove your funds are legit and invest in approved areas, like NZTE-managed funds. For Indian tycoons, applications have spiked since Covid-19, drawn by family-friendly relocation and Asia-Pacific business opportunities. Can You Buy A Luxury House? New Zealand slammed the door on foreign homebuyers in 2018 to tame its red-hot housing market, but a new policy tweak, announced September 1, opens a window for Active Investor Plus holders. From late 2025 or April 2026, visa recipients can buy or build one luxury home worth at least NZ$5 million (Rs 25 crore). The catch? It should be for personal useno short-term rentalsand you must commit to residency. This aims to attract ultra-wealthy investors while avoiding market speculation. For Indians dreaming of Auckland penthouses or Queenstown villas, this is a golden ticket, provided you clear the visa hurdles. Critics, including opposition voices, argue it favours the elite during a housing crunch, but supporters say it will spark construction and economic growth. The deal is one high-end property per investor. How Does It Compare To Other Golden Visas For Indians? Golden visa programmes differ sharply, with Europe leaning on real estate and Schengen travel perks, while Asian options prioritise affordability. Heres how New Zealand stacks up against top picks for Indians. Portugals Golden Visa: A go-to for Indians, it starts at 250,000-500,000 (Rs 2-4 crore) in funds, property, or job-creating ventures. Processing takes 6-12 months, offering Schengen visa-free travel to 26 countries, a low 7-day annual stay, and citizenship after five years with basic Portuguese. It is more affordable than New Zealand, but recent curbs have scrapped Lisbon and Porto real estate options to ease housing pressures. Tax breaks on foreign income sweeten the deal, though work rights come only with residency. Spains Golden Visa: Requires 500,000 (Rs 4 crore) in property or funds, processed in 3-6 months. Like Portugal, it grants Schengen access and family inclusion, with citizenship possible after 10 years (sooner for Indians via bilateral agreements). No minimum stay is needed initially, making it flexible for Mumbai or Delhi elites eyeing Madrid villas. It is cheaper than New Zealand and property-focused, but lacks NZs tax-free inheritance. Greeces Golden Visa: The budget-friendly European option, starting at 250,000-800,000 (Rs 2-6.5 crore) in real estate, depending on the area. It is fast (2-6 months), offers Schengen mobility, and allows rental income. Citizenship takes seven years, with no work rights. For Indians, it is an affordable entry to Europe, unlike NZs steep price, but does not demand language skills. UAEs Golden Visa: Flexible at AED 2 million (Rs 4.5 crore) in property or business, renewable for 5-10 years with no minimum stay. It is a tax haven (no personal income tax), ideal for Dubai-based Indian entrepreneurs, with easy business set-up. Unlike New Zealand, there is no citizenship path, but proximity and frequent flights make it a practical choice. It is less rigid on health or language requirements. Asian Alternatives: Malaysias MM2H asks for MYR 500,000-1 million (Rs 1-2 crore) in deposits or property, with a 90-day annual stay. Thailands Elite Visa (THB 900,000-2 million, Rs 2-4.5 crore) is a membership offering 5-20 years without investment ties, but no work rights. Both are cheaper than New Zealand but lack citizenship paths or Schengen-like travel. What To Conclude New Zealands Active Investor Plus Visa comes with a high cost, high commitment, but with unmatched lifestyle perks and the chance to own a luxury home. It suits Indians seeking long-term settlement in a stable, scenic haven. European programmes like Portugal, Spain, and Greece, however, offer lower entry points and Schengen mobility, ideal for travel or investment diversification. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The UAE shines for tax savings and proximity, while Malaysia and Thailand are budget-friendly but limited in scope. Your choice hinges on priorities: New Zealand for a new life, Europe for flexibility, or Asia for ease. With programs shiftingPortugal nixed key real estate optionsconsult experts to navigate this high-stakes game. About the Author Shilpy Bisht Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 11:54 IST News explainers What Is New Zealands Golden Visa Programme, Can Visa Holders Buy Or Build Luxury Homes There? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why Chinas Victory Day Parade Matters: A Look At The Latest Weapons Unveiled Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 10:45 IST From laser weapons to hypersonic missiles, J-35 stealth fighters, the parade unveiled technologies that could redefine warfare, while signalling a defiant challenge to the West Xis Red Flag limousine, a symbol from Maos era to Nixons 1972 visit, carried him through the Victory Day parade, reinforcing continuity and ambition. (AP Photo) Beijings Tiananmen Square transformed into a stage for Chinas military might on Wednesday, as President Xi Jinping led a meticulously choreographed Victory Day parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War IIs end. With over 10,000 troops, advanced weaponry, and foreign leaders like Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un by his side, the event was more than a historical nodit was a bold declaration of Chinas ambitions to reshape the global order. Recommended Stories From laser weapons to hypersonic missiles, the parade unveiled technologies that could redefine warfare, while signalling a defiant challenge to Western dominance. Why does this matter to the world? Lets dive into the parades geopolitical weight, its historical echoes, and the cutting-edge arsenal that stole the spotlight. A Defiant Alliance: Xi, Putin, And Kims Power Play The image of Xi Jinping walking alongside Putin and Kim was a geopolitical thunderclap. For the first time, these leadersheads of nations often at odds with the Westappeared together publicly, projecting unity against the US-led global framework. The parade, attended by leaders from 26 countries, including Iran, Pakistan, and Myanmar, showcased Chinas role as a magnet for non-Western powers. This gathering was not just ceremonial; it signalled a deepening coalition, with China as its anchor, amid tensions over trade, technology, and regional conflicts like Ukraine. Xis speech set the tone, declaring China never intimidated by any bullies" and stressing its unstoppable" rise. Without naming the US, he alluded to Western hegemony," a nod to Chinas narrative of overcoming a century of humiliation" under foreign powers. The presence of leaders like Irans Masoud Pezeshkian and Myanmars junta chief Min Aung Hlaing underscored a bloc wary of Western sanctions and influence. Only two European leadersSlovakias Robert Fico and Serbias Aleksandar Vucicattended, highlighting the events tilt towards authoritarian regimes. This matters globally because it crystallizes a shift towards a multipolar world. Chinas military, now rivalling the US in key areas, backs its diplomatic clout. The parades timing, just after a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, amplified Xis vision of a China-led global order. For nations like India, navigating this divide is trickyPrime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to China shows engagement, but tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea loom large. The parade signals rising risks of an arms race and strained alliances, as democracies grapple with this emboldened axis. Historical Weight: Tiananmens Dual Legacy The parades setting in Tiananmen Square carried profound symbolism. China framed the event as a tribute to its WWII sacrifices against Japan, claiming a major contribution to saving human civilisation." Yet, Tiananmen also evokes 1989, when tanks crushed pro-democracy protests, killing hundreds to thousandsa taboo subject in China, where censorship stifles discussion. The sight of armoured vehicles rolling past stirred painful memories for survivors, juxtaposing Communist pride with repression. Xi, in a Mao suit under Mao Zedongs towering portrait, embodied this duality. As Chinas most dominant leader since Mao, he has sidelined predecessors, with Jiang Zemin deceased and Hu Jintao absent from public view. The parades goose-stepping soldiersa Prussian-born tradition tied to authoritarian regimes like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Unionreinforced discipline and nationalism. In China, zheng bu" is mandatory in schools, and its adoption by Hong Kong police post-2019 protests shows its enduring role in projecting control. Globally, this historical framing matters because it legitimises Xis narrative of restoring Chinas greatness. By highlighting WWII, Xi contrasts past Western alliances with todays rivalries, while Kims daughter, Ju Ae, on her first overseas trip, hints at North Koreas succession plans, potentially cementing this anti-Western alliance for decades. The Weapons That Could Reshape Warfare The parades centrepiece was Chinas military tech, revealing advancements that unnerve rivals. Over 100 aircraft, including stealth fighters, and ground displays showcased a modernised Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Heres what stood out and why it is a global game-changer. Laser Weapons: A New Frontier China unveiled two air-defence laser systems: one for warships, another on an eight-wheeled truck. These directed energy weapons" use electromagnetic bursts to disable drones or sensors via heat or electrical disruption. Unlike missiles, a laser shot costs mere cents, making them economical against drone swarms. The truck-mounted version addresses past power limitations, suggesting battlefield readiness. For the US, reliant on carrier groups in the Pacific, these lasers pose a stealthy, cost-effective threat, potentially neutralising air defences. Undersea Drones: Silent Dominance Two extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles (XLUUVs) debuted, cementing Chinas lead in this domain. The AJX002, 18-20 metres long, and a wider variant with masts emerged from a three-year trial. Likely designed for reconnaissance, torpedoes, or mines, these drones could operate undetected in contested waters like the Taiwan Strait. With China boasting the worlds largest XLUUV programme, per naval analysts, they challenge US submarine dominance, raising stakes in maritime conflicts. Hypersonic Missiles: Unstoppable Speed The YJ-17, a naval version of the DF-17 ballistic missile, is headlined with its hypersonic glide vehicle. Capable of extreme manoeuvres" and near-pinpoint accuracy, it is potentially nuclear-capable and joins the YJ-15, YJ-19, and YJ-20 anti-ship missiles. Launched from Chinas vast navy, these weapons threaten US carriers across the Indo-Pacific, with speeds exceeding Mach 5, defying traditional defences. This arsenal signals Chinas intent to deter naval incursions, particularly near Taiwan or the South China Sea. Aerial Prowess: Stealth And Power Over 100 aircraft, including J-35 stealth fighters and H-6 bombers, flew in formations spelling 80" with slogans like Peace Will Prevail". Command and transport planes underscored the PLA Air Forces modernisation. Since Chinas last war in 1979, Xi has pushed for a world-class" military, and these assets could secure air superiority in regional conflicts, a critical factor in any Taiwan scenario. Global Ripples: Pride, Power, And Peril In China, the parade sparked fervour. Over 50,000 spectators waved flags, and Weibo hashtags like September 3rd Grand Military Parade" topped searches, with 85 million livestream viewers. Posts like My tears wont stop coming down" reflected patriotism, though censorship silenced dissent. Internationally, the parades implications are profound. Chinas military techlasers, drones, hypersonics forces rivals to rethink defences, risking an arms race. Economically, it pressures supply chains; diplomatically, it emboldens allies like Russia and North Korea. Xis Red Flag limousine, a symbol from Maos era to Nixons 1972 visit, carried him through the parade, reinforcing continuity and ambition. As helicopters proclaimed Justice Will Prevail," the unveiled weapons told a different story: Chinas ready to challenge the world. For nations balancing cooperation and caution, like India, the parade is a wake-up call to navigate a shifting global landscape where power, not peace, may dictate the future. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Shilpy Bisht Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 10:13 IST News explainers Why Chinas Victory Day Parade Matters: A Look At The Latest Weapons Unveiled Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why Did Trump Strike Tren De Aragua Vessel? Gang Of Hardened Criminals Formed In Prison Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 19:07 IST Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuelas central state of Aragua Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang attend a preliminary hearing facing homicide charges, in Santiago, Chile in July. (AP) President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. The president said in a social media post that 11 people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Americas, a dramatic escalation in the Republican administrations effort to stem the flow of narcotics from Latin America. Trump also posted a short video clip of a small vessel appearing to explode in flames. Recommended Stories The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America," Trump said on Truth Social. What we know about Tren de Aragua According to the Associated Press, Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuelas central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled economic turmoil and migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S. Venezuelan authorities say they have dismantled the leadership of Tren de Aragua and freed Tocoron prison, one of the largest in the country, from the control of its members. For years, Tren de Aragua also known as TdA" not only terrorised Venezuela but also countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Chile and Peru. While the gang has principally focused on human trafficking and other crimes targeting migrants, it has also been linked to extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and drug smuggling, according to the US Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which the CNN quoted. In Colombia, Tren de Aragua and a guerrilla group known as the National Liberation Army operate sex trafficking networks in the border town of Villa del Rosario" and Norte de Santander, according to a US State Department 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report about Colombia. The criminal groups exploit Venezuelan migrants and displaced Colombians in sex trafficking, taking advantage of economic vulnerabilities and subjecting them to debt bondage," the report stated. Police in the region reported the organization has victimized thousands through extortion, drug and human trafficking, kidnapping and murder. OFAC said Tren de Aragua members often kill victims who try to escape and publicize their deaths as a threat to others". Tren de Aragua adopted its name between 2013 and 2015 but its operations predate that, according to a report by Transparency Venezuela, CNN reported. It has its origin in the unions of workers who worked on the construction of a railway project that would connect the center-west of the country and that was never completed" in both Aragua and Carabobo states, according to the report cited by CNN. The gangs leaders operated out of the notorious Tocoron prison, which they controlled, the report said. When Venezuelan officials raided the prison in September 2023, they found a swimming pool and several restaurants inside, along with a cache of weapons controlled by inmates, including automatic rifles, machine guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Why is Trump against the gang? Trump and administration officials have repeatedly blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some cities. And the president on Tuesday repeated his claim contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment that Tren de Aragua is operating under Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros control, AP reported. The White House did not immediately explain how the military determined that those aboard the vessel were Tren de Aragua members. The size of the gang is unclear, as is the extent to which its actions are coordinated across state lines and national borders. Has Trump targeted the gang in the past? On January 20, he signed an executive order that called for Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran MS-13 gang to be designated foreign terrorist organizations. Later, the administration added six Mexican drug cartels to the list, CNN said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In March, his administration sparked controversy with its move to deport more than 200 people, some of whom it alleged were members of Tren de Aragua, to an infamous maximum-security prison in El Salvador, even though officials provided scant evidence of gang involvement and many of the deportees denied being linked to the group, said CNN. With CNN, AP Inputs About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 18:43 IST News explainers Why Did Trump Strike Tren De Aragua Vessel? Gang Of Hardened Criminals Formed In Prison 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... Why Did Xi Bring Kim, Putin Together In Beijing And What Does It Tell The West? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 09:13 IST In a dramatic show of diplomatic defiance, China hosted Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin at its largest military parade in years. Is this the beginning of a new anti-West alliance? Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and heads of foreign delegations arrive for a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China September 3, 2025. (Reuters) Chinas Victory Day military parade in Beijing was not just a look back at history. It became one of the most striking geopolitical images of recent years: Chinese President Xi Jinping walking the red carpet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before reviewing tens of thousands of troops at Tiananmen Square. The parade marked the 80th anniversary of Japans defeat in World War II, but its contemporary message was clear. This was the first time Xi, Putin and Kim had been seen together in public, joined also by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Myanmars military chief Min Aung Hlaing, both representing governments heavily sanctioned by the West. Their presence underscored what many observers described as a deliberate message: China is actively fostering global relationships outside the Western-dominated order. Recommended Stories Notably absent were major Western heads of state. Only Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbias President Aleksandar Vucic attended, both leaders known for maintaining closer ties with Moscow and Beijing. The parade capped a week of diplomatic engagements including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where Xi hosted several regional leaders, among them Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Why Now, And Why These Leaders? The timing was not accidental. For Russia, still fighting in Ukraine, and for North Korea, which rarely sends its leader abroad, appearing in Beijing was a chance to show they are not isolated. Kim Jong Uns presence was particularly notable. According to South Korean intelligence cited in reports, he was accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae, believed to be his likely heir, giving the event a dynastic undertone. Chinas official media, meanwhile, used the moment to reinforce its historical narrative. In an editorial published ahead of the parade, Peoples Daily argued that Chinas role in defeating Japan had been selectively ignored and underestimated by some", accusing critics of deliberately belittling and vilifying" the Communist Partys wartime contribution. For Xi, bringing together sanctioned leaders like Putin, Kim, Pezeshkian and Min Aung Hlaing alongside Global South attendees was less about WWII commemoration and more about signalling diplomatic weight at a time when the US is escalating trade and tariff measures. An Associate Professor of Chinese politics, Alfred Wu, told the Guardian, this was Xi showcasing that he is strong" and that China now commands its own orbit of influence. What Did China Want To Project With This Parade? Military power. Strategic depth. And a revisionist narrative. For China, this was a chance to challenge not just Western policy, but also Western memory. The parade coincided with renewed messaging from Chinese state media asserting that China and Soviet Russia played a pivotal role in defeating fascism, a contribution they argue is underestimated" by the West. Beijing also unveiled an array of advanced weaponry, including jet fighters, underwater drones, anti-ship Ying Ji missiles, and the DF-26 Guam killer" ballistic missile. Defence experts told AFP the equipment was meant to rival US capabilities in the Indo-Pacific and signal deterrence. Xis speech, calling China unstoppable" and warning of a global choice between peace or confrontation, reinforced that this was more than ceremonial. It was strategic storytelling, on Chinas terms. Is This The Beginning Of A Formal Alliance? Not quite. At least, not yet. There was no formal trilateral summit between Xi, Putin, and Kim. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Tass a private PutinKim meeting was under consideration," but it never happened. This wasnt a NATO-style alliance; it was optics, not organisation. Still, the effect is the same: a show of cohesion among countries long targeted by sanctions and regime-change rhetoric. What Xi offered them was a global platform, legitimacy by association, and a common foil: the West, and especially the United States. How Has The West Responded? Donald Trump downplayed the moment, insisting that China needs us more than we need them" and calling the idea of a new anti-US axis not at all" credible. But his message on Truth Social, posted as the parade began, struck a different tone: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States of America." This mix of sarcasm and dismissal reflects Washingtons balancing act: not legitimising Chinas parade, but not ignoring it either. Trump also said he was very disappointed" in Putin after a failed peace attempt in Alaska and reiterated that the US has the most powerful military in the world." Yet, Chinas ability to host the weeks key players, while Western leaders stayed home, has raised questions about whether American leverage is slipping in parts of Asia and the Global South. Where Did India Stand Amid The High-Profile Optics? While not part of the military parade, India played a visible and strategic role in the weeks diplomatic engagements in Beijing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the SCO summit, hosted by President Xi just days earlier, marking his first visit to China in seven years. Indias participation underscored its commitment to multilateral dialogue in the region, even as it maintains balanced partnerships with both the West and the Global South. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman noted that Modis presence at the SCO reflected New Delhis calibrated foreign policy, one that engages across forums without aligning too closely with any bloc. By being present at the summit and continuing its active role within the SCO framework, India reaffirmed its status as a key regional player, one that prioritises sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and issue-based cooperation across the geopolitical spectrum. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all So, Whats Next? Chinas parade may not have launched a formal alliance, but it redrew the optics of global power. The weeks events reflected Xis broader vision of a multipolar world, less reliant on US-led institutions and more shaped by emerging powers. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 09:05 IST News explainers Why Did Xi Bring Kim, Putin Together In Beijing And What Does It Tell The West? 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... 3 Years After Marriage, Bengaluru Woman Dies By Suicide Over Dowry Demands, Husband's Affair Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 12:43 IST Poojashree's mother has alleged that her daughter was constantly tortured, both for dowry and because of Nandeeshs extramarital affair. A 28-year-old woman died by suicide in Bengaluru over alleged dowry harassment. (Representative Image/File) A 28-year-old woman died by suicide in Bengaluru over alleged dowry harassment and her husbands extramarital affair, police officials said on Wednesday. According to officials, the victim, identified as Poojashree, worked as a cashier at a bank and had married Nandeesh three years ago. The couple has a young daughter. Investigators said that when she confronted her husband over his alleged relationship, he demanded dowry money and frequently quarrelled with her. Recommended Stories Though family members and well-wishers reportedly attempted mediation several times, the harassment is said to have continued. On the morning of September 1, the victim was found hanging at her residence in Sidedehalli under Bagalagunte police limits. The police have registered a case under charges of dowry harassment. Meanwhile, further investigation is underway. Poojashrees mother has alleged that her daughter was constantly tortured, both for dowry and because of Nandeeshs extramarital affair, India Today reported. I borrowed Rs 30 lakh from my father for her wedding. He used to torture her. Even after promising at the police station to take care of her, he continued the harassment," Poojashrees mother said, adding, On the day of her death, he took her from our house around 7.15 am. By 8.20, he called, saying she had committed suicide. This all happened because of his affair, they killed my daughter." Poojashrees grandmother alleged the family was deceived about Nandeeshs background and property. After marriage, they demanded a house. We gave ornaments, but they still tortured her. He even had an affair. Yesterday, when we informed a relative about her death, he was so shocked that he suffered a heart attack and passed away too," she said. Another relative of Poojashree alleged that she was forced to hand over her salary, gold, and valuables to her in-laws. They tortured her and killed her," the relative said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last week, a 27-year-old Bengaluru woman, Shilpa, was found hanging at her home. Police said her husband, Praveen, was arrested for allegedly abetting her suicide. Shilpas family alleged that repeated dowry demands by her in-laws drove her to take this step. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 12:29 IST News india 3 Years After Marriage, Bengaluru Woman Dies By Suicide Over Dowry Demands, Husband's Affair 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... Amid Heavy Rain, Bhakra Dam Level Rises 3 ft In 24 Hours, Authorities On Alert Curated By : Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 10:55 IST Last year, the water level in the Bhakra reservoir was 1,639.66 feet, 37 feet lower than the current level. Bhakra Dam level rises 3 ft in 24 hours. (Image: X) The water level at Bhakra Dam in Himachal Pradesh increased by nearly three feet within 24 hours, leading authorities to issue alerts in downstream districts along the Sutlej river, including Ropar, Nawanshahr, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar. Currently, all three rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi are swollen, along with other seasonal rivulets, causing floods in large parts of Punjab due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Recommended Stories On Tuesday, the water level in Bhakra Dams reservoir, Gobind Sagar Lake, was recorded at 1,676.72 feet, a rise of 2.71 feet in the past 24 hours, just 3.28 feet short of the danger mark of 1,680 feet. On Monday, the level had reached 1,674 feet, six feet below the danger mark. Although the dam can hold water up to 10 feet beyond the danger level of 1,680 feet, this could threaten its safety," said an official from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), speaking anonymously. On Tuesday, the Jalandhar administration issued an alert, advising residents along the Sutlej in Phillaur, Lohian, and Shahkot areas to move to safer locations. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, MLA from Anandpur Sahib, reported that heavy water flow caused 12 breaches in the Anandpur Sahib and Rupnagar belt. Residents have been asked to remain alert for the next 24 hours as heavy rainfall is forecasted for Wednesday and Thursday," Bains added. Last year, the water level in the Bhakra reservoir was 1,639.66 feet, 37 feet lower than the current level. This difference is concerning, and there are still 18 days left until the filling season ends on September 20," added the BBMB official. The Bhakra dam reservoir receives 70% of its water from snowmelt in the upper reaches of the Himalayas and 30% from rain. Currently, inflows into Bhakra are at 1.07 lakh cusecs, while 56,000 cusecs of water is being released downstream through the dams turbines and spillway gates. This year, unlike previous seasons, rainfall has significantly contributed to the reservoirs water," the official said, noting that with the dam filled to 97% of its capacity, the remaining 3% could be filled within 24 hours if the rains continue. The floodgates have been open for the past 10 days, with nearly 28,000 cusecs of water flowing through them. The water level at Pong Dam over the Beas river is stable at 1,390.63 feet, just above its danger mark of 1,390 feet. The dam is receiving 96,777 cusecs of water and releasing 95,836 cusecs downstream. BBMB opened the floodgates at Pong Dam over 15 days ago, flooding low-lying areas and farmland in Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At Harike headworks, built at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers, discharge surged to 2.84 lakh cusecs, worsening the situation in flood-affected Ferozepur and Fazilka districts. According to the government bulletin, 10,000 hectares of agricultural land were inundated in 24 hours, increasing the total flooded area from 1.38 lakh hectares to 1.48 lakh hectares. 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, ... Read More Location : Himachal Pradesh, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 10:55 IST News india Amid Heavy Rain, Bhakra Dam Level Rises 3 ft In 24 Hours, Authorities On Alert Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Can Cheque Bouncing Cases Be Settled After Conviction? Supreme Court Says Yes Reported By : LawBeat Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 18:38 IST The SC held that cheque dishonour cases under Section 138 of the NI Act can be compounded at any stage, even after conviction, if parties voluntarily settle Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google The Supreme Court referred to a line of precedents. (PTI File) The Supreme Court has clarified that cheque dishonour cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 can be compounded at any stage of proceedings if the parties voluntarily arrive at a settlement. The ruling came in August 2025 when a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta allowed an appeal filed by Gian Chand Garg and set aside his conviction and sentence after recording a lawful compromise between him and the complainant. The Court stressed that although dishonour of cheque entails criminal liability, Parliament, through the 2002 amendment inserting Section 147, made such offences compoundable notwithstanding provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Recommended Stories The case arose when a cheque issued by Gian Chand Garg for Rs 5,00,000 was dishonoured. Proceedings were initiated under Section 138 of the NI Act and the trial court convicted him, sentencing him to six months imprisonment. His appeal before the sessions court was dismissed and the Punjab and Haryana High Court, by judgment dated March 27, 2025, upheld the conviction in revision. Following the dismissal of the revision petition, the parties executed a compromise deed on April 6, 2025. Under this settlement, the accused paid Rs 5 lakh representing the cheque amount along with an additional Rs 3 lakh through drafts and cheques voluntarily and without coercion. The complainant accepted the sum as full and final settlement of his claim and declared that he had no objection to the accused approaching the High Court for modification of its order to record an acquittal. Acting on this, the appellant filed an application before the High Court seeking alteration of its order of March 27, 2025. The High Court rejected the application on April 9, 2025, holding it not maintainable. Aggrieved, the appellant approached the Supreme Court. The bench noted that once the complainant had accepted the compromise and acknowledged receipt of the full claim amount, continuation of criminal proceedings under Section 138 NI Act served no purpose. It observed that the conviction recorded by the courts below had to be set aside in light of the lawful compromise. The Supreme Court referred to a line of precedents. In M/s Meters and Instruments Pvt. Ltd. v. Kanchan Mehta (2018), the Court had emphasised that the offence under Section 138 NI Act is primarily a civil wrong, criminalised only to enhance the credibility of cheques as negotiable instruments. In P. Mohanraj v. Shah Brothers Ispat Pvt. Ltd. (2021), the bench had described the offence as a civil sheep in criminal wolfs clothing," underscoring that the disputes were essentially private and monetary in nature. In M/s Gimpex Pvt. Ltd. v. Manoj Goel (2021), settlements between parties were given effect to by quashing proceedings, while in B.V. Seshaiah v. State of Telangana (2023), the Court reiterated that once parties voluntarily agree to compound an offence under Section 138, courts are bound to respect such a settlement. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In the present case, the Court underscored that Section 147 of the NI Act contains a non obstante clause giving it overriding effect over the Code of Criminal Procedure. This provision, inserted in 2002, ensures that offences under Section 138 can be compounded at any stage, including after conviction, provided the compromise is voluntary. The court said that the object of the amendment was to reduce unnecessary criminal litigation in disputes which are monetary and private in nature and to ease the burden on criminal courts. The bench held that the High Court erred in refusing to alter its order despite the valid compromise. It ruled that dismissing the modification application on the technical ground of maintainability was unsustainable because Section 147 specifically overrides such objections. The Court concluded that once the complainant had accepted the full settlement and acknowledged it in writing, there was no justification for the continuation of criminal proceedings. Accordingly, the conviction and sentence of Gian Chand Garg were quashed. About the Author Sanya Talwar Sanya Talwar, Editor at Lawbeat, has been heading the organisation since its inception. After practising in courts for over four years, she discovered her affinity for legal journalism. She has worked... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 18:38 IST News india Can Cheque Bouncing Cases Be Settled After Conviction? Supreme Court Says Yes 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 National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is currently satisfied with its operational design and considers it optimal, First Deputy Governor of the NBU Serhiy Nikolaychuk said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. "In the memoranda following several recent IMF program reviews, there is mention that we would analyze and, if necessary, return to liquidity absorption tools with longer maturities. This refers to two-week deposit certificates, which we used before the full-scale invasion. In our view, the conditions for this have not yet materialized," he said. Nikolaychuk recalled that the current operational framework provides for overnight deposit certificates at the key policy rate as the main tool, and a three-month deposit certificate as an additional instrument, which has proven highly effective in calibrating monetary conditions and creating additional incentives for hryvnia deposits. "At the same time, we understand that in the future, if our goal is to develop the money market (as the first link in the financial market), we will most likely return to a corridor around the key policy rate, with corresponding operations, such as two-week deposit certificates," the NBU's first deputy governor added. Every Child Entitled To Both Parents Love: Supreme Court Orders Virtual Access For Father Reported By : LawBeat Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:54 IST The court said children must stay connected with both parents even across borders, while granting a father regular virtual visitation rights with his 9-year-old son in Ireland Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The bench observed that denying such contact would deprive the child of the love, guidance, and emotional support of the father. (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that every child has the right to the affection of both parents, even if they live separately or in different countries, and emphasised the importance of maintaining the childs bond with both. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta allowed the plea of a father seeking video interaction with his 9-year-old son, currently residing in Ireland with his estranged mother. The court found the request to be reasonable and directed that regular video interactions must be facilitated. The bench observed that denying such contact would deprive the child of the love, guidance, and emotional support of the father, which are essential to a childs overall development. Recommended Stories The court said the arrangement balances the reality of the childs present living situation with the need to ensure that the father continues to be part of his life. Stressing that the case concerned the future of a young child, the bench observed that when such disputes arise, the question is not about who is right or wrong between the parents but what arrangement will serve the best interest of the child. The judges reiterated that the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of the child must remain the foremost consideration. The bench noted that the conduct of both parents had not been ideal and that their personal differences had escalated into a long and bitter conflict. However, the court said the child could not be allowed to become a casualty of this conflict and what mattered most was that he grew up in an atmosphere where he felt secure, loved, and cared for. It was recorded that the child appeared to be settled with his mother in Ireland, and disturbing that arrangement at this stage would not be in his interest. At the same time, the bench noted that the father had only sought regular interaction through video conferencing and not custody, which made the request reasonable in the circumstances. As per the case record, the couple married in 2012 and their son was born in 2016. In 2017, the mother left the matrimonial home and subsequently filed for divorce under Sections 13(1)(ia) and (ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. In 2018, the father initiated custody proceedings before the Family Court. In 2019, the Family Court allowed him to meet the child twice a month on Fridays at the childs school. Later that year, the parties attempted a settlement, but it did not succeed. On a petition under Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act, the Family Court in 2022 granted interim custody to the father on Saturdays and Sundays, with the condition that the child would not be taken out of Rohtak, Haryana. In 2023, the Family Court dismissed his custody petition, citing violation of the interim order. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The father approached the High Court, but meanwhile the mother took the child to Ireland. The father filed several applications, including requests for disclosure of the childs travel details, video interaction, and the return of the child to India. On October 4, 2024, the High Court dismissed his appeal, holding that the child had been living with his mother since August 2017 and that no material had been produced to show she was incapable of caring for him. Challenging this order, the father moved the Supreme Court. The apex court directed that he would be entitled to interact with his son through video conferencing for two hours every alternate Sunday from 10am to 12 noon Ireland time. The court further directed both parents to cooperate in ensuring the smooth conduct of these sessions in good faith, without obstruction or hostility. The bench made it clear that any technical or logistical difficulties in arranging the video interactions should be resolved mutually, with the paramount consideration being the welfare of the child. About the Author Sanya Talwar Sanya Talwar, Editor at Lawbeat, has been heading the organisation since its inception. After practising in courts for over four years, she discovered her affinity for legal journalism. She has worked... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 16:54 IST News india Every Child Entitled To Both Parents Love: Supreme Court Orders Virtual Access For Father 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... 'In Full Support Of Carrying FTA Agreement With India As Soon As possible': German FM Curated By : Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:47 IST In a delegation-level meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Wadephul expressed Germany's strong support for the agreement The FTA negotiations between the two sides are expected to conclude in 2025. (ANI) German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has reiterated his nations dedication to swiftly finalising the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union. In a delegation-level meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Wadephul expressed Germanys strong support for the agreement and its intent to leverage its influence with the European Commission to expedite the process. Recommended Stories Germany is fully committed to advancing this agreement as quickly as possible," Wadephul said. As a free trade nation, the EUs work on the agreement with India is of utmost importance to us. I truly hope for a successful outcome." He emphasised that Germany would employ all its persuasive arguments with the Commission to push the FTA forward and strengthen relations between Germany, the EU, and India. You can be confident that we will use all our arguments with the Commission to promote this and achieve a higher level of cooperation between our countries and between the EU and India," he added. On Tuesday, Wadephul visited Bangalore and was impressed by the number of students learning German. It was very interesting to spend an entire day in Bangalore and observe our collaborative efforts, both economically and culturally," he said. I was astonished by the number of students learning German, which highlights the significant potential for our countries." Earlier in the day, Wadephul arrived in New Delhi after his engagement in Bengaluru during his two-day official visit to India. The German Foreign Minister met with Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, which the German Ambassador to India, Phillip Ackermann, described as a productive discussion on strengthening trade, investment, and innovation ties. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul meeting with Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. Productive discussions on strengthening trade, investment, & innovation ties," Ackermann said in a post on X. Earlier, Piyush Goyal said that Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and the European Union are in an advanced stage, as the two sides are making significant progress. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Speaking to reporters in the national capital, Goyal said, We have reached a very advanced stage in our FTA with the European Union. The Commerce Secretary, as we speak, is in a meeting in Brussels with his counterpart, the DG of the EU. Their team is coming down later this week and will be in active negotiation with us. Minister of Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic (European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security) is coming down on the 12th of this month, and we are making very active and significant progress." The FTA negotiations between the two sides are expected to conclude in 2025. Last month, India stated that the two sides engaged in a forward-looking and substantive dialogue to address global trade challenges and reaffirmed their shared resolve to conclude the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:47 IST News india 'In Full Support Of Carrying FTA Agreement With India As Soon As possible': German FM 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... Himachal Monsoon: Two Feared Trapped Under Debris After Landslide In Kullu, Rescue Op Underway Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:05 IST Rescue operation is underway after a landslide struck the Akhara Bazaar area in Kullu district. Two people are feared trapped under the debris. Himachal Pradesh Monsoon Mayhem (PTI) Incessant rain continues in Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides across several regions. Search and rescue operations are underway in the Akhara Bazaar area of Kullu district after a landslide struck on Tuesday morning, damaging residential houses and leaving two people feared trapped under the debris. As per the officials, the landslide occurred at approximately 7:30 am, causing a portion of a house to collapse. Recommended Stories Yesterday, around 7:30 am, a landslide hit Akhara Bazaar, and a portion of the house collapsed. Two people are feared trapped Debris is being removed with the help of the fire brigade teams" an NDRF official told ANI. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, along with fire brigade personnel, were deployed to clear the debris and rescue those trapped. Additionally, at least 15 houses were evacuated in the Ner Gharwarsra Panchayat of Jogindernagar, roughly 80 km from Mandi town, following another landslide in the area. People were safely evacuated as a precautionary measure due to continuous minor landslides. The local administration is actively monitoring the situation to ensure public safety. The evacuation was carried out due to continuous light landslides in the region, to prevent any untoward incidents. So far, no loss of life or major damage has been reported," Sakini Kapoor, Station House Officer (SHO), Jogindernagar was quoted by ANI as saying. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In another incident on Tuesday, two houses were buried under debris after a landslide in Sundernagar town of Mandi district. The death toll from this incident rose to six after three more bodies were recovered. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched by the Indian Army, NDRF, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). A landslide occurred late in the evening in Sundernagar, and two houses fell prey to it. In one house, there were four people, of which twoone woman and one childwere pulled out. They were taken to the hospital but could not survive. In the second house, one body has been recovered," DC Devgan told 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, ... Read More Location : Kullu, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:54 IST News india Himachal Monsoon: Two Feared Trapped Under Debris After Landslide In Kullu, Rescue Op Underway 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... Himachal Passes Panchayati Raj Bill To Bar Corrupt Pradhans From Contesting Elections Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:07 IST Himachal CM Sukhu, while addressing the Assembly, said the amendment was crucial to tackle corruption at the grassroots level Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. (File photo via X/@SukhuSukhvinder) The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday passed the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at making village governance more transparent and accountable. The Bill introduces several reforms, including a key provision that bars corrupt pradhans (village heads) from contesting future elections. The Bill was introduced by Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and passed by voice vote. It seeks to align the states Panchayati Raj Act with Indias new criminal laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), which replaced older laws like the IPC and CrPC, The Indian Express reported. Recommended Stories The proposed amendments are intended to ensure conformity with the new criminal laws, streamline electoral processes, improve institutional functioning, simplify procedures, and enhance accountability of office bearers," Singh stated. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while addressing the Assembly, said the amendment was crucial to tackle corruption at the grassroots level. The legislation bars pradhans found guilty of corruption from contesting elections again, thus ensuring transparency in rural governance," he said. It has become a routine for corrupt pradhans to escape accountability under the existing provisions. The amended law will, however, end this practice." The Bill also restricts any panchayat member or employee involved in irregularities from taking part in panchayat-related contracts or commissions. Violators may face action under Section 202 of the BNS and can be disqualified from holding office. Additionally, the Bill empowers panchayat secretaries to recover arrears such as taxes, rent, and water charges under the supervision of district collectors. It also allows panchayats to handle minor offences like public nuisance, petty theft (up to Rs 250), and misbehaviour in public places. During the debate, BJP MLA Tarlok Jamwal raised concerns over giving too much power to the executive, especially on tax matters. He suggested putting a cap on tax increases. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Responding, CM Sukhu assured that the law would be implemented carefully, and opposition concerns would be considered. He also confirmed that upcoming panchayat elections will not be delayed, despite recent damage to roads, schools, and polling booths. The government has no intention to misuse its powers, as there are only certain items where the upper limit has been raised from 50 to 100 per cent," he said. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More Location : Himachal Pradesh, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 15:54 IST News india Himachal Passes Panchayati Raj Bill To Bar Corrupt Pradhans From Contesting Elections 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 Issues Flood Warning To Pakistan Over Sutlej Despite Suspension Of Data Sharing: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 09:03 IST India had suspended the routine exchange of hydrological data with Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people A family walk toward a rescue boat arriving to evacuate them from a flooded area in Dhoop Sarhi village in Kasur district, Pakistan, (AP) India has cautioned Pakistan about a high probability" of flooding in the Sutlej river, triggered by incessant rainfall in northern states and the release of excess water from major dams, official sources said on Tuesday. The alert, issued for potential flooding on Wednesday, was communicated through the Ministry of External Affairs on humanitarian grounds. According to a PTI report, this comes after India had already sent three similar alerts last week warning of possible flooding in the Tawi river. Heavy rainfall in catchment areas has left the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and several rivulets in Punjab flowing above normal levels. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories India had suspended the routine exchange of hydrological data with Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Despite the suspension, the fresh warnings were conveyed purely to prevent loss of life and property across the border, sources stressed. Signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, the Indus Waters Treaty remains the framework for sharing river waters between India and Pakistan, though cooperation has frayed in recent years amid heightened tensions. About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small even... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 09:03 IST News india India Issues Flood Warning To Pakistan Over Sutlej Despite Suspension Of Data Sharing: Report 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... Kolkata-Bound IndiGo Flight Delayed By Over 3 Hours After Crew, Passenger Clash In Delhi Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 09:50 IST A Delhi-Kolkata IndiGo flight was delayed for over three hours after an altercation between a passenger and cabin crew, with both parties filing police complaints, as per a report. Passengers board an Indigo aircraft on a cloudy morning in Kolkata (Photo: PTI) A Delhi-Kolkata IndiGo flight was delayed for over three hours on Monday after an intense altercation broke out between a passenger and cabin crew, with both sides lodging police complaints against each other, The Times of India reported. According to the crew, the passenger was identified as a lawyer, seated in 31D. The report quoted the crew as saying that the passenger boarded the aircraft in an inebriated condition and began urging fellow travellers to chant Har Har Mahadev (a religious Hindu slogan). Recommended Stories Their complaint further stated that once the flight took off, he tried to conceal a soft drink bottle that smelled of alcohol, and when questioned, he quickly gulped it down. The man was later handed over to security personnel at Kolkata airport. The lawyer, however, refuted the charges, informing the police that he had consumed a beer at Delhis IGI Airport before boarding and produced a purchase invoice as proof. As per the report, the passenger, in his counter-complaint, accused the airline staff of harassment and claimed he was denied basic services. He also insisted that his greeting of Har Har Mahadev to the crew was not meant to offend anyone. IndiGo officials told TOI that the cabin crew reported the flyer as unruly and drunk. The airline added that the passengers complaint was also being looked into. Later, in an official statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said, We are aware of an incident of unruly behaviour onboard IndiGo flight 6E 6571 operating from Delhi to Kolkata on 01 September 2025." One of the customers onboard, under the influence of alcohol, was found to be misbehaving with the cabin crew and disturbing fellow passengers. In line with established protocols, the said customer was declared unruly and was handed over to security upon arrival," the spokesperson said. A formal complaint was also lodged with the relevant authorities," the statement mentioned. On Tuesday, a Nagpur-Kolkata IndiGo flight returned to the Nagpur airport following a bird strike soon after take-off. The plane was carrying nearly 165 passengers at the time of the incident. The flight was later cancelled as the aircraft suffered nose damage in the bird hit. A spokesperson of the airline in a statement said, IndiGo flight 6E 812 operating from Nagpur to Kolkata on September 2 encountered a bird strike soon after take-off." As a precautionary step, pilots decided to turn back, and the flight landed safely at the Nagpur airport." Due to the requirement of necessary inspection and maintenance of the aircraft, the flight has been cancelled for the day," the spokesperson added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ | IndiGo Gets Six-Month DGCA Extension To Operate Turkish-Leased Aircraft About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: September 03, 2025, 09:16 IST News india Kolkata-Bound IndiGo Flight Delayed By Over 3 Hours After Crew, Passenger Clash In Delhi 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... Jarange Tells HC Maratha Quota Stir Ended After Issue Resolved, HC Demands His Response To Pleas Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:13 IST The court observed that large-scale damage to public property had been alleged and sought a clear statement clarifying that the agitators were not instigators. Manoj Jarange is on an indefinite hunger strike. (File image/PTI) Activist Manoj Jarange informed the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that the Maratha quota agitation had been called off after the issue was resolved. A bench comprising acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe accepted this submission but instructed Jarange to file an affidavit addressing various allegations made in petitions concerning the five-day protest held by him and his supporters in Mumbai. Recommended Stories There are some issues. Large-scale damages were caused to public property. Who will pay for that?" the bench questioned. Advocates Satish Maneshinde and V M Thorat, representing Jarange and the organisations leading the agitation, maintained that no damage was caused except for inconvenience to the public. The bench insisted Jarange and the organisations file affidavits to clarify their position. The affidavits must state that Jarange and his team were not the instigators. There needs to be a clear statement asserting they were not behind the incidents. The petitions contain serious allegations," the court noted. The court warned that without a statement of denial on affidavit, Jarange and his team would be considered instigators. The bench assured that once the affidavits are filed, the court would not issue any adverse order but would only dispose of the petitions. Jarange and his team were granted four weeks to file their affidavits. On Tuesday, the court had issued an ultimatum to Jarange and his supporters to vacate Mumbais Azad Maidan immediately, deeming the protest illegal and without permission. However, the bench later agreed to Jaranges request to stay at Azad Maidan until Wednesday morning, anticipating a resolution. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Jarange, who commenced his hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on August 29, ended the protest on Tuesday evening after the government accepted most of his demands. This included granting eligible Marathas Kunbi caste certificates, making them eligible for reservation benefits available to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Following the Maharashtra governments issuance of a resolution to form a committee for granting Kunbi caste certificates to eligible persons from the Maratha community with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage, Jarange and his supporters vacated the venue. About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small even... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:13 IST News india Jarange Tells HC Maratha Quota Stir Ended After Issue Resolved, HC Demands His Response To Pleas Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Karnataka Man Befriends Minor On Instagram, Rapes Her And Record The Act; 7 Arrested Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 08:23 IST Mengaluru police arrested seven persons in connection with rape of a minor in Karnataka. The accused recorded the act abd circulated the video. Image used for representation Mangaluru police has arrested seven individuals in connection with the alleged rape of a junior college student near Kinnikambla in Gurupura Kaikamba, police said on Tuesday. The accused also recorded video of the act and circulated it. As per the police, the victim had become acquainted with one of the accused, Karthik, through Instagram approximately two months ago, leading to an online relationship. Recommended Stories On June 29, Karthik allegedly lured the minor girl, took her on his scooter to a hotel in Valachil for lunch, and later to the woods near Adyar Falls. As per the reports, he sexually assaulted her and one of his friends also raped the victim. The main accused recorded the incident and circulated it among his friends. The accused have been identified as Karthik, Rakesh Saldana, Jeevan, Sandeep, Rakshith, Shravan, and Suresh. Police said the other five were arrested for abetting and circulating the video. A case has been registered under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act. The accused have been remanded to judicial custody, police added. POCSO Against Kerala Woman In Keralas Alappuzha, a 30-year-old woman has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly eloping with a 17-year-old boy. As per the police, the woman, a mother of two, fled with the minorher distant relativeabout a week ago and sexually exploited" him. Both were traced to Kollur in Karnataka five days later, following separate missing complaints filed by their families. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police said the duo had avoided using mobile phones during the period. They were taken into custody in Kollur, where the woman had rented a house in an attempt to settle down", police told 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, ... Read More Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 08:23 IST News india Karnataka Man Befriends Minor On Instagram, Rapes Her And Record The Act; 7 Arrested Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Heavy Rain Lashes Delhi, Noida As Dark Clouds Cover Skies, IMD Warns Of More Showers Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:39 IST Heavy rain lashed Noida, Greater Noida and several parts of Delhi on Wednesday. Authorities in Gautam Buddh Nagar had ordered all schools up to Class 12 to remain closed today. Dark clouds cover the city skyline, in Noida (Photo: PTI) Heavy rain lashed parts of Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradeshs Gautam Buddh Nagar district and parts of Delhi on Wednesday, as the India Meteorological Department predicted heavy showers for the day. The afternoon saw dark clouds hovering over parts of Noida, followed by a spell of heavy downpour, reducing the visibility to a significant level. Recommended Stories Isolated heavy rainfall likely to continue over West Uttar Pradesh on September 3," one of the IMDs statements read. The Gautam Buddh Nagar authorities had on Tuesday ordered all schools for students from nursery to Class 12 to remain closed on Wednesday. The order applies to schools under the Basic Education Department, government-aided institutions, and those affiliated with the CBSE, ICSE and Madrasa Board, the district administration said in a statement. However, all teaching and non-teaching staff working in basic education and composite schools were directed to report to duty on time and perform departmental work as usual, it added. The administration had also asked all schools to ensure strict compliance with the order. Gautam Buddh Nagar, among other places in the national capital region, has witnessed intensive spells of rain in recent days. Meanwhile, parts of Delhi also received showers today, while more rainfall was on the forecast for the day. Thunderstorm/lightning with heavy rain is very likely over parts of South East Delhi, East Delhi, Shahadra, Central Delhi, North East Delhi, South Delhi, New Delhi, South West Delhi, West Delhi, North West Delhi, and North Delhi," an IMD statement read. Thunderstorm/lightning with moderate rain is very likely over parts of South East Delhi, Shahadra, South Delhi, New Delhi, South West Delhi, West Delhi, North West Delhi, and North Delhi," it added. Light rain/light thunderstorm with lightning (wind speed 3040 kmph) is very likely over parts of South Delhi," the weather department stated. Delhi on Wednesday recorded a minimum temperature of 22.8 degrees Celsius, 2.8 degrees below normal. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 97 per cent. The citys primary weather station at Safdarjung reported 19.8 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am. Palam recorded 9.1 mm, Lodhi Road 11.4 mm, Ridge 28.2 mm, and Ayanagar 5.7 mm rainfall. The maximum temperature is expected to settle at 32 degrees Celsius, the IMD said. ALSO READ | Train Movement On Old Iron Bridge In Delhi Halted Amid Rising Yamuna Water Levels top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:26 IST News india Heavy Rain Lashes Delhi, Noida As Dark Clouds Cover Skies, IMD Warns Of More Showers 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... Train Movement On Old Iron Bridge In Delhi Halted Amid Rising Yamuna Water Levels Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 08:25 IST Train movement on Delhis Old Iron Bridge over the Yamuna was halted Wednesday morning due to rising water levels after heavy rains. Traffic diversions were also enforced. Yamuna River has risen and crossed the danger mark after incessant heavy rainfall, at Loha Pul (Old Iron Bridge), in New Delhi (Photo: PTI) Train movement at the Old Iron Bridge across the Yamuna River in Delhi was halted on Wednesday due to the increasing water level amid heavy rain in the national capital region for the past few days. According to the details, the train movement on the bridge was halted at 6.30 am today, hours after the bridge was closed for traffic and public movement from 4 pm on Tuesday till further notice. Recommended Stories The order was issued in response to a flood advisory from the Central Water Commission (CWC). The Shahdara District Magistrate announced the restrictions, warning that the water level at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) may exceed 206.50 metres. In an advisory on X, the police said the closure will remain in force till further orders, and commuters were advised to avoid the route. Meanwhile, traffic diversions were put in place at Hanuman Setu, Bela Road (behind Red Fort), and the east and west sides of the Old Iron Bridge. According to the advisory, traffic from ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Old Delhi Railway Station, and the Red Fort side will be diverted via Hanuman Setu to Outer Ring Road to a loop from Raja Ram Kohli Marg to Geeta Colony Road. Vehicles coming in from Rajghat and Shanti Van (via Bela Road) will be diverted from Bela Road T-point on Ring Road to Shanti Van Chowk to Raja Ram Kohli Marg and finally Geeta Colony Road, it said. From the northeast Delhi side, including Shahdara, Seelampur and Shastri Park, motorists will be diverted via Pushta Road to a loop on Raja Ram Kohli Marg and the Ring Road, the police added. Traffic from east Delhi areas such as Akshardham, Mayur Vihar and Pandav Nagar will be diverted from Geeta Colony Flyover to Geeta Colony Road T-point to Geeta Colony Flyover to Shanti Van Chowk and Ring Road (MGM). Commuters were also urged to use public transport to reduce congestion, avoid roadside parking and remain vigilant. On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the flood-affected areas near the Loha Pul During her visit, the Chief Minister interacted with residents and said that the situation was under control. She noted that the water was released from the Hathnikund Bar and that arrangements had been made for the accommodation of affected families. She added that Delhi would coordinate with adjoining states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Haryana to extend assistance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ | Delhi Flooding: How Urbanisation And Changing Rainfall Patterns Swell The Yamuna About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: September 03, 2025, 08:22 IST News india Train Movement On Old Iron Bridge In Delhi Halted Amid Rising Yamuna Water Levels 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 National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is actively lobbying for Russia to be included in the European Union's "grey list" of countries with inadequate money laundering controls, First Deputy Governor of the NBU Serhiy Nikolaychuk said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. "This will allow us to establish stricter institutional boundaries for controlling financial transactions with Russian elements in the European Union and provide an additional impetus for our other international partners," he said. Nikolaychuk also stressed that the National Bank continues to seek the inclusion of the Russian Federation in the "black list" of the Group on Combating Money Laundering (FATF). "Including Russia in the FATF "black list" has been one of the priorities of the chairman (Andriy Pyshny - IF-U) since the beginning of his term. He always raises this topic at meetings with central bankers. We at the NBU are constantly working to expand the arguments for the need for such a decision," the first deputy said. He recalled that the results of the last plenary session of the FATF highlighted the risks to the international financial system, after which the largest banks in India began to refuse to serve companies with a Russian footprint. In early June of this year, the Financial Times, citing European Commission officials, reported that the European Union was considering adding Russia to its "gray list," which could increase financial pressure on Moscow. It was said that such a decision is supported by the majority of members of the European Parliament, but it has not yet been finally adopted. One Of Two Infants Bitten By Rats Dies Of Pneumonia At Indore Hospital; Probe Panel Set Up Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:31 IST The shocking case came to light after two infants were attacked by rodents on the night of August 3031 at a hospital in Indore Rats inside the NISU of an Indore Hospital | Image: X An infant who was among the two newborns bitten by rats inside a hospital in Indore succumbed on Tuesday, said the hospital authorities, adding that the cause of death was pneumonia and related complications. The shocking case came to light after two infants were attacked by rodents on the night of August 3031 at the Neonatal ICU of Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital (MYH), one of the largest government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh. Recommended Stories One baby sustained injuries on the hand, while the other was bitten on the shoulder, said the doctors, as the matter sparked widespread outrage, raising serious questions over hygiene and safety standards at the government hospitals. In the aftermath, the hospital administration removed its nursing superintendent and suspended two staff nurses. The private agency responsible for pest control and sanitation, The Agile Company, has been fined Rs 1 lakh and served a show-cause notice. Probe Panel Set Up Dr Arvind Ghanghoria, Dean of Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College (to which MYH is affiliated), admitted safety lapses and confirmed that a high-level committee has been set up to probe the incident. There were two infants who suffered rat bites in the Paediatric Surgical Ward. One of them, already critically ill with pneumonia and congenital complications, has passed away. The other child, despite deformities, is now stable," Dr Ghanghoria said. He added that rats had only been noticed in the hospital over the past few days, allegedly due to heavy rains and a broken pipeline. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, staff later disclosed that rodents had been spotted in the ward nearly a week before the incident, but no formal complaint was filed. The failure of nursing staff to report rodent sightings in time could have prevented this tragedy," Dr Ghanghoria acknowledged. Location : Madhya Pradesh, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:31 IST News india One Of Two Infants Bitten By Rats Dies Of Pneumonia At Indore Hospital; Probe Panel Set Up 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... Potholes Kill 5 A Day In India, 3 In UP; Under-Construction Roads Deadlier With 11 Daily Toll Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 08:00 IST Between 2019 and 2023, India reported 9,109 pothole deaths, and 4,792 of these were from Uttar Pradesh While the official data for the recent months is not available, a number of deaths were reported in the last few weeks due to potholes. (Representational image) Potholes and under-construction roads are no minor road issuethey claim thousands of lives in India every year. Official data analysed by News18 shows that India reported five pothole deaths on average daily between 2019 and 2023, with Uttar Pradesh alone contributing three of these. Recommended Stories In the five-year period, India reported 9,109 pothole deaths, and 4,792 of these were from Uttar Pradesh, data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) shows. The latest data, issued last week, shows that across the country, 2,161 pothole deaths were registered in 2023almost six per day on average. At least 1,320 (61.1%) were from Uttar Pradesh alone, making up for about four deaths daily. The toll from Uttar Pradesh looks even starker when compared to Madhya Pradesh, the second-highest in 2023, with just 177 deaths. Tamil Nadu was third with 159 fatalities. Only three states in India recorded more than 100 pothole deaths in 2023. The year 2022 saw fewer pothole deaths at 1,856, with Uttar Pradesh contributing 1,030 of these. A total of four states registered more than 100 pothole deaths in 2022Madhya Pradesh (199), Assam (117), and Tamil Nadu (107). In the pre-Covid year 2019, the number of pothole deaths stood at 2,140, and 1,034 (48%) were from Uttar Pradesh. Punjab was the second biggest contributor with 245 such deaths, followed by Odisha with 112 fatalities. Dead End While the official data for the recent months is not available, a number of deaths were reported in the last few weeks due to potholes. Last week, a class 8 girl died after her father lost control of his bike due to a pothole, and a tractor ran over her in Aligarh. A 58-year-old doctor died after his scooter skidded over a pothole and he came under the rear tyre of a truck in Maharashtra. These tragedies highlight how a nationwide crisis plays out in local headlines week after week. While pothole deaths in Maharashtra witness severe outrage, the state has reported significant improvement in numbersfrom 72 in 2019 to 39 the next year and four in 2022. In 2023, 29 such deaths were reported in the state. Over 20,000 Deaths on Under-Construction, Under-Repair Roads A total of 20,321 people were killed across India on roads that were either under construction or those with ongoing road worksmore than 11 per day on average, with UP contributing five of these. Uttar Pradesh reported 8,667 of these deathsover 40% of the total. Nationally, deaths on under-construction roads dipped slightly in 2023, from 4,054 in 2022, but in Uttar Pradesh, they continued to rise. In 2023, 3,904 deaths were reported on under-construction roads or those with ongoing road works, including 1,832 from Uttar Pradesh, up from 1,819 in 2022. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Every pothole left unattended, every dug-up stretch without safeguards, is not just an inconvenienceits a potential death trap, killing almost 20 people per day. The numbers suggest that fixing them is as urgent as building new roads and making policies for a safer commute. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She twe... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 08:00 IST News india Potholes Kill 5 A Day In India, 3 In UP; Under-Construction Roads Deadlier With 11 Daily Toll 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... Rajasthani Youth Walk To Dwarka With Camel To Save Culture And Tradition Curated By : Local18 Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 15:42 IST Rajasthani youth walked 29 days with a camel to Dwarka, spreading awareness about culture, traditional attire and the importance of camels in desert life. Young men from Rajasthans Rabari community set out on a 29-day barefoot journey from Chenda village in Rajasthan. (Image: News18 Gujarati) In a remarkable cultural tribute, a group of young men from Rajasthans Rabari community undertook a 29-day barefoot pilgrimage from Chenda village in Rajasthan to Dwarka, Gujarat, with a camel by their side. Their goal? To revive pride in traditional attire and raise awareness about the cultural and practical significance of camels. Indias greatest wealth lies in its culture, yet the younger generation is drifting away from age-old traditions. At the same time, the camel Rajasthans lifeline in desert regions is declining in numbers. Recommended Stories To highlight both concerns, these youths dressed in traditional attire and walked hundreds of kilometres with their camel Moti." Last year, they had completed a similar pilgrimage to Ramdevra. The journey lasted 28 days, and on the 29th day, they offered prayers at the Jagat Mandir in Dwarka. Speaking about their mission, the group emphasised the many benefits of camel milk, which is even believed to help in curing diseases like tuberculosis. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Rabari community sees the camel as a symbol of survival in Rajasthan, and the youths urged the government to create strong policies to protect it. They also stressed the need to revive traditional attire, which is being forgotten. Wearing cultural dress on important occasions, they say, is key to preserving the heritage safeguarded by ancestors. Interestingly, members of this group have also travelled across 17 countries to spread awareness about Indian culture and traditions. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 15:42 IST News india Rajasthani Youth Walk To Dwarka With Camel To Save Culture And Tradition 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... Sharjah-Bound Air India Express Flight Halted Near Trichy Airport Runway After Technical Snag Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 11:49 IST The flight, scheduled to depart Trichy Airport at 4:25 am, was halted near the runway when the fault was detected, said officials Air India Express Flight | Representative Image A Sharjah-bound Air India Express flight was grounded at Trichy airport on Wednesday morning after developing a technical snag, leaving 176 passengers stuck on board for hours. The flight, scheduled to depart at 4:25 am, was halted near the runway when the fault was detected, said officials aware of the matter. Recommended Stories Engineers were immediately called in to inspect the aircraft while passengers waited inside. Officials later facilitated safe disembarking and said efforts were underway to resolve the issue, assuring that all precautions were being taken to minimise inconvenience. In a separate incident, a Delhi-bound Air India flight aborted its takeoff at the Cochin International Airport (CIAL) due to a technical issue, according to an official statement. The aircraft was later changed, and the passengers were shifted to another aircraft, causing a significant delay to their travel. The airline stated in a press release that flight AI 504, originally scheduled to depart at 10:34 pm, experienced an unexpected incident near the runway, prompting the pilots to abort takeoff. Flight AI504 operating from Kochi to Delhi on Sunday, 17 August was delayed due to a technical issue detected during the take-off roll. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off run, following Standard Operating Procedures and brought the aircraft back to bay for checks," the airline said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Subsequently, all passengers were disembarked, and an alternative aircraft was deployed to operate the flight. Our ground team in Kochi provided immediate assistance to the affected passengers. We regret the inconvenience caused due to this unforeseen situation. At Air India, the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain our top priority," it added. The Air India flights, especially the Boeing 787 segment, are facing additional scrutiny by the operators after Air India Flight 171 crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 11:39 IST News india Sharjah-Bound Air India Express Flight Halted Near Trichy Airport Runway After Technical Snag 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... Stay Of Divorce Case No Shield Against Paying Maintenance: Allahabad HC Tells Husband To Clear Dues Reported By : LawBeat Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:57 IST The court underscored that the intent behind Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act is to ensure a financially weaker spouse is not left destitute or handicapped during litigation Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Allahabad High Court (File pic) The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a spouse cannot escape his obligation to pay maintenance pendente lite merely because divorce proceedings have been stayed. The bench of Justice Manish Kumar Nigam dismissed a plea by Ankit Suman, who had challenged recovery proceedings initiated by his wife for arrears running into Rs 2.5 lakh. Recommended Stories The case began in 2018, when Suman filed for divorce before the family court in Pilibhit. During the proceedings, his wife, Neeraj Saini, sought interim maintenance under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The family court initially rejected her plea in 2020. However, the High Court, in 2021, reversed that decision and ordered Suman to pay Rs. 10,000 per month to his wife and an equal amount to their minor daughter, besides Rs. 30,000 towards litigation costs. Unhappy with this order, Suman moved the Supreme Court. In 2022, the apex court slightly modified the award, reducing the daughters entitlement to Rs. 5,000 per month but otherwise upholding the High Courts decision. The payments were to be made from the date of the wifes original application. When arrears piled up, Saini filed an execution petition before the family court, claiming dues of Rs. 2.5 lakh as of August 2024. The court issued a recovery warrant, which Suman challenged in the High Court. His central argument was that since the High Court had stayed the divorce case in 2023 on his wifes transfer petition, the proceedings were no longer pending," and maintenance should not accrue during this period. The High Court rejected this line of reasoning outright. Justice Nigam drew a clear distinction between a stay" and quashing" of proceedings. While quashing nullifies a case entirely, a stay only halts its progress temporarily without affecting its existence. Mere stay of proceedings will not amount to their termination, absolving the petitioner of his liability, the judge observed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court underscored that the intent behind Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act is to ensure that a financially weaker spouse is not left destitute or handicapped during litigation. The provision, the judge said, is designed to prevent one party from gaining an upper hand simply due to superior financial strength. Justice Nigam also referred to precedents from other high courts and the Supreme Court, which have consistently held that maintenance pendente lite continues as long as matrimonial proceedings are alive in any form, be it at the trial, appellate, revisional, or even transfer stage. About the Author Salil Tiwari Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public in... Read More Location : Prayagraj, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 16:57 IST News india Stay Of Divorce Case No Shield Against Paying Maintenance: Allahabad HC Tells Husband To Clear Dues 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... Supreme Court's Taj Mahal Order May Put Agras Iconic Petha Industry Out Of Business Curated By : Translation Desk-Local18 Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 10:49 IST Agras famed Petha industry faces a major crisis as the Supreme Court orders closure of all factories within the Taj Trapezium Zone to curb pollution around the Taj Mahal Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Despite efforts to maintain a pollution-free environment by switching to LPG gas instead of coal-operated furnaces, petha traders remain distressed. (Local18) Agra, the famed Petha Nagri, has long been known for its signature sweet that draws tourists from around the world. But the citys bustling Petha trade, once thriving, is now staring at a major crisis. The Supreme Court has mandated the removal of all Petha factories within the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) to mitigate pollution affecting the Taj Mahal. Agra, home to numerous historical monuments including the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri, is now required to devise a rehabilitation plan within three months, with the next Supreme Court hearing scheduled for September 23. Recommended Stories Following the Supreme Courts order, Petha traders are in a state of panic. Speaking to Local18, Rajesh Agarwal, a prominent Petha businessman, expressed concerns, stating that traders are deeply worried and are frequently contacting the administration for assistance. Despite efforts to maintain a pollution-free environment by switching to LPG gas instead of coal-operated furnaces, traders remain distressed. They have appealed to the Supreme Court, highlighting that Petha traders are small business owners who require consideration in the decision-making process. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This is not the first time the Petha industry has faced challenges. In 1996, environmental regulations led to a complete ban on coal usage by Petha factories in the TTZ. Again, in 2013, the court decided to prohibit all types of coal in the factories. Young Petha traders, such as Shrey Agarwal, are particularly concerned about the increased difficulties. Speaking to Local18, Agarwal pointed out that while big businessmen might find ways to continue their operations, the poor will be the most affected. He emphasised the need for the Supreme Court to consider everyones problems before making a final decision. Location : Agra, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 10:49 IST News india Supreme Court's Taj Mahal Order May Put Agras Iconic Petha Industry Out Of Business Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tamil Nadu School Teacher Makes Kids Massage Her Feet, Probe Underway Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 11:35 IST A headmaster at a school in Tamil Nadu allegedly made students massage her feet, prompting an enquiry after the video went viral on social media. Tamil Nadu School Teacher Makes Kids Massage Her Feet In a disturbing incident reported from Tamil Nadu, a school headmaster allegedly asked students to massage her feet while she was lying on a table. The local media channels shared the video of the incident where students can be seen pressing legs of the headmaster. As per a report by India Today, the incident took place at Maveripatti Primary School in Tamil Nadus Dharmapuri district. Recommended Stories The school headmaster, identified as Kalaivani, was seen lying on the table allegedly asking students to press her legs. The purported video of the entire incident is being shared widely on social media prompting an enquiry against the headmaster. As per the officials, actions will be taken against the headmaster after the enquiry is over. A similar incident was reported in Tamil Nadu last year. A video of a government school was widely circulated on social media showing a maths teacher sleeping during work hours and asking students to massage his feet. The teacher, J Jayaprakash from Kamakkapalayam in Thalaivasal, was working at the school for 17 years. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As the video went viral, Jayaprakashwas placed under suspension by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. The action was taken on the basis of an investigation report. School Education Department officials in Salem conducted an investigation. The matter created quite a buzz and students came forward in support of the suspended teacher. Over 50 students of East Rajapalayam Government High School blocked the road in protest and demanded to reinstate their maths teacher. They blocked a TNSTC bus and staged a protest in front of their school. Students claimed that their studies will be impacted without a teacher in the school. Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 11:09 IST News india Tamil Nadu School Teacher Makes Kids Massage Her Feet, Probe Underway 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... NIA Uncovers Malaysia Link In TRF Terror Funding Probe, Lakhs Raised Via Hawala Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 11:47 IST The NIA has uncovered evidence linking The Resistance Fronts funding to a hawala network routed through Malaysia, with suspects raising over Rs 9 lakh for the outfit. A security personnel stands guard at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters, in New Delhi (Photo: PTI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has unearthed fresh evidence in its probe against The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which had initially claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack but later withdrew the claim. According to the details, a Srinagar-based individuals mobile phone, with more than 450 contacts, has provided leads to the NIA, helping the probe agency identify the ones funding the TRF. Recommended Stories While some of the contacts on the mobile phones directory are under probe in other terror cases, the NIA is looking at the possibility of a hawala route via Malaysia, which may have been used to fund the TRF. According to IANS, the NIA, during its probe, came across the name of one Sajad Ahmed Mir, a resident of Malaysia. Meanwhile, phone calls details of another suspect, identified as Yasir Hayat, revealed that he was in touch with Mir to arrange for the funds. It was also revealed that Hayat made several visits to Malaysia to arrange for funds, the report claimed. It also stated that Hayat, with Mirs help, also raised Rs 9 lakh for the TRF, and the money was given to another operative, identified as Shafat Wani, who runs the activities of the outfit. Wani, who is a key operative of the TRF, is also said to have visited Malaysia on the pretext of attending a conference at a university there. The university had, however, not sponsored this visit, the report claimed. The NIA also learnt that Hayat, apart from staying in touch with Mir, was in contact with two Pakistani nationals. His activities were all about raising funds, and the probe suggested that his job was to be in touch with foreign operatives and raise money for the terror outfit. On August 13, the NIA had said that it had uncovered a foreign trail of funds that was being probed extensively. THE RESISTANCE FRONT A proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the TRF was formed and projected as a local outfit from Jammu and Kashmir. The group was formed in 2019 to replace the Hizbul Mujahideen and also give a fresh identity to local terror activities, IANS reported. The outfit was also meant to give both Pakistan and the Lashkar-e-Taiba a deniability factor. The intention was to project the fight in Kashmir as a localised one. Moreover, Pakistan wanted terror attacks to continue without coming under the scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). India considers TRF a terrorist organisation and accuses Pakistan of supporting it. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the United States declared The Resistance Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, which came as a huge blow for Pakistan, as the move exposed its terror playbook. ALSO READ | On TRF Terror Tag, China Says Its Against All Forms Of Terrorism: We Condemn Pahalgam Attack About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: September 03, 2025, 11:41 IST News india NIA Uncovers Malaysia Link In TRF Terror Funding Probe, Lakhs Raised Via Hawala 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 Claims Tariffs Killed Harley-Davidson In India. Here's What Actually Drove The Iconic Brand Out Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:01 IST Harleys, with average price of Rs 5 lakhRs 50 lakh, was forced to exit due to low demand and business unviability, as India's two-wheeler market is dominated by affordable bikes Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Using Harley-Davidson as a test case, Trump said it faced a 200 per cent tariff on its motorcycles in India and in a bid to avoid paying duties, ultimately set up a plant in the country. (Reuters) A new day, but the same old diatribe from Donald Trump. The United States President yet again accused India of exploiting America through unfair trade practices, claiming the relationship was one-sided" and stacked against the US. Trump, who has missed no opportunity to justify his 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, said India imposed some of the highest tariffs in the world, making it difficult for American companies to conduct business even as Indian goods flowed freely into the US market. Recommended Stories Using Harley-Davidson as a test case, Trump said it faced a 200 per cent tariff on its motorcycles in India and in a bid to avoid paying duties, ultimately set up a plant in the country. However, facts and numbers tell a very different story of robust, balanced, and increasingly strategic trade between India and the United States. Heres a breakdown of Trumps claims versus reality. Claim 1: Harley-Davidson couldnt sell in India due to 200 per cent tariffs." Reality: Harley-Davidsons exit had little to do with tariffs. Large imported motorcycles did face tariffs of 50-100 per cent, sometimes cited as 200 per cent" depending on the model and import route. However, under Trumps own presidency (2018), India reduced tariffs on high-end motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 per cent after US pressure. Despite the cut, Trump continued to claim India was cheating". While Harley tried mitigating tariffs by setting up a manufacturing plant in Haryana, the company exited India in 2020 due to low consumer demand in a market dominated by affordable two-wheelers. India is the worlds largest two-wheeler market, dominated by affordable bikes such as Hero, Bajaj, and Honda. Harleys average price was Rs 5 lakhRs 50 lakh, way beyond the reach of most Indian buyers. In 2011, when it set up the Haryana plant, even then Harley sold less than 3,000 units a year (tiny in a 20-million-bikes market), forcing it to exit citing low demand and business unviability, not tariffs. Essentially, Harleys failure was due to market mismatch and not a trade war. Claim 2: India poured everything into the US; America sent nothing back." Reality: US exports to India are not only robust, but growing. In 2023, US exports to India crossed $70 billion, led by oil, defence hardware, aircraft, and technology. India is among the largest buyers of US defence equipment, including Apache helicopters, Boeing aircraft, and GE engines. American giantsApple, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, GEhave expanded their footprint in India, contributing billions in investments. Claim 3: India flooded the US market." Reality: Indias share of US imports remains small compared to China. While India makes up 2.5 per cent of total US imports, Chinas figure stands at 17 per cent. Far from flooding" the US, India is still an emerging supplier, while China dominates the US import basket. Beyond Tariffs: The Bigger Strategic Lens The tariff debate ignores the true depth of India-US ties, which extend far beyond trade disputes. Education & Students: Over 2,50,000 Indian students in US universities contribute nearly $25 billion annually to the American economy. Technology & Services: US tech giants like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft generate $1520 billion annually from Indias growing digital economy. Financial & Consulting Services: JP Morgan, McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, and others earn $1520 billion annually via Indian operations and outsourcing. Defence & Security: India is now a major defence partner of the US, part of the QUAD framework and Indo-Pacific strategy. Semiconductors & AI: Joint investments in chip manufacturing and critical tech are reshaping global supply chains. Clean Energy: Collaboration in LNG, solar, and renewables is central to climate cooperation. Diaspora Strength: With 4.5 million Indian Americans, people-to-people ties remain the backbone of the relationship. Strategic affairs experts worry that it is this multi-dimensional relationship that Trump seems set to destroy. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Congressman Ro Khanna, taking to X on Wednesday, said: We cant allow the ego of Donald Trump to destroy a strategic relationship with India that is key to ensuring that America leads and not China." Accusing Trump of undermining 30 years of painstaking work to strengthen ties between the two countries, Khanna said: He has imposed a 50 percent tariff on India, higher than any other country other than Brazil. Its a higher tariff than the tariff on China. It is hurting Indias exports of leather and textiles into the United States. And its hurting American manufacturers and our exports into India. It is also driving India towards China and towards Russia." About the Author Amit Shukla Amit Shukla, Executive Editor at CNN-News18, heads the Input Desk, overseeing news gathering, editorial planning, and news coordination. First Published: September 03, 2025, 09:38 IST News india Trump Claims Tariffs Killed Harley-Davidson In India. Here's What Actually Drove The Iconic Brand Out Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Who Is Ariha Shah, 4-Year-Old Indian Girl Taken From Parents And Placed In German Foster Care? Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 17:58 IST The MEA raised concerns about Arihas sudden transfer to specialized foster care in Germany, warning it could negatively impact her emotional and mental well-being Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The MEA emphasized that the childs best interests can only be fully safeguarded in her home country. (News18 Hindi) German Foreign Minister Johann Wedfful is visiting India, where he met with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. While the talks primarily focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, attention was also drawn to a sensitive human-interest issuethe case of a young girl named Ariha Shah. This marks the first meeting between the German and Indian foreign ministers since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office. Recommended Stories Who Is Ariha Shah? Ariha Shah, an Indian girl of about four years, has been separated from her parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, and placed in German foster care. The separation occurred after an incident where Ariha was injured by her grandmother, leading German authorities to take her into protective custody, classifying the situation as a case of abuse. Ariha has been in foster care for 46 months, entangled in a complex legal case in Germany. Her parents have maintained that the injury was accidental, but the legal proceedings in Germany have prolonged her stay in foster care. Foreign Minister Calls For Immediate Release Jaishankar brought up the case of Ariha Shah during talks with the German Foreign Minister, stating, I raised the issue of Ariha Shah, an Indian girl under German authorities care for some time. I stressed the need to protect her cultural rights and ensure her upbringing in an Indian environment. This matter should be resolved without delay." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also raised Arihas case in talks held in October 2024, yet she remains in foster care. The MEA and the Embassy of India in Berlin have been persistently advocating for the return of the baby, who was placed in the custody of Germanys Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) on September 23, 2021 when she was seven months old. When Did Indian Government Step In? The Government of India had stepped in following a letter from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to the Ministry of External Affairs, urging support for Ariha Shah. The letter highlighted the parents plea to bring Ariha back home. The MEA emphasized that the childs best interests can only be fully safeguarded in her home country, where her socio-cultural rights can be protected. India has repeatedly requested German authorities to return Ariha and ensure her access to her cultural, religious, and linguistic background. The Indian Embassy had also sought consular access and opportunities for cultural immersion at the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin. However, these requests have so far not been fulfilled. The MEA had expressed concern over Arihas abrupt transfer to a specialized foster care arrangement in Germany, describing the process as potentially harmful to her emotional and mental development. Officials also noted that India has a strong child welfare system and that prospective foster parents are ready to provide a home that preserves her socio-cultural identity. Arihas Parents Spoke Out According to Shindes letter to S. Jaishankar, Arihas parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah of Mumbai, have been tirelessly working to reunite with her. Earlier, Dhara Shah had expressed deep worry, saying, Based on the court order there, Ariha has now been sent to an orphanage. We have no idea about the people she will live with. We are extremely concerned for her safety." She mentioned that with their German visas expiring, delays in the process could result in permanent loss of custody. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ariha was just seven months old when separated from her parents, who have been allowed visits only once every 1520 days. The family also revealed that Ariha sustained a genital injury, which was reported to German authorities. Despite the sexual assault case being closed without charges against them, the German authorities have not returned the child, leaving the parents in distress and seeking intervention from the Indian government. First Published: September 03, 2025, 17:58 IST News india Who Is Ariha Shah, 4-Year-Old Indian Girl Taken From Parents And Placed In German Foster Care? 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 losses of the invaders during the day amounted to 780 soldiers and 162 units of equipment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in a summary as of 7:00 on Wednesday. In particular, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed one tank, four armored combat vehicles, 41 artillery systems, 112 units of automotive equipment and tanker trucks and four units of special equipment. Air strikes cost the enemy 338 UAVs of the operational-tactical level. Who Is Arun Gawli? Underworld Don-Turned-Politician Walks Free After 17 Years In Prison Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:30 IST The 76-year-old was granted bail by the SC in connection with the 2007 murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Arun Gawli walks out of Nagpur jail after 17 years. After spending over 17 years behind bars, gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli walked out of Nagpur Central Jail on Wednesday. The 76-year-old was granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with the 2007 murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. Gawli, who was serving a life sentence, was released around 12.30 pm after completing all prison formalities. He was welcomed by his family, legal team, and supporters outside the jail. Recommended Stories The top court had noted that Gawli had already spent more than 17 years in prison and that his appeal was still pending. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh observed, Admittedly, the appellant has been under incarceration for 17 years and three months. We also take note of the fact that he is 76 years old." The bail was granted on August 28, subject to conditions set by the trial court. The apex court has listed the case for final hearing in February next year. Who Is Arun Gawli? Arun Gawli is a former underworld don from Mumbai who later entered politics. He rose to power from Dagdi Chawl, a tightly packed neighbourhood in Byculla, which became both his stronghold and a symbol of his influence. Known by the nickname Daddy" among his followers, Gawli built a feared reputation in Mumbais underworld during the 1980s and 1990s. He was involved in gang rivalries and came under the radar of law enforcement for his alleged role in extortion and organised crime. Despite his criminal background, Gawli founded his own political outfit, the Akhil Bharatiya Sena, and contested elections. He won the Chinchpokli assembly seat in Mumbai and served as an MLA from 2004 to 2009. Conviction Gawli was arrested in 2006 for the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. The case was investigated under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a stringent law used to tackle organised crime. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In August 2012, a Mumbai sessions court sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 17 lakh. The Bombay High Court upheld this verdict in 2019, following which Gawli approached the Supreme Court. (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, ... Read More Location : Nagpur, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 16:30 IST News india Who Is Arun Gawli? Underworld Don-Turned-Politician Walks Free After 17 Years In Prison 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 Shot By Estranged Lover In Ahmedabad For Getting Engaged To Another Man Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:06 IST After the shooting, the accused, originally from Madhya Pradesh, fled the scene but was apprehended by police on a bus heading back to his home state. A woman was shot by her estranged lover on Tuesday in Ahmedabad. (Representative Image) A woman was shot by her estranged lover on Tuesday in Ahmedabad for getting engaged to another man. She is currently receiving treatment in a hospital, while the police have arrested the accused. According to the police, the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon when the woman visited her lover, Arbaaz. The accused allegedly pulled out a gun and shot her at close range following a heated argument. Fortunately, the bullet only grazed her, resulting in minor injuries. Recommended Stories After the shooting, the accused, originally from Madhya Pradesh, fled the scene but was apprehended by police on a bus heading back to his home state. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Investigations revealed that the woman had previously been in a relationship with the accused. Her engagement to another man angered him, leading to his plan to kill her. He traveled from Madhya Pradesh to Ahmedabad, met her, and shot her with a gun he had purchased in Madhya Pradesh for Rs 28,000. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:06 IST News india Woman Shot By Estranged Lover In Ahmedabad For Getting Engaged To Another Man 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's Severed Head Found In Maharashtra, Husband Arrested For Murder Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:20 IST A domestic dispute appeared to be the reason behind the murder of the woman. The severed head of a woman was found in a swampy area in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi city. (Representative Image) The severed head of a woman was found in Maharashtras Bhiwandi city. While the police is investigating the case, reports suggest that prima facie it appears that the woman was murdered by her husband and her body was chopped into several parts. The womans husband has been arrested. A domestic dispute appeared to be the reason behind the murder, NDTV reported, citing its sources. The couple used to frequently fight and it is speculated that it was during one such fight that the man must have killed his wife. Recommended Stories The police have launched an investigation to recover the remaining body parts of the woman. Dog squads have also been deployed. The police said a case of murder has been registered. The woman, whose severed head was found near the Idgah complex, appeared to be around 25 to 28 years old. The severed head has been sent to the district hospital for post-mortem, Bhoiwada police said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The incident came after horrific murder cases are being reported across the country. A 35-year-old woman was set ablaze by her live-in partner in Bengaluru. The man was an alcoholic and was upset after his partner started avoiding him and even became friends with another man. In a similar incident, Uttar Pradesh woman was arrested for allegedly strangling her husband to death in his sleep for neglecting her over his first wife. 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, ... Read More Location : Maharashtra, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:20 IST News india Woman's Severed Head Found In Maharashtra, Husband Arrested For Murder 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 End Of An Era: Shilpa Shetty Closes The Doors On Bastian Bandra Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 13:06 IST Shilpa Shetty recently announced the closure of Bastian Bandra. As the establishment shuts down, here's a look at what made it one of Mumbai's most celebrated eateries. Shilpa Shetty announces closure of Bastian Bandra. In the heart of Mumbais bustling Bandra neighbourhood, Bastian stood as more than just a restaurant. It was a cultural landmark, a place where food, fashion, and celebrity converged. Co-owned by Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and restaurateur Ranjit Bindra, the restaurant became synonymous with the citys vibrant dining and nightlife scene. From its inception in 2016, Bastian was a go-to destination for the citys elite, known for its inventive cuisine and glamorous atmosphere. However, the Bastian Bandra chapter has come to an end, with Shilpa Shetty recently announcing its closure, marking the end of an era for one of Mumbais most celebrated eateries. Recommended Stories Why Is Bastian Bandra Shutting Down? The news of Bastian Bandras shutdown was made just weeks after Shilpa Shetty and her husband, Raj Kundra, were reportedly accused of cheating a Mumbai-based businessman of over Rs 60 crore. The legal troubles, which are now being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), involve a loan-cum-investment deal related to their now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. While Shilpas Instagram announcement did not explicitly state a reason for the closure, the timing has led to speculation about the connection between the legal woes and the decision to shut down the iconic restaurant. What made Bastian Bandra a Celebrity favourite? Bastians popularity transcended its status as a celebrity-owned establishment; it was a bona fide hotspot in its own right, consistently attracting A-list clientele. The restaurants appeal was multi-faceted: A-List Destination: From Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan to Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, Bastian was a regular haunt for Bollywoods biggest stars. Its reputation as a high-profile, yet sophisticated, dining space made it the perfect setting for social gatherings and celebrations. From Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan to Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, Bastian was a regular haunt for Bollywoods biggest stars. Its reputation as a high-profile, yet sophisticated, dining space made it the perfect setting for social gatherings and celebrations. Inventive Cuisine: Bastian was celebrated for its culinary innovation. The menu, which was primarily seafood-focused, offered an eclectic mix of international flavours with a creative twist. Popular dishes that garnered a loyal following included the Animal Prawns, Lobster Bomb, Truffle Mac and Cheese, and the highly sought-after Mango Pull Me Up Cake. Bastian was celebrated for its culinary innovation. The menu, which was primarily seafood-focused, offered an eclectic mix of international flavours with a creative twist. Popular dishes that garnered a loyal following included the Animal Prawns, Lobster Bomb, Truffle Mac and Cheese, and the highly sought-after Mango Pull Me Up Cake. Luxurious Ambience: The restaurant was known for its stylish interiors, which blended comfort with sophistication. In 2023, Bastian Bandra moved to a larger, multi-level location, which further enhanced its glamorous appeal and cemented its place as a flagship of the Bastian Hospitality brand. A Look at Bastians Cuisine Bastians menu was a testament to its more is more" philosophy, with generous portions and bold flavours. While the restaurant was famous for its seafood, it also offered a diverse range of vegetarian and meat-based options, ensuring there was something for every palate. The pricing reflected its status as a luxury dining experience. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bastian (@bastianmumbai) Cuisine: Seafood-centric with a mix of American and Pan-Asian influences. Seafood-centric with a mix of American and Pan-Asian influences. Notable Dishes: The menu featured everything from classic comfort food like Korean Fried Chicken to upscale preparations of lobster and truffle. Desserts, in particular, were a major draw, with the Pull Me Up Cake becoming a social media sensation. The menu featured everything from classic comfort food like Korean Fried Chicken to upscale preparations of lobster and truffle. Desserts, in particular, were a major draw, with the Pull Me Up Cake becoming a social media sensation. Pricing: The average cost for two people at Bastian is estimated to be around Rs 4,000. Appetisers and main courses ranged from approximately Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 or more, while some premium seafood dishes, such as the Lobster Mac, were priced significantly higher. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Whats Next for the Brand? While the original Bastian in Bandra has taken its final bow, the brands legacy is set to continue. Shilpa Shettys post mentioned that the popular weekly event, Arcane Affair," will move to Bastian At The Top in Dadar, which is an elevated dining experience with panoramic city views. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:06 IST News lifestyle food The End Of An Era: Shilpa Shetty Closes The Doors On Bastian Bandra Ganeshas Wednesday: Rare Bappa With 3 Trunks, Seated On Peacock At Pune Temple How To Reach From Mumbai Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 11:51 IST The Trishund Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple was built between 1754 and 1770 under the guidance of Morya Gosavi from Dhampur. In this temple, Lord Ganesh is seated on a peacock. (Photo Credit: Instagram) Tucked away in the heart of Somwar Peth, Pune, the Trishund Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple is a unique temple in Pune that houses Lord Ganesha in his rarest form. This ancient Peshwa-era temple showcases Bappa in a rare Trishund avatar, bearing three trunks. According to devotees, each trunk of Lord Ganesha carries deep symbolism. Some believe the trunks represent the divine forms of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, seated majestically on a peacock instead of his usual mouse. Others say the three trunks represent time past, present, and future and control over creation, preservation, and destruction. Recommended Stories Trishund Mayureshwar Ganpati Temples Significance The temple was built between 1754 and 1770 under the guidance of Morya Gosavi from Dhampur. He established the temple called Mayureshwar Ashtavinayak, which got aid from the Great Peshwas. Since Ganesha was the KulDaivat of the Peshwas, they worked hard to revive and flourish all Ganesha temples in Maharashtra, including Mayureshwar. This temple is considered so important that people start their Ashtavinayak Yatra from this place. They are also supposed to come back to this temple at the end. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TheRoamingDuo (@theroamingduo2) The temple walls also boast inscriptions in Devanagari, Persian, and Sanskrit. If you are a history lover, spiritual seeker, or anyone hunting for offbeat places in Pune, visit Somwar Peth to get this one-of-a-kind sight. How To Reach Trishund Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple From Mumbai Located near Pune, devotees can reach there by any means. Check below for some ways that will help you reach Mayureshwar. By Road: The temple has good road connectivity, and one can reach the Trishund Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple through buses, private cars and taxis. It takes around 3.5 to 4.5 hours to cover the Mumbai-Pune motorway to reach Somwar Peth. By Rail: Get down at the Jejuri Railway Station and then take an auto/taxi to Somwar Peth, Mayureshwar Temple. The temple is approximately 10 minutes away from the station. By Air: For devotees planning to visit this temple by flight, you can go to Pune International Airport and take a direct flight to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. From there, you can take local transport to reach Somwar Peth. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trishund Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple Timings Mayureshwar Temple is open 365 days a year, from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The morning hours for darshan are 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Devotees can take Darshan in the evening between 3:00 PM and 10:00 PM. First Published: September 03, 2025, 07:30 IST News travel Ganeshas Wednesday: Rare Bappa With 3 Trunks, Seated On Peacock At Pune Temple How To Reach From Mumbai SS Rajamouli, Mahesh Babus SSMB29 To Have A Rs 1000 Crore Budget: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 18:50 IST SS Rajamouli's SSMB29 stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, boasts a massive budget, was shot in Kenya, and will release in 120 countries. On Mahesh Babus birthday, director SS Rajamouli shared a special message for his fans and admirers of Globetrotter SS Rajamouli, Mahesh Babu, and Priyanka Chopras SSMB29 is one of the most anticipated films. The movie, which also stars Prithviraj Sukumaran in a lead role, has already shot its Kenya schedule. Now, with the movie starring three of the biggest actors in lead roles, a report on the films estimated budget has claimed that the movie will have a grand budget. The report, as per Hindustan Times, claims that the film was $135 million (1188 crore), calling it one of the largest film productions in Asian cinema history." Meanwhile, a portal named The Citizen stated that the movies budget is about $116 million, which is an amount of Rs 1022 crore. Recommended Stories There has been a lot of buzz about the film, and while many have said that its a standalone film, The Star reported that the film is planned as a two-part series. SS Rajamouli to Shoot in Kenya Kenyas Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, revealed on social media that SSMB29 will be released in 120 countries, marking the widest international distribution ever for an Indian film. The announcement has sent expectations soaring, with director SS Rajamouli clearly aiming to deliver a truly global cinematic experience. Reports also suggest that the filmmaker is planning an extensive worldwide promotional tour ahead of the premiere. Mudavadi added, From the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara to the scenic Naivasha, the rugged Samburu, and the iconic Amboseli, Kenyas landscapes are now etched into what is set to become the largest film production in Asia. Scheduled for release in over 120 countries, the movie is expected to reach more than a billion viewers worldwide." About SSMB29 The film is being described as one of Indias most ambitious cinematic spectacles. Mahesh Babu will be joined by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the jungle adventure movie. Priyanka Chopra arrived in Hyderabad with her daughter Malti Marie a few days ago for the shoot of the film. Recently, a report by The Citizen from Tanzania claimed that SSMB29 revolves around a rugged explorer" who is fighting an enemy to protect the world. Inspired by Indiana Jones and African adventure classics, the film follows a rugged explorer who sets out on a high-stakes mission through uncharted terrain, battling nature, mystery, and a powerful enemy to uncover a long-lost secret that could change the world. Think ancient legends, wild landscapes, and edge-of-your-seat thrills," the synopsis of the movie, as quoted by the Tanzanian media portal, said. First Published: September 03, 2025, 18:50 IST News movies regional-cinema SS Rajamouli, Mahesh Babus SSMB29 To Have A Rs 1000 Crore Budget: Report Opinion: PM Modis Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi Will Empower Citizens Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 12:54 IST In the past 11 years under PM Modis leadership, Bharat has made transformative strides transcending various domains in becoming self-reliant Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: YouTube/ Narendra Modi) Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent clarion call for Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi has echoed throughout our nation, touching a chord with 1.4 billion Indians. PM Modi has been steadfastly pioneering the cause of Atmanirbharta [self-reliance] as the bedrock of national strength in realizing a Viksit Bharat [Developed India]. On August 7th, 2015, PM Modi celebrated the first National Handloom Day in Tamil Nadu, honouring the weaving community and underlining its sterling contribution to Indias socio-economic development. Both the date and place carried a special significance. Recommended Stories On the same date in 1905, the Swadeshi (ones own country) Movement to boycott foreign goods and inspire self-reliance had formally commenced in Calcutta in response to the Partition of Bengal. Nationalist VO Chidambaram Pillai hailing from Tamilnadu played an eminent role in this movement. In 1906, he founded the Swadeshi Steam navigation company and launched the first indigenous shipping service between Tuticorin and Colombo. Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai were at the forefront of the Swadeshi movement and in 1918, Mahatma Gandhi presented the Charkha as the new symbol of self-reliance. Hand spun and handwoven fabric Khadi was a powerful instrument of patriotism to combat colonialism. It would empower rural communities by providing jobs and promoting economic independence from British rule. Swadeshi became synonymous with Indian nationalism and the cornerstone for Swaraj. After independence, the licence-quota raj of successive Congress governments proved to be a major setback for the swadeshi campaign. PM Modi in September 2014 launched the crucial nation-building Make in India initiative to transform India into a global manufacturing hub. In May 2020, he unveiled the ambitious Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to make India self-reliant and ensure economic resilience across all sectors. As a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local was also introduced to foster pride and promote Indian made products. In the past 11 years under PM Modis leadership, Bharat has made transformative strides transcending various domains in becoming self-reliant. While globalisation is important, PM Modi proved beyond doubt that self-reliance was imperative when the entire world was grappling with the Covid pandemic. Placing his implicit faith in Indian made vaccines, he ensured more than 2.2 billion vaccine doses for our citizens and India also supplied these critical vaccines to more than 100 countries. Operation Sindoor, one of Indias most successful military victories was a demonstration of Indias self-reliance which included Made-in-India weapons, enabling us to act decisively and independently. PM Modi in his Independence day speech this year clearly underlined his farsighted focus on Bharats self-reliant future. Be it launching the ambitious national security initiative Mission Sudarshan Chakra, with indigenously developed technology, announcing the arrival of Made in India semiconductor chips in the market by the end of 2025, planning to usher a new era of space capabilities with Indias very own space station, calling on our youth to develop Indias own social media platforms to reinforce Indias digital autonomy or challenging our young scientists and engineers produce Made in India fighter jets, PM Modi in his speech firmly reiterated the paramount importance of Swadeshi. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For a nation, the greatest criteria for self-dignity is its self-reliance." These words of PM Modi signal his sterling commitment to nation-building with Atmanirbharta as the pivotal edifice. The inspirational Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign launched in 2022 under the aegis of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations has reverberated across our nations streets and villages. The Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi initiative of PM Modi will instil a sense of swadeshi spirit and empower us as citizens to contribute in realising the dream of a Viksit Bharat. The author is a national spokesperson of the BJP. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: September 03, 2025, 12:35 IST News opinion Opinion: PM Modis Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi Will Empower Citizens 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 | Wings Of The White Swan: Indias Leap Into Strategic Dominance With Tu-160M Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 22:44 IST The Tu-160M represents a pinnacle of aerospace engineering, blending raw power with cutting-edge technology Acquiring the Tu-160M would fundamentally transform Indias military capacity. Representational pic/Reuters Imagine a sleek, supersonic behemoth slicing through the dawn sky over the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, its variable-sweep wings cutting the air like a predator on the hunt. This is no ordinary aircraft; its the Tu-160M, the White Swan", roaring towards a distant horizon where critical sea lanes converge. Recommended Stories For decades, India has watched from the sidelines as global powers wielded such might, but now, with the potential acquisition of this Russian marvel, the balance shifts. What if this machine becomes the key to unlocking unprecedented reach, deterrence, and control over vital waterways? This isnt just about adding planes to an arsenalits about reshaping the geopolitical chessboard in Asia and beyond. Indias journey in aviation has been one of steady evolution, marked by ingenuity and adaptation. Yet, a glaring gap has persisted in its military toolkit: the absence of a true strategic bomber since the retirement of the English Electric Canberra in 2007. The Canberra, a relic from the post-World War II era, served faithfully in conflicts like the Indo-Pakistani wars, delivering precision strikes and reconnaissance. Its phasing out left the Indian Air Force relying on multi-role fighters such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI for bombing duties. These aircraft, while versatile, lack the endurance, payload, and range needed for deep-strike missions that define strategic bombing. India has long eyed platforms to fill this void, with discussions around indigenous developments like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and whispers of international acquisitions. Enter the Tu-160M, a modernised version of the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-160, which Russia has repeatedly offered to India amid strengthening defence ties. The Tu-160M represents a pinnacle of aerospace engineering, blending raw power with cutting-edge technology. Capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 2.05, or about 2,220 kilometres per hour at high altitudes, it outpaces many contemporaries. Its cruise speed hovers around 960 kilometres per hour, allowing efficient long-haul flights. The bombers unrefueled range exceeds 12,000 kilometres, enabling it to traverse continents without mid-air support, a feature that amplifies its strategic value. Powered by four advanced NK-32-02 afterburning turbofan engines, each providing massive thrust, the aircraft can climb at rates of 70 metres per second and operate at altitudes up to 16,000 metres. Its payload capacity is staggeringup to 45 tons of ordnance, including a mix of conventional bombs, precision-guided munitions, and cruise missiles like the Kh-101 or Kh-102, which can be nuclear-tipped. The internal weapons bays minimise radar signature during flight, and upgrades in the M-variant include enhanced avionics, digital flight controls, and compatibility with hypersonic weapons. This isnt merely an upgrade; its a force multiplier that could propel India into the league of nations with genuine global strike capabilities. Acquiring the Tu-160M would fundamentally transform Indias military capacity. Historically, Indias air power has focused on tactical operationsclose air support, interdiction, and air superiority within regional theatres. The Su-30MKI, for instance, carries BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, offering standoff strike options up to 300 kilometres. However, strategic bombing demands more: the ability to penetrate deep into enemy territory, evade defences, and deliver overwhelming firepower. The Tu-160M fills this by enabling second-strike nuclear options, bolstering Indias no-first-use policy. With a crew of four and advanced radar systems like the Novella-NV1-70, it can detect targets at extended ranges, integrating seamlessly with Indias growing network of airborne early warning systems. This enhances the nuclear triadland-based missiles like Agni, submarine-launched K-15, and now air-delivered payloadsmaking deterrence more credible against adversaries like Pakistan and China. Beyond nuclear roles, the bomber expands conventional capabilities. India could conduct long-range maritime strikes, targeting naval assets or infrastructure far from its shores. Equipped with anti-ship missiles, the Tu-160M could neutralise carrier groups or supply convoys, extending Indias anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) envelope. In joint operations, it supports ground forces by suppressing air defences or logistics hubs, as seen in hypothetical scenarios against border incursions. Training and maintenance would require investment, but Russias offers often include technology transfers, potentially sparking domestic innovations. Reports suggest India might integrate indigenous weapons like BrahMos-A, adapting the bomber for hybrid warfare. This synergy could reduce dependency on foreign suppliers while elevating Indias defence industry. The real game-changer lies in power projection across the Indo-Pacific. Indias geography positions it as a natural guardian of the Indian Ocean, but extending influence requires tools like the Tu-160M. From bases in southern India or the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the bomber could reach targets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, or even Africa without refuelling. This addresses vulnerabilities in extended supply lines and counters rising threats from peer competitors. Chinas expanding blue-water navy, with carriers and submarines, challenges Indias maritime security. The Tu-160M provides a counterweight, allowing preemptive strikes on forward bases or fleets, deterring aggression in disputed areas like the South China Sea. Now, consider the specific impact on dominance in key straits: Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, and Ombai-Wetar. These waterways are lifelines for global trade, funnelling oil, goods, and resources between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Malacca Strait, stretching 800 kilometres between Malaysia and Indonesia, handles over 80,000 vessels annually, including 40 per cent of the worlds seaborne oil. For China, its a critical artery80 per cent of its energy imports pass through here, earning it the moniker Malacca Dilemma". India, with its Andaman and Nicobar Command overlooking the strait, already monitors traffic, but the Tu-160M elevates this to active control. With the bombers range, India could launch sorties from mainland bases, loitering over the strait for hours. Armed with long-range anti-ship missiles, it targets vessels attempting blockade breaches or hostile fleets. In a crisis, such as a Taiwan contingency, India could interdict Chinese shipping, forcing reroutes that add thousands of kilometres and costs. This enhances naval dominance by providing air cover for Indian warships, suppressing enemy submarines or aircraft carriers. The straits narrow confines2.8 kilometres at its tightestmake it a choke point where air superiority decides outcomes. Strategic bombers like the Tu-160M excel here, delivering precision strikes on coastal defences or ports without risking surface assets. Moving south, the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra offers an alternative route, though shallower and less trafficked. Its vital for intra-Asian trade and could serve as a bypass if Malacca is contested. Indias interest stems from its proximity to Indonesian waters, where joint exercises already build interoperability. The Tu-160M amplifies this by enabling rapid response strikes, protecting oil tankers bound for Indian refineries. Dominance here means controlling energy flows, pressuring adversaries economically. Bombers provide standoff capability, hitting targets from beyond anti-aircraft range, thus reducing vulnerability to ground-based threats. The Lombok Strait, east of Bali, connects the Indian Ocean to the Makassar Strait and beyond to the Pacific. Deeper than Sunda, it accommodates larger vessels, including submarines. For India, securing Lombok counters Chinese submarine incursions into the Indian Ocean via the String of Pearls" ports. The Tu-160Ms speed allows quick deployment, dropping sonobuoys or anti-submarine torpedoes if adapted. In coalition operations with Quad partners (US, Japan, Australia), it enforces freedom of navigation, deterring blockades. Historical precedents, like Allied control of Atlantic chokepoints in World War II, show how air power turns naval battles. Finally, the Ombai-Wetar Strait, between Timor and Alor in Indonesia, is a lesser-known but strategically deep passage for submerged transit. Its part of the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lanes, allowing covert movements. Indias dominance here prevents enemy flanking manoeuvres, especially in scenarios involving Australias northern approaches. The Tu-160M extends surveillance, integrating with P-8I Poseidon aircraft for comprehensive coverage. By dominating these straits, India not only secures its SLOCs but also positions itself as a net security provider, fostering alliances with ASEAN nations wary of Chinese assertiveness. Integrating the Tu-160M isnt without challenges. Logistically, basing and refuelling infrastructure must expandperhaps at facilities like INS Baaz in the Andamans. Crew training on supersonic operations demands time, and integration with existing C4ISR systems requires software upgrades. Geopolitically, acquiring Russian hardware amid Western sanctions could strain ties with the US, though Indias balancing act has precedents. Cost-wise, each unit rivals multiple fighter jets, but strategic gains justify it. Russias offers, including leasing six to eight units, provide flexibility, though wartime priorities have delayed deals. Doctrinally, this shifts India from defensive postures to offensive deterrence. The bomber enables prompt global strike," hitting time-sensitive targets anywhere in the region. Against Pakistan, it neutralises missile sites; versus China, it threatens inland bases. In the straits, it supports sea denial" strategies, where air-launched missiles create kill zones. Combined with submarines like the Scorpene-class and carriers like INS Vikrant, it forms a layered defence. Economically, dominance in these straits safeguards Indias trade, 90 per cent by sea. Disruptions, like a Malacca blockade, could spike oil prices, hurting growth. By projecting power, India ensures stable flows, attracting investments in blue economy initiatives. Diplomatically, it strengthens QUAD and IORA frameworks, positioning India as a counterbalance to Chinas Belt and Road. Critics argue that strategic bombers are outdated in an era of drones and hypersonics. Yet, the Tu-160Ms upgradesstealth coatings, electronic warfare suiteskeep it relevant. Indias parallel pursuit of stealth bombers like ULRSA complements this, blending imported tech with homegrown innovation. In essence, the Tu-160M isnt just metal and engines; its a symbol of ambition. It closes historical gaps, enhances capacities from tactical to strategic, and asserts dominance over pivotal straits. As tensions simmer in the Indo-Pacific, Indias White Swan" could herald a new era of equilibrium, where reach and resolve define victors. Expanding further on historical context, Indias bomber quest traces back to the 1950s. The Canberra, acquired in 1957, bombed Pakistani positions in 1965 and 1971, proving its worth. Post-retirement, the IAF adapted fighters for bombing, but range limitations persistedSu-30s needed tankers for extended ops. The Tu-160M, with its intercontinental legs, obviates this, allowing autonomous missions. Technically, the bombers variable geometry wings optimise for speed and efficiencyswept back for supersonic dashes, forward for loitering. Its radar-absorbing materials reduce detection, vital over hostile skies. Weapons integration includes up to 12 missiles in rotary launchers, firing salvos for saturation attacks. For strait dominance, consider operational scenarios. In Malacca, a Tu-160M patrol detects a hostile convoy; it launches Kh-555 equivalents from 500 kilometres, sinking threats without engagement. In Sunda, it supports amphibious ops, bombing shore batteries. Lomboks depths favour subs, but bombers drop mines or torpedoes, sealing passages. Ombai-Wetars remoteness demands long endurancethe Tu-160M delivers. Indias Andaman bases, near the Six Degree Channel, amplify this. Upgrades there could host squadrons, providing rapid response. Jointly with Indonesia, patrols ensure mutual security. Challenges include countermeasuresadversaries deploying S-400 systems or carriers. Yet, the bombers speed and altitude evade many threats. Maintenance, with Russias supply chains strained, requires stockpiles. Ultimately, this acquisition catalyses Indias rise, from regional player to global influencer, securing seas that sustain billions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Group Capt MJ Augustine Vinod VSM (retd) posts on X at @mjavinod. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Group Capt MJ Augustine Vinod VSM (Retd) Group Capt MJ Augustine Vinod VSM (retd) tweets at @mjavinod First Published: September 03, 2025, 22:44 IST News opinion Opinion | Wings Of The White Swan: Indias Leap Into Strategic Dominance With Tu-160M 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... Straight Talk | From Tariffs To Tianjin: Indias Modi Shows The World How To Stand Up To Trump Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:52 IST PM Modi's message was about crafting a fairer global order where sovereign nations make decisions based on their people's interests, not superpower preferences Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The laughter shared between Modi, Putin, and Xi in Tianjin was the sound of a multipolar world being born. (AP File) The West is stumped. The images from Tianjin tell a story that Washington never saw coming. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flanked by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, sharing warm laughter and strategic whispers at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. In Donald Trumps desperation to project himself as a strongman to his MAGA base, the United States has alienated its most critical partner in the Indo-Pacific. For a White House that believed it could bully India into submission with unprecedented 50% tariffs, the visuals from China must have been jarring. Needless to say, PM Modi walking hand-in-hand with Putin and having a frank exchange with Xi Jinping have conveyed a message Donald Trump cannot possibly fathom: India has strategic options other than the United States. Recommended Stories When Donald Trumps administration slapped crushing tariffs on Indian goods and demanded New Delhi halt Russian oil purchases, it fundamentally misread Indias character. Trump and company expected capitulation from what Peter Navarro dismissively called profiteering Brahmins". Instead, they got Modi refusing four consecutive phone calls from the President himself. Each ignored ring was a message louder than any diplomatic protest: Indias sovereignty isnt negotiable. The art of strategic silence Modis calculated silence speaks volumes about Indias evolved approach to great power politics. Unlike previous eras when developing nations scrambled for superpower approval, India under Modi has demonstrated that dignified resistance is not only possible but necessary. When Trump claimed credit for mediating India-Pakistan tensions and hinted at a Nobel Prize nomination, Modis response was swift and unambiguous: India has never accepted mediation and never will. That June phone call marked the beginning of Trumps isolation from New Delhi. Indian officials recognised Trumps pattern of manufacturing diplomatic victories through selective social media narratives. By denying him even the optics of dialogue, Modi prevented Trump from spinning Indias positions into American talking points. Sometimes the most powerful diplomatic weapon is the word no". Curiously, no world leader today has the spine to speak this two-lettered word to the American president. Narendra Modi, on the other hand, has been standing up to Trump since May this year. Energy security trumps economic coercion At the heart of this confrontation lies a fundamental principle that Modi has consistently championed: energy security for 1.4 billion Indians cannot be held hostage to foreign policy theatrics and the whims of an American President who understands so little about the subcontinent. Contrary to American claims, Indias continued purchase of Russian oil isnt opportunism, but responsible governance. When global oil markets faced volatility following the Ukraine conflict, Indias diversified energy strategy helped stabilise prices worldwide, benefiting consumers from Detroit to Delhi. Trumps advisers, particularly Navarro, have repeatedly branded India as a laundromat for Russian oil". This rhetoric reveals a profound misunderstanding of market dynamics. India imports Russian crude at below the price cap imposed by the G7, refines it using indigenous capacity, and exports refined products globallya practice that has actually helped European consumers access energy while maintaining sanctions pressure on Moscow. Yet Washington singles out India while European nations quietly maintain billions in trade with Russia. Trumps fundamental miscalculation Trumps team approached India with the same transactional mindset that works with smaller economies desperately seeking American market access. They failed to grasp that India today represents nearly 18% of humanity and commands the worlds fourth-largest economy. Obviously, when youre feeding 1.4 billion people and powering the worlds fastest-growing major economy, you dont bend to ultimatums which explains Indias principled defiance of team Trumps tantrums. The timing of Trumps tariff offensive also backfired spectacularly. By targeting India precisely when Modi was scheduled to meet Xi and Putin, Washington inadvertently pushed New Delhi toward showcasing alternative partnerships. The optics of Modi arriving in China for the first time in seven years, just as American tariffs kicked in, sent an unmistakable message about the costs of economic blackmail. A lesson in civilisational confidence What emerges from this episode is something larger than trade disputes or energy politics. Modi has demonstrated that Indias civilisational confidence, rooted in centuries of cultural continuity and democratic traditions, cannot be shaken by temporary economic pressure. When Navarro resorts to caste-based attacks or Trump administration officials lecture India on its energy choices, they reveal their own intellectual povertyand Indias moral superiority. This confidence isnt rooted in false bravado but in concrete achievements. Under Modi, India has lifted hundreds of millions from poverty, built world-class infrastructure, and established itself as a global technology hub. A nation that can successfully manage the worlds largest democratic exercise and deliver vaccines to 190 countries during a pandemic doesnt need lectures on governance from Washington. Reshaping global architecture Modis defiance carries implications far beyond bilateral relations. By refusing to buckle under American pressure while simultaneously engaging China and Russia, India is pioneering a new model for middle power diplomacy. The SCO summit and PM Modis spirited participation was about demonstrating that American hegemony has limits. This approach resonates across the Global South, where nations have watched India navigate great power competition without sacrificing dignity or development priorities. Already, diplomats and international media are positively assessing Indias strategy, and they all agree trying to bully a proud and nationalistic country like India exemplifies Trumps infantile approach to international relations. From African countries seeking balanced partnerships to Latin American nations exploring alternatives to dollar dependency, Modis playbook is beginning to offer a template for sovereign decision-making. The path forward As Trumps advisers continue their public attacks on India, they only reinforce the wisdom of Modis approach. Every inflammatory statement from Navarro, every threat of additional tariffs, strengthens Indias case for strategic diversification. The world is watching as a confident democracy stands up to superpower bullyingand wins. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Modis message transcends energy security or trade balances. Its about crafting a fairer global order where sovereign nations make decisions based on their peoples interests, not superpower preferences. In standing firm against Trumps coercion, India has shown the world that dignified resistance to hegemony remains possible. The laughter shared between Modi, Putin, and Xi in Tianjin was the sound of a multipolar world being bornone where Indias voice carries weight precisely because it cannot be bought, bullied, or silenced. About the Author Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a producer and video journalist at Network18. He is enthusiastic about and writes on both national affairs as well as geopolitics. First Published: September 03, 2025, 15:41 IST News opinion Straight Talk | From Tariffs To Tianjin: Indias Modi Shows The World How To Stand Up To 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... Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 17:28 IST 1 / 9 While the mega family of Telugu cinema continues to dominate the South Indian film industry, not all members have had a smooth journey. Amidst the glitz and glamour surrounding superstar Chiranjeevi's household, his younger daughter Sreeja Konidela has faced a series of personal upheavals - from eloping at the age of 19, to enduring two broken marriages, and even publicly distancing herself from her influential family. (News18 Hindi) + Follow us On Google 2 / 9 Sreeja first drew headlines in 2007 when she eloped and married Sirish Bhardwaj, a relationship that sparked widespread controversy. At just 19, she defied her familys wishes and wed her college sweetheart in a quiet Arya Samaj ceremony in Hyderabad, attended only by close friends. (News18 Hindi) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 9 The move reportedly enraged the Konidela family. Chiranjeevi's camp reacted strongly, filing a police complaint against Sirish, accusing him of kidnapping. In response, Sreeja approached the police herself, asserting, "I am in danger from the family." (News18 Hindi) 4 / 9 The couple welcomed a daughter, Nivriti, a year later. However, their relationship soon turned turbulent. In 2011, Sreeja filed a dowry harassment case against Sirish, alleging mental and emotional abuse. (News18 Hindi) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 9 The couple eventually divorced in 2014. Not long after, Sirish Bhardwaj passed away, marking another grim chapter in Sreejas life. (News18 Hindi) 6 / 9 Following the end of her first marriage, Sreeja returned to Hyderabad and, with her family's blessing, tied the knot with her childhood friend and aspiring actor Kalyan Dev in 2016. The couple had a daughter and, for a time, appeared to lead a quiet, settled life. (News18 Hindi) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 9 But reports of trouble in paradise began surfacing in recent years. Observers noted that the couple had unfollowed each other on Instagram, fueling speculation about their relationship status. These rumors were later confirmed when Kalyan Dev admitted in an interview that the two were living separately. (News18 Hindi) 8 / 9 Sreeja, despite hailing from one of Telugu cinema's most revered families - her father being megastar Chiranjeevi and her brother Ram Charan, a leading man in the industry - has faced consistent challenges in her personal life. Ram Charan, who continues to command a massive fan following, is currently gearing up for his next film Petti. (News18 Hindi) ADVERTISEMENT The Ukrainian Defense Forces neutralized 451 targets out of 526 that attacked Ukraine on Wednesday night. Some three missile and 69 UAV strikes were recorded at 14 locations, and downed objects (fragments) fell at 14 locations, the press service of the Ukrainian Air Force has said. "According to preliminary data, as of 09:00, air defense systems shot down/suppressed 451 air targets: 430 enemy Shahed UAVs and simulator drones of various types, 14 Kalibr cruise missiles and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles," the message on Telegram says. On the night of September 3 (from 16:00 on September 2), the enemy launched a combined strike on the territory of Ukraine using strike UAVs, air- and sea-based missiles. "In general, during the strike, the Air Force radio-technical troops detected and escorted 526 air attack vehicles: 502 Shahed attack UAVs and simulator drones of various types from the directions of Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Orel, Shatalovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia, Chauda temporarily occupied Crimea, 16 Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea and eight Kh-101 cruise missiles from the airspace of the Saratov region and Krasnodar Territory," the Air Force said. Some three missiles and 69 attack UAVs were recorded hitting 14 locations, and downed (fragments) fell at 14 locations. The attack is currently ongoing, there are still several enemy UAVs in the airspace. CNN name, logo and all associated elements and 2024 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2024. All rights reserved. After Pawan Khera, Wife Kota Neelima In BJP Crosshairs Over Two Voter IDs: 'EC Must Probe' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 08:22 IST Calling for accountability, Malviya demanded that Rahul Gandhi break his silence and that the Election Commission investigate the allegations. Amit Malviya has now accused Pawan Khera's wife of having two voter ID cards. (PTI) The BJP on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on the Congress, targeting not only senior leader Pawan Khera but also his wife Kota Neelima, alleging that both hold multiple voter identity cards. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that Neelima, who contested from Khairatabad in Telangana, has two active EPICs, one in Khairatabad and another in New Delhi, and linked this to earlier revelations that Khera himself possessed dual voter IDs. Accusing the Congress of indulging in systematic vote chori," Malviya said those engaging in such practices were the very ones maligning ordinary citizens, and insisted that the Election Commission must probe the matter, while also calling out Rahul Gandhis silence on the issue. Recommended Stories Rahul Gandhi held a press conference and, without adequate due diligence, targeted and tarnished honest voters even putting them at risk by revealing their identities without consent. He doxxed young, upwardly mobile professionals and poor daily wagers who had moved cities in pic.twitter.com/WWjM3OUIZB Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 3, 2025 The BJP leader further alleged that the issue reflects a deeper malaise within the Congress, tracing it back to Sonia Gandhis inclusion in the voter list in 1980 despite being Italian-born. Malviya said this pattern explains why Congress and the INDIA bloc defend illegal migrants and non-Indians while castigating our own people." Calling for accountability, Malviya demanded that Rahul Gandhi break his silence and that the Election Commission investigate the allegations. Rahul Gandhi cannot extricate himself from these acts of criminality within his own ranks, particularly involving people aspiring for public office and members of his inner coterie," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The fresh attack by BJP comes after the Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notice to senior Congress leader Pawan Khera for allegedly registering himself in the electoral roll of more than one assembly constituency in Delhi. The notice was shared by the District Election Officer (DEO) of New Delhi on social media platform X, along with a copy of the official order. The Congress leader has been directed to respond to the notice by 11am on September 8. 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, ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 08:18 IST News politics After Pawan Khera, Wife Kota Neelima In BJP Crosshairs Over Two Voter IDs: 'EC Must Probe' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why BJP Sees Centre's Move For Persecuted Groups As Big Political Gain In Bengal Reported By : & News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 18:51 IST According to BJP sources, this government notification carries significant political weight in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections The decision means that Hindus and other minorities who arrived from Bangladesh in the past decade will not be deported. Representational image/X India will now not deport persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered the country without valid documents before December 31, 2024. According to Bharatiya Janata Party sources, this government notification carries significant political weight in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. Recommended Stories The decision means that Hindus and other minorities who arrived from Bangladesh in the past decade will not be deported. While this does not give them voting rights in the immediate election cycle, Bengal BJP leaders see it as a powerful campaign message and a source of reassurance for affected communities. Why the BJP Is Calling It a Relief Party insiders told News18 that this move serves three major purposes for the BJP in Bengal. Protection for Persecuted Hindus: Over the past decade, particularly after the political instability in Bangladesh and the ouster of Sheikh Hasinas regime, reports of increasing violence against Hindus have emerged. Many of those persecuted have crossed into India, particularly along the border districts. The notification ensures they will not be sent back. This allows BJP to project itself as the protector of Hindus in times of need," a party source explained. Hindu organisations can now reassure people that the Indian government stands by them, and that they can stay here safely." Campaign Narrative for 2026: Bengal BJP leaders believe this decision reinforces their image as the only party delivering on its promise to protect Hindus. Through this, we can demonstrate that the BJP keeps its word and shields Hindus against torture and demographic threats," a senior leader said. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya welcomed the home ministrys move, saying: People who have been tortured in other countries will not be deported. Naturally, they will stay here and become natural citizens. This is a big gain for them. Thanks to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. BJP always stands by Hindus, and the TMC police will not get any chance to disturb them." Impact on the Matua Vote Bank: With nearly 60 constituencies in Bengal influenced by Matua voters, the decision has strong electoral implications. Many in the community, who migrated after 2014, were uncertain about their legal status under the State Identification Register (SIR). By making it clear that they will not be deported, the BJP has reassured them and prevented potential erosion of its Matua support base. Union minister Shantanu Thakur, the partys key Matua face, said, We are very, very happy. Last month, we met Amit Shahthe Matua community met him. We told him what would happen to people after 2014He gave us assurance. Now 90 per cent of Matuas will vote for the BJP. The BJP understands the problems of Hindus." BJPs Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya spoke exclusively with News18 and welcomed the step taken by the Narendra Modi government, saying it will bring relief to persecuted minorities who fled due to atrocities on them in Bangladesh and Pakistan. In 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru had given a commitment that if minorities feel insecure in Pakistan, India will provide them shelter and full security. Congress did not fulfil this promise. This promise is being fulfilled by the Narendra Modi government. The persecuted minorities who came to India till December 2024 would bless PM Modi. Look at the condition in Bangladesh. There has been an open massacre of Hindus, ISKCON temples were attacked, Nath Sampradaya Math was destroyedthere was Islamic fascism there. Satyajit Rays house was vandalised. Persecuted minorities there see India as their home now," Bhattacharya said. The Matua and Rajbhanshi communities in West Bengal would also gain immensely from this step. It is about all Hindus who will benefit from this. The order mentions the various communities that will be seen as persecuted minorities and wont be deported. They are all our blood, they are our brothers. We cannot ignore them. If they face any trouble, we cannot stay silent," Bhattacharya told News18. Party strategists believe this will have a demonstration effect" across Hindu migrant communities and consolidate the BJPs position in areas where Matuas are decisive. TMC Pushback The Trinamool Congress, however, dismissed the move as a political ploy. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, The BJP is only trying to create confusion with all these things. They have no real connection with the people of Bengal and are only trying to divert attention. Whenever they create this confusion, TMC will protest. They are even insulting the Bengali language." About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and womens issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting... Read More Location : Kolkata | New Delhi, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 18:08 IST News politics Why BJP Sees Centre's Move For Persecuted Groups As Big Political Gain In Bengal 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 Party Worker To Key Leader: Why Kavitha's Two-Decade Bond With BRS Ended Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 23:02 IST Through the Telangana Jagruthi, a cultural body linked to the BRS, Kavitha played a key role in the Telangana movement working to preserve the state's culture and traditions Suspended BRS leader Kavitha addresses a press conference, in Hyderabad on September 3. (Image: PTI) Everything unfolded as expected. A day after being suspended from the BRS, Kalvakuntla Kavitha the daughter of former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao resigned from both her primary membership and as an MLC. For nearly two decades, Kavitha was an active member of the party. Through the Telangana Jagruthi, a cultural organisation affiliated with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), she played a key role in the Telangana movement working to preserve the states culture and traditions. Recommended Stories Starting as a grassroots worker, she rose to become the MP of Nizamabad in 2014. Though she lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election, she was later elected an MLC. As KCRs daughter and the Nizamabad MP from 2014 to 2019, the 47-year-old leader gained recognition at the national level. Fluent in Telugu, English, and Hindi, she built strong relationships with leaders across parties and cultivated a positive image in Delhi. Yet, despite her political background, she ended up being suspended from the party bringing an end to a 20-year association. She has alleged that her relatives former minister Harish Rao and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Santhosh Rao conspired against her and forced her out. But her close associates have suggested deeper reasons. POLITICAL TARGETING & DELHI LIQUOR SCAM Ahead of the previous election, the BJP in power at the Centre directly targeted KCR and the BRS. In the process, Kavitha was implicated in the Delhi liquor scam and spent nearly five-and-a-half months in jail causing her severe mental distress. According to her associates, she felt she had been used as a pawn in the BRS-BJP political battle but never received recognition or reward in return. While her brother KT Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, was elevated as the working president and projected as the future chief minister of Telangana, she believed she was equally capable but sidelined. This reportedly created rifts within the family, especially between the siblings. A letter she wrote to their father, which was later leaked, even criticised KTRs leadership as the working president. THE LIQUOR SCAM BACKLASH Although Kavitha attempted to portray her arrest as political victimisation, the BRS leadership including KCR, strongly disapproved of her alleged links to the Delhi excise policy scam. Many within the BRS believe her arrest was a major reason behind the partys defeat in the 2023 assembly election. The opposition weaponised the issue, branding her as the Liquor Queen during poll campaigns. This not only damaged the party image but also widened the distance between Kavitha and her family members. ALLEGATIONS OF RUNNING PARALLEL GOVT Despite holding only MP and MLC positions, Kavitha was accused of running a parallel power structure. Reports claim she frequently summoned MLAs, met ministers at her residence, dealt directly with contractors, and issued instructions to officials. Critics have said she ensured her close associates benefited from government projects. A senior BRS leader once told News18: Even without being a minister, Kavitha enjoyed greater financial benefits than anyone else in the party. She made significant gains in many ways." TELANGANA JAGRUTHI AND THE BATUKAMMA ISSUE Even during and after the Telangana movement, Kavitha continued to promote Telangana Jagruthi, especially through large-scale Batukamma festivals. These events gained national and international recognition for Telangana culture. However, some second-rung BRS leaders viewed them as rival or parallel party activity. A senior journalist close to Kavitha told News18: Batukamma events were Kavithas idea. But when the publicity grew, KCR hijacked them and institutionalised them as government programmes. Saris were distributed in the name of Batukamma. The entire credit went to the government, even though it was Kavithas initiative." THE LARGER PICTURE Beyond the controversies, there were many reasons for a poor performance by the BRS in the assembly and general elections 10 years of anti-incumbency, arrogance among leaders, and corruption allegations. Yet, insiders said there was a smear campaign unfairly targeting Kavitha alone. For example, cracks had already developed in the Medigadda project but leaders deflected attention by blaming her arrest in the liquor scam. Harish Rao was reportedly the main strategist behind this campaign, which deeply hurt her. Despite holding no official post in the BRS other than being an MP and MLC once, there was a narrative that KCR had stopped speaking to her. Her supporters have dismissed this saying her initiatives were often blocked due to internal pressure on KCR. They said while no action was taken against those who leaked her letter to KCR, she was instead suspended. After her resignation, Kavitha has accused Harish Rao and Santhosh Rao of conspiring against her. They plotted to throw me out. I know everything. I only want to warn my brother KTR be careful. In the last assembly election, Harish Rao even tried to defeat KCR in both Kamareddy and Gajwel," she said, adding that she will announce her next political move after consulting the Jagruthi cadre and her well-wishers. WHO ARE HARISH RAO AND SANTHOSH RAO? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all T Harish Rao: The nephew of KCR (his sisters son), Harish Rao has been with the BRS boss since the partys inception. In 2004, he was made a minister in the YS Rajasekhar Reddy cabinet (TRS, Congress coalition government) even before he became an MLA. Later, he won the Siddipet bypoll and has never lost an election since. He has served as minister for irrigation, health, and finance, and is considered one of the most active leaders of the party. Santhosh Rao: The son of Ravinder Rao KCRs co-brother and a contemporary of KTR Santhosh Rao has been closely involved with the BRS since the early days of the Telangana movement, managing KCRs internal political affairs. In 2018, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He also oversees the familys media enterprises, including T-News, Namaste Telangana, and Telangana Today. First Published: September 03, 2025, 23:02 IST News politics From Party Worker To Key Leader: Why Kavitha's Two-Decade Bond With BRS Ended 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... 'Gang Of Criminals': Kerala Congress Leader Assaulted By Police, Party Demands Action Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 20:42 IST CCTV footage of police assaulting Youth Congress leader Sujith at a police station in Thrissur sparks outrage. VD Satheesan demands sacking of accused cops. This comes following the emergence of CCTV footage capturing the assault, after a prolonged legal battle.(Representative image/PTI) A video showing police officers assaulting a Youth Congress leader inside a police station in Keralas Thrissur district has sparked outrage among party leaders. The Congress party on Wednesday called for immediate disciplinary action against the cops involved in the incident. This comes following the emergence of CCTV footage capturing the assault, after a prolonged legal battle. Recommended Stories Reacting to the video, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Kerala asssembly, VD Satheesan said that the sight of the police brutally beating Youth Congress Mandal President Sujith is shocking to the conscience of Kerala. The Congress leader dubbed the accused policemen as a gang of criminals." He also accused the ruling party in the state of nurturing" them. Satheesan Demands Sacking Of Accused Cops These policemen are a gang of criminals who do not hesitate to turn police stations into killing fields. Such gangs are nurtured by the CPIM and the gangs that control them," Satheesan added. He demanded that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sack the accused policemen with immediate effect. The Chief Minister, who is in charge of the Home Department, also has a role in nurturing criminals in the police. Dont you feel ashamed to say that these people work in your department? These beasts in khaki should not be kept in service even for a moment. Strict action should be taken," Satheesan said. According to news agency PTI, the incident occurred on April 5, 2023 at the Kunnamkulam police station. The report suggests that the footage shows Sujith being physically attacked by at least five officers inside the station premises. According to PTI report, the altercation began when Sujith tried to intervene as police allegedly threatened some of his friends standing near a roadside. He was then detained by officers, led by a Sub-Inspector, and transported to the station in a police jeep, during which, it is reported, his shirt was forcibly removed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The video purportedly shows officers repeatedly hitting Sujith on his face and back inside the station. Despite claims by the police that Sujith was intoxicated and obstructing them, medical tests later confirmed he was not under the influence of alcohol. A local court subsequently granted him bail. A medical test also revealed that Sujith sustained partial hearing loss in one ear due to the alleged assault. 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 Manish... Read More Location : Thrissur, India, India First Published: September 03, 2025, 20:37 IST News politics 'Gang Of Criminals': Kerala Congress Leader Assaulted By Police, Party Demands Action 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 Hyderabad Gazette: How Document Issued Under Nizam's Rule Is Backbone Of Maratha Quota Stir Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:55 IST A century-old document, the Hyderabad Gazette of 1918 classified several agrarian communities in Marathwada as Kunbis while identifying them as cultivators Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil breaks his hunger strike by sipping fruit juice offered by Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil after the state government accepted most of his demands, including giving out Kunbi caste certificates for reservation under OBC category, at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on September 2. (Image: PTI) The Maratha quota agitation in Maharashtra has taken a decisive turn with the state government agreeing to enforce provisions from the Hyderabad Gazette of 1918. A century-old document issued during the Nizams rule, it classified several agrarian communities in Marathwada as Kunbis while identifying them as cultivators. For thousands of Marathas seeking entry into the reserved category of other backward classes (OBC), this gazette has become the cornerstone of their legal and political claim. By promising to issue a government resolution (GR) for its implementation, the Maharashtra government has opened what many see as a practical and historically grounded route to securing quota benefits. Recommended Stories The impact of this announcement was immediately visible at Mumbais Azad Maidan, where thousands of protesters led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, celebrated with gulal hailing it as a victory for the community. Jarange, who had placed five demands before the government, asked his supporters to return home and ended his five-day hunger strike. The Maratha quota cabinet sub-committee has promised to study and clear the Satara Gazette within a month, withdraw all cases registered against protesters by the end of September, and extend financial aid to families who lost members during the agitation. These gestures, coupled with the governments acceptance of the Hyderabad Gazette, have been described as the most significant since the protests began. WHAT IS THE GOVTS PROMISE? The road ahead, however, is fraught with challenges. The biggest hurdle lies in the verification process. The state government has promised that village committees headed by local revenue officers will examine family records, kinship ties, and land documents to determine Kunbi status. While this localised process ensures transparency, it is slow and prone to disputes. Many families lack old records, some documents are damaged or missing, and errors in caste notations are widespread. During the Population Census under the Nizams rule in 1881, people recorded their names and not surnames that were then documented in the Hyderabad Gazette. Since surnames started getting registered in revenue records from 1970, obtaining Kunbi certificates based on old records will be a difficult task for the Marathas. HOW WILL A MARATHA GET KUNBI STATUS? To obtain a Kunbi caste certificate, the state government has decided that applications should be submitted to the local committee for verification through a home inquiry. This will reduce processing time, but it will still be mandatory for applicants to provide family and kinship records. Often, official records do not contain details of such relations and, if there is no mention of Kunbi lineage in a persons family records, a caste certificate cannot be issued. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? The Hyderabad Gazette of 1918, which recognises Kunbis as a cultivating caste, has already been upheld by the courts but it cannot be directly applied without supporting records. Jarange has demanded that Marathas should be recognised as Kunbis and included in the OBC category based on this gazette. The government has said because the issue is complex, a conclusive decision will take at least one to two more months. Further, OBC groups have raised concerns that large-scale inclusion of Marathas will eat into their existing quota share, diluting opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups. This means that every caste certificate issued under the gazette will be closely watched and could face legal challenges. The Supreme Courts 2021 decision striking down the Maratha quota still looms large, reminding all that the final word rests not with politicians but with the judiciary. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COLONIAL-ERA DOCUMENT? For the Marathas, the Hyderabad Gazette is more than a colonial-era document that represents official recognition of their agrarian roots and offers a legitimate pathway into the OBC fold. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For the state, the gazette provides a defensible framework to manage a politically sensitive issue without breaching constitutional limits. Whether the Hyderabad Gazette can withstand legal challenges and administrative hurdles will decide if it truly brings closure to one of Maharashtras longest-running agitations. For now, it has given protesters hope and forced the government to anchor its next steps in a century-old record that may hold the key to ending a decades-long struggle. 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 @... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 16:55 IST News politics The Hyderabad Gazette: How Document Issued Under Nizam's Rule Is Backbone Of Maratha Quota Stir 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... 'Politics Stooped So Low': Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta On Abuse Of PM Modis Late Mother Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 05:52 IST The CM was referring to an incident where a man abused the PM's late mother from a stage set up for the Vote Adhikar Yatra in poll-bound Bihars Darbhanga Gupta, while speaking at an event in the national capital, urged the public to raise their voices when they see something wrong and uphold India's culture. File pic Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday questioned whether politics in India has fallen so low that even mothers are disrespected for personal gains. Recommended Stories Has politics stooped so low that we will abuse someones late mother for our interestShould we not get angry? Should we not give them a reply? Should we not raise our voices against this? This is the time to be a warrior for the country," she said in Hindi at an event on Tuesday evening. While Gupta did not take names, she was referring to an incident from last month where a man abused Prime Minister Narendra Modis late mother from a stage set up for the Vote Adhikar Yatra in poll-bound Bihars Darbhanga. The video of the incident went viral. The man, identified as Mohammad Rizvi, alias Raza (20), has been arrested. The Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar is being led by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with RJDs Tejashwi Yadav. Gupta, while speaking at an event in the national capital, urged the public to raise their voices when they see something wrong and uphold Indias culture. Not all battles are fought at the borders; some are fought within the society by fighting the evils in it We have to raise our voice when we see our sanskriti getting disrobed, when we see sabhayata getting killed," she said. Earlier during the day, the Prime Minister also raised the issue, highlighting the struggles and dignity of mothers. A poor mother, through her struggles, provides education and values to her children, instilling noble virtues. That is why a mothers place is considered even higher than that of gods and goddesses," he said. Calling Yadav and Gandhi young princes born into royal families", PM Modi said that they can never understand the sacrifices of an ordinary mother and the hardships of her son. These privileged individuals were born with silver and gold spoons and view power in Bihar and across the country as their family inheritanceThese individuals believe they have the right to insult those who work hard, and thus resort to a barrage of abuses," he had said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The remarks and subsequent reactions have added fresh fire to the political slugfest in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections later this year. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She twe... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 05:43 IST News politics 'Politics Stooped So Low': Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta On Abuse Of PM Modis Late Mother Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Why Should I Stand Behind Worthless People': Revanth Reddy Hits Back At K Kavitha Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:00 IST Telangana CM Revanth Reddy denied accusations by K Kavitha - who was expelled from her party BRS - claiming that he was colluding with BRS leader to destroy her father's legacy. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and expelled BRS leader K Kavitha. (Photo: X) Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy denied K Kavithas explosive comments, where she accused him of colluding with senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Harish Rao to destroy the legacy of her father K Chandrasekhar Rao and the party. This came after Kavitha was expelled from the BRS, a day after she accused her cousins T Harish Rao and J Santosh Kumar of amassing assets and having a tacit understanding" with Revanth Reddy to tarnish the image of her father KCR. Recommended Stories Responding to Kavithas claims, Reddy urged the BRS to not drag Telangana into their politics. Why should I stand behind some worthless people? I dont stand behind anyone if anything, Ill be at the front. Why should I support those who have been rejected by the people? I dont have time for that. Please dont drag Telangana into your family and disputes," he was quoted as saying by local reports. The Chief Minister also accused BRS of conspiring against the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The one who (KCR) conspired against a party like Telugu Desam (TDP) and ensured it could not survive in Telangana. BRS, which conspired against TDP, will not survive in Telangana," he said at a public event. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After her ouster from the party, K Kavitha urged her father to be careful of the party leaders surrounding him. I spoke straightforwardly and requested him to consider my words. Revanth Reddy and Harish Rao allegedly planned to destroy our family while travelling together on a flight; Revanth Reddy should answer for this," she said during a press conference. Revanth Reddy and Harish Rao allegedly planned to destroy our family while travelling together on a flight; Revanth Reddy should answer for this. Revanth Reddy booked cases against only my family members, KTR, and KCR, but not against Harish Rao. When the Kaleshwaram project began, Harish Rao was the Irrigation Minister, and Revath Reddy didnt speak out against him. Harish Rao and Santosh Rao are allegedly planning to destroy our family and party," she added. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 15:58 IST News politics 'Why Should I Stand Behind Worthless People': Revanth Reddy Hits Back At K Kavitha Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why Gurugram Sank Again? Congress And BJP Point Fingers At Each Other Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 18:29 IST BJP and Congress began pointing fingers at each other over the current crisis in Gurugram, where heavy rains have triggered waterlogging and hours-long traffic jams. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Gurugram is reeling under heavy rains and extensive waterlogging. (PTI) A political row has erupted over the heavy downpour in Gurugram, as the city is reeling under inundated roads and hours-long traffic jams that have thrown normal life out of gear, with the BJP and Congress pointing fingers at each other. Gurugram is under fresh scrutiny as heavy rains have triggered severe waterlogging and flood-like situations in the Millennium City. People are seen wading through knee-deep water, commuters are stranded on roads for hours, and highways have turned into rivers. Recommended Stories Residents, politicians and experts have expressed outrage over Gurugrams poor drainage infrastructure and urban planning, pointing out that the city suffers from flooded roads and paralysed traffic every monsoon. The situation was worse for villagers, as water entered their homes in low-lying areas. BJP, Congress Spar Over Gurugram Rains As Gurugram grapples with waterlogging and traffic disruptions, Congress workers took out a boat to show the condition of the streets after the rain, and shouted slogans against the BJP government in the state. However, BJP leader Nishikant Dubey hit out against the Congress, accusing the previous governments led by the opposition party of creating a city of corruption" that has resulted in the current crisis. If private builders, without government planning, collude with @INCIndia to build a city of corruption, it will turn into a city like Gurugram. What will the government do? Cases should be filed and action taken against those builders and the officials of the then government," Dubey said on X. Congress Deepender Hooda hit back at Dubeys claims, pointing out that the BJP had controlled the state over the last 11 years. Mere priya bhai Nishikant Dubey ji, 11 saal se BJP ki sarkar hai,phir bhi Gurugram kyon doobe ji? (My dear brother Nishikant Dubey ji, the BJP has been in power for 11 years Then why is Gurugram still submerged?)." Experts Weigh In On Gurugram Crisis Meanwhile, public dissatisfaction has soared over the Gurugram crisis. Speaking to CNN-News18, author Suhel Seth slammed the Haryana government, saying, Gulistan beh gaya hai (the city has turned into a river)." Is this what you want the country to be? You talk about a smart city and you dont have any idea They scoundrels suck the votes out of people. They say we are for the poor, but they are for no one. They are only for themselves. It is a self-serving prophecy, and unless someone is made accountable, nothing will change," he said. Suhel Seth expresses his outrage over the recurring floods in #Gurugram, stating, Gulistaan beh gaya hai" (the city has turned into a river).He criticizes the systemic failures that lead to chaos every time it rains, questioning the preparedness and infrastructure of Indias pic.twitter.com/VRUsebaaxD News18 (@CNNnews18) September 2, 2025 BJP leader Raman Malik asserted that the Constitution needs to change and the bureaucracy needs to be answerable for any meaningful change. He said the ministers had their hands tied, and the judiciary was filled with nepotism. Red Alert In Gurugram Gurugram has seen severe flooding and traffic chaos after heavy rains over the past 48 hours. The India Meteorological Department has issued a Red Warning for the city, advising residents to stay indoors and avoid travel. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A LocalCircles survey, which captured over 23,000 responses from Delhi NCR residents, paints a grim picture of public dissatisfaction with civic bodies preparedness. A total of 79 per cent surveyed residents rated their administration as poor or worse on waterlogging preparedness. No one responds to distress calls, there is congestion, cars breaking down, waiting in long traffic queues. The situation is very bad. This time, there were alerts issued by IMD, still the administration were not prepared for this," Gurugram resident Major General Yash Mor told News18. 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 int... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 18:29 IST News politics Why Gurugram Sank Again? Congress And BJP Point Fingers At Each Other 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... Gmail Security Warning Is False: Google Denies Hacking Threat To Over 2.5 Billion Users Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 07:35 IST Gmail security findings hinted at major risk for billions of users but Google has come out and tried to ease the concerns. More than 2.5 billion Gmail users were issued the warning Google has come strongly in defence of Gmail and its alleged hacking risks that were recently published in a report. The company feels the need to deny such threats when over 2 billion users are in question. And now Google has shared a public statement via its blog post earlier this week which confirms that all the news about Gmail security risks are false. Hacking risks are not new but Google is clearly not comfortable with the rumours spread around the media and it has asked them to address these concerns and clarify its side of the story. Recommended Stories Gmail Protection Is Strong Google in its statement claims all the protections of Gmail are strong and effective. Several inaccurate claims surfaced recently that incorrectly stated that we issued a broad warning to all Gmail users about a major Gmail security issue. This is entirely false," the company said in the post here. Google usually reserves its views but this public outreach felt different, especially the tone of the statement put out. Security is such an important item for all companies, all customers, all users we take this work incredibly seriously. Its crucial that conversation in this space is accurate and factual," the post adds. It all started when Trend Micro shared its own security findings on August 26, 2025 in a post. The company even claimed that Googles database has been compromised through another cloud platform. The group called ShinyHunters has been involved in some high-profile data breaches and mentioned that Google is now warning its users about the ill-effects of letting attacks like these damage their digital footprint. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To which, the tech giant then goes on to highlight its own security measures and how it blocks most attacks coming your way. Our protections continue to block more than 99.9% of phishing and malware attempts from reaching users," it adds. We definitely try to bring the most accurate stories and developments, especially when it comes to user privacy. But it seems Google is sure of its own systems and suggests it is high time that people switch to secure alternatives like Passkeys rather than use passwords or 2FA with mobile number. About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and ... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 07:35 IST News tech Gmail Security Warning Is False: Google Denies Hacking Threat To Over 2.5 Billion Users 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 President Donald Trump has said he is extremely disappointed with Vladimir Putin in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, despite his excellent relationship with him, and announced an aid package without specifying its size and content, emphasizing that this is not a "Ukraine issue." "I'm very disappointed with him. We've always had a great relationship with him. I'm very disappointed. Thousands of people are dying. It's not Americans who are dying, it's Russians and Ukrainians, and thousands of them, and it's a war that makes no sense. And it would never have started if I were president, and that's what bothers me even more, because the election was completely rigged, and it's a disgrace. We'll see what happens, but I'm very disappointed in President Putin," Trump told CNN correspondent Scott Jennings on Tuesday. "And we're going to do something to help people live. You know, this is not a Ukraine issue - this is a matter of helping people live. Some 7,000 people are dying every week. Mostly soldiers, but seven thousand people. And if I can help stop it, I think I have a duty to do it," the US president said. Asked whether he was concerned that the Russian Federation and the PRC could form a new axis against the United States, he replied: "No, I'm not concerned at all, absolutely not." "We have the most powerful military in the world, and believe me, they would never dare to use their troops against us. Believe me, that would be the worst decision they could make," Trump said. In Fit Of Rage, Turkish CEO Throws Flower Pot At Employee During Argument, Issues Apology | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 17:09 IST Hakki Alkan, the CEO of Turkish website ShiftDelete, threw a flower pot at his employee, Samet Jankovic, during a heated argument. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Turkish CEO Hakki Alkan hurled a flower pot at an employee during a disagreement. (Photo: X) A shocking video has emerged online, showing the CEO of the Turkish technology website ShiftDelete, Hakki Alkan, throwing a flower pot at an employee in a fit of rage during a heated argument. The video has gone viral on social media platforms. According to the Turkish news outlet Bianet, the employee who was hit by the flower pot, identified as Samet Jankovic, obtained a medical report and initiated legal proceedings for assault after the incident. Recommended Stories As per local reports, the disagreement between the CEO and the employee began over the content to be published. Both had different opinions on the matter. As the argument became more heated, Alkan grabbed a flower pot and hurled it at the employee in a fit of rage. Shiftdeletein sahibi Hakk Alkan calsan Samet Jankovice saks frlatp kufur ediyor.Alkan cicek dal" frlattgn soylemis ve Jankovicin yaralanmadgn soylemisti. Goruntuler ckt. Frlattg cicek dal" degil, Jankovic yaralanms. pic.twitter.com/o91rQbpv8M Ersin Eroglu (@ersineroglu_) August 30, 2025 Jankovic was seen slamming his laptop shut and rushed towards the CEO as the two shouted abuses at each other, prompting other employees to intervene to avoid a physical confrontation. After the incident, Jankovic issued a statement, where he said that incidents of workplace mobbing were common at ShiftDelete. CEO Issues Apology Alkan later issued an apology, saying he lost control of his emotions and threw a branch" towards his desk. He said Jankovic was not injured in the incident. We had a disagreement with my colleague Samet, who has made great contributions to our platform over the past 4 years, regarding content that needed to be published. Unfortunately, this discussion escalated to an unwanted point for both of us," Alkan was quoted as saying by Bianet. During the argument, I lost control of my emotions and threw a branch from a flower nearby toward his desk and it hit him. Thankfully, he was not harmed. I have submitted the office security camera footage, showing both the moments before and after the incident, to the authorities." Its deeply saddening for all of us that a work relationship, which had always been like that of an older and younger brother, has come to this. I sincerely apologise to my brother Samet and to all of you for what happened. I will do everything in my power to manage the stress that comes with our demanding work and to ensure a more peaceful environment for my team to create content," he added. Legal Proceedings Underway Meanwhile, Jankovic issued a statement on August 29, saying that Alkan had hurled a flower pot filled with gravel at him. He said he initiated legal proceedings against the CEO for the attack. In the past four years, neither I nor my colleagues ever received any compensation for the overtime we worked. Just recently, the raise that was promised to me was cancelled," Jankovic said on X. Im not even going to go into the mobbing. Im talking about a workplace where insults and threats are constantly thrown around." Referring to Alkans apology, he said, It was actually a situation where he threw something without seeing what he picked up an object with gravel inside. I felt immense pain in that moment. and I went after him. My friends had a hard time holding me back. This incident became the breaking point. Unjust earnings, blocking the way for small influencers." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He did contribute a lot to my career, and I also contributed significantly to the organisation. But if you attack someone youve called your brother for four years in front of others, there will obviously be consequences. As someone who has served this company even late into the night, I didnt deserve this," he added. The process is in court. I want to state that I will continue on my path alone after this process. No matter what happens, every era has its man. This era will surely turn." 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 int... Read More Location : Ankara, Turkey First Published: September 03, 2025, 17:09 IST News viral In Fit Of Rage, Turkish CEO Throws Flower Pot At Employee During Argument, Issues Apology | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Sex Assault On Camilla, Brexit And King Charles Quirks: Big Revelations In New Royal Book Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 19:05 IST Queen Camilla fought off a train assault as a teen, reveals a new book, which also details royal tensions with Boris Johnson, Brexit and the 2023 Coronation. King Charles and Queen Camilla are seen. (Image Credit: Reuters) Queen Camilla once fought off a sexual assault on a train as a teenager, using her mothers advice to hit her attacker with the heel of her shoe, a new book about the royal family by journalist Valentine Low revealed. The book Power and the Palace explores the monarchys private dealings with politicians and how they navigate public life. Valentine Low, a former royal correspondent for The Times, compiled a series of behind-the-scenes anecdotes- from Camillas candour with Boris Johnson to Queen Elizabeth IIs instincts on Brexit. Queen Camillas Teen Ordeal Recommended Stories The book recounts how Camilla, travelling to London in the 1960s, was assaulted on a train but managed to get the man arrested. She later described the incident to Boris Johnson in 2008, when he was London mayor. At the time, Camilla told Boris Johnson, I did what my mother taught me to. I took off my shoe and whacked him in the nuts with the heel." On reaching Paddington, she informed a railway worker which led to the attackers arrest. Royal Family And Politics The book highlights tense dynamics of the royal family with prime ministers. King Charles reportedly found Boris Johnson difficult, including over Rwanda asylum policies years later. On Brexit, Valentine Low writes that Queen Elizabeth was instinctively against leaving the EU, seeing it as part of the post-war settlement. She was said to be frustrated by Brussels bureaucracy but thought remaining was better overall. She is quoted as personally calling Tony Blair after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and even intervening on military culture- warning ministers that defence cuts should not imperil the Armys School of Bagpipe Music. King Charles And John Prescott King Charles allegedly found Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott unsettling, asking Tony Blair, Does he always do that thing with you?" The royal described John Prescott sliding down his chair with legs apart, teacup balanced on his belly. Tony Blair reassured him, saying, He just likes drinking his tea that way." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Money And Monarchy The book claims that in 2012, when the Sovereign Grant was created, the Palace played hardball" over funding arrangements tied to Crown Estate profits. The book also noted that the UK government, not the Palace, pushed for a lavish Coronation in 2023, costing 72m, despite King Charless concern about appearances during a cost-of-living crisis. Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: September 03, 2025, 19:05 IST News viral Sex Assault On Camilla, Brexit And King Charles Quirks: Big Revelations In New Royal Book 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 Girlfriend From Hell: 17-Year-Old Sells Boyfriend To Myanmar Scammers For Rs 12 Lakh Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 15:43 IST A 17-year-old Chinese girl reportedly lured a 19-year-old boy with promises of love, then tricked him with a fake job abroad and sold him to a scam ring in Myanmar Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google The boy, impressed by her, fell for her fabricated stories about her business and promises of employment in Myanmar. (News18 Hindi) Shocking news has emerged from Zhanjiang city in Guangdong province, China, where a 17-year-old girl reportedly lured a 19-year-old boy with promises of love, only to sell him into slavery for approximately Rs 12.33 lakh. The young man endured four months of imprisonment and torture in Myanmar after being betrayed by his girlfriend. According to the South China Morning Post, the girl, identified by the surname Zhou, tricked the boy with false promises of a job abroad and sold him to a scam hub for 100,000 yuan (Rs 12,33,547). The case has stunned many, highlighting a cruel and calculated betrayal in the name of love. Recommended Stories The man, named Huang, was released by the scammers at the end of June after his family paid a ransom of 350,000 yuan (Rs 43,16,256). The young mans sister revealed on social media that the couple met at a local pool hall in October 2025, where the girl flaunted her wealth with flashy clothes and fake designer handbags. The boy, impressed by her, fell for her fabricated stories about her business and promises of employment in Myanmar. Despite his familys objections, he travelled with her to Thailand on February 2. Near the Thailand-Myanmar border, the girl made an excuse to leave and abandoned him. Soon after, armed men captured the boy, confiscated his documents and mobile phone, and took him to a secret camp. At the camp, the young mans head was shaved, and he was forced to sit at a computer for 16-20 hours a day, committing fraud against his own countrymen. He was also subjected to repeated beatings with an iron rod. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The physical abuse caused him to lose over 10 kg and suffer hearing difficulties. When the traffickers deemed him no longer useful, they demanded a ransom of 350,000 yuan from his family. The family managed to gather the amount, securing his release in June 2025. Despite being freed, the young man continues to live in fear and anxiety, haunted by the memories of his four-month ordeal. Meanwhile, the cheating girlfriend returned to China after a ten-day holiday in Thailand, where she was arrested. Location : China First Published: September 03, 2025, 15:43 IST News viral The Girlfriend From Hell: 17-Year-Old Sells Boyfriend To Myanmar Scammers For Rs 12 Lakh 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... Trumps Son Eric Tries Sumo Wrestling In Japan, Quickly Has A Career Realisation | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 18:49 IST Eric Trump faced a Yokozuna in a sumo ring during his Tokyo trip. Here's what happened next Eric Trump was seen pushing against Yokozuna, one of the sports highest-ranked wrestlers. (Image Credit: Instagram) Eric Trump, the 41-year-old son of US President Donald Trump, swapped boardrooms for the sumo ring during a recent trip to Japan. As Eric Trump arrived in Tokyo for a shareholder meeting with Metaplanet, he made time for a uniquely Japanese experience- stepping into the dohyo against a sumo great. Video from the event shows Eric Trump, dressed in a sky-blue polo shirt and denim shorts, pushing against a towering Yokozuna, one of the sports highest-ranked wrestlers. For a moment, his height and leverage gave him an edge but the champion quickly countered, wrapping his arms around Eric Trumps waist, lifting him clean off the ground and carrying him out of the ring with ease. Recommended Stories Not every day you get called into the ring by the great Yokozuna! These men are incredible. A truly great honour! Ill be sticking to real estate," Eric Trump joked on Instagram, where he also shared a photo alongside Yokozuna and five other wrestlers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eric Trump (@erictrump) The lighthearted encounter went viral on social media, racking up millions of views online. Many viewers praised Eric Trumps humour in the face of defeat. One social media user wrote, Lol, this was great! Made me laugh so much when he swung you around", while another added, Much respect to this sport. I cant tell from the vid, but I know Hoshoryu is a Yokozuna. He took it easy on you inside the dohyo!" Location : Japan First Published: September 03, 2025, 18:49 IST News viral Trumps Son Eric Tries Sumo Wrestling In Japan, Quickly Has A Career Realisation | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 15 Killed As Deadly Blast Rocks BNP Rally In Quetta, Narrow Escape For Party Chief Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 17:03 IST In a fiery speech before the attack, Akhtar Mengal launched a scathing critique of the Pakistani military establishment, accusing it of systematically oppressing the Baloch people Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google BNP chief and former federal minister Akhtar Mengal, who was addressing the rally moments before the blast, narrowly escaped unhurt. (AI-generated image, used for representational purposes) A deadly explosion tore through a public rally organised by the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) in Quetta on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. The attack targeted a gathering held to commemorate the fourth death anniversary of BNP founder and former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Attaullah Mengal. BNP chief and former federal minister Akhtar Mengal, who was addressing the rally moments before the blast, narrowly escaped unhurt. Recommended Stories In a fiery speech just before the attack, Akhtar Mengal launched a scathing critique of the Pakistani military establishment, accusing it of systematically oppressing the Baloch people. He condemned the continued enforced disappearances, alleged military atrocities, and the incarceration of Baloch women and activists, including Dr Maharang Baloch, who he said is being held without credible charges. We are receiving bullet-ridden bodies of our young generation This is the so-called democracy of Pakistan, where speaking the truth leads to FIRs," Mengal said, directly blaming state institutions for undermining civil rights in Balochistan. Dictators and army rulers have violated the Constitution multiple times, the BNP chief alleged, adding: This is the so-called democratic system in Pakistan If someone speaks, they face FIRs." Sources told CNN-News18 that senior BNP leaders and party sources blamed Pakistans intelligence agencies, alleging the attack was orchestrated to silence dissent and intimidate the partys leadership, particularly Akhtar Mengal, an outspoken critic of the militarys role in Balochistan. Mengal, who is currently allied with former prime minister Imran Khans PTI, has repeatedly challenged the militarys involvement in governance and raised issues of missing persons and extrajudicial killings in the province. Although no group has yet claimed responsibility, the timing of the attack, right after Mengals scathing criticism of the military, has led to widespread suspicion. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Balochistan, Pakistans largest but most underdeveloped province, has long been the epicenter of insurgent violence, military operations, and political unrest. Nationalist parties like BNP-Mengal have accused the state of treating the province like a colony, exploiting its resources while denying its people basic rights. Human rights organisations have documented hundreds of cases of enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killingsallegations the government and military continue to deny. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Location : Pakistan First Published: September 03, 2025, 08:00 IST News world 15 Killed As Deadly Blast Rocks BNP Rally In Quetta, Narrow Escape For Party Chief 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... Amid Resignation Calls, Deputy British PM Reveals She Did Not Pay Stamp Duty On Flat Purchase Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 19:23 IST UK Housing Secretary Angela Rayner revealed that she avoided paying the extra stamp duty normally applied on the purchase of a second home, triggering resignation calls. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Deputy British PM Angela Rayner. (Reuters/File) Deputy UK Prime Minister Angela Rayner revealed that she did not pay the right amount of stamp duty on the purchase of her second flat and had even considered resigning over the matter. She claimed she received incorrect" tax advice about consulted her family. Angela Rayner came under fresh scrutiny after a report by the UK-based Telegraph revealed that she had avoided the extra stamp duty normally applied on the purchase of a second home in Hove as per UK laws. As per the report, Rayner saved 40,000 on stamp duty when she bought a second home in Hove, East Sussex, for 800,000 in May. Recommended Stories As per the UK stamp rules, Rayner also the Housing Secretary of the UK government should have paid 70,000 but only paid 30,000 by claiming that the Hove apartment was her only property in which she had a financial interest. In an interview with Sky News, Rayner finally revealed that she had made a mistake and said she had considered resigning, amid calls by opposition leaders for her to step down. She has asked the Prime Ministers independent adviser on ministers interests to look into the case. Packing It All In Rayner became emotional as she claimed receiving incorrect tax advice and spoke to her family about packing it all in" over the matter. I made a mistake based upon the advice that I relied upon, that I received at the time, and a leading expert has now said that advice was wrong," she told Sky News. Ive been in shock, really, because I thought Id done everything properly, and I relied on the advice that I received, and Im devastated because Ive always upheld the rules and always have felt proud to do that," she said, adding that the purchase of the second home was a complex living arrangement" for her teenage son after her divorce and the sale of her first house. That it is devastating for me and the fact that the reason why those confidential clauses were in place was to protect my son, who, through no fault of his own, hes vulnerable, hes got this life changing, lifelong conditions and I dont want him or anything to do with his day-to-day life, to be subjected to that level of scrutiny," she added. Rayner said she spoke to her ex-husband and the rest of her family and considered resigning from her post. I deeply regret the error that has been made. I am committed to resolving this matter fully and providing the transparency that public service demands." PM Starmer Backs Rayner Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has backed Rayner following the controversy, saying he was very proud" to sit alongside her. Shes gone over and above in setting out the details, including yesterday afternoon asking a court to lift a confidentiality order in relation to her own son," he said. Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for Starmer to fire Rayner. If he had backbone, he would sack her," she said. However, Starmer lauded Rayner, saying she was working to build 1.5 million homes for workers. Rayner had earlier sold her financial interest in her first home in Ashton-under-Lyne after her divorce, although it remained her primary residence. The Telegraph disclosed that she had received 162,500 from the sale of her share in the Ashton house, which funded the deposit on the Hove flat. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rayner reportedly received the money through a trust set up in 2020 on behalf of her disabled son following a compensation payment, but she remains listed as a proprietor on the deeds to the Ashton home as an executor of the trust, as per the report. Earlier this year, Tulip Siddiq, the niece of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was forced to resign over corruption allegations linked to an investigation in Bangladesh. She was accused of influencing the then-Bangladesh government to secure a plot of land in Dhaka. 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 int... Read More Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: September 03, 2025, 19:21 IST News world Amid Resignation Calls, Deputy British PM Reveals She Did Not Pay Stamp Duty On Flat 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... Apologise To India: US Expert Blasts Trump Tariffs, Praises PM Modis Pretty Smart Diplomacy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:35 IST The US expert urged Donald Trump to remove steep tariffs on India and apologise, praising PM Modi's smart diplomacy. US expert Edward Price also lauded PM Modis handling of global power rivalries. A prominent US expert urged President Donald Trump to roll back steep tariffs on India, cut them to zero and apologise" to India while describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as pretty smart" in managing ties with Washington, Moscow and Beijing. Edward Price, adjunct professor at New York University, told news agency ANI that India holds a deciding" vote in shaping the 21st century and warned that Donald Trumps tariff policy was jeopardising Washingtons most important partnership. Recommended Stories I consider the partnership between India and the US as the most crucial 21st-century partnership. This partnership will decide what happens between China and Russia. India has the deciding vote in the 21st century I cant for the life of me understand why the President of the US, in confrontation with China and in a war with Russia, then imposes 50% tariffs on India," he said. We need to remove the 50% tariff on India and get it down to something far more reasonable, I suggest zero per cent and apologise," he added. Praise For PM Modis Balancing Act Edward Price also lauded PM Modis handling of global power rivalries, noting that he has signalled Indias options without fully aligning with Beijing or Moscow. PM Modi is being pretty smart. He is reminding the Americans, reminding people like me, that he has options, but hes not fully embraced China and Russia and is not attending the military parade, for example," Edward Price said. Read more: US Expert Warns Of India-China-Russia Alliance Amid Trump Tariffs: Americans Cant Compete The professor stressed that India would not fall into Beijings orbit, pointing to its independent foreign policy, as he asserted, India is an independently minded sovereign with its own civilisation. It makes its own choices. Theres no way India is going to permanently put its feet on one side or the other." What US Expert Said On Donald Trump Tariffs On India? Donald Trumps tariffs on India- a 25% reciprocal duty on Indian goods combined with an additional 25% levy linked to New Delhis purchase of Russian crude- is among the steepest in the world. The US President has accused India of fueling Russias deadly attacks on Ukraine" while simultaneously declining to impose stronger sanctions on Moscow itself. On Truth Social this week, Donald Trump described the trade relationship as a one-sided disaster", insisting that India had offered to slash tariffs on US goods too late. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all They sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest client, but we sell them very little," he wrote. But Edward Price warned that Donald Trumps tariff offensive could damage long-term strategic cooperation between the worlds two largest democracies, saying, India has the deciding vote in the 21st century. Alienating it now makes no sense." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 16:35 IST News world Apologise To India: US Expert Blasts Trump Tariffs, Praises PM Modis Pretty Smart Diplomacy 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... Brave Pink: Women With Brooms Lead Indonesia's Anti-Government Protests Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 19:19 IST Indonesia Protests: Hundreds of women led by Indonesian Womens Alliance marched in pink with broomsticks to parliament,. The demonstration was organised by the Indonesian Womens Alliance (IWA). (Image Credit: Reuters) Hundreds of women dressed in pink and carrying broomsticks marched to Indonesias parliament against police abuses and government excess. The demonstration, organised by the Indonesian Womens Alliance (IWA), was part of a wave of nationwide protests that have stretched into a second week. Anger has been fuelled by rising living costs, lavish perks for lawmakers and the death of a young motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan who was killed after being run over by a police vehicle. Sweeping Away State Dirt Recommended Stories The women, representing nearly 90 grassroots organisations under the IWA banner, said the broomsticks represented their determination to sweep away the dirt of the state, militarism and police repression." Alongside broomsticks, protesters waved placards reading reform the police" and accused authorities of using excessive force. The IWA chose pink to symbolise bravery, while other demonstrators adopted green- the colour of Affan Kurniawans rideshare company uniform to honour his memory. Massive Crackdown Against Protesters The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation said at least 10 people have died in the demonstrations since late August while more than 1,000 were hospitalised. The UN human rights office called for prompt, thorough, and transparent investigations" into alleged abuses. Amnesty International Indonesia urged the government to heed protesters demands before further casualties occur. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all National Human Rights Commission chair Anis Hidayah said, When people want to express their problems and difficulties, the space seems to be available but not easily accessible." Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto sought to quell discontent by pledging to roll back lawmakers perks. In response, Herianto, a former central co-ordinator for the All-Indonesian Students Union, said, Symbolic changes are important but people expect deeper reforms, particularly in areas that affect ordinary citizens such as agricultural policy, education and fair economic opportunities." Location : Indonesia First Published: September 03, 2025, 19:19 IST News world Brave Pink: Women With Brooms Lead Indonesia's Anti-Government Protests 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... China Needs Us More: Trump Shrugs Off Threat From Russia-China Ties After Xi-Putin Meet Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 05:25 IST Putins growing engagement with Xi is being closely watched by Western governments, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues without resolution. Putin will remain in China to attend the Victory Day military parade on Wednesday (AP photo) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed growing concerns over deepening ties between Russia and China, stating that he maintains strong personal relationships with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. His comments came during a press briefing where he was asked about the potential threat posed by the strengthening alliance between the two nations and their global allies. Trump firmly rejected the idea that closer relations between Beijing and Moscow pose a strategic threat to the US. When asked if he believed China and its partners were attempting to form an international coalition to challenge US influence, Trump responded, No. Not at all. China needs us." Recommended Stories He continued, I have a very good relationship with President Xi, as you know. But China needs us much more than we need them. I dont see that at all." The questions come as Beijing hosts several world leaders for high-level diplomatic events. Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Beijing. The event has drawn notable attendees including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the summit, Putin will remain in China to attend the Victory Day military parade on Wednesday, where he will be joined by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The parade is seen as a prominent display of Chinas military power on the global stage. Putins growing engagement with Xi is being closely watched by Western governments, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues without resolution. Putin has reportedly briefed some of his counterparts at the SCO summit on his August 15 meeting with President Trump in Alaska. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier in the day, during a call-in interview on The Scott Jennings Radio Show, Trump again downplayed the Russia-China dynamic, saying he is not concerned at all" about an axis" forming against the US. He also took the opportunity to express disappointment with President Putin over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. I am very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we will be doing something to help people live," Trump said, though he did not elaborate on any specific actions under consideration. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 05:25 IST News world China Needs Us More: Trump Shrugs Off Threat From Russia-China Ties After Xi-Putin Meet 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: September 03, 2025, 12:35 IST China Victory Day Military Parade 2025: China is holding its largest-ever military parade with 26 world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un in attendance, presenting the countrys military prowess and vision for the future. The parade marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Over 50,000 spectators are set to watch the parade at Tiananmen Square, which includes aerial displays, marching platoons of Peoples Liberation Army troops as well as cutting-edge military equipment such as hypersonic missiles, unmanned drones and outfitted tanks. Beijing is expected to unveil new weaponry, including what propagandists have described as the most powerful laser air defence system in the world during the parade. Hundreds of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft will be displayed in the parade, according to Chinese military officials. Notably, the last time China hosted a Victory Day Military Parade was 10 years ago. UK Defense Minister John Healey has arrived in Kyiv. "I am pleased to welcome UK Defense Minister John Healyy to Ukraine. During the meeting, we will coordinate the main issues of the next Ramstein format meeting in London, as well as joint defense projects," Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote in a telegram on Wednesday. He also added that "important bilateral decisions that will strengthen the defense capabilities of our countries are being prepared." Shmyhal also posted a video of the meeting with Healey at the train station in Kyiv. Chinese Woman Says She Is Depressed After Window Cleaners Spotted Her Sleeping Naked Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 20:14 IST The woman and her husband criticised the property management company for failing to inform them of the exact timing of the cleaning Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Since the event, Chengs wife has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. (Representational image via AFP) A woman in Chinas Chengdu has developed depression and anxiety after being seen asleep naked by two male window cleaners outside her home. Her husband has since come forward demanding compensation and a public apology from their property management firm. The couple, who reside in the upscale Port Apartment complex and pay 10,000 yuan (approximately Rs 1,23,294) in monthly rent, shared their distress with the South China Morning Post. Recommended Stories The incident took place on the morning of April 25 when the woman was asleep in their bedroom and curtains were open with the lights on. I heard my wife scream," said her husband, surnamed Cheng. I went to check on her. My wife was sleeping naked. Two workers, who were cleaning our window, were gawking at her." Cheng said he immediately drew the curtains shut. The couple criticised the property management company for failing to inform them of the exact timing of the cleaning. While they were notified that window cleaning would occur sometime between April 21 and 30, they had requested advance notice before the cleaners arrived. They promised they would notify us. However, in the end, they forgot to do so," he said. Since the incident, Chengs wife has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, with her husband noting that she has remained in low spirits ever since. The couple are seeking a public apology and fair compensation from the property management company, but Cheng said both requests have been rejected. He further said that the property firm offered only a basket of fruit in apology, with no acknowledgement of her mental suffering. They only sent a worker with a basket of fruit to our home to apologise. As for my wifes mental suffering, they showed no concern," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The couple had their lease up for renewal at the end of August. Under public pressure sparked by their online posts, the management offered a rent reduction of 600 yuan per month if they renewed. Cheng rejected the offer, saying, We can afford a monthly rent of 10,000 yuan. Are we short of 600 yuan? This offer is typical of their attitude in dealing with our problem; we are not satisfied." 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, ... Read More Location : China First Published: September 03, 2025, 20:12 IST News world Chinese Woman Says She Is Depressed After Window Cleaners Spotted Her Sleeping Naked 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... Crypto Venture Makes Trump Family $5 Billion Richer. What Is World Liberty Financial? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 15:45 IST World Liberty Financial, co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons, launched the WLFI token, boosting their paper wealth to nearly $5 billion. US President Donald Trump. (Reuters) A newly launched cryptocurrency tied to the Donald Trump family has added billions to their paper wealth. World Liberty Financial, a digital-asset company co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons Eric, Donald Jr. and Barron began trading its WLFI token. The coin briefly surged to about 40 cents before sliding 48% to 21 cents after later steadying at roughly 23 cents, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Despite the dip, the familys stake- 22.5 billion WLFI tokens- is valued at close to $5 billion. The holdings remain locked under the companys rules, preventing immediate sales. Recommended Stories Donald Trumps Love For Crypto Once dismissive of digital currencies, Donald Trump has made crypto a centerpiece of both his business interests and policy agenda. In July, he signed the Genius Act, the first US law governing cryptocurrencies, which set federal standards for so-called stablecoins." He has also promoted meme-style coins such as $TRUMP and $Melania. Even though Donald Trump has been blamed for conflicts of interest, the White House said, Neither the president nor his family have ever engaged, or will ever engage, in conflicts of interest." What is WLFI? WLFI gives holders voting rights on governance issues for World Liberty Financial, though the company cautions it is not meant to be an investment vehicle. The firm also issues USD1, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. WLFIs governance structure sets it apart, giving holders a say in the policies shaping USD1 and the companys direction. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Donald Trump family and other insiders control more than 20% of WLFIs supply, though the firm says no wallet can exercise more than 5% of governance power. The Donald Trump familys crypto forays extend beyond WLFI. In May, the $TRUMP meme coin offered top holders a dinner with Donald Trump, raising about $140 million. The tokens value nearly doubled before settling back to $8.30 this week. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 15:45 IST News world Crypto Venture Makes Trump Family $5 Billion Richer. What Is World Liberty Financial? 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... 'Hope Americans Are Honoured': Trump Accuses Xi, Kim, Putin Of Conspiring Against US In China Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 07:33 IST Donald Trump accused Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un of conspiring against the US as they gathered in Beijing for a World War II anniversary parade. Photos of Donald Trump/military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing (AP) Donald Trump on Wednesday accused Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un of conspiring against the United States, as they came together in Beijing for a massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Chinas victory against Japanese aggression in World War II. In a Truth Social post, the US President said he expects Xi would acknowledge the sacrifices of American soldiers who fought in China during World War II. Recommended Stories Through his post, he also reminded Beijing of the massive amount of support and blood" that the United States provided. The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and blood that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader," Trump wrote. Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration." Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America," he added. China on Wednesday unveiled for the first time some of its modern weaponry, including jet fighters, missiles and latest electronic warfare hardware, showcasing its military might. Twenty-six foreign leaders, including Putin, Kim Jong Un and the leaders from Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and Central Asian countries attended it. From Indias neighbourhood, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu were in attendance. All foreign guests were welcomed by Xi and his wife ,Peng Liyuan. Millions of Chinese people were killed during a prolonged war with imperial Japan in the 1930s and 40s, which became part of a global conflict following Tokyos attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Xi, Putin and Kims presence together in Beijing, especially at a military parade, was seen as an attempt by China to send a strong message to the US and Trump, who tried to woo both Putin and Kim to take them into Washingtons fold. Their meeting in Beijing followed the high-profile summit of the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tianjin, which was dominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modis meetings with Xi and Putin against the backdrop of Trump clamping 50 per cent tariffs against India for buying Russian oil. The presence of foreign leaders at the parade commemorating Chinas war of resistance against Japanese aggression in World War II has become a diplomatic spat between Japan and China after Tokyo urged the world leaders to refrain from attending. ALSO READ | One-Sided Relationship: Donald Trump Claims India Charged US Tremendous Tariffs top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: September 03, 2025, 07:26 IST News world 'Hope Americans Are Honoured': Trump Accuses Xi, Kim, Putin Of Conspiring Against US In China 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... 'One-Sided Relationship': Donald Trump Claims India Charged US 'Tremendous' Tariffs Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 07:06 IST Donald Trump called US-India trade ties one-sided, accusing India of imposing some of the worlds highest tariffs while freely exporting to the US. US President Donald Trump speaks during an event (Photo: AP) Donald Trump on Wednesday called the relationship between India and the United States one-sided" and said this has been the same for many years. Recommended Stories Speaking to reporters, days after he justified the 50 per cent tariffs imposed on Indian imports, the US President argued that India imposed some of the highest tariffs in the world, which made it difficult for American companies to do business there, while Indian goods flowed freely into the US market. Trump also spoke about the case of Harley-Davidson, which he said faced a 200 per cent tariff on its motorcycles in India. According to him, the company eventually set up a plant in India to avoid paying the duties. The President claimed that his administrations tariff policies are now encouraging global manufacturers, including carmakers, to set up production units in the United States. We get along with India very well, but for many years, it was a one-sided relationship. India was charging us tremendous tariffs, the highest in the world," Trump told reporters, as he responded to queries about reconsidering the tariffs on India at the White House. We werent doing much business with India, but they were doing business with us because we werent charging them foolishly. They would send in a massive amount of everything they made, and pour it into our country," he asserted. Therefore, it wouldnt be made here, which is a negative," the US President added. Harley-Davidson couldnt sell in India. There was a 200 per cent tariff on a motorcycle. Harley-Davidson went to India and built a motorcycle plant. Now they dont have to pay tariffs," he claimed. Thousands of companies are coming into the US. We have many car company factories under construction, and they come from China, Mexico, and Canada. They want to build here for two reasons. Number 1, theyd like to be here. Number 2, tariffs protect them. And number 3, they want to avoid paying tariffs," Trump said. Earlier in a post on Truth Social, the US President had claimed that the business relationship between India and the US for many decades has been totally one-sided", one-sided disaster" and also that they have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but its getting late". He stated that India has charged the US such high tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India". ALSO READ | Trumps One-Sided Trade Claim On India Doesnt Match Reality. Heres Why top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: September 03, 2025, 06:59 IST News world 'One-Sided Relationship': Donald Trump Claims India Charged US 'Tremendous' Tariffs 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... Earphone Blunder To VPN Trick: Shehbaz Sharifs 5 Embarrassing Moments Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 16:36 IST In the latest episode, Sharif was seen struggling to wear his earphones as Putin tried to guide him with hand gestures AI genereated images of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (Representative in nature) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who recently made headlines for fumbling with his headphones during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, has had his share of self-humiliating moments in the past. In the latest episode, Sharif was seen struggling to wear his earphones as Putin tried to guide him with hand gestures. Recommended Stories Viral clips showed the headset slipping off repeatedly despite Sharifs attempts to adjust it, while Putin looked on with a smile. In an apparent attempt to save Sharif from further embarrassment on the global stage, the Russian leader eventually picked up his own earphones to demonstrate how to put them on. Sharifs Self-Humiliation Moments SCO Summit 2025: During the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China, a viral video showed Shehbaz Sharif hurriedly approaching Putin for a handshake after a photo session. Social media users trolled him for appearing desperate" and attention-seeking," with some noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping seemed to ignore him by turning away. Caught Using VPN: Shehbaz Sharif posted a congratulatory message to US President Donald Trump on X, despite Pakistans ban on the platform since February 2024. The post was flagged by X with a Community Note accusing him of illegally using X through a VPN. The incident sparked widespread memes and criticism for hypocrisy, as Sharif himself bypassed Pakistani government-led restrictions imposed on the public. PoK Embarrassment: During an event in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), PoK Prime Minister Sardar Ilyas Tanveer disrupted Shehbaz Sharifs speech, reportedly upset over the lack of rehabilitation for locals affected by the Mangla Dam. The public interruption was seen as embarrassing for Sharif, highlighting tensions within Pakistans administration. Comparing India To Pakistan: In a rally in Dera Ghazi Khan, Sharif declared, If we dont leave India behind, then my name is not Shehbaz Sharif," vowing to surpass India in development. The statement went viral, drawing sarcasm and ridicule online, with users mocking Pakistans economic struggles and questioning the feasibility of his claims. Copying PM Modi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur airbase in May, Sharif, accompanied by Army Chief Asim Munir, toured Pakistans Pasrur and Sialkot airbases. Social media users pointed out that after Sharif claimed massive damage at Indias Adampur air base, PM Modi visited the site to show it was untouched. Sharif was soon trolled for copying" Modi and spreading false claims, with one X user dubbing it a masterclass in self-humiliation". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Another moment from the SCO Summit 2025 showed Sharif with a grim expression while PM Modi engaged in a warm exchange with Putin and Xi Jinping. Viral videos highlighted his apparent sidelining, fuelling narratives of diplomatic isolation and online trolling for appearing out of place among other leaders. 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 (De... Read More Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: September 03, 2025, 14:56 IST News world Earphone Blunder To VPN Trick: Shehbaz Sharifs 5 Embarrassing Moments 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... Erasing DNA? Kim Jong Uns Team Sanitises Every Surface He Touched After Putin Meet Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 19:59 IST Kim Jong Un's aides sanitized every item he touched after meeting Vladimir Putin in Beijing. Kim Jong Un's aides cleaned as soon as his meeting with Vladimir Putin ended. No sooner had Kim Jong Un left the room than his aides moved in with the urgency of a hazmat crew. A newly surfaced video shows North Korean staff furiously scrubbing and sanitising every object the North Korean leader had touched during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The footage captured one aide polishing the backrest and arms of Kim Jong Uns chair while another carefully whisked away his drinking glass on a tray. Even the side table was wiped until no trace remained. Recommended Stories After the negotiations, the staff accompanying the head of the DPRK carefully destroyed all traces of Kims presence," Russian journalist Alexander Yunashev on his channel Yunashev Live reported. The staff accompanying the North Korean leader meticulously erased all traces of Kims presence.They took the glass he drank from, wiped down the chairs upholstery, and cleaned the parts of the furniture the Korean leader had touched. pic.twitter.com/JOXVxg04Ym Russian Market (@runews) September 3, 2025 Precaution Or Paranoia? The reason for such forensic decontamination remains unclear. Although Kim Jong Un is not alone in guarding his biological footprint. Vladimir Putin himself reportedly travels with bodyguards who collect his urine and faeces in sealed containers, later flown back to Moscow, to prevent foreign powers from gleaning details about his health. Kim Jong Un- Vladimir Putin Meeting top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The talks between the two leaders ended on what Russian state media called a positive note." Kim Jong Un pledged full support to Vladimir Putin, telling him, If there is anything I can or must do for you and the Russian people, I consider it my duty as a fraternal obligation." The Beijing parade marked Kim Jong Uns first known overseas trip since the pandemic and his first joint appearance with both Vladimir Putin and Chinas President Xi Jinping. Location : China First Published: September 03, 2025, 19:58 IST News world Erasing DNA? Kim Jong Uns Team Sanitises Every Surface He Touched After Putin Meet 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... Humans May Live To 150: Hot Mic Captures Putin, Xi Jinping Chat On Organ Transplants Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 18:01 IST Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping discussed organ transplants and longevity at the Beijing parade, as caught on hot mic. Russian President Vladimir Putin and China President Xi Jinping. (Image Credit: Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were caught on a hot mic talking about organ transplants and human longevity as they walked together at a military parade in Beijing. The unscripted moment came as the two leaders, accompanied by North Koreas Kim Jong Un, led a delegation of more than two dozen foreign dignitaries to view a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Recommended Stories Putin-Xi Jinpings Chat On Immortality Vladimir Putins translator could be heard saying in Chinese, Biotechnology is continuously developing human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become and (you can) even achieve immortality." Xi Jinping, who was off camera, responded, Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old." Kim Jong Un, walking close behind, smiled in their direction, though it was unclear if the remarks were being translated for him. Vladimir Putin himself was not clearly audible in Russian on the CCTV clip. The remarks lasted only seconds before CCTV cut to a wide shot of Tiananmen Square, with the audio fading. Moments later, the three leaders reappeared on screen heading toward the viewing platform. Neither the Russian government nor Chinas foreign ministry has commented on the hot-mic moment. Chinas Victory Day Parade top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chinas parade featured more than 50,000 spectators and showcased advanced Chinese weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and naval drones. Addressing the crowd, Xi Jinping warned that the world faced a choice between peace or war." Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Sunday for the summit. During the visit, the Russian leader and Xi Jinping signed more than 20 agreements ranging from energy cooperation to artificial intelligence and pledged to build a major new gas pipeline. Location : China First Published: September 03, 2025, 18:01 IST News world Humans May Live To 150: Hot Mic Captures Putin, Xi Jinping Chat On Organ Transplants 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... Imran Khan Slams Use Of Drones, Military Ops Against Civilians In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Exclusive Details Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 22:15 IST The former Pakistan prime minister also criticised what he views as increasing political repression, pointing to the disqualification of the opposition leaders in parliament Khan's statements underscore growing concerns about civil-military relations, democratic backsliding, and the use of state power in Pakistans restive regions. (File pic/AP) Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has strongly condemned the alleged use of drone strikes and military operations by the Pakistan army against civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling the actions unjustified" and unacceptable". Recommended Stories In a statement shared on social media site X, Khan declared, The deployment of drone strikes and military force against our own people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must come to an immediate halt. These actions are not only unconstitutional but also represent a grave injustice to the citizens of this country." He called on chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the provincial government to vigorously resist" such operations, underscoring their duty to protect the rights and lives of their constituents. Our people have been fired upon with live bullets," Khan claimed, condemning what he described as the excessive use of force against peaceful citizens. The jailed former prime minister also criticised what he views as increasing political repression, pointing to the disqualification of the opposition leaders in parliament as evidence of a broader crackdown on democratic voices. These remarks come amid heightened tensions between Imran Khans political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the countrys powerful military establishment. Khans statements underscore growing concerns about civil-military relations, democratic backsliding, and the use of state power in Pakistans restive regions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all They may imprison me or any member of my family, but I will neither retreat from my stance nor bow before this military junta," he asserted defiantly. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: September 03, 2025, 20:26 IST News world Imran Khan Slams Use Of Drones, Military Ops Against Civilians In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Exclusive Details Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Iran Increased Near-Weapons-Grade Uranium Stockpile Ahead Of Israel Strike, Says IAEA Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 04, 2025, 02:04 IST Israel has justified its targeted strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities by arguing it cannot allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. Irans newly elected president signed a law on July 2 suspending all cooperation with the IAEA Iran increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels just before Israels airstrike campaign on June 13, according to a confidential report released Wednesday by the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The report, circulated among IAEA member states and obtained by the Associated Press, covers Irans nuclear activities between May 17 and June 12, 2025. The Vienna-based agency concluded that as of June 13, Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, an increase of 32.3 kilograms (71.2 pounds) since its previous report in May. Recommended Stories The IAEA emphasised that this data is based on the information provided by Iran, agency verification activities between the above provided dates, and estimates based on the past operation of the relevant facilities." Enrichment to 60% brings Iran alarmingly close to weapons-grade uranium, which requires 90% purity. Experts note that approximately 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, if further enriched, could be enough to produce one atomic bomb. Despite these findings, the report states there has been no agreement reached with Iran to resume inspections at nuclear sites that were damaged during Israeli and US airstrikes in June. As a result, the extent to which these strikes disrupted Irans nuclear infrastructure remains uncertain. Israel has justified its targeted strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities by arguing it cannot allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. Israeli officials have expressed growing alarm over Irans nuclear progress, although Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and for civilian purposes. On June 22, the US joined the offensive, deploying bunker-buster bombs against suspected Iranian nuclear sites. In response, Irans newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a law on July 2, passed by the Iranian Parliament, suspending all cooperation with the IAEA. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Since then, the only site the IAEA has been able to access is the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which is operated with Russian assistance. Inspectors observed a fuel replacement procedure there on August 27 and 28. The IAEA expressed alarm in its report, stating inspectors have not been able to verify Irans near bomb-grade uranium stockpile for over two and a half months, calling it a matter of serious concern." Meanwhile, Iran remains legally obligated to cooperate with the IAEA under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Location : Vienna, Austria First Published: September 04, 2025, 02:04 IST News world Iran Increased Near-Weapons-Grade Uranium Stockpile Ahead Of Israel Strike, Says IAEA 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... 'Significant Setback': Critics Shred Trump's Foreign Policy With Modi-Putin-Xi Power Frame Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 14:57 IST Indias SCO participation, even as Trump continues to slam the countrys 'unfair advantage' in trade, was a message: We will not be arm-twisted into choosing between East & West Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The laughter shared between Modi, Putin, and Xi in Tianjin was the sound of a multipolar world being born. (AP File) They say a photograph speaks a thousand words, and if the recent snaps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, laughing and chatting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, are anything to go by, the message to the West was loud and clearthe power axis is subtly shifting away from Donald Trumps America. The recently concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit served as the perfect stage for India to tell Washington that its unfair tariffs, including a penalty of 25 per cent for buying Russian oil, would not impact the countrys economic decisions. Flanked by Putin and Xi, PM Modis body language may have raised eyebrows in the White House but the carefully staged subtext was unmissable New Delhi, Moscow, and Beijing may differ in ideology, but theyre willing to appear united under the banner of multipolarity. Recommended Stories Indias participation at the SCO, even as Trump continues to slam the countrys unfair advantage" in trade, was its own form of message: The country will not be arm-twisted into choosing between East and West. This was bad news for Trump. The US President had earlier seemed sure that he could get his way by threatening India with tariffs, forcing the countrywhich has been an ally in the pastto alter its decision to buy Russian oil. However, the confidence seems to be crumbling now as India chose to assert its identity through optics instead of firing salvos on social mediaTrumps favourite pastime. While the US Presidents core team of Peter Navarro, Scott Bessent and JD Vance may have stood firmly behind him, his critics have torn into him for jeopardising a carefully cultivated relationship over the years with India. The latest criticism came from David Ignatius, columnist for the Washington Post and former Harvard Kennedy School fellow, who said the SCO summit in Tianjin was a significant setback for the United States". .@IgnatiusPost One of the most respected voices in US foreign policy: I thought that the summit at Tianjin was a significant setback for the United States India's repositioning toward Russia and China reverses diplomacy that's been conducted since the administration of pic.twitter.com/Ym5CE0n2uv Rohit Sharma (@DcWalaDesi) September 2, 2025 In an interview with MSNBC, Ignatius said: The image of Vladimir Putin holding hands with PM Modi was a sign that Putin is getting away with it. Three years into the war, he is now claiming it was the Wests fault and he has an audience of prominent world leaders, including a key person in Americas efforts to create a new, informal partnership to contain China. Indias repositioning toward Russia and China reverses diplomacy thats been conducted since the administration of George W Bush, at least." Ignatius is not alone. Former national security adviser John Bolton, one of Trumps fiercest critics, too said PM Modis visit to China is bad news" for the West. Theres a lot of bad news here and very little good news The West has spent decades, in particular, in trying to wean India away from its Cold War attachment to Soviet Union/Russia, buying sophisticated weapons from themand cautioning India on the danger posed by China, which is symbolised by whats called the Asian security quad with Japan, India, Australia and the United States A lot of efforta lot of effort to make India more amenable to cooperation with these countries," Bolton said during a television interview. He also said there are a series of things that Trump has done that have offended the Indians and the tariffs he wants are a disaster" for everybody. Trump whacked India with another 25%, (but) did not tariff Russia, did not tariff China, the largest purchaser of Russian oil and gas. And then, to make it worse, when the recent escalation between Pakistan and India over a terrorist attack in Kashmir occurred Trump took full credit for it as one of the six or seven wars that he stopped this year to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, which has made India incandescent," said Bolton. On Wednesday, Congressman Ro Khanna too waded into the controversy, saying Trumps ego" cannot be allowed to destroy a strategic relationship" with the worlds largest democracy. Slamming the levies imposed by US on Indian goods, he added: It is hurting Indias exports of leather and textiles into the United States, and its hurting American manufacturers and our exports into India. It is also driving India towards China and towards Russia." Khanna also took a swipe at Trump, saying PM Modis refusal to nominate the US President for a Nobel Peace Prize had led to strained relations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan agreed with the contention as he accused Trump of throwing the relationship with India over the side" because of Pakistans willingness to engage in business deals with his family. On a bipartisan basis, going back decades, the United States has worked to build its relationship with India, the worlds largest democracy, a country that we should be aligned with on technology and talent and economics, so many other issues, and aligned with in dealing with the strategic threat from China," Sullivan said. About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, ... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 13:05 IST News world 'Significant Setback': Critics Shred Trump's Foreign Policy With Modi-Putin-Xi Power Frame 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... President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that on Wednesday he will take part in the Ukraine-Northern European and Baltic States summit in Denmark, in the evening he will hold a meeting with the President of France and on Thursday he will take part in a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, where, in particular, he will discuss the need to strengthen pressure measures on Russia. "We will talk with our partners about the need for strong pressure measures (on Russia - IF-U) these days. In a few hours - Denmark, the Ukraine-Northern European and Baltic States summit. We are preparing a tangible reinforcement for Ukraine. Tonight - a bilateral format in France, we are coordinating our efforts. We are also preparing the format of the coalition of the willing and new steps in relations with the European Union and the USA. Thank you to everyone who helps. Every Russian strike requires a real response," he said on Telegram. 'Economic Giant': Putin's Big Praise For India After Trump's 'Dead Economy' Dig Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 21:33 IST Russian President Vladimir Putin said despite "economic giants" like India and China as members, groupings like the BRICS do not discuss world domination **EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE** In this screengrab from a video released on Sep 01, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin during the plenary session of the 25th SCO Heads of State Council Summit, in Tianjin, China. (@Narendra Modi via PTI Photo)(PTI09_01_2025_000045B) Describing India as economic giant", Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said the multipolar world has no hegemon and everyone has equal rights. Putin said despite economic giants" like India and China as members, groupings like the BRICS do not discuss world domination. Recommended Stories The multipolar world has no hegemon, everyone has equal rights. Despite having economic giants like India and China as members, groupings like BRICS do not talk about the idea of domination of politics or global security," Putin told reporters at the end of his visit to Beijing for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where he interacted with the host, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His remarks come amid Indias tariff tussle with the United States and growing tensions between the two countries resulting from failed negotiations over a vital trade deal. The Trump administration has imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, justifying it as punishment" over New Delhis purchase of Russian crude oil. Putin said his formal and informal" talks with Chinese leaders have been useful" and had positive" outcomes. While leading EU (European Union) economies fall into recession, global ones are moving ahead, especially in the Asia-Pacific," he said. Formal and informal talks with leaders in China have been useful and had positive outcomes." His remarks gain significance, especially in light of US President Donald Trumps dismissal of the Indian economy as being a dead" one. He recently made a startling claim that during the now-stalled trade deal talks, India offered" to cut its tariffs on US goods to nothing" while explaining this statement by saying the US does very little business" with India and his country was New Delhis biggest" client. The Indian economy, meanwhile, has grown by a stronger-than-expected 7.8 percent in the first quarter (April-June) of this fiscal. These numbers are, however, before Trump imposed tariffs that could now cloud the outlook, threatening key exports like textiles. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Nevertheless, India remains the fastest-growing major economy as Chinas GDP growth in the April-June period was 5.2 percent. Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had projected the real GDP growth rate for 2025-26 at 6.5 percent 6.5 percent in Q1, 6.7 percent in Q2, 6.6 percent in Q3, and 6.3 percent in Q4. (With agency inputs) About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing im... Read More Location : Beijing, China First Published: September 03, 2025, 20:05 IST News world 'Economic Giant': Putin's Big Praise For India After Trump's 'Dead Economy' Dig 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... Ukraine Conflict Can End: Putin Urges Common Sense, Open To Moscow Meet With Zelenskyy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 19:46 IST Russia-Ukraine War: The offer comes as fighting grinds on with no peace talks in sight, raising questions over Moscows intentions. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. (Image Credit: AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has not dismissed the possibility of meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but questioned whether such talks would carry any substance given Kyivs current political and constitutional situation. The Russian president said the conflict could be resolved politically if Kyiv and the West took a pragmatic approach. He said, The Ukraine conflict can end if common sense prevails. If not, we will have to accomplish our goals through military means." Ive never ruled out meeting Zelenskyy," Vladimir Putin asserted, adding, But the question is whether it can be meaningful." Recommended Stories The Russian leader argued that Ukraine is hampered by an illegitimate leader," a constitution that requires referendums and martial law provisions that can be prolonged forever." Putin Says Russia Is Fighting For Peoples Rights Vladimir Putin insisted that Russias war aims were not about seizing land but about protecting cultural and linguistic rights in contested regions. He said, Were not fighting for territories, were fighting for peoples rights- to speak their language, to practice their culture. If those people choose democratically to be part of Russia, we must respect that decision." Putin On Security And NATO The Russian president also reiterated Moscows long-standing opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, framing it as a direct security threat. He said, Every country has the right to ensure its security but not at the expense of another." He added that while Russia always resisted NATO expansion, it did not object to Kyivs economic choices. Russia always opposed Ukraine joining NATO, but never doubted Kievs right to engage in its economic activities however it likes- including EU membership," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Donald Trump On Ukraine Peace Talks Vladimir Putins comments come as US President Donald Trump voiced sharp disappointment in the Russian President, saying his administration was preparing steps to help reduce the death toll in Ukraines war. He said, I am very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we will be doing something to help people live." Location : Russia First Published: September 03, 2025, 19:33 IST News world Ukraine Conflict Can End: Putin Urges Common Sense, Open To Moscow Meet With Zelenskyy 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... 'Red Line': UAE Warns Against Any Move By Israel To Annex Occupied West Bank Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 21:58 IST The UAE did not, however, specify its possible impact on the landmark Abraham Accords signed between the two countries in 2020 under US President Donald Trump Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a map of an area near the settlement of Maale Adumim, a land corridor known as E1, outside Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank. (Image: Menahem Kahana/AFP) The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday warned Israel that any move to annex the occupied West Bank will be a red line". It did not, however, specify its possible impact on a landmark normalisation accord between the two countries. The warning came as Israel pressed ahead with the initial stages of its latest major offensive in famine-stricken Gaza City. Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Wednesday killed at least 31 people, as per hospital authorities. Recommended Stories A senior Emirati diplomat, Anwar Gargash, wrote on the social platform X that annexation is a red line" and linked this to a report in the Times of Israel. This report quoted another Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh as saying annexation would severely undermine the vision and spirit of (Abraham) Accords, end the pursuit of regional integration and would alter the widely shared consensus on what the trajectory of this conflict should be two states living side by side in peace, prosperity and security". The two diplomats did not specifically say Abu Dhabi would withdraw from the agreement, and the Emirati foreign ministry did not respond to questions seeking clarification. From the very beginning, we viewed the Accords as a way to enable our continued support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspiration for an independent state," Nusseibeh told AFP. The proposals to annex parts of the West Bank, reportedly under discussion in the Israeli government, is part of an effort that would, in the words of an Israeli minister, bury the idea of a Palestinian state." Nusseibeh added: We call on the Israeli government to suspend these plans. Extremists, of any kind, cannot be allowed to dictate the regions trajectory." WHAT ARE THE 2020 ABRAHAM ACCORDS? The UAE was the driving force behind the 2020 Abraham Accords brokered by US President Donald Trump, in which it and three other Arab countries forged ties with Israel. Trump has said he hopes to expand the accords in his second term, potentially to include regional power Saudi Arabia. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories to form their future state. Israels current government is staunchly opposed to Palestinian statehood and supports eventual annexation of much of the West Bank, which the Palestinians and much of the international community says will prevent a two-state solution widely seen as the only way to resolve the decades-old conflict. In fact, Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law. WHAT HAS ISRAEL SAID? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Israels far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday called for annexation of swathes of the West Bank, after Belgium became the latest country to announce it will recognise Palestine as a state. Smotrich has said Israel intends to bury the idea of a Palestinian state" and annexing large parts of the West Bank would take the idea of dividing our tiny land and establishing a terrorist state at its centre off the agenda once and for all". 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, ... Read More Location : Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) First Published: September 03, 2025, 21:58 IST News world 'Red Line': UAE Warns Against Any Move By Israel To Annex Occupied West Bank 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... Russia In Talks To Supply More S-400 Missile Systems To India Amid Trump Tariffs: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 08:19 IST Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russias Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, confirmed that India, already operating the S-400, is discussing new supplies. PM Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (PTI) India and Russia are in talks for additional S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, according to a senior official from Russias defence export agency, as reported by TASS. Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russias Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, confirmed that India, already operating the S-400, is discussing new supplies. Recommended Stories In 2018, New Delhi signed a $5.5 billion deal with Moscow for five S-400 Triumf systems to counter Chinas rising military power. The deal has encountered several delays, with the final two units now expected in 2026 and 2027. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in remarks published on Wednesday that India did not bow to the demands by the United States to stop purchasing resources from Russia and that Moscow appreciated" that. Despite increasing purchases from France and Israel, Russia remains Indias primary arms supplier, accounting for 36 per cent of Indias weapons imports between 2020 and 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India and Russia, long-time strategic partners, have collaborated on various defence projects, including the licensed production of T-90 tanks and Su-30 MKI fighter jets, the supply of MiG-29 and Kamov helicopters, the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, production of AK-203 rifles in India, and the BrahMos missile programme. During Operation Sindoor in May, the Indian Armed Forces successfully retaliated against Pakistan, with the S-400 air defence system intercepting and destroying several incoming missiles. 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, ... Read More Location : Russia First Published: September 03, 2025, 08:19 IST News world Russia In Talks To Supply More S-400 Missile Systems To India Amid Trump Tariffs: Report 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... Stop Singling Out India: US Expert Counters Trumps Frustration Over Ukraine Peace Efforts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 20:15 IST US expert urges Washington to stop blaming India alone for Donald Trumps Ukraine peace woes. US President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi (Image: Reuters/File) A leading US strategic affairs expert urged Washington to stop singling out" India over President Donald Trumps frustrations with peacemaking in the Russia-Ukraine war, pointing out that several countries bear responsibility for complicating his peace push. In an interview to NDTV, Ashley J. Tellis said, Stop singling out India as the author of all the complications for Trumps peace initiative in Ukraine. There are many who bear the responsibility for making President Trumps life difficult with respect to his Ukraine peace initiative. So stop singling out India as if it is the only author of his misfortunes." Recommended Stories Read more: Erasing DNA? Kim Jong Uns Team Sanitises Every Surface He Touched After Putin Meet Ashley J. Tellis comments come as Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, punishing New Delhi for its continued purchase of Russian crude oil. India became a major buyer of Russian oil in 2022 but data shows that Beijing eclipsed New Delhi in 2024 as China imported $62.6 billion worth of Russian oil compared to Indias $52.7 billion. Despite this, Donald Trump has kept his criticism focused on India, ignoring Chinas larger role. US Expert Slams Peter Navarros Remarks Donald Trumps trade adviser Peter Navarro recently provoked outrage by labelling the conflict Modis war", claiming Moscows offensive was fuelled by Indian purchases of Russian energy. Ashley J. Tellis dismissed such assertions, stressing that neither PM Modi nor Donald Trump can deliver peace in Ukraine so long as Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to abandon his objectives. Read more: Ukraine Conflict Can End: Putin Urges Common Sense, Open To Moscow Meet With Zelenskyy Mr Putin is not going to stop the war simply because his best friends abroad have persuaded him," he said. Donald Trump Disappointed In Vladimir Putin This comes as Donald Trump himself expressed disappointment in Vladimir Putin, saying, I am very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that and we will be doing something to help people live." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, signaled conditional openness to talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but cast doubt on their utility. Ive never ruled out meeting Zelenskyy, but the question is whether it can be meaningful," Vladimir Putin said. He added that Russia was not fighting for territories" but for peoples rights to language and culture. The Russian leader warned that the conflict could only end if common sense prevails." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 20:11 IST News world Stop Singling Out India: US Expert Counters Trumps Frustration Over Ukraine Peace Efforts Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Confirms 11 Dead In US Attack On Drug-Smuggling Boat From Venezuela | Watch Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 06:53 IST Maduro has responded defiantly, vowing that Venezuela would resist any attempted US military intervention. In July, Trump signed a directive authorising the use of military force against Latin American drug cartels (AP/File) During his Oval Office address to the press on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced a military strike against a drug-carrying boat" coming from Venezuela. Later, he posted on Truth Social to provide more details about the incident, stating that the strike in the southern Caribbean resulted in the deaths of 11 Narcoterrorists," with no US personnel injured in the operation. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the US had just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out a drug-carrying boat." He also revealed that he had been briefed on the strike by General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasising the rapid response by the US military. Recommended Stories @POTUS: We just, over the last few minutes, shot out a drug-carrying boat and theres more where that came from These came out of Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/JlurCZWBpG Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 2, 2025 In his Truth Social post, Trump explained that the military operation targeted members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, a group linked to drug trafficking and organised crime. The President underscored that the vessel was operating in international waters while transporting illegal narcotics bound for the US, justifying the military intervention. This strike comes amid escalating military and political pressure from the Trump administration against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In recent weeks, the US has intensified its campaign, including the announcement of a $50 million (37 million) reward in August for information leading to Maduros arrest on drug-trafficking charges. Maduro has responded defiantly, vowing that Venezuela would resist any attempted US military intervention. Additionally, in July, Trump signed a secret directive authorising the use of military force against Latin American drug cartels labelled as terrorist organisations, including the Venezuelan group targeted in this operation. Trumps Truth Social post was accompanied by a grainy aerial video showing a motorboat speeding across choppy waters before suddenly bursting into flames, providing visual confirmation of the strike. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in on the incident, posting on X that today the US military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Maduro has sharply responded to the US, warning Trump to take care because Marco Rubio wants to stain your hands with blood, with South American, Caribbean blood [and] Venezuelan blood," underscoring the high tensions between the two countries. This strike is the first known US military action against alleged drug smugglers since the administration increased its military presence in the Caribbean last month. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 06:53 IST News world Trump Confirms 11 Dead In US Attack On Drug-Smuggling Boat From Venezuela | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Insists US Has Acted Against Russia, Points To India Sanctions On Oil Purchases Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 21:40 IST Donald Trump defended his Russia policy, highlighting secondary sanctions on India that he claimed cost Moscow hundreds of billions. US President Donald Trump | Reuters Image US President Donald Trump pushed back against criticism that his administration has taken no action against Russia, citing tough secondary sanctions on India that he said have cost Moscow hundreds of billions of dollars." When asked by a reporter about the lack of action on Russia, Donald Trump replied, Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India that cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia. You call that no action?" Recommended Stories Donald Trump added that additional measures were still on the table. He said, I havent done phase two yet or phase three. I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and hell make a decision well either be happy about it or unhappy and if were unhappy about it, youll see things happen." The Trump administration has slapped a 25 per cent reciprocal duty on Indian goods, along with another 25 per cent penalty linked to New Delhis purchase of Russian oil- bringing tariffs to a steep 50 per cent, among the highest in the world. Donald Trump has repeatedly accused India of fueling Russias deadly attacks on Ukraine" by buying discounted crude, even as he has stopped short of imposing harsher sanctions directly on Moscow. What Vladimir Putin Said On Ukraine Peace Talks The US Presidents remarks come as Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the value of direct talks with Ukraine under current conditions. Ive never ruled out meeting Zelenskyy, but the question is whether it can be meaningful," he said, arguing that Kyiv is constrained by martial law, constitutional requirements for referendums and what he called an illegitimate leader." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Vladimir Putin added that Russia is not fighting for territories, but for peoples rights- to speak their language, to practice their culture," warning the conflict could only end if common sense prevails." Otherwise, he said, Moscow would pursue its goals through military means. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 21:39 IST News world Trump Insists US Has Acted Against Russia, Points To India Sanctions On Oil Purchases 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 To Speak With Zelenskyy On Thursday Over Ukraine War Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 04, 2025, 00:03 IST US President Donald Trump plans new talks on the Ukraine war after no progress was made at the Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. File photo of Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Credits: Reuters) US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he plans to hold fresh discussions regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, following the lack of progress at Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite earlier confidence in his ability to end the conflict, which began with Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated at his administrations inability to halt the fighting. When he assumed office in January, he had predicted a swift resolution. Recommended Stories Trump said that talks are scheduled in the coming days, news agency Reuters reported. According to a White House official, a phone call is expected on Thursday between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Earlier in the day, the French presidency said that several European leaders, including Zelenskyy and Frances Emmanuel Macron, would call Trump on Thursday afternoon as part of a broader diplomatic effort. The Reuters report suggests that the conversation will follow a mostly virtual summit hosted by France, involving around 30 countries, aimed at coordinating security assistance for Ukraine once there is a peace agreement with Russia. European leaders are also expected to criticize Russias ongoing refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations. While both Trump and Putin expressed cautious optimism after their August 16 meeting in Anchorage, there has been little sign of progress. Putin has so far shown limited interest in ending the conflict. I have no message to President Putin," Trump told reporters at the White House as he met Polish President Karol Nawrocki. He knows where I stand and hell make a decision one way or another. Whatever his decision is, well either be happy about it or unhappy about it and if were unhappy about it, youll see things happen," he said. Trump has previously suggested increased sanctions on Russia as a possible next step. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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 Manish... Read More Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 23:45 IST News world Trump To Speak With Zelenskyy On Thursday Over Ukraine War 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 Very Disappointed With Putin, Says Russia-Ukraine War Makes No Sense' Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 05:05 IST In August, Trump publicly extended a deadline for Putin, allowing him a couple of weeks to initiate talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. President Putin is currently in China, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit (AP file photo) US President Donald Trump, in a recent phone interview with CNNs Scott Jennings, expressed his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the lack of progress in resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The two leaders last met during a bilateral meeting in Alaska on August 15, their first official meeting since Trump assumed the presidency in January. Although Trump praised his relationship with Putin, he did not hide his dissatisfaction with the situation on the ground. Very disappointed. Thousands of people are dying. Theyre not Americans that are dying, but theyre Russians and theyre Ukrainians, and theres thousands, and its a war that makes no sense," Trump said during the conversation. Recommended Stories Trump again reiterated his long-standing claim that the conflict could have been prevented entirely had he been in office in 2022. And it would have never started if I were president, and thats what bothers me even more, because the election was totally rigged," he stated. Asked about the latest meeting between Putin and Xi during the show, Trump shrugged off the idea of a threatening alliance, stating he wasnt concerned about an axis" targeting the US. TRUMP tells me he is disappointed" in PUTIN and that he will be doing something to help people live."Watch the full interview on THE SCOTT JENNINGS RADIO SHOW at 2-3PM eastern on SALEM and streaming right here on X pic.twitter.com/BTtLJzq9ox Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) September 2, 2025 In August, Trump publicly extended a deadline for Putin, allowing him a couple of weeks" to initiate talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Well see what happens," Trump said at the time. I think in two weeks, well know which way Im going, because Im going to go one way or the other, and theyll learn which way." However, Trump did not elaborate on what specific actions he might take against Russia for missing the deadline to hold peace talks with Zelenskyy. The agreed timeframe expired on Monday without any indication of progress. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Following the August 15 Alaska summit, Trump invited President Zelenskyy and European Union leaders to the White House for further discussions. During the meeting on August 18, it was agreed that Putin would meet with Zelenskyy within the next two weeks, an expectation that now remains unfulfilled. Meanwhile, President Putin is currently in China, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and the China Military Parade. During his visit, he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which he reportedly briefed him on his discussions with Trump during their Alaska meeting. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 03, 2025, 05:05 IST News world Trump Very Disappointed With Putin, Says Russia-Ukraine War Makes No Sense' 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... Two Indian Students Killed In UK Car Crash On Way Back From Ganesh Immersion Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 03, 2025, 10:53 IST The two drivers, Gopichand Batamekala and Manohar Sabbani, have been taken into custody in connection with the collision. Family members of both students have appealed to the Central and Telangana state governments to arrange for the repatriation of the bodies. (AI image) Two students from Hyderabad lost their lives, and five others were injured in a tragic road accident in the United Kingdom on Monday night. The crash took place in Essex city, when two cars carrying nine students collided on the A130 dual carriageway at Rayleigh Spur roundabout while returning from Ganesh Nimmajanam celebrations. The deceased have been identified as Chaitanya Tarre (23), who died on the spot, and Rishiteja Rapolu (21), who succumbed to injuries at a hospital. The injured students were rushed to Royal London Hospital, where two of them remain in critical condition. Sai Goutham Ravulla (30) is currently on ventilation, while Nuthan Thatikayala has been left partially paralysed. Others undergoing treatment include Yuva Teja Reddy Gurram, Vamshi Golla, and Venkata Sumanth Pentyala. Recommended Stories According to police in Essex, the two drivers, Gopichand Batamekala and Manohar Sabbani, have been taken into custody in connection with the collision. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chaitanya, a resident of Nadargul in Hyderabad, had completed his BTech before moving to London eight months ago for higher studies. His parents, Ailayya and Mangamma, were devastated after being informed of his death late Monday night. Rishitejas family in Boduppal also received the heartbreaking news the same evening. Family members of both students have appealed to the Central and Telangana state governments to arrange for the repatriation of the bodies. About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small even... Read More First Published: September 03, 2025, 10:28 IST News world Two Indian Students Killed In UK Car Crash On Way Back From Ganesh Immersion 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... An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Gavin Gray, mission chief for Ukraine, began meetings in Kyiv on Wednesday with Ukrainian authorities and other stakeholders, according to Priscilla Toffano, the IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine. "The discussions will cover budget plans for 2026, the medium-term fiscal framework, monetary and exchange rate policies, as well as financial sector and other structural policies," Toffano said. National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Governor Andriy Pyshnyy said in mid-August that an IMF mission would visit in the coming weeks to discuss the possibility and feasibility of a new program in light of Russia's ongoing war. "In the coming weeks, the IMF mission will arrive to decide whether a new program is needed or if we prepare for the 9th10th review [of the current program] in NovemberDecember this year. The current program assumes the war will end by 2026," he told reporters. Pyshnyy stressed that much in this discussion will depend on progress in negotiations toward a potential lasting peace. According to him, the mission must determine the financing gap and ways to close it. As reported following the 8th review of the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) in late June, the 9th and 10th reviews originally scheduled for late August and early December this year were combined into a single 9th review, now planned for Q4 2025. Kyiv explained the move as a desire to align IMF financing with Ukraine's balance-of-payments needs, given higher-than-expected inflows in Q3 2025, increased outflows at year-end, and the need for additional time to advance reforms. As a result, the combined 10th tranche under the IMF program will amount to SDR 1.117 billion (about $1.6 billion at the current exchange rate). The subsequent review and disbursement schedule until program completion in spring 2027 remains unchanged: the 11th review in early March 2026 (SDR 0.93 billion), and the 12th and 13th reviews in late August 2026 and March 2027 (SDR 0.75 billion and SDR 0.79 billion, respectively). NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed hope that after the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris on September 4, there will be a clear picture of the security guarantees that will be provided to Ukraine after the end of the war. "There will be an important meeting tomorrow. So I hope that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow we will get a clear picture of what we can achieve together," Rutte said on Wednesday at a joint press conference in Brussels with Estonian President Alar Karis. According to him, this will allow for even more intensive interaction with the American side to find out what kind of participation the United States will take in security guarantees and what this will look like. The NATO Secretary General noted that if bilateral or trilateral meetings with the Russians begin, in particular at the leadership level, it will be extremely important to have clarity in advance on the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine. Because for Ukrainians there is one main priority: if the war ends, "they want such a situation to never happen again, so that the Russians do not try to seize a single square kilometer of Ukraine." Belgium is set to formally recognize a Palestinian state, but with a catch: the move hinges on the release of all Gaza hostages and a future where Hamas is no longer in charge. Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot made the announcement ahead of September's UN General Assembly, aligning Belgium with a growing wave of countries aiming to push Israel toward a ceasefire in Gaza, the New York Times reports. The recognition, Prevot said, is intended to be "fully recognized on the international stage by Belgium," though only if the country's conditions are met. The announcement comes amid mounting frustration among European leaders over Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which health officials there say has claimed more than 60,000 Palestinian lives. In a post on X, Prevot cited Belgium's "international obligations including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide," the Hill reports. Belgium's move follows similar signals from France, with President Emmanuel Macron pledging recognition of Palestine at the upcoming UN meeting. Several other nations, including Spain, Ireland, and Norway, have already made the leap. Israel's government remains steadfastly opposed, arguing that recognizing a Palestinian state undermines its security. As part of its new stance, Belgium will also roll out sanctions targeting Israel, including a ban on products from Israeli settlements and travel restrictions on certain Israeli officials and Hamas leaders. "This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law," Prevot said. . Asylum-seekers in Greece who have their bids denied now have 14 days to get outor elseas the country enacts one of the toughest immigration laws in Europe. Passed by Parliament and championed by conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the law imposes prison terms of two to five years, hefty fines, and faster deportations for those who remain in the country more than two weeks after their asylum is rejected, reports the New York Times . The move is part of a wider European trend toward tightening borders and accelerating removals. Over the summer, Crete saw a surge in migrant arrivals from Libya, prompting Mitsotakis to temporarily suspend new asylum applications and signal a harsher approach to human smugglers. Since then, arrivals have dropped sharply. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said the law sends a clear message: "The Greek state does not accept you. You only have one choice: to go back. You're not welcome." The law shortens the voluntary departure window from 25 to 14 days, allows for electronic monitoring of migrants, and triples fines for illegal entry to roughly $11,700, with up to a $35,000 penalty for reentry after rejection. It also eliminates the right to seek residency after seven years and permits detention for up to 24 months for undocumented arrivals. Plevris said that "those who are downtrodden," as opposed to those "who think that Europe owes them," will still be accepted. Supporters argue the law will deter future arrivals, while critics question whether Greece's overcrowded prisons can handle the fallout and whether the measures overstep European legal boundaries. The law comes as overall numbers of undocumented migrants arriving in Greece have fallen far below crisis levels of a decade ago, when Reuters notes that the country was a "frontline" of an exodus of more than a million people who fled the Middle East and Africa, but the political heat surrounding migration remains high. UN officials note that current migration numbers don't constitute an emergency; the EU border agency is reviewing 12 cases of alleged human rights violations in Greece Alphabet shares jumped 9% on Wednesday after a judge spared Google from a forced breakup in a landmark antitrust case , easing investor concerns and fueling optimism about the tech giant's future, per CNBC . The Department of Justice had pushed for sweeping remedies , including forcing Google to sell off its Chrome browser. However, US District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the idea of a split, instead opting for less severe restrictions. While the court reaffirmed that Google holds an illegal monopoly in internet search, it stopped short of mandating major divestitures, meaning Google retains control of its Chrome browser and Android operating system, which is seen as crucial for Google's push into artificial intelligence. Google will still be allowed to pay other companies to make its products the default, such as the billions it pays Apple for default search status on iPhones. However, Google can no longer enter into exclusive deals that tie payments or licensing to using only Google products. It must also give rivals access to some of its search data. Many interpreted the decision as a major win for the company. Gabriel Weinberg, CEO of the DuckDuckGo search engine, said he didn't think the mandated remedies would address "Google's illegal behavior," per Business Insider. It's like a serial bank robber being sentenced "to probation under which they may continue robbing banks but must share data on how they rob banks with competing bank robbers," added Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, which previously won an antitrust lawsuit against Google. However, Rebecca Hay Allensworth, an antitrust expert at Vanderbilt Law School, disagrees, telling the BBC the ordered remedies "could be meaningful." While Google avoided the worst-case scenario, she says Mehta didn't go easy on the company. Rather, his ruling was in keeping with an appeals court's overturning of a judge's call in the late 1990s to break up Microsoft's monopoly of the web browser market. Adam Kovacevich, founder of the Chamber of Progress tech-industry coalition, noted that "in rejecting Google critics' fantastical remedies," Mehta cited the Microsoft case "nine different times." Character.AI, a widely used app that lets people chat with AI versions of celebrities and fictional characters, is facing scrutiny after safety groups found chatbots were sending inappropriate messages to teens. According to reports by ParentsTogether Action and Heat Initiative, bots mimicking the voices and likenesses of public figures such as Timothee Chalamet, Chappell Roan, and Patrick Mahomes engaged in conversations with users aged 13 to 15 about sex, self-harm, and drugs, the Washington Post reports. These chatbots, created by regular users with Character.AI's tools, generated troubling content every five minutes on average during testing, the groups say. Researchers say they sometimes pushed boundaries to see how the chatbots would reactbut in some cases, the chatbots made sexual advances without being prompted. Character.AI says these impersonator bots, created by users, were removed. The company emphasizes its policies barring sexual content, grooming, and impersonation of public figures without consent. The company has introduced a stricter version of its technology for minors, offering parental controls to monitor who teens are chatting with and for how long. Character.AI argues that the accounts used in the tests should have triggered those extra protections. Despite these measures, the app's content filters have proven inconsistent, per the Post, sometimes allowing risky exchanges to slip through while blocking others. The company's user base skews young, with more than half from Gen Z or younger, and users reportedly spend over an hour daily on the app. Shelby Knox, director of tech accountability campaigns at ParentsTogether Action, tells the Post that the research shows companion bots shouldn't be marketed to children. "The 'Move fast, break things' ethos has become 'Move fast, break kids,'" she says. Stanford Medicine psychiatrist Nina Vasan says AI companions are designed to "mimic emotional intimacy," which can be dangerous for teens, who tend to act impulsively and form deep attachments. She says research shows companions from companies including Character.AI "engaged in abusive or manipulative behavior when promptedeven when the system's terms of service claimed the chatbots were restricted to users 18 and older. It's disturbing how quickly these types of behaviors emerged in testing, which suggests they aren't rare but somehow built into the core dynamics of how these AI systems are designed to please users." (A Florida mother says a Character.AI chatbot manipulated her 14-year-son into killing himself.) Son did not communicate with father because one was a patriot, other was not ex-wife of suspect in murder of MP Parubiy The ex-wife of the suspect in the murder of the People's Deputy, former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy, Olena Cherninka, has said their common son did not communicate with his father because one was a patriot and the other was not. "I broke up with my ex-husband in 1998. And officially with the document - in 2000. I raised my son alone. Sometimes my father would show up. Like on September 1st in the first grade or for some significant event. He communicated with his son, but very rarely. When Lemberg (call sign of Mykhailo-Viktor Stelnikov, the suspect's son - IF-U) went to war, they had a big fight. And Lemberg blocked his ancestor everywhere. Because one was a patriot and the other was not," she wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. The woman reported that she had to communicate with her ex-husband after the death of her son regarding documents and investigative procedures. "There was neither friendship nor enmity. Our infrequent communication was only about the disappearance of our son," she noted. Cherninka wrote that the news from the court in the case of the murder of Andriy Parubiy shocked their family. "It is important that the memory of Mykhailo is not distorted in this situation. My son, a hero, died for Ukraine. He went through Kyiv, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv and himself asked for a transfer to Bakhmut to the 93rd brigade. To the hottest point. He was a junior sergeant, commander of a reconnaissance platoon. And he died like a Hero. Heroes do not die!" she said. The woman also added that "Lemberg" was the author of a petition for the immediate introduction of a visa regime from the Russian Federation, registered the day before the full-scale invasion, on February 23, 2022. As reported, the suspect in the murder of People's Deputy Parubiy admitted his guilt during a conversation with journalists at a court hearing in Lviv, where he was being selected as a preventive measure. He stated that this was "revenge on the Ukrainian authorities." "This is my personal revenge on the Ukrainian authorities," said the suspect, Mykhailo Stselnikov, without explaining what this revenge was for and why, since Parubiy was no longer in power. According to reports by journalists from "Slidstvo.Info", Mykhailo-Viktor Stselnikov, with the call sign "Lemberg," was a scout of the 3rd Mechanized Battalion and died in May 2023 in Bakhmut. "Officially, Mykhailo-Viktor Stselnikov has been missing since May 20, 2023, the head of the patronage service of the 93rd OMB Alina Karnaukhova told the Slidstvo.Info ezine. His body could not be taken from the battlefield," the publication said in a statement. When asked whether the information that Russian special services blackmailed him in connection with the missing body of his dead son was true, the suspect said: "This is not true." "All I want is for them to quickly make (make a verdict - IF-U) now. Yes, I admit that I killed him and I want to ask that I be exchanged for prisoners of war and that I could go and find my son's body," he said. Member of the European Solidarity Rada faction Mykola Knyazhytskyi stated on his Facebook page that he knew the suspect's son and his mother, but "no one knew or saw" his father. "He left the family 27 years ago. He had a second child from his second marriage, whom he also left and had proceedings for non-payment of alimony. Therefore, the story about a loving father is a fiction and a legend. But this is an ideal object for recruitment and legend," the MP said. Knyazhytsky therefore believes that "the story about a father in despair who wants to look for his son and therefore killed Andriy Parubiy is strange." According to the Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine, Chief of the Criminal Police Andriy Nebytov, the suspect in the murder of Parubiy had no accomplices in Ukraine. This is currently what law enforcement officials believe. "So far, we have not seen any accomplices directly in Ukraine. We understand for sure that the suspect planned to leave for Khmelnytskyi region, where he was supposed to hide for some time, but already on September 1, he was waiting for information from his curator to illegally cross the state border," he said on the air of a nationwide telethon on Tuesday evening. On the same day, Nebytov reported that the priority version remains the Russian trail of the murder. "This crime was not spontaneous. It was carefully prepared. We believe that it was more than one month of preparation for both the approach and departure of the criminal," he noted. As reported, Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada in 2016-2019, Parubiy, was shot dead on the street in Lviv at noon on August 30. An unknown man fired several shots at the politician, as a result of which he died on the spot. The alleged shooter in the Parubiy murder case was detained in Khmelnytsky region, 52-year-old Lviv resident Mykhailo Stselnikov, who gave testimony and confessed to the crime. He is suspected of committing the crime under Article 112 (assault on the life of a MP of Ukraine committed in connection with his state or public activities) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Florida is poised to wipe its vaccine mandates off the books, with state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announcing Wednesday that all requirementsincluding those for schoolchildren against diseases like measles and polioare set to end, reports the Tampa Bay Times . Ladapo didn't offer details on the process or a timeline for when the changes could take effect, but he did have some strong words: The move marks a sharp escalation for the DeSantis administration, which until recently had mostly targeted COVID-19 vaccines with its criticism. In 2022, Ladapo's Health Department broke with the American Academy of Pediatrics by advising that healthy kids skip mRNA COVID shots; the no-COVID-vaccine recommendation was later expanded to all ages. Should the state do away with all vaccine mandates, it would be the first US state to do so, reports the New York Times. The World Health Organization credits vaccines with saving 154 million lives over the past half-century, mainly among infants. Health officials warn that rolling back vaccine mandates could threaten that progress, pointing to past successes like the eradication of smallpox. In 1855, Massachusetts became the first state to require that children have a smallpox vaccine before going to school, the Mayo Clinic notes in a look at the history of vaccine requirements in the US. Fairbanks, AK (99701) Today Snow likely. High 7F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low -16F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. A civic group in Usa City, Oita Prefecture that collects and analyzes wartime film archives released 18 pieces of footage to the media on December 7th, with the materials depicting kamikaze aircraft engaging U.S. forces and the devastation from air raids across Japan, much of it being shown publicly for the first time after the group obtained and examined the reels from the U.S. National Archives. TOKYO, Sep 04 (News On Japan) - At a regular press conference of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, Takeshi Niinami, who stepped down as chairman of Suntory Holdings, appeared with a calm demeanor and used the opportunity to deny wrongdoing over his alleged involvement in the import of illegal supplements. "I do not believe I have broken the law, and I maintain my innocence," Niinami said. "However, I acknowledge that my decision to purchase the CBD supplement was careless and caused this situation. I sincerely apologize for that." Niinami's home was searched last month by authorities on suspicion of illegally importing supplements containing THC, a component derived from cannabis. At the press conference, he claimed he had only purchased legal CBD products and explained that he believed the items in question were compliant with the law. "I purchased CBD supplements in the United States," he explained. "They were commercially available products, and I had intended to bring them back myself during a business trip in April. However, they were ultimately transported via a different route due to subsequent travel to India before returning to Japan." According to Niinami, a friend living in New York sent him the supplements on two occasions. The first time, the friend carried them as hand luggage to Japan and arranged for them to be delivered to Niinami's residence. The second time, the friend mailed the supplements to Niinamis brother in Fukuoka, asking him to forward them to Niinamis home. It was this second shipment that raised suspicions of containing THC and led to the brothers arrest by police. "The issue has arisen specifically with the second shipment," Niinami stated. "This was completely unexpected, and I never instructed anyone to import it domestically." He emphasized that he never physically received either shipment, including the one he had originally asked his friend to send. "I travel abroad frequently and have an arrangement with my family to dispose of packages from unknown senders," Niinami said. "I believe the items were likely discarded by my family under this rule." When asked why he had not informed his family that the package might be arriving, he replied, "I didnt specifically tell them what was coming the first time either, so there was no communication about the contents." Although he had previously purchased CBD products in Japan, Niinami said he chose to acquire them from the U.S. this time due to his frequent business trips and their lower cost. "I often suffer from jet lag, and this friend who has looked after my health strongly recommended these," he explained. "They were also significantly cheaper than those available in Japan, which was another reason for the decision." Despite his role as a leading figure in Japans corporate world, including representing companies like Lawson and Suntory, Niinami justified his actions by citing cost-effectiveness. When pressed on whether he was aware of legal ambiguities surrounding such products, he responded, "There was absolutely no sense of ambiguity. I was 100% confident that the CBD was legal." He said he would refrain from public appearances and leave the matter to the discretion of the association's leadership. "I dont believe CEOs and chairmen should be forced to resign just because someone in their family is questioned by the police. That would set a dangerous precedent," he said. Niinami concluded by emphasizing that the situation surrounding Suntory differed from other recent supplement-related scandals because no questionable products had been distributed by the company. Source: TBS YAMANASHI, Sep 03 (News On Japan) - A video showing a foreign man desecrating a cemetery in Japan has triggered widespread criticism on social media and led the Australian Embassy in Tokyo to issue a rare warning. The footage, posted online on August 4, shows an Australian visitor wandering through a cemetery in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture. Holding a can of alcoholic drink left as an offering, he gulped it down before clinking the empty can against a gravestone in a mock toast. The man, speaking in the video, remarked, "If you died angry, may you have your revenge." Further videos posted on separate days revealed additional misconduct. He was seen twirling a sotobaa wooden tablet placed to honor the deadwhile at other times brandishing what appeared to be a toy gun, and even touching a rabbit figurine believed to be an offering. Despite mounting criticism online, the man showed no remorse, stating, "What I did at the cemetery is being widely talked about, but I dont care at all. I actually like the video." Local residents expressed shock, saying, "Unbelievablewhy would anyone do this?" and "Offerings belong to our ancestors. Its unthinkable." The videos also captured other reckless behavior, including the man climbing onto the railing of a bridge and diving into Lake Kawaguchi, a stunt that could easily have caused an accident. According to lawyer Koji Mizokami of Hashimoto Sogo Law Office, the acts could carry serious penalties: "Consuming offerings can be treated as theft, punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen. Damaging a sotoba may result in up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen." Police have confirmed they are aware of the videos circulating online and are proceeding with necessary investigations. The Australian Embassy, in a statement to the press, said it had urged visitors to respect Japanese laws and customs: "Incidents such as this are increasing, and based on a comprehensive assessment we decided to issue this warning." Source: FNN TOKYO, Sep 03 (News On Japan) - The Liberal Democratic Party held a joint meeting of both houses on Tuesday to review its crushing defeat in the Upper House election, where it was revealed that all three top executives, including Secretary-General Moriyama, intend to resign. How Prime Minister Ishiba will respond to these resignations is now a central question. Returning to the Prime Ministers Office shortly before 5:30 p.m. after the meeting, Ishiba told reporters: "I will make a judgment on responsibility at the appropriate time, but for now, I will devote myself fully to what the people expect me to do." Earlier in the afternoon, Ishiba entered the meeting hall with his right hand raised. Before the report on the election defeat was delivered, he opened with repeated words of apology. Ishiba said: "What I failed to achieve is entirely my responsibility. The fact that we lost many comrades is solely my responsibility. I offer my deepest and most sincere apologies. I am truly sorry." He repeated the phrase "my responsibility" four times, and went on to declare: "I have no attachment to my position. I have no intention of clinging to it. I will make the proper decision at the appropriate time." After the initial press cameras were ushered out, Moriyama, the partys number two, announced his intention to resign. Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera also told reporters he had conveyed his resignation to the Prime Minister, while General Council Chairman Suzuki likewise expressed his intent to step down. This wave of resignations created what observers called a "domino effect" within the party leadership, coinciding with the election review. Meanwhile, the official report presented behind closed doors at the meeting did not directly address the responsibility of Ishiba or the leadership. Instead, it concluded with the pledge: "We will embark on a rebuilding effort akin to the rebirth of the party itself, and transform into a true national political party." Some lawmakers welcomed the tone. LDP Upper House member Katayama said: "I thought the report was relatively balanced. Many lawmakers also appreciated the Prime Ministers statement that he would not cling to his position and would decide at the appropriate time." But others raised concerns. Former Minister for Economic Security Kobayashi said: "How do we reconcile his remarks with his past statements that election results must not be taken lightly? If there is no change in how he intends to take responsibility, I am prepared to sign a petition calling for an early leadership election." With the resignation domino shaking the party, speculation is growing over whether this will fuel efforts to push Ishiba out. On the evening of September 2nd, party lawmakers were formally informed that a decision would be made on Monday, September 8th, regarding whether to bring forward the leadership election. Source: FNN President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Denmark, where he will meet with Mette Frederiksen and will also take part in negotiations with the leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight, presidential spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov has told reporters. "Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Denmark for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and negotiations with the leaders of the NB8 (Nordic-Baltic 8) format," he said. Earlier, Zelenskyy announced that on Wednesday he would take part in the Ukraine-Nordic and Baltic States summit in Denmark, meet with the French president in the evening, and on Thursday he would take part in a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, where he would discuss the need to increase pressure on Russia. TOKYO, Sep 04 (News On Japan) - A low-pressure system in the Pacific is expected to strengthen into a typhoon, with forecasts raising the possibility of it sweeping across Japan later this week. Meanwhile, unstable atmospheric conditions on September 3rd triggered sudden downpours and thunderstorms across the Kanto region, leading to flooding and property damage in several areas. In Tochigi Prefecture, violent claps of thunder were followed by a sudden deluge of rain. In Kamimikawa Town, heavy rainfall obscured visibility as large raindrops pelted down. One resident reported, "The waterway is close to overflowing and can no longer hold the rain." Rainwater pooled in parking lots and spilled onto the roads, threatening to breach nearby waterways. In Moka City, streets were submerged, resembling rivers as cars crawled forward, spraying water in all directions. Some vehicles were forced to turn back due to the inundation. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued "record-breaking short-term heavy rain" alerts for parts of Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures. Around 110 millimeters of rain fell near Oyama City within one hour before 6 p.m., while approximately 120 millimeters was recorded near Yuki City. The sudden downpours also brought hail to certain areas. In Moka City, strong winds toppled greenhouses, bending metal frames and scattering vinyl sheeting, some of which became entangled in a nearby steel tower. Wind damage was also reported in urban areas. In front of Oyama Station, a tree split down the middle, forcing cars to maneuver around it. Flowerpots nearby were knocked over, and city workers rushed to remove fallen branches. In the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions, intense thunderstorms struck from the early hours. In Niigata Prefecture, widespread flooding was reported, with the Joetsu City Driver's License Center forced to close due to water damage. It happened so quickly in the morning. The floor was already flooded before we realized it, said a visitor who had come for business. Akita Prefecture also experienced record-setting rainfall, with several rivers overflowing since September 2nd. In Kitaakita City, 236.5 millimeters of rain fell in 24 hours, the highest level ever recorded in the area. Meanwhile, a tropical depression south of Japan is forecast to develop into a typhoon. It is expected to approach Kyushu on September 4th and may later move across Honshu. Authorities are closely monitoring its trajectory and potential impact. Source: TBS GIFU, Sep 04 (News On Japan) - A high school student was injured in a bear attack on the evening of October 3rd in Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, while walking home. The bear has not yet been located, and nearby schools and residents remain on high alert. The attack occurred at around 7:15 p.m. near Sakashita Bridge in the Sakashita area of Nakatsugawa. A first-year male high school student was scratched on the head and back by the bear while on his way home. He managed to flee into a nearby house and was taken to a hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening. The incident took place in a residential area near JR Sakashita Station on the Chuo Line, prompting concern among local residents. "Ive lived here for 80 years, and this is the first time anything like this has happened," said one resident. "If its still wandering around, thats dangerous." Another added, "Its rare for a bear to come into a neighborhood like this. Until I hear its been caught, Im staying inside." While bears are known to inhabit nearby mountains, sightings within residential areas are extremely rare. According to Tadayoshi Furui of the Sakashita branch of the Keihoku Hunting Association, the bear likely came in search of food such as chestnuts and walnuts, which are abundant in the area at this time of year. In September last year, hunters from the same association captured a bear in the Sakashita district, but even then it had not ventured into neighborhoods. As of October 4th, the bear remains at large. Police and local authorities conducted patrols in the area in the morning. Students at nearby elementary schools were driven to school by parents and guardians for safety. Nakatsugawa City also reported a sighting of a bear-like animal around 6:40 a.m. near the Yasaka Children's Center, not far from the scene of the previous nights attack. The center has since closed all gates for the day as a precaution. The local hunting association has stepped up patrols as search efforts continue. Where the bear went after the attack remains unknown. Source: CBC 79% of Canadian office workers use AI tools only 1 in 4 use enterprise-grade AI solutions 97% said AI improves productivity; nearly 80% said it enhances strategic or creative work 46% of employees would leave their job for a company that uses AI more effectively MARKHAM, ON, Sept. 3, 2025 /CNW/ -- A new study commissioned by IBM (NYSE: IBM) reveals that Shadow AI - the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications in the workplace without formal approval or oversight from a company's IT department, is becoming increasingly common across Canada. While 79% of full-time office workers said they use AI at work, only 25% rely on enterprise grade AI tools, signaling a widening disconnect between employee expectations and enterprise readiness. IBM AI Survey The rest rely on a mix of personal and employer tools (33%) or entirely on personal apps (21%). The growing reliance on using personal AI tools in the workplace introduces serious risks to Canadian businesses, from potential data leaks and compliance issues to losing control of sensitive business information. "AI adoption in the workplace is no longer theoretical - it's happening, and it's being led by employees," said Deb Pimentel, President, IBM Canada and General Manager, Technology, IBM Canada. "To securely and efficiently harness the value of AI for smarter business operations, leaders should prioritize secure solutions, align AI with tangible business objectives, and foster a data-driven culture. The urgency for action is clear: lead with foresight, invest in robust data infrastructure, and unlock AI's transformative power to build a thriving future of work in Canada." While AI offers organizations the opportunity to significantly improve productivity, the technology presents new challenges that organizations must tackle to ensure security of business data particularly with many Canadian employees testing personal AI tools in the workplace. The 2025 IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report underscores the increased risks posed by "shadow AI", the action of employees using unsanctioned AI tools in the workplace. In the past year, shadow AI has added nearly CA$308,000 per data breach. Rob Wilmot, General Manager & Managing Partner, IBM Consulting Canada said, "The AI workplace revolution, faces a significant gap between employee expectations and enterprise readiness. Without secure, enterprise-grade solutions, to transform core systems and processes, businesses risk productivity losses and data exposure as employees seek alternatives. Considered and focused action is needed to bridge this gap for Canadian enterprises to capture tangible productivity gains and robust data protection. The good news is that some leading companies are already doing this and capturing the value. Its real. Our collective challenge is to scale this thoughtfully but at speed." Employee-led AI adoption is transforming how we work Canadian workers overwhelmingly view AI as a tool that makes them better at their jobs. In the study, 97% said they agree AI improves their productivity at work. 86% felt confident using AI, and nearly 80% said AI allows them to spend more time on the strategic or creative aspects of their roles. Canadian workers also believe productivity gains from AI are tangible. More than half (55%) said AI saves them between one and three hours per week; 26% reported saving up to six hours. The top benefits identified include: Faster task completion (61%) More efficient workload management (43%) Improved accuracy (40%) Increased creativity (39%) Canadian business AI adoption lags employee adoption Despite high usage and clear benefits, just 29% of workers believed their employer is using AI to its full potential. The confidence gap is especially pronounced among workers aged 45-54. Only 20% of this group said their organization is getting it right. Employees also have a clear sense of where AI could deliver the most value across the business, pointing to data analysis and reporting (60%), automation of repetitive tasks (55%), and content creation (37%) as top opportunities. For employers, this disconnect comes at a cost. Nearly half of workers (46%) said they would leave their current job for one that uses AI more effectively. Among Gen Z workers, that number jumps to 62%. A roadmap for responsible enterprise AI adoption To keep pace with the workforce and become more efficient, agile and innovative with AI, IBM recommends Canadian businesses focus on five key priorities: Build a modern data foundation: AI depends on structured, well-governed data. Organizations must invest in infrastructure that allows AI models to access clean, trusted data, while addressing bias, privacy, and regulatory requirements from the outset. Integrate AI governance: Organizations need tools and processes to assess AI maturity, manage risk, and ensure compliance with global regulations. Integrated AI governance provides the structure needed to monitor AI systems, mitigate risks, and align AI applications with ethical and legal standards. Implement a Responsible AI Framework: AI systems must be designed and deployed ethically, prioritizing principles such as explainability, fairness, robustness, transparency, and privacy. These measures help minimize bias, safeguard user data, and build trust in AI applications. For instance, frameworks like IBM's organizations align AI strategies with ethical standards and regulatory requirements. Focus on business-driven use cases: AI must be aligned to real operational outcomes whether that's streamlining internal services, improving customer interactions, or reducing costs. At IBM, we've adopted this approach internally through our "Client Zero" strategy. Using our own watsonx AI platform, IBM optimized core functions in HR, finance, and legal. One example is AskHR, an AI-powered virtual assistant that has handled over 11 million employee interactions, and resolved 94% of common employee inquiries as of 2025, while reducing costs and creating new roles in the process. Invest in inclusive skilling and adoption: Technology alone is not enough. Employees must be equipped with the skills to use AI confidently and responsibly. While 61% of workers say their employer is prioritizing AI upskilling, many remain unsure whether a formal plan is in place. Bridging this gap is essential to ensure AI success at scale. Study Methodology: The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 4,000 Full-time office workers who are not sole proprietors and are familiar with AI tools in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil (18+).The data was collected between 23.05.2025 - 30.05.2025. About IBM: IBM (NYSE: IBM) is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and consulting expertise. We help clients in over 175 countries harness insights from their data, optimize business processes, reduce costs and gain a competitive advantage in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on the IBM hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to achieve their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting offer open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, accountability, inclusion and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information. IBM, the IBM logo, and ibm.com are trademarks of the International Business Machines Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the web at "Copyright and trademark information" at www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml For more information about IBM Canada, visit https://www.ibm.com/ca-en For more information on watsonx, visit https://www.ibm.com/products/watsonx Media Contact: Ruhee Dhar External Relations Lead IBM Canada [email protected] SOURCE IBM Canada New partnership expands national retail access ahead of back-to-school and holiday shopping periods TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Genco International, the parent company of Kroeger Marketing, has signed a Canada-wide, non-exclusive distribution agreement with Faber-Castell, a global leader in creative and writing products. This agreement covers a select range of the Faber-Castell line of consumer products, including the award-winning Creativity for Kids arts and crafts kits. Distribution will begin in pre-approved select retail channels in September 2025, with continued rollout expected by January 2026. The partnership will expand Faber-Castell's spectacular product range across key retail segments, by opening additional distribution channels in Canada. This distribution expansion positions the Faber-Castell and Creativity for Kids brands strongly ahead of peak back-to-school and holiday shopping periods. It also supports Canadian parents, teachers, and retailers by improving access to well-regarded, high-quality creativity enhancing line of products. "This partnership with Faber-Castell strengthens our ability to deliver well-made, trusted creative products to Canadian retailers and consumers," said Grant Chapman, COO of Kroeger Marketing. "We're focused on making it easier for families, educators, and retailers across the country to access fun and creative tools that support hands-on learning and creativity." "Genco and Kroeger Marketing bring strong relationships and proven experience in the Canadian market," said Scott Flynn, CEO of Faber-Castell. "They will be an important additional partner in expanding our reach where we have not traditionally been present. Together with our broader network of partners, this relationship strengthens our ability to bring Faber-Castell's award-winning product lines to even more Canadian families, educators, and retailers." For more information, including product inquiries, please visit: https://kroegerinc.com/ About Genco International LLC Genco International is a multinational group founded by Rubin and Michelle Beige, the next generation of the Beige Family, legendary creators of the globally renowned Rubie's Costume Company. The newly formed firm specializes in strategic brand development, distribution, and operational excellence in the toy and costume industries. About Kroeger Marketing Kroeger Marketing is a North American wholesale distributor of top-branded toys, games, puzzles, arts & crafts, and Halloween products. With a 50+ year legacy, the company is committed to serving retailers across Canada and expanding its presence in North America. About Faber-Castell Faber-Castell's history dates back to 1761 when it was founded in Stein, Germany. Initially a small pencil manufacturing business, it quickly gained a reputation for high-quality products. Faber-Castell enjoys an excellent reputation among artists and hobby painters. Prestigious creative minds have recognized this expertise since immemorial from Vincent van Gogh to Karl Lagerfeld. Throughout its history, the company has remained committed to quality, sustainability, and creativity. Now in its ninth generation, the Faber-Castell brand remains one of the oldest family-owned companies, inspiring and unleashing creative potential worldwide. In 2011, Faber-Castell USA celebrated both the 250th Anniversary of Faber-Castell and 35 years of Creativity for Kidsthe acquired brand created by two women, Phyllis Brody, and Evelyn Greenwald, who believed in the power of creativity in children's lives. This conviction came from their childhood play experiences, those of their children, and the many workshops and classroom programs that brought them into contact with children worldwide. Today, Faber-Castell operates 14 production sites in 10 countries, markets its products through 22 sales/distribution organizations, and is represented in more than 120 countries. SOURCE Genco Kroeger Media Contact: Mikayla Werner, Swerve Strategic, [email protected], 905-979-3875 This Back-to-School Season, LDS Learn. Develop. Succeed. launches the #ProudMinds movement to reduce stigma and celebrate the unique strengths of every learner. VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Back-to-school should be a season of excitement, but for many families, it brings stress and worry, especially for neurodivergent students. Research shows that 40% of children with ADHD or autism also experience anxiety disorders, leaving many feeling isolated and unable to "measure up." This fall, LDS Learn. Develop. Succeed. is determined to flip that narrative. Through its #ProudMinds movement, the nonprofit is tackling stigma head-on and celebrating the brilliance, resilience, and strengths of neurodivergent youth. With support from a donor family, the organization is unveiling Ascend, a bold new mural by internationally renowned artist Carson Ting. Located at Rupert and Broadway, the mural is a vibrant symbol of growth, learning, and the power of encouragement. The public is invited to celebrate #ProudMinds and spotlight the contributions of neurodivergent students. Families can visit ldsociety.ca/proudminds to share one thing they love about how their child's brain works and enter to win prizes. Rachel S. Forbes, Executive Director, LDS Learn. Develop. Succeed. "We believe every neurodivergent child, youth, and adult has unique strengths to celebrate. Ascend is a vibrant expression of that visionsymbolizing growth, confidence, and empowerment. Thanks to our community and a generous donor family, we invite everyone to help us build #ProudMinds, together." Carson Ting, Artist, Chairman Ting "Ascend is a celebration of growth, learning, and the quiet power of support. I'm proud to partner with LDS Learn. Develop. Succeed. to create this metaphor for resilience and potential. Just as their instructors encourage students to flourish, this mural reflects how patience and belief in one another can lead to collective flourishing." About LDS Learn. Develop. Succeed. LDS Learn. Develop. Succeed. is a nonprofit charity that empowers children, youth, and adults with learning differences. Through research-based, individualized support, it helps learners build the tools and confidence to succeed. Serving families across Canada, it champions neurodiversity and advocates for inclusive, equitable education. ldsociety.ca. About Carson Ting Carson Ting is an award-winning Vancouver-based artist, illustrator, and creative director. Known for bold, imaginative storytelling, his work spans public art, advertising, and fine art. carsonting.com. SOURCE LDS - Learn. Develop. Succeed. MEDIA CONTACTS: Rachel S. 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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 Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2025/07/15 Ukrainian MP and leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko addressed the Verkhovna Rada with an appeal to immediately ban the Telegram messenger, which he said is being used by Russian intelligence services to coordinate terrorist actions against Ukraine, according to a statement on the party's website. From the parliamentary rostrum, Poroshenko thanked lawmakers who traveled to Lviv for the farewell ceremony for Andriy Parubiy, calling him "a true hero" and "a man who united parliament." "He was the best Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada. And even in death, he united all of us," Poroshenko said. The politician stressed that Parubiy's killing was organized via Telegram and that the platform is currently being used to create a network of terrorist activity in Ukraine. "It is our matter of honor to ban Telegram in Ukraine, here and now," he declared. Poroshenko also urged Ukrainians to continue Parubiy's mission defending independence, the army, the language, and the faith and to preserve unity, which he said is the key to victory over the enemy. British Defense Secretary John Healey has visited the British Council building in Kyiv, damaged by a Russian strike, the ministry's press service reported. "We will not jeopardize peace by forgetting about the war. The war that Putin continues to wage. Today in Kyiv, Defense Secretary John Healey saw with his own eyes the damage caused to the British Council by last week's Russian strikes, some of the deadliest of the entire war," UK Defense HQ said on X, attaching a photo of the Healey looking at the destroyed building. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) rapid response team in the Kyiv region has joined the liquidation of the consequences of the Russian night UAV attack in Vyshgorod (Kyiv region). "Volunteers conducted reconnaissance of damaged houses to identify possible victims and provided first psychological aid to local residents," the URCS said on Facebook on Wednesday. The rapid response team has deployed an aid station where you can charge gadgets, have a snack, drink tea or water. From 9:00 a.m., tarpaulins and film are being distributed on site for temporary repairs of damaged homes. As reported, in Vyshgorod at night, the wreckage of a downed UAV caught fire between residential multi-storey buildings. No casualties were reported. A New Jersey man is accused of running an illegal dogfighting operation on a compound in South Jersey. abc6/booking photo The alleged leader of one of New Jerseys largest dogfighting rings was indicted last week in a separate case accusing him of running an illicit drug operation while facing racketeering charges, according to state court records. Bruce Low, 46, of Millville, was out of jail when U.S. authorities seized a package containing opioids addressed to Low, prompting a search of his familys property in Maurice River Township. The indictment, which was handed up last Aug. 26, is Lows second of the year. He and six other alleged conspirators in the dogfighting operation were indicted in April on racketeering charges a year after police searched the familys compound. Authorities said they rescued over 100 pit bulls from the property being used to fuel the illegal enterprise. In Lows drug case, his second on record, U.S. Customs officials confiscated a package transporting about 6 kilograms of tapentadol, an opioid, being shipped from India. A controlled delivery of the package was made to Low on Monday, leading investigators to issue a search warrant. Investigators also found scales, grinders, and mixers, along with various amounts of cash, according to State Police. The search also turned up liquid morphine, police said. Low allegedly admitted to the detective that he ordered the package and was also in possession of the other items associated with drug packaging and distribution, police said. Low was charged with first-degree maintaining and operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility, two second-degree counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and two third-degree charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. A Cumberland County judge ordered Low to pre-trial detention about a week after his arrest in June. He is slated on Sept. 15, at the same time a disposition conference in the dogfighting case is also scheduled, records show. An attorney for Low couldnt immediately be reached for comment about the indictment on Wednesday. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. In the Khmelnytsky region, a local resident born in 1980 was killed as a result of a Russian missile strike, the head of the Khmelnytsky Regional Military Administration hear Serhiy Tiurin has said. "During the morning attack, he was at the site of the enemy strike. Rescuers and all services made maximum efforts to quickly search for him, for which a service search dog was involved," Tiurin said in a telegram channel. He added that as a result of the night attack, our air defense forces confirmed the shooting down of two missiles and three enemy Shahed drones. Eagles DE Chris Long (56) acknowledges the fans as he walks off the field following a 32-30 win over the Texans at Lincoln Financial Field, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Med Chris Long won a Super Bowl in Philadelphia and celebrated the Eagles winning it all last year. But the former Eagles star isnt predicting Philadelphia to go back-to-back. On a Tuesday episode of his podcast, Green Light with Chris Long, the retired edge rusher made his Super Bowl picks. The team that is easiest for me to place in the Super Bowl is on the NFC side, OK? Long said. I would say the Bucs are going to the Super Bowl this year. Heres the class of the NFC to me. The Bucs, Packers, Lions, Eagles, Commanders, in no particular order. The NFC is spicy. Now, the reason why I like the Bucs is they match up well against the Eagles, who will be fully formed at that point in January. Honestly, I think (the Bucs have) a great roster top to bottom. ... And they might be hosting some home games. Long and his co-hosts commented that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in a weak NFC South division, could post a favorable record and earn a high seed in the postseason. Long then went on to predict that the Buffalo Bills will win not just the AFC, but the Super Bowl, too. Some Eagles fans might be surprised to hear Long not pick his former team to repeat. But earlier in the podcast, he expressed concerns over this years team and said he wouldnt be shocked if the Washington Commanders win the NFC East. I have to be honest. The Philadelphia Eagles just won the Super Bowl. I know how hard it is to defend a Super Bowl title, Long said. ... Theres a lot of young guys on this team. Theres a lot of guys who just enjoyed success for the first time. How are they going to respond to that? Long brought up cornerback Adoree Jackson, who hasnt impressed this summer but is expected to start opposite Quinyon Mitchell. He brought up the ongoing injury issues with safety Sydney Brown. He brought up the Eagles unproven edge rushers. And you worry about the dry spells with Jalen (Hurts). As great as hes played on the biggest stages, on some of the smallest stages he hasnt played as well, Long said. Im concerned about taking anybody but the Eagles in the NFC East this year. Because this team deserves the benefit of the doubt. Theyre one of the best teams this century a year ago. Can the Commanders match up with other teams in the NFC better than Philly in some situations? Absolutely. But I think its going to come down to the matchups when they play each other. And for that reason, I think the Commanders come up just short. I am going to take the Eagles (in the NFC East). I dont feel great about it. Because I think the Commanders got better. Long became a fan favorite as an integral member of the franchises magical run to Super Bowl LII, where the Eagles beat his old team, the New England Patriots. But it didnt seem like Long enjoyed picking against the Eagles to win the Super Bowl or making preseason predictions in the first place. I hate all of this, he said. Let me see the teams play. Fair enough. Long will be able to watch the Eagles play on Thursday night when Philadelphia opens its 2025 season at home against the Dallas Cowboys. "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence and the cast in 2007: Neil Flynn, Christa Miller, Judy Reyes, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison and Zach Braff. Astrid Stawiarz | Getty Images Head nurse Carla Espinosa was one of the best characters on Scrubs, a series filled with good characters. Now Judy Reyes, who played Carla, is officially coming back for the Scrubs revival. "So thrilled to get back together with my Scrubs family!!" Reyes shared on Instagram Tuesday in response to a Deadline report about her signing on for the series. Reyes is set to return as Carla in a recurring guest star capacity, joining fellow original Scrubs stars Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke. READ MORE: Scrubs revival starring N.J.s Zach Braff greenlit with series alums Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke The Scrubs revival will air on ABC, the same network where Reyes currently appears in the crime drama High Potential with Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Kaitlin Olson. Reyes plays Lt. Selena Soto with the Los Angeles Police Departments Major Crimes unit in that show, which is heading into its second season this month. Reyes has also starred on the TNT series Claws and the Lifetime series Devious Maids and has made appearances on the popular HBO shows The Sopranos and Succession. The original run of Scrubs aired on NBC from 2001 to 2008, then ABC from 2009 to 2010. Carla, who appeared in the first eight seasons of the show, was a key authority figure at Sacred Heart Hospital. Judy Reyes as head nurse Carla Espinosa in "Scrubs." NBC She also sparked a romance with Faisons character, surgeon Christopher Turk. The co-workers got married and had a family. Braff, who grew up in South Orange, returns as John J.D. Dorian, Turks constant companion and fellow doctor at the hospital. Chalke is back as Elliot Reid, a doctor at the hospital who had a romance with J.D., who she ended up marrying. (They also had a kid.) J.D., Turk and Elliot all started the series as interns, and Braff, Faison and Chalke are all producers on the revival series. New arrived in July that ABC had greenlit the Scrubs return, which received a straight-to-series order for the 2025-2026 season. Braff was the first cast member to sign on in May, followed by Faison and Chalke. Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence is coming back as executive producer of the revival. Aseem Batra and Tim Hobert, writers from the original show, are the showrunners. In the new show, J.D. and Turk welcome a new crew of interns to the hospital. The original Scrubs ended in 2010 after airing on two networks, starting with its 2001 debut on NBC. In 2020, Braff and Faison started the Scrubs rewatch podcast Fake Doctors, Real Friends, with Zach and Donald," which they recently left in order to work on the new show. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. A student-athlete at the University of Kentucky was arrested after a dead baby's corpse was found in her closet. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) ASSOCIATED PRESS A college athlete was recently arrested and accused of hiding her dead infants body in a closet. Laken Ashlee Snelling, a 21-year-old student-athlete at the University of Kentucky, was taken into police custody Sunday in Lexington after police discovered a deceased infant in her closet on Aug. 27, according to a statement from the city of Lexington. Infant was located wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag, a Lexington police arrest citation read. A cause of death is currently under investigation for the baby whose age is unknown. Snelling, who a university spokesperson told NBC is a member of the competitive STUNT team (similar to competitive cheerleading), was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. The University of Kentucky senior was released Tuesday on a bond of $100,000 and placed under house arrest at her parents home in Kentucky, according to NBC. The report also stated Snelling told officers she had given birth to a baby and tried to conceal evidence of the birth. More entertainment news: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Former Newark Police Officer, Laura Ciesla, says she was forced to resign under duress after reporting harassment and being deemed unfit for duty while recovering from a mental health crisis. NJ Advance Media A former Newark police officer has filed a federal lawsuit alleging years of sexual harassment including advances from Mayor Ras Baraka and retaliation after testing positive for prescribed painkillers. Laura Ciesla claims she was forced out of the Newark Police Department despite complying with medical protocols and providing extensive documentation. Her lawsuit, filed on August 29, accuses the city of disability discrimination, due process violations, and fostering a hostile work environment. When asked about the lawsuit during a public event Wednesday, Baraka declined to comment and deferred to his lawyers. The mayors office referred questions about the lawsuit to Newark Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart, who issued a statement denying the allegations. The city completely denies the allegations in the complaint against the mayor, which we are hearing about for the first time, Stewart said. Given that this is the first notice on all allegations against the Mayor and members of the Newark Police Division, the city will be conducting a full-fledged investigation into this matter, he added. Ciesla, who served as an officer from 2018 to 2024, filed a 32-page complaint in U.S. District Court alleging persistent harassment by supervisors and city officials, including Baraka. The lawsuit claims Baraka sent flirtatious messages, requested photos of her in the shower and invited her to spas and dinnersadvances she says she repeatedly rejected. She also accuses several male colleagues of inappropriate behavior, including requests for nude photos and sexually explicit comments. The complaint centers in part on a 2023 drug test that came back positive for a prescribed painkiller. Ciesla says she disclosed the medication in advance and submitted multiple forms of documentation, including doctors notes and pharmacy records. Despite providing documentation, Ciesla claimed the department took away her service weapon, accused her of falsifying medical records, and subjected her to disciplinary hearings. Ciesla alleges that after months of harassment, retaliation, and being deemed unfit for duty while she was recovering from a mental health crisis, the Newark Police Department gave her no opportunity to return to work or use her remaining sick leave. Instead, she says she was pressured into resigning while still in recoverywhat she describes in the lawsuit as a resignation made under duress. Ciesla says she reported the harassment and retaliation to multiple higher-ups, including a lieutenant, a captain, and the police union president. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for lost wages, emotional distress and what Ciesla describes as a pattern of discriminatory practices within the department. Ciesla is represented by attorney John C. Luke Jr. of Abrams Fensterman, who said Ciesla declined additional comment. The complaint speaks for itself, Luke said. I think that our client was treated terribly and this is someone who was dedicating her life to public service. To be treated this way really speaks poorly of the department. When asked about what kind of evidence Ciesla has of her claims, Luke said I assume within Newark theres a lot of evidence because of the Internal Affairs department going through her medical records, her own medical records from the hospital stay, and obviously messages going back and forth between her and various people in the department and in the government. So, yeah, I mean, there definitely will be evidence, Luke said. When asked if any of that evidence was in text messages, Luke said, I dont know if I want to put that out there yet. However, he did point to this line in the complaint:Mayor Baraka started to send her messages on Signal because of the stricter privacy settings and controls. Captain John J. Chrystal, III of the Newark Police Superior Officers Association of the Newark, N.J. Police Department, declined to comment on the lawsuit. A request for comment the Newark Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 12, was not immediately returned. NJ Advance Media staff writer Jelani Gibson contributed to this report. Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com. Officials are warning about a possible measles exposure at three Bergen County locations, including the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital building at Hackensack University Medical Center. Julian Leshay | For NJ Advance M A Bergen County resident with measles could have exposed others when visiting a local medical building, an emergency room and a hospital, the state Health Department announced on Wednesday. Anyone who visited the following locations during the dates and times could have been exposed to measles and should monitor for symptoms that could appear as late as Sept. 20, health officials said: 385 Prospect Plaza at 385 Prospect Ave. in Hackensack, both on Aug. 25 between 2:30-5:45 p.m. and on Aug. 29 between 8:45-11:30 a.m. Pediatric Emergency Department at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack on Aug. 26 between 10:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital building at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack from 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 through 8:30 p.m. the following day. Anyone who thinks they may be sick with measles is asked to call before going directly to their doctors office or emergency department, so that special arrangements can be made to protect patients and staff from possible infection. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. Even after an infected person has left the room, the virus can remain present in the air for up to two hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a red rash that begins at the hairline, according to the CDC. The rash usually starts three to five days after the other symptoms. People can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears. New Jersey has reported 10 measles cases among residents so far in 2025. Thats up from seven total cases reported last year. Nationally, measles cases are rising to historic levels. According to the CDC, a total of 1,431 confirmed measles cases were reported by 42 states so far this year. That marks the highest annual measles case tally in 33 years, when officials recorded more than 2,100 infections in 1992. There have also been three documented deaths in New Mexico and Texas the first measles deaths in the U.S. in over a decade. Although measles was declared eliminated 25 years ago, large outbreaks with 50 or more cases have become more frequent, especially in close-knit communities with low vaccination coverage, according to the CDC. Public health experts say that measles control depends on herd immunity of 95% vaccination coverage and that rate has been declining in the U.S. and in New Jersey, while the number of people going unvaccinated climbs. The CDC recommends children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old. As of 2023, 93% of kindergartners in New Jersey have received two or more doses of MMR vaccine, which is slightly above the national average of 92.7%, but still a decline from the states 2022-23 vaccination rate of 94.3%, according to the CDC. The MMR vaccine, administered in two doses, is mandatory for children who attend school or day care centers in New Jersey, unless their parent or guardian seeks a medical or religious waiver. The New Jersey Department of Health encourages all residents to stay up to date on routine vaccinations, including MMR shots. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Authorities on Wednesday released 911 calls and body worn camera recordings from a fatal police-involved shooting on Aug. 8 in a New Brunswick apartment building. Deborah Terrell, 68, of New Brunswick, was shot by an officer in the incident after she advanced towards police with a knife, recordings show. The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General released body worn camera footage and 911 calls on Wednesday. (WARNING: This link contains videos that include scenes of fatal violence.) Authorities were initially called to the apartment building on Neilson Street around 4 a.m. on Aug. 8 for a report of a woman disturbing other residents, officials said. New Brunswick police officers tried to make contact with Terrell but she refused to speak with officers or open her door, authorities said. Police were called back to the apartment building at 7:32 a.m., according to authorities. A person who called 911 said Terrell was walking in and out of her apartment with large knife and threatening neighbors, according to a recording of the call. She said that Terrell threatened a neighbor and tried putting the knife under his door, according to the call. The caller said this was the second time Terrell had acted this way, having threatened a neighbor earlier the same morning, according to the recording. Body worn camera recordings show Terrell answering the door with a long knife as police arrive at her apartment door. She quickly closed the door as police tell her to put the knife down, recordings show. Terrell told police that another person was in the apartment with her, authorities said. For about eight minutes, officers attempted to convince Terrell to come into the hall and talk to them as she yelled from inside the apartment and periodically slid the knife back and forth under the door, recordings show. Eventually, Terrell opened the door, holding the knife when officers deployed pepper spray and a taser, recordings show. She initially turned back into the apartment but then advanced toward the officers who continued using pepper spray and a taser before one officer shot her twice with his service weapon, recordings show. WARNING: This video includes scenes of fatal violence. Officers provided medical aid at the scene and Terrell was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where she was pronounced dead, officials said. A 12-inch knife was recovered from the scene, according to authorities. New Brunswick and state officials faced heated questions from residents and family members during a recent community meeting about the shooting. The incident is being investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability under a 2019 directive by the attorney generals office requiring investigations into fatal police encounters. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Dover Mayor James P. Dodd accused the town's police department of recording and storing calls to and from municipal buildings without notifying town officials. Town of Dover The mayor of Dover in Morris County accused the local police department of recording and storing phone calls made to and from municipal buildings in a recent social media post. The town of Dover has recently become aware, through an Open Public Records (Act) request of a deeply concerning issue involving the recording of telephone calls made to and from town phone lines, Dover Mayor James P. Dodd said in an Instagram post. Dodd was flanked by the towns administrator and chief financial officer, Ed Ramirez, and municipal solicitor Ramon Rivera, in the video. This revelation is alarming, as these recordings appear to violate New Jersey wiretapping and electronic surveillance control act, Dodd continued. He did not say who filed the public records request and how officials learned of the alleged recording. In the video, Dodd said the police department confirmed to him that they were recording and storing telephone conversations inside town hall and at other municipal buildings. In a statement to NJ Advance Media, Dover Police Chief Jonathan Delaney said that he welcomed a thorough, objective and timely investigation by the Morris County Prosecutors Office and/or the Attorney Generals Office. Based on the information currently available to me, I am confident that our personnel acted appropriately, Delaney said. Delaney also called the information being shared publicly a misleading narrative. He also said the recording equipment used was selected, purchased, installed and maintained by Town Hall, not eh municipal police department. The lack of notification about the recordings to town employees and officials raised serious legal and ethical concerns, as well as questions of accountability, Dodd said. Town officials notified the Morris County Prosecutors Office and state Attorney Generals Office about the alleged recording and storing and asked the agencies to investigate, according to Dodd. The town specifically wants to know how the surveillance system was implemented, who authorized the recordings, and whether it violates state and federal law, the mayor said. Representatives for the Morris County Prosecutors Office and Attorney Generals Office said they could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. Town council member Sergio Rodriguez, who represents the second ward, said if the allegations are true it would represent a troubling violation of the public trust. New Jersey law allows recording when one party to the conversation consents, but in this case the Police Department was not a participant in those calls, Rodriguez told NJ Advance Media in a statement. A disclaimer about phone calls being recorded was added to municipal phone lines after the alleged recordings came to light, according to Rodriguez. At the core, this is about accountability in government, Rodriguez continued. Residents deserve to know that when they communicate with municipal offices, whether calling in or receiving a call, their privacy is respected and their trust safeguarded. The police chief filed a civil lawsuit against the town and Dodd on Aug. 18 accusing the mayor of breach of contract, retaliation, slander and libel, according to the legal complaint filed in state Superior Court. The town has not yet filed an answer to the allegations in Delaneys complaint. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. NJ Transit officials announced Wednesday it was taking over River Line light rail operations and maintenance from a contractor. NJ Advance Media file photo The River Line, South Jerseys only light rail line, will be directly run by NJ Transit which announced Wednesday it was taking over operations from contractor Alstom. The transition began Wednesday and is expected to conclude by the end of 2025, NJ Transit and Alstom Transportation Inc. officials said in a joint statement. This mutually agreed decision reflects the evolving investment needs of the service, which have grown beyond the current scope of Alstoms contract covering River Line operations and maintenance, officials said. This transition will enable NJ Transit to be best positioned to shape and implement the next steps that will strengthen and enhance the future of the service, officials said. A ranking state lawmaker, who criticized River Line problems in past years, said the announcement was a welcome one, but warned he would hold the agency accountable for improvements. In 2023, multiple problems with rail equipment resulted in canceled trains and temporary service reductions on the River Line led to criticism from State Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, the senate majority caucus chair. Todays announcement is a welcome one if it means that we will see tangible progress in modernizing service, making needed investments, implementing real-time updates, enhancing safety measures, and improving the rider experience, Singleton said in a statement. The 34-mile light rail line links Camden and Trenton with 10 other municipalities in Mercer, Burlington and Camden counties. The River Line was originally operated by a consortium that included Bombardier, which was bought by Alstom. While the statement had an upbeat, conciliatory tone, NJ Transits own data reporting reflected dissatisfaction with River Line operations. In July, the line had the highest number of canceled trains, 15, out of all NJ Transits three light rail lines. The majority of light rail rider feedback in July was about the River Line. NJ Transit officials blamed it largely due to the contractors inability to maintain a sufficient level of available equipment throughout the course of the month. River Line trains rolled the least mileage between breakdowns of the three light rail lines. River Line trains averaged less than 5,000 miles in July. It also had the worst on-time light rail performance at 82% of trains arriving on schedule, NJ Transit data said. Singleton said his office has heard complaints for years from frustrated commuters about the lack of communication, poor conditions, and unreliable service. Riders in Burlington County and beyond have had to endure inconvenient cancellations and delays, little to no communication, dirty and unkempt stations and trains, and more, he said. In August 2023, problems with trains prompted a reduction in the frequency of weekday service from trains every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes during the morning and afternoon commuter rush periods. The River Lines regular schedule resumed in October 2023. That was due to problems with aging trains including engine and heating, ventilation and air conditioning issues, resulting in canceled trains and increased delays. A $700,000 program to rebuild River Line rail car diesel engines that was announced in 2020 had resulted in only one of 18 engines being completed as of Oct. 2023. And on Oct. 14, 2024, the crash of a Camden-bound train into a tree trunk on the tracks near Florence killed the operator and injured 23 of the 41 people aboard. In August 2024, a 15-year-old boy was struck by a northbound train while apparently crossing the tracks in Palmyra. Singleton called for hearings in July 2024 because of complaints from constituents. At a hearing in October 2024, NJ Transits CEO told the crowd: We have fallen short. Efficiency, reliability, and safety arent luxuries, they are the foundation of a transit system, Singleton said. I will continue to hold NJ Transit accountable to those standards. The River Line was the first light rail system in the U.S. that use diesel powered trains when it started operation in 2004; now there are nine. NJ Transits other two light rail systems are electric powered. The 20 Swiss-built Stadler train sets were custom built for River Line operation which officials said has led to problems getting parts. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X@CommutingLarry and on BlueSky@commutinglarry.bsky.social The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is battling a wildfire in the area of Clinton Road in West Milford Township on Tuesday night. Courtesy photo The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is battling a wildfire in the area of Clinton Road in West Milford Township on Tuesday night. The Buckabear Wildfire broke out near the Clinton Reservoir in Passaic County in the afternoon. An update from the fire service just before 10 p.m. Tuesday indicated the fire is 70 acres in size and 0% contained. A wildfire is considered a major wildfire after it exceeds 100 acres in size. There have been no evacuations and no structures were threatened as of Tuesday night. Clinton Road is closed between Goldfinch Lane and Van Orden Road, fire officials said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The next update is expected at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. An alleged intoxicated driver was arrested Wednesday in the death of a New Jersey construction worker, who was killed when the motorist struck him in July, according to authorities. Douglas Smith, 51, of Lakehurst, was charged with vehicular homicide, about a month after he allegedly was driving under the influence when he fatally struck 50-year-old Allen Adams, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said. Smith, who was initially charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving, was captured at a Toms River residence with help from the U.S. Marshals, as well as county and local police, the prosecutors office said. Separately, Tammie Malek, 46, and Amy Thorn, 56, both of Toms River, were arrested and charged with hindering apprehension in connection to the case, the county prosecutor said. Both allegedly gave police false information about Smiths whereabouts. The prosecutor did not elaborate on their relationship to Smith. Adams, of Lumberton, was inside a construction zone near Lakewood Road and Raymond Avenue when he was struck around 1 a.m. July 31, the prosecutor said. He was later pronounced dead at Community Medical Center in Toms River Township. Adams was working in an area fitted with flashing lights to warn motorists about the construction zone, the prosecutor said. Toms River police found Smith with his vehicle near the crash site. He appeared impaired at the time, prompting blood tests at Community Medical Center, the prosecutor said. Smith had a blood alcohol concentration of .151 percent, about three times the legal limit. His blood also tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl and methadone, the prosecutor said. All three are confined to the Ocean County jail, at least until a detention hearing, the prosecutor said. Court records do not show hearing dates for any of the defendants. No lawyers for Malek and Thorn are listed. An attorney for Smith did not immediately return a request by NJ Advance Media for comment. The deadly crash prompted proposed legislation in the New Jersey Legislature to strengthen penalties against motorists accused of killing construction workers. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. As part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, a 17-year-old boy from the temporarily occupied territories was returned to Ukraine, head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak has said. "The boy spent most of his life under occupation. He was constantly under the supervision of Russian military personnel. There was particular pressure because his father and brother live in the territory controlled by Ukraine - it was forbidden to even mention it. The boy decided to escape. He turned for help to the partners of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative - the Ukrainian Network for Children's Rights, which organized a safe route," Yermak said on Telegram on Wednesday. Yermak today the boy is already in the territory controlled by Ukraine, receiving the necessary assistance and support. He thanked the team of the Ukrainian Network for Children's Rights for their assistance in the return of another Ukrainian child. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks at the NYCLU's May Day rally for worker's and immigrants rights at Foley Square, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis) AP U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) teamed up on Wednesday with her Republican colleagues to introduce a bill to ban members of Congress from stock trading. Ocasio-Cortez introduced the legislation alongside GOP Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.). She touted the rare bipartisan effort to introduce the bill, which she said she expects to pass in the House. But its very rare, I feel in Washington, that when we bring multiple stakeholders and folks together to negotiate on a bill, that you leave that room feeling like the bill got better, Ocasio-Cortez said. But I genuinely feel in this process that in putting all of our bills together, weve actually ended up with a product that is legitimately stronger than the sum of its parts. And it is one of those rare moments where I feel like Washington is working the way that its supposed to work, and it feels foreign, and it feels alien, she added. .@RepAOC @AOC on 'Restore Congress Act', banning Members of Congress from stock trading: "It is one of those rare moments where I feel like Washington is working the way that it's supposed to work. It feels foreign. It feels alien....it is proof that things can work here." pic.twitter.com/iileIt0uDw CSPAN (@cspan) September 3, 2025 She said that the new legislation is proof that that things can work here. We can make this institution better, and we can increase and earn the faith of the American people, which is really genuinely the core of our work here. And so to that end, I want to thank everyone for their incredibly hard work. We are going to get this done, Ocasio-Cortez said. It requires standing up against the powers that be, but because of the support of the American people on this issue, you all have generated the momentum necessary to give us the power to be able to do this. And I look forward to bringing this to a vote. I look forward to banning the trading of individual stock for and by members of Congress and Im looking forward to making this place a better place that puts the American people first, she added. The House bill comes more than a month after President Donald Trump criticized Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) for his bill that would ban stock trading by members of Congress, as well as the president and vice president. Trump criticized the bill at the time, pointing to Rep. Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) endorsement of it. I wonder why Hawley would pass a Bill that Nancy Pelosi is in absolute love with He is playing right into the dirty hands of the Democrats. Its a great Bill for her, and her husband, but so bad for our Country! I dont think real Republicans want to see their President, who has had unprecedented success, TARGETED, because of the whims of a second-tier Senator named Josh Hawley!" Trump said in a July Truth Social post. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP A survivor of Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking urged President Donald Trump on Wednesday to meet with her to prove that the Epstein files are not a hoax. Survivors of Epsteins sex trafficking and their families stood outside Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning to demand that Congress release the documents related to the Justice Departments investigation into the disgraced financier. One survivor, Haley Robson, demanded to meet with Trump as he declares that the Epstein case is a hoax. Mr. President, Donald J Trump, I am a registered Republican, not that that matters, because this is not political. However, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma, Robson said. She described that Trumps comments make her feel like she is being gutted from the inside out. I would like Donald J Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us, to see us for who we are, and to hear us for what we have to say. There is no hoax. The abuse was real. Now, what goes on behind closed doors? I cant speak for that. What happens around the world politically, I cannot speak for that. But I am here with all of these women, including our attorneys, and I would be more than happy to meet with him, and I will meet him halfway, she added. Epstein abuse survivor Haley Robson on President Trump saying Epstein issue is a "hoax:" "I would like Donald J. Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us, to see us for who we are and to hear us for what we have to say. There is no hoax." pic.twitter.com/8GK4ieBCIq CSPAN (@cspan) September 3, 2025 As Congress returned this week following its August recess, lawmakers are debating over whether to release the files related to Epsteins sex trafficking case. Trump and his allies have pushed against the effort as the president repeatedly calls the case a hoax." Trump repeated those comments in remarks in the Oval Office when asked about the survivors who spoke outside the Capitol on Wednesday. This is a Democrat hoax that never ends. It reminds me a little of the Kennedy situation. We gave them everything over and over again. More and more and more and nobodys ever satisfied," Trump said. But its really a Democrat hoax because theyre trying to get people to talk about something that is totally irrelevant," he added. Trump on Epstein Files: This is a Democrat hoax. Theyre trying to get people to talk about something that is totally irrelevant pic.twitter.com/DneRnStSMd Acyn (@Acyn) September 3, 2025 Democrats lined up in the House chamber Tuesday evening to sign a petition from Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, to force a vote. Three other Republicans also supported the maneuver, but Massie would need two more GOP lawmakers and every Democrat to be successful. If Massie, who is pressing for the bill alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is able to force a vote which could take weeks the legislation would still need to pass the Senate and be signed into law by Trump. The clash suggests little has changed in Congress since late July, when Johnson sent lawmakers home early in hopes of cooling the political battle over the Epstein case. Members of both parties remain dissatisfied and are demanding more details on the years-old investigation into Epstein, the wealthy and well-connected financier whose 2019 death has sparked wide-ranging conspiracy theories and speculation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin admitted on Tuesday that President Donald Trump is picking a smart fight with Democrats over crime in Chicago. Despite pushback from local and state officials, Trump has repeatedly threatened to send federal law enforcement into Chicago to deter crime in the nations third largest city. Griffin said while sending the National Guard may not be the best solution, targeting crime in Chicago is a smart fight for Trump to pick. Well, listen two things can be true at once. Chicago has a crime problem, theres no doubt and Donald Trump knows that this is a smart fight for him to pick, not just with his base, but with the country. When you hear that stat Labor Day weekend alone, seven people killed, over 20 people shot with bullets, Griffin told CNNs Anderson Cooper on Tuesday. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) has been staunchly opposed to Trumps potential plan to send the National Guard to Chicago. Griffin noted that Pritzker has acknowledged there is a crime problem in the city, but that sending federal law enforcement into Chicago may not be the solution. What Pritzker seems to be getting right that I dont think in some of the other instances weve seen early on is acknowledge that there is a problem. Its not right or left to say we need less crime. We need fewer people to be shot in American cities, she said. But then have the debate over how to do it. National Guard has never been the first step that we should go to. You could coordinate with federal law, or law enforcement, work with the ATF, with the FBI, she continued. "It's a big test for 2028 for Governor Pritzker": .@Alyssafarah on the brewing showdown between the Illinois governor and President Trump over plans to deploy the National Guard in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/2eOUeSNxN3 Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) September 3, 2025 Griffin also noted that its a big test for Pritzker if he decides to run for the 2028 presidential election. Yes, its a big test for 2028 for Governor Pritzker, who clearly has ambitions in how he handles this, is going to matter, she said. You can throw around the word authoritarian. I dont think most Americans like to see U.S. troops on American streets. I think it signals chaos. It makes people think of dark moments in American history, but they also dont like to hear that seven people were shot and killed over Labor Day weekend. There is a place in the middle, and this is where it kind of comes down to the messaging wars, which Donald Trump is remarkably good at. He is good at convincing people that the way that they feel is true, that things are more dangerous than the stats may appear in these places. And so, I think Pritzker is going to need to find something better than Weve got this under control, she added. Trump criticized the leadership in Chicago in comments to reporters on Tuesday. The president praised Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser for working with federal forces, but repeated his criticism of Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat. Trump said hed love to have Pritzker call and say, Send in the troops even though the two-term governor has repeatedly said he wont be doing that. He said if Pritzker would call me up, I would love to do it, Trump said. Now, were going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it. Because I have an obligation to protect this country and that includes Baltimore. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Fox News host Jesse Watters mocked California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday for mocking President Donald Trumps style on social media. For weeks, Newsom has been mimicking Trumps social media posts to criticize the presidents policies and defend his leadership in California. Watters and other Fox News hosts have repeatedly jabbed Newsom for these posts despite not criticizing Trump for similar statements. On Tuesday, Watters suggested that Newsom is flattering Trump with his posts. Greasy Gavin is out there jocking Trumps style. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But why doesnt Gavin imitate his policies? Watters said on Jesse Watters Primetime. This prompted Newsom to fire back, suggesting that Watters does not understand the reasoning behind Newsoms mocking of Trump. Still doesnt get it, Newsom wrote on social media platform X. Newsoms press office also had a reason for why the governor wont imitate Trumps policies. because they are trash, the account wrote on X. because they are trash https://t.co/bWkcoZUvnS Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) September 3, 2025 Newsoms press office has been mocking Trump by mimicking the presidents social media posts for weeks, often tweeting posts in all-caps and giving his political rivals new nicknames. The MAGA base and conservatives have complained about Newsoms new social media strategy, with many arguing that he is not being authentic. A recent analysis from CNN data guru Harry Enten found that Newsoms new social media strategy is absolutely working, citing an increase in social media followers and Google searches. He said on Laura Coates Live that Newsoms press office account on X has increased its following by 450% since mid-June. Newsom even took the trolling a step further last month by launching his own merchandise shop that mocks Trumps slogan, Make America Great Again. The shop includes a red hat that reads, Newsom was right about everything, which directly mocks Trumps own hat he was spotted wearing on Friday. The shop also includes a white tank top that reads, Trump is not hot, and a red hat that has Real Patriot written across it. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., gives remarks to a crowd at St. Paul First Baptist Church on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Laurens, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) AP California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) trolled President Donald Trump for repeating a false claim about the water supply in Los Angeles. Trump on Wednesday accused Newsom of not allowing water from the Pacific Northwest to Los Angeles amid the devastating wildfires that raged across the area in January. Trump has repeated this claim for months, crediting himself with turning the water on to send to Los Angeles. He didnt allow the water to come from the Pacific Northwest. You know, they have tremendous amounts of water in California. People dont know. They send the water out to the Pacific Ocean. So I demanded it be open, Trump told reporters on Wednesday. If that were open during the fire, before the fire, you wouldnt have the fire, because all the sprinklers would have worked in the houses. They had no water. They had no water in the fire hydrants. He wouldnt have had the fires, he said. Newsom mocked Trump for repeating this false claim on social media platform X. He posted a screenshot of a question posed to an artificial intelligence chatbot, seemingly accusing the president of having dementia. Do people with dementia repeat the same falsehoods and crazy conspiracies over and over again?" the question stated. The response stated: People with dementia often repeat the same statements, questions, and sometimes false or mistaken beliefs, primarily because of memory loss and impaired reasoning. Newsoms press office also criticized Trump over the false claim, calling him a bumbling idiot" on X. Unfortunately, the President of the United States is a bumbling idiot. THERE WAS PLENTY OF WATER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (IN FACT, STATE RESERVOIRS WERE AT HISTORIC HIGHS!) the press office wrote in one post. Water from the Pacific Northwest DOESNT EVEN connect with the state water systems. NOR does the water he wasted travel to the LA area! the office wrote in a separate post. Newsoms press office has been mocking Trump by mimicking the presidents social media posts for weeks, often tweeting posts in all-caps and giving his political rivals new nicknames. The MAGA base and conservatives have complained about Newsoms new social media strategy, with many arguing that he is not being authentic. Newsom even took the trolling a step further last month by launching his own merchandise shop that mocks Trumps slogan, Make America Great Again. The shop includes a red hat that reads, Newsom was right about everything, which directly mocks Trumps own hat he was spotted wearing on Friday. The shop also includes a white tank top that reads, Trump is not hot, and a red hat that has Real Patriot written across it. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka endorsed former rival Mikie Sherrill at a campaign event Wednesday following a lengthy primary campaign in which they faced off for the Democratic nomination for governor. Sherrill, the winner of the primary, stood alongside Baraka, the mayor of New Jerseys largest city, as she accepted his support during the event at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark. Barakas endorsement was long anticipated as Sherrill prepares to square off against Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli in Novembers election. Baraka committed to helping Sherrill organize but also promised to continue their conversations about issues where the pair disagree. I pledge to get out here and fight and organize so she can become governor, and I pledge that when she is the governor that she will not see the last of me, Baraka said. The congresswoman represents our best chance, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka says as he endorses Democratic governor nominee Mikie Sherrill, his former primary opponent, at a Baptist church in his city. pic.twitter.com/p1qB3UuhCG Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) September 3, 2025 Sherrill said the governors race is the Democrats to lose. The only way we lose this race in New Jersey is if Democrats dont vote, the congresswoman said. If we get divided, if we are not together, if we dont stand up for the things we believe in, the communities we want to serve, thats the only way we lose. Baraka previously talked about the importance of the party uniting to fight Ciattarelli and President Donald Trump. The endorsement comes at a critical juncture for Baraka. He made national news when he was arrested by ICE agents during a visit to a detention facility in Newark in May. Barakas charges were eventually dropped but U.S. Rep LaMonica McIver, a fellow New Jersey Democrat, is facing federal assault charges. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrives before the arraignment of Rep. LaMonica McIver outside the Federal Courthouse in Newark in June. Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance Sherrill, a member of the U.S. House representing New Jerseys 11th Congressional District, condemned the incidents while she was still running against Baraka in the primary. She has also been critical of the charges McIver is facing. Ciattarelli has supported the arrests and the charges against McIver. He has also vowed to get rid of the states Immigrant Trust Directive, which was put in place by the state attorney general to ban local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE and other federal officials on civil immigration matters. The directive still allows law enforcement to cooperate in cases involving violent crimes and warrants. Barakas endorsement comes with a coalition that identifies itself as progressive. Sherrill ran in the primary as a moderate. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, another primary opponent who identified himself as a progressive, ran a heated campaign critical of Sherrill as a machine candidate. Fulop has maintained that critique post-election. The state Republican Party put out a statement criticizing Barakas endorsement of Sherrill. Mikie Sherrill didnt just accept Ras Barakas endorsement, she embraced his radical record by standing with him on the campaign trail today, the NJGOP said in a statement. Voters of color and independents could play a large role for Sherrill. Black voters in particular have historically voted for New Jersey Democrats in high percentages. But Ciattarelli has been courting multiple civil rights organizations, touting his stances on issues like school segregation and diversity in government contracts, to help woo voters of color. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill meets with voters in Newark at Zion Hill Baptist Church Sept. 3, 2025 during Ras Baraka's endorsement. Sherrill vowed to make more inroads with diverse voters. Jelani Gibson Sherrill said she would engage voters on the same issues and argued Ciattarelli would be ineffective due to his connection to Trump. Thats not how any of us get ahead, Sherrill said of Ciattarelli being endorsed by Trump. Thats not how our kids get ahead, its not how our families get ahead, its not how anybody in this room gets ahead. A recent Fairleigh Dickinson poll showed Sherrill leads Ciattarelli with Black voters in the state 58% to 20%. But that is still a steep decline from the 94% of Black voters who voted for outgoing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in 2017. Sherrills selection of Centenary University President Dale Caldwell as her running mate for lieutenant governor was also seen by many as a move to broaden her supporters. Caldwell, a Black man, is the son of the late Rev. Gilbert Caldwell, a civil rights icon who marched with Rev. Martin Luther King. Baraka has pushed Sherrill on her positions on Black maternal health, the wealth gap, and civilian review boards that have oversight over police misconduct with subpoena power. Sherrill, a former prosecutor, has said that giving the boards subpoena power are an example of something she and Baraka still disagree on. Sherrill emphasized that she and Baraka are an example of how different factions of the Democratic Party can still come together. Baraka said hed rather argue with Sherrill over civilian complaint review boards than debate her about whether the National Guard should be on our streets, referring to Trumps recent efforts to send the National Guard into Washington, D.C., and other cities. Jelani Gibson may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. A Sussex County man seriously hurt in an apartment fire has filed a $5 million lawsuit against his landlords, claiming a faulty water heater his lawyers termed a ticking time bomb erupted in flames as he slept. Firefighters found Rudolf Makel, now 77, unresponsive on the floor near the rear sliding glass door of his home at Carlton Village in Hamburg on July 9, 2023, according to the lawsuit, filed July 8 in Morris County Superior Court. The water heater had allegedly been improperly placed in Makels bedroom closet which was filled with clothes, when the device caught fire, the suit alleges. Before the fire, Makel had spent about a month in a hospital and a nursing facility for unrelated medical issues. While he was hospitalized, Makels landlord at Carlton Village allegedly entered his apartment on Wits End Road numerous times, and was aware of safety hazards, the suit alleges. Still in ill health, Makel returned home about two weeks before the fire broke out in his bedroom, according to the suit. The lawsuit alleges that, while in Makels apartment, the landlord secured the rear sliding door to prevent unauthorized entry. But the secured door left Makel unable to escape the fire, court papers allege. Firefighters smashed through the glass and discovered Makel on the floor, with facial burns but breathing. He was taken by ambulance to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, where he was admitted with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a potential life-threatening condition, according to the suit. People with ARDS can experience severe shortness of breath and often are unable to breathe without support from a ventilator, according to the Mayo Clinic. The landlord was not identified in court papers. A manager at Carlton Village did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the lawsuit. According to the complaint, Carlton Village disregarded potential hazards in the apartment, even allowing maintenance workers to perform major electrical work without the required permits or inspections. Plaintiff then literally slept next to a ticking time bomb in his own bedroom closet, the lawsuit states. The closet, (which was) the only closet in the apartment, in addition to containing the water heater unit, also stored Mr. Makels clothing, thus constituting a clear, known hazard, the suit says. The suit claims the water heater was improperly installed with electrical wires attached to wire nuts outside of a junction box. The fire started as a result of this improper connection, the ensuing electrical arcing, and then spread quickly as a result of being misplaced in the master bedroom closet full of clothing, the suit alleges. The day after the incident, fire officials found a note near the closet that stated, There is a short in lower heating element and it was disconnected, blowing fuse, the suit claims. The alleged note found next to the water heater was authored by a third party or maintenance worker who serviced the water heater routinely. The suit alleges Carlton Village workers knew of the alleged danger and allowed it to persist. The lawsuit also alleges electrical work was done on the apartment but that no electrical permits had been secured from the proper authorities by Carlton Village. In addition to his hospitalization and a two-year stay at a nursing facility after the blaze, Makel says he lost all his personal property in the flames and smoke, including sentimental mementos and jewelry, the lawsuit states. In addition to breathing issues, Makel also suffered a brain injury in the incident, which resulted in memory problems, difficulty focusing and problem solving, along with post-traumatic stress disorder, the suit says. The suit alleges Carlton Village violated New Jerseys anti-discrimination laws by not providing his apartment with suitable fire suppression and alarm systems due to his frequent hospitalizations. The suit seeks $5 million in damages for alleged emotional distress, cognitive impairment, negligence and alleged violations of New Jerseys Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. A flash of light followed by an explosion early Tuesday rattled residents in parts of Northern New Jersey, but police and other officials say they are unsure of the source. The blast occurred at 1:54 a.m. and was captured on several home security video cameras in and around Hopatcong. Police said they received several calls, complaints and videos reporting the noise and they went out to investigate. There were multiple locations around town where people reported a flash in the sky and a loud boom, Capt. Michael OShea, of the Hopatcong Police Department, said Wednesday. We didnt find anything damaged or any issues related to the flash of light and the noise itself, OShea said. Hopatcong is a Sussex County borough located about 40 miles west of New York City. The borough spans more than 12-square miles and is built around Lake Hopatcong, the states largest lake. OShea said residents awakened by the noise sent police four videos, including one from Jefferson Township in Morris County that showed a flash but didnt capture the boom. Police responded to complaints and investigated the source of the noise, but didnt find evidence of damage from fireworks or other types of explosion. A spokesperson for Picatinny Arsenal, the U.S. Army research facility in Morris County, said the noise did not come from their installation. There are no missing rounds, and we dont conduct operations at night, the spokesperson said, noting that Monday was a federal holiday and that military workers would not have been at the base at 2 a.m. Tuesday. A spokesman for the National Weather Service in Mount Holly had no explanation for the flash of light and loud noise either but surmised it might have been a meteor shower. A NASA spokesperson, however, said the agency could not support that claim. We checked with our Meteoroid Environments Office, (which) found no evidence of a meteor over the state at the time the boom was heard, the NASA spokesman said. The American Meteor Society reported there was a large meteor, also called a fireball, passing over the northeastern United States around 8:34 p.m. on Aug. 31. But only one person in New Jersey reported seeing and hearing the fireball, the society said. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org The Verkhovna Rada has summoned the head of the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine Felip Pronin to a plenary session, co-chair of the European Solidarity faction Iryna Gerashchenko has said. "The Verkhovna Rada summoned the head of the Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine, Pronin, to a session with a report... Pronin's report was supported by 217 deputies from different factions," Gerashchenko said Telegram. According to her, a journalistic investigation has been published about Pronin's possible involvement in corruption in the construction of fortifications as head of the Poltava Regional State Administration. As reported, the Verkhovna Rada will hear from the acting head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration, Volodymyr Kohut, at a plenary session on Thursday regarding the situation with the construction of fortifications. Yes, the crow situation seems better Seems about the same to me There still seem to be a lot of crows and crow messes Vote View Results Three cooperation documents were signed by Ukroboronprom only on the first day of work at the 33rd international defence industry exhibition (MSPO), which is taking place in Poland, general director of JSC Ukrainian Defence Industry Herman Smetanin reported on the Telegram channel on Tuesday. "The first day of the Ukroboronprom team's work at the MSPO exhibition: three signed documents on cooperation. In particular: one of the enterprises of JSC Ukrainian Defence Industry and a Polish defence company signed an agreement on the supply of component products; an agreement on a strategic partnership between an Ukroboronprom enterprise and an American company in the field of radio electronics. Significant strengthening of our capabilities: Memorandum of Cooperation between an Ukroboronprom enterprise and the Canadian company ITPS. The parties agreed to establish cooperation in the field of product modernization," Smetanin listed on Telegram. Tuesday, August 6, 2024 was the first day of classes at Leah Chase School on Carrollton Ave. in New Orleans. Buses began arriving at 7:30 and students were soon hurrying up the steps to start the new year. (Staff photo by John McCusker, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com) Vladimir Putin's public statements of September 2, 2025 about the introduction of new, previously unknown systems of management and control over the Zaporizhia NPP occupied by Russian aggressors should be regarded as evidence of plans to use it as a military tool in the further conduct of the war against Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy stated. The Ministry of Energy emphasized that any attempts by the Russian Federation to introduce new forms of "management" or "control" over the Zaporizhia NPP are a purposeful escalation of the threat to nuclear safety. "Ukraine calls on the international community to give these statements and actions a clear assessment, taking into account their potential impact on the security of the entire European continent. We call on international partners to respond immediately, in particular within the framework of the September session of the IAEA General Conference, where these threats must be clearly assessed and recognized at the international level," the Ministry of Energy said in a statement on Tuesday evening. It emphasized that the consequences of operating the Zaporizhia NPPwhich, due to the actions of the Russian Federation, is under an extra-project threatcannot be properly assessed due to the constant military presence there. Russia attacked Ukraine with heavy military equipment and occupied a civilian nuclear facility. Russia is using force and terror to block Ukraine's legitimate regulatory and operational control over the plant, which is Ukraine's inalienable property. At the same time, the ministry emphasized that since the occupation of the plant, the Russian Federation has allowed systemic, critically dangerous deformations in the technical functioning of this nuclear facility. It emphasized the destruction by Russia of the main source of water supply to the ZNPP due to the explosion of the Kakhovka dam, as well as its multiple disconnections from the Ukrainian power system, which have already led to the complete power outage of the plant nine times - a condition that is a direct prerequisite for a nuclear accident. "The conditions in which the ZNPP is kept in a cold shutdown mode for a long time, under the supervision of unidentified third parties and without access by a legitimate Ukrainian operator, are fundamentally incompatible with basic nuclear safety standards for a facility of this scale," the Ministry of Energy emphasized. As reported, earlier, at a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing, Putin stated that "we can cooperate with American partners on the Zaporizhia NPP. In principle, we have also indirectly discussed these issues with them." Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and NATO Senior Representative in Kyiv Patrick Turner discussed long-term support for Ukraine, including within the PURL program (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) and cooperation programs in the defense-industrial complex, as well as the formation of effective security guarantees with the participation of the Coalition of the Willing. "I thanked the countries and the leadership of the Alliance for their assistance to Ukraine, including for launching the PURL mechanism together with the United States. The initiative has already proven its effectiveness the allies have financed the purchase of $2 billion in American weapons for Ukraine," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram on Tuesday following the results of the meeting, which he called important. According to Shmyhal, he and Turner also discussed long-term support for Ukraine within this mechanism. "Attracting new participants (to PURL) and increasing contributions are critical for the Defense Forces to receive American weapons," the minister noted. As reported, seven countries joined the PURL program in August. Earlier it became known that the Netherlands contributed $500 million to the PURL program, the joint contribution of Denmark, Norway and Sweden reached $500 million, and Germany added $500 million. Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and Turkish Ambassador to Ukraine Mustafa Levent Bilgen discussed cooperation, including in building drones. "We noted a high level of cooperation between the defense sectors of our countries - both at the state level and with private companies. I am grateful to Turkey for building two corvette-class ships for the Ukrainian Navy. Currently, personnel training for the first of them is underway," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram on Tuesday following a meeting with the Turkish Ambassador. According to him, the parties also discussed cooperation in other areas, in particular in the construction of unmanned aerial vehicles. "I thanked his country for productive cooperation at all levels, for its dedicated support for efforts to bring about a just peace. I thank Turkey for fruitful cooperation!" emphasized Shmyhal. The leaders of the eight Nordic and Baltic states have published a statement in which they stressed the urgent need to accelerate the supply of weapons to Ukraine amid Russia's increasing use of violence and delaying the peace process, and also called for increased sanctions on the aggressor and related countries. The leaders stated in a statement its unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the context of Russia's ongoing illegal war of aggression. "Putin does not want peace. We have clearly seen that in the past weeks. And we have seen it many times before. Ukraine is ready to negotiate. It is ready to enter into an unconditional and full ceasefire. Russia has so far not committed to a ceasefire or any steps leading to it. Russia continues to find excuses to delay, while escalating its brutal and indiscriminate use of violence, including with deliberate strikes against civilians in Ukraine. Russia poses a long term threat, not only to Ukraine but to the security of Europe, the transatlantic community, and the wider international order," the statement notes. "We will step up military support to Ukraine. We underline the urgent need to accelerate the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and air defence systems. In this regard, we support a newly created PURL initiative to finance high-priority American weapons for Ukraine. No limitations should be placed on Ukraines armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries. We reaffirm that only Ukraine can decide on its own future," the statement notes. "A just and lasting peace requires robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine. We are committed to advancing work on a framework of sustainable security guarantees, developed in close cooperation with the United States and our European and other partners. We further support Ukraine being firmly anchored in the Euro-Atlantic community. Russia has no veto over Ukraines pathway to the EU and NATO," the statement notes. "Russias growing cooperation with North Korea and Iran and increasingly close ties, including military, with China impacts not only Russias war against Ukraine. It has also broader consequences for global security. If we allow Russia to succeed in Ukraine, others may follow the same path of military aggression," the statement notes. "This moment demands a stronger collective response. We call for the swift adoption and rigorous enforcement of further sanctions, including further restrictive measures against enablers of Russian sanctions circumvention in third countries. When Europe and the United States act together, we can achieve real and lasting results. Sanctions must strike deeper into Russias war economy, target the networks that sustain it, and make clear that aggression comes at an ever-higher cost," the statement notes. Hypersonic missiles Airborne combat vehicles Unmanned aircraft Undersea drones Nuclear missiles Hypersonic missiles Airborne combat vehicles Unmanned aircraft Undersea drones Nuclear missiles Hypersonic missiles Airborne combat vehicles Unmanned aircraft Undersea drones Nuclear missiles Chinas Latest Missiles, Drones and Submarines, Up Close At its military parade on Wednesday, China showcased hypersonic missiles to sink ships, drones that serve as wingmen and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that can strike the continental United States. The jets that screamed across the sky and the columns of missiles and armored vehicles that rolled past Tiananmen Square in Beijing provided a rare look at Chinas new weapons. All military hardware paraded Ground assault Maritime combat Airborne combat vehicles Anti-ship missiles Air and missile defense Information warfare groups Unmanned warfare groups Unmanned aircraft Strategic missiles Nuclear missiles Ground assault Airborne combat vehicles Maritime combat Anti-ship missiles Air and missile defense Information warfare groups Unmanned warfare groups Unmanned aircraft Strategic missiles Nuclear missiles Note: Only equipment paraded on the ground is shown, excluding three support and logistics formations. The massive military parade, presided over by Chinas leader Xi Jinping, was a warning to his countrys prospective foes. The anti-ship missiles seemed tailor-made to menace American forces in the Asia-Pacific region. Long-range rocket launchers magnified Beijings threat to Taiwan, the self-governed island democracy. The armored vehicles that can be dropped from planes appeared to extend Chinas ability to defend its growing global interests. If one theme stood out, analysts said, it was that the Peoples Liberation Army is betting on unmanned systems to gain a potential edge in battle. New Missile Threats to U.S. Navy Ships Maritime combat groups Ship-based air defense Laser weapons Anti-ship missiles YJ-15 YJ-19 (Hypersonic) YJ-17 (Hypersonic) YJ-20 (Hypersonic) Torpedoes One of the parades strongest warnings to U.S. forces was in four new models of anti-ship missiles, three of which were hypersonic, according to state media, meaning they travel at least five times the speed of sound and can maneuver to evade defenses. Maritime combat groups Ship-based air defense Laser weapons Anti-ship missiles YJ-15 YJ-19 (Hypersonic) YJ-17 (Hypersonic) YJ-20 (Hypersonic) Torpedoes Beijings decision to showcase these weapons sends a not-so-subtle message to Taiwan and Washington that China has the ability to threaten American warships, said Timothy R. Heath, a senior researcher at the global policy institute RAND who studies the Chinese military. For China, having more advanced hypersonic missiles bearing down at different speeds and angles on enemy warships may make it harder for an enemy navy to avoid or counter attacks. The most notable of the anti-ship missiles might be the YJ-19, a cruise missile that appears to use a scramjet, which burns its fuel in an airflow moving at supersonic speed, a design that helps give the missile its high speed. Hypersonic anti-ship missile Photo by Tingshu Wang/Reuters The missiles features suggest that it could have both a highly unpredictable flight path and the ability to fly its last leg at a lower altitude than ballistic missiles, albeit at a slower speed, said Eric Heginbotham, a principal research scientist in the security studies program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was unclear whether the YJ-19 and other new missiles were already in service. The potential impact on U.S. Navy ships vulnerability will depend on how many of the missiles China can make and deploy, Mr. Heginbotham said. Not all of what they will show will be operational, he said of the parade. Thats been true in the past, and it remains true now. New Weapons for Ground Troops Ground assault groups Tanks Amphibious vehicles Airborne combat vehicles Long-range artillery The parade showcased new armored ground vehicles that could be dropped from transport planes. The vehicles had what appeared to be periscope-like viewers to allow troops to observe their surroundings from inside the vehicles. Ground assault groups Tanks Amphibious vehicles Airborne combat vehicles Long-range artillery New airborne combat vehicles Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters The new vehicles showed that China was investing in possible rapid deployment to Taiwan or even far beyond China, said Joshua Arostegui, the research director of the China Landpower Studies Center at the U.S. Army War College. Adding such advanced armor to the airborne corps will give these light infantry forces much more firepower and protection when they are dropped behind enemy lines or rapidly responding to dangerous situations abroad, he said. Also featured were remote-controlled armored buggies that can clear mines and pick up wounded soldiers. The biggest issue with these systems is going to be cost and repair, Mr. Arostegui noted. A Glimpse of Future Sea and Air Combat Unmanned warfare groups Land drones Naval drones Underwater drones Unmanned boats Underwater drones Aerial drones Unmanned aircraft Helicopters Two sleek submersible drones made their debut, signaling Chinas ambitions to compete with the United States beneath the waves using extra-large uncrewed undersea vehicles. One was a 60-foot, torpedo-shaped vessel with a smooth hull, while the other had small masts that could be used for communications. Undersea drone About 60 feet Source: U.S. Army ODIN Photo by Ng Han Guan/Associated Press Little is publicly known about Chinas new undersea vehicles, or how they stack up against similar vehicles being developed by the United States, Russia and other naval powers. What stands out is the sheer number of undersea vehicles that China is developing, said Jennifer Parker, a former anti-submarine warfare officer in the Australian Navy. The range of types indicates they may be more advanced in this endeavor than other countries, said Ms. Parker, now an expert at the National Security College of Australian National University. China may also be looking to arm some of its models, Ms. Parker suggested, pointing to the features of the AJX002 model shown at the parade. Given the lack of masts and its size, it looks like it's weaponized, she said. Could be some sort of self-propelled mine or torpedo-like capability. Jet fighters, bombers and other air force planes also roared through the sky, while on the ground, trucks carried large drones that looked like small fighter jets. It was a sign of Chinas plans to pair manned and unmanned aircraft in future wars. Unmanned aircraft Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters China and other powers are betting that artificial intelligence will make it possible for piloted jets to fly alongside such so-called loyal wingmen drones, which may help surveil and attack enemy aircraft and block missiles from hitting the manned fighters. The number of large drones and unmanned planes in the parade showed that China is heavily committed to this new field, said Andreas Rupprecht, an expert on Chinese military aviation who is based in Germany. In many technological areas, it is in the fast lane sometimes on par with, or even ahead of, leading powers, he said. None of the unmanned planes were shown in flight, though. They may still be a work in progress. Nuclear Expansion Strategic missiles Cruise missiles CJ-20A YJ-18C CJ-1000 Hypersonic missiles YJ-21 DF-17 DF-26D Nuclear missiles YJ-21 JL-3 DF-61 DF-31BJ DF-5C nuclear missiles Re-entry vehicle Second stage booster First stage booster Among the most closely watched weapons were Chinas nuclear forces. That included the missiles labeled DF-31BJ that rumbled past Tiananmen Square, hinting at the countrys plans to expand its intercontinental force, which could strike the United States. The label indicated that the missile may be a version of Chinas road-mobile DF-31 intercontinental nuclear missile, adapted for silo launch, said Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of The New Nuclear Age. New nuclear missiles Photo by Tingshu Wang/Reuters China displayed nuclear-capable missiles for submarines and aircraft at the parade, but it does not disclose how many nuclear weapons it has. The Federation of American Scientists estimates that China has about 600 warheads. China has also upgraded the missiles, submarines and bombers that can carry the warheads. In recent years, China built three missile silo fields in its northern deserts, and the appearance of the DF-31BJ missile at the parade seemed to bolster U.S. military assessments that the missile would be installed in at least some of the 320 or so silos, Mr. Panda said. About 10 of the silos in each field may have already been loaded with missiles, the Federation of American Scientists said in a recent report. But the Chinese government has said little in public about the silo fields. For now, parading the DF-31BJ is likely the closest well come to China acknowledging new silos, Mr. Panda said. Photo: https://t.me/dnipropetrovskaODA In Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region, a civilian was killed due to enemy shelling, and there is damage to his home, the head of the regional military administration, Serhiy Lysak, reported on Wednesday afternoon. "The Russians killed a man in Nikopol. A man died as a result of artillery shelling," he wrote on Telegram. Lysak expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. According to the regional military administration, private houses and a garage were also damaged in the city. President Trumps dream of winning a Nobel Peace Prize will come true this year. He will be honored for his role in ending hostilities between China and India. His madcap decision to slap a 50 percent tariff on India did the trick. It was an inspired game-changer. The tariff resulted in India prime minister Narendra Modi with hat in hand making his first visit to China in seven years. Modi met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who couldnt believe his good fortunetriggered by the rupture of US/India ties. They were all smiles for the worlds media. There was a lot of hand holding, and good feeling all around. The worlds two most populous nations, which as late as 2020 were engaged in a bloody conflict, pledged to stabilize their border and reopen their economies to each other. Their mutual goal is to be partners, rather than rivals. Xi said it was vital to be friends, a good neighbor, and the dragon and the elephant to come together. In that scenario, theres no room for the bald eagle. Trumps personal lobbying for the Peace Prize had focused on his alleged role in fending off a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. In May, he posted this gibberish on Truth Social. After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Modi has said over and over that the US president had nothing to do with easing tensions between his country and Pakistan. His decision to focus on cultivating economic and political ties with China puts the future of the so-called quad between the US, India, Japan and Australia in jeopardy. The idea of that alliance was to counter Chinas influence in the Pacific region. Does Trump boot India out of the quad, or does Modi withdraw? Enjoy your Peace Prize, Donald. Green activists on the run. There were 110 environmental resolutions sponsored by shareholders during this years proxy season. Not a single one passed.That hasnt happened since 2019, according to a report by the Conference Board. The average support for green resolutions fell to 10 percent, compared to 18 percent in 2024. The GOPs war on science and denial of the existence of man-made climate change is largely responsible for the environmental resolution shutout. Activists are holding their fire to see how Trump 2.0 plays out. They need to figure out the best ways to work with companies in lieu of a high-profile and contentious shareholder resolution that can result in retribution from the White House and the MAGA cultists. Kill the jargon. The press releases of US and British law firms are loaded with tired and overused words, according to a survey by Infinite, PR firm that serves the professional services market. The firm analyzed 479 releases (How did its researchers stay awake?) from 238 firms. Almost nine in ten (87 percent) have at least one of the ten most commonly overused words. Those words are leading, best, most, pleased, excited, delighted, proud, excellence, thrilled and largest/innovative. Use of cliched language diminishes the impact of a release and hurts the credibility of a firm. The rise of AI also is bad news for fluff. Press release content using precise language stands a better chance of appearing in searches. Quality content that is grounded in facts and figures, and which is optimized for discovery, is essential for any business that wants to boost visibility, trust and authority online, said Tal Donahue, director at Infinite. Press release writers should follow the sage advice of Dragnets Sgt. Joe Friday, who used to say, "Just the facts, maam." Newsmax Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Newsmax Inc., has filed a federal antitrust suit against Fox Corporation and Fox News Network in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Newsmaxs grievance stems from its allegations that Fox has abused its dominance in the MAGA-adjacent pay TV news market by coercing distributors into unfair carriage agreements that it says are intended to exclude or marginalize competitors. The result achieved by Fox, the complaint claims, is the deliberate hampering Newsmax's growth across such critical distribution platforms as Hulu, Sling and Fubo. Among the exclusionary tactics by Fox alleged in the complaint are making access to Fox News contingent on agreements by distributors not to carry or to restrict competing right-leaning news channels; penalizing distributors for placing Newsmax in basic packages by requiring simultaneous promotion of Foxs less popular channels; and pressuring guests on Fox programming to not appear on Newsmax. "Fox has sought to protect and expand its monopoly power in the right-leaning pay TV news market by engaging in a suite of anticompetitive behaviors," the complaint states, adding Fox's unlawful and exclusionary conduct "has harmed not just Newsmax and other competitors," but also "consumers and competition itself." A statement from Fox News counters that "Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they cant attract viewers. Chloe Malle Conde Nast names Chloe Malle head of editorial content of Vogue U.S. Malle takes over from Anna Wintour, who has held the position since 1998. Malle came to Vogue as social editor in 2011. From 2016 to 2023, she was a contributing editor, and since 2023 has served as editor of Vogue.com. She has also co-hosted The Run-Through, a weekly fashion and culture podcast, since 2022. In her new role, Malle will lead the creative and editorial direction of Vogue U.S. While Wintour has passed on the reins of the magazine, she has hardly left the buildingor even her office. She remains global editorial director of Vogue, as well as Conde Nasts chief creative officer, and Malle will report to her. Chloe has proven often that she can find the balance between American Vogue's long, singular history and its future on the front lines of the new, said Wintour. I am so excited to continue working with her, as her mentor but also as her student, while she leads us and our audiences where we've never been before. NBCUniversal, which will broadcast Super Bowl LX next February, has already scored a touchdown, even though the NFL regular season is just getting started. The company says the upcoming NFL season marks its highest grossing to-date when it comes to overall advertising and partnerships revenue. NBC, the companys broadcast arm, said it has already sold 90 percent of its ad inventory for Sunday Night Football. In addition, ad spots have already sold out for Super Bowl LX. According to CNBC, NBCUniversal said it saw high demand for Super Bowl ads, particularly from consumer products, entertainment, finance and alcohol brands. It also noted that spending was up 20 percent on digital platforms since the last Super Bowl on NBC in 2022. At least one motorist in Offaly was caught speeding during National Slowdown Day. An Garda Siochana, in partnership with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and other stakeholders, conducted the national speed enforcement operation on Monday. Gardai said a motorist was recorded driving at 75kph in a 60kph zone on the Daingean Road in Tullamore. Gardai said the aim of the initiative was to promote safer driving and reduce speed-related collisions nationwide, coinciding with the first full week of schools reopening across the country. They said that before 7pm on Monday, gardai, along with GoSafe Mobile and Static Safety Cameras, had 569 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit. They said the Tullamore breach of the limit was one example of the high speeds detected. Others were - 134kph in a 100kph zone on the N11 at Newtownmountkennedy in Co Wicklow; 123kph in a 100kph zone on the N60 at Facefield, Co Mayo; 116kph in a 80kph zone on the R265 at St Johnston, Co Donegal; 91kph in a 80kph zone on the N55 at Glasson, Co Westmeath; 78kph in a 60kph zone on the L3700 at Riverstown, Co Sligo; 91kph in a 50kph zone on the R339 in Monivea Road in Galway and 83kph in a 50kph zone on the R188 in Drumbear, in Co Monaghan. Meanwhile, figures released by a member of the European Parliament (MEP) revealed that 677,680 was collected in fines in Offaly by Garda speed vans in the 30-month period between January 2023 and June 8 this year. This puts Offaly in the middle of the three Midland counties with by far the most collected in Westmeath, 1,742,000 and the least in Laois, 435,440. READ NEXT: Massive Offaly book project nears completion Gardai released figures to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu showing that a total of 32,437,002 was collected in fines over those 30 months across all counties. Dublin was the highest, 6,227,840, and Tipperary was second on 3,322,880. According to Ms Ni Mhurchu, speeding caused the deaths of 52 Irish people in 2024. A European Commission report from 2020 estimated that 10 to 15% of all crashes and 30% of all fatal crashes are the direct result of speeding or inappropriate speed. 174 people died on Irish roads in 2024, which means that 52 of those people died as a direct result of speeding (30%). There are 52 families across the country mourning loved ones because we have failed to tackle speeding in any meaningful way, said the MEP. Ms Ni Mhurchu welcomed an extra 9 million in funding for up to 100 new speed cameras to enhance road safety at the end of 2024 but said that continual investment in new technology is needed to catch those who are flouting the law. She also called for smarter positioning of the current stock of speed vans to ensure they are located in areas of highest risk of road fatalities, and for consideration of re-education courses as a judicial sanction for drivers who are repeatedly caught speeding. Fianna Fail Councillor Frank Moran has stated that he will be backing Billy Kelleher TD in his bid to seek a nomination for the presidency. On his Facebook page, Cllr Moran said: ''I believe Fianna Fail HQ should allow members to decide. OMOV (One Man One Vote). How dare Ministers disregard the membership because ye will need them whilst canvassing.''We have contacted Cllr Moran for further comment. But what do Cllr Moran's Fianna Fail colleagues in Tullamore Municipal District think? Councillor Shane Murray said: ''There needs to be a clear process in place. Now we know that it's the parliamentary party that is going to choose. Billy Kelleher and Jim Gavin will make their pitch to them. But it has caused confusion. There should be one-man-one-vote, which is similar to Fine Gael.'' Cllr Murray pointed out that a substantial number including MEP Barry Andrews are backing Billy Kelleher. '' I do think Mary Hannifin could have been treated better and the same with Bertie Aherne. A process needs to be put in place. I do find it disappointing.'' Mary Hanifin was interviewed by Brendan O'Connor last Saturday on RTE. She said she had told the Taoiseach that she was interested in seeking a nomination and that she would attend a number of community events in her bid to garner support. Ms Hannifin said the Taoiseach told her to go ahead and do that. However, she returned from holidays to find Micheal Martin had endorsed Jim Gavin. A phone call from the Taoiseach would have been appreciated, she added. Meanwhile, Councillor Oliver Bryant said he hasn't given it much thought as yet. But added that both Jim Gavin and Billy Kelleher would make two very good candidates. ''They have totally different backgrounds. Jim Gavin has a great GAA background and Billy Kelleher has his political career.'' Cllr Bryant said as the leader of Fianna Fail, the Taoiseach was entitled to endorse Jim Gavin adding that Billy Kelleher hadn't declared his intention at the time. Councillor Declan Harvey was playing his cards close to his chest. '' I can't comment yet. I know Billy Kelleher. He is a good politician, but I haven't my mind made up, yet. Meanwhile, Heather Humphreys has been confirmed as the Fine Gael candidate. Established artist wanted to paint proposed mural in Tullamore The only other declared candidate is Independent Catherine Connolly. However, an interview on RTE last weekend did her no favours. She stumbled when asked about her trip to Syria where she met a supporter of former Syrian president Bashal al-Assad. She admitted it had been a mistake, but said the trip was a fact finding mission. She also was shaky on her nomination for former journalist Gemma O' Doherty for the presidency in 2018. She said she did not, not nor does not support Ms Doherty but felt she should give her a chance. Sinn Fein have yet to decide whether to back its own candidate or someone else Mary Lou McDondald has said. Ukrainian company Fire Point will produce fuel for its long-range Flamingo missiles in Denmark, the production will be located near the Skrydstrup, where Danish F-16s are based, the Danish Ministry of Defense reported. "Fire Point, a Ukrainian rocket fuel producer, is setting up production in South Jutland. This means that Denmark is once again at the forefront of supporting Ukrainians. This is an important step for Ukraine's security and creates opportunities for cooperation with Danish and European companies," the Defense Ministry said in a press release on its website on Wednesday. The first Ukrainian company, Fire Point, is reported to be setting up production near the Skrydstrup Air Base outside Vojens and will produce, among other things, rocket fuel. "This is helping Ukraine in its fight for security, its own independence and, no less importantly, its ability to live in peace," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters. Reuters notes that the launch of Ukrainian production in Denmark "will mark the first expansion of a Ukrainian defense companys activities abroad." Denmark has supported Ukraine since the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has so far provided DKK 67.6 billion ($10.13 billion) in military support, the Danish Foreign Ministry reported. The press release of the Ministry of Defense of this country notes that the creation of the Fire Point company in Denmark is the result of an agreement that the government concluded with the government of Ukraine in June. This allows Ukrainian defense companies to establish production in Denmark. Denmark has also allocated DKK 500 million to accelerate the creation of the Ukrainian defense industry in Denmark. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Flamingo missiles the most successful weapon of Ukraine. The NABU is conducting an investigation into the Fire Point company related to the production of drones. Take the skin and peel it back. Now doesnt that make you feel better? Trent Reznor, March of the Pigs (Image by Carl J. Petersen) Details DMCA My father was a reluctant participant in our trip to Woodstock 94. His contemporaries may have been practicing peace and love at Max Yasgur's farm in 1969, but he was musically stuck in an earlier era. The more modern acts at the Woodstock sequel were even more foreign to him. Still, he made the most of it, even claiming a patch of land for three generations of Petersensincluding my daughter, just shy of two years old. On Saturday, we found a good spot at the North Stage where we could watch the bands without getting caught in the crush of the crowd. My Dad enjoyed Joe Cocker and Blind Melon, but Cypress Hill pushed him past his comfort zone. We split upmy parents went back to camp, my daughter and I to the South Stage. After enduring a downpour and catching Primus, I headed back to see Nine Inch Nails (NIN). The crowd and mud made it impossible with a toddler in tow, so I returned to camp to leave her with my Mom and Dad. My parents were not at the campsite and did not return until after NIN had played through their hour and 15-minute set. My parents had gotten dinner and decided to watch a little bit of NIN, purely out of curiosity. The band, so different from anything my Dad listened to, completely grabbed him. They stayed for the whole set, and he continued to follow them after that weekend. My Mother would later laugh about him pulling up in the driveway blasting NIN from his car. That Woodstock set has since been called career-defining. It was a mud-soaked, chaotic scene, fueled by pure energy. Last month in Vancouver, I finally got my chance to see the band live. Trent Reznor, now decades removed from that reckless night, opened alone at a piano on the B stage in the middle of the arena, bathed in simple white lighting. The stripped-down arrangements revealed the raw emotion beneath the noise. There were moments where you could have heard a pin drop. Reznor was joined by his bandmates, minus newly returned drummer Josh Freese, who gradually reintroduced the defining industrial sound back into the arrangements. After this four-song crescendo, they were joined from the main stage by Freese, who quickly showed why is widely considered one of the best drummers for hire in the business. Later in the show, he stole the spotlight with a blistering solo during The Perfect Drug. Where Woodstock was chaos, this show was precision. The staging looked simple but was cutting-edge and constantly evolving. A scrim in front of the stage was especially inventive, as it made the band seem like they were playing inside a digital world. At times, the night was more an art installation than a rock concert. Reznor himself has changed, too. Once a brooding presence, he now borders on playful, even a bit goofy, letting the songs carry the weight. At one point, he noted Trumps feud with Canada and quipped, We love it here we may be trying to move up here pretty soon, before launching into David Bowies Im Afraid of Americans. And then came Hurt, one of Reznors most commercially successful songs but also among his most mellow. After the thunder of Head Like a Hole, the songs fragility was jarring. A chorus of 19,000 voices filled the arena, each attaching their own meaning. For me, it was my sons performance of the song at my fathers funeral. The circle was completefrom the muddy fields of Woodstock to this quiet, communal moment in Vancouver. As the song ended with its loud explosion of noise, the curtain dropped, strobes blazed, and the NIN logo glowed. No encore, no conventionjust emotion. The same force that first grabbed my fathers attention in 1994 on a field in Saugerties, New York. Carl Petersen is a proud father of five adult children, including two daughters on the severe end of the Autism spectrum. A passionate advocate for special education, he ran as a Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board. Renowned education advocate Dr. Diane Ravitch has praised him as a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles. Recently, Carl relocated to the State of Washington, where he is embracing his role as Poppy to two grandsons. You can explore his insights and perspectives through his blogs at www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Debates over the reasons for Japan's surrender in 1945 remain heated, particularly around the anniversary of the end of World War II. At the heart of the controversy lies a pivotal question: what was the decisive factor? The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or the Soviet Union's entry into the war in the Far East? This dispute goes far beyond mere academic debates, reflecting not only a struggle to interpret the events of 1945 but also to define their political significance in today's world. The narrative, widely promoted in Japan and endorsed by a handful of Western historians, that the atomic bombings forced Tokyo to capitulate is little more than a convenient myth. It serves to downplay the Soviet Union's role while emphasizing the American contribution. Yet, testimonies from Japanese leaders in August 1945, including Emperor Hirohito himself, reveal that the decisive push toward surrender was the Soviet Army's devastating offensive in Manchuria. Contrary to popular belief, the atomic strikes did not jolt Japan into immediate surrender. By that time, Japan had already endured a series of devastating conventional bombings, including the March attack on Tokyo, which claimed over 100,000 lives in a single night. To the Japanese, the harrowing destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a continuation of an already familiar catastrophe, not a singular event. Equally critical, in August 1945, the United States lacked enough nuclear weapons to sustain such a campaign. The true turning point lay elsewhere. On August 9, the Red Army launched the Manchurian Strategic Operation, meticulously planned and executed with breathtaking speed. As a result, the Kwantung Army, previously regarded as Japan's most formidable military force, was paralyzed, and Japan lost its strategic reserves and resource base in Northeast China and Korea. For the first time, the threat of a direct Soviet invasion of the Japanese islands loomed large, compelling Tokyo to reassess its stance. The American military command was also acutely aware of the Soviet factor's significance. According to estimates from the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, without Soviet intervention, the Pacific War could have dragged on for another year, costing the United States over a million lives. It is no coincidence that, at Potsdam, Washington pressed hard for confirmation of Soviet commitments. Against this backdrop, the words of British historian Richard Overy, an expert on the Third Reich and World War II, are particularly telling. He argues that the impact of the atomic bombings has been traditionally overstated. According to Overy, there was significant uncertainty about how the Hiroshima bombing was perceived and reported. It was only on August 10, when Hirohito made the sacred decision to accept the Allies' ultimatum, that the situation became clear. Hirohito, Overy emphasizes, was vastly more preoccupied with the American campaign of conventional bombings, which continued unabated even on the days the atomic bombs were dropped. Overy also highlights an internal factor: the growing anxiety among Japan's elite over the possibility of social unrest, or even a communist-inspired uprising. This fear was far from abstract, with the examples of Russia in 1917 and Germany in 1918, where military defeat led to revolutions still fresh in memory. In this context, the Soviet invasion of Manchuria on August 9 triggered outright panic. This played a far more critical role than the atomic strikes, Overy asserts. It was the terrifying prospect of Soviet occupation that pushed civilian and military leaders to urgently discuss surrender and summon the emperor for a final decision. According to Overy, Japan's elite realized at that moment that the Red Army could reach the Japanese islands before the Americans. Stalin, indeed, had plans to extend control not only over Korea but also to northern Japanese territories, including Hokkaido. As difficult as it was to accept defeat, the war ended on August 14 because Hirohito and his inner circle preferred American occupation to a Soviet one. Notably, neither on August 10 nor August 14 did the emperor cite the atomic bomb as the reason for surrender. He spoke only of the cumulative toll inflicted on the nation by relentless bombings since March 1945. It seems to me, Overy concludes, that conventional bombings had a far greater impact on both the elite and the broader population than the atomic strikes. This view is corroborated by Japanese sources and diaries from the period. The decision to surrender was not so much a reaction to the two nuclear explosions as it was a response to the realization of inevitable military collapse and the risk of losing political control amid a Soviet invasion. For Tokyo, the choice was not between war and peace but to whom to surrender - and the United States was deemed the lesser evil. Today's controversies over the causes of Japan's surrender go far beyond mere academic debates. For the United States, cementing the narrative of an atomic victory serves as a symbolic justification for the use of nuclear weapons as a tool of coercion. For Japan, it is a convenient way to highlight the national tragedy while sidelining the Soviet Union's critical role in the war's outcome. Yet, the facts of August 1945 inexorably remind us: the end of World War II in Asia was not the result of a single event but a confluence of factors, with the Soviet invasion and the swift Manchurian campaign playing the critical role. My friends in Gaza city are messaging me with desperate messages as they prepare to be forced out (or killed) yet again. The scenes are apocalyptic as Israeli forces are leveling whole neighborhoods and leaving no witnesses to the slaughter. Famine is officially declared in the Gaza Strip [1]. While most governments with notable exception of imperial powers want the killing to end [2], the horrific genocide continues and no one is spared [3]. Lest we forget, this did not start October 2023 (only accelerated using the pretext of the Gaza Ghetto uprising as justification for destroying 2.3 million lives). This week we commemorate the massacre of Sabra and Shatila 1982 among hundreds of massacres [4]. What of the US/Israeli plans of reducing the population of Gaza via extermination and eliminating resistance to build the "Gaza riviera"? This is real and historically has happened. A good example is the U.S. governments backing of the 196566 genocide (0.5-1 million murdered) which enabled Suhartos dictatorship which created the investment-friendly climate that corporations exploited. Balis resorts for example, marketed as paradises, were built on the social and political ruins of that violencewhere mass killings had destroyed opposition and allowed the state to commodify land and culture for tourism. As for the West Bank, the fate of the Gaza strip awaits us [5]. The Zionist history is one of massacres, ethnic cleansing, and false flags and blame shifted to their victims including labeling resistance as terrorism [6]. Most of the US public support Palestine and reject US government partnership with Israeli genocide of our people [7]. The power of the Zionist lobby is weakening everywhere. Yet the gangsters running the US government violate US law by supporting Israel against the Leahy amendment and signed global conventions. And the genocide continues and even intensifes. The US is also blocking Palestinians from entering including treatment seekers and the entire UN delegation (illegal according to UN charter) all in service of the rogue zionist project. This will further isolate the US and we saw rising powers. But the struggle continues and we are heartened first and foremost by the resilience and resistance (Sumud) of our people [8] and second by the global awakening. is escalating globally (the global intifada is spreading). The flotilla is sailing with over 50 ships [9]. There are calls for military interventionto stop the genocide [10]. A Gaza tribuna is convening this Thursday and Friday [11]. Zionists are losing ground globally. The only question is how fast the collapse of the US/Israeli empire will happen? It does matter if it is one month or 2 years because lives are lost every single day and the environment also suffers [12]. That is why we must all work harder. 1. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) 2. Genocide Scholars Resolution; 3. reporting here and here and context of this genocide here: ongaza.org 4. See about that massacre and about the history of the violence and other massacres 5. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 6. BTselem The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories 75-year playbook What a False Flag Operation Really Means 7. Chapter 6 from my book Sharing the Land of Canaan 8. Examples of heroism WAFA News Agency 9. Flotilla sails (Greta!) Barcelona Flotilla news conference Aljazeera Global Sumud Flotilla departure 10. Way that we could confront this regime by a legal military intervention. International Protective Force for Palestine Mobilizing a Military Intervention to Stop the Gaza Genocide: Public Workshop 11. The Gaza Tribunal - Day One (live Sept 4) Qumsiyeh, MB (2025) Ecocide and Resistance in Palestine (and also at two other sites) Remember dynamic dancer Juliet Prowse who graced both stage and screen from the 1960s to the 1990s? Yes, the South African dancer who burst into Kyangwali, Uganda In a groundbreaking effort to address mental health challenges among displaced youth, Ugandan publicist and humanitarian Brian Muhumuza Bishanga is spearheading a psychosocial inclusion Gurgaon, Sept 3rd, 2025 - Soul Miracles, India's leading school for spiritual learning, announces the global launch of Das Mahavidya Workshop, a rare initiation into Enable: The Disability Podcast is a new podcast featuring stories of amazing people with disabilities and different abilities. Advance Local Enable: The Disability Podcast is a podcast featuring stories of amazing people with disabilities and different abilities. The Central New York Autism Societys Joe Cittadino speaks in this episode about being diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, growing up with autism, connecting with other neurodivergent people on the spectrum, and his experiences in social and professional life. I prefer to say that Im a person with autism just because of the fact that when you say I am autistic, youre saying that I am my autism. My autism is me, Cittadino says. When you say that I have autism, youre saying its part of me, but it doesnt define me. Its not the sole thing that is me. Enable: The Disability Podcast will release new episodes weekly on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Follow facebook.com/enablepodcast or @enablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok for more. About the hosts Geoff Herbert, who was born with a profound binaural hearing loss, is a reporter, SEO Lead and content supervisor for syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Despite being mostly deaf in both ears, hes also worked as a DJ for 25 years, including 10 years in radio (as DeafGeoff) earning WJPZ Radio Hall of Fame honors and 10 years as a wedding DJ in Upstate New York. He learned how to communicate orally with hearing aids, lipreading and speech therapy, and embraces assistive technology like visual waveforms in music programs, closed captioning/subtitles, and video calls. Kurt Hower, who has worked at Advance Local for over 35 years, is a leader both in the media industry and in the community. He has been actively involved in leading change as the print industry has continued to rapidly evolve, while also serving on a variety of boards including the Central PA Chapter Arthritis Foundation Board of Directors where he was Chairman of Board Development and a member of the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. Hower has ankylosing spondylitis, a rare disease that causes arthritis of the spine, and encourages others to focus on what they can contribute to society rather than their challenges. Community at Work Job Fair The Community at Work Job Fair will take place Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at CNY Works, 960 James St., in Syracuse, N.Y. The free event will provide adults with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to meet inclusive employers, explore industries, and learn about positions with actively hiring companies. Herbert and Hower will co-host a panel discussion about hiring tips and accessibility options at the job fair. The discussion will be recorded for an episode of the Enable podcast. While the fair is tailored for adults with diverse mental and physical abilities, experiences or access needs, all community members are welcome. Participation is free for both job seekers and employers. For more information, visit communityatworkjobfair.com. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimated that there are over 6,000 cougars in Oregon (file photo). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Sheriffs deputies on Monday euthanized a cougar near Corvallis after determining it posed a threat to humans, officials said. The deputies located the juvenile male cougar around 3:40 p.m. at a property on Northwest Camellia Drive, just outside Corvallis city limits. The animal had killed a goat there the day before and had returned to the area apparently to continue feeding on it when Benton County sheriffs deputies arrived, officials said. The young cougar which appeared unafraid of people, officials said had also appeared in various area residents backyards in broad daylight and had made appearances within Corvallis city limits. The Benton County Sheriffs Office said the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife supported the decision to kill the animal, which is permitted under Oregon law if a cougar is deemed a threat to human safety. The state puts the number of cougars in Oregon at more than 6,000 as of 2023. Cougars rarely attack humans; fatalities from cougar attacks on people are virtually unheard of in Oregon, with one relatively recent notable exception being a 2018 attack that left a hiker dead on Mt. Hood. But while fatal encounters between humans and cougars are rare in the state, it isnt uncommon for cougars to kill livestock, and such attacks frequently involve, such as in this case, young cougars that arent very experienced at hunting, or females trying to feed their young, officials said. Cougars are an important part of Oregons ecosystem, Benton County Undersheriff Don Rogers said in a statement. Unfortunately, when they prey on livestock in a residential or agricultural area and become a threat to human safety, intervention becomes necessary. The decision to euthanize wildlife is the last resort, but it is our responsibility to protect people and their animals. Officials recommended that people living in rural or exurban areas take the following precautions to prevent conflicts with cougars: Keep small livestock and pets in secure enclosures, especially at night Use motion-activated lights or guard animals to deter cougars from preying on livestock Feed pets inside Officials added that people should only call 911 about a cougar sighting if the animal repeatedly shows up near homes during the day, charges or growls at people, or attacks pets or livestock. Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313. An Access Academy teacher leads a math class, back in 2017. A group of parents has suggested that the district close the program for exceptionally gifted students in hopes of shoring up neighborhood schools. Families at the school say their suggestion is misguided. Beth Conyers/PPS Flickr School closures are on the horizon for Portland Public Schools, and now several dozen parents are calling for the district to begin with Access Academy, its specialized school for talented and gifted students that has a waiting list longer than the number of students currently enrolled. In a petition thats garnered about 40 signatures, the group of parents call for Access to be closed to help shore up underenrolled neighborhood schools. Our preference would be to bring the money [that it costs to run Access, or about $3.4 million annually] to the neighborhood schools and serve kids there. We are concerned that a program like this detracts from how neighborhood schools could be even better, said Nicholas Hengen Fox, a parent whose child attends Sabin Elementary. [Access] serves only about 8% of the students who are identified as talented and gifted. If it is really such a vital service, then we are doing a bad job of providing services to all the kids qualified to receive them. Access families, meanwhile, have mobilized quickly to defend the program, which enrolls about 320 students and has a waitlist of 340 students for a spot in grades two through eight. They say that rather than close the program, Portland Public Schools should expand it to meet the need that the mile-long waitlist suggests. Their solution to this problem is to eliminate Access? asked parent Jonathan Pulvers, whose daughter is an Access student. Its an odd solution to that problem. Why not increase supply? The sentiment at Access would strongly support a second program. District leaders and school board members have sent signals that they are not especially interested in closing Access, several parents from the school said. The Oregon Department of Education has repeatedly warned the district it has not met state requirements for meeting the needs of gifted students, and the district has also faced multiple lawsuits over its TAG programming or lack thereof. But the push and pull over Access provides an early preview of how charged and personal the politics around school closures can become, a cautionary tale for Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong, who has said that Portland Public Schools may well need to consider closures this year, along with redrawing of attendance boundaries, given declining enrollment projections. Portland Public Schools has a complicated modern history with schooling for exceptionally advanced students. In 1997, a group of parents filed a complaint with the Oregon Department of Education alleging that the district was out of compliance with state rules requiring them to provide services to talented and gifted students. The following year, state regulators agreed with their contention, and ordered Portland Public Schools to get into compliance or face consequences. Access Academy was a solution. To enter the admission lottery for the program, prospective students must score in the 99th percentile of a nationally normed test in reading or math or cognitive abilities, and demonstrate via testimony from their parents and teachers that their needs are not being met in their neighborhood school. In practice, Pulvers and Fox agree, talented and gifted services at neighborhood schools vary widely, even from classroom to classroom. The school district screens every student for talented and gifted identification in second grade, using a nationally normed test. Students who score in the 99th percentile on either the reading or math section of the test are notified that they are eligible to apply to Access. In 2023, about 1,200 families received such notifications, according to the districts TAG plan. Not every family chooses to apply, and not every family who enters the Access lottery gets a spot. That means in theory that talented and gifted students who dont attend Access should get instruction tailored to their level at their neighborhood schools. But in the absence of dedicated resources and amid so many other pressing needs, such differentiation varies from classroom to classroom, parents on both sides of the Access question agree. The exterior of Access Academy, in the former Terwiliger Elementary School in Southwest Portland. Courtesy of Portland Public Schools Accesss demographic population has shifted along over the course of its 20-some years in operation, as it has moved locations. It opened at Sabin K-8 in Northeast Portland in 2001 and then moved to Rose City Park Elementary school a dozen years later, where it stayed until that building was repurposed as a neighborhood school, to relieve overcrowding at Beverly Cleary K-8. When Guadalupe Guerrero, Armstrongs predecessor, first came to Portland in 2017, he proposed several different locations for Access, infuriating communities that such a move would have displaced in the process. All those locations were shelved, along with Guerreros proposal to create talented and gifted hub sites at neighborhood middle schools, similar to the Summa model in place in the neighboring Beaverton school district. Eventually, a temporary solution was found in 2019: Split Access into two programs, one for elementary pupils and one for middle schoolers, and co-locate it at Vestal Elementary and Lane Middle School. A few years later, Access landed in its current location at the long-shuttered Terwilliger Elementary School in South Portlands Johns Landing neighborhood. Portland Public Schools provides transportation to Access students who live more than a mile from the campus, which sets the program apart from the districts handful of choice schools non-neighborhood magnet programs that specialize in science, the arts or social studies which require families to work out their own transportation to and from school. Access families say the programs current location in Southwest Portland has likely contributed to its critics concerns that the program serves fewer Black and Latino students and more students from higher income families than district averages. According to district data, 17% of its students are from the Wells High attendance zone in Southwest Portland, 16% are from the Cleveland High cluster in Southeast Portland and 15% are from the neighborhoods where schools feed into Franklin High School in Southeast Portland. By contrast, only 8% of its students come from the McDaniel High attendance zone in Northeast Portland and 4% of its students are from attendance zones around Roosevelt High in North Portland, which are both farther away and serve larger shares of lower-income students. Fox said income inequities are at the heart of the concerns of those who want to see Access closed. There are a lot of inequities, he said. And the fact that a lot of those kids come from higher socioeconomic status ZIP codes makes it hard for me to weigh that against kids who really need reading and math supports in order to graduate. Couldnt the [TAG] needs be met at neighborhood schools? I have seen how great they can be for kids in a lot of different ways. But Pulvers cautioned against assuming that displaced Access students would automatically return to the public school system. His own child would do so, he said, but some minority of students would not return, as their parents sought alternatives to best fit their familys needs. Its a fact, not a threat, Pulvers added. Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com FILE - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson answers questions during a news conference at City Hall, Jan. 28, 2025, where he talked about the order from President Donald Trump's administration to freeze federal funding. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP, File) AP CHICAGO Eight people were killed and 50 others were wounded over the Labor Day weekend in dozens of shootings in Chicago, where President Donald Trump has seized on crime to try to justify a greater federal role on the citys streets. The toll highlights Chicagos persistent struggle with gun violence and reveals a grim reality: spikes in shootings during summer holiday weekends, particularly on the South and West sides. The violence this time was deadlier than last Labor Day, when seven people were killed and more than 20 were wounded. The violence has taken on a sharper national resonance this year, colliding with the politics of crime and immigration as the Trump administration plans to ramp up immigration enforcement in the city in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, Trump blasted the city and its leaders in a post on his social media platform, calling it the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far. Last year, the city had 573 homicides, or 21 per every 100,000 residents, according to the Rochester Institute of Technology. Other cities had a higher rate in 2024. Chicagos rate was down 25% compared to 2020. When asked about sending National Guard troops to Chicago, Trump said on Tuesday, Were going in, but added, I didnt say when. We have the right to do it, he said. Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, both Democrats, have repeatedly said theres no reason for Trump to send the National Guard, which is on the ground in the District of Columbia, targeting crime, immigration and homelessness. Weve got crime on the streets, Pritzker acknowledged last week. Any person that gets killed or hurt is a victim of crime, is somebody that we ought to be addressing the challenges for. And were doing that every day. But the way to do it is with police officers, not with troops. Between Friday night and Monday night, 58 people were shot in 37 separate shootings in the nations third-largest city, according to preliminary information from police. Most survivors were in good or fair condition, but several were listed in serious or critical condition, including a 17-year-old boy. In most cases, no suspect was in custody. Chicago officials have long argued that the citys gun violence is fueled less by local laws than by the steady influx of firearms from nearby states with looser regulations. Mayor Brandon Johnson said on Tuesday that too many guns are trafficked into Illinois from neighboring states especially Indiana, which is led by Republicans and end up on city streets. Chicago will continue to have a violence problem as long as red states continue to have a gun problem, Johnson said. For years, federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies have tried to disrupt that pipeline, targeting so-called straw purchasers who buy firearms legally in states like Indiana and then resell them to criminal gangs in Chicago, where they are used in street crimes. Separately, the Trump administration is expected to expand immigration operations in Chicago. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed plans for a greater presence of federal agents. Johnson over the weekend signed an order, declaring that Chicago police will not collaborate with military personnel on police patrols or civil immigration enforcement. Police will not be deputized to do traffic stops and checkpoints for the president, said the mayor, adding that the Trump administration is out of control. Violent crime has dropped in recent years in Chicago, population 2.7 million, but it remains a persistent problem in some neighborhoods. Some with the highest homicide rates have 68 times more homicides than those with the lowest rates, according to the University of Chicago Crime Lab. Chicago police post weekly crime stats online. The department says there were 278 murders so far this year, through August, a 31% drop compared to the same eight-month period in 2024. Nine people killed, seven injured in Kostiantynivka due to enemy shelling on Sept 3 authorities Photo: https://t.me/VadymFilashkin Nine civilians were killed and seven were wounded in the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region on Wednesday, September 3, head of the Regional Military Administration Vadym Filashkin reported. "In the morning, Russians shelled the city with cannon artillery: eight people aged 44 to 74 were killed, six were injured. Two multi-story buildings, a private house, a store, a shopping center and five retail pavilions were damaged," Filashkin wrote on Telegram on Wednesday. In addition, according to his data, the enemy twice hit civilian cars with FPV drones - as a result of these attacks, a 36-year-old woman was killed and another person was injured. U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters in the Oval Office at the White House on September 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Getty Images WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will direct federal law enforcement intervention to combat crime in Chicago and Baltimore, despite staunch opposition from elected leaders and many residents in both cities. Asked by reporters in the Oval Office about sending National Guard troops to the nations third-largest city, Trump said, Were going in, but added, I didnt say when. I have an obligation, the president said. This isnt a political thing. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, scoffed at the notion of sending military troops and federal agents into Chicago, reiterating Tuesday that federal intervention was not required or wanted. Trump has already sent National Guard troops into Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., where hes also federalized the police force. He has said he plans similar moves in other Democrat-run cities even as a federal judge on Tuesday deemed the California deployment illegal. Trump criticizes leaders in Chicago The president praised Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser for working with federal forces, but repeated his criticism of Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat. Trump said hed love to have Pritzker call and say, Send in the troops even though the two-term governor has repeatedly said he wont be doing that. If the governor of Illinois would call up, call me up, I would love to do it, Trump said. Now, were going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it. Pritzker deemed Trumps comments to call him for help as unhinged. The two have been locked in an escalating war of words for days as Trump called Chicago the worlds most dangerous city earlier Tuesday. No, I will not call the president asking him to send troops to Chicago, Pritzker said Tuesday at a news conference with Johnson and other leaders. Ive made that clear already. Illinois notified of federal plan The state received its first contact about federal intervention on Saturday when the head of the Illinois State Police got a call from Gregory Bovino, chief of the Border Patrols El Centro, California, sector, saying immigration agents would come to Chicago, according to Pritzker. The governor said no further details were offered. Pritzker urged the public not to let the presence of federal agents spark tensions in the city but asked residents to look out for neighbors, and to film interactions with federal agents and share them publicly. Authoritarians thrive on your silence, he said. Be loud for America. Chicago has been bracing for the expanded federal presence, with activists, pastors and schools prepared for the deluge of national attention. Even without knowing exactly what is coming, the citys organized activist network began circulating protest schedules, vowing to demonstrate within hours of troops or federal agents arriving. The measures are familiar in a city that has long tried to counteract Trumps bid to deport more people, including adding more staff at a hotline to report immigration arrests. Dozens of pastors write a letter to Trump Tuesday saying the focus should instead be on underfunded schools and unemployment. To the faithful of Chicago, I say this: prepare your hearts for resistance, the letter said. Crime in Chicago Johnson said violence in the city stems from guns on the streets that are trafficked to Illinois from neighboring states, including Republican-led Indiana. Chicago will continue to have a violence problem as long as red states continue to have a gun problem, Johnson said. Echoing a trend in other major U.S. cities, Chicagos violent crime has dropped significantly overall, though it remains a persistent issue in parts of the city. Recently, the Trump administration has renewed interest in the citys daily crime log, including using a spate of shootings during the Labor Day weekend as justification for increased military presence. Chicagos homicide rate is 21.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to analysis of federal crime data by the Rochester Institute of Technology. It cites seven other major U.S. cities St. Louis, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Indianapolis and Richmond, Virginia with higher rates. Chicago reported 573 homicides in 2024, the most of any U.S. city that year. But violent crime dropped significantly in the first half of the year, representing the steepest decline in over a decade, according to city data. Shootings and homicides were down more than 30% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same time last year. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has said the city and state will sue once the federal intervention begins. Trump says intervention in Baltimore is necessary Trump also said Tuesday that he has an obligation to protect this country, and that includes Baltimore. Local officials there have joined Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in similarly opposing federal law enforcement intervention. A spokesperson for Moore said deploying the National Guard was theatrical and not sustainable. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott listed some of the citys recent accomplishments in curbing gun violence. Scott has repeatedly accused the president of using racist rhetoric and targeting Black-led cities, like Baltimore and Chicago. Heres the reality in Baltimore, Scott wrote on X, noting that Baltimore homicides have reached historic lows amid sustained declines including the lowest number of homicides on record for the month of August. Trump said his efforts in Washington have ensured it is now a safe zone. We have no crime. The White House announced separately Tuesday that more than 1,650 people have been arrested since the Trump administration first mobilized federal officials on Aug. 7. And this city was really bad, Trump said. He said, were really proud of federal efforts to curb crime in Washington. By WILL WEISSERT and SOPHIA TAREEN, Associated Press Associated Press writers Lea Skene in Baltimore and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report. Tareen reported from Chicago. A new overnight-only homeless shelter run by the Salvation Army and funded by the city will open in Northwest Portland Tuesday night. Allison Barr/The Oregonian In the hours before it opened to guests Tuesday, media were welcomed to view the new overnight-only homeless shelter in the Pearl District that has caused an uproar among neighbors. The Pearl District shelter at 1435 Northwest Northrup Street is the fifth to open as part of Portland Mayor Keith Wilsons plan to open 12 to 15 such shelters by Dec. 1. Wilson has set a goal to add 1,500 shelter beds to the areas existing 3,000 beds and end unsheltered homelessness for anyone who wants a safe place to sleep. However, the mayor wasnt in attendance Tuesday morning. The former trucking company executive was at Daimler Truck North America for a different press event to mark the citys purchase of a battery-electric Freightliner M2 truck for use by the water bureau. On Tuesday night, the Pearl District shelter will be ready to accommodate up to 40 guests, with plans to increase to 100 guests per night by October, according to city officials. Eventually, the shelter could offer as many as 200 beds, bringing Portlands total of new city-funded beds to 630. That figure would be just short of halfway to the mayors Dec. 1 target. Forty twin-sized beds on metal frames filled a loft-like space in an old office building in the Pearl District hours before the shelter opened to its first guests. Allison Barr/The Oregonian The new overnight-only homeless shelter, located in the Pearl District, is meant to eventually host as many as 200 people per night. Allison Barr/The Oregonian Hundreds of people have attended at least three large neighborhood meetings this summer one online and two in person to discuss the new shelter. In emails to The Oregonian/OregonLive and interviews with other local media outlets, residents have cited concerns about public safety, the shelter sites proximity to schools and the effectiveness of overnight-only shelter in general. None of the other shelters opened since Wilson took office have received such strong, public pushback. An editorial published this weekend by Allan Classen in the Northwest Examiner, a neighborhood newspaper, argued that the many social service agencies for the indigent in Old Town hurt the Pearl District, the neighborhood to the immediate west. People in positions of authority treat successful sections of the city not as resources and positive examples but as targets to label as selfish resisters to compassion for those in need, Classen wrote. A heap of self-righteousness leads nowhere we want to go. The Salvation Army, which will run the shelter, has named the Pearl District site the Northrup Shelter. It is the third overnight-only shelter The Salvation Army will operate in Portland. The religious organization also runs the Sunderland RV Safe Park in Northeast Portland, which is slated to close at the end of September. Overnight shelters like this one typically offer about nine hours of service and include snacks, basic bathroom facilities and congregate sleeping accommodations. Allison Barr/The Oregonian On Tuesday, 40 twin-size beds on metal frames and one bunk bed were laid out in a grid pattern in a loft-like space inside the old office building where the new shelter will be located. The floor was covered in a shiny black material and an area with desks for staff was located behind a partial wall in another part of the space. Each bed had a fitted sheet, a pillow and a blanket. Overnight shelters typically offer about nine hours of service and include snacks, basic bathroom facilities and congregate sleeping accommodations. They do not provide the same level of services as 24-hour shelters where people can reserve a bed, store their items, shower, wash their clothes and essentially live temporarily. Wilson has argued that overnight-only shelters designed to serve anyone who needs a bed for a night will fill a gap in the shelter system and act as a first step out of homelessness for the citys most vulnerable residents. At this time, no additional planned shelter locations have been announced by the city. The Pearl District shelter at 1435 Northwest Northrup Street is the fifth to open as part of Portland Mayor Keith Wilsons plan to open 12 to 15 such shelters by Dec. 1. Allison Barr/The Oregonian Allison Barr contributed reporting for this story. Lillian Mongeau Hughes covers homelessness and mental health for The Oregonian. Email her with tips or questions at lmhughes@oregonian.com. Or follow her on Bluesky @lmonghughes.bsky.social or X at @lrmongeau. The Oregon coast cottage where author Ken Kesey retreated to after earning worldwide fame for his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest sold Tuesday for $750,000, which was $51,000 over the asking price. Its the first time in 50 years the oceanfront house on a 2.13-acre bluff between Florence and Yachats has traded hands. Listing agent Shanna McCord of Fathom Realty Oregon said the late authors family preserved the landscape, allowing native plants and wildlife to thrive instead of clearing ground to enlarge or replace the original cottage. This home offers a rare opportunity for anyone seeking to escape the daily grind and the fast pace of city life, McCord told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Its a sanctuary where nature is the centerpiece, and history quietly lingers, inviting its next steward to create their own future. The property was listed on July 18 at $699,000. Offers were due by July 23 and one offer was accepted the following day. The sale price was negotiated to $750,000, according to McCord, and the transaction closed Sept. 2. Maureen Hewlett of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate represented the buyer. We had several offers that first weekend, McCord said. People were calling about it nonstop the first two weeks or so, even after it was pending. She said the calls trickled down eventually but did not stop completely. Both buyers and sellers seem to be very pleased with how everything turned out, she said. The cottage, built in 1964 on U.S. 101, was purchased by Ken and Faye Kesey in the 1970s as a coastal getaway a two-hour drive west from their home in Pleasant Hill, southeast of Springfield. Originally designed as a two-bedroom, one-bathroom vacation home, the garage was converted into a third bedroom. A porch connects the two structures. There are hardwood floors and view-framing windows in the home with 1,269 square feet of living space. Prior to the sale, the house had been a short-term rental called the Key Sea Coast House. The couples son Zane Kesey posted on Facebook when the property was listed: Mom is selling dads Ocean Writing Cabin.... so many memories. Zane Kesey, named after his fathers childhood idol Western fiction author Zane Grey, linked to a video clip about dad talking about the Oregon Coast two months before Ken Keseys death at age 66 in 2001. The coast makes you think of strange and ancient magic," said Ken Kesey, who was called the Pied Piper of the psychedelic era." McCord told The Oregonian/OregonLive the property, close to public beach access and hiking trails, has a limited amount of oceanfront land and its true charm lies in its preserved natural beauty. Oregons Ken Kesey The Ken Kesey mural is on the side of Springfields Plank Town Brewing at 4th and Main streets. Samantha Swindler Colorado-born Ken Kesey was a countercultural hero who grew up on an Oregon dairy farm where his father Fred started the Eugene Farmers Creamery Cooperative, selling under the brand name Darigold. Ken Keseys brother Chuck and Chucks wife, Sue, founded the Eugene-based Oregons Springfield Creamery and as producers of Nancys Probiotic Foods were leaders of the natural food movement starting in the 1970s. Sue Kesey died last month at 86. Ken Kesey graduated in 1957 from the University of Oregon, where his papers are housed, and wrote two novels that have never been out of print: Kesey, who married his high school sweetheart, Faye, later launched a literary publication titled Spit in the Ocean. Hes well known as the leader of the Merry Pranksters, a small group of counterculture seekers who traveled the U.S. in a psychedelic-painted bus called Furthur. Keseys legacy continues to be celebrated, especially in Springfield. A celebration of the 10th anniversary of the two-story Ken Kesey Mural will be part of Springfields The Block Party, which starts at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, on Main Street between Third and Seventh streets. The city will give away limited-edition Kesey T-shirts, stickers and temporary tattoos. People can also watch the original artists refresh the mural on the east wall of the 1907 Odd Fellows Building, now Plank Town Brewing Company, at 346 Main St. Zane Kesey posted on Facebook: Hoping to have the bus there too. Janet Eastman covers design and trends. Reach her at 503-294-4072, jeastman@oregonian.com and follow her on X @janeteastman. Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reported on holding an important meeting in Kyiv with Minister of Defense of Great Britain John Healy, who is on a visit to Kyiv. "Among the key needs of Ukraine are ammunition, air defense systems and long-range weapons. He stressed the importance of long-term support for Ukraine to achieve lasting peace and create conditions under which the Russian Federation will not be able to resume aggression," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram on Wednesday following the meeting. According to the minister, they separately discussed the mechanisms of security guarantees, in particular the role of the Coalition of the Willing. He stressed that Ukraine is counting on strong contributions from partner countries to strengthen its defense capabilities. "In continuation of the agreements between the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, we have coordinated our next steps in strengthening the defense capabilities of both states. We are preparing important decisions in this direction," Shmyhal said. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Andriy Hnatov, and the Head of the Main Intelligence Agency, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, presented the British side with current data on the situation on the battlefield and the plans of the Russian Federation. "We examined in detail the enemy's strategy for building up military capabilities - a challenge to which Ukraine, together with its allies, must develop a response," Shmyhal added. For his significant contribution to strengthening our defense capabilities, he awarded his British colleague the Cross of Honor of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. At the end of July 2025, Microsoft reached a big milestone and came one small step closer to its goal of making Windows 11 the most popular version of Windows. For the first time ever, Windows 11s market share pulled ahead of Windows 10! And the gap was pretty significant, with Windows 11 at 53.51 percent and Windows 10 at 42.88 percent. But with August 2025 behind us, Microsoft has been hit with a rude awakening. While Windows 11 still sits ahead of Windows 10 in total market share, the gap has shrunk. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 69,99 Euro Best Prices Today: According to the latest Statcounter figures, Windows 11 lost notable ground in August 2025, ending the month with a global Windows market share of 49.08 percent compared to Windows 10s 45.53 percent. In other words, Windows 11 lost around 4.4 points of market share between its July high and August shock. That said, Microsofts Extended Security Updates (ESU) program could also be contributing to the resurgence and stabilization of Windows 10. As of now, its possible to keep receiving Windows 10 security updates for free after the October 2025 end-of-support deadline hits. Alternatively, theres also a free tool that can keep you on a secure version of Windows 10 up until the year 2032. As people slowly but surely jump ship from Windows 10 to Windows 11, the statistics show that people really do love Windows 10 and many will do whatever they can to stick with it despite a looming deadline. FILE Rain soaked memorials for those who died in a mass shooting sit along the roadside by Schemengees Bar & Grille, Oct. 30, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) AP By PATRICK WHITTLE and HOLLY RAMER, The Associated Press Survivors of Maines deadliest mass shooting and relatives of victims are suing the federal government, alleging that the U.S. Army could and should have stopped one of its reservists from carrying out what they call one of the most preventable mass tragedies in American history. Eighteen people were killed in October 2023 when Robert Card opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar and grill. An independent commission appointed by Maines governor later concluded that there were numerous opportunities for intervention by both Army officials and civilian law enforcement as Cards mental health deteriorated. He was found dead by suicide two days after the shootings. The lawsuit, filed in federal court on behalf of more than 100 survivors and victims family members, accuses the U.S. government of negligence, saying its conduct directly and proximately caused the mass shooting. It alleges that Army officials and others failed to act reasonably, broke the promises they made to Cards family and their community, violated mandatory polices, procedures and disregarded directives and orders. By March 2023, the United States and its personnel knew Card was paranoid, delusional, violent, and lacked impulse control. The Army knew he had access to firearms. The Army promised to remove his guns but did not fulfill that promise, the lawsuit states. Worse, through its acts and omissions, the Army withheld information and actively misled local law enforcement, thereby preventing others from intervening and separating Card from his weapons. A makeshift memorial sits outside Schemengees Bar & Grille, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Lewiston, Maine, after 18 people were killed in the deadliest mass shooting in state history. (AP Photo/Matt York, file) AP Attorneys plan to provide more details Wednesday at a news conference in Lewiston, not far from where the shootings took place. The attorneys began the process of suing the government a little less than a year ago when they filed notices of claim, saying the Army did not act despite being aware of Cards mental health decline. Cards mental health spiral led to his hospitalization and left him paranoid, delusional and expressing homicidal ideations, the claim said. He even produced a hit list of those he wanted to attack, attorneys have said. Family members and fellow reservists said Card had exhibited delusional and paranoid behavior months before the shootings. He was hospitalized by the Army during training in July 2023 in New York, where his unit was training West Point cadets, but Army Reserve officials have acknowledged that no one made sure Card was taking his medication or complying with his follow-up care at home in Bowdoin, Maine. The starkest warning came in a September text from a fellow reservist: I believe hes going to snap and do a mass shooting. Army officials conducted their own investigation after the shootings that Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, then the chief of the Army Reserve, said found a series of failures by unit leadership. Three Army Reserve leaders were disciplined for dereliction of duty, according to the report. When the governors commission released its final report last August, the Army issued a statement saying it was committed to reviewing the findings and implementing sound changes to prevent tragedies like this from recurring. The Lewiston shootings led to new gun laws in Maine, a state with a long tradition of hunting and gun ownership. The laws prompted legal action on the part of gun rights advocates in the state and remain a contentious topic. A Harrisburg man was charged with sexually abusing three girls over several years when the children were between 11 and 15 years old, police said in court documents. Jose Borrero-Rosario, 41, was charged on Aug. 28 with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault person less than 13 years of age and related charges, according to court documents filed by Harrisburg police. He was also charged by Harrisburg police in June with statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, unlawful contact with a minor. Police say Borrero-Rosario began sexually abusing the girls in 2019 at homes in the city. He abused the girls at different times when he had access to them alone. Borrero-Rosario impregnated the oldest victim twice, resulting in two children, according to court records. Those records said Borrero-Rosario would offer money, Wi-Fi access, cellphone usage and an iPad before the assaults. A preliminary hearing for both cases is scheduled for Sept. 25, according to online court documents. A fundraiser was started Tuesday for the 25-year-old woman in a wheelchair who was struck by a minivan during Harrisburgs Kipona Festival. Morgan Smoker, who runs a well-known photography business and frequently works at Hersheypark, was one of three people struck by 37-year-old Elizabeth A. Bohrer, of York Haven, when she drove past barricades on Front Street and into the festival. The crash, which happened around 6 p.m. Monday, also critically injured a 6-year-old boy, fracturing his jaw, ribs and pelvis, and left a Harrisburg public works employee with an injury to his arm. Smokers wheelchair, which she uses to speak, was destroyed in the crash. She is in the hospital, thankfully alive, but with lacerations. The wheelchair/computer is used for all of her communication, its her voice, and its how she runs a thriving photography business. Without it, she cant tell anyone how she feels or what hurts, the GoFundMe campaign said. A lot of the equipment for Morgans wheelchair is very expensive. An affidavit of probable cause filed against Bohrer on Tuesday said she appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance during the incident and during later interviews at the Dauphin County booking center. Police said Bohrer seemed out of it and was falling asleep or speaking about random things as investigators interrogated her. A blood test is pending to determine if Bohrer had any intoxicating substances in her system. Before the crash took place, two women told PennLive that Bohrer asked them for directions to 87. I dont know what she was saying. It was so weird, Chanda Porter-Lewis said. She just kept saying, Where is 87? After asking for directions, Bohrer drove away, made a U-turn at a traffic light, and headed down Front Street. Bohrer is charged with three counts each of aggravated assault by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, as well as aggravated assault of a victim under 13 years old, and five related offenses. Bohrer had been involuntarily committed to mental health hospitals on three occasions before the crash. Online court records show she had no prior crimes in Pennsylvania. The conditions of the man and the boy are unclear as of Tuesday night. The judge flashed anger and expressed frustration over a six-month delay in reclassifying Ellen Greenbergs 2011 death by 20 stab wounds as something other than suicide. Here, Ellen is pictured in an undated photo provided by the family. A Philadelphia judge Wednesday delivered an extended tongue-lashing to the city attorney representing the medical examiner over why Ellen Greenbergs manner of death hasnt been changed from suicide to undetermined. The court is frustrated, Judge Linda A. Carpenter said at one point during the Zoom hearing. I never really understood why this couldnt be changed to undetermined from the beginning. At issue is the so-called expeditious reexamination of the 27-year-old Philadelphia teachers 2011 death by 20 stab wounds. The review was promised by the city as part of a civil lawsuit settlement with Ellens parents, Joshua and Sandee Greenberg, that was finalized in April. But by early August, as the city medical examiners review dragged on, the Greenbergs lawyers went back to the court with a new motion to force Philadelphia to live up to the settlement. The settlement also included a $650,000 payment for monetary damages to the Greenbergs, which has been made. I dont understand whats taking so long for the city, Judge Carpenter pressed during her discussion with attorneys for the Greenbergs and the city. Its ridiculous. And you obviously just dont care, the judge told city attorney Michael Pestrak. Thats probably why the Greenbergs are so frustrated. Justice delayed is justice denied. At one point, the judge said she should have the power to change the manner of death from suicide to undetermined. She noted shes been shepherding the Greenberg case through various court motions for more than two years and had proposed a solution very similar to the settlement in those early days. Ive heard all the evidence. Why dont I have the power to do that? Judge Carpenter asked about changing Ellens manner of death herself. The judge stopped short of imposing such a solution and instructed the attorneys to meet in private and attempt to work out a solution. The hearing was then continued until next month. The narrative of suicide in Ellens death was set moments after her body was discovered bloody and lifeless on her kitchen floor, slumped against a cabinet on the snowy, stormy evening of Jan. 26, 2011. This image is the result of a 3D computer analysis of the trajectory and depth of all 20 of Ellens stab wounds. The analysis was commissioned by the family of Ellen Greenberg and conducted by BioMX Corp., a Virginia-based independent computational biomechanics engineering consulting company that reconstructs accidents and criminal injuries for court cases. Ellens fiance, Sam Goldberg, said he returned from working out in the Manayunk apartment complex gym to find the door to the apartment he shared with Ellen latched from inside. She didnt respond to his knocks, calls and texts. Goldberg later told police he had to break the inner door latch to enter and found Ellen slumped and bloodied on the kitchen floor, a 10-inch knife protruding from her chest. His account of breaking into the apartment was later called into question by other evidence. During Goldbergs recorded 911 call he said, among other things, that Ellen had stabbed herself. Responding police and a medical examiner official also treated Ellens death as a suicide on the evening of her death. At the time, Ellen, a former graduate of Susquehanna Township High School and Penn State, was seeing a psychiatrist and being medically treated for anxiety. Apparently assuming her death was suicide, police did not treat the bloodied apartment as a crime scene that evening. Ellens body was shipped off to the city morgue with the knife still protruding from her chest. The very next day, assistant Philadelphia Medical Examiner Dr. Marlon Osbourne conducted his autopsy and ruled her death a homicide. He cited multiple stab wounds by an unknown person. City detectives returned to the apartment the following day with a search warrant and a forensics team. But by then, the place had been professionally sanitized, wiping away potential evidence. The homicide investigation quickly foundered, and detectives on the case met at least twice with ME officials to argue Ellen had killed herself. On April 4, 2011, Osbourne changed the manner of Ellens death to suicide a ruling he publicly disavowed as part of his own court settlement with the Greenbergs earlier this year. But because Osbourne is no longer with the Philadelphia MEs office, he had no power to change the ruling in Ellens death. Judge Carpenter said during Wednesdays hearing that its clear from the evidence that Osbourne switched Ellens manner of death from homicide to suicide based on what she called circumstantial evidence. She added that the scientific and forensic evidence that was the basis for his original ruling of homicide should hold sway. Citing all this, she suggested to the city attorney that the medical examiner was dragging her feet by taking months to vacate the suicide ruling in Ellens death. The original ME said it was homicide. He made that based on the evidence that was in front of him at the time, the judge said. Pestrak defended the length of the review, calling it a full, independent re-review by the current medical examiner. He added: Me personally, I would want to know every stone was turned. The suicide ruling in the Greenberg case is crucial because until Ellens death is changed to either undetermined or homicide, its a practical impossibility to launch a new criminal investigation into her bizarre, highly suspicious death, the Greenbergs have said. Ellens bloodied body was found with 20 stab wounds, many to the back of her head and neck that a bio-mechanical review concluded would be nearly impossible to self-inflict. The final blow left a 10-inch kitchen knife protruding from her chest. This would have required strength that a dying woman with spinal cord injuries likely wouldnt possess, forensic reviews funded by the Greenbergs determined. In sum, various experts hired by the Greenbergs declared it a physical and medical impossibility for Ellen to have killed herself -- including forensic findings that she was already dead when some of the stab wounds were made. Two men were charged with breaking into and stealing items from the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Mill in Steelton on Aug. 29, 2025. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com After finding out Steeltons steel mill was shutting down this summer, two men believed it was the perfect time to rob the plant of its tools and equipment, police wrote in court documents. Timothy Crosson, 47, of Mechanicsburg, and Chad Gsell, 48, of Carlisle, broke into the 158-year-old steel mill along the Susquehanna River multiple times, starting on Aug. 21 and ending Friday, when they were caught, Steelton police said. An employee of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., the company that owns the mill, spotted the masked men on surveillance cameras in the maintenance shop and called police around 11:35 p.m. Friday. The steel mill shut down in June. Steelton police said they surrounded the building while monitoring the men on camera, walking around the inside of the shop. Crosson surrendered immediately. Gsell was arrested after police found him hiding in the rafters on the second floor, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Court documents said they found stolen items on Crosson and Gsell, including face masks, head lamps and gloves. The affidavit said Crosson also had cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Gsell refused to speak to police, but Crosson admitted the crime, according to police. The affidavit said Crosson told police he and Gsell broke into the steel mill multiple times. Crosson and Gsell knew each other from time they both spent inside Cumberland County Prison. They later reconnected while employed at a car wash on work release, according to the court documents. After Gsell was fired from the car wash, the affidavit said he approached Crosson and said it would be the optimal time to break into the steel mill and take its equipment because it had shut down. Court documents said Gsell had a suspended drivers license, but picked Crosson up in his mothers car before each break-in. The men were charged on Saturday with burglary, conspiracy, flight to avoid arrest and related offenses. Court records show Crosson and Gsell were unable to post respective bails set at $100,000 and $200,000 and are being held at Dauphin County Prison. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Sept. 16 before Magisterial District Judge Kenneth Lenker. Nicholas Braun is facing legal troubles after being arrested for DUI. In this photo, Braun arrives at the premiere of "Splitsville" on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Well-known actor Nicholas Braun is facing some serious legal troubles after being arrested for DUI. On Aug. 29, Braun was arrested by officials in Moultonborough, New Hampshire, after being pulled over. According to WMUR9, around 11:15 p.m., Braun was taken into custody at the Carroll County jail. He was released shortly after the arrest. Brauns arraignment is set for Sept. 16 at 9 a.m. and will be tried through the Ossipee Circuit Court. Braun is a three-time Emmy-nominated actor, who is most known for his role on the hit HBO show, Succession, and got his big break in acting on the DisnTheey Channel Original movie, Sky High. Braun also has credits in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and How to Be Single. Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported on the holding of the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund on Wednesday. "We continue close cooperation with American colleagues at all levels. Today we held the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Reconstruction Investment Fund. This is a key management body, which includes three representatives from Ukraine and the United States," Svyrydenko wrote on the Telegram channel. According to her, the American side delegated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, DFC Chief Investment Officer Connor Coleman, and DFC Vice President and General Counsel Robert Stebbins. "The Board approved the rules of operation, formed committees, and also granted authority to open bank accounts for the Fund and select an administrator and investment advisor," the Prime Minister said. She noted that the next step is to identify projects for the first pilot investments. "In September, we will discuss this issue with colleagues from the DFC during their visit to Kyiv. As we have repeatedly noted, American investments can be a guarantee of security for both Ukraine and American business in Ukraine," Svyrydenko emphasized. Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site are going to begin limiting the deer population in both of their parks. In this photo, is the Gettysburg National Military Park. (Photo provided) Two central Pennsylvania parks are going to take lethal measures to ensure the preservation of their sites. On Sept. 2, the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site announced in a news release that they will kick off a seven-month effort in the white-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact. The management plan will run from Sept. 2025 through March 2026. This action addresses the over-browsing of native vegetation and agricultural crops and is a management strategy that supports long-term protection, preservation, and restoration of critical elements of the cultural landscape and other natural and cultural resources while maintaining a healthy deer population at both park units, the release reads. The cultural landscapes of both park units are fundamental resources and are critical to the interpretation of the events that took place at each park. Hunting is prohibited in both parks, and only federal employees can assist in managing the white-tailed deer population. Any deer that are culled or selectively removed will be tested for disease before being donated to central Pennsylvania food banks and non-profits, with support from the United Way of Adams County. Cumberland Valley School District buses leave the district campus at the end of the school day. August 28, 2025. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dwindling numbers of school bus drivers have been a concern in our area for some time, but recent weeks have seen the issue once again impacting local schools. And in the words of Aaron J. Sepkowski, the president of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association, its a problem that goes far beyond central Pennsylvania. Its not only a statewide issue, its a national issue, Sepkowski said Tuesday. Last week, schools in Susquehanna Township and Cumberland Valley school districts were hit with sudden route cancellations or school closings because their transportation providers did not have enough drivers. In Cumberland Valley, some families were informed last Tuesday night that they would have to arrange for their own transportation on Wednesday morning. Rohrer Bus provides transportation for the Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna school districts, in addition to nearly two dozen other districts in the region. In a statement, the company said that it is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified bus drivers, a challenge that has impacted school transportation both locally and nationwide for many years. Sepkowski, who also owns the company Pocono Transportation, said there was a 5 percent drop in the number of school bus drivers between 2011 and 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic only made the issue worse, as many part-time workers simply left the workforce, and so many drivers simply didnt return to the job after schools reopened. Most of the drivers are retirees, Sepkowski said. Were not able to replenish our driving fields with younger people, so that has us scratching our heads. Rohrers statement cited Cumberland Valley and Susquehanna Township as two of the areas most in need, and they are hoping to expand their recruitment efforts. A link to apply for work with the company appears on the Susquehanna Township School Districts website. But hiring more drivers means overcoming three big challenges, according to Sepkowski: low pay, stringent requirements for training and licensing, and student discipline. Drivers are currently paid between $18/hour and $24/hour, he said. Bus companies must find someone willing to work part-time and who is available early morning and mid-afternoon. And compared to other part-time work, he said, bus driver wages are falling behind. Funding for transportation is determined by the Department of Education, and Sepkowski said the agency is still using a formula from the 1970s that could stand to be modernized. Its obviously been a very, very good calculator, he said. But what needs to be updated is the percentages for the merits that the formula is based on. And to receive these wages, prospective drivers must first go through what he called the rigors of drivers training. PennDOTs list of requirements for school bus drivers includes completion of a physical, a commercial learners permit, and a minimum of 20 hours of school bus-specific instruction, both in a classroom and behind the wheel. For comparison, Sepkowski said, If you go to McDonalds, you start work tomorrow, and youre working an eight-hour shift. Or you could go through [driver] training for 12 weeks, and maybe at the end of that, you get behind the wheel of the school bus. Sepkowski praised PennDOT and supported stringent guidelines for school bus drivers, particularly with things like safety training and security clearances. But he hopes that legislators might re-evaluate how school bus drivers are lumped in with other commercial drivers, including technical and mechanical knowledge, which might not fully apply to driving a school bus. Instead, he said, he hoped that instead of the mechanical stuff, [training] go more into student management, i.e., students with disabilities. I think were finding out in the last 5-10 years, theres a lot of emotional disabilities that we could deal with, should we know they exist, he said. Finally, dealing with disruptive students is one of the biggest challenges to finding and retaining drivers, Sepkowski said. Were trained in assertive discipline when we learn how to drive a bus, he said. We simply dont have the time to counsel a kid to sit down when were traveling down the interstate. He said that more uniform support and guidance from school districts would help. As the driver shortage continues, Susquehanna Township has already announced it is considering a program to pay parents to transport their own children to and from school. But Sepkowski said plans like this could potentially lead to dangerous alternatives. Ill tell you, that scares me, Sepkowski said. Not that parents cant handle their own child. But purely statistically, theyre 70 times safer in a school bus. His worst-case scenario is when families are overburdened to provide their own transportation, relying on friends, relatives, or even strangers, should they be forced to rely on things like ride-share services. How many times is a parent going to call off [from work]? he said. Whos going to be operating those vehicles? That should be a very alarming response from a school district. Ultimately, Sepkowski said, school buses are safer, more reliable, and theres safeguards for these children when you use a contracted service. But he added that bus companies are caught between fulfilling contracts with public schools and the realities of the economy and the need to make a profit. So theres no easy fix to entice new drivers. Transportation is like a domino game, he said. Any little issue, you push that first domino, it affects the whole outcome. WALBRIDGE, Ohio A Northwest Ohio police officer accused of arriving at a call while drunk has been fired from his job and now is facing criminal charges. Michael Ervin, 35, who worked for the Walbridge Police Department, is charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing official business, operating a vehicle impaired and having a weapon while intoxicated, according to Perrysburg Municipal Court records. WTVG Channel 13 reports the incident occurred on Aug. 23. Ervin responded to a call from a resident who found the door of their home open and wanted an officer to ensure there was no one inside their home or vehicle. When Ervin arrived, the resident suspected he was drunk and called a dispatcher, WTVG reports. Other officers were sent to the home and did a blood-alcohol test on Ervin, which was 0.168, reports say, twice the legal limit. Ervin was fired on Aug. 25. Its embarrassing and it puts a black eye on our department, Walbridge Mayor Edward Kolanko tells WTOL Channel 11. We are thankful no one got hurt and thankful to the residents who called and reported this. WTOL reports Ervin resigned from the Toledo Police Department while under investigation in September 2022. According to WTOL, Ervin was investigated multiple times while working in Toledo for off-duty alcohol-related incidents. He was found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer, willful violation and habitual drunkenness in connection with the incidents. He was hired by Walbridge in October 2023, WTOL reports. Kolanko tells WTOL he was unaware of Ervins past with Toledo and he says plans to evaluate the police departments hiring practices. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced his engagement on Instagram Tuesday. Chris Krusberg | For NJ Advance Media U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on Tuesday announced his engagement on Instagram. Im thrilled to share: Alexis and I are engaged! the New Jersey Democrat, 56, said in the post. I am savoring the soul-affirming wonder of everyday life with my partner, best friend and now my fiancee. Bookers fiancee is Alexis Lewis, an employee at a real estate investment firm, according to an aide. The two met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend and have been dating for about 16 months, the aide said. Booker had dated actress Rosario Dawson for just over two years before the couple split in 2022, according to People magazine. He and Dawson met at a political fundraiser for a mutual friend in 2018 but did not start dating until later, according to People. A former Newark mayor, Booker has represented New Jersey in the Senate since 2013 and is up for re-election next year. He is also considered a potential presidential candidate in 2028. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. President Donald Trump speaks during an event about the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP By AAMER MADHANI, KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and REGINA GARCIA CANO, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. The president said in a social media posting that 11 people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Americas, a dramatic escalation in the Republican administrations effort to stem the flow of narcotics from Latin America. Trump also posted a short video clip of a small vessel appearing to explode in flames. The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States, Trump said on Truth Social. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. The video appears to show a long, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea when a bright flash of light bursts over the craft. The boat is then briefly seen covered in flames. The video, which is largely in black and white, is not clear enough to see if the craft is carrying as many as 11 people. The video also did not show any large or clear stashes of drugs inside the boat. Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuelas central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled economic turmoil and migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S. Trump and administration officials have repeatedly blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some cities. And the president on Tuesday repeated his claim contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment that Tren de Aragua is operating under Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros control. The White House did not immediately explain how the military determined that those aboard the vessel were Tren de Aragua members. The size of the gang is unclear, as is the extent to which its actions are coordinated across state lines and national borders. What Maduro had to say After Trump announced the strike, Venezuelan state television showed Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores walking the streets of his childhood neighborhood. A television presenter said Maduro was bathing in patriotic love as he interacted with supporters. In the face of imperialist threats, God (is) with us, Maduro told supporters. Maduro did not address the strike directly, but charged that the U.S. is coming for Venezuelas riches, including oil and gas. The South American country has the worlds largest proven oil reserves. From the neighborhoods of Caracas ... I tell you, there will be peace in Venezuela, with sovereignty, he said. Communications Minister Freddy Nanez questioned the veracity of the video. Based on the video provided, it is very likely that it was created using Artificial Intelligence, he said on his Telegram account. He couldnt say what tools would have been used to create the video, but said it showed an almost cartoonish animation, rather than a realistic depiction of an explosion. Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) AP Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio first announced the strike earlier Tuesday, shortly before Rubio left on a trip to Mexico and Ecuador for talks on drug cartels, security, tariffs and more. In a brief exchange with reporters before departing Miami for Mexico City, Rubio deferred questions about the specifics of the strike to the Pentagon. He said the drugs on the vessel were likely headed to Trinidad or elsewhere in the Caribbean. For years, Rubio has spoken out against Maduro and other Latin American leftist governments and supported opposition leaders. In 2018, during Trumps first term, Rubio told Univision there was a strong argument to be made for the use of the U.S. military in Venezuela. Hes also accused Venezuelan officials of aiding drug traffickers. Asked if Trump would carry out operations on Venezuelan soil, Rubio was opaque. Were going to take on drug cartels wherever they are and wherever theyre operating against the interests of the United States, he said. US sent destroyers to waters off Venezuela The operation came after the U.S. announced plans last month to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. Maduros government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuelas coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia. Maduro has insisted that the U.S. is building a false drug-trafficking narrative to try to force him out of office. He and other government officials have repeatedly cited a United Nations report that they say shows traffickers attempt to move only 5% of the cocaine produced in Colombia through Venezuela. Landlocked Bolivia and Colombia, with access to the Pacific and Caribbean, are the worlds top cocaine producers. The latest U.N. World Drug Report shows that various countries in South America, including Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, reported larger cocaine seizures in 2022 than in 2021, but it does not assign Venezuela the outsize role that the White House has in recent months. The impact of increased cocaine trafficking has been felt in Ecuador in particular, which has seen a wave of lethal violence in recent years linked to both local and transnational crime groups, most notably from Mexico and the Balkan countries, according to the report. Maduro on Monday told reporters he would constitutionally declare a republic in arms if his country were attacked by U.S. forces deployed to the Caribbean. Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City. AP journalists Matthew Lee in Mexico City, Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela, Adriana Gomez Licon in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Sagar Meghani in Washington contributed reporting. Residents work to stop flames from a burning home from spreading to a neighboring house as the 6-5 Fire burns through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) AP TUOLUMNE COUNTY, Calif. (AP) A quick-moving wildfire burned homes in a California Gold Rush town settled around 1850 by Chinese miners who were driven out of a nearby camp. The blaze grew without containment on Wednesday. The fire rapidly expanded to 10 square miles in size, forcing the evacuation Tuesday of the town of Chinese Camp and surrounding highways, according to CalFire, the states chief fire agency. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. It is one of several fires called the TCU September Lightning Complex, which has burned more than 19 square miles in multiple locations in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties as of early Wednesday with no containment. Flames consume a garage as the 6-5 Fire burns through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) AP A residents works to stop flames from a burning home from spreading to a neighboring house as the 6-5 Fire burns through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) AP At least five homes were burning in the rural town, which has a mix of freestanding and mobile homes. Outside one house on Tuesday evening, seven people quickly moved large tree branches away from the structure and shoveled sand onto the fire in a desperate attempt to keep the blaze from spreading from the house next door. They worked for about 30 minutes until firefighters arrived. An RV on the property was damaged by the fire. Fire officials have requested additional resources such as fire engines, dozers and an aircraft. A firefighter battles the 6-5 Fire burning through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) AP The blaze, known as the 6-5 Fire, was caused by lightning, according to CalFire. It is one of more than a dozen blazes that erupted Tuesday across California, according to CalFire. Thousands of Chinese came to California during the Gold Rush and faced persecution that included an exorbitant Foreign Miners Tax designed to drive them away from mining. Chinese Camp was settled by Chinese miners after they were driven out of a nearby camp, according to Visit Tuolumne County. Originally called Camp Washington, its name was changed to reflect the thousands of people from China who settled there. A 39-year-old swimmer died Tuesday after being pulled from the ocean at an unguarded beach in Lavallette, New Jersey, police said. Authorities arrived at the New York Avenue beach shortly before noon after receiving a report of a swimmer in distress, said Lavallette Police Chief Christian LaCicero. The swimmer, a Totowa resident, was found partially submerged in the ocean roughly 25 yards from shore, police said. Rescue swimmers from the Lavallette and Seaside Heights fire departments entered the ocean and brought the victim to shore, where resuscitation efforts immediately began, police said. The man was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead at 12:41 p.m., LaCicero said. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin, police said. There were no lifeguards on duty at any Lavallette beaches Tuesday, said Fire Chief Michael Hajisafari. We had great support from our mutual aid companies, Hajisafari said. Its a sad day, and we hope that people stay out of the water when there are no lifeguards on duty. Rebecca Heath may be reached at RHeath@njadvancemedia.com. John Sampson was visiting Hersheypark for the first time last week when he spotted a child walking along the out-of-service monorail track 20 feet above the ground. Sampson, a veterinarian and father of three, told the Today show he saw the child in danger on Aug. 30 and his dad instincts kicked in: How can I help? It remains unclear how the boy got the track but he could have climbed the ramp beyond a chain blocking the entrance and gotten past the barricaded turnstile. The boy was covering his ears while bystanders below called out to him to try to get him closer to the ice cream shop roof. Thats when Sampson started scaled the ice cream shop to get on the roof. On the side of it theres a fence. And then I climbed up on that, balanced on that, climbed up on the roof from there, and then it was a straight shot from there, he told the television show. Video recorded by an onlooker showed Sampson jumping up on the narrow tracks, walking a few feet and scooping up the boy before returning to the ice cream shop roof. Sampson told Today the boy was just gripping me that you knew that he was scared and so happy to be in somebodys arms. The Today show aired its interview with Sampson on Tuesday. Reached by PennLive, Sampson, who lives in the Philadelphia suburbs, said he wasnt doing additional interviews. Hersheypark officials issued a statement that said the boy had gotten separated from his parents. The park said the boy remained at the closed station for about 20 minutes before briefly walking along the track. A guest quickly noticed and helped guide the child to safety, the statement read. Our team members immediately responded after he was spotted on the track, and at approximately 5:28 p.m. the child was safely reunited with his family. He was unharmed. Everybody thinks its like a big hero thing, Sampson told Today. I like to think its just a parent thing, or any normal adult, you might not have to be a parent. You just have to be somebody who wants to help, he said. FBI Houston agents and Texas State Troopers are seen on the scene of an operation to arrest suspected associates of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (File provided by FBI Houston) FBI Houston By NICHOLAS RICCARDI, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) A federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of membership in a Venezuelan gang, blocking a signature administration push that is destined for a final showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative federal appeals courts in the country, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges who argued the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs like Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan group Trump targeted in his March invocation. More: Trump says US strike on vessel in Caribbean targeted a Venezuelan gang, killing 11 Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said Tuesday: The Trump administrations use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The administration deported people designated as Tren de Aragua members to a notorious prison in El Salvador where, it argued, U.S. courts could not order them freed. In a deal announced in July, more than 250 of the deported migrants returned to Venezuela. The Alien Enemies Act was only used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars in the War of 1812 and the two World Wars. The Trump administration unsuccessfully argued that courts cannot second-guess the presidents determination that Tren de Aragua was connected to Venezuelas government and represented a danger to the United States, meriting use of the act. In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said they granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because they found no invasion or predatory incursion in this case. The decision bars deportations from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In the majority were U.S. Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick, a George W. Bush appointee, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Joe Biden appointee. Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, dissented. The majority opinion said Trumps allegations about Tren de Aragua do not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act. In a lengthy dissent, Oldham complained his two colleagues were second-guessing Trumps conduct of foreign affairs and national security, realms where courts usually give the president great deference. The ruling can be appealed to the full 5th Circuit or directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is likely to make the ultimate decision on the issue. The tour operator Join UP! Ukraine served more than 236,000 domestic tourists this summer season, which is 70% more than a year ago, Iryna Mosulezna, CEO of Join UP! Ukraine, told the Interfax-Ukraine agency. In total, over 325,000 Ukrainians used its services to plan their vacations in the first 8 months of this year. For comparison, in the same period in 2022, there were about 158,000 domestic tourists, in 2023 238,000, and last year - 260,000. "This summer, we are observing a noticeable revival of interest in travel: the number of tourists has increased by more than 70% compared to the summer of 2024. The total volume has not yet reached the pre-war level, but the stable dynamics during the war years is a good signal that Ukrainians are ready to plan their vacation again. Interest in online B2C booking is also growing noticeably - we are only at the start of this path, but we are already seeing demand for digital services," Mosulezna reported. According to her, Ukrainians' requests remain stable: current restrictions on tourists from the Russian Federation, popular family trips, and an increase in military personnel among clients. Among other things, she noted that already in August of this year, Ukrainians began booking vacations for the 2026 summer season. This trend demonstrates a gradual return to long-term planning, which was almost unheard of in the first years of the full-scale war. The most popular summer destinations were the traditional Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro. The operator's summer program included new tours to Mallorca and Alicante (Spain), and an expanded flight program to Halkidiki (Greece). At the same time, Mosulezna also noted the interest of vacationers in a new destination - the El Alamein resort in Egypt. As for Turkey, even despite the increase in the cost of vacations, it maintained its leading positions and expanded its offer thanks to the return of the popular resorts of Bodrum and Dalaman, the expert noted. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/story.php? Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha commented on Vladimir Putin's statement about his alleged readiness to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow, stating that he continues to mess around with everyone by putting forward deliberately unacceptable proposals. "Right now, at least seven countries are ready to host a meeting between leaders of Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the war. Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Turkiye, and three Gulf states," Sybiha wrote on the social network X. He emphasized that these are serious proposals - and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting at any time. "Yet, Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals. Only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about peace process," Sybiha concluded. Ed Lab reporter Anna B. Mitchell is a Greenville-based investigative reporter for the Post and Courier's Education Lab team. A licensed English and social studies teacher, Anna covers education in the Upstate and collaborates with other reporters for coverage on statewide education trends. She studied history at the University of North Carolina, journalism at the University of Missouri, and holds an MBA from the University of Applied Sciences in Wurzburg. For fun, Anna plays bassoon, visits her family in Germany as often as she can, and takes her doggy, Ashe, for long walks with her daughter and husband. Regional Editor Brandon Roberts is the managing editor of Summerville Communications Inc., which prints The Summerville Journal Scene and The Berkeley Independent. The Verkhovna Rada has approved the presidential decree on the forced seizure of objects of property rights of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, reported MP Oleksiy Honcharenko (European Solidarity faction). "The Rada approved the presidential decree on the confiscation of 1,592 types of railway cars belonging to Russian residents," Honcharenko wrote on Telegram. According to him, bill No. 13442 on the approval of the presidential decree "On the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated July 2, 2025 "On the forced seizure of objects of property rights of the Russian Federation and its residents in Ukraine" was generally supported by 263 deputies at a plenary session of parliament on Wednesday. You are the owner of this article. Danish PM assures continued support for Ukraine after NB8 meeting: More weapons, ammunition and more sanctions against Russia Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pledged continued support for Ukraine after the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) leaders' meeting on Wednesday, which among other things means "more weapons, more ammunition and more sanctions against Russia." At a joint press conference with her Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Copenhagen, Frederiksen stressed the importance of continuing assistance to Ukraine. "We are ready to continue our support for Ukraine. And this means more weapons, more ammunition and more sanctions against Russia," she said. . The head of government also noted that Denmark will continue to try to "pave the way" for Ukraine's membership in the EU. At the same time, she emphasized the need to rearm Europe. Editor Ralph Mancini is an award-winning editor whos been employed by the Post and Courier since 2022. Previously, Mancini served in a variety of newspaper roles in New York City, Washington State and North Dakota. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Senior Politics Reporter Caitlin Byrd is the senior politics reporter at The Post and Courier. An award-winning journalist, Byrd previously worked as an enterprise reporter for The State newspaper, where she covered the Charleston region and South Carolina politics. Raised in eastern North Carolina, she has called South Carolina home since 2016. The 30th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defence (in the Ramstein format) will take place next week in London, British Defence Secretary John Healey said during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday. "The UK has taken over the coordination, and now I, together with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, am heading the Contact Group on Ukraine's defence. Our 30th meeting will take place in London next week," he said at a briefing in Kyiv. Allies will focus on providing the military assistance Ukraine needs to continue its fight and on fulfilling the commitments NATO countries made at the alliance's summit, Healey said. He recalled that at the Washington summit, the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance made a decision on long-term support for Ukraine, which envisages the provision of at least EUR 40 billion during 2025. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 09:01:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1031 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Apex Critical Metals Corp. ("Apex" or the "Company") (CSE:APXC)(OTCQX:APXCF)(FWB:KL9), a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on strategic metals vital to global supply chains, is pleased to provide an update on a corporate initiative to expand its holdings within the U.S.A. as part of a broader positioning within the North American critical minerals sector.The Company, via a local agent, has acquired rights to explore and options to purchase a 2,407-acre midwestern U.S.-based property package it considers highly prospective for rare earth elements (REE) and critical mineral mineralization based on a historic exploration data set available to the Company. The project covers a large portion of a rare metal complex which has been known for more than 50 years but remains largely underexplored. Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. ("Dahrouge") has been retained to review the historical exploration data and provide recommendations going forward.CEO of Apex Critical Metals, Sean Charland, states: "I've personally worked with Jody Dahrouge and his team for more than two decades, with several years spent evaluating rare earth element exploration opportunities. Over the past year, in addition to our collaborations in Canada (Cap Project), we've focused our efforts on a particular district in the US that we believe holds significant potential for rare earth and niobium discoveries. The recent shifting of government priorities and industrial demand forecasts aligns well with the highly prospective portfolio we are building at Apex." The property package to-date totals 2,407 acres, and the Company acquired the rights to explore, as well as an option to purchase the mineral interest in respect of the properties, or an aggregate purchase price of CAD $567,472.84. The Company shall have the option to purchase the mineral interest in respect of the properties by paying the sum of US$10,000 per acre. If the option is exercised by the Company, an aggregate 2.5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty is payable, with Apex retaining the right to repurchase 0.25% of the NSR for US$500,000.Rare Earth Supply Chain Dynamics This acquisition comes at a time of unprecedented investment in U.S. rare earths. On July 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a US$400 million equity stake in MP Materials Corp. , operator of the Mountain Pass mine, in a deal that also included a decade-long guaranteed pricing arrangement for permanent magnets used in defense applications. Just days later, Apple Inc. signed a US$500 million multi-year supply agreement with MP Materials, marking one of the largest corporate commitments to a U.S.-based rare earth producer in history.The urgency is reinforced by the U.S. Geological Survey's 2025 Mineral Commodity Summaries, which note that the U.S. is 100% import-dependent for 12 critical minerals, including rare earths and niobium.2 In 2024, U.S. consumption of rare earths was approximately 8,800 metric tons REO (Rare Earth Oxides) equivalent, while domestic mine production at Mountain Pass was ~43,000 tons, almost all shipped to China for refining. For niobium, more than 90% of global supply comes from Brazil, with the U.S. having no domestic production.3 Apex's move into the U.S. market is aligned with government priorities to reduce reliance on foreign sources of these essential inputs.Governments across the allied world are reshaping policy to meet these challenges. In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney has proposed that investments in critical minerals development be counted toward NATO defense commitments - a framework that could channel billions into mining and processing as part of national security obligations. In the United States, the Department of Defense has already backed MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths' Texas processing facility, with analysts expecting further Defense Production Act funding to be deployed in the coming months.5,6 Meanwhile, China has extended its production quota system to imported rare earth concentrates, a move that could create new bottlenecks for global supply.7 Together, these shifts highlight both the risks of foreign dependence and the opportunity for companies like Apex to play a meaningful role in building secure supply chains across North America.The Company also notes increased validation from peer activity. Earlier this year, Critical Metals Corp. secured a 10-year offtake agreement with Greenland's Tanbreez project, ensuring future REE feed for allied markets.8 Energy Fuels Inc. recently produced the first kilogram of 99.9% pure dysprosium oxide ever refined in the U.S., a milestone for heavy rare earth separation outside of Asia.9With assets spanning British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and now the United States, Apex is establishing itself as a continental critical minerals company. The Company's portfolio is built around carbonatite systems; the same rock type hosting such world-class deposits as Araxa in Brazil, Bayan Obo in China, Niobec in Canada, and Mountain Pass in the USA. Apex will provide further updates as the Company finalizes its property acquisitions and exploration progresses.Cautionary Statement Regarding Project Disclosure: The references herein to market trends and resource projects other than those held by the Company are for informational purposes only and based only on publicly available information. The Company urges readers to conduct their own review of any of the third-party information contained herein, including its relevance to the business of the Company, prior to making an investment decision in respect of the Company. Mineral exploration and development are highly speculative and are characterized by a number of significant inherent risks, which may result in the inability to successfully develop projects for commercial, technical, political, regulatory or financial reasons, or if successfully developed, may not remain economically viable for their mine life owing to any of the foregoing reasons. The Company's mineral resource prospects are at an early stage and there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in achieving a return on shareholders' investment and the likelihood of success must be considered in light of the early stage of operations.For a more comprehensive overview of the risks related to the Company's business, please review the Company's continuous disclosure documents, each filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca Qualified PersonThe technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, P. Geo. (Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia Licence #48336), Geologist for Dahrouge Geolo PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 14:00:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 469 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Expanding Access to Capital for Small Businesses Through Values-Based LeadershipGREENVILLE, SC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Climate First Bank ( www.climatefirstbank.com) , the world's first FDIC-insured, values based, digital-forward community bank founded to combat the climate crisis, today announced the promotion of Paul Pickhardt to Executive Vice President, Director of Government Guaranteed Lending. Climate First Bank Climate First Bank LogoSince joining Climate First Bank in April 2024, Paul has played a pivotal role in the growth and strategic direction of the SBA lending division. The Bank is among the top 5% of SBA lenders nationwide and has achieved over $100,000,000 in SBA loan volume year-to-date, according to data published by the U.S Small Business Administration as of August 29th, 2025"I'm honored by this promotion to this new role and look forward with our efforts to continue building a lending platform that empowers small businesses to thrive, especially at a time when our SBA team is scaling rapidly and making a real impact in communities across the country," said Paul.Pickhardt brings more than two decades of SBA lending leadership to the role, having previously served in senior-level positions at banks such as Countybank, CresCom Bank, and United Community Bank, among others. Across these institutions, he built and led SBA departments from the ground up, implemented SBA-specific software and compliance protocols, and consistently exceeded lending targets. His teams have been recognized for their operational excellence and impact on small business growth across the Southeast.Under Paul's leadership, the team has embraced AI-driven tools to streamline operations and deliver faster, more efficient lending solutions to mission-aligned businesses. His leadership coincided with the Bank's designation as a SBA Preferred Lender, a milestone that significantly enhanced the Bank's ability to serve small businesses with speed and flexibility.For more information about Climate First Bank's SBA lending programs, visit www.climatefirstbank.com/SBA About Climate First BankRecognized as the fastest growing new bank in America since 2009, Climate First Bank is the world's first FDIC-insured, values based, digital-forward community bank founded to combat the climate crisis. A Certified B Corp, 1% for the Planet member and operationally net-zero since it opened its doors in June 2021, the Bank offers a complete portfolio of simple and easy-to-use traditional banking products powered by technology to meet the expectations of today's consumers. In addition to offering standard banking services, the company places a special emphasis on non-profits, B Corps, and businesses committed to sustainability. Eco-conscious customers will find dedicated loan options for solar photovoltaic (PV), energy retrofits and infrastructure to help combat the climate crisis. The Bank reports annually on its impact in line with corporate social responsibility goals. Read the most recent Impact Report here. Member FDIC.For more information, please visit: www.climatefirstbank.com Contact InformationJohn CollinsCollins Strategy Groupjohn@ collinssg.com (917) 496-4587SOURCE: Climate First Bank PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 22:37:35 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 420 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / DashVixel Holdings, an artificial intelligence (AI) consulting company that uses innovative solutions, quantum computing and platforms, and predictive modeling to improve decision making and product development today announced that DashVixel, Inc. and Axellio Inc. have formed a strategic partnership. Together they will deliver high performance computing (HPC) tailored to defense, intelligence, and mission-critical environments.Following a two-year evaluation, DashVixel selected Axellio as its preferred platform partner, citing Axellio's unmatched real-time ingestion and simultaneous read/write capabilities for digital and Radio Frequency (RF) time-series data."Axellio's performance enables us to enhance our mission-specific CONOPS with precision. The type of processing required by our solutions goes far beyond what standard computing systems or software platforms can deliver. High Performance Computing (HPC), which allows us to use supercomputers and computer clusters to solve complex computational problems at high speeds, is the only viable path to orchestrate the necessary real-time responses required to act on actionable intelligence. The data throughput demands-exceeding 200 Gbps with simultaneous read/write operations-put us in a class of our own. HPC infrastructure allows DashVixel to effectively support its mission-critical workloads, commercial or otherwise. Our partnership with Axellio Inc. allows us to meet this demand and exceed it," said Darrell Covell CEO and Founder DashVixel.DashVixel will integrate and support Axellio's platforms through its cleared engineering teams and secure SCIF-based operations."DashVixel's deep mission focus and technical leadership make them an ideal partner to deliver a customized and necessary solution for eager customers," said Scott Aken, CEO of Axellio.About Axellio Axellio delivers high-performance, scalable data intelligence solutions for any time series data (e.g., cyber, RF, video, audio) purpose-built to meet the demands of national defense, intelligence, and enterprise security operations. Its platform empowers customers with the speed, visibility, and flexibility needed for real-time threat detection, analysis, and rapid decision-making. Learn more at www.Axellio.com About DashVixel DashVixel is an artificial intelligence consulting company with expertise in fields such as artificial intelligence and predictive models. We provide cutting-edge solutions to help businesses harness the power of AI for enhanced decision-making, process optimization, and innovative product development. The experienced leadership team at DashVixel is committed to delivering exceptional and unparalleled AI and quantum consulting services adapted to meet the unique needs of each client. Please visit www.dashvixel.com for more information on our products and capabilities.Corporate Inquiries:DashVixel Holdings Email: contact@ dashvixel.com Website: www.dashvixel.com Phone: 410-599-7900Investor & Media Contact: Baystone GroupPhone: (410) 825-3930SOURCE: DashVixel, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 23:10:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 491 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Excalibur Elevator LLC, a newly launched provider of commercial and residential elevator services, has quickly emerged as a trusted name in the industry by bringing back customer-first values and honest business practices. Established on March 25, 2025, the company has already secured multiple modernization contracts and dozens of maintenance agreements across the DMV region, positioning itself as a fast-rising leader in elevator maintenance, service, and installation.Founded on the principle of putting customer relationships above all else, Excalibur Elevator LLC is committed to redefining industry standards with a blend of transparency, integrity, and reliability. By focusing on clear communication and ethical service, the company is reviving the "good ol' boy" way of doing business-where promises are kept, contracts are straightforward, and the safety of tenants and building owners comes first.What Sets Excalibur Elevator LLC ApartExcalibur Elevator LLC specializes in elevator maintenance, modernizations, inspections, and installations for commercial properties in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas as well as residential homes nationwide. Unlike many service providers who burden clients with hidden fees and multiple vendor contracts, the company is pioneering a simplified approach: becoming a true one-stop shop for all elevator-related needs.To streamline operations for building owners, Excalibur has partnered with a local inspection company to offer bundled compliance services. This allows customers to receive a single, transparent invoice that covers inspections, maintenance, and repairs-making accounting and compliance far easier. Plans are already underway to extend this model through partnerships with fire safety and generator service providers, ultimately consolidating essential building safety functions under one clear contract.Commitment to Community and VeteransExcalibur Elevator LLC is not only focused on business growth but also on community impact. The company has announced its future initiative, "Lifting Up Our Veterans," a nonprofit arm dedicated to repairing or replacing elevators and stairlifts in veterans' homes free of charge. This program reflects the company's deep respect for those who have served and its mission to give back in meaningful ways.Already, the company has delivered life-changing results for residential clients-such as restoring a long-neglected home elevator that allowed a disabled resident to regain mobility, reconnect with family at the dinner table, and shop for groceries independently once again.A Strong Start and a Clear FutureDespite being a newcomer, Excalibur Elevator LLC has faced and overcome challenges from industry competitors, including defamation and resistance. By staying true to its values of honesty, transparency, and respect, the company has earned the trust of clients who were dissatisfied with past providers.Looking ahead, Excalibur Elevator LLC aims to expand its residential services nationwide, including high-profile projects such as elevator installations in professional athletes' homes. The company's brand identity, inspired by the legendary Excalibur sword, reflects its commitment to integrity and swift, dependable service.For more information, visitwww.excaliburelevator.com Media Contact: Excalibur Elevator LLCWebsite: https://excaliburelevator.com/Email:Dannys@excaliburelevator.comPhone Number: 410-474-4521SOURCE: Excalibur Elevator LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 14:00:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1024 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 /Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GPG)(OTCQB:GPTRF)(FSE:GPB) ("Grande Portage" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update regarding the advancement of a number of technical and permitting initiatives related to its New Amalga Gold Project in Southeast Alaska.Grande Portage has received a five-year Fish Habitat Permit from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game relating to the proposed installation of a stream level monitoring system for the Herbert River within the project area. This will provide critical baseline data necessary for engineering design and future environmental review. Installation of this instrumentation will proceed after receipt of the Special Use Permit which has been applied for with the US Forest Service.In line with the company's plans to advance towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the project, an initial Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Review has been completed by SRK Consulting to inform the PEA as well as guide future stages of fieldwork to further define the expected groundwater conditions and rock behaviour in the deposit area.An aerial LiDAR scan has been completed for the project's potential infrastructure areas and access road corridor. The data from this scan, in combination with the company's existing LiDAR data for the terrain above the mineral resource area, will be instrumental towards the planning and engineering design of surface infrastructure, buildings, and roadways.The company has contracted two independent ore offtake studies to identify the most optimal destination for sorted ore from New Amalga under a direct-to-smelter scenario, along with expected gold payabilities and transportation costs. This will provide key inputs for developing a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the project.The company has retained Ensight LLC as its NEPA consultant to prepare the project for the environmental review process. Charles Johnson, principal of Ensight LLC, has over 30 years of NEPA experience and guided the nearby Greens Creek Mine through the pre-NEPA activities and NEPA process resulting in a successful EIS in 2024. This EIS enabled a major expansion of the mine's tailings facility for up to 17 additional years. Mr. Johnson also collaborated with the USFS to develop and finalize their Record of Decision document for that project.On August 27, aMemorandum of Understandingwas signed between the State of Alaska and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council which enables the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to coordinate directly with the Permitting Council and nominate projects for streamlined and transparent permitting under the federal FAST-41 program. Grande Portage applauds this milestone and sees this as one of multiple potential pathways for enabling the project's expeditious advancement through the environmental review and permitting process.The future facilities at the project site are envisioned to include a small-footprint underground mining operation without an ore processing plant or tailings disposal landfill. Due to the resource location near tidewater and less than 4 miles (6.5km) from existing paved highway (Fig. 1), the Company considers off-site processing by a third party to be the most favorable configuration for the project.Fig. 1: Location of the New Amalga Gold ProjectKyle Mehalek, P.E.., is the QP within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Mehalek is independent of Grande Portage within the meaning of NI 43-101.About Grande Portage:Grande Portage Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on advancing the New Amalga Mine project, the outgrowth of the Herbert Gold discovery situated approximately 25 km north of Juneau, Alaska. The Company holds a 100% interest in the New Amalga property. The New Amalga gold system is open to length and depth and is host to at least six main composite vein-fault structures that contain ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. The project lies prominently within the 160km long Juneau Gold Belt, which has produced over eight million ounces of gold.The Company's updated NI#43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) reported at a base case mineral resources cut-off grade of 2.5 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) and consists of: an Indicated Resource of 1,438,500 ounces of gold at an average grade of 9.47 g/t Au (4,726,000 tonnes); and an Inferred Resource of 515,700 ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.85 g/t Au (1,813,000 tonnes), as well as an Indicated Resource of 891,600 ounces of silver at an average grade of 5.86 g/t Ag (4,726,000 tonnes); and an Inferred Resource of 390,600 ounces of silver at an average grade of 7.33 g/t silver (1,813,000 tonnes). The MRE was prepared by Dr. David R. Webb, Ph.D., P.Geol., P.Eng. (DRW Geological Consultants Ltd.) with an effective date of July 17, 2024.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"Ian Klassen"Ian M. KlassenPresident & Chief Executive OfficerTel: (604) 899-0106Email:Ian@ grandeportage.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking InformationThis news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.Please note that under National Instrument 43-101, the Company is required to disclose that it has not based any production decision on NI 43-101-compliant reserve estimates, preliminary economic assessments, or feasibility studies, and historically production decisions made without such reports have increased uncertainty and higher technical and economic risks of failure. These risks PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 18:19:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 409 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Farmers Insurance Exchange and Farmers Group, Inc. ("Farmers") recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Farmers.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On May 30, 2025, Farmers became aware of a security incident on its third-party vendor's system. Upon detection, Farmers launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to a vendor database containing Farmers' customer information. On July 24, 2025, Farmers identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted dataThe impacted data may include names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver's license number.On August 22, 2025, Farmers filed a notice with the Attorney General of Maine and began sending out notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Farmers Insurance, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Rutte announces work to support Ukraine in negotiations with Russia to protect it from any threats NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes that Ukraine, in addition to its own strong Armed Forces, which will become the "first defensive barrier", needs a second defensive barrier, which will actually be its security guarantees from friends and partners. Mark Rutte stated that for Ukraine to have lasting peace, it must not only possess strong armed forces as its initial defense after a ceasefire but also receive continuous support from NATO in building its future military capabilities. He emphasized this point at a press conference in Luxembourg, highlighting NATO's role in assisting Ukraine with long-term security and the development of its future fighting force. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 18:24:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 353 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / TransUnion, LLC ("TransUnion") recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to TransUnion.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 28, 2025, TransUnion experienced a cybersecurity incident involving a third-party application serving its customer support operations. The unauthorized access included the sensitive personal information of TransUnion customers.On August 28, 2025, TransUnion notified the office of the Maine Attorney General and began sending notice letters to individuals whose information may have been compromised in the Data Breach. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from TransUnion, LLC, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 22:00:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 957 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 /Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) today announced the successful resolution of all outstanding legal matters related to the incident at the Satinoco dry-stacked pile at its MTL complex. The final settlement with the Public Prosecutor's Office in Brazil, together with previously concluded agreements, definitively addresses all known liabilities arising from the incident. This resolution represents an important milestone for the Company's financial stability and provides greater operational clarity.The conclusion of these matters underscores the Company's commitment to proactive engagement, responsible corporate conduct, and robust governance. By successfully concluding these complex negotiations, the Company has mitigated financial risk and can now fully focus on its core gold mining operations and advancing future growth plans.Background and Comprehensive ResolutionThe Satinoco incident led to several legal and administrative actions, including claims for community compensation, environmental fines, and a significant Public Civil Lawsuit. The Company has worked diligently to address each of these matters through constructive dialogue and negotiation, aiming for outcomes that are financially prudent for shareholders while responsibly addressing all impacts.With this final agreement, all known legal matters related to the Satinoco incident have been successfully resolved:Public Civil Lawsuit (Public Prosecutor's Office): An agreement has been reached to settle this lawsuit, for a final payment of R$40 million. The payment terms are structured to preserve financial liquidity, with R$10 million payable upon signing and the remaining R$30 million over 24 installments beginning in March 2026. The agreement also includes the hiring of an external audit to evaluate company structures, providing assurance for the safe resumption of operating activities.Environmental Fine: As previously announced (see press release dated July 14, 2025), the Company negotiated a reduction of the environmental fine from an estimated R$320 million to R$60 million. This settlement includes a portion dedicated to socio-environmental projects and a long-term installment payment plan.Community Compensation: An agreement with the Public Defender's Office (see press release dated March 24, 2025) provided for community compensation of approximately R$58 million, reflecting the Company's commitment to support affected individuals.The successful conclusion of these negotiations, particularly the final agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office, represents the full resolution of all known legal matters related to the Satinoco incident. The aggregate fines, totaling approximately US$28 million at present value, will be paid in installments under terms that allow the Company to manage these costs while resuming operational activities.Shareholder Value PropositionThe definitive resolution of these contingent liabilities strengthens the Company's balance sheet and enhances overall financial stability, providing clarity and certainty for investors by removing a major overhang that could have impacted future performance. With these matters resolved, resources and management attention can now be focused on the Company's core mission: optimizing gold mining operations in Brazil, driving sustainable production, and delivering long-term value to shareholders. This outcome significantly de-risks the Company and paves the way for accelerated operational progress and growth.Luis Albano Tondo, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Mining, commented: "This resolution represents an important milestone for Jaguar Mining and all our stakeholders. We are proud to announce the comprehensive resolution of all legal matters stemming from the Satinoco incident, culminating in an agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office. The settlement of the Public Prosecutor's lawsuit, environmental fine, and community compensation reflect the team's diligent efforts, commitment to transparent negotiation, and focus on financial stewardship. With these matters now behind us, we are well positioned to intensify our focus on operational excellence and sustainable value creation in Brazil." The Iron QuadrangleThe Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the second largest gold land position in the Iron Quadrangle with over 46,000 hectares.About Jaguar Mining Inc.Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the MTL complex (Turmalina mine and plant) and Caete complex (Pilar and Roca Grande mines, and Caete plant). The Roca Grande mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. The Company also owns the Paciencia complex (Santa Isabel mine and plant), which had been on care and maintenance since 2012 and is under review to restart in 2026. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com For further information please contact:Luis Albano TondoChief Executive OfficerJaguar Mining Inc. luis.albano@jaguarmining.com +55 31-99959-6337Marina de FreitasInterim Chief Financial Officer marina.freitas@jaguarmining.com.br +55 31-98463-5344Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "b PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 23:00:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 606 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / A securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) on behalf of investors who bought shares between January 23, 2024, and July 21, 2025. The lawsuit, Khan v. Lockheed Martin Corporation, alleges the company gave investors a misleading picture of its financial health by failing to disclose that it had inadequate internal controls to assess program risks.Hagens Berman encourages Lockheed Martin investors with substantial losses to contact the firm now.Class Period: Jan. 23, 2024 - July 21, 2025Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Sept. 26, 2025Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/lmt Contact the Firm Now:LMT@ hbsslaw.com844-916-0895 Alleged Pattern of MisrepresentationsThe lawsuit claims that throughout the specified period, Lockheed Martin presented a false and misleading view of its operations by overstating its ability to deliver on contracts in its Aeronautics and Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) segments. The complaint alleges the company lacked effective internal controls and procedures to accurately review program requirements and risks. As a result, it was likely to incur significant losses, which were not disclosed to investors.The Truth Allegedly Emerges Over a Series of DisclosuresInvestors began to learn the truth through a series of negative disclosures that led to major stock drops:On January 28, 2025, the company reported $1.8 billion in pre-tax losses in its Aeronautics segment.On April 17, 2025, the company announced its CFO had left.On July 22, 2025, the company disclosed an additional $950 million in pre-tax losses for its Aeronautics segment and $570 million in pre-tax losses for its RMS segment, stemming from problems with the Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program.Each of these revelations led to a significant drop in Lockheed Martin's stock price, with shares falling almost 11% on the final disclosure.Hagens Berman's InvestigationA national plaintiffs' rights law firm, Hagens Berman, is investigating these claims on behalf of investors who suffered substantial losses. The firm is examining whether the massive, successive losses were a foreseeable consequence of poor internal controls and a failure to accurately communicate the company's risks to investors."The scale of these losses and their recurrence across different programs suggests a systemic issue, not a series of isolated problems," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. "Our focus is on whether executives knew the company's internal controls were not as robust as investors were led to believe and whether management was transparent about the risks that ultimately led to billions in write-downs." If you invested in Lockheed Martin 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 Lockheed Martin case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Lockheed Martin 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 LMT@ 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: 2025-09-03 18:45:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 361 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / PDI Health recently discovered that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to PDI Health.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On May 14, 2025, PDI Health discovered a security breach involving its internal systems. An unauthorized party accessed and extracted sensitive data, compromising patient records. The impacted data may include names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, billing information, electronic medical records (EMRs), test results, and medical history.The ransomware group Everest claimed responsibility for the attack on the dark web. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from PDI Health, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 06:20:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 847 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Prince Silver Corp. ("Prince" or the "Company") (CSE:PRNC)(OTC PINK:HWTNF) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 3,125,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.40 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,250,000 (the "Private Placement'). Each Unit will consist of one common share (a "Common Share") and one-half common share purchase warrant, with each full warrant (a "Warrant") being exercisable to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.60 for 12 (twelve) months from the date of issuance.The Company intends to pay finders' fees in an amount equal to 7% to eligible finders, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Stock Exchange ("CSE"). The Private Placement is subject to approval of the CSE, and all securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to statutory hold periods expiring four months and one day from the date of closing of the Private Placement pursuant to applicable securities laws and CSE policy.The Company intends to use the net proceeds raised from the Private Placement for exploration and development on it's 100% owned Prince Silver Project as well as for general corporate working capital.About Prince Silver Corp. Prince Silver Corp is a silver exploration company focused on advancing the Prince Silver Project in Nevada, USA. The known deposit identified with historic drilling is open in all directions and is near surface. Prince Silver Corp also holds interest in the Stampede Gap Project a district scale copper-gold-moly porphyry system located ~15km NNM of the Prince Silver Project and, holds option interest in the Broken Handle Project, an early-stage mineral exploration project located southern British Columbia, Canada.For further information on Prince Silver, please visit www.princesilvercorp.com On behalf of the Board of DirectorsRalph Shearing Director, President+1 (604) 764-0965 rshearing@ princesilvercorp.com CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Some of the specific forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: completion of the Acquisition and related transactions, proposed drill programs, amendments to the Company's website, property option payments and regulatory and corporate approvals. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, dependence on key personnel, completion of satisfactory due diligence in respect of the Acquisition and related transactions, and compliance with property option agreements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, failure to obtain regulatory or corporate approvals, exploration results, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release and the CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Prince Silver Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 23:15:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 574 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / A newly filed class-action lawsuit targets Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) and its executives, alleging the company misrepresented its oil production status to investors. The litigation, filed in federal court in California, claims the company used a misleading press release to artificially inflate its stock price just before a secondary public offering (SPO).Hagens Berman urges Sable investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: May 19, 2025 - June 3, 2025Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Sept. 26, 2025Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/soc Contact the Firm Now:SOC@ hbsslaw.com844-916-0895 Allegations of Misleading Statements and Regulatory ClashThe lawsuit, Johnson v. Sable Offshore Corp., represents investors who purchased Sable Offshore securities between May 19, 2025, and June 3, 2025, including those who bought shares in the May 21, 2025 SPO.According to the complaint, Sable Offshore issued a press release on May 19, 2025, that claimed it had restarted oil production off the California coast. This statement was allegedly false and misleading. California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis publicly challenged this claim, stating in a letter that the company's press release appears to mischaracterize its activities. She clarified that the oil flows were merely well-testing procedures, not a resumption of commercial production.Following the disclosure of the Lieutenant Governor's letter in the financial media on May 28, 2025, Sable Offshore's stock price fell more than 15%, as the market realized the company's statements were not accurate.Further Judicial Intervention and Stock DropThe lawsuit further alleges that the company's legal troubles deepened on June 4, 2025, when Sable Offshore disclosed that a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge had issued a temporary restraining order. This order prohibited the company from restarting oil transportation through the Las Flores Pipeline System, pending a hearing on a preliminary injunction. This news reportedly caused the stock to fall even further.The litigation seeks to hold the company and its underwriters accountable for allegedly raising capital under false pretenses, causing significant losses for investors.Hagens Berman's InvestigationHagens Berman is investigating these claims on behalf of investors who have suffered substantial losses.Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation, commented on the situation, "Our investigation is centered on whether the company's public statements accurately reflected the on-the-ground reality of its operations." If you invested in Sable 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 Sable case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Sable Offshore should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email SOC@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens 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: 2025-09-03 18:17:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 405 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Sansone Group, LLC ("Sansone Group") recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Sansone Group.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Recently, Sansone Group discovered that a data security incident had exposed sensitive personal information. An investigation determined that the breach occurred between March 22 and March 24, 2025.Upon detection, Sansone Group launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The breach involved unauthorized access to sensitive data, putting affected individuals at risk of identity theft and fraud.The impacted data may include full names and Social Security numbers.On July 21, 2025, Sansone Group began sending out notice letters to impacted individuals. The company disclosed the breach to the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office on August 21, 2025. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Sansone Group, LLC, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 09:00:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 751 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 New capabilities across PRISM, SPG9000, INSPECT, and ARGUS deliver precision monitoring for broadcast, IP, and OTT services: See it in action at IBC2025NEVADA CITY, CA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Telestream , a global leader in media workflow technologies, will add powerful new capabilities to itsMeasurement portfolioat IBC2025,Stand 7.B21 . These enhancements span Telestream's PRISM waveform monitors, SPG9000 signal generators, INSPECT IP monitoring, ARGUS and the IQ family of probes, supporting next-generation deployments from live and remote production to post-production to multiplatform delivery.Telestream's Measurement solutions ensure confidence, precision, and actionable insight across the entire media creation, supply chain management, and distribution. The latest innovations demonstrate Telestream's ongoing investment in helping media organizations manage complex workflows with precision, including ST 2110, HDR, SRT-based contribution, and multi-network observability."As media operations become more dynamic and decentralized, precision monitoring is more important than ever," said Matthew Driscoll, VP of Product Management, Telestream. "At IBC2025, we'll showcase the latest enhancements to our Measurement portfolio, designed to provide confidence, compliance, and actionable insights across the media supply chain. From SDI to IP transitions, remote and live production to OTT streaming, our solutions enhance signal integrity, simplify IP workflows, and advance HDR capabilities. With these innovations, Telestream continues to deliver precise monitoring and measurement for every workflow." Whether enabling distributed production teams to visualize contribution feeds, helping colorists perfect HDR content, or supporting broadcast engineers with real-time ST 2110 diagnostics, Telestream delivers the tools needed to maintain quality and performance in a rapidly evolving media ecosystem.Key highlights of the Test and Measurement updates include:Contribution & Remote Production Quality Assurance Telestream's ARGUS platform introduces real-time video, audio, and caption playback from active alarms, allowing engineers to isolate service issues instantly. Coupled with robust SRT support in Sentry and Inspector Live, these updates make Telestream ideal for IP-based contribution workflows in live sports, news, and events. IQ's machine-learning-based MOS (Mean Opinion Score) technology delivers best-in-class video quality analysis, now supporting a wider range HEVC chroma and bit depth profiles. This enables objective, real-time QoE assessment for both premium content and streaming services.Multi-Network Distribution Monitoring ARGUS continues to lead with single-pane-of-glass observability across OTT, satellite, cable, IPTV, and DAA environments. Sentry, Inspector Live, and Surveyor probes feed into ARGUS for centralized fault detection and diagnostics. Whether on-premises, virtual, or cloud-based, ARGUS helps teams monitor performance and resolve issues faster.HDR Monitoring and Color Workflow Enhancements with PRISM PRISM's expanded capabilities simplify SDR/HDR monitoring and camera shading with enhanced 3D LUT support that enables precise HDR/SDR color conversions and eliminates the need for external LUT boxes, streamlining live production workflows with easier feed monitoring and setup. Updates to the patented HDR toolset include enhanced luma-qualified CIE chart controls and expanded False Color modes for both artistic and technical review. These features make PRISM an indispensable tool in HDR mastering, live production, and QC.ST 2110 Visualization and Diagnostics PRISM remains the gold standard for ST 2110 stream analysis, including JPEG XS (-22), audio (-30/-31), and ancillary data (-40) support. Its intuitive interface and packet-level insight help engineers configure and troubleshoot IP systems with confidence. INSPECT provides high-density monitoring up to 180 Gb/s. The "Send to PRISM" feature facilitates seamless escalation to PRISM for deep diagnostics. Together, they provide end-to-end IP observability and expert-level analysis within a single ecosystem.Timing and Signal Generation with SPG9000 The SPG9000 introduces four-port PTP redundancy, in-band test signals, and dual-leader configurations for high-availability timing across IP, SDI, and hybrid systems. New features include ancillary test sequences, such as closed captions over both SDI and ST 2110-40. This enhances commissioning workflows and compliance checks.See Telestream at IBC2025 Telestream will showcase new Test and Measurement solutions at IBC2025 atStand 7.B21 . To schedule a meeting or request a demonstration, visit https://www.telestream.net/ibc2025/#schedule-a-meeting-section Download press imageryhere .About TelestreamIngest. Enhance. Deliver.Telestream has been at the forefront of digital media innovation for nearly three decades, serving as the trusted partner behind some of the world's most mission-critical media operations. Its industry-leading test and measurement and media workflow solutions streamline operations and scale efficiently across the entire media lifecycle - from capture and live production to automation, processing, quality control, content management, and distribution. Designed for on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, Telestream ensures high-quality media delivery to any audience, on any platform. The company is privately held and headquartered in Nevada City, California. Learn more atwww.telestream.net Press ContactKristin CandersGrithaus Agency(e) kristin@ grithaus.agency (p) +1 (207) 974-7744####SOURCE: Telestream LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-03 21:30:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 441 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Top Four Conveyor Car Wash Company Celebrates Grand Opening with Free WashesTHOMASTON, GA / ACCESS Newswire / September 3, 2025 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, is pleased to announce the opening of its brand-newAuburn, NYlocation at 176 Grant Avenue. Tidal Wave Auto Spa Official LogoTo celebrate the grand opening, Tidal Wave'sAuburnlocation will offer eight days of free premium car washes from September 3 to September 10. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for the community to experience the company's premium wash option,Graph-X4 , at no cost. Additionally, any new customer who joins a Tidal WaveClean Clubunlimited wash membership during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40."The opening of our Auburn location marks our fourth in New York, and we're excited to expand our footprint in the state," said Scott Blackstock, CEO and Founder of Tidal Wave Auto Spa. "Our mission is to provide every customer with an exceptional car wash experience backed by outstanding service, convenience, and the ultimate clean car shine they can count on each time they visit Tidal Wave. We look forward to sharing our car wash experience with the Auburn community this week, and for many years to come." Tidal Wave Auto Spaproudly serves customers at298 express wash locationsacross the United States, includingfour New York locations . Tidal Wave is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. Withsingle wash optionsstarting at $12,unlimited car wash memberships and family plans , plusfleetplans for businesses, Tidal Wave has your unique car wash needs covered.For additional information, including upcoming openings, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/ About Tidal Wave Auto SpaTidal Wave Auto Spa was founded over 20 years ago in Thomaston, GA, by husband and wife, Scott and Hope Blackstock. What started as a small-town self-service car wash business evolved into the first conveyor car wash open in Georgia and is now the fourth-largest conveyor car wash company in the nation, with 298 locations spanning 30 states. Tidal Wave is committed to providing every customer an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and outstanding customer service. Tidal Wave is committed to making a positive impact in the communities it serves, raising over $7 million for local programs, service organizations, and non-profit organizations through the company's fundraising program and annual philanthropic Charity Day event.Contact InformationHeather ColemanMarketing Managermedia@ tidalwaveautospa.com Andrea TraylorSenior Director of Digital Marketingandrea.traylor@tidalwaveautospa.com 2058212220SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto Spa The United States government has officially announced the allocation of $32.5 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) Nigeria, aimed at providing food assistance and nutritional support to internally displaced individuals in conflict-affected regions of Nigeria. This announcement was made via a statement posted on the website of the US mission in Nigeria on Wednesday. With the contribution of $32.5 million from the U.S. Government, the World Food Programme Nigeria will deliver food assistance and nutritional support to internally displaced persons across conflict-affected areas, the statement said. According to the statement, the funds will enable the WFP to assist a total of 764,205 beneficiaries in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria. It said the assistance includes complementary nutritional support for 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, as well as 43,235 children, facilitated through electronic food vouchers. The WFP Nigeria had earlier in the year raised concerns about its operations due to funding shortfalls. More details soon Photo: https://www.facebook.com/kyivcci On 3 September 2025, a delegation from the Kyiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by President Mykola Zasulsky, visited the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Ukraine. The meeting took place at the invitation of the diplomatic mission, where the parties held substantive talks with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Egypt, Mr. Barakat Eleisi, according to the KCCI Facebook page. During the conversation, the current state of bilateral trade between Ukraine and Egypt was discussed, and prospects for its further development were outlined. Particular emphasis was placed on supporting Kyiv entrepreneurs who seek to enter the markets of Egypt and other countries on the African continent. The participants of the meeting agreed to organise a business conference at the Kyiv CCI, which should become a platform for presenting Egypt's economic potential and new opportunities for Ukrainian business. Egypt remains one of Ukraine's key trading partners in North Africa. In 2024, Ukrainian exports to this country reached about 1.4 billion US dollars, which is a third more than the previous year. The bulk of exports consists of agricultural products, including grains, oilseeds, soybeans, fats and oils. In addition, Ukraine supplies Egypt with ferrous metals, ore, ferroalloys, as well as machinery, pharmaceuticals, electronics and timber. The meeting at the embassy demonstrated mutual interest in deepening economic cooperation and opened new horizons for the development of Kyiv-based entrepreneurship in African markets. Veteran actor Yemi Solade has apologised to his colleague, Afeez Afeez Owo Abiodun, for slapping him on a film set. The altercation, which many were unaware of, occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, and recently resurfaced after Yemi spoke about it in an August interview on the Behind the Fame African A-List podcast. Although Yemi could not recall the exact date, month, or year of the incident, he carefully estimated that it happened more than twenty years ago. At the time of the incident, Afeez was serving as the production manager of the film (unknown title) in which Solade starred. In his apology, the 65-year-old acknowledged his actions, expressed regret, and revealed that he had already addressed the matter privately with some colleagues. Yemi, who began his acting career at the age of seventeen, said: Let me say I want to just apologise to Afeez Abiodun because I slapped him once. He was a production manager of a movie, but I cant recall the exact year. We were filming somewhere in Oyo State, the outskirts of Ibadan. After shooting, we returned to the town and everywhere was pitch black. When you hear blackout in a village, thats the real blackout. In a normal town, if theres a blackout, youll still be seeing car lights or something. There, you couldnt even see unless youre wearing white. Naturally, in a situation like that, all the frustration and complaints fell on the production manager, and Afeez Owo wasnt taking me seriously at that point, so I got infuriated. That slap came from nowhere in the dark and I didnt like that. The next day, he left the location early, and we woke up and didnt see him. Afeez, dont be angry with me, its been a long time but Im truly sorry. He further admitted that he detests insults, acknowledging that this might be his greatest weakness. Yemi explained that because of this flaw, he deliberately avoids situations that could expose him to insult. Brotherly correction However, during his appearance on the same podcast in a different episode aired in August, Afeez responded to the apology, stressing that he did not regard Yemis action as an offence. When asked whether he had forgiven him, the renowned film director and producer explained that since the incident, he and Yemi, whom he described as a brother, had met and exchanged greetings. Though he might have appealed to me then, maybe he felt he didnt share it publicly, but since he did, thats the end. I just see this as chastisement from my big brother, said Afeez Owo, who stated that if anyone offended him, he addressed it instantly without harbouring grudges or malice. He explained that he had long moved on from the matter and bore no grudge against Yemi, whom he described as an elder brother. The actor added, When I saw his (Yemi Solade) apology video, what came to my mind was that once someone admits their wrongs, theres no need to hold grudges. Even if he hadnt apologised directly to me, what I saw felt like a senior brother correcting his younger one. If my own brother chastised me, what would I do? Nothing but say thank you. What happened was that I was working as a production manager on a film in which he was an actor. On our way to the shooting location in a Fulani settlement in Ibadan, Oyo State, I told everyone to buy food along the way because the journey was long and the place remoteunless, of course, they wanted to eat raw meat when we got there. It seems he didnt listen. Eventually, he became hungry, and that was what led to the slap. To me, it was simply my brother correcting me. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement and sustain its new one-hour authorisation code policy, aimed at improving service delivery to enrolees across Nigeria. The NHIA Zonal Director, Chris Okoh, stated this on Tuesday during a one-day stakeholders forum in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The policy, which took effect on 1 April, 2025, under the NHIA Act 2022, mandates Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to issue authorisation codes to healthcare providers within one hour of receiving treatment requests. It is part of broader reforms to reduce delays in access to care. We want to ensure enrolees get quality service whenever they visit any facility. This is why we are introducing smarter, more responsive initiatives, Mr Okoh said. He explained that if HMOs fail to issue the code within one hour, hospitals are expected to escalate the request to the NHIA state office for further directive; ensuring patients are not left waiting. Other reforms highlighted included comprehensive Emergency Maternal and Neonatal Care, covering all emergencies free of charge, free Fistula Programme for women experiencing post-delivery urinary leakage, available at designated hospitals. The NHIA Coordinator in Nasarawa, Mary Aliu, also hailed the new policy, said it would help reduce overcrowding and delays at health facilities. Ms Aliu noted that enrolment rates in the state are high, including among those in the informal sector. This forum is also an opportunity to discuss how to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030, ensuring all Nigerians access quality healthcare, she said. A representative of Ultimate HMO, Cosmas Michael, commended the NHIA for organising the forum and said his organisation supports the policy through multiple request channels, email, WhatsApp, portal, and SMS. Our target is to respond within 10 to 15 minutes. If delayed, the case is escalated to ensure it doesnt exceed the one-hour limit, he said. Stakeholders at the forum included HMOs, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA), Hospital Management Board, and healthcare providers. (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has directed the compulsory implementation of health insurance across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in line with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022. The directive was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the presidents Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has been instructed to release a service-wide circular mandating compliance. The order comes as the federal government sets new health financing targets. On Monday, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, announced that Nigeria aims to enrol at least 44 million citizens into the National Health Insurance Scheme by 2030. Mr Salako spoke at the opening of a four-day National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja, where stakeholders are deliberating on ways to strengthen funding and reduce out-of-pocket health spending. Five-point directive According to the presidency, the new directive covers five key areas, including the compulsory enrolment of all MDA employees under the NHIA health insurance plan. Where desired, MDAs may take up supplementary private insurance coverage in accordance with the NHIA Act, the statement reads. All entities participating in public procurement must present a valid NHIA-issued Health Insurance Certificate as part of their eligibility documentation. This certificate confirms compliance with the mandatory health insurance requirement and serves as a condition precedent for continuing any procurement-related engagement. The presidential directive also compels all MDAs to require applicants to present valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates as part of their eligibility documents. The certificate confirms compliance with the mandatory health insurance requirement and will be a condition for continuing any procurement engagement. It added that applicants seeking licences, permits, or other official approvals from MDAs must present valid NHIA Health Insurance Certificates before issuance or renewal. According to the directive, the NHIA will establish a digital platform to enable real-time verification of health insurance certificates and improve transparency. MDAs are also required to set up internal procedures for verifying certificates and monitoring compliance in collaboration with the NHIA. Safeguarding workers, reducing health costs Mr Onanuga explained that the directive is aimed at expanding health coverage, safeguarding workers, reducing out-of-pocket expenditures and promoting accountability in both the public and private sectors. He noted that although the NHIA Act of 2022 mandates compulsory health insurance for all Nigerians, coverage remains low three years after its passage. Health financing reforms At the ongoing health financing dialogue, Mr Salako emphasised the urgency of reforming health financing in Nigeria. The meeting, themed Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria, brings together health officials, development partners, civil society groups and the private sector to craft new strategies for sustainable health financing in Nigeria. Mr Salako said the federal government has consistently funded the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and introduced emergency allocations to cushion the suspension of foreign aid. He added that the ministry is considering legislation to double BHCPF funding from one to two per cent of consolidated revenue, alongside efforts to enrol 44 million Nigerians into the National Health Insurance scheme by 2030. Despite reforms and the passage of a landmark mental health law, experts say Nigerias mental health system remains crippled by poor financing, weak governance, and heavy out-of-pocket spending. The experts said about 98 per cent of mental health costs are borne directly by patients, leaving millions without access to care. At a panel discussion on Financing Mental Health Services during the ongoing National Health Financing Dialogue in Abuja, psychiatrists, civil society actors, and private sector leaders stressed that without dedicated budgets, stronger institutional frameworks, and public-private partnerships, mental health will continue to be sidelined in broader health financing reforms. They noted that the treatment gap remains staggering: nine out of ten Nigerians who need mental health services cannot get them. The dialogue, which runs from 1-4 September brings together health officials, development partners, civil society groups and the private sector to craft new strategies for sustainable health financing in Nigeria. The four-day event, themed Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria, is expected to produce commitments to reduce out-of-pocket spending, improve accountability, and strengthen domestic funding for the health sector. Nigerias mental health burden Nigeria carries one of the heaviest mental health burdens globally. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in four Nigerians, about 50 million people live with a mental health condition. Yet the country has fewer than 350 psychiatrists serving a population of over 200 million, representing a ratio of 0.1 per 100,000 people, far below the global average of nine per 100,000. To address these challenges, the National Mental Health Act 2021 was signed into law in January 2023, replacing the colonial-era Lunacy Act of 1958. The new law provides for a rights-based framework, prohibits discrimination against persons with mental health conditions, and calls for the creation of a Mental Health Fund as well as integration of services into primary health care. However, two years after its passage, implementation remains limited. A dedicated mental health desk at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is yet to be established, and no clear budget line has been created for mental health financing. So far, only Lagos and Ekiti states have domesticated the Act. The cost is unbearable Speaking during the panel session, Taiwo Obindo, President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, said Nigerians living with mental health conditions face enormous challenges in accessing care. Mr Obindo, a professor at the University of Jos noted that despite decades of advocacy for integrating mental health into primary healthcare, the policy has not been fully implemented. Most mental health facilities are located in city centres, yet over 65 per cent of Nigerians live in rural areas. This forces patients to travel long distances adding to their financial burden, he said He added that the cost of treatment has soared, with consultation fees in his institution rising from N300 before 2023 to N2,000, while drug prices have tripled or quadrupled. According to him, the direct cost of care is compounded by indirect costs such as patients inability to work and the economic disruption faced by caregivers. The economic burden is significant, and with only one in 10 people able to access care, the treatment gap remains very wide, he said. Lack of budget and governance structure Lateef Sheikh, a consultant psychiatrist and professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said Nigeria lacks a clear financing mechanism for mental health despite existing policy frameworks. Mr Sheikh stated that while laws such as the National Mental Health Act and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) mention provisions for mental health, these commitments have not been translated into actionable budgets. There is no dedicated budget for mental health in Nigeria. What we have are hospital allocations covering overheads and personnel, not patients needs, he said. We need a systematic overhaul, including creating a department of mental health within the Ministry of Health to design and manage budgets. He also argued that mental health automatically places individuals in the category of vulnerability regardless of their socioeconomic status. As long as you have a mental health challenge, you fall into that vulnerable group. We must implement existing laws to make mental health affordable and accessible to all, he added. The role of the private sector In his remark, Taiwo Falowo, the Chief Operating Officer, Intersect Consortium, highlighted the growing role of private providers in expanding access to mental health services. Ms Falowo explained that her organisation set up its first private mental health clinic in Abuja in 2010, at a time when private facilities in the sector were scarce. She said one of the greatest barriers patients face is affordability. Many people come to our facilities but are unable to afford the care they need, she said. READ ALSO: Tinubu orders mandatory health insurance in MDAs According to her, public-private partnerships (PPPs) could ease these constraints. If certain services are concessioned to private providers, the government can reduce its financial burden while patients benefit from more affordable services, she noted. Essential medicines and local production Nigerias country manager for Johnson & Johnson, Funke Jaiyesimi, drew attention to the lack of local production of psychotropic medicines. Ms Jaiyesimi, who was represented by Utena Uguleke, a pharmacist said Nigerias regulatory instruments, including NAFDACs five plus five framework and the ceiling list for transitioning importation to local production, currently exclude psychotropic medicines. This means we still lack local capacity and will remain dependent on imports for at least the next few years. There is an urgent need for capacity building, she explained. Ms Jaiyesimi suggested contract manufacturing and intellectual property-sharing models as interim solutions. Through partnerships such as the Medicines Patent Pool, innovative companies can transfer technology and allow local manufacturers to produce affordable equivalents. This approach has worked in other countries and could expand access here, she said. West Africa is navigating one of its most turbulent democratic cycles in decades. Coups in Mali, Guinea, Niger, and Burkina Faso have challenged regional stability, while civiliangovernments elsewhere face rising discontent and shrinking legitimacy. Civil discontent in Togo threatens national stability, and in Cote dIvoire President Alassane Ouattaras is potentially bidding for a fourth term, amid a constricted political space, which threatens to reopen old wounds. This fragility is unfolding just as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) moves to validate its long-awaited Standby Force Training Policy. The irony is stark: while the bloc is strengthening its security muscle, the political terrain it seeks to protect is fracturing. In this environment, preventive diplomacy the art of engaging early, credibly, and strategically to avert political breakdown has never been more essential, or more under strain. Assessing the Preventive Diplomacy Architecture Preventive diplomacy, as defined by the United Nations, involves measures such as mediation, early warning, and confidence-building designed to stop disputes from escalating into violence. In West Africa, ECOWAS has historically shown leadership in this field. The 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance banned unconstitutional changes of government and affirmed term limits, setting a high regional benchmark. This commitment has at times been matched by decisive action most recently in early 2025 when ECOWAS dispatched a high-level mission to Guinea-Bissau to mediate a tense dispute over the presidential term limit before it could trigger wider instability. Although the mission faced political resistance and withdrew early, it demonstrated the blocs willingness to engage directly in high-stakes situations. Such proactive engagement builds on earlier successes, notably the swift mediation during TheGambias 20162017 post-election crisis, when regional leaders combined shuttle diplomacy with the credible deterrence of a standby force to persuade outgoing President Yahya Jammeh to step down peacefully, averting a potential conflict Yet, these democratic norms are eroding. The case of Cote dIvoire is particularly instructive. Under the countrys2016 Constitution, a president can only be re-elected once, making two five-year terms the legal maximum.Ouattaras controversial third term bid in 2020 already sparked widespread protests, and the prospect of a fourth is politically combustible. Ironically, Cote dIvoire has been seen as one of West Africas relatively stable post-conflict democracies. However, Cote dIvoires stability since its 20102011 post-electoral crisis masks deeper tensions: opposition leaders have been sidelined, media freedoms are curtailed, and civil society is under pressure. Such patterns mirror Guinea under Alpha Conde and Mali under Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who were both overthrown after similar democratic backsliding. Sanctions in these cases lacked bite, and inconsistent responses to constitutional manipulation have weakened ECOWASs deterrent power. Preventive diplomacy must therefore be recalibrated to match todays challenges, moving beyond rhetorical concern to agile political engagement, operational readiness, and credibility rooted in the consistent enforcement of democratic norms. ECOWAS and Nigerias Strategic Posture and Responsibilities Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has reaffirmed its role as a driver of peace and stability in West Africa. As ECOWAS Chair from July 2023 to June 2025, Tinubu convened an extraordinary summit within days of Nigers military takeover, signalling that the bloc cannot afford hesitation in moments of rupture. Nigerias approach combined firmness keeping the Standby Force on the table with active mediation, recognising that sustainable solutions rarely come from coercion alone. As the regions largest economy, most populous state, and a democracy forged through its own struggles, Nigeria holds unique moral and political weight. The challenge is to deploy that weight not only in times of open crisis but in the periods when democratic decay is visible but still reversible.Cote dIvoires political trajectory underscores why preventive diplomacy must begin upstream. Though stable for over a decade, the country is showing signs of democratic stress: the prospect of constitutional change, narrowing civic space, and the sidelining of dissent. This is precisely when proactive engagement matters most, not to dictate outcomes, but to keep dialogue open, reinforce institutional safeguards, and prevent vacuums that opportunistic actors can exploit. Nigeria can lead here, using ECOWASs Early Warning and Response Network and mediation mechanisms to address risks before they escalate. The recent validation of the Standby Force Training Policy is a critical development, but force should remain a last resort. Deterrence depends not just on readiness to act, but on a political environment where early warnings translate into swift, preventive action. If Cote dIvoire illustrates the need for early engagement, Togo shows the deeper challenge of sustaining public trust in regional diplomacy. In 2024, Togos parliament adopted sweeping constitutional changes, replacing the presidential system with a parliamentary model that effectively entrenched President Faure Gnassingbes rule. This institutional reshaping, combined with long-standing grievances over governance, ignited protests in June 2025 over economic hardship and political exclusion. The arrest of dissident rapper Aamron became the flashpoint for a broader youth-led movement. ECOWAS responded with calls for restraint and dialogue, an archetypal act of preventive diplomacy aimed at halting escalation before violence spirals. Yet this intervention is unfolding in a context of deep scepticism toward the bloc itself. An Afrobarometer survey revealed that 54 per cent of Togolese now lean toward withdrawing from ECOWAS and aligning with the Sahel Alliance (AES). This disaffection is a central obstacle. Preventive diplomacy depends on legitimacy. Without public trust, even well-intentioned mediation risks being seen as external interference rather than collective problem-solving. For Nigeria and ECOWAS, Togo is a reminder that preventive diplomacy must operate on two fronts: addressing the immediate triggers of unrest while repairing the long-term relationship between citizens and the institutions meant to safeguard their rights. The Standby Force offers ECOWAS a deterrent capability it has long needed, but military preparedness should not overshadow the less visible work of diplomacy. Preventive action is cheaper, less risky, and more sustainable than crisis intervention, yet it often receives fewer resources and less political backing. For preventive diplomacy to succeed, ECOWAS must apply democratic norms uniformly, regardless of the country or leader involved, and act early when red flags emerge, such as eroded term limits, politicised judiciaries, and shrinking civic space. This engagement must not be limited to state actors but should extend to civil society, youth movements, and local leaders, whose trust is vital to any long-term peace architecture. Opponents of regional intervention often invoke sovereignty, but in an interconnected era, sovereignty and responsibility are inseparable. A destabilised West Africa poses threats far beyond its borders, fuelling irregular migration, disrupting trade, and creating fertile ground for transnational crime and extremist violence. Principled, timely engagement can shape the regional response to crises. But leadership in West Africa today requires a shift: from reacting to coups to anticipating the conditions that cause them. The path of preventive diplomacy is not glamorous. It is slower, often invisible, and requires patience in the face of complex political realities. Yet it remains the surest route to durable peace. The alternative, indifference until the next coup, would undo decades of democratic progress. ECOWAS stands at a crossroads. Its choice will determine whether West Africa moves toward deeper instability or reclaims its trajectory of democratic consolidation. The courage to act early, consistently, and credibly must define the next chapter. And in that chapter, Nigeria must lead with power and principle. Ademola Oshodi is the Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol. Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has cautioned against portraying Boko Haram as a religious terrorist group specifically targeting Christians in North-eastern Nigeria. Mr Ndume, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the remarks in a statement on Wednesday while reacting to reports suggesting that the insurgents are primarily after Christians in Borno and other states in the region. It is unethical and unconscionable for any media outlet to drive the narrative that Christians are the targets of these attacks by the terror group in Borno, or anywhere in the North-eastern part of Nigeria, the senator said. Over the years, several international organisations, particularly Christian advocacy groups, have ranked Nigeria among the most dangerous places in the world for Christians. In its 2025 World Watch List, a Christian group called Open Doors listed Nigeria among the top ten countries where Christians face severe persecution. On Tuesday, an international platform reported that five Christians were killed by terrorists while working on their farms in Nogoshe village, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. In a separate incident, three others were also reportedly murdered in their homes in the Mussa community, Askira-Uba LGA of Borno State. These are among many reports showing attacks on Christians in Northern Nigeria. Terrorists are blind to faith and tribe Mr Ndume, however, maintained that insurgents are not driven by religion or ethnicity. He warned that profiling Boko Haram as a religious sect could undermine counterterrorism efforts and dampen the morale of Nigerian troops. The forces behind these mindless killings are blind to faith and tribe. We should avoid this dangerous profiling, which can distract us. It has the tendency of doing us more harm. It can even inflame negative passion in our soldiers, dampen the morale of men who toil day and night, determined to ensure that they wipe away this dangerous sect. Our people, whose only pursuit is peace and livelihood, continue to fall victim to the cruelty of insurgents. These men and women deserved to live, to farm and to dream, but their lives are being cut short by those who thrive on violence and destruction. The senator commended the military for its sacrifices and urged the federal government to ensure adequate funding for security agencies to sustain the fight against insurgency. In 2011, Mr Ndume was charged in court over his alleged link to Boko Haram militants, who had staged several deadly attacks at the time. He was, however, cleared by the court in 2017. Reign of Terror For more than a decade, Boko Harams reign of terror has left an indelible scar on Northern Nigeria. Entire communities have been shattered, families torn apart, and livelihoods destroyed. From Borno to Yobe, Adamawa, and other Northern states, villages once full of life now stand deserted, emptied by fear and relentless bloodshed. Markets, schools, and places of worship have become frequent targets, leaving survivors to live with deep physical and emotional wounds. Thousands have been killed, and millions displaced, forced into overcrowded camps where hunger and uncertainty have become part of daily life. Children have been orphaned, denied education, and in some cases abducted into a cycle of violence. Farmers cannot safely tend their fields, traders fear the roads, and entire economies in the region have been crippled. Amina*, the mother of 12-year-old Alameen*, noticed a change in his behaviour. The playful and active child who once roamed the streets of Nursing Quarters in Bauchi Town, Bauchi State, had become withdrawn and flinched at sudden movements. This sudden change made Mrs Amina worried. When washing his underwear, she found faeces, which was shocking as that hadnt happened since he was much younger. When she examined him, she discovered festering wounds and sores around his anus, which were damaged to the extent that he could not control his bowels. Hysterical, she pressed him on what she feared had happened. It took some time and persuasion for him to reveal that three men in the neighbourhood had been sexually abusing him. The case was reported to the police at the Tafawa Balewa Estate division on 16 July and transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bauchi. Two of the alleged abusers were arrested and detained, but the third one, said to be attending the police academy, is still walking freely. A medical report revealed that Alameens internal anal sphincter had been dislodged. Shuaibu*, the victims father, said the alleged abusers are well-known young men in their 20s. He said they had threatened to kill Alameen if he revealed what they did to him. Mr Shuaibu also faced backlash for ignoring the pleas of family and community members to resolve the case quietly without involving the police. One of the alleged abusers close relationships with a member of the National Assembly has made the case even more difficult to prosecute. The lawmaker suggested that we resolve the matter without taking it up to the police, saying the issue will ruin the career of the alleged abuser who is currently at the police academy, Mr Shuaibu recounted. I flatly refused and said I must get justice for my son. Since then, I have not heard from him, he narrated. According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, and sent to PREMIUM TIMES, a formal complaint was submitted on 16 July by the father of the 12-year-old victim. The press release confirms that two suspects, Lukman Mohammed (30) and Musa Halilu (32), were apprehended following the report. The third suspect, identified only as Alkasim, is still at large. The statement also indicates that the victim was referred for a medical examination at a specialist hospital in Bauchi. It also includes details from a witness, a watchman, who saw one of the suspects, Mr Halilu, pursuing the boy on two separate occasions. According to the PPRO, the watchman had previously cautioned the boy to stay away from the suspects. The legal tangle Nigeria operates a complex dual legal system, encompassing common law (which covers federal and state secular laws) and Sharia law, which is the Islamic legal system applied in most northern states. This legal pluralism varies across jurisdictions, which creates substantial jurisdictional complexities. For individuals accused of sodomy or related offences, survival becomes a matter of geography as different penalties and judicial processes depend on their location and, in the northern states, their religious beliefs. In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act that prohibits same sex marriage, same-sex amorous relationships and membership of gay rights groups. Offences attract penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment. Before signing the bill, the criminal and penal codes outlawed same sex marriage/relationships, and the bill criminalises these acts. The Sharia Penal Code Law 2001 is the main body of civil and criminal law in 12 northern Nigerian states. The law condemns Liwat (sodomy) or consensual sexual activity by people of the same sex. These attract a maximum penalty of death by stoning (rajm) for married men and 100 lashes and imprisonment for unmarried men, and generally by any other means decided by the state. The Shariah law criminalises sexual relationships of the same sex, under section 284 of the Penal Code: Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 14 years and shall also be liable to fine. Cross-dressing is also criminalised across these jurisdictions. Hisbah, the Islamic police corps, enforces Shariah laws in 12 Northern states in Nigeria. The Commander of the Hisbah in Bauchi State, Muhammed Bununu, explained that, Sodomy is a crime under both Islamic law and secular law. Mr Bununu said conviction in a Sharia court should lead to the death penalty in most cases, but many appeal their cases to the high court. Sentences are then converted to imprisonment in most cases. However, some do not appeal their case, and in that instance, the governor of a state has to sign the approval for the execution, he said. He, however, said so far, no one has faced the penalty for thein crime in Bauchi State. Justice or given another chance? According to the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024 by the National Bureau of Statistics, at least 1.4 million people experienced sexual offences. The report indicated that during the specified period, sexual offences, including rape, occurred at a rate of 800 per 100,000 individuals. This figure breaks down to 1,300 out of every 100,000 females and 200 out of every 100,000 males reporting experiences of sexual assault in Nigeria. The report did not include convictions. The report, however, vanished when the website was affected by a cyber-attack. The attack was linked to the controversial findings of the report. The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reported 31 convictions of sexual related offences between 2020 and 2024. Checks by this reporter also show that no other website has an updated number of crimes or convictions regarding cases of sexual violence concerning children. The lack of justice is echoed in Alameens case. Mr Ahmed said the first hearing for the case is scheduled for 4 September. The delay in detaining the third alleged abuser is dragging the process because an influential person is involved in the case. In this era of technology, any letter sent should not take more than a week to be responded to, he said bitterly. A larger problem? Unfortunately, Alameens is not an isolated case. In January, Mallam Kawu Rehabilitation Centre, Bauchi, was raided by the Hisbah Corps following a complaint by one Yahaya Yusuf. Mr Yusuf, 21, alleged that the founder of the centre raped him on several occasions. He [the cleric] invites you to his room with the pretext of doing a massage for him, then he inserts your hand in his trousers, Mr Yusuf narrated to the police. He reported the case after he found out he was HIV positive during a State Security Service (SSS) health screening. He also alleged that over 400 students were crowded in eight bedrooms at the centre, and students were being treated poorly, given only a small amount of food without regard for their health. Following a raid, the police and Hisbah found over 300 students at the centre. The accused was detained for a month before he was released on bail. The case is still in court. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, Mbami Illiya, a human rights activist and the Executive Director of the Council for Affirmative Action, said most cases the organisation handles occur between Almajiris (children who roam the streets but are supposed to be learning Quranic education under an Islamic teacher) and older men. When someone reports an incident of abuse and they are caught, people tend to take matters into their own hands, and both parties suffer the consequences rather than just the abusers, Mr Illiya said. Even when caught by the authorities, both parties often have to get bail. The Council for Affirmative Action advocates for the protection of sexual minorities in Bauchi State and offers support and rehabilitation to the victims. The survivors experiences Findings by this newspaper show that some victims and their families, fearing stigmatisation, victim-blaming, and lacking money to take cases to court, choose not to report incidents to the authorities. Issues like homosexuality and sodomy bring cultural and religious stigma. Parents of the abused even prefer the case being resolved without involving the police to avoid attention, Mr Illiya stated. However, Mr Shuaibu, Alameens father, has a different perspective on this issue. He wants justice and believes the alleged abusers should be ashamed because they did something disgusting. I am ready to fight this case to the best of my ability, and I am hopeful for the support of the police and government, he said.. The Psychological Toll Rape has a lasting effect on the psychology of survivors. They may suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, alcoholism and drug abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and have problems with intimate relationships. A resident psychiatrist at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Yakubu Fawaz, said, When abuse happens, it will keep on recurring to the victim, making them overthink, and they develop a sense of guilt, thereby shifting the blame from the abuser to themselves. Mr Fawaz said this makes the survivors develop psychological disorders like depression and anxiety. He stressed the importance of public enlightenment and community sensitisation to break the silence. Not just through radio and TV programmes, but also by holding open conversations that dismantle the stigma surrounding male survivors. It is only when we begin conversations about these epidemic issues that we can have a solid solution to them, he said. Editors Note: Names with asterisks have been changed to protect the child victim and his parents. This reporting was completed with the support of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) A magistrate court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigerias South-east, has remanded a prophet, Nwebonyi Unadinma, in prison for attempted murder and arson. Mr Unadinma, 24, also faces 14 other counts, including defamation of character, malicious damage, and stealing. The police in Ebonyi State filed the charges against him at the magistrate court. The police prosecutor, Lilian Aliede, told the court that Mr Unadinma committed the offences at Offianka Inyima, Agharaoza, Affiauku and the Ochiohu Inyegu Communities in Izzi and Ikwo Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State. The prosecutor said the defendant committed the alleged offences in 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Fake prophecies Before now, Mr Unadinma had allegedly been releasing what many described as fake prophecies in communities in the Izzi Clan of the state. For instance, the defendant allegedly prophesied that an Ebonyi-born entrepreneur, Emeka Mgbore, was a ritualist. Mr Unadinma was said to have circulated a video clip of the said fake prophecy on social media. Following the prophecy, the entrepreneur who is based in Ogun State, was reportedly attacked and his shops looted by an angry mob in the South-western state. Also, Mr Unadinma, in a similar incident, allegedly made inciting and defamatory utterances against some residents, including Linus Uguru, and Njoku Iziogo, at Offianka Inyima Community, the police told the court. Arraignment The police in Ebonyi State arraigned Mr Unadinma on Monday on the 16 counts, covering four different cases against him. During the hearing, counsel for the defendant, Emeka Anosike, applied for bail for his client on the four different matters. Mr Anosike argued that the alleged offences were bailable. But the police prosecutor, Mrs Aliede, opposed the bail application, arguing that the offences were both serious and unsettling to the complainants image. She told the court that, for the matter of defamation of character, the offences were punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 and 373(a) Criminal Code Cap.33 Vols. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009. However, Magistrate Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe granted the defendant bail on the two defamation of character cases to the tune of N2 million each. Mrs Ifeanyi-Oyibe said the defendant should produce two sureties who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and should also show evidence of tax clearance for three years. The magistrate subsequently adjourned the two matters until 15 and 16 September 2025 for hearing. But she declined to grant bail on the other matters, including attempted murder, arson, malicious damage, and stealing. The magistrate explained that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear them. She directed that the case files should be transferred to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice. The remaining matters were equally adjourned till 15 and 16 September 2025. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated the construction of a new magistrates court complex in Jabi District of Abuja. Speaking at the inauguration in Jabi, Asokoro, and Garki on Tuesday, Mr Wike said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritised quick dispensation of justice through the provision of enabling environments for judicial officers. He described the current challenges faced by judicial officers, including inadequate office spaces and poor living conditions, as embarrassing. He said it was difficult to achieve quick dispensation of justice without the provision of an enabling environment for the judiciary. Mr President has always believed that you cannot talk about quick dispensation of justice when you dont provide the enabling environment. He also believes that you cant talk about fighting corruption where you dont provide the enabling environment for the judges, magistrates. Where they dont provide welfare for them, it will be very difficult. I have been going around, and sometimes when you see where our judges and magistrates sit, its very, very embarrassing. And then you still want them to deliver justice quickly, as you want them. Mr Wike called for the need to provide enabling environments, good offices for the judiciary sector to enable them discharge their duty. He reiterated the FCTAs ambitious plan to address the housing deficit for judicial officers. He revealed that 20 units of four-bedroom duplexes were currently under construction and would be handed over to the FCT High Court in October. He added that another 30 duplexes would also be provided for them by June 2026. Let me assure you that before the end of the first tenure of the President, we would have solved 80 per cent of your accommodation problems in terms of housing, he assured. Wike said that there was another project ongoing close to the villa and another project in Garki that would accommodate a lot of magistrates . Earlier, the Chief Judge of the FCT Federal High Court, Husseini Baba-Yusuf, expressed profound gratitude over what he described as the FCT Ministers unprecedented interventions and support for the judiciary. Represented by an FCT High Court judge Sylvanus Oriji, Mr Baba-Yusuf listed several projects initiated under the ministers leadership to include the design and construction of Magistrates Court complexes in Asokoro and Garki and the construction of 10 staff quarters for the Nigerian Law School, Abuja campus. He also listed the provision of 20 residential housing units for FCT High Court judges on an owner-occupier basis as well as the replacement of lifts at the High Court Complex, Maitama. He thanked the minister for his consistent support. He said the ministers interventions and support to the FCT judiciary as the Minister of FCT was unprecedented. He described the new Jabi complex as a symbol of the ministers commitment to fostering professionalism and providing an environment that supports a quick and effective justice system. He also highlighted the upcoming automation of the FCT High Court and the provision of electronic recording devices, which he said will eliminate the need for judges to record proceedings in longhand. The Chief Judge assured the public that the facilities, when completed, would be promptly utilised to accommodate magistrates currently sharing courtrooms, thereby enhancing the administration of justice. Giving an overview of the proposed Magistrates Court complex in Jabi District, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Richard Dauda, said the project would sit on a 3500 square meters plot of land. Mr Dauda said the project involved the construction and furnishing of one block of a four-storey building, six magistrate chambers, a library, office accommodation, among other facilities. He noted that the construction phase would create employment opportunities for FCT residents, and when completed,the project would also enable the modernisation of the working conditions of judicial officials. Esco Brown, the Managing Director, Poleis Realty, who is the project contractor, thanked the minister for entrusting the company with the job and assured that the highest standard would be adhered to in the execution of the project, while promising its timely delivery. Plateau State officials have joined other stakeholders across Africa in discussions on developing shared infrastructure for Artificial Intelligence (AI), as part of preparations for GITEX Nigeria 2025. The state was represented at the recent Leadership Summit on Shared Infrastructure for AI, Africa by the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Cletus Bako, and the Director-General of the Plateau State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (PICTDA), Dominic Gwamna. The summit, convened by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), comes ahead of GITEX Nigeria scheduled to take place in Abuja and Lagos between 1 and 4 September. In his keynote, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said AI represents a turning point for the continent, warning that Africa risks being left behind if it fails to invest in governance structures, infrastructure, and human capital. He identified four priority areas for Africas AI future: safeguarding sovereignty while promoting shared governance, building the technical skills of young Africans, creating homegrown datasets, and expanding infrastructure, computing power and access to clean energy. Mr Tijani also pointed to the governments 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme as a model for equipping young people with skills needed to drive AI adoption and innovation. Plateau State officials said their participation aligns with efforts to expand digital opportunities for young people in the state. Ethnic fashion show draws enthusiastic crowds in Kunming, SW China's Yunnan People's Daily Online) 13:38, September 02, 2025 An ethnic fashion show is held at Dounan Flower Market in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 30, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui) An ethnic fashion show was held at Dounan Flower Market in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Aug. 30, 2025. Models displayed the Wa ethnic group's brocade craftsmanship on a flower-adorned runway, captivating crowds with a vibrant blend of ethnic culture and fashion. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said everyone has the constitutional right to self-defence in the face of an attack. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Malamis convoy was attacked on Monday while returning from a condolence visit in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital. Mr Malami, in a trending video on Tuesday, said Governor Nasir Idris has declared political activities open in the state from 29 May, indicating that the opposition took the cue from the governor. His remarks followed insinuation by the police that the former chief law officer of the country had breached the laws on electioneering. In Islam, self-defence is a right, we have the right to protect ourselves if were being attacked. The truth of the matter is this: Regarding politics, we will not retreat, and we will not surrender, Mr Malami said. The police said they are investigating the reported attack on the convoy of Mr Malami. After an emergency security meeting with security chiefs, the Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, said no arrest had been made in connection with the attack. We have commenced an investigation into the attack, and no arrest has been made yet. The governor convened this meeting to review security developments, Mr Sani said. He added that the incidents occurred around the GRA area in the state capital involving political party members linked to breaches of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) campaign regulations. The commissioner stated that leaders of political parties would be summoned and cautioned against further violations of electoral guidelines. Mr Malami served as the AGF during the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, between 2015 and 2023. He resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on 2 July and has joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The House of Representatives Committee on Delegated Legislation has said there is a need for stronger collaboration between all tiers of government to ensure that local government councils in Nigeria are not only empowered but also made effective and accountable to the people they serve. Chairman of the Committee, Richard Bamisile (APC, Ekiti), said this on Wednesday during a national retreat and interactive workshop organised by the committee in partnership with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). The retreat, which had as its themes Enhancing the Capacity of Local Government Councils and Review of the Vertical Revenue Formula, with active participation of the 774 local government councils, sought to reinforce grassroots governance and bring government closer to the people. In his welcome address, Mr Bamisile underscored the importance of harmonisation between federal, state, and local governments in shaping Nigerias legislative and governance landscape. He explained that empowering local councils to legislate through impactful bylaws would be pivotal to improving accountability and delivering services at the grassroots. He said. Our first focus will be on the bylaw-making process. We will delve into strategies that empower local governments to create impactful bylaws that cater to the unique needs of their communities. This is pivotal not only for enhancing local governance but also for fostering accountability and enriching the lives of the citizens we serve. He noted that the review of the vertical revenue allocation formula, which remains a long-standing issue in Nigerias fiscal structure, would receive priority attention during the workshop. Mr Bamisile further urged participants to approach the deliberations with a commitment to excellence, integrity, and progress, stressing that democracy could only thrive when institutions work collectively and communities feel the impact of government at the grassroots. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by Agbodike Paschal (APC, Anambra), reminded participants of the central role local councils play in governance. He stressed that the success of any administration depends on strengthening grassroots governments and ensuring effective enforcement of local laws. The bylaws made by the local government council are very important to govern the people in their areas. But enforcement should be properly looked into. If you dont educate the people, particularly the task force, people who enforce the laws, most of them will go astray, he warned. ALGON calls for fiscal empowerment The National President of ALGON, Bello Lawal, aligned with the committees focus, stressing that the retreat offered an opportunity to redefine the fiscal relationship between local governments and the other tiers. He described the call by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for a review of the revenue sharing formula as a chance for local councils to have a stronger voice in national fiscal planning. READ ALSO: FCCPC issues new regulation to address loan app harassment ALGON will not relent until local governments are fairly empowered with the resources needed to meet the expectations of our people in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he said. Mr Lawal added that the expected outcomes of the retreat would strengthen intergovernmental relations, deepen legislative harmony, and expand the fiscal space for grassroots governance. According to him, a fairer share of resources would translate to improved delivery of basic services, access to quality education, healthcare, and food security for millions of Nigerians. The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts is set to host the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC) from 8 to 12 September, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. This was disclosed in a statement by the WAAPAC Secretariat in Accra, Ghana on Wednesday. Established in 2009 after a World Bank Institute seminar organised in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the Parliamentary Centre (PC), WAAPAC brings together legislatures across West Africa to strengthen parliamentary accountability through peer learning and knowledge sharing. Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone were part of its founding session. This years gathering, with the theme Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of Public Debt: The Role of Finance and Public Accounts Committees, is expected to draw over 300 participants, including lawmakers, auditors, fiscal policy experts, and public finance professionals from across West Africa and beyond. According to the organisers, discussions will centre on equipping Public Accounts and Finance Committees with the capacity for effective oversight of public debt and borrowing, examining regional debt trends and risks, defining legislative roles in debt governance, and developing strategies to ensure debt sustainability. The five-day programme will conclude with country-specific action plans aimed at strengthening parliamentary oversight of debt across the sub-region. Delegates will include members of Public Accounts and Finance Committees, parliamentary staff, and Auditors-General from across West Africa. Representatives from eSwatini, Kenya, South Africa, and parliamentary accountability networks such as the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC) and the Southern Africa Development Community Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC) are also expected to attend. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam, confirmed that Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will declare the event open. The Minister of Finance will deliver the keynote address, while the conference will also feature presentations from the Chairpersons of WAAPAC and AFROPAC, as well as goodwill messages from the UNDP Country Director, global development partners, and parliamentary bodies. Mr Salam described the event as an important opportunity to showcase Nigerias leadership in parliamentary accountability. He stressed that the conference would provide a platform for countries to exchange experiences on public debt oversight. When we meet at the conference and Ghana, Mali, South Africa, or Tanzania bring their experiences, we will be able to strengthen our institutions to be able to deliver more, he said. The chairman explained that Nigeria, as the largest democracy and most advanced economy in Africa, has a responsibility to demonstrate leadership in such initiatives. He added that hosting the conference would also revive Nigerias active participation in WAAPAC and similar continental bodies after years of limited engagement. Mr Salam highlighted the long-term benefits of the conference, noting that the lessons drawn from peer review and parliamentary exchange would help improve budget planning, oversight processes, and inform new legislation across participating countries. The ultimate goal is to ensure that each parliament and organisation represented leaves with practical takeaways that strengthen their capacity to deliver on their constitutional mandates, he noted. He also called on the Nigerian media to provide wide coverage of the event, emphasising that it was not only about parliamentary diplomacy, but also about projecting Nigerias image as a leader on the continent. The Burkina Faso government has passed a law banning homosexuality, with persons found guilty facing up to five years in prison. The law was passed on Monday after the transitional parliament unanimously voted to pass a bill banning the act. This comes a year after the countrys cabinet adopted a draft amendment to the family code that criminalised homosexuality. Announcing the new law on state-run media, the Justice Minister, Edasso Bayala, identified that the law prescribes prison terms of two to five years, along with fines. However, experts and activists have strongly condemned the law, warning that it entrenches discrimination and violates human rights. Amnesty International called the measure a breach of regional and international obligations, while undermining the progressive provision of the new persons and family code. Burkina Faso becomes the latest African country to ban homosexuality, following Mali, Uganda, and about half the countries on the continent. Mali, a neighbouring ally, passed similar anti-homosexuality laws in November 2024. Ghana and Uganda have also tightened their laws in recent years, drawing heavy criticism. In Uganda, the law made aggravated homosexuality punishable by death and set life sentences for consensual same-sex relations. READ ALSO: Burkina Faso expels top UN official Many of the African countries with strict anti-gay laws have faced intense backlash from international organisations, human rights groups, and Western governments. In 2023, the World Bank suspended loans to Uganda over its anti-LBGT stance but later lifted the ban. Nigeria is also among the countries on the continent that have enacted laws banning homosexuality. The Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act was signed into law by then-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014. Under this law, it is illegal not only to engage in an intimate relationship with a member of the same sex, but to attend or organise a meeting of gays, or patronise or operate any type of gay organisation, including private clubs. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have deepened their collaboration on data harmonisation for citizens registration and identity management. The Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, stated this when he received the NIMC Director-General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote and her management team at INEC headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja. Mr Yakubu said that the move between the two sister agencies holding the largest biometric databases of Nigerians could in future enable citizens to vote from any location in the country. He explained that while INEC holds the database of citizens for the purpose of elections, NIMC has the record of citizens generally. Since the ultimate goal is to enroll every citizen with NIMC, we look forward to the day when your database will serve as the single source of truth for citizenship identification in Nigeria. When the time comes, the national register of voters may simply draw from the citizenship register as is the case in many jurisdictions around the world. This may also enable citizens to vote in future elections from their places of choice anywhere in the country rather than the places they register as voters as is the case at present. To achieve this long-term goal, we will continue to deepen our collaboration with NIMC, he said. Mr Yakubu said that the NIMC was collaborating with INEC to enable citizens to register for voter cards and the National Identification Number (NIN) simultaneously, during the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). It is in furtherance of this collaboration that NIMC is deploying its officials to some of our registration centres during the ongoing nationwide CVR. The idea is to provide more Nigerians who are yet to enroll for the NIN the opportunity to do so. Working with NIMC, we carried out a pilot during the recent CVR in Anambra from 8 to 20 July, 2025. We are now set to scale it up nationwide. Citizens will, therefore, have the opportunity to register as voters while simultaneously registering for the NIN. In due course, NIMC will provide details of the locations of our CVR centres where it will deploy its officials and also provide the modalities for the NIN registration, he said. Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Coker-Odusote, said that the collaboration was part of the NIMC mandate to harmonise data across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Mrs Coker-Odusote explained that the collaboration would create a trust-based system that would benefit Nigerians across sectors, particularly in voting and ensure transparency, accountability and fairness. This according her is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, who is keen about promoting credible elections in Nigeria through reliable identity system. The goal set out in front of us is very key because we must ensure that we provide systems that are trusted by the public. Ensuring that we do what is required to satisfy Nigerians and make sure that our mandate, which is in line with the will of the people, is achieved. On this note, one of the key steps in us advancing this course is for us to start off with INEC on their voter registration exercise for INEC to ensure that we are available during this process. This is to be able to provide access to Nigerians at the community level to be able to enroll and register for the NIN in collaboration with the INEC, Mrs Coker-Odusote said Feilding questions from media on when Nigerians would have access to one Identity Card from NIMC for different purpose, she said it was a work in progress, that would be achieved. (NAN) Belgium will recognise Palestine as an independent state at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which is to convene later this month. The country will also be imposing sanctions on the Israeli government, including a ban on the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies. The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prevot, announced this on Tuesday, stating that the decision has been made in light of Israels attempt to relaunch the illegal E1 settlement project in the occupied East Jerusalem. A move that affects the possibility of a two-state solution. In a post made on X, Mr Prevot, who is also the deputy prime minister, said, Palestine will be recognised by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions will be imposed against the Israeli government. Weve seen the horrible situation on the ground, with people starving, and its totally unacceptable. Cutting off all humanitarian aid is a war crime. Mr Prevot also expressed concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza enclave. Condition of recognition His announcements come weeks after President Emmanuel Macron declared that France would recognise the state of Palestine. In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine, he said in July. So far, at least 142 of the 193 UN member states already recognise or have pledged to recognise Palestine, with more countries signaling their intention to follow suit as the Israeli-Hamas conflict drags on and Palestinian casualties from Israeli strikes continue to rise. Israel and the United States have criticised the decision to recognise Palestine as a state, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the move a reckless decision. He had also earlier announced that the US would deny and revoke visas for Palestinian officials in advance of the UNGA, which will be held in New York. Israel has killed 59,587 Palestinians and imposed severe restrictions on aid deliveries, which have heightened the severe hunger crisis in Gaza. Belgiums recognition, however, would only be formalised after the last captive is freed from Gaza and Hamas no longer plays any role in governing Palestine. Mr Prevot said, From an intellectual point of view, the recognition of a state should be with no conditions. But we also have to manage the different sensitivities within the Belgian coalition. We are five parties, and we are not necessarily aligned. However, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, welcomed Belgiums announcement. The ministry also urged other countries to do the same. It also appealed to countries to intensify practical efforts to stop the crimes of genocide, displacement, starvation, and annexation, and to open a real political path to resolve the conflict. France and Saudi Arabia will co-host the meeting on Palestinian recognition during the UNGA on September 22. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says more than one billion people are currently living with mental health disorders, making it one of the most pressing public health challenges worldwide. The figure, published in new WHO reports released on Tuesday, shows that conditions such as anxiety and depression are inflicting human and economic tolls, with millions lacking access to adequate care. Transforming mental health services is one of the most pressing public health challenges, WHOs Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, was quoted in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES. Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities, and economies. Every government and every leader has a responsibility to act with urgency and to ensure that mental health care is treated not as a privilege, but as a basic right for all. Heavy toll on people, economies According to WHO, anxiety and depressive disorders are highly prevalent in all countries and among all income levels. They are the second biggest cause of long-term disability, contributing to loss of healthy life years and rising health care costs. WHO added that the impact also extends to the global economy, noting that depression and anxiety alone cost about $1 trillion annually in lost productivity, far exceeding the direct costs of health care. The global health body described suicide as a devastating outcome of mental health conditions, which claimed an estimated 727,000 lives in 2021. It remains one of the leading causes of death among young people worldwide. Despite commitments to reduce global suicide rates by one-third under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the organisation projects that only a 12 per cent reduction will be achieved by 2030. Progress and persistent gaps The findings are captured in two new publications, World Mental Health Today and the Mental Health Atlas 2024. Both reports note that while some progress has been made in updating policies, adopting rights-based approaches, and introducing community programmes, major gaps remain. The report reveals a concerning stagnation in mental health investment, with an average of two per cent of total health budgets globally since 2017. Disparities between countries are stark; while high-income countries spend up to US$65 per person on mental health, low-income countries spend as little as US$0.04. The global median number of mental health workers stands at 13 per 100,000 people, with extreme shortages in low- and middle-income countries, WHO noted. WHO also highlighted the shortage of professionals. It said the global median is 13 mental health workers per 100,000 people, but in low and middle-income countries, the number is far lower. It said inpatient care remains heavily reliant on psychiatric hospitals, with almost half of admissions occurring involuntarily. WHO said fewer than 10 per cent of countries have fully shifted to community-based care models, although 71 per cent have integrated some mental health services into primary care. It added that over 80 per cent of countries now provide mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies, up from 39 per cent in 2020. The WHO urged countries to intensify their action ahead of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases and mental health, scheduled for 25 September in New York. The agency said governments must prioritise equitable financing, legal reforms to protect rights, sustained investment in the workforce, and expansion of community-based and person-centred care. Nigerias situation In May, WHO estimates that 20 million people live with mental health conditions. The Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria-American Institute for Mental Health, Azubike Aliche, speaking at a training programme in Owerri, said depression in the country has reached alarming levels. Available reports indicate that only 10 per cent of people living with mental illness have access to care in Nigeria, and this has to change, Mr Aliche said. The training, organised by the Nigeria-American Institute for Mental Health in collaboration with the Centre for Social Awareness, Advocacy and Ethics and sponsored by the Nigeria Mental Health Practitioners USA Incorporated, focused on equipping non-psychiatrists to identify symptoms and provide basic support. Mr Aliche said the programme was necessary to help close the treatment gap in Nigeria, where most people living with mental illness remain undiagnosed or untreated. The Nigerian government has introduced a new curriculum for schools that mandates Junior Secondary School (JSS 1) students to pick at least one trade subject to boost practical skills. According to a document developed by the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council (NERDC), the six practical skills available are Solar Photovoltaic installation and maintenance, Fashion design and garment making, Livestock farming, Beauty and cosmetology, Computer hardware and GSM repairs, Horticulture and crop production. Speaking at the 2025 International Conference of the African Curriculum Association hosted by the NERDC on Monday, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the new curriculum as future-ready and noted it was streamlined to meet the skills demand of the 21st century. Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, a professor, Mr Alausa said the review for the basic education level has been completed, while that of the senior secondary level nears completion. A separate statement by the education ministrys spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, indicated that the review was conducted in collaboration with the NERDC, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), National Secondary School Education Commission (NSSEC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and other key stakeholders. The new curriculum The statement explained that the new framework balances subject offerings with more practical learning. The ministry noted that at the primary level, pupils in Primary 13 will offer 910 subjects, while those in Primary 46 will take 1012 subjects. For Junior Secondary School, the range is 1214 subjects; Senior Secondary students will take 89; and technical schools will offer 911 subjects. Minister speaks Mr Alausa said the new curriculum is expected to kick off soon. The review of these curricula is based on best practices and design approach following the requisite stages, criteria and involving a broad-spectrum of critical stakeholders, the minister said. He explained that the framework, structure and content of the curriculum are based on a competency and outcome approach and leveraged on the thematic, spiral-cyclical model. He added that the content covers new areas pertaining to digital literacy, robotics and artificial intelligence, new technologies and subject-based skills. Mr Alausa said the new curriculum is learner-centred and focused on 21st-century skills that are transferable and issues of values, national heritage, and effective citizenship. One thing we want to achieve in the curriculum reform process is to ensure content learnability and coverage, thereby improving learning outcomes across all subjects, he said. Thus, the curricula and subject offerings have been scaled down drastically to align with global standards and engender effective learning at the various levels of primary and senior secondary education. New subjects According to the NERDC document, the subjects for Primary 1-3 pupils are: English Studies, Mathematics, Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language), Basic Science, Physical and Health Education, Christian Religion Studies (CRS) (For Christian Pupils Only) and Islamic Studies (For Muslim Pupils Only), Nigerian History, Social and Citizenship Studies, Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA) and Arabic Language (Optional). For Primary 4-6, the subjects are: English Studies, Mathematics, Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language), Basic Science and Technology, Physical and Health Education, Basic Digital Literacy, CRS (For Christian Pupils Only) and IS (For Muslim Pupils Only), Nigerian History, Social and Citizenship Studies, Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA), Pre-vocational studies, French (Optional) and Arabic Language (Optional). The subjects for Junior Secondary School 1 3 are: English Studies, Mathematics, Nigerian Languages (One Nigerian Language), Intermediate Science, Physical and Health Education, Digital Technologies, Christian Religious Studies (CRS) (For Christian Pupils Only), Islamic Studies (IS) (For Muslim Pupils Only), Nigerian History, Social and Citizenship Studies, Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA), Business Studies, French (optional), Arabic Language (Optional) and one of the six available Trade subjects. Meanwhile, Senior Secondary School students are to take five compulsory subjects, including one of the trade subjects and the others from their preferred area of specialisation sciences, humanities, or business. The compulsory subjects are: English Language, General Mathematics, One Trade subject, Citizenship and Heritage Studies, and Digital Technologies. Students in the Sciences are to take: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agriculture, Further Mathematics, Physical Education, Health Education, Foods & Nutrition, Geography, Technical Drawing. For Humanities: Nigerian History, Government, Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Studies, one Nigerian language, French, Arabic, Visual Arts, Music, Literature in English, Home Management, Catering craft Business: Accounting, Commerce, Marketing, and Economics. In order to achieve Universal Health Coverage, Nigeria must strengthen its health financing systems and build stronger links between research and policymaking. This was the central message from experts and policymakers at the ongoing National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja. The dialogue, which run from 1-4 September brings together health officials, development partners, civil society groups and the private sector to craft new strategies for sustainable health financing in Nigeria. The four-day event, themed Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria, is expected to produce commitments to reduce out-of-pocket spending, improve accountability, and strengthen domestic funding for the health sector. Financing pressures Speaking at the event, Health financing expert, John Ataguba, said Nigerias reliance on direct payments by patients is unsustainable and inequitable. Mr Ataguba described the dependence on such payments as really problematic, noting that they account for more than 70 per cent of current health expenditure. He said financial protection will improve when out of pocket spending falls below 20 per cent. When people pay out of pocket, it harms them a lot. It pushes them into poverty and prevents them from living a good standard of life, he said. Mr Ataguba argued that government financing should rise well above present levels, pointing to very low per capita public spending. Nigeria spends only about $14 per person on health compared to household out of pocket spending of $70, he said. He noted that the balance must be corrected to move the country towards Universal Health Coverage, noting that primary healthcare remains neglected despite being the foundation for stronger outcomes. Primary healthcare is the backbone of every health system, and Nigeria must push this spending level higher if it is committed to improving service delivery, he said. He lamented that the Abuja Declaration target remains unmet and urged rapid expansion of insurance coverage from the low base of fewer than one in 10 Nigerians, alongside improved accountability and timely budget releases. Bridging research and policy During a panel discussion, academics and development partners highlighted the urgency of aligning research evidence with policy decisions, arguing that sustainable financing for Nigerias health sector requires not only adequate resources but also institutions capable of translating findings into action. Chigozie Uneke, Professor of Health Systems and Vice-Chancellor of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), highlighted the persistent gap between academic research and policy implementation in Nigeria. Mr Uneke noted that universities generate substantial volumes of research, much of which never reaches policymakers or informs practice. He described this disconnect as a major challenge, emphasising that the publish or perish culture in academia often prioritises quantity over policy relevance. He proposed that government-funded research grants be linked to ministry priorities, ensuring that researchers focus on studies with practical policy impact. Kamil Shoretire, Director of Research, Policy and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, agreed that misalignment and weak communication remain major challenges. Mr Shoretire urged researchers to share findings proactively and emphasised that ongoing reforms are increasingly evidence-based but require stronger state-level engagement to expand health insurance coverage. Let the government know what you are doing in your various places on things that can impact or change the life of the Nigerian citizen for the better, he said. Consistent communication is essential for translating evidence into action. Susna De, the Deputy Director for Health and Nutrition, Ethiopia at the Gates Foundation, called for routine platforms that bring policymakers, researchers, and think tanks together before important decisions are made. Ms De stressed the importance of timely data driving timely action. The goal is not to publish in the Lancet or in Nature. It is whether those results were used, or if anyone took any action upon them. That is a measure of success, she said. She said it is important for research to directly inform policy and implementation. OpenAI announced on Tuesday its decision to introduce parental control features on ChatGPT amidst concerns of mental health risk and abusive use among teenagers. In a post on its website on Tuesday, the company stated that the features, which will be available in December, will connect parents accounts to childrens accounts to enable parents to monitor their childrens activities. According to OpenAI, parents will also be able to monitor childrens chat history, AIs response, and red flags raised in case any child or teenager asks something that can be prone to risks. OpenAIs decision followed a series of concerns raised by experts about the chatbots effects on teenagers mental health, and a lawsuit filed by parents of a 16-year-old Californian teen, Adam Raine, who allegedly committed suicide upon encouragement of ChatGPT on 11 April. In the lawsuit filed in San Francisco state court, the parents of the deceased accused OpenAI of wrongful death and violations of product safety laws, claiming the GPT-40 model advised the late Adam Raine for months to commit suicide rather than restraining him. However, to strengthen the protection of ChatGPT use for teens, OpenAI said the increasing use of the chatbot among teens necessitated the creation of healthy guidelines on AI usage. Many young people are already using AI. They are among the first AI natives, growing up with these tools as part of daily life, much like earlier generations did with the internet or smartphones. That creates real opportunities for support, learning, and creativity, but it also means families and teens may need support in setting healthy guidelines that fit a teens unique stage of development. While revealing ways it planned to incorporate parents controls into teen usage of the ChatGPT, OpenAI stated that parents will be able to get notifications of their childrens activities with the ChatGPT and use disabling features if necessary. Earlier this year, we began building more ways for families to use ChatGPT together and decide what works best in their home. Within the next month, parents will be able to link their account with their teens account (minimum age of 13) through a simple email invitation. Parents will also be able to control how ChatGPT responds to their teen with age-appropriate model behaviour rules, which are on by default. Parents will be able to manage which features to disable, including memory and chat history. Parents will receive notifications when the system detects their teen is in a moment of acute distress. Expert input will guide this feature to support trust between parents and teens, OpenAI said. The AI company further stated that it plans to rely on experts advice to incorporate more features that will be helpful to the chatbot users. These controls add to features we have rolled out for all users, including in-app reminders during long sessions to encourage breaks. These steps are only the beginning. We will continue learning and strengthening our approach, guided by experts, to make ChatGPT as helpful as possible. We look forward to sharing our progress over the coming 120 days, OpenAI noted. Earlier, to provide guidelines on well-being and mental health of its users, OpenAI announced its plans to improve its features in four key areas: expanding interventions to more people in crisis, making ChatGPT easier to reach emergency services and get help from experts, enabling connections to trusted contacts, and strengthening protections for teens. The tech company stated that it will rely on the Expert Council on Well-Being and AI, and the Global Physician Network to provide both the depth of specialised medical expertise and the breadth of perspective into making the features. Nameless Warriors People's Daily Online) 09:03, September 03, 2025 During World War II, around 2 billion people across over 80 countries and regions were drawn into the flames of war. Global casualties exceeded 100 million. Nations around the world made immense sacrifices in the fight against fascism. No country suffered as deeply as China. From the September 18 Incident in 1931 to Japan's surrender in 1945, the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression resulted in over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties. Of those lost, the vast majority left behind no names. From the Nanjing Massacre to the Bombing of Chongqing, from the victory at Taierzhuang to the Hundred-Regiment Campaign, countless lives were lost. Some are remembered by name, many more in silence. Survivors, descendants, and researchers continue to carry their stories forward, ensuring that the nameless martyrs are never forgotten. This documentary, "Nameless Warriors," brings together historical archives, survivor testimonies, and battlefield memories to honor those who gave everything. It is a tribute not written in stone but etched into rivers, mountains, and the enduring spirit of a nation. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Wu Chengliang) The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday convicted five foreign nationals of cybercrime. The trial judge, Emeka Nwite, sentenced them to three years in prison with an option of N1 million fine each. Delivering judgment, following the convicts pleading guilty, the judge ordered the deportation of the convicts upon completion of the prison term or payment of the fine. The convicts are among 108 foreign nationals being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and actions deemed a threat to Nigerias national security. The five convicts are Panupong Wanasak, Aatairat See Ni, Laongdao Saeguang, Achalar Saeyang and Galin Suphaaut. They were represented in court by defence lawyer Christiana Sylvester. The convicts who are from Thailand were re-arraigned on three counts of cybercrime and illegally staying in the country without valid papers. One count alleged that they entered Nigeria with a business permit of 30 days and remained in the country on the expiration of that permit. The offence was said to be contrary to Section 57 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under the same Act. They all pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them through a Thai interpreter. Prosecution lawyer F.G Gabriel urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly in view of their guilty plea. He told the court that all parties entered into a plea bargain and prayed the court to adopt same as its judgement against the defendants. Delivering judgement, Mr Nwite convicted the defendants as charged. Based on the plea agreement, he sentenced them to one year in prison on each of the three counts with an option of N1 million fine. The judge also held that the convicts were to be deported to their country upon serving their prison term or paying the fine and charged the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure a seamless deportation. He ruled that all gadgets and electronics devices used by the convicts to perpetrate the crime shall be forfeited to the federal government. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convicts were arraigned in 2024. They initially pleaded not guilty and were remanded in the correctional centre pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions. READ ALSO: Vanguard correspondent in Akwa Ibom is dead The police alleged that they operated out of Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they were running a fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform. They were accused of aiding abetting and conspiring among themselves to commit cybercrime, an offence said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024). They were also charged with unlawful access to a computer network and input of inauthentic data, punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act. (NAN) Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has called for a review of the Petroleum Industry Act, describing it as a time bomb and fueling intra-communal conflict in the state. Mr Diri made the call in Yenagoa on Tuesday in a meeting with the management of the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company project. This was contained in a statement on Tuesday from the governors spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah. PIA is a time bomb Enacted in 2021, Nigerias Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) created the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) as a replacement for voluntary corporate social responsibility schemes in oil-producing areas. The law makes it mandatory for oil and gas companies to commit three per cent of their annual operating expenses to the HCDT, ensuring that host communities benefit directly from petroleum operations. The HCDT, also known as the Trust, is designed to ensure sustainable development, provide direct social and economic benefits to impacted communities, and foster peaceful relations between oil companies and communities. In calling for its review, Mr Diri said the law is fueling intra-communal conflict, suggesting that its aim may have been defeated. When it was in its formative stages as a bill, we made a presentation through the Attorney General and the Commissioner for Justice. We did that after consulting with our people, communities, and chiefs. But at the end of the day, our inputs were ignored and thrown overboard as the PIA excluded the oil-producing states and their local governments. The federal government now interacts directly with the communities, and that is an affront to the Nigerian Constitution. The Constitution says the land belongs to the state government, and not the federal government. The constitution recognises communities as under the local government and the state government. These anomalies in the PIA have made the law a time bomb. Today, because of the PIA, there are intra and inter-communal conflicts and litigations. So even funds that have been realised for their development cannot be disbursed to the communities. If anybody thinks the state is not much important, we will then wash off our hands, Mr Alabrah quoted Mr Diri as saying in the statement. Diri seeks equity in Brass Petrochemicals Speaking of the $3.5 billion Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemicals company, which Mr Alabrah said is about to commence operations in Brass Island in the state, Mr Diri solicited an equity stake for the state. According to the governor, the state needed to have a stake in the company to prevent the negative fallouts in excluding oil-producing states and local governments from the PIA, an anomaly he said has to be reviewed. Let us ensure that the state is not totally excluded from being a partner in progress in this whole process. The PIA is one good example, Mr Diri told the company management. Mr Diri told the team that the company was conceptualised in 2009 but gained some traction during the administration of his predecessor, before it fizzled out again. He thanked the federal government for responding to the states requests for the companys resuscitation. The Managing Director of the company, Ben Okoye, said the visit was to formally inform the Bayelsa State Government that work on the $3.5 billion project would commence in October this year. Mr Okoye explained that the 10,000 metric tonnes of methanol per day project was delayed as there was no agreement reached on the gas component. He told the governor that President Bola Tinubu, last October, directed the minister of state for petroleum (Gas) to get it started and that the agreement was signed in January this year. He assured the state government that necessary steps had been taken to implement the project in full, and thanked the governor for constructing the Nembe-Brass Road, which he noted would save the company up to $100,000 in logistics costs in moving equipment and materials through the river to the project site. Humanity is currently faced with the choice of war or peace, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday at a massive military parade showcasing Chinas newest stealth jets, tanks, and ballistic missiles in a choreographed display of strength involving thousands of participants. The parade was held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event had many world leaders in attendance, including Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un. However, Western leaders were conspicuously absent. Multiple news media reported that Chinas 70-minute parade featured helicopters carrying large banners and fighter jets flying in formation. It ended with the release of 80,000 peace doves and colourful balloons. Mr Xi rode in an open-top limousine to inspect the troops and advanced weapons, while greeting the more than 20 world leaders in attendance. According to Reuters, during the event, Mr Xi often chatted with the Russian and North Korean leaders, with whom he sat as troops and equipment were displayed during the parade. Speaking at the parade, Mr Xi said the world is at a point where it must choose between peace and war. Today, humanity is again faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum, he told the crowd of more than 50,000 spectators, He vowed that China would remain firmly on the right side of history. The Chinese leader described his country as a great nation that would not succumb or be intimidated by bullies, a reference to the US and its allies. Analysts have said the image of Messrs Xi, Putin and Jung Un, circulating in the media, sends a strong message of defiance to the West. The image of the men chatting together while walking down the red carpet is considered to be a symbolic show of unity against Western pressure. US President Donald Trump, however, appears to be displeased by this and has accused the leaders of conspiring against him. This comes despite earlier dismissals of concerns that closer ties between China, Russia, and other nations could challenge the US on the global stage. In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote, Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America. Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! The National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), says Nigeria has conducted eight phases of terrorism-related trials, leading to 775 convictions. Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the NCTC, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the Regional Conference on Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security in the ECOWAS Region and the Sahel. The conference, organised in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, brought together security chiefs, policymakers, regional institutions, and development partners to review strategies for addressing terrorism and violent extremism. Mr Laka, a major-general, said the trials demonstrated Nigerias resolve to pursue justice through lawful processes, while also providing avenues for rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant fighters. So far, we have conducted eight phases of terrorism trials with 775 convictions. This sends a clear message that terrorism will not go unpunished, and at the same time, our approach recognises the need for non-kinetic measures such as dialogue, reconciliation, empowerment, and community resilience, he said. He explained that Nigerias counterterrorism efforts were anchored on the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, bringing together state institutions, civil society, religious and traditional leaders, the private sector, and youth. The NCTC boss stressed that while military actions remained important, sustainable security required winning hearts and minds, restoring trust in governance, and addressing root causes of terrorism such as poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion. He also recalled that Nigeria hosted the African Counter Terrorism Summit in April 2024, which produced the Abuja Declaration recognising the Centre as a Regional Centre of Excellence for Counter Terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. Mr Laka said the current regional conference was designed to consolidate that mandate by deepening regional cooperation and producing actionable recommendations. READ ALSO: Plateau officials join continental talks on AI infrastructure According to him, the two-day conference is expected to yield a situational analysis of emerging terrorist groups, renewed commitment to operationalise the ECOWAS Counterterrorism Force, and practical strategies for intelligence sharing and securing porous borders. He added that mainstreaming youth, civil society, and the media into regional security architecture would also be a key outcome. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference has representatives of ECOWAS, the United Nations, and other international partners in attendance. (NAN) The Akwa Ibom State Government on Tuesday inaugurated a panel to investigate the death of a woman and her newborn during a cesarean section in a government hospital in the state. The incident happened over the weekend at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, with the relatives of the deceased woman accusing the doctors and hospital workers of negligence. A video clip of a weeping woman circulating on Facebook attracted public and government attention to the incident, which has caused outrage across Akwa Ibom. The woman, who says she is a sister of the deceased, said in the video, There were no doctors here. They didnt open the theatre, my sister was unattended for over three hours. I would like to say that the mood in the state has been very bad because nobody deserves to die while bringing another person into the world, the Commissioner for Health, Emmanuel Ekem, said while inaugurating the 14-member panel. The governor has been deeply grieved. The panel has 10 days to submit its findings to the health commissioner. Membership of the panel A professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, Israel Jeremiah, is the chairperson of the investigating panel. He is the provost, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State. Rosemary Obong, a director of administration in the Ministry of Health, is to serve as the secretary of the panel. Other members of the panel are drawn from different professional bodies such as the Nigeria Medical Association (Unyime Ndoh), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (Nsikan Jacob Udo), civil society organisations (Franklyn Isong), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (Kufre Etuk). Emem Ette, a lawyer and a representative of the Ministry of Justice, and Okon Emah, a former commissioner in the state, are also members of the panel. Others are Patricia Etim, a director of nursing services in the Ministry of Health; Maurice Ntiense Utuk, a professor of obstetrics; Nsikak Nyoyoko, a consultant obstetrician; Mfon Akpan, a nurse and midwife; and Oku Okoiseh, a specialist obstetrician. The health commissioner, Mr Ekem, a medical doctor, said the panel is to examine the remote and immediate causes of the maternal and neonatal mortality that occurred at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene. The committee will review all medical records and documentation related to the deceased patients antenatal care, labour, delivery, theatre, and post-delivery management; interview relevant medical personnel, administrative staff, and witnesses involved in the patients care; assess the readiness and functionality of equipment, manpower, and resources in the labour and delivery unit and theatre of the hospital; determine whether there was any act of negligence, breach of protocol, or professional misconduct; evaluate the hospitals adherence to standard obstetric protocols and emergency response procedures and communication failures; make recommendations for institutional, administrative, and clinical improvements to prevent future occurrences, the commissioner said. Following the public outcry, many people have reached out and said they have also been victims of negligence in other hospitals. We have decided that within the last 90 days, if you have received care from any government or private hospital in Akwa Ibom State that you considered negligent, please approach the committee with your petition, he added. The federal government, on Wednesday, arraigned nine terrorism suspects arrested in connection with killings in Benue State. The suspects, linked to the 13 June attack in Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, were arraigned before trial judge Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Muhammad Abubakar filed six separate cases against the nine defendants in pairs and singly on 28 August, charging them with acts of terrorism, including attack and killings in Benue State and other sundry offences such as illegal possession of firearms. The charges also include planning and being part of preparation for acts of terrorism, carrying out reprisals and illegal buying and selling of firearms. During the arraignment on Wednesday, one of the accused persons, Timnan Manjo, 46, pleaded guilty to two out of four charges preferred against him and a co-defendant. Mr Manjo denied the two other counts. Mr Manjo, who is from Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, pleaded guilty to Count 1, which accused him of buying and selling between July and August 2025 two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles for N3 million. The defendant also pleaded guilty to Count 3, which accused him of buying three long-range revolvers at the rate of N60,000 per one, from one Chomo, for resale. The authorities accused him of carrying out the arms transactions without a licence. But Mr Manjo denied the two other charges, including Count 2, which alleged that he was found to be in unlawful possession of a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle on 9 August in Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State. He also denied Count 4, which accused him of buying two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles from one Vom and reselling them to an undisclosed Reverend at the rate of N400,000. He allegedly committed the offence in January 2025. Meanwhile, Mr Manjos co-defendant in the case, Nanbol Tali, 75, denied all charges featuring his name. Also, the rest of seven defendants denied all the charges preferred against them. They include Halima Haliru Umar, a 32-year-old woman, who was arraigned on charges of transporting ammunition and concealing information. She is the only female among the defendants. The other men, six in all Haruna Adamu, Muhammad Abdullahi, Terkende Ashuwa, Amos Alede, Danjuma Antu, and Silas Iduh Oloche were arraigned on terrorism-related charges. All the defendants, who were said to hail from Katsina, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states, have been in custody of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja since their arrest at various locations. Arraignment Earlier on Wednesday, the prosecution lawyer, C.S. Eze, obtained the judges approval to arraign the defendants during the ongoing judges vacation. Some of the defendants confirmed they understood English. The rest said they did not understand English, prompting the court to provide an interpreter, who translated the charges to them in Hausa before they gave their pleas. After the pleas, Mr Eze asked for dates to review the facts regarding the case of the defendant who pleaded guilty and open trial for the rest of the charges denied by the defendants. The defence lawyer, Zakari Mubashir, represented eight of the suspects, while Noah Imoni appeared for one of them, Mr Oloche. The defence said they would formally apply for bail for some of the suspects, especially Mr Oloche and the only female defendant, Ms Umar. After the arraignment, the prosecution requested that all the suspects remain in SSS custody. The judge adjourned the trial until 2, 9 and 17 October. Six cases filed The Nigerian government filed the charges in the aftermath of the 13 June deadly attack on Yelwata, a refugee town in Guma LGA, killing over 100 people. Hundreds were reportedly injured during the attack while many homes and homes and markets were destroyed. President Bola Tinubu visited Makurdi, the Benue State capital, in mid-June, calling the killings senseless bloodletting. He urged security chiefs to act and instructed the neighbouring Benue and Nasarawa governments to form a peace committee. Attacks in the states have continued, regardless. First case In the first case, the prosecution charged Mr Adamu, 26, and Mr Abdullahi, 48, both of Awe LGA, Nasarawa State, and others said to still be at large with participating in a meeting linked to acts of terrorism and the killings in Abinsi and Yelwata villages, Guma LGA of Benue State. They were said to have conspired with Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Asara Ahnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba, Pyeure Damina, and others to plan the attacks. Messrs Adamu and Abdullahi were charged under sections 12 and 29 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. Section 12 criminalises participation in or facilitation of meetings or activities that are known to be connected with terrorism or terrorist groups. Specifically, it stipulates it is an offence to arrange, manage, assist in arranging or managing, or participate in a meeting or activity tied to terrorism or a terrorist group. Likewise, the provision criminalises collecting or providing logistics, equipment, information, articles, or facilities for such a meeting or activity. Conviction under Section 12 carries a minimum imprisonment term of 10 years imprisonment. Section 29 criminalises preparation to commit acts of terrorism. This typically includes any anticipation or planning phase before carrying out a terrorist act. Second case The second case involves two adult male suspects, Mr Ashuwa, 46, and Mr Alede, 44, of Guma LGA, who were charged with three counts connected with carrying out reprisals against terror suspects involved in Abinsi and Yelwata. They allegedly attended a meeting at Coach Bar, Daudu Town, also in Guma LGA of Benue State, which led to acts of terrorism, destruction of private property, and the loss of 12 cattle in Ukpam Village in the same local government area. The prosecution alleged that in July, they conspired to carry out further attacks and received support, including locally made guns and AK-47 rifles, from Alhaji Uba. Their alleged offences were said to contravene sections 12, 13, and 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. Third case In the third case, a 32-year-old Ms Umar of Faskari LGA, Katsina State, was charged with four counts of terrorism. She allegedly transported 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition to bandits in July and concealed information about Alhaji Sani, a suspected gun runner, bandit, and kidnapper. Her actions were said to contravene sections 6 and 13 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. Fourth case The fourth case charged Mr Manjo (who pleaded guilty to two counts on Wednesday) and 75-year-old Mr Tali, both of Mangu LGA, Plateau State, with four counts of buying and selling two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles without a licence for N3 million. They allegedly possessed firearms, purchased three long-range revolvers at N60,000 each from one Chomo to resell to bandits, and bought two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles at N300,000 from one Vom to sell at N400,000. Their alleged offences, the prosecution said, contravened Section 9 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 27 of the Firearms Act, 2024. Fifth case The prosecution filed the fifth case against Mr Antu, 62, of Jos North LGA, Plateau State, charged with five counts of unlawful possession of two locally fabricated pistols capable of discharging 9mm ammunition, contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act, punishable under Section 27. Sixth case In the sixth case, Silas Iduh Oloche of Agatu LGA, Benue State, was charged with six counts of unlawful possession of 18 firearms (grenades) without a licence. He was arrested on 2 August with 683 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act. Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has clarified his recent remarks on Arise TV describing Lagos as a no mans land. In an X post on Wednesday, Mr Bwala explained that his statement was taken out of context, as it was not about erasing the cultural identity of Lagos but about emphasising the citys unique cosmopolitan character, which distinguishes it from other states in Nigeria. He said that his point was to highlight Lagos role as a commercial hub that welcomes Nigerians from across the country. Culturally, historically, and constitutionally, Lagos belongs to the Yoruba people, and that has never been in contention. The unique identity of Lagos as a Yoruba homeland is settled and beyond dispute. Lagos provides every Nigerian, regardless of origin, a level playing field to thrive, and in this sense, it mirrors the diversity of our nation while remaining firmly rooted in Yoruba heritage, he stated. Comparing Lagos to New York, Paris, and London, Mr Bwala stressed that the state requires massive, continuous investments in infrastructure to meet the demands of its role as Nigerias economic heartbeat. My argument was, therefore, and justifiably so, for massive investments in infrastructure to sustain the economic and social responsibilities Lagos has shouldered on behalf of Nigeria. Any president who truly seeks to succeed must critically support Lagos, not because it is no mans land, but because it is the heartbeat of the nations development, he said. No Mans Land Mr Bwala appeared on Arise Televisions Daybreak programme to address criticisms surrounding the allocation of N2.9 trillion worth of federal projects to Lagos over two years. Critics of the President Tinubu-led administration had questioned why Lagos State had seemingly received a larger share of federal investments. In his bid to defend the federal governments stance, Mr Bwala said Lagos, which is the commercial nerve centre of the nation, and a no mans land, would naturally attract more investment. Let me tell you why Lagos State is different. Lagos State is a no-mans land. In the last election, the president who comes from the South-west did not win Lagos. That tells you the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos State. Almost every rich man that you know in Nigeria has business undertakings in Lagos. If not because, probably, the majority of the people are Yoruba speaking, you will wonder whether Lagos indeed is from the South-west, he said. The phrase, no mans land is often termed controversial as it depicts Lagos as not belonging to the Yoruba ethnic group or any ethnic group for that matter. In the past, the phrase has sparked heated debates, with some interpreting it as an erasure of Lagos indigenous Awori and Yoruba heritage, while others argue it reflects the citys openness to diverse communities. President Bola Tinubu declared on Tuesday that his administrations bold economic reforms, which aim to restore Nigeria to its enviable position, are achieving favourable results. The president said that the countrys economy is now stable and attracting interest from around the world. He stated this at the State House when he received His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Oladunni Olaoye, Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, in audience with some other royal fathers. President Tinubu said, Years of neglect and self-deception, fake records, smuggling, and all of that denied Nigeria the necessary revenue for progress and development. Then we were confronted again with arbitrage trading of currency, an illusion of selling papers, corruption all over the place, and the integrity of the country and its economy being extremely and adversely challenged. We had to take those actions. With your prayers, patience, perseverance and great understanding, Im glad to tell you today that the economy is stabilised. The bleeding has stopped. Haemorrhage is gone; the patient is alive. The president also said the establishment of NELFUND was to ensure that no student would drop out because of poverty. He affirmed that everybody has a right to education as it is the greatest weapon you can give to human beings against poverty; thats what we are doing. We have remained aggressive on our infrastructure. And its just two years. President Tinubu thanked the Soun of Ogbomoso for crediting his administration with the bold decisions taken immediately upon resumption of office. He noted that the people of Ogbomosoland were already feeling the modernisation and transformation introduced by the monarch, who promised to strengthen traditional institutions. The president promised to engage the Ministers of Power, Water Resources, Agriculture, and Works to look into the visiting monarchs requests, stating they can make Nigeria self-sufficient in agriculture. The Soun commended the president for his incredible strides, which only a bold leader could have recorded. Removing fuel subsidy has shown us that it is the right decision, and we can see the effects. He said the foreign exchange reforms and introduction of NELFUND have made it easier for many students to continue their schooling without considering dropping out. He also commended the president for awarding the contract for dualization of the Oyo-Ogbomosho Road, which had been abandoned for decades, pointing out that the road would spur economic activities as a significant gateway to the North. The paramount ruler, however, requested the presidents intervention in the water and power supply in Ogbomoso, the upgrading of the General Hospital in the town into a Federal Medical Centre, as well as the establishment of a research institute to enhance the development and transformation of the famous Ogbomoso mangoes and cashew nuts into a viable agricultural enterprise. Oba Olaoye thanked the president for appointing Ogbomoso sons to his administration, notably the Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, and the DG of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Debo Adedokun. On the entourage of the Soun of Ogbomosoland were five other Kings representing the five councils in Ogbomosoland, namely High Chief Samuel Otolorin, the Areago of Ogbomosoland; HRM, Oba Oyetunji Adeyeye, the Alajaawa of Ajaawa; HRM Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide, the Onisapa of Isapa; HRM Oba Babatunde Amao, the Aale Oke-elerin, and HRM Oba Prof. Akinola John Akintola, the Olokin-apa of Okin-apa. Others were Ogundare Rebecca, Iyalode of Ogbomosoland; Sola Adepoju, former DG Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria; Tunji Olaniyi, a businessman, and AbdulGaniyu Owodunni, the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomosoland. Also present was the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, a prominent son of the soil who doubles as the Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) September 3, 2025 The federal government has announced that the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will be taken fully via Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026, marking a historic overhaul of Nigerias secondary school assessment system. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa had, in April, directed the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO) to adopt full CBT for all their examinations by 2026. In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Mr Alausa confirmed the official transition of the WAEC-administered WASSCE. Today, I had the honour of announcing a historic milestone in our education sector the official transition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), he wrote. Mr Alausa noted that the adoption of computer-based examinations is a deliberate step to safeguard the credibility of certificates and empower Nigerian children with the skills needed for a knowledge-driven economy. He said the reform will strengthen the integrity of examinations, reduce malpractice, and ensure Nigerias assessment system meets global standards. For over 73 years, @waecnigeria has remained a dependable partner in advancing education across West Africa. With innovations such as the Digital Examiners Mark Sheet, WAEC Konnect, the e-Learning platform, and the Digital Certificate Platform, the council has consistently shown its commitment to technological progress, he said. He assured parents, teachers and students that the education ministry will work closely with schools to ensure that learners are adequately prepared for a smooth, successful and transformative transition. WAEC begins phased rollout Meanwhile, WAEC said on Tuesday a phased approach of implementing the CBT examination was already being implemented, starting with objective questions before expanding to theory and practical components, to allow schools and candidates to adapt. WAEC had begun conducting its private (November/December) WASSCE via CBT since last year. During a sensitisation session organised for members of the National Assembly Committee on Education on Tuesday, the lawmakers raised concerns about uneven access to technology, persistent infrastructural deficits, and low levels of digital literacy among students in rural communities, The Punch reported. However, the Head of WAEC National Office, Amos Dangut, assured the lawmakers that the new computer-based examination would be accessible to students in every part of the country, regardless of location or access to technology. He said the examination body is committed to equity, transparency and fairness, He noted that examination centres were being mapped out in every local government area to reduce travel burdens and costs on parents. Mr Dangut added that the CBT model would help combat malpractice, speed up result processing, and strengthen the credibility of the examination system. PLA guards of honor formation marches through Tian'anmen Square Xinhua) 12:18, September 03, 2025 Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation marched through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade, escorting flags of the Party, the nation and the PLA. Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) passes through Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) passes through Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Gang) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Stakeholders and local government leaders have renewed calls for stronger resource mobilisation to boost healthcare financing in Nigeria. They also urged the government to raise allocations to the sector, ensure accountability, and reduce the heavy out-of-pocket spending by citizens. The call was made on Wednesday during the ongoing National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja. The four-day forum, which began on 1 September and will run until 4 September, has brought together policymakers, experts, civil society, private sector players, and development partners to translate commitments into practical strategies for sustainable healthcare funding. Themed Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria, the dialogue is expected to generate commitments aimed at reducing out-of-pocket spending, improving accountability and strengthening domestic funding for the health sector. 25 per cent allocation to health Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairperson of Jalingo Local Government in Taraba State, Aminu Hassan, declared that councils are committed to prioritising healthcare, insisting that 25 per cent of local government budgets should be dedicated to health financing. Mr Hassan explained that effective financing would require stronger collaboration between councils, state primary healthcare agencies, and national insurance institutions. He warned that the health system will remain overburdened at state and federal levels if the grassroots level remains abandoned. We want to assure Nigerians that local governments are ready to put health as number one. 25 per cent of our budget should go into healthcare financing. If we get it right at the grassroots, it will reduce the burden on the states and the federal government, he said. Mr Hassan highlighted the need for capacity building, education, and sensitisation of local government leaders to ensure budget allocations for primary healthcare are properly implemented. He added that some states have already set up basket funds and other innovative financing arrangements that could serve as models. On health insurance, he cautioned that awareness remains low at the local level, with many leaders unclear on how the schemes work. Some of our chairmen do not even know the services insurance provides. That is why we are calling for awareness and capacity building, he said. He urged insurance agencies and primary healthcare bodies to engage communities more directly. Mr Hassan further noted that digitalisation could improve confidence and accountability in health financing, saying local governments would do the needful to ensure funds are made available for services at the grassroots. 35 per cent allocation In his remark, Samuel Gejere, a representative of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) said the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to councils marks a new phase in grassroots governance. Mr Gejere, the former Executive Chairman of Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, explained that ALGON is pushing for an increase in local government allocation from 20.6 per cent to 35 per cent of the federation account, with health, agriculture, and security as top priorities. According to him, more funds in the hands of local governments will enable direct investment in essential services. He emphasised that councils must begin shifting from empowerment projects that have little impact on public health to sustainable investments that improve healthcare delivery. The narrative must change. Instead of distributing motorcycles or grinding machines, we must channel funds to areas that save lives and improve livelihoods. ALGON is committed to ensuring accountability and transparency in the use of health funds, he said. Insurance challenges persist The Assistant Director General of the Katsina State Health Insurance Authority, Mohammed Safana, said insecurity, low enrolment, and poor funding remain major challenges to implementing health insurance in the state. Mr Safana noted that while awareness of health insurance has improved significantly in recent years, affordability remains a barrier, with many families still unable to enrol. He added that insecurity has also disrupted outreach efforts, as armed groups often prevent health workers from entering communities to register residents. Awareness grew from 2.5 per cent in 2019 to about 40 per cent in 2023, but people still cannot afford to join. In some places, bandits disrupted our enrolment drives and scared residents away, he explained. To improve accountability, he said Katsina introduced a funds flow mechanism that directs 50 per cent of capitation funds to medicines, 15 per cent to human resources, 15 per cent to laboratory supplies, 10 per cent to administration, and 10 per cent as reserve funds. He also called for stronger legal frameworks, community ownership of health centres, and compulsory participation of the private sector in insurance schemes to guarantee sustainability. Expanding National Health Financing In his remark, Ogbe Oritseweyimi, the Secretary of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) Ministerial Oversight Committee Secretariat, stressed the need to balance resource mobilisation with accountability. Mr Oritseweyimi explained that past reforms show that effective use of existing funds can improve outcomes, even before additional allocations are secured. He noted that while the law currently provides at least one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the BHCPF, the target should be raised to two per cent and eventually five per cent. The higher the National Assembly can help us out with, the better it is for Nigerians. Even a small increase can have a big impact on healthcare outcomes if the money is properly utilised, he said. He, however, stressed that contributions should not be left solely to the federal government. To build stronger ownership and accountability, he proposed that states and local governments also contribute their share at the point of federation allocation. This, he said, would ensure that subnational leaders know their money is included and take greater interest in how funds are managed. According to him, the BHCPF has already shown its potential, with facilities recording increased utilisation where funds have been properly channelled. He added that new guidelines now provide for local government representation on state committees, ensuring stronger grassroots participation in health financing. The Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Kelechi Ohiri, has disclosed that more than 90 per cent of Nigerians remain outside the health insurance system, despite a 2022 law mandating coverage for all citizens. Mr Ohiri made this known on Wednesday during his presentation on the Status of demand-side financing in Nigeria: challenges and opportunities in health insurance, at the ongoing National Health Financing Dialogue in Abuja. He said the NHIA Act of 2022 was designed to make insurance compulsory, but fewer than 20 million Nigerians, less than 10 per cent of the population are currently covered. We cannot continue to have a system where health shocks push families into poverty. Insurance is meant to be the cushion, but the pool remains too shallow, he said. He highlighted three main challenges including limited risk pooling, over-reliance on out-of-pocket payments, and inadequate protection for vulnerable groups. He stressed the need to strengthen demand-side financing by subsidising premiums for the poor and vulnerable, enforcing mandatory enrolment for the formal sector, and expanding innovative financing mechanisms such as earmarked levies. The dialogue, which runs ord to pay are identified and prioritised. This will help us ring-fence resources for them, he said. He explained that the NHIA is working to ensure no one slips through the cracks, while also reviewing benefit packages to include prosthetics, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation services. He also added that the NHIA is collaborating with the Ministry of Womens Affairs and development partners like UNFPA to provide rehabilitation and empowerment programmes. Pensioners were also highlighted as a forgotten group with panelists including the Executive Secretary of Ondo State Health Insurance Authority, Abiodun Oyeneyin, and Executive Secretary of Imo State Health Insurance Agency, Uchenna Ewelike, saying many retirees lose coverage when states stop paying their premiums, leaving them exposed at the point of greatest vulnerability. Accreditation and quality of care A recurring concern raised at the event is the quality of services offered under health insurance schemes and whether accredited facilities meet the standards required to inspire confidence among enrolees. Mr Ohiri noted that the cross-sectoral approach between ministries is essential for building trust in the system, stressing that accreditation is not merely about registering facilities but ensuring they deliver safe, reliable, and patient-centred care. However, Executive Secretary of Bayelsa State Health Insurance Agency, Agadah Zuoboemi, the Executive Secretary of Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, Afolabi Dosunmu and the Executive Secretary of Benue State Health Insurance Agency, Kenneth Korve said their agencies rely on regular quality assurance checks, mystery client visits, and 24-hour feedback systems to maintain standards between accreditation cycles. Yet, they admitted that weak oversight and limited resources continue to undermine trust in the system. Mr Oyeneyin, the Executive Secretary of Ondo State Health Insurance Authority, explained that the state now insists on periodic monitoring of facilities and direct engagement with professional associations to weed out unqualified providers. Mr Ewelike, Executive Secretary of Imo State Health Insurance Agency said political buy-in was key to enforcing quality. He recalled how the government only approved full insurance for pensioners after the agency demonstrated that substandard services were undermining public confidence. We had to convince the government that quality care is not just a health issue but also a political one. Families will only support and defend a programme that gives their parents dignity at the point of care, he said. Political will and enforcement as game changers When asked what could significantly raise health insurance coverage in their states, Mr Oyeneyin and Mr Ewelike both pointed to two missing ingredients: political will and enforcement. However, the Executive Secretary of Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, Adekunle Aladare, argued that in many states, over 80 per cent of the population are in the informal sector. Mr Aladare said a good number cannot pay 100 per cent of the premium. Government must provide partial subsidy and that can only come when there is political will, he said. Others called for a national enforcement strategy to make health insurance truly mandatory, beyond legislation. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his commitment to positioning the state at the forefront of Nigerias ambition to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030, with a focus on innovation, technology, and strategic partnerships. Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the GITEX Nigeria Tech Expo and Future Economy Conference 2025 in Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the state is central to Africas digital transformation and Nigerias economic growth plan. The governor noted that Lagos is home to 23 of Nigerias fastest-growing companies, as recognised by the Financial Times, attributing the feat to a vibrant innovation ecosystem supported by forward-looking policies, private sector investments, and a resilient startup culture. Were not just showcasing technology today; were forging partnerships and igniting innovation to propel Nigeria toward its $1 trillion economic target, Governor Sanwo-Olu said. The governors remarks align with President Bola Tinubus broader vision of building a $1 trillion national economy. The GITEX Expo, jointly organised by the Lagos State Government, KAOUN International, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the National Information Technology Development Agency, is one of the largest gatherings of global and local tech leaders. Companies participating include IBM, Meta, MTN, AWS, Cisco, and dozens of Nigerian startups. Lagos is not just a city; it is a movement, Governor Sanwo-Olu told participants, urging innovators and investors to seize opportunities that will place Nigeria and Africa firmly on the global digital map. He also praised the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for championing artificial intelligence infrastructure and inclusive digital solutions that are reshaping Nigerias technology landscape. In his remarks, Mr Tijani noted the urgency of strengthening digital infrastructure to meet Lagos rapid urban growth, noting that the city welcomes about 2,000 new residents daily. He announced that the government will, from 1 October, fund 75 new digital research projects to deepen collaboration among Nigerian researchers, entrepreneurs, and the diaspora. The minister stressed that stronger partnerships among startups, corporates, and government were critical to scaling innovation and building resilience in Nigerias digital economy. Pursuing set goals The Sanwo-Olu administration has in recent months unveiled several initiatives to align Lagos with its growth vision. In May, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, projected that Lagos population would reach 24 million by 2030, raising annual food demand to nearly N8 trillion. She said the state would need to boost local production by at least 20 percent annually to cut import dependence and achieve 40 percent self-sufficiency. In July, the government announced plans to launch the Lagos State Industrial Policy (LSIP 20252030), a roadmap aimed at revitalising the states industrial sector and attracting targeted investments. Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose, said the policy is designed to enhance global competitiveness of Lagos-based industries. She linked the initiative to two upcoming high-profile events the Lagos Investment Summit 2.0 and the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) which the state is hosting in collaboration with the United Nations System in Nigeria, Sterling Bank, Arise News, and the Office of SDGs. The Lagos Investment Summit 2.0, themed Scaling Action: Bold Solutions Towards Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, will spotlight opportunities in smart city solutions, green energy, fintech, civil infrastructure, and agribusiness. Mrs Ambrose added that ASIS will focus on structural reforms, ESG standards, and sustainable financing to drive equitable development. Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Oreoluwa Finnih, described the summits as aligned with the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP 2052), which sets out a long-term vision for making Lagos a globally competitive economy. The successful practices of China-Africa and China-Nigeria cooperation demonstrate that the GGI embodies strong vitality and broad prospects for development. Moving forward, China will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with African countries, especially our Nigerian friends, to actively advance the GGI, jointly address global challenges and work toward building a community with a shared future for mankind. On 1 September, President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus Meeting held in Tianjin, China. With its profound insight into the times, broad humanistic commitment and clear value orientation, this initiative aims to address a pressing subject, which has attracted high attention from the international community that is, what kind of global governance system to build and how to reform and improve global governance. It further contributes Chinese wisdom and proposes a Chinese approach to strengthening and improving global governance, in addition to injecting more stability and certainty into a turbulent world. Today, transformative changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world, while the lingering gloom of the Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism continues to cast a shadow. Humanity is confronted with unprecedented challenges as the world enters a new phase of turbulence and transformation, and global governance now stands at a critical juncture. The world is in greater need of strengthening global governance than ever before, and the GGI comes at an opportune time. Regarding it as the fundamental guideline to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and practicing the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, the GGI seeks to promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system and working together for a community with a shared future for humanity. To be more specific, the GGI embodies five core concepts: First, adherence to sovereign equality. All countries, regardless of size, strength or wealth, shall have the right to participate in, make decisions in and benefit from the global governance as equals. Second, abiding by the international rule of law. There shall be no double standards, and the self-defined rules of a few countries must not be imposed upon others. Third, practicing multilateralism.The irreplaceable and crucial role of the United Nations in global governance must be given full play. Fourth, advocating for a people-centred approach. It is essential to ensure that people of all nations jointly participate in global governance and share in its outcomes. Fifth, focusing on taking real actions. More tangible results should be delivered, and global governance should avoid lagging behind the times or becoming fragmented. The above five core concepts advocated by the GGI are closely aligned with the inherent needs of China-Africa and China-Nigeria cooperation. Africa, which includes 54 United Nations member states, is the continent with the largest concentration of developing countries. It is not only an important participant in global governance but also a major force driving global multipolarisation. Nigeria, as Africas most populous country and major economy, serves as a critical growth engine on the continent and an influential representative of the Global South. It is also a key strategic partner for China in Africa. It is fair to say that China-Africa and China-Nigeria cooperation not only enjoys a solid historical foundation but also corresponds to the practical needs of reforming the global governance system and transforming the global order. The year 2025 also marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the FOCAC. The FOCAC mechanism itself is a model of the vision of global governance, featuring extensive consultation and joint contributions for shared benefit. Guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith towards Africa, alongside the principles of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, China is committed to supporting Africa in advancing its integration and enhancing its capacity for self-driven development. This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, which represented a pioneering practice by the international community in initiating global governance. In 1971, African countries strongly supported the restoration of the lawful seat of the Peoples Republic of China in the United Nations, with Nigeria casting a sacred vote in favour of this. The moment marked the beginning of the joint participation of African nations and the Peoples Republic of China in global governance. In 1992, China worked closely with the Group of 77, in which African countries served as a major force, ultimately leading to the incorporation of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Since the 21st century, China has actively promoted solutions to address the under-representation of African countries in the United Nations, advocating that the Security Council reform must genuinely reflect international fairness and justice, prioritise correcting historical injustices faced by Africa, and support special arrangements to address Africas demands as a priority. In 2022, China took the lead in explicitly expressing support for the African Unions accession to the G20 and facilitated the formal admission of the African Union as a member of the G20 the following year. The Beijing Declaration issued at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024 emphasised that China supports African countries in playing a greater influential role in global governance, particularly within inclusive frameworks addressing global issues, and will continue to support Africa-related priorities in G20 affairs. China also appreciated and welcomed more African countries to the BRICS family. Shortly thereafter, Nigeria, with Chinas active support, became a BRICS partner country. China firmly supports Africas efforts to enhance its international standing and voice, fully demonstrating the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and profoundly illustrating Chinas role as a major country in promoting the improvement of global governance. The year 2025 also marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the FOCAC. The FOCAC mechanism itself is a model of the vision of global governance, featuring extensive consultation and joint contributions for shared benefit. Guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith towards Africa, alongside the principles of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, China is committed to supporting Africa in advancing its integration and enhancing its capacity for self-driven development. From the Ten Cooperation Plans and the Eight Major Initiatives to the Nine Programs and the recently launched Ten Partnership Actions for China-Africa Collaboration on Modernisation, a series of practical cooperation plans have focused on Africas priority areas such as infrastructure connectivity, healthcare, agricultural modernisation, and capacity building. This cooperation comes with no political strings attached, emphasises action-oriented approaches and aims to enhance the self-development capacity of African countries, representing a tangible contribution to building a more just and equitable global governance system. On 3 September, 2024, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid a state visit to China and attended the FOCAC Beijing Summit. The leaders of the two countries jointly announced the elevation of China-Nigeria relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and were committed to building a high-level China-Nigeria community with a shared future. Over the past year, China-Nigeria relations have achieved rapid growth across all sectors. We have more frequent high-level exchanges, deeper political and strategic trust, as well as increasingly substantial outcomes in practical cooperation. We have supported each other on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns, while maintaining sound communication and coordination in international and regional affairs under a results-oriented approach. We can proudly say that China and Nigeria are setting an exemplary model for South-South cooperation. China is willing to work with African countries, including Nigeria, under the framework of the GGI to promote reforms in the UN Security Council and the international financial system, to make the existing international system and international institutions better at taking actions and working effectively, to step up coordination among multilateral bodies, and to prioritise consensus-building in such areas as the international financial architecture In conclusion, Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed four major initiatives to date: the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI), and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). Together, these initiatives form the four pillars for building a community with a shared future for mankind. The GDI focuses on promoting international cooperation on development, the GSI on encouraging dialogue and consultation over international discord, the GCI on promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations, and the GGI on the direction, principle and path for reforming the global governance systems and institutions. The four initiatives have their respective priorities and can be pursued simultaneously. They will each be a source of positive energy for a changing and turbulent world and impetus for humanitys development and progress. China is willing to work with African countries, including Nigeria, under the framework of the GGI to promote reforms in the UN Security Council and the international financial system, to make the existing international system and international institutions better at taking actions and working effectively, to step up coordination among multilateral bodies, and to prioritise consensus-building in such areas as the international financial architecture, artificial intelligence, cyberspace, climate change, trade and outer space to bring about early harvests. the question is now germane: What is Governor Bala Mohammed up to? Is he genuine? Altruistic? A sellout? A thorn in Atikus flesh? A villain or hero? A believer in equitable distribution of power, or is he simply strategising to become a possible vice-presidential candidate for a southern candidate, while deferring but calculatingly building his own political empire for a future not too far off? In 2023, Governor Bala Mohammed was presumed to be nursing a presidential ambition. Though still in his first term as governor of Bauchi State, it was nearly inconceivable that a first-term governor would throw his hat in the ring unless he was 100 per cent certain. He couldnt have been, because Tinubu almost had the APC ticket secured, and Mohammed was no match for Atiku in the PDP. However, Mohammeds declaration that he would not run if his former principal, Goodluck Jonathan, was in the race, endeared him to many people who saw in him a rare quality of loyalty in a shark-infested political environment like ours, where ambition overrides loyalty and cutthroat competition for power trumps all. Fast forward to 2025, and his party, the PDP, is trying hard to recover from the intensive care unit it has been in since 2023, when Atiku emerged as the partys flag bearer an action that turned at least five governors against their party and deodorised internal rebellion, anti-party activities, and the absence of party discipline. This action exacerbated internal implosion, from which the party has yet to recover. At that time, Mohammed was a non-committal governor in PDPs warfare, seemingly sitting on the fence and consumed only with his own survival amid the APC onslaught, before he finally won his second-term election. Now that this obstacle is over, the PDP is repositioning and shopping for a sellable candidate. The Bauchi governor is at the forefront of calls for zoning the presidency to the South, and Jonathans name is being touted again. And Atiku? He is almost out of the PDP game plan, and Mohammeds true intention is gradually rearing its head though I wont say its an ugly head. that answer is about him his possible emergence as a vice-presidential candidate, despite his 2023 support for Atiku Abubakar and his role as chairman of the PDP governors forum. Yet, the governor assured that he had buried his presidential ambition to build a national consensus that would lead to the emergence of a Southern candidate. Well, if wishing to be a VP candidate is not ambition, I wonder what else is. Therefore, the question is now germane: What is Governor Bala Mohammed up to? Is he genuine? Altruistic? A sellout? A thorn in Atikus flesh? A villain or hero? A believer in equitable distribution of power, or is he simply strategising to become a possible vice-presidential candidate for a southern candidate, while deferring but calculatingly building his own political empire for a future not too far off? He could be all of these and more. His recent outbursts after the PDP meeting, where zoning to the South was prioritised, and particularly his Channels interview, bared it all. While putting down the APC, he described the party as engaging in shenanigans and therefore being beatable. Mohammed said Governor Seyi Makinde can match perfectly and that he is ready to give way, if necessary, for the sake of teamwork. He referred to Goodluck Jonathan as the most celebrated politician, despite being politically blackmailed into submission by the opposition. He paid glowing tribute to the ex-president and other men of integrity that the PDP is considering. Ever since Jonathan came up in the political discourse of the 2027 presidential election, there have been mixed opinions on whether he is legally qualified to run. Conceding that he is not a lawyer and might not be accurate in legal interpretation, Mohammed observed that the law cannot be applied retrospectively or retroactively to shut out the only man in the race with a better pedigree compared to others, even as he validated Peter Obi as a friend and brother who can be given an opportunity and a shot at the presidency through the PDP. He patted himself on the back as a mediator for his efforts at reconciling all the warring groups in the party. Bala Mohammed emphasised the need to navigate cautiously and intelligently and work toward changing the trajectory of leadership. The Bauchi state governor, serving his second term, observed the propriety of consensus, taking into consideration our diversity, in negotiating who becomes the president of the country, adding that the partys mission is more important than personal ambitions. Thus, the governor seems to be working toward a predetermined answer. whether Mohammeds advocacy for a Southern candidate is based on altruistic reasons, equity and fairness, or whether he is angling to be VP, his sudden change of strategy which some call capitulation is indeed confounding and suggestive of more unfolding drama to come. And that answer is about him his possible emergence as a vice-presidential candidate, despite his 2023 support for Atiku Abubakar and his role as chairman of the PDP governors forum. Yet, the governor assured that he had buried his presidential ambition to build a national consensus that would lead to the emergence of a Southern candidate. Well, if wishing to be a VP candidate is not ambition, I wonder what else is. The implications of the governors stance, at least in the referenced interview, are nuanced and diverse. This is not about the Norths anger and discontent or betrayal. Notwithstanding the disenchantment with the policies of the Tinubu administration, the North cannot even speak with one voice to produce a consensus candidate it can push. Already, the ADC is gaining ground and the PDP seems to be rising again, so Northern votes will be shared among PDP, ADC, and ANPP, giving Tinubu a solid advantage in the APC in addition to his incumbency factor. Going into a race divided is a recipe for defeat. The emergence of ADC under Atikus radar after dumping the PDP, Wikes grip as shown in the Rivers local government election last weekend, and ADCs inability to snowball into the tsunami it was projected to be could prove Bala Mohammeds prediction of PDP as a panacea right if well managed in coalition with ADC. If his calculation goes awry and PDP and ADC work at cross purposes, the North, Bala Mohammed, and the remnants of PDP opposed to Tinubu will perish together. Therefore, whether Mohammeds advocacy for a Southern candidate is based on altruistic reasons, equity and fairness, or whether he is angling to be VP, his sudden change of strategy which some call capitulation is indeed confounding and suggestive of more unfolding drama to come. Zainab Suleiman Okino (FNGE) chairs the Blueprint Editorial Board. She is a syndicated columnist and can be reached via [email protected] History may well record that in the bilateral at the Presidential palace, the conference halls of the business forum, and over lunch at Itamaraty Palace, a new chapter began one of shared prosperity, mutual respect, and partnership between Nigeria and Brazil. When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu walked side by side with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia last week, it was more than the choreography of diplomacy. It was the meeting of two nations whose histories are intertwined and whose futures beckon toward shared prosperity. Nigeria and Brazil are not strangers. Both are continental giants, blessed with human capital, natural resources, and the weight of history. Decades ago, our economies stood on almost the same starting line. Today, Brazil is an agricultural and industrial powerhouse, while Nigeria is at the cusp of rewriting its trajectory under a reform-driven leadership. I was also privileged to attend the NigeriaBrazil Business Forum, where entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from both countries met with candour and focus. The conversations were not vague expressions of goodwill; they were practical discussions about projects, technology, and investment opportunities. It was clear to me that Brazil sees Nigeria as a strategic partner in energy, aviation, agriculture, and trade. Earlier, at the state luncheon hosted by President Lula at the grand Itamaraty Palace, the symbolism was profound. The setting was elegant, the hospitality warm, and the camaraderie between both presidents very obvious, but what stood out was the genuine respect between hosts and guests. It was a reminder that partnerships are not only built on agreements, but also on trust and friendship. This visit was not ceremonial. It produced tangible steps forward. Petrobras signalled readiness to return to Nigerias energy sector. Embraer announced plans for a service centre in Nigeria, strengthening our aviation industry and lowering operational costs. Air Peace and Caverton Air are preparing to launch direct passenger and cargo flights between Lagos and Sao Paulo, opening a vital corridor for trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties. Partnerships in agro-processing, Science and Technology, fertiliser production amongst others are getting the needed push. Each of these commitments carries weight. They will create jobs, expand markets, and link our economies in ways that go beyond talk. Beyond trade, this visit represents something larger. It represents a rebalancing of global relations. For too long, Africa has been spoken of, rather than spoken with. Nigerias engagement with Brazil is part of a broader effort to ensure that the Global South speaks for itself, builds bridges within itself, and takes its rightful place at the global table. The baton now passes to the private sector. Government has opened the doors; it is up to us to walk through them. Nigerian firms must seize the chance to collaborate with Brazilian counterparts in agribusiness, logistics, energy, and technology. At Matrix, we are already exploring avenues to deepen our footprint from oil and gas to energy, fertiliser production and agriculture through these emerging opportunities. Beyond trade, this visit represents something larger. It represents a rebalancing of global relations. For too long, Africa has been spoken of, rather than spoken with. Nigerias engagement with Brazil is part of a broader effort to ensure that the Global South speaks for itself, builds bridges within itself, and takes its rightful place at the global table. President Tinubus reforms at home through currency unification, subsidy removal, and fiscal discipline are tough but necessary. Abroad, his diplomatic engagements are signalling that Nigeria is serious, competitive, and open for business. For those of us who sat in the rooms in Brasilia, the message was unmistakable: this is a new Nigeria, ready to lead and ready to learn. The visit should not be seen as just another stop in the presidential calendar. It should be remembered as the moment Nigeria declared itself a partner of equals in a changing world. If Brazil could move from food insecurity to global leadership in agriculture and energy within a generation, so too can Nigeria. History may well record that in the bilateral at the Presidential palace, the conference halls of the business forum, and over lunch at Itamaraty Palace, a new chapter began one of shared prosperity, mutual respect, and partnership between Nigeria and Brazil. Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu is the founder and chief executive officer of Matrix Energy, a leading Nigerian energy and trading company with business interests spanning oil and gas, shipping, fertiliser production, agriculture, and mining. Standing as number one best workplace in Banking in Nigeria and recognised as Africas most agile company, Sterling Bank Limited celebrated the first anniversary of SeaBaas, the revolutionary core banking system designed and built in Africa. In just twelve months since its go-live, SeaBaas has processed over two billion transactions, reduced processing times by about 60%, and driven a 66% surge in customer adoption, setting new benchmarks for scale, efficiency, and reliability in financial technology. Since its launch, the platform has powered Sterlings digital ecosystem, OneBank, SterlingPro, Switch, Specta, and more, while enabling fintech integrations, agent banking networks, and third-party solutions. With zero downtime across 365 days of service, SeaBaas has proven its resilience as one of the most dependable financial platforms on the continent. SeaBaas, to us, represents a proof of possibility said Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive, Sterling Bank. It shows that Africa can build world-class technology, solve complex problems locally, and scale globally. This milestone is a collective victory for every Sterling colleague, our partners, and our customers who believed in the vision. Designed by Sterling Bank and developed in collaboration with Peerless Software, KPMG, Bazara Technologies, Revent Technologies, and AppQuest Solutions, alongside Sterlings in-house engineering talent, SeaBaas has become a model of courage, ingenuity, and execution excellence in Nigeria. Beyond technology, it has unlocked significant cost savings, freed resources for reinvestment, and accelerated financial inclusion across Nigerias economy. Looking forward, Sterling intends to build on this momentum by expanding SeaBaas capabilities to tackle bold challenges, reimagine financial systems, and showcase the potential of African innovation on a global stage. SeaBaas reminds us that when we dare to dream boldly and build courageously, there is no limit to what we can achieve in Africa, Mr Suleiman stressed, adding, This is only the beginning. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered immediate security reinforcement for Katsina State following a high-level meeting with Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda and a powerful delegation seeking urgent federal intervention over increasing insecurity in the State.. The President directed all security agencies to review their strategies and deploy additional air drones while authorizing troop redeployment between Katsina and other boundary areas to tackle banditry head-on. Today, I have directed all the security agencies to energize further, to look at the strategy again. Additional deployment of air drones, and if they have to shift movement in between Katsina and other boundary areas, they should do so. And they are going to give me a feedback by tomorrow, President Tinubu declared during the crucial meeting. The President acknowledged the severity of the security challenges facing the country, stating: What is happening in the country, the security challenges that we have is insurmountable. Yes, we have a very poor border. We inherited the weaknesses which will have been conquered and buried earlier on. But it is a challenge that we have got to face, and we are facing it. President Tinubu assured the delegation that ground troops would intensify operations to eliminate criminal elements, promising: So the ground troops are there. We will still smoke them out. The President also revealed plans for establishing state police as part of a holistic approach to security challenges. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, our places of recreation. They cant intimidate us, he stressed. Speaking earlier, Governor Radda expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his open-door policy and unwavering support to Katsina State, noting that every request presented to the President had consistently received approval. Mr. President has truly shown himself as a son of Katsina. We remain grateful for the continued concern over our security challenges, the Governor said. In his opening remarks, the Emir of Katsina, represented by the Waziri of Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, urged the President to order greater synergy among security agencies and establish a military battalion alongside a mobile police squadron in southern Katsina. He revealed that Katsina State Government had invested over N40 billion in security logistics and support for federal agencies despite limited resources, appealing for federal restitution and victim support. The high-powered delegation included Deputy Governor Katsina State, Faruq Lawal Jobe; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Nasir Yahaya Daura; former Governor Aminu Bello Masari; the three serving Senators from Katsina State; Members of the House of Representatives representing the state. Also in the delegation were Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, Minister of Works and Housing, and Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy. Others are Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Jabiru Salisu Tsauri, the National Coordinator AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria; Members of the Katsina State Executive Council; Emir of Daura, Umar Faruq Umar; Yakubu Musa (Sautus Sunnah); Tukur Jikamshi former Deputy Governor of Katsina State Malam Gambo, the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque Katsina and business tycoon, Dahiru Barau Mangal also present at the meeting. As construction work continues on the Abeokuta-Ifo-Sango-Ota-Lagos expressway, motorists and commuters have expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work done so far on the ever-busy road. It will be recalled that the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on the 23rd of August last year, flagged off the reconstruction of the expressway with an 18-month completion timeline. Five gangs are working simultaneously at Olomore, Midgad/Metroxide, Papanlanto Junction, Owode, and the Toll Gate axis, where earthwork, stone base, and drainage have been completed while asphalt is being laid. The failed portions at Brewery, Obada, and Itori Junction up to Lafarge Cement Factory, Ewekoro have been repaired and opened for motorists. The Olu of Itori, Oba Abdul Fatai Akorede Akamo, while fielding questions from newsmen, noted that the road had been in deplorable condition for a long time due to abandonment by both the federal and previous state governments. He said: This road has been abandoned for so many years, and I thank God that Governor Dapo Abiodun took the bull by the horns and committed to doing the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road. Though it is a federal road, Governor Abiodun said he would complete the road, and he has started it. Our governor is a man of his word, and his word is his bond. I have never witnessed such a governor in the state since my enthronement who says something and achieves it. We will tell our stories by ourselves; the giant stride of the governor on this road is still unbelievable. Governor Dapo Abiodun is a man of the people; he feels the peoples pain, and the governor is doing fine because he has someone at his back. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been our governors pillar of support. What he met on the ground when he became the governor was so sad, but today, we thank God that God has revealed Himself, the royal father added. A transporter, Opeyemi Akindele, who plies the Abeokuta-Papalanto route, commended the contractor handling the project for a job well done, adding that with the construction, the rate of accidents has reduced, while traffic bottlenecks are now a thing of the past. Mr Akindele said: What I can say about this road is that we drove one-way because the road was in terrible condition before now. Some portions of this road used to be like swimming pools, but the current government of Governor Dapo Abiodun has done very well by fixing this road. There have been some governors before Governor Abiodun who did not do anything on this road, but Governor Abiodun is working on it now. We cant say he is not doing anything; he is doing very well with this road. The movement of vehicles along this axis is now very smooth compared to before. In the past, we used to have constant breakdowns of our vehicles because of the state of the road, he added. He, however, called for the provision of a trailer park between Papalanto Junction and Lafarge Cement Plant so that articulated vehicles would not block the road. Also speaking on the current state of the road, a resident of Papalanto, Ololade Anjolaoluwa, said: The road was very bad before now; the traffic around here was huge in the past, but now, we thank God that the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun has come to our aid. Another resident, Akande Michael, appreciated the current state of the road, calling on the contractor to redouble their efforts and deliver the job on time. There are a lot of changes on this road, even though work is still ongoing. I can testify that accidents have ceased to happen on this road because the Ogun State Government commenced reconstruction. We are very happy and appreciate the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration. From Itori to Papalanto, they are doing a fantastic job there, and I commend them, he added. In a significant move set to transform Africas healthcare landscape, a delegation from Nigerias leading pharmaceutical manufacturer, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has announced a deepened strategic alliance with Japanese firm, Ohara Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. The announcement, made during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) a premier platform fostering stronger ties between Japan and Africa countries, signals a new and promising chapter in the collaboration. Led by the Managing Director and CEO, Mr Abiola Adebayo, the delegation which also included Fidsons Finance Director, Imokha Ayebae and Business Development and Marketing Director, Oshoke Ayebae disclosed that the expanded partnership will see Ohara supporting Fidsons capital raise and providing advice based on insights from the Japanese pharmaceutical industry that will expand the capabilities of Fidson to produce more specialized medicines for the management of diverse disease conditions. This move reflects a strong vote of confidence in the Nigerian pharmaceutical giantand underscores both companies long-term commitment to advancing healthcare across Africa. Addressing journalists during the expo, Mr Adebayo expressed his satisfaction with the companys participation in the event stating that it marks a significant milestone in the history of the Fidson-Ohara relationship: Putting this strategic alliance on a world stage like TICAD emphasizes the fact that the Fidson-Ohara collaboration has come to stay, he said. The foundation of the Fidson-Ohara partnership was first laid in July 2019, following Fidsons rights issue. The core of this collaboration was the transfer of expertise, and innovation from Ohara, a company specializing in medicines for various critical therapeutic areas, particularly pediatric oncology and generic medicines. The partnership agreement was a direct response to Nigerias over-reliance on imported medicines. Mr. Adebayo stated: By leveraging Oharas technical know-how and experience, the partnership has strengthened local production capacity, improved the quality and affordability of medicines, and ultimately reduced the countrys dependence on foreign supplies. This deeper strategic commitment by Ohara is expected to accelerate the transfer of more advanced manufacturing processes and research capabilities, enabling Fidson to produce a wider range of high-quality, locally made medicines, including specialized drugs. The enhanced capacity, combined with access to Oharas portfolio of innovative drugs, will position Fidson to better meet the growing demand for essential and life-saving medicines in Africa. The intention by Ohara to deepen commitment in Fidson is a very welcome idea that will remarkably scale up Fidsons operations. It will enable Fidson to expand capabilities into areas that are highly critical to Africas healthcare needs like API production, and other breakthrough innovations pioneered by Ohara, Mr Adebayo stated. The announcement at TICAD9 underscores the unwavering commitment of both companies to this strategic partnership. For Ohara, it provides significant expansion across the dynamic African market, while for Fidson, it reinforces its position as leader in Nigerias pharmaceutical industry, and a force to reckon with In Africa. In his statement, the President and CEO of Ohara Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Dr Seiji Ohara said; Since the beginning of our collaboration, Ohara and Fidson have built a sincere and trusting relationship through numerous meetings and visits. We at Ohara are delighted to have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding based on this trust, allowing us to explore ways to further strengthen our relationship with Fidson. Going forward, we hope to contribute to the realization of two key values the growth of Fidsons business and the mission of saving more lives by maintaining our excellent partnership and connecting them with the latest innovations and technologies. The collaboration serves as a powerful model for how international partnerships can drive structural transformation in Africas healthcare sector, moving it from a consumption-based model to a production-driven one. Veterans' salute at military parade touches hearts across social media (People's Daily App) 17:26, September 03, 2025 China held a military parade in Beijing's Tian'anmen Square on Wednesday 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. As the formations marched past Tian'anmen Square, veterans who fought in the 14-year war stood on the Tian'anmen Rostrum and raised their hands in salute. The scene deeply moved many online. One netizen wrote, "This is the homeland you defended with your blood! We salute you." (By Du Shangze) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Zhong Wenxing) Kwara State is set to take centre stage in Nigerias shea industry as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq prepares to inaugurate a 50-tonne shea butter processing factory in Kaiama, the second largest in the country and the biggest owned by a state government. This development comes on the heels of President Bola Tinubus recent ban on the exportation of raw shea butter, a move designed to boost local production, encourage value addition, and retain wealth within producing communities. Governor AbdulRazaq welcomed the presidential directive, describing it as a timely policy that will strengthen the local value chain, improve product quality, and create thousands of jobs across the shea industry. The presidential directive will spur local production and value addition. Locating the factory within Kaiama puts the people at the centre of Shea production and ensures local ownership of benefits such as job creation, reduced post-harvest losses, and value retention in the community, the governor said in a statement on Tuesday. The factory, a flagship project of the AbdulRazaq administration, is designed to stimulate economic activities in Kwara North, where women farmers and pickers dominate shea nut collection. By integrating raw material sourcing, processing, and market access, the project is expected to serve as a model of backwards and forward integration. Kwara and Niger States are the heartlands of shea nut trees in Nigeria, with Kwara North alone credited with over 250,000 naturally occurring trees spread across 6,000 hectares of land. President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the armed forces will deploy more advanced military hardware and surveillance gadgets in Katsina State to halt the recent spate of attacks on innocent citizens by bandits. The President, who received a delegation of eminent citizens of the state led by Governor Dikko Radda at the State House, said the federal government will consider the operations of a state police, and further equip recently deployed forest guards. President Tinubu, who decried the politicisation of proposed state police, said the exigencies of security in some states will require the deployment of outfits that understand the terrain and the peculiar culture of the people and can easily network at the grassroots. The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it. I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones, he added. The President also directed daily feedback on the operations in Katsina. I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create a state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, people, livelihood, places of worship, and recreational spaces. They cant intimidate us, the president added. The president assured the eminent leaders that former President Muhammadu Buhari would be immortalised to capture his legacy for posterity. The time we lost our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us. It is the will of God Almighty, but he has left in a good way. He didnt hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, which is the most important thing. We just have to continue praying that Almighty Allah should grant him Aljannah Firdausi and give the rest of us the ability to stand very strong and push Nigeria forward. Not to look back in sorrow but move forward with success. It would have been regretful if we had lost the elections to the other parties. There are no other wishes he would have had than to have Katsina State and the Presidency intact, the president noted. The Governor of Katsina State thanked the President for his continual support for the state, which includes the appointment of indigenes into strategic positions in the state and the provision of infrastructure. Mr President, I would like to thank you very much, and I want to say before our elders that I never came to the President with a request that he rejected. We thank you, Mr President, for sharing with Katsina. You are a true son of Katsina State. I recall that Katsina was the first state you visited and spent a night in. We thank you for the privilege. We are here again, Mr President, I know that you are aware of the problem affecting our state, he said. Mr Radda said the state needs more support in security, youth empowerment, and infrastructure. The former Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, thanked the President for honouring the late President Muhammadu with a true state funeral. READ ALSO: Tinubu celebrates VP Shettima at 59 Mr Masari assured the President of the loyalty of the state. The Waziri of Katsina, Ibrahim Ida, commended President Tinubu`s efforts to ensure the timely completion of the Kano-Maradi Rail project and other infrastructures in the state. Mr Ida said the Umaru Musa YarAdua International Airport needed an upgrade to optimise its usage. He said the state would need more security attention from the federal government, particularly in the Southern part of Katsina. The Waziri of Kastina also thanked the President for honouring the former President with a state burial. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) September 2, 2025 The police in Anambra State say they have rescued a man who attempted suicide by climbing an electricity mast in Awada, an urban community in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state. The incident happened on Tuesday evening. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. The attempted suicide A video clip showing the man climbing the mast has been circulating on Facebook. In the clip seen by PREMIUM TIMES, some residents were heard expressing outrage over the incident. Jesus! Jesus!! Hes still climbing, a female voice is heard saying in the Igbo language in the background of the video. Does he want to commit suicide? another female voice is heard asking in the Igbo language. One woman suggested he must be under the influence of hard drugs. Police to the rescue In the Wednesday statement, Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said police operatives later successfully rescued the man. Upon receiving the distress information, the operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene, cordoned off the area to prevent danger, and controlled the large crowd that had gathered. After several minutes of persuasion by the police and some concerned members of the public, the man eventually climbed down safely, the spokesperson said. He was immediately taken into protective custody at the station, where he identified himself as Mr Okwudili David Onyiba, 28 years. Mr Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, has directed that the man should undergo proper medical and mental health evaluation. Mr Orutugu assured that the police in the state would provide the necessary support to ensure the mans well-being. READ ALSO: Anambra govt bans writing of assignments in textbooks The commissioner advised Nigerians to always seek lawful and peaceful solutions to personal challenges and to reach out to family, friends, or relevant support groups in times of distress. Further developments will be communicated accordingly, the police chief assured. Not the first time This is not the first time a Nigerian man has climbed an electricity mast in the country in an attempted suicide. In July 2024, police in the FCT arrested Shuaibu Yushau, who allegedly attempted suicide by climbing a radio mast to protest the harsh economic conditions in the country. In September 2018, a 28-year-old man, Nurudeen Liyasu, also climbed a telecommunication mast in Abuja to protest the poor economy in the country. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former official of the Abia State Government, Christopher Enweremadu and a resident of Abia, Fortune Ozoemela wanted over allegations of criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds, stealing, and money laundering. The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a public notice posted on the commission website on Wednesday. Mr Enweremadu served as commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters under former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Mr Oyewale listed Mr Enweremadus last known address as the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Umuahia, Abia State. He also stated that Mr Ozoemela, 40, is an indigene of Abia State and that his last known address is 122 Ozoemilas compound, Amakama Olokoro, Umuahia, Abia State. He urged anyone with useful information about their locations to report to any of its zonal offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the EFCCs fresh wanted notice did not give details of the transactions tied directly to Mr Enweremadu. READ ALSO: EFCC arrests 12 suspected illegal Bureau de Change operators in Lagos Mr Enweremadu is linked to an investigation into the management of funds allocated to Abias 17 local government councils. In December 2024, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja ordered a probe into allocations to the Abia local government councils between 2019 and 2023, and directed the EFCC to submit its findings. The court also ordered the seizure of international passports belonging to Mr Enweremadu, Erondu Uchenna Erondu (a former aide to then-Governor Ikpeazu), and Joy Nwanju, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. The courts decision followed an ex parte application filed by an activist, who alleged that billions of naira meant for Abias local government council were diverted under the supervision of the officials. Over 40 students of three tertiary institutions in Anambra State have been trained on the core aspects of journalism, including investigative reporting and fact-checking. The three-day training was part of the Next Gen/Campus Reporter project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), with support from the Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria. The training, which took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) campus between 27 and 29 August, was attended by campus journalists and Mass Communication students from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, and the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. With a focus on ethical reporting, fact-checking, and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern journalism, the training provided opportunities for the young writers to gain practical knowledge from mainstream media practitioners and develop their skills for a career in journalism. Other key areas of journalism covered during the training programme included basics and elements of feature reporting, data analysis and visualisation techniques, political literacy, safety tips for campus journalists, and gender-sensitive and inclusive reporting. During his class on ethics, the Managing Editor of Premium Times, Idris Akinbajo, described ethics as the moral principles that guide practitioners in knowing what is right and wrong. He highlighted accuracy, truthfulness, objectivity, and fairness as some global ethical standards of journalism. He also introduced participants to news values such as timeliness, impact, proximity, and oddity and stressed the importance of tailoring stories for different audiences by localising, nationalising, or globalising news. Every journalist must understand how to make news relevant. To reach people effectively, sometimes you have to bring a global story home, and other times you have to show how a local story connects to the wider world, he said. On her part, the Deputy Director of the Journalism Programme at CJID, Busola Ajibola, led a session on gender-sensitive reporting and inclusive storytelling. She emphasised the need for journalists to represent diverse voices in their works and avoid reinforcing stereotypes, especially when covering stories involving women and marginalised groups. A data report from Dataphyte showed that womens and childrens opinions are poorly represented and underreported. We have to change the narrative by employing inclusive reporting and avoiding stereotyping, Mrs Ajibola stated. During the session on Leveraging AI to Enhance Journalism in Nigeria, she encouraged the students to utilise the numerous AI tools available to their advantage, while also urging them to verify the information provided by Artificial Intelligence, as it can be biased. Journalists are already using AI in the media space, and there is no going back, Mrs Ajibola said. But in its usage, always try to maintain human oversight and ensure accuracy at all times in your report. The Deputy Director of the Accountability Programme at CJID, Mboho Eno, took the session on youth participation in politics, elections, and governance. Lois Ugbede of Dubawa took the trainees on fact-checking. She emphasised accuracy, transparency, accountability, and fairness as the cornerstones of verification. Other facilitators who trained the students were Amina Miango, a project manager at CJID, and Adijat Kareem, a lawyer. To test their hands-on practical skills, the students were put into four groups, likened to newsrooms, and were asked to write a news report at the end of the training. Mr Akinbajo and Mrs Ajibola reviewed each report and provided the necessary corrections. They said they were impressed with the overall quality of the reports. At the end of the workshop, participants described the training as impactful and timely, particularly ahead of the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, where ethical and fact-based reporting will be critical. One of the participants, Abigail Mbah, said the training significantly improved her understanding of data journalism and news writing. Now I can write news in both local and global formats. I look forward to putting my new knowledge to use, she said. Another trainee, Nnamdi Igwe, said that despite spending four years studying Mass Communication at the university, he had never experienced such an intensive and impactful training. I never knew how to write news and feature reports throughout my time as an undergraduate in Mass Communication, but CJID has given me this opportunity. I will put everything Ive learned into practice, Mr Igwe said. Commending CJID for the capacity-building training, Allen Adum, a professor and head of the Department of Mass Communication at UNIZIK, expressed appreciation for the initiative, highlighting its importance in enhancing the skills and knowledge of students and young journalists. The Campus Reporter project, launched in 2017 by CJID, is designed to build the capacity of young journalists across Nigerian universities and polytechnics. The project has trained hundreds of students on ethics, accountability reporting, fact-checking, and investigative journalism. Many alumni have since progressed into mainstream media, contributing to a culture of truth and accountability in the countrys democracy. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has banned sign-out celebrations for final-year students, citing unruly behaviour, chaos, and safety risks as reasons for the ban. A memo signed by the universitys registrar, Chinenye Okeke, on 19 August, explained that the once-celebrated tradition had increasingly been marred by noise pollution, unruly behaviour, and physical altercations. The sign-out ceremony, popular in many Nigerian universities, typically involves students wearing white shirts autographed by peers in a carnival-like atmosphere. What began as a symbolic farewell, the management noted, has now turned into a public nuisance that threatens campus order. In another memo released on 26 August, UNIZIKs Director of Information and Public Relations, Louis Njelita, warned that students who flout the rules could face expulsion. He stated that the event had grown beyond control, attracting large crowds, disrupting academic schedules, and prompting the deployment of security personnel across the university to enforce the ban. In reactions to this development, students remain divided. Abigail Mbah, a final-year student, admitted she was torn between excitement and caution. It should be a joyous moment for us, but at the same time, I understand the schools reasons, which makes me neutral in my opinion. Another student, Chinaza Osigwe of the Mass Communication department, argued that while the ban was meant to protect students, it also hurt both students and small business owners on campus. Small businesses such as those who sell customised shirts, markers, food, drinks, as well as photographers, DJs, and event planners usually make good money during this celebration, she explained. UNIZIKs decision mirrors a wider trend in Nigerian higher institutions. At Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, the management issued its memo on 29 July, signed by the Dean of Student Affairs, Chike Achebe. The directive prohibited final-year students from wearing white shirts for autograph signing and driving vehicles around campus. According to the memo, the move was to uphold the dignity and reputation of the university. Reacting to the development, Kamsi Sonia, a student of COOU, described the sign-out ceremony as a cherished milestone in the lives of graduating students despite its excesses. It has not been easy for some people. Many saw shege in university, so celebrating it is worth it. But the truth is that many are overdoing it, she said. For some students, the ban strips away a defining memory. For others, they represent a necessary step toward restoring order on campuses. The debate now is whether universities will introduce alternative ways to mark the end of studies without chaos and unruly behaviour. This story was jointly written by Nnamdi David, Amarachukwu Callistus, Jennifer Okoye, Peace Chukwuzor, Nwachukwu Ozioma and Chigozie Amblessed. Others are Chigozie Chukwuleta, Amaka madu and Akukwe kamsi, under CJIDs Next-Gen Campus Clinic Project. Enrico Tosti-Croce, 77, grew up hearing the story of how his father, a member of the Italian Navy, visited the Acropolis in Greece in the 1930s and brought back a piece of the Parthenon he found lying on the ground. The unique marble piece, carved with lotus flowers, accompanied the chief engineer of the submarine Generale Liuzzi on his various voyages and was part of the belongings he packed when he emigrated to Chile in the early 1950s to set up a mechanical engineering business, far from turbulent Europe. His wife and first two children arrived shortly afterward and the family settled in the coastal city of Vina del Mar, where the piece of the main temple of ancient Athens rested on a shelf in the dining room as just another ornament. Earlier this year, Tosti-Croce, an electrical engineer, heard on the radio that Greece was demanding the stolen sculptures of the Parthenon from the United Kingdom. At his home in Villarrica, in the south of Chile, he thought: Wow, I have a little piece of the Parthenon. I think its time to give it back, he told EL PAIS by phone. When Tosti-Croces parents died a few months apart in 1994, Enrico and his two brothers divided up their belongings. The engineer kept, among other things, the carved stone. He placed it on a coat rack at the entrance to his house, which has a small stand. So, when visitors entered the home, he would take the opportunity to tell them about the relics special value. Some believed me, others didnt, he says with a laugh. Piece from the Hecatompedon temple. Enrico Tosti-Croce (CORTESIA) On January 6, Theodosios Theos, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Greek Embassy in Chile, received an email from a man claiming to have a piece of the Parthenon. To investigate further, he requested a photograph, measurements, and weight. Tosti-Croce complied: 8.2 by 11.4 centimeters and 1.2 kilos. He attached the images. The embassy acted as a liaison with the Greek Ministry of Culture, which expressed interest but required an in-person examination. So Tosti-Croce, who had a visit to Santiago scheduled for the end of March, placed the antiquity in a cloth bag, tucked it into his clothes, and transported it to the Chilean capital in a carry-on suitcase. The engineer asked Theos to please let him know which part of the Parthenon the stone was from to close the cycle. Months later, Olympia Vikatou, director of the Greek Archaeological Service, sent Tosti-Croce a letter thanking him for his generous gesture, including details he had never heard of about the piece: It is part of the marble gutter of an archaic temple, probably the Hekatompedon, the first monumental temple on the Acropolis, founded in the first half of the 6th century BC, during the time of Pisistratus. The gutter was made of marble quarried from the majestic hills of Mount Hymettus, south of Athens, and was decorated with alternating oval palmettes and lotus flowers. It comes from the sacred rock of the Acropolis, a unique monumental symbol that has suffered greatly from systematic looting over time, lamented Vikatou, who noted in the letter to Tosti-Croce her hope that others would follow his example. Archaeologists concluded that it wasnt from the Parthenon, which dates from the 5th century BC, the Classical period, but even older, from the Hekatompedon, in the 6th century BC, the Archaic period, Theos told EL PAIS. That temple was destroyed by the Persians. Some of its fragments are in the Acropolis Museum in Athens, he added. Gaetano Tosti-Croce, in an undated image. Enrico Tosti-Croce (CORTESIA) The Greek Embassy is preparing a gesture of gratitude for Tosti-Croce on November 4, during a previously arranged piano concert at the Carabineros Theater, where a tribute to Greek artists will be paid. The engineer cant believe the reception his initiative has received in the press and within the Greek community. His brothers joke that he became famous overnight at the age of 77. This is very important to us, says Theos, because it can be an example of honor and courage for other citizens in Chile or abroad to do the same. In fact, he notes that a Chilean sent them images of two pieces a few years ago, but they later lost track of him. We are looking for them, says the representative of the Greek embassy. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition HONG KONG, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AEON, the next generation crypto payment framework, has officially introduced its new Scan-to-Pay feature in Brazil via its Web3 mobile payment solution AEON Pay. Brazilian users can now simply scan merchants' PIX QR codes and complete purchases with their crypto assets, and AEON automatically settles the payment to merchants in Brazilian Real (BRL) via PIX, the nation's instant payment network. This integration allows Brazilian users to shop and pay at any merchant that supports PIX QR codes. At checkout, they can select their preferred crypto and wallet, whether through direct crypto transfer, AEON wallet balance, or popular payment options like Binance Wallet, Bitget Wallet, KuCoin Pay, or Bybit Pay, making crypto payments as simple and familiar as using PIX. Why This Matters? PIX is Brazil's dominant payment method, embraced by more than 76% of the population, and surpassing both cash and cards in popularity. In 2024 alone, it handled over 68 billion transactions, establishing itself as a core component of financial life in Brazil. With bringing in crypto payment via a local payment method, AEON offers a user experience that blends the power of crypto with the familiarity of local spending. Traditional crypto-to-fiat payment rails often rely on card networks like Visa or Mastercard, which impose steep foreign exchange markups and fees, sometimes reaching 15%. In contrast, AEON Pay leverages PIX to deliver much lower-cost experiences, with effective transaction costs of around 0.8%, significantly reducing costs for users and merchants alike. For merchants, AEON Pay unlocks access to crypto-powered payments with minimal complexity. With no need to manage volatile crypto holdings and integrate any hardware solution like a POS machine, AEON settles instantly into BRL with the benefits of PIX's low cost and high reliability. In addition, AEON doesn't charge merchants for this service, opening up revenue channels for local merchants at no cost. AEON Pay: Powerful Real-World Crypto Payments Recognized for its contribution in advancing crypto payments, AEON was recently selected as one of the BNB Chain Most Valuable Builders (MVB) , highlighting its role as a leading innovator in real-world crypto adoption. Unlike crypto card programs or POS machine-based solutions, AEON operates the largest crypto payment settlement network that uses QR code and bank transfers, bridging digital assets with existing financial rails in a cost-efficient and scalable way. AEON Pay already enables seamless Web3 payments across over 20 million merchants and 10,000+ global brands in Vietnam, Philippines, Nigeria, Mexico, and Brazil, including household brands like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and UNIQLO. With this latest expansion into Brazil and continued rollout across Latin America, AEON is furthering its mission to weave crypto into everyday life. About AEON AEON is the next-generation crypto payment framework, built for AI to drive intelligent, automated payments across Web3 and simplify how crypto works in real life. With omni-chain support, AEON's AI Payments system allows intelligent agents to manage and automate transactions, payments, subscriptions, and remittances for users. With offerings like Web3 Mobile Payment that allows users to pay with crypto across 10,000 brands at 20+ million retail merchants in SEA, Africa and Latin America, Online Web3 Payment, Swap Pay, and a growing suite of AI-integrated payment services, AEON aims to create a future of crypto finance that's intelligent, scalable, and borderless, where AI meets real life through seamless, scalable payments for next billion of users. Website | X | Telegram | Medium | AEON Pay SOURCE AEON The recognition in the medium-sized employer category affirms the Beltline's dedication to maintaining a thriving work environment for employees. ATLANTA, Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlanta Beltline has once again been selected as one of Atlanta Business Chronicle 's Best Places to Work in 2025, marking another significant milestone for the people-powered project in its 20th year. This distinction among top-performing organizations in the region is determined through employee surveys measuring engagement, work environment, leadership and other workplace factors. Atlanta Beltline, Inc. staff includes more than 70 dedicated team members. "Being named as one of the Best Places to Work in Atlanta for a second time signals the start of a trend that we're proud to build upon. This achievement is a direct reflection of the 70+ team members who bring passion and purpose to their work each day driving progress to advance and surpass our goals for affordable housing, trails and parks, and economic growth," says Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. "The culture we continue to cultivate is one where every team member is valued, respected, and empowered which fuels our collective impact in making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city life." The Atlanta Beltline stands as one of the nation's most ambitious and wide-ranging redevelopment initiatives, linking more than 45 neighborhoods together in a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails, transit, parks, and affordable housing. With equity and inclusion as core values, the Beltline is working to ensure the benefits of the Beltline reach all Atlantans starting from within. "Building a city where businesses succeed, jobs are created, and economic prosperity is shared requires that we lead by example and foster a workplace where people from all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences can thrive," said Chief People & Impact Officer, Nonet Sykes. "At the Beltline, we invest in inclusive talent acquisition and meaningful operations that ensure everyone has a voice in shaping the future of the project, just as we welcome residents to actively participate." The Best Places to Work Awards celebrate local employers that have demonstrated a commitment to building workplace cultures that go above and beyond. Based on third-party employee surveys conducted by Quantum Workplace, the rankings evaluate the success of factors like team dynamics, trust in leadership, communication, and overall engagement. The top-scoring companies were honored by the Atlanta Business Chronicle on August 28, 2025, at its annual Healthiest Employers and Best Places to Work Reception. About Atlanta Beltline The Atlanta Beltline is the 22-mile rail-to-trail project that is transforming Atlanta's neighborhoods, one mile at a time. The Beltline's vision is to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city life. With an additional 11 miles of connector trails, the Atlanta Beltline is one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States. In partnership with local communities and organizations, the Beltline is building a more socially and economically resilient Atlanta through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing, vibrant public spaces, and community-focused programs that promote health and wellness, resident retention, volunteerism, and advocacy along the corridor. Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is the official implementation agency for the Atlanta Beltline and collaborates with Atlanta Beltline Partnership, the foundation that raises private and philanthropic funds and delivers community programs that are fully supported by donor contributions. For more information, please visit www.beltline.org or follow on social media at @atlantabeltline. SOURCE Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. For the fifth year running, Attentive stands out as the sole omni-channel platform honored, powering SMS, RCS, email, and push. NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Attentive, the AI-powered performance messaging platform redefining how brands and people connect, has been named to the Forbes 2025 Cloud 100 , the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners . "At Attentive, we are on a mission to create bespoke shopping experiences between consumers and the brands they love," said Amit Jhawar, CEO of Attentive. "Our inclusion in the Forbes Cloud 100 for the fifth consecutive year reflects our commitment to a new standard in the marketing industry one that leverages data and genuine personalization to deliver better relationships, and better results." Attentive is redefining personalized mobile marketing, powering more than $29 billion in revenue for its customers over the past year, a growth rate of over 48%. By utilizing a unique mobile-first identity to inform omnichannel communications, Attentive unifies SMS, RCS, email, and push into one seamless platform. Backed by in-house AI that drives real revenue and a best-in-class success team, Attentive helps brands build stronger customer relationships at scale. Additional milestones from Attentive this year include: Surpassing 1,000 email customers, and launching AI Pro for Email , unlocking average performance increases of up to 40% in multi-channel campaign revenue with Audiences AI , unlocking average performance increases of up to 40% in multi-channel campaign revenue with Audiences AI Launching bi-directional integration with Snowflake , empowering brands to turn their data into a competitive advantage at scale , empowering brands to turn their data into a competitive advantage at scale Helping brands leveraging Attentive's advanced AI solutions achieve more than 2x higher revenue growth during Cyber Week 2024 , and powering more than 3.9 billion messages For the tenth consecutive year, the Cloud 100 reviews submissions from hundreds of cloud startups and private companies each year. The Cloud 100 evaluation process involved ranking companies across four factors: market leadership (35%), estimated valuation (30%), operating metrics (20%), and people & culture (15%). For market leadership, the Cloud 100 enlists the help of a judging panel of public cloud company CEOs who assist in evaluating and ranking their private company peers. "For the last decade, the Forbes Cloud 100 list has recognized the most innovative private cloud companies in the world, and this year's standouts are among the most impressive we've ever seen," said Richard Nieva, the Forbes editor of the Cloud 100. "Our honorees highlight the massive sea change that AI has brought to the enterprise, with sky-high growth and valuations." The Forbes 2025 Cloud 100 and 20 Rising Stars lists are published online . Highlights of the list appear in the August/September 2025 issue of Forbes magazine. About Attentive Attentive is the AI-powered mobile marketing platform transforming the way brands and people connect. Attentive turns messages into moments that drive action, revenue, and loyalty with powerful technology that unifies customer data, while providing the expert knowledge and unparalleled support that helps brands succeed. Trusted by leading global brands like GUESS, Urban Outfitters, and Steve Madden, Attentive provides mobile-first identity, smart orchestration, and enterprise-grade compliance and deliverability, supporting trillions of interactions across more than 70 industries. To learn more or request a demo, visit www.attentive.com or follow us on LinkedIn , X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram . Contact [email protected] SOURCE Attentive TULSA, Okla., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Tech Street has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NVIDIA to advance Tulsa, Oklahoma (Historic Greenwood) as a model for AI innovation, education and economic empowerment. Black Tech Street is an organization working to rebirth Historic Black Wall Street as a premier Innovation Economy rooted in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Black Tech Street is a steering committee member of Tulsa's Tech Hub coalition led by Tulsa Innovation Labs, which saw Tulsa designated as a Tech Hub for Autonomous Systems by the Economic Development Administration. Tulsa's Tech Hub won $51 million with $10.6 million being allocated to the creation of a Greenwood AI Center of Excellence led by Black Tech Street. Through this collaboration, BTS and NVIDIA will partner with the Tech Hub, the local community, and the State of Oklahoma to integrate NVIDIA's cutting-edge technologies and expertise and train up to 10,000 learners in partnership with educational institutions and community organizations. "We could not be more excited to partner with NVIDIA to make Tulsa a national leader on AI. NVIDIA is powering the AI revolution, which will likely be the most impactful leap in human history. To have them standing with us in Greenwood, committing to help our community harness and lead this revolution, means more than I can articulate. A game changing win for Black Wall Street," said BTS Founder & CEO Tyrance Billingsley II. "Our collaboration with BTS and the larger Tulsa ecosystem is helping prepare and equip all segments of the workforce to operate and sustain transformative technology that is building America's future," said Louis Stewart, Head of Ecosystem Development at NVIDIA. Defined objectives of the collaboration include: Expansion of AI Education: Empower the greater Tulsa region with advanced AI skills through comprehensive educational programs with the local community and higher education institutions like Langston University , Oklahoma State University and Tulsa Community College . Empower the greater region with advanced AI skills through comprehensive educational programs with the local community and higher education institutions like , and . Economic Empowerment: Catalyze economic growth in the Greenwood District by supporting tech startups and creating high-paying jobs in the AI sector. Catalyze economic growth in the Greenwood District by supporting tech startups and creating high-paying jobs in the AI sector. National Model for AI-Powered Society: Establishing Tulsa , via Greenwood, as a national model and testing ground for community AI integration and innovation. Both parties recognize the importance of a collaborative approach and intend to provide resources that maximize the impact of this collaboration. Some of the direct resource sharing and commitments from NVIDIA listed in the MOU include: Leveraging local networks to recruit entrepreneurs, technologists, and students to participate in NVIDIA's training and certification programs, encouraging broad-based community. Organizing and hosting community events, such as hackathons, innovation challenges, and tech fairs, to raise awareness and encourage participation in the effort. Offering advanced computing resources, including access to NVIDIA GPUs and cloud-based platforms to support the development of AI projects and startups with BTS and the Tulsa ecosystem. ecosystem. Collaborating with Black Tech Street to pursue Federal, State, Local and Philanthropic grants that fund groundbreaking research projects, talent development initiatives, novel AI applications and impactful economic development initiatives. Providing Greenwood and the greater Tulsa area with access to NVIDIA's startup ecosystem, including the benefits of its Inception program, to accelerate local innovation and growth. "I am incredibly excited to see these two organizations come together to position Tulsa as a leader in AI innovation. As AI continues to grow, this partnership will help cement Tulsa's role in the AI and tech industry, which will generate an economic impact that we will see for years to come," Mayor Monroe Nichols said. "NVIDIA and Black Tech Street are setting the stage for new jobs for Tulsans, and I am eager to see how this investment in innovation will open more doors of opportunity for our community." - Tulsa Mayor, Monroe Nichols This MOU starts with Tulsa and builds the cornerstone for statewide expansion and partnership that spans to the larger State of Oklahoma as a leader in AI education and Innovation. "Oklahoma is fast becoming a national leader in next-generation innovation, from AI to aerospace and beyond. Our state's unique combination of talent, tenacity, and vision is attracting groundbreaking partnerships. Whether it's in Tulsa or across the state, Oklahoma is proving that you don't have to be on the coasts to be on the cutting edge." - Senator James Langford The execution of the MOU will be supported by Black Tech Street's partners at Tulsa Innovation Labs, Microsoft, Seedai, Langston University, Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, Urban Coders Guild, and Tulsa Higher Education Consortium. Through this initiative, educators can gain certification through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador Program , which connects instructors with high-quality teaching kits , workshop content and NVIDIA GPU-accelerated workstations in the cloud. About Black Tech Street Black Tech Street is an organization working to rebirth historic Greenwood as a premier innovation economy rooted in AI, Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies. Black Tech Street's goal is to a pioneer a scalable model for AI adoption and innovation that enables the United States to win the AI Race. www.blacktechstreet.com About NVIDIA NVIDIA is the global leader in accelerated computing. Founded in 1993, the company's invention of the GPU sparked the growth of the PC gaming market and has redefined modern computer graphics, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence. www.nvidia.com Media Contact: Smiley Elmore III Director of Communications Black Tech Street [email protected] | 918-813-2733 SOURCE Black Tech Street MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WASHINGTON, DC WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 Sen. Edward Markey Addresses the Future of Higher Education An enlightening forum at the National Press Club unveils transformative plans to reinvent liberal arts education, featuring leaders in higher education, workforce development, and state & local policymakers. Brandeis President Arthur Levine unveils 21st-century approach to higher education. MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND The 1 pm Forum will be LIVESTREAMED HERE WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- WHO: Sen. Edward Markey, senior Senator from Massachusetts senior Senator from Arthur Levine, President, Brandeis University President, Cynthia Shapira , Brandeis Trustee & Board Chair of Pennsylvania State University System , Brandeis Trustee & Board Chair of System Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education President of the American Council on Education Amit Sevak, President/CEO, ETS President/CEO, ETS Marjorie Hass, President, Council of Independent Colleges President, Council of Independent Colleges Liz Willen, moderator and editor in chief, The Hechinger Report moderator and editor in chief, The Hechinger Report Rani Balakrishna, a May 2025 Brandeis graduate and former President of the Student Body WHAT: The Brandeis University forum is a bold call to action, addressing the urgent challenges facing American higher education and unveiling a transformative vision for its future. As the United States transitions from a national, analog, industrial economy to a global, digital, and knowledge-driven landscape, the demands on higher education are evolving at an unprecedented pace. Public trust in colleges has been eroding, enrollments are declining, and critics argue that institutions are clinging to outdated models, failing to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. Meanwhile, employers are shifting their focus from traditional credentials, such as majors and GPAs, to the real-world skills and competencies that drive success in the workplace. This forum represents a groundbreaking reimagining of higher education. Working closely with the Brandeis faculty, President Levine, a renowned scholar and leader in higher education, is implementing sweeping changes to the structure, curriculum, programs, degree offerings, teaching methods, career education, and student support systems at Brandeis. This event provides college presidents, faculty, trustees, parents, and prospective students with an exclusive opportunity to explore the challenges facing liberal arts colleges and discover the innovative solutions Brandeis is pioneering. Attendees will gain unparalleled insights through remarks from Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), President Levine, and a distinguished panel of experts. This is a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with these influential figures and gain valuable perspectives on the future of higher education. The forum will culminate in a networking reception, fostering collaboration and dialogue among thought leaders. We ask the media to cover this critical forum as Brandeis charts a bold new course for the next generation of students and higher education institutions. WHERE: The National Press Club MWL Rooms 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045. WHEN: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (reception to follow). Media Contacts: Michael K. Frisby, [email protected] 202-625-4328 Shep Ranbom, [email protected]/ 202 365 4774 SOURCE Brandeis WARSAW, Poland, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Demand AI today announced the official opening of its Warsaw office, marking the company's 9th global office this year and its third new opening in August alone. This milestone is particularly significant as Warsaw becomes the company's first operational subsidiary in continental Europe following the establishment of its European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. Demand AI Poland The Warsaw launch represents a strategic move into Eastern Europe, providing Demand AI with a local presence in one of the region's fastest-growing technology hubs. Beyond serving the Polish market, the Warsaw office will act as a regional hub for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), supporting key neighboring countries including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Romania. Michael Whife, CEO of Demand AI, emphasized the importance of this expansion: "We see Poland as highly strategic in giving us the local presence needed to serve and grow across the CEE region. Warsaw provides us with the perfect platform to introduce our flagship Amplifyi.ai solution to businesses that are ready for AI-powered transformation in demand generation." As part of this expansion, Daniel Malinokowski has joined Demand AI as Managing Director, Poland & CEE. Daniel brings extensive regional expertise and a strong background in digital transformation. "I could not be more proud and excited to join such an amazing team," said Malinokowski. "For the first time in a long while, I am part of a company that has true innovation in its solutions and products. Demand AI's platform will bring immense value to businesses across Poland and the broader CEE market." With Warsaw now added to its global footprint, Demand AI continues to accelerate its international growth and strengthen its position as a leader in AI-powered demand generation. About Demand AI: Demand AI Group Inc. is a global B2B demand generation company pioneering the use of generative AI to transform how businesses engage with prospects. Through its flagship platform Amplifye.AI, Demand AI delivers better leads, deeper insights, and real engagement. Since its founding, the company has established operations in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, Australia, India, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Poland. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2763144/Demand_AI_Poland.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2724609/Demand_AI_Group_Logo.jpg Inaugural event, set against an idyllic coastal backdrop, drew attendees from 34 states Plans already underway for the event's return in August 2026 Initial success builds on Michigan's growing culinary reputation TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Foodies and aficionados can look forward to the return of Traverse City Food & Wine in 2026. The successful five-day event featuring over 80 mostly sold-out events, concluded Sunday, August 24. Its pinnacle was the Grand Tasting at the Traverse City Open Space Park, where a stellar lineup of chefs, including Food Network's Tyler Florence, showcased the bounty of Michigan's farms and waters. Traverse City Food & Wine brought together the flavors, sights, and sounds that make this region so special. From delicious dishes crafted by renowned chefs to tastings of over 100 local wines and beverages, every moment was a celebration of community, creativity, and connection. Details of next year's event are still in the planning stages, including dates, chefs, and activities. But organizers say the glowing feedback from this year's Traverse City Food & Wine will ensure that another event will be held next year. "Featuring an abundance of fresh local ingredients, this amazing group of chefs showcased flavors and dishes that wowed the crowds," said Whitney Waara, Chief Operating Officer of Traverse City Tourism. "And when you combine those flavors with perfectly paired wines and other locally-made beverages, it truly sets the culinary scene in the region." For Florence, a return to Traverse City was somewhat of a homecoming. Before his 29 years as a television culinary personality, he worked as an intern at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. "I have fond memories of walking a mile to work in the snow," said Florence. "To come back to the region, share some of my favorite grilling techniques, and enjoy the flavorful abundance was more than a walk down memory lane; it was a real joy." "The inaugural Traverse City Food & Wine is the perfect stage to showcase Michigan's agricultural diversity and talented wine and craft beverage makers," said Kelly Wolgamott, Vice President of Pure Michigan. "On the heels of the first-year success, we're inviting people to plan their next trip to discover Michigan's fresh and flavorful culinary scene." Earlier this year, Traverse City's The Cook's House restaurant was nominated for a James Beard Award adding to the more than 150 Michigan chefs that have earned James Beard Award nominations over the last 35 years. Drawing on its unique geography and freshwater access, which promotes its agriculturally rich landscape, Michigan hosts numerous food-centric celebrations throughout the year, such as city-based Restaurant Weeks, Under The Radar's Farm-to-Ferry Taste of Michigan Dinner on Mackinac Island, the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Romeo Peach Festival, Michigan Honey Festival in Corunna, and the Romulus Pumpkin Festivalplus a variety of beer, wine, cider, spirits, and other craft beverage events featuring local flavors. For travelers looking to get inspired by Michigan's rich flavors and experiences, visit michigan.org. About Michigan Economic Development Corporation The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Follow along or join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube. About Traverse City Tourism Traverse City Tourism is an independent, not-for-profit destination organization that promotes the greater Traverse City area as a leisure and business destination with an excellent quality-of-life. Through the impact of travel, Traverse City Tourism helps strengthen the local economy and supports a thriving entrepreneurial community. Details of the region's lodging, attractions and area events are available at www.TraverseCity.com. Media Contact: Sierra Powers FINN Partners on behalf of Pure Michigan [email protected] SOURCE Pure Michigan PORTLAND, Maine, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FoW Partners, an investment firm focused on building great companies through workforce-centric strategies and technology innovation, today announced it has partnered with seasoned veterinary services executive Torie Madore to launch Elevated Veterinary Solutions ("EVS"). EVS is building a platform to expand access to veterinary care through the development of tech-powered, employee-centric veterinary hospitals. "We are thrilled to partner with Torie to launch Elevated Veterinary Solutions," said Ian Blasco, Managing Partner at FoW Partners, an investment firm investing in the Future of Work. "Torie brings a deep understanding of the veterinary industry, a passion for innovation, and a strong commitment to employees. We believe these qualities make her the ideal leader to build a differentiated platform in a market defined by growing demand and undersupply. The veterinary services sector benefits from durable tailwinds including increasing pet ownership, the humanization of pets, and advances in animal medicine all of which provide long-term growth opportunities. At the same time, a shortage of new clinical talent, workforce burnout, and aging single-doctor practices are leaving many communities underserved. Elevated Veterinary Solutions is uniquely positioned to address these challenges with a modern, scalable approach." Torie Madore, CEO of Elevated Veterinary Solutions, brings over 25 years of experience in veterinary medicine and healthcare operations. She has overseen hundreds of hospitals with multi-hundred-million-dollar budgets, driving growth through acquisitions and de novo development. A Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) and Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT), Torie blends clinical expertise with executive leadership, building strong businesses rooted in employee engagement and exceptional client care. "I am excited to join forces with FoW Partners to reimagine how veterinary care is delivered," said Torie Madore, CEO of Elevated Veterinary Solutions. "Our vision is to create hospitals that put people at the center by empowering veterinary professionals with the right tools, technology, and culture, we enable them to provide exceptional care for pets and their families. FoW's expertise in workforce innovation and scaling services businesses makes them the ideal partner for this journey. Together, we will build a new generation of veterinary hospitals that are employee-centric, technology-enabled, and deeply connected to the communities we serve." The first EVS hospital is expected to open in 2025. About Elevated Veterinary Solutions Elevated Veterinary Solutions, backed by FoW Partners, is a veterinary services provider dedicated to expanding access to care through tech-powered, employee-centric hospitals. EVS builds and operates general practice hospitals, empowering veterinary professionals with modern tools and support to deliver exceptional care for pets and families. For more information about EVS, please visit elevatedveterinarysolutions.com. About FoW Partners FoW Partners is a private investment firm based in Portland, Maine with additional offices in Boston and New York. Our mission is to help build great Future of Work companies. We collaborate closely with management teams to foster long-term business success and accelerate growth, placing a distinct emphasis on workforce and technology innovation. Our team brings together seasoned private market investors who share a common professional background and a proven history of driving growth and creating value across a wide range of industries. Media Contact Edward Demetriou [email protected] SOURCE FoW Partners Today, humanity once again faces the choice between peace and war, Xi Jinping warned during an event commemorating Japans surrender in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the end of World War II Eighty cannon shots that shook Tiananmen Square marked the beginning of Chinas largest display of military muscle in recent years. The parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japans surrender in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and the end of World War II kicked off in Beijing at exactly 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, local time. Chinese leader Xi Jinping presided over the celebrations flanked by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on the same gallery overlooking the square from which Mao Zedong proclaimed the Peoples Republic in 1949. Today, humanity once again faces the choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, shared benefit or a zero-sum game, Xi proclaimed during his speech. For nearly an hour, troops, tanks, submarines, combat aircraft, drones, and missiles of all kinds, including the latest hypersonic models with nuclear capability and intercontinental range, marched in perfect synchronization in an event designed to showcase the military might of the worlds second-largest power. Military personnel in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, September 3. Ng Han Guan (AP) The event, which paralyzed the Chinese capital, had been choreographed down to the last detail for months. As had the distribution of guests. On the podium, Xi had one of his closest allies, the Russian president, seated to his right, and to his left, the North Korean leader, who is visiting China for the first time since 2019. Their presence, along with that of other leaders such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, turned the ceremony into a high-voltage geopolitical event that reinforces the message that Beijing stands as a point of reference for those who challenge the international order promoted by Washington. Inside the Forbidden City, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, welcomed the 26 heads of state and government who had traveled to the Chinese capital for the celebration. The last two were Kim and Putin. The Chinese president was especially friendly with his North Korean counterpart, whom he greeted with a broad smile and an affectionate handshake. He patted Putin, his old friend, a couple of times on the back. After taking a family photo, Xi led the procession toward the monumental gateway to the former imperial palace, the Gate of Heavenly Peace (a literal translation of Tiananmen). Cameras carefully captured the moment when Xi, Putin, and Kim walked side by side, climbing the stairs of the imposing structure almost in unison. An image laden with symbolism, which reinforces the idea that has been projected in recent days. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un in Beijing, September 3. Shen Hong (AP) The parade culminates a week in which China has shown its face as a true alternative power axis, following the holding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit over the weekend. This other event in Tianjin was also attended by some 20 international leaders, with a significant presence from the Global South. Among them were Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and heads of international organizations, such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. However, none of these leaders were present at the parade. Nor did any top-level leader of the European Union attend, with the exception of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also traveled from Europe. During his speech, Xi thanked foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people in their resistance against Japanese aggression. This is how China officially names the commemoration of September 3, which, he emphasized, was the first complete victory in Chinas history. History warns us that the destiny of humanity is deeply interconnected. Only if countries and nations treat each other equally, live together in harmony, and support each other will it be possible to maintain common security, eradicate the causes of war, and prevent the repetition of historical tragedies, he warned. The culminating moment came shortly after, with the start of the parade itself. Dozens of perfectly aligned formations awaited on Changan Avenue, at one end of Tiananmen Square. Xi, leaning out of the sunroof of his car and wearing the olive-green uniform that distinguishes him as chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected each of the formations. Comrades, good work! he exhorted as he passed. We follow the Partys leadership, and that is how we are able to win battles! the soldiers echoed with a shout of loyalty. And again: Justice will triumph, peace will triumph, the people will triumph! The heat was stifling: 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit) and 80% humidity. A fine mist clouded the horizon, where a swarm of helicopters hovered over the square in a figure-of-eighty formation. As the troops began to parade, a spyglass allowed one to glimpse Xi in the center of the stage. Putin approached him and they discussed something, while Kim, on the other side, fanned himself. Then Xi turned to Kim and pointed out the weapons display. This oscillation between Xi and Kim, chatting with his closest strategic allies, continued throughout the event. They pointed here and there. Only they know the content of those conversations. Military helicopters fly in the formation of the number 80 over Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Go Nakamura (REUTERS) As the tanks rolled past, the ground rumbled, and the vibrations reached the press stands. Its overwhelming to see the 45 columns marching as if they were a single person projected into infinity; the submarines and unmanned aircraft, silent, with sinuous yet deadly shapes, evoke the wars of the future. A voice announces the appearance of each new element. The audience exclaims a long, resounding Oooh! when the latest missile models are presented: the Jinglei 1 and 3, and the Dongfeng 61 and 31, each one more immense than the last. Key instruments of the country, cornerstone of stability, the voice says. Oooh! is heard again. Presented jointly for the first time, they showcase the three-dimensional strategic nuclear force of our military on land, sea, and air, constituting the strategic blueprint for safeguarding national sovereignty and defending the nations dignity. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS. This notice is directed to all persons and entities, excluding certain persons associated with the Defendants, who acquired securities of LIGHTSPEED COMMERCE INC. or LIGHTSPEED POS INC. between March 7, 2019 and November 3, 2021 inclusively (collectively, the "Class" or "Class Members"). MONTREAL, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - A proposed class action was commenced against Lightspeed Commerce Inc., several of its directors and officers, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (collectively the "Defendants") before the Superior Court of Quebec. The plaintiffs allege that the Defendants misrepresented material facts relating to Lightspeed Commerce Inc.'s financial performance in its public filings and statements. The parties have reached a proposed settlement, without any admission of liability, subject to the approval of the Court. This notice provides a summary of the proposed settlement and of Class Members' rights. THE TERMS OF THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT The Defendants will pay CDN $11 million, in full and final settlement of all claims against them. The settlement for the Class, less the lawyers' fees and disbursements, administrator's expenses, and taxes, if approved by the Court, will be distributed to the Class on a pro rata basis. A complete copy of the settlement agreement is available at https://www.faguyco.com/class-actions/lightspeed. OPTING OUT If you do not wish to participate in the proposed class action or receive any benefits from the settlement, you must opt out by October 15, 2025. The opt-out form and additional instructions are available at https://www.faguyco.com/class-actions/lightspeed. LAWYERS' FEES, DISBURSEMENTS, AND TAXES The lawyers for the Class will ask the Court to approve their legal fees in the amount of 1/3 (33.33%) of CDN $11,000,000, plus disbursements, plus taxes, in accordance with their agreement with the representative plaintiffs. THE APPROVAL HEARING The Superior Court of Quebec will be asked to authorize the proposed class action for settlement purposes only, and to approve the proposed settlement and the lawyers' fees, disbursements, and taxes at a hearing to be held on November 21, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at the Montreal Courthouse located at 1 Notre-Dame Street East, Montreal, Quebec. Class Members who do not oppose the proposed settlement are not required to appear at the hearing, although they may do so if they want, in person in courtroom 2.07 or virtually using the following Microsoft Teams link: click here. At this point in time, Class Members are not required to take any action to indicate their desire to participate in the proposed settlement. After the approval hearing of November 21, 2025 , if the settlement is approved, further notice will be given with instructions for Class Members who wish to participate. Class Members who consider it desirable or necessary to seek the advice and guidance from their own lawyer may do so at their own expense . OBJECTIONS Class Members have the right to object to the proposed settlement. At the approval hearing, Class Members may assert their contentions regarding the proposed settlement and the distribution of any remaining balance. The Court will consider any objections to the proposed settlement by the Class Members if the objections are submitted in writing, by prepaid mail or by e-mail, to Concilia Services Inc., 1-5900 Andover Avenue, Montreal (QC), H4T 1H5, [email protected], Attention: "Lightspeed Commerce Inc. Class Action Proceedings". Class Members who wish to object must do so before October 15, 2025. A written objection can be submitted in English or French and must include the following information: (a) the objector's full name, current mailing address, telephone number, and email address, as may be available; (b) the number of securities purchased as of March 7, 2019 and held after the close of trading on (1) September 28, 2021 or (2) November 3, 2021, along with all relevant trading records; (c) a brief statement of the nature of and the reasons for the objection; and (d) whether the objector or a representative intends to appear at the hearing in person or by counsel, and if by counsel, the name, address, telephone number, telecopier number, and email address of counsel. The Court, the plaintiffs, and the Defendants will be informed of all objections made. QUESTIONS Questions regarding the process should be directed to the Administrator : CONCILIA SERVICES INC. 1-5900 Andover Ave. Montreal (QC) H4T 1H5 Tel: 1-888-350-7708 [email protected] Attention: "Lightspeed Commerce Inc. Class Action Proceedings" Other legal questions may be directed to : Mtre Lea Bruyere LPC Avocats Inc. 276, Saint-Jacques Street, Suite 801 Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N3 Tel: 514.379.1572 [email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION Further information, including opt-out forms, is available at https://www.faguyco.com/class-actions/lightspeed . The main documents relating to the class action proceedings are available on the Registre des actions collectives at https://www.registredesactionscollectives.quebec/en/Consulter/RecherchePublique (search by court file no. 500-06-001164-215). NOTICE TO BROKERAGE FIRMS Please deliver this notice in English and French by email to your clients who purchased Lightspeed securities between March 7, 2019 and November 3, 2021 inclusively, and for whom you have a valid email address. If you do not have a valid email address for some of those clients, please send them this notice by regular mail. Brokerage firms may collectively request up to an aggregate of $15,000 for the expenses relating to the distribution of this notice to the Class Members. If the amounts submitted in aggregate exceed $15,000, each brokerage firm's claim shall be reduced on a pro rata basis. This notice has been approved by the Court. Questions about matters in this notice should NOT be directed to the Court. *Une version francaise de cet avis est disponible au https://www.faguyco.com/class-actions/lightspeed . SOURCE Concilia Services Inc. Performance Brokerage Services, the leader in dealership buy-sell activity, announces the sale of Alta Dock & Door in Bohemia, New York and Wilmington, Massachusetts to Allmark Door IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Performance Brokerage Services, North America's highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Alta Dock & Door in Bohemia, New York and Wilmington, Massachusetts to Allmark Door. Performance Brokerage Services - Alta Dock & Door - Allmark Door Alta Dock & Door, established in 2021 as a division of Alta Equipment Group, Inc., provides commercial and industrial door and loading dock solutions throughout the Northeast. The company was formed through Alta's prior acquisitions in the dock and door sector, including Hilo Equipment & Services and Baron Industries, bringing together decades of combined expertise. Alta Dock & Door offers installation, repair, and customized solutions for warehouses, storage facilities, and specialized operations, supporting operational efficiency and safety. The company serves industries including food and beverage, pharmaceutical, logistics, and industrial facilities. In 2024, Alta Dock & Door was ranked #9 in the International Door Association's Top 100 Door Dealers by total revenue and #2 in the Top 50 Commercial Door Dealers. After the sale, Chief Financial Officer of Alta Equipment Group, Inc., Tony Colucci shared, "Pat Albero and the entire team at Performance Brokerage Services have earned our professional respect and trust. From start to finish, Pat worked shoulder to shoulder with our team, supporting us through every step of the process. His deep industry knowledge and expertise helped us find a buyer who truly valued our Dock & Door business and our commitment to serving our employees, customers, and industry partners. I'd recommend Pat and his team at Performance Brokerage Services to anyone in the equipment dealership industry." Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of nearly 400 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. Pat Albero and Dan Argiro, Senior Partners of the Equipment & Commercial Truck Division for Performance Brokerage Services were the exclusive sell-side advisors for this transaction. Allmark Door is a provider of commercial and industrial door solutions, specializing in high-performance doors and loading dock equipment. Founded in 1993, Allmark Door serves the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, with offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New York. The acquisition of Alta Dock & Door strengthens Allmark's presence on Long Island and establishes its first location in Massachusetts, extending the company's coverage into New England. Allmark Door delivers mission-critical solutions for customers in the logistics, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, utilities, transportation, and industrial sectors. The company provides 24/7 repair services, installation, replacement, and maintenance programs designed to maximize safety and operational efficiency. In 2022, Allmark Door received an investment from LLR Partners to support its growth and expansion. Katie Lankalis, Principal at LLR Partners shared, "Working with Pat Albero and his team at Performance Brokerage Services was an excellent experience. Their expertise and professionalism made the entire acquisition process smooth and efficient. Throughout every stage, their communication was clear and timely, keeping us informed every step of the way. We look forward to collaborating with their team again in the future." Alta Dock & Door will be renamed Allmark Door and will remain at its current locations in Bohemia, New York and Wilmington, Massachusetts. About Performance Brokerage Services Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is North America's highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, RV, commercial truck, powersports, and equipment dealerships. With over 30 years of experience, 900 dealerships sold, and a 90% closing rate, the company's reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity. The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees or retainer, no reimbursement of costs, and paid a success fee only after the transaction closes. Headquartered in Irvine, California and supported by 12 regional offices across the United States and Canada, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation. As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with various equipment manufacturers. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com. Media Contact: Jesse Stopnitzky, Co-Owner (949) 309-2851 [email protected] SOURCE Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating a data breach that led to unauthorized access to the sensitive information of 4,461,511 customers of TransUnion, LLC (TransUnion), an Illinois-based consumer credit reporting agency. According to the data breach notice filed with the Maine Office of the Attorney General, TransUnion "recently experienced a cyber incident involving a third-party application serving our U.S. consumer support operations," which allowed a third party to gain access to customer information on July 28, 2025. DATA BREACH ALERT: University of Iowa Community HomeCare. If you are a patient you may be entitled to money damages. Post this Although the breach occurred in July 2025, TransUnion did not begin notifying affected individuals until on or around August 28, 2025, which may have violated state and federal laws. TransUnion has not publicly disclosed what information was accessed. If your personal information was impacted by this incident, you may be at risk of identity theft and other serious violations of your privacy. As a result, you may be entitled to money damages and an injunction requiring changes to TransUnion's cybersecurity practices. If you received notification of this data breach or are a customer of TransUnion and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.classactionlawyers.com/transunion. About Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide. Contact Sonum Dixit Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP [email protected] Tel: 415-299-8207 SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP Prestigious national workplace ranking highlights Sorenson's innovation-driven leadership in employee satisfaction, workplace culture and technology SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sorenson, the global leader in accessible communication services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, and one of the world's largest employers of sign language interpreters and Deaf people today announced it has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Greatest Workplaces in 2025. This honor reflects Sorenson's strong performance across key indicators of workplace satisfaction, including compensation practices, work-life balance, employee satisfaction, and technology innovation. "Our people are the core of everything we do at Sorenson, and this recognition affirms the culture Sorenson has worked hard to build. "It's especially meaningful to be recognized as a top U.S. employer since we are America's largest employer of sign language interpreters." said Paget Alves, CEO of Sorenson. "We collaborate closely with our interpreters and Deaf employees to continuously enhance the tools that support and empower them to excel, because when their tools evolve, so does their ability to lead the world in what they do best." As the largest employer of sign language interpreters and one of the top employers of Deaf professionals in the U.S., Sorenson continues to set the standard for employment practices. In 2024 alone, the company provided more than 30,000 hours of professional development for interpreters and conducted over 700 employee training sessions across 120 topics. Sorenson champions career advancement through peer support networks and mentorship initiatives. The company also offers its employees a robust wellness program covering both physical and mental health services that include things like EAP resources for vicarious trauma counseling, spa services and reimbursements for specialized, ergonomic office furniture that helps interpreters maintain their physical health. In addition to America's Greatest Workplace recognition, Sorenson has been named to four more sub-categories by Newsweek, including: Newsweek's awards, powered by the independent research firm Plant-A Insights, is based on a rigorous evaluation of more than 4.9 million employee reviews and over 400,000 confidential interviews. U.S. companies were assessed on over 15 key performance indicators including compensation, professional development, corporate values, and transparency. Employers engaged in unfair workplace practices were automatically disqualified from inclusion on any list. To learn more about Sorenson's career opportunities and inclusive workplace culture, visit www.sorenson.com/careers. Press Contact: Ann Norman [email protected] About Sorenson Sorenson is one of the world's leading language services providers, combining patented technology with human-centric solutions. We strive to increase accessibility through communication solutions for all. We provide call captioning and video relay services, video remote and in-person sign language and spoken language interpreting, translation, real-time captioning, and post-production language services. Our company impact extends beyond the 140 million conversations we facilitate annually Sorenson improves lives through interpreted emergency and health services. Sorenson is a portfolio company of Ariel Alternatives, and we strive to manage and minimize our environmental impact. To learn more, visit sorenson.com or es.sorenson.com. FCC rules permit you to port your telephone number to the VRS provider of your choice. If you request a new number, Sorenson will provide you with one for the geographic area where you live or work. To ensure proper routing of 911 calls, it is important that you provide, and update in the event it changes, the physical address (i.e., the Registered Location) from which you are placing the call. You can update your Registered Location in your device settings or by calling (866) 756-6729. To learn how to update on your device visit Sorenson Account Management. Emergency calls made via internet-based TRS may not function the same as traditional E911 service. For example, you may not be able to dial 911 if there is an internet-service failure or if you lose electrical power, and your 911 call may not be routed correctly if you have not updated your Registered Location. Hearing point-to-point video users will not be able to place emergency calls. For more information on the process of obtaining ten-digit numbers and the limitations and risks associated with using Sorenson's VRS to place a 911 call, please visit Sorenson's website: 911 Legal Disclaimer | Sorenson. For information on toll-free numbering, please visit Sorenson Toll Free | Videophone Number Linking SOURCE Sorenson Communications, LLC Strengthening transatlantic collaboration to accelerate growth and customer value MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With over 20 years of experience within the company, Chris Mean , CEO for Columbus UK, will now take on the additional role of CEO for Columbus US . This strategic move is to strengthen the collaboration between Europe and the US further. There is already a strong bond between the two countries, as they share multiple Microsoft Dynamics 365 customers. Columbus has seen many positive developments and synergies in these two markets, including a significant uptake in the US business of 30%, and the UK being the largest business unit outside of Scandinavia. Chris Mean, CEO of Columbus UK & US "I am excited to be increasing my focus across both our UK and US markets, where opportunities for further alignment will accelerate our ambitions and deliver even greater value to our customers and employees," says Chris Mean, CEO for Columbus UK & US. "I am pleased that Chris is stepping into this added role. He has been with Columbus for many years and knows our markets very well. We have had many great collaborations so far and this feels like a natural next step on our path forward," says Sren Krogh Knudsen, President for Columbus. With this change Columbus also hopes to grow its M3 business in the UK. In the US, the company already has a well-established base for M3, a factor that has contributed to Q2's great financial result for that market. Chris Mean will start this additional position as CEO for both markets effective immediately. Together with the US leadership team, there will be a focus on continuing the M3 success and strengthening the US Microsoft Dynamics 365 business further. "I believe this is one of Columbus' many strengths, to be able to dynamically evolve with the market needs and put the right people in the right places at the right time," says Sren Krogh Knudsen. About Columbus: Columbus is a consultancy company helping organisations drive business value by defining, executing, and evolving the entire business. By delivering digital value through human intelligence, we enable our customers to innovate and grow. With more than 1,500 employees, we guide our customers through their digital transformation and deliver lasting value within the manufacturing, retail and distribution, food, and life sciences industries. We advise, implement, and manage business-critical solutions within Cloud Services, ERP, Data & AI, Digital Commerce, Business Process Automation, Enterprise Information Management, Cybersecurity and more. With headquarters in Denmark and a global presence, we ensure local delivery of our services on a global scale. Media Contact: Shelby Pezold PANBlast for Columbus Global [email protected] SOURCE Columbus WHITE PINE COUNTY, Nev., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- True Harmony Company, LLC proudly announces the launch of its cutting-edge cannabis cultivation facility in White Pine County, Nevada. Following the recent approval for cannabis cultivation and production licenses by the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) licenses True Harmony Company has commenced its inaugural cultivation cycle. True Harmony Co. The facility features a state-of-the-art glasshouse spanning 250,000 square feet, designed to optimize mixed-light cultivation techniques. This innovative approach combines natural sunlight with supplemental lighting, ensuring consistent, high-quality cannabis production while promoting energy efficiency. "We are thrilled to embark on this journey in White Pine County," said Robert Kurilko, the CEO of True Harmony Co. "Our team is committed to delivering premium cannabis products through sustainable and technologically advanced cultivation methods. We believe this facility will set a new standard for the industry in Nevada." The White Pine County Commission has expressed strong support for True Harmony's endeavors, recognizing the potential economic benefits and job creation for the local community. In a letter of support, the commission highlighted the company's commitment to compliance and community engagement. True Harmony's leadership team brings extensive experience in cannabis cultivation and compliance, ensuring adherence to all regulatory standards set forth by the CCB. The company's focus on quality, sustainability, and community partnership positions it as an emerging leader supporting Nevada's growing cannabis industry. About True Harmony Company, LLC True Harmony Company, LLC is a Nevada-based cannabis cultivation and production company dedicated to producing high-quality cannabis products through innovative and sustainable practices. With a focus on community engagement and regulatory compliance, True Harmony aims to contribute positively to Nevada's cannabis industry and local economies. SOURCE True Harmony Company HOUSTON, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Waaree Solar Americas, announced that its parent firm, Waaree Energies Limited, India's leading energy transition company, has acquired 64% equity stake in Kotsons Private Limited through a primary capital infusion, making Kotsons a subsidiary of Waaree Energies. The proceeds of this infusion will be strategically utilized to further expand Kotsons' manufacturing capacity, enabling it to meet the growing domestic and global demand for transformers. Established in 1979, Kotsons brings over four decades of expertise in transformer manufacturing currently having a production capacity of 4,000 MVA. The company manufactures transformers up to 35 MVA 36kV and already holds UL certifications to serve the USA and Canada. This capacity will further be expanded to manufacture & supply 110kV/132kV/220kV transformers to USA & India. For Waaree's customers, this translates into a more holistic offering - from world-class solar modules to transformers that ensure reliable grid integration, improved project economics, and faster deployment timelines. Dr. Hitesh Doshi, Chairman & Managing Director, Waaree Group, said: "Transformers are a critical enabler in solar and renewable energy infrastructure, ensuring efficient power distribution and reliable grid integration across international markets. Waaree's entry into the transformer business through Kotsons is a strategic extension of our vision to provide integrated, end-to-end energy solutions. For our customers in the US and globally, this integration means access to world-class solar modules and internationally certified transformers, delivering trust, reliability and sustainability at scale. For Waaree, it strengthens our vertical integration, enhances global exporting capabilities, and brings us closer to our goal of becoming a leading global integrated energy solutions provider." About Waaree Solar Americas Inc. Waaree is a global leader in solar energy, boasting the largest presence outside of China. Our commitment to excellence, sustainability, and diversity drives us to harness solar power for a greener future. With operations across multiple continents, we deliver cutting-edge solar solutions worldwide. At Waaree Solar Americas, we take pride in our US manufacturing capabilities, contributing significantly to a sustainable and energy-independent future. Our reliable, efficient solar products support sustainable development and are backed by the latest technological advancements. We believe that diversity and inclusivity are key to innovation and success, and our workforce reflects this commitment. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2585961/5365290/Waaree_Americas_Logo.jpg SOURCE Waaree Solar Americas Inc. Beloved Haircare Brand Brings Its Iconic Brushes and Exclusive Designs Directly to Consumers NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wet Brush, the brand that revolutionized hair detangling and made tug-free brushing a global norm, has officially relaunched direct-to-consumer (DTC) in the U.S. on www.wetbrush.com . Fans of the cult-favorite brush brand will now be able to shop exclusive products, limited-edition patterns, and on-trend designs directly from the brand. Wet Brush This exciting milestone enables Wet Brush, owned by haircare company Beauty By Imagination, to connect more deeply with its loyal community, giving consumers early access to select new releases. Wet Brush is offering $5.00 domestic shipping for all orders and free shipping for orders over $35.00. The brand has also launched on TikTok Shop, making shopping even more seamless for its highly engaged digital audience. "This direct-to-consumer launch is an important moment for Wet Brush and for BBI," said Doug Gillespie, CEO of BBI. "We're excited to bring our most iconic products and new exclusives directly to the people who love them most, making our brand more accessible and forging stronger connections with our consumers." Millions trust Wet Brush because it works gently and effectively. The Wet Brush Original Detangler is beloved across all hair types and glides through wet or dry hair with less breakage, making painful detangling a thing of the past. Its signature IntelliFlex bristles are ultra-soft and are kind to the scalp, minimizing pain and helping to reduce breakage. Whether managing straight, wavy or curly hair, Wet Brush delivers detangling, drying and styling experiences that are as gentle as they are effective. With over 300 million brushes sold worldwide, a Wet Brush is purchased every three seconds. Trusted by top stylists, influencers, celebrities, and consumers alike, the Wet Brush boasts more than 85,000 five-star reviews. Wet Brush is now available for consumers in the U.S. to shop on www.wetbrush.com and TikTok Shop ( @thewetbrush ), in addition to major ecommerce and omnichannel retailers. Follow @thewetbrush on Instagram and @thewetbrush on TikTok About Beauty by Imagination: Beauty by Imagination is a haircare industry leader dedicated to boosting self-confidence with imaginative solutions for every hair moment. We are a platform company of innovative, market-leading brands including Wet Brush, Goody, Ouidad and Bio Ionic all of which are committed to being the most trusted choice for happy, healthy, hair morning to night, home to salon. Our talented and diverse global team is passionate about delivering high-performing products for every consumer and salon professional. www.bbicompany.com About Wet Brush: Wet Brush has been delivering tangle-free, healthier-looking hair with less breakage for over 20 years. Created in the professional channel, Wet Brush has a brush for every hair type and continues to bring innovative hair solutions to consumers in over 75 countries worldwide. www.wetbrush.com SOURCE Wet Brush New strategic VAR agreement unlocks long-range infrared charging for enterprise customers across industrial equipment, factory automation, logistics, retail, healthcare, and more TEL AVIV, Israel and TOKYO, September 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wi-Charge, the global leader in long-range wireless power, has signed a new value-added reseller (VAR) agreement with Tokyo-based Marubun Corporation. This agreement marks a significant step in expanding Wi-Charge's presence across Asia and delivering truly wireless power solutions to businesses and consumers in Japan. "Japan is a global leader in both innovation and cutting-edge technology, and our over-the-air wireless power solutions align perfectly with the country's demand for clean, aesthetic, and future-forward solutions," said Ori Mor, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Wi-Charge. "Marubun's reputation, reach, and technical strength make them an ideal partner to bring wireless power to a market that values leadership, performance and precision." The two companies will collaborate on go-to-market strategy, vertical targeting, and integration support. The partnership will initially focus on commercial and industrial use cases where consistent power delivery, costly wiring, visual cleanliness, and battery maintenance are pain points. Wi-Charge's core technology, AirCord, delivers watts of safe, infrared power across room-sized distances. That means no batteries to swap and no wires to runjust real power delivered invisibly through the air. It's already being deployed globally in applications like smart locks, digital signage, tablets, retail displays, and IoT sensors. "We're excited to add Wi-Charge's groundbreaking technology to our portfolio," said Hajime Ochi at Marubun. "Their distance wireless power solutions open the door to new applications and experiences for our customers in industrial automation, medtech, smart infrastructure, and beyond." Marubun has a long-standing track record of providing cutting-edge global technology to the Japanese enterprise and public sector markets. Founded in 1844, the firm is one of the most respected names in Japan's electronics distribution ecosystem, with technical teams that support implementation and customization across sectors. More details on launch timing, target industries, and early customer deployments will be shared in the coming months. About Wi-Charge Wi-Charge is the leading company in long-range wireless power to consumer and commercial devices, designed to enable automatic charging of smart mobile devices, smart home electronics, industrial automation, and a wide range of other commercial and IOT electronics. Our patented infrared wireless power technology safely and efficiently delivers several watts of power over room-sized distances, freeing end users from batteries and power cords. By providing product designers with scalable, efficient wireless power, Wi-Charge is shaping the future of smart devices. For more information, visit www.wi-charge.com or follow us on LinkedIn . Media Contact: Josh Heath Ampliphi Communications for Wi-Charge [email protected] SOURCE Wi-Charge Cynicism is a weapon of war, and Russia is a sharpshooter. Its president, Vladimir Putin, is considering withdrawing from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture (ECPT), to which it has been a party since 1998. A political mockery that deepens the open wound of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in Russian prisons, victims of terrible abuse. Maksim Butkevich, 48, is one of them. His story is measured but devastating. He was released in a POW exchange on October 18, after two years and four months of captivity. He admits that it may sound strange to say that one is afraid of fear a play on words but its understandable. I remember the fear in prison when the guards were nearby, in the cells next door, he explains. I remember how I anticipated the pain; thats what scared me the most. The story of Butkevich a Kyiv native who, before taking up arms, was a journalist and human rights defender with the BBC and Amnesty International on his resume is similar to that of so many Ukrainians who have passed through Russian detention centers. With one peculiarity and frustration: he got out, others didnt, and he doesnt know why. Im an anti-fascist, and perhaps I was the least suitable prisoner to be accused of being a Nazi, he says. A trap Although Butkevich had not been a fan of war, on the night of February 24, 2022, a few hours after the Kremlin sent its troops into Ukraine, he volunteered to defend his country. He successfully participated in the resistance and expulsion of the enemy from the outskirts of Kyiv. From there, he jumped to the eastern front commanding a platoon of 20 men. We werent aware of how different the war was there, he admits. On June 21 of that year, he was captured along with eight of his recruits near the village of Myrna Dolyna, in Luhansk province. He recalls the irony of fighting in a place that, translated, means Peaceful Valley. A trap had been set for them. Butkevich and his men had been ordered to an observation point. The Russians were close by. Communications had been lost, but the sound of oncoming vehicles made them consider withdrawing. A comrade from another unit informed them that they were surrounded and that if they wanted to save themselves, they had to follow his instructions. The interlocutor, a prisoner of the Russian army at the time, led them under threat into open country. They will kill you if you dont throw down your weapons, he warned them in a new communication. They were an easy target, so Butkevich ordered his men to surrender. They took everything we had, he recalls, but they didnt treat us badly at first. They were taken to an unmarked location on the outskirts of Luhansk. There, the tone changed. Handcuffed, they were visited by high-ranking military personnel and special forces. The beatings and threats began. Butkevich recalls something one of the Russian commanders said: You are not prisoners of war [protected by international law], no one knows where you are, if you dont behave, you will die. Systematic harassment The United Nations accuses the Russian military of torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war. These practices range from ill-treatment to extreme conditions of detention and even sexual violence. In a report published last June, the UN claimed to have credible evidence of the execution of 35 Ukrainian soldiers. It also noted that Russian prisoners had reported ill-treatment in transit centers in Ukraine. The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has detailed the Russian authorities modus operandi with prisoners: sham trials on charges of terrorism, espionage, sabotage, destruction of property, or war crimes. In total, the OSCE has documented 1,472 of these fabricated cases. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin urged Putin last week to submit to parliament Russias withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted in 1987 by the Council of Europe, an organization of which Russia is no longer a party after being expelled following its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow, however, remains a signatory to that anti-torture treaty, as well as to the UN Convention against Torture. Confession Butkevich continues his story. The next person to interrogate the platoon of prisoners made them kneel. He wanted them to recite anti-Ukrainian propaganda with him, probably excerpts from Putins texts or speeches. He grabbed a wooden stick and threatened to use it on me if anyone got confused, Butkevich says. He believes they wanted to humiliate him for being the platoon leader. He started hitting me on a specific spot on my back, behind my shoulder. I told him he was going to break it; he was making me dizzy, and he replied that he knew what he was doing. His hands were immobilized for weeks. Others came and continued hitting him. One of them made him raise his arms up to punch him in the stomach. With his limbs in that position, the pain is worse. They were transferred to another prison in Luhansk, where they received a poor mattress, insufficient food, and a towel. There was no toilet paper. The mistreatment continued over the following months; more interrogations by various security forces and the self-proclaimed Russian authorities in Luhansk. Until August of that first year of the war arrived. Then began the fabrication of the case that would end in a conviction. In August, a couple of months after his capture, Buktevich was interrogated without being able to see his interlocutors. While they beat him with a baton and gloved hands, they gave him three options: either he plead guilty to war crimes or they would send him to where, according to the accusation, he had committed his crime, let him escape, and shoot him; or they would lock him up with common prisoners, giving them free rein to do whatever they wanted to him. Ill confess, he told them. He signed the paper without even knowing what it said because they covered it with their hands. What he could see was an electrified stick that, he was warned, could be used to rape him. This didnt happen, although he did hear his jailers describe this type of abuse on occasion. He was the only one of those captured at Myrna Dolyna on June 21, 2022, who was forced to sign a confession. Five of his men were exchanged for Russian prisoners; three remain in captivity. In March 2023, Butkevich was sentenced to 13 years in prison for war crimes. He later learned that the guilty verdict listed him as responsible for the deaths of two civilians in a town he had never been to. In fact, at the time of the incident, he was still in Kyiv. The victims were real, but they had perished under Russian fire. His destination was a strict-regime prison where he was finally able to walk and see the light, where he exercised and taught English to other inmates; where he listened to music he remembered in his head, created dystopian stories, or reminisced about all the good people he had met. My interrogators couldnt take that inner world away from me, he says with a certain pride. By then, an international campaign for his release had already been launched. He was released 10 months ago, along with 189 other prisoners of war. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The trip to Mexico by U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio has the Claudia Sheinbaum administration holding its breath. It is the first visit by one of Donald Trumps top aides, and it represents a crucial step in balancing bilateral relations, which have become strained over the past eight months due to Washingtons aggressive policies on immigration, tariffs, and drugs, as well as its demands in the fight against crime. President Sheinbaum will meet with Rubio on Wednesday at the National Palace in Mexico City and hopes, as she indicated in a press conference, that the meeting will lead to an understanding with the State Secretary. The Mexican president wants greater collaboration not only on issues such as drug trafficking, irregular immigration and trade agreements, but also greater transparency in the exchange of information regarding Mexican drug traffickers who are being tried in the United States. Rubioa Cuban-American politician who is ultraconservative, fiercely protectionist, and a strong critic of Mexico will be paying his first official visit to the country as head of the State Department, and will later travel to Ecuador. Until now, his agenda had not included Mexico despite the intense relationship the United States has maintained with the Sheinbaum administration since Trumps return to the White House last January. Mexico was left out of the secretarys first two tours of Latin America and the Caribbean earlier this year. Washington has insisted that it will deepen bilateral ties and has proposed burden-sharing with Mexico to dismantle cartels,halt fentanyl trafficking, end illegal immigration, reduce the trade deficit, and promote economic prosperity and counter malign extra continental actors. For her part, Sheinbaum has emphasized that she seeks to sign an agreement for greater security collaboration that includes joint investigations as well as the exchange of information between both countries, a pending demand that has worsened with the recent arrests of drug lords facing criminal prosecution north of the border. Mexico has asked the United States to share details of the collaboration agreements it reached with two rival drug traffickers, Ismael El Mayo Zambada and Ovidio Guzman, in exchange for guilty pleas. Faced with the possibility of Mexican political and business leaders being exposed as having ties to drug trafficking activities, Sheinbaum has criticized the affronts to Mexican sovereignty in the arrest of El Mayo. In the case of Guzman, she questioned the lack of coordination with the Attorney Generals Office and criticized the United States for negotiating with terrorists. Another disagreement with U.S. authorities was the announcement by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regarding Operation Portero, a joint program with Mexico to dismantle the agents who control smuggling corridors along the southwest border. Sheinbaum abruptly and categorically denied the existence of the program, stating that she does not know why the DEA announced an operation that does not exist. She added that the only agreement on the table has yet to be signed. It is with the State Department and is fundamentally based on sovereignty, mutual trust, territorial respectthat is, that each party operates within its own territoryand coordination, without subordination, she emphasized. The situation was already tense due to the sanctions the Treasury Department announced in July against three Mexican financial institutions for alleged money laundering for the benefit of the countrys major cartels. Mexico launched its own investigations, but clarified that no legal action could be taken without evidence of the crime, as the United States had not shared it. They havent sent a single piece of evidence indicating that money laundering is taking place. Rubio faces the challenge of reconciling these points of contention and seeking a space for cooperation during his meeting with the Mexican president. His first official visit is fraught with expectations after Rubio designated Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations and highlighted the countrys ongoing violence crisis. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 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 Activist Greta Thunberg aboard one of the ships that form part of the Sumud Global Flotilla, in the port of Barcelona this Monday. Five of the 30 ships carrying food, water and medicine were forced to return to the port of Barcelona for the second time. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is one of 200 people attempting the Mediterranean crossing Rough seas are once again standing in the way of the Global Sumud Flotillas goal of reaching Gaza and breaking the Israeli blockade. The expedition, which its organizers describe as the largest flotilla in history, has so far been joined by some 200 citizens from 44 countries, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, and the Brazilian activist Thiago Avila. Five of the 30 boats that departed on Monday afternoon from the port of Barcelona (Spain) were forced to turn back, and two never even left the harbor due to mechanical difficulties. Although the wind had decreased compared to Sunday, when the flotilla also had to turn back several hours after setting out, the strong waves in the Mediterranean Sea once again affected the smaller vessels, mainly sailboats. The night on board was tough for many mission participants, who endured seasickness and vomiting. The rough seas also caused damage to some boats, including water leaks and electrical and mechanical problems. It is still too early to know whether all those who returned to port will be able to resume the mission at some point or will be forced to abandon it. Around 20 vessels continued on their way to Tunisia, where another 20 ships from the African Flotilla are ready to join the mission to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid and break the Israeli blockade. The first group is expected to make a technical stop in Spains Balearic Islands to wait for the stragglers from Barcelona. For security reasons, organizers did not disclose the port where the ships would be stopping. The goal of the mission is to gather as many ships and people as possible. The organizers, however, have reported sabotage of some of the ships in Italian ports, and fear that the number of people traveling will not exceed the 650 who traveled in 2010 on the Mavi Marmara, a cruise ship that was intercepted by the Israeli military and where 10 crew members died during the assault. However, they are confident that the record for the number of ships heading to Gaza will be broken. Marinette, a 12-meter sailboat on which EL PAIS is traveling, has not been spared from problems either. The engine began to fail early this morning, and it is navigating exclusively under sail. A mechanic from the organization is expected to be at the Balearic port to check the extent of the problem. Cameron, an Australian crew member who asked that his last name not be disclosed, managed to restart the engine, although it was still not running optimally. The crew remains confident that they will be able to reach Tunisia, even under sail. The Mediterranean voyage was initially planned to last between 15 and 20 days, but bad weather and repeated returns to the starting point could prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza before the end of the month. In June, Thunberg and other activists were intercepted by Israel as they attempted to reach Gaza on the Freedom Flotilla. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The lives of millions of children hang in the balance if they lose access to this compound. The UN and NGOs are seeking solutions to produce it locally and distribute the US stockpile When it comes to hunger, Gaza is currently at the top of the pyramid: the UN has confirmed that half a million people are on the brink of death from starvation, something that has only happened three times in the last two decades and never for reasons strictly linked to political decisions. Beyond the horror provoked by witnessing the famine caused by the Israeli blockade of food supplies, 295 million people worldwide are threatened by hunger. Of this total, 37 million are children with acute malnutrition or wasting (low weight for their age), of whom 10.2 million suffer from severe acute malnutrition, according to data from the Global Report on Food Crisis 2025, prepared by UN agencies. Wasting is the leading cause of death among children aged under five, primarily due to complications such as diarrhea and infections. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at Washington University School of Medicine, in 1990, 6.6 million children died from causes related to malnutrition, but progress in recent decades had reduced that figure to 2.4 million in 2021. These advances were directly linked to a product that changed the global landscape in the 1990s: Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). These simple yet miraculous sachets contain a combination of peanut paste, oil, milk, vitamins, and essential minerals to combat the most severe cases of childhood malnutrition. For just $45, a six- to eight-week treatment can be completed that can save a childs life. RUTF has undoubtedly changed the course of malnutrition treatments because it can be distributed like medicine, patients can take it home, and it doesnt require water, which was a serious problem with previous treatments, Luis Gonzalez, technical director of the NGO Action Against Hunger, told EL PAIS. However, the situation has changed radically in 2025. The disappearance of USAID has disrupted the entire RUTF distribution chain because USAID financed most of these products, Gonzalez explains. The entire system comes to a standstill because even if there are products in clinics and warehouses, its not enough, and USAIDs cuts have also affected the personnel who distribute them Luis Gonzalez, Action Against Hunger In 2024, UNICEF was able to treat more than nine million children with severe acute malnutrition using RUTF. Lara Contreras, Director of Influence, Programs, and Partnerships at UNICEF Spain, confirms: UNICEF acquires and distributes approximately 75% to 80% of the global supply of RUTF. Once the products arrive on the ground, local partners are responsible for transporting them to their final destination: community health programs, she explains. According to the official, USAID has often funded these purchases $200 million for UNICEF alone in 2024 although it also purchased RUTF directly and then distributed it with the support of NGOs or UNICEF itself. A paralyzed system What happened when USAID suddenly stopped purchasing RUTF? Gonzalez is blunt: The entire system comes to a standstill because even if there are products in clinics and warehouses, its not enough, and USAIDs cuts have also affected the personnel who distribute them. Studies published since the USAID debacle began, with the paralysis of all its programs in February and the definitive closure of the agency in July, offer concrete figures: 369,000 children could die this year due to lack of access to treatments for malnutrition, according to the journal Nature, which published an analysis authored by the Standing Together Nutrition Consortium, an international network of experts in nutrition and development. But it may have been an underestimate: according to the data visualization platform Impact Counter, the number of children who have died up to August due to USAID cuts has already reached 300,000, of which 90,000 are directly due to malnutrition and the rest due to preventable diseases. According to The Lancet, the U.S. agency prevented the deaths of 90 million people over the past two decades, including 30 million children. The publication predicts that between four and five million children could die by 2030 due to the disappearance of USAID. The abrupt withdrawal of donor support is leaving millions of already seriously ill children without access to these life-saving programs and is weakening the institutional capacity, expertise, and infrastructure needed to deliver essential nutrition services, explained Saskia Osendarp, executive director of the Micronutrient Forum, a platform of experts focused on improving the health of the most vulnerable communities through micronutrients. From UNICEF, Lara Contreras explains it in concrete terms: Due to these cuts, children will die from entirely preventable causes, not only from malnutrition, but also from a lack of safe drinking water, safe sanitation, and essential health services. The expert cites that in Lebanon, nutrition services for some 55,000 children were reduced overnight; in Bangladesh, critical nutrition, hygiene, vaccination, and education services were reduced or suspended altogether. In Haiti, where 3.3 million children need urgent assistance in the face of violence and shortages, dependence on a single donor threatens the ability to meet even the most basic needs. Were talking about 15 million children and mothers whose access to nutritional support could be interrupted, she insists. Due to these cuts, children will die from entirely preventable causes, not only from malnutrition, but also from a lack of safe drinking water, safe sanitation, and essential health services Lara Contreras, Unicef The problem is not limited to USAID alone. Donald Trumps pressure on Europe to increase NATO military spending has also had a devastating effect on cooperation. The United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, for example, have announced cuts of between 25% and 40% over the next three to five years. These measures represent a 44% reduction compared to the $1.6 billion allocated in 2022 to alleviate malnutrition globally, according to calculations by the Standing Together Nutrition Consortium published in Nature. This amount includes RUTF treatments and other complementary programs such as fortified biscuits and cereals, supplements for pregnant and malnourished women, and simply healthcare personnel to manage the programs. Weve looked for alternatives to continue providing support. In many cases, the first step has been to reduce rations, explains Gonzalez. Furthermore, the situation has revived the long-held idea of producing RUTF locally. Weve seen that relying solely on American producers and a single buyer can be very problematic, so the humanitarian community is working to create alternative production chains, but of course, that will take time, says this aid worker. And time, in this case, costs lives. Sudanese children are examined for malnutrition after crossing the border into South Sudan in April 2023. Jok Solomun (REUTERS) Tons of expired supplements The dismantling of USAID, which invested some $43 billion annually, and the chaos it has wreaked on many humanitarian organizations that relied on its support, is also leading to the waste of tons of products used in nutrition programs. In July, the State Department ordered the destruction of 500 tons of fortified biscuits it had stored in Dubai because they had expired, while Reuters reported in May that more than 60,000 tons of food and nutritional supplements were languishing in U.S. warehouses around the world. This summer, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen complained about the situation: If the State Department doesnt have the officials to distribute it, lets give it to other aid organizations so that they can distribute it, so its not going to waste and that people are getting the benefit of not only what American taxpayers pay for, but the people who are truly desperate. However, the State Department, questioned at a press conference on the issue in August, has been unable to provide a concrete answer about its distribution plan for the stalled orders. At Edesias warehouses, one of the two largest U.S. producers of RUTF, the situation is not easy. Luckily, no product has expired, but we have 185,000 boxes of RUTF worth $7.5 million in our warehouses. Theyve been paid for and undistributed, Navyn Salem, founder of Edesia, explained via email to EL PAIS. Weve spent much of this year raising funds to maintain our production chain and forging alliances with NGOs working on the ground, but there will be a lot of pressure to make up for the eight months of lost time, she added. UNICEF initially confirmed on August 11 that the State Department had awarded it $93 million to purchase RUTF to treat one million malnourished children in 13 countries. These treatments will have to be sourced from the Edesia factory or Mana Nutrition, the other U.S. producer of RUTF. However, UNICEF also explained that it takes two to three months from the time an order is placed to the time it arrives at its destination, a critical delay given the current circumstances. Curiously, Edesia is still awaiting an order whose scale will undoubtedly require its factory to participate. We keep hearing news, they say there will be imminent instructions, but so far, no one has contacted us, Salem stated on August 27. The situation is such that its factory has had to juggle multiple tasks to fulfill its contracts with American farmers who supply its raw materials. Weve had to make many difficult decisions without information to guide us, Salem concludes. Meanwhile, in August, the World Food Programme (WFP) closed 150 clinics in Nigeria, a country facing alarming levels of malnutrition and where the WFP was assisting 300,000 malnourished children. We are witnessing massive budget cuts, particularly from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other European countries, which are having a real impact on the treatment of malnourished children, confirmed Ahmed Aldikhari, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) representative in Nigeria. In Afghanistan, child malnutrition has reached unprecedented levels, leading UNICEF and the WFP to forge an alliance to combat it. But there too, funding is lacking, and only aid from the European Union is saving the day. Action Against Hunger has also had to close nutrition programs in countries like Sudan, where famine has already been declared. And in other countries, weve managed to maintain our operations because ECHO (the European agency for humanitarian operations) has helped fill the gaps left by USAID, but the situation is very complicated, concludes Gonzalez. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The president of Venezuela has so far avoided any direct mention of the destruction of an alleged drug boat. The Chavista government has been under unprecedented military pressure for weeks The United States has moved from rhetoric to action. The White House celebrated as a major event the military strike on a boat that had departed from Venezuela on Tuesday. None of the 11 crew members on board survived what appears to have been a missile strike, according to images released by the U.S. government. The emphasis that U.S. President Donald Trump has placed on the attack, which took place in international waters, increases the pressure on Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington wants to bring to justice for allegedly leading an international drug cartel. The Venezuelan president, in a televised appearance, did not explicitly address the missile strike. Instead, he alluded to it ironically at the end of the broadcast by playing a famous song by Ruben Blades called Tiburon (Jaws), a metaphor for American intervention in Latin America. For almost three weeks, the Chavista government has been under unprecedented military pressure. Trump has deployed three destroyers, P-8 spy planes, battleships, and a nuclear submarine to an undetermined point in the Caribbean Sea. Although their exact location is unknown because their electronic systems block radar signals, some experts place the contingent on the border with Venezuelan international waters. This show of force is intended to intimidate the drug cartels that send their shipments to the United States, but not only them. It also intimidates a certain individual named Nicolas Maduro. The Venezuelan president has gotten the message: he has deployed troops to the border and says hes ready to declare an armed conflict. Throughout the country, people are being encouraged to join a militia to confront a hypothetical U.S. military incursion, even though they could be clearly outnumbered. The U.S. State Department claims that Maduro is leading the Cartel of the Suns, an organization it has declared a terrorist organization so that it can be confronted with military means. (So far, no evidence has been shown that Hugo Chavezs successor is behind this organization.) Maduro has experienced many moments of uncertainty in his 12 years at the helm, but none of this magnitude. He has found himself internationally isolated since declaring himself the winner of a presidential election last year, the results of which were clearly rigged. The Chavista regime unleashed a repression in the country, with thousands arrested. The presumed real winner of those elections, Edmundo Gonzalez, went into exile in Spain. Not even leftist powers in Latin America, such as Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, recognized Maduros self-proclamation. However, he managed to remain in office in a way that has been very successful for Chavismo: the wear and tear that comes with the passage of time. Little by little, the Venezuelan political situation faded from the international agenda. Trumps return to the White House was enthusiastically celebrated by Maria Corina Machado, the absolute leader of the Venezuelan opposition. The tycoon arrived accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a personal friend of Machados. Rubio has used very aggressive language against the regimes of Cuba and Venezuela throughout his political career and is considered the main advocate within the Trump administration in favor of sanctions and economic pressure against those countries. However, the U.S. president grew closer to Maduro in his first months in office by sending his special envoy, Richard Grenell, to Caracas. The American official was photographed with Maduro at Miraflores Palace, the presidential residence, while both looked at a sword once owned by Simon Bolivar. He took six Americans imprisoned in Venezuela back on the plane. In Washington, it was said that Grenell, who is close to the interests of oil companies, had an advantage over Rubio on this issue. Later, an agreement was reached for the oil company Chevron to continue operating in Venezuela, a vital source of income for its public coffers. And authorization was also granted for local deportees to arrive from the United States. Many interpreted these moves as a way to give the Maduro government some breathing space. Chavismo trustedand still truststhe non-interventionist policy with which Trump came to power, which advocates limiting the United States military and diplomatic commitments abroad. However, they also know that he is an unpredictable person who unsettles his own advisorsthey recommended he not attack Iran, yet he did. Our main enemy is Marco Rubio, a Chavista leader says via text message. He asserts that the presidents entourage is calm and doesnt believe an invasion will occur. Were open to talking about anything, he adds. Chavismo moves, as it always has, between two tensions: using harsh and provocative rhetoric while always showing a willingness to negotiate. In fact, it rarely attacks Trump head-on. In his speeches, the target of Maduros criticism is usually Rubio, whom he accuses of poisoning the president with his ideas. The situation has escalated in a matter of weeks to levels no one imagined. The deployment in the Caribbean Sea was an initial wake-up call for Maduro, but it was time to see what Washingtons next step would be. A declassified video has shown what it was: destroying a boat in a matter of seconds and annihilating everyone on board. The message has been delivered. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Data from a U.S. probe that stopped working three years ago has just revealed the existence of a 1,200-kilometer-wide (740 miles) metal core deep inside Mars. According to its discoverers, this is the planets solid core a finding that contradicts what was previously believed about our neighboring world. The discovery deepens the mystery of why Mars, once a blue planet with oceans, rivers, and possible forms of life, suddenly transformed into a desert where radiation would annihilate any surface life. The U.S. probe InSight holds the distinction of carrying the first seismometer to another planet. The NASA mission began operating in 2018, recording ground tremors known as marsquakes. By 2022, after logging more than 1,000 quakes, frequent dust storms disabled its solar panels, ending the spacecrafts operational life. Nevertheless, it managed to shed light on the internal structure of the planet for the first time. According to InSight data, although Mars is a rocky planet like Earth, it differs in having no solid core its core was thought to be liquid, composed mainly of molten iron. But on Wednesday, a team of Chinese and U.S. scientists presented a review of 23 quakes recorded by the probe. They focused on this subset because some seismic waves traveled through the planet from side to side, while others bounced roughly halfway. In 1936, a Danish woman named Inge Lehmann used signals from a similar earthquake in New Zealand to demonstrate that Earth has a solid inner core. Todays scientists followed a nearly identical method to analyze the arrival of different seismic waves. Their results suggest that Mars inner core is solid and measures approximately 1,200 kilometers in diameter. The findings were published on Wednesday in Nature, a leading global science journal. Five of the six study authors work at scientific institutions in China, and the sixth is a U.S. researcher. None were part of the main InSight science team. Over time, data from the mission became publicly available to the scientific community, and this group was the first to analyze these Martian quakes. The new cross-sectional diagram of Mars with an outer crust, mantle, liquid core, and solid inner core bears a striking resemblance to Earth. In fact, the thickness of these layers is proportionally almost identical, raising even more questions about why these two rocky planets are so different. Diagram of the interior of the Earth, on the left, and Mars. Nature Until now, it was believed that Mars ceased to be a habitable planet precisely because of its core. Scientists thought that, like Earth, Mars core had acted as a dynamo generating a magnetic field that, among other things, protected the surface from the Suns intense radiation. For reasons unknown, about 5 billion years ago this engine stopped, the outer atmosphere disappeared, and the planet lost its vast water reserves, becoming the frozen desert it is today. If life ever existed on the Martian surface, it probably vanished forever. Any remaining possibility for life would be far from the intense surface radiation, deep underground. The conclusions of the Chinese and U.S. scientists do not convince all experts. Simon Stahler, a geophysicist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and a scientific collaborator on the InSight mission, says: The data dont convince me entirely, but its true that they have taken into account all possible confounding factors and the results hold up. I would say theres a 30% chance that this is true, which is roughly the same as the existence of a solid core on the Moon [something the scientific community largely accepts]. The new study highlights how difficult it is to study the interiors of planets, where materials are subjected to enormous pressures and extremely high temperatures. Stahler notes that laboratory data on the behavior of iron the element thought to make up most of Mars inner core suggest the temperature is too high to prevent it from melting. But he also acknowledges: The data gathered in the laboratory on Earth do not represent the exact real-world conditions of the Martian core, so these new data may be showing us things about the behavior of materials that we dont yet understand. The authors of the study argue that a solid core is possible because it contains not only iron but also lighter elements like oxygen. They estimate that the innermost part of the planet is around 1,700 degrees Celsius (3,092F). Considering that the layer immediately above is liquid and contains sulfur, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen, a solid inner core is the most likely scenario, they argue. Antonio Molina, a planetary geologist at the Center for Astrobiology in Madrid, welcomes the new findings, calling them very interesting. He explains: This finding implies that Mars is more like Earth than previously thought. The authors propose that the solid inner core could comprise 0.18% of the planets total radius, while on Earth it is 0.19%. One possible interpretation is that Mars is older than we thought and that its core has already begun the process of crystallization. But this same process of continued activity produces internal activity that may imply that Mars is more alive. In any case, it is another step in understanding what planetary bodies are like and how they evolve. The key question is: if Mars and Earth share such similar internal structures, why are their surface conditions so different? Geologist Nicholas Schmerr, also part of the InSight team, suggests that while planetary magnetic fields depend on rotation, heat flow from the core, and the cores composition, the crystallization of Mars solid inner core is very slow, which prevents the planet from generating a magnetic field. The mystery is far from resolved. A very similar situation occurred on Earth. Danish mathematician Inge Lehmanns original and correct proposal in 1936 was not confirmed until 1970, when more precise seismometers were installed across the planet. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Retroactive penalties can exceed $1 million if people have been in the United States for a long time. Critics argue the strategy is more akin to intimidation than justice The Trump administration has launched an initiative to collect more than $6 billion in fines from immigrants who have remained in the country despite receiving deportation orders. These fines, issued under the presidents new immigration policy, represent a financial expansion of immigration enforcement beyond deportations. In recent months, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have escalated their efforts to turn deportation denial into a financial issue. They have sent notices to immigrants threatening lawsuits, debt collectors, and even tax implications if fines are not paid. Furthermore, the agencies remind people that if they self-deport, the balance will be eliminated and a $1,000 exit bonus will be granted. They also warn that those who remain in the country risk increasingly severe penalties, some as high as $1,000 a day. This affects immigrants already living paycheck to paycheck. Retroactive fines can exceed $1 million if people have been in the United States for a long time. However, immigration attorneys have said these amounts are not intended for reimbursement, but are simply used to instill fear. Unpayable debts The practice of immigrant fines is based on a little-used provision of a 1996 immigration law, which has been revived by the Trump administration to bolster its promise to carry out the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history. As a result, the practice now relies not only on detention centers, deportation flights, and physical enforcement, but also on financial coercion. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed his commitment to recovering these sums on behalf of the American taxpayers and announced that the Treasury Debt Collection Service will work directly with ICE to seize tax refunds, restrict federal payments, and hire private debt collectors. On the other hand, the DHS has indicated that unpaid fines could be reported to the IRS as taxable income, similar to forgiven credit card or mortgage debts. However, tax experts are skeptical about the legality of this maneuver, noting that the waiver of a fine is different from the elimination of a financial gain. Immigrants and the economy Many of the affected immigrants work in low-wage industries such as construction, agriculture, and other sectors that rely heavily on undocumented labor. By burdening workers with impossible-to-pay debts, the government risks pushing them further underground, lowering labor standards and complicating tax collection efforts. The reality is that many undocumented immigrants already participate in the tax system, so threatening to seize tax refunds contradicts the narrative that paints them as outsiders to the countrys financial framework. Similarly, aggressive enforcement of fines in states with large immigrant labor forces could lead to labor shortages, disrupt local economies, and put upward pressure on wages in sectors that are already struggling to find staff. Critics argue that the multimillion-dollar fines imposed on low-income workers are more akin to intimidation than justice. Advocacy groups such as the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) have denounced the rules as unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendments prohibition on excessive penalties. The ILRC warns that the new system deprives immigrants of due process by limiting appeals, shortening response times, and confining reviews to DHS rather than independent tribunals. Employers fined While the focus has been on individuals, ICE has long maintained a parallel structure for sanctioning employers. Companies can be fined between $375 and $16,000 for each unauthorized worker, and up to $250,000 for knowingly harboring or transporting undocumented employees. Errors on I-9 employment forms can also result in penalties ranging from $110 to $1,100 per violation. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, addresses a symposium commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Representatives of patriotic figures from all sectors of society from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign countries, attended the symposium. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- A symposium commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held in Beijing on Tuesday, drawing 340 participants, including representatives of patriotic figures from all sectors of society from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign countries. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the symposium and delivered a speech. The victory in the war against Japanese aggression was China's first complete triumph in modern times against foreign invasion, and it was a great victory achieved through the courageous struggle of all Chinese people, including compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese, Wang said. He said the victory stands as a shared memory of the Chinese nation and a shared honor of all Chinese people. The motherland and its people will always remember the unique contributions made by compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese, to the establishment of the international anti-fascist united front, Wang said. He stressed that the commemoration of the war's victory should highlight its profound significance and demonstrate to the world the major contribution of the Eastern battlefield in the global fight against fascism. Wang underscored the importance of carrying forward the great national spirit, with patriotism at its core, along with the great spirit of the war of resistance, in order to rally powerful strength for the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He called for efforts to advance Chinese modernization in a comprehensive way, support and promote the integration of Hong Kong and Macao into the country's overall development, and improve the institutions and policies that facilitate economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait. It is essential to safeguard and strengthen the stability and harmony of Hong Kong and Macao, he said. Wang stressed the importance of adhering to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, firmly opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, and resolutely upholding the victorious outcome of the recovery of Taiwan in the war against Japanese aggression. He also called for efforts to uphold a correct historical perspective on WWII and contribute to world peace and development, and the progress of human civilization. Why the Shanghai Spirit resonates stronger today? Xinhua) 16:02, September 02, 2025 TIANJIN, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) convened its largest-ever summit from Sunday to Monday in Tianjin, China's northern gateway city, drawing participation from over 20 countries and 10 international organizations. At the summit, leaders reaffirmed the Shanghai Spirit, featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and the pursuit of common development, as the bedrock of regional cooperation. Today, amid global turbulence, this spirit has gained wider recognition for offering a cooperative vision grounded in dialogue rather than confrontation, inclusiveness rather than exclusivity, and mutual benefits rather than a zero-sum game. That explains why the SCO can draw more and more followers, while the Shanghai Spirit can resonate so strongly worldwide. SHARED DEVELOPMENT At the Tianjin summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to provide 2 billion yuan (280 million U.S. dollars) in grants to SCO member states within this year. China will also issue an additional 10 billion yuan (1.4 billion dollars) in loans to the member banks of the SCO Interbank Consortium over the next three years, Xi added. The Chinese president also called for establishing an SCO development bank as soon as possible to provide more support for economic cooperation among member states. Over the past years, Xi has put an emphasis on boosting the SCO's sustainable development through a spectrum of initiatives and cooperative projects. He said: "True development is development for all, and good development is sustainable." "Through China-led initiatives, the SCO can advance win-win cooperation, enhance regional stability, and foster economic growth across Eurasia," said Selcuk Colakoglu, director of the Ankara-based Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies. With its development, the SCO has grown beyond its regional roots, now comprising 10 member states along with partners across Asia, Europe and Africa, and representing nearly half the world's population. Under the SCO framework, win-win cooperation has effectively boosted trade, travel and exchanges. Official statistics show that China's annual bilateral trade with other SCO member states has surpassed 500 billion dollars, while its investment stock in other SCO member states has exceeded 84 billion dollars. "Trade volumes are increasing, investments are intensifying, transport corridors and logistics chains are being developed, and digital customs solutions are being introduced," said former Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Alikbek Dzhekshenkulov. The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) has launched four TIR (International Road Transport) routes to the SCO member countries of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan -- with at least one truck departing daily for Russia or Central Asia. In the first seven months of 2025, SCODA handled 239 TIR shipments -- up 134.3 percent year on year, with cargo value skyrocketing by 190.5 percent. "The SCO offers opportunities for cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and participation in regional logistics and investment projects," said Ahmed Sallam, former undersecretary of Egypt's State Information Service. It has broadened the path toward sustainable development and embedded the principle of diverse partnerships, Sallam said. MAINTAINING STABILITY Addressing shared security challenges has been at the core of the SCO's mission since its inception in 2001 with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In his speech at the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO on Monday, Xi noted that SCO member states were the first to set up a military confidence-building mechanism in their border areas, and the first to take multilateral actions against the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism. Through mechanisms such as the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), SCO member states have built a strong system to maintain regional peace and stability. The organization also regularly convenes meetings on counter-terrorism and carries out joint anti-drug operations. In an interview with Xinhua ahead of the Tianjin summit, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the SCO has developed a unique model of regional security and development based on multilateral cooperation. He emphasized that the organization has proved that security challenges can be addressed not through confrontation but cooperation, such as intelligence sharing, military exercises and trust-building between countries. The SCO "offers a new approach to international relations, distinct from Western hegemonic models," said Lukashenko, adding that the Shanghai Spirit ensures member states cooperate as equals and reach consensus. Such efforts have brought tangible benefits. Over the past 24 years, SCO member states have prevented more than 1,400 events related to terrorism and extremism. An SCO anti-drug operation dubbed "Web" last month seized nearly 10 tons of narcotic drugs and identified 1,151 crimes related to illicit narco trafficking. On Monday, Xi also called for putting into use the SCO Universal Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats and the SCO Anti-drug Center. "Security cooperation is indeed the SCO's top priority and original intention," said Ding Xiaoxing, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. He said these centers could further strengthen the organization's ability to address modern security challenges, such as cyber threats, and further contribute to regional stability. BETTER GLOBAL GOVERNANCE Monday's summit highlight is that Xi proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" Meeting, which is characterized by five key principles: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach and focusing on taking real actions. Xi called on the SCO to play a leading role and set an example in carrying out the initiative, in response to the accelerating momentous changes unseen in a century across the world. "I look forward to working with all countries for a more just and equitable global governance system and advancing toward a community with a shared future for humanity," Xi said. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday expressed support for Xi's new initiative. "We have certainly listened attentively to everything that is proposed by Mr. Xi Jinping to create a new, more efficient and functional global governance system. This is relevant in an environment where some countries still do not give up their desire to dictate in international affairs," he said at the "SCO Plus" meeting. Putin noted that the SCO could take on a leading role in efforts to form a more just and equal system of global governance in the world. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who attended the "SCO Plus" meeting, have also spoken highly of the GGI. According to a latest survey conducted by China's official newspaper People's Daily, nearly 70 percent of citizens in 10 SCO member states agree that their countries have gained more opportunities to participate in global governance through the SCO. Mladen Plese, a Croatian political analyst and former editor-in-chief of Croatia's daily newspaper Jutarnji List, said the GGI marks another major China-proposed initiative to benefit the world. "The Global Governance Initiative advocates for sovereign equality, international rule of law and multilateralism, which are even more significant today as the world faces severe challenges," he said. Manish Chand, founder and CEO of the Center for Global India Insights, said that the initiative will make the global governance system more representative and inclusive. "This accommodates the aspirations and interests of developing countries and the Global South," he said. Mauro Ramos, a journalist from the Brazilian news outlet Brazil de Fato, who was in Tianjin reporting the summit, said it is highly convincing for China to put forward the initiative, as China has achieved remarkable results in areas such as poverty alleviation and public security, offering valuable experience for other countries, especially developing ones. "President Xi Jinping's newly proposed Global Governance Initiative complements his previously announced three major global initiatives. Together, they further enrich China's vision and solutions for promoting world peace and development, and help build consensus toward the grand goal of a community with a shared future for humanity," he said. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China held a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging the country's commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. Towering structures shaped like the Great Wall stood in Tian'anmen Square, symbolizing the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, oversaw the parade and reviewed the troops. Standing beside Xi on Tian'anmen Rostrum were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, along with more than 20 other foreign leaders. Representatives of people who had supported China's WWII fight, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- were invited to the event. This was the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to commemorate the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Helicopters flew over Tian'anmen Square carrying banners that read "Justice Prevails," "Peace Prevails," and "The People Prevail." The troops marched in tight, powerful formations, their faces lit with confidence and pride. Columns of new tanks, artillery and other military equipment rumbled through the square. Xi delivered a speech before the parade. Highlighting the significance of the victory 80 years ago, Xi said it marks China's first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times. Xi noted that the Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defense of world peace with immense sacrifice in the war. He called on nations to "eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring." Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day. An 80-banner formation honoring heroic military units from the war marched past Tian'anmen Square, highlighting China's position as the first country to rise against fascist aggression with the longest-lasting resistance that began in 1931. The country tied down and struck over half of Japan's overseas forces, at the cost of 35 million military and civilian casualties -- accounting for around one-third of all WWII casualties worldwide. More than 10,000 military personnel, along with over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, were arranged into formations according to a wartime command system. The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) new system of services and arms -- the result of military reforms under Xi's leadership -- was put on display for the first time. The advanced armaments put on display included unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic weaponry capable of global strikes. In his speech, Xi demanded that the PLA provide strategic support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He reiterated China's commitment to peaceful development. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games," he said. Chinese soldiers who have participated in UN peacekeeping operations marched past Tian'anmen Square, marking their first appearance in a V-Day parade. "We have the capability to defend the peace forged with the blood of our forefathers," said Shao Xiaoguang, a member of the reviewed troops who previously served on a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was also the first military parade since Xi led China to embark on "a new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts." The country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035. "Eighty years ago, we were revived. Eighty years later, we are thriving with even greater vitality," said Lyu Shouye, a spectator at the event and a graduate student studying AI. "Now our country has reached a stage where we need to undertake greater responsibilities," he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Chinese UN peacekeepers march through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The flag-guarding air echelon takes part in a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Na Yuqi) Armament formations attend a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Gang) Honor guards escort the Chinese national flag during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Soldiers escort the Chinese national flag for a flag-raising ceremony during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Soldiers fire gun salute during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is held in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) An air echelon attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) The anti-ship missile formation gets prepared for a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) The airborne assault formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The long-range artillery formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) Balloons and pigeons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIRUT, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Wednesday issued a statement condemning an Israeli drone attack on its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon a day earlier, calling it one of the most serious incidents targeting its personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities agreement reached last November. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drones dropped four grenades Tuesday morning near peacekeepers under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The peacekeepers were clearing roadblocks blocking access to a UN position close to the Blue Line, a border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel established by the UN in 2000. One grenade landed within 20 meters of UN personnel and vehicles, while three others fell within about 100 meters. The drones were later seen returning to areas south of the Blue Line, the statement said, adding that the IDF had been informed in advance of UNIFIL's road clearance work in the area. The road clearance work was suspended following the incident due to concerns for the safety of peacekeepers. Any actions endangering UN peacekeepers and assets or interfering with their mandated tasks are unacceptable and constitute a serious violation of Resolution 1701 and international law, according to the statement. The IDF bears responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers carrying out Security Council-mandated duties, it said. The Security Council on Aug. 28 extended UNIFIL's mandate for the final time before its withdrawal. Resolution 2790, which was unanimously adopted by the 15-member council, extends the mandate until Dec. 31, 2026, before a drawdown and withdrawal within one year. It also calls on Israel to withdraw its forces north of the Blue Line and to lift the designated buffer zones north of the line. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. Pashinyan is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan here on Wednesday. Pashinyan is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Han said that China is willing to make joint efforts with the Armenian side to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, comprehensively advance cooperation in various fields, and continuously push bilateral relations to a new level. Pashinyan said that Armenia appreciates and supports the Global Governance Initiative, and is willing to take the establishment of a strategic partnership as an opportunity to strengthen practical cooperation with China to better benefit the two peoples. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. Pashinyan is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Specialized B2B agency reflects on impact supporting health plan, health system and health IT clients PHOENIX, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Activate Health, a strategic healthcare marketing and PR firm with offices in Phoenix and Nashville, is celebrating 15 years in business. Exclusively serving clients in the healthcare space, Activate Health offers these organizations a partner who understands the intricacies of both B2B and B2C marketing and PR in a dynamic, highly regulated industry. The firm's leadership has combined decades of experience from corporate healthcare marketing departments and advertising agencies, enabling a uniquely strategic approach to marketing, PR, and thought leadership. Since its founding in 2010, Activate Health has served as a trusted partner for some of the most respected names in healthcare, including health plans, health tech firms, specialty pharmacies, and health systems. A decade and a half later, the agency's deep expertise and strategic versatility continue to inform marketing plans, brand platform development, and thought leadership campaigns for its clients across a wide range of niche healthcare segments. Activate Health's long-standing relationships are a testament to its industry fluency and high-touch model. Clients often remain engaged through changing roles or organizations, while others have worked with the team for more than a decade, sustaining mergers and acquisitions, rebranding, and market transformation. "We launched Activate Health to bring clarity and strategic insight to a complicated space, and that mission is more relevant than ever," said Sarah McLeod, CEO of Activate Health. "Our clients rely on us not just to keep up, but to stay ahead. After 15 years, I'm proud of the results we've delivered and excited for what's next." As healthcare continues to evolve amid shifting market dynamics and technological advancements, Activate Health stands as a dependable partner for organizations navigating these changes. Whether adopting AI tools or evaluating their potential, clients benefit from the agency's comprehensive approach and decades of expertise in healthcare marketing. By keeping the focus on what drives real value, Activate Health is poised to ensure healthcare brands are prepared for the future. About Activate Health Activate Health is a boutique public relations and marketing agency specializing in the healthcare industry. Founded in 2010 and based in Phoenix and Nashville, the certified women-owned firm provides strategic B2B and B2C support through media relations, content marketing, social media, and advertising. Activate Health serves a wide range of healthcare organizationsincluding leading health plans, health systems, mobile health providers, specialty pharmacies, and health technology firmsoffering deep industry expertise and creative execution. Learn more at www.activatehealth.com. Media Contact Sarah McLeod, Activate Health, 1 18005162881 103, [email protected], https://activatehealth.com/ LinkedIn SOURCE Activate Health ElevenLabs has launched sales through its ElevenReader platform, offering authors and publishers a 60% royalty rate on net sales for AI-generated audiobooks, without exclusivity requirements. The London-based voice-AI company's consumer-facing distribution platform allows users to create audiobooks using AI and sell them directly to consumers. ElevenReader Publishing launched in January as a free platform where authors could publish AI-generated audiobooks, but without monetization options, as the books were offered for free. The ElevenReader platform, which is available as an app for Apple and Android, currently offers several thousand titles from independent authors and small publishers. "Our goal is to create a product that enables anyone, whether you're an indie author or a publisher, to create an audiobook in minutes, and be able to monetize it," Madeline Shue, who leads growth and strategy at ElevenLabs, told PW. Shue joined the company in May after working in venture capital. Founded in 2022, ElevenLabs now employs more than 300 people with offices in New York, San Francisco, Warsaw, Tokyo, and Sao Paulo. "ElevenLabs is a voice AI tech company," Shue said. "The core of ElevenLabs is our voice AI research models that we built, and so the rest of the company is looking to products built on top of that, bringing that technology to consumers, to creators, to enterprises, you name it." One of the earliest applications of the company's technology was audiobook creation by authors, which has remained a focus area for product development over the past two to three years. ElevenReader operates as two distinct pathways for content creation. Authors can use the free ElevenReader platform by uploading manuscripts with limited customization options, or they can access fuller features through paid ElevenLabs subscriptions that allow multicast narration, music integration, and MP3 downloads. The company positions its 60% net sales royalty rate as the most competitive in the industry, comparing favorably over platforms that offer 40% royalty for exclusive distribution and 20% for wide distribution. "We did a bunch of research, chatted with tons of people across the industry and came to this rate," Shue said. "Its even more attractive when you considered youre not locked into a single platform." Shue noted widespread industry frustration with existing distribution models. "Traditional platforms tend to be quite restrictive in terms of rights and exclusivity," she said. "We've seen these challenges sort of exist across the spectrum, from indie authors to smaller publishers to the Big Five." ElevenLabs targets the audiobook market's rapid growth across multiple user segments, from independent authorsit plans to participate in Author Nation in Las Vegas this Novemberto major publishers seeking to convert backlist titles into audio format efficiently. "Our goal is just to make it as simple as transparent as possible and enable everyone to earn," Shue said. The platform's combination of free AI-generated production tools and competitive revenue sharing may particularly impact the economics of backlist monetization, where traditional production costs have historically limited audiobook creation to proven bestsellers. If successful, the model could accelerate the democratization of audiobook publishing while potentially fragmenting distribution across multiple platforms as authors seek more favorable terms. The trainer aircraft echelon flies over Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Bo) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Seven J-10 aerobatic jets flew over Tian'anmen Square to mark the end of Wednesday's V-Day military parade. The echelon staged an aerial display of 14 colored smoke trails, symbolizing the 14 years of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the bright prospects of 1.4 billion Chinese people striving for national rejuvenation. The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Lin Yu) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Qiong) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chen) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yuan Man) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) The echelon of trainer aircraft takes part in a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing) As the influx of police, National Guard troops, and federal law enforcement agents that President Donald Trump ordered into Washington, D.C., on August 11 continues to disrupt the citys economy, indie bookstores in the area have been impacted to varying degrees by the continuing military presence. While Politics & Prose has reported no discernible impact at any of its three locations, sales at Kramers in DuPont Circle have dropped 17% since the federal takeover of policing. Traffic inside Kramers remains about the same, said bookstore manager Andrew Jones, even though the National Guard presence in the neighborhood looks to him like it has increased this past week. Other booksellers PW talked with are feeling even more pain. Its affecting everyones bottom line, says Shady Rose, general manager of Loyalty Bookstores, which has a storefront in D.C.'s Petworth neighborhood. Were only beginning to feel the effects, and were going to be dealing with them for a while. No bookstore that PW has reached out to has been as adversely impacted as Loyalty, which specializes in diverse and intersectional literature. Owner Hannah Oliver Depp says that revenues at Petworth were already down this spring and summer due to many customers or their family members who were employed by the federal government being laid off or taking early retirement. Sales are down 65% since August 11. The neighborhood has been starkly empty, even on weekends, Rose reported, noting that not only is Loyalty experiencing its worst financial weeks ever, but that the safety of its staff and customers is also of concern. Rose said that National Guard and federal agents have even ventured into the store several times "to look around and intimidate people. Fortunately, we were able to turn them away, but its scary stuff. Depp said that Loyalty has updated its emergency procedures, and management is constantly checking in with staff to make sure they are where they need to be. The store is also partnering with other small businesses nearby that have solo closers or that close after dark to make sure nobody is walking alone or waiting for a bus by themselves. Taking such a step, Depp said, did not feel necessary in our community until the federalization of our police force and the National Guard invasion. Of the three D.C. locations of the restaurant-bookstore mini-chain, Busboys and Poets, the one on 14th and V Streets has been most impacted by the police and military presence, as there's a checkpoint a block away. Owner Andy Shallal told PW that he hasnt seen patrols in Penn Quarter and Anacostia, where the other two B&Ps are located. If they're really concerned about crime, Anacostia, in Southeast D.C., has the most crime, he said. Why aren't they there? Weve seen from our windows [agents] apprehending, kidnapping people at 14th and W, Shallal said, noting that sales at all three District locations have dipped about 5% since August 11, although he reported that he hasnt observed less foot traffic and in-store events continue to draw audiences. Ironically, he added, sales are slightly up in the mini-chains five suburban locations, with suburbanites trying to avoid the city now. Shallal said that B&P staff have been trained on emergency procedures and that we've really tried to keep in touch with our staff, and keep talking to them, and make sure that we know if theyre experiencing any hardships or anxiety. B&P also has placed cards at the host stand in each location, instructing customers on what to say, what to do if they are stopped. We were hit by ICE a few years ago, Shallal said, so we're familiar with the process. In contrast, given that Solid State Books two locations also are in areas being patrolled by National Guard, as well as monitored by federal agents, sales are up this past month, which traditionally is one of its slowest months: the H Street store is up 4% and the 14th at S Street store is up 10%. We are often seen as a refuge of sorts from the chaos of the outside world, co-owner Jake Cumsky-Whitlock said, so some of that feeling has likely affected sales this past month for the better. Cumsky-Whitlock reported that store traffic has not substantially been affected by the presence of small groups of National Guard soldiers, who walk the sidewalks like tourists, or stand on the corner doing nothing for long periods of time, no doubt wondering why they all are here. Cumsky-Whitlock said that Solid State will continue continue to try to provide the same things we have always strived to provide for both staff and customers: a safe space with good vibes, where all are welcome. Silence and the city Lost City Bookshop in Adams Morgan held a huge sale the weekend of August 15-17 and then shut down for the rest of the month, which it does every August; it re-opened last Friday. Overall, said owner Adam Waterreus before the Labor Day weekend, sales are a bit down from last year, but nothing to be alarmed about. What has changed, he noted, is the tone: our last couple of weeks have been different. The energy on the street, the amount of people out and aboutall feel different. The staff, customers, and neighborhood businesses are all, Waterreus said, more than a little shaken as this deployment of soldiers and DHS agentswho are often masked and in unmarked carscontinues. Marianne Wald, general manager of East City Bookshop, said that she and her colleagues are not seeing a lot of people out and about, as there has been a police presence at the Eastern Market metro station half a block from the shop. I expect this is something that will continue to impact our customers, our neighbors, and our business. East City store buyer Emilie Sommer added that sales are down 35% since August 11. There's no doubt that a good portion of that considerable decrease is due to what's happening here, Sommer said. D.C. is definitely emptier than usualnot because the military occupation is making things safer, but because people do not want to interact with the National Guard. They are scared and staying away. At the same time, she added, customers who have been coming in have expressed their appreciation that the store remains open. "We need communityand community spacesmore than ever," Sommer said. Little District Books owner Patrick Kern says that foot traffic at his Barracks Row store, which serves the LGBTQ+ community, was already down this year due to Trump administration policies, but it has dipped further this past month. Traffic continues to decline week over week," Kern said. People don't come in from the suburbs and tourism is down as well. We haven't made a lot of changes to how we are operating at the moment, but were flexible and ready to pivot depending on how things go. Beyond the District Although bookstores outside D.C.including One More Page in Artlington, Va., and the Busboy and Poets suburban locationsare reporting that sales are up slightly, others, like Wonderland Books in Bethesda, Md., say that its business as usual. But Ally Kirkpatrick, owner of Old Town Books in Alexandria, Va., says that she is freaked out about the impact if tourists stay away from D.C., as her store relies on visitors to the area. On the other hand, she added, I have heard that when people have to travel to D.C. these days, theyre actually wanting to stay in Alexandria instead of in the District because of everything that is going on. But the military presence, she noted, is having an intangible impact that could be just as devastating to her business in the long-term. It has really impacted morale, Kirkpatrick said. Its hard to feel chipper about bookselling when it feels like the world is burning. But I try to remind our team that what we do is more than retail; bookstores are a safe space, a place for people to come get a reprieve when they need it. Goddess Study to Bloomsbury Academic Bloomsbury Academic senior editor Richard Brown has taken world rights to sociologist James W. Colemans Searching for Tara: The Goddess Who Became Buddha. Coleman argues that the search for Tara leads to new understandings of the evolution of human spirituality and offers meditation techniques for readers to try Tara practices, according to the publisher. Coleman was represented by publishing consultant Arnie Kotler. The book will release in November 2026. Racial Healing as Spiritual Formation to IVP Nilwona Nowlin, associate editor at IVP, has negotiated world rights with the unagented education consultant Afrika Afeni Mills for her tentatively titled Sowing the Seeds of Shalom: Racial Healing as Spiritual Formation, scheduled for summer 2027 release. Her book, rooted in contemplative Christian practices, provides tools for healing wounds, breaking down hostility, and embodying peace, according to the publisher. Mill's 2023 TED Talk, Four Ways to Have Healthy Conversations about Race, has received more than a million views. WaterBrook Signs Three Books with Ike Okafor Waterbrook editor Estee Zandee has taken world rights via Jan Miller at Dupree Miller & Associates in a three-book deal with pastor and podcaster Stephanie Ike Okafor. The first book is The Power of Your Dreams Guided Journal, releasing in summer 2026, and the second is Soulution, releasing in spring 2027. It will guide readers through understanding, healing, nourishing, and aligning the soul with Gods purpose, according to the publisher. The third book is TBA. Ministry Founder to WaterBrook for Two Books Jevon Bolden at Embolden Media Group has negotiated world rights with Kimberly Von Fange at WaterBrook for two books by Albaner Eugene Jr., therapist, speaker, and founder of Lets Move, a ministry to help people progress in their lives. The first book, Momentum, is a 100-day devotional offering practical steps to reclaim energy, renew faith, and create forward motion, according to the publisher. It will release in fall 2026. The Wilderness, set for spring 2028, is a roadmap for growth, identity formation, and spiritual maturity based on Jesuss time spent in the wilderness. Amu TV, September 3, 2025 By Sharif Amiry Sources have confirmed that Taliban members in western Afghanistan shot a man dead and hanged his body in public on Friday, August 22. The incident has drawn condemnation from rights activists who described the act as a summary execution and a violation of human dignity. Witnesses told Amu that the man was hanged from an old tank at the busy Kandahar Gate area of Herat, where a large crowd gathered to watch. Videos circulating on social media showed Taliban members kicking the body in the head and face as bystanders filmed the scene. In the footage, a Taliban fighter identified the man as a member of an armed opposition group and accused him of killing two Taliban members, including Mawlawi Hassan Akhund, the commander of Talibans 10th security district in Herat. The opposition group Nahzat Azadi-Bakhsh Islami Mardom Afghanistan which has claimed responsibility for attacks in western Afghanistan had said earlier this week it was behind the assault that killed Akhund. A piece of paper bearing the words Death to the Nahzat Azadi-Bakhsh Afghanistan group was also seen attached to the corpse. The Talibans Herat police command later issued a conflicting statement on X, formerly Twitter, claiming the man was only suspected of theft. The statement said he was identified by residents, detained during a Taliban operation, and eliminated. Rights activists condemned the act as an unlawful killing. Taking away someones right to life without a fair trial and due process is a blatant violation of human rights, said Hadi Farzam, a human rights activist. Hanging the body in public after the killing is a direct affront to human dignity. A member of the Window of Hope womens movement told Amu that Taliban trials deny defendants the right to lawyers or defense. The Talibans use of executions and corporal punishment is intensifying, and taking away the right to life contradicts both justice and Islamic principles, she said. This is not the first such incident. In recent years, the Taliban have carried out multiple public executions. Last year, four men accused of kidnapping were shot and hanged in Herat, while earlier this year four more people were executed in Farah, Nimroz, and Badghis provinces. Domestic violence is often framed as a crime perpetrated by men against women. Theres a federal Office of Violence Against Women dedicated to domestic and sexual violence, but no male equivalent. News media articles overwhelmingly cover male perpetrators of domestic violence, and, when females are the aggressors, they often portray them as acting in self-defense. Hollywood portrayals of domestic violence generally tell a similar narrative. A recent study, however, challenged the assumption that gender violence is a one-way street. Canadian researchers who looked at data involving 35,900 teens found that boys reported significantly higher rates of physical violence while dating than girls over a 10-year period. Pioneering researcher Murray Straus experienced professional backlash for work finding women are as likely as men to commit domestic violence. A single study is not, of course, definitive. But these results are significant because they align with decades of research finding that women are nearly as likely to perpetrate domestic violence toward men as men are toward women. This doesnt mean the physical harm is the same. As the pioneering researcher Murray Straus put it decades ago, owing to greater male upper body strength, She may cast the first coffee pot, but he generally casts the last and most damaging blows. Other data show that womens share of arrests for aggravated assault has risen markedly since the 1980s, as has their arrest rate for the more serious crimes, including homicide and rape. To be fair, proportional data can be misleading, as violent crime appears to have declined sharply over the decades. Whether proportional changes in incarcerated women are due to actual changes in their behavior or changes in how the criminal justice system perceives women's crimes will require more research. But the data shows that women now account for a greater share of these crimes. These findings shed light on one of societys great taboos acknowledging and discussing female violence and the prevailing stereotype that women punish themselves for negative feelings, while men tend to lash out. At a time when young women are experiencing troubling rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, experts in the field say it is important to recognize that sometimes those problems are expressed through violence. Taboos and stereotypes have made it hard to get a handle on the issue. Men are often loath to report being victims of female violence, and a tendency to get stuck in narratives of patriarchy and power results in our turning a blind eye toward male victims who do come forward. The Politics of Academic Researchers Academic researchers have been part of the problem, pushing back on those willing to tackle this controversial topic. The late sociologist Murray Straus, whose groundbreaking research on family violence included the role of women as perpetrators, reported being blocked from leadership roles in the American Sociological Association, being falsely accused of beating his wife and sexually exploiting students, as well as seeing his students harassed by other academics. Fellow researcher Suzanne Steinmetz, who also found women perpetrate domestic violence in roughly equal numbers as men, experienced bomb threats when she tried to speak publicly. Scholarship in the social sciences often goes hand-in-hand with activism. Some scholars have dismissed violence by women as inconsequential when it does occur, taking a why bother approach to worrying about male victims. Others have taken a more egalitarian approach, observing that both male- and female-perpetrated violence can have real impacts on victims. Actor Johnny Depp demonstrates how he shielded himself from an alleged attack by his ex-wife Amber Heard. The publics misunderstanding of domestic violence was on display during the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial in 2022, when credible evidence emerged that Heard was at least as capable of abusing Depp as the reverse. During the trial, the couples therapist testified that they engaged in mutual abuse. That statement became remarkably controversial in the typical online chatter despite it being an accurate reflection of the evidence in the case, as well as much of the evidence on domestic violence. These findings can be difficult to reconcile with criminal justice data and societal expectations that frame girls and women as the primary victims, Catherine Shaffer-McCuish, lead author of the Canadian study on partner violence, told RealClearInvestigations. Furthermore, public discourse tends to focus on severe, injurious, or coercive violence, which women are more likely to experience. Adolescent dating violence is often more mutual, less injurious, and complexThe result is that certain groups, like boys or LGBTQ youth, may not be seen, supported, or taken seriously when they experience harm. Most scholars, including Shaffer-McCuish, agree that male upper-body strength places females at greater risk for injury, even if they initiate a violent encounter. Men are also more likely to escalate domestic violence by using guns or knives, as I documented myself. In my 2011 study of young Mexican-American adults, men and women reported equal levels of victimization, as do most other studies. However, though extreme cases were rare, men were more likely to use weapons against women than the other way around. Nevertheless, Shaffer-McCuish says, Its also important not to minimize the impact of violence on boys, who may experience psychological harm, social stigma, or have fewer support options available, she said. Theres also a lack of clear evidence on whether violence by women is more often in self-defense. Some studies, such as the inconsequential impact study mentioned above, suggest that this is the case. However, considerable research has challenged this view, with evidence suggesting that womens and mens motives for domestic violence are more similar than different. At the very least, the evidence for the notion that women are more motivated by self-defense than men is weaker than might be expected. Research now suggests that adolescent girls and boys may use violence for a range of reasons, such as anger or retaliation, Shaffer-McCuish said. Motivation is complex and context dependent. This is consistent with the literature finding that women are more inclined to report using violence as retaliation for emotional hurt or to get attention rather than self-defense. Jennifer MacKay reports that boys are more likely to say they are victims of violent or controlling behavior in their intimate relationships than girls. Jennifer MacKay, principal lecturer in psychology at Nottingham Trent University and domestic violence expert, noted that a 2024 study from the U.K. supported the Canadian studys finding. The U.K. study found that boys in dating relationships are more likely to say they experience violent or controlling behaviours (57%) compared to girls (41%). MacKay said this data isnt getting public attention because of fears that recognizing male victims will marginalize the experiences of women. It took so much energy and culture shift for domestic violence to be discussed at all in the 70s and 80s that there is a fear that this will become lost, she said. Men, too, play a role in the silence around their victimhood. Even when assaulted, men are less likely to identify themselves as victims, to report their victimization, or to be taken seriously when they do. MacKay added that girls report being less likely to be found out when they engage in domestic violence, and to be punished for the same behaviors when they are found out. The backgrounds of males and females who perpetrate violence are more similar than different. We see high levels of adversity in childhood, including abuse and abandonment, and repeated victimization through adolescence and adulthood, MacKay said. Being trauma-informed has become a bit of a buzzword but when we truly take this approach with all those who have used violence or abuse in relationships, we give everyone a chance to tell us how they got to that point in their lives, rather than only asking this of women. Mens Difficulties Getting Help Societys prejudices are more than academic. Men find it more difficult both in asking for help when they are victims, and getting it when they ask. Phil Mitchell, a male abuse specialist in the U.K., said gender stereotypes may lead men to downplay their abuse. Ask a man if hes a victim of domestic abuse and he may say no. Ask if his wife hits him every now and then when shes angry with him and he may say yes, Mitchell said. Many men have played down the fact they were abused saying that it didnt hurt. I often say, You might not have felt physical pain, but did you feel emotional pain? Even when men are willing to acknowledge that they were abused by a woman, the physical strength differential is often against them. It is this fact that is used in the female perpetrators narrative to present a distorted version of reality where they can visually make the male victim look like the perpetrator and make the female perpetrator look like the victim, Mitchell said. As a result of the stereotypes and politics around domestic violence, Mitchell explained that victim services for men are largely nonexistent, with many domestic violence resource groups actively hostile to male victims. Violence in Gay and Lesbian Relationships Brittney Griner and her partner, Glory Johnson, were both arrested on domestic violence charges after police responded to a fight between them. Much of the debate on domestic violence is wrapped up in the gender-focused activism on both the womens and mens rights sides. But domestic violence appears to be equally prevalent in gay and lesbian relationships as in heterosexual relationships. Understanding this may help recast the war between the sexes tale of domestic violence. It may have less to do with either the patriarchy and more to do with the mental health of both men and women involved in intimate relationships. There are signs of progress. In the last few years, greater attention has been paid to male wellness as men and boys fall behind girls and women in school, work, and some measures of mental health. There also appears to be greater awareness that using toxic masculinity as a frame for issues like domestic violence may have been counterproductive, stigmatizing, and, arguably, sexist. Still, the idea that men and the society they created are to blame for their own problems isnt easily toppled, masking our understanding of the roots and perpetrators of domestic violence and how best to help them. Christopher J. Ferguson is a professor of psychology at Stetson University in Florida and author of "Catastrophe! The Psychology of Why Good People Make Bad Situations Worse." President Donald Trumps tariff threats and aggressive negotiation tactics are placing unprecedented strain on the Canada-United States relationship. As Canada struggles to navigate these choppy trade waters, China is seizing the moment to sow discord and fracture North Americas long-standing security partnership. Beijing has systematically deployed influence operations designed to exploit these frictions seeking to erode trust in Canada among its NORAD and NATO allies, while advancing a narrative across the West that Canada is an unreliable partner for AUKUS and QUAD involvement. At the same time, China positions itself as a reliable partner: These tactics are part of a well-developed approach Chinas Marxist-Leninist organizational model that promotes the use of wedge tactics and other ploys to fragment rival coalitions and influence foreign governments. A recent Canadian government inquiry revealed considerable Chinese interference activities in the country. There are several structural factors that leave Canadians especially vulnerable to Chinas influence efforts, which are widespread and deep-rooted. Beijings institutional approach: The United Front Work Department (UFWD) Chinas influence operations in Canada operate through the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) organ that coordinates overseas influence activities. According to the 2023 report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), the UFWD maintains extensive networks within Canadas Chinese diaspora communities, business associations, and academic institutions. The report documented how UFWD-affiliated organizations have cultivated relationships with Canadian politicians at all levels of government through a combination of political donations, community events, and business opportunities. Re-affirming the NSICOP, Canadas Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions details how the UFWD leverages cultural associations, media collaborations, and grassroots groups to amplify pro-China narratives, suppress dissent, and align diaspora groups with the CCPs agenda. Its network is sophisticated and enables Beijing to carry out influence operations while masking its role behind ostensibly independent organizations. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has repeatedly warned about UFWD activities. In a 2021 report titled Foreign Interference Threats to Canadas Democratic Process, CSIS identified the UFWD as coordinating clandestine and deceptive operations targeting Canadian political figures. These operations intensified during periods of Canada-US tension, with UFWD-linked organizations increasing their outreach to Canadian politicians precisely when bilateral relations with Washington deteriorated. Notwithstanding the above well document investigations and interference into Canadas democracy, scholars and organizations continue to advocate for Canada to normalize relations with Beijing. Economic incentives and elite capture Chinas influence strategy heavily relies on economic incentives targeting Canadian business elites and political figures. The 2020 House of Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations documented how Chinese state-owned enterprises systematically offered lucrative contracts and board positions to former Canadian politicians and their family members. The committees report, A Threat to Canadian Sovereignty, detailed how these economic relationships created advocates for Beijings positions within Canadas policymaking circles. Former Canadian Ambassador to China David Mulroney testified before the committee that China has been remarkably successful in convincing Canadian business leaders that their prosperity depends on accommodating Beijings political demands. This economic leverage became particularly potent during US-Canada trade disputes, with Chinese officials explicitly presenting their market as an alternative to US economic pressure as outlined in the white paper titled Chinas Position on Some Issues Concerning China-U.S. Economic and Trade Relations, which was released by the State Council Information Office of the Peoples Republic of China in April 2025. The documented case of the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) illustrates this dynamic. Despite CSIS warnings about sovereignty implications, Canada ratified the agreement in 2014 with strong support from business lobbies that had received substantial Chinese investments. Internal government documents released under Access to Information requests revealed that Chinese officials explicitly linked FIPA ratification to increased investment opportunities for Canadian firms, creating what one briefing note called conflicting loyalties among Canadian negotiators. Weaponizing accusations of racism Beijing has systematically employed accusations of anti-Asian racism to deflect criticism and divide Canadian society. The 2023 report by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Targeting Canada in Service to Chinas Global Agenda, examines where Chinese diplomatic officials or state media accused Canadian institutions of racism when they investigated Chinese influence operations or criticized Beijings policies. Following the 2021 declaration by Parliament that Chinas treatment of Uyghurs constituted genocide, Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu stated that Canada was influenced by anti-Chinese and anti-Asian sentiment, despite the motion being based on extensive human rights documentation. This tactic proved particularly effective in multicultural Canadian society, with several documented cases of politicians withdrawing criticism of Beijing after being accused of racism. The racism card has been effective in undermining Canada-US cooperation on China policy. When Canada considered joining US initiatives on technology restrictions or investment screening, Chinese officials and affiliated organizations launched campaigns accusing both countries of racist containment of China. These campaigns, documented in a 2022 Public Safety Canada assessment, successfully delayed several joint Canada-US initiatives by creating domestic political pressure within Canada. The Peaceful Development narrative Chinas influence operations consistently promote a narrative of peaceful intentions while simultaneously engaging in aggressive activities. The 2023 final report of Canadas Commission on Foreign Interference documented how Chinese diplomats publicly emphasized win-win cooperation while privately threatening Canadian citizens of Chinese origin who criticized Beijing. This peaceful rhetoric has been particularly effective in contrasting China with what Beijing characterizes as American hegemonic bullying. During the Trump administrations tariff threats, Chinese officials intensified their peaceful partner messaging. Ambassador Congs 2023 comments to the Canada-China Business Council explicitly contrasted Chinas reliable partnership with unpredictable neighbors, a clear reference to the United States. Impact on Canada-US relations Chinese influence operations have measurably impacted Canada-US security cooperation. The 2022 Five Eyes intelligence assessment, partially declassified by the Communications Security Establishment, Canadas cryptologic agency, noted that Chinese operations had successfully delayed or prevented several joint Canada-US initiatives on critical technology protection and investment screening. These delays manifested in three critical security decisions. Canadas two-year hesitation to ban Huawei from 5G networks (201921) created what Pentagon officials termed a security gap in continental telecommunications. CSIS documented intensive Chinese lobbying that prevented Canadian participation in the US-led Clean Network initiative, while Chinese threats to divest from Canadian pension funds blocked Ottawa from adopting CFIUS-style investment screening in 2020-2021. Each case demonstrated Beijings ability to exploit economic leverage and elite relationships to fracture North American security coordination. Structural impediments to Canadian response Canadas inability to respond decisively to Chinese interference stems from three interconnected factors. First, extensive business interests create powerful constituencies opposing firm action. The Canada-China Business Councils 2022 member survey revealed that 73 percent of respondents opposed stronger investment screening measures, despite acknowledging security concerns. Second, political conflicts of interest have paralyzed decision-making. The 2023 NSICOP report documented cases where political figures with family business interests in China consistently opposed interference investigations. While not naming individuals due to classification, the report noted concerning patterns of political intervention when security agencies attempted to investigate Chinese influence operations. Third, Canadas foreign policy establishment maintains what former CSIS Director Richard Fadden called an idealistic worldview that Canada can balance relations with both superpowers. This perspective, rooted in Canadas historical role as a middle power, fails to recognize what the 2023 Canadian Department of National Defence policy update acknowledged as an era of strategic competition where neutrality enables adversary objectives. The long game of division While current Canada-US tensions create immediate policy challenges, the documented pattern of Chinese influence operations reveals a systematic effort to exploit these frictions for long-term strategic advantage. Beijings multifaceted approach that combines UFWD coordination, economic incentives, accusations of racism, and peaceful rhetoric. This approach has successfully delayed Canadian alignment with US security initiatives while creating dependencies that complicate future policy choices. The evidence demonstrates that China views periods of Canada-US tension not as temporary opportunities but as moments to institutionalize division through elite capture, economic dependencies, and narrative warfare. As Canada navigates current bilateral difficulties with Washington, policymakers must recognize that Beijings influence operations aim not merely to provide an alternative partner but to fundamentally restructure North American security cooperation. The documented success of these operations in delaying joint initiatives, creating policy paralysis, and establishing conflicting interests within Canadian institutions suggests that without decisive action, temporary bilateral tensions risk becoming permanent strategic vulnerabilities exploited by an adversarial power. Dr. Stephen Nagy is a professor of Politics and International Studies at the International Christian University. A senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (Ottawa) and the Center for North American Prosperity and Security (DC), Nagy also served as a visiting fellow at the Hungarian Institute for International Affairs (HIIA), and a distinguished fellow at the Corvinus Institute for Advanced Studies (CIAS), at Corvinus University, Budapest. FROM THE FERTILE MIND OF CALEB CRYE COMES A NEW SOLUTION FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO TRANSPORT EXPENSIVE GEAR AND KEEP IT OUT OF THE DIRT Photos by Kenda Lensiegne The LOFT Station 150 allows the user to haul a ton of kit, then converts in seconds into a field workstation to allow access while still giving protection from elements. With an internal volume of 149 liters, its got plenty of room to accommodate everything from plate carriers, to guns, camera gear, drones, and camping equipment, yet at the push of a button two folding legs deploy to create a waist-height table. You can then either use it as a convenient way to access essential equipment and keep it out of the dirt, or reconfigure it to a workbench, using the included folding hard shelf. Big enough for the bulkiest gear, the LOFT 150 is a versatile way to keep your kit clean and organized. Theres no skimping on materials, as the body is made from double-layered PU-coated nylon wrapped around polycarbonate reinforcement panels. Zippers are YKK #10, the wheels it rolls on are 5 inches in diameter, capable of handling rough terrain, and the legs are made from custom 6061 alloy extrusions. Despite offering much more functionality than a conventional duffel, its only a pound or so heavier, so it takes up less of your precious airline allowance, plus it addresses one of the most annoying features of rolling luggage. Weve all no doubt experienced the joys of dragging a Pelican case full of guns through an airport terminal, only to have the corner of the case dig into the back of your leg with every other step. The LOFT Station 150s drag handles have been relocated to the corners, giving enough offset to make this a non-issue. Due to the necessity of saving weight, we were initially skeptical about the legs durability, but so far its taken everything weve thrown at it. Its not really stable enough to serve as a shooting bench, and if youre familiar with Crye gear, youll already be prepared for it be expensive ($650 currently on Kickstarter), but for hauling and managing gear, its the best solution weve found so far. For 105 years, the Marine Scout Sniper was one of the most specialized instruments of war in the American arsenal. Grueling training in fieldcraft, shooting, reconnaissance, evasion, and more, the Scout Sniper Program has produced some of the best marksmen in the world. With the Marine Corps closing the program in 2023, this legacy of precision is in danger of being forgotten. The Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation was established to unveil and honor the rich history of Marine Scout Snipers. MARINE SCOUT SNIPER HERITAGE FOUNDATIONS MISSION Provide for the construction of a monument to honor the war dead of the U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper community from all eras and conflicts, from World War I to the present. Conduct ongoing research to fully uncover the illustrious history of the Scout Sniper community and properly account for every Marine who ever served and paid the ultimate price as a Marine Scout Sniper. Artist's drawing of the planned memorial Educate the Public and our fellow Marines about the long and illustrious history of Scout Snipers in the Corps and the tremendous cost by which we earned our laurels in combat around the globe. Planned to be located adjacent to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Prince William County, Virginia, the memorial will stand over 11 feet tall on a granite pedestal. Designed by Master Sculptor Sabin Howard, the memorial will serve to educate the public and honor the courage and sacrifice of Americas elite warriors. SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION There are several ways to support the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation. As a 501(c)3 charity, all donations are tax deductible. USMC M40A6 Sniper Rifle With Complete Accessory Kit Raffle The M40 series sniper rifle was the main rifle for the Scout Snipers since 1966. This clone correct M40A6 package is valued at over $30,000 and is almost impossible to find elsewhere. an authentic clone of a USMC M40A6 sniper rifle with an ORIGINAL Schmidt & Bender M8541 Scout Sniper Day Scope. Each component (minus the receiver) of our prize rifle is an ORIGINAL Mil-Spec part just like those on actual Marine Corps sniper rifles. Even the receiver is in a similar serial number range to the originals. It is perhaps the most accurate depiction that can be made of the rifles carried by Marine Scout Snipers during the late GWOT-era without stealing one from the armory! Commemorative Brick Pavers Be a part of the memorial forever with commemorative brick pavers. For each brick, you will receive a special Certificate of Registration recognizing your contribution and confirming the inscription you have submitted as it will appear on the engraved brick. Space for bricks is limited, so please respond immediately to be part of history! LEARN MORE SINGAPORE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a key early indicator of manufacturing activity, rose by 0.1 point from July to reach 50 in August, according to the latest report released Tuesday night by the Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management. A PMI reading above 50 signals expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction. The latest figure, following a brief dip the previous month, suggests a "limbo" state, said OCBC Bank chief economist Selena Ling. The electronics sector PMI also improved, edging up 0.2 point to 50.4 in August, marking a third consecutive month of growth. Still, uncertainties remain. DBS senior economist Chua Han Teng warned of a "looming storm" for electronics manufacturers from U.S. sectoral tariffs on semiconductors, though specific exemptions may help cushion the impact, according to local newspaper The Business Times. GST 2.0 may cushion consumers against US tariffs, but like the 2019 corporate tax cut, it risks being another tactical fix rather than a structural growth strategy, expects Debashis Basu. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his Independence Day address to announce a sweeping simplification of India's goods and services tax (GST) regime. The patchwork of the four main rates (5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent) will now be collapsed into two -- 5 per cent and 18 per cent. A punitive 40 per cent levy will remain for 'sin' goods such as tobacco. The aim, the government said, is to ease compliance, reduce distortions, and put more money in consumers' hands. To investors and economists, the announcement sounded eerily familiar. Six years ago, on September 20, 2019, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stunned India Inc by slashing corporate tax rates from 30 per cent to 22 per cent, and from 25 per cent to 15 per cent for new manufacturers. For firms such as Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints, Nestle India, Bajaj Finance and HDFC Bank, the cuts meant a windfall. The BSE Sensex soared 5.3 per cent that day, and 2.8 per cent the following Monday, its biggest two-day rally in years. Yet, the enthusiasm faded quickly. Why? Because the tax cuts were just a knee-jerk reaction, a desperate response to a flagging economy. Growth had slowed to 5 per cent in the first quarter of that year -- 3.5 per cent according to old calculations. Exports were languishing, unemployment was rising, and auto sales had sunk to a two-decade low. The financial sector was in crisis, with shadow banks teetering. The tax bonanza was supposed to spur companies to reinvest their savings, leading to employment opportunities being generated. But higher retained earnings don't drive the expansion plans of cash-rich companies, only strong secular demand does. No wonder the generous tax cuts did not translate into corporate expansion. We are still waiting for the private capital expenditure upcycle; but, six years later, we are getting another sharp tax cut. The economic setting in 2025 is less catastrophic, but hardly robust. India Inc's core earnings shrank 3.3 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in April-June 2025-26 (Q1FY26), the second contraction in four quarters. Revenue grew 7.3 per cent Y-o-Y, but excepting financial services and oil companies, growth was only 5.3 per cent. Profit before tax fell 7.4 per cent. The earnings of 3,051 listed firms shrank. India's core sector output grew just 2 per cent Y-o-Y in July, down from 2.2 per cent in June. Industrial output, too, dropped to a 10-month low of 1.5 per cent in June. Slippages at Indian banks rose 26 per cent Y-o-Y in Q1FY26, driven by stress in microfinance and unsecured retail portfolios. Fresh slippages reached 49,000 crore, up from 39,000 crore a year earlier. Recoveries and upgrades fell 3.4 per cent to 28,000 crore, while writeoffs declined marginally to 26,500 crore. Gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) rose 6.7 per cent to 4.8 trillion. The data suggests early signs of credit fatigue. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), spooked by sluggish earnings and a sliding rupee, sold Indian equities worth 210 billion ($2.5 billion) in the first half of August alone, bringing outflows to 1.16 trillion ($14 billion) in 2025 till now. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sharply reduced their exposure to Indian equities in July, making India the most underweight market among emerging market portfolios. India's relative weighting fell to a negative 2.9 percentage points versus the MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) index. Meanwhile, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea saw increased allocations. Can GST 2.0 reverse this picture? Cutting consumption tax for the masses is different from cutting corporation tax for rich companies. The State Bank of India reckons that rationalisation could lift annual consumption by nearly 2 trillion, or about 8 per cent of the household demand. In an economy where consumption contributes nearly 60 per cent of GDP, the hope is that higher household spending will ripple through manufacturing and services, spurring growth. But the immediate trigger for the cuts is geopolitical. In a sharp escalation of tensions, the United States has branded India a 'prime enabler' of Russia's war machine because of its decision to purchase cheap Russian oil. From August 27, Washington started imposing a 50 per cent tariff on around $50 billion worth of Indian exports -- more than half its $80 billion in annual shipments to the US. Few importers will absorb such a price hike. Unless exporters find other buyers, a large chunk of sales will vanish. This is where a lower consumption tax makes sense. Domestic consumption, courtesy GST 2.0, is intended as a buffer. However, the mercurial American president can escalate his economic war by targeting Indian software exports, the H1B visa, and foreign remittances, which are critical to India's balance of payments and currency stability. But till that happens, GST 2.0 will help. The trouble is that such tactical cuts do little to address India's deeper weaknesses. If the 2019 tax cut policy had been part of a coherent philosophy, it would have been built into the Budget, and not come as a bolt from the blue. The same is true today. A one-off reduction in consumption tax may cushion consumers against tariff shocks but does nothing to repair the structural impediments to growth. India's persistent failure to capture global market share is illustrative. Consider textiles, one of our top 10 exports: In 2010, China controlled 36 per cent of global exports; by 2018, its share slipped to 31.3 per cent due to rising wages. Vietnam and Bangladesh seized the opening, doubling their shares to 6.2 per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively. India's share fell slightly, from 3.3 per cent to 3.2 per cent. Taxes were not the issue; rather, the 'frictional costs' of doing business in India -- red tape, corruption, poor logistics, and inconsistent policies -- held firms back. The corporate tax cut of 2019 was meant to signal a pro-growth turn. Instead, it ended up as an improvised fix. GST 2.0 risks being another. There is one difference between the two situations, though. The 2019 cut fuelled an explosion of speculation about more Big Bang reforms being on the way. No one is expecting that anymore. Debashis Basu is editor, www.moneylife.in and a trustee of the Moneylife Foundation. These are Debashis Basu's personal views. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff 'Personalities are temporary, policies provide for stability.' 'With the former, when personalities change so does the nature of the relationship.' 'Policies and structures, on the other hand, are idiot-proof, as well as maverick-resistant,' explains Saisuresh Sivaswamy. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping chat ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit's plenary session in Tianjin, China, September 1, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo If there is a lesson to be learnt from US President Donald Trump's tariff tantrums that have singed India badly, it is that the limitations of personalised style of diplomacy practised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014 have been shown up. Of course, the government will not be caught dead admitting as much. Even as an incredulous public saw the bonhomie in Tianjin among Prime Minister Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as if to cock a snook at Trump, the closest the government has come to explaining the sea change in India's international relationships came from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. At the NDTV Defence Summit last week, Singh expounded on what is the cornerstone for all nations in their dealings with others: 'There are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.' Since this is as basic a primer in international diplomacy as what they teach children in elementary school, did the Indian government err in substituting friendship with leaders in place of time-tested policy? The answer is an unequivocal yes, but to be fair to the incumbent government, Prime Minister Modi had little choice but to embark on the path he did which, critics would aver, has brought India to the sorry pass where it finds itself. When Modi was first elected prime minister in 2014, he became only the second provincial leader in Indian history to occupy 7 Racecourse Road/Lok Jankalyan Marg. All others have been part of the central government in various capacities or, like in Rajiv Gandhi's case, at least been part of the parliamentary structure. The first incumbent without any awareness of or involvement with Delhi's power structure, H D Deve Gowda, was not very interested in external affairs, perhaps because 1996 was also the time when India was not punching above its weight. He was happy to leave the heavy lifting to his foreign minister I K Gujral who would go on to succeed him as prime minister. By the time Modi got to occupy the most important job in the country, India had changed, the elephant had metamorphosed into a tiger. Not fully grown yet, but the potential to occupy Pride Rock was evident. And along with India, the word too had changed unrecognisably. The old blocs had collapsed, a new kid on the block heralded his arrival next door, and there was limited room for ideological shibboleths of the past. It was this world that Modi, a stranger to Delhi's ways and hither-to totally uninvolved in the global great game, stepped into in 2014. The options before him were two-fold. One, as with the previous incumbents, adopt a laissez faire policy towards foreign policy, put the ministry under a domain expert and simply provide the broad brush strokes. Or, grab the bull by its horns, wrestle it to the ground, and make it his own. It was not very different from what he was faced with in Gujarat in 2001 when he first became chief minister with absolutely no legislative experience. Thirteen years later, when he stepped up to Delhi, Gujarat was firmly in his thrall, and continues to be so even 11 years after he moved out. What he lacked in experience, he had made up with administrative overdrive and personal outreach, and thus was the cult of Modi born. And this was the same template he adopted on moving to Delhi. All prime ministers have to handle some nettles in foreign policy. Pakistan and China, both of who have fought wars with India, for one, and balancing the US and China/USSR for another. How one handled them defines one's prime ministership, since the dealings also impact domestic politics to varying degrees. IMAGE: Modi and Xi on a jhoola at the Sabarmati waterfront, September 17, 2014. Photograph: Press Information Bureau If Dr Manmohan Singh had not visited Pakistan once in his 10-year term, despite his birthplace being there, he must have had strong reasons for it. And that should have warned Modi of the pitfalls of getting into an embrace with Islamabad. The experience of his party's first PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, should have made him more cautious, but the urge to make history often proves stronger than the pull of wisdom. The trouble with putting all your eggs in one basket is that the basket could unravel, or the eggs could break under pressure. And this is exactly what happened for Modi with Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif and China's Xi Jinping. With Sharif, Modi was so over-invested that when he was ejected from power India had no leg to stand on. And Pakistan continued to the graveyard of vanities it has been since the early days of the Republic. With China Modi overplayed his hand, thinking that he could strike a balance between the conflicting interests of Washington, DC, and Beijing, till Galwan exposed the wiles and guiles involved in playing Chinese checkers. What helped Modi survive these foreign policy disasters was his strong, ultra-nationalistic domestic constituency. And the fact that he continued to enjoy warm relations with the Western bloc, particularly with Washington, DC, through three of its presidents. IMAGE: US President Donald John Trump hugs Prime Minister Modi at the White House, February 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo So far his personalised diplomacy had stood him in good stead, and the unravelling happened only because of his inability/failure to factor in caprice in the present occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Maybe Modi did factor it in, but also figured that Trump's whimsy would play second fiddle to Washington, DC's need for India as a counterbalance to China. If reports are true, the break in the Modi-Trump ties has Pakistan at the centre. Trump wanted credit for the cessation in hostilities between India and Pakistan post-Operation Sindoor, and a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, which Modi was unwilling to provide. If true, Modi was right in his refusal. Agreeing to Trump would have cost him his domestic capital, nurtured so carefully with his image of a strongman who stares down superpowers. So will the prime minister's Tianjin overtures to both China and Russia, see a reset in India's diplomatic outreach? It could. But the downside cannot be ignored either, especially with China. The takeaway from the debris that the once promising India-US ties has been reduced to, is this. Personalities are temporary, policies provide for stability. With the former, when personalities change so does the nature of the relationship. Policies and structures, on the other hand, are idiot-proof, as well as maverick-resistant. Veterans pose for a group photo at Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A veteran is pictured at Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A veteran ascends Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A veteran is pictured at Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Veterans are pictured at Tian'anmen Rostrum ahead of a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A veteran at Tian'anmen Rostrum salutes during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Guests are pictured before a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War started in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong) Like his father Karunanidhi and AIADMK rivals MGR and Jayalalithaa, Stalin would like to confine his real political work to Tamil Nadu, and not want to take after the late Congress leader K Kamaraj and take up a national role, even if to create greater political space for son Udhayanidhi, points out N Sathiya Moorthy. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Bihar Congress President Rajesh Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Party leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Muzaffarpur, August 27, 2025. Photograph: AICC/ANI Photo Through a short and pointed speech at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra in poll-bound Bihar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin may have created a record for Dravidian leaders in delivering a Tamil piece in the Hindi heartland. Unintended or otherwise, it was Stalin's arrival statement on the national scene though he, as among the senior-most political leaders in the country, having been around since the early 1970s, does not intend staking prime ministerial claims, now or ever, not certainly against a Nehru-Gandhi, not certainly against the Congress ally in the state. The Bihar speech was also a continuation of Stalin's staunch anti-BJP, anti-Modi stance in native Tamil Nadu, which he and his party have propagated without any let-up or slowdown through the past decade and more. If anything, he has sharpened his attacks, and also their frequency. Stalin and the DMK have been highly critical of the BJP's Hindutva agenda with its myriad sub-texts. To this, they have added 'federalism issues' with equal purposefulness after coming to power in 2021, on issues where the BJP-ruled Centre, they felt, was acting unilaterally, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's early promise of strengthening 'cooperative federalism' in the country. Both Hindutva/secularism and federalism derive from the DMK's uncompromising ideological position since inception in 1949. Throughout, they continue to be saleable politico-electoral products in Tamil Nadu. The DMK feels they have begun resonating elsewhere, too, Rahul Gandhi's anti-SIR yatra across Bihar being the more recent one. What more, on return from his 'successful' Bihar trip, Stalin wrote to non-BJP chief ministers, to stand together on federal issues -- something that he has been highlighting from time to time, on multiple aspects of the same. Like his late father and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's initiatives of the kind vis-a-vis the National Front (1989) and the United Front (1996), Stalin is likely to call an INDIA bloc conclave in the state, as assembly polls are due in Tamil Nadu, and also neighbouring Kerala and Puducherry in the South, as also West Bengal and Assam, next summer. Stalin's increasing interest in national issues and, now, national platforms, is deliberate. One reason is plain and simple ideological, against the RSS-BJP duo, and aims at the short, medium and long terms. The other reason is of shorter shelf-life. By addressing Biharis in Bihar, the chief minister has sought to reassure them all that their migrant brethren were all safe under his care -- and were not getting beaten up, as a mischievous BJP supporter, first in Tamil Nadu, later another one in Bihar, had portrayed in social media posts two years ago. But more important for the DMK and Stalin is the anti-incumbency against the state government. It is a short-term factor and is palpable, and has consequences for the future of the party, and also for the up and coming leadership of the leader's son and heir-apparent Udhayanidhi Stalin in his time. Hence, Stalin's immediate effort is to try and make the assembly poll Modi-centric for the fourth time in a row since 2014, and not Stalin-centric, as the rival BJP-AIADMK alliance especially has been trying to project. As may be recalled, the BJP lost all four elections in Tamil Nadu that it fought under Modi, with the late AIADMK boss and chief minister Jayalalithaa opening the account in 2014. The DMK won the three that followed, in 2019, 2021 and 2024. IMAGE: Stalin, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav during the yatra. Photograph: @mkstalin X/ANI Photo In doing so, Stalin has deliberately side-stepped AIADMK predecessor Edappadi K Palaniswami, who is also the self-proclaimed chief ministerial candidate of the party-led BJP-NDA combine next year. Invariably, Stalin has let his second-line leaders to respond to criticism by EPS and other AIADMK leaders, who speak less and less of ideology, and more and more of the 'mounting people's problems' and also political corruption -- a 'cover' for the party's revived alliance with the Modi-BJP duo, and in that order. In doing so, and early, Stalin has also obliterated early chances of next year's poll turning into an 'Udhayanidhi versus Vijay' personality battle between two youthful leaders. Udhayanidhi Stalin is also the deputy chief minister of the state, positioned thus for better things, first in the party and then in state politics. Actor-politician Vijay, who announced a new party TVK last year, is seen by some as the emerging 'regional third force' to neutralise the two Dravidian majors that have outlived their utility -- and also the BJP with its anti-secularist, anti-federal and anti-Tamil agenda. Whether Stalin's strategy on this score succeeds or fails, he has taken a lesson from his late wily father and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's copybook. In the early 1990s, the father succeeded in converting what was predicted to be a post-Karunanidhi battle for supremacy in the DMK, between Stalin and popular party orator Vaiko (V Gopalswami) into one between self and the latter, in his lifetime. Thirty-plus years down the line, Vaiko's once-promising MDMK is a mere appendage of the DMK parent under the very same Stalin. IMAGE: Stalin and Rahul Gandhi during the yatra. Photograph: AICC/ANI Photo Yet, Karunanidhi would not hand over the reins to his politician-son, whom he recognised much more than the other, in M K Azhagiri, now retired. Karunanidhi's logic was that at the end of the day, Stalin would have to become acceptable to the voters on his own steam and strength, and by hoisting his son also outside the party would not do any good to either the DMK or Stalin. Stalin's strategy now hinged on the DMK winning the assembly polls hands down, without having to depend on the Congress, communist and regional allies for a majority. Stalin does not seem to be overly perturbed on seat negotiations just now. His joining Rahul's yatra also helped silence motivated rumour-mongers in the state, who predicted the Congress going with Vijay's TVK, and sections of the state unit who were keen on a share in power, like the BJP's Amit Shah unilaterally declared in the case of the BJP's AIADMK alliance. At his airport news conference before emplaning for Germany, Stalin also sidestepped a question on more parties (especially those from the AIADMK alliance) crossing over. 'Whether or not more parties are joining us, more voters are gravitating towards us,' he said, as if reading out from a prepared text. For all this, however, the immediate question is on how Stalin is going to neutralise 'anti-incumbency'. Does he believe that flagging 'secularist nationalist' questions against Modi and the BJP alone would do the trick? The DMK's body language says so. The party's whisper campaign, more than the rival BJP-AIADMK's IT campaign, has won the 'perception war' for the DMK just now. That in the current format of a four-front election, which also involves actor-politician Seeman's NTK, which has been increasing vote-share in recent times, the DMK would have a walkover. More aggressive the Modi-Shah combo becomes, including on the corruption and Hindutva front, greater are the chances of the DMK combine's poll victory. IMAGE: Stalin and Tejashwi Yadav greet each other during the Voter Adhikar Yatra. Photograph: AICC/ANI Photo That way, the DMK seems to have been convinced that every act of the Modi-Shah BJP Centre is a pure act of 'political vendetta and pent-up frustration of the past decade'. It is immaterial if it was on the Hindutva front or on the federalism front. Thus the poll narrative has taken a curious turn, without anyone realising or acknowledging. It is now for the DMK's rivals, collectively or separately, to turn the torch on multiple layers of 'anti-incumbency' afflicting the ruling party in the state. How they go about it will define/re-define the course of the poll campaign and hence the poll results. That will also be the measure on the success of Stalin's current strategy, which too is evolving with each passing day, to meet new contingencies, especially those created by the BJP-led Centre. After all, like his father and also AIADMK rivals MGR and Jayalalithaa, Stalin would like to confine his real political work to Tamil Nadu, and not want to take after the late Congress leader K Kamaraj and take up a national role, even if to create greater political space for son Udhayanidhi. Whatever might have been the perception when Kamaraj left his chief minister's job to don a national role as the Congress president, analysts later concluded that his deserting state politics with its own Dravidian model of social dynamics was the beginning of the end of the Congress in the state. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator. Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff 'If China shows greater concerns for Indian interests, ties could improve. Otherwise, the thaw could be short-lived.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, September 1, 2025. Photograph: Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via/Reuters "The next step in normalisation of the LAC is the withdrawal of 50,000 soldiers deployed along the LAC. However, this will require comprehensive negotiations and verifiable steps. I do not think that the withdrawal will happen in one go," says former Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda (retd), the senior-most officer in charge of planning and executing the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in September 2016. "These are the new realities, and any talk of status quo ante is impractical. Negotiations should take this into account and find ways to keep the LAC peaceful through fresh mechanisms and protocols for LAC management," the general tells Rediff's Archana Masih. India and China have a difficult and complex relationship which was in cold freeze since the Galwan conflict in 2020. Given the historical tensions and China's more recent support of Pakistan against India during Operation Sindoor, can the current diplomatic thaw be sustained? Sustaining the diplomatic thaw will require more visible actions from the Chinese side. It is all well to say in statements that 'India and China are partners, not rivals'. However, many of the actions taken in the recent past, including support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, export bans on critical items like rare earth magnets, fertilisers, and advanced machinery, attempts to increase influence in South Asia, all point towards elements of rivalry. If China shows greater concerns for Indian interests, ties could improve. Otherwise, the thaw could be short-lived. Can India trust China going forward, especially when it comes to China's unflinching support of Pakistan against India? Both the actions in 2020 along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh and the military support to Pakistan have eroded trust. Restoring this trust is a long-drawn process and we should not expect immediate results. However, this does not mean that we adopt an openly hostile attitude. It is also in our national interest that the borders remain peaceful, that we find a solution to the completely one-sided trade with China, that we manage our relationship with a country that is a significant economic and military power. We should therefore adopt a realistic, clear-eyed approach keeping our interests in mind. Xi Jinping asserted that the border issue should not define overall China-India relations. How can normal relations be achieved when de-escalation remains incomplete, restrictions on Indian troop patrols continue, and the tragic loss of 20 soldiers still looms large? There is a fundamental difference in how the two countries view the border issue. While China says that the border issue should not define overall bilateral relations, India says that peace and tranquillity at the border are crucial for the development of relations. I think both countries will stick to their respective stance. Realistically, we are not immediately looking for a complete normalisation of relations, but focused on finding ways to keep the border calm and enhance the people-to-people contacts through direct flights, resumption of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra etc. Let us see how this progresses before taking an unduly optimistic or pessimistic tone. What are your expectations regarding the withdrawal of the 50,000 troops currently deployed along the LAC? Do you believe ongoing negotiations will lead to de-induction and the restoration of Indian patrols in areas they previously had access to? The next step in normalisation of the LAC is the withdrawal of 50,000 soldiers deployed along the LAC. However, this will require comprehensive negotiations and verifiable steps. I do not think that the withdrawal will happen in one go. What can be expected is a gradual reduction of forces, with India keeping sufficient forces in place based on their threat analysis and the need to strongly guard the LAC. It is very unlikely that force levels will go back to the pre-2020 number of troops. The border has been relatively quiet in recent months -- does the resumption of broader bilateral engagement, including WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs) talks, open the possibility of a return to the status quo ante along the LAC? There is no returning to the status quo ante. The situation along the LAC today is different from what had existed prior to 2020. Buffer zones have been created, patrolling arrangements are new, confidence building measures and protocols have to be reworked, and deployment of forces has been enhanced. These are the new realities, and any talk of status quo ante is impractical. Negotiations should take this into account and find ways to keep the LAC peaceful through fresh mechanisms and protocols for LAC management. Does the decision to establish an 'expert group' to explore an 'early harvest' on boundary delimitation signal a shift from India's earlier stance favouring a comprehensive resolution, or can this staged approach be seen as a pragmatic step toward building momentum for resolving broader, more complex issues? Boundary delimitation is a very complex issue. The positions of both sides are so vastly different that any 'early harvest' is unlikely. Nevertheless, the establishment of an expert group is a positive step. We still do not have all the details of how the expert group would carry out its task, but at least it is a move forward. What challenges persist for the Indian Army along the border with China? What key factors should the Indian military remain most cautious about in the current environment? An unsettled border poses enduring challenges and demands uncompromising vigilance. The fact that much of the border lies along the Himalayan watershed exacts a high toll on both humans and equipment. Facing us is a very capable military with excellent infrastructure to support its operations. We need to rapidly improve the infrastructure on our side, put in place an effective surveillance network, and build our capabilities to quickly respond to any attempts by the Chinese to change the status quo along the LAC. 'These Marathas are farmers and they only do farming. They have no other business other than farming.' 'Now, they want reservations because farming is no longer a profitable business.' IMAGE: Maratha protestors outside Mantralaya, the seat of administrative power, in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo The Maratha reservation movement, spearheaded by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, brought to the forefront the long-standing social and economic tensions simmering within Maharashtra's agrarian heartland. In an interview to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff, veteran farmers' rights advocate and founding member of the Shetkari Sanghatna, Vijay Jawandhia, outlines the historical and structural roots of the agitation. He traces the demand for reservation to the legacy of Maratha farmers once registered as Kunbis under the nizam's rule, and highlights how rising rural distress, shrinking landholdings, and widening income disparities have left large sections of the community feeling excluded from the benefits of state development and government employment. What is the reason for this Maratha protest for reservations? If you go back in history you will find that these Marathas who are protesting at Azad maidan in Mumbai, their ancestors were under the nizam of Hyderabad rule before Independence. (The areas of present day Maharashtra that were under the nizam's rule were Nanded, Beed, Parbhani, Sambhaji Nagar/Aurangabad), Dharashiv/Osamanabad). The ancestors of these Marathas were registered as Kunbis (farmers) in the nizam's rule. And the same Kunbis, when they are counted in (the castes of) Maharashtra they are called as Marathas. These Marathas are farmers and they only do farming. They have no other business other than farming. Now, they want reservations because farming is no longer a profitable business. And (sadly for these Marathas) they are not counted as Kunbis like Other Backward Castes are counted and who get reservations. Now, the problem is that these Marathas want reservation as Kunbis but OBCs do not want them to be included in their share of reservation. IMAGE: Manoj Jarange Patil listens to Maharashtra cabinet sub-committee head Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil reading out the government resolution on Maratha reservation at the Azad Madian in Mumbai, September 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo When the Mandal commission was implemented in 1989 Marathas were never considered as backward and they did not agitate at that time to be included in the list. So, why do they want to be called OBCs now? The trouble is the huge salaries that Maharashtra government employees get. Secondly, the landholding of a Maratha family has reduced considerably because of the division of land because of large family member size. A family that owned 20 acres land has now got divided into four parts of five acres each as each son gets five acres of land today which has made farming a very unprofitable business. It is difficult to sustain livelihood because of the high cost economy. The salaries that government employees are drawing in villages make the Maratha community feel that they have been left out in the benefits of reservations. Can you give an example? Yes, in 1970, when I started farming in my village (in Vidarbha) the government teacher used to earn around Rs 90 to Rs 100. And the worker working in my fields used to earn around Rs 75 to Rs 80. Today, the starting salary in the government is around Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per month. And the worker who works in the field does not even gets Rs 10,000 per month. This pay gap is creating trouble for Marathas and therefore they want to get reservations and do government jobs. What about non-reserved seats in government jobs? Why can't the Marathas compete and get jobs in the non-reserved category which is as good as 50 percent of the government jobs? They do not get those jobs. Brahmins never complain about reservations. They just compete. There is a difference between Marathas and Brahmins. Marathas live in villages and Brahmins live in cities. There is no education facility in the villages of Maharashtra like you have in cities. Moreover, there are no other employment opportunities too in villages. Had it been the case, they would have happily settled for other jobs but there are no other jobs in villages. And as I told you the last time, we are making one India as super India and Bharat like Somalia. Now everybody in villages wants to be a part of super India and no one wants to stay in the villages of India. This is the same reason even Gujjars in Rajasthan (who are in the farming business) agitate for reservations. The same is the case with the Jat community associated with farming. But when the Mandal Commission was set up why did the Marathas not say they want to be included as a backward caste? IMAGE: Manoj Jarange Patil breaks his indefinite fast on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo They had different leaders in their community at that time. They were headed by Maratha leaders of western Maharashtra like Sharad Pawar, Yashwantrao Chavan and others. They call themselves 96 kuli sub-caste. (Traditionally called the warrior clans from the west, the 96 Kuli Marathas have been the mainstay of the state since the foundation of the Maratha empire was laid in the 16th century.) Does it mean that the Marathas of western Maharashtra are not participating in this Maratha reservation movement? Right now this agitation is led by the people of Marathwada and not from western Maharashtra. These Marathas of Marathwada are stating that they have been registered under the nizam's rule as Kunbis. The trouble is that if they are called Kunbis, what will have happen to OBC kunbis? The OBCs do not want to share their reservation share. Does this mean that if a Kunbi Maratha is a zamindar then too he is entitled for reservations? Yes, they expect that because if a reserved category collector's son can get reservations, then why not the landed zamindars who are Marathas? What do the Marathas produce in farming? This is rain-fed agriculture. They produce jowar, cotton, kardi, tur, urad. It is only now that irrigation has started, which has led them to shift to sugarcane. When 33 percent of Maharashtra's population is Maratha, how can they be deprived of the fruits of development? The new economic policy or liberalisation and privatisation did not benefit Indian farmers. You tell us that one crop that Marathas grow in Marathwada region which gets minimum support price like tur, soyabean, cotton or oil seeds. How will farmers survive? They are not getting minimum support price. For soyabean Rs 5,300 is the minimum support price and the farmers of Marathwada are unable to sell that for Rs 4,000. The condition is that bad. Tur, another crop, has Rs 8,000 minimum support price and Rs 6,500 is the price at which it is selling. Where is the short-sightedness from the government side? Short-sightedness is on the agriculture sector. Step-motherly treatment to the agriculture sector has led to the Maratha agitation. The British taught us capital accumulation by exploitation of raw materials. So what Indian industry wants is cheap labour for industries. We need cheap labour for infrastructure development. And you need cheap food for this development. So how do you achieve it? The person who is producing food (farmers) in this chain has to be the slave of this food chain process. Two men from Uttar Pradesh were allegedly duped of Rs 4.5 lakh on the promise of lucrative jobs in Russia and later left there stranded in the country without food or shelter, police said on Tuesday. Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo On July 1, both victims were first sent to Kazakhstan and later transported to Omsk, Russia, where they were abandoned. "There were no jobs, no accommodation and they had to survive for days without proper food and shelter," a senior officer said. "Eventually, they managed to contact their families, who sent them money for tickets. The two returned to India on July 17," the officer added. Instead of genuine work permits, they were allegedly given tourist visas for the Russia visit, police said. Nizamuddin, a resident of Badarpur in Delhi, and his associate Premchand, allegedly lured the victims with fake job offer letters of a purported Russia-based company. The complainant, 45-year-old Pramod Chauhan from Maharajganj district in Uttar Pradesh, works as a mason and had previously spent nearly 18 years in Saudi Arabia in the same profession. During that period, he came into contact with Nizamuddin and reconnected with him earlier this year to explore opportunities abroad, police said. "Trusting him, Chauhan agreed to pay money for a job in Russia. He was even handed an agreement and appointment letter on June 30. His neighbour, Gautam Sahni, also agreed to join after Chauhan told him about the offer," the officer said. Investigations revealed that the accused took Rs 50,000 in cash and Rs 4.05 lakh through online transfers from the two men. A case has been registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch following a complaint from one of the victims. After spending more than 17 years behind bars, gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli on Wednesday walked out of the Nagpur Central Jail with the Supreme Court last week granting him bail in a 2007 murder case, officials said. IMAGE: Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli. Photograph: ANI Photo The apex court granted bail to 76-year-old Gawli, who was serving life imprisonment for the murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. In its order passed on August 28, the bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh noted that Gawli was in jail for over 17 years and his appeal was pending before it. "After the completion of all legal formalities of the prisons department, Gawli came out of the jail around 12.30 pm," an official said. His family members, relatives, lawyer and supporters waited outside and they greeted him as he stepped out of the prison. Amid tight security arrangements, Gawli was taken to the Nagpur airport, from where he left for Mumbai in a flight. Additional police force was deployed inside the jail premises in view of Gawli's release, the official said. The top court granted bail to Gawli subject to terms and conditions imposed by the trial court. Gawli, who was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, had challenged the December 9, 2019 verdict of the Bombay high court, upholding his life sentence given by the trial court. He shot to prominence from Dagdi Chawl, a neighbourhood of Byculla, and is the founder of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena. He was an MLA from 2004 to 2009 from the Chinchpokli assembly constituency in Mumbai. In August 2012, a sessions court in Mumbai sentenced him to life imprisonment in the case and imposed a Rs 17 lakh fine. The Border Security Force, which guards India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, is training special units of "drone commandos" and "drone warriors" for modern warfare involving remote-controlled aerial platforms, with plans to deploy them in missions such as Operation Sindoor. IMAGE: Indian Army personnel familiarise themselves with drones. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff archives A 'School of Drone Warfare' was inaugurated by BSF director general Daljit Singh Chawdhary at the officers' training academy of the force in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday. PTI had reported in July that the about 2.65 lakh personnel strong force was raising its maiden "drone squadron" following the lessons learnt after Operation Sindoor. "The School of Drone Warfare will provide special training to the border guarding troops of the force in combating modern strategic challenges," a force spokesperson said. "The institute will prepare drone commandos and drone warriors through five special courses that include unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, anti-drone warfare and surveillance and intelligence gathering," he said. The school has simulators and live drone flying zones, facilities for payload integration in the UAVs and night operations, tools for radio frequency (RF) jammers and kinetic interceptors, apart from linked hardware and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The BSF DG, after the inauguration of the school, addressed the trainee officers and spoke about the ongoing three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war, where drones have played an important role apart from some other battles and the strategic takeaways from Operation Sindoor conducted by India against Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, a senior officer said. Chawdhary also spoke about the role of AI and machine learning (ML) in combat, proactive and weaponised drone use for decisive outcomes, the importance of FPV (first person view related to remote piloting of Kamikaze drones) and strategic changes in national policies, the official said. Eighteen BSF troops, during the Independence Day in August, were awarded gallantry medals for displaying "conspicuous bravery" and "unmatched valour" during Operation Sindoor. These included two personnel who were decorated with the military-issued Vir Chakra posthumously. The force also tackles Chinese-made Pakistani drones that smuggle drugs, weapons and ammunition into India from across the international border on the country's western side every day. The BSF is tasked with guarding the 2,290-km India-Pakistan International Border (IB) apart from the Line of Control (LoC) under the Army's operational command, and the 4,096-km front with Bangladesh on the eastern side. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable as the country's military displayed for the first time some of its brand-new weapons, including hypersonic, laser and long-range ballistic missiles. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters Addressing an impressive parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of China's victory against Japanese aggression in World War II, Xi called on the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to provide strategic support for national rejuvenation and make greater contributions to world peace and development. The Chinese military for the first time displayed in the parade some of its most advanced military hardware in an apparent show of strength to the world, especially the United States. Xi, who heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the PLA, asked the Chinese military to build itself into a world-class force and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. China is the second largest defence spender after the US. Its annual defence budget this year amounted to USD 250 billion. Besides the military hardware, the parade also showcased China's diplomatic power as 26 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, attended the event. From India's neighbourhood, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu took part in the event. India's Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat attended the event, according to sources. Leaders from the US and heads of the European Union, besides Japan and South Korea have stayed away from the parade. The presence of foreign leaders at the parade has become a diplomatic spat between Japan and China after Tokyo urged the world leaders to refrain from attending. China lodged a diplomatic protest with Japan for its request to the world leaders not to attend the event. In his speech, Xi said victory against Japan in WWII marks China's first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times. Noting that the victory was achieved under a national united front against the Japanese aggression led by the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi said that the Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defence of world peace with immense sacrifice in the war. Only when nations across the world treat each other as equals, live in harmony and mutually support one another can common security be safeguarded, the root cause of war eliminated, and historical tragedies prevented from recurring, he said, flanked by Putin and Kim Today, humanity is again faced with a choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games, Xi said. The Chinese people will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, adhere to the path of peaceful development, and join hands with the rest of the world to build a community with a shared future for humanity, he added. He called on Chinese people of all ethnic groups to stay united and work hard under the strong leadership of the CPC to build a strong country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts. At the parade, China for the first time displayed a range of new weapon systems which included new-type DF-5C liquid-fuelled intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles. State-run Global Times reported that the missile has an estimated range of more than 20,000 kilometres, and has advantages in defence penetration and precision. It can cover the entire globe under its strike range, it quoted an expert as saying. Other weapon systems on display included, a vehicle-based laser defence weapon, four types of aircraft carrier-based jet fighters, deep-sea drones, H-6J long-range bomber, airborne early warning aircraft, army and navy drones, DF-26D anti-ship ballistic missiles with a range of 5000 km, CJ-1000 long-range hypersonic cruise missiles, air defence systems, HQ-29 ballistic missile interceptor, Carrier killer' missiles, new battle tank Type 99B and multiple rocket launchers. China on Wednesday for the first time displayed a range of new weapons at a massive military parade, which included laser weapons, nuclear ballistic missiles, giant underwater drones, besides fifth-generation aircraft, flaunting its military might. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters One much-talked-about new weapon, displayed at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of China's victory against Japanese aggression in World War II, was the giant LY-1 laser weapon. The laser weapon, mounted on top of an eight-wheeled HZ-155 armoured truck, can effectively damage the optical sensors of enemy weapons and equipment. Chinese defence analysts say it will truly change the rules of maritime warfare. Laser warfare was regarded as the new military domain. India last month successfully test-fired an integrated air defence weapon system (IADWS), especially the high-power laser-based Directed-Energy Weapons (DEW) system, which invited praise from a Chinese military expert who said it should be considered as a significant advancement. Also, China for the first time displayed a new type of DF-5C liquid-fuelled intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles. State-run Global Times reported that the missile has an estimated range of more than 20,000 km and has advantages in defence penetration and precision. It can cover the entire globe under its strike range, an expert was quoted as saying. Also, the PLA's first air-launched nuclear missile, the JL-1, has been unveiled atop a military truck. This model is significantly smaller than the JL-3 submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile, which is on show. Official media says that these two missiles, along with the DF-61 and DF-31, represent the first concentrated display of the PLA's land, sea and air triad strategic nuclear forces", constituting a strategic ace for safeguarding national sovereignty and defending national dignity. Military blogger Ma Yan told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that the upgraded intercontinental ballistic missile DF-5C sends the message that China's strategic deterrence is credible, reliable and sufficient. The DF-5C can reportedly carry up to 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle warheads, meaning that a single missile can target 10 different locations at the same time, she said. The missile can target the enemy's military bases and critical facilities, and adjust the order of strikes. Its existence strengthens our nuclear deterrent strategy, ensuring effective retaliatory strikes, even under the harshest war conditions, she said. The PLA Rocket Force has displayed its new DF-26D, a variant of the DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads and reportedly has a range of up to 5,000km. Also, China has unveiled its fifth-generation combat planes on active duty for the first time in the grand parade. All five models -- the J-20, J-20A, J-20S and J-35A of the PLA Air Force, as well as the PLA Navy's J-35 flew in several arrowhead-shaped groups. This is the first time in the world that five models of cutting-edge stealth fighter jets have appeared in one parade, state-run China Daily reported. It also marked the maiden public performance of the J-20S, the world's first and only model of twin-seat stealth jet; the J-20A, an upgraded single-seat variant of the J-20 baseline configuration; and the J-35, the first radar-evading combat plane in the Navy, the report said. This fills a previous gap in China's nuclear arsenal, as the Chinese military lacked a usable air-based nuclear weapon. In addition to these strategic missiles, the parade showcased the CJ-1000 vehicle-mounted supersonic cruise missile, the YJ-18C ship-launched cruise missile, and the YJ-21 air-launched ballistic missile, the official media reports said. Four new types of hypersonic strike missiles -- YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20 -- were also displayed, highlighting the Navy's ability to carry out ultrafast, long-distance precision strikes on hostile ships and land targets, according to the Post report. The PLA also displayed its multi-stage, multi-layer air and missile defence network. The PLA Air Force brought six types of advanced systems to the parade. The occasion marked the public debut of the HQ-20 and HQ-22A anti-aircraft missile systems and the HQ-29 exoatmospheric missile interception system. Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said that in addition to conventional ballistic missiles, the HQ-19 can defend against hypersonic glide vehicle weapons that boast extremely fast speeds and supreme agility. As a cutting-edge strike hardware, the hypersonic glide vehicle weapon is virtually impossible to intercept by previous air-defence missiles and poses a significant threat to high-value assets, Wang claimed. The largest surface-to-air missile system China has ever shown, the HQ-29 is likely a mid-course interceptor designed to engage threats outside the Earth's atmosphere. China also displayed its first model of a fourth-generation main battle tank, which features an unmanned turret, an advanced radar, an active protection system as well as augmented reality technology. The Type 99B main battle tank has made its debut. It's the latest variant of China's third-generation tanks, stated to be the lightest that can operate in Tibet. The 99A version weighs 55 tonnes and uses 125mm-calibre guns. It also features active protection systems, including a defensive laser that targets both ground vehicles and helicopters. The Type 99A has been used in military exercises in high-altitude terrain such as the Tibetan plateau near the Line of Actual Control with India. There are also multiple cameras and sensors distributed around the battle machine to detect potential threats. Also, the HQ-20 and HQ-22A anti-aircraft missile systems and the HQ-29 exoatmospheric missile interception system made their public debut, according to the report. According to Zhang Xuefeng, a military hardware observer and retired PLA officer, the three missile systems are primarily tasked with engaging with conventional threats, and can effectively intercept fixed-wing aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and even short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. Also on display were underwater drones and the new H-6J, a modern naval variant of a long-range bomber. The PLA also showcased new types of AI-equipped drones. These include reconnaissance-strike integrated drones, unscrewed wingmen, unscrewed air combat aircraft, and shipborne unscrewed helicopters. These systems can carry out stealth strikes, cover a wide area and form autonomous swarms, the Post reported. The Y-20A military transport aircraft and its upgraded Y-20B variant -- key assets in the PLA's strategic airlift capability - and the KJ-500A and KJ-600 -- China's latest generation of airborne early warning aircraft - flew in formation at the parade. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra remained on the run a day after he escaped police custody amid gunshots and stone pelting by his supporters following his arrest in a rape case. IMAGE: AAP's Punjab MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra. Photograph: Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra/X Efforts are on to nab Pathanmajra, police sources said on Wednesday. Pathanmajra, a first-time MLA, escaped from custody after a police team went to arrest him in Dabri village in Haryana's Karnal district, where he was at the residence of one of his relatives. Pardeep Bajwa, in charge of the Patiala Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), said on Tuesday, "We conducted a raid at Pathanmajra's (relative's) residence in Haryana. He was arrested. But a group of villagers and some mischievous elements pelted stones at the police team and fired gunshots." The Sanour MLA used the cover fire and stone pelting to escape, he added. According to officials, Pathanmajra and his supporters fled in two SUVs -- a Scorpio and a Fortuner. A policeman who tried to stop the vehicles was injured after being hit, they said. Balwinder Singh, an accomplice of the MLA, was arrested with three weapons in his possession, police said. They later seized the Fortuner, but the MLA managed to flee in the other vehicle. According to an FIR registered at the Civil Lines police station in Patiala on September 1, Pathanmajra was booked on charges of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation. The case was registered based on a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman, who alleged that the MLA misrepresented himself as divorced, entered into a relationship with her, and later married in 2021 while already being married. She accused him of continued sexual exploitation, threats, and sending "obscene" material to her. After the FIR was filed, Pathanmajra went live on Facebook on Tuesday, strongly criticising the Punjab government and alleging that the Delhi-based AAP leadership was "illegitimately ruling over Punjab". He appealed to fellow party MLAs to stand with him, claiming that during Congress or BJP governments, the central leadership did not interfere in state affairs the way AAP was doing. On Sunday, Pathanmajra had also accused a senior IAS officer of failing to act on his repeated requests for desilting and clean-up of rivers, particularly the Tangri river. However, AAP leader Baltej Singh Pannu on Tuesday said Pathanmajra started raising the flood issue and targeting the IAS officer only after learning that police could take action against him based on the woman's complaint. India kills the US with tariffs and the country has now offered no tariffs to America, President Donald Trump has said, amid New Delhi's escalating tensions with Washington over his administration's policies on trade and tariffs. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: @WhiteHouse/X They have tariffs against us. China, which kills us with tariffs. India kills us with tariffs. Brazil kills us with tariffs, Trump said in a telephone interview with The Scott Jennings Radio Show on Tuesday. Trump added that he understands tariffs better than other countries. I understood tariffs better than any human being in the world. And now with my tariffs, they were all dropping them. India was the most highly tariffed nation... And you know what, they've offered me no tariffs in India anymore. No tariffs," Trump said. "If I didn't have tariffs, they would never make that offer. They would never make that offer. So you have to have tariffs. We're going to be economically strong, he added. With a federal appeals court ruling that most of Trump's tariffs imposed on countries around the world are illegal, Trump said that the court case is sponsored by other nations because they're taking advantage of us. "...they're not going to take advantage anymore," he added. Later, speaking at the White House, Trump said that America gets along with India very well, but the relationship was one-sided for many years since Delhi was charging Washington tremendous tariffs. No, we get along with India very well, Trump said in response to a question on whether he is considering taking away some of the tariffs imposed on India. He said that for many years, the relationship between India and the US was one-sided and that changed when he assumed office. India was charging us tremendous tariffs, about the highest in the world, Trump said, adding that the US was therefore not doing much business with India. But they were doing business with us because we weren't charging them, foolishly, we weren't charging them, he said, adding that India was pouring its products into the US. They'd send it in, pour it into our country. Therefore, it wouldn't be made here, which is a negative, but we would not send in anything because they were charging us 100 per cent tariffs, Trump said. The US president cited the example of Harley Davidson motorcycles, saying the company couldn't sell into India because there was a 200 percent tariff on a motorcycle. "So what happens? Harley Davidson went to India and built a motorcycle plant, and now they don't have to pay tariffs, same thing as us, he said. On Monday, Trump claimed that India has now "offered" to cut its tariffs to nothing, but it's getting late, as he said that India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia and very little from the US. The Trump administration has imposed 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25 percent levies for Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties imposed on India to 50 percent, with effect from August 27. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted he can't compromise on the interests of farmers, cattle-rearers, small-scale industries, cautioning "pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it". India has called the tariffs imposed by the US unjustified and unreasonable. New Delhi said that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. In 2024-25, the bilateral trade in goods between the two countries stood at $131.8 billion ($86.5 billion exports and $45.3 billion imports). Speaking at an event recently in Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has certain "red lines" in its negotiations for a trade deal with the US and it will stand firm in protecting the interests of farmers and small producers. Jaishankar also sounded critical of the US for targeting New Delhi's energy ties with Moscow and wondered why the same yardstick has not been applied to China and the European Union, the largest importer of Russian crude oil and Russian LNG, respectively. DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's University of Dar es Salaam, in collaboration with China's Zhejiang Normal University, on Tuesday inaugurated the China-Africa Regional Cooperation Center for Digital Education to advance the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in African classrooms. The launch ceremony, held at the university, brought together government officials, educators, and international partners, underscoring a shared commitment to enhance digital learning across Tanzania and the continent. Nkanileka Loti Mgonda, dean of the university's School of Education, said the center will empower teachers to embrace innovation and strengthen cooperation in education. "Digital education is not merely a tool. It is a bridge connecting learners to knowledge and nations to one another," Mgonda said. The center will focus on promoting digital literacy among teachers, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and supporting the integration of ICT into school curricula in line with Tanzania's new education policy. Mtundi Aldo Nyamhanga, secondary education officer for the Kinondoni Municipal Council, described the initiative as a symbol of long-standing friendship between Tanzania and China, pledging continued support for the initiative. Teachers participating in the launch were urged to use the center as a platform for sharing skills and fostering innovation in schools. The China-Africa Regional Cooperation Center for Digital Education is expected to serve as a hub for training, research, and cross-border collaboration, contributing to inclusive and innovative learning across Africa. India cannot be directly blamed for the devastating monsoon flooding in Pakistan this year, and the catastrophic rains have caused far greater destruction upstream of the border rather than in the country, hydrology experts explained on Wednesday. IMAGE: A resident stands near a damaged vehicle following a storm that caused heavy rains and flooding, in Pacha Qaly Bazar in Buner district, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, August 16, 2025. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters The experts, as quoted by a media report, suggested that contrary to the popular opinion, and even some officials' claim, that the devastating flooding in Pakistan was caused by release of water by India, there is no proof of intentional action (by India). Entire northwest India and Pakistan's Punjab province have been witnessing torrential rainfall since mid-August resulting in almost all rivers and tributaries flowing over danger levels. The provincial government in Punjab had last week said that the unprecedented monsoon rains and the release of excess water from the Indian side swelled the three eastern rivers -- the Sutlej, Ravi and Chinab. When The Express Tribune spoke with experts to understand how dam water release works, they attributed multiple reasons for flooding. Dr Hassaan F Khan, an urban water expert at Tufts University, explained that every dam has two main systems: regular release gates and spillways. The regular gates are used for water supply needs, such as agriculture, and are considered normal releases. But when a dam fills to its maximum capacity, water cannot be held back because of the risk of structural damage, he said. According to Dr Hassaan, India released water from multiple dams in recent days as they had reached their capacity. That is what the Indian side is claiming, he said. While Pakistan cannot verify this directly, it makes sense given the context. Such releases are not unusual. Both extreme rainfall and weather played a role in this year's flooding in the region. India saw record-breaking rains, especially in Himachal Pradesh, which sent large flows of water into rivers, he pointed out. India was also forced to release water into the Sutlej and Ravi. India warned Pakistan about the high probability of flooding in the Sutlej river, with incessant rainfall in the northern states forcing the release of excess water from major dams on Tuesday. The alerts were routed to Islamabad through the Ministry of External Affairs on humanitarian grounds. Muhammad Umer Karim, a senior researcher and water resource specialist, explained the natural hydrology or water system cycle for the affected area. "In our region, water freezes in winter as ice and glaciers, then thaws in the summer. Combined with monsoon rains, this increases the river flows. Melting glaciers add to this volume. Spillways are opened only when dams are full. For the rest of the year, water is gradually taken out through canals for drinking and irrigation. This time, Indian dams were overflowing, which also led to flooding in the eastern rivers," Karim said. Environmental lawyer Ahmed Rafay Alam pointed out that dam infrastructure on both sides is essentially the same. India has three major dams on the Jhelum, Beas, and Ravi. Pakistan has Mangla and Tarbela dams. Both countries store monsoon and glacier water for winter crops, and both sets of dams were built by American companies. Their designs and operations are essentially the same. This year, however, the situation became critical. The Pong Dam on the Beas, the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej near Himachal Pradesh, and the Madhopur Headworks on the Ravi reached dangerous levels between August 23 and 25, he said. To protect infrastructure, India opened the spillways. This is what we call a 'controlled release' of water, Alam said. In response to a question, Dr Hassaan stressed there is no evidence that India deliberately released water to harm Pakistan. Speculation is possible, but we have never found proof of intentional action, he said. Dr Daanish Mustafa, a Professor of Water Resource Geography at King's College, London, added: "Water release occurs when the safe design capacity of a reservoir is exceeded. No infrastructure can stop the peak flow of monsoon water." More rain means more water it's that simple. In fact, India has faced even greater destruction than Pakistan, because by the time the water reaches us, its force is already reduced. The experts clarified that the main floodwaters do not flow straight from India into Pakistan. Instead, they first pass through several Indian towns and villages, travelling 100150 kms before crossing the border. Indian water releases added to Pakistan's misery, Alam said, but there is no evidence they were intentional. India itself suffered similar destruction. As per the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) data, between June 26 when the monsoon rains started till August 31, there were 209 deaths in Punjab province even as millions of people have been displaced due to devastating floods with over 2,000 villages inundated. 'Following these engagements and sustained US pressure, Indian refiners are signalling plans to reduce imports of Russian oil, a consequential shift that directly undermines Moscow's ability to finance its war in Ukraine' An influential US lawmaker, who undertook a two-week intelligence mission to South Asia, has claimed that his visit to India helped catalyse "early signals" that New Delhi may reduce its imports of Russian oil, a step he described as "meaningful" in weakening Moscow's ability to fund its war in Ukraine. Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the CIA Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, was accompanied by House Intelligence Committee Member Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan on the recent mission that covered India, Nepal and Pakistan. Fitzpatrick led senior engagements across India, Nepal, and Pakistan to advance US intelligence priorities, fortify global alliances, and assert principled American leadership in one of the world's most strategically vital regions, a statement issued by his office said on Tuesday. "In India, our direct engagement helped catalyse early signals that the government will reduce its imports of Russian oil a meaningful step toward weakening Moscow's capacity for aggression and aligning our partners with the cause of freedom," Fitzpatrick, who oversees all global operations of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), said. The US has imposed 50 percent tariffs on India, among the highest in the world, including 25 percent for its purchases of Russian oil. Terming the tariffs as unjustified and unreasonable, India has said that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. Ahead of his departure on the two-week intelligence mission to South Asia, Houlahan said the trip to India and Pakistan comes at a particularly important moment not only in the US' relationship with the region, but also as both countries are currently experiencing devastating flooding and working to maintain their ceasefire agreement from earlier this year. She was referring to the understanding reached between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours, following their four-day conflict in May. During his stay in New Delhi, Fitzpatrick met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and national security advisor Ajit Doval for high-level strategic dialogues and conducted a comprehensive oversight of US Embassy operations. "Following these engagements and sustained US pressure, Indian refiners are signalling plans to reduce imports of Russian oil, a consequential shift that directly undermines Moscow's ability to finance its war in Ukraine," the statement claimed. This development, it said, "underscores the impact of principled American leadership and high-level diplomatic engagement". Fitzpatrick also visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. He said the visit to the spiritual and cultural institution gave this mission its deepest meaning. He also conducted briefings with senior diplomatic officials and met with Marine Security Guards protecting US personnel. In Kathmandu, Fitzpatrick held meetings with US embassy officials to strengthen operational oversight and deepen bilateral cooperation. In Islamabad, he held discussions with US embassy officials and senior American government personnel, as well as representatives from partner nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ukraine, on "counterterrorism coordination", "intelligence transparency", and "long-term security cooperation", the statement said. At a time of rising global instability and intensifying geopolitical competition, the delegation's work delivered measurable outcomes for American national security and global leadership, it said. Fitzpatrick said the mission to South Asia advanced critical US priorities: cutting off Russia's war financing, strengthening intelligence partnerships, and grounding our leadership in the values we represent at home. A former FBI Special Agent and federal prosecutor, Fitzpatrick served for 14 years in national security, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence roles. He was deployed alongside US Special Forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom and later directed the FBI's Campaign Finance and Election Crimes Enforcement Programme. He is considered one of the US Congress' foremost voices on national intelligence, foreign policy, and bipartisan security leadership. The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday alleged that online betting sites "operated" by arrested Karnataka Congress MLA KC Veerendra collected funds worth more than Rs 2,000 crore in a short span of time. IMAGE: Karnataka Congress MLA K C Veerendra 'Puppy's five casinos in Goa were also raided by the ED. Photograph: Courtesy ED It also claimed that Veerendra, the "prime accused" in a case linked to alleged cheating of public through illegal online betting, and his associates in Dubai were operating several gaming websites by using various gateways and fintech service providers for layering of funds and for masking their "illicit" activities as genuine e-commerce businesses. The federal probe agency had arrested the 50-year-old Chitradurga MLA late last month from Sikkim where he had gone on a business trip to lease a casino. He is currently in ED custody. The agency took Veerendra into custody after conducting searches against him, his linked persons, family members and some others in the case. The ED said in a statement that it conducted fresh searches in the case on Tuesday at Bengaluru and Challakere (Chitradurga district) and seized five luxury vehicles (Mercedes Benz) bearing "VIP numbers" like 0003. It added that an amount of Rs 55 crore has also been frozen including Rs 40.69 crore kept in nine bank accounts and one Demat account of Veerendra. Funds worth Rs 14.46 crore kept in 262 mule accounts (bank accounts used for routing criminal money) were recovered from one of the accused payment gateway, through which money collected by multiple gaming websites being operated by Veerendra and his associates, were being routed, it alleged. The ED said the accused (Veerendra) was running online betting sites like King567, Raja567, Lion567, etc. It was found that "several" payment gateways have been used for routing payments collected through these websites. "The money collected from these websites being operated by Veerendra and his associates through single gateway alone is more than Rs 2,000 crore in a short span of time. "It has been revealed that K C Thippeswamy, brother of Veerendra, is operating three business entities from Dubai named Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies and Prime9Technologies," the ED said. These entities are related to the call centre services and gaming business of Veerendra, according to the agency. It is "suspected" that many more such Dubai-based entities like Castle Rock Project Management Services, Lascaux Core Project Management Services, etc. have been "incorporated" by Veerendra in partnership with his brother Thippeswamy, Veerendra's nephew Pruthvi N Raj and a linked person named Anil Gowda among others. Gowda has challenged ED summons issued to him in this case before the Karnataka High Court stating the notice was a violation of his rights as a professional advocate of Veerendra. The ED had contended before the high court that it had summoned Gowda not in his capacity as a lawyer but because of his business involvement in the case. The court has reserved its order while grating interim protection to Gowda-- brother of Kusuma H, the losing Congress candidate from the R R Nagar assembly seat during the 2023 assembly polls-- from any ED action against him. The ED also alleged that the mule accounts unearthed by it were provided by various "middlemen" to the operators of these gaming websites, in this case Appu alias Pruthvi N Raj, who in turn, used the same to collect the funds received from various players. "These transactions include layering the said money deposits of players through escrow accounts of gateways and TSPs (token service providers) and then making settlement in mule accounts which are controlled by the gaming site owners. "These funds were further siphoned off in various ways, including through hawala transactions," it claimed. Activist Vinod Patil, who has filed petitions in courts concerning the Maratha quota, on Wednesday called the Government Resolution (GR) on granting Kunbi certificates to eligible community members completely useless. IMAGE: Manoj Jarange Patil listens to Maharashtra cabinet sub-committee head Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil reading out the government resolution on Maratha reservation at the Azad Madian in Mumbai, September 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The GR, issued after Maratha quota movement leader Manoj Jarange launched a hunger strike in Mumbai, will not benefit the community in any meaningful way, claimed Patil. "The truth is, not a single certificate will come out of this GR. I have fought a legal battle for the community, and I can say with certainty that those without documentary proof of Kunbi lineage will never gain anything. That is why I am calling this decision a big disappointment," Patil told reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He demanded that senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, should have held a press conference to explain the intent of the GR and take responsibility for the government's promises. Jarange ended his fast on Tuesday evening after the Maharashtra government issued a GR on forming a committee to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage, a social group classified as an Other Backward Class (OBC) in the state. The process mentioned in the GR is not exclusive to the Kunbi certificate, but it is routinely used when it comes to issuing a caste certificate. The entire process is not new but through the GR, the government provided it in written format. "Our demand was for those Marathas who do not have any certificate to prove their Kunbi lineage to get an OBC status because of the current challenging conditions. This demand is not at all met by this decision," said Patil. Asked about Vinod Patil's remarks, minister Vikhe Patil said the government had accepted Jarange's major demands, including implementation of the Hyderabad and Satara gazetteers, withdrawal of police cases against protesters, and financial aid and jobs for families of those who lost their lives during previous agitations. The minister said the state had sought two months to issue a final GR recognising Marathas and Kunbis as one, assuring that the community's interests would not be compromised. Patil, however, refused to relent. He alleged that earlier, the then chief minister Eknath Shinde played with gulal and gave no answers, and now Vikhe Patil was doing the same. "Out of 100, I will give minus zero marks to this GR," he said. The activist also expressed regret that he could not personally pay tribute to the Maratha protesters who died during the quota struggle. Society looks at me with expectations. But let me caution: this GR is just a piece of paper and nothing more, he said. Jarange, who has held several fasts to press for reservation for Marathas in education and government jobs, has been the face of the quota movement since the 2023 Jalna lathi charge, when police action against protesters triggered a wave of agitations across Maharashtra. OBC activist Laxman Hake has claimed the Maharashtra government has no right to accept the demand for providing Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas and warned the Other Backward Classes will take to the streets against the decision. IMAGE: Supporters of Maratha quota agitation celebrate after the Maharashtra government accepts Manoj Jarange Patil's demands, in Mumbai on September 3, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Political leaders should explain if they are open to dilution of the Other Backward Classes quota, said Hake, who has been opposing reservation to Marathas under the OBC grouping. He had earlier staged agitations against Manoj Jarange's demand that Marathas be given reservation under the OBC category. Activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday evening ended his five-day-old fast in Mumbai after the Devendra Fadnavis government accepted most of his demands, including granting eligible Marathas Kunbi caste certificates which will make them eligible for reservation benefits available to the OBCs. The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced forming a committee to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage, a social group classified as an OBC in the state. The Kunbi is a traditional farming community in the state and they have been included in the list of OBC category in Maharashtra in order to make them eligible for government reservations in jobs and education. The government resolution issued by the social justice and special assistance department also mentioned about implementing the Hyderabad gazetteer. Reacting to the GR and the decision to provide Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas whose lineage documents are found, Hake claimed the government has no right to issue such a GR regarding reservations. The gazetteer doesn't say Marathas are socially backward and should be provided reservation, he further claimed. "Who says that revenue records in the gazetteer make them eligible for reservations?" the activist asked. "The Hyderabad gazetteer says Banjara is a Scheduled Tribe. Will the government give ST reservation to Banjaras? The government shouldn't create 10 other issues to resolve one. OBCs and VJNTs (Vimukt Jati and Nomadic Tribes) will take to the streets," Hake said. Political leaders should explain if they are open to intrusion in the OBC quota, he said. Punjab Aam Aadmi Party MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who is on the run after being booked in a rape case, on Wednesday denied police claims of being involved in a firing at cops who came to arrest him in Haryana on Tuesday. IMAGE: Punjab Aam Aadmi Party MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra. Photograph: Courtesy Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra/Facebook In a video message released on Wednesday from an undisclosed location, Sanour MLA Pathanmajra claimed that he fled after learning that he would be killed in a "fake encounter". "I never confronted the police. When they tried to fire at my car, I escaped by another route. I survived only by God's grace," he said. Taking a veiled dig at party's central leadership, Pathanmajra accused a "Delhi lobby" of targeting him and urged fellow Punjab legislators and ministers to unite against what he described as attempts by "outside forces to destabilise the state". Stressing respect for the police, he expressed dismay that they were allegedly acting on the Delhi leaders' directions. He criticised the scale of the crackdown, saying 400-500 personnel -- including 8-10 superintendents of police (SPs), several deputy SPs and a dozen station house officers SHOs -- had been deployed to portray him as a fugitive gangster. Pathanmajra remained on the run a day after he escaped from police custody amid gunshots and stone pelting by his supporters following his arrest in a rape case. Efforts are on to nab Pathanmajra, police sources said on Wednesday. A team of the Anti-Gangster Task Force and other police teams were chasing him, said the sources. Pathanmajra, a first-time MLA, escaped from custody after a police team went to arrest him in Dabri village in Haryana's Karnal district, where he was at the residence of one of his relatives. Pardeep Bajwa, in charge of the Patiala Crime Investigation Agency, said on Tuesday, "We conducted a raid at Pathanmajra's (relative's) residence in Haryana. He was arrested. But a group of villagers and some mischievous elements pelted stones at the police team and fired gunshots." The Sanour MLA used the cover fire and stone pelting to escape, he added. According to officials, Pathanmajra and his supporters fled in two SUVs -- a Scorpio and a Fortuner. A policeman who tried to stop the vehicles was injured after being hit, they said. Balwinder Singh, an accomplice of the MLA, was arrested with three weapons in his possession, the police said. They later seized the Fortuner, but the MLA managed to flee in the other vehicle. According to an FIR registered at the Civil Lines police station here on September 1, Pathanmajra was booked on charges of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation. The case was registered based on a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman, who alleged that the MLA misrepresented himself as divorced, entered into a relationship with her and later married in 2021 while already being married. She accused him of continued sexual exploitation, threats and sending "obscene" material to her. After the FIR was filed, Pathanmajra went live on Facebook on Tuesday, strongly criticising the Punjab government and alleging that the Delhi-based AAP leadership was "illegitimately ruling over Punjab". He appealed to fellow party MLAs to stand with him, claiming that during the Congress or BJP governments, the central leadership did not interfere in state affairs the way AAP was doing. On Sunday, Pathanmajra also accused a senior IAS officer of failing to act on his repeated requests for desilting and clean-up of rivers, particularly the Tangri river. However, AAP leader Baltej Singh Pannu on Tuesday said Pathanmajra started raising the flood issue and targeting the IAS officer only after learning that police could take action against him based on the woman's complaint. A fresh spell of heavy rains compounded the flood situation in Punjab with the death toll rising to 37 on Wednesday, while crops on 1.75 lakh hectares of land in 23 districts got damaged by the worst deluge in the state since 1988. IMAGE: AAP leader Manish Sisodia's inspects the flood-affected areas in Punjab along with state minister Laljit Singh and MLA Harbhajan Singh, in Patti, Punjab, September 3, 2025. Photograph: @AAPPunjabX/ ANI Photo Rescue and relief operations are underway on a war footing as help poured in from several quarters for over 3.55 lakh people in 1,655 villages, desperately looking for succour. Following heavy rains, an alert has been sounded in Rupnagar and Patiala districts, urging people to remain vigilant, while all schools, colleges and universities have been closed till September 7. With rains refusing to relent in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, the already swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers originating in the Himalayas and seasonal rivulets inundated towns, villages and agricultural lands, upending normal life. The Punjab government released Rs 71 crore as an immediate relief and rehabilitation measure, with the AAP dispensation reiterating that it was committed to compensating people for their losses. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit the flood-hit areas in Punjab on Thursday to review the extent of crop damage. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, along with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, will also assess the flood damage on the same day. He will take stock of the relief work being carried out in the state and interact with the affected people, said the party. Rains in Punjab have aggravated the flood situation. IMAGE: An Army doctor examines a child during the ongoing rescue operation due to the flood, in Gurdaspur. Photograph: Indian Army X/ANI Photo The water level in the Bhakra dam at 6 am was 1,677.84 feet, against its maximum capacity of 1,680 feet. The inflow in the dam was 86,822 cusecs while the outflow was 65,042 cusecs. In view of heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, the water discharge from the dam was being increased from 65,000 cusecs to 75,000 cusecs, officials said and warned that Nangal's villages may be inundated. Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said the state is reeling under one of the worst floods in recent decades, with widespread crop devastation reported across 1,75,216 hectares of farmland. Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Mansa, Ferozepur and Fazilka are among the worst-hit districts, accounting for the bulk of the agricultural losses, he said. The minister said that 37 lives have been lost across 12 districts, while three persons remain missing in Pathankot. The highest fatalities have been reported in Hoshiarpur, where seven lives have been lost, followed by six in Pathankot, five in Barnala, four each in Amritsar and Ludhiana, three each in Bathinda and Mansa, and one each in Gurdaspur, Patiala, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar and Sangrur. The flood-related data is from August 1 to September 3. IMAGE: Punjab police uses drones to deliver relief materials to flood victims, at Sultan Mahal Village in Ajnala, Amritsar. Photograph: ANI Video Grab Gurdaspur alone suffered crop damage over 40,169 hectares, followed by Mansa 24,967 hectares, Amritsar 23,000 hectares, Fazilka 17,786 hectares, Ferozepur 17,620 hectares, and Kapurthala 14,934 hectares, among others. The Rupnagar district administration has asked people living near the Sutlej river to stay on alert in the wake of an increase in the discharge of water from the Bhakra dam. Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Bains appealed to Sri Anandpur Sahib residents living on riverbanks and low-lying areas to shift to safer places or relief camps. He visited over two dozen flood-affected villages and personally oversaw the evacuation of families stranded along the Sutlej river. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria visited the flood-ravaged areas in Pathankot district, while AAP leader Manish Sisodia visited the flood-hit areas in Tarn Taran district. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha announced providing Rs 3.25 crore from his Local Area Development Scheme fund for relief work. MP Sandeep Pathak visited flood-hit villages in Ferozepur district and released Rs 5 crore from the MPLADS funds for the affected villages in the border district. Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal also announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh from his discretionary funds to support the affected people. Relief and rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Border Security Force, Punjab Police and district authorities are underway in the affected areas, officials said. Meanwhile, the Patiala district administration issued an alert for villages near the Ghaggar river in the Rajpura sub-division in the wake of heavy rains in the catchment areas. According to officials, the water level of the Tangri river has risen close to the danger mark in Ambala and is expected to rise in Patiala following heavy rains in Ambala and Kala Amb. The downpour across north India showed no signs of easing on Wednesday as rain-triggered structural collapses and landslides claimed 10 lives in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, pummelled regions already on edge and forced the suspension of classes, flights, trains and even cremations. IMAGE: Severe waterlogging is seen in residential areas after incessant rainfall wreaked havoc in Haryana and other parts of North India, in Ambala, Haryana, September 3, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo In the east, a fresh low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to bring heavy showers in Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand on Thursday, while rains continued to batter Odisha for the third consecutive day on Wednesday with no respite in sight. At least six people, including three girls, were killed in three roof collapse incidents caused by heavy rain in different parts of Haryana. The incidents were reported from Bhiwani, Shahbad Markanda, which is about 20 km from Kurukshetra, and Yamunanagar. In Himachal Pradesh, rain fury continued as four more bodies were retrieved from the debris of a landslide near Sundernagar in Mandi district, taking the toll to seven. Two people, including an NDRF jawan, were feared dead after two houses collapsed in Kullu district, while two women died and 15 passengers were injured after rolling boulders fell on a private bus near Kalimitti in the Kumarsein area of Shimla. Authorities in the state have ordered closure of all schools and colleges till September 7 as a precaution and the state's police chief, Ashok Tewari, has instructed all police units to step up preparedness for rescue, relief and traffic management. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed the Chamba administration to immediately evacuate stranded Manimahesh Yatra pilgrims and coordinate with the Air Force to deploy about six MI-17 helicopters. Jammu and Kashmir too faced devastation as torrential rains claimed the lives of a woman and her daughter in a house collapse, while 40 people were trapped in a flooded village in Akhnoor. Landslides in Reasi blocked the track to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, prolonging the suspension of the pilgrimage for the ninth day. Shuttle services of four trains that were introduced to help locals and stranded passengers travel between Jammu and Katra - the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine - was suspended due to heavy rain and flooding on Wednesday. The scheduled train services from New Delhi to Katra have also been short-terminated. In Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district, four people were killed and three went missing after a portion of the Lutti dam collapsed late Tuesday after a spell of heavy rain, triggering flash floods that swept through houses and fields. Delhi was lashed by intermittent showers for the third consecutive day on Wednesday as overcast conditions persisted in the city, which is predicted to receive more rain in the next few days. Waters from a raging Yamuna submerged homes, destroyed shop goods and disrupted traffic in several areas and throwing life out of gear for thousands of people as the river breached the 207-metre mark on Wednesday for the fifth time since 1963. More than 2,000 people were evacuated from Jharoda Kalan and some areas of Najafgarh after a 50-foot embankment of Mungeshpur drain was breached, inundating many low-lying areas overnight in south-west Delhi. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had a phone call with her Haryana counterpart, Nayab Singh Saini, over the drain breach and called for an urgent repair. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has directed officials to intensify insecticide spraying in flood-affected areas and relief camps to prevent vector-borne diseases as the Yamuna water levels rose persistently, inundating its floodplains. Cremations at Nigambodh Ghat, Delhi's largest cremation ground, were suspended after Yamuna floodwater entered the premises. Located along the Ring Road behind the Red Fort, Nigambodh Ghat is the city's oldest, largest, and busiest cremation ground and on average, handles 55 to 60 cremations daily. The Geeta Colony crematorium was also flooded, forcing the staff to look for dry places to carry out cremations. In Punjab, which is battling its worst deluge since 1988, a fresh spell of heavy rain compounded the flood situation as all 23 districts of the state have been hit and 37 lives lost so far. Schools, colleges and universities were ordered shut till September 7, while over 3.5 lakh people reeled under the impact of the calamity. Rupnagar and Patiala districts remained on alert as swollen rivers and rivulets threatened embankments. The deluge, however, failed to dampen the spirits of a groom in Khanaura village of Hoshiarpur district as he and around 20 'baraatis' rode a tractor-trolley through nearly 1.5 km flooded stretch before travelling another 3 km to board cars to reach the bride's village in Jalandhar. After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom also returned home the same way, on the trolley, crossing floodwaters. Haryana's Ambala city was submerged after two days of incessant rainfall, with floodwater entering the deputy commissioner's office, police stations and schools. The wholesale cloth market and several residential sectors went under water, forcing authorities to shut all educational institutions. State Public Health Engineering Minister Ranbir Gangwa chaired an emergency meeting, directing officials to ensure drainage and uninterrupted drinking water supply. He ordered readiness of backup power, pumps and tankers, while asking officers to work round-the-clock and maintain coordination with district administrations. Chandigarh authorities extended the closure of all schools till September 7 due to incessant rain. In Rajasthan, rail and road traffic were paralysed as torrential downpour lashed Jaipur, Kota and adjoining districts. Nine trains were halted on the Kota-Mumbai route after landslips near Dara railway station, while waterlogging forced closure of National Highway-52 connecting Kota and Jhalawar. Meanwhile, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has said that 21 monitoring stations, including one in Delhi, have reported rivers in "severe flood situation," while 33 others are flowing above the normal level, on Wednesday. The nationwide flood alert comes amid heavy rainfall forecasts for several states in the coming days. Of the 21 severe flood locations, nine are in Bihar, eight in Uttar Pradesh and one each in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. According to the India Meteorological Department, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand are likely to get more rain on Thursday. United States President Donald Trump is facing severe criticism at home for imposing 'irrational' tariffs on India with some experts advising him to turn them down to zero per cent tariffs and "apologise". IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a point at the joint press conference with United States President Donald Trump at the White House, February 13, 2025. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters In an interview with ANI, Edward Price, adjunct professor at New York University, mentioned that India has a "deciding" vote in shaping the 21st century and termed Washington's relationship with India as "crucial," expressing more amazement over Donald Trump's decision. "I consider the partnership between India and the US as the most crucial 21st-century partnership. This partnership will decide what happens between China and Russia. India has the deciding vote in the 21st century...India is a significant player in the 21st century and is poised to become even more powerful. I can't for the life of me understand why the President of the US is in confrontation with China and in a war with Russia, if you think about it, then 50 per cent tariffs on India. We need to remove the 50 per cent tariff on India and get it down to something far more reasonable, I suggest zero per cent and apologise." he told ANI. Edward Price also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him "pretty smart" for reminding the US that India has other options but not completely embracing the Russia-China alliance, not attending Beijing's military parade. "PM Modi is being pretty smart. He is reminding the Americans, he's reminding people like me that he has options, but he's not fully embraced China and Russia and is not attending the military parade, for example," Price said. Price also argued that India will never come under the Chinese influence, given its independent-minded sovereignty. He added that India makes its own choices and will not put its foot in one direction or another. "There is no Moscow sphere of influence, and that's Putin's entire problem. He is trying to rebuild the old Soviet empire. So, there is no Moscow sphere of influence. There is a Chinese sphere of influence that Russia is a part of right now. If you're asking whether India, under Modi, is willingly becoming a part of that sphere of influence, which is effectively the Chinese sphere of influence, no. Let's just go back and remember India is an independently minded sovereign with its own civilisation. It makes its own choices. There's no way that India is going to permanently put its feet, one side or the other, of a line, and especially not when it looks at what's happened to Russia, which is essentially a form of economic conquest by China," he said. Speaking about former US NSA Jake Sullivan's allegations that Trump is sacrificing Washington's ties with India to further his family's business interests in Pakistan, Price noted that Trump does have active financial interests but added that it's "impossible " to comment for certain. "It does seem that the President of the United States has active financial interests and this is a departure with what's always traditionally been the case, which is that Presidents are not supposed to have active financial interests and I'm afraid to say we will never know, it's almost impossible to get to the bottom of what exactly those interests are," he said. The assessment highlights growing concerns among foreign policy experts about the potential long-term consequences of current US-India trade tensions on broader strategic cooperation between the world's two largest democracies. 'This process is the punishment.' 'Once the trial starts, they know this fairy tale case will fall on its face. So they don't want to begin the trial.' Photograph: ANI Photo After five years in prison without trial and six rejections of Umar Khalid's bail pleas, his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri speaks of their despair, resilience, and hope. For Banojyotsna, a Delhi-based researcher, when the Delhi high court denied bail to Khalid in the Delhi riots case on Tuesday, September 2, along with co-accused Gulfisha Fatima and Sharjeel Imam, it was another blow in what has become a seemingly endless quest for justice, another chapter in a case that has stretched over five years without trial. Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader and prominent voice against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, has been lodged in Tihar jail since September 2020 under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged role in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. What makes his case particularly striking is not just the length of his incarceration, but the fact that the trial is yet to begin after five years. In a conversation with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff shortly after the latest bail rejection, Banojyotsna speaks with remarkable composure about the emotional toll, the systemic patterns she observes, and the hope that continues to sustain both her and Umar Khalid through this endless ordeal. 'We Have to Trust the Judiciary' When asked about her response to the repeated rejection of Umar's bail applications, Banojyotsna's voice carries both disappointment and determination. "What can I say? Seriously, I'm at a little loss of words right now. But as ordinary citizens, we don't have any other option but to go to the judiciary for justice. But it did not happen again and we will move to the Supreme Court very soon." "Because we still have to trust the judiciary and we feel that some judge will give us justice," she explains. In her conversation Banojyotsna emphasises the fundamental unfairness of prolonged pre-trial detention: "Pre-trial detention is something that democratic countries and courts in the whole world denounce now. And it's been five years that the trial hasn't started. It's only at the stage of arguments on charge." The Morning's Fragile Hope The morning of the bail hearing had begun with the familiar mixture of hope and anxiety. "In the morning when the bail plea came up for hearing," Banojyotsna recalls, "we, in order to survive, we have to be hopeful. So we all were hopeful because that's what we knew we need to survive." According to Banojyotsna, Umar, speaking from jail, had framed the situation pragmatically, saying, "If it gets rejected, then it's not getting worse. It's like continuation of the stalemate. But if we get bail, then it's an improvement. So yeah, we'll continue with the stalemate as of now." 'He Remains Absolutely Unshaken' Despite the harsh realities of prison life, Umar has found ways to maintain his intellectual and emotional well-being. "He reads a lot. He has read a lot of books," Banojyotsna shares. The daily routine of reading and conversations with fellow inmates apparently provides him some structure in an otherwise constrained existence. Umar's response to the latest bail rejection demonstrated his resilience, says Banojyotsna. In a phone call from jail "he was absolutely fine. He said that it's okay. I was at that point of time just coming out of the courtroom and I was a little shaken; but he remains absolutely unshaken, he is absolutely fine." This strength, Banojyotsna observes, comes from understanding the broader context of their struggle: "Despite the setbacks, you know you have to pay the price for the courage of your convictions. When you are in jail, you also see everybody around you. There are people who are also unfairly incarcerated. And they meet in the court and they see each other in court, all the detainees, and they know why they're there. When you know that, it becomes a little easier." 'They Don't Want The Trial' One of Banojyotsna's most pointed observations concerns the authorities' approach to the case itself. "The point is this trial -- if they wanted, they could have started the trial in the first month itself, right after the charges and the arrests were made, but they did not because they don't want the trial." "This process is the punishment. We have been saying this right from the beginning that once the trial starts, they also know this fairy tale case will fall on its face. So they don't want to begin the trial. They want to prolong the incarceration and this is how they want to punish (Khalid)." 'This Incarceration Is Part Of The Battle To Strengthen The Constitution' Despite everything, both Umar and Banojyotsna continue to draw strength from their faith in Constitutional values. "We cannot dismiss the Constitution, ultimately. That is the one that gives us strength. And we know that this incarceration is also part of that battle to strengthen the Constitution. So that continues. The incarceration in itself is the battle." In their most recent conversation, Umar asked Banojyotsna to convey a specific message to well-wishers: 'Please don't get overwhelmed with grief. I am fine. This is part of the larger struggle that we have been fighting and we should keep fighting to safeguard the Constitution.' As Banojyotsna notes, "This is part of the larger struggle that we have been fighting and we should keep fighting to safeguard the Constitution." 'The Ones Who Are In Jail Are Stronger Than Us' Perhaps one of the most poignant aspects of the conversation is Banojyotsna's observation about who suffers more -- those inside the prison or those outside. "The ones who are outside are more heartbroken. Because it's difficult for us to accept. I would say the ones who are in jail are stronger than us and they are in higher spirits." As the conversation concludes, Banojyotsna confirms their immediate plans: An appeal to the Supreme Court will be filed "very soon". This would mark Umar's seventh appeal for bail after his arrest five years ago. Umar's bail has been denied six times so far -- three times by the sessions court, twice by the Delhi high court, and once after a plea was withdrawn in the Supreme Court. BEIRUT, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed on Wednesday in an Israeli drone strike on the village of Yater in southern Lebanon, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported. Lebanese security sources told Xinhua the dead was Abdel Monem Sweidan, a Hezbollah member. Meanwhile, the NNA reported that Israeli drones bombed excavators in the villages of Yaroun and Mays El Jabal in southern Lebanon, and have been flying at low height over Beirut and its southern suburbs since morning. Infiltrating Israeli forces on the southern outskirts of the village of Aitaroun, southern Lebanon, blew up a house in the area at dawn, the NNA added. The security sources said an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on the village of Houla where several citizens were moving furniture from their homes. No casualties were reported. Since Nov. 27, 2024, a U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect, ending more than a year of cross-border clashes. The agreement stipulated Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but the Israeli army has maintained several posts, and started building new ones, along the border and continues to launch attacks on the grounds of countering "threats" from Hezbollah. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Small business platform provider Xero is preparing to launch a new partner hub it describes as a one-stop shop for accountants and bookkeepers containing all of Xeros practice tools and data on one unified platform. Enriched with AI-powered insights, the hub would provide an integrated client and staff experience, drawing from a single source of truth for all records, the company announced at its Xerocon conference in Brisbane today. Beta access will be available in the coming months, with the full launch expected in early 2026. Also announced was analytics powered by South Africa-based Syft. Embedded into Xero, this will offer more actionable insights for small businesses and their advisors, including a business health score and AI-powered insights. It will also incorporate external data such as website visits alongside financial information. For practices currently using Xero Practice Manager, there is a new evolution of Xeros AI financial superagent, JAX, built on the companys agentic platform. JAX delivers a reimagined experience by learning how a business runs, Xero said. It automates routine tasks and workflows and delivers actionable insights, while orchestrating multiple AI agents to cut workloads and help users make smarter decisions. The new features were designed to deliver more efficient and accurate workflows for accountants and bookkeepers as well as in-depth insights to help them more confidently run their practices and advise small business clients. Cumulatively the announcements aimed to provide a simpler and more unified experience to help Xero partners streamline compliance and operate more efficiently so they can spend more time on strategic areas of their practice, the company said. Dell Technologies has revealed the winners of its A/NZ FY25 Partner Awards during Partner Summit, held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. The awards recognise partners for growing their business and unlocking new possibilities for their customers with transformational technology solutions within the Dell Technologies Partner Program. During the evening, guests heard from the Dell Technologies leadership team including global CTO and chief AI officer John Roese; APJ and Greater China president, Peter Marrs; SVP and A/NZ managing director, Angela Fox and senior director and A/NZ general channel manager Shant Soghomonian. The team highlighted Dells commitment to partner success through initiatives like Partner First for Storage and AI-driven innovation while Fox emphasised shared growth opportunities for the channel ecosystem and Roese explored the evolving AI landscape, actionable strategies for partners and the importance of rethinking infrastructure to meet future demands. Omdia global practice leader of cybersecurity research and advisory, Adam Etherington, shared insights into AI adoption in the A/NZ market, addressing maturity levels, security and privacy challenges, and partner-driven insights on opportunities and advancements. This year, we have seen major growth of AI technologies across all industries. To generate value and drive business growth, Australian and New Zealand businesses have looked to our trusted partners for guidance while embarking on their AI journey, Soghomonian said. Across all areas, including storage, networking and AI, our partners have enabled their customers to meet their evolving needs and provide solutions that will shape the future of their organisation. The annual awards are a chance for us to celebrate A/NZ partners for their work and honour our ongoing relationships. Congratulations to each of our winners. Chinas official narrative about the war in Ukraine has embraced three different themes over time that have sent conflicting signals, according to an analysis of state media reports and official foreign ministry declarations. That reflects Beijings competing priorities in the conflict, experts say. Initially, after Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Beijing officials sought to present China as a neutral power with no interest in getting involved. But a year later, they started to portray China as taking an active role as a peacemaker. Both of those approaches have been at odds with the state medias coverage of the war, which has been sympathetic to Moscow. It has portrayed the United States and Ukraine as aggressors and Russia as a heroic victim protecting its security, according to a recent joint study by Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) and three research groups. Chinas attempts to play various sides isnt surprising, experts say. It doesnt want the war to drag on, but it also doesnt want to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin as it needs to keep Russia on its side against the United States and its global allies. Beijing doesn't ultimately benefit from a prolonged war that is destabilizing the global economy and continues to present the potential risk of nuclear escalation and the spread of conflict beyond Ukraine, said Patricia Kim, a Chinese foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution in Washington. At the same time, Beijing has been reluctant to curtail its support to Moscow and to sharply push Putin to stop his war, as China is keen to keep Russia on its side as it looks toward long-term competition against the U.S. and its partners, she said. First 100 days A joint study conducted by AFCL, Taiwan's DoubleThink Lab, the Ukrainian civic organization Detector Media and the research firm IRI Beacon Project shows that the Chinese government has propagated narratives consistent and supportive of Russias justification for the war. Entitled "The Invasion of Ukraine in One Hundred Days: A Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Russian War Narratives,"the study traces common themes observed in both Chinese and Russian narratives during the first 100 days of the conflict and finds that China largely copied Russian narratives portraying itself as a victim heroically opposing the US and the West. In countries like China that lack a free press, foreign policy statements and state media coverage provide a window into government priorities. As the Communist Partys mouthpiece, state-run media such as Xinhua News Agency, the Global Times newspaper and CCTV are used by authorities for achieving political goals, and are aimed at specific audiences. They may target an international audience, a domestic one or specific countries. During the first 100 days after Russias invasion of Ukraine, Chinese media sought to position the country as a neutral player, shining a spotlight on Western support for Ukraine while downplaying its own ties to Moscow, said Kim. Yet state-run media coverage clearly sided with Russia. It echoed Russian narratives about three contentious topics: The theory that the United States had a bioweapon lab in Ukraine, the Russian massacre of civilians in the town of Bucha in March 2022 and the ongoing sanctions against Russia, the joint study showed. It also highlighted alleged divisions between Western institutions and the international community over sanctions against Russia. Such views align with those of Moscow, but they also fit with Beijing's domestic agenda. The Chinese government has sought to portray itself as a victim of Western hostility, too, alleging that the United States is seeking to contain China and its rise as a superpowera line that Beijing has promoted among its people. These narratives contribute to an image of President Xi Jinping as a tough statesman who is willing to stand up to the West. Chinese narratives since May 2022 To examine Chinese narratives about the Ukraine invasion since May 2022, we requested data from Future Media and Disinformation Research Center on how certain keywords ebb and flow in Chinese public discourse. Chinese foreign ministry mentions of "Ukraine" and "Russia" peaked at the beginning of the war, decreased after May of last year and increased significantly from February to April 2023. Source: Taiwan AI Labs Future Media and Disinformation Research Center From May 2022 to February 2023, references to Ukraine or Russia by Chinese media and officials appear to have decreased. However, the number of references then jumped from February to April 2023 with a new emphasis on China as a peacemaker working to prevent a warmongering United States from prolonging the Ukraine conflict. The emergence of this narrative also coincided with a state visit by Xi to Russia in Marchhis first since the start of his third five-year term last October. In many cases, this message was disseminated by Chinese foreign ministry officials, who tend to adopt a restrained tone when speaking about more nuanced geopolitical issues surrounding the war. China also advocated a peaceful settlement to the war using other channels including several position papers. Xi himself wrote an article published in the Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, in which he emphasized China's role as a "peacemaker." This shift in narrative was followed by a phone call between Xi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 26, the first direct communication between the two leaders since the war broke out. After the call, China reiterated that its "core position is to promote peace and promote talks." That same day, China voted in favor of a UN General Assembly motion that acknowledged Russian aggression against Ukraine, fueling speculation that Beijing's position toward the war has changed. The number of times per week that Chinas foreign ministry mentioned supporting talks for peace (above) and fanning the flames (below). Source: Taiwan AI Labs Despite Beijing's apparent shift in position, some official media reports have continued to spread the narrative of the United States as aggressor, such as an article published by the Xinhua in February criticizing Washington for "still fanning the flames in Ukraine." ManyChinese articles reporting misleading or controversial statements by Russian officials have been linked to specific incidents, such as U.S. President Biden's surprise visit to Ukraine in February. One article said that the United States had become a direct participant in the war. Another article characterized Finland's accession to NATO in April as a "deliberate violation of Russia's security." Even as China continues to send mixed signals about Russias role in the war, pragmatism appears to be pushing Chinese authorities to take a more active part in trying to end the conflict. Zelenskys continued willingness to engage in talks with Xi suggests that Ukrainian leaders remain hopeful that China can play a role in negotiating a peace settlement. As Kim says, While Beijing can never be an honest broker, it still has an interest in seeing an end to the war and so it makes sense for Ukraine and other states to encourage China to use its influence constructively vis-a-vis Moscow. Additional reporting by Shen Ke. Edited by Malcolm Foster. A worker on the shop floor of the state-owned Shijiazhuang Changshan Textile Factory inspects thread for export quality cotton fabric. Photo: AFP/Frederic J. Brown WASHINGTONTextile manufacturers in the United States are engaged in a protracted legal battle aimed at limiting a surge in imports of cheap Chinese textiles, a battle that could lead to a show-down between developing economies and their richer trading partners at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Textile manufacturers want an extension of import restrictions on Chinese products to protect U.S. markets from the boom in cheap imports since the lifting of global textile quotas at the beginning of this year. They are currently stymied by a Dec. 30 ruling from the Court of International Trade in New York. "Since Jan. 1, almost two months now, China has been free to flood this market with as much textile and apparel products as it can make," Cass Johnson, president of the National Council of Textile Organizations in Washington, told RFA's Wu-dialect service. "The last time we saw this, when quotas were opened up on a smaller number of products three years ago, they moved very quickly and flooded the market massively. So we are very concerned that the damage is happening now, and we have no safeguards in place to put a stop to it," Johnson said. International allies sought The industry is also hoping that pressure to limit Chinese imports will mount with other major trading partners in the WTO, resulting in an extension of temporary import quotas to the end of 2008. "I think this is a question that's not only important to the U.S. industry but it's important to the world textile industry, writ large, and that is if you are a textile worker and you have a choice between maybe losing your job in 2005 or 2008, I suspect that most people would like to work and get paid for another three years," Lloyd Wood, spokesman for the American Manufacturers Trade Action Coalition told RFA. "There's nothing out there to say that these safeguards can't be extended by an agreement with the WTO, and I don't think that the world has a particular interest in seeing the economies of literally dozens of countries being destabilized because the World Trade Organization cannot rationally address the textile issue," Wood said. They have to find ways to be competitive. There are many of their colleagues in the United States who long ago recognized what they had to do and are doing it, to survive. But criticswho include U.S. retailers keen to move large volumes of cheap Chinese goodsblast the safeguards as protectionism, purely designed to shield U.S. manufacturers from competition. "There are many of their colleagues in the United States who long ago recognized what they had to do and are doing it, to survive," said Laura Jones, executive director of importers' group USA-ITA, referring to the relocation of factories to low-cost developing economies, especially China. Jones, whose group represents U.S. retailers in the court battle over import restrictions, said an attempt to extend import restrictions via the WTO was unlikely to succeed, because other developing, low-cost, exporting economies would oppose the move. "They have to find ways to be competitive," Jones said. Chinese import boom Official media reports in China suggest that a surge in imports has indeed taken place, although figures are not yet available for the first quarter of 2005. On Mar. 2, the official English-language China Daily newspaper reported that the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles was considering setting minimum prices for some products in an effort to head off foreign restrictions. "Exports of trousers to the United States saw an eight-fold increase year-on-year, while the average price dropped by 30 percent," the paper quoted chamber chairman Wang Shenyang as saying. I think this is a question that's not only important to the U.S. industry but it's important to the world textile industry, writ large. Wang was referring to export figures for the first two months of the year, which he said had boomed in the wake of the ending of global textile quotas on Jan. 1, 2005. China exported U.S.$95.1 billion of textiles and apparel worldwide, in 2004, according to Chinese statistics. U.S. figures show that the United States imported U.S.$17.8 billion, or 18.7 percent of those exports. U.S. imports of Chinese textiles and apparel rose by 25.3 percent compared with the previous year. The U.S. textile industry argues that China takes an unfair advantage by undervaluing its currency, offering state-supported loans and allowing labor conditions that would be unacceptable in the United States. "The industry could be suffering severe damage," Johnson told RFA reporter Michael Lelyveld. "We are convinced from what we've seen in the trade that China is right now pouring millions and millions and millions of garments into the U.S., and that number will only increase over time." There are signs that China may be moving of its own accord to limit exports. Premier Wen Jiabao set a goal of just 15 percent for export growth this year after a 35.4-percent rise in 2004. UPDATED AT 2:40 PM ET ON 12-02-2022 Cambodias ambassador to the United States has asked that a wildlife agency official who U.S. prosecutors allege is part of a monkey smuggling scheme be transferred to the embassys custody in Washington. Kry Masphal, director of Cambodia's Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity, was arrested at New Yorks Kennedy International Airport on Nov. 16 while on his way to a conference in Panama on the illicit trade in endangered species. He has been charged by U.S. prosecutors with facilitating the smuggling of endangered long-tailed macaques. Also accused was Krys boss, Forestry Administration Director General Keo Omaliss, who remains free in Cambodia. Krys lawyer, Dakota Kann works at Akin Gump, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that has been a registered lobbyist for the Cambodian government on a $60,000-a-month retainer since January. In a motion submitted to New York Eastern District Federal Court on Wednesday, Kann laid out proposed bail conditions for Kry. The proposal, which is supported by a signed letter from Cambodian Ambassador Keo Chhea, centers on Kry's spending 24 hours a day within the grounds of the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, unless summoned to court. U.S. government officials would be permitted to enter the embassy to confirm Kry's presence under the deal. To guarantee compliance, Keo Chhea has taken the highly unusual step of offering to waive the embassys diplomatic immunity, the guarantee under international law that embassy staff and premises will not be subjected to searches, arrest or interference from the authorities in their host country. For this purpose, the embassy irrevocably waives all diplomatic and other immunities that would otherwise prevent entry of agents of the U.S. government upon the premises of the embassy for such purpose, the ambassador wrote in his letter to the court. The promises, assurances and commitments conveyed in this letter are irrevocable and are made to the court without reservation or limitation. The offer is backed, he wrote, by the full authority of the Cambodian government. Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Im Rachana told RFA Dec. 2 that her department has been working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cambodias embassy in Washington to secure a lawyer for Kry Masphal to get justice." I would like to reiterate that monkeys were exported based on national and international laws and regulations, she said. Cambodia is in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, she said. Poor conditions of confinement Since his arrest, Kry has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, where his lawyers claim he is facing poor conditions of confinement alongside a language barrier and cultural differences that they say are making his detention more challenging than is typical. A memo filed by U.S. Attorney Breon Peace notes that Kry received unspecified medical treatment while detained on Nov. 18. According to Krys bail application, his limited English-speaking abilities, coupled with the lack of a Khmer-language interpreter, make it difficult to effectively represent Mr. Kry while he is in custody. An individual who has previously worked with Kry told RFA that while he was not totally fluent, Kry could conduct professional conversations in English. The person is not authorized to speak about the matter publicly and asked not to be named. Prosecutors meanwhile are asking that Kry be transferred to Florida, where he was originally indicted. Lead prosecutor Thomas Watts-Fitzgerald did not respond to emailed questions about whether he planned to oppose Krys proposed transfer to the Cambodian Embassy. Firm denials Cambodias Ministry of Agriculture, which includes the Forestry Administration, said in a statement after Krys arrest that the Cambodian government will make our utmost efforts in order to seek justice for our officials, especially those on official duty representing the country according to international conventions. At the heart of the charges against Kry is the distinction between long-tailed macaques bred in captivity and those caught in the wild. International trade in bred macaques is legal. The export of wild-caught macaques. however, is prohibited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, whose triennial conference of parties Kry was traveling to when he was arrested. U.S. prosecutors allege that Kry, along with his superior Keo, aided Hong Kong-based macaque breeding firm Vanny Bio Research in acquiring wild-caught monkeys and laundering them through the companys Cambodian breeding centers into the U.S. market disguised as captive-bred specimens. The Agriculture Ministry statement was adamant that none of the macaques exported from Cambodia were caught in the wild. They are not caught from the wilderness and smuggled out, but farmed in decent manners with respect to good hygiene and health standards so as to preserve their gene pool, the ministry said. Vanny Bio Research said in a Nov. 23 statement that it strongly denies any wrongdoing(s) in the operation of its businesses. Kann, the Akin Gump attorney, wrote in her application for a bail hearing that Kry is committed to defending himself against these charges and does not represent a flight risk. Mr. Kry does not have extravagant wealth, giving him the ability to flee the country. He spends most of his salary on his monthly liabilities. He has also lived a stable life, she added. Hes worked for the Cambodian government for 24 years and has a wife and three children. There is nothing in his personal background that suggests he is a flight risk. Flight risk That claim did not ring true for Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, who told RFA the embassys offer should be met with caution. The U.S. should recognize the defendants right to bail but also set it quite high enough that it acknowledges this official is a very serious potential flight risk, especially if the Cambodian Embassy gets involved, Robertson wrote in an email. The Cambodian government shouldnt be rushing forward to defend an official accused of undermining protection of wildlife that it was his job to protect. But it is no surprise to anyone that theres a massive corruption problem in the Cambodian government, and this move by the embassy raises red flags about just how high up the criminal smuggling enterprise reaches in the higher echelons of the government, Robertson said. Kry and Keo are the only Cambodian officials that have been charged in the case so far. However, the indictment against them appears to implicate the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party. It cites a $10,000 payment allegedly flagged in internal Vanny Bio Research records as a donation for CPP Party to guarantee monkey exports, along with messages about needing to provide Keo with funds in light of Cambodian officials needing funds to finance campaigning during the 2018 elections. Internal correspondence allegedly also describes the need to delay the collection of monkeys until after the elections to avoid unnecessary attention from the public and non-governmental organizations. Elsewhere the indictment appears to implicate other Agriculture Ministry officials. Unnamed ministry officials are repeatedly alleged to have assisted Kry in delivering wild-caught monkeys to Vanny Bio Research. The indictment also includes two references to what appear to be former Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon, who was removed from his post just over a month prior to Krys arrest and appointed as minister attached to the prime minister. It alleges that in May 2018 Keo promised to try to persuade his superior to allow the collection of the needed monkeys when Vanny Bio Research was short hundreds of specimens for export. As head of the Forestry Administration, Keos immediate superior is the agriculture minister. The following month, Keo is alleged to have told the company that the minister had approved and issued the collection quota and final payment should be made to the ministry. I suspect there may be many in Cambodia who are implicated in this scheme who are already urging Kry Masphal to find a way to flee overseas, Robertson of Human Rights Watch wrote in his email. So, the U.S. prosecutors and court need to be doubly careful to make sure this person remains in the country to stand trial. This story was updated to include comments from Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Im Rachana. Authorities in China have been holding feminist and LGBTQ+ activist Guo Yi for more than three months after she stuck up posters repeating the protest slogans hung from a Beijing traffic overpass in October by Peng Lifa, known as the "Bridge Man" protester, a rights group has reported. Peng, who hung two protest banners one of which called for the removal of Chinese leader Xi Jinping on a Beijing flyover on the eve of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress has been widely hailed as a hero on social media and by overseas activists. "Guo Yi was arrested on or around Oct. 20, 2022, when she took a poster of Bridge Man Peng Lifa she had made to a toilet to post it," the Weiquanwang rights website reported. "Bridge Man posters were later also found at her home, and we believe that she has been [formally] arrested now." Guo, a graduate of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, hails from the northwestern region of Xinjiang, where she won a top liberal arts scholarship to study in Beijing. She has been involved in activism to promote womens rights and other social issues. Guo, also known as Edith, had also penned a screenplay titled "The Way of the Vagina, the group said. Her apparent detention comes amid an ongoing crackdown on the "white paper" protests of late November 2022, which were sparked by a fatal lockdown fire in Xinjiang's regional capital Urumqi, with dozens of young activists, mostly women, detained across China in recent weeks. Citizens, not slaves The Bridge Man protest sparked a slew of protests and rallies on university campuses outside China, although participants said they risked bringing trouble down on the heads of their families back home if the police found out they had taken part. One of his banners read: "Remove the traitor-dictator Xi Jinping!" while another called for: "Food, not COVID-19 tests. Freedom, not lockdowns. Reforms, not the Cultural Revolution. Elections not leaders," adding: "Dignity, not lies. Citizens, not slaves." In December 2022, Weiquanwang said police had arrested Nanchang-based artist Xiao Liang after he painted a portrait of Peng Lifa and posted it on Twitter. Veteran rights activist Zhou Fengsuo, who heads the New York-based group Human Rights in China, said Guo hadn't committed any crime. "Guo Yi's actions should have been protected by her civil rights, because she did no more than express her mind," Zhou told Radio Free Asia. "She has committed no crime, and this was an entirely personal action." "The regime has already held her for 100 days, every day of which is a crime against her," he said. "She should be released immediately." He called on Tsinghua alumni to speak out on Guo's behalf, in the hope of gaining an earlier release. New generation He said Guos voice represented a new generation who dared to speak out against the Chinese Communist Party, and as such were the main hope for change in China. Guo was last seen at a screening she held at her home of a film shortly after the Oct. 1 National Day holiday, according to a Jan. 31 article on the Women4China Stack Exchange page signed by Wen Xin. "Everyone sensed that something was going to happen, but nobody knew what Edith was going to do," said the article, describing Guo as "skinny with short red hair ... appearing agile enough to carry the weight of the whole world." "After graduating, she went on to organize cultural activities for migrant women workers," the article said, adding that she had once hoped to live in the southern city of Shenzhen. It said Guo had also been writing and staging her feminist screenplay, and had gone out of her way to enlist a trans woman as one of the actors. It said her connection to the LGBTQ+ community likely made her more vulnerable to mistreatment by the authorities. "When the police went to her apartment to search for the Bridge Man posters, they must have seen the rainbow flag in the room," the article said. "This would have made the police even more certain that she was a 'reactionary' - given the close attention they've been paying to women's rights and LGBT issues during the arrests and interrogations that followed the white paper protests." The article said Guo's family and lawyers have remained silent, and that an application for bail for her had been unsuccessful. "Edith did nothing wrong; she was a ray of red as the revolution spread. Keep fighting the good fight," the article said, quoting her Instagram signature. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. DAMASCUS, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A powerful explosion shook a former military base near Damascus International Airport on Wednesday, state-run Al-Thawra newspaper reported, citing official sources. The report said the blast was caused by remnants of war near the airport, while Syrian opposition outlet Sham TV claimed it resulted from an Israeli drone targeting the military site. No immediate information on casualties was available. UPDATED AT 10:47 p.m. ET on 2023-07-03 Hong Kong police on Monday issued arrest warrants and offered bounties for eight activists and former lawmakers who have fled the city, saying they are wanted in connection with "serious crimes" under Hong Kong's national security law. Police named former pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law, Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, U.S.-based activist and political lobbyist Anna Kwok and legal scholar Kevin Yam among the wanted, and offered bounties of HK$1 million (US$127,700) for information that might lead to an arrest. "We attach great importance to this case, and so we are offering rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars for each wanted person," Chief Superintendent Steve Li said. He said many on the list had "advocated sanctions ... to destroy or intimidate Hong Kong officials" or advised foreign countries to attack Hong Kong's status as a financial center. "We hope that the public will provide information on these people and their cases," he told a news conference in Hong Kong on Monday. On Tuesday, Hong Kong chief executive John Lee followed up at a news conference by saying the activists would be "pursued for life," urging them "to give themselves up as soon as possible." The move is the latest example of Chinas long-arm law enforcement that has included police surveillance among Chinese and their relatives overseas, including through unapproved police service stations in many countries. U.K-based activists Finn Lau and Mung Siu-tat and U.S.-based businessman Elmer Yuen are also on the wanted list. Those named face a slew of charges including "collusion with foreign powers" and "inciting subversion and secession" under a draconian law imposed on Hong Kong by the Communist Party in the wake of the 2019 protest movement that effectively bans public dissent and peaceful political opposition. Absolutely evil Law, 29, a former student leader of the 2014 Umbrella Movement who at 23 was the youngest person to serve as a member of the city's Legislative Council following a landslide victory in the 2016 general election, is wanted on charges of "incitement to secession" and "collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security," national security police Superintendent Hung Ngan told reporters. Law, who has been granted political asylum in the United Kingdom, said the news was "stressful," and that he would need to be more careful about where he chose to travel in future. In comments posted to his Facebook page, he said the accusations against him were an abuse of national security terminology, a bid to suppress dissent, and denied receiving foreign funding of any kind. "The right to work on any peaceful political initiative should be guaranteed in a civilized country," Law said. "The only conclusion is that the national security law is absolutely evil." Chief Superintendent of Police (National Security) Li Kwai-wah speaks during a press conference to issue arrest warrants for eight activists and former lawmakers, in Hong Kong, July 3, 2023. Credit: Joyce Zhou/Reuters Anna Kwok tweeted in response: "Just woke up to see I'm wanted with a $1M HKD bounty on my head. Our work at @hkdc_us continues, stronger and louder." She called on U.S. President Joe Biden not to allow Hong Kong chief executive John Lee into the United States for an upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, or APEC, in San Francisco in November. On Monday evening, the U.S. State Department condemned the Hong Kong Police Force for putting "an international bounty" on the pro-democracy activists. The extraterritorial application of the Beijing-imposed National Security Law is a dangerous precedent that threatens the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people all over the world, spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. We call on the Hong Kong government to immediately withdraw this bounty, respect other countries sovereignty, and stop the international assertion of the National Security Law imposed by Beijing, the State Department said, adding that it continues to oppose transnational repression efforts, by the Peoples Republic of China and supports the rights of individuals to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. Soft confrontation Australia-based Ted Hui, 41, whose assets were frozen by HSBC in January 2021 after he fled the city, is wanted on the same charges in connection with "repeatedly advocating for independence" for Hong Kong and the democratic island of Taiwan on social media. The move came after an article in the ruling Chinese Communist Party-backed Ta Kung Pao newspaper called on China to use the Interpol "red notice" system to try to apprehend people overseas for breaching the national security law, which applies to speech and acts all over the world without regard to a person's nationality. Security chief Chris Tang, who was chief of police during the 2019 protest movement, also warned in an interview with the paper that anyone engaging in "soft confrontation," including online comments anywhere in the world, could be targeted by the authorities under the law. "Endangering national security is a very serious offense," a Hong Kong government spokesman said on Monday. "The fugitives should not have any delusion that they could evade their legal liabilities by absconding from Hong Kong." A police statement said anyone aiding, abetting or funding anyone accused under the law, including online, could also be targeted in future. The arrest warrants were issued after protesters gathered in overseas cities at the weekend to mark the third anniversary of the law, implemented on July 1, 2020, and to mourn those who died during the 2019 protest movement against the erosion of Hong Kong's promised freedoms. Memorial for those who died Hong Kongers in Taipei held a memorial service for those who died in the protests, placing flowers before portraits of those who died. A former protester who is now living in Taiwan said he only escaped the city because the national security law hadn't yet been implemented at the time of his arrest, meaning that he was granted bail now very unusual under the law and was able to flee. "Once the national security law was passed ... there was no more justice it's one-sidedly pro-government," the protester said. "It has destroyed fairness and the spirit of the rule of law." Meanwhile, protesters gathered in London on Saturday to mark the death of Leung Kin-fai, who died after stabbing himself on July 1, 2021, after delivering a non-fatal stab wound to a police officer outside the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay. "I don't want to talk about it, but I daren't forget it," one protester told Radio Free Asia at the scene, where many participants wore masks and hoods in an apparent bid to avoid reprisals against loved ones back home or attacks from supporters of Beijing on British soil. A protester who gave only the nickname J told the crowd that the recent crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong had given the lie to Beijing's promises that the city would be allowed to retain its traditional freedoms under its "one country, two systems" framework following the 1997 handover to Chinese rule. The handover anniversary was marked in Hong Kong by a celebratory mass of red flags throughout the downtown area and in busy thoroughfares. Police have made more than 1,000 arrests under the law, with thousands more targeting former protesters under colonial-era public order and sedition laws. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Updated with comments from Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee As a former resident and frequent traveler to Hong Kong, R had never considered himself a political threat under the city's national security law, which ushered in an ongoing crackdown on dissent when it was imposed three years ago. Until he was ushered into a small, windowless room at Hong Kong International Airport at the beginning of this year on arrival from his native Taiwan, and subjected to questioning and a full body search by both uniformed and plainclothes police. "Who do you know in Hong Kong?" his interrogators wanted to know. "Who have you worked for, either salaried or unpaid, during your time in Hong Kong?" A sign on the wall seemed reassuring: "You have the right to contact friends and relatives, and you have the right to a lawyer, as long as it doesn't obstruct official duties." But R, who was initially detained by immigration officers, wasn't allowed to use his phone. Later, a couple of plainclothes officers showed up and took his personal documents, including his passport, Taiwanese ID card and even his staff lanyard from his Taiwanese university, away for photocopying. R, who asked not to be named for fear of further reprisals, was denied entry to Hong Kong, then loaded into a prison van with bars on the windows, for deportation back to Taiwan. "That was the first time in my life I'd been inside a prison van," he said. "There were nine of them in there with me, watching me closely." "They treated me like a terrorist." Denying entry R once worked in a Hong Kong university, yet his research doesn't directly touch on the city or its politics, he said. He has traveled there frequently in recent years, however, regarding it as a kind of second home. While he did go and observe some of the mass marches of the 2019 protest movement, he was never a direct participant. Occasionally, he would repost news about political developments in the city on Facebook. Travelers at Hong Kong International Airport in 2022. The Taiwanese government recently updated its travel advice for the city, warning its nationals not to run afoul of the national security law. Credit: Peter Parks/AFP R was officially denied entry to Hong Kong because he had "failed to meet the qualifications following comprehensive assessment." He won't be trying again for a few years. The Hong Kong authorities have been denying entry to prominent democracy activists and rights campaigners for years, starting during the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella Movement. R still can't figure out what he has done wrong, given that his research doesn't even involve Hong Kong. The Taiwanese government recently updated its travel advice for the city, warning its nationals not to run afoul of the national security law. Possible infractions include wearing the wrong kind of T-shirt, or singing the wrong song in public, or otherwise displaying slogans relating to the protest movement. Cracking down The national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong from July 1, 2020 ushered in a citywide crackdown on public dissent and criticism of the authorities that has seen senior journalists, pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai and 47 former lawmakers and democracy activists charged with offenses from "collusion with a foreign power" to "subversion." It applies to speech and acts committed anywhere in the world, and has been used to issue the leaders of a London-based rights group with a takedown order for its website. Shouting or displaying protest slogans in a public place, including the banned "Free Hong Kong! Revolution Now!" or playing the British national anthem in public were also on the list of actions to avoid published by Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, an executive body in charge of the island's complicated relationship with China. But the Council declined to comment on R's case when contacted by The Reporter recently, saying that it hadn't received any report of his treatment. So who decides who gets onto the "blacklist" of people arriving in Hong Kong, and according to what criteria. From around 2018 It's a murky area that Taiwan's officials were unable to shine a light on, aside from saying off the record that things started to get more risky for the island's nationals in Hong Kong in around 2018. They have long been fair game for police in mainland China. Taiwanese political activist Lee Ming-cheh was detained and jailed for five years while on a trip there in 2017, with fellow activist Lee Meng-chu meeting a similar fate in 2019. More recently, Chinese authorities arrested leading Taiwanese nationalist politician Yang Chih-yuan for 'secession' and detained Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe, known by his penname "Fucha," in Shanghai. Pro-democracy protesters march in Hong Kong in 2019. Credit: Kin Cheung/AP The recent charging of Yuen King-ting, 23, with sedition for posting banned Hong Kong protest slogans while she was studying in Japan has also heightened fears in Taiwan. According to former Chinese University of Hong Kong anthropology professor Gordon Mathews, most foreign nationals are likely to be refused entry to Hong Kong if they are deemed suspect, unless they have been charged with a felony, rather than being detained and prosecuted. But he doesn't expect there to be national security law-related issues for foreign nationals merely transiting at Hong Kong. However, his advice specifically refers to people not born in China or Hong Kong, and who have never held citizenship in those territories. Foreign passport-holders who used to be Chinese citizens tend to have their foreign nationality disregarded, as in the case of Jimmy Lai, he said. Arbitrary list? It's not just academics from Taiwan who could be at risk. Foreign journalists working in Hong Kong could also be at risk -- it's just very hard to say how much, according to Reporters Without Borders' East Asia bureau chief Cedric Alviani. That's because the Chinese government can always override its own guidelines and detain anyone arbitrarily. Alviani also warned that journalists of Chinese descent holding foreign passports are particularly vulnerable to this kind of treatment, citing the cases of Cheng Lei, Yang Hengjun and Jimmy Lai. Lin Thung-Hong, who directs the Center for Contemporary China Studies at Taiwan's National Tsinghua University, agreed that the blacklist can be an arbitrary thing. "It's impossible and pretty meaningless to try to second-guess where Hong Kong's political red lines are drawn," Lin told The Reporter. "An authoritarian government will never allow these lines to be clearly drawn, because [opacity] is the best way to spread fear and facilitate control," he said, adding that there are no rules of thumb for figuring out if you have been blacklisted or not. But he said his university warns researchers traveling to both China and Hong Kong to go with empty phones and hard drives, and to use only custom-made alphanumeric passwords, not facial recognition or other identification factors. If detained, stay calm, never admit to any crime, and don't mention anyone else's name or details, he said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. This is an edited version of a collaborative report by RFA's Mandarin Service and The Reporter , a Taiwan-based investigative magazine. A decade after thousands of young people occupied downtown Hong Kong in pursuit of fully democratic elections, former student leader Nathan Law believes the movement never had a chance, faced as it was with the political ambitions of recently ascended Chinese leader Xi Jinping. A decade after thousands of young people occupied downtown Hong Kong in pursuit of fully democratic elections, former student leader Nathan Law believes the movement never had a chance, faced as it was with the political ambitions of recently ascended Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Law, who went on to become the youngest-ever elected member of the citys Legislative Council before the rules were rewritten to exclude opposition candidates, said the movement, which is sometimes blamed for inciting Beijings ire, wasnt the trigger for the ruling Chinese Communist Partys clampdown on the citys promised freedoms. Chinas policy changed at the national level, Law told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview. In the past, they had felt that they were a fairly low-key and quietly rising power on the international stage. But when General Secretary Xi Jinping took power in 2012, things changed, he said. When Xi Jinping came to power, it was clear that he had far greater ambitions for totalitarian rule and for the Chinese Communist Partys role in the international arena, Law said. So there was very little incentive to preserve democracy, diversity, civil society or freedom in Hong Kong. 10 years ago, Law was part of the Sept. 26, 2014 storming of Civic Square, the protest that kicked off the 79-day Occupy Central movement. Power gap When the students went on strike and crowds supporting the protesters refused to leave, the police fired the first tear gas. The protesters used their umbrellas to protect themselves, and the Umbrella Movement was born. Even then, Law and fellow student leaders Joshua Wong, Alex Chow, Agnes Chow and Lester Shum knew very well what they were up against. I dont think we were naive at the time, Law said. We were very clear right from the start just how huge the power gap between the Chinese Communist Party and the people of Hong Kong was. The fact that young people led this movement that everyone had been waiting for wasnt a key factor in the outcome, he said. There wasnt enough political pressure or international support to force the Chinese Communist Party to give in. RELATED STORIES [ INTERVIEW: Umbrella Movement was about protecting Hong KongersOpens in new window ] [ INTERVIEW: Umbrella Movement was form of anti-colonial resistance: former leaderOpens in new window ] [ EXPLAINED: How the umbrella became a Hong Kong protest symbolOpens in new window ] The Hong Kong that gave birth to the Umbrella Movement was a very different place, where the pro-democracy camp held a significant proportion of seats in the Legislative Council and at district level, where mass popular demonstrations were a common feature of the citys political life, and where hundreds of thousands still gathered annually to mourn those who died in the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, led by outspoken political activists and lawmakers, most of whom are now behind bars. Hong Kong back then was totally different, looking back, Law said. One of the most vivid memories I had of the Umbrella Movement is that the toilets in the occupation camp in Admiralty were cleaner than the one in my home. Helpless in the face of history Everyone put so much thought into that movement -- it was a kind of utopia that showed us the beauty of human nature, Law said. This was the political situation that we longed for, a world in which we could give unconditionally to those around us. The degree of strength and hope that it brought out in people was unmatched by any political movement since. But there was a huge price to pay for that idealism, both in the wake of the Occupy Central movement, and the 2019 protests and subsequent crackdown under two draconian security laws. A lot of students were imprisoned and suppressed because they took part in political movements, Law said. They were helpless in the face of history, because in a closed system, student movements arent tolerated, and youthful idealism is stifled. Nonetheless, Hong Kongs tradition of mass protest did inspire others to resist authoritarian rule elsewhere, not least in Thailand in 2020, he added. Now, with so many comrades behind bars for daring to resist the will of Beijing, Laws response is similar to that of nearly every other activist now fighting from exile for the restoration of the citys freedoms. People in prison dont want us all to be trapped in a loop of negative emotion the whole time because of their situation, he said. They want us to do our part. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Calls are growing among overseas rights groups, universities and student campaigners for authorities in China to release people many of them young graduates of overseas universities detained for taking part in the November 2022 "white paper" protests. The overseas-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders network estimated that more than 100 people have been detained for their role in at least 68 protests that took place across 31 Chinese cities in late November to early December. [ >>List of detained protestersOpens in new window ] "At the time of this press release, there are names of 30+ people who were taken into custody; we estimate that at least 100+ people have been detained, and some of them have been simply released or released on 'bail pending trial," the group said in a statement on its website updated on Jan. 20. Even detainees released on bail are likely to remain under close police surveillance for one year, it said. Credit: RFA screenshot from Twitter Among the detainees was University of Westminster photography graduate Xin Shang, arrested for taking part in a protest at Beijing's Liangmaqiao, where he was filmed reciting Shakespeare's sonnet "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" to police officers, Human Rights in China executive director Zhou Fengsuo said via his Twitter account. "Xin Shang is innocent, free Xin Shang!" Zhou tweeted. Deep concern Xin wasn't the only protester to be drawn to the movement after graduating from a university outside China. Faculty at the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago have called for the release of alumna Qin Ziyi, who was among those detained. "[We] are aware that people, including a former student of the University of Chicago, have recently been detained in China due to their participation in peaceful protests where people held blank sheets of paper to express dissent to the governments Zero Covid policy," the department said in a statement on its website. "We express our deep concern for the well-being of Qin Ziyi and all those who have been detained and hope they will speedily be released," it said. In London, Goldsmiths University told the London Tab student newspaper that it is "concerned" about the detention of its alumna Li Siqi. "We are aware of deeply concerning reports about the detention of a former Goldsmiths student in China for taking part in a peaceful vigil to remember the victims of the Xinjiang fire," a spokesman for the university told the paper, referring to a fatal lockdown fire in an apartment building in the autonomous region's capital of Urumqi. We condemn in the strongest terms the suppression of free speech and urge the relevant authorities to immediately release individuals who were detained in relation to the vigil," he said. Only one voice A Chinese postgraduate student in Washington, D.C. who gave only the surname Wu for fear of reprisals said overseas study often broadens the horizons of Chinas international students. "In China, there is only one voice, and it is difficult for anyone to think independently of that voice," Wu said, referring to the official government line. "Studying abroad exposes you to different voices, and the more people know about the stuff that is blocked by the Chinese government, the more likely they are to do something different." "The Chinese narrative teaches that protests are bad and will lead swiftly to arrest, and that people aren't allowed to gather together to express their opinions," Wu said. "But once you experience living outside China, you find that it's very common and healthy to have different political voices being heard." U.S.-based rights activist Yang Zhanqing called for more overseas schools of the detained protesters to speak out on their behalf, and call for their release. "Their arrests are abnormal and illegal, and these schools have the kind of credibility and a public platform that could help get them released," Yang told RFA. "That way the deeds [of the Chinese government] will be exposed, and more people will pay attention to what they do next," Yang said. Deprived of rights Students from the University of New South Wales in Australia recently set up a petition on Change.org calling on their university to speak out for the release of alumna Li Yuanjing, who has been detained for more than a month and will "probably face lengthy imprisonment" for her role in the protests. "We, current students and alumni of the University of New South Wales, are writing to express our grave concern about the safety of the A4 Revolution protesters in China, and call on UNSW to support its alumna," the petition said, referring to the blank sheets of A4 printer paper held up by protesters at the time. Students from the University of New South Wales in Australia have launched a petition on Change.org calling on their university to speak out for the release of alumna Li Yuanjing, who has been detained for more than a month. Credit: RFA screenshot "Many protesters have been taken away by the police on suspicion of 'gathering to disrupt public order'," the petition said. "Some have even been deprived of their rights to access official legal documents or see their lawyers." "Although a few have been released on bail, the majority of them have been formally arrested, still held in detention and possibly facing heavy sentences," it said, calling the crackdown "shocking and unacceptable." "The trend of repression continues at the time of writing," it said. While Chinese Human Rights Defenders said it had gathered dozens of names of confirmed detainees, some reports were harder to verify, as "family members are reluctant to go public out of the fears for retaliation from the Chinese government." "Since the Chinese government has not publicized nor allowed any press to report about these cases, and also threatened families to keep silent, the cases of detentions described below probably indicate the tip of the iceberg," the group said, warning that detainees "are at high risk of enforced disappearance and torture." Stepping up pressure It called on the international community to step up pressure on the ruling Chinese Communist Party while the local authorities were still deciding whether to prosecute detainees, adding that there is a 99.99% conviction rate in China's judicial system. A protester scuffles with police during a rally for the victims of the Urumqi fire as well as a protest against China's harsh COVID-19 restrictions in Beijing on Nov. 28, 2022. Credit: AFP The New York-based Human Rights Watch called on Beijing to immediately release and drop all charges against everyone detained for participating in the protests, which were sparked by the lockdown fire in Urumqi, but which also saw calls for Chinese leader Xi Jinping to resign and call elections. "Young people in China are paying a heavy price for daring to speak out for freedom and human rights," Human Rights Watch's senior China researcher Yaqiu Wang said in a statement on the group's website. Attending a vigil and calling for authorities to respect human rights are not crimes, she said. The crackdown on protesters only revealed Beijings deep fear of the power of the countrys young people. The police have also threatened lawyers who tried to provide legal assistance to the detained protesters and suspended a group chat the lawyers use on the Chinese social media app WeChat, the statement said, adding that the authorities have harassed friends of detained protesters who provided them support. Weibo and WeChat accounts that showed support for the protests were suspended, while a WeChat account that merely posted a picture of a blank paper was permanently removed, Human Rights Watch said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. A massive earthquake this week that killed more than 1,400 people in Afghanistan has left women, already struggling under the strict rules of the Taliban-led government, vulnerable because of a lack of support. The 6.0 magnitude quake has devastated the eastern part of the country near the border with Pakistan, injuring thousands in a remote area difficult for rescue workers and care givers to reach. Experts warn that women and girls will be among those most affected by the disaster and "bear the brunt" of it as they face cultural and legislated impediments to accessing hospital care and other restrictions on support. Women are banned by the Taliban from being treated by male doctors. But since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed numerous additional bans on women, including a December 2024 measure that forbids women from pursuing medical education or taking final medical training exams. Given that there are almost no female doctors in the region, let alone the country, many women will fail to receive medical care quickly enough, according to Abdul Qayum Raheem, an Afghan doctor. "Earthquakes are a matter of minutes and seconds, delay in escaping can cause more casualties to women," Raheem told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "People in villages know that there are not enough female staff in the hospital and cannot dare to take their wounded women and girls to health facilities. The families are trying to treat the minor wounded women locally, instead of taking them to hospital. A spokesman for the Taliban governments Ministry of Public Health did not respond to questions from Radio Azadi over reports that women were not receiving adequate health care amid signs from the affected area that appear to bear out such fears. Although most of the more than 3,000 casualties reported so far have been women and children, the head of the hospital in Kunar Province said that only 13 women are currently hospitalized there, while the number of hospitalized men is 67. One man told Radio Azadi that his pregnant wife suffered a miscarriage after failing to get proper medical treatment following the earthquake. "When the earthquake hit, she was giving birth and it was going very badly," he said. "She is now in a government hospital, but she has not recovered and is in the same condition as before. This is because there are no female doctors and no medicine." According to a female doctor in Kabul who spoke recently to Radio Azadi, remote areas often only have community midwives or nurses. In some areas there is neither. Nilofar Ayoubi, a human rights activist from Afghanistan, told RFE/RL the aftermath of the earthquake is growing increasingly alarming, especially for women and children. This dire shortage has forced many families to transport their injured women and girls to Jalalabad city, the nearest urban center," said Ayoubi, who fled to Poland after Taliban returned to power. "However, hospitals in Jalalabad are themselves overwhelmed, struggling with the same lack of essential supplies and a severe shortage of female medical staff. This was Afghanistan's third major deadly earthquake since the Taliban returned to power. In June 2022, a powerful earthquake shook Paktia, Paktika, and Khost provinces According to the assessment carried out by the International Rescue Committee in Khost at the time, women and girls were most affected by the earthquake. A year later in Herat Province, some 1,500 people were killed in an earthquake with women and girls comprising the majority of the death toll, according to UNICEF. UN Women Afghanistan said on September 2 it fears the response -- from urgent medical assistance and care to safe shelter and protection -- to this week's earthquake will again fail to prioritize women. Women and girls will again bear the brunt of this disaster, so we must ensure their needs are at the heart of the response and recovery, UN Women Afghanistan Special Representative Susan Ferguson said. This includes supporting the vital work of women humanitarians otherwise women and girls could miss out on lifesaving assistance or information in the days ahead. MAZAR DARA, Afghanistan -- Wazir Khan was asleep when a devastating earthquake struck his remote village in eastern Afghanistan. The midnight tremor flattened his home in the village of Mazar Dara in the eastern province of Kunar, trapping his family under rubble. Khan survived. But most members of his family in Mazar Dara were killed on August 31. "It was around 11:30 [at night] when there was a tremor and I found myself under the rubble," Khan told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "In that moment, I lost 10 members of my family." Khan's family members were among more than 1,400 people killed in one of Afghanistan's deadliest earthquakes in years. The Taliban government said another 3,000 people were injured. The magnitude-6.0 earthquake flattened thousands of homes and destroyed entire villages in Kunar, a mountainous province bordering Pakistan, and neighboring provinces. A second earthquake on September 2 prompted panic and interrupted rescue efforts. The deadly tremor has exacerbated the devastating humanitarian and economic crises that have gripped the impoverished country since the Taliban seized power in 2021. The militant group's takeover triggered major cuts to international assistance. Nasirullah, Khan's son, was among those wounded in the first tremor. He was sleeping with his father on the roof of their mudbrick home when the earthquake hit. "I fell from the roof and injured my head," Nasirullah, his head heavily bandaged, told Radio Azadi. "I was buried up to my chest in the rubble, but I immediately pulled myself out and helped my father." Emergency services have struggled to reach remote villages. Thousands of people are living out in the open and are struggling to access food, drinking water, and shelter. Recent flooding in the region and rugged terrain have complicated rescue efforts. In some areas, villagers have used their bare hands to clear the rubble in their race to find survivors. "We are seven families staying together under one tent," said Khan. "We have no proper shelter." Most of the dead have been buried in hastily dug graves. But some remain unburied due to the sheer number of casualties and lack of equipment. "Last night, we sat under the tent holding our children, with three bodies beside us," Khan said. Afghanistan's Taliban authorities recently pulled down a monument depicting a 15th-century Uzbek poet -- only to promise two days later to rebuild it, a rapid U-turn that may signal a pragmatic side to the militant group's rule. RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reported that the final destruction of the statue, on August 18, was followed by an outcry from residents of Mazar-e Sharif, in northern Afghanistan. Speaking to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, residents said the authorities justified the move on religious grounds, stating that images and statues of human beings are banned by Shari'a law. Alisher Navoi is revered as a founder of Uzbek literature and a key figure in the Chagatai cultural heritage shared by many Turkic-speaking peoples of Eurasia. Paris-based Afghan writer and activist Saiyera Rahmani called it "a major blow to the dignity of Uzbeks and to cultural diversity in Afghanistan." Then, as the outcry continued, the saga took a surprising turn. Taliban officials held a public event attended by members of Uzbekistan's diplomatic mission and pledged to rebuild the monument. Uzbek Foreign Ministry spokesman Akhror Burkhanov said at the time that "local authorities decided to remove it because the location was deemed unsuitable." "Furthermore, Afghan representatives affirmed their respect for Alisher Navoi, an important historical figure for both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, and assured that his legacy would be properly commemorated. They pledged to raise a new monument dedicated to him, improving the surrounding area, restoring inscriptions about his life and work, and naming the location in his honor," Burkhanov said in a post on X social network. Follow The Money The abrupt reversal recalled a situation last year when Afghan media outlets reported that the Taliban had asked the Uzbek government stop to hosting musical performances at the Termiz International Trade Center, located along the Afghan-Uzbek border. The center, which opened in late August 2024, serves as a free-trade zone in Uzbekistan where visitors, including Afghans, can trade for up to 15 days using multiple currencies without needing a visa. It has continued to stage music events, and the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, in an apparent attempt to save face for the Taliban, clarified that no such request had been made. Together, the two incidents raise the question: Why is the Taliban so considerate of Uzbekistan's wishes? Previously, the Taliban has been unyielding in its drive to destroy what it regards as idolatrous monuments, most notoriously the ancient Bamiyan Buddha in 2021. The answer may be simply to follow the money. The Taliban may have decided that rebuilding a statue honoring one of Uzbekistan's most cherished cultural figures is a low-cost gesture to keep Tashkent on board. Since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul, Uzbekistan has emerged as a key economic partner for Afghanistan. Earlier this year, Tashkent announced $243 million in investments for four Afghan energy projects alongside new agreements on trade and transit routes. In May, Uzbekistan opened official trade centers hosting Uzbek state enterprises in Kabul and Mazar-e Sharif. Afghanistan's economy, which has been heavily impacted by conflicts and sanctions, also relies heavily on border trade and electricity imports from its more developed northern neighbor. Afghanistan is currently afflicted by catastrophic food shortages and has seen a massive cut in foreign aid. China flexed its growing military might and its deepening ties with Russia with an extravagant military parade meant to showcase Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambition as the leader of an alternative, non-Western world order. As the September 3 parade offered an image of military coordination and force - including more than 10,000 highly choreographed personnel and hundreds of pieces of military hardware - one of the most striking displays was images of Xi flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as they overlooked the 70-minute procession across Beijing's Tiananmen Square in an unprecedented show of solidarity. Xi shook the hands of both leaders and chatted with the pair as they walked down a red carpet ahead of a group of more than 20 other foreign dignitaries from around the world toward the stage overlooking the parade that marked 80 years since the end of World War II. "This could be seen as a watershed moment in the realignment of this Eurasian power bloc," Sari Arho Havren, an associate fellow at London's Royal United Services Institute, told RFE/RL. "Chinese diplomacy is always heavily choreographed, but there is substance here too in showing North Korea's strategic value for China alongside Russia." Following the show of unity that included the first-ever scenes of Xi, Putin, and Kim together at an event, the Russian and North Korean leaders held their own their meeting after traveling to the talks together by car from the parade grounds. "I would like to note that your soldiers fought courageously and heroically," Putin said, sitting next to Kim, referring to the thousands of North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia's Kursk region to help push back Ukraine's counteroffensive on Russian territory. Kim then pledged to keep helping Russia's war in Ukraine "any way" that it can. "If there is any way that we can support Russia, we will always do it," Kim said. "We consider it our brotherly duty." Following their closed-door meeting, Putin invited Kim to visit Moscow. Trump Takes Aim At Xi, Putin, and Kim As the parade unfolded, US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to offer barbed congratulations to Xi on the World War II anniversary, which China marks with the surrender of imperial Japan in 1945. "The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and 'blood' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader," he wrote, referring to Japan's full-scale invasion of China and the US war effort against Tokyo during World War II. The US president also took aim at Putin and Kim for working against US interests. "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America," Trump added in a social media post. Moscow's war effort has also been supported by Beijing through diplomatic backing, ramped up oil purchases, and the flow of militarily useful dual-use goods from China. Their relationship has deepened since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine amid rising trade and growing military cooperation, including China and Russia's first-ever joint submarine patrol in the Pacific in August. An estimated 12,000 North Korean troops have fought alongside Russian forces against Ukraine since they were deployed in 2024. Western officials estimated that one-third of all North Korean troops deployed so far were either killed or wounded. Trump met with Putin in Alaska in August amid on-and-off again negotiations to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, but his diplomatic outreach has so far failed to unlock any major progress, with Russian officials brushing off attempts for a follow-up summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As Putin attended the parade, Russia also launched an aerial assault on Ukraine involving 502 long-range drones and 24 cruise missiles, Ukrainian officials said. When asked about Trump's comments, Yuri Ushakov, Putin's presidential aide, said there are "no conspiracies at all" and that "none of these three leaders have even entertained such thoughts." Furthermore, I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump, and President Trump personally in the current international dynamics," Ushakov said. 'A Carefully Orchestrated Act of Strategic Communication' At his speech kicking off the military parade, Xi said China was "unstoppable" while promoting a message of "national sacrifice - not as victims, but as a function of willpower and national resolve." Xi also struck a more defiant tone, saying that "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable!" and that China "is never intimidated by any bullies," a term usually used in official statements to refer indirectly to the United States. "I believe this is a signal to the West, and primarily to the United States, that China now sees itself as a country ready to defend itself," Natalia Plaksienko-Butyrskaya, a senior fellow at the Kyiv-based New Europe Center, told Current Time, RFE/RL's Russian-language TV channel. The celebrations around the anniversary honored China's suffering during World War II and the Communist Party's contributions to victory, but the massive parade also caps off a whirlwind of diplomatic events meant to show China's vision for an alternative world order to counter the longstanding dominance of the United States and its Western allies. "This year's parade, therefore, is not simply a ceremonial display of troops and weaponry," Chinese journalist Deng Yuwen wrote for Foreign Policy magazine ahead of the event. "It is a carefully orchestrated act of strategic communication, weaving together messages of military strength, diplomatic positioning, and historical narratives, directed at audiences both at home and abroad." The parade followed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit this week that also sought to cast China as a global leader with deepening regional influence in Southeast and Central Asia. Many leaders, including Belarusian strongman Aleksandr Lukashenko, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, remained in China after the summit to attend the parade. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose governments have each applied to join the SCO, were also at the military event in Beijing. The longer stay in China by foreign leaders corresponded with a flurry of meetings and deals struck on the sidelines. Kazakhstan announced that it had signed more than 70 different agreements with China, while Russia said it had inked over 20, including moving forward on a key gas pipeline, although many important details are still unclear. China's big celebration and display of its expanding military arsenal also come as Beijing seeks to capitalize on the Trump administration's transactional and more erratic foreign policy, including launching sweeping tariffs and rattling longtime allies. "The diplomatic moves, the military display, and the inclusion of Putin and Kim is all a show of strength," said Arho Havren. "It's a message to the United States and NATO that they can push back, but also to Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, and Taiwan that they are more vulnerable than ever." It's been mocked as the "Coalition of the Waiting." The ad hoc alliance of mostly European countries -- known as the Coalition of the Willing -- that pledged to provide a viable post-war security plan for Ukraine has had months of meetings with few clear results. But some coalition officials believe this is about to change at a meeting of the group in Paris on September 4. "I expect tomorrow or soon after tomorrow to have clarity on what collectively we can deliver," NATO chief Mark Rutte told journalists in Brussels on September 3. His comments have generated a sense of expectation around the latest talks, especially after recent remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Washington would be prepared to be involved in helping to provide post-war security for Ukraine. Still, Trump's comments contained no details -- like most of the public statements made after meetings of the Coalition of the Willing since British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced its formation in London in March. That continued lack of information has tempered some expectations. A 'Hush-Hush' Process "I'm not expecting clarity," John Foreman, a former British military attache involved at some of the initial coalition meetings, told RFE/RL. "I'm not expecting a big announcement (it's all been hush-hush so far), but it will be important for the various leaders to understand exactly what is on offer and the state of play," he added. Aside from regular meetings with heads of state and government, the coalition has held a series of detailed planning sessions with senior military figures discussing the nuts and bolts of a possible deployment to Ukraine. From the very beginning, this was predicated on Europeans doing the heavy lifting, with Britain and France, and then also other countries, pledging to put unspecified numbers of boots of the ground. But the deal-breaker was always that this could only happen with a US "backstop" of support focused on logistics, air power, and intelligence. Washington gave no indication that it was willing to help, until recently. On September 3, Rutte said a "big breakthrough" came during a telephone call three weeks ago, in the run-up to Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last month. Speaking to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and others, Trump "announced that he wanted to participate, to be part of those security guarantees," Rutte said. Three days after the Alaska talks, Trump gave a public indication of this during a meeting at the White House with Rutte, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders. Trump said European countries would provide "the first line of defense" but the United States would "be involved." His envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke of "Article-5 like" guarantees, a detail-free reference to NATO's mutual defense clause. 'Dial In The US President' Whether detail is added to these comments may depend on whether Trump joins the Paris meeting, like many of the participants, via video link. A German government spokesman told a briefing in Berlin on September 3 that "there are deliberations to dial in the US President." Later, the Elysee Palace said a call was scheduled for the afternoon, after talks in the morning. Zelenskyy, who will be in Paris for the talks, said, "We also have signals from the United States that it will provide a backstop." Even if the details can be ironed out, the plan for security guarantees still faces many obstacles. Russia has repeatedly opposed the idea of what it calls, without any apparent sense of irony, "foreign intervention" in Ukraine. Furthermore, planners are considering what to do after a cease-fire or peace deal is made. The next step in the Trump-led diplomatic process was supposed to be a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. Efforts to make this happen have repeatedly been stalled by Moscow. In his latest comments on September 3, Putin said meeting Zelenskyy was "a path to nowhere" before saying they could meet in Moscow. Given Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the venue is completely unacceptable to Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy has suggested neutral venues such as Turkey. He has also called for pressure on Putin to force him into a meeting, including more sanctions. "Tomorrow we will try to connect with President Trump, and we'll speak about it," he said during a visit to Denmark on the eve of the Paris talks. Rutte drew a direct line between a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting and security guarantees. "If a bilateral or trilateral meeting would start to happen with the Russians, particularly between Zelenskyy and Putin, clearly having clarity on the security guarantees is extremely important," he said. 'A Steel Porcupine' But this does not only relate to European troops deploying to Ukraine. Another element of the plans being drawn up is efforts to bolster Ukraine's own military strength. John Foreman, who was the UK defense attache in Moscow when Russia began its full-scale invasion in 2022, suggested it might be an area where more progress was achieved. "There is growing realization that any durable peace will demand a strong Ukraine and Ukrainian Army, that European support will need to be long-lasting, and that Ukraine probably can't rely on its allies coming to its aid to punish Russia, should it re-attack," he said. Ongoing military support for Kyiv has also been strongly touted by European leaders. Von der Leyen recently said Ukraine could become "a steel porcupine," indigestible to future invaders. This approach also has the advantage of being politically less fraught, avoiding the risk of European troops coming under fire. As such, it might end up the preferred eventual outcome for many members of the Coalition of the Willing. European nations could face a trillion-dollar rearmament bill in the face of a looming Russian threat and an imminent US defense review that could see Washington dramatically draw down forces on the continent, according to a report released on September 3. The 106-page report, by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), points to gaps across the board: in production, intelligence, and military hardware such as long-range missiles or air and missile defense. Chief among the reasons for this greater urgency are Russias military threat and uncertainty over the United States commitment to defending European allies, it says. While strategic assessments vary across European nations about how quickly Russian forces could constitute a direct threat to NATO Europe, their time frames generally range between two and five years. Meanwhile, the Pentagons Global Force Posture Review is expected to be published this month and lay out a shift in military resources from Europe to Asia/Pacific. Some NATO officials believe a US troops reduction of up to 30 percent could be possible, says the report, entitled Progress and Shortfalls in Europes Defense: An Assessment. Rising Military Budgets European leaders have made plans this year to respond to these challenges. In March, a European Union summit pledged to spend billions on defense amid what EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called a watershed moment for Europe. EU-backed loans of up to 150 billion euros (160 billion dollars) have been made available to member states to beef up their forces, and Eurozone debt rules have been relaxed when applied to military spending. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized European NATO allies for not spending enough on defense and relying too heavily on US military power. But he has recently praised them for pledging to spend more, particularly after the NATO summit in June when members agreed to raise defense budgets to 5 percent of GDP. But the IISS report notes that its not just a question of money. A key problem will be building capacity. Europes defense industries continue to face challenges in increasing production fast enough, while many European armies cannot meet their recruitment and retention targets, it says. The IISS report underlines Integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) as an area where Europe is particularly vulnerable. Current and serving US military commanders have also told RFE/RL that Europe's aerial shield is not prepared to meet the scale of the threat from Russia. "You see what has happened in big cities in Ukraine. This also would happen in some of the big cities of Europe," Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme commander in Europe, told RFE/RL in April. Long-Range Missiles Another weakness highlighted in the IISS report is in long-range missiles. European countries do have highly effective air-launched cruise missiles, such as the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles, or Germanys Taurus system. Non-NATO member Ukraine has recently showcased its new Flamingo cruise missiles. But only a handful of European allies currently possess ground-based long-range precision-fire systems, while in the maritime domain, only France and the UK hold 1,000 kilometer-range naval land-attack cruise missiles, says the report. The European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) project is potentially the most significant European effort to extend its conventional land-attack capability up to and perhaps beyond 2,000 km, it adds. The project, launched by France, Germany, Poland and Italy, was later joined by Britain, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Other weaknesses noted include a lack of surveillance and intelligence aircraft, sovereign hyperscale cloud-computing capacity, and slow, uncoordinated procurement. The spending requirements come as European governments are already facing intense pressures on non-military spending in sensitive areas such health, education, and social benefits. Meeting these challenges will, the report concludes, require many NATO European allies to take major financial risks and make very difficult political decisions. BANGKOK, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced on Wednesday that his caretaker government has moved to dissolve the lower house of parliament, potentially leading to an early general election. Speaking to reporters at the government house, Phumtham confirmed that a decree to disband the House of Representatives was submitted to King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Tuesday and now awaits royal approval. Given ongoing challenges, Phumtham said restoring political stability was essential to prevent further economic decline, stressing that the appropriate course of action would be to return decision-making authority to the electorate after discussions with the legal team. "In my capacity as acting prime minister, I have reviewed all these opinions thoroughly and decided to report the situation to the King for his consideration in resolving the problem in accordance with the democratic process under the constitution," he said. The move to seek parliament dissolution came as the ruling Pheu Thai Party lost its majority in the lower house and is struggling to form a new government following a constitutional court ruling that removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her premiership over ethics violations last week. The Southeast Asian country's main opposition, the People's Party, on Wednesday decided to back Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul as the next prime minister in anticipation of the parliamentary vote. The Pheu Thai Party had sought support from the People's Party, which controls nearly a third of lower house seats, in a bid to nominate its only remaining prime ministerial candidate, Chaikasem Nitisiri. US President Donald Trump told his Polish counterpart the United States was ready to increase its military presence in the Central European nation, one of the countries on NATO's so-called Eastern flank warily watching Russia's actions. Trump welcomed conservative President Karol Nawrocki to Washington in an event highlighted by a flyover of US F-16 fighter jets honoring a Polish military pilot who had died last month in a crash. Asked if he planned to keep US forces deployed to Poland, Trump replied in the affirmative. "We'll put more there if they want," he added, while citing the United States' "tremendous relationship" with Poland, one of the more important military and political allies of Ukraine during its war with Russia. "We never even thought in terms of removing soldiers from Poland," he said. "We're with Poland all the way, and we'll help Poland protect itself." Warsaw has long sought an increased US military presence in Poland. The United States has based troops in Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and other European nations since the end of World War II, initially to serve as a deterrence to Soviet aggression on the Continent. The first permanently stationed US troops arrived in Poland in March 2023. There are an estimated 8,000 US troops now garrisoned in Poland, some on a rotational basis. Nawrocki added that it is "the first time in history" that Poland has been happy to host foreign troops. Nawrocki, a vocal admirer of the US leader, said after the talks with Trump that the two presidents had discussed bolstering troop levels, adding that Trump had strongly guaranteed Poland's security. "The success of his [Nawrocki's] special relationship with the MAGA movement and with President Trump would be if the United States increased its presence in Poland," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters a day earlier -- a reference to Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement. Nawrocki was elected in a narrow contest following a campaign echoing many of Trump's slogans and had promised a "Poland first" policy, worrying some in Europe over the country's support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The election result dealt a major setback to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a pro-Europe, centrist leader and vocal supporter of Ukraine who had backed Nawrocki's liberal opponent. Nawrocki, too, has voiced support for Ukraine in its war against invading Russian forces. But he has said he opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, a view more and more Poles appear to share. Although largely supportive of Kyiv's fight against Russia, many Poles have grown impatient with the influx of some 1.5 million Ukrainian war refugees and the related costs in the country. Despite some tensions within the Polish leadership, the European Union, and the United States, Nawrocki said there is unity and clarity about the Russian threat. Regardless of the differences that exist within the European Union, regardless of the differences that exist in Poland between me and the Polish government, I guarantee that on security matters, including at this closed meeting, I spoke unequivocally about how I perceive [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and the threat he poses to the free world, Nawrocki said. Trump said that "you'll see things happen" if Putin does not move toward peace in his war on Ukraine, building on his long-standing threats of sanctions or tariffs on Moscow. "I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and he'll make a decision one way or the other," Trump told reporters. A White House official told AFP that Trump plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on September 4, along with other European leaders. Zelenskyy and Kyiv's European allies in the "Coalition of the Willing" are scheduled to meet on September 4 in Paris to discuss the situation in Ukraine and potential security guarantees for the country following any peace deal with Russia. With reporting by Reuters, AP, dpa, and AFP A voice etched with tension called out across a car park in Ukraines eastern Dnipropetrovsk region. "It's going in for a strike!" Seconds later, a low crack echoed through the air. With the war drawing tangibly closer, RFE/RL's Current Time found residents of four villages in the area increasingly on edge during a recent visit. As Russian drone strikes hit their communities, people said residents were now more willing to leave their homes for safer environs. Nonprofit organizations such as Proliska continuously urge locals at risk to accept a van ride to a shelter farther west, after which they can be resettled in a new temporary home. Still, many people waver, said volunteer Viktoria Silchuk; agreeing at first but then putting off the move - sometimes with tragic results. For example, we have a family of five with a small child who postponed evacuation three times, Silchuk recalled while on a recent visit to areas under fire. First, their relatives were injured, and then the girls father was killed in an air strike, so they stayed longer to bury him." Its common for those who have agreed to evacuate their homes to change their mind at the last minute, she added. But with recent Russian advances in areas around the city of Pokrovsk to the east, residents of the Dnipropetrovsk region are increasingly worried, they say. Nearly 50 people signed up for evacuation on one day in August, with more saying they are also willing to go. Demand has risen to the extent that Silchuk has had to move her rescue van from the Kryviy Rih area to villages farther east, such as the hamlet of Pokrovske, which lies 30 kilometers from the front line. There are not enough free hands, Silchuk said. There is not enough transport. For example, we have been using at least four to five cars from the Pokrovske area for the past week to take people out. As if to make her point, during an evacuation on August 30, a Russian drone strike struck the marketplace in the village, injuring at least one man with a shrapnel wound. The same day, the Ukrainian military reported that Russia had launched sweeping attacks across the country, killing at least one person and injuring dozens while also hitting a Zaporizhzhya apartment building. During the wave of strikes, the Dnipropetrovsk region in particular was targeted in a massive attack, according to a Telegram post by Governor Serhiy Lysak. In this area, the situation is changing rapidly, Silchuk said. Because of the shelling, many people are gathering their belongings and requesting evacuation. One local in a nearby village, Yulia, is staying put for now but acknowledges that danger from air strikes has become routine for her family. "It's scary," she said. "There are air strikes and explosions. The kids say: 'Mom, Shahed drones are coming, we need to run.' We hide, but were not going anywhere just yet." Another resident of a nearby settlement described a recent fatal Russian drone strike. "It flew into a neighboring village yesterday and killed a man and a woman," said Zoriana. "They had children. Three girls are now orphans." The close call was enough to motivate her to evacuate with her son and daughter, accepting a ride in Proliskas van. Another local resident further on, Ruslana, could not hold back tears as she explained how life has changed recently in the area. Our village was bombed, she said. Our school, our stable. The horses burned alive. It was terrifying. We spent the night in the cellar. Evacuees who agree to accept help are brought to one of the transit points near the Dnieper River, where they register, get help, rest, and have a meal. Those who have nowhere else to go are allowed to stay - along with their pets - for short periods until housing can be arranged or help is found. In broad daylight, a Russian first-person-view (FPV) drone hit the market during active trading. The marketplace was crowded with shoppers and vendors. People say that they had never seen an FPV drone used directly in this locality before. With villages in the Dnipropetrovsk region in constant danger of Russian air assaults, locals are increasingly deciding to leave their homes behind for safer places further west. As volunteers arrived to transport some of them, another Russian drone struck, underscoring the risk of remaining. BANGKOK, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has submitted a formal request to King Maha Vajiralongkorn for the dissolution of the lower House of Representatives, local media reported, citing a ruling party's senior official on Wednesday. "Phumtham has taken steps to submit the request for the dissolution of parliament," the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand reported, quoting Pheu Thai Party secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong as saying. The decision came as the key opposition party, the People's Party, announced its support for the Bhumjaithai Party's candidate as prime minister in anticipation of the parliamentary vote. On Aug. 30, the USS Hornet Museum, the Carter Center, WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall and other organizations jointly held a commemoration marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in San Francisco. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Well known Roscommon artist, Frances Crowe, whose tapestries have been exhibited in public spaces and private collections in Ireland and abroad, has been commissioned to design and weave a wall hanging tapestry based on the Columbian Missionary Martyrs. The work, Woven into Memory, will hang in several locations around the country before travelling to Seoul, South Korea where it will remain. During the Korean War 1950-1953 the Korean people endured unimaginable sufferings and losses. At the beginning of that conflict, seven young Columbian priests opted to stay with their parishioners and not abandon them in their pain and loss. These men paid the ultimate price and joined countless martyrs of the young Korean church. Frances Crowe, left, displaying the completed tapestry 'Woven into Memory.' Also pictured is Jacqueline Nee Creaven d' Towey. Pic: Brian Farrell The tapestry was commissioned by Jacqueline Nee Creaven d Towey and Frances said since that original concept the project has taken on a life of its own. Speaking of the concept, images and theme Frances stated, The Island of Ireland is covered in a woven comfort Blanket signifying the Green Fields of Eire. This blanket stretches out into the sea showing woven bands that stretch out far beyond Ireland and into the world, signifying the distance Irish Monasticism spread its word across the globe. The seven Irish Columbian priests killed in the Korean War are portrayed around the Island of Korea, with the South Korean flag indicated. The American flag is placed behind Monseigneur Patrick Brennan to indicate he was born there to Irish Parents. In the bottom left we see a pair of hands filled with soil, some of which is overflowing and spreading out across the land, with seeds and growth signifying Spreading the word of Christ. Snowdrops in snow, makes reference to the line in the poem In The Blood by Kevin O Rourke Flowers that have bloomed in the snow. She added, On the left there is a border of Bamboo, to loyalty green as Pine and Bamboo. Intertwined with Hibiscus, is Rose of Sharon which is the national flower of Korea. An iconic image from the war of a child carrying her brother on her back. Silhouettes of Temples, and the number of Irish killed in the war in roman numerals. The tapestry by Frances Crowe 'Woven into Memory' is a tribute to the sacrifice of the Columbian Missionary Martyrs. Pic: Brian Farrell Across the top of the design, we see a sun filled sky with figurative images making reference to The Long March and the uplifting of people to a greater good and light. On the right is a High Cross making reference to Christianity, The Island of Saints and scholars. Go forth and encounter the reality of experience and forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race - James Joyce from Portrait of an Artist. Frances Crowe was born in Waterford and studied Fine Art in The National College of Art and Design Dublin, where she discovered the weaving department and fell in love with tapestry. She moved to Roscommon in 1980 and opened Grange Studio. She worked as an art teacher for many years while still maintaining her artistic practise. As an educator, collaborator and curator Frances has facilitated many school and community based art projects. Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, Creative Ireland, Roscommon Arts Office, and The Bealtaine Festival. Her tapestries have been selected for many high profile fibre art exhibitions in Ireland, England, China and Canada. She has been commissioned to create tapestries for public spaces and private collections, in Ireland and abroad. She has received many awards, most recently, An Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland. She has been selected by The Michelangelo Foundation for inclusion in the Homo Faber guide for Master Artisans, and was shortlisted for the Golden Fleece Award 2024. CBS Roscommon has remembered student Liam Dunne, who passed away suddenly yesterday, Tuesday, as a vibrant presence who brought warmth and joy to our school community. In a social media message, the Roscommon Town school said it was deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Liam, a cherished member of our Class of 2025. The school said: In this time of profound grief, we come together to remember a young man who touched so many lives during his time with us. Liam was more than just a student in our corridors he was a vibrant presence who brought warmth and joy to our school community. Whether it was his infectious smile in the hallways, his contributions in the classroom, or the way he connected with both peers and teachers, Liam had a unique ability to make those around him feel valued and appreciated. Those who knew Liam will remember his kindness and the genuine care he showed for others. He embodied the values that CBS Roscommon strives to instill in all our students, demonstrating respect, compassion, and a zest for life that was truly inspiring. As we mourn this tremendous loss, we also celebrate the positive impact Liam had on our school community. His memory will live on in the hearts of his classmates, teachers, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. The bonds of friendship he forged and the moments of joy he shared with us are treasures that time cannot diminish. During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Liam's family - his parents Roisin and Gary, his much-loved twin brother and class mate Rory, and his loving sister Clara - as well as all his friends and loved ones. We stand together as a school community, offering our support and sharing in the grief of losing someone so special, so young, and with so much promise ahead of him. Liam's legacy reminds us to cherish each day, to be kind to one another, and to appreciate the precious gift of community that we share here at CBS Roscommon. Though he is no longer with us in person, his spirit and the memories he created will continue to be a source of comfort and inspiration. May Liam rest in eternal peace, and may his family find strength in the knowledge that he was deeply loved and will be forever remembered by the CBS Roscommon community. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis," said the school. St. Faithleachs GAA club also extended its condolences to Gary Dunne (former player), his wife Roisin, their children Rory and Clara , grandmother Noreen and all their family and friends on the untimely death of Liam. Hindu Group Demands Removal of US Trade Advisor for Criticizing Brahmins', Using Modi's Image 'Brahmins profiting at the expense of the Indian people HinduPACTs American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), a Hindu advocacy group, on Tuesday (September 2, 2025) demanded the dismissal US Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy for criticizing Brahmins in an interview and for using an image of Modi draped in saffron in a post on his X handle. The call was issued against Peter Navarro for making what the group described as a deeply inappropriate and Hinduphobic reference to caste, along with his portrayal of Indias Prime Minister in a sacred act of Hindu prayer. Advertisement Navarros rhetoric constitutes not only a cultural violation but also a reckless provocation that endangers the dignity of over a billion Hindus and threatens the foundational relationship between the two largest democracies, HinduPACTs American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) group said in a press release. The group criticized Peter Navarro for his recent comment against India, saying, Navarros comment, accusing 'Brahmins profiting at the expense of the Indian people, is not a critique; its a colonial-era trope recycled to divide Hindu society and depict India as inherently unjust. Using caste rhetoric to pressure a democratically is beneath the diplomatic dignity of the United States. Ajay Shah, Executive Chair of HinduPACT said, This is not foreign policy. Its weaponized Hinduphobia, adding, Dividing Hindus through colonial scripts doesnt build relationships. It destroys them. People like Navarro have no place in American political life. Advertisement @HinduPACT press release: President @realDonaldTrump please fire @RealPNavarro for his #Hinduphobic statements on #caste and inappropriate use of Hindu imagery. #StopHinduHate. Please repost this and follow @AHADHindu to help spread this message widely. pic.twitter.com/rEi5m0bDPn HinduPACT AHAD -American Hindus Against Defamation (@AHADHindu) September 2, 2025 Calling out Navarro for using an image of Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post of his, the group said, Navarro also circulated an image of Indias Prime Minister meditating in saffron robes; a sacred Hindu practice rooted in dharma. The implication was clear: ridicule Hindu spirituality while pushing economic pressure. Deepti Mahajan, President of HinduPACT questioned the motive behind using such an image of the prime minister of India, saying, Saffron is sacred. Prayer is not propaganda. What exactly was Navarro trying to say by using that image? Advertisement If the target was the Hindu faith, thats religious hostility. If the target was Indias leadership, thats diplomatic recklessness. Either way, its a serious violation, Deepti Mahajan, President of HinduPACT added. While highlighting possible consequences of using caste slurs, the group said, Navarros language empowers the worst elements of public discourse. Caste slurs and attacks on Hindu symbols dont stay in policy papers. They show up in classrooms, in hiring panels, in temple vandalism. When someone like Navarro uses caste to shame India, it lands on Hindus here, said Deepa Karthik, General Secretary of HinduPACT. Advertisement Kids get bullied. Workers get profiled. We get treated like we owe the world an apology for our heritage, he added. In a clear message to the white house, the group demanded for the immediate firing of Peter Navarro. His language encourages division. His symbolism targets religion. His politics poison one of Americas most natural global partnerships. If Hindu hate and Hindu ridicule are tolerated inside US policy circles, it tells over five million Hindus in this country, and over a billion in India, that their identity is negotiable. This is not who we are. And it cannot be allowed to stand, it said. About AHAD (American Hindus Against Defamation): AHAD established in 1997, is dedicated to combating Hinduphobia and the denigration of Hindu scriptures, deities, icons, and cultural symbols across publications, mass media, and educational materials globally. AHAD leverages innovative AI methods to detect and counter Hindu hatred and ensure the sanctity of Hindu heritage, according to the information available on its website. About HinduPACT: Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) is dedicated to the advocacy and policy research of issues concerning the American Hindu community. HinduPACT promotes human rights, voter education, and policies affecting American Hindus, aiming for peace and understanding through informed policy initiatives and grassroots advocacy, according to the information available on its website. Peter Navarro remarks against Brahmins Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing to the white house, recently, while speaking against India for its purchases of Russian oil, said that Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people and it needs to "stop". He made the remarks in an interview with Fox News. He said that Modi is a great leader however, he stated he does not understand how Modi is cooperating with Russia, even after being the biggest democracy in the world. So I would just simply say, the Indian people, please understand what's going on here. You got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop, Navarro said. Peter Navarros Series Of Posts Criticizing India For Its Purchases Of Oil From Russia And India US Trade Deficit On August 29, Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, made a series of posts on X criticizing India for its purchases of oil from Russia and for Indias alleged unfair trade. 1/ President Trumps 50% tariffs on Indian imports are now in effect. This isnt just about Indias unfair tradeits about cutting off the financial lifeline India has extended to Putins war machine. Y pic.twitter.com/bwLaL9dBTv Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) August 28, 2025 He said in the first post, President Trumps 50% tariffs on Indian imports are now in effect. This isnt just about Indias unfair tradeits about cutting off the financial lifeline India has extended to Putins war machine. He accused India of using USs dollars to buy discounted Russian crude He said, Heres how the India-Russia oil mathematics works: American consumers buy Indian goods while India keeps out U.S. exports through high tariffs and non-tariff barriers. India uses our dollars to buy discounted Russian crude. Indian refiners, with their silent Russian partners, refine and flip the black-market oil for big profits on the international market while Russia pockets hard currency to fund its war on Ukraine, Peter said in a subsequent post. Indias Big Oil lobby has turned the largest democracy in the world into a massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin, he alleged, adding, Indian refiners buy cheap Russian oil, process it, and export fuels to Europe, Africa, and Asiashielded from sanctions under the pretense of neutrality. He made several more posts. Posts are still there on his X handle. 9/ The Biden admin largely looked the other way at this madness. President Trump is confronting it. A 50% tariff25% for unfair trade and 25% for national securityis a direct response. If India, the world's largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of pic.twitter.com/XAt6aa4JLA Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) August 28, 2025 In his final post against India that day, he used an image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi draped in a saffron-colored cloth and sitting cross-legged position. (For more news apart from Hindu Group Demands Removal of US Trade Advisor for Criticizing Brahmins, Using Modis Image, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) Holidays in Punjab Schools and Colleges Extended Till September 7 Amid Floods Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains took to X to inform of the decision taken by the Bhagwant Mann-led state government. Punjab School and College Holidays Extension Latest News Today: In a major development, the holidays in schools and colleges of Punjab have been extended till September 7. The decision has been taken in view of the deteriorating weather and flood conditions in the state. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains took to X to inform of the decision taken by the Bhagwant Mann-led state government. Advertisement "As directed by Honble CM Punjab Sh. Bhagwant Singh Mann Ji, in view of the flood situation, all Govt/Aided/Recognized & Private Schools, Colleges, Universities & Polytechnics across Punjab will remain closed till 7th Sept 2025. Everyone is requested to strictly follow local administrations guidelines," said Harjot Bains in a tweet. (For more news apart from Punjab School and College Holidays Extension Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) SAO PAULO, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday that his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro has the right to a fair trial over allegedly attempting to overthrow the government to stay in power after losing his reelection bid in 2022. Should Bolsonaro and his aides be found guilty of attempted coup, they could face up to 43 years in prison. "What I hope is that justice will be done, respecting the right to the presumption of innocence, that's all. I wish for myself and for any of my enemies the right to the presumption of innocence," Lula said as the final stage of the trial got underway at the Supreme Federal Court, the nation's highest court. The president noted that Bolsonaro has the right to defend himself, a right that was denied to Lula when he was arrested in 2018 on corruption charges. The case against him was later overturned when the anti-corruption Operation Car Wash was found to have been politically motivated. "He (Bolsonaro) can defend himself as I could not. I did not complain, I was not crying," the president told reporters in Sao Paulo. Rahul Gandhi Urges Centre To Release Special Package For Punjab & Other Flood Affected States He expressed his deepest condolences to the grieving families and prayed for the safety of all those who are stranded. Rahul Gandhi Urges Centre To Release Special Package For Punjab & Himachal Pradesh Latest News: As Punjab is grappled with the worst flood of the past 40 years, and with no assurance from the centre for a special package or for the release of its pending fund of Rs 60,000 crore from the centre, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and the member of parliament Rahul Gandhi has urged the central government to release a special package for Punjab immediately and to expedite the relief and rescue operations in the state. Rahul Gandhi, in a video post on X, called the situation in the mountain states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, and Uttarakhand extremely worrying and urged for special packages for these states as well. Advertisement In the video, he said, Modiji, floods have caused massive destruction in Punjab. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Himacha,l and Uttarakhand is also extremely worrying. In such difficult times, your attention and the active help of the central government is extremely necessary. Thousands of families are struggling to save their homes, lives, and loved ones. I urge that a special relief package be announced immediately for these states, especially for farmers, and relief and rescue operations be accelerated, he added. According to reports, Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit flood affected villages in Punjab as his sixteen-day-long Vote Adhikar Yatra in poll-bound state ended on September 1. Advertisement As of today, over 1040 villages are inundated, 1000s evacuated, 29 lives lost, and crops are damaged in Punjab. On September 1, Rahul called the loss of lives and widespread destruction in Punjab extremely heartbreaking and painful. He expressed his deepest condolences to the grieving families and prayed for the safety of all those who are stranded. Advertisement He said, I appeal to the central and state governments to bring greater speed and strength to relief and rescue operations. Given the magnitude of the devastation, the government will have to work in mission mode. He added, Farmers, labourers, livestock rearers, and common citizens should receive immediate and effective assistance. Rahul also urged Congress leaders and workers that relief work should be their utmost priority at this time, adding, This is your sole responsibility. We must come together to hold the hand of the people of Punjab. Advertisement The relief and rescue operations are ongoing round the clock, however, the situation remains dire with continuous rainfall and fresh heavy rainfall alerts issued in the state. More rivers are flowing over the danger mark. Celebrities and politicians are coming forward one after another to make contributions in the relief, rescue, and rehabilitation operations. (For more news apart from Rahul Gandhi Urges Centre To Release Special Package For Punjab & Other Flood Affected States , stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) UP News: 10 Moradabad Cops Suspended For Burying Beef, Hiding Car To Shield Smugglers Latest News (Representative Image) "Some personnel even tried to negotiate a settlement with the smugglers," a police source claimed. Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh Cops Suspended For Burying Beef Latest News: Ten policemen, including a station house officer (SHO), have been suspended in Moradabad for allegedly attempting to cover up a case of beef smuggling by burying meat and hiding a car instead of reporting the incident to senior officers, police said on Tuesday. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Satpal Antil ordered the suspensions after a departmental inquiry confirmed that the police personnel attempted to suppress evidence. Advertisement According to officials, the episode unfolded late on Monday night when a UP-112 police team intercepted a suspicious Honda City car in the Umri Sabjipur forest area under Pakbada police station limits. On inspection, large quantities of beef were allegedly found in the vehicle. Instead of escalating the matter, the policemen allegedly dug a pit to bury the seized meat and moved the car to another location. "Some personnel even tried to negotiate a settlement with the smugglers," a police source claimed. Advertisement SSP Antil, upon learning of the incident, ordered a swift probe. A Special Operations Group (SOG) team, with veterinary experts, exhumed the buried meat and confirmed it was beef. Following confirmation, the SSP immediately suspended all involved officers and personnel. The car, registered in the name of Mohammad Shami of Mohalla Sadat in Kundarki, has been seized and a search is underway for those involved in smuggling. The police believe the beef was being transported from Gajraula to Kundarki. Meanwhile, SP City Kunwar Ranvijay Singh Wednesday said efforts are being made to arrest the accused smugglers at the earliest. Advertisement The officials who have been suspended are Pakbada SHO Manoj Kumar, Chowki in-charge (Growth Centre) Anil Kumar, Sub-Inspectors Mahavir Singh and Taslim (UP-112), Head Constables Bansat Kumar and Dhirendra Kasana, Constables Mohit, Manish, and Rahul (UP-112), and Constable Driver Sonu Saini (UP-112). (PTI) (For more news apart from Rahul Gandhi Urges Centre To Release Special Package For Punjab & Other Flood Affected States , stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) Tensions over reform of local public administration The Romanian government has taken responsibility for 5 of the 6 projects that make up the second package of budget recovery measures. The 6th one, regarding the local public administration reform, is still problematic. PM Ilie Bolojan (photo: gov.ro) Sorin Iordan, 03.09.2025, 14:00 The full adoption of the second package of measures to reduce the budget deficit is giving headaches to the Bucharest government. Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has taken responsibility in the Parliaments plenary for five of the six projects that make up this package. These are the projects that target magistrates pensions, the reform of the healthcare system, the reorganization of public companies, the restructuring of regulatory authorities and the introduction of fiscal measures to combat tax evasion and increase revenues. The ruling coalition made up of PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR and national minorities, have not reached an agreement, however, on the sixth project, the one concerning the reform of local public administration. The leaders of the ruling parties also met with the president of the country, Nicusor Dan, in the context in which Bolojan warned that he would resign if this reform was not completed. According to the PM, a 25% reduction in public administration positions would not be efficient, as it would only affect fictitious or vacant positions. He explained that a real staff reduction in administration should target the positions actually occupied, not those theoretically available in the organizational charts of the city halls. The objective is a decrease by approximately 10% in the number of occupied positions, said Bolojan after talks with the president of Romania. Ilie Bolojan: By mid-September, a working group that will be formed within the Government will analyze all the solutions in such a way that we can finalize this package, with the goal of cutting 10% of the positions actually occupied, that is, the staff. At the same, of course, we should also work to reduce positions in the central administration, where there is room for reduction. Analyzing several institutions, we found out that the personnel is oversized and I am convinced that things can work, with significant savings, also in the central administration or in the decentralized state services in each county. According to simulations, an effective staff reduction by 10% would involve a decrease by about 40% in the total number of positions. If such a measure were adopted, 13,000 employees in the public administration would be laid off at national level. The unions in the central and local administration disagree with these measures, and have threatened a general strike if the government does not abandon this initiative. The unionists believe that the Government is preparing the largest wave of layoffs in the last 30 years, without real analysis and without consulting the union organizations, measures that will directly affect the stability of jobs, salary rights and the functioning of public institutions. The unionists in the administration were joined by those in education, who announced that the beginning of the new school year, scheduled for September 8, will be marked by protests. The teachers are dissatisfied, among other things, with the increase in working hours, the decrease in the pay for overtime and the merging of schools. (EE) BERNALILLO One of the caretakers charged with the abuse and death of developmentally disabled woman Mary Melero pleaded guilty to three of the 11 charges filed against her in a Sept. 2 hearing at the 13th Judicial District Court in Sandoval County. Patricia Hurtado-Estrada, 44, of Rio Rancho, was charged with neglect of a resident, abuse of a resident, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit false imprisonment, two counts of Medicaid fraud, two counts falsification of Medicaid documents, kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and tampering with evidence along side another caretaker, Angelita Chacon. Now, Hurtado-Estrada pleaded guilty to kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and one count of Medicaid fraud. A plea agreement between defense attorney Susan Burgess-Farrell and the New Mexico Department of Justice, represented by five people, states that if Hurtado-Estrada continues to comply, her sentence is expected to be no more than five years plus five years of supervised probation. Additionally, the DOJ announced after the hearing that Hurtado-Estrada will testify against Chacon in the trial next year. The agreement also stipulates that Hurtado is liable for restitution of $861,649.47 to the state of New Mexico and $2.5 million to Meleros estate. Hurtados admission of guilt affords a measure of justice to the victims family and an accounting of the losses to Medicaid caused by Hurtados fraud and abuse, while also advancing the prosecution against the main culprit, Chacon, said Attorney General Raul Torrez in the announcement. Our priority has always been justice for Mary, and this admission of guilt and promise of cooperation brings us one step closer to achieving it. Judge Christopher Perez said that the court has the jurisdiction to sentence her to a total 19 1/2 years, which is the maximum years for the three charges she pleaded to, should she be noncompliant in any way, including committing additional crimes. George Kraehe, the director of Medicaid fraud at the DOJ, requested that Hurtado-Estrada remain in jail while she awaits sentencing. Burgess-Farrell stated that this was acceptable so her client could earn credit to her time in prison during that time. Hurtado-Estrada and Chacon allegedly abused Melero while she was in their care and attempted to smuggle her across the Mexican border, where Border Patrol stopped them Feb. 27, 2023, and found Melero wrapped in a carpet with injuries in the back of a van owned by Luz Scott, according to previous coverage of the case. Melero later died at a hospital from her severe injuries. Torrez called the act torture at the time. A couple of years after the alleged abuse, the two caretakers accumulated more charges when Medicaid worker Keyona Zamora pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud in the case. All three are implicated in falsifying Medicaid documents tied to Meleros abuse and death. More recently, in June, both women were accused of tampering with their GPS ankle monitors and were remanded back to jail. Shortly after, Hurtado-Estradas case was separated from Chacons. Ad Hurtado-Estrada and Zamoras sentencing wont happen until the trial for Chacon ends, according to Perez. Zamora is expected to testify during the trial as well. Scotts involvement with the case ended after her case was dismissed. There is a pre-trial conference scheduled for January. The trial was originally scheduled for this month but was pushed to 2026 after the ankle monitor incident. China's service sector growth accelerated in August driven by the strong upturn in new orders, survey data from S&P Global showed on Wednesday. The headline RatingDog services Purchasing Managers' Index rose unexpectedly to 53.0 in August from 52.6 in July. Economists expect the indicator to fall to 52.4. The rate of increase was the fastest seen since May 2024. The index remained above the threshold 50.0 mark since January 2023 signaling expansion in the sector. New orders grew for the second straight month and logged its steepest rise since May 2024, which was partly due to new export . The latest rise in new business contributed to another accumulation of outstanding business. As a result, new business backlogs of work rose for the fifth straight month. There was a fresh drop in staffing levels due to the non-replacement of job leavers and redundancies. Headcounts dropped in two of the past three months. Average input costs continued to increase on the back of higher wages and raw material costs. Nonetheless, the latest upturn was only fractional. Consequently, services firms absorbed higher costs and lowered their output charges to support sales. Business confidence remained positive in August and hit the joint-highest in five months. Companies expect better market conditions and internal growth plans to stimulate activity growth in the year ahead. The survey showed that the overall China's private sector expanded for the third consecutive month in August. The composite output index posted 51.9, up from 50.8 in July. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Gold hovered near record levels on Wednesday as investors grappled with rising bond yields and renewed trade uncertainty. Growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut this month, lingering political uncertainty in France and renewed Russia-Ukraine tensions also buoyed safe-haven demand for the precious metal. Spot gold edged up by 0.1 percent to $3,536.85 per ounce in European trading, while U.S. gold futures were up 0.4 percent at $3,605.80. Equity sank as bond yields surged after the long weekend amid Fed independence worries and increased investor anxiety following a landmark federal appeals court decision that ruled most of President Donald Trump's global tariffs illegal. Trump's erratic tariffs and other policies are already affecting consumers' cost of living and costing businesses real money. Trump said his administration would ask the Supreme Court "for an expedited ruling," warning that "if you took away tariffs, we could end up being a third-world country". If the justices strike down the tariffs, the government may have to repay the billions of dollars already brought in through Trump's tariffs. The tariffs have poured more than $159 billion into U.S. coffers so far. In economic releases, U.S. reports on factory orders and job openings along with the Federal Reserve's Beige Book will be in the spotlight later today ahead of the August jobs report due Friday. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent plans to start interviews on Friday to determine the next Federal Reserve chair. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis President Donald Trump has announced that 11 people on board a drug-laden vessel linked to the Venezuelan cartel Tren de Aragua were killed in a U.S. military strike. Trump disclosed this in a statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social Tuesday. "Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere." Trump told reporters that there were "A lot of drugs in that boat." without specifying what kind of drugs were there in the vessel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed it in a post on X, saying, "today the US military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation". For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. Prabowo is on a special trip to China to attend the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that as major countries in the Global South, China and Indonesia should work together to oppose unilateral bullying, safeguard regional peace and stability, and uphold international fairness and justice. Xi made the remarks in his meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is on a special trip to China to attend the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Xi noted that President Prabowo has come to China to attend the commemorative events despite difficulties, showing the importance he attaches to China-Indonesia relations and the sincere friendship of the Indonesian people toward the Chinese people. China supports President Prabowo's governance, Indonesia's restoration of order and stability as soon as possible, and the development and growth of Indonesia, Xi said. Xi pointed out that no matter how the international situation changes, China and Indonesia have always carried forward the spirit of independence, adhered to the path of win-win cooperation, and demonstrated the responsibility of major countries for peaceful development. China is willing to work with Indonesia to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, and promote the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future at a high level, Xi said. Xi stressed that the two sides should work to promote the stable and long-term development of bilateral relations and play an exemplary role in the region and even around the world. Xi urged the two countries to expand two-way opening-up and enhance cooperation in critical minerals, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and agriculture and fishery. China stands ready to share with Indonesia its experience in poverty eradication, facilitate personnel exchanges and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Xi said. The relations with China are a high priority of Indonesia's foreign policy, Prabowo said, adding that the relations between the two countries are at their best in history. Indonesia looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in fields including trade, investment, finance and infrastructure, Prabowo said. Senior Chinese officials Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. Prabowo is on a special trip to China to attend the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Students visit a photo exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 2, 2025. The photo exhibition, hosted by the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, was held Tuesday at Hindu College in Colombo. The weeklong exhibition will tour several schools in Sri Lanka. (Xinhua/Chen Dongshu) COLOMBO, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition has been held here commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The photo exhibition, hosted by the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, was held Tuesday at Hindu College in Colombo. More than 40 rare historical photos on display vividly depict the Chinese people's arduous struggle against Japanese aggression as well as the joint efforts of people around the world to safeguard peace. Addressing the opening ceremony, Ji Lili, counselor of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, expressed the hope that the exhibition would inspire younger generations to become promoters of peace, guardians of history, and builders of a better world. The weeklong exhibition will tour several schools in Sri Lanka. Through photo displays, documentary screenings and themed lectures, it aims to introduce local primary and secondary school students to the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance and showcase the resilience and determination of the Chinese nation in resisting aggression. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. Rahmon is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji on Wednesday afternoon met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China-Tajikistan relations are at their best in history. Noting that President Xi Jinping met with President Rahmon on Tuesday, making new arrangements for advancing the two countries' comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Zhao said China stands ready to work with Tajikistan to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. He added that the NPC of China is willing to work with the Tajik parliament to deepen exchanges and provide legal guarantees for practical cooperation between the two countries. Rahmon said the relations with China are a priority of Tajikistan's foreign policy. He said Tajikistan is willing to further promote bilateral cooperation in fields including Belt and Road Initiative, economy and trade, cultural and people-to-people exchange, and security, and further strengthen exchanges between legislative bodies. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. Rahmon is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Too little snowfall is now also shaking the foundations of some of the world's most resilient 'water towers', a new study led by the Pellicciotti group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) shows. After establishing a monitoring network on a new benchmark glacier in central Tajikistan, the international team of researchers was able to model the entire catchment's behavior from 1999 to 2023. The results, showing decreasing glacier health, were published in Communications Earth & Environment. High-mountain Asia has been nicknamed the Third Pole due to its massive meltwater reserves, which are second only to the Arctic and Antarctic polar caps. In Central Asia, the northwestern Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan have been home to some of the last stable or growing glaciers outside the polar regions. However, between the collapse of the Soviet Union and the return of new monitoring networks, this region has also suffered from a dire lack of observational data for decades. Researchers from Professor Francesca Pellicciotti's group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) are contributing to an international effort to address this issue. They teamed up with local researchers in Tajikistan and collaborators in Switzerland, Austria, and France to establish their own climate station on a benchmark catchment and model the glacier's changes over more than two decades. Now, their first joint publication shows evidence that the glacier likely reached its tipping point in 2018. "Due to the general lack of data and robust future projections in the region, we can't tell yet whether this was truly the 'point of no return' for Pamir glaciers," says the study's first author, Achille Jouberton, a PhD student in the Pellicciotti group at ISTA. "We must keep in mind that this study only considers one specific catchment and extends from 1999 to 2023. However, it is the first study of its kind. Similar efforts will need to address these issues on a larger geographical scale." Understanding an anomalous state Climate change has had a substantial impact on glaciers worldwide. While those in the Alps, Andes, and elsewhere in the world have been melting at a disconcerting rate, some glaciers in the Central Asian Pamir and Karakoram mountains were found to be surprisingly stable, possibly even growing. This unexpected and counterintuitive behavior of the glaciers has been termed the Pamir-Karakoram Anomaly. "Central Asia is a semiarid region that is highly dependent on snow and ice melt for downstream water supply," says ISTA Professor Pellicciotti. "But we still do not fully understand the causes of this anomalous glacier state." Are these the last resilient glaciers in the face of climate change? The team chose to establish their monitoring site on Kyzylsu Glacier in the northwestern Pamir, in central Tajikistan. This climate station is situated at an elevation of just below 3400 meters above sea level in a country where half of the territory rises above 3000 meters. "Kyzylsu is becoming a benchmark monitoring site due to the various observational sites recently established on and around the glacier," explains Jouberton. There, the researchers aim to start to shed light on the glaciers' anomalous behavior in the region. "The challenge is that there is almost no data at all." Since setting up their monitoring network at the Kyzylsu catchment in 2021, the team has collected extensive data about snowfall and water resources in the area. Using these observations and climate reanalysis data as inputs to their computational models, they were able to simulate the glacier's behavior from 1999 to 2023. "We modeled the catchment's climate, its snowpack, the glacier mass balances, and the water movements," says Jouberton. "But whichever way we analyzed the model, we saw an important tipping point in 2018 at the latest. Since then, the decreased snowfall has changed the glacier's behavior and affected its health." In fact, the glacier ice melt has increased, compensating for around a third of the lost water resources from reduced precipitation. Therefore, it seems the anomalous phase of the glacier's relative stability in the face of climate change has reached its end. The researchers used computational models driven by their critically important, new local observations. However, observational data alone would not have answered all questions, even if dense coverage was provided. "We need models and simulations anyway in our work, from the bottom of the valley to the top of the glacier. Even in Europe and Canada, where the monitoring networks are much more extensive, climate stations remain small, localized points on the map," says Jouberton. "But the challenge in the Pamir region is that there is almost no data at all." Therefore, the researchers have to densify the observational mesh. "In light of all these challenges, we are not sure how accurate the input to the model is. But since it performed well against independent observations, we are quite confident about the output. Our work is a first step in the right direction." Backpacks loaded with precious equipment Since establishing the collaboration in 2021, while the Pellicciotti group was located at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), the researchers have visited Tajikistan seven times. "We've planned field trips every summer with the local research institutes in Dushanbe and hiked with our backpacks loaded with precious equipment to set camp in remote mountains, cut off from the world. Having local scientists as part of the field trip not only favors close collaboration and scientific exchange but also helps us overcome the language barrier while interacting with the local inhabitants who depend on the glaciers," says Jouberton. 2025 marks a milestone as this summer's field trip was the last one within the project's current funding period. Among this year's goals were updating and automating the monitoring networks to ensure they remain functional for decades to come. By also sharing essential knowledge about the equipment's maintenance with local inhabitants, they hope to make their work more sustainable and reduce the need for frequent field trips. Up to now, they had to travel to exchange the equipment's internal batteries, maintain the stations' functionality, and collect their data using USB sticks. Considerable local impact The team's work relies on close cooperation with the locals. "The shepherds know us. They see us every year and often invite us for lunch. They know where we set up our stations and do their best to ensure that nothing disturbs the measurements," says Jouberton. The team discusses the data with the locals, shares information, and works in the wilderness amid the local inhabitants, their children, and livestock. Frequently, the locals report events that have happened in the mountains. "It is impressive to hear the locals tell us about things we only saw in satellite data. This gives a real and personal impact to our work." The Kyzylsu catchment contributes to the drainage basin of the Amu Darya, one of the major rivers in Central Asia, whose water originates almost entirely from glaciers. The Amu Darya is also a former inflow of the now mostly dried-up Aral Sea. This inland sea has suffered from the ongoing decades-long diversion of its two main inflow rivers, the Amu Darya to the south and the Syr Darya to the northeast, to irrigate cotton fields created in the desert during Soviet times. "But the effects of the glaciers are the strongest in their immediate ecosystems," says Jouberton. "Even though the Kyzylsu Glacier and likely other Pamir glaciers seem to be melting faster and pumping more water into the system, it is unlikely that they will refill what's left of the Aral Sea." The present study was conducted by researchers from the Pellicciotti group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), previously at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland, in collaboration with scientists from the Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, the University of Zurich, Department of Geography, Glaciology and Geomorphodynamics Group, Switzerland, the Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, the Institut des Geosciences de l'Environnement, Universite Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, France, the Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences, University of Innsbruck, Austria, the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA, the Center for the Research of Glaciers of the Tajik Academy of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and the Mountain Societies Research Institute, University of Central Asia, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. JAKARTA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said Wednesday he was optimistic the country's rice production would rise to 33 million tonnes this year, a key level for achieving self-sufficiency. The target surpasses last year's production of 30.62 million tonnes. "As the Central Statistics Agency recently projected, rice output will reach 31.04 million tonnes by October, and we still have two more months until year-end. So, we are optimistic it will hit 33 million tonnes this year," he told lawmakers in a parliamentary session. The minister said the rise in production is supported by government programs ranging from optimizing land productivity and improving irrigation networks to developing new rice fields. The airborne assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) The cruise missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) The cyberspace warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) An armament formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) The air defense weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guard of Honor formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)pagebreak The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The hypersonic missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) The anti-ship missile formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xin) The hypersonic missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) The electronic countermeasures formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) The information support formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) The air defense weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Troops are reviewed during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian) Troops are reviewed during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian) Troops are reviewed during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian) Troops are reviewed during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian) Troops are reviewed during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian)pagebreak The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Balloons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Pigeons and balloons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A veteran at Tian'anmen Rostrum salutes during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Yongzhen) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The Army formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The trainer aircraft echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xin) The militia formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Doves and balloons are released during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ming) The militia formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Yongzhen) The formation of the People's Liberation Army's Cyberspace Force attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The formation of the military reserve force attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) The formation of Chinese UN peacekeepers attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)pagebreak Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) perform during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) The formation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Ming) The formation of the People's Liberation Army's Cyberspace Force attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Ming) The ground assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Ming) The formation of the military reserve force attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang) Doves are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Soldiers escort the Chinese national flag for a flag-raising ceremony during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yang Lei) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang) Parade guards stand in place during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xin) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen) The land-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)pagebreak The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) Chinese UN peacekeepers march through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The flag-guarding air echelon takes part in a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Na Yuqi) Armament formations attend a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) A flag-guarding echelon flies over Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Gang) Helicopters form a huge numerical shape of 80 while flying over Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)pagebreak Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Soldiers escort the Chinese national flag for a flag-raising ceremony during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) Soldiers fire gun salute during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) Parade guards step in place during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) Parade guards step in place during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ming) A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Gang) Honor guards escort the Chinese national flag from the Monument to the People's Heroes to the flagpole during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Honor guards escort the Chinese national flag during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Soldiers escort the Chinese national flag for a flag-raising ceremony during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) pagebreak A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is held in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is held in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He) The ground assault formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) An air echelon attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) The hero units' banner formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) The flag-guarding air echelon takes part in a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) Balloons and pigeons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)pagebreak The anti-ship missile formation gets prepared for a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) The airborne assault formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The ground assault formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The long-range artillery formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The underwater weaponry formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The underwater weaponry formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) pagebreak The underwater weaponry formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The early warning and detection formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The early warning and detection formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The early warning and detection formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) The echelon of trainer aircraft flies over Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) The hero units' banner formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Yongzhen) pagebreak The long-range artillery formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The long-range artillery formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) The echelon of trainer aircraft takes part in a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Lin Yu) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin) The militia formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) The militia formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The formation of the People's Liberation Army's Information Support Force marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The formation of the People's Armed Police Force marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The formation of the People's Liberation Army's Aerospace Force marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) pagebreak The amphibious assault formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The amphibious assault formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Honor guards escort the Chinese national flag for a flag-raising ceremony during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) The militia formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) The militia formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Long) Foot formations attend a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) The ground assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) The early warning and control plane echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing) The early warning and control plane echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) The flag-guarding air echelon flies over the early warning and detection formation during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)pagebreak The militia formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) The People's Liberation Army Guard of Honor formation marches during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chen) Veterans attend a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The underwater weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The early warning and detection formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)pagebreak The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) The hero units' banner formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) Pigeons are released during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) The militia formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Long) The ground assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) The Chinese UN peacekeepers formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Long) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) People attend a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) A formation of military reserve force attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)pagebreak Guests attend a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ming) Guests attend a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The anti-unmanned aerial vehicles formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The amphibious assault formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The anti-ship missile formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The anti-ship missile formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) The militia formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) The cyberspace warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The anti-ship missile formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) pagebreak The ground assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and a chorus attend a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Gang) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) The hypersonic missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The cruise missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)pagebreak The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The trainer aircraft echelon flies over Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Du Yu) The early warning and command aircraft echelon flies over Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) The trainer aircraft echelon flies over Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) The early warning and command aircraft echelon flies over Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guard of Honor formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) The ground assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) The ship-based air defense weapons formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The ship-based air defense weapons formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) pagebreak Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yang Lei) A veteran salutes during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) The People's Liberation Army Guard of Honor formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Gang) The airborne assault formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Ga) The Chinese UN peacekeepers formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) An echelon of trainer aircraft flies over Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The hypersonic missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) The anti-unmanned aerial vehicles formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)pagebreak The sea-based unmanned warfare formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) The militia formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) The trainer aircraft echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) The refueler and receiver echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) The refueler and receiver echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Honor guards stand in formation at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Honor guards stand in formation at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) The hero units' banner formation marches during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Du Yu)pagebreak Pigeons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) The trainer aircraft echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Pigeons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) Honor guards stand in formation at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Pigeons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) Honor guards stand in formation at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Honor guards stand in formation at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) The trainer aircraft echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) The refueler and receiver echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Pigeons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Spectators take photos as the trainer aircraft echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) The ship-based air defense weapons formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) The airborne assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) The long-range artillery formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The long-range artillery formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The amphibious assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Guests attend a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The anti-unmanned aerial vehicles formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The amphibious assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)pagebreak The echelon of special-purpose aircraft attends a military parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The airborne assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Guests salute as a bomber echelon flies over Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) The long-range artillery formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The airborne assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The airborne unmanned warfare formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The anti-unmanned aerial vehicles formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The Army formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) A militia formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The hypersonic missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)pagebreak The formation of the military reserve force marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The long-range artillery formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The cruise missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Chinese UN peacekeepers march through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The cyberspace warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The anti-unmanned aerial vehicles formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The special purpose aircraft echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) The echelon of trainer aircraft attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Tang Rufeng)pagebreak The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The special purpose aircraft echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) The formation of the People's Armed Police Force takes part in a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The airborne unmanned warfare formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The airborne unmanned warfare formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Hero units' banner formation marches during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) The electronic countermeasures formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) A militia formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)pagebreak Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) The hero units' banner formation and armament formations march through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) The air defense weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The hero units' banner formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) Three helicopters fly over Tian'anmen Square with banners that respectively read "Justice prevails", "Peace prevails" and "The people prevail" during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Hero units' banner formation marches during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) The hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) The airborne assault formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) An echelon of trainer aircraft attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) The refueler and receiver echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)pagebreak The nuclear missile formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) The counterair offense formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Pigeons and balloons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) The counterair offense formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The counterair offense formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The anti-unmanned aerial vehicles formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The ship-based air defense weapons formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) The Chinese UN peacekeepers formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) The air defense weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The land-based unmanned warfare formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)pagebreak The formation of People's Liberation Army's Joint Logistics Support Force marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) The formation of the military reserve force marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) The hypersonic missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The information support formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) The land-based unmanned combat formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) The air defense weaponry formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) The land-based unmanned combat formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) The anti-unmanned aerial vehicles formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) The cruise missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Du Yu)pagebreak The amphibious assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The airborne assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The amphibious assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The formation of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) The ground assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The Joint Logistics Support Force formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) The airborne assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) The Information Support Force formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) The hypersonic missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)pagebreak The electronic countermeasures formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The information support formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The cyberspace warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The ground assault formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The electronic countermeasures formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The information support formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)pagebreak The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) The cruise missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The land-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The logistics support formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Ga) The ground assault formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Gang) The land-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The land-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) The land-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)pagebreak The information support formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The land-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong) The land-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday h SANAA/JERUSALEM, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group on Wednesday claimed launching two ballistic missiles, one of which carried a "fragmentation warhead," on central Israel this morning, targeting two "sensitive targets" in Tel Aviv. "The operation successfully achieved its objectives," and caused millions of Israelis to "rush to shelters," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, without identifying the "sensitive targets." The attacks were in support of Gaza, and in response to the Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa last week that killed 12 senior figures of the Houthi group, including Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi of the Houthi-backed government, Sarea said. "Our attacks will continue at an escalating pace during the next phase," Sarea added. Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military said that a missile launched from Yemen triggered sirens "in several areas in Israel," and was then intercepted. The missile triggered air raid sirens in multiple cities, including Tel Aviv, sending millions to shelters and safe rooms during the morning rush hours. Magen David Adom, Israel's national rescue service, said fragments of the interceptor missile were found in the Ben Shemen Forest near Jerusalem, but no injuries were reported. The Israeli news site Ynet reported that landings and departures at Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv were briefly halted. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have carried out drone and missile attacks on Israel since November 2023 in what they describe as solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Most of the projectiles have been intercepted by Israeli defenses. Israel has responded with strikes on Houthi-held areas, targeting airports, power stations, and ports in Sanaa and Hodeidah. Construction equipment rental specialist Ashtead Group reiterated its full-year outlook on Wednesday, despite a dip in first-quarter earnings. Revenues at the blue chip - which is in the process of moving its primary listing to New York - improved 2% to $2.8bn in the three months to 31 July. Rental revenues were also 2% higher, at $2.6bn, as mega project activity gained momentum. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation eased 1% to $1.3bn, however, due to lower used equipment sales, while depreciation charges saw pre-profits fall 6% to $512m. But looking to the full year, and Ashtead reiterated its outlook for rental revenue growth of between 0% and 4%. Free cash flow was also forecast to come in between $2.2bn and $2.5bn, up from previous guidance of between $2bn and $2.3bn, due to changes in US tax legislation. Brendan Horgan, chief executive, said: "The group delivered solid first-quarter results, with results, profits and free cashflow in line with our expectations, as we take advantage of secular tailwinds and the structural progression of our industry." Horgan added that the Wall Street listing was on track for March 2026. The move is widely seen as a blow to the London stock market, as it battles to attract and retain international companies. Although Ashtead will retain a UK listing, it will exit the FTSE 100 once the move is complete. Ashtead makes nearly all of its profits in the US. Brazils competition authority has confirmed it is looking into Anglo Americans plan to sell its nickel operation in the country. Cade, the countrys main antitrust body, said it had responded to a complaint over the $500m deal Anglo agreed in February with MMG Singapore Resources, which is part of China-backed MMG. Based on a complaint received, an Administrative Procedure for Investigating an Act of Economic Concentration was instituted, Cade told the Financial Times which first reported the story. The newspaper also cited a person with direct knowledge of the matter as saying CoreX Holding, a conglomerate established by Turkish investor Robert Yildirim, lodged the objection to the deal. CoreX is a direct competitor in the region, having agreed in July to buy a ferronickel mine in Colombia for up to $100m. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Thames Water customers are set to get less bang for their buck if a consortium of creditors wins approval for its rescue plan. The development was revealed in the outline of a business plan without some key spending details published on Wednesday by the investors who hold much of the companys debts. The consortium is called London & Valley Water. Guardian Model aeroplane enthusiasts have gone to war with Amazon over the companys plans to launch Britains first drone delivery service. Amazon has been warned by a local flying club in Darlington, County Durham where it is planning drone deliveries later this year that the tech giant faces a campaign of disruption from the group. They fear Amazons deliveries will disrupt local hobbyists. Telegraph John Lewis has hired a former Tesco executive as managing director of Waitrose. The appointment comes as the groups new chairman seeks to press ahead with a turnaround. Tom Denyard, who worked at Tesco for almost a decade, will lead Waitrose from next January. - Telegraph A US federal judge has ordered a major makeover of Google's search engine in a crackdown aimed at addressing the damaging effects of monopolistic practices. In an effort to curb Google's influence, Washington DC Judge Amit Mehta has introduced new limitations on how the company directs traffic to its search engine. Sky News Sip-N-Read Bookbar, a bookstore and wine bar in Detroit, Mich., opened for business earlier this week, the Detroit News reported. Tamela Todd Located at 1620 Michigan Ave., Suite 122, in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood, Sip-N-Read spans 2,400 square feet and carries a selection of general-interest titles. The bar side of the business serves Michigan-made wines in 5- or 8-ounce pours, mocktails, and light food options like charcuterie boards. Sip-N-Read will host public literary events like author talks and book signings while also being available for community members to rent for private events. A members-only wine club is in the works as well. Owner Tamela Todd, an author and winemaker, told Detroit News that she's been working on opening Sip-N-Read since 2019. She was inspired by book bars in cities like Denver, Paris, and New York, and she chose to emphasize Michigan wines "because Michigan does not get a lot of press about Michigan wines. I've put my love for books, my love for wine, and my state all in one place." Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China will hold a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging its commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. In Tian'anmen Square stand towering structures shaped like the Great Wall -- a symbol of the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression -- crowned with giant numerals "1945" and "2025." Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is expected to address the rally and review the parade. This will mark the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to commemorate the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The military parade through the Chang'an (Eternal Peace) Avenue is meant to send the message that "Justice prevails," "Peace prevails," and "The people prevail," according to organizers. More than 20 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will join Xi on the Tian'anmen Rostrum to watch the parade. Representatives of people who had assisted Chinese people's WWII efforts, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- are invited to the grand ceremony. Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China has designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day. China was the first country to fight against fascist aggression, and sustained the longest resistance, beginning in 1931. The country contained and engaged over 50 percent of the Japanese army's overseas military strength, eliminating over 1.5 million enemy troops. The number of Chinese military and civilian casualties amounted to 35 million, accounting for one-third of the total casualties among all countries during WWII. With immense national sacrifices, China made significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The parade is expected to demonstrate its commitment to making greater contributions to world peace and development. The parade will involve more than 10,000 military personnel, along with over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, arranged into formations according to a wartime command system. The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) new system of services and arms -- the result of military reforms under Xi's leadership -- will be put on display for the first time. The parade will showcase China's advanced armaments, including unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic weaponry. China has repeatedly stated that the PLA is capable of defending China's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. Chinese soldiers who have participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations will also march past Tian'anmen Square, marking their first appearance in a V-Day parade. China is currently the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This is also the first military parade since Xi led China to embark on a new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts. The country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035. Through the parade, China will demonstrate that under the Party's leadership, the full rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is set to be achieved. The faces of many spectators on the scene were radiant with pride and joy. Standing in Tian'anmen Square ahead of the event, 16-year-old Zhao Zihan recalled that he had watched the previous V-Day parade live on television 10 years ago. "Today, I am here in person, surrounded by spectators waving national flags and commemorative banners, and the atmosphere is incredible," said Zhao, whose father helped prepare the parade as a PLA serviceman. "I think every Chinese person would be moved by this moment," he said. Thirteen-year-old Ouyang Jinyuan said she was eagerly looking forward to the release of doves at the end of the ceremony, a moment symbolizing humanity's shared, deep aspiration for peace. Lyu Shouye, a 25-year-old graduate student studying AI, said the situation today is very different from what it was 80 years ago. "A poem from 80 years ago, when we achieved victory, said we had been revived. But now, 80 years later, we are not only revived but also growing and taking root in this world with even greater vitality," he said. In 2019, Lyu, then a college student who had just arrived in Beijing from his hometown, participated in the National Day parade and experienced the nation's strength first-hand. "Now our country has reached a stage where we need to undertake greater responsibilities," he said. Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Bei He) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Tang Rufeng) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Soldiers get ready to fire gun salute in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) Soldiers get ready to fire gun salute in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lin Yu) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lin Yu) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Tang Rufeng) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lin Yu) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Soldiers get ready to fire gun salute in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army make preparations in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) A joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army make preparations in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) A joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army make preparations in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan) Parade guards step in place before a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) Parade guards step in place before a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) Parade guards step in place before a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) Parade guards step in place before a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan) Arete Group launches Corporate Wellness Programme in collaboration with MindPeers to support employee mental health Initiative offers professional therapies, counselling, and digital tools for employees and their families Move underscores Aretes vision of building people-first, high-performance, and future-ready workplaces Arete Group has announced its Corporate Wellness Programme, a structured initiative to address mental health and well-being across its employees and their families. In collaboration with MindPeers, one of Indias leading mental health platforms, the programme will provide employees with access to professional therapies and counselling sessions, underscoring the Groups commitment to building a future-ready, people-first workplace. With workplace stress and burnout emerging as critical challenges for India Inc., Arete Groups step reflects a growing shift among progressive employers who see employee wellness as central to productivity and organizational growth. The initiative not only promotes mental resilience but also aligns with the Groups larger vision of creating sustainable, high-performance workplaces. Commenting on the initiative, Siraj Saiyed, Director, Arete Group, said, At Arete, we recognize that well-being is directly linked to the overall betterment of people, shaping a foundation for sustained growth and meaningful impact. Our partnership ensures that our people have access to world-class mental health resources, creating an environment where they feel supported, engaged, and motivated. This is not just a wellness initiative, but an investment in the future strength of our organization. Also Read: HYCU Recognized for Organizational Excellence at 2025 GCC Workplace Awards India Through this programme, employees will be able to leverage therapies, digital tools, and expert support to manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health needs. The move reflects a growing recognition within the corporate sector that emotional and psychological well-being is as important as physical health in driving employee engagement and productivity. Arete Group goes the extra mile in taking care of its corporate family the programme is not just designed for employees but also extends support to their family members, ensuring holistic well-being.By embedding wellness into its core HR framework, Arete Group joins a rising wave of organizations that are reimagining the future of work with mental health at the center. FM Nirmala Sitharaman meets Singapore PM Lawrence Wong in New Delhi to strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Talks focus on trade, investment, fintech, skill development, sustainability, healthcare & connectivity Visit marks 60 years of India-Singapore diplomatic ties; Wong to meet PM Modi & President Murmu during 3-day trip Finance and Corporate Affairs Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had important talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. In a tweet on Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance informed that the talk was about expanding cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, fintech, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, and connectivity. The two sides also reaffirmed a strong determination to enhance collaboration as India and Singapore commemorate 60 years of diplomatic ties. Singapore's acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, Jeffrey Siow, as well as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, Gan Siow Huang, were also present during the meeting. "Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman received H.E. Mr. Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore, in New Delhi, today. The Union Finance Minister received H.E. Mr. Lawrence Wong on his inaugural Official Visit to India as the Prime Minister. Mr. Lawrence Wong's visit, falling on the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations, reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to further solidify the partnership", the Ministry of Finance informed in the post. "From the Singapore side, Mr. Jeffrey Siow, Acting Minister for Transport & Senior Minister of State for Finance, and Ms. Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs & Trade and Industry, also attended the meeting. The talks discussed deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in key areas of trade & investment, fintech, skilldevelopment, sustainability, healthcare, and connectivity. The two sides decided to further enhance cooperation in these sectors", it further stated. Also Read: CarePay Launches AI-Powered 'Careena' Platform to Revolutionize Healthcare Financing in India The Singaporean Prime Minister also took to X and shared the meeting with the Union Finance Minister. He added that outcomes of the recently concluded third round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held last month were discussed. "Nice to catch up with India Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. We touched on the takeaways of the recent 3rd India-SG Ministerial Roundtable, and our enthusiasm to cooperate on cross-border data flows and capital markets", Wong wrote in the X post. Singapore's Prime Minister is in the country on a three-day official visit, where he is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier in the day, Wong reached the Delhi airport and was greeted by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. It is PM Wong's first visit to India since assuming the office as Singapore's Prime Minister. He will be joined by his wife and a high-level delegation comprising Cabinet Ministers and senior officials. PM Modi and the Singaporean PM are set to have bilateral talks on September 4. President Droupadi Murmu will be called upon by Prime Minister Wong as well. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other official dignitaries are set to call upon Prime Minister Wong during the visit as well. After telling my parents I'm a lesbian, they punished me, rather than help me understand who I am. (Getty Images/Filmstudio) I am a freshman in high school, and I live with my stepmother and father. They are great parents to me and my little brother, but very homophobic. I love going to church with them, but I have a partner of the same gender. My parents recently found out and have decided as punishment to isolate me from everyone, including putting me in homeschool. What they dont understand is that I am confused about myself, and I cant make sense of my emotions. Can I be both Christian and lesbian? Every time I try to ask one of them for help understanding, they shut down and call me disgusting. What can I do to get them to understand that I need to talk through this? Who Am I in Kentucky Dear Who, Of course a person can be both LGBTQ and Christian, although you may not be welcomed at the denomination to which your parents belong. The Episcopalians, the Presbyterians, the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and the Metropolitan Community Church (an LGBTQ denomination) are among the inclusive. Your parents may be frightened because they think you have chosen to be the way you are. You may find online resources will make you feel better as you seek to understand more about yourself. One of them is The Trevor Project (thetrevorproject.org), which is the leading crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ young people. It provides information and support 24/7, all year round. Another trusted resource I have recommended for many years, not just for you but also for your parents if they would like to learn more about this subject, is called PFLAG. It was started in 1973 by a mother and her gay son and has grown to become the leading resource for educational materials on this subject. Its web address is pflag.org. ** ** ** Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. ** ** ** For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order How to Have a Lovely Wedding. Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 446, King Mills, OH 45034-0446. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.) Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announce the NYPD's new Quality of Life Division at a press conference at the Park Hill Houses in Clifton on Monday, August 18, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York City has registered the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims in recorded history through August of this year, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced this week. That trend extends to Staten Island, which has seen a historic decrease in homicides and shootings through the first eight months of the year, NYPD data indicates. Murders on the Island are down 60%, with just two homicides reported through Aug. 31, compared to five killings in the same time period last year, according to CompStat, the NYPDs computerized system for tracking crimes. Shooting incidents declined 40% on the Island from 10 in 2024 to six. Both of those figures are the lowest recorded during that time period since the introduction of the CompStat tracking system in 1993 more than 30 years ago. In August, however, Staten Island saw increases in a few other crime categories: rapes increased by 33%, robberies by 35%, and grand larcenies by 26%. Record low shootings citywide Citywide this year through August, there were 489 shooting incidents and 611 victims of shootings, compared to the previous all-time lows of 502 shootings and 612 victims in 2018. These downward trends in gun violence are part of why there was a 6% drop in major crimes during the month of August compared to last year, according to an NYPD news release. Citywide for the year, murder is down 19%, with shooting incidents declining 18% and gunshot victims dipping 16%, according to CompStat In the first eight months of the year, the NYPD drove down shooting incidents and shooting victims to the lowest levels in our citys history, Tisch said in a news release. Below ground on our subways, we have cut crime down to record-lows, excluding the pandemic years. Our focus has been on taking illegal guns off the streets, arresting violent gang members, and deploying our most valuable resource the men and women of the NYPD on foot posts where they are most needed, and the results are clear: Our strategy is working, and our cops are driving down crime. In May, the NYPD deployed a Summer Violence Reduction Plan across 72 zones covering 59 communities with more than 2,000 uniformed officers assigned to nightly foot posts in precincts, public housing, and the subway system. Targeted gang takedowns have contributed to the reduction in gun violence citywide. So far this year, NYPD detectives have carried out a record-high 55 gang-related takedowns while arresting 396 gang members and associates. Over the past three and a half years, the NYPD has taken more than 23,445 illegal guns off our streets, including more than 3,685 seized in 2025 alone. Crime in the transit system was down 23% for the month of August. So far this year, the NYPD states that overall crime in the subway is at its lowest levels in recorded history, excluding the low ridership years during COVID-19 pandemic. For the month of August citywide, burglary was at a record low, down 19%, and retail theft declined by a significant 22%. However, the record lows for the first eight months of the year citywide come amid an uptick in August, when shootings were up 4% to 77 incidents and murder increased by 33% to 28 homicides. Police officers and detectives investigate a fatal shooting in the vicinity of Bay Street and Victory Boulevard on friday, March 28, 2025 in Tompkinsville. Owen Reiter Staten Island homicides Staten Islands two homicides this year occurred on the North Shore. Jesse Pimental, 25, who lived in Oakwood, was gunned down at about 2:30 p.m. on March 28 on Bay Street near Victory Boulevard in Tompkinsville. Police responding to the incident found Pimental unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was rushed in critical condition to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where he died. Lydell Felton, 27, of Willow Street in Yonkers, and his alleged female accomplice, Elysha Pratts, 26, of South Avenue in Mariners Harbor, were arrested in connection with the slaying. He was arraigned on charges that included murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, while she was arraigned on charges of hindering prosecution, records show. The indictment stated Felton shot into a group of people, in the vicinity of several bystanders. Jennira Roundtree, 43, was fatally stabbed during a large fight near her home in the West Brighton Houses on Jan. 7 around 7:35 p.m. The victim was slain during a fight involving as many as 20 women in a courtyard in the vicinity of 820 Henderson Ave. Responding officers found Roundtree unconscious with multiple stab wounds to her chest and abdomen. EMS transported Roundtree to Richmond University Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries. Jasmin Thompson 25, was arrested and arraigned on murder and other charges. Thompson also allegedly sliced a second unnamed female victim during the brawl. Thompson was charged under a four-count indictment with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Police are searching for three males who fled in a dark-colored sedan following a shooting on Tuesday evening in West Brighton. Police responded to a 911 call reporting an assault at approximately 7:35 p.m. Tuesday, when they found a 25-year-old man shot in the right leg on the 100 block of Dongan Street, according to an NYPD spokesman. EMS transported the man, who was in stable condition, to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, according to police. The episode began when three unknown individuals exited from a vehicle and engaged in a physical fight with the 25-year-old man. One of the individuals then fired a gun at the victim, according to a police spokesman. The shooter was among the individuals who fled from the scene in a dark-colored sedan, heading toward the intersection of Dongan Street and Castleton Avenue, police said. No arrests have been made and the investigation continues on Wednesday afternoon, the police spokesman said. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were killed and 31 others injured when a blast went off in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday, health and police officials said. Confirming the casualties, Waseem Baig, media coordinator of the provincial health ministry, told Xinhua that the death toll might further rise as several among the injured are in critical condition. The explosion occurred near a political gathering in the Shahwani Stadium area of the provincial capital city of Quetta, police sources told Xinhua. According to the government officials, the explosion appeared to be a suicide bombing, saying an investigation has been launched into the incident to ascertain the exact nature of the cause and apprehend the perpetrators of the deadly attack. After the attack, the law enforcement agencies and rescue teams reached the scene and the injured were taken to the hospital for treatment. The security forces have cordoned off the area and begun collecting evidence. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet. Bishop Peter Byrne, Auxiliary Bishop of New York and Pastor of Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, second from left, and Monsignor William Belford, pastor of St. Teresa R.C. Church, third from right, and clergy con-celebrate the "Eve of Solemn Remembrance" mass in Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church, Bulls Head. (Courtesy/Mary DiBiase Blaich Photography) Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Though Sept. 11, 2001 was a day of dark tragedy, the remembrance and observance of the events that transpired have provided an opportunity to turn the anniversary into a day for doing good. For some, like Joe Delaney and members of the University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of Staten Island, spiritual comfort was offered to the families of victims of the attacks as they performed acts of service. Joe Delaney STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE/BILL LYONS Staten Island Advance The act of spiritual comfort and healing comes in the form of the clubs 23rd Annual 9/11 Memorial Service, called The Eve of Solemn Remembrance. Jim Smith (Family photo) The religious service was established on the first anniversary of 9/11 by Delaney and his friend, the late Jim Smith, a veteran of military service with the U.S. Coast Guard during the Vietnam war. Monsignor James Dorney (Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores) Staten Island Advance Along with members of the Notre Dame Club and then-club chaplain, Monsignor James Dorney, the Eve of Solemn Remembrance was first held on Sept. 10, 2002 and every year thereafter, on Sept. 10, the eve of 9/11. This years Eve of Solemn Remembrance will be held in Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church, 1616 Richmond Ave. in Bulls Head beginning at 7 p.m. with a presentation of sacred music, followed at 7:30 p.m. by a concelebrated Mass lead by Bishop John OHara, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of New York, and Bishop Peter Byrne, Auxiliary Bishop of New York and Pastor of Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church. The University of Notre Dame Club held its 22nd Annual Eve of Remembrance last year in honor of the victims from Staten Island who perished on 9/11 and others who have since died of 9/11 related diseases. (Courtesy/Mary DiBiase Blaich Photography) Staten Island Advance Delaney highlighted the dedication of two Girl Scout Troops at Our Lady of Good Counsel School who worked with the Notre Dame Clubs Annual Bread of Life Food Drive. On Sept. 11 the Girl Scouts will begin planning to collect and donate much needed food for the food pantry at Good Counsel R.C. Church. Joining the Girl Scouts in the 9/11 service project food drive will be two high school students from Good Counsel Parish, Declan Driscoll and Alex Penrose. Declan and Alex will also be two of several high school students who will read at the concelebrated Mass, the names of the Staten Islanders who were lost at the World Trade Center; while the sixth grade Girl Scout troops from Good Counsel will be part of the Honor Guard at the concelebrated Mass. Delaney also cited club member Mike Baroz, who was one of the many men and women who served New York Citys rebuilding and recovery eorts after 9/11. Mike Baroz (Courtesy/Patricia Baroz) Staten Island Advance Baroz was one of the Verizon technicians and engineers who helped rebuild Lower Manhattan in the immediate days following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. According to Delaney, On 9/11/2001, Mike was working at Metrotech in Brooklyn as an area operations manager for Verizon Communications for Brooklyn and Staten Island. After the attack, Mike went directly to work in Lower Manhattan at 140 West St., a Verizon building where toxic debris from the Twin Towers had fallen onto its rooftop, inside windows and HAVC systems and tore gaping holes in the exterior of the building. Mike was part of a team that would restore communications, not only phone, but data to Lower Manhattan. This was an important task because the New York Stock Exchange was down and President George Bush wanted the Exchange back online as soon as possible to show Americas strength and resiliency. For several months, Baroz worked in the dark and climbed 10 flights of stairs because elevators werent operable wearing a helmet with a light as well as a mask a dicult task while wearing a mask. Delaney said, For the next 15 years, Mike trekked to Manhattan and restored communication service to that part of Manhattan that lost it that day and restored the building to its beauty before the attacks. He also has many stories about the thousands of people that were down at Ground Zero to help in recovery as well. During the years that followed, Baroz became a big part of Verizons Response Team and Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team preparing for the next disaster, like Hurricane Sandy of which he had an integral part in the recovery. Each year on the eve of 9/11, Baroz and his co-workers about 11 men and women meet in the lobby of 140 West St. for a moment of silence for those who lost their lives on that day and recall stories of how they were brought together to restore communications for New York City and the United States. The Staten Island event will include a blood drive, if at least 50 people pre-register to donate. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The Jack and Jill Staten Island Chapter is hosting its first-ever Stride for Sickle Cell Blood Drive Walkathon, Saturday, Sept. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Midland Beach Promenade, Lot 8, Father Capodanno Blvd. The event will feature a community walkathon and an on-site blood drive to raise awareness of sickle cell disease and support impacted families. Sickle Cell is a genetic condition that causes red blood cells to become abnormally shaped, which can cause serious health complications. Some symptoms, depending on the severity, can include; anemia, fatigue, painful episodes, swelling and strokes. Efforts to organize this event came in response to the lack of awareness and resources surrounding the disease. It was a group effort from our community service team. We all decided that sickle cell was something that impacts our community and theres not enough awareness about it, said Lajuana Archibald, community service chair for the Staten Island Chapter. The event will include a blood donation bus provided by the New York Blood Center, and at least 50 people must pre-register for the bus to be stationed at the event. Interested blood donors can register in advance online and monetary donations can be made via the QR code on the event flyer. Flyer created for sickle cell awareness BaJa Ukweli Archibald said that teachers, administrators and school nurses should be especially mindful of the disease, as children with sickle cell may experience sudden health crises at school. They need to know the signs of when a child is going through a crisis physically so that they are given the proper care and treatment when they are not with their family, said Archibald. The cause was very personal to Tracy Henriquez, fundraising chair of the Staten Island Chapter. I was touched by sickle cell when one of my dear friends passed away in May, very suddenly, said Henriquez. When Archibald suggested hosting a sickle cell awareness day, Henriquez immediately envisioned a powerful event that would bring the community together. The chapter has partnered with several organizations, including the New York Blood Center, which conducts vital research and provides blood transfusions to sickle cell patients. The Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation Corporation International offers real-time support and education to families affected by the disease. Monetary donations will also be accepted to help these organizations continue their work. Jack and Jill mothers joined together dressed in all white Imara Moore According to Nikki Rosado, president of the Staten Island Chapter, the walkathon and blood drive align with Jack and Jills mission of community service and support. Doing this walkathon and blood drive, our goal is just to really educate people and support the actual patients and to remind people that just the act of giving blood and donating blood can really at the end of the day save lives and thats the main goal, said Rosado. Organizers hope the walkathon creates what Henriquez called a ripple effect for positive change. A 39-year-old swimmer died Tuesday after being pulled from the ocean at an unguarded beach in Lavallette, police said. Authorities arrived at the New York Avenue beach shortly before noon after receiving a report of a swimmer in distress, said Lavallette Police Chief Christian LaCicero. The swimmer, a Totowa resident, was found partially submerged in the ocean roughly 25 yards from shore, police said. Rescue swimmers from the Lavallette and Seaside Heights fire departments entered the ocean and brought the victim to shore, where resuscitation efforts immediately began, police said. The man was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead at 12:41 p.m., LaCicero said. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin, police said. There were no lifeguards on duty at any Lavallette beaches today, said Fire Chief Michael Hajisafari. According to LaCicero, multiple agencies assisted the Lavallette Police Department, including Seaside Heights Police Department, Toms River Police Department, Seaside Heights Fire Department, Seaside Park Fire Department, Tri-Boro First Aid Squad, Lavallette First Aid Squad, RWJ Barnabas Health Paramedics, Seaside Heights Beach Patrol and Lavallette Volunteer Fire Department. We had great support from our mutual aid companies, Hajisafari said. Its a sad day, and we hope that people stay out of the water when there are no lifeguards on duty. Richmond University Medical Center Auxillary President Lucille Forlenza shows off the new COVID-19 exhibit, a recently-unveiled tribute to staffers, in the West Brighton hospital. STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In the heart of Staten Islands health care community, a quiet force works tirelessly led by compassionate, dedicated volunteers who give their time, energy and hearts to support borough hospitals and the patients they care for. At Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), in West Brighton, and at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), Ocean Breeze, volunteer hospital auxiliary members do more than seek donations and hold fundraisers, hospital administrators say. The auxiliary doesnt just support the hospital, they help shape its story, said Meagan Sills, vice president and deputy hospital president at SIUH. And for more than a century and a half, theyve done so, not out of obligation, but from a genuine desire to make life better for others. The auxiliary, before and after the pandemic At RUMC, Lucille Forlenza is new to the role of auxiliary president, having assumed the position in June 2024. But shes been active in the group for years, and served as its vice president the year prior. The auxiliary, comprising 58 members, recently contributed to the creation of a new exhibit honoring COVID-19 pandemic hospital workers. A ribbon-cutting event was held in June at the exhibit. It was one of many proud moments for group members, she said. Earlier, during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, auxiliary members helped thousands of Staten Islanders as they arrived for vaccinations, and provided meals for staffers working in dire conditions. The kitchen was only preparing meals for the patients, she said, and the physicians, nurses, technicians and other employees had no time to rest, let alone prepare meals. It was a frightening time for all, especially for healthcare workers who had a front-row seat to devastation and deaths the virus was causing, she said. The conditions were physically and emotionally straining for everyone, Forlenza said, recalling that her husband, Dr. Thomas Forlenza, a hemotology oncology palliative care physician, took his scrubs off in the garage and put them into a garbage bag each day before a brief time at home. Hed then shower and return to the hospital soon after. Everything we do is with the intent that its for the patient Forlenza said. When youre hangry, you dont function very well. An exhibit opened Wednesday, June 25, at Richmond University Medical Center, paying tribute to the hospital workers' response and the lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, members of the hospital's auxiliary, including its president, Lucille Forlenza, second from right, enjoy the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour the exhibit. (Advance/SILive.com | Ann Marie Barron) Through the years, wheelchairs, larger, critical equipment and grants have been donated by the auxiliary to the Emergency, Therapy, Cardiac Catheterization and Medical Intensive Care and Respiratory Therapy departments. Borough boasts oldest auxiliary in the U.S. At Staten Island University Hospital, Jenifer Cohen is the training program administer for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program and also finds time to head up the hospitals auxiliary the oldest, continuous auxiliary in the country. In 2023, it marked 160 years of service. Having lost her own 15-year-old sister, Lisa, to a rare form of cancer years ago, Cohen was moved to contribute to something in her memory to help the community, she said. The hospitals mission to keep Islanders local for the best healthcare available resonates with her, she said. And the auxiliary has, in recent years, expanded its mission to support additional Staten Island organizations, including Project Hospitality, she said. It recently donated $25,000 to the Joseph Matteo Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and has pledged to raise $100,000 for Pediatric Oncology, with $75,000 already given, she said. Pediatric and teen mental health is currently a priority for the group and the hospital, she said, and the 82-strong auxiliary expects to fulfill its pledge of $25,000 to the hospital by years end, she said. Its hard to get help on Staten Island right away, she said, noting that the hospital is focusing on creating a mental health urgent care-type clinic. Weve had kids come in and have (psychiatric) evaluations and sit in there for weeks waiting for a bed to open up in another borough" she said. This initiative were all really passionate about. In this recent photo, members of the SIUH Auxiliary present a check to Dr. Brahim Ardolic, the hospital's CEO, to support pediatric and adolescent mental health. From the left are Pattie Coleman, Jenifer Cohen, Ardolic, Lisa Carolan and Linda Spadafina. (Courtesy of the Staten Island University Hospital Auxiliary) Additionally, emotional reminders, like the Donor Butterfly, hang in testimony to organ donors, courtesy of the auxiliary. Raising funds for critical programs At RUMC, Dr. Santosh Prab, director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, has seen the results of the auxilliarys work firsthand. A neonatal resuscitation warmer, paid for by the auxiliary, is used for premature babies born before 34 weeks gestation, he said. It helps premature babies if we start immediate stabilizations, keep them warm, give them breathing support, Prab said. The unit is used every other day, he said, noting the value of other contributions, including recliners for a mother room in the NICU. Through the RUMC auxiliarys annual fundraisers, money is collected and departments submit grant requests for supplies to improve patient care, Forlenza said. Other fundraisers, like lottery wreath sales and others, raise funds for events, like a baby shower for patients who have no clothing to bring their newborns to wear home. We purchase some things, but a majority of the things are donated by the membership, she said. And sometimes, providing TLC for the staffers, like chair massages or ice cream, improves morale, she said. At SIUH, the auxiliary raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to support advanced medical equipment, facility upgrades and patient-centered programs, said Sills. Theyve funded free colonoscopies, enhanced safety systems for newborns, and helped establish spaces like the bereavement wall a place where families can pause, reflect, and feel seen in their grief," Sills said. The SIUH auxiliary is behind one of the hospitals most touching traditions: the Babies Alumni program, both Sills and Cohen said. The Northwell Staten Island University Hospital Auxiliary donated an Organ Donor Memorial Butterfly to the hospital in honor of those who have donated. From the left are Linda Spadafina, Jessica Capitano, Lisa Carolan and the organization's president, Jenifer Cohen. (Courtesy of the SIUH Auxiliary) Each year, birthday cards are handwritten and mailed to children born at SIUH, sometimes decades later" Sills said. Cohen estimates that the group sends out about 600 a month, personally written and addressed by Laura Parisi, an honorary member. Most recently, the SIUH Auxiliary committed its energy to the Gruppuso Family Women and Newborn Center, a new space that houses the maternity and postpartum units on a single floor. Their investment in this project reflects what has always guided their efforts: meeting the needs of patients and families in real time, with both foresight and heart, Sills said. Challenges and appreciation Reaching out to other Staten Island non-profit groups often results in new membership from them, Cohen said. Were all just kind of in it together" she said, acknowledging that the biggest challenge is that theyre all chasing donations from the same sources. Were such a small organization compared to big fundraising organizations, so we work harder." The group is creative in tackling grassroots fundraising through events; Cohen said bingo nights and a popular celebrity chef event at Bocelli Ristorante, Grasmere, always draws a crowd. Auxiliary membership can be demanding, both Cohen and Forlenza admitted, but at both hospitals they have historically been strong. And theres no shortage of appreciation on the part of hospital staff and administration, they said. Doctors and other hospital workers stop Forlenza and other auxiliary members in the hall often, she said, recalling the donation of a wheelchair years ago thats still making an impact. The gentleman who asked for it thanks us every time he sees one of us she said with a chuckle. A liberal filmmaking legend has surprisingly heaped praise on President Donald Trump, the New York Post reported. Oscar-winning Hollywood director Woody Allen, appearing on the Bill Maher podcast Club Random, praised Trumps acting skills and charismatic quality. Trump made a cameo appearance in Allens 1998 film Celebrity. Said Allen, I am one of the few people who can say he directed Trump. He was a pleasure to work with and a very good actor. He was very polite, and his mark, and did everything correctly, Allen said. Maher jokingly responded, How dare you? Allen said he was not a Trumper and revealed that he had voted for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in last years presidential election. As an actor he was very good. He was very convincing and he has a charismatic quality as an actor. And Im surprised he wanted to go into politics, Allen said of Trump. Allen said, Politics is nothing but headaches, and critical decisions, and agony. This was a guy I used to see at the Knick games. Trump apparently enjoyed hearing Allens praise, posting an article about the podcast on the presidents Truth Social website. Maher said that Trump had distinct on-stage and off-stage personalities, which the host likened to acting. But that doesnt bother me, Allen replied. They all have to put on a certain patina for the public. I would like to direct him now that hes president, Allen joked. Trump is seen in Celebrity eating a power lunch and poking fun at his own reputation. Well Im working on buying St. Patricks Cathedral, maybe doing a little rip down job and putting up a very, very tall and beautiful building, Trump says in the scene. Starbucks is adding protein beverages to its permanent menu. (Courtesy of Starbucks) If youre looking for a protein-packed drink, you could head to Starbucks starting later this month. Starbucks coffeehouses in the U.S. will offer protein cold foam and protein lattes made with protein-based milk, beginning Sept. 29. The protein-based milk will give about 15 to 36 grams of protein per grande (16 ounce) beverage. The new drinks are part of Starbucks strategy to drive innovation and modernize its menu. As we continue to get back to Starbucks, were focused on modernizing our menu with innovative, relevant, and hype-worthy products that will resonate with our customers, said Tressie Lieberman, Starbucks global chief brand officer. Our new protein beverages tap into the growing consumer demand for protein in an innovative, premium and delicious way that only Starbucks can deliver. The beverages and cold foam will be offered in a variety of flavors. Cold foam is a creamy, frothy topping that adds texture and flavor to any cold coffee, tea, or Refreshers. Adding the protein cold foam will provide about 15 grams of protein per grande to any cold drink. It will be offered in several flavors including a new banana flavor, vanilla, sugar-free vanilla, chocolate, matcha, salted caramel, and brown sugar, as well as plain protein cold foam. Seasonal flavors include pumpkin and pecan for the fall. Iced beverages with protein cold foam will be added to the permanent menu, delivering about 19-26 grams of protein per grande drink. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on [SILive] Viewing times and guest books can be seen [here] Jean Nolan, 96, passed away on Sept. 1, 2025 at her home on Staten Island. Born on Oct. 13, 1928 in New York City, she was a long-time member of the Great Kills friendship club and enjoyed trips to Atlantic City. Jean was an employee of Staten Island Hospital for many years and took great pride in her Sicilian heritage. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and was predeceased by her husbands Thomas Browne and Frank Nolan. Read the full obituary on [SILive] Donna M. (Gorash) Slaven, 67, formerly of Staten Island, passed away on Sept. 2, 2025 at her residence in Erie, Pa. Born on June 26, 1958, she was a graduate of Port Richmond High School and retired in 2001 from the United States Postal Service. Donna enjoyed baking, playing poker, going to the casino, and above all, spending time with her grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Frederick Slaven and is survived by her daughters, grandchildren, and sister. Read the full obituary on [SILive] Tracey R. Nazario, 70, passed away on Aug. 26, 2025. Raised in West Brighton, she was a groundbreaking female officer with the New York City Housing Police, rising to the rank of sergeant with the NYPD. Traceys greatest achievement was her family - she was a devoted mother and loving wife of 47 years. Her love for music and singing brought joy to those around her. She is survived by her husband, sons, siblings, and many nieces and nephews. Read the full obituary on [Here] David Giovanelli, 80, a lifelong Staten Island resident, passed away on Aug. 30. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany, graduated from Curtis High School and Baruch College, and enjoyed theater, Yankees games, and ballroom dancing. David worked as an accountant for the Small Business Administration in NYC. He is survived by his sisters and nieces, and was predeceased by his parents. Visitation and funeral service will be held at Harmon Funeral Home, with interment at Moravian Cemetery. Read the full obituary on [SILive] Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from Legacy.com. It was reviewed and edited by Advance/SILive.com staff. Former Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira announced last week that he is running for a seat in Congress in Texas. In announcing his candidacy, Teixeira stated that he plans to help defend President Trumps America First agenda, Texas families, and individual liberty. Tuesday, Teixeira spoke about Trump during an appearance on the "Dont @ Me with Dan Dakich" podcast. I believe that President Trump will go down as the most influential president of my lifetime., he said. You look at where this country was headed. If the Democrats had won the White House and taken over Congress, we were headed towards socialism. And thats not hyperbole. That is a fact. We were headed toward socialism, Teixeira told Dakich. The fact that Donald Trump fought for America, got shot at, kept going, and has decided that you know what, enough is enough. Its America first. Im fighting for the people hardworking Americans that deserve deserve to have government on their side, not have a government that wants to control them. You know that thats why President Trump is so important to my candidacy, to everybodys candidacy of the Republican Party because the Americans are behind them and you see that every single day his policies are working for hardworking. Americans. Theyre working for Texas Texas is the envy of the country for a lot of reasons and we want to keep it that way. Teixeira, 45, is a Maryland native who currently lives in the Austin area. He spent the first four-plus years of his major-league career with the Texas Rangers. Texeiras announcement came after Rep. Chip Roys decision not to seek re-election in Texas 21st Congressional District as he runs for Texas Attorney General. The three-time All-Star concluded his career with eight years on the Yankees, winning a World Series in 2009. Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) by Xinhua writers Zhang Bowen, Cao Peixian BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China held a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging the country's commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. Towering structures shaped like the Great Wall, crowned with giant numerals "1945" and "2025," stood in Tian'anmen Square, symbolizing the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression. Wearing a dark grey, high-collar suit, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, oversaw the parade and reviewed the troops. Standing beside Xi on Tian'anmen Rostrum were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, along with more than 20 other foreign leaders, some of whom attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in the city of Tianjin earlier this week. Representatives of people who had supported China's resistance endeavors, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- were invited to the event. PREVENTING HISTORICAL TRAGEDIES FROM RECURRING This was the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to mark the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The commemorative event began at 9 a.m. with an 80-gun salute, followed by a solemn flag-raising ceremony, and a chorus of the national anthem. Helicopters flew over the square carrying banners that read "Justice Prevails," "Peace Prevails," and "The People Prevail." The high-morale, well-equipped soldiers marched along the Chang'an (Eternal Peace) Avenue in tight, powerful formations, their faces lit with confidence and pride. Columns of new tanks, artillery and other military equipment rumbled through the square. Xi delivered a speech before the parade. Highlighting the significance of the victory 80 years ago, Xi said it marks China's first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times. Xi noted that the Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defense of world peace with immense sacrifice in the war. He called on nations to "eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring." Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day. Xi attended a military parade held in Moscow in May to mark the WWII victory in Europe. China and the Soviet Union served as the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making pivotal contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. China was the first country to rise against fascist aggression with the longest-lasting resistance that began in 1931. The country tied down and struck over half of Japan's overseas forces, at the cost of 35 million military and civilian casualties -- accounting for around one-third of all WWII casualties worldwide. Yokichi Kobayashi, son of a Japanese veteran who was a POW-turned soldier in a CPC-led army during the war, watched the parade on site. "I feel like as long as China stays united and sticks together, it will always be an invincible force," he said. Wednesday's ceremony was presided over by Li Qiang, and attended by Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi -- all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee -- as well as Vice President Han Zheng. International organization leaders such as UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, and former political leaders, including ex-Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, also attended. UNSTOPPABLE REJUVENATION Wednesday's military parade was the first since Xi led China to embark on "a new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts." The country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035. In his speech, Xi demanded that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) provide strategic support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He urged the PLA to build itself into world-class forces and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The 70-minute military parade demonstrated the transformation of the armed forces from a "millet-and-rifle" army to a modern military. It was attended by more than 10,000 soldiers, over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, organized under a wartime command system. The PLA's new structure of services and arms made its collective debut, showcasing the outcomes of a sweeping military reform under Xi's leadership. Troops from the four services of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Rocket Force, as well as the four arms of the Aerospace Force, the Cyberspace Force, the Information Support Force, and the Joint Logistics Support Force, marched past Tian'anmen Square. The advanced armaments put on display included unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, and electronic jamming systems. In Wednesday's parade, China unveiled its land-, sea-, and air-based strategic forces as the nuclear triad for the first time. The armaments, hailed as China's strategic "ace" power to safeguard the country's sovereignty and national dignity, included JingLei-1 air-based long-range missile, JuLang-3 submarine-launched intercontinental missile, DongFeng-61 land-based intercontinental missile, and new type DongFeng-31 land-based intercontinental missile. Televised and livestreamed to a national audience, the event became the top trending topic on Chinese social media as people shared photos and videos of the spectacle. Yang Jieyu, a student at Peking University and a spectator at the event, said, "The parade showed China's growing strength and filled me with confidence in national rejuvenation." Scholars believe the life-or-death struggle more than 80 years ago reshaped the national psyche, leaving scars and pride that are still visible today, and marked a historic turning point as the Chinese nation transitioned from decline to rejuvenation. "The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable," Xi said in his speech. He reiterated China's commitment to peaceful development. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games," he said. Kong Peng, a spectator from Beijing, said after watching the parade, "It's clear who's right and who's wrong, who's really standing for peace and who's trying to be a bully." Chinese soldiers who have participated in UN peacekeeping operations made their first appearance in a V-Day parade. China is the largest contributor of troops among the UN Security Council permanent members, having deployed over 5,000 peacekeepers and maintaining a standing force of 8,000 personnel ready for UN missions, making it a key player in UN peacekeeping operations. "We have the capability to defend the peace forged with the blood of our forefathers," said Shao Xiaoguang, a member of the reviewed troops who previously served on a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zhang Zijin, a 7-year-old girl who watched the parade with her parents in the square, said she dreamed of joining the armed forces when she grows up. "I believe if I keep trying, I can make it come true," she said. "Eighty years ago, we were revived. Eighty years later, we are thriving with greater vitality," said Lyu Shouye, a spectator at the event and a graduate student studying AI. "Now our country has reached a stage where we need to undertake greater responsibilities," he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, along with other foreign leaders on Tian'anmen Rostrum in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is ready to review troops as a Hongqi limousine carrying him drives out of the Tian'anmen Rostrum during a grand gathering commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. Xi delivered a speech at the gathering and reviewed troops. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presides over a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Chinese UN peacekeepers march through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The flag-guarding air echelon takes part in a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Na Yuqi) Armament formations attend a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Gang) Honor guards escort the Chinese national flag during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Soldiers escort the Chinese national flag for a flag-raising ceremony during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Soldiers fire gun salute during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is held in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Hero units' banner formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) An air echelon attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) The anti-ship missile formation gets prepared for a parade during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) The airborne assault formation marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The airborne unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The sea-based unmanned warfare formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) The long-range artillery formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) Balloons and pigeons are released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) National Australia Bank boss Andrew Irvine has warned that white-collar workers who dont learn to use artificial intelligence will ultimately be at risk of being replaced by more tech-savvy employees, likening the rise of AI to technological revolutions such as the invention of the steam engine. Irvine, speaking at a NAB customer event in Melbourne on Wednesday, said he believed AI was a massive change for society on par with technological upheavals of the past, such as the move from the horse and carriage to steam trains, or electrification. When asked about how this could affect career development, his key message was that people should learn new skills to adapt. NAB chief executive Andrew Irvine. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong At the same time, he said there would still be a need for workers to perform jobs that could not be automated, such as those in construction or the fast-growing care economy. WINDHOEK, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government has embarked on a campaign aimed at tackling low literacy rates and promoting mental health. At a pre-launch event of the 2025 National Readathon on Wednesday, Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp announced that the event will run under the theme "Read Namibia: Break the Silence, Build Minds - Focus on Mental Wellness." "The National Readathon is not just an event; it is a celebration of the power of reading to transform lives. It reminds us that every child, regardless of ability, should have the chance to enjoy books, express themselves through stories, and discover the joy of learning," she said. The minister, meanwhile, said the main Readathon event will take place in Gobabis in the Omaheke Region, from Sept. 22 to 26. Steenkamp said the Readathon is a direct response to a critical gap identified at the 2022 National Conference on Education: the lack of a comprehensive early-grade reading framework. According to her, an alarming number of learners are progressing to Grade 4 with inadequate reading skills, a problem that affects children with special educational needs as well. "The Readathon, therefore, is a call to action to every Namibian, young and old, to embrace reading not just as a skill, but as a culture and a shared national value," Steenkamp said. The campaign also seeks to empower citizens with knowledge and critical thinking skills, while addressing the link between literacy and mental health. "I am urging all regions, all schools, and public libraries to participate and organize reading events for our learners. All our educational institutions must serve as safe spaces for dialogue, literacy, and healing," she added. Flagship Minerals has revealed a sizzling set of re-cut gold hits from its Pantanillo project in Chiles legendary Maricunga gold belt after diving headfirst into a monster dataset inherited from gold giant Anglo American. The startling numbers, which included multiple hits of more than 100 gram-metres of gold, electrified the market. Flagships share price rocketed up 41 per cent today to reach new highs of 9 cents a share on heavy turnover. Flagship Minerals has uncovered a treasure trove of massive gold hits from a dataset inherited from mining giant Anglo American at its one-million-ounce Pantanillo project in Chile. The Alladdins cave of old results contains more than 700 files, 10,000 documents and 100 tonnes of physical sample material linked to a resource previously flagged as a major oxide system, which already hosts 1.05 million non-JORC compliant ounces of gold. Flagship has now crunched the numbers from more than 180 holes spanning 30,000 metres of drilling and the results are nothing short of eye-popping. The company lit up the oxide zone with a barrage of standout hits topping 100 gram-metres, led by a barnstorming 116m section grading 1.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 86m depth, sitting inside a whopping 193m strike going 1.01g/t from just 28m depth. Siren Golds recently appointed chief executive officer Zane Padman told Bulls N Bears: This funding allows us to fast-track our growth strategy by running drill programs and field exploration in parallel across multiple assets. Sams Creek, Langdons, and Queen Charlotte each offer distinct value, and our strategy is designed to unlock that potential in parallel. A highly anticipated mineral resource update and scoping study will follow Sams Creek drilling, while at Langdons and Queen Charlotte, our immediate focus is on generating and testing high-impact drill targets. Its an exciting time for Siren as we unlock value across a portfolio aligned with global demand for gold and critical minerals. While Sams Creek anchors the strategy, Sirens Langdons project southwest of the town of Reefton is rapidly shaping up as a strategic differentiator. The project sits on ground first mined in the late 1800s when early operators chased reefs carrying spectacular grades. Historical records point to assays as ridiculously high as 2610g/t gold and 1120g/t silver. Sirens recent work has breathed new life into the district. Field mapping has rediscovered a 2m-thick shear zone rich in disseminated arsenopyrite and stibnite, where portable XRF sampling has returned readings up to 8.5 per cent antimony. Samples from mullock heaps have gone even higher, returning up to 60 per cent stibnite, and according to the company, gold grades exceeding an astounding 500g/t confirm the sites potential to host high-value mineralisation at surface. Langdons also carries modern relevance thanks to antimonys new status as a critical mineral essential to energy storage, defence applications and advanced electronics. With prices trading above US$60,000 (A$92,000) per tonne up almost 100 per cent in the past year - and Chinas dominance of global supply under increasing scrutiny, Padman calls Langdons a project of its time. He notes that exploration success here could position Siren as a key player in diversifying supply chains for Western markets. Siren Golds recently appointed chief executive officer Zane Padman. Soil geochemistry has already defined a 400m anomalous gold-antimony halo with ionic leach anomalies suggesting extensions a further 200m under shallow cover - drilling targets that will be tested in the months ahead. Sirens high-grade antimony exposure extends further east to the Queen Charlotte project near Marlborough, where the company recently secured an exploration permit covering the historic Endeavour mine - New Zealands largest past producer of antimony. In the late 19th century, Endeavour shipped more than 3000t of stibnite ore directly to England and metallurgical testwork completed in the 1970s achieved recoveries of 90 per cent from concentrates grading 63 per cent antimony. The mineralised system extends for at least 1.2 kilometres along strike and more than 400m vertically, with similarities to Auld Creek in the Reefton goldfield, suggesting considerable upside remains untested beneath the historic workings. Against this backdrop, Sirens timing looks compelling. Gold has recently pushed to about US$3400 (A$5200) per ounce, driven by tightening global supply and renewed investor demand for inflation hedges, while antimonys rally reflects geopolitical supply pressures and growing downstream demand in renewables, batteries and semiconductors. Chinas recent export curbs have only amplified the focus on alternative supply hubs. Sirens portfolio of antimony-rich assets in a stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction positions the company squarely in the crosshairs of this critical minerals narrative. Adding further depth to the story is Sirens 17 per cent stake in Rua Gold, giving it indirect exposure to the Hauraki gold district and OceanaGolds high-grade Wharekirauponga discovery, where resources stand at 2 million ounces of gold at 14.3g/t. For a junior explorer, its a rare combination of leverage and optionality without dilution from additional capital spend. The West Coast is alive with activity. Endura Mining (previously Federation) is attracting strong investment to advance the Snowy River mine under Jake Kleins leadership, while Rua Gold holds the dominant land position across the region, encompassing several historic high-grade mines, Padman says. In Otago, Santanas Bendigo-Ophir project is shaping up to support more than 200 jobs at full production. Across the country, momentum is building rapidly, and Siren Gold is well positioned to be part of a resurging New Zealand mining sector thats drawing global attention and serious capital. Leadership changes at Siren have also injected fresh momentum. Padman, a geologist and mining executive with more than 15 years experience spanning exploration, open-pit and underground operations, was appointed just this month. He brings a track record of delivering resource growth and operational turnarounds, including at Westgold Resources Meekatharra operations. Padmans pragmatic, results-driven style complements founder and chairman Brian Rodans long-term vision, sharpening the companys dual-pronged growth strategy: advance Sams Creek toward development while unlocking district-scale potential at Langdons and Queen Charlotte. With drilling rigs mobilising, assay results pending from Langdons and field programs kicking off at Queen Charlotte, Siren enters the second half of 2025 with multiple catalysts on the horizon. A mining permit decision for Sams Creek is expected before year-end and an upgraded resource model and scoping study are set to follow in 2026. For a company operating at the intersection of record gold prices, critical minerals demand and resurgent investor interest in New Zealands resources sector, the next 12 months could prove transformational. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Los Angeles: A jury gave Cardi B a quick and absolute victory on Tuesday (LA time) at a trial in the lawsuit of a security guard who alleged the rap star assaulted her at a doctors office during her then-secret first pregnancy. The jury of six men and six women at a small courthouse in Alhambra, California deliberated for only about an hour before finding Cardi not liable in the lawsuit brought by Emani Ellis, who alleged Cardi cut her face with a fingernail and spat on her in the hallway of a Beverly Hills obstetrician in February 2018. Cardi B outside court on Tuesday (LA time). She has been cleared in the civil lawsuit launched by a former security guard accusing her of assault. Credit: GC Images Only nine of the 12 jurors were required for a verdict in the civil case, but their decision in Cardis favour was unanimous. The next person who tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, Im going to counter-sue, and Im gonna make you pay, because this is not OK, she said outside the courthouse, where she posed for pictures with fans. I am not that celeb that you sue, and you think is going to settle. Im not gonna settle. Especially when Im super completely innocent. The special pleasure of But Also John Clarke lies in discovering that the John Clarke seen and heard in family home movies, tape recordings and so forth looks, sounds and behaves exactly like the John Clarke beloved by the public. As his daughter Lorin recounts in this fondly admiring documentary tribute, she and her family shared him with strangers not just the millions of Australians who watched him on telly, but the flesh-and-blood strangers who were drawn to him whenever he walked down the street, and who he was more than happy to stop and have a chat with. I didnt know the late John Clarke, but more than most comedians anywhere, he gave the impression of being knowable. In turn, this public Clarke was always more or less the same which was the central joke of the interview sketches he and Bryan Dawe performed for many years, first on A Current Affair and then on the ABC, where he famously impersonated a wide range of public figures without attempting to resemble anyone other than himself. It wasnt an act, it turns out, or else it was an act hed perfected to the point where he could keep it going indefinitely. In any context, theres the deadpan self-delight, the fascination with how much and how little words can mean, the knack for making complicated things simple and vice versa. Clarke as Fred Dagg, the farmer and political sage launched in 1971. Credit: Hello is the main thrust of my argument, we overhear him saying in a characteristic answering machine message to his daughter. You can unpackage the complexity of that and consider it in due time. Its dad humour raised to the nth degree, except no one other than Lorin and her sister Lucia ever had a dad like John Clarke. As were reminded here, one of the remarkable things about him is that he had, in a sense, two quite separate careers: prior to his success as a multimedia satirist in Australia, he had become a national icon in New Zealand in the guise of the gumbooted farmer Fred Dagg (the gumboots, were informed, are preserved in Aucklands Te Papa museum, along with his singlet, hat, and shorts). Murray Watt has approved his first coal mine as federal environment minister, granting Glencore the greenlight to extend its Ulan thermal coal mine near Mudgee by two years to 2035 to access an additional 18.8 million tonnes of coal. The decision, which comes as the government considers its 2035 emission reduction target under the Paris Agreement, has prompted criticism from climate groups who say the government cannot claim to be serious about addressing climate change while approving additional coal mining. Environment Minister Murray Watt faces criticism for approving a coal mine expansion in NSW. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The federal environment minister has limited grounds on which to oppose coal mine expansions, and the government has so far opposed including a climate trigger to expand them to also consider the impact on climate change. Australian Conservation Foundation climate program manager Gavan McFadzean said: If the Albanese government keeps approving new coal projects, then its climate policy is to make the climate crisis worse. Advertisement Eating outJust open Melbournes best vanilla slice is now even easier to get at a new location As a western suburbs bakery responsible for a dulce de leche vanilla slice teams up with a cafe close to the CBD, we asked a former premier what he thinks of this South American take on the beloved Aussie baked good. Dani Valent September 4, 2025 Save 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 As featured in the October 2025 hit list. See all stories . Dulce Bakehouse, the western suburbs bakery with a killer vanilla slice and South American specialties, has opened a third outlet, bunking in with Tribu Coffee on a busy site at the southern edge of the CBD. We are excited to bring our pastries to new customers, says owner Eddie Segovia, happy that more people can get their mouths around his tasty empanadas, croissants, cannoli and an exceptional vanilla slice laced with bittersweet dulce de leche. The vanilla slice at Dulce Bakehouses new Southbank location. Luis Enrique Ascui Compared to the sweet-centric headquarters in Delahey, the focus at Southbank is on ready-to-eat savoury items for grab-and-go commuters (although those with time to spare can take one of 20 seats). Were doing our traditional beef and spinach empanadas but Ive also come up with a chicken empanada mixed with mushroom and bechamel sauce, says Segovia. Advertisement Related Article Review Found! Melbournes best vanilla slice is at a suburban bakery in the north-west Theres also an Argentinian croissant which has honey and vanilla in the dough, is glazed with apricot jam, and gets filled with ham and cheese to create a sweet-salty snack. Most items are prepared and frozen at the Delahey HQ then transported to Southbank where theyre baked and assembled. We want people to enjoy that fresh-baked smell, says Segovia. Joining forces with Tribu made lots of sense. The coffee importer and roaster is owned by two Colombians, David Bueno and Venessa Salazar. Tribu means tribe, says Bueno. The name reflects our dream of building a trusting community. Dulce Bakehouse owner Eddie Segovia (right) with Tribu Coffees David Armando. Luis Enrique Ascui Advertisement Salazar grew up on a coffee farm in Antioquia in north-western Colombia and her familys coffee is on the roster of Tribu beans. She launched the company in 2020 in desperation born from the pandemic. First she lost her job, then she realised she was ineligible for assistance as a visa worker without permanent residency. I put my life savings into bringing the first container of coffee over here, she says. The company roasts in Port Melbourne and opened its cafe outlet in Southbank last March. The plan was always to share the space. We only do coffee and we knew we needed someone to marry with us so we could grow together, says Bueno. Argentinian croissants are glazed with apricot jam and filled with ham and cheese. Luis Enrique Ascui In June, Salazar saw the Good Food article that turned Dulces vanilla slice into a cult product. I sent it to David, he messaged Eddie at 9pm Sunday night, she says. The next day, Eddie came to the store and two weeks later he moved in. After the review, many people reached out to us, they were throwing money at me, says Segovia. I rejected all offers but there was something about Davids message. I saw the site, knew it was right, went back to Delahey and drew the floorplan on my kitchen whiteboard. Advertisement Victoria has long treasured a good vanilla slice. While premier in 1998, Jeff Kennett launched and judged the inaugural Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph in Ouyen, a competition which continues annually in Merbein. Good Food wondered what he would think of the Dulce version and arranged a delivery. Ive liked vanilla slices all my life, he said. This vanilla slice has great merit. The quality is exquisite. The custard is not too sugary. The pastry is light but firm. Its South American point of difference is a wonderful addition. Its a great illustration of the advantage were all getting from immigration. In a full circle moment, Dulce has swapped to Tribu coffee at Delahey and their Essendon outlet. I heard from a friend that we are inspiring other Latin American entrepreneurs to grow, says Segovia, whose mother is Chilean and father is Uruguayan. My dad is very proud. Im excited, but I also feel like were just getting started. 6.30am-6pm daily Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up I was in Bondi, waiting to drive into a parking lot. A car was blocking the entrance. It was stationary and the driver had abundant space in front of him. I rolled down my window and politely asked: Could you move forward, please? I could never have anticipated the reaction: F---ing South African Jew! barked the driver. You think you can come here and take over. And again: F---ing South African Jew! Police examine antisemitic graffiti in Maroubra this year. Credit: Rhett Wyman I was taken aback, my mental equilibrium suddenly out of kilter. I found myself wondering: Did that really happen? I have been on the front line of human rights work in this country for four decades, advocating for issues ranging from gay rights and reconciliation with the First Nations to speaking out against Islamophobia, opposing all manner of bigotry as chair of Multicultural NSW and combating anti-Jewish racism as chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. A man accused of orchestrating an antisemitic spree in Sydneys eastern suburbs that caused more than $100,000 worth of damage, setting a car alight and spray-painting dozens of slurs, allegedly breached his bail eight times in six days. Mohammed Farhat is the alleged principal accused and organiser of a spate of malicious acts in Woollahra last November, with police claiming the 21-year-old paid $1000 to an accomplice named Thomas Stojanovski to be his lookout as he sprayed hateful slogans such as f--- Israel and PKK is coming on 10 vehicles and four buildings, including Matt Morans Chiswick restaurant. A car allegedly set alight by Mohammed Farhat. Credit: NSW Police Thats according to Crown submissions opposing Farhats release on bail in the Supreme Court, which claim Farhat was also involved in igniting a silver Ford Ranger with petrol in jerrycans he bought from a petrol station, sparking flames up to three metres high and causing damage to a nearby vehicle. In opposing Farhats release on bail, the prosecutor noted the seriousness of the allegations, submitting that they, combined with his Hezbollah neck tattoo, disclose a detailed plan for a politically motivated set of offending and a risk of danger to the Jewish community. 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 Its typical that when someone raises a valid point about our immigration levels the facts are dismissed or people are called racists (Marchers were scared by numbers that dont even exist, September 3). Between 2014 and 2024-25 Australias population increased by four million people. An increase exceeding 16 per cent. The majority of those were immigrants. It doesnt matter who they are or where theyre from, that is an unsustainable number of additional citizens. No country could/should have to absorb that percentage increase in population in such a short time. The governments, state and federal, are blamed for housing shortages. No building program could keep up with that level of new arrivals. Successive federal governments have taken their eye off the ball in tracking our population increase. Australia is obviously a targeted destination for people seeking a new life, and this means governments can afford to be selective in terms of overall numbers, what skills they possess and what other benefits they may offer the country. We dont need an ongoing free-for-all. The government needs a plan. Have they got the skills to develop one? Stewart Copper, Maroubra Anti-immigration march in Belmore Park in Sydney on Sunday. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone Alan Gamlens article should be compulsory reading for every sovereign citizen who is angry about mass migration. To move to Australia in 1970, I had to pay the outrageous fee of 10 pounds. I didnt realise it at the time, but another qualifier was being in possession of white skin. The White Australia Policy was abolished shortly afterwards. These days its far more expensive to migrate to Australia, with applications for a standard partner visa starting at $9000. Nick Franklin, Katoomba For some reason, if you want to rouse the populace, just bring up immigration. It is a fail-safe rabble-rouser. And in a country that is a migrant nation, where 50 per cent of us were born overseas. A country where we are not even having enough children to maintain our Australian Culture; if it were not for migration, our population would be declining, as would our economy and our standard of living. Australia is one of the most successful countries in the world at incorporating people of all ethnic backgrounds into our wonderful community. Michael McMullan, Avoca Beach A lot of Australians were very disappointed with our prime ministers words about the some of them are good participants at the so-called Marches for Australia. Good people do not join a march when neo-Nazis are running the show. You cant be half in half out. And ignorance is not an excuse. You stay away. Albanese imitating Donald Trump is not a good look. Trump wanted us to believe there were also good people marching with the Ku Klux Klan at Charlottesville. Albaneses response showed a lack of leadership and thoughtlessness, and did nothing to reassure Australias migrant communities. Pathetic really. Something you would expect from our Coalition but not a Labor leader. Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill Right to speak In a democracy, one cannot silence people of opposing opinion by making the expression of contrary opinion a crime. One cannot destroy hate by being hateful oneself. It is those in power who are fuelling hate (PM warns opponents against fuelling hate, September 3). Many a person today not only feels abandoned by government but actually feels oppressed by the state. People must be allowed to speak, not condemned. As long as governments fail to respect people and to understand their differing points of view, the problem of conflict in a diverse community will only grow. Ross Drynan, Lindfield Advertisement Katter unworthy Bob Katters behaviour has always made me cringe. Now reports reveal he is a bludger politician, as he often does not attend parliament (Katters a piece of work, but he often doesnt show up there, September 3). Voters in his electorate need to think before they vote. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission should suspend him. Australians expect to hold their heads up high for our representatives to uphold our values of behaviour in debate, of listening and responding with respect. Katter continues to show he is unworthy of votes. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong How much should we cater to Katter? Credit: Nine News I do not condone violence or threats of violence. But imagine if Big Bob Katter, the Kennedy Seat Mauler, had taken a swing at the younger, fitter journalist. The younger may have dodged or blocked the punch. In either case, Bob probably would have lost his footing and broken a hip or similar. Bob, in the words of the bard, for octogenarians, discretion is the better part of crankiness. Kate Coates, Wangi Wangi Jenna Price exposes the critical statistic that Bob Katter has failed to vote, on behalf of the electors of Kennedy, in any division since the commencement of this current parliament. He also failed to vote 70 per cent of the time last year. It would be mind-boggling to know how seldom Katter votes in divisions over a full term of a parliament, but it certainly isnt doing the job of representing the views of the voters in Kennedy. Surely the Speaker of the House of Representatives has powers to reprimand Katter over his frequent non-attendance. Mark Berg, Caringbah South Senator Sarah Hanson-Youngs reasonable call (Calls for action over Katter outburst, September 3) for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission to censure Bob Katter over his threatening outburst at a journalist is about heeding the wise advice that We are judged by what we let pass by. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood Sanctions strategy Advertisement Yulia Navalnaya suggests sanctioning individual members of Putins corrupt autocratic regime, obviously including him (Yulia Navalnaya is in Australia with a blunt message about Putin, the president who murdered her husband, September 3). Sanctions tend to work better on smaller, less militarised countries whose economic resources are limited, and whose assets residing overseas can be frozen, in the style of Sergei Magnitsky, the Russian tax adviser who exposed corruption and misconduct by Russian government officials. Unless these circumstances prevail, how can applying sanctions on Russian individuals be expected to work, especially when most of their assets are, for all practical purposes, out of reach? Russia is heavily militarised, resource rich and vast. Russia has powerful allies in China, North Korea and India. A concerted effort to apply targeted economic and trade sanctions could spark the kind of revolution needed to oust Putin and hopefully lead to a normal Russia. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay Timor shame Your correspondent (Letters, September 3) rightly shows the levels of sacrifice made by the Chinese and the Russians in World War II, but proportions are also essential in understanding history. The average wartime deaths as a percentage of their 1939 populations shows China losing 3.38 per cent, the Soviet Union 13.7 per cent and Australia 0.58 per cent. Timor-Leste (then Portuguese Timor) lost 11.45 per cent. Portugal was neutral during the war, and it is debatable whether the Japanese would have invaded the eastern half of the island of Timor in February 1942 had Australia not done so two months beforehand. What is certain is that the Timorese sided with the 700 Australians guiding, nursing, befriending them. We pulled out after 14 months, leaving the Timorese to the mercy of thousands of Japanese. No wonder one of our returned men said to me, The only people I cant look in the eye are the Timorese. Sister Susan Connelly, Croydon PM has to acknowledge t-word Ross Gittins identifies two of the major problems facing the nation (PM should go if hes lost his bottle, September 3). He might also add funding the NDIS, increasing defence spending and caring for an ageing population. All cost money, and it has to come from somewhere, namely in the form of tax. John Howard provided two significant examples that Mr Albanese would do well to consider. The first was the introduction of the never ever GST and the second was WorkChoices. Only one lost Howard the next election. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls Anthony Albanese: As good as ever, or time to go? Credit: Alex Ellinghausen As someone who would know, I wholeheartedly agree with Ross Gittins that there is no shame in being past it. But the statement begs the question: is Prime Minister Albanese past it? Just because he leads a Labor government does not rationally mean he needs to be, day in and day out, locked into pursuing reform for reforms sake. There is much more to being a prime minister than that. Sometimes the astute thing to do is to be steady as she goes, especially, I might suggest, in a world, and country, that are increasingly fuelled by war, hatred and violence. There is much to suggest of late that Anthony Albanese is far from past it. His careful navigation of Australias position on the two-state solution and recognition of Palestine, his measured approach to what was, frankly, Mr Netanyahus abuse, his prompt and decisive action against Iran and his firm, methodical denunciation of last weekends racist tirades all demonstrate that far from being past it, Albanese is the leader we need right now. It just goes to show that once every 30 or so years even I must disagree with Ross Gittins. Rob Reitano, Lane Cove West Advertisement The Albanese government promised major reforms but is dragging its feet. Albos steady-as-she-goes approach is wearing thin, even with Labor supporters. It may have worked for the tortoise, but slow and steady is overrated. The Coalition will scream blue murder, no matter what is proposed so what? There is wide support for action on climate change, health, education, housing and taxation. Can we please get on with it? Graham Lum, North Rocks Agreed, Ross; ego may not be a dirty word, but mention tax and our leaders are MIA (with apologies to Skyhooks). Michael Blissenden, Dural Bondi alternatives The people (Bondi neighbours lose battle over parking plan, September 3) planning to spend over $300,000 each to build an underground garage might consider investing the money and using the income to pay for all necessary transport costs. Owning a car also involves costs, and Bondi residents have more than adequate public transport. Penelope Graham, St Peters Merry migrants If we cant agree on what well planned looks like (Letters, September 3), try Australia House London in the 1960s. Their officials made it clear that Australias immigration regime balanced population increase against demands upon infrastructure, employment opportunities, housing, education, hospitals, environment, transport and therefore prospered assimilation. That common people could end up in paradise at the ends of the earth, and within weeks employ their skills, have a mortgage, the beach, car, rescue mongrel, magpies demanding breakfast, attend schools and actively integrate now seems miraculous. European immigrants were not the prey to be exploited in competition with local and foreign property speculators (and their agents). It seemed that everyones objective was to forget World War II and build a better life for all children. Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic) Aussie Joe had a go Advertisement Aussie Joe was a proud Australian fighter who has hit the canvas for the last time (Aussie Joe Bugner, who fought Ali, dies, September 3). Our adopted son has left the ring and entered our glorious folklore. Britains loss of his righteous and harmonious fists was our gain. In the best of Australian traditions, he had a go. Repeated concussions can predicate dementia and both onsets have now sadly claimed him. Athletes and military strategists should both heed Mike Tysons sage mantra: A well-aimed blow can thwart the cleverest plan. Vale to a warrior we can also claim as our own. Mike Fogarty, Weston (ACT) Heavyweight boxer Joe Bugner. Credit: AP Train the jobless The simple facts are that house prices are too high in relation to salaries, too many tax benefits are applied to the wealthy and Australian cities are beyond their capacity to support the population. There is no simple solution, but negative gearing needs to be cancelled. Not many realise how this works. If you have an investment property and you have a loss, you can apply that to reduce tax on income from other sources. It should only apply to the investment and be applied to reducing capital gains when the property is sold. Further capital discounts need to be removed. Franking credits were introduced to offset against income tax. The Liberals foolishly legislated them to be paid in cash. Hence, a person paying no tax got a cash payment. That must go. Future migration needs to be settled in country areas. Businesses must train their employees and stop relying on migrants to fill positions. We have many unemployed who need training. Barry OConnell, Old Toongabbie Overly familial We can assure your correspondents (Letters, September 3) that we are related by marriage and have achieved a daily double of letters published previously. We never collude, but will admit to a (mostly) friendly rivalry. Robert and Lorraine Hickey, Green Point I believe that, on one day, the Herald did publish one of the Alison Stewarts in Letters and the other in Column 8. I only keep clippings of my contributions so my files couldnt confirm that. Alison Stewart, Waitara Advertisement Plans for a towering new apartment complex have prompted a strong backlash from some parents at a nearby school, who believe construction would overwhelm already struggling infrastructure and put kids at risk. The development proposal for 33 Vulture Street is 16 storeys tall, comprises about 132 units, and includes two floors of retail space and a rooftop pool. It would be built directly across the road from the entrance of West End State School. Seleneah More and Vanessa Bertagnole outside West End State School, opposite the 33 Vulture Street site. Credit: William Davis Overcrowding is a big concern, Vanessa Bertagnole, who heads the Parents and Citizens organisation, told this masthead from the site earlier this week. AMMAN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's remarks on West Bank "annexation" made on Wednesday flagrantly violate international law, escalate regional tensions, and challenge the global will for the two-state solution, Jordan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories," the ministry said, adding that the Israeli government's continued expansionist actions and its officials' "racist statements" incite "cycles of violence and conflict," and threaten the security and stability of the entire region. The Israeli "occupation" is the root of the conflict and the source of regional instability, it noted, condemning Israel's "policies of forced displacement in the occupied Palestinian territories." The only path to achieving regional security and stability lies in ending the Israeli "occupation" and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, it said. Earlier on Wednesday, Smotrich unveiled to a press conference in Jerusalem an Israeli proposal to annex 82 percent of the occupied West Bank to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. "It is time to apply Israeli sovereignty" in the West Bank, he said, adding he wants "maximum territory and minimum (Palestinian) population." Israel's state-owned Kan TV News has reported that Israel is considering annexing the West Bank to Israeli sovereignty in response to the intention of several European countries to recognize the State of Palestine in the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. Meanwhile, the Times of Israel reported Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to convene a ministerial meeting on Thursday, including Smotrich, on applying Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. An Uber driver was found semi-conscious with multiple stab wounds to her face, neck and back by a Westfield shopping centre security guard in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The 32-year-old woman may have been lying severely injured in her car for between one and two hours, police suspect, before the security guard found her about 1.25am and raised the alarm. Her sole passenger and alleged attacker booked the Uber ride from a Hope Island address to the Coomera shopping centre, police said. Investigations led detectives to a 16-year-old boy in Coomera, who was taken for questioning about 11am on Wednesday and later charged. The League thrives wherever there is discord, dissension, frustration, fear, resentment and financial hardship, Boswell said. Over a six-pack of beer at that long-ago party in Wodonga, I told Gibson that if he knew what was good for him and his career, hed run a mile from anything to do with the League and their hangers-on. He feigned interest and said hed look into it. Mel Gibson appeared on Ray Martins Midday Show in 1987. Credit: Artwork: Monique Westermann Shortly after, he went on the Nine Networks Midday Show with Ray Martin to rave about how Australia was selling itself off to foreign interests, borrowing millions from international bankers in order to slip a quid to places like Red China and Vietnam so they could compete unfairly against Australia. The Leagues and LaRouches boosters must have very nearly wet themselves with glee. Taylor got 8.2 per cent of the vote in Liberal-held Indi, or 5412 first-preference votes. A fair clutch of people, clearly, were open to a fringe message retailed by an actor. Loading Gibson later moved to the United States, where in 2006 he made headlines by allegedly ranting at a Los Angeles policeman while drunk that the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world, and demanding of the policeman: Are you a Jew? He later apologised and insisted he was no antisemite. These days, he is a hand-picked envoy of US President Donald Trump, charged with keeping an eye on Hollywoods film industry to ensure it does the right thing for Trumps America. Gibson was chosen alongside fellow Trump supporters Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight. Surprise, surprise, surprise. While Gibson was helping spread the word of the far right around north-east Victoria all those years ago, a woman named Jennifer McCallum, founder of People Against Communism, settled in a farmhouse near Wangaratta and began spruiking her latest cause: People Against the One World Government. Loading The One World Government was the aim of an international Jewish conspiracy, she proclaimed. It seemed no big step from the Nazi belief in an international Jewish conspiracy, which was used as an excuse for the Holocaust. Not at all, McCallum insisted why, she supported good Christian Jews. McCallums husband had even more interesting views. He confided that UFOs were experimental aircraft held deep underground near Alice Springs and released only at night. And yet, Jennifer McCallum had no problem filling country halls for her lectures about the so-called One World Government threat. North-east Victoria, of course, is not much different to many country areas. The vast majority of those who live there would recoil at the insidious propaganda of the old League of Rights and the absurd bluster of the McCallums. Nevertheless, those susceptible to conspiracy theories and the fear of some invisible threat from forces beyond their control were ready-made for the embrace of ideologies that reject authority and even reality as we know it. Groomed, you might say, by the likes of the League (in league with Mel Gibson) and McCallum. When the COVID-19 pandemic caused governments to lock down communities and restrict citizens movements, the ingredients for a full-scale exploration of alternative realities slotted into place for many of these people. The big anti-vaxxer and anti-lockdown rallies introduced thousands to the idea that it made sense to reject a world controlled by government edict, conventional laws and old beliefs. The so-called sovereign citizens, or freedom movements, were waiting. Boswells discord, dissension, frustration, fear, resentment and financial hardship combined and mutated within what might be called a perfect storm. All over the country, small encampments of the newly radicalised began settling in, holding it to be self-evident that unseen forces manipulate events for covert purposes; that everything is connected; that nothing happens by chance; and that they have privileged access to such knowledge, unlike ordinary people (sheeple), just as Gibson, in league with the League, and McCallum, had explained. The father of an 11-year-old boy mowed down and killed when a driver careered through his primary school fence is calling for legislative change after his sons killer walked free from court with a $2000 fine. With red eyes, Michael Davey stood on the steps of the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday with his wife, Jayde, and said the lives and safety of other children were at stake without urgent change. Michael and Jayde Davey leaving the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Credit: Penny Stephens We love and miss our son Jack beyond measure. Regrettably, nothing we say will bring him back, he said. This process has highlighted the inadequacies in the laws governing careless driving and absence of an appropriate charge for the type of driving that occurred in this case. A high-speed police chase across Melbourne ended in dramatic scenes on the Monash Freeway on Thursday morning, with six young men arrested after a violent home invasion. The multi-hour chase brought peak-hour traffic to a standstill near Berwick, with all outbound lanes of the Monash Freeway closed for more than two hours. Police intercepted two vehicles and arrested six males, aged between 17 and 21, near the Princes Freeway off-ramp about 8.30am. Police made several arrests after a police pursuit on Thursday morning. Credit: Nine News The arrests followed an aggravated home invasion in Rosebud about 2.50am, where a group of youths allegedly forced entry into a home on Bilbul Avenue. Armed with two firearms and a knife, the group allegedly threatened a man and woman who had barricaded themselves in a bedroom. The man and woman, who were forced to hand over around $1000 in cash, both sustained minor injuries during the incident, police said in a statement. Pascoe said Sewell was unemployed, had recently been evicted from his Wantirna South home and was staying between a holiday campervan and his in-laws Balwyn home with his two young daughters, aged two and eight months. He described the National Socialist Network as a neo-Nazi political organisation with white supremacist and anti-immigration ideology. In addition to being charged over the Camp Sovereignty attack, Sewell is also facing fresh charges relating to the organisations August 9 event, in which police allege 200 neo-Nazis, led by Sewell, marched through the CBD and Bourke Street Mall dressed in black, carrying banners and chanting. Neo-Nazis march through Melbourne on August 9. About 12.45am, police allege a man ran at Sewell and spat on the ground near him before punches were thrown. Other National Socialist Network members then knocked the victim to the ground, pulled away a bystander, and kicked the man in the head. The victim was taken to hospital. Sewell has been charged with assault and committing an indictable offence while on bail over the incident. On August 31, Sewell spoke on the steps of state parliament at an anti-immigration rally, which was also attended by other National Socialist Network members. There was also a counter-demonstration and the weekly pro-Palestine rally in the city, and groups clashed in the streets. After most of the groups left, police allege a group of about 30 National Socialist Network members, led by Sewell, descended on Camp Sovereignty, a sacred site for the Indigenous community in Kings Domain. The court heard Sewell had allegedly instructed the group to charge up a 30-metre hill towards the camp and attack occupants. There, camera footage allegedly showed members attacking people, including holding two people down while another was kicked, while others were struck with a pole. Camp Sovereignty is a sacred site for the Indigenous community in Kings Domain. Credit: Penny Stephens Sewell allegedly punched one man while fellow neo-Nazi Nathan Bull, who has also been charged, is alleged to have kicked another. One victim was allegedly hit while attempting to retrieve a drum that was damaged in the melee, while a woman was hospitalised and required staples to close a scalp wound. Police are now working to identify at least 10 further alleged offenders. Sewell was arrested on Tuesday and charged with more than 20 offences, including assault and violent disorder as the alleged main offender. At the time, the court heard, Sewell was already on two counts of bail and facing charges of allegedly intimidating a police officer and his family, and breaching intervention orders, which he is currently contesting. The detective said other allegations that remained before the courts include behaving in an offensive manner at the Eureka Stockade near Ballarat on December 3, 2023, and at the Chinese consulate in Toorak on October 26, 2024. Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell gatecrashed Jacinta Allans press conference on Tuesday. Credit: Nine News In providing examples of Sewells alleged escalating behaviour, Pascoe said the accused had attended a press conference held by Premier Jacinta Allan this week when he interrupted and shouted aggressively, resulting in Allan being extracted by her security. There is police intelligence regarding the NSNs motivation and ideology. And they are very carefully watched, Pascoe said. Defence lawyer Matthew Hopkins appeared remotely from what appeared to be a house interstate, fighting reception issues throughout the hearing, and having to return using his mobile phone. He said his client maintained his innocence and that during the Bourke Street Mall incident, he had been defending himself from an unprovoked attack. Hopkins also suggested the Camp Sovereignty attack had been provoked by the graffitiing of cars. In pushing for bail, he said Sewell was not on bail currently for any physically violent offending and had a history of always attending court. Hopkins then hit out at the polices terminology, telling the magistrate his client had a constitutional implied right of political communication. Loading I do note for many, many decades in this country there was a white Australia policy, Hopkins said. [There is] an implied right to defend ones political views. Authorities say a fire that gutted dozens of small businesses, many family-run and owned, in Perths north overnight was not deliberately lit. More than 130 emergency responders, including police, paramedics and firefighters, and 25 fire trucks, attended the scene at the Morley Markets, on the corner of Bishop and Progress streets, after the fire sparked around 12.30am. Firefighters on scene during the early hours of the morning. Credit: Peter Nguyen The blaze destroyed the 5000-square-metre building. It was initially thought by both police and emergency services the fire was deliberately lit with reports of CCTV of two men throwing something in a shop window, but officers confirmed on Wednesday afternoon new information had since come to light. West Australian Police are launching a new search for missing gold prospector Barry Podmore. This masthead understands the new search, which was originally scheduled for earlier this year, is set to begin on Thursday after it was derailed in July by the case of missing backpacker Carolina Wilga. Barry Podmore (inset) and his car. Credit: Police It is understood police are acting on new information they have received, including the possible search area. Podmore was prospecting near Karroun Hill, about 310 kilometres north of Perth and on the edge of the states Wheatbelt region, when he went missing in December last year. Australia could have fixed four-year parliamentary terms and an increase in the number of federal MPs under a major shake-up of the political system put on the agenda by Special Minister of State Don Farrell. After Labors record election victory, the Albanese government will examine rolling out once-in-a-generation changes to the democratic process that have been avoided because the proposals have previously proved controversial. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with his Special Minister of State Don Farrell. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Albanese is the first Labor prime minister since Bob Hawke to command such a large parliamentary majority and would follow in his footsteps if Labor again pursues fixed terms, which exist in many other countries and Australian states. A referendum would be required to extend the length of parliamentary terms, but their dates could be fixed via a regular law. Increasing the number of electorates would only require legislation, though it could trigger accusations that the government was trying to give itself more MPs. This could be countered by phasing in the new electorates over a longer time frame. A partisan fight has erupted over plans for another cohort of wives and children of Islamic State fighters to return to Australia after being stranded in Syria, with the opposition demanding more transparency from the Albanese government. The government insists it is not organising a rescue mission to bring home the 40 estimated remaining Australians in north-east Syria, but extensive government support and preparation would be needed to enable their return. The Australian reported on Tuesday that more than a dozen women, children and young men are set to be evacuated from Al Roj camp in Syria and brought to NSW and Victoria before Christmas in a secret operation. Dozens of Australians, who are relatives of former Islamic State fighters, are stranded at al-Roj refugee camp in northern Syria. Credit: Save the Children Those reports are not accurate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said during parliamentary time, a claim repeated by Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Former state premier Daniel Andrews clearly just doesnt give a stuff any more about what people think. Footage of the former Victorian leader shaking hands with the Chinese Communist Partys supreme leader, Xi Jinping and then posing with Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-un is not just an opportunity to try out some jokes about Dictator Dan. Its actually quite serious. Andrews was present for Chinas celebration of 80 years since Japans surrender at the end of World War II. Tanks, troops and fighter jets rolled by as world leaders, including Putin and Kim, watched. Canberra kept its ambassador away, sending a lower-level diplomat instead. The air defense weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A series of China's air defense weapons, including HongQi-20, HongQi-19 and HongQi-29, made an appearance in China's V-Day military parade on Wednesday. These systems are capable of multi-phase and multi-layered missile interception, as well as air defense at long, medium and short ranges. The air defense weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The air defense weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) The air defense weaponry formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Arguing Australia has too many elected representatives has been part of the nations political discourse forever. Take this short poem printed in the Cessnock Express and Mining and Farming Representative from 1905, when the author Steele Grey took umbrage at plans to pay the states politicians. We have politicians weighty, And we have, them tall and small, But perhaps wed get along as well, If we had none at all. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese played down the prospect of making the parliament bigger during this term on Wednesday but the idea has merit. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen While US President Donald Trump has recently ruminated that American voters might be open to a dictator, its pretty clear most Australians still want the right to vote on those who represent them at the local, state and federal levels. A horror serving day and an inspired Felix Auger-Aliassime have combined to cruel Alex de Minaurs dream of reaching a maiden major semi-final at the US Open. Playing in a sixth grand slam quarter-final and with his best opportunity to make a deep run, de Minaur served to force a fifth set, but bowed out 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) in a heartbreaking four-plus-hour defeat. Alex de Minaur lost his US Open quarter-final in four sets to Felix Auger-Aliassime. Credit: Getty Images The match was not always pretty, and both players battled obvious nerves, but there were still a swag of highlight-reel shots and tense exchanges in a captivating contest. It will be 25th-seeded Auger-Aliassimes second semi-final at Flushing Meadows, and first in four years, as his resurgence continues. World No.8 de Minaur will have to wait until at least next years Australian Open for another chance to make the final four at a major. ChatGPT-maker OpenAI will introduce parental controls, a major change to the popular chatbot. The move comes a week after the California family of a teen who died by suicide, alleged in a lawsuit that the AI-powered app encouraged their son to hide his intentions. OpenAI said in a blog post on Tuesday that, from next month, it would offer tools that allow parents to set limits for how their teens use the technology, and receive notifications if the chatbot detects that they are in acute distress. It said it had been working on the controls since earlier this year. ChatGPT and other AI helpers are phenomenal accelerators, but, like performance-enhancing drugs, they carry hidden costs. Credit: AP Parents and mental health professionals have expressed concerns about the psychological dependency that some people, including teens, can develop on chatbots. Many users say they have built close bonds with the AI tools, but in some cases hours of chatbot use appear to have led people to develop harmful beliefs. The lawsuit filed last week by the family of 16-year-old Adam Raine against OpenAI draws on hundreds of his chats with ChatGPT in the months leading up to his death in April. The system at times offered him links to suicide helplines but at others freely discussed his thoughts about self-harm, including by analysing a photo Raine provided of the noose he used to end his life. Advertisement Reviews & adviceTrain journeys Noisy and unsophisticated, but this Chinese bullet train beats flying Justine Costigan September 4, 2025 5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share The train: China Railway The route Shanghai Hongqiao to Hong Kong West Kowloon Shanghai Hongqiao to Hong Kong West Kowloon Distance 1632 km 1632 km Operator China Railway China Railway Class First class First class Frequency Daily from Shanghai Hongqiao station at 13.53. An overnight option departs at 20.15 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. High-speed train at the platform of Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. Getty Images The journey Shanghai to Hong Kong on China Railways high-speed service, with a scheduled time of eight hours and three minutes in a 12-car G99 bullet train, hitting a top speed of 300km/h on the mainland. Advertisement Boarding Hongqiao Railway Station, Shanghai. Getty Images After a few days successfully navigating Shanghais efficient metro, I assume boarding an international train will be a breeze, but its a stressful beginning. I have an e-ticket, but China Highlights, one of several online booking platforms for foreigners, recommends getting a print-out too, so I join the queue at the ticket booth. After 20 minutes its finally my turn, and the officer tells me I dont need a paper ticket after all. Ive now lost my early arrival advantage and have to run to the boarding gates. I find the right departure gate and take a spot at the end of the line, the minutes ticking by. When its finally my turn to scan my ticket, a red light flashes. The attendant looks at my ticket then sends me to another gate. This time my ticket is accepted, and I head down the escalator to the platform, clock the Hong Kong Kowloon sign, then walk/run past 10 carriages to first class. When I finally get to my seat its two minutes to departure. The seat Advertisement First class is, strangely, a class below business class on the train. Alamy The fast trains most luxurious tickets are in business class, where spacious leather seats recline to a bed, and the ticket includes personal service, food and drinks, a screen and free Wi-Fi. This class sells out quickly, so Im in the next class down, oddly named first class. The spotless carriage has a comfortable reclining seat with footrest, pull-out table, and USB and standard power points in a 2-2 configuration. Second class has a similar look and feel with 3-2 seating. Baggage Im a convert to carry-on only, so my small bag easily fits in the space above my seat, but theres also plenty of room in the luggage storage at the end of the carriage. I keep my small backpack under the seat in front of me. Food and drink Advertisement The carriage attendant hands out complimentary bottles of water and a cute snack box with packets of crackers, spicy nuts and two types of sausage. A woman selling beautifully presented figs, strawberries and apples passes through every hour. At about 7pm other passengers are ordering meals. The options are noodles or rice. When they arrive I recognise the kind of instant noodles my kids used to eat after school. Theyre hot, salty, soupy and hit the spot. One more thing Future forward Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. Getty Images The journey starts out peacefully but as the hours pass it becomes more boisterous. Additional passengers join the carriage and no one has their ear buds in, so theres a cacophony of childrens video games, social media videos, loud conversation and some loud throat clearing and coughing. Its not the hushed, sophisticated service I anticipated, but there are loads of scenery-and-people-watching possibilities. The verdict Advertisement A super-fast, comfortable journey that takes you straight to the heart of Hong Kong, the fast train is an enjoyable alternative to flying. Related Article Train journeys Up to 350km/h: The worlds 10 fastest passenger trains Our rating out of five chinahighlights.com The writer travelled as a guest of the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. Advertisement Travel newsBali Opinion What you need to know about the new entry requirements for Bali Jenny Hewett Travel writer September 3, 2025 10:12am September 3, 2025 10:12am Save 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 27 View all comments In terms of proximity, Bali has to be one of the easiest destinations for Aussies to travel to, perhaps beaten only by Fiji and New Zealand. But the growing list of digital paperwork involved to obtain entry over the last few years has made it seem like a mission to North Korea rather than our most popular tourist destination. As a former resident and frequent visitor to Bali, Ive become an expert on how to streamline my entry into Indonesia, and regularly pass on my advice (read: archive of digital forms) to family and friends to make their visit seamless, too. New entry requirements now apply to visitors arriving at Balis main airport. Getty Images As of September 1, that arduous task has been consolidated, with the Indonesian government announcing the All Indonesia online declaration card, a one-stop-shop-style digital system that replaces each individual form and must be filled out 72 hours before your arrival. For now, it only applies for travellers entering via Balis main airport Ngurah Rai International, along with Jakartas Soekarno-Hatta International and Surabayas Juanda International. But from October 1 it will apply to all international entry points, including airports and ferry terminals. Before my last visit, the process involved four separate steps: apply for an e-visa (this allows you to use the e-gates and jump the often lengthy immigration queue); fill out both the online customs declaration form and the online SATUSEHAT Health Pass introduced since the monkeypox outbreak in 2024; and pay the Bali tourism tax. Advertisement One of the common missteps I often see on arrival in Bali is travellers who are simply unaware that you need to fill out the customs declaration form online and obtain a QR code before you arrive. This created a bottleneck of passengers around the exit who were madly trying to connect to the unreliable airport Wi-Fi to fill out the form on their phones. That will no longer be an issue. Australians have made more than 800,000 trips to Bali so far this year. Getty Images So will this new system make it easier for Aussies travelling to Bali? Essentially, yes. The problem hasnt been the forms so much as the lack of consistent and accessible information around entry requirements. It will particularly make it easier and less time-consuming for families. And most noticeably, it will allow for a swifter exit on arrival, eliminating any chance of not having completed one of the steps. You must still apply for a visa and can buy a visa on arrival (VOA), but my advice is to apply for the e-visa before you travel so that you can enter via the e-gates (kids over the age of six can use them). On my last visit, I was at the baggage claim in just 15 minutes, with the e-gates cutting out a significant amount of time at immigration. Despite the recent controversy and demolishment of decades-long-established local warungs and businesses in the surf havens of Bingin and Balangan, Aussies are still flocking to Bali in record numbers. According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 832,000 Australian residents travelled to Indonesia in the first six months of this year, up 8 per cent on the same period last year. The unpopular decision to decimate the cliffside beach shacks in Bingin, which the Balinese government says have been built there illegally, is part of a wider crackdown on perceived environmental and cultural infringements across the island. Advertisement Related Article Bali Dont be a bogan: 11 ways to be a better tourist in Bali It follows a series of steps the government has taken to manage over-tourism, clean-up badly behaved tourists and push forward a glossy new image of Bali as a sustainable, high-quality destination. The island released an official list of dos and donts in 2023. It came after a string of incidents in which tourists were filmed or witnessed disrespecting sacred sites and generally behaving badly. Despite a heightened intolerance for unruly tourist behaviour, it still seems to be an issue, with some of the islands biggest Instagram accounts, including @canggu.info detailing near daily occurrences. With the recent crackdown on local warungs at Balis most iconic surf spots and earlier raids at accommodations on the island, including the shutdown of a Russia-owned luxury villa complex in Ubud in January, it looks like Balinese officials are taking the image shake-up seriously. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Bali Indonesia Opinion Jenny Hewett is a Sydney-based freelance travel writer who has lived in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and loves nothing more than being among nature and wildlife. US President Donald Trump took aim at Xi Jinping on Wednesday as the Chinese president hosted foreign leaders at a major military parade in Beijing. Trump accused Xi of conspiring against America with Russias Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America, Trump adopting a sarcastic tone posted on TruthSocial as the parade kicked off. The lavish event to mark 80 years since Japans defeat at the end of World War II has been largely shunned by Western leaders, with Putin and Kim pariahs in the West due to the Ukraine war and Kims nuclear ambitions the guests of honour. Watching the lavish military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, retired army general Mick Ryan was struck by the broad sweep of Chinese military capabilities on display. There were ballistic missiles, lasers, fighter jets, underwater drones, tanks and even robot wolves. Most of the weapons and platforms were not brand-new, but generally, every land, air and sea platform was more modern than that in the inventories of Western military organisations, Ryan wrote on his Substack soon after the event. An advanced GJ-11 unmanned combat aerial vehicle on display at the Beijing parade. Credit: Bloomberg The PLA displayed an array of modern offensive and defensive capabilities, all of which would be useful in a Chinese military campaign against Taiwan or other regional adversaries, Ryan said following the parade. Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institutes international security program, agreed that military planners in Washington, DC and Canberra would be unnerved, if not necessarily surprised, by the assets on show. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un were caught on a hot mic discussing how people could live to 150 and even become immortal. The three dictators discussion was caught on a live-stream as they led a group of other non-Western leaders to watch the military parade in Beijing on Wednesday. The despot rulers of China, Russia and North Korea talked about how biotechnology could result in humans living to 150 years old. Putin then suggested that repeated organ transplants could even mean people living forever. The Pentagon has extended a contentious review of the AUKUS pact and appears unlikely to deliver any findings until the end of the year, dragging out the doubts about the Trump administrations position on the pact. Loading Starmer and his ministers have stepped up their support for the agreement, most recently when Defence Secretary John Healey signed an AUKUS treaty with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in Geelong last month. Macron is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris ahead of the meeting of the coalition of the willing on Thursday, local time. The leadership summit comes as the Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, meets his European counterparts this week to discuss military assistance, including air surveillance, training and tanks. The Defence chief arrived in London on Tuesday, local time, and confirmed that Australian military planners were part of the discussions with NATO defence officials about operational support for any decisions taken at the coalition summit. Were involved in the planning, and we will wait until there is a peace deal of some sort, and then wait for our governments direction on how it wants to handle it, he told reporters in London. Albanese was an early supporter of the coalition when Macron and Starmer formed the group at the start of this year, although he made no specific military commitment and instead said he would consider the options for support. The initiative sparked a domestic political row when then-Liberal leader Peter Dutton said that basing troops in Europe was the wrong decision for Australia. Albanese has not promised Australian troops to Ukraine, but the Australian Defence Force has personnel in Europe assisting Ukraine. Australia has delivered $1.5 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, including a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft that began surveillance flights last month. Macron announced the Thursday summit at the start of this week, in a sign of the urgent moves among European leaders to show support for Ukraine, in the hope that Trump would apply more pressure on Putin to agree to a peace deal. Loading Together with our partners, and in coordination with NATO, we will work to define robust security guarantees for Ukraine, Macron said. We will also review Russias stance, as it persists in its war of aggression and continues to reject peace. Recent meetings of the coalition have included leaders from outside Europe, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Albanese. An Australian government source confirmed Albanese would join this weeks meeting and also confirmed that planning was underway for the visit to the UK, although details were not finalised. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday that Ukraine needed unbreakable backing from allies to ensure that Russia would honour any peace deal and not threaten Ukrainian territory again after a deal. Jones said defence officials had been involved in the coalition since it began early this year and had deployed planners from Defence headquarters, along with military staff from the Australian High Commission in London. In the normal way of prudent planning, we would have a range of options from which the government can choose, and Im not going to disclose that before the government has had a chance to consider those options. Jones, who commanded several warships before being elevated to Chief of Joint Operations last year, would not comment on whether he believed more military help should be sent to Ukraine because he said this was a decision for political leaders. He said Ukraine had received most of the Abrams tanks Australia promised last year, and he acknowledged that the Bushmaster armoured vehicles were a great capability but would not say if more should be sent. PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on September 3, 2025. The Public meeting, which adjourned on August 21, 2025, will be reconvened on Wednesday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs will be in attendance. The agenda point is: Deliberations on the pressing matters related to GEBE: Update on the status, timelines, and disbursement of the long-awaited promised relief measures; Update on GEBE Supervisory Board for clarity on the current composition, mandate, and operational status of the Supervisory Board as well as any recent or pending decisions impacting corporate governance; Update on unrest by middle management to remove the CEO by a specific date, in particular, a detailed briefing on the governments position, planned interventions, and anticipated implications for the companys stability. (IS/1317/2024-2025 dated August 13, 2025). This meeting was requested by MP O.E.C. Ottley, MP F.A. Lacroes, MP L.C.J. Lewis, MP D.T.J. York, MP E.J. Doran, and MP A.M.R. Irion. Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the House rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, and the audio via the internet www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx NEW DELHI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least three people died and nearly 22 were injured when a speeding vehicle rammed into a religious procession on the occasion of "Ganesh Visarjan" in Jashpur area of India's central state of Chhattisgarh, police said. The incident occurred late on Tuesday night. The dead included two women and a man. Some of the injured were said to be in a serious condition. The vehicle driver was nabbed by the people at the scene. ~Minister Richinel Brug implements controversial work permit requirements as locally born French Saint Martin workers struggle with retirement benefits.~ PHILIPSBURG: A brewing labor crisis on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten has exposed decades of administrative failures that have left locally born workers without pension benefits, while highlighting the complex cross-border employment dynamics on the divided island. The controversy centers around new measures introduced by Minister of VSA Richinel Brug, who has blocked French nationals born on Saint Martin from working on the Dutch side unless they are properly registered. However, critics argue the policy was implemented without adequate consultation or consideration of its economic impact. Years of Pension Problems For years, locally born Saint Martiners who worked for businesses like Mullet Bay have found themselves empty-handed upon retirement. The issue stems from workers not being registered with SZV (Social and Health Insurance), which prevents them from collecting their AOV pension benefits despite having served for decades. "The fact that the Division of Labor Affairs had advised previous ministers to regulate these locally born Saint Martin residents and nothing was done shows how politicians are not working in the best interest of their people," said one political observer. The administrative gap has created a generation of workers who contributed to the local economy throughout their careers but cannot access the pension system they helped fund. Hasty Implementation Draws Criticism Minister Brug now faces intense scrutiny for failing to inform the Council of Ministers about his intention to block French nationals from working on Sint Maarten without proper registration. Critics describe the implementation as "haphazard" and warn of serious consequences for local businesses. The country's airport and other critical businesses are reportedly feeling the immediate impact of these sudden regulatory changes, raising concerns about the Dutch side's economic stability. Reciprocity Gap Widens Divide A major concern highlighted by politicians is the lack of reciprocity between the two sides of the island. While French nationals have traditionally worked on the Dutch side, residents of Dutch Sint Maarten cannot work on the French side under current arrangements. This one-sided employment flow has created additional tensions, particularly as French citizens working on Sint Maarten are allegedly not declaring their income to Dutch tax authorities while simultaneously collecting social benefits from the French government. "We have informed our French counterparts that they need to address the matter of reciprocity," several politicians stated, indicating ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the imbalance. Call for Comprehensive Solutions The current crisis underscores the need for coordinated policy-making that protects local workers while maintaining economic stability. The pension registration issues affecting locally born workers require immediate attention to prevent further retirees from falling through administrative cracks. Meanwhile, the cross-border employment dispute highlights the unique challenges faced by a divided island where two different legal and administrative systems must coexist. Political observers emphasize that any sustainable solution will require collaboration between Dutch and French authorities, along with clear policies that ensure locally born workers can access the pension benefits they deserve while maintaining the economic relationships that benefit both sides of the island. As Minister Brug navigates the fallout from his registration requirements, the broader question remains: how can Saint Martin create a labor framework that serves both local workers and the integrated economy that has developed across the island's international border? The resolution of these issues may well determine the economic future of both sides of this unique Caribbean territory. MARIGOT:--- In recent months, Quartier d'Orleans has become a focal point of tension between law enforcement and residents. Gendarmes conducting their duties in the area have increasingly faced hostility, including incidents of stone-throwing. These attacks, which have occurred even during operations aimed at addressing domestic violence cases, highlight a growing disconnect between the community and the authorities. A Troubling Trend Since the beginning of the year, reports of gendarmes being targeted while on duty have become alarmingly frequent. These incidents not only endanger the lives of officers but also hinder their ability to carry out essential tasks, such as protecting victims of domestic violence and maintaining public safety. The root causes of this tension are complex. Some residents express frustration at feeling unfairly classified or targeted by law enforcement. This sentiment has, in some cases, escalated into acts of aggression, further straining the relationship between the community and the gendarmes. Bridging the Gap In response to these challenges, the gendarmerie has initiated sporadic control operations in Quartier d'Orleans. These operations are not solely about enforcing the law but also about fostering dialogue and rebuilding trust with the community. Officers take the opportunity to engage with residents, explaining their role in ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone in the French Quarter. "We are here for the protection of the community," a spokesperson for the gendarmerie emphasized. "Our goal is to work together with residents to create a safer environment for all. Violence against law enforcement only serves to undermine these efforts." A Call for Unity The gendarmerie is urging residents to reconsider their actions and recognize the shared goal of community safety. Stone-throwing and other forms of aggression not only put officers at risk but also divert resources away from critical tasks, such as responding to emergencies and protecting vulnerable individuals. Building a stronger relationship between law enforcement and the community requires mutual understanding and cooperation. The gendarmes remain committed to their mission of serving and protecting Quartier d'Orleans, but they need the support and trust of the residents to succeed. As the gendarmerie continues its efforts to address these challenges, it is essential for all stakeholdersresidents, community leaders, and law enforcementto come together and engage in constructive dialogue. Only through collaboration can the cycle of mistrust and violence be broken, paving the way for a safer and more harmonious Quartier d'Orleans. PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the Government and people of Sint Maarten, the Prime Minister, Dr. Luc Mercelina, extends heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on his projected re-election to a second term as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Prime Minister Mercelina commended President Ali and the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) for the confidence placed in them by the electorate, noting that the outcome reflects the strength of Guyanas democratic traditions. The Guyanese people have once again affirmed their trust in President Alis vision for national development, prosperity, and unity. We recognize this moment as a new chapter not only for Guyana but for the wider Caribbean family, the Prime Minister stated. Prime Minister Mercelina reaffirmed the deep ties between Sint Maarten and Guyana, emphasizing the many Guyanese who proudly call Sint Maarten home. The Guyanese community has contributed tremendously to the social fabric, economy, and cultural diversity of Sint Maarten. Today, we share in your pride as your homeland prepares to enter this new phase of leadership, he said. The Prime Minister further expressed optimism that under President Alis renewed mandate, cooperation within the Caribbean will be strengthened, particularly in areas such as climate resilience, sustainable energy, and economic diversification. As sister nations within the Caribbean, we know that our strength lies in unity. Guyanas progress uplifts the entire region, and Sint Maarten stands ready to deepen our collaboration for the benefit of our peoples, PM Dr. Mercelina affirmed. In closing, Prime Minister Mercelina conveyed best wishes to President Ali, his government, and the people of Guyana for continued peace, stability, and prosperity in the years ahead. PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Francisco Lacroes is taking an emphatic stand for the people of Sint Maarten, demanding that government and NV GEBE address persistent failures in governance, transparency, and service delivery at the nations electricity and water provider. "Residents and businesses have endured enough delayed reforms, unclear board appointments, political interference, and mounting service challenges," MP Lacroes stated. "NV GEBE is fundamental to the well-being and future of our country, but too many recommendations from the Integrity Chamber and independent auditors remain ignored. The time for empty promises is over." MP Lacroes notes that critical reforms, such as the adoption of a Code of Conduct, appointment of a Compliance Officer and Confidential Advisor, and clear reporting frameworks, remain outstanding. Employees and customers are left in confusion, organizational trust is low, and government continues to withhold vital information about investments and board appointments from Parliament and the public. The MP further highlights recent developments: The legal disputes and delays in appointing a permanent board and C-level management have compromised the companys stability and ability to invest in infrastructure. While multimillion-dollar investments have begun including underground cable installations, upgraded water tanks, and essential capital projects, there remains a lack of transparency about oversight, execution, and community impact. Over 50,000 guilders per month have been earmarked for social relief, but much-needed government partnerships and broader concession waivers have yet to materialize. NV GEBE's proposals to provide direct relief are hindered by unclear fuel clause calculations and regulatory issues, with financial risks looming if government priorities supersede sound management. "Millions have been spent on advisory reports, audits, and customer retreats," Lacroes added. "But until the government releases a concrete plan with published criteria, deadlines, and clearly assigned responsibility, the public will continue to suffer from uncertainty, disruptions, and rising costs." MP Lacroes is calling on government and management to take the following urgent steps: Publicly commit to implementing all outstanding recommendations, with clear milestones and accountability; Ensure all board members are selected transparently based on merit, not political affiliation; Publish regular, accessible progress reports on NV GEBEs governance, performance, and integrity actions; Share all investment plans and audit findings openly with Parliament and the wider community. "If meaningful improvements are not forthcoming, I am prepared to invoke every measure at Parliaments disposal to hold decision-makers accountable," Lacroes vowed. "As MP, my responsibility is to the people. We must restore trust, protect public interests, and secure a reliable future for NV GEBE and all of Sint Maarten." Google not required to sell Chrome in antitrust victory Washington, Sept 3 (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 A US judge on Tuesday rejected the government's demand that Google sell its Chrome web browser as part of a major antitrust case, but imposed sweeping requirements to restore competition in online search. The landmark ruling came after Judge Amit Mehta found in August 2024 that Google illegally maintained monopolies in online search through exclusive distribution agreements worth billions of dollars annually. "Today's decision recognizes how much the industry has changed through the advent of AI, which is giving people so many more ways to find information," said Google vice president of regulatory affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland. "This underlines what we've been saying since this case was filed in 2020: Competition is intense and people can easily choose the services they want." Mulholland added that Google has "concerns" about how court-imposed requirements to share search data and limit distribution of services will affect user privacy. Judge Mehta's decision represents one of the most significant rulings against corporate monopoly practices in two decades and could fundamentally reshape the tech giant's future. The Justice Department called the remedies "significant." "We will continue to review the opinion to consider the Department's options and next steps regarding seeking additional relief," Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater said in a release. However, Tuesday's decision fell short of expectations from some observers who had anticipated more radical changes to Google. "It sounds like the judge felt that it was too draconian to provide some of the remedies that prosecutors or the Department of Justice wanted," said professor Carl Tobias of the University of Richmond Law School. "Google is certainly not going to be broken up, and it's not clear that its business model is going to change a whole lot." The US government had pushed for Chrome's divestment, contending the browser serves as a crucial gateway to internet activity and facilitates a third of all Google web searches. But in his ruling, Mehta warned that a Chrome divestiture "would be incredibly messy and highly risky" and said US attorneys had overreached. The case focused on Google's expensive distribution agreements, paying billions for Apple, Samsung, and other smartphone manufacturers to establish Google as the default search engine on iPhones and other devices. - 'Crippling' effects - In his decision last year, Judge Mehta said Google's default status on the iPhone allowed the company to evolve into an internet powerhouse, insulated from competitive threats. But in a surprise move, Mehta on Tuesday said an outright ban of these deals was off the table, insisting that such a prohibition could have too profound an effect on other businesses. "Google will not be barred from making payments or offering other consideration to distribution partners for preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, or its GenAI products," the judge wrote. Minutes after the decision, shares in Google parent Alphabet rocketed by 7.5 percent in after-hours trading. Apple's stock rose by more than three percent. "This is a monster win for [Apple] and for Google it's a home run ruling that removes a huge overhang on the stock," said Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities. Under the judge's order, Google must make available to "qualified competitors" search index data and user interaction information that rivals can use to improve their services. The ruling also specifically addresses the emerging threat from generative artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT, extending restrictions to prevent Google from using exclusive deals to dominate the AI space as it did with traditional search. A technical committee will oversee implementation of the remedies, which take effect 60 days after the judgment is entered. - Offensive against Big Tech - Google faces another legal case, awaiting a federal court decision in Virginia regarding its web display advertising technology business. A separate judge ruled earlier this year that Google's ad tech operations also constitute an illegal monopoly that stifles competition. These cases are part of a broader government and bipartisan campaign against Big Tech. The US currently has five pending antitrust cases against major technology companies. The original search engine case against Google, along with a separate case targeting Meta, originated during the first Trump administration in 2020. The Biden administration maintained these prosecutions while launching additional cases against Apple and Amazon, as well as a second case challenging Google. arp-gc/sla Press Release from Business Wire: Infobip (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 VODNJAN, Sept 3, 2025 (BSW) - Global communications platform Infobip has partnered with Virgin Atlantic to significantly increase online check-in rates for passengers departing from London Heathrow through an innovative WhatsApp messaging solution. Powered by Infobip's customer engagement platform Moments, this faster, more convenient check-in process improves the passenger experience while boosting operational efficiency. To encourage people to check in before they arrive at the airport, passengers receive a WhatsApp message with a direct link to the airline's app or website. For those not reachable via WhatsApp, the system automatically switches to SMS, ensuring maximum coverage. This automated approach encourages passengers to check in before they arrive at the airport, helping reduce congestion and wait times at airport desks. Once checked in, passengers receive additional helpful information such as terminal number and zone via WhatsApp. The main goal of the initiative is to increase the number of travellers checking in online before arriving at the airport. The solution has delivered impressive results. Since introducing the Infobip-powered messaging solution, Virgin Atlantic reports an 11% increase in online check-in rates. Key features include targeted messaging, automated reminders, and robust message delivery mechanisms. Simon Langthorne, Head of CRM at Virgin Atlantic, commented: "We're thrilled to see these results from our partnership with Infobip. Empowering our guests with convenient, real-time notifications via WhatsApp not only enhances the customer journey but also streamlines our airport operations. This initiative is part of our broader commitment to using smart, guest-first technology to improve every stage of the travel experience." Ante Pamukovic, President of International Business at Infobip, added: "This collaboration demonstrates how digital messaging solutions can drive tangible business outcomes and improve customer satisfaction. We're proud to support Virgin Atlantic and look forward to developing additional innovations in the passenger journey together." Virgin Atlantic intends to roll out this successful solution to other major UK airports, including Edinburgh and Manchester, later this year, reaching more passengers with a frictionless check-in experience. While WhatsApp is highly popular in the UK, Infobip's platform supports multichannel capabilities. Communications can easily be adapted in other countries or regions where platforms like RCS or SMS are preferred, ensuring airlines can reach passengers on their preferred messaging app wherever they are. About Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic is a leading British airline committed to delivering innovative services and unparalleled travel experiences from its London Heathrow hub to destinations around the globe. About Infobip Infobip is a global cloud communications platform that enables businesses to build connected experiences across all stages of the customer journey. Accessed through a single platform, Infobip's omnichannel engagement, identity, user authentication and contact centre solutions help businesses and partners overcome the complexity of consumer communications to grow business and increase loyalty. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903460043/en/ Contact Marcelo Nahime [email protected] Bojana Mandic [email protected] 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release. TEHRAN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said Wednesday that the country's oil exports rose by nearly 630,000 barrels per month during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-July 22, 2025), compared to the same period last year. Speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Paknejad said Iran faces no difficulties in selling its crude oil, according to the Oil Ministry's Shana News Agency. The minister did not disclose the current level of oil production or exports but noted that production capacity is targeted to reach 4.8 million barrels per day by March 2029. The export increase comes despite U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil and petrochemical sectors, which were tightened in 2018 after Washington withdrew from the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Separately, National Petrochemical Company (NPC) CEO Hassan Abbaszadeh said Iran produced 32 million tons of petrochemicals between March 21 and Aug. 22, 2025. Of these, 13 million tons worth 5.5 billion U.S. dollars were exported, Shana reported. Press Release from Business Wire: NuScale Power (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 CORVALLIS, Sept 3, 2025 (BSW) - NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR), the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, today announced its strong support for ENTRA1 Energy's American landmark agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of NuScale SMR capacity across TVA's seven-state service region-the largest SMR deployment program in U.S. history. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903569182/en/ This historic program is expected to deliver enough carbon-free, baseload electricity to power at least the equivalent of the entire Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, which is essential at a time when sectors such as hyperscale datacenters, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor manufacturing, and other critical infrastructure sectors are driving unprecedented electricity demand. "We are honored that ENTRA1 has selected NuScale's U.S. NRC-approved SMR technology for this historic deployment in delivering power to the TVA region," said John Hopkins, NuScale's President and Chief Executive Officer. "ENTRA1's team of energy and finance veterans brings exceptional value to our partnership-combining energy sales knowledge, investment and asset management capabilities, deep project finance expertise, and experience in delivering large-scale power infrastructure. Their experience is exactly what is required as we enter this critical next phase of commercializing and deploying NuScale Power Modules? into ENTRA1 Energy Plants?. Together, we are ready as partners to meet America's surging demand for reliable, carbon-free baseload power-powering AI data centers, critical mining, semiconductor manufacturing, and the energy-intensive industries that are driving our nation's economic future." Delivering on President Trump's Energy Vision This American landmark partnership between ENTRA1 Energy and TVA, along with the ENTRA1-NuScale partnership, directly supports our nation's energy dominance agenda and call to accelerate deployment of advanced nuclear technologies as a cornerstone of U.S. energy security. By combining TVA's longstanding experience as a community-serving utility, ENTRA1's innovative development models, and NuScale's NRC-approved SMR technology, this program strengthens American advancement in next-generation nuclear power production. NuScale remains the first and only U.S. NRC-approved SMR technology ready for commercial deployment, making this program a reality. "Energy security is national security-and dependable electricity is the lifeblood of America's future," said Skip Alvarado, ENTRA1 Energy's Chief Projects Officer. "It powers our AI data centers, fuels advanced manufacturing, and drives the critical industries that keep our nation strong. Without abundant, affordable baseload power, innovation stalls and supply chains break." About the Program Under the agreement, the program aims to deploy six ENTRA1 Energy Plants?, each powered by multiple NuScale Power Modules?, to provide up to 6 GW of firm, 24/7 baseload power within TVA's service region. ENTRA1 Energy Plants? are owned and financed through ENTRA1. NuScale's modular, factory-fabricated design offers construction efficiency, and scalability, with applications ranging from electric power generation to hydrogen production, district heating, desalination, and industrial process heat. About NuScale Power Founded in 2007, NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR) is the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, with a mission to help power the global energy transition by delivering safe, scalable, and reliable carbon-free energy. The NuScale Power Module?, the company's groundbreaking SMR technology, is a small, safe, pressurized water reactor that can each generate 77 megawatts of electricity (MWe) or 250 megawatts thermal (gross), and can be scaled to meet customer needs through an array of flexible configurations up to 924 MWe (12 modules) of output. As the first and only SMR to have its designs certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NuScale is well-positioned to serve diverse customers across the world by supplying nuclear energy for electrical generation, data centers, district heating, desalination, commercial-scale hydrogen production, and other process heat applications. NuScale and ENTRA1 Energy have a global strategic partnership, and ENTRA1 Energy is NuScale's exclusive global strategic partner for commercializing and developing NuScale SMRs. ENTRA1 Energy is the one-stop-shop and single hub for the deployment, financing, investment, development, execution, and/or management of ENTRA1 Energy Plants? with NuScale SMRs inside. To learn more, visit NuScale Power's website or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X,and YouTube. About ENTRA1 Energy ENTRA1 Energy is an American independent global energy production platform dedicated to increasing energy security by providing safe, reliable, baseload energy. ENTRA1 Energy is led by an executive team of energy, infrastructure, and finance sector veterans drawing on significant experience in the investment, development, and execution of critical infrastructure projects globally. ENTRA1 Energy is focused on producing and selling power by commercializing and deploying American nuclear and natural gas technologies in its power infrastructure assets. ENTRA1 Energy is NuScale's exclusive global strategic partner, and the two companies have an existing 50/50 joint venture company - ENTRA1 NuScale LLC. ENTRA1 Energy holds the global exclusive rights to the commercialization, distribution, and deployment of NuScale's products and services. ENTRA1 Energy is the one-stop-shop and single hub for the deployment, financing, investment, development, execution, and/or management of ENTRA1 Energy Plants? with NuScale SMRs inside. To learn more, visit ENTRA1 Energy's website or follow us on LinkedIn and X. Forward Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements (including without limitation statements "will," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans" or other similar expressions). These forward-looking statements include statements relating to strategic and operational plans, including for NuScale's E2 Centers, the role of advanced nuclear technology in energy transition, and NuScale's positioning to serve customers, capital deployment, future growth, new awards, backlog, earnings and the outlook for the Company's business. Actual results may differ materially as a result of a number of factors, including, among other things, the Company's liquidity and ability to raise capital; the Company's use of assumptions and estimates in modeling the financial impact of the Partnership Milestones Agreement; the Company's failure to receive new contract awards; cost overruns, project delays or other problems arising from project execution activities, including the failure to meet cost and schedule estimates; intense competition in the industries in which we operate; failure of our partners to perform their obligations; cyber-security breaches; foreign economic and political uncertainties; client cancellations of, or scope adjustments to, existing contracts; failure to maintain safe worksites and international security risks; risks or uncertainties associated with events outside of our control, including weather conditions, pandemics (including COVID-19), public health crises, political crises or other catastrophic events; the use of estimates and assumptions in preparing our financial statements; client delays or defaults in making payments; the failure of our suppliers, subcontractors and other third parties to adequately perform services under our contracts; uncertainties, restrictions and regulations impacting our government contracts; the inability to hire and retain qualified personnel; the potential impact of certain tax matters; possible information technology interruptions; the Company's ability to secure appropriate insurance; liabilities associated with the performance of nuclear services; foreign currency risks; the loss of one or a few clients that account for a significant portion of the Company's revenues; damage to our reputation; failure to adequately protect intellectual property rights; asset impairments; climate change and related environmental issues; increasing scrutiny with respect to sustainability practices; the availability of credit and restrictions imposed by credit facilities for our clients, suppliers, subcontractors or other partners; failure to obtain favorable results in existing or future litigation and regulatory proceedings, dispute resolution proceedings or claims, including claims for additional costs; failure by us or our employees, agents or partners to comply with laws; new or changing legal requirements, including those relating to environmental, health and safety matters; failure to successfully implement our strategic and operational initiatives and restrictions on possible transactions imposed by our charter documents and Delaware law. Caution must be exercised in relying on these and other forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, the Company's results may differ materially from its expectations and projections. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in the Company's public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the general economic conditions and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the section entitled "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Summary of Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in subsequent filings with the SEC. The referenced SEC filings are available either publicly or upon request from NuScale's Investor Relations Department at [email protected]. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation other than as required by law to update the forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903569182/en/ Contact Media Contact Chuck Goodnight, Vice President, Business Development, NuScale Power [email protected] Investor ContactRodney McMahan, Senior Director, Investor Relations, NuScale Power [email protected] 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release. Press Release from Business Wire: IQM Quantum Computers (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 ESPOO, Sept 3, 2025 (BSW) - IQM Quantum Computers, a global leader in full-stack superconducting quantum computers, today announced that it has raised $320 Million (EUR275 Million) in venture capital, bringing the total funding raised to date to $600 Million. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903805636/en/ This Series B funding round was led by cybersecurity-focused investment firm Ten Eleven Ventures, IQM's first U.S. investor, with an increased commitment level from existing Finnish venture capital and private equity company Tesi. Participation also came from several new and existing investors, including pension funds Elo Mutual Pension Insurance and Varma Mutual Pension Insurance, strategic investors companies of Schwarz Group and Winbond Electronics Corporation, and sovereign wealth funds EIC and Bayern Kapital. "This funding round will fuel our company growth, with an accelerated tech roadmap towards error corrected systems from thousand to million qubits. We also focus on strong business expansion in the U.S. and other global markets based on our attractive on-premises offerings for quantum computers and the recently announced upgrade of our cloud offering," said Dr. Jan Goetz, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of IQM Quantum Computers. "The addition of Ten Eleven as our first U.S.-based investor is a catalytic event for IQM and finding the right venture partner in the U.S.-one that could help us scale our technology and deliver value to our partners and customers-was essential. Ten Eleven's proven track record in guiding companies to category leadership and their alignment with our vision made this partnership an ideal match." With this Series B funding round, IQM will expand its commercial presence and scale its data center infrastructure and assembly lines globally. While maintaining its European leadership, this additional capital enables IQM to enhance its presence in the U.S. market and further access key global markets to serve the growing demand in IQM's products. With further investments into IQM's chip fabrication in Finland, the funding will also support research and development aimed at achieving fault-tolerant quantum computing in the near term. The advanced fab capabilities will facilitate the goal of scaling up to one million qubits, paired with quantum error reduction and correction. "Having spent decades helping scale portfolio companies, we understand how to work with forward-thinking, global teams that are pushing the boundaries of innovation. Cybersecurity and quantum share an evolving relationship characterized by common stakeholder communities. This overlap will enable us to provide high-value counsel, capital, and connections to the IQM team," said Alex Doll, Co-founder and Managing General Partner of Ten Eleven Ventures. "Ten Eleven's investment reflects our belief that partnering with companies at the forefront of the quantum era will be essential for the future of secure computing." As part of the fundraise, Alex Doll joins IQM's board of directors. "Tesi has been an investor in IQM since the very beginning, and we have had the privilege of witnessing its journey to becoming a global leader. Over the years, IQM has made great strides on its technology roadmap, production capabilities and customer deliveries which truly sets it apart from competition. We are happy that Tesi's revised investment strategy allowed us to significantly increase our investment to support IQM's next stage of growth journey", said Juha Lehtola, Director of Venture and Growth Investments at Tesi. Goldman Sachs International acted as sole placement agent for IQM on its Series B raise. About IQM Quantum Computers: IQM is a global leader in superconducting quantum computers. IQM provides both on-premises full-stack quantum computers and a cloud platform to access its computers. IQM customers include the leading high-performance computing centers, research labs, universities, and enterprises that have full access to IQM's software and hardware. IQM has over 300 employees with headquarters in Finland and a global presence in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. About Ten Eleven Ventures: Ten Eleven Ventures is the original cybersecurity-focused, global, and stage-agnostic investment firm. The firm identifies, invests in, and helps grow top cybersecurity companies addressing critical digital security needs, leveraging its team, network, and experience to build successful businesses. Since its founding, Ten Eleven Ventures has raised over U.S. $1 billion and made over 60 cybersecurity investments across various stages worldwide, including KnowBe4, Darktrace, Axis Security, Twistlock, Verodin, Cylance, and Ping Identity. For more information, please visit 1011vc.com. About Tesi: Tesi (officially Finnish Industry Investment Ltd) is a state-owned, market-driven investment company that invests in venture capital and private equity funds and directly in Finnish startups and growth companies, and to new industrial scale businesses 1according to CrunchBase data View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903805636/en/ Contact Media contact:Email: [email protected] Mobile: +358504790845www.meetiqm.com 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release. Impact of US judge's ruling on Google's search dominance Paris, Sept 3 (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 Google has escaped a breakup of its Chrome browser in a major US competition case, but the judge imposed remedies whose impact remains uncertain just as AI starts to compete with search engines. Here is what we know about how the antitrust ruling could affect the company, the wider tech sector and ordinary users of the giant's services. - What is the impact on Google? Judge Amit Mehta, who found a year ago that Google illegally maintained monopolies in online search, did not order the company to sell off its widely-used Chrome browser in his Tuesday ruling. Neither did he halt Google's agreements with companies like iPhone maker Apple or Firefox browser developer Mozilla, under which it pays them to make Google their default search engine. Instead, he ordered remedies including requirements to share data with other firms so they could develop their own search products, and barring exclusive deals to make Google the only search engine on a device or service. The ruling was "far milder than feared... (it) removes a significant legal overhang and signals that the court is willing to pursue pragmatic remedies," Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Matt Britzman commented. Google chiefs nevertheless still "disagree... strongly with the Court's intial decision in August 2024," the company's Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland said in a blog post -- hinting at a likely appeal that could go all the way to the US Supreme Court. Stock in Google parent company Alphabet surged on Wednesday as investors welcomed the ruling. - How will this affect the wider tech sector? Mehta himself noted that the landscape has changed since the US Justice Department and 11 states launched their antitrust case against Google in 2020. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence as a challenge to traditional search "give(s) the court hope that Google will not simply outbid competitors for distribution if superior products emerge," he wrote in his ruling. "Competition is intense and people can easily choose the services they want," Google's Mulholland agreed. Others in the sector were unhappy with the ruling. "Google will still be allowed to continue to use its monopoly to hold back competitors, including in AI search," said Gabriel Weinberg, chief executive of privacy-conscious search engine DuckDuckGo. Beyond Google, observers have pointed out that Apple and Mozilla are both big winners from the decision. Ending tie-ups like theirs with Google would "impose substantial -- in some cases, crippling -- downstream harms to distribution partners, related markets and consumers," Mehta wrote. "This is a huge win for Apple, but perhaps even more so for Mozilla, which may very well have died" without the cash infusions, former Google Ventures investor M.G. Siegler wrote on his blog. - What about ordinary search and AI users? In the near term, some search data will be shared by Google with competitors under the ruling -- with Mulholland saying the company has "concerns about how these requirements will impact our users and their privacy". Looking further ahead, "Google Search is in the process of being disrupted" by chatbots, Siegler said. A future where the company's flagship search product is completely displaced may yet be far off, as Google Search notched up more than 85 billion individual visits in the month of March 2024, the most recent with data available from Statista. That compares with around 700 million weekly users reported by OpenAI for its ChatGPT chatbot, the biggest-name generative AI product. What's more, Google is not barred from entering into the same kinds of distribution deals as it struck for online search to place its own AI products on partner devices or services. The company already reports 450 million monthly users for its Gemini chatbot app, and offers competitive tools in other areas like video generation. tgb-mng/lth GOOGLE Alphabet Inc. Apple Press Release from Business Wire: Armis (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 3, 2025 (BSW) - Armis, the cyber exposure management & security company, today announced that it has been named a Leader in The Forrester Wave?: IoT Security Solutions, Q3 2025. This achievement comes on the heels of Armis being named a Leader in The Forrester Wave?: Unified Vulnerability Management Solutions, Q3 2025. In this Forrester Wave?, Armis is ranked a Leader and achieved the highest scores possible in 9 key criteria. According to the report, "Armis' vision centers on delivering enterprise-wide exposure management that goes beyond IoT and OT devices. Its innovation investments and acquisitions support this goal. Its roadmap aligns with customer priorities while anticipating future needs to ensure the platform evolves alongside its clients. This forward-looking strategy fosters successful adoption and helps customers deploy the Centrix platform successfully." "We're proud to once again be recognized by Forrester as a leader and specifically highlighted by customers for our overall effectiveness, as driving business outcomes and real-world impact for our customers is our key mission," said Yevgeny Dibrov, CEO and Co-Founder of Armis. "I believe Armis also stood out as a leader for our innovation, versatility, and the breadth of our platform offering when compared to the other vendors evaluated. Armis will continue to set the industry standard for securing IoT as a critical and highly targeted asset class essential to strengthening overall security." Armis Centrix? for OT/IoT Security received the highest possible scores in the criteria of device identification & classification, artificial intelligence capabilities, vulnerability assessment & resolution, network threat monitoring, compliance mapping, vision, innovation, roadmap, and adoption. The solution is tailored to protect OT and IoT assets in industrial, critical infrastructure, and enterprise environments, enabling organizations to see, secure and manage their OT/IoT ecosystems with precision and efficiency to enhance overall security. According to the report, "Armis offers a vast inventory of device details, enabling security analysts to assess the state of discovered assets without requiring immediate third-party integration. Key features include vulnerability assessment, remediation, and robust compliance mapping to validate adherence to industry standards." The Forrester Wave?: IoT Security Solutions, Q3 2025 report evaluates 9 vendors across a vast and rigorous set of current offering and strategy criteria to help security leaders select the best-fit solution for their needs. Learn more about Armis' position in The Forrester Wave?: IoT Security Solutions, Q3 2025 here. Find more information about Armis Centrix?, the cyber exposure management platform, here. For additional analyst reports recognizing Armis, please visit our Analyst Relations webpage. Forrester does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Forrester's objectivityhere. About Armis Armis, the cyber exposure management & security company, protects the entire attack surface and manages the organization's cyber risk exposure in real time. In a rapidly evolving, perimeter-less world Armis ensures that organizations continuously see, protect and manage all critical assets - from the ground to the cloud. Armis secures Fortune 100, 200 and 500 companies as well as national governments, state and local entities to help keep critical infrastructure, economies and society stay safe and secure 24/7. Armis is a privately held company headquartered in California. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250903346921/en/ Contact Media Contacts:Rebecca CradickVice President, Global [email protected] 2025 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release. EU trade chief stalls Google fine after Trump threats Brussels, Belgium, Sept 3 (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 The EU's trade chief insisted Wednesday he fully backed the bloc's antitrust probe into Google after it emerged he hit pause on plans to fine the tech giant -- seemingly for fear of US retaliation. An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, told AFP that a political battle had broken out inside the bloc's executive after trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic this week delayed punishing the US behemoth. "Sefcovic hit the red button" on the planned fine when it was put forward for approval on Monday, the official said. The hold-up of the fine follows threats by Trump to go after Europe for regulations seeking to rein in US tech giants. The wrangling also comes as the EU is waiting for the United States to make good on a promise to lower tariffs on cars under a trade deal agreed in July. Sefcovic has been the EU's point man on the sensitive trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump's administration. "I want to underline that I fully support the antitrust investigation against Google," Sefcovic told journalists. The trade chief did not deny intervening to stop the fine, saying: "Our internal procedures exist for a reason, and using them is nothing out of ordinary." "This is a complex case that requires a thorough assessment, and every step has been taken in collegial manner," he added. "I can assure you that my priority is, and always will be, the European interest." The EU has been probing Google since 2021 over suspicions it was abusing its dominating position in the advertising market. Brussels recommended in 2023 the US company sell part of its ad services to ensure fair competition. Google has meanwhile been facing a major antitrust case in the United States. A US judge on Tuesday rejected the government's demand that Google sell its Chrome web browser, but imposed sweeping requirements to restore competition in online search. The landmark ruling came after the judge found in August 2024 that Google illegally maintained monopolies in online search through exclusive distribution agreements worth billions of dollars annually. Shares in Google parent company rose more than eight percent in trading on Wednesday. bur-adc-del/ec/rl Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China will hold a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging its commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. In Tian'anmen Square stand towering structures shaped like the Great Wall -- a symbol of the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression -- crowned with giant numerals "1945" and "2025." Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is expected to address the rally and review the parade. This will mark the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to commemorate the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The military parade through the Chang'an (Eternal Peace) Avenue is meant to send the message that "Justice prevails," "Peace prevails," and "The people prevail," according to organizers. More than 20 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will join Xi on the Tian'anmen Rostrum to watch the parade. Representatives of people who had assisted Chinese people's WWII efforts, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- are invited to the grand ceremony. Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China has designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day. China was the first country to fight against fascist aggression, and sustained the longest resistance, beginning in 1931. The country contained and engaged over 50 percent of the Japanese army's overseas military strength, eliminating over 1.5 million enemy troops. The number of Chinese military and civilian casualties amounted to 35 million, accounting for one-third of the total casualties among all countries during WWII. With immense national sacrifices, China made significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The parade is expected to demonstrate its commitment to making greater contributions to world peace and development. The parade will involve more than 10,000 military personnel, along with over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, arranged into formations according to a wartime command system. The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) new system of services and arms -- the result of military reforms under Xi's leadership -- will be put on display for the first time. The parade will showcase China's advanced armaments, including unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic weaponry. China has repeatedly stated that the PLA is capable of defending China's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. Chinese soldiers who have participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations will also march past Tian'anmen Square, marking their first appearance in a V-Day parade. China is currently the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This is also the first military parade since Xi led China to embark on a new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts. The country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035. Through the parade, China will demonstrate that under the Party's leadership, the full rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is set to be achieved. Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Bei He) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Tang Rufeng) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Shao Rui) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Soldiers get ready to fire gun salute in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) Soldiers get ready to fire gun salute in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) A serviceman makes preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lin Yu) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) The joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yang Lei) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Li Ga) Parade guards make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army make preparations for a grand gathering in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army make preparations for a grand gathering in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) This photo taken on Sept. 3, 2025 shows the preparations for a gun salute ceremony in Beijing, capital of China. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army take part in a rehearsal in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army make preparations for a grand gathering in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) I think what were now seeing is people saying we should be able to trade off the foundations for those other decisions, and Im afraid I just think that is a very dangerous road to go down, he said. 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 GAZA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 46 people were killed by Israeli attacks across Gaza on Wednesday, according to Palestinian sources. In Gaza City, 24 people, including women and children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting residential homes, whereas seven people were killed and 20 others injured in an Israeli drone strike on a crowded market in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, north of the city, Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza's Civil Defense, told Xinhua. Local eyewitnesses said Israeli drones also bombed a school housing displaced people and two ambulances inside the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood's main clinic, whereas Israeli ground troops reached the neighborhood too. In central Gaza, five people were killed by Israeli army fire while trying to obtain food near an aid distribution center at the Netzarim axis, Basal said. In southern Gaza, 10 people, including two women, were killed in Israeli attacks in Khan Younis city, Basal said. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 63,746 people and injured 161,245 others, Gaza-based health authorities said Wednesday, adding that starvation and malnutrition in Gaza have caused 367 deaths, including 131 children. The FCA is looking at whether there is more that can be done to help first-time buyers, people who are long-term renters with aspirations to get into the housing market, as well as people in later life who may have significant equity in their home but who may be income-constrained. Winners scholars henceforth will be sent on an educational trip to a hospitality school in Switzerland, one of the worlds best, and offered various opportunities across a network of restaurants, bars and hotels, including Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and the three-Michelin-starred Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire. They are also given the chance to work a state visit at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. Poppy isnt alone in what feels, for so many, like a fruitless search for employment. UK graduates are facing the fiercest competition for jobs on record, amid a stagnating labour market where the average number of applications for each vacancy has hit a record high of 140 per role. With one million applications submitted for only 17,000 graduate roles in 2024, this marked a 59% year-on-year increase, and was the highest figure recorded since 1991. Experts cite the use of artificial intelligence as a cause, with graduates using AI to apply for more roles, and employers using it to reject them en masse. Although it does not know exactly how much it has spent on the scheme, it estimates it has spent around 400 million on relocating people through ARR so far, and will spend a further 450 million. "To the people of the UK who think this Putin-loving free speech impostor and Trump sycophant will protect freedom in this country, come on over to America and see what Trump and MAGA [Make America Great Again] are doing to destroy our freedom... you might... think twice before you let Mr Farage make Britain great again." In a written statement prepared ahead of Wednesdays hearing, Mr Farage said: Somewhere on this planet of ours, innovators must remain free to build the next generation of platforms without being hamstrung by illiberal and authoritarian censorship regimes that are alien to both American and traditionally British values. The most shocking reality that were facing is that the principal architect of the international order which is the US after the Second World War is now weakening this international order, and thats something thats not going to be positive for US society or for the rest of the world especially western countries, he said. To all those at the start of their careers in the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, my message is to be bold, be ambitious, be demanding of yourselves and of your leadership, and always keep pushing to go further and faster. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who is in China to attend commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who is in China to attend commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, relations between China and Hungary are at their best in history. The successful cooperation between the two countries demonstrates that China and Europe are partners instead of rivals, Wang said, adding that the friendship between China and Hungary sets an example for China and Europe to enhance mutual trust and expand cooperation. For his part, Szijjarto said Hungary highly appreciates China for always standing on the side of peace and playing a key role in promoting world peace and stability. China is the most important cooperation partner of Hungary, and the Hungarian side looks forward to further deepening its relations with China. Cooperation between Europe and China brings about opportunities rather than risks, and regarding China as a systemic rival is the biggest misjudgement, Szijjarto noted, adding that the Hungarian side is willing to play a constructive role in promoting the development of Europe-China relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who is in China to attend commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) He said the framework they have been working on aims to build on the principles of the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, and reflect the experience of Operation Kenova, which looked at the activities of Stakeknife, thought to be the British Armys top agent inside the Provisional IRA. And we would just urge everybody, whatever the cause and protest activity there is, to do so peacefully, to not break the law and not to do so in a way that creates fear and intimidation for others. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America, Trump said in a post on Truth Social, as the event kicked off. He also highlighted the US role in helping China secure its freedom from Japan during World War Two. It also made us want to play some shows together, so we hope you can make it to one of the upcoming dates. For now, it will just be these ones but who knows where this will all lead. Nica, a new downtown Austin jazz lounge, will open Sept. 18, 2025. Aidan Loughran/Nica Nica is the timeless social club Austins been missing. Named after British-born jazz patron and Rothschild baroness, Kathleen Annie Pannonica de Koenigswarter whose nickname was "Nica" the new downtown spot comes from the duo behind Parker Jazz Club and the Elephant Room, Kris Kimura and Aaron Frescas. The club's grand opening is set for Sept. 18. The moody, Prohibition-style joint will host live jazz in the style of Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker or John Coltrane Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Guests can explore a curated wine list or sip on a handcrafted cocktail via table service. Co-founder Aaron Frescas told the Statesman that Nica, which will be located in the same building as Parker Jazz Club, befits a suave downtown evening. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Downtown Austin's newest jazz lounge Nica comes from Kris Kimura and Aaron Frescas, the duo behind Parker Jazz Club and the Elephant Room. Aidan Loughran/Nica This interview has been edited for length and clarity. American-Statesman: How have you seen the business of music change in Austin over the last decade? Aaron Frescas: Dramatically. Its not "Keep Austin Weird" anymore. There are people with money coming from outside markets. Everybody's competing for a James Beard Award. Austins trying to put itself on the map along with bigger cities in the food and beverage scene. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But theres also strategy in that evolution. Just like Nica, people are gravitating towards elevated experiences. Were offering an elevated experience, but thats not trying to win an award. The mission is just to be the coolest thing that you can do in town without having to feel like you dont belong there, or without any fear of your bartender telling you what you want, or looking at a menu you cant understand. The thing that we want for Nica that we have at Elephant Room and Parker (Jazz Club) is outstanding, welcoming service. I know that a lot of places say that, but the food and beverage industry has moved so product-focused that the hospitality piece doesnt exist anymore. We want our guests to walk in and feel like royalty. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Can we expect music at Nica to not be the centerpiece, but more so a garnish? If you watch these old gangster movies, the landscapes are these really nice nightclubs where theres fantastic music going on but more than the music is the scene. Its people interacting with each other. The whole place feels like a party. Its people seeing their friends across the room and sending drinks over. Were not going to make people sit in their seats. Were not going to tell people to shut up when the band is playing. Its a scene, its a party. Its a grown up party. Did certain movies come to mind when you were imagining Nica? We found that Nica really strongly resembles the club that Robert De Niro owns in The Score (2001), but any of those old Rat Pack- era movies all have the same vibe (as) the jazz club. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So, the goal is to have someone sitting in these booths with a gold pinky ring whispering to his crony to call someone over to his table. Hey man, that would be cool. When we talked about these booths, my vision for them was I wanted business deals to happen here. I want high rollers to come in here and order a $150 bottle of red wine Brunello or something and get drunk enough to pass a million dollars across the table under a napkin. We also want this to be a place where everybody feels comfortable so nobody feels like theyre being talked down to but at the same time we want really affluent people to feel comfortable here, too. Its a refined product. Its not a cheap product, but its not an overpriced product. Its a quality product. Theres that whole perception of value and the menu reflects that. Lets break down the name Nica. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pannonica was a Rothschild. She was the Baroness of Jazz. She left her home across the pond to come (to America) and she just fell in love with jazz and jazz musicians. She was a benefactor to so many of the important players. She was great friends with Charlie Parker. Everyone who plays jazz and knows the history knows Nica and what an important role she played. Some of those cats we would literally have never gotten to hear because they would have ended up on the streets. But she gave them beds to sleep in, paid their rent, or in some cases let them live with her. She really did an amazing thing by facilitating jazz to be what it is. We cant give her all the credit, but for the sheer number of amazing artists that she supported, she definitely deserves credit. Nica will feature a curated wine list, handcrafted cocktails, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Aidan Loughran/Nica So many Austin places are shooting for the stars right now. How are you simplifying things to the ground level? Advertisement Article continues below this ad The way that Ive watched the food and beverage industry evolve in Austin, I really feel like the guest has become such a low priority. Its like everybodys forgotten that the most important part of all this is the person sitting in the seat. If you approach this business with that person in mind, success is so much more attainable. At the end of the day, we love hanging out with each other, drinking amazing cocktails, delicious wine and amazing food. We love the camaraderie and the social aspect. So youre also here for the nine-to-fiver whos putting on a dress shirt and snappy shoes to take his girl out for a nice night on the town. Man, Ill tell you what, its the little things. You teach your staff to identify those moments. You see a couple sit down at a table, and people who have been in the industry a long time know what a first date looks like. They know what a blind date looks like. They know what an anniversary looks like. You have to identify those moments to make memories. So send them a couple glasses of sparkling wine. The ultimate accomplishment is for everyone who comes here to make a memory, because if they make a memory theyre going to keep coming back to relive that. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lets take a little gamble: how long from the time Nica opens do you think the first proposal will be? PARIS, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- France's data protection authority on Wednesday fined Google for failing to comply with regulations on online trackers. The CNIL announced it was imposing a fine of 325 million euros (378.9 million U.S. dollars) on the U.S. tech giant, according to a statement on its website. Since 2020, the CNIL has issued several penalties on companies that failed to meet legal requirements related to advertising trackers, the statement said. The CNIL added that Google also violated rules by displaying advertisements in Gmail's tabs without obtaining user consent. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollar) The exterior of Google's Bay View campus in Mountain View, Calif., is seen in 2022. Aric Crabb/Tribune News Service A federal judge on Tuesday ordered a shake-up of Googles search engine in an attempt to curb the corrosive power of an illegal monopoly while rebuffing the U.S. governments attempt to break up the company and impose other restraints. The 226-page decision from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., will likely ripple across the technological landscape at a time the industry is being reshaped by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence including conversational answer engines as companies like ChatGPT and Perplexity try to upend Googles long-held position as the internets main gateway. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kim, left, and Donny Wong, chat about the Google Pixel phone with Valerie Huertas, right, during the early opening of Googles Austin store, May 29, 2025. Google will officially open the store, located in The Domain, on May 30. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Googles new store in Austin, May 29, 2025. Google will officially open the store, located in The Domain, on May 30. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman The innovations and competition being unleashed by AI also reshaped the judges approach to the remedies in the nearly five-year-old antitrust case brought by the U.S. Justice Department during President Donald Trumps first administration and carried onward by President Joe Bidens administration. Unlike the typical case where the courts job is to resolve a dispute based on historic facts, here the court is asked to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future. Not exactly a judges forte, Mehta wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source The judge is trying to rein in Google by prohibiting some of the tactics the company deployed to drive traffic to its search engine and other services. The ruling also will pry open some of the prized databases of closely guarded information about search that have provided Google with a seemingly insurmountable advantage. Austin presence Google has had a significant presence in Austin since 2007, with a local workforce that numbered about 2,000 employees as of last year. Austin is considered one of the companys larger U.S. hubs. In March, the company confirmed plans to move into the 35-story sail-shaped tower at 601 W. Second St., one of downtowns most recognizable new office buildings, after years of delay. Google signed a long-term lease on the tower in 2018 but had yet to occupy it amid the shift to remote and hybrid work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The company has also gone through several rounds of layoffs since 2023 as part of broader cost-cutting measures, although the impact on Austin-area jobs remains unclear. In statements, Google has described the cuts as part of organizational changes aimed at making teams more efficient and focusing resources on its biggest product priorities. Earlier this year, Google also opened its first Texas retail store at Domain Northside, one of only a handful of physical locations the company operates worldwide. Beyond Austin, Google maintains offices in Dallas and Houston, a data center in Midlothian and a planned data center in Red Oak. The handcuffs being slapped on the company will preclude contracts that give its search engine, Gemini AI app, Play Store for Android and virtual assistant an exclusive position on smartphone, personal computers and other devices. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But Mehta stopped short of banning the multi-billion dollar deals Google has been making for years to lock in its search engine as the default on smartphones, personal computers and other devices. Those deals, involving payments of more than $26 billion annually, were one of the main issues that prompted the judge to conclude Googles search engine was an illegal monopoly, but he decided banning them in the future would do more harm than good. The judge also rejected the U.S. Justice Departments effort to force Google to sell its popular Chrome browser, concluding it was an unwarranted step that would be incredibly messy and highly risky. Ordered to share Partially because he is allowing the default deals to continue, Mehta is ordering Google to give its current and would-be rivals access to some of its search engines secret sauce the data stockpiled from trillions of queries that it used to help improve the quality of its search results. That is a measure that Google had also fiercely opposed, contending it was unfair and would raise privacy and security risk for the billions of people who have posed questions to its search engine sometimes delving into sensitive issues. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Justice Departments antitrust chief, Gail Slater, hailed the decision as a major win for the American people, even though the agency didnt get everything it sought. We are now weighing our options and thinking through whether the ordered relief goes far enough, Slater wrote in a post. In its own post, Google framed Mehtas ruling as a vindication of its long-held position that the case never should have been brought. The decision recognizes how much the industry has changed through the advent of AI, which is giving people so many more ways to find information, wrote Lee-Anne Mulholland, Googles vice president of regulatory affairs. This underlines what weve been saying since this case was filed in 2020: Competition is intense and people can easily choose the services they want. The Mountain View, Calif,, company has already vowed to appeal the judges monopoly findings issued 13 months ago that led to Tuesdays ruling. You dont find someone guilty of robbing a bank and then sentence him to writing a thank you note for the loot, said Nidhi Hegde, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Investors seemed to interpret the ruling as a relatively light slap on the wrist for Google, as the stock price of its corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., surged more than 7% in extended trading. That would translate into a nearly $200 billion increase in Alphabets market value, if the shares follow a similar trajectory in Wednesdays regular trading session. Other winners Allowing the default search deals to continue is more than just a victory for Google. Its also a win for Apple, which receives more than $20 billion annually from Google, and other recipients of the payments. In hearings earlier this year, Apple warned the judge that banning the contracts would deprive the company of money that it funnels into its own innovative research. The Cupertino, California, company also cautioned that the ban could have the unintended consequence of making Google even more powerful by pocketing the money it had been spending on deals while most consumers will still end up flocking to Googles search engine anyway. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Others, such as the owners of the Firefox web browser, asserted that losing the Google contracts would threaten their future survival by depriving them of essential revenue. Apples shares rose 3% in extended trading after the ruling came out. Mehta refrained from ordering a sale of Chrome because he decided there wasnt adequate proof the browser served as an essential ingredient in Googles search monopoly, making a divestiture a poor fit for this case. Chrome would have been a hot commodity had the judge forced Google to put it on the auction block. Perplexity submitted an unsolicited $34.5 billion offer to buy Chrome last month. And during court testimony earlier this year, a ChatGPT executive left no doubt that services owner, OpenAI, would be interested in be interested in buying Chrome, too. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But the judge decided forcing Google to open up parts of its search data to rivals such as DuckDuckGo, Bing, and others will offer he best and fairest way to foster more compelling competition. In doing so, Mehta still narrowed the scope of the Justice Departments request and will limit the access to Googles search index and query histories. Bobby Hill (center) runs his own Japanese-German fusion restaurant in the reboot of "King of the Hill." 20TH ANIMATION An expressive and unique kid with a love of food and performance its no surprise that Bobby Hill landed a career in the culinary arts. Hank and Peggys son finds himself stewarding the Japanese-German fusion restaurant Robata Chane in season 14 of King of the Hill, a reboot that launched on Hulu in August. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Another contributing factor to the 20-something Bobbys professional life: his work ethic, which he inherited from his father, propane salesman Hank. Fictional Arlen native Hank wasnt the only Texan who influenced Bobbys work as a chef. King of the Hill co-creator and sometime Austinite Mike Judge told former Statesman writer Joe Gross, writing for GQ, that Uchi chef-founder Tyson Cole subconsciously inspired the Bobby character. When we hit on the idea that Bobby had inherited his dad's work ethic, which is unusual for a guy his age, then it started to click, Judge told GQ. We talked about being a sushi chef as a kind of performing aspect to it. There's a guy named Tyson Cole, who started Uchi and Uchiko in Austin, and I thought, 'Bobby could be that guy. He was in my subconscious too. Thankfully, Cole has never made sauerkraut ice cream or yuzuwurst-stuffed with rice and pickled daikon like Bobby does on episode three of the new season, where the young chef defends himself against accusations of cultural appropriation and his use of Japanese binchotan, as Hank pressures him to turn to propane. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mike Judge says Uchi's Tyson Cole inspired Bobby Hill character in 'King of the Hill' reboot Ricardo Brazziell/RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL AMERICAN-STATESMAN Bobby, naturally, stands his ground. In defending his culinary choices in that episode, he says his food is not authentic Japanese or authentic German cuisine. Its authentic Bobby food, he says. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sam's BBQ is located at 2000 E. 12th St. in Austin. BRONTE WITTPENN/AMERICAN-STATESMAN A beloved east Austin institution has gone dark. Sams BBQ, a fixture on East 12th Street known for its late-night hours and classic no-frills barbecue, has suddenly ceased operations, suggesting an uncertain future. The Austin American-Statesman has reached out to the Sam's BBQ team for comment, but has not received a response. Advertisement Article continues below this ad You'll get served mutton wish a side of community and East Austin history at Sam's BBQ. BRONTE WITTPENN / AMERICAN-STATESMAN Austin Daiquiri Factory announces closing with Sam's BBQ A collaborative post with adjacent business Austin Daiquiri Factory on Instagram described the closure as a temporary measure. "Please know we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to reopen and continue serving the community that means so much to us," the post read. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The post provided no timeline or details on when the legendary pits might fire up again, but promised, "Be on the lookout because when we are back.. we are going to be SO BACK." The ambiguity has fueled concern among regulars who have relied on the restaurant for decades. For generations, Sam's BBQ was more than just a place to grab a brisket sandwich. As one of the city's few remaining Black-owned barbecue spots, it served as a place where history and flavor were passed down through the smoke. Its sudden closure is a stark reminder of the fragile nature of these heritage businesses in a rapidly changing city. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A return to business is hoped for, but for now, the smoker is silent. Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, backed by a group of Texas Democrats, argues against a bill that would prohibit members from fundraising during a quorum break as the bill is debated in in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Legislation to bar state lawmakers from raising campaign money during future walkouts scratched open a a still-raw scab in the Texas House on Tuesday as members clashed along partisan lines over whether the measure is meant to stifle dissent. "What this bill is trying to do is to prevent us from representing our districts," said state Rep. Barbara Gervin Hawkins, D-San Antonio. "They're trying to treat us like children rather than colleagues and equals." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lawmakers discuss the property tax bill in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, debates the property tax bill in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, argues in support of a bill that would prohibit members from fundraising during a quorum break as the bill is debated in in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Rep. Vince Perez, D-El Paso, debates the property tax bill in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman The legislation, House Bill 18 by Plano Republican Matt Shaheen, passed on a party-line vote. During the debate, Shaheen acknowledged that lawmakers have a constitutional right to break quorum as a means toward killing, or at least stalling, proposals that they lack the votes to defeat outright. But, he said, there should be consequences when one third of the members of the House or Senate choose to grind the work of the Legislature to a halt. "This bill punishes individuals that are absent from the Capitol and stopping the legislative process," Shaheen said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source State law already prohibits state elected officials from raising money starting 30 days before a regular legislative session and ending 20 days after it adjourns, so the bill would have little effect unless a quorum break occurs during a special session. That's what happened last month when enough Democratic House members fled the Capitol for two weeks to slow down the GOP's redistricting legislation. Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, is seen in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Democrats employed a similar tactic in 2021 as they tried to kill a bill that would change some voting procedures and remained absent for 38 days. In both cases, enough Democrats finally returned and the bills they had opposed were passed by the Republican majorities in both chambers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shaheen said his bill is a response to both the fundraising appeals that were sent out by the absent Democrats and the use of the donations that came in to underwrite travel and lodging expenses accrued while they were out of state. Democratic state Rep. John Bucy of Austin argued that fundraising during quorum is an exercise of free political speech under the landmark 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case called Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Bucy said because breaking quorum is a permitted legislative tactic under the Texas Constitution, it would be unjust to allow some members to raise money during a particular period of time while others would be unable to do so. "Members do have (the right) to raise the political funds they need for an election," Bucy said. "So you're going to create two different classes of the Texas legislators." Shaheen disputed the argument, saying the fundraising prohibition would apply only to members who made the decision to interfere with the progress of the Legislature. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under the bill, which has yet to be considered in the Senate, a quorum-breaking legislator could be fined up to $5,000 for each contribution accepted during an absence. Donors to quorum breakers also could be fined up to $5,000 for each contribution. The measure would only apply to members who leave the state to break quorum. It would not apply retroactively to the members who broke quorum in August. Rep. Keith Bell, R-Forney, and Rep. Joanne Shofner, R-Nacogdoches, converse in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman During the extended floor debate, Republican state Rep. Mitch Little of Lewisville expressed outrage that former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke had raised money to support the quorum breakers through his political organization, Powered by People. The organization donated money to several Democrat-aligned House caucuses to help defray travel and lodging expenses. Little amended the bill to say that House and Senate caucuses could not raise money that could be used to cover quorum breaking expenses. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Democratic state Rep. Donna Howard of Austin said the quorum breaks of 2021 and 2025 were to object to legislation that affect voting rights and equal representation in the Legislature and in Congress. "The only reason I have denied this body of a quorum is when this chamber has chosen to use its power and privilege to silence the voices of my constituents," Howard said. "As someone who believes I am a person of integrity, I simply cannot stand by and let that happen." Republican state Rep. Richard Hayes of Hickory Creek, 30 miles north of Dallas, disputed the argument that quorum breaking is allowed under the state Constitution. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Demolition work at the Austin Convention Center continued last month. While Austin officials plan to replace the old center with a larger one, some community members are pressing for a vote to use the downtown space for something else. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman Our City Council wants to replace Austins Convention Center with a bigger one. Many people, including me, think the proposal is terrible. Steve Mims' short film "The Magic Hole" find it on YouTube explains the terrifying reality: The expansion is based on dubious financial projections and the growing budget will come back to bite Austinites. Though demolition has begun, the sites future is not decided. The independent Austin United PAC, through its Save the Soul of Austin campaign, is circulating a voter petition to put the convention center's future onto the May 2026 ballot. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Those six blocks of public land in conjunction with a new convention center out near the Circuit of the Americas could offer us a richer urban life. I think those downtown blocks would far better serve us as a cultural arts district, with a purpose-built art museum, performing arts center, experimental theater, media-arts center and other amenities. There are many reasons why thats a good idea. Heres one: Were dangerously behind Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and San Antonio. Those cities all have great cultural arts districts that enrich cultural life, give educational value, provide civic identity, serve residents and visitors and bring in money. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Dallas arts district includes a symphony hall, sculpture center, experimental theater, art museum, performing arts center, public park even an arts high school. That district consistently ranks first in the United States on lists of these kinds of things. Houston, a top 10 on many of those lists, has two cultural arts zones. Theres the spectacular museum district, anchored by the Houston Museum of Fine Arts campus, and the downtown Theater District, which includes seven renowned performing arts organizations (opera, theater, ballet, music) housed in landmark buildings. Visitors in April walk amongst The Great Elephant Migration, a month-long public art installation featuring life-sized sculptures of Indian elephants at Hermann Park in Houston's Museum District. Austin deserves a cultural and arts district like the ones in other major Texas cities, David Heymann argues. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle Fort Worth has three great art museums a stones throw apart, including the Kimbell, a world architecture masterpiece. Cooler still: This districts Will Rogers Memorial Center hosts the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Bull riding and fine art. Can it get better, Texans? Advertisement Article continues below this ad While San Antonio may not have a consolidated arts district, its constellation of cultural landmarks range from museums to historical sites, and areas like Southtown have become arts districts while preserving the citys older fabric. What does Austin have? Not much. Theres hardly a city our size with so little. (The University of Texas amenities dont count: Most of those cities also have universities with arts facilities.) At some point, most growing towns realize theyve become cities and accept the attendant responsibilities. Our sister cities and, historically, most cities across the United States understand cultural infrastructure is necessary and take pride in providing it. Denver, Cleveland, St. Louis, Seattle, Kansas City: The list goes on, but does not include us. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Submit a letter to the editor We want to hear from you. Click here to get started. Many Austinites hope we can stay a town, a weird one. But its creepy weird, not cute weird, how far behind we are supporting culture broadly and deeply. The convention center site centrally located, with the potential to link east and west, north and south is the place for us to catch up. Its expensive, but the private and corporate wealth is here. We just havent asked much of it, beyond: "How can we help you make more money?" We need leadership to focus that wealth on giving back for the long run. If we believe this is important, we also need to give as citizens, and not rely solely on passive, legislated means like the hotel tax to solve these kinds of problems. I honestly believe Austinites across incomes would willingly give if they were asked creatively. The goal clearly benefits the many, not the few. Downtown now seems to offer only more spending opportunities, invented by folks profiting off a shallow Austin concept to other folks visiting our increasingly event-driven city. A convention center is central to that way of thinking. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Artist renderings show what the new Austin Convention Center is expected to look like when work is completed in 2028. By nearly doubling the size of the convention center, city officials expect to bring more events and more visitors to Austin. Provided by the Austin Conventio Austin attracts people. Its a unique place where people want to come from all over the world to play, to work, to learn, to create, to perform. And we get a lot out of them being here. Welcoming people is part of our DNA. Its in our soul. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So, its perplexing that a group with the claim to save Austins soul would be against investing in a key generator of Austins strong economy and our creative, funky, innovative, risk-taking, curious, welcoming and wonderfully weird persona. Redeveloping the Austin Convention Center is long overdue. Were the countrys 13th largest city, and a top visitors' destination, but our convention center ranks No. 61 in size. Our staff routinely turn down major events because we dont have the space. Those marquee events go to other cities that reap the economic benefit. This redevelopment comes after more than a decades worth of Austins typical extensive community engagement, multiple studies, strong support from Austin arts and heritage groups and input from national event planners. In fact, in 2019, Austin voters rejected an initiative similar to what todays critics are pushing that wouldve placed limitations on a convention center project. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yeah, we voted. This question has been asked and answered over and over. Its time to move forward. When complete, the expanded Austin Convention Center will have a projected $750 million annual economic impact on Austin and will generate an additional $13 million a year in direct city tax revenue paid by visitors. Over the next 20 years, the expansion will inject an estimated $15 billion into the citys economy. Currently, Austin Convention Center events are directly responsible for more than 400,000 Austin hotel bookings during the year, according to Visit Austin. By being able to say yes to more events, Visit Austin projects hotel activity alone will increase by 60%. An artist's rendering shows the outdoor space in front of the ballroom and lobby of the new Austin Convention Center, which is expected to be finished in late 2028. Demolition of the current site is about 50% complete. Provided by the Austin Conventio When conventions come to town, hotels fill up, especially during the middle of the week. Convention-goers stay longer than the convention they are attending because they want to explore all that Austin has to offer, including restaurants, retail centers and event venues. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That in turn increases sales tax revenue. As the federal government withdraws funds and the state continues to restrict Austins finances, growing our sales tax revenue is something we must do. Plus, this creates jobs for Austinites. The hospitality, tourism and hotel industry is the fourth largest employer in Austin with more than 140,000 jobs supported by tourism, meetings conventions and events. Halting the convention center expansion could result in the loss of thousands of those jobs. The argument that a new convention center would hurt funding for the arts is silly. More than $40 million a year in local hotel tax funding is earmarked for arts and heritage funding. State law caps how much hotel tax can be earmarked for arts and heritage at 15% each. Austin is already at that cap; meaning 30% of eligible hotel taxes go to arts and heritage combined. The only way to increase arts and heritage funding is to increase the total amount of hotel taxes collected exactly what an expanded convention center will do. Submit a letter to the editor We want to hear from you. Click here to get started. The hotel tax that is paying for the Convention Centers construction which is on time and on budget at $1.6 billion, despite what the critics say cannot be spent on general government services. Using the hotel tax as its intended does not take away from funding other Austin needs or desires. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The big picture is that visitors not your property taxes are paying for this expansion. With the expansion, more people visit Austin and spend their money at local businesses, which allows us to hire more Austinites, collect more sales tax revenue, and then these visitors go home. University of Texas students returned to campus last week. Trump's proposal to allow more students from China to study at universities in America could take away enrollment spots from U.S. students, a letter writer says. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Not putting 'America First' Advertisement Article continues below this ad President Donald Trump recently stunned allies and critics alike by announcing that he would welcome 600,000 Chinese students into American colleges. That number isnt a typo. It would more than double the current Chinese student population in the U.S. and mark the single largest foreign education policy shift in modern history. Who gets pushed out to make room? It will be the children from rural towns, inner cities and middle-class homes already teetering on the edge of affordability the students who rely on Pell Grants, work-study and state subsidies to attend college. Universities facing declining enrollment and budget shortfalls already rely on international students who pay full out-of-state tuition. If well-funded foreign students arrive with guaranteed cash in hand, who do you think admissions offices will prioritize? Universities dont create extra seats; they reallocate them. An additional 300,000 Chinese students arriving at U.S. universities could push aside 300,000 American students the equivalent of the undergraduate enrollment of America's most-selective public flagship universities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Im not suggesting we shut the door on international students. Academic exchange has its place. But to flood our universities with foreign nationals while our own children are locked out or drop out under crushing debt? Thats not America first. Thats a betrayal of the very people our system was built to uplift. Steven C. Bradley, North Richland Hills Advertisement Article continues below this ad Quran burning fuels hate A Texas congressional candidate, Valentina Gomez, recently burned a copy of the Holy Quran and hurled false accusations against Islam. Such a reckless act fuels hatred and division in our community. The Quran teaches respect for all faiths and urges Muslims to live peacefully with their neighbors. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared that a true Muslim is one whose words and actions make others feel safe. These are the values that guide Muslims worldwide, including the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community here in the U.S. Burning sacred scripture is not freedom it undermines it. True American values demand we protect the dignity of all faiths and unite around respect, tolerance and human dignity. I call on our elected officials and fellow citizens to reject rhetoric that divides us and stand together for the values that truly make us strong. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hidayatullah Ahsan, Round Rock Islam teaches peace As a resident of Round Rock and a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I was deeply saddened to learn that a political candidate in Texas chose to burn the Holy Quran. This extremely ignorant and reprehensible act achieves nothing but spreading hatred and division. At our mosque on Deep Wood Drive, we strive to live by the Qurans true teachings of peace, service and respect for all people. That is why our community hosts four blood drives every year in partnership with the Red Cross, including one on Sept. 11 to honor the victims of 9/11, and why many of us recently volunteered in Kerrville to support flood disaster relief efforts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Desecrating sacred texts not only insults Muslims but undermines the very principle of religious freedom that defines America. Every faith deserves dignity and protection from mockery. I urge our fellow citizens to reject such divisive acts and stand together for unity, tolerance and human dignity. Tariq Sheikh, Round Rock More to student grades All students entering the school system have different backgrounds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Students from middle to upper-middle class families have advantages that students from a low-income family do not have. This should be accounted for in the grading system. School grading scores should be based on student improvement. A school's grade doesn't solely rest with the efforts of the administration and teachers. It can be affected by the abilities of the students. Steve Salmon, Round Rock Advertisement Article continues below this ad Members of the National Guard exit the Menger Hotel on Wednesday evening, June 11, 2025, to collect dinner from a truck parked outside in downtown San Antonio. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Gov. Greg Abbott's office disputed a claim from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday that the Texas National Guard was preparing to deploy to his state as part of a law and order crackdown by the Trump administration. Texas is not preparing to deploy troops to Illinois, a spokesman for Abbott said on Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pritzker, a Democrat, made the claim during a press conference responding to President Donald Trump's announcement that he planned to send federal troops to Chicago. When pressed by reporters on how he knew the administration had "begun staging the Texas National Guard for deployment," Pritzker declined to offer any more information. "Let's be clear: I'm not going to reveal the sources," Pritzker said. "These are people who are patriotic Americans who either work in the administration or work in the various branches of the military who've been willing to share what they know with us." Shown is the satellite view of Tropical Storm Lorena, as of 3 p.m. Thursday NOAA Thursday update: After strengthening into a hurricane Wednesday morning, Lorena has weakened back into a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center announced Thursday. While not posing a direct threat to Texas, tropical moisture associated with Lorena is expected to move into the state this weekend, bringing the potential for flooding. As of 3 p.m. Thursday, Lorena was a weakening tropical storm with sustained winds of 50 mph. The storm was located about 155 miles west of Cabo San Lazaro and moving northwest at 7 mph. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lorena peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with 85 mph winds Wednesday night. However, as the storm has moved north into cooler waters, it has already started to lose strength quickly. That trend is likely to continue as Lorena curves to the northeast over the next 24 hours. Recent model shows that Lorena is not likely to make landfall anymore. Instead, the storm is likely to stall out off the coast of Baja California, continuing to weaken, eventually dissipating over the weekend. Hurricane Lorena is no longer expected to make landfall, instead stalling out and dissipating near the Baja California coast. National Hurricane Center How Lorena may affect Texas Because Lorena is in the eastern Pacific Ocean not the Gulf of Mexico the storm cannot make a direct landfall in Texas. However, remnant moisture from the storm is expected to be pushed into the Lone Star State this weekend and early next week. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source As Lorena stalls near the Baja California coast on Friday, a strong low pressure system located along the northern tier of the United States will help to direct tropical moisture in northwest Mexico eastward, into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Once moisture is in Texas, its likely to interact with a weak cold front, which could enhance rainfall further. When will rain chances arrive? Friday: Most of Texas will stay dry on Friday. The exception will be across the mountainous areas of far West Texas, where a few scattered, tropical-related scattered showers and storms could develop by evening Advertisement Article continues below this ad Saturday: Rain chances are expected to spread farther into much of West Texas. A few scattered storms are possible farther east, but rain chances will only be around 20% Saturday in cities like San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas. Sunday: Heres when rain chances will increase substantially across a large chunk of Texas. By then, Lorena will no longer resemble a tropical system, but the storm's remnant moisture will interact with a weak cold front, producing scattered heavy rainfall. Shown are the potential rainfall totals across Texas through Monday, as moisture from Lorena moves over the state. Pivotal Weather Rain chances by Sunday night are expected to rise to between 40% and 60% across a large part of South-Central Texas, especially from San Antonio westward into the Hill Country and along the Rio Grande A few lingering showers and storms are also possible Monday morning across South Texas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its still difficult to determine exactly how much rain will fall, as plenty of model uncertainty remains about how much tropical moisture will transfer into Texas and where the frontal boundary will set up. The highest rain totals are likely across the Hill Country and far Southwest Texas, including cities like Laredo and Del Rio. Here, the National Blend of Models currently projects a broad swath of 1 to 1.5 inches of rain. Lower amounts, around half an inch, are projected farther east in San Antonio. However, isolated totals of up to 3 inches are possible, which could trigger flash flooding. Unfortunately, its too early to pinpoint exactly which areas will see the highest rainfall totals. Stay tuned to daily forecast updates at expressnews.com/weather. Local rain chances and expected rainfall totals across South-Central Texas will become clearer as more weather model data is available in the coming days. GAZA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians on Wednesday rejected Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's call to annex most of the occupied West Bank and expand settlements, saying it threatened any prospect of a future Palestinian state. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said Smotrich's remarks were a "direct threat" to Palestinian statehood and amounted to "public incitement" against the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian rights. It said all unilateral Israeli measures to change the status quo in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, were "illegitimate and void from the outset." The ministry urged the international community to impose sanctions to pressure Israel to halt what it called violent oppression and settlement expansion. Hamas also condemned the plan, saying it would only bring "further challenges and confrontation," and called on Arab and Islamic states to resist Israeli "colonial policies" that violate international law and seek to erase the Palestinian cause. Smotrich told a news conference in Jerusalem earlier on Wednesday that Israel should apply sovereignty to about 82 percent of the West Bank to block the creation of a Palestinian state. "It is time to apply Israeli sovereignty," he said, calling for "maximum territory and minimum (Palestinian) population." Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would meet ministers, including Smotrich, on Thursday to discuss the annexation proposal. Kan TV said the move was being considered in response to European efforts to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and has since built settlements there. The settlements are regarded as illegal under international law and are a key obstacle to peace talks, which have been frozen since 2014. LISBON, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's landmarks linking Restauradores to Principe Real, derailed on Wednesday, leaving one dead and about 20 injured, according to local authorities. Firefighters and Public Security Police are at the scene. The funicular, with a capacity of up to 43 passengers, is a popular attraction among tourists visiting the Portuguese capital. BEIRUT, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah warned on Wednesday it could mobilize supporters in the streets if Lebanon's government moves ahead with a decision to disarm the Iran-backed group by the end of 2025, senior official Mahmoud Qomati said. Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah's Political Council, told local media that the plan was "unconstitutional, illegitimate, and in violation of both the national charter and international law, which permits resistance under occupation." He said Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, would boycott parliamentary sessions if lawmakers advanced steps to enforce the measures. "If we see the session moving to solidify these decisions and lay out steps for execution, we will not attend, and we will head to popular confrontation," he said. Qomati added that Hezbollah would refrain from escalation if the decisions remained "born dead" and unenforced. He warned that implementing the resolutions would destabilize Lebanon. "Anyone who seeks stability -- international, regional or local -- must recognize that enforcing these decisions will endanger it and serve no one's interest," he said. Lebanon's government recently approved a plan to disarm all non-state actors, including Hezbollah, by the end of 2025. The move has deepened political divisions and raised fears of instability. Hezbollah has rejected the plan, saying its arsenal is needed to defend Lebanon against potential threats from Israel. Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) LISBON, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing the National Institute of Medical Emergency. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has canceled a book festival at the Belem Palace, which was scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday. The decision was made "in memory of the victims of the serious accident involving the Gloria Funicular in Lisbon, and in solidarity with the grieving families," according to a release published on the Presidency's official website. All party leaders expressed condolences on Wednesday, and the government declared Thursday a national day of mourning. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas said the city is "fighting hard," calling it "a difficult day." The accident occurred near Avenida da Liberdade in central Lisbon. The funicular carriage was badly damaged. Xinhua reporters at the scene saw police cordoning off a wide area around the site as dozens of police officers and firefighters carried out rescue operations. A Spanish tourist, Felipe, told Xinhua that he "never expected such a serious accident to happen at such a famous landmark in the heart of Lisbon." Other bystanders also voiced disbelief. According to local media, this is not the first derailment involving the funicular. In 2018, a similar accident occurred, though no one was injured at the time. Built in the late 19th century, the Gloria Funicular connects Restauradores Square with the Principe Real district, with its bright yellow carriages running along steep slopes. It attracts large numbers of tourists every year. Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Bystanders gather near the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Photo taken on Sept. 3, 2025, shows the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) This photo taken with a mobile phone shows journalists working near the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's landmarks linking Restauradores to Principe Real, derailed on Wednesday, leaving one dead and about 20 injured, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's best-known tourist attractions, derailed and overturned on Wednesday evening, leaving 15 people dead and 18 others injured, including five in serious condition, local media reported, citing police sources. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) This photo taken with a mobile phone shows firefighters and Public Security Police working on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's landmarks linking Restauradores to Principe Real, derailed on Wednesday, leaving one dead and about 20 injured, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) This photo taken with a mobile phone shows firefighters and Public Security Police working on the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's landmarks linking Restauradores to Principe Real, derailed on Wednesday, leaving one dead and about 20 injured, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) This photo taken with a mobile phone shows journalists working near the site of the funicular accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's landmarks linking Restauradores to Principe Real, derailed on Wednesday, leaving one dead and about 20 injured, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) Firefighters and Public Security Police work on the site of the accident in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The Gloria Funicular, one of Lisbon's landmarks linking Restauradores to Principe Real, derailed on Wednesday, leaving one dead and about 20 injured, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) CAPE TOWN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Global innovators have convened this week for the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) Hackathon to tackle one of the world's most pressing challenges: reducing disaster risk in the context of accelerating climate change. Hosted virtually by South Africa's Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) as a flagship initiative of this year's Group of 20 (G20) RIWG agenda, the hackathon runs from Tuesday to Friday under the theme "Disaster Risk Reduction through Open Innovation (DRR-OI)." "This year's challenge focuses on forecasting informal urban expansion and its implications for flood risk using advanced digital tools and real-world data," the DSTI said in a statement late Tuesday. "Building on previous DRR-OI platforms and pilot projects, the hackathon is a dynamic testbed for scalable, evidence-based solutions that can inform policy and urban planning in rapidly growing cities." Multidisciplinary teams from G20 countries and their partners are developing digital solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and geospatial analytics, guided by principles of responsible and ethical AI, according to the statement. South Africa is represented by a cohort of emerging leaders and innovators, including Charles Takalana, deputy director at the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development in Cape Town. "The involvement of these experts underscores the depth of local scientific and entrepreneurial talent and ensures that African urban contexts and lived experiences are at the forefront of the development of globally relevant solutions," the department said. Final prototypes and solution demonstrations will be presented at the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group Ministerial Meeting on Sept. 23, where they will help shape high-level discussions on climate adaptation, urban resilience, and the role of digital innovation in sustainable development. An excavator begins demolition of a fuel point at U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach's Barton Barracks on Sept. 2, 2025, to clear the way for a planned tactical equipment maintenance facility. The upgrades are being performed to support 600 soldiers from 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and the 7th Engineer Brigade, which were reactivated in 2023. (Nathan Van Schaik/U.S. Army) GRAFENWOEHR, Germany The U.S. Army in southern Germany has begun construction on a multi-year project that will one day support soldiers on the front lines of European air and missile defense. Crews at U.S. Army Garrison Ansbachs Barton Barracks on Tuesday began tearing down a former gas station for government vehicles to make way for a $114 million tactical equipment maintenance facility, garrison spokesman Nathan Van Schaik wrote in a statement Wednesday. The maintenance facility is part of more than $300 million budgeted for new barracks, parking, a parade field, as well as renovations to a gym and unit office buildings. The entire project, slated for completion by fiscal 2032, will support approximately 600 soldiers from 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and the 7th Engineer Brigade, which were reactivated by the Biden administration in 2023 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The revamping of Barton Barracks is part of $1.6 billion the U.S. plans to invest in the Ansbach garrison by 2032, the Bavarian government has said previously. Barton Barracks, formerly the home of V Corps Headquarters Forward team, features soldier housing and various unit buildings. The 58,000-gross-square-foot maintenance facility, to be completed by fiscal 2030, will replace 15 non-historic structures already on site, a garrison fact sheet said. Work on that facility is slated to begin in the Fall of 2027. Additionally, construction on a pair of $100 million barracks buildings for unaccompanied soldiers will begin in August 2026, the fact sheet said. Renovations at Duggan Gym began last year and work to rehabilitate two administration buildings for unit staff will commence in the next few months. The Air Defense Artillery Regiment, which has three Avenger batteries including one in Vicenza, Italy, provides short range air defense to units from U.S. Army Europe and Africa, spokesman Capt. Alec Watkins said Wednesday. Its primary weapon is the Avenger Air Defense System, which shoots Stinger missiles. The Avenger, developed by Boeing, is a vehicle-borne surface to air missile platform used to target cruise missiles, drones, low-flying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, an Army fact sheet states. Stingers can travel upwards of four miles. The battalion recently participated in exercises in Africa, the United Kingdom and Poland, Watkins said. Air defense is inherently defensive, Watkins said. They provide protection to our forces and allow them to conduct their missions by countering the threats seen on the modern battlefield. The Coast Guard Cutter Vigilants small boat crew transfers illicit drugs seized from a go-fast style vessel back to the cutter in the Caribbean Sea, Aug. 15, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard) (Tribune News Service) The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday repatriated nearly 200 migrants back to Haiti after they were interdicted at sea approximately 40 miles north of Cap Haitien. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Spencer were notified on Friday of an overloaded vessel with 191 migrant onboard being disabled in international waters. The Coast Guard is committed to our mission to safeguard America by securing our maritime borders and preventing illegal entry into the United States and its territories, Lt. Cmdr. Cory Arsenault, Coast Guard liaison officer to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince said in a statement. Anyone attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea will be interdicted and repatriated, consistent with U.S. law and policy. The Coast Guard did not say where the migrants were headed. In addition to trying to reach the Florida Straits, migrants have also been forcibly returned in recent months from the neighboring Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas. The Dominican Republic, which shares a land border with Haiti, accounts for the largest share of Haitians who are forcibly returned, with nearly 200,000 Haitians sent back last year. With more than 1.3 million Haitians internally displaced inside Haiti due to armed gangs, and 90% of the capital under gang control, Haitians continue to flee. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2025 on Oct. 1, Coast Guard crews have repatriated 603 Haitians, compared to 857 in FY24. The Haitians, once onboard the U.S. Coast Guard, were processed to determine their identity and provided food, water, shelter and basic medical attention before being returned to Haiti. 2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Members of the 3rd Marine Division training with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, July 28, 2025. (Lucas Lu/U.S. Marine Corps) Marines on Okinawa began training in July with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, in preparation for the systems future deployment to the island, according to the service. The first system arrived July 10, the 3rd Marine Division said Wednesday in a news release. The 12th Medium-Range Missile Battery, 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, alongside the Hawaii-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, trained with NMESIS from July 21-28 at the Central Training Area on Camp Hansen, division spokesman 1st Lt. Joshua Figueredo told Stars and Stripes in a follow-up email. The 3rd Littoral Regiment, which first deployed NMESIS in April during the Balikatan exercise in the Philippines, shared information on how to operate the system, Figueredo said. The division formally received NMESIS on Nov. 26, according to the release. Okinawa-based units are slated to begin officially fielding NMESIS next spring, Marine Corps Systems Command spokeswoman Deidra Knight told Stars and Stripes last month. Lance Cpl. Bowden Miles trains with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, July 28, 2025. (Lucas Lu/U.S. Marine Corps) The exercise simulated an operation to attack and destroy enemy ships in contested seas as part of expeditionary advanced base operations, according to the release. Marines did not conduct live-fire training but rehearsed missile-firing procedures, Figueredo said. These training opportunities with the NMESIS validated the effectiveness of our collaborative defensive architecture, battery commander Capt. Kurt James said in the release. We refined our ability to coordinate responses to potential threats, reinforcing our commitment to regional security. Additional training has taken place on Hansen since then, base spokesman Capt. Kazuma Engelkemier wrote Wednesday in an email that did not provide details. NMESIS is a key asset for littoral regiments of about 2,000 Marines, created under the Force Design restructuring plan to conduct stand-in force operations. Such units operate within range of enemy fire to seize and hold islands and deny hostile vessels access to nearby seas. The system mounts Naval Strike Missiles on joint light tactical vehicles. Each missile costs $2.194 million, according to a November 2022 Naval News report. While not a game-changer due to its relatively short range and subsonic speed, NMESIS is more useful in confined spaces such as choke points between islands, retired Marine Col. Grant Newsham, a senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo, said in an email Wednesday. But if theres a lot of ocean for an enemy to maneuver in, its not so hard to avoid them, he said. Expeditionary advanced base operations another Force Design tenet call for small, mobile Marine groups to operate within range of enemy missiles, seize and hold islands, and sink hostile vessels. Japanese media have reported the possible first-time deployment of NMESIS to Ishigaki, about 150 miles from Taiwan, during the Resolute Dragon exercise scheduled for Sept. 11-25 across Japan. Figueredo declined to confirm or deny the deployment, saying III Marine Expeditionary Force would provide more information Friday. Curator Lisa Sweasy stands next to a wall of ventriloquial figures during a tour on Aug. 12 at Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Ky. The museum has 1,242 dummies on display. Tours are by appointment only. (Christian Kantosky, Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS) In a small building tucked in a quiet Fort Mitchell neighborhood, more than 1,200 retirees have found a home. But they arent people at least, not when theyre not on stage. They are dummies and dolls that serve as the largest collection of ventriloquism memorabilia in the world. The Vent Haven Museum in Northern Kentucky claims to be the only ventriloquism museum in the world. Open since 1973, it has grown from 500 dummies in founder William Shakespeare Bergers collection to its current size of 1,242 dummies. A photo of William Shakespeare Berger, the founder of Vent Haven, in the lobby of the museum in Fort Mitchell, Ky. (Christian Kantosky, Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS) The museum was in Bergers house until three years ago, when the collection was moved to a neighboring building. Lisa Sweasy, curator of the Vent Haven Museum, described the collection as the Mecca of ventriloquism. Every ventriloquist, whether theyre a hobbyist, amateur, paraprofessional or professional, has been here. This is their home, Sweasy said. There are lots of puppetry museums, but for ventriloquists, this is that narrow slice of the puppetry community where we focus strictly on ventriloquism. Curator Lisa Sweasy holds up a dummy to demonstrate how facial movements are made during a tour on Aug. 12 at Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Ky. (Christian Kantosky, Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS) Sweasy said a common reason people visit the museum is the scare factor. She said guests are often made uneasy by the dolls uncanny valley effect a phenomenon where objects become repulsive because of their realistic, human-like features. When a face is static, like it is here, you perceive that youre being stared at when youre not, Sweasy said. That unease tends to dissipate, though, after the first exhibit, when the brain becomes saturated of the normalcy of what youre seeing, Sweasy said. The collection at Vent Haven stretches from the Civil War era to the modern day. Dummies used by popular modern ventriloquists like Jeff Dunham and Darci Lynne sit alongside dolls voiced by classic artists like Edgar Bergen and Paul Winchell. Dummies used by Willie Tyler, a famous African American ventriloquist, and Jim Teter, a famous political ventriloquist, during a tour on Aug. 12 at Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Ky. (Christian Kantosky, Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS) Some of the older dummies in the museum, mostly in the vaudevillian era section spanning from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, portray racist stereotypes, which Sweasy said was common for ventriloquism acts of the time. Sweasy said ventriloquists often emphasized the stereotypes to showcase their vocal gymnastics. Ventriloquial figures from the vaudevillian era of the art form during a tour on Aug. 12 at Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Ky. A sign also addresses the stereotypes that were common in the vaudevillian era. (Christian Kantosky, Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS) The dolls take up spots in the exhibit and are viewable to guests in the museum. Sweasy said it was important for Vent Haven not to hide the history. Most museum guidelines are to tell the truth about the pieces and tell them within context, Sweasy said. Hiding it is worse. Sweasy said the museum draws people of all ages, and sees people visiting the museum for many reasons. Some groups come with no knowledge of ventriloquism, and some come to reminisce on memories of watching popular ventriloquists of the past. Along with the collection, Vent Haven hosts the annual VentCon , the International ventriloquism convention, and the Vent Haven 5k Dummy Run. Both events have already been held this year. Sweasy said Vent Haven is a must see attraction because of its uniqueness. I think a lot of people like one-off attractions. You can go to an art museum in any city that you visit, she said. There are places in our country that are just these great little niche museums ... I think were in that crowd. If you go Vent Haven Museum Where: 33 West Maple Ave, Fort Mitchell, KY, 41011 When: May-September, tours by appointment only Screen capture from video showing the what the White House says was a strike early Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, against a vessel carrying drugs from Venezuela. (Marco Rubio/X) WASHINGTON The U.S. military conducted a strike early Tuesday against a vessel carrying drugs from Venezuela, President Donald Trump said. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed, and no U.S. forces were harmed, Trump said. We just, over the last few minutes, literally shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat, a lot of drugs in that boat, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Tuesdays strike appeared to be the first such military operation in the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the news of the strike in a post on X, calling it a lethal strike and saying the boat had departed from Venezuela and was struck in the southern Caribbean. The U.S. military conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, Trump said in the post on Truth Social hours after speaking. The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics. The president posted a 29-second video of the strike. It was unclear exactly how the strike was conducted and which U.S. asset fired the shots. A senior defense official, on the condition of anonymity, said in a statement the military conducted a precision strike against a drug vessel operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization, with more information to come. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America, Trump said. BEWARE! The U.S. has deployed warships in the southern Caribbean with the aim of following through on Trumps pledge to crack down on drug cartels. Seven U.S. warships, along with one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, are either in the region or expected to be there soon, bringing along more than 4,500 sailors and Marines. While U.S. Coast Guard and Navy ships regularly operate in the southern Caribbean, the current buildup exceeds the usual deployments in the region. U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting in Osaka, Japan, in June 2019. (Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Donald Trump said China doesnt pose a military threat to America and dismissed the notion that a massive military parade taking place in Beijing was a concern to the U.S. When asked if President Xi Jinpings parade on Wednesday which counted Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un among its attendees posed a challenge to U.S. power, the Republican replied: No, I dont see that at all. I have a very good relationship with President Xi, as you know, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office hours before the event in Beijing was scheduled to start. But China needs us much more than we need them. Separately, Trump expressed confidence that Beijing would not aim its defense assets at the U.S. in the future. We have the strongest military in the world, by far, Trump said in a radio interview with conservative commentator Scott Jennings. They would never use their military on us believe me, that would be the worst thing they could ever do. China is set to unveil new hypersonic weapons and combat drones on Changan Avenue at the parade marking 80 years since Japans defeat in World War II. The highly choreographed spectacle will be attended by dozens of heads of state and government, including those from Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan, Belarus, Iran, Serbia and Slovakia. Many leaders had just attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit hosted by Xi, which he used to bolster ties with Putin and other leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Michelle Jamrisko contributed to this report. 2025 Bloomberg LP Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC South Korean President Lee Jae Myung salutes military generals during a ceremony in Seoul on Sept. 1, 2025. (South Korean presidential office) Months after his predecessors failed attempt to impose martial law, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday ordered senior military leaders to pledge loyalty to the people, according to the presidential office. South Korean air force Gen. Jin Yong-sung nominated Monday to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff was told to remain loyal to the country, rather than to power, during a promotion ceremony in Seoul for the army, navy and air force service chiefs, the office said in a Tuesday news release. Public trust in the military has declined, due to illegal martial law attempted by former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 3, Lee told the generals, according to the release. Yoon declared martial law citing political unrest tied to mounting impeachment charges against prosecutors he had appointed and criminal probes involving then-first lady Kim Keon Hee. The National Assembly impeached Yoon on Dec. 15, and the Constitutional Court upheld the decision on April 4. A special counsel indicted Yoon in July on abuse of power and other charges related to the declaration. Lawmakers have also scrutinized the militarys role after about 300 special forces troops deployed to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from voting to end the emergency order. At the time, Lee, then head of the Democratic Party, live-streamed himself climbing the assembly buildings walls to bypass the blockade and cast his vote. In the aftermath, dozens of senior officers were dismissed or relieved of duty. Then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun resigned, was jailed and attempted suicide while in custody. Speaking to the generals on Tuesday, Lee said efforts must be made to restore public trust. Service members, he added, should remember they are not loyal to political groups but to the sovereign people and also need to cultivate their knowledge in democracy. KHARTOUM, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's government has rejected U.S. accusations that it used chemical weapons in the capital Khartoum, saying there is no evidence of chemical or radiological contamination. In a report released earlier this week, the Federal Ministry of Health said field tests, medical reports, and surveillance data showed no signs of toxic substances. "There is no evidence of chemical or radiological contamination in Khartoum State," it said in a detailed report. The ministry said no abnormal deaths, mass illnesses, or symptoms of poisoning had been recorded, and that forensic reports had not identified any unusual causes of death. It added that radiation levels were normal, no radioactive material had moved, and no suspicious munitions or residues had been found. The report said the findings were based on field tests conducted since April, when the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) retook control of Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). It said measurements were carried out with equipment accredited by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The United States in June imposed sanctions on Sudan, accusing it of using chemical weapons in 2024. Khartoum dismissed the allegations at the time as "political blackmail" and a distortion of facts. Sudan has been in conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the SAF and the RSF. The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, worsening a humanitarian crisis in one of the world's poorest countries. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, right, meets with Estonian President Alar Karis at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Sept. 2, 2025. Karis said his country was prepared to send troops to Ukraine as part of an international peacekeeping force in a post-war scenario. (NATO) STUTTGART, Germany Any Western security guarantee for Ukraine must not come at the cost of weakening NATOs own military readiness, the alliances top official said Wednesday ahead of high-level talks in Paris focused on what resources Europe could provide in the event of a peace deal. We have to prevent spreading our resources too thinly. And that means that you always have to look (at) what the impact will be on the NATO plans, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said during a joint news conference at his Brussels headquarters with Estonian President Alar Karis. Karis said his country was prepared to send troops to Ukraine as part of an international peacekeeping force aimed at deterring Russian aggression in a post-war scenario. While NATO is not directly involved in the planning, Rutte said he and the alliances top military commander, U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, were discreetly part of all the conversations. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-host a meeting of the coalition of the willing comprised mostly of European allies. The discussions are expected to involve what potential security guarantees for Ukraine could look like and what type of peacekeeping force might be required. The idea is to establish a setup that would prevent Russia from relaunching attacks on Ukrainian territory if a peace deal or cease-fire is established between the two countries. President Donald Trump has signaled that the United States could play some kind of role in the effort, although he has ruled out putting American forces in Ukraine. Rutte on Wednesday also said the expectation was that the U.S would be involved in some form. While Trump is not expected to join Thursdays meeting, the session is expected to give NATO a clearer picture of whats to come. I expect tomorrow, or soon after tomorrow, to have clarity on what collectively we can deliver, Rutte said. That means that we can engage even more intensely, also with the American side, to see what they want to deliver in terms of their participation in security guarantees. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said Sunday in an interview with Financial Times that there was a clear road map for troop deployments to Ukraine should the war come to an end. Still, there has been little progress when it comes to making a peace deal that would bring a Western peacekeeping force to fruition. Discussions about potential security guarantees in Ukraine also coincide with an ongoing force posture review at the Pentagon that could determine how many American troops are deployed in Europe. While the U.S. has not confirmed that it intends to make reductions, some allies are anticipating a significant drawdown. Karis said he intends to discuss the situation with Grynkewich, who also leads U.S. European Command, during a meeting next week. I want to make sure that U.S. troops stay here in Europe, not only next to the border, but also in Germany, in Poland, and in other places, Karis said. And we discuss this with the secretary general as well to make sure to convince also Americans and give us also time to build up our own capabilities. Col. Jorge Fonseca, the first commander of U.S. Army Garrison Poland, unfurls the units colors during a ceremony March 21, 2023, in Poznan that was attended by high-level U.S. and Polish military officials. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes) STUTTGART, Germany President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is open to deploying more troops to Poland, a country that has long sought a larger American military presence to deter potential Russian aggression. Well put more there if they want, Trump said, adding were with Poland all the way, and we will help Poland protect itself. Trumps comments came during a meeting at the White House with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who was in Washington to solidify the U.S.s military commitment to Poland. The U.S. has about 8,000 troops in Poland, mostly on a rotational basis. Trumps assurances to the central European country come amid uncertainty about the United States future military plans in Europe. The Pentagon is close to wrapping up a force posture review that is likely to have implications for missions in Europe and elsewhere. Key players inside the Pentagon have advocated for a stronger military focus in the Pacific to counter China, which could come at the cost of the Europe mission. Inside NATO, some allies have been anticipating potentially significant cuts, with some estimates in the range of 20,000 troops being withdrawn. Trump acknowledged that he has considered drawing back, but did not say where or how much. While Poland was off the table, Trump said we do think about it with regard to other countries. The U.S. has about 80,000 troops in Europe, with Germany hosting the largest number. During Trumps first term he sought to relocate about 12,000 troops out of Germany. But in June, during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House, Trump said he was willing to keep American forces in the country. Other European countries where the U.S. has significant troop numbers include the United Kingdom, Italy, Romania and Spain. Several other nations play host to U.S. forces in smaller numbers. If the Defense Department reduces its European force posture, it would need to weigh whether to pull back on rotations, cut into its permanently based presence or opt for a combination of the two. U.S. officials have said that if a reduction happens, it would be carried out in an orderly manner. U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told reporters in June that he would work closely with the Pentagon and allies to address the impact of any decisions. He said the U.S. also will make sure there are no security gaps in defense capabilities should it change its force posture. The U.S. Naval Hospital Naples is warning people to take precautions against West Nile virus after a confirmed case of the illness among its military community in Italy. (Gino Mattorano/U.S. Army) NAPLES, Italy A Navy hospital here is warning people to take precautions against West Nile virus after a confirmed case of the illness among its military community. U.S. Naval Hospital Naples officials confirmed a single case of the infection among Navy personnel in a Facebook post. The hospital cautioned that while the overall risk for contracting the virus was low, continued vigilance is important. Prevention is key, the hospital said in the Aug. 28 post, adding that people should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and consider wearing a mosquito repellent, among other precautions, to lessen the risk of infection. The hospital also said it was using traps to monitor and reduce the mosquito population on the Naval Support Activity Naples Support Site where service members and their families live, work and shop. There is no medication to treat West Nile, which primarily is passed to humans by infected mosquitos, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people who acquire West Nile do not feel any signs, but some develop flu-like symptoms including fever, headache and body aches. Less than 1% of people in the U.S. who are infected with the virus develop severe symptoms that affect the central nervous system, require hospitalization or result in death, the CDC said on its website. Symptoms typically develop two to six days after being bitten by an infected mosquito but can take two weeks or longer to appear, according to the CDC. The confirmed incident at NSA Naples appears to be the only reported West Nile infection among military personnel in Italy, which is leading Europe in human cases of the virus. The U.S. Naval Hospital Naples said it was using traps to monitor and reduce the mosquito population on the Naval Support Activity Naples Support Site location, after a confirmed case of West Nile virus among its military community. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes) There were no cases at U.S. Army Garrison Italy in Vicenza, officials there said. Spokespeople at Naval Air Station Sigonella on the island of Sicily and at Aviano Air Base in Italys northeastern region could not provide information on their populations Sept. 3. As of Aug. 6, there were 202 reported locally acquired cases of the virus in humans throughout Europe so far this year, according to a joint monthly report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Food Safety Authority on Aug. 13. Of those, 168, or 83%, were in Italy, according to the report. As of Aug. 28, there had been 67 human cases of West Nile in the Campania region where NSA Naples is located, with 39 of those reported in the city of Naples, the hospital said in its Facebook post. The first confirmed case of West Nile in Pordenone Province, where Aviano Air Base is located, was reported last week in the commune of Azzano Decimo, according to Italian news media reports. There have been 10 deaths related to West Nile in Italy, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Food Safety Authority report, which also indicated that the number of cases this year were slightly above average for the last decade but remained lower than 2024 and 2018. Rescuers transfer a flood affected child from a flood-hit area on the outskirts of Multan, Pakistan on Sept. 2, 2025. Floods and rain-triggered accidents across Pakistan claimed 18 lives and injured 29 others in the past 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said Tuesday. (Str/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Floods and rain-triggered accidents across Pakistan claimed 18 lives and injured 29 others in the past 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said Tuesday. The eastern Punjab province and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir reported seven deaths each, followed by four in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the NDMA. The causes of death included flood-related drowning, structural collapses due to water damage, and accidental electrocutions as water levels rose in urban and semi-urban areas. Authorities have issued fresh warnings for further rain in vulnerable areas, while emergency teams remain on alert. Rescue operations and damage assessments are underway in the affected regions. People observe a flood-hit area on the outskirts of Multan, Pakistan on Sept. 2, 2025. Floods and rain-triggered accidents across Pakistan claimed 18 lives and injured 29 others in the past 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said Tuesday. (Str/Xinhua) A flood-hit area is pictured on the outskirts of Multan, Pakistan on Sept. 2, 2025. Floods and rain-triggered accidents across Pakistan claimed 18 lives and injured 29 others in the past 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said Tuesday. (Str/Xinhua) A woman wades through flood waters at a flood-hit area on the outskirts of Multan, Pakistan on Sept. 2, 2025. Floods and rain-triggered accidents across Pakistan claimed 18 lives and injured 29 others in the past 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said Tuesday. (Str/Xinhua) ULAN BATOR, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Mongolia's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at "B+" with a stable outlook. Mongolia's ratings are supported by strong medium-term growth, modest government debt and high per capita income relative to "B" category peers, Fitch said. The agency forecasts that Mongolia's gross general government debt will decline to below 40 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in medium term, from 41.8 percent of GDP at the end of 2024. However, a substantial share of public debt is denominated in foreign exchange, highlighting exchange-rate risk, the agency said. Fitch has predicted that Mongolia's real GDP growth will pick up to 5.7 percent this year, driven by an agricultural recovery after two harsh winters. The country's GDP grew 5.6 percent in the first half of 2025, according to the National Statistics Office. This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows rescuers checking the wreckage of a helicopter in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, Sept. 3, 2025. The wreckage of a helicopter carrying two crew members and six passengers was found in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, an official said Wednesday evening, according to state news agency Antara. The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control just eight minutes after taking off from an airport in Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan on Monday. (BASARNAS/Handout via Xinhua) JAKARTA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The wreckage of a helicopter carrying two crew members and six passengers was found in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, an official said Wednesday evening, according to state news agency Antara. Rescuers recovered a body believed to be a crash victim at about 3:50 p.m. local time, roughly 100 meters from the wreckage, Yudhi Bramantyo, operations director at the National Search and Rescue Agency, told a press conference in Banjarbaru, the provincial capital. The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control just eight minutes after taking off from an airport in Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan on Monday. The aircraft, carrying three foreign nationals, was bound for Palangkaraya, capital of neighboring Central Kalimantan province. Bramantyo said search efforts were continuing, with rescuers believing the remaining victims were still inside the helicopter. This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows rescuers standing near the wreckage of a helicopter in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, Sept. 3, 2025. The wreckage of a helicopter carrying two crew members and six passengers was found in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, an official said Wednesday evening, according to state news agency Antara. The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control just eight minutes after taking off from an airport in Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan on Monday. (BASARNAS/Handout via Xinhua) This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows the wreckage of a helicopter in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, Sept. 3, 2025. The wreckage of a helicopter carrying two crew members and six passengers was found in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, an official said Wednesday evening, according to state news agency Antara. The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control just eight minutes after taking off from an airport in Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan on Monday. (BASARNAS/Handout via Xinhua) This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows rescuers standing near the wreckage of a helicopter in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, Sept. 3, 2025. The wreckage of a helicopter carrying two crew members and six passengers was found in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, an official said Wednesday evening, according to state news agency Antara. The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control just eight minutes after taking off from an airport in Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan on Monday. (BASARNAS/Handout via Xinhua) This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search And Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Banjarmasin shows a rescuer transferring the body of a victim to an ambulance after a helicopter crash at Emil Baru village in Tanah Bumbu regency, South Kalimantan province, Indonesia, on Sept. 4, 2025. The wreckage of a helicopter carrying two crew members and six passengers was found in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, Yudhi Bramantyo, operational director of Basarnas, said on Wednesday evening. The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control just eight minutes after taking off from an airport in Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan on Monday. (Basarnas Banjarmasin/Handout via Xinhua) This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search And Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Banjarmasin shows rescuers transferring the body of a victim to an ambulance after a helicopter crash at Emil Baru village in Tanah Bumbu regency, South Kalimantan province, Indonesia, on Sept. 4, 2025. The wreckage of a helicopter carrying two crew members and six passengers was found in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, Yudhi Bramantyo, operational director of Basarnas, said on Wednesday evening. The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control just eight minutes after taking off from an airport in Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan on Monday. (Basarnas Banjarmasin/Handout via Xinhua) This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search And Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Banjarmasin shows rescuers transferring the body of a victim to an ambulance after a helicopter crash at Emil Baru village in Tanah Bumbu regency, South Kalimantan province, Indonesia, on Sept. 4, 2025. The wreckage of a helicopter carrying two crew members and six passengers was found in a jungle in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, Yudhi Bramantyo, operational director of Basarnas, said on Wednesday evening. The helicopter, operated by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control just eight minutes after taking off from an airport in Kotabaru district in South Kalimantan on Monday. (Basarnas Banjarmasin/Handout via Xinhua) Tomas - a 75-year-old pensioner - went to buy bread, as he does every day, at the Santiago bakery in Barrio Giron in Antequera in the north of Malaga province, but this time he left behind his wallet with the 900 euros of his recently received pension. Some hours later, the shop assistant found the forgotten wallet on the counter of the bakery. She looked inside and spotted the DNI Spanish ID card of the man who had bought bread in the morning, along with a large amount of money. She decided to return it to him at his home. It was a happy outcome for Tomas Gonzalez Munoz. He paid for the bread and whatever else he needed with some coins he had, which is when he left his wallet on the counter. He didn't even realise that he had forgotten it when he left the bakery. It was busy and customers were coming and going. Tomas was served by Rosario Fernandez Guerrero. "I didn't notice that he had left his wallet at the time. But several customers passed by and a woman told me that it was there. I looked at it and could see that it had a lot of money in it. When my husband came, we opened it and saw the DNI," said Rosario. That was the beginning of the good deed with a happy ending. The joy of Tomas The wallet belonged to Tomas who had been to the shop twice that morning. "We decided to go to his house, where my husband asked him if he had lost anything. He put his hand in his pockets and said: 'I have the keys here', but he hadn't realised yet that his wallet was missing." When they showed it to him, he put his hands on his head. "I was very happy, I thanked them a million times, I hadn't realised," he said. His pension is 1,000 euros and he usually leaves 100 in his account. Like many other retired people, he takes out the rest for the month's expenses. He couldn't even think how he could have survived the month if the couple hadn't returned the cash. "I don't know how I can thank Rosario. I am very grateful to her. There are very few people who are like that," said Tomas. Rosario advised Tomas and all older people to be more careful with their money. This story, however, had a happy outcome and Tomas said that he would never ever forget Rosario's kind gesture. The first phase of the Civil War mass grave exhumation work in the municipal cemetery of Campillos to the north of Malaga province has not only left a historic milestone with 73 bodies recovered, but also a deep mark on those who participated in it as volunteers. Young students, mostly from the University of Malaga, joined the technical team during weeks of intense summer heat to excavate the first of the two graves located. Among them was law student Irene Ciudad, who recognises that what impressed her most was to see the magnitude of the burials. "I was shocked to see 20 bodies piled up in a metre of earth and one of them with his hands tied behind his back," she said. The first contact with the grave aroused different emotions in the volunteers. Guillermo Gutierrez, for example, said that the initial shock was so strong that he could hardly take it in. "At first you don't think about anything, because if you do, it's too hard," he admited. As the days went by, the routine of archaeological work forced him to concentrate, although certain images remained engraved forever, like the well-preserved body of a woman. Both Irene Ciudad and Guillermo Gutierrez agreed that the experience changed their perception of what it means to work with historical memory. Ciudad admits that, at first, she felt out of place. "I was very shocked, because I had no connection with archaeology. It scared me, but after a few hours I was so focused on doing it well that the feeling of intensity gradually faded," she said. Gutierrez, who had never participated in an excavation before, says that the most shocking thing was when personal objects of the victims appeared: keys, a pendant or some coins. These small details reminded him that he was looking at people, not just bones. 'I was scared at first, but after a few hours I was so focused on getting it right that the feeling of intensity went away,' said Irene Ciudad Both said that, beyond the remains, it was the contact with relatives that gave them the greatest meaning to the work. "When someone tells you that their grandparents or parents are there, it is impossible not to be moved," Gutierrez said. He was especially moved when listening to a man who had spent his whole life demanding the opening of the grave. "When he came and told us his story - that's when I broke down." Ciudad, who had no direct contact with the descendants, highlights the social value of this type of intervention. "It is important for the relatives, but also for democratic memory, because these people gave their lives to defend their ideas". Some of the personal objects that have been found in Campillos. SUR The volunteers also gained personal insight. Ciudad said that participating in the exhumation helped her lose her fear of death. "I was always concerned about cemeteries, but after these weeks I've seen that it's not so bad. We all end up there and this has helped me get rid of the taboo." Gutierrez recognises that the experience has made him reflect on the lightness with which people sometimes talk about politics today. "They died because of what was real fascism. Experiencing it in a practical way, not just through books, makes you more aware." Guillermo Gutierrez said that 'practically experiencing it, not just through books, makes you more aware' Technical balance The testimonies of volunteers are complemented by the expert technical assessment. Professor at the University of Malaga and lead researcher of the project Maria Jose Berlanga stated that the work has been "very special and intense", above all due to the contact with the families. Director of the excavation Andres Fernandez Martin said that there are still around 20 bodies to be extracted from the first grave, which will bring the number of bodies in this area alone close to 100. If the second grave, which is still intact, is symmetrical, the number of victims could be well over 150, potentially reaching 200. According to historian Encarnacion Barranquero, what unites these victims is that they were not Francoists, but rather people who were repressed after the entry of the rebel troops in September 1936. Although identification is still in progress, they were mainly civilians (militiamen, trade unionists or relatives of Republican officials) executed for their militancy or simply because of their kinship. "We can't say they were combatants, they were victims of Francoism," she said. The investigation has also made it possible to distinguish up to five burial groups corresponding to different days of executions, which opens the door to establishing a precise chronology linked to historical documentation. Another striking fact is the percentage of women exhumed, which now exceeds 20%, well above the average for Andalucia and Spain. Among the remains, personal objects such as earrings or utensils have also been found, which reinforces the hypothesis that many of them were repressed along with the men in their families. In parallel to the excavation, DNA samples have been collected from both victims and family members. These tests will be sent to the specialised laboratory of the University of Granada, which will collate the results in order to facilitate identifications. According to Fernandez, the high participation of descendants in this process increases the possibility of naming the recovered bodies. "This gives us the opportunity to provide answers and close wounds that have been open for almost 90 years," he said. The second phase of the work is scheduled for 2026 and will focus on the parallel grave, following a similar process to this year's: two and a half months of excavation, a budget of around 30,000 euros and the participation of students from the University of Malaga. For Berlanga, maintaining the educational component is fundamental. "The students not only learn forensic archaeology, they also become aware of history and understand the value of dignity and reparation." Jesus Hinojosa Malaga Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 12:56 Share The inaction of Malaga's council in revising and updating the urban development plan for the city's historic centre, which is obsolete after being approved 35 years ago, has prompted judicial consequences. A ruling by the High Court of Justice of Andalucia (TSJA) issued in May denounced the city hall for not having yet adapted the special plan for the protection and interior reform (Pepri) of the city centre of Malaga to the 2007 Andalusian historical heritage law, despite the fact that the heart of the city is registered as an asset of cultural interest since 2012. The ruling of the TSJA came as a result of the complaint filed by the owners of the building at Calle Refino 17, who have not been able to obtain planning permission to demolish it and construct a new building with a ground floor plus three floors and a basement for ten tourist flats due to the disparity of criteria between the town hall and the regional government. As SUR reported in 2022, this conflict between the local and regional administrations has blocked several urban development projects in the centre, due to the alignments that should correspond to each of the plots into which the urban fabric is divided. The arguments between the two institutions date back 13 years, when the old town was registered as a heritage site in the general catalogue of Andalusian historical heritage. This inscription meant that the Pepri Centro, approved in 1989, had to adapt to the Andalusian historical heritage law, but this has not yet been done. This is where the problem arises. The heritage law states that "the alignments, gradients and existing plots" in the urban fabric of a historic site must be maintained, "exceptionally allowing urban remodelling" that modifies these parameters as long as it improves or avoids "degrading uses". This provision contradicts the regulations of the Pepri Centro de Malaga, which, in relation to the conservation of the urban structure, states that the alignments "shall be those consolidated by the existing buildings, with the exception of those indicated in the plans". The consequence of this legal conflict is that there are several building permit applications which involve a modification of the alignments of the urban fabric and which, despite being permitted by the Pepri Centro, are blocked by a negative report from the regional ministry of culture. If the Junta's rules are followed, then they contravene those of the urban planning department. The municipal government team says that the work for the review of the Pepri Centro will be contracted 'shortly' This conflict between administrations affected the project to build tourist flats at Calle Refino 17 - an action that involved the demolition of an unprotected building that stands out from the line that most of the rest of the buildings in the street follow. The new buildings have been set back, as stipulated in the Pepri. According to the urban planning department, the same could be done, but the Junta's criterion is that the footprint of the building that was to be demolished should be respected. Faced with this situation of not obtaining a response from the urban planning department to the request for the building permit (requested in 2017), the company that owns the building filed a legal appeal against the city council and the regional ministry of culture. The TSJA's ruling agrees to financially compensate these private parties for the lack of response. Although the economic amount is not high - 24,399 euros for the income that they could have generated from the rental of the flats from September 2021, when they filed the administrative claim, until February 2022, when they filed the lawsuit - it is significant that the court ruling admits that there has been a loss for these private individuals. The TSJA ruling highlighted the "omissive conduct of the city council, which delayed the granting of the licence", without resolving it. According to the High Court, the town hall "should have proceeded to the adaptation of the regulations of the Pepri Centro to the regional regulations". For this reason, the "unjustified delay in granting the licence" is "uniquely demandable" from the city council and places all the responsibility and the duty to compensate the owners of the building "for not observing" the regulations of the 2007 heritage law on the local council. The private parties also claimed 242,157 euros in compensation (46,985 euros for the management of the project and 195,172 euros for the loss of value of the building), but the TSJA has rejected these compensation concepts. However, it has ordered the town hall to pay the company 4,066 euros per month from 13 September 2021 to 25 March 2022 for blocking a project that has not been developed due to the legal conflict between the urban planning department and the Junta. Sources close to the property have stated that, at present, the private owners are considering the possibility of refurbishing the building, given the impossibility of demolishing it. The municipal government team has told SUR that "shortly" the contract for an external team of technicians to review and update the Pepri Centro will be put in place. A task which, according to what the urban planning department has been arguing, was held up by the legal appeal filed by the architects' association against the review of the catalogue of protected buildings that was activated in 2018 and which it finally lost. For the new Pepri Centro, 150,000 euros have been reserved this year, plus another of 120,000 for the review of the catalogue of protections, which has not been carried out either. On the other hand, municipal sources have not clarified whether the urban planning department is going to appeal in cassation to the Supreme Court against the ruling of the TSJA in relation to the construction work at Calle Refino 17. SUR Malaga Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 16:56 Share The Guardia Civil have arrested an individual suspected of five burglaries committed inside tourist and holiday rental properties located in Mijas. According to the police, the detainee would carry out the thefts while the tourists were sleeping inside the rented property. Operation Escoba (broom) began in May, after the first complaint was lodged by a visitor who was spending a few days on holiday in Spain. For two months, the investigators carried out numerous steps that allowed them to both study the modus operandi and identify the burglar. Modus operandi The man reportedly committed the thefts by climbing in through doors or windows, left open or ajar by the guests to let some air in. Once inside, the perpetrator would steal jewellery and cash, all while the occupants remained asleep inside. In mid-July, investigators proceeded to arrest the individual as the alleged perpetrator of five offences of burglary. He was subsequently placed at the disposal of the court of Fuengirola. Cristina Vallejo Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 18:41 Share The number of fines issued by Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic authority (DGT) in Malaga province amounted to 331,520 in 2024. This information comes from a report prepared by the drivers' advocacy organisation (AEA). This is 3.7% fewer fines than those registered in 2023, when there were just over 344,100. Meanwhile, in Spain as a whole, penalties rose by 5.14% to more than 5.4 million. According to the study, the main cause of the fines registered in the province of Malaga is speeding detected by fixed speed cameras: they account for no less than 221,209 fines, although they are down by 10.5% year-on-year. In second place are the penalties for speeding detected by mobile radars: there are nearly 32,000 and they are up by more than 70% compared to 2023. The third reason for penalties is not having passed the mandatory vehicle inspection test or driving after an unfavourable diagnosis. The two together accounted for 27,433 fines (down about 5.5% year-on-year). No driving licence or insurance Last year, there were 7,472 fines issued in the province for lacking or having an invalid driving licence or permit, practically the same as a year earlier. To this figure must be added the more than 1,200 fines for vehicles lacking a permit. In addition, 569 fines were imposed for not having a valid driving licence, e.g. the licence has been obtained abroad, without the authorisation to drive in Spain. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 fines were imposed for driving without insurance - an increase of almost 9% compared to a year earlier. To these must be added another 3,500 for not having insurance - a year-on-year increase of more than 17%. Driving while using a mobile phone was the reason for around 5,000 fines in 2024 (down slightly, by almost 2.4% compared to 2023). For using visual devices, such as navigation systems, the authorities issued a total of 22 fines in Malaga. These are few, but almost double the number from a year earlier. The number of fines issued for not wearing a seatbelt exceeded 4,000 last year, with an increase of 12.25% on a year earlier. Close to this figure are fines for failure to identify the driver, i.e. when the owner of the vehicle does not communicate who has committed a traffic offence. In 2024, this happened on almost 3,700 occasions. Positive alcohol and drug tests Another important reason for traffic fines is driving under the influence of alcohol: there were 3,113 in the province last year, although this is 7.5% fewer than a year earlier. On the other hand, there was a 65% increase in fines for refusing to submit to alcohol and drug tests, with a total of 46 last year. Fines for drug offences also rose by around 60% to almost 2,000 in Malaga in 2024. In addition, the number of fines for modifying a vehicle in violation of the regulations was more than 2,200. Improper behaviour was the reason for 875 fines last year; negligent driving for 729; running stop or give way signs for 700; irregular stops or parking for 644; using headphones for 627; bad overtaking or problems with lighting for more than 500; and reckless driving or driving in the wrong direction, disobedience to orders or signals from traffic officers for 400. NEW DELHI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong landed in New Delhi on Tuesday night for his first visit to India as Singaporean PM at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Wong was accompanied by a high-level delegation in his three-day official visit, including cabinet ministers and senior officials. The highlight of his visit would be the bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart on Thursday where a few bilateral memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were expected to be inked. The Singaporean PM was also scheduled to meet Indian President Droupadi Murmu, besides interacting with Indian business leaders and meeting a couple of the country's federal ministers. The visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations, said India's Ministry of External Affairs. Maria Albert Madrid Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 09:53 Share Some heavy rain has marked the start of this first week of September in several parts of Spain. The entry of a trough has affected a good part of the north, where in the last hours "very strong thunderstorms" have been recorded. However, these will not be the only heavy rain showers we will see this week, according to the state meteorological agency (Aemet). Over the next few hours, the arrival of a new front from the northwest will once again bring rain to the northern third of the Spanish mainland, especially affecting the Galicia region. Although these showerswill not be widespread, they could move until Thursday across the Galician region and the Cantabrian Sea areas, even reaching the Pyrenees and some parts of Catalonia. Despite this instability, the intense heat will once again be the main feature over the next few days. This Wednesday, the highs are expected to rise again almost across the board, with thermometers that will remain above 35C throughout the day. These increases will also continue throughout the weekend, and will even be noticeable in the nighttime minimum temperatures. Prediccion semanal: Esta tarde: algun chubasco acompanado de tormenta en Cataluna y Baleares. De martes a jueves: lluvia en Galicia. Viernes y fin de semana: predominio de sol sin precipitaciones significativas; el domingo chubascos en el cuadrante noroeste peninsular. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/aSlExKSISP AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) September 1, 2025 More showers and thunderstorms in these areas of Spain due to the arrival of a trough The arrival of a new trough over northwest Spain will once again mark this Wednesday 3 September. This new front will penetrate Spain throughout the day and, although it will not be as pronounced as the one last Monday, will maintain the instability at least until Thursday. According to the Aemet, in the coming hours we can expect " cloudy skies extending over Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea with rainfall in Galicia and surrounding areas which, on the coast, may be accompanied by thunderstorms". These rains will be less likely the further east, although they could also reach points in central-northern Spain and even the western Pyrenees. Rainfall is expected in Galicia, somewhat heavier in the Rias Baixas. In a weaker form, rainfall will also reach regions such as Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country. On Thursday they will reach some points in the northeast, with storms in mountain areas such as the Pyrenees and the Iberian system, as well as Navarre, La Rioja, Aragon, Catalonia and the interior of Castellon. Prediccion semanal: Esta tarde: algun chubasco acompanado de tormenta en Cataluna y Baleares. De martes a jueves: lluvia en Galicia. Viernes y fin de semana: predominio de sol sin precipitaciones significativas; el domingo chubascos en el cuadrante noroeste peninsular. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/aSlExKSISP AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) September 1, 2025 Looking ahead to Friday, there is still a lot of uncertainty. Everything indicates that the weekend could be marked by this instability again with the entry of a new Atlantic front, which would leave showers in parts of the eastern mainland, as well as in the north-western regions. High temperatures return to Spain: up to 35C in these regions The rainfall over the next few days will also be accompanied by a new change in temperatures on the Spanish mainland. After several days with below-normal values and even some cold, today (Wednesday) the maximum temperatures will again rise almost across the board. Throughout the day, the mercury could reach 35C in parts of Andalucia, Murcia, Castile-La Mancha, Valencia and the Ebro valley. Although thermometers will drop on Thursday in some northern areas, in the rest of the country the heat will continue to be quite noticeable, with higher values in the south and southeast. On Friday, meanwhile, temperatures will rise again across most of Spain, with the exception of the Mediterranean areas. Prediccion semanal: Esta tarde: algun chubasco acompanado de tormenta en Cataluna y Baleares. De martes a jueves: lluvia en Galicia. Viernes y fin de semana: predominio de sol sin precipitaciones significativas; el domingo chubascos en el cuadrante noroeste peninsular. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/aSlExKSISP AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) September 1, 2025 Throughout the weekend, temperatures are expected to reach around 35C in parts of the Guadalquivir, as well as other areas in the south. Even so, highs in the north will be much milder than in the rest of Spain. Along with this new increase in maximum temperatures, there will also be a change in nighttime temperatures. These will rise over the next few days, staying close to 20C in central areas and south. In the north these lows could remain close to 10degrees. Likewise, in the Mediterranean areas it will not drop below 23-25C during this period. Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez travelled to London on Wednesday to meet his British counterpart Keir Starmer and sign a strategic collaboration agreement between the two countries. The meeting was the first sign of Sanchez's aim this new political term to reposition himself internationally. The Spanish prime minister was not invited last August by Donald Trump to the summit with the Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelenskyy and the leaders of the large EU countries plus the United Kingdom and Nato. The political reading that emerged from this absence was that the head of government has lost his capacity for influence in the international arena, an area in which he has always stood out from his predecessors. The agreement signed in London on Wednesday covered economic and commercial matters, but also other fields. This was a significant move for the British prime minister, who since taking office has sought a rapprochement with Europe to heal the wounds of Brexit, but also for the Spaniard, who has hardly any ideological allies on the continent. He can finally add to his album a photo at 10 Downing Street, something he did not achieve on his previous trips to the UK with the Conservatives Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Elizabeth Truss or Rishi Sunak. The meeting came at a good time in the relationship between the two countries, after the agreement on the status of Gibraltar was finally sealed in June. Brussels is now working on the final draft for its expected ratification in December. Its implementation will involve the demolition of the border and the disappearance of the controls and barriers that currently apply to people and goods. The agreement is relevant because the UK is Spain's preferred partner and its main market outside the EU, but closer ties with Starmer are of value in their own right for Sanchez, in diplomatic and political terms, given his weight in the international arena. Critical summit The Nato summit in The Hague last June showed Sanchez more isolated than ever by his decision to openly oppose Donald Trump's demand to raise defence spending to five per cent, refusing to sign a document that many other leaders signed. For Sanchez, signing it would have meant a confrontation with Sumar, his partner in government, and his parliamentary allies on the left, and, between domestic and foreign policy, he preferred the former. The government believes that the price was worth it and that in reality it was not so high. This Thursday Prime Minister Sanchez will also travel to Paris to take part in the meeting of the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, which, under Franco-British impetus, brings together countries allied with Ukraine such as Canada, Japan and Australia, as well as several European countries. The meeting seeks to take stock of progress in discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine and to increase pressure on Russia to accept a ceasefire, something in which the United States is keen to be involved. The Spanish government also defends the role it has played in relation to Gaza, another issue on the agenda of the UK prime minister, who, as Spain did just over a year ago, leading a campaign that few countries took up at the time, is now considering recognising the State of Palestine, as is France. In an interview in The Guardian on Wednesday, Sanchez expressed his satisfaction that other countries are following Spain's example, but also acknowledged that the response of the EU as a whole to put an end to the massacre of the Palestinian population at the hands of Israel is "a failure". Cristina Candido Madrid Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 11:16 Share The Irish airline Ryanair has carried out its threat and will scrap one million seats on flights this coming winter season by cancelling a total of 36 direct connections with regional Spain and the Canary Islands airports. The company blames the "excessive" fees and the lack of competitiveness in these infrastructures that it attributes to the airport operator Aena. All this means that two million seats per year will be diverted to Italy, Morocco, Croatia and Albania. "Ryanair remains committed to Spain, but we cannot justify continued investment in airports whose growth is blocked by excessive and uncompetitive fees," said the CEO of the Irish company, Eddie Wilson, this Wednesday. These cuts mean a reduction in air traffic at secondary airports - those with less than three million passengers - of 41% (600,000 seats). They will affect Santiago, where it is closing its two-plane base - which will mean the loss of an investment of 200 million dollars ; Vigo, where it is suspending all flights from 1 January; Zaragoza (-45% capacity), Santander (-38%), Asturias (-16%) and Vitoria (-2%). In addition, Ryanair will continue not to operate at Valladolid and Jerez airports during the winter. The low cost airline will also reduce its seat offer in the Canary Islands by 10% (400,000 seats) with a cancellation of 36 connections with the Spanish mainland and the suspension of all flights to Tenerife North from 1 October. Abandonment of regional airports Ryanair will take this 6.5% increase in Aenea charges by 2026, to 11.03 euros per passenger to the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC). For the company, it said the airport operator has no interest in developing traffic at regional airports and only wants to focus on obtaining "record profits from the main Spanish airports". In his opinion, Aena and the Spanish government, its majority shareholder, "have failed the Spanish regions, whose airports are almost 70% empty. "By contrast, other airports and countries such as Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Albania, Hungary, Sweden, etc., are reducing access costs (especially at regional airports) to boost traffic, tourism and employment, which makes Spanish regions hopelessly uncompetitive," Wilson explained. According to Ryanair, the company contributes more than 28 billion euros to Spain's GDP, invests more than 10 billion euros in its Spanish operations and employs more than 10,000 pilots, cabin crew and engineers. "Ryanair remains committed to growth in the Spanish regions, but this growth is blocked by Aena's excessive fees and its refusal to work with airlines to support regional airports with available capacity," Wilson said. As the summer season comes to an end, many job contracts also reach their deadline and the labour market is suffering as a result. Spain lost 199,300 jobs in August compared to July - the worst figure for this month since 2019. Only in 2018 and 2019 was the destruction of jobs greater, with 212,984 and 202,996 fewer jobs, according to data from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. At the same time, public service employment (Sepe) statistics added 21,905 more unemployed. The total number of unemployed reached 2,426,511 - the lowest figure for an August in recent years. At the same time, social security affiliates reached 21,666,203, 476,801 more than in August 2024. The rate of job creation, however, remains practically unchanged with respect to previous months. Although the August social security enrollment figures are usually affected by seasonality, this year the loss of workers goes beyond tourism and hospitality, as it affects most economic activities. The drops in education (-75,869), administrative activities (-19,061), industry (-16,763) and construction (-15,455) stand out. But employment also fell in scientific and technical professions (-14,975), information and communications (-9,992) and public administration and defence (-9,951). By branch of activity, registered unemployment only fell in agriculture, with 1,849 fewer unemployed (-2.36%). By contrast, services recorded 21,692 more unemployed (1.25%), followed by industry (+2,775) and construction (+2,745, 1.55% more than in July). By region, the number of unemployed rose in 12 regions and only recorded decreases in five, mainly in Castilla-La Mancha (-1,047 unemployed), the Canary Islands (-873) and Navarre (-150). On the other hand, the largest increases were recorded in Catalonia (7,942 more unemployed), Madrid (4,214) and the Basque Country (4,178). In terms of provinces, unemployment fell in 20 of them, led by Las Palmas (-645 unemployed), Ciudad Real (-330) and Albacete (-303). On the other hand, it increased in 32 provinces, especially in Barcelona (5,970 more unemployed), Madrid (4,214) and Vizcaya (2,037 unemployed). Director of Randstad Research Valentin Bote has focused on the gap between actual unemployment and registered unemployment. "The former has not fallen since the labour reform and still stands at 3.24 million," he said. The forecast was that this August, the data for which is not yet available, would experience an increase of 850,000 job seekers with contracts, also known as fixed-term contracts. For the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the data is positive: "The labour market continues to perform favourably, with remarkable data on the quantity and quality of employment. We are above 21.6 million members, a very positive figure, which includes an outstanding growth in sectors with a high productive impact," said minister Elma Saiz. Temporary employment is on the rise In August, the Sepe database recorded a total of 1,039,962 contracts, 197 fewer than in the same month last year. Despite this slight drop, in the accumulated statistics for the year as a whole the total is 10,074,331, which is 79,105 more than in the first eight months of 2024. Of these, more than half, i.e. a total of 5.9 million, are temporary contracts, 153,393 more than in 2024. Indefinite contracts have fallen by 1.76% (to just over 4.14 million) so far in 2025. Despite the labour reform, temporary employment continues rising this year. In August, it accounted for six out of every ten contracts registered at the Sepe offices. Permanent contracts fell by 1% compared with the same month last year. Within this category, in August there were 163,135 full-time permanent contracts, 91,589 part-time and 131,132 discontinuous contracts. Compared with August 2024, the former fell by 539 (-0.33%), the second by 1,776 (-1.90%) and the latter by 1,564 (1.18%). Contained fall in the self-employed The end of the summer season has also taken its toll on the self-employed. August closed with 8,662 fewer registrations in the Reta (the special scheme for self-employed workers) than in July. Despite this decline, according to data from the ministry, it is one of the most moderate falls in an August since 2008. In any case, July had already seen a sharper drop than in other years. Spain ends the high summer season with a total of 3,405,711 self-employed workers affiliated to the Reta, narrowly maintaining the threshold of 3.4 million. This is 34,361 more than in August last year and represents the highest figure for this month so far in the 21st century. Mayte Amoros Mallorca Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 14:32 Share The only iconic Osborne bull on Mallorca in Spain's Balearic Islands, located in the municipality of Algaida, suffered a new act of vandalism during the early hours of 2 September. The famous symbol of Spanish culture was painted in the colours of the Palestinian flag. The local hard-right political party Vox councillor in Algaida Miguel Martinez described the incident as "an attack on culture, history and symbols". Martinez said that he will not allow "a few radicals to use vandalism as a political tool, tainting an emblem that belongs to all Spaniards". Martinez reminded the public that this is not the first time that the bull has suffered vandalism of this type and demanded the immediate intervention of the authorities. "Enough of impunity. We demand that these events be investigated, that those responsible be identified and that they be punished according to the law. Defending our heritage is not an option, it is an obligation," he said. Martinez reaffirmed Vox's commitment to the protection of this symbol, which he considers an inseparable part of Spanish cultural identity. "While others try to destroy what we are, Vox will continue to defend our symbols, our history and our traditions. The Osborne bull is not to be touched." The Osborne bull is much more than an advertising symbol: it is a Spanish cultural icon that is judicially protected. In 1997, the Supreme Court ruled that the image is more than a commercial advertisement, as it is integrated into the landscape, and emphasised that "the aesthetic or cultural interest that the region has attributed to the bull's figure should prevail as the reason justifying its preservation". Despite this, the bull has been vandalised on several occasions: it appeared with a yellow ribbon and the word 'Libertad' ('Freedom') at a pro-independence event; it was dyed in the colours of the LGTB+ flag to celebrate Pride; and it has even been the object of anti-bullfighting graffiti or graffiti against foreign business or land owners with the message: "Rich foreigners, go to hell." Jennie Rhodes La Vinuela Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 11:34 Share Car enthusiasts should head to La Vinuela in Malaga province's Axarquia area on Sunday 7 September to see The Devil's Sons Club's collection of classic American vehicles. The club, which is based in Malaga and Cordoba, will take its vehicles on a 'Road to Oasis' from Malaga city to the Axarquia along the A-356 road. The collection includes Chevrolet Camaros and Corvettes, which appear in films including Transformers, The Last Stand, and The Fast and the Furious. There will also be Ford Mustangs, the legendary Pontiac, and the Dodge, the star of 1950s cinema. Motorbikes include Harley-Davidsons, Indians, custom bikes and Japanese motorcycles. Road to Oasis poster. The vehicles are due to arrive in La Vinuela at midday, where there will be a bar offering food with proceeds going to charity, as well as music from Mr. Proper. On Saturday 13 September the village is hosting another classic vehicle event, Brother Classic Blue, with more than 100 vehicles participating from across Andalucia. This event will coincide with the village's Feria de la Pasa (raisin fair) which celebrates the area's grape harvest and local raisins and sweet wine. The Buffalo Bills have been running it back all summer with former key contributors. In free agency, Buffalo signed cornerbacks TreDavious White and Dane Jackson to provide depth and competition at the position. White, if healthy, is expected to start opposite Christian Benford in Week 1, while Jackson was signed to the practice squad after getting released by the team. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was the next player to rejoin Buffalo. Phillips, 32, came back to Buffalo for a fourth stint to join the practice squad. The veteran could be elevated to the main roster after DeWayne Carter suffered an Achilles injury that ended his season. One Jordan running it back was not enough for the Bills. Following roster cuts, it was announced that veteran safety Jordan Poyer would be signing with Buffalos practice squad. Poyer is expected to be a mentor of sorts for second-year safety Cole Bishop as well as rookie Jordan Hancock. Gabe Davis became the latest player to return to Buffalo on Tuesday. The former big-play receiver for the Bills will be signing with the practice squad while he recovers from a torn meniscus injury from last season. After seeing five former Bills rejoin the team in the past few months, a former favorite in the locker room let it be known that he was open to a return as well. On X, wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie shared news of Davis signing with the hashtag, Bring Lil Dirty Back. McKenzies response was likely tongue-in-cheek, but he is still an active receiver in the league. In 2024, McKenzie spent the summer with the New York Giants before getting released in late August. He would sign with the Miami Dolphins practice squad in late December. McKenzie first joined Buffalos roster in 2018. He served as a gadget player and returner during his time with the Bills. McKenzies best season came in 2022 with Buffalo when he posted a 42-423-4 stat line. While the Bills have brought back several former players, its unlikely that McKenzie will be joining the list. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Actor Nicholas Braun, best known for his work in the hit HBO series Succession, began his Labor Day weekend with a run-in with New Hampshire law officials. Moultonborough Police Chief Peter W. Beede announced in a Tuesday press release that officers arrested the 37-year-old actor Friday evening on suspicion of DUI-Impairment in the town of Moultonborough, N.H., about an hour north of the states capitol of Concord. Braun was also arrested on suspicion of driving at night without his headlights on. The release did not share additional information about Brauns arrest. Representatives for the actor did not immediately respond to The Times request for comment. Braun was booked in Carroll County Jail and released on his own recognizance, according to TMZ. The outlet also reported that the actor will be arraigned Sept. 16. In HBOs Succession, Braun became a fan favorite for his portrayal of Cousin Greg, an outsider who manages to weasel his way into the core familys business and the bid for aging media mogul Logan Roys (Brian Cox) multi-industry empire. He received three Primetime Emmy nominations for the role. Braun is also known for his work in Disney flicks Sky High, Princess Protection Program and Minutemen. His credits include The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Zola and Saturday Night. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. PHNOM PENH, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has emerged as a main driving force for the world's peace, security, stability, economy, governance, and prosperity, said Cambodian experts on Wednesday. They made the remarks as China marked the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, with a massive military parade in the capital Beijing. Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said China, which has emerged as a social, economic, political, technological and strategic leader on the world stage, is a miracle of the 21st century. "China has been a powerful driving force of the world's peace, security, stability, economy, governance and prosperity," he added. Matthews said China's four landmark global initiatives, namely the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), are meant to transform the various and different communities around the globe as a unified community with a shared future. "Chinese people believe that China's development and prosperity are directly connected with the world development, so if the world progress, China will also develop definitely," Matthews said. He said the four global initiatives plus the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will help connect the world like a spider-web, where all countries are connected with each other through hard and soft infrastructure, where communication, transportation and trade become easier, efficient and inclusive. China has greatly contributed to alleviating world's poverty through BRI projects in many countries and regions around the globe, he added. "China's contribution to reducing global poverty is significant and have recognized and benefitted by all countries," Matthews said. Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said China's emphasis on standing on the right side of history and pursuing peaceful development reflected a commitment to cooperation, dialogue, and shared progress, values needed in today's world. "The GDI, GSI, GCI, and GGI together reflect China's vision of inclusive development, peace, cultural respect, and fair governance," he told Xinhua. "If implemented inclusively, they can strengthen global cooperation and advance the idea of a shared future for mankind." Mengdavid said China has currently played an increasingly active role in development, climate, health, and peacekeeping. "Its focus on "win-win" cooperation can deliver mutual benefits and help the world respond more effectively to global challenges," he said. Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said China has been the world's new emerging leader who always shares experiences and fruits of development to other countries around the globe. He said China does not want competition, but cooperation with all countries for mutual benefits and win-win results. "China is a peaceful neighbor and a good friend to every nation in the world because it always wants peace and harmony for the world," he told Xinhua. "China always shares benefits to all countries regardless of a country's size or population number." Syracuse, N.Y. A Syracuse man was sentenced on Wednesday after pleading guilty to stealing nearly $22,000 in pension payments sent to his deceased mother, officials said. Michael Glinski, 45, was sentenced to serve five years probation and ordered to pay full restitution, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Glinski pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny in Onondaga County Court before Judge Mary Anne Doherty in May. Glinski was arrested in January following an investigation almost nine months after his mothers death. Glinskis mother was a clerk with the Solvay Police Department before she retired in August 2014. She received a monthly pension check and also received her deceased husbands pension payment as a beneficiary since 2019. In October 2021, Glinskis mother passed away. Both her and her husbands payments should have stopped, but the New York State and Local Retirement System was not notified of her death. In July 2022, the department was notified and her payments stopped. Investigators discovered Glinski deposited 17 pension checks into his personal bank account. In total, he stole $21,946 by endorsing the checks using his power of attorney, DiNapoli said. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her atdstevenson@syracuse.com Springport, N.Y. A Cayuga County man who works at a school was charged Friday with sexually abusing a child under the age of 11, deputies said. Craig S. Gilmore, 63, of Springport, was charged with first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and first-degree sexual abuse, according to the Cayuga County Sheriffs Office. After a week-long investigation, deputies arrested Gilmore at his home. Gilmore was a maintenance worker at Union Springs Academy in Union Springs, according to the schools principal, Timothy Raymond. Gilmore was fired as a result of his arrest, he said. Raymond said the alleged abuse did not involve the school or students. The academy is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian boarding school. Gilmore is being held at the Cayuga County Jail. The sheriffs office said the investigation is ongoing and limited information is being released at this time. Deputies ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Cayuga County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigations Division at 315-253-1610. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her atdstevenson@syracuse.com Canandaigua, N.Y. State Police broke down the front door of a Geneva home in February as they moved in to arrest Precious Arzuaga, one of seven suspects accused in the killing of 24-year-old Sam Nordquist. State police Investigator Brian Hotchkiss described the scene today during a pre-trial hearing in Nordquists murder case in Ontario County Court. Arzuaga, the main suspect, was arrested at her mothers house. Hotchkiss said he found Arzuaga sitting on a mattress on the floor in the front room of the house after they broke the door down. Hotchkiss had been there the day before to interview Arzuaga and several others about Nordquist. Then, it was a missing persons case. But it became a murder case the next day, when Nordquists remains were found in a Yates County field. Nordquist, a transgender man, came to New York for a relationship with Arzuaga but was tortured for more than a month and then brutally killed, prosecutors said. During the hearing, Hotchkiss said he first visited Arzuaga at the home of her mother, Shirley Lee Morales, on Feb. 12. During that visit, Nordquist was still thought to be missing. A day later, investigators returned with a larger team and a search warrant to arrest her on murder charges. Hotchkiss testified that five people were already in custody when Arzuaga was arrested. He said there were so many people being held in the case that they had begun to run out of room at the barracks. Arzuaga had to be kept in an interview room. When Arzuaga was transferred to the jail, she began to show signs of having a mental health crisis, two Ontario County jail corrections officers testified. Both said that in the days following Arzuagas arrest, she was seen crying and pacing in her cell. When the officers asked her if she was OK, she shared with them some details about her involvement in Nordquists death. Those exact details were not revealed during the hearing. But prosecutors plan to use those statements; defense attorneys are trying to have them thrown out. Kimberly L. Sochia, 29, of Canandaigua, walks out of court for the first degree murder hearing for the murder of Sam Nordquist at the Ontario County Courthouse on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com) N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com Also Tuesday, Kimberly Sochia, who has also been charged in Nordquists murder, appeared for her own hearing. Investigators testified that Sochia initially denied involvement in Nordquists disappearance but later wrote a statement describing what she witnessed. When the statement was read back to her, police said, Sochia began crying hysterically and said she was going to throw up. The investigator gave her a trash can. Sochia, who was pregnant at the time, told State Police Investigator Nicholas Napierski that she was a domestic violence survivor, on probation, and had two children in foster care. She had her baby while in jail. During the hearing, she was talking to her lawyer and taking notes. After the hearings, prosecutor Kelly Wolford said that the investigation is still ongoing. We continue to uncover evidence on a daily basis, said Wolford, the chief assistant district attorney for Ontario County. She said there is a ton of video evidence. But nothing uncovered so far has changed the tenor of the case, which Wolford and veteran state police investigators have said is unlike anything theyve seen. Nothing weve uncovered during the course of this investigation has mitigated the horribleness of what we saw in the beginning, Wolford said. Wolford said the trial wont be until at least January. Its currently unclear whether all of the defendants will be tried together or separately. Pre-trial hearings continue this week in Judge Kristina Karles courtroom for the other five defendants: Patrick Goodwin and Emily Motyka on Wednesday, Kyle Sage and Thomas Eaves on Thursday, and Jennifer Quijano on Friday. Camillus, N.Y. - Police have released the name of a motorcyclist who died Monday morning in a crash in the village of Camillus. The man was Louis P. Marini, 75, of Jordan. Marini was driving east on Main Street in a 2017 Harley at approximately 9:40 a.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle, according to Camillus Police Capt. James Nightengale. Marini was trying to avoid a 2015 Kia that was stopped in the left turn lane at an intersection with Newport Road, he said. The motorcyclist struck a curb and crashed into a telephone pole, Nightengale said. He was brought to Upstate University Hospital, where he later died. 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. Syracuse, NY -- Millions of healthy adults and babies across the country may lose access to the latest Covid vaccine this year under new federal rules, according to one of the leading experts on the vaccine. Anyone 65 and older will still be able to get the shot -- once hiccups in the rollout at local pharmacies ease in coming weeks, said Dr. Stephen Thomas, an infectious disease physician with Upstate Medical University. Thats according to approval from the FDA, which was issued last week. But for anyone under 65 years old, the picture is much murkier, Thomas told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the latest vaccine only for those adults 64 or younger who have a high-risk factor, such as obesity, hypertension, or a host of other factors, Thomas said. (See below for full list.) Whether pregnancy remains a qualifying factor to get a Covid shot is unclear, he added. That puts everyone into three major groups. If youre over 65 years of age, youre good to go to get a Covid vaccine, said Thomas, who was the lead principal investigator worldwide for a clinical trial the vaccine for Pfizer and BioNTech. For people under 65 with a high-risk factor, you will be eligible -- though it make take jumping through hurdles to show your risk factor. For everyone else, getting the vaccine may be tricky -- if possible at all, Thomas said. The most surefire way to get the vaccine is to get a doctors prescription. Those will always be honored by a pharmacy. At the same time, pharmacies are caught in the lurch: how will they determine whether someone under 65 qualifies? In fact, even some seniors may need a prescription. As of Tuesday afternoon, Syracuse-area Walgreens were requiring seniors to have a prescription when making an appointment. But what if you want a prescription yet dont have a high risk factor? Itll be up to your doctor to write one off label, meaning they will be prescribing something that hasnt been approved for that use by the FDA, Thomas said. That will depend on your doctors willingness to take matters into their own hands. That echoes what Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote on X: These vaccines are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors. If you cant get a prescription, you may be out of luck. For now, CVS and Walgreens, the two biggest national drug store chains, are either not dispensing vaccine in New York state or require a prescription for everyone, according to a review of the companies vaccine online signups. Kinney Drugs, Syracuses largest regional drug store chain, is awaiting further guidance from a federal vaccine panel before deciding how to dispense the vaccine, a spokeswoman told syracuse.com. That federal panel, which also determines insurance coverage, is not scheduled to meet until Sept. 18 or 19. Its possible that pharmacies may eventually let people sign a form attesting that they meet the high-risk criteria for the shot, Thomas said, though theres no guarantee that will happen. Even if you can get a shot, theres no certainty that insurance companies will cover any vaccines that arent used under FDA guidelines. The shot typically costs a couple hundred dollars if paid for out-of-pocket. So getting the vaccine as a healthy child or adult may be a huge hassle -- if its possible at all. Many healthy adults stopped getting the shot on their own. Less than 20% of adults aged 18 to 64 got the Covid vaccine last year, compared with over 40% of adults 65 and older, according to federal data. That still means that millions of people who got a shot last year may not be eligible under FDA rules this year, Thomas noted. The percentages may seem low, but every every life is a life, and the numbers are significant, Thomas said. There are specific populations who are especially at-risk for serious Covid complications: those 65 and older, pregnant women and very young children, Thomas said. Heres a look at where things stand for each of those groups: Adults 65 and older The biggest risk factor for bad Covid outcomes is age, Thomas said. Thats why the FDA has approved the newest vaccine for anyone 65 and older. Age is the strongest risk factor for having a bad outcome if you get infected, Thomas said. And when I say bad outcomes, what I mean is, youre going to get sick, you could end up in the hospital, you could end up in the ICU, and you could end up in the morgue. Pharmacies should have no problem dispensing vaccine to these people. At most, a doctors prescription should pave the way. Insurance should cover the cost. Children 6 months to 2 years old There are no vaccines approved for use under 6 months old. But Modernas Spikevax is approved for use for children 6 months to 2 years old. Thats an important group to cover, Thomas said. Children that young are just entering daycare and have a high risk of hospitalization if they have a bad Covid reaction. However, the FDA did not approve the shot for children who do not have one of the other risk factors. Thats despite guidance from the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention that still recommends the vaccine for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics is suing Kennedys HHS for removing the Covid vaccine from the recommended list of vaccines for children. The group contends that all children 6 to 23 months old should be vaccinated, pointing to higher rates of hospitalization for the age group. For now, the vaccine is not approved for young children who dont have a high-risk factor. That means they will face the same hurdles as adults under the age of 65. Pregnant women Its unclear whether pregnant women still qualify for the vaccine under the FDA approvals. Pregnancy is still listed a risk factor that should qualify pregnant women for the vaccine. But Kennedy has signaled that the CDC will no longer recommend the Covid vaccine for pregnant women. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the vaccine for all women who are pregnant or who are breast-feeding. The CDC website still recommends it, too. Again, it may be a situation where someone should consult with their doctor before heading to the pharmacy to get the vaccine. What are the high risk factors? The CDCs risk factors are often broad. Many people may fall into one of these categories. These are the factors that should qualify someone for the Covid vaccine, according to the CDC, regardless of age: Asthma Blood cancers Cerebrovascular diseases Chronic kidney disease Some chronic lung diseases Some chronic liver diseases Cystic fibrosis Type 1 and 2 diabetes Gestational diabetes Disabilities, including Down syndrome Heart conditions HIV Mood disorders, including depression and schizophrenia Dementia Parkinsons disease Obesity Physical inactivity Current or recent pregnancy Primary immunodeficiencies Current or former smoking Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant recipients Tuberculosis Use of immunosuppressive drugs Should I get the shot? With government and doctors groups increasingly at odds, Thomas urged healthy people to consult their doctor to make the best decision as individuals. He provided two examples: Someone might have very low risk of Covid complications but a big fear of vaccine impacts, such as losing work due to side effects. That person may decide against seeking out the vaccine. On the other hand, another healthy adult may be a teacher, doctor or first responder who feels a moral obligation to protect those around them. That person may seek an off-label prescription. The infectious disease doctor cautioned people not to underestimate Covids impact to this day. This virus continues to persist, Thomas said. The virus continues to make people sick. Around the country, we have a couple hundred people die every week of the virus. Syracuse, N.Y. A Syracuse man riding a minibike with a group of around 100 people on motorcycles, minibikes and ATVs was arrested after he crashed into a car and a minibike, troopers said. The crash and the mans arrest on Aug. 23 was captured on the mans helmet video camera that has now been posted on social media. At about 4:38 p.m. Aug. 23, troopers assigned to the State Fair observed the large group of vehicles causing a disturbance in the parking lot of a business at the 800 block of Erie Boulevard West, State Police said in a news release Tuesday. The riders were performing burnouts and blocking people from entering or leaving the area, troopers said. State Police received multiple reports throughout the day of a similar group causing disturbances. Troopers tried to stop the group but they refused to obey the police and stop. Troopers said drivers committed numerous traffic violations. At Erie Boulevard West and West Genesee Street, troopers saw one minibike rider collide with another who then struck an uninvolved vehicle stopped at the intersection, troopers said. Oscar R. Blair, 25, tried to flee after the crash, said Sgt. Jack Keller, a State Police spokesperson. Blair was tackled and struggled with officers as they tried to arrest him, according to the video and Keller. Keller said the larger group dispersed in the aftermath. Blair was taken into custody and his unregistered minibike was towed, troopers said. Blair was initially issued multiple traffic tickets, but following a later review of the incident, it was determined that additional charges would be pursued. On Friday, Blair was charged with: Obstructing governmental administration Resisting arrest Reckless driving Disorderly conduct Keller confirmed the video online captured Blairs arrest. Staff writer Finn Lincoln covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at flincoln@syracuse.com. Discharges from a western New York cheese factory into a local waterway have resulted in a significant fish and wildlife die-off, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. On Aug. 26, DEC responded to reports of a large fish kill in Ischua Creek in Franklinville, Cattaraugus County. DEC field teams observed multiple types of dead aquatic species. DEC broadly characterized the visible effluent discharges and odors entering the creek as organic waste and says that tens of thousands of fish and other aquatic wildlife have thus far been impacted in the die-off. DEC is now requiring Great Lakes Cheese, the company responsible for the discharges, to change how it monitors effluent exceedances from its wastewater treatment process, to improve the quality of the facilitys digester operations, and to continue collecting data on impacts to the creek. In the meantime, DEC advises the public to avoid all contact with Ischua Creek downstream of Franklinville, including fishing, boating, and swimming until further notice. Ischua Creek is a vibrant, healthy ecosystem and the environmental damage witnessed this week is significant, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. As DECs investigation continues, weve directed Great Lakes Cheese to prevent ongoing impacts to the creek to help protect water quality and creek habitat. DEC and our partners at the Department of Health will continue to coordinate assessing any potential public health impacts and encourage the community to follow the recreational use advisory that remains in place at this time. While the mechanism of the die-off is unclear, DEC said that water quality concerns in Ischua Creek are related to low dissolved oxygen and elevated nutrients, temperature, and dissolved constituents such as total dissolved solids. At this time, there is no indication of impacts to drinking water supplies, according to DEC and state Department of Health officials. Local water systems have been notified and are taking precautionary monitoring steps. The public is encouraged to report unusual fish and wildlife observations in the region to (716) 851-7201. Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com. An invasive fungal disease that targets trees and shrubs in the laurel family was detected for the first time in New York in July, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The disease, called laurel wilt, was discovered in the village of Northport, Long Island, when a homeowner sent a sample of their dying sassafras tree for testing at Cornell Universitys Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic. The detection of laurel wilt on Long Island marks a troubling new chapter in the spread of this invasive plant disease, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. DEC is collaborating with our conservation partners to understand the extent of impacted trees, evaluate control options, and launch public outreach to increase awareness about laurel wilt and how to report it. Laurel wilt is a fungal pathogen that is spread by the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle, which introduces the fungus when it tunnels into the stems and branches of host plants, leaving behind spores, DEC said. Originating in Asia and first identified in the U.S. in Georgia in 2002, laurel wilt is now widespread in many southeastern states. Prior to New Yorks detection, the northernmost cases were in Kentucky and Virginia. In New York, native species at risk are sassafras and spicebush. Despite its name, mountain laurel is not in this family and is not impacted by the disease. However, the loss of sassafras and spicebush could have wide-ranging impacts on southern New Yorks forests and wildlife, DEC said. Both species provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and mammals. Spicebush berries are also a critical fall food source for migratory birds, while the leaves of both spicebush and sassafras support the larvae of native butterflies such as the spicebush swallowtail, DEC said. A dead sassafras tree on Long Island, killed by laurel wilt, a fungal disease spread by an invasive beetle that was detected for the first time in NY in July. Abby Marino, Long Island Invasive Species Management Area The decline of either of these plant species would reduce forest diversity, weaken natural food webs, and increase native forest susceptibility to invasive plants, DEC said. Were collaborating closely with our partners to respond to this detection of laurel wilt on Long Island, state Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said. "As we continue to learn more about the spread of this harmful plant disease and how to control it, were also working to increase awareness of this find and encouraging the public to report any sightings. Signs and symptoms of laurel wilt include: Sudden wilting of leaves; Dark streaking of sapwood beneath the bark; and Small entry holes on the branches, trunk, or roots, which are sometimes surrounded by fine sawdust-like toothpicks pushed out from the bark. If you encounter sassafras or spicebush showing these symptoms: Submit a report through nyimapinvasives.org ; and Do not move or transport branches, trunks, or bark from symptomatic sassafras or spicebush, even for disposal. Chip dead wood and use it as mulch on-site. Cornell University is hosting a public information session on Sept. 10 about laurel wilt. To learn more, visit DECs laurel wilt webpage Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com A late Tennessee sheriff who inspired a Hollywood movie about a law enforcement officer who took on organized crime killed his wife in 1967 and led people to believe she was killed by his enemies, authorities said Friday. Authorities acknowledged that the finding will likely shock many who grew up as Buford Pusser fans and watched 1973s Walking Tall, which immortalized him as a tough but fair sheriff with zero tolerance for crime. The movie was remade in 2004, and many officers joined law enforcement because of his story, according to Mark Davidson, the district attorney for Tennessees 25th judicial district. There is enough evidence that if Pusser, the McNairy County sheriff who died in a car crash seven years after his wifes death, were alive today, prosecutors would present an indictment to a grand jury for the killing of Pauline Mullins Pusser, Davidson said. Investigators also uncovered signs that she suffered from domestic violence. Prosecutors worked with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which began reexamining decades-old files on Paulines death in 2022 as part of its regular review of cold cases, agency director David Rausch said. Agents found inconsistencies between Buford Pussers version of events and the physical evidence, received a tip about a potential murder weapon and exhumed Paulines body for an autopsy. This case is not about tearing down a legend. It is about giving dignity and closure to Pauline and her family and ensuring that the truth is not buried with time, Davidson said in a news conference streamed online. The truth matters. Justice matters. Even 58 years later. Pauline deserves both. Evidence does not back up sheriffs story The case dates to Aug. 12, 1967. Buford Pusser got a call in the early morning hours about a disturbance. He reported that his wife volunteered to ride along with him as he responded. Buford Pusser said that shortly after they passed New Hope Methodist Church, a car pulled up and fired several times into the vehicle, killing Pauline and injuring the sheriff. Buford Pusser spent 18 days in the hospital and required several surgeries to recover. The case was built largely on his own statement and closed quickly, Rausch said. During the reexamination of the case, Dr. Michael Revelle, an emergency medicine physician and medical examiner, studied postmortem photographs, crime scene photographs, notes made by the medical examiner at the time and Buford Pussers statements. He concluded that Pauline was more likely than not shot outside the car and then placed inside it. He found that cranial trauma suffered by Pauline didnt match crime scene photographs of the cars interior. Blood spatter on the hood outside the car contradicted Buford Pussers statements. The gunshot wound on his cheek was in fact a close-contact wound and not one fired from long range, as Buford Pusser described, and was likely self-inflicted, Revelle concluded. Paulines autopsy revealed she had a broken nose that had healed prior to her death. Davidson said statements from people who were around at the time she died support the conclusion that she was a victim of domestic violence. Brother says investigation gave him closure Paulines younger brother, Griffon Mullins, said the investigation gave him closure. He said in a recorded video played at the news conference that their other sister died without knowing what happened to Pauline and he is grateful he will die knowing. You would fall in love with her because she was a people person. And of course, my family would always go to Pauline if they had an issue or they needed some advice and she was always there for them, he said. She was just a sweet person. I loved her with all my heart. Mullins said he knew there was some trouble in Paulines marriage, but she wasnt one to talk about her problems. For that reason, Mullins said he was not totally shocked. Asked about the murder weapon and whether it matched autopsy findings, Rausch recommended reading the case file for specifics. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation plans to make the entire file, which exceeds 1,000 pages, available to the public by handing it over to the University of Tennessee at Martin once it finishes with redactions. The school will create an online, searchable database for the case. Until then, members of the public can make appointments to review it in person or can purchase a copy, said university Chancellor Yancy Freeman Sr. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed when a passenger vehicle came under attack in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, the police said. The incident occurred in a rural area of Kurram District, where unknown assailants opened fire on the vehicle, Regional Police Officer of Kohat region Abbas Majeed Marwat said in a statement. He said police and security forces immediately launched a search operation in the area following the attack. So far, 12 suspects have been taken into custody, and a cache of weapons has been recovered during the ongoing operation, Marwat added. Heavy contingents of police and security personnel are conducting house-to-house searches in the area to trace the attackers. No group has claimed the attack yet. School districts across the country have adopted policies to keep students engaged in class instead of on their phones. Local districts are joining in. On Tuesday, Aug. 19, the Fenton Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution in support of a local nonprofit seeking a charitable gaming license from the state to help fund self defense and anti-bullying education. On Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, at approximately 5:50 a.m. deputies with the Livingston County Sheriffs Office were dispatched to two crashes on westbound I-96 Hwy at U.S. 23 in Brighton Township. YouTube's password-sharing crackdown is here as Premium Family plan users are now reporting that they have lost access to the paid access features after the company flagged them down. The streaming platform requires members of Family plans to be in the same household or address when using the service to avoid facing the penalties. YouTube Premium Family Requires Streaming From One House CNET reported that YouTube's Premium Family plans have one requirement that may not be known to many: users who use the same account are required to stream and use the service under one household only. The requirement is now causing a lot of buzz as many are now facing violations for using their Premium Family accounts outside the main user's home. According to a YouTube spokesperson, this policy has always been present in their existing rules and regulations for Family subscription plans, with the company continuously enforcing its guidelines. In the policy, YouTube said that users in the Premium Family plan should use the service at the same address set up by the family manager or the user account that subscribed to the service. The Premium Family plan's policy dictates that family managers may add up to five family members to use the account under one household. YouTube Suspends Paid Access Plans For Violators Many reports have now popped up claiming that YouTube notified them that their accounts were suspended. Some users claim that YouTube has paused their premium subscriptions for as long as 15 days for their violations of the policy or for using it outside the specified address of the family manager. Password Sharing Crackdown on Streaming The infamous password-sharing crackdown in streaming platforms has been one of the top issues against companies. Netflix was the first company to introduce a password-sharing crackdown amongst its users and set an industry standard that many followed. Other platforms also followed Netflix's footsteps, with Disney+ being the next top streaming company to adopt the anti-password-sharing rules that would prevent users outside the household from accessing the service. Later on, the HBO Max (previously Max) streaming platform have also enacted the password-sharing crackdown. KABUL, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Police have apprehended the murderer of three members of his family in western Afghanistan's Herat province, provincial police spokesman Ghulam Nabi Nabizada said Wednesday. The murderer has admitted to his crime during preliminary investigation and said that he killed his wife, mother and daughter, the official added. Without providing more details, the official added that the alleged murderer would be referred to the judiciary for further investigation. SYDNEY, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A teenager has been charged over a stabbing at a western Sydney train station that left a boy in a critical condition in hospital. Police in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Wednesday that emergency services were called to reports of a stabbing at a railway station in Merrylands, 20 km west of central Sydney, around 5:15 p.m. on Monday. A 16-year-old male victim was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics and taken to hospital in a critical condition. As of Wednesday morning he was continuing to recover in hospital. Investigators believe that the 16-year-old boy had interacted with two males who were not known to him before they assaulted him and left the scene. NSW Police said that a 17-year-old attended a police station on Tuesday afternoon where he was arrested and charged with seven offenses, including wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, being armed with intent to commit a serious offense and using a knife in a public place. He was refused bail and will make an initial appearance before a children's court on Wednesday. Police inquiries into the incident are ongoing. Hope dwindles for survivors days after deadly Afghan quake Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Sept 3 (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 Hope was quickly fading of finding survivors in the rubble of homes devastated by the weekend's powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, as emergency services struggled to reach remote villages on Wednesday. A shallow magnitude-6.0 earthquake hit the mountainous region bordering Pakistan late on Sunday, collapsing mud-brick homes on families as they slept. Fearful of the near-constant aftershocks rattling the area, people huddled in the open air while rescuers struggled to unearth those trapped under the heaps of flattened buildings. The earthquake killed more than 1,400 people and injured over 3,300, Taliban authorities said, making it one of the deadliest in decades to hit the impoverished country. The vast majority of the casualties were in Kunar province, with a dozen dead and hundreds hurt in nearby Nangarhar and Laghman provinces. In Kunar's Nurgal district, victims remained trapped under the rubble and were difficult to rescue, local official Ijaz Ulhaq Yaad told AFP on Wednesday. "There are some villages which have still not received aid," he said. Landslides caused by the earthquake stymied access to already isolated villages. The non-governmental group Save the Children said one of its aid teams "had to walk for 20 kilometres (12 miles) to reach villages cut off by rock falls, carrying medical equipment on their backs with the help of community members". The World Health Organization warned the number of casualties from the earthquake was expected to rise, "as many remain trapped in destroyed buildings". More than 12,000 people have been directly affected by the earthquake, according to ActionAid, noting women and girls were particularly vulnerable in emergencies as they face steep restrictions under the Taliban authorities. An AFP journalist in Mazar Dara village in Kunar said a small mobile clinic was deployed to provide emergency care but people were still in desperate need of emergency food, water and shelter. One family of 10 shared a meagre meal of just two pieces of bread, he said. The World Food Programme said its teams were working to provide provisions but "the reality is brutal" in a country where many already go hungry. - Deepening crisis - This is the third major earthquake since the Taliban took power in 2021, but there are even fewer resources for the cash-strapped government's response after the United States slashed assistance to the country when President Donald Trump took office in January. Even before the earthquake, the United Nations estimated it had obtained less than a third of the funding required for operations countrywide. Multiple countries have pledged assistance but NGOs and the UN have voiced alarm that dwindling aid could hamper relief efforts in one of the poorest countries in the world. In two days, the Taliban government's defence ministry said it organised 155 helicopter flights to evacuate around 2,000 injured and their relatives to regional hospitals. On Tuesday, a defence ministry commission said it had instructed "the relevant institutions to take measures in all areas to normalise the lives of the earthquake victims", without providing further details on the plans to do so. Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said a camp had been set up in Khas Kunar district to coordinate emergency aid, while two other sites were opened near the epicentre "to oversee the transfer of the injured, the burial of the dead, and the rescue of survivors". After decades of conflict, Afghanistan is facing endemic poverty, severe drought and the influx of millions of Afghans forced back to the country by neighbours Pakistan and Iran in the years since the Taliban takeover. "This earthquake could not have come at a worse time," Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said in a statement late Tuesday. "The disaster not only brings immediate suffering but also deepens Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian crisis." Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, with the country still recovering from previous disasters. Western Herat province was devastated in October 2023 by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 1,500 people and damaged or destroyed more than 63,000 homes. And a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the eastern province of Paktika in June 2022, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Days after quake, Afghan survivors still await aid Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Sept 3 (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 Rescue teams struggled Wednesday to reach survivors as night approached days after a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, as access to remote areas remained obstructed. A shallow magnitude-6.0 earthquake hit the mountainous region bordering Pakistan late on Sunday, collapsing mud-brick homes on families as they slept. Fearful of the near-constant aftershocks rattling the area, people huddled in the open air while others struggled to unearth those trapped under the heaps of flattened buildings. The earthquake killed a total of 1,469 people and injured more than 3,700, according to a new toll from Taliban authorities, making it one of the deadliest in decades to hit the impoverished country. The vast majority of the casualties -- more than 1,450 -- were in Kunar province, with a dozen dead and hundreds hurt in nearby Nangarhar and Laghman provinces. Access remained difficult, as aftershocks caused rockfall, stymying access to already isolated villages and keeping families huddled outdoors for fear of the remains of damaged homes collapsing on them. "Everyone is afraid and there are many aftershocks," Awrangzeeb Noori, 35, told AFP from the village of Dara-i-Nur in Nangarhar province. "We spend all day and night in the field without shelter." The non-governmental group Save the Children said one of its aid teams "had to walk for 20 kilometres (12 miles) to reach villages cut off by rock falls, carrying medical equipment on their backs with the help of community members". The World Food Programme shared images of teams hiking up slopes carrying boxes of food aid on their shoulders. The Taliban government deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat told AFP areas that had taken days to reach had been finally accessed. "We cannot determine the date for finishing the operation in all areas as the area is very mountainous and it is very difficult to reach every area." More than 12,000 people have been directly affected by the earthquake, according to ActionAid, noting women and girls were particularly vulnerable in emergencies as they face steep restrictions under the Taliban authorities. Residents of Jalalabad, the nearest city to the quake epicentre donated money and goods such as blankets to be delivered to those impacted by the quake. "I am a simple labourer and I came here to help the earthquake victims because I felt very sad for them," said resident Mohammad Rahman. "If I could do more, I would help even more, but I helped with what I had." - Deepening crisis - Around 85 percent of the Afghan population lives on less than one dollar a day, according to the United Nations. After decades of conflict, Afghanistan is facing endemic poverty, severe drought and the influx of millions of Afghans forced back to the country by neighbours Pakistan and Iran in the years since the Taliban takeover. Even as the country reeled from its latest disaster, Pakistan began a new push to expel Afghans, with more than 6,300 people crossing the Torkham border point in Nangarhar province on Tuesday. "Urgent humanitarian aid is needed, and forcing Afghans to return will only deepen the crisis," the Norwegian Refugee Council said on X. This is the third major earthquake since the Taliban took power in 2021, but there are even fewer resources for the cash-strapped government's response after the United States slashed assistance to the country when President Donald Trump took office in January. Even before the earthquake, the United Nations estimated it had obtained less than a third of the funding required for operations countrywide. In two days, the Taliban government's defence ministry said it organised 155 helicopter flights to evacuate around 2,000 injured and their relatives to regional hospitals. Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said a camp had been set up in Khas Kunar district to coordinate emergency aid, while two other sites were opened near the epicentre "to oversee the transfer of the injured, the burial of the dead, and the rescue of survivors". Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, with the country still recovering from previous disasters. Western Herat province was devastated in October 2023 by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 1,500 people and damaged or destroyed more than 63,000 homes. And a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the eastern province of Paktika in June 2022, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Indonesian islanders take on Swiss cement group in climate case Zug, Switzerland, Sept 3 (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 A Swiss court on Wednesday weighed up whether to hear a landmark climate case pitting residents of a tiny Indonesian island being swallowed by rising sea levels against cement giant Holcim. "It is like a David versus Goliath struggle," one of the plaintiffs, Asmania, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP after the hearing. The case is part of a wider international movement seeking to assign to major companies responsibility for the climate damage hurting the livelihoods of millions of people, especially in developing countries. Oil companies have typically been the biggest targets, but climate activists are hoping the suit against Holcim will highlight the role of a lesser-known but highly polluting industry, which is responsible for around eight percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere each year. Four residents of Pari island filed a suit demanding compensation from the world's largest cement firm for the damage wrought by climate change and help to fund protection measures on the island. Asmania and another plaintiff travelled to Switzerland to take part in Wednesday's hearing at the court in Zug, where Holcim is headquartered, to determine whether or not it will consider the complaint. It was not clear when the court would give its decision. - 'Climate justice' - "I feel very moved," Asmania, a 42-year-old mother-of-three, told AFP. "I believe the judges will stand for us, so we will win." Before the hearing, Holcim maintained that "the question of who is allowed to emit how much CO2" should be "a matter for the legislature and not a question for a civil court". But it said Wednesday that "we await the court's decision", insisting that it was "fully committed to reaching net zero by 2050 with sustainability at the core of our strategy". The company has not owned any cement plants in Indonesia since 2019, but the plaintiffs maintain it "shares responsibility for rising temperatures and thus rising sea levels", explained Yvan Maillard-Ardenti of the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS) NGO helping the islanders. Environmentalists say Holcim ranks among the world's 100 biggest corporate CO2 emitters, and so bears significant responsibility for climate-related loss and damage. The case illustrates the new face of the climate fight, as activists use the courts rather than rely on political action in the fight against global warming. If accepted, it could be a milestone for plaintiffs from developing countries who take on industrial giants. - 'Inspirational' - Environmentalists have said 11 percent of the 42-hectare (104-acre) island of Pari has already disappeared in recent years, and it could be completely under water by 2050 due to rising sea levels. The islanders say saltwater floods have surged in scale and frequency, battering homes and damaging livelihoods. Asmania has already lost her seaweed farm because of flooding, which has also blighted her fish farm. "We are the climate victims, but we are not contributing to big emissions," she said. "It is our survival that is at stake." The four plaintiffs are seeking 3,600 Swiss francs ($4,500) each from Holcim for damages and for protection measures such as planting mangroves and constructing breakwater barriers. HEKS stressed that the amount was only equivalent to 0.42 percent of the actual costs -- in line with estimates that Holcim is responsible for 0.42 percent of global industrial CO2 emissions since 1750. In addition, the plaintiffs are demanding a 43 percent reduction in Holcim's greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 69 percent reduction by 2040. "The contrast is enormous between this island, which is disappearing, and the wealth we have here in Zug," Maillard-Ardenti said. "This wealth comes from large multinationals like Holcim, (which) have never paid a single franc in climate compensation," he said, stressing that the total 14,000 francs requested by the plaintiffs was "less than an hour's salary for the chairman of Holcim's board". Thousands of Afghans expelled from Pakistan despite quake Peshawar, Pakistan, Sept 3 (AFP) Sep 03, 2025 Thousands of Afghans who were registered as refugees have surged over the border from Pakistan in recent days, with officials telling AFP returns have escalated despite the weekend's deadly earthquake in Afghanistan. Pakistan has hosted Afghans fleeing violence for more than four decades, from the Soviet invasion to the 2021 Taliban takeover. Various cohorts of Afghans have found differing degrees of stability, including access to work and education, in neighbouring Pakistan. Some were born and raised there, while others transited en route to resettlement in the West. However, Pakistan's government, citing an uptick in violent attacks and insurgent campaigns, launched a crackdown in 2023 to evict them, painting the population as "terrorists and criminals". More than 1.2 million Afghans have since been forced to return from Pakistan, including more than 443,000 this year alone, according to the United Nations. The crackdown has most recently targeted an estimated 1.3 million refugees with UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, with Islamabad setting a deadline of September 1 for them to leave or face arrest and deportation. At the Chaman border crossing, "more than 4,000 people have left ever since the deadline ended", local administrator Habib Bangulzai told AFP. In Spin Boldak on the Afghan side, migrant registration official Abdul Latif Hakimi estimated that "250 to 300 families are returning" daily since August 31. At the Torkham crossing further north, more than 6,300 PoR holders returned on Tuesday alone, according to authorities managing the terminal. They estimated that nearly 63,000 PoR cardholders have entered Afghanistan since April. Afghan refugees, some awaiting relocation overseas, reported police raids as well as extortion and harassment by authorities in the lead-up to the latest deadline. Convoys of Afghan families, fearing arrest, detention and separation, headed to the border. The most recent data from the UNHCR shows an uptick of crossings in August, with a surge between August 24 and 30 of 25,490 Afghan returnees, of which 13,525 were PoR holders. Afghan returnee Khan Wali told AFP he was unable to work in the eastern city of Lahore and faced constant harassment. "Police used to detain us repeatedly. They seized our belongings," he said from the Spin Boldak crossing. An Afghan PoR holder in Peshawar told AFP the situation was easier in that city, which borders Afghanistan and is held by Pakistan's political opposition. However, she said "people are facing hell" in the capital Islamabad. The latest expulsions come as already impoverished Afghanistan responds to a devastating 6.0 earthquake that wiped out villages along the border that were home to many recently expelled migrants. More than 1,400 people were killed in the disaster. Analysts say the evictions are designed to pressure neighbouring Afghanistan's Taliban administration, which Islamabad blames for fuelling a rise in border attacks. The Afghan Taliban denies involvement. Few stocks capture the imagination of traders like Palantir (PLTR). After a staggering run up nearly 400% in the past year the artificial intelligence (AI) software stock has recently pulled back sharply, correcting by 20% from its mid-August highs. Now, the big question on every investors mind is whether its too late to buy PLTR or if this AI defense stock could still be a long-term 10-bagger. More News from Barchart In a recent live webinar on momentum trading, John Rowland, CMT, posed this exact question to Jim Van Meerten, the author of Barcharts popular Chart of the Day newsletter and creator of Barcharts go-to chart templates. Key Technical Indicators to Watch on Palantir Heres how Jim & John analyzed the PLTR technical setup as of Aug. 13, right around the time shares were peaking: RSI (Relative Strength Index): Palantir was firmly in overbought territory though thats not automatically a sell signal on its own. Bollinger Bands: Palantir was riding outside the bands, but widening bands show strong continuation. However, its not necessarily a point where new money wants to come rushing in. MACD: Supported the bullish momentum, though stretched. Below is a look at PLTR as of today. The stock has corrected its overbought condition, based on the RSI around 39. Plus, shares are not only back within their Bollinger Bands, theyre also pinned below the central 20-day moving average. If this correction is similar to the one PLTR experienced in March, the current MACD reading suggests bearish momentum could be exhausted soon. www.barchart.com Jims Take on PLTRs 10-Bagger Potential Jim makes an important point: 10-baggers dont happen in a year; theyre built over three to five years. Despite the sharp rally and high-volatility pullback, Palantir may still have room to keep rising exponentially from here. That doesnt mean blindly hold. Instead: 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 Classic film Jaws is credited with the invention of the modern blockbuster as we know it, launching Steven Spielberg as a major Hollywood player and making Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfus two of the most sought-after stars of the decade. But it wasnt just the main cast members that reaped the rewards, with five days of shooting and one minute of screen time amounting to a lot more for child actor Jeffrey Voorhees. Vorhees might have had a tiny role in the film, playing the doomed Amity local Alex Kintner (aka Second Child Killed by Shark), but his brief, tragic appearance has proved unexpectedly lucrative five decades on. Thanks to his involvement with the movie, Voorhees, now 62, is regularly flown around the world to appear at fan conventions, for which he is paid $10,000 a pop. The love for Jaws has also seen obsessives chomping at the chance to acquire personal clips from him on celebrity video-sharing website Cameo. Voorhees charges 26 ($35) for messages and can receive up to 25 requests a day on occasions such as Mothers Day. It took Voorhees some convincing to jump on the nostalgia train, but he decided to give the Jaws fan circuit a go in 2017 after years of being persuaded and offered flights, hotels and money to attend conventions. open image in gallery Former child star makes regular appearances at signings and conventions ( Jeffrey Voorhees ) I used to say, I dont have time for this, and then I said: OK, Ill try it once, he told The Independent. The first one I ever did was in New York, and someones at the airport holding your name up and the photos. You make good money at those things and you go all over the world and meet up with real actors. The enduring legacy of his character inspired him to launch his own website, where he sells inflatable life rafts with a huge shark bite mark in them (retailing for $289), mugs ($30-$60), posters ($35), and T-shirts (up to $70). open image in gallery Jeffrey Voorhees with signed editions of his fleeting part in the film ( Jeffrey Voorhees ) I kind of retired because it's like I make more money off of Jaws stuff now, Voorhees, who ran his own restaurant business, aded. Voorhees home is covered with Jaws merchandise and he is still sent gifts from fans. Ill be walking down the street sometimes and I can hear people saying, Thats the dead Alex Kintner over there! Its surreal, he said. open image in gallery Former child star is still inundated with gifts and merchandise linked to the movies ( Jeffrey Voorhees ) There was a 14-year-old girl crying because her parents drove her five hours down from Chicago and she was so moved to see me. Im in the movie for one minute! The 62-year-old said the enduring love has given him a sense of purpose, and a documentary about his story is currently in the works. You get a little high off of that, he said. You make some good money, and you make some people really happy, so why not? open image in gallery Voorhees was 12 when he starred in the movie ( Universal Pictures ) Jaws is currently in cinemas again for a 50th-anniversary re-release. 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 Jeffrey Wright has called out the backlash he received from comic book fans over his casting as police commissioner James Gordon in Matt Reeves 2022 film The Batman. Wright, 59, joined the project alongside British actor Robert Pattison in the title role, Zoe Kravtiz as Catwoman and Paul Dano as The Riddler. The movie was a hit among critics who hailed the performances of the cast along with Reeves detective noir stylings. However, Wright was also the subject of discontent among some fans who argued that Gordon was not depicted as Black in the original comics, and that a Black actor should not play the leader of Gothams police force. The character has previously been depicted by white actors such as Gary Oldman in Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight Trilogy. Wright slammed the negative reception to his casting as the dumbest thing, telling Collider in a new interview: I really find it fascinating the ways in which theres such a conversation, and I think even more of a conversation now, about Black characters in these roles. Its just so f***ing racist and stupid. Its just so blind in a way that I find revealing to not recognise that the evolution of these films reflects the evolution of society, that somehow its defiling this franchise not to keep it grounded in the cultural reality of 1939 when the comic books were first published. Its just the dumbest thing, he added. Its absent all logic. open image in gallery Andy Serkis, Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano and Jeffrey Wright on the red carpet for The Batman premiere ( AP ) The DC native argued the Batman franchise is different from the original comics, and emulates real-world influences and has evolved since the franchises original publication. "Obviously, New York City is the template for Gotham, and if you look around New York City in the Seventies, or if you look around New York City, of course, today, its a multicultural place, he continued. So, any Gotham within a contemporary film in the Batman series thats going to be authentic has to be reflective of a modern American metropolis. Thats just what it is." open image in gallery Robert Pattinson with Jeffrey Wright in The Batman ( Jonathan Olley/Warner Bros ) In a four-star review for The Independent, critic Clarisse Loughrey praised Reeves for making the film a more intimate Batman adventure than the ones fans might have grown accustomed to. The Batman is a very good Batman film, she said. To think of it as anything more only leads to delusion or disappointment. It also undermines the more subtle work at play in Reevess film, which remains faithful to the characters core iconography bat ears, elaborate gadgets, encroaching darkness while simultaneously interrogating its usefulness. Comparatively, its pitched somewhere between Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton with one foot in our reality, and the other planted in a Gothic noir aesthetic derived partially from Frank Millers The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One comics. The Batman Part II will begin filming Spring 2026. 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 Colman Domingo thanked Paris Jackson for her advice on his role in the upcoming biopic about her father, Michael Jackson. The Oscar nominee said that he received a wealth of guidance from Michael Jacksons two children, Paris and Prince Jackson, as he approached the role of the familys complex patriarch, Joe Jackson. Despite Michael Jacksons controversial legacy, Domingo said, Theyre very much in support of our film. Domingo told People that Paris guidance was very helpful and called Prince a man of the film. The 55-year-old was interested in the role because of the Jackson family and their cultural significance. The thing that has inspired me the most is this very profound and prominent family called the Jacksons, Domingo said. open image in gallery Colman Domingo will play Joe Jackson in Michael ( AP ) We would not have any of this music that we used to have great memories about, the moments, the big moments, that we all share, because of the Jackson family. And Im not just saying just Michael the entire Jackson family. Despite the complicated history left behind by the King of Pop, which has already impacted the production of the film due to its portrayal of the case of then-13-year-old Jordan Chandler, Domingo let Paris and Prince guide him for his role. Domingo said in a previous interview with People: I want to find their humanity, I want to find their heart and their humour. It may go against public opinion sometimes, but I think thats my responsibility to find the complex version of these people. Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, will be produced across two separate films starring Jaafar Jackson, who will portray his late uncle. The first film will reportedly focus on Jacksons early career in The Jackson 5. The second film, if made, will cover the rest of his career but will reportedly sidestep the accusations against the star. open image in gallery Michael Jackson and his daughter Paris ( Getty ) Nia Long will portray Katherine Jackson, while Miles Teller will play Michaels advisor, John Branca, who helped the young pop musician transition into a solo act. The movie is taken from a script by John Logan, who also wrote or co-wrote Ridley Scotts Gladiator, Martin Scorseses The Aviator and Sam Mendes James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Jackson, who died from cardiac arrest caused by a drug overdose in 2009, saw his reputation tarnished by a string of child sexual abuse allegations during the 1990s. He was acquitted of sexual molestation in a widely-publicised trial in 2005. Michael is set to be released on 24th April, 2026. This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. One major convenience retailer announced the departure of its top financial exec while another launched a search for its first chief information officer. Several companies also welcomed new vice presidents in a variety of departments. Below are the major moves we covered in August. And, in case you missed it, heres our executive roundup from July. 7-Eleven names new chief of staff, demand chain leader 7-Eleven named Dave Strachan as vice president and chief of staff to CEO Joseph DePinto and Joshua Dolan as senior vice president of demand chain. 7-Eleven Strachan, who also held the chief of staff role between 2016 and 2021, returned to the post after former chief of staff Kristen Cook resigned at the end of July. He first joined 7-Eleven in 2009 as a business consultant and went on to hold numerous positions over the next decade and a half. His most recent position was SVP of fresh foods, a role he resigned from in October 2024 to attend to family matters. Dolan joins 7-Eleven from logistics giant GXO Logistics, where he was president of its consumer products division for the Americas and Asia Pacific for nearly two years. Prior to GXO, Dolan spent about four years as SVP of supply chain for healthcare company Cardinal Health. He has also worked in numerous director and VP-level supply chain and logistics roles with Dicks Sporting Goods, Target and Amazon. In his new position, Dolan is responsible for expanding and optimizing 7-Elevens enterprise-wide logistics capabilities and improving execution, according to his company bio. Arko CFO, foodservice SVP both step down Robert Giammatteo will step down as CFO of Arko Corp. on Oct. 10. He joined Arko in January 2024, replacing Don Bassell, who retired after nearly 20 years. Before being named to that position, Giammatteo spent four years as executive vice president, CFO and chief transformation officer for GetGo Cafe + Market, the former c-store arm of grocer Giant Eagle and now a division of Alimentation Couche-Tard. His career has also included finance roles with fashion retail companies Ascena Retail Group, VF Corporation and Limited Brands, as well as more than four years with General Motors OnStar. Representatives from Arko have not shared succession plans for the role. Arko also lost Richard Guidry, who left his role as senior vice president of food and beverage at c-store arm GPM Investments. Guidry headed the retailers food and beverage department while it developed Fas Craves, its proprietary foodservice program. Before joining GPM, he worked for nearly four years in a variety of roles with Caseys General Stores. He also spent about 15 years in management and director positions with RaceTrac. 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 Paris Jackson has responded to Colman Domingos comments about her involvement in the forthcoming biopic about her father, Michael Jackson. The Oscar nominee said that he received a wealth of guidance from two of the late pop stars children, Paris and Prince, as he approached the role of the familys complex patriarch, Joe Jackson. Domingo told People that Pariss guidance was very helpful and called Prince a man of the film. Despite Michael Jacksons controversial legacy, Domingo said Paris and Prince were very much in support of our film. However, Paris has now said on social media that she had zero involvement in Michael. I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my thoughts on what was dishonest/didnt sit right with me and when they didnt address it I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys not my circus. God bless and god speed, she wrote in a September 2 Instagram Story. open image in gallery Paris Jackson has responded to Colman Domingo's comments about her involvement in her father's biopic ( Getty ) Domingo has not yet responded to Pariss comments. The Independent has reached out to his representative for comment. The 55-year-old told People he was interested in the role because of the Jackson family and their cultural significance. open image in gallery Paris Jackson responded to Colman Domingo's comments in an Instagram Story ( Paris Jackson/Instagram ) The thing that has inspired me the most is this very profound and prominent family called the Jacksons, Domingo said. We would not have any of this music that we used to have great memories about, the moments, the big moments, that we all share, because of the Jackson family. And Im not just saying just Michael the entire Jackson family. Despite the controversy surrounding the King of Pops legacy including how the film depicts the allegations brought by 13-year-old Jordan Chandler Domingo remained determined to dig deeper in his approach to the role. open image in gallery Paris Jackson claimed her concerns about the film's script weren't addressed ( Paris Jackson/Instagram ) I want to find their humanity, I want to find their heart and their humor, Domingo said in a previous interview with People. It may go against public opinion sometimes, but I think thats my responsibility to find the complex version of these people. Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, will be produced across two separate films starring Jaafar Jackson, who will portray his late uncle. Nia Long will portray Katherine Jackson, while Miles Teller will play Michaels advisor, John Branca, who helped the young pop musician transition into a solo act. The first film will reportedly focus on Jacksons early career in The Jackson 5. The second film, if made, will cover the rest of his career but will reportedly sidestep the accusations against the star. The movie is taken from a script by John Logan, who also wrote or co-wrote Ridley Scotts Gladiator, Martin Scorseses The Aviator and Sam Mendess James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Jackson, who died from cardiac arrest caused by a drug overdose in 2009, saw his reputation tarnished by a string of child sexual abuse allegations during the 1990s. He was acquitted of sexual molestation in a widely publicized trial in 2005. Michael is set to be released on April 24, 2026. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Actor Tom Holland praised Christopher Nolans adaptation of The Odyssey, particularly the directors screenplay. The script is the best script Ive ever read, said Holland in an interview with AFP. Holland was cast as Telemachus in Nolans take on Homers epic poem, following Odysseus journey home after the Trojan War. He knows what he wants but it is not an environment where you cant pitch ideas or build characters in certain ways, said Holland, who stars in the film alongside his own fianceee, Zendaya, as well as Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson. More recent casting announcements include Mia Goth, John Leguizamo, Benny Safdie and Elliot Page. open image in gallery Matt Damon as Odysseus on the set of The Odyssey ( Universal ) Though the story has been reimagined and referenced countless times, including the Coen Brothers O Brother Where Art Thou, the Marvel actor told GQ : The movie is going to be unlike anything weve ever seen. It was amazing. The job of a lifetime, without a doubt, Holland added on his experience working with Nolan and his spouse, Emma Thomas, who produced the film together. Ive never seen someone that can work the way that they do, and there is a reason why theyre the best in the business for sure, said Holland. To get a front row seat to that and to be a part of the process and to collaborate with a true master of his craft and learn from him was the best experience Ive ever had. Im so proud of the work Ive done. Holland added. Im so grateful for Chris to have given me that opportunity. open image in gallery Tom Holland filming Spider-Man: No Way Home ( Andrew Milligan/PA Wire ) The Odyssey will be Nolans film since Oppenheimer, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2024, as well as a BAFTA award for Best Film. Elsewhere, Holland has recently completed filming on his seventh Marvel film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day which will premiere in cinemas on 31 July 2026. The Odyssey will hit cinemas on 17 July 2026. 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 Pop band Only the Poets have announced that they will charge just 1 per ticket when they headline Brixton Academy in London next year. The Reading- four-piece are being backed by the LIVE Trust, the funding initiative launched earlier this year in support of the UKs live music sector. We charged 1 for our first ever gig back then we only had a couple of songs, so anything more felt like too much for us, frontman Tommy Longhurst said in a statement. We wouldnt have been able to see half the gigs we went to if ticket prices were what they are now, so we wanted to make sure that this show was open to everyone. Guitarist Clem Cherry added: Our fans know our shows are a safe space. This is about making sure anybody can come and have an amazing night in an iconic venue. Its also a thank you to everyone whos supported us to this point. The show will take place on Monday 2 February 2026, days after the band release their debut album, And Id Do It Again, on 30 January. Only the Poets announced a show at Brixton Academy, with tickets priced at a symbolic 1 ( Press ) All tickets are priced at 1 plus fees of 1 for venue restoration, 1 Ticketmaster fee and the 1 Live Trust donation. Both Brixton Academy and Ticketmaster lowered their usual rates in support of the bands goal to make their show accessible to all. LIVE Trust CEO Jon Collins says, This is a wonderful, positive move by Only the Poets, giving back to the grassroots while giving back to their fans. Making this show accessible to all means everyone can enjoy the associated mental health, communal and emotional benefits. Funds raised for the LIVE Trust will go directly to support artists, venues, promoters, festivals and more across the UK grassroots. He added: A young band like Only the Poets stepping up while artists like Biffy Clyro and My Chemical Romance back the Trust at their arena and stadium shows is further evidence of the growing levels of support for the LIVE Trust across all parts of the live music scene. In a post to Instagram, the band elaborated by reflecting on how gigs were everything to them when they were younger: A place to meet people, feel connected, escape the world and look after our heads. Lately, with the cost of living rising, ticket prices have gone wild, making live music inaccessible and pricing out the exact people who need that escapism most. They remarked: Brixton Academy has always been the venue weve dreamt of playing, so for one night only, we want to make it a moment well never forget by bringing us all together in our bucket-list venue to sing our debut album for the first time. Along with the show and their forthcoming debut, Only the Poets revealed that their next single, SAKE, will be released on 5 September. Tickets to the Brixton Academy show will be available from 10am on 10 September. 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 Jack Osbourne has hit back at Roger Waters after the Pink Floyd musician made some disparaging remarks about his late father, Ozzy Osbourne. Posting to Instagram Stories, the reality TV star branded Waters a c*** after Waters claimed he didnt care for Ozzys music or public antics. Ozzy Osbourne, who just died, bless him, in his whatever that state that he was in his whole life, Waters, 81, said on The Independent Ink podcast last month. Well never know, we didnt, you know? Although he was all over the TV for hundreds of years with his idiocy and nonsense. Waters added that he didnt give a f*** about Ozzys solo music or his band, Black Sabbath. I dont care about Black Sabbath, I never did, he said. I have no interest in biting the heads off chickens or whatever they do. I couldnt care less, you know. When the interviewer clarified that Ozzy famously bit the head off a bat, Waters exclaimed: Thats even worse! open image in gallery Ozzy Osbourne died in July 2025, aged 76 ( Getty Images ) Waters remarks came as he spoke about how pop culture figures could distract the public from important political and social issues. Role-playing an unnamed person of power, he imagined how the process might work: How can we push this to one side? I know how to do it! Well do it with Taylor Swift or bubble gum or Kim Kardashians bum. He then appeared to cite Ozzy as another example, seemingly referencing his MTV reality show The Osbournes, which he starred in alongside his wife, Sharon, and their children. Hey @rogerwaters f*** you, Jack said in his Story on Tuesday (2 September). How pathetic and out of touch youve become. The only way you seem to get attention these days is by vomiting out bulls*** in the press. My father always thought you were a c*** thanks for proving him right. open image in gallery Jack, his sister Kelly, and their parents appeared on the MTV reality show The Osbournes, which ran from 2002 to 2005 ( Getty Images ) Jack, 39, added a second Story with the hashtag: F***rogerwaters. The Independent has contacted Waters representative for comment. Ozzys children have been vocal in defending his legacy following his death, aged 76, on 22 July. Last week, WWE star Becky Lynch drew the ire of Ozzy and Sharon Osbournes daughter, Kelly, after insulting the rockers hometown of Birmingham. The only good thing that came out of here died a month ago, Lynch told the audience during a WWE show in the city. She added: But in fairness to Ozzy Osbourne, he had the good sense to move to LA. Because if I lived in Birmingham, Id die too. Kelly then took to social media to brand Lynch a disrespectful dirtbag, stating: Birmingham would not p*** on you if you were on fire. 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 Taylor Swift fans have another reason to celebrate after her engagement to Travis Kelce, as one of her beloved backup dancers has announced his newest gig. Jan Ravnik, who captured the hearts of Swifties as a dancer on her Eras Tour, is joining season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. In a recorded statement played August 28 on Good Morning America, Ravnik said: I traveled all around the world with Eras Tour, and now I'm coming to the ballroom stage for Dancing with the Stars. Mirrorball never goes out of style, and we are ready to win it. During the September 3 full cast announcement, Ravnik was paired with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck. Jan Ravnik is joining Dancing With The Stars ( YouTube/Good Morning America ) In addition to the Eras Tour, Ravnik appeared in Swifts concert film, The Eras Tour Movie and has been seen alongside Bruno Mars and Paula Abdul at her Las Vegas residency. His other credits include the 97th Academy Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and Mariah Carey Christmas: The Magic Continues. Ravnik credited Swift with changing the course of his life in a December 2024 Instagram post, thanking her for bringing him along on the Eras Tour. Thank you to Taylor for setting a bar so high it made every one of us rise to the challenge, Ravnik wrote in part. Weve created memories, weve shared laughs and tears along the way. I am not same person I was 2 years ago and I can easily say these were the best years of my life. Fans of Swift and Ravnik were thrilled by his addition to the cast. YES YES YES YES YES!!! Ive been saying hed be an amazing DWTS pro FOREVER! Congratulations Jan!! one fan wrote on X. The way swifties will make this make this the highest viewed season premiere of DWTS ever, another wrote. Jan!!! After seeing you in Eras tour, Im so excited to see you as a dwts pro!!!! a third chimed in. Ravnik will join the cast of professional dancers including Mark Ballas, who is returning from retirement to participate this season who are paired with celebrities as they compete weekly for the coveted Mirrorball trophy. Among the celebrities joining the cast are late zookeeper Steve Irwins son Robert Irwin, social media star and model Alix Earle, and Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles. Season 34 of DWTS will welcome back co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, in addition to the returning judging panel made up of Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. DWTS premieres September 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu. 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 Rylan Clarks controversial claims on This Morning about immigration to the UK sparked hundreds of Ofcom complaints. The ITV programme received 576 complaints about Clarks rant, which he made during the 27 August live show. Critics accused the host of repeating false narratives about immigrants receiving free iPads and being accommodated in four-star hotels. During the episode, the 36-year-old, who was standing in for regular hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, noted how doctors and nurses from other countries saved his mother Lindas life when she fell ill earlier this year. Theyre living a great life, theyre paying into this tax system, theyre helping this country thrive, he said. But he added that there is something wrong with the way refugees are welcomed. Heres the iPad. Heres the NHS in reception of your hotel. Heres three meals a day. Heres a games room in the hotel. Have a lovely time and welcome, he said. open image in gallery Rylan Clark shares his thoughts on migration live on This Morning. ( This Morning/ITV ) Clark continued: "How can it be that if I turn up at Heathrow Airport as a British citizen and Ive left my passport in Spain, Ive got to stand at that airport and wont be let in. But if I arrive on a boat from Calais, I get taken to a four-star hotel? An Ofcom spokesperson told The Independent: We're assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate. Following backlash to his rant, Clark told his critics you can be pro immigration and against illegal routes after he said it was absolutely insane that asylum seekers are risking their lives to come to the UK. Stop with this putting everyone in a box and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on Twitter, Clark wrote on Instagram hours after his opinion was condemned online. You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women. You can be heterosexual and still support gay rights. This list continues. On Tuesday (2 September), Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid stepped in when correspondent Kevin Maguire hit out at Clark for regurgitating terrible myths about migrants. Interrupting Maguire, Reid replied: Hang on. He pointed out that this country is built on immigration and he was grateful to all of the migrants who have come to the NHS for helping support his mum. He was actually concerned, though, that weve got a sort of welcome to the UK, and we dont know who all of these people are. Reid said she thinks it is the duty of the government, as the government itself would acknowledge, that we control borders and we do not just welcome everybody if we dont know who they are, adding that Clark did not want to share an anti-migration message. Maguire replied: He also regurgitated a load of myths and lies. Lets not ignore that. Myths and lies have gone mainstream, and weve got to challenge that, weve got to push back on that. open image in gallery Susanna Reid ( ITV ) Clark rose to fame on the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012. The following year, he appeared on and won the 11th series of Celebrity Big Brother. He has gone on to present various television shows including This Morning and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. 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 Stephen Colbert and John Oliver reunited on Tuesday and made a toast to late-night shows amid uncertainty about their future. Oliver was a guest for the first episode of the 11th and final season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which was abruptly cancelled by CBS earlier this year. In his 21st appearance on The Late Show, Oliver, who hosts Last Week Tonight, chuckled when Colbert produced two flutes of champagne. Making a joke about their respective Funko Pop figures, Oliver raised a toast: To Funko Pops. While supplies last. In response, Colbert said, To late-night shows. While supplies last. After taking a sip, Oliver added: Gentlemen, it was an honour playing with you. open image in gallery John Oliver and Stephen Colbert raise a toast to late night shows ( CBS ) Beyond this, neither Colbert nor Oliver discussed the plight of late night TV in the US during their chat. Instead, it was mostly dominated by Olivers obsession with the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. I will say we have spent a long time talking about a Bravo show which is technically NBC Universal, so CBS are not going to be happy, he wryly joked. US late-night shows have come under increased scrutiny in recent months following the cancellation of The Late Show, which has been on the air since 1993 and was originally hosted by David Letterman. Colbert broke the news to his audience during a taping in July, saying: I want to let you know something I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May. To resounding boos from his fans in the audience, the comedian and TV personality added, Yeah! I share your feelings. It's the end of The Late Show on CBS. I'm not being replaced. This is all just going away. open image in gallery Donald Trump has gloated over the cancellation of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' by CBS ( Getty ) In May, Colbert used the show to heavily criticise his networks corporate bosses over concerns that they could be breaking anti-bribery laws by seeking to settle a lawsuit with President Donald Trump to get his administrations approval for a merger. However, there has since been speculation that the cancellation was announced to appease Trump, as Paramount, which owns CBS, relied on the presidentially controlled Federal Communications Commission to approve its $8bn sale to Skydance. Colbert has since been mocked by Trump, who suggested that Jimmy Kimmel could also lose his job. Writing on his Truth Social platform, the president said: I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. He added: I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show. In response, Colbert did not pull his punches, telling the president: Go f*** yourself. 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 It is an iron rule of TV that for every Frasier or Laverne & Shirley, spin-offs that became beloved in their own right, there will be any number of abortive attempts to stretch a premise beyond its breaking point. Joey, AfterMASH, The Tortellis, That 80s Show, Sanford Arms, The Golden Palace, Joanie Loves Chachi. The list goes on, and proves inauspicious reading for Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, who this week expand The Office (US)s universe beyond Dunder Mifflin, to Toledo and the newspaper business, with The Paper. When Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) arrives at the Toledo Truth Teller to become its new editor-in-chief, he is accompanied by a documentary crew. They will be capturing a snapshot of life at the headquarters of paper products company Enervate. Office supplies, janitorial paper, toilet tissue, toilet seat protectors, and local newspapers, the companys head of strategy, Ken (Tim Key), tells viewers. And that is in order of quality. And so it seems, when Ned first encounters the Truth Tellers eccentric staff. Sure, theres level-headed Mare (Chelsea Frei), with whom he strikes up an instant rapport, but theres also depressive circulation manager Nicole (Ramona Young), irrepressible ad-man Detrick (Melvin Gregg), and fiery Italian managing editor Esmeralda (The White Lotuss Sabrina Impacciatore), who feels she has been usurped by Neds arrival. Oh, and then theres a self-contained, if rather snobbish, sudoku-loving accountant called Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez, reprising his role from The Office). The newspaper industry is in terminal decline. Yet battered on both sides by negative winds the contraction of the advertising market after the dotcom boom, and dwindling audiences in the digital age it retains a certain allure. Woodward and Woodwards boss, comes Mares wry comparison, as she heads out on assignment with Ned. Ben Bradlee! he adds, with wide-eyed enthusiasm. And so, it proves a perfect setting for a sitcom about people feeling the pressure of disappointment. Should Mare give up on her journalistic ambitions and become a hotel concierge? Is Esmeralda too old to understand the digital innovation shes leading? Has Ned arrived in his dream job just as the dream is ending? These are the mortal considerations of people who might be wasting their lives in a dying sector. Brent 2.0: Tim Key channels the classic character for Ken, Enervates head of strategy ( Peacock ) Thats a strength to the backdrop, but its also a weakness. The setup necessitates the gradual amelioration of the Truth Tellers dwindled standards. Ned corrals his team of unlikely yet intrepid reporters, and, slowly, the newspapers output improves. When Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant created Wernham Hogg (the Slough-based paper company in the original Office), they created the ultimate corporate cipher. A company so boring that it could serve as a proxy for the mind-numbing work weve all experienced. The Paper is different. The nature of the work drives the plot, turning it into a media satire, where the setup is as important as the characters. What is our Wordle? Ken asks the team. We need things that keep peoples mind off the news. Against this backdrop, any actor will struggle to cut a distinctive figure. Alex Edelmans hapless Adam and Gbemisola Ikumelos salty Adelola fight to make an impression, while important B-plots, such as Nicole and Detricks fledgling attraction, feel distinctly undercooked. More successful is Tim Key going full David Brent, dialling the cringe factor up to suitably anxiety-inducing levels, and Impacciatores inevitably Emmy-winning performance as the lightly deranged Esmeralda, who steals every scene shes in (and knows shes doing it). She proves an important foil to Gleeson and Freis central pairing, who need some of the manic energy to play off. Such a perfect level of bland, she sighs at her new boss. How do you do that? The Paper will inevitably be compared to The Office, and in largely unfavourable terms. But the question of whether it is good enough to survive on its own is moot. It doesnt have to. Fans of The Office will give it a go, and over the course of a slow-burn first season, come to feel some affection for the denizens of the Truth Teller Tower. After all, the first season of The Office after its migration to the US was an imperfect thing, struggling to find its identity. It was given time and became one of the most successful sitcoms of the 21st century. Whether The Paper will be afforded that same grace in the instant gratification media landscape it sends up remains to be seen. 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 Chloe Malle, the newly appointed head of editorial content for American Vogue, has described herself as a proud nepo baby, acknowledging her parents and her privilege. Daughter of actor Candice Bergen and the film director Louis Malle, Malle was announced as the new U.S. editorial director on Tuesday. Anna Wintour, who led the magazine for 37 years, first announced in June that she would be stepping down as Vogues editor-in-chief. Malle, 39, started at Vogue in 2011 as social editor, and then went on to become podcast host and then editor of Vogue.com in 2023. In a new interview, Malle described herself as a proud nepo baby and how her famous parents affected her work ethic. There is no question that I have 100 per cent benefited from the privilege I grew up in, she told the New York Times. Its delusional to say otherwise. I will say, though, that it has always made me work much harder. It has been a goal for a lot of my life to prove that Im more than Candice Bergens daughter, or someone who grew up in Beverly Hills. Candice Bergen is known for her roles in Boston Legal and Murphy Brown, and received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress in 1979 for her role in Starting Over and won the Bafta award for best actress in a supporting role for Gandhi in 1982. Daughter of actor Candice Bergen (left) and the film director Louis Malle, Chloe Malle (right) was announced as the new US editorial director on Tuesday ( Getty ) Louis Malle is a celebrated filmmaker who won the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival and the Bafta for best director for his films Atlantic City in 1981 and Goodbye, Children in 1987. He also won the Cannes Palme dOr and the Oscar for best documentary in 1956 for Le Monde du silence, which he co-directed with Jacques Cousteau. On what she intends to do in her new role, Malle said she would be focusing on building a more direct, smaller, healthier audience by providing them with original, witty, irreverent, joyful points of view on things. Wintour isnt leaving Vogue entirely; she will remain as Conde Nasts global chief content officer and Vogues global editorial director. I know that some people who were interested in this job were sort of daunted by the idea of Anna being down the hall, Malle said of Wintour. She is reportedly starting in her new position before the start of New York Fashion Week, which will be running from 11 September through 16 September. When asked whether she would ever feature Melania Trump on the cover, Malle declined to answer. This comes after Mark Guiducci, the new top editor of Vanity Fair, which is also owned by Conde Nast, said hes potentially interested in putting the First Lady on the magazines cover, according to Semafor. Some staffers were upset about the suggestion, and one editor threatened to walk out if it came to fruition, according to a report by The Daily Mail. 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 Erewhon, an infamously luxurious grocery outlet in California, is officially making its way to the East Coast but at quite the cost. The organic grocery chain, known for its $20 celebrity-sponsored smoothies, is building a mini-store in New York City, which was first reported Tuesday by Emily Sundberg in her daily newsletter, Feed Me. However, the store is being built inside Kith Ivy, an exclusive, members-only wellness club in the West Village run by fashion brand Kith. Those looking to become members at Kith Ivy should be prepared to shell out some big bucks. According to Curbed, New Yorkers will pay about $36,000 in initiation fees and an annual payment of $7,000, totaling a one-time charge of $43,000 to walk through the clubs door. However, those on the outside looking in may still be able to get their hands on an Erewhon smoothie once Kith Ivy opens this fall. A new members-only club in the West Village will feature the first NYC Erewhon store ( Erewhon ) The grocery chain will be available on third-party delivery apps, like Postmates and Uber Eats, depending on a customers proximity to Kith Ivy. However, its unclear how much the smoothies will cost through these apps and how far delivery will stretch. News of the clubs development and the addition of Erewhon was also revealed in Kith founder and CEO Ronnie Fiegs recent Instagram post. According to the floor plan Fieg posted, the new Erewhon store will be right above the cold plunge and treatment rooms in Kith Ivy. The club will also have a boutique, gym, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, and more. Founded in 1966, Erewhon is known for its $10 to $20 smoothies, made with high-quality and organic ingredients. Some of the smoothies which have been a luxury status symbol in Los Angeles are made through partnerships with celebrities, like Hailey Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid. The brand has also made headlines for selling expensive food products, like a single Japanese strawberry for $19, sea moss shells for $40, and specialty water bottles for $25. The opening of the first Erewhon shop in New York City isnt necessarily a surprise. During a 2021 interview with The Los Angeles Times, the companys CEO Tony Antoci expressed the possibility of opening a store on the East Coast. We are looking at New York City; its definitely on the plate, he said at the time. While Erewhon may be seen as an exciting addition to New York City, residents in the West Village have been protesting the development of Kith Ivy, located at 120 Leroy Street, since March. As reported by Curbed at the time, these New Yorkers are against the noise, drunken rowdiness, and crime coming to their neighborhood because of the wellness club. Key Points Alibaba's P/E ratio could make the stock attractive to some value investors. Buffett's business partner, the late Charlie Munger, was once an Alibaba investor. Political risks may have deterred some investors. 10 stocks we like better than Alibaba Group A cursory inspection might make some investors wonder why Warren Buffett and his company, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B), have never taken a position in Chinese tech conglomerate Alibaba (NYSE: BABA). It's the leading e-retailer in China and has many similarities to Berkshire-holding Amazon, possibly making it a logical choice. Buffett and his team often make unexpected investment decisions, and investment proposals often fall through upon closer inspection. Nonetheless, researching whether one can view Alibaba as a "Buffett stock" could provide valuable insights on whether average investors should take a position in it. Image source: Alibaba Group. Why Alibaba might look like a fitting Buffett holding At first glance, Alibaba has many attributes that would draw an investor like Buffett. As mentioned before, it's the e-commerce industry leader in one of the world's largest countries. An investor like Buffett can buy the stock at a considerable discount. For one, it sells at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 17. That is far below Amazon, which trades at 35 times earnings, or Alibaba's counterpart in Latin America, MercadoLibre, which trades at 61 times earnings. Looking at its financials, revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended June 30) was just under $35 billion. That 2% yearly increase lagged the 6% rise in fiscal 2025 (ended March 31) and has slowed from historical growth levels. Still, in fiscal Q1, Alibaba earned $5.9 billion in net income, up 76% annually. That and the 77% yearly profit increase in fiscal 2025 make its P/E ratio seem extremely inexpensive. Moreover, Buffett's team has not had an aversion to investing in foreign stocks, including those in China. It once owned and may still own BYD, though it no longer has to disclose that holding. Other non-U.S. stocks it owns include alcohol company Diageo and Irish consulting firm Aon Plc. Investors should also note that Buffett's longtime business partner, Charlie Munger, was an Alibaba investor in 2021, likely for some of the reasons above. Alibaba may not be "Buffett worthy" for these reasons However, Munger quickly decided the Alibaba holding was a mistake. He later described the investment as "highly competitive." Munger also came to see Alibaba and Chinese stocks in general as risky when he saw how the Chinese authorities reacted to some of Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma's comments. As a result, his fund began selling shares. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A key ingredient used in many brands of gel nail polish has been banned in most of Europe but it remains on sale and available in the U.S. Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, commonly known as TPO, is now forbidden in all cosmetic products as of September 1, after European Union officials deemed it potentially toxic to humans. Numerous gel nail polishes use TPO as a 'photoinitiator', which lets the polish harden faster when bombarded by ultraviolet light, and helps them hold their color for longer. But several studies on animals have linked the chemical to long-term fertility damage, leading the E.U. to ban it as a precaution, while further research is conducted. By contrast, the U.S. has not yet regulated TPO, just as it has declined to act on numerous other food additives and chemical ingredients banned by European nations. Nail salons in any of the the E.U.'s 27 member states, as well as other countries that mirror the trade bloc's regulations such as Norway and Switzerland, must now stop selling TPO-based nail gels and safely dispose of all their current stock, while manufacturers must reformulate their products to be TPO-free. European regulators have branded a key ingredient used in many brands of gel nail polish as potentially toxic to humans ( Toru Yamanaka/AFP via Getty Images ) The E.U.'s ban could still disrupt the American beauty industry if companies source their products from Europe or are affected by knock-on supply shortages. Those that reformulate their gels in Europe may do the same in the U.S. in order to avoid making two separate versions of the product. The ban could also could also prompt U.S. regulators or state governments into taking action. Francesca Rapolla of the British trade association CPTA told the nail magazine Scratch that sometimes industries could win exemptions from E.U. regulations by proving that the risks can be mitigated. But she said: "In the case of TPO, the industry did not, and could not, defend the continued use of this ingredient in nail products, mainly because it could not demonstrate that there are no alternative ingredients to this one." Many nail industry figures are opposed to the ban. "The prohibition of TPO in U.V. gels is not supported by a scientifically justified risk assessment," said California-based scientific consultant Doug Schoon in an open letter on Sunday. "If left uncorrected, this decision will once again impose unnecessary economic burdens, waste safe products, and undermine confidence in E.U. regulatory proportionality." The Belgian wholesaler ASAP Nails and Beauty Supply set up a protest website to oppose the ban, arguing it would cause "major economic damage" to small businesses and was based on "no human evidence of danger". 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 In scenes reminiscent of Andrea Sachs at the beginning of The Devil Wears Prada, a 25-year-old Chloe Malle turned up to her interview at Vogue wearing black tights (an Anna Wintour no-no), boots that were falling apart and a very boring dress. I think back to my interview at Vogue and Im a little embarrassed, Malle, now 39, said as she looked back at the 2011 grilling with Wintour, for a position as a social editor. Youre supposed to never wear black. I wore black, Malle said in 2014. It was in March and so cold, so I wore black tights and these black J. Crew suede booties, which were fine, but were sort of falling apart. And then I wore this very boring, shortnot super short, but short-ishDiane von Furstenberg collared dress with a gray and white striped blazer. open image in gallery Chloe Malle, the daughter of Murphy Brown star Candice Bergen, and a mom of two who likes nothing more than a quiet night in, is taking the helm of American Vogue from Anna Wintour ( AFP/Getty ) It was plain, but it was fine, she added. But then I wore this white-orange pashmina and this orange beaded bag that I thought were really coolI consider myself more of a 'fashion girl' now, but my evolutions been almost by osmosis. Malle has risen through the ranks of the fashion Biblefrom social editor to podcast host and editor of Vogue.comand is now taking over from Wintour as the new head of editorial content for U.S. Vogue. The staffer who landed Naomi Bidens 2022 wedding at the White House, and a Lauren Sanchez interview ahead of her nuptials to Jeff Bezos, could soon shape the fashion world. This Ivy League-educated New Yorker the daughter of Murphy Brown star Candice Bergen and the late French film director Louis Malle leads a glamorous life, according to the photos that adorn her Instagram. She often vacations at the family home in the South of France, frequents the beaches of Montauk in the Hamptons, and enjoys fine dining in some of the hottest spots in New York. But for Malle, a wife and mother of two, the party-girl lifestyle that is part and parcel of being a Vogue editor in the big city doesnt come naturally. During her interview with Wintour, the fashion mogul asked what she liked doing in her free time. I answered truthfully and said I like to sleep and cook, Malle told The New York Post. A glammed-up photo of Malle taking a selfie in a grandiose-looking bathroom attests to this. Back in my pajamas watching Miss Marple but still thinking about the time I dressed up THREE nights in a row! she captioned the 2022 photo. As social editor at Vogue, Malles role saw her forced to mingle several times a week, which was a shock to her system. I work on the best-dressed lists and write party coverage for Vogue.com, which is so funny because I used to hate going out, she told beauty site Into the Gloss in 2014. Im such a morning person. But now that I decide what parties to cover for the website, Im usually out three to four nights a week. open image in gallery Malle is the daughter of Murphy Brown star and the late French film director Louis Malle. She is pictured with her parents as a child in Central Park ( Paris Match/Getty ) open image in gallery A glammed-up photo of Malle taking a selfie in a grandiose-looking bathroom is captioned: Back in my pajamas watching Miss Marple but still thinking about the time I dressed up THREE nights in a row! ( @chloemalle/Instagram ) Malles early childhood was spent in Los Angeles, where her mom relocated them from New York when Malle was only three to shoot Murphy Brown. Her father, the Academy Award-nominated director Louis Malle, lived in France because he didnt like living or working in Hollywood, Bergen said in a 2015 interview with Dallas News. The director would travel between Paris and L.A. every other month to visit his wife and daughter. People who dont know better think its a glamorous arrangement, Bergen said in a 1993 interview with Cosmopolitan magazine. But long-distance communication puts a strain on the marriage. That weve made it at all is a testament to how much we both wanted it. Malle, an only child, was close with her father and was 10 when he died of lymphoma in 1995. Malle and her mom moved back to New York five years later, where she attended Riverdale High School. I was always a big readerI was an only child, so it was just me, my dog Lois, and my books, Malle said. open image in gallery The Ivy League-educated New Yorker, often vacations in Europe and frequents the Hamptons. ( chloemalle/Instagram ) As a teenager, dads of Malles friends would fawn over her mother, she told The New York Times. I grew up with my friends dads saying Oh, my God, I remember when your mom was young. She was a knockout, Malle said. I think [Bergen] had great insecurity around the fact that people have always focused on that. She studied comparative literature and writing at Brown University. When I graduated, I wasnt sure what I wanted to do, Malle said. I was always interested in writingI edited the weekly paper at Brown and loved that. After briefly considering a career in public health, Malle landed an internship at the New York Observer and was later hired to cover real estate. From there, she became a freelance writer, filing pieces for The New York Times Style section and landing bylines in Vogue. Then her big break came in 2011 for the social editor role. I was hesitant when I was interviewing, because fashion is not one of my main interests in life, and I wanted to be a writer more than an editor, but I was so seduced by the Vogue machine that I couldnt resist, Malle said. open image in gallery Malle, an only child, was close with her father and was 10 when he died of lymphoma in 1995. ( Paris Match/Getty ) As her career was flourishing, so was her personal life. Malles boyfriend of four years, asset manager Graham Albert, proposed to her on New Years Day in 2014. He said, I have a question. I think we should get married. And my first response was, 'Thats not a question! Malle told Vogue in 2015. I know Im a brat, but Im an editorwhat do you want from me? Then I said, Oh wow, this is happening. I dont think I ever actually said yes, there was no need. Malle added that Albert presented the ring from his pocket in a Kleenex. A detail that makes my mother shudder and yell, A KLEENEX! every time she hears it, she joked. The couple wed at the familys 16th-century stone manor in Le Coual, southwestern France, in the same room her parents Bergen and Louis Malle married in 1980. It was a lavish but intimate four-day affair with just 40 guests. I grew up spending every summer there and the minute I turn down the driveway my heart leapsI get so excited, Malle said. Its a visceral reaction, I just love being there more than anything. In May 2020, Malle and Albert welcomed their first child, Louis Albert, named after Malles late father. They had a second child, Alice, in April 2022, according to PEOPLE. Mom of two is really the most time-consuming occupation at the moment, which Im leaning into, she told the outlet last year. Now Ive just decided ... [to] embrace the fact that theyre going to take most of my time and my logistical mental space. Bergen is a doting grandmother to Malles children and sees her grandkids regularly, according to social media. open image in gallery Despite a career that entails being a party-girl, Malle revealed that she used to hate going out and prefers to cook and sleep ( Getty ) Malle is also not shy about her politics. She has spoken out against Trump and posted left-leaning clothing and messaging on social media. The day after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Malle asked guest Jack Schlossberg on the podcast The Run Through: What would you say to people who are struggling this week and advice on getting through it? Malle then suggested an article about how to talk to your children about the election. I really struggled with that this morning, she admitted. She posted a photo on January 21, 2017, preparing to attend the Womens March in Washington, D.C. to protest Trumps first inauguration. Keep Your Tiny Hands Off My Rights, the placard Malle is holding reads. Another photo shows Malle wearing a Hillary Clinton sweatshirt while holding her two children on the couch. open image in gallery Malle, now a mother of two, attended the Womens March in Washington, D.C. to protest Trumps first inauguration. Keep Your Tiny Hands Off My Rights, the placard Malle is holding reads ( @chloemalle/Instagram ) Wintour, a Democratic fundraiser, has never shied away from politics and raised millions for the party in 2024. She has previously said its important to take a stand when deciding which influential women in politics to feature on the magazines cover. We profile women in the magazine that we believe in the stand that they're taking on issues. We support them in the fact that we feel that they are leaders, she told CNN in 2019. Wintour was spotted at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in May to meet with Trumps chief of staff, Susie Wiles, to talk about the impact of tariffs on the fashion industry. Now that Malle has won the top job, according to the online news site Puck, it remains to be seen how shell navigate running American Vogue while juggling personal politics. As for Wintour, the 75-year-old is reportedly not going too far, and will remain as Conde Nasts global chief content officer and Vogues global editorial director, which may have come as welcome news to Malle. I actually love working with Anna, because I love someone telling me exactly what needs to be done and exactly what she thinks about something, Malle said of her boss. Theres no indecision. Theres no ambiguity. This story was originally published on Thursday Aug. 14, 2025, and updated at 5:09 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday Sep. 1 to reflect reports that Malle had been picked to replace Wintour. 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 New Vogue Editor Chloe Malle has opened up about her decision to make the bride of Amazon founder Jeff Bezoss bride, Lauren Sanchez, the magazines cover star earlier this year. Bezos and Sanchez were wed in a star-studded Italian affair at the end of June. Vogue was first to publish exclusive photos and details of Sanchezs Dolce & Gabbana dress shortly after the couple exchanged vows. In a new interview with The New York Times published after she was announced as Anna Wintours successor, Malle revealed she received death threats over the cover. I do think there is an element of endorsement with a Vogue cover, and I do think that it is worth taking a calculated risk, Malle, 39, said. Bezos and Sanchezs wedding was highly anticipated, attracting celebrities and politicians from around the world and creating dozens of headlines. But the decision to put Sanchez on the storied magazines cover drew criticism, given the circumstances surrounding the lavish nuptials. open image in gallery Chloe Malle (left) has spoken out about her decision to put Lauren Sanchez on the cover of 'Vogue' ( Getty ) Venice locals staged protests against the wedding as dozens of millionaires and high-profile personas flocked to their small city, monopolizing resources like water taxis and hotels. The display of wealth was also scrutinized as Bezos and Sanchez held their multi-day affair, renting out local businesses and shutting down parts of the islands to host events. Still, Malle maintains it was the right decision to put Sanchez on the magazines cover, despite some questioning whether the bride had earned the prestige. open image in gallery Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos were married in a star-studded affair in June ( AFP/Getty ) You want something to be a moment, and that was a huge moment for us, she continued. That was what everyone was talking about. And we had that, and we owned it. The Times went on to ask whether Malle would consider putting First Lady Melania Trump on the cover. However, she declined to answer. Malle, the daughter of actor Candice Bergen and filmmaker Louis Malle, was tapped Tuesday by outgoing editor Anna Wintour to lead Vogue into its next era. Wintour announced she was stepping down in June after leading the publication for 37 years. Fashion and media are both evolving at breakneck speed, and I am so thrilled, and awed, to be part of that, said Malle in a statement. I also feel incredibly fortunate to still have Anna just down the hall as my mentor. At a moment of change, both within fashion and outside it, Vogue must continue to be both the standard-bearer and the boundary-pushing leader, said Wintour. Chloe has proven often that she can find the balance between American Vogues long, singular history and its future on the front lines of the new. I am so excited to continue working with her, as her mentor but also as her student, while she leads us and our audiences where weve never been before. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A New York judge has ruled that critical DNA evidence will be allowed to be used at the upcoming trial of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. Heuermanns defense team challenged the evidence since it was obtained using whole genome sequencing, a new DNA technology that had never been used in a New York court. But prosecutors successfully argued in a series of hearings this year that the technology was derived from accepted scientific methods. The science was on our side, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said following the announcement. Heuermann, 61, appeared in a Riverhead courtroom on Wednesday as Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei ruled that prosecutors can use the DNA testing method in the case against the suspected killer. Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 outside his New York City office as part of an investigation police had been working on since 2010 into the deaths of at least 10 people mostly female sex workers whose remains were discovered along an isolated highway near Gilgo Beach on Long Island. He has been charged with the murders of seven women. open image in gallery Rex Heuermann, 61, appeared in a Riverhead courtroom on Wednesday as Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei ruled that prosecutors can use the DNA testing method in the case against the suspected killer ( Getty ) Heuermanns attorney Michael Brown said his client was disappointed by the decision. We disagree with the courts decision, Brown said, later adding, We think the evidence is clear that they didnt sustain their burden. It doesnt mean we cant cross-examine these witnesses at trial, Brown added. As prosecutors built the case against Heuermann, they pointed to a trove of evidence: cell phone data, search histories, eyewitness accounts and DNA. The way that DNA was tested quickly became a focal point in the closely watched case. Prosecutors say the technique is reliable and helped link Heuermann or his family to victims whose bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway in 2010. The technique, carried out by California-based Astrea Forensics, allowed investigators to analyze hairs without roots, and degraded samples that traditional testing couldnt process. Even without Astreas findings, prosecutors point to extensive digital, forensic and witness evidence they say ties Heuermann to the murders. When 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes skeletal remains were discovered in the roadside scrub near Long Islands Gilgo Beach in the winter of 2010, investigators faced a daunting challenge. Despite the grim find, there was scant physical evidence to identify her killer, save for a single, degraded strand of hair. open image in gallery Rootless hairs from Heuermann, his wife and daughter were found on Maureen Brainard-Barnes and several other bodies ( Getty/Reuters/Suffolk County Police ) At the time, extracting viable DNA from such a sample was beyond the capabilities of forensic science, leaving detectives to search for other clues in their hunt for a suspected serial killer scattering womens bodies along the coastal parkway. However, a significant breakthrough emerged approximately seven years ago. Investigators turned to Astrea Forensics, a California-based laboratory pioneering new techniques to analyze old, highly degraded DNA samples, including rootless hairs like the crucial one found alongside Brainard-Barnes body. Prosecutors have amassed other evidence against Heuermann, who is accused of killing women as early as 1993. In court filings, they say cellphone call information and tracking data show that Heuermann arranged meetings with some of the victims shortly before their disappearances. open image in gallery Asa Ellerup, ex-wife of Rex Heuermann, is interviewed as part of 50 Cents new true crime project Gilgo Beach Killer: The House Of Secrets ( 50 Cent/Instagram ) Last year, prosecutors revealed they had recovered from Heuermanns computer files what they describe as a blueprint for the killings, including a series of checklists with reminders to limit noise, clean the bodies and destroy evidence. They also have a second DNA analysis completed by a separate crime lab that used more traditional methods long accepted in New York courts. They say those findings, from Mitotyping Technologies, also convincingly link hairs found on some victims to either Heuermann or members of his family. Investigators say that as he disposed of his victims, Heuermann used items from his house including tape, belts, bags and a surgical drape that had traces of hair from his wife and daughter. In Brainard-Barnes' case, though, only the advanced DNA tests performed by Astrea identified a match, finding the hair found with her remains belonged to Heuermann's wife. open image in gallery Heuermann was charged in June 2024 with the brutal murders of Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor ( Suffolk County DA/Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook page ) The Gilgo Beach murders Heuermann was first charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, and Megan Waterman, whose bodies were found between 2009 and 2010. While in custody, Heuermann was subsequently charged in the deaths of four other women: Valerie Mack in 2000, Jessica Taylor in 2003, Maureen Brainard-Barnes in 2007, and Sandra Costilla in 1993. Heuermanns now ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, who lived in the Massapequa Park home they shared with their children on Long Island, filed for divorce a short time after his arrest. A settlement was reached earlier this year. Prosecutors also say Heuermann kept a blueprint of his alleged crimes on his computer that included a series of checklists with tasks to complete before, during and after the killings, as well as practical lessons for next time. open image in gallery This combination of undated image provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, shows Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes ( Suffolk County Police Department ) Michael Brown, Heuermanns attorney, wants to break the case into multiple trials over concerns about the cumulative effect of the evidence presented by prosecutors. Prosecutors have opposed that request and Mazzei is expected to rule on it soon. In The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets, a three-part documentary released on Peacock this summer, Ellerup defended his innocence, referring to Heuermann as her hero while their daughter, Victoria, said she believes her father is most likely the Gilgo Beach serial killer. Heuermann has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all counts. A trial date has not yet been set. 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 The woman credited with helping to indict Jeffrey Epstein has spoken out for the first time in the decades since she was first abused by the disgraced financier at age 14. Marina Lacerda was part of a vast network of victims who were abused by Epstein as a teenager. Until now, she was identified as an unidentified minor victim in the 2019 federal indictment against the disgraced financier. On Wednesday, she went public with her claims for the first time, 23 years after she first came into contact with the disgraced financier. Joining lawmakers and a group of survivors in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, Lacerda, 37, shared details of her abuse by Epstein and demanded the complete release of the so-called Epstein Files. I never thought that I would find myself here, she said. The only reason Im here is because it feels like the people who matter in this country finally care about what we have to say. open image in gallery Marina Lacerda, an Epstein abuse survivor, broke her decades-long silence to demand the complete release of the Epstein Files ( REUTERS ) Who is Marina Lacerda? She first met Epstein in 2002 in New York when she was just 14, according to the 2019 indictment. The young Brazilian immigrant was a freshman in high school at the time, working three jobs to try to support her mom and her sister. Thats when a friend told her she could make $300 by giving an older guy a massage, she said at a Wednesday press conference on Capitol Hill. It went from a dream job to the worst nightmare, Lacerda said. An assistant to Epstein said she needed to be at Epsteins mansion so often that she ended up dropping out of high school, she said at the press conference. She held out hope that being connected to the wealthy financier could bring her real job opportunities. But those job opportunities never came. Instead, she was abused for years. I had no way out until he told me I was too old, Lacerda said. At 37, shes now a mother to at least one daughter. open image in gallery Lacerda was joined by a group of fellow survivors on Capitol Hill to support the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would require the DOJ to release all of its files related to the criminal cases against the disgraced financier ( REUTERS ) What are her allegations? Beginning in 2002, Lacerda was recruited to engage in sex acts with Epstein and was repeatedly sexually abused by him for years at his Manhattan mansion. He was aware of her age at the time of the encounters, prosecutors said. She was paid hundreds of dollars for each encounter, the filing states. He also encouraged and enticed Lacerda to recruit other girls to engage in paid sex acts, which she did, the indictment states. The abuse came to an abrupt halt by the time she turned 16 or 17, when Epstein made clear that his interest in her had waned. Youre too old. I dont want you anymore, Lacerda recalled him saying. Epstein was indicted on federal charges in 2019 but died by suicide behind bars one month later while awaiting his sex trafficking trial. Although shes credited with helping secure the 2019 criminal charges against Epstein, investigators first approached her about his abuse in 2008, she told ABC News. Her first thought was: I have to call Jeffrey. What am I going to do? Epstein then hired an attorney for her; that was the last she heard of that investigation, she said. He had been indicted in Florida on sex crimes charges in 2006. After the indictment, he cut a plea deal with federal prosecutors, requiring him to plead guilty to the state charges in exchange for the federal investigation into him being dropped. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. Asked about how she felt about having a hand in the eventual charges against him, Lacerda told ABC: I would have felt much better today speaking if I was able to speak in 2008. If they would have gave me the chance to speak, these women would not been through this, she said. open image in gallery Lacerda was first abused by Epstein when she was 14 years old and said she struggles to remember many pieces of her experience with the late financier ( REUTERS ) What has she said about the Epstein Files? Lacerda advocated for the complete release of the Epstein Files. She stood on Capitol Hill Wednesday, vocally supporting the push by Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to collect 218 signatures to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would require the Justice Department to make public the entirety of the Epstein-related records. She demanded the records release not only for transparency but for the American people. She denounced the governments handling of the Epstein Files. The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of the documents and information that could help me remember and get over all of this, maybe and help me heal, she said, her voice breaking. She struggles to remember many pieces of her story and the records could help her put the pieces of my own life back together, she said. My therapist says that my brain is just trying to protect itself but its so hard to begin to heal that there are people out there that know more about my abuse than I do. The Epstein Files have become a major pressure point of President Donald Trumps second term. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to release the documents; as president, he has repeatedly claimed the matter was cooked up by Democrats. As Epstein survivors spoke nearby on Wednesday, Trump again called the issue a Democrat hoax that never ends. Amid calls for heightened transparency around the case, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department, which has since turned over tens of thousands of documents. The committee published the records Tuesday. Most contained already publicly available information and none were the so-called client list, which could implicate other high-profile figures involved in Epsteins scheme, the committees top Democrat Robert Garcia said. Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this year said she had the client list sitting on her desk; in July, a DOJ memo stated there was no evidence to support its existence. Survivors said Wednesday they would release their own client list if the Trump administration neglected to do so. No one other than Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite serving 20 years in federal prison after she was convicted in 2021 for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minors with Epstein, has been formally charged with any wrongdoing connected to Epstein. Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Maxwell. She met with top DOJ officials in July and has since been transferred to a more cushy federal prison. 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 The woman dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" is poised to admit her role in the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, with a plea change scheduled for Wednesday. Jasveen Sangha is expected to alter her previous not guilty plea at a federal court in Los Angeles, becoming the fifth and final individual charged in connection with Perrys overdose to reach a deal with prosecutors. She has signed an agreement to plead guilty to five federal charges, crucially including the provision of the ketamine that proved fatal to the actor. Her trial had been slated to commence later this month. In a brief statement when the deal was announced on Aug. 18, Sangha's lawyer Mark Geragos said only, She's taking responsibility for her actions. Prosecutors had cast Sangha, a 42-year-old citizen of the U.S. and the U.K., as a prolific drug dealer who was known to her customers as the Ketamine Queen, using the term often in press releases and court documents. Her guilty pleas are set to include one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Prosecutors agreed to drop three other counts related to the distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine that was unrelated to the Perry case. open image in gallery Matthew Perry ( AP ) The final plea deal came a year after federal prosecutors announced that five people had been charged in Perrys Oct. 28, 2023 death after a sweeping investigation. If Sangha pleads guilty as planned, a judge will schedule sentencing for Sangha. She could get up to 45 years in prison. The judge is not bound to follow any terms of the plea agreement, but prosecutors said in the document that they will ask for less than the maximum. None of the co-defendants have been sentenced yet. Sangha and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty in July, had been the primary targets of the investigation. Three other defendants Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa and Erik Fleming pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation, which included statements implicating Sangha and Plasencia. Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home by Iwamasa, his assistant. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death. Sangha presented a posh lifestyle on Instagram, with photos of herself with the rich and famous in cities around the globe. Prosecutors said she privately presented herself as a dealer who sold to the same kind of high-class customers. Perry had been using ketamine through his regular doctor as a legal, but off-label, treatment for depression, which has become increasingly common. Perry, 54, sought more ketamine than his doctor would give him, and his search for more led him to Sangha through his friend Fleming about two weeks before his death, prosecutors said. Fleming messaged Perry's assistant saying her ketamine was amazing and that she deals only with high end and celebs. Perry bought large amounts of ketamine from Sangha, including 25 vials for $6,000 in cash four days before his death, prosecutors said. On the day of Perrys death, Sangha told Fleming they should delete all the messages they had sent each other, according to her indictment. Sangha has been in federal custody for about a year. Perry struggled with addiction for many years, dating back to his time on Friends, when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBCs megahit series. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A 93-year-old Illinois man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a woman on Tuesday. The Pekin Police Department said officers responded to a call in the 1800 block of South 14th Street in Pekin after receiving a report of a stabbing that had just occurred. When officers and medical personnel arrived on the scene, they found a female victim who needed immediate medical attention. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Police launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of James E. Pate on a charge of first-degree murder. He is being held at the Tazewell County Jail. The age of the female victim was not included in the Pekin PDs news release about Pates arrest. The Independent has contacted the force for comment. open image in gallery The alleged stabbing happened in Pekin on Tuesday ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) Police say the Illinois State Police assisted in processing the crime scene at their request. The case has now been turned over to the Tazewell County States Attorneys Office for prosecution. The identity of the victim, along with the official cause of death, will be released at a later date by the Peoria County Coroners Office. Authorities have not released further details as the investigation remains ongoing. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Amazon is set to discontinue a long-standing feature of its Prime membership, which allowed subscribers to extend free shipping benefits to individuals outside their primary household. From 1 October, the online retail giant will cease the 'Prime Invitee' programme, encouraging those previously benefiting from shared accounts to sign up for their own subscriptions. In its place, Amazon is rolling out 'Amazon Family', a revised scheme that permits account holders to share the coveted two-day shipping perk with just one other adult residing at the same address. Additionally, it accommodates up to four teenagers (provided they were added before 7 April) and up to four child profiles. Prime members pay $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. This strategic shift comes as the Seattle-based company significantly invests in expanding its delivery infrastructure across the US, aiming to provide faster service to customers in less densely populated regions. The company stated in late July that its service now reaches 1,000 of the more than 4,000 smaller cities, towns, and rural communities targeted for coverage by the end of the year. open image in gallery Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos and spouse Lauren Sanchez Bezos leave the Aman Hotel on the third day of their wedding festivities, in Venice on June 28, 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images ) It comes as Amazon doubled its Prime Day sales to four days this year, but Americans' signups for the service have slowed down. Sign-ups to Amazon's Prime service which offers discounts and fast delivery on products, as well as access to its video service Amazon Prime among other perks failed to meet last year's total and the company's target for 2025, according to company data reviewed by Reuters. According to that analysis, Amazon registered 5.4 million American sign-ups in the 21 days ahead of Prime Day, and its four sale days, which ran from July 8 to July 11. The total sign-ups fell approximately 116,000 short of last year's sign-ups, and 106,000 below Amazon's target goal for the year, marking an approximately 2 percent decline in both. During the four-day Prime Day period, Amazon signed up 1.6 million Prime users, which exceeded the company's internal target by 6 percent, according to Reuters. But it failed to hit its targets in the three weeks leading up to the Prime Day event, according to the same data. The analysis provides a rare look into Amazon's generally closely guarded Prime data. Despite Reuter's analysis, Amazon still celebrated its "record breaking" number of enrollments. "Prime membership continues to show strong growth and customer engagement in the U.S. and internationally," the company said in a statement to the outlet. Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) stock rose over 8% Wednesday after a federal district court judge ruled late Tuesday that Google wouldn't be forced to sell its Chrome browser after ruling divestment a "poor fit" in a landmark antitrust case. The ruling from District of Columbia judge Amit Mehta said the company will have to share data that helped it hold on to its search monopoly, but saw Google avoid the harshest potential remedies. As part of the decision, Mehta ruled that Google can continue to make payments to "distribution partners for preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, or GenAI products." That allows for Google to continue to make its $20 billion per year payments to Apple (AAPL) in exchange for the iPhone maker using Google Search as the default search engine in its Safari browser and Siri. Apple stock rose almost 3% Wednesday. The Justice Department had pushed for a forced sale of the company's search business and for the judge to order an end to multibillion-dollar contracts that have all but assured Google's market dominance, moves the judge denied to make. "Plaintiffs have not shown that their behavioral remedies will be ineffective without the immediate divestiture of Chrome," Mehta said. The court's task, Mehta said, is to discern between conduct that maintains a monopoly through anticompetitive acts as distinct from conduct that fuels a monopoly's growth as a consequence of a superior product. "After two complete trials, this court cannot find that Google's market dominance is sufficiently attributable to its illegal conduct to justify divestiture," the judge said of Chrome, adding that such "radical structural relief" would require a more heightened causal connection. Judge Mehta also declined to grant the DOJ's request for a contingent divestment of Google's Android operating system, writing that the government "did not present any evidence to justify a contingent structural remedy." Throughout the decision, the judge noted the rise of search competition posed by generative AI, which he said presents "strong reasons not to jolt the system and to allow market forces to do the work." While Google will be able to keep Chrome and Android, as well as continue making payments to distribution partners, the company also has to make a number of changes. The search giant is barred from entering exclusive contracts related to the distribution of Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant, or Gemini. Google also can't condition the licensing of its Play Store or any other Google app on the distribution or preloading of other Google services or condition receiving revenue-sharing payments from one Google app on the placement of another app. 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 What keeps you awake at 4am? For Tschabalala Self, theres a list of things. How do I live? What will happen to me when death comes? Do I have a spirit and what does that mean? What is the purpose of my life? Am I loved? Am I allowed to feel fear? Am I able to love others? Is my life worth anything? These are the things all of us worry about, says the acclaimed US artist. Thats my primary interest, investigating those universal sentiments and making artworks that resonate on that frequency, so people can recognise that this is our shared humanity; basically the existential concerns of being a human being. These conceptual, invisible elements, she argues, sit side by side with external ideas about self our skin, for example. Being black, American, and a woman are all parts of the 35-year-old artists identity, and they also inform her work. Tschabalala Self in her studio. That duality of the seen and unseen selves is explored in the Harlem-born artists upcoming show, Skin Tight, which opens at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art this month. Curated by ACCAs Dr Shelley McSpedden and CEO and artistic director Myles Russell-Cook, the show features 30 artworks, and is designed as an immersive experience. While this is Selfs first Australian show, she is a big name internationally, collected by the Guggenheim, the Whitney, the Met and the Studio Museum in Harlem; her work has achieved six-figure prices at auction. Her bold, confident creations are designed to challenge preconceptions; at the same time they are often playful, teasing and sensual. Because of the size of her paintings, she often works on the floor, wearing knee pads, and the layering effect achieved through the use of textiles and other found materials reflects the complexity of the issues she addresses. Self leaves it to the viewer to determine a works meaning. Advertisement McSpedden saw Selfs work at Londons Barbican gallery as part of Unravel: the power and politics of textiles in art, which featured 50 artists who use textiles to communicate vital ideas about power, resistance and survival. Shes a rock star in the international art world but theres a lack of knowledge [about her] locally, McSpedden says. This [show] is going to blow your mind. Tschabalala Self, Candy, 2021. Credit: Courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias Gallery, London As well as the paintings which McSpedden describes as fabric assemblages there is a soft sculpture, which depicts two figures embracing, made from fabric. The painting style Ive developed emerged from my print-making practice, says Self. I used to do collagraphs, with plates made from non-conventional materials: cardboard, bits of fabric, various materials that create enough of a surface to produce a transfer. At one stage, she cut up old oil paintings to make prints: they had enough peaks and valleys that they could be inked up. At ACCA, theres also a three-channel video, a reimagining of a play Self wrote, directed and created sets and costumes for in 2021. I like to repurpose materials in my practice, so I revisited the documentation of the play and turned it into a non-linear, three channel video, she says. Advertisement Many of the new works in the ACCA show are huge. The immersive nature of the show relates to how it is hung: murals created by VCA students, under Selfs direction, will adorn each room, creating a psychological space says McSpedden. Tschabalala Self, Blue Woman, 2025. Credit: Courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias Gallery, London Making art helps Self articulate the big issues but does it help resolve them? Making art is a way of investigating the questions I have; I dont really know if it helps me resolve these questions. Maybe it does, but then I think there are always more questions that come about in life. What making art does for me and also viewing other peoples art, it gives me the confidence to feel comfortable with the questions. I think a lot of the dread comes from feeling uncomfortable with having questions. You should feel comfortable to ask the question without the possibility of finding the answer a lot of times people have a lot of dread because they cant fully articulate these questions and it just becomes an impending feeling of doom. If they could just allow themselves to have questions, to let the questions linger, unanswered, have faith, give themselves the space to be with them I think thats a healthier way to navigate life. I think the arts allow people that room, that space, that confidence; it allows me to have those experiences and I hope my art does the same for other people. The shows title is a double entendre, Self says. The words skin tight make you think about a body, curvaceous bodies, automatically you think about the silhouette that exists in my work, and for me that silhouette is important because it represents the pinnacle of the black female beauty standard. Thats the first thing that comes to mind the skin tight refers to the reality of identity politics but also the limitations of it. Tschabalala Self, Submission, 2025. Credit: Courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias Gallery, London Advertisement We all navigate the world as who we are. Im a black woman and there are certain expectations and stereotypes, negative and positive, that are attached to that, that people have of me. Thats one of the ways people have to navigate the world, because of their skin. But that also barely encompasses the totality, there are aspects to all people which supersede the way in which they show up in the world. And that brings up the existential concerns, this potential for a consciousness, a shared humanity and a spirit that is so much more complex than ones identity politics. Loading Selfs parents moved from New Orleans to Harlem, where she and her four siblings grew up. Harlem in the 1990s was a beautiful, amazing place, she says, and for black Americans is such a place of culture and history and pride. Her Bodega Run series, created in 2017, was inspired by the diversity of people there, as well as taking cues from labels of products on sale on the shelves at her local family-run store, the bodega. I was thinking about the different racial dynamics between people from African descent from different nations, and how their views on one another and themselves collided every day in the space at the corner store. It is something I do like to explore in general within my work, thinking about all the different nuances of black identity and how understandings of blackness do shift, depending on where you are and the context, Self says. The conversation is more complex than just looking at the concept of a black identity and a white identity. Advertisement A judge's ruling spared Google from having to sell its Chrome browser but placed other limits on the search giant. Above, a company event in Mountain View, Calif., in 2024. (Juliana Yamada / Associated Press) When a federal judge deemed Google a monopolist last year, questions lingered about how he would help restore competition in online search. On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta for the District of Columbia gave his answers in a highly watched decision that spared the online behemoth from selling its Chrome browser but placed other limits on the search giant. Google's parent company, Alphabet, after dodging the most severe penalties, saw its stock surge 9% on Wednesday. It's overall a win for Google, said Yory Wurmser, a principal analyst at EMarketer. It's probably about the best it could have expected, given that they were found guilty. Advocacy groups and some tech companies expressed disappointment about the ruling, stating that it didnt go far enough. The judge said in his decision that forcing Google to divest Chrome is a poor fit for this case and would be incredibly messy and highly risky because the web browser isnt a stand-alone business and is tied to the tech companys other systems. But some of the remedies the judge cleared, such as requiring Google to share some of its search data with certain rivals, could open the door to more competition, some experts said. Google's dominance grew after it struck exclusive agreements with Apple, Samsung, AT&T and others to be the default search engine on web browsers and mobile devices. As Google became more popular, it gathered a trove of valuable data, which in turn helped improve the quality of its search results. Making data available to competitors would narrow the scale gap created by Googles exclusive distribution agreements and, in turn, the quality gap that followed, the judge wrote. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Googles vice president of regulatory affairs, said in a statement that the company is worried about how these requirements will impact our users and their privacy and is closely reviewing the decision. The U.S. Department of Justice, which filed the antitrust lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging the company illegally operated as a monopoly, said the remedies mark an important step forward in the Department of Justices ongoing fight to protect American consumers. Read more: An 'industry behemoth.' Inside the federal government's efforts to break up Google The judges lengthy, 200-plus-page opinion comes as artificial intelligence is altering the way people search for information and could reshape Googles massive advertising business. Instead of sifting through a bunch of results on a search engine, more people are turning to chatbots such as OpenAIs ChatGPT to quickly find answers. New York: Graham Greene, a trailblazing Indigenous actor whose long and successful career on the big and small screen included an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves, has died. He was 73. Greene died in Stratford, Ontario, after a long battle with an unspecified illness. Variety first reported the news on Monday night (Ontario time). A representative for Greene did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment. Graham Greene has died aged 73. He first came to fame as Kicking Bird (right) in Dances With Wolves. Born in June 1952 in Ohsweken, Ontario, on Canadas Six Nations Reserve, Greene worked as a draftsman, high steelworker, welder and carpenter before becoming an actor in the 1970s, beginning with the 1979 Canadian drama series The Great Detective and 1983 film Running Brave. He is best known for his landmark role as Kicking Bird in the 1990 film Dances with Wolves. Greenes 1991 Oscar nomination was one of 12 the movie earned. It won seven, including the top prize of best picture and best director for Kevin Costner. Greene also starred as Arlen Bitterbuck in the 1999 Tom Hanks project, The Green Mile. Antoinette Lattouf has asked a court to order the ABC to pay her a pecuniary penalty of up to $350,000 for bowing to pressure from pro-Israel lobbyists and unlawfully terminating her Sydney radio contract. Lawyers for the journalist and the ABC returned to the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday to deliver submissions to the court on the appropriate penalty. Antoinette Lattouf arrives at the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday. Credit: Sam Mooy I have always cared deeply about the ABC. All I ever wanted was for it to be fair and act with integrity, Lattouf said outside court before the hearing. The ABC are meant to be the good guys. I still havent received a formal, personal apology from the ABC. Zero in on dogs As a cycling user of shared paths, I would estimate that more than half of dog owners take the view that council rules do not apply to them. I applaud Port Phillip council for implementing CCTV in an on-lead park to protect vulnerable users (Council cameras to spy on dogs, owners at park, 3/9). Its all very well for an owner to say the dogs are fine but it only takes one uncontrolled dog to cause harm. Every time I have to pass an uncontrolled dog, I have to be vigilant as they can dart in front of you. Just as they could bite a toddler in a playground. And dont dare to comment, as you will almost certainly be abused by the owners. Bring on the cameras and fines. Alex Judd, Blackburn North Look to past examples The Ages 1980 Give the Yarra a Go campaign prompted Collingwood council to pursue upgrading of derelict factories and houses abutting the river, especially near Dights Falls. The council planning committee that I chaired, in consultation with residents and business owners, developed a preferred framework for redevelopment. We then promoted that framework to developers, with a promise of fast-track approvals for compliant proposals, given likely local support. Successful redevelopments included Country Road, Australian Education Union and other buildings at the back of Victoria Park. We rolled out this approach across the municipality, for example, identifying underused government land that we encouraged them to release for appropriate development. It is a pro-active approach that councils could replicate today identify underused sites, develop a framework for acceptable development in consultation with residents and promote that to developers. It can produce speedy approvals with minimal risk of objections and be a win-win for expanding housing supply in inner and middle suburbs. Graeme Russell, councillor 1982-87, and mayor of Collingwood, 1985-86, Clifton Hill Steer new course Nations are not immutable. There is no reason that flags should be (Letters, 3/9), but to replace the Union Jack in the corner with the Aboriginal flag would be not just to cast aside our British heritage but also to ignore Torres Strait Islanders, who also have a flag. The best course of action would be a new flag that incorporated elements of all three existing flags, but it would take a graphic genius to design one that did not look chaotic. Chris Curtis, Hurstbridge Change in the flag Your correspondent (Letters, 3/9) wrongly conflates the Union Jack on the Australian flag with that which was first carried ashore .. . 200 [sic] years ago. The Union Jack that was planted on Australian soil in 1788 is not the one that appears on the Australian flag. The 1788 flag did not include the red saltire of St Patrick, which was added in 1801 following the Act of Union with Ireland. Dennis Dodd, Shepparton Hoping against hope I went to bed the other night in a warm home and a comfortable bed, but accompanied by the heartbreaking image from the article The hazardous battle for a better life (30/8) and tried to stop the tears. I wondered if the man and his child in the photograph survived. If they did, what does the future hold for them? Again I am grateful I was born where I was and for whom I am, knowing it was simply the luck of the draw. I despair of a world in pain and despair of the number of powerful leaders (mostly men) who lack any compassion. I grow angry at so many people who are viciously against asylum seekers and migrants. I comfort myself that many work for a better world, especially journalists, and know there is compassion. I have no answers but hope we can instil more compassion in our children and one day there will be fewer tears. Carol Fountain, Mentone Call to resist Putin Australians who are concerned by the war Russia wages against Ukraine should fully embrace Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalnaya, who aged 47 died in very suspicious circumstances in an Arctic prison camp (We must be braver over Putin, 3/9). Yulia is visiting Australia for the first time. Ms Navalnaya, who lives in exile, is now the de facto leader of the Russian opposition and three months after her husbands death herself had criminal charges brought against her by Russian President Vladimir Putin. She says she is not afraid, but has on her visit to Australia issued this statement calling for a free Russia: I understand that Vladimir Putin, who starts wars, who poisons his political opponents, kills his political opponents, can do anything he wants. But thats not a reason to stop. Eric Palm, Gympie, Qld PM, act on climate The news that potentially thousands of failed bores are emitting vast amounts of climate damaging methane will sadly be no great surprise to anyone (The small patch of paddock emitting 10,000 cars worth of methane, 2/9). The companies that caused the problem have no doubt long since disappeared and cant be held responsible and it shows a tragically timid response from governments from both sides of the political divide. Governments are terrified of the petroleum giants and will do nothing to offend them. This is an opportunity for the federal government to impose an environment restoration tax on the petroleum industry that will help mitigate their damage. Big oil will protest, but history has shown that they cannot be trusted to do the right thing so they can at least be forced to cover the cost of their damage. Time to act, PM. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha No points for AFL Another week, and yet another blunder from the AFL. Following the rescheduling of the Suns v Bombers game necessitated by cyclonic conditions in round one, the AFL has had a good 24 weeks to consider a plan, but what did it come up with? The game was moved to last Wednesday night, normally the time for the AFL awards night. The awards night was put back a day plus one hour to 7.30 pm on Thursday, precisely the starting time of the iconic and much-loved charity event the Legends Game. Footy fans were thus forced into a choice between two annual viewing events when there were no games for the whole week due to the pre-finals bye. Along with the removal of all free to air Saturday games, the appalling choice of Snoop Dogg as grand final entertainment and the blackmailing of Tasmania to build an unwanted and unnecessary stadium (with a financial contribution of less than 2 per cent), the AFL has notched up a massive fail. Peter Knight, St Arnaud Help Afghanistan A life is a life. No matter your perspective, it is clear Afghanistan, following the earthquake, is in need of world support. What an unexpected opportunity for the world to demonstrate empathy and the essence of humanity in the provision of support. For the Taliban its an opportunity to realise interdependence is a peaceful way to solve world problems. Julie Anne Baker, Geelong National, not vested I have sympathy with Ross Gittins frustration (PM should go if hes lost his bottle, 3/9) at the apparent lack of reform zeal by the Albanese government. I, too, would like to see serious reform of the taxation system to get rid of tax rorts such as negative gearing and capital gains discounts; the so-called investment incentives that citizens fund through their income tax. I also would like to see a reduced reliance on income tax, a greater tax impost on the wealthy and large corporations particularly those making mega profits from fossil fuels. That said, Im not sure reverting to personal criticism of Anthony Albanese and snide remarks about Labors reform shyness adds much to the debate, other than making the writer feel a bit better about their righteousness. All governments face the challenge of balancing leading and representing their constituents. I will give this government the benefit of the doubt and wait to see how it manages the politics of change in the national interest and not the vested interests. Pier Paolo De Carlo, Ascot Vale AND ANOTHER THING The flag Finally, the flag in its natural environment, around the shoulders of Molly Picklum our queen of the waves. Paul Custance, Highett Molly Picklum makes a strong argument for our flag! Susie Holt, South Yarra Has anyone asked, Do we really need a flag? Isnt Australia mature enough to go without? Can we be the first nation to not be divided by a piece of cloth hung on a pole? Michael Carroll, Kensington Where were Sundays flag-waving mob when Peter Dutton wanted to facilitate the immigration of white South African farmers into Australia? Craig Jory, Albury, NSW Why give Thomas Sewell the front page? He will probably wear it as a badge of honour. Myra Fisher, Brighton East I cant wait to see the neo-Nazis grabbing themselves by the collar and rushing back to their countries of origin. Bruce Dudon, Woodend If the March for Australia participants were protesting about immigration, surely they were protesting against themselves as, assuming they are not of First Nations heritage, they are all products of immigration. Elizabeth Morris, Kennington We lost ownership of the Australian flag with the Cronulla riots. Bryan Fraser, St Kilda West The seasons Why change the seasons in Melbourne? (Letters, 3/9) Climate change is already doing that. Susan Munday, Bentleigh East Vadims family have flown 22 hours from Brussels. He was a public order response officer. Every available member of that unit will be there. Solidarity, sympathy and sorrow. For every operational member, there is an unspoken thought: It could have been me. Vadim was days away from returning to Melbourne and Neal was counting down the days to retirement. If the arrest team had travelled to Porepunkah a week or so later, they would be alive, but two of their colleagues would have taken their place. Sliding doors. Recruits from Squad 17 will graduate next week, but they have taken time out this week to learn the slow march. As the senior Academy squad, they have been given the honour as funeral escort. Squad 16 graduated last week. There were 25 of them: eight from England, Wales, Sudan, India, Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia. There was a minutes silence. As the squad marched off, the thin sun broke through the grey clouds causing a giant rainbow to illuminate the Academy. On the parade ground was an empty chair with a police cap to represent absent colleagues. The catafalque that holds the coffin in the chapel will be in position. The casket will be draped in the national flag and the police officers cap. The rainbow on the hill as Squad 16 graduates from the Academy. To the right is the Memorial Chapel with a light that is never extinguished. There is a board that lists 137 police who have died on duty. Then there are two more boards listing 34 police murdered on duty, the first in 1856. The Police Academy Chapel. Credit: John Silvester Mourners will start arriving an hour before the 11am service, driving along Mick Miller Crescent past four flags on the left (Australian, Victorian, Aboriginal and Victoria Police), all at half-mast, and a massive gum on the right. The front pews on the left will be reserved for senior police and dignitaries. The right is for the family. Boxes of tissues are placed at either end of the first three pews for grieving relatives. Beneath is a crypt that is now a locker room for recruits. To the right is the chaplains office. They have been busy dealing with the families of police worried about the dangers of the job. A senior chaplain will travel from Geelong to preside over Fridays service. To enter the chapel, you walk through the white arch with the police insignia above, take three steps flanked by polished banisters and walk a further 22 strides to the open solid wooden doors that draw you to the altar. Mates will gather in clusters, PORT will move as a unit while strangers will squeeze together in pews, holding the funeral booklet that lists the order of service, a picture of the fallen officer on the front. There are hundreds who wont be there such as those still hunting the man suspected of killing Vadim and Neal in an ambush. The mourning is not restricted to the chapel beneath the tower on the hill. The public have been arriving at suburban police stations unannounced, bringing flowers, chocolates and homemade cakes needing to do something to show support. Sometimes we need to see evil to appreciate the decent. The first part of the service is guided by the family, the second by police protocol. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush will speak. An officer will read the fallen members service record. A colleague will recite the Police Ode, which reads in part: And we that are left, Shall never forget, Rest in peace friend and colleague, For the sun has now set. At the end of the service, the mourners spill to the forecourt, the white iron gates will be open. Serving and former members will turn right at number one View Mount Road to form an honour guard. Those in uniform will salute and those who are not will hold their hearts as the hearse passes. The Academy drill sergeant will call the escort to attention, the pipe band will begin. There will be drum horses and a motorbike escort as they set off on the last journey. From the Academy gates, you wont be able to see the end of the honour guard. A police helicopter will sweep at low level along the road, the same type that has been looking for the alleged police killer in dense scrub. I have been to the Academy many times, as a reporter, a lecturer, a mourner, a wedding guest, a father, and a son. I have seen both ends of the journey. I was there for my fathers funeral and for my sons graduation always guided there by the tower on the hill. I couldnt have been prouder of them both. When I went to see my young bloke graduate, it was the week before Christmas 2019. He was the 500th to complete the course since Vadim. Most were given their badges by then deputy commissioner Rick Nugent. But in another police tradition, if a family member was a serving or former member, they are given that honour. There was one guy given his Freddy by his brother, Alex, a serving officer. There was a handshake and a man hug. The new police officer was Josh Prestney, 28. Four months later, along with colleagues Glen Humphris, Kevin King and Lynette Taylor, he was killed on the Eastern Freeway. Their names are now in the Memorial Chapel. I delivered one of the eulogies from the chapel altar for former chief commissioner Mick Miller, someone I had known all my life. He was the best police leader this country has produced. The rainbow at Eastern Freeway victim Lynette Taylors COVID funeral at the police academy. I was there for Micks wife Beverleys funeral. She was the one who suggested I should try to become a journalist. Most old police buildings get a smell, not of decay but of weariness. Not the Academy. It is constantly renewed by the recruits, yet to be beaten down by the burden of conflict and tragedy. Silvester speaking at Chief Commissioner Mick Millers funeral. Credit: Joe Armao There are about 430 recruits in 20 squads, the newest arriving last week, another 230 doing other courses and nearly 400 staff. More than 30,000 police, protective service officers and custody officers have been trained and graduated there. Unlike tertiary colleges the students attend every day, there are no online options, with many living in the Academy. No one dawdles here. Sergeant Gary Silk could see the chapel tower from the family home just down the hill. They had his funeral there after he and Rod Miller were in 1998 murdered on duty. Like Neal in 1988 and Vadim 31 years later, they left the Academy with their careers in front of them. They move to spots around the state but come together for reunions and, like on Friday and Monday, for funerals. The wife of alleged Porepunkah double murderer Dezi Freeman was present at the time of the shooting of two police officers and may face criminal charges, police have confirmed for the first time. On the ninth day of the massive manhunt for Freeman, who allegedly killed the officers as he was being served a warrant at his home in Victorias alpine country, Crime Command Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly told reporters Amalia Freeman was home at the time her husband allegedly opened fire. Dezi Freeman and his wife, Amalia (Mali) Freeman. Credit: Marija Ercegovac It has previously been unclear whether Freemans family was present at the time. Kelly said Amalia, or Mali as she is more widely known, had been interviewed by police and may face criminal charges for allegedly obstructing the police investigation. The port city of Fremantle has been hailed as Australias best tourism town for 2025 at the industrys premier awards at Parliament House on Wednesday morning. Freo home to the iconic fishing boat harbour, cappuccino strip, Fremantle Markets and the historic West End and Round House scooped the coveted gold award ahead of Devonport in Tasmania and Kiama in New South Wales. TCWA Deputy Chair Nathan Frost, Monique Boucher from Hidden deTours, Tourism WA Chair Di Bain, City of Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge, TCWA CEO Evan Hall and Patrick Ford from City of Fremantle at Wednesdays awards. Credit: City of Fremantle Australian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Erin McLeod described Fremantle as an exceptional destination. Its vibrant maritime heritage, thriving arts and music scene, world-class food and wine, and rich culture make it a standout winner as Australias Top Tourism Town for 2025, she said. Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge flew to Canberra to accept the award, and said the port citys secret to its success as a tourism destination was about being authentic to your story. Loading Visitors love to connect with genuine experiences, and we love sharing our heritage, culture and coastline with them, she said. People who live in Fremantle love it for the same reasons visitors do. We get nearly a million day trippers to Fremantle each year. This award is recognition for the many passionate people, guides, volunteers, operators, artists, and business owners, who bring Fremantle to life. The news Victim numbers in several key categories of crime featured in the LNPs election campaign fell last year to the lowest point since 2021, while sexual assaults hit a record high, new data shows. The Australian Bureau of Statistics released crime victim data on Wednesday, which showed 289,449 people were the recorded victims of nine categories of offences across 2024. While assault and sexual assault victim numbers, largely linked to domestic violence, saw annual increases of 5 and 11 per cent respectively, other crimes typically linked to youth offending fell. A decade ago, Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas had a field day in parliament, mocking then opposition leader Matthew Guy over his cowboy approach to land in Port Melbourne and South Melbourne that Guy as planning minister had rezoned for thousands of new homes. That new suburb Fishermans Bend was a calamity caused by the former minister for planning, Pallas told Victorias lower house. Artists impression of the tech hub at Fishermans Bend, put on hold on Tuesday by the University of Melbourne. Credit: University of Melbourne The man is to metropolitan planning what John Howard was to spin bowling: uncoordinated and aimless. He is the Tonya Harding of planning probity. It is no wonder that his projects limped along, Pallas crowed. Its probably a good thing for Pallas hes left parliament because today, today the kneecapping at Fishermans Bend is Labor doing it to itself and to Victorians. Americas third most populous state plans to end all vaccine mandates, including for children, with Floridas top doctor comparing the requirements to slavery and saying they violate the relationship between individuals and their god. Standing behind a podium that said the Free State, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis pledged to protect peoples medical freedom, decrying paediatricians whom he said would not treat children unless they took vaccinations, and querying why a baby would need a hepatitis shot. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, will establish a state version of the Make America Healthy Again Commission. Credit: AP We ought to be empowering parents rather than trying to take away the rights of parents, DeSantis said at a news conference while also announcing the creation of Floridas Make America Healthy Again commission, a state version of the Trump administrations initiative. Theres been an effort and I think COVID really exposed this to say, You have to do this Company Logo The APAC data center colocation market is set to expand with an impressive CAGR of 17.25% from 2024 to 2030. Major markets include China, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, India, and Singapore. Emerging markets like Malaysia and South Korea are seeing increased investments. Key trends include the adoption of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to boost efficiency and sustainability. Prominent companies such as AirTrunk and ST Telemedia are leading this evolution. The region is poised for substantial growth driven by technological advancements and rising demand for high-performance data infrastructure. Dublin, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "APAC Data Center Colocation Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The APAC data center colocation market size by investment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.25% from 2024 to 2030. Countries such as China, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, India, and Singapore are among the top and established data center markets in the APAC. The countries such as Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Taiwan witness higher investments and are poised to become developed markets in the years to come. Introduction of HVO Fuel for Generators The data centers are facing increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and operate sustainably. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) has emerged as a viable low-carbon alternative to diesel fuel for backup generators in the APAC data center colocation market. HVO is a type of renewable diesel produced by hydrotreating waste vegetable oils and animal fats, making it a drop-in replacement for conventional fossil diesel. In May 2025, Bridge Data Centres entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EcoCeres, a biofuels company based in Hong Kong, to explore the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a potential alternative to diesel in its backup generation systems. The two companies will collaborate on developing technical specifications and practical solutions to integrate HVO into their operations to establish Singapore as a central hub for this initiative. Adoption of Artificial Intelligence The APAC region is witnessing a notable rise in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), emerging as a leading hub for generative AI technologies, second only to North America. This growing trend spans industries such as finance, healthcare, and logistics, fueling the need for advanced, high-performance data center infrastructure. By Savyata Mishra (Reuters) -Campbell's Co on Wednesday said it will remove synthetic dyes from its food and beverage portfolio starting in fiscal 2026 and forecast annual profit below Wall Street expectations, hurt by higher tariffs. The New Jersey-based company joins U.S. peers including PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz and Nestle USA, in phasing out the use of FD&C colors, responding to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative and shifting consumer preferences. "In the second half of fiscal 2026...Campbells will no longer produce any of our food or beverages with FD&C colors," CEO Mick Beekhuizen said, adding the dyes are used in limited products. The company will replace artificial dyes in products like Lance crackers and V8 Splash with natural colors from sources like annatto and purple carrot juice. Its regional snack and cookie brands will also stop using synthetic colors. Shares of the Goldfish crackers maker rose 4% in early trading as it forecast fiscal 2026 net sales largely above expectations and beat the fourth-quarter profit estimate. Campbell's said tariffs are expected to account for roughly 4% of cost of goods sold in fiscal 2026. It plans to offset about 60% of that impact through selective price increases and cost savings. The comments highlight mounting challenges for consumer companies from the Trump administration's trade policies, as they contend with tepid demand from inflation-weary customers. Beekhuizen said shoppers are becoming "increasingly deliberate" in their food choices and are focused on cooking at home. The company expects annual adjusted profit per share to fall up to 18% to between $2.40 and $2.55, including tariffs, below the estimates of $2.63, according to data compiled by LSEG. Net sales were forecast in the range of flat to decline of 2%, compared with expectations of a 2.4% drop. The outlook suggests that demand is stabilizing, which is good news for investors in the short term, D.A. Davidson analyst Brian Holland said. (Reporting by Anshi Sancheti and Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid) I-T raids at six locations in Bhopal By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla : Income Tax Department carried out a major operation in Bhopal on Tuesday morning. A team raided the Science House Group building located in Gautam Nagar. Raids were conducted at multiple premises linked to Jitendra Tiwari, owner of Science House Medicals Private Limited, Shailendra Tiwari, Mohan Sharma and Rajesh Gupta. According to information received, this income tax raid was conducted at the premises of Rajesh Gupta, a medical surgical goods trader. The Gautam Nagar-based Science House Group building houses Rajesh Guptas office. A team from the department also reached his home in Panchwati Park, Lal Ghati. A large security force accompanied the team there as well. A team from the Income Tax Department raided the Science House Group building located in Gautam Nagar. According to information received, it was also conducted at the premises of Rajesh Gupta along with Tiwari, a medical surgical goods trader. A team from the department also reached Guptas home in Panchwati Park, Lal Ghati. As a convoy of five vehicles and a group of security personnel reached to the spot, curiosity among locals pop up seeing many vehicles and CRPF personnel early in the morning to their locality. This raid in the city is a part of departments co-ordinated search operations at around 30 locations across several cities, including Indore and Mumbai targeting prominent businessmen engaged in the medical equipment supply trade. Raids were conducted at multiple premises linked to Jitendra Tiwari, Shailendra Tiwari, and Mohan Sharma, following allegations of unaccounted wealth and suspected connections with bureaucrats and middlemen. It is being reported that raids were also conducted at the premises of those who supply medical equipment to the trader. This includes Jitendra Tiwari, Shailendra Tiwari, and Mohan Sharma. Possibility of involvement of a senior IAS officer and a broker cant be ruled out. Till the report was filing, the team was examining documents and records inside the building. Computer operator and Software engineers were also interrogated in this regard. The raid unfolded simultaneously across various locations connected to Tiwari family in past too. All members of the Tiwari family became accused in this massive operation by EOW. Its directors include Sunaina, wife of Shailendra Tiwari and Anuja Tiwari, wife of Jitendra Tiwari. M/s Cinco Indias Mahesh Babu Sharma. All the accused belong to the same family but they had formed three different companies. It was revealed from the seized documents and hard disk. The EOW had received information about the documents related to the purchase during the investigation of the accuseds residence and office in Gautam Nagar, Bhopal. Computer hard disk was also seized. The investigation revealed that the accused had supplied medicines and equipment to the Anuppur CMHO office at higher rates. Imam booked for hoisting Islamic flag higher than tricolour in UP KAUSHAMBI (UP) : POLICe have registered a case against a 37-year-old imam of a mosque here for allegedly hoisting an Islamic flag higher than the national flag, an officer said on Tuesday. Chail Circle Officer Abhishek Singh said the incident was reported on August 31 in the Sandipan Ghat Police Station area. Muratganj outpost in-charge, Sub-Inspector Ajit Singh, noticed during a patrol that an Islamic flag had been hoisted higher than the tricolour on top of a minaret of a mosque in Muratganj town. He said the act diminished the dignity and honour of the national flag. The Islamic flag was removed immediately. Based on a written complaint by the outpost in-charge, police registered a case under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. , against Imam Imtiaz Ahmed, a resident of Chikwan Ka Purwa, Kasia, in Kaushambi district. Jarange ends fast as Mah Govt accepts demands To give Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas MUMBAI : ACTIVIST Manoj Jarange on Tuesday evening ended his five-day-old fast after the Maharashtra Government accepted most of his demands, including granting eligible Marathas Kunbi caste certificates which will make them eligible for reservation benefits available to OBCs. Jarange accepted a glass of fruit juice offered by senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, and other members of the panel at south Mumbais Azad Maidan, the site of his agitation since August 29, marking the end of his fast. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Government on Tuesday announced forming a committee to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage, a social group classified as an Other Backward Class (OBC) in the state. The Government made this announcement in a resolution and it followed hectic talks between state ministers and activist Manoj Jarange, who was on a hunger strike at Mumbai's Azad Maidan to demand OBC reservation for Marathas. The 43-year-old activist was in tears after breaking the fast as his supporters cheered at the protest site, while Mumbaikars, who faced hardship during the agitation, heaved a big sigh of relief. He later left Azad Maidan in an ambulance for medical check-up. Before ending his hunger strike, Jarange declared victory after a delegation of senior minister, including Vikhe Patil, met him at the protest site and conveyed acceptance of his demands, including giving Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas. The announcement of victory triggered wild celebrations among his supporters. Jarange had earlier demanded that CM Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies -- Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar -- come to Azad Maidan for him to break his fast. This would ensure there was no bitterness among Marathas, he reasoned. Vikhe Patil told the activist said all three are out of Mumbai and appealed to him to break his fast. We have got the implementation of Hyderabad gazetter (granting Kunbi status to Marathas)... What else do we want. If they (CM and his deputies) dont want to come (to Azad Maidan), do you want me to die, Jarange asked.The government resolution (GR) was issued by the social justice and special assistance department. It stated, In accordance with the historical references contained in the Hyderabad gazetteer, a dedicated scrutiny process shall be conducted to verify documents and establish eligibility of persons from the Maratha community for Kunbi caste certificates. The committee shall ensure that every claim is assessed in a time-bound and transparent manner. The panel will include gram sevak, talathi (revenue official), and assistant agriculture officer as members. These officials will verify the documentary claims of applicants from the Maratha community and submit their findings to the competent authority, said the GR. The intention of the government is to provide Kunbi caste certification to all Maratha claimants who can demonstrate their lineage through official documents, thereby enabling them to avail of reservation benefits lawfully, it said. The GR directed that persons from the Maratha community who or whose ancestors held agricultural land prior to November 21, 1961, or earlier, must produce evidence such as old land records or extracts from relevant registers. Based on these records, the designated committee would conduct local enquiries and certify the claimants accordingly. The Hyderabad gazetteer or gazette refers to an order issued in 1918 by the then-Nizam government of Hyderabad. The gazetteer classifies certain communities, including some Maratha community groups, in the erstwhile Hyderabad State as Kunbis, an OBC community in Maharashtra. The General Administration Department (GAD) later issued a separate GR accepting five key decisions taken in connection with demands raised by the Maratha community. According to a GAD order, the first decision was to provide financial assistance and employment opportunities to families of persons who lost their lives during the Maratha quota agitation. The second decision directed that all pending police cases against Maratha protesters should be withdrawn by September 2025. The third decision was regarding waiving examination fees for students belonging to the Maratha community in the current academic year. The fourth decision stated that applications for caste verification under the Justice Sandeep Shinde Committee should be disposed of within ten days of filing. As per the fifth decision, the committee headed by Justice Shinde would continue to scrutinise pending cases and begin fresh verification work. Solution found in interest of Marathas: CM NAGPUR, Sept 2 (PTI) MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday hailed activist Manoj Jaranges move to call off his 5-day fast over the Maratha quota demand, saying the Government found a solution in the interest of the Maratha community. Talking to reporters here, Fadnavis said his Government always focused on the welfare of the Maratha community. Jarange, who began his hunger strike on August 29, called off the protest on Tuesday afternoon after the Maharashtra Government accepted most of his demands, including granting eligible Marathas Kunbi caste certificates which will make them eligible for reservation benefits available to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The 43-year-old activist accepted a glass of fruit juice offered by senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, at south Mumbais Azad Maidan, marking the end of his fast. Speaking about it, CM Fadnavis said he was happy that Jarange ended his hunger strike. I thank deputy Chief Ministers (Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar) as well as Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who heads the cabinet sub-committee (on Maratha quota), he said. Fadnavis said the Government told the protesters that the caste certificate can be given to individuals and not the community. When you are in politics, criticism should not deter you, he said, adding that the government has worked for the welfare of the community. My objective was to give justice to the Maratha community. My Government was always focused on the welfare of Marathas and I will continue to work for all communities in Maharashtra, be it Marathas or OBCs, the CM said. We conveyed the legal issues involved in Jaranges demands to him, he added. Maha Metros Kamptee Rd double decker viaduct makes world record Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Guinness World Records official presenting certificate of world record for Kamptee Road double decker viaduct to Shravan Hardikar, MD, Maha Metro. Others also are seen. Staff Reporter : Guinness Book of World Record lists the 5.64 km bridge as worlds longest metro double decker viaduct Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) added another feather to its cap as its Kamptee Road route made it to Guinness Book of World Records. The fly-over is listed as worlds longest metro double decker viaduct. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was handed over the certificate issued by Guinness Book of World record during his recent visit to city. The ceremony was held at Ramgiri in presence of senior officials of Metro as well as National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Swapnil Dangrikar of Guinness Book presented the certificate to Shravan Hardikar, Managing Director, Maha Metro, in presence of Chief Minister. The metro viaduct stretches 5626.44 meters and constructed on single column makes it more unique among its many other notable features. Prior to Kamptee Road, Maha Metro had another record to it is name, the 3.14 km long metro viaduct on Wardha Road. It is similar in nature, a double decker viaduct constructed on single column. Part of the Orange Line, the route has three metro stations, Ujjwal Nagar, Jai Prakash Nagar and Chhatrapati Nagar. This viaduct is also listed in Guinness Book of World Records and the certificate was issued in year 2022. A major salient point of Kamptee Road viaduct is the unique transport arrangement at Gaddigodam where four-layered system is working seamlessly. On the ground below is an RuB catering to road traffic, above it is the railway bridge catering to Delhi-bound trains ex-Nagpur and vice-versa, above that a railway overbridge (RoB) for road traffic and the top layer dedicated to metro services. At Gaddigodam to ensure that heavy load is effectively carried, about 1650 ton steel structure was used to launch the girder. The length of double decker viaduct is about 5.637 kms and same was constructed using Rib and Span method. Maha Metro officials including Rajiv Tyagi, Director, Projects; Anil Kokate, Director, Strategic Planning; along with NHAI officials including Rakesh Singh, Regional Officer; and C M Sinha, Project Director, were present at the function held in Ramgiri the other day. Nationwide traders meet in Nagpur on Sept 15-16: CAIT Business Reporter : The first meeting of the newly elected executive committee of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Vidarbha Region was held recently here in the city. The meeting was held in presence of B C Bhartia, National President of CAIT. Vinod Kalantri, Vidarbha Region, President of CAIT, presided over the meet. On occasion, Kalantri, said that a nationwide traders conference will be held in Nagpur on September 15 and 16. CAIT Vidarbha Province, General Secretary Nikesh Gupta, proposed that the next Vidarbha Executive meeting be held in Akola, which was unanimously passed. Vice President Rajendra Nimodia expressed gratitude to the attendees. Representatives from all districts of Vidarbha were present at the meeting. New Metaphor THE world will keep trying to decipher the stated and unstated meaning of the new metaphor emerging from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and its sidelines in the port city of Tianjin in China. There were two platforms at Tianjin -- one of the SCO and the other of the trilateral assemblage of India, Russia and China. Though the two activities appeared independent of each other, so to say, they served a common purpose of sending a clear message across the globe straight to Washington DC where United States President Mr. Donald Trump chewed his nails and clawed into his own flesh in exasperation -- that he (or the US) was not in the least leading the emerging world order with multiple poles. For, what was in evidence at Tianjin was a collection of many nations around the globe hurt by the economic hooliganism of US President Mr. Donald Trump -- all vowing to stand together and form a front that would dare the American browbeating. And equally important was the triumvirate of Russia, India, and China (RIC) seeking to redefine norms of international relations -- in which respect for everyones interests should be the key. Mr. Donald Trumps Washington feared exactly that -- the RIC grouping rejuvenating itself. One of the US goals of imposing heavy trade tariffs on Indian goods was to separate India from its age-old ally Russia. The US did not declare similar tariffs on China, all right, but the threat loomed larger every passing day -- making China redefine its diplomatic goals and close the ranks with India (so as to form a common front against the Americans). Already victim of heavy US sanctions, Russia, too, was a willing partner in the new effort to see the US eye-to-eye. Thus, Mr. Trumps plan did not make any sense, and he felt forced to issue an assertion -- through his New Delhi Embassy -- that US and India were friends of considerable consequence. This assertion moments ahead of the SCO gathering made little diplomatic sense, but did offer a material for savage humour in the international community. No American President had ever made himself look like a joker as did Mr. Trump. Of course, Mr. Trump still holds some trump cards close to his chest. He may feel compelled to spare China from imposition of high tariffs. He may want to open a similar kind of diplomacy with China (in the footprint of one of former Presidents -- Mr. Richard Nixon). He may start encouraging American corporates to continue with their manufacturing activity in China (which the US discouraged in the past some time). And the US may do all this only with the purpose of separating China from the RIC grouping. In every likelihood, China may start reconsidering its stance vis-a-vis the US with the changing American attitude. And in that case, the RIC grouping would remain only a formality. In that case, the current Chinese assertion that to be friends is the best choice for China and India may get sufficiently watered down. This possible scenario is well within the realm of the worlds diplomatic imagination. Nevertheless, such possibilities do not obliterate the new metaphor of international relations -- thanks to the realism embedded in it. No matter what happens to US-China relations, it is obvious that many an economic equation is going to change in the coming times. In that rapid arena, India will have a greater role to play -- as a leader of not just the Global South, but also other nations in different geographies. Of course, Global South, too, is a metaphor whose leadership has naturally come to India. That is exactly the reason why Mr Trump wants to deny. Hence his hooliganism -- which got a strong rebuff at Tianjin. The symbolisms from Tiannjin -- like the demonstrated closeness among Mr. Narendra Modi, Mr. Xi Jinping, and Mr. Vladimir Putin -- tell Mr. Trump a new story he did not want to hear. North reels in Fury of floods CHANDIGARH : A FRESH spell of rain lashed several parts of flood-hit Punjab and Haryana where swollen rivers have inundated large tracts of land and disrupted normal life, officials said on Tuesday. According to the weather department, several places in the two states received rain during the 24-hour period ending 8:30 am Tuesday. Among other places in Punjab, Amritsar received 18.3 mm rain, Patiala 70.5 mm, Bathinda 5 mm, Faridkot 1 mm, Gurdaspur 32.8 mm, Mansa 10 mm while Mohali had 44.5 mm rain. Among other places in Haryana, during past 24 hours, Gurugram received 81 mm rain, Ambala 32.2 mm, Hisar 35.1 mm, Karnal 23.6 mm, Narnaul 32 mm, Rohtak 42.2 mm, Nuh 57 mm, Panchkula 40 mm while Sirsa had 24.5 mm rain.Chandigarh received 40.8 mm rain during this period. Punjab is under the grip of massive floods, caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Villages worst-affected by the floods were in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar districts. Relief and rescue operations by the NDRF, Army, BSF, Punjab Police and district authorities are underway in the affected areas. The Punjab Government had on Monday announced closure of all colleges, universities and polytechnic institutes till September 3 in the wake of continuous heavy rainfall across the State. In view of the inclement weather, all schools of UT Chandigarh shall remain closed for academic purposes on September 2, an official statement by the UT administration had said on Monday. In Haryana too, as a precautionary measure, schools have been ordered to remain closed on Tuesday in some affected areas. Incessant rains over the past few days have led to an increase in the water levels of some rivers, including the Yamuna, prompting Haryana authorities to open the floodgates of the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar district on Monday. The Hathnikund barrage discharged 3,29,313 cusec of water at 9 am on Monday. The flow of water in the Yamuna at the Hathnikund barrage on Monday was the highest recorded so far this monsoon. On Tuesday morning, it received a discharge of 1.76 lakh cusecs from the Barrage. Officials said an alert had already been sounded and a strict vigil is being kept on villages falling in the catchment areas of the Yamuna in the district and some other districts, including Panipat, Sonipat and Faridabad. Yamuna water enters houses as river crosses danger mark WITH the Yamuna crossing the danger mark on Tuesday, water began entering houses in parts of the Trans-Yamuna area of Delhi. The river crossed the danger level in the morning, posing a flood threat to low-lying areas of the capital. After overnight rain, residents of several parts of Delhi woke up to waterlogged streets and flooded homes. Areas such as Mayur Vihar and nearby localities in the Trans-Yamuna region were among those affected. Officials said the Yamuna was flowing at 205.80 metres at the Old Yamuna Bridge (OYB) at 8 am, above the danger mark of 205.33 metres. According to an update shared at 8 am, the river received a discharge of 1.76 lakh cusecs from Hathni Kund Barrage, 69,210 cusec from Wazirabad Barrage, and 73,619 from Okhla Barrage Authorities have been making announcements from boats, asking people living near the riverbanks to evacuate. We are constantly urging residents to vacate areas at risk of flooding. All district magistrates have been directed to remain prepared for any flood-like situation, an official told. Trains stopped, 6 national highways blocked in Himachal TRAIN service was suspended, 1,311 roads, including six national highways, were closed, and schools were shut as heavy rainfall on Tuesday sent normal life in disarray in Himachal Pradesh. The local Met Office has issued a red alert, warning of extremely heavy rain in isolated areas of the state for the day, and an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rain next day. Of 1,305 roads, 289 roads are closed in Mandi, 241 in Shimla, 239 in Chamba, 169 in Kulku and 127 in Sirmaur district. NH 3, NH 305, NH 5, NH 21, NH 505 and NH 707 were blocked, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said. The situation is worse in interior areas where the link roads are blocked for several days. On Monday, trains plying on the Shimla-Kalka track were cancelled. The service will remain suspended till September 5, officials said. An under-construction house was damaged following a landslide in the Anni area of Kullu district. No casualty was reported as the house had been announced endangered during the 2023 monsoon disaster and was vacated. On Monday, schools and colleges in nine districts were ordered shut under the Disaster Management act. All educational institutions remained closed in Shimla, Kangra, Sirmaur, Una, Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Lahaul and Spiti and Solan districts besides Banjar, Kullu and Manali sub-division of Kullu district on Tuesday. Efforts are afoot to send about 5,000 Manimahesh pilgrims struck in Chamba district back home, officials said. Sixteen pilgrims have died since the yatra started on August 15, officials said. Naina Devi has received 198.2 mm of rain since Monday evening, the highest in the State. Rohru got 80 mm of rain, Jot 61.2 mm, Baggi 58.5 mm, Kukumseri 55.2 mm, Nadaun 53 mm, Olinda 50 mm, Nangal Dam 49.8 mm, Una 49 mm, Bhuntar 47.7 mm, Sarahan 47.5 mm, Banjar 42 mm, and Bilaspur 40.2 mm of it. At least 327 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents, while 41 are missing since monsoon began, SEOC data showed. As many as 3,263 power transformers and 858 water supply schemes were disrupted across the state on Monday, SEOC said. Since the onset of monsoon in Himachal on June 20, the State has witnessed 95 flash floods, 45 cloudbursts and 115 major landslide incidents. The State has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 3,158 crore this monsoon so far, according to official data. Heavy rain lashes Odisha, IMD warns of more downpour in next 4 days Bhubaneswar, Sept 2 (PTI) HEAVY rain lashed Odisha due to the formation of a fresh low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday, and the state will get more downpour in the next four days, IMD said. As the sea condition is very likely to be rough during Tuesday and Wednesday, the IMD has cautioned fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off Odisha coast till September 3. The IMD in a statement said: Under the influence of the upper air cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal and adjoining Myanmar coast, a low-pressure area has formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on September 2. It is likely to become more marked over the same region during the next 24 hours. The weather office also said that the system will move west-northwestwards thereafter across Odisha during the subsequent 24 hours. The entire coastal Odisha has been hit by heavy rain, and normal life has been affected since Monday night. Many urban pockets, including the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, reported waterlogging. As rainwater inundated a bridge at Kangurkonda between Malkangiri and Motu, road communication to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has been disrupted. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the bridge, a Revenue Department official said. The IMD issued an Orange warning of heavy to very heavy rain and thunderstorms with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph over the districts of Malkangiri and Koraput. The weather office issued a Yellow warning, cautioning administration of heavy rain and thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph, very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Koraput, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sundargarh, Bargarh, and Jharsuguda. It also warned of light to moderate rain in 22 other districts. Traffic suspended on Jammu-Srinagar national highway amid incessant rains JAMMU, Sept 2 (PTI) TRAFFIC on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended again on Tuesday as torrential rain led to mudslides and boulders sliding off slopes at several places on the 250-km road linking the Valley to the rest of the country. The traffic on the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, was suspended after mudslides and shooting of stones at various places between Samroli and Banihal sector, officials said. In a forecast issued on Monday evening, a spokesman of the Meteorological Department predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in most parts of Jammu division on September 2 and 3. There is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi and moderate to heavy rainfall over Doda, Samba, Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Kishtwar in Jammu region and Anantnag and Kulgam in south Kashmir mainly towards late night of September 2 or early morning of September 3 till late afternoon, the spokesman said. There is a possibility of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides or shooting of stones from hillocks at many vulnerable places and rise in water level in rivers and streams, he said, asking people to stay away from water bodies and avoid landslide-prone areas. The highway was opened for partial traffic only on Monday after remaining closed for six days and accordingly most of the stranded traffic, including trucks carrying essential commodities to Kashmir were cleared, the officials said. The downpour was continuing in most parts of Jammu region when last reports were received, they said. According to the MET department, Kathua district recorded the highest 25.2 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am Tuesday followed by Jammu (17.8 mm), Batote in Ramban (17.6 mm) and Katra (15.8 mm). In Kashmir valley, Qazigund along Jammu-Srinagar national highway recorded overnight rainfall of 23.2 mm, Gulmarg in north Kashmir (14.8 mm), Pahalgam in south Kashmir (11.4 mm) and Srinagar (6.1 mm), the spokesman said. However, the rains stopped before the start of the dawn and later the morning sun shone brightly in the valley. Now, Apple store in Bengaluru 3rd outlet in INDIA BENGALURU : APPLE on Tuesday opened its first retail store in Bengaluru, marking its debut in south India and the companys third outlet in the country. Named Apple Hebbal, the store will offer customers the full range of Apple products, services, and support, along with free Today at Apple sessions designed to help users get the most out of their devices, the company said in a statement. Apple launched its first India store, Apple BKC, in Mumbai, followed by Apple Saket in Delhi, in addition to its online platform. Were delighted to open Apple Hebbal, a community hub that celebrates Bengalurus spirit of innovation, said Deirdre OBrien, Apples senior vice president of Retail and People. We cant wait to connect with people here and inspire them to create, collaborate, and do amazing things with Apple. Were excited to continue bringing Apple experiences to customers across India, who inspire us with their creativity and passion, OBrien added on Tuesday. At Apple Hebbal, customers can explore the latest products, including the iPhone 16 lineup, MacBook Pro powered by the M4 family of chips, iPad Air with Apple Pencil Pro, and Apple Watch Series 10, as well as accessories such as AirPods 4 and AirTag. The stores 70 team members come from 15 states across India and are trained to assist customers with personal setup, switching to iOS, monthly financing options, and the Apple Trade In programme. Apple said the new store, like all its facilities worldwide, runs on 100 per cent renewable energy and is carbon neutral, the statement added. Punjab AAP MLA booked for rape escapes arrest PATIALA : AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra on Tuesday escaped custody amid gunshots and stone pelting by his supporters after his arrest in a rape case, police said. Pathanmajra was in Dabri village in Haryanas Karnal district, where a police team had gone to arrest him. We conducted a raid at Pathanmajras residence in Haryana. He was arrested. But a group of villagers and some mischievous elements pelted stones at the police team and fired gunshots, the in-charge of Patiala Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) said. The Sanour MLA used the cover fire and stone pelting to escape, he said. Balwinder Singh, an accomplice of the MLA, was arrested with three weapons in his possession, the officer said. A Toyota Fortuner was also seized. According to an FIR filed in the matter, Pathanmajra was booked on charges of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation. Pathanmajra said so also in a video message on Facebook earlier in the day. The case was registered on a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman, who alleged that the MLA misrepresented himself as divorced, entered into a relationship with her, and later married in 2021 while still being married. She accused him of continued sexual exploitation, threats, and sending obscene material to her. After the FIR, Pathanmajra went live on Facebook, strongly criticising the Punjab Government and alleging that Delhi-based AAP leadership was illegitimately ruling over Punjab. He appealed to fellow party MLAs to stand with him, alleging that during the Congress or BJP Governments, the Central leadership did not interfere in State affairs the way the AAP did. They can lodge FIRs against me, I can stay in jail, but my voice cannot be suppressed, the lawmaker said in the video message. On Sunday, Pathanmajra accused a senior IAS officer of failing to take such necessary actions as desilting and clean-up of rivers, particularly the Tangri River, despite his requests. He said the Government should listen to people, or they will thrash us. Pathanmajra also alleged the party was trying to suppress Punjab MLAs instead of fixing the administration. He said he raised the issue in the Punjab Assembly several times, submitted deputations, and personally met Principal Secretary (Water Resources) Krishan Kumar many times, but not a single meaningful step was taken. Meanwhile, AAP leader Baltej Singh Pannu said Pathanmajra started speaking against the IAS officer and raising the flood issue after he learnt that the police could take action against him on the womans complaint. Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Pannu said the woman, in her complaint, alleged that for the past some time, Pathanmajra had been forcing her to resume their relationship. In the last week of August, she said she would complain to the police about the overture, said Pannu. He said that after the womans threat, Pathanmajra tried to contact some senior leaders of the party. As party leader, Arvind Kejriwal, speaks about triple C and one of the C is character, the party does not support people in such matters irrespective of the position they hold, he said. When the MLA learnt that police could take action against him, he started raising the flood issue to divert attention, Pannu said. The MLA knew that the woman had lodged a police complaint, alleging that he claimed to have her private videos and pictures, which he threatened to upload online if she went to the police, the party leader said. On Tuesday, after the MLA was not found in his village, police went to Haryana to arrest him, but he escaped, Pannu said. He said the party is yet to decide on the action to be taken against him. Defending the IAS officer, Pannu said it was Kumar whose efforts brought irrigation water to the tail ends of villages, which had not happened in 45 years. On Sunday, as several villages in his constituency were flooded, Pathanmajra lashed out at bureaucrats, telling reporters he had been demanding the clean-up of the Tangri and permission to use soil near the river to strengthen the banks, but to no avail. He also urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to remove Kumar from his post. On Monday, Pathanmajra claimed that his security had been withdrawn and that all station house officers and police post heads in his constituency had been transferred. I had already told my gunmen yesterday that they would be sent back. The Delhi leaders (of AAP) think they can scare me with vigilance (action) or FIRs, but I will never bow down. I will stand like a rock with my people, he said. Sam Adham of the CRU Group outlines the challenges ahead for the auto industry wrought by the global energy transition and emerging battery supply chains. Please note that Sam will be speaking on this subject at the GlobalData Automotive Europe Conference 2025, set to take place on 15-16 October in Munich. These are exciting and transformative times in the auto industry. How do you think the transition to electric vehicles and away from ICEs is going in general terms? There is a clear bifurcation in EV adoption between China versus the rest of the world. The transition for China is going along just fine EVs there are now generally as cheap in terms of price and production cost as their ICE counterparts. And they could even accelerate it if they wanted to, but China wants a controlled and orderly transition that does not disrupt economic factors and targets while still maintaining China has the leading EV industry and market. As for the rest of the world, especially Western markets, demand has undeniably underwhelmed compared to automakers expectations, but targets and investments have now been recalibrated and rationalised. It seems now that the teething problems and resistance to change among Western OEMs are now turning into acceptance and pragmatic solutions shrewd investments in the EV supply chain and software, partnering with Chinese peers and suppliers, making do with options available to them in the context of trade barriers, and ultimately turning these into more affordable and compelling vehicles. Policy has a habit of getting in the way, but I believe the technology and economics of EVs and batteries are conducive to continued long-term growth. What do you see as the biggest challenges in the battery supply chain? The number one priority for OEMs is cost control, but a close second is supply chain de-risking. The challenge is balancing them. A notable example is that the US has been requiring automakers and battery makers to cut out Chinese companies from their supply chain to be eligible for hefty tax credits. These Chinese suppliers provide the cheapest (and generally the highest quality!) product, and they have the technical advantage, speed, and resources to guarantee delivery. EV margins for Western automakers are under pressure, and affordability is one of the main barriers to broader EV adoption in Western markets. But supply chain diversification and de-risking is a long-term imperative for manufacturers given the disruptions the industry has seen over the last seven years. Besides that, a major challenge specific to the West is that their nascent domestic battery industries and supply chains face a horse-and-cart problem: companies are reluctant to invest in supply chain projects if there are no direct customers or suppliers in the region. You wouldnt set up a precursor plant in the US if theres no cathode plant to take that material, but you wouldnt set up a cathode plant if there are no precursor suppliers. Xi, Putin reaffirm old friend ties BEIJING : CHINESE leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin as an old friend as the two began a series of meetings on Tuesday at a time when their countries face both overlapping and differing challenges from the United States. Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Putin addressed Xi as dear friend and said that Moscows ties with Beijing are at an unprecedentedly high level. Following their formal talks, they planned to have another meeting over tea with some of their top aides. The talks come the day after both attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the nearby Chinese city of Tianjin, and the day before a grand Chinese military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Soviet Union was neutral for much of the war in Asia, but provided assistance to China in earlier fighting against invading Japanese forces in the 1930s. It also declared war on Japan in the last days of World War II and sent troops over the border into Japanese-occupied northeastern China. We were always together then, we remain together now, Putin said. China says it is neutral in the Ukraine war but has provided an economic lifeline to Russia by continuing trade despite western sanctions. Some of its companies have been accused of abetting military industry. Putin and Xi held a three-way meeting with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa ahead of their talks. His landlocked country of grasslands and mineral mines is sandwiched between the two giants. Putin said in opening remarks that the three countries are good neighbours, with a shared interest in developing ties. Our three countries have much in common, he said. In 2024, Putin made an official visit to Mongolia, where the Government ignored calls to arrest him on an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes stemming from the invasion of Ukraine. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) is among the 11 Best Green Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) has launched a $100 million At-The-Market equity offering program, which includes an Equity Distribution Agreement with Morgan Stanley, BofA Securities, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, and Wells Fargo Securities. The business may sell Class C common shares at market pricing on the New York shares Exchange. Proceeds will be utilized for capital expenditures, investments, acquisitions, and debt repayment, among other general business needs. 10 Most Promising Energy Stocks According to Hedge Funds The offering was made subject to a prospectus supplement dated August 6, 2025, which was attached to the companys Form S-3 registration statement (File No. 333-273804), which became effective on August 8, 2023. The programs shares are authorized for NYSE listing. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) is one of the biggest owners of sustainable energy assets in the United States. Its 12 GW portfolio spans 27 states and includes 2.8 GW of dispatchable generation and 9.2 GW of wind, solar, and storage systems. It sponsors a diverse portfolio, which provides steady, growing dividends. It is among the Best Clean Energy Stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of CWEN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 High-Growth EV Stocks to Invest In and 13 Best Car Stocks to Buy in 2025. Disclosure. None. We recently published 9 Stocks On Jim Cramers Radar . Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ)'s "A Stock That's Been Horrendous," Says Jim Cramer Pixabay/Public Domain Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) is a distressed alcoholic beverages stock whose shares have lost 27% year-to-date as they struggle to recover from their 17% fall in January after the firms fiscal third quarter earnings. Cramer has discussed the stock several times this year as he continues to remain skeptical of the beer industry. This time, he and co-host David Faber discussed Bank of America downgrading Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) to Underperform: Okay, look, heres a stock thats been horrendous, I dont know if we have a chart. . .oh, look at that. Its been terrible, right here and Im not saying theyre wrong. Bank of America goes to a Sell because they think numbers are gonna come down again. So we got to go over this. While we acknowledge the potential of STZ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Crypto exchange Gemini said Tuesday it is seeking a valuation of up to $2.22 billion in its planned U.S. initial public offering, setting the stage for one of the highest-profile debuts in the sector this year. The New York-based firm, founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, plans to sell 16.67 million shares at a price range of $17 to $19, according to a press release. At the top of the range, Gemini would raise as much as $317 million. The company recently hired Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Cantor as lead bookrunners. Gemini first filed an S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in June, entering an IPO market that has warmed to crypto-linked companies after years of regulatory roadblocks. The offering would put Gemini alongside crypto players that include stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL), trading platform eToro (ETOR) and Bullish (BLSH), which have all tapped U.S. public markets recently. Financial disclosures in June showed that Gemini generated $142.2 million in revenue in 2024, up from $98.1 million the year prior. While still a fraction of Coinbases multi-billion-dollar top line, the growth suggests Gemini has benefitted from rising trading activity as bitcoin and other digital assets rallied. The IPO would mark a milestone for the Winklevoss twins, who launched Gemini in 2014 and have pitched it as a regulated and compliant alternative to offshore exchanges. This has resonated at times with U.S. institutions wary of regulatory risk, but Gemini has also faced hurdles, including a dispute with bankrupt crypto lender Genesis that drew scrutiny from regulators. For investors, Geminis appeal rests partly on its role as a mid-sized exchange that could benefit if crypto adoption continues to expand in the U.S. The firm would trade under the ticker GEMI. This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: CVS has agreed to pay Massachusetts Medicaid program $12.3 million to settle allegations that the companys pharmacy benefit manager overcharged the state for prescription drugs. The settlement was disclosed Thursday by the Massachusetts attorney general. It brings to a close a lawsuit the state filed in April accusing the pharmacy chain of offering lower drug prices to customers paying cash but still billing MassHealth higher rates, violating the states pricing regulations. CVS has also agreed to review its prescription drug pricing for MassHealth every year to ensure its not overcharging the program. Dive Insight: In 1995, MassHealth adopted a drug pricing policy entitling the Medicaid program to the lowest prices for prescription drugs that pharmacies like CVS charge or accept from other payers. Still, CVS failed to give MassHealth its best prices, especially for generic drugs, for years, according to the states lawsuit. Instead, the company contracted with a prescription savings company called ScriptSave to divvy out drug discount cards to consumers resulting in them receiving lower prices than what CVS charged Massachusetts for its Medicaid members. When pharmacies overcharge MassHealth, theyre undermining the integrity of our public programs and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill, Andrea Joy Campbell, the Massachusetts attorney general, said in a statement. I am proud to announce this settlement, which will prevent future inaccurate price reporting and ensure MassHealth has the resources it needs to continue serving Massachusetts residents. Campbell was joined by the attorneys general of Connecticut, Indiana and Oklahoma in filing the lawsuit, which stemmed from a whistleblower complaint. A CVS spokesperson said the company is pleased to resolve the matter with Massachusetts and plans to continue defending its practices against the other plaintiffs. The agreement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing and was agreed upon to avoid the time and expense of further litigation with Massachusetts, they said over email. Well continue vigorously defending against the claims concerning CVS Pharmacys usual and customary pricing brought by remaining plaintiffs in the case. The $12 million settlement is barely a slap on the wrist for the diversified healthcare company, which brought in $373 billion in revenue and $4.6 billion in profit last year. DBS Group's intentions to acquire a substantial stake in Alliance Bank Malaysia have encountered delays, primarily due to the absence of regulatory approval, reported Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the developments. Both DBS, one of the top banks in Singapore, and Vertical Theme, the major shareholder of Alliance Bank, submitted separate requests to Malaysia's central bank around eight months ago. However, they have yet to receive any response from the regulator, said the sources. Malaysian regulations necessitate obtaining approval before initiating any discussions. Acquiring a stake in Alliance Bank would expand DBS's presence in Malaysia, a market where other Singaporean banks such as Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and United Overseas Bank are already established. The deal is also in line with DBS strategy to set up a retail banking presence in the Southeast Asian market. In January, the publication highlighted that Vertical Theme, a Malaysian holding company supported by Singapore's state investor Temasek Holdings, was contemplating the sale of its 29% share in Alliance Bank to DBS. Should the transaction proceed, DBS might aim to increase its stake in Alliance to as much as 49% through a voluntary partial general offer, the sources indicated. The current regulations in Malaysia restrict foreign ownership in commercial banks to 30%, but there have been discussions regarding potential relaxations in this cap across certain sectors, they added. One source noted that if DBS fails to secure approval to acquire up to 49% of the Malaysian bank, the deal is unlikely to advance. Discussions are still in progress, and no definitive decisions have been reached, the sources added. Representatives from DBS and the backers of Vertical Theme opted not to comment, while Alliance Bank stated it was unaware of the situation. Bank Negara Malaysia, the nation's central bank, refrained from commenting on individual applications or the acquisition or divestment of shares in its regulated entities, citing policy reasons. The central bank clarified that applications concerning the shareholding of licenced banks, including those from foreign entities, are evaluated as per the relevant provisions under the Financial Services Act 2013 and the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013. "DBS Groups acquisition plans for Alliance Bank Malaysia face delays " was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. President Donald Trump warned on Monday that a record $15 trillion in planned investment in the U.S. would be "immediately cancelled" if courts are permitted to strike down his tariff policies. U.S. Appeals Court Rules Tariffs As Unconstitutional In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, he claimed that the loss of these tariffs would devastate the American economy, stating, "we would become a Third World Nation, with no hope of GREATNESS again." The declaration comes in response to a recent U.S. appeals court ruling that deemed his administration's broad use of tariffs unconstitutional. Trending: Your Last Chance to Invest in Pacaso Before Their Global Expansion Offer Ends Sept 18 On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided in a 7-4 vote that Trump had overstepped his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose the levies. The tariffs are set to remain in effect until Oct. 14 to allow for an appeal to the Supreme Court. About $15 Trillion In Investment To Be Lost? In his social media post, Trump directly linked the massive investment figure to his trade policy. "More than 15 Trillion Dollars will be invested in the USA, a RECORD. Much of this investment is because of Tariffs," he wrote. "If a Radical Left Court is allowed to terminate these Tariffs, almost all of this investment, and much more, will be immediately cancelled! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!!!" President Donald Trump's post from Truth Social talking about the impact on investments from tariffs. See Also: Dump Your Financial Advisors. One AI Platform Manages Everything With Zero AUM Fees. Book Your Demo Today. Executive Authority Versus Economic Consideration The court's ruling is focused on executive authority rather than the economic merits of tariffs. The majority opinion stated that the Emergency Powers Act does not explicitly grant a president the authority to levy tariffs. Economist Justin Wolfers commented on the decision, noting, "It does not ban tariffs. It simply says that you have to convince Congress." The president has consistently maintained that tariffs bring in trillions of dollars, a figure disputed by independent fact-checkers, and are crucial for making America "STRONG and RESPECTED AGAIN!!!" Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) will release earnings results for the second quarter, after the closing bell on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Analysts expect quarterly earnings at $2.78 per share, up from $2.56 per share in the year-ago period. Salesforce projects to report quarterly revenue of $10.14 billion, compared to $9.32 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro. The San Francisco, California-based company beat analyst estimates for revenue in the first quarter and has beaten estimates in eight of the last 10 quarters overall. Some investors may be eyeing potential gains from Salesforce's annual dividend yield of 0.66%. Thats a semi-annual dividend amount of 42 cents per share ($1.66 a year). So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly? To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $913,836 or around 3,614 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $182,818 or around 723 shares. To calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($1.66 in this case). So, $6,000 / $1.66 = 3,614 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $1.66 = 723 shares ($100 per month). View more earnings on CRM Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time. How that works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stocks current price. For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40). Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yield. If a company increases its dividend, the yield will also increase, provided the stock price stays the same. Conversely, if the dividend payment decreases, so will the yield. CRM Price Action: Shares of Salesforce fell 1.3% to close at $252.86 on Tuesday. Read More: Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article How To Earn $500 A Month From Salesforce Stock Ahead Of Q2 Earnings originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Valued at approximately $47.8 billion by market capitalization, California-based Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (EW) develops products and technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular diseases across the United States, Europe, Japan, and other international markets. Companies with valuations of $10 billion or more are generally classified as large-cap stocks, and Edwards Lifesciences comfortably fits into this category. As the worlds leading structural heart innovation company, Edwards Lifesciences is driven by its mission to improve patient outcomes. Through breakthrough technologies, robust clinical evidence, and close collaboration with clinicians and healthcare partners, the company continues to deliver meaningful advances in cardiovascular care, guided by a strong patient-centered culture. More News from Barchart The medical device maker has been trading near record levels, recently touching a 52-week high of $83 in July and retreating just 2% from that peak. In the past three months, the stock has advanced about 4.6%, edging past the 3.8% return of the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) over the same period. www.barchart.com On a longer horizon, the outperformance is even more evident. EW is up 18.5% over the past year and has added 9.9% in 2025. In contrast, XLV has declined by almost 11.8% over the past year and remains marginally down on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, highlighting Edwards ability to deliver steady gains in a sector facing broader headwinds. To highlight its bullish trend, Edwards Lifesciences has stayed firmly above its 200-day moving average since April, signaling strong underlying momentum. The stock has also managed to hold above its 50-day moving average over the same period, weathering bouts of volatility along the way. www.barchart.com Edwards Lifesciences has been riding the momentum from the strong performance of its innovative medical device pipeline. The boost was evident following its fiscal 2025 second-quarter earnings release on Jul. 24, which topped Wall Streets expectations on both revenue and profit. Shares climbed nearly 5.5% the next trading day as investors cheered the results. Quarterly sales totaled $1.53 billion, representing an 11% year-over-year increase, with growth spread across all product categories. On the other hand, adjusted earnings per share also rose to $0.67, marking an 8.1% increase from the prior year. PepsiCo (PEP) has landed a high-profile activist investor on its roster. Elliott Investment Management has confirmed that it will take a $4 billion position in the soda and snack giant, individuals with knowledge of the situation told Yahoo Finance. PepsiCo stock jumped 3% during morning trading. The investment comes at a challenging time for PepsiCo, whose stock has slipped over 2% year to date and is off over 13% in the past 12 months, compared to the S&P 500's (^GSPC) 9% gain. "PepsiCo finds itself at a critical inflection point. The Company has an opportunity and an obligation to improve financial performance and regain its position as an industry leader," Elliot wrote in a letter to PepsiCo. Making the necessary changes could open a "path to more than 50% stock-price increase from today's depressed levels," the letter said. The firm wrote that it wants to help the company sharpen its focus, drive innovation, boost efficiency, and unlock value in its already leading brands. The activist is known for pushing major strategic changes at companies where it sees untapped potential or underperformance, including Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Starbucks (SBUX). This isn't PepsiCo's first clash with an activist investor. In 2015, it reached a truce after a years-long fight with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz. Elliott's arrival could act as a catalyst. PepsiCo has been grappling with softening demand across its drinks and snacks divisions. In beverages, PepsiCo has steadily lost ground to Coca-Cola (KO) and Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP). As consumers increasingly turn to alternatives like flavored waters, energy drinks, and zero-sugar options, PepsiCo has adapted by investing in brands like Bubly and Celsius. But its core soda business continues to face headwinds. In food, PepsiCo's once-resilient snacks portfolio, which includes brands like Lay's, Doritos, and Cheetos, is also under pressure. Higher prices, tariffs, and shifting consumer preferences toward health have made it harder for the company to maintain momentum. Elliot said in its letter to PepsiCo that its "problems are within its power to address." The firm's sizable stake suggests it sees room for deeper moves to boost profitability and reignite growth. Wall Street remains cautious. "Better-than-feared," Evercore ISI analyst Robert Ottenstein wrote, pointing to PepsiCo's ability to flex its "productivity muscle" through cost savings and automation. Evercore raised its price target to $150 from $140 but kept an In Line rating, signaling the stock is unlikely to outperform without clear US growth. By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Commission presented the EU's trade accord with South America's Mercosur bloc for approval on Wednesday and appeared to be softening opposition from the deal's main critic, France, with promises of possible limits on farm product imports. The European Union and the bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay reached agreement to create the EU's largest ever trade accord last December, some 25 years after negotiations were launched. It now needs consent in the European Union, requiring a vote in the European Parliament and a qualified majority among EU governments, meaning 15 of 27 members representing 65% of the EU population. The Commission and proponents such as Germany and Spain say the Mercosur deal offers a way to offset the loss of trade due to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and to reduce reliance on China, notably for critical minerals. France, the EU's largest beef producer, has previously branded the deal "unacceptable", while Poland, another farming heavyweight, has repeatedly expressed its opposition, an alliance that, with others, might have blocked the agreement. Hoping to allay their concerns, the Commission proposed a mechanism that would allow preferential Mercosur access for some farm products such as beef to be suspended. The trigger for the Commission to assess the need for such safeguards would be if the import volumes rose by more than 10% or prices fell by that amount in one or more EU member countries. It could take initial measures to limit imports within three weeks of receiving a complaint. The Commission said it would closely monitor imports and also planned a 6.3 billion euro ($7.38 billion) crisis fund for EU farmers. French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin said on X that the safeguard clause was a step in the right direction. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that his country continued to oppose the deal, but no longer had other partners to block it. This meant it was essential to have such a defence measure in place, he said. OFFSETTING TRUMP TARIFFS The EU executive has said the Mercosur agreement is the largest it has ever agreed in terms of tariff reductions and is a necessary part of the EU's push to diversify trade ties. Since Trump's re-election last November, the EU has hastily sought trade alliances, accelerating talks with India, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates and deepening ties with existing free trade partners Britain, Canada and Japan. The Commission will also present an updated EU-Mexico agreement, struck in January, on Wednesday. Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 23F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 11F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. By Georgina McCartney, Arathy Somasekhar and Ernest Scheyder HOUSTON (Reuters) -U.S. oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips will cut 20-25% of its workforce as part of a broad restructuring, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday, after five sources told Reuters that CEO Ryan Lance detailed the plans in a morning video message. Shares of the third-largest U.S. oil producer declined 4.5% to $94.55, outpacing a 2.6% drop in the broader S&P 500 Energy Index. A fall in oil prices has put ConocoPhillips and its rivals under pressure this year, forcing them to cut staff, curb capital spending, and reduce drilling. U.S. oil major Chevron announced it would lay off up to 20% of its staff in February, and other energy companies, including SLB and BP, are also cutting workforces. "I know these changes create uncertainty, and they are unsettling," Lance said in the video heard by Reuters. Costs have risen by about $2 per barrel, making it harder for the company to compete, Lance said. He said controllable costs had risen to $13 per barrel in 2024 from $11 in 2021. "As we streamline our organization and take work out of the system, we will need fewer roles," Lance said. MOST JOB CUTS COMING BY YEAR-END Last month, ConocoPhillips identified more than $1 billion of ways to cut costs and improve margins, on top of the more than $1 billion in cost savings from its acquisition of Marathon Oil last year. The company has about 13,000 employees globally, meaning between 2,600 and 3,250 employees will be affected. Most of the cuts will be made before the end of the year, ConocoPhillips spokesperson Dennis Nuss said in an email. The new structure and management will be made public in mid-September, and the reorganization will be completed by 2026, two of the sources said. The company is set to hold a town hall meeting on Thursday at 9 a.m. Central Time (1400 GMT), the sources said. In April, two sources told Reuters that Houston-based ConocoPhillips had hired management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group to advise on the restructuring and layoff program, referred to internally as "Competitive Edge." ConocoPhillips' net income shrank in the second quarter to about $2 billion, the lowest since the quarter ended March 2021, when COVID-19 ravaged demand. Benchmark U.S. crude futures prices have decreased by about 11% this year as OPEC and its allies increase output and battle with U.S. oil producers for market share. As of Wednesday afternoon, the company's shares have fallen 4.7% this year, compared with a 5% rise in the S&P 500 Energy Index. Foxconn, the aspiring Taiwanese electric vehicle maker chasing deals with Nissan, is still on track to sell an EV crossover in the U.S. this year and has added a new partner in its quest to go global. The company, perhaps best known as the worlds largest contract manufacturer of iPhones, said the North American variant of its all-electric Model C is now undergoing U.S. certification. Despite U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles and the end of EV incentives, Foxconn plans to start production of the Model C for the U.S. in Taiwan, the company told investors. The Model C plan remains unchanged. For our U.S. customers initial orders, production will start in Taiwan, but our goal of manufacturing the Model C in the U.S. has not changed, spokesperson James Wu said at the companys financial results briefing last month, where the company reported record operating profit and net income for its fiscal second-quarter period. We will continue to seek a suitable site for US production. CategoryFROM OUR DATA CENTER Image U.S. car sales by nameplate Foxconns progress toward entering the U.S. market came as the company announced a partnership with Japans Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. on battery-powered buses. Under that deal, announced Aug. 22, the companies will develop, produce and sell electric buses based on Foxconns Model T full-size and Model U mid-size people movers. Foxconn scores new Japanese auto partner in Mitsubishi Fuso The Model T and Model U are designed and engineered by Foxtron, a joint venture subsidiary between Foxconn and domestic Taiwanese auto assembler Yulon Motor Co. Foxconns new electric vehicle battery plant in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has entered full production and is now supplying the buses and commercial vehicle customers, the company said. Sign up for Automotive News breaking news alerts and be the first to know when big news happens. The Model T bus is already on sale in Taiwan and in municipal fleets there. The new partnership with Mitsubishi Fuso will explore developing made-in-Japan buses, the companies said. The memorandum of understanding comes after Japanese media reported that Foxconn was in talks with Nissan to build EVs at Nissans Oppama assembly plant in Japan. Nissan will stop making cars there as part of restructuring efforts. The companies did not comment on that report. Foxconn is the subject of on-again-off-again rumors about brewing partnerships with Nissan. (Corrects spelling of flyers in 2nd and 6th paragraphs) By Doyinsola Oladipo NEW YORK (Reuters) -Frontier Airlines is seeking to lure premium flyers of other airlines, who may feel dissatisfied with their current loyalty perks, by offering new travel incentives, according to a top executive of the ultra-low-cost carrier. Frontier is betting that limited-time offers like companion travel certificates and instant elite gold status for $69 will attract frequent flyers and gold- and silver-status flyers of competitors' airlines to its loyalty program. U.S. carriers have been looking to differentiate themselves among premium travelers as strong demand from higher-income Americans in 2025 has helped airlines offset a pullback in spending by price-sensitive customers. The company is rolling out the new perks at a time when value is top-of-mind for travelers as some have grown weary of changes to longstanding services and loyalty programs such as Southwest Airlines' move to end its free-baggage policy. "There's a lot of product services and loyalty programs that people are disenfranchised with right now," Bobby Schroeter, Frontier's chief commercial officer, told Reuters. The company said on Tuesday it will offer flyers an all-you-can-fly annual pass for about $300, slashing the price in half. Shares of the carrier rose 14% on Tuesday after the announcement, underscoring investor bets that Spirit's second bankruptcy filing could reshape the U.S. budget airline landscape and give Frontier a competitive edge. "We looked at it and said we should be providing more value in our programs that will translate to better experiences for our customers and actually more opportunity on our side as well, financially." Frontier plans to double its loyalty revenue to $6 per passenger by the end of 2026 and $10 by the end of 2028. The company believes an opportunity exists to take share from other carriers like legacy carrier programs that earn $30 to $40 per passenger, Schroeter added. In late August, the company said that for a limited time it will offer its credit card holders companion passes starting at $3,000 in everyday spending and will match up to 1 million combined miles from multiple airlines. We are going to get customers that are coming in that may not have otherwise come in before because they see the value, Schroeter said, adding the company anticipates the average income level of its customer base rising as a result. The Denver-based carrier also said it will offer travelers who are members of Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines or Alaska Airlines' loyalty programs instant Elite Gold Status with Frontier for $69 until December 2026, which includes a free carry-on bag, priority boarding and complementary upgrades to premium seating. A coalition of venture capital and private equity firms from the US and India has announced the formation of the India Deep Tech Investment Alliance (IDTA), a new industry group aimed at mobilising private capital and expertise for deep tech companies. The announcement was made by Sriram Viswanathan, founding managing partner of Silicon Valleybased venture capital firm Celesta, at the Semicon India 2025 event, organised by the India Semiconductor Mission in partnership with SEMI and industry associations. Conceived as a step to strengthen USIndia deep tech collaboration, the founding members of IDTA include Celesta Capital, Accel, Blume Ventures, Gaja Capital, Ideaspring Capital, Premji Invest, Tenacity Ventures, and Venture Catalysts. While announcing the Alliance, Viswanathan also revealed $1 billion in capital commitmentsso farfor priority deep tech sectors in the country. The MoU signing ceremony at SEMICON India 2025 marked a key milestone in strengthening Indias semiconductor value chain through governmentindustry collaboration. Moderated by Ashok Chandak, President, SEMI India & IESA, the ceremony reinforced Indias rising global leadership pic.twitter.com/5WAa9TijXx SEMI India (@SEMIIndia) September 2, 2025 In July, the Union cabinet approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme with a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore (about $12 billion). Key objectives of this scheme include supporting the acquisition of technologies that are critical or of high strategic importance and facilitating the creation of a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds. The launch of the new Alliance builds on the momentum created by this ambitious scheme, which aims to provide risk capital for innovative startups in Indias deep tech sector. India currently has more than 3,600 deep tech startups74 per cent of them AI-ledmaking it the worlds sixth-largest deep tech hub. However, the reluctance of major Indian enterprises to make bold, billion-dollar bets on deep tech and AI has long been cited as a hurdle for Indian technologists. Observers have also noted that most Indian unicorns have been built with funding from foreign investors, highlighting a persistent weakness in the countrys innovation ecosystem. Notably, when Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal made a controversial remark comparing the Indian startup ecosystem to Chinasarguing that Indian startups are focused on food delivery and gig work while China has raced ahead in deep-tech innovationtechnologists in deep tech had responded strongly. Some of the deep-tech founders, especially from the semiconductor domain, had openly criticised the challenges they face even during capacity-building phases because of the tax burden as well as the flaws in the current framework that put Indian startups at a disadvantage compared to their foreign competitors. The governments current measures appear to be aimed at addressing the challenge of securing the kind of strong domestic financial backing required to build cutting-edge deep tech ventures, including semiconductor startups. Alliances like IDTA are expected to ease some of the burden on the government. IDTA has committed to making long-term, thesis-driven investments in Indian-incorporated startups and scale-ups across semiconductors, space, quantum, robotics, artificial intelligence, biotech, medical devices, energy and climate, and the digital economy. Each member of IDTA will commit private capital over a 510 year horizon to India-domiciled deep tech enterprises. In addition, IDTA members will provide these companies with mentorship, network access, and capital, while also helping portfolio firms expand into the Indian market. The alliance plans to expand its membership significantly over time by adding global and Indian investors who are willing to make the required commitments to collaboration and capital deployment. Deep tech represents the next frontier of global innovation, and we expect great companies to emerge and lead in this space from the USIndia corridor, said Viswanathan. With the catalytic support mobilised under the RDI Scheme, this is a historic opportunity to deepen the USIndia partnership, power the next wave of transformative global companies, and unlock growth opportunities that will benefit both India and the US. Interestingly, IDTAs formal launch comes at a time when IndiaUS relations appear strained over tariff measures introduced by US President Donald Trump. Back in February, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US, Trump and Modi launched the TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative to expand bilateral cooperation in critical and emerging technologies and supply chains. Though the foreign policy and geopolitical situation have since taken a new turn, the new alliance is placing its bet on Indian startups. New direction needed? India plans to build a $110 billion semiconductor market by 2030. At the Semicon event, Modi announced that the days are not far when the smallest chip made in India will drive the biggest change in the world. Nevertheless, critics point out that the joint venture between Tata Electronics and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) in Dholera, Gujarat, remains the only Silicon CMOS fabrication (fab) facility in India where actual wafer manufacturing is planned. Approved in February 2024 under the India Semiconductor Mission, the Dholera facility is a full-scale foundry designed to produce chips on mature nodes. It will target applications such as power management ICs, display drivers, microcontrollers, and high-performance computing logic for industries including automotive, computing, and wireless communications. Other semiconductor units approved in India are largely focused on Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) or Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP) facilities, which handle post-fabrication processes like packaging and testing rather than wafer production. The SiCSem facility in Odisha, which also involves fabrication, specializes in silicon carbide (SiC)a niche material for high-power applicationsunlike the broader CMOS fabrication planned at the Tata-PSMC plant. Speaking at a panel discussion at Semicon, Haris Osman, Senior Vice President at iMECthe worlds leading independent nanoelectronics R&D huboffered a critical perspective. He noted that while there has been a wave of major announcements, there has yet to be a concrete plan for setting up a research and development fab. India needs an advanced R&D fab, and I believe it should be under the governments purview because it requires significant investment. My key message is: do not underestimate the importance of R&D. It usually takes many years for technologies to move from research to full-scale manufacturing, Osman said. He further stressed that the days of plug-and-play technologies are long gone. You can no longer just read a run sheet, feed it into the tool, and expect things to work. Even when a technology is already developed, implementing it in a new fab requires significant effortespecially in a new facility like the one Tata is building, he added. Beyond its cut tax bonanza that has excited middle-class India, there are a lot of vexatious points that will be on the plate of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as well as her state counterparts when they sit down for their keenly watched two-day Council Meeting today. The question is whether the council will have the time and bandwidth to touch upon many of the issues that have plagued the uniform tax system since its inception 8 years ago, or whether the meeting is likely to focus on the core tax cut agenda, with a possible roadblock from opposition states asking for revenue loss compensation that could even derail the whole council proceedings. The champ amongst all these pending issues has to be the ITC, or input tax credit conundrum. ITC is claimable on a wide range of business expenses, including raw materials, components, packaging, fuel, and many other types of inputs. It operates on the concept that businesses can claim the tax they have already paid on the raw materials or services that went into the making of a final product, with only the differential needing to be paid. Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi has also recently announced the creation of a Task Force for Next-Generation Reforms, with a clear mandate to simplify regulations, lower compliance costs, and build a more enabling ecosystem for start-ups, MSMEs and entrepreneurs. pic.twitter.com/xHHWpZTmPB Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) September 2, 2025 However, it is easier said than done, and it has increasingly become an energy-consuming process for businesses. Entrepreneurs across the spectrum have toiled with the mismatch between the rate differentials between their inputs (raw materials) and the final product. In some instances, it has been pretty absurd, too, when makers of certain products that are exempt from tax, still face the irony of having to pay the ITC for the components/raw materials that go into the making, leaving no option for claims. In fact, one item on the agenda is whether health and life insurance policies, currently taxed at 18 per cent GST but which the government is amenable to completely exempt from the tax, should be allowed input tax credit (presently it doesnt, and its been a demand from the insurance companies for some time). Murmurs abound of giving concessional GST slabs for health and term life insurance premiums by bracketing them under essential services. Another major peeve of businesses has been the multiple amendments in rules, which often leave taxpayers perplexed. It also adds to what has been a rising cost in compliance. Filing periodical returns, matching invoices with GSTR-2B, and the multiple procedures all add to the compliance burden. While Nirmala has spoken more than once on the need for simplifying the rules, it is yet to see the light of day. The 56th Meeting of the GST Council will be held on 03rd & 04th September, 2025 at New Delhi GST Council (@GST_Council) August 23, 2025 Another long-standing demand has been for streamlining the backlog of tax appeals as well as simplifying the procedure. It is a surprise that unnecessarily convoluted filing process and compliance burden has made the simple act of a GST return akin to rocket science this despite proposals like pre-filled forms, auto refunds and digital invoicing options languishing for long as most meetings end up contemplating more political matters, ranging from the compensation cess to state devolvement and, yes, even the complex tiers that pop corn taxation has to undergo, thanks to the hawkish eyes of the babus of Raisina Hills. The setting up of an appellate tribunal for GST tax appeals has also been around for a long time, with many pointing out how this could reduce the backlog of cases, especially appeals that go to regular high courts. With technology and even business streams undergoing rapid change by the day, the Council will have its hands full slotting new-age businesses appropriately. This ranges from the likes of Global Capability Centres (GCC) to food delivery apps to drones to foreign consultancy. Of course, the fear remains that between simplifying the slabs and re-categorising the many goods and services now under four basic slabs (plus cess and other charges) into two simplified tiers, itself a gargantuan task, and the chance that opposition ministers in the council may staunchly make their case for adequate compensation for what they fear will be tax revenue loss following the new simplification, the Council might just not have the bandwidth, or the time, to discuss many of these finer, and pending, demands. The only silver lining then is the fact that the Prime Ministers Office had given, in principle, a go-ahead for a thorough reworking of the GST system. Amid the fresh geopolitical tensions, New Delhi and Moscow have begun negotiations for the supply of more S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to India, reports said on Tuesday. India already has three Russian-made S-400 systems, which had played a key role in the Operation Sindoor and the ensuing military confrontation with Pakistan in May. "There is potential to expand our cooperation in this area. That means new deliveries. For now, we are in the negotiation stage, Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told TASS news agency. RUSSIA AND INDIA DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING S-400 SUPPLIES - TASS *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) September 2, 2025 In 2018, India had signed a $5.5 billion deal with Russia for five S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile systems. Moscow has already delivered three units, with the first unit delivered in 2021. The final two S-400 systems to India are expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027, said the report. The S-400 is considered one of the worlds most advanced and deadliest surface-to-air missile systems. It integrates a multi-function radar, anti-aircraft missile systems, mobile launchers, autonomous detection and targeting systems, and a command and control centre. It can locate targets at 600 kilometres and destroy them at 400 kilometres. India has strategically deployed its S-400 squadrons, with key installations in Pathankot, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The new report comes amid mounting pressure from the US on New Delhi to reduce arms and oil deals with Moscow. Russia accounted for 36 per cent of India's arms imports between 2020 and 2024. The relations between India and the US witnessed a dramatic downturn in the recent weeks after President Donald Trump imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, citing New Delhis continued purchase of Russian oil and arms. As the trade war raged, Reuters news agency claimed that India put on hold its plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft, though the External Affairs Ministry dismissed the report as fabricated. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his keynote address at the Ran Samwad (Discourse on Warfighting) conclave at the Army War College, Mhow on August 25-26, 2025, underlined the need to prepare for protracted warslasting even as long as five years. Inaugurating a drone manufacturing facility in Noida soon after, on August 30, he stressed that drone warfare will be central to Indias future military capability. Drone warfare has emerged as one of the most decisive factors in recent conflictsthe Nagorno-Karabakh war, Houthi-Saudi clashes, the RussiaUkraine war, the IsraelHamas war, and even during the recent IndiaPakistan conflict. 'Drones' here refer to a wide array of unmanned systems: aerial drones (from cheap quadcopters to complex UAVs/UCAVs), uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), and underwater (UUV) drones, performing reconnaissance, strike, and logistics roles. Their lethality multiplies when employed as AI-controlled swarms or in combination with precision-guided munitions (PGMs) like cruise missiles or glide bombs. For weaker actors, drones provide asymmetric capability to offset conventional disadvantages. Among these aforesaid conflicts, Ukraines use of drones against a stronger Russia offers the most relevant lessons for India. Predicted initially to collapse under Russias superior force, Ukraine has resisted fiercely, with drones as a critical equaliser. Ukraines procurement scale-up illustrates its strategic commitment: from thousands in 2023 to over a million drones in 2024, with a goal of 4.5 million in 2025, 96 per cent sourced domestically. This self-reliance and rapid innovation cycle carry significant lessons for India. Ukraines Optimisation of Drone Warfare Ukraine transformed drones from a niche intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) tool into a decisive arm of combat powerintegrated into manoeuvre, firepower, and logistics. Key elements of this optimisation: 1. Centralised Control and Coordination Ukraine created an Unmanned Systems Force (USF)a dedicated branch for drone warfare. The USF unifies operations across services, manages procurement, training, and R&D, and partners with over 125 domestic producers. It deploys drone command posts, integrates unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into operational planning, and employs AI-driven data analysis for rapid decision-making. 2. Mass Production & Rapid Innovation Through initiatives like Army of Drones and the Brave1 technology cluster, Ukraine mobilised hundreds of small firms and volunteer groups to produce thousands of drones monthly. Battlefield feedback loops enable design tweaks within weeks, not years. Cost-efficiency is key: first person view (FPV) kamikaze drones costing $400700 routinely destroy million-dollar tanks and artillery. 3. Full Integration into the Kill Chain Drones compress sensor-to-shooter time to 35 minutes for artillery or HIMARS strikes. Persistent quadcopter surveillance ensures constant observation of enemy positions, logistics routes, and rear echelons. 4. Diversification of Drone Types FPV Kamikaze Drones low-cost, high-speed, with high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) or thermobaric warheads for anti-armour and trench clearance. Loitering Munitions e.g., Warmate, for deep interdiction. Long-Range UAVs Bober and UJ-22 for strategic strikes on oil depots, airbases, even Moscow. Naval Drones Magura V5 and Sea Baby inflicted major Black Sea Fleet losses. ISR Drones Fixed-wing systems for persistent observation in electronic warfare (EW)-contested zones. 5. Advanced EW Adaptation Ukraine employs frequency-hopping, encryption, analog backups, and mesh networking to maintain control under heavy jamming. Counter-UAS teams neutralize Russian drones while shielding their own assets. 6. Night and All-Weather Capability Thermal-equipped FPVs enable 24/7 operations, particularly during low-visibility conditions when enemy defenses are weak. Weather-resilient designs sustain operations in snow, rain, and high winds. 7. Integration with Other Arms Every artillery battery is paired with drones for targeting and battle damage assessment (BDA). Infantry units embed small drone teams for reconnaissance, minefield mapping, and grenade-dropping. Mechanized units use drones for overwatch against ATGM ambushes. 8. Decentralised Doctrine & Training Drone schools exist at brigade level. Thousands of operators are trained in FPV piloting, EW survival, and strike coordinationsupplemented by volunteer programs to absorb attrition. 9. Psychological and Strategic Impact Constant drone surveillance and precision strikes erode Russian troop morale. Strategic strikes on targets deep inside Russia demonstrate Ukraines ability to impose costs beyond the frontline. Lessons for India: Building a Drone-Centric Force The Ukraine war proves drones are a direct and decisive component of warfighting, not auxiliary. For India, facing technologically advanced adversaries across varied terrainsHimalayan heights, deserts, dense urban areas, and maritime zonesa comprehensive approach is essential, spanning organisation, equipment, TTPs, and training. 1. Organisational Reforms Joint Drone Warfare Directorate needs to be established under CDS - for standardisation, acquisition, and joint doctrine. Dedicated UAS Units need to be raised: Battalion Level: UAS platoon (to include nano ISR drones, FPVs, counter-UAS teams). Brigade Level: Uncrewed Effects Company (to include FPV swarms, loitering munitions, EW detachments, mobile repair hubs). Corps Level: UAS & EW Groups for long-range ISR and strike. Air Force: Manage long-range strike drones, attritable loyal wingmen, and swarm integration into IACCS. Navy: Raise USV and UUV squadrons for coastal defense, mine-laying, and precision maritime strikes. 2. Equipment Modernisation A layered drone capability is essential, to include drones for various roles and levels: Tactical Drones (Platoon/Battalion): Mini ISR drones, FPV kamikaze drones (28 lakh), modified, commercial-off-the- shelf (COTS) drones. Operational Drones (Brigade/Division): Loitering munitions (20100 km range), relay UAVs, EW-resistant ISR drones. Strategic Drones: Long-range one-way UAVs (1,0002,000 km) for deep strikes. Maritime Drones: USVs for anti-ship missions; UUVs for ISR and mining. Counter-Drone Systems: Layered C-UAS with passive sensors, jammers, microwave weapons, and hard-kill options. 3. Tactics, Techniques & Procedures (TTPs) Kill Chain Compression: Target-to-strike within 5 minutes. EW Survival: Train for GNSS-denied environments using inertial navigation and frequency-hopping. Swarm Tactics: FPV swarms and decoy drones to overwhelm defenses. Rear-Area Protection: Harden logistics and artillery positions with CCD measures and mobile C-UAS teams. Maritime Employment: USV wolf packs for standoff naval strikes. 4. Training and Human Capital Multi-Tier Pipeline for training drone pilots and commanders: Tier 1 - Basic FPV pilots (4 weeks). Tier 2 - Advanced strike operators (6 weeks). Tier 3: C-UAS operators (4 weeks). Specialist Courses for drone commanders. Simulation training for typical drone warfare situations, like EW-contested scenarios and FPV swarm drills. Training for manning Forward Repair and Build (FRB) hubs, with focus on 3D printing, battery reconditioning and rapid battlefield upgrades. 5. Industrial Ecosystem Adopt a Ukraine-style Army of Drones model: Public-private partnerships must be established with startups and defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs). iDEX Challenges for high-altitude endurance drones, low-signature FPVs, and counter-drone direct energy weapons (DEWs) must be addressed. Innovation Cells should be embedded with operational units for rapid prototyping and feedback. 6. Policy and Legal Framework Rules of engagement (ROE) for AI-assisted strikes, with human-on-the-loop, need to be updated in a timely manner. establish Cybersecurity standards for UAS control stations need to be established and data protection norms should be formalised. 7. Metrics for Success There is a need to set out ideal standards of sortie rates per brigade per day during war. Also, kill chain time needs to be set out: e.g. less than 5 minutes from detection to strike. Cost Benefit ratios (drone vs target destruction) are also an important metric for monitoring success of drone strikes. Effectiveness of EW resilience can be judged by tracking mission success under jamming. And, success or otherwise of innovation tempo can be judged by keeping track of the number of days from field feedback to upgrade. Conclusion Ukraines experience underscores that drone warfare is driven by speed, scale, and adaptabilitynot just technology. For India, the imperative is to institutionalise dedicated drone units, build a diverse equipment mix, develop resilient TTPs, and sustain a continuous innovation loop supported by industry and academia. A modular, scalable, and joint drone ecosystem will give India a decisive asymmetric edge against adversaries across the Himalayas, the LoC, and the Indian Ocean - deterring adversaries and enabling dominance in future conflicts. The writer was Vice Chief of the Indian Army. The Indian Army on Wednesday revealed how it carried out decisive strikes against terror launchpads during Operation Sindoor earlier this year, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Hinting Operation Sindoor is not over, the Army said, "India continues the fight against terror." Sharing a video of India's major military operation against Pakistan in recent years, the Northern Command of the Indian Army tweeted, "#NorthernCommands resolute operations in #OperationSindoor were an exemplar of restraint turning into decisive response. Precision strikes on terror launchpads and the elimination of perpetrators of the #Pahalgam massacre underscore our unwavering pursuit of peace in the region." #NorthernCommand s resolute operations in #OperationSindoor were an exemplar of restraint turning into decisive response. Precision strikes on terror launchpads and the elimination of perpetrators of the #Pahalgam massacre underscore our unwavering pursuit of peace in the pic.twitter.com/PeUIahQKF6 NORTHERN COMMAND - INDIAN ARMY (@NorthernComd_IA) September 3, 2025 Revealing the sequence of events that led to Operation Sindoor, the Army said Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting after the Pahalgam terror attack, and how chiefs of all three defence forces planned and mobilised troops for the strike. As many as 26 innocents were killed by terrorists allegedly with Pakistani links in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. The deceased include 24 tourists, a Nepali citizen and a local horse owner. Considered one of the worst terror attacks in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to avenge the killings. India announced a series of diplomatic action against Pakistan in the aftermath of the attack, and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor and struck nine terror launchpads along the Line of Control. In retaliation, Pakistan launched airstrikes targeting 26 locations along the border in India. India's air defence system successfully thwarted the strikes. After days of heightened military operations, India and Pakistan agreed to stop firing on May 10. However, India's diplomatic measures against Pakistan continue. Kannada actress Ranya Rao was on Tuesday slapped with a Rs 102 crore fine by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in connection with a gold smuggling case. She is the stepdaughter of IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao who was sent on compulsory leave during the investigation. Others were were charged with hefty fines include hotelier Tarun Kondaraju with Rs 63 crore penalty and jewellers Sahil Sakaria Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain with Rs 56 crore each. Ranya Rao and the three other accused in the case are currently lodged at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru. They were served with a 250-page notice and a 2,500-page annexure, totalling to around 11,000 pages of documents. The accused were arrested after Ranya Rao was caught redhanded with 14.8 kg smuggled gold at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, when she was returning from Dubai. She was sentenced to one-year jail under Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA). DRI had also recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore along with Rs 2.67 crore in cash from Ranya Rao's residence. Jain reportedly helped Ranya dispose of 49.6 kg of smuggled gold and illegally transfer Rs 38.4 crore to Dubai via hawala. Aortic aneurysms, weakened, bulging areas in the aorta, the body's main artery, are an emerging health crisis in Indian men over 45. The causes range from hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, trauma, and genetic conditions. Most aneurysms are asymptomatic but can lead to a life-threatening rupture, causing sudden, severe pain and requiring emergency surgery. Doctors speak of aneurysms as an overlooked cardiovascular condition. Experts in cardiothoracic surgery warn that this silent but deadly condition is escalating in prevalence and contributing to a growing number of cardiac-related deaths both globally and in India. They stress the critical need for enhanced awareness, routine screening, and early intervention to combat this health crisis effectively. Dr. Swapneel Karne, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Sahyadri Hospital, Pune, highlights that many Indian men remain unaware of the risks posed by aneurysms, which often develop without obvious symptoms, with common signs such as dull back pain, fatigue, or abdominal discomfort frequently misattributed to less serious issues like acidity or muscle strain. This delayed recognition results in nearly half of aneurysm cases being diagnosed only after a rupture or dissection, when treatment becomes significantly more complex and survival chances diminish. A shift in preventive heart health practices is urgently required. Karne emphasises that men with risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease, should undergo regular screening for aneurysms, much like they do for blood pressure or cholesterol. He advocates for the integration of simple diagnostic tools like ultrasound or CT scans in routine health check-ups and urges primary care physicians to be vigilant about vague symptoms that could indicate aneurysms. Public health campaigns should also include education about aneurysms as a potentially treatable condition if detected early. ALSO READ | Is your intermittent fasting routine dangerous? What experts say Dr. Gauranga Majumdar, Director and Head of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at Medanta, Lucknow, concurs that early diagnosis is pivotal in managing aortic aneurysms effectively. He points out that the survival rate drops sharply after an aneurysm rupture, and many patients only learn of their condition when facing a critical emergency. He notes encouraging advances in surgical and minimally invasive treatment techniques, including the Frozen Elephant Trunk procedure for complex thoracic aneurysms and endovascular repairs (EVAR/TEVAR) that reduce recovery time and hospital stays. Despite these advances, he stresses that such treatments depend entirely on early detection. His advice? Men over 45, especially those with hypertension, a history of smoking, or heart disease in the family, should include aneurysm screening in their preventive health check-ups. He describes these screenings as painless, quick, and potentially life-saving procedures. However, he acknowledges that, unlike checks for cholesterol or diabetes, aneurysm screening has yet to become a standard component of routine health assessments in India, a gap that needs swift attention. Dr. Vijayant Devenraj, Director and Head of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at Max Healthcare, Lucknow, identifies the invisible nature of aortic aneurysms as the core challenge in combating their risks. He notes that many patients are unaware of their aneurysm until mild, non-specific symptoms prompt medical evaluation. He underscores that men with risk factors such as chronic hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, and family history are statistically more susceptible to developing this condition, yet many slip through the cracks due to a lack of awareness and the absence of screening protocols. He emphasises that routine screening for aneurysms should be incorporated into standard preventive health check-ups across India. Simple non-invasive tests like abdominal ultrasound or CT angiography are effective in identifying aneurysms before symptoms arise. Early diagnosis, he explains, not only prevents emergencies such as rupture but also facilitates access to safer, less invasive treatment options. The doctors make a compelling case for urgent action: aortic aneurysm awareness needs to be heightened among healthcare providers and the public alike, and screening should become a regular part of preventive care for men above 45. In a country grappling with high cardiovascular mortality, the focus on aortic aneurysms could save thousands of lives by transforming a silent killer into a manageable health condition. The call from experts is clear: integrating aneurysm education and screening into routine health care for at-risk populations must become a priority. Early detection stands as the most crucial step in preventing a health crisis that has remained largely unrecognised until now. A day after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi ended his 14 days long yatra in Bihar against the alleged manipulation of voters list, the ruling NDA was back to wooing its most loyal voter base, the women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the launch of a new womens cooperative credit initiative in Bihar to hit back at the opposition over a controversial remark against his late mother, turning a personal affront into a wider political appeal. - - https://t.co/381gpeg2oX Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 2, 2025 Speaking via video conference at the inauguration of the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh, the Prime Minister framed the comment made at a recent opposition rally in the state as not just an insult to his mother, but to every mother, sister and daughter of the nation. The sharp retort comes as the NDA, led by the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U), seeks to fortify its traditional support among women voterslong seen as a decisive bloc in Bihar politics. Nitish Kumar, who built his political legacy on welfare schemes for women such as bicycle distribution for girl students, prohibition, and community-based self-help groups under Jeevika, has repeatedly acknowledged that womens vote is what kept him in power during challenging elections. So, while the jury is still out as to how much would Rahul Gandhis high-octane yatra, which also featured participation of leading alliance partners, would impact the poll outcome, but the NDA is back to change the issues being discussed in the state. The controversial remark against Modis mother was allegedly made at the Oppositions rally during the vote adhikar yatra. Modi tied the insult to his mother with a broader narrative of respect and empowerment for women. Bihar is a land where mothers are worshipped as Ganga Maiya, Kosi Maiya, and Janaki Ji. In this land, to abuse a mother is to abuse our very culture, he said, before contrasting his governments policiesranging from toilets and pucca houses in womens names to Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi initiativeswith what he described as the oppositions anti-women mindset. For the NDA, the timing is strategic. With Bihar headed for a crucial election in next two months, and women comprising nearly half of the electorate, mobilising this constituency is central to its strategy. Modis emotional reference to his mother and invocation of Chhathi Maiya and Satbahini Puja traditions in Bihar was designed to resonate with the states cultural idioms and womens deeply religious sensibilities. Addressing the people, the Prime Minister said that while he may forgive those who insulted his mother, the soil of India has never tolerated disrespect towards mothers. The opposition has insulted mothers, but Bihars women have always responded to arrogance and injustice, Modi declared, urging voters to hold the INDIA bloc accountable. The Prime Minister called upon the people of Bihar, especially its sons, to take responsibility for responding to the insult directed at mothers. He told the audience that the people go after the opposition parties to make them hear the voice of the people saying that the insult to mothers will not be tolerated and any attack on dignity will not be accepted. He stated that the oppression and assault by opposition parties will not be tolerated and accepted. Modi has made clear that the BJP and its allies are likely to turn the insult hurled against his mother into a potent election issue as the state goes to the polls. In a serious security breach, a BMW biker on Tuesday morning sped through the heavily crowded platform 2 at Ernakulam North Railway Station in Kochi, risking lives of passengers awaiting trains. The incident, which was captured by CCTV cameras at the railway station, happened around 4.40 am on Tuesday, immediately after the Pune-Kanyakumari Express left the platform. The man was identified as M.S. Ajmal, 36, from Mudikkal, Perumbavoor. He entered through a side gate on Platform 2 and rode through the crowd and even swerved past a security guard. Following this, personnel from the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) chased Ajmal who abandoned the BMW G 310R at the southern end of the plaform next to Ernakulam North railway overbridge, reported Onmanorama. He then removed the key of the rented bike and vanished from the area. Ajmal was identified from the documents that he had submittted to EVM Wheels in Thykoodam, Kochi, from where he rented the luxury bike worth Rs 4 lakh on August 30. He had rented the bike for a month at the rate of Rs 65 an hour. Police are still searching for the driver who they believe was under the influence of drugs. He has a history of using drugs in the past. A red bag carried by the suspect has raised concerns about possible sabotage attempts. Ajmal has been slapped with charges under BNS Sections 281 (rash driving), 329(a) (criminal trespassing as well as Railways Act 150(a)(e) for maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train) and 153 (endangering the safety of person travelling on a railway by an unlawful act). A worker from the mechanical engineering company Duerr assembles a robot arm for a vehicle painting system at its headquarters. Bernd Weibrod/dpa Germany's mechanical engineering sector saw orders rise 4% in July compared to the previous year, with impetus primarily coming from non-euro countries. While orders from Germany and the eurozone remained steady, those from other countries soared 10%, the Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA) said on Wednesday. But VDMA chief economist Johannes Gernandt said the result was distorted due to individual large orders and a weak performance in the previous July. Over a three-month period from May to July, price-adjusted incoming orders are up by 2%. According to the trade association, the limited growth is due to a lack of reforms in Germany and Europe, as well as ongoing uncertainties resulting from US tariff policies. The VDMA called on the German government to implement its promised relief package for business in the autumn. In a fierce pushback against the Union government, Karnataka, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh told the Supreme Court that the Centre is trying to tear into the core of Indias parliamentary democracy. Arguing in the ongoing Governors powers case, the states warned that the Centre's stand would abrogate the fulcrum of the Constitution by reducing the Cabinet system of collective responsibility to a mere formality. Cabinet responsibility as a basic structure Karnataka, through Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium, argued that the Cabinet system, collectively responsible to the legislature, is a part of the Constitutions basic structure. Any attempt to vest the Governor or President with discretionary powers effectively erodes democratic governance. Submissions of the Union government seek to indirectly abrogate the fulcrum of the Constitution, which is the cabinet-form of government and the responsibility to the legislature, he submitted. West Bengal: Governors cannot stall democracy West Bengal, represented by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, emphasised that Governors should not become impediments to constitutional functioning. He stated, The Governor cannot examine the legislative competence of a Bill, and pointed out that legislative competence must be tested in courts. He cautioned against allowing indefinite delays by Governors, and urged the Court to affirm that once a bill is passed, there is no room for indefinite withholding. There may be an extraordinary situation, but once the bill is sent, it must be assented to. Asserting the supremacy of the people's will, Sibal argued, Will of the people cannot be subject to executive whims and fancy. Himachal Pradesh: States are not municipalities Himachal Pradesh, through Advocate Anand Sharma, stressed that Governors and the President do not hold legislative authority and are not viceroys in the Indian republic. They must act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. States cant be belittled or treated as municipalities, he added, undermining any suggestion that the Governors office may override state government. Bench voices unease The five-judge bench, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, did not conceal its unease. Justice P.S. Narasimha questioned whether prescribing deadlines amounts to rewriting the Constitution. The Court was hearing a Presidential reference that questions its April ruling which prescribed timelines for the President and the Governor to decide on bills. Karnataka, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh governments on Sept 3 told the the Supreme Court that the Union government pic.twitter.com/Fxzmf3arC1 Bar and Bench (@barandbench) September 3, 2025 CJI Gavai pressed Sibal, If a timeline is missed, do we say the bill becomes law automatically? That, the judges suggested, could create a constitutional fiction not envisaged by the framers. At the same time, the bench acknowledged the democratic danger of endless inaction. Governors cannot sit indefinitely. The Assembly represents the will of the people, one judge observed, echoing the April rulings emphasis on legislative sanctity. In recent years, opposition-ruled states West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Punjab have accused Governors of acting as instruments of the Centre. For them, judicial timelines are a shield against political obstruction. For the Union, however, judicially invented deadlines risk upsetting the delicate separation of powers. Centres defense Attorney General of India R Venkatramani questioned whether imposing timelines is a step too far, a judicial amendment rather than interpretation. They argue that the discretion under Articles 200 and 201 is sui generis and cannot be constrained judicially. Several state counsel echoed this. They posited that the absence of explicit timelines in the Constitution suggests it was not for the Court to read in time limits. States assert the overriding importance of the peoples mandate, delays in assent intrude on governance and undermine democratic processes. The Court must weigh expediency against constitutional process. The Supreme Court is at a constitutional crossroads. By weighing whether judicially imposed timelines on Governors' assent powers are constitutional, it must protect the principle of federal democracy, preserve the Cabinet system as fundamental, and ensure law-drafting remains effective and accountable. The decision will not only shape legislative timeliness but may also recalibrate Centre-State power balances and judicial authority in Indias constitutional framework. But whatever the verdict, its impact will be felt far beyond the courtroom. It will define the boundaries of gubernatorial power, shape CentreState relations, and test how far the judiciary is willing to go in filling constitutional silences. Chandigarh is witnessing a fresh spell of heavy rain, disrupting normal life and forcing people to evacuate from the inundated regions. According to officials, the rise in the water levels forced the authorities to open two of the three floodgates of the Sukhna lake due to incessant rain in the catchment area. The floodgates are generally opened when the water level reaches or exceeds the danger mark of 1,163 feet. #WATCH | Chandigarh: On the current flood situation in the city, SSP Kanwardeep Kaur says, "I and the DC have been reviewing the preparedness for the last three days. Yesterday, with an increase in rainfall, the three floodgates of Sukhna Lake were opened, as a result of which pic.twitter.com/mqmX5fiBqz ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025 Considering the erratic weather conditions, the Chandigarh administration has ordered the closure of all schools of the Union Territory on Wednesday as well. Earlier, schools here had remained closed on Tuesday. District commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav has banned the entry to Sukhna Choe, Patiala Ki Rao and other water bodies in Chandigarh, which are running along the danger mark. The Ghaggar river also continues to be in spate, HT reported. Several parts of flood-hit Punjab and neighbouring Haryana were affected by the continuous rainfall in the region. In Punjab, the deluge has claimed 30 lives and affected more than 3.5 lakh people, as per a bulletin issued by the state authorities on the situation from August 1 to September 2, PTI reported. As per local media, heavy rains prompted the Chandigarh Traffic Police to issue an advisory. Movement has been severely affected on Dakshin Marg (Dhanas), Road behind ISBT-43, Dakshin Marg (Sector 23-D), Makhan Majra, Road dividing Sector 10/11 (near Sector 10) and Roads in Sectors 15-A and 15-B. Officials have advised the public to stay safe and not venture out if unnecessary. Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Wednesday declared that to live is to live with dignity, stressing that human dignity is the very soul of the Constitution and the thread binding together liberty, equality, fraternity and justice. Delivering the 11th Dr L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture, the CJI said dignity has been the Supreme Courts guiding touchstone in expanding the scope of fundamental rights. Justice Gavai said the framers of the Constitution placed dignity alongside liberty, equality, fraternity and justice in the Preamble, with B.R. Ambedkar describing fraternity as another name for democracy. Dignity or human dignity refers to the intrinsic worth owed to every individual. When the dignity of every citizen is recognised, it fosters solidarity and unity, the CJI observed. Although the word dignity does not appear explicitly in Part III, he noted, the Supreme Court has consistently read it into fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19 and 21. He recalled how the court in the late 1970s began protecting prisoners rights against cruel treatment and went on to expand dignity into areas of privacy, autonomy, gender equality, labour rights and disability rights. Justice Gavai cited key judgments, including Sunil Batra (1978) on humane treatment of prisoners, Mohini Jain (1992) on education as a right flowing from dignity, K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) declaring privacy as the constitutional core of dignity, and Common Cause (2018) which recognized the right to die with dignity. More recently, he said, the Court struck down caste-based prison labour in Sukanya Shantha (2024) and held digital access for persons with disabilities as part of the right to life in Amar Jain (2025). The judiciary has emphasised human dignity as a pervasive principle that shapes the very spirit of the Constitution, the CJI said, stressing that it ensures not just survival but conditions necessary for self-respect, freedom and opportunity. Quoting from the privacy judgment, Justice Gavai concluded: To live is to live with dignity dignity is the core which unites the fundamental rights. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that the real question before the country today is how the government and the judiciary can together deliver justice to the people. There is an opportunity for debate in this aspect. We should all be united in one goal, he said. Reflecting on the journey since Independence, Birla noted that there have been many developments over the past 75 years. We have constantly tried to bring change to old laws made by the British. And today I am happy to say that we have changed those laws according to Indias democracy, he added. Emphasising the continuing relevance of the founding document, the Speaker said the Constitution was not just a legal text. The Constitution is a live document, he underlined, pointing out that its adaptability has enabled reforms in tune with the needs of Indian society. A day after she was suspended from the BRS by her father, K Kavitha has announced that she is resigning from her the post as the party MLC and from the partys primary membership. At the press meet, she addressed her father, K Chandrasekhar Rao, saying, Dad, something is happening around you. I spoke strightforwardly and asked him to consider my words. Two people are working hard against me and spreading poison." "Revanth Reddy and Harish Rao allegedly planned to destroy our family while travelling together on a flight; Revanth Reddy should answer for this. Revanth Reddy booked cases against only my family members, KTR, and KCR, but not against Harish Rao. When the Kaleshwaram project began, Harish Rao was the Irrigation Minister, and Revath Reddy didn't speak out against him. Harish Rao and Santosh Rao are allegedly planning to destroy our family and party. Harish Rao wasn't troubled but was a "bubble shooter." He allegedly gave money to work against KCR and KTR in the Assembly elections" What is Bangaru (golden) Telangana? If there is gold in the house of Harish Rao and Santosh Rao, that does not make Bangaru Telangana, said Kavitha. If there is a conspiracy against him, shouldn't KTR respond as the working president? Internal democracy should be created in the BRS. K. Kavitha resigns from the BRS party and her MLC post, a day after being suspended from the party.#KKavitha #BRS pic.twitter.com/DrK663cgRa All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 3, 2025 Kavita questioned why she was being painted as being against the party when she was fighting for a better Telangana. She also made further accusations against her cousins and questioned her brother Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao known as KTR. I went to Bhavan and met brother KTR. I told him about the conspiracies and the false campaign against me. I requested him, not even as a sister, at least as an MLC of our party, but he did not bother. He didnt even call me. This happened long back. As the Working President, as a party MLC, I complained about these conspiracies. Did you take any action on this, brother? Did you even speak a single word about it? VIDEO | Hyderabad: Suspended BRS leader K Kavitha (@RaoKavitha) says, I went to Bhavan and met brother KTR. I told him about the conspiracies and the false campaign against me. I requested him, not even as a sister, at least as an MLC of our party, but he did not bother. He pic.twitter.com/aY59kvggc5 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 3, 2025 She made the resignation announcement to the media saying in her first appearance since being suspended saying, I am resigning from the MLC position and the partys primary membership. I am sending my resignation to the Speaker and to K Chandrasekhar Rao." She then adressed her brother saying, Ram, Harish and Santosh may appear to be with you but they are not people who will think about you and Telangana. The party will survive only if they are left, Kavitha said. Even if I lose my life, I do not want to harm KCR and KTR. The BRS on Tuesday had announced that it was suspending Kavitha over her alleged anti-party activities. Kavitha's father and BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao decided to suspened her with immediate effect along with party General Secretary T Ravinder Rao and another General Secretary (in charge of disciplinary affairs) Soma Bharat Kumar. The party said that the leadership had taken a serious note of Kavithas behaviour in recent times. A day after Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange ended his hunger strike following the governments assurance on his demands, a section of OBC activists has warned of protest against any move to dilute the reservation quota. Jarange has been demanding a 10 per cent quota for Marathas in government jobs and education. He wants Marathas to be recognised as Kunbis, an agrarian caste included in the OBC category, which will make them eligible for reservation. He ended his agitation on Tuesday after the state government issued a resolution on the Hyderabad gazetteer and announced forming a committee to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage. The governments decision, however, has ruffled a few feathers. OBC activist Laxman Hake said the state has no right to accept the demand for providing Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas. He warned that the OBC communities will take to the streets against the decision. Hake claimed that the gazetteer doesn't say Marathas are socially backwards and should be provided a reservation. "Who says that revenue records in the gazetteer make them eligible for reservations?" the activist asked. "The Hyderabad gazetteer says Banjara is a Scheduled Tribe. Will the government give ST reservation to Banjaras? The government shouldn't create 10 other issues to resolve one. OBCs and VJNTs (Vimukt Jati and Nomadic Tribes) will take to the streets," Hake said. Another OBC activist, Mangesh Sasane, called the government resolution unconstitutional and said they will challenge it in court. "The government has kept the language in the GR vague and allowed a large number of Marathas to get into the OBC quota. The GR does not specify that documents of only blood relatives of the applicants will be termed valid to get Kunbi certificates. It only mentions relatives, which is not correct, he was quoted as saying by the Times of India. A few other OBC activists, Vitthal Talekar, Balasaheb Dakhane, Babasaheb Batule, Shrihari Nirmal, and Asaram Dongre, have already launched a hunger strike at Sonianagar in Jalna's Antarwali Sarati. On Tuesday, after Jarange ended his hunger strike, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government had convinced the protesters that the caste certificate could be given to individuals and not the community. "We have found a way out and accepted their most prominent demand to implement the Hyderabad gazetteer. We did not have two thoughts about it. They were demanding that it be implemented for all Marathas. But we tried to convince them that a reservation is not for a group but for individuals, hence this kind of decision cannot be taken as proof is needed for that. The Hyderabad gazetteer will be of help as proof," Fadnavis said. Belgium has announced it will recognise a Palestinian state at this months United Nations General Assembly, joining a growing number of countries seeking to pressure Israel over its war in Gaza. The decision was made public by Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, who stressed that formal recognition will depend on conditions aimed at balancing domestic political sensitivities and international expectations. While the announcement will be made in New York, Belgium will not issue a royal decree to formalise recognition until two conditions are met: the release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the exclusion of Hamas from any role in Palestinian governance. Prevot said he recognised the trauma caused to Israelis by the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 and insisted that formal recognition could only follow once these conditions were satisfied. He explained that while the idea of recognising a state should in principle be unconditional, the Belgian coalition required a conditional approach to accommodate differing views. La Palestine sera reconnue par la Belgique lors de la session de lONU ! Et des sanctions fermes sont prises a legard du gouvernement israelien. Tout antisemitisme ou glorification du terrorisme par les partisans du Hamas sera aussi plus fortement denonce. Au vu du Maxime PREVOT (@prevotmaxime) September 2, 2025 A government official clarified that no embassy would be opened nor other diplomatic steps taken until Hamas is disarmed and removed from Palestinian political structures. Alongside recognition, Belgium announced a package of twelve sanctions against Israel intended to pressure its government to respect international law. These include a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a review of public procurement involving Israeli firms, and restrictions on consular assistance to Belgians living in settlements deemed illegal. Judicial proceedings could be launched against individuals accused of atrocities in Gaza and Belgian airspace will be closed to military or dual-use goods destined for Israel as long as the war continues. Belgium will also impose entry bans. Two Israeli ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, along with several violent settlers and Hamas leaders, will be declared persona non grata and listed in the Schengen Information System. Prevot emphasised that these measures were not directed at Israeli citizens but at ensuring the government complies with humanitarian standards. He added that Belgium would push the European Union to suspend cooperation with Israel, including trade and research agreements, although full consensus among member states has so far proved elusive. Palestine will be recognised by Belgium at #UNGA. Firm sanctions are being taken against the Israeli government. Any antisemitism or glorification of terrorism by Hamas supporters will also be more strongly condemned. Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs https://t.co/U3oJOpVIfi Belgium MFA (@BelgiumMFA) September 2, 2025 The Belgian decision follows similar announcements by the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia. Ireland, Spain and Norway formally recognised Palestine last year. At present, 147 of the 193 UN member states recognise Palestinian statehood. France and Saudi Arabia are expected to co-host a meeting on recognition during the General Assembly, which runs from 9 to 23 September. Belgium has also pledged support for the New York Declaration, which sets out a phased plan for an independent demilitarised Palestine and condemns Hamas for the October 7 attacks. The decision drew sharp criticism in Israel. The foreign ministry argued that recognition rewards Hamas. National Security Minister Ben Gvir accused European states of being manipulated by terrorists and warned that they would suffer consequences of their own. Finance Minister Smotrich had earlier threatened to expand settlements in retaliation for any new recognitions. Opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman described Belgiums step as evidence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus failure to protect Israel diplomatically. The United States also condemned the move. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labelled Frances initiative reckless and claimed it only played into Hamass propaganda. Washington has taken further measures, including cancelling visas for 81 Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organisation delegates who had planned to attend the UN meeting. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Belgiums announcement, calling it consistent with international law and UN resolutions. Palestinian officials urged other countries to follow Belgiums lead in order to increase pressure on Israel and defend the two-state solution. The announcement comes against the backdrop of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed, including about 18,000 children. Food security experts report famine conditions in northern Gaza with malnutrition deaths rising and the risk of starvation spreading. Prevot described the situation as catastrophic and condemned the blocking of aid deliveries as a war crime. Israel disputes claims that famine has taken hold. Belgiums move highlights a growing split within the international community over how to address the conflict. While some countries offer Palestine recognition in order to salvage the two-state solution, others like the US feel it promotes extremism and hurts Israels security. Belgium has sought to chart a middle path by tying recognition to the release of hostages and the exclusion of Hamas. However, the decision to impose sanctions on Israel shows that Brussels is ready to act tough if needed. The return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon is widely viewed as a positive development, but it also highlights a complex dilemma. The fall of Assads regime in December 2024 and the beginning of a new transitional government headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa have set a new stage for the Syrian refugee crisis. Since then, the Lebanese government, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have launched a new program to assist what they term the voluntary return of Syrian refugees. The number of returnees from Lebanon is constantly increasing; recent reports from the Arida crossing the Northern border between Lebanon and Syria highlight logistical and administrative failures of the Syrian side. The reports of refugees facing delays and bureaucratic hardships pose critical questions: Is Syria ready to accept all its returning refugees? Does it have enough infrastructure to accommodate the new arrivals? How is the transitional government responding to the situation? These are some fundamental questions that need examination. Lebanon has a significant number of refugees per square kilometer, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in the world. According to the UNHCR estimation, the country holds 1.5 million Syrian refugees and 11,238 of other nationalities. With the deepening economic and political crisis, the situation in Lebanon has become worse for both its citizens and refugees. The ongoing crisis on the southern borders with Israel, along with its worst socio-economic conditions in decades, makes living difficult. The population, including the refugees, faces a sharp increase in poverty, with limited access to critical supply chains, including food, healthcare, education, and other basic services. As per the estimation, more than half of the Lebanese population lives below the poverty line, while 9 out of 10 Syrian refugees need humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs. According to UNHCR figures, 1.5 million Syrians reside in Lebanon, with only 716,312 officially registered. These refugees are scattered and living in various localities, including Bekaa (265,892), North Lebanon (214,363), Beirut (161,561), and South Lebanon (74,496). Out of the total registered refugees, more than half (51.9 percent) are under 18 years, and 51 percent of the refugees are female. Since the fall of Assads regime, almost 168,000 Syrian refugees returned from Lebanon, and it is expected to increase in the upcoming months. Meanwhile, UNHCR estimates that 843,994 Syrian refugees returned from neighboring countries. The condition of refugees remained the same, facing significant challenges after they arrived in Syria. These challenges include destroyed infrastructure, a broken economy with a lack of employment and services, and insecurity from violence in certain places. However, these challenges create a devastating triple bind involving a combination of resource deficit, market failure, and insufficient social protection. This shows the absorption of refugees in Syria is still debatable, and the country may struggle in accepting a large influx of returning refugees. A large number of Syrian refugees are finally returning from Lebanon to their home country. pic.twitter.com/ugojANaueR Beirut Wire (@beirutwire) August 26, 2025 In contrast to the existing integration and absorption problem, the transitional government is finding ways to absorb the refugees. On Thursday of last week, an official meeting took place at the ministrys headquarters in Damascus between Mohammad Anjrani, Minister of Local Administration and Environment, and representatives of IOM. It aims to support the return of Syrian refugees and enhance the capabilities of local administrations, given the high rate of returnees. During the meeting, Minister Anjrani emphasized the importance of restoring affected areas and building capacity for local institutions to support the returnees. IOM pledged to support the Syrian government in its efforts and provide other humanitarian assistance. The future of returning Syrian refugees remains deeply uncertain. Lebanons worsening socio-economic conditions make prolonged refugee presence increasingly difficult. Yet, Syrias lack of infrastructure, political instability, and resource limitations are challenging the returnees. As the transitional government seeks international support, much will depend on whether meaningful reconstruction occurs and whether the global community remains engaged. For now, the fate of millions of Syrian refugees lies between two struggling states: Will Lebanon or Syria be able to provide the security and stability they desperately need? The author is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to China for the SCO Summit - a landmark event that happened just after the Trump administration imposed a 50 percent tariff on India - gained global attention for its geo-political symbolism. International media reported in detail about the thaw in India-China relations, terming it a message for Trump. While India has yet to acknowledge the Trump factor as the reason behind the recent thaw, Chinese state-backed media Global Times has hit out at Western media for their snide remarks, stating they reflected lack of respect for India. An editorial that appeared in Global Times on Wednesday lashed out at Western establishment media for rushing to issue a series of snide remarks, while disregarding the fact that Beijing and New Delhi are making strategic choices based on their own interests. Global Times singled out the New York Times and Fox News for describing Modi's first visit to China as a mere side effect of the US tariff war. It suggested that such rhetoric reflected the Western anxiety and discomfort over the thaw in the relationship. They failed to recognise that the thaw in China-India relations is an inevitable trajectory driven by multiple shared interests, the report read. The warming of China-India relations is not a "side effect" of the US tariff war but a proactive choice for the future made by both nations, the editorial said, adding that signs of a thaw appeared long before. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Modi on the margins of the BRICS Summit in Kazan last year, Global Times said, adding that the Tianjin meeting was just a continuation of what happened in Kazan. It argued that these friendly interactions proved that the thaw was a sustained process, driven by their shared commitment to win-win cooperation rather than the external pressures portrayed by Western media. BREAKING: Modi pulls Putin and Xi together, locking hands in a show of unity at Chinas SCO summit pic.twitter.com/fTeRy5tSid RT (@RT_com) September 1, 2025 The report also quoted Long Xingchun, a professor from the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University, who said the reports from Western media typically reflected a black-and-white, friend-or-foe' mindset. "Such narratives also show a lack of respect for India. As a major sovereign power, India has independent diplomacy and strategic autonomy, and regarding its foreign relations, it makes its own decisions based on its own principles and interests," Long told Global Times. It accused the Western media of having rigid thinking that prevented them from grasping the internal logic of China-India relations. The editorial also mocked that these snide remarks were little more than expressions of discomfort on seeing the global power shift towards the East. They have observed that major developing countries are moving closer to each other, which makes them upset, it read. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un captured global attention as he landed in China on Wednesday for the Victory Day parade. Sporting a calm and smiling demeanor, Kim Jong-un was seen rubbing shoulders with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin as they walked towards the venue of the parade. Kim Jong-un, however, surprised onlookers as he ditched his traditional black Zhongshan suit, also known as a Mao suit, for a Western-style suit. Kims gesture of ditching the Zhongshan suit, a staple of socialist leaders in China and North Korea, was interpreted as a move to portray himself as a normal world leader alongside the leaders of China and Russia. However, on his arrival in China, Kim was seen sporting his traditional Zhongshan suit. However, he then changed into a black suit with a white shirt and red tie. For the parade, he switched to a gold tie. JUST IN: Russian President Putin and North Korea's President Kim Jong Un ride together in the same car. pic.twitter.com/EqP3JDvYKy BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) September 3, 2025 Though Kim had earlier too worn a western suit, North Korean leaders traditionally have worn the Zhongshan suit for official appearances. Kim Jong-uns predecessors, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-il, wore the Zhongshan suit consistently during field inspections, official events, and overseas visits. Another spectacle that garnered eyeballs was the use of a special licence plate in his Mercedes-Maybach limousine. The vehicle Kim drove from Beijing Railway station to the North Korean Embassy had a special name plate. The plate read 7271953, interpreted as a reference to July 27, 1953, the date of the Korean War armistice agreement. The day on the name plate has immense significance in North Korea as it is called the Victory Day of the Fatherland Liberation War, emphasising its historical significance as a triumph over the U.S. However, this is not the first time that the number plate was being used. During Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to North Korea last year, the same number appeared on the license plate of the Aurus Senat car, which Putin gifted to Kim. Many believe Kim Jong-uns public display of this plate is a signal to the US that it wont yield to its pressure. Many think he also highlighted anti-U.S. solidarity with China. United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, saying the business ties between the two nations had been totally one-sided for many decades. Trump said the US got along with India very well, but New Delhi was charging the US some of the highest tariffs in the world, creating a trade imbalance. "We get along with India very well. But, for many years, it was a one-sided relationship. India was charging us tremendous tariffs. They were the highest in the world, he said, while talking to the media at the White House. Therefore, we were not doing business with India, but they were doing business with us because we weren't charging them foolishly. So they sent in everything they made and poured it into the country. But we would not send in anything, as they were charging us with 100 per cent tariffs," he added. #WATCH | Washington, DC | US President Donald Trump says, "We get along with India very well, but for many years it was a one-sided relationship... India was charging us tremendous tariffs, the highest in the world. They were about the highest in the world... We weren't doing pic.twitter.com/qcU9uNEir3 ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2025 Trump cited the example of the US motor cycle company Harley Davidson to drive home his point. "Harley Davidson couldn't sell in India, as there was a 200 per cent tariff on a motorcycle... Harley Davidson went to India and built a motorcycle plant, and now they don't have to pay tariffs," he said. The US president further argued that thousands of companies, especially car companies, from China, Mexico and Canada are now shifting their production to America to avoid tariffs. "Now thousands of companies are coming into the US. Traditionally, car companies. They are coming from China, Mexico, and Canada. They want to build here because, number one, they like to be here, and number two, the tariffs are protecting them. And number three, they want to avoid paying tariffs. When you build their cars here, you don't have any tariffs," he said. On Monday, too, Trump had raised his allegation of trade imbalance with India. US President Donald Trump posts on Truth Social, says, "What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest client, but we sell them pic.twitter.com/CmD7j4jSdM ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2025 "What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest 'client', but we sell them very little," he had said in a post on Truth Social. Gold (GC=F) prices, already at record levels, are likely headed higher as rate cut expectations grow and Fed independence comes into question, according to JPMorgan analysts. On Wednesday, gold futures touched a record high north of $3,620 per troy ounce while immediate delivery bullion rose to as much as $3,546, also a new high. JPMorgan analysts forecast gold prices will rise further this year as investors expect the Federal Reserve to cut rates starting in September. Gold becomes more attractive to investors as falling rates reduce its competition with yield-bearing assets. "US Federal Reserve rate cuts in-line or exceeding expectations should catalyse further gold ETF inflows and thus drive gold prices to their year-end forecast of ~$3,675/oz," JPMorgan analyst Patrick Jones wrote in a note on Wednesday. From there, gold should reach $4,000 by the second quarter of next year and surge to $4,250 by the end of 2026, especially if the Trump administration's attempt to remove Fed governor Lisa Cook is successful. Cook's departure could have wider implications for reshaping the central bank, the analysts said. "We believe any potential weakening of the US Federal Reserve's independence could have significant implications for long-term gold prices," Jones wrote. Read more: How to invest in gold in 4 steps Silver (SI=F) prices also broke to new 14-year highs, surging past $41 per ounce on Wednesday. JPMorgan analysts said rising precious metal prices should boost earnings for international mining companies such as South African miner AngloGold (AU) and Mexico-based silver miner Fresnillo (FRES.L), whose shares have gained 160% and 231% year to date, respectively. Mining stocks such as Canada-based Alamos Gold (AGI) and Colorado-based Newmont (NEM) have each surged 78% and more than 100%, respectively, year to date. Gold futures are up 39% this year, driven by central bank buying and increased inflows into physically backed exchange-traded funds. The precious metal has far outperformed the S&P 500 (^GSPC) and even bitcoin (BTC-USD), which are up 9% and 20%, respectively, during the same period. On Tuesday, UBS reiterated its forecast of $3,700 per ounce by June 2026, noting that an increase to $4,000 "in a risk scenario where geopolitical or economic conditions deteriorate cannot be ruled out." Earlier this month, Goldman Sachs analysts reaffirmed their forecast of $4,000 per troy ounce for mid-2026, "driven by structurally strong central bank demand and ETF-inflows" supported by Fed easing. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday expressed his willingness to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow, adding that he had never ruled out meeting the Ukrainian leader. However, Zelenskyy said the proposal was unacceptable. .@POTUS: "I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and he'll make a decision... we'll either be happy about it or unhappy and if we're unhappy about it, you'll see things happen." pic.twitter.com/dwKnbcGuRT Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 3, 2025 "Ive never ruled out meeting Zelenskyy. But the question is whether it can be meaningful. If meeting with Zelenskyy is well prepared, then I'm ready to meet," Putin said. "Let Zelenskyy come to Moscow and the meeting will happen." Why did Volodymyr Zelenskyy turn down Putin's demand to meet in Moscow? Zelenskyy's government said the proposal was unacceptable, saying Putin continues to mess around with everyone. Right now, at least seven countries are ready to host a meeting between leaders of Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the war. Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Turkiye, and three Gulf states. These are serious proposals and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting pic.twitter.com/b19VquSEFU Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) September 3, 2025 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said seven countries, including Austria, the Vatican, Switzerland and three Gulf states, offered to host the potential meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. "These are serious proposals and President Zelenskiy is ready for such a meeting at any point in time," he posted on X. While speaking at a presser in Beijing to mark the conclusion of his China visit as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Putin expressed hope that there is a chance of achieving peace but warned that the war will continue if the talks fail. "I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Ukraine conflict can end if common sense prevails. Let's see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to accomplish our goals militarily," said Putin. He claimed that Russia does not intend to seize land but wants to protect cultural and linguistic rights in contested regions. "We are not fighting for territories, we are fighting for peoples rights so that they can speak their language and practice their culture," Putin asserted, adding that if those people want to be part of Russia, everyone should respect that decision. Talking about Ukraine's NATO ambitions, Putin said that every nation has the right to ensure its security but it should not be at another nation's expense. However, he said Moscow is not against Kyiv's economic ambitions, hinting that Ukraine is free to join the European Union. This comes as Zelenskyy urged European allies to put more pressure on Moscow, as he landed in Denmark on Wednesday as part of his European visit. Earlier in the day, Russia launched more than 500 drones and several missiles to target energy and transport facilities in 14 sites. New Delhi/Gurugram, Sep 3 (PIT) A notorious criminal wanted by Haryana Police, Mainpal Dhilla, was extradited from Cambodia in an operation coordinated by the CBI in collaboration with the state police, Union home ministry and external affairs ministry, officials said on Wednesday. Dhilla, who also goes by the alias of Maipal Badli and Sonu Kumar, has several serious cases, including that of murder, registered against him and was serving life term. He is also accused of committing a murder while in jail. He was released on parole on July 17, 2018, after which he escaped abroad on a fake identity. On a request from Haryana Police, the CBI got a Red Notice published against Dhilla through Interpol on November 6, 2024 and contacted NCB Bangkok, which revealed that he had travelled from Thailand to Cambodia. The CBI immediately contacted NCB-Phnom Penh and informed the authorities that the wanted criminal was travelling on a fraudulent travel document in the name of Sonu Kumar, officials said. "A request for provisional arrest was sent to NCB-Phnom Penh, Cambodia, through Interpol channels on March 26, 2025. NCB-Phnom Penh on July 24, 2025 conveyed the arrest of the subject and requested for Extradition Request through diplomatic channels. Cambodian authorities later intimated that they had decided to hand over the subject to Indian authorities," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a team of Haryana Police went to Cambodia and brought back Dhilla on Tuesday, they said. Dhilla was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence of murder, attempt to murder, illegal use of firearms and criminal conspiracy on April 29, 2013 in a case registered in Bahadurgarh. He was also previously convicted in two more cases. While, he was undergoing sentence in jail, he was released on six weeks' parole from Hisar Central Jail, but he did not report back to jail and absconded. This is the moment a daredevil motocross rider jumps between two moving trucks, not only backflipping between the HGVs but also clearing a motorway gantry at the same time. But the bonkers stunt performed by professional freestyle motocrosser Luc Ackermann almost goes horribly wrong. The feat is the latest in a back catalogue of high-octane stunts masterminded by Red Bull and its team of sponsored athletes. Described the terrifying leap, it said it was 'as much a scientific achievement as a display of Ackermann's skill and instinct'. From the bed of a truck moving at 12mph, the 27-year-old from Muhlhausen in Germany accelerates his KTM motorcycle to 54mph before launching off a ramp into the air at a combined speed of 46mph. Mid-flight, Ackermann then performs a jaw-dropping 'Tsunami Backflip' while clearing a nine-metre-high barrier like motorists in England typically see when driving along a smart motorway. The jump spanned 40 metres, with a 23-metre gap between the two moving HGVs. With his brother, fellow freestyle motocross rider Hannes, onboard the take-off truck to give the critical signal for the exact moment to launch - which crucially depended on precise timing within a window of just half a second - the trick almost takes a shocking turn for the worse. The footage shows Ackermann being hit by a gust of wind, which appears to push him off-course while flying through the air upside down, landing perilously close to the side of the second truck's trailer. This is the moment a daredevil motocross rider jumps between two moving trucks, not only backflipping between the HGVs but also clearing a motorway gantry at the same time. But the 'meticulously planned' trick stunt doesn't go entirely to plan... The Red Bull Bridge Traverse is the first ever attempt to jump between two moving vehicles, let alone over a motorway gantry Despite the hair-raising landing, Red Bull says the world's first 'Bridge Traverse' between two moving trucks was 'meticulously planned and calculated to ensure maximum safety'. Thomas Stoggl, head of global performance innovation at the company's Athlete Performance Centre in Thalgau, Austria, reportedly analysed 'every detail' of the stunt. He measured the motorcycles acceleration and the trucks speeds, the take-off angle, the flight trajectory and wind conditions, Red Bull says. 'This detailed preparation turned what may have appeared to be a high-risk stunt to the casual observer, into what was in fact a controlled and calculated operation,' the energy drink maker claimed. Having watched the footage, we're not entirely convinced... 'The project has been likened to solving a live physics equation, where velocity, trajectory and aerodynamics had to align perfectly in a split-second decision a breathtaking mix of science and skill,' it added. Yet there's no question that a gust of wind blows Luc off course as his motorcycle is pushed sideways during the backflip and he almost collides with the raised side of the second truck's landing ramp as a result. From the bed of a truck moving at 12mph, the 27-year-old from Muhlhausen in Germany accelerates his KTM motorcycle to 54mph before launching off a ramp into the air at a combined speed of 46mph. Mid-flight, Ackermann then performs a jaw-dropping 'Tsunami Backflip' while clearing a nine-metre-high barrier like you would see on a UK smart motorway Red Bull's detailed video of the Bridge Traverse stunt, filmed using a drone, shows Ackermann being pushed off-course by the wind while he's hanging upside down from his KTM motorcycle As you can see from this angle, Ackermann's jump trajectory shifts dramatically after performing the backflip... This clip taken from the drone footage shows just how close Ackermann is to missing the second truck's landing ramp, touching down on the absolute edge of the HGV... The truck drivers were given the daunting task of keeping the 31-metre-long HGVs at a constant speed, dead straight and with a gap of 23 metres so that Luc could perform the jump on a German motorway in Aldenhoven. To make matters more difficult, the Tsunami Backflip is one of the most complex and dangerous moves to perform. Yet, Ackermann says it is 'one of his favourite tricks'. He explained: 'I flip the bike upside down while holding onto the handlebars and basically hang underneath the bike in a straight line. The hardest part is rotating back on the bike before I land.' Rather him than us! He clears the motorway gantry by some three metres to ensure he wouldn't make contact with the metal structure his legs while flying inverted clinging onto the KTM machine. Despite the hair-raising landing, Red Bull says the world's first 'Bridge Traverse' between two moving trucks was 'meticulously planned and calculated to ensure maximum safety' Thomas Stoggl (pictured right), head of global performance innovation at the company's Athlete Performance Centre in Thalgau, Austria, reportedly analysed 'every detail' of the Ackermann's stunt The death-defying jump was conducted on a closed section of carriageway in Aldenhoven close to the Belgium border some 40 miles west of Dusseldorf During practice runs, the stunt rider admitted: 'Right now, the wind is kind of strong. So, on my first jump, the wind sent me so far to the side, so I was super scared' Before taking on the death-defying attempt, Ackermann said: 'Not only with the movement give me vertigo, I also need to be aware of crosswinds and I need to be 100 per cent accurate on my timing in order not to hit the sign.' During practice runs, the stunt rider admitted: 'Right now, the wind is kind of strong. So, on my first jump, the wind sent me so far to the side, so I was super scared.' While the highway is closed in the direction Luc and the trucks are travelling, it appears the dual carriageway in the opposite direction is open as normal, with drivers capturing the incredible moment on their phones. Though this will have been staged by Red Bull - a clear giveaway by the fortunate product placement in one of the brand's social media clips below. The jump spanned 40 metres, with a 23-metre gap between the two moving HGVs. Ackermann pictured high-fiving one of the truck drivers before taking on the hair-raising 'Red Bull Bridge Traverse' stunt in Aldenhoven, Germany Ackermann says the Tsunami Backflip is 'one of his favourite tricks'. He explained: 'I flip the bike upside down while holding onto the handlebars and basically hang underneath the bike in a straight line. The hardest part is rotating back on the bike before I land' After completing the stunt, Ackermann, 27, from Muhlhausen in Germany said he was 'overwhelmed' with emotion 'The preparations took several days and there was so much tension. 'To have that lifted was simply overwhelming. I really celebrated I basically went half crazy,' the daredevil commented After successfully completing the incredible trick, Ackermann described the emotional release as 'overwhelming'. 'The feeling after the jump was incredible because I realised it was just enough,' he said. 'The preparations took several days and there was so much tension. 'To have that lifted was simply overwhelming. I really celebrated I basically went half crazy.' When commenting on the involvement of the specially trained truck drivers - Franz Reinthaler and Walter Kranawendter - Ackermann added: 'I have to have complete trust in my team for this project.' A hacking group behind cyber-attacks on Marks and Spencer and the Co-op has now claimed responsibility for targeting the UK's biggest car maker. The IT disruption aimed at Jaguar Land Rover has crippled production lines - and there are fears the firm could be vulnerable to ransom demands ahead. The incident left motor dealers unable to register cars with the new 75 licence plate. It is the latest major UK brand to be targeted by hackers after not only M&S and the Co-op but also Harrods fell victim to hacking chaos earlier this year. Jaguar Land Rover admitted this week its retail and production activities had been 'severely disrupted' - while insisting it was working to restart its operations in a controlled manner. The company, owned by India's Tata Motors, said it had not found any evidence at this stage that any customer data had been stolen after it shut down its systems to mitigate impact. But the cyber groups known as Scattered Spider and Shiny Hunters today told of being able to exploit an apparent glitch in the company's IT systems - while boasting of gaining access to customer data. The two organisations, believed to largely comprise teenagers and young men in English-speaking nations, now describe themselves as 'one and the same' - while rebranding themselves as 'Scattered Lapsus Hunters'. Staff are seen assembling Range Rover Evoque SUVs on the production line at Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood factory in Liverpool in December 2022 - the plant was closed on Monday It is the latest major UK brand to be targeted by hackers after M&S and the Co-op fell victim to hacking chaos earlier this year - shoppers are seen here in central London A screenshot was shared online by a user on a Telegram messenger group linked to the two groups, purporting to show access to JLRs internal systems. And the Telegraph quoted a group member, identifying as 'Shiny', that they had made the most of a flaw in third-party software to access consumers' data. Three male teenagers and a 20-year-old woman were arrested in association with the previous retail attacks on Marks and Spencer and the Co-op. Jaguar Land Rover - which recently wound down production of new Jaguars ahead of its switch to electric vehicles - sent staff home from its Halewood plant near Liverpool on Monday following the cyber-attack. The firm said in a statement: 'JLR has been impacted by a cyber incident. We took immediate action to mitigate its impact by proactively shutting down our systems. 'We are now working at pace to restart our global applications in a controlled manner. 'At this stage there is no evidence any customer data has been stolen but our retail and production activities have been severely disrupted.' Mark Tibbs, from law firm Mishcon's cyber risk and complex investigations practice, told how Jaguar Land Rover's statement acknowledging the attack was 'yet another unwelcome reminder of the threats facing British brands'. The IT disruption by hacker aimed at JLR has crippled production lines (stock image) He added: 'JLR's swift action in proactively shutting down and working to restore systems, along with their transparent messaging, shows commendable crisis management. 'However, the severe disruption to retail and production activities highlights just how serious the impacts of cyber attacks can be. While the details of this latest attack have not been made public, it follows unconfirmed media reports from March that JLR was targeted by the Hellcat ransomware group. 'In that incident, attackers allegedly used stolen Atlassian Jira credentials, obtained by malware, to access internal systems and steal sensitive data. 'When faced with cyber attacks, companies may be forced to switch off OT [operational technology] systems as a precaution, to prevent the attack from spreading or causing physical damage. 'Alternatively, the disruption could be a result of IT systems being so interconnected with production processes that any shutdown has a direct knock-on effect on manufacturing. 'Either way, this will likely lead to delays, supply chain interruptions and challenges for deliveries to customers and retailers.' The latest cyber-attack has occurred at the worst time possible for JLR, with the new age identifying number plates issued on March 1 and September 1 each year coinciding with manufacturers doing deals to attract buyers. A JLR dealer initially raised the problem with Autocar magazine on Monday, saying it has been unable to register any cars. Indian-owned Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover logos are displayed at a showroom in New Delhi The dealership could not provide details of the IT problem and reported that a resolution has yet to be found. It means JLR has yet to register a new model this month. Dray Agha, senior manager of security operations at security specialist Huntress, said: 'This incident highlights the critical vulnerability of modern manufacturing, where a single IT system attack can halt a multi-billion-pound physical production line, directly impacting sales, especially during a key period. 'Cyber criminals know this and many leverage the stopped clock of business functions as what they need to force capitulation of ransomware demands. 'It is not known if ransomware was involved in the Jaguar attack but ransomware actors target manufacturers for a reason.' The disruption adds to JLR's troubles after a report in July said it had delayed the launch of its electric Range Rover and Jaguar models for more testing and in the hope that sluggish demand would pick up. The car firm declined to comment on the potential identity of the hackers. The boss of Japanese drinks giant Suntory has quit after a probe was opened into his purchase of a suspected illegal supplement. Police are investigating whether Takeshi Niinami breached Japans strict cannabis laws, Tokyo media has reported. Niinami, 66, who has denied any wrongdoing, is suspected of buying products containing THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. He told the firm, which owns Ribena, Lucozade and Bowmore whisky, that he believed the supplements were legal. Suntorys president, Nobuhiro Torii, said that Niinamis actions fall short of the qualities required of a leader. Klarna has unveiled plans for a second attempt to list in New York at a valuation of as much as 10billion. The Swedish-based buy-now-pay-later firm is returning to Wall Street after it paused previous plans for an initial public offering earlier this year. That was blamed on Donald Trumps erratic tariffs shaking global financial markets this spring. But yesterday the business revived the plans as investor appetite returns. Klarna which has been promoted by media personality Paris Hilton, is aiming to raise as much as 950million, with shares priced between 26 and 28. Klarna was valued at 34billion in a private capital fundraiser in 2021. But this tumbled to 5.2billion the following year during a widespread crash in tech valuations. The group said sales hit 615million in the three months to the end of June, a 20 per cent increase on the year before. Although Google will not be forced to sell of its Chrome browser or Android, it will have to make certain search data available to qualified competitors to promote competition. - Mike Blake/Reuters/File A court will not force Google to sell off its Chrome browser or Android, a federal judge said in a court filing on Tuesday. The decision serves as a significant win for the tech company, which has avoided the most extreme possible outcome from a landmark antitrust case that determined the company was operating an illegal online search monopoly. Although Google will not be forced to sell of its Chrome browser or Android, it will have to make certain search data available to qualified competitors to promote competition. It will also be barred from entering into or maintaining exclusive contracts related to the distribution of services like Chrome, Search, the Google Assistant and its Gemini app. Those agreements provide a significant source of revenue for Google and broad access to its services, although the company had proposed ditching those contracts as a potential remedy in the case. US District Court Judge Amit Mehta said in a ruling Tuesday that he had accepted Googles proposed remedies, in part. The trial put Googles core business under a microscope at a time when it is already under threat of being toppled by AI chatbots. And it comes as the company is also gearing up to defend the operation of its online advertising business after it, too, was found to be an illegal monopoly earlier this year. Google will not be required to divest Chrome; nor will the court include a contingent divestiture of the Android operating system in the final judgment, the filing read. In a statement on Tuesday, Google said the decision underlined how much the tech industry has changed with AI, which is giving people so many more ways to find information. However, it also cited privacy concerns with the agreements. The Court has imposed limits on how we distribute Google services, and will require us to share Search data with rivals. We have concerns about how these requirements will impact our users and their privacy, and were reviewing the decision closely, the company said. The Justice Department said in a statement on Tuesday that the ruling recognizes the need for remedies that will pry open the market for general search services, and the need to prevent Google from using the same anticompetitive tactics for its GenAI products as it used to monopolize the search market. We will continue to review the opinion to consider the Departments options and next steps regarding seeking additional relief, the statement quoted Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater as saying. The ruling was closely watched across Silicon Valley, as other major tech giants are also fighting antitrust cases brought by the US government. Diageo plc (LON:DGE Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the eight brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 2,198.75. Several brokerages have recently issued reports on DGE. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 2,250 target price on shares of Diageo in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Diageo from GBX 2,750 to GBX 2,480 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Berenberg Bank reduced their target price on Diageo from GBX 2,372 to GBX 2,370 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on Diageo from GBX 1,840 to GBX 1,790 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 2,300 price objective on shares of Diageo in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Get Diageo alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Diageo Insider Activity at Diageo Diageo Price Performance In related news, insider John Alexander Manzoni purchased 410 shares of Diageo stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 1,600 per share, for a total transaction of 6,560. Insiders have purchased 1,148 shares of company stock valued at $2,012,936 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock. Shares of LON:DGE opened at GBX 1,645.50 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of 36.59 billion, a PE ratio of 15.57, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.36. The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 1,761.32 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 1,875.67. Diageo has a 1-year low of GBX 1,587 and a 1-year high of GBX 2,619.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 234.57, a current ratio of 1.94 and a quick ratio of 0.62. About Diageo (Get Free Report) Diageo is a global leader in premium drinks, across spirits and beer, a business built on the principles and foundations laid by the giants of the industry. With over 200 brands sold in 180 countries, our portfolio has remarkable breadth. From centuries-old names to exciting new entrants, and global giants to local legends, were building the very best brands out there, and with over 30,000 talented people based in over 135 countries, were a truly global company. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Diageo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Diageo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE:GTN) is one of the 14 Best Cheap Dividend Stocks to Buy Under $10. Despite the mixed second-quarter results, the company thrives with the renewal of Fox affiliation agreements and a new video streaming deal. Gray Media Secures Fox Renewal and Google Streaming Deal Amid Revenue Drop Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE:GTN), formerly known as Gray Television, Inc., is a publicly traded television broadcasting company headquartered in Georgia. As one of the largest television station operators in the U.S, the company owns and/or operates stations and digital assets in numerous markets across the country. Its portfolio includes affiliates of major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. On August 8, 2024, Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE:GTN) reported its second-quarter earnings results. The report indicated a 7% decline in the total revenue compared to the same quarter previous year. Later, on August 18, 2025, Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE:GTN) announced reaching an agreement with the Fox Television Network. The agreement extends the network affiliations for all the companys Fox-affiliated television stations across 27 markets. Additionally, on August 21, 2025, the company reported a new video streaming deal with Google Cloud. The deal involves a full end-to-end solution on Google Cloud, powered by Quickplay. The companys President and Co-CEO, Pat LaPlatney, made the following statement: With this game-changing infrastructure, we are leading the charge into the future of local streaming, one personalized viewing experience at a time. Investors interested in purchasing the stock must take note of its current dividend yield of 5.25% and the closing stock price $6.09 as of August 28, 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of GTN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 11 Best Energy Dividend Stocks to Invest in and 11 Best Annual Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds Disclosure. None. This story was originally published on Multifamily Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Multifamily Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Toni Eubanks will assume executive leadership of Greystars U.S. Property Management business effective Jan. 1, 2026, according to a Sept. 2 news release. She will report to CEO Bob Faith. After 26 years at the company, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Livingstone will step down from his current role at the end of the year and transition into a senior advisor role, while also joining the Greystar Board of Directors. The executive transition began two years ago, when Eubanks and Mike Clow, the executive director of real estate, began sharing day-to-day operations, according to the news release. Clow will now report to Eubanks, but his role is broadening. Dive Insight: Eubanks, who has worked at the Charleston, South Carolina-based owner, operator and developer for 17 years, began her career in multifamily as a leasing consultant. Toni is a strong, steady, and deeply respected leader who knows our business inside and out, Faith said in the news release. From her start on-site to her current leadership role, Toni has helped shape how we operate and grow our business every day. Over the years, Eubanks has led regional operations nationwide, integrated major acquisitions and helped scale a complex property management platform, according to the release. She has expanded services, strengthened operational consistency and helped position the business for long-term growth. Our success starts at the site level, and my focus will be making sure our teams have what they need to deliver for residents every day, Eubanks said in the news release. Clow will work closely with Faith to grow Greystars U.S. property management business, whether through organic growth or merger and acquisition activities. He will also continue to drive revenue growth for the organization with a focus on Greystars client portfolio. This is about leaning into both of their strengths, a Greystar spokesperson told Multifamily Dive in an email. Toni is stepping into a well-earned U.S. leadership role, and Mike continues to be a major force shaping the business here and abroad. Livingstone, who joined Greystar in 1999, has been an architect of Greystars property management platform. The firm, which is the U.S.s largest owner and operator of apartments, manages more than 1 million units and beds globally. In his new capacity as senior advisor, Livingstone will focus on long-term strategic initiatives and innovation-driven projects to support the firms global growth. Intel Corporation (INTC), with a market cap of $106.6 billion, is a leading global semiconductor company that designs and manufactures microprocessors, chipsets, and other computing solutions for PCs, data centers, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Intel is known for its x86 architecture and integrated device manufacturing model. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are typically classified as large-cap stocks, and INTC fits the label perfectly, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within the semiconductor industry. The company is expanding into advanced process technology, graphics, and foundry services, aiming to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor market. More News from Barchart This semiconductor company has dipped 11.6% from its 52-week high of $27.55, reached on Feb. 18. Moreover, it has surged 20.3% over the past three months, trailing the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETFs (XSD) 26.1% returns during the same time frame. www.barchart.com In the longer term, Intel has climbed 24.2% over the past 52 weeks, surpassing the XSDs 22.8% return during the same period. Moreover, on a YTD basis, shares of INTC are up 21.5%, compared to XSDs 15.2% uptick. To confirm its recent bullish trend, Intel has been trading above its 200-day and 50-day moving averages since mid-August. www.barchart.com On Aug. 7, Shares of Intel fell 3.1% after former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, calling for the immediate resignation of the companys CEO, alleging the executive is highly conflicted. In the competitive semiconductor industry, top rival Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.s (AMD) 34.6% rise in 2025 surpasses INTCs YTD gains, but its 11.1% rise over the past year trails INTC. Given Intels recent underperformance relative to its broader sector, analysts remain cautious about its prospects. The stock has a consensus rating of "Hold from the 39 analysts covering it, and is currently trading above the mean price target of $21.86. On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah 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 Swedish buy now, pay later (BNPL) startup Klarna and its shareholders are reviving its initial public offering, hoping to raise as much as $1.27 billion in a listing that would value the company at up to $14 billion. The company and some of its shareholders are together selling approximately 34.3 million shares between $35 and $37 each, the company said in an update to its registration statement on Tuesday. Klarna would receive proceeds from about 5.6 million shares, while its shareholders are offloading nearly 29 million shares. The company plans to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker KLAR. Klarna has long been expected to go public thanks to the massive success of its BNPL lending model in the wake of the post-pandemic boom: Six years after launching in the U.S., the company hit a valuation of more than $45 billion in 2021. However, the company has been putting off its IPO plans as the market turned at the end of the ZIRP era, its price tag declining by 85% to $6.5 billion when the 2021 venture capital valuation bubble burst. Still, Klarnas been growing well: Its revenue rose 54% to $823 million in the second quarter compared to a year earlier, thanks to a 14% increase in its gross merchandise value to $6.9 billion. The companys bottom line is still in the red with net loss coming in at $53 million, though thats 42% less than its net loss of $92 million a year earlier. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley are running the offering, and BoFA Securities, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Societe Generale, UBS, and several other banks are also working on the deal. Packaged food giant the Kraft Heinz Company announced on Tuesday that its board of directors has unanimously approved a plan to split into two separate, publicly traded companies. Most Read from Fast Company The proposed split will essentially reverse a merger between the companies from 2015, which has not provided favorable long-term results. Shares of Kraft Heinz (NYSE:KHC) were down more than 4% in early trading on Tuesday after the announcement. The stock is down 13% year to date and more than 25% over the last 12 months. What will the breakup look like? The names of the two separate companies have yet to be decided. The first company, referred to in the news release as Global Taste Elevation Co., will primarily feature shelf-stable meals. It will include brands like Heinz, Kraft Mac & Cheese, and Philadelphia. The second company, referred to in the news release as North American Grocery Co., will feature a scaled portfolio of North American staples. It will include brands like Kraft Singles, Lunchables, and Oscar Mayer. The proposed separation is intended to be tax-free, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2026. According to Kraft Heinz, the split is intended to maximize Kraft Heinzs capabilities and brands while reducing complexity, allowing both new companies to more effectively deploy resources toward their distinct strategic priorities. By separating into two companies, we can allocate the right level of attention and resources to unlock the potential of each brand to drive better performance and the creation of long-term shareholder value, said Miguel Patricio, executive chair of the Kraft Heinz board, in a statement. A question-and-answer session is scheduled for today, Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Mega-merged companies are thinking smaller The proposed split follows a recent trend in which larger companies are splitting into two smaller entities, sometimes undoing the size and scale theyd achieved by merging in the first place. In 2023, The Kellogg Companys board of directors approved a plan to split into two separate entities: Kellanova, which would focus on snack foods, and WK Kellogg Co, which would primarily focus on cereals. The separation was finalized in October 2023. Unilever, meanwhile, announced plans in 2024 to spin off its ice cream division as a separate company. The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which will operate as a stand-alone business featuring brands such as Ben & Jerrys, Magnum, and Walls, is expected to go public during the last quarter of 2025. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please visit my profile to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, disable notifications and hide this message. Market machinations aside, top of mind is the likelihood of a deja vu scenario emerging in the context of Kellogg. A planned split of that business was announced in mid-2022 and completed late in 2023 in what materialised as the companies of WK Kellogg and Kellanova. The company added: At the same time, we recognise that we have one of the most complex portfolios in CPG, competing in more categories than any other company in the space. We believe that focus allows for a range of operational benefits and is a common trait among higher-growth companies. In Kraft Heinzs presentation words yesterday, the split offers the optimal path to accelerate profitable growth and by doing so, driving higher levels of long-term value for shareholders. Also, we believe the long waiting period for the split to occur represents an overhang, too. For example, Kellogg stock underperformed the Consumer Staples index by 12% during the circa 1.5-year period between split announcement in 2022 and finalisation in 2023. These comments reinforce our view that Berskhire's position represents an overhang to the stock due to the likelihood they will exit their position. Buffett, incidentally, who holds around a 27% share in Kraft Heinz, was said to be disappointed with the marriage break-up , as reported by CNBC yesterday. As the companys largest single shareholder, a key question now is whether he will remain invested in the $26bn revenue business (2024). Hence the rolling back of the 2015 mega merger of Kraft Foods and HJ Heinz, a merger instigated by billionaire investor and Berkshire Hathaway owner Warren Buffett in partnership with 3G Capital. For Kraft Heinz, and for some of its big food US peers, theres also the question of bloated portfolios that are hard to manage and grow effectively, along with houses of legacy brands that dont necessarily appeal to younger generations. For a US food industry fighting to revive volumes, margins and revenue growth in the wake of inflation-linked pricing, which in some respects has been quantified as excessive, a lot of water can flow under the bridge in that time. Its perhaps that uncertainty that saw Kraft Heinzs shares end the day in the red yesterday (2 September) as the separation was confirmed but not set in stone. Final details will not be concluded until the back half of next year. The partitioning of Kraft Heinz immediately evokes thoughts of the separation of Kellogg Co. in 2022-23 and whether the split opens the door to M&A. A host of potential scenarios could play out before the current uncertainty is quashed. Story Continues Fast-forward to 2025, Ferrero and Mars stepped in to buy those businesses, albeit with completion in the hands of regulators. Will Kraft Heinz, set to be reincarnated into two separate publicly listed entities next year, eventually end up going down the same route? Management appears to have left the door open, judging by yesterdays language. Leading gross margins, combined with reduced operational complexity and lower volatility, set the stage for Global Taste Elevation Co. to generate attractive discretionary cash flow, the presentation read. But more revealingly, Kraft Heinz said: This, in turn, unlocks financial flexibility whether that be to reinvest in the business, future M&A, or further capital return to shareholders. Global Taste Elevation, the name attached to one of the spin-off businesses for now, generated sales last year of $15.4bn and an adjusted EBITDA print of around $4bn, according to Kraft Heinz. Post-division, it will revolve around sauces, spreads and seasonings (legacy HJ Heinz), and includes brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The smaller staples unit identified as the North American Grocery Co. had sales of $10.4bn and an adjusted EBITDA of around $2.3bn last year. It will feature brands such as Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. M&A murmurings Kraft Heinz said in its presentation the division is expected to consistently generate strong cash flow to support efficient capital allocation, including a highly competitive dividend. But read what you will into the follow-up sentence: It also has the financial flexibility to consider strategic transactions, leveraging our capabilities in operational efficiency. Bernstein analyst Alexia Howard questioned the intentions for North American Grocery during a Q&A session yesterday with Kraft Heinz management, framing her approach in the context that acquisitions might just fly in the face in terms of the focus of the split. Carlos Abrams-Rivera, who will remain as group CEO until the partition and then take the helm of the new grocery unit, was non-committal. How do we actually drive further focus? he countered rhetorically. I actually believe that scale does matter but that still has to be linked to focus. So to the extent that there are areas that can help us drive further focus that could be a transaction that we can entertain for the future. Howard presented some observations on the potential path forward in a follow-up research note posted after yesterdays Q&A. This is an intriguing prospect for the industry more broadly, since we have pointed to the substantial cost synergies that could be generated through further consolidation, particularly in light of Kelloggs recent separation into Kellanova and the WK Kellogg company and now likely subsequent mergers with Mars and Ferrero, respectively. Interestingly, she said North America Grocery could potentially land in the hands of US peer Conagra Brands, although this would not fit with managements [Kraft Heinz] stated objective of preserving focus. Howard even suggested, with an emphasis on perhaps, the possibility of an eventual acquisition of the Taste Elevation company by another more global food company like General Mills or one of the larger European names. Credit: Kenishirotie/Shutterstock Joining CEO Abrams-Rivera and CFO Andre Maciel on yesterdays analyst call was Miguel Patricio, who was at the helm of Kraft Heinz from mid-2019 to January 2024. Patricio, who is now executive chairman, hammered home the focus theme as a key characteristic of the intended separation. This split is about two great companies with great brands and great possibilities Miguel Patricio, Kraft Heinz This split is not between a good company and a bad company. This split is about two great companies with great brands and great possibilities. It's really a split thinking that focus will help us tremendously. Operating with 56 different categories, we have to make and define priorities when we are taking decisions. By dividing this company, we are going to give the attention that part of this portfolio is not getting right now. Operating with scale Returning to the scale topic put forward by Abrams-Rivera, a point emerged yesterday that the Kraft Foods and HJ Heinz merger was built on the concept of scale, yet too much scale and complexity are now resulting in the unwinding. CFO Maciel explained in response: Scale does matter and we were intentional in making sure that we preserve the scale in those geographic situations and markets that we are competing in. What I will say is scale by itself is not enough. [A separation] actually allows us to make sure that we have that level of focus now as we go forward, and at the same time maintaining a level of scale that I think is important to compete in this marketplace. Kraft Heinz expects to incur around $300m in so-called dis-synergies from the business split, or in other words the disruptions that can occur from M&A transactions. Maciel said the costs mainly revolve around cost of goods sold (COGS), logistics but with minimal overlap in manufacturing, IT costs, sales and marketing functions, and duplication of corporate functions. Job losses no doubt? David Clark, the former General Mills executive and now consultant, said the dis-synergies are not huge but do present a headwind as he looks toward how Kraft Heinz will build the value creation bridge post-transaction. This reads just like the Kellogg split two years ago better focus, better capital allocation, reduced complexity David Clark, Avenir Strategies Writing on LinkedIn, Clark also suggested that one of Kraft Heinzs new business units might end up in the hands of another party. This reads just like the Kellogg split two years ago better focus, better capital allocation, reduced complexity. Kraft Heinz is following the playbook, and I'm sure hoping there is a match for one, if not both, of these companies, he said. Kraft Heinz, meanwhile, has built its planned split on five principles. Quoting from the initial statement, the company proposed the split delivers long-term sustainable value creation; preserves the financial discipline that is part of our DNA; ensures that we maintain relevant scale while at the same time minimising complexity and dis-synergies; maximises the value of our iconic portfolio of brands; [and] all while maintaining attractive capital returns while preserving balance sheet flexibility. John Baumgartner, a managing director at Mizuho Securities, greeted yesterdays initial announcement as being largely in line with market expectations following Kraft Heinzs revelation in May of a strategic review and the media reports in July of a business separation as the likely outcome. However, he said there are still lingering growth questions, before writing in a follow-up note post the Q&A session that street scepticism remains high. With the final details and complexities of the split not due until late next year ample time exists for Kraft Heinz to demonstrate improved competitiveness, which may enhance the street's willingness to place higher valuations on ensuing businesses, Baumgartner suggested. The future of Oscar Mayer Further asset disposals could also ensue in the meantime, he added, building on the recent divestitures. Speculation has revolved around the future of Oscar Mayer in the portfolio, for instance, for some time. We believe the clearest path to upside for shares would be a divestiture of Oscar Mayer and/or renewed share gains/volume growthAsset sales (notably Oscar Mayer) could prune material underperformers and enhance portfolio growth prospects. We believe strategic acquirers exist, and that asset sales can prove accretive for shareholders, Baumgartner wrote. Nevertheless, disposals would dilute the sales propositions put forward for the individual businesses before the final split conclusions are made, another uncertainty for the time being. And Kraft Heinz has yet to name who will lead the larger Global Taste Elevation unit, with an executive search underway. In the wider scheme of things, the big question is whether Kellogg, and now Kraft Heinz, have set a precedent for hefty US food majors, and over in Europe too. The future of food at Unilever, for instance, has long been a point of contention. Peter McDonald, also a former General Mills executive turned consultant, suggests Kraft Heinz is where it is because the business cant grow. Reflecting on the 2015 merger and Kraft Heinzs pressured shares yesterday, McDonald wrote on LinkedIn: The current team is doing the rebuild work but recovery is still in progress, ten years after the merger. If growth remains elusive, this isnt transformation its financial engineering, divorced from the consumer. And weve seen how that movie ends. With the stock down 5% in early trading following today's news, perhaps investors see this as the ultimate, unaddressed problem as well. "Kraft Heinz split leaves more questions unanswered than resolved" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. There can be no room for antisemitism in Irish society, Irelands deputy premier has said. Tanaiste Simon Harris was speaking after meeting with members of the local Jewish community. He said he was particularly concerned to hear accounts of intolerance experienced by students and young people. Today, I met with members of the Jewish community in Ireland. The Jewish community are an integral part of Irish society. There is no room for antisemitism in Irish society. My full statement: https://t.co/72tyght8LL pic.twitter.com/hOCBJm4FIB Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) September 2, 2025 The Jewish community are an integral part of Irish society, he said in a statement. I was deeply concerned to hear of the negative experiences and intolerance they have faced in their daily lives. I was particularly concerned at the accounts of intolerance experienced by students and young people. This is entirely unacceptable. I want to be clear there can be no room for antisemitism in Irish society. Mr Harris added: The Government is committed to upholding the rights, dignity and security of all in our Republic. I condemn antisemitism wherever it occurs, online and in the real world. We must do more to counter this scourge. He said the meeting on Tuesday was an important step in listening to the communitys concerns and moving forward with implementation of the commitments relating to countering antisemitism in the Programme for Government. Summer 2025 has provisionally been recorded as the hottest in Ireland since records began. An average temperature of 16.19C was recorded, which is 1.94C above Irelands long-term average. It was also 0.08C hotter than the previous record holder, which was summer 1995. Of the top 10 hottest summers in Ireland, the majority (six) of them have occurred since the 2000s including 2025, 2006, 2018, 2023, 2013 and 2022, however 1995 and 2025 were the only two summers to surpass an average temperature of 16C. In terms of the meteorological overview, Ireland was described during summer 2025 as being on the northern edge of high-pressure systems or heat domes. These brought widespread heatwave conditions across areas of the UK and mainland Europe, while also bringing a few transient hot spells for Ireland. Met Eireann climatologist Paul Moore said the hottest summer followed the hottest spring on record. Provisional Met Eireann data shows that summer 2025 is the warmest on record since 1900, when this temperature dataset began, he said. It hasnt been particularly sunny during summer, but the dry soils from a warm and sunny spring, the heat domes over mainland Europe, periods of high-pressure dominance and the high sea surface temperatures around Ireland, have kept temperatures over the last three months consistently above average, especially at night time. Its a close call with the previous record held by summer 1995, as summer 2025 average temperature surpasses 1995s by only 0.08C, even taking into account the temperature drop observed on the last week of August. The added heat in the system and the continuous background warming due to climate change, can now transform an unexceptional season into a record breaking one. Ireland is experiencing the effects of climate change, and our climate projections show that our climate is going to become warmer. 2025 has already seen the warmest spring on record and now summer 2025 is another example of the warming trend, making it the first year since 1933 with consecutive Spring-Summer records. As always, we must provide context . . . President Donald Trump's "locker room talk" controversy stemmed from a 2005 Access Hollywood tape that was leaked during his 2016 presidential campaign. On the tape, Trump made vulgar and sexually aggressive remarks about women, which he later attempted to downplay as "locker room talk" during a presidential debate. Perspective . . . Of course, there's really no place for belittling the impact of SA in mainstream popular culture. However . . . . The punchline here is that most voters still found the idea of a Hillary Clinton presidency far more offensive than just about anything uttered by MAGA and his supporters. Nevertheless . . . Like it or not, the scumbag phrase "grab'em by the pu$$y" is now part of the American lexicon. Spencer's even sold a shirt with their spin on the phrase despite push back against their effort to cash in on normalizing SA. But again . . . REAL WORLD ASSAULT IS REPUGNANT AND NO DECENT PERSON DEFENDS IT!!! The context of this story is that the overwhelming majority of Republican & Democratic Party voters reject any violence against women and mostly shy away from jokes about it . . . At the very least, people who want to be taken seriously in the political discourse beyond comedy clubs, blogs, podcasts & movies don't make a habit out of talking about grabbing women. But, unfortunately and probably unfairly, the not-so-long ago words of the Prez have allegedly resonated amongst creepers who might benefit if their words & crimes are also downplayed. In reality, Prez Trump has done more than most to defend the rights of women and this story represents an opportunity for even the most diehard MAGA supporters to jump back on the right side of history and realize that Prez Trump's quote and even his defense of his words was less than inspiring and probably did a disservice to women who confront violence and harassment. Again, like it or not, the nasty MAGA catchphrase is part of a current police report and should remind us all of the power of the Prez in terms of guiding American culture. Here are the deets . . . When the female investigator confronted SUSPECT she said he forcefully shoved his fingers into her groin. She said that there was penetration involved, and if not for the thickness of her duty pants, it would have been worse. LSPD noted that the female officer grabbed SUSPECT'S arm, which caused him to pull away. He continued to yell, Im going to grab that p**** all day. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . KCTV5 -- Lees Summit Police: Man sexually assaulted female officer during crash investigation Developing . . . Once again we start our day with billionaire, celeb and hottie Kylie as we take a peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Toy Train Debuts Nerve Center On Track with KC | Streetcar opens Operations Control Center for extension The Kansas City Streetcar opened its first-ever Operations Control Center last month in preparation for the Main Street extension opening to passengers. Show-Me MAGA Recount Trump's DOJ wants access to Missouri voting equipment used in 2020 election The U.S. Department of Justice has been reaching out to Missouri election officials requesting access to voting equipment used in the 2020 presidential election. According to a memo produced by the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, at least two county clerks have been contacted in recent weeks by Andrew McCoy "Mac" Warner, [...] Today's Tribute In The Dotte Flags to be flown at half-staff Wednesday in honor of KCK Officer Hunter Simoncic From sunup to sundown on Wednesday, flags across the state of Kansas will be flown at half-staff in honor of fallen Kansas City, Kansas, Police Officer Hunter Simoncic. TKC MUST READ: JoCo Housing Tragedy Months later, Aspen Place ex-tenants stuck in 'legal quicksand' After hundreds were forced to evacuate a Gardner complex in May, the landlord faces two suits, and some wonder how to stop a crisis like this from recurring. Local Show Goes On . . . Unicorn Theatre's Designing Women Unicorn Theatre presents a contemporary re-adaptation of the beloved sitcom "Designing Women" starting September 6th Celeb Hangout Exposed Kylie Jenner Dances While Wearing Strapless Top in New Video Kylie Jenner has a habit of setting the world on fire with each of her posts. Her latest one on Instagram, which features the media personality dancing in a strapless top and flaunting her curves, has done the same, inciting many reactions on the platform. MAGA LIVES!!! How Trump's quiet holiday weekend fueled a viral death hoax "How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?" a reporter asked Trump. Bed Jumper Explains Airbnb co-founder speaks out on why he ditched the Democratic Party, voted for Trump Joe Gebbia, the billionaire co-founder of Airbnb, revealed during a podcast interview that border security was the main reason for his support for President Donald Trump in 2024. No More MAGA Troops?!? US judge blocks Trump from using troops to fight crime in California The decision dealt a setback to Trump's push to expand the role of the military on U.S. soil. Check Next Crisis Tick tock: Congress has 14 legislative days to stop a government shutdown. Congressional lawmakers return to D.C. with a massive September agenda, including efforts to avoid a government shutdown and a debate on whether to change the rules for confirming nominees. Far East Gets Defensive China's parade of new weaponry sends message of deterrence From an upgraded, nuclear-armed missile with near-global reach, to air defence lasers, hypersonic weapons, and sea drones that could crowd its near seas, China sent a broad message of deterrence with its largest ever military parade on Wednesday. Latest South Of Border War US strikes alleged drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela, Rubio says The Trump administration has signalled a willingness to use military force against drug cartels. Holy Land Reporting Fact Check Washington Post issues correction after falsely reporting Israel left Gaza as part of a 2005 'peace agreement' The Washington Post issued a correction after it falsely claimed that Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005 as a result of a "peace agreement," which was called out by critics. Europe Vs. Vlad NATO scrambles jets as Russia launches more than 500 drones, missiles at Ukraine Russia launched more than 500 drones and missiles into Ukraine overnight into Wednesday morning, according to Ukraine's air force. Diva Wins Legal Confrontation Cardi B Found Not Liable in $24 Million Assault Lawsuit Cardi B was found not liable in a lawsuit brought against her from a former security guard who alleged the rapper attacked her in 2018. Switcheroo Trending Hotwifing vs. Hothusbanding: WIFEY's Serenity Cox Reveals Why Couples Are Sharing Partners And Loving It Partner sharing is shaking up traditional relationship rules. Front Porch Celebration Union Station unveils Chiefs banners, Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift engagement display Union Station is celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs' season opener and Travis Kelce's engagement to Taylor Swift with banners, floral displays, and a fan book for well-wishes. About Recent Local Wreck Crash closes I-70 westbound at Paseo in Kansas City after wrong-way driver causes multi-car wreck A crash closed I-70 westbound at Paseo Boulevard in Kansas City on Tuesday evening, causing delays in downtown. Show Of Solidarity Strawberry Hill Neighborhood shows support for fallen KCK officer with blue ribbons The Strawberry Hill community is wrapping its neighborhood in blue ribbons to honor fallen Kansas City, Kansas Police Officer Hunter Simoncic. Cowtown Java Oasis Debuts A landlocked tropical coffee break The vibe: This city has coffee shops on every corner, but HITIDES doesn't blend in. It doubles down on the island theme, offering topical drinks, Dole soft-serve, and a fun menu in a space meant to feel like a break, not a pit stop. Katie's Forecast For Now ALERT DAY: Strong winds and hail possible in the evening Wednesday will have high temperatures around 84 degrees; starting at 4 p.m., the metro is under a risk of severe storms that could bring 2" hail, strong winds, and possibly a tornado. Victoria Nadine, Kygo - Cant Get Enough is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. The local murder count continues to escalate, here's the latest early evening update . . . Homicide 100 block NE St. Lukes Blvd This afternoon around 2:30PM, officers were dispatched to 100 NE St. Lukes Blvd on a reported shooting that is believed to have occurred near 88th Place and James A Reed. Upon arrival, officers were advised a juvenile male under 16 arrived at the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound. Medical staff made every attempt to perform life saving measures before subsequently being pronounced deceased. Preliminary investigation indicates the victim was walking outside when he heard several sounds of shots and was struck by gunfire. The victim was able to call a friend for help where he was picked up and transported to the hospital by private conveyance. We do not have any suspect information at this time and no one is currently in custody. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the area to begin gathering evidence and collecting witness statements. This incident is being investigated as a homicide and is ongoing at this time. If anyone was in or around the area at this time and saw or heard anything they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS there is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline. We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency. We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents. ############ Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Boy younger than 16 shot to death Tuesday afternoon while walking in south Kansas City, Missouri A boy under the age of 16 died at a hospital minutes after being shot Tuesday afternoon while walking in south Kansas City, Missouri. Police open investigation into fatal shooting in Kansas City Police have opened an investigation into a homicide believed to have happened in Kansas City. Teen killed in south Kansas City shooting Tuesday afternoon Kansas City police are investigating after a deadly shooting in South Kansas City on Tuesday afternoon. Developing . . . Despite the best efforts of MAGA to cut down on foreign drug supplies, the American demand for narcotics remains as strong as ever. Accordingly . . . Here's a peek at how Kansas might not be able to cope with the worsening addiction crisis impacting the NEXTGEN . . . "The state doesnt have widespread access to medical detox programs, which use medication to ease withdrawal symptoms and are considered one of the best addiction treatments. "The report notes that the state also has higher than previously recognized levels of (substance use disorder) across the life course, with nearly one in five adults having substance use disorder." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Iran is developing mutual relations in the field of freight transportation and transit with neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh said, Trend reports. She made the remark at a meeting with the participation of members of the Iranian Parliament's Committee on Urban Development. According to her, projects and corridors in the realm of transit and freight transportation are taking center stage in Iran, considering their significance. Sadegh also mentioned that the wheels are turning in this direction as they lay the tracks for the Rasht-Astara railway, all part of the grand scheme of the North-South International Transport Corridor. Currently, the purchase of property for the territory through which the railway line passes has been finalized. The minister pointed out that the construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway line is continuing rapidly in the country and expressed hope that this railway line will be completed soon. Sadegh added that the construction of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway between Iran and Iraq is expected to be completed next year. To note, the intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia, Iran, and India on September 12, 2000, laid the foundation for the North-South Transport Corridor. In general, several countries have ratified the said agreement. (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, India, Islamic Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Sultanate of Oman, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Ukraine). The purpose of establishing the corridor is to reduce the delivery time of cargo traveling from India to Russia, as well as to Northern and Western Europe (the delivery time along the existing route is more than six weeks; it is expected to be three weeks via North-South). The Gazvin-Rasht railroad, stretching 175 km, hit the ground running on March 6, 2019, linking Azerbaijan's railroads with Iran's railway network in the corridor. The Rasht-Astara railroad is set to take shape on Iranian soil. The North-South Corridor has three directions within Iran. The eastern direction is Turkmenistan and Central Asian countries; the middle direction is Russia and other countries across the Caspian Sea; and the western direction is Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and Eastern European countries. Russia and Iran signed an agreement on May 17, 2023, to build the Rasht-Astara railroad in Gilan province in northern Iran. Nine stations will be built on the Rasht-Astara railroad line, which is about 163 kilometers long. With the completion of this railroad, the North-South international corridor will be improved, and Iran's railroad network will be integrated with Caucasus countries, Russia, and Northern European countries. According to the agreement, the Russian side is expected to spend 1.6 billion euros for the construction of this railroad. This railroad will be built and completed within 48 months. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. The 17th International Music Festival, dedicated to the great composer and founder of Azerbaijani professional music Uzeyir Hajibayli, will open in Azerbaijan on September 18, the Ministry of Culture told Trend. The festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, with the support of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, as well as ICESCO, will last until September 28. As part of the events to be held in Baku, Sumgayit, Shusha, Ganja, Aghjabadi, Nakhchivan, and Gazakh, magnificent concerts, performances, exhibitions, scientific symposiums, and master classes will be organized. Along with Azerbaijani musicians, the festival will showcase a host of renowned performers and musicologists hailing from Turkiye, the US, Germany, France, Switzerland, Korea, and beyond. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has sent a congratulatory letter to the Captains Regent of the Republic of San Marino, Madame Denise Bronzetti and Mr. Italo Righi, Trend reports. ''Excellencies, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you, and through you, all your people, on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of San Marino. On this festive day, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your endeavors, and the people of San Marino everlasting peace and prosperity,'' the letter reads. Kyokuyo Co. is to acquire a majority stake in a Danish seafood processor and distributor, marking the Japanese group's latest step to accelerate its global portfolio expansion. According to a statement from Kyokuyo, it has reached an agreement with Engelsviken Canning Norway to acquire shares in two of its subsidiaries seafood processing and sales companies Engelsviken Canning Denmark and Engelsviken Norway which operate seafood processing and sales sites. As a result, Kyokuyo's Europe subsidiary will acquire a 90% stake in Engelsviken Canning Norway. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Engelsviken Canning Denmark handles the production and sales of the products, and its subsidiary, while Engelsviken Norway is engaged in the import/export of seafood and the sales of Engelsviken Canning Norway products, the statement said. Last year, the Tokyo-listed seafood company bought a majority interest in Northseafood Holland as part of its strategy to establish an overseas processing presence. The seafood processing and sales company Engelsviken Canning Norway was founded in 1867 in a Norwegian port town. Reflecting on the rationale of the purchase, Kyokuyo's statement said the Engelsviken brand of shrimp products is a widely recognised label in countries like Norway, Sweden and Denmark, where it has established a strong presence. Kyokuyo said it was growing its operations overseas "and has worked to strengthen its European operations by bringing a Dutch company and a Turkey-based exporter under our group as consolidated subsidiaries". The company added the acquisition "will expand its sales coverage of the Nordic market, in addition to the western and southern European markets it has developed primarily through its Dutch subsidiary, Kyokuyo Europe. The statement also said that going forward, Kyokuyo aims to leverage the sales networks of Engelsviken Canning Denmark and Engelsviken Norway to increase sales of processed salmon/trout, fried products, etc., produced by the Dutch and Turkish companies it brought in as subsidiaries in 2024. It added that. through these efforts Kyokuyo will enhance the synergies within its European operations and further accelerate the global expansion of fish company Kyokuyo". For the first quarter of this year, Kyokuyo generated net sales of Y76.03bn ($510.8m), up 11.5% on a year earlier. However, operating profit fell 15.9% to Y2.61bn. Profit attributable to owners of parent company declined 30.9% to Y1.67bn. In the year ending 31 March, Kyokuyo increased its net sales by 15.7% to Y302.68bn. Operating profit jumped 25.8% to Y11.08bn. Profit attributable to owners reached Y6.74bn, a rise of 13.5% on a year earlier. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov visited the headquarters of the Vietnam People's Navy on September 3, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense told Trend. First, the Monument to National Heroes and Martyrs and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi were visited, and wreaths were laid. Subsequently, the Minister of Defense met with the Commander of the Vietnam People's Navy, Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem. The meeting exchanged views on the prospects for the advancement of cooperation between the navies of both countries and other issues of common interest. In conclusion, Colonel General Hasanov visited the Navy brigade and Ha Long Bay and got acquainted with the premises. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Azerbaijan is set to open an embassy in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Trend reports. The draft law on the establishment of the embassy has been included in the agenda of the International Relations and Interparliamentary Affairs Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament, which will meet on September 10. The draft, titled On the establishment of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Kingdom of Bahrain (in the city of Manama), will be discussed during the committee session. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, met with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Azerbaijan, Ahmad Metani, on September 3, the parliamentary Press and Public Relations Department told Trend. Gafarova congratulated the ambassador on the commencement of his duties in Azerbaijan and wished him success. In the course of the meeting, the sides highlighted the strong friendship and brotherly relations between the two nations, built on shared values. The discussion also emphasized the importance of bilateral ties and mutual support within the international arena. Ambassador Metani expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for its support of the Palestinian people and efforts toward conflict resolution. He also shared his positive impressions of his meeting with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. The officials exchanged views on inter-parliamentary cooperation, including collaboration within international parliamentary organizations. It was noted that the legislative bodies of both countries actively cooperate in platforms such as the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network (NAMPN), the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OICPA). Other topics of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, met with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Azerbaijan, Omar Barakat Al Nahar, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation across various fields on September 3, the parliamentary press and public relations department told Trend. Gafarova highlighted the strong diplomatic ties between the two friendly and brotherly nations, noting that since the establishment of relations 32 years ago, bilateral cooperation has reached a high level. She added that there are now significant opportunities to further strengthen collaboration in multiple sectors. The meeting underscored the high level of inter-parliamentary relations, with both sides emphasizing the importance of reciprocal visits and the work of parliamentary friendship groups. Gafarova expressed satisfaction with Jordans active participation in the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network (NAM PN). The speaker also shared views on the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and discussed cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Jordanian parliaments within international organizations, wishing Ambassador Al-Nahar continued success in his work. Ambassador Al Nahar expressed his gratitude for the meeting and highlighted efforts made during his tenure to further strengthen bilateral relations. He reaffirmed his commitment to actively promoting closer ties between Azerbaijan and Jordan. Other topics of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. An Azerbaijani non-governmental organization (NGO) cooperation forum will soon take place in Karabakh, said Ulviyya Garayeva, Public Relations Manager at the State Support Agency for NGOs, Trend reports. Garayeva noted that the forum will be dedicated to the "Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty." For the third consecutive year, Azerbaijani NGOs have been organizing annual cooperation meetings, forums with broad discussion platforms. In November 2023, similar forums were held at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, and in June 2024 at the Congress Center in Zangilan. The next forum will take place in Karabakh, she said. She added that preparations are also underway in connection with the VI NGO Development and Exchange Program. Previous programs were held in Mingachevir, Naftalan, Baku, Nakhchivan, and Shamakhi. For the first time, this program is planned to be organized in the liberated territories, Garayeva noted. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Bosnia and Herzegovinas Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmedin Konakovic, met on September 2, 2025, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Ayman Hussein Abdullah Al Safadi, within the framework of the Bled Strategic Forum, Trend reports. Minister Konakovic informed his counterpart about the current political and economic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including challenges in implementing reforms, relations with neighboring countries, foreign policy priorities, and the process of European and NATO integration. He emphasized the importance of strengthening political relations as the foundation for stronger economic cooperation and proposed holding bilateral consultations that had previously been planned but not realized. Minister Al Safadi confirmed Jordans readiness to intensify relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and praised the progress BiH is making on its path toward European and NATO integration. The discussion placed particular focus on the current situation in the Middle East, especially Palestinian-Israeli relations, as well as challenges posed by the migration and humanitarian crisis. In this context, Minister Konakovic expressed concern over the severity of the crisis and interest in the situation in Jordan, particularly regarding the reception of refugees. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides confirmed their readiness to enhance relations through concrete initiatives, including the planning of an official high-level visit in the near future. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Elena Shekerletova participated in the informal meeting of the Council of General Affairs, held in Copenhagen on September 12, 2025, Trend reports. Denmark, as the rotating chair of the EU Council in the second half of 2025, hosted the forum. The ministers for European affairs discussed aspects related to the Copenhagen criteria concerning the EU enlargement process, with participation from representatives of candidate and potential candidate countries. Special attention was given to the gradual integration of candidate countries through participation in EU policies and programs prior to full membership. The Bulgarian side reaffirmed its consistent support for the European perspective of countries in the enlargement process based on the principle of merit. Shekerletova emphasized the importance of political will to implement reforms to introduce European standards in key areas such as the rule of law, human rightsincluding the rights of national minorities and communitiesand good neighborly relations, as a foundation for progress toward membership. EU member states also discussed the rule of law within the EU and possibilities for its strengthening. Deputy Minister Shekerletova stated that the EUs rule-of-law toolbox represents a well-structured and functional framework with a variety of mechanisms. Internal EU reforms were also discussed during the meeting. Shekerletova pointed out that Bulgaria consistently advocates that proposals for internal EU reforms should be based on thorough and comprehensive analyses. It is crucial that the process remains transparent and allows for consideration of the positions and interests of all member states. The Bulgarian deputy minister added that, to ensure a high level of democratic legitimacy of decisions, political commitment, resilience, and effective implementation, unanimity must be maintained in areas outlined in the EU Treaties. During the forum, Deputy Minister Shekerletova held a brief meeting with Germanys State Minister for European Affairs, Gunther Krichbaum, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations and current issues on the European agenda. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ervin Ibrahimovic participated in the 20th Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, one of the most significant international conferences focused on European and global policy, Trend reports. On the first day of the Forum, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimovic met with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic-Radman, reaffirming Montenegros commitment to continuing dialogue and further strengthening bilateral relations with the Republic of Croatia. Following this, Ibrahimovic attended the official opening of the Forum and held a series of bilateral meetings. In a meeting with Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany Florian Hahn, the friendly and allied relations between the two countries were confirmed, alongside their strong NATO partnership, particularly relevant in the context of Russias aggression against Ukraine. Ibrahimovic expressed appreciation for Germanys ongoing support for Montenegros European integration, highlighting the importance of continued engagement through the Berlin Process and the need to further develop economic cooperation and investment opportunities. During discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan Ayman Safadi, the two sides emphasized their friendly relations, grounded in shared values of multilateralism, interfaith dialogue, and the promotion of tolerance. The conversation also explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation in economic development and tourism, including the potential introduction of direct flights. In a meeting with President of the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) Rado Bohinc, Ibrahimovic highlighted the importance of enhancing collaboration in education and scientific research through university partnerships and joint projects. On the second day, Minister Ibrahimovic participated in a working breakfast with foreign ministers of the Western Balkans and the Republic of Croatia, along with special envoys for the Western Balkans, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia Tanja Fajon. The session focused on regional developments and the perspective of European integration. Europe and Euro-Atlantic orientation in the region must be preserved. Strong EU and NATO support is essential for the long-term stability and prosperity of our countries, Ibrahimovic stated, underlining Montenegros determination to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2026 and be fully prepared for EU membership by 2028. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Acting Lithuanian Minister of Culture Sarunas Birutis met with German Minister of Culture and Media Wolfram Weimer in Berlin to discuss key areas of cooperation, Trend reports. During the visit, both ministers agreed to deepen cultural relations, foster mutual understanding, and prepare for the LithuaniaGermany Cultural Exchange Program scheduled for 20272028 Minister Birutis emphasized that cultural dialogue is not only timely but also essential in building resilience and strengthening strategic partnerships. He noted that the cultural exchange program will provide new opportunities for artists, institutions, and communities in both countries to connect more closely and build a shared future based on common values. The talks focused on laying the foundation for the exchange initiative, which will span an entire year. The ministers underlined the importance of complementing political and security cooperation with cultural engagement. They agreed to formalize the framework for cooperation, organize bilateral visits between cultural institutions, and launch detailed planning for the upcoming program. The meeting also touched upon cultural heritage protection, resilience against disinformation, and the role of cultural institutions in preserving historical memory. During the visit, the Lithuanian delegationjoined by Julija Reklaite, Director of the Lithuanian Culture Institute visited the Jewish Museum Berlin, where they met with director Hetty Berg. The visit carried symbolic significance, coinciding with Lithuanias commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. The delegation also attended a concert at the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Lithuanian maestro Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla. The event, which was attended by senior German officials including Dr. Konrad Schmidt-Werher, Secretary-General of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Media, highlighted the growing cultural dialogue between Lithuania and Germany. Iran experiences decline in guaranteed wheat buy-ins Since April 5, Iran has purchased 7.7 million tons of wheat under a guarantee, 35 percent less than the 11 million tons harvested. Of the remaining 3.4 million tons, some is kept by farmers. Guaranteed prices are set at $0.38/kg for bread wheat and $0.39/kg for durum wheat. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Lifezone Metals has announced the closure of a $60m (44.75m) bridge loan facility with Taurus Mining Finance to support the advancement of its Kabanga Nickel Project in Tanzania. The bridge loan from Taurus will fund critical early works and infrastructure for the project. This follows the release of positive feasibility study results, accelerating the project finance process. Lifezone Metals CEO Chris Showalter announced that the companys fully owned subsidiary, Kabanga Nickel, finalised the bridge loan with Taurus Mining Finance Fund No. 2. The initial $20m tranche was disbursed on 29 August 2025, with future funds contingent on achieving certain project milestones. This follows an announcement in August regarding Lifezone Metals securing the bridge loan facility. The loan incurs a yearly interest charge of 9.25% on the amounts utilised, repayable every three months, and includes both arrangement and commitment charges. Lifezone Metals took ownership of the Kabanga Nickel Project in the north-western region of Tanzania in 2021. The Kabanga project is set to be an integrated operation comprising mining to metal production. It will supply global markets with high-purity nickel, copper and cobalt suitable for battery manufacturing. Lifezone Metals is actively pursuing multi-source financing, led by Societe Generale's debt team, for the Kabanga Nickel Project. The company is in advanced talks with potential partners and investors to secure long-term financial support for the project's progression. Additionally, the company has received several non-binding offers for potential transactions involving the Kabanga Nickel Project. Standard Chartered Bank, acting as a financial advisor, is assisting Lifezone Metals in evaluating these strategic alternatives and offers. While Lifezone Metals has not yet finalised any agreements, the strategic investment process is ongoing. There is no certainty that these discussions will result in a transaction, as the company is not obligated to proceed with any offers currently on the table. "Lifezone Metals closes $60m bridge loan with Taurus Mining Finance" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 3. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of China Xi Jinping met in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where they discussed energy cooperation, strategic partnership, and upcoming international initiatives, Trend reports. The discussions revolved around energy collaboration, with both leaders shining a spotlight on the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, which has been up and running for over fifteen years. The Chinese side recently secured an international tender to develop the fourth stage of the Galkynys gas field, and a draft General Agreement on the basic principles of gas cooperation has been prepared. During the visit, four memorandums of understanding were signed, covering cooperation between the Institute of International Relations of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry and Lanzhou University, intellectual property, collaboration between museums, and exchanges between the editorial boards of Altyn Asyr and Renmin Ribao. The parties also underscored how Turkmenistans Revival of the Great Silk Road strategy and Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative go hand in hand. President Berdimuhamedov invited President Xi to Ashgabat in December to participate in an international forum marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistans neutrality. They also discussed Turkmenistans initiative, endorsed by the UN General Assembly, to declare 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust. President Xi Jinping congratulated his counterpart on the successful hosting of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza and reaffirmed Chinas support for Turkmenistans permanent neutrality, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 3. S7 Airlines, a Russian airline, began operating regularly between Novosibirsk and Bukhara on September 2, 2025, Trend reports. The service will be up and running once a week, every Tuesday, bridging the Siberian hub with one of Uzbekistans most storied cities. Bukhara has joined the ranks as the fifth feather in S7 Airlines' cap in Uzbekistan. The airline is already flying the friendly skies from Novosibirsk to Tashkent and Samarkand, from Moscow to Urgench, and also from Novosibirsk and Irkutsk to Fergana. Operating from its principal base in Novosibirsk, S7 Airlines stands as a prominent player in the Russian aviation sector. As of August 2025, the operational inventory consisted of 104 airframes. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 3. Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Turkiye Mekan Ishankuliyev met with Governor of Erzurum Province Mehmet Sekmen to explore prospects for strengthening interregional cooperation, Trend reports via Turkmen MFA. The convening occurred on September 2, coinciding with the international Erzurum exhibition focused on agronomy and livestock management, featuring the engagement of Turkmen diplomatic representatives in attendance. Discourse illuminated focal domains of collaboration, encompassing agronomy, industrial sectors, cultural exchange, humanitarian endeavors, and the tourism sector. Specific focus was directed towards the cultivation of commercial synergies in the realm of animal husbandry, recognized as a viable trajectory for bilateral collaboration. The parties also deliberated on the formulation of enduring synergies between the commercial entities of the two nations and the feasibility of initiating collaborative investment ventures. Strategic initiatives were articulated to enhance synergies leveraging the comparative advantages inherent in the Turkmen and Turkish economic frameworks. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: The State Council of the People's Republic of China ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 3. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met in Beijing with Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and First Vice Premier of the State Council of China, as part of his working visit to the Peoples Republic of China, Trend reports via the State Council. The two sides reviewed the current state of bilateral ties, underscoring their strategic nature and future prospects. Ding Xuexiang welcomed the visit of the Turkmen leader and highlighted the dynamic development of trade and economic cooperation, cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and political dialogue between the two countries. The talks were a real hotbed of energy partnership discussions. President Berdimuhamedov praised the work of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and noted the successful operation of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline since 2009. They also discussed transport and logistics cooperation, including the creation of a trans-Caspian route to enhance connectivity between China, Central Asia, and Europe. The Turkmen side expressed readiness to deepen cooperation in railway transport, from modernization of infrastructure to the purchase of new equipment from China. Expanding trade was another focus. Turkmenistan proposed increasing exports of textiles, chemical and agricultural products, and petroleum products to the Chinese market. High technology and artificial intelligence were given special emphasis. President Berdimuhamedov proposed leveraging the resources of the International Science and Technology Park of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, Oguz Khan University of Engineering and Technology, and the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics to advance cooperation in these fields. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Iran tallies product exports via its Kermanshah Province customs Kermanshah Province in western Iran exported 2.84 million tons of goods worth $1.24 billion in the first five months of the current Iranian year (March 21August 22, 2025). The export figures showed no major change compared to the same period last year. Key customs points included Khosravi ($372 million), Parvizkhan ($355 million), and Sumar ($291 million). Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Azerbaijan raising bar on big business loans By the end of June 2025, large business entities in Azerbaijan had received a total of 8.5 billion manat ($5 billion) in loans. This marks an increase of 21.4 million manat ($12.6 million), or 0.25 percent, compared to the end of May. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 3. Turkmenistan and China signed four key agreements to strengthen cooperation in education, culture, intellectual property, Trend reports. The agreements include a memorandum between the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and Lanzhou University, aimed at expanding academic and scientific cooperation. Another agreement between the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and Chinas National Intellectual Property Administration is intended to enhance the legal framework for the protection of intellectual property rights. Cultural collaboration was reinforced through an agreement between the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan and the National Museum of China, which will facilitate joint exhibitions and cultural events. The synergy in media collaboration was notably enhanced as the digital publication Turkmenistan: Golden Age formalized a strategic partnership with Chinas Renmin Ribao, aimed at fostering joint initiatives and facilitating the exchange of information assets. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3, The prospects for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to participate in Azerbaijan's financial sector have been assessed, Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Taleh Kazimov wrote on his X page, Trend reports. A meeting was held with a delegation led by the ADB Executive Director Rachel Thompson at the CBA. Meanwhile, the meeting also featured a detailed exchange of views on the challenges facing the global economy, the economic situation and development trends in the country, monetary policy, improving the supervisory and regulatory framework in the insurance sector, and the sector's potential. "During the meeting, we discussed the possibilities of future cooperation between the Central Bank and the ADB, as well as the prospects for the ADB to participate in the country's financial sector," the chairman added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Kazakhstans Baiterek Holding propels strategic partnerships with Chinese financial bodies Photo: Baiterek Holding's official website During President Tokayevs official visit to China (Aug 30 Sept 3, 2025), Baiterek Holding participated in the 8th Kazakhstan-China Business Council, signing key financial agreements with major Chinese institutions. Highlights included a $70 million bank loan agreement with ICBC Almaty, a $1 billion credit line framework with China Eximbank, and plans to issue yuan-denominated bonds worth up to 5 billion yuan (approximately $700 million). Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Uzbekistans travel scene ignites with rapid rise in int'l visitors Uzbekistans tourism sector is experiencing a strong rebound in 2025, with nearly one million foreign visitors arriving in the country during the first seven months of the year. Travel from neighboring countries, as well as from Europe, Asia, and North America, contributed to a 50 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) has formalised an arrangement with Rothschild & Co for the referral of its private banking clients in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE. LLB has opted to close its business locations in these two sites, after two decades in the Middle East. The referral encompasses assets potentially worth CHF 1bn ($1.25bn). Rothschild will assume control of LLB's Dubai office, with approximately 20 LLB employees transitioning to Rothschild. This will increase the size of Rothschild & Cos Middle East wealth management team, headed by Sascha Benz, to approximately 25 people. Rothschild said that the deal will facilitate market reach and the delivery of a more range of services in both public and private markets, including corporate advisory. Rothschild & Co executive chairman Alexandre de Rothschild said: "In recent years, we have experienced continuous strong growth in our global Wealth Management and Middle East businesses. The onboarding of LLB's business in the UAE is an excellent fit and further supports our strategy across one of our key global business pillars and fastest growing regions. This represents our high conviction in the UAEs potential, given the increasing concentration of both regional and global wealth here." LLB interim Group CEO Christoph Reich stated: "We successfully expanded our presence in the Middle East in recent years with commitment and passion. For strategic reasons, we will focus on supporting our international clients in future at our business locations in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. We have therefore decided to offer our clients and employees in the Middle East new growth opportunities on a sustained basis through an outstanding partner. International private banking business is and remains an important strategic pillar for the LLB Group." In July, Rothschild acquired Tenalis, an independent advisory firm based in Zurich, through its Swiss Wealth Management unit, Rothschild & Co Bank. "LLB refers clients to Rothschild after UAE exit " was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. Photo: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the US BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Turkmenistans participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) demonstrates the countrys growing practical engagement with key members of the organization and the strengthening of economic, transport, and energy cooperation. This year was no exception, as Turkmenistan took part in the SCO summit in China, held a series of bilateral meetings, and signed important memorandums confirming the strategic nature of its partnerships. As part of his working visit to China, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Their talks focused on energy cooperation, transport, and logistics. China secured the right to develop the fourth phase of the Galkynysh gas field, and a draft General Agreement on Strategic Gas Partnership was prepared. During a meeting with Ding Xuexiang, First Vice Premier and member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, prospects for transport and logistics cooperation were discussed. Turkmenistan proposed developing the Trans-Caspian route, modernizing railways, and expanding exports of textiles, chemical products, agricultural goods, and petroleum products to China. The defining vector of relations between Turkmenistan and the SCO is the economic sphere. Among the priorities we highlight are transport and logistics, communications, energy, trade, and industrial cooperation, President Berdimuhamedov said in his address to the SCO Summit. Four memorandums of understanding were signed between Turkmenistan and China in the fields of science, education, culture, and intellectual property, as well as between media outlets of the two countries. Turkmenistans main priority within the SCO is the economy. The country possesses some of the worlds largest natural gas reserves - around 19 trillion cubic meters. The TurkmenistanChina gas pipeline has been operational since 2009, and in 2024, Turkmenistan supplied China with about 33 billion cubic meters of gas, 8 percent more than in 2023. With our vast resource base, advantageous geographic position, dynamic industrial and infrastructure development, and accumulated experience in cooperation, Turkmenistan is objectively well positioned to promote economic convergence and joint development, Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted. The country is also advancing the East-West and North-South transport corridors. In 2025, the International Seaport of Turkmenbashi increased container throughput by 15 percent compared with 2024. We believe there are real opportunities today to establish a logistics corridor along the EastWest and NorthSouth axes, where SCO member states and Turkmenistan are destined to become key links, the president stated. Turkmenistan is also opening new opportunities in power generation and shipbuilding, proposing expanded electricity supplies to SCO member states and joint industrial projects. An important element of cooperation is the development of the Trans-Caspian route and both rail and maritime infrastructure. Turkmenistan has continued modernizing its national railway network and purchasing new equipment from China. The country has also offered the use of the International Seaport of Turkmenbashi to the SCO countries, creating conditions for direct access to global markets. A crucial factor is a favorable political and legal environment for transport operations on the Caspian Sea, which opens up promising prospects for SCO member states to participate in trade and economic activities in the region, Berdimuhamedov added. Turkmenistan intends to strengthen its economic ties with the SCO states, develop transport and logistics corridors, and pursue joint energy and industrial projects. The president emphasized: Overall, we consider the power industry one of the priority areas of cooperation with the SCO. He also underlined that the country is ready to take part in joint projects aimed at integrating regional economies and creating new economic hubs. Todays high-level meeting is regarded by Turkmenistan as an important step in developing its relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Turkmenistan is committed to practical steps to realize shared opportunities in the common interest, and to strengthening friendship, good neighborliness, and trust, President Berdimuhamedov concluded. Turkmenistan is thus demonstrating a strategic approach to cooperation with the SCO, emphasizing the economy, transport, energy, and practical projects that enhance regional engagement. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Iran has confirmed the presence of hydrocarbon reserves at the Arash gas field, located between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, while the question of ownership remains under the close attention of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the country's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said after a Cabinet meeting, Trend reports. The field was discovered in 1975, and Iran initiated its inaugural exploratory drilling operation, designated Arash 1, approximately 25 years later in 2000. Paknejad observed that the borehole attains a profundity of approximately 750 meters and is situated in proximity to predefined perimeters. At present, the matter of proprietorship regarding this domain is under meticulous scrutiny by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Upon the culmination of the legal framework, the Iranian Oil Ministry is poised to initiate the requisite protocols for the advancement of the field contingent upon Iran's equity participation, he articulated. The Arash (Dorra) gas field in the Persian Gulf is estimated to contain around 20 trillion cubic feet (about 600 billion cubic meters) of gas and close to 310 million barrels of oil. In 2022, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to develop the Dorra field, targeting daily production of 1 billion cubic feet (about 28.3 million cubic meters) of gas and 84,000 barrels of condensate. Iran has not fully accepted this agreement and has sought negotiations to resolve development and ownership issues. As many as 74 oil fields and 22 gas fields are currently operating in Iran. There are 37 oil fields in the territory of the National Company of Iran's Southern Oil Zones, 14 in the territory of the Iranian Central Oil Zones Company, five in the territory of the Arvandan Oil and Gas Production Company, and 18 in the territory of the Offshore Oil Company. Additionally, the South Oil Zones National Company of Iran operates five gas fields, the Central Oil Zones Company operates 13, the Pars Oil and Gas Company operates one, and the Offshore Oil Company operates three. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Uzbekistan experiences uptick in regional capital inflows in 1H2025 Photo: National Statistics Committee Uzbekistans population-funded investments in fixed assets reached 17.3 trillion soums ($1.37 billion) in the first half of 2025, marking a 15 percent rise from last year. The growth was driven by strong activity in the Tashkent region, Bukhara, Khorezm, and other key areas. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has launched a new information platform, a website, and social media pages, Trend reports via the CBA's statement. The new website fintech.cbar.az, dedicated to financial technologies and innovations, collects the latest developments in the digital financial ecosystem in the country, the activities carried out by the CBA as the regulator of the sector in this area, planned events, and information on digital solutions, and presents them to users at one address. The website, which has a user-friendly interface, brings to attention important information and the latest developments in the areas of special regulatory regime, Open Banking concept, virtual assets, and distributed "KYC". "The new Fintech_by_cbar pages created on the social networks LinkedIn and Instagram will bring to the attention of social media followers the developments and important news in the field of financial technologies in the country and beyond. Interesting content and interactive sharing will contribute to raising awareness in this area. The new digital platforms are expected to promote innovation-oriented cooperation between the CBA and ecosystem participants and contribute to the sustainable development of the sector," the statement said. Further details on the platforms can be found below: fintech.cbar.az https://www.instagram.com/fintech_by_cbar?igsh=MWFic3Bvd24wajE5bA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintech-by-central-bank-of-the-republic-of-azerbaijan-a01285380/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 4. The Fintech Horizons forum was held on September 3, organized by the Azerbaijan Fintech Association (AzFina) with the support of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and sponsored by PashaPay, Trend reports. The event brought together leading companies from the countrys fintech ecosystem, providing a platform to discuss opportunities related to AniPay (Instant Payment System), the government payment portal, QR payments, digital transformation trends, and the future of financial services. The main goal of the forum was to accelerate the adoption of digital payments and drive innovation in financial technologies. The rapid growth of cashless transactions, up by 66 percent in 2024, has further underscored the importance of AniPay in Azerbaijans digital economy. During the event, participants worked on innovative payment products based on AniPay infrastructure, service models aligned with new regulatory requirements, and business solutions built on 24/7 operating systems. The aim was to create practical models that respond to real market needs through more effective use of existing technologies. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel China to back Kazakhstans carbon neutrality goals with solar initiative Photo: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan At the 8th Kazakhstan-China Business Council session in Beijing, Kazakhstan and China signed key agreements for a $320 million, 300 MW solar power plant in the Turkestan region, set for 20252026. The deal, signed in President Tokayevs presence, underscores the project's national importance. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. The 4th Azerbaijan-Turkiye Energy Forum will be held in the Turkish Izmir with the participation of Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar on August 4, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy. The forum is scheduled to feature discussions on hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, renewable energy, energy efficiency, regulation, mining, and other topics, as well as the protocol signing. As part of the forum, a visit to the SOCAR's Aliaga terminal is also planned. The Azerbaijan-Turkiye Energy Forum was established within the framework of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the two countries to further strengthen strategic energy cooperation. The first Forum was held in Baku on December 21-22, 2021, the second Forum was held in Istanbul on October 5-6, 2022, and the third Forum was held in Nakhchivan on September 28-29, 2023. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 3. Azerbaijan and Hungary assessed the possibilities of cooperation in the field of green energy during the fifth meeting of the energy working group between the countries' governments online, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy. Speaking at the event, Co-Chairman of the Working Group and Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Energy Zaur Mammadov highlighted the successful activity of the working group in the development of cooperation relations in the energy sector between Azerbaijan and Hungary. The meeting emphasized that the energy partnership between the countries has further strengthened and acquired a strategic character thanks to mutual discussions and long-term fruitful cooperation. Besides, the meeting shed light on how the cooperation in the oil and gas sector between Azerbaijan and Hungary has turned into a win-win situation, with the collaboration between energy companies from both nations receiving a hearty pat on the back. The participation of the Hungarian side in the meetings of the Southern Gas Corridor and Green Energy Advisory Councils, in the Baku Energy Week, and especially its support for the energy initiatives put forward by Azerbaijan within the framework of the COP29 event were highly appreciated. The speech also touched on the challenges that come with the collaboration between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, and Romania in the realm of green energy development and transmission, highlighting the significance of the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe Green Energy Corridor project as a beacon of hope. The Hungarian co-chair of the meeting, Head of the Energy and Climate Diplomacy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Isabella Feierabend, noted that the energy cooperation between the two countries has been making great strides in multiple avenues. She shared her views on joint projects and infrastructure opportunities in the oil and gas sector and stressed the importance of exchanging experiences on green energy and energy regulation and boosting cooperation in the field of energy efficiency. The meeting provided information on the work done since the 4th meeting of the working group, and presentations were heard on cooperation in the fields of oil and gas, renewable energy, energy regulation and energy efficiency, and implemented projects. In conclusion, the protocol on the results of the fifth meeting was signed. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Official information source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 3. Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the Egmont Group, Jerome Beaumont, during which they discussed mechanisms for cooperation in combating the illicit outflow of funds and improving the effectiveness of financial intelligence, Trend reports. In the course of the meeting, Beaumont praised the reforms being carried out in the country and expressed readiness to develop a partnership. Bektenov highlighted the importance of the Egmont Group as a key international platform for ensuring financial security and reaffirmed Kazakhstans commitment to international standards in AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism). At the culmination of the assembly, the stakeholders underscored the criticality of augmenting collaborative synergies to fortify global fiscal equilibrium. The Egmont Group constitutes a global consortium encompassing 182 jurisdictions across the international landscape. The entity facilitates its constituents with the capacity to disseminate data via a proprietary secure communication conduit. Since the year 2023, Kazakhstan has functioned as a regional representative within the operational framework of the Egmont Group. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Kazakhtelecom and China Energy Overseas Investment to raise AI data center in Kazakhstan Photo: Bagdat Mussin's official telegram account Kazakhtelecom and China Energy Overseas Investment have signed an agreement to build a 100 MW data center in Kazakhstan, powered by renewable energy. The project, launched during President Tokayevs visit to China, aims to boost the country's digital infrastructure, including data storage, cloud services, and AI development. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register By Yoruk Bahceli, Junko Fujita and Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss LONDON/TOKYO/NEW YORK (Reuters) -A sense of calm settled on the world's biggest bond markets on Wednesday, but concerns about the fiscal health of major economies from Japan to Britain and the United States kept long-dated borrowing costs pinned near multi-year highs. Worries about Japan's fiscal position were revived after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's close aide said he intended to resign from his post, pushing Japan's 30-year government bond yield to a record high well above 3%. That came a day after borrowing costs, which set the tone for lending rates for corporates and consumers, rose sharply in France and Britain while sterling tumbled, too. A reshuffle of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's top team of advisers on Monday renewed the focus on fiscal challenges given Britain's high levels of borrowing and slow growth. In France, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is expected to lose a September 8 confidence vote he called in an attempt to win backing for an unpopular debt-reduction plan. "There's a lot of renewed focus globally on the fiscal outlook and this seems to happen every couple of weeks. The UK and France were in focus yesterday," said Zachary Griffiths, head of investment grade and macro strategy at CreditSights in Charlotte, North Carolina. "But I take comfort in the fact that in the U.S., the 10-year yield is pretty stable...and that suggests to me that things aren't falling apart. In general, I think the U.S. is actually performing rather well relative to other developed bond markets, at least from the 10-year point of view." The U.S. Treasury market, considered the bedrock of the global financial system, has also seen pressure from worries about high debt, the impact of tariffs on inflation and concern about the independence of the Federal Reserve. U.S. 30-year Treasury yields touched the closely-watched 5% level that investors reckon hurts risk assets for the first time since mid-July. But the long bond yield backed off to trade 7.2 basis points lower on the day at 4.898% after data showed job openings fell in July, reflecting a softening labor market that reinforced expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve later this month. The benchmark U.S. 10-year had risen to a one-week peak on Tuesday, but was down 7 basis points the following day at 4.207%. Britain's 30-year gilt yields briefly touched their highest since 1998 at around 5.75% and were last down 7 basis points on the day as some stability returned to bond markets. Photo: Official information source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 3. Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev met with a delegation from the German Tourism Association (DRV), as well as leading tour operators from Germany, to discuss cooperation in the field of tourism, Trend reports. Opening the meeting, Kosherbayev emphasized that Kazakhstan places a high premium on bolstering socio-economic connections with the Federal Republic of Germany, and tourism holds a key position in the growth of their partnership. For Kazakhstan, tourism is not only an economic sector but also a bridge of trust between peoples. Cooperation with Germany opens new horizons for promoting our country in the European market. Discussing the possibility of holding the DRV Destination Forum in Kazakhstan is an important step towards strengthening mutual interest and developing partnership, noted the deputy premier. The heart of the meeting revolved around the bright prospects for putting Kazakhstan on the map as a tourist hotspot in the German market, while also chewing the fat about the golden opportunity to host the DRV Destination Forum in our neck of the woods come 2026. Norbert Andreas Fiebig, President of the German Tourism Association DRV, noted that Kazakhstan represents great interest for the German tourism market due to its unique nature, cultural heritage, and modern infrastructural capabilities. We are pleased with the opportunity to visit Kazakhstan and see its tourism potential with our own eyes. The unique nature, rich history, and modern development of the country make it an attractive destination for German tourists. German tourists spend more than 85 billion euros on travel, and we are confident that Kazakhstan can take a worthy place among popular destinations, he emphasized. The program of the German delegation's visit includes visits to Astana, Almaty, and Baikonur, where they'll have the chance to get the lay of the land regarding Kazakhstan's tourism potential and explore avenues for joint projects that could really take off. Kosherbayev concluded the discussion by expressing his belief that the combined efforts of Germany and Kazakhstan will help to deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two nations. Kazakhstan has found its footing among the top 50 foreign trade partners of Germany, landing in the 43rd spot in 2024. Moreover, Kazakhstan is regarded as a key partner of the FRG in Central Asia: the nation holds the lion's share, accounting for 83 percent of the total volume of Germany's foreign trade with all countries in the region. The compendium of bilateral undertakings encompasses 63 initiatives aggregating in excess of $54.4 billion. A total of 32 initiatives, aggregating to a financial outlay of $1.1 billion, have been successfully executed, while an additional 12 are currently undergoing active deployment phases. Among the successfully executed initiatives is the infrastructural development. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Kyrgyzstan discloses data on money transfers via MoneyGram Photo: National Bank of Kyrgyzstan Incoming MoneyGram transfers to Kyrgyzstan declined slightly in the second quarter of 2025, while the total value of these transfers increased. Outgoing transfers via the system fell during the same period. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 3. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan Bakyt Torobaev and Chief Investment Officer for Public Sector & Project and Corporate Finance Clients at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Konstantin Limitovskiy, discussed the banks potential investments in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and water supply projects in the country, Trend reports via the Kyrgyz government. During his briefing to the AIIB representative, Torobaev detailed the recent economic development of Kyrgyzstan and the start of several important projects, such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the Barskoon-Bedel expressway, the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant, and other social and industrial endeavors. The parties conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the developmental trajectory of current AIIB initiatives in Kyrgyzstan and reached a consensus to optimize collaborative efforts for tangible outcomes, while sustaining robust communication channels to propel synergistic ventures forward. The convening transpired amidst President Sadyr Zhaparovs formal delegation to the Peoples Republic of China, earmarked from August 31 to September 3. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, strategically positioned in Beijing, commenced its operational framework in 2016 and has subsequently proliferated to encompass 110 sanctioned member entities globally. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 3. China will support Kyrgyzstan in the feasibility study of the Bedel automobile checkpoint on the countries mutual border, Trend reports via the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan. The agreement was signed in Tianjin by Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov during the SCO Summit, following talks between Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The sides also signed additional documents on grant assistance and cooperation in the field of standardization and technical regulation. The Bedel checkpoint was opened in September 2024 under a simplified procedure with temporary infrastructure. By that time, electricity had been supplied, a temporary 58-kilometer BarskoonUchturfanAksu road had been built to the checkpoint, and bridges had been constructed. The comprehensive execution of the highway infrastructure, in conjunction with the establishment of customs and border facilities adhering to global benchmarks, is slated for collaborative realization by 2027. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 3. Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to deepening its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, President Sadyr Zhaparov said during a meeting with Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, Trend reports via the Kyrgyz presidential administration Zhaparov pointed out that the partnership is built on a foundation of mutual trust, a give-and-take political dialogue, and the collaborative pursuit of key areas of cooperation. The sides discussed deepening political dialogue, expanding cultural and humanitarian ties, and strengthening cooperation in trade, economy, and investment. Zhaparov also emphasized Chinas role as Kyrgyzstans leading trade and investment partner and expressed readiness to expand cooperation in finance, infrastructure, culture, and humanitarian areas. He called on Chinese companies to actively participate in national projects, supporting economic development, job creation, and improved living standards. The parties reiterated their dedication to fortifying KyrgyzstanChina bilateral relations, amplifying strategic collaboration, and executing mutually agreed-upon initiatives to serve the interests of both nations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 3. Electric Stations of Kyrgyzstan, KyrgyzKomur, and Chinese Gansu Yindi Industry and Trade Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the coal sector, Trend reports, citing the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy. The agreement followed a meeting between Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaybek Ibraev, leaders of national energy companies, and Gansu Yindi Industrial and Trading Company. Kyrgyz energy officials also toured Gansu Yindis facilities, which have a production capacity of over 1 million tons per year. They visited modern coal mining, transport, and processing plants, residential complexes, transport infrastructure, and large renewable energy projects. The sides discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in the coal sector and implementing joint projects. Gansu Yindi Industrial and Trading Company was established in March 2006. Its main areas of activity include trade, mineral resource development, real estate projects, engineering construction, processing and export of agricultural products, and comprehensive agricultural development. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 3. Alpbek Sadyrov, Director General of Kyrgyzstans Electric Stations, and Wang Bo, Deputy General Director of China National Electric Engineering (CNEEC), have signed an additional agreement to simultaneously replace two hydro units at the Uch-Kurgan hydropower plant (HPP) in Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports via the countrys Ministry of Energy. The agreement is part of the ongoing Uch-Kurgan HPP modernization project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The plant currently operates four hydro units, with plans to upgrade one unit per year. In 2024, one unit underwent replacement and subsequent commissioning, resulting in an enhancement of its capacity from 45 MW to 54 MW. The secondary unit was transferred to the contractor in March for the reconstruction phase, with 65 percent of the operational tasks finalized to date, contributing an additional 9 MW to the overall capacity. Based on discussions with the ADB and the contractor, the parties articulated endorsement for the concurrent substitution of dual units earmarked for the 20262027 timeline. This methodology is anticipated to augment the facility's aggregate operational capacity by 18 MW and signifies the inaugural parallel hydro unit substitution within Kyrgyzstan's energy restoration initiatives. The project is led by CNEEC, a highly qualified Chinese engineering company. Officials pointed out that the simultaneous upgrade will ramp up national power generation capacity and boost electricity output from the reservoir, helping to push forward Kyrgyzstans broader energy development goals. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 3. The Government of Tajikistan and the Government of China signed an agreement on international road transportation, Trend reports, citing the Administration of the President of Tajikistan. In conjunction with this accord, the two parties finalized seven supplementary instruments in Beijing, encompassing various domains of bilateral collaboration. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Global Security Initiative. Another MoU was signed between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan and the China International Development Cooperation Agency to strengthen cooperation in the field of human resource development. The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Natural Resources of China agreed on cooperation in mining and new technologies. The Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies under the President of Tajikistan and the National Data Administration of China signed an MoU on expanding collaboration in the digital economy. In addition, the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan and the National Development and Reform Commission of China signed an MoU on environmental cooperation. The Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan and the National Bureau of Statistics of China agreed on a framework for statistical cooperation. The formalization of collaborative synergies was further enhanced through the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the T. Sattorov Tajik National Conservatory and the Tianjin Conservatory of Music in China. The accords are anticipated to bolster the synergistic partnership between Tajikistan and China across multifaceted domains, including security frameworks, economic synergies, industrial collaboration, environmental sustainability, statistical analysis, and cultural interchange initiatives. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 3. Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China, discussed cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Trend reports, citing the administration of the Tajik president. The Chinese parliamentary leader articulated that China will perpetually serve as Tajikistans paramount ally and esteemed collaborator. Rahmon drove home his contentment regarding the depth and caliber of bilateral collaboration with China, emphasizing that China serves as a dependable ally, commendable neighbor, and strategic collaborator. The parties engaged in a comprehensive discourse regarding the continuance of political dialogue, alongside synergistic collaboration in the realms of trade, economic development, cultural exchange, and humanitarian initiatives. It was emphasized that the dynamics of inter-parliamentary and civic engagement are undergoing significant evolution. The assembly underscored the progressive fortification of the Tajikistan-China alliance within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Central AsiaChina paradigm. At present, with over 700 companies backed by Chinese capital making their mark in Tajikistan, the parties noted the importance of leveraging opportunities in industry, agriculture, and the export of Tajik agricultural products to China. The discussion also covered cooperation in digital technologies, the digitalization of the national economy, educational exchanges, and training specialists in information and communication technologies. The parties exchanged views on enhancing security cooperation and noted Chinas ongoing support for Tajikistans global and regional initiatives. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 3. Turkmenistans delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Myahri Byashimova, participated in the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia and discussed regional connectivity, energy cooperation, trade expansion, education, cultural exchange, and preparations for future political consultations, Trend reports via Turkmen MFA. Speaking at the round table The Centrality of Central Asia, Byashimova highlighted Turkmenistans policy of permanent neutrality as a tool for building trust and dialogue. She underlined the countrys role in strengthening transport and energy connectivity across Eurasia, including involvement in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and green energy initiatives. During the visit, the Deputy Foreign Minister held bilateral meetings with Slovenias State Secretary for Multilateral Cooperation, Political Affairs and Development, Melita Gabric, as well as Adviser to the President of Slovenia on Foreign Policy, Damjan Bergant. The sides discussed expanding trade and economic ties, cooperation in education, and preparations for the next round of political consultations in Ljubljana. The sides expressed readiness to enhance engagement on international platforms, including the UN and EU-Central Asia partnership framework, and stressed the importance of greater involvement of business circles. Byashimova invited Slovenia to participate in the upcoming International Forum for Peace and Trust, set to take place in Ashgabat on December 12, 2025. Starting last year, Tesla also sought permission to test vehicles equipped with FSD software in Denmark and Norway, according to records shared with Business Insider by Kees Roelandschap, a Tesla fan in the Netherlands who has closely followed its regulatory moves in Europe. The RDW documents cover a period from September 2024 to January 2025, and show that Tesla met weekly with regulators beginning in October. As of December, regulators had approved nine vehicles for testing in the country. Tesla's dealings with the RDW are key to the company's self-driving efforts across Europe. The company has asked the agency to help it get its Full Self Driving system approved across the EU, the records show. (Despite its name, Full Self Driving requires a licensed operator behind the steering wheel, paying attention and ready to take the wheel, at all times.) "Keep in mind that this is mission critical for our leadership," a Tesla employee wrote in an email to the RDW last November, urging the agency to approve Tesla's testing permit by the end of the month. Tesla employees have expressed impatience with the extensive testing the RDW has required and the slow pace of its processes. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. The Netherlands Vehicle Authority, known as the RDW, said that it couldn't answer questions by Business Insider's deadline because staffers were on vacation. The mismatch underscores challenges that Tesla faces in its push to deploy self-driving technology as it confronts slowing sales as well as a less enthusiastic European public and stricter regulatory environment. Internal Dutch regulatory records reviewed by Business Insider show Tesla has taken a carrot-and-stick approach in its efforts to expand its Full Self-Driving system in Europe. Dutch officials, who hold the keys to EU-wide authorization, have moved more cautiously. To get there, the automaker has had to contend with what CEO Elon Musk has called a "layer cake of bureaucracy." As Tesla has pushed for approval of a system it says is four times safer than human drivers, European regulators have moved slowly, requiring a level of testing and oversight far beyond that of their US counterparts. For nearly a year, Tesla has been teasing a European rollout of Full Self-Driving , its driver-assist software. It has posted videos of its cars navigating narrow Roman streets, busy German boulevards, and Paris's Arc de Triomphe all while touting an ambitious timeline for the product. Story continues The Norwegian Public Roads Administration declined to comment. A representative for the Danish Road Traffic Authority confirmed Tesla received permission to test FSD this spring and "regularly informs us about the process." While Tesla's vehicles are allowed on European roads, their self-driving capabilities are much more limited than in the US. Maneuvers such as highway lane changes require driver approval, and the vehicles generally cannot navigate intersections on their own. "It's very restrictive here, and it's due to the regulations," said Roelandschap. "Roundabouts, forget it. It will brake for traffic lights, but it will also brake for those lights in front of a railroad crossing." The tension between Tesla and the RDW comes at a crucial juncture for the car company. Musk said in July that the carmaker hoped FSD would help buoy sales. The company's stock price is down about 18% year-to-date, and it has cut prices in response to more competition and slumping demand in some markets. In Europe, Tesla sales through the first four months of 2025 were only about half of what they were in the first four months of 2024, with Chinese competitors like BYD making gains, according to Jato Dynamics. Tesla's campaign for approval The number of vehicles Tesla delivered globally grew nearly tenfold from 2017 to 2022, helped along by sales growth in Europe, which accounted for about a fifth of its deliveries in 2023. The company has had a presence in Europe since it opened a hub in the Netherlands in 2013. In its quest to have FSD approved, Tesla has at times pursued a charm offensive, the documents show. Tesla made plans for Musk to meet with RDW staff when they visited Tesla facilities in California, and the company shelled out around $30,000 to bring a group of RDW staff to its engineering headquarters in Palo Alto in November 2024. It held an FSD "Experience Day" in the parking lot of the RDW's headquarters in Zoetermeer, welcoming regulatory staff to get behind the wheel of its automated cars. Musk personally spoke with the RDW's two managers in January; afterward, a Tesla employee wrote in an email that they made "good points," and Musk "gets it now better." In emails, Tesla employees appeared frustrated with the permits the company has been asked to obtain, the tests it has been required to conduct, and scheduling and communications issues with RDW employees. They said an accelerated testing timeline was crucial to its success and asked the agency to "be more reasonable in their requests," claiming a testing snafu cost "valuable time." They also argued that European drivers were missing out on new technology. "The system we are applying for in this letter has been made available to customers in North America since 2018 and is constantly updated to improve its safety and its capabilities ever since," Tesla wrote in a November 2024 letter. Tesla released its FSD software in the US to a limited group of drivers in 2020 and to paying customers across North America in 2022. The carmaker estimates that more than a billion miles have been driven using FSD. In the US, the software can recognize stop lights, change lanes, and execute turns, though it has been faulted for sometimes ignoring traffic laws. Still, the RDW has proceeded cautiously. In November 2024, when Tesla said initiating FSD testing in the Netherlands that month was "mission critical," regulators said that they were working on a plan for the project. Tesla did not receive approval to begin testing until more than a month later. Musk said during Tesla's earnings call in January that the company aimed for the RDW to present Tesla's technology to the EU in May 2025. The RDW appears to still be deliberating. In March, the Netherlands told members of a European Commission technical advisory group that an unnamed manufacturer would soon submit an application to the group for approval of a self-driving technology. As of June, the group's minutes indicated that the RDW "is still assessing the feasibility of the application." John Creamer, an auto-industry consultant, said in an email that European regulations on driver-control assistance systems haven't kept pace with technology used by the likes of Tesla. Such regulations probably won't be implemented until late 2026 or 2027, he said. Unlike the US, where multiple companies, including Waymo and Zoox, have released autonomous vehicles in select cities, no AVs have been released in the Netherlands to date. Multiple AV companies are testing in Germany. In an internal memo from October, agency staff proposed closely coordinating with its parent ministry, and, once Tesla finishes gathering testing data, making a "joint Go/NoGo decision" as to whether to allow Tesla to roll out FSD across the country. The parent ministry said it would not be involved in that decision and that the RDW memo overstated its role. In the past, the RDW has been criticized for moving too quickly in Tesla's favor. Earlier this year, an RDW whistleblower accused the agency of allowing Tesla to abuse a regulatory loophole in 2015 to deploy its Autopilot software, an advanced driver assistance system used on highways. The regulator told Dutch broadcaster BNNVARA that it stood by its decision. A clash of systems Europe's automotive industry has historically been much more regulated than its US counterpart. While American automakers can self-certify that they have complied with federal safety standards, a car cannot be sold in Europe unless and until it has been "type approved" by regulators or their testing partners. Approval for self-driving cars has hewed closely to this precedent. The US has become the "Wild West" for autonomous vehicles, Missy Cummings, a former safety advisor for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, previously told Business Insider. "There is very little regulation around training or informing the public about testing," she said in October 2024. Texas is in the process of launching new AV regulations, but until recently, the state operated on an honor code. To launch a version of its Robotaxi service in Texas earlier this summer, Tesla was only required to provide proof of insurance. In California, where the company has been testing since 2014, it's required to submit information about incidents where operators take over from the software, and it must pass several milestones before it can begin operating on public roads. By contrast, Europe's type-approval regulations require testing by a government or independent technical service, and sometimes factory inspections, before a car or automobile component is allowed on the market. Creamer, the automotive regulatory consultant, said the RDW is widely respected and is among a small group of European regulators that are seen as highly engaged on autonomous driving issues. Before starting testing this past fall, Tesla had to have its vehicles' cybersecurity and software update management practices audited. Tesla also had to conduct an electromagnetic interference test in California that an RDW inspector witnessed via videoconference. Over-the-air software updates also posed an issue for the handful of test vehicles that the RDW has authorized. In a December 2024 email, an RDW employee told Tesla that its vehicles couldn't leave a parking lot until the latest version of its software was approved. It's not clear from the emails how long that took. In the US, by contrast, Tesla regularly releases new software updates without the piecemeal approval of regulators. It regularly tests out multiple different prototype versions of its AV software in a week, Business Insider previously reported. In January, Tesla sought permission to conduct an over-the-air software update for a vehicle that was involved in an unspecified "incident," according to the documents. It's unclear what the incident entailed. In the meantime, Musk continues to vent his frustration on X. "Tesla is waiting for EU approval (sigh)," he wrote in May. Read the original article on Business Insider Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS) has announced an enhancement to its public exchange offer for the ordinary shares of Mediobanca, introducing a cash element to the deal. The updated proposal from Italy's BMPS now includes a cash payment of 0.90 per share, complementing the previously declared share exchange offer. Citing a source familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that the Mediobanca board is scheduled to convene tomorrow (4 September), to consider the improved proposal. Mediobanca has consistently opposed the MPS takeover bid, labelling the price as totally inadequate. The cash component in the revised offer represents a financial commitment of approximately 750m ($873.6m) from BMPS. This adjustment to the offer was approved by the BMPS board, under the leadership of Chairman Nicola Maione, with the aim of enhancing the appeal of the bid. In a statement, BMPS said: The board of directors firmly believes that the increase in the consideration represents a further and concrete evidence of the industrial value of the transaction and the offerors attention on the market, with the aim of maximising acceptance of the Offer and accelerating the value creation. The board of directors also confirmed BMPSs unchanged financial objectives, aimed at maintaining a solid capital position and one of the highest dividend policies in the sector, in the belief that all stakeholders will appreciate BMPS commitment and its expected results. The total compensation for each Mediobanca share now comprises 2.533 newly issued BMPS shares, along with the 0.90 cash addition. BMPS has also removed the prior requirement for acquiring at least 66.7% of Mediobanca's voting shares but has upheld a minimum acceptance threshold of 35%, below which the offer will not be pursued. The offer evaluates Mediobanca shares at 16.334 each, reflecting an 11.4% premium compared to the share price as of 23 January 2025. BMPS said the valuation includes the cash incentive and is calculated based on its share price of 6.093 on the specified reference date. The deadline for accepting the offer is set for 8 September 2025. A Milan-based trader informed the publication that the revised bid was anticipated, and the market assumes the success of the deal as a given. In a recent development, Mediobanca's shareholders rejected the bank's proposed 6.3bn acquisition of Banca Generali, which was a setback in its efforts to fend off the hostile takeover by the state-supported BMPS. "Monte dei Paschi strengthens Mediobanca offer with cash incentive " was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. Tweet tweet button for twitter Published September 3, 2025 Want to go? WHAT: ULM Suicide Prevention Month Wellness Walk WHEN: Wednesday, September 10, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Liew International Student Center, 4001 3800 Northeast Dr., Monroe INFO: Event is free and open to the public, no pre-registration is required. MONROE, LA The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) will host a Suicide Prevention Month Wellness Walk on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The walk will begin at the Liew International Student Center at 3800 Northeast Dr. and conclude at The Grove, 4509 Bon Aire Dr., where students will have access to resource tables, vendors, and words of encouragement from guest speakers. All students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to participate in this impactful event. This collaborative effort, led by ULMs Office of Global and Multicultural Affairs and the Self-Development, Counseling, & Special Accommodations Center, is designed to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to remind students that they are not alone. Students face many pressures in their daily lives, from academic expectations to financial and family responsibilities, said Gina White, Director, Global and Multicultural Affairs. Its vital that they are aware of the resources available both on and off campus to support their well-being and success. The Wellness Walk is part of a national effort to highlight Suicide Prevention Month, which emphasizes reducing stigma, promoting mental health awareness, and connecting individuals to resources. Counseling professionals and community partners will be present to provide guidance and information about available support systems. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, suicide is the 14th leading cause of death overall in Louisiana and the third leading cause of death for individuals ages 10 to 24 and 25 to 34. These sobering statistics highlight the importance of raising awareness, reducing stigma, and ensuring that students and community members know where to find help. At the Self-Development, Counseling, & Special Accommodations Center, we strive to walk alongside students as they navigate challenges with mental health, stress, or personal obstacles. We want students to know they are not alone. Support, guidance, and resources are available to help them become the best version of themselves both inside and outside the classroom, said Deandrea Carter, Counselor at the ULM Self-Development, Counseling, & Special Accommodations Center. For more information, please visit ulm.edu/counselingcenter. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home 2025 QD8: Extraordinarily Giant Asteroid Flies by Earth Today 2025 QD2025, an extraordinarily giant asteroid as big as a plane is set to fly by Earth today i.e. September 03, 2025, NASA said Wednesday September 3, 2025 12:26 PM , ummid.com News Network [Representative image] 2025 QD2025, an extraordinarily giant asteroid as big as a plane is set to fly by Earth today i.e. September 03, 2025, NASA said. But there is no threat to our planet or our neighbor the Moon. The near-earth asteroid 2025 QD8 will safely fly past Earth at 57% of lunar Distance on September 3, posing no threat to the Earth or the Moon, the American space agency said. Asteroid 2025 QD8 is expected to fly past Earth around 08:27 PM India Standard Time Wednesday offering an exciting opportunity for astronomers and space enthusiasts to observe a celestial visitor speeding past Earth. 2025 QD8 Size According to NASA: 2025 QD8 has an estimated diameter ranging between 55 and 124 feet (17 and 38 meters). Travelling at a blistering velocity exceeding about 45,000 kmph relative to Earth. QD8 closest approach will be 136,000 miles from Earth. This is close in space terms but does not pose any threat. NASA classifies dangerous asteroids that are wider than 85 meters. They must also come within 7.4 million kilometers to become a risk. QD8 does not meet either threshold of concern and hence not hazardous, NASA said. How and Where to Watch The Virtual Telescope Project is set to host a free YouTube stream covering the 2025 QD8 flyby starting at 07:00 PM ET (23:00 GMT) on September 02, 2025. The stream will feature live views of the asteroid as it approaches Earth, as captured by the organization's suite of robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy. Last Asteroid Alert The last asteroid alert was about 2024 YR4 issued in April this year. The astronomers had said it will not pose any threat to Earth but warned it could hit Moon. Giving the latest update, NASA said the likelihood of the asteroid 2024 YR4 colliding with the Moon has significantly increased with astronomers previously predicting 2024-YR4 had a 3.8 percent chance of striking the moon. This however will not alter the moon's orbit. NASA added that 2024-YR4 is 'now too far away to observe with either space or ground-based telescopes'. However, the US space agency expects to make 'further observations when the asteroid's orbit' when it comes back into orbit from 2028. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Abu Obaida is an Idea, and ideas never die Abu Obaida is not a person in the abstract or moral sense, but rather an idea, and ideas never die. Wednesday September 3, 2025 11:51 PM , Ali Saadeh News websites and the social media are today concerned whether the official spokesman of the Izz ad-Din al Qassam Brigades Abu Obaida was killed or not by the Israeli war machine. The most frequent question that is being asked: Has he been martyred (killed) or not? But really what does it matter if he was martyred or not? Before this supposedly deadly incident there were Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Marwan Issa. They were martyred and killed during this genocide on Gaza. Senior military leaders have long preceded them and in this war that started soon after 7th October, 2023. However, the Brigades did not falter for one minute, continuing to fight more fiercely than before after significantly developing their organizational and tactical military capabilities. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh himself was martyred, preceded by Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi. The caravan of martyrs will not stop Anyone who chooses to join the ranks of the resistance, whether militarily, politically, or in the media, knows full-well they are either a potential martyr deferred, or an eternal prisoner in the enemys fascist and brutal prisons. Since the start of the war of extermination on Gaza on 7th October, the Israeli army composed of scums and mercenaries has killed a number of Hamas leaders, most notably Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the movements political bureau, who was martyred in an attack in his office in Beiruts southern suburbs. Ayman Nofal, a member of the Qassam Brigades military council and commander of the Central Region Brigade, Ahmed al-Ghandour, a member of the military council and commander of the Northern Brigade in Gaza, and Ahmed Bahar, acting head of the Legislative Council and former head of the movements Shura Council were also the object of Israeli targeting. Jamila al-Shanti, the first woman to serve as a member of the Hamas Political Bureau and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was also killed. So were Osama al-Muzaini, a leader in the movement and former head of its Shura Council, and Zakaria Abu Muammar and Jawad Abu Shamala were also members of the Political Bureau. The convoy continues on its path, and the lies and deception of the ruling gang in Tel Aviv, which seeks any victory to present to the Israelis, who know they are marching toward the unknown under the leadership of the reckless, arrogant, and psychopathic Benjamin Netanyahu, will not stop them. The assassinations are nothing more than an official announcement of the Israeli military failure in the Gaza Strip. They are cowardly acts befitting a bloodthirsty man and a war criminal who has escaped justice. Palestine will continue to produce heroes The Palestinian people have sacrificed throughout their history hundreds of leaders who were martyred on the path of liberation and struggle, and no vacuum was created anywhere. On the contrary, whoever assumed the position outdid themselves to prove to us and to themselves that they were worthy of the trust and responsibility they carried. Palestine, the birthplace of Palestine, will continue to produce heroes and will never cease to produce heroism, courage, and dignity. Abu Obaida is not a person in the abstract or moral sense, but rather an idea, and ideas never die. They continue to blossom and grow until they strangle the occupier with their ropes. [The writer, Ali Saadeh, is a columnist at the Arabic Al Sabeel electronic newspaper in Amman. This opinion originally in Arabic is published in crossfirearabia.com.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Modi must know India is not Israel India expected US to give it a free hand during its war with Pakistan on the same lines as Israel has been given over in Gaza, Palestine. Thursday September 4, 2025 1:38 AM , Haider Abbas The cardinal line which India could easily assuage in all these years of sitting in a coterie with US, quite explicitly, since around 25 years now. Remember the US President Bill Clinton five days versus five hours visit to India and Pakistan in 2000? Does US want to use India against China while China uses Pakistan against India? But, on August 31, 2025 India, China and Pakistan were under the same roof, at the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. Minus the US! This is what may be the turning of tables as US President Donald Trump, who has imposed 50% tariffs on India to penalize it for buying Russian oil at highly subsidized rates, has now announced to cancel his India visit for QUAD Summit. There are reports that Indias PM Narendra Modi has not responded to four phone calls from Trump. Modi has also not backed-up Trump for Noble Prize nomination while Pakistan has done so. It had not been that far, when India was openly hobnobbing with QUAD - the quadrilateral dialogue consisting of US, Australia, India and Japan, an open front against China. But, the QUAD meeting (July 1) did not name Pakistan, in the Pahalgam, Kashmir terror attack of April 22! Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar came empty handed from the United States. Another entity, India-Israel-US and United Arab Emirates (I2U2), meant to contain Iran also seems to have lost its steam. Foreign Policy is not a knee jerk game. But, India, which typically wanted to take foreign-policy in the same stride as its domestic polity i.e. through aggressiveness has long lost it. It reached its nadir, a moment of least hope, in its immediate neighbourhood, in Bangladesh, as the narrative of the last 50 years that Bangladesh is an anathema to the idea of Pakistan came crashing down. India looked hapless as Bangladesh 3-times Prime Minister, Shiekh Hasina, had to flee to India , as she was widely perceived as New Delhi stooge in Dhaka, accused of high rate of human rights abuses, and there is a renewed love-affair between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Since, the four-days war, May 6/7, which broke between India and Pakistan, halted in a ceasefire after Trumps intervention, Pakistan Army Chief and Field Marshall Asim Munir has visited US twice, which once even included a private luncheon with Trump. Where is India? The answer lies that Indias sole bargain was to bank upon Israel to prevail on US, which did not happen! India expected US to give it a free hand on the same lines as Israel has been given over in Gaza, Palestine. Israel has unleashed death and utmost destruction in Gaza since October 7, 2023 , when Hamas had attacked Israel. India should know that it is not Israel, as Israel First is what runs through US. Modi has been irked by the continuous repetition of Trump to have stopped the India-Pakistan war. By July 19, according to some accounts, he had already repeated it 24 times. To make it worse, Trump is slowly adding to the number of fighter jets brought down. The figure is now seven. International media reports, have pointed Pakistan to have shot down Indian fighter jets, in the Operation Sindoor , which was launched in May, and which is not over yet, as it may begin any moment, owing to the claims by the Indian Army or BJP political establishment. There is no denying the fact that China, Turkey and Azerbaijan openly supported Pakistan against India. All the three nations along with Pakistan were present at SCO. Whom India is now to look upon? Whom India is now to look upon, except for Russia. Russia and Ukraine are at war since February 2022. The long proverbial Indian strategy of running with hare and hunting with hound is perhaps now a sign of past, as US accused India to have sponsored the Russian war over Ukraine. Indian oil refiners in the last 39 months have saved 12.9 billion USD by importing Russian oil, which US Chinas hawk and Trump advisor on trade Peter Navarro considers to have benefitted Indian Brahmins ! This Brahmin aspect that US has unshackled is an attempt to delve into the civilizational caste divide of Indian society. There is no doubt that out of those Indians, who have settled or studied in US, are overwhelmingly Brahmins. Brahmins are the upper crust of the Indian society since ages. The SCO summit, attended by more than 20 countries, is now to set up its development bank, on the lines of New Development Bank of BRICS, which is to be primarily aimed to dislodge US dollar regime. Russia and China have long been engaged into this world-wide de-dollarization campaign . Both the nations have been quite engaged in their trade through Chinese payment system The China Track. Their trade already hit a record $ 245 billion this year tells Reuters, which also helped Russia to drastically reduce its visibility from the Western eyes. India is also likely to be a part of this bank as well as BRICS , of which, India is to preside the next year. A large part of the world is set to abandon US SWIFT banking system. Asim Munir also reached China. He is to attend to Chinas victory parade on September 3. Everyone knows it is only China which made Pakistan compete with India. What did India get? Chinas border disputes with India are no where gone. It may be also referred that almost on the eve of the Russian-Ukraine war, there were winter Olympics in China, which India to boycott as China had made Qi Fabao, the commander in the Peoples Liberation Army who was injured in a border clash with India at the Galwan valley in 2020 , as its torchbearer. It was also then that Russia and China had declared to fight each-others wars. The same no-limits partnership between them has again been reiterated right now in Beijing. There was no Israel at SCO. India has skipped the Chinas parade. How is the world set to see the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war, as European and NATO nations, closely watch SCO, BRICS etc? The war in the Middle East is also set to take a new stage as Israel and US are to target Iran? Iran will get Russia and Chinas support. India will try a balancing act, but how will it act if Trump is to utter the K word? K stands for Kashmir... The ultimate red-line for India. Trump had once claimed that in Japan in 2019, Modi, had sought his help to resolve the Kashmir issue, as per The Straits Times! How will Modis India navigate in the coming days is to be watched. [The writer, Haider Abbas, is former State Information Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh. He writes on international issues.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic By John Revill, Lisa Jucca and Oliver Hirt ZURICH (Reuters) -Nestle has abruptly dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate, the Swiss food giant said on Monday, a dramatic removal exactly a year after he took the reins. The maker of products ranging from KitKat to Nesquik said that it had appointed veteran insider Philipp Navratil, who had headed the Nespresso coffee unit, as Freixe's successor with immediate effect. The shock departure threatens more volatility for Nestle amid a tough consumer environment and the disruptive U.S. trade tariffs. Nestle said Freixe's departure follows an investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which breached the company's code of business conduct. "This was a necessary decision," Bulcke said in a statement. "Nestle's values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service." The firm announced in June that Bulcke, its long-standing chairman, would stand down next year. A company spokesman told Reuters concerns about a possible relationship between Freixe and a direct report first emerged in the spring through an internal company hotline. The board of directors immediately opened an investigation into the matter, which was however inconclusive, this person added. As the concerns persisted, the company launched a second probe, overseen by Bulcke and Isla and with the help of an external firm, which confirmed the relationship. Freixe had initially denied the relationship to the board, the spokesperson added. The ousted executive will not receive an exit package after his dismissal, Nestle told Reuters. The CEO's abrupt removal comes exactly one year after Nestle ousted his predecessor Mark Schneider, raising questions on its next course of action even though the company said it would not change course on strategy and targets. "This new change is likely to keep afloat the question mark about the mid-term direction of the company," JP Morgan analysts said in a note to clients. Nestle shares have fallen 17% over the past year, lagging its rivals and the broader market. The sudden exit is the latest management reshuffle at a global consumer goods and food company this year, including Nestle rival Unilever , Diageo and Hershey . Top management's conduct has come under intense scrutiny, particularly in the United States. Kohl's fired CEO Ashley Buchanan in May after an investigation found he had pushed for deals with a vendor with whom he had a personal relationship, after little more than 100 days in the position. Mule deer graze in sagebrush during the fall 2023 migration near the Prospect Mountains in western Wyoming. New UW research shows that cheatgrass and other invasive plants are threatening deer habitat in northeast Wyoming. (Gregory Nickerson/Wyoming Migration Initiative Photo) If the spread of cheatgrass and other annual invasive grasses is left unchecked, mule deer will lose key habitat in northeast Wyoming, a new University of Wyoming study suggests. The study, published this week in the journal Rangeland Ecology & Management, found that mule deer avoid places where invasive annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, are overtaking sagebrush and grassland habitats. If the spread of these weeds goes unchecked, the study predicts that mule deer may lose more than half of their high-quality habitat in northeast Wyoming in the next two decades. Fortunately, the research also shows that targeted management of invasive annual grasses can reverse this trend. This is one of the first research studies to clearly assess the impacts of invasive annual grasses on mule deer habitat selection, says Kurt Smith, lead author of the new study and a senior research scientist at UW. The picture is grim if we sit back and do nothing. But theres plenty of hope that we can maintain big game populations if we strategically treat cheatgrass and other invasives. Mule deer rely on healthy sagebrush and other native perennial plants for food. Cheatgrass and other invasive grasses are less nutritious and provide poor-quality habitat for this big game, especially in the summer and fall, the researchers note. To track how mule deer used the landscape, including in areas containing invasive grasses, Smith and his colleagues analyzed the movement of more than 100 animals with GPS collars. Then, they overlaid the animals movements with the type of vegetation cover using the Rangeland Analysis Platform. Mule deer prefer habitats with low levels of invasive annual grasses, the researchers found. However, once invasive annual grasses covered more than 13 percent of sagebrush lands, mule deer began to use those areas less. When invasive grasses covered more than 20 percent of the land, mule deer strongly avoided those areas. After compiling deer movement and vegetation data, the researchers forecast what the future might look like under two scenarios: one where invasive grass continued to spread across the sagebrush biome at current rates, and another where active management actions, such as applying herbicides, reduced the weeds and allowed native perennials to recover. If nothing is done to protect core sagebrush areas from the spread of these weeds, invasive annual grasses could potentially reduce high-quality mule deer habitat across northeast Wyoming by 62 percent in the next 20 years, the results suggest. Mule deer are already facing habitat loss and fragmentation across the West. Doing nothing isnt an option, says Jerod Merkle, the Knobloch Professor of Migration Ecology and Conservation at UW and senior author of the study. Luckily, we now have the tools, the science and the broad support to combat the spread of invasive annual grasses in Wyoming and beyond. According to the new research, if targeted treatments are applied in places already prioritized by existing conservation frameworks like the Sagebrush Conservation Design, the potential loss of habitat can be completely reversed. These frameworks prioritize treating areas with only low to moderate levels of invasive grasses, as well as places near still-intact, core sagebrush landscapes. The predicted maintenance of high-quality mule deer habitat is stunning if we proactively defend core sagebrush from invasive annual grasses, says Brian Mealor, director of UWs Institute for Managing Invasive Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems (IMAGINE) and co-author of the study. It gives a lot of hope that we can protect wildlife while also improving rangelands as a whole. Partners across the West are collaborating on novel, win-win solutions for landowners and land managers interested in conserving sagebrush rangelands and the wildlife they support. For instance, IMAGINE and the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Services Working Lands for Wildlife provide tools, funding and technical support for managing invasive annual grasses. The Wyoming Migration Initiative at UW -- in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, state wildlife management agencies and tribes -- provides migration maps and other science-based strategies that help prioritize where to treat weeds to best benefit the Wests iconic big game species. Sagebrush rangelands support rural economies through ranching, hunting and recreation, says Jeremy Maestas, an ecologist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. This research clearly shows that now is the time to defend and restore the sagebrush biome, not just for mule deer but for all of the people and wildlife who live here. The research was supported by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Working Lands for Wildlife, Western EcoSystems Technology Inc., the Knobloch Family Foundation and UW. To read the full paper, visit www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742425000995. For questions, email Merkle at jmerkle@uwyo.edu or call (307) 766-5448. About the UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources The University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources serves students and communities through innovative scholarship, research and outreach. Guided by the land-grant principles of discovery and experiential learning, the college facilitates meaningful educational opportunities in the classroom, laboratory and community. The college offers degrees in the departments of agricultural and applied economics, animal science, botany, ecosystem science and management, family and consumer sciences, molecular biology, plant sciences, veterinary sciences, and zoology and physiology. The college also offers degree programs in agricultural communications, microbiology, and ranch management and agricultural leadership. To learn more, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwag or call (307) 766-4133. By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) -Nestle staff complained in May about improper favouritism by former CEO Laurent Freixe towards an employee with whom they alleged he was romantically involved, a senior executive said on Wednesday, two days after Freixe was sacked. Freixe was fired due to an undisclosed relationship with a subordinate, exactly a year after he replaced Mark Schneider, plunging the Swiss food giant into turmoil. Chief Financial Officer Anna Manz said the relationship between Freixe and the employee, who has not been named, was first examined in an internal investigation following concerns raised via Nestle's internal reporting system, called Speak Up. "Back in May, we received a Speak Up through our internal channels alleging a romantic relationship with an employee and improper favouritism," Manz told a Barclays investor conference. The matter was investigated by the board, but no evidence was found, she said. "And it was at that point that Laurent also made a personal statement stating that there had been no such thing," Manz said, referring to the concerns about Freixe raised by whistleblowers. But complaints continued to be made, Manz said, leading to a second, broader inquiry being launched with help from Swiss lawyers Baer & Karrer. "And it was that that triggered information that led to the board believing that there had been a breach of conduct and that they needed to act to change the CEO," she said. Freixe, who had denied the relationship throughout the course of both investigations, was dismissed on Monday following a board meeting, and will not receive an exit package. He could not be immediately reached for comment. Investors and analysts have described the dismissal of the 39-year company veteran as a crisis of historic proportions at Nestle, traditionally seen as a pillar of the Swiss business establishment. 'STRATEGIC, THOUGHTFUL LEADER' Freixe was replaced by Nespresso boss Philipp Navratil. Manz said he will bring a fresh perspective to the company. Navratil, 49, has spent 24 years at Nestle, mainly in its coffee business, and joined the executive board in January. "He's a really strategic, thoughtful leader. He's also very pragmatic and executionally focused," Manz said. Nestle denied reports Manz's appearance had been hastily arranged to present the company's side of Freixe's sacking to investors. The company said Freixe had also been due to attend the conference with Manz before his dismissal. The company, famous for KitKat chocolate bars and Nescafe instant coffee, has been struggling since the tenure of Freixe's predecessor Schneider, the first outsider to lead Nestle since 1922. 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. Laurent Freixe had been with Nestle for 40 years including just one as chief executive - Gabriel Monnet/AFP Nestle has sacked its chief executive with immediate effect after it emerged he had an affair with a junior colleague. The consumer goods giant said Laurent Freixe, 63, had been dismissed after a boardroom investigation found he had an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate. Mr Freixe had been with the KitKat maker for 40 years and had only been made chief executive last September to help steady the Swiss group following a series of scandals. This was a necessary decision. Nestles values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service at Nestle, said Paul Bulcke, the companys chairman. Mr Bulcke, alongside independent director Pablo Isla, led the investigation into Mr Freixe. Nestle said there would be no exit package for Mr Freixe but would not be drawn on whether there would be a clawback of bonus payments. Because he was made chief executive so recently, Nestle has not yet disclosed Mr Freixes full pay package. Mark Schneider, his predecessor, earned 9.6m Swiss francs (8.5m) and Mr Freixe is likely to have earned a similar sum. Mr Freixe owns just over 40,000 Nestle shares worth just over 2.7m acquired through working at the company. He has left the company exactly a year to the day after he was first appointed as chief executive. The Nestle termination is the latest in a string of chief executives who were ousted for having relationships with colleagues. BP boss Bernard Looney resigned two years ago after admitting he had not been fully transparent about his past relationships with a fellow employee. Mr Looney forfeited up to 32m in salary, pension contributions and performance-linked bonuses. However, the amount was dwarfed by the $105m (84m) Steve Easterbrook, the former McDonalds boss, was forced to give up when the fast food giant discovered he had similarly lied about office relationships. Nestle, which owns some of the largest consumer brands in the world including Quality Street and Milkybar, named Philipp Navratil as Mr Freixes successor. He has been with Nestle since 2001 and most recently ran its Nespresso unit. Mr Freixe, a Frenchman, joined Nestle in 1986 and was tasked with rejuvenating the company after Mr Schneider was ousted last year after sluggish performance. Last year Mr Freixe accused Mr Schneider of weakening the fabric of the organisation. He said Mr Schneider had diversified the company into areas such as health supplements at the expense of its core areas of coffee, food and pet care. He added that losing share from the core and weakening the fabric of the organisation is not a winning proposition. On August 27, President Donald Trump convened a meeting at the White House to gather suggestions for the future of Gaza. In attendance were JD Vance, Vice President; Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy; Marco Rubio, Secretary of State; Jared Kushner, former advisor during the first term; Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister; and Ron Dermer, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs. No statement was released after this consultation. However, according to the Washington Post, the Gaza Strip would be administered by the United States for at least 10 years while it is transformed into a glittering tourist resort and a center for high-tech manufacturing and technology. A colossal $100 million would be invested there. This possible operation is in line with the vision of the Jacksonians. In 1830, President Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) enacted the Indian Removal Act. To end the Indian wars, he proposed assigning them reservations rather than continuing to massacre them. The transfer of the Indians was particularly deadly for the Cherokees (the Trail of Tears episode), but they accepted this form of peace, while almost all other Indian tribes rejected it. Two centuries later, only the Cherokee tribe has become wealthy and integrated, while all the other tribes have been marginalized. Without a doubt, Jacksons method succeeded in ending the genocide of the Indians, but at what cost? Trumps plan, currently in development, is just as shocking to Palestinians as Jacksons was to the Cherokee, but it offers a solution where no one else has. Will Palestinians, who have been fighting for generations to assert their rights, be satisfied with this? International law states that no people can be expelled from their own land. The United Nations General Assembly has consistently guaranteed the right of return for those who were forcibly expelled in 1948UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (December 11, 1948) and UN Security Council Resolution 237 (June 14, 1967). Seven years ago, Palestinian civilians organized the March of Return. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired on a peaceful crowd, killing at least 120 people and wounding 4,000. It is obviously illusory to believe that such a people will easily rally to this project. So the participants at the White House meeting considered paying $23,000 per person to any family willing to go into exile. Contacts have already been made with Libya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Indonesia, and Somaliland, although none of these states has confirmed this. The Trump team is considering voluntarily relocating a quarter of the Gaza population in this way. According to the Financial Times, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TIT) and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) held joint working meetings on the Gaza Riviera project, known as The Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation Trust (GREAT* Trust). It was during these preparatory meetings that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) project was born. During the summer, this Swiss-registered foundation distributed humanitarian aid in Gaza instead of the occupying authority, the United Nations, the International Red Cross, and various humanitarian associations. This certainly bypassed Hamas, but it also led to the IDF killing nearly a thousand civilians who had come to seek food aid. The GHF scandal was unanimously condemned, including by prominent Israeli Jews. In practice, the GHF was created by the Mikveh Yisrael Forum, bringing together Yotam HaCohen, strategic advisor to Benjamin Netanyahu and son of former General Gershon HaCohen, Liran Tankman, a former intelligence officer who switched to high-tech, and Michael Eisenberg, an Israeli-American venture capitalist. Most of the leaders of the Mikveh Yisrael Forum have joined the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Ghassan Alian, convinced that the Netanyahu government is doing nothing to help the people of Gaza and that it is up to the Israelis to take action. TRIAL International, a Swiss-based NGO, has filed two legal submissions asking the Swiss authorities to investigate the GHFs compliance with Swiss law and international humanitarian law. The central issue raised by TRIAL International is whether humanitarian organizations can use private military companies. From the outset, GHFs executive director, former US Marine Jake Wood, resigned. The Foundation then enlisted the services of Philip F. Reilly and his company Safe Reach Solutions. However, Reilly is a former soldier in the 7th Special Forces Group, which focused on counter-narcotics missions in Latin America. He became head of the CIAs paramilitary branch, then known as the Special Activities Division but renamed the Special Activities Center. He was head of the CIAs Afghan station around 2008 and 2009, as well as head of operations for the agencys Counterterrorism Mission Center, which led the agencys highly controversial drone strike program during the War on Terror. He then joined the private sector as senior vice president of special operations for the private military company Constellis, owner of the mercenary company formerly known as Blackwater. Finally, he worked for another private army, Orbis. While it is true that the IDF did not kill the Palestinian civilians who came to look for food, Philip F. Reillys men did. The future Gaza project, according to its real estate developers (the three professionals Jared Kushner, Donald Trump, and Steve Witkoff), is worthy of Dubai. Many transnational corporations have already joined forces. To facilitate the regrouping of Gazans, Benjamin Netanyahus revisionist Zionist government has given instructions to create a tent city for 600,000 people in Rafah. They would have food and hospitals, but would not be able to leave. Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, said at a conference on Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank on May 14: Civilians will be sent south to a humanitarian zone, and from there they will begin to leave in large numbers for third countries. The Prime Minister himself finally made the decision on August 13 on i24News in Hebrew. He claimed a historic and spiritual mission, assuring that he is very attached to the vision of a Greater Israel. At 75, he publicly claims to be a follower of his fathers mentor, Vladimir Jabotinsky, the founder of revisionist Zionism. At the same time, on July 23, the Knesset passed a non-binding law by 71 votes to 13, calling on the government to annex the West Bank before new permanent members of the UN Security Council fully recognize the State of Palestine. In addition, the IDF reports that 618 settler attacks were recorded in the West Bank in 2024, compared to 404 in the first half of 2025. Republican Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has expressed his support for annexation. He visited the Ariel settlement in early August 2025 and said he believed that Judea and Samaria belonged to the Jewish people and expressed his support for the extension of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. This was the first time that a US figure of this stature had visited Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Trump administration is currently keeping a cautious distance from this movement, especially as it is focusing all its efforts on strengthening the Abraham Accords with Arab states. According to a December 2024 survey by the Institute for National Security Studies, 34% of the Israeli public rejects the annexation of Palestinian territories, 21% supports annexing the current settlements, and 21% supports annexing everything. For their part, Egypt and Jordan, unwilling to believe this, continue to train hundreds of young Palestinians loyal to Fatah to form a 10,000-strong private security force to put the Palestinian Authority in power in Gaza. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and France plan to fully recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly, which is preparing to proclaim its independence. Seven days into the first important week of September, it appears that the platform for the 21st-century New World Order is taking shape, with interests converging around three transcendent summits: 1) the Shanghai Group (SCO in Tianjin [1]); 2) the military parade in Beijing for the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism [2], and 3) the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok [3]. As I pointed out at the time, among the many secret agreements (sic) emerging after the historic summit in the oil state of Alaska between the two oil-producing presidents, Trump and Putin, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that "Exxon held secret (megasic!) talks with Rosneft about its return to Russia" [4]. According to the WSJ, the "resumption of operations in Russia would mark a dramatic rapprochement (sic) after Exxons chaotic break with Moscow when Putin attacked Ukraine in 2022." Exxon is not an oil company like the others; see The Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power (title of Steve Colls book [5]). According to the WSJ, "What the two leaders didnt say: Behind closed doors, their countries largest energy companies had already sketched out a road map for resuming operations, exploiting oil and gas fields off the coast of Russias Far East," and the newspaper adds that "in secret (megasic!) conversations with Russias largest state-owned energy company this year, a top ExxonMobil executive discussed returning to the mammoth Sakhalin project if both governments gave the green light, as part of the Ukraine peace process, people familiar with the discussions said." I dont like talking to clandestine ghosts, but I highly doubt that the Khazarian comedian Zelensky, about to be thrown under the bus, will be able to prevent, with his European bosses, the remarkable energy rapprochement between the Trump and Putin oil companies. Rosneft is the Russian state-owned oil company, headed by the very powerful Igor Sechin, close to Putin and a member of the St. Petersburg ruling group. As if that werent enough, according to Reuters, the mouthpiece of the Anglosphere, there is "the prospect of Russia purchasing US equipment for its LNG (liquefied natural gas) projects in the Arctic, LNG 2" (megasic!). Moreover, it is very likely that "the United States will buy icebreakers from Russia" [6]. A win-win situation! In this regard, Putin stated that "Russia is discussing cooperation with the United States on the Arctic (megasic!) and Alaska," while "the Arctic region has significant reserves of mineral resources, and Russia possesses unique technologies that attract foreign partners." [7] While the visit of Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing made headlines in the Global Times, [8] the presence of South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung at the White House was welcomed by Chinese media when President Trump offered to "visit China together" [9] after the US president stated that "at some point, probably this year or immediately after, we will visit China, [10] because we are going to have an excellent relationship" with Beijing. In spectacular fashion, Trump announced that 600,000(!) Chinese students would be allowed to attend American universities. This is where Chinese academic financial tourism is going! The only discordant news, relayed by the German media, is that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to take four phone calls from Trump [11]. A few days before the historic first week of September, it seems that the interests of the three superpowers of the increasingly likely tripolar New World Order are converging. Is a G-3 between Russia, China, and the United States reconfiguring itself behind the scenes? Home Alone was not a project, in any conceivable way, with John Williams name on it. Writer John Hughes, moving away from the poppy teenage zeitgeist that made him famous, concocted the story around a simple premise: a young boy is accidentally left home alone at Christmas and has to defend himself against a pair of oily burglars. Hughes tapped Chris Columbus to direct the film on location in the suburbs of Chicago a local high school was converted into the central, booby-trapped house interior and he also suggested Macaulay Culkin, an adorable bundle of sassy wit and sweetness, to play the pint-sized hero, Kevin McCallister. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were cast as the bumbling but dogged bandits, Harry and Marv, and Catherine OHara brought humor and compassion to the part of Kevins mother. It was essentially a live-action Road Runner cartoon, which Columbus helped nudge toward pathos by accentuating the arc of an old man next door who forges a surprisingly genuine bond with Kevin. Bruce Broughton was hired to write the score early posters and a teaser trailer listed his name in the credits but when the schedule came into conflict with another project, Disneys animated film The Rescuers Down Under, he exited. Stranded without a composer in post-production, Columbus was already immediately moving on to his next film, Only the Lonely with John Candy, when he learned that John Williams was interested in seeing a rough cut of Home Alone. John screened the film, and sent word to Columbus that he wanted to score it. We were just completely overwhelmed, Columbus said. Here was a small, $18 million movie that he and his producers were simply hoping would double its budget. He had no idea why John wanted anything to do with it other than, maybe, because Columbus had built a strong temp score that featured Tchaikovskys Nutcracker, Dave Grusins score for Murder by Death, and Mannheim Steamrollers synthy take on Carol of the Bells. I think he probably saw the potential in that movie that even I didnt see, said Columbus, because I was too close to it. John was simply enchanted by the movie and he also saw it as a chance to write some original Christmas carols, in the tradition of his late friend Alfred Burt. Where else would I get such an opportunity? said John, who proposed this idea to Columbus. It was also Johns suggestion to have his old friend Mel Torme record a version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas for the soundtrack. His enthusiasm for the project was bubbling over he asked to spot the film twice and when he got to work on it after Labor Day, he realized his ambitions were probably outsized for this little movie, but if it moves you, or is something you care about, or something where your spirit resonates a little bit, its easier to write music or poetry or anything else. When a composer looks at a film, if it speaks to you, it helps. Columbus thought the critical key in Johns contribution was somehow blending the films contrasting tones of slapstick, Three Stoogesesque comedy with its warm, Christmassy heart. John just created this linear glue that held those two tones together, Columbus said, which is brilliant. John hadnt scored such a straight-up comedy since 1941, and he suddenly remembered how exhausting the genre could be, where every millisecond matters in these wonderfully burlesque in the classic use of that word comedy sequences that the orchestra accompanies so completely in the film, almost like a cartoon where every gesture that the orchestra makes is accompanied by some comedic action on screen. He coordinated with the films sound team and scored each violent vignette Harry clutching a red-hot doorknob, Marv taking a paint can to the face right up to the gruesome sound effect, then had the music stand down for the sizzling or thwacking payoff. If the music had run all the way through, it would have been more cartoonish, explained music editor Michael Wilhoit. John had recorded the Nutcracker Suite with the Pops back in 1984, and he liberally borrowed Tchaikovskys yuletide sauces for the flavor of Home Alone. Like he did with other classical composers, though, John converted the archetype into a thrilling new form of popcorn energy. The score opens with an homage to Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, setting an enchanted, slightly ominous mood with bells and twinkling Christmas lights, and introducing a theme of mischievous mystery. For the sequence where the McCallister family frantically packs in fast-motion, John remixed Russian Dance into his own whimsical Holiday Flight. The films main theme is forecasted right at the beginning, with synth bells ringing the first phrase like church bells calling us into the story. This melody was filled with the feeling of nostalgia and boyhood, with echoes of the old nursery rhyme Rain Rain Go Away and of a glowing hearth with snow falling outside, especially when carried by sleigh bells and other wintry chimes. (Kevin seems to be living inside a Baby Boomers ideal of Christmas watching black-and-white noir movies, listening to golden oldies which has the interesting side effect of making the film feel timeless.) This main tune became the carol Somewhere in My Memory, with words by Leslie Bricusse. The melody that formed the scores other carol, Star of Bethlehem, is shrouded in religious mystery and it serves the sense of darkness and danger that Kevin is often in. John wrote a perky boys adventure theme, usually performed by tuba, which accompanies Kevins more carefree moments. For the self-proclaimed Wet Bandits, John conceived an eely villain motif worthy of Peter and the Wolf, which stalks and slithers around in the lower end of the wind section. John was a grandfather by now, forever dignified, and as jarring as it is to hear his stately score in a slapstick movie with dialogue like puke breath, cheese face, and I wouldnt let you sleep in my room if you were growing on my ASS it oddly makes sense to picture him weaving this fun musical story for his grandchildren, as if gathering them around the fire to read a modern-day Oliver, or A Christmas Carol. His score punctuates the comedy and shivers at the frights; when Culkin dramatically says, Pack my suitcase?, the line gets an exaggerated musical response. When old man Marley makes appearances in the early goings, hovering like the dreaded Ghost of Christmas Future, John manifests Kevins terror with the melodramatic Dies Irae. This is, unapologetically, story time at the library, where the only thing missing is the sound of kids booing at the villains. But it is also much, much more. Photo: Alexander Courage There is a real seriousness to the score the scheming bad-guy music has the artfulness of Prokofiev, and even the sneaking-around cues have musical integrity and structure. Johns score nimbly dances with the pratfalls and springing traps, never leeching them of their primal, juvenile laughter, but also treating the films stuntmen with the same dignity as the Martha Graham ballet company. Something in this conceivably crude, potentially stupid pantomime resonated with him but he also simply couldnt help himself but handle it with care, as he did with everything. A lot of composers can write sweeping, emotional material, said Columbus, Very few know how to write comedy cues. I think its the most difficult thing in the world. Because youve seen so many comedies with a score that just speaks down to the film. I have had nothing but success when John is writing for comedy, because its light on its feet in a certain way. Its not intrusive, and its not telling the audience: You need to laugh here. Its just being very playful. The comedy moments in Home Alone the musical slapstick moments in the film are just really beautiful in their simplicity. The real elevation, though, came in the tender and vulnerable moments that dot the narrative. Johns two carols act as Kevins guardian angels throughout his adventure: after Kevins first brush with the bad guys, Star of Bethlehem sounds with seasonal resolve as he walks outside and declares out loud that hes not afraid anymore, and it sprints back into the house with him after hes spooked by Marley. John exploited this themes gloomy side for Kevins wild overreaction to seeing Marley in the drug store, then kicks it into a sleigh-driven action theme as he runs home. Bethlehem becomes even more fraught when Kevin recognizes Harry and hides from the bandits in a nativity scene, and John acknowledged the neighborhood church with a synthesized organ. Somewhere in My Memory is the bright sun to the other carols melancholy moon, and John spread out a homey, Hallmark card version of it when Kevin finally feels sadness for wishing his familys disappearance. Likewise, as he walks home one night and sees other families gathering in cheer inside their own homes, the first choral performance of Memory is sung Gently with nostalgia. The film pivots when Kevin ducks into a cathedral and overcomes his fear of Marley to have a touching conversation about their respective family woes. A childrens choir is shown singing a series of Christmas hymns in the background and in the middle of O Holy Night and Carol of the Bells is Star of Bethlehem, as if it were just another classic in the canon of yuletide carols. Truth be told: it qualified. This churchly calm is suddenly interrupted with a rock-like beat on synth drums invading Carol of the Bells, which morphs into a steely combat version of Bethlehem as Kevin runs home to rig his house with an elaborate series of booby traps (Johns nod to the Mannheim Steamroller temp track). The film culminates with an escalating parade of pain inflicted on Marv and Harry, and John deftly varied the pace and intensity of his cartooning with heavy use of pizzicato strings, triangle, and legato bass clarinets to match the progression. Memory flips into action gear when Kevin thinks hes won and calls the cops (why he waited until now only makes sense in movie logic), and a horn heroically declares the Bethlehem tune as he braves a zip line out of a high window and into his treehouse. An accelerated, wobbly development of Memory hustles with Kevin across the street, the bad guys follow with their motif, and Memory grows increasingly frantic as Kevin goes in through the neighbors flooding basement and runs up the stairs right into Harry and Marv. They talk about paying Kevin back torture for torture, but are suddenly knocked out by Marley triggering a relieved crescendo of Somewhere in Memory. Finally, on an impossibly beautiful white Christmas morning, Memory rings gently on bells and the orchestra picks up the melody, singing it with passion as Kevin runs downstairs in faith that his mom came home. The tune turns melancholy when he finds the house still empty and looks longingly outside, but then he hears the front door open and the sound of his mothers voice. Memory continues delicately as Mom admires Kevins tree and decorations, then chimes over undulating, expectant strings when Kevin meets her with a frown which he immediately replaces with a huge smile, and the orchestra wells up joyously as mother and son hug each other tightly. The film ends with a delicate bell ostinato introducing one last reprise of Memory, played on a synth harpsichord, which is joined by the whole orchestra as Kevin looks out his window and sees Marley hugging his granddaughter, tears in his eyes as he waves to Kevin. For all of its physical comedy and Christmas wish fulfillment, the real reason multiple generations developed a powerful bond to Home Alone is because of these tearful moments and because of Johns sparkling, heartstring music. Nike and StockX have finally wrapped up a lawsuit thats been running since 2022. Filed in a New York federal court, both sides agreed to drop the case with prejudice, meaning it is officially over and cannot be reopened. The details of the agreement are staying private, but the message is clear: both companies are ready to move on. NFTs Were the Spark That Lit the Fuse The fight started when StockX launched Vault NFTs tied to physical sneakers. These tokens showed Nike shoes, complete with logos, which Nike claimed could mislead customers into thinking there was some kind of partnership. There wasnt. That alone stirred enough legal tension, but Nike then added more fire by accusing StockX of selling fake shoes. The company said that some sneakers StockX authenticated as legit were actually counterfeit. In early 2025, a judge agreed that StockX was responsible in a few of those cases, and a full jury trial was supposed to happen in October. That trial is now off the table thanks to this new settlement. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in A Clear Decision Instead of a Messy Trial Rather than take this all the way through a public courtroom battle, both sides have chosen a cleaner path forward. This move avoids a long, public legal brawl and brings a bit of clarity to how brands want their trademarks treated in the world of NFTs. It also saves both companies time and probably a lot of money. What This Tells Us About NFTs and Brand Boundaries The entire case raised big questions about how NFTs work when theyre tied to physical goods. Are they just digital receipts, or do they represent something more? The court didnt give a final ruling on that, but the pressure from this case showed that brands care a lot about how their logos and products appear in digital spaces. This settlement sends a message: tread carefully when blending real-world brands with blockchain tokens. DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in Platforms Will Likely Think Twice Going Forward With this chapter closed, a new level of awareness has emerged for platforms creating NFTs tied to physical products. The rules are still forming, but this was a wake-up call. If youre using someone elses brand to add value to your digital asset, you need to be very clear about rights, partnerships, and how its all framed. Otherwise, you might find yourself in court for years. Where Things Go from Here Nike and StockX are both major names in their industries. Ending this fight without a verdict lets them both reset and focus on whats next. For everyone else watching, especially in the NFT and streetwear scenes, this story becomes part of a growing playbook on what not to do when mixing blockchain and big brands. Its a quiet ending, but one that will probably echo across the space for a while. Israel warns it will treat flotilla activists as terrorists. A union representative of dockworkers in the Italian port of Genoa has threatened that all shipments to Israel will be blocked if communication is lost with a flotilla carrying aid bound for the Gaza Strip. Boats laden with food and humanitarian supplies departed from Genoa and Barcelona on Sunday as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla mission which will attempt to break through Israels blockade. The dockworker, representing the USB trade union, was speaking at a rally in Genoa's port at the weekend after an estimated 40,000 people in joined a torchlit procession in support of the flotilla. "If we lose contact with our boats, with our comrades, even for just 20 minutes, we will shut down all of Europe" - the dockworker said in viral video footage - "13 to 14,000 containers leave every year for Israel from this region, not a single nail will leave anymore". Genoa food drive The boats departing from Genoa on Sunday were loaded with more than 300 tons of food supplies for Gaza, donated by the city's residents as part of a major food drive. Genoa port workers were among the most active in the food campaign, including CALP, an independent collective of dockyard workers which earlier this year blocked shipments of weapons headed to Israel. Global Sumud Flotilla organisers say it is the largest maritime mission to Gaza, bringing together more than 50 ships and delegations from at least 44 countries. Genoa dockworkers will reportedly get on board the ships when the flotilla sets sail from Sicily on Thursday. Threat from Israel Israel has pledged to stop the flotilla from reaching the Gaza Strip, with national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir saying he wants to designate all the Global Sumud Flotilla volunteers as terrorists and arrest them. "The threats from the Netanyahu government do not frighten us" - CALP representative Jose Nivoi said in an interview with La Repubblica newspaper - "Ben Gvir's statements are merely a demonstration of the sense of total impunity enjoyed by Israel, which has allowed and continues to allow genocide to be committed". Maria Elena Delia, the flotilla's spokesperson for Italy, said the activists would not be intimidated by the warning from Israel and would continue the mission regardless. "I hope, in the event that Israel carries out arrests with hard jail time, that our government will intervene because we are Italian citizens and we are sailing in international waters" - Delia said - "So Israel has no right to arrest us and seize our ships". Opposition The right-wing government of Italian premier Giorgia Meloni has also come under pressure from the centre-left opposition to stand up for the Italian activists on board the flotilla. "The threats made by Israeli minister Gvir against the activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla must be forcefully rejected by European governments, the Italian government and the EU," said the leader of the Partito Democratico (PD) party, Elly Schlein. Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S), slammed the Israeli threat as "beyond absurd" while "a criminal like Netanyahu is acting with impunity after massacring more than 60,000 Palestinians, including 20,000 children". Writing on social media, Conte addressed Meloni directly, asking if she intended "to put aside her hat-wearing selfies and stand with those who choose to commit to stopping this horror, or will she, as always, let her friend Netanyahu carry on?" "Will she say and do something to defend her fellow citizens engaged in this operation and the many citizens who supported it?" - Conte asked - "When will sanctions and an arms embargo be imposed? The prime minister has lost her words and her patriotism." Image: Boats sailing with the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona. Photo credit: gonzagon / Shutterstock.com. Clarification comes after US ambassador to NATO warned against creative accounting". The Italian government on Wednesday ruled out reported plans to classify the construction of a 13.5 billion bridge to Sicily as a strategic military asset to meet NATO's five per cent GDP defence spending. The clarification from Italy's transport ministry came after the US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said in an interview with Bloomberg that the expenditure target should not include spending on "bridges that have no strategic military value". Whitaker warned against EU allies using creative accounting" methods to meet the spending target, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, in an article titled: "US Frowns on Italy's Idea of Making Sicily Bridge a NATO Asset". Italy, which currently spends around 1.5 per cent of its GDP on defence, had reportedly planned to include the 13.5 billion construction costs of a 3.3 kilometre-long bridge over the Strait of Messina, arguing that the contentious structure could serve dual civilian and strategic purposes. In April, the government adopted a memorandum describing the bridge as being of "strategic importance for national and international security" that will play "a key role in defence and security, facilitating the movement of Italian armed forces and NATO allies", enabling the "rapid transport of heavy vehicles, troops, and resources both by road and rail". However on Wednesday, hot on the heels of Bloomberg's interview with Ambassador Whitaker, the transport ministry clarified: "The Strait of Messina Bridge is already entirely financed by state resources, and no defence funds are earmarked". "The possible use of NATO resources is not currently on the agenda and, more importantly, it is not an absolute necessity," the ministry said in a statement, reiterating that the plan is not under discussion. Last month the governmental economic planning committee CIPESS gave the green light to what would be the world's longest suspension bridge. Deputy premier and transport minister Matteo Salvini, who resurrected the multi-billion project after the planned construction of the bridge was scrapped a decade ago over budget constraints, told reporters that the bridge should be in operation "by 2032 or 2033". Prime minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the bridge as "a strategic project for the development of the entire nation", describing it as "an investment in Italy's present and its future". However critics have voiced concerns about its structural viability in an earthquake-prone area as well as its environmental impact and the risk of mafia infiltration. The project has also faced criticism over its exorbitant cost, with opponents arguing that the money could be better spent elsewhere. Drawing From Nature Bice Lazzari 19501980 Temple University Rome opens the new season with, an exhibition celebrating one of Italys most pioneering women artists of the twentieth century. The show opens on Tuesday, September 16, from 6 to 8 PM, and will remain on view until September 30 at the universitys Gallery of Art. The exhibition brings together a focused selection of Lazzaris works on paper spanning three decisive decades of her career. From the lyrical, nature-inspired lines of the 1950s, through the minimalist rigor of the 1960s, to the geometric abstraction of the 1970s, the show traces the evolution of an artist whose visual language was both personal and profoundly modern. Born in Venice in 1900, Bice Lazzari challenged the limitations imposed on women in the arts during her time. Denied access to painting courses at the Accademia di Belle Arti because of their nude studies, she pursued decoration and applied arts, collaborating with leading architects of the 1930s and 1940s. Over the decades she carved out her own path, becoming a forerunner of abstraction and conceptual art in Italy. Her work is now recognized internationally, with pieces held in major collections such as the Vatican Museums in Rome, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Brera Museum in Milan, Ca Pesaro and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts and The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. The exhibition has been made possible thanks to the generous collaboration of the Bice Lazzari Archive, which since 1981 has catalogued more than 3,000 works, preserving and promoting the legacy of a figure described by the Guggenheim Collection as a leading protagonist of Italian abstraction beginning in the 1920s. Opening: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | 68 PM On view: September 1630, 2025 Where: Gallery of Art, Temple University Rome, Via di San Sebastianello 16 +39 06 3202808 | rome.temple.edu By Alex Lawler and Olesya Astakhova LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) -Eight OPEC+ members will consider further raising oil production at a meeting on Sunday, two sources familiar with the discussions said, as the group seeks to regain market share. OPEC+ has reversed its strategy of output cuts from April and has already raised quotas by about 2.5 million barrels per day, about 2.4% of world demand, to boost market share and under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to lower oil prices. But those increases have failed to bring down oil prices, which traded near $68 a barrel supported by Western sanctions on Russia and Iran, encouraging further production gains in rivals such as the United States. Another output boost would mean OPEC+, which pumps about half of the world's oil, would be starting to unwind a second layer of cuts of about 1.65 million barrels per day, or 1.6% of world demand, more than a year ahead of schedule. Eight OPEC+ countries are due to hold an online meeting on Sunday expected to decide on October output. OPEC+ includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other allies. There is also a chance, some analysts and an OPEC+ source said, that OPEC+ could pause the increases for October. A final decision has not been made, the OPEC+ source said. OPEC headquarters and authorities in Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Brent crude was trading near $68 on Wednesday, down over 1% on the day but up from a 2025 low of near $58 in April. As well as sanctions, the OPEC+ hikes falling short of the pledged amounts have also supported prices, analysts have said. Until April, OPEC+ had been curtailing production for several years to support oil prices. At their last meeting in August, the eight members raised production by 547,000 bpd for September, completing a total increase in output for the year of 2.5 mln bpd. That included a 300,000 bpd additional production allocation for the UAE. The next output cut layer of 1.65 million bpd is in place until the end of 2026, as is another 2 million bpd of cuts by the whole group. (Reporting by Alex Lawler and Olesya Astakhova; Additonal reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar and Yousef Saba; Editing by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Bernadette Baum) Tom Tuite A 23-year-old man charged over the stabbing of a Garda on a Dublin street in July has been further remanded in custody for another two weeks pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Abdullah Khan, with an address in north Dublin, appeared at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday for his third hearing since being charged and has not yet applied for bail. Mr Khan, with an address in north Dublin that cannot be revealed due to a court order, was arrested at the scene following an incident at around 6pm on Capel Street in the city's north side on July 29th. The accused, represented by solicitor Matthew de Courcy, appeared before Judge Alan Mitchell via video link. The DPP's directions have yet to be conveyed. The State sought another four weeks for those directions, and the accused told the court he would consent to two weeks only. Judge Mitchell adjourned it until September 17th. The injured garda, a young probationary member of the force who was on high-visibility patrol with a colleague, received hospital treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Mr Khan is charged with assault causing harm to the officer and the production of a Tactix knife capable of causing serious injury. He has yet to indicate a plea to the charges, which are under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. At the first court appearance on July 31st, the defence secured reporting restrictions on the publication of Mr Khan's full address, due to "concerns around safety", which was confirmed by Detective Sergeant McLaughlin. The detective sergeant had also said Mr Khan "made no reply" to each charge. At that hearing, medical attention in custody was also ordered, and legal aid was granted. The defence must give gardai 24 hours' notice if the accused intends to make a bail application. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Ireland is at a tipping point on how it responds to issues around citizenship and national identity, the Taoiseach has warned. Micheal Martins comments come after Dublin City Council said it wanted to meet gardai over concerns about the erection of Irish tricolour flags in public spaces across the city, following concerns raised by some residents. The flags have been erected by various groups as an expression of pride in national identity but have been criticised by others who believe the tricolour is being used to intimidate people of a migrant background. Similar disputes have been seen across the UK. Taoiseach Micheal Martin at Government Buildings (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Martin said the Irishness of citizens should not be questioned due to their backgrounds or origins. I heard some people recently sort of defending whats going on now and somehow if you have a problem with the national flag on the flagpole, then you should maybe leave the country, theres something wrong with you, youre not Irish or something like that. Thats not right. That kind of comment is out of order and we shouldnt be trying to question peoples citizenship or their Irishness because of their origins, perhaps, or the colour of their skin. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Martin said society had to stand up to that kind of rhetoric. Watching whats happening in the UK, I dont like it, he said. We, so far, have resisted a lot of what has transpired in other societies. We are at a tipping point in Ireland Im concerned about it and I think this has to be resisted. We should do it an intelligent way. We have to affirm the citizenship of all our citizens, and continue to do what a lot of people do over the world. A lot of people are making noise. The vast, vast majority of people understand whats the best of us and also understand the important contribution that people from different nationalities have made to our society over the last number of decades. We have to defend what I think have been fundamental values within our society for a long, long time. Tanaiste Simon Harris said flags must not be hijacked (Liam McBurney/PA) Speaking at the same media event, Tanaiste Simon Harris said the far right would not be allowed to hijack the valued national flag. Mr Harris said he would like to see more tricolours but added there were rules around flying the flags correctly. The tricolour should never be hijacked or used to represent something that is against what this republic stands for, he said. Theres very clear rules around how you properly, respectfully hang our flag. We should see more flags, I welcome more flags we made a lot of progress during the time we were commemorating centenaries. The Fine Gael leader added: Were very proud of our flag but we saw our flag hijacked by one group for many years were sure as hell not going to allow the far right now to hijack our flag. Plans to construct 60 houses in Stradbally have been refused permission, amidst ongoing concerns regarding the current housing shortage in the area. The planning application submitted by Caroline and John Whelan in October 2024, outlined intentions to construct 56 two-storey semi-detached houses and 4 two-storey detached houses. A number of letters were subsequently submitted by locals voicing concerns over the development. Potential flood risk, density and scale were issues raised. Waterford City and County Council decided to refuse permission for the development last week for two reasons. The planning department outlined that given the developments poor design and layout, it would fail to meet the estate design standards set out in the Waterford City and County Development Plan. Secondly, the planning authority was not satisfied that the applicants adequately demonstrated that the stormwater design is acceptable in terms of servicing the proposed development, nor has it been demonstrated that the design submitted would not give rise to risk of flooding to third party property. Ongoing housing shortage The dire need for housing in Stradbally has often been raised during monthly Comeragh district meetings, where local councillors have been pleading with Council executives to take steps aimed at boosting the areas housing supply. Explaining the Stradbally shortfall at a recent meeting, Cllr Liam Brazil said: This has been going on for a long, long time. "We have a housing crisis and we need to overcome this crisis. If we sit back and do nothing, were going to get nothing." Cllr Brazil also said recently that land in Stradbally, zoned for housing, continues to sit idle. "We as a council have land and were ignoring it for some reason," he said. Members of the Gardai in Waterford proved they were 'fair cops' when they attended an event in the county on Wednesday. Members of the force's Mounted Unit were on duty at the Tallow Horse Fair. In an online post on the An Garda Siochana Waterford Facebook page a spokesperson for the force noted: 'Members of the Mounted Unit in full trot here at Tallow Horse Fair'. Members of the public were also encouraged to say hi to them if they were visiting the event. An intriguing talk will take place in Central Library in Waterford City today, Wednesday, September 3, at 6.30pm. The event will focus attention on the stories behind the 'Mons Star to the Royal Irish Regiment', contained in a groundbreaking new book by Mary Anne Maher and Larry Scallan. Focusing on soldiers from Waterford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Wexford, the book charts the 1,928 men of the regiment who received the 1914 Mons Star medal for service in France and Belgium at the outbreak of the First World War. A notice from Waterford Libraries stated the research into the book drew on four years of meticulous research through which 'the authors reveal moving personal stories, local connections, and the fate of those killed, captured, or returned'. The public is invited to join the authors of the book in Waterford Central Library for what promises to be a fascinating and poignant talk. Mons Stars to the Royal Irish Regiment will be the focus of attention in the talk For more information or to book contact Central Library at 051 849975 or email centrallibrary@waterfordcouncil.ie In a significant move to bolster the maritime capabilities of the United States, Cerberus Capital Management and HD Hyundai have announced a partnership aimed at revitalizing the American ocean logistics sector. The Cerberus Maritime investment strategy is set against the concerted efforts by the Trump administration to build up Americas maritime industrial base in shipping, naval defense, and shipbuilding. The strategy particularly emphasizes modernizing ports and advancing maritime technologies, the companies said in a release, with a strong focus on revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding capabilities. This initiative, supported by investments in logistics infrastructure and strategic maritime assets, promises to strengthen the maritime defenses and industrial capacities of both the United States and its allied nations. HD Hyundai (KRX: 267250), one of South Koreas largest conglomerates with interests in shipbuilding, heavy machinery, and petroleum, will serve as the anchor investor and technical partner. The collaboration presents an opportunity for U.S. shipyards to leverage HD Hyundais digital maritime solutions, advancing technological capabilities and operational efficiency, and signals its long-term support for the future of U.S. and allied shipbuilding. State-owned Korea Development Bank will facilitate as-yet unspecified investments into Cerberus Maritime strategy. Cerberus previously was involved in the revitalization of Subic Bay shipyard in South Korea, transforming the former American naval base and environs from a distressed asset into a multi-functional facility for shipbuilding and logistics operations. Were proud to announce this first-of-its-kind partnership that brings together the strengths of Cerberus and HD Hyundai to support this historic commitment to revitalizing the U.S. maritime sector, said Cerberus Chief Executive Frank Bruno, in the release. We believe our strategy can play an important role by bringing investments alongside operational and technical capabilities to high-impact opportunities. Hyundai builds containerships, tankers, ro-ro vessels, among its network of Asia shipyards. It posted $49 billion in revenue in 2024. While questions have been raised about a foreign nations deep involvement in U.S. maritime infrastructure, industry insiders acknowledge it is badly needed as the domestic shipbuilding sector will require billions of dollars and extensive technical assistance over the 10 to 15 years required to compete on a global scale. The partnership follows the high-profile maritime venture by Koreas Hanwha Group (KRX: 000880), which recently announced plans to invest $5 billion in its shipyard operations in Philadelphia. Hicksons Centra in Tramore is offering local school children a safe place to go if their journey to and from school does not go to plan. In a post on social media, the shop posted a notice for parents to say that Hicksons Centra is a place where their children can go for help. They said that whether a child misses a bus, their phone battery dies, or if they just need a place to be collected, they can come to the shop. With Children all back at schools this week, we want to point out to parents & children that Centra is here as a part of the local community as a safe place. We are close to the schools, and we know that the school run doesnt always go to plan. "Thats why our doors are open as a safe and welcoming place for children if they ever need it. They are welcome to come to our store, a friendly, safe place for your child to wait. "Members of our staff will be available to assist if required, Hicksons wrote. The store is located in Corbally Upper in Tramore. They suggest that parents point out the shop and make sure their child knows where it is. From all the team at Hicksons Centra, good luck to all children starting back to school and remember, youre always welcome in our store, wrote Hicksons Centra. Students from County Waterford are set to compete in this year's WorldSkills Ireland competition. Eleven students and apprentices from around the Deise will participate in what is Irelands leading event dedicated to promoting skills, apprenticeship careers, and workplace opportunities for young people. The event will take place in the RDS in Simmonscourt, Dublin from September 17 to 19. Firmly established as a must-attend event in school calendars, it will welcome over 30,000 senior-level secondary students from over 300 schools across Ireland to discover real alternatives to university and explore exciting, future-focused career paths. In 2024, 75 per cent of student attendees attended, learning about practical, skills-based routes, which the organisers said is a clear sign of the growing appetite for apprenticeships and technical careers. Across the three days, the 11 students and apprentices from County Waterford will put their talents and knowledge to the test when they compete against their peers on the national stage during the live competitions taking place at the event. Over 180 finalists will go head-to-head in a range of skills-based trades including automotive, construction, creative arts, hospitality, ICT and manufacturing and engineering. Those competing from County Waterford include: Mary Barron, competing in Welding; Rachel Horsom, competing in Electrical Installation; Ryan Kielty, competing in Digital Construction (BIM); Adam Long, competing in Digital Construction (BIM); Michael O'Regan, competing in Digital Construction (BIM); Jason Murphy, competing in Digital Construction (BIM); Noah Quilty, competing in Cooking; Aaron Scanlan, competing in Metal Fabrication; Alex Whelan, competing in Welding; Tadgh Whitmore, competing in Painting and Decorating; Kristers Zakis, competing in Industrial Insulation. Commenting on the announcement of the finalists Ray English, Chair of WorldSkills Ireland, remarked: "WorldSkills Ireland is a celebration of talent and a vital platform for promoting apprenticeship and skills-based career opportunities. This year, students and apprentices from across the country will compete in 35 different skill areas, each working to exacting standards and under time pressure." "Its an incredible opportunity to showcase their abilities and, for some, take the next step towards representing Ireland on the world stage," he said. This event opens doors for students to discover exciting alternatives to traditional academic routes, shining a light on the variety of training and apprenticeship options available, and the rewarding careers they can lead to," he added. Mr English went on to comment: "By championing skills and apprenticeships, were helping to develop the expertise and innovation needed for Irelands industries to thrive. The combined support of educators, industry leaders and government makes WorldSkills Ireland a unique and powerful driver for the future of our young people and our economy." Running alongside the Irish Times Higher Options, WorldSkills Ireland offers unmatched value for schools, with students gaining exposure to both academic and vocational pathways in one visit. Supported by leading industry partners including SISK, Construction Industry Federation, and ESB Networks, education partner the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, and the Government of Ireland and Apprenticeship Ireland, the event will also feature interactive Try a Skill zones, immersive VR experiences, industry talks, live demonstrations across trades and technical professions, and companies ready to recruit. WorldSkills Ireland 2025 is also supported by Category sponsors SIMI (Society of the Irish Motoring Industry) and Failte Ireland as well as competition sponsors, Amazon, BOC, BWG Food Supplies, Bus Eireann & Dublin Bus, Capital Hair, Chef Network, Corcorans Food Equipment, Crown Paints, IFSA, ISOPARTNER, Jones Engineering, King & Moffatt, Lincoln Electric, Metron, Mitsubishi Electric Ireland, MSLETB & Craft Butchers, OPW, Saint-Gobain, SISK, SMC, Symetri, Unilin Insulation, and Volkswagen Group Ireland. Designed to promote skills, apprenticeship careers and opportunities for young people, the event allows students, parents, teachers, and guidance counsellors to navigate the options available following secondary education. The Finals Day is set to take place at the RDS, Dublin on Friday, September 19. The event will be free to attend and registration for the event is now open at www.worldskillsireland.ie. A march in support of the people of Palestine will take place in Waterford City this coming weekend. The event, which is being organised by the South East branch of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Committee, will take place at 2pm at the Bullpost in Ballybricken. The organisers said the 'March for Palestine' event is "not just a protest; its a cry for justice". "A call from our hearts to the world - enough is enough," said a spokesperson for the committee. "Join us as we march in solidarity with the people of Palestine, for the children buried in rubble, for the families starving under siege, for every voice silenced by violence," she said. Those attending are also encouraged to bring along their flags. "Bring your friends, bring your voice, let the world hear us," said the spokesperson. Advertisement BusinessCompaniesMedia & marketing This was published 3 months ago Rebates for news bulletins? TV execs push for journalism offset Calum Jaspan September 2, 2025 6:00pm Save 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 7 View all comments Australias commercial television networks are pushing for rebates for producing news bulletins as compensation for losing millions in revenue if the federal government slashes the number of gambling ads that can be shown on screen. The proposal is part of a suite of measures the television industry is pitching to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells in Canberra on Tuesday in a presentation urging government action to protect the medium in the face of challenges from major technology firms. TV executives say an offset of some of the cost of producing news bulletins would go some way to making up for the potential loss of millions of dollars in revenue should the government act on curtailing ads from wagering firms. A ban on gambling ads would have the most severe repercussions for the broadcasters of the Aussie Rules and rugby league, including Seven Network, Nine and Foxtel. Quinn Rooney/Getty Images The networks are also urging the Albanese government to stare down US President Donald Trump and push ahead with plans to force global tech firms to compensate media companies as part of the News Bargaining Incentive. Advertisement The proposed rebate was put forward by FreeTV Australia, which lobbies for the industry on behalf of Nine (owner of this masthead), Ten, Seven Network, regional broadcaster WIN, and Aboriginal-owned network Imparja. It would function similarly to existing offsets for drama and documentary productions. Currently, a 30 per cent expenditure rebate exists for local drama productions and there is a 40 per cent rebate on feature films. Further details on how the news offset would function remain unclear. Almost 80 per cent of Australians say theyre being exposed to betting advertising every week. iStock The media companies are also pushing to remove the annual commercial broadcast tax, which costs television companies about $55 million each year. The proposal is a step towards a compromise on the long-delayed gambling advertising policy, which has been under consideration for more than two years since the late Labor MP Peta Murphys report into the industry recommended a blanket ban on ads from wagering firms in mid-2023. Advertisement In the year before the Murphy report was tabled, online gambling firms spent $239 million on advertising on free-to-air television, radio and online. More than one million gambling ads were shown between May 2022 and April 2023. Related Article Exclusive Australia votes Albanese used captains call to avoid messy brawl over gambling ads While the government continues to deliberate on an ad ban, wagering firms have pulled back on ad spend on their own accord. Free-to-air television networks now receive about half of the $162 million they netted a year before the report was published, a media source with knowledge of the figures and not authorised to speak publicly said. FreeTV chief Bridget Fair urged the government to implement the right policy to protect the future of free television for viewers. As Australians cut household budgets, there is one line item that wont change; the zero cost of free TV, Fair said. Advertisement Wells took over the brief from Michelle Rowland following Labors landslide victory in May, while retaining her existing Sports portfolio. Last week, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja met with Albanese to discuss gamblings influence in sport, reviving the topic publicly for the first time since the election. Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja had a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss gamblings influence in sport. Dominic Lorrimer Labor shelved its proposed cuts to online gambling ads, and caps on ads on broadcast TV and radio ahead of the election after significant pushback from the AFL and the NRL and the array of media companies that benefit from the millions of dollars those firms spend. Media companies warned of the potential damage inflicted on their ability to produce news and content for the public, while the sporting codes flagged the threats to grassroots sport without the ad revenue they have become so reliant on. Advertisement The governments approach to the policy had cast doubt over any significant movement coming before the end of the year, this masthead reported last week. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. You dont need to pre-rinse dishes, unless one particularly gluey ingredient is on them. I love my dishwasher. I call it Nev because the brand is Neff. Before Nev, I had Phil (Philips) and before Phil, Milly (Miele). I loved them all because I remember what life was like before they came along. Photo: Simon Letch I see my dishwasher as a loyal and faithful colleague, one who helps shoulder the load and can be relied on all going well to turn dirty plates and smeared glasses into their clean and sparkling better selves. Its part of the family in a way the washing machine and dryer could never be, and I enjoy hearing the hum of the rinse cycle while Im busy doing more important things, like Wordle. Ive learnt a few things along the way, however, so here are my dishwasher rules: Dont rinse the dishes beforehand as you have no doubt been taught just scrape off the food and load. Pre-rinsing is a hard habit to break, but modern dishwashers actually clean the dishes more efficiently when the plates have some gunk on them. I still make an exception for egg yolk, however, which is basically yellow glue. Accept that two people will never agree on how to stack the dishwasher. Even my righteously stacked plates are viewed with deep suspicion by my wife and often rearranged. Cue a 2023 New Yorker magazine cartoon by Hartley Lin, in which one woman complains to another, I should have known he has absolutely no morals; Ive seen how he loads a dishwasher. Unpack the bottom rack first, because if you start with the cups and glasses on the top rack, water will drip onto the clean items below. As to what does and doesnt go in, its personal. I wont put our French cutlery in the dishwasher because I fear for the acrylic handles. Good wine glasses are verboten, which means we rarely use them so theyll remain good forever. I do a separate cycle with the rangehood filters every two months, and chuck in the brush that I save for dirty pots. My last tip? Dont feel guilty about outsourcing the dishes to the dishwasher. According to consumer advocacy group Choice, an energy-saving one uses about 13 litres of water to clean a full load, whereas washing by hand could use up to 100 litres of water. Love you, Nev. Advertisement NationalNSWCourts This was published 3 months ago Lattouf seeks up to $350,000 as penalty from ABC after court win Michaela Whitbourn Updated September 3, 2025 2:30pm ,first published September 3, 2025 7:16am Save 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 Antoinette Lattouf has asked a court to order the ABC to pay her a pecuniary penalty of up to $350,000 for bowing to pressure from pro-Israel lobbyists and unlawfully terminating her Sydney radio contract. Lawyers for the journalist and the ABC returned to the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday to deliver submissions to the court on the appropriate penalty. Antoinette Lattouf arrives at the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday. Sam Mooy I have always cared deeply about the ABC. All I ever wanted was for it to be fair and act with integrity, Lattouf said outside court before the hearing. The ABC are meant to be the good guys. I still havent received a formal, personal apology from the ABC. Advertisement In written submissions released by the court on Wednesday, Lattoufs legal team said that aggregate penalties in the order of $300,000 to $350,000 should be imposed on the ABC. The national broadcaster argued a much lower penalty of between $37,560 and $56,340 would be just and appropriate, based on its view that the maximum penalty payable was $187,800. Related Article Updated Courts Let down our staff and audiences: ABC apologises after losing Lattouf legal fight Barristers Oshie Fagir and Philip Boncardo, acting for Lattouf, said the ABC had unlawfully terminated Ms Lattouf in a craven placation of pro-Israeli lobbyists. The ABCs pursuit of what its senior executives and managers adjudged to be its self-interest also included someone from the ABC leaking details of Ms Lattoufs summary dismissal to The Australian, ensuring that Ms Lattoufs termination was publicised in the national media before she had arrived home after being sacked without notice, their written submissions said. In a decision on June 25, Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah ordered the ABC to pay Lattouf $70,000 in compensation after finding it terminated her employment in 2023 to appease pro-Israel lobbyists because she held political opinions opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Advertisement A pecuniary penalty is separate to compensation. The judge will deliver a decision on this issue at a later date, after receiving a further round of written submissions. Rangiah made a declaration in June that the broadcaster breached the Fair Work Act by sacking Lattouf for reasons including her political opinion and by contravening its enterprise agreement in failing to give her an opportunity to respond to allegations against her. On Wednesday, the ABC called chief people officer Deena Amorelli to give evidence in relation to the penalty issue. Antoinette Lattouf and one of her barristers, Philip Boncardo, arrive at the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday. Sam Mooy She was asked by Fagir about a statement issued by the ABC after her court win and whether any personal apology had been made to her. Advertisement To the best of your knowledge, the managing director [Hugh Marks] who made the statement has never made any attempt to contact Ms Lattouf directly? Fagir said. Not to my knowledge, Amorelli said. Amorelli agreed the ABCs budget was about $1 billion a year. Fagir suggested that the penalty which the ABC considers appropriate represents about 0.00375 per cent of that budget. The penalty which the ABC considers appropriate represents about 0.00375 per cent of [its $1 billion] budget. Antoinette Lattoufs barrister, Oshie Fagir Boncardo said in submissions to the court that the decision by the ABC that Ms Lattouf should lose her employment because of her political opinion is conduct antithetical to a liberal democracy such as Australia, and it should be sanctioned accordingly. Advertisement The systematic campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists produced the highly unusual circumstance that senior ABC executives were involved in the decision to sack Lattouf, Boncardo said. He suggested Marks would have been a more appropriate person than Amorelli to give evidence in court, but the ABC said Marks was not working at the broadcaster at the time in question. In written submissions, the ABCs barristers, Ian Neil, SC, and Vanja Bulut, said the ABC had apologised to Ms Lattouf, as well as its employees more widely, and to the court, for the contravening conduct. With respect, Ms Lattoufs criticism of the ABCs position should be rejected, they said. Neil told the court the decision was made in a context of the febrile state of controversy about the issue in question at that time in the Australian community, and there was a degree of pressure, stress, confusion [and] panic. Advertisement He said Marks statement after the courts decision was the epitome of a voluntary expression of contrition and regret. Lattouf was removed as a fill-in host of ABC Radio Sydneys Mornings program in December 2023 after sharing a post critical of Israel from non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch on social media and adding the caption: HRW reporting starvation as a tool of war. Rangiah said the post was bound to be controversial and triggered a state of panic within the ranks of the ABCs senior management. Lattoufs actions were ill-advised and inconsiderate of her employer, the judge said, but she had not been directed to refrain from posting about the war on social media while employed by the ABC. Rangiah found Lattouf was merely provided with advice that it would be best not to post anything controversial about the war. Advertisement The broadcaster had already received complaints about Lattoufs appointment because of her views about the war, which were not expressed on radio. The complaints asserted she had expressed antisemitic views, lacked impartiality and was unsuitable to present any program for the ABC, Rangiah said. It became clear that the complaints were an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists to have Ms Lattouf taken off air. Lattouf was sacked about 48 hours after the complaints started, three days into a planned five-day hosting stint. with Calum Jaspan Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Updated NationalVictoriaPorepunkah shooting This was published 3 months ago Wife of alleged Porepunkah gunman present at time of double shooting, police confirm Melissa Cunningham Updated September 3, 2025 2:16pm ,first published September 3, 2025 1:03pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share The wife of alleged Porepunkah double murderer Dezi Freeman was present at the time of the shooting of two police officers and may face criminal charges, police have confirmed for the first time. On the ninth day of the massive manhunt for Freeman, who allegedly killed the officers as he was being served a warrant at his home in Victorias alpine country, Crime Command Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly told reporters Amalia Freeman was home at the time her husband allegedly opened fire. Dezi Freeman and his wife, Amalia (Mali) Freeman. Marija Ercegovac It has previously been unclear whether Freemans family was present at the time. Kelly said Amalia, or Mali as she is more widely known, had been interviewed by police and may face criminal charges for allegedly obstructing the police investigation. Advertisement He said she had not been co-operating with police directly, and they had instead been liaising with her lawyer to try to obtain a statement from her. She has been interviewed by Victoria Police for obstructing police at the time of the incident, the crime, that occurred and a brief of evidence will be compiled, and she may be charged in due course, Kelly said. Related Article Porepunkah shooting Wife of accused Porepunkah gunman says she does not hold anti-authority views In a statement to the media via her lawyer on Sunday, Amalia urged her husband to surrender and anyone harbouring him to come forward. She also expressed her deep sorrow over the August 26 deaths of the policemen. My children and I grieve for the loss of your loved ones, the 42-year-old mother of three said. Advertisement Amalia, who was arrested and then released alongside her 15-year-old son last Thursday, said she did not hold anti-authority views. My children and I respect the important work of Victoria Police, she said. However, earlier this week, Superintendent Brett Kahan called into question the level of co-operation she had afforded investigators. In respect to the suspects wife, what Ill say [is], its two different things to be speaking with police and co-operating [with police], he said on Monday. We continue the search believing that Dezi Freeman, who is suspected of killing two police officers, is alive. Advertisement We are absolutely hunting for a fugitive, and we continue to do so. On Wednesday afternoon, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said the public and associates of Freeman had been providing a flood of relevant information to police. Related Article Porepunkah shooting Conspiracy theorist who called police Nazis: Alleged shooters background revealed He said more than 100 properties had been searched and police were developing a greater understanding of Freemans previously frequented locations in the alpine area and his wide network. The military has also joined the manhunt. Bush again pleaded for the public to help lead police to the fugitive. Advertisement He does not deserve to be protected. He needs to be in custody, and kept away from the community. When pressed further by reporters on the intelligence police are using in their manhunt, Bush remained tight-lipped. Its quite possible [Freeman] is monitoring all communication, so Im not going to give away our techniques. This person is armed and extremely dangerous and adds a whole new complexity to this investigation. Amalia Freeman with her three children with Dezi Freeman, taken in 2022 Dezi Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, is accused of shooting dead Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, with a home-made shotgun through the door of the bus Freeman was living in. Advertisement He is then alleged to have opened a window of the bus and shot Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, who also died at the scene. Another detective seriously wounded in the attack is understood to have hidden under the bus for up to an hour, until paramedics arrived. Related Article Porepunkah shooting Fugitive Dezi Freemans fascination with firearms revealed Police said officers were at the property to execute a warrant over historical child sexual abuse allegations. Freeman has not been sighted since, despite hundreds of specialist officers trawling the dense forests, snow-laden mountains and deep valleys of Victorias High Country, about 210 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. Bush appealed to Freeman to surrender, vowing authorities would not give up until he was found. Advertisement I do appeal to the person responsible to hand themselves in immediately, and my message to him is that your destiny is in your hands, he said. When asked if police had considered offering a financial reward in the manhunt for Freeman, Bush did not rule it out. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Authorities say a fire that gutted dozens of small businesses, many family-run and owned, in Perths north overnight was not deliberately lit. More than 130 emergency responders, including police, paramedics and firefighters, and 25 fire trucks, attended the scene at the Morley Markets, on the corner of Bishop and Progress streets, after the fire sparked around 12.30am. Firefighters on scene during the early hours of the morning. Peter Nguyen The blaze destroyed the 5000-square-metre building. It was initially thought by both police and emergency services the fire was deliberately lit with reports of CCTV of two men throwing something in a shop window, but officers confirmed on Wednesday afternoon new information had since come to light. Advertisement Following an extensive investigation, detectives from the Arson Squad have determined a fire at a shopping precinct in Morley to be non-suspicious, a WA police spokesperson said. No criminality has been detected. [Emergency services] investigators will continue to examine the scene to determine the cause of the fire. Nearby residents are being urged to stay inside with their windows and doors closed as emergency crews mop up the damage. My heart breaks for those business owners, Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. Weve got a lot of distraught business owners before us at the moment, so I think well be talking to them, not only today, but in the coming days. Advertisement Blanch was questioned on whether the incident was related to WAs escalating tobacco wars, but said there was nothing at the Morley market to suggest thats the case. One of the men accused of being part of those escalating wars was banned from attending the same markets as part of his bail conditions last week. Frida Tattoo Studio owner Mojgen Fakhar, who has worked in the market for seven years, said she was in shock after hearing the news from her shop neighbours. We arent being let in, but it looks like the whole building is destroyed, she said. I woke to video calls from neighbours showing me the damage. Advertisement Fakhar said she was anxious to assess the damage, as she had five tattoo machines worth between $2500 and $10,000. Her colleague had a skin treatment machine worth $100,000. Fakhars studio had been robbed twice, three years ago, but overall her experience at the store was positive. Amit Thakar, owner of repairs and key store Morley Market Multi Services, said the market was broken into just last week. Thakar said most of the tenants were small business owners who he thought would unlikely be the target of an arson attack. I dont know why anyone would have set (the shop) on fire, he said. Advertisement Most of us are family run, just like mine. Most of us dont have insurance. He said it had become a place homeless people slept and junkies spent their time. Authorities say it is still too dangerous to enter the building. 9 News Perth Department of Fire and Emergency Services incident controller Andrew Duckworth said it was still too dangerous to enter the building. Every business in the market has been impacted to some extent. Im not sure of the numbers at this stage, he said. Advertisement The roof of the building has collapsed and theres a lot of smouldering still happening inside. Its not safe to put our firefighters inside the building. We managed to contain [the fire] to the building of origin, there were a number of other buildings very close by, so weve stopped it spreading and impacting those building, however, by the time we arrived, it was fairly intense, and we werent able to contain it within the building. An emergency meeting with business owners will be held on Wednesday morning. Peter Nguyen, from Bishop St Newsagency, posted to his businesses Instagram stating everything had been destroyed, before starting a GoFundMe page to help support us in these hard times and to get our business back up on its feet. The newsagency burned in a fire along with the whole of the Morley Market. We have been in business here for 20 years, and have lost everything in this disaster, he wrote on the fundraising page. We dont want Bishop St News to die, and I hope the community of Morley feels the same way. If you had any fond memories of our shop, please consider donating or sharing our story. Advertisement Exclusive PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership This was published 3 months ago Bigger parliament, longer terms in PMs sights Paul Sakkal and Shane Wright September 3, 2025 8:11am Save 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 Australia could have fixed four-year parliamentary terms and an increase in the number of federal MPs under a major shake-up of the political system put on the agenda by Special Minister of State Don Farrell. After Labors record election victory, the Albanese government will examine rolling out once-in-a-generation changes to the democratic process that have been avoided because the proposals have previously proved controversial. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with his Special Minister of State Don Farrell. Alex Ellinghausen Albanese is the first Labor prime minister since Bob Hawke to command such a large parliamentary majority and would follow in his footsteps if Labor again pursues fixed terms, which exist in many other countries and Australian states. A referendum would be required to extend the length of parliamentary terms, but their dates could be fixed via a regular law. Increasing the number of electorates would only require legislation, though it could trigger accusations that the government was trying to give itself more MPs. This could be countered by phasing in the new electorates over a longer time frame. Advertisement Farrells request for the inquiry was confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the proposal unable to speak publicly. The inquiry will also look at growing violence at polling booths and the funding of groups that campaign. Related Article Exclusive Political leadership Albanese warns opponents against fuelling extremism As special minister of state, Farrell decides which issues the committee explores. He has written to the committee to put the size of the parliament and fixed terms on the agenda. The last major move Farrell proposed, regulating political donations, passed last term. The prime minister has repeatedly expressed support for moving to four-year terms on a fixed date, rather than three-year terms that are not locked in and may fuel instability. On Wednesday, he said he had no plans to hold a referendum and dodged a question about the size of parliament. Hawke sought to increase the length of electoral terms to four years at a referendum in 1988, but it was defeated with just 33 per cent of voters backing the idea. Advertisement The Coalition campaigned then against moving to four-year terms, in part due to how it would affect the length of terms for senators. Former opposition leader Peter Dutton said before the last election he supported four-year terms, although neither he nor Albanese were open to holding another referendum after the unsuccessful 2023 Indigenous Voice to parliament vote. The inquiry will consider creating more electorates to reflect population growth since the last time the parliament was expanded by Hawke, from 125 to 148 seats, a move that Albanese and other Labor and Coalition MPs are known to be open to in private. All of these reform proposals will be examined by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, which reviews the electoral system after every election. It costs well over $2 million a year for every federal politician. That includes their salary (the current base pay is $233,600), their staff, travel and accommodation, maintaining their offices, superannuation and vehicles. An extra 10 parliamentarians would cost taxpayers more than $25 million a year. Advertisement Australian MPs represent some of the most populous electorates in the world, and MPs are finding it increasingly difficult to visit the schools, churches and community groups in their seats, putting pressure on the government to employ more staffers for MPs. The average population per lower house member is now more than 177,000 compared to 105,000 after the expansion in 1984, and 50,000 at the time of federation, according to election analyst Ben Raue. Adding more seats would likely result in having more MPs who reflect the demographics of smaller pockets of the population but would also lead to more taxpayer funds spent on salaries. Related Article Exclusive Political leadership Supersize the House: MPs back plans for more MPs As at the end of July, the Queensland seat of Longman was the nations largest with 143,527 people on the electoral roll. That does not include non-citizens and children. At the 2021 census, Longman was home to more than 186,000 people. More than a third of the nations 150 electorates have at least 120,000 electors. Some, such as the outer-suburban Melbourne seat of Bruce, are estimated to have more than 200,000 residents. Advertisement By contrast, Britains House of Commons has 650 members who each represent about 72,500 people, Canadas House of Commons has 338 members who each represent about 81,000 voters. In New Zealand, 120 MPs answer to about 30,000 voters per politician. All are dwarfed by the United States where the average Congressional district is home to almost 800,000 people. When federal parliament was created in 1901, there were 75 seats in the House and 36 Senate positions. It has gone through two substantial increases: in 1949 and in 1984 when Hawkes Labor government took the House from 125 members to 148 and the Senate from 64 to 76. Advertisement Committee chair Jerome Laxale said the 2025 election was was unlike anything Ive ever witnessed. Our committee will be responsible for safeguarding the integrity and future of Australias democracy, he said on Facebook last month. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsFederalImmigration This was published 3 months ago Price makes rapid backtrack on false Indian migrant claim Natassia Chrysanthos and Nick Newling September 3, 2025 3:55pm Save 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 Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been forced to walk back her inflammatory claim that the federal government is bringing in specific groups of migrants to Australia, including Indian people, to bolster its vote. Price made the unfounded allegation as she weighed into immigration issues on the ABCs Afternoon Briefing program during a charged week in parliament, after the weekends anti-immigration rallies led to violent incidents and spilled into political debate. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price draped in the Australian flag in the Senate on Wednesday. Alex Ellinghausen Her decision to single out Indian migrants, who protesters targeted at the weekend rallies, complicates Opposition Leader Sussan Leys promise to rebuild the Coalitions reputation in multicultural communities following its election defeat. Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi accused Price of feeding into a white nationalist agenda, while fellow Liberal senator Dave Sharma said he supported the Indian community and rejected the stereotyping of any migrant community. Advertisement The Northern Territory senator made the claims after telling the national broadcaster she believed most Australians were concerned about immigration. She was questioned about whether she thought people were worried about the core number, or the type of migrants that are coming in. It is definitely the core number. And of course, there is focus from this government to be getting them from particular countries over others, Price said in response. Labor like to be able to ensure that theyre going to allow those in that would ultimately support their policies, their views, and vote for them as well. Host Patricia Karvelas pointed out that Australia has a non-discriminatory immigration system. She asked whether Price believed the government was actively running a migration program to bring in people open to their ideas, and the senator answered absolutely. This is Labor. Basically, its power at any cost. And we see that occur all over the place in terms of the way they conduct themselves, Price said. Advertisement Asked who she thought Labor was trying to bring in for the sake of votes, the senator singled out the Indian community. Related Article Courts Jacinta Price seeks to crowdfund $320,000 by months end to fight defamation suit As we have seen, you yourself mentioned, that there is a concern with the Indian community, and only because theres been large numbers, and we can see that reflected in the way the community votes for Labor at the same time, Price said. Prices comments on the ABC came hours after she draped herself in the Australian flag in the Senate in a show of national pride on National Flag Day, a move later imitated by One Nation senator Pauline Hanson. Indian Australians have described experiencing racism and being afraid to travel into cities when last weekends rallies singled out high levels of immigration from India in their promotional material. One man described being pointed at while someone shouted, deport, deport, deport. Advertisement An hour after the broadcast, Price issued a statement to the media clarifying her remarks. Australia maintains a longstanding and bipartisan non-discriminatory migration policy. Suggestions otherwise are a mistake, she said. My remarks were made in a wide-ranging interview on ABC where I sought to highlight issues of uncontrolled mass migration and ruptures to social cohesion. Faruqi, who was born in Pakistan, said the targeting of Indian migrants at the weekends marches had been despicable, and this type of rhetoric just feeds into their agenda. It seems senator Price has a habit of making statements that have no grounding in reality. Like any other community, the Indian community has a diversity of views and it is condescending of senator Price to claim anything else, she said. Australians comprehensively rejected [Peter] Duttons Trumpian agenda at the election, but it appears the Coalition havent learnt their lesson. Advertisement Both Labor and the Coalition have courted Indian-Australian voters, including at the last election. Vithyaa Thavapalan, founder of the South Asian Foundation Australia, said she felt the community had been treated like chess pieces by both parties. I think they were made aware that the South Asian population is one of the fastest growing communities in Australia, she said. The Coalitions dismal results in metropolitan and multicultural electorates have led Ley to emphasise she was a new leader with a new tone and team. Ley relegated Price from the Indigenous affairs portfolio to defence industry after the senators failed bid to become deputy Liberal leader. Asked about Prices remarks on Wednesday, Leys office did not comment, but pointed to Prices clarification statement. Sharma, who has Indian heritage, said: I support the Indian community in Australia and applaud the contribution they have made to our nation. And I fundamentally reject stereotyping of any migrant community. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia did not have a race-based migration system, nor should it. Advertisement At every citizenship ceremony I go to, I love reading out the countries of origin and hearing the cheers from everyone about to make a pledge to our country. Its rare that anyone cheers more loudly than the Indian community. We are lucky that they have chosen us, he said. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN) is one of the 14 Best Cheap Dividend Stocks to Buy Under $10. The companys dividend yield stands strong despite mixed earnings results for the second quarter of 2025. Redwood Dividend Strength Tested by Debt Restructuring and Revenue Pressure Based in Pennsylvania, Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN) is a publicly traded REIT that owns, develops, leases, and manages a portfolio of office and mixed-use properties. Founded in 1986, the companys properties are mostly located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; and Austin, Texas. During the second quarter of 2025, Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN) reported a strong quarterly retention rate of 82% alongside a leasing activity elevation of 35% quarter-over-quarter. It also signed a significant 100,000 square foot lease with a tech company at their One Uptown development, which is now 40% leased. The companys Q2 earnings call also noted issuance of $150 million in unsecured bonds at a lower effective yield of just over 7%. The proceeds were used to pay off a construction loan, and the company currently has no outstanding balance on its $600 million unsecured line of credit. This improved its unsecured borrowing costs by 20% compared to a previous offering. However, the company lowered its FFO guidance for 2025 to a range of $0.60 to $0.66 per share due to the removal of anticipated gains from land sales. With mixed results in its last quarter, Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN) offers a dividend yield of 14.25% for a closing share price of $4.22. While we acknowledge the potential of BDN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 11 Best Energy Dividend Stocks to Invest in and 11 Best Annual Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds Disclosure. None. Advertisement Exclusive WorldEuropeAUKUS This was published 3 months ago PM to visit London to lock in AUKUS as he waits on Trump review David Crowe Updated September 4, 2025 4:49am ,first published September 3, 2025 8:43am Save 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 73 View all comments London: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is planning to visit Britain for talks on the AUKUS pact with UK counterpart Sir Keir Starmer, cementing a key defence treaty amid doubts about American support for the plan. Albanese will head to London within weeks to see Starmer and senior British ministers under draft plans within the prime ministers office to add the visit to his scheduled trip to New York for a United Nations leadership summit. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will join international talks about further support for Ukraine. Alex Ellinghausen The plans come as the prime minister prepares to join an urgent meeting of global leaders on Thursday (Friday AEST) to build support for Ukraine, while Australian defence planners are also talking to their NATO colleagues about countering threats from Russia. Albanese will join the meeting online when French President Emmanuel Macron convenes the coalition of the willing with Starmer and other leaders in Paris to consider sending troops into Ukraine to keep the peace. Advertisement The London visit will come immediately after the United Nations General Assembly, which runs from September 22 to 30 but does not require leaders to attend the full week. The timing is proving to be a significant challenge for Australian and British officials because Starmer is due to join his Labour colleagues at their annual party conference in Liverpool from September 28 to October 1. While the overseas trip also sets up an opportunity for Albanese to see US President Donald Trump, after months of political dispute about whether the two will meet, there is no sign of a formal meeting on the agenda. Albanese and Starmer have a strong relationship that dates back several years Starmer became leader of the Labour Party in 2020, one year after Albanese gained the leadership of the ALP and they spoke face-to-face most recently at the G7 summit in Canada in June. Their talks later this month would follow quickly on any discussions Albanese might hold in the US including the possible meeting with Trump and set up a potential contrast in public support for AUKUS. Advertisement The Pentagon has extended a contentious review of the AUKUS pact and appears unlikely to deliver any findings until the end of the year, dragging out the doubts about the Trump administrations position on the pact. Related Article Russia-Ukraine war The secret camp where Australia and Ukraine train for war Starmer and his ministers have stepped up their support for the agreement, most recently when Defence Secretary John Healey signed an AUKUS treaty with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in Geelong last month. Macron is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris ahead of the meeting of the coalition of the willing on Thursday, local time. The leadership summit comes as the Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, meets his European counterparts this week to discuss military assistance, including air surveillance, training and tanks. Advertisement The Defence chief arrived in London on Tuesday, local time, and confirmed that Australian military planners were part of the discussions with NATO defence officials about operational support for any decisions taken at the coalition summit. Were involved in the planning, and we will wait until there is a peace deal of some sort, and then wait for our governments direction on how it wants to handle it, he told reporters in London. Albanese was an early supporter of the coalition when Macron and Starmer formed the group at the start of this year, although he made no specific military commitment and instead said he would consider the options for support. The initiative sparked a domestic political row when then-Liberal leader Peter Dutton said that basing troops in Europe was the wrong decision for Australia. Albanese has not promised Australian troops to Ukraine, but the Australian Defence Force has personnel in Europe assisting Ukraine. Australia has delivered $1.5 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, including a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft that began surveillance flights last month. Advertisement Macron announced the Thursday summit at the start of this week, in a sign of the urgent moves among European leaders to show support for Ukraine, in the hope that Trump would apply more pressure on Putin to agree to a peace deal. Related Article Exclusive Russia-Ukraine war As Putin bombards Kyiv, Ukraine fears being forgotten by Australia Together with our partners, and in coordination with NATO, we will work to define robust security guarantees for Ukraine, Macron said. We will also review Russias stance, as it persists in its war of aggression and continues to reject peace. Recent meetings of the coalition have included leaders from outside Europe, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Albanese. An Australian government source confirmed Albanese would join this weeks meeting and also confirmed that planning was underway for the visit to the UK, although details were not finalised. Advertisement NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday that Ukraine needed unbreakable backing from allies to ensure that Russia would honour any peace deal and not threaten Ukrainian territory again after a deal. Jones said defence officials had been involved in the coalition since it began early this year and had deployed planners from Defence headquarters, along with military staff from the Australian High Commission in London. In the normal way of prudent planning, we would have a range of options from which the government can choose, and Im not going to disclose that before the government has had a chance to consider those options. Jones, who commanded several warships before being elevated to Chief of Joint Operations last year, would not comment on whether he believed more military help should be sent to Ukraine because he said this was a decision for political leaders. He said Ukraine had received most of the Abrams tanks Australia promised last year, and he acknowledged that the Bushmaster armoured vehicles were a great capability but would not say if more should be sent. Advertisement Theres not a military commander on earth that will tell you that they have enough. Thats the nature of the role, and theyll always want more, he said. Im very proud of the work that we are doing in support of Ukraine, from a small, far away nation that still has an eye on a rules-based global order, and is frankly appalled by Russias aggression by its illegal, immoral, unjust, unnecessary invasion of a sovereign country. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Advertisement Updated WorldEuropeTragedy This was published 3 months ago Lisbon mourns victims of streetcar crash Barry Hatton and and Josefine Ganko Updated September 5, 2025 5:00am ,first published September 4, 2025 4:12am Save 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 25 View all comments Lisbon, Portugal: At least 16 people died and 22 were injured after Lisbons Gloria funicular railway car, which is popular with tourists and is one of the citys symbols, derailed and crashed on Wednesday evening local time. Authorities did not identify the victims or disclose their nationalities, but said some foreign nationals were among the dead. A child is among the wounded, an emergency medical service spokesperson said. Loading On Thursday, Lisbons Civil Protection Agency had said that the death toll had risen to 17, but later corrected that to 16, citing a duplication of available information. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was not aware of any Australians who had been killed or seriously injured in the crash, but was providing consular assistance to one person. Advertisement Australian officials are making urgent enquiries following the tragic overnight crash of a cable railway vehicle in Lisbon, Portugal, the spokesperson said. The Australian Government offers its deepest sympathies to those affected. Portuguese authorities said the incident was an accident the worst in the citys recent history. It has cast a pall over the charm that draws millions of foreign tourists to the city each year. The yellow-and-white streetcar, which goes up and down a steep hill in tandem with another car travelling in the opposite direction, was lying on its side on the narrow road it travelled along. Advertisement Its sides and top were partially crumpled, and it appeared to have crashed into a building at a bend in the road. Several dozen emergency workers were at the scene, but most stood down after about two hours. Eyewitnesses told local media the streetcar careened down the hill. One witness said the streetcar toppled onto a man on the pavement. It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box, Teresa dAvo told Portuguese TV channel SIC. Emergency teams work at the site of a derailed electric streetcar in Lisbon on Wednesday. AP Firefighters carrying a person on a stretcher after the crash. AP Advertisement Portugals government announced that a day of national mourning would be observed on Thursday. A tragic accident caused the irreparable loss of human life, which left in mourning their families and dismayed the whole country, the government said in a statement. Lisbons City Council suspended operations of other streetcars in the city and ordered immediate inspections, local media reported. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas told reporters at the scene that the city was in mourning. This was a tragic accident Its a tragedy of the like weve never seen. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his condolences to families affected by the tragedy. Advertisement European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also sent her condolences. It is with sadness that I learnt of the derailment of the famous Elevador da Gloria, she wrote in Portuguese on X. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X that he was appalled by the terrible accident, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote that he had met with the Portuguese foreign minister and expressed his solidarity with the victims. The US embassy in Lisbon also offered its deepest condolences to all affected, according to a post on X. Lisbons Gloria funicular in April 2024. Alamy Stock Photo The cause of the crash is not immediately known. AP Advertisement The cause of the accident was not immediately known. However, news reports from The New York Times and Portuguese site Observador indicated that one of the cables holding the tram may have snapped. The government said there would be an investigation into the cause of the incident, which reportedly occurred at the start of the evening rush hour, at about 6pm Lisbon time. Carris, the company that operates the streetcar, said scheduled maintenance had been carried out. It offered its deepest condolences to the victims and their families in a social media post and promised that all due diligence would be taken in finding the causes of the accident. SITRA, a trade union, wrote in a post on social media that one of its members died in the accident. Advertisement The Gloria line connects Lisbons downtown area near the Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter), famous for its vibrant nightlife. It is one of three funicular lines operated by Carris and is popular with both tourists and residents. Onlookers at the derailment site. Getty Images Known in Portugal as the Elevador da Gloria, the funicular is powered by electric motors, with two streetcars running parallel to each other as they shuttle up and down the hill on a curved, traffic-free road for a few hundred metres. The car at the bottom of the line was apparently undamaged, but video from bystanders aired by CNN Portugal showed it jolting violently when the other one derailed, with several of its passengers jumping from its windows and people shouting. Advertisement Lisbon hosted about 8.5 million tourists last year, with the streetcars among the citys most popular attractions. Long lines of tourists typically form for a brief ride on it. The Gloria line transports about 3 million people annually, and is also popular with Lisbon residents. The streetcars can carry more than 40 people at a time, seated and standing. The line opened in 1885 and is classified as a national monument. AP, Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Tragedy Portugal Lisbon Josefine Ganko is an overnight producer for The Sydney Morning Herald based in London. She was formerly a breaking news reporter and news blogger. or email. Connect via Twitter Russia and China have signed a legally binding memorandum to move forward with construction of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline. The pipeline is expected to deliver an extra 50 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per annum to China via Mongolia from the Arctic gas fields of Yamal, reported Reuters. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller announced that there would also be an increase in supplies through the existing Power of Siberia pipeline, extending from eastern Siberia to China. The annual supply is set to rise from 38bcm to 44bcm. However, Miller noted that the pricing for gas supplied through the new pipeline would be determined separately, indicating that negotiations on cost-sharing are still ongoing. Despite Western sanctions, China has continued to engage in energy trade with Russia, including taking liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from Russia's sanctioned LNG 2 project. This demonstrates China's capacity to resist pressure from the West to isolate Moscow. Nonetheless, the lack of progress on pricing suggests that China is also seeking significant discounts from Russia. Russia has shifted its focus towards China following the loss of a substantial portion of its European gas market due to US sanctions. Gazprom has been pursuing a deal for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline for years. China and Contemporary Asia Institute head Kirill Babaev said: "The big deal is finally under way. "Even though we do not know the parameters for the price and volumes, nor the subcontractors of the pipeline, the political negotiations are now over and giving way to commercial tasks, which will definitely bring the result due to a blessing received from the three leaders of Russia, Mongolia and China." According to Miller, the price offered to China would be lower than that charged to European customers, considering the challenging distances and terrain involved in pipeline construction. During the Chinese talks, 22 agreements were signed, encompassing a cooperation agreement between China National Petroleum Corporation and Gazprom, although specific details were not disclosed. Miller described the pipeline project from Russia's northern gas fields to China via Mongolia as the world's largest and most capital-intensive gas initiative. The existing 3,000km Power of Siberia pipeline, under a 30-year, $400bn agreement initiated at the end of 2019, is expected to reach its planned capacity of 38bcm in 2025. Additionally, an agreement has been made to increase gas deliveries from Sakhalin Island in Russia's far east to China to 12bcm per year, up from the previous 10bcm. Shots were fired near Union Station on May 13, 2025, but no one was injured. A man arrested by ICE in Georgia is back in southern Indiana to face charges for a double murder that happened in 2013. Calling Agent 99! Samsung is channeling the 1960s TV series "Get Smart" with its newest tech release: the Shortcut Sneaker, with which one can make phone calls. Gizmodo reported that the phone is operated with discrete foot movements, recognized by motion sensors in the soles. Sadly, you're not likely to get your dogs into them anytime soon: The company is making just six pairs, available only to Samsung members in the Netherlands who entered. [Gizmodo, 6/13/2024] Strathcona Resources has made a significant investment, purchasing around 6.66 million common shares of Canadian oil producer MEG Energy for an estimated aggregate consideration of $190.8m (C$263.31m). Before this acquisition, Strathcona beneficially owned around 9.2% of MEG Energy's shares, equating to 23.4 million shares. With the addition of the newly acquired shares, its stake has increased to approximately 11.8%. The average price paid for the shares since the start of the offer was $28.64, with the highest price reaching $28.80 per share. This strategic share purchase by Strathcona comes at a time when MEG Energy faces potential acquisition by Cenovus Energy. Strathcona has made its opposition to this deal clear, intending to vote against the resolution at the upcoming special meeting of MEG shareholders on 9 October. The acquisition by Cenovus requires a two-thirds majority vote from MEG shareholders, and Strathcona's increased stake could influence the outcome. The offer made by Strathcona at the end of May to acquire all issued and outstanding MEG shares that it does not already own includes a combination of Strathcona common shares and cash. Specifically, for each MEG share, the offer consists of 0.62 of a Strathcona common share and $4.10 in cash. Furthermore, Strathcona has indicated its intention to acquire up to an additional 5% of MEG's issued and outstanding shares, depending on market conditions. In response to Strathcona's takeover bid, MEG Energy's board of directors advised shareholders to reject the offer in June this year. Earlier this year, Strathcona signed definitive agreements to sell its Montney assets in Canada for around C$2.84bn. "Strathcona Resources purchases additional MEG Energy shares" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The stars are aligning in Mayo this October as Mayo County Council will be partnering with Dark Sky Ireland (DSI) to present the ninth International Artificial Light at Night Conference (ALAN), which takes place in the Westport Woods Hotel from Tuesday, October 28th to Friday, October 31st. This immediately precedes the always popular Mayo Dark Sky Festival, which has a stellar programme this year featuring music performance, night-time walks, dark sky talks and a host of other events. The joint programme launch for both ALAN 2025 and Mayo Dark Sky Festival 2025 took place in the W Cinema last month as part of Irish Heritage Week and featured a screening of Ireland's Wild Islands, by award-winning Westport-based Crossing The Line Productions followed by a short talk and Q&A with Eoin Warner, renowned wilderness guide and wildlife documentary presenter. The event highlighted the wonderful natural heritage along Irelands west coast, with the regions beautiful dark skies adding to it by supporting the biodiversity that relies on such natural nightscapes. Dark Sky Ireland chairperson Professor Brian Espey welcomed the partnership with Mayo County Council. "The knowledge shared by the world's foremost experts will ensure that Mayos Dark Sky Heritage continues to be protected into the future while providing positive benefits for its communities. Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly, added: This is a significant event to have come to Mayo both from a climate change and a tourism perspective. The forthcoming Mayo Lighting Plan, which is currently being developed, is the first of its kind in the country and highlights our commitment to Mayo becoming a Dark Sky Reserve." Fiona Hopkins, Director of Mayo Dark Sky Festival added: Mayo Dark Sky Festival has an excellent programme again this year, which is happening directly after ALAN 2025. This is an amazing opportunity to further expand the festivals international audience. As the festival covers diverse themes connected with dark skies including culture, wellbeing and biodiversity annually, this year ALAN delegates can also enjoy the varied programme alongside dark sky enthusiasts who are integral to the ongoing success of the event. The ALAN conference will see researchers and practitioners involved in the various aspects of artificial light at night travel from across the globe to Mayo to attend the event and visit the Gold-tier Mayo International Dark Sky Park, which received the prestigious Dark Sky Place of the Year Award 2024 by DarkSky International. Further details on ALAN 2025 are available at www.darksky.ie and www.artificiallightatnight.org as they are confirmed. BETHLEHEM, Pa. Bethlehem City Council addressed last weeks arrest of city open records officer Zachary Cole-Borghi. Cole-Borghi, a Lehigh County commissioner and Bethlehem right-to-know officer, was arrested on drug charges as part of an investigation that resulted in multiple arrests in several states. Officials said they could not share many details about the ongoing investigation, but confirmed that no other city employee, councilmember, or official is involved, according to City Solicitor John Spirk. A source familiar with the case said Cole-Borghi was taken into custody Thursday afternoon at his office in Bethlehem City Hall. The arrest was carried out by the Lehigh County Drug Task Force with assistance from Bethlehem Police and other agencies. The Lehigh County District Attorney announced Friday that the arrest was part of a three-year, multi-state investigation that culminated in 22 arrests the day before. Councilmembers Bryan Callahan and Grace Crampsie Smith expressed frustration about what they saw as a delay in communication from the city. "We are a branch of government; we should have been informed of this and not heard about this in the paper or from other people," Crampsie Smith said. "At a minimum, council needs to be informed," Callahan said. Reynolds said that at the time, the city was still learning the facts and that the case file was sealed. "We didn't have the information; if there was information, we would have shared that," Reynolds said. Crampsie Smith said the mayor's office should have issued a statement after the news broke "a benign, neutral statement that the City of Bethlehem is operating as efficiently as we can." Reynolds said he was advised not to comment. "I would like to say more than they'd want to let me say," Reynolds said. Spirk said all case documents, including the probable cause affidavit, criminal complaint and charging documents, are sealed. He added that "very, very limited information" has been shared to protect the integrity of the investigation. Reynolds said, on advice from the labor council, he can only confirm that Cole-Borghi is no longer employed by the city. Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said, "The Bethlehem Police Department fully cooperated with the Lehigh County district attorney's office and will continue to do so." 2:20 Lehigh County Commissioner arrested on drug charges, amid multi-state investigation that led to 22 arrests Lehigh County Commissioner Zachary Cole-Borghi was arrested Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. The arrest occurred amid a larger, multi-state drug investigation, according to the DA. Spirk also cited constraints related to personnel issues and potential litigation. During the council's discussion, members Colleen Laird and Rachel Leon Kwiatek asked city officials about the risks of inappropriate information sharing and the consequences for employees leaking sensitive information. Kwiatek specifically raised concerns about the impact such leaks could have on the investigation. According to the district attorney's office, arrests were made in Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery counties, as well as Philadelphia, New York, Chicago and Wisconsin. "To date, some of the items seized include well over $100,000 in cash, crypto accounts, more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana, large quantities of THC, liquid cocaine, and MDMA pills. Additionally, at least 25 firearms were seized yesterday, including semi-automatic rifles and ghost guns. As part of the operation, 2 clandestine labs were discovered manufacturing illegal THC products. Those labs were discovered and dismantled by the PA State Police Clandestine Laboratory Team," Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said at the Friday press conference. Cole-Borghi is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Authorities have not yet released further details about his specific role in the operation. Cole-Borghi, a lifelong Bethlehem resident, was elected to the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners in 2021, representing District 3. He also served on the county's governance committee. Preliminary hearings for those charged are scheduled for Wednesday at Lehigh County Central Court. Some defendants have already posted bail, according to the DA's office. Switzerlands Sygnum bank has expanded its crypto asset management, bringing its institutional-grade crypto yield opportunities to Germany and Liechtenstein. On 2 September 2025, the asset management company announced expanding investment solutions under its strategic European expansion plans. Commenting on the successful German and Liechtenstein registrations, Fabian Dori, Sygnums Chief Investment Officer, said, These markets represent significant opportunities for growth, with investors increasingly recognizing digital assets as an essential component of diversified portfolios. Sygnum Asset Management also said it is looking at additional European markets for future growth. Explore: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Sygnum- the Swiss-Singaporean digital asset banking group will enable institutional and wholesale investors in both markets. With the registrations in Germany and Liechtenstein, Sygnum will open institutional access to selected strategies under an EU distribution setup. The move represents a natural progression in Sygnums mission to empower professional investors across Europe to invest in digital assets with complete trust, the company said. German and Liechtenstein investors can now access selected parts of Sygnums suite of investment solutions including a nondirectional, lowvolatility strategy. Explore: Best Meme Coin ICOs to Invest in September 2025 Sygnum Expands Regulated Support For Sui Blockchains SUI Sygnum recently expanded regulated support for the Sui blockchains native token SUI, adding institutional-grade custody and trading. The bank also broadened access for professional and institutional clients to the Sui ecosystem. Furthermore, the global digital asset banking groups SUI support rollout also includes plans for staking and collateralized lending. Were pleased to be a banking partner for the Sui Foundation and expand access to professional and institutional investors via Sygnum, a regulated bank, said Mathias Imbach, Sygnum Co-Founder and Group CEO on 8 August 2025. Sygnums unique understanding of digital assets sits at the intersection of the rapidly converging digital asset and regulated financial ecosystems. We are excited to support the Sui Foundation in developing the future-proof, opportunity-ready treasury it needs to continue its growth trajectory. Furthermore, Switzerlands Zuger Kantonalbank, a leading Swiss cantonal bank, expanded its cryptocurrency offerings to include Cardano (ADA) and Avalanche (AVAX). Importantly, to expand its crypto offering, Zuger Kantonalbank partnered with Sygnum, the popular global digital asset banking group. SailPoint offers its platform as a cloud-based subscription system, a popular mode in the software world, and one that brings a suite of advantages to the customer. Being cloud-based, the platform does not require local infrastructure at the customer end; in addition, it is scalable to meet each customers individual needs; and finally, SailPoint uses AI technology to power the cloud platform, allowing for high levels of automation and precision in the security system. Well start in the tech sector, with a software company. SailPoint specializes in identity security, a vital niche within the larger cybersecurity universe. SailPoints focus starts with the discovery and securing of machine identities within a customers network, and goes on to include access and data security, as well as automation and delegation of manual tasks. The company offers a unified platform, Atlas, to manage identity security along with access security for critical applications and data. SailPoint boasts that its platform provides a simple, unified, and streamlined solution for securing access and data in todays digital universe. Given that stance, the stock analysts at JPMorgan are looking for stocks to buy. Theyve highlighted two names they believe stand out right now, and weve turned to the TipRanks database to see how the broader Wall Street community views them. Lets take a closer look. We think the S&P 500 can deliver high single-digit total returns over the next 12 months, even if tariffs stick at current rates We believe financials, utilities and technology will continue to outperform driven by improving earnings expectations. We see further upside for the tech sector, buoyed by artificial intelligence (AI) investments, continued capital expenditures (capex) and the OBBBA, the banks team notes. The market strategist at JPMorgan Wealth Management have been watching the situation, and while they acknowledge that the exuberance in the markets right now is unusual, they dont see it as irrational. Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. While the markets might look a bit wobbly as the shortened week kicks off, they have entered September on solid footing, with the S&P 500 up 10% year-to-date after a fourth consecutive monthly gain, holding just below record highs. The indexs strength has been underpinned by robust Q2 earnings, optimism for a Federal Reserve rate cut later this month, and momentum from ongoing AI-driven capital spending. Story Continues Theres no denying the importance of identity security and protected data access, and SailPoints services are popular among some of the worlds largest companies. SailPoint currently serves more than half of the Fortune 500 list, and its customer base includes such major names as General Motors, Hershey, The Home Depot, and even the Salvation Army. SailPoints stock started trading under the SAIL ticker earlier this year. The company did trade publicly in the past, from 2017 to 2022, but was acquired and held privately by the investment firm Thoma Bravo from 2022 until this past February. The IPO that month saw the companys 60 million shares go on the market. SailPoint itself directly sold 57.5 million of those, and raised $1.38 billion in new capital. Since returning to the public markets, SailPoints stock is down 16%, although the company still boasts a market cap of $11.5 billion. The company released earnings results for its fiscal 1Q26 in June of this year, and beat the forecasts at both the top and bottom lines. Revenue came in at $230.5 million, up 23% year-over-year and beating the estimates by $5.3 million. The bottom line, reported in non-GAAP terms as a penny per share, was 2 cents better than had been expected. SailPoint finished its fiscal first quarter with $234.3 million in cash and liquid assets, a total that was up 52% year-over-year. Looking ahead, SailPoints recurring revenue points toward strong business. The company reported that total ARR expanded by 30% year-over-year in fiscal Q1, to reach $925 million. This included a 39% y/y increase in SaaS ARR, which was reported as $574 million. The company noted that the number of customers with more than $1 million in ARR at the end of Q1 was up 62% from the prior-year quarter. This stock has caught the attention of JPMs Brian Essex, who notes that the stocks recent decline in share price has opened up an opportunity for investors. Essex writes, An opportunity to own a best-of-breed leader at sub-IPO valuation levels We have seen significant share shift across the Identity landscape in the wake of an identity crisis legacy vendors face as they have not efficiently invested in their platforms to address Identity related risk that is poised to accelerate. Meanwhile, SailPoint is one of the best positioned best-of-breed Identity platforms to benefit from share consolidation with a strong technical moat, solid execution, and exposure to high growth emerging demand. SAIL currently trades at a discount to its high growth Security peers and we see an opportunity for the stock to re-rate higher with best-in-class growth, expanding margins, and improving FCF, Essex went on to add. Essex puts an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating on the shares, accompanied by a $26 price target that implies a one-year upside potential of 26%. (To watch Essexs track record, click here) The 17 recent analyst reviews of SailPoints shares include 12 Buys, 4 Holds, and 1 Sell, giving the stock its Moderate Buy consensus rating. SAIL is currently priced at $20.64 and its $25.91 average price target is practically the same as Essexs objective. (See SAIL stock forecast) Capri Holdings (CPRI) From cybersecurity well change gears and move over to fashion. The next stock on our list of JPM picks is Capri Holdings, a luxury retail company known as the owner of the Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, and Versace brands. The company was founded by Michael Kors himself in 1981, and today keeps its headquarters in London and its operations base in New York City. The company has owned Jimmy Choo since 2017, and bought Versace, which it is currently in the process of divesting, in 2018. The Versace transaction requires a closer look. As noted, Capri acquired the Italian brand in 2018. In April of this year, however, the company entered into an agreement with Prada to sell the Versace name and product lines in a transaction valued at $1.375 billion in cash. The sale is expected to close during the second half of this year, and will allow Capri to focus its efforts and operations on the Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo brands. This means a strong focus on high-end clothing, shoes, and handbags, the key strengths of both the Kors and Choo lines. Capri sells these products through a network of branded brick-and-mortar stores, as well as through its online presence. In both areas, the Michael Kors name makes up the bulk of the companys presence and revenue; of the 912 total retail stores operated by the company, 695, or 76%, are branded as Michael Kors. On the revenue side, Michael Kors generates 79% of the companys sales receipts. A closer look at the companys last quarterly report, covering fiscal 1Q26, shows that Capri generated $797 million in total revenue for the reporting period. This total was down 6% year-over-year, but it was also $23.9 million better than had been anticipated. Capri gave its bottom line as 50 cents per share in non-GAAP measures which beat the forecast by $0.38. Matthew Boss covers this stock for JPM, and he is impressed by Capris streamlining of its business, and its success in boosting sales activity in the Kors name. He sees plenty of room for growth there, and says of the stock, We see CPRI on a path of multi-year sequential revenue, gross, and operating margin improvement, led by a brand reinvigoration strategy at the Michael Kors brand. Specifically, management is focused on driving product improvement, a sharpened value proposition, enhanced marketing, and distribution optimization, which we see translating to sequentially improved revenues in 2H26 and inflection to FY27 revenue growth at the Michael Kors brand and the total company, with improved full-price selling mix & ~Flat SG&A dollar growth supporting bottom-line flow-through. Quantifying his stance here, Boss gives CPRI shares an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating. He complements that with a $30 price target, suggesting a gain of 46% over the next year. (To watch Bosss track record, click here) The JPM view is the bullish end; overall, this stock gets a Hold rating from the analyst consensus, based on 8 reviews that break down to 2 Buys and 6 Holds. The shares have a $20.59 selling price, and their $24.13 average price target implies that CPRI will appreciate by 17% on the one-year horizon. (See CPRI stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump is set to imminently ask the conservative-majority Supreme Court to validate his broad emergency tariffs after two setbacks at lower courts, but will face tough legal questions as his administration presses ahead with backup plans. Legal and trade experts said that the Supreme Court's 6-3 majority of Republican-appointed justices may slightly improve Trump's odds of keeping in place his "reciprocal" and fentanyl-related tariffs after a federal appeals court ruled 7-4 last week that they are illegal. Trump said on Tuesday that his administration would seek as early as Wednesday an expedited ruling by the Supreme Court "because we need an early decision." He warned of "devastation" if the duties he imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are struck down. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed on Friday with a lower court in finding that IEEPA does not grant the president unlimited authority to impose tariffs and the 1977 statute does not mention the term among regulatory powers it allows in a national emergency. The ruling marked a rare setback for Trump, who has sought to re-order the global economy in the U.S.'s favor with tariffs by declaring a national emergency over decades of trade deficits. Trump won a string of Supreme Court victories since returning to office, from allowing deportation of migrants to permitting a ban on transgender people in the military. Top administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, say they expect the Supreme Court to uphold the use of IEEPA to justify tariffs, but will turn to other legal means if needed. The tariffs will remain in place at least through October 14 to allow time for the government to file the Supreme Court appeal. MAJOR QUESTIONS DOCTRINE Trump's Department of Justice has argued that the law allows tariffs under emergency provisions that authorize a president to "regulate" imports or block them completely. How far that unwritten regulatory authority goes is the biggest challenge for Trump's appeal, and two losses have led some legal scholars to predict that the Court of International Trade's original ruling against the tariffs will ultimately be upheld. "I have a really hard time believing that the Supreme Court is going to read IEEPA in such a broad way that the President can write and rewrite the tariff code in any way he wishes, on any particular day for any particular reason," said John Veroneau, a former Republican-appointed deputy U.S. Trade Representative and partner at Covington and Burling. UHY International has added Grewal Guyatt, an audit and advisory firm based in the Greater Toronto Area, to its global network. The addition brings UHY's total number of member firms in Canada to three, alongside UHY Forbes Anderson in Toronto and UHY Victor in Montreal. Grewal Guyatt, established in 2015 with its headquarters in Richmond Hill, Toronto, consists of a team of 13 partners and a professional staff exceeding 100. The firm's clientele spans various industries, including real estate, manufacturing, construction, and technology. It offers services, including but not limited to audit, accountancy, tax, corporate finance, valuations, and forensic accounting. Grewal Guyatt will continue to operate independently and under its own name, with a phased approach to adopting UHY branding in its promotional materials. Grewal Guyatt co-founder and managing partner Rick Grewal said: We were looking for a global network that shared our entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to quality. UHY stood out not only for its international reach and technical excellence, but for the strength of the relationships across its member firms. Rick Grewal. Credit: Grewal Guyatt. UHY International, founded in 1986, is a global network of independent firms providing audit, accounting, tax, and consulting services. With offices in more than 320 business centres across nearly 100 countries, the network employs around 10,000 staff. Adam Guyatt. Credit: Grewal Guyatt. UHY International CEO Rhys Madoc stated: Canada is a key market for many of our international clients, so we are delighted to welcome Grewal Guyatt to the UHY network. Their sector experience and cross-border focus make them an excellent fit. Rick, Adam and their team bring great energy and ambition to our Canadian presence we look forward to working with them. Earlier in August 2025, UHY International also brought Danish firm Buus Jensen Public Accountants into its fold, marking the network's entrance into Denmark. This expansion has increased UHY International's global coverage to 97 countries, with a workforce now numbering more than 10,000 across 320 office locations. "UHY International adds Grewal Guyatt in Canada " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The Ukrainian authorities have blocked access to the website of the German daily newspaper junge Welt. On August 12, 2025, the newspaper was first classified as undesirable and added to the register of blocked websites. Since the beginning of the week of August 25, the website has no longer been accessible to Ukrainian users. When attempting to access jungewelt.de in Ukraine, the following message now appears: In accordance with the Law of Ukraine On Electronic Communications and Presidential Decree of Ukraine No. 64/2022 of 24 February 2022 on the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, this internet resource has been blocked. Such orders can be issued by the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP), a department of the countrys military and intelligence apparatus, or by the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), a body attached to the president. The latter can sanction websites by presidential decree. The blockade is part of the sweeping censorship and repressive measures of the Zelensky regime in Kiev. The total number of domains blocked nationwide since the imposition of martial law varies greatly depending on the source. It is probably over 6,000. The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) was already blocked by the authorities in Ukraine more than a year ago, in June 2024, because it exposed the reactionary character of the regime and fought for an international socialist perspective to end the war. Previously, Bogdan Syrotiuk of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL) had been unlawfully imprisoned because he published articles on the WSWS advocating unity between Russian and Ukrainian workers against the regimes in Kiev and Moscow. Based on the brazen lie that Bogdan was spreading Russian propaganda, the socialist was charged with high treason. He has now spent over a year in prison under the harshest conditions. Thousands of opponents of the war in the country are sharing his fate. The Zelensky regime responds to growing resistance to the war with brutal repression. Masses of young people who try to avoid conscription are being dragged to the front by force, every voice against the war is banned as Russian propaganda, and those who refuse to comply are jailed. The more hopeless the situation at the front becomes, the more aggressively the regime cracks down on any opposition. junge Welt (jW) has come into the crosshairs of the Ukrainian censors because it reported on the governments close collaboration with fascist forces, contradicted the NATO war narrative and informed readers about repression inside the country. The sweeping censorship of any dissenting opinion and the suppression of the flow of information expose as a lie the claim that the war in Ukraine is about defending freedom and democracy. Quite the opposite: Zelensky is establishing a brutal dictatorship to continue sacrificing the Ukrainian population in a war fought for NATOs geostrategic supremacy. But the censorship of a purely German-language publication inside Ukraine cannot be explained solely by the regimes repressive measures. The readership within Ukraine is likely to be marginal. It must be assumed that the measure was taken in close consultation with German authorities and is intended to serve as intimidation. The jW editorial team reports that it was confronted several weeks ago with wild accusations from the Azov lobby in the United States. The editors were urged to change articles about Ukrainian Nazi units in the army, and extensive legal consequences were threatened. As early as July last year, the Berlin State Administrative Court dismissed a lawsuit by jW against its surveillance by the German domestic intelligence service (Verfassungsschutz). Presiding Judge Wilfried Peters, who now heads the Brandenburg state branch of the intelligence service, claimed that even a class analysis of society and positive references to the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin were unconstitutional. He also undermined press freedom by simply declaring the newspaper to be a political association. In his ruling, he relied almost word for word on his earlier judgment against the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP), publisher of the German edition of the World Socialist Web Site. The German government had justified the surveillance of the SGP and its slander of it being left-wing extremist on the grounds that it advocated a democratic, egalitarian and socialist society and fought against alleged nationalism, imperialism and militarism. This effectively branded every opponent of war and every critic of capitalism an enemy of the constitution. If the puppet regime in Kiev is now banning German-language anti-war publications that are already under attack from the German state, it must be assumed that Zelensky is acting on the direct instructions of his paymasters in the German government. It is telling that at a press conference on August 27, a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry refused to comment on the banning of jW. The official claimed such a case was not known to him. Ukraine is therefore not only the theatre of NATOs war against Russia; it is also becoming a precedent for a European police state. In Ukraine, the European imperialists are implementing measures they are planning for the entire continent. After hundreds of opponents of the war like Bogdan Syrotiuk have already been imprisoned in Ukraine, Britain has now also begun to detain peaceful opponents of the genocide in Gaza and to brand them as terrorists. In Germany, participants in peace and pro-Palestinian demonstrations are increasingly attacked and face extreme police violence. In France, President Macron is waging a veritable war against workers protests. Just as the majority of Ukrainian workers refuse to be sacrificed as NATOs cannon fodder, workers everywhere are resisting the devastating austerity programmes with which the European powers are financing rearmament against Russia. The intensification of repression in Ukraine heralds a continent-wide escalation of repression against socialists and opponents of war. We therefore call on all readers to protest against the blocking of junge Welt and to sign the petition against the imprisonment of Bogdan Syrotiuk. Democratic rights can only be defended if workers link the fight against mass redundancies and austerity with the struggle against war and counter growing nationalism with the perspective of international socialism. Protesting workers during a 24-hour civil servants' strike over a planned new disciplinary code for state workers which unions argue will compromise their employment rights, in Athens, Greece, on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 [AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis] On Thursday, public sector employees in Greece held a one-day strike to protest against a anti-worker law introduced by the right-wing New Democracy (ND) government. The law allows working hours of up to 13 hours a day and tightens disciplinary measures against public sector employees. The new disciplinary law was passed in parliament on Thursday with the votes of the governing party, while outside on Syntagma Square hundreds of workers gathered. A rally was also held in Thessaloniki, the countrys second-largest city. With these legal changes, the ruling class is preparing for a turbulent autumnnot only in Greece, but across Europe. From Berlin and Paris to Athens, all governments are carrying out a general assault on workers social and political rights in order to finance massive military rearmament. In France, mass protests are scheduled in September against the austerity budget. In Greece, the latest strike takes place against the background of a deep social and political crisis, which has intensified since the beginning of the austerity dictates and has now reached boiling point. Anger among Greek workers and students over high living costs, low wages and long working days is erupting. With Thursdays one-day strike, the union leaderships are attempting to pre-empt a broader protest movement. The memory of the recent mass demonstrations in March, which demanded the truth be uncovered about the Tempi rail disaster, and which partly assumed a spontaneous character, is still fresh. As recently as April, workers had demanded higher wages in a one-day general strike. The strike was called by ADEDY, the public sector union federation. Among those participating were unions representing hospital doctors, teachers, municipal employees and judiciary staff. Originally, Greek air traffic controllers had also planned a four-hour walkout. But a court in Athens declared their stoppage unlawful, whereupon the controllers union withdrew its strike call. Similar strike bans have been imposed several times in recent years to suppress opposition. Tellingly, GSEE, Greeces other major union federation representing the private sector, merely published a toothless criticism of the law, but did not call on its members to strike or take other action. Clearly, in the middle of the summer season, union leaders are concerned with not endangering the profits of the tourism industryeven if only by a harmless one-day protest. The new labour law includes several changes aimed at intensifying capitalist exploitation and cementing it legally: Introduction of the 13-hour day. The law allows the extension of the daily working time to up to 13 hours. In addition to the standard 40-hour week, up to eight hours of overtime per week may be added. Introduction of a four-day week, with 40 hours spread across four days of ten hours each. Last year, a six-day week had already been legalised for certain sectors. Short-term hiring of seasonal and temporary staff is to be made possible via a smartphone app. Tightened disciplinary law for civil servants, aimed at criminalising political opposition. The labour ministry justifies the measures with the usual cliches of cutting bureaucracy, tackling the shortage of skilled workers and making the labour market more flexibleall terms that thinly veil the fact that the law is designed to systematically worsen working conditions and undermine labour rights in the interests of the corporations. The eight-hour day, already largely undermined during years of austerity, is now being formally abolished. The anger of demonstrators is directed above all against the tougher disciplinary regime. It represents a massive attack on democratic freedoms and workers rights. Anyone who resists the long working days, low wages and catastrophic working conditions is to be silenced through repression. The new disciplinary law introduces harsher penalties, including dismissal, wage cuts, demotion and fines of up to 100,000. Disciplinary proceedings are to be greatly accelerated. Newly created disciplinary councils in the public sector will no longer include workers representatives or members of the judiciary. Teachers are particularly concerned: in future, it will be considered a disciplinary offence if they refuse to take part in performance evaluations. The government has introduced an evaluation system in schools to monitor and pressure teachers through regular assessments. In 2021, this step triggered mass protests among teachers and students. At the time, the education minister was Niki Kerameosnow labour minister and responsible for the draconian labour law. At its core, the harsher disciplinary measures are aimed at intimidating workers, bringing them politically into line, and criminalising those who engage in union or left-wing activities. If Greece becomes the first EU country to introduce a 13-hour day, it merely legalises an already existing reality: most workers already have to take on two or more jobs to make ends meet. The eight-hour day has long existed only on paper. Kerameos cynically justified the 13-hour day with the words: Firstly, it is an option, not an obligation. Secondly, the employee must agree. Thirdly, this way as an employee you dont need a second job. A Greek worker earning just 700 a month in a full-time job will now be allowed to work 13-hour days instead of seeking a second job. Of course, there is no question of it being voluntary. The necessity of survival forces workers into overlong working days. The 13-hour day in Greece would open the door to similar legal changes across Europe. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democrat, CDU) already declared in May: We must work more and above all more efficiently in this country again. The German Economic Institute (IW) promptly provided the statistical fodder: An IW analysis based on OECD data confirms the Chancellors point: a German of working agebetween 15 and 64worked an average of 1,036 hours in 2023. A Greek worked 1,172 hours, a Pole 1,304 hours. In Greece and Poland, which are now being held up as models, the German ruling class, under the umbrella of the European Union, has created a social catastrophe in recent years and trampled workers rights underfoot. It now aims to implement the same in Germany. The scale of social hardship is especially clear in summer: while many Greeks work in tourism, almost half of all Greeks over 16 (46 percent) could not afford even a one-week holiday in 2024. Greece thus ranks second to last in the EU, just ahead of Romania. The main reasons are high prices, rising housing costs and stagnant wages. At the same time, more and more workers are falling victim to brutal exploitation. Overwork, deregulation and lack of workplace safety frequently leads to fatal accidents in Greeceas in the US and Italy. The true extent is not reflected in official statistics. According to the Greek statistics office, 51 people died in workplace accidents in 2023. But the real number is far higher, since only around 30 to 40 percent of accidents are recorded. The Federation of Technical Company Trade Unions (OSETEE) counted 179 workplace fatalities in 2023 and around 150 last year, three times the official figure. The ADEDY union leaders, who organised Thursdays strike, do not actually want to mobilise effective resistance against the government but rather ensure that no such resistance develops outside their control. For decades they have been jointly responsible for todays conditions by isolating and containing countless protests. They also belong to the same political milieu and social layer as the rulers. The current chairman of ADEDY, Apostolos Mousios, is a long-time functionary of the right-wing DAKE union faction, closely aligned with New Democracy. His predecessor was a leading ND member. The nominal opposition partiesSyriza, the social-democratic Pasok, and the Stalinist KKEvoted against the disciplinary law in parliament but, like the unions, they defend the capitalist system. In the case of Syriza and Pasok, they implemented years of brutal EU-dictated austerity. The defence of social gains places Greek workers before the task of building their own organs of struggle, independent of the pro-capitalist unions and parties: rank-and-file action committees, internationally linked through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), controlled by the workers themselves, and preparing a genuine general strikenot isolated pseudo-strikes staged by the unions as accompaniment to austerity. At the same time, social attacks can only be repelled through a fight for a socialist perspective against the war policy. The Athens government has announced a massive rearmament programme and plays an important role in NATOs proxy war against Russia. With defence spending at 3.5 percent of GDP, Greece already has one of NATOs largest military budgets. By 2036, 25 billion is to be invested in rearmament. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke in April of the most drastic transformation in the armys history. Among other things, a new air defence system called the Shield of Achilles is planned, modelled on Israels Iron Dome. Working people must intervene and, in alliance with their European brothers and sisters, stop the war madness and the associated attacks. This requires an independent socialist perspective and the building of the International Committee of the Fourth International in Greece and across Europe as the new revolutionary leadership of the working class. Thousands of protesters, including festival participants and members of the public, took part in a large demonstration in Venice last Saturday to express their opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza. The demonstration, called by a collection of Italian and international film professionals under the name of Venice4Palestine, was timed to take place in the opening days of the Venice Film Festival, which continues until September 6. Pro Palestine demonstrators hold a press conference in front of the red carpet to announce a demonstration on Saturday, August 30 during the 82nd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday, August. 27, 2025. [AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino] Organizers of the anti-genocide rally described it as possibly the largest protest ever seen at a major film event. The main roads of the Lido, the barrier island in the Venetian Lagoon where the festival is held each year, were closed off by police as the march forcefully made its way to the principal festival area. Bearing a sea of Palestinian flags, protesters chanted Free, Free Palestine and End the Genocide, accompanied by blasts from foghorns and music playing from speakers. Another 700 protesters sailed from Porto Marghera to Venices Lido Beach to meet up with the demonstration and express their solidarity with the Global Sumud [Arabic for steadfastness or resilience]Flotilla, a flotilla of dozens of small civilian vessels carrying volunteers and humanitarian supplies that has set off to sail to supply urgently needed aid to Gaza. Prior to Saturdays demonstration, organisers issued a statement declaring: The Venice Film Festival must not remain an event isolated from reality, but rather become a space to denounce the genocide being carried out by Israel, the complicity of Western governments, and to offer concrete support to the Palestinian people. It continued: In Gaza, hospitals, schools and refugee camps are being bombed; civilians are being deprived of food and water; journalists and doctors are being killed; humanitarian ships such as the Freedom Flotilla are being seized. At the same time, in the West Bank, apartheid and settler violence continue unabated. The permanent occupation of Gaza by the Israeli government marks an escalation that has gone beyond every limit of humanity and international law. The statement went on to denounce the role of the Italian and European governments for their complicity in the genocide through the continuance of arms supplies, economic agreements and diplomatic cover. The statement concluded: It is time to stop the massacre: stop the genocide, stop arms sales, stop Western complicity. Prior to the festival Venice4Palestine had issued an Open Letter urging the organisers of the festival to take a clear and unambiguous stand condemning the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing across Palestine carried out by the Israeli government and army. Toni Servillo [Photo by Quirinale.it] Among the 2,000 signatories to the Open Letter are many Italian film personalities, among them actors Toni Servillo and Valeria Golino, Italian actress and director sisters Alba and Alice Rohrwacher, and veteran directors Marco Bellocchio and Matteo Garrone. Other signers include French directors Celine Sciamma and Audrey Diwan, British filmmaker Ken Loach and actor Charles Dance and Mexican director Guillermo del Toro. Additional signatories include the Palestinian directorial duo Arab and Tarzan Nasser (twin brothers) who made the film Once Upon a Time in Gaza, which won best director prize in Cannes this year. The Open Letter argues in part: 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 awayas if the film world had nothing to do with the real world. The group urges the festival to avoid becoming a sad and empty showcase and take a clear and unambiguous stand, to provide a place of dialogue, active participation, and resistance, highlighting Palestinian narratives to address 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. When asked at the jury press conference to respond to the horror in Gaza, festival director Alberto Barbera declared that while the festival was not prepared to deny invitations to certain artists, We have never hesitated to clearly declare our huge sadness and suffering vis-a-vis what is happening in Gaza and Palestine. The death of civilians and especially of children, who are victims, the collateral damage of a war which nobody has been able to terminate yet. The situation in Palestine was unacceptable, he continued, and declared that the festival was absolutely open to any kind of debate. Alberto Barbera [Photo by Harald Krichel / CC BY 4.0 As evidence of their readiness to address the situation in Palestine, festival organisers cited the world premiere of The Voice of Hind Rajab by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania. The film, which features in the festivals main competition, centres on the killing of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl, along with six of her family members and two paramedics who came to her rescue, by the IDF in January 2024. Deadline explains: Rajab and her family had been fleeing Gaza City when their vehicle was shelled, killing her uncle, aunt, and three cousins. Rajab and another cousin initially survived and contacted the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) by phone from the car seeking aid. The car was later found with Rajab and the paramedics who had come to help all dead. The incident sparked global protests, including at Columbia University, where students renamed Hamilton Hall as Hinds Hall. Forensic Architecture, in its detailed analysis of the Zionist slaughter, concluded that the proximity of the holes to one another helped us identify the volleys of shots fired. The sizes and shapes of the holes helped us to differentiate between entry and exit holes. We mapped a total of 335 bullet holes on the body of the Kia [the automobile carrying the victims]. They also determined that the shooter [in the Israeli tank] would have had a clear view of the car and its passengers. In other words, they would have been aware of the presence of two children. Executive producers of The Voice of Hind Rajab include prominent cinema figures such as Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuaron and Jonathan Glazer. The film will also feature at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. Festival director Barbera noted the lack of other Palestinian films at the festival. In fact, in addition to killing at least 197 journalists and imprisoning 90 more (according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which writes that Israel is engaging in the deadliest and most deliberate effort to kill and silence journalists that CPJ has ever documented), the Netanyahu regime, its military and its far-right supporters have also engaged in systematic attacks on filmmakers in both Gaza and the West Bank. The most recent example was the case of the Palestinian activist Odeh Hathalin (aka Awdah Hathaleen) who worked on the Academy Award-winning documentary film No Other Land and was shot down in cold blood and in broad daylight by a far-right Israeli settler. In March, Hamdan Ballal, one of the films four co-directors, was beaten by a mob of Israeli settlers and detained by the military. Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, the subject of a documentary (Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk) shown at the ACID (Association du cinema independant pour sa diffusion) parallel section of this years Cannes film festival, was deliberately murdered in Gaza by the IDF the day after news of the films acceptance at the festival was made public. Despite the best efforts of the Israeli army aimed to suppress evidence of its war crimes by murdering journalists, filmmakers and cameramen, pictures of the horrors taking place in Gaza are being shared on social media on a daily basis. These images of starving and defenceless civilians in the ruins of Gaza have had a profound impact on hundreds of millions across the world who are increasingly mobilising to express their support for the victims and opposing their own governments continuing support for the Israeli genocide. The mass demonstrations and protests by filmmakers in Venice testify to the fact that broad layers of the population are not prepared to accept that events such as the film festival on the Lido remain isolated from reality. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks after being sworn in as health and human services secretary in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] In the past few weeks, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dramatically reshaped Americas public health leadership. On August 8, 2025, a gunman radicalized by anti-vaccine misinformation attacked CDC headquarters in Atlanta, killing a police officer. In the aftermath, instead of addressing the roots of the crisis, Kennedy escalated his purge of the agency. Last week, he fired CDC Director Susan Monarez, a career scientist who resisted his politicization of the agency, and installed his deputy, Jim ONeill, as acting CDC director. ONeill is not a public health expert but a former investment executive with libertarian leanings and close ties to tech billionaire Peter Thiel, a clear signal that loyalty, not expertise, is Kennedys primary qualification for leadership. Meanwhile, following Kennedys orders FDA commissioner Marty Makary gave the green light to sweeping new restrictions on COVID-19 mRNA vaccine distribution, narrowing eligibility to those 65 and older or individuals with certain comorbidities. The rules still require approval by the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), but with the group now stacked with Kennedy allies, such approval is virtually guaranteed. Already, pharmacies in states including Massachusetts, New Mexico, Nevada, and Washington, D.C., have begun refusing to offer COVID vaccines, requiring physician prescriptions or halting administration altogether. What was once one of the most accessible vaccines in history is being systematically walled off from the public. These measures underscore the fact that Kennedy is not simply questioning vaccine policy. He has consolidated control over the nations scientific institutions by firing experts, silencing internal critics, and replacing them with loyalists. His long history as one of the countrys most prominent anti-vaccine activists now intersects with unprecedented federal power. For the first time in modern history, the US governments entire scientific edifice is being reoriented to serve an anti-scientific agenda. Central to that project is the assault on mRNA vaccines, among the most important medical breakthroughs of the 21st century. By embracing pseudo-scientific dossiers and weaponizing distorted statistics, Kennedy is creating the evidence needed to dismantle vaccine infrastructure, slash research funding, and substitute ideology for science. What follows is not just policy gone astray, but a deliberate attempt to undo decades of public health progress. Lies as science: The Harms Research Collection To provide cover for these actions, Kennedy has leaned heavily on a dossier his HHS presents as a scientific review: the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Harms Research Collection. At first glance, the document looks imposing with 113 references spanning journals, case reports, and data repositories. But a closer look reveals that it is not science at all. It is propaganda dressed in citations, a political weapon crafted to fabricate evidence against vaccines and provide Kennedy with the veneer of authority he needs to push his agenda. The Los Angeles Times reviewed the collection and found that most of the cited papersall but about 40had little or nothing to do with vaccines. Many references deal with COVID-19 infection itself, not vaccination. Others are laboratory mouse studies with injections into the brain or bloodstream, completely irrelevant to how vaccines are administered in humans. Absent are the most important studies demonstrating benefit including The Lancets estimate that anti-COVID vaccines saved 20 million lives globally in just their first year of rollout. Where legitimate research is cited, the conclusions are misrepresented to imply widespread harm: A Nature study demonstrating strong antibody responses is reframed to suggest immune system overactivation. A NEJM study from Israel, which showed higher adverse-event risks from infection than vaccination, is cited only for side effects, omitting the comparison. A JAMA study on myocarditis is stripped of context and presented as evidence of mass heart damage. In fact, the study showed that the risks of myocarditis from the vaccine were small, mostly mild, and far outweighed by protection against COVID. A vaccine study finding no increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis after vaccination is listed without clarification, misleading readers to assume it supported clotting harm. This distortion is repeated across dozens of entries. Legitimate safety monitoring data (e.g., VAERS) is presented as if it demonstrated causation, while single case reports are aggregated to suggest systemic effects. The collection also leans heavily on preprints and nonpeer-reviewed sources. For example: Seneff et al., Worse Than the Disease?later retractedspeculated without primary data that vaccines caused neurodegeneration. Substack essays and white papers by Bridle, Hatfill and Risch recycle anecdotes and VAERS data as proof of widespread harm. Biodistribution studies in rodents are cited to argue uncontrolled spread of mRNA in human organs, despite these studies never being designed to model human pharmacology. At least one-third of the references fall into this non-reviewed, speculative category. Others are retracted or discredited outright, including one by Schwab et al. on autopsy reports that claimed vaccine-induced deaths, which was dismissed by cardiologists and forensic pathologists. As Dr. Christopher Labos stated on his review: The study by Schwab et al. doesnt actually establish how common myocarditis post vaccination is, whether it is actually higher than the background rate (because many things can cause myocarditis), nor how likely someone is to die when they develop myocarditis. Also critical, a 2021 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the rate of spontaneous abortion in the first trimester after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination was 12.6 percent, well within the expected range. The authors concluded that preliminary findings did not show obvious safety signals among pregnant persons who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. However, anti-vaccine outlets and social media figures distorted the data by misapplying the denominator, falsely inflating the miscarriage rate to 82 percent. Despite this claim being thoroughly debunked by the study authors and multiple fact-checkers, it continues to circulate, and is now promoted by RFK Jr. as evidence of vaccine harm. What makes this collection particularly dangerous is not just its content, but its omissions. Entirely absent are systematic reviews by the WHO, CDC, or EMA, or the global record of billions of doses administered safely under the most intensive pharmacovigilance in history. Absent, too, are the mortality models showing the scale of lives saved. The effect, as Michael Hiltzik of the LA Times wrote, is to create a mismatch between the data packet cited by Kennedy and the established facts of the vaccines safety and efficacy. Kennedys HHS offered a document that looks technical but collapses under scrutiny, while excluding the overwhelming body of evidence proving the benefits of anti-COVID vaccines. The stakes of this falsification are profound. As infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm warned: I dont think Ive seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business. He stressed that abandoning mRNA would cripple the worlds ability to respond to the next pandemic. Older vaccine platforms would take 18 months to cover a fraction of the population; with mRNA, the world could be protected within a year. The Harms Research Collection is not simply sloppy science. It is an intentional artifact of disinformation. By cloaking cherry-picked and distorted data in the trappings of research, Kennedy can claim to be listening to the experts while in fact substituting lies for evidence. This is the pseudo-scientific foundation on which he is building the case to strip away one of the most vital public health tools of the 21st century. The architects of the Harms Research Collection Equally revealing as the contents of the Harms Research Collection are the people who compiled it. Far from being neutral scientists, they are a network of long-time vaccine opponents, ideological activists, and profiteers with direct ties to Kennedy and his allies. Byram Bridle, PhD: A Canadian virologist who rose to prominence by claiming, without evidence, that vaccine spike proteins were toxic. He has been embraced by anti-vaccine groups in Canada, has close ties to Christian nationalist health freedom circles, and co-authored the book Toxic Shot: Facing the Dangers of the COVID Vaccines. His work has been amplified repeatedly by Kennedys Childrens Health Defense. Steven Hatfill, MD: A former biodefense adviser under George W. Bush with a history of promoting hydroxychloroquine and the lab-leak narrative. Hatfill has appeared on Heritage Foundation panels, provided anti-WHO testimony, and now works inside HHS. His proximity to Kennedy makes him both a contributor to and enforcer of the administrations anti-mRNA agenda. Peter McCullough, MD, MPH: A cardiologist who lost academic affiliations due to spreading vaccine disinformation. McCullough is a frequent guest on right-wing platforms like Bannons War Room and The Highwire. He is chief scientific officer of The Wellness Company, a supplement outfit marketing unproven spike detox pills. Peter McCullough [Photo: Peter McCullough via X] Harvey Risch, MD, PhD: An emeritus Yale epidemiologist known for promoting hydroxychloroquine and aligning with the Great Barrington Declaration. Like McCullough, he holds a leadership role at The Wellness Company and regularly collaborates with Kennedy-aligned platforms. James Thorp, MD: An OB-GYN who has promoted false claims of vaccine-induced miscarriages, rejected by every major obstetrics society. He is heavily featured on Childrens Health Defense and Epoch Times, and markets himself as an authority despite disciplinary concerns. Kelly Victory, MD: An emergency physician turned anti-vaccine commentator, appearing frequently on Newsmax and The Highwire. She is another Wellness Company figurehead, profiting from anti-vaccine fear while attacking mainstream medicine. Martin Wucher (DDS) and Erik Sass: A dentist and a nonfiction writer listed as chief compilers of the dossier, neither with relevant expertise. Sass has been associated with techno-skeptical circles that recycle pseudoscience as data aggregation projects. Taken together, the compilers are not a team of unbiased researchers. They form an ideological network that intersects across Kennedys Childrens Health Defense, the Wellness Company, and right-wing outlets like Bannons War Room and the Brownstone Institute, organizations that profit politically and financially from undermining vaccines. By presenting their output as a research collection, Kennedy laundered fringe propaganda into the apparatus of US health policy. Notably, the Brownstone Institutea libertarian think tank founded in May 2021 by Jeffrey A. Tucker, former editorial director of the American Institute for Economic Researchwas established to advance anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine narratives while providing a platform for the co-authors of the Great Barrington Declaration. Since its founding, Brownstone has emerged as a leading purveyor of misleading, cherry-picked studies and conspiracy theories targeting institutions like the WHO, CDC, and mRNA vaccine science. It maintains close ties to Childrens Health Defense and Bannons War Room podcast, serving as a key node in the broader network of anti-public health disinformation. From propaganda to policy These new FDA regulations may soon become a moot point. While they limit access to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines to seniors and high-risk individuals, Kennedys allies are signaling that the vaccines themselves may soon be removed from the US market altogether amid yet another wave of the pandemic. According to Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a British cardiologist and prominent adviser to Kennedys Make America Healthy Again Action group, the withdrawal of mRNA vaccines is imminent. Kennedy has created all the institutional machinery to make Malhotras prediction a reality. In one of his most brazen moves, he fired all 17 members of the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the very body tasked with reviewing vaccine policy, replacing them with outspoken vaccine opponents. Among them is Retsef Levi, a professor at MITs Sloan School of Management, whose training is in operations research, not medicine, virology or immunology. Despite his lack of biomedical expertise, Levi has spent the past three years publicly attacking COVID vaccines, calling them the most failing medical product in the history of medicine and demanding they be pulled from the market. He has published no peer-reviewed research on vaccines, but is closely aligned with the Brownstone Institute. Retsef Levi [Photo: Retsef Levi via X] The consequences of Kennedy placing Levi and similar figures at the helm of ACIP are stark. What was once a rigorous review committee, staffed by epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists, has been converted into stage-managed proceeding designed to rubber-stamp Kennedys agenda. Former ACIP members describe the process as a sham, warning that trust in immunization policy has been destroyed. As Stanford infectious disease physician Dr. Jake Scott cautioned, the result will be more statistical manipulation than science. Meanwhile, the pandemic is not over. According to the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative (PMC), the United States is amid its 11th wave, with at least one in every 93 people currently infectious. That translates into 3.6 million new weekly infectionsmore than 500,000 a dayeven before the return of tens of millions of students to classrooms. The result is projected to be 1,300-2,100 excess deaths each week and up to 720,000 new Long COVID cases over the coming months. Long COVID continues to degrade quality of life for millions of Americans, impairing cognition, increasing cardiovascular risks, and pushing thousands out of the workforce. In this context, narrowing vaccine access or eliminating mRNA vaccines altogether is not just reckless, but a direct assault on the populations ability to defend itself against ongoing disease and death. Kennedys policies, legitimized by figures like Malhotra and Levi, amount to dismantling one of the few tools that blunted the pandemics worst effects. With vaccines already harder to access, the groundwork is being laid for their complete removal. Should that happen, the consequences will not be confined to statistics: they will be felt in overwhelmed hospitals, in families devastated by preventable loss, and lives permanently altered by Long COVID. Weaponizing statistics: John Ioannidis doubles down on efforts to minimize the pandemic Although John Ioannidiss latest paper is not included in the Harms Research Collection, it serves the same political purpose. The study exemplifies how scientists aligned with reactionary agendas can deploy statistics to confound reality, producing results that downplay the benefits of vaccines while cloaking the exercise in the authority of peer-reviewed science. In this sense, Ioannidis work complements Kennedys campaign: where the Harms Research Collection substitutes fringe pseudoscience for evidence, Ioannidis provides the illusion of legitimacy from within mainstream academia. John Ioannidis [Photo by PLOS Video Channel / CC BY 3.0 One should recall that early in the pandemic, Ioannidis authored the infamous Santa Clara antibody study, which suggested that COVID-19 was far less deadly than scientists believed. The study was immediately embraced by opponents of public health measures, including Kennedys ideological allies, but was riddled with methodological flaws. Critics noted its sampling biases and questionable statistical modeling, while emails later revealed that many of the studys funders had connections to libertarian and financial networks with an intent on downplaying the pandemic. This was not an isolated episode. Ioannidis repeatedly downplayed the risks of COVID-19, claiming the virus was not all that dangerous and that lockdowns posed greater risks than the disease itself. His close associations with Jay Bhattacharya (now head of the NIH under Kennedy) and Scott Atlas (who advised Trump on dismantling restrictions) placed him at the heart of a Stanford-centered network deeply intertwined with the politics of minimizing the pandemic. In this sense, his recent collaboration with Kennedys agenda is less coincidence than continuity. In August 2025, Ioannidis published a new paper in JAMA Health Forum titled Global Estimates of Lives and Life-Years Saved by COVID-19 Vaccination During 20202024. The headline numberjust 2.5 million lives saved globally in nearly four yearswas instantly quotable. For Kennedy, it will provide the perfect soundbite as supposed proof that vaccination campaigns were marginal, even wasteful. But the figure was not drawn from real-world mortality records. Instead, Ioannidis and his co-authors constructed a hypothetical model, what they called a back-of-the-envelope exercise. They chose infection fatality rates (IFRs), applied a single flat vaccine effectiveness (VE) rate of 50 percent against death, assumed every unvaccinated person eventually caught Omicron, and then applied blanket frailty discounts to life-years saved, assuming nursing home residents had only two years left. Each of these choices was conservative, and together they guaranteed a lowball result. Most strikingly, the model ignored excess mortality, the gold standard for measuring pandemic impact. By starting with artificially low IFRs and discounting elderly lives, Ioannidiss transparent method produced a headline that shrank the vaccines role to the smallest plausible figure. The result was a statistical mirage which was internally consistent, yet profoundly misleading. Real-world counterpoints: China, Hong Kong, and Omicron in the West The flaws in Ioannidiss model become glaring when compared to the actual course of the pandemic. Once China exited Zero-COVID in December 2022 and lifted all containment measures, the virus literally ripped through the countrys 1.4 billion people. Excess mortality analyses estimate 1.4 to 1.9 million deaths in just two months, overwhelmingly among the unvaccinated elderly. By late 2022, only 72 percent of those over 80 had completed primary vaccination, and fewer than half had boosters. The result was catastrophic. Hong Kongs earlier BA.2 Wave (JanuaryMarch 2022) had seen a similar catastrophe. With booster coverage in the elderly disastrously low (just 2 percent boosted in those over 80), the city recorded 9,000 deaths in a population of 7.4 million. Among the unvaccinated elderly, the case fatality rate reached 21.7 percent, nearly as high as the original Wuhan strain. Vaccinated elderly had more than 20 times lower risk of death, underscoring the decisive role of vaccines. By contrast, in highly vaccinated countries during Omicron, including the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany and Norway, the differences could not be sharper. In late 2022 and early 2023, in the same period China was facing its disastrous pandemic wave, these nations experienced 10 to 20 times fewer deaths per capita, despite facing the same variant. In the US, excess deaths during the same period of the Omicron winter wave (approximately 30,000 according to Our World in Data) were a fraction of the 125,000 recorded in the spring of 2020 when no vaccines existed. Notably, the landmark analysis in The Lancet Infectious Diseases cited previously in this report calculated that as many as 19.8 million deaths would have taken place without the vaccines when factoring excess mortality. The vaccines thus caused a 63 percent global reduction in deaths that year. Importantly, most of these prevented deaths occurred in countries with widespread access to mRNA vaccines, underscoring their decisive role in protecting populations. Other modeling has confirmed these impacts at the national level. In the United States, a study by the Commonwealth Fund found that vaccination prevented 3.2 million deaths and 18.5 million hospitalizations, while saving more than $1 trillion in healthcare costs. Another study in JAMA Network Open calculated that in the first 10 months of vaccine availabilitythrough the height of the Delta wavevaccines averted approximately 235,000 deaths, 1.6 million hospitalizations, and 27 million infections nationwide. These findings are reinforced by surveillance data from multiple countries. Across Europe and North America, hospitalization and mortality rates plummeted once high vaccine coverage was reached. While the emergence of Omicron reduced protection against mild infection, boosters continued to provide 8095 percent protection against severe disease and death among the elderly, the population most at risk. However, when one analyzes the data by age groups, although younger people die at far lower rates, those receiving the COVID vaccines and boosters had an appreciable benefit, as the figure below highlights from the waves experienced in Hong Kong and China. Infection Fatality Rate (IFR) between those vaccinated and unvaccinated after lifting Zero-COVID in Hong Kong and China. The dotted lines gives you the odds of avoiding death had you been vaccinated. Although the IFR for younger people is low, the benefits are actually higher. Taken together, the evidence leaves little doubt that the vaccines, in particular the mRNA vaccines deployed at scale, were the difference between a pandemic that could have claimed 50-60 million lives globally instead of the 30 million excess deaths to date. These real-world experiences dismantle the notion that Omicron was mild or that vaccines had only marginal benefit. Why did the peer review process let through Ioannidis latest paper? How did such a paper pass peer review at a major journal? The answer lies in the limits of the system. Peer reviewers check whether methods are internally consistent and whether assumptions are transparently stated. Ioannidis and his colleagues were explicit about using conservative assumptions. That transparency provided cover, even though the assumptions bore little resemblance to real-world outcomes. Peer review does not typically re-run models, verify raw data, or demand that assumptions align with the most realistic evidence. The process gave Ioannidis work a veneer of legitimacy, even though it functioned less as measurement than as political ammunition. Precisely because Ioannidis modeling study was peer-reviewed, which drastically undercuts earlier vaccine impact estimates by suggesting only 2.5 million lives were saved globally, it provides Kennedy a veneer of scientific legitimacy for his own agenda. Though the Harms Research Collection predated Ioannidis paper and did not cite it, the political utility of the study is clear. It provides post hoc cover for policies already in motion. In hearings and speeches, the nuance evaporates. What remains is the headlineOnly 2.5 million lives savedweaponized to dismantle the very infrastructure that protected public health during the pandemic. Conclusion Kennedys reliance on pseudo-scientific compilations and distorted statistics is not confined to rhetoric. It is being codified into policy in real time through sweeping budget cuts, institutional purges and the installation of loyalists in positions once held by scientific experts. The scale of destruction is staggering. More than 20,000 HHS employees, including thousands of scientists and public health specialists, have been forced out. The NIH faces a $18 billion reduction, while CDC faces $3.6 billion in cuts, crippling their ability to conduct surveillance, manage outbreaks, or develop next-generation treatments. Internationally, Kennedy has cut US funding to Gavi, a decision projected to cause over one million preventable child deaths worldwide, while the defunding of USAID threatens millions more lives. The damage goes far beyond COVID. mRNA cancer vaccines, such as Moderna and Mercks melanoma treatment, which in trials reduced recurrence risk by nearly 50 percent, are now imperiled. Trials for lung, pancreatic, and kidney cancers that depend on the same infrastructure are at risk of collapse. HIV vaccine research, already showing promising immune responses in early trials, has been dismantled by Kennedys NIH leadership under Jay Bhattacharya. Scientists who signed the Bethesda Declaration condemned these moves as an ideologically driven attack on decades of biomedical progress. Backlash has been fierce. Six Nobel laureates and 27 members of the National Academies have called for Kennedys removal, warning that his actions will cause a deadly loss of confidence in vaccines. Hundreds of CDC, NIH, and HHS employees signed a letter after the August 8 Atlanta CDC shooting, accusing Kennedy of fueling the climate of mistrust that led directly to violence. Their message laid the blame directly on Kennedy for dismantling Americas public health infrastructure. Meanwhile, Kennedy is making vaccines harder to obtain and laying the groundwork for their removal altogether. Pharmacies are already requiring prescriptions or refusing to carry COVID vaccines. Advisory panels are stacked with ideologues. The peer-reviewed but deeply flawed work of Ioannidis now provides a veneer of legitimacy for the claim that vaccines saved only a few million lives. This MAHA reform is a coup on science by another name; a coordinated dismantling of the systems that society depends on to generate knowledge, defend health, and save lives. By substituting manufactured evidence for real science, Kennedy has created the scaffolding for a political project that will set public health in the US and internationally back decades. The costs will not be measured in abstract debates or academic journals. They will be measured in crowded hospital wards, in the empty chairs of families who lose loved ones, in the lost futures of those disabled by Long COVID, cancer or preventable infectious diseases. The Harms Collection, Levis sham advisory committee and Ioannidiss statistical minimization are all strands of the same fabric; an anti-scientific movement that is aligned with fascism and a turn to authoritarian forms of rule. What is being destroyed is more than vaccine programs. It is the very capacity of science to serve the public good. If unchallenged, this assault will undo generations of progress and cost millions of lives worldwide. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player President Joe Biden with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders, April 22, 2024. [AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta] The old Latin maxim qui tacet consentire videturhe who is silent is taken to agreehas a long history. It was recognized in Roman law and later codified in canon law during the Middle Ages. The principle has echoed through legal and political history, invoked in situations where an individual or institution is expected to object but does not. The broader meaning is clear: silence in the face of grave crimes is not neutrality, but complicity. To say nothing where objection is expected is to give approval by default. It is precisely in this sense that one should understand the refusal of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and its leading publications to write on and oppose Trumps ongoing coup. Three weeks have passed since Trump deployed the National Guard to occupy Washington D.C., threatened similar actions in Chicago and other cities, and escalated the White House-led coup against constitutional government. In all that time, the DSA and its publications have said virtually nothing. On the front page of Jacobin, there is not a single reference to the words National Guard, or to the troop deployments that have placed the capital under military occupation. The sole exception to this silence was an article published August 14, three weeks ago, under the headline DC Deserves Statehood, which mentioned the deployment only as an argument for congressional representation, while praising Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser. Democratic Left, the DSAs official publication, publishes only rarely and almost exclusively to promote the various Democratic Party candidates the organization is backing. On the deployment of troops to Washington and the broader military-police conspiracy it has said nothing. The DSAs X account, which posts somewhat more frequently on the same subjects, has also maintained a studied silence, even though the DSAs convention was just held in Chicagothe very city Trump has publicly threatened as his next target. One can point to several inter-related explanations for this silence. First, the DSA is waiting for its line from the Democratic Party, of which it is a faction. The Democrats as a whole have sought to downplay Trumps coup. The main partial exception is Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire himself, who has compared Trumps actions to those of Hitler, while proposing nothing beyond filing lawsuits. The politician promoted for years as the Democrats left alternative, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, has not uttered a word about the deployment of troops in Washington, nor about Trumps threats to extend martial law to Chicago and beyond. Speaking before thousands in Maine on Monday (Labor Day), and earlier in Chicago itself, Sanders delivered his standard stump speech denouncing billionaires, while carefully avoiding any reference to the deployment and threatened deployment of troops throughout the country. The central concern of the Democratic Party is not to oppose Trumps assault on democratic rights, but to contain and smother popular opposition to it. As a party of Wall Street and the financial oligarchy, the Democrats agree with the basic thrust of Trumps class policy. Their differences with Trump lie primarily on questions of imperialist geostrategy. Second, there is the DSAs role as a booster for the trade union bureaucracy. On Labor Day, the AFL-CIO organized more than 1,000 scattered protests across the country, deliberately designed to prevent any unified show of opposition to Trumps coup. No demonstrations were called in Washington or New York City, the political and financial centers of the country now threatened with military occupation. At the rallies that were held, as little as possible was said about the coup itself. UAW President Shawn Fain, whose election was actively backed by the DSA, epitomized this deliberate evasion. In Detroit, he avoided even mentioning Trump by name, let alone his deployment of the National Guard or threats of martial law. Instead, Fain has aligned the UAW with Trumps program of economic nationalism, promoting tariffs and trade war policies that divide American workers from their class brothers and sisters internationally. Third, the DSA speaks not for the working class but for privileged layers of the upper-middle class. These layers are not primarily concerned with the growth of fascism, the destruction of democratic rights, or the assault on the conditions of the working class. Their politics are dominated by identity and lifestyle issues, which function to obscure the fundamental class divisions in society. In practice, this means fixating on questions of race and gender while ignoring or downplaying the mounting danger of dictatorship, imperialist war and social counterrevolution. Consent, in this case, takes on a very specific character. The DSA and its milieu are silent on Trumps actions not because they necessarily like what he is doing, but because acknowledging the reality would have revolutionary implications. Acknowledging that a coup is taking place would require the mobilization of the masses, above all the working class. Yet this is precisely what the DSA, like the Democratic Party as a whole, exists to prevent. This logic was spelled out clearly in the aftermath of January 6, 2021. At that time, Jacobin publisher Bhaskar Sunkara dismissed the danger of dictatorship, declaring: Whats the advantage of saying this is a coup? I just dont understand the advantage in finding the most extreme labels for bad things. He added: Ive seen the stability of US republican institutions in the face of a right-wing mob and a party whose leader is committed to their delegitimation so far. Four-and-a-half years later, what can be said of the stability of US republican institutions. American democracy is collapsing before the eyes of the entire world. The DSA are not babes in the woods. For more than half a century, the organization and its predecessor, the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC), have functioned as a faction of the Democratic Party and of the capitalist foreign policy establishment. Its founder, Michael Harrington, declared that socialists must operate as the left wing of the possiblethat is, adapting themselves to whatever policies the ruling class deems acceptable at any given time. This has remained its guiding principle. Under the present conditions, the DSA is functioning ever more openly as a critical instrument of the Democratic Party. Its members in Congress, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have backed US imperialism abroad and supported the Biden administrations suppression of the class struggle, including in the illegalization of the rail strike at the end of 2022. DSA member Zohran Mamdani, who recently won the New York Democratic mayoral primary, will play the same role if he assumes leadership in the financial center of American capitalism. The DSA, moreover, is not alone. Left Voice, the publication of the Morenoite tendency, has published a total of one article on the deployments, under the headline, Trump Is Openly Militarizing His Political Agenda, which mentions the National Guard takeover of Washington D.C. in passing. The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) has written one statement, almost a month ago, which frames the occupation of D.C. entirely in racial terms. The role of these organizations only underscores the basic political fact that opposition to fascism and dictatorship is, at its core, a class question. The defense of democratic rights cannot and will not come from the Democrats or their pseudo-left allies. It depends on the independent mobilization of the working class, in the US and internationally, fighting not only against dictatorship but against the capitalist system itself. People search for survivors after a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, in Mazar Dara, Kunar province, Afghanistan, Tuesday, September 2, 2025. [AP Photo/Hedayat Shah] A devastating earthquake struck Afghanistan late Sunday unleashing destruction and a death toll surpassing 1,400 and climbing as emergency operations work against obstacles to provide search and rescue services and aid to the isolated population. The quake is among the countrys deadliest natural disasters, with a 6.0-magnitude that struck at approximately 11:47 p.m. local time. The epicenter was located near the border of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, roughly 27 kilometers (almost 17 miles) from Jalalabad, Afghanistans fifth largest city. The earthquakes depth was a shallow 8 kilometers (5 miles), making it particularly destructive, and its tremors were felt hundreds of kilometers away, including in the capital city of Kabul and across the Pakistani border. In neighboring Kunar province, as well as adjacent Laghman and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan, mud-and-timber homes offered little resistance to the grounds movement. According to Taliban authorities, over 1,400 are confirmed dead, more than 3,100 are injured and at least 5,400 homes have been destroyed. Entire villages in Kunar province are reported to have been flattened, with countless people remaining trapped beneath the debris. Rescue operations are hampered by rough terrain and landslides, which blocked roads into the worst-hit districts and prompted authorities to deploy commando units and helicopters for evacuation. The destruction is overwhelming, with food scarce, medical supplies insufficient, and the transportation of the wounded and survivors possible only on foot or by makeshift stretchers. Eyewitness reports have revealed the depth of the catastrophe. Residents in Dara Noor, near Jalalabad, described frantic searches for loved ones beneath the wreckage, using shovels, their bare hands and whatever tools they could find to reach the trapped. I lost my wife and two sons. I am half-buried and try to get others out, one survivor told CNN. Ahmadzai, a doctor with Kabul Asia Hospital dispatched to the area, told CBS News: The destruction is overwhelming. Entire villages have been flattened, and people are still trapped under the rubble of collapsed homes. Roads are blocked, making it nearly impossible to move supplies or evacuate the wounded. The situation is desperate. Food is scarce, medical help is insufficient, and the only effective way to deliver assistance is by helicopter. Without air support, reaching these communities is nearly impossible. Rescue efforts are being carried out with only basic tools, and this has meant that bodies and survivors alike are being recovered at a very slow pace. Many people were asleep when the earthquake struck, further adding to the casualty toll as mud-brick and timber homes collapsed upon them. These are life-and-death decisions while we race against time to reach people, said UN Resident Coordinator Indrika Ratwatte. Aid groups such as World Vision, CARE and UNICEF have reported that mud and timber structures in several villages, especially in Chawki and Nurgal in Kunar, simply collapsed, burying entire families. Many who survived the quake later died while waiting for rescue teams, as both terrain and weatherincluding flash floods just days beforeconspired to block humanitarian efforts. A report by BBC revealed the extraordinary difficulties in getting information from the quake zone. Landslides have blocked access roads, while infrastructure devastation, including the collapse of communications systems, has left much of the area cut off. The BBC report said: Its as difficult to reach those places as it is to get information out. In previous Afghan earthquakes, casualty figures have differed as the days have gone by, but its possible that well never truly know the full scale of this disaster. Earthquakes are frequent in Afghanistan because the country sits atop a series of active fault lines created by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This collision causes intense crustal deformation, resulting in numerous major faults, such as the Chaman Fault system, which runs through eastern Afghanistan and produces large, shallow and destructive earthquakes. Afghanistans northeastern and eastern regions have experienced powerful, shallow quakes in recent decades. The nation had deadly earthquakes in 1998 (4,000 dead in Takhar Province), 2002 (over 1,000 dead in Nahrin), 2015 (over 400 dead), and most recently the 2022 Paktika quake (over 1,000 dead). However, Afghanistans vulnerability to devastating quakes has not only a geological but a social and political source. The overwhelming majority of homes are from materials that offer no protection against seismic shocks. The lack of basic infrastructure, roads, medical facilities and engineering expertise, itself a legacy of decades of destruction and underinvestment, intensifies the impact of moderate disasters. The countrys exposure to repeated disasters is inseparable from four decades of war and occupation led by the US and its allies. US imperialism invaded the country in 2001, launched a 20-year occupation and unleashed a campaign of bombing, night raids and assassinations that not only killed tens of thousands of civilians but destroyed basic infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture. The withdrawal of US and NATO troops in August 2021 has precipitated an economic crisis amid an intensification of sanctions, isolation and asset seizures. On September 1, 2025four years to the day after the final US withdrawalthe Trump administration announced a halt to all remaining US humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, deepening the already catastrophic situation. Notably, Afghanistan depends on foreign aid for 80 percent of its budget for schools, hospitals and food distribution. Making matters worse, the US seized over $7 billion in Afghanistan central bank assets after the Taliban resumed power, freezing the country out of the global financial system and triggering mass unemployment, hunger and the collapse of public health. The World Food Programme and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of starvation on a vast scale, compounded by each new disaster. The international response to the earthquake on Sunday exposes the deadly consequences of US imperialist policy. Afghans searching for survivors in Nurgal, Kunar, Nangarhar and Laghman face both the physical destruction wrought by the quake but also the deliberate devastation brought by decades of war, occupation and economic strangulation. Efforts to provide emergency assistancewith Taliban authorities, aid groups, and desperate families pleading for international helpare prevented by the broader framework of sanctions and political control imposed by the imperialist powers. As of this writing, the US government has not issued a formal statement pledging aid or support to Afghanistan following the earthquake. The US State Departments Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs instead expressed heartfelt condolences to the Afghan people via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Meanwhile, Britain has offered a paltry emergency funding package of 1 million (approximately $1.3 million) for earthquake aid, with funds split between the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Other European countries, coordinated through the European Commission, have pledged about 1 million (approximately $1.16 million) in humanitarian emergency funding, in addition to tents, clothing, medical supplies and other essential aid to the affected areas. The earthquake in eastern Afghanistan is both a natural disaster of immense scale and an indictment of imperialisms criminal legacy in the country. As the death toll rises and rescue workers struggle to reach the devastated villages of Nangarhar, Kunar and beyond, the roots of the catastrophe lie fundamentally in the long-term effects of imperialist war, occupation, plunder and the deliberate isolation of the people of Afghanistan to face the devastation alone. Across Australia, student general meetings were held over the last two weeks to vote on a National Referendum for Palestine. The meetings drew significant numbers of students who are increasingly disgusted with Israels genocidal onslaught on Gaza and the complicity of the Australian Labor government. However, the motions advanced by the meeting organisers, the National Union of Students and pseudo-left organisations such as Socialist Alternative, followed the bankrupt line of futile moral appeals to the very forces carrying out the genocide, including Labor and university managements that have weapons partnerships with Israel. After two years of global protests, the notion that capitalist governments will listen to reason has been exposed as false, as the imperialist powers, led by the fascistic Trump administration, continue their barbaric war of extermination against the Palestinians. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) sought to present alternative motions to these meetings, calling on students to mount a struggle against Labor and for the mobilisation of the working class to end war and genocide. This perspective was censored by the meeting organisers in Melbourne, at the University of Melbourne and Victoria University (VU), where IYSSE members were blocked from speaking. Read the full report of the Melbourne meetings here. The IYSSE spoke with students attending the meetings on the failure of the global protests to effect change and what is required to stop the genocide and imperialist war. An American exchange student, who asked to remain anonymous, witnessed the meeting organisers blocking IYSSE club president Morgan Peach from speaking on stage. He said, That was so undemocratic! They were clearly cherry-picking their own members [i.e. of Socialist Alternative] from the audience and getting them to speak. This was supposed to be a democratic forum, it was being called a student general meeting. Claire Claire, a student at the University of Melbourne, spoke with IYSSE members before the special general meeting started. She said she came to the meeting because I believe in a mass student movement to defend the right to protest on campus and also to support Palestine. I think a lot more people are just waking up now because of how in your face it is with Gaza. Asked about the Labor governments recognition of a Palestinian state, she said, I dont think [Prime Minister Anthony] Albanese had a sudden change of heart. I dont think he thought, Maybe I should try a little bit? Maybe thats what protest will get us, a government official saying something in parliament. But I dont want that. She said the Australian government is setting itself up to engage in wars to come. It is not breaking that cycle of war, but is continuing down a path where it is agreeing to see genocide and warwhats happening in Gazahappen across the world. Asked why two years of mass international protests had not stopped the genocide, she spoke about the failure of moral appeals to criminal warmongers. The protests still exist within the logic of the system. They still make sense within a world that makes no sense. What frustrates me about the ways in which we organise is that it feels like the protests exist within the logic of the oppression. Claire attends most of the weekly pro-Palestine rallies in Melbourne, but said that they can placate people who say, Im glad I got that out of me. Let me go back to work. Let me not take other actions. She agreed with the IYSSEs call for the mass mobilisation of workers to stop the arms being sent to Israel. Students and workers have always been linked. Referring to the conditions facing students, she said, The university is not going to solve any of our problems. Its about making money. My tuition is so expensive. Now you have to repay your HECS debt [government organised student loans] at below minimum wage. She said that under capitalism, people are alienated from the life that they were promised. No one is going to get a house and two cars anymore. The future that we were promised is gone, it has never existed and was never meant for us. An Iranian student said that she attended many of the weekly rallies in Melbourne protesting the genocide. When asked whether she thinks this has been effective, she said: Yes and no. Yes, it continues to raise awareness of the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. But also no, because the atrocities have only deepened, even with global protests. She understood that the Labor government was providing political and material support to Israel, along with the major imperialist powers. She also knew the genocide was part of a broader imperialist war drive, targeting Iran, Russia and China, in which the Australian government is involved. How then do we stop genocide if Labor and the unions arent doing anything to stop it? There is a feeling of hopelessness. She responded positively to the IYSSEs call for an independent movement of the working class against Labor and the pro-war union bureaucracies. Jake Jake, a cybersecurity student and an IYSSE member at VU, attended the meeting at the universitys Footscray Nicholson campus, where the IYSSE was prevented from speaking. That speaks volumes on the way that they [Socialist Alternative] like to run things, he said. They speak, everyone else listens and nobody can question them. Above all, they distract from the real issue which brought me here today, to target the system that creates situations like whats going on in Palestine. Thats what my focus is. I found it very disappointing that they chose to be authoritarian in their way of handling things. He went on: The genocide is abhorrent. Its commonsense really, most people recognise these are war crimes, crimes against humanity. All the first-world governments are complicit either through inaction or enabling it by supplying the tools needed for the ongoing killings, depriving the Palestinians of basic human necessities like food and water. Capitalist society needs poverty, famine and war in order to thrive, it relies on that. The main issue is that people need to become more aware of their common enemy. Under capitalism, its inevitable that the majority of people have to suffer in order for a select few people to get profits. On the pseudo-lefts perspective of pressuring the political establishment, Jake said: A capitalist government is not going to be persuaded by a letter saying, Were not happy with you. Thats been ineffective so far. I think we need to hit them where their heart lies most, and thats their wallet. We need targeted industrial actions, interrupting supply chains, and workers strikes. As for the meeting today, its all well and good to do rehearsed chants and put it on social media. But if you want actual practical change and an end to the genocide, you need to target the capitalist system. The organisation of strikes and workers action, thats a realistic way to stop war. In a pre-emptive strike against an upcoming protest in London against the proscription of Palestine Action (PA), counter-terrorism officers have arrested five organisers of the Defend Our Juries (DOJ) legal defence campaign. A series of nationwide raids were mounted early on Tuesday morning before the organisation was due to hold a press conference. Those arrested included Tim Crosland, a DOJ co-founder and former government lawyer, and Paddy Friend, a law student and DOJ spokesperson. The Metropolitan Police said those arrested were two men aged 26 and 55, a 61-year-old woman in London, a 48-year-old woman in Kendal, Cumbria, and a 39-year-old man in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Paddy Friend being arrested by counter-terrorism police [Photo: screenshot from video: Defend Our Juries/X] In response to the governments proscription of the Palestine Action group on July 5, Defend Our Juries have led Lift the Ban protests in Londons Parliament Square which have resulted in mass arrestsincluding over 530 on one day alonefor holding a sign reading: I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action. Defend Our Juries is set to hold another protest in London on Saturday at which more than 1,000 people are committed to attend. The five were arrested under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act that prohibits support for a proscribed organisation and carries a maximum prison term of 14 years. Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan, head of operations for the Mets Counter Terrorism Command, said of the arrests, Palestine Action is clearly proscribed as a terrorist group, and those showing support for this particular group, or encouraging others to do so can expect to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted. DOJ said that key spokespeople were arrested in the raids for addressing Open Calls during which legal information on the risks of opposing Labours absurd ban on Palestine Action have been shared. A spokesperson called attention the targeted nature of the police operation: Locking up our key spokespeople just hours before they were due to hold a press conference announcing more peaceful Lift the Ban protests constitutes an unprecedented assault on free speech. The counter-terrorism police are clearly targeting people they perceive as organisers, and the key spokespeople arrested were told they were being arrested for hosting public Zoom calls. No one has been arrested for joining the Zoom callsonly the hostsand we will be holding another Zoom call tonight ahead of our action on Saturday. Defend Our Juries posted footage on X of Friends arrest. In the video, a police officer is heard informing the young man he is under arrest on suspicion of committing the office of Section 12, Subsection 3 of the Terrorism Action 2000. You are alleged with addressing an online Zoom meeting between the 10th of July 2025 and the 21st of August 2025 for the purpose of encouraging support for and furthering the activities of proscribed organisation Palestine Action. Amnesty International called for the immediate and unconditional release of the five. Kerry Moscogiuri, Director of Campaigns and Communications at Amnesty International UK, said, The mass peaceful demonstrations they have organised over recent weeks are protected by international human rights lawand to think they run the risk of being imprisoned for up to 14 years is a terrifying example of the UK authorities willingness to use authoritarian practices to silence dissent. Criminalising speech or protest is only permitted when it incites violence, hatred or discrimination. To be clear: expressing support for Palestine Action does not meet this threshold. In fact, arresting and prosecuting people in this context, is a violation of the UKs obligations under human rights law. The Tuesday press conference, which was then postponed to Wednesday, was due to be attended by Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, and award winning author Sally Rooney. Last month, the High Court ruled that Ammori can challenge the lawfulness of Home Secretary Yvette Coopers order banning Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The High Court will carry out a judicial review of the legality of the proscription. This is not certain to go ahead as a Court of Appeal judge, on August 21, approved an application by the government for permission to appeal the plans for judicial review. The arrest of key DOJ figures was the latest crackdown aimed at criminalising opposition to the destruction of Gaza and took place as Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza City, the last portion of Gaza not yet totally demolished and home to a million refugees. More than 700 people have been arrested for holding signs in less than two months since the proscription was enforced after PA members spray painted military aircraft at the Royal Air Force Base at Brize Norton. Police officers arrest a demonstrator during a protest in Parliament Square,, London, August 9, 2025 [AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali] On August 26, the Metropolitan Police announced that the Crown Prosecution Service had authorised the charging of 64 people with showing support for Palestine Action in relation to protests in central London on July 5 and 12. Three others were charged at the start of August in relation to the July 5 protest. Met Police Commander Dominic Murphy, clearly addressing the planned DOJ protest on September 6, said, The notion that by coming out and showing support toward a proscribed terrorist group will overwhelm us is completely misguided. The reality for those who have carried out this action is that they are now facing serious charges under the Terrorism Act. If convicted of such an offence, it can have a severe impact on your life or career, he added. My message to anyone thinking about carrying out similar action in the coming weeks is to reconsider. Police have also arrested award-winning screenwriter Paul Laverty in Edinburgh on allegations of showing support for a proscribed organisation. Laverty, 68, was the screenwriter for several films by director Ken Loach and has twice won the Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival. On August 25, Laverty was attending a protest at St Leonards police station in support Moira McFarlane, a member of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign. McFarlane was due to be charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison, for wearing a T-shirt with the slogan: Genocide in Palestine, time to take Action. McFarlane was arrested a fortnight earlier at her home by plainclothes police. At the rally, Laverty read out the names of Labour cabinet ministers, accusing them of collaborating in genocide. At least 12 police officers then appeared, singling out, chasing and arresting Laverty, who was wearing a T-shirt with the same wording as McFarlane. Other repressive legislation, including the Public Order Act, is being utilized. Civil rights group Big Brother Watch reported Wednesday that the Met has deployed new stop and search powers almost 50 times since they were introduced in Section 11 of the Public Order Act 2023. The majority of this total, 40, were people attending a Gaza protest by Youth Demand in July last year. In an attempt to behead anti-genocide protests in London which millions have attended in more than 30 mass demonstrations over the past two years, the Met has questioned or arrested and charged key figures among its organisers including former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Stop the War Coalition chief steward Chris Nineham and Palestine Solidarity Campaign leader Ben Jamal. The stepping up of the persecution with the arrests of leading Defend Our Juries personnel exposes the fraudulent assurances from the Starmer government that, in proscribing Palestine Action, they would not target protests in support of the Palestinians. The intensification of the crackdown is proceeding despite the ruling in the High Court by Judge Chamberlain, in the successful action brought by Huda Ammori, that it would not be an offence to campaign for the de-proscription of Palestine Action. By Olena Harmash and Yuliia Dysa KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine and the U.S. on Wednesday held the first board meeting of a joint investment fund, set up as part of a minerals deal with Washington, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. The deal with the United States, which gives Washington preferential access to Ukrainian minerals in exchange for investment, is seen as a way to help a Ukrainian economy shattered by Russia's invasion, as well as Kyiv's defence efforts. Svyrydenko said Ukrainian and U.S. officials have approved several key steps to advance the fund's operations, including setting up committees and choosing an administrator and an investment adviser. "We continue close cooperation with the American colleagues at all levels," Svyrydenko said, posting several pictures from the meeting, including one of U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who participated online. "U.S. investments can be a guarantee of security both for Ukraine and for American businesses in Ukraine," she said on the Telegram app. As the war with Russia heated up in recent months despite increased international efforts to push for a diplomatic solution, Kyiv is keen to maintain a positive relationship with the United States, an important military ally. Kyiv and Washington agreed on the minerals deal after it was heavily promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump in April. It envisages that half the revenue the Ukrainian government earns from mineral extraction would go to the joint investment fund. Svyrydenko said the next step would be to identify projects for the first pilot investments, adding that the issue would be discussed later this month during a visit of a delegation from U.S. development institution DFC. To showcase that Kyiv is advancing its work on the minerals deal, the government has ordered a sweeping review of all mining licences in Ukraine and also launched a tender for the right to mine a lithium deposit site in its central Kirovohrad region. Ukraine has deposits of 22 of 34 minerals considered critical by the European Union for industries such as defence, high-tech appliances and green energy, as well as ferro alloy, precious and non-ferrous metals used in construction, and some rare earth elements. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, Olena Harmash; Editing by Ros Russell and Bill Berkrot) Electricity workers protesting outside CEB head office in Colombo, July 22, 2025 The Sri Lankan government has begun the process of breaking up the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) into four government-owned companies (GOCs), into which employees will be transferred by the end of October. The formation of these companiesNational System Operator, National Transmission Network Service Provider, Electricity Distribution Lanka, and Electricity Generation Lankato unbundle the CEB is a key demand of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the Director General of Power Sector Reforms, these institutions will be further divided into several companies in about two years. Under the new Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Act, passed last month, the government has issued letters to all employees indicating the companies to which they will be transferred. There is widespread opposition to the breaking up of the CEB among the institutions 22,000-strong workforce. Workers are concerned about their jobs and working conditions, and threats to rights won through past struggles since the boards establishment in 1969. They have been reluctant to accept the governments letters of assignment. The ruling Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) government, which is fully committed to the IMF program, has only been able to prepare its attack on this key section of the working class because of repeated betrayals by the trade unions. Leaders of all trade unions covering CEB workersdespite previously claiming they would defend workers rightslined up last week to support the governments plan. The JVP-controlled Ceylon Electricity Workers Union (CEWU) held discussions with Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and expressed agreement with issuing the appointment letters. The CEWU, once the largest union among CEB workers, has been abandoned by workers who have denounced its betrayals since the JVP/NPP came to power. Senior JVP member Ranjan Jayalal no longer leads the union, after being appointed Mayor of Kaduwela Municipal Council in June 2025 following local government elections. Other JVP-controlled unions have been instructed by the government hierarchy not to organise any action against the IMFs austerity measures. An alliance of more than 20 unions initially advised CEB workers not to accept the appointment letters and, under pressure from members, announced a token strike for September 1. However, officials from the CEB Technological Engineers and Superintendents Union and the CEB Accountants Association broke ranks with the 20-union alliance, holding a separate discussion with the minister on August 26. Like the CEWU, they expressed willingness to go along with the governments plans. Union bureaucrats from the remaining members of the alliance quickly fell into line, blaming the other unions for betraying the cause and declaring they had no option but to abandon their opposition. These unions include the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya and the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, controlled respectively by the opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party and United National Party. In a statement to their members, these union leaders declared, We have no desire to let [22,000 employees] lose their jobs, and suggested workers accept the assignment letters. In other words, they will abandon any of those workers who refuse to accept the letters. The bureaucrats cynically claimed that they would continue the fight. According to a government gazette issued on August 26, employees who do not wish to join the new companies can apply for a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). They will be paid meagre compensation ranging from 900,000 rupees ($US3,000) to 5 million rupees ($US16,600), depending on their years of service. Though the Electricity (Amendment) Act states that employees will retain the same status in the newly formed companies, it makes no mention of their current pension scheme and other hard-won rights. All of the unions have cravenly sold out CEB workers, who had launched militant struggles against previous government attempts to privatise this strategic state-owned enterprise (SOE). Former President Ranil Wickremesinghes government began the CEB restructuring by preparing new legislation. In response, 20,000 CEB workers launched a three-day national sick-leave protest, in defiance of the draconian Essential Public Services Act and managements cancellation of all leave. The government retaliated by suspending 62 employeesonly to reinstate them under harsh conditions. The NPP, the JVPs electoral front, falsely claimed during last years presidential and national elections that if it came to power, it would renegotiate the IMF program. The JVP-controlled trade unions and their counterparts in other unions spread the same lie. The Dissanayake government quickly abandoned its promises, declaring its full commitment to the IMFs brutal cost-cutting measures. In addition to the CEB, the government has prioritised dozens of SOEs for accelerated restructuring and commercialisation. These include Sri Lanka Ports, Petroleum, the Postal Department, Sri Lanka Telecom, Sri Lanka Railways, the Insurance Corporation, Bank of Ceylon, and the Peoples Bank. These are among more than 400 SOEs targeted for restructuring, a process that will destroy at least 500,000 state sector jobs. To accelerate this, the JVP/NPP Dissanayake government has proposed forming a super-holding company. When the government prepared its CEB restructuring plan, the trade union bureaucracy was compelled to call protests. On July 22, around 16,000 CEB workers took sick leave and held a one-day protest against the Electricity (Amendment) Act. The unions called the protest simply to dissipate workers anger and politically disarm them. CEB workers must reject the betrayals of the trade union bureaucracy and prepare to defend their rights. The rising anger and militancy of Sri Lankan workers was clearly demonstrated in the August 17 national strike of 17,000 postal workers fighting for 19 demands. After the government deployed the army and police to crack down on the workers, the postal union leaders quickly caved in to the governments threats and shut down the strike after a week without winning a single demand. Militancy alone is not enough. Workers must understand that they cannot fight for their rights within the framework of the trade unions. The Dissanayake government and the Sri Lankan capitalist class are mired in a deepening economic catastrophe and are determined to make working people bear the burden. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) insists that there is no solution for workers within the capitalist system and the trade union apparatuses that defend it. We call on workers at CEB, and in state-owned enterprises and workplaces across the country, to establish independent action committees to defend all jobs, rights, and working conditions. The trade union bureaucracies must not be allowed into these committees. The working class must prepare to launch a united struggle against the assault of the government and the capitalist class, in unity with the international working class. All SOEs must be placed under workers control. The working class must reject IMF austerity and fight for socialist policiesincluding the repudiation of foreign debt and nationalisation of the banks, major corporations, industries, and plantations under workers democratic control. This requires a fight for a workers and peasants government as part of the struggle for international socialism. In a statement published prior to Labor Day, the Socialist Equality Party and International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees wrote, in the face of the threat of a fascist dictatorship in the United States, The truth is that there is no labor movement worthy of the name. AFGE President Everett Kelly in Detroit, Michigan, September 1, 2025. This basic political fact was evident in the Labor Day demonstrations organized by the AFL-CIO on Monday. While hundreds of protests were held across the country, attracting sections of workers and youth, they were significantly smaller than earlier nationwide protests this year, including the over 10 million who joined the largely spontaneous June 14 No Kings marches against Trumps dictatorship. The entire purpose of these officially sanctioned events was to suppress opposition and conceal the real political situation confronting the working class. The AFL-CIO organized a patchwork of small demonstrations scattered across the country, while refusing to call mass marches in Washington D.C. or New York Citythe nations political and financial capitals. Trump has already deployed troops in D.C. and threatened to deploy more in Chicago, Los Angeles and other major cities. Yet this issue was systematically covered up and downplayed by those who claimed to speak for workers on Labor Day. Nowhere was this clearer than in Detroit. It has been many decades since the center of American auto manufacturing was the site of significant demonstrations of workers on Labor Day. Yet even compared to last year, turnout was lower, and the character of the event revealed the chasm separating the pro-corporate union apparatus and the working class it claims to represent. UAW President Shawn Fain delivered a speech that did not mention Trump by name and made no mention of the National Guard occupation of Washington, Trumps threats of martial law in major cities, or the systematic destruction of democratic rights. Instead, Fain spoke out against what he referred to as shitty trade deals and denounced the billionaire class in the abstract, carefully avoiding any reference to the billionaire in the White House who is consolidating fascist rule. UAW president Shawn fain in Detroit, Michigan September 1, 2025. Fain and the UAW bureaucracy have in fact aligned themselves with Trumps program of economic nationalism, backing tariffs and trade war policies that pit American workers against their class brothers and sisters internationally. In doing so, they provide a crucial cover for the fascistic policies of the administration. Michigan American Federation of Teachers President Terrence Martin belatedly mentioned the occupation of Washington, but only to argue for voting Democrat in 2026an election Trump has already signaled may take place under military rule, if it is held at all. The event, which began with the pledge of allegiance and a military color guard, functioned as a patriotic pageant, not a mobilization of workers. The militaristic character of the demonstrations was reflected in the omission of any mention of the ongoing US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza. Yet for many protesters, this was one of the central reasons they attended the protests. We are disgusted with what is happening in Gaza, a protester in Detroit told the WSWS. I believe there is a genocide happening over there and the federal government is contributing to it, said another. Anti-genocide protesters in Detroit, Michigan, September 1, 2025. In Chicago, some 5,000 workers rallied downtown, where Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson led chants of No federal troops in the city of Chicago, only to immediately pivot to empty rhetoric about defending democracy. The only concrete action he proposed was to file lawsuits against the Trump administration, which will lead to years of hearings and appeals, ending up in the US Supreme Court packed with fascist justices, with three of the nine appointed by Trump himself. Taking measure of complicit Democrats and the suppressed turnout of the rallies, on Tuesday Trump made clear that the decision to deploy soldiers to Chicago had already been made. Were going in, Trump said from the Oval Office. If the governor of Illinois would call up, call me up, I would love to do it, he said. Now, were going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it. Trump threatened to also send troops to Baltimore saying it was his obligation to protect this country, and that includes Baltimore. In Los Angeles, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler gave perfunctory remarks that lasted all of four minutes. She referred to the moment of crisis created by Trumps deployment of tanks in American cities. Her solution, however, was to urge workers to put their faith in the unions, which she claimed remained the only institutions the American people still believe in. While stating that nothing was won without a struggle, Shuler proposed no actual action by workers to stop the military-police takeover of American cities. AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler speaking at the Labor day Parade & Picnic in Wilmington, California, September 1, 2025. Ricardo, a California truck driver and a member of Teamsters for 25 years, told WSWS reporters, Its just corruption from top to bottom. I dont understand how we got to this point, to where the president of the United States has so much power. He is basically a dictator. I dont understand how Democrats and even Republicans dont see whats going on in this country. They dont care about us union workers or anybody. A section of the rally in Wilmington, September 1, 2025. The Pittsburgh Labor Day parade, often billed as the largest Labor Day parade in the country, was remarkable this year for the almost complete lack of political slogans or even slogans of struggle. Outside of the logos on their shirts and minus the colorful floats, one couldnt tell this parade from Thanksgiving Day or Christmas parades. The contingent from the United Steelworkers marched by with no signs denouncing US Steel for the explosion at the nearby Clairton Coke works which left two steelworkers dead and 10 others seriously injured. In past Labor Day parades, striking workers would march upfront in a place of honor. But in this years parade the striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers, who have now been on strike for more than three years, were relegated to the very end. While the official parade made no mention of the Trump administration and the threat of dictatorship this was certainly on the minds of many workers who spoke with the WSWS. Protesters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania hold anti-fascist signs, September 1, 2025. Roland, with the laborers union, said that he sees the country moving towards dictatorship. I dont know why people arent protesting about what is happening in DC. You shouldnt have the military being brought into the cities. Masked ICE agents are arresting people, pulling people from their cars and jobs and no one sees them again. Thats the kind of thing youd see in a fiction movie, but this is not fiction this is reality, Roland said Rolands friend Alex, also a laborer, said, we all have to stand up together. We have the power. We make everything in this country, but the rich are the ones that benefit. Theyve always tried to divide us, black vs white, this is the same thing againagainst immigrants or people from another country. Peggy, who was holding a sign that read, Defend Democracy Fight Fascism, said that she sees the country becoming authoritarian and leading to fascism. Peggy What Im saying is, if we were a country founded on principles of equality and freedom, this administration is becoming more and more authoritarian and that always leads to fascism. Referring to the National Guard occupation of Washington DC, Peggy said, theyre trying to intimidate people. I see the courts letting Donald Trump get away with anything he wants, having control of the legislative branch, as fascism. There is supposed to be separation between the three parts of government, and checks and balances, and those are being completely incorporated. Laurie and Misbah were at the rally to protest the genocide in Gaza. Laurie Laurie explained, Im here because Im Jewish. My ancestors fled from the pogroms. I was taught every day to speak out against evil. I cant watch every day as our country uses our tax money to pay for atrocities like bombing, starving and shooting our Palestinian brothers and sisters. We need to speak out, that Never again means Never Again! Misbah explained, Every day the situation is getting worse and worse. (The people of Gaza) have no food. These people are dying: children, women, the elderly. Their homes are being destroyed. That is not just. Misbah All of this is connected. Trying to take over the area so they can make more money and build the area for a resort. Here people are fighting because the billionaires keep cutting the workers again to make profit for themselves. Asked about the fact that both the Democrats and Republicans have backed the genocide in Gaza, Misbah explained that this is despicable. They do it for money. And she warned, If they do it there, they will do it here. Eventually it will make its way back here. This is what ICE is doing. And they will do it to everyone. The basic political fact is that there is no faction of the ruling class committed to the defense of democracy. Both Republicans and Democrats represent the interests of the financial oligarchy. As the SEP and IWA-RFC statement warned, This Labor Day, every worker must confront the gravity of this crisis: The organizations that claim to represent your interests have betrayed you; the politicians who seek your votes have deceived you; and the capitalist system is ruthlessly destroying your life and your childrens lives. The revival of a genuine workers movement will not come through the bureaucratized union apparatus or the Democratic Party. It requires a rebellion against the union leadership, the building of rank-and-file committees in every workplace, and the conscious development of a revolutionary and internationalist perspective. The decisive task is to expand the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), which encourages and supports the formation of independent organizations of struggle. These committees must unite workers across industries and countries, not only to defend jobs, wages, and working conditions, but to oppose dictatorship, war and repression. This counter-offensive of the working class must be connected to the building of a genuine socialist leadership. This means the conscious development of the Socialist Equality Party, which fights to arm the growing movement of the working class with a revolutionary and internationalist perspective. At two university meetings in Melbourne last week, members of the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative (SAlt) resorted to flagrantly anti-democratic methods to prevent the discussion of a socialist perspective to end Israels genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. The meetings, at the University of Melbourne (UofM) last Thursday and Victoria University the day before, were part of a series nationally. Held under the auspices of the National Union of Students (NUS), the meetings have been billed as a student referendum on the genocide. Anti-genocide Special General Meeting at University of Melbourne, August 2025 At least 600 students attended the UofM meeting, surpassing the quorum required for it to be officially recognised as a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the student body. The attendance reflected the upsurge of hostility and anger more broadly to the genocide and the federal Labor governments complicity. Last month 300,000 marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and subsequent anti-genocide protests have been attended by hundreds of thousands across the country. The growth of popular hostility, combined with Israels rapid escalation of its ethnic-cleansing operation, poses more sharply than ever the question of how to end the genocide. SAlt, which has played a leading role in the protest movement, was determined to prevent such a discussion. Its perspective of endlessly issuing plaintive appeals to the Labor government has manifestly failed. Labor continues to fully back the Zionist regime, including through weapons exports and a vicious crackdown on opposition, which it defames as antisemitic. Prior to the meeting, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the youth wing of the Socialist Equality Party, distributed hundreds of copies of a statement it had written for the student referendums. Many students responded with interest and agreement to the IYSSEs call for them to draw the lessons of the past two years, above all the failure of protest politics directed to Labor. The IYSSE raised the need for a political struggle against the government, and a fight to mobilise the working class to take strike action to halt supplies to Israel, independent of the Labor-aligned union bureaucracies that have suppressed any such action. While the meeting was held under the auspices of the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU), SAlt leader Bella Beiraghi, a co-convenor of their Students for Palestine group was permitted to chair it. Prior to the meeting, IYSSE club president Morgan Peach had asked an UMSU official whether students would be permitted to speak freely during the meeting. When Peach raised that Beiraghi was likely to block all oppositional voices, the UMSU official said that would be a breach of the rules governing an SGM. Morgan Peach raises hand to speak at University of Melbourne SGM But that is precisely what Beiraghi did, trampling on any semblance of democracy. The event, which lasted less than half an hour, could hardly be described as a meeting. The gathering was essentially an anti-democratic hand-raising exercise. Beiraghi introduced the official motions, cooked up between SAlt and UMSU, which is politically dominated by members of the Labor Party. As with meetings at other campuses, the motion included a censure of the government over its complicity. As the IYSSE explained in its statement, a censure, two years into the Israeli regimes mass murder, is meaningless. It does not commit anyone to anything, or provide any political lead to students wanting to fight against the Gaza genocide and the Australian governments complicity. It is identical to the empty appeals to Labor that have failed over the past two years. The other motions were exclusively focussed on UofM. To suppress the broader political issues raised by Israels crimes, SAlt and other pseudo-lefts have increasingly sought to limit discussion to the ties of individual universities to weapons companies and their repression of student opposition. The narrow focus on individual universities is to cover up the Labor governments role in transforming the universities into militarist hubs, especially for a war against China, and overseeing a coordinated crackdown against student opposition. The motions opposed the establishment of a new defence-related campus and called on UMSU to campaign for the end of the repression of Palestine activists and to organise a fundraiser to send money to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. UMSU is a thoroughly corporatised body dominated by political careerists. Beiraghi made no attempt to explain how these vague, limited proposals would do anything to halt the mass murder of Palestinians or to take forward the fight against imperialist war. Beiraghi repeatedly blocked Peach from speaking. When he spoke up, and demanded that he and other students be permitted to speak to the resolution, she begrudgingly announced a general discussion period. But having responded to Peach, Beiraghi then ignored him and gave the floor to selected fellow SAlt members, who dutifully gave little speeches in favour of the official motion and promoting protest politics. It was not only Peach and the IYSSE that were silenced, but the vast majority of students present. When students not affiliated with the IYSSE raised that they wanted to present an alternative motion, they were told they were speaking out of order and were shut down. Beiraghi put the official motions to a vote, without any further discussion. They passed and the meeting ended with chanting. A number of students approached Peach afterwards to express their anger over the blatant censorship and to ask what he had wanted to raise. If anything, the August 27 meeting at Victoria University was even more farcical. SAlt put a similar motion with a censure of the government. SAlts Oskar Martin, who chaired, exclusively nominated other SAlt members to speak. In a room of just 30 people, he refused to give a young IYSSE member the call, despite her at times being the only student indicating to speak. As at UofM, the meeting was wound up rapidly. IYSSE member raises her hand to speak at Victoria University At both events, SAlt was determined to prevent the IYSSE from moving its motion, contained in the statement it was distributing, because it cut entirely across their line of appealing to the government and of endless campus-based protest. The motion stated: This meeting condemns the Labor governments complicity in the Gaza genocide. Through its support for the atrocities against the Palestinians, Labor has again revealed itself to be a blood-soaked party of imperialist war. The experiences of the past two years have demonstrated that the task is not to appeal to this government, but to organise the most determined political fight against it. Urgent action must be taken to halt the genocide, including through the blocking of all weapons shipments and trade with Israel to cripple the Zionist war machine. That will come from below, not above. Students should initiate a campaign in the working class for industrial action, including strikes, at the ports, the logistics hubs, the universities and more broadly, to make that a reality. Given that the unions have blocked such action and have not held up so much as one shipment to Israel, students must join with workers to establish rank-and-file committees against the corporatised, Labor-aligned and pro-war union bureaucracies. This perspective is based on the lessons of the last two years, and an understanding that the imperialist powers, including the Australian Labor government, are all supporting the genocide as part of their involvement in a broader eruption of militarism, including the US-led conflicts with Russia and China. SAlts unprincipled methods and hostility to the IYSSEs motion expose the real character of this organisation. Its occasional socialist rhetoric is window-dressing. In reality, this pseudo-left party collaborates closely with a Labor-aligned trade union bureaucracy that has not called a single strike against the genocide, or deviated in its support for the Labor government throughout the onslaught on Gaza. SAlts refusal to even allow the IYSSEs motion to be heard expresses weakness, not strength. Its protest politics are increasingly discredited. There is growing anger over the refusal of the unions to take action. And there is a sense among young people that, contrary to SAlts presentation, the genocide is not a single issue that can be ended through protest alone, but one horrific manifestation of the broader crisis of global capitalism. In addition to censorship, SAlt has resorted to slander. At the UofM meeting, its members were heard urging students not to read the IYSSE statement because the IYSSE opposes the MeToo movement. The IYSSE rejects the insinuation that it has ever defended sexual predation or abuse, for which there is not a shred of evidence. We oppose the reactionary MeToo campaign, concocted by the New York Times and the US Democratic Party, because it promotes gender identity politics and seeks to bury class issues, including the necessity for a unified fight against imperialist war. Above all, MeToo was used to attack core democratic rights, including the presumption of innocence, the right to a trial and to due process. It speaks volumes that in defending its own attacks on democratic rights, SAlt invokes the discredited and anti-democratic MeToo movement, whose chief proponents are ferocious advocates of imperialist war and supporters of the genocide in Gaza. A group of pro-Zionist staff and students, backed by a high-profile legal team, is suing University of Sydney academics Nick Riemer and John Keane in the Federal Court of Australia for making public statements opposing the Gaza genocide. Nick Riemer and John Keane [Photo: X/NickRiemer1, Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung] If the case is upheld, it will set a legal precedent that could outlaw any opposition to the worsening US-backed Israeli mass slaughter and ethnic cleansing in Gaza as antisemitic. It therefore has far-reaching implications for free speech and other basic democratic rights in Australia and internationally. On Riemer and Keanes chuffed.org appeal page, Michael Bradley, who is their lawyer and managing partner at Marque Lawyers, states: The legal stakes could not be higher. The court case follows on from a complaint lodged by law firm Levitt Robinson last year with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). It alleged that Riemer and Keane had violated Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which prohibits public acts that offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person based on their race. According to the Australian, the legal team backing the complaint includes former Federal Court judge Ron Merkel and barrister Adam Butt. The newspaper reported last November that the evidence presented by Levitt Robinson consisted of social media posts made by the academics after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel. Riemer had tweeted that No progressive should feel the need to publicly condemn any choices by the Palestinian resistance. Keane had posted a green flag, which the complaint claimed was associated with Hamas. The complaint alleged that Riemer and Keanes criticisms of Israel and of Zionism individually or cumulatively were reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate, or intimidate Jewish persons or Israeli persons in Australia and elsewhere. In April this year, the AHRC terminated the complaint on the request of Riemer and Keane, who had pointed out that the complainants had already been fundraising for many months to sue them in the Federal Court, regardless of the outcome of the AHRC process. There is widespread and deepening opposition across Australia and internationally to the genocide, as well as anger over the role of the Albanese Labor government in supporting it. Last month witnessed some of the largest anti-war demonstrations since the global anti-Iraq war protests in 2003. Defying attempts at intimidation by the police and the state Labor government, up to 300,000 people marched over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3, denouncing the genocide and the Albanese governments continued complicity in it. Three weeks later, about a quarter of a million people joined rallies in cities and towns across the country, marked by deepening outrage and hostility not just toward the mass killings and starvation in Palestine but the active support for the US-backed onslaught by the Labor government, including through continuing exports of F-35 parts and other military items to Israel. This sentiment is also reflected by the support for Riemer and Keane. According to a press release, they raised $60,000 within 48 hours of starting a fund appeal to cover their legal costs. As of writing, the total had almost doubled to over $112,000 from some 1,200 individual donations. This is without any publicity by the corporate media, pseudo-left groups, or trade unions, including the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU). In an online statement, Keane and Riemer said: At this dark moment in world affairs, with over 60,000 Gazans murdered, most of Gaza itself flattened to the ground, and two million dispossessed and bereaved survivors currently being deliberately starved, vocal defenders of Israel are perpetrating a classic bait-and-switch. They want us to believe that black is white, perpetrators are victims, and pro-justice and anti-genocide advocates are aggressors. Significantly, in May, a long list of Jewish university staff and students signed a statement defending Riemer and Keane, saying: We repudiate the attempt by those making the complaint to conflate Zionism, a political ideology with Jewish and non-Jewish adherents, with Jewish identity. The statement explained: The attempt to silence Dr Riemer, Professor Keane and other academics who seek justice for Palestine forms part of concerted and coordinated efforts to silence critics of Israel across Australias university campuses and public squares, trammelling fundamental democratic rights of assembly, protest, expression, and dissent. It is just such moves to suppress free speech and to silence dissenting intellectuals that Jews have so often experienced in our history These complainants do not speak for us as Jewish people. Dr Riemers and Professor Keanes criticisms of Zionist ideology and Israels actions in Palestine and Lebanon do not offend, insult, humiliate, or intimidate us, as the complainants allege As Jewish university staff and students, we reject the notion that criticism of either Israel or Zionism on the one hand, or support for Palestinian and Lebanese people on the other is antisemitic. Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act has already been used to try to silence opponents of the genocide. Last year the Zionist Federation of Australia lodged a complaint against well-known journalist Mary Kostakidis for retweeting a speech by former Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, who was subsequently assassinated by Israel. The Keating Labor government introduced Section 18C in 1995, and its use against right-wing commentator Andrew Bolt in 2011 was celebrated by pseudo-left groups. However, the World Socialist Web Site correctly warned that the finding against Bolt meant that all manner of politically-motivated prosecutions may follow. The WSWS gave the hypothetical example of opponents of the Israeli state being prosecuted on the basis that Zionist groups found their comments offensive. The WSWSs warning is being borne out with the case against Riemer and Keane. A negative outcome for Riemer and Keane would be used to try to suppress and intimidate all opposition to the genocide. The Labor government has spearheaded the false claim that opposition to the genocide is fuelled by antisemitism. In May last year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that anti-genocide student encampments demonstrated there was no question that antisemitism was being expressed more openly than at any other point in his lifetime. This opened the way for direct attacks on students protesting Israels mass murder. This has included the violent arrest of three Western Sydney University students by the police and the suspension of four University of Melbourne students. Labors Education Minister Jason Clare directly called for Macquarie University academic and childrens book author Randa Abdel-Fattahs research funding to be investigated after she voiced opposition to the genocide. Despite these attacks, the NTEU has organised no national action in defence of Abdel-Fatah, Riemer, Keane and other victimised university workers and students, and has opposed calls for such action by the rank-and-file committees at Macquarie and Western Sydney universities. We have fundamental political differences with Riemer, but we unequivocally oppose this attack against him and Keane. It is a political frame-up aimed at delegitimising opposition to the most blatant crimes against humanity since the Holocaust. We urge all educators, students and workers to come to their defence. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took to national television on Monday to defend his Labor governments plan for mass deportations to the tiny remote Pacific island state of Nauru, while refusing to provide any details of the scheme. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after his re-election on May 3, 2025. [AP Photo/Rick Rycroft] Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporations Afternoon Briefing TV program that the previously unannounced treaty his government signed with Naurus president last Friday was hardly a secretdespite the intense secrecy surrounding it. He refused to disclose how long the deal would last or how many people would be subjected to it. In effect, Albanese doubled down, defying condemnation of the plan by refugee and legal organisations. Lawyers from these organisations have pointed out that, under Labors laws, the Nauru scheme could extend to removing more than 80,000 people currently living in Australia on temporary and insecure bridging visas. There is no real difference between Labors plan and the mass deportations being conducted by the Trump administration in the US. There thousands of working-class people have been seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and thrown into detention prisons for deportation to grim locations without any due process. An undeniable parallel exists. First, the Albanese government suddenly tabled a bill last week to strip the basic right of procedural fairnessthe right to a hearingfrom people being consigned to Nauru or any other designated third country. Then, also without any prior notice, the Labor government agreed last Friday to pay Naurus government more than $408 million upfront to become a neo-colonial dumping ground initially for more than 350 former immigration detaineesand almost $70 million per year to supposedly cover the costs of their as-yet unknown accommodation and living arrangements. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke signed a memorandum of understanding with Nauruan President David Adeang during a secretive trip to the island, news of which was only posted on the Home Affairs web site on Friday afternoon. It was not publicised or shared widely with journalists, as is common practice. None of this was mentioned by the Labor government during the campaign for the May 3 federal election. In fact, Labor won the election, despite obtaining only about a third of the primary votes, primarily by depicting the Liberal-National Coalition opposition as Trump-like, exploiting the widespread popular hostility to such anti-immigrant and fascistic measures. Albanese told Afternoon Briefing that details of the arrangements between the Australian and Nauruan governments would be released appropriately at the same time together. But he refused to say when that would be, or provide any information. Instead, Albanese reiterated the governments determination to remove anyone whose visa has expired or been denied. These are people who do not have a legitimate reason to stay in Australia, he declared. People who have no right to be here need to be found somewhere to go. Nauru, with a population of around 12,000 people, is the third smallest statelet on earth, following the Vatican and Monaco. It has been impoverished by decades of phosphate mining under British, Australian and New Zealand colonial rule before nominal independence was granted in 1968. The mining has left about 80 percent of the small island uninhabitable. Moreover, rising sea levels caused by global climate change are forecast to force 90 percent of its residents to relocate. Among the many condemnations of Labors scheme, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) warned that the secret deal opened the door to mass deportations. [T]he powers the government gave themselves in their brutal Bills passed in the last sitting week of 2024 have the potential to apply to over 80,000 people, tearing families apart and destroying lives forever. ARSC deputy CEO Jana Favero said: These secret deals send one clear messagein Australia, some people will be punished simply because of where they were born. This deal is discriminatory, disgraceful and dangerous. The first targets of the deportation scheme are the 350 ex-immigration detainees. They face immediate re-detention, then deportation. The Labor government had been forced to release them from indefinite detention in November 2023 after the High Court, in a case known as NZYQ, ruled such detention unconstitutional. Some had been imprisoned for years as the result of earlier High Court rulings, two decades ago, that sanctioned indefinite incarceration of people who could not be deported, often because they were stateless. Others were officially-recognised refugees who, because of international law, could not be sent back to countries where they could face death or persecution. That principle, enshrined in the international refugee convention, is known as non-refoulement. Throughout the Murdoch media and other corporate outlets these detainees, described as the NZYQ cohort, are being demonised as foreign-born criminals. As in the US under the Trump administration, they are being depicted as murderers, rapists and paedophiles in order to try to poison public opinion. This media barrage, in which the Albanese government is complicit, is a vile distortion. Some of the ex-detainees are refugees, and others have never been convicted of an offence. Those with prior convictions have all served their prison sentences. If they were Australian citizens, they would be free to live in the community, instead of being sent to Nauru. The Human Rights Law Centres legal director, Sanmati Verma, noted the discriminatory character of further punishing people who had completed their prison terms. She also pointed out that some of the ex-detainees are elderly and sick, and might die on Nauru without proper care. Little of the money to be paid to Naurus government will go to provide any social support to the deported detainees. On Sunday, the Nauru government said the money would be placed in the nations sovereign wealth fund, the Nauru Intergenerational Trust Fund. The Albanese government is also continuing to forcibly remove to Nauru any refugees who try to reach Australia by boat. It is spending $486 million this year alone to fund Naurus detention facilities, according to the federal budget. In addition, the Labor government has an agreement with a for-profit prison company, MTC, to oversee the facilities on Nauru at a cost of $422 million. Even as it tries to distance itself from last weekends right-wing anti-immigration marches in Australia, the Labor government is stoking such xenophobia and virulent nationalism by demonising refugees and immigrants, falsely blaming them for the housing affordability crisis. Moreover, while the NZYQ detainees are being particularly vilified and victimised, every aspect of the governments plan, not least the axing of procedural fairness for anyone detained, creates the precedent for its wider use. The policy of the most important communist parties, attuned to the Fifth Congress, very soon revealed its complete inefficacy. The mistakes of pseudo-Leftism which hampered the development of the communist parties, later gave an impetus to new empirical zigzags: namely, to an accelerated sliding down to the Right. A cat burned by hot milk shies away from cold water. The Left Central Committees of a number of parties were deposed as violently as they had been constituted prior to the Fifth Congress. The adventurist Leftism gave way to an open opportunism of the Right-Centrist type. To comprehend the character and the tempo of this organizational Rightward swing, it must be recalled that Stalin, the director of this turn, back in September 1924 appraised the passing of party leadership to Maslow, Ruth Fischer, Treint, Suzanne Girault, and others, as the expression of the Bolshevization of the parties and an answer to the demands of the Bolshevik workers who are marching toward the revolution and want revolutionary leaders. Stalin wrote, The last half year is remarkable in the sense that it presents a radical turning point in the life of the communist parties of the West, in the sense that the social democratic survivals were decisively liquidated, the party cadres Bolshevized, and the opportunist elements isolated. (Pravda, September 20, 1924.) But ten months later the genuine Bolsheviks and revolutionary leaders were declared social democrats and renegades, ousted from leadership and driven out of the party. Despite the panicky character of this change of leaders, frequently effected by resorting to rude and disloyal mechanical measures of the apparatus, it is impossible to draw any rigorous ideological line of demarcation between the phase of ultra-Left policy and the period of opportunistic down-sliding that followed it. In the questions of industry and the peasantry in the U.S.S.R., of the colonial bourgeoisie, of peasant parties in the capitalist countries, of socialism in one country, of the role of the party in the proletarian revolution, the revisionist tendencies already appeared in fullest bloom in 192425, cloaked with the banner of the struggle against Trotskyism, and they found their most distinctly opportunist expression in the resolutions of the conference of the C.P.S.U. in April 1925. Taken as a whole, the course to the Right was the attempt at a half-blind, purely empirical, and belated adaptation to the set-back of revolutionary development caused by the defeat of 1923. Bukharins initial formulation, as has already been mentioned, was based on the permanent development of the revolution in the most literal and the most mechanical sense of the term. Bukharin granted no breathing spaces, interruptions, or retreats of any kind; he considered it a revolutionary duty to continue the offensive under all circumstances. Stalin and Bukharin The above quoted article of Stalin, On the International Situation, which is a sort of program and which marks Stalins debut on international questions, demonstrates that the second author of the draft program also professed the very same purely mechanical Left conception during the initial period of the struggle against Trotskyism. For this conception there existed always and unalterably only the social democracy that was disintegrating, workers who were becoming radicalized, communist parties that were growing, and the revolution that was approaching. And anybody who looked around and tried to distinguish things was and is a liquidator. This tendency required a year and a half to sense something new after the break in the situation in Europe in 1923 so as then to transform itself, panic-stricken, into its opposite. The leadership oriented itself without any synthesized understanding of our epoch and its inner tendencies, only by groping (Stalin) and by supplementing the fragmentary conclusions thus obtained with scholastic schemas renovated for each occasion (Bukharin). The political line as a whole, therefore, represents a chain of zigzags. The ideological line is a kaleidoscope of schemas tending to push to absurdity every segment of the Stalinist zigzag. The Sixth Congress would act correctly if it decided to elect a special commission in order to compile all the theories created by Bukharin and intended by him to serve as a basis, say, for all the stages of the Anglo-Russian Committee; these theories would have to be compiled chronologically and arranged systematically so as to draw a fever chart of the ideas contained in them. It would be a most instructive strategical diagram. The same also holds for the Chinese revolution, the economic development of the U.S.S.R., and all other less important questions. Blind empiricism multiplied by scholasticismsuch is the course that still awaits merciless condemnation. The effects of this course showed themselves most fatally in the three most important questions: in the internal policy of the U.S.S.R.; the Chinese revolution; and in the Anglo-Russian Committee. The effects were in the same direction, but less obvious and less fatal in their immediate consequences, in all the other questions of the policies of the Comintern in general. As regards the internal questions of the U.S.S.R., a sufficiently exhaustive characterization of the policy of downsliding is given in the Platform of the Bolshevik-Leninists (Opposition). We must limit ourselves here merely to this reference to the latter. The Platform now receives an apparently most unexpected confirmation in the fact that all the attempts of the present leadership of the C.P.S.U. to escape from the consequences of the policy of the years 1923 to 1928 are based upon almost literal quotations from the Platform, the authors and adherents of which are dispersed in prisons and exile. The fact, however, that the present leaders have recourse to the Platform only in sections and bits, without putting two and two together, makes the new Left turn extremely unstable and uncertain; but at the same time it invests the Platform with a greater value than ever as the generalized expression of a real Leninist course. In the Platform, the question of the Chinese revolution is dealt with very insufficiently, incompletely, and in part positively falsely by Zinoviev. Because of the decisive importance of this question for the Comintern, we are obliged to subject it to a more detailed investigation in a separate chapter. (See Section III.) As to the Anglo-Russian Committee, the third most important question from the strategical experiences of the Comintern in recent years, there only remains for us, after all that has already been said by the Opposition in a series of articles, speeches, and theses, to make a brief summary. The point of departure of the Anglo-Russian Committee, as we have already seen, was the impatient urge to leap over the young and too slowly developing communist party. This invested the entire experience with a false character even prior to the general strike. The Anglo-Russian Committee was looked upon not as an episodic bloc at the tops which would have to be broken and which would inevitably and demonstratively be broken at the very first serious test in order to compromise the General Council. No, not only Stalin, Bukharin, Tomsky, and others, but also Zinoviev saw in it a long lasting co-partnershipan instrument for the systematic revolutionization of the English working masses, and if not the gate, at least an approach to the gate through which would stride the revolution of the English proletariat. The further it went, the more the Anglo-Russian Committee became transformed from an episodic alliance into an inviolable principle standing above the real class struggle. This became revealed at the time of the general strike. The transition of the mass movement into the open revolutionary stage threw back into the camp of the bourgeois reaction those liberal labor politicians who had become somewhat Left. They betrayed the general strike openly and deliberately; after which they undermined and betrayed the miners strike. The possibility of betrayal is always contained in reformism. But this does not mean to say that reformism and betrayal are one and the same thing at every moment. Not quite. Temporary agreements may be made with the reformists whenever they take a step forward. But to maintain a bloc with them when, frightened by the development of a movement, they commit treason, is equivalent to criminal toleration of traitors and a veiling of betrayal. The general strike had the task of exerting a united pressure upon the employers and the state with the power of the five million workers, for the question of the coal mining industry had become the most important question of state policy. Thanks to the betrayal of the leadership, the strike was broken in its first stage. It was a great illusion to continue in the belief that an isolated economic strike of the mine workers would alone achieve what the general strike did not achieve. That is precisely where the power of the General Council lay. It aimed with cold calculation at the defeat of the mine workers, as a result of which considerable sections of the workers would be convinced of the correctness and the reasonableness of the Judas directives of the General Council. The maintenance of the amicable bloc with the General Council, and the simultaneous support of the protracted and isolated economic strike of the mine workers, which the General Council came out against, seemed, as it were, to be calculated beforehand to allow the heads of the trade unions to emerge from this heaviest test with the least possible losses. The role of the Russian trade unions here, from the revolutionary standpoint, turned out to be very disadvantageous and positively pitiable. Certainly, support of an economic strike, even an isolated one, was absolutely necessary. There can be no two opinions on that among revolutionists. But this support should have borne not only a financial but also a revolutionary-political character. The All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions should have declared openly to the English mine workers union and the whole English working class that the mine workers strike could seriously count upon success only if by its stubbornness, its tenacity, and its scope, it could prepare the way for a new outbreak of the general strike. That could have been achieved only by an open and direct struggle against the General Council, the agency of the government and the mine owners. The struggle to convert the economic strike into a political strike should have signified, therefore, a furious political and organizational war against the General Council. The first step to such a war had to be the break with the Anglo-Russian Committee, which had become a reactionary obstacle, a chain on the feet of the working class. Police, right, keep strikers away from a steam driven engine towing rolls of paper, in London, May 3, 1926, during the General Strike. [AP Photo] No revolutionist who weighs his words will contend that a victory would have been guaranteed by proceeding along this line. But a victory was possible only on this road. A defeat on this road was a defeat on a road that could lead later to victory. Such a defeat educates, that is, strengthens the revolutionary ideas in the working class. In the meantime, mere financial support of the lingering and hopeless trade union strike (trade union strikein its methods; revolutionary-politicalin its aims), only meant grist to the mill of the General Council, which was biding calmly until the strike collapsed from starvation and thereby proved its own correctness. Of course, the General Council could not easily bide its time for several months in the role of an open strike-breaker. It was precisely during this very critical period that the General Council required the Anglo-Russian Committee as its political screen from the masses. Thus, the questions of the mortal class struggle between English capital and the proletariat, between the General Council and the mine workers, were transformed, as it were, into questions of a friendly discussion between allies in the same bloc, the English General Council and the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions, on the subject of which of the two roads was better at that moment: the road of an agreement, or the road of an isolated economic struggle. The inevitable outcome of the strike led to the agreement, that is, tragically settled the friendly discussion in favor of the General Council. From beginning to end, the entire policy of the Anglo-Russian Committee, because of its false line, provided only aid to the General Council. Even the fact that the strike was long sustained financially by the great self-sacrifice on the part of the Russian working class, did not serve the mine workers or the English Communist Party, but the selfsame General Council. As the upshot of the greatest revolutionary movement in England since the days of Chartism, the English Communist Party has hardly grown while the General Council sits in the saddle even more firmly than before the general strike. Such are the results of this unique strategical maneuver. The obstinacy evinced in retaining the bloc with the General Council, which led to downright servility at the disgraceful Berlin session in April 1927, was explained away by the ever recurring reference to the very same stabilization. If there is a setback in the development of the revolution, then, you see, one is forced to cling to Purcell. This argument, which appeared very profound to a Soviet functionary or to a trade unionist of the type of Melnichansky, is in reality a perfect example of blind empiricismadulterated by scholasticism at that. What was the significance of stabilization in relation to English economy and politics, especially in the years 19261927? Did it signify the development of the productive forces? The improvement of the economic situation? Better hopes for the future? Not at all. The whole so-called stabilization of English capitalism is maintained only upon the conservative forces of the old labor organizations with all their currents and shadings in the face of the weakness and irresoluteness of the English Communist Party. On the field of the economic and social relations of England, the revolution has already fully matured. The question stands purely politically. The basic props of the stabilization are the heads of the Labour Party and the trade unions, which, in England, constitute a single unit but which operate through a division of labor. Given such a condition of the working masses as was revealed by the general strike, the highest post in the mechanism of capitalist stabilization is no longer occupied by MacDonald and Thomas, but by Pugh, Purcell, Cook, and Co. They do the work and Thomas adds the finishing touches. Without Purcell, Thomas would be left hanging in mid-air and along with Thomas also Baldwin. The chief brake upon the English revolution is the false, diplomatic masquerade Leftism of Purcell which fraternizes sometimes in rotation, sometimes simultaneously with churchmen and Bolsheviks and which is always ready not only for retreats but also for betrayal. Stabilization is Purcellism. From this we see what depths of theoretical absurdity and blind opportunism are expressed in the reference to the existence of stabilization in order to justify the political bloc with Purcell. Yet, precisely in order to shatter the stabilization, Purcellism had first to be destroyed. In such a situation, even a shadow of solidarity with the General Council was the greatest crime and infamy against the working masses. Even the most correct strategy cannot, by itself, always lead to victory. The correctness of a strategical plan is verified by whether it follows the line of the actual development of class forces and whether it estimates the elements of this development realistically. The gravest and most disgraceful defeat which has the most fatal consequences for the movement is the typically Menshevist defeat, due to a false estimate of the classes, an underestimation of the revolutionary factors, and an idealization of the enemy forces. Such were our defeats in China and in England. What was expected from the Anglo-Russian Committee for the U.S.S.R.? In July 1926, Stalin lectured to us at the joint plenum of the Central Committee and the Central Control Commission as follows: The task of this bloc [the Anglo-Russian Committee] consists in organizing a broad movement of the working class against new imperialist wars and generally against an intervention in our country (especially) on the part of the mightiest of the imperialist powers of Europe, on the part of England in particular. While he was instructing us, Oppositionists, to the effect that care must be taken to defend the first workers republic of the world against intervention (we, naturally, are unaware of this), Stalin added: If the reactionary trade unions of England are ready to conclude a bloc with the revolutionary trade unions of our country against the counter-revolutionary imperialists of their own country, then why should we not hail such a bloc? If the reactionary trade unions were capable of conducting a struggle against their own imperialists they would not be reactionary. Stalin is incapable of distinguishing any longer between the conceptions reactionary and revolutionary. He characterizes the English trade unions as reactionary as a matter of routine but in reality he entertains miserable illusions with regard to their revolutionary spirit. After Stalin, the Moscow Committee of our party lectured to the workers of Moscow: The Anglo-Russian Committee can, must, and will undoubtedly play an enormous role in the struggle against all possible interventions directed against the U.S.S.R. It will become the organizing center of the international forces of the proletariat for the struggle against every attempt of the international bourgeoisie to provoke a new war. (Theses of the Moscow Committee.) What did the Opposition reply? We said: The more acute the international situation becomes, the more the Anglo-Russian Committee will be transformed into a weapon of British and international imperialism. This criticism of the Stalinist hopes in Purcell as the guardian angel of the workers state was characterized by Stalin at the very same plenum as a deviation from Leninism to Trotskyism. VOROSHILOV: Correct. A VOICE: Voroshilov has affixed his seal to it. TROTSKY: Fortunately all this will be in the Minutes. Yes, all this is to be found in the Minutes of the July plenum at which the blind, rude, and disloyal opportunists dared to accuse the Opposition of defeatism. This dialogue which I am compelled to quote briefly from my earlier article, What We Gave and What We Got, is far more useful as a strategical lesson than the entire sophomoric chapter on strategy in the draft program. The questionwhat we gave (and expected) and what we got?is in general the principal criterion in strategy. It must be applied at the Sixth Congress to all questions that have been on the agenda in recent years. It will then be revealed conclusively that the strategy of the E.C.C.I., especially since the year 1926, was a strategy of imaginary sums, false calculations, illusions with regard to the enemy, and persecutions of the most reliable and unwavering militants. In a word, it was the rotten strategy of Right-Centrism. US Bancorp, the fifth-largest bank in the US by total assets under management, has reopened its cryptocurrency custody services after a four-year hiatus. Stephen Philipson, the head of the wealth, corporate, commercial and institutional banking unit at US Bancorp subsidiary US Bank, announced the return to form in a Sept. 3 interview with Bloomberg, citing changes to the US regulatory environment as the impetus to reenter the space. According to the report, US Bank is working with NYDIG, a vertically integrated Bitcoin and power firm and affiliate of Stone Ridge Holdings Group, to launch cryptocurrency custody services again. The bank will offer custody services for Bitcoin at first, starting with traditional registered funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) before exploring other cryptocurrency service offerings beyond the top coin. Meanwhile, Bank of New York Mellon Corp. and Fidelity Investments offer similar services while Citigroup has signaled its intent to explore cryptocurrency custody services in the same vein. Major US Banks Return to Cryptocurrency Services After Regulatory Changes The resurgence in cryptocurrency interest from these traditional financial institutions has largely been attributed to regulatory changes under the current US administration. Under the current Donald Trump administration, for example, a 2022 advisory notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) indicating that participation in crypto custody services could be considered illicit was rescinded. This and other erosions of anti-crypto policy efforts from previous administrations have contributed to the current White House administration being referred to as the Crypto Presidency. The US governments push to become the crypto capital of the world appears to be paying off. According to the Chainalysis 2025 Global Adoption Index released on Sept. 2, the US has leapfrogged Indonesia and Nigeria to nab the number two slot on the report behind only India. Read original story US Bancorp to offer Bitcoin Custody Services Again as Regulatory Environment Shifts by Tristan Greene at Coinspeaker.com The United States has climbed to second place in the Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, jumping from fourth position last year as regulatory clarity around Bitcoin ETFs and stablecoins drove institutional demand to new heights. Meanwhile, India retained its crown for the third consecutive year, maintaining dominance across all four metrics tracked by blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. The top 10 countries by overall crypto adoption are India, the United States, Pakistan, Vietnam, Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ukraine, the Philippines, and Russia. Ashish Singhal, co-founder of CoinSwitch, told Decrypt hes incredibly proud to see India at the top of the Global Crypto Adoption Index, crediting millions of young, curious, digitally savvy Indians for shaping the future of finance. The annual index, which tracks grassroots crypto adoption across 151 countries, reveals a global landscape where regulatory momentum in developed markets is colliding with utility-driven adoption in emerging economies. Chainalysis overhauled its methodology to better capture todays market structure by dropping a retail-DeFi sub-index and adding an institutional activity lens that counts transfers over $1 million. The report found that American institutions leverage regulatory clarity for Bitcoin ETFs while Asia-Pacific populations use crypto for remittances and financial access that traditional banks cannot provide, despite restrictive regulations. APACs crypto adoption wave Asia-Pacific emerged as the fastest-growing region with transaction volumes surging 69% year-over-year to $2.36 trillion, up from last year's 27% growth as India, Pakistan, and Vietnam drove adoption across centralized and decentralized platforms. Kim Grauer, Chief Economist at Chainalysis, told Decrypt that "remittances, savings, and investment needs can drive crypto demand," in emerging markets with fragmented regulation, such as India, Pakistan, and Vietnam. "Grassroots crypto adoption will tend to follow where these real-world needs exist and are pressing, even where regulatory conditions are not facilitative, she said. Research by Indian think-tanks such as the Esya Center suggests that policy measures including the Tax Deducted at Source regime and blocking of offshore exchanges, "have not materially dampened underlying crypto engagement" across the country's massive user base, Grauer said. India Ramps Up Crypto Tax Enforcement with International Data Sharing and AI Renewed institutional interest North America's 49% growth, compared to 42% last year, reflected "renewed institutional interest, bolstered by the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs and increased regulatory clarity," according to the report. Warren Buffetts holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, recently filed its quarterly Form 13F equity investment portfolio, providing investors with an update regarding the companys holdings. The filing indicated five newer holdings that Buffett and Berkshire have acquired, including one rather surprising investment in a very controversial and embattled company. Also Learn: 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money Buffett has long been known as the Oracle of Omaha thanks to incredible investment acumen, financial success and longevity in the market all of which makes these most recent investments worth considering. The Oracle has bet on these companies should you? Also see why Buffett is so good at weathering market unrest. Nati Harnik/AP / Shutterstock.com UnitedHealth Group Certainly the most surprising investment reveal in Berkshires filing is that the holding company now has 5 million shares (valued at around $1.55 million) of the embattled UnitedHealth Group (UNH). Berkshire has been amassing shares of UNH in secret since the final quarter of 2024 so as to avoid a spike in share prices. UNH is currently under a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice due to a potential Medicare fraud, which caused its income to plummet throughout 2025. So why did Buffetts company invest, and should you? UnitedHealth Group is strongly recommended as a company selling at a 50% discount to its peak price of $615 just nine months ago, said David Kass, clinical professor of finance at the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business. Kass commended Berkshires investment, adding that UNHs controversies will likely lead to some major fines and some executives may be forced to leave the company. But [UNH] will survive and likely regain its prominence in the industry. Its finances are solid. It has above-average profitability and a below-average price-to-earnings ratio. Vince Stanzione, CEO and founder of First Information, said, What we see with Berkshires latest buys is that they have gone for out-of-favor stocks such as UnitedHealth, where they see value after the near 50% drop. As the old Buffett saying goes, Be greedy when others are fearful.' Warren Buffett: 10 Things Poor People Waste Money On See More: If Warren Buffetts Wealth Was Evenly Distributed Across America, How Much Money Would Every Person Get? Nati Harnik/AP/Shutterstock / Nati Harnik/AP/Shutterstock Allegion Allegion, a security products firm, is attractive as a result of its high profitability, with a gross margin of 45% and a return on equity of 39%, along with a solid growth outlook, Kass said. Berkshire scooped 780,000 shares of the security company for an estimated $107 million. This interview with Wegz took place just before his album dropped, and what was expected to be a straight talk about music collaborations, rivalries in Egypts rap scene, the making of the record and his shifts between genres quickly turned into something else. Wegz approaches every question from a different angle, as if his focus was already on what comes next and the self-development its taken to get to this point. The conversation drifted far beyond music: his plunges into diving experiences into the sea, the cherry blossoms of Japan, pursing personal growth, the necessity for calm and simple adventures. From rap, pop and Mahraganat to reflections on curiosity and boredom, he reveals how these pieces fold into his sound. More from Billboard Advertisement Advertisement Speaking over tea, Wegz shared the cities he loves and the music that lets him exist without limits. Both a witness to Egypts changing scene and a musician searching for meaning in real time, he shows how personal shifts fame, solitude, simplicity bleed into his songs, turning them into glimpses of his mind and soul. This wasnt a typical Q&A. It was a rare space where Wegz spoke candidly, offering a perspective as unguarded as it was unexpected. Wegz Wegz and the Sonic Adventure: A Journey from Alexandria Across Genres In August 2017, Wegz announced on Facebook: My name is Wegz. Ive been making rap for just four months, and Ill drop a track that will blow up in two days. It was a bold prediction that marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey from Alexandrias rooftops to lights of Cairos and far beyond. Eight years later, he sits for this August 2025 Billboard Arabia August cover story as one of the regions most influential artists, a steady presence on the Billboard Arabia charts with a catalogue that reflects both his evolution and his unpredictability. By 2018, Egypts hip-hop scene was beginning to erupt, spotlighting new voices from Alexandria, Ismailia, and other cities. Listeners were eager to see how Gen Z would bend technology and culture into something new. Wegz emerged at the heart of that wave, experimenting with rap, trap and Mahraganat while carving out a distinct identity. Wegz was one of them, testing a space between rap, trap and Mahraganat, and beginning to carve out his own identity. Watching him over the years is like following the thread of a character in constant change: the young, emotional boy who poured his heart into Saleny on Alexandrias rooftops; the fragility he revealed in Dayra Al Maslaha with Marwan Pablo; the playful wit of Bazeet. Through all these stages, simplicity never disappeared, even as his star kept rising. With Kharban, alongside Mahraganat pioneers Sadat and Amr Haha, he stretched into new territory, while Dorak Gai, produced with Molotov, cemented his place in trap Shaabi its slang and phrases spilling into everyday culture. Then came Dorak Gai with producer, Molotov, which cemented his presence in the trap Shaabi scene and spread the phrases and expressions he coined throughout the culture. The track blended Shaabi culture with poetic language, reflecting a clear range of genres. Wegz That constant movement between styles may partly reflect his ADHD, which he spoke about candidly in our interview. Wegz doesnt hide ithe admits it and has found ways to cope. Its all self-growth. Art is part of life, inseparable from it. Life is beautiful. I try to live it, enjoy what I have, look ahead, and focus on whats in my hands. I have ADHD. Everyone in Egypt has ADHDwe all know the mischievous but smart kid. Thats all of us. Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps it was the ADHD, which he now manages by throwing himself into one task until its done before shifting to something entirely different. Or maybe it was a childhood spent switching schools again and again, always the new kid, as he once recalled. Either way, those experiences shaped how he approaches music: once he masters a sound, he moves on, never lingering in one place for long. El Bakht: A Turning Point that Captured a Feeling and Connected Millions During the interview, Wegz answers with careful diplomacy. When asked what he grew up listening to, he only mentions Justin Bieber from his teenage years and the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep. As for Arabic influences, he puts it simply, All the time you walk the streets, theres music. Thats Egypt. Every time you go out to buy something, someone is playing a track, so you are constantly hearing everything fresh. That ever-present soundtrack of Egypt would later surface in El Bakht, released in 2022, the song that was everywhere in Egypt, from concerts and big clubs to tuk-tuks and buses. Its echo spread across the region, quickly became the regions defining love song for a generation. Carried by an Afro-pop-tinged beat that pushed Wegz into new territory, it was the lyrics that drove its success, above all, their simplicity, that made millions feel it belonged to them. El Bakht raised the stakes for the music scene, blending indie, pop and hip-hop into a sound that felt both fresh and familiar. The track still lives on the Billboard Arabia Hot 100 currently at No. 40 after peaking at No. 14 but for Wegz, it was never meant to be a personal benchmark. Its not your decision whether people like a song, how they take it, or how far it spreads, he says. I have to do something else, to express what Im going through now. Should I repeat it exactly? No. For him, the real question is always: Whats next? Advertisement Advertisement In this way, Wegz is always at both a beginning and an end, or perhaps simply in a state of transformation. He turns from a rapper to a pop star, a chart-topper and ultimately a global artist. With each step, he grows wiser and more confident. And although the audience wonders whether his move toward pop with songs like El Bakht and Amira means leaving rap behind, he remains firm in his position. Wegz was one of the first to step beyond Egypts rap scene, experimenting freely instead of sticking to one genre something that sometimes left audiences unsure how to define him. But when asked about his place today, his answer was direct: Im at the center of Egyptian rap.: I am in the center of Egyptian rap. I havent moved closer or further away. It is what I love and started doing from the beginning, I decided not to stop at it there, because I love rap and I love Mahraganat. These were the first sounds that inspired me to start making music in the first place. Stardom Doesnt Restrict Wegz: His Philosophy of Staying True Wegz has always sought to stay at the center of hip-hop by pushing into new sounds. In 2024, he released TNKR, an album shaped by rage rap, aiming to bring a new color to the region. I never stand in the way of evolution, he told us. On the contrary, you need to change your location to think better. The project sounded different from what many expected, but it underscored his commitment to experimenting and expanding his horizons. He then returned to the trap Shaabi sound with El-Wad, which entered peaked in the No. 1 position. It was clear that he had reset his rhythm within the hip-hop scene, delivering sharp lyrics directed at the scene, especially after a wave of comments from other rappers claiming he had left rap behind. That same drive fuels his latest album Aqareb, a title that plays on the Arabic words for both minutes and scorpion. Blending Afro influences with hip-hop and R&B, it reflects his constant evolution. Now I feel I need to grow artistically and expand my space, he says. He emphasizes that Aqareb is more than a collection of tracks its a cohesive work capturing the emotions of the days and nights he spent making it. The album traces human feelings across a full day, from sunrise to midnight, with each hour carrying its own mood as lived and felt by Wegz. Reaching the top of the Arabic hip-hop and pop scenes at just 26 like living as a scorpion, always on edge, facing danger from the world and from within. Advertisement Advertisement Fame doesnt seem to tether him; when asked how he handles it, he simply shrugs: I like to stay grounded, go sit somewhere no one knows me, and live my life as naturally as possible. He seeks simple joys walking, breathing fresh air, feeling the sun, visiting Japan, wandering through distant cities during cherry blossom season turning these moments into emotional snapshots that become lyrics, quietly shared with the world. This article was originally published in Arabic on BillboardArabia.com. Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. PANAMA CITY Florida State University Panama City will host an evening with author Timothy C. Finley. Finley will be promoting his debut novel, Kinth, on Tuesday, Sept. 9 in FSU Panama Citys Holley Center. According to a news release, this event is free and open to the public and will feature a reception. The first 50 attendees to register will receive a free copy of the book. "Kinth" was published in 2024. The book features themes such as mystery, living with anxiety and the search for belonging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The book explores the story of Frederick, a boy with crippling anxiety due to a horrific pandemic. Finley is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, with family ties to Panama City. Finley draws on his personal experience with anxiety and struggling to find purpose in his writing. Faith: Spread the Gospel: Panama City Beach to host Faith Festival on Oct. 18 "The message I want readers to take away from Kinth is that no matter how isolated you feel, no matter how anxious or depressed, there are people out there for you, Finley said in the release. People going through the same things, people who will understand you, and people with whom you belong. Anxiety and depression make those things feel impossible, but that is a lie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To register for the event, please visit www.eventbrite.com/e/evening-with-the-author-timothy-finley-tickets-1497658540009 to receive your copy of Kinthin advance of the event. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Author will promote his debut novel 'Kinth' at FSU Panama City event When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: HRH The Crown Princess/The Royal Court of Sweden Princess Estelle is set to take the Swedish throne one day, but for now she's enjoying vacation like any other teenage girl. The 13-year-old royal and her brother Prince Oscar, 9, showed off some sweet summer moments in an Instagram Reel their parents Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel shared on Sunday, August 31but another member of the royal family stole the show. Crown Princess Victoriawho is next in line to the Swedish throneand husband Prince Daniel welcomed a Cavapoo named Rio into their family in 2020. The curly pup is seen in a number of snapshots in their summer video, with Princess Estelle looking all grown up as she cradles Rio in two beautiful new portraits. The teenage princess wears an ivory sweater in one picture as she holds her dog, and in another close-up shot, she's dressed in a tan hoodie while Rio looks right into the camera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The photogenic dog, who made his Instagram debut in May 2020, also poses with Prince Oscar in another image from the family's summer holiday. The Reel also features plenty of peeks at the idyllic Swedish countryside, including a photo of Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar posing by a lake and a sweet sunset selfie of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria went casual for a sunset selfie. | Credit: Kungahuset/Instagram The crown princess and her family typically spend their summer break at Solliden Palace, a retreat located on the island of Oland, and their Reel showed the family enjoying plenty of quality time outdoors. On that note, Crown Princess Victoria has announced her plan to visit every national park in Sweden in a recent Instagram post. On August 26, the palace shared a photo of the future queen walking in a forest, writing, "Yesterday, the Crown Princess walked in the Bearland National Park, which is located in the Asele patchland. There are 31 national parks in Sweden and the Crown Princess plans to visit them all." As for Princess Estelle, she was last seen publicly on July 14 when she joined her family to celebrate mom Crown Princess Victoria's 48th birthday at Solliden Palace. The 13-year-old future queen is a student at Campus Manilla on Royal Djurgarden in Stockholm, and like Britain's Prince George, she doesn't carry out official royal duties just yet, with her parents allowing Estelle to live as normal of a childhood as possible. A viral clip making the rounds on the internet showed famed YouTuber iShowSpeed being arrested by police in North Carolina. But the story was not what it initially seemed. It had a far more interesting twist that has fans in stitches now. Here is a breakdown of what happened with iShowSpeed. iShowSpeed gets arrested in North Carolina as a part of a prank As the video spread, fans feared that iShowSpeed was in trouble. But it turns out he wasnt actually arrested. Instead, it was a staged prank masterminded by MrBeast. In the clip, police approached the YouTuber and told him he had an unpaid ticket in Florida. iShowSpeed looked rattled and protested before officers eventually handcuffed him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, it was revealed that the scene was just a prank, though the clip fooled millions for a moment. The entire ordeal was a MrBeast production. Much like many of his elaborately produced pranks, this one had all the resources needed to feel real. From the officers to the uniforms and gear, everything looked authentic, which made the prank believable at first. iShowSpeed almost started crying after getting arrested and sent to prison by the police as MrBeast pranked him for illegally trespassing on his property ? pic.twitter.com/VBaxahOJYm ryan ? (@scubaryan_) August 31, 2025 As of now, the clip continues to garner views, leaving fans shocked and confused, as many are still unsure what exactly is going on or whether the incident was ever real in the first place. With such a collaboration, MrBeast and iShowSpeed impressed their massive fan bases, especially those they successfully fooled. Some X posts and comments even suggest that certain fans remain uncertain whether it was truly a prank or an orchestrated publicity stunt. This also shows how MrBeast continues to dominate the world of pranks with some of the most convincing setups online. This stunt will be talked about for months to come, and the clips will likely continue circulating widely in the near future, fueling conversations across social platforms. The post iShowSpeed Faces Arrest in North Carolina in Viral Clip appeared first on Mandatory. Jennifer Aniston is crediting her youthful looks to optimism and positivity. The Friends alum, 56, reacted to her Morning Show co-star Marion Cotillard complimenting her as someone who has aged gracefully, and shared her surprising secret. That means so much to me. We didnt have that [those kind of role models growing up], she said of Cotillards praise in a Q&A with Glamour published Tuesday. And I think as far as aging gracefully, I have an eternal fountain of optimism and positivity. Call it youth if you want. Advertisement Advertisement But I think it all starts with how we love our bodies and love where we are, she added. Jennifer Aniston credited her youthful looks at 56 to optimism and positivity in a Q&A with Glamour. jenniferaniston/Instagram As far as aging gracefully, I have an eternal fountain of optimism and positivity. Call it youth if you want, she told the magazine. jenniferaniston/Instagram Aniston didnt admit to undergoing any recent plastic surgery, but rather, noted that shes maintained her looks. Im not going to say I dont get the facials and the lasers and all that good stuff, she said. I mean, Im maintained. Im not going to just go down and let these gray hairs take over. So its perspective, and also knowing that this is our one body, she continued. Its a mindset. So it means a lot to me to hear that from Marion, who I think is a walking beam of sunshine and love and beauty and talent. Advertisement Advertisement Aniston has faced plastic surgery speculation before. Aniston exercises regularly and is known for her dedication to yoga. Jennifer Aniston / Instagram / @pvolve Aniston has faced plastic surgery speculation in the past. She was photographed alongside her friends Sandra Bullock and Amanda Anka leaving renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Neil A. Gordons office in Greenwich, Connecticut in March 2024. jenniferaniston/Instagram In March 2024, she and her good friends Sandra Bullock and Amanda Anka (Jason Batemans wife) were spotted leaving an upscale plastic surgery retreat in Connecticut in pictures obtained by the Daily Mail. The group who seemingly tried to stay undercover was photographed leaving renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Neil A. Gordons office in the ritzy town of Greenwich. Dr. Gordon is part of a small, elite group of international facial plastic surgeons who specializes in facial rejuvenation and rhinoplasty, according to his bio. The center also offers injectables like Botox and Kybella, per the website. The Emmy-winning actress did admit to getting a salmon sperm facial in October 2024 in pursuit of more youthful-looking skin. Getty Images for FIJI Water Aniston is currently starring as Alex Levy on Apple TV+s The Morning Show. GC Images Advertisement Advertisement While Aniston hasnt ever confirmed if shes gone under the knife for anti-aging purposes, she has copped to getting a salmon sperm facial in pursuit of more youthful-looking skin. But let me explain to you: Its not like, how do you get sperm out of salmon? It was sort of unclear, she said on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last October. I just took the womans word thats that what it was, and I was like, Sure! The Morning Show star said she follows an 80/20 approach to health and fitness back in January, Youve got to live your life. No restrictions except hard drugs, she told Allure. Its the 80/20 approach. The actress is currently dating hypnotist Jim Curtis. BACKGRID Aniston has said she follows the 80/20 approach to fitness, which is 80 percent living and 20 percent of enjoying not so healthy activities like sipping martinis and staying up late with friends. Instagram/@jenniferaniston Eighty percent healthy living and then 20 percent is: Go have a martini, go have your pizza and burgers and stay up late with your friends, she continued. Theres a balance. Advertisement Advertisement She also told the magazine that she wants to redefine the rules of aging, approaching her late 50s with a mindset of positivity and gratitude. Whats the alternative? she asked. Im trying not to think about growing older. I try not to think about age. The world will always be there telling us what your age is and what women should do in society when youre this or that. We can make our own rules. Its all bullst, she added. the black, white, and yellow logo for page six radio This story was featured on a recent episode of Page Six Radio, a daily morning show serving up the hottest celebrity headlines, exclusives, and behind-the-scenes buzz. Catch Danny, Evan and Ian chat with celebrity guests every weekday on SiriusXM from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET on Stars Ch. 109. SiriusXM service required. See Offer Details. Perez Hilton says Blake Livelys legal team just took a major hit in their ongoing lawsuit, telling reporters outside a Nevada courthouse on Tuesday that the judge was not feeling her attorney and left her looking dejected. The longtime celebrity blogger, born Mario Lavandeira, has become a surprising figure in Livelys explosive legal battle against her "It Ends with Us" co-star and director Justin Baldoni. Lively accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, while he countersued her for $400 million in defamation, a claim that was dismissed earlier this year. With Livelys $250 million case still scheduled to go to trial in March 2026, Perez Hilton has been dragged into the drama after she subpoenaed him for communications and unpublished material. Perez Hilton Claims Blake Livelys Team Failed To Sway Judge Hilton has argued the request is a violation of Nevadas journalist shield laws, which protect reporters from being forced to hand over sources or private reporting materials. He insists his coverage of the Baldoni-Lively feud was based on his own opinions, not part of any smear campaign. Speaking to The Blast and other media after Tuesdays hearing, Hilton claimed Livelys attorney, Merrill Kommerksy, failed to sway the court. Oh my God, the judge was not feeling Blakes lawyer on Thursday of last week. Today, even less so, he said. And she was not happy. Shes leaving the court dejected, not giving her client the outcome that she wanted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hilton admitted the case is far from over but called the days outcome a step in the right direction. So while, unfortunately, this is ongoing for me, Im leaving today with a small win in that I know that todays outcome has hurt Blake Lively. And its a win for journalists, and its a win for me. Hilton Details Struggle Of Going Pro Se Against Livelys High-Powered Lawyers Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA The blogger, who is representing himself pro se, admitted he is worn down by the drawn-out legal fight but refuses to back down. I dont want to be involved in this anymore, but I am, Hilton said. And its going to be a long process for me and for you," he added, speaking to the media. He noted the challenges of facing Livelys high-powered legal team without the same resources. Im representing myself pro se, he explained. If youre not representing yourself pro se, you have a lawyer helping you." Hilton previously told The Blast that representing himself has meant pouring dozens of hours into preparing for Thursdays hearing. Im in my Elle Woods era. I feel like Kim Kardashian studying to become a lawyer, he joked, adding that retaining his own high-priced legal team would have already cost him more than $50,000. Livelys Lawyers Say Perez Hilton Helped Seed Social Media Campaign For Baldoni MBS/MEGA The latest courtroom clash followed a hearing last Thursday that zeroed in on whether Hilton could be forced to comply with Livelys subpoena. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her legal team argued that Hilton was one of several so-called Content Creators allegedly used to seed social media narratives that benefited Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, pushing the judge to order him to hand over related communications. Hilton Wins Round In Blake Lively Battle David Edwards / MEGA Hilton, who has chosen to represent himself, pushed back hard. He argued that because he resides in Nevada, a New York federal court had no authority over him. Judge Lewis J. Liman agreed, ruling that the court lacked personal jurisdiction to enforce the subpoena. In doing so, he pointed out Hiltons pro se status and noted that courts are required to give additional leeway to those representing themselves. The outcome left Hilton stunned. He told The Blast he was in shock, admitting he expected the court to for sure rule against him. Perez Hilton Admits Hes Exhausted, But Says Hell Keep Fighting Lively In $250M Case Image courtesy of Melanie Vanderveer/The Blast The courtroom battle over Livelys subpoena against Hilton is just one piece of a larger Hollywood legal saga. With Livelys $250 million case against Baldoni headed to trial in 2026, Hiltons role in the proceedings looms large. For now, he says hell keep showing up and speaking out, even if it means more confrontations with Livelys legal team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to be here, Hilton admitted, but I know that today was a small win, and thats enough to keep me going. As the legal drama continues, The Blast will continue to follow "Perezelle Woods Hilton-Kardashian." NEED TO KNOW Princess Ariane of the Netherlands has announced that she is taking a gap year The youngest of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima's three daughters graduated from the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy in May Her eldest sister, Princess Catherina-Amalia, is also taking a big step in her education this month, beginning her postgraduate studies in Dutch law at the University of Amsterdam Princess Ariane of the Netherlands has made an official decision about her educational future. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the Dutch television network Blauw Bloed reported, via the Government Information Service, that Ariane, 18, plans to take a gap year following her graduation from the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy back in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The princess is the youngest of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima's three daughters, and she is following in her sisters' footsteps in taking a year off to travel before pursuing further education. Princess Catharina-Amalia, 21, and Princess Alexia, 20, both did the same, as is common for other royals in Europe. After completing a three-year degree in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) at the University of Amsterdam, Princess Catharina-Amalia is returning to the university to begin her Dutch Law course this month. Meanwhile, Princess Alexia is studying for a degree in civil engineering at University College London (UCL). Patrick van Katwijk/Getty (L to R) King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Princess Ariane, Queen Maxima, Princess Alexia and Princess Amalia at the Dutch Grand Prix on Aug. 31, 2025 (L to R) King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Princess Ariane, Queen Maxima, Princess Alexia and Princess Amalia at the Dutch Grand Prix on Aug. 31, 2025 Princess Ariane plans to spend her gap year traveling; however, the Dutch royals spent some family time together this summer before her sisters returned to their respective studies. They were photographed at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort Circuit on August 31, 2025, taking in the races before summer's end. Following her graduation, Princess Ariane took part in a Dutch tradition, raising her school backpack up the flagpole at the Palace Huis ten Bosch, one of the royal family's three official residences. Later that month, her eldest sister, Catherina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, was celebrated for receiving her bachelor's degree. Her parents and sisters were in attendance to celebrate the future Queen of the Netherlands, as was the King's mother and former monarch, Princess Beatrix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The royal family's Instagram account shared that the princess had focused on artificial intelligence as a major part of her studies, specifically, "the tensions between European fundamental rights and AI legislation." Translated from Dutch, the title of her final manuscript was Beyond Disclosure: Bridging the Gap Between the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Charter of Fundamental Rights with Deepfaked Bodies. The future queen's educational path hasn't always been an easy one. During some of her undergraduate studies at the University of Amsterdam, she secretly lived in Madrid, completing her work remotely due to kidnapping threats. Last year, King Willem-Alexander shared his gratitude towards the Spanish royal family for helping his daughter and heir maintain her studies during the tumultuous time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This was made possible by the kind efforts of many of your compatriots and yourselves. A touching demonstration of friendship at a difficult time. I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to you and everyone else who helped arrange this," he said during a banquet welcoming the Spanish King and Queen on an official visit. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2007 Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2007 Gap years are also famously popular amongst the British royal family. Both Prince William and Kate Middleton took part in a Raleigh International expedition trip to Chile before moving on to their studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. As for Prince Harry, he worked on a ranch in Queensland, Australia, before traveling to Africa to volunteer at an orphanage for children with AIDS in Lesotho. Read the original article on People We all know that things will never be okay between Kandi Burruss and Phaedra Parks, but it never hurts to ask. Keke Palmer recently interviewed the Real Housewives of Atlanta alum and asked her about their years-old beef. Kandi touched on it for the one thousandth time, and she also weighed in on Kenya Moores departure from Bravo. These are two of RHOAs biggest controversies, and Kandi didnt hesitate to talk about them. Kandi Burruss gets vocal about Phaedra Parks and Kenya Moore Do you think theres any way that [Phaedra] could get you to look her way again? Has she ever tried to reach out? Keke asked. Weve been in the same rooms before, but theres no reason for us to communicate. We just dont interact. Im not disrespectful, I dont come in cussing anybody out or anything its just, you just stay in your lane, and Ill stay in my lane, Kandi replied. I dont feel the need to fake it for the world in that situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kandi also made it extremely clear that she wouldnt tolerate revisionist history surrounding what happened in RHOA Season 9. I see people online trying to change what happened, Kandi continued. Obviously, yall did not watch the show, or yall did not really pay attention to what happened. [But] Im not here to re-explain it. Im not here to bring it up some more. Another thing that does not need to be re-explained is the drama between Kenya and Brit Eady. Throughout Season 16, Kandi made it known that she felt like Kenyas punishment didnt match the crime. On stage with Keke, Kandi kept the same tune. She felt like Kenyas mid-season removal was the wrong move from Bravo. At the end of the day, after seeing how it played out, it was wrong on both sides. I feel like you cant take one off [the show] and not take the other off. I feel like that was wrong, and yall can disagree with me, but thats how I feel, Kandi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She continued, And Im definitely going to support my girl and say they didnt even give her the opportunity to come back and apologize. Everybody else got chances to come back and apologize, you know? So why doesnt she get that chance? The Real Housewives of Atlanta is streaming on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland. TELL US DO YOU THINK ITS TIME TO STOP ASKING KANDI ABOUT PHAEDRA? DO YOU AGREE WITH HER SENTIMENT ABOUT KENYA? The post RHOA Alum Kandi Burruss Talks Phaedra Parks Rift; Defends Kenya Moore appeared first on Reality Tea. Following major festival awards wins in both Berlin (The Blue Trail) and Cannes (The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo), Chile landed in Venice with a strong presence, with Niles Atallahs short Merrimundi competing in the Horizons section and the countrys Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage positioning Chile as one of this years three spotlight countries at Venices industry sidebar. More than 20 producers have been supported to attend the festival, and five Chilean projects have been selected for the Gap Financing Market, which only admits projects that have reached at least 80% of their investment as well as presenting strong artistic potential (see full profiles for all projects below). More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Venice Production Bridge, CinemaChile co-director Alexandra Galvis hosted a conversation with renowned producer Giancarlo Nasi, of Santiago and Los Angeles-based Quijote Films, to talk about the current state of their national cinema and the potential of co-productions. We didnt want to talk about funding lists or information that can easily be found online, Galvis tells Variety of the intention behind the talk. What we really wanted was to explain how our producers can create entirely different co-production models, built not only on funds the country provides, but a kind of talent that understands how the world works and allows us to co-produce in unconventional ways, achieving truly international projects that circulate with the same strength as Chilean films themselves. We believe this is the true key to the success of Chilean cinema on the global stage. Commenting on this focus on creative co-production models as a way of boosting Chiles international profile, Galvis says that, at its core, it is all about designing strategies. [Its about] how to co-produce with larger countries, how to move forward when only minority funds are available, how to collaborate with film industries in languages we dont even speak, how to find exits in challenging contexts, she adds. [Its] the concept of thinking outside the box. For us, this is the great added value: the ability to genuinely think beyond conventional boundaries, to innovate, and to develop projects capable of traveling the world without necessarily relying on large budgets, but rather on the ingenuity that enables us to move strategically within the field of co-production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout his hour-long talk, Nasi spoke about three recent breakout projects: Gabriel Mascaros Silver Bear-winning The Blue Trail, Diego Cespedess Un Certain Regard main winner The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo, and Felipe Galvezs Fipresci prize-winning The Settlers. All three projects were ambitious co-productions, a model Quijote Films has employed for all 25 feature films it produced over the last 14 years, made in collaboration with a whopping 23 countries, including unlikely partners such as Taiwan and Ukraine. Nasi said Chilean filmmakers co-produce out of necessity. Producers in Chile look abroad to co-produce because Chile is a country that doesnt produce that many movies. We probably make 30 to 40 a year, way less than Argentina, Mexico, Brazil. But we always stand out in international film festivals. Were a small country that also has an economy that is very open to the world, he added. That affects the rules of our fund, which is very liberal and very flexible. On this, Nasi praised how Chile offers a variety of different production frameworks, including a cash rebate program, a national film fund for majority Chilean productions, and a specific co-production fund that offers a pot of $120,000 that can be spent anywhere in the world without expenses and obligations. Nasi is particularly praiseful of the latter. If you have a film in co-production with Ukraine, you can apply to the fund and send $120,000 to Ukraine for the shoot. It helps, because sometimes when you co-produce, you have a lot of money to do post-production in Europe but not enough money to shoot the film. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in the talk, the veteran producer offered two key pieces of advice to budding filmmakers: Retain full power of decision and do not give co-producing partners exclusive rights to their territories. Of the former, Nasi said its a vital strategy to funnel major decisions and avoid chaos as well as protecting directors (If youre making an ambitious film, you cant have eight bosses). As for the latter, the producer emphasized it makes no sense for him to work hard for eight years for a French producer to get the best territory in the world. Thats a hard discussion because old school producers are very attached to keeping their territories, he admitted, but noted that the strategy not only benefits all partners financially but also helps secure equity investment from countries like the U.S. and the U.K. since the split is clearer when it comes to recouping their investment. Lastly, the producer reiterated he doesnt feel he should only be making Chilean or Latin American films. I feel the entire world should work together. I like doing things that are very difficult legally so I can push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of certificates and contracts and legal regulations. If you tell me producing in Ukraine will be hard, Ill want to do it. Here are the Chilean projects selected for the Venice Gap Financing Market: Patas de Perro, dir. Matias Rojas Labelled as the story of a boy who becomes the Latin American minotaur, this genre film tells the story of a boy who was born with a strange condition: from the waist down, he is a dog. His life changes when he is taken in by Carlos, a man who has just lost his son and who will fight to integrate his new child into society. Renowned Chilean actor Alfredo Castro (El Conde) is attached. Produced by A Simple Vista and Rhayuela Films in co-production with Klinker Films. People Still Die of Love, dir. Fernando Guzzoni This is Guzzonis follow-up to 2022s Blanquita, which won the Silver Lion for best screenplay at Venice and was Chiles official submission for the Oscars. People Still Die of Love is a dystopian drama in a contemporary satire key that trails a woman who finds herself caught in a delirious journey where the boundaries between reality and the virtual world begin to blur after accidentally killing a young hitman in the street. Produced by Oro Films in co-production with Redrum (Bardo). To Die on Your Feet (Morir de Pie), dir. Maria Paz Gonzalez Cruz is a professional medical actress who teaches empathy to future doctors, but begins to lose her own following a real-life tragedy. When AI threatens her job, she joins her fellow actors to fight against invisibility and the loss of human connection. To Die on Your Feet is Gonzalezs feature follow-up to 2019s Lina From Lima, which premiered at Toronto. Produced by Quijote Films in co-production with Amore Cine, Tarantula, and Bocacha. Drifting Images, dir. Nicolas Tabilo Tabilos feature film debut is a hybrid autobiographical essay about the director and his mother as they navigate grief, labor, and memory after a family loss. It takes place in the fringes of a vineyard as the matriarch contemplates whether she should leave her work as a laborer in the fields, the fields turn to a stage to reimagine identity, kinship and cinema as a space of care. Produced by Tabilos. Corte Culebra, dir. Ana Elena Tejera Multidisciplinary artist Tejeras debut, Panquiaco, premiered in Rotterdam and represented Panama at the Goya Awards. Her follow-up is set in 2000, as a Panamanian soldier enters the Canal Zone for the first time after a century of American occupation, he meets a mysterious woman in the jungle who helps him uncover the hidden history of communities displaced by the occupation. Earwig cinematographer Jonathan Riquebourg and Sound of Metal composer Nicolas Becker are attached. Produced by Mestizo and Fulgurance in co-production with Capicua Films. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Eighty years on, China honors history with commitment to peace Xinhua) 08:10, September 03, 2025 A set of floral installation is pictured at Jianguomen in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) An old Chinese saying goes: "Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto yourself." Having endured invasion and oppression, the Chinese people came to embrace an even stronger commitment to peace and justice. BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Sept. 3, 2025 is a solemn day for China and the world to honor history and the fallen, and reaffirm the pursuit of peace and justice. Eighty years ago, facing extremely difficult environment, the heroic Chinese people fought and won a formidable war against the Japanese aggression. More than 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed or injured in the war, leaving behind a lasting legacy of sacrifice for global peace. This victory marked a turning point: for the Chinese nation, it ended a century-long spiral of decline and opened the door to rejuvenation; for the world, it ensured fascism's defeat. An old Chinese saying goes: "Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto yourself." Having endured invasion and oppression, the Chinese people came to embrace an even stronger commitment to peace and justice. At the 1955 Bandung Conference, China advanced the approach of "seeking common ground while shelving differences," encouraging unity and cooperation among newly independent nations. The conference signaled the political awakening of the developing world and showcased China's commitment to promoting more equal international relations. In the decades that followed, China firmly supported national liberation movements worldwide: backing Algeria's independence, assisting Vietnam in resisting the U.S. interference, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, opposing apartheid in South Africa and so on. All these gave practical meaning to the spirit of internationalism. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China actively participates in the mediation of hotspot issues, promotes the peaceful settlement of differences and disputes among countries, and has always been a builder of world peace. China firmly upholds the UN-centered international system, and actively works for a more just and equitable international order. In the past decades, China's rapid development has also created opportunities for the wider world. Since its reform and opening-up, China's economy has grown more than 300 times, becoming the world's second-largest economy. For years, China has contributed around 30 percent to global economic growth annually. In the era of economic globalization, China is not only a beneficiary but also a key promoter of and contributor to global prosperity. Students attend a ceremony to mark the 88th anniversary of the start of the entire nation's resistance against Japanese aggression, in Beijing, capital of China, on July 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Meanwhile, nearly 800 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty, accounting for three-quarters of the world's poverty reduction in the same period. In 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China had secured a "complete victory" in its fight against poverty. Thus, China had met the poverty eradication target set out in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. As the world's largest developing country and a natural member of the Global South, China closely links its own development with the revitalization dreams of the vast number of developing countries. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has linked Asia, Africa, Latin America, Pacific islands and other countries with new opportunities of development. Roads, railways, ports and energy projects have brought tangible benefits, while training programs and digital innovations have opened new paths to modernization. The world today is undergoing changes unseen in a century. Global recovery remains fragile, the development gap is widening, environmental challenges are worsening, and the Cold War mentality still persists. Against this backdrop, a resounding question facing all nations is: what kind of world should we build, and how? China has proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity. Through initiatives such as the BRI, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, China promotes cooperation on growth, peace, and security as well as people-to-people exchanges. Its efforts reflect a commitment to inclusiveness, mutual benefit and respect for diversity and have won wide international support, especially among developing countries. China's firm commitment to peaceful development and win-win cooperation is deeply rooted in its millennium-old civilization. History shows that the tide of peace and development cannot be reversed. China will stay on the path of peaceful development and work hard to build a brighter shared future together with all nations. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. ERIE, Pennsylvania Few outside of those who live there understand what the county of Erie's future holds for its economic future. Is it rural? A port? A city? A college town? A beach town? A faded Rust Belt hub for industrialization? Drive around the county and you'll soon find that it is all those things. And while the bulk of the population (80%) lives in more urbanized areas, the 38 municipalities of Erie County comprise two cities, 22 townships, and 14 boroughs. There is still a significant number of people in the rural landmass of the county, which makes up 93% of the county's total land area. They still need the same services as their urban cousins, including what they can get from retailers. Amazon, the largest online retailer in the country, recognized this gap across thousands of other rural zip codes nationwide. Its $4 billion investment in rural America was first announced in April, not only expanding its delivery networks in rural areas but also ensuring those deliveries are made faster. It also created 100,000 new jobs across the country in total. In the Millcreek suburb of the city of Erie, a brand-new delivery station is bustling with individual delivery stations think of them as small businesses inside a larger business where workers are loading a fleet of Amazon trucks for delivery across the rolling hills where few brick-and-mortar retailers are located. Holly Sullivan is visiting the facility from Amazon's Nashville, Tennessee, office. She's the vice president of worldwide economic development at Amazon and led the development of the Tennessee office. It's no accident that the location is in the middle of the country Sullivan says it's important to have that kind of connection with customers and employees. Sullivan calls facilities like the one in Erie their last and most important mile. "Let me work backwards from the customer, which is what we do. We have within our fulfillment network our larger Amazon robotics, which is our smaller items. We have sortation centers, which is our middle mile, and then we have our last mile, which is our delivery stations," she explained of the logistics. "We started our delivery stations primarily in more urban areas where the larger fulfillment centers were, but we kept hearing from our customers and our drivers of the distance having to be driven to some of the rural areas," she explained, adding that it was a problem they wanted to solve that led to the rural delivery stations like the one in Millcreek. The building is not new, per se; it is a retrofit placed inside a former industrial site that produced chemicals. It was 2020, and the company wanted to see if the plan would work. "We tweaked some things," she explained, "learned as we went, and by 2026, we plan on having over 200 rural delivery stations and, in total, a $4 billion investment in rural America." Sullivan pulled up a map showing they will be in all 50 states, once Vermont finally makes it over the permitting threshold. "It's fine. We like to follow the rules, and this goes into part of our bigger network," she said. Underscoring her point, a recent economics study showed that when an Amazon fulfillment center or delivery station is located in a community, it increases the median income by $1,200 a month, according to Oxford Economics. The small businesses within Amazon are the delivery service partners, which operate their own delivery businesses within Amazon, explains Danielle Whitlock, who, along with her husband, Army reservist Victor Whitlock, operates their logistics business across rural Erie. "We've been here since July of 2021, and it has grown a lot. We started with a total of seven routes, and now we constantly run around the 40 range in a day, and it is a pretty wide rural territory that runs to the Ohio border," she explained, adding that they started with a handful of employees and are now over 100. What is great about the program is that it creates small businesses within Amazon, which in turn creates good-paying jobs for people in rural areas, she said. "But it also provides an overnight service that people in high-population areas take for granted but had been considered a luxury in retail deserts in rural America. Pull it all together, and it is a very good thing for everyone." (COMMENT, BELOW) Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst, and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism, traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between. Key Points REV Group reported strong growth from both specialty and recreational vehicle segments. This American manufacturer has momentum at its back and just raised guidance. The stock's recent run has made it a little pricey. 10 stocks we like better than Rev Group REV Group (NYSE: REVG) is one American manufacturer that isn't focused on tariffs. The Wisconsin-based manufacturer produces specialty vehicles, including fire and emergency, commercial, and recreational vehicles. Its entire manufacturing footprint is in the U.S. REV Group reported strong earnings today, and shares soared by as much as 22.4%. That came after sales jumped by 20.5%, excluding the impact of the company's bus business, which was sold in October 2024. As of 11:25 a.m. ET, the stock has pared that outsize gain but remains higher by 5.6% Image source: Getty Images. Tariffs aren't an issue Sales growth from emergency vehicles as well as recreational vehicles drove the solid fiscal third-quarter results. Profitability was even stronger than sales with adjusted earnings per share soaring 65% year over year. Tariffs aren't a concern for REV Group, as its full manufacturing footprint includes facilities in 14 states across the U.S. It's expanding that footprint, too. The company recently announced plans to expand capacity at its Spartan Emergency Response plant in South Dakota. That $20 million investment will increase production capacity by 40% at the maker of fire apparatus. The strong results led management to increase guidance across the board. It boosted the outlook for sales and net income for the full fiscal year. Management also sees free cash flow of as much as $150 million for the year, versus its previous estimate of up to $120 million. REV Group shares have already rocketed higher by about 70% this year. Investors have been optimistic on growth and the lack of tariff concerns. With today's increase, shares trade at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 22. That's well above its three-year average of 13.5. Investors might want to wait for a pullback before jumping in after the strong earnings report. Should you invest $1,000 in Rev Group right now? Before you buy stock in Rev Group, 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 Rev Group 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 $654,759!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,046,799!* Drake is looking back on an aggressive Sweden arrest, telling Bobbi Althoff in their just-released, amends-making Not This Again interview that he was taken in over nothing. At one point in the conversation, Drake was asked whether hed ever spent time in jail. I got arrested in Sweden, he said. I actually have a show coming up there. I feel like theyre gonna try and run it back. Deeper into the inaugural episode of Althoffs new podcast, the topic was broached again, this time in greater detail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess. I dont know if they will, he said when the host noted that Swedish forgiveness was likely on the table. I spent a pretty long time in jail, nine hours. Asked if the experience was fun, Drake confirmed it wasnt. No, no, he said. Because I got arrested for nothing. Apparently, like, well, we did a private party and one of the guys, the officers, his girl came to the private party. But they arrested me way too aggressive and they arrested me for nothing. Perhaps jokingly, Drake added that he was hoping to have the unidentified woman in question return for a future show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh yeah, his girls coming back out for sure, he said, albeit only if he can find her. Drake didnt specific when, exactly, the arrest occurred, saying only that it happened like three years ago. As youll recall, news coverage of a Drake-focused Sweden incident back in 2022 initially included claims of the arrest, later referred to as a mere detainment, being connected to weed. At the time, a Drake rep was cited by the Hollywood Reporter as denying that an arrest had occurred. Drake later rapped about the self-imposed Carby Musk scent of a Swedish jail cell on the Her Loss track Middle of the Ocean, followed by the Iceman artist sharing video of him appearing to be taken in by Swedish authorities. ComplexCon returns to Las Vegas on October 2526, 2025, with over 300 brands and live performances by Young Thug, YEAT & Friends, Peso Pluma, Central Cee, Ken Carson, and more. Get your tickets now. Related News Drake Tells xQc to Turn Off The Weeknds Music: 'Play Some blink-182' , Drake on New Bobbi Althoff Podcast: 'Welcome to the Nicest Thing That Any Guy Has Ever Done for You' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement , Drake's 'Iceman,' His First Solo Album Since 'For All the Dogs': What to Know Related News Robert Townsend Recalls Beyonces Audition for Carmen: A Hip Hopera, Says She Was Really Nervous' French Montana and Princess of Dubai Show Off Massive Engagement Ring COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess. Making Culture Pop. Find the latest entertainment news and the best in music, pop culture, sneakers, style and original shows. When Jess Edwards arrived in Costa Rica for Bachelor in Paradise season 10, she had her eyes on Spencer Conley thanks to his golden receiver energy and a few weeks later, she happily accepted his proposal. It is super surreal. We are just so grateful to be here, Jess, 26, told Us Weekly during an exclusive interview with Spencer, 32, ahead of the Tuesday, September 2, finale. Its more than we could ever have imagined. Obviously, going into Paradise, the goal is to find love. We found that we got to do these cool challenges. We got to go to a new location. We won money. Like, what is life! Jess, who appeared on Joey Graziadeis season 28 of The Bachelor, and Spencer, a contestant on Jenn Trans season 21 of The Bachelorette, connected on day one of season 10. And despite what appeared to be some disagreements about when to move in together and a timeline for kids, they assured Us that they are on the same page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im currently in San Diego, and he's in Dallas. So we had some back and forth conversations and at the beginning of 2026, I am going to be moving here to Dallas. I'm really excited about it, Jess gushed. He has family here. He has a business that is thriving here. We just want to start our life here and see where the wind blows us after that. Is There a Bachelor in Paradise Season 10 Reunion? What We Know When it comes to starting a family, Spencer clarified, "She's 26. She was saying [on the show] she wants to have kids before she's 30. I was saying, 'Probably in the next two years,' in which she'll be 28 or 29 so it's literally splitting a one-year difference," he told Us. "If you're very into math, it's not that much of a delta." Disney/Bahareh Ritter Jess added, And we know, realistically, it's gonna happen whenever it happens God willing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The twosome also arent rushing down the aisle. "We don't want to put a set timeline. We're focusing on us right now," Jess told Us. "Ideally, like, when I'm thinking about it, I do [think] this time next year, we'll be starting the wedding planning process, but who knows? We might want to do it earlier. We might want to take a little more time. We're just going to see where we're at in our relationship and date." Fans watched Spencer get down on one knee during Tuesdays finale, a decision he told Us that he made during the episode before. "It's not shown, but we had conversations about an engagement. And for me, I knew that my 'be ready moment' was when I knew she was going to be ready," Spencer told Us. "I love that she handles everything with such gravity, because it's a big decision, and it's not necessarily depicted, but I do as well." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jess Edwards Gets Emotional About Scary Spencer Conley Connection in BiP Sneak Peek He revealed that they both talked to their parents before he proposed. "We both got to do that. I got to talk to her parents that was a huge thing for me. I'm like, 'I'm absolutely not [proposing] until I at least talk to her dad. Like, I would love to be able to see her dad in person, but I'm not getting down on one knee unless I talk to her dad at a bare minimum,'" he continued. "And so we had those conversations, and the whole time throughout Paradise, I wanted to move at her pace. I know how hard and rare it is to find someone like her, and I've never met anyone like her that I've had a connection with, literally, right off the bat. She was just. so familiar and welcoming and felt like a slice of home in Costa Rica." The twosome also got reassurance from an unexpected source. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The on-staff psych she was incredible, the absolute best," Spencer said. "She knew us both from our respective previous seasons and getting an outside, unbiased perspective from someone that we knew would be honest with us was the best. I think outside of our family, that was the biggest turning point in a lot of those decisions and talks." While the duo were confident in each other, the show did try to throw one last wrench in their happily ever after, telling the final two couples Andrew and Alexe were also still standing at the end that their final test was to choose between love or money. Both pairs were told they could be given $250,000 if they picked money (and their partner picked love), but neither couple took the bait. "As Jesse offered it to me, he was laughing," Spencer said. "Because I was looking at him like, 'What do you think I'm going to do, man?'" Both couples were ultimately offered cash prizes anyway, with Spencer and Jess walking away with $190,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bachelor Nation Couples Who Are Still Going Strong: Trista and Ryan Sutter, More "I'm paying off student loans. I don't have too many, thankfully, but I do have a little bit, so starting there and then just planning for a future," Jess told Us when asked for their plans with the money. "Honestly, we haven't taken too much time to, like, really sit and plan it out, because we don't actually have the money yet. "I think a huge chunk of it's going to savings," Spencer added. "And prior to the show, me and my best friend, we're going to open some vacation rentals in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which is an hour away from where [Jess] grew up invisible string!" The BiP season 10 cast is set to reunite for a podcast titled Bachelor in Paradise Unplugged hosted by bartender Wells Adams. Part 1 is set to be released on Wednesday, September 3, at 11 p.m. ET. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) There have been a wide variety of pairings of detectives in film and television productions. Along with the traditional two males, teaming a man and woman has also proved popular. There also have been shows where humans and dogs worked together to fight crime. The most diverse pairing was in the 1996 buddy cop movie where Whoopi Goldberg played a detective who worked with a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The latest bringing together of mismatched partners can be seen on the new UPtv series The Sunshine Murders scheduled to launch at 8 p.m. Sept. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The series follows Shirley Rangi (Emily Corcoran), a New Zealand farmer searching for her missing father, who arrives in Athens to find her half-sister Helen Moustakas (Dora Chrysikou), a Greek detective struggling with her own family and career pressures. Though skeptical of Rangis eccentricities, Moustakas discovers her bush wisdom proves surprisingly effective in solving crimes. Together, the sisters form an unlikely but formidable crime-fighting duounraveling mysteries while navigating family ties. The idea of bringing together characters from very different geographical points on the globe was easy for Corcoran who not only stars but is also the executive producer as she began writing the scripts. One of her best friends is Chrysikou. We had got together and caught up because weve gone to drama school together. This is about a year or so ago, Corcoran says. Dora has become very famous in Greece and really successful. And I said, weve got to do something together. From that planted seed it just sprang and evolved into the series. I started to speak to Channel 5 in the UK and other funders. Initially, it was going to be in the UK but ended up based in Greece. The Greek setting is another way this latest detective tale has separated itself from the growing number of whodunit television series. Although most of the series was shot in Cyprus there were scenes filming in Athens and New Zealand. The dramatic differences between the locations help fortify how different these potential crime-fighting partners and sisters are from each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chrysikous role is to be the police expert of the team while Corcorans character shows that common sense is also very valuable when solving crimes. Although accomplished in her own way, Rangi is certainly rough around the edges. The challenge for Corcoran and co-writer Victoria Taylor Roberts was to make Rangi come across as someone who has lived a simple life but is not simple herself. We would have this discussion. Id be like, Well, I think that might go too far because we would undermine her as a practical, sensible woman. Interestingly, Shirley is based on women that I know, and Im close to in New Zealand, Corcoran says. She is grounded in truth. A lot of Kiwi women have this can-do attitude. Theyre not frightened of anything. They dont feel intimidated. Theyre also very hands-on and very practical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a question pops up as to how Rangi should act, Corcoran asks herself what her friend would do or her half-sister, her mother or her aunt. One of the most difficult parts of the story was not how to introduce an unknown half-sister but how to keep her around. That meant coming up with scenarios such as Rangi never seeing a situation she didnt want to investigate and even having Moustakas get injured and needing a driver. Keeping the pair together was more difficult than creating the murders. It was hard, so we had to be real about why detective Helen Moustakas would keep this crazy lady around her, Corcoran says. And so, we had to put the pathos of her having this intense pressure of being the only female detective in that particular police force and her constant worry about losing a job. So, she has to cover it up. We had to put in these things and the teenage daughter and all that kind of stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the stuff added to the mix is a list of well-known supporting players and guest stars. Marina Sirtis, who is best known for traveling the galaxy with Star Trek: The Next Generation, plays the detectives mother. Corcoran is a massive Star Trek fan who calls the casting of Sirtis a gift. It wasnt just the Trekkie in her, but Sirtis speaks Greek and lives in London. The Sunshine Murders has already been a hit in Europe. Now Corcoran is looking to build an audience in the United States through UPtv. She says her hope is that the series will open doors in Hollywood for her. There is a trend when a show is a success in another country, producers will buy the rights to make an American version of the product. Corcoran is not certain what she would do with that situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Corcoran laughs and says, Of course theres a difference between if you ask me now and if you ask me in 15 years time when Ive done 800 episodes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Trader Joe's has no shortage of coffee options. From cold brew concentrates and Keurig cups to ground coffee and an impressive array of whole beans, the popular grocery chain has something for everyone. For true coffee lovers, though, the whole bean selection stands out for both its variety and freshness. While pre-ground coffee may be the easiest grab, you'll be missing out because whole beans offer a fresher, more flavorful cup. Even if you store your coffee correctly, airtight packaging can't fully preserve the nuances that whole beans retain. Plus, grinding your own beans lets you customize the grind size, whether you're making a non-sludgy cup from the French press, brewing the perfect drip pot, or pulling a strong shot of espresso, so you get the best taste for your method. Don't own a grinder? Trader Joe's has you covered with a convenient in-store grinder (and the bonus of that irresistible fresh coffee aroma). But with so many choices on the shelf, which beans are best? To help you decide, I tasted and ranked Trader Joe's whole coffee beans so you can start your day with the best morning brew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The 9 Best Coffee Bean Brands For All Of Your Brewing Needs 8. Trader Joe's Low Acid French Roast Coffee canister of Trader Joe's coffee sitting next to a glass mug of coffee beans on a counter - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound One common complaint about coffee is excessive acidity, which can create a sharp, almost sour sensation when not properly balanced. Trader Joe's Low Acid French Roast Coffee aims to solve that by offering an ultralow-acid option designed for those who prefer a smoother cup. Dark roasts like French roast are naturally lower in acidity because the extended roasting process breaks down more of the acids in the raw beans, resulting in a mellower profile; this coffee works to take that to the extreme. True to its label, this coffee is indeed low in acidity, but not exactly smooth. The long roast seems to have tipped the flavor toward overly robust and noticeably bitter. Once ground, the beans released a smoky aroma and brewed into a cup that may feel too dark and heavy for the average palate. Smokiness is common to darker roasts because of the roasting process. However, unless you know you enjoy a very bold, smoky roast, you might want to explore other options in the Trader Joe's lineup. 7. Trader Joe's Zamora Ecuador Small Lot Coffee bag of Trader Joe's coffee sitting next to a glass mug of coffee beans on a counter - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound Trader Joe's Zamora Ecuador Small Lot Coffee is one of the brand's current limited-edition, small-lot offerings. Sourced from the southeast region of Ecuador near the Amazon Basin, this coffee reflects Trader Joe's ongoing efforts to highlight smaller producers while supporting a more sustainable supply chain. From the first sip, the beans show promise, delivering a warm-bodied, medium roast with distinctive character, though the experience finishes with a less-than-ideal aftertaste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What stands out initially is the complexity of its flavor. The bean's aromas hint at warm spices like nutmeg and are complemented by subtle chocolate notes that add to its medium-roast depth. However, the initial intrigue fades into a slightly bitter, almost burnt finish. Because of this strong, spiced profile, it's hard to call the coffee smooth or well-balanced. That said, it could be a great choice for those who appreciate a bolder, more complex cup, or for anyone who likes to temper their coffee's strength with cream or sugar. 6. Trader Joe's Organic Fair Trade Shade Grown Ethiopian Coffee bag of Trader Joe's coffee sitting next to a glass mug of coffee beans on a counter - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound When searching for a coffee bean that stands out, you might want something that offers its own distinctive character and really wakes up for the day. The Trader Joe's Organic Fair Trade Shade Grown Ethiopian Coffee does both of these things relatively well, delivering a cup that's very flavorful. This bean carries several markers of quality and sustainability. It is USDA Organic and Fair Trade certified, ensuring that farmers receive equitable prices for their crops. It's also shade grown, a practice that not only supports biodiversity but tends to yield a slightly milder, more nuanced flavor compared to sun-grown beans. What I appreciated most about this coffee was how it maintained its delicate, floral notes. Solidly a medium-bodied brew with subtle complexity with light floral aromas at first sip, it carried a relatively strong flavor profile. I did not rank it higher because I wished it had more of a smoother flavor to round out the cup slightly. Still, this coffee offers a bright option that isn't overly bold, making it a versatile option for everyday drinking. 5. Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic Bolivian Blend Coffee bag of Trader Joe's coffee sitting next to a glass mug of coffee beans on a counter - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound The Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic Bolivian Blend Coffee offers a lighter roast that doesn't sacrifice depth. While many light roasts can veer toward being overly bright or acidic, this blend achieves a good equilibrium, tasting smooth, yet still lively enough to keep things interesting. Compared to some of the more floral or spice-forward beans in Trader Joe's lineup, this one also leans mild and balanced. There are hints of caramel and chocolate providing subtle flavors, but mainly adding warmth that rounds out each sip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First introduced in 2008, this blend has remained a customer favorite for good reason. Beyond its flavor, it carries the assurance of USDA Organic and Fair Trade certifications. The beans are cultivated without synthetic chemicals, preserving both the integrity of the soil and the nuanced flavors that reflect Bolivia's growing regions. Fair Trade practices further ensure that the farmers behind this blend are paid a living wage. Its versatility is its biggest strength though. This coffee offers a reliable, everyday cup for those who appreciate a softer, more rounded profile. 4. Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic Sumatra Coffee bag of Trader Joe's coffee sitting next to a glass mug of coffee beans on a counter - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound Upon opening a bag of Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic Sumatra Coffee, the first thing you'll notice is the sheen of oil coating the beans. That oiliness hints at what's to come: a bold, smoky cup with the depth and intensity typical of Sumatran coffee. Among the full-bodied, true medium-to-dark roasts I sampled, this one stood out as a distinctive, earthy option. The flavor profile leans decidedly dark and robust, with an almost savory edge that sets it apart from the brighter, more floral beans in Trader Joe's lineup. As you continue drinking, you'll get a touch of bitterness and a slightly harsh finish (common in darker roasts), but it's balanced by an underlying earthiness that gives the coffee character rather than sharpness alone. As with all of Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic offerings, this coffee is produced without synthetic chemicals and supports fair compensation for farmers, making it a responsible choice for those who enjoy a darker, more assertive roast. If you're a fan of smooth, delicate flavors, this might not be your pick; but, for anyone who craves a bold, grounding cup to start the day, it's a standout. 3. Trader Joe's Fairtrade Organic Five Country Blend bag of Trader Joe's coffee sitting next to a glass mug of coffee beans on a counter - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound Coffee beans from different countries carry different flavor profiles due to their various growing conditions. Differences in altitude, climate, and soil all impact the elements of how floral, rich, and other components are able to be discerned. Trader Joe's put together an Organic Five Country Blend, including beans sourced from Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, Mexico, and Peru. Each origin contributes its own signature note: Guatemala lends almond and chocolate tones, Indonesia adds earthiness and a touch of spice, Honduras deepens the body, Mexico offers a hint of fruit, and Peru brightens the blend with a touch of acidity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result is a coffee that feels harmonious. Among the blends I sampled, this one stood out for its smoothness and balance. Subtle almond notes lead the way, rounded by gentle chocolate undertones, and there's little to no lingering aftertaste, making it a great everyday option. For those looking for a versatile cup that showcases the best of multiple origins without overwhelming the palate, the Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic Five Country Blend is an easy recommendation. 2. Trader Joe's Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee bag of Trader Joe's coffee sitting next to a glass mug of coffee beans on a counter - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound Coming in second place on this list is Trader Joe's Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee. These beans are a straightforward, great-tasting option that delivers solid quality at an impressive price point. At just $6.99, it was nearly half the cost of many other beans I sampled, making it one of the best value choices in Trader Joe's coffee lineup. The flavor profile is mild and easygoing, with no lingering aftertaste or overpowering acidity. As a true medium roast, it leans on the lighter side of Trader Joe's offerings while still maintaining a pleasantly full body. Upon first sip, you're introduced to subtle almond notes that are then rounded by soft hints of caramel and chocolate, adding a touch of richness without tipping into bitterness. This is the kind of coffee that works well for almost any household, contributing a neutral, smooth, and versatile option to please most coffee drinkers. It may not be the most complex or adventurous bean Trader Joe's offers, but for a reliable everyday cup, it's hard to go wrong. 1. Buunni Azmari Blend Coffee bag of Trader Joe's coffee sitting next to a glass mug of coffee beans on a counter - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound It's rare to come across an independent brand on Trader Joe's shelves, so when one makes it in, it usually means it's good. Buunni Azmari Blend coffee is exactly that; as a small, independent operation sourcing its beans directly from Ethiopia and roasting them locally in New York City, they provide a unique option to the store. The beans are sustainably sourced and hand-processed, grown on small farms and co-ops high in the Ethiopian highlands, where unique climate and altitude create some of the world's most celebrated coffee profiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What stood out about this coffee was how it balanced distinctiveness with drinkability. It's a lighter roast, yet it avoids the sharp acidity that often defines this category. Instead, the first sip delivers bright floral and fruity notes, hallmarks of Ethiopian beans, followed by layers of chocolate and caramel that round out the cup and create a smooth, lingering finish. Each sip feels dynamic yet refined, offering complexity without veering into harshness. This is the kind of coffee for those who appreciate a light roast with character. As a lively, aromatic, and unique option, I thought it deserved the top spot in this ranking. Methodology Trader Joe's shelves filled with various coffee beans - Inge Pham-Swann/Chowhound To create this ranking, I purchased every coffee bean available at my local Trader Joe's as of August 2025. Trader Joe's frequently rotates its small-lot offerings, so this selection represents a snapshot in time rather than a permanent lineup. All coffees were tasted black and prepared using an espresso machine to maintain consistency across samples. I utilized the four-step coffee tasting method for each cup tried. My rankings were determined based on several key factors, with overall taste carrying the most weight. Within that, I considered both the distinctness of each bean's flavor profile, specifically, whether it offered something unique, and the overall balance of its taste. Value also played a role, taking into account price relative to quality. While sustainability and social impact were not ranking criteria, I made notes of beans that carried certifications or demonstrated more responsible sourcing practices. I recognize that taste in coffee is inherently subjective. My goal was not only to rank these beans, but also to describe their roasts, notes, and overall character in a way that helps you determine which one best fits your own preferences, regardless of where it landed on this list. Read the original article on Chowhound. When Addison Stock asked her pilot father for a ride home from the airport, she knew hed come through. When he shows up, its like, Okay, Im taken care of, Stock tells CNN Travel. Thats how hes been my whole life, hes always been the type to show up. But she couldnt have predicted just how far her father would go this time. It was early August, Stock was returning from her perfect honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, with her new husband, Quinn. The couple expected Stocks father, Southwest Airlines captain John Arvin, to meet them with his car at arrivals in Phoenix, Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, though, the couple had to endure a packed flight home. Theyd forgotten to check in the day before too busy enjoying their final day of vacation and now finding themselves at the back of the line for unassigned seats, they figured theyd be sitting apart. As she waited at the gate in Cancun, battling a headache, Stock noticed a Southwest pilot lingering nearby, looking at his cellphone. Strange behavior, she thought. And then she glanced in the other direction, and got the surprise of her life. Walking toward her, in full uniform and grinning, was her father. It felt like an out-of-body experience, because youre just so not expecting your dad at the airport, recalls Stock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stock glanced back at the other pilot, now filming the moment on his phone. Only then did it click. Her father wasnt going to meet her at the airport in Phoenix. He was going to fly her there. Stocks husband Quinn caught on more quickly. He was already hugging Arvin while Stock was still sitting, stunned. Eventually, she jumped up to embrace her father too. It was so fun, Stock says. A really great way to end the whole thing, the trip, the wedding season. It just felt really special. Airport surprise Stock and her husband couldn't believe it when they saw Arvin at the gate in Cancun. - Karl Sheltz Captain Arvin had been planning the surprise for months. The idea began when Stock asked him to help plan her honeymoon. After the flights were booked, he quietly checked to see who would be piloting the return leg and bid for it himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flight secured, he told his wife, Kelli, and Stocks grandparents, but swore them to secrecy. Then, when Stock and Quinn asked if he could pick them up in Phoenix, he agreed, without giving anything away: I would be picking them up from the airport. I just didnt say which airport. To avoid any leaks, Arvin turned off his phones location services, which usually ping a family group chat whenever he lands in a new destination. On the day of the flight, Arvins fellow pilot, Karl Sheltz, scouted the gate, while Arvin hid out in a gift store until it was time to walk up to his daughter. I said, You told me to pick you up at the airport, so here I am, recalls Arvin, laughing. She was surprised that her dad was there. It was funny. It was an exciting time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the hugs and a selfie, Arvin slipped away to prepare the airplane and made sure the couple were the first to board the plane so they could choose their seats after all. The crew were in on the surprise and welcomed Quinn and Stock on board the flight - John Arvin Arvin didnt mention that his daughter and son-in-law were on board during his preflight remarks. I usually dont try to announce that my familys on the airplane, he says. I just leave it subtle. But he did congratulate the newlyweds in general terms during his preflight remarks. He also briefed his crew. Usually, when something like that happens, its exciting for the whole crew, because most days are just typical in and out days, says Arvin. And when something special is happening, you kind of get a little pick up in your step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, when the flight landed in Arizona, Arvin successfully delivered on part two of his promise. I walked them out of the airport to the car where I was parked, and went home. Father-daughter relationship Stock says Arvin's kind gesture epitomizes his caring nature. - Karl Sheltz For Stock, getting flown home by her dad was the perfect end to her honeymoon. I just knew that were in good hands and were gonna be taken care of, she says. And that just kind of sums him up for me. As for Arvin, he says it was a joy to share one more milestone, so soon after walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Shes very important to me, he says. Ive been able to be in her life a lot, and it was special. It was neat to be there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything worked out, lined up just right, and it was just what I was hoping for. Stock says her fathers gesture epitomizes their relationship. She says growing up, her father was always there for her and her brother, Connor. Hes just a good dad, she says. He cares and wants moments with me. Quinn, Stocks husband, also appreciated the surprise. They are really close, says Stock. My dad just absolutely loves him and cares for him like a son. Stock says shes now excited to begin a new chapter with her husband, but the flight was a reminder that her father will continue to support her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just was such a testament to just how he has literally always been, my whole entire life, which is just there and cares and wants it to be special, she says. I loved it. It was just perfect. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com More than 1,000 past and present Health and Human Service workers signed a petition calling for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The dissatisfied health care professionals addressed their Enough is Enough request to Kennedy and Congress asking the latter to appoint a new HHS leader should the current one choose to remain in his position. Our oath requires us to speak out when the Constitution is violated and the American people are put at risk, the petition published online Wednesday reads. Thus, we warn the president, Congress, and the public that Secretary Kennedys actions are compromising the health of this nation, and we demand Secretary Kennedys resignation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 71-year-old Trump administration appointees position on medical issues including vaccines alarmed many in the medical community before the activist was sworn in to lead the HHS in February. The 1,040 Kennedy critics cite his refusal to be briefed by well-regarded CDC experts on vaccine-preventable diseases among their reasons for demanding his dismissal. Hes also blamed for facilitating the departures of medical experts including Senate-confirmed CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez and appointing political ideologues who pose as scientific experts. Those who signed the petition include workers with ties to the Administration for Children and Families, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHS responded to Wednesdays petition with a statement claiming the CDC has been broken for a long time and vowed to fix it. From his first day in office, he pledged to check his assumptions at the door and he asked every HHS colleague to do the same. That commitment to evidence-based science is why, in just seven months, he and the HHS team have accomplished more than any health secretary in history in the fight to end the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again, wrote HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon. _____ WILLIMANTIC The campus at Eastern Connecticut State University has come back to life as the college welcomed more than 1,000 new undergraduate students. The new academic year welcomes 750 first-time students and 275 transfer students, which brings the overall student body to 3,600 students. This also includes nearly 200 enrolled in graduate programs. More than one-third of students are students of color, and 60% of students are living in campus resident halls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to University officials, 90% of students come from Connecticut, while new students come from 26 states and Canadian provinces overall. Approximately half of the first-time students are the first in their families to attend college, with an average GPA of 3.4. University officials said the top declared majors include health sciences, business administration, psychology, nursing, biology and criminology. Each fall, our campus is renewed by the energy and aspirations of new students, said President Karim Ismaili, who is beginning his second academic year at Eastern. Whether they are the first in their family to attend college, transferring from another institution, or arriving from across Connecticut and beyond, we are committed to helping them find their place at Eastern. My hope is that every student discovers their passions, builds lasting connections, and leaves here prepared to lead lives of purpose and impact. A stunning, 1,500-year-old inscription found on a slab of granite in the grasslands of Mongolia has sparked feverish debate amongst historians, reported Ancient Origins. The inscription has been tentatively dated to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 A.D.). Should it prove to be authentic, it would be one of the most significant discoveries from a unique dynasty which melded nomadic steppe culture and traditional Chinese civilization. The inscription was found near Ulanqab, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and measures 1.9-meters-wide by 2.6-meters-high. Even after exposure to the harsh elements for centuries, there were at least 50 characters which remained legible. The inscription, which bears the title "Stele of the Emperor's Northern Tour, contains the recognizable terms dai (dynasty); yiyue (first month); and zhuguozixiyushang (sons of various states, or merchants from China's Western Regions). The word Mofu also appears at least seven times. Mofu was a word used to describe tribal leaders of northern Chinas Eastern Hu lineage. The location of the discovery, nearby several military campaigns waged during the Northern Wei Dynasty, further points to the inscriptions authenticity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it is authentic, the "Stele of the Emperor's Northern Tour" would be one of only three confirmed imperial commemorative inscriptions from the Northern Wei period. Researchers call the discovery an invaluable addition to the dynastys history. Further analyses of the culture will focus on how the dynasty combined steppe political traditions with Chinese administrative practices. This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Aug 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here. GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) One person was taken to the hospital after a shooting in Greensboro on Tuesday, according to a Greensboro Police Department news release. At 9:40 p.m., officers responded to 8 St. Matthew Ct. when they were told about an assault. A victim who had been shot was taken by EMS to a hospital, police say. No suspect information is available at this time, and no motive for the shooting has been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family of the victim said he was a 4-year-old boy. Greensboro police have not identified the juvenile. The victims family told FOX8 that he was hit in the right side of his head by a bullet. They dont know how the child was shot, and they are asking for the shooter to turn themselves in. A woman who lives in the area is asking witnesses to cooperate with investigators. It makes me uneasy. I hope they find who did it. I hope someone says something, said Tara Rogers, a neighbor. Rogers said this isnt the first time a shooting has happened close to her home, and shes had enough. Im moving in two weeks Im selling my house. Im not comfortable, she 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 FOX8 WGHP. WILL COUNTY, Ill. A person is dead and another is in critical condition after their vehicle was struck in a hail of gunfire overnight in the south suburbs. Will County deputies said the deadly shooting unfolded just after 9 p.m. Wednesday, in the 2300 block of East Exchange Street in Crete Township. Deputies were initially called to the scene following a report of a shooting in the area and when they arrived, they found a parked black sedan riddled with bullet holes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines In total, deputies said they located about 40 shell casings in the area. Upon further investigation, deputies found two victims inside the car: a female who had suffered gunshot wounds to her head and hand, and a male passenger who had been hit in the hip and buttock. Deputies quickly began providing medical aid to the victim before paramedics arrived on the scene. The victims were then taken to the hospital, where the male later died from his injuries. The second victim remains in critical condition. It is unclear what led to the gunfire and the investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Authorities have not identified or provided ages for either victim involved and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Will County deputies at 815-727-8575 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at WillCoSheriff.org. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Loomis Sayles, an investment management company, released its Growth Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the fund returned 18.58% compared to 17.84% for the Russell 1000 Growth Index. The fund focused on a highly selective, long-term private equity approach to investing. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Loomis Sayles Growth Fund highlighted stocks such as Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO). Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) offers life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, laboratory products, and biopharma services. The one-month return of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) was 8.60%, and its shares lost 20.33% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On September 02, 2025, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) stock closed at $487.53 per share, with a market capitalization of $184.097 billion. Loomis Sayles Growth Fund stated the following regarding Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: Editor's note: The article was updated with casualty figures in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least two civilians and injured at least 35, including children, over the past day, regional authorities reported on Sept. 3. According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russian forces launched 502 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones, along with 16 Kalibr and eight Kh-101 cruise missiles overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 430 drones and 21 missiles, the Air Force said. The remaining weapons hit 14 locations, and debris from downed projectiles struck 14 additional sites. The combined attack targeted central and western regions far from the front line. As winter draws near, the latest Russian attack seemed to have targeted energy infrastructure, with damaged facilities reported in Chernihiv and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts. Five people were reported injured in Znamianka, a city in central Kirovohrad Oblast. According to local officials, 28 buildings were also destroyed in the Russian drone attack. Russian attacks injured 14 people in Donetsk Oblast, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. This included 10 wounded in the city of Druzhkivka, including a 16-year-old girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kherson Oblast, 14 people were injured in Russian attacks, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Two high-rise buildings, five houses, and a car were damaged. In Sumy Oblast, a girl born in 2011 and a man born in 1980 were injured during drone strikes against the region, the regional military administration reported. A 62-year-old man was killed during a Russian attack against the Polohy district in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov. Heavy damage was reported in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, including shattered windows at residential buildings and an educational institution. A municipal enterprise, garages, and public transport infrastructure were also damaged, Governor Serhii Tiurin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A local resident born in 1980 was killed in the overnight attack, the governor reported. A downed drone in the town of Vyshhorod on the outskirts of Kyiv caused a fire at a residential building, Kyiv Oblast Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported. No casualties were reported in the region. Read also: Russia injures 5, targets Ukraines energy grid in overnight strikes across multiple regions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Sept. 3 (UPI) -- At least one person was killed, five people were injured and tens of thousands were left without power after Russia unleashed a major airborne assault overnight against central and western Ukraine, officials said. Russian forces launched more than 500 drones and 24 cruise missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force said, with the heaviest damage in Khmelnytskyi province, 180 miles southwest of Kyiv, where a civilian in their 40s was killed, and in neighboring Kirovohrad province, where five people were injured in Znamianka. More than two dozen buildings were also destroyed in the attack on the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 400 drones and all but three of the missiles were downed or jammed by Ukrainian Air Defenses, but 14 sites were struck and another 14 were hit by debris from missiles and drones destroyed in the air. Blasts were also reported in Kyiv and the western cities of Lutsk, Kalush and Rivne. Attacks on energy infrastructure in Chernihiv province knocked out power to more than 30,000 homes, Gov. Viacheslav Chaus said, while state-run Ukrainian Railways reported damage to rail infrastructure in Kirovohrad caused long delays on the network of up to seven hours. More than 130 firefighters tackled a blaze in Ivano-Frankivsk at an industrial facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air raid warning sirens were active in the majority of Ukraine's 24 regions, with the proximity of some of the attacks to the border with Poland prompting NATO partners to scramble fighter jets. The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command said in a statement that its air force carried out an intensive operation that lasted for around four hours, backed by ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems. It said that F-35s from the Netherlands assisted in defending and securing Polish airspace, but stressed that the operation took place "in our airspace." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media to condemn the strikes and call for more coordinated international action to deter Russia from its nightly attacks, which, following a quieter first half of August, have escalated again in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These are clearly demonstrative Russian strikes. Putin is showing his impunity. And this undoubtedly requires a response from the world. It is only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on Russia's war economy, that this aggression continues," Zelensky wrote on social media. Zelensky said he would be holding talks with partners in the coming days on the need to ramp up that pressure beginning in Denmark later Wednesday, where he will join a summit of the so-called Nordic-Baltic Eight before going to Paris for a wider European summit on Thursday hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. "We are also preparing a format of the Coalition of the Willing and new steps in relations with the European Union and the United States. I thank everyone who is helping. Every Russian strike must be met with a real response," said Zelensky. President Trump on Tuesday said its only a matter of time before National Guard troops are deployed to Chicago to help tackle crime in the Windy City, highlighting shootings that killed 8 and wounded 50 over the Labor Day weekend. State and city leaders have told Trump to keep out of Chicago, while DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has shown increasing openness to an ongoing federal law enforcement presence in the capital. And a federal judge ruled Tuesday that Trumps deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles in June ran afoul of the law. Trumps threats and orders are testing the boundaries of federal power in Americas major cities, while spurring a debate over which cities and states are facing the biggest crime problems. Many local Democratic elected officials have said crime is decreasing, while Trump and other federal officials have accused them of falsifying crime data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below are 10 cities with the highest murder rate per 100,000: Jackson, Miss. Jackson is one of six cities in red states to rank in the top 10 in murder rate, all located in the South or Midwest. The capital citys homicide rate is a stunning 77.8 per 100,000 residents, according to 2024 data collected by the FBI. Thats almost 20 times the national average of about 8.2 murders per 100,000 in major cities. City leaders told local station WLBT in May there had been 50 percent drop in homicides compared to the same period last year. Gov. Tate Reeves (R ) deployed 200 Capitol police earlier this year to help fight crime in the city, after being called out by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for soaring murder rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeves blamed the issue on radical Democrat politicians running cities poorly in the South in a post on X, but said the crime rate is dropping rapidly after state Sen. John Horhn (D) ousted former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba (D) earlier this year. Fortunately, in Jackson, the voters are smarter than you think. They threw the self-proclaimed radical progressive out he just received less than 20% of the vote in his own primary, the Mississippi governor wrote. During the campaign, Horhn promised to restore trust and accountability to our community. Birmingham, Ala. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin (D) fended off a barrage of attacks over the citys crime rate during a debate last month on his way to re-election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im going to talk about a Randemic not a pandemic, but a Randemic that has run rapidly through the city, said state Rep. Juandalynn Givan, one of his competitors. The citys homicide rate is 58.8 per 100,000, according to FBI data on 2024. The total number of murders dropped from 76 in the first half of 2024 to 37 during the same period this year, a 51 percent drop, officials told local outlet ABC 33. However, overall crime increased by more than 7 percent during that period, with a 2 percent increase in violent crime, the outlet reported. Last year, the city saw 151 murders, making it the deadliest year in nine decades. Woodfin credited the drop in homicides to the police department being locked in and local citizens reporting violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are extremely aggressive in what they are doing, how theyre taking a different approach to policing in our community. Weve had a significant increase in technology with the Real-Time Crime Center, but separate from technology, people are stepping up, Woodfin said in a post on X. St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis, Mo. saw 54.1 homicides per 100,000 last year. But local officials reported a major drop in murders in the first three months of this year. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said homicides dropped 28 percent compared to the first quarter of last year, to the lowest level in 20 years, according to St. Louis Public Radio. City police were placed under state control in March by Gov. Mike Kehoe (R), who said residents needed safer streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant legislate lower crime, but what you can do is give law enforcement the tools it takes, he said, according to The Missouri Independent. Mayor Tishaura Jones (D) opposed the bill, calling it a sham at the time, adding the governors signature represents nothing but disrespect for every Missouri voter who supported local control. Jones was ousted by current Mayor Cara Spender (D) in April. During her victory speech, Spender, a city alderwoman, said her campaign was about so much more than potholes and trash. It was built on the idea that we can build a downtown that we can all be proud of while making neighborhoods south and north safer and more prosperous, she said. Memphis, Tenn. Memphis held the dubious distinction of having the highest violent crime rate among major U.S. cities, according to FBI data. With 40.6 homicides per 100,000 residents, it places fourth on this list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, citing high rates of crime, said Memphis would be placed on the early on the list of cities federal forces could target with an increased law enforcement presence next during an Aug. 21 interview with radio broadcaster Todd Starnes. That makes Tennessee a rare Republican-led state to come into Trumps crosshairs. Memphis Mayor Paul Young is a Democrat. Memphis officials and anti-crime advocates have touted a recent decrease in homicides. Two years in a row, weve been down almost 25 percent in homicides. That is a huge difference in our community, Susan Deason, executive director of Memphis Allies, said last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statistics from the citys police say overall crime has decreased by 22 percent compared to last year. Baltimore Baltimore, which saw 34.8 homicides per 100,000 people last year, has frequently been called out by Trump, who called it a hellhole on Tuesday. Both Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Mayor Brandon Scott (D) have tangoed with the president over his comments about high crime rates. Scott accused him of targeting Black led cities for criticism, while Moore invited Trump on a walk around communities to see what struggles local residents are facing. Trump told Moore to focus on driving down the crime rate first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of July 1, the city had recorded 68 homicides, which police said marked a 22 percent year-on-year decrease. They also reported a 19 percent decrease in non-fatal shootings. Detroit Detroits 31.2 homicides per 100,000 residents placed it sixth in the country. However, the 203 homicides in the Motor City last year was the lowest number since 1965, according to city data. It also marked a 19 percent decrease from 2023 and 34 percent from 2022. Mayor Mike Duggan, elected as a Democrat, is now running for governor as an independent, having been the longest-serving mayor in the citys history. Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison told NPR that changes in policing techniques and higher officer staffing levels likely contributed to the falling murder rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not one thing that drives violence. And so we are always consistently looking for the root causes, he said. Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland recorded 30 homicides per 100,000 residents last year, according to federal data. City leaders recorded 46 murders in the first six months of 2025, as reported by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, compared to a total of 64 murders the year prior. Mayor Justin Bibb (D) has touted a 46 percent drop in the homicide rate since he entered office in 2022, pointing to increasing community trust for police, the creation of a $100 million housing fund, and the redevelopment projects focused on job creation. From losing my cousin to gun violence to watching my mom navigate job insecurity, my leadership is informed by what Ive lived, he told BET in an article published last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not just doing police patrols. Were bringing government to the streets, he said. Louisville, Ky. Louisville saw 21.7 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2024. Leaders say homicides and shootings are down more than 30 percent this year, according to WLKY. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg (D) has set a goal of decreasing violence by 15 percent per year until 2030 through community organizations, job creation and education. Louisville is among a few cities on this list that have signed consent decrees with the Department of Justice, requiring policing reforms, often due to findings of discriminatory policing practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump signed an executive order that could end these consent decrees, leaving police reform efforts in a state of limbo. Were not sure in terms of the timing of all of that, but we will be ready to proceed and move forward when the federal court makes a decision, Greenberg said in May, Louisville Public Media reported. Indianapolis, Ind. Indianapolis reported 20 homicides per 100,000 in 2024, according to the FBI. The total of 173 murders that year was down significantly from 248 homicides in 2021. Last year, leaders said non-fatal shootings decreased by 10 percent compared to the prior year, the Indy Star reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Joe Hogsett (D) has been pushing to lower crime rates through prevention programs. He defended the citys crime response after Gov. Mike Braun (R) said in July state lawmakers should look into interventions into local policing. Our gun violence reduction strategy is saving lives, Hogsett said in a July 16 statement to IndyStar. Hogsett has also warned that local efforts could be hurt by new property tax laws. A bill ushered in by the Republican legislature could cut $10.5 million in city revenue, which could force city and county agencies to cut their 2026 budgets by 4 percent, the Associated Press reported. This could divert $1 million from The Elevation Grant Program, created to combat local crime. Oakland, Calif. Oakland saw 18.6 homicides per 100,000 residents last year, more than double the big city average. Leaders say violent crime is down across the board in the first half of this year, with a 21 percent decrease in murders. Trump has suggested that Oakland, led by Mayor Barbara Lee (D), a former congresswoman, could be a target of future federal deployments. Lee has pointed to Ceasefire, a citywide gun violence prevention program, as part of her plan to tackle homicide in the city. She told Oaklandside last month that police recruitment is another key focus. One of the biggest pieces is trying to make sure that we get to 700 police officers, because were short-staffed, she said. We need more, but the budget crisis makes that difficult. And recruitment and retention are very difficult, so were layering on new ways to recruit police officers from Oakland. Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) clashed over the president deploying National Guardsmen to Los Angeles earlier this summer. Lee said the city had plans to ensure the peace is kept if Trump sends troops into her 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 The Hill. HONOLULU (KHON2) When Hawaiis military families move, the thought of leaving a pet behind can be heartbreaking. For some, the high costs of transportation or the challenge of finding housing that allows animals feels overwhelming. But Hawaii has resources to help families avoid surrendering or abandoning their pets. UH sounds alarm: Infectious disease transmitted from dolphins to humans Brandy Shimabukuro, manager of communications for the Hawaiian Humane Society, is familiar with the need some families have when moving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaii ranks #46 in community support for military veterans The Hawaiian Humane Society does not track surrender reasons by profession or military status; so, we dont have specific data about military families compared to other families in our community, explained Shimabukuro. Honolulu ranks 100 out of 100 as least pet friendly city in U.S. Shimabukuro also noted that the Department of Defense reimburses up to $2,000 in qualified expenses for pet relocation. (Thats resource option #1.) This program has made it significantly easier for military families to keep their pets during relocations, which benefits both the families and their animals, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other than the DOD allowance to help you keep your pet rather than surrendering or abandoning them, there are several other options local military families can utilize. Pet relocation assistance for military families 2. PCSmyPet offers military-friendly relocation services with discounts, travel plans and experience with Permanent Change of Station moves. You can click here for more information. 3. Operation Military Pet helps cover transportation costs for families who have already exhausted other options. Click here. 4. Dogs on Deployment connects families with volunteer boarders during deployments, training or emergencies. Their Pet PCS Program also provides grants for overseas moves. Click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5. PACT for Animals runs Operation Foster that matches pets with foster families during relocations or deployments. More than 3,000 pets have been fostered through this program across the United States. Click here. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You 6. Happy Tails Travel specializes in military relocations for pets locally, nationally and internationally. They also offer military discounts. Click here. 7. Island Pet Movers provides relocation support with Hawaiis strict import rules, including help with paperwork, vaccinations and quarantine requirements. Discounts are available for military families. Click here. Local support in Hawaii 8. The Hawaiian Humane Society runs the Pets of Patriots program, which connects volunteers to service members in need of foster care for their pets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 9. The Hawaii Military Pets Facebook group is an online space for families to share advice, ask questions and find help with relocation. Financial and logistical support 10. Military OneSource provides relocation tools that includes Plan My Move, which helps families prepare for transportation and connects them to services. Click here. Pet relocation tied to a Permanent Change of Station can qualify as a tax-deductible expense. Companies such as Island Pet Movers provide single invoices to make the deduction process easier. Adoption and rehoming options If relocation is not possible, the Hawaiian Humane Society offers adoption services. Military personnel may qualify for waived fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hawaii Military Pets Facebook group also serves as a place to find foster families or adopters within the military community. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 Military families in Hawaii face challenges when moving, but resources exist to make it possible to keep pets safe, cared for and part of the family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Iconic skylines are one way to immediately identify some cities. Some looming skyscrapers haven't stood the test of time, ending up abandoned or incomplete. Cities must figure out what to do with the structures, and the cost of revitalization can be huge. In some cities, the tallest buildings fall short. Towering skyscrapers often create a city's iconic skyline, but in cities from New Orleans to Bangkok, sky-high buildings have fallen into disrepair or remain unfinished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While abandoned buildings can become symbolic of a location's financial or social struggles, cities still have to decide what to do with them. Some are left to rust, others are demolished, and a few become revitalized. In the mid-20th century, many older buildings in the US went under the wrecking ball. That's not the best option from a sustainability standpoint, Shawn Ursini, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's senior building database manager, told Business Insider. "A lot of these buildings can still have a lot of life left in them," he said. "We just maybe need to get a bit more creative as to what their purpose is going forward." He added that the CTBUH doesn't have a designation for abandoned buildings since it doesn't track buildings' occupancy once they're completed. The organization does, however, keep tabs on the many buildings worldwide that are on hold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Generally speaking, when a project goes on hold, there is still an attempt to finish it," Ursini said, though these attempts aren't always successful. Here are 10 of the tallest skyscrapers around the world that now sit empty or uncompleted and how they ended up that way. Beirut Trade Center, Beirut (459 feet) The Burj al-Murr or Beirut Trade Center, left, in 2022. Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images During the Lebanese Civil War, from 1975 to 1990, snipers took up residence in several Beirut buildings in what became known as the "Battle of the Hotels." Construction on the 40-story Beirut Trade Center, also known as Burj al-Murr or the "tower of bitterness," began in 1974, just a year before war broke out. At that point, the $15 million building was 70% complete, Executive Magazine reported in 2004. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to office space, the Trade Center was designed to hold a movie theater and restaurant accessible by helicopter. The architect Camillo Boano and the urban planner Dalia Chabarek described it as a scarred artifact of war that was "difficult to topple" or renovate. Several artists have incorporated the unfinished building into their work. In 2018, Jad El Khoury put up a temporary installation in the structure, adding colorful curtains to the windows to transform it into Burj El Hawa, the Tower of Air, Archinect reported. Plaza Tower, New Orleans (531 feet) The Tower Plaza, right, in New Orleans. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters One of New Orleans' tallest buildings has become a danger in the decades since it was erected in the 1960s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the $15.5 million building had a few residential units, it was mainly designed for offices. In 2002, building tenants, including the Orleans Parish district attorney's office, complained that toxic mold was making them sick. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the building was gutted because of both mold and asbestos, The Times-Picayune reported in 2014. Since then, its problems have continued. A piece of paneling fell and hit a bicyclist in 2021. There was a fire in 2022, and a man died falling from one of the floors in 2023. Despite attempts to salvage the Plaza Tower, "the city made their case that the buildings become a public safety hazard," Ursini said. In January, The Times-Picayune reported the city was preparing to demolish the building however, in June, it got a second chance. The Times-Picayune reported two developers were in contract to buy the building, with plans for a $250 million renovation that would turn it into a senior living facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 909 Chestnut Street, St. Louis (588 feet) 909 Chestnut Street with the AT&T sign visible. Isabella Pino/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images In 2022, Rosin Preservation wrote a report arguing that 909 Chestnut Street, also known as One AT&T Center, should be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Completed in 1985, the St. Louis building is one of the tallest in the state and has a "fortress-like base," and its "facade appears to stretch beyond what is expected, seemingly indefinitely," the report says. AT&T didn't renew its lease in 2017, and the building has been empty since, according to CoStar, which gathers information on commercial real estate. In 2024, the Goldman Group bought 909 Chestnut for $3.6 million, a fraction of its 2006 price of $205 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At that price, I guess the building itself is a blank slate because you're picking it up for almost nothing," Ursini said. The real estate firm hopes to put in 600 apartments, a pickleball court, and a movie theater, Fox2 reported in January, although the work was put on hold in May, pending the approval of a state tax credit bill. Sathorn Unique, Bangkok (607 feet) The Sathorn Unique building stands empty in Bangkok, Thailand. The 49-story Bangkok high-rise was supposed to feature luxury condos for hundreds of newly affluent Thai families, but was abandoned unfinished when the Asian financial crisis struck in 1997. Now called the "Ghost Tower," it's a monument to mistakes made and an object of curiosity to a steady stream of visitors. Sakchai Lalit/AP Popularly known as Thailand's "Ghost Tower," this looming structure dates back to 1990. The 47-floor building was only 80% finished when the 1997 Asian financial crisis hit. Its architect was also charged and then acquitted as part of a murder plot that was never carried out, Architectural Digest reported in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the unfinished luxury condo in ruins, daredevil travelers risk trespassing and injury to explore the tower. Exposed wires and rusty metals are just a few of the building's hazards. Centro Financiero Confinanzas, Caracas, Venezuela (623 feet) Structural damage on the top five floors of "Tower of David" after a 2018 earthquake in Caracas, Venezuela. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters For years, this empty 45-story building, known as the Torre de David or Tower of David, was also described as the world's tallest slum. The banker David Brillembourg hoped to create Venezuela's version of Wall Street with the tower, The New Yorker reported, but the country's financial crisis and Brillembourg's death put an end to construction in 1994, New York Magazine reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 3,000 people took up residence in the concrete shell of a building, transforming it into a community with electricity, grocery stores, and water, Slate reported in 2014. But the structure was deemed unsafe, and the occupants were evicted in 2014, the BBC reported. In 2018, a powerful earthquake did some damage to the upper levels of the Tower of David, Reuters reported. 1 Seaport, New York City (670 feet) The unfinished 1 Seaport in 2020. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images At between $1.5 million and $20 million a pop, units in 1 Seaport came with the promised luxuries of an infinity pool, dazzling views, and 10-foot ceilings. Buyers snapped them up, putting down hundreds of thousands of dollars as deposits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, a carpenter working on the $273 million building fell to his death, The New Yorker recently reported. When it emerged that the building was sinking and leaning to the left, its contractors and developers started blaming each other, Curbed reported in 2021. One lawyer involved in one of 1 Seaport's many lawsuits described the tilted structure as resembling a banana. While the building is unlikely to fall over, construction has been halted since 2020. Oceanwide Plaza, Los Angeles (677 feet) Wildfire smoke rising behind the Oceanwide Plaza tower in Los Angeles. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Consisting of three towers, the unfinished Oceanwide Plaza has become notorious for artists tagging its exterior. Last year, thrill-seekers even BASE jumped from the top. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ambitious complex, expected to cost $1 billion, was meant to be home to luxury residential units and a five-star hotel, The Los Angeles Times reported. It's about 60% complete after construction halted in 2019. Oceanwide Holdings, the company behind the towers, filed for involuntary bankruptcy, Los Angeles Magazine reported last year. Finishing the project would take about $800 million, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2024. Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea (1,082 feet) Feng Li/Getty Images Jutting high above its surrounding buildings, the pyramid-shaped Ryugyong earned the nickname "Hotel of Doom" when it sat empty and incomplete for more than a decade in the middle of North Korea's biggest city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work on the 105-story building began in 1987 under the rule of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un's grandfather. In 1992, the economic depression following the Soviet Union's collapse halted construction before windows were installed and the concrete was covered. Construction has stopped and started several times since, and it's unclear when the structure will open. In 2008, Reuters reported it would take an estimated $2 billion to complete the hotel. "It was bare," Simon Cockerell, a tour operator, told Australia's 9news of the concrete-filled interior after a visit in 2023. On the outside, though, a new LED screen broadcasts propaganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skycity, Mandaluyong, Philippines (1,099 feet) A large hole in between buildings, right, where SkyCity was meant to rise over 1,000 feet in the air. TanMan/Getty Images This is one project that never got off the ground. Originally, its developers hoped Skycity would be the Philippines' tallest building. They planned for the 77-story skyscraper to hold a hotel, swanky condos, and a bar, Esquire Philippines reported. Nearby homeowners complained when developers broke ground in 1997 for several reasons, including that the structure, planned to be more than 1,000 feet tall, would cast a giant shadow. A lengthy legal battle ensued, and funding for the estimated $85 million project dried up. The location is just a large, mossy hole now. Goldin Finance 117, Tianjin, China (1,957 feet) The Goldin Finance 117 Tower in Tianjin, China, in 2024. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Nothing in the vicinity comes close to the height of the rusting, unfinished Goldin Finance tower in Tianjin, a city in Northern China. It was meant to hold a hotel, condos, and offices. Construction began on the structure in 2008. A diamond-shaped atrium was supposed to sit atop the building, reminiscent of a glittering gem on top of a walking stick. From the atrium's observation deck and restaurant, guests would have had dizzying views of the city's downtown. Then, in the mid-2010s, Goldin Group, the skyscraper's developer, started having financial troubles. At that point, it would have taken $10 billion to complete the project, Forbes reported in 2022. "There's no cladding on the exterior, and the building is just there awaiting a restart of construction," Ursini said. It still remains empty, although CNN reported in April that construction was set to resume on the building, with an expected completion date of 2027. This story was originally published in August 2018 and most recently updated in September 2025. Read the original article on Business Insider Soldiers in the Armys 101st Airborne Division will head to the U.S.-Mexico border this fall as part of the latest deployments to the region in support of federal government efforts to stop illegal immigration, the Army has announced. Currently, about 7,600 are deployed to the region in support of Joint Task ForceSouthern Border, according to U.S. Northern Command, or NORTHCOM. Troop levels will remain roughly the same when the new soldiers deploy in the fall, Army officials said. The latest deployments involve the following units: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 101st Airborne Division Headquarters will replace the 10th Mountain Division Headquarters. The 101st Airborne Division Artillery will replace the 89th Military Police Brigade. The 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, will replace the 1st Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade. The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, will replace the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The 11th Corps Signal Brigade, III Armored Corps, will replace the 35th Corps Signal Brigade, 18th Airborne Corps. The North Carolina Army National Guards 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade will replace the Army Reserves 90th Sustainment Brigade. The total number of soldiers deploying to the U.S.-Mexico border in the fall was not included in the Armys news release. U.S. military planners are still determining what type of combat vehicles and other equipment soldiers deploying to the southern border this fall will have, a defense official said. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20 declaring a national emergency on the southern border, and he directed the Defense Department to assist the Department of Homeland Security with border security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to sending troops to the southern border, the Defense Department has also established four national defense areas in the region, in which U.S. troops can temporarily detain trespassers until they can be handed off to federal law enforcement officers. Top Stories This Week News Marine general will return to Parris Island 40 years after graduating By Jeff Schogol News Navy ends carrier landings as a requirement to earn Wings of Gold By Matt White News Navys top cybersecurity official abruptly leaves By Nicholas Slayton Last month, the Pentagon announced that troops that have deployed to the southern border since Jan. 20 to help agents with U.S. Border and Customs Protection, or CBP, will be eligible for the Mexican Border Defense Medal. The award has the same design as the Mexican Border Service Medal, which Congress established in 1918. The Pentagon has also shifted $200 million from Army, Navy, Air Force and Defense Department programs, such as barracks where enlisted personnel live, to replace a 12-foot-tall mesh barrier with a 30-foot-tall permanent protective barrier at the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Task & Purpose previously reported, the border mission has quietly been used as a military test-bed, with the fielding of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System, or IVAS; the deployment of a platoon of 10th Mountain Division soldiers who worked on a counter-drone mission on the U.S.-Mexico border; and a vehicle equipped with a BlueHalo LOCUST Laser Weapon System. The current border mission is in addition to Operation Lone Star, a Texas mission that is separate from federal efforts. It's been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Louisiana, and Netflix's newest documentary Katrina: Come Hell and High Water commemorates the anniversary by giving an intimate look at the experiences of New Orleanians before, during, and after the storm. Netflix The three-episode series features interviews with survivors, journalists, and state leaders who were on the ground, offering an in-depth look at the impact that systemic racism had on rescue efforts for citizens trying to survive both a Category 5 storm and its aftermath. Netflix On the 20th anniversary of Katrina, the country reflects on "a refugee crisis like the nation has never known." Below are the 15 most interesting facts I learned straight from the documentary: Netflix 1.Many New Orleanians were skeptical of the severity of Katrina due to the previous year's warnings of Hurricane Ivan, which passed over the city at the last minute. Netflix Advertisement Advertisement "They had a lot of people that spent a lot of money on hotels, on food, all of this other stuff... It kind of disrupted everybody's thought process for when Hurricane Katrina did come," said Shelton "Shakespear" Alexander, a former resident of Saint Bernard Parish. 2.Over 20,000 New Orleanians lined up to seek shelter at the Superdome stadium before the storm. Netflix The documentary described the Superdome as a "last resort" for citizens who could not evacuate or did not leave in time, with the line stretching for two miles. Netflix According to the documentary, the government was "overwhelmed" by the number of people who showed up at the Superdome, many of whom were low-income and had no means to leave the city. One man who stayed there during Katrina described the overcrowded conditions: "I think of like, the slave ships, like, the way they stacked us up," Shelton "Shakespear" Alexander, a former resident of Saint Bernard Parish, said. Advertisement Advertisement 3.Hurricane Katrina first hit landfall at 3:00 a.m. on Aug. 30, 2005. Netflix In the documentary, New Orleanians describe seeing the fear in the eyes of news broadcasters on TV as they warned of the danger of the storm. Both hotels' roofs and the roof of the Superdome experienced major leaks as water spilled in, putting those seeking safety in danger. People who stayed in their houses were forced to flee to higher ground in their attics, but the water kept rising, drowning many in their own homes. 4.Multiple levees described as New Orleans' "best defense against the storm" broke during Hurricane Katrina, causing a foot and a half of water to fill the city streets every hour. Netflix The first levee broke at 6:30 a.m. during the hurricane in the 9th Ward. Other breaks occurred on the 17th Street Canal, the London Canal, and the Industrial Canal. According to the documentary, floodwaters rose to 1215 feet, and water flowed directly into where people lived. Advertisement Advertisement 5.The levees' breaking was described as a "nuclear bomb [being] dropped on the city of New Orleans," according to the Louisiana lieutenant governor at the time. Netflix "I'm like shit, the sun is shining, we're good. Next thing I know, somebody yells from across the way and says, 'water's coming in the city!'...and I'm looking at the ground, and I'm seeing water," said Phyllis Montana Leblanc, a resident of New Orleans East. Netflix 6.After the levees broke, the Lower 9th Ward a historically Black neighborhood was described as being "underwater," causing many to drown in their own homes. Netflix At the time, according to the documentary, news outlets gave little coverage to the flooding and deaths occurring in the Lower 9th Ward and chose to highlight the more well-known locations in New Orleans that had money, like Bourbon Street. One interviewee stated: "The government's levees failed, and they left us." Advertisement Advertisement 7.Residents of the Lower 9th Ward acted as their own search and rescue team, riding around in boats to save their neighbors who were trapped. Netflix "Once we'd get at least 10 people, we'd bring them to Martin Luther King school. We were rescuing, like, everybody, dogs and whatever. People that was barely making it, that was halfway drowning. People trapped on roofs. We'd pick 'em up... It's a good thing we did it 'cause to be honest with you, our leaders wasn't here for my people," said Freddy Hicks, a resident of the Lower 9th Ward. 8.Those who were rescued from their flooded homes were later taken to the Superdome and forced to remain there for days alongside those who sought shelter. Netflix According to the documentary, over 200 National Guardsmen were sent to keep order and prohibit anyone from leaving the Superdome until it was "safe," causing mass overcrowding. "It was dark as hell, extremely, extremely warm, and the smell was just so bad because you had all those bodies in there," Shelton "Shakespear" Alexander, a former resident of Saint Bernard Parish, described. "If I wanted to leave to go and help...I couldn't leave." Advertisement Advertisement 9.Fifty-four hours after the levees broke, Air Force One with President George W. Bush on board flew over the disaster zone of Katrina. Netflix According to the documentary, President George W. Bush was on vacation when Hurricane Katrina hit. Days later, he flew over New Orleans, then returned to the White House. In the documentary, residents expressed frustration with Bush's response to the storm devastation. One resident in the 13th Ward was asked to comment on President Bush flying over the city. "He flew over, 35,000 feet, looked out the window, said, 'Damn, that shit look bad.' Then he kept goin'." 10.Amidst the chaos, Lieutenant General of the United States Army Russel L. Honore a Louisiana native took over as lead command for the city's rescue efforts after the storm hit. Netflix According to Episode 2, "Shelter of Last Resort," federal, state, and local officials did not "get along" and were not working together effectively to bring aid, further slowing the process of saving lives. "It takes logistics to solve the freakin' problem, and none of those fucking politicians are trained to do that," Honore said. "I was the closest Army commander to the problem...I was told that I would lead Task Force: Katrina." Advertisement Advertisement 11.Three days after the storm, people were told to walk miles to the Convention Center for help, but no aid was provided when they arrived. Netflix President Bush had said on the news that buses were being sent to the Convention Center to transport people from New Orleans to Houston, Texas, as part of relief efforts, but when survivors arrived, there was zero aid. In the documentary, a police officer was recorded telling survivors, "We have no means to get anybody anywhere. We have no medical attention. The government hasn't sent us anything." One survivor in the documentary described the terrible conditions at the Convention Center. "We didn't have any food, any water, anything. They had dead bodies there." 12.Bus operations to take survivors out of the city began at the Superdome, but were quickly shut down after gunshots were reportedly fired at rescue helicopters. Netflix In the documentary, Lieutenant General Honore explained that the shots fired that the media reported weren't the full story. "People would see a helicopter flying, and they were isolated, and they'd take the shotgun and shoot it into the air, think they'd get the helicopter's attention," he explained. Advertisement Advertisement 13.Days after the storm, martial law was declared in the city of New Orleans due to inaccurate reports of "widespread looting." Netflix "We would later learn when they would examine crime statistics in the city that actually the narrative of like 'Oh my god, crime is out of control, and now police have to patrol the streets,' it just wasn't accurate," said Soledad O'Brien, a CNN anchor during Katrina. "There was so much misinformation and hysteria, it literally led to people getting shot." 14.The media's racist framing of survivors further endangered Black New Orleanians. Netflix And finally... 15.Vigilante violence against Black New Orleanians became a serious issue in the days after the storm. Netflix One Black resident who was interviewed in the documentary described walking through a neighborhood trying to find help and being shot. "Before you know it, boom, I was on the ground. I didn't even know what hit me...I see a guy with a shotgun in his hand...and he let off another shot." It was also reported that a group of white men in Algiers Point were shooting at Black people. In the documentary, one white man was videoed laughing, and saying, "We shot 'em! It was great, like pheasant season in South Dakota." Advertisement Advertisement A surgeon from a nearby hospital reported getting 610 gunshot victims per day, a significant jump post-Katrina. Netflix What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below. Do you love all things TV and movies? Subscribe to the Screen Time newsletter to get your weekly dose of what to watch next and what everyone is flailing over from someone who watches everything! SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Two cattle are dead following a crash in Norfolk on Tuesday. According to a release from the City of Norfolk, the crash happened at the intersection of 13th Street and Benjamin Avenue at around 8:10 p.m. on Tuesday. Officials said that when they arrived at the scene of the crash, they found an overturned semi and a car with significant damage. Upon closer investigation, the driver of the car was pinned inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the driver was freed from the car, he was transported by Norfolk Rescue with non-life-threatening injuries. Story continues below The release states that the driver of the semi had been headed south on 13th Street when the stoplight at the Benjamin Avenue intersection turned red. Officials said that the driver told him that due to the cattle in his trailer, he did not want to brake hard and attempted to drive through the light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, a passenger car was headed east on Benjamin Avenue, which had a green light. The driver of the car attempted to avoid the crash, but was hit by the semi. The semi driver, Austin Miller, 25, of Minnesota, was cited for violating a traffic signal. Officials said alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Officials said that in total, there were 32 steers in the semi-trailer. Of the 32 cattle, two died as a result of the crash. The remaining cattle were able to be loaded onto another trailer. The road remained closed until around 12:30 a.m. due to necessary clean-up. The Norfolk Police Division was assisted by the Madison County Sheriffs Office and Norfolk Fire & Rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. Two men are accused of drunk driving in a 2024 crash in Lake St. Louis that claimed the life of a Wentzville woman. According to a crash report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 2:15 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2024, on Veterans Memorial Parkway, just east of Lake St. Louis Boulevard. The highway patrol said a 2015 Cadillac CTS made a left-hand turn from a private driveway toward Lake St. Louis Blvd. when a 2015 Dodge Durango slammed into the CTS on the passenger side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A female passenger in the Cadillac was pronounced dead at SSM St. Joseph Hospital just before 3:30 a.m. She was 62. Neither the woman nor the driver of the Durango were wearing their seatbelt at the time of the collision, the crash report said. Popular restaurant accused of harboring undocumented migrants The highway patrol learned that the Durango was traveling between 85 and 90 miles per hour in a 50 mph zone when it struck the CTS. When state troopers met with the driver of the Durango, Kevin R. Jenkins, at the hospital, they suspected he was under the influence. Jenkins allegedly admitted to taking prescription medication prior to the crash. A blood test was given, and Jenkins BAC came back at 0.21%, more than twice the legal limit. Authorities said the test also detected amphetamines, lorazepam, alprazolam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators made a similar observation of Mark A. Hazeltine, the driver of the CTS. Hazeltine told police hed had two bourbon and cokes. After failing a breath test, Hazeltine agreed to submit a blood test. Hazeltines BAC registered at 0.122%. He also tested positive for alprazolam. The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged both Hazeltine and Jenkins with DWI death of another. Theyre each being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond. Online court records do not show when theyll appear before a judge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Yunfeng Financial Group, backed by Alibaba Group Holding founder Jack Ma, said it was investing in the cryptocurrency ether as part of its reserve assets, as the company expands into Web3 amid Hong Kong's digital asset initiative. To date, Hong Kong-listed Yunfeng has invested US$44 million to acquire 10,000 ether for its "strategic reserve", according to an exchange filing on Tuesday. Ether would provide "key infrastructure support" for real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation activities, Yunfeng said, adding that it was exploring potential applications of ether within its insurance business. The group derives most of its revenue from its insurance business, which generated nearly HK$2.8 billion (US$359 million) last year. The company's net profit reached HK$471 million. 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. Hong Kong-headquartered Yunfeng is a subsidiary of Cayman Islands-incorporated Yunfeng Financial Holdings, which is 29.85 per cent owned by Ma and 70.15 per cent by Yu Feng, chairman of Yunfeng Financial Group. The companies' names combine the Chinese given names of its two founders. Shares of Yunfeng fell more than 5 per cent on Wednesday morning. Yunfeng founders Jack Ma (left) and Yu Feng. Photo: Handout alt=Yunfeng founders Jack Ma (left) and Yu Feng. Photo: Handout> Last month, Yunfeng announced a major push into what it called "frontier areas", which included Web3. The company planned to increase investments in digital currencies such as stablecoins and "actively explore" RWA tokenisation, according to its filings. RWA tokenisation is the process of converting tangible assets into digital tokens on a blockchain. Yunfeng's securities subsidiaries have applied to Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission for upgrades to their licences, which would enable them to "offer comprehensive virtual asset trading services" and manage portfolios with digital assets. The company's foray into digital assets coincides with rising cryptocurrency prices. Ether has increased 70 per cent since last year, while bitcoin is trading nearly 90 per cent higher than a year ago. More mainland Chinese companies have launched digital asset initiatives in Hong Kong, where the government has established regulatory frameworks to promote the city as a hub for such businesses. Two Chinese nationals living in Riverside County pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a scheme to defraud Apple by fraudulently returning thousands of counterfeit iPhones, iPads and other goods, resulting in more than $16.2 million in losses for the tech giant. Yushan Lin, 31, and Shuyi Xing, 35, both of Corona, admitted to conspiracy charges involving wire and mail fraud. Xing also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in a separate case tied to more than $1 million in elder fraud schemes, federal prosecutors said. The four other defendants who have also pleaded guilty, include Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wenhui Huang, 40, of Chino Hills, the groups ringleader, who authorities say was in the country illegally Yang Song, 38, of Corona, the groups second-in-command Junwei Jiang, 38, of East Los Angeles Zhengxuan Hu, 27, of Alhambra, who authorities say was in the country illegally Prosecutors stated that the conspiracy spanned from at least December 2015 to March 2024. Counterfeit Apple products were smuggled from China to California, where the devices were designed to mimic genuine Apple items, down to their serial numbers, which matched those of real devices still under warranty. The group then returned the fakes to Apple stores across Southern California, falsely claiming they were broken or defective. Apple employees, believing the devices were genuine, replaced them with authentic products under warranty programs. The conspirators then shipped the real iPhones and iPads back to China and other locations for resale at a profit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities stated that Lin and Xing personally fraudulently returned and attempted to return at least 1,584 counterfeit devices to Apple, causing at least $1,116,544 in actual losses to the company. The larger conspiracy fraudulently returned and attempted to return more than 27,645 counterfeit devices to Apple, causing at least $16,239,254 in actual losses to the company. The group allegedly targeted stores in Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, Irvine, Northridge, Manhattan Beach, Brea, Rancho Cucamonga, Cerritos, and other locations, as well as malls including The Grove, South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island, and The Americana at Brand. U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte Jr. scheduled sentencing for Dec. 10. Lin faces up to 20 years in federal prison, while Xing faces a maximum of 40 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 KTLA. Two United Airlines planes collided on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Monday night, the airline and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have confirmed. According to the FAA, which is investigating the event, United Airlines flight 1871 struck United Airlines flight 796 while pushing back from the gate. The airline explained the moving plane made contact with the tail of the parked United aircraft. The collision occurred in an area where air traffic controllers do not communicate with flights," per the FAA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically, an Air Traffic Control Ground Controller communicates with the pilot, telling them when it is safe to push back from the gate and helping them navigate to the their takeoff position while crossing active runways, according to How Stuff Works. For takeoff, the Ground Controller passes communication over to the Local Controller in the tower. Getty San Francisco International Airport entrance San Francisco International Airport entrance The incident occurred around 9:10 p.m. local time on Labor Day, Sept.1 one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. Flight 1871 to Denver was later towed back to the gate and both aircrafts deplaned. A United spokesperson confirmed no injuries occurred and the airline arranged for different aircraft to take passengers to their destinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Near misses and potential collisions between planes are an increasing concern, according to an investigation by the New York Times. In August 2023, the Times released a report digging into the recent alarming uptick in close calls happening between aircrafts, both in the sky and on the tarmac, including why they happen and why the public often doesn't know about them. According to the investigation, incidents involving aircrafts nearly coming into contact with one another have seen a rapid rise across the country, involving almost every airport and major airline. The report cited a lack of warning systems at airports coupled with a staffing shortage of air traffic controllers as some of the main contributing factors to these near-catastrophes that happen, on average, multiple times a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Earlier this year, two people were injured after two planes collided at Charleston International Airport. At around 9:30 p.m. local time on July 18, Breeze Airways flight MX509 from Las Vegas to Norfolk, Va., landed in South Carolina due to thunderstorms near Norfolk International Airport, the airline confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement. The airline said its Airbus A220-300 was parked and awaiting fuel before continuing to Virginia when the planes tail was struck by a Boeing 787-10 belonging to All Nippon Airways. The collision occurred around 9:50 p.m. Matt May/Bloomberg via Getty A Breeze Airways plane on a tarmac A Breeze Airways plane on a tarmac Local outlet WCSC reported law enforcement and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the passengers on the Breeze Airways flight deplaned and bussed to the terminal. The airline said two people were evaluated for minor injuries. A new aircraft eventually took all of the passengers aboard the Breeze Airways flight to Virginia, and they arrived in Norfolk at 2:50 a.m. on Saturday, July 19. Read the original article on People The congregants of First Presbyterian Church of Rushville, 226 N. Morgan Street, are hosting a special program Sunday, Sept. 7, to mark the church's 200th anniversary. Past ministers Greg Steible, Dena Vittorio and current interim minister Roy Peters are participating in the special service. Following worship at 10:30 a.m. there will be a group photo and attendees will then enjoy lunch. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP if they are staying for lunch. Call 765-932-2175 and leave a message on the answering machine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A history of the church indicates the current building is actually the third one serving the community over the years. It was originally known as The Rushville Church before later changing that to its current name, and originally had 29 members. It wasn't until Dec. 13, 1830 that the first deed for a lot to the church was recorded; one of Rushville's early founders, Dr. Laughlin, deeded the lot to the church trustees. In the fall of the first year in which the church was organized (1825) there was a severe malaria epidemic and many Rushville area residents died including four of the church's charter members: William and Elizabeth Junkins; Mary Anderson, wife of James Anderson; and Nancy Junkins, wife of Noble Junkins. The townfolk at the time decided to do two things: gather together and pray, and destroy a dam that had been constructed to free the stagnant water. Historians differ on the first church. One record says it was a log cabin built from a few rods from Dr. Laughlin's home that was near a spring on the south side of First Street, between Morgan and Harrison (south of where today's Eagles Lodge is located). Another record says it was a low brick building, but all agree on the location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ground was very low around the building and it was frequently filled with ice and water, making it difficult to reach. During a big revival in 1839, which lasted six weeks, Harmony Laughlin kept his two-horse wagon with a linen cover in constant requisition to haul the women back and forth from their homes to the church. The men waded through mud and water. The floor of the church and near the ground, making it cold and damp. In 1830, there were 90 communicant members. In 1837, there were 144 persons that had united. By April 6, 1840, there were a total of 193 communicants. The Second Church A second building served the community from 1845 to 1893 after a need for larger accommodations was seen. It was decided to tear down the original church and worship in the courthouse while a new church was being erected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rev. D.M. Stewart agreed to make the bricks and to secure the materials needed for a new building. The new church was a brick building about 50 by 38 feet. The main auditorium was reached by two stairways, one on each side of the front entrance. I was considered one of the "most complete" churches in Eastern Indiana at that time. It was finished in the spring of 1845 at a cost of $2,957.95, which included the bell, stoves and Sunday School rooms. The first pipe organ to be installed in Rushville was in the Presbyterian church. The Band of Workers' minutes of November 1881 shows an organ fund existed and that the women helped pay for this first pipe organ, which was purchased in 1882. For many years it was pumped by hand and it usually fell on young boys from Sunday School to do so. L. Marshall Carmichael was the first organist. When the current church was built he carried this organ piece by piece and re-assembled it in the new building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1893 the building was sold for $1,560 to the Rushville Social Club. It was later sold to the Red Men Lodge, and on March 5, 1962 it was again sold, this time to the American Legion. It was then demolished for a parking lot. The cornerstone of this building was saved and given to the church trustees. The Third Church In December 1890 it was decided to build a new church, and on Nov. 3, 1992 the cornerstone of the church was laid with appropriate ceremony. Work on the new church was completed in September 1893. There were few changes made in this third church, though the organ was replaced with the present organ in 1938; it was purchased from M.P. Moller, Inc. of Hagerstown, Maryland for $6,100 plus the old organ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Education Building, constructed while Rev. Naylor served the congregation, was dedicated on April 28, 1974. The building comprises the J.D. Taff Memorial Chapel, the Jennifer Naylor Sunday School room, a pastor's study, five other classrooms and a multi-purpose room. The building is air-conditioned and electrically heated. On Feb. 6, 2000 the congregation of the church and the congregation of Trinity church voted overwhelmingly for a covenant between the two churches under which they would search for and call a minister to serve both churches. (The historical information contained in this article was taken from church records that date back to Jan. 22, 1825.) SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A yearly cookout event took place in Sioux City on Tuesday night as a way to bring the community together after Labor Day. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peoples Bank hosted their party in the park on Morningside Avenue. Officials said the free event shows their thanks to people in the Morningside area for supporting them. There were activities such as painting a car, a bouncy house, and meeting first responders from the Sioux City Police Department and the Sioux City Fire and Rescue. Sioux City Public Library encourages Siouxland to sign up for Library Cards Bank officials said the party aims to highlight their commitment to be there for the people they serve. You know, one of our core values at Peoples Bank is enriching families and communities, and this is just one way we can do that, Bonita Van Otterloo from Peoples Bank said. You know, I think its just a testament to Peoples Bank being a community bank and being able to continually give back to our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the street from the bank, there was a car show at the Sioux City Public Library that showcased many American muscle and vintage cars. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEED TO KNOW A 24-year-old man has died after falling about 40 feet from a rock formation in Kentucky over Labor Day weekend, officials said The victim has been identified as Cameron Smoot from Mason, Ohio, according to the Fayette County Coroner's Office The incident occurred at Whittleton Arch, located in Kentucky's Red River Gorge, Powell County Search and Rescue said A 24-year-old man has died after he fell about 40 feet from a rock formation in Kentucky over Labor Day weekend, officials said. The victim has been identified as Cameron Smoot from Mason, Ohio, according to a news release shared with PEOPLE from the Fayette County Coroner's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powell County Search and Rescue was first dispatched to the scene in Kentucky's Red River Gorge around 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, Aug. 30, along with Powell County Emergency Medical Services, the search and rescue agency said in a social media statement. "Initial reports stated an individual had fallen an estimated 40 feet from the top of Whittleton Arch down to the rocks below," Powell County Search and Rescue said. "While alert and oriented, it became readily apparent the patients condition was critical. Personnel from Lee County Search & Rescue, Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department, and Kentucky State Parks arrived on scene to assist and expedite the carry out," the agency continued. Smoot was transported to Middlefork Fire Department and flown to a University of Kentucky hospital, where he later died from his injuries, Powell County Search and Rescue said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They added, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family." 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 coroner's office confirmed Smoot died shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. His cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries due to a fall from height, and officials are investigating his death as an accident. Red River Gorge is located in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest and "ranks among the top climbing and rappelling destinations in the world," according to Kentucky's tourism website. Read the original article on People Twenty-seven babies and children. The number could reflect a classroom full of future scientists, astronauts, bankers, police officers, teachers or builders. Instead, it's the number of those who have no future. That's how many of our youth have died so far this year after dying in a hot car. Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some were unintentionally left in the vehicle. Others managed to get into a vehicle without an adult being aware. Some were intentionally left in a vehicle. One 18-month-old boy died in Ormond Beach. "Since 1990, at least 1,157 children have died in hot cars in the United States and at least another 7,500 survived with varying degrees of injury" according to data compiled by Kids and Car Safety. Children are extremely susceptible to death if left in a vehicle or if they manage to get into one undetected. What some may find surprising is that it doesn't take a 90-degree-plus day for temperatures inside a car to become deadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A childs body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adults and when a child is left in a hot vehicle, the situation could become life-threatening very quickly, says Lori Cook, safety advisor, AAA East Central. AAA said heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle fatalities for kids 14 and younger. How many babies, children have died this year in hot cars? As of Sept. 3, 27 have died so far this year, according to Kids and Car Safety. Ages range from 3 months to 9 years old. The breakdown on how kids have died in hot cars in 2025 According to information compiled by Kids and Car Safety, children and infants have died in hot cars this year by: Unknowingly left: 12 Left: 12 Gained access: 2 Unknown: 1 Map: Deaths of babies, children from pediatric vehicular heatstroke not limited to southern states 2025 child hot car deaths. See 2025 hot car deaths by state, including 1 in Florida Here's the breakdown by state of the 2025 deaths of children in hot vehicles, as compiled by Kids and Car Safety: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boy lay dead in hot car for at least an hour before dad called 911 Texas: 8 San Antonio Rockwall Frisco Poteet San Antonio Galena Park Mission Brownsville California: 4 El Centro Alta Sierra Bakersfield Paso Robles Maryland: 2 Belcamp Silver Spring Florida: 1 Ormond Beach Nebraska: 1 Hastings Alabama: 1 Birmingham South Carolina: 1 Williamsburg County Virginia: 1 Amherst County Maine: 1 Milford Iowa: 1 West Des Moines Ohio: 1 Mansfield Georgia: 1 Metter North Carolina: 1 Hamlet Louisiana: 1 Hammond New Mexico: 1 Albuquerque New Jersey: 1 Lakewood Hot car deaths '100% preventable.' How to prevent deaths of children in vehicles Kids and Car Safety provided these suggestions to prevent children from being forgotten and dying of pediatric vehicular heatstroke: Place the childs diaper bag or item in the front passenger seat as a visual cue the child is with you. Make it a habit of opening the back door every time you park to ensure no one is left behind. Do not assume you'll remember your child. Enforce the habit by putting an item you must have in the back seat: employee badge, laptop, phone, purse, keys, shoe, etc.) Ask your childcare provider to call you right away if your child hasnt arrived as scheduled. Clearly announce and confirm who is getting each child out of the vehicle. Miscommunication can lead to thinking someone else has the child. Make sure children cannot get into a parked car Keep vehicles locked at all times, especially in the garage or driveway. Ask neighbors and visitors to do the same. Never leave car keys within reach of children. Use childproofing knob covers and door alarms to prevent children from leaving your home unnoticed. Teach children to honk the horn or turn on hazard lights if they become stuck inside a car. If a child is missing, immediately check the inside, floorboards and trunk of all vehicles in the area, even if theyre locked. Heat death can happen fast inside a vehicle and cracking a window doesn't help On a 72-degree day, a car's interior can be deadly in less than 30 minutes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The danger from high temperatures is particularly acute for young children because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adult bodies, the American Academy of Pediatrics said. Heatstroke in children can happen when their core temperature reaches about 104 degrees. A child can die if their internal body temperature reaches 107 degrees, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Leaving a window open is not enough. Temperatures inside the car can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes, even with a window cracked open, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Signs of heatstroke in children According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, signs of heatstroke that require immediate medical attention include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement shock collapse a temperature over 104 degrees fainting seizures not being able to walk "Before severe heatstroke, children in hot cars suffer from heat illness symptoms, including weakness, dizziness, nausea, feeling faint, headache and an increased body temperature." Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text What's next? We provide tropical weather coverage daily and other weather stories as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hot car deaths of babies, children in US, Florida. See list, locations Tax season is stressful enough without worrying whether the person filing your return is running a scam. But thats exactly what happened in Central Florida, where three men behind a chain of tax preparation offices promised maximum refunds and instead left taxpayers and Uncle Sam on the hook for millions. After a News 6 [1] investigation exposed years of falsified returns, Emmanuel Almonor, Franklin Carter and Jonathan Carrillo the owners of Neighborhood Advance Tax were sentenced to federal prison. Must Read Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a very large-scale financial fraud crime, U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger said before the sentencing. The innocent people who hired you for your services were harmed. A local news teams investigation ultimately brought the scheme to light. Heres how they did it. How it happened News 6 began digging into Neighborhood Advance Tax in 2020 after clients complained they had been audited by the IRS and forced to repay thousands of dollars in improper refunds. The company charged customers nearly $1,000 to file their returns. But IRS audits revealed that many clients had been steered into claiming fake deductions and inflated charitable contributions to shrink their tax bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the IRS Criminal Investigation unit [2], more than $9.1 billion in tax fraud and financial crimes were uncovered in 2024 alone. For victims like Doreen Bowden, the fallout was personal and costly. In 2019, she turned to Neighborhood Advance Tax because she didnt feel confident preparing her own return. An employee assured her shed get a $4,379 refund. Instead, after an IRS audit, she discovered she wasnt owed anything and actually owed an additional $1,095. I would never do something like that, especially with the IRS, Bowden told News 6 in 2020. Im a very scared person. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching stocks here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Pulling off the scam A federal grand jury indicted eight people tied to the company, accusing them of training employees to inflate refunds while keeping customers in the dark. Court records show Carter pocketed nearly $2 million over four years, even leasing a $6,000-a-month Lamborghini. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the lavish lifestyle didnt last. Judge Berger sentenced Carrillo to 12 years in federal prison on Wednesday, while Carter got seven. Almonor received nearly five years the previous month, and five lower-level employees received varying sentences from probation to four years. Im apologizing to any victims, the government, my clients, said Carter. Protecting yourself from shady tax prep When it comes to tax preparation, the biggest red flag is a company that promises you a sky-high refund. A legitimate preparer will explain deductions and credits clearly not guarantee results. If someone tells you not to worry about the details, thats exactly when you should worry. Inflated returns dont just attract scammers they also raise your risk of an IRS audit [3], where the agency line-by-line through your records to make sure everything adds up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before handing over your finances for the year, do a little homework: Check whether the preparer has a valid IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Look up reviews online. Use the IRS website, which offers a directory to help you find the right preparer, whether youre filing a simple return or running a business. What to read next Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. Article sources At Moneywise, we consider it our responsibility to produce accurate and trustworthy content people can rely on to inform their financial decisions. We rely on vetted sources such as government data, financial records and expert interviews and highlight credible third-party reporting when appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are committed to transparency and accountability, correcting errors openly and adhering to the best practices of the journalism industry. For more details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. [1]. News 6 Orland. Tax preparers sent to prison following News 6 investigation [2]. IR. IRS Criminal Investigation releases FY24 Annual Report; details agencys global reach, billion-dollar impact [3]. IR. "IRS audits This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. A car crashed into a New Jersey Tesla dealership on Tuesday, injuring three people, police said. A Tesla Model 3 driven by a 74-year-old woman shattered a section of the front glass window of the dealership on Brunswick Pike in Lawrenceville and came to a stop inside the showroom, township police said in a statement. Police responded to a 911 call reporting the incident at 3:08 p.m. The driver was transported to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First responders on the scene treated two customers who had been in the showroom at the time and sustained minor injuries caused by broken glass. An investigation has since found that the driver accidentally accelerated her car forward into the dealership, police said. The crash comes after a car plowed through a Planet Fitness gym in Union County last week, killing a 72-year-old man who was working out. The driver and a second gym member suffered injuries and have since been released from the hospital. Stories by Nicolas Fernandes Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. NEED TO KNOW Three teenagers have died after a house fire broke out in the early morning hours of Sept. 1 in Iowa The victims were identified by the Sioux County Sheriffs Office as Kolten Hofmeyer, 16, Bryleigh Koob, 16, and Ashton Koob, 17 One victim of the fire, a 16-year-old male, remains in critical condition in a hospital burn unit A house fire that broke out in Iowa early in the morning left three teenagers dead and one in critical condition, according to authorities. At 5 a.m. local time on Monday, Sept. 1, firefighters from the Granville Fire Department responded to a call at 430th Street, about two miles northwest of Granville, local NBC affiliates KTIV and WOWT reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they arrived, the home was "filled with heavy smoke," according to a press release from the Sioux County Sheriffs Office. Inside the home, firefighters found four people in critical condition, all of whom were transported to the hospital. One victim identified as Kolten Hofmeyer, 16 died from their injuries after being transported to Orange City Area Health. The other three victims were taken to "specialty units at other hospitals for further treatment," the sheriff's office stated. Bryleigh Koob, 16, and Ashton Koob, 17, both died of their injuries at the hospital. One victim, identified by the sheriff only as a 16-year-old male, remains in critical condition at a Minnesota hospital, where he is being treated at the facility's burn unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is currently under investigation in a joint effort by the Granville Fire Chief and the Iowa State Fire Marshal. PEOPLE has contacted the Sioux County Sheriffs Office, Granville Fire Department and Iowa State Fire Marshal for further information. 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. Sioux County Sheriff Jamie Van Voorst released a statement after the fire calling for the community to unite, according to KTIV. We are created for communityfor relationships that strengthen and sustain us. Ive come to you before, Sioux County, to ask that you rally around a hurting and broken family, school, and community and we are in dire need again," Van Voorst said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In this sad tragedy, there are several families involved and a large community affected. This is heavy, heartbreaking and overwhelming," the sheriff added. "Please stop and pray with us for everyone affected by this. Please continue to pray in the upcoming weeks." Read the original article on People PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Four people were arrested late Monday night after a reported shooting in Salems Wallace Marine Park, authorities announced. Salem Police Department said officers responded to several reports of gunfire, along with reports of four people being involved in a shooting and a female possibly being injured. Officers canvassed the park and arrested four people on the pedestrian bridge including three 17-year-old boys along with a 25-year-old man identified as Grant Pizzuto, according to Salem Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of officers respond to SE Portland street takeover Monday night Authorities recovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun from one of the teens after a brief struggle, Salem police said, noting another teen had a backpack with a short-barreled rifle inside. With help from a drone, officers searched the park for shooting victims, SPD explained, noting officers were unable to find any injured individuals. However, officers found additional evidence. The teens were taken to Marion County Juvenile Detention Center, with one teen facing charges for unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and interfering with a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon man attacked person with sword before punching girlfriend in face, officials say Another teen was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle and unlawful use of a weapon. The third teen is also facing an unlawful possession of a firearm charge, authorities said. Meanwhile, Pizzuto was taken to Marion County Jail and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Salem police said further details of the incident are not being released at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Albany graphite not only meets but often exceeds the stringent requirements for nuclear-grade graphite. This comprehensive performance supports its suitability for demanding nuclear industry environments, reinforcing Albany graphite's potential as a safe, reliable material for nuclear energy applications. Coefficient of Friction: Albany graphite met or exceeded industry standards for frictional performance. Significance: Reliable coefficient of friction values help ensure that graphite components resist wear, endure mechanical motion within auxiliary reactor support systems, and have longer service lifespans. This contributes to lower maintenance requirements and improved operational reliability. Four-Point Resistivity: The material exhibited low electrical resistivity, indicating a high degree of graphitization. Significance: A high graphitization level enhances thermal and electrical conductivity, which is vital for efficient and safe reactor performance, especially in pebble-bed and other advanced nuclear reactors. This property supports the overall efficiency and safety of nuclear energy systems. Compressibility : Albany graphite demonstrated high compact density and low elastic expansion after compression. Significance: These properties are essential for maintaining the structural integrity and long-term stability of matrix graphite used in nuclear reactors, especially those of pebble bed type. High compact density and minimal expansion ensure components can withstand the extreme conditions present in nuclear operations. Air Jet Sub-Sieve Analyzer Yield: The test confirmed that Albany graphite meets the specified particle size distribution and D50 (median particle diameter) required for nuclear applications. Significance: Achieving the proper particle size ensures the graphite can be processed efficiently and maintains consistent performance during manufacturing. This is critical for the reliability and integrity of nuclear-grade graphite components used in reactor environments. GUELPH, ON / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / Zentek Ltd. (" Zentek " or the " Company ") (Nasdaq:ZTEK)(TSXV:ZEN), an intellectual property technology development and commercialization company, is pleased to share an update from its wholly owned subsidiary, Albany Graphite Corp. ("AGC") on its Critical Minerals Innovation Fund ("CMIF") grant-funded activities, further to its release dated September 22, 2025. AGC, in collaboration with American Energy Technologies Company ("AETC"), has successfully completed additional material characterization tests that confirm nuclear specifications continue to be met. The findings suggest that ultra-high purity Albany graphite could be well suited for use in the nuclear energy industry. Story Continues As announced on September 22, 2025, AETC successfully purified the second batch of Albany graphite to an ultra-high 5N+ purity level (99.9992 wt.% C), indicating its potential reproducibility and suitability for nuclear applications. Additionally, subsequent elemental analysis yielded a calculated Equivalent Boron Concentration ("EBC") of 2.60 ppm, which is below the 3 ppm specification required by the nuclear industry. Achieving this low EBC is crucial, as it ensures the graphite's suitability for safe, reliable use in nuclear reactors, where boron contamination and other deleterious elements can impact reactor performance. This ultra-high purity graphite was subsequently used for additional material characterization testwork as summarized below along with the significance of the results with respect to the nuclear industry: Air Jet Sub-Sieve Analyzer Yield: Achieving the specified particle size distribution and D50 is essential for meeting industry requirements. Compressibility: Attaining a high compact density combined with low elastic expansion is crucial for matrix graphite powder used in the nuclear sector. Four-Point Resistivity: Demonstrating a low resistivity, which indicates a high degree of graphitization, is critical for graphite intended for pebble-bed reactors. Coefficient of Friction: Maintaining a low coefficient of friction is important for applications where graphite is used as an anti-friction lubricant. The current results for the purity, calculated EBC, particle characterization, air jet sub-sieve yield, compressibility, four-point resistivity and coefficient of friction testing are summarized in the table below along with known acceptable ranges for each test. Summary of Characterization Results for Ultra-High Purity Albany Graphite Characterization Test Units Albany Graphite Results Acceptable Range or Threshold value* LOI Purity** wt.% C 99.9992 99.999 min Ash content wt.% 0.0008 0.001 max Particle Size Distribution m D10 D50 D90 MV 4.4 10.7 31.7 17.1 D10 D50 D90 MV 2.9-4.9 9.5-11 27-35 15-25 EBC ppm 2.60 Less than 3 Tap Density g/cm3 0.3 0.25-0.50 Scott Volume g/cm3 0.2 0.09-0.25 Specific Surface Area m2/g 12.7 4-14 Air Jet Sieve Yield % 100 Greater than 85 Compressibility % 13.95 11-40 Four-Point Resistivity at 1 mT in 0.428 0.15-0.68 Coefficient of Friction 0.09 0.08-0.15 * Based on AETC's knowledge of the current specification that is required by an operational nuclear plant. ** Platinum crucible LOI analysis conducted at 950C MV=Mean Value of particle size distribution Significantly, all the nuclear graphite suitability testing performed on ultra-high purity sample of Albany graphite flake to date suggest that the Albany Graphite material subjected to downstream processing could be well suited for use in the nuclear energy industry. Next Steps The final suitability test will involve the production of near-net-shaped graphite bricks using a mixture of synthetic graphite, ultra-high purity Albany graphite and coal-tar pitch. Solid shapes with preferred anisotropy of grain orientation are typically used to line nuclear reactors. Upon the successful production of the test bricks, AETC will characterize the properties of the composite to confirm that nuclear industry specifications have been achieved. Emily Schmidt, Project Manager and Business Development representative at American Energy Technologies Co. was quoted as saying, "AETC is pleased to see continued progress with the data generated from thermally purified versions of Albany graphite that was shown previously to reach 99.9992 wt.% C purity level. Purity alone is necessary but insufficient for rendering graphite as suitable material for the nuclear graphite industry. In addition to 5N purity, graphite needs to reach a threshold of less than 3 ppm EBC, and we have seen that purified Albany graphite measured 2.6 ppm and is meeting this industry spec. In addition to this, graphite needs to meet other technical requirements that are described throughout this news release. One being a 32-micron air jet sub-sieve analyzer yield. This is of particular significance in the Matrix Graphite for nuclear applications market segment. It is great to see that Albany Graphite complies with this and other industry specs." Wendy Ford, CFO and interim CEO of Zentek, commented: "We are greatly encouraged by these latest results, which further reinforce the significant potential of the Albany Graphite Project. Consistently meeting and even surpassing the stringent requirements for nuclear-grade graphite highlights not only the exceptional quality of our material but also the dedication and expertise of our team and partners. With each milestone, we are strengthening Zentek's position as an innovator in critical minerals and advanced materials. Our ongoing investment in rigorous testing and collaboration with industry leaders like AETC is seeking to support Ontario's leadership in the clean energy transition. We remain committed to ensuring that Albany graphite continues to deliver value, drive sustainability, and open new avenues for growth in both nuclear and battery applications." Mr. Peter Wood, P.Eng., P.Geo., Vice President, Development of AGC, a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, has approved the technical information contained in this news release. Overview of the Albany Graphite Project The Albany Graphite Project, is a unique igneous-hosted, fluid-derived graphite deposit, located in Ontario and has been developed to an advanced exploration stage. The project is located northwest of the communities of Constance Lake First Nation and Hearst, Ontario, within 30 km of the Trans-Canada Highway, close to established infrastructure including roads, rail, power transmission lines, and a natural gas pipeline. About the Ontario Critical Minerals Innovation Fund ("CMIF") Program The CMIF is dedicated to building a stronger Ontario by supporting the mining industry through research, development, and the commercialization of innovative technologies, processes, and solutions for the critical minerals supply chain. Part of the government's Critical Minerals Strategy, the CMIF aims to establish a made-in-Ontario supply chain that meets the growing global demand for critical minerals essential for manufacturing technologies like batteries and electric vehicles. "We're not just leading-we're accelerating Ontario's role in critical minerals, and the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund is how we are making it happen," said Stephen Lecce, Ontario's Minister of Energy and Mines. "By investing in the Purification and Anode Development Project, we're positioning Ontario as a global leader in clean energy minerals-creating good jobs, driving economic growth, and powering the future of electric vehicles and sustainable industries across the province." About AETC American Energy Technologies Co. (AETC) is a woman-owned, privately held business which conducts operations out of the greater Chicago area. In its Wheeling, IL facility, AETC operates three business units: a manufacturing plant making battery-ready graphite and carbon materials, a pilot demonstration facility for battery materials and graphite dispersions, and a fully functional applications laboratory supporting the above business units. AETC, a member of the US DOE DPA Nuclear Fuel Cycle Consortium, manufactures ultrahigh purity natural and synthetic graphite as well as operates sophisticated consolidation technologies (hot isostatic pressing, compression molding, extrusion, and more), and acts as a downstream processor for a number of existing and emerging raw material producers in both the natural and synthetic graphite space in qualifying their raw materials for use in the nuclear industry. AETC is currently doing business with several commercial companies operating in the nuclear industry space. These include energy producers, regulators, as well as deployable DoD systems. AETC is an approved supplier to the US DLA and a number of US Navy shipyards as well as a DOD tier 1 company managing the sustainment and operation of the undersea component of the US Nuclear Triad. Besides its production capabilities, AETC has extensive in-house analytical capabilities which allow the company to qualify powdered graphites and graphite shapes for use as suitable materials for introduction to the nuclear industry. AETC works with industrial partners and manufacturing groups worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Defense, to ensure materials meet performance standards and strategic requirements. Their facilities are equipped for testing, downstream processing, AI-driven manufacturing, and carbon material development, enabling Albany Graphite Corp.to tailor products to international market specifications. About Zentek Ltd. Zentek is an ISO 13485:2016 certified intellectual property technology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel products seeking to give the Company's commercial partners a competitive advantage by making their products better, safer, and greener. Zentek's patented technology platform ZenGUARD is shown to have enhanced viral filtration efficiency for surgical masks and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. Zentek's ZenGUARD production facility is in Guelph, Ontario. Zentek has a global exclusive license to the Aptamer-based platform technology developed by McMaster University which is being jointly developed Zentek and McMaster for both the diagnostic and therapeutic markets. For further information: investorrelations@zentek.com Ryan Shacklock Tel: (306) 270-9610 Email: rshacklock@zentek.com To find out more about Zentek, please visit our website at www.Zentek.com. A copy of this news release and all material documents in respect of the Company may be obtained on Zentek's SEDAR profile at http://www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although Zentek believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Zentek disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Zentek Ltd. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire The four men who confessed to playing roles in the 2024 death of D'Vontaye Mitchell outside Milwaukee's Hyatt Regency hotel will learn their punishments Sept 3. Separate sentencing hearings have been scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Devin W. Johnson-Carson, Brandon LaDaniel Turner, Herbert T. Williamson and Todd Erickson. Each were initially charged with felony murder in connection with Mitchell's June 30, 2024, death, which followed a confrontation he had with the men at the downtown hotel after entering a women's restroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal sands shifted in the weeks and months after they were formally charged and days of demonstrations protesting his death faded out. The men jockeyed to make plea deals with prosecutors; two pleaded guilty to felony murder, while the other two pleaded to misdemeanors in the case. It will be up to Circuit Court Judge David Swanson to mete out the sentences. Nearly a dozen letters were sent to the court at the end of August, pleading for the judge to show mercy for Erickson, who was the last person to reach a deal with prosecutors. Prosecutors say Mitchell was pinned on the floor for about nine minutes as the men, who all worked for The Hyatt, delivered blows to him while he was down. A medical examiner determined Mitchell's body showed evidence of "restraint asphyxia," a condition that develops when a person's body position prevents them from breathing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These charges are based on an extensive review of the evidence collected by the Milwaukee Police Department, the autopsy conducted and the report produced by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office, and information received from members of the community," then-District Attorney John Chisholm said in a statement at the time. The incident drew immediate comparisons to George Floyd, a Minneapolis Black man who was held down by Minneapolis police until he died in 2020. It also sparked several protests in the days before Milwaukee hosted the Republican National Convention. The case attracted the attention of civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. He, along with Milwaukee lawyers Will Sulton and B'Ivory Lamarr, negotiated a settlement for an undisclosed amount between Mitchell's family and Ambridge Hospitality, the Texas-based third-party operator that manages Milwaukee's Hyatt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson-Carson, Turner, Williamson and Erickson were fired by the company shortly after they were charged. "My husband D'Vontaye Mitchell was stolen from our family," Mitchell's widow, DeAsia Harmon, wrote in a letter to the judge that was made public Aug. 19. "We never got a chance to say goodbye, we never got to hug him, kiss him and tell how we loved him." Nayisha Mitchell, left, the sister of D'Vontaye Mitchell, and Latrisa Giles, Mitchells first cousin, hold a photo of Mitchell outside the Milwaukee home of Mitchells mother, Brenda Giles, on July 24, 2024. D'Vontaye Mitchell, 43, died on June 30 after being held facedown on the ground outside the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee. The men charged in D'Vontaye Mitchell's death all secured deals with prosecutors A Hyatt security guard at the time of Mitchell's death, Turner, 35, of Milwaukee, pleaded guilty to felony murder in March. At that time, prosecutors agreed to recommend probation for Turner in exchange for his testimony against any remaining defendants at trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also in March, Williamson, 53, of Milwaukee, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery, a charge punishable by up to nine months in jail, plus a $10,000 fine. He worked at the Hyatt as a bell driver door attendant. Johnson-Carson, 24, pleaded guilty that same month to misdemeanor battery in exchange for his cooperation and testimony. Prosecutors are recommending Johnson-Carson be given probation. Support pours in for Todd Erickson, the last man to plead guilty in the case Erickson wasn't quick to broker a deal with prosecutors. He was the only one to request a trial, but later agreed on July 31 to plead guilty to felony murder as a party to a crime. In Wisconsin, felony murder carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show prosecutors haven't made a sentencing recommendation for Erickson. (Bottom left) Todd Erickson, one of four hotel workers charged in the death of D'Vontaye Mitchell, is present for his initial court appearance on Thursday August 8, 2024 at the Criminal Justice Facility in Milwaukee, Wis. Many of the letters that were sent to the court in recent weeks were penned by family and friends. They described the 60-year-old as an active member of his Catholic church and the Italian Community Center, who has a love of animals and a penchant for helping anyone in a jam. Jason Hildreth, Erickson's younger brother, described Erickson as a "strong role model" who taught him how to make better decisions in life, despite having drifted apart earlier in their lives. Hildreth said in his letter to Swanson, dated Aug. 22, things changed when their mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The event brought the brothers closer together, fulfilling a wish she had to see them reconcile before she died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hildreth urged the judge to consider probation for his brother, who he said was remorseful and is not a threat to society. "I think Todd has demonstrated a high level of integrity and accountability by taking the path that will not prolong this case and so that Mr. Mitchell's family can finally have closure," he wrote. D'Vontaye Mitchell's widow still wrestles with grief In her letter, Harmon said all four men need to be held accountable in Mitchell's death and that she is still traumatized by memory of receiving the call informing her that her husband was gone. Her children, she wrote, sometimes scream out because they miss their father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Who knew that when D'Vontaye came to see the children that would be the last time he would be the last time?" 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: Milwaukee judge to punish the men charged in D'Vontaye Mitchell's death BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A permanent memorial to honor the 10 victims of the May 14, 2022 racist mass shooting is closer to becoming a reality. The 5/14 Memorial Foundation held its monthly board meeting Tuesday, where architects and leaders shared design ideas for the memorial, and emphasized the significance it holds for the Buffalo community. The memorial, titled Seeing Us by Alligood Song Architecture PLLC, is set to be built on an empty lot on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Best Street on Buffalos East Side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Tuesdays meeting, the architects detailed how each piece of the memorial symbolizes support, learning, and healing. The design has memorial pillars all connected so each pillar represents the victims, however they are all connected as one structure which is a symbolic invitation for people to come walk around between pillars, said Jin Young Song, architect and partner with Alligood Song Architecture PLLC. So, it is the message that we are showing who they are, but in a way that it is one connected society, so that we are together with them. The design includes a memorial walkway on the roof, and indoor and outdoor spaces to learn and reflect. The 5/14 Memorial Foundation said it wants to keep community voices at the center of this process, building committees to help move the project forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These committees are critical because they allow us to bring in subject matter experts from the community to help guide our work, said Chairman of the Foundation Reverend Mark Blue. While there isnt a set timeline for completion yet, leaders say next steps could include choosing a construction management team for the project. They hope to have more updates at their next monthly meeting. Latest Local News Angelica Gallagher is a Lancaster native who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. China hosted two dozen world leaders for a huge military parade in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. It was only the second time Beijing has held a Victory Day parade, the first taking place a decade ago. The parade - which started at 9am and lasted nearly 90 minutes - was viewed by many as a showcase of China's growing military strength. But it was also an attempt by Beijing to cement its global leadership status and to show its rising diplomatic clout. 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. In an opening address, President Xi Jinping said the Chinese people "firmly stand on the right side of history and the progress of human civilisation". He touted his "strong and self-reliant" country as a "great nation that fears no violence", and said the "rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable". Below are some key takeaways from Wednesday's parade. One prominent scene was of Xi walking down the red carpet to the rostrum with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his right and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his left. They were seen smiling and talking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the first time Kim, Xi and Putin - all seen as rivals of the United States - have gathered in the same place, sending a strong signal of unity against the US-led West. It was also the first time that Kim, who arrived in Beijing on Tuesday by train, has attended a major multilateral event. US President Donald Trump, who was not there, posted on social media asking if Xi would mention the contribution of the United States in the war and wished the Chinese leader "a great and lasting day of celebration". Trump also asked Xi to "give my warmest regards to [Putin and Kim] as you conspire against the United States". Wednesday's parade offered a chance for China to show its military prowess, as thousands of soldiers marched down Tiananmen Square and the People's Liberation Army displayed some of its latest military hardware not seen by the public before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his address, Xi said the PLA "has always been a heroic army that the party and the people can completely rely on" as he called for officers and soldiers to "accelerate the building of a world-class military" and "resolutely safeguard national sovereignty". The parade involved formations from various military branches - including the PLA Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Logistics Support Force and Rocket Force - as well as newly established branches such as the Aerospace Force. The DF-61 is believed to be China's most advanced ICBM. Photo: AP alt=The DF-61 is believed to be China's most advanced ICBM. Photo: AP> Beijing also used the event to showcase various land-based weapons systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and missile systems. It has said all systems seen in the parade were in service already. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A key highlight was the debut of the DF-61, believed to be China's most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile after the DF-41. The DF-61 is expected to be part of the PLA Rocket Force's long-range missile operations. Also appearing for the first time was the JL-3, a new third-generation, intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile, crucial for the PLA's sea-based nuclear deterrence operations. The parade through the heart of the Chinese capital showed that the PLA is not just playing catch-up with the West but preparing for future warfare. In what was its largest display of drone weapons, the PLA debuted the GJ-11, an unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed for precision strikes and aerial reconnaissance missions. It features a stealthy design with a tailless flying wing and two internal weapons bays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Official broadcaster CCTV spoke of the "loyal wingmen" drones on display, meaning they are paired with crewed aircraft - a trend all leading militaries are pursuing. Multiple rocket launcher the PHL-16, also known as the PCL-191, was also on display. It's referred to as the mainland Chinese version of Lockheed Martin's High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) that Taiwan has bought and deployed. It is believed it would play a significant role in the event of contingencies in the Taiwan Strait for its long-range strike abilities. A growing focus on nuclear weapons was also seen, even as the PLA faces questions over its Rocket Force, which oversees the country's nuclear arsenal and has been a target of Xi's anti-corruption drive. The DF-31BJ - the newest road-mobile variant of the DF-31 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile - also made an appearance at the parade. It is thought to be an upgrade of the DF-31AG, currently the most advanced variant of the DF-31 series, which has a reported operational range of more than 11,200km (6,959 miles) and was test-launched in September last year - China's first nuclear missile test in 44 years. The parade was a show of China's military might. Photo: Reuters alt=The parade was a show of China's military might. Photo: Reuters> 5. World leaders Some 26 top leaders from around the world - including from Central Asia and Southeast Asia - attended the event, in what was a nod to Beijing's growing global influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Higher ranked leaders from Southeast Asia attended compared to the inaugural Victory Day parade in 2015. They included Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Prabowo initially cancelled his trip to China due to widespread protests at home but on Tuesday said he would attend the parade. Only two heads of government from Europe attended the event, namely Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. But foreign troops were notably missing from the parade this time, a contrast to the previous World War II commemoration in 2015, when nearly 1,000 soldiers from 17 countries joined the march. This year's march-past was exclusively Chinese. 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. Interstate 5 in Fife will see lane closures between Sept. 5 and 14 as the Washington State Department of Transportation repaves the roadway. The interstate will be repaved from Porter Way on southbound I-5 to Wapato Way, according to a release from WSDOT. The roadway will have four lanes closed and one lane open each night of the project, starting as early as 7:30 p.m. and ending as late as 10:30 a.m. the next day. The closures will start and end at different times each night. The department is encouraging riders to use alternative routes and plan ahead if they intend to travel on I-5 during the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The repaving is part of WSDOTs SR 167 Completion Project, an effort to build six miles of new tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma. That project and another project in King County are jointly funded by $2.83 billion underneath the umbrella of the Puget Sound Gateway Program, according to WSDOT. Heres what the closures will look like each night of the project: Sept. 5 through Sept. 6: Lanes will start to close at 8 p.m. on Sept. 5, and four lanes will be closed by 12:30 a.m.. The lanes will finish reopening by 9 a.m. Sept. 6 through Sept. 7 Lanes start to close at 8 p.m., and four lanes will be closed by 12:30 a.m.. The lanes will finish reopening by 10:30 a.m. Sept. 7 through Sept. 8 Lanes will start to close at 7 p.m., and four lanes will be closed by 11:59 p.m.. The lanes will finish reopening by 6 a.m. Sept. 8 through Sept. 12 Each night, lanes will start to close at 7:30 p.m., and four lanes will be closed by 11:59 p.m.. Each morning, lanes will start to reopen at 4:45 a.m. and will finish opening by 6 a.m. Sept. 12 through Sept. 13 Lanes will start to close at 8 p.m., and four lanes will be closed by 12:30 a.m.. The lanes will finish reopening by 9 a.m. Sept. 13 through Sept. 14 Lanes will start to close at 8 p.m., and four lanes will be closed by 12:30 a.m.. The lanes will finish reopening by 10:30 a.m. Several federal judges have rejected President Donald Trump's attempt to summarily deport alleged Venezuelan gang members as "alien enemies." On Tuesday night, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit joined them in concluding that Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) is not supported by that 1798 law's text or history. In a March 15 proclamation, Trump averred that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua "is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States" by engaging in "mass illegal migration" and committing "brutal crimes, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and human, drug, and weapons trafficking." He said alleged members of that gang therefore are subject to peremptory removal under the AEA as "natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects" of a "hostile nation." The AEA applies when there is a "declared war" with "any foreign nation or government" or when "any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government." Prior to Trump's proclamation, the law had been invoked just three times, always in the context of declared warsa condition that the government concedes does not exist in this case. The proclamation's validity therefore hinges on the question of whether Trump's understanding of "invasion of predatory incursion" is consistent with the terms of the statute as they were understood when it was enacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 5th Circuit case, W.M.M. v. Trump, involves three AEA detainees in Texas whom the government has identified as Tren de Aragua membersmistakenly, according to the petitioners. Two of them unsuccessfully sought a temporary restraining order from a federal judge and then appealed that denial to the 5th Circuit, which concluded that the appeal was premature in light of the government's assurance that it "will not remove the petitioners during this litigation." After evidence cast doubt on the reliability of that assurance, the Supreme Court intervened, vacating the 5th Circuit's ruling and instructing the appeals court to address two issues: Does the AEA authorize the detainees' removal, and what sort of notice does due process require for people threatened with deportation under that law? This time around, a divided 5th Circuit panel issued a preliminary injunction against the plaintiffs' removal "because we find no invasion or predatory incursion." To interpret those terms, Judge Leslie H. Southwick, a George W. Bush appointee, considers the historical context of the AEA, which Congress enacted amid concerns that war with France was imminent. "Our focus is on a statute passed by the United States Congress in anticipation of an armed conflict with another country," Southwick writes in an opinion joined by Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Joe Biden appointee. "The formality of the occasion requires rejecting interpretations that wander far from that common understanding of an 'invasion.'" Southwick notes the Constitution's references to invasion and James Madison's understanding of that term as used in the AEA. "Invasion is an operation of war," Madison said. "To protect against invasion is an exercise of the power of war. A power therefore not incident to war, cannot be incident to a particular modification of war." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The evidence indicates that the AEA's definition of invasion is "consistent with the use in the Constitution," meaning it is "a term about war in the traditional sense and requires military action by a foreign nation," Southwick writes. "We define an invasion for purposes of the AEA as an act of war involving the entry into this country by a military force of or at least directed by another country or nation, with a hostile intent." He says the petitioners therefore "are likely to succeed in demonstrating that the Proclamation cannot be supported" by "the existence of a declared war or an invasion." What about a "predatory incursion"? "Based on the dictionary definitions and neighboring statutory text," Southwick says, "a 'predatory incursion,' as used in the AEA, definitely applies to an unauthorized entrance by units of another nation's military to commit acts that are destructive to the interests of the United States, such as victimizing its people or property, for the benefit of a foreign power or its agents without the necessary objective of a long-term occupation or control of American territory." Could something less than that qualify as a "predatory incursion"? Southwick considers various examples of contemporaneous usage and concludes that references to that phrase "all involved a military force of some meaningful size, organized in a manner related to the kind of enemy involved, whether an Indian tribe, a distant foreign government [that] used its own forces or privateers, or an adjacent country using its own troops." Southwick also notes that the now-defunct Alien Friends Act, which Congress approved along with the AEA, had a broader scope, authorizing "forced removal from the United States based solely on the perceived danger to this country by a specific alien." That law did not hinge on "the actions of the alien's home nation or government, though the existence of hostile acts would not block use of the Alien Friends Act against a specific, dangerous alien." The AEA, by contrast, "demands specific categories of hostility by another nation or government before acting against an individual alien, but the individual need not exhibit personal hostility to this country." It therefore applies only when the president "identifies a predatory incursion by forces of a foreign nation or government." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's proclamation alleged that Tren de Aragua "has engaged in and continues to engage in mass illegal migration to the United States to further its objectives of harming United States citizens, undermining public safety, and supporting the Maduro regime's goal of destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas, including the United States." But "a country's encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States," Southwick says. "There is no finding that this mass immigration was an armed, organized force or forces. It is an action that would have been possible when the AEA was written, and the AEA would not have covered it. The AEA does not apply today either." Although "we accept each of the factual findings in the Proclamation," Southwick writes, that does not mean the appeals court is bound to accept "the labels applied to those findings." Recognizing "our obligation to interpret the AEA," he says, "we conclude that the findings do not support that an invasion or a predatory incursion has occurred. We therefore conclude that petitioners are likely to prove that the AEA was improperly invoked." Southwick also addresses the question of whether Trump identified a "foreign nation or government" whose "natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects" are covered by the AEA. "It does appear that the AEA contemplates that a foreign country will be designated in a proclamation," he says. But he adds that "the different wording of the Proclamation to designate [Tren de Aragua] does not by itself invalidate use of the AEA," given Trump's claim that the Venezuelan government is "directing" the gang's actions. "Had we determined [that Tren de Aragua] was engaged in either an invasion or a predatory incursion, the findings in the Proclamation that such actions were being directed at least in part by the foreign Maduro regime would satisfy the requirement that those actions be by a government or nation," Southwick writes. "We held instead that [Tren de Aragua] was not the kind of organized force or engaged in the kind of actions necessary to constitute an invasion or predatory incursion. Because of our conclusion that the Proclamation does not identify actions by the Maduro regime in control of Venezuela that constitute one of the predicate acts for invoking the AEA, Petitioners are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dissenting Judge Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, argues that the courts have no business reviewing the president's determination that an "invasion or predatory incursion" is occurring. "From the dawn of our Nation until President Trump took office a second time," Oldham says, "courts have never second-guessed the President's invocation of that Act. Not once. The reason is simple: Determining whether the AEA's preconditions are satisfiedwhether there is a declared war, or 'any invasion or predatory incursion' being 'perpetrated, attempted, or threatened,' depends upon 'matters of political judgment for which judges have neither technical competence nor official responsibility.'" Oldham, in other words, accepts Trump's position that such judgments are not subject to judicial review. But in the 1948 case Ludecke v. Watkins, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the courts, in assessing challenges by AEA detainees, do have a role in addressing "questions of interpretation and constitutionality." The Court reiterated that point last April in Trump v. J.G.G., which held that AEA detainees have a due process right to contest their designation as "alien enemies." Although the justices did not address the legality of Trump's proclamation, they noted that "an individual subject to detention and removal under that statute is entitled to 'judicial review' as to 'questions of interpretation and constitutionality' of the Act.'" In Ludecke, Southwick notes, "there was no suggestion that 'interpretation' was a pointless endeavor, that a court could make its interpretation for the interest of legal scholars but was prohibited from applying that interpretation to the facts before it." Furthermore, the Court in Ludecke said "the additional question as to whether the person restrained is in fact an alien enemy fourteen years of age or older may also be reviewed by the courts." On its face, that suggests a role in verifying not only the detainee's age but also his status as an "alien enemy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 5th Circuit is one of the country's most conservative appeals courts, Southwick was nominated by a Republican president, and his reasoning, which aims to understand the words used in the AEA "consistent with their 'ordinary meaningat the time Congress enacted the statute,'" jibes with the approach embraced by the Supreme Court's conservative majority. His analysis echoes the assessment of U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump appointee who likewise rejected the president's novel definition of "alien enemies." None of this necessarily means the Supreme Court will agree with Southwick's interpretation of the AEA. But it does discredit any attempt to dismiss the decision as a product of partisan bias or "Radical Left" thinking, as Trump reflexively does when courts rule against him. The post The 5th Circuit Rejects Trump's Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act appeared first on Reason.com. (FOX40.COM) An evacuation order has been issued in response to a fire burning in Tuolumne County. The 6-5 Fire has prompted Cal Fire to issue an evacuation warning for an area stretching from Chinese Camp to La Grange Road East of Keystone and down to the New Don Pedro Reservoir. According to Cal Fire, the 6-5 Fire has burned around 3,000 acres since it started around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Cal Fire grouped the 6-5 Fire in with eight other fires into a complex fire called the TCU September Lightning Complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Six suspects were arrested during a bust operation targeting a sprawling auto theft crime group in Southern California. In December 2024, the Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail (RAID) task force began investigating the Long Beach Performance organization, whose alleged criminal activities spanned Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to the California Highway Patrol. Over the next nine months, investigators uncovered a sophisticated criminal organization and network engaged in vehicle theft, alteration of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), fraudulent DMV documentation, sales of stolen vehicles, and trafficking of narcotics and firearms, CHP said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives found numerous vehicles, estimated to be worth more than $1.25 million, associated with the organization. On Aug. 26, authorities served 12 search warrants at homes and businesses associated with the crime group. During the massive bust, officers found 11 stolen vehicles, 31 firearms and arrested six members of the organization. Six people were arrested during a bust operation targeting Long Beach Performance, which authorities described as a sprawling auto theft crime group. (California Highway Patrol) Six people were arrested during a bust operation targeting Long Beach Performance, which authorities described as a sprawling auto theft crime group. (California Highway Patrol) Six people were arrested during a bust operation targeting Long Beach Performance, which authorities described as a sprawling auto theft crime group. (California Highway Patrol) Six people were arrested during a bust operation targeting Long Beach Performance, which authorities described as a sprawling auto theft crime group. (California Highway Patrol) Six people were arrested during a bust operation targeting Long Beach Performance, which authorities described as a sprawling auto theft crime group. (California Highway Patrol) Officials said the criminal enterprise had extended its operations into Las Vegas, Nevada, where RAID investigators are working with law enforcement to recover additional stolen vehicles. Authorities did not release the suspects names as the case remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This investigation underscores the dedication of RAID and our allied partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle organized criminal enterprises operating across county and state lines, said CHP Lieutenant Kraig Palmer. The operation reflects our commitment to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the people of California. We are committed to protecting our communities by holding offenders accountable, while working collaboratively with our partners to ensure a safer California. Multiple agencies worked on the operation, including the CHPs Inland and Southern Divisions, Long Beach Police Department, Riverside Police Department, Anaheim Police Department, the San Bernardino County Auto Theft and Gang Task Forces, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the Department of Insurance and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. NEED TO KNOW Northwestern University professor Nina Kraus was reported missing on Monday, Sept. 1 She was last seen leaving her house for a walk around 9 a.m. local time The Evanston Police Department said she was found on Tuesday, Sept. 2 Northwestern University professor Nina Kraus was found alive one day after going missing. The 72-year-old, who was last seen leaving her house for a walk in the 1500 block of Ashland Ave in Evanston on Monday, Sept. 1, around 9 a.m. local time, was found on Tuesday, Sept 2, the Evanston Police Department said in a statement on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Professor Nina Kraus has been located in Evanston. She has been transported to a local hospital for treatment," Tuesday's statement read. Professor Nina Kraus has been located in Evanston. She has been transported to a local hospital for treatment. Evanston, IL Police (@EvanstonPD) September 2, 2025 Her son, Mikey Perkins, also told the Evanston RoundTable that she was "transported to the hospital after being found near her home." Prior to her disappearance, Kraus was seen going for a walk wearing long pants and a windbreaker, according to the Evanston Police Department. Northwestern University said in a previous statement that she had a dark backpack with her. According to the Evanston RoundTable, she had left her cellphone at home. Northwestern University Nina Kraus Nina Kraus Commander Ryan Glew of the Evanston Police Department told PEOPLE on Tuesday night that there were no additional details to share at this time. PEOPLE has contacted Northwestern University for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glew told PEOPLE on Tuesday morning that no foul play was suspected in the disappearance of Kraus. He said at the time that police were following tips that came in and were conducting a search of the nearby lakefront with the help of drones. "The drone deployment continues as the search continues south of Church St. boat ramp," the Evanston Police Department said on Facebook Tuesday afternoon. Kraus is a professor at Northwestern University's School of Communication. According to her faculty profile, she teaches neurobiology and otolaryngology. She also serves as the director of Northwestern's Hugh Knowles Center. Evanston Police Department Nina Kraus Nina Kraus She describes herself as "a scientist, inventor, and amateur musician who studies the biology of auditory learning." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My research on sound and the brain aims to understand how our life in sound, for better and worse, alters the processing of sound in the brain, makes us us, and affects the world we live in, Kraus explained in her faculty profile. Read the original article on People WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) Man had yet to land on the moon and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was still holding rallies when Gerald Gort, 53, and Jack McRoy, 17, headed to work for what would be their last shift. It was March 2, 1968, and Gort and McRoy were clerks at the Cavalier Service Station on Remembrance Road near Wilson Avenue in Walker. Juvenile lifers get second, third chance at sentencing Nearly sixty years later, theres an empty lot where the gas station once stood at 4417 Remembrance Road, but the horrific double murder that happened there is back in the spotlight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats because the killer, now 78 years old, is set for resentencing after the Michigan Supreme Courts April ruling that declared mandatory life without parole unconstitutional not just for minors, but for 19- and 20-year-olds too. Charles Ronald Martin was 20 when he shot Gort and McRoy with a .44 magnum rifle in the backs of each mans head while robbing the service station where the two men worked. A Michigan Department of Corrections photo of Charles Martin from July 2025. At 78, Martin is the oldest person in Kent County subject to resentencing under new juvie lifer laws and the third oldest in the state of Michigan. Resentenced juvenile lifer can now get parole in 15 years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accounts of the crime published in the March 2, 1968, edition of the Grand Rapids Press made clear the level of depravity. In my 18 years of police work this is the most brutal thing I have encountered, the paper quoted Walker Police Joseph Bancevich as saying at the time. It was a definite brutal, deliberate, execution-type slaying. Look, the boy didnt fall like that. He was on his knees in the corner when he was shot. The article reported that McRoy was found huddled in a far corner, still in a kneeling position, and Gort was discovered stretched out near the door to the back room, the back of his head blown off. The paper noted there were two empty .44 magnum cartridge cases on the floor, and one silent witness to the carnage; the stations pet, a striped cat, was found, unharmed, in the back room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Read the Grand Rapids Press article from the next day, March 3, 1968 Fast forward 57 years, and Martin is scheduled for a hearing Friday morning in Kent County Circuit Court. Hell appear by Zoom from the Carson City Correctional Facility. The State Appellate Defenders Office, which represents Martin, will argue for expedited resentencing in his case due to his advanced age and near-pristine prison record. Mr. Martin is an old man at this point, and hes in a wheelchair, said Marilena David of SADO in a Zoom interview with Target 8. In his 57 years of incarceration, he has had one misconduct (citation) back in 1969 when he was first incarcerated, which is incredible. Hes capable of coming into the community and not being a public safety threat. Were just asking for a timely resentencing so that Mr. Martin can have an opportunity to come home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David said prosecutors statewide have until January 2026 to review cases impacted by the April ruling and decide in each if theyll fight to continue life without parole or agree to a term of years, thus giving the prisoner a shot at parole and freedom. We all agree the circumstances of the offense are terrible, and the victims families should not have to endure further trauma but the law says that this person is entitled to a resentencing, even despite the circumstances of the crime and the gravity of it, said David. The State Supreme Court based its ruling, in part, on scientific studies that show adolescent brains are not fully developed until age 25. Crime by juvenile lifers after prison very rare, state says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David said such offenders are less culpable than adults due to their impulsiveness and vulnerability to peer pressure, and young people have greater potential for rehabilitation. But in Charles Ronald Martins case, Kent County prosecutor Chris Becker is not convinced. The fact remains, Martin blew away two people in robbery, declared Becker in an interview with Target 8 Monday morning, These are some of the worst crimes you can see. We at least have to try and find the victims representatives to notify them and get their input on whats going on instead of rushing through just because someones in a wheelchair and (SADO says) he deserves to get out. Sorry. Thats not my priority. My priority is looking for the victims families. Becker said his office is still working to gather details regarding the horror that unfolded inside the Cavalier Service Station on March 2, 1968. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are old files that take time (to collect), said Becker. Im not going to make any decision before I have all the information I can so I can made a good determination based on the facts and the wishes of the victims families. Because thats paramount. Court ruling could give 1986 killer a chance at freedom Beckers office is trying to make contact with the families of Gerald Gort and Jack McRoy to ensure they have the opportunity to weigh in on Martins resentencing. Becker said the April ruling will force his office to revisit and resentence 27 cases in which the offenders were 19 or 20 when they committed a crime that landed them in prison for life without the chance of parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Two county health departments in Utah are reporting more human cases of West Nile virus on Wednesday, including one that led to the death of a Davis County resident. The Davis County Health Department said it has seen three reported cases of West Nile virus with two of those cases being neuroinvasive West Nile virus, a more severe form of the disease. Both of the Davis County individuals who contracted neuroinvasive West Nile virus were hospitalized, with one dying from the disease. No other information was provided about the person who died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the Utah County Health Department confirmed five cases of West Nile virus in humans in the county. Of those five cases, four are neuroinvasive West Nile virus. Between the high number of positive mosquito pools and multiple human cases with symptoms, it is clear that West Nile virus is actively being detected across Utah County, said a release from the department. The latest cases come on the heels of three other human cases of West Nile virus reported in Salt Lake and Cache counties in August. Additionally, Utah County Mosquito Abatement crews are conducting additional assessments and have begun applying targeted treatments in neighborhoods where the five cases were identified, according to the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These enhanced efforts are intended to reduce mosquito populations and lower the risk of transmission, it said. Last year, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported 14 cases of West Nile virus, 12 of which were the neuroinvasive form. It reported one Utahn died from the disease in 2023. Symptoms of West Nile virus, which appear between two and 14 days after a bite, include fever, headache, rash, vomiting, body aches and diarrhea. More severe cases can lead to neurological problems. The Davis County Health Department states that individuals over 60 and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of illness from West Nile, but anyone can contract the illness from the bite of an infected mosquito. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To prevent contracting West Nile, the Utah County Health Department advises people to: Always use insect repellent when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long sleeves, pants and socks at dawn and dusk. Eliminate standing water around the home, as mosquitoes can breed in just a few days in small containers, buckets, bird baths, flowerpots or clogged gutters. Keep doors and windows screened and repair any holes or tears. Take extra caution if you are older or immunocompromised and at higher risk for severe illness. This story may be updated. RELATED PHOTO GALLERY In a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, where Imperial Japans surprise Dec. 7, 1941, attack drew the United States into World War II, a crowd gathered Tuesday on the pier beside the battleship USS Missourithe ship where Japanese diplomats signed the unconditional surrender that finally ended the war. Few of the men who were there that day remain, but on Tuesday eight surviving crew members were present at Pearl Harbor. One of them was Edgar Buffman, 100, who served as gunners mate 2nd class aboard the Missouri. Buffman, who hails from Rhode Island, is a plank owner of the shipmeaning he had been a crew member when it was commissioned in June 1944 and served aboard throughout the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He and fellow gunners shot at Japanese planes that tried to sink the warship during some of the fiercest naval battles in history. We manned this station every morning at dawn and at general quarters, he said. During my service aboard, fellow sailors and I experienced some of the most intense kamikaze attacks of the war. Buffman recalled that as they prepared to host the delegation of Japanese officials, who would surrender to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, there was pressure for everything to be perfect. Crew worked to give the ship a fresh paint job and ensure everything was to their superiors liking. The paint supplies ran short, (so ) the Missouri had to borrow some gray paint from the USS Iowa to ensure the starboard side would show off for when the delegates came aboard, he said. Since we didnt have enough paint to paint the port side of the ship, it was imperative we brought the Japanese contingent on board on the starboard side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crew of the British Royal Navys HMS King George V sent the Missouri a table that was to be used for the ceremony, but when it arrived commanders decided it was too small and wouldnt suit the occasion. At the last minute, commanders ordered two crew membersincluding Buffmanto go down into the ships mess hall to grab a table from there for the ceremony. It was on this modest table that the formal documents that ended World War II were signed, Buffman said. Adm. Samuel Paparo, the current commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, told attendees at the ceremony that the the greatest generation gave their blood, sweat and tearsand so many gave their livesto secure the greatest gift of all : peace. The gift of peace is the eternal legacy of the greatest generation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to numbers from the state of Hawaii, 36, 777 island residents served in the U.S. military during the war. World War II proved to be the deadliest conflict in human history to date. New technologies were unleashed both on the battlefield as well as on cities and civilian population centers as the Allied and Axis powers pounded each other with new tanks, artillery, aircraft and other tools of war across the globe. The United States ultimately became the first country to develop a nuclear weapon, dropping two bombs on Japan in the last weeks of the war that leveled the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is still the only war in which nuclear weapons have been used. By the time the Japanese surrender was signed on the deck of the Missouri, at least 75 million people died in the conflictmore than 40 million of them civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emma Baksic, a senior at Hawaii Technology Academy, won the Battleship Missouri Memorials speech contest and also addressed the audience. She recalled growing up seeing images of war on TV at her grandparents house when I was too young to understand the imagesflashes of gunfire, tanks rolling across deserts, grieving families clinging to each other in rubble. She reflected on the deaths of more recent wars and the devastation of ongoing wars raging today in Ukraine and the Middle East. We must work together, learn from history, and ensure that sacrifices made by those before us are not in vain, she said. Today is a call to action, a call to build a future free from conflict, hate and fear. To build bridges of understanding, compassion and solidarityso that future generations never have to cross the same battlefields again. The anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific comes at a time when tensions in the region have once again been on the rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American military leaders in Hawaii have been keen to boost military alliances with other countries across Asia and the Pacific. Since the end of World War II, American leaders have come to see Japan itself a particularly key ally. Our highest duty remains to deter aggression, Paparo said. We do our utmost to prevent war and to preserve the peace. But if we must fight, we will fight with overwhelming force, shoulder to shoulder with our allies and partners, and we shall prevail. In Beijing, Chinese leader Xi Jinping marked the occasion with a massive military parade, where he was joined by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other world leaders. In his remarks before the parade he declared that the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable and humanitys cause of peace and development will prevail. China has been stepping up military maneuvers around Taiwan, a self-ruled island democracy that it regards as a rouge province. Xi has said that bringing Taiwan under Beijings controlby force if necessaryis critical to that rejuvenation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese forces also have occasionally attacked vessels from neighboring countries in the South China Seaa critical waterway that more than a third of all the worlds trade travels through and which Beijing regards as its exclusive sovereign territory. Meanwhile, American forces have continually conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea in the face of fierce objections from Beijing, while providing weapons to Taiwan. President Donald Trump slammed Chinas commemoration parade in a post on Truth Social, a social media platform that Trump personally owns, asking rhetorically whether Xi will acknowledge American troops who died in China assisting Chinese troops and guerillas in the fight against Imperial Japan. In the post, Trump wrote please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against America. As the last veterans of World War II die, the number of people with firsthand memories of the horrors of the conflict are quickly dwindling. Buffman said that most of us were in our late teens or early 20s. We didnt stop to think much about fear, we simply did what needed to be done for our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In closing the ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Capt. Garry Thorntonthe chaplain for Navy Region Hawaiigave a benediction that called on attendees to reflect on the cost of war. Thornton warned that although there are countless examples of human virtue, of demonstration of honor, courage and commitment to be found, may we exercise caution in order not to fall prey to the tendency in retrospect of glorifying or romanticizing the act of armed human conflict. Amidst wars and rumors of wars and regional conflicts, our world is in a relative but very fragile state of peace, Thornton said. May the lessons learned and the losses suffered from World War II compel us to pray for the day when our swords shall be beaten into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks. A day when nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn or wage war anymore. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)- Construction along 9th Street in Southeast Roanoke is now underway, and while the project may be causing some short-term inconvenience for drivers, city officials say its all part of a long-term plan to make the area safer and more accessible. Known as the 9th Street Streetscape Project, this major infrastructure effort is part of the City of Roanokes Belmont-Fallon Target Area initiative. The redesign will transform the current four-lane configuration into a three-lane layout, with one lane in each direction and a center turn lane. VSP: No seat belt use in half of Labor Day Weekend fatal crashes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to reducing traffic speeds and improving safety, the project also includes a dedicated bike lane that will connect directly to the Roanoke River Greenway via Riverland Road SE, enhancing connectivity for cyclists in the area. (WFXR images) A major focus of the project is pedestrian safety. Construction crews are installing curb extensions, pedestrian signals, and ADA-compliant ramps to make crossing 9th Street easier and safer for everyone. The end goal with this construction is to have a revitalized neighborhood center, said Katharine Gray, Principal Planner with the City of Roanoke. A place where businesses do well, a place where the community members can gather, and a place where everybody feels safe to walk, to bike, and to drive vehicles or ride buses. The project will also introduce new street parking on both sides of 9th Streetsomething city planners hope will help stimulate local businesses by making the area more inviting for visitors and shoppers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The construction is expected to be completed by November, with crews currently ahead of schedule. Residents should note that there will be a brief two-week pause in work in mid-September, though all lanes and traffic control measures will remain in place during that time. Drivers are urged to use caution when navigating through the construction zone, and to remain mindful of workers on-site. For updates on the project, residents can visit the City of Roanokes official website or follow the Transportation Division 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 WFXRtv. (WBRE/WYOU) AARP Pennsylvania is issuing a warning to consumers about the growing number of cryptocurrency scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers lost more than $1.4 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2024 alone. AARP says many of these scammers contact consumers through text, email, or social media and promise victims quick profits, romance, or threaten legal trouble. Dunmore data center roundtable aims to educate public Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scams often direct victims to deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs. After the funds are deposited and a QR code is scanned, the money is effectively gone. AARP encourages individuals to look out for red flags such as pressure to act immediately, messages claiming to be government officials asking for cryptocurrency, and unsolicited crypto advice. AARP says consumers can protect themselves from these scams by researching the individuals requesting payment, contacting their bank or someone they trust if they feel pressured into a transaction, and never sharing sensitive personal information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News. (The Center Square) - The Senate Appropriations Committee approved Assembly Bill 727, despite pushback from Republicans that it puts children at risk for online grooming. AB 727, authored by California Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, D-Los Angeles, is an effort to tackle the LGBTQ+ mental health crisis. After its passage in the committee last week and its June 3 passage by the Assembly, the bill is advancing to the Senate floor. The legislation would require the Trevor Project suicide hotline to be printed on the back of all public school student ID cards for grade 7 through college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The online website connected to the Trevor Project, known as TrevorSpace, is a platform that encourages LGBTQ+ youth to share personal stories. But law enforcement and parental advocacy groups warn that the website is not monitored and can leave children vulnerable. AB 727 is reckless, Greg Burt, vice president of California Family Council, said in a press release. The state is mandating that minors be directed to organizations that connect 13-year-old children with adults up to 24 years old to discuss sexual topics and gender identity. This is not suicide prevention. This is grooming. Letters opposing this bill, submitted by both the Riverside County Sheriffs Office and Lives Worth Saving, discussed undercover tests that show how easily predators could infiltrate TrevorSpace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They found that adults were able to create accounts, bypass age verification, and immediately begin private conversations with minors surrounding sexually charged topics, without any real-time oversight. We do not want our opposition to be taken out of context and read narrowly - we are not opposed to the broader goals of AB 727. We support accessible, trauma-informed, culturally competent mental health services for all students, including LGBTQ+ youth, Sheriff Chad Bianco of the Riverside County Sheriffs Office stated. But as written, this bill fails to weigh the risks associated with exposing at-promise youth to poorly regulated online spaces - spaces that are already being exploited by bad actors. In July, President Donald Trump ordered the end of federal funding for the national LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline. "I am appalled by the inhumanity this federal administration continues to show towards LGBTQ+ youth across this nation," said Assemblymember Gonzalez. "These are children who are lost in this confusing world, in mental crisis, and who just need someone to listen and validate their identity. I will not stand by and wait as this President attempts to erase the queer community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Gov. Gavin Newsom also supports this bill and has allocated $17.5 million in funding to support the 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund. "While the Trump administration continues its attacks on LGBTQ kids, California has a message to the gay community: we see you and we're here for you," said Newsom. "We're proud to work with the Trevor Project to ensure that every person in our state can get the support they need to live a happy, healthy life. Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, R-East Nicolaus, told The Center Square that bills that undermine parental rights blur the lines between protection and government oversight. Sacramento keeps sidelining parents and stripping away local control," Gallagher said. "These bills may sound protective, but they create legal gray areas, ignore families, and leave schools caught in the middle. California should be focused on real support, not dangerous legal loopholes. If you're feeling despondent, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, for both English and Spanish speakers, can be reached by calling or texting 988. It can be found on the web at 988lifeline.org. The lifeline connects people with a live crisis counselor 24/7. People can contact 988 for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. AUSTIN (KXAN) Those affected by the July 4th flooding now have extra time to register for individual assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Governor Greg Abbott announced in a Tuesday press release an extension to the FEMA assistance registration period. Individuals now have until Sept. 28 to report damages and make claims to FEMA. The original deadline to register was Sept. 4. Qualifying residents in Burnet, Guadalupe, Kerr, Kimble, McColluch, Menard, San Saba, and Tom Green, Travis and Willamson counties could be eligible to receive financial compensation for disaster-related expenses through FEMAs Individual Assistance program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous KXAN coverage reported on data from the 2025 Central Texas Flood Dashboard from Texas Appleseed, which revealed that only around 3% of the over 7,900 Central Texans who applied for FEMA disaster relief had flood insurance. Of these applicants, 67% reported earning less than $60,000 per year, and 38% made $30,000 or less. The floods killed at least 138 people across Central Texas. With survivors still rebuilding what remains of their livelihoods, Abbott thanked FEMA for helping to ensure that all Texans who qualify for financial assistance have ample time to apply. In addition to local disaster outreach centers established in the affected communities, impacted Texans can apply for FEMA assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. 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. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) As Abilene taxpayers brace for the 2026 tax season, economist Dr. John Hill offers insights into the anticipated changes, outlining what residents can expect as they finalize tax rates. Understanding property taxes can be confusing, especially with terms like appraised value, tax levy, and homestead cap. Dr. John Hill, a professor of economics at Hardin-Simmons University, clarifies how these tax rates impact citizens. He provides an example of what someone would pay in yearly taxes under the new rates if their home is valued at $100,000. Dr. Hill notes that the city of Abilenes new tax rate has actually decreased compared to last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For each $100,000. Last year it was $760. This year its $750. So, the city is saving you $10.10 on $100,000, Dr. Hill said. Dr. Hill next outlined the new tax rates for both Abilene ISD and Taylor County. Similar to the city, Abilene ISD decided to lower its tax rate, while Taylor County opted to increase its rates. Dr. Hill explained the calculations using a home valued at $100,000 as a reference. Last year it was $992. This year, its $958, representing a savings of $34.40. Last year, Taylor County was $548. This year its $557. And so, weve got $9.20 as the bump, said Dr. Hill. While many of these numbers appear positive for tax savings, Dr. Hill discussed another factor affecting Key City that will reduce those savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everythings been really steady. But all of a sudden, weve had this new component to our economy thats put the gas on the fire, which is the arrival of Lancium, Dr. Hill said. Currently, about 2,200 workers have arrived in town for the Lancium project, with that number expected to rise to 5,000 when the project reaches phase two. As a result, the inflow of workers, rental prices, and overall property values are steadily increasing. Dr. Hill noted that these factors significantly contribute to the costs consumers face. When we move into 2026 with this new rate, youre going to be facing a lower rate thanks to the schools and thanks to the city. But youre going to be facing a higher valuation, Dr. Hill said. Essentially, this means that despite the reduced rates, the overall percentage a homeowner pays will be higher due to the new and increasing property value rates. KTAB/KRBC attempted to obtain Wylie ISDs new tax rates to factor into the calculations for this story. Still, the district has not yet made that information available to the public. 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4) High pressure will keep us very warm and dry through midweek but look for slowly decreasing temperatures by the end of the week with increasing scattered storm chances into the weekend. Happy Tuesday, Utah! Our Tuesday afternoon will bring more sunshine across most of northern Utah, with a few extra clouds building across far southwest Utah. While most of us will remain dry on our Tuesday, SW Utah will begin to see a few pop-up afternoon showers developing. These will be few and far between, but the chance will be there for the afternoon and evening hours. High temperatures will remain above average with low to mid 90s for the Wasatch Front. Highs will still be around 100 for southwest Utah. Moisture will begin to ramp up across southern Utah on Wednesday with isolated showers and storms developing during the afternoon hours. Northern Utah will likely remain dry through midweek with highs in the lower 90s. Highs for southwest Utah will begin to dip back into the upper 90s for highs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chances of isolated storms will begin to increase a bit across northern Utah by late-week. Look for partly cloudy skies with isolated storms for the Wasatch Front. Partly to mostly cloudy skies will be common for southern Utah with increasing chances for scattered afternoon and evening showers and storms. High temperatures fall back into the upper 80s to near 90 for the Wasatch Front and only in the mid 90s for southwest Utah. The early weekend outlook is looking a bit unsettled across Utah. Moisture surging north around and area of high pressure will keep scattered showers and storms in the forecast. The chance for showers and storms may increase a bit through the weekend into early next week. Temperatures will respond to the extra clouds and rain chances with highs along the Wasatch Front only in the mid 80s for the weekend, and only in the lower 90s for southwest Utah. 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. In an effort to fill thousands of vacancies in state and local governments, New York has been running a program that waived tests for many civil service jobs and sped up the hiring process: New York HELPS. The HELPS program, Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide, is a temporary exemption that various state and local government agencies can seek for the entry-level jobs theyre seeking to fill. Rather than requiring applicants to wait for a relevant civil service exam, developing lists of eligible candidates ranked by score and conducting the traditional hiring process that can take months, HELPS allows agencies to take direct applications without tests, and move through the process faster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Department of Civil Service Commissioner Timothy R. Hogues implemented the program in April 2023, after Gov. Kathy. Hochul directed him to find a solution to the growing number of open positions in state agencies. Initially, the aim was to staff up what state bureaucrats call the O agencies, the offices tasked with handling core public welfare responsibilities including the Office of Mental Health, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Child and Family Services and others. It proved to be a game changer for those agencies that were providing direct care to the individuals of New York state, Hogues said in an interview Thursday. It was so successful that other agencies, local governments said they wanted to get involved too. Hogues attributes the staffing issues in local government to the COVID-19 pandemic. It drove many people out of their careers, into other areas of the country, and pushed a lot of people to reconsider the jobs they wanted to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It became essential to staff up government offices as the vacancies grew, and soon nearly 100 local governments had applied to participate in the HELPS program. In the north country, only St. Lawrence County and Franklin County participate. St. Lawrence has hired 156 people through the HELPS program, and Franklin has hired 66 people. At the state level, the Office of Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities have hired the most NY HELPS applicants, 5,483 and 7,951 respectively. SUNY follows in third place with 3,564 HELPS hires. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which has been in a protracted staffing crisis since February of this year, has hired 7% of all HELPS applicants at the state level, 2,294. The state has hired 31,525 people through the HELPS program, including existing state workers who applied for different jobs through it. Local agencies have hired 9,614 people. New individuals to the state, its close to 20,000 new people, Hogues said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But HELPS is temporary. It was meant to solve an emergency, and will expire in June 2026. People hired to HELPS positions will keep their jobs, but new applicants and people interested in changing jobs will have to proceed through the traditional civil service system that relies on tests and ranked lists. Hogues said lessons learned from the HELPS program have already been applied to the civil service system. Hogues said the main issue appears to be the barrier to entry, and so the state has moved to cut down barriers. The governor did a bunch of things, he said. She eliminated the exam fee, the application fee for people to be able to apply, sit for an exam or submit an application. She provided this agency with funding to do a marketing campaign on so many different platforms to get the word out and educate the public about the opportunities that are available, and she pushed for the agency to reconsider our minimum requirements for individuals to be able to take an exam. Hogues said that his department has updated requirements to account for workplace experience separate from education. If someone doesnt have a four-year college degree, but does have four years of office experience relevant to the job, they can still apply with just a high school diploma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hogues said theres no evidence that HELPS hires are more likely to leave their jobs than traditional civil service hires. He said that addressing long-standing staffing shortages has helped to buoy all aspects of agency operations, lessening the workload on existing staff and reducing burnout. Id say the program has been a huge success, he said. Were in the middle of a transformation process to make sure that when we come out of the HELPS program, we can take these lessons learned and apply them and make sure we have an efficient way to bring people into state government. That transition will be fully rolled out by next year, and thats given Piche and other local leaders reason to wait and see what the future of the system is before working to address their local job vacancies. The state is putting forward a really bold change to the civil service exam and certification process, and theyre launching that in 2026, Piche said. Our stance is to wait and see what the state does with the broader changes. Theres no need to roll this whole thing out when the state is going to roll out a whole new across-the-board change. Hundreds of active-duty and retired service members have pleaded with Donald Trumps administration to stop a far-reaching plan to end abortion care and counseling for American veterans. The proposal would eliminate access to this medical care for veterans through the federal governments health system, even in instances of rape, incest or to protect the health of the patient coverage that has been available to veterans and their beneficiaries for nearly three years. The rule change would apply to all those receiving care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, even those living in more than a dozen states where abortion care is legally protected and a constitutional right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 20,000 people submitted public comments in response to the rule change including thousands of objections from veterans, their family members and abortion rights advocates. I am a veteran of the US Army and if this rule was in place I wouldnt have joined, one person wrote. Military veterans, active troops and their families flooded a government website collecting public comments as the Trump administration plans to end abortion access at veterans healthcare facilities (AP) [As] an Army brat, military spouse, and miscarriage survivor, give our soldiers HEALTHCARE! another person wrote. As [a] veteran of the Marine Corps, having these medical procedures available gave me the option to stay combat ready, another said. How dare you take that right away from our women in uniform. One Navy veteran said she is utterly appalled by the rule change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This seems more like an ideological decision than one based on facts and science, she wrote. Reproductive healthcare includes the overall well-being of the female body. Has the VA decided that the wellbeing of women no longer matters? Was my service to my country for naught? Abhorrent and disgraceful, one anonymous Army service member wrote. Letting a bunch of old, white, male ghouls strip away women's healthcare. What healthcare organizations endorse this? I'm getting out of the Army next year. I can't take this disgusting bull*** anymore. America is not free. Three months after the Supreme Court revoked a constitutional right to abortion care in 2022, by overturning the landmark ruling in Roe v Wade, then-President Joe Biden allowed the VA to provide abortion services for veterans and beneficiaries on federal property, even in states where abortion was outlawed. Advocates hailed the move as a lifeline for coverage. The rule has also allowed VA physicians to discuss abortion options or referrals with patients for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the VA told The Independent Wednesday that the Biden-era rule was politically motivated. Prior to the rule change, federal law and longstanding precedent across Democrat and Republican administrations prevented VA from providing abortions and abortion counseling, the spokesperson added. VAs proposed rule will reinstate the pre-Biden bipartisan policy, bringing the department back in line with historical norms. The Trump administration claims that the rule change will not prevent physicians from providing life-saving abortion care in cases of ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages, since other provisions within the law already mandate those protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the proposal also states that claims in the prior administrations rule that abortions throughout pregnancy are needed to save the lives of pregnant women are incorrect. The Department of Veterans Affairs, led by Secretary Doug Collins, has defended a proposal to roll back abortion care for military veterans, claiming the move put the agency back in line with historical norms (AFP via Getty Images) The Trump administration also claims there isnt any demand for abortion care. Roughly 100 veterans and 40 beneficiaries received abortion care through VA medical centers since the policy change, according to government data. Barring veterans from receiving, and VA doctors from providing, abortion care through the VA in cases of rape or incest or where their health is threatened is reprehensible, said Skye Perryman, president of legal advocacy group, Democracy Forward, which represents the nonprofit Minority Veterans of America. It flies in the face of every claim the Trump-Vance administration has made about caring for veterans, she said in a statement Wednesday. Stripping away womens dignity and freedom to make health care decisions in their darkest moments is not only unjust its inhumane. This rule is an outright betrayal of those who defended our freedoms, and it must be thrown out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minority Veterans of America director Lindsay Church said the rule change is especially chilling in the face of reports of sexual assaults at VA facilities, the same institutions that would turn away veterans who become pregnant as a result. For veterans who experience sexual violence and pregnancy complications, the stakes could not be more urgent, they added. There are at least 2 million women veterans in the U.S., the fastest-growing group of veterans, according to the VA. As of 2024, more than half of women veterans of reproductive age lived in states that banned abortion or faced severe restrictions, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families. Last year, enrollment of women veterans in VA health care increased in every state, including significant increases in Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina states where abortion is effectively outlawed. Residents in a San Gabriel Valley neighborhood are being notified that an active shooter training will result in increased police activity and loud noises at an elementary school Wednesday. The exercise is scheduled to take place at Del Valle Elementary School in La Puente between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department stated. Residents and community members are advised there will be loud noises and an increased presence of police activity in the area throughout the day, the Sheriffs Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials emphasized this was only a training exercise and that there is no threat to the community. We appreciate the publics understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure the safety and preparedness of our deputies, school staff, and community, the Sheriffs Department said. Additional information is available by calling the Industry Station at 626-330-3322. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The most recent twists in the murder case against Adnan Syed will be explored in a new installment of the HBO docuseries, The Case Against Adnan Syed, airing Sept. 18. Directed by Amy Berg, the original four-part series aired in 2019 after Syeds case became a national sensation thanks to the coverage it received on the hit podcast Serial. The show cast doubts on the investigation into, and prosecution of, Syed, who was convicted in 2000 of killing his high school ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee. (Syed has long maintained his innocence.) More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new installment of Bergs documentary will chronicle the efforts that led to Syeds release from prison earlier this year at the age of 43, though with his murder conviction still intact. It all began when a suspect from Syeds original trial was caught assaulting a woman, leading his attorneys to demand a new investigation. Things developed further when former Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby, filed a motion to withdraw the judgment against Syed in September 2022. The new trailer for the episode features snippets of interviews with Mosby, as well as footage of Syeds legal team and supporters, and interviews with Syed himself from prison. How many different ways can these people try to hide from the truth, Syed says near the end of the clip, adding: Id just be grateful to make it home to my family without having to plead guilty. Berg started filming this new episode in early 2021 and was on-hand when a Baltimore judge vacated Syeds first degree-murder conviction and ordered his release from prison in September 2022. Not long after that, prosecutors announced that they would not pursue a new trial against Syed, essentially ensuring his freedom. Bergs new episode was originally supposed to air in 2023, but the fact that its finally coming out now speaks to the numerous twists the case took over the ensuing years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early 2023, an appeals court reinstated Syeds conviction after Lees family argued that the lower court had violated their rights by not giving them enough advance notice to attend a hearing on the decision to drop charges. While Syed was allowed to remain out of prison, the battle over his overturned conviction made its way through courts, with the Maryland Supreme Court ultimately upholding his conviction in August 2024. Amid all this, Mosby lost her 2022 Baltimore States Attorney reelection bid after she was accused of fraud involving Covid-19 pandemic relief money (she was convicted in 2024). And her successor, Ivan Bates, ultimately decided to withdraw the motion to vacate Syeds murder conviction, saying Mosbys original contained false and misleading statements that undermine the integrity of the judicial process. However, Bates did back Syeds application to have his prison sentence reduced under Marylands Juvenile Restoration Act, which offers people serving heavy sentences for crimes they committed as minors new opportunities to secure early release. (Syed was 17 when he allegedly killed Lee.) In March of this year, a judge approved Syeds request saying he was not a danger to the public, and adding, the interests of justice will be better served by a reduced sentence. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BOSTON (SHNS) Grandparents and other family members, friends and neighbors who provide informal child care could receive a pay raise under a revamped compensation system promoted by providers of color and those living in areas with large immigrant communities. Dozens of providers sporting green Brockton Workers Alliance shirts came to Beacon Hill on Tuesday, some with young children in tow, to share their personal experience in the license-exempt family, friend and neighbor (FFN) caregiver arena, where they earn low wages from public vouchers. They advocated for legislation from Rep. Marjorie Decker and Sen. Sal DiDomenico (H 542 / S 341) that would expand flexibility of child care vouchers, ensure FFN providers earn at least the state minimum wage, and establish an advisory board on FFN care. FFN providers are eligible to register through the state to receive payment through child care vouchers, but less than 1% of state child care subsidy funding goes to FFN providers, and the maximum daily rate is just $24 a day per child, Massachusetts AFL-CIO Legislative Director Lindsay Kenney told the Education Committee. Many of these workers are paid below the minimum wage, some making just $5 an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenney added the legislation fixes the voucher program so theres greater flexibility to use both FFN care and traditional child care. Supporters say FFN care is critical for parents juggling irregular work schedules, such as night shifts when traditional daycare centers are closed. FFN care may also be the most affordable option, and some parents feel more comfortable sending their children to settings that are culturally and linguistically familiar. The Department of Early Education and Care reimburses providers for up to 10 hours of care daily in various settings. Under the legislation, eligible families could deploy their vouchers flexibly across both formal and FFN care, said Alejandra Tejeda, family child care coordinator at SEIU Local 509. We all know that were in an affordability crisis and families across the state are using their last dollars on housing, food and child care, Tejeda said. Providing more opportunities for FFN, increasing flexibility and raising FFN provider pay to be on par with the minimum wage would provide a much needed boost for their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Committee co-chair Sen. Jason Lewis pointed out that FFN care has been an important area for EEC Commissioner Amy Kershaw, with a report from the administration expected soon on the model. An outside section in the fiscal 2025 budget directed the EEC to study the feasibility of implementing and overseeing an FFN care network, the sustainability of a network, and any legislative changes needed to implement report recommendations. State officials were supposed to consult with Community Labor Uniteds Care That Works pilot program, New England United for Justice, SEIU Local 509 and the Massachusetts Child Care Resource and Referral Network, according to the budget. The report was due in Jan. 1, 2025, though Lewis said hes expecting recommendations this fall. At least my thinking has been, we want to see where they land and what the department can do on its own, versus what the Legislature might need to do, Lewis told Susanna Bohme, research director at Community Labor United. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EEC spokesperson Kim Le, who did not specify the report release date, told the News Service, EEC has been working on the report in consultation with the partners listed in the budget. When Bohme said her team worked with EEC on the report and has seen a draft version, Lewis asked how the document aligns with the proposed bills. Bohme said EEC recognizes the need for better compensation and better communication about existing informal child care reimbursement. I think that there is a real opportunity and need for legislative weigh-in on making sure that the rates reach a minimum-wage level, Bohme said. I think that the EEC and all of us are looking to your leadership to address that issue. I know that they are looking at the rates, but I dont think theyre looking at the rates within a current framework that would get us to the minimum wage, and that it will take legislative action to really get us there. FFN care costs the state about $1.8 million annually under the existing voucher system, Bohme said in a response to a question from Lewis. That figure could jump to $6 million if current providers began earning a minimum wage, but Bohme said that estimate does not account for increasing program demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iolanda Miranda said she left her full-time job to take care of her grandson for the first year after he was born. If FFN providers earned the minimum wage, Miranda said she could have potentially stayed in her caregiving role an extra year. Miranda estimated child care took 10 hours daily sometimes longer, depending on her sons work schedule. I wasnt getting paid at all, Miranda said. We love our kids, we want to be with them, she added, calling compensation for FFN providers fair. 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. By Sayed Hassib MAZAR DARA, Afghanistan (Reuters) -Mir Salam Khan mourns the loss of his wife and three children in Afghanistans mountainous eastern province of Kunar, hit by an earthquake of magnitude 6 that crumbled thousands of homes. "We buried them with wooden planks and plastic sheets so the soil would not fall directly on the bodies," said the 65-year-old resident of the village of Mazar Dara. "That was all we could do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shallow midnight tremor, Afghanistan's deadliest quake in years, killed more than 1,400 people and destroyed more than 5,000 houses, officials of the Taliban administration have said, but harsh weather and rugged terrain have hampered rescue work. Here the dead are usually wrapped in shrouds and placed in graves topped with cement slabs. With supplies scarce and many destroyed homes, however, survivors said they were forced to improvise, with wood and plastic picked out of the wreckage. "We have never witnessed such an earthquake in history," said Yunus Khan, 45, seated amid the rubble of his mud-brick home that traps two of his children, while three more were among the 12 of his family who died. "All belongings were lost, the children were martyred," he added, surrounded by homes with crumbling walls, their wooden beams sticking out of rubble where children sat silently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was such a quake that it gave no one a chance," said Khan. "With one jolt, the entire village was destroyed." Most survivors remain stranded among the ruins, burying their dead in graveyards filling with freshly dug plots for children and adults. Aid workers are just reaching the remote hamlets. A single tent, shared by half a dozen families, sagged in the rain as helicopters circled overhead to ferry the wounded to hospital. "Last night it rained and we had no shelter," Yunus said. "Five or six families are in one tent, there are no supplies. Even the bodies lay out in the rain, waiting to be buried." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farmer and livestock owner Namirullah, 30 joined about 50 neighbours in digging through rubble with their bare hands. "The martyrs are still trapped and the injured are so many," said the volunteer from the nearby village of Chapa Dara. "People have abandoned their homes and are living in cornfields and orchards, terrified as aftershocks come every few minutes." The defence ministry said the Afghan air force moved more than 1,900 people in 155 flights over two days, hundreds of wounded among them, as well as delivering 10,000 kg (22,000 lb)of supplies across the region. Hemmed in by mountains where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, Afghanistan is no stranger to such devastation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A quake in 2022 killed about 1,000 people, and successive shocks in 2023 flattened villages in Herat. Four smaller tremors rattled the country this year. Each new disaster strikes a nation crippled by poverty, war and shrinking aid, with the United Nations estimating that half the population of more than 40 million needed assistance even before Sundays quake. Two days later, Salam was still waiting for the bodies of his son and daughter to be pulled from the ruins of his home. He and his neighbours used shovels and their hands in an effort made painfully slow without earthmoving machinery. "Two of my children are still under the rubble," he said. "We can do nothing." (Reporting by Sayed Hassib in Mazar Dara, Kunar Province and Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul; Writing by Ariba Shahid; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Ukraine looks set to receive a fleet of new-production 44 Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (MSFV) light armored vehicles from the United States. The MSFV is a variation of the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) armored car that offers additional protection for its occupants from explosive blasts and other improvements, and was originally developed specifically for the now-defunct Afghan National Army (ANA). The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Detroit Arsenal recently announced its intention to award a three-year sole-source contract to Textron for the production of 65, as well as a years worth of spare parts, with funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Established before Russias all-out invasion in 2022, USAI is a security assistance mechanism intended to help acquire weapons and other equipment, along with training and other support services, on Ukraines behalf. The Ukrainian armed forces have already received hundreds of standard M1117s, also known as Guardians, taken from U.S. Army stocks via what is known as Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). /2. Another video of the M1117 from the same unit. pic.twitter.com/ZTdxPVxe9h Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) March 16, 2024 Army Contracting Command-Detroit Arsenal had put out another notice in July seeking a source capable of producing a modified M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), referred to as the Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (MSFV), which was last produced in the 2019 timeframe. The notice had said the United States Government (USG) anticipates ordering 65 each with plans for complete production and delivery within three years, but did not mention Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Textron Marine & Land Systems, formed from a merger of Cadillac Gage and Textron Marine, originally developed the M1117 in the 1990s for the U.S. Army. The ASV design is reminiscent, at least externally, of Cadillac Gages V-100/V-150/V-200 Commando series of armored cars, and is currently branded as part of the Commando family. The baseline M1117 has a gross weight of close to 30,000 pounds and can reach a top speed of up to 63 miles per hour. It features a turret armed with a .50 caliber M2 machine gun and a 40mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher. A US Army M1117, fresh from a major depot overhaul, in 2008. US Army Vietnam War-era US Air Force M706E2 armored cars, variants of the Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando. USAF A number of additional variants of the M1117 were subsequently developed for the U.S. Army and other customers, including the M1200 Armored Knight for use by forward observer teams and an armored personnel carrier version with a revised interior configuration capable of accommodating eight personnel in addition to the crew of three. The further improved MSFV family, again specifically developed for the ANA, was unveiled in the early 2010s. The MSFV platform (originally known as the Medium Armored Security Vehicle) differs from the M1117 in that it has been configured with enhanced survivability capability, giving it improved blast protection, according to a 2014 report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. The MSFV also has an extended hull design that provides increased interior space and allows for additional seating configuration. The ANA subsequently received three different MSFV variants, one with the same turret as the M1117, one with an open-topped turret typically armed with a single .50 caliber machine gun, and one configured as a light armored ambulance. Plans to supply the ANA with a heavier fire support version with a turret armed with a 90mm gun failed to materialize. A US Marine Corps advisor observes ANA MSFVs in 2013. The vehicle in front has the same turret found on the M1117, while the one in the rear has the open-topped turret. USMC A significant number of the MSFVs that were delivered fell into the hands of the Taliban when they retook control of Afghanistan in 2021. #Afghanistan : #Taliban recently repaired large quantity of weapons and vehicles left by Afghan National Army and #USA / #NATO Forces. T-62 tanks, International M1224 MaxxPro armored vehicles, M1117 armored vehicles, SPG-9M / B-10 recoilless rifles, M249 machine guns, M16A2 pic.twitter.com/JviL9iRTLm War Noir (@war_noir) June 9, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement #Taliban captured some heavy amount of M1117 armoured vehicles at #Kabul airport pic.twitter.com/B82beg5fm2 Zeitung (@Himat75) August 30, 2021 What versions of the MSFV family Ukraine might now be in line to receive arent clear, but the Army Contracting Command-Detroit Arsenals most recent notice says Capability of mounting the MK-19 Grenade Machine Gun and M-2 .50 caliber machine gun concurrently (fired from inside the turret), and also the M2, M240, and M249 machine guns interchangeably (fired from outside the turret) are key requirements. For the Ukrainian armed forces, MSFVs could offer useful additional mobile firepower in a package with at least a degree of armor protection. Even just being able to shield occupants from artillery shrapnel and small arms fire could be valuable. Light armored ambulances would also be a boon for evacuating casualties under fire. As noted, the MSFV design also specifically incorporated survivability enhancements over the original M1117 to provide improved protection against explosive blasts, including from mines and improvised explosive devices. Mines are a particularly serious threat to both sides of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, Ukrainian battlefields are home to a myriad of other threats, especially highly maneuverable first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones. Pictures have previously emerged, as seen below, showing a Ukrainian M1117 covered in add-on armored screens to protect against uncrewed aerial systems. In an unmodified form, MSFV variants with open-topped turrets would have additional vulnerability to threats from above. US-supplied M1117 Guardian APC in Ukrainian service, sporting a custom up-armor kit with extensive drone cages. pic.twitter.com/XADqlv4SN8 OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 21, 2025 Though far less protected than tanks and other heavier armored vehicles, MSFVs are smaller and lighter, which could offer mobility advantages in certain contexts, as well as being simpler to operate and maintain. Textron restarting production of the MSFV family could be helpful to Ukraine just by creating an additional pipeline for more armored vehicles, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also interesting to note here that this isnt the first time Ukraine has benefited indirectly from past U.S. assistance to the defunct armed forces of Afghanistan. Back in 2022, the Ukrainian military received a number of Russian-made Mi-17 Hip helicopters that American authorities had previously supplied to the Afghan Air Force. US-donated Ukrainian Mi-17V-5 operations from a forward airstrip. Initially purchased by the US from Russia for service in Afghanistan, 16 were outside of the country when the government fell in 2021, and 5 were undergoing maintenance in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/53dviEtqTa OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 2, 2023 Shahed kamikaze drone chased and intercepted by Mi-17 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine which was transferred by the United States. The helicopters were previously designated for the Air Force of Afghanistan, the desert camouflage remains on the helicopter as a reminder of this. https://t.co/ZG4IK1CM5U pic.twitter.com/ACdfGfcf3g Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) February 3, 2025 When the MSFV contract might be finalized and when the first new-production vehicles might be delivered remains to be seen, but the Afghan-specific version of the M1117 now looks headed for a second life in Ukraine. Contact the author: joe@twz.com By Sayed Hassib and Charlotte Greenfield KABUL/MAZAR DARA, Afghanistan (Reuters) -Afghanistan airdropped commandos on Wednesday to pull survivors from the rubble in areas ravaged by earthquakes that have killed more than 1,400 this week, as a U.N. agency warned that food aid for victims would run out soon without urgent funding. Dozens of commando forces were being airdropped at sites where helicopters cannot land, to help carry the injured to safer ground, in what aid groups said was a race against time to rescue those still stuck under rubble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time was also running out for those who survived the two devastating quakes in the remote eastern region of the impoverished country, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday. John Aylieff, the head of WFP in Afghanistan, told Reuters that the agency only has enough funding and stocks for the next four weeks. "Four weeks is just not enough even to meet the basic, essential needs of the population struck by the earthquake, let alone put the victims on a path back to rebuilding their lives," Aylieff said. WFP funding for Afghanistan this year is just under $300 million, according to U.N. financial data, down from $1.7 billion in 2022, the first full year the country was ruled by the Taliban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resources for rescue and relief work are tight in the nation of 42 million people hit by war, poverty and shrinking aid. It has received limited global help after the disaster. The first earthquake of magnitude 6, one of Afghanistan's deadliest in recent years, unleashed widespread damage and destruction when it struck the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar around midnight on Sunday at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles). A second quake of magnitude 5.5 on Tuesday evening caused panic and interrupted rescue efforts as it sent rocks sliding down mountains and cut off roads to villages in remote areas. The toll stands at 1,457 deaths, 3,394 injuries and more than 6,700 destroyed homes, the Taliban administration said. The U.N. has said the toll could rise, with people still trapped under rubble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have set up a camp to coordinate supplies and emergency aid, while two centres were overseeing transfer of the injured, burial of the dead and the rescue of survivors, Ehsanullah Ehsan, the head of disaster management in Kunar, said in a text message. "What we really need is air support, helicopters. Tragically WFP had a helicopter...until a few months ago when funding cuts put an end to that," Aylieff said. Afghanistan has been badly hit by U.S. President Donald Trump's funding cuts to foreign aid, while donor frustration over the Taliban's restrictive policies towards women and curbs on aid workers have worsened its isolation. ENTIRE HOUSEHOLDS WIPED OUT Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some villages in Kunar province, entire households were wiped out. Survivors sifted through rubble looking for families, carried bodies on woven stretchers and dug graves with pickaxes. In Lulam village, one of the hardest-hit, Darbar, a 63-year-old woman who goes by one name, said she and her family had been waiting for aid for three days since the earthquake destroyed their house. "No one even hears our voices," she said, perched on a traditional wood-and-rope bed, adding that she had been injured on the chest. "Now we are just sitting with hope in God. We have no house, nothing to eat." On the nearby mountain road, trucks carrying sacks of flour or men with shovels could be seen on their way to villages even worse hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruhila Mateen from Aseel, a humanitarian tech platform that has teams on the ground, said conditions were worsening by the hour for survivors, with women and children especially vulnerable. Flimsy or poorly-built homes made of dry masonry, stone and timber gave little protection from the quakes, in ground left unstable by days of heavy rain, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The agency, which is pulling together the global disaster effort, called for emergency shelter, food assistance and sanitation facilities, along with drinking water, critical medical supplies and other items. An official of international group Doctors without Borders (MSF), which distributed trauma kits at two hospitals in the affected areas, also called for more humanitarian assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afghanistan is prone to deadly earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. (Reporting by Sayed Hassib in Mazar Dara, Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul, Charlotte Greenfield in IslamabadWriting by Sudipto GangulyEditing by Clarence Fernandez, Frances Kerry, Peter Graff) Laws that require people to prove theyre 18 or older before accessing sexually explicit content online are threatening the livelihoods of creators of adult content and queer and trans creators are being hit especially hard. Twenty-five states have passed laws that require people to upload a picture of government identification, scan their face or confirm banking information before viewing sexual content. The laws most frequently apply to websites with at least one-third sexually explicit content, but recent bills passed are broader, possibly covering social media companies or any kind of website that hosts sexually explicit material. There has been plenty of focus on the potential harm to online users, who generally do not want to upload a picture of a government-issued ID before accessing porn. The laws have weak privacy protections, and the United States doesnt have comprehensive privacy legislation like the United Kingdom or the European Union. By using these systems, users are putting their most sensitive data at risk biometrics, full name and address in the hands of largely third-party applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many creators and small studios are feeling the effects, too. Fewer people have been viewing and paying for their content, and creators and studios have also had to pay for age-checking software and contend with the potential for massive fines for noncompliance. The laws have added another risk for creators, as well: Litigation can be used to leak the full names and addresses of sex workers, who are vulnerable to stalkers and anti-porn harassment. This is going to have an immediate impact on many, many peoples ability to survive, said Lorelei Lee, a sex worker, organizer and professor of law at Cornell University. Indie queer porn studios are already struggling to stay afloat: They cater to a niche audience that has less disposable income to spend. They have long dealt with sites suppressing their content and payment processors freezing their accounts on suspicion of sex trafficking. The recent economic downturn has forced consumers to cut extraneous costs like adult content subscriptions. Now, theyve added on to that the cost of age-checking website software and massive fines for noncompliance. After the first state-based age verification law went into effect in Louisiana, PornHub released a statement that said site traffic dropped 80 percent after integrating age checks. But research has shown searches for virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow anyone to spoof their geographic location when accessing the internet, went up as did traffic to sites that did not implement age verification systems. In other words, these laws arent necessarily accomplishing their goal of preventing minors from accessing porn. PornHub did not return a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, large streaming sites can better handle the administrative burden of these new regulations, Lee said. Its the small studios and indie creators who are going to be unable to stay in business. Adult content creation is decentralized nowadays very few performers film a scene at a studio and then pick up a check the same day, said adult industry performer and content creator Siri Dahl. Performers might make ad revenue from streaming on sites like PornHub, posting subscribers-only content on OnlyFans or selling custom clips. Dahls free videos on PornHub act as a referral funnel for her paid content on OnlyFans and Fansly, she said. Now it takes longer for her videos to get the same amount of views, which means that fewer people are seeing her paid offerings. Dahl estimates that she has half the OnlyFans subscribers that she did in 2022, before age verification laws went into effect, and that her business revenue is down 20 percent. My whole thing was, I want my content to be really affordable for people. So I kept my monthly subscription price reasonable, and I would sell other upgraded or pay-to-unlock kind of content beyond that initial paywall, Dahl said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dahl has raised her prices. She used to be able to film more in advance and rely on a $10 clip to sell several thousand times over a couple months. But now she has to rely more on filming personalized video requests, which are a more expensive product. I have to spend a lot more time making labor-intensive custom content to kind of keep anywhere close to or try to make up for the difference in lost revenue, she said. Dahl is incredibly popular: She first joined the adult industry in 2012 and has over 431,000 Instagram followers. Shes also overtly political (Im essentially a socialist) and has been one of the few adult creators advocating against age verification laws. She uses her platform to talk about politics and on Thursday, she is running the second annual Corn Telethon to raise money for the Free Speech Coalition, the adult industry trade group that was the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case. Before the Supreme Court ruling, some sites had a DIY version of age verification that blocked users logging on from certain states. But the Free Speech Coalition said companies might still be liable if a user in a state requiring age verification circumvents geographic targeting with a VPN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner of an indie queer porn studio, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears of legal liability, said age verification has put pressure on them. Subscribers dropped after the studio blocked users from specific states in January. After the Supreme Court case, and on the advice of the Free Speech Coalition, the owner implemented a more robust age verification service that allows users to verify their identity via a passport, a face scan or banking information. The studio pays between 1 and 3 cents per verification, which might result in monthly charges of several hundred dollars, its owner said. And theres no guarantee that a site visitor will turn into a paying customer. The company runs on slim margins, and many queer customers are in lower income brackets. The owner recently took a full-time job outside the industry to shore up against an uncertain financial future. Out of all the things that people do online, I think porn is one of the things that people still feel the most shame and timidity and desire to be private around so of course, people dont want to upload their passport or biometrics or bank account information, the owner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were seeing our sales drop, but were also seeing a lot of dear friends and colleagues and other important makers in our field decide to close up shop, they said. It just feels like there is no possible way to proactively comply with the requirements that are being asked of us, and that thats an intentional move on the part of lawmakers. Project 2025, the conservative vision for the second Trump administration, suggests a national porn ban and imprisonment for adult industry workers. Russell Vought, architect of Project 2025 and current director of the federal Office of Management and Budget, was caught on tape calling age verification laws a back door to banning all adult content. Another performer who runs a small studio recently decided to close their business. I cant afford to take on the risk that these new laws have put people in positions of, they said. The laws werent the only factor, but they were a major one. Its honestly a very confusing landscape right now, and its kind of hard to keep track and stay on top of it. They started their studio because of the lack of diversity in queer pornography and a desire to see more of their community represented. But it was difficult to make the studio profitable, and now additional legal liability is an incentive to shutter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a performer, they are going to continue to use third-party sites like OnlyFans because those companies are shouldering the legal liability of age verification. Creators in the adult industry quickly see the impact of laws targeting pornography on livelihoods as more sex workers request mutual aid and share about evictions, Lee said. That impact also has the potential to force people out of the industry or push them into riskier forms of sex work. These age verification laws tangibly risk the safety of adult industry workers, who can be sued by an adult alleging harm has come to a child through viewing sexually explicit content. It opens you up to fans, stalkers, people with ill intent, suing you, and by suing you, gaining access to your legal name, your location, where you work. Oftentimes, that location is your home, Lee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every time they pass a law like this, the further and further we are pushed out of the mainstream and that means not just losing access to resources through our work, but losing access to resources in terms of familial contact and social connections and even the ability to get public services. The post Age verification on porn sites is putting queer adult industry workers at risk appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. (NewsNation) Artificial intelligence has enabled Salesforce to cut 4,000 customer support roles this year, CEO Marc Benioff said on a recent podcast. With AI agents taking on more tasks, the San Francisco tech giants support headcount has been reduced by nearly half. Ive reduced it from 9,000 heads to about 5,000 because I need less heads, Benioff said on The Logan Bartlett Show. Benioff laid out the change like this: If we were having this conversation a year ago, and you were calling Salesforce, there would be 9,000 people that you would be interacting with globally on our service cloud and they would be managing, creating, reading, updating and deleting data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AI reshapes job market as Gen Z turns to blue-collar work Now, half of those conversations are conducted by AI agents, with humans handling the rest, Benioff said. The rise of AI agents, and rebalancing that followed, has also allowed Salesforce to put those heads into sales, where the company hasnt had enough staff to keep up with demand, the CEO noted. There were more than 100 million leads that we have not called back at Salesforce in the last 26 years because we have not had enough people, Benioff said. He added: We now have an agentic sales that is calling back every person that contacts us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AI use by US employees nearly doubles in 2 years: Report Eventually, Benioff sees the 50-50 split between AI agents and humans expanding to the companys other divisions, beyond support roles and into sales and marketing. This is really the beginning of every part of the company having this kind of agentic augmentation, he said. In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, a Salesforce spokesperson said the company has not been actively backfilling support engineer roles because of the efficiency gains from its AI agent platform. Weve successfully redeployed hundreds of employees into other areas like professional services, sales, and customer success, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benioff, who co-founded Salesforce in 1999, has been more outspoken about his AI ambitions than many in Silicon Valley. Back in June, he told Bloomberg that AI was already doing 30 to 50% of Salesforces work a striking figure for a company with more than 75,000 employees. Investments in AI have also prompted job cuts at other major tech companies. In July, Microsoft announced it would be laying off nearly 4% of its workforce amid heavy AI spending. Meta slashed thousands of low performers earlier this year as the company pumps billions into AI. When asked whether mainstream enterprises are starting to absorb AI, Benioff thinks its still early. Were at the beginning of the beginning, he 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 NewsNation. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) As AI becomes more prevalent in schools, experts say the innovative tech could also be dangerous to mental health if used improperly. Artificial Intelligence is more accessible than ever, becoming more and more integrated in our daily lives. Experts say AI has become a useful tool in schools, but the tech could be dangerous if used improperly. Ohio emerges as early adopter in AI education policies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Singe ChatGPTs debut in 2022, AI has been in the spotlight as it continues to become more accessible. For Dayton Public Schools, AI has become a powerful tool with multiple uses, but its potential misuse is not lost on DPS leaders, who are being proactive with the new technology. For us, its about moving forward with being a part of the advancement of the times as we relate to technology and innovation, said Dr. David Lawrence, DPS superintendent. If you have an AI policy, be prepared to update it every 30 to 60 days, because thats how fast artificial intelligence changes. Dr. Lawrence says students are able to use AI to quickly analyze and digest information, and that AI usage is closely monitored to make sure students are safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Language learning applications like ChatGPT are some of the most versatile AI systems, but also potentially the most dangerous. Its a machine, it is not a person. Its just doing statistical analysis at a very high degree, said Dr. Robert McDole, Cedarville University Center of Teaching and Learning director. OpenAI and Meta say theyre fixing AI chatbots to better respond to teens in distress Last month, a lawsuit was filed against OpenAI after a 16-year-old committed suicide, allegedly using ChatGPT as a close confidant when discussing his intentions. The lawsuit alleges ChatGPT didnt do enough to stop him, like recommending a suicide hotline or other preventative measures. Instead, the program allegedly encouraged the boys thoughts and behaviors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McDole says AI does not replace human interaction and ChatGPT should never be treated as a therapist. You need to act with wisdom and caution, said McDole. If youre having a hard time, reach out to a friend, reach out to a counselor, because [ChatGPT] doesnt understand your feelings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. West Palm Beach city commissioners have approved $2 million in incentives for an unnamed technology company that plans to open a regional office downtown employing more than 800 people. The California-based company, which city officials say provides cloud-computing services to businesses, would operate an innovation hub in an office tower being built in CityPlace. If the company expands to the projected level, it would become one of Palm Beach Countys largest employers and potentially the largest private employer downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly Smallridge, president of the countys Business Development Board, told commissioners Sept. 2 that the companys move would amount to the largest corporate expansion into the county in a generation. I believe this is the largest relocation deal I have ever seen in over three decades of doing this, she said. Smallridge said the plan underscores the transformation of West Palm Beachs downtown, which has seen a boom in construction of Class A office space after years of complaints that the city offered too little to attract large corporations. That boom, Smallridge said, also allowed the city to draw mortgage lender NewDay USA to commence plans in 2021 for a 600-person office in CityPlace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You would never have seen this 10 years ago, she said in an interview. There was no office space. Christopher Roog, director of the citys Community Redevelopment Agency, said in an interview that it would be up to the company to make its plans public, but that he expected an announcement in the near future. The company plans to move in at 10 City Place, one of two office towers being built by Related Ross on the site of a former movie theater in CityPlace. The two towers are expected to be completed in 2027. Software firm ServiceNow is hiring in West Palm Renderings of the 10 and 15 CityPlace office towers at CityPlace. The new towers, which will total 1 million square feet, are being built by Related Ross of West Palm Beach. City officials did not name the company, citing confidentiality rules, but its description in city documents appears to align with that of ServiceNow, a Fortune 500 software company that confirmed in March that it was considering opening a West Palm Beach office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ServiceNow, which employs more than 25,000 people worldwide, declined to comment last week but told Bloomberg in March it was considering West Palm to support our global growth and future workforce expansion. ServiceNow provides software platforms that use artificial intelligence to help companies automate and organize office tasks. The company has posted job listings on its website for at least six open positions that would be based in West Palm Beach, including a senior staff AI architect and a senior staff software engineer. The unnamed company has been approved for a $13 million grant from the state Department of Economic Opportunity for major high-impact facilities, plus about $2 million in other state grants, city officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city's "relocation and development assistance grant," approved unanimously by commissioners Sept. 2, will deliver the company an additional $2 million over six years. To receive the city grant, the company will have to meet certain hiring targets, receiving the full amount if it hires 856 people within six years, officials said. The money will have to be returned if the company does not hire at least 400. Andrew Marra is a reporter at The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at amarra@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: AI firm ServiceNow wins $2 million grant for West Palm Beach office Aid agencies on Wednesday urged the international community to increase funding to Afghanistan after a major earthquake killed at least 1,400 people and injured thousands more. Just a few countries have publicly committed money since Sunday nights 6.0-magnitude quake struck several provinces in the mountainous and remote east, leveling villages and trapping people under rubble. Its the latest crisis to beset the country, and the third strong quake since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Kingdom is giving 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) to help. This money will go to aid organizations and not the Taliban government, which the U.K. doesn't recognize. South Korea on Wednesday said that it would provide $1 million through the United Nations. Australia on Thursday pledged $1 million and said it worked with established partners to ensure its support helped those in need and not the Taliban government. A further $11 million is being released through funds overseen by the U.N. and the European Union, while development agencies are channeling money through nongovernmental organizations or charities. But many traditional donor countries have yet to come forward with financial assistance. The U.S. was once the largest humanitarian funder to Afghanistan until it gutted this support earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afghans are weary of this never-ending crisis upon crisis, which they have to meet with dwindling external help and their own often desperate efforts, said Thamindri De Silva, national director of World Vision Afghanistan. International governments are queasy about investing in the longer-term solutions that can address the drivers of crises, such as the lack of preparedness, rural health care, and fragile infrastructure that made the impacts of these earthquakes so devastating. World Vision has launched a private fundraising campaign, De Silva added. Some governments and ambassadors have pledged assistance in kind to Afghanistan. India is sending tents and food. The United Arab Emirates dispatched a rescue team and essential relief supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taliban authorities have appealed for international help despite restricting and, in some cases, interfering with the work of NGOs. International funding to Afghanistan has fallen dramatically since the Taliban takeover, and just 28% of the humanitarian funding target has been met this year. Local resources were stretched to breaking point, and the lack of money was limiting the scale and speed of the response to the quake, said Jacopo Caridi, the country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. Rescue teams have struggled to reach affected communities in Kunar, the worst-affected province, hampered by rockfalls and landslides. Some are walking for hours to deliver aid and medicine, often up steep hills. People from surrounding areas have rushed in to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The earthquake is not a stand-alone disaster, Caridi said. It hit communities that were already struggling with displacement, food insecurity, drought, and the return of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries. Our teams in Kunar report that families are sleeping in the open, enduring repeated aftershocks. On Wednesday, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that more than 25 square kilometers (around 10 square miles) of land was contaminated by mines and explosive ordnance in earthquake-affected areas because of years of conflict. He said that assessments of the quakes impact and response efforts have been very challenging because of blocked roads, but the distribution of food and shelter materials and health assistance has started. The priorities are shelter, medical supplies, drinking water, food and sanitation. The needs remain immense, and we call on all those who are able to provide support for the earthquake response to do so, he added. ___ Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer contributed to this report from the United Nations. Air-raid sirens were wailing in many parts of Israel on Wednesday morning as a missile launched from Yemen was approaching the country. Hundreds of thousands of people headed into shelters in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other locations. The military later said the projectile was intercepted by the air defence. Israeli news site ynet reported that operations at Israel's international airport near Tel Aviv were temporarily suspended during the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A plane operated by Wizz Air heading from Budapest to Tel Aviv had to briefly reroute due to the alarm, according to the report. So far there have been no reports of impacts or injuries, according to rescue service Magen David Adom. Since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have regularly attacked Israel with missiles and drones in support of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement. Israel has repeatedly targeted sites in Houthi-ruled areas in Yemen in response. Air-raid sirens were sounded in many parts of Israel on Wednesday morning as a missile launched from Yemen was approaching the country. Hundreds of thousands of people headed into shelters in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other locations. The military later said the projectile was intercepted by the air defence. Israeli news site ynet reported that operations at Israel's international airport near Tel Aviv were temporarily suspended during the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A plane operated by Wizz Air heading from Budapest to Tel Aviv had to briefly reroute due to the alarm, according to the report. Later on Wednesday, Yemen's Iran-allied Houthi rebels said they had conducted a dual military operation against Israel. A military spokesman for the militia said in a televised statement that they had fired two ballistic missiles, including a missile capable of carrying cluster munition - used only for the second time in attacks against Israel. He claimed the operation was aimed at "sensitive targets" in Israel and "successfully achieved its goals". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, no damages or injuries have been reported so far. The attack came a week after the Houthis' prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, was killed along with nine ministers and two cabinet officials in an Israeli airstrike in the Yemeni capital Sana'a. The Houthi government is not internationally recognized. Since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have regularly attacked Israel with missiles and drones in support of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement. Israel has repeatedly targeted sites in Houthi-ruled areas in Yemen in response. Virgin Australia came under fire after passengers on a flight from Bali to Brisbane, Australia, were forced to urinate in bottles and the lavatory sinks. "We will be crediting guests for the Denpasar to Brisbane flight and we are proactively reaching out to them to provide this update," a Virgin spokesman following the Thursday night disaster, offering their "sincere apology to customers." According to reports, one of the three lavatories was inoperable at the time of takeoff. However, the decision was made to continue with the scheduled departure due to "limited engineering support" at the departure airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, according to an unnamed passenger, by midway through the six-hour flight, "every toilet failed." "For the remaining three hours, the cabin crew informed us we would need to relieve ourselves in bottles or 'on top of whatever was already in the toilet,'" the disgruntled traveler told The Australian. "One elderly woman was unable to hold on and suffered the humiliation of wetting herself in public." The business class passenger was reportedly instructed to "use the sink to urinate" after refusing to use a bottle. "This is a huge hygiene issue as people wash their hands in the sink," he said. "For passengers to be forced to sit in a confined space for hours surrounded by overflowing toilets and human waste is a public health risk, a safety concern, and an absolute disgrace." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aircraft in question, one of Virgin Australias newest Boeing 737 Max 8s, was undergoing repairs Friday and scheduled to take off from Brisbane to Mackay on Saturday. This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Aug 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) Its something many commissioners want to see, a new direct flight to a major destination out of Augusta Regional Airport, even though the idea did not take off at this meeting. But I was all in favor it and still am in favor of it moving in that direction, said Commissioner Tony Lewis. The airport is asking a $1 million-dollar commitment to create a pool of funds as an incentive to attract a new carrier. But the request comes at a time where the city facing a $7 million-dollar budget shortfall, in next years budget because the citys rescue act funds have run out. Im going to support, regardless. Im going to support us pushing and doing what we need to do to get another airline here. Its no secret its a horrible time right now because were digging through the budget and were trying to balance some things out, said Commissioner Don Clark. And while there is support for recruiting another air carrier, the citys budget situation is a cause of concern for some. Could you support for recruitment right now? Today, Im not sure Ill do, said Commissioner Tina Slendak. Commissioners say Augusta is not the only government getting the request, and the city money would not be needed if the new airline succeeds. That money, well hold on to that money in the event the airline needs it, but if they meet the demands of the scheduled flights, then the money would never be used, said Commissioner Lewis. Airport officials asked for the funding request to be taken off this meeting agenda, but city leaders are on standby for another ask. 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 WJBF. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) State leaders from Huntsville down to the Wiregrass are ecstatic about President Donald Trumps decision to move the Space Command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. They said bringing the nations space power to Alabama will make for even greater opportunity. State Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, said the move will boost the economy locally and statewide. You dont move the rocket off the launch pad, and you dont move Space Command out of the Rocket City, and were certainly glad for the announcement today, Whitt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ray Long, chairman of the Morgan County Commission, said Trumps announcement will bring around 4,000 jobs to the area. I know decisions like this are not made because of politics. Theyre made about whats best for national security, Long said. So by him personally making the announcement, it lets the nation and the whole world know that he thinks that north Alabama is a great place. Pre-filed bill would ban use of preferred pronouns, discussion of gender identity in Alabama public classrooms State Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said the announcement is long overdue. He said he wants to make sure Huntsville has the infrastructure needed to sustain the growth coming to the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huntsville, Alabama, has a strong foundation, Daniels said. Were providing the workforce. Were training the workforce. We have a large military presence and defense presence here in our community, and so its a no brainer. State Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, said that defense presence will only grow statewide. Were open for business, Rehm said. Weve got highly educated folks. We have people ready to work, and weve got great geography to make these things happen. So why wouldnt you come to Alabama? As our history shows, Alabama always stands ready to support the defense of our great nation, and Huntsville continues proving the Rocket City is truly Space Central,' Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. 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 CBS 42. The U.S. Supreme Court, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) In 2012, Alaska State Troopers arrested Fairbanks pilot Ken Jouppi and seized his aircraft after charging him with bootlegging for shipping beer into the dry community of Beaver. Now, after 13 years of legal disputes, the states decision to seize Jouppis airplane could be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Institute for Justice, a libertarian-leaning nonprofit public interest law firm, last week asked the Supreme Court to consider overturning an Alaska Supreme Court ruling from April. That ruling declared that the states decision to seize Jouppis plane was not an excessive fine for bootlegging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The petition for a writ of certiorari a formal document asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the issue was filed last week, an official with the Institute confirmed on Tuesday afternoon. The odds are against Jouppi the Supreme Court takes only about 1% of the cases it receives. If cases filed with a fee waiver are excluded those usually come from prisoners representing themselves in a last-ditch appeal the acceptance rate is 5% or less. Now 85 and retired, Jouppi was a longtime air taxi pilot in Fairbanks when he planned to ferry a passenger and her groceries from that hub city to Beaver, a village in the Interior. Before takeoff, an Alaska State Trooper noticed a six-pack of beer visible in the baggage. Beaver had outlawed the sale, consumption and importation of alcohol in 2004. Troopers searched the plane and found three cases of beer two Budweiser, one Bud Light intended for the passengers husband, the local postmaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jouppi was indicted on bootlegging charges, convicted, and sentenced. His sentence included three days in jail and a fine. State prosecutors asked that he be required to forfeit his plane, but the trial judge declined. The state appealed that decision, and the Alaska Court of Appeals ruled in 2017 in the states favor. The Appeals judges sent the case back to the trial court, which again refused to order the planes forfeiture, citing the U.S. Constitutions excessive fines clause. The state again appealed, and in 2022, a full decade after the original crime, the Court of Appeals partially ruled in the states favor. The appeals court ordered additional proceedings by the trial court, but both Jouppis attorneys and state prosecutors instead asked the Alaska Supreme Court to take up the issue, which it did last year before issuing a written opinion in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hold, as a matter of law, that the owner of the airplane failed to establish that forfeiture would be unconstitutionally excessive, wrote Justice Jude Pate on behalf of the court, which ruled unanimously in the states favor. Pate and the court said that Alaska legislative debates showed that state lawmakers placed a high priority on punishments for bootleggers, and thus the seizure of an airplane was not excessive, even though a relatively small amount of beer was involved. Alcohol abuse in rural Alaska leads to increased crime; disorders, such as alcoholism; conditions, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and death, imposing substantial costs on public health and the administration of justice. Within this context, it is clear that the illegal importation of even a six-pack of beer causes grave societal harm, the ruling states. This factor strongly suggests that the forfeiture is not grossly disproportional. In their request for the U.S. Supreme Court to examine the case, Jouppis attorneys argue that the federal justices should decide whether courts should consider the seriousness of an offense in abstract, or if they should take into account a specific defendants circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alaska Supreme Court examined the gravity of the defendants offense at a stratospheric level of abstraction, they argue, when justices should have taken into account the circumstances. The Alaska justices relied on a federal decision from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Jouppis attorneys note, but Alaska is within the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Judges for the 9th Circuit have considered the Excessive Fines clause of the Constitution and concluded that it is critical to review the specific actions of the violator rather than by taking an abstract view of the violation. Because of those two differing interpretations of the Constitution, Jouppis attorneys say, the case is ripe for the U.S. Supreme Court to consider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No date has been set for a court conference to determine whether Jouppis case will be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court. If the court declines to consider his case, the Alaska Supreme Court decision will stand. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Located on a cliff bordering the Gulf of Alaska, set inside one of the wildest and least visited places in the National Park System, are hundreds of dinosaur footprints. For Paleontologist Dr. Anthony Fiorillo, who is also the executive director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, these tracks help shape the narrative of how dinosaurs traveled to New Mexico millions of years ago. What is the New Mexico state fossil? Every trip we find more, which is just sort of a mind-blowing experience; that one of the best records to study dinosaurs and their environments anywhere in the world is one of the hardest places to get to, Fiorillo said about his 12th visit to the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve in August to study dinosaur tracks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fiorillo has conducted research in Alaska for 28 years and made the first discovery of dinosaur footprints in any Alaskan national park. His research focuses on dinosaurs from the Cretaceous Period. There are two windows that I work on. One is about 70 million years ago, 70, 72 million years. And then the other one is about 100 million years ago when that Bering Land Bridge first in place geologically, he explained. The Bering Land Bridge is a significant feature, which Fiorillo and researchers say allowed dinosaurs to travel from Central Asia to the Western United States, including Alaska and New Mexico. According to Fiorillo, all the dinosaurs found in New Mexico, except for Almasaurusa giant sauropod originally found in the Land of Enchantmentcame to New Mexico from Central Asia through Alaska. A dinosaur footprint in Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve in Alaska on Aug. 9, 2025. (Photo by Kim Hubbard) So what dinosaur tracks has Fiorillo found on the Aniakchak cliff that have ties to New Mexico? Here are a few examples: Somewhere around 90 to 95 percent of all the tracks we find belong to duck-billed dinosaurs. And its a little more interesting than that, in that we have full-grown duck-billed dinosaur footprints all the way down to little children, duck-billed dinosaurs, if you will, Fiorillo said, adding that based on the variety of tracks, it appears these dinosaurs may have nested in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have also found the footprints of armored dinosaurs called Ankylosaurs. Theyre not real, real common, but theyre there. Weve also found footprints of smaller Theropod dinosaurs, meat-eating dinosaurs, but weve also found a full-sized Tyrannosaur track out there. So theres big meat-eaters and little meat-eaters, he explained, saying he has also found two kinds of bird tracks. As Fiorillo continues to find more dinosaur footprints at the Aniakchak location, his research also includes looking at the surrounding environment, such as the vegetation, rock formations, and water sources, to hopefully understand what it may have looked like then and why and how it changed over time. Paleontologist Dr. Anthony Fiorillo on the cliffs of Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve in Alaska on Aug.10, 2025. (Photo by Kim Hubbard) For example, these dinosaurs lived in a tidally influenced sort of estuary environment. Some of them lived, were basically walking on the beach, and some of them were walking within areas that were more rivers and streams with some floodplains, Fiorillo said, noting that the Anichak location where the dinosaur tracks were discovered is an atypical setting. This is a very, um, atypical setting for finding dinosaurs, because youre on a beach cliff. Youve got, youre at high latitude. Theres plenty of vegetation covering a lot of rocks elsewhere, Fiorillo explained. The thing that I think is really, in addition to helping us understand New Mexico dinosaurs, one of the things thats important about this work is the temperatures were warmer back then. It was a warmer Arctic. And we think, based on the total summation of all the work weve done around Alaska, that were looking at a warmer Arctic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Wednesdays Top Stories Wednesdays Five Facts [1] APS considers clear backpack policy and AI technology to boost security As guns continue to be found on students on campuses, APS is continuing to look at ways to boost security on campuses. Albuquerque Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Antonio Gonzales said school leadership is considering major changes, from incorporating AI scanners designed to detect weapons to even instating a clear backpack policy. After receiving a positive reception toward its clear bag policy at sporting events, the district said a clear backpack policy could be a reality within this school year. [2] Suspect in Taos County murder will be held behind bars One of the men accused of killing his former Army buddy and dismembering his remains will remain locked up until trial. Taos County deputies say Rainor Joiner and David DeGroat shot and killed their roommate, Matthew McLaughlin, near Tres Piedras. Investigators found McLaughlins remains in plastic bags scattered along Highway 64. On Monday, a judge granted prosecutors request for pretrial detention in Joiners case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [3] Increasing storm chances into the weekend More isolated storms return this afternoon across southern parts of New Mexico. Heavy rain will be possible out of a few of these storms. The chance for isolated storms will move back into western and northern New Mexico Thursday. [4] Sinkhole closes road in downtown Albuquerque An intersection in downtown Albuquerque is closed after a sinkhole formed. The sinkhole formed at 2nd St. and Copper Ave. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority is still investigating what caused the hole to form. There is no timeline on how long it will take to fix. The intersection will remain shut down for at least a few days. [5] UNM to host grand opening ceremony for renovated duck pond The University of New Mexico is holding a grand opening ceremony for the renovated duck pond from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The celebration will feature several speakers, light refreshments, and a limited number of commemorative button pins for attendees. Key improvements to the pond include a new liner to prevent water loss from leaks, new biofilters, and a UV system that enhances water quality. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Four people have been indicted in connection to quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond, including two new suspects and two previous suspects who now face a second count on the same charge. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday that Eric Wise Jr., 26, and Michelle Ovelis, 22, were indicted by a Madison County Grand Jury, each charged with Accessory After the Fact. Agents said Wise and Ovelis assisted murder suspect Austin Drummond in evading authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giovantie Thomas and Dearrah Sanders, both of Jackson, were also indicted by a Madison County grand jury on Tuesday. Both Thomas and Sanders had previously been charged with one count of Accessory After the Fact. Now they face an additional count, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Murder suspect Austin Drummond in custody after weeklong manhunt in TN The four are accused of assisting Drummond, who is accused in the murders of four family members in Lake County, Tennessee and the abandonment of a baby. Drummond was captured Aug. 5 in Jackson, after a weeklong manhunt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Northern Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie joined by colleagues on both sides of the aisle and several self-identified victims of sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein had a message for viewers tuned in to their fiery press conference outside the nation's Capitol. "Congressmen listen to you. Light up their phones," Massie said, after more than a half-dozen women and an attorney representing them spent more than an hour recounting the abuse they say they endured. "Burn down the phone lines here in Washington, D.C. Ask them ... why won't you be for transparency?" Massie, who stood alongside California Democratic U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna and Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, is pushing for fellow lawmakers to force the U.S. Department of Justice to release all criminal investigative files in the case against Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died by suicide in prison in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While allegations and widely spread conspiracy theories have said more people were involved with his sex trafficking one woman who spoke said former President Bill Clinton was among Epstein's party on a trip to Africa, and President Donald Trump once considered him a friend just one other person, associate Ghislaine Maxwell, has been charged and convicted in the case. Massie and Khanna filed a discharge petition on Sept. 2 in a push to force Congress to vote on Massie's proposed resolution that would publicly release "all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" related to Epstein and Maxwell, including flight logs, known associates, legal settlements, documentations of Epstein's death and other materials. The legislation requires at least 218 signatures to be taken up in Congress. Massie said all 212 Democrats and four House Republicans have pledged to sign it just two more signatures are needed, the representative said, urging colleagues to eschew party lines and "demand real accountability." "I also today hoped (the victims) would persuade my colleagues to join this effort," Massie said. "But I found out something today that happened that I wasn't expecting. They persuaded me to fight even harder." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: No leniency, no deals.' Epstein victims speak as pressure grows to release files Massie first put forward the resolution the "Epstein Files Transparency Act," as it's referred to in the document in July. At the time, he said he filed it because members of the public "deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes." Questions remain as to how much support it has in the chamber and among Kentucky's Republican delegates. Louisiana Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, the House speaker, said a vote on Massie's resolution is no longer necessary after a separate resolution approved the release of more than 33,000 pages of subpoenaed records on Sept. 2. Those documents have now been made public, though critics including Massie have said much of that content was already available. U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky's lone Democrat in the chamber, has said he supports Massie's resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. James Comer is chairman of the House Oversight Committee, which is conducting its own review of the investigation into Epstein and Maxwell, with some victims meeting privately with committee members the day before the press conference. A spokesperson from his office noted the work that committee has done but said Comer "will not be signing the petition." A statement from U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers said the congressman supports the committee's investigation and while "the bipartisan discharge petition is similar in nature, the House Resolution pushes further action through the House Oversight Committee." He said both "share in the same common goal of accountability and justice for the innocent. Representatives for U.S. Reps. Andy Barr, who's running for retiring U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's seat next year, and Brett Guthrie did not immediately provide comments ahead of publication. Barr in July referred to the discharge petition as a "distraction." Trump said on the campaign trail he would declassify more documents in the case if elected, and key allies including Vice President JD Vance and FBI Director Kash Patel called for the investigation to be released to the public ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has a simmering feud with Massie over his opposition to the president-backed "One Big Beautiful Bill" that was approved in the legislature in July. A Trump-supported PAC is seeking a primary challenger for the Northern Kentucky district in the 2026 election. USA TODAY reported Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Sept. 3 that calls for transparency related to Epstein are a "Democrat hoax" in an attempt to "get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been president." Bradley Edwards, an attorney for several women who spoke at the press conference, said he spoke to Trump in 2009 about the case, and "he didn't think it was a hoax then." Epstein was first indicted in 2006 but was able to plead guilty to state charges in a harshly criticized deal that allowed him to avoid a likely lengthier term in federal prison. While Massie praised the House Oversight Committee's work and has previously said he doesn't believe Trump is personally implicated of wrongdoing he didn't mention the president by name at the press conference and was among several speakers who said the case is not a partisan issue the congressman on Sept. 3 called efforts to brand it as a hoax are "shameful." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not a hoax. This is real," Massie said. "There are real victims to this criminal enterprise. "The Washington establishment is asking the American public to believe something that is not believable. They're asking you to believe that two individuals created hundreds of victims and they acted alone, and that the DOJ has no idea of who else might have been involved, that nobody else did anything that rose to a criminal enterprise. The American people know that's not true." Several women who said they'd been abused by Epstein and groomed by Maxwell spoke at the press conference. Most said they were 14 when they were first approached to provide massages to Epstein. One said she was recruited by a 13-year-old girl who had been requested to bring him more girls. Jena-Lisa Jones was among them. She said she was 14 when a friend brought her to Epstein's home in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2003. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Until that day that I met Jeffrey, I had never been more scared in my life that I was that first time that he hurt me," she said. "I remember crying the entire way home thinking about how I couldn't ever tell anyone about what actually happened in that house. This guy was so rich and had so many pictures with so many famous people and no one would have ever believed me if I told them." Khanna, Massie's Democratic co-sponsor, said the resolution should have bipartisan support. "This country is divided and exhausted," he said. "This is one thing, one thing, we can come together on. This story was updated with more information from a Sept. 3 press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USA TODAY reporters Bart Jansen and Josh Meyer contributed. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Thomas Massie calls for transparency alongside Jeffrey Epstein victims Australian army M1A2 Abrams tanks from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment are seen on the deck of USAV (U.S Army Vessel) Paulus Hook on July 19, 2025 in Townsville, Australia. Over 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations are participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the largest-ever joint military drills held across Australia and, for the first time, Papua New Guinea, focusing on multi-domain operations including land, sea, air, space, and cyber warfare. Credit - Ian HitchcockGetty Images China has told us what it wants: to be the dominant global power by 2049. The path to that future starts where the Indian and Pacific Oceans meet. Our bipartisan, bicameral delegation just returned from 10 days of deep and honest dialogue with our partners in Australia and the Pacific Island Countries. We celebrated the 80th anniversary of victory in the Pacific in World War II and commemorated 50 years of bilateral relations with Papua New Guinea. Across the Pacific, the signs of Chinese economic coercion and military intimidation are everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However we also saw a collection of allies and partners making strides toward our vision for a shared futureone that is open, prosperous, free, and secure from Chinese aggression. At a moment when Washington is asking more from our allies, our visit uncovered just how much theyre doing. Our allies and partners are providing training, troops, access, and materiel supportthe same factors that led to victory in World War II and will be critical as we seek to shore up deterrence for the 21st century. These countries, including the four we visitedAustralia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and the Marshall Islandsare not American protectorates, passively accepting our support. Rather, theyre sources of strength that help us project power well beyond our own shores, and protect our shared security, prosperity, and way of life. Our visit showed us that to deter and, if necessary, fight and win the next war in the Pacific, we need to remember the lessons from the last one. The first is that geography matters. Americans and Australians alike once believed that we were untouchable thanks to our vast oceans. We learned our lesson after the same Japanese carriers attacked Pearl Harbor and, two months later, mounted the largest single attack in Australias history. Recall that just 12 days after Pearl Harbor, then-General Dwight D. Eisenhower directed the establishment of an American military base in Australia, understanding how critical this location was to preserving the security of the United States. To ignore what Eisenhower knew then will come at our own peril. The second lesson is that military might requires industrial might. We won the Second World War because we recognized the urgency of the moment. We leveraged the patriotism, ingenuity, and sheer capacity of the U.S. economy to build nearly 300,000 aircraft, almost 200,000 artillery units, and millions of tanks and trucks. We produced more planes in 1944 than Japan did through the entirety of the war. While the U.S. built 17 aircraft carriers, Japan built six. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, we face an even more formidable adversaryone whose production capacity exceeds ours by an order of magnitude. But we need not fight alone, and we need not produce alone. This is why, in 2021, the U.S. launched one of the most ambitious defense projects in history: the AUKUS partnership. Our delegation visited the Osborne shipyard in Adelaide and saw the progress were making. No current weapon or platform in the U.S. arsenal is as important to deterring Chinese aggression as nuclear-powered submarines on patrol in the Pacific. Australia has stepped up to the tune of $3 billion for this project alone, and its no wonder AUKUS enjoys enormous bipartisan support across the U.S. Congress and the American people. The third lesson is that we have no choice but to maintain our technological edge. Here too, Australia is delivering. On our visit, we discussed progress through our partnerships in frontier technologies like quantum computing and hypersonics. Australia is ramping up production of critical munitions to meet a key logistics vulnerability and provide additional capacity. At a tour of a brand-new production facility outside Sydney building cutting edge undersea autonomous vehicles, we saw the way Australia is pioneering a new model for defense innovation, working with military, civil service, and disruptive private sector partners. Australia has even more to offer the U.S. as a strategic partner, from a wide range of critical minerals and rare earths to advanced research in key technologies from quantum computing to hypersonic missiles. Whether it is sharing valuable intelligence as a trusted partner, hosting U.S. troops for substantial training exercises or manufacturing advanced munitions with American companies, Australia has proven its strategic value to our nation over and over and will continue to do so in the future. The fourth lesson is that the enemy gets a vote. China is working to turn countries in this critical region, such as the Solomon Islands, into vassal statessending in police forces, investing billions in debt-trap diplomacy, and cultivating corrupt officials in the hope that in the event of a contingency, China can count on the Pacific Island Countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On our visit, we saw a region yearning for American engagement, and one where just a little can go a long way. Australia is playing an indispensable role in the region, opening embassies in every island nation, establishing the Pacific Police Force as an alternative to China, and supporting the economic development of these critical partners. We must ensure the continuation of PEPFAR, Americas flagship global HIV and AIDS relief program. And we must continue to provide critical disaster assistance for this hurricane-prone region, assist countries in building the infrastructure (like ports) they need to grow their economies and serve as markets for American businesses, and ratify the important Pacific Tuna Treaty to help our Pacific partners push back on Chinese pirate fishing. Our delegation included members of the Appropriations, Armed Services, Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, and we met with a wide range of senior Australian leaders including the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Foreign Minister, and Director of National Intelligence. What we heard in every meeting is that Australia is more committed than ever to investing in our joint security based on our shared values. It was clear that our allies in the region are ready to stand with us at this pivotal moment in modern history, if only we embrace their partnership. The tensions in our partnership caused by tariffs and the Pentagons AUKUS review need to be put to rest. We need to clearly and unambiguously reinforce our commitment to our partners, in word and in deed. Our future may well depend on it. Contact us at letters@time.com. CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) American Airlines is now offering more travel options for Lowcountry passengers flying to New York City. The airline is adding a second daily flight from Charleston International Airport to New Yorks LaGuardia Airport (LGA) beginning September 3. A third flight will be added on Nov. 3. Airport officials said the route will be served using a mix of Embraer E170 and E175 aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elliott Summey, CEO of Charleston International Airport, called the expansion a major win for Charleston and the surrounding region, adding that adding more flights to New York means more options for business and leisure travelers, and more connections for the local economy. Were thrilled to see American Airlines grow their commitment to Charleston and further solidify our airport`s role as a vital transportation hub in the Southeast, he said. American Airlines said that adding flights will add more flexibility for travelers flying between the two East Coast cities. American is thrilled to announce expanded service between Charleston and New York City, said Jordan Pack, Americans Director of Domestic Network Planning. We are proud to serve as Charlestons largest carrier with more than 25 daily departures to seven destinations. Whether traveling to New York City for a trip or through one of our other gateways to more than 350 destinations around the world, we look forward to welcoming travelers on board our aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. As the new school year begins, the New York City Police Department will deploy hundreds of uniformed officers this week to key locations, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday. In a series of TV hits, she and Mayor Adams promoted a plan to assign the cops on foot along passageways where children frequently commute to and from school, as the NYPD tries to bolster its ranks of school safety agents. We have lots of officers, Tisch told PIX11 Morning News, that are going to work corridors that kids travel to and from school, at the times theyre traveling to and from school, just to make sure that their preschool and postschool commutes are nice and safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 300-officer deployment comes as a recent spate of high-profile shootings in the Bronx involving young people has left families in the borough on edge, on top of fears stemming from last weeks Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis. This city has been extremely fortunate: No mass shootings in our schools, Adams said on ABC7 Eyewitness News. Theres a real plan that the commissioner is rolling out when it comes down to keeping our children safe. When you look at some of these crimes that hit young people, I spoke to the mother of the young girl who was shot in the Bronx, and it rips you apart, the mayor added. Were going to keep them safe in our school system. The NYPD has hired nearly 3,000 new recruits this year, including school safety officers, the police commissioner said on PIX11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve done a huge push around hiring school safety officers, and we will continue to do that, Tisch continued. For as long as Ive been in the Police Department, theres always been drama around the number of school safety officers we have. And so weve put in place a hiring plan, hopefully to end that drama. Last spring, just over 3,600 school safety agent jobs were filled out of an authorized head count closer to 4,000, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union a 28% decrease in officers over the past half decade. In response, the NYPD launched an assistant agent program for recent high school graduates to boost staffing in elementary schools and build a future talent pipeline. The Police Department has also moved the broader school safety agents division from a community bureau to under the control of police personnel a move the NYPD insists was structural but sparked concern among advocates. Keeping our kids safe is our real priority this school year, Tisch said on Fox5 Good Day New York. This story has been updated. By Trevor Hunnicutt, David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Images this week of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping seemed to confirm what many experts have already concluded - the U.S. has stumbled in its effort to draw India into its diplomatic orbit. Successive U.S. presidential administrations have sought to cultivate the historically non-aligned India as a strategic counterweight to China and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as the images of Modi in Tianjin underlined, U.S. President Donald Trump appears for now to have undercut that goal with a series of actions. These have included piling 50% tariffs on Indian goods and publicly browbeating New Delhi over what his administration sees as its opportunistic purchases of cheap Russian oil. The souring of the India relationship comes even as U.S. adversaries China, Russia and North Korea have tightened their ties, despite Trump's desire to reset relations with each of them. On Wednesday, the leaders of the three countries appeared together in public for the first time at an event to mark the end of World War Two. And Modi, in a signal to Trump, is showing a willingness to boost rather than reduce ties with Moscow - and to look past his suspicions of Beijing. "I fear we are locked into a long downward spiral because neither leader is willing to pursue the personal outreach necessary to repair the relationship," said Ashley Tellis, who served in the White House of Republican President George W. Bush and is now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The problem now is Trump's deepening grievances against India," Tellis said. "He may change his mind down the road, but presently the imperative of securing a trade deal with China trumps all other geopolitical considerations." Indian officials have been rankled by having their trade proposals rejected and their arch-rival Pakistan honored by Trump, slights compounded by the U.S. president claiming credit for resolving decades-long tensions between the South Asian neighbors, which India regards as a bilateral affair. Tanvi Madan, an India specialist at the Brookings Institution, said U.S. criticism of Modi's meetings with Xi and Putin struck Indians as odd just weeks after Trump rolled out the red carpet for the Russian leader and given the U.S. president's own plans to meet with Xi. "That criticism and pressure on India isn't going to sway India from seeking strategic autonomy; it is going to reinforce that instinct," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump's foreign policy record "is unparalleled because of his uncanny ability to look anyone in the eye and deliver better deals for the American people," including brokering an India-Pakistan ceasefire. "President Trump and Prime Minister Modi have a respectful relationship, and teams from both the United States and India remain in close communication on the full range of diplomatic, defense and commercial priorities in our strategic partnership," she said. Indias foreign ministry did not respond when asked for comment. An Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Trump administration's narrative on India, including recent comments by Trump's advisers, was unjustified but Delhi continues to engage with it. The official said the thaw with China has been happening since October and is not targeted at the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CHINA VERSUS INDIA Modi's improving relations with Xi are especially striking given long-standing Sino-Indian tensions and sometimes outright hostility, including a military clash on their disputed border in 2020. His trip to China was his first in seven years. Trump's recent attacks have thrown assumptions of a mutually beneficial U.S. partnership with India into the air, with his "America First" approach often hitting Washington's major partners and allies harder than its traditional geopolitical adversaries. "We get along with India very well, but India, you have to understand, for many years it was a one-sided relationship," Trump told reporters on Tuesday, reprising a theme he has raised multiple times in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China, India and Russia are all original members of the BRICS, a group Trump has dubbed "anti-American." Another BRICS nation, Brazil, which like India has been an important U.S. partner, has also been targeted by Trump, facing stiff tariffs and accusations that it is pursuing a "witch hunt" against his far-right ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. Referring to the images of solidarity in Beijing, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Monday called it "a shame to see Modi getting in bed as the leader of the biggest democracy in the world, with the two biggest authoritarian dictators in the world in Putin and Xi Jinping." Trump's advisers say the shift in tone is not intended as a pivot away from India, but to speak frankly with a partner. RISKS TO THE QUAD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump courted Delhi during his first term, hosting a joint "Howdy Modi" rally in Texas in 2019, and revived the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, that also includes Japan and Australia. Modi quickly sought to rekindle ties after Trump's November election victory, calling to congratulate him within hours, dispatching his foreign minister to sit in a prime seat at the inauguration and launching an account on the Trump-backed Truth Social platform - though he hasn't used it since July. But Trump quickly took aim at the trade imbalance and immigration issues. When Modi visited Washington in February, trade was firmly the focus and they agreed to work toward a limited trade deal by fall 2025, to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, while India pledged to boost U.S. energy purchases. India has been expected to host a November Quad summit, with a more explicit focus on security vis-a-vis China than previously. But Trump has yet to schedule a trip there, according to a person familiar with the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doubts about the meeting have come as Trump has set his sights on a major tariff deal with China ahead of a November deadline. "For now, in Trump's worldview, there's no great power competition that requires the Quad," said Tellis. Fixing the U.S.-India relationship may require more effort than it took to break it. "India is a clear example of a country that for historical, political and economic reasons won't simply bow down to Trump," said Brett Bruen, who served as a foreign policy adviser to former President Barack Obama and is now head of the Global Situation Room consultancy. "They've got other options." (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick in Washington and Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Don Durfee and Claudia Parsons) Angela Rayner admitted on Wednesday that she had underpaid a stamp duty tax bill on her 800,000 Hove flat. It came after The Telegraph revealed that the Deputy Prime Minister had not paid a second home surcharge a tax bill of 40,000 after relinquishing her stake in the family home in Ashton-under-Lyne. Ms Rayner sold her 25pc stake in her family home to a trust set up to provide for her children in January, for 162,500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, because her children are beneficiaries of the trust and are under 18, she retains an interest in the property and should have paid the second home stamp duty. Ms Rayner now faces paying the 40,000 she initially avoided, plus 8pc interest of just over 1,000. Andrew Marr, managing partner at tax firm Forbes Dawson, suggested she might also have to pay 30pc carelessness penalties, which would amount to another 12,000. He said: Given all the publicity, HMRC will want to make an example of her and avoid taxpayers using the Deputy Prime Ministers behaviour as a justification to dodge tax. Ms Rayner said that legal advice she had received on the transfer of the 650,000 property had been wrong, and added she had referred herself to the ethics adviser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with Sky News, she said: Ive been in shock, really, because I thought Id done everything properly, and I relied on the advice that I received and Im devastated because Ive always upheld the rules and always have done. Unreasonable ignorance of the law is not a valid legal defence, HMRC guidance clearly states. The Telegraphs tax expert, Mike Warburton, said: The rules on whether a stamp duty surcharge applies are complicated, but are nevertheless well explained in the publicly available HMRC instruction manuals. Specifically, the manuals say that a parent of a minor child is treated as an owner of the trust property in these circumstances. You would therefore expect the stamp duty surcharge to apply on the purchase of a second residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, a trust was set up by a court after Ms Rayners son was awarded compensation for medical malpractice. It is common for trusts to be set up to protect the assets of disabled children. Then, in 2023, when Ms Rayner and her ex-husband, Mark Rayner, divorced, the decision was taken to put half of the property into the trust. This left both Ms Rayner and Mr Rayner with a 25pc stake. In January, Ms Rayner sold her 25pc stake in the house which was valued at 650,000 in 2023 for 162,500. The trust bought the stake, and there were no new charges registered against the property, according to Land Registry documents. This 162,500 formed her 150,000 deposit on her 800,000 seaside flat in Hove, which she bought in May. A 20-year mortgage of 650,000 at a rate of 4pc would mean monthly repayments of more than 3,900, according to Telegraph analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, because her children own a life interest in the Ashton property, she is treated as retaining ownership of the home, despite selling her stake. It is this misunderstanding which has proved fatal to Ms Rayners claims that she had paid enough tax. She might also have believed that she was eligible for a tax exemption for parents of disabled children. Since November 2017, parents acting on behalf of children protected by the Mental Capacity Act of 2005, have been exempt from the second home stamp duty surcharge which is raised by these ownership rules. The Mental Capacity Act of 2005 makes provisions for those over the age of 16 who are unable to care for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Court of Protection can decide to appoint deputies to make some or all decisions on behalf of those without mental capacity. If a deputy has been appointed, then the stamp duty exemption applies, as the deputy is not considered an owner of the property under HMRC rules. It is not known whether Ms Rayner believed that she could claim this exemption on behalf of her child. She had claimed that the Hove property was her only home. If it was, she would have been correct in paying the lower rate of stamp duty, believed to be 30,000. However, she now appears to be liable for an additional 40,000. Nimesh Shah, of Blick Rothenberg, said: Its a very specific type of trust, which is not that commonly used these days. It is little known, but nevertheless it is in the law. The interest in that trust of that property effectively belongs to her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Rayner insists the house in Ashton, where she is the constituency MP, remains her primary residence even though she is divorced from Mr Rayner, and no longer has a financial stake in it. She had let it be known that she considers it her primary residence because she had lived there for a decade, and its also where her children live and go to college. It remains so for council tax purposes. As Ms Rayner has three homes between which she splits her time, three council tax bills apply. This includes an annual bill of at least 3,338.45 a year in Ashton, 4,000 in central London and nearly 5,000 for her new seaside flat in Hove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Rayner claims her Ashton house as her main home for council tax. There is no legal requirement to own a property for it to be considered a main home for tax purposes. Since the Hove flat is then considered a second home, the Deputy Prime Minister pays a second home council tax surcharge, meaning the total tax bill is 4,914 for the Band D property. Double council tax is also levied on the grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House in central London, in which Ms Rayner spends much of her time while working in Westminster. However, this bill, estimated to be 4,000 annually, is covered by the taxpayer because it is another primary residence. 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 Refugees and Immigrant Festival will celebrate diversity, unity, and culture, while also connecting refugee and immigrant communities with local organizations and services that can assist them. There will also be live performances from artists from more than 10 different countries, showcasing traditional and contemporary music, dance, poetry, and storytelling. The festival will also feature international foods, family-friendly activities, and cultural showcases that highlight the beauty of our shared humanity. For refugees and immigrants, the festival is a powerful reminder that they are seen, valued, and welcomed, wrote organizer Tshishiku Henry in a statement. It breaks down barriers, challenges stereotypes, and demonstrates the positive impact refugees and immigrants bring to our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All are welcome, including refugees, immigrants, longtime residents, policymakers, community partners, and neighbors. Its an open invitation for people to come together, learn from each other, and celebrate the cultural richness of our region, Henry said. The event is taking place Saturday, September 20, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Morrill Meadows Park located at 10600 SE 248th Street, Kent, WA 98030. You can RSVP here. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance pay their respects to victims of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, in Minneapolis. The shooting left two students dead and many more wounded. (Photo by Alex Wroblewski-Pool/Getty Images) Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance visited Annunciation Catholic school and church Wednesday afternoon, one week after a shooter opened fire on the schools first Mass of the year, killing two and injuring 21. The Vances also visited 10-year-old Lydia Kaiser, who was critically injured in the shooting, at Childrens Minnesota in Minneapolis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaiser was shot while protecting her younger buddy, according to the familys GoFundMe. Her father, Harry Kaiser, is a gym teacher at Annunciation who was also in attendance at Mass; he stayed with students, reuniting families, while his daughter was rushed to the hospital. In a press conference Wednesday afternoon at Childrens, Harry Kaiser read aloud the message that he shared with Vance during the visit: Will you please promise me, as a father and a Catholic, that you will earnestly support the study of our culture, that we are the country that has the worst mass shooter problem? Will you please promise to pursue, despite powerful lobbies, some commonsense, bipartisan legislation as a starting point, so we can come out of our corners and find the values that we share, so that this time, progress is made? Speaking with the press before boarding his flight back to D.C., Vance said hes never had a day that will stay with me like this day did. He asked the public for prayers for one child victim of the shooting who is still in critical condition 12-year-old Sophia Forchas and said he would honor the families affected by the shooting by hugging his children and saying he loves them. A group of protestors gathers near Annunciation Church Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 as Vice President JD Vance visits the site of the school shooting that left two children dead and more than a dozen others injured in south Minneapolis. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) Asked about Gov. Tim Walzs plan to call a special session of the Minnesota Legislature to address mass shootings, Vance said he wont tell Minnesota leaders how to respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that theres a strong desire from across the political spectrum to do something so that these shootings are less common. I think that its important that they actually take steps that are favorable, that are going to work, Vance said. Leah Kaiser, the mother of Lydia, referenced a proverb quoted by Annunciation Principal Matthew DeBoer shortly after the shooting that goes, When you pray, move your feet. Vice President Vance, you have enormous authority. Please, use this moment to move your feet and transcend our political divides to promote peace, and unity, and hope, Leah Kaiser said. On the sidewalk outside of Annunciation, someone wrote the prayer of St. Francis the same prayer House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated earlier this summer, carried in her wallet: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Democrat Erin Petrey mixes an old fashioned in the video launching her campaign for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Republican Andy Barr. (Screenshot) Another Democrat is hoping to flip Kentuckys 6th Congressional District next year. Erin Petrey, who grew up in Kentucky and worked in Washington, D.C., announced her bid for the Central Kentucky U.S. House district Wednesday morning. The current seatholder, Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, is seeking election to the U.S. Senate in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Petrey was born in Lexington and grew up on a Lawrenceburg farm, according to the bio from her campaign. She graduated from Fayette County Public Schools, earned a bachelors degree from The George Washington University and a masters degree from the Patterson School of Diplomacy at the University of Kentucky. She taught English in South Korea, according to her bio, and then worked in Washington, D.C., focusing on advancing U.S. public diplomacy, building large-scale renewable energy and healthcare infrastructure projects, and building businesses focused on emerging technologies. She worked on projects to enhance data center sustainability at Amazon Web Services, the release from her campaign says. In her launch video, Petrey makes an old fashioned cocktail and likens it to a mix of Kentucky issues. Call me old fashioned but governments they were built to serve the people, and I want to bring that back so let me serve you in Congress, she said in the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Petrey joins a crowded Democratic primary. Former Kentucky House Democratic caucus chair Cherlynn Stevenson, former Lexington council member David Kloiber and former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo have all launched campaigns. Republicans are also lining up to replace Barr. State Reps. Ryan Dotson and Deanna Gordon as well as Dr. Ralph Alvarado, a former state senator, have announced their bids. A bipartisan group of U.S. representativesranging from progressives to MAGA true believersunveiled legislation Wednesday to ban stock trading for members of Congress and their relatives. The surprising group has united behind one bill dubbed the Restore Trust in Congress Act, which Democratic Representative Seth Magaziner and far-right Republican Chip Roy officially introduced. At the bills announcement on Wednesday, progressive Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said any prospective members of Congress who are vexed by the proposal are probably not cut out to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anyone says, This isnt fair. Im going to have to divest all my stocks if Im going to run for Congress, maybe you should stay home, said Ocasio-Cortez. She added that its outrageous that some representatives see the proposed ban as some undue burden. Ocasio-Cortez also observed the need for more working-class representation in a Congress where millionaires are overwhelmingly overrepresented. I feel that actually banning the trade of individual stock can help even the playing field, she said. AOC: If anybody says this isnt fair, I'm gonna have to divest all my stocks if I run for congress maybe you should stay home. pic.twitter.com/xC55wk5uFl Acyn (@Acyn) September 3, 2025 This body has been enriching itself on the taxpayers dime, and, dadgummit, its got to stop, added MAGA Representative Tim Burchett. Progressive Democrat Pramila Jayapal spoke to the importance of voters knowing their representatives are taking votes on issues where theyre not thinking about their own stock portfolio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is beyond an 8020 issue, said Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick. This is a 955 issue, and the five that are against it are probably in this institution day trading. Asked why the bill is limited to the legislative branch, Magaziner suggested that a ban on stock trading for the president and vice president could be introduced down the line, as an amendment or a separate bill. Many of us, I think in both parties, support including the president and vice president, he said. We are working to see if we can get a critical mass of support to include them or not. A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled against President Trump's use of an 18th century wartime law to rapidly deport Venezuelan migrants, finding "no invasion or predatory incursion." The Trump administration deported hundreds of accused Tren de Aragua gang members earlier this year using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, an obscure law that allows the president to remove citizens of an enemy country during an "invasion or predatory incursion." Some of those migrants were later flown to a supermax prison in El Salvador though many of the detainees were sent to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap in July. The strategy has drawn a litany of court challenges, many of which argue the U.S. isn't facing an "invasion" or migrants aren't receiving enough due process to contest their deportations. A "60 Minutes" investigation found many migrants sent to El Salvador didn't have criminal records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday's ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit marks the latest court decision to push back on the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act. The ruling which was issued by a three-judge panel, with one dissenter found the situation with Tren de Aragua does not meet the definition of either an "invasion" or a "predatory incursion." The Trump administration has argued that Tren de Aragua is engaged in an incursion because its members have perpetrated "mass illegal migration." The appeals court rejected this argument. "A country's encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States," the court said. "There is no finding that this mass immigration was an armed, organized force or forces." The appellate judges granted a preliminary injunction blocking the use of the Alien Enemies Act to remove migrants who sued in the Northern District of Texas. The court said the government can still remove the migrants under other legal authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt, who represents the plaintiffs in the case, called the ruling "an incredibly important win reigning in the administration's view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts." "The Trump administration's attempt to use a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court," he wrote in a statement. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson argued Mr. Trump used the Alien Enemies Act lawfully. "The authority to conduct national security operations in defense of the United States and to remove terrorists from the United States rests solely with the President," Jackson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the ruling "will not be the final say on the matter," and asserted: "Unelected judges are undermining the will of the American people." The ruling came in a case that has darted back and forth through the federal judiciary for months, eventually reaching the Supreme Court in the spring. The case was brought by migrants who were detained in Texas and sued to block their removal under the Alien Enemies Act. The district court did not grant them relief, and the Fifth Circuit said they didn't have jurisdiction to intervene. But the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the migrants' removal in April, and a month later, the high court said the Fifth Circuit was wrong to dismiss the appeal and sent the case back to the appellate court for further review. The Supreme Court also said the government hadn't given the migrants enough notice of their impending deportations, after they said they were told just 24 hours in advance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the government has filed an updated notice that gave migrants seven days' warning of their deportation. The Fifth Circuit said that's likely enough time to satisfy the migrants' right to due process, but sent the issue back to the district court for further review. The ruling was penned by Judge Leslie Southwick, who was nominated by President George W. Bush. Biden-nominated Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez concurred with the part of the ruling that said there isn't an "invasion" or "predatory incursion," but said seven days' notice isn't enough. Judge Andrew Oldham, whom Mr. Trump nominated during his first term, dissented. "For 227 years, every President of every political party has enjoyed the same broad powers to repel threats to our Nation under the Alien Enemies Act ('AEA'). And from the dawn of our Nation until President Trump took office a second time, courts have never second-guessed the President's invocation of that Act. Not once," he wrote, arguing only the president can decide if the law applies. "For President Trump, however, the rules are different." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Undocumented migrants charged with violent crimes to be held in Angola prison, DHS says A federal appeals court has rejected President Donald Trumps effort to use a 1798 law to swiftly deport Venezuelan immigrants he labeled members of a violent transnational gang. A divided three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals said Trump had failed to justify claims that the Venezuelans targeted by his declaration had mounted an invasion or predatory incursion against the United States at the direction of the Venezuelan government. Without meeting that requirement, Trump cannot deploy the little-used wartime law, known as the Alien Enemies Act, the panel concluded. The judges issued an injunction barring the Trump administration from using the law to deport any alleged members of the gang known as Tren de Aragua or TdA who are being held in northern Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision follows a series ofother rulings from federal district judges around the country who have similarly rejected Trumps declaration that there is an invasion or incursion. TdA was not the kind of organized force or engaged in the kind of actions necessary to constitute an invasion or predatory incursion, Judge Leslie Southwick wrote for the 5th Circuit panel's majority. Southwick emphasized that many other laws would give Trump the power to seek deportation of the alleged gang members. It may well be that these and other peacetime tools are not so quickly utilized as the Alien Enemies Act, but the Government has substantial authority to remove TdA members independent of [the Alien Enemies Act], Southwick wrote. Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Actin March, alleging that the regime of Nicolas Maduro had deployed members of Tren de Aragua to the United States to destabilize the country. Within hours, federal immigration authorities deported 130 people the administration claimed were members of Tren de Aragua to a prison in El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for some of those men as well as other men targeted but not yet deported sued, claiming they had been wrongly identified and deprived of a chance to contest their deportation, triggering legal battles in federal courts across the country. The Supreme Court has weighed in several times on an emergency basis. On April 7, the high court concluded that the Trump administration had failed to provide adequate due process to those targeted under the Alien Enemies Act, but the justices took no position on whether Trumps invocation was legitimate. At the same time, the justices concluded that the men challenging the Trump administrations deportation efforts had to file petitions in the districts where they were being held by immigration authorities, ending a bid by many of them to consolidate their challenge in Washington, D.C. Later in April, the Supreme Court issued a highly unusual, middle-of-the-night order temporarily blocking the administration from carrying out another round of hasty deportations. That block and other lower-court rulings have prevented Trump from continuing to use the Alien Enemies Act after the initial round of expulsions to El Salvador. The panel of the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit is the first appellate court to rule on Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act since the Supreme Courts intervention. The Trump administration can appeal the panels ruling to the full bench of the 5th Circuit which is typically considered the most conservative appeals court in the country or take the issue back up to the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority opinion written by Southwick, an appointee of George W. Bush, was joined in part by Judge Irma Ramirez, a Biden appointee. Judge Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, wrote a blistering 131-page dissent, accusing his colleagues of disrespecting Trumps authority. Today the majority holds that President Trump is just an ordinary civil litigant. His declaration of a predatory incursion is not conclusive. Far from it, Oldham wrote. Rather, President Trump must plead sufficient facts as if he were some run-of-the-mill plaintiff in a breach-of-contract case to convince a federal judge that he is entitled to relief. That contravenes over 200 years of legal precedent. And it transmogrifies the least-dangerous branch into robed crusaders who get to playact as multitudinous Commanders in Chief, Oldham continued. Ramirez partially dissented from the ruling as well, contending that those challenging Trumps designation under the Alien Enemies Act should have 21 days to take legal action, rather than the seven the Trump administration currently says is sufficient. Southwick said he would not disturb the administrations seven-day minimum notice based on the current record. WASHINGTON (AP) A federal appeals court panel has ruled that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of being in a Venezuelan gang. The decision blocking an administration priority is destined for a showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court. Two judges on a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in the ruling Tuesday, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges who argued the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs such as Tren de Aragua, which the Republican president had targeted in March. Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said the administrations use of "a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said the majority erred in second-guessing the president. The authority to conduct national security operations in defense of the United States and to remove terrorists from the United States rests solely with the President," Jackson said. "We expect to be vindicated on the merits in this case. The administration deported people designated as Tren de Aragua members to a notorious prison in El Salvador and argued that American courts could not order them freed. In a deal announced in July, more than 250 of the deported migrants returned to Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alien Enemies Act was only used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars in the War of 1812 and the two world wars. The administration unsuccessfully argued that courts cannot second-guess the presidents determination that Tren de Aragua was connected to Venezuelas government and represented a danger to the United States, meriting use of the act. In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said they granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because they found no invasion or predatory incursion in this case. The decision bars deportations from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In the majority were U.S. Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick, who was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden. Andrew Oldham, a Trump nominee, dissented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority opinion said Trumps allegations about Tren de Aragua did not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act. A countrys encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States, the judges wrote. In a lengthy dissent, Oldham complained his two colleagues were second-guessing Trumps conduct of foreign affairs and national security, realms where courts usually give the president great deference. The majoritys approach to this case is not only unprecedentedit is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent, Oldham wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The panel did grant the Trump administration one legal victory, finding the procedures it uses to advise detainees under the Alien Enemies Act of their legal rights were appropriate. The ruling can be appealed to the full 5th Circuit or directly to the Supreme Court, which is likely to make the ultimate decision on the issue. The Supreme Court has already gotten involved twice before in the tangled history of the Trump administration's use of the AEA. In the initial weeks after Trump's March declaration, the court ruled that the administration could deport people under the act, but unanimously found that those targeted needed to be given a reasonable chance to argue their case before judges in the areas where they were held. Then, as the administration moved to rapidly deport more Venezuelans from Texas, the high court stepped in again with an unusual, post-midnight ruling that they couldn't do so until the 5th Circuit decided whether the administration was providing adequate notice to the immigrants and could weigh in on the broader legal issues of the case. The high court has yet to address whether a gang can be cited as an alien enemy under the AEA. ___ Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report President Donald Trumps use of an 18th century wartime law to deport people his administration has accused of belonging to a notorious Venezuelan gang is not legal, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. A three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative in the country, found in a two-one majority decision that the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was intended for use against invading foreign soldiers and not against criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua, agreeing with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges. A countrys encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States, Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick and Irma Carrillo Ramirez wrote in their ruling, alluding to the administrations claim that the gang has a direct affiliation with Venezuelas government. Donald Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act 1798 to justify deporting migrants it has accused of belonging to criminal gangs is not legal, a court has ruled (Reuters) Those justices were appointed by George W Bush and Joe Biden respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dissenting voice came from Trump-appointee Andrew Oldham, who complained that his colleagues were making assumptions about the commander-in-chiefs conduct of foreign affairs and interfering with the executive. The majority's approach to this case is not only unprecedented it is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent, Oldham wrote in his dissent. For President Trump... the rules are different, he insisted, warning that the ruling threatened to cast federal judges as robed crusaders who get to play-act as multitudinous commanders-in-chief. The president and his administration have insisted the U.S. is being invaded by undocumented migrants from Central America and used the 227-year-old act as part of the basis for their mass deportation drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump invoked the law in March and ICE agents duly began arresting and deporting Venezuelans accused of belonging to Tren de Aragua to the notorious CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador, from which, government lawyers have argued, U.S. courts cannot order them freed. The dispute now looks destined for the U.S. Supreme Court, assuming the administration appeals the verdict. The notorious CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador, where many people deported by the Trump administration have been sent (Reuters) The Trump administrations use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court, said Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the American Civil Liberties Union, after the opinion was announced. This is a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judges ruling granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because the majority found no invasion or predatory incursion to justify the measure, saying the administrations assessment of the threat posed by Tren de Aragua did not meet the historical levels of national conflict Congress had in mind when the act was passed more than two centuries ago. The Alien Enemies Act has only been used three times before in American history, all during wartime: in the War of 1812 and then again in the First and Second World Wars. Related video: US Navy Strikes Drug Cartel Vessel Off Venezuela, Rubio Confirms A federal appeals court late Tuesday ruled President Trump cant invoke a wartime law to swiftly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members, a key legal tool the administration has used to implement its immigration crackdown. Trump first invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act in March to remove Venezuelans the administration accuses of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesdays ruling blocks Trump from using the law against migrants detained in northern parts of Texas, and the battle could now return to the Supreme Court. The divided 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel found no invasion or predatory incursion by a foreign nation, the required criteria for the president to summarily deport migrants under the rarely used statute. We accept the finding that drug-trafficking is being used as a weapon, but we hold it is not within even an updated meaning of invasion or predatory incursion, wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick. The completely accurate implication of this finding is that drugs are a scourge and weaken our citizens and our country, but it is not beyond reason that in 1798 an enemy country could try to sicken and physically weaken those within the United States, Southwick continued. That would not have been an invasion or predatory incursion then, and it is not one today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southwick is a nominee of former President George W. Bush. U.S. Circuit Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, an appointee of former President Biden, agreed the president improperly invoked the law over the dissent of U.S. Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee. Oldham said his colleagues contravened over 200 years of precedent and transformed judges into robed crusaders who get to playact as multitudinous Commanders in Chief. Time and time and time again, the Supreme Court has instructed that the Presidents declaration of an invasion, insurrection, or incursion is conclusive. Final. And completely beyond the second-guessing powers of unelected federal judges, Oldham wrote. Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act has become a prominent part of his immigration crackdown. Within hours of invoking the statute in March, immigration authorities used it to remove dozens of Venezuelans to a Salvadoran megaprison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deportations have sparked a wave of litigation across the country, and the present case arose after the ACLU in April warned the administration was using the law to imminently deport a new wave of migrants detained in Texas. The Supreme Court quickly stepped in to temporarily block the deportations as the 5th Circuit considered the case. With the panels ruling now in hand, the administration could bring the case back to the justices or first ask the full 5th Circuit regarded as the nations most conservative federal appeals court to reconsider. The Hill has reached out to the Justice Department for comment. This critical decision makes clear that the president cannot invoke whatever powers he wants. This is a huge victory for the rule of law, said ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, lead counsel for the migrants, in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the presidents overall loss, two of the three judges handed Trump a partial victory. The ACLU additionally argued that even if Trump had properly invoked the Alien Enemies Act, the administration wasnt providing migrants with sufficient due process to contest accusations that they are gang members. Southwick and Oldham ruled that the seven days notice the government now provides was valid based on the current record. Ramirez disagreed, noting that some migrants have expressed difficulty gaining access to counsel in that window and suggesting that a 21-day period was needed. The court also stressed that Trump remains free to deport the migrants under standard immigration authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government is not enjoined from removing the named Petitioners and putative class members under other lawful authorities, the opinion reads. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Heres what youll learn when you read this story: Amateur archaeologists discovered five mutilated bodies beneath the floorboards of Hermann Gorings villa at Hitlers Wolfs Lair headquarters in Poland. The remains may predate the Nazi era and have a possible connection to occult practices. Radiocarbon dating could uncover the mystery of who these individuals were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story is a collaboration with Biography.com. Amateur archaeologists were recently searching for stray artifacts in an abandoned building in Poland when they made a sinister discovery beneath the floorboards: five decaying bodies with their hands and feet missing. The site was an infamous villa that belonged to Nazi Party leader Hermann Goring within Adolf Hitlers secret military headquarters, the Wolfsschanze (Wolfs Lair), which was deserted after a 1944 assassination attempt on Hitler and later partially destroyed by retreating German forces near the end of World War II. Reuters reports that the Latebra Foundation, which has scoured the site of the Wolfs Lair with official permission for several years, discovered the bodies of three adults, an older child, and a baby buried just below what would have been the floor of Gorings villa. In 1939, Hitler designated Goring, at the time the commander of the German air force, as his successor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discovery at the site raises a host of haunting questions, including about what transpired beneath the villas ruins in the decades since the fall of the Third Reich. Everyone wondered what might have happened there... We tried to think of something, but nothing reasonable comes to mind, Latebra member Dominik Markiewicz told Reuters. We didnt know what we were dealing with at all. Were they some occult rituals of Third Reich fanatics? We have no idea. Latebra called the police, prompting an investigation and a forensic examination of the remains. Although the case has since been closed, and there are no conclusive answers, a new report has provided additional clues into the potential origins of the bodies. ullstein bild Dtl. - Getty Images How did it take so long for the bodies to be discovered? While the Latebra Foundation has been searching the Wolfs Lair site for years, mostly finding uniform buttons, tools, and machine parts, per Reuters, the archaeologists only recently focused on Gorings villa due to the transparent amount of ground they had to cover. The villa was just one of approximately 200 buildings scattered across the huge compound, which spans an area of over 617 acres of land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wolfs Lair was off limits to the public for nearly 50 years after World War II. It sustained significant damage at the hands of the Nazis themselves, who didnt want it to fall into the hands of the advancing Soviet forces. Hitler ordered its destruction shortly after his last visit in November 1944, with the actual demolition occurring in late January 1945, after the Soviets began their VistulaOder offensive. On the same day the Soviets liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp, they captured the Wolfs Lair without firing a single shot. Under Soviet control, the site fell into disrepair and was closed off to any exploration or excavation. The public couldnt access the site until the collapse of communism in Poland in 1990, which may explain how the corpses remained hidden for so long. Besides, archaeologists wouldnt have necessarily looked to find remains at the Wolfs Lair, as it wasnt a death camp. Designed as Hitlers Eastern Front headquarters, this highly secretive complex served as the strategic center for the Nazi leadership to orchestrate their military campaign against the Soviet Union. In fact, the most famous act of violence to take place at the Wolfs Lair during the Third Reich was directed at Hitler himself. On July 20, 1944, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg carried out an assassination attempt on Hitler in a Wolfs Lair conference room, by placing a bomb concealed in a briefcase. Although the explosion resulted in the death of four Nazi officers and injured others, Hitler narrowly escaped with his life, largely due to the fortuitous shielding provided by a sturdy table leg that absorbed the brunt of the blast. ullstein bild Dtl. - Getty Images Who were the five people buried where Nazi leaders once plotted? A new report in National Geographic pieces together some clues from the initial investigation: According to the medical examiner, the skeletons appear from their age to be from the interwar years between 1918 and 1939, and the poor condition of the remains means it is now impossible to determine the causes of their deaths. So, its possible the bodies were buried on the site before the Wolfs Lair was even built. (Construction concluded on the compound in June of 1941.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some experts have tried to connect the corpses to ritual sacrifice, as leading Nazi figures like Heinrich Himmler reportedly engaged in occult practices, according to NatGeo. They point to the presence of dart-shaped stones called belemnites near the bodies, which were reportedly sometimes placed at pagan burial sites as a good luck charm. But belemnite also naturally occurs in that area, so its tough to definitively interpret the stones proximity to the graves as evidence of ritualistic practices. Since the corpses date back to a period between 1918 and 1939, the Latebra Foundation plans to proceed with radiocarbon dating. This analysis aims to pinpoint the bodies time of death more precisely, potentially narrowing it down to a span of just a few years. But, as NatGeo notes, even if these three adults and two children were buried before the Nazis ever set foot within the Wolfs Lair, that also carries a disturbing implication: The skeletons were buried in the floor just a few inches below the surface and right next to 1940s-era plumbing pipes for the house, meaning that if they were indeed buried before Goring moved in, construction workers would have found the remainsand must have left them where they were. 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 Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue You Might Also Like HUSTONTOWN, Pa. (WHTM) A new trailhead is set to open later this month and some local high school students built what the Pennsylvania Turnpike called a first-of-its-kind bike washing station. Students from the Forbes Road and Southern Fulton High Schools built the functional piece of public art, a 12x25 tree-shaped station. Itll be installed at the Sideling Hill Trailhead at the Sideling Hill Service Plaza off the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Hustontown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is the longest operating tunnel in Pennsylvania? The students creativity blew us away. They pushed boundaries, mixing art, design and technical skills. We are excited to showcase their work and shine light on Pennsylvanias talented youth at the Sideling Hill Trailhead, which will draw tourism and outdoor enthusiasts to our Commonwealth, said Kelli Roberts, chief strategy and communications officer for the PA Turnpike. We look forward to unveiling it, and the rest of the trailheads amenities, this fall. The project was a partnership between the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Forbes Road High School, Southern Fulton High School and the Mellott Company of Warfordsburg. Carolyn Mottern, an art teacher at Southern Fulton High School; Bruce Shipley, a Fulton County Area Vocational Technical School welding instructor; and Jeremy Waak, a sculptor, metalsmith and teaching artist for PA Council on the Arts all led the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cultural Alliance of York County also provided support. We regularly encounter and enjoy public art, yet we rarely stop to consider how it came to be or who shaped its creation, said Justin Ayala, director of arts in education for the Cultural Alliance of York County. Projects like the Sideling Hill bike wash, born from rich, intergenerational community partnerships, demonstrate the power of thinking big, creative problem-solving and collaboration. No single artist or group could have achieved this alone, but together, weve crafted a stunning balance between form and function. Get daily news, weather, breaking news and alerts straight to your inbox! Sign up for the abc27 newsletters here The collaboration between all of the students and professionals involved in this project has been incredible and humbling, said Mottern. I am grateful to have been part of such a fantastic group and appreciate the opportunity being given to the students in our area. Providing them ownership over something that will be seen by so many people as they travel through our community is a unique experience and one that they will be able to take with them the rest of their lives. With large collaboration projects, like the Sideling Hill Bike Wash, I want every participant to be able to see themselves in the results; to have a moment where they can point and say, I did that, or That was my idea, said Waak. That is what I consider a successful result, and I believe we have achieved that here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A grand opening is set for Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. with a program and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices It is near the Sideling Hill and Rays Hill tunnels on the abandoned turnpike and provides access to more than 600 miles of trails in the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. By Lucila Sigal and Juan Carlos Bustamante BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentina officials said on Wednesday they had recovered a painting stolen decades ago by the Nazis following days of international intrigue and raids to track down the portrait after it was spotted in a real estate photo. An official for the local prosecutor's office in the coastal city of Mar del Plata said Argentina's federal prosecutor would soon reveal more details about the painting's recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The painting, a portrait of Contessa Colleoni by Italian artist Giuseppe Ghislandi, is featured on a database of works of art stolen by the Nazis and has been missing for 80 years. Argentine authorities raided a house in Mar del Plata last week after the painting was shown hanging on a wall in a photo on a real estate listing, but were not able to immediately locate it. Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad first reported that the home in the real estate listing belonged to Patricia Kadgien, daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, a senior official in Adolf Hitler's government who moved to Argentina from Germany after World War Two. He died in 1979. A federal court ordered house arrest for Patricia Kadgien and her husband for 72 hours starting Monday. A judicial official told Reuters they would be questioned on accusations they had obstructed the investigation to locate the painting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The portrait of Contessa Colleoni was among more than 1,000 works of art stolen by the Nazis from Amsterdam-based art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, who died in 1940. (Reporting by Lucila Sigal and Juan Bustamante, editing by Cassandra Garrison and Rosalba O'Brien) MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina (AP) An Argentine federal court announced Wednesday that authorities had recovered the long-lost Portrait of a Lady, an 18th-century work by the Italian painter Giuseppe Ghislandi that was looted by the Nazis in World War II. Before the presentation of the giant gold-framed portrait Wednesday in the Argentine coastal city of Mar del Plata, the painting had not been seen publicly in 80 years. The first-ever color photo of the portrait surfaced last month in an online real estate listing unwittingly posted by one of the daughters of Friedrich Kadgien, the fugitive Nazi officer accused of stealing the painting from one of Europes most prominent prewar art dealers and collectors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were doing this simply so that the community to whom we partly owe the discovery of the work ... can see these images, federal prosecutor Daniel Adler said in a press conference to display the full-length portrait of Countess Colleoni, her hair ink-black and dress embroidered with pastel flowers. It was people from the community, specifically journalists, who prompted the investigation," Adler said. Dutch journalists made the shocking discovery while investigating Kadgiens past in Argentina, where the high-ranking official fled after the collapse of the Third Reich and later died in 1978. News of the find thrilled historians the world over and eventually reached the heirs of the paintings original owner, Dutch-Jewish art collector Jacques Goudstikker. He died in a shipwreck after fleeing Amsterdam ahead of advancing German troops in May 1940. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His descendants have sought to recover an estimated 1,100 paintings missing since the forced sale of Goudstikkers extensive inventory to Adolf Hitlers right-hand man, Hermann Goring, who built up a major art collection during WWII. The sudden reappearance of Portrait of a Lady last week was fleeting. Within hours of the storys publication in Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad last Monday, the real estate listing was taken down. Police raided the rustic Mar del Plata home of Patricia Kadgien, the Nazi officers daughter, but the painting wasnt there. Authorities earlier this week raided other homes belonging to the Kadgien sisters in Mar del Plata, seizing paintings and engravings that they similarly suspected of having been stolen during the 1940s. Argentinas federal prosecutors office placed Patricia Kadgien and her husband under house arrest pending a hearing Thursday on charges of concealment and obstruction of justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adler, the prosecutor, told reporters that the couples lawyer had handed over the painting to authorities earlier Wednesday. He did not specify where the portrait would go next. An art expert invited to assist with the investigation, Ariel Bassano, said the painting was being stored in a special chamber for safekeeping. Its in good condition given its age, Bassano said, dating the portrait to 1710 and valuing it at roughly $50,000. Its not clear exactly how the painting came into the possession of Kadgien, who worked as a financial adviser to Goring. ____ DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. A delegation from Argentina, which arrived in the United States for a visa-waiver signing ceremony, was forced to return home empty-handed after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem failed to inform them that the event had been canceled, Axios reported. Last week, a group of officials flew from Buenos Aires to Miami, where they were told by the Department of Homeland Security not to continue their trip to Washington, D.C., because the agreement - which would allow American and Argentinian citizens to travel between the two countries for up to 90 days without a visa - was missing a signature, a source told Axios. The Department of Homeland Security and Argentine officials have denied the allegations in Axioss reporting and said that the program continues to move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an X post, DHS pushed back on the original report and said that there were no new program-related documents needing a signature. The department said it "looks forward" to working with Argentine officials going forward. But per the report, the officials, including the head of Argentinas tax and customs agency, Juan Pazo, spent two days in Miami and then returned home. Lets just say this was not a great look from us, a senior Trump administration official told Axios, adding that it was embarrassing. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, pictured with Argentine Minister of National Security Patricia Bullrich in July, reportedly failed to inform a delegation that they were pausing a potential Visa Waiver Program agreement (AFP/Getty) The incident appeared preventable. Noem allegedly knew that the Visa Waiver Program signing would not take place because Secretary of State Marco Rubio had not fully approved it yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources close to the Argentine Embassy in the U.S. told Infobae, an Argentine news outlet, that Axioss report was false and malicious and that discussions about incorporating Argentina in the Visa Waiver Program were moving forward without issues. Pazo also denied the report, saying the delegation traveled to the U.S. to discuss technology upgrades that Argentinas customs may need to move forward with the Visa Waiver Program. We met with the CBP team and carried out the necessary operational visits to define the technical aspects of implementing the program (equipment, systems support, and personnel), Pazo said. It was three days of work and cooperation with U.S. government authorities, which in no way matches what the press articles are trying to portray. Finally, I must clarify that the ARCA delegations visit has nothing to do with the implementation of the Visa Waiver Program, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, Noem visited Argentina with the intention of starting discussions to help the country reenter the Visa Waiver Program. Relations between the U.S. and Argentina have warmed since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Argentinian President Javier Milei has aligned himself with Trump, even calling Trump his favorite president. Noem, pictured horse-riding while visiting Argentina in July, opened up discussions with officials about reinstating Argentina in the Visa Waiver Program (Getty Images) "Under President Javier Milei's leadership, Argentina is becoming an even stronger friend to the United States more committed than ever to border security for both of our nations," Noem said in July. However, Noem signed a visa waiver accord with Argentina, indicating the two countries would work toward a more formal agreement, without the Secretary of States prior approval, Axios also reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That situation reportedly ticked off the Secretary of State. Weeks later, Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles sent a memo reminding administration officials to clear the purpose and scope of any proposed call, conversation, meeting or trip with the [National Security Council] prior to engagement. The State Department has not been eager to sign a Visa Waiver Program agreement with Argentina because Milei has been battling a corruption scandal. Mileis sister and close associates have been accused of profiting from a bribery scheme, which Milei has denied. Rubios team reportedly wants to have more discussions with Argentina before striking an official agreement, according to Axios. It is unclear whether a signature was missing from an agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Department of Homeland Security official denied that there was a new, or additional, agreement with Argentina pending a signature. "We look forward to working with them going forward, an official told Axios. The article was amended after publication to include denials from both the Department of Homeland Security and Argentine officials that there were issues with the flight or the program. Both groups denied the original report and pushed the fact the waiver program continues to move forward. Sen. Analise Ortiz, D-Phoenix, in June 2025. Photo by Gage Skidmore | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0 Arizona Republicans want to expel a Democratic state senator because she shared a post on social media about federal immigration officials arresting people outside of a South Phoenix elementary school. On Aug. 5, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pulled over and detained two brothers who were dropping off one of the mens child at Southwest School near 11th Avenue and Dobbins Road. Local immigrant rights groups quickly issued social media alerts about the interaction, urging community members to avoid the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Analise Ortiz, a Democrat who represents a Latino-majority district, reposted the warning on her Instagram page. Hours later, a far-right social media influencer called for Ortizs arrest, and the top Republican in the state Senate asked federal prosecutors to open an investigation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On Tuesday, the conservative furor against Ortiz continued, with Sen. Jake Hoffman, the leader of the state legislatures far-right Freedom Caucus, demanding that she be expelled. The Queen Creek Republican filed an ethics complaint that alleges Ortizs social media activity is unbecoming of an elected official and embarrassing to the entire legislature. By undermining ICE in carrying out its duties under the duly enacted laws of the United States, Senator Ortiz is openly and brazenly advocating for lawlessness, even at the potential cost of violence against those charged with the solemn and already often dangerous duty of enforcing our nations laws, Hoffman wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoffman accused Ortiz of trying to help people who have broken the countrys immigration laws evade law enforcement and violating her oath to uphold state and federal laws as a result. He concluded that the actions merit expulsion from the state Senate or, failing that, her immediate removal from all legislative committees and the withdrawal of her parking spot, office space, key card access and staff. Hoffman also criticized a donation made by Ortiz to a crowdfunding campaign set up by the top Democrat in the state House of Representatives, Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, to help people detained by ICE. He lamented that not punishing Ortiz could lead to others following her example. We urge the Ethics Committee to thoroughly investigate this matter and take appropriate action to ensure that such conduct stops and is not imitated by other members of the Legislature, he wrote. Expelling Ortiz is a political impossibility; the Ethics Committee can only recommend a course of action to the full Senate, which must approve any punishment with a two-thirds vote that would require the support of Democrats to pass. Hoffman said his complaint is currently backed by multiple Republican lawmakers, including Senate President Warren Petersen and Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills. Ethics chair punts the investigation to the feds In a written statement, Sen. Shawnna Bolick, the chair of the state senates ethics panel, said that she had referred the complaint to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona. That referral is the second in as many months, the first having been submitted by Petersen in August shortly after the backlash against Ortizs post went viral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to U.S. Attorney for Arizona Timothy Courchaine, Bolick wrote that the issue at stake in the complaint involves violations of federal law, which the Senates Ethics Committee has no jurisdiction over. Bolick said any investigation carried out by her committee will have to wait until its federal counterpart has ended. This is an issue I do not take lightly, and I am committed to ensuring that it is handled with the full weight of the law and the Constitution, she said in a press release announcing the referral. Until then, the process remains with the U.S. Attorneys office, whose review will inform the committees next steps. This isnt the first time Ortiz has faced an ethics complaint from Republican lawmakers on ideological grounds. Last year, Ortiz, then a state Representative, was accused of inciting an insurrection when she and other Democratic lawmakers led a vocal protest of a Republican colleague speaking to reporters after the chamber failed to repeal an abortion ban from 1864. A vote on whether to censure or expel Ortiz was never held. Doxxing vs. First Amendment At the heart of the debate around Ortizs social media activity is whether posting the location of law enforcement agents, who do their job in public, is going too far. In her news release, Bolick accused Ortiz of putting federal immigration officials at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doxxing federal ICE agents is not only reckless, it endangers lives and undermines the rule of law, she said. While Republicans have been quick to accuse immigrant advocates of doxxing when they publicize ICE activity, the claim falls flat. Doxxing has long been understood as sharing a persons sensitive personal information their address and phone number, for instance, or their name if they operate anonymously online without their consent and with a malicious intent. Supporters of the effort to keep tabs on ICE activity online argue that its no different than apps that alert drivers of speed traps. The outcome of the argument is of key interest to the Trump administration, which has criticized the efforts of immigrant rights groups to keep vulnerable people informed because doing so undermines its promise of overseeing the largest mass deportation campaign in history. Both Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi have threatened to prosecute the creator of ICEBlock, an app that allows users to report sightings of ICE agents in their communities. Legal experts say that would violate the First Amendment right to free speech. At least one county attorney, Pinals Brad Miller, has offered to test the theory in court. The Republican claimed that Ortizs post isnt shielded by the First Amendment because it encourages lawless actionintegral to criminal conduct, which the courts have ruled isnt protected. But Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes promptly chastised Miller, reminding him that he has no jurisdiction in Maricopa County and arguing that Ortizs social media activity is protected by the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ortiz, too, refuted the idea that her post amounts to doxxing, writing on social media site X, formerly Twitter, that the reality is that masked, armed men showed up to a local public school and she simply sought to inform the community about their presence. She added that the ethics complaint is yet another attempt to silence her and prevent people from speaking out against civil rights violations. Arizona Republicans are going to extreme levels of intimidation to block me from doing my job for the people of (legislative district 24), she wrote. They want police operations to happen in secret. They want Arizonans terrified to talk about what we are witnessing happening to our friends, family, and neighbors. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE An Arizona man died over the weekend while hiking in Alaska, according to authorities. Thomas David Casey, 69, was visiting Juneau for the summer, police there say. He was last seen the morning of Aug. 30 and was reported to have left for a hike. Alaska's Department of Public Safety was notified the following morning that he was missing, according to a news bulletin. Searchers used the location from Casey's phone to help locate him. It indicated he was at a "remote location" between Thunder Mountain Trail and Nugget Creek Trail, two hikes that run for miles into the Alaskan wilderness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities deployed six crews of ground searchers and dog teams to look for Casey. They located his body Sept. 1 off a trail near the Mendenhall Glacier, and determined he had died of injuries suffered during a fall. (This article was updated to add new information.) Fatal trek: Man dies while hiking during extreme heat at Grand Canyon This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona man dies while hiking in Alaska Arkansas Department of Corrections Chief Legal Officer Tawnie Rowell discusses a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over violations of federal disability law on Sept. 2, 2025. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas prison administration agency will enter into a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act at its Malvern facility, Department of Corrections staff told members of the Board of Corrections on Tuesday. The DOJ found that the Division of Correction (ADC) violated the ADA by failing to provide proper accommodations to inmates with mobility disabilities, excluding them from safely accessing or participating in its programs, services, activities, and facilities. The settlement will require the unit to make several changes to ensure compliance, but does not involve a monetary penalty, according to Tawnie Rowell, chief legal officer for the Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rowell told board members that the Justice Departments investigation started with complaints about scalding showers. Once the federal agency started investigating, agents conducted a top-down review. We ended up in a less than desirable situation because Ouachita Rivers construction was under an old version of the ADA, Rowell said. The ADA, first passed by Congress in 1990, prohibits disability discrimination by federal, state and local government and requires employers and government to provide reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities. It was amended in 2008 to broaden the definition of disability in response to U.S. Supreme Court rulings. Disabilities covered under the act can be mental or physical, and do not need to be permanent. The settlement had been brought before the board earlier this year, Rowell said, but ADC staff had gone back to try to address concerns about DOJs access to Division of Correction facilities as part of ongoing compliance monitoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We got this, I think, about as good as theyre willing to go, Rowell said. It does still require that we provide a fair amount of access, but we did make it clear that its limited to the Ouachita River facility and its not going to be global. According to a copy of the settlement agreement, the Justice Department began investigating after inmates with mobility disabilities said the prison administration failed to provide them with accessible cells and showers at the Ouachita River Unit, causing ongoing physical harm. The inmates also said they were injured by scalding showers, and were not given necessary support or supplies to physically transfer between their wheelchairs and beds, showers, and toilets. The agreement also noted the inmates said they were not provided adequate medical care. A survey conducted by the federal government in 2021 found that the Ouachita River Unit had barriers to access for inmates with mobility impairments, the settlement document said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the settlement agreement the ADC cannot discriminate against or exclude inmates from medical care, daily activities, education and other programs and services on the basis of their disability. The division must make a minimum of 3% of the cells in the Ouachita River Unit accessible to inmates with disabilities, and must provide accommodations such as shower chairs and wheelchair maintenance. The settlement also requires the division to appoint an ADA coordinator. Complying with the settlement will require capital improvements to the unit. The corrections department will be required to hire a DOJ-approved architect to assess whether the fixes made comport with the disability law. The board approved up to $500,000 for the work at a previous meeting, Rowell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The division will also be required to establish and implement comprehensive housing policies to ensure inmates with disabilities are housed in safe, appropriate housing. The division will be required to report its progress on compliance efforts to the DOJ every six months. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX VAN BUREN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) An Arkansas woman is facing a dozen charges after being accused of pleading guilty to public intoxication using her friends name, according to court documents. Crystal Osborn, 37, was arrested on Aug. 26 by the Van Buren Police Department on 11 counts of first-degree forgery and one count of nonfinancial identity fraud. Crystal Osborn, 37 (Courtesy: Crawford County Detention Center) A VBPD incident report said a woman walked into the department for a criminal impersonation report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman said that Osborn used her name and date of birth when she was arrested on Oct. 17, 2024. The report said the woman provided a statement from the Crawford County District Court showing that the warrant was recalled due to her identity being used by Osborne. Body of missing man recovered from Arkansas River A probable cause affidavit said that drivers license photos of the two women were compared, and investigators found that Osborn was the one facing the charges. Investigators found that Osborn had signed the womans name nine times in booking documents and had initialed her name 13 times on the terms and conditions of probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records showed that Osborn had pleaded guilty to public intoxication on Nov. 4, 2024, using the womans name. Osborn is being held in the Crawford County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond. Court records say a hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 25, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) As ICE continues to detain people in the DMV, an area church teamed up with a local artist to mark sites where people have reportedly been detained by federal agents. A handful of stickers depicting an outstretched hand and two hearts have appeared on a small handful of sidewalks in South Arlington, after being placed by members of Arlington Presbyterian Church, Rev. Ashley Goff and Arlington-based artist Sushmita Mazumdar. ICE confirms arrests at Sterling immigration court, as advocates rally to criticize tactic Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can we have the last word as the community? And can that last word be of care and hope? Mazumdar told DC News Now on Tuesday, inside her art studio. Photo courtesy of ARLnow.com Mazumdar said she discussed a project with Goff earlier this year to create a sticker to help identify safe spaces for people to go if they felt fearful as immigration enforcement ramped up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After attending a recent plaque unveiling of stumbling stones, which mark where people were enslaved in Arlington County, the pair thought they would create a similar project with stumbling stickers to send a message about an issue they say rips families apart. It was such a feeling that we are taking all of the bad stuff off of this spot, Mazumdar said. Photo courtesy of ARLnow.com Photo courtesy of ARLnow.com The name for Arlingtons stumbling stones mirrors the name given to brass plaques in Germany that mark where Holocaust victims were taken by the Nazis. Weve only put down the South Arlington stickers for now; there are addresses in Rosslyn, Mazumdar said. We are going to continue doing this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judges: Government ordered to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia; can return to Maryland The issue of immigration enforcement in Arlington made headlines in May when county leaders voted to prohibit local police from contacting ICE. Gov. Glenn Youngkin criticized county board members, calling the policy a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the oath they swore to protect their constituents. Rev. Carla Gorrell, a retired minister, said she is helping Mazumdar and Goff on the stumbling sticker project. Gorrell said while the stickers lack words, she hopes people passersby question the message behind them, saying, it is a sense that theres a story here, and maybe they wonder, whats the story? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before participants placed stickers on the ground, Gorrell shared the prayer. We are here to tell the truth, to name the harm that was done on this block, to place a mark where someone was taken by ICE, and remember what others would rather forget and erase. But, also to build a community of memory, resistance and care,' Gorrell prayed. Rev. Ashley Goff could not be reached for comment as she is out of town on sabbatical. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Arlington City Council followed in the footsteps of Fort Worth on Tuesday night and began the process of scrubbing diversity, equity and inclusion from the municipal code. If the body opted out of doing so, $65 million in annual federal funds would be quashed. In two nearly-unanimous decisions, the council chose to temporarily suspend the anti-discrimination chapter and rewrite the Unity Councils guidelines to comply with federal grant contracts. When municipalities receive grants from the U.S. government, it enters into a contract with various stipulations on the allocation of those funds. Federal grant contracts are now being updated to prohibit advancing or promoting DEI as well as any type of race use gender as part of the decision making process, City Manager Trey Yelverton explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arlington already lost a $50,000 grant for parks and recreation due to the prohibited word inclusion, according to Mayor Jim Ross. He said tabling Tuesdays actions would have put even more money at risk. Its not just about jeopardizing the financial well-being of the city, though that does play a very significant role, but its about us following the law, Ross told the meeting attendees Tuesday night. If we expect those in our county, those in our state, those in DC, to follow the law, by God, we should follow the law. The mayor was one of seven council members who voted to modify the Unity Council and one of six in favor of temporarily suspending the anti-discrimination chapter in city code. Councilmember Barbara Odom-Wesley opposed both actions, and Councilmember Nikkie Hunter voted against the suspension. Councilmember Rebecca Boxall was not present for the votes. The Unity Council The Unity Council was established by the City Council on June 23, 2020. The task was to study equity strategies that the City of Arlington could implement to promote and encourage greater equality; to gather community input on the need to build greater equality; and to report findings and recommendations to the City Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former chair of the Unity Council Jason E. Shelton said since its founding, the group did so to an award-winning level. Thirty members strong, the Unity Council would be given topics to discuss solutions for and then submit a suggestion to the city council. A few years ago, the group was given the charge to address LGBTQ+ concerns in Arlington, Shelton said. There was not an appetite in our committee to go for gender-neutral bathrooms. Thats what was the big thing at the time a few years ago, Shelton said. But what we did have an appetite for was everybody wants to feel good and have privacy in the bathroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, the group recommended that the city council require all new construction to have at least one single-user bathroom, effectively giving everyone a place to comfortably go. The suggestion was approved and put into place. In 2021, the city council took on over 50 suggestions made by the unity council. Though he understands the city needs the federal funding, Shelton fears the Unity Council changes will lead to a loss in forward-thinking. We have been able to build community because we have been so diverse in multiple ways, Shelton said. I would say, politically, socially, religiously, we bring all that diversity to the table to find solutions to problems. And my fear is that were going to lose that now. So I think thats what made the Unity Council unique. Thats why we got all those darn awards, because we were willing to utilize our diversity to push us all forward and channel it, focus it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The action on Tuesday was the first of two required votes and did not specify what the new language would be for the Unity Council. The Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Before the city council voted to temporarily suspend the anti-discrimination law, nearly a dozen residents spoke in front of the dais disapproving the action. One said he was in favor, saying the city doesnt need DEI language to encourage diversity and inclusion because those things already happen naturally in Arlington. The city voted to suspend the ordinance until revisions are made to it that comply with federal directives. The changes will be brought in front of the council in coming months a city staffer said. Some dissenting the suspension called the stipulations around federal funds blackmail and extortion. Many implored the council to use civil disobedience to fight back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeeJay Johannessen, who encouraged the ordinance being put into place in 2021, said the city doesnt have to temporarily suspend the measure at all. He said Fort Worth and Dallas didnt dispose of their anti-discrimination chapters when they responded to the DEI-prohibiting grant contracts. So if they did not find the need to suspend their anti-discrimination ordinances in order to protect those federal dollars, why are we doing it tonight? Johannessen said. As a matter of fact, I encourage you to do exactly what you did with the very last ordinance for the Unity Council, which was to proactively solve it and then make the change. Johannessen said taking the temporary suspension route sends a message to residents that the city doesnt care if they are discriminated against for the time being. Councilmember Odom-Wesley said by suspending the chapter, the council is saying now its okay to be discriminatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After making a nod to the Declaration of Independences statement that all men are created equal, Odom-Wesley said the anti-discrimination policy is necessary because the people need protection. I certainly dont want to see our city lose $65 million, and I dont like being held hostage, having our grant dollars depend on our compliance with something that you dont believe in. Odom-Welsey said. The progress that we made has been hard fought, worked on removing systemic barriers. That doesnt always change hearts. It has changed policies. It has changed procedures and processes, and along the way, weve changed some hearts, but some hearts will not be changed. A few residents whispered the words to the Black National Anthem while Odom-Wesley spoke them, and a few others shed tears when the suspension was voted into place. The News in Brief Wednesday, September 3, 2025 Police detained 23 people on September 2 during a protest on Rustaveli Avenue outside parliament. Activists had gathered as Georgian Dream's parliament reconvened for its fall session and after controversial verdicts in recent protest-related trials.The Interior Ministry said the protesters were arrested for refusing repeated calls to stop blocking traffic. They now face charges under the Administrative Offences Code, though the exact article has not been specified.The protest coincided with Georgian Dream MP Tea Tsulukiani presenting a report from the party's investigative commission, which accuses former UNM officials of crimes during their time in power and includes claims that the Saakashvili government triggered the 2008 war with Russia.The rally came hours after courts handed down two high-profile sentences: prison terms for eight young protesters known as the "smiling boys" and an 8.5-year term for Russian activist Anton Chechin on drug charges.The 5th President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili has sharply criticized Georgia's Public Defender for remaining silent amid what she calls "harsh and humiliating" treatment of citizens during political trials.Writing on social media, Zourabichvili said the Public Defender has been "silent and inactive" while court bailiffs allegedly mistreat attendees and restrict public access to trials. "He is obliged to protect human rights, assume the responsibility assigned by the mandate, and respond immediately to such facts," she wrote.She accused the Public Defender of indirectly justifying the "violent environment" in courtrooms and worsening public feelings of insecurity and injustice. Zourabichvili called on the office to intervene quickly to stop the alleged mistreatment."The Public Defender is silent and inactive regarding this unacceptable and outrageous behavior of the bailiffs," she wrote. "I call on the Public Defender to act quickly to stop the severe and humiliating actions of the bailiffs against citizens." (The Center Square) Authorities confirmed the arrest of Gabriel Calixto in Mexico for the 2023 murder of Emma Shafer in Springfield, Illinois. Surviving victim Katie OBrien, who was previously attacked by Calixto, welcomed the news, calling it long-overdue justice after years of fear. OBrien said she first learned about the arrest when another reporter reached out while she was out shopping. I truly was stunned because I thought everyone was done looking for him, she said. It just kind of seemed like something that fell off the radar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calixtos conviction of kidnapping OBrien was vacated in October 2020, and he was released after pleading to a lesser charge of unlawful restraint and time served. In 2021, he was arrested on a federal immigration charge and transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, but records are unclear how he was later released from Department of Homeland Security detention. The case has already attracted political attention. Earlier this year, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited Springfield, just blocks from where Shafer was killed, to criticize Illinois immigration policies. Just a couple of houses away from here, Emma Shafer was brutally stabbed and murdered by an illegal immigrant who was released into the United States by the Biden administration, Noem said during a Springfield news conference in May. OBrien said she has mixed feelings about Noems Springfield visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She did give the case the momentum it needed for him to be found, OBrien said. But on the flip side, Emma was very for immigration laws and opening our borders and being accepting of everyone around us. So it was kind of a slap in the face for Emmas family for Noem to show up there, basically on their front porch advertising something they dont believe in and that she didnt believe in. The Shafer family did not immediately respond to The Center Square request for comment. Looking ahead, OBrien said she and her mother plan to attend Calixtos court proceedings in Springfield, if he is extradited, to ensure victims and their families are represented in the process Since he was never a citizen and lost his [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] status after his first crime, we definitely expected him to be deported after my case, said OBrien. So once again, why didnt that happen back then? If youre not a citizen here and you commit felonies, you shouldnt be able to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While relieved, OBrien said the arrest should have happened much sooner. I can see how its a lot harder once it becomes an international case, but Im just really glad they were still looking for him even though they were keeping it on the down low, said OBrien. Her relief comes with lingering frustration over how her own case was handled. Calixto was previously convicted of kidnapping OBrien but served only two years after his sentence was reduced. She said no one notified her when his conviction was vacated. I feel like the justice system kind of let me down, OBrien said. They didnt pay for my victim therapy afterwards, and no one called to tell us he was out in the first place. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Deputies arrested a Darrow teen in connection with a deadly shooting. The Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office said Peyton Jackson, 17, was charged with second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and illegal use of weapons. Peyton Jackson (Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office) Deputies responded to a home on Brown Extension Road where Tyjon Comery, 18, was found shot to death on Thursday, Aug. 28. Investigators said Jackson and Comery were acquaintances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call the sheriffs office at 225-621-4636 or by texting 847411. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867. Louisiana woman accused of threatening personnel at primary school 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. LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A man was killed in a crash on Wednesday morning that injured another man, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday on Brownsferry Road in the area of Carter Road. State troopers said 61-year-old Gary D. Brown, of Athens, was killed when his vehicle hit another. Both vehicles left the road and hit a ditch. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene, according to ALEA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the other vehicle was taken to Athens Hospital for treatment. ALEA said state troopers are continuing to investigate the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. The Atlanta City Council voted to remove parking meters from part of the Virginia-Highland neighborhood. The vote happened at Tuesdays city council meeting, where council members voted to remove all parking meters in the Atkins Park Neighborhood Commercial District. According to the ordinance, Atlantas current parking meter enforcement regulations have resulted in a one-size-fits-all system that does not appear to take neighborhood-specific context or off-street parking availability into consideration. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, the Atkins Park Neighborhood Commercial Districts current parking strategy for meters is detrimental to businesses in the area, the ordinance says. Business owners and residents in the Virginia-Highland District Association and Virginia-Highland Civic Association asked the city council to remove parking meters in the Atkins Park district. The now-approved removal of parking meters in Atkins Park will put the area into alignment with the two other commercial districts in the Virginia-Highland Neighborhood, the city ordinance says. Having voted to remove the meters in Atkins Park, the city council will still re-evaluate parking needs once the Comprehensive Transportation Plan is complete, documents show. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel hosts a press conference alongside lawmakers from the Michigan House and Senate heralding the introduction of legislation to support survivors of human trafficking and crack down on perpetrators. Sept. 3, 2025 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance Gathering with lawmakers from both sides of the legislative aisle on Wednesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a renewed push to clamp down on human trafficking in the state while supporting survivors. Alongside state Reps. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) and Carol Glanville (D-Walker) and state Sens. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) and Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills), Nessel heralded the reintroduction of several policies from previous sessions supporting prosecutors and survivors, as well as new policies from the Michigan Senate boosting penalties for the facilitators of human trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human trafficking is a crime that thrives in the shadows. It is modern day slavery. Traffickers use force, fraud and coercion to exploit the most vulnerable among us for profit leaving scars that last a lifetime, Nessel said. This isnt an epidemic happening in some far away place. Its happening right here in Michigan, in our neighborhoods, in our communities and in every corner of our state. No region is immune. While Nessels office has made prosecuting human trafficking a top priority, the states laws continue to receive an F rating from Shared Hope International and the Polaris Project, two groups dedicated to bringing an end to human trafficking. Survivors of human trafficking still face several barriers that prevent them from healing, rebuilding and reclaiming their futures, Nessel said, as many are charged with crimes they were forced into committing. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and state Sen. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills) and Assistant Attorney General Melissa Palepu. Sept. 3, 2025 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance Survivors are often left without housing, employment and the protection they need to feel safe, Nessel added, as many more are afraid to come forward out of fear they will be punished rather than protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know we cannot end trafficking through prosecution alone. Prevention and victim support must go hand in hand with enforcement, Nessel said. We must ensure that when survivors escape, they have a safe place to turn. We must provide legal protection so they are not re-traumatized by the criminal justice system. We must educate the public so that everyone teachers, doctors, business owners, hotel staff, neighbors can help identify the warning signs and then act upon them. With previous efforts to bolster protections for survivors of human trafficking failing to reach the governors desk, Damoose said he chose to act on Nessels concerns that the Legislature would never pass meaningful laws on human trafficking. While the bills set to be introduced in the Senate will not put an end to human trafficking, Damoose said his goal for the policies is to greatly reduce the number of individuals who would have been trafficked over the next two years. Among those reforms are increased penalties for both providers and solicitors of human trafficking, including penalties of up to 20 years for engaging in commercial sex with minors, felony penalties punishable by 20 years in prison and $20,000 fines for various human trafficking offenses, and life in prison for trafficking minors coupled with a $50,000 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human trafficking goes beyond sex crimes, Breen said, extending into forced labor and domestic servitude where victims are coerced by threats, fraud, debt bondage and a fear of coming forward. Our current policies and practices, however much good they do, are limited. Survivors are left without support. Families are left without justice. We have a moral responsibility to do better. We need to protect survivors, hold traffickers accountable and give prosecutors the tools they need to build strong cases without re-victimizing people who have already endured trauma, Breen said. State Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) discusses reintroduced legislation intended to support survivors of human trafficking. Sept. 3, 2025 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance Changes reintroduced in the house include allowing survivors to have their convictions set aside for crimes committed as a result of trafficking. The legislation also creates an affirmative defense for survivors charged with crimes committed under coercion. These bills build upon reforms championed by Attorney General Dana Nessel and the prior Attorney General Bill Schuette. They ensure survivor statements can be used in court. By doing so, prosecutors will gain the tools they need to dismantle trafficking networks while keeping survivor safety at the center of every case, Breen said. Budgetary concerns In addition to advocating for movement on these bipartisan policies, Breen and Nessel decried cuts for programs supporting survivors of human trafficking and sexual assault in House Republicans proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houses budget does not include funding requirements for Sexual Assault Kit testing, although these requirements were included in proposals put forth by both Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Democratic-led Senate. The proposal also halves the Department of Attorney Generals general fund compared to the 2024-2025 budget, which Nessel said is used to pay for the departments work on criminal cases. Well be losing 57 special agents. Well be losing 13 trial prosecutors and three appellate criminal prosecutors and all of our victim advocates except one. And I will tell you this as a longtime prosecutor: Yes, prosecutors are important and special agents are important, but no one is more important than victim advocates, Nessel said. Under this level of proposed funding Nessel said she was uncertain if her department would be able to continue work on their Operation Survivor Justice initiative, which connects county prosecutors with funding for extraditing perpetrators of sexual crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the Houses proposal, Nessel said that the departments address confidentiality program which has 459 participants has been effectively defunded. The program aims to protect survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and those who have experienced stalking and human trafficking by providing them with a legal mailing address to be used in place of their actual address when an address is needed by a government agency, preventing their abuser from locating them through their voting records or other documentation. If you are really concerned about ensuring that we have the budget we need for all the things that we do, I think its important to note, for every $1 that goes to the Department of Attorney General in Michigan, we bring $4 back to the state.its really disappointing, the House Budget, and Im very, very hopeful that the Senate will stand strong and ensure that that doesnt ultimately become our budget, and that the governors office also appreciates how important it is for us to have a strong budget here, Nessel said. The Nebraska State Historical Society is located just off the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus at 1500 R St. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, in a 50-page brief filed Tuesday, argues that its felony prosecution of the former director of History Nebraska was wrongly dismissed by the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, attorneys for Trevor Jones, who resigned the $164,800-a-year job in 2022, filed their own brief with the Nebraska Supreme Court maintaining that the AGs office had errored in trying to appeal the discharge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The competing court briefs are the latest chapter in an on-again, off-again prosecution of Jones. He was alleged to have committed theft by deception for redirecting $270,000 in funds provided by the private Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation to a competing foundation he had set up. The funds were intended to cover expected operating losses by the Nebraska State Historical Society during the COVID-19 pandemic, and state auditors maintained the funds should have been deposited with the State Treasurer, not another foundation. Theft by deception is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. But the states prosecution of the case was first dismissed by a Lancaster County District Court Judge for violating Jones right to a speedy trial. A later appeal was discharged by the State Court of Appeals for not following proper court procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Attorney Generals Office, in a brief written by Principal Deputy Solicitor General Zachary Viglianco, argued that Appeals Court Judge Frankie Moore had misapplied past court precedent in dismissing the states appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Viglianco maintained that the AGs office had followed proper procedure in appealing the judges ruling, which it argued was a special proceeding that is inherently a civil matter, thus allowing an appeal. But Jones attorneys have contended and repeated in the brief Tuesday that the discharge was a criminal matter, and, by rule, the Attorney Generals Office had no right to appeal a final ruling of a substantial right a speedy trial. The Attorney Generals Office filed the criminal charge in December 2023 against Jones, who had served six years at chief of the agency, which he had rebranded as History Nebraska. The name change was reversed by Gov. Jim Pillen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones resigned in 2022 saying he wanted to travel in Europe shortly before a state audit came out that was critical of the redirection of the funds. It was uncertain when the Nebraska Supreme Court might schedule oral arguments and rule on the appeal. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TALLAHASSEE Attorneys for David Pittman are trying to prevent his scheduled Sept. 17 execution by arguing he has an intellectual disability and that the Florida Supreme Court erred in a key 2020 decision about such cases. Pittmans attorneys Sunday filed a 42-page brief at the Supreme Court contending that executing Pittman would violate the U.S. Constitutions Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The brief also said that because of errors made by this court, the state of Florida is at the precipice of executing a man who has an intellectual disability. Without court intervention, Mr. Pittman will be executed, the brief said. Mr. Pittman has an intellectual disability. This case is a proper vehicle to right this courts past wrongs to save Mr. Pittmans life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Attorney General James Uthmeiers office, in a brief Tuesday, disputed the intellectual disability arguments and said the Supreme Court also should reject the appeal for procedural reasons. Pittmans claim is untimely, procedurally barred and meritless, the states brief said. He relies on information he has known for years and repackages a previously raised claim as a new one, encompassing arguments this court has previously rejected. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 15 signed a death warrant for Pittman, 63, who was convicted of killing three members of his estranged wifes family in May 1990 in Polk County. If he is executed, Pittman would be a record 12th inmate put to death by lethal injection this year in Florida. Pittman was convicted in the murders of his wifes parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles, and their 20-year-old daughter, Bonnie. At the time of the murders, another daughter, Marie, was seeking to divorce Pittman, who was opposed to the divorce, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Knowles home in Mulberry was also set on fire. Pittmans attorneys went to the Supreme Court on Friday after Polk County Circuit Judge Kevin Abdoney rejected arguments that he should be spared execution because of an intellectual disability. The brief filed Sunday centers, in part, on a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected part of Floridas tests for determining whether defendants have intellectual disabilities. That part of the tests set a cutoff score of 70 on IQ exams. The U.S. Supreme Court said the state could not use such a rigid rule. The Florida Supreme Court in 2016 ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court decision should apply retroactively, which could have given longtime inmates such as Pittman another chance to prove they had intellectual disabilities and should be spared execution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in 2020, the Florida Supreme Court reversed itself and said the U.S. Supreme Court decision should not apply retroactively. The reversal came after longtime Florida Supreme Court Justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince, who were part of a generally liberal bloc, were forced to step down in 2019 because of a mandatory retirement age and the court became more conservative. Pittmans attorneys in Sundays brief pointed to tests conducted when he was a child that showed an IQ of 70 or 71. They also said he was in special-education classes and classified as educable mentally handicapped in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. The brief said the 2014 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which was in a case known as Hall v. Florida, should apply retroactively to Pittman. Pittmans attorneys wrote the U.S. Supreme Court ruling indicated states needed to take a more holistic approach to the determination of intellectual disability in a defendant. The record is rich with evidence of Mr. Pittmans intellectual disability, the brief said. Not just qualifying IQ scores, but also evidence of his subaverage functioning and issues with adaptive functioning. This (Florida Supreme) Court should not ignore the evidence of Mr. Pittmans intellectual disability and allow him to present evidence of his intellectual disability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the states brief Tuesday cited a test at the time of Pittmans trial that showed an IQ of 95. It said that while a motivated defendant can easily secure an IQ score low enough to support an ID (intellectual disability) claim, the opposite is not necessarily true; it is not possible to pretend to be smarter than one is. The states brief also said the Florida Supreme Courts 2020 decision rejecting retroactivity, in a case known as Phillips v. State, should remain in place. While Pittman is free to voice his opinion about the validity of Phillips, he presents this court with no legal reason for revisiting that controlling precedent, the states brief said. A simple reading of this courts decision in Phillips demonstrates that this was no arbitrary or capricious decision. Rather, Phillips was a necessary correction of a previous ruling that was, unfortunately, incorrect. By Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida Calling it a matter of life and death, all 11 members of Massachusettss Capitol Hill delegation have appealed to the Trump administration to speed the release of more than $1 billion in frozen medical research funding that was supposed to be headed to the Bay State. A Wednesday letter, led by U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, and sent to Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health, highlights reports that the Republican White House has delayed its distribution of critical grants that advance science and expand patients access to care. In July, the Republican White Houses Office of Management and Budget halted payments from the National Institutes of Health to researchers around the country, only to reverse course hours later in the face of protests from lawmakers and advocacy groups, the medical news website Stat, reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The threat of impoundment, a president intentionally delaying or withholding funds appropriated by Congress, was rarely a concern until now, Auchincloss and his colleagues wrote in the letter exclusively shared with MassLive. This administration has reportedly delayed as much as $4.7 billion in obligated NIH grant funds to date, which has a direct and immediate impact on the entire medical research enterprise from research institutions and physician researchers to patients and their families," they continued. In addition to the Newton lawmaker, all eight Democratic members of the states U.S. House contingent, joined by Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, signed the letter to Bhattacharya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With its concentration of research institutions and hospitals, the situation is particularly dire for [Massachusettss] communities and businesses and for patients, it is a matter of life and death," Auchincloss and his colleagues wrote. The state has lost nearly $1.3 billion in medical research funding since the beginning of the second Trump administration, Auchincloss and his colleagues told Bhattacharya. For instance, UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester was approved for nearly three dozen grants, but has yet to receive the congressionally approved funding, they wrote. Harvard University, which has been in pitched battle with the White House for months, is still waiting for more than $1.3 million in NIH grant money, they wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While withholding and terminating funds has had significant and severe impacts on these institutions, the most devastating impact has been on the patients who are losing access to innovative treatments and therapies unavailable outside of clinical trial settings as a result of these actions, they wrote. Patients are dying because their care teams now have considerable doubt and confusion as to what trials are open and available, for how long, and whether or not they are funded, Auchincloss and his colleagues argued. The meter is running for the federal government to spend the money, with the current budget year ending on Sept. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through June 30, the agency had spent $30 billion in approved funding, compared to $34.7 billion the year before, according to Chief Health Care Executive, an industry trade publication. These are already allocated funds. Congress has signed off on them, Heather Pierce, the senior director for science policy and regulatory counsel for the Association of American Medical Colleges, told the publication. Theres no precedent to having this much money remaining this close to the end of the federal fiscal year. On its official website, the AAMC, as its known, has a countdown clock of the unspent money. As of Wednesday morning, the NIH had 27 days and 13 hours to spend the federal cash. Away from the public health impact of withholding the money, there is also an economic impact, the lawmakers told Bhattacharya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 2023 federal budget year, NIH funding generated nearly $93 billion in economic activity nationwide, returning about $2.46 in activity for every $1 invested, the lawmakers argued. In the 2024 federal budget year, Massachusetts received $3.5 billion in funding from NIH, which supported more than 30,000 jobs and generated about $7.7 billion in economic activity, the lawmakers asserted. Failing to distribute allocated funds will have lasting, catastrophic impacts on local and global economies, they wrote. We cannot allow this administration to continue to undermine U.S. global leadership in medical and scientific innovation and endanger patients lives. Further, delaying the funding hands an advantage to such geopolitical rivals as China, contributing to a brain drain of talent that comes at the nations expense, Auchincloss and his colleagues wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The termination and withholding of NIH grants only accelerates the leads other countries are rapidly gaining on the United States, they wrote. The Trump Administrations decisions are dangerous and short-sighted. And then, ripping a page from a by-now familiar playbook, Auchincloss and his colleagues closed the letter this way: Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. More on Politics Read the original article on MassLive. TYLER, Texas (KETK) Texas House Bill 2000, also known as Audriis law, went into effect on Monday, ending a loophole that kept convicted child groomers off the sex offender registry. Photo of Audrii, courtesy of Polk County Sheriffs Office The bill was named for Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old girl from Polk County who was kidnapped and murdered in Feb. 2024. Man pleads guilty to killing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, gets life in prison Audrii was the subject of a Feb. 15, 2024 Amber Alert after she never showed up to school. The Polk County Sheriffs Office and the Trinity River Authority found Audriis body five days later in the Trinity River on Feb. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Don McDougal lived in a camper on the Cunninghams property and was supposed to drop Audrii off at the bus stop on the day she went missing. McDougal, who pleaded guilty to Audriis murder, was previously accused of indecency with a child in 2007 but he pleaded down to the charge of enticing a child and that kept him off the Sex Offender Registry. East Texas State Rep. Trent Ashby authored HB 2000 in order to close a loophole that was left open when the Texas Legislature first made child grooming a state crime. It is unconscionable that a violent criminal like McDougal was arrested and charged for attempting to molest a child and then was able to walk the streets without registering as a sex offender, Ashby said after filling the bill. Criminals with a history like McDougal need to be on a publicly available list so that people can protect themselves and their families from tragedies like what occurred in Polk County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Senate passed HB 2000 on April 17, the Texas House passed it on May 9 and Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law on May 22. 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. The Australian government has imposed travel bans and sanctions on 14 individuals for repressing civil society in Russia and for enabling the invasion of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Wednesday. "The human rights situation in Russia continues to deteriorate with violent crackdowns aimed at suppressing human rights and anti-war advocacy," Wong said in a statement. "We condemn Russia's intimidation and reprisals against civil society and human rights defenders, and reiterate our call for Russia to comply with its international human rights obligations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wong made the announcement ahead of a meeting with Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who died while in custody in 2024. "Ms Navalnaya is a fearless voice for democracy in Russia, continuing her fight at immense personal cost," Wong said. "Russia failed to undertake an independent and transparent investigation into Mr Navalny's death, and Australia holds [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and the Russian Government responsible." The 14 newly listed individuals are either current or former Russian ministers, or have been deemed by the Australian government to have performed activities of "economic or strategic significance to Russia." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wong said they were also responsible for "enabling the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine." Navalny died in a Siberian penal colony in the Arctic Circle in February 2024 while serving a 19-year sentence on what he said were politically motivated charges. Though the circumstances of his death have not been clarified, Navalny's family and allies, as well as some Western leaders, have blamed Putin. The prominent activist and Putin critic survived a poisoning attack with the nerve agent Novichok in 2020 but was arrested on his return to Russia in January 2021 and subjected to a series of trials. A new bat-borne pathogen dubbed Salt Gully virus has been uncovered in flying-foxes in Australia. While there are not yet any signs of human spillover, Salt Gully is a relative of Nipah and Hendra two diseases considered priority pathogens by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since it was first identified in an epidemic in Malaysia in 1999, Nipah has been spotted in four more countries, causing outbreaks with fatality rates as high as 71 per cent and inspiring the Hollywood blockbuster Contagion. A study in 2024 estimated that at least 750 people have been infected, with 435 of them dying, in the last 25 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With only seven known human cases since 1994, Hendra is far less common. It jumps from bats to horses to humans, causing debilitating illness along the way horses froth at the mouth, while headaches in people can descend into brain inflammation, convulsions and a coma. So far, there are no signs that Salt Gully virus can infect people. Researchers at Australias national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), on Wednesday said that although they cant predict whether it will result in future disease outbreaks, there is currently no cause for public alarm. Jennifer Barr (standing right) collecting bat urine in Boonah, a rural area of Queensland, some 50 miles southwest of Brisbane - CSIRO The agency added that it does not change the health risk posed by bats. The flying mammals have developed a bad reputation for harbouring pathogens, but scientists have traced their remarkable resilience to their unusual immune systems. This means they can co-exist with a range of pathogens and may be the key to combating human inflammatory diseases. Weve detected Salt Gully virus in bat samples dating back to 2011, which shows its been circulating in nature for over a decade without any evidence of it causing illness in animals or humans, said Jennifer Barr, an experimental scientist at the high containment laboratory at CSIROs Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The virus was found in flying-fox urine samples collected in Boonah, a rural area of Queensland, some 50 miles south-west of Brisbane. This is also in this region that Hendra virus has jumped to people the disease is named after the Brisbane suburb where it first emerged. [Salt Gully is] another example of bats as a reservoir of many, many more unknown viruses, Prof Linfa Wang, a professor at the Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, told The Telegraph. So far all data suggests it is a low risk for the human population, added Prof Wang, a co-author of the scientific paper describing Salt Gully, which was published in the September issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. Scientists have compared Salt Gully to Hendra and Nipah, and found that it does not contain the same cell receptors the lock and key tool used by viruses to enter human or animal cells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mrs Barr said more research was needed, but that the discovery of Salt Gully is important to better understand the viruses circulating in wildlife. Early findings show Salt Gully virus does not rely on the same cell receptors as Hendra or Nipah viruses, suggesting that the infection process will be different, she said. As a result, we cant predict whether it will result in future disease outbreaks in humans or animals. Mrs Barr added: Now that weve identified the virus, diagnostic tests can be developed. This means if a spillover from bats and disease outbreak were to occur, wed have the tools to detect this virus earlier enabling timely measures to prevent further spread. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security 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 Labubu pop-up store in the centre of the Austrian capital Vienna was raided by customs officers on Wednesday. The authorities found that the shop, selling the incredibly popular Chinese dolls, neglected to hand out receipts after purchases, and the cash register had not yet been connected to the tax registry. The shop had monthly sales in August of approximately 43,000, which had not yet been reported to the tax office, Austrian press agency APA reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers also suspected that the shop was selling falsified versions of the Chinese dolls, known as "Lafufus". "Further investigations will be conducted in this regard," the financial police stated. The inspection was conducted following a complaint from the market authority. The Labubu store in the Austrian capital is facing thousands of euros in fines. Related The shop appears to have also violated labour regulations. The shop assistant on duty at the time of the investigation was a Pakistani national who did not have a valid work permit under the Foreign Nationals Employment Act (AuslBG), authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also registered as a part-time employee, but the shop manager and managing director were unable to provide records of the employees' working hours. Reportedly, several complaints were filed with the district administrative authority, resulting in a total of approximately 5,000 in fines, according to the tax police. In connection with ongoing tax investigations and further complaints regarding the cash register violations, the shop is facing possible fines of up to 15,000. "We cannot afford to tolerate tax fraud," Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer said, "regardless of whether the cases are large or small." The doll that made billions The small, toothy toys, gaining immense popularity via social media channels, made their producer Pop Mart International Group the most valuable Chinese toy company in a relatively short period of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elf-like toys became a hot commodity they are sold in a blind-box model, where buyers dont know which variant theyll get. Labubu dolls fly off store shelves in Asia, Europe and the US for a price between 15 and 36, but new series are sold out in a very short time, fuelling the resale market, where costs get increasingly higher. An ultra-rare human-sized edition fetched $150,000 (128,700) at a Beijing auction. The mania pushed Pop Mart International Group's founder and CEO Wang Nings fortune to $26.2 billion (22.5bn), a 243% surge so far this year alone, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He was reported to have become China's tenth richest person by Forbes in June this year. Authorities in the Philippines arrested and jailed two men attempting to illegally dump waste in one of the country's provinces. According to the Manila Bulletin, authorities arrested two men caught in the act of trying to dump a truckload of garbage on the side of the road in Tondo, Manila. The two suspects, identified as 21-year-old "Rolly" and 31-year-old Al, were apprehended by environmental rangers from the Department of Public Services. They were caught with a truck loaded with 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of wet cardboard waste, believed to be coming from a nearby factory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illegal dumping is a growing problem around the world, as companies and individuals flout regulations around the safe disposal of waste in an effort to save time and money on the proper disposal of trash. Apart from the aesthetic issues of dumping trash wherever you see fit, illegal dumping can have serious environmental and health consequences as well. Garbage produces methane as it breaks down, among other gases, and methane is an extremely potent planet-warming gas. On top of that, prolonged exposure to landfill gas can cause serious respiratory issues, according to the CDC. Illegal dumping can also encourage the spread of disease and pests, such as rats and insects, and can have a profound psychological effect on people in the area, according to the National Institute for Health. It puts local groundwater at risk of contamination by toxic chemicals and unsafe runoff from the decomposing waste, as well, which impacts local wildlife, plants, and the community that relies on that groundwater to drink and irrigate crops. The arrested parties have been charged with violating the Ecological Solid Waste Act of 2000, and if convicted, could face hefty fines, community service, and jail time. In fact, if they are found guilty of transporting and dumping bulk waste, they could face a fine of up to 200,000 pesos ($3,498) and up to six years in prison. Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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. UPDATED AS OF 09/04/2025: The Chipley Police Department has announced that Dow Morris has been found and is safe. ORIGINAL STORY: WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Chipley Police Department is seeking the publics help in locating Dow Morris, according to a post on their Facebook. Dow Morris, a 59-year-old resident of Chipley, Florida, was reportedly last seen at approximately 2:00 PM on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at his home, wearing a purple Easy Care t-shirt and khaki shorts. He is approximately 510. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He drives a 2014 Ford F-250, white with a gold bottom and black toolbox, which has the Florida license plate IHZS74. If you have any information regarding Dow Morriss whereabouts or sightings after 2:00 PM on September 2, 2025, authorities are asking you to contact the Chipley Police Department at 850-638-6310 or the Washington County Sheriffs Office at 850-638-6111. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. STOUGHTON, Mass. (WWLP) An Avon man was arrested after allegedly running from an attempted traffic stop on Monday. Eight arrested in Springfield open-air drug bust The Stoughton Police Department states that on September 1st at 10:30 a.m., an officer on patrol in Stoughton Center observed a Mercedes turn from Wyman Street onto Washington Street at a high rate of speed. The officer learned that the vehicles registration was revoked and was able to visually confirm that 39-year-old Admar Pina of Avon, the cars registered owner, was the driver. A traffic stop was attempted; however, Pina drove off at a high rate of speed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pina turned onto Wentworth Avenue, then Manor Drive at an apartment complex, where he ran on foot, jumping a fence into a wooded area on Sumner Street. Stoughton Police learned a short time later that Pina had called the Avon Police Department and attempted to report his vehicle as stolen from Stoughton, but was told that he would need to make the report in person. At 1:30 p.m., Pina was at the station to report his car as stolen, and Stoughton Police arrived at the Avon Police Station and took Pina into custody without incident. He was arraigned on Tuesday and released on personal recognizance. 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. WARSAW, Poland U.K. company Babcock International, Swedens Saab and Italian Fincantieri have signed deals to boost cooperation with Polish state-run defense group PGZ. The developments come as Polands Ministry of National Defence is accelerating efforts to select new submarines that will expand its capacities in the Baltic Seas shallow waters, a program all three companies have shown interest in. The European players inked cooperation agreements with PGZ on the first day of this years MSPO defense industry show in Kielce, Poland, which runs Sept. 2-5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polands deputy prime minister and defense minister, has said Warsaw plans to order between three and four new submarines for the naval forces by the end of 2025. The planned procurement, which is to be implemented under the Orka (Orca) program, is urgent as the Navy relies on a single outdated Soviet-designed submarine, the Kilo-class ORP Orzel. Meanwhile, PGZs central role in the Polish defense industry makes it an attractive partner for foreign players competing for what could be the largest naval program in Polands history. Pierroberto Folgiero, the CEO and managing director of Fincantieri, said his company aims to contribute to Polands ambitious naval modernization plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a legacy of more than 180 submarines built and a proven track record in advanced naval platforms, we bring unparalleled expertise to support the Orka program and to develop a long-term industrial cooperation with PGZ and the national defense industry, according to Folgiero. Babcock and PGZ already cooperate on a major naval project, and the U.K. group hopes to expand it to Orka. Under the Miecznik (Swordfish) program, PGZ is leading a consortium to build three frigates based on the design of Babcocks Arrowhead 140 vessel. Deliveries of the vessels to the countrys Navy are scheduled for the years 2026 to 2032. The UK and Poland has longstanding close ties, and this growing industrial partnership with PGZ SA will deepen our relationship and accelerate our support for the Polish armed forces, alongside our joint global ambitions across air and marine domains, said David Lockwood, the CEO of Babcock. The Miecznik program is a great example of the benefits our relationship is already delivering. Micael Johansson, the president and CEO of Saab, said in a statement there is great potential for expanding the existing partnership between our nations to ensure security and stability in Europe, including the Baltic Sea region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swedens efforts were bolstered on Sept. 2 by the signing of a Polish-Swedish defense cooperation agreement following an official meeting between Kosiniak-Kamysz and his counterpart, Pal Jonson, at the MSPO show. Polands centrist government is under increasing political pressure to carry out the submarine purchase. On Aug. 15, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who represents the opposition party, said during the Armed Forces Day parade in Warsaw we must implement the Orka program. This is because, as sailors have told me, we need to have Polish submarines, and sailors have waited for them for years, for decades. This is the direction in which we must move forward, Nawrocki said. Numerous countries are competing to secure the potential order from Poland. In 2023, Warsaw announced 11 entities took part in a market consultation . Known competitors include Babcock, Fincantieri and Saab, as well as Frances Naval Group , German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Spains Navantia, South Koreas Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May 2025, a spokesperson for the Polish ministry told Defense News its experts assigned the highest scores to the offers placed by Germany, Italy and Sweden. However, while these three offers received the highest scores from the Polish Armaments Agency, the militarys procurement arm, the remaining submarine offers have not been discarded amid ongoing talks with foreign governments, according to the spokesperson. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Were turning a new leaf and welcoming in the fall season. Live Local. Give Local highlights. ways to give back and get involved in local causes every month. Holland Hospital Nurse Fun Run Friends and families are gearing up for the annual School Nurse Fun Run. The event is scheduled for Thursday September 11 at Holland High School starting at 5 p.m. Participation directly supports the Holland Hospitals School Nurse Program. Registration is open the day of the event and students run free. Taste of Downtown Holland The City of Holland is giving everyone a reason to visit on Friday September 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Come hungry and eat your way through the Taste of downtown Holland starting at 5 p.m. The fundraiser event include small plates, desserts, drinks, and a silent auction from restaurant features including New Holland Brewing, Waverly Stone, Hops at 84 East, Cherry Republic, and more. Stand in the Gap Gala The lakeshore community is working to bring resources to end homelessness through a night of celebration and charity. Lifeline Ministries is hosting its Stand in the Gap Gala on Thursday September 18. Your attendance will help support housing programs and provide for those in need of a safe space. The gala will be hosted at My House Ministry located on West 15th Street in Holland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enjoy a night with dinner, drinks, and community outreach. Theres still time to grab tickets and save your spot. Pathways to Possibilities 5K A West Michigan organization is working to cover the cost of adaptive equipment, travel for medical care, therapies, and other essential needs for families navigating neuromuscular diseases. Loris Voice says its work cant be done without the support of the community. Your participation in this years Pathways to Possibilities 5K could help change a familys life. The 5K is happening on Saturday September 27 at Veterans Memorial Park in Kentwood. Register yourself or a team to support the cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The South Carolina Supreme Court in Columbia. (Photo by Mary Ann Chastain / Special to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA A federal judge in Alabama reprimanded a trio of attorneys in July who used artificial intelligence in a court briefing that cited nonexistent case law. A Utah state appeals court ordered a lawyer to pay $1,000 to a state legal aid foundation in May after his law clerk improperly used AI to draft a brief. The lawyer failed to check the document before filing it, and it too cited fake cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That same month, an Indiana federal judge fined an attorney $6,000 for similar mistakes. These ever-growing instances of bad AI have prompted action from some state judiciaries. South Carolina joined a growing list earlier this year, according to a Duke University law school database. Chief Justice John Kittredge issued an interim policy due to the increasing use of artificial intelligence systems in legal research, he told the SC Daily Gazette in a statement Wednesday. The policy also was recommended by the National Center of State Courts and National Conference of Chief Justices, he said. South Carolina is one of at least 10 states where judges have issued an order or guidance around the use of so-called generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, capable of creating text, images, audio and video based on a set of prompts in state court proceedings. South Carolina Supreme court Justice John Kittredge arrives for his screening by the Judicial Merit Selection Commission on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Columbia. (File photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) The chief justice, in March, told judges and judicial branch employees they may not use AI without the state Supreme Court or court administrations express approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judicial branch republicized the policy with a news alert in mid-August as a reminder. Generative AI tools are intended to provide assistance and are not a substitute for judicial, legal, or other professional expertise, Kittredge wrote in whats dubbed an interim policy. As such, content from Generative AI may not be used verbatim; be assumed to be truthful, reliable, or accurate; be treated as the sole source of reference; or be solely relied on in making final decisions. Kittredge went on to list other potential risks, including bias, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and unauthorized use of intellectual property. He also cited privacy concerns. Theres no timeline for an update. The policy will stay in place until Kittredge or the entire Supreme Court issues a new order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kittredge told the Daily Gazette the language is intended to be a common-sense approach that recognizes the potential benefits of AI in assisting South Carolina Judicial Branch employees in performance of certain tasks. Judges and lawyers in the state have access to Westlaw, a platform for legal research, which includes some AI-assisted research capabilities. The Interim Policy states that AI is to be used to assist judges and other judicial branch employees only and cannot be relied on to produce a final product, he said in the statement. And while the interim policy does not specifically apply to lawyers, the chief justice also cautioned them against relying on the technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The institutions around law, whether its judges or lawyers, operate on some certain function of trust, David Sella-Villa, a University of South Carolina professor of technology and law, told the SC Daily Gazette. So how much does technology like this impact what people trust about lawyers and judges? Judges and state legal associations across the country that have waded into the issue largely have reached similar conclusions, Sella-Villa said. Where they differ is in the process for determining what could be considered admissible. In Connecticut, the state judicial branch drafted a 21-page framework. And in Michigan, the state Supreme Court signed a contract last month with an AI platform built specifically for judges and judicial staff, according to The National Law Review. The difference is, these other states lay out a process or some kind of standard for approval, Sella-Villa said. South Carolina does not at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to lawyers, rules and policies differ even more, Sella-Villa said. Theres a whole variety of practices of what judges are willing to tolerate in their courtroom, he said. Some courts have gone so far as to limit any AI use by lawyers to platforms developed by the nations big legal research companies, such as LexisNexis or Bloomberg. Others require lawyers to sign statements saying they didnt use AI to draft any portion of a filing under fear of perjury. At least one North Carolina judicial circuit took a different approach. Last year, the senior judge for Cabarrus County, which adjoins Charlotte, issued an order recognizing the increased use of AI by lawyers and society in general. The order reminds lawyers they are ultimately responsible for everything submitted in a case and requires disclosure before a trial starts on any evidence created by AI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not denying the reality that this is part of legal practice for some people, Sella-Villa said. But at the same time, they dont want to put somebody on the spot to make a decision. Between 20 and 30 state bar associations have issued varying levels of guidance, from official ethics opinions to semi-formal advice. South Carolinas Bar Association has not issued an ethics opinion but published a series of articles in its monthly magazine on the topic. We know that theres a need for clarification, but theres not yet a consensus on what exactly are the limits beyond just make sure that the stuff you give to the opposing counsel or a judge is real, Sella-Villa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because AI is a tool that saves lawyers time when used properly, rules of professional conduct also say attorneys must bill their clients fairly. In teaching his own law students, Sella-Villa pushes first-year students to steer clear of the technology until theyve learned how to analyze and write legal briefings on their own. If theyre not going and doing the work themselves, its hard to know that theyre actually learning, he said. Its great that you can give a prompt and give me something that looks like a lawyers answer, but can you actually do that? Traditionally, law schools have tested students through their writing samples, so a technology that generates writing creates a new set of issues. Meanwhile, universities, including USC, are striking deals with these AI companies to make more advanced versions of the technology readily available to students. Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Children younger than 16 in England will no longer be able to legally buy high-caffeine energy drinks under a proposal announced by the British government Tuesday. The proposed ban would apply to drinks sold in shops, restaurants, cafes and vending machines, according to an announcement from the Labour-led government. If enacted, England would join other European countries with restrictions on the drinks that have been blamed for childhood obesity, poor sleep and behavioral issues in classrooms. "How can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of four cans of cola in their system on a daily basis?" Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said in a statement. "Energy drinks might seem harmless, but the sleep, concentration and wellbeing of today's kids are all being impacted, while high sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While most supermarkets voluntarily stopped selling energy drinks to children under 16, they can still easily be obtained in smaller shops and up to a third of British children consume them weekly, reported the Mirror. The ban would not apply to drinks containing less than 150 milligrams of caffeine per liter, leaving out lower-caffeine soft drinks, as well as coffee and tea. That means that cans of Red Bull, Monster and Prime Energy would be banned, the paper reported. Countries including Lithuania, Latvia, Turkey and Sweden already have similar restrictions in place. State lawmakers in the United States have sought to ban the drinks. Previously, the Conservative-led government considered a ban but did not follow through on it. Last year, a review of previous research on how the drinks affect young people published in the journal Public Health linked them to anxiety, stress and even suicidality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "High-caffeine energy drinks have no place in children's hands," Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said in a statement. She called the ban "a common-sense, evidence-based step to protect children's physical, mental, and dental health." The ban also had broad support for pediatricians, the national teachers union and public health campaigners. However, Gavin Partington from the British Soft Drinks Association told the BBC that self-regulation was working. "As with all government policy, it's essential that any forthcoming regulation is based on a rigorous assessment of the evidence that's available," he said. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also considering similar bans, according to the BBC. BARTLETT, Texas (FOX 44) Bartlett Elementary School was evacuated on Wednesday afternoon due to a gas leak. The Bell County Sheriffs Office says it assisted the Bartlett Police and Fire Departments with the leak at 404 Robinson Street. The building was evacuated and all children are safe. Atmos was on the scene and assessing the situation. Citizens were urged to avoid the area. This is a developing story. FOX 44 News will have more information as it becomes available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) An investigation by the Baton Rouge Police Department led to a man being arrested in connection with the shooting death of Frank Johnson. Nugene Eackels, 49, of Baton Rouge, was charged with second-degree murder. BRPD officers responded to Byron Avenue just before 6:30 a.m. Aug. 3, where they found that Johnson had been shot. While investigating, police learned Johnson was shot once in the head. The shooting victim died later at a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were able to get surveillance video from multiple homes in the 3200 block of Byron Avenue. Authorities discovered that the shooting happened around 6:20 a.m. Video showed Eackels and Johnson get into an altercation before the shooting, according to BRPD. Eackels is then seen going in and out of the home. When outside, Eackles is observed on the phone beside Johnson. At the shooting scene, officers contacted the person who called police and identified himself as Teddy Sims. BRPD determined that the caller gave a fake name. Police later identified the caller as Eackels. Authorities were able to match the language from the 911 call to the language heard on the officers body camera recording, verifying that Eackels was the caller. Eackels was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Friday, Aug. 29. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana woman accused of threatening personnel at primary school 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. In the mid-1950s, the U.S. Navy was testing a new, radar-guided air-to-air missile, the AIM-7 Sparrow, intended for use with the next generation of jet fighters. To test the new missiles properly, the Navy converted surplus propeller-driven fighter aircraft for use as radio-operated drones. One of these missile tests took place at Point Mugu Naval Air Station, California, in August 1956. The Navy launched a bright red F6F-5K Hellcat target drone on its final mission. The Hellcat was en route to the testing area over the Pacific when it suddenly stopped responding to its radio commands. Via radar, the Navy test team helplessly watched the drone slowly make a left turn and head towards Los Angeles. (U.S. Navy) Fearing a crash in a populated area, they wanted to launch interceptors to shoot down the target. Since the Navy had no aircraft available, they called on nearby Oxnard Air Force Base for assistance. The base dispatched two F-89D Scorpions with an Interceptor Squadron. The Scorpions headed towards the area in full afterburner, caught up with the drone near Los Angeles, and followed it until it was over an unpopulated area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Designed to defend the U.S. against aircraft from the Soviet Union, the Scorpion was the latest frontline interceptor in the U.S. Air Forces fleet, flown by 30 active-duty and seven Air National Guard squadrons. It was equipped with a new fire control system and radar, and loaded with 104 2.75-inch folding fin aircraft rockets (FFAR), which could be fired all at once or in a three-burst ripple mode. What it did not have were mounted guns. Since the drone was now in a continuous, slow turn, the Scorpions had to wait for the right moment to fire. As the drone slowly turned towards Antelope Valley, the pilots decided to make their move. Both pilots attempted to fire in automatic mode, and when they pressed the trigger, nothing happened. A design flaw prevented their rockets from firing in automatic mode, so the pilots were forced to switch to manual control. If that wasnt bad enough, the D model Scorpions were initially equipped with gun sights, but when the new fire control system was added, the sights were removed. Now the pilots had to fire in manual mode without sights, using Kentucky windage. The first Scorpion lined up and fired off a burst of 42 rockets, but they all missed. The second did the same, with the same result: 42 misses. The jets made a second attempt, but both missed yet again. As the Hellcat flew toward Palmdale, both Scorpions fired their last salvo, but again, they missed. They fired a total of 208 rockets, and the Hellcat flew on unscathed. (U.S. Air Force) The Scorpions, low on fuel, headed back to Oxnard, and the Hellcat continued, finally descending towards a desert area east of the Palmdale airport. It clipped a few power lines and cartwheeled into the sand. Now that the incident was over, everybody can relax, right? Not quite yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During their rocket attacks, the Scorpions caused significant damage. The first salvo of rockets caused brush fires near the city of Castaic, destroying about 150 acres. The second salvo caused fires near the town of Newhall, set fires to pumps belonging to the Indian Oil Company, caused a brushfire that came within 300 feet of an explosives plant, and burned over 350 acres of land. Fires were also started in Santa Clarita, and because the Air Force pilots fired the last salvo as they approached Palmdale, many of those rockets landed in the town, ended up in peoples homes, and destroyed their vehicles. The F-89 Scorpion carried massive rocket pods like the one seen in this 1958 photo. (U.S. Air Force) Palmdale resident Edna Carlson said the attack sounded like hail as rocket shrapnel came through her front window, through a wall, and ended up inside her kitchen cupboard. Two men in Placerita Canyon were fortunate, but their truck wasnt. They had just settled in for a nap under a tree after lunch when a rocket struck their utility vehicle, destroying it. What became known as The Battle of Palmdale was a massive embarrassment for the Air Force, although it resulted in no fatalities (and also zero hits on their intended target). However, more than 1,000 acres were burned in the resulting brushfires, which required 500 firefighters two days to bring the fires under control. double organ donor Feature How an Air Force veteran became a life-saving double organ donor By Shannon Corbeil first jump jet hawker kestrel air force History The worlds first jump jet: How we got the legendary Harrier II By Friedrich Seiltgen saddam air force Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fixed Wing Why Saddam Hussein buried Iraqs air force in the desert By Blake Stilwell pickleball veteran jeremiah hollis humana Feature This 71-year-old Air Force veteran will compete in pickleball at the National Senior Games By Joel Searls sig sauer M18 Military News Air Force major command allegedly stops using Sig Sauers M18 following death of airman By Miguel Ortiz BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Water quality issues have been a recurring problem around Bay County for years. County officials are now teaming up with the FSU Panama City campus to identify the source of the issues and find a solution. The new project will target sources of bacteria and work to eliminate them. Wednesday morning, the Bay County Commission awarded $500,000 in Restore Act funds to the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program at FSU Panama City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the recent water quality issues, the project is a few years in the making, with plans first presented to the county in the spring of 2023. The funds will go towards water surveys in Bay County to identify sources of bacteria, through DNA sampling, and excess nitrogen, through a stable isotope analysis. The first step is really how much of the bacteria and the nutrients are in these different locations. And the higher the concentration, the more reliable our results will be, St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program Executive Director Jessica Graham said. The Department of Environmental Protection identified 39 watch areas or water bodies that are listed as impaired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also have additional water bodies that we know are not meeting those nutrient criteria, but are not listed as impaired. And so, were going to go through and do the concentration sampling at all of those areas and then see where well be able to sample for the DNA and the stable isotopes, Graham said. County leaders highlighted how this data could serve other ongoing projects. We all want the east pass open the majority of people want the east pass openand the real issue with that is water quality. The belief is that we have more flush in the bay and get more fresh water. We get more of the contaminants out, more freshwater in, naturally. We hope that we can use this data to support that effort to get the east pass open, Bay County Commissioner Doug Crosby said. The project will identify if the issues are septic tanks, stormwater, cattle farms, or other nonhuman-related issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next step for Bay County and FSU is to negotiate the contract terms before funding, then the surveys can begin. Once researchers begin water quality surveys, results could take up to three years. County leaders hope its a step towards a cleaner, healthier St. Andrew Bay for wildlife, people, and future generations. The estuary program is just one year into its 10-year comprehensive conservation and management plan, with this project being identified as a priority. Once the results of the surveys are in, they will be made public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) In the midst of an external investigation into the City of Beaufort releasing 9,000 unredacted records, a key city staff member has announced their resignation. Its caused some questions from the public about if their departure is related to the investigation and if they could be responsible. Deputy City Manager JJ Suave announced his departure from the city Tuesday. While he said it feels coincidental that it falls during the investigation, it is not at all related. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anything, the FOIA investigation has kind of delayed how all this rolled out, said Suave. Sauve, who joined the city of Beaufort in January of 2024, said hes been planning his resignation since this summer, when his wife and kids who live in Tryon, North Carolina, decided not to relocate to Beaufort. He also said another job opportunity became available in Tryon. I had an opportunity in private practice to return to the area, and I couldnt push that back any further, said Suave. Bass found in Savannah River officially named as new species But he made it clear he was sticking around to work with the outside law firm the city hired to investigate, as well as finish ongoing projects in the city before departing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wouldnt be leaving this role with all of this going on if I felt that there was anything that could reflect negatively on myself or really the entire city staff from an intentional or gross negligence standpoint, said Suave. Sauve said there were failures in many different areas from the city, but hes confident that the investigation will show there was no ill intention or negligence from he or the staff. The city has grown greatly over the past few years, and weve been working internally and tirelessly to update our process, to standardize our processes, to increase transparency, to increase accountability, said Suave. Suave said hes proud of many projects he has accomplished while on board, as well as the few remaining projects that are close to being complete before his exit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will remain the Deputy City Manager until the end of October, when he believes the investigation will be at a close. Hopefully well have all of that done here in the next 30 to 60 days so that that report can go back to council and council can make decisions as far as releasing information to the public, making notifications to people who are affected, said Suave. We want to get this resolved and done right as quickly as possible. We cant rush that big of a process. We want to make sure again, its done right. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Ian Donnis of The Publics Radio and Rhode Island PBS joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan this week on Behind the Story to discuss politics, public media and health care in Rhode Island. Donnis is a longtime political reporter, who also hosts the show Political Roundtable. He covers local, state and national politics, and this week he discussed Rhode Islands upcoming gubernatorial election in 2026. Donnis also talked about the shifting landscape of public media in Rhode Island and across the country, along with the future of health care against the backdrop of a pending sale of Roger Williams and Our Lady of Fatima hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later in the show, Dan and Eli talked about the Stories We Wish We Wrote. Dans picks Elis picks Watch Behind the Story Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com. Behind the Story is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe. BEHIND THE STORY AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST: Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart Radio 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. Editors Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. DONETSK OBLAST Since he first volunteered to take up arms and defend his country in January this year, 54-year-old Ukrainian infantryman Ruslan Kalyna has only been on one combat mission. One 146-day combat mission. The trees were still bare and the air bitterly cold when Ruslan, an ex-convict soldier in Ukraines 93rd Mechanized Brigade, made the 15-kilometer trek to zero line positions east of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on March 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time he made it out in early August, after almost five brutal months spent in a tight dugout, under fire almost every day, Ruslan had seen the spring and the better part of summer pass by him. Speaking to the Kyiv Independent in a cafe in nearby Kramatorsk about a week after rotating out, the soldier was jittery and emotional. At first I thought that we would be going in for a month, I was counting the days, he said, but after a month, I realized it was stupid. Ukrainian infantryman Ruslan "Kalyna" photographed in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, on Aug. 23, 2025. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Of practically all the hundreds of thousands serving in Ukraines military, the job of the infantryman is as unenviable as it is important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine stands because the infantry stands, read a message spread by the Ground Forces command to mark the Day of Infantry on May 6 across Ukraine, from social media to billboards. But as of mid-2025, as Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine enters its fourth fall season, Ukraine's military is gripped by a deep manpower crisis, most acute in the ranks of its infantry. In international discourse, Kyiv's inability to properly man its brigades is often boiled down to failures in the country's painful and problematic mobilization process. At the same time, the battlefield itself the environment in which the Ukrainian infantry must live, survive, and fight is only getting deadlier by the month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Russian drones swarm the sky with increasing density and lethality, these parallel processes, the failure to fill Ukraine's brigades with fit and motivated foot soldiers, and the increasing misery of conditions on the front line augment one another and bring about not only large holes in the Ukrainian defense, but also a need to rethink how the war can be fought as a whole. In a series of in-depth interviews, the Kyiv Independent spoke to those who live and breathe the infantry fight at every level of a brigade's command chain, from brigade and battalion commanders down to those holding the line, like Ruslan himself. Some of the commanders interviewed asked to remain anonymous, out of fear of repercussions from higher command. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support us Months of isolation On the surface of the war's visual fabric, the life of an infantryman in 2025 might still look similar to that of the first year of the full-scale war. Trenches, dugouts, firing points; an atmosphere that continues to evoke the Western Front in World War I. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality on the ground, however, has undergone a complete transformation, mostly due to the advent of abundant high-precision strike drones on both sides. For 24-year-old junior lieutenant Taras Corporal, the difference is black and white. During the counteroffensive (in 2023), we could focus on normal infantry work, assaulting and defending trenches, he told the Kyiv Independent. Now, most of the time, the infantrymans focus is not only on the ground, on the enemy directly on the battlefield, but also on the sky different sounds, the silhouettes of drones, and so on. Ukrainian soldiers walk out of positions at dusk in Donetsk Oblast on July 12, 2024. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Joining Ukraine's 37th Marine Brigade as an infantryman in 2023, Taras took part in Kyivs summer counteroffensive on the southern front line right before first-person view (FPV) drones began to dominate the battlefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having first become a sergeant, he fought on the Dnipro River bridgehead in Kherson Oblast, and in the embattled city of Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, where he was promoted to deputy company commander. Since the brigade was moved to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Taras now leads from the rear, preparing his infantrymen for the bleak task ahead of them. When a soldier is about to take up a position, when he needs to move up to it, psychological support is provided to him, Taras said. He is told: My friend, everything will be alright. We understand that this task is a bit difficult, that it will take a lot of time to get through it, but you can handle it. We trained you for this. We are giving you everything you need so that you can go there. If the infilling infantryman makes it to the zero line in one piece, the real ordeal begins, holding the position itself usually no more than a small dugout and trench or basement for weeks or months at a time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While one soldier sleeps, the other is on sentry duty, looking out for attacks that mostly come from the skies. Ukrainian infantryman Khani "Khokhol" photographed in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, on Aug. 23, 2025. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) First they swarm us with FPV drones and bomb drops, they sometimes use gas as well, said Khani Khokhol, another infantryman in the 93th Brigades prisoner battalion, better known as Alcatraz. Then, when everything is quiet and they think there is nobody left, they come in to clear the position. We hear their voices, it's usually two of them, and the firefight starts. This daily routine, permanently on edge, extends for however many weeks or months the infantryman must hold their position for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At first, soldiers are afraid, said Andrii, a battalion commander in another Ukrainian brigade, who requested not to disclose his unit. He doesnt move forward; he hears the drones and may panic. By about the fifth day, he begins to understand what is happening. He learns the terrain, recognizes where the FPV drones are, where the Mavic drones are, and where the supply points are. In other words, he adapts to the environment and to the realities of war. Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr "Tsyrkul" at infantry positions in Donetsk Oblast on July 12, 2024. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Since spring 2025, the increasing reach and coverage of Russian drone teams means that almost all essential supplies, from food, water, fuel, and ammunition are brought to infantry positions by drones: either heavy bombers or unmanned ground vehicles. According to Ruslan and Khani, Russian forces success in destroying even these logistics drones means that shortages of basic supplies like food and water on positions are common. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Psychologically, yes, it affects a person, said Valentyn Validol, the commander of the Alcatraz battalion. Not everyone is ready for such long stretches at the positions, especially when the only means of communication is the radio. The person is cut off from civilization. They dont exactly become savage, but they perceive the world differently when they come back from rotation. Read also: We spot them, we destroy them Ukraine fights for Kostiantynivka as Russia closes in on three sides Chronic crisis In the context of Kyiv's overall infantry crisis, the existence of the Alcatraz Battalion gives the 93rd Brigade the rare luxury of being able to properly man its defensive lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though declining to disclose official numbers, Valentyn said that thanks to the battalion's high reputation and consistent flow of volunteer prisoners, the 93rd has more combat-effective infantry than almost any other standard mechanized brigade in the country. Our brigade is generally considered one of the best in the Armed Forces in terms of defensive resilience, because we have the manpower the infantry backed by the competent, well-considered decisions of our commanders, he said. Mobilized Ukrainian infantry undergo training at an undisclosed location in the east of the country on July 2, 2025. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Almost all other brigades in the army, though, even hardened units with sterling reputations, are far less fortunate. The manpower crisis is impossible to boil down to just one problem, instead manifesting as an equation that begins with mobilization in Ukraine's cities and villages, goes through training, the reorganization and allocation of mobilized men into the Ukrainian military, and finishes on an increasingly deadly battlefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exacerbating the situation further, Ukraines overstretched army means that very few opportunities exist for entire brigades to be peeled off the front line to recuperate, as there are no strategic reserves to replace them with. Ultimately, Ukraines infantry is a force mostly made up of forcibly mobilized men, many of whom are in their 40s and 50s, less able to sustain the physical burden of trench warfare. If you were raised in a Ukrainian family with Ukrainian traditions, in a spiritual household, then those people went to fight on Feb. 24 (2022), said Andrii of the wave of initial volunteer fighters at the start of the full-scale war. But now, in 2025, many of those arriving are what we call bussified (forcibly taken away in buses by recruitment officers) they lack the will to fight, they have no purpose. Infantrymen of the 110th Territorial Defense Brigade practice shooting at a training camp in southeastern Ukraine on May 22, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Whether in fear of having to go through the deadly ordeal of infantry work or trying to escape it once already inside the military, these men often turn to going AWOL as a means of escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to figures from Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office obtained by Ukrainska Pravda, over 110,000 cases of soldiers going AWOL were registered in the first seven months of 2025 alone, over half the total of 202,997 cases opened since Russia's full-scale invasion. All these factors lead to Ukraine's brigades and battalions often fighting while running on fumes when it comes to infantry. Several battalion commanders who spoke to the Kyiv Independent reported fewer than 10 combat-effective infantrymen in their entire battalion, with the number sometimes as low as zero. Right now, I am receiving the same orders as I did in 2022, but there is only one difference: I currently have no infantry, said Andrii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In place of infantry, I have drivers, artillerymen, and cooks. Read also: Mobilization gridlock: How politics, policy, and public opinion are shaping Ukraines war effort Gaping holes The combination of Ukraine's dire infantry shortage and the increasing saturation of the sky with Russian drones have dramatically changed the tactical picture of everyday fighting in Ukraine over the past year. Riddled with large holes, Ukraines defensive lines are often difficult to call lines anymore, instead looking like a string of sparsely-placed holes in the ground. According to commanders interviewed, it is common to have only around a dozen or even fewer infantrymen covering a kilometer of front line. With individual positions now usually manned by only two or three people, this means that there are often hundreds of meters between two adjacent positions. Ex-prisoner soldiers of the 1st Separate Assault Battalion "Da Vinci" at a training ground in Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 12, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Russia's ability to exploit these gaps with refined small-group infantry infiltration tactics is considered to be one of the main reasons behind Russian territorial gains in 2025. This problem was on full display during the dramatic breach operation near the town of Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast in early August, when a few hundred Russian infantrymen pushed over 15 kilometers behind Ukraine's zero line in a matter of days. While the battlefield is similarly deadly for Russia, Moscow's seemingly endless supply of single-use contract soldiers is what gives it the edge in its offensive campaigns, commanders said. The enemy does not count its losses, and that is why it achieves success, said Serhii Shatalov, commander of the 37th Marine Brigade where Taras serves. If it keeps attacking you relentlessly and pays no attention to its casualties, literally stepping over the bodies of its own comrades, then eventually there will be a breakthrough, and nothing will stop it. Ukrainian medics attend a wounded soldier at a stabilization point near Kurakhove, Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Due to the ever-present danger of being spotted and targeted from above, infantry often ordered not to fire unless the enemy is almost on top of them. The troops keep as quiet as possible; their main task is to spot for our own drones. They act, so to speak, as observers, Taras said. Ukraine's war of 2025 is one defined by a core paradox: commanders remain committed to the philosophy that infantry cannot be completely replaced by drones, but meanwhile, many sectors of the front line are already being held with front-line positions effectively empty. Drones have defeated us, wrote Serhii Churikov, an infantry officer of Ukraines 100th Mechanized Brigade, on Facebook in June. It is time to admit it the infantry (officially the mechanized forces) is ceasing to be the main branch of the Armed Forces. Retake, retake When asked how to improve the infantry crisis on the battlefield, commanders pointed to the need to get the basics right: supporting their rank and file with well-organized logistics, well-prepared positions, and proper training in the field. Especially crucial is the role of drones, both for rolling surveillance of the area around the zero line and for eliminating Russian assault groups at a distance, long before they approach Ukrainian positions. But beyond factors more within their own control, many commanders pointed to systemic issues in the culture of the Ukrainian military's higher command that, by their very nature, unnecessarily exacerbate the infantry crisis on a regular basis. A makeshift memorial at the entrance sign to Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 1, 2025. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Specifically, this refers to a well-documented reluctance of Ukraines General Staff to approve a withdrawal from any position, instead ordering commanders on the ground to hold even the most unfavorable of positions at all costs. The first thing that happens (after withdrawal) is not regrouping or planning how to assume a better defensive position, said Andrii. Its immediately: retake, retake, and retake, a million times over. If you dont have enough infantry, you are ordered to redistribute, which means sending in tankers, logisticians, medics, or even assign someone to the position as infantry. As a result, in a practice that only worsens the situation, commanders are incentivized to lie about the tactical reality, endangering both their own and neighboring units. Ukrainian infantrymen waiting for a wounded soldier at a stabilization point near Kurakhove, Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 10, 2025. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) According to Andrii, it is not uncommon for a commander lacking infantry to properly man a line to mark fake positions on the map, which are not actually occupied by Ukrainian soldiers. These practices, often described under the umbrella label radianshchyna (Sovietness) systematically lead to excess losses that only snowball the manpower problem. The principle of not one step back that is, holding ground at any cost and placing infantry in the kill zone just to mark territory as controlled leads to questionable results and heavy losses in front-line units, especially in the infantry, wrote Churikov. By defending unfavorable lines to the last man, we then simply do not have the manpower to hold advantageous ones. In the end, we lose both the people and the positions. Read also: As Ukraines fate hangs in the balance, Soviet command culture damages war effort Frontier of free Ukraine For now, Ukraine's overstretched and porous defensive lines are holding. Although Russia is making steady gains, no collapses or major operational breakthroughs have been achieved by Russian forces in 2025. The concerning breach around Dobropillia was contained after hardened units, including the 93rd Brigade, backed by the command of the Azov Corps, were sent in to reinforce the area. But in the meantime, Ukraine's manpower crisis is showing no signs of improvement in the long term, while stints out on positions that stretch into months increasingly give Ukrainians the idea that service in the infantry is a one-way trip. For brigade commander Shatalov, the modern Ukrainian infantryman should indeed only be expected to go through the trial of a shift on positions once. A serviceman who has been under constant attack say, for 40, even 90 days at the positions and then comes out of there, he is a hero, Shatalov said. But he is unlikely to go back again. Lets be honest about it. Even if he has only suffered light wounds, or even none at all, he is simply not ready morally or physically to go through that once more. A Ukrainian machine gun position in Donetsk Oblast on July 12, 2024. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent) Ruslan, as a serviceman in an ex-convict unit, will likely remain in the infantry until the end of the war. But with a daughter waiting for his return and pardon, his motivation to continue is far from faltering. There is no way we could get anywhere without infantry, he said, sometimes out there you can go crazy thinking 'why are we sitting here?' but we know we are essential. I wanted to become a hero, and I believe I did. Note from the author: Hi, this is Francis Farrell, cheers for reading this article. This was an important one for me, coming a year after we had a chance to actually embed with infantry on the zero line. Now that is not possible anymore, which means nobody is showing the war through the eyes of those carrying the heaviest burden. Things are moving fast on the front line, and not in the direction we would like, but whatever happens, we are dedicated to continue being Ukraine's voice to the world, no matter how dangerous and dark this war gets. Please consider supporting our reporting. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Troops, tanks, and planes are preparing to descend on Beijing on Wednesday for a military parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of China's defeat of Japan in World War II. The 70-minute spectacle is scheduled to begin at 9 am (0100 GMT) in front of Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital. The parade's high-profile guests include Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with dozens of other international leaders. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is expected to attend from the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event marks Kim's first ever participation in a multilateral event. China plans to showcase 45 formations of troops, tanks, weapons, and military aircraft during the parade. Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of vehicles are expected, as well as newly developed weapon systems. This is the second time China has held a military parade to mark its victory over Japan - the first was held on the 70th anniversary in 2015. The last major military parade in Beijing took place in 2019 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. Labor Day even more than Memorial Day is our least appreciated holiday, celebrated with almost no attention to working men and women, especially those who undertake Americas toughest jobs. To make up for that lapse, I am writing this on Labor Day. At 3 p.m. on an August day, one of the hottest in a century in St. Pete, when the meteorologists told us it felt like 110 degrees, when my shirt turned wet with sweat just from the act of walking around our house to examine our new roof, I found four grown men, fully-dressed, sleeping on my front lawn in the shade of our old oak tree. This was a sight I had never seen or imagined seeing in our 47 years living in this house in the Sunshine City. I wondered what passing cars might have thought of these prone bodies. Were they victims of a crime? Had they suffered heat stroke? Should someone call an ambulance? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I tiptoed around their bodies and stepped quietly into the house. These four workers employees of a roofing company were taking a rest a siesta, if you will from hours of physical labor standing, kneeling and bending in the scorching heat and draining humidity. Their first day on the job had been interrupted three times by squalls. But on this second day, the storms held off, allowing this experienced team to labor from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., when the chief walked around the property with a rolling magnet to attract stray nails that threatened the feet of the old man (me) who lived here. The great majority of workers who have worked on or near my house over the last few years have been Hispanic: the roofers, painters, landscapers, truck drivers, cable layers, delivery men and women. Some are fully bilingual, others have enough English to match my basic Spanish, so I could ask them if they needed water (aqua) or if there was a problem (problema) that was delaying the work. Some of these workers, I imagined, were legal citizens, others were working toward that status. I assumed others were undocumented workers, here illegally for a variety of personal, family and economic reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a sense that many of these workers legal and illegal are cautious, if not frightened these days, by aggressive immigration policies that include the threat of mass arrest and deportation. One thing is for sure: I have never looked into the eyes of one of these laborers and said to myself: I bet hes a gang member, a drug smuggler, a human trafficker or a rapist. What I see time and again is a hard worker, doing work I could never do, work I would never want to do, but work that I need done so the roof wont leak when the next hurricane hits. When I hired this company, I told one of the managers, I dont want one of your workers dropping dead in the heat atop my house. He assured me that the veteran team knew what they were doing, in terms of the quality of the work, and the ability to protect themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a great new roof, which, so far, has stood up to the daily deluge of thunderstorms. I have a beautiful new paint job moss green so the house and shed look brand new. My back fence has been repaired, and my great oak tree has been cut back from the house, ready to protect the squirrels from the tropical storms. I am always grateful to the first responders who protect our communities from crime, pandemic, accidents and natural disasters. I am equally grateful to the laborers who do the toughest jobs under the most difficult conditions. I say to them: Thank you for your service. And a belated Happy Labor Day. A peaceful protest spoke out about injustice to immigrants. The Benedictine Sisters of Erie invited the community to their silent peace walk protest to stand in solidarity with ICE detainees at the Erie County prison Tuesday evening. The protest promoted peace, freedom and looking to bring justice to those negatively affected. The protesters plan to meet once a month. Its extremely difficult to keep track of people who are in ICE custody and thats intentional their families dont know where they are. They are moved frequently, so their loved ones dont know where they are; thats extremely concerning, said Sister Jacqueline Sanchez-Small of the Benedictine of Peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeing families ripped apart, its not right, it feels very traumatizing and its not right at all, said Yadira Saodana, a silent walk protester. The silent peace walk series has been involved in bringing issues to light for about eight 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. AUSTIN (KXAN) Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Texas, according to the Texas Health and Human Services. Lone Star Circle of Cares Big Pink Bus has been on a journey of helping Central Texas women beat cancer through detection services offered at low costs. An event is planned for later this week to help ensure that the bus can keep rolling. Lone Star Circle of Care, a nonprofit community health center, will host the Big Pink Benefit on Friday, from 47 p.m. at the Junior Leagues Community Impact Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event will raise funding to support the Big Pink Bus, a mobile mammography unit that provides breast cancer screenings to underserved and uninsured women across Central Texas. The benefit will include: Boutique shopping Refreshments Hors doeuvres Silent and live auctions Awards and recognitions Guided tours of the Big Pink Bus Mammogram scheduling Carla Mobley survived breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2017. She said the Big Pink Bus means a lot to her because it gives people the chance to be screened for breast cancer, no matter their circumstances, something that she said she was ashamed she didnt do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message I want to share with everyone and all the women out there is, be screened, get your mammograms, Mobley said. Me myself, Im ashamed to say I did not. However, the breast cancer was caught, and I was able to get the treatment that I needed, and I am currently in remission. Mobley said that if the Big Pink Bus had been rolling back in 2017, she might have accessed it herself and caught her cancer sooner. She works with Lone Star Circle of Care as the patient experience officer and said that when the nonprofit got the bus, she made herself an unofficial member of the Big Pink Bus team, knowing that my life had been saved and spared as a result of having a mammogram, she said. Mobley said the bus offers convenience and easy, affordable access for women to get screened for breast cancer. The bus has driven over 40,000 miles in Central Texas to provide services to patients in the region. Learn more about the Big Pink Bus here, and find more information about the benefit 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 KXAN Austin. Rayten stated that Bismuths sections of the draft were entirely different from Edelstein's outline on the conscription bill. A meeting discussing sections in the updatedharedi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription bill to advance it further at the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee heated up on Wednesday. The session was the second to be conducted since MK Boaz Bismuth (Likud) was appointed chairperson of the foreign affairs panel and addressed changes to the bill that were made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bismuth replaced MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) as the committees chair following the controversy surrounding the negotiations regarding Edelsteins haredi law proposal, which led to the departure of two haredi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, from the government in July. Bismuth opened the meeting by saying that the focus of the discussion would be on sections of the outline where there is no dispute. There was first a focus on parts of the 26th section of the law, which were said to cover issues concerning definitions, deferments of service for yeshiva students, the conditions for said deferments, the issuance of deferment orders, exemption from regular service terms for those who reach the exemption age, and temporary provisions. Haredi men are seen protesting the effort to draft ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the IDF. (credit: FLASH90) Various MKs in attendance voiced their criticism of the new outline. At the same time, reservist representatives and soldiers expressed their sense of urgency regarding reaching a law that would enforce haredi conscription to the IDF, as the military continues to suffer from a shortage in human resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In turn, many opposition MKs said that the previous outline that Edelstein had drafted for the bill was far more suited to the present realities of the war. They also criticized starting new work on the legislation after over 40 meetings on the conscription law had taken place when Edelstein chaired the committee. MK Efrat Rayten (the Democrats) said that she had examined the sections Bismuth proposed and compared them to Edelsteins outline. She said that she came to the conclusion that Bismuths sections of the draft were entirely different from Edelsteins outline on the conscription bill, which was worked on for a year and a half and meant to reflect all the discussions we had here. The difference between the outlines is like the difference between heaven and Earth, she told the committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have reverted to the old outline, which is hollow and does not take into account everything that came up in the discussions, she added, referring to the past work that was done on the conscription bill in 2022. Goal of the conscription law While Edelstein was working on the new outline, he had said repeatedly that his committee had cleaned the slate on the previous bill, which was widely believed to be irrelevant following Hamass October 7 massacre. He was present in the meeting, despite being absent from the first one led by Bismuth, which took place in mid-August. Edelstein questioned the objectives of the new process for the conscription bill. If the goal is to reach a conscription law, we have already had many discussions, and we reached an outline that was a profound compromise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the intention now is to reach something less following another series of discussions, then there will certainly not be a law that actually enlists the haredim, Edelstein added. He also said that if the goal is a real conscription law, then it is pointless to start the same process all over again only to arrive back at the same point. MK Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid) was escorted out of the meeting after expressing strong criticism of Bismuths outline. Stern said that Bismuth removed him from the discussion on the conscription law because he requested data and figures from military officials, which was part of his duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only MKs who were pleased by and supported [Bismuth] were the draft dodgers Yakov Asher (Degel Hatorah) and Yinon Azoulay (Shas), Stern continued. Bismuth was also asked about a Monday Walla report that claimed he was promoting an emergency regulation outline as a temporary solution to the IDF draft issue. He did not confirm the report, replying instead that advancing the law at hand was of the utmost importance. According to the Walla report, enforcement sanctions against haredi draft dodgers would be suspended throughout the period of the emergency regulation, which would last for one year. If the sanctions are lifted, draft evaders will not be arrested, and government funding for yeshivas will continue. There is an understanding that in the current reality, in the midst of a war, the need for soldiers is urgent and essential, while a permanent law is a long and complex process. Therefore, temporary solutions adapted to the current period are also being considered, Bismuths office told The Jerusalem Post in response to the Monday report. A Black server at a Cracker Barrel restaurant and country store in Tennessee claims she faced rampant bigotry on the job, while higher-ups consistently failed to hold white employees and supervisors accountable for their racist behavior. In a federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent, Roberta Mendez, who identifies as Black, says her white coworkers regularly called her, variously, nappy headed [N-word,] burnt biscuit," and monkey, according to her complaint, which was filed on August 21. Last year, it says Mendezs shift leader left little room for interpretation, brazenly telling her, I dont like Black people. Mendez, who has been waiting tables at a Nashville-area Cracker Barrel since 2015, argues she always met or exceeded expectations at work. However, for the past decade, Mendez says she was treated less favorably than her Caucasian counterparts who made derogatory comments to [her] based on her race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further, the complaint contends, Mendez was physically pushed and hit by her colleagues, and claims management has segregated its Black workers from its Caucasian workers. Mendez reported these transgressions to her bosses up and down the chain of command, according to the complaint. But, it goes on, Mendez was the one who suffered the consequences. Following one 2023 incident, Mendez says she was written up instead of the person whose behavior she had flagged, the complaint states. When Mendez escalated her concerns to Human Resources, she was only told not to sign the write-up, the complaint continues, adding, No remedial action was taken. In the wake of right-wing blowback aimed at Cracker Barrel over an aborted logo change, a Black server at one of the chain's restaurants is suing over what court papers describe as constant racism from coworkers and higher-ups. (Getty Images) In August 2024, conditions hadnt improved at all and Mendez submitted a grievance to Cracker Barrel corporate, laying out details of her treatment and the treatment of other Black employees, according to the complaint. The following month, it says Mendez was abruptly fired for breaking company policy. At the same time, none of Mendezs white coworkers faced any blowback at all for similar or worse conduct, the complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason for Mendezs termination [was] pretext for discrimination and/or retaliation, according to the complaint, which does not provide details of what Mendez supposedly did wrong. Attorney Kyle Biesecker, who is representing Mendez in the case, told The Independent that he and co-counsel Rachel Ringer hoped their clients complaint spoke for itself. Next, Cracker Barrel will file their answer to the complaint and discovery will proceed from there, Biesecker said. We expect depositions to bear out many of the facts as alleged by Ms. Mendez. A Cracker Barrel spokesperson did not respond on Wednesday to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Founded in 1969, Cracker Barrel which recently faced fierce backlash from seething conservatives who insisted the restaurant chains attempt at updating its logo was a concession to the woke left has long been accused of marginalizing both customers and employees who belonged to minority groups. (The company abandoned the new design a week later amid demands from MAGA types, including President Donald Trump.) In 2004, the company forked over nearly $9 million following a class-action lawsuit from more than 40 plaintiffs in 16 states who claimed Cracker Barrel discriminated against Black customers and employees, alleging they were, among other things, denied service, seated away from white patrons and served them food that was destined for the trash. Some years earlier, Cracker Barrel was lambasted after it instituted a policy saying it would no longer continue to employ individuals whose sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values. The chain subsequently terminated nearly a dozen LGBTQ+ workers including a cook who was told, in writing, that she was being let go for being gay. Cracker Barrel has been taken to court previously over its treatment of LGBTQ+ and non-white patrons. Now, a Black server is suing the chain over what she describes as unrelenting bigotry from coworkers and higher-ups (Getty Images) Like the logo fiasco, Cracker Barrel revoked the policy shortly after it was introduced, issuing a statement saying, Our recent position on the employment of homosexuals in a limited number of stores may have been a well-intentioned overreaction to the perceived values of our customers and their comfort levels with these individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At times, however, things have gone the opposite way at least temporarily. In 2013, when Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson equated homosexual behavior with bestiality, Cracker Barrel pulled the shows licensed merchandise from its store shelves. Yet, the products were put back on sale less than 24 hours later, following an outcry from certain patrons. You told us we made a mistake, the chain wrote on its Facebook page. And you weren't shy about it. Through it all, those on the right have still managed to find fault with the way Cracker Barrel does business. In 2022 and 2023, the company was raked over the coals by conservatives for introducing plant-based sausage as a menu option, as well as for acknowledging Pride Month on its Instagram account. This past July, America First Legal, a right-wing nonprofit run by Trump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, sued Cracker Barrel over claims it discriminated against white men. For her part, Mendez is suing Cracker Barrel for violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Her complaint includes two causes of action: race discrimination and retaliation, alleging that Cracker Barrel subjected her to pervasive harassment on the basis of her race, created a hostile work environment, and terminated her employment when she complained of racially disparaging comments and behavior from her coworkers and supervisors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants actions were intentional, willful, and taken in reckless disregard of Mendezs rights as protected by Title VII, her complaint states. Mendez is now seeking reinstatement to her position, at the salary and seniority level she would have had by now, as well as back pay, benefits and other monetary loss due to her firing. She is also asking for compensatory and punitive damages, with interest, to be determined by a jury, plus court costs and attorneys fees. BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) A Bloomington man is in the hospital Wednesday with potentially life-threatening injuries after he lost control of his motorcycle, police said. According to Bloomington police, the accident took place just before 9 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Clearwater Avenue. When officers arrived, they found the man, who is in his 40s, lying in the roadway unresponsive, said Bryce Janssen, a police spokesman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People stopped to help him before paramedics arrived. The man was taken to OSF HealthCare Saint Joseph Medical Center, he said. Due to the severity of the crash, the McLean County Accident Reconstruction Team was called to assist with the investigation. Southbound traffic on Veterans Parkway, from Vernon Avenue to Clearwater Avenue, was shut down until about 1 a.m. while officers worked on the investigation, Janssen said. This is the second accident involving a motorcycle in that area. The first incident occurred on Sunday, just after 10:30 p.m. near Veterans and Eastland Parkway. The driver was taken to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center where he was being treated for life-threatening injuries. His condition Wednesday was not immediately known. 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. BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) A Bloomington man arrested for traveling to meet a minor and solicitation of a child has died while on pretrial release. 58-year-old Thad E. Olson was arrested on Aug. 22 in Macon County along with four other individuals involved in a human trafficking demand suppression operation carried out by the Illinois State Police. McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder confirmed Olsons death with WMBD on Tuesday morning. She declined to share any further information as it is an active investigation. Olson was released on pre-trial on Aug. 25 and died soon after his release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olson was a physical education teacher at Eisenhower High School in Decatur. No further information is available at this time as this is a developing story. This story will be updated when more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Officials say the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) Evansville East branch is relocating from its current address at 6240 East Virginia Street, Suite A, in Evansville, to a new location at 808 South Green River Road in Evansville. Officials say the last day of operations at the current location will be September 16. The new branch relocation will open on September 19, and will maintain the same hours of operation: Monday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EPD says woman violated her bond after firing gun, having 11 more According to the BMV, the new Evansville East branch will provide increased capacity as the BMV continues striving to enhance services and add transaction capacity. The branch will increase from 14 to 18 customer service stations. The location will also feature a BMV Connect Center, which includes three in-wall, self-service terminal kiosks. BMV Connect kiosks are available to customers to complete more than a dozen transactions 24-hours a day, seven days a week, in English or Spanish. Officials say customers needing to complete business at a branch during this relocation process, can visit the Evansville North and Evansville West branch locations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Body cam footage released by the El Paso Police Department showed the arrest of a man who was driving drunk last week on the Westside. According to El Paso Police, on Aug. 24, officers conducted a traffic stop along the 5800 block of N Mesa St. and determined that Robert Munoz Melendez was driving while intoxicated. In the bodycam footage, officers are seen conducting field sobriety tests on Munoz Melendez, such as following the officers finger with eyes only and attempting to walk in a straight line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, officers are seen handcuffing Munoz Melendez, placing him in the cruiser and taking him to a police station. Melendez was charged with driving while intoxicated with a $5,000 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 KTSM 9 News. A body was found in a reservoir in central Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police were called to the Hoover Reservoir in Westerville on reports of a body in the water on Wednesday morning, according to our news partners at WBNS in Columbus. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First responders were able to pull the body from the water, but the person was pronounced dead around 10:30 a.m. According to WBNS, its unclear how long the body had been in the water. The circumstances around the persons death and how they ended up in the water are under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] WASHINGTON PARISH, La. (WGNO) A Washington Parish jury found 49-year-old Freddie McGowan of Bogalusa guilty of second-degree murder. According to the Office of District Attorney Collin Sims, McGowan was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Man accused of multiple sex crimes in New Orleans Officers with the Bogalusa Police Department responded to an address on Second Avenue on June 15, 2022, on reports of an unresponsive man at a house. Officers found 50-year-old Travis Davis with a fatal gunshot wound to his head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents state that detectives interviewed a woman who was last seen with Davis. She initially denied knowing about the incident but eventually admitted to being present when Davis was killed. She accused McGowan of being the shooter, saying the two of them had planned to rob Davis and split the proceeds. The woman said she waited until Davis was asleep and called McGowan to come to the residence. When McGowan arrived, he had three other people with him. McGowan entered Daviss bedroom and approached him. Tulane University to lead archaeological research in Costa Rica, Peru According to the district attorneys office, when McGowan began searching Daviss pockets for money, Davis awakened and tried to fight off McGowan. McGowan then reportedly shot Davis in his head. The others allegedly rummaged through Daviss possessions. Everyone then fled the residence, leaving Davis dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGowan is set for sentencing Sept. 22. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison on the second-degree murder charge, up to 49 and a half years for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and up to 20 years for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Wednesday. A bomb blast killed at least 11 people at a public rally in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta late on Tuesday, officials said. The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Wednesday. Government official Hamza Shafaat said the rally was held to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Sardar Ataullah Mengal, a nationalist leader and former provincial chief minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His son Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who was in attendance, is safe, Shafaat said, adding that another 30 people were injured. "The reports we have say that the bomb went off in a parking area as the people were leaving the rally," he said. An ISIS member carries an Islamic State flag in Syria. (credit: NDLA) Possible suicide bombing Police were investigating the blast, which appeared to be a suicide bombing, police official Athar Rasheed said. Quetta is the capital of restive Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. Both Islamist terrorists and Baloch separatist insurgents operate in the region. MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Marlboro County man out on bond in connection with a 2022 murder was denied bond Tuesday for what authorities said was his role in a nightclub stabbing over the weekend. Chandler Lowry, 26, of Shannon, N.C., was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature after a person was stabbed in the chest and stomach inside the Amnesia Nightclub in McColl. He was booked into the Marlboro County Detention Center to await a bond hearing. The victim was taken to the Scotland Memorial Hospital, deputies said. No information about their condition was immediately available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of his arrest, Marlboro County deputies said Lowry had a bench warrant out of Horry County. It was issued after he failed to appear in court on a 2020 weapons charge, according to online public records. Lowry was also one of two men arrested in February 2022 in Robeson County after authorities said a Red Springs man, Phillip Campbell, 31, was shot and killed a month earlier in the parking lot at Club Reflexxions on Highway 301 N. in Dillon County. He was later released on a $50,000 bond. He was also charged with multiple drug crimes in Robeson County in March 2021 after a pursuit led deputies to drugs and guns, and he was also one of six men arrested in Robeson County in May 2019 after a shooting near the Thunder Valley Raceway and Thunder Valley Mini Mart on Old Lowery Road in Red Springs. He faced gun and drug charges in that case. * * * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. The Boone County Sheriff's Office released the names of the deputies who were shot while attempting to serve a warrant in Walton on Aug. 28. Deputies Jerald Wilmes and Kyle Florer are both 30. Major Philip Ridgell said Wilmes was training Florer that night. Florer joined the Boone County force about a month ago. Boone County Sheriff's deputy Jerald Mitchell Wilmes Ridgell also revealed more information about Justin Chapman, 39, who is accused of shooting the deputies before fatally shooting himself. Deputy Kyle D. Florer Ridgell said Chapman had prior contact with law enforcement related to domestic violence and resisting arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: 'It was very scary.' Apartment residents recount Walton shooting, neighbor's death He said Wilmes and Florer initially had contact with Chapman through a doorbell camera. Chapman told the deputies to get off his property, Ridgell said. Ridgell said the deputies clearly identified themselves multiple times before attempting to enter the residence, where they were fired upon from the top of a staircase. Deputy Florer returned fire, but Chapman was not hit, Ridgell said. Chapman livestreamed a portion of the encounter on Facebook. Ridgell said police have that reviewed that video, and that Chapman stated he was aware he had shot the deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ridgell said a .40 caliber Glock handgun was recovered at the scene and appears to be the only firearm used. Ridgell thanked the public and the other law enforcement agencies in the area for their support and said the department has enlisted the help of mental health professionals for its staff. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Deputies identified in Walton Kentucky shooting NEED TO KNOW A little boy named William snuck away from home for a Chick-fil-A breakfast sandwich in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville Police found him sitting in the restaurant along with the manager, and drove him home His parents were shocked at his escape, and later reunited with their child with help from the officers and restaurant's staff This Florida boy stopped at nothing for a snack. The 5-year-old, identified as William, slipped through the front gate of his family's home and wandered to a nearby Chick-fil-A, where he was greeted by the staff and treated to a breakfast sandwich, per the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Officers Kelly and Perri found little William happily enjoying breakfast and lots of attention from the staff," the JSO wrote on X, where they shared camera footage of the June 24 incident on Monday, Sept. 1. Police said William managed to squeeze through the fence by himself as his parents slept, and went out to breakfast. He walked over to the restaurant, located on San Jose Boulevard in Jacksonville, Fla. "I have children, and you know, the first thing, you know, you get that knot in your stomach because somebody else who's a parent is missing their child," Officer Perri explained in JSO's video. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office/X A little boy named William goes to Chick Fil A alone and the police help him get home A little boy named William goes to Chick Fil A alone and the police help him get home As the officers walked William back to their patrol car, William nervously asked, "Are you going to get me to jail?" to which Officer Kelly laughed and assured him that would not happen. The officers then took William on a drive through his neighborhood until the boy pointed out his house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the officers knocked on the door and greeted William's parents, they were shocked at how the little one made his snack run escape from what they referred to as "the most secure house on that block" given its full perimeter fence. Its kind of scary, actually, because we didnt realize what was going on until after, his mom, Victoria, said during a reunion with staff and cops at the nearby Chick-fil-A location following the incident. Video footage from June shows Victoria and her husband Phil shocked at their son's quick fence escape. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. I know he knows how to get to Chick-fil-A because we walk there, Victoria elaborated in the video. I wouldve never expected him to come down here on his own in the morning before anybody else in the house was up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William's father, Phil, was happy their son returned home safe and sound. I was worried about him, because, was he scared, was he crying was he upset? He was quiet, which was unusual for him," Phil said. "I think he understood that it was serious, but we did talk about it." PEOPLE has reached out to the Chick-fil-A location and the JSO for comment. Read the original article on People LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A boy was hospitalized after a shooting in the northeast valley on Tuesday, according to Las Vegas Metro police. It happened shortly after 2 p.m. in the area of East Bonanza Road and North Sandhill Road near Pecos Road. A boy was hospitalized on Sept. 2, 2025, after a shooting in the area of East Bonanza Road and North Sandhill Road near Pecos Road. (James Schaeffer/KLAS) Police told 8 News Now the boy was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests were made in the case, according to police. This is a developing story; check back for updates. 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. NEED TO KNOW A boy is dead after a deer hit two vehicles in a crash in Pennsylvania on Sept. 2 The child was a student at an all-boys Catholic school, which had just started for the new school year An investigation is ongoing after the first vehicle left the scene A child has died after a vehicle hit a deer, causing the animal to fly into the windshield of a second vehicle on a busy road in Pennsylvania, authorities said. The collision occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 2, on Route 322 near Romig Road in West Bradford Township after a deer ran onto the road and was hit by a vehicle, ABC affiliate WPVI, NBC affiliate WCAU and CBS affiliate KYW reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash caused the deer to go airborne and enter the opposite lane, where it hit a second car. The animal landed on the windshield, injuring the child sitting in the front seat, according to KYW. The boy was taken to a hospital where he later died of his injuries, the outlets reported. The unidentified driver of the vehicle that was initially hit did not stop and left the scene, according to the outlets. Police believe the vehicle is a black Toyota Sienna with severe damage to its front end, KYW reported. An investigation is ongoing. The Pennsylvania State Police and the Chester County Coroners Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Nearby residents told WPVI that deer-related crashes occur often, especially in the months with less daylight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You have to drive a lot at night, especially in the winter season," Clarabelle Hernandez told the outlet. "There's going to be a lot of animals moving for hibernation, and there's going to be more people driving in darker scenarios." The childs death has rocked the local community. The boy was a student at Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, according to KYW. The all-boys Catholic school opened its doors to students just last week for the start of the 2025 school year. This loss is a profound tragedy that has impacted our students, faculty, staff, and community," Dr. Patrick Sillup, head of school, said in a statement to the outlet. (He did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.) "Out of respect for this young man and his family, we will not be sharing additional details at this time, the school administrator continued. Our immediate focus is on surrounding his family with compassion and ensuring that our students, faculty, and staff are supported as we grieve together." 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. As the school community mourns, police ask anyone with information about the crash to call Pennsylvania State Police Embreeville Barracks at 610-486-6280. Read the original article on People Indiana Gov. Mike Braun speaks at a news conference on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has lifted a longtime utility customer advocate to the states top job and directed her to find ways to cut bills. Two members of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission also have announced plans to resign early, handing Braun more opportunities to impact utility rates. They join a third whose term has already lapsed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoosiers have been burdened with utility rate increase after increase. We cant take it anymore, Braun said in a Wednesday news release. His chief of staff told reporters that the governor will be focusing on energy and energy rates this fall. Abby Gray (Courtesy Office of Utility Consumer Counselor) Braun appointed Abby Gray to run the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor on Tuesday, according to the agencys website. The 92-year-old office serves as utility customers legal and technical representative in IURC rate cases and matters. Gray previously spent more than 16 years directing legal operations for the agency, per the website. Before that, she served 23 years as a senior administrative law judge and senior commission counsel for the IURC. I have dedicated my career to public service and its the honor of a lifetime to continue to serve Indiana ratepayers in this new role, Gray said. I am deeply humbled and appreciative of Governor Brauns confidence in me and look forward to advocating for Indiana utility consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Counselor William Fine left his longtime post last week. Braun also directed Gray to evaluate utility companies profits and look at other cost-saving measures to ease the burden on ratepayers. I would also like to see the utilities investors bear more of the cost of doing business, he added, pointedly. Thats the IURCs realm. Changes coming for utility regulators When regulated utilities want to hike customer bills, they go to the commission for permission. The IURC can also regulate construction projects, asset acquisition, financing, bonding, environmental compliance plans, service territories and more. While Gray and the OUCC explicitly represent Hoosiers, the commission is an advocate of neither the public nor the utilities, according to its website. It is supposed to ensure utilities provide safe, reliable service at just and reasonable rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indianas big five investor-owned electricity providers are monopolies in their exclusive service territories. Gubernatorial candidate Braun promised that, as seats on the IURC become open, hed add appointees that hold my views on the future of energy in Indiana. Now, as governor, he has vacancies to fill. IURC Chair Jim Hustons current term ended in April. Without a replacement named, hes continued serving. The terms for Commissioners Sarah Freeman and Wesley Bennett were set to end early next year, but both announced plans on Wednesday to resign in October. In a news release, Freeman said she was honored to have spent nine years as a commissioner, and thanked Huston for his leadership. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bennett called it a blessing to have served Hoosiers alongside his commission colleagues for the last two years. Both have notified Braun of their intent to step down, according to the release, ensuring time for the IURC Nominating Committee to open applications and fill the vacancies by their resignations. The administration says it wants the IURC to give more scrutiny to rate cases brought by the investor-owned utilities. New appointees will focus on ratepayers, affordability and supply. Some lawmakers applauded Brauns actions, but warned that Hoosier ratepayers are unlikely to see relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I appreciate Gov. Brauns stated commitment to lowering utility costs for consumers and share that desire with him, Rep. Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis, said in a news release Wednesday. Changing the consumer ratepayer advocate commissioner does little to change the fact that the legal deck is stacked against Indiana utility consumers. Thanks to a slew of new laws championed by the Republican supermajority, utility companies are still allowed to pass on the cost of expensive experimental projects to consumers, and data centers are exempt from paying sales tax, she continued. I hope that my House Republican colleagues will join us in advocating for consumers over utility company profits in the future, especially as consumers begin to understand that AI companies are passing on the cost of doing business to everyday families. Rep. Alex Burton, D-Evansville, also announced plans to file legislation aimed at lowering utility bills next session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Singapore has some of the world's strictest vaping laws, banning the use, possession, and sale of e-cigarettes since 2018. Despite those laws, vaping has become more popular, especially among young people. As a result, the government is cracking down with tougher penalties, including fines starting at $500 ($388 U.S.), jail time, and even caning for those caught with drug-laced vapes, while foreigners risk deportation. The government is also launching anti-vaping campaigns in schools and public spaces, and adding vape disposal bins at places like Changi Airport. The post Brickbat: Up in Smoke appeared first on Reason.com. BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) A resolution by the Bristol, Tennessee City Council is asking the Tennessee General Assembly to approve a change to the city charter that would allow the creation of an Education Department in the city. In a statement to News Channel 11, the City of Bristol said the following: The proposed language pertaining to education clarifies the relationship and responsibilities of the school system as a department of the city, bringing our governing document into alignment with those of our neighboring communities. It further seeks to establish a process for setting adequate tuition rates for students from outside the district attending Bristol Tennessee City schools so that the cost of their education is not subsidized by city taxpayers. City of Bristol Along with the creation of a Department of Education, the amendment would bring the finances of the school system under the City Finance Department. The city recorder would be responsible for accounting methods and serve as treasurer of the Board of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city recorder would also distribute the federal funds at the order of the Board of Education through Council ordinance. The proposed amendment has been met with some opposition in the community, even leading to an online petition asking lawmakers to reject a bill for charter changes. A specific concern is the tuition policy for students who do not live in Bristol, something that was addressed at the Councils August 12 meeting. My understanding is we have 512 tuition students currently, and its the estimated cost per student for this year will be $1,220.84 at the local level, said Council Member Lea Powers at the meeting. Were not asking specifically that tuition students be capped. What the concern is, is that are the taxpayers, the property taxpayers of Bristol, Tennessee, subsidizing students that come from outside of the district? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice Mayor of Bristol, Tennessee, Vince Turner, released the following statement: We are simply duplicating what is already in place in Kingsport, Johnson City, Sullivan County, and many other local governments across the state. We are dedicated to serving the citizens and taxpayers to build a first-class school system. I strongly believe that at the end of the day, this will bring all parties to the table and unite us to work together for the citizens of Bristol. Vince Turner, Bristol, TN, Vice Mayor News Channel 11 did reach out to Bristol, TN, City Schools for an interview about the proposed changes; however, they declined to 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Britain has sanctioned the elderly mother of a Chechen warlord responsible for kidnapping Ukrainian children and indoctrinating them with pro-Russian ideology. Aymani Kadyrova is one of eight allies of Vladimir Putin to be added to a list of almost 500 Kremlin-affiliated individuals and organisations subject to travel bans, the freezing of their assets and other financial penalties. The 72-year-old is the president of the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation an organisation accused of working to eradicate Ukrainian history and culture in the minds of children and teenagers forcibly deported to Russian-held territories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias re-education camps rewrite the history of Eastern Europe in the school curriculum, glorify its successes in war and, in the case of the foundation, force its pupils to undertake military training. During the conflict with Moscow, Kyiv says more than 19,500 children have been taken to Russia, or Ukrainian occupied territory, without the consent of family or guardians. It claims the abductions are war crimes that meet the UN definition of genocide. Of these, 6,000 children have been relocated to re-education camps, the British Foreign Office has said. The near 20-year rule of Ramzan Kadyrov, the despotic leader of Russias Chechnya region, has been marked by the murder of political rivals and the persecution of homosexuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strongman has sent large contingents of troops to boost Russian ranks in Ukraine and is often pictured brandishing weaponry. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, compared Russias use of re-education programmes to the actions of the Nazi regime, in comments to The Telegraphs Ukraine: The Latest podcast. He said: Its a heinous crime, and, of course, it evokes comparisons with the Nazi behaviour during the Second World War. And in my 25 years in politics, I can only think back to the horrors of child soldiers in places like Sierra Leone as comparable, in this modern period, to this sort of evil. And thats why today we are sanctioning eight individuals. Asked whether this could be considered a genocide, he said: These are horrendous, horrendous acts, that most right-thinking people feel breaches international humanitarian law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately its for lawyers and the courts to determine, issues like genocide. But I think its patently clear that this egregious denial of rights for children, an attempt to deny them their culture and their origins, harken back to the worst kinds of behaviour youd have to go back to deeply colonial behaviour, and its deeply, deeply offensive and deeply worrying. Moscow has claimed it is protecting vulnerable children from a war zone. Kadryov, 48, defended his mother in a statement published in Russian on the social media messaging app Telegram, She always helps victims of war and supports the poor and disadvantaged around the world, the translation read. These actions prove that the West is guided neither by morality nor by law, but acts out of hatred and Russophobia ... This is the lowest level of rotten Western politics. Ramzan Kadyrov stands on top of a Tesla cybertruck equipped with a machine gun - REUTERS Kadryov, in a similar vein to Putin, projects a macho image to his followers, and regularly posts videos and images of himself posing with guns, fraternising with the military and attending martial arts contests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August last year, he shared a video of himself driving an adapted Tesla cybertruck with a mounted machine gun and described Elon Musk, the companys chief executive officer, and former adviser to president Donald Trump, as the strongest genius of modern times. 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. NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) First Student, a bus company in New Britain, is bringing drivers in from out of state to help with a shortage that has resulted in students being dropped off several hours late, to the wrong school, or to the wrong house. First Student is contracted by The Consolidated School District of New Britain to pick up and drop off students throughout the district. Sen. Blumenthal joins advocates in Hartford to push for stricter gun laws Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting the second week of school, Tuesday, buses were running about 90 minutes late, which was an improvement from last week. At a Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, Superintendent Dr. Tony Gasper said the situation, including his inability to properly communicate issues to parents, is unacceptable. It has parents worried and kids worried and teachers are having to stay late, Gasper said. We would much rather send an email to every parent on bus eight saying your bus is going to be 22 minutes late. Right now, were not getting that information from our provider. When district staff members called First Student, they were placed on hold for up to 25 minutes, and in some cases were disconnected without receiving any information about late buses. Meanwhile, parents were lightning up the phone lines at the schools, worried about their students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gasper noted that the bus drivers and monitors are contractors, not district employees. He said they placed everyone they could spare and put them in the transportation office to answer parents calls. First Student promises that theyre working on it, and we have seen very small improvements Each day, but still not satisfied, Gasper said. News 8 reached out to First Student to the headquarters in Ohio, and was transferred to voicemail. They did not respond, but they sent out a letter to parents that read in part: Like many transportation providers, we are experiencing challenges with timely bus deliveries and driver availability. Building a reliable team of trained drivers and ensuring that vehicles are ready for service requires careful hiring, training, and preparation, and we are working diligently to strengthen both areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gasper said that when a bus company fails the schools and parents and doesnt care, parents ultimately blame the principal and superintendent. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) Bookworms beware! The biggest free book festival in New York City returns to Brooklyn in September. The Brooklyn Book Festival will be back for its 20th year from Sept. 14 to Sept. 22. The week-long celebration of literature provides original programming and invites readers from all over to join in on the fun. Things To Do Around NYC On its flagship festival day on Sept. 21, 300 authors and 250 publishers will be in attendance at Brooklyn Borough Hall and surrounding venues for the Literary Marketplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are all the events planned for the eight-day festival: Virtual Festival Day Sept. 14, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Virtual programs will be provided for book lovers who cant make it in person Childrens Day Sept. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a picture book stage, a young readers stage, a performance stage, a workshop room and makers & creators area Bookend Events Sept. 14 to Sept. 22, all five boroughs Events will be both free and low-cost Individual schedules and locations here Festival Day Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more about the festival, click here. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. By Willy Kurniawan JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesian authorities seeking to quell nationwide anti-government protests on Wednesday fired a police officer involved in the death of a bystander during unrest in Jakarta last week. Led by students, workers and rights groups, protests since last week over police violence and state spending priorities have spread round the world's third-largest democracy after a police vehicle hit and killed a motorcycle taxi driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten people have died in the demonstrations, which have sparked some looting and rioting and been met with tear gas and rubber bullets. National police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said Cosmas Kaju Gae, one of seven detained officers from the vehicle that ran over the motorcycle driver, was "dishonourably" fired after an ethics hearing due to "unprofessionalism". Cosmas, who had been in the front seat of the vehicle, was seen in tears in a video of the hearing, saying he never intended to kill anyone and was only doing his job. He said he was considering an appeal. With protesters demanding wide accountability, the fate of the other six officers is yet to be determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another nod to their demands, President Prabowo Subianto said at the weekend that lawmakers' substantial perks, including housing and travel allowances, would be cut. PINK PROTEST Hundreds of women dressed in pink joined protests in the capital Jakarta on Wednesday. They carried signs and brandished brooms which protest organiser The Alliance of Indonesian Women said symbolised a need to "sweep (away) the state's dirt ... and the repressiveness of security forces." Prabowo has said the military and police would stand firm against violent mobs, and that some of the unrest bore the signs of terrorism and treason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He attended a lavish military parade in China on Wednesday, after initially cancelling due to the unrest, with his office saying that signs of normalcy returning in Indonesia were a factor in his decision to travel. Parliamentary officials met with at least 10 student unions, whose demands included the release of demonstrators and an investigation into Prabowo's accusation about treason. The student body of University of Indonesia called for an independent investigation into police violence and contrasted lawmakers' benefits with others' economic hardship. "It's as if they take advantage of us in every election... But after they won, we were forgotten," said student body head Agus Setiawan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, deputy parliament speaker and a senior member of Prabowo's political party, said students will be given a chance to convey demands directly to the government on Thursday. Fitch Ratings said the unrest could harm Indonesia's sovereign credit profile if it dampens growth prospects or leads to fiscal slippage. It said "there is a risk that social tensions could linger as the deeper issues are likely to endure, posing political challenges for the president and the ruling coalition, even with its large parliamentary majority." (Reporting Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo and Fransiska Nangoy, Writing by Stanley Widianto and Gibran Peshimam; Editing by John Mair and Philippa Fletcher) BROOK PARK, Ohio (WJW) The FOX 8 I-Team has found the Browns are not stopping their plans for a dome and not changing the design despite a battle over a permit to build near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Wednesday, a lawyer for the Browns spoke to the I-Team, and the airport director spoke as well in a closed door briefing with no cameras allowed. The Ohio Department of Transportation denied the Browns a permit after the city of Cleveland raised concerns. The city argues the height of the dome would be a danger to air traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, the FAA said there would be no hazard. Kenneth Quinn, a lawyer with Clyde and Co. representing the Browns in this, said, the FAA looked at it for over a year. They determined thered be no hazard. Safety is foremost in our mind. The Browns are trying to convince state officials to change their decision, calling the denial of a permit a bump in the road. Shoreway water main break: Crews identify leak location; road closure continues No changes are planned in the design of the dome. We dont believe any change is necessary in the sighting or the height of the location, Quinn also said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Hopkins airport director invited reporters to a briefing about the dome, but no cameras were allowed. We cannot support the proposed structure. What we are looking for is safe operations into and out of the airport, director of port control Bryant Francis said. Though again, the FAA does not see a problem. Bryant Francis refused to take questions on camera, yet last month, the mayor didnt want to answer questions about this, referring us to the airport director. The I-Team also pressed to find out how the people at Hopkins determined the FAA was wrong. When we asked for airport records, we got back two pages with just a few paragraphs. The airport director said his staff looked at the FAA study and took it into consideration, but the airport did not hire any outside expert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The I-Team has shown you massive smokestacks once stood on the site for the dome. And, the Browns consultants have identified a couple dozen structures nearby taller than plans for the dome. Memorial coins honoring fallen Lorain officer being sold to support his family We remain open to exploring adjustments that do not compromise safety, the airport director said. ODOT said it is talking with the parties involved. The Browns expect to get a permit without a legal fight. Were sensitive to safety and efficiency. So, I think were actually quite confident in a favorable resolution here, Quinn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city has already been fighting the Browns in county and federal court over leaving the current stadium. But, the airport director said he did not get pressure from city hall to fight the dome. ODOT said there is no deadline set when someone might have to file an appeal. Spokesman Matt Bruning wrote about the process in an email, saying, I wouldnt say it will be endless, but conversations are ongoing and thats a positive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BRUCEVILLE-EDDY, Texas (FOX 44) The Bruceville-Eddy Independent School District has been awarded a grant by Operation Warm. This means that district students will be provided with free coats and jackets for the upcoming winter season. All Bruceville-Eddy ISD students who are in kindergarten through fifth grade are eligible to receive a free coat. The distribution event will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24. It will take place at the Bruceville-Eddy Intermediate Cafeteria, located at 1 Eagle Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Just four days after the murders of the Idaho Four, Bryan Kohbergers mother, Maryann, texted a link to the shocking crime story to her son, according to digital forensic experts. November 17 stands out a little bit: He had more mother interaction that day than normal, which was a lot. He was on the phone with her for hours that day, investigator Jared Barnhart, who analyzed the records alongside his wife, Heather Barnhart, as part of their work at Cellebrite, a digital forensics firm, revealed to NewsNations Ashley Banfield on Tuesday, September 3. That was the same day autopsies were performed on Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20 and Madison Mogen, 21, who had been brutally stabbed to death in the middle of the night on November 13, at a home the women shared in Moscow, Idaho. That night, he received a link from his mom to a news article basically describing how Xana had bruises on her body and how she had put up such a fight, Jared explained, adding that Bryan, 30, didnt respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking at the timeline a little bit, you can tell they were actually speaking on the phone, Jared continued. What that tells us, what we can assume, is that they were talking about the Idaho murders on that night. In August, Heather told People that Bryan also called Maryann less than two hours after the murders and that he was on the phone with her when he drove back to the scene of the crime later that morning. He was scrambling, Jared previously told Fox News of the killers online behavior following the slayings. In late December, after reading an article that police were looking for his vehicle, the Washington State University criminology graduate student searched for the phrases psychopaths paranoid and wiretap on his phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also read a press release about the case on the Moscow, Idaho, police department website and immediately looked up an auto detailing shop. Within 10 minutes, Jared told the NewsNation, Bryan was shopping for a new car online. He was arrested at his parents eastern Pennsylvania home on December 30, 2022. Three days later, his family which also includes father Michael and sisters Amanda and Melissa released a public statement via Bryans public defender. First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children, the statement read. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them. We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his guilty plea deal in July, they released another statement to CBS News: In light of recent developments, the Kohbergers are asking members of the media for privacy, respect, and responsible judgement during this time. We will continue to allow the legal process to unfold with respect to all parties, and will not release any comments or take any questions. Bryan is now serving four consecutive life sentences at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. PASSAIC COUNTY, N.J. (PIX11) A wildfire has burned through at least 120 acres of land in New Jersey since Tuesday night, according to the states Forest Fire Service. The Buckabear Wildfire ignited in the area of Clinton Road in Passaic Countys West Milford Township and was still burning by Wednesday morning, fire officials say. More Local News Although the fire has spread at least 120 acres, 30% of it has been contained and no homes or businesses in the area are considered at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton Road, however, has been closed between Goldfinch Lane and Van Orden Road to accommodate fire crews in the area. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When South Korean President Lee Jae Myung embarked on an overseas trip late last month, he made a notable break with precedent: He first stopped in Japan to meet with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru before traveling on to the United States, becoming the first South Korean leader in six decades to visit Tokyo before Washington. The trip coincided with the 80th anniversary of South Koreas liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the 60th anniversary of the two countries diplomatic normalization. Yet more striking than the historical symbolism was what the trip revealed about Lee: a progressive president consciously breaking from his past rhetoric that portrayed Japan as an adversary. Instead, Lee is signaling that stronger ties with Tokyo are indispensable amid increased economic and trade pressures, heightened security challenges and shifts in domestic public opinion. Though still in its early days and partly a product of present circumstances, this pivotif sustainedcould reshape the economic and security architecture in Northeast Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lees Democratic Party has traditionally adopted an antagonistic stance toward Japan, especially under former President Moon Jae-in, who oversaw a downturn in relations over historical and trade disputes. Moons conservative successor, Yoon Suk Yeol, pursued rapprochement with Tokyoincluding by restoring bilateral security cooperation and mending historical tensions through a compensation plan for wartime forced laborers that did not require payment from Japanese companies. Lee, then serving as opposition leader, was among the most forceful critics of Yoons policies. His June election thus raised questions about whether he would unravel the improvement in ties achieved by Yoon and former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. But Lees first months in office showed a deliberate pivot as he called Japan an indispensable partner and pledged to pursue forward-looking bilateral cooperation. The shift comes amid a more challenging economic environment. South Koreas slowdownexacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff policies and demands for higher allied defense spendinghave also spurred Seouls decision to increase cooperation with Tokyo. Partnering in strategic industries such as semiconductors, hydrogen power and artificial intelligence also promises improved competitiveness and resilience against external shocks in the face of Chinas technological rise and its willingness to use economic pressure tactics against its neighbors. By framing Japan as an economic partner, Lee can justify the rapprochement as a way to safeguard South Koreas prosperity. Seoul and Tokyo are positioning themselves not just as followers in a U.S.-China contest but as proactive shapers of the regions economic and technological landscape. Ongoing security concerns reinforce this change, as North Korea continues to expand its nuclear and ballistic missile program while deepening its partnership with Russia. Lee has tried to lower tensions with Seouls nuclear-armed neighbor since taking office, but Pyongyang has remained dismissive of his overtures while continuing with its provocations. In their joint statement, Lee and Ishiba reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and pledged to strengthen trilateral coordination with Washington, including on enforcing United Nations sanctions and countering both Pyongyangs illicit cyber activities and its growing military cooperation with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lees efforts would fall flat without political space to maneuver at home. But here, too, the ground is shifting. For decades, anti-Japan rhetoric was a reliable way for progressives to mobilize domestic support. But recent opinion polls have shown that more South Koreans, especially from younger generations, now hold favorable views of Japan. And one survey found that 49.6 percent of South Korean respondents favored promoting future-oriented cooperation in areas such as the economy, technology and security as the top priority for engagement with Japan, compared to the 31.5 percent who emphasized resolving historical disputes. Lee appears attuned to this change. Even during his presidential campaign, he vowed to pursue pragmatic diplomacy while handling historical disputes in a principled but forward-looking way. By pledging to uphold previous agreements on sensitive historical issueseven those brokered by his conservative predecessorshe is betting the public will reward stability and pragmatism over the perpetual confrontation that has plagued South Korea-Japan relations. This recalibration is already reverberating abroad, reshaping how South Korea engages not just with Japan, but with the broader regional architecture. Historically, the U.S. has been the agenda-setter for trilateral coordination with Japan and South Korea, particularly when relations between Seoul and Tokyo were strained. By taking the initiative and reaching out to Tokyo, the Lee administration is signaling a more self-directed approach to regional cooperation beyond the traditional hub-and-spokes configuration of U.S. alliances in East Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a significant shift. It not only solidifies the foundations of trilateral security coordination that were laid during Yoons administration, but also emphasizes that South Korea and Japan are willing to shoulder greater responsibility for maintaining regional stability. At a time when the Trump administration has adopted a more transactional approach toward its allies, Lee and Ishiba are cultivating channels of bilateral cooperationincluding a commitment to maintain shuttle diplomacy, with the leaders alternating frequent visits to each others country. By reinforcing what has historically been the weakest link in the trilateral relationship, the two leaders are laying the groundwork for a more resilient architecture of cooperation that does not rely solely on U.S. leadership. That strategic agency also extends to the economic domain, where Seoul and Tokyo see increased cooperation as a hedge against both U.S. protectionism and Chinese coercion. Keen to deliver concrete economic gains to aid South Koreas slowing economy, the Lee administration recently introduced 12 strategic priorities that will serve as focal points for concentrated government investment, including semiconductors, energy and AI. Theresa Lou served as senior policy adviser to the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2023 to 2025, where she led on Indo-Pacific policy and strategic competition. Prior to that, she was the Democratic staff director for the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. The post Bucking History, South Koreas Lee Opts for Pragmatism With Japan appeared first on World Politics Review. Bulgaria will not investigate a GPS signal disruption incident that affected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens plane. Source: Bulgarian public television broadcaster BNT with reference to Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, as reported by European Pravda Details: Zhelyazkov said that the incident is not being treated as a hybrid attack or cyberattack. He noted that modern warfare often involves electronic operations that interfere with the radio frequency spectrum, a phenomenon observed in recent years across conflict zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prime minister recalled that GPS signal interference has recently been recorded as far as "Helsinki, across the Black Sea, Yerevan, Tbilisi, Cyprus, Syria, and all the way to Tripoli". Such incidents occur daily, Zhelyazkov said, adding that Bulgarian air traffic authorities had followed all protocols correctly. Background: The GPS system on von der Leyens plane was jammed on 31 August while en route to Bulgaria. Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian interference. In response, the EU plans to deploy additional satellites in low Earth orbit to strengthen resilience against GPS jamming and improve detection capabilities. Russian ruler Vladimir Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied any Russian involvement in the aircrafts navigation system failure, although Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov suggested this claim should not be taken at face value. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Burglars broke into the Los Angeles home of Tracee Ellis Ross over the weekend, stealing more than $100,000 in luxury items, according to a source close to the actor. The burglars broke through a glass door early Sunday and took jewelry and handbags, according to the source. Ross, 52, who is known for lead roles in television shows such as "black-ish" and "Girlfriends," was out of town at the time of the burglary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Attempted burglary at home of Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the latest break-in for athletes and celebs The Los Angeles Police Department could not immediately provide details on the break-in, but the department told NBC4 that three burglars broke into the home and that staff members reported it to the authorities. Police told the station that they obtained footage from a home security camera and that the investigation is ongoing. Ross, the daughter of Motown legend Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein, has won nine NAACP Image Awards throughout her acting career, as well as a Golden Globe Award for best actress in a television series musical or comedy for her role on "black-ish." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The break-in comes three weeks after four people were arrested in a series of burglaries that took place across Los Angeles, some of which targeted celebrities such as Brad Pitt. Read more: 4 arrested in break-in at Brad Pitts home, other residences, sources say Pitts home in Los Feliz was broken into June 25 while the movie star was away promoting his film F1: The Movie. Police said three burglars scaled a fence and broke into the actor's home through a window. In July, an intruder attempted to break into the home of the Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto while the star pitcher was away with the team playing against the Cincinnati Reds. 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. Milwaukees Burmese population has become one of the largest in the country over the last roughly 15 years. Refugees move from across the U.S. to join the community, which is largely concentrated on the city's south side. Solid local population counts are hard to come by, especially for individual Burmese ethnic groups. But the U.S. Census reported about 7,000 Burmese residents in Milwaukee County in 2020, a number thats surely gone up with migration to the area in the last half-decade. The largest ethnic group within that population is Burmese Muslims known as Rohingya who have been denied Burmese citizenship, faced widespread human rights abuses and, starting in 2016, genocide at the hands of the Burmese military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just as all the immigrant groups that have come before them to Milwaukee, this new population is bringing its culture, especially its food. One result of the growth is a quiet boom in Southeast Asian grocery stores and restaurants. A stretch of seven Burmese shops in seven blocks along West Lincoln Avenue on Milwaukee's south side demonstrates the community is finding its place in the city. More: 7 shops in 7 blocks: Burmese refugees find a home on Lincoln Ave., long an immigrant hub Since Myanmar is close to the ocean, seafoods like fish and shrimp are integral to Burmese cuisine. Its proximity to its Southeast Asian neighbors, and the extensive migration between the countries, means Myanmar's distinctive culinary offerings are influenced by Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's a sampling of six food items you can find at the Burmese restaurant and six grocery stores profiled in the Journal Sentinel. Dishes at Khan Aseya (Mom's Kitchen) restaurant A fried rice dish with chicken and shrimp from Khan Aseya (Mom's Kitchen), a Burmese restaurant at 1201 W. Lincoln Ave. The menu at Khan Aseya (Mom's Kitchen) is infused with Malaysian, Thai and Indian influences. The restaurant at 1201 W. Lincoln Ave. is one of the first Burmese restaurants in the city. Several varieties of noodle and rice dishes feature on the extensive menu, plus soups and savory stews. Eggs, fish and a healthy dose of vegetables are also common threads throughout the menu. Fresh vegetables Yardlong beans are seen at Sein Thone Lone grocery store at 1519 W. Lincoln Ave., in Milwaukee. The vegetables imported to Milwaukee's Burmese shops from Southeast Asia include water spinach, Thai chili leaves, pennywort, okra and bitter melon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legumes called yardlong beans actually may not measure a full 3 feet in length, but they are still pretty long. They can be used in stir fry dishes, as well as fried rice, curry and soup and are found across much of Southeast Asia. Fruit Boxes of a Southeast Asian fruit called durian are seen at Sein Thone Lone grocery store in Milwaukee. Tropical and Asian fruits like durian, lychee, green mangoes and jackfruit can be found in Milwaukee's Burmese shops. One type, durian, is surprisingly polarizing. Some believe it has a rotten flavor, while others find it sweet. Durian has a spiky shell and soft interior. It is sometimes called the "king of fruit." It is known to have a distinctive smell and a creamy, custardy texture. Frozen fish This frozen fish from Myanmar is called hilsa, sometimes spelled as ilish. It is pictured at Sein Thone Lone grocery store, 1519 W. Lincoln Ave., Milwaukee. Freezers full of whole frozen fish are a staple of Burmese grocery stores in Milwaukee. Hilsa, the national fish of Bangladesh, is found in most shops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burmese Muslims, known as Rohingya, largely hail from the Rakhine state of Myanmar, which is just across the border to Bangladesh. Fried anchovy fish paste from Sein Thone Lone grocery store at 1519 W. Lincoln Ave. in Milwaukee. Preserved fish products are equally common in the shops, such as fish cakes, fish sauce and dried shrimp. Fermented fish or shrimp paste, which is widely used as a condiment or seasoning in traditional Burmese cuisine, adds a salty, umami flavor to dishes. It consists of fish that have been fermented, sundried and ground up. Since fish is so abundant in Myanmar, it's long been a product accessible to a range of communities. Shelf-stable items Canned bamboo shoots on a shelf at Sein Thone Lone grocery store at 1519 W. Lincoln Ave. in Milwaukee. Bamboo can be used in a range of Asian dishes, from stir fry to stew. And sometimes, buying prepared bamboo shoots in a can is the easiest way to spruce up a dish. Burmese shops in Milwaukee sell dozens of kinds of canned or jarred items, including pickled ginger, pickled dogfruit, taro root and lotus root. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shelf-stable items are often the most plentiful in Burmese grocery stores in Milwaukee since they can be shipped across the world without refrigeration or concerns about spoiling. The selection is wide-ranging, from Lays chips in flavors such as shrimp and chili, to instant noodles to packages of paratha, or flatbread. Popular drinks Milo, a chocolate drink mix, is seen at Sein Thone Lone grocery store at 1519 W. Lincoln Ave. in Milwaukee. To those who grew up with it, the green packaging for Nestle's Milo brand is easily recognizable in Milwaukee's Burmese shops. It's a chocolate malt powder that can be mixed with milk and is especially popular in Malaysia. It is marketed as a good source of vitamins and minerals for children and athletes. Most local shops also offer refrigerators with grab-and-go cold drinks, such as cans of coconut, lychee and tamarind juice. Sophie Carson is a general assignment reporter who reports on religion and faith, immigrants and refugees and more. Contact her at scarson@gannett.com or 920-323-5758. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Six food items you can find at Milwaukee's Burmese grocery stores The Burning Man participant who was found dead at the Nevada festival over the weekend has been identified, as the homicide investigation and the search for a suspect continues, according to the Pershing County Sheriff's Office. Vadim Kruglov, 37, from Russia was identified as the victim on Wednesday, according to the sheriff's office. Officials said Kruglov's family in Russia has been notified. Siobhan McAndrew/RGJ via Imagn Images - PHOTO: The man burns during Burning Man, Aug. 30, 2025. The homicide investigation continues, with officials saying they are looking for all tips that lead to an arrest of a suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday at approximately 9:14 p.m., a sheriff's deputy was alerted by an event participant at Burning Man -- an annual festival that takes place in Black Rock City, Nevada -- that there was a man "lying in a pool of blood," the sheriff's office said in a statement on Sunday. MORE: Massive fire destroys Tomorrowland music festival main stage days before opening Officials "immediately responded" to the campsite and found a "single white adult male lying on the ground, obviously deceased," according to authorities. Law enforcement then created a perimeter around the area, with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office's Forensic Science Division assisting in "processing the scene and collection of evidence," officials said. The sheriff's office also noted that they interviewed "several participants in the immediate area." Kruglov Family - PHOTO: Vadim Kruglov, 37, was found dead at the Burning Man festival on Aug. 30, with officials still searching for a suspect, according to the Pershing County Sheriff's Office. Burning Man said in a statement they are "cooperating with law enforcement" as the investigation continues, and three public WiFi spots will be available for attendees who "need to communicate with loved ones," the festival said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Fyre Festival 2 is postponed, no new date set The sheriff's office told ABC News the investigation is made more difficult by the fact that Black Rock City is a temporary city that is disappearing Monday, now that attendees have left, so officials have to work before evidence disappears. Because that death happened in such a remote location in the desert, cell phone service is non-existent in most areas, so video and surveillance evidence is not as available as it would be elsewhere, officials said. Officials said anyone with any additional information regarding the incident should contact the Pershing County Sheriff's Office Investigator Josh Nicholson through dispatch at 774-273-2641. June Shaver was walking home from Dysart High School in El Mirage when she fainted, suffering serious burns as a result of the scorching asphalt. The 17-year-old collapsed from heatstroke, her grandfather, Larry Shaver, said. It was the first week of school. Students in Dysart Unified School District returned for the 2025-26 year on July 31. June Shaver (left), poses for a selfie with her grandmother, Marcia Shaver, June suffered serious burns after she collapsed from heat stroke on Aug. 1, 2025. When paramedics responded, June Shaver had a core temperature of about 107 degrees, her grandfather said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As bad as it is, were lucky at the same time," Larry Shaver said. "Whether shed still be here or not was in question." 'She's got burns everywhere,' grandfather says June Shaver stopped at a convenience store for water and a break with a friend before they separated, Larry Shaver said. When police arrived, she had a busted chin and was on the street, he said. She was taken to the Halle Arizona Burn Center, according to Matthew Brownfield, her cousin. Her spirits are probably better than ours are, actually, other than when shes in a lot of pain," Larry Shaver said. June spent 29 days in the hospital and endured five surgeries, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Shes got burns everywhere. The worst is the left hand," he said. Photos showed the extent of June Shaver's injuries. The burn area covered much of the left side of her body, including her arm, leg, hand and torso. "Last night was the first time Ive seen her leg since the grafting, and yeah, shes got a long way to go," her grandfather said. After nearly a month in the hospital, teen returns home June Shaver finally returned home on Aug. 30. She was very happy to be home. ... Back in her own bed," Larry Shaver said. "Shes been missing her dog." Her recovery was expected to last anywhere from a year and 18 months. June Shaver's skin grafts were still healing, with scarring and related swelling only now starting, Larry Shaver said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he hoped his granddaughter would soon return to a normal life, including accommodation from her high school to ensure she graduated on time, in an effort not to hinder a future already filled with goals. Shes a very good artist, but her dream is to be a forensic pathologist. She wants to do autopsies, and her plan after high school is to go into the Army," Larry Shaver said. Brownfield organized a GoFundMe to support recovery expenses. As of Aug. 30, more than $3,000 had been raised. The money would help pay for medical equipment that would aid her recovery, including a compression bodysuit that she would wear for 23 hours a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Shes gonna hate it, and I wouldnt blame her," her grandfather said. Voters' decision to vote down bonds led to transit limits, district says June Shaver lived within 2 miles of her high school, meaning she was ineligible for bus transportation. A spokesperson for Dysart Unified did not comment on the specifics of June Shaver's incident, but did address the district's transportation limits. "Last Spring, we had the difficult task of notifying our families about the need to extend our transportation eligibility requirements in order to reduce the daily strain on our aging bus fleet and remain within our budget," Renee Ryon said in a statement. "With the majority of our buses being 15-20 years old, it is becoming more and more difficult and expensive to maintain them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dysart Unified voters have not approved a bond in more than 19 years, she said. A bond proposal that would have provided funding for new buses was defeated in November 2024, she said. "The new transportation boundaries were a necessity in order to ensure the district can continue to operate in a fiscally responsible manner," Ryon said. "With safety as a top priority, we have shared information about safety to and from school, including heat-related precautions, with our families." A bond question will be on the ballot again in November, she said. "If the bond measure is approved by voters, we would certainly re-evaluate our transportation situation to determine what would be feasible moving forward," Ryon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 at @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona teen collapses from heatstroke on way home from school (FOX40.COM) Cal Fire has officially grouped various lightning fires in Calaveras County and Tuolumne County into one complex fire. The TCU September Lightning Complex Fire consists of: 1-2 Fire near Hogback Ridge, West of San Andreas 2-2 Fire near Highway 4 at Dutton, West of Copperopolis 2-3 Fire near Copper Cove Ct at Obyrnes Ferry Rd, Copperopolis 2-7 Fire near Six Mile Road, Vallecito 2-8 Fire near Little John Road, Copperopolis 4-5 Fire near McCormick Meadows, South of Arnold 5-2 Fire near Lyons Bald Mountain Road, Sonora 6-2 Fire near Old Don Pedro Road, West of Jamestown 6-5 Fire near Red Hills, West of Jamestown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire has prompted Cal Fire to issue evacuation orders and warnings for certain areas. An area stretching from Chinese Camp to La Grange Road east of Keystone and down to the New Don Pedro Reservoir is under an evacuation order due to the 6-5 Fire. The area near the 2-7 fire from Murphys to Vallecito is also under evacuation orders. An area just north of the evacuation order zone, stretching from Rocky Hill to La Honda Park, is under an evacuation warning. The complex fire is estimated to have burned roughly 5,548 acres so far. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. A group of current and former residents of a Southern California nudist resort are suing the new owners, alleging they are being forced to wear clothes, threatened with eviction, and enduring unsafe living conditions. The lawsuit, filed by tenants of Olive Dell Ranch in Colton, claims the new management has neglected the property and is actively trying to remove longtime residents many of whom are elderly, disabled, or veterans with nowhere else to go. Were just trying to survive, said Nancy Roeder, a resident of more than a decade. Were in survival mode at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents say problems began shortly after the property changed ownership. Notices appeared in mailboxes informing tenants that clothing would be required within the park at all times. Penny Palmer, who has lived at the ranch for 12 years, said the changes appeared to be aimed at driving people out. Among the allegations: inflated utility bills, threats of eviction, and the removal of electric meters from mobile homes leaving behind live wires and cutting off power. Residents of the Olive Dell Ranch in Colton, California, play in the pool. (KTLA) Tenants told KTLA that amenities covered by their annual membership fees have been eliminated, and the property has fallen into disrepair. The pool has turned green, the laundry room was boarded up, the sauna disabled, and hot water shut off in community areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunshine Lorick, a former front office employee, said she was fired after questioning managements practices. She wanted me to charge extra money on peoples bills, and I refused, Lorick said. KTLA made multiple attempts to contact the new owners and their attorney but received no response. Property manager Darlene, however, accused residents of vandalism and failing to pay rent or utility bills. Tenants dispute those claims, saying they have been sending payments via certified mail. Im going to stay here till the very end, Roeder said. Im scared. I dont know whats going to happen. Olive Dell Ranch, nestled in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains, has been a destination for naturists since 1952. It was once known as the friendliest nudist resort in Southern California. 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. With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in turmoil as vaccine skeptics gain influence in the Trump administration, California is partnering with Washington and Oregon to form a pact that will offer its own public health recommendations. Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, Tina Kotek of Oregon and Bob Ferguson of Washington announced Wednesday the creation of the West Coast Health Alliance, which they said will provide science-based recommendations at a time when the nation's top public health agency is reversing long-standing vaccine guidance. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a loyal Trump ally, has dismissed top scientific advisors and fired top leadership at the CDC, moves that have shaken public confidence in its direction. And Kennedy has warned that more turnover could be coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trumps mass firing of CDC doctors and scientists and his blatant politicization of the agency is a direct assault on the health and safety of the American people," the three governors said in a joint statement Wednesday. "The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences." The rebuke from the West Coast states reveals the escalating concerns about the life-and-death consequences of the Trump administration's healthcare agenda. For decades, the CDC has been the nations trusted authority on vaccines setting childhood immunization schedules, guiding which shots adults should receive and shaping state health policies across the country. The states said the focus of their health alliance will be on providing evidence-based recommendations about who should receive immunizations while ensuring the public has access to credible information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. It's not the first time the three states have partnered to counter upheaval within the federal public health agency. In June, the states condemned Kennedy's decision to remove all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Among the replacements named by Kennedy are appointees who spread vaccine misinformation and relayed conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy said the change would improve public trust by ensuring members of the committee didn't have "any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda." Polling suggests the opposite effect. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll last month found Americans across the political spectrum are increasingly uncertain about public health guidance and whether new recommendations from the administration will make them more or less safe. Experts say that not only are vaccines crucial for the health of individuals and the community but they also ultimately save money preventing sickness and the rise in healthcare costs that would accompany widespread disease outbreaks. Andrew Nixon, director of communications at Health and Human Services, told The Times that it was in fact California and Washington that had undermined trust in public health with their response to the coronavirus pandemic, and he pushed back against attempts to create a shadow CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Democrat-run states that pushed unscientific school lockdowns, toddler mask mandates and draconian vaccine passports during the COVID era completely eroded the American peoples trust in public health agencies," he said. Nixon said the CDC's vaccine advisory committee "remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations in this country, and HHS will ensure policy is based on rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science, not the failed politics of the pandemic." The clash over vaccine guidance comes as a new wave of COVID takes hold and flu season nears. In California, some county-level health officials are recommending that residents take greater precautions, such as temporarily wearing masks in indoor public settings. The CDC estimates that as of last week, COVID infections were growing or probably growing in 30 states and the District of Columbia. The increase comes as federal guidance is making it more difficult for people to receive the COVID vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration, which falls under Kennedy's purview, now requires adults 65 and younger and otherwise healthy who say they don't have an underlying health issue to consult with a healthcare provider before getting the shot. Similarly, the CDC requires parents of healthy children to talk to a healthcare provider before their child can receive the COVID vaccine, a barrier the American Academy of Pediatrics called "deeply troubling." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Academy of Pediatrics issued its own COVID vaccine guidance, countering what the CDC recommended, that says all young children 6 months to 23 months should be vaccinated, as well as certain high-risk older children. The group has also said that older children should be offered the vaccine if their parents request it. Earlier this year, the CDC changed its vaccine schedule from recommending the COVID vaccine to all pregnant women to offering no guidance as to whether healthy pregnant women should get the vaccine. In response, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that people receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine at any point during their pregnancy. It's not the first time California has created a state safeguard to vet federal vaccine recommendations. In 2020, Newsom created a group of physicians and scientists working at the California Department of Public Health to independently review all newly created FDA-approved COVID vaccines, which were developed during President Trump's first term in office. The concern at the time was that the White House would rush the approvals under an initiative dubbed Operation Warp Speed. Three other states Washington, Oregon and Nevada quickly joined California's initiative, which was renamed the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and reviewed subsequent versions of the COVID vaccines. The review group returned saying the vaccines were safe and effective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, amid mounting turmoil at the CDC, California is reviving that playbook, saying the public needs credible information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The three-state effort follows more than 1,000 current and former U.S. Health and Human Services officials calling on Kennedy to resign. Kennedy is expected to face a bipartisan grilling from the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday morning, where he had already been scheduled to testify on the presidents healthcare agenda for the coming year. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and a member of the committee, has vowed oversight over Kennedy and the agency after expressing concern over his skeptical approach to vaccine policy. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco, said that although California's health alliance with Oregon and Washington is, for now, largely symbolic providing an alternative voice to the CDC it does risk adding to the polarization of healthcare. Its paramount, he said, that healthcare practitioners from across the political spectrum come together. Chin-Hong said other state alliances are also forming, including eight states in the Northeast and a group of healthcare systems in the upper Midwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What you are seeing is people standing up for science coming together and bringing people together to give a counter argument to what the CDC is saying, Chin-Hong said. But things may become more difficult when it comes to funding vaccination programs. He said insurance companies typically follow CDC guidance. If the federal government is not recommending vaccines, its unclear how theyll be covered. Still, Chin-Hong noted the challenges of political division and community resistance surrounding immunizations, pointing to Florida's announcement that vaccines will no longer be mandated in public schools. Its all so bananas, he said. Its like today is opposite day and were all in some Dr. Seuss story where nothing is what it seems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jake Scott, an infectious disease physician and clinical associate professor at Stanford School of Medicine, said the alliance could put the three states at risk of retaliation by Trump and his allies. "We've already seen how this administration uses federal agencies to go after states that won't fall in line," Scott said. "These states are likely looking at reduced federal funding, regulatory harassment, you name it. But honestly, what's the alternative? The cost of just letting preventable diseases spread, of completely losing public trust in vaccines, of throwing out decades of medical evidence that would be catastrophic. From a medical perspective, these states really don't have a choice here, regardless of the political fallout." Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The growing battle between the federal government and various California trucking-focused environmental initiatives wrapped up a busy August with first, a legal argument that two key pieces of litigation should be kept separate, and two, a more formal step in the federal government pushing back against a portion of the California Clean Truck Check regulation that can affect all trucks doing business in the Golden State. In the most recent development, the U.S. government, representing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), late last week filed its arguments with the federal district court for the Eastern District for California as to why a lawsuit challenging Californias Clean Truck Partnership (CTP) filed by the group of engine and truck manufacturers who signed the CTP two years ago should remain in that jurisdiction. The court in the Eastern District had asked for input as to why the lawsuit there should not be moved to Californias Northern District. That latter district already is the site of a lawsuit filed by the state of California challenging Congress action to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to yank waivers granted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that would allow the state to implement certain regulations that exceed federal standards under the Clean Air Act, specifically, its Omnibus NOx rule and the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. Fighting on many fronts It can be difficult to keep up with all the battlegrounds in the broader California vs. Washington fight over just what Sacramento can do to regulate trucking and other forms of emissions more strictly than the rest of the country. It seemed appropriate that the last week of August would bring about new activity in the battle after so many other developments in the standoff throughout the month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. filing came in response to a request from the Eastern District seeking reasons why the CTP case in the Eastern District shouldnt be moved to the Northern District. The Northern District case filed by the state of California arose from a vote that passed both houses of Congress in June, and was later signed by President Donald Trump, using the CRA to overturn several waivers granted to California by the Environmental Protection Agency. However, opponents of the move argued that while the CRA could be used to overrule a regulation promulgated by a federal agency, waivers had never been viewed as falling under that Congressional power. Soon after President Trump signed the bill retracting the waivers, California filed its suit in the Northern District. Because of that suit, the Eastern District bench had asked the parties in its CTP-related suit why the two lawsuits shouldnt both be in the Northern District. U.S. wants the venues to stick The brief filed by the U.S. government in response to the Eastern District request said the two cases should remain in their current venues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among their arguments: the parties in the case are different. For example, the plaintiffs in the Eastern District case are a group of truck and engine manufacturers, but they are not part of the case in the Northern District where California is the plaintiff. Another argument is that since the states capital city of Sacramento is in the Eastern district, actions taken by the state governmentlike the signing of the CTPshould be litigated in that jurisdiction. Transferring the case risks effectively denying the United States request for injunctive relief to remedy the irreparable harm it suffers from Californias enforcement of preempted standards, according to the U.S. governments argument. But that there are shared impacts crossing over the two cases is undeniable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The OEMs in the Eastern District are asking the court to stop California from enforcing the provisions of the CTP. The companies signed the CTP in August 2023. The deal rested primarily on the two waivers granted by the EPA that the federal government now argues were effectively killed off in its action under the CRA but which California, in its Northern District action, says was invalid. One of the waivers approved Californias Omnibus NOx rule, which governs nitrogen oxide emissions. The second permitted adoption of Californias Advanced Clean Truck rule, multi-faceted but broadly aimed at edging out internal combustion engines in favor of zero emission vehicles by the mid 2040s. The fate of the waivers rests on the outcome of the Northern District lawsuit. Federal Register notice over Clean Truck Check is published The other end-August development in the U.S. vs. California standoff was the Environmental Protection Agency making formal in the Federal Register its objections to a state pollution testing requirement, the Clean Truck Check rule, that it has extended to out-of-state vehicles. EPA signaled its intentions prior to the Federal Register posting in late August. The Federal Register comment period lasts until September 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clean Truck Check requires trucks to download various data on pollutants from its onboard diagnostics twice a year, a requirement that will be rising to four times per year. California also requires any trucks that operate in the state to perform the Clean Truck Check test, even if the test is conducted in another state with the data then submitted to Sacramento. The Clean Truck Check is part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) required by EPA for all states. The SIP, according to EPA, is (related) to the control of emissions from non-gasoline combustion vehicles over 14,000 pounds. The EPAs Federal Register notice signaled it would approve Californias SIP except for the part that requires out-of-state trucks to comply with the Clean Truck Check. The EPA has substantial concerns that this aspect of the regulation is prohibited by the U.S. Constitution, the agency wrote in the notice. The (Constitutions) Commerce Clause appears to prohibit the implementation of the regulation because its extraterritorial reach burdens interstate commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More articles by John Kingston Clean Truck Partnership takes another blow with FTC deal, in wild week for the beleaguered pact Louisiana scheme to obtain class A CDLs without passing tests snags six in sweeping indictment Trimbles Freight Marketplace snags its first shipper: Procter & Gamble The post California vs. US showdown: two cases might head to same stage, and Federal Register notice posted appeared first on FreightWaves. Residents and firefighters scrambled to protect a historic California Gold Rush town from an aggressive wildfire as it burned homes after being sparked by lightning. No injuries or deaths have been reported so far in the town of Chinese Camp, which was founded around 1850 by Chinese miners who were barred from a nearby camp. According to CalFire, at least five homes have been destroyed by the blaze. The fire, which remains fully uncontained, had burned nearly 11 square miles as of Wednesday night. The entire town of Chinese Camp, as well as numerous other surrounding areas, is under evacuation orders. (MORE: Burned, Torn And Reused: Astonishing Numbers Of Pickett Fire) Flames are seen as a house burns in a wildfire Outside one house on Tuesday evening, seven people quickly moved large tree branches away from the structure and shoveled sand onto the fire in a desperate attempt to keep the blaze from spreading from the house next door. They worked for about 30 minutes until firefighters arrived. An RV on the property was damaged by the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire officials have requested additional resources such as fire engines, dozers and an aircraft. (WATCH: Lava Fountain Explodes For Hours At Hawaiis Kilauea Volcano) A firefighter looks at the camera as a wildfire burns behind them The blaze, known as the 6-5 Fire, was determined to be lightning-caused, according to CalFire. It is one of more than a dozen blazes that erupted Tuesday across California, according to CalFire. Thousands of Chinese came to California during the Gold Rush and faced persecution that included an exorbitant Foreign Miners Tax designed to drive them away from mining. A house burns in a wildfire Chinese Camp Town, about 57 miles east of Stockton, was settled by Chinese miners after they were driven out of a nearby camp, according to Visit Tuolumne County. Originally called Camp Washington, its name was soon changed to reflect the thousands of people from China who settled there. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Down in Washington, the students are back in school, the leaves are changing colors, and Congress is deciding whether to look into why the presidents name is reportedly mentioned multiple times in materials related to the investigation of an infamous sexual abuser of teenage girls. In my opinion: Yes, that is a question that the United States legislature should be trying to answer. I do not care if it is a trending topic on search engines; I dont care if it might be more tactically savvy for Democrats to talk about other issues. I simply believe that it is in the publics interest to know, for example, what the president was talking about when he wrote a birthday note to the notorious sex criminal that stated, according to the Wall Street Journal, that they shared certain things in common. (Donald Trump has said this letter is fake and is suing the Journal over it.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What did the president, Trump, mean when he told reporters this summer that the late Jeffrey Epstein stole a 16-year-old spa attendant named Virginia Giuffre from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in order to employ her as a masseuse? (Giuffre would later become one of Epsteins most prominent public accusers, stating that he went on to molest her and pressure her into having sex with his acquaintances for years.) If Trump ended his friendship with Epstein over this and other incidents in which the financier pursued young Mar-a-Lago employees, as the president currently claims, why was Epstein still listed as a member of the club until well after his 2006 indictment for soliciting prostitution? (In 2019 Epstein was charged in a much more sweeping federal indictment.) Why did a so-called raw video released by the Department of Justice, which purported to prove that Epstein died in his prison cell as the result of suicide, turn out to actually have been edited? What do the records of Epsteins financial transactions reveal? The presidents defensiveness about these questions makes you wonder if there is something incriminating about him in the so-called federal files of documents related to the case, especially given his alleged history of walking in on underage girls while they were changing clothes in a dressing room, the jury finding that he sexually assaulted a woman in a New York City department store in 1996, the allegations by at least a dozen other women that he groped or otherwise forced himself on them sexually, and his own crude statement during a 2005 Access Hollywood taping about how much he enjoyed touching women without their consent. (Trump has denied committing sexual assault.) As the American Prospect lays out in the story linked above, the current choice before members of the House of Representatives is whether to sign on to 1) a so-called discharge petition authored by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna that would compel the chamber to vote on the public release of the DOJs Epstein files, including the unredacted names of any government officials mentioned within them, or 2) a resolution of support for the Republican-led House Oversight Committees much more limited pursuit of Epstein materials. On Tuesday, that committee made a show of releasing a group of documents that, according to the Washington Post, appears to mostly contain information that was already in the public domain. Polls show there is some public pressure on Republican legislators from their own voters to conduct a more transparent inquiry into the matter. But it is also on principle important to investigate why the president reportedly shut down the planned release of Epstein-related documents immediately after being told that his name appeared in them. In a democratic society, the people have a right to know whether the president committed crimes; in a society of laws, it should not be permissible for the president to suppress information relevant to that question. Rich and powerful people should not be able to keep secrets about their connections to the systematic molestation of dozens of women from foreign countries and broken homes simply because they are rich and powerful. Is it certain that the presidents political standing would suffer were it to turn out that he was, in fact, implicated in this investigation? No. Is that depressing? Sure. Is it proof that nothing matters? Maybe, but there is only one way to find out. A new state law that went into effect Monday creates civil liabilities for being an extreme Karen in Hawaii. The new law allows for penalties of no less than $1, 000 plus legal fees against someone who is deemed through civil litigation to have called law enforcement on a person based on that persons actual or perceived race, color, birthplace, age, religion, sex, gender expression or other protected class. Act 259 stems from a bill that was introduced in January and didnt attract much public testimony until a final hearing in March, when a surge took place that was bigger for opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hawai i Civil Rights Commission and the state Department of Law Enforcement are required under the new law to advise the public about it. Marcus Kawatachi, executive director of the commission, which does not have an enforcement role under the new law, said in a statement that Act 259 is about upholding the fundamental rights and dignity of all people. Discriminatory reporting is a serious issue that can have devastating consequences for individuals and communities, he said. DLE Director Mike Lambert said in a statement that any fraudulent reporting, which includes seeking law enforcement assistance with the intent to discriminate or otherwise cause harm to another based on a protected class, is contrary to the agencys mission that includes standing for safety with respect for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Act 259, a lawsuit may be filed against anyone who knowingly causes a law enforcement officer to come to a location to contact another individual with the intent to harass or embarrass the individual, harm their reputation, or infringe upon their rights based on a protected class. Three lawmakers who introduced the bill resulting in the lawSens. Karl Rhoads (D, Nuuanu-Downtown-Iwilei ), Stanley Chang (D, Hawaii Kai-Kahala-Diamond Head ) and Chris Lee (D, Kailua-Waimanalo-Hawaii Kai )declared in the preamble of Senate Bill 116 that vigilance of citizens can keep communities safe by reporting witnessed criminal conduct to law enforcement, but that summoning law enforcement in certain circumstances has been misused against people of protected classes without reason to suspect a crime was being committed. The bills stated need, and the procedure for addressing it, was strongly debated in public testimony. Abby Simmons, chair of the Democratic Party of Hawai is Stonewall Caucus, said in written testimony for an initial Jan. 24 public hearing that baseless and discriminatory calls to police happen far too often and divert genuine emergency responses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have seen cases nationwide where individuals are targeted for living while Black, shopping while disabled, or being in public while transgender, she said. These incidents highlight the urgent need for legislation that protects individuals from being singled out simply for existing in public spaces. Some people accused of such targeting have come to be known as Karens after instances, often of middle-aged white women, have been recorded on video and posted on social media, leading to the Karen meme. Victor Ramos called SB 116 woke nonsense based on what he said was 33 years as a police officer without ever encountering a situation the bill aims to address. Where is your data that clearly indicate that this is an issue worthy of a bill ? he said in written testimony for the Jan. 24 hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Relatively little, but mostly supportive, testimony was submitted for the first two of three hearings on the bill. However, during the bills final hearing before the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee on March 11, a lot more written testimony poured in with opponents outnumbering supporters 39 to 20. Andrew Crossland, representing Hawaii Patriot Republicans, said the bill would invite abuse and division that threatens free speech and clogs state courts with lawsuits filed on baseless claims underpinned by provisions in the bill that trigger violations if a person feels harassed or embarrassed. Crossland claimed that a similar law created five years ago in San Francisco, the CAREN Act (Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies ), led to a spike in lawsuits that cost taxpayers there over $1.2 million due to much litigation being dismissed as frivolous. Crossland also said SB 116, if enacted, would deter good-faith reports of suspected illegal conduct, which he said occurred in some New York City neighborhoods after a similar law was created in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can address misuse of police smarterwithout this heavy-handed mess, he said in written testimony. David Nichols told lawmakers that the U.S. Constitution guarantees him freedom to express concerns that include reporting suspicious behavior, but that SB 116 if enacted could label an honest report as discriminatory based on someone elses perception of his intent. It feels like a backdoor way to chill my speech, forcing me to second-guess every call I make to the police out of fear that it might lead to a lawsuit, Nichols said in written testimony. Kathleen ODell, chair of the Hawai i State LGBTQ + Commission, urged lawmakers to pass the bill because more accountability is needed for people who weaponize law enforcement with malicious, discriminatory calls for police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Too often, individuals from historically marginalized groups, including mahu, LGBTQIA + individuals, Native Hawaiians, people of color, and persons with disabilities, are subjected to unjustified and discriminatory calls to law enforcement, she said in written testimony. These calls not only endanger the individuals targeted but also strain community trust in law enforcement and perpetuate systemic discrimination. Lynn Robinson-Onderko of Ewa Beach also urged lawmakers to pass the bill. This measure is one more step in the right direction to deter damage from discrimination against our most vulnerable community members, she said in written testimony for the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. The committee voted 8-2 to advance the bill to final House and Senate votes. The two committee members who voted against the bill were Reps. Diamond Garcia (R, Ewa-Kapolei ) and Garner Shimizu (R, Moanalua-Aliamanu-Foster Village ). Shimizu told other committee members that he didnt agree that a need for the proposed law exists. I feel like we should just be able to get along, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee chair, Rep. David Tarnas (D, Hawi-Waimea-Waikoloa ), said in response, I sure wish we could be just getting along. On April 4, the House voted 43-4 to pass the bill. Shimizu was one of four Republicans who voted for the bill, and had reconsidered his initial impression. I support the purpose of this bill and the desire to protect all people as special, created in Gods image, he said on the House floor. Ideally, I pray for us to be blind in all aspects, and judge a person just by their actions and merit alone. Opposing votes in the House were cast by Reps. Garcia, David Alcos III (R, Ocean Pointe-Barbers Point ), Lauren Matsumoto (R, Mililani-Waipio Acres-Mililani Mauka ) and Elijah Pierick (R, Royal Kunia-Waipahu-Honouliuli ). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final vote in the Senate was 23-2, with Republican members also split. Rep. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point ) voted for the bill, while Reps. Brenton Awa (R, Kaneohe-Laie-Mokuleia ) and Samantha DeCorte (R, Nanakuli-Waianae-Makaha ) voted against it. Gov. Josh Green on July 1 signed SB 116 with its Sept. 1 effective date. (The Center Square) There are more people talking about possibly bringing the National Guard to Milwaukee. The citys police officers union boss said hes thinking about asking President Donald Trump to send troops to the city to help. "I'm sure the National Guard would do a great job in helping us out," Milwaukee Police Association President Alex Ayala said. Ayala told The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that hes considering sending a letter to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My opinion is, lets try something new. Lets see if maybe the National Guard that can maybe help Milwaukee curb some of this crime and some of the street takeovers and the church staffing and all the issues weve had downtown, Ayala told the paper. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson continues to say he doesnt want troops in the city and they are not needed. Republican candidate for governor Bill Berrien, however, said Milwaukee certainly needs help getting its crime problem under control. "Milwaukee is one of 10 cities with the highest crime rates in the country. I'm with the Milwaukee Police union, President Trump is onto something with his crime crackdown, we need safety on our streets in Milwaukee," Berrien wrote on social media Wednesday. As governor, I will not only crack down on crime by supporting our law enforcement, but I will work with President Trump to take drastic action when needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday said the National Guard were the wrong people to help police in Milwaukee. Theyre not trained police officers, simple as that, Evers told reporters. We can handle this ourselves in the state of Wisconsin. Over the weekend, Republican Congressman Scott Fitzgerald, said something similar. Weve actually got some good numbers out of Milwaukee over the last couple of years about crime thats leveled off or been reduced. Im not sure its something that the White House would really consider when you look at the long list of other communities that have issues as a result of crime," Fitzgerald said during an appearance on UpFront. Arizona Republicans are drawing lines in the sand over the states school choice program, the Empowerment Scholarship Account. State GOP chairwoman Gina Swoboda last month said she thought people were taking advantage of the government program which subsidizes school tuition and other costs associated with education through taxpayer money. On Aug. 20, two high-ranking Arizona Republicans reacted quickly and called for her resignation, criticizing Swoboda for going against school choice policy. The public spat has escalated since. Behind the controversy The controversy began after several reports on the ESA program revealed taxpayer money went toward things like diamond rings, drones, shampoo and conditioner, dog food, appliances and even lingerie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Senator Jake Hoffman and former lawmaker Liz Harris said they view the law as sufficient and instead shifted blame to Arizonas Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne for failing to conduct proper oversight. Hornes office is responsible for implementing a policy that automatically approves any requests under $2,000. They did this because of the large backlog of ESA requests. Last week, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes ordered Horne to stop these automatic approvals. Swoboda said she backed stronger guardrails in response to the misuse of funds. Any time you have a government program, its going to be susceptible to abuse, the chairwoman told 12 News journalist Mark Curtis. And when you expand it rapidly and you dont staff up for it or put guardrails in place, this is where we are now. CALL FOR AZGOP CHAIR RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL Today, I, along with Arizona RNC National Committeeman @JakeHoffmanAZ, am calling for the immediate resignationor removal by the State Committeeof Arizona Republican Party Chair Gina Swoboda due to serious misconduct that pic.twitter.com/snNtOjxEcF Liz Harris, MBA (@LizHarrisMBA) August 20, 2025 What Gina Swoboda said Although Swoboda received President Donald Trumps endorsement for party chair twice, in 2024 and 2025, she faces opposition from members of her own party, some of whom are closely associated with or endorsed by Turning Point Action, including Hoffman and Harris. Gina Swoboda, chair of the Arizona GOP, speaks at a campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press As NPR reported in 2024, Turning Point Action is focused on replacing longtime Republicans in office with candidates more aligned with President Donald Trumps vision of the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoffman is often aligned with Tyler Bowyer, the conservative political advocacy groups chief operating office. Bowyer also made calls for Swobodas resignation. Over Labor Day weekend, the argument between Swoboda and Bowyer unfolded on X. I am told Gina Swoboda is pressuring GOP county chairs to put out letters of support for her after attacking school choice, Bowyer said on X. It will be interesting to see what counties are crazy or bought off for cheap. This is the same behavior we saw from Ronna Romney as RNC chair. No different. In response, Swoboda published the letter she sent to the county chairs, where she criticized Bowyer for attacking her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what isnt funny is Bowyers clear intent to weaken our Republican party, she said. The chairwoman said her priority is to work to defeat Democrats and asked Arizonas county chairs to support her. Friends, this is the letter I sent to our county chairs today after Tyler Bowyer shamefully and deceitfully attacked our Republican county chairs. Dear Arizona Republican County Chairs, I knew when I was asked by President Trump to take the job of Chairwoman of the Republican pic.twitter.com/d07FEQIk46 Gina Swoboda (@GinaSwoboda) August 29, 2025 Arizona politics react to debate over ESA More Republicans have taken sides since then, including Arizona gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson. Anywhere we find waste, fraud or abuse, we have to expose it, Robson said on a radio show last week. Her GOP opponent and Turning Point-backed gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs has so far remained mum on the subject. In the latest developments, the Maricopa County Republican Committee reaffirmed its support for Swoboda. Gina Swoboda, chair of the Arizona GOP, arrives to speak at a campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press The attempt to remove the chairwoman is a distraction from our Partys primary goal and mission of getting Republican candidates elected, the MCRCs statement said while rejecting the recall effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats are using this split to portray a contrasting image to what Republicans are offering although they had internal party problems of their own earlier this year. Copper State Victory, which backs the reelection campaigns for top state Democrats Gov. Katie Hobbs, Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, took the opportunity to criticize the bitter party war among the states Republicans. As Karrin Taylor Robson puts herself in the crosshairs and Andy Biggs stays silent, the divisions are getting deeper as this primary races further to the extreme, they said. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A Canandaigua woman was arrested and charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty on Tuesday by the Ontario County Sheriffs Department. 27-year-old Alyssa L. Lyons has been charged with five counts of animal cruelty after deputies responded to a complaint on August 29. Deputies arrived at the residence just after 9 p.m. that night, where it was alleged that Lyons had left three dogs at the home without food and water when she traveled to Wisconsin for the Labor Day weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When deputies responded, it was believed a neighbor had been feeding the dogs. The next day, however, it was found that the neighbor had not been feeding them, and deputies returned. In collaboration with the Ontario County Humane Society, three dogs and two geckos were taken from the residence and placed at an animal shelter. Man & woman charged after removal of 50 cats from Perinton home Lyons reportedly went to the shelter at 12 p.m. on Tuesday to inquire about her pets, where she was then arrested. She has since been issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Canandaigua Town Court at a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dogs and geckos remain at the shelter and are reportedly in good health. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Credit: BBC/Motor Yacht Legend The wreckage of the ship that carried Captain Robert Scott on his doomed expedition has been filmed on the ocean floor for the first time. The Terra Nova carried the explorer and his men to the South Pole before their deaths on the hike back in March 1912. The explorers had arrived at the worlds most southernmost point, only to find they had been beaten when they found a black flag planted by a Norwegian team some 34 days earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott and his crew died from exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold during their long journey back after failing to claim victory. The ship continued in service until it eventually sank while carrying supplies to US bases during the Second World War in 1943. New footage of the wreckage shows the remains of the ship colonised by sea life, with key features like its wheel, winch and mast still visible. The sunken 187ft-long ship, which featured a 3-ft thick hull to help it break through ice, lies nearly 560ft deep below sea level off the coast of Greenland. Its remains were discovered in 2012, but the latest expedition has been the first to record video footage of the wreckage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leighton Rolley, a science systems manager at REV ocean, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Were talking about a ship that really contributed fundamentally to that period of heroic exploration of Antarctica. On the return journey back to their ship and their camp, basically the entire British team perished. The Terra Nova sailing through the pack ice, 1910 - Christie's Mr Rolley said the team had found the somewhat eerie wreck in just 16 minutes. There were points that gave away that it was the Terra Nova, he said. But its only now that weve been able to get a submersible and people down there to verify that. As well as the amazing ecosystem in place, on what else was visible, he added: We could see the ships wheel used to turn the ship port to starboard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats been touched by some of the most famous explorers of our age. It was like, wow, if that ships wheel could talk, it could tell an amazing history. Scott, along with Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oates and Edgar Evans, were attempting to make history. However, they were beaten by a Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen. Scottish heritage David Waterhouse, curator of the polar museum at Scott Polar Research Institute, told the BBC: Their hearts must have sunk seeing this black flag against the whiteness of Antarctica. The museum hopes the wreckage will offer another chance to retell Scotts story. Mr Rolley added that he hoped a steam whistle could be taken from the wreckage, back to where the ship was built in Dundee, Scotland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ideally, in the future, maybe something small, like a steam whistle, could be taken to say, Dundee, where it was built, he said. So the people there can hear the sound of what the Terra Nova was like from the museum there. It would be nice to hear her again. However, owing to the location of the wreckage, that decision would lie with the Greenlandic government, he added. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. PITTSTON TWP., LUXERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Firefighters put out a vehicle fire on Wednesday afternoon after the driver crashed into a utility pole. Crews were called to the area by The Knights Inn off Route 315 around 12:15 p.m. Assistant Chief Tony Angelella of the Pittston Township Fire Department stated that a car crashed into a utility pole for an unknown reason, splitting the pole in half. Driver dies after vehicle hits tire of truck on I-81 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Power lines and a transformer fell onto the vehicle after the impact of the crash, and the transformer then exploded, Assistant Chief Angelella explained. The driver was the only person in the car and survived. A parked car next to the fire area suffered damage and melted from the heat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News. Drivers across the country are being warned of a rising number of parking scams which have started appearing over the summer. Fake text messages, fraudulent QR codes and even tampered car park machines are some of the methods scammers are using to trick motorists as they devise new ways to steal money. Here are some key tips for drivers to ensure they dont fall foul of a parking scam: Check for crucial details on the fine Legit parking notices will always contain three specific details, BBC scam expert Nick Stapleton says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Real parking fines will include vehicle registration, the time of the offence and the location it happened." If these three details arent present, the communication is a scam, says Mr Stapelton. Drivers across the country are being warned of a rising number of parking scams (Getty Images) Drivers can receive three kinds of fine: a penalty charge notice issued by the council, a fixed penalty notice issued by the police, or a parking charge notice issued by a private company. It should be clear which kind of fine has been issued, but drivers should be wary that scammers commonly pose as government agencies like the DVSA, private companies, or police. Be wary of scam texts One of the most common ways fraudster will begin initiate a parking scam is by sending a fraudulent text to thousands of numbers. They will be looking for the odd person who happens to have used a car park recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These texts will likely demand urgency, warning of a higher fine for not paying quickly. They will also often threaten consequences like prosecution, revoking driving licences, and ruined credit score. The DVSA has shared an example of a scam text that people have been receiving claiming to be from the agency (DVSA) Most will include a link to a website where the recipient will be asked to put in details like their licence number, personal information, and bank details. Some of these will even be designed to look like legitimate government websites. The best ways to spot if they are fake is to check the domain which should always begin with www.gov.uk or to try clicking on other links on the page, which will likely not work. The DVSA has warned that many will sign off texts pretending to represent the agency, but it does not issue fines. You can report scam text messages to the National Cyber Security Centre. Look out for fake QR codes A newer form of parking scam arising is the use of fake QR codes that have been spotted stuck onto parking machines, sometimes called quishing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scanning these will take drivers to a website pretending to be associated with the council or parking company running the location with the aim of stealing financial information. Claire Webb, Acting Director of Action Fraud, said: Were urging people to stop and check before scanning QR codes, to avoid becoming a victim of quishing. Look out for QR codes that may have been tampered with in open spaces, or emails and texts that might include rogue codes. If youre in doubt, contact the organisation directly. The group recommends not scanning the code if in doubt, and instead navigating to the relevant organisations website to find another way to pay. Check card readers for tampering A more sophisticated scam that has been appearing over summer is the use of tampered card readers on parking machines. The BPA has revealed how some contactless payment scams work by using stickers to conceal fake readers (British Parking Association) This can be incredibly hard to spot, with the British Parking Association (BPA) urging drivers to always check card readers for signs of tampering before using. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scam will commonly be carried out by placing a hacked card reader over the original, and then a sticker over that to make it look legitimate. An indicator that a motorist may have been the victim of one of these scams is the machine prompting that the car has been declined. If a scam reader is present, it likely will have taken the details of the card, which should be cancelled immediately. Carbonfact, an environmental data platform for the apparel and footwear industry, just shared the first free solution that lets brands calculate their official French Environmental Costand compare it, instantly, to industry benchmarks. Many sustainability teams ask us the same question: How do we know if our eco-score is good or bad compared to other products from the same category? said Marc Laurent, co-founder and CEO of Carbonfact. This tool gives brands a simple, official and private way to answer that question. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The carbon management software startup developed the benchmarking tool ahead of Frances upcoming affichage environnemental scheme. Introduced under the Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy (AGEC) law, the new environmental labeling mandate requires brandsspecifically Decree 2022-748 for textiles and footwearto disclose product sustainability details. The French Textile Eco-Scorealso known as Environmental Costis an environmental label that rates the environmental impact of clothing across its full lifecycle. Its calculated through Ecobalyse, the official methodology and platform provided by the French government. The ecological assessment tool estimates a products impactbased on criteria like weight and compositiondeveloped as an open-source tool within the framework of the various French constitutional digital incubators and accelerators. This experimental API interface backs Carbonfacts Eco-Score Benchmark Tool. The Parisian startup takes this official methodology and benchmarks it against hundreds of product scenarios per category (like jeans or T-shirts) drawn from the 50 million LCAs in Carbonfacts database to build a realistic comparison. That comparison covers all 16 environmental indicators required by the European Commissionotherwise known as a PEF scoreincluding climate change and microplastic pollution. Its encouraging and even more necessary to see the industry preparing for Environmental Cost, Pascal Dagras, intrapreneur responsible for Ecobalyse at the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, said. Carbonfacts tool proposes simulations backed by the Ecobalyse simulator and gives textile brands a practical way to compare their Environmental Cost and get ready to publish their own results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, if one doesnt calculate the Environmental Cost themselves, others can. Outside entitieslike retailers and wholesalers and marketplaces and NGOsmay publish a companys Eco-Score using the worst-case-scenario; by default, Ecobaylse assumes the brand flies goods, uses grid-average energy and offers no repair servicesleading to scores up to 40 percent worse. While the label is voluntary, complying is probably a good idea. Starting in 2026, brands selling apparel in France will be able to voluntarily publish their official score. If they dont, third partieslike retailers and NGOscan publish scores on their behalf using publicly available product information. Where data is missing, government-provided defaults will be applied. If you dont calculate your own score, it will be generated using Ecobalyses default assumptions, which are intentionally conservative, Carbonfact said, noting they usually lead to higher, less favorable scores than a brands real footprint. CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) A Stoney Creek man arrested on Aug. 28 for alleged child porn crimes is facing additional charges, the Carter County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) announced. Jeffrey Edwards, 49, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor after an investigation reportedly found that he had uploaded child pornography to social media. PREVIOUS: Cyber tips lead to Carter Co. mans arrest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CCSO arrested Edwards on Aug. 28 and executed a search warrant at his home. Evidence discovered during that search warrant execution and following the arrest of Edwards has led to additional charges being filed against Edwards, the CCSO stated in a news release. Edwards has since been charged with failure to register as a sex offender and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. According to the CCSO, investigators found a firearm while searching Edwardss home. He reportedly had been convicted in Ohio for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and corruption of a minor. The sheriffs office stated that Edwards was required to register as a sex offender in Tennessee when he started living in the state, but he allegedly failed to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edwards was ordered to be held at the Carter County Detention Center without bond after his arrest. He appeared in court on Wednesday to be arraigned, and his bond was set at $1 million. The court also set conditions, prohibiting Edwards from having contact with any minors or having any kind of internet access if he was able to post 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A cash aid program for moms and babies is now available for more families in Oakland County. The program, Rx Kids, has launched in Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township, adding to the growing list of cities where it already operates across Michigan, including Pontiac. Rx Kids, led by Flint pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna, is designed to tackle infant poverty by providing "cash prescriptions" $1,500 mid-pregnancy and then $500 a month for up to a year of the baby's life. In Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township, eligible mothers can get $1,500 while pregnant and then $500 a month during the first six months of infancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rx Kids program is providing critical cash assistance that is already helping hundreds of families and newborns in Pontiac with the essentials that are allowing them to thrive. Were thrilled to support and expand this program to even more families in Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township," said Oakland County Executive David Coulter in a news release. Rx Kids, a program from Michigan State University and the Poverty Solutions initiative at the University of Michigan, is partnering with the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) for the effort in Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township. Susan Harding, CEO of OLHSA, said the program is "an important step forward" for the two communities. "When moms and babies have the financial resources they need right from the start, it strengthens families and builds healthier communities," Harding said in the news release. Rx Kids has so far distributed roughly $14 million to more than 3,300 families, as of Sept. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A May 2025 survey of Rx Kids participants in Flint, Pontiac, Kalamazoo and five counties in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, found that 87% of moms said the program helped them "make ends meet" and 72% of mothers said they were able to take time off from work to care for their baby, themselves or their family. This expansion reflects our commitment to ensuring every child in Michigan has a strong start in life, said Hanna, Rx Kids director and associate dean of public health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, in the news release. Rx Kids is now running in 11 communities. More than a year after launching in Flint, the program is open to eligible pregnant moms from parts of the Upper Peninsula and the west side of the state, and has garnered tens of millions of public and private dollars as well as interest from bipartisan lawmakers to propel its mission. A bill in the Michigan Senate seeks to grow the program statewide. How to apply: Pregnant mothers living in Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township and infants born on or after Sept. 1 are eligible. For more information, go to https://rxkids.org/ Contact Nushrat Rahman: nrahman@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @NushratR. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cash aid program RX Kids now open in Hazel Park, Royal Oak Township Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks alongside President Donald Trump at a news conference on May 12. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Public health and access to lifesaving vaccines are on the line in a high-stakes leadership battle at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s push to fire CDC director Susan Monarez is more than an administrative shake-up. The firing marks a major offensive by Kennedy to seize control of the agency and impose an anti-vaccine, anti-science agenda that will have profound effects on the lives and health of all Americans, public health leaders say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy wants to see the Pfizer and Moderna messenger RNA-based covid-19 vaccines pulled from the market, according to two people familiar with the planning who asked not to be identified because theyre not authorized to speak to the press. Hes also set his sights on restricting or halting access to some pediatric immunizations, some public health leaders say. His actions have already reduced federal help to states, creating the potential for more infectious disease outbreaks and incidences of foodborne illness. Some public health leaders say they expect Kennedy will use the CDC to publicize health information that isnt grounded in science. Its crazy season, said Richard Besser, former acting CDC director during the Obama administration. People want information they can trust to make critical decisions about their health. Until now, weve been able to say look at the CDC. Unfortunately, were not able to do that anymore. HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard disputed the criticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary Kennedy remains firmly committed to delivering on President Trumps promise to Make America Healthy Again, dismantling the failed status quo that fueled a nationwide chronic disease epidemic and eroded public trust in our public health institutions, Hilliard said in a statement. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said Kennedy and Commissioner of Food and Drugs Marty Makary have reiterated that covid shots will remain available for Americans who need and want them. The Trump administration is restoring Gold Standard Science as the sole guiding principle of health decision-making, Desai said in an email. Only the Fake News could ignore these facts to continue pushing Democrat talking points and hysteria. Behind the ouster The shake-up began last week, when Kennedy sought to fire Monarez, a microbiologist whod just been confirmed by the Senate in July. She refused to leave the position, and her lawyers said Kennedy sought to oust her because she wouldnt fire senior staff or follow unscientific directives. Four top career officials at the CDC resigned on Aug. 27 in protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Career staffers at the CDC and some public health groups had hoped President Donald Trump would intervene and put the brakes on Kennedy. Instead, the White House backed Kennedy, saying Monarez was fired. Trump on Sept. 1 demanded that drug companies show that covid vaccines work, in a further sign hes not set on defending the shots. I hope OPERATION WARP SPEED was as BRILLIANT as many say it was. If not, we all want to know about it, and why??? Trump said on Truth Social. Operation Warp Speed was the initiative that Trump himself announced in 2020 to accelerate the development of covid vaccines, including the Pfizer and Moderna shots. The vaccines have proved safe and effective in multiple clinical trials; a study published in JAMA Health Forum estimated that they saved about 2.5 million lives worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CDC staffers are worried the agencys next director wont fight for science, according to an employee who asked not to be identified for fear of professional retaliation. Trumps support for Monarezs ouster was a watershed moment that signaled there are no checks on Kennedy and his agenda, public health advocates say. Leading congressional Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Kennedys firing. Hundreds of HHS staffers have also implored Congress to intervene, saying Kennedy threatens science and public health. He is slated to testify Sept. 4 before the Senate Finance Committee. Kennedy said in a message to CDC staff that his focus is on boosting the agencys reputation and leadership. The Atlanta-based agency was already reeling after the Trump administration pushed out thousands of its staff and a gunman who reportedly believed the covid vaccine had caused him health problems fired hundreds of rounds at its campus last month, killing a police officer. The CDC must once again be the worlds leader in communicable disease prevention. Together, we will restore trust, Kennedy wrote. Together, we will rebuild this institution into what it was always meant to be: a guardian of Americas health and security. He said his deputy, Jim ONeill, would serve as acting CDC director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nine former CDC directors or acting directors who served under both Republicans and Democrats criticized Kennedy in the aftermath of the Monarez firing, saying in an op-ed in The New York Times that the impact on public health is unacceptable, and it should alarm every American, regardless of political leanings. HHS spokesperson Hilliard took exception with this point, listing four covid vaccines that continue to get the nod for use. However, the Food and Drug Administration last week approved updated covid mRNA boosters only for people 65 or older and others at high risk of complications. The CDC has also stopped recommending the shots for healthy children and pregnant women. Previously, the shots had been advised for anyone 6 months or older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, many people who dont meet the criteria but want the vaccine will have to get prescriptions or consult with their doctors. Insurance may not always cover the shots, which can run around $200. Major drugstores such as Walgreens and CVS have said the shots may not be available at all pharmacies and may require a prescription. The American Academy of Pediatrics on Aug. 19 broke with the administration, recommending that all young children get the covid vaccine. Insurance still may not cover the cost in some cases and parents could face obstacles in getting the vaccines without a prescription. Next move: The advisory committee Kennedy and his team changed official covid vaccine recommendations even though there have been no new safety issues. A dose of the 2023-24 covid mRNA vaccine prevented significant illness and death across all age groups, according to a study published in August led by a University of Michigan researcher. The virus killed about 1,000 people a week in the U.S. in mid-January, and cases are rising again and expected to accelerate this winter. Kennedy has handpicked a vaccine advisory committee for the CDC that is reviewing mRNA-based covid vaccines, which he falsely claimed in 2021 were the deadliest vaccine ever made. The covid vaccine review is being led by Retsef Levi, a professor of operations management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who has said without evidence that the shots cause serious harm, including death. If the committee recommends against them, Kennedy and the FDA could then begin the process of removing them from the market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taking mRNA-based covid shots off the market would leave consumers with fewer options for protection. Paxlovid, an antiviral medication that treats the infection in high-risk adults, would be available. The CDC advisory committee reviewing the covid shots is also probing a long-debunked link between aluminum, used in many childhood immunizations such as those for hepatitis A and pneumonia, and autism or allergies. The groups findings are expected to support the erroneous link, some public health officials say. HHS could then require drugmakers to undertake costly reformulations of the shots or stop manufacturing them altogether. That would set up the elimination of all childhood vaccines, Besser said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The advisory groups next meeting is set for Sept. 18, although Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has called for the meeting to be indefinitely delayed. Cassidy, a physician who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, voted for Kennedys confirmation as HHS secretary after receiving assurances, he said, that the longtime vaccine opponent wouldnt disrupt the U.S. vaccination system. Kennedys promises, Cassidy said, included that he wouldnt change the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Kennedy removed all of the panels members in June and replaced them with his own appointees, including anti-vaccine activists. Kennedys move to put his stamp on the CDC means states that have long relied on the agencys expertise and help in crises such as disease outbreaks will largely be left to fend for themselves, said Ashish Jha, who served as President Joe Bidens covid response coordinator from 2022 to 2023. States are going to be left on their own, Jha said. States will struggle with the CDC incapable and dysfunctional. Our system is not designed for states to go it alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CDC typically plays a critical role by assisting states with disease surveillance, public health interventions, and outbreak response, especially when a crisis spills across state lines. An outbreak of measles this year led to more than 1,400 cases nationwide, and states including Texas, where the outbreak was identified, struggled to get help from the CDC. A CDC program that has long tracked pathogens in food has already reduced the number of hazards it looks for from eight to two, which public health leaders say is making it harder to identify outbreaks. Staff overseeing a CDC program that tracks outdoor pollution that can exacerbate asthma also have been cut. The agency runs a hotline that doctors around the country can call to get treatment and other types of advice. Under Kennedys watch, the CDC has had to pare assistance because of staffing reductions, said Wendy Armstrong, vice president at the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Lives are 100% at stake, no question about it, Armstrong said. That you can no longer trust the recommendations out of the CDC is just devastating. Its appalling to think we cant trust that information is science-based anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy wants to shake up CDC leadership because he sees the agency as the heart of corruption and resistance within the federal health bureaucracy, according to people familiar with his planning. Kennedy has said the agency suffers from malaise and bias. Many public health leaders, however, view the CDC as under siege by an administration they say is corrupting science for its own ends. HHS staffers signed onto a letter that now has more than 6,800 signatures, saying Kennedy is endangering the nations health by repeatedly spreading inaccurate health information. Kennedy has also been fending off mounting criticism of his response to the shooting at the CDCs headquarters. He responded to the attack on social media, hours later, after first posting pictures of himself fly-fishing. Some younger staffers are considering leaving and some workers feel like the shooting accelerated Kennedys overhaul of the agency, the CDC employee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the battle for control of the CDC still raging, public health leaders are now looking to Congress to put the brakes on Kennedy. Some Republican lawmakers have called for a review of Kennedys actions. These high profile departures will require oversight by the HELP Committee, Cassidy said Aug. 27 on the social platform X. Cassidy had backed Monarez to lead the agency. Renuka Rayasam, KFF Health News senior correspondent, and Andy Miller contributed to this article. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing. This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) Food security advocates in Champaign County are concerned about the impacts of recent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. On Monday, the first of about $300 billion was stripped from the program after the Big, Beautiful Bill was passed in July. Champaign County Health Care Consumers Adani Sanchez said theres a chance the lack of funding could get picked up by the states, and, right now, the program is still working off last years money. U of I food assistance program shutting down after federal SNAP funding pulled Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the money that thats on the [LINK] cards, thats federal government funding, Sanchez said. And so, the states are going to have to decide, Are we willing to try to cover what that gap is? Cuts to SNAP started Monday, and it may take time to trickle down to those affected by food insecurity in Central Illinois. Proposed SNAP cuts that will be going into effect will continue to strain resources that are already strained in our community, Sophie Ellis with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank said. So, it will be difficult for the budgets of local families. Ellis said the beginning of cuts coincides with Hunger Action Month. Its a chance to raise awareness of how hunger remains a constant worry for some in the area. Our pantries are actually serving twice as many people today as in 2022, Ellis said. So that need just continues to rise and food costs keep going up, and we see local families needing more of our assistance. Illinois residents worried about food assistance being cut in a SNAP Sanchez said the money will have to come from somewhere to keep SNAP benefits where they are right now whether that be cutting jobs, or moving money from other departments, is yet to be seen. For some organizations, theres not an easy way to redirect money thats already been dedicated, Sanchez said. Or its like or sometimes its also tied to federal funds where its like, if you use this for anything else, youre out. Republican lawmakers said the cuts are necessary to ease government spending, and end fraud and abuse in the system. But last week, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced a bill to nullify cuts to SNAP. He said more than 500,000 Illinoisans are at risk of losing benefits. Snap has literally saved peoples lives, Sanchez said, And made our communities better, safer, stronger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nerve-wracking: Central Illinois food pantries worried about potential SNAP cuts Ellis said they are confident the community will continue to donate so others have a reliable source of food. Their annual Operation Orange is Sept. 18, when volunteers will be re-packing food to be handed 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 WCIA.com. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) The charges against a former interim Warrick County Health Department administrator have been dismissed. Marlin Weisheit was originally charged with conversion, official misconduct and forgery after Indiana State Police originally accused him of requesting and accepting over $9,000 in Health Department funds without approval. According to court records, the judgement to dismiss the charges was made Wednesday. This ruling brings an end to the case that started back in June 2024. Judge Greg Granger oversaw the case. 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. PLEASANT GROVE, Utah (ABC4) An 80-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly hitting and killing a 9-year-old earlier this year. According to court documents, George Parker Hunter, 80, was officially charged with one count of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a third-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These charges are in connection with the fatal accident involving 9-year-old Dalton Gibbs on April 29, 2025, around 4 p.m. Dalton was riding his bicycle at the intersection of 900 W and 2600 N in Pleasant Grove when he was struck by a vehicle. He later died at the hospital as a result of his injuries. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: A shining light: Friends honor 9-year-old killed in Pleasant Grove hit-and-run At the time of the incident, witnesses noted that there was a white truck with a handicap sign hanging from the rearview mirror leaving the area. Additionally, law enforcement identified a suspect and issued search warrants but did not make any arrests following the incident. During the start of the investigation, Captain Britt Smith with Pleasant Grove Police Department (PGPD) said, This is not a case where this gentleman ran this kid down intentionally and tried to harm him. Thats not whats happened here. This is an absolute accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Captain Smith also said, That doesnt mean that criminal charges wont be filed in the future because theres a very real likelihood that this individual will be charged criminally. On August 29, 2025, the Pleasant Grove Police Department formally charged George Parker Hunter, based on eyewitness accounts and Hunters own description of the events surrounding the accident. Evidence According to a Probable Cause statement, Dalton was riding his bicycle on 2600 N in Pleasant Grove, when he started to cross the road at 900 W, where there is a stop sign. An 18-year-old was driving west on 2600 N and noticed Dalton as the 9-year-old was crossing. The 18-year-old, identified only as B, told law enforcement that he heard screaming. He looked in his rearview mirror and saw Dalton underneath a pickup truck. The truck, a white Chevrolet later found to belong to Hunter, was turning right from southbound 900 West onto westbound 2600 North. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement B jumped out of his own vehicle and attempted to inform the truck driver that Dalton was underneath his vehicle. He also tried to get him to stop but said that Hunter completed his turn and proceeded along 2600 North. J, another passerby, saw Dalton trapped under Hunters vehicle and told law enforcement, I saw a white Chevy truck turning right. Underneath the truck was a boy stuck under the truck. He was dragged around the corner and then rolled out from underneath the truck. She also told law enforcement that Dalton and his bicycle were initially pushed by the truck, before being sucked underneath the vehicle. He was reportedly trapped underneath the bicycle and was screaming. PGPD determined Dalton was dragged for around 50 feet before he was dislodged. Both witnesses said they tried getting Hunter to stop, but he picked up speed and left the scene, with the bicycle still lodged on his vehicle. Parts of Daltons bicycle found from 900 W to near 1140 West on 2600 North. The bicycle was ultimately found near 1140 West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement J told police that Dalton would not have been fatally injured if the pickup truck driver had stopped when she and the other witness were directing him to. Defendants account Law enforcement found George Parker Hunter and his vehicle at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. He apparently told law enforcement that he had looked left along 2600 North and determined that he had room to turn, before proceeding. Hunter also said he saw the brake lights of the vehicle in front of him and stopped, at which point the driver of that vehicle got out and was waving for him to stop. However, Hunter claimed that he saw a bicycle underneath the vehicle in front of him, and that the other driver waved him on. As he proceeded to drive, Hunter said he could hear a screeching noise and saw the bicycle in his rearview mirror, at which point he got out of his vehicle and put the bicycle on the curb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunter told law enforcement that he waited for seven minutes but did not hear sirens and no law enforcement arrived at the scene. He decided to continue to the Fairgrounds. According to law enforcement, house surveillance showed Hunter waited for less than a minute before continuing on. An officer also said he overheard Hunter saying, I knew I hit a bicycle, but I didnt think there was a kid on it. Family friends of Dalton have described him as a shining light. 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. The owners of a Minneapolis roofing company face allegations of wage theft, insurance fraud and tax evasion tied to work at a St. Paul public housing townhome community last year. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi announced the felony charges Wednesday, noting they are the result of a nearly year long multi-agency investigation against the three owners of Bayvista Inc. Charged in the 24-page criminal complaint were Jose Manuel Herrera, 71, his wife, Carrie Jane Gutbrod-Herrera, 66, and his son, Joseph Earl Herrera, 41, all of Minneapolis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first step was the biggest, which was to intentionally treat theft of wages as a crime rather than as a civil matter, Choi said. Because of this multi-agency approach, we were also able to uncover alleged crimes involving unemployment and workers compensation insurance fraud and serious underreporting and non-payment of taxes owed to the State of Minnesota. The charges say the St. Paul Public Housing Agency entered into a contract last year with Magnuson Construction for a roofing and gutter replacement project at McDonough Homes, located off Jackson Street and along Timberlake Road in the citys North End. Bayvista subcontracted for Magnuson Construction to provide the labor. About a year ago, workers came forward to the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, reporting they were not being paid the wages required by law or outlined in the projects contract. St. Paul police began an investigation. The complaint alleges Jose Herrera failed to pay more than $200,000 in wages owed to his workers by paying them in cash and far below the prevailing wage rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jose Herreras wage theft was confirmed through additional investigations by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the complaint says. The BCAs investigation found that Herrera also allegedly failed to report the payroll for his employees, along with the nature of the construction work they performed, to the workers compensation insurance provider for his business. In doing so, he avoided the payment of substantial premiums for insurance coverage. The charges say the Department of Revenue found that Herrera, along with his wife and son, committed tax evasion by not reporting the over $500,000 they received from the government-funded project, as well as income they otherwise received from the family business estimated at $4.8 million in gross revenue in 2024. This case is significant because it highlights the widespread harm caused by the fraudulent misclassification of workers in the construction industry, Burt Johnson, general counsel for the carpenters union, said in a Wednesday statement. It impacts not only the workers who were denied their rightful wages, but also the law-abiding contractors who lost a fair opportunity to compete, and the taxpayers who were deprived of critical public revenue. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jose Herrera was charged with two counts each of theft of wages, insurance fraud, false representation of unemployment benefits and filing a fraudulent tax return. Carrie Gutbrod-Herrera and Joseph Herrera both face one count each of filing a fraudulent tax return and failing to pay taxes. All three were charged by summons and have first appearances on the charges scheduled for Oct. 2. A message left at the business Wednesday asking for comment on the allegations was not returned. At Wednesdays news conference, Choi thanked the workers for their courage and willingness to work with our investigators to tell us about what happened to them. He said they believe there are about two dozen victims of the alleged wage theft, and that the investigation into Bayvista is ongoing. Increased police presence, ticketing enforcement addressed after fatal stabbing on Charlotte light rail CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Nearly two weeks after a deadly stabbing on Charlottes Blue Line light rail, leaders from across the Charlotte metro met to review and discuss safety and security on public transit. 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on the light rail in South End the night of August 22. The violent attack is what spurred Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles to call a special meeting of the Metro Transit Commission on Wednesday morning. This is time for us to really take a moment and say what are the things we can do immediately and what are the things we have to do incrementally, said Lyles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CATS officials told the commission that since December, they have implemented a transit policing model with 186 armed and unarmed security officers on staff. PREVIOUS | Fatal stabbing sparks urgent meeting to address safety on public transit Interim CEO Brent Cagle was also asked about additional security screening being done at stations, like what is seen at an airport. He said no system in the country uses screening, nor is it compatible with mass transit. It would be impossible to do that, to deploy that throughout the system, he told the commission. Much of the meeting focused on fare enforcement as CATS believes the suspect in the fatal stabbing, Decarlos Brown, did not pay before boarding the light rail the night of the murder. Cagle said one option to deter bad actors is tracking who isnt paying and following rider rules and then banning repeat offenders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesdays meeting was solely informational, so no recommendations were made, but frequent light rail rider Diana Giles Gentry told Queen City News she has a few suggestions in mind. We need more of the presence of police, and thats just my take on it, personally, because I know its a deterrent, said Giles Gentry. The commission will meet again on September 17 and will make time for public 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 Queen City News. A woman in Charlotte is facing a murder charge after police say her 9-month-old daughter died from a fentanyl overdose this summer. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departmnet, officers got a call on July 7 for an unresponsive infant at an apartment complex on Orchard Trace Lane. The girl was taken to the hospital, but she was pronounced deceased. Channel 9 obtained an affidavit that says the babys mother, Hallie Ingram, told detectives that she gave the girl a bottle and put her in a pack and play around 9 a.m. and the girl was acting normal. Ingram said she took a nap for about an hour, and when she woke up, she found the girl unresponsive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A police report identified the young victim as Cheyenne. Detectives learned on Aug. 11 that the North Carolina Medical Examiners Office said Cheyenne died from fentanyl toxicity. Police didnt say how they believe Cheyenne ingested the fentanyl. On Monday, detectives got a warrant for Ingram in connection with the case, and she was arrested for murder and felony child abuse on Tuesday. Jennifer Coates lost her 22-year-old son, Jaydon, to fentanyl in 2021. Now, she works with the organization Fentanyl Kills You, telling people how dangerous the drug is. He basically succumbed to the pills. It was one pill that he took that killed him, Coates told Channel 9s Tina Terry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coates creates posters with the faces of people killed by the drug, warning of the consequences. She hopes her story, and that of Cheyennes, will send a powerful message to everyone who hears. There isnt a brand on someone that passes away from fentanyl. Anyone can be affected and I think we take it lightly thats that story over there and it could be your story if were not careful, Coates said. In the growing threat of fentanyl poisoning, Narcan or naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses. Mecklenburg County offers it for free in the following locations: Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center - Vending Kiosk | 430 Stitt Road Mecklenburg County Public Health Department - Distribution Site at Registration Desk | 249 Billingsley Road Mecklenburg County Public Health Department - Distribution Site at Registration Desk | 2845 Beatties Ford Road 24/7 Locations: Valerie C. Woodard Community Resource Center, Entrance A (outside) - Vending Kiosk | 3205 Freedom Drive Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office, Arrest Processing Center -Vending Kiosk | 801 E 4th Street (VIDEO >> Graphic warning: Mother sentenced after letting 18-month-old die from fentanyl exposure) An award-winning chef has launched a new restaurant in Mystic, Connecticut, that focuses on sustainable seafood and tackles an invasive species problem. As Eater Boston reported, the James Beard Best Chef Northeast winner of 2024, David Standridge, started a new counter-service restaurant called Mystic Fish Camp. The nostalgic and family-friendly restaurant serves 100% local, sustainable, and wild-caught seafood. Fish on the menu are whatever is biting that day, such as monkfish and bluefish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standridge is even addressing local invasive species concerns with his new seafood menu. For example, he uses the oil from the green crab, a non-native species, to poach monkfish and create a tasty, more affordable version of lobster. "All our fish are living and sourced, and landed within 20 or 30 miles, sustainably harvested, and sustainable species, which truly just means eating a diversity of catch," Standridge said. The menu at Mystic Fish Camp also features fried local fish-of-the-day sandwiches, seafood salads with local squid, and burgers made with yellowfin tuna and grass-fed beef. Meanwhile, the restaurant's ambiance offers a perfect seaside vibe and is a throwback to the carefree days of summer camp with branded merch. Standridge's new restaurant is inspiring because it prioritizes sustainability in the seafood industry while addressing a local invasive species issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sustainable seafood helps protect our ocean ecosystems while providing nutritious meals to people who dine out. Restaurants that source fish sustainably focus on species that have low environmental impacts and high nutrient densities. Therefore, you can live a healthy lifestyle and feel good about your order without contributing to harmful overfishing practices or depleting natural resources. Many coastal communities are turning invasive marine species into food that is delicious and serves a broader purpose. Meanwhile, researchers are calling upon governments to minimize the impacts of commercial fishing to reduce ocean pollution and help fish populations thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you enjoy seafood, look for local, sustainable options in your area and support businesses that genuinely care about the fish they source. You can also help minimize the impacts of unsustainable fishing by exploring more plant-based food options at restaurants. Aundre Bumgardner is a state representative who worked with Standridge to pass a bill that allows fishermen to harvest invasive species for restaurant use without a special permit. "By turning these crabs from a threat into a resource, the law helps protect our waters while creating new opportunities for local chefs and the seafood economy," Bumgardner said. 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. PRESTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) Dozens of monarch butterflies are on their way to the Transvolcanic Mountains in central Mexico following tag and release events at a retreat in Chenango County. Solitude Farmz in the Town of Preston invited 7 residents from the Chenango Valley Home to participate in the annual release last week. The farm is a popular way station for monarchs because of its large amount of milkweed. Co-Owner Nancy Zimmer collects butterfly eggs from the plants and raises them through their various stages to becoming butterflies inside a screened in gazebo on the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The residents of the assisted living community in Norwich each had the opportunity to name a butterfly which was then tagged with a numbered sticker before being released to start their journey. Zimmer says the insects are very docile and seem to bring joy to everyone who interacts with them. Co-Owner of Solitude Farmz Nancy Zimmer says, Theyre very friendly. They really dont mind, as long as theyre fed and comfortable and have a space to fly around. I used to have much smaller habitats so we were excited to re-screen and make sure we had a bigger spot for them and provided a lot of plants inside for them. Zimmer says the butterflies will need to overcome many threats on their flight to Mexico, including predators, pesticides, bad weather and crossing large bodies of water. She says the organization Monarch Watch will record the tagged butterflies at way stations along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zimmer says shell find out in March how many of them made it to 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 WIVT - News 34. CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A woman was arrested on Wednesday after authorities discovered that while she was working at the Cherokee County Jail, she was providing contraband items to inmates. Lufkin police searching for 20-year-old man missing since late July Mugshot of Kayley Garcia courtesy of Cherokee County Jail The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said that while Kayley Garcia was working at the jail from June 2025 to August 2025 as a correctional officer, she provided inmates with tobacco products and also allowed an inmate to use her phone for personal use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Garcia was booked into the Cherokee County Jail and charged with three counts of prohibited substance in a correctional facility, which is a third-degree felony. The integrity of the Cherokee County Jail is of extreme importance, the sheriffs office said. The actions of Garcia do not reflect the dedication and professionalism of the people who serve our community every day. The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office will not tolerate misconduct, and we will always hold ourselves accountable to the citizens we serve. 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. A Chicago alderman is arguing that President Trumps offer to send National Guard troops should be accepted to help combat crime in the nations third-largest city. Alderman Raymond Lopez, a Democrat representing the 15th Ward on Chicagos West Side, said residents live in a state of fear and that city officials should work with Trump rather than reject federal assistance. If the mayor and the governor continue to say crime is down, crime is decreasing, everythings great, then why dont we take Donald Trump up on his offer and go even further, Lopez said Tuesday on NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas Reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments came as Trump vowed to deploy troops to Chicago following a Labor Day weekend that saw eight people killed and 58 injured in shootings across the city. The president called Chicago a hellhole and the murder capital of the world, though 20 American cities actually have higher murder rates than the Windy City. Gov. JB Pritzker rejected Trumps suggestion that he should call and request federal troops, saying Chicago does not want troops on our streets and that he refuses to play a reality game show with Donald Trump again. Trump said he wanted Pritzker to call him and acknowledge the citys problems. The people have to be protected, Trump said, praising Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for cooperating with federal authorities. A federal judge in California also ruled Tuesday that Trump violated the Posse Comitatus Act which prohibits military forces from acting as law enforcement when he deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June. Lopez wants Guard at tourist spots to free police for neighborhoods Lopez noted that National Guard members could provide security at tourist attractions like Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile, freeing up police officers to patrol neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need the actual presence of the National Guard to focus on the assets of the city so that our police can go into the communities and go after those individual gang members, drug dealers and human traffickers, he said. The alderman criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnsons (D) response to weekend violence, mocking Johnsons claim that gun trafficking from red states was to blame. Im actually quite surprised he didnt blame the Confederacy, Richard Nixon or colonialism, Lopez said. The alderman also welcomed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to identify what he called 2,000 high priority targets who came from Texas and were identified as serious dangers to the city and country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said Tuesday he was sending federal agents to Chicago but declined to specify when a National Guard deployment might occur. Lopez blamed all sides for engaging in political performance instead of coordinating efforts to address violence. He said two teenagers were shot in his ward the same day city and state leaders said they didnt need help. Its shameful, really, because thats what actually is driving a lot of the concern, the local official said, urging leaders to communicate directly rather than engage in social media, TikTok battles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson said his city will not accept federal troops or agents, rejecting President Donald Trumps plan to send them in after a wave of holiday weekend shootings that left nine people dead and 54 others wounded across the city. Trump vowed to send National Guard troops into Chicago following another deadly holiday weekend, when police said nine were killed and 54 were injured in gunfire, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The administration argues Chicagos violence demands a stronger federal response, while city and state leaders claim this would be government overreach. Meanwhile, Johnson has already taken a firm stance against the use of National Guard troops in the city even invoking slavery and indigenous history instead of addressing the crisis at hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No federal troops in the city of Chicago. No militarized force in the city of Chicago, said Johnson during a protest over the weekend, per The Hill. Were going to defend our democracy in the city of Chicago. Were going to protect the humanity of every single person in the city of Chicago. Johnsons comments come shortly after he signed an executive order that would prevent city law enforcement officers from assisting federal troops or immigration agents. This sweeping executive order directs our department of law to pursue any and every legal mechanism to hold this administration accountable for violating the rights of Chicagoans, stated Johnson, per NBC 5 Chicago. The White House has already denounced this order, writing in a statement that communities would be much safer if Democrats focused on fixing crime in their cities rather than on publicity stunts to criticize the President. Cracking down on crime should not be a partisan issue, but Democrats suffering from TDS are trying to make it one. They should listen to fellow Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser, who recently celebrated the Trump Administrations success in driving down violent crime in Washington DC, continued the statement, per NPR. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has also spoken out against the potential deployment of National Guard troops, claiming that Trump is making up his own facts. Listen, the crime rate has gone down. You heard the numbers of decreases in homicides and shootings and other violent crimes that have gone down and have been going down for the last four years, she said, according to The Hill. Lightfoots comments are backed up by the most recent violent crime statistics, which show a significant decrease over the past four years. Yet even with those drops, Chicago has recorded more murders this year than New York and Los Angeles combined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents say those historic reductions dont erase daily fears. Rochelle Sykes, a grandmother in West Garfield Park, told CNN, My grandkids cant sit outside. They cant sit in the living room or at the kitchen table, because a bullet may come through. Johnson, meanwhile, invoked slavery and indigenous land in defending his stance against federal troops rhetoric critics argue deflects from the citys immediate public safety crisis. Regardless, Trump has vowed to send National Guard troops into the city. But for many Chicago families, the debate over politics and authority misses the point nine people were killed and more than 50 wounded in a single weekend, and parents still dont feel safe letting their kids walk outside. MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump amid their high-profile divorce. The Georgia Republican told CBS News that she is starting to feel very sorry for the 79-year-old, saying that his attacks on her reflect poorly on him. The great schism began when Greene, 50, broke with him on the cost-of-living crisis, which Trump insists is a hoax, and the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The News in Brief Thursday, September 4, 2025 "Entering this parliament today would be a big mistake, and I hope that For Georgia will not make this decision," said Dimitri Tsqitishvili, a member of the party, on the Palitranews program 360 Degrees. His remarks responded to party founder and leader Giorgi Gakharia's statement that giving up parliamentary mandates had been a mistake.According to Tsqitishvili, if the goal is to defeat the regime, cohabiting with it is not the correct way to achieve that."The European Parliament report also notes that the authorities will use these [local] elections to legitimize the status quo. I described it the same way - everyone who facilitates this participates in legitimizing the status quo. I do not take back my words; they remain valid, and unfortunately, they are becoming more and more evident.Even if giving up mandates was once considered the right choice, today, entering this parliament and participating in its work would clearly be a very big mistake. I hope that decision will not be taken. However, I believe it is premature to talk about this now, as there has been no concrete indication - only a discussion about not ruling out the possibility. I hope such a mistake will not be made.If the goal is to fight the regime, then entering parliament in this way is not the path to defeat it. Compromising or cohabiting with it in this manner does not strengthen democracy," Tsqitishvili said.Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the opposition For Georgia party, announced that he will not return to the country, warning that his political activities would be restricted if he did.Gakharia is believed to have been abroad for several months. In an interview with opposition-aligned TV Pirveli on Monday, he said he has received a residence permit in Germany.Amnesty International says the imprisonment of protesters in Georgia reflects the abuse of the justice system to suppress dissent.Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty, highlighted recent sentences against 20 protesters, including activist Saba Skhvitaridze and actor Andro Chichinadze."The trials of Chichinadze, Skhvitaridze, and others show that the Georgian authorities are using the justice system to punish demonstrators and silence dissent. Protesters have faced human rights violations, including torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention, and unfair trials," the statement reads.Amnesty International called for the annulment of unfair sentences, the release of detained activists, and the provision of fair retrials. The organization also demanded the immediate release of anyone detained solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and free expression. Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A Chilean study found that farmed mussels are undergoing genetic changes that help them adapt to their environments, improving their chances of survival. The study, published in the journal Aquaculture, provides the first evidence of small-scale adaptive genetic differences in farmed populations of Mytilus chilensis, a mussel species native to Chile. For the study, led by the Millennium Institute for Coastal Socio-Ecology, which brings together scientists from Chilean universities specializing in aquaculture and coastal development, researchers analyzed the genes of mussels from wild and farmed populations to compare their genetic makeup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We found genetic variants in farmed mussels that do not appear in wild populations," institute researcher and lead author Charel Gonzalez told UPI. She worked on the study with Pilar Haye, Bernardo Broitman and Nicolas Segovia. "These variants appear to be linked to immune response, structural defenses and tolerance to environmental variability -- traits that could be particularly important in the high-density conditions of aquaculture," Gonzalez said. In the case of wild mussels, Gonzalez said they show high genetic diversity, "necessary to respond to current and future environmental changes." However, experts warn that this genetic differentiation could affect the species' diversity and ability to adapt, creating risks for the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mussel farming drives jobs and economic growth in southern Chile. The country is the world's second-largest producer and exporter of mussels. In 2024, the industry exported 400,000 tons to more than 60 countries, mainly Spain, Italy and Russia. Camila Barria, head of research, development and innovation at the Chilean Mussel Farmers Association -- which represents small, medium and large producers -- said both wild beds and farmed stocks are important to the industry. The stock from wild beds is vital for supplying mussel seed, while farmed stocks are produced for industrial processing. Climate impacts such as declining water pH and rising ocean acidification reduce the availability of calcium carbonate in seawater, which can weaken the shells of adult mussels and increase the number of discards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another concern is fluctuating seed availability in wild beds, Barria said, which may stem from multiple factors that have not yet been studied. For that reason, the industry is promoting scientific research to better understand the reactions of this species in the context of climate change. Producers have also worked to mitigate -- at least locally -- the effects of climate change through projects focused on energy management, carbon footprint, water efficiency, waste management and clean technologies. What looks to be a new Chinese road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) dubbed the DF-61, or at least a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) for it, has emerged amid last-minute preparations for a massive military parade in Beijing. There have been reports for some time now that China has been developing next-generation ICBMs, including a successor to its road-mobile DF-41 ICBM, as part of a larger buildup of its nuclear deterrent arsenal. Imagery showing 16-wheeled TELs loaded at least with canisters marked DF-61 (whether or not there is an actual missile inside is unknown) is now beginning to circulate online. It is currently early morning on September 3 in Beijing. Preparations for the imminent parade, which will mark the 80th anniversary of the countrys victory over Japan in World War II, have been going on for months now, and various new capabilities have already surfaced. The ICBM DF-61 DF-31BJ Hello from Beijing pic.twitter.com/U5y2W7iRkr David Wang (@Nickatgreat1220) September 2, 2025 GOOD MORNING DF-61 pic.twitter.com/VAPqwn3vfO PLA Military Updates (@alfred_shum4973) September 2, 2025 No hard details have yet to emerge about the DF-61, and it is unknown at this time whether or not it is said to be in service. A point of reference, the DF-41 was first shown to the public at another major parade in 2019, but its development is understood to have started before 2000, and it had reportedly begun entering operational service in 2017. The DF-41 is some 20 meters long, has an estimated range of between 12,000 and 15,000 kilometers, and can be loaded with up to 10 multiple independently-targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads, according to the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank. DF-41s, or at least their TELs, at a previous Chinese military parade. via Global Times A story last year from The Washington Times said that references to a DF-41 successor, referred to at that time variously as the DF-45 and DF-51, have appeared on the Chinese web since at least 2020. That piece came after U.S. Air Force Gen. Anthony Cotton, head of U.S. Strategic Command, reportedly told members of Congress that China was developing a new generation of mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles at a closed-door hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes called the DF-45 or DF-51, it is clearly intended to outperform the DF-41, Rick Fisher, a senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center think tank, told The Washington Times at that time. Such an ICBM would not be much larger than a DF-41 to preclude a road-mobile version. Fisher also told The Washington Times that China had the capacity to build larger TELs if the DF-45/DF-51 were to be significantly larger than the DF-41. However, as it stands now, the DF-61 looks to be broadly in line size-wise with the DF-41, with both using 16-wheeled TELs. The DF-45 would have a takeoff weight of 112 tons and a payload weighing 3.6 tons and be armed with seven 650-kiloton warheads. The new missiles estimated range would be 7,456 to 9,320 miles, The Washington Times also reported, though the sourcing behind these details is unclear. There are other reports of a DF-51. For example, there is a passing reference to it in a 2006 article in a Hong Kong publication. One report indicates that: 1) its launch-weight is 130-tons, 2) it can carry three five-megaton MIRVs , and 3) it can carry Chinas Fractional Orbital Bombardment System, according to a separate 2024 report from the National Institute for Public Policy (NIPP) think tank. Another report says it has a range of 15,000-km and can carry 14 warheads. The U.K.s Telegraph.com says 10 warheads. Both ten and 14 relatively light warheads are reasonable numbers for a missile more capable than the DF-41. Another look at DF-41 TELs at a previous Chinese military parade. GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images NIPPs report also noted that it is unclear whether the DF-45/DF-51 is one or two systems and that, if it is two systems, one might be a replacement for the DF-41 and the other for the DF-5. The newly emerged DF-61 could still be just one of several all-new ICBM designs China has been working on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is well known is that China has been investing heavily in recent years in expanding its ICBM arsenal, including the construction of vast new fields of silos, as a part of a larger nuclear build-up. What looks to be a new silo-specific variant of the existing DF-31 ICBM, the DF-31BJ, is also included in todays parade. There we go. DF-31BJ is the designation for the silo based ICBM. I assume B is the upgrade and J denotes the basing mode. https://t.co/cVro3VHxDf Decker Eveleth (@dex_eve) September 2, 2025 The PLARF [Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force] is advancing its long-term modernization plans to enhance its strategic deterrence capabilities, the Pentagon had noted in the unclassified version of an annual report on Chinese military developments that it sent to Congress in December 2024. The PRC is developing new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that will significantly improve its nuclear-capable missile forces and will require increased nuclear warhead production. Over the next decade, the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] probably will continue to modernize, diversify, and expand its nuclear forces rapidly. The PLA seeks a larger and more diverse nuclear force, comprised of systems ranging from low-yield precision strike missiles to ICBMs with multi-megaton yields to provide it multiple options on the escalation ladder, that report added. In 2023, Beijing continued its rapid nuclear expansion. DoD estimates the PRC has surpassed 600 operational nuclear warheads in its stockpile as of mid-2024 and will have over 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, much of which will be deployed at higher readiness levels. The PRC will continue growing its force through at least 2035. The DF-61 is just one of a number of major unveilings still expected to come at the parade today. As already noted, many new capabilities, including a number of new air combat drone designs and previously unseen high-speed strike missiles, have already broken cover during the months-long preparations for todays event. If nothing else, we now know the official nomenclature of at least one new ICBM design China has been working on. Contact the author: joe@twz.com BEIJING Chinese leader Xi Jinping, speaking before a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, said Wednesday that humanity today must choose between peace and war and between dialogue and confrontation. Xi started a brief address by remembering the victims of the war and called for eradication of the roots of war to prevent history from repeating itself. But Xis main message was forward looking: Today, China is strong, fears no one and is ready to take a leading role in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese people are a people that are not afraid of violence and are self-reliant and strong, he said. At the same time, We will adhere to the path of peaceful development and work hand in hand with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The parade began after he spoke with troops marching in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, for a review by Xi, who is also head of Chinas military as chairman of the Central Military Commission. The parade showcased missiles, modern fighter jets and other military might as China seeks to wield greater influence on the global stage. Some of the military hardware was on public view for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before they started marching, Xi rode by the entire length of the formations along Beijings central Changan Avenue in a classic-style black limousine. He stood up through an opening in a roof with four microphones lined in front of him and greeted flanks of troops as he passed them and rows of missiles and military vehicles. They shouted back mottos in unison such as We serve the people. Before Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem, the March of the Volunteers, a song composed in 1935 during the early years of resistance against invading Japanese forces. Xi and his invited guests including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived earlier at the historic Tiananmen Gate to watch the parade. Xi shook hands individually with guests on a red carpet before they climbed the stairs up to the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin and Kim flanked Xi as they made their way to the platform. They paused to shake hands with five WWII veterans, some older than 100. As the parade got underway, U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the big question is whether Xi will recognize the contributions of Americans who fought in the war. He added: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Xi, in his remarks, did not mention America by name but expressed his gratitude to foreign countries who helped China resist the Japanese invasion. Domestically, the commemoration of the anniversary is a way to show how far China has come. China was a major front in the war, a fact often overlooked in accounts that focus more on the fight for Europe and U.S. naval battles in the Pacific. A Japanese invasion killed millions of Chinese people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military parade was also a show of strength to boost support for the Communist Party and its leader, Xi, domestically, and a way to portray itself as a global alternative to the American-dominated postwar era. The Chinese peoples rejuvenation cannot be blocked, and the noble goal of the peaceful development of human civilization must triumph, Xi said at the end of his speech. The ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem, the March of the Volunteers, a song composed in 1935 during the early years of resistance against Japanese forces in the country. A sea of people sat in clearly demarcated sections on the square across the wide avenue as the soldiers marched past. They waved small red flags as choirs sang patriotic songs including Defend the Yellow River and No New China without the Communist Party of China. China unveiled a series of new weapons in its Victory Day military parade on Wednesday, celebrated annually to mark the anniversary of Japans surrender, ending World War II. This years parade, celebrating the 80th anniversary, was an opportunity for Beijing to show its strength and portray itself as a global alternative to the US-dominated postwar era. A YJ-15 anti-ship missile passes during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, held in front of Tiananmen Gate, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 - Ng Han Guan/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved The new YJ-15 hypersonic missile was showcased for the first time during the parade. The YJ or Ying Ji (eagle attack) line of rockets can be launched from ships or aircraft and is designed to pierce through large vessels, inflicting significant damage on impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing also revealed its new Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) with its flagship AJX002. The sea drone is just over 18 metres in length and is designed to operate in stealth. It adds to Chinas already well-developed fleet of XLUUVs, which features at least five different types of systems and further consolidates Chinas dominance in the sea drone space. An AJX002 underwater drone passes in the military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, held in front of Tiananmen Gate, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 - Ng Han Guan/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved The Chinese military also showcased three new types of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Dong Feng-61, Dong Feng-31BJ and Dong Feng-5C. Beijings new JL-1 system complements these new systems, the countrys first air-launched nuclear missile. Chinese media say the flagship DF-5C has a range exceeding 20,000 kilometres, putting the entire world in Beijings strike range. The DF-5C can also reportedly carry up to a dozen warheads on one single missile. The parade also marked the debut of Chinas first space defence system, the HQ-29. The missile is capable of taking down foreign satellites with one blow, further highlighting the countrys aerial dominance. The DF-5C liquid-fueled intercontinental strategic nuclear missile showcased in the Victory Day military parade held in front of Tiananmen Gate, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 - Andy Wong/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved Chinas President Xi Jinping, speaking before the parade, said that humanity today must choose between peace and war and between dialogue and confrontation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese leader acknowledged the victims and mourned the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. He also called for the eradication of the roots of war to prevent history from repeating itself. President Xi was joined by two guests at the parade, in Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who arrived at the historic Tiananmen Gate to watch the parade. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un arrive at a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 - Sergei Bobylev/Sputnik Shortly after the parade started, US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to share his own opinions on the occasion. The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and 'blood' that the United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its freedom from a very unfriendly foreign invader, questioned Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Americans died in Chinas quest for victory and glory. I hope that they are rightfully honoured and remembered for their bravery and sacrifice! Xi, in his address, did not mention the United States by name, but expressed his gratitude to foreign countries that helped China resist the Japanese invasion during WWII. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States of America, said Trump at the end of his post. Domestically, the commemoration of the anniversary is a way to show how far Beijing has come. China was a significant front in World War II, a fact often overlooked in accounts that focus more on the fight for Europe and US naval battles in the Pacific. The Japanese invasion before WWII and the conflict itself killed millions of Chinese people. A very large directed energy laser weapon was among the new capabilities officially rolled out for the first time at a massive military parade in China. Called the LY-1, the laser has so far been described as primarily intended for shipboard self-defense, but was shown at todays event in a form that also points to land-based applications. Todays parade in Beijing was months in the making, and new drones, missiles, and other systems had already emerged during the preparations. The event marked the 80th anniversary of what was then the Republic of Chinas victory over Japan during World War II. Touted as the "worlds most powerful," Chinas LY-1 ship-based laser air defense system was displayed on an eight-wheeled truck, with no specs released. pic.twitter.com/WalkQffaA9 Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) September 3, 2025 Despite its official unveiling today, much about the turreted LY-1 laser, including its power rating, remains unknown. It has a single, very large circular aperture for its beam director. There are also multiple smaller circular apertures, some of which would be tied to electro-optical and/or infrared cameras used for target acquisition and tracking. A box-like structure on the right side of the turret (left when viewed from the front) might hold an additional sensor, such as a radar or passive radio-frequency sensor, or other components of the system. A look at an LY-1 laser directed energy weapon system from the front. Chinese state television capture The LY-1 has sufficient space for power units, meaning that it could have higher power, enabling it to be capable of intercepting not only attacks from unmanned equipment, but also anti-ship missiles, with very low-cost for each interception, according to a report today from Chinas Global Times newspaper, an outlet run by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, citing an independent expert. Shipborne laser weapons can effectively damage the optical sensors of enemy weapons and equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parade narrators for CGTN, Chinas English-language state media outlet, said the LY-1 is capable of precision destruction and consistent strike,' Business Insider has also reported. Laser directed energy weapons known to be in development globally typically fall into two categories: so-called dazzlers designed to blind optics, including optical seekers on incoming missiles, and higher-powered designs capable of physically damaging or destroying a target. A high-power type could also be designed to incorporate a low-power capability. The LY-1s size and configuration, together with the descriptions above, put it firmly in the higher-powered category, and with a primary focus on protecting ships from incoming aerial threats like drones and missiles. How close the LY-1 might be to entering operational service, and in what form, is also unknown. What looked to be a laser directed energy weapon with a configuration very similar to the LY-1 had been spotted on a Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 071 amphibious warfare ship last year, as you can read more about here. Back in 2019, Chinas state-run CCTV-7 television network had also broadcast imagery of a laser directed energy weapon with a similar, but more simplified design that was said to be under development for the PLAN. A 2019 Chinese state television report said the laser directed energy weapon system seen here was under development for the Peoples Liberation Army Navy. CCTV-7 capture via Janes Shipboard self-defense is a major focus of laser directed energy developments worldwide, including in the United States. In broad strokes, the LY-1 is similar in configuration and size to laser weapons the U.S. Navy has been working to field in growing numbers in recent years, especially the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler (HELIOS). The system seen on the PLAN Type 071 last year also featured a retractable protective dome to help shield it from the elements when not in use. A laser weapon system that the U.S. Navy tested on the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Dewey in 2012 had a similar enclosure. Another laser was also notably tested on the USS Portland, a San Antonio class amphibious warfare ship, which is roughly analogous to the Type 071. A HELIOS laser directed energy weapon seen installed on the US Navys Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Preble. USN A laser directed energy weapon system seen installed on the USS Dewey in 2012. USN John Williams Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broadly speaking, laser weapons hold the promise of largely unconstrained magazine depth, as long as there is sufficient power and cooling. While a single laser can only be focused on one point at a time, a turreted beam can also be readily redirected from one target to the next after the laser has effected its target in a satisfactory manner. It is worth noting that lasers, in general, are sensitive to environmental factors, including smoke, clouds, rain, or other particles in the air, all which can break up a beam and reduce its effectiveness. The power of that beam already drops as it propagates through the atmosphere and gets further away from the source. When developing a practical and reliable laser weapon system that can stand up to real combat use, especially being battered at sea for months at a time and exposed to salt water spray, the delicate nature of their adaptive optics presents further challenges. The capabilities laser weapon systems are designed to offer are in high demand for ships, especially amid ever-growing drone and missile threats. Even advanced warships with deeply-layered defensive capabilities are among the most protected but threatened objects on earth. Adding a laser layer for close-in defense is seen as highly adventurous. Shipboard applications also offer their own challenges when it comes to meeting the significant power and cooling, as well as physical space demands. The benefits that high-power laser directed energy weapons offer, at least in principle, are also relevant in the land and air domains, and the LY-1 could also be intended for use in a ground-based configuration. At todays parade, the laser weapons appeared in what looked to be a very purpose-built eight-wheeled road-mobile format. As a comparison, HQ-10 naval surface-to-air missile launchers, or mockups thereof, were also paraded, but in a configuration more clearly intended for display, rather than operational use. LY-1s, at left, seen together with trucks carrying HQ-10s, or mockups thereof, at right, just before the start of todays parade. Chinese internet There is precedent for adapting naval weapon systems, especially those intended for close-in defense, for use ashore. The U.S. Armys Centurion, a ground-based version of the 20mm Vulcan cannon-armed Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) found on various U.S. Navy and foreign warships, is a prime example. China has also previously developed versions of its own naval gun-armed CIWS systems for applications on land. NORINCO Group ground-based version of Chinese 30-mm shipborne anti-aircraft artillery system Type 1130 (30-mm, 11 barrels) #aviation https://t.co/R0ruXLLvk6 pic.twitter.com/Z6OWqcUR8N The Shadow of the Eagle (@clemente3000) September 27, 2021 A land-based version of the LY-1 could provide an additional layer of defense against drones, cruise missiles, and even helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, depending on its real-world effective range and power rating. If the system is self-contained, it might have some capability to engage targets on the move, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As noted, there are still questions about how close the LY-1 might be to entering operational service in any domain. In the United States, laser directed energy weapon development has faced repeated setbacks, especially due to power and cooling challenges, as well as making systems rugged enough for actual combat use, as you can read more about here. While the U.S. Navy has made more visible progress on this front than other branches of Americas armed forces, the services senior leaders have still expressed frustration with the pace of actually fielding these capabilities. USS Preble test fires its HELIOS laser directed energy weapon. DOD At the same time, China has clearly been making significant investments in operationalizing various tiers of laser and high-powered microwave directed energy weapons. This includes higher-end ground-based lasers designed to at least disrupt the operation of orbiting satellites. There are also smaller land-based laser weapons primarily intended for the counter-drone role, some of which were also showcased at todays parade. Chinese firms have already succeeded in securing at least limited export sales of systems in that general category, including to Saudi Arabia and Iran, and reportedly Russia. China showcases a counter-drone formation featuring interceptors, anti-drone swarm barrage weapons, high-energy lasers and microwave weapons intended to disable hostile aircraft during the military parade in Beijing on Sep 3. pic.twitter.com/X1SJg3mjhI Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) September 3, 2025 PLAAF/PLA/PLARF Anti-swarm Formation No Details of Designation Given out "OW5-A10" Laser Mengshi "PLB-625" 6x25mm 30mm Cannon Gun "FK-3000" CUAV Mini Dome "OW5-A50" Laser HMV3 pic.twitter.com/iLZEXcm46Y David Wang (@Nickatgreat1220) September 3, 2025 A massive high-powered microwave weapon called the Hurricane 3000, which is mounted on a modified Shacman SX2400/2500-series 88 truck, was also on display at the event today in Beijing. That particular system had previously been showcased publicly at last years Zhuhai Airshow, as you can read more about here. BREAKING: China has unveiled its ultimate anti-drone weapons Its not a missile. Its not a traditional gun. Its OW5-A50 Laser HMV3 and Hurricane 3000 Microwave System One blast = dozens of drones disabled mid-air. No ammo. No reload. Just pure energy. Built for pic.twitter.com/QhvVN8qpUv Defence Index (@Defence_Index) September 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While more remains to be learned about the LY-1 and Chinas plans for it, it is the latest reflection of the countrys push to develop and field laser and other directed energy weapons for use in multiple domains. Contact the author: joe@twz.com China showed off its full nuclear triad for the first time at a major military parade on Wednesday. The parade featured an arsenal of land-, sea-, and air-launched nuclear missiles. The reveal comes after the US warned that China is engaged in "rapid nuclear expansion." China unveiled its arsenal of land-, sea-, and air-launched nuclear missiles at a major military parade on Wednesday, marking the first time that Beijing has publicly showcased its full nuclear triad together. The parade through Tiananmen Square commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II featured China's DF-61, which is believed to be its newest land-based intercontinental ballistic missile, and the DF-31BJ, an upgraded version of older ICBM models. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, little is known about either system, including their operational status. Even if these systems are developmental, China has a sizable arsenal of land-based ICBMs. The military parade also featured the JL-3 submarine-launched ICBM and the debut of the JL-1, an air-launched long-range missile, and other nuclear-armed weapons, like the massive DF-5C silo-launched missile. Chinese state media touted the display as the first time Beijing has revealed its full nuclear triad, a term for a country's land, sea, and air nuclear-strike components. Only three other countries the US, Russia, and India also have this capability. Ankit Panda, a senior fellow in the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that the introduction of the JL-1 missile means that the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has now been formally nuclearized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Prior to this, the PLAAF did not have an acknowledged nuclear role," he told Business Insider, though there were indications that it would serve that purpose. China's JL-1 long-range ballistic missile on display in Beijing. Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images In 2020, the PLAAF operationally fielded the H-6N, its first nuclear-capable bomber that can be refueled mid-flight, a platform for the air component of China's nuclear triad. Beijing is also developing a stealth bomber known as the H-20. A 2024 Department of Defense report on China's military said the H-20's development reflects the PLAAF's effort to "extend its power projection capability." Panda said the significance of the full nuclear triad on display at the parade on Wednesday is "debatable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's no sacrosanct reason that nuclear delivery systems distributed across land, air, and sea are essential for deterrence," he said, "but this has widely been seen as a mark of prestige ever since the US and the Soviet Union adopted similar postures during the Cold War." A growing arsenal China is estimated to have over 600 operational nuclear warheads as of 2024, according to last year's Pentagon report. That is a much smaller stockpile than the 4,300 and 3,700 warheads that Russia and the US, respectively, possess, according to the Federation of American Scientists. But the Pentagon highlighted in its report that China is engaged in "rapid nuclear expansion." China rolled out its nuclear-capable missiles on Wednesday, including the DF-5C ICBM. Photo by Sheng Jiapeng/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, "much of which will be deployed at higher readiness levels, and will continue growing its force to 2035 in line with its goal of ensuring PLA modernization is 'basically complete' that year," the Pentagon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US called this "an important milestone" for China's leader, Xi Jinping, who wants to achieve a " world-class" military by 2049. That description implies parity with top forces. China has hundreds of ICBMs in its arsenal, all of which can travel thousands of miles to reach the continental US. The DF-41, predecessor to the DF-61, for instance, has an estimated reach of over 7,500 miles and can carry multiple warheads. China also possesses many theater ballistic missiles, as well as cruise missiles. The JL-3 that appeared at Wednesday's parade is China's third-generation submarine-launched ballistic missile. This weapon, along with its predecessor, the JL-2, can be carried by Beijing's Jin-class submarines. The country is developing a next-generation of ballistic missile subs. And then unlike China's other bomber aircraft, the H-6N has a modified fuselage that allows it to carry, externally, a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile. The Pentagon report said it could likely be used to "conduct nuclear precision strikes against targets in the Indo-Pacific theater." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese state media said the weapons on display at the parade "are China's strategic 'ace' power to safeguard the country's sovereignty and nation's dignity." Chinas primary rival, the US, fields a robust nuclear triad composed of land-based Minuteman III ICBMssoon to be replaced by the Sentinel program, nuclear-capable B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit bombers, with the B-21 Raider entering service, and Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines armed with Trident II D5 missiles, to be succeeded by the Columbia class. This triad provides Washington with a diverse, flexible, and survivable arsenal of delivery systems that underpins its role as a major nuclear power. Read the original article on Business Insider Fighter jets. Drone interceptors. Strategic missiles. These are just some of the high-end weapons that China broadcast to the world on Wednesday in a military parade. But of equal importance, if not more, was who was there to watch it. Chinese President Xi Jinping led the parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of Japans surrender in World War II, at Tiananmen Square. But the parade also opened up a rare opportunity to bring together in person Xi, Russias President Vladimir Putin, Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian, and North Koreas Supreme Leader Kim Jong Unleaders of a so-called axis of upheaval. Also in attendance were a plethora of other world leaders China invited in what experts claim was meant to be a projection of power, particularly towards the U.S. and its allies, who decided to skip the event. The Chinese nation is never intimidated by any bullies and always forges ahead, Xi said in a speech from the Tiananmen rostrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games, Xi added. The Chinese people, he said, firmly stand on the right side of history. U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to acknowledge Chinas parade and took aim at Xis guest list. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America, he posted.Trump also downplayed the apparent convergence of anti-U.S. forces. We have the strongest military in the world, by far, he said in a Tuesday interview with conservative commentator Scott Jennings. They would never use their military on usbelieve me, that would be the worst thing they could ever do. What is the axis of upheaval? Russias President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijings Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3, 2025. Alexander KazakovSputnik/Pool/AFP/Getty Images In an April 2024 Foreign Affairs article, foreign policy analysts Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Richard Fontaine from the Washington-based think tank Center for a New American Security wrote of a new axis of upheaval, intentionally repurposing World War terminology. Since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russia, while earning condemnation from the U.S. and its Western allies, has raked in support from China, Iran, and North Korea on the battlefield. Even before the war, the four countries have been described as ideologically aligned at times, though Christopher S. Chivvis and Jack Keating, writing for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in October, noted that they are far from a coherent bloc against which the United States could or should orient an effective strategy. The bulk of the diplomatic ties between the four have existed bilaterally, and some countries in the bloc continuously face tensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military parade, while ostensibly meant to honor military efforts and veterans in WWII, will certainly showcase Chinas military modernization and is meant as a display of Chinese power and strength, to both the U.S. and the West but also to Chinas neighbors, including Russia and North Korea, says Susan Thornton, a senior fellow at the Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center and a former U.S. diplomat to East Asia. Still, the so-called axis is united around an anti-West strategy. Kendall-Taylor and Fontaine described the bloc as a collection of dissatisfied states converging on a shared purpose of overturning the principles, rules, and institutions that underlie the prevailing international system, which the U.S. leads. The North Korean leaders presence was the most notable on Wednesday, when the axis came together in Beijing, says Thornton. Kim consorting with leaders of major powers elevates his standing and is probably meant to project that North Korea has partners and does not need to engage with [South Korea] or the U.S., she says. Kims visit also signals a warming in relations with China, Thornton says. Kim and Xi last met in 2019. What other countries attended the parade? Besides Iran, North Korea, and Russia, heads of state or governments from more than a dozen other countries also attended the parade. These included a number of Southeast Asian countriesCambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnamas well as Pakistan, Nepal, Mongolia, and the Maldives. Others in attendance included leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India, which attended the Chinese-established intergovernmental Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit over the weekend, did not attend the parade. New Delhi has moved closer to Beijing amid tensions with Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed crippling tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. Modis presence at the SCO summit and absence at the parade reflect the fact that India is hedging itself between China and the U.S., perhaps hoping to reap the benefits of being wooed by both, says William Figueroa, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Groningen. This years guest list also notably included few Western-aligned nations, even as China has sought to open itself up to the world. At the military parade in 2015, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, several Western representatives, albeit few heads of state, attended, including former Prime Minister of the U.K. Tony Blair, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and the U.S. ambassador to China at the time Max Baucus, as well as then-President of South Korea Park Geun-hye. This year, two Western heads of state attended: Prime Minister of Slovakia, an E.U. member, Robert Fico and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic. Representatives from several other countries, including Australia and Singapore, as well as representatives from intergovernmental organizations, including the U.N. and ASEAN, also attended. What weapons did China display at the parade? Unmanned aircraft, so-called Flying Wingmans, ride along on military transporters at Tiananmen Square in Beijing during a military parade on Sept. 3, 2025. Johannes Neudeckerdpa/Getty Images Besides the guests, the star of the parade was Xis inspection of the Peoples Liberation Armys full arsenal. In an era in which the United States is not shy about showcasing and projecting military strength, whether directly or indirectly, the Chinese government will certainly want to demonstrate that it also has a modern military that cant be easily pushed around, Figueroa says. The U.S. recently held a military parade in Washington, D.C., in June to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. army, which also coincided with Trumps 79th birthday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Beijings parade, some armaments made their public debuts, including two extra-large undersea drones, a battle tank, and an array of missiles aimed to take down shipsincluding one believed to be an aircraft carrier killer. Of note among the displays were new DF-61 and DF-31BJ intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), evidence of Chinas development of mobile ICBMs as part of its nuclear deterrent arsenal. The DF-61 is believed to be Chinas most advanced ICBM. The capabilities of these missiles are unclear, but Trumps planned Golden Dome missile defense system is being developed with the intention to protect against such threats. What does China signal with the parade? Alfred Wu of the National University of Singapores Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy tells TIME that the parade and Xis speech are the Chinese Presidents opportunity to boost domestic confidence in Chinas future, given its economic slowdown. But internationally, Wu says, the main message China wants to deliver is that the U.S.-dominant world order is in bad shape because of Donald Trumps leadership, and that Beijing is offering itself as an alternative model of global leadership that puts a focus on stability, national security, and economic development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parade comes off the heels of the 25th SCO summit, which Thornton tells TIME displayed the coalescing of major non-Western powers around grievances aimed at Western and U.S. hegemony, bullying, and protectionism. Xi said in his keynote speech at the summit that the world has found itself in a new period of turbulence and transformation, one that is plagued by Cold War mentality, hegemonism and protectionism, implicitly referring to the U.S.s volatile trade, immigration, and foreign policies. The Chinese Premier called on the SCO to oppose unilateralism and strengthen multilateral institutions like the United Nations, from which Thornton says the U.S. under Trump has shown itself to be retreating. As Trump dismantles many of the pillars of the post-war order and conflicts rage on the borders of Europe, China is eager to depict itself as the defender of a more equitable, inclusive vision of the liberal international order, Figueroa says. Chinas purported vision is of a global system that is shaped by post-war multilateral institutions but where there is equality among all countries regardless of size, the countrys foreign ministry has said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has in recent years publicly supported multipolarity in international relations, including at the most recent SCO summit, and it has argued that the United States is the one that attempts to impose unfair policies through the irresponsible use of force, Figueroa says. Trump seemed initially to dismiss any threat from the anti-Western alignment at the parade. I have a very good relationship with President Xi, as you know, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday evening. But China needs us much more than we need them. But in a tirade posted on Truth Social after the parade began, Trump questioned Chinas narrative of its WWII victory, which has in recent years become more nationalistic and sought to diminish the role of U.S. aid. The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive support and blood that the United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly invader, Trump wrote. Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. Contact us at letters@time.com. If, as Donald Trump asserts, the assembly of leaders from China, Russia and North Korea in Beijing to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War is proof of their desire to conspire against the United States of America, then he has only himself to blame. Having chosen to make his address to mark Chinas role in defeating Japan from the Gate of Heavenly Peace, Chinese president Xi Jinping was understandably keen to stress the peaceful nature of Beijings global ambitions, which aimed to join hands with the rest of the world to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Xis commitment to these noble sentiments was somewhat undermined as the Peoples Liberation Army, Navy and Air Force then conducted a massive demonstration of Chinas military might, showing off their latest generation of stealth fighters, tanks, ballistic missiles and underwater drones capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To underline Beijings determination to maintain its confrontational stance towards the West, Xi posed with Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, keen to give the impression that a new world order, one dominated by autocracies, not democracies, was taking shape. The notion that dysfunctional regimes in Moscow and Pyongyang can replace established institutions created at the end of the Second World War, such as the United Nations and Nato, to keep the peace is fanciful. But Xis grandstanding did not escape Trumps attention. Having queried the role China played in defeating imperial Japan, Trump remarked to Xi sarcastically on social media, Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un. While Xis posturing has clearly irked the American leader, it has also exposed the utter vacuity of any suggestion that Beijing is emerging as a rival powerbase to Washington. The only Western leaders to attend the proceedings Slovakias Robert Fico and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia are known Kremlin sympathisers. Other attendees included Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and Zimbabwes Emmerson Mnangagwa, who have built their careers on their strong anti-Western rhetoric. Even Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, who has a prickly relationship with Washington, opted to absent himself from Xis parade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trump would be well-advised to take seriously Xis craving to establish Beijing as a rival sphere of influence to Washington, an ambition that might even succeed one day unless the American leader stops his endless prevarication on the critical issue of resolving the Ukraine conflict. For someone who insists he is keen to end hostilities, Trump sure has a strange way of trying to achieve his aims. One minute he is threatening to impose punitive tariffs against countries, such as India and China, that are continuing to trade with Moscow: the next he is trying to cosy up to Putin in the hope of negotiating lucrative trade deals with the Kremlin. To date, neither of these approaches have borne fruit. Most observers now believe Trumps high profile summit with Putin in Alaska last month achieved next to nothing. There has since been a notable increase in Russian drone and missile attacks against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Trump really believes, as his social media post suggests, that Beijing is assembling a collection of like-minded autocrats to conspire against the US and its allies, then the best way to respond is for his administration to lay down a clear marker you are either with us or against us. And if, as is clearly the case with Moscow and Pyongyang, countries prefer to side with Beijings Communist rulers, then they must be designated as international pariahs, and denied access to Western markets and technology. This course of action has, for different reasons, already been applied to North Korea and Russia, even though the Russians have proved to be remarkably adept at maintaining some trading ties with the West, especially in Europe. But these could easily be severed if Trump acted on his threat to impose tariffs against any country that continued to trade with Russia. Such a move would send a clear signal to those countries, including India, that are seeking to maintain the delicate balancing act of maintaining ties with the West while at the same time deepening relations with autocratic regimes in Moscow and Beijing. If the Trump administration, together with its allies in Europe, were to make it abundantly clear that they were not prepared to tolerate such double dealing, it might cause New Delhi to undertake a fundamental review of its approach. Are closer ties with Beijing really in Indias interests at a time when trade ties between the two countries are heavily weighted in Chinas favour? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is, undoubtedly, a glaring opportunity for the Trump administration to respond to Xis blatant act of hubris by making clear its own terms of trade. At the very least, countries that seek to cosy up to anti-Western autocracies will no longer enjoy the benefits and privileges afforded to proper allies. 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 massive military parade in Beijing yesterday has provided us with a much closer look at some of the countrys new air combat drone initiatives, the gradual emergence of which, in the run-up to the event, prompted much discussion. Of these various drone designs, one, in particular, stands out. This is a low-observable tailless design that is also very large, broadly equivalent in size to Chinas J-10 medium-weight fighter. Overall, its design is indicative of high performance, pointing firmly to a true uncrewed stealth fighter, while its appearance suggests that it may well already be flyable or is otherwise a very authentic mock-up. The new fighter-type UCAV seen on parade in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on September 3, 2025. Photo by Chen Bin/Xinhua via Getty Images Xinhua News Agency While the designation of the new drone remains unknown, there have been claims that it is provisionally named Unmanned Air Superiority Fighter. Meanwhile, for the sake of clarity, China-watchers have taken to referring to this design as the Type B drone. It's called "Unmanned Air Superiority Fighter" "" So will use UASF onwards for this large tailless CCA with EOTS/DSI until we get an official designation https://t.co/oBb8zUIaz1 pic.twitter.com/yPbcoB0CrX Hurin (@Hurin92) September 3, 2025 The drone in question was shown among other uncrewed designs on the back of a flatbed truck during the September 3 parade marking the 80th anniversary of Chinas victory over Japan in World War II. Seen now in full, and uncovered, the drone is significantly bigger than the other previously unknown designs that had been seen ahead of the parade, in satellite imagery and covered with tarpaulins during rehearsals. Based on the satellite imagery after the parade, a rough size measurement was made, the two unmanned air superiority fighters have comparable sizes to the J-10 fighter. Via pic.twitter.com/5lcWLuvDxH dafeng cao (@dafengcao) September 3, 2025 Collectively, the various new drone designs at least five in total were widely considered to be something akin to Chinese equivalents of the U.S. Air Forces Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The Type B, however, has all the hallmarks of a higher-performance fighter-like uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV), of a kind that the U.S. Air Force is notably not developing at least, in the unclassified realm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new UCAV-like Type B drone is tailless with a modified delta wing. The wing is broadly diamond-shaped, with cropped tips. There are two large control surfaces evident on each wings trailing edge. The nose has a very distinct chine that extends back to the side-mounted engine intakes before merging with the wing leading edge. The side intakes are in contrast to those found on at least some of the other newly emerged Chinese drone designs, which are mounted on top of the fuselage. These forward-raked, diverterless supersonic intakes (DSI) have much in common with those found on new-generation crewed fighter designs, outright pointing to supersonic performance. The intakes feed a single engine, with the variable-geometry nozzle (presumably for an afterburning engine) projecting beyond the wing trailing edge. The nozzle is serrated, including both the outer sleeve and actual nozzle, like on the F-35 and new Chinese fighter designs. Pointed extensions of the trailing edge, again F-35-style, are found on either side of the engine nozzle (seen below). A rear view of the Type B drone (nearest camera). via Chinese internet The Type B drone is seen on the far left of this photo, during the V-Day military parade on September 3, 2025, in Beijing, China. Nearer the camera is one of the smaller CCA-type drones that also appeared. Photo by Zhao Wenyu/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images China News Service Overall, the Type B is very likely supersonic capable, but would also possess significant range for a high-performance aircraft, thanks to a combination of sleek tailless design and no requirement to accommodate a pilot and all crew-related systems. Another view of the Type B drone during the military parade. Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images ZLT Besides performance, the other major driver is low observability. As for the exposed, round engine nozzle, which would adversely affect this, at least from the rear aspect, this is a known practice for stealth fighter designs, the result of a tradeoff between performance, complexity, weight, affordability, and low observability. The serrations on the nozzle help with the radar signature in certain radar bands. It could also be the case that this is an early iteration, and a stealthier, two-dimensional engine nozzle, possibly with thrust vectoring, will appear on the Type B in due course. This would parallel the development of Russias S-70 Okhotnik UCAV, and the Chinese GJ-11 Sharp Sword also underwent a redesign that left it with enhanced low-observable features. To preserve its low observability, there are signs that the Type B drone has extensive internal capacity for weapons. Underside views of the drone suggest large weapons bays below its fuselage. The underside of the Type B drone appears to include plenty of space for internal weapons. Photo by Zhao Wenyu/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interrupting what is otherwise an overall smooth profile, the Type B drone also has a prominent chin-mounted electro-optical sensor, likely analogous to the F-35s Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS). Similar kinds of fairings also appear on the Chinese J-20 and J-35 stealth jets and further point to this drone being intended for fighter-style missions. A close-up of the EOTS fairing on the Type B drone. Photo by Zhao Wenyu/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images Alongside this drone, China displayed another, broadly similar but slightly smaller UCAV design, now referred to as the Type A. Also tailless, this one differs in having a lambda-type wing and caret-style engine intakes. It lacks the undernose EOTS fairing, but appears to have a similar kind of single-turbofan powerplant. Otherwise, it looks more slender than the Type B, with a much smaller nose profile. A photo providing a good indication of the different wing shapes of the so-called Type A (nearest camera) and Type B UCAV designs. via Chinese internet In the third row of this part of the parade, we get another good view of the different wing shapes of the Type A (right) and Type B (left) UCAV designs. via Chinese internet At this point, its worth noting that we dont know for sure what the nature of these two new drones in the parade is, but they appear to be real aircraft, potentially even flight-capable. If they are mock-ups, they include a remarkable level of detail, down to an open access panel seen aft of the main landing gear on the Type A. Traditionally, mock-ups have been regularly shown at many major Chinese military parades in the past. It may be possible the two big CCAs, based on their landing gear, internal fuselage details (wiring, piping), and other external fuselage markers (surfaces, engine nozzles), may actually be real airframes. It would be odd for mockups to be so detailed. TBC pic.twitter.com/9kv5ru1WZ3 Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) September 3, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As it is, there is very little to indicate the status of the designs, in terms of where they are in their development cycle or whether they are even intended for operational service or are (currently) intended to serve as prototypes or demonstrators. Both the Type A and B drones shown in the parade had serial numbers applied that refer to an actual operational unit of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). However, thats not to say that one or both are currently operational, and there is no evidence, publicly available, of these drones being fielded in any meaningful way. The Type A (nearest camera) and Type B UCAVs during the parade. The 53x3x serial numbers are the same as those used by a brigade of the PLAAF within the Western Theater Command. Photo by Zhang Lei/VCG via Getty Images VCG At the same time, its certainly the case that many previous designs that have appeared as parade mock-ups, including drones, have matured into very real capabilities. Of these, the GJ-11 is among the best-known examples and had been flying for years in a less-refined form prior to its parade debut. Like the GJ-11, the new Type B drone appears to be intended for a UCAV role, although very likely it is also intended to have collaborative capabilities. However, while other newly emerged Chinese drone designs more closely approximate our understanding of CCAs or CCA-type platforms, the Type Bs size and apparent complexity do indeed point more to its being a fighter-like UCAV. CCA concepts are typically more focused on some form of affordability for combat mass clearly not a driver for the Type A and B. For CCAs, such decisions come at the expense of payload, stealthiness, range, and especially performance. While CCAs are generally more intended for cooperative employment, true UCAVs are understood to be more capable of independent operation, or at least designed with an eye toward that in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UCAVs are clearly an area in which China is also devoting extensive resources, with a steady flow of drones in this class having been noted under flight test, in satellite imagery, and in the form of scale models and mock-ups. Most prominent among these is perhaps the aforementioned GJ-11, a stealthy flying-wing UCAV, development of which has continued, refining it in the process, with a growing eye toward future shipboard operations. A model of a Chinese GJ-11 Sharp Sword flying-wing UCAV on display. Yang Suping/VCG via Getty Images Yang Suping/VCG via Getty Images By now, its fairly clear that the GJ-11 is designed primarily for strike missions, with the munitions carried in a pair of internal bays, as well as performing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks. Sharp Swords have also been depicted launching decoys and carrying out what appears to be electronic warfare attacks. The GJ-11 is just one of a number of flying-wing designs that Chinese companies have been working on publicly in recent years. While also stealthy, the new drones apparent high-performance design focus could well point to it being envisioned for more fighter-like missions, including direct air combat with other platforms. As well as fighter-like roles, the Type B would also be able to carry out more traditional UCAV missions, such as strike and ISR. Once again, the degree to which it might operate collaboratively in support of crewed fighters remains unclear, but this is certainly an area of study in China right now, including teaming UCAVs with crewed J-20 stealth fighters. We have previously explored how the two-seat version of the J-20 that first emerged in 2021 could be especially well-suited to the airborne drone controller role. The latest two-seat J-20S configuration, which includes a revised dark paint scheme. via X via X Again, its unclear if the overall concept of the new Chinese fighter-like drone is based on a loyal wingman-type drone companion to crewed fighters, or if the drone will be controlled from a ground station, or even if it will be expected to shoot down hostile aircraft with some degree of autonomy. However, while the latter point is one that the U.S. Air Force, in particular, is increasingly grappling with, China appears to have far fewer qualms about autonomous vehicles making such life-and-death decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until now, only a few fighter-type air combat drone projects have resulted in hardware, with a prominent example being Turkeys Bayraktar Kizilelma drone. This is claimed to be supersonic (at least in later versions), have a degree of reduced-observable characteristics, and be tailored for the kinds of air combat missions typically undertaken by crewed fighter jets. Baykar Powered by a single turbofan, the Kizilelma has a canard-delta configuration, of the kind seen on some other reduced-observable combat aircraft designs, and has canted vertical stabilizers. Overall, its design is weighted more toward high performance than low observability, with the two Chinese UCAV-type drones being notably stealthier in this regard. Whatever the intended role of Chinas new fighter-like drones, their appearance once again highlights an apparent fast-growing gap between developments in this area in China and the United States. As far as is known, the U.S. military is not actively developing UCAVs in this class, and its earlier efforts on stealthy flying-wing combat drones were effectively shelved, in the public domain, at least. The startling lack of U.S. Air Force activity in this area is something you can read more about in this past TWZ feature. Boeings X-45C, a full-sized operational UCAV testbed that flew in the late 2000s. Although it was very promising, the U.S. Air Force had little interest in it. Boeing Instead, for the U.S. military, next-generation air combat drone activity is currently focused on lower-cost designs intended to work closely with crewed combat jets, at least initially, as part of their respective Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs. There is, meanwhile, nothing that we know about thats comparable to Chinas low-observable (stealthy) flying-wing designs, which offer much greater range and payload capacities, as well as much-enhanced survivability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There may also be other Chinese fighter-like UCAVs in the works, too. Earlier this year, imagery appeared that indicated China is test-flying another tailless stealthy combat jet, although it still isnt clear if this is a crewed design or another new advanced drone. You can read our analysis of this aircraft here. The mysterious new stealth aircraft that appeared earlier this year. via X Clearly, we still have much to find out about the big new Type B drone, not least what it might officially be called. Potentially, it may not be intended for operational service but instead is meant to serve as a demonstrator or a proof-of-concept. It may even be a rival to Type A seen adjacent to it in the parade, suggesting China is avoiding putting all its fighter UCAV eggs in one basket. Even that possibility, however, would serve to highlight the stark contrast in UCAV development between China and the United States, an apparent growing trend that TWZ has been discussing for years. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a major military parade in Beijing on Wednesday as the event debuted new missiles, drones and other high-tech equipment in a massive show of force. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who presided over the Victory Day event intended to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Japans defeat in World War II, warned the world was facing the choice of peace or war, casting little doubt on the countrys aggressive posturing. Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum, Xi told a crowd at Tiananmen Square, adding that China was unstoppable and that its people firmly stand on the right side of history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parade marks the first time Xi, Putin and Kim have appeared together in public. All three later met formally at Chinas State Guesthouse. President Trump, whose tariffs have strained relations with China and who has grown frustrated with Russias resistance to ending its war in Ukraine, in a post on Truth Social asked Xi to give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America. No U.S. delegation attended the grand military display, but more than 25 foreign heads of state or government, including international pariahs Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, were in Beijing for the event. The parade, a 70-minute affair that included marching soldiers, formations of helicopters and fighter jets and an endcap release of 80,000 doves, showcased Chinas latest military hardware such as missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them was the new intercontinental ballistic missile DF-61, reportedly capable of flying more than 7,500 miles while carrying multiple warheads, and the newest version of the silo-based DF-5, the DF-5C, The Associated Press reported. That missile has an estimated range of nearly 12,500 miles. Also on display were the nuclear capable JL-1 air-launched long-range and the JL-3 sea-launched missiles, according to the AP. The event was the first time the Chinese militarys triad of strategic nuclear forces was presented in a concentrated fashion, according to Beijings official Xinhua News Agency, which added that the three were the countrys trump card for safeguarding national sovereignty and defending national dignity. In addition, new missiles designed to attack ships were featured for the first time, such as the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20 anti-ship missiles. All are able to operate at hypersonic and long ranges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also newly displayed were the aircraft-carrier version of the J-35 stealth multirole fighter, seven types of reconnaissance and attack aerial drones, and two submarine drones. The weapons are all a part of Chinas massive modernization program intended to produce a force with both nuclear and conventional capabilities able to deter wars in all battle spaces, according to official parade announcers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. [Source] Yunhai Li, a 35-year-old doctor at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, was arrested on Aug. 22 after investigators said he attempted to steal confidential breast cancer vaccine research and take it to China. He is charged with theft of trade secrets, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and tampering with a government record, a misdemeanor. Airport interception U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security agents stopped Li at George Bush Intercontinental Airport as he prepared to board a flight to China on July 9. Border agents found two phones and a laptop containing unpublished MD Anderson research. Investigators said Li had uploaded about 90 gigabytes of files to Chinese cloud service Baidu and used software to delete evidence of other accounts. He admitted to downloading the files and told investigators he hoped officers would not find the data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Li submitted false information on government forms, failing to disclose outside affiliations that could have restricted his access to federally funded research. He was released after the airport stop and arrested weeks later following further investigation. He is free on a $5,000 bond and ordered to remain in the Houston area. Trending on NextShark: Chinese supercar sets EV speed world record Undisclosed affiliations Li joined MD Anderson in 2022 on a U.S. research scholar visa after earning his medical degree in China. He signed confidentiality agreements prohibiting undisclosed funding or affiliations but investigators found he held a position at Chongqing Medical University and received support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Charging documents also state he was listed as an author on research published in China while still employed at MD Anderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The breast cancer vaccine project Li worked on was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense. He resigned from MD Anderson on July 1, when the project was about 70% complete. Li told investigators he believed the work was going to waste and said, As a product of my efforts over the last three years I believe I have a right to possess and retain this data. He also told border agents he did not remember signing nondisclosure agreements. Trending on NextShark: Former Japanese American WWII camps fuel resistance to Trumps historical censorship Ongoing investigation Lis case is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations in coordination with federal prosecutors. Li is also under federal investigation for possible wire fraud, theft of federal funds and abuse of official capacity. His defense attorney, Eddie Gomez, said the case was in the early stages and declined further comment. MD Anderson confirmed Lis employment ended on July 1 and said the center is cooperating with investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His arrest comes as other Chinese nationals in the U.S. face charges involving alleged theft or concealment of research ties. In 2019, a University of Kansas researcher was arrested for hiding his work in China and was later convicted of wire fraud before the conviction was overturned on appeal in 2022. In July, federal prosecutors indicted two men from China accused of hacking into research institutions, including the University of Texas Medical Branch, to obtain information on COVID-19 vaccines. Trending on NextShark: Chinese doctor in Texas accused of stealing US-funded cancer research This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Jeremy Lin retires after 15 years Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! OZARK, Mo. Local Chamber of Commerce groups and health officals are celebrating the grand opening of a new clinic for Christian County employees on Wednesday, Sept. 3. A ribbon-cutting for the new Christian County Employee Health Clinic will be held at noon at 475 N. Government Plaza in Ozark. The ribbon will be cut by Christian County commissioners Brad Jackson, Lynn Morris and Johnny Williams simultaneously. (Courtesy: Ozark Chamber of Commerce) The Ozark Chamber of Commerce says the clinic will offer primary care, encourage preventive visits and help reduce costly urgent care and ER use for employees in the county. The clinic can also be used for workers compensation needs and pre-employment drug screenings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Silver Dollar City to debut Rockefeller style Christmas Tree this year The health clinic will initially be open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Usage will be reviewed over the next 18 months to see if there is a need to expand. Christian County covers 100% of employee health insurance premiums, according to the Ozark Chamber of Commerce. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. After a post-pandemic spike in the number of students who were chronically absent, the rate dipped to 15% in 2023-24, state data says. (Danielle P. Richards for New Jersey Monitor) After a post-pandemic spike in the number of students who are regularly missing from school in New Jersey, chronic absenteeism has dropped but remains a bigger problem than it was nearly 10 years ago, state records show. Data from the state Department of Education shows that the chronic absenteeism rate was 15% for the 2023-24 school year, the last for which the data is available. That means more than 190,000 of the states roughly 1.4 million public school students missed 10% or more school days that year, including absences that were excused and unexcused and those related to disciplinary action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rate had reached 18% in the 2021-22 school year. For the 2016-17 school year, the figure was 10%. The data is more alarming when broken out into demographic groups. More than 21% of Black students statewide were chronically absent in 2023-24, or nearly 40,000 students, and the figure for Hispanic students was about 18%, or roughly 81,000 students. For Asian American students, the chronic absenteeism rate was 7%, and for white students, 11%. All those rates are up from 2016-17. This is an issue that takes a village. Its not just the schools responsibility, its not just the community providers or the student or the parent. Its a problem that has to be solved with everyone, collaboratively, said Nina Peckman, an education attorney with research and advocacy group Advocates for Children of New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statewide rate remains far lower than the nationwide one. The U.S. Department of Education reports that 28% of students were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year. Aida Rosario is the director of communications at Paterson Public Schools, which teaches about 24,000 students. Rosario said absenteeism rates are significantly higher for certain subgroups because these groups face unique challenges that make consistent school attendance more difficult than for other populations. In Paterson, 36% of students were chronically absent in 2023-24, up from 13% in 2016-17. For Black students, that figure was 46%, representing about 1,600 students, and for Hispanic students, it was 35%, or about 5,200 students. These elevated rates are not due to lack of interest in education, but rather structural and systemic barriers outside students control. Addressing them requires targeted supports, wraparound services, and culturally responsive engagement strategies that recognize and respond to these challenges, Rosario said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newark has the states largest school district, with a population of roughly 44,000 students and a chronic absenteeism rate of 12% in 2023-24. Thats down from 30% in 2016-17. For Black students in Newark, the rate was 15% in 2023-24 and for Hispanic students, 10%. These encouraging numbers show that our students and families are responding to the districts efforts to build a culture of daily attendance, Hasani K. Council, president of the Newark Board of Education, said in a statement. When students are present, theyre positioned for success. We will continue working to ensure that every child in Newark is supported and empowered to show up, every single day. Education advocates say the increase in chronic absenteeism is due to several factors, including student mental health needs and chronic illnesses. Peckman said she helps more than 300 parents a year with chronic absenteeism issues, which is an uptick from before the pandemic led to widespread school closures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some parents call me when their child has missed 20, 30, 40, or more days of school, and the parents didnt have any clue on how to advocate for their child to receive instruction or support services, she said. And unfortunately, in some cases, the schools arent communicating well with the parent regarding what they can do. Under state statute, after four cumulative unexcused absences for a student, the school district must reach out to the parents and develop a plan to address the issue. When unexcused absences number between five and nine days, the school should engage the students family, consult whether the students academic, behavioral, and health needs are being met, and consider an alternative placement if needed. Peckman said that typically when parents call her and are already dealing with chronic absenteeism, they say they were not invited to meetings with teachers. Absenteeism policies can be buried deep in a schools website, and parents arent best informed of their childrens rights, she said. When parents contact me, they are struggling to get their children to school, and theyre looking for help. Thats why they call me, because they have tried to get help, but theyre not aware of all the resources that schools can offer or what they could possibly get through the community, Peckman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also noted that districts are having trouble replacing teachers, social workers, and guidance counselors who have left, leaving staff overburdened. It makes sense that if theres less adults, less staff, less support staff, that theres less people to notice a child is having an issue or what to make of an attendance issue, she added. In 2016, Advocates for Children of New Jersey said in a study that more than 136,00 students statewide were chronically absent, and attributed the causes to similar problems Peckman mentioned. Black students made up about 25% of the states chronically absent students then, and Hispanic students made up 32%, according to the report. Chronic absenteeism is also more likely to affect low-income children and students of color because they are at higher risk for unreliable transportation, unstable housing, school suspensions, and community violence, according to the report, which says New Jerseys trend follows greater national trends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, state lawmakers passed a bill that would establish a statewide task force aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism in schools. The measure is currently on Gov. Phil Murphys desk awaiting a signature or veto. Bill sponsor Sen. Angela McKnight (D-Hudson) said in a statement that the task force would study the many overlapping challenges facing students who are chronically absent, like food insecurity and housing instability. This task force will dig deeper to identify the full range of barriers that prevent students from showing up and staying engaged in school. By bringing together a diverse panel of experts, we can gain a better understanding of the struggles students are facing and develop real, actionable solutions, she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The centerpiece of Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom is getting a new look. Disney recently announced on the official Disney Parks Blog that Cinderellas Castle will receive an updated paint job featuring a royal color palette of gray, cream, blue and gold touches. The company noted that the updated color scheme was developed to reflect the Florida sunshine in a way that makes the castle shimmer from every angle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what you need to know about Cinderellas Castles new look and if it will impact your planned trip to Walt Disney World. When is Cinderellas Castle getting painted? When will the color palette be unveiled? Disneys Imagineers announced the new color palette scheme at a Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disneys Castles panel at Disneys D23 in August 2025. This is actually a retro paint job, as it will go back to Cinderella Castles original color scheme. However, there has been no confirmation about how long the paint job will take or whether it will disrupt the look or operations of the castle. The timeline for the paint job or how long the castle will be out of commission has not yet been revealed. The last time the castle was painted, it was announced in 2020 and completed in 2021. If we look at the previous timeline, the new paint job could take between four to five months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Disney has not officially revealed the new paint job date, we expect it wont happen until 2026. Currently, Disney World is themed for Halloween and will be through the end of October. Christmas events kick off starting on November 7 in Magic Kingdom with Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party, and the full Christmas overlay will begin on November 14. So, it is unlikely that Cinderellas Castle will be out of commission from now through New Years Day, as October, November and December are some of the busiest times of year at Walt Disney World. How long has Cinderellas Castle been pink? The castle is currently painted in pink, rose gold and blue, and has been that way since the paint job was completed in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last repainting of the castle was for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom, according to a Disney Parks Blog post. Disney World first opened in 1971. Back then, WDW was just the Magic Kingdom theme park. Cinderellas Castle stands at 189 feet tall. It would be taller, but due to aviation safety regulations, any building over 200 feet requires a red flashing light, and Disney Imagineers instead used forced perspective to make the castle look taller. Herbert Ryman, the chief designer of the castle, drew inspiration from the movie Cinderella, the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, and several real castles, including the Alcazar of Segovia, Schwerin Castle, Hohenzollern Castle, Chateau dUsse, and Chateau de Saumur, among others. More Disney World News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Read the original article on NJ.com. By Brad Brooks and Maria Tsvetkova Sep 3 (Reuters) -In Los Angeles, Francisco "Chavo" Romero and a dozen other immigration activists were out before dawn on a recent summer morning, gathering near an ICE staging area so they could tail the immigration agents' vehicles and send alerts over social media on the officers' whereabouts. In Austin, a technology worker created an app to report sightings of agents - it has over 1 million users. On Long Island, New York, another activist developed a similar app to report immigration enforcement raids in local areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As President Donald Trump ramps up his mass deportation efforts with $75 billion in new funding through 2029 to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, civilian surveillance of federal immigration agents is becoming increasingly assertive, according to interviews with a dozen activists, legal experts, and historians. "With minimal resources, we've been able to confront, challenge and expose a billion-dollar repressive state apparatus that is attacking and kidnapping our people," said Romero, 50, an activist with Union del Barrio, an immigrant rights group, in Los Angeles. Romero said he and other activists gather nearly every morning near an ICE staging area around Terminal Island, about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. They watch for agents heading out in marked and unmarked vehicles to conduct operations - then follow from several car lengths and alert the public on the agents' locations. Romero says he's protecting the Latino community. The Trump administration says he and anyone else surveilling ICE agents in an effort to warn people about their work are helping criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Interfering with federal law enforcement is a crime so is assaulting law enforcement and harboring criminal illegal aliens," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Reuters when asked to comment on citizen surveillance. "Anyone who uses apps or other methods to commit crimes will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law." Six legal experts told Reuters that surveillance of ICE is largely protected under the U.S. Constitution - as long as the activists don't interfere with that work. Courts have long held that recording law enforcement activists in public areas is legal. "If activists are recording ICE and telling people where they are with the intent to have people avoid ICE or have people physically interfere with ICE, that's where it potentially gets dicey," said Sophia Cope, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation's civil liberties team. "If a case like that went to court, that might be a relevant factual difference to a court." Hans von Spakovsky, a legal expert with the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, agreed it would be difficult for the Trump administration to prosecute activists for surveilling ICE agents - but he said he saw a narrow opening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While courts have upheld the legality of mapping apps that warn motorists of police ahead, von Spakovsky said such tools encourage people to slow down and obey the law. With the ICE-tracking apps, the Trump administration could argue that the efforts are encouraging people to break the law. "It's a difference a judge may be willing to look at if the Justice Department tries to prosecute somebody for developing one of these apps," von Spakovsky said. 'WATCH OUT' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in July that Joshua Aaron, the Texas-based creator of ICEBlock, the most popular ICE-tracking app, should "watch out" and argues that he is "not protected" under the Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has said she's working with the Department of Justice to see if Aaron and other app makers can be prosecuted. "If you obstruct or assault our law enforcement, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Noem said in an email to Reuters. Asked if he had been contacted by the government, or if he's facing any charges or a lawsuit, Aaron simply replied: "Nope." "This administration tends to blow a bunch of hot air in front of the cameras, but then they don't follow up and do anything because they know they don't have a legal leg to stand on," Aaron said. "You can't limit what people can see with their own eyes." Aaron's family has not escaped unscathed - his wife, Carolyn Feinstein, was recently fired from her decade-long job as a forensic auditor in the Department of Justice's U.S. Trustee Program. The department said in a written statement Feinstein was fired because she held a stake in the company that holds the IP for ICEBlock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahmad Perez, 23, the son of a Moroccan immigrant mother and Puerto Rican father and founder of Islip Forward, a group of volunteers that built an ICE-tracking app in January focused on two counties on Long Island, said he was focused on getting local people to take immediate action. The app has 80,000 users. Perez and a team of volunteers verify anonymous ICE sightings sent in via the app before sending out a push notification. Volunteers go into the street to check, or speak to nearby police departments to make sure the report did not mistake a local police officer for an ICE agent. "We all want criminals out of our streets. We all want the gang members out of our communities," Perez said. "But what we're seeing now is innocent families, we're seeing innocent children with no criminal records, sometimes U.S. citizens being detained and expedited out of the country like it's a FedEx package." (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Colorado and Maria Tsvetkova in New York; Additional reporting by Jorge Garcia and Jane Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Donna Bryson and Suzanne Goldenberg) Lebanon Planning Commission members approved development plans, with a few recommendations, for the 1,500-acre Meta data center in their Aug. 18 meeting. The multi-phase data center campus known as Project Domino includes construction of 15 buildings in the LEAP Research and Innovation District: 12 data centers, one network building, one logistics warehouse and one administrative building, totaling about 4.8 million square feet, according to a planning commission staff report. With Project Domino falling within the district, this was essentially the final hurdle needed to proceed with the data center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LEAP is the states Limitless Exploration/Advance Pace Research and Innovation District and is the largest economic project in Hoosier history. The district is situated on about 9,000 acres in north and western Boone County. County Roads 325 W. and 400 W. run through the Meta campus, and portions of those roads will be closed within the district when the Indiana Department of Transportation completes the relocation of a portion of Ind. 32 on the citys west side. Once complete, the existing right-of-way for Ind. 32 will be vacated to Orla LLC, the Meta property developers. Then vacations of County Roads 300 W. and 400 W. will proceed through the southern portion of the site, according to the staff report from the planning commissions Aug. 11 meeting. London is without a Housing Authority Board following action taken by City Council Friday to disapprove Mayor Randall Weddles prior appointments, which they deemed illegal. Votes to disapprove Weddles appointments were unanimous across council members at the special-called meeting, leaving the board without members at this time. Weddle warned the decision could put the city at risk of losing federal funding, stating, [You all] admit in your charges to me that this is going to put you in non-compliance, so council, at this point, is taking responsibility for the Housing Authority and I want this on the record to lose federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council Member Kelly Greene argued that the matter would fall back on the old board at the Kentucky Housing Authority, making the motion to disapprove the appointments, which was seconded by Justin Young. Weddles response was that was not confirmed. During the discussion, the boards former legal counsel Emily Morgan Campbell of Rowady Hendricks Law, PSC, briefly attempted to speak on the matter. Council members argued she could not speak because it was a special-called meeting, however the mayor maintained that it was relevant to the conversation. I want you to understand that these people are going to lose their homes, Campbell urged. The debate over the board carried over after the meeting Friday, when Housing Authority appointee Chase Carson and Greene exchanged words. Carson said he responded after overhearing Greene comment, These people dont even live here, referring to some of those in attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I turned and replied, I believe they are from London, and realized it was Kelly who had spoken, Carson recounted. She responded, I dont think they do. I then said, Well, I knew over half of them, and they do live here. As we walked to our car, Kelly said, When did you become such a jerk, Chase? I answered, Im not. I will always stand up for the community I love. That was the end of it. Greene later acknowledged her comment to Carson, stating, I should not have said what I did, but he interjected something into a conversation I was having with someone else. Carson also commented on the councils decision to disapprove the appointments. I am deeply disappointed. If the issue was simply that the mayor made these appointments without their approval, then the responsible step would have been to approve qualified members during the meeting, Carson said. Each person appointed is a respected and trusted member of this community. We accepted the call to action to help our Housing Authority come into compliance with federal requirements, or risk losing critical federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He further stated he prays the council quickly corrects course and appoints a board, whether with the same members or new ones selected by them. On Sunday afternoon, Council Member Anthony Ortega addressed concerns regarding eviction in a Facebook post. It is curious that Mayor Weddle suggested imminent doom due to a couple weeks of vacancy on that board, when he removed the last board and left four vacancies unfilled on that board for 19 months, Ortega wrote. I want to ensure [sic] the public that this assertion by Mayor Weddle and the social media posts echoing this claim are false and are creating unnecessary fear and panic in our community... No residents will be evicted as a result of the actions taken by the London City Council to officially disapprove of illegally appointed board members to the London Housing Authority. The only circumstance in which an eviction may occur is if a tenant violates their own lease agreement. He added he wants to reassure residents that he is in direct communication with the housing director, assistant director and state officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carson again took to Facebook to address the matter on Monday, writing, The mayor asked me to serve on the housing board since one hadnt existed in two years, which put our federal funding at risk. At our first meeting... we requested financials, policies, and past minutes, but none were provided. They only gave us a binder of HUD regulations. Carson went on to write that, instead of the information requested, he received a letter from an attorney representing the executive and assistant directors the following week. He said that week also brought Executive Director Stephanie Newsomes request for medical leave. He additionally claims that, two weeks ago, HUD warned the board that if Federal Funding Certification reporting wasnt completed by last August 29, funding would be lost. Without the efforts of Emily, and the illegal board, our community would have likely lost those funds, Carson wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sentinel Echos attempts to contact HUD for comment were unsuccessful as of press time Tuesday. Also at press time, Housing Authority residents were invited to meet with staff. That story will be available at a later date. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The City of San Diego is highlighting some recent upgrades to its emergency operations center in recognition of National Preparedness Month. Council President Joe LaCava met with the team at the EOC Tuesday. Make sure that they are adequately staffed and prepared so when an incident does happen such as the floods back in January 2024, the fires that were seeing more frequently, that they have the equipment to be able to do things, said LaCava. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the disastrous floods in 2024, there was a formal review and audit of what worked well and what didnt. Since then, changes have been made. During the storm we found we were a little short of space for employees that we were bringing in. If youre here for 12 hours, it might be nice to have a standup desk, to have your own private space. We had open tables, so we looked at what would be a traditional type of EOC layout, said Chris Heiser, Executive Director of the Office of Emergency Services for the City of San Diego. New desks, chairs, monitors and better organization aim to help workflow. Prior to the flooding, Heiser says the center hadnt had a level one activation since 2007. San Diego police and fire also have their department operation centers located in the same building to further improve communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City leaders are also using national preparedness month to remind the community to have a plan in case of a large scale local emergency like flooding or fires. City council will formally proclaim September as National Preparedness Month in the City of San Diego during the city council meeting next Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Civil rights attorneys to represent family of father killed in St. Marys officer-involved shooting Action News Jax learned that nationally renowned civil rights attorneys, Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, now represent the family of a Jacksonville man shot and killed by two St. Marys Police officers exactly one month ago today. The St. Marys Police Department says they got a call from a woman who said Gregory Paige was threatening to kill her at the Cumberland Oaks Apartment Complex. Action News Jax got a copy of the St. Marys Police Department Case Report, which revealed that the woman who called police referred to Paige as her baby daddy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the St. Marys Police Department, along with the Camden County Sheriffs Office, confronted Paige at the apartment complex, investigators say that Paige was not cooperating with their commands. The GBI, which is now investigating this incident, says two St. Marys Police officers shot their guns, hitting Paige. And as of today, no answers has been given specifically as to whether Mr. Paige had a weapon or not, said Civil Rights Attorney Harry Daniels. From the police report, it appears that he did not have a weapon. Daniels wants to see more transparency from investigators to explain what led to Paiges death. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] We think that the family is entitled, the people of the state of Georgia are entitled to what happened, the people of Camden County are entitled to know what happened, said Daniels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reached out to the St. Marys Police Department and asked them if they ever recovered a weapon from the scene, and if the two officers who fired their weapons are still working in their full capacity with the agency. We are still waiting to hear back. The GBI says they will conduct an independent investigation. Once that is completed, they say the case file will be given to the Brunswick District Attorneys Office for review. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Finding a place to live within your means has become harder and harder in Middle Tennessee. For many, Clarksville has become home, offering rents 46% cheaper than Nashville and more affordable purchase options. However, now even thats becoming hard to afford. Right now, were looking at roughly 68% of renters that are living outside their means in Clarksville Montgomery County, meaning that their income is not enough to afford the rent, said Leslie Chiodini, Executive Director of the Clarksville Montgomery County Community Action Agency. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Although the area is seeing an uptick in new builds, Chiodini said the need goes beyond simply more housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were seeing a lot of new housing, its just not affordable. Theres a lot of apartments going up, just the community in which I serve, the income, the wages are just not enough to afford the housing that is available, she added. So its kind of the place to go, but with that growth has now come additional challenges. A proposal going before the Clarksville Legislative Committee seeks to help bridge the gap by creating a land bank. How it would work is the City of Clarksville would purchase or take over properties that are vacant, abandoned or tax-delinquent. After some rehab, the city would put those properties back into productive use, such as allowing nonprofits to use them for affordable housing. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Its either create more affordable housing or increase wages, which is a tough subject in its own, Chiodini said. If the city has the capability of doing that, thats great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before any of this could take place, state lawmakers would first have to allow the city to create a land bank. Its an ask that council member Stacey Streetman will take before the Clarksville Legislative Committee on Wednesday, with a proposal from the Neighborhood and Community Services department. If passed, the resolution would then go to the General Assembly for approval. Below are statistics from the Clarksville Montgomery County Community Action Agencys 2024 Community Assessment: Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Action Agency (CMCCAA)Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Montana Public Service Commission (via PSC Twitter account). In a decision that drew immediate pushback, the Montana Public Service Commission voted unanimously Tuesday against declaring the constitution requires it to consider the adverse impacts of climate change in its work. The PSC also disagreed it must consider climate in a set of statutes outlined in a petition filed in February 2024 by more than 40 Montana businesses and organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For one thing, the order said making such a declaration would exceed the authority of the Public Service Commission. It said the PSC exercises powers granted by the Montana Legislature, and it is an administrative agency. It is well established that the Montana Constitution does not allow administrative agencies to issue declarations interpreting the Constitution, the order said. The decision elicited quick criticism from the Montana Environmental Information Center and other organizations that petitioned the PSC to consider climate costs including health detriments in its regulation of gas and electric utilities. Its frustrating that this process has dragged on for so long at the PSC just for it to continue avoiding its legal obligation to consider climate change, said Nick Fitzmaurice, MEIC energy transition engineer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the Montana Constitution is clear, and the state Supreme Court decision in Held vs. Montana reaffirmed that our right to a clean and healthful environment includes a right to a stable climate. He said the MEIC and its fellow petitioners would be exploring their options for how to ensure the PSC upholds its obligation to protect customers and their utility bills by considering climate change. The Supreme Court affirmed in December 2024 that Montanans have a constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment in the historic Held decision. The majority found a law limiting analysis of greenhouse gas emissions during environmental reviews violates the Montana Constitutions right to a clean environment and stopped the state from acting on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But PSC chief legal counsel Lucas Hamilton said that doesnt mean Public Service Commissioners can make the declarations the MEIC and others want them to make. Hamilton said a long line of Montana Supreme Court cases says that constitutional questions are properly answered by district courts, not administrative officers, like the PSC. And the right to a clean and healthful environment isnt the only right that comes up in utility cases, Hamilton said. The right to a clean and healthful environment appears alongside other, equally important inalienable rights in the Montana Constitution, the order said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Hamilton said Montanans also have the right to pursue lifes basic necessities, and the PSC handles questions that address multiple rights. In the context of utility service, utilities often provide the means for pursuing lifes basic necessities, right? This is water service. This is sewer service. Heat and light that keeps life going on in a cold state like Montana in certain months of the year. The Public Service Commission regulates monopoly utilities, including NorthWestern Energy. The groups calling on the PSC to consider the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions had argued it has the most consequential role on climate impacts given it could promote or discourage investments in fossil-fuel infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The groups argued that taking climate into consideration would benefit customer bills, help children who suffer from the effects of bad air, support businesses, such as ski hills, and boost the Montana economy and recreation culture. In a statement provided by the MEIC, Bridger Bowl Ski Areas Hiram Towle said the PSCs decision further delays a true financial analysis of energy in Montana. As a business responsible for stewarding natural resources, we prioritize protecting the land and maintaining stable operations for current and future generations, said Towle, general manager. Climate change and its impact on utility affordability, reliability, and the environment, poses a serious threat. In a statement, lawyer Barbara Chillcott, senior attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center, said the PSC should meet its responsibility to the public including the safety of children from wildfires, floods and drought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PSC lists its functions as ensuring ratepayers have continued access to utility services that are affordable, reliable, and sustainable for the long-term, Chillcott said. By its own definition, the commission must take a hard look at how any of its decisions can help blunt the worsening effects of climate-fueled hardships that Montanans are suffering. At the meeting, PSC President Brad Molnar and Commissioner Annie Bukacek praised staff for their work on the order for brilliant work and arduous effort, Bukacek said. Molnar said he appreciated the tightly written order by staff, especially because he believes the decision will end up in court. I will remind all that this is one step, Molnar said. The group had also requested the PSC adopt rules to consider climate costs in the future, and that portion of its petition is pending. China-founded Shein is under fresh scrutiny in one of its biggest markets as UK campaigners press for tighter rules on ultra-fast fashion, but the company is pushing back. The UK has become a key revenue driver for Shein, and any shift in policy could affect valuations amid ongoing chatter about a London listing. Lawmakers have already warned that accommodating a Shein flotation could "compromise the integrity" of the market, underscoring political sensitivity around the brand. The policy backdrop is shifting across the Channel. In June, France's Senate backed a first-of-its-kind crackdown that would levy an eco-surcharge of up to 5 (about $5.81) per garment in 2025 rising to 10 (about $11.61) by 2030 alongside ad and influencer restrictions and "eco-score" labels assessing environmental impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill still needs final alignment and EU notification before taking effect, but it signals a regulatory template others could follow. For consumers, the stakes go beyond price and choice. Fast fashion's business model ultra-cheap, ultra-rapid production drives overproduction and mountains of waste. Britain is among Europe's largest textile-waste producers. Roughly 227,000 tons are generated annually, with much of it landfilled or incinerated. Synthetic garments shed microfibers that make up a significant share of primary microplastics in the oceans, contaminating waterways and ecosystems. For shoppers, the reality is that cheap clothes often wear out quickly, forcing constant replacement. While prices may look low at the checkout, both consumers and the environment end up paying the real cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the UK follows France's lead potentially via tougher Extended Producer Responsibility rules brands may face eco-fees, stricter labeling, and liability for end-of-life costs, pressuring margins and forcing supply-chain rewrites. That could also reshape how platforms like Temu and Cider operate in a market prized for its digital-savvy customers and historically light-touch regulation. Advocates say public sentiment is already there. "British people think the government needs to step in to make the fashion industry more sustainableprevious polling for Green Alliance showed that seven in 10 would support environmental impact labelling for clothing," said Emily Carr of Green Alliance. At the same time, WRAP's Dr. Sarah Gray cautioned that "rising sales volumes are cancelling out the environmental gains," highlighting the limits of voluntary efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shein, for its part, argues the French proposal "does not meet its stated objective of reducing the environmental impact of the textile industry," saying it would penalize consumers and touting a "demand-driven" model to avoid overproduction. The company has floated an alternative "Sustainable Textile Transformation Roadmap." Whether Westminster opts for France-style measures or a UK-specific scheme, the fast-fashion reckoning is getting harder to ignore. 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. CNNs chief data analyst Harry Enten on Tuesday declared that Democrats are heavily favored to win this years New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections, results that suggest a positive outcome for the party in the 2026 midterms. I would say that these two races are the biggest flashing red siren signs for Republicans, said Enten in a segment with CNNs Kate Bolduan. With Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) ineligible to run for a consecutive term, ex-Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) has a 94% chance to defeat Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) to become the first woman governor in the states history, per an average of Kalshi and Polymarket prediction market figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in New Jersey, where incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is unable to serve a third-straight term, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) has an 89% chance to be victorious over former state Rep. Jack Ciattarelli (R). Enten noted that the Democrats polling leads in both states are in a better position than they were back in 2021 before Bolduan asked why people nationwide should care about the races. If the same party has won in New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races dating back since 1989, guess who won that U.S. House the following year? Six out of seven times that same party wins ... the U.S. House of Representatives if, in fact, they win in both Virginia and New Jersey, he said of the predictive power of the races. Related: Republican Senators Grill RFK Jr. Over Chaos At CDC Enten later pointed to a figure showing Democrats, on average, outperforming former Vice President Kamala Harris 2024 campaign by 15 percentage points in state legislative and federal special elections this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This includes Catelin Drey, a Democratic candidate who recently flipped an Iowa state Senate seat that President Donald Trump won by 11 percentage points last year, a win that breaks the GOP supermajority in the chamber. H/T: Mediaite Related... Read the original on HuffPost Two MAGA guests were grilled on accepting Donald Trumps hype and claims of driving a hard deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. CNN host Abby Phillip was addressing President Trumps widely panned Alaska summit for peace in Ukraine with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. She was speaking with former George W. Bush aide Scott Jennings and conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro on NewsNight. But Scott, who could have thought, who could have guessed, that Vladimir Putin was not serious about peace with Ukraine, and that this summit was not going to produce the results that you and Trump thought it would? the host said, rolling her eyes. President Trump has been roundly lambasted for failing to secure any progress on talks to end the war in Ukraine. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images Trump, who had previously pledged to end the war in Ukraine on day one of his second term, had trumpeted that meeting ahead of time, telling reporters were pretty close to a deal for a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No deal has since materialized. At a subsequent press conference that lasted a matter of minutes, Trump and Putin made vague claims of an agreement but provided no details, took no questions, and made no mention of an armistice. Putin has since continued with mass assaults against Ukraine, as well as attending a military parade in China alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. / Sergey Bobylev/Getty Images Critics have lambasted Trump for legitimizing Putin at the pageantry-filled summit. Russia has since pushed on with several major aerial attacks and drone assaults against targets in Ukraine, including British Council and European Union offices in the capital of Kyiv. Well, I think he thought he should try, Jennings said during his Tuesday network appearance on Trumps performance at the summit. I mean, the alternative was not to try, so he tried, and now Putin is doing what many people thought was possible. Trump does not appear to be taking the fallout well, accusing Russia, China and North Korea of plotting against the U.S. in a wild Truth Social rant Tuesday night. / Alex Wong / Getty Images Ahead of the Alaska meeting, Trump had said the alternative to a peace deal would be very severe consequences for Russia, adding the Kremlin would not be doing business until we get the war settled in what many commentators saw as a veiled reference to further sanctions against Moscow. No such measures have been implemented since then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was entirely predictable, Phillip said of Putin calling Trumps bluff on threats of further consequences. Everybody knew that this was what Putin was going to do. The only people saying that Trump was a genius and that this was going to be all totally different were folks like you two and Donald Trump. Shapiro then shot back by arguing that Trump deserves credit for not barring Ukraine from receiving further military support and not pushing Kyiv into a punitive peace with Moscow. Were ripping him for what, not being hawkish enough? he said. Its kind of funny how the goal posts move every time Trump moves. I dont think the goal posts have moved, except that Trump has moved them, Phillip replied, noting that, again, Trump had previously promised he could end the bloody three-year conflict in as little as 24 hours. Trump, for his part, does not appear to be taking the fallout of the summit well, posting a catty Truth Social response to Chinas largest-ever military parade this week, at which the leaders of both Russia and North Korea were in attendance. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration, the president wrote. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and (North Korean leader), as you conspire against The United States of America. WELCH Youngsters from Welch, Kimball and Fall River enjoyed their first full day in the classroom Tuesday at the new Coalfield Elementary School in McDowell County. They were excited, Amanda Peyton, assistant school superintendent for McDowell County Public Schools, said of the new Coalfield Mountain Lions. We had some secrets they didnt know about. Those secrets included a new playground, which was installed over the weekend, and the introduction of Coal, a therapy dog that will be living at the new school and interacting with the students each day. Coal previously lived at the former Welch Elementary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coal our therapy dog was there, Peyton said. Now the kids from Kimball and Fall River get to enjoy Coal and have a therapy dog. Coal will be living in the school with them. The state fire marshals office approved the new school for occupancy last week, and Tuesday was the first day of school for McDowell County. Peyton said a dedication ceremony for the new school will be held at a later date. The first through fifth grade classes started Tuesday at Coalfield Elementary, and a kindergarten orientation also was held. The kindergarten students will start at the new school in two different phases on Wednesday and Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the many unique things about the new Coalfield Elementary is ergonomic seating for the students, according to Peyton. It is state-of-the art and really moves us to more flexible seating, she said. Imagine just a classroom with a lot of different seating options. Some are traditional chairs. Some are 360 stools that allow you to move in a circle. And then we have some other seating choices. And every classroom offers standing room options. So we are giving kids lots of flexibility and really giving what the research shows our bodies need. The teachers have embraced it. We have been working on it for over a year. So we are really excited about it. And it is designed so kids can be comfortable. They can adapt and they can move. Peyton said the staff members of the new Coalfield Elementary helped out by coming in early and getting their boxes unpacked and their classrooms ready. The new school also features the countys first Maker Space site, offering a hands-on, creative space where students can explore STEM, build projects, and bring ideas to life through design, coding and engineering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School enrollment figures for McDowell County were not immediately available Tuesday. Peyton said the school system should have a firm number by Sept. 11, which is when all of the Pre-K students are due back in the classroom. Last year the school system lost 170 students, but McDowell County has gained some population since that time with some new residents moving in over the summer, according to Peyton. The new Coalfield Elementary is a Pre-K through 5 facility located on Toms Mountain in Welch, not far from the existing Mount View High School. It replaces the former Welch Elementary, Kimball Elementary and Fall River Elementary facilities. Work on the new school began in 2023. It was funded by the West Virginia School Building Authority with local funds also being utilized on the project. The McDowell County Board of Education has not yet made a decision on what to do with the former Welch, Fall River and Kimball schools. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com European leaders taking part in the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris on Thursday 4 August, co-chaired by France and the United Kingdom, will hold a call with US President Donald Trump once their discussions conclude. Source: European Pravda sources involved in organising the meeting at the Elysee Palace Details: "The president of the Republic will co-chair with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr Keir Starmer, the Coalition of the Willing meeting in hybrid format on Thursday morning, 4 September 2025, at the Elysee Palace," the sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting is scheduled to start at 10:00 local time. The joint call to Trump is planned for 14:00. The sources did not specify whether all participants of the talks would join the call or only those physically present in Paris. A press conference will be held with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 15:00 Paris time. "Heads of state and government will discuss the work on security guarantees for Ukraine carried out by chiefs of staff in recent weeks, and will draw conclusions regarding Russias behaviour, which continues to reject peace," the sources added. Background: The Coalition of the Willing meeting is set for 4 September in Paris. Zelenskyy will personally attend it after bilateral talks with Macron the previous evening. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda urged the Coalition to begin concrete planning on the possible deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he expects clear answers soon on what security guarantees Europe can offer Kyiv. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) A Coastal Carolina University human resources employee received numerous complaints from parents about a professor being intoxicated during class before her DUI arrest last month, according to a police report. Florence Glaze, 61, was arrested on Aug. 21 and booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. She was released the following day on a $992 bond. Coastal Carolina police officers responded on Aug. 21 to Britain Hall for a report of an intoxicated professor, the university police report shows. The officers met with two university employees, one of them being a human resources employee, who told them they received numerous complaints from parents of CCU students about Glaze being intoxicated during class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A little over two hours later, officers responded again because Glaze had returned to campus, according to the report. An employee told them that Glaze had exited her vehicle and stumbled through the parking lot and into a building. It was there that I witnessed Glaze wobbling as she exited the classroom, as she approached myself . . . she was unable to maintain her balance, and needed our assistance with standing, the report reads. Upon physically holding Glaze upright while standing, I smelled a heavy odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from Glazes mouth and person. The report notes that Glaze had difficulty walking, standing, and slurred her speech when answering questions. The officer acknowledged they did not see Glaze drive her vehicle, but witnesses reported her driving onto Coastal Carolina property earlier in the day. CCU police previously arrested Glaze in February on charges of driving under suspension and failure to return a license plate and registration upon loss of insurance. She posted an $802 personal recognizance bond on those charges, which are still pending, according to online Horry County public records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glaze was also arrested in June 2021 and charged with DUI, disobeying a police officer and having an open container of beer or wine in a motor vehicle. In that incident, police said she had an open container of boxed wine and at least 10 bottles of various champagnes in her car after a crash in which she ran through an intersection and hit a mailbox. She was found guilty in February 2022 of reckless driving, records show. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. * * * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Fire restrictions in the Coconino National Forest will be lifted at 8 a.m. Sept. 4, following a bout of rainfall in northern Arizona. That means certain rules around campfires are relaxed, though visitors are still advised to use best practices for fire management and safety. Leading up to Sept. 4, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves were prohibited altogether, except within a developed recreation site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those restrictions will be lifted, but officials encourage park-goers to use established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires, and to keep their campfires small. They warn against leaving a campfire unattended, which is illegal. Visitors can report abandoned campfires to the forests dispatch center at 928-527-3552. To ensure a fire is out, they advise using at least six gallons of water and a shovel to completely extinguish it. Officials say it's safe to leave once a fire is dead out, wet and cold to the touch. There are also restrictions on gathering wood for a campsite. Visitors are allowed to gather down and dead wood, but they need a permit to load wood in a vehicle to remove it from the forest. Officials say not to cut or remove limbs from trees that are still standing. Fireworks, as always, are prohibited in national forests. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Coconino National Forest will lift fire restrictions: What to know SPRINGFIELD, Mo. For Zachary and Kayla Crowson, their Tuesday started out normal. Zachary went to work, while Kayla stayed at home with her mother. Kayla says she first noticed something was off when her pets were acting odd, but didnt think anything of it. My Corgi zeroed in on the office for some reason, but hes still a puppy, so I didnt think too much of it because hes barking and excited almost everyday, but he just would not leave the office alone, which was weird to me, Kayla said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats because inside that office was someone who wasnt supposed to be there. I also noticed our office door was closed, which is also weird because weve been keeping the doors open with the heat wave, but again, I didnt think too much of it and I went around into the living room to the sliding door and I just happened to turn around and thats when I saw Harland, Kayla said. Harland King, according to Kayla, was the ex-boyfriend of her mothers who had previously lived with the family, but was kicked out of the home due to alcohol abuse and domestic violence as a result. King was charged with domestic violence in July of this year at the home, and had been in the Greene County Jail until August 27, when he was released to a sober-living facility, only to be charged with stabbing Kayla and her mother, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King told Springfield Police a confession, and that he planned to kill Kayla and her mother for putting him in jail. When he rounded our sectional, I saw he had a knife in his left hand. I believe it did not look like one of ours. I think it was a black handled one. I have all of our knives accounted for, I just kind of knew what was going to happen, Kayla said. I also know that hes an ex-Marine, so I really didnt think I was going to have much of a chance, but that didnt stop me. I fought pretty hard. Im guessing my mother heard me screaming. I think thats the only thing that stopped him because he just. He left me out of nowhere. [I got stabbed on] my fingers hands, arms. This was probably the worst one on my finger. It just, it would not stop bleeding for quite a while. Superficial wounds [on my chest], Theres another in my stomach, around the same area. Kayla says once she was able to get up, she heard her mom still screaming, but once she realized she didnt know where her phone was to call 911, she dart to neighbors who had no idea what was going on. I didnt even realize I was covered in blood at this point. I didnt even feel that I had been stabbed, but it just wasnt in the forefront of my mind. When I couldnt find my phone after just a couple of seconds, I said whatever. I ran outside and I just started screaming for help. I went to my neighbor right across the way. Nobody answered. So then I just walked down the block over there, and luckily Amanda and her husband were outside and she saw me and he called 911, and then so did [Jennifer]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OzarksFirst spoke to Amanda and Jennifer about their perspective on Tuesday. Amanda said that she never spends time outside, especially on a Tuesday and believes it could have been divine intervention to be there at that moment in time. Kind of like her. I do believe in that stuff. It just. It like, I cant fathom why he would just suddenly stop unless it was my mom that interrupted him, and like Ive been telling my husband and everybody, it feels like it had to be some kind of divine intervention because I think her and I inadvertently saved each other. She walked in possibly and stopped [him from attacking me] you know, because he went to her, and then that gave me time to run and he had to have bolted soon after, Kayla said. I was stabbed seven times. She was only stabbed twice. Kaylas husband, Zachary, was at work when he was told of what happened. All of a sudden my HR guy comes in and says Hey are you Zach? and says Your neighbors are calling you left and right. I picked up my phone and noticed, like, multiple calls, so I went outside to call my mother-in-law, my wife. No answer. I went to check my voicemail and finding out [what happened] and its like in my mind just went 0 to 800. Theres like, I got out of there, got home, and when I got here, just literally the whole street was blocked off. There were ambulances, firefighters there. They told me to go ahead to the hospital and then I drove like a madman following behind the ambulance to get in there to make sure they were okay, because flashing lights and sirens, its like my mind was going to the worst-case scenario. Like if they were stable, why would they be rushing to the hospital with ambulances and lights and all and everything there? Zachary said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Crowsons believe that King planned to be at the home at the time he was. It was cowardly. He knew. He knew [I wasnt home]. My mother-in-law is not the strongest person along with my wife there. This was cold, calculated. He knew exactly what he was doing, Zachary said. They used to work together. So he knew his schedule as well. They worked the exact same shift, Kayla said. Given Kings arrest in July and his release to a sober facility in August and lack of GPS requirement, the Crowsons believe a GPS monitor could have help prevent this attack, given authorities could have spotted him on his way to the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene County Prosecutor says there was no GPS requirement in the July case and mentions of it on CaseNet is simply errors in the way the case was docketed online, however the Crowsons think there should have been one. Forgive my verbiage, but Im pretty pissed off. He has this issue of anger, alcohol, and the facility doesnt even know where he is there too. For just him to come back here again, we were working with his family to give him the stuff back out of our house and everything, we had no ill will towards him, we just wanted him to get help and just be out of our house, Zachary said. Im pretty ticked off about how like the legal system just let him slide off that. it just doesnt make any sense to me. If you have a history of violence, especially like he does, whether youre intoxicated or not, because for all intents and purposes yesterday, I do not think he was intoxicated. He was perfectly calm when he rushed at me. He didnt say a thing to me. He was just completely cool, calm and collected, which as an ex-Marine, just kind of made that even more frightening, Kayla said. The reason the Crowsons mention drinking is because that its one of the reasons King was kicked out of their home, according to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Him and my mother were dating and he was moving down here to Missouri to be with her. Anyway, their plan was to move into a place together, and we were going through some tough financial time, as was my mother, so thats why all three of us were living together and we all discussed it. He offered to move in with us to also help, and thats how he got to living here with us. It took him a while to find a job, and we had some incidents with alcohol in the past with him, Kayla said. He becomes like a completely different person when hes intoxicated, and my mother doesnt like it when hes intoxicated. And she kicked him out that first time and he willingly checked himself into a hospital to get help. So when he was released, we did welcome him back cautiously, but we welcomed him back because he got help, because hes had help in the past. Hes like hes got a long history of alcohol abuse, he was in an AA program in Oklahoma, I think. It was fine for several months, and then we started noticing some of his drunken habits coming back, that he was hiding it from us until finally he couldnt hide it anymore. When the police arrested him on the 3rd of July, we went into our office where he spent most of his time and we found tons of bottles of vodka. King is stable, currently in the hospital with a stab wound to the chest, which he told police was self-inflicted in an attempt on his life after the stabbings. It was a cowardly attempt to not go back. I dont think its regret or anything, because like I said, I mean, he clearly planned all this. He brought his own weapon. He broke down our fence. Theres evidence that he was sitting there waiting because he tracked weeds into our house, and an slushie cup sitting back behind our shed there, too, Kayla said. The Crowsons say its difficult coming back home because they feel trauma when theyre there, but they will work on it in time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A little bit, [feeling trapped], Kayla said. Until we know exactly, you know, how long hes going to be gone for, Im going to Im going to feel that way, Kayla said. I didnt sleep last night except maybe 2 hours, mostly due to fear, otherwise a lack of comfort because I could barely breathe yesterday. Zachary says theyre working on giving back to the neighbors who stepped in to help. Theyre getting the biggest gift baskets I can ever I can ever imagine. For again coming out and helping my wife there. If they want barbecue, Ill provide the meat or beer or anything like that again, just for her, for helping save my wife there and everything. I am eternally grateful for my neighbors, Zachary said. Especially ones over across the street. My mother-in-laws dog got out. They took him inside the house. They took care of him the whole day. In my opinion, these are the best neighbors I have ever had. King has a court appearance for his July case on September 10. Its unclear when hell appear in court for Tuesdays case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes currently being held on no bond. OzarksFirst is in communication with the Greene County Prosecuting Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The case of a missing man from a small town in eastern Utah remains unsolved 40 years later. On Sept. 2, 1985, Fred Richard Davis, 31, went missing according to the Utah Department of Public Safety. He was last seen in a small town near Vernal. Questions surrounding his disappearance remain unanswered after four decades. A routine hunting trip gone wrong Davis was supposed to meet family for a hunting trip in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, but never arrived, according to the Doe Network, a missing persons database. His family quickly filed a missing persons case with the Naples Police Department. Fred Richard Davis was last seen September 2, 1985. (Courtesy//DPS) About two weeks later, on Sept. 19, police found Daviss beige pickup truck in the parking lot of the Dunes Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Records indicate the truck was found unlocked, with the windows down and the keys inside. Identifying characteristics According to the Doe Network, Davis was last seen wearing western items including a western-style belt and blue jeans. He is listed as being just under six feet tall and about 160 pounds with brown shoulder length hair and a thick mustache. After seven years or more, a person is presumed dead according to the Social Security Administration. There is no record of Davis ever being found. EXCLUSIVE: Musicians murder still unsolved after 25 years family mourns on the anniversary of the killing Davis would be 71 were he found alive today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say anyone with information about Daviss disappearance can contact the Naples Police Department at 435-789-9449. Resources for Missing Persons The Utah Department of Public Safety has a page on its website with resources for missing persons, and you can view missing persons on the website as well. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also has resources for what to do if your child is missing. Here is a list of hotlines and resources from a 2021 guidebook by the US Department of Justice: 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. Related video above: Colorado Attorney General sues Mesa Co. deputy for illegally sharing info with ICE DENVER, Colorado (ABC4) The Colorado Attorney General has dropped a lawsuit that he filed in July against the Mesa County deputy who was disciplined for giving information to ICE that led to the arrest of a University of Utah student. The lawsuit alleged that Deputy Alexander Zwinck violated Colorado law by working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to detain Caroline Dias Goncalves, the 19-year-old University of Utah student who was arrested by ICE following a routine traffic stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUSLY: Five officers disciplined in traffic stop that led to Caroline Dias-Goncalves ICE arrest, sheriff apologizes According to Colorado Attorney General (AG) Phil Weisers office, Zwinck filed a declaration in court that he would be resigning from the Mesa County Sheriffs Office effective September 2, and because he will no longer be employed in a state or local law enforcement position, the AG dropped the lawsuit. Because the laws he is accused of violating apply only to state and local employees, the attorney generals office is dismissing the lawsuit against Mr. Zwinck but retaining the right to re-file the case if Mr. Zwinck becomes a state or local employee in the future, the AGs office said. Caroline Dias Goncalves was arrested on June 5 after a routine traffic stop while she was traveling through Colorado. Information was shared with a group chat that contained Homeland Security Investigations and ICE officers, going against Colorado Senate Bill 25-276. That law prohibits Colorado law enforcement officers from sharing personal identifying information with federal immigration officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado Attorney General sues Mesa Co. deputy for illegally sharing info with ICE, leading to arrest of U of U student The now-dropped lawsuit against Zwinck alleged that he violated the law by working with ICE officials to detain Caroline Dias Goncalves. He reportedly uploaded her personal data to a Signal group chat that included federal immigration officers, and he continued to assist in her arrest despite being told that she had no criminal history. In August, the Mesa County Sheriffs Office disciplined five officers for their involvement in a Signal group chat that included federal immigration officers following an administrative review of the events that led to Dias Goncalves arrest. Zwinck was one of the officers disciplined, being placed on three weeks of unpaid administrative leave and then reassigned to patrol. The Mesa County Sheriffs Office said while they have well-established practices limiting our involvement in immigration enforcement, the review highlighted the need for enhanced training, and Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell apologized to Dias Goncalves for their involvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Colorado AGs office also said that they are continuing their pattern and practice investigation into law enforcement agencies and officers who participated in the Signal group chat. 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 Center Square) Colorado officials expressed great disappointment with President Donald Trumps Tuesday announcement about plans to move the U.S. Space Command Headquarters from Colorado to Alabama. The state attorney general said he's ready to sue over it. This week's move follows former President Joe Bidens 2023 decision to make the Colorado headquarters SPACECOM's permanent location. In December, the headquarters reached full operational capability at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said the White House decision is deeply disappointing for the state and the nation. This is the wrong decision, diminishing military readiness and national security and eroding the trust Americans have in our country and its leaders to do the right thing, Polis said. Uprooting Space Command will weaken national security and readiness, waste taxpayer dollars, and inconvenience military families. Trump did not specify why he made that decision, besides stating that Alabama fought harder for it than anybody else. Huntsville, which is slotted to receive the headquarters, is home to the Redstone Army Airfield and NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center. The Space and Missile Defense Command of the Army is also located there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently Colorado has the largest private aerospace industry per capita in the country. Since 2020, aerospace employment has grown in the state by 24% and the state has secured $31 billion in federal contracts. In just 2024, Colorado added over 3,500 new aerospace and defense jobs. Space is critical to every component of American life, from our economy to our national security, said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. Our unparalleled aerospace and defense ecosystem has been vital to Space Command achieving full operational capability and executing the mission. This decision is deeply disappointing. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said he is ready and willing to challenge Trumps decision in court. The Trump administration should not play political games with our nations military readiness and military families, Weiser said. The Colorado Attorney Generals Office has been preparing in the event the president made such an unlawful decision to move Space Command HQ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado Springs officials responded to the announcement, pointing out the cost to taxpayers of moving the headquarters. This move threatens operational continuity at a time when space-related threats are only increasing, said Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade in a statement. U.S. Space Command reached full operational capability in 2023 because of the unmatched talent here in Colorado Springs, much of which will not relocate. Losing that expertise in relocation risks mission success and wastes billions in taxpayer dollars. While Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC, also expressed disappointment in the presidents decision, she said the chamber respects it. The enemy is not another U.S. state; it is foreign adversaries. Thats where we must focus our efforts knowing there will be many other opportunities for mission growth in Colorado Springs, Kleymeyer said. Colorado Springs will remain a top location for aerospace and defense jobs and research and development. Editors note: This story clarifies the time of the parade. We regret the error. COLUMBIANA, Ohio (WKBN) The sights, sounds and smells of fall are back in Columbiana, as the communitys longest-running tradition is underway. The 138th Columbiana Street Fair opened Thursday afternoon, filling Main Street near the roundabout. Crowds lined the streets for the Firemans Parade at 6:30 p.m., an annual highlight that officially kicks off the festival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From there, its all about the midway rides, games, music and food bringing people of all ages together. Its a way for the community to get together, do things together, and it really shows what the people of this community are made of. Very, very positive, they like being together, they love living in this type of area. Its a good thing, said Ron Detwiler, parade announcer. The event is run by Post 290 of the American Legion in town and has only missed two years, once during World War II and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Organizers say many of the vendors and attractions are coming here from recent county fairs in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have good food coming from both Stark and Canfield. And then our rides are coming from Kissle Amusements, the ride company from the Stark County fair. So, you get a nice blend, said Jacob Tevek, street fair manager. We will have the best of all the food, rides, and games here over the next three nights. The Street Fair runs through the weekend, open Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and wrapping up Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. Proceeds from the event will support the local post of the American Legion, its auxiliary and the Sons of the Legion organizations. Wilson Corbisello 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. It was a cold early morning, Jan. 8, 1993, and it was shattered by six words blasting from a police radio: Five in the cooler at Browns. Quickly, the details emerged, the horror spread and things got worse. There were seven people dead, the owners of a Palatine restaurant and five of their employees, fatally shot with a .38-caliber revolver, covered in blood, some shot six times and some only once. Remember? This would come to be known as the Browns Chicken massacre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The slaughter and the subsequent and frustrating search for the perpetrators and eventual murder trial captivated the media, traumatized suburban parents everywhere and became part of what writer Patrick Wohl writes is Americas fixation with true crime. In an odd way, reading or watching a true crime story can serve as an escape because its far from anything most people will experience, he writes. But for those who were actually there, the depiction of a tale involving the murder of a loved one can also be an exercise in re-traumatization. He writes these sentences and so much more in his new book, Something Big: The True Story of the Browns Chicken Massacre, A Decade-Long Manhunt, and the Trials That Followed (Post Hill Press), a sensitive and thoughtful journey back to that distant horror and how it continues to affect lives. The author was born in 1994, the year after the Browns killings, and writes as someone who was raised not far from where (the crime) occurred and grew up eating the fried chicken from the chain for which the crime is named eponymously referred, it always struck with me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so he began to write a book that focused on the stories of the people involved and the human elements of the tragedy. Naturally, before diving in, he did his research and one of the books that was helpful to him was 2003s The Browns Chicken Massacre, written by then Pulitzer Prize-winning Tribune reporter Maurice Possley. I knew what a fine writer Possley was in part because he and I had collaborated on a previous book, 2001s Everybody Pays: Two Men, One Murder and the Price of Truth, about a prolific mob hit man named Harry Aleman and a heroic citizen named Bob Lowe who testified against Aleman. We remain proud of that book and I talked to Possley, who now lives and works in Ireland with his wife, author Cathleen Falsani. He plans to read Wohls book and he remembers writing his Browns book. It was a very quick project, said Possley, whose work focuses on prosecutorial misconduct, wrongful convictions, and other criminal justice issues. The arrests in the Browns case came in May 2002 and I signed a book contract in July and the manuscript was submitted by either end of September, maybe October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He provided some details: I printed out every news story I could find about the case, from the day of the murders and up to and after the arrests. I assembled these as well as reports, such as the BGA report and other documents to create a timeline of events. I then began to write the story chronologically. I was able to conduct some interviews and I had some pals help in the interviewing process. Wohl is a Park Ridge native, graduate of Maine South High School who earned a law degree from George Washington University. He now works as an attorney in Washington, D.C., but is serious about his writing. His first book, 2024s Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion, was about the 1990 campaign for Illinois state representative between Penny Pullen and Rosemary Mulligan. It was a race shadowed by the question of legalized abortion and was one of the closest races in Illinois history. For this new book he spent two years talking to dozens of people, all but a few of them willing to share their memories and emotions. He interviewed victims family members, former cops, attorneys, a DNA expert and former suspects. Each of the books 24 chapters focuses on one person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People trusted me with incredibly intimate stories, Wohl writes. Many of them still live with this tragedy day in and day out. To them, its not just a story. That trust was well placed. Wohl is true to his word, expressed on the books opening pages, to respect the families while still managing to tell a compelling narrative for readers with no connection to Palatine. I read Possleys book again and Wohls the next day. Doing so gave me as full and insightful a package as I think possible, reminding me of the details of the crime, its effects and aftermath and artfully charting its ongoing ripple effect. You might want to try that same one-two literary punch. In any case, it is important to remember the names of the dead. Those names were Richard Ehlenfeldt, Lynn Ehlenfeldt, Guadalupe Maldonado, Michael Castro, Thomas Mennes, Rico Solis and Marcus Nellsen. What of the killers, now serving life sentences in an Illinois maximum-security prison? Why dignify them. If you want to know, you can look that up. Armed police officers are a rare sight in Britain, but the Irish comedian Graham Linehan was met by five of them when he landed at Londons Heathrow Airport from Arizona on Monday, before being arrested, searched and questioned. The reason? Three posts he wrote on X in April, Linehan claimed on his Substack. If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act, Linehan wrote in one of them, in reference to trans women. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without naming Linehan the co-creator of the sitcom Father Ted who is a gender critical activist Londons Metropolitan Police confirmed it had arrested a man in his 50s on suspicion of inciting violence. Linehan denied that his posts were a call to violence against trans women and has been released on bail. He appeared at Londons Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday in a separate case, to face charges of harassment and criminal damage against a trans woman. For Nigel Farage, the populist leader of the hard-right Reform UK party, Linehans arrest was rather timely. He had been invited to give evidence before the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in Washington on Wednesday, for a hearing on European threats to free speech. Farage, who said he arrived from the land of Magna Carta, now had what he felt was a smoking gun more proof that the UK is sliding into what he called a really awful authoritarian situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At what point did we become North Korea? Farage asked US lawmakers. Well, I think the Irish comedy writer found that out two days ago at Heathrow Airport. While the insurgent Farage needs little excuse to chip away at the flailing Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Linehans arrest is the latest in a series of incidents that have fueled a furious debate about Britains laws on free speech one that has put it in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. Britain's Reform UK Party leader Nigel Farage testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on European threats to American free speech and innovation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. - Nathan Howard/Reuters Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in February, US Vice President JD Vance rattled off multiple cases in Britain that he said proved free speech was in retreat there. Last month, the US State Department published a report claiming that human rights in Britain have worsened over the past year, citing serious restrictions on free speech. Although Britain has no codified constitution, and hence no equivalent of the First Amendment to enshrine freedom of speech, the country has had free speech for a very, very long time, as Starmer has stressed during his meetings with the US president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its laws around free speech comprise a cluster of acts some decades old which critics say are struggling to keep pace with digital technology. In a high-profile case last year, Lucy Connolly, a mother and former nanny, was sentenced to 31 months in prison for a post she sent on X while Britain was convulsed by anti-immigration riots. The riots were sparked by the murder of three schoolgirls by Axel Rudakubana, the British son of Rwandan migrants. Misinformation about the identity of the attacker prompted mass demonstrations outside the hotels Britain uses to house asylum seekers, some of which turned violent. Mass deportations now, set fire to all the fking hotels full of the bastards for all I care, Connolly wrote in June 2024. If that makes me racist so be it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connolly was convicted under the Public Order Act of 1986, which criminalizes distributing threatening and abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred. She was released last month after serving 40% of her prison term. While many on the British right decry that citizens can be imprisoned for social media posts, lawyers have stressed that such speech would have been illegal before the advent of social media. Whether shouted from Speakers Corner in Hyde Park or written on X, inciting violence can be criminal in the United Kingdom. It is possible to cross the line into criminality by words alone, Max Hill, formerly director of public prosecutions for England and Wales, told the BBC Wednesday. Tweeting that you should set fire to all the hotels containing migrants is crossing that line very clearly. Although Connolly pleaded guilty to the charge against her, she has since claimed she was a political prisoner, becoming a cause celebre for the online right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farage said he hoped to bring her with him to Congress on Wednesday. Sadly, the restrictions that have been put on her banned her from making the trip, which is a very, very great shame, he said. Across the political spectrum Although much of the fury has been fanned by the right, Starmers government has also come under fire from the left, with pro-Palestinian activists also claiming their speech is being unfairly policed. After activists with the Palestine Action group broke into Britains largest airbase in June and damaged two military aircraft, the British government designated the group a terrorist organization. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, terrorism includes action involving serious damage to property in support of a political objective. Because supporting terror organizations is also proscribed, protesters aligned with Palestine Action have since been targeted. Police arrested 466 people in a single day during a protest in London in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spectacle troubled some of Britains most prominent legal authorities. Jonathan Sumption, a former Supreme Court justice, wrote in the British newspaper The Independent that merely indicating your support for a terrorist organization without doing anything to assist or further its acts should not be a criminal offense and is consistent with basic rights to free speech. After Linehans arrest, the head of the Metropolitan Police called on the government to change or clarify the laws his officers must enforce. Mark Rowley said the decision to arrest Linehan was made within existing legislation which dictates that a threat to punch someone from a protected group could be an offense. But he said his officers had been put in an impossible position, with Britains laws drawing them into toxic culture-wars debates. He urged the government to limit the resources we dedicate to tackling online statements to those cases creating real threats in the real world. Asked by parliament about the arrest, Starmer also said the police must focus on the most serious issues. Representative Jamie Raskin questions Britain's Reform UK Party leader Nigel Farage during his testimony before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Wednesday. - Nathan Howard/Reuters While British institutions creak under the pressure of changing technology, Farage said it offered a warning to the US. Ive come today to be a klaxon, to say dont allow piece by piece this to happen here in America, he told Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, countered that the UK prime minister has not shut down the right-wing news broadcaster GB News, where Farage has hosted his own show, which is critical of the British government. He also said the leader of a Reform council barred a local newspaper and website from interacting with the authority. To the people of the UK who think this free speech impostor and Trump sycophant will protect freedom in your country, come over to America and see what Trump and MAGA are doing to destroy our freedom, Raskin said. You might think twice before you let Farage make Britain great again. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NEW YORK At least one New York Democrat wasn't taken by surprise when Rep. Jerry Nadler announced Monday night he was bowing out of the House: Assemblymember Micah Lasher. While many have eyed the seat for years, the Upper West Side state lawmaker and former Nadler aide appears to be best positioned to fill the 17-term incumbent's seat. Obviously, we have great affection for him, Nadlers chief of staff Rob Gottheim said of Lasher in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That doesnt mean itll be an easy coronation. Nadler, the 78-year-old dean of New Yorks Congressional delegation, said he wouldnt seek reelection in an interview with The New York Times published Monday night. He had decided hed retire sometime over the summer, Gottheim said. And hed kept the decision quiet before the announcement, telling just a small group of people you can count on one hand. Gottheim declined to say whether Lasher was one of them, though another person familiar with the conversations who was granted anonymity to confirm private discussions said he was. Gottheim also wouldnt rule out Nadler endorsing his former staffer as his replacement. Nadlers news kicks off a 10-month race to the June 2026 Democratic primary that will seize attention in a district in the heart of the media capital of the world. Its all but sure to be a crowded race that could help shape the direction of a Democratic party grappling with how to respond to President Donald Trump who used to live in the district and whether Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdanis democratic socialism is the answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the most coveted and arguably important congressional seat in New York because of the history of political influence from that seat, and also the fundraising base that comes with it, said Evan Thies, a Democratic strategist whos worked in the district. That allows you to be a national player and leader in the party, and youre also representing one of the highest voting blocs for Democrats of any Congressional district in the country. Theres already excitement in the district. Just hours after Nadlers announcement, leaders of four Democratic clubs on Manhattans east side started planning a joint candidate forum tentatively scheduled for January. New Yorks 12th Congressional District includes the geographic center of Manhattan, stretching from the top of Central Park and the Upper West and Upper East Sides through Midtown with Times Square and the United Nations down to 14th Street the historic line marking where downtown Manhattan begins. Andrew Cuomo won the most votes in the first-round of the June mayoral primary thanks to a mix of positive sentiment for the former governor and reluctant voters looking to stop Mamdani with his socialist politics and anti-Israel rhetoric. But when the ranked-choice votes were distributed, Mamdani eked out the win, topping Cuomo by 170 votes, or 0.1 percent. So the upcoming primary poses a test for Mamdanis personal influence and the politics he champions. Lasher is viewed by some as part of Mamdanis new inner circle. The Democrat whod previously advised pro-corporate pols like Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg quickly threw Mamdani support after he won the primary and became a sort of liaison between the insurgent candidate and the Democratic establishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Micah is a friend. And Ive appreciated the advice, the reflections, and the short time that we had together in the Assembly, Mamdani said Tuesday when asked if hed support him for the seat. But the democratic socialist demurred in endorsing Lasher as well at least for the moment. I would say you're being a bit of an immigrant father in terms of asking me about beyond November, Mamdani joked. Let's just focus on where weve got to get to first, which is the general election. Potentially complicating Mamdanis decision is the fact that the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America of which Mamdanis a proud member is now considering whether a DSA candidate could compete for the seat. The district wasnt a high priority before Nadlers announcement, NYC-DSA co-chair Gustavo Gordillo said. But now? If there was a candidate with our values who was interested in our endorsement, I think we would take it seriously. A handful of other elected officials in the district are eyeing the seat, looking to move up. City Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers both confirmed their interest. And while Council Member Julie Menin is focused on running for city council speaker, a person familiar with her thinking said theres a chance shed reconsider if that internal vote in January doesnt go her way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menin, like Powers, resides on the east side, which puts anyone in a race for the seat at an immediate disadvantage. Manhattans west side traditionally has more Democratic voters, and candidates hailing from that side of Central Park typically outperform those on the east think Nadler making mincemeat of fellow Rep. Carolyn Maloney in the 2022 primary after redistricting stuck the two veterans together. Lasher is a west sider, but the standard dynamics could be different in a crowded field. Even among Lashers colleagues, there are Assemblymembers Tony Simone and Alex Bores who are both considering running. Id be silly not to take a look, Bores said, before praising Nadlers years of distinguished service. Bores represents the east side, but hes been spotted at a lot of events on the west side in the last couple years, City Council Member Gale Brewer said, and we know why. At 73-years old, Brewer herself has no interest in running. She learned of Nadlers retirement by reading the news, despite working alongside him in various roles for decades. After the news broke, he called her Tuesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he had been thinking about it for a couple of weeks. Those were his exact words, Brewer said. I worship that guy. Hes just a model of integrity and intelligence." Other west side Nadler allies also took themselves out of the running for the congressional seat which could be a boon for Lasher. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal is planning to focus on his new job of Manhattan borough president, after beating Powers in the June primary. And Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal is only considering running in the expected 2026 special election for Hoylman-Sigals seat. Meanwhile, Maloney is putting herself back into the running. The 79-year-old former Congressmember is considering a comeback bid despite her advanced age, according to a former senior Maloney staffer granted anonymity to discuss her thinking. But elected officials arent the only ones looking at Nadlers spot. And theres precedent for success there. Rep. Dan Goldman won the neighboring 10th Congressional district in 2022, defeating a bevy of veteran politicians in an open primary as a first-time candidate with a Trump-fighting resume. Millions of dollars of personal wealth as a Levis jeans heir didnt hurt Goldman, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, now a Columbia Law professor, is a dream candidate for some on the left. She appeared at campaign events for Mamdani and praised him in a Times op-Ed. She didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on her interest in running for office. Investor Whitney Tilson finished a distant seventh in the mayoral primary after running on a specifically anti-Mamdani platform. He said hes considering running for the seat in a Tuesday post on X. Liam Elkind, a 26-year-old Rhodes scholar made a splash by calling on Nadler to retire when he launched a primary campaign against the Congress member in July. Elkind got what he wanted but now seems likely to get crowded out by contenders with longer resumes and stronger allies. Other potential candidates mentioned by insiders include actor and activist Cynthia Nixon, attorney Tali Farhadian, author and commentator Molly Jong-Fast, former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton, Kennedy scion social media star Jack Schlossberg who declined to comment when asked about his interest in the seat and Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer who had previously said he planned to run against Nadler. Lindsey Boylan, an anti-Cuomo activist who ran against Nadler in 2020, also declined to comment when asked if shed run again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until recently, Nadler was poised to run again himself. Jerry Nadlers successor is on his way to graduating high school, former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer quipped in a February interview, suggesting that the septuagenarian had another few terms left in him. After all, Nadler himself told New York mag in 2024 he could see himself serving another 10 years. Stringer was once considered a likely successor to Nadler, after filling his Assembly seat in 1993. But hes since moved out of the district and likely saw his window close with a second straight fifth place finish in the mayoral primary. Lasher was Stringers campaign manager in 2021 and a primary endorser in 2025, and its now him whos ascendant. Lasher was a political wunderkind who was managing Hoylman-Sigals campaign as a teenager, not long after he had published a book of magic tricks at age 14. His career includes work for Nadler, Bloomberg, Hochul, a charter school advocacy group an issue he later changed his tune on and a narrow loss in a 2016 state Senate race before joining the Legislature, defeating a candidate backed by the left-leaning Working Families Party for an open Assembly seat last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lasher didnt respond to multiple requests for comment on his interest in the seat. But he made clear in a February interview that he looks up to Nadler. Jerry has godlike status in the district, he said. MEPs are set to complain widely about the EU-US trade agreement when they confront Commission trade chief and agreement negotiator Sabine Weyand during a Parliamentary hearing on the deal on Wednesday. While clearly we understand that the EU has chosen stability, diplomacy and to keep a cool-minded approach, however this cannot translate into the acceptance of an unfair and asymmetric trade relation with our American friends and partners, Italian MEP Brando Benifei. As it is now, it is not acceptable, Benifei told Euronews, speaking on behalf of his Socialists & Democrats group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week the Commission proposed reducing tariffs on most US industrial goods, as well as less sensitive agricultural products, to 0%, as it began implementing the agreement reached with the US at the end of August. At the same time, the agreement provides that the EU will pay a 15% tariff on its exports to the US. The Commissions legislative proposal must now navigate its way through the Parliament and the EU Council for approval. The Greens are also speaking out against an unbalanced agreement and rejecting the Commissions argument that it will ensure stable trade relations with the US. "The deal has major disadvantages for the EU, German Green MEP Anna Cavazzini said, adding: The only 'gain' that the Commission is selling us is stability. However, Trump's incessant demands and new tariff threats are turning this process into a waste of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just after the agreement was concluded, US President Donald Trump threatened countries with digital legislation like the EU with tariffs, accusing them of directly targeting Big Tech. According to the German MEP, the proposal to reduce EU tariffs on US imports will clearly not have a smooth sailing through the European Parliament." The agreement, which is still under discussion within the Parliament's largest group, the centre-right EPP, has nonetheless failed to win the full support of some of its individual members within the parliamentary committee on trade. "Capitulation" This is an outright capitulation were committing to colossal sums for investments and pledges to purchase billions worth of chips and military equipment, while granting the US 0% tariffs, French MEP Celine Imart (EPP) said, all this for the reindustrialisation of the US ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swedish MEP Jorgen Warborn, who coordinates the work of the EPP within the trade committee, is more cautious. It is hard to put yourself in the situation of the negotiators of the Commission, he told Euronews, adding: It is good that we have a framework agreement, because hopefully this can give us more stability. But at the same time, I don't see the deal as balanced as I would have hoped it to be. Within Renew, the liberal group at the Parliament, some MEPs are also angry. The treatment granted to US agricultural products benefiting from 0% tariffs or favourable quotas for certain items is not going down well. Im outraged by the whole situation. Yes, of course, there are the USs promises when it comes to defence, but this agreement truly exposes our total dependence, which forces us to sign just about anything, Belgian MEP Benoit Cassart (Renew), who is also a farmer, said, adding: I disagree with those who think the EU has 'won' just because things didnt turn out worse. If thats the logic, then next time the US will start at 50% and well end up with 40% tariffs on all our exports. French MEP Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, who coordinates Renew in the committee, considers too that there is a widespread feeling that we [the EU] failed to put any real leverage on the table. (WPRI) School is back in session in Massachusetts and starting this academic year, the MCAS will no longer be used as a graduation requirement. Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler joined 12 News at 4 Tuesday to share more about what graduation requirements may replace the standardized test. ALSO READ: Massachusetts Senate passes ban on cellphones in schools Tutwiler also talked about how the state is reacting to potential funding cuts, and new learning programs being rolled out. Watch the full interview in the video above. 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. Family, friends, community members and first responders gathered Saturday to honor the life of Liam Roland Brown a local 4-year-old boy remembered for his courage and resilience during a two-year battle with neuroblastoma cancer. Visitation and funeral services were held at House-Rawlings Funeral Home, with a private burial following at A.R. Dyche Memorial Park. Pastor Mark Huff officiated. You are loved, Liam is loved, and were proud of you guys, Huff told Liams family at the gathering. Weve been amazed by what youve done, and the whole community has seen how youve walked through this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diagnosed at age 2, Liam endured treatments and hospital stays with a smile that left an impression on many. When you were in his presence, he just charmed the socks off of you in a moment, Huff said. As soon as he smiled at those doctors and nurses, he had their hearts. He had all of our hearts. Liam, the son of Ethan and Amanda Brown, was known for his love of dinosaurs, big imagination, and the joy he brought to his siblings Sophia, Gabriel and Cole. His story touched countless lives in Laurel County and beyond as well, through the Team Liam 23 Facebook page where followers could keep up with Liam. The City of London joined in paying tribute, with Mayor Randall Weddle proclaiming August 30 as a day to honor Liams life. The proclamation recognized him as an honorary City of London firefighter, fulfilling his dream of being connected to fire service. City flags were lowered to half-staff in his memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First responders, including members of the London Fire Department, took part in the funeral procession. Even in the week following his passing, Liams family reflected on the symbols of hope they believe he sends from heaven. In a post on the Team Liam 23 page, they wrote that dragonflies, butterflies, and hummingbirds have reminded them of his presence. They described the pain as almost unbearable but said they take comfort in knowing he is free from hospitals and chemo. As September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month begins, his family and community continue to honor his life. Liam was so strong and brave. He set an example for us on how we should walk through adversity. He walked through more adversity in his 4 years than most of us will in several years, Huff said at the funeral. I believe that Liam fulfilled his purpose. I once heard it said that its not the amount of days in our life that matter as much as the amount of life in our days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, in Liams memory, his family has prepared a wishlist for Halloween costumes and snacks to donate to the Kentucky Childrens Hospital. Amanda Brown shared the hospital regularly hosts a reverse trick or treat for patients who have to be there on Halloween, adding that Liam was one of those patients last year. He absolutely loved it, so I think this would truly honor him and his love for Halloween, she wrote in a post on Facebook. The wishlist can be found at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1ITMA3Y6HTD8Y?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwY2xjawMkAURleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFVcng2b216cGwzc0ZuN0J5AR527MDKImEHPVmKh9UBe6LznmAeCZ0qsEIZr029j4-caXKVGTIJ28uowZplkA_aem_vR9xfcw0eg1TXQJIRGliSg. For those who were unable to attend, a livestream of Liams funeral is available at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTc1NjQ5MzYwMjM3ODI4MyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGl. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is encouraging members of the community to line the procession route for a retired CSFD Captain who passed away in August after a long and brave battle with an aggressive form of job-related cancer. Captain Patrick Rogacki joined CSFD in 1979 and served with the department for 35 years before his retirement in 2014. According to the fire department, he was part of the Wildland Program, served as a Medical Lieutenant, and spent 15 years in the High Angle Rescue Program. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Retired captain who served at Ground Zero died of job-related cancer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to his dedicated work in our community, Captain Rogacki also responded to the Space Shuttle Columbia crash in Texas and Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks. Captain Rogacki served our community and citizens with excellence for 35 years. He was a passionate and dedicated firefighter who always went above and beyond, whether on a single alarm or in broader roles with the CSFD Honor Guard and Colorado Task Force 1, said Fire Chief Randy Royal. We are saddened that his service at Ground Zero led to his passing, but we are proud of the positive impacts he made locally and nationally. We are honored to have had him as part of the CSFD family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, and we look forward to honoring him at his memorial service. On Friday, Sept. 5, a private ceremony will be held, followed by a procession through Colorado Springs beginning at approximately 12:30 p.m., which will pass CSFD Station 5, the last station Captain Rogacki was assigned to. Community members are encouraged to line the procession route and honor the life and legacy of Captain Rogacki. Procession route: Begins at the intersection of Uintah Street and North Cascade Avenue Heads west to 30th Street East on Colorado Avenue passed Station 5 East on Pikes Peak Avenue End at CSFD Headquarters on Printers Parkway Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the procession, a private reception will be held at CSFD Headquarters. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Fire Department According to CSFD, Captain Rogackis passing is considered a Line of Duty Death due to his illness being job-related. Firefighters who are diagnosed with and die from job-related cancer, even after retirement, are considered Line of Duty Deaths, wrote CSFD. This is due to their illness being directly linked to the dangerous conditions they faced while serving. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Community members, local leaders and school officials met Tuesday night to talk about what many are calling a troubling rise in violence. The Greater Valley Coalition for Peace and Justice organized an emergency meeting in response to a recent uptick in reported robberies, shootings, and homicides. Residents from Rankin, Braddock, North Braddock and East Pittsburgh shared their personal stories during a table discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The violence has to stop, said Danielle Tempalski, who lives in Rankin. My son was not out here carrying guns or anything like that. Tempalski said someone shot at her home last week on Saturday, around 1:30 a.m. She has since moved her son out of the borough for his safety. There were three bullet holes in his window that went up into his ceiling, she said. That fear is shared by others who came to the meeting. Lee Davis organized the meeting with elected officials, school leaders and violence prevention groups. The goal was to discuss what families, schools and police can do to respond, and what funding may be needed to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the attendees, Rasaun Brown with the Braddock Youth Project, focused on creating more options for young people. Im just trying to open up opportunities for kids to get summer jobs or school year jobs, Brown said. Brown suggested building partnerships with schools to provide more activities for the youth. Others at the meeting proposed adding better lighting in neighborhoods to deter crime and urged local council members to attend monthly meetings with the Greater Valley Coalition. Well, if everybody works together, we try and make some changes, get on the same page, Brown said. As far as communication, make sure everybodys talking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis also wanted to give residents a chance to meet their elected leaders face-to-face. He hopes stronger communication will help everyone work together. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Englman placed special responsibility on Smotrich as Netanyahu appointed him the leader of the socio-economic cabinet task force, in particular charged with civilian issues of northern residents. State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman accused successive governments and prime ministers, most notably Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as defense ministers, and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, of ignoring the needs of northern residents before, during, and after they were under fire from Hezbollah as part of the current war. Hezbollah fired rockets at northern residents from October 8, 2023, until November 27, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For much of the war, 60,000-80,000 northern residents were evacuated from their communities, and large portions of villages like Metulla, Manarah, and others were destroyed. Only a fraction of these communities and of other communities that were also under fire for large portions of the war had proper safe rooms and bomb shelters. This was despite the fact that since the Second Lebanon War of 2006, their vulnerability to Hezbollah rockets was well-established. A sign shows the border between Israel and Lebanon, seen from northern Israel, February 17, 2025 (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90) Even after the conflict in the north ended in November 2024, it took several months for the government to start rebuilding, and in many communities, rebuilding is still far behind where it could be. Netanyahu top official responsible, Englman says Englman said that Netanyahu was the top official responsible as prime minister for the most years since 2006 and during the current war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also put responsibility on former prime ministers Naftali Bennett (June 2021-June 2022) and Yair Lapid (June 2022-December 2022). In addition, he placed responsibility on multiple defense ministers during this period, including Yoav Gallant, who was the defense minister from January 2023 to November 2024. Englman placed special responsibility on Smotrich as Netanyahu appointed him the leader of the socio-economic cabinet task force, in particular charged with civilian issues of northern residents. The comptroller said that Smotrich barely held meetings of the task force and even more rarely tried to implement any task force initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the report accused the National Security Council of abandoning the issue. Smotrich said that he was technically in charge of the socio-economic cabinet task force, but that in actuality, there were so many legal and bureaucratic elements in the way that he lacked the true power to properly address the situation. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie on Wednesday unveiled new concepts to reinvigorate the citys Fishermans Wharf neighborhood. The plans include a new public plaza that would be built on Taylor Street on the site that housed Aliotos Restaurant. The concepts, according to the mayors office, are intended to accelerate projected growth in tourism and drive San Franciscos comeback. Newsom invokes Star Trek sequel set in SF in latest Trump-parody tweet Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fishermans Wharf is one of our most iconic San Francisco destinations and our most visited neighborhoodand our entire city benefits when our tourism sector thrives, said Mayor Lurie. We are transforming the wharf into a modern, vibrant public space that will help us continue to attract residents to our waterfront and visitors to our city. These new designs are bringing life back to the neighborhood, and I cannot wait to see Fishermans Wharf continue to flourish as this project moves forward. Photo: SF Mayors Office Photo: SF Mayors Office Photo: SF Mayors Office The public plaza, that in renderings appears to be the centerpiece of the redesign, would feature picnic tables, Bay-facing public seating, pop-up space for retail or beverage service, a playful seating sculpture, signage highlighting the Wharfs history, string lighting and landscaping elements that include wind screens. Fishermans Wharf has long been one of San Franciscos most iconic destinations, known for its rich history, stunning views, and beloved attractions. But today, too many storefronts sit empty, missing the energy that defines our city, said District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. The Fishermans Wharf Forward plan lays out a bold vision to breathe new life into this neighborhood, ensuring it remains a place of joy and discovery for generations to come. Just as Aliotos created lasting memories for so many, I believe the new overlook and plaza will become a cherished gathering spot for families to make their own San Francisco stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The concepts unveiled by Lurie are part of the Fishermans Wharf Forward project, which is summarized as a major investment strategy aimed at reinvigorating the heart of Fishermans Wharf. The Wharf, which has been blighted by shuttered restaurants and increased homelessness in recent years, remains a major tourist destination. According to the project website, it was the most visited neighborhood in SF last year. The Fishermans Wharf Forward project was initiated in June with an eye toward completing near-term enhancements by summer of 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Live in a home governed by a condominium, co-op or homeowner's association? Have questions about what they can and cannot do? Ryan Poliakoff, an attorney and author based in Boca Raton, has answers. Question: I live in a 55+ villa community. We have two community pools and a clubhouse. The rules state that parking at the pools and clubhouse is restricted to residents or guests using the facilities, with the exception that guests can park at the pools or clubhouse overnight but must move the vehicles during the day. A resident has a handicapped friend that routinely uses the handicapped space at one of the pool facilities when visiting the resident (they are not using the facility). Is this something that would be protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA]? Or is it right to reserve the spot for someone using the facility? Signed, P.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear P.C., First, remember that your community is very likely not governed by the ADA. The ADA governs places of public accommodation, like stores and hotels. It doesnt apply to private communities. The reason that you have handicapped parking spaces in your community is simply because the building code requires them. The question, then, is whether your association has the right to impose rules on the use of the handicapped spaces. I think that they do, and so if you wanted to have a rule that the handicapped spaces at the pool are only for use by pool guests, I suspect it would be found reasonable and enforceable. Just keep in mind that disabled persons are entitled to accommodations of your rules if required due to their disability; so, if the guest you described needs a parking space near her owner friend due to her medical condition, the association may need to find a way to accommodate them. This is something the board can evaluate with your attorney. Neighbor's reno wrecked my A/C, now no one wants to pay for the fix Question: I live in a condominium. My building has two floors with four units on the top floor and four units on the bottom. My neighbor below me is renovating his condo and he hired a contractor to gut his unit and rebuild it. In early June I lost cooling in my central A/C system. I went down and spoke with the plumber working in my neighbor's unit below me. I wanted to see if there was a problem with the renovation work since my A/C freon pipe runs down to that unit and then under the slab floor out to my air conditioning compressor outside of the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contractor said there was no problem in the unit. I saw the cement floor had a trench dug into it and I saw mine and my neighbors freon lines running through the trench. I called my A/C company, and the tech told me I had no freon in my system. The tech ran freon through my compressor outside and we went back into my neighbor's unit and saw freon bubbling up in one of the two pipes running through the trench. It appears the contractor nicked my freon pipe when they dug the trench. I called my neighbor, and he arranged for the contractor to repair the pipe and fill the freon in my system. My A/C company charged me $320 for the visit to troubleshoot the leak. When I go to my neighbor to collect the $320, he tells me the contractor will pay me. When I contact the contractor, he says the plumber will pay me. When I ask the plumber, he said he knows nothing about paying me $320 for their screwup. I do not want to go to small claims court to file an action. What recourse do I have with my condominium board or the building department to recover my $320? Signed, F.Y. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear F.Y., While its quite clear that the owner of the unit below you should be responsible for the cost of repairing your freon line (including the initial visit and investigation), you dont have many alternatives but to take him to small claims court to recover. It doesnt sound as if the condominium association was involved in this dispute at all, and so I dont see how you can demand they pay you the money for your repair. Even if it was their responsibility to repair the freon line (for example, if your declaration of condominium assigns that responsibility to them), because you had it fixed without going through them, youre not now going to be able to demand they pay you back. It's probably not worth your time or effort to chase your neighbor over $320. I hope that they do the right thing and pay you, and then fight to get that money back from their contractors, but if they dont, its likely just one of those unfortunate situations in life where we cover costs that we ultimately shouldnt be responsible for. But thats what small claims court is for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Poliakoff, a partner at Poliakoff Backer, LLP, is a Board Certified specialist in condominium and planned development law. This column is dedicated to the memory of Gary Poliakoff. Ryan Poliakoff and Gary Poliakoff are co-authors of "New Neighborhoods The Consumers Guide to Condominium, Co-Op and HOA Living." Email your questions to condocolumn@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your location. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida HOA limit hours guests can use handicapped parking at the pool Sep. 2City officials continue to keep at least six controversial investigative reports into alleged malfeasance at City Hall under wraps, despite months of delay and a $30,000 quality assurance review by an outside contractor. The investigative reports from the city's independent, nonpartisan Office of Inspector General, have been finished for months, but an oversight committee appointed by the mayor and City Council has yet to formally review and release them. The director of the independent watchdog agency, Peter Pacheco, told the Journal Tuesday that he hoped at least several of the investigations, some of which were finished nearly a year ago, would be ready for release prior to the city's Nov. 4 general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in June, city officials said the reports could be approved when the city's Accountability in Government Oversight Committee met in late July. But that didn't happen. City Council President Brook Bassan told the Journal Tuesday that she isn't concerned that the reports have yet to be made public. "I don't think up to this point there has been any shenanigans going on," Bassan told the Journal. With the continued delays and the confidentiality involved in the approval process, she acknowledged, "It has the potential to look suspicious." But Bassan, who sits as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the AGO, said she hopes the reports, or at least some of them, will be ready for release before the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Albuquerque firm, REDW, was hired under a $30,200 contract to evaluate the six reports, though Bassan said she couldn't say in detail what the firm recommended other than there were "changes that needed to be made." But she said there will be no alterations of the original reports, just footnotes or separate statements issued. Under city ordinance, the reports can't be released until reviewed by the oversight committee, which doesn't hold public meetings. The committee can either approve or disapprove the findings, but the reports are released either way. In an "Update to Citizens of Albuquerque" posted in late March on the OIG website, then-city Inspector General Melissa R. Santistevan wrote that the pending reports "deal with fraud, waste, or abuse that impact our City. Some of these reports have been completed for months without citizen awareness." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Journal interview, she wouldn't disclose the topics. In a written response, AGO committee chair Victor Griego stated the committee had "multiple concerns" about the quality of the reports and the underlying investigations. Within weeks, the AGO put Santistevan on paid leave, and decided not to renew her contract. Based on AGO recommendations for a new OIG, City Council voted June 13 to hire William Hoffman, owner of a workplace investigations firm in San Diego. But because of pay issues, Hoffman later declined to take the job, Bassan said. Hoffman couldn't be reached by the Journal for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city is now advertising for new applicants for the OIG post, which pays between $116,396 to $141,981 a year. Bassan said the delays in releasing the reports aren't related to the vacancy created when Hoffman turned down the OIG job. Santistevan's attorney, J. Edward Hollington, sent Bassan and Griego, an Albuquerque accountant, a letter last week contending her removal was "improper and illegal." Hollington contended that the AGO had no authority to appoint an interim OIG, and that Santistevan "should immediately be reinstated to her position as Inspector General." He also said the city violated the OIG ordinance by failing to take a vote on whether she should have been reconfirmed before appointing Hoffman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current vacancy "offers the opportunity to the City Council and the AGO to reverse the blatant violations of City Ordinance...as Ms. Santistevan remains the only duly appointed IG for the City," his letter states. Bassan disagreed, defending the process used. She said the AGO, which also oversees the city's Internal Audit office, has previously appointed interim directors. The presidents of Congo Brazzaville and Zimbabwe were among 26 foreign leaders who attended Chinas largest ever military parade in Beijing, where Africa appeared to have a reduced presence compared with a decade ago. The event, which marked the 80th anniversary of the countrys victory over Japan in World War II, was a major show of strength and flaunted Chinas key allies: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were the guests of honor. The last anniversary parade, 10 years ago, drew five African leaders, according to a data visualization shared by Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society. Only two Western leaders from Serbia and Slovakia attended the parade, with the majority coming from Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The carefully choreographed event was a sign of Beijings growing influence in the Global South, wrote The Associated Press, while Bloomberg noted that the guest list was shorter and more authoritarian than a decade ago, with Iran and Cuba among the newcomers. A House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday pumped fresh oxygen into the transatlantic argument over tech regulation, giving right-wing United Kingdom leader Nigel Farage a platform to attack his own countrys laws. Online safety rules have created an awful, authoritarian situation in the European Union and the U.K., said Farage, leader of his countrys Reform Party. Farage was invited by House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), marking an escalation in Jordans war on Europes tech regulations part of a yearslong effort to pressure Europe into loosening laws that have led to investigations and fines against American tech companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In organizing the hearing, Jordan is attempting to put an international spin on the conservative argument against online speech restrictions in the U.S., a complaint stemming from the arguments over Covid-19 and the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, when numerous far-right figures were deplatformed for promoting potentially dangerous misinformation. In addition to attacking American tech companies, Europe is attacking free speech around the world, including here in America, Jordan said. He has an ally in Farage, a populist leader who has taken up the same cause against his own countrys rules. As the U.K.s Online Safety Act went into effect this summer, it became a point of international tension between tech companies and governments. At the same time, Europes laws governing antitrust and online content have begun leading to large fines on American companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the U.S. does not have direct influence on overseas laws, Farages presence in Washington has stoked anxiety in both the U.K. and EU that a sympathetic White House might use American trade muscle to push back on foreign rules. Farage hinted briefly at this in his comments, warning that the U.K.s Online Safety Act would "damage trade between our countries." After the hearing, Jordan told POLITICO he believes he has allies in Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in continuing to push back against the European laws. "We just continue to highlight how bad it is with not only what's happened to Europeans but, like I said, the impact that you have on Americans," Jordan said when asked about his next steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the White House driving trade policy, any such pressure would come from President Donald Trump rather than Congress. Before Farage left the hearing, he was asked point-blank whether he was meeting Trump for lunch, but dodged the question. "I'm not going to tell you what I'm doing this afternoon," Farage said. "Free speech is one thing. Discretion is quite another." In addition to Farage, Jordan also invited Thierry Breton, the former EU commissioner for digital affairs. But Breton declined to testify or provide written testimony before the committee saying he was not available on that date given the very short notice and indicating the European Commission would reply on his behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farage is a provocative guest not only for diplomatic reasons hes a high-profile internal critic of Britains Labour government but within Congress itself. In the U.K. this summer, Farage got into an argument with the top Democrat on the panel, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, in which he called Raskin the most pig-headed person hed ever met during a discussion in London about free speech, POLITICO exclusively reported. Farage wryly alluded to the exchange on Wednesday, saying Im delighted to reacquaint myself with the charming Mr. Raskin. Raskin, in his opening remarks, dismissed the idea that either Jordan or Farage were seriously interested in freedom of speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dictators of this world have nothing to fear from this hearing, Raskin said. This hearing is just a drive-by hit against a strong democratic ally to benefit a Donald Trump sycophant and wannabe. Farage used his platform in part to criticize two recent arrests in the U.K.: Lucy Connolly, who was jailed after calling for migrant hotels to be set fire to in a post on X amid the Southport Riots last summer, and screenwriter Graham Linehan, arrested by police at Heathrow Airport this week for posts on X about transgender people. Neither Connolly nor Linehan were arrested under the U.K.'s Online Safety Act, but rather the Public Order Act of 1986. The hearing also became political fodder in the U.K. three hours before Farages appearance, when Prime Minister Keir Starmer used his weekly session in front of the House of Commons to attack Farage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes flown to America, to badmouth and talk down our country, Starmer said. Worse than that... hes gone there to lobby the Americans to impose sanctions on this country, which will harm working people. You cannot get more unpatriotic than that. Its a disgrace. Farage and his Reform UK Party, surging in the polls, have vowed to repeal the Online Safety Act if they rise to power. Though the hearing was set up explicitly to attack overseas tech laws Europes Threat to American Speech and Innovation, was the title the rules did have defenders. Democratic witness David Kaye, former United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, acknowledged that EU and British speech laws are imperfect, but dealt with problems that American politicians were also worried about but unable to legislate on. [T]he EU Digital Services Act and the U.K. Online Safety Act respond to problems both sides of the aisle and Congress have found serious, he said noting, pointedly, that Congress has been unable to pass laws to address the enormous, opaque and unaccountable power of a small number of massive tech companies over our information environment. POLITICOs Tom Bristow contributed to this report from the U.K. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticuts minimum wage will increase to just under $17 an hour on January 1st. The $0.59 increase from the 2025 $16.35 to $16.94 per hour was announced by Gov. Ned Lamont and his top labor official at a press conference Wednesday morning. The wage increase comes as a result of a 2019 law signed by the governor which tied future wage changes to the Employment Cost Index, an economic indicator which measures changes in the hourly cost of labor over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connecticuts minimum wage is going up in 2026. Heres how much Nobody who works full-time should have to live in poverty, Lamont said. For too long, as the nations economy grew, the income of the lowest-earning workers has stayed flat, making already existing pay disparities even worse and preventing hardworking families from obtaining financial security. This is a fair, modest increase, and the money earned will go right back into our own economy, supporting local businesses in our communities. By law, the state is required to update the wage by mid-October each year. Lamonts early announcement of the change drew a question from Ken Dixon, a veteran Connecticut political reporter, who asked why the governor chose to hold a press conference in early September. Lamonts lieutenant governor, Susan Bysiewicz, jumped in with a brief answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anticipation, she said. In announcing the minimum wage hike, Lamont was harkening back to one of the signature initiatives of his first term in office. It was one of the very first things we did back in 2019, he said. Since then, the debate around the minimum wage has not changed much. State Rep. Joe Polletta, a rising young Republican legislator, opposed the bill in 2019 and voiced similar opposition on Wednesday. By just mandating a business to pay someone around seventeen dollars an hour does not help the economy, it doesnt help the consumer and it sure as heck doesnt help the small business owner, Polletta said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State funding heading to Connecticut food pantries The states largest business group was unveiling their annual report on the state of the Connecticut economy on Wednesday. Businesses are a bit concerned about the direction of the state, said Chris DiPentima of CBIA. Businesses continue to struggle with workforce retention and recruitment of employees. Dipentima is concerned due to the fact the many open jobs in Connecticut are in high-skill manufacturing, not minimum wage roles. A lot of the things that Ive struggled with in my business are things that across the board is what other people are struggling with as well: hiring, employee benefits, housing, entrepreneur Derrick Gibbs of Budr Cannabis 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 WTNH.com. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Construction work has intensified on a major new structure at a facility key to Israels long-suspected atomic weapons program, according to satellite images analyzed by experts. They say it could be a new reactor or a facility to assemble nuclear arms but secrecy shrouding the program makes it difficult to know for sure. The work at the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center near the city of Dimona will renew questions about Israels widely believed status as the Mideasts only nuclear-armed state. It could also draw international criticism, especially since it comes after Israel and the United States bombed nuclear sites across Iran in June over their fears that the Islamic Republic could use its enrichment facilities to pursue an atomic weapon. Among the sites attacked was Iran's heavy water reactor at Arak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven experts who examined the images all said they believed the construction was related to Israels long-suspected nuclear weapons program, given its proximity to the reactor at Dimona, where no civilian power plant exists. However, they split on what the new construction could be. Three said the location and size of the area under construction and the fact that it appeared to have multiple floors meant the most likely explanation for the work was the construction of a new heavy water reactor. Such reactors can produce plutonium and another material key to nuclear weapons. The other four acknowledged it could be a heavy water reactor but also suggested the work could be related to a new facility for assembling nuclear weapons. They declined to be definitive given the construction was still in an early stage. Its probably a reactor that judgement is circumstantial but thats the nature of these things, said Jeffrey Lewis, an expert at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, who based his assessment on the images and Dimona's history. Its very hard to imagine it is anything else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel does not confirm or deny having atomic weapons, and its government did not respond to requests for comment. The White House, which is Israel's staunchest ally, also did not respond to requests for comment. Construction underway for years The Associated Press first reported on excavations at the facility, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Jerusalem, in 2021. Then, satellite images only showed workers digging a hole some 150 meters (165 yards) long and 60 meters (65 yards) wide near the site's original heavy water reactor. Images taken July 5 by Planet Labs PBC show intensified construction at the site of the dig. Thick concrete retaining walls seem to be laid at the site, which appears to have multiple floors underground. Cranes loom overhead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no containment dome or other features typically associated with a heavy water reactor now visible at the site. However, one could be added later or a reactor could be designed without one. Dimonas current heavy water reactor, which came online in the 1960s, has been operating far longer than most reactors of the same era. That suggests it will need to be replaced or retrofitted soon. Its tall, which you would expect, because the reactor core is going to be pretty tall, Lewis said. Based on the location, size and general lack of construction there, its more likely a reactor than anything. Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert at the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists, also said the new construction could be a box-shaped reactor that doesn't have a visible containment dome, though he acknowledged the lack of transparency made it difficult to be certain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel doesnt allow any international inspections or verification of what its doing, which forces the public to speculate, said Lyman. While details about Dimona remain closely held secrets in Israel, a whistleblower in the 1980s released details and photos of the facility that led experts to conclude that Israel had produced dozens of nuclear warheads. If its a heavy water reactor, theyre seeking to maintain the capability to produce spent fuel that they then can process to separate plutonium for more nuclear weapons, said Daryl G. Kimball, the executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association. Or they are building a facility to maintain their arsenal or build additional warheads. Israels program is thought to rely on byproducts of a heavy water reactor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel, like India and Pakistan, is believed to rely on a heavy water reactor to make its nuclear weapons. The reactors can be used for scientific purposes, but plutonium which causes the nuclear chain reaction needed in an atomic bomb is a byproduct of the process. Tritium is another byproduct and can be used to boost the explosive yield of warheads. Given the secrecy of Israels program, it remains difficult to estimate just how many nuclear weapons it possesses. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in 2022 put the number at around 90 warheads. Obtaining more tritium to replace decaying material may be the reason for the construction at Dimona, as Lyman noted it decays 5% each year. If theyre building a new production reactor, he said, it doesnt necessarily mean theyre looking to expand the plutonium they have, but to manufacture tritium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has a policy of nuclear ambiguity Israel is believed to have begun building the nuclear site in the desert in the late 1950s after facing several wars with its Arab neighbors surrounding its founding in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust. Its policy of nuclear ambiguity is thought to have helped deter its enemies. It is among nine countries confirmed or believed to have atomic weapons and among just four that have never joined the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, a landmark international accord meant to stop the spread of nuclear arms. That means the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has no right to conduct inspections of Dimona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the construction, the Vienna-based IAEA reiterated that Israel is not obligated to provide information about other nuclear facilities in the country outside of its Soreq research reactor. ___ The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape: https://apnews.com/projects/the-new-nuclear-landscape/ Construction worker in Huntersville says driver attacked him A construction worker says he was attacked by a driver while he was directing traffic in a Huntersville work zone. Video obtained by Channel 9 shows the moment that someone walks up and punches Caleb Johnson while hes holding a stop sign. The owner of the construction company told Channel 9s Dave Faherty that he and the worker plan to press charges Wednesday afternoon. It happened Tuesday, when Johnson says he tried to get the driver to stop. Workers are trained to bring down a stop sign like the arm of a railroad crossing as a last resort. Johnson did that, and the driver got out of his vehicle after Johnson stopped him. The driver then hits Johnson and walks away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ >> Huntersville police welcome new K-9, Echo The company emphasized to Faherty the importance of keeping the workers here safe and other motorists from being hit. Johnson spoke with Faherty and said it was crazy. I think the scariest part was he talked to me, he was very nonthreatening, nonaggressive. So I think it was scary despite being in that much control, the fact that he was so willing to hit someone, Johnson said. Faherty learned of a similar incident earlier this year in Rowan County. The driver hasnt been identified at this time. (VIDEO: Safety concerns rise after veteran violently attacked on CATS bus) This is the story of two Republican doctor-senators named Bill. One of them, as majority leader from 2003 to 2007, helped a self-described compassionate conservative Republican president pass a Medicare prescription drug plan and the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ( PEPFAR ), the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history. The other, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, voted to send Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services to the Senate floor. It was a 14-13 vote , so his was a crucial aye that allowed a conspiracy theorist, disinformation spreader and anti-vaxxer to become the top public health official in America. He already has defunded world-changing mRNA vaccine research, imposed major restrictions on access to COVID vaccines amid a surging variant of the virus and triggered a crisis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firewall between science and ideology is completely broken down, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, former director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said Sunday on ABCs This Week. He was part of the shocking CDC leadership exodus last week after the Trump administration forced out CDC Director Susan Monarez. The trajectory from heart and lung transplant surgeon Bill Frist of Tennessee to gastroenterologist Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is emblematic of the dark Republican Party journey on science and health from the Bush family to the Trump family, from American greatness to self-defeating denialism on everything from vaccines to cancer research. There are four doctors in the Senate: Cassidy, orthopedic surgeon John Barrasso of Wyoming, obstetrician-gynecologist Roger Marshall of Kansas and ophthalmologist Rand Paul of Kentucky. All are Republicans and all voted in February to confirm Kennedy. Eleven of the 17 medical doctors in the House are Republicans, and all of them voted for the nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts in the vast tax-and-spending law that Trump signed on July 4. So did the four dentists in the House , all of them Republicans. The American Dental Assn. endorsed three of them. The fourth is Arizonas Paul Gosar, a top competitor with Kennedy in the medical disinformation space whose siblings have made ads urging voters to reject him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frist was the only doctor in the Senate when he served. After leaving the Senate in early 2007, he joined the Bipartisan Policy Center, where he is a senior fellow and co-chair of its Health Project. He has been on the board of directors of the Nature Conservancy since 2015, and was elected to a three-year term as global board chair in 2022. Frist has sharply criticized the Medicaid cuts passed into law this year, saying they threaten rural hospitals and public health . Last spring, accepting a 2025 Earth Award from Time Magazine, he said climate health is crucial to human health, and he urged a personal approach to raise American awareness. He often describes his environmental and health missions as inseparable. Planetary health is human health. Lets lead with science, unity, and urgency, he posted on X on Earth Day. Good luck with that, at least in the short term. The same new law that cuts Medicaid also cuts funds for renewable energy projects and incentives, with conservationists predicting more pollution , fewer jobs and higher energy costs as a result. Only three Republican senators bucked the party tide on that bill, and Paul was the only doctor among them. His breaking point was a provision raising the U.S. debt limit to $5 trillion not Medicaid or clean energy cuts affecting health. Cassidy, of course, voted for it. And when Monarez found herself in Kennedys crosshairs over vaccines, Cassidy privately intervened for her, which backfired . Now, having failed to spare America this nightmare when he could have, the senator is threatening oversight by the health committee he chairs and trying to get a Sept. 18 meeting of unqualified Kennedy-appointed vaccine advisors postponed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is thin gruel, especially from a doctor once committed to public health and science writ large. Cassidy co-founded a clinic that gave free dental and medical care to the working uninsured, his website says, and created a public-private partnership that vaccinated 36,000 children for hepatitis at no cost to their families. During the Biden presidency, he voted for bipartisan gun safety and infrastructure bills and the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to bolster the U.S. semiconductor industry. He was also one of five Republicans voting for a small-business COVID relief bill. Even more notably, in the Senate impeachment trial after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Cassidy voted to convict Trump of incitement of insurrection. Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty, he said then. The Louisiana Republican Party censured him the same day. Now running for his third term, Cassidy is already facing primary challengers who dont have that baggage. They include state Treasurer John Fleming, a former congressman who worked for Trump in the White House, and public service commissioner Eric Skrmetta, who chaired all three of Trumps presidential campaigns in Louisiana. Fleming has said Cassidys vote to convict Trump failed the people of Louisiana. And thats the problem with todays Republican Party. The truth is that since that brave vote, Cassidy has failed all Americans. He has also assured that his legacy will be the wreckage of our once world-class public health and medical research programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the other side, there is the 314 Action group that is recruiting and funding Democratic doctors and other Democratic scientists to run for office. Its an openly partisan operation, right up to a snarky-ish all-caps X post about its $1-million commitment to Californias fight to neutralize the five new House seats Texas is trying to add. What else can you do when the other major party, even its medical professionals, is leading, aiding and abetting in the GOP war on science? If @SenBillCassidy had a spine, a known anti-vax conspiracy theorist wouldn't be destroying our public health, the group posted last Wednesday on X. He had an opportunity to thwart the confirmation of RFK Jr., 314 Action president and founder Shaughnessy Naughton told me in a recent interview. Instead he chose to go down a different path and go against what his life experience and professional training told him was a dangerous nominee to lead our health services. And he did it anyway. That is shameful. In February, before Kennedy was confirmed, the conservative New York Times columnist Bret Stephens rated him worst nominee in U.S. Cabinet history. And then Stephens suggested the person he preferred for the job: Bill Frist. Jill Lawrence is an opinion writer and author of The Art of the Political Deal: How Congress Beat the Odds and Broke Through Gridlock. @jilldlawrence.bsky.social If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Harwood Planning and Zoning Board members Jeff Mathson, right, and Keith Ose, second from right, and others look at a map of the proposed Applied Digital data center in Harwood North Dakota on Sept. 2, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) HARWOOD, N.D. Harwood city leaders pushed forward with a planned data center development Tuesday after contentious public hearings. The Harwood Planning and Zoning Board and City Council voted in favor of the $3 billion Applied Digital data center that seeks to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence computing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Planning and Zoning Board recommended rezoning a 320-acre area southeast of Harwood from agriculture to light industrial. The City Council then approved a first reading of the zoning change and a building permit for MBN Engineering of Fargo that will work on the project. A second vote by the council is required to finalize the zoning change and the building permit. The votes would likely come at the October meeting. Harwood, North Dakota, Mayor Blake Hankey speaks during a public hearing on Sept. 2, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) Harwood Mayor Blake Hankey said the zoning change and data center would help insulate Harwood from development from the north side of Fargo. Im hoping thats going to stop Fargo from coming into our backyard, Hankey said. Hankey said Fargo is attempting to annex the site that is between Harwood and Fargo, which he believes is illegal. But, if the site were to become part of Fargo, Harwood residents would have to deal with the potential negatives, such as noise and traffic, without the tax benefits, Hankey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Harwood City Council also formally voted to oppose Fargos annexation. Fargo city leaders voted unanimously last month to approve resolutions to annex land north of the city that includes the data center site, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported. The annexation would need approval from Harwood leaders. Harwood resident Darlene Meyer said she had come around the idea of the data center being built nearby, in part because of Fargos intentions. She called the Harwood governments actions the biggest decision in the history of Harwood. After the unanimous vote from the Planning and Zoning Committee, several people in the crowd called out shame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas-based Applied Digital last month announced the project that the company says would add 200 to 300 jobs and tax revenue for the town of about 900 people. Harwood resident Deb Moug said her research led to some of the negatives of data centers, such as high power consumption and impact on the quality of life. She cautioned leaders to take more time on making decisions. I think people are too anxious to jump on the AI bandwagon without really thinking this through, she said. Some members of the public called for an environmental impact study. If built, the Harwood center would be Applied Digitals third project in North Dakota, with its largest data center at Ellendale, a town of about 1,100. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Harwood project received a cool reception at a community meeting organized by Applied Digital on Aug. 25. Tuesdays City Council portion of the meeting started with Hankey cutting short comments from a Harwood resident who wanted to criticize how Applied Digital approached the city. Hankey tried to limit the comments to specific to the zoning change and not the Applied Digital business model. As residents shouted at the mayor, he asked to have one person removed. Some others left voluntarily. Later in the public hearing, however, Hankey and others made comments about Applied Digital. After the hearing and before the vote, Applied Digital CEO Wes Cummins and Executive Vice President Nick Phillips took several questions about topics such as traffic flow and utility rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said they would work with local officials to minimize truck traffic through Harwood. Cummins said there would not be noticeable surges in traffic when workers start and end shifts. Its a significant number of jobs, but not an overwhelming number of jobs, he said. Phillips also said a recent off-peak rate increase by Cass County Rural Electric Cooperative, which will provide power to the center, is not related to the project. They reiterated how North Dakotas cool climate allows for more energy-efficient data centers than warmer states. In announcing the project, Applied Digital said it hoped to break ground yet this month, but Cummins said the company would have to wait for final approval from the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its as soon as we can make it happen, Cummins said. We love the weather here for what we do, but it does create some problems for construction. North Dakota Monitor Deputy Editor Jeff Beach can be reached at jbeach@northdakotamonitor.com. DENVER (KDVR) The woman who was killed when two small planes collided in mid-air on Sunday has been identified. Kristen Morris, 35, of Denver, was identified by the Morgan County Sheriffs Office on Tuesday as the person who was killed in the Sunday crash. On Wednesday, the sheriffs office released updated information, saying that while Morris is an experienced pilot, we are not asserting that she was in control of this aircraft at the time of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flight returns to DIA after strange odor is reported A Cessna 172 and an Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 collided Sunday morning while trying to land at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Both planes had two people aboard, and both crashed and caught fire, according to the sheriffs office. On Tuesday, the sheriffs office said the planes collided at the north end of the airports runway. Steve Cowell, an aviation expert, told FOX31s Greg Nieto that non-towered airports like Fort Morgan Municipal Airport are safe. It is absolutely perfectly safe to land at an uncontrolled airport, Cowell said. Probably the most common type of airport in the world. Hundreds of them in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cowell said that pilots are trained to use a common air traffic frequency to communicate with and relay where they are at any point in time on an approach. Both occupants of the Cessna suffered minor injuries in the crash. One occupant of the other plane was taken to a hospital, while Morris was pronounced dead at the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, with investigators expected on scene on Monday afternoon. The FAA is asking anyone who witnessed the crash, may have information or surveillance video, to contact them at witness@ntsb.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 FOX31 Denver. Russia's Second Western District Military Court has handed down lengthy prison terms to four Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), the Russian Prosecutor General's Office announced on Sept. 3. The prisoners were accused of conducting sabotage and reconnaissance operations against military and industrial facilities within Russia. The Russian court convicted Ukrainian servicemembers Lieutenant Colonel Andrii Antonenko, Captain Andrii Kulish, Junior Lieutenant Denis Tkachenko, and Sergeant Oleksii Mazurenko of planning and carrying out terrorist attacks, among other lesser charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Antonenko received a 28-year sentence, with the first five years to be served in prison and the remainder of the term in a maximum-security penal colony. He was also fined 2 million rubles (around $24,695). Kulish and Mazurenko were both sentenced to 26 years, while Tkachenko received 27 years. All four officers were captured in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, according to the state news agency TASS. The soldiers were accused of mining power lines, a railway, and an oil storage facility, the independent Russian news outlet Mediazona reported. They were also accused of planting drones near the Shaykovka military airfield in Russia's Kaluga Oblast in August 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shaykovka airfield houses strategic bombers used to drop missiles on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported in August 2023 that a drone strike at the facility damaged at least one military plane. In their final statements to the court, the four POWs said that they were defending Ukraine and following the orders of their commanding officers. They also stressed that not a single Russian person, military or civilian, was harmed in their operations. "I do not consider myself a terrorist and do not agree with the accusations that have been brought against me," Antonenko said. "I do not know how my future fate and life will turn out, but I have such a deep personal feeling that this is still some kind of cosplay of justice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has held a number of sham trials for Ukrainian POWs in recent years. In June, a Russian court convicted 184 Ukrainian POWs captured in Kursk Oblast of acts of terrorism. Read also: Behind Ukraines manpower crisis lies a bleak new battlefield reality for infantry Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) As Chicago prepares for a surge of immigration enforcement agents, the city of Rockford issued a statement Wednesday in solidarity with its noncitizen community, with the warning that ICE operations could extend to the Forest City. The City posted a notice to its Facebook page in both English and Spanish, saying, We are aware that Homeland Security recently confirmed plans to expand ICE operations in Chicago. While there is no confirmation that these operations will extend to Rockford, we recognize it is a possibility. And, we also recognize the fear and uncertainty this news may cause. Its also important to be clear the Rockford Police Department follows the Illinois Trust Act. We do not participate in ICE raids, nor will we, the statement continued. To our immigrant neighbors: please know this you are valued, you are cared for and you are an important part of who we are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd also released a statement, saying, It is important for our community to know that the enforcement of civil immigration laws is the responsibility of federal agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as stated in the Illinois Trust Act. Our duty is to protect and serve everyone in our community, regardless of immigration status. The TRUST Act, signed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) in 2017, prevents state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. According to ICE, those arrested as part of the nationwide effort had criminal histories, including sexual assault, robbery, drug and weapons charges, and domestic violence, the agency said. The Department of Homeland Security conducted operations in Rockford in mid-June, but it has not been confirmed whether the agents were from ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump on Tuesday said federal troops will be coming to Chicago as part of an immigration enforcement effort, but did not give a timeline for the operation. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker held a news conference later that day, saying the head of the Illinois State Police had received a call from Customs and Border Protections chief patrol agent Gregory Bovino on Saturday. The governor said the White House began positioning armed federal agents and military vehicles at the Great Lakes Naval Base on Monday. Unidentifiable agents in unmarked vehicles with masks are planning to raid Latino communities and say theyre targeting violent criminals, Pritzker said, adding that he expects to see videos of them hauling away mothers and fathers traveling to work or picking up their kids from school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have reason to believe that [White House Deputy Chief of Staff] Stephen Miller chose the month of September to come to Chicago because of celebrations around Mexican Independence Day that happen here every year, he continued. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said undocumented immigrants should prioritize your health, mental wellness, and safety above all else. Pritzker characterized undocumented immigrants in Chicago as law-abiding individuals who pay taxes and pay taxes and contribute to the communities. In other words, theyre following the law, Pritzker said. U.S. federal law (8 U.S. Code 1325), makes it illegal for someone to enter the United States at any time or place between an official port of entry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker also said he believed Trump and his team will be looking for any excuse to put active duty military on our streets, supposedly to protect ICE, and said We have reason to believe that the Trump administration has already begun staging the Texas National Guard for deployment in Illinois. Chicago is home to a large population of undocumented immigrants, and both the city and the state of Illinois have some of the countrys strongest rules against cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts. That has often put the city and state at odds with Trumps mass deportation agenda. The Governor said the Chicago surge is expected to last 30 days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A court annulled the Istanbul provincial congress of Turkey's main opposition party on Tuesday, citing alleged procedural irregularities in a decision critics view as an escalating campaign to weaken the party. The ruling against the Republican People's Party (CHP), led to the dismissal of Istanbul chair Ozgur Celik and other provincial administrators. An interim committee was appointed to oversee the party's Istanbul branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision followed a legal challenge seeking to nullify the CHP's Istanbul congress on 8 October, claiming procedural violations. It comes just weeks before a separate court in Ankara is expected to rule on a similar case targeting the CHP's main congress in 2023, which elected Ozgur Ozel as party leader. A ruling against the CHP in that case could potentially reinstate its former leader, Kemal Klcdaroglu, a figure whose tenure drew widespread criticism. People listen to speeches during a rally called by Republican People's Party in Istanbul, 29 March, 2025 - AP Photo The court's ruling coincides with an escalating crackdown on municipalities controlled by the CHP, which resulted in a series of arrests beginning with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A prominent opposition figure, Imamoglu is widely seen as the leading challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogans two-decade rule. The arrests have been made over allegations of corruption, which the CHP strongly denies. Imamoglu's jailing led to the largest protests in Turkey in more than a decade, with demonstrators denouncing a democratic backsliding under Erdogan. Critics argue the legal actions are politically motivated and designed to weaken the CHPs rising influence. Erdogan's government insists that the judiciary operates independently and denies any political interference. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, 1 September, 2025 - AP Photo "This decision is a blatant blow to our democracy," Ali Mahir Basarr, a top CHP legislator, said in an X post following Tuesday's ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will continue our legal and political struggle against those who attempt to usurp our will through judicial means." Ozel said the CHP would appeal the ruling. Turkey's main stock index, the BIST100, dropped by more than 5% following the decision, before recovering some ground to close 3.57% down at 10,877 points. Since 2019, Istanbul and several other major cities have shifted to CHP control, with the opposition further expanding its reach in last year's municipal elections. OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) Court documents are providing new details about a Lee County couple accused of child sex abuse and torture. Investigators say 64-year-old Michael Earl Adams is charged with raping and torturing two young girls beginning when they were just six years old. The women, now in their 30s, recently came forward to Opelika Police, saying the abuse lasted for years. In their statements, the women also alleged Adams wife, Malissa Denice Jolly Adams, was present during some of the incidents. Court records claim she at times helped facilitate the abuse either by distracting others in the home or by taking part herself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Michael and Malissa Adams are facing multiple felony charges, including rape, sodomy, sexual torture, and sexual abuse of a child under 12. A bond hearing for the couple is scheduled for September 8 in Lee County. Both remain in custody at the Lee County Detention Facility. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WHITESBURG, Ky. (FOX 56) Multiple witnesses reportedly believe the former Letcher County sheriff was experiencing psychosis during the fatal shooting of Judge Kevin Mullins almost a year ago. Shots rang out inside the Letcher County courthouse on Sept. 19, 2024, killing the 54-year-old district judge. Kentucky State Police said former sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines is the one who pulled the trigger. The entire exchange was captured by security cameras. For nearly a year, questions have loomed regarding why the sheriff decided to do what hes accused of. His attorney, Jeremey Bartley, has continuously pointed to a civil case involving sheriffs deputies, the judges chambers, and a reported sex for favors scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky sheriff reportedly shoots judge: A look at the timeline, investigation Its like they were running a brothel out of that courtroom, Attorney Ned Pillersdorf said. But the extent of Mullins involvement has long been questioned. Since the shooting, three women have come out stating they witnessed the judge participating, or were one of his alleged victims. Ive had sex with him in the chambers, Tya Adams said. I was part of it. I was one of them. Alleged Letcher County courthouse brothel victim comes forward, implicates slain judge Stines was deposed three days before the shooting in relation to the sex-for-favors reports after having to terminate one of his deputies for his involvement that dated back to 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, investigators interviewed Attorney Daniel Dotson the day after the shooting. Dotson reportedly testified that he urged Stines to seek help. Dotson also told the KSP that he spoke to Kevin Mullins and told him that Mickey was losing it and couldnt take this kind of pressure in reference to the Civil suit involving some crack whore wanting money,' Bartley wrote. The pair had reportedly spoken the night before Mullins death, and Dotson recalled telling his wife that that son of a [expletive] has lost his mind, referencing Stines. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christine Bolling, a Letcher County Sheriffs Office staff member, was concerned about his very strange behavior. Specifically, also on Sept. 18, court documents state that Stines told Bolling that Daniel Dotson had told him to give him money and kill himself or they were going to kill, Stines wife and daughter. The sheriff then insisted that he went home to check on his family, made her get his bulletproof vest on, and had someone call to check on his daughter, per court documents. This is all reportedly captured on Ring camera footage. Witnesses said that he was also making phone calls on the day of the shooting to check on family members who had been deceased for years. FOX 56 previously reported that in the security camera footage of the shooting, just moments before pulling the trigger, Stines uses his and the judges cell phone to make calls to his daughter. Moments after the calls were made, the video shows the sheriff standing from his chair and proceeding to point a gun at the judge, shooting Mullins several times. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why Stines called his daughter has long been questioned. Bartley affirms that the sheriff was in fear for the lives of his wife and daughter. Its unclear if there is any merit to Dotsons alleged threat. Body camera footage obtained by FOX News Digital shows Stines appearing paranoid, pleading not to be shot and killed shortly after he was taken into custody. His legs are trembling as he scans the area around him. I leave this building, I wont take another breath, Stines pleaded. Bartley noted that medical records show evaluations that observed signs of active psychosis and couldnt recall what landed him in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, detectives testified to a Letcher County grand jury that its believed Stines was sane at the time of the shooting, and that Mullins had no involvement in the civil case to their knowledge. Mullins was never criminally charged in connection with the acts that reportedly occurred inside his chambers. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Bartley hopes that the indictment against his client will be dismissed based on information reportedly withheld from the grand jurors. Its only one of the many motions filed on Sept. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them were arguments against a change of venue, unsealing his mental evaluation, and setting bond. Prosecutors believe that the trial should be moved from Letcher County to ensure the securing of an impartial jury. This case is unique in that the scene of the crime happens to be the courthouse in which the Defendant is reporting for pretrial conferences, status hearings, and could potentially be tried in, Commonwealths Attorney Jackie Steele wrote. But Bartley argued that Letcher County, or its surrounding areas, would be the only way to accurately reflect a jury of his peers, and due to widespread, worldwide coverage, moving the trial would taint his right to a fair and impartial jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge hasnt issued an order on the motions at this time. Bartley hopes that the motions will be heard at an evidentiary hearing. A date has yet to be set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. A COVID wave is washing over California, with the state seeing continued increases in the number of newly confirmed cases and hospitalizations as some officials urged the public to take greater precautions. The extent of the recent increases has prompted some county-level health officials to recommend that residents once again consider wearing masks in indoor public settings, at least until transmission has declined. California currently has "high" coronavirus levels in sewage, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And increases are being seen across the Golden State, from Los Angeles County to the San Francisco Bay Area to areas around the state capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CDC estimates that coronavirus infections are either "growing" or "likely growing" in 30 states, including California. Twenty-one states have either very high or "high" viral levels in wastewater. Of all regions of the U.S., the West has the highest levels of coronavirus in wastewater, followed by the South. Read more: Can I still get a COVID shot? What you need to know after a confounding week "California is experiencing a summer COVID wave," said Dr. Aimee Sisson, the health officer in Yolo County, just west of Sacramento. The rate at which coronavirus lab tests are coming back positive also continues to climb. For the week that ended Aug. 23, 12.07% of tests across the state came back positive, up from a rate of 6.03% for the week that ended July 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar leaps in rates were seen in L.A. County, where the positive test rate was 13.44%, up from 8.11% four weeks earlier; in Orange County, it was 18.1%, up from 9.4%; and in San Francisco, it was 8.7%, up from 7.1%. Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, the regional chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said she received many calls related to outpatient cases of COVID-19 while on call over the Labor Day weekend. "We are definitely seeing an upswing in patients with COVID," Hudson said. "Thankfully, inpatient cases are few and far between. Wastewater levels, however, are still rising in Los Angeles, so we have not reached the top of this current wave." Read more: Why COVID keeps roaring back every summer, even as pandemic fades from public view Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, this summer hasn't seen COVID activity to the extent of a year ago, when the state experienced its worst summer wave since 2022. "We will have to see what direction things go over the next one to two weeks to have a better idea" of where we end up, Hudson said. Students returning to school as well as from travel and socialization over the holiday weekend, could fuel further spread of the virus, she said. Across California, the overall level of COVID hospital admissions remains "low," but is increasing. For the week that ended Aug. 23, there were 3.62 hospital admissions for COVID for every 100,000 residents; up from a comparable rate of 1.9 four weeks earlier. The most recent rate is also higher than during the peak seen during the winter, which maxed out at 2.61 admissions for every 100,000 residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: COVID rising fast in California, fueled by new 'Stratus' variant tied to Omicron Emergency department visits for COVID-like illness are also up in Los Angeles, Orange and Santa Clara counties. In L.A. County, 2.8% of emergency room visits were for illnesses such as fever plus a cough or sore throat, up from 2.2% four weeks earlier. In Orange County, 2.6% of ER visits were for COVID-like illness, up from 1.5%. "The current percent of COVID-19 positivity is higher than at any point last winter," according to Dr. Christopher Zimmerman of the Orange County Health Care Agencys Communicable Disease Control Division and Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the countys health officer. As of Aug. 23, 1.9% of total hospitalizations in Orange County were due to COVID higher than at any point seen during the winter, but less than half of last summer's peak of 4%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it's unclear "how high or how severe this summer's COVID wave may be," Zimmerman and Chinsio-Kwong said, noting that this year's rise began later than it did in 2024. In Los Angeles County, COVID-19 hospitalizations are currently about as high as last winter's peak, but remain lower than the peaks of the last two summers, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health. Read more: The FDA overhauled its COVID vaccine guidance. Here's what it means for you Sisson said that coronavirus levels are high in the wastewater of both Sacramento and West Sacramento, one of the most populous cities in Yolo County. Sisson recommended that everyone age 2 and up in West Sacramento "wear a mask when they are around others in indoor public spaces," since coronavirus levels in sewage there are high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For other areas of Yolo County, including UC Davis and Woodland, where viral levels in wastewater are considered "medium," Sisson said she recommends that people wear masks around others indoors "if they are 65 or older, have a weakened immune system, have an underlying medical condition that puts them at a greater risk of severe COVID-19, or spend time around people who fall into these categories. "Wearing a high-quality mask such as an N95, KN95, or KF94 that fits well continues to provide strong protection," Sisson said. Coronavirus cases are increasing in Sacramento County, and coronavirus wastewater levels are considered high, according to Casey Camacho, a spokesperson for the Sacramento County Department of Health Services. Read more: U.S. pediatricians' new COVID-19 vaccine recommendations differ from CDC advice Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The San Francisco Department of Public Health also is encouraging people "to consider wearing a well-fitted mask in crowded indoor spaces, including when traveling, and to stay at home if they feel sick." Coronavirus levels in San Francisco wastewater, and COVID hospitalizations, are up this summer "but remain below last summer's peaks." In Santa Clara County, Northern California's most populous county, COVID-related hospitalizations are up, and coronavirus levels are "high" in the sewershed of San Jose and Palo Alto. Current viral levels in wastewater are now similar to the levels seen in the summer of 2023, but haven't reached last summer's peak. COVID hospitalization rates also remain lower than recent summer seasons, public health officials said. The updated 2025-26 version of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available within a few days at some of the nation's pharmacy retailers, such as Walgreens and CVS. But some people are expressing frustration at new rules issued by the Trump administration that in effect require younger, healthy people under age 65 who don't say they have an underlying health condition to consult with a healthcare provider to get a COVID vaccination in the fall. "Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to prevent severe disease and death from COVID-19," Sisson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development The requirement came under criticism by Dr. Jerome Adams, a former surgeon general who served under the first Trump administration. In posts on social media, Adams said requiring people to consult with a healthcare provider before getting a COVID vaccine puts up "real access barriers." "Even if you have insurance and can get in to see a doctor (which is no small feat in the U.S.), many doctors are going to be reticent to prescribe a medication 'off label,' given the (in many cases unfounded) recent rhetoric from HHS leaders," Adams wrote, referring to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is led by the vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, who has a history of disparaging vaccines, has said he wants more studies on the COVID-19 shots. Other health experts have said seeking additional testing for COVID vaccines is unnecessary, given the extensive testing done before they were first distributed, and their track record since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The bottom line? It is both statistically (according to HHSs own data) and pragmatically untrue that '100% of those who choose a Covid vaccine can get one.' Continuing to repeat this reflects a lack of knowledge, empathy, or honesty," Adams wrote. 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. Chicago Public Schools has sent multiple emails out to families assuring them they are prepared for a potential National Guard presence in the city after comments from President Donald Trump stating Chicago is next for his military force crackdowns. In the midst of the uncertainty, Chicago Public Schools has reiterated to parents and students that school is a safe place to be in a letter sent out Thursday. No families in the district are required to share their immigration status with CPS, and the district is committed to not working with or sharing student records with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, also known as ICE. The concerns come after repeated remarks from Trump indicating his intent to send troops to Chicago to curb perceived violence in the city, despite a drop in crime rates in the last year. The threat was made seemingly more real last week when the Trump Administration asked to use the Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago ahead of a potential immigration operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, Trump doubled down at an unrelated press conference Tuesday in the Oval Office Were going in, Trump said when asked Tuesday about deploying the National Guard in Chicago. I didnt say when, but were going in. The letter also advocates for families and students to take extra safety precautions, including having a group of parents and students to walk to and from school together, creating a carpool group or buddy system while on public transportation, and being in communication with your block or neighborhood to share information quickly if needed. Quick communication between community members has already started in some neighborhoods, Lowell Elementary School Local School Council member Magdalena Martinez said. If she hears that ICE officers are in the neighborhood Humboldt Park she spreads the word so everyone knows, including to local schools. The first place I tell is the school, Martinez said. I said, theyre around here, and theyre on this street and the street, so be careful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fear is especially apparent in immigrant communities, Martinez said. Grocery stores seem emptier since the talk of the National Guard first started. Parents are worried about leaving the house, let alone letting their children leave for school, she added. Theyre scared of sending them to school because they dont know if theyre going to pick up their kids, Martinez said. Our people are already scared. They dont need to be more scared. The district solidified its stance on working with immigration enforcement last year when the Chicago Board of Education passed a resolution stating CPS will not provide assistance to ICE in the enforcement of federal civil immigration law. It also states ICE is not permitted access to district facilities or personnel unless it has a criminal warrant to do so. For now, Martinezs two granddaughters within CPS are unaware of the potential threats their classmates might face. At age 3 and 9, they are too small to know, she said, though they might soon be faced with National Guard officers in their neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the reality, that theyre going to be seeing things like this and then we got to tell them, which is very hard to do, because you dont want them to live in an environment where all have to be scared where we live and where were at or who we talk to, Martinez said. The deployment also raises the question of how much federal money will be spent on the National Guards presence, Bronzeville Classical Elementary School parent and Local School Council Advisory Board member Stephen Miller said. There are other ways, more efficient, more sustainable ways to deal with the issues, as opposed to just sending troops and having them on the street and scaring people, Miller said. The biggest concern for Miller is the federal financial resources used to bring the National Guard to Chicago that could go elsewhere. The National Guard should not come, he said, and instead use those resources to help people directly, like people experiencing homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it will probably be more of an agitation than a help, Miller said. Lets look at some proven things that help reduce crime for longer periods of time and not this kind of showboat approach to crime, which really wont do anything for the long run anyway. A better use of those funds would be at schools like those in CPS and across the country, which are facing tighter budgets and fewer resources after federal cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, he added. With the view that the city itself needs more money from both the government and the state, the prioritization of sending the National Guard to Chicago to stop crime seems financially unnecessary, Miller said. The amount of money that theyre spending on that kind of stuff we could be using to keep teachers in the classroom, we could be using to help restore buildings, we could be using for afterschool programs, Miller said. All of those things are what we really need, and they all help curb crime, not just having tanks in the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear if Trump will follow through on those deployment threats. The presidents use of the National Guard in Los Angeles during immigration enforcement protests earlier this year was deemed illegal by a judge Tuesday morning, who determined the action violated federal law. Even with the ruling, it is yet to be determined if Trump tries something similar in Illinois. Over 50 people were shot throughout a Labor Day weekend that included multiple mass shootings, news the president is now pointing to as more of a reason to come to the city, which he called a hellhole Tuesday during a White House press conference. Interim CEO Macquline King reiterated many of the letters key points at the Chicago Board of Education meeting Thursday, sharing that the district is in conversation with city officials and labor partners about what to do if the National Guard were deployed. Public safety issues like this are the responsibility of the city and state, so CPS will follow their lead, King said. We dont know when or even if this will happen, but I want our school communities to know that CPS is prepared, King said. I know that anxiety among many families has been high since the new administration took office, so the possibility of an even greater federal presence in our city has been making this tension that much worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district hears parents worries, King said, apologizing that the potential military presence is coming amid a time when students should be happy. I wanted our families to hear directly from the district that we understand their concerns and that their children will remain safe, supported and loved every day that they are in our school, King said. In the meantime, the district will remain in communication with its families regarding anything about the potential deployment of the National Guard, King said. The start of the school year should be about learning and discovery, not fear and intimidation, King said. I know theres a lot of fear out there, but I hope our families will trust me when I say that the best and safest place for our children is still at school. ____ WESTLAKE, Ohio (WJW) A frightened deer smashed through a window at a local business park and was trapped inside an office, so employees called police for help. However, they could not believe what happened next. One of our tenants has a deer inside his suite, one of the workers told a dispatcher. He broke through the window, and I didnt know the deer was inside. He came into work and he can hear the deer inside and he says it sounds like a big one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employees at ITS Traffic Systems, which owns the office park on Clemens Road, said after the deer smashed through a double pane window, he was thrashing around the office, trying to find a way out. Medina City Schools making big security changes ahead of first home football game So were just standing outside because we dont know what to do with this deer, one of the employees told dispatch with a chuckle. When officers arrived, they opened a door to the office, hoping the deer would see the opening and make his escape, which initially worked. Video captured by an employee shows the deer running out the front door and then turning back toward the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the workers is heard saying, the other way dude, the other way, followed by the sound of breaking glass. Instead of going straight into where the woods were, it took a sharp right and just ran into one of our other suites, jumped through both of the windows, so now its in a different suite, just running around in that suite, not able to get out of there either, said Lucy Baschko, who is the chief financial officer of ITS Traffic Systems. After crashing through the second window, the terrified deer tore up a second office trying to get away and thats when an animal control officer decided to take the deer by the antlers, so to speak. He somehow got ahold of his legs and then they were actually pulling him out by his legs and as soon as they got him to where he was at the door, he just bolted, said Baschko. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Animal control officers said there are a variety of reasons why deer jump through windows. Among them, the animal is scared, looking for a place to hide and does not realize the glass is a barrier, or the deer sees his reflection in the window and thinks its another deer, preparing to charge. Employees said there is a herd of deer that pass through the wooded area, west of the business park, and there also is a pack of coyotes nearby. They believe that may have played a role in the frantic behavior of the young buck. Bodycam video: Suspects arrested after Akron mail carrier robbed at gunpoint Weve had other tenants who have seen coyotes and so we werent sure if it just did think it was another deer and was trying to go after it or if it was getting chased by a coyote and thats why it went with such force and went through both windows and weve seen coyotes since then as well, said Baschko. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The employees of the company that owns the complex got quite a reaction from their tenants after they saw the damage done by the wayward deer. When they came in, they were just shocked and it was just like, OK, were not coming to work today and theyll be back once we can get things fixed for them, said Baschko. Its pretty wild, you dont expect something like that. Police and witnesses were concerned about injuries suffered by the deer, because there was a lot of blood on the floor and walls in the two offices. Officers checked the surrounding area and there was no sign of the animal, so theyre hoping hes OK. 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. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) Crestwood Medical Center has announced the appointment of Scott Bracci as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective Sept. 8, 2025. Bracci brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to the role, starting his career as an ultrasound technologist at Baptist Healths flagship hospital in Miami. His clinical foundation has shaped a leadership style that emphasizes collaboration with care teams and a deep understanding of patient needs. Over the years, Bracci held senior leadership roles at several facilities, including Mercy Hospital Miami, Westside Regional Medical Center in Florida, and, most recently, Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina an 815-bed facility where he also served as Chief Operating Officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scotts leadership experience and operational insight make him a strong addition to our executive team, said Justin Serrano, Chief Executive Officer of Crestwood Medical Center. He shares our commitment to delivering high-quality care and will play an important role in supporting our physicians, staff, and patients. Bracci holds a masters degree in Health Administration from the University of St. Francis. He is an active member of professional organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Additionally, he has completed training in Studer Principles and Six Sigma/Lean Six Sigma methodologies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ive been skeptical about reports of a crackdown on speech in the United Kingdom. If weve learned anything in recent years, its not to trust reports of government activities, for or against. However, its becoming undeniable: The United Kingdom is in the midst of going full 1984, and now theyve begun arresting comedy writers. This week, they arrested Graham Linehan at Heathrow airport as he entered the country. Linehan is the iconic creator of comedy shows like Black Book, Father Ted, and The IT Crowd. We have him to thank for Have you tried turning it off and then on again? Linehan was returning to the United Kingdom after a trip to Arizona in the United States. He was met at the airport by five armed officers, who arrested him and hauled him off to jail. A scene from Graham Linehans The IT Crowd. The polices official statement on the matter is that he was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X. The polices statement is misleading. No one has been able to find any X posts calling for violence. What he has done is express negative feelings about the trans community, similar to those made by fellow Brit and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont be surprised if you see Rowling in handcuffs next. This is the latest in a growing trend in the United Kingdom aimed at suppressing dissent. Last month, the British government banned a Coinbase advertisement in which the company poked fun at the countrys problems. Theyve also recently begun targeting even our content for censorship. Giant Freakin Robot created a retrospective on the movie V for Vendetta and was blocked from sharing it with audiences in the United Kingdom. V for Vendetta is about the takeover of Britain by a totalitarian regime and an organized resistance against it. Numerous American news sources are reporting that as many as 30 people a day are now being arrested for social media and speech crimes in the United Kingdom. Those crimes include retweeting posts critical of the government or expressing negative opinions directed at what theyve deemed to be protected groups. Sep. 2Wildfires across northeast Washington continue to grow without any containment as temperatures soar. The Northwest 12 Complex Incident Management Team took over Northeast Washington Incident Management Team 1 Tuesday morning to help contain three wildfires located near the Northport, Marble and Onion Creek areas. Heather Appelhof, public information officer with the Northwest 12 team, said as of Tuesday afternoon that the Crown Creek fire had nearly tripled in size over the last couple of days to an estimated 3,193 acres; the Blackhawk Mountain fire, northwest of Crown Creek, is an estimated 373 acres; and the Katy Creek fire is an estimated 340 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Level 3, "go," evacuations have expanded near the Crown Creek fire to the south of Hawk's Road. Level 1, "ready," evacuations south of Hawk's road are also now Level 2, "get set," as of Tuesday afternoon. "Ferry County has a Level 1 evacuation between Nancy Creek and Deadman Creek due to the Katy Creek Fire. And then in Stevens County, there is an interactive evacuation map that is being updated regularly now," Appelhof said. Appelhof said many residents have evacuated their homes, with no current reports of damaged or destroyed structures. She added that the Crown Creek fire and the Katy Creek fire have been the most active, mainly because of high temperatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are under a heat advisory, so the temperatures have been very hot, and we're also getting a little bit more ventilation to the fire today, just because of the conditions in the atmosphere. So anytime you have more ventilation, you get more oxygen on that fire," said Appelhof. Another lightning storm on Sunday night ignited a fire near Cusick. Mike Bucy, fire chief of Stevens County Fire District 1, said the fire is about 12 miles from Cusick, located on top of a mountain ridge that straddles the county line between Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. It grew from 50 to 200 acres since Sunday night, said Bucy, who's also part of the Type 3 Incident Management Team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of limited resources, Bucy said it's been hard to control all the fires in the area despite both air and ground support. "A lot of these were lightning caused; they're not human caused, but we still need people to be both vigilant and looking for new fire starts," he said. "Lightning strikes may not show themselves for 7 to 10 days. Everybody's got to be careful. The area cannot afford to have any new starts." Appelhof suggests residents check their Facebook pages for regular updates on the fires. A shelter has also been set up at the American Legion Post 146 at 1057 U.S. Highway 395 N. Kettle Falls. "Even people who are in a Level 1 or a Level 2 still need to be alert that when fire becomes more active," Appelhof said. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) notified the community of the supervised release of a sex offender who is now living on North Nevada Avenue near Austin Bluffs Parkway. According to CSPD, Larry Kaualeni Abenes is a sex offender whose past behavior has caused him to be labeled as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) by the Colorado Courts. CSPD is making a community notification as required by law. CSPD reported that in 2006, Abenes was convicted in El Paso County of Sexual Assault on a Child by One in a Position of Trust Victim Under 15 and Aggravated Incest. Before that, in 1985, he was convicted in Kohala County, Hawaii, of Second-Degree Sodomy and Second-Degree Sexual Abuse. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department Abenes is registered as living at the Community Correction facility called Embrave at 3950 North Nevada Avenue. He is described as being a 61-year-old Asian/Pacific Islander man who is 57 tall and 176 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CSPD has undertaken the following tasks, among others: Notified the Colorado Department of Public Safetys Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) Notification Team. Reviewed and confirmed Abeness residence, employment, access to vehicles, legal status, and past crimes. Made notifications to neighbors and businesses deemed to be in the immediate area. Briefed patrol personnel on Abeness status, history, appearance, residence, employment, and vehicles. Notified surrounding law enforcement agencies. Provided an online video that describes the SVP community notification process, SVP information and additional resources for the community. Online SVP Community Notification video at: www.coloradosprings.gov/police-department. CPSD stated that the department will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that Abenes registers as a sex offender and understands his responsibilities as such. Abenes is one of 21 SVPs currently registered with CSPD who live in the community. CSPD stated that the department takes his presence very seriously and is intent on ensuring he conducts himself lawfully and that the community remains safe and aware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with questions can contact CSPD Detective J.R. Brown of the Registered Sex Offender Unit at (719) 444-7672. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont spoke strongly Tuesday against President Donald Trumps use of National Guard troops in an attempt to control crime in Democratic cities across the country, saying the extra law enforcement is not necessary. The Guard reports to the governor unless theres a real national emergency, Lamont said when asked by The Courant. I dont see a national emergency out there. I dont want to militarize our streets. I think were doing a pretty good job of keeping our communities safe. If we need help, well let you know. Lamont added, Look, we have community policing. Theres some trust between the folks in the community and our local police force and our state police force. Thats working pretty well. I dont need a bunch of soldiers coming in and patrolling our streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamont is concerned about the recent deployment of troops in Washington, D.C. at the same time that the citys mayor said that homicides, car jackings, and gun-related crimes have dropped recently. At the end of the day, its having a chilling effect, Lamont said. When youve got a tank sitting outside of Union Station, I think thats not a good look. Lamonts comments came on the same day that a federal judge in California ruled against the Trump administrations controversial decision in June to send thousands of National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles. The ruling by the brother of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer came after a civil trial was held in August. The evidence at trial established that Defendants systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco wrote in his 52-page filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The troops were sent to Los Angeles before Trump deployed more troops to the nations capital in Washington, D.C., where the soldiers have been seen near national monuments. While Trump has talked recently about crime in Chicago, Illinois governor and local officials have pushed back against the idea of sending troops. The White House rejected the court ruling in the Los Angeles case. Once again, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the Commander-in-Chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement Tuesday. Two top Republicans in Hartford, House GOP leader Vincent Candelora and ranking public safety member Greg Howard, said the Trump administration needs to send help when it is needed in Democratic-run communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deployment of the U.S. National Guard to address urban crime represents a failure of local political leadershipplain and simple, they said in a joint statement. In cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C., unabated crime has left residents unsafe in their own neighborhoods. Local elected leaders have struggled to fulfill their fundamental responsibility of public safety, creating a disconnect with citizens who deserve secure communities. While its fine for critics to question whether federal intervention should be used, its equally important for Democrats to pause from bashing President Trump for a minute and examine the track record of the leaders in the most dangerous cities who have demonstrably failed to protect their constituents. But Lamont hailed the ruling in California. Todays ruling affirms what we have been saying all along deploying a states National Guard to conduct civilian law enforcement activities without the request and consent of that states governor is illegal and an abuse of power, Lamont said. I am opposed to it here in Connecticut and stood with Governor Newsom during his opposition in California this past June. Using the military against American civilians is neither the most effective nor most efficient way to prevent crime and increase public safety. This court ruling makes it clear that the military cannot be politicized and used in our neighborhoods against U.S. citizens. Democratic governors Most of the Democratic governors last week sent a letter to Trump that urged him to avoid sending troops to various Democratic cities. Only four Democratic governors, including Lamont and Tim Walz of Minnesota, did not sign the letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Lamont, who had been on vacation in Maine in August, said he did not know about the national effort by the Democratic Governors Association. I wasnt aware of that letter, Lamont said Tuesday when asked by The Courant. Weve signed virtually every one of those letters. In their letter, the governors said that instead of actually addressing crime, President Trump cut federal funding for law enforcement that states rely on and continues to politicize our military by trying to undermine the executive authority of governors as commanders in chief of their states National Guard. In Connecticut, Lamont said the state will continue to move forward with police officers focused on crimes in accordance with the Trust Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government does immigration, Lamont told reporters. We do law and order. Lets do what we do and let them do what they do. U.S. Rep. John B. Larson of East Hartford agreed with Lamont. Yet another federal court has confirmed our warnings about President Trumps abuses of power he operates outside of the law, Larson said. Whether it is masked ICE operatives separating families in Newington or ordering the Marines to patrol Los Angeles streets, Donald Trump wants to treat federal forces like his personal army. That is not the America I know. Connecticut families deserve leaders who stand up for their rights and protect them from these heavy-handed, illegal tactics. Judge Breyer was right to rein in Trumps moves in Los Angeles. Will House Republicans step up to defend the Constitution, or will they continue to enable this presidents descent toward authoritarianism? Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com A man was seriously injured when the motorcycle he was riding struck a guardrail in Putnam on Tuesday, throwing him from the bike. The collision occurred on Route 12 in the area of Ware Road shortly before 5:30 p.m., according to Connecticut State Police. A 30-year-old Putnam man riding a 2005 Yamaha XVS 1100 A lost control of the bike and hit a guardrail, state police said. He became separated from the bike and was seriously injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to state police, the man was airlifted via Life Star to Rhode Island Hospital. His condition was not immediately clear. The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Troop D at 860-779-4900. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is touting a raise in the state minimum wage coming Jan. 1, 2026, but its likely not enough to live on, according to many economic indicators. At that time, the lowest wage an employer can pay will be rise from the current rate of $16.35 per hour to $16.94 per hour. Its an automatic increase tied to the federal employment cost index required by a state law signed in 2019. The commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor is required to review this percentage change and announce any necessary adjustments by October 15 of each year. Those adjustments must take effect on January 1 of the following year, a statement from Lamonts office explains. Connecticut Labor Commissioner Dante Bartolomeo reports that the employment cost index increased by 3.6% over the twelve-month period ending on June 30, 2025, accounting for a $0.59 increase to the states minimum wage that will become effective on January 1, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamont called the increase fair and modest and noted that the money will immediately return to the states economy as minimum wage workers purchase necessities. Nobody who works full-time should have to live in poverty, Lamont said. For too long, as the nations economy grew the income of the lowest earning workers has stayed flat, making already existing pay disparities even worse and preventing hardworking families from obtaining financial security. The minimum wage was established to provide a fair, livable baseline of income for those who work, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said. This is a fair, gradual increase for workers that ensures that as the economy grows, our minimum wage grows with it and thats good for everyone. The statement notes also that more than 60% of minimum wage earners in Connecticut are women and people of color, according to the Current Population Survey as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many organizations benchmarks put the minimum wage well below a livable income, particularly in Connecticut, where the cost of living is high. MITs Living Wage Calculator for Connecticut puts a living wage at $25.28 an hour for a single adult with no children; $50.45 for a single adult with one child; and $64.64 for a single adult with two children. In a two-adult home with one adult working, that adult would need to make $35.39 per hour to support a household without children; $45.53 for a household with two adults and one child; $47.99 with two children. In a home with two adults working, each adult would need to make $17.69 per hour with no children to support; $27.74 with one child; $34.90 with two children and $40.42 in a two-adult home with three children. The rate is calculated to show what each adult must earn to support themselves and/or their family, working full-time, or 2080 hours per year. In contrast, the 2025 federal poverty threshold falls between $7 and $18 an hour for the various households, with an annual salary of $15,650 for a single worker and $32,150 for a family of four. In 2024, the Connecticut Project Action Fund pegged the states cost of living as 13% higher than the national average, with 24% higher housing costs, 30% higher utility costs, 9% higher food costs and the fifth highest child care costs in the U.S. The advocacy group found it takes more than $126,000 per year for a family of four in Connecticut to make ends meet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A DataHaven survey late last year found that 40% of adults in Connecticut are struggling to make ends meet. And a survey by The Urban Institute think tank at the same time said that 52% of all people in the United States lack economic security. The costs are even higher in states in the Northeast, including Connecticut, where the cost of economic security in 2022 was estimated at $151,000 for a family of four. A recent report from one of the worlds largest nonprofits dedicated to international education and exchange has grim projections involving international student enrollment at U.S. universities and colleges. The report, released by the Association of International Educators and JB International, shows that the U.S. economy could suffer a loss of $7 billion and 60,000 jobs in its recently released International Student Enrollment Outlook and Economic Impact to the United States. The report breaks down the projected losses by state for the 2025-26 school year. Connecticut is projected to lose $122,665,118. According to NAFSA, among the main factors in the decline are visa interview suspensions, limited appointment availability, downward visa trends and visa bans. The report noted that a visa interview suspension took place between May 27 and June 18, which the nonprofit considers peak issuance season for students seeking to enroll in a U.S. institution this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NAFSA report showed consulates in India, China, Nigeria and Japan had limited or no appointments for international students. India and China are the top two international countries that send students to the U.S. According to NAFSA, F-1 visa issuances were down 12% from January to April 2025 and down 22% in May 2025 compared to May 2024. Also, there have been visa bans to 19 countries as of June 4. Scenario modeling based on a potential 30-40% decline in new international student enrollment in the United States this fall could result in a 15% drop in overall enrollment, NAFSA said. The University of Connecticut has seen a drop in international students this fall. In data recently released to the Courant, preliminary numbers from the first day of the 2025-26 academic year show an 8% decrease in UConns undergraduate international enrollments compared to fall 2024, according to UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, the preliminary figures show UConn had about 2,650 international students at the undergraduate, graduate and non-degree levels on the first day of classes, Reitz said. Numbers may still change. Reitz said, if additional international students arrive on campus in coming days and if any others who are currently enrolled decide to withdraw before official figures are determined. UConn is not attributing the decrease to any specific factors and added that the enrollment decrease was more modest than UConn anticipated. The number of undergraduate students from China and India have decreased, which has been a recent trend. However, there have been increases from other countries, including Vietnam. UConn prides itself on being both one of Connecticuts greatest assets and a global university. We attract outstanding students from our state as well as students, faculty and staff from more than 100 other countries to engage in world-class research and scholarship in Connecticut, Reitz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all, the number of international students who are first-year freshmen has dropped over the last three years. In 2023 it was 9.2%, in 2024 it was 7.8%, and this year it is 9.2%. The University of New Haven has seen a dramatic drop in international students. The University of New Haven is projected to experience an approximately 85% decrease in incoming international graduate students for the fall of 2025 compared to the fall of 2023, according to a UNH spokesperson. Despite this dramatic decline in international enrollment, the University of New Haven has been able to run a sustainable and viable operation attributed, in large part, to significant increases in undergraduate students, transfer students and domestic graduate students, as well as record fundraising, innovative revenue-generating opportunities, and reducing expenses. University of New Haven president Dr. Jens Frederiksen, said this impact may be felt across the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre going to see significant enrollment challenges on the international front this fall for institutions, and I think its going to be really, really challenging for ones that have been heavily reliant on that, Frederiksen said. We obviously have been on the graduate student front. I think this is going to be a nationwide theme that youre going to see just a complete drop off in international students this fall. Frederiksen said the U.S has always benefited from being a global leader and part of that is taking on more talent and preparing them for the global workforce. I think our domestic students benefit tremendously from that kind of global perspective, Frederiksen said. America is still viewed across the board collectively as the higher education hub of innovation and success and transformation and obviously thats been stalled up a little bit by this visa process. R.J. McGivney, associate vice president for graduate and professional studies division of student success at the University of Hartford, said the schools international enrollment is down 50% this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We typically bring in about 100 international students a year. This year it will probably be closer to 50. We had the same number of applications and deposits, its just students cant get visas, McGivney said. Visa appointments are few and far between. We planned for this. We knew this was coming about five months ago. Like the University of New Haven, McGivney said the University of Hartford remains in a good spot because of good domestic numbers that should offset the loss of international students. However, these students bring so much to our classrooms. We are continuing to try to recruit, he added. We saw this is a little bit last year when visa appointments started to slow in the previous (presidential) administration. Part of the backdrop is that the students still want to come to the U.S., but families are concerned and rightfully so seeing students getting deported. Its been a challenge. McGivney said none of the schools students have been deported and that the school offered international students the chance to stay on campus during the summer with concerns of not being able to get back into the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Trinity College, all of its international students are undergraduates. The college is not expecting much of an impact. Matt Hyde, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, said Trinity has always brought the world to Hartford, noting that the school has 80 countries represented in its student body. The college has made a big commitment to international students, Hyde said. Its a significant investment, but its one that adds a lot of depth dimension and perspective to the college. Weve been floating between 12% and 15% international (students) over the last number of years. Hyde said colleges like Trinity really benefit from adding a global perspective. Theres no doubt about it, where as students come from across the country, international students have a much bigger sense of the world and how huge it is and how much they have to look forward to learning all about it, he said. Its nice having a strong international population that is beautifully supported, that is empowered to share their sort of their experiences as they live and learn and grow in Hartford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hyde said there was some concern there would be fewer international students due to the visa interview freeze, however, by mid-July and into August, the majority of the international students at Trinity had visas in hand. We do have a number of international students on campus regardless of whats spinning geopolitically. But I think that there was an uptick in the number of international students on campus this summer but not in a dramatic fashion, Hyde said. By Jan Lopatka PRAGUE (Reuters) -Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, headed for a difficult election in a month, told supporters on Wednesday that his main opponent Andrej Babis would put the country's democracy and position in Europe under threat by making deals with extremist parties. Fiala's SPOLU (Together) centre-right coalition faces an uphill battle in an October 3-4 parliamentary election that pits it against the ANO party of billionaire Andrej Babis, a eurosceptic ally of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion polls show ANO winning the most votes with over 30%, a 10 point advantage over SPOLU, but as many as seven parties could exceed the 5% threshold to win seats in parliament, meaning the next government is almost certain to be a coalition. Fiala told a crowd at Prague's Peace Square that the country's roots in Europe could be eroded if Babis were to rely on far-right or far-left parties. "People are worried over what happens if populists and extremists win," he said. "For the first time since 1989, I am worried as well," he said, referring to the year of the "Velvet Revolution", when then-Czechoslovakia threw off Communist rule. Fiala is hoping that he can boost his support among mainstream voters by sounding the alarm over his rival's potential future coalition partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't see Babis as the greatest threat, but I fear the smaller parties," said Simon Jezek, a 23-year-old law student in Prague, who described one far-left party seen as a potential member of a Babis-led coalition as "masked Communists". Babis's ANO party started as a pro-European, centrist liberal movement in 2011, but Babis later turned it into an anti-Brussels, anti-immigration group and formed the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament with Orban and several other far-right European parties. (Reporting by Jan LopatkaEditing by Peter Graff) PRAGUE (AP) The Czech government approved on Wednesday a plan by the defense ministry to acquire 44 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks from Germany in a a deal thats part of a major modernization of the countrys military amid Russias war against Ukraine. Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said the Czechs will pay more than 34 billion koruna, or crowns ($1.6 billion) for the tanks that will be delivered between 202831. The Czechs have an option to buy more tanks at a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the Czech government agreed to procure up to 77 Leopard tanks in a cooperation deal with several other countries led by Germany. The Leopard 2A8 is the latest, most modern version of the tank. Previously, the Czech government had approved a plan to acquire 24 U.S. F-35 fighter jets and 246 CV90 armored combat vehicles from Sweden, among other major military contracts. Washington What was happening in the criminal case of Nathalie Rose Jones, who was facing charges in Washington, D.C., federal court this summer, wasn't typical. A grand jury of D.C. citizens on Tuesday had denied the Justice Department's request to indict Jones, who was accused of a federal crime for allegedly posting an Instagram threat against President Trump. In the nearly empty, dimly lit courtroom, Judge Moxila Upadhyaya listened to arguments from attorneys for nearly 15 minutes and surveyed the case file before her. She paused, looked up at the federal prosecutor standing 10 feet away and asked what the Justice Department planned to do next in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutor had no answer but said he'd have a response "as soon as possible," maybe within a few days. This grand jury's rejection of the Justice Department's request for an indictment was one of at least four such instances in the past week in which a grand jury denied an indictment in the District of Columbia. "Not only have I never heard of this happening, I've never heard of a prosecutor who's heard of this happening," said former federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou, who served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for in D.C. until January 2025. "This is not the fault of career prosecutors, but rather the office's failureagain and againto secure indictments suggests that the administration has absolutely destroyed its credibility with jurors," Ballou told CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another former federal prosecutor, Victor Salgado, said, "It is exceptionally rare for federal grand juries to reject proposed charges, given the low evidentiary bar for indictment and the Justice Department's policy of pursuing cases only when there is sufficient evidence to both secure and sustain a conviction." Jones is accused of posting on Instagram in early August, "I am willing to sacrificially kill this POTUS by disemboweling him and cutting out his trachea with Liz Cheney and all The Affirmation present." According to the Justice Department, on Aug. 15, the U.S. Secret Service conducted a voluntary interview with Jones, during which she stated the president was a "terrorist" and a "Nazi." In a statement to CBS News, D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said, "A Washington D.C. grand jury refused to indict someone who threatened to kill the President of the United States. Her intent was clear, traveling through five states to do so. She even confirmed the same to the US Secret Service. This is the essence of a politicized jury. The system here is broken on many levels. Instead of the outrage that should be engendered by a specific threat to kill the president, the grand jury in DC refuses to even let the judicial process begin." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones was briefly held in pretrial detention in the case last month but was released ahead of Tuesday's hearing. She appeared by Zoom at the hearing in Upadhyaya's courtroom and listened as a prosecutor told the judge that the feds have not decided whether to return to the grand jury for a second time to seek an indictment. Her attorney argued in a court filing this week that Jones possessed no firearms and "she repeatedly told them she had no intent to harm anyone, including the president, and was in D.C., to attend a peaceful protest." In a separate case, multiple people familiar with the decision said a grand jury refused a Justice Department request to indict Sean Dunn, who was accused of throwing a sandwich at a federal agent in August. Dunn is a former Justice Department employee who was fired after news circulated of his arrest in the sandwich case. The Justice Department has instead filed a new misdemeanor count against Dunn, which does not require a grand jury indictment. Court records reviewed by CBS News said a D.C. grand jury also rejected a Justice Department request to indict Sydney Reid, who was arrested in July for allegedly attempting to interfere with the transfer of an alleged gang member into immigration custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As Reid tried to impede the transfer, one of the (officers) pushed her against the wall and told her to stop," the Justice Department alleged in a complaint. "Reid continued to struggle and fight with the officer." The Justice Department acknowledged in a court filing on Aug. 25 in Reid's case that "[a]n Indictment has not been returned." Last week, a D.C. grand jury also declined to indict Alvin Summers, who was accused of swinging his arms at a U.S. Park Police officer after a foot chase on Aug. 15. Prosecutors alleged Summers "grabbed" the officer with force, and charged him with assaulting and resisting an officer. Shortly after the grand jury rejected the case, a defense attorney for Summers filed a motion in court, which argued, "Mr. Summers should not be forced to live under the threat of later charges and rearrest. The charges against Mr. Summers were based on an allegation made by one officer who was wearing a body-worn camera. That officer's testimony was rejected by the grand jury, presumably after reviewing the body-worn camera video." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss Summers's case on Aug. 29. The trajectory of Jones' case was less clear after Tuesday's hearing. Upadhyaya scheduled a hearing for Monday, but declined Jones' request to loosen the restrictions governing her release from pretrial detention. The reasons these D.C. grand juries have not handed up indictments in these cases are not known, but Salgado suggested it might be possible that in each of these cases "that they disagreed with the Justice Department's theory of prosecution." "It is not difficult to imagine 12 D.C. jurors concluding that throwing a sandwich at a federal officer while clearly objectionable and potentially unlawful does not amount to felony assault," Salgado said. "At its core, the federal grand jury functions as a vital constitutional safeguard and a critical check on prosecutorial discretion, as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment." Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Remembering veteran CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller The state of philanthropy in the U.S. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks during a news conference on Aug. 27, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Credit - Alex WongGetty Images The mayor of Washington, D.C. has ordered the city to continue working with federal law enforcement officers, even after President Donald Trumps takeover of the nations capital is set to expire next week. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, issued the order on Tuesday, stating that even after the public safety emergency Trump declared over crime in D.C. last month expires, city officials will ensure coordination with federal law enforcement to the maximum extent allowable by law within the District. The order went into effect immediately, and it has no end date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he declared the public safety emergency last month, Trump invoked a provision of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act that allows the President to take control of the citys police force in conditions of an emergency nature. He claimed the operation was intended to crack down on violent crime, even as data showed that violent crime in D.C. was already down significantly. Law enforcement officers have arrested more than 1,000 people in D.C. in the weeks since, according to Administration officials. The Administration has touted a further drop in crime amid the takeover, with Trump calling the city a crime free zone in a Monday post on Truth Social in which he praised Bowser for cooperating with the crackdown. The mayor noted in her order that violent crime in the District has noticeably decreased since Trumps federalization of the citys police force. But experts have said that Trumps strategy is unlikely to provide a real solution for crime in D.C.. Other D.C. Democrats have criticized Bowser, who previously credited the presence of federal officers for the drop in crime, and the mayor herself also said days before she issued her order that the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and National Guards troops in D.C. is not working. Read more: Grand Jurors Decline to Indict Multiple People Arrested Amid Trumps D.C. Crackdown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The provision in the Home Rule Act that Trump invoked only allows the President to take over the D.C. police force for up to 30 days. After that, both chambers of Congress would need to enact into law a joint resolution to extend the operation. That means that Trumps federalization of the citys police force is expected to expire on Sept. 10. But Bowsers order invites the ongoing presence of and coordination with federal law enforcement officers even after that date. In a statement posted on social media, Bowser said that she issued the order to provide the pathway forward beyond the Presidential emergency. Her announcement on Tuesday diverges from the positions taken by other local officials and the courts, which have pushed back on Trumps efforts to deploy expansive presidential powers. Also on Tuesday, a judge ruled that the Trump Administration violated an 1878 federal law after the President deployed National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles earlier this summer. Over the weekend, the mayor of Chicago ordered city departments not to cooperate if the President deploys the National Guard, after Trump suggested that the city would be next in his plans to crack down on crime. While Bowsers order likely decreases the possibility of a standoff between the Administration and D.C. as Trumps authority over the citys police force nears an end, tensions in Chicago appear poised to escalate: The President on Tuesday said he planned to deploy federal troops to the city despite local officials opposition. Were going to do it anyway, he told reporters in the Oval Office. Contact us at letters@time.com. WASHINGTON Republican lawmakers were met with anger on their first day back to Capitol Hill as they sought to tout President Donald Trumps crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C. while facing opposition from residents living in the city. The Republican Study Committee, self-described as the conservative caucus of the party in the House, held its first press conference on Tuesday afternoon just outside the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Lawmakers gathered together holding signs that read Make DC Safe And Great Again and spoke of personal ties to crimes that have occurred in the nations capital. But right behind the troupe of lawmakers and in view of the cameras streaming their remarks were dozens of protesters holding signs directly opposing their message. Quite the split screen here outside the Capitol. While Republicans talk about crime in DC, protestors are gathered behind them with signs to release the Epstein files So in case you wanted to know what two of the biggest issues are on the Hill these days pic.twitter.com/kXkNLtT7SO Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) September 2, 2025 Free DC! one sign read. Others demanded the release of the Epstein files. At least one called for the removal of Trump from office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans defended Trumps actions so far to deploy hundreds of National Guard soldiers to the city, citing statistics that show specific crimes such as carjacking and robbery are down. Unfortunately, were having to turn our attention in Congress on doing what the District of Columbia, its mayor and their leadership should have done long ago, RSC Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, told reporters. And thats to keep the city safe. As he continued his remarks, a protester cut in: Its always been safe! The protester continued, Youre making up a fake emergency! Capitol Police officers were quick to respond and took the man into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moments later, Rep. Brad Knott, R-N.C., expressed support for the soldiers in D.C., noting he has spoken to several of them and is astounded at what theyve encountered. The amount of contraband, the number of dangerous people, whether its drugs, whether its gangs, whether its illegal firearms, whether its human trafficking, whether its South American cartels you name it, its right here in Washington, D.C. Knott was then interrupted by another protester who cried out: Yeah, its in the White House! Free D.C., she cried as she was carried away by police officers. D.C. is a great city! Republicans have wrapped up their press conference on DC crime and protesters are yelling at them as they leave pic.twitter.com/2HsJ2zufQd Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) September 2, 2025 Both protesters were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, a spokesperson for the U.S. Capitol Police confirmed to the Deseret News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Republicans concluded the press conference, they were met with loud boos and chants of Shame! Most lawmakers left without taking extensive questions about the crowd opposition, and the Deseret News did not receive responses from contacted lawmakers. The criticism comes as Trump has touted his newly enforced policies in Washington, telling reporters on Tuesday there is now no crime. More than 200 arrests were conducted over the holiday weekend, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi, totaling nearly 1,700 arrests since soldiers were first deployed. Update: Two protesters who were taken into custody by USCP earlier in the press conference were charged with disorderly conduct, I'm told https://t.co/hXwgZpb1Yr Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) September 2, 2025 D.C. is now a safe zone, Trump said. Its in such great shape, you can go and actually walk with your children, your wife, your husband, you can walk right down the middle of the street, youre not going to be shot. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser similarly cited lower crime statistics, even going so far as to thank Trump in a press conference last week for his help to lower violent crime incidents. The emergency order through which Trump deployed National Guard soldiers to the district is set to expire next week, and would require Congress to approve an extension if the president wants to continue federal control. Meanwhile, Trump has said that he will send National Guard troops to other cities such as Chicago to carry out similar efforts. DAs office says alleged serial rapist now tied to even more cases across north Georgia Bobby Lee Hart, 52, is accused of raping three women in Douglas County over a 13-year period, and authorities believe there may be more victims. The Douglas County District Attorneys office has released pictures of Hart spanning several decades, urging anyone who may recognize him to come forward. DNA evidence from older sexual assault cases has linked Hart to these crimes, suggesting he may be a serial rapist with offenses dating back over 30 years. Some of these developments came from CODIS hits, which is DNA evidence from older sexual assault cases that matched to the suspects DNA, said Dalia Racine, Douglas County District Attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amber Jones, who knows both the victims and Hart, expressed no surprise at the allegations. He wasnt a good person, and you could tell he wasnt going to take no for an answer from anybody, she said. TRENDING STORIES: The district attorneys office has identified Hart as a suspect in multiple sexual assaults dating back to the 1990s in the West Georgia region. Hart has used several aliases over the years, including Maurice, Robert, Kevin, Champ, Meat, and King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones recalled Hart using the name King and urged anyone who may have been affected by him to come forward. He used to tell people his name was King, Champ, I dont know about the other ones, but he did used to tell people his name was Lee, she said. If youve ever been touched by him, sexually assaulted, I urge you to come forward. Racine emphasized the importance of victims coming forward, stating, Coming forward takes incredible courage, but we have resources and advocates ready to support you. Hart remains in custody as the investigation continues, with authorities seeking any additional information from the public. The district attorneys office is prepared to support any new victims who come forward. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. It will likely be at least a month before Cambria County District Attorneys Office has all of the information needed to make a final decision on a shooting Sunday that claimed the life of a Johnstown teen. Even while the incident is still being investigated as a possible act of self-defense by the man who shot 17-year-old Aquon Tillman, authorities are treating the investigation as they would any other homicide case, District Attorney Greg Neugebauer said. That includes continuing to speak with witnesses and gathering evidence to piece together as full a picture as possible about what happened that night, he added. The goal is to gather and corroborate as much information as possible about the incident to make sure we make a proper decision based on facts, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats standard procedure, he added. We want to speak with everyone who has any information that might help us, Neugebauer said. A final autopsy report on Tillman also is not yet complete, he said, adding it could take four to six weeks. Tillman suffered multiple gunshot wounds Sunday in the Solomon Homes neighborhood. Investigators described the man who shot Tillman as fully cooperative. He met with police at the scene when officers arrived, spoke with them and surrendered his weapon, Neugebauer added. Neugebauer said police confirmed the second persons identity but are not releasing it to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident occurred in a public place and video evidence was recovered from the scene, Neugebauers office previously said in a media release Monday. Evidence obtained will be used to review whether the shooting was justified under the guidelines of the Pennsylvania Stand Your Ground Law and/or general self-defense principles. There are also other elements being investigated, he added. One of the weapons believed to be spotted at the shooting, specifically one possessed by Tillman, was not recovered, he said. Wed like to know where that gun came from and where it went afterward, Neugebauer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tillman was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center for treatment and was pronounced dead in the operating room, Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees has said. As of Tuesday, funeral arrangements were not yet complete for Tillman, Lees said. Neugebauer said law enforcement is cognizant of the fact a 17-year-old lost his life in the tragic incident and thats another reason law enforcement officials want to make sure they bring the case to an accurate conclusion. We owe it to him, his family and society to make sure we know what happened, Neugebauer said. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Johnstown Police Department Bureau of Criminal Investigations by calling 814-539-2504. Dallas City Council rejected Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohns push for a steeper property tax cut, instead approving a cap she warned could create a multimillion-dollar slush fund. The council voted 10-5 to set a maximum rate of $0.7022 per $100 valuation, a move city staff said could leave Dallas with a $5.5 million surplus in the 2025-26 budget. The final tax rate will be decided after a Sept. 17 public hearing. Ive been here for six years. This budget continues to grow, Mendelsohn said in the meeting. Were just going to throw it in for flexibility. Well, let me tell you, flexibility means slush fund. The current tax rate is $0.7047. City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert suggested lowering it slightly to $0.6997, while Councilman Adam Bazaldua offered the $0.7022 compromise that ultimately passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bazaldua said his proposal gave the city flexibility ahead of the final vote. I just think this is a little bit premature of an action, and I dont want to bind us. Creating Competition Mendelsohn challenged Bazalduas cap, saying Dallas needs accountability. She proposed a cap of less than $0.6732, a no new revenue tax rate. Live within our means. It means making choices, trimming what isnt working, putting our focus on where it belongs which is public safety, streets and transportation, and parks, she said. Its about showing Dallas that were serious about affordability and competitiveness. Mendelsohn pointed to other cities, including Houston considering a rate of $0.52, San Antonio considering a rate of nearly $0.55, and Austin considering a rate just more than $0.5740. Closer to home, Fort Worth is considering a rate of $0.67, which is still lower than Dallas. If Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Fort Worth can thrive with a lower property tax rate, so can Dallas, Mendelsohn said. Its past time for us to recognize we have some neighboring cities with better roads, quicker police response times, and a property tax rate that is substantially less than our proposed rate. As of June, Dallas police took an average of more than 11 minutes to respond to top-priority emergencies, while they took an average of more than five hours to respond to lowest-priority calls, as The Dallas Express reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendelsohn also said Arlington, Carrollton, Coppell, DeSoto, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Irving, Lancaster, McKinney, Plano, and Richardson have lower property tax rates than Dallas. All around us, cities have grown, but our population has stagnated, she said. How can we expect to attract families and businesses to our city when our property tax is way beyond our peers? City Councilman Jaime Resendez opposed Mendelsohns suggested cap, saying it would hinder public safety and infrastructure improvements. About 85 percent of the tax base in this city is north of I-30, Resendez said. So for those of us that represent districts in southern Dallas specifically, it wouldnt be responsible for us to support this proposed amendment. The council rejected Mendelsohns amendment 13-2. She later backed the city managers lower cap, which also failed, 9-6. Enabling A Slush Fund? Chief Financial Officer Jack Ireland said property values grew 5.3% year over year, adding $11.3 billion, meaning even a lower tax rate would still increase revenue. The reality is, we are going to have more money this coming fiscal year than we have currently, Mendelsohn said. She noted the city managers proposed cap still less than Bazalduas would have increased tax revenue. And then were going to add in a slush fund level of another is it $5 million? $5.5 [million]. Nobody knows what its going to be for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bazaldua countered that his cap was below the current rate and denied it created a slush fund. Im not looking at creating an opportunity for people to have a slush fund, to go have pet projects, he said. Im looking at future years where we are going to be tightening our belt more than weve ever had to in our citys history because of state legislation. Mendelsohn called the city council to hold the line, keep taxes affordable, and show citizens officials value every single dollar they send to City Hall. A 66-year-old Dallas man shot and killed a homeless man Sunday after a confrontation over a parked car, then told police he retrieved his gun not for self-defense but for confidence. Charles Reeder was charged with murder after flagging down officers at the scene. Officers found Dagoverto Rodriguez, 60, with a gunshot wound to his abdomen on the 1800 block of Jeffries Street at 5:10 p.m. The shooting occurred on a sidewalk near the Austin Street Center homeless shelter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez died at Baylor University Medical Center at 6:32 p.m. Reeder called 911 after shooting Rodriguez, admitting he was the gunman. Two witnesses told police Rodriguez was sleeping near Reeders white Lexus when the confrontation began. After Reeder demanded Rodriguez move away from his vehicle, Rodriguez relocated about 10 feet. Reeder confronted Rodriguez again, punching him multiple times before pulling out a handgun. He shot Rodriguez once in the abdomen, according to witnesses. One witness said Rodriguez had nothing in his hands. There was no reason for the shooting, the witness told investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeder offered a different account during his police interview. He claimed Rodriguez punched him repeatedly, causing him to briefly lose consciousness. But Reeders next admission proved damning. He told detectives he retrieved a .45-caliber handgun from his cars glove box after regaining consciousness. He wasnt seeking protection. Reeder said he got the gun for confidence to confront Rodriguez again, concealing it in his pants. Reeder told police that he could have walked away and called 911. Instead, he admitted feeling angry after being insulted. Reeder acknowledged swinging at Rodriguez before shooting him. Police found a single shell casing at the scene and recovered the weapon from Reeders vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gun had been reported stolen in 2024. Reeder, who was trying to access the Austin Street Center shelter, had been sleeping in his car nearby. He suffered minor cuts and facial bruising during the altercation. Police took him to a hospital before booking him into Dallas County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing. Detective Adam Joslin asks anyone with information to contact him at 214-649-2790 or adam.joslin@dallaspolice.gov. The Dallas Police Department released bodycam footage showing a knife-wielding man charging officers before being fatally shot. Officers fatally shot 46-year-old Martin Benes on Aug. 27 after he allegedly charged them with a knife. His brother, Paul, is now alleging misconduct by the department. The Dallas Express previously reported on the incident. The bodycam footage shows Benes charging at officers with a knife. He had a history of violence and drug use, DPD Chief Daniel Comeaux said in a press conference. The Dallas Express also obtained court records showing Benes prior criminal history of criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and assault. The Emergency One witness called 911 around 7:35 p.m. on Aug. 26, saying Benes had been drinking, was armed with a knife, and was making threats inside the home. According to The Dallas Morning News, the caller was his mother, Judith Benes. He is very dangerous, he is yelling that he will kill everybody, she told the dispatcher, according to a recording of the 911 call. Another witness who The Dallas Morning News identified as Paul Benes texted 911. Im concerned for my brother. He is acting very erratically. Hes trying to kill herself [sic]. My mom cant reason with him, and she is in danger herself he texted. Dallas 9-1-1, please hold for next available calltaker or call 9-1-1, dispatch replied. He said his mother was unable to leave the home. He provided the address on Far Hills Lane in North Dallas near Richardson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first patrol officer was dispatched close to 7:40 p.m. and arrived at 7:44 p.m. Bodycam footage from Sergeant Dean Catanzaro showed officers arriving at the door. I just heard something in there, he said. Dallas police! Judith Benes met officers at the door and, in broken English, said medical. Officers brought her outside, and Catanzaro went in. Martin Benes appeared down the hall. Im done with this sh*t, he said, approaching Catanzaro with a knife. Put it down, put it down, officers yelled, drawing their pistols. Put it down, Martin! Drop the knife! Officers backed into the front yard, and Benes paced across the porch. He eventually went back inside the house. The officers moved Judith off the porch and asked if anyone else was in the house. No one, she said. The Response Martin Benes locked the front door, and more officers arrived on scene and established a perimeter. One officer noted the suspect had blood on him but was unsure of his injury and was concerned for his well-being. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A patrol supervisor spoke with a witness, who explained that Benes had injured himself while cutting off his ankle monitor. The witness also said Benes expressed a desire to no longer live, and to kill himself if officers entered the residence. A Rapidly Integrated Group Healthcare Team (RIGHT), with a police officer, a mental health clinician, and a paramedic, was called to the scene. Since Benes had cut off his ankle monitor, a judge issued a warrant for insufficient bond on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Officers contacted the departments Fugitive Unit, who verified the warrant and requested a SWAT team, which arrived soon after 11 p.m. SWAT officers used various tactics to try to persuade Benes to leave the building. Comeaux said in the press conference that officers tried calling him out, having his mother call him, and reaching him on his cell phone. They also deployed gas and sent a robot inside. When its a violent suspect like that, its only so much that they can do, Comeaux said. These efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, so they decided to go in. An Arrest Turns Fatal SWAT officers breached the door of the home around 1:24 a.m. to search for Benes and take him into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bodycam footage from Senior Corporal Christopher Nilsen shows the SWAT team entering the home, weapons drawn. They proceeded up the stairs. The officers slowly walked down the upstairs hallway, approaching a bedroom. They entered and found Benes under a sheet in bed. Hes got a knife, one of the officers whispered. They aimed a Taser at him and fired. Benes yelled and turned over, throwing off the sheet and revealing the knife in his right hand. He got up and chased the officers into the hallway with the knife. At this point, the department blurred the bodycam footage, but gunshots rang out and Benes fell to the ground. Nilsen and Senior Corporal Samuell McDonnold shot Benes. After falling, the suspect tried to stand and continue approaching them, but officers shot again, striking him once more. A SWAT medic responded, assessed his injuries, and attempted to stimulate his breathing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Benes died at the scene at 1:31 a.m. on August 27, according to the Dallas County Medical Examiner. His manner of death was not yet listed at the time of publication. The Fallout Benes brother Paul claimed in The Dallas Morning News that the department edited the 911 call to exclude his mothers requests for medical help, rather than police. He claims these requests were ignored and that police used force to kill a sleeping man. Nilsen has been a member of the department since 2008, and McDonnold has served since 1997, Comeaux said in the press conference. While Benes was allegedly drinking at the time of the initial 911 call, he also had a past history of utilizing drugs, according to the chief. He had a violent history, Comeaux said. In one of the arrests, he tried to run over a neighbor with a vehicle, and then he resisted arrest from the officers when he was tased before. Benes used a motor vehicle to damage and destroy a victims porch on February 23, 2025, according to court records obtained by The Dallas Express. He allegedly damaged an entire porch, four posts, one window, and eight shutters, leading to a charge of criminal mischief causing loss greater than $2,500 but less than $30,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He allegedly used force against an arresting officer the same day, according to another court record obtained by The Dallas Express. He was charged with resisting arrest and aggravated assault in connection with that incident. The Dallas police Special Investigations Unit is investigating Benes death. The Office of Community Police Oversight was briefed, and the Dallas County District Attorneys Office is conducting its own investigation. ALBANY, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44) North Country senator Dan Stec (R-Queensbury) on Wednesday announced legislation that he said would make an immediate impact on prison safety. The bill would make it so that most mail could only be sent to inmates electronically. Stec wrote that synthetic drugs have entered prisons in the form of letters ostensibly sent by law firms, who when investigated turned out not to exist. New York gun-tracking law delayed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While all citizens have a right to an attorney and attorney-client privilege, no one has the right to abuse it in order to smuggle drugs and deadly chemicals, said Stec. Stecs bill would require law firms to register with New York state and send mail to their clients electronically, which he says they would be readily able to access using provided tablet computers. The bill, as introduced, makes allowances for instances where the digital transmission of legal mail is neither possible nor practical. Read the full text of the bill hereDownload Stec has frequently called to address prison security while serving in the state senate. In February, he wrote a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul with the proposal of making body scanners mandatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stefanik calls for pay increases at Ray Brook federal prison A bill at the federal level which takes a different approach to the same problem, by providing federal inmates an electronic copy of any mail received, while delaying the receipt of a physical copy until a more thorough scan is complete, has 12 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate, including Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and David McCormick (R-PA). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, says right-wing activist Laura Loomer derailed a classified oversight meeting with one of the countrys top spy agencies Warner was slated to visit the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) on Friday for what he described as a routine, unpublicized briefing that had been scheduled weeks in advance. But the meeting was abruptly called off after Loomer launched a barrage of social media posts attacking Warner and NGA Director Vice Adm. Trey Whitworth. In a series of social media posts, Loomer branded Warner a rabid Trump hater and accused him of undermining Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a close Trump ally. She implied that Whitworth should be fired for agreeing to host the senator and celebrated when the visit was canceled: Whitworths scheduled September 5th fireside love fest with anti-Trump Democrat Senator @MarkWarner Mark Warner has been CANCELED! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner warns that such an intervention could threaten congressional oversight of U.S. intelligence. In a sharply worded statement, Warner blasted what he called a nakedly political decision that undermines the dedicated, nonpartisan staff at NGA and threatens the principle of civilian oversight that protects our national security. He warned that blocking lawmakers from meeting with federal officials sets a dangerous precedent, calling into question whether oversight is now allowed only when it pleases the far-right fringe. The senator pointed out that members of Congress from both parties routinely tour intelligence facilities and meet with personnel. If routine oversight can be obstructed for political reasons, no member of Congress is immune, he said. Warner also accused the Trump administration of caving to a figure with a long history of extreme and outlandish fringe views, including 9/11 denialism, anti-Muslim harassment campaigns, and associations with white supremacists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loomer, a MAGA influencer, has a track record of outsized power over White House decision-making, particularly as it relates to personnel. Earlier this year, she appeared to claim credit for the ouster of officials at the National Security Council following a meeting with Trump. When national security adviser Mike Waltz was removed from his post shortly thereafter, Loomer sent a text simply reading Loomered, to Politico, a wording she repeated while celebrating the cancellation of Warners meeting. Late last month, in response to reports that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had included the name of an undercover officer in a list of 37 who were losing their security clearances, Warner asked on X Is Tulsi Gabbard still the DNI or is that Laura Loomers job now? Warner, for his part, vowed not to be deterred: Let me be clear: I will never be deterred from carrying out my constitutional responsibilities. The post Dangerous precedent: Top Democrat says extremist Laura Loomer canceled his spy agency briefing appeared first on Salon.com. The Darke County community is mourning the loss of a fire chief. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Versailles Fire and EMS Chief Brian Pearson passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 31, according to the Village of Versailles. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Versailles community is a better and safer place today because of all of the work and dedication that he put forth, the village said in a social media post. Pearson, of Greenville, was 49 years old and passed away at Wayne HealthCare, according to his obituary. He served on multiple committees in Versailles and was a member of the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association. Brian is survived by his girlfriend, Crystal Buteau, and her sons, Dylan and Noah; brother & sister-in-law, Adam & Kim Pearson, and their family, Vera, Vince and Annie; sister & brother-in-law, Mindy & Sanchez McCutchins, and their family, Bailey, Blaire and Brinley; godmother, Karen Luthman; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, the obituary reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A celebration of life will be held at Oakland Church of the Brethren, located in the 8000 block of Horatio-Harris Creek Road, at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 9. The family will receive friends on Monday from 2:00 to 8:00 pm at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Station 19 Firefighters or Heritage Park, the obituary reads. Ansonia Rescue said their thoughts and prayers are with the members of Versailles Fire Department Station 19 and the community. There are not enough words to express how much he impacted not only Versailles, but surrounding communities as well, Ansonia Rescue said in a social media post. The Darke County Sheriffs Office expresses its deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the family and friends of Pearson. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) The fire which destroyed an historic Black church in Darlington County over the summer was intentionally set, a source close to the investigation told News13 Wednesday. A source close to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church said its insurance company and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division told them arson was to blame for the July 19 blaze that gutted the 156-year-old building. Established in 1869, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church is one of Darlington Countys oldest Black congregations. Its Pocket Road building was constructed in 1910. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Darlington County Fire District, Darlington County Sheriffs Office and other units including the West Florence Fire Department all responded around 4 p.m. Authorities said Saturday the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is working to help determine a cause. Multiple organizations and officials confirmed the scope of damage in social media posts. Brian Gandy, director of the Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum, said the fire marked a sad day in the tight-knit community. This congregation is one of the oldest organized African-American churches in Darlington County and has a very rich history in the Back Swamp/Pocket Road community, he said on Facebook. This church is made up of extremely strong members with a rock-solid faith. This will be a blow but with the members that I know at Pleasant Grove, they will rise above this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News13 contacted the Darlington County Sheriffs Office and SLED Wednesday afternoon. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. * * * Eric Cooper is a multimedia journalist at News13. He joined the team in September 2024 and covers stories in the Pee Dee. He is a native of Cades in Williamsburg County and a proud graduate of Kingstree Senior High School and Benedict College. You can read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. The daughter of a Nazi leader who died in Argentina has been put on house arrest after a painting believed to have been stolen from a Jewish art dealer during World War II emerged in a recent real estate listing of her familys Argentina home. Patricia Kadgien and her partner, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, have been put on a 72-hour house arrest as part of the search for the painting Portrait of a Lady, an 18th-century portrait of Countess Colleoni by Vittore Ghislandi, the Argentinian public prosecutors office said in a news release. Its thought that the painting was sold to Kadgiens father, Friedrich Kadgien, in 1944, Yael M. Weitz, attorney for Marei von Saher, the daughter-in-law of the painting's owner, art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, told USA TODAY. Friedrich Kadgien was a financial advisor to Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goring, Hitler's second-in-command, according to the Associated Press and ABC News. He settled in Argentina after World War II, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, in 1978, the outlets said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USA TODAY contacted Patricia Kadgien and reached out to Cortegoso on his social media, but neither has responded as of Tuesday, Sept. 2. Portrait of a Lady, an 18th-century portrait of Countess Colleoni by Vittore Ghislandi Dutch newspaper sees painting hanging in Patricia Kadgien's living room Argentinian authorities conducted four simultaneous raids at different locations in Mar del Plata, a city on the countrys Atlantic coastline, about 250 miles from Buenos Aires, on Monday, Sept. 1. Police did not recover the painting during the raids, and it has not been handed over to the court. Its current location is unknown, officials said. Authorities managed to seize two paintings from one of the familys properties that could date back to the 1800s. Additional drawings and prints were also found. Visual arts experts will analyze them to determine if they are related to paintings stolen during World War II, police said. Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad first discovered the artwork as part of a 10-year probe. According to the outlet, the painting was hanging in Kadgiens living room in a real estate listing. It's the first known color photograph of the artwork, which is featured in a database of lost art. A member of the Argentine Federal Police stands outside the house that was raided after a photo showing a 17th century masterwork allegedly stolen by the Nazis from a Dutch Jewish art collector appeared in an advertisement for the sale of the property, in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on August 27, 2025. The painting, identified by the Dutch newspaper AD and believed to be "Portrait of a Lady" by Italian baroque portraitist Vittore Ghislandi re-emerged this week in pictures of the house for sale, only to disappear again. Staff from Algemeen Dagblad later contacted the real estate agency and inquired about the painting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Aug. 26, authorities searched the property, but the painting was no longer hanging in the living room. Instead, a horse tapestry was hanging in its place, police said. Authorities captured photos of marks on the wall and a hook located above the tapestry that could have been used to hang the painting, officials added. In that raid, police seized the couples cellphones and two firearms. Authorities also found two folders containing drawings, engravings and prints containing German text, which are believed to date to the 1940s. Its not clear what Portrait of a Lady could be worth today, but similar artworks by Ghislandi have sold at auctions for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Daughter-in-law of painting's owner wants artwork returned to her family Marei von Saher, 81, the daughter-in-law of Jacques Goudstikker, a Jewish Dutch art gallery owner and one of Europes leading art dealers in the years leading up to the war, is the paintings rightful heir, her attorneys told USA TODAY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes been searching for the familys missing art pieces since the 1990s. So far, shes been able to recover around 350 out of roughly 1,200 works. I remain committed to reclaiming the painting and having it returned to my family. It is what is just and fair, said von Saher in a written statement. It is my goal to recover each and every looted Goudstikker work, and to restore my familys legacy. Marei von Saher, first heir of art collector Jacques Goudstikker, appears at a news conference on February 6, 2006. What do art experts think of the discovery? World War II Cultural Goods researchers Annelies Kool and Perry Schrier, both of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, told USA TODAY in a statement that while they hadnt physically examined the painting shown in the photograph, and cannot therefore verify the back of the canvas for marks proving its authenticity, they believe, it is reasonably likely that this is indeed the 18th-century portrait. The dimensions appear to match those listed on the original declaration form, the researchers noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commenting on the paintings most recent disappearance, Kool and Schrier said, It is disappointing that it has not yet been found. After all, the purpose of our work is to bring looted heritage from the Second World War to light and, where possible, return it to the rightful owners. History of Goudstikkers collection Between 1933 and 1945, German troops and Nazi agents seized or forced the sale of approximately one-fifth of all Western art that was in existence, totaling nearly 650,000 art pieces, von Saher's attorney said in court records obtained by USA TODAY. Some estimated that the total value of the stolen artwork was about $2.5 billion at the time and is now worth $20.5 billion. More than 100,000 artworks from that period are still unaccounted for, the documents continue. Goudstikker's extensive art collection was forcibly sold after he and his family fled the Netherlands during the Nazi invasion in May of 1940, according to the court documents, which say he died that same month. The Goudstikker Gallery was discovered in a seventeenth-century canal in Amsterdam, and included works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh, as well as Jan Steen and Jacob van Ruisdael, the court documents state. Goudstikker left the paintings behind but took a black notebook containing the details of his collection, which helped his family recover the lost artwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the war, the majority of the collection was sent to Gorings estate in Berlin, where the pieces remained until the end of the war, according to the court documents. Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daughter of Nazi believed to have stolen painting put on house arrest By Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan does not commemorate peace with the barrel of a gun, President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday, delivering veiled criticism of Chinese President Xi Jinping's military parade in Beijing to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two. Democratically-governed Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory, has repeatedly lambasted China for what Taipei sees as a distorted view of the war, as the Republic of China was the government at the time, fighting alongside the Allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists and retains the formal name to this day. Writing on his Facebook page to mark Armed Forces Day in Taiwan, Lai said republican general Hsu Yung-chang signed the Japan surrender on behalf of China, calling it "gratifying" that the former Axis powers had all become democracies since. "The people of Taiwan cherish peace, and Taiwan does not commemorate peace with the barrel of a gun," he wrote. The definition of fascism is broad, encompassing extreme nationalism, intense control of freedom of speech, secret police networks, and "overt cults of personality around strongman leaders", Lai added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not directly mention China's war parade, at which Xi, flanked by Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, warned the world was facing a choice between peace and war. Some Taiwan television stations showed the event, but it did not get the same wall-to-wall coverage as in China. "I think that the three of them joining together is meant to show they might be willing to use force to invade Taiwan and threaten Western countries," said Taipei restaurant owner Chen Ho-chien, 29, referring to the three leaders. China says the communist party formed the "backbone" of the fighting against Japan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to its parade, Taiwan's China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said it was the people and military of the Republic of China who had made "countless sacrifices and contributions, ultimately achieving victory". "The Chinese communists sought only to expand and consolidate its own power and made no contribution to the war effort," it said in a statement. "No matter how many resources the Chinese communists spend on celebratory events, it cannot obscure the ironclad historical facts." During China's parade, Lai attended a memorial ceremony at Taipei's National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine to commemorate those who died fighting for the Republic of China, including those who battled Japan and the communists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China detests Lai, who says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, as a "separatist" and has rebuffed his repeated calls for talks. China has massively increased its military pressure on Taiwan, including holding war games nearby. Taiwan told its people not to attend Beijing's parade. The most high-profile attendee from Taiwan was Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairwoman of its largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, or KMT. The KMT was the Republic of China's ruling party during the war against Japan, and it fled, along with the republican government, to Taiwan in 1949. The KMT did not send any official delegation to Beijing's parade. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Fabian Hamacher and Yi-Chin Lee; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Sept. 3 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1777, the U.S. flag was flown in battle for the first time during a Revolutionary War conflict at Cooch's Bridge, Del. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War and recognizing U.S. independence from Britain. In 1914, Giacomo della Chiesa is elected pope, taking the name Benedict XV. His papacy lasted more than seven years until his death at 67 in 1922. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1916, the Allies turned back the Germans in the World War I Battle of Verdun. Russian soldiers give first aid to a former hostage after special forces enter her school in Beslan, North Ossetia, Russia, on September 3, 2004, after a two-day hostage crisis. Russian security forces stormed the school two days after Chechen rebels took more than 1,000 school children and teachers hostage. More than 330 civilians died in the shootout, 186 of them children. File Photo STR/EPA In 1930, a Category 4 hurricane struck the Dominican Republic, killing at least 2,000 people, though some estimates put the death toll much higher. It is the fifth deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. In 1936, Britain's Malcolm Campbell set a land-speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah, averaging 301.129 mph in two runs. On September 3, 1914, Giacomo della Chiesa is elected pope, taking the name Benedict XV. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Library of Congress In 1939, Britain declared war on Germany and was quickly joined by France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. File Photo courtesy Das Bundesarchiv Unification Church founder Reverend Sun Myung Moon, seen in this April 16, 2001, file photo delivering a speech in Washington, D.C., died September 3, 2012, at the age of 92 from pneumonia. File Photo by Roger Wollenberg/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1942, Frank Sinatra began his solo singing career after leaving Tommy Dorsey's orchestra. In 1991, film director Frank Capra, best known for such feel-good movies as It Happened One Night and It's a Wonderful Life, died at the age of 94. Frank Sinatra dedicated his show at Constitution Hall May 15 to his recently deceased heroes: Count Basie and Gordon Jenkins. On September 3, 1942, Sinatra began his solo singing career after leaving Tommy Dorsey's orchestra. File Photo by Sam Seagal/UPI In 1997, Arizona Gov. Fife Symington was convicted of fraud by a federal jury in Phoenix. He resigned two days later. In 2004, a three-day school crisis ended in a 13-hour battle between security forces that stormed a school building in Beslan, Russia, and Chechen terrorists who had opened fire on hostages. Nearly 350 people, including about 155 children, were killed. All but one of the 31 suspected hostage-takers also died. Oscar-winning film director Frank Capra (L) gives legendary film actor Jimmy Stewart a playful squeeze under the chin January 23, 1985. On September 3, 1991, Capra died at the age of 94. UPI File Photo In 2005, William H. Rehnquist, the chief justice of the United States, died at the age of 80 after a long bout with thyroid cancer. He had been on the Supreme Court since 1971. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 2007, wealthy, record-setting U.S. adventurer-aviator Steve Fossett, 63, vanished on a short flight in western Nevada. He was declared dead five months later. Among his many records, he was the first person to fly around the world solo in a balloon and first to fly around the globe solo without refueling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2012, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, died in South Korea. He was 92. In 2013, Ariel Castro, 53, who was sentenced to life plus 1,000 years for holding three young women captive for a decade, and sexually assaulting them, hanged himself in his cell at the Correction Reception Center in Orient, Ohio. In 2014, the CVS Pharmacy chain stopped selling cigarettes and other tobacco products. In 2023, Typhoon Haikui made landfall in Taiwan, leaving tens of thousands of residents and businesses without power. Washington, DC, doesnt need a federal emergency, Mayor Muriel Bowser said Wednesday, adding her new executive order is meant to be a pathway out of the federal takeover that is set to end this month. The Democratic mayor clarified that her order this week, which requires the city to coordinate with federal law enforcement, is not an endorsement of the Trump administrations ongoing involvement in the city, but rather a framework for ending the presidents federal emergency. Let me tell you, without equivocation, that the mayors order does not extend the Trump emergency, Bowser said at a press conference. In fact, it does the exact opposite. What it does is lay out a framework for how we will exit the emergency. The emergency ends on September 10. The only way it can be extended legally is by the Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her comments come as Republican senators on Wednesday praised President Donald Trumps efforts to crack down on crime in the nations capital. One senator suggested reforming or altogether undoing DCs Home Rule Act a law that balances local self-governance with federal oversight in the capital. If we can reform the Home Rule status, we can give that a try. But we have to remember, this is authority that is ours. Its been delegated, delegated unwisely, in my view. If we can reform that, then lets do it. And President Trumps action is an important first step in that direction, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said. He continued, But to the extent that that experiment is not able to work out, then weve got to be ready to do what needs to be done, and undo Home Rule. The Home Rule Act of 1973 allows the president to take control of the citys police for 48 hours if he determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist, which requires the departments use for federal purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Any request of control over the citys police department for over 30 days must be passed into law. Bowser added Wednesday, I want the message to be clear to the Congress: We have a framework to request or use federal resources in our city. We dont need a presidential emergency. Her order states that Washington, DC, will continue to coordinate with federal law enforcement as permitted by district law. She has credited the federal law enforcement surge with helping to reduce violent crime but remains critical of the National Guards presence and ICE operations in the city. This week, Trump also praised Bowsers cooperation, calling DC a model for possible federal deployments in other Democratic-led cities like Chicago and Baltimore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Sen. John Cornyn praised Trump Wednesday over his actions in DC and gave credit to Bowser, who he said, finally welcomed the federal enforcement for support for law enforcement. The nations capital has been plagued by out-of-control violent crime for a long time now, Cornyn said. Fortunately, President Trump has not only acknowledged this problem, but hes actually done something about it. During a separate press conference on Wednesday, House Democrats criticized Trumps actual and threatened deployment of National Guard members to Democratic-led cities. We understand that whether its LA, DC, Chicago or Baltimore, Trumps deployment of thousands of armed federal agents and military personnel into the nations capital and other cities is the action of a wannabe dictator. For him, Donald Trump, abusing the power of the National Guard is not about protecting public safety. Its about control, Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia added, This escalation is not about public safety or about law and order. Its an authoritarian power grab that has profound consequences, that seeks to target and profile, working class, immigrant and brown communities. Bowser, meanwhile, also addressed criticism including a letter from more than 100 progressive groups over her perceived reluctance to challenge the Trump administration more forcefully. She reiterated her commitment to protecting DCs autonomy, citing the citys unique legal status and lack of statehood as guiding principles. Responding to concerns about the Metropolitan Police Department cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bowser explained that the district is legally required to do so during the presidents federal emergency. We got to get out of the emergency, Bowser said. Thats why its important that you understand that the framework that I laid out in the mayors order is a pathway out. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com FAIRMONT The jury charged with determining what culpability Ryan Lane held in the 2022 killing of Henry Silver could not reach a verdict Tuesday after a grueling two-week trial. After six hours of deliberation Tuesday, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Wilson declared a mistrial after the jury indicated it could not reach a consensus on the five counts Lane faced. Marion County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sean Murphy charged Lane with two separate counts of organized criminal enterprise, conspiracy to commit a felony (that being murder), solicitation to commit a felony crime of violence and murder in the first degree. Despite the prosecutions attempt to throw anything and everything they had on the wall to make Ryan look like a horrible, disgusting person, nothing stuck, Lanes attorney, Elgine McArdle, said. They failed to meet their burden of proof. Ryan Lane is innocent of all charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy said Tuesday he will retry Lane for the charges. We always do, Murphy said. A member of Silvers family clasped his hands to his face after the judge declared a mistrial. After the jury deliberations, Lane went back into custody. McArdle indicated she intends to file for Lanes release on bond after the hung jury. A hung jury is when jurors cant come to a unanimous consensus on whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty. When a prosecutor brings the full weight of government resources against a defendant in the form of money and personnel, they expect a conviction. No details have been released about the jurys deliberations one way or the other. As Murphy indicated, his office retries defendants when a mistrial takes place. McArdle indicated she plans to seek her clients release while the government prepares a new trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Wilson ensured the two week trial remained fair. Murphy placed Lane on trial for the 2022 murder of Henry Silver. Lane was president of the Central Chapter of the West Virginia Pagans Motorcycle Club at the time. The prosecution accused six members of the Club for Silvers murder, alleging the murder took place because Silver had an affair with the girlfriend of one of the members. In retaliation, the state alleges five Pagans club members drove to Carolina in September 2022 to kill Silver. Murphy charged the men for Silvers murder, arguing the group came together in a criminal conspiracy to murder Silver and as a result shared accountability for the full weight of the crime. One of the states witnesses testified at the first two trials that Lane had not been present in Carolina the night of Silvers murder. Murphy secured a conviction against the primary stakeholder in the murder, John Wolfe, last year. Investigators included Lane in the charges after they found communications between Wolfe and Lane discussing how they would take care of Silver. In all previous trials, Murphy argued members of the Pagans resolve any trespass against them with violence, in order to protect the honor of the club. However, as the trials progressed, things got complicated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy did not get the direct results he sought, with one of the men found not guilty of a murder conviction, and another receiving a conviction of a lesser charge without the element of intent Murphy desired. In Lanes case, testimony from one of the witnesses unraveled after the witness contradicted his testimony from the earlier trials and said Lane had been at the shooting. After McArdle retrieved the trial transcripts, the witness changed his testimony. Austin Mullins, the fourth defendant, jeopardized the prosecutions theory of the crime by confessing to the killing and testifying it was an individual action at his trial. McArdle introduced the testimony to the jury as part of her defense of Lane. In his closing argument, Murphy told jurors to evaluate the euphemisms Lane and Wolfe employed when discussing Silver at face value. He argued the Club was far from benign, and told the jury Lanes affiliations showed where his beliefs lay. He urged for a conviction on all counts. McArdle questioned Murphys premises. She drew a distinction between the national club and local chapters like the Central Chapter. As the trial ground on, it became a contest of Murphys encyclopedic knowledge of legal procedure versus McArdles tenacity as a defense attorney. She proved his equal when it came to the finer details of legal code, successfully preventing elements Murphy had used in previous trials from being used in Lanes. She also maintained a high rate of sustainment from Judge Wilson when it came to objections against Murphys lines of questioning witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her closing argument, McArdle methodically went through each element the state set upon itself in order to prove Lanes guilt. She argued forcefully the state had not met its own bar for a guilty verdict and disputed any conspiracy had taken place. She told jurors guilt by association is contrary to the spirit of American law. Nathaniel Burney, who wrote the Illustrated Guide to Law, is a lawyer with experience as a Manhattan prosecutor and criminal defense for both white-collar and street crime at the federal and state level. In his book, Burney indicates the complexity of the jury system. While jurors have been referred to as finders of fact, Burney says it is not the jurys job to determine the facts. The jurys job is to figure out whether the government proved the elements it needed to prove, without making any factual findings whatsoever. The jury is only allowed to give the legal conclusion of guilty or not guilty. We take twelve honest citizens like you, present a lot of testimony that theyre expected to remember at the end of the trial; dont tell them the law until the end, so they dont know what they should have been listening for; dont let them take any notes or ask any questions; and at the end of the trial they are expected to apply the law perfectly, Burney wrote. And if theyre wrong, either someone gets punished who didnt deserve it, or someone gets away with something they shouldnt have. The U.S. will continue to carry out lethal attacks against people belonging to drug cartels designated as narco-terrorists, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this morning. His comments came a day after the U.S. made a deadly strike on what President Donald Trump said was a drug boat operated by the Tren de Aragua (TDA) cartel, which is closely tied to Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. You can catch up on our reporting about that incident here. It wont stop with just this strike, Hegseth told Fox News about the attack he said is a very clear message to the cartels. Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco-terrorist will face the same fate. Its important to the American people to protect our homeland and protect our hemisphere. The strike, which Trump said on Truth Social killed 11 TDA members, is the first fatal U.S. attack on cartels since he ordered vessels to head to the south Caribbean. The action marks a huge escalation in U.S. efforts to stem the flow of drugs into the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Trump issued an executive order declaring TDA a Foreign Terrorist Organization and in July signed a still-secret directive ordering the Pentagon to use military force against some Latin American drug cartels he has labeled terrorist organizations. Video Trump released yesterday afternoon on Truth Social shows a drone view of a four-engine speedboat plying through the waters of the south Caribbean. The video then shows the boat being hit by some kind of weapon and exploding. The method of attack remains publicly unknown. Hegseth was asked by Fox whether the attack was carried out by a drone or an AGM-114 Hellfire missile fired from a helicopter. On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that a Special Operations aircraft either an attack helicopter or an MQ-9 Reaper drone carried out the attack. The newspaper cited an anonymous senior U.S. official. The defense secretary declined to offer details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant disclose precisely how this went down, Hegseth explained. I can tell you it was precision. It was very well understood exactly what assets would be used in order to achieve the effect. So thats classified how it was done. But you can see publicly a lot of the assets that we have in the region, to include an [Amphibious Readiness Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit] which holds 2,200 combat infantry Marines and has plenty of its own organic assets. So weve got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us. Hegseth dismissed concerns about Chinas growing influence in Venezuela. Last month, as Trump ordered warships to head toward Venezuela, Chinas Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. for violating the South American nations internal affairs. That followed a meeting between Maduro and Lan Hu, Chinas ambassador to Venezuela. Lan has previously criticized American unilateral coercive measures. CCPs Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. for violating the UN Charter and interfering in Venezuelas internal affairs, urging Washington to support peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. The remarks followed Maduros meeting with CCPs ambassador Lan Hu, pic.twitter.com/7uKV5lXxcU NFSC Red Leaf Canada (@hli953777191713) August 22, 2025 The only person that should be worried is Nicolas Maduro, who is effectively a kingpin of a drug narco state, not actually elected and indicted for $50 million by the United States, Hegseth posited. We know hes involved in the types of drug running that has affected the American people directly. So China and other countries are going to say certain things, and thats their prerogative. What we have there in the Caribbean is a clear demonstration of military might. Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency. He and 14 others, including several close allies, were hit with federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy with the Colombian FARC insurgent group to import cocaine. El primer poster oficial del gobierno de los Estados Unidos por la captura del terrorista latinoamericano mas buscado de todos los tiempos: el venezolano Nicolas Maduro Moros. pic.twitter.com/Pq0ElEOGuF Agustin Antonetti (@agusantonetti) August 8, 2025 Hegseth deferred questions about removing Maduro from office to the White House, but said that the Pentagon is ready to carry out any orders issued by Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a presidential decision, he pointed out when asked if regime change was the goal of the ongoing military maneuvers in the region. We would prefer that he would just give himself up. But thats a presidential-level decision, and were prepared with every asset that the American military has. While the counter-narcotics operations in the south Caribbean are ostensibly aimed at stopping the flow of drugs, an official with direct knowledge of the operations told us last week that these deployments are also directly aimed as a message to Maduro. At least eight ships, their aircraft, as well as a number of land-based aircraft, are taking part in the mission. As we were the first to report, the Wasp class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships the USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale are operating off the coast of Puerto Rico as sailors and Marines from the 22nd MEU take part in an amphibious landing training exercise on the southern part of that island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to those vessels, which belong to the ARG/MEU, the U.S. has at least five other warships in the region. The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers USS Gravely and USS Jason Dunham are underway in the southern Caribbean, a Navy official told us on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least two Navy warships have reached or transited the Panama Canal. The Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie recently passed through the canal from the Pacific to the Caribbean. The Panama Canal opens up into that body of water about 600 miles southwest of Venezuela. The training exercise in Puerto Rico is taking place about 500 miles north of Venezuela (Google Earth) The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Sampson is docked on the Pacific side of the canal, the Navy official added. Citing Navy policy against publicly disclosing the location of its submarine force, the official would not comment on the whereabouts of the Los Angeles class fast attack submarine USS Newport News, also part of this effort. The US Navy Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City on September 02, 2025. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP) MARTIN BERNETTI Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who is also fighting constant battles against narco-terrorists, took to X to decry the attack on the boat as murder, pointing out that these kinds of vessels are usually interdicted, with their drugs seized and crews arrested. Si esto es verdad, es un asesinato en cualquier parte del mundo. Llevamos decadas capturando civiles que transportan drogas sin matarlos. Los que transportan drogas no son los grandes narcos, sino los jovenes muy pobres del Caribe y el Pacifico pic.twitter.com/Z55UEMIpsD Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) September 3, 2025 While Trump has authorized military action against TDA and other groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations, it is unclear from the video he shared what drugs were aboard or in what quantity. We asked the Pentagon and White House for details. The Pentagon deferred us to the White House, which has yet to respond to those questions. We will update this story with any pertinent details provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless, this mission against the cartels, which the Pentagon told us has yet to be named, has crossed the threshold into deadly kinetic action. As we stated in our report yesterday, it appears that the new operating procedure will be, at least in some circumstances, to destroy these vessels without the typical policing actions of stopping, boarding, arresting and seizing that we have seen for many years in the past. It seems outright clear that this is meant to send a major chill through the cartels and act as a deterrent going forward. How much it will actually impact the flow of narcotics across the Caribbean, or if it will expand further to strikes on other kinds of targets, is yet to be seen. Update: 6:28 PM Eastern The Trump administration offered justifications for why it carried out a lethal strike against the drug boat instead of just interdicting it and arresting those on board. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said previous U.S. interdiction efforts in Latin America failed to stop the flow of drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them, Rubio said on a visit to Mexico. Earlier in the day, Trump said he was sending a message to the cartels. On the boat there were massive amounts of drugs, the president told reporters in the Oval Office. We have tapes of them speaking. There was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and everybody fully understands it. But you see it, you see the bags of drugs all over the boat, and they were hit. Obviously they wont be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people wont be doing it again. When they watch that tape, theyre going to say, Lets not do this.' .@POTUS: "On the boat, you had massive amounts of drugs they were hit. Obviously, they won't be doing it again and I think a lot of other people won't be doing it again when they watch that tape We have to protect our country, and we're going to." https://t.co/ytE10SSmfw pic.twitter.com/EoGA6SP0pQ Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 3, 2025 Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Smyrna firefighters discovered someone dead inside an apartment after responding to a fire. A Smyrna Fire Department spokesperson told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers that they also found something suspicious at the scene and called in police. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Firefighters received a call around 4:15 a.m. about a fire at 810 Windy Hill Road. After crews arrived at Beckett Park Apartments and extinguished the fire, they found a woman dead. Officials have not identified the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is now in the hands of the Smyrna Police Department and Smyrna Fire Marshals Office. Police say her death is being investigated as a homicide. The fire department spokesperson could not comment on what the something suspicious was. TRENDING STORIES Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed laws establishing Defence City, a special legal regime designed to support domestic defence industry companies. Source: Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal Details: On 21 August, Ukrainian MPs passed two bills: No. 13420 On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Other Laws of Ukraine on Supporting Defence Industry Companies No. 13421 On Amendments to Section XXI Final and Transitional Provisions of the Customs Code of Ukraine on Supporting Defence Industry Companies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the official website of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament), bill No. 13420 has been returned with the presidents signature, but as of 13:50, no such update had appeared for No. 13421. Shmyhal reiterated that Defence City offers a range of incentives for arms and military equipment manufacturers, including: Exemption from corporate income tax (subject to reinvestment of profits); Exemption from land and property tax (on land and property used in production); Exemption from environmental tax; Simplified customs procedures; Simplified rules for international transfers of defence products; State-supported relocation and enhanced protection of production facilities. "Defence industry manufacturers of strategic importance for national security, who also meet the transparency requirements, will be able to openly join Defence City," Shmyhal added. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Beijing, September 3, 2025 Distinguished Guests, Friends and Comrades, At the outset, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, let me extend a hearty welcome to you all. My warmest congratulations to all those present, to our fellow compatriots of all ethnic groups, and to the people around the world, on this victory commemoration day. Eighty years ago, the Chinese people thoroughly defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors after fighting a bitter and heroic war of resistance for 14 years. This marked the complete victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. It was a historic turning point for the Chinese nation emerging from the grave crises in modern times to embark on the journey toward great rejuvenation; it was also a major turning point in the course of world history. The Chinese people won the great victory through their united efforts with the anti-fascist Allied forces and the people around the world. The Chinese government and people will never forget the foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people in resisting aggression. This morning, we held a grand military parade in solemn commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Our purpose is to remember history, honor fallen heroes, cherish peace, and create a better future. History cautions us that we must remain unwavering in our conviction in justice, unyielding in our commitment to peace, and unshakable in our confidence in the insurmountable strength of the people. Might may rule the moment, but right prevails forever. Justice, light and progress will inevitably triumph over evil, darkness, and regression. At all times, we must advocate the common values of humanity, resolutely defend international fairness and justice, and ensure righteousness prevails and brightness shines in our world. We humans all share the same planet. We must pull together in solidarity and harmony, and ensure that the law of the jungle never makes a comeback. At all times, we must always commit to the path of peaceful development, stay resolved to safeguard global peace and tranquility, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity. The people are the creators of history, and the pursuit of a better life is a shared aspiration of all nations. At all times, our hearts must be with the people, our work must be for the people, and we must do our best to improve the well-being of all the people. Chinese modernization follows the path of peaceful development. China will always be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world. We sincerely hope that all countries will draw wisdom from history, value peace, jointly advance world modernization and create a better future for humanity. Now, please join me in a toast: To the great victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War; and To a bright future of enduring peace and shared prosperity for all humanity. Cheers! Washington The Defense Department is considering authorizing up to 600 military attorneys to serve as temporary immigration judges, a defense official confirmed. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that at the request of the Justice Department, the Defense Department is in the process of "identifying qualified Judge Advocates and civilian attorneys for details to serve as Temporary Immigration Judges." Parnell said the Defense Department attorneys would help with the backlog of cases "by presiding over immigration hearings." The Associated Press first reported the Pentagon's plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The immigration courts are struggling with a backlog of more than 3.4 million cases. But the plan to turn possibly hundreds of military lawyers into immigration judges comes after the Trump administration has fired more than two dozen immigration judges nationwide so far this year. Unlike federal district court judges, immigration judges work for the Justice Department. Judge Advocate General Corps officers are tasked with providing legal support to service members and their families or advising commanders on the legalities of warfare. The defense lawyers would likely need to undergo some training in immigration law, procedure and policy. CBS News on Thursday obtained an email that the Defense Department sent to military lawyers in the U.S. Army Reserve on Wednesday seeking 100 volunteers to serve as immigration judges in the Justice Department for a period of 179 days. "Applicants must demonstrate a record of sound judgment, legal expertise, analytical ability, wisdom, discernment, and impartiality, along with a professional demeanor, a suitable temperament for the role of a TIJ [Temporary Immigration Judge], and strong written and oral communication skills," the email reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the email, the Defense Department urged military lawyers to volunteer because they "will be directly contributing to the resolution of millions of pending immigration cases, reinforcing the Army Reserve's value to the Nation." The Trump administration loosened the job requirements for temporary immigration judges last month, allowing a wider group of government lawyers to handle cases in immigration court. Its new rule, published in the Federal Register in late August, states that the Justice Department "no longer believes the restriction of [temporary immigration judges] to current Department employees with a threshold level of immigration law experience serves [the Executive Office for Immigration Review's] interests." Previously, only Justice Department lawyers with a decade of immigration law experience or former immigration judges could fill those roles. The American Immigration Lawyers Association criticized the plan in a statement after the new rule was published. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While DoD attorneys may be well suited to handle military matters, immigration law is entirely different and exceptionally complex," AILA said. "It makes as much sense as having a cardiologist do a hip replacement." "The work of immigration judges has been described as life and death decisions in traffic court conditions," the statement continued. "Expecting fair decisions from judges unfamiliar with the law is absurd. This reckless move guts due process and further undermines the integrity of our immigration court system." The group called on Congress to use its oversight powers "to defend the rule of law and protect the independence of the immigration judiciary." In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has already proposed loaning National Guard troops to the federal government for use as immigration judges. He said in May that his office had submitted a proposal to the Trump administration that would activate the nine Florida National Guard members who are Judge Advocate General Corps officers to serve as immigration judges, which legal experts told CBS News is unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically, when National Guard troops help after a hurricane or secure a protest site, they remain under the command of their state governor, under Title 32 of the U.S. Code. Under DeSantis' plan, the state would relinquish control of these officers to Washington. Title 10 would snap into place, reassigning the JAG officers under the command of the president and defense secretary. This grants them eligibility to serve as federal immigration judges, appointed by the U.S. attorney general. The Justice Department will pick up the tab for the operation if adopted. It plans to train the officers over six weeks a crash course in immigration law, procedure and policy. Each officer would need to pass a written exam before donning the judge's robe. Camilo Montoya-Galvez and Josh Gross contributed to this report. Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Trump hosts Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and other tech CEOs at White House BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) Lawyers for Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro said in a last-ditch effort to defend him in court Wednesday that there is no evidence he attempted to carry out a coup. On the second day of the verdict and sentencing phase of Bolsonaros coup trial, lawyer Celso Vilardi said that even if his client is accused of involvement in planning a coup something which the defense doesnt concede -- he never went forward with attempting the crime, and therefore shouldn't be punished. Vilardi said his position is supported by the fact that Bolsonaro ordered a transition of power after the 2022 presidential election. The right-wing ex-leader is accused of attempting a coup to stay in power despite his defeat in the October 2022 vote to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing, and has repeatedly said the trial is a politically motivated attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors have pointed to evidence that Bolsonaro assembled top Cabinet and military officials to discuss issuing an emergency decree aimed at suspending the election outcome in order to investigate alleged voting fraud. But the defense has noted that the decree was never issued. The planning is not the execution. No matter how detailed the planning may be, it is the act of violence that actually consummates the crime, Vilardi told justices of the Supreme Court panel hearing the case in televised proceedings. Bolsonaro ordered a transition. Bolsonaro did not act against the democratic rule of law, Vilardi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazil's criminal code says that the crime of a coup occurs when a civil or military public official attempts to overthrow the established government or prevent the functioning of constitutional institutions. Trump called the trial a witch hunt Bolsonaro is under house arrest and was not present at the court on Wednesday, nor on Tuesday when the trial's verdict and sentencing phase started. The court panel has scheduled sessions on five days through Sept. 12 to decide whether Bolsonaro is guilty. The case is presided over by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is considered by Bolsonaro to be a political foe and who has been sanctioned by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called the case against Bolsonaro a witchhunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also has directly tied a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods to his allys judicial situation. De Moraes took an indirect swipe against Trump on Tuesday when he said Brazil's Supreme Court must ignore external pressure. Bolsonaro is charged with five counts: attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law and two counts involving destruction of state property. A guilty verdict on the coup plot charge alone carries a sentence of up to 12 years. Bolsonaro is being tried alongside seven other close allies On Tuesday, Gonet said the plan to keep Bolsonaro in power also involved several other elements, including previous efforts to sow doubt in Brazils electronic voting system and a riot by Bolsonaro supporters on Jan. 8, 2023, after Lula was inaugurated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors also have alleged that the plot included plans to kill Lula and de Moraes that were code-named the green and yellow dagger by Bolsonaro associates. There is not a single piece of evidence linking the president to the green and yellow dagger plan, Vilardi said on Wednesday. Paulo Cunha Bueno, Bolsonaro's other lawyer, said the former leader's actions werent violent, and that convicting Bolsonaro would amount to punishing the attempt of an attempt. Seven other close allies of Bolsonaro are being tried alongside the former president, including Walter Braga Netto, his former running mate and defense minister, and Paulo Sergio Nogueira, another former defense minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazils top electoral court has already banned Bolsonaro from running in elections until 2030 over abuse of power while in office and for casting unfounded doubts on the countrys electronic voting system. During the coup trial, the prosecution presented handwritten notes, digital files, message exchanges, and spreadsheets that they said were evidence of the conspiracy to keep Bolsonaro in power. The prosecution finished presenting its case in July and the defense wrapped up its arguments mid-August. Experts have labeled Bolsonaros trial as historic and highlighted that its the first time high-ranking officials accused of an attempted coup are being subjected to a criminal trial. Hughes reported from Rio de Janeiro. Gabriela Sa Pessoa contributed to this report from Sao Paulo. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press. The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys both military and civilian to the Justice Department as soon as practicable. Services should have the first round of attorneys identified by next week, the August 27 memo said. The Trump administration continues to increase immigration enforcement nationwide, ramping up arrests and deportations. Immigration courts face a backlog of about 3.5 million cases, which has grown sharply in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Union officials said numerous immigration judges have been fired or left after taking deferred resignations offered by the administration. The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers reported in July that at least 17 judges had been dismissed without cause in courts across the country. Roughly 600 immigration judges remain on the bench, according to union data. The Pentagon plan would double their ranks. The Justice Department requested the move. The memo stated the assignments will last up to 179 days but can be renewed. When asked about the plan, a DOJ spokesperson referred questions to the Defense Department. Pentagon officials directed inquiries to the White House. A White House official said Tuesday the administration is considering multiple steps to address the backlog. The administration is looking at a variety of options to help resolve the significant backlog of immigration cases, including hiring additional immigration judges, the official said. The official added the matter should be a priority that everyone including those waiting for adjudication can rally around. A Delaware judge sided with President Donald Trump in ruling on a lawsuit brought by former contestants of The Apprentice reality show that claimed Trump ripped them off in taking his media company public. The Sept. 2 ruling issued by Chancery Court Vice Chancellor Lori Will dismissed the lawsuit against Trump, leaving the door open for some claims to be revived, noting that other, similar claims about the formation of Trump's Truth Social platform are being litigated in Florida. The case was brought last year by Wes Moss and Andy Litinsky, two former contestants on "The Apprentice" who helped Trump launch Truth Social. Their lawsuit claimed that Trump and his codefendants engineered a series of contractual and legal maneuvers that diluted their stake in Truth Social's parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., in a way that violated Delaware corporate law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editor's note: Read the judge's ruling at the end of this story. The lawsuits codefendants include high-level GOP officials including FBI Director Kash Patel, Donald Trump Jr. and former Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, who have held board seats on Trump Media & Technology Corp. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event to honor recipients of the Purple Heart in the East Room of the White House on August 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. The ceremony recognizes 100 veterans who were wounded in military action. In her ruling, Will wrote that part of the plaintiffs' claims boil down to conspiracy theories unsupported by factual allegations" and the rest are more appropriately addressed by a court in Florida. In May, attorneys for the president as well as the plaintiffs argued in court that the claims should be put on hold by presidential immunity. Attorneys for Trump argued that legal precedent demands that Trump is immune from civil lawsuits brought in state court because it would distract him from his duties as president. The Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington, formerly the New Castle County Courthouse. They said opening the door for this litigation to go forward would ultimately see the president swamped with deposition demands in this and several other state civil cases that have been brought against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that legal precedent has never found a president immune from civil liability for unofficial acts. Ultimately, Will wrote there was reason to dismiss the lawsuit based on other factors and did not address the question of presidential immunity. Recent: Why attorneys for President Donald Trump were in Delaware's Chancery Court this week Trump lawsuit dismissal by Xerxes Wilson (This story was updated to add information.) This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware judge tosses case claiming Trump conned Truth Social partners DELRAY BEACH Despite the state's order that the rainbow-painted Pride art at a city intersection be removed by Wednesday, Sept. 3, a judge has granted city officials a reprieve, giving them until Friday, Sept. 5, to bolster their argument that it should stay. The hearing scheduled just two weeks earlier, took place in Orlando Sept. 2 on the eve of the deadline. Representatives from both sides attended: Delray Beach's delegation included City Manager Terrence Moore, City Attorney Lynn Gelin, Public Works Director Missie Barletto and outside counsel, while FDOT officials sat across from them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Both sides have the ability, up until Friday, to provide additional background information to support their position," Moore said after the hearing. He added that "no specific direction or decision was yielded from this morning's exercise" and that the city would wait for the outcome before determining its next steps. People gather for the dedication of the "Pride Intersection" at NE 2nd Avenue and NE 1st Street in the Pineapple Grove Arts District in Delray Beach, Florida on June 12, 2021. The Progress Pride Flag adds five colors to the iconic six-color Rainbow Pride Flag. The hearing comes after FDOT officials in August ordered Delray Beach to remove the rainbow-painted crosswalk at Northeast 1st Street and Northeast 2nd Avenue by Sept. 3, citing safety concerns and later arguing that the artwork improperly expresses political viewpoints. RELATED: Delray Beach exploring legal options on keeping its rainbow-colored Pride crosswalk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Will latest Florida directive force Delray Beach leaders to remove LGBTQ+ crosswalk? RELATED: Florida rainbow crosswalk controversy explained: Are they legal? Why are they being removed? Delray Beach officials contested the state's position, maintaining that the mural is on a city-owned street and is not a traffic control device, and therefore is not subject to FDOT regulations. The judges decision at the Orlando administrative hearing means the Wednesday, Sept. 3 removal deadline is no longer in effect, and both sides now have until Friday, Sept. 5 to submit additional background information before a ruling is issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jasmine Fernandez is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Delray Beach given extension in battle to save rainbow intersection NEW YORK (PIX11) Delta Air Lines is experiencing a class action lawsuit for allegedly charging extra fees for seats without windows that were marketed as window seats. The lawsuit claims that certain aircraft models, including the Boeing 737 and Airbus A321, feature seats that would normally have windows, but these windows have been replaced with air conditioning ducts, electrical conduits, and other components. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While booking flights, the seat map describes the seat as having a window, the lawsuit claims. Delta flyers could spend $30 to $100 to upgrade and pick a specific window seat, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, is suing the airline company for breach of contract. Click here to read more information about the lawsuit. 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. Travelers seeking to explore west Texas this fall will need to consider options other than Delta Airlines. Starting November 8, the airline will halt all flights to Midland International Air & Space Port in Midland, Texas, the city of Midland confirmed in an August 25 release. This includes the popular, three times daily route between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Midland. "We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and remain committed to serving Central Texas as the leading global carrier in Austin," the airline said in a statement to USAToday on September 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travelers seeking non-stop flights between Midland and Austin can utilize Southwest Airlines, as well as non-stop flights to Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Denver and Phoenix. "While I am disappointed to learn that Delta Airlines will no longer be servicing our airport, it does not diminish our commitment to ensuring Midland International Air & Space Port continues to thrive and meet the needs of our residents and those traveling through the Permian Basin," Councilwoman Robin Poole, the City Councils liaison to the Airports Department stated in a release. She continued, Midlanders can expect us to remain focused on supporting improvements and expansion efforts that will strengthen our airports role as a vital hub for our community and our region. Air service is essential, and I will continue working alongside my colleagues, city staff, and our partners to bring more options and better connections to Midland. The announcement comes just weeks after Delta's announcement of expanded non-stop routes out of Austin to Denver, Columbus, and Kansas City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With these new routes and expanded service, Delta is building on a strong foundation in Austin and creating more ways for our customers to get where they want to go, Paul Baldoni, Senior Vice President of Network Planning, said in a written release announcing the news. Its another step in delivering the network, convenience and premium experience that sets Delta apart as Austins leading global carrier. Read the original article on Southern Living The offices for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are pictured in Oklahoma City on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma higher education leaders said Wednesday that they are concerned lawmakers might not have allocated enough funding to meet demand when children of public school teachers become eligible to participate in the expansion of a state-funded scholarship program. Officials said applications are expected to open later this month, but the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education were allocated $700,000 to fund the expansion of Oklahomas Promise, which could cover costs for 15 students, said Colbi Beam, assistant vice chancellor of state grants and scholarships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not going to go very far, she said. We have no idea what the impact will be for enrollment, but Im really interested to see. Weve gotten a lot of buzz and a ton of teacher phone calls. Under House Bill 1727, which took effect July 1, a teacher can apply for their child to participate in the program if the educator is certified and teaching in Oklahoma public schools for at least 10 years and their household meets income eligibility requirements. School administrators and emergency certified teachers are not included. Beam said allowing Oklahoma public school teachers to be eligible to apply for a state-funded scholarship program, which has traditionally helped lower-income students afford college, amount to some of the most substantial changes to Oklahomas Promise since its inception. With Oklahomas Promise in general, I think weve moved away from our mission a little, she said. I think we need to refocus on the students who need access. I think we are adding more administrative steps for students to be eligible instead of reducing those. So if I had a magic wand, Id want to make it easier on students to apply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students who are in the current cohort of high school seniors will be the first to be eligible for the extension of Oklahomas Promise. The scholarship program offers qualified Oklahoma students an opportunity to earn a scholarship for college tuition. The measure extends the programs application window to Dec. 31 of the students senior year. The household income of the students parents must be less than 700% the federal poverty level. For a four-person household, this equates to an income of $225,050. Traditional Oklahomas Promise students will continue to qualify with separate financial eligibility qualifications. The financial impact of Oklahomas Promise for educators children is estimated to be over $740,000 in the first year and to exceed $3 million by the fourth year, according to the Legislatures fiscal impact report. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on Tuesday slammed Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) for releasing previously public files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The 33,000 pages of Epstein documents James Comer has decided to release were already mostly public information. To the American people dont let this fool you, Garcia said Tuesday in a statement. After careful review, Oversight Democrats have found that 97 percent of the documents received from the Department of Justice were already public. There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia accused GOP lawmakers of making a spectacle out of the continued saga driven by public interest and said Comer was attempting to cover President Trumps ties to the late financier. Donald Trump has the power right now to release all of the obscene files and documents right now. The DOJ is refusing to release the documents that have been subpoenaed, Garcia said. So there is a White House cover-up at the very highest level in getting the American public the information to bring justice to these victims, and I think its very important for everyone to understand that. Garcia isnt the only lawmaker arguing for more disclosures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has introduced a discharge petition to try to force a vote on disclosures, said late Tuesday that President Trump may be covering for some rich and powerful people. GOP Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.) abruptly left the Tuesday closed door Oversight meeting visibly upset and raised concerns about justice for Epsteins victims. I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS, she wrote in a post online. Former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been summoned to testify before the committee to unveil additional details about their relationship with Epstein while victims of the underground sex trafficking ring led by the wealthy businessman are set to appear Wednesday before members of Congress. It is very important that we believe these women, that we believe these survivors. We honor that, and we work to bring them justice, Garcia said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters she had Epsteins full client list sitting on her desk, but she later walked back the statement and alleged she was referring to a stack of files that documented his criminal behavior. In July, the FBI and DOJ released a joint memo confirming there was no client list after a lengthy investigation. House Republicans have pledged to take a deeper dive into the dealings of Epstein while DOJ officials have spoken frequently with Ghislaine Maxwell, the financiers longtime partner. 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 told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in late July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After two days of consecutive interviews, Maxwell was transferred to a lower security prison in Texas. Shes serving a 20-year prison sentence, which she is appealing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) The field for central Kentuckys next member of Congress is growing again. Someone like me, just a regular person trying to make it in the world. Someone whos super proud of their state and wants to do the best for people. I actually have a chance now because there isnt a field full of these career politicians, Erin Petrey told FOX 56 News on Wednesday. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She believes its time for new voices in politics, and now shes the 4th Democrat to join the competitive primary race for the Sixth District Congressional seat. Erin Petrey is a Lexington native, raised in Lawrenceburg, with a colorful career. She first taught English in South Korea and spent time in DC working in diplomacy, renewable energy, and healthcare infrastructure. Her most recent job was a data center sustainability role with Amazon Web Services. Ive been building businesses, building innovative businesses, and working too, really as a Kentucky ambassador all over the world in my bourbon work, Petrey said. Petrey is also a writer for an online bourbon blog and leaned on that experience in a video rolling out her campaign. As a candidate, she hopes to appeal to moderate and centrist voters. They just dont see themselves in any party. And Im running as a Democrat because, well, frankly, Im no MAGA, she said. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If elected, she wants to focus on protecting money for safety net programs, attracting jobs to the state, campaign finance reform, rural healthcare, and energy independence. I know were a coal state, and I dont want to take away anybodys coal. But we have to move on and create new, more affordable, and cleaner ways to generate energy if were going to succeed, she said. Petrey so far has three previously announced opponents at the ballot box: former State Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, former Lexington councilman David Kloiber, and former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo. Whoever wins that primary will face the winner of the three-way GOP primary between State Rep. Deanna Gordon, Ryan Dotson, and former State Sen. Ralph Alvarado. 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. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday said his planned visit to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencys headquarters has been cancelled as a result of interference from far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump. In a series of posts on social media, Warner explained he was scheduled to visit the Springfield, Virginia, location on Friday to connect with career intelligence professionals who work there, citing the engagement as a core part of my responsibility to provide oversight and support to our intelligence community. The Democratic senator blamed Loomer for orchestrating an effort to get the plan scrapped. Related: Local TV Anchor Blasts Trump With 1 Word About His Recent Actions: 'Call It By Name' Over the weekend, conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer discovered the unpublicized, classified visit and launched a campaign of baseless attacks against both me and NGA Director Vice Admiral Trey Whitworth for hosting what has always been considered a routine oversight meeting, Warner said. In response to Loomers criticism, political appointees canceled the visit, just the latest example of an administration seemingly desperate to please Loomer. Warner blasted the decision to pull his appearance as nakedly political, while warning that the incident should concern both Republicans and Democrats alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of Congress routinely conduct meetings and on-site engagements with federal employees in their states and districts; blocking and setting arbitrary conditions on these sessions sets a dangerous precedent, calling into question whether oversight is now allowed only when it pleases the far-right fringe, he said. Related: Trump Again Dismisses Epstein Hoax As Victims Call For Transparency: Live Updates Loomer celebrated the development on social media, writing: LOOMERED Right-wing activist Laura Loomer speaks in front of the courthouse as the hush-money trial of Donald Trump was underway on April 15, 2024, in New York. AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File The Trump ally had expressed her frustration about Whitworths invitation to Warner, who she described as a rabid ANTI-TRUMP DEMOCRAT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clearly, a lot of Deep State actors are being given a pass in the Intel community to continue their efforts to sabotage Trump under the Trump admin, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday. Loomer has also called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to fire Whitworth, who became NGA director in 2022 during the term of former President Joe Biden. Related: After Years Of Fanning Wild Rumors On The Health Of His Foes, Trump Faces His Own The NGA has yet to comment on the latest developments. Loomer, an anti-Muslim extremist who has spread conspiracy theories about 9/11, seems to be an influential figure in Trumps orbit. Earlier this year, several senior members of the National Security Council were fired from their jobs after Loomer reportedly pushed for their termination during a meeting with the president, accusing them of being disloyal. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) over allegations of harassment, assault and stolen valor, invoking a procedure to force a vote on the matter on the House floor. Mills has denied all the accusations. Clarke, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, brought the resolution forward as the House prepared to vote on a GOP-sponsored resolution to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), another member of the Black Caucus, who faces charges resulting from a clash with officials at an immigrant detention center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just hours after bringing up the resolution, however, Clarke said might abandon the effort to censure Mills in light of a handful of Republicans joining with Democrats to table the measure. I will talk with Ms. McIver, get a sense of where she is in this moment, talk with the leadership, see where they are in this moment. Im inclined to table mine, Clarke said. However, you know, we just never know with our colleagues whether theyre going to be collegial or not. And the reason I introduced it today was to let them know that they need to look in the mirror at their own conference. A censure amounts to a formal reprimand by the House, but Clarkes resolution would not impose any other punishment on Mills. If Clarke keeps up with her push to censure Mills, the House will have to consider the matter within two legislative days, since Clarke noticed it as a privileged matter. Clarkes resolution first details an incident in which a woman, originally identified as a significant other to Mills, had called police to a luxury building in the Wharf neighborhood of D.C. over a domestic disturbance in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman later recanted her allegations, and Mills firmly denied there was a physical altercation. Police didnt make an arrest at the scene. News4 reported that there were three versions of the police report about the incident. News4 also reported that an arrest warrant was sent to the U.S. attorneys office then led by interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, a Trump appointee but was not signed and was sent back to the department for further investigation. The current U.S. attorney is Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host. The Metropolitan Police Department previously said in a statement it had conducted an investigation and presented the case to the United States Attorneys Office, and according to an email shared with The Hill, an officer told Mills legal counsel that an investigation into the incident is closed. The censure resolution then delves into separate allegations that he had harassed and threatened to release intimate images of a woman he dated in Florida, which the married congressman has also denied. Florida Republican state committee member and Miss United States 2024 Lindsey Langston told police that after she ended their romantic relationship, Mills threatened to release nude images and videos of her and threatened to harm other men she dated in the future. Her request for a restraining order is pending, and the allegations have been shared with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clarkes resolution also notes that the House Ethics Committee is investigating Mills over allegations he omitted or misrepresented information in his financial disclosures and accessed excessive contributions to his campaign committee. And finally, Clarkes resolution detailed allegations from other servicemembers reported in the Daytona Beach News-Journal questioning how and why he was awarded a Bronze Star, with two service members disputing that Mills was involved in their rescue or provided live-saving care. Millss office did not immediately comment on the censure resolution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON Congressional Democrats are facing calls to avoid a repeat of the last federal spending showdown with Donald Trump, which resulted in an embarrassing cave which badly damaged the partys standing with their own core supporters. This time, progressive activists want Democrats to make stronger demands reversing some of the presidents controversial policies in exchange for their votes on a bill keeping the government open next month even if it risks causing a partial shutdown. I want them to actually fight instead of surrendering immediately like last time, Ezra Levin, co-director of Indivisible, a progressive movement organization founded in 2016, told HuffPost. In the absence of clear demands, youre not going to win this fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans control both the House and the Senate, but given their fractious conference in the lower chamber, and their lack of a filibuster-proof majority in the upper one, Democratic votes will be needed to pass legislation to avoid a shutdown. How the party handles this fight could have serious repercussions, especially with next years midterm elections looming on the horizon. Related: In Undercover Video, Staffer Claims DOJ Will Hide Republican Names In Epstein Files In March, after signaling he would oppose a Republican government-funding bill that had unexpectedly passed through the House, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wound up voting for the bill along with nine other Democrats. Democrats inside of Congress and out were furious; at the time, billionaire Elon Musk was just getting started tearing down federal agencies. I think it is a huge slap in the face, and I think that theres a wide sense of betrayal, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told reporters at the time. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters following the Senate policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images Top Democrats havent publicly laid out their demands for this months spending fight, insisting, like last time, that an agreement to fund the government will require bipartisan support to become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only way to avoid a shutdown is to work in a bipartisan way, with Democrats and Republicans, with a bill that gets both parties in the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a press conference on Wednesday. Republicans are once again threatening to go at it alone, heading our country towards a shutdown and making the health care crisis worse. Democratic senators have hinted the health care crisis of which Schumer speaks could ultimately be key to Democratic demands. They have complained bitterly about Medicaid cuts in the major tax cut bill Republicans passed over the summer, as well as the need to extend Obamacare insurance premium subsidies expiring at the end of the year. Theyve also warned that the Trump administrations recent attempt to advance a $5 billion pocket rescission, or an effort to rescind funds Congress already approved very close to the end of the fiscal year, would backfire and increase the odds of a shutdown. Pocket rescissions are illegal, according to the independent U.S. Government Accountability Office, but White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought has defended the move. A pocket rescission is a poke in the eye. The OMB director wants the government to shut down, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Republicans have also criticized the Trump administration for attempting to illegally withhold nearly $5 billion in foreign aid via the pocket rescission. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called it a clear violation of the law, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said it would risk throwing the entire process into chaos. The attempted pocket rescission, as well as the White Houses proposed reductions in spending for major health and education programs, could make it harder for Democrats to agree to fund the government. There is already widespread dissatisfaction with the party for not doing more to oppose Trumps unprecedented and illegal power grabs in the nations capital. Were at a point where I honestly do not care about what some pundits opinion on what a government shutdown may or may not look like in an election a year from now. Im sorry, we are beyond that, Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner told HuffPost on Monday. Whatever can be done to slow down this speed run toward authoritarianism that we are currently undertaking anything that we can do to slow that down is necessary and should be done. They should all walk out, added Tim Bailey, a retired Marine who showed up to hear Platner speak at a rally in Portland, Maine, on Monday. What [Trump] is doing down there is horrific. I mean, its just a bait and switch for all the executive orders and horseshit and laws hes breaking. Related: Pete Hegseth's Answer To Basic Legal Question Takes A 'Clown Show' Turn But most Democratic senators are, for the moment, keeping their powder dry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think theres interest in finding a bipartisan path forward. Well see what happens, said Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), a vulnerable Democrat up for reelection next year. Meanwhile, in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said hes optimistic about avoiding a shutdown. Its going to require leaders on both sides of the aisle to come together and do that, he said Tuesday. So far, rank-and-file Democrats are saying its up to Republicans to start the process. The Republicans are in the majority and control the chamber, and so if they want to avoid a government shutdown, theyre going to have to get their shit together, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) told HuffPost. However, if House Republicans are able to pass a short-term bill funding the government on their own, without placing any restrictions on Trumps administration, it would again put Senate Democrats in a bind. Like in March, they would once more face a tough decision as to whether to accept the bill or risk a government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Levin said Wednesday he didnt understand why Senate Democrats hadnt gotten more specific yet. Its just baffling to me, Levin said, suggesting Democrats could ask to reverse Medicaid cuts or to release the Epstein files, for instance. There are plenty of wildly popular things Democrats could put forward. More on Politics 'Let's Cut Out The Middleman': Zohran Mamdani Hits Trump With A Direct Challenge Ron DeSantis' 'Unhinged' Attack On California Backfires Spectacularly Democrats Vow To Fight Trump's 'Illegal' Efforts To Gut Federal Agencies Read the original on HuffPost WASHINGTON Calling for the Trump administration to release the Epstein files in their entirety, victims of convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein spoke publicly and defiantly outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. I am no longer weak, I am no longer powerless, and I am no longer alone. And with your vote, neither will the next generation be, Anouska De Georgiou, a woman who said she was abused by Epstein on his island in the Caribbean and elsewhere for years, said at a press conference. Related: In Undercover Video, Staffer Claims DOJ Will Hide Republican Names In Epstein Files President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us, De Georgiou said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) staged the press conference as they push to force the House to vote on a bill that would require the Justice Department to make the Epstein files public. While the press conference was happening, President Donald Trump repeated his claim that the entire Epstein story is a Democrat hoax designed to hurt him politically. Khanna and Massie were flanked not only by Epsteins victims but by one of the largest crowds of media, activists and onlookers seen in years for a press conference on the east side of the Capitol a scene that suggests Trumps efforts to bury the story wont succeed. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a major Trump ally, also joined the press conference. Related: House Republicans Didnt Previously Hesitate To Release Sensitive Investigatory Files This is not a hoax, Massie said. This is real. There are real survivors. There are real victims in this criminal enterprise, and the perpetrators are being protected because theyre rich and powerful and political donors to the establishment here in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie and Khanna are pushing for a vote on their bill using adischarge petition, which allows any House member to bring a bill to the floor for a vote even against the wishes of the speaker if they can get218 signatures from House lawmakers first. So far, Massies got only four of the six Republican signatures he needs, and the White House is lobbying hard against motion. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said the petition is irrelevant because the Justice Department is already complying with a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee. Late Tuesday, the committee announced it had made thousands of Epstein documents publicly available, though it posted them in an unwieldy Google Drive folder and most of the material had already been made public. I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues on Oversight today, Massie said Wednesday. They may find something, but theyre allowing the DOJ to curate all of the information that the DOJ is giving them. If youve looked at the pages theyve released so far, theyre heavily redacted. Some pages are entirely redacted, and 97% of this is already in the public domain. Related: Local TV Anchor Blasts Trump With 1 Word About His Recent Actions: 'Call It By Name' Khanna emphasized that the release of the Epstein files isnt about one political party or movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were united in restoring trust in government, he said. Were here not as partisans but as patriots, Democrats, progressives and, yes, MAGA supporters, to demand justice. Releasing the material in a searchable format, as Massie and Khannas legislation would require, would allow internet users to enter the words Donald Trump and see if the presidents name is mentioned, for example. Trump and Epstein were friends for years before a mysterious falling out that preceded Epsteins first arrest related to soliciting underage prostitutes. Trumps name reportedly comes up repeatedly in the Justice Departments material. The Epstein victims who spoke Wednesday repeatedly rejected Trumps hoax claim. Related: Tucker Carlson Accuses Pete Buttigieg Of Lying About Being Gay And Has A Creepy Plan To Prove It Haley Robson asked Trump to meet me in person to see that this isnt a hoax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being painted as a liar, Robson said, was crushing. It feels like you want to explode inside because nobody, again, is understanding that this is a real situation. These women are real, she continued. To say this is a hoax please humanize us. I would like Donald J. Trump and every person around the world to humanize us. There is no hoax. The abuse is real. Fellow abuse survivor Chauntae Davies, who said she was flown to Epsteins private island as well as to Africa with Bill Clinton and other notable figures, said she felt for years that, if she spoke out, no one would believe her. Epstein and his friends were too powerful, Davies said. Related: After Years Of Fanning Wild Rumors On The Health Of His Foes, Trump Faces His Own The truth is, Epstein had a free pass, Davies said, noting that Epstein often bragged about his relationships with the rich and powerful. He bragged about our current President Donald Trump. It was his biggest brag actually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former model Lisa Phillips, who said she was taken to Epsteins island in 2000 while on a photoshoot at another island nearby, said that what she saw there was a glimpse into a very dark and disgusting world. While U.S. Attorney General PamBondi has said there is no Epstein client list, Phillips said she and other Epstein abuse survivors have been discussing the creation of their own list. Many around him knew, many participated and many profited, and yet he was protected, Phillips said of Epstein. So I stand here today for every woman who has been silenced or dismissed, we are not asking for pity, we are here demanding accountability, and I am demanding justice. Congress must choose, will you continue to protect predators or will you finally protect survivors? The majority of what the Justice Department gave the House Oversight Committee appears to be already public. The records mostly appear to be court documents that emerged when Epsteins accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell was on trial after Epsteins death. Some of the records include redacted video footage of abuse victims relaying what happened to them when they worked as masseuses for Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein died by suicide while in prison in New York in 2019. He was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. After he died, some of the women who said they were abused by Epstein appeared in court the next day and described how Epsteins suicide felt like new trauma all over again, and said their hope to see justice done was dashed. Some of those same survivors speaking outside of the Capitol Wednesday echoed that outrage and channeled it anew at Maxwell and at the Trump administration for apparently offering Maxwell special treatment. In July, while actively seeking a pardon from Trump for her 20-year prison sentence on sex trafficking charges, Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for a two-day private interview. Transcripts of that interview were released in August. During her time with Blanche, Maxwell who had received limited immunity for the meeting was effusive in her praise for Trump and told the presidents former personal lawyer that she never witnessed Trump in any inappropriate setting in any way or with anybody. Specifically, Maxwell told Blanche she never saw Trump receive any massages nor, she said, did Epstein recruit masseuses from Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. That last claim directly conflicted with what Trump has said about why he cut off his relationship with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the meeting, Maxwell was moved from a federal prison in Florida to a facility in Texas with some of the lowest security restrictions in the country, prompting outrage by lawmakers and former Bureau of Prison officials alike who questioned why someone convicted of preying and exploiting underage girls and young women would receive such cushy treatment. Teresa Helm, who said she was groomed by Maxwell to be abused by Epstein, said when she listened to audio of Maxwells interview with Blanche, it disgusted her. The same polite coercive voice Maxwell used when she recruited her and wanted to send me off to a monster, was the same she used in the interview with Blanche, Helm said. Nothing can be believed from what shes said. Shes been charged with perjury. I sat there and listened to this womans voice lie, and there was no pushback from Todd Blanche because, does he even have the facts to be able to push back on her? Helm said. We could push back. Why couldnt we attend that? Why werent we there that day? Why wasnt one of us consulted prior to that meeting? Im very angry. The feelings that come up listening to this womans voice. Yes, its triggering. We all worked very hard on healing, and it still gets to us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Annie Farmer, who was abused by Epstein and made some of the earliest police reports about his conduct, called Maxwell a major architect of Epsteins trafficking and abuse. And the fact that she paints herself as a victim is disgusting. We werent told about her prison transfer, we were told about it on the news, Farmer said. De Georgiou said she only got a notification from the Justice Department about Maxwells prison transfer after it had already happened. This woman abused children, De Georgiou said. I was abused by Epstein and Maxwell for over 10 years, and she was present for some of my abuse. She was present, complicit and enabling. Its one of my worst nightmares that she not only be transferred but the possibility that is very much going around that she might be pardoned. This is not OK. More Stories Mike Johnson Shares Thoughts On Ghislaine Maxwell Interview: She Has No Credibility Trump Again Dismisses Epstein Hoax As Victims Call For Transparency: Live Updates Republicans Are Still In Disarray Over The Epstein Files Read the original on HuffPost The House tabled a measure that would have also removed Rep. LaMonica McIver from her committee assignment on the Homeland Security Committee. (Fran Baltzer for New Jersey Monitor) House Democrats and a few Republicans killed an effort Wednesday to censure a New Jersey congresswoman over her involvement in a scuffle outside a Newark migrant jail that led to federal charges. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-10) celebrated the failure to censure her, calling it a partisan attempt to shut me up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was not elected to play political games I was elected to serve, McIver said on social media shortly after the vote. I wont back down. Not now. Not ever. In a 215-207 vote, the House tabled the measure, which would have also removed McIver from her committee assignment on the House Homeland Security Committee. Every Democrat voted to table the measure. They were joined by five Republicans: Reps. Don Bacon and Mike Flood of Nebraska, Rep. David Valadao of California, and Reps. Dave Joyce and Mike Turner of Ohio. Two Republicans also voted present. In separate statements, Bacon and Flood said they didnt support a censure of McIver because they want the House Ethics Committee to finish its report on this matter. When the Ethics Committee finishes its report or if she pleads or is found guilty in court of law, then she should resign or be removed. I believe we should allow these processes to play out and get back to governing, Joyce said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans lashed out at McIver after she was accused by acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba of assaulting officers during a May 9 altercation while Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center that opened in the city in May. Federal prosecutors quickly dropped the charge against Baraka, a Democrat. A federal grand jury indicted McIver on three counts of interfering with federal law enforcement authorities. McIver pleaded not guilty and maintained that the prosecution is political retaliation. Her attorneys recently asked a judge to dismiss the case against her, which is set to go to trial in November. She faces 17 years in prison if convicted. Democratic U.S. Reps. Rob Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman were also with McIver that day to conduct an unannounced oversight visit of the facility. Menendez and Watson Coleman did not face any charges. In a statement, Watson Coleman called the push to punish McIver a charade to appease President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was with LaMonica at Delaney Hall that day. I didnt hear about it from a friend. I didnt read about it in the paper. I didnt watch it on TV. I was there. I know what I saw. LaMonica did absolutely nothing wrong. In fact, heavily armed, masked federal agents shoved and manhandled us, simply for doing our jobs, she said. While a House clerk on Wednesday read the censure resolution introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins, a Louisiana Republican Democrats shouted and jeered. Wednesdays effort is the second time House Republicans have moved to reprimand a Democrat lawmaker this year. In March, 10 Democrats joined Republicans to rebuke Rep. Al Greene (D-Texas) for heckling Trump during a joint address. Only 28 House members have been censured in U.S. history. Four of those have been since 2021. As President Donald Trumps takeover of Washington, D.C., continues, some Democrats are calling out his deployment of troops in a supposed effort to thwart urban crime and his threats to do the same thing in many other cities as racist. This amounts to racial profiling, said Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, during a press call hosted by the Not Above the Law coalititon. You cant say youre for public safety and care only about some people and some crimes, Wiley continued. Thats whats happening here. Thats what theyre promising to roll out to other cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington-based lawyers comments come as Trumps military takeover of the nations capital nears its 30-day limit, and as he renews his threats to take similar action in Chicago. Over the last month, the federal government has effectively seized control of local law enforcement in Washington. It has deployed 800 National Guard troops to patrol neighborhoods and established checkpoints to randomly stop and interrogate motorists, often over perceived violations of immigration law. Trumps administration has also encouraged governors of red states hundreds of miles away to lend their troops to assist in his purported crackdown on crime in the capital city. But if Trump had a true interest in cracking down on crime, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., on the press call, he would support efforts to enact gun control legislation or fund grants for law enforcement and victim service programs, including the more than $800 million the Justice Department terminated earlier this year. Restore those $800 million, and while youre at it, restore the billion dollars in locally raised revenue that the District of Columbia was denied by MAGA Republicans in Congress, Raskin said Tuesday. Theres a lot that can be done. The police checkpoints established by Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department under federal supervision, Wiley added, demonstrate the racial motivations behind the entire crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are seeing Black and immigrant communities targeted and identified in particular. We know thats going to continue, she said. This is an administration that has already signed an executive order that said, Unleash the police. This is not one that is looking to protect rights or protect residents. Wiley also evoked the 2020 murder of George Floyd and the killing of Breonna Taylor by police, referencing the Trump administrations decision to cancel consent decrees with police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville the cities where those killings occurred earlier this year. Let us not forget: This is the administration that told the Minneapolis Police Department, where we so viciously saw more than nine minutes of the lifeblood literally being squeezed out of George Floyd, and [the police department in] Louisville, Kentucky, where Breonna Taylor couldnt even sleep safely in her own bed, [that] we dont even want agreements with local law enforcement where they agree to improve training, improve transparency, to be accountable and to police better so that peoples rights are not being violated, Wiley said. Trump has threatened to use extraordinary presidential powers to send National Guard troops to Chicago, Baltimore and several other cities he claims are overrun with crime. All the cities Trump has singled out, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott observed in a press call last month, are governed by Black mayors and boast large Black and brown populations. Those cities, as Salon has previously reported, have also all seen significant decreases in homicide rates in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott, a Democrat, similarly called out the racial undertones of Trumps derisive descriptions of Black-led cities as being so crime-ridden and so incompetently managed that military intervention is required. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. In August, Raskin, along with Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., introduced a joint resolution to terminate the state of emergency that Trump declared, allowing him to take control of Washingtons MPD. Such a resolution would restore power over local law enforcement to elected Mayor Muriel Bowser. Raskin said that the law Trump evoked to take control of Washington would have been better employed during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, an emergency where the federal government, he added, actually had the legal authority to intervene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That provision says that the president can direct the mayor to make the Metropolitan Police Department available to meet a particular federal crisis, a particular federal function, Raskin said. A good example of that might be a violent insurrection against the Congress of the United States. That was something, of course, that Donald Trump did not do during the violent insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, nor did he mobilize the National Guard, which was under his exclusive, unilateral control. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled that Trump illegally deployed the National Guard in that city earlier this summer to quell protests against the governments mass deportation of immigrants. The judge found that the president had violated a statute that bars members of the military from enforcing civilian laws, although the administration is sure to appeal this ruling. The post Dems strike tougher tone on Trumps DC takeover: Its racism appeared first on Salon.com. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -A Ukrainian weapons manufacturer will begin production of fuel for long-range missiles in Denmark, the Danish government said on Wednesday, marking the first expansion abroad by a Ukrainian defence company. The Ukrainian company is Fire Point, maker of the Flamingo missiles, which President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has described as his country's most successful weapon. In June, Zelenskiy said Ukraine was in talks on joint weapons production with Denmark, Norway, Germany, Canada, Britain, and Lithuania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fuel production will be located near Denmark's Skydstrup air force base, home to the Nordic country's fleet of F-16 fighter jets. "It is a helping hand to Ukraine's struggle for security, their own independence and, not least, their opportunity to live in peace," Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told journalists. Denmark has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine since Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine began in 2022 and has so far contributed 67.6 billion Danish crowns ($10.13 billion) in military support, according to the Danish foreign ministry. The Danish government recently allocated 500 million crowns to support Ukrainian firms expanding in the Nordic country. ($1 = 6.3751 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Soren Jeppesen, editing by Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen) YUKON, Okla. (KFOR) A woman is wanted for allegedly practicing dental hygiene without a license. Court papers show it had been going on for nearly 4 1/2 years. According to a probable cause affidavit, Christy Perkowski worked at Oklahoma Dental in Yukon and her license expired in 2020. The affidavit said the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry learned Perkowski worked with patients from 2021 to 2025, administering nitrous oxide to patients, as well as administering local anesthesia to patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Practicing as a dental hygienist without a valid license isnt all Perkowski is accused of. LOCAL NEWS: OHP highlights Oklahoma Highway Patrol Realignment Plan optimizing trooper placement She also allegedly showed forged dental licenses to the clinic in 2022 and 2024, which enabled her to continue working with patients. The court papers explain that the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry became aware of the case back in April. In August, a warrant was issued for her arrest. News 4 talked to Oklahoma Dental about the case, but they did not want to comment. Probable Cause Affidavit. Image courtesy District Court of Canadian County. Probable Cause Affidavit. Image courtesy District Court of Canadian County. Arrest Warrant. Perkowski is facing five counts of practicing dental hygiene without a license and two for uttering a forged instrument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma Board of Dentistry released the following statement. The Board of dentistry was notified that Christy Perkowski had possibly forged her hygiene license for the purposes of obtaining employment. Unlike previous cases we have had where the individual that forged a license or permit had no training and was a fake licensee, Ms. Perkowski did graduate from Hygiene school and was legitimately trained. Ms. Perkowski has since surrendered her ability to seek a hygiene license from the Board pending this matter. All licenses can be verified on the Oklahoma Board of Dentistrys 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. NEED TO KNOW A dentist allegedly killed his wife, their 15-year-old daughter and then himself in a suspected murder-suicide at their home on Glen Castle Court in the St. Ives neighborhood of Johns Creek, Ga., at around 4:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 31 "Preliminary investigation indicates this was a domestic-related murder-suicide," a Johns Creek PD said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. "The suspect in this case is believed to be James Choi" This tragic incident has deeply affected not only the family and neighbors, but our entire community, Johns Creek Police Chief Mark J. Mitchell added in the statement A dentist from Georgia is accused of killing his wife, their daughter and himself in an alleged murder-suicide. The bodies of James Choi, 52, Young Choi, 52, and 15-year-old Grace Choi were found by authorities at a home on Glen Castle Court in the St. Ives neighborhood of Johns Creek, Ga., at around 4:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 31, according to a statement provided to PEOPLE by Johns Creek PD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Preliminary investigation indicates this was a domestic-related murder-suicide," Johns Creek PD said in their statement. "The suspect in this case is believed to be James Choi." Authorities additionally confirmed in their statement that James was the husband of Myoung Choi and Grace was their daughter. 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. Getty Stock image of police crime scene tape Stock image of police crime scene tape Out of respect for the victims family members and the integrity of the investigation, no further information has been released by officials. This tragic incident has deeply affected not only the family and neighbors, but our entire community, Johns Creek Police Chief Mark J. Mitchell said in the aforementioned statement. We extend our heartfelt condolences to those impacted and ask that the community keep them in their thoughts during this incredibly difficult time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James was a dentist and worked at Highland Dental in Suwanee, Ga., according to the Opencare website. Getty Stock image of police car lights Stock image of police car lights PEOPLE reached out to Highland Dental for comment, but they did not immediately respond. Meanwhile, Grace attended Mount Pisgah Christian School, where she was a sophomore. We are heartbroken and devastated to confirm the untimely death of one of our treasured and beloved students, sophomore Grace Choi, the school wrote in a post on Facebook. They added, We wish to express our deepest condolences and our heartfelt love, support, and prayers to Graces extended family, friends, and everyone who is grieving with our school community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post then concluded with the bible verse Psalm 34:18, which reads, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Read the original article on People Dr James Choi, 52, was found dead in his family home with his wife Myoung and their 15-year-old daughter Grace - Highland Dental A dentist has been discovered dead in his mansion along with his wife and daughter in a suspected murder-suicide. The bodies of Dr James Choi, his wife Myoung, both 52, and their 15-year-old daughter Grace were found in their $1.7 million home in Johns Creek, Georgia on Sunday. Investigators made the grim discovery during a routine welfare check at the sprawling six-bedroom property, situated within the gated community of St Ives Country Club. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have not disclosed the cause of death out of respect for the family but believe Dr Choi killed his family and then himself. According to his practice website, Dr Choi, who was originally from South Korea, said his prime goal was to make patients smile. Grace, an accomplished violinist, had performed at Carnegie Hall in New York as recently as January. Grace Choi, 15, was an accomplished violinist - mpcsfinearts/Instagram Mount Pisgah Christian School, where Grace studied, paid an emotional tribute to the treasured and beloved student. We are completely heartbroken. Grace, you are so loved, Mount Pisgahs fine arts department wrote on Instagram. You make us so proud and you will always be an integral part of our fine arts family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was a star, not just because of her music, but because of how kind she was to everyone, a fellow student told local media. The deaths have sent shockwaves through the affluent Johns Creek, which was ranked as the best place to live in the US in a recent survey. The familys bodies were discovered in their home on Sunday afternoon Flowers were left at the door of the familys home. This tragic incident has deeply affected not only the family and neighbours, but our entire community, police chief Mark Mitchell said. We extend our heartfelt condolences to those impacted and ask that the community keep them in their thoughts during this incredibly difficult time. 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. Gerard Depardieu intends to appeal against his referral to the Paris Criminal Court on rape charges, according to his solicitor on Wednesday. Solicitor Jeremie Assous told the radio station France Info that there were inaccuracies in the investigation. He announced that he would appeal the decision to bring the 76-year-old star to court for the alleged sexual abuse of actress Charlotte Arnould. Depardieu is accused of sexually abusing Arnould by penetrating her with his fingers against her will. An investigating judge has ordered that the actor must appear in the dock before the Paris Criminal Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If convicted, Depardieu faces up to 20 years in prison. The incidents are said to have taken place on August 7 and 13 August 2018 at the actor's home in Paris. Depardieu rejects the allegations and describes their relationship as consensual. His lawyer referred to surveillance footage which, according to him, shows the plaintiff laughing, making coffee and hugging him for several seconds at the actor's city villa. "It is Charlotte Arnould who shows Gerard Depardieu the way to the room and the stairs and is the first to go upstairs alone," Assous said. "When you watch the videos, she seems anything but frightened." The lawyer also questioned the credibility of the 29-year-old, referring to previous accusations she has made against other people in the past her father, three classmates and her cousin. Depardieu was sentenced in May to 18 months' suspended imprisonment for sexually assaulting two women during the filming of the movie "Les Volets verts" in 2021. He has appealed against the judgment. Dept. of Corrections employees charged with raping woman at Douglasville hotel Two employees with the Georgia Department of Corrections are now facing sex crime charges. According to a Douglasville police report, officers were called to Northside Hospital on Aug. 19 for a sexual assault that had just happened at a Hampton Inn on Bob Arnold Blvd. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The report identifies the suspects as Raymond Mills, 23, and Matthew Posey, 32. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GDC confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that Mills and Posey are both assigned to the Metro Reentry Facility in DeKalb County. Both are currently suspended without pay. TRENDING STORIES: The GDC will be working side-by-side with local law enforcement and will be cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation, pending final outcome, a spokesperson said in a statement. According to Douglas County Jail records, both men are being held without bond. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Deputies arrest teens after Labor Day shooting at Edgewater park in Yuba County (FOX40.COM) Two teens were arrested after a shooting at POW MIA Park on Labor Day, according to the Yuba County Sheriffs Office. Video Above: How to report a public safety threat Around 10 a.m., YCSO responded to multiple reports of shots fired at POW MIA Park on Edgewater Circle in Marysville. When deputies arrived at the scene, they reportedly secured the area, gathered witness statements from nearby residents, and recovered surveillance video. An investigation led to the arrest of two teens. Fatal crash in Sutter County between sedan and semi-truck kills woman, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to YCSO, no injuries were reported. The teens were interviewed and booked into the Yuba-Sutter County Juvenile Hall for alleged weapons-related 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 FOX40 News. BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) Law enforcement officials are searching for a man they said stole a vehicle and then ran from deputies. According to the Buncombe County Sheriffs Office, on August 28, members of the sheriffs office Illegal Gun Reduction Narcotics Task Force attempted to stop a stolen vehicle in West Asheville when the driver fled from deputies. The vehicle, reportedly driven by Daniel Reynolds, was located abandoned a short time later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reynolds has been charged with -Felony flee to elude -Possession of stolen motor vehicle -Possession of stolen goods -Possession of schedule II (Fentanyl) -Possession of schedule IV (Alprazolam) -Reckless driving -Driving left of center -Driving with a license revoked -Speeding (70 in 35mph zone) -2 stop sign violations -Failure to wear seatbelt Deputies are continuing to search for Reynolds. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Reynolds can submit information using the BCSO Crime Tip Portal at https://buncombesheriff.com/submit-a-crime-tip/ or by calling (828) 250-4503. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa The Des Moines Police Department is asking for the publics help to get an unsolved murder case across the finish line. In June of 2024, officers responded to a report of a shooting at Ashworth Park. Officers found 34-year-old Courtney Mundy-Gonzalez suffering from a gunshot wound. She died at the hospital four days later. More than a year later, an arrest still has not been made in the case. Police say that during this time, theyve executed dozens of search warrants and interviewed more than twenty witnesses. They say those witnesses have not been forthcoming, which is stalling charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man arrested on murder charges after Fort Dodge shooting There were over 100 witnesses there, and we have talked to a lot of them, not everybodys going to be in a spot where they can say, yeah, this is exactly what I saw. But we know there are people out there who saw exactly what happened, the circumstances right before the gunfire, and thats all we need. Weve got a lot of ideas and a lot of information telling us who was there, we just need to know what people were doing while they were there, said DMPD Sergeant Paul Parizek. Police ask anyone who has information that could help solve the case to reach out to detectives at 515-283-4864 or Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous. Its a matter of people thinking about what if this were your family, what if this was happening to someone you love or care about, you would want someone to come forward and do the right thing, and give them just a little bit of comfort. Theyre going to be carrying the weight of this around for the rest of their lives, but a little bit of comfort that the person responsible is being held accountable is going to relieve that a little bit, said Sergeant Parizek. Metro 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 who13.com. Florida is set to push for an end to all state vaccine mandates, state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced at a news conference Wednesday. For decades, the state has required numerous vaccines for kids attending school, a list that today includes shots that protect against measles-mumps-rubella, polio, chickenpox and Hepatitis B. But Ladapo on Wednesday compared these mandates to slavery, and promised that they all will soon end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of them. Every last one of them, Ladapo said to raucous cheers from the crowd assembled at the Grace Christian School in Valrico. Who am I as a man standing here now to tell you what you should put in your body? Wesley Chapel pediatrician Dr. Nancy Silva said ending the vaccine mandates for school children will endanger their health and bring back diseases with life-threatening health complications that most parents of school-age children have never faced. She questioned why the DeSantis administration would make vaccines an issue when school mandates have proven effective at eradicating and minimizing the spread of childhood diseases. I hope parents understand the great wonder of vaccines and how they have saved millions of lives over the decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immunizations have saved at least 154 million lives in the last 50 years, according to the World Health Organization. The vast majority of the lives saved were infants. All 50 states and Washington, D.C., have laws requiring certain vaccines for students to attend school. Florida is the first state to publicly call for doing away with such requirements. Removing vaccine requirements entirely would require the Legislatures sign-off. But DeSantis and Ladapocan make some changes without needing to pass a bill. State statute says that immunizations shall be required for polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps and tetanus. The law also allows the Department of Health to set rules requiring vaccines for other diseases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Department rules require children to get four vaccines beyond whats required in state law: Varicella, or chickenpox; Hepatitis B; Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib; and Pneumococcal conjugate, or PCV15/20. Katie Young, a spokesperson for the Department of Health, said the department will move to remove those four vaccines from state rules, which she said is a process that can take around 80 days once initiated. As part of that rule change, Young said the department will also seek to expand vaccine exemptions. Parents already can exempt their children from vaccines on religious grounds, an allowance that health experts have criticized in the past. Relatively few religions contain tenets forbidding vaccination. The department plans to broaden the exemption to allow people to cite personally held beliefs as a reason for not getting their child vaccinated, Young said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the news conference, DeSantis said the rest of the proposal would come in the form of a big medical freedom package for lawmakers. Ladapo will take the lead on that, he said. Spokespersons for Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton did not respond to requests for commentas of late afternoon Wednesday. Until recently, the DeSantis administrations criticism of vaccines had been reserved for COVID-19 shots. In 2022, against the recommendation ofthe American Academy of Pediatrics, Ladapos Department of Health recommended that healthy children not take mRNA COVID vaccines. The department has since recommended against the shots for all populations. Wednesdays announcement marks a new moment in the administrations break with the public health community over vaccines. Health experts have long maintained that vaccines are most effective at stopping the spread of disease when theyre widely adopted. In the 20th century, vaccines were used to eradicate diseases such as smallpox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in recent years, many on the American right have grown skeptical of all vaccines. President Donald Trump appointed Robert Kennedy Jr., an avowed opponent of many immunizations, to lead the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Pre-pandemic, roughly 94% of Florida kindergartners were up to date on immunizations, state data shows. By last school year, that rate had fallen to 88%amid increasing vaccine skepticism the lowest in 20 years. That level is considered inadequate to protect against outbreaks of highly contagious diseases like measles. Ladapo, the DeSantis administrations most frequent vocal skeptic of vaccines, wears numerous hats in Florida. In addition to serving as the state surgeon general, he is a tenured professor at the states flagship university. The University of Floridais among the Florida institutions that support vaccine requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University of Florida is dedicated to preserving the health and wellness of our campus. Vaccine-preventable diseases do still exist and contracting these illnesses can have an adverse effect on a students health, well-being and ability to reach optimal academic performance. The most effective way to preserve and protect our campus from outbreaks of these infections is by establishing an immunization requirement, UFs website reads. Wednesdays announcement comes at a delicate political moment for DeSantis. Hes looking for a gubernatorial candidate to cement his conservative legacy in Florida, and hes looking to stay relevant in the national news cycle as his term as governor expires in January 2027. Two potential DeSantis successors also spoke at Wednesdays event: Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and first lady Casey DeSantis. Democrat David Jolly, whos running to succeed DeSantis as governor in 2026, quickly denounced the states announcement and urged his potential Republican gubernatorial opponents, former House Speaker Paul Renner and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, to do the same. The next Governor gets to fire this guy, Jolly posted to X, referring to Ladapo. Hopefully Byron Donalds or Paul Renner would do the same. Times staff writers Christopher ODonnell and Divya Kumar contributed to this story. Gov. Ron DeSantis. with Ohio state Rep. Heidi Workman. (Photo by Nick Evans/Ohio Capital Journal) Ron DeSantis does not want former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner to succeed him as governor, he told a packed crowd Wednesday. Im not supporting Paul Renner, DeSantis said during a Valrico press conference, hours after the Palm Coast Republican filed for the 2026 governors race. Renner will face the only other high-profile Republican in the race, Donald Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race, DeSantis added. His blunt take on the 48-year-olds candidacy stood in contrast to Renners campaign launch earlier Wednesday, when the former House Speaker lauded himself as a top GOP figure who played a key role in advancing DeSantiss agenda. As a legislator and Speaker of the House, I stood with Ron DeSantis to brand our state the Free State of Florida. Im running for Governor so that when the DeSantis era comes to an end, we can defend our victories and solve the challenges that remain, Renner said in a press release. DeSantis doesnt think so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than a year before the gubernatorial primary, Renner is the second high-profile Republican DeSantis has publicly dismissed in the governors race. When Trump endorsed Donalds in February for Floridas top job, DeSantis accused the three-term member of Congress of missing out on Floridas wins during his tenure in Washington. Still, Renner remains confident that he can earn the support of DeSantis as his campaign continues. The governor and I had a fantastic partnership making us the Free State of Florida, and Im confident Ill earn his support along the way, he said in a statement to the Florida Phoenix. DeSantis has yet to formally announce who he does support as a successor. For months, he juxtaposed Donalds and First Lady Casey DeSantis, touting her as a Rush Limbaugh-approved gubernatorial candidate while hinting that she might run. But those rumors faded to a faint whisper after Hope Florida, a charity championed by the First Lady, was barraged with scandalous financial allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent reports suggest that Jay Collins, a former state senator elevated by DeSantis as lieutenant governor, will be DeSantis pick as his successor. Renners gubernatorial hopes are not new to DeSantis. In July, as the Jacksonville attorney was touting his pro-DeSantis record on social media, Renner told the governor he wanted to succeed him. The private conversation came after a brutally long legislative session marked by rare infighting between the governor and top GOP lawmakers, when Renner publicly sided with DeSantis on a controversial insurance revamp bill. Citing distaste for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the former House Speaker also led the charge to block Santa Ono, a former University of Michigan president, from becoming president of the University of Florida. A month-and-a-half later, Renners plan came to fruition. And evidenced by Wednesdays pithy public questioning of Renners decision making, DeSantis isnt pleased. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Colorful crosswalks and murals on pavement throughout Florida have been erased after state officials ordered their removal by Thursday. Nixing the murals, which sometimes highlighted issues like LGBTQ+ Pride or support for the police, has stirred emotions across the state. In St. Petersburg, two pastors were arrested last week for protesting the removal of a Black History Matters mural. Gov. Ron DeSantis has said roadways arent the place for political messaging. But hes also insisted theres a safety concern for drivers and pedestrians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think this is the best policy, DeSantis said Tuesday. Its just too much to have this, and then whatll happen is it creates safety hazards. One, (by) people just seeing it, but then you have some people who may disagree with the message and then theyre incentivized to try to, like, peel out or something. The Florida Department of Transportations June 30 memo about street markings indicated they could lead to distractions or misunderstandings, (and) jeopardize both driver and pedestrian safety. Is pavement art really a safety concern? Research shows just the opposite. Numerous studies of bright crosswalk murals, both nationwide and around Florida, show a significant reduction in crashes and increase in driver compliance after theyve been installed. Even locally, cities have documented and been lauded for crosswalk programs that reduce incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2022 national study, researchers with Bloomberg Philanthropies, a nonprofit dealing with topics like government innovation and public health, found that intersections with art saw a 17% drop in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists. Additionally, the average injury crashrates were at least 35% lower in analysis periods after art was installed. The sites selected for the study included a variety of urban and suburban settings and intersections. Among them: Tampa and St. Petersburg, both of which received state orders to remove art last Friday. The Department of Transportations claim that pavement art is a safety hazard doesnt hold up, said Tara Hubbard, transportation committee chairpersonof the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Since St. Petersburg implemented street art in 2016, the city saw a4% decline in crash rates at the intersection of Central Avenue and Fifth Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hubbard cited St. Petersburgs 2022 Downtown Mobility Study, which found that the Central and Fifth intersection saw a 73% drop in the raw number of crashes. Tampa saw no change at all in crash rates since 2017 at the intersection of North River Boulevard and West Louisiana Avenue, according to the Bloomberg Philanthropies study. Workers from Tampa andthe Florida Department of Transportation finished covering any art that still was present throughout the city over Labor Day weekend to avoid losing state funding, said Josh Cascio, a spokesperson for Tampas mobility department. Many of those crosswalks were a part of the citys 2019 Crosswalks to Classrooms initiative, which installed pavement projects at intersections and crosswalks to improve student safety to and from school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida Department of Transportation had previously awarded the city with the 2020 Planning Innovation of the Year award for its Crosswalks to Classrooms initiative, recognizing innovation in transportation. The innovative and collaborative efforts to combine public art and engineering treatments to improve school safety was truly inspiring, FDOTs then-policy planning director said at the time. In Tallahassee, another study found that traffic compliance improved after art installation projects. Researchers at Florida State University found drivers at one location drove at least 22% slower in both directions. The study also found drivers ran stop signs less and made full stops more outside of two Tallahassee schools. Studies outside of the state have yielded similar results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Tucson, Arizona, an installation at an infamously dangerous intersection improved street safety, the University of Arizona found in 2018. Researchers found drivers were significantly more likely to come to a complete stop. Durham, North Carolinas Club Crossing Project curbed potentially dangerous incidents between drivers and pedestrians by 30%, according to Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative. In a crash analysis of Philadelphia murals, researchers found there were significant decreases in crashes after art was installed. Delray Beach and Key West are among the Florida cities fighting back this week to challenge the states right to remove pavement markings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Key West, city and state leaders were scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday over the citys rainbow walks. In Delray Beach, after asking for a formal hearing and being denied, city leaders met with FDOT on Tuesday to plead their case. Delray Beach TV station WPTV did an independent investigation into crash data at a local Pride mural, and found that there were nearly eight times more accidents at the intersection prior to it being painted. While markings statewide have until Thursday to be removed, the Delray Beach hearing resulted in an extension, with the city now having until Friday to submit any information to support their claims. For some localofficials, the murals are more than art and political messages. The goal is to help protect the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And research suggests it did. Street art, creative crosswalks, and thoughtful design are tools we can effectively use to calm traffic and make neighborhoods more walkable, welcoming and alive, Hubbard said. This isnt just about paint. Its about people. Its about local communities having the power to create streets that reflect our values safe, vibrant and full of life. Nakylah Carter is a data reporter covering education as a member of the Tampa Bay Times Education Hub in partnership with Open Campus. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund byclicking here. On a mild Thursday morning in January 2023, I met Nadia Combs for coffee at The Attic in downtown Tampa. At the time, the Hillsborough County School Board was wrangling over acontroversial plan to shutter underused schools. Combs, the board chairperson, was urging her colleagues to strike deep, arguing that closing only a handful would get the system nowhere. That wont buy us five years, she told me. Probably not even three. Combs guestimate was wrong, but her instincts were right. The school boards decision that May to close six schools didnt buy Hillsborough another five years to confront its glut of empty classrooms. It didnt even buy three. In fact, in 2024, the first year the full closure plan took effect, Hillsborough had the same number of schools (83) operating at or below 70% capacity as it did in 2022, when discussions about closings first got underway. Fourteen schools last year were half-full or less, barely better than the 16 half-empty schools before the closures. Another 28 had enrollments in the 50% range. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The practicality of closing schools fell prey to the politics, as parents, community leaders and politicians pushed back. Nothing captured that like Hillsboroughs decision to close, and then rebuild Just Elementary School near downtown Tampa. Just had twice as many desks as students. But the community worked hard to keep Just, whose enrollment was 82% Black.So the district agreed to rebuild Just as part of a new, two-school campus. That project, pegged last year to cost $70 million, could now reach $99 million, according to new estimates that go to the school board in October. This isnt smart. Or sustainable. And its not getting better. Every dollar Hillsborough wrings from a bloated system is another dollar that can be redirected toward students. Yet despite years of declining enrollment and shifts in the countys growth patterns, Hillsborough has not right-sized its campuses to better position for the future. Hillsborough reported 10,000 fewer students in the first weeks of this school year than it had at the same time in 2024. This years first official count comes in October. But if the early numbers hold, Hillsborough could drop well below 180,000 students, a significant and continuing decline from the pre-COVID era. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This trend is expected to continue. By the 2029 school year, according to state estimates, Hillsborough will have 69 schools operating at or below 70% capacity. Over the next 10 years, Hillsboroughs enrollment will drop to about 174,000, and its average school occupancy rate will fall to 70% from 78%. Over the next 20 years, its average occupancy will drop even further, to 65%. As withtoday, that translates into tens of thousands of empty desks, and millions of tax dollars out the window. Hillsborough isnt alone; other big Florida school districts are seeing similar drops, with enrollments declining by 3,600 in Pinellas, 7,000 in Orange County and 11,000 or more in Broward and Miami-Dade, a recent Tampa Bay Times story reported. Student counts have dropped nationally, too, thanks to Americas low birth rate, a rise in home-schooling and other factors. In Florida, lawmakers have accelerated the exodus from traditional public schools by expanding school choice and widening access to tax-supported private school vouchers. No community wants to lose a neighborhood school. But for too long, Hillsborough has viewed campus closures as an admission of failure instead of smart planning.Even though the board watered down its closure plan, the 2023 vote marked the first time in its 140-year existence that Hillsborough shuttered a school because of low enrollment. The boards pullback was a lost opportunity that guaranteed this problem wouldnt go away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hillsborough does need to add classrooms in the countys growing south and east, yet it also needs to control its overall size. Chronically underused campuses should be put to better use for affordable housing, for example, a topic Ill address later. Contrary to some misconceptions, Florida law doesnt require that shuttered public campuses be handed over to private charter schools. Local districts have wide discretion to dispose of these properties. Public education is a mission. Its also a business. Hillsborough needs to rebalance the two. At least 20 firearms, including several AR-style rifles, have been seized by police from the home of a Texas military veteran charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy who banged on his door and ran as part of a prank, according to newly filed court records. The suspect, 42-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr., was ordered during a hearing on Wednesday to be held on $1 million bond. Judge Emily Detoto of the 177th District Court in Houston said during the hearing that she set a high bond due to the possibility that more serious charges could be brought against Leon, including capital murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Firearms and the use of firearms is not the answer. Whether you're on the freeway getting cut off or you're in your neighborhood angry at a group of kids, you can't utilize a gun, period," Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told reporters after Wednesday's court hearing. U.S. Army spokesman Tony McCormick confirmed to ABC News on Thursday that Leon was an Army infantryman from August 2013 to December 2016 and achieved the rank of specialist. Leon was deployed to Afghanistan from November 2014 to April 2015, McCormick said. Leon also served in the Texas National Guard until May 2021, according to McCormick. The shooting erupted around 11 p.m. on Saturday in a southeast Houston neighborhood when the victim, 11-year-old Julian Guzman, and his cousin banged on his door as part of a prank known as "ding dong ditch," according to the criminal complaint. KTRK - PHOTO: A makeshift memorial near the scene of a fatal shooting of a boy in Houston, Texas, August 30, 2025, that police alleged stemmed from a door-knock prank, contains a photo of the victim, 11-year-old Julian Guzman. The prank is similar to a "door-kicking challenge" trending on social media sites, including TikTok, in which groups of kids record videos of themselves kicking and banging on doors of homes and apartments before running away and then posting the videos on social media platforms such as TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julian's cousin, who was not identified in court records, told investigators that he and Julian had been at a birthday party in the neighborhood when they "became bored and wanted to ring doorbells, or play 'ding dong ditch,'" according to the complaint. The cousin told investigators that he and Julian both went up to Leon's blue house, knocked on the door and ran, according to the complaint. The cousin told investigators that the sound of a gunshot "caused him to look back at the house they were running from, where he saw a person, who he described as wearing all black, extend his arm and shoot one more time," according to the complaint. Houston Police Department - PHOTO: Booking photo of Gonzalo Leon Jr. The cousin said he saw Julian collapse to the ground, "asking for help, believing his legs were paralyzed," the court papers said. The cousin said that as he screamed for help, he observed the shooter "slowly walk back to the blue house." Julian was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon. An autopsy found the boy, a middle school student, died from a gunshot wound to the back, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Idaho college killings: Kohberger's deep study on crime Leon, who lives at the home with his wife and their young child, was detained for questioning in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and released. Once the case was elevated to a homicide, Leon was detained again as a suspect on Sunday evening by a SWAT team at a hotel outside of Houston, where he and his family went as the police investigation unfolded. Leon declined to speak to police and requested an attorney, according to the criminal complaint. The suspect was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday. MORE: 'Ketamine Queen' pleads guilty to providing drugs that killed 'Friends' star Matthew Perry Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police served a search warrant on Leon's home and seized 20 firearms, including four or five AR-style rifles and a shotgun, from "a small closet on the left side of the residence right next to the front door as well as a pistol that was alleged to belong to the Defendant's wife," according to the criminal complaint. "The Castle Doctrine does not apply to this case in any way, shape, or form," Teare told ABC Houston affiliate station KTRK in an interview, referring to a Texas law that provides protection to citizens who use lethal force to defend themselves against intruders into their own homes. "We have an 11-year-old little boy who was running away and was shot in the back. This was an intentional and knowing murder." During Wednesday's court hearing, prosecutors requested the high bond for Leon, alleging he is a flight risk because he and his family left their home with a large amount of clothes following the shooting and were detained at a motel in La Porte, about 25 miles from Houston. However, Leon's court-appointed attorney, Gianpaolo Macerola, told reporters after Wednesday's hearing that Leon and his family went to the motel to avoid the media gathering outside their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know that he's innocent until proven guilty based on the Constitution that he fought for, Macerola said of Leon. Asked by reporters why Leon had so many firearms in his home, Macerolo replied, "He served our country and then he decided to exercise his Second Amendment right to own firearms, which he protected our country for." A Mercer County Prosecutors Office detective says she was unjustly forced from her job after surreptitiously informing the family of a homicide victim of alleged malfeasance by colleagues. Brittany Aspromonti says in a civil lawsuit filed last week that she suffered from an escalating series of retaliatory acts and was effectively terminated in late 2024 after leaving her off-duty weapon in a museums bathroom. The suit, filed in late August in Superior Court of Mercer County, seeks damages under the states Conscientious Employee Protection Act, often called a whistleblower suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mercer prosecutors office declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. Lawyers for Mercer County, who the suit says are involved in discipline against Aspromonti, did not return an email seeking comment. Aspromontis lawyer Evan L. Goldman, said the suit speaks for itself and that he and his client believe she was bound to report wrongdoing. He said Mercer County officials have been uncommunicative in their dealings with Aspromonti, who might not ever work in law enforcement again. Before the fall of 2023, Aspromonti was a discipline-free investigator with commendations and worked on coveted units, her suit says. That was, until she sent an anonymous letter to the family of a homicide victim, reporting that a homicide sergeant was under internal investigation, and that their case had resolved with an unusually lenient plea bargain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter said the recipient should go to the press or get a lawyer and demand an explanation. The internal investigation concerned Sgt. Sherika Salmon, who the suit says in the summer of 2023 altered a subordinate detectives affidavit for a search warrant and lied to an assistant prosecutor, causing false information to be submitted to a Superior Court judge. The state Attorney Generals Offices Major Discipline Report for 2024 shows Salmon was suspended 30 days for neglect of duty for failing to supervise a subordinate, in June 2023. This failure to properly supervise, caused incorrect information to be submitted to the Superior Court in support of a court order, the discipline case says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letters recipient indeed contacted the prosecutors office about the letter, in December 2023, and the next day the office took possession of it. They sent it to a New Jersey State Police lab, who connected it to Aspromonti through fingerprints. In an internal affairs interview, Aspromonti admitted sending it because she believed the office was violating Brady/Giglio policies governing exculpatory or impeaching evidence, and defense attorneys should have been notified. She did not go through official reporting channels, the suit says, due to witnessing prior internal affairs problems, and because then prosecutor Angelo Onofri, as well as Salmon, had political connections and Onofri was tight with the AGs office. Aspromonti gave one example, that she reported to her sergeant than an assistant prosecutors dog had attacked children in the child advocacy office and was transferred shortly thereafter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutors office notified Aspromonti she was under investigation in February 2024, and she was transferred from the county narcotics task force to a trial unit and told she could not work overtime or extra-duty assignments. The suit says the prosecutors office bungled the resulting investigation. Then, in November 2024, Aspromonti inadvertently left her prosecutor-approved off-duty handgun in a Liberty Science Center room while attending to her child. Twenty minutes later, she realized it, returned to the bathroom, and alerted security. A good Samaritan had found it and turned it over to security. Aspromonti alerted the prosecutors office to the incident, who responded by suspending her, taking her gun and other office materials, and made more procedural mistakes that have left her in an unpaid, professional limbo that her suit says was an improper constructive firing. Her suit says there are numerous instances, both within the State and within her own Office, in which an officers failure to properly secure a weapon or misuse of a weapon resulted in minimal or no disciplinary action. Kevin Shea Stories by Kevin Shea Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com Read the original article on NJ.com. (The Center Square) Lawmakers applaud the awarding of nearly $20 million in federal funding for more than a dozen community development projects in Detroit. This funding will improve the lives of our residents by providing home repairs, affordable housing, lead abatement, flood recovery resources, workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, and climate resilience to protect our public health, said U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan. Tlaib represents the 12th Congressional District, which is in the suburbs of Detroit and includes Dearborn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In just the 12th district, $17.1 million of the total $20 million funded 15 different projects. The awards for the projects range from $4 million to $220,000. Some of the $20 million includes: $4 million for Wayne County to facilitate a Multi-City Lead Service Line Replacement Project $3 million for the City of Detroit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lead Service Line Replacement $2.5 million for the Grandmont Rosedale Minock Park Place Project $2 million for the Detroit Energy Efficiency and Home Improvement Program $2 million for the Southwest Detroit Creative Connections Collaborative Project Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $1.7 million for the Stoudamire Wellness Hub at Eastside Community Network $1.5 million for the American Indian Health and Family Services New Facility and Campus for Health and Wellbeing Tlaib, as chair of the bipartisan Get the Lead Out congressional caucus, has made removing lead pipes a key priority during her tenure. She said the funding for line replacement is a crucial step to providing clean drinking water and protecting the health and well-being of our community. The Center Square investigated the Detroit Energy Efficiency and Home Improvement Program to examine its use of taxpayer dollars. The $2 million in funding for this project, which was part of a federal Community Project Funding request, was first announced in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Awarded to Enterprise Community Partners, the money will be used to assess and repair 100 low-income homes. Those repairs will also include energy efficiency upgrades and improvements meant to reduce their utility costs. It is essential that we fund projects like these because our residents deserve to have housing that enables them to thrive in our communities, Tlaib said in a statement at that time. I know that Enterprise, Walker-Miller Energy Services, and their partners in the community will use these dollars to directly impact our neighbors and I cannot wait to visit many of the 100 homes that will be improved greatly by this community project funding. This program will have three elements: the assessments and repairs, workforce development programing, and development of community energy ambassadors. Taking into account the other aspects of the program, if just $1 million is used towards the homes, that is an average of $10,000 per home. According to Enterprise, in the past, participating households generally save a maximum of $650 a year in energy costs. That means it would take more than 15 years for each household to earn back the estimated $10,000 in government funds used to upgrade their homes. CHADBOURN, N.C. (WNCN) A fundraising effort was launched Tuesday after four little girls all sisters died in a North Carolina house fire early Saturday as two other girls managed to escape and call for help. No adults were at home around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, when the fire broke out, which killed the girls aged 2 to 7, Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman told CBS 17. Two other 12-year-old girls one a sister of the others managed to escape the North Colony Road home, about a mile northeast of Chadbourn, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their 911 call soon brought help with a Columbus County Sheriffs Office and a Chadbourn Rescue team arriving in just seven minutes. A photo of Kendall, Kalani, Josie, and Sophia, the four little girls who died courtesy: gofundme.com/Winter-kalani-kendall-josie-Sophia But, the home was already engulfed in flames and the first responders couldnt save the girls trapped inside. Due to the severity of the fire, it was not possible to make a safe entry into the home, Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers said in a Tuesday news release. Two Columbus County residents have now started a GoFundMe for the family. It is with heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the tragic loss of Kendall, Kalani, Josie, and Sophia, who passed away in a house fire, Ansley Hayes and B. Tyler Grainger wrote online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Four children die in North Carolina house fire, officials say The deaths have shaken the community and many people knew the family and mother, identified as Reagan Powers by the Columbus County News. A burned home in which four sisters died in a fire near Chadbourn early Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, according to Columbus County officials and the Columbus County News. Photo courtesy: Columbus County News These beautiful souls brought immense joy and love to their family and everyone who was blessed to know them, the fundraiser said about the little girls who died. Hayes and Grainger identified the older sister as Winter who has lost everything in this tragedy. Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and support. Together, we can provide some comfort and relief to a family in profound need, the fundraiser said. A burned home in which four sisters died in a fire early Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, according to Columbus County officials and the Columbus County News. Photo courtesy: Columbus County News Officials have not announced any charges in the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our community is facing an unimaginable tragedy. We ask that everyone join together in support of the family and loved ones affected by this devastating loss. The thoughts and prayers of our agencies are with them during this extremely difficult time, Rogers and Blackman said in a Tuesday news release. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Columbus County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigative Division, the Columbus County Emergency Services Fire Marshal, and the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal are investigating, Rogers 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. The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that it will terminate temporary protected status for Venezuelans, removing a designation that has allowed more than 200,000 Venezuelan citizens to reside in the U.S. because of the turmoil in their home country. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that it will allow temporary protected status to expire on Sept. 10. It argued that preserving the designation directly undermines the Trump administrations efforts to secure our southern border and manage migration effectively given the large number of Venezuelans who entered the United States without the proper legal procedures. Weighing public safety, national security, migration factors, immigration policy, economic considerations, and foreign policy, its clear that allowing Venezuelan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is not in Americas best interest, the department added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move comes as the Trump administration ramps up its push to deport immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally and to increase scrutiny of those who apply for U.S. visas. The decision also coincides with mounting worries that the United States may launch military operations against Venezuela in the name of combating drug trafficking and potentially overthrowing the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. has deployed ships and soldiers to waters near Venezuela and on Tuesday struck a drug boat leaving Venezuela. It is unclear if the moves are linked. The termination will take effect 60 days after it is posted to the federal register, leaving hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the United States in legal limbo. It is expected that the termination will be challenged in federal court, so it is unclear if it will translate into large-scale voluntary departures or deportations of Venezuelan nationals in the United States in the near-term. The Biden administration granted Venezuelans temporary protected status twice, in 2021 and 2023. That designation, the U.S. government argued at the time, was needed given a worsening economic and political situation in Venezuela. At the time, millions of Venezuelans had fled the South American petrostate; initial waves of migrants flocked to other Latin American countries before eventually heading to the U.S. southern border with Mexico. In April, the Trump administration revoked the 2023 designation, but the earlier 2021 designation was still in effect because of a Biden-era extension. President Donald Trump has released a video showing a United States military strike on a boat in the Caribbean that he says was smuggling drugs out of Venezuela for the Tren de Aragua gang, stoking fears of a possible clash between the Venezuelan and US militaries. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said 11 people were killed on Tuesday. He wrote: No US Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE! The strike, apparently carried out in international waters, marks an escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom Trump has repeatedly accused of assisting international drug gangs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident is the first known attack the US has made against alleged smugglers since the Trump administration began increasing its military presence in the Caribbean last month to counter drug cartels designated as narcoterrorist organisations. What happened? The Trump administration dispatched warships to the southern Caribbean in August in a bid, it said, to counter threats to US national security posed by criminal organisations operating in the region. The New York Times reported that Trump had signed a secret directive ordering the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that the US considers terrorist organisations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the Reuters news agency reported that seven US warships and one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine were headed for the Caribbean. More than 4,500 sailors and Marines are on board the vessels. Then on Tuesday, Trump announced the strike on the Venezuelan boat he said was transporting drugs. (Al Jazeera) What is Tren de Aragua and why does Trump link it to Maduro? Trump identified the people on board the Venezuelan boat as narcoterrorists who were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The Tren de Aragua is one of Venezuelas most notorious criminal organisations with operations spreading across Latin America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originating in the early 2000s among prison inmates in the state of Aragua, the gang initially controlled contraband and extortion networks inside jails before expanding outwards. Today, it runs a diversified criminal empire spanning drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, illegal mining and contract killings. The group is especially active along migration routes, exploiting vulnerable refugees and migrants through kidnapping, forced labour and sex trafficking. The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed there is a direct link between groups like Tren de Aragua and Venezuelas government. According to Trump, Maduro controls the gang as part of a narcoterrorism ploy to destabilise the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On August 7, the US Departments of State and Justice doubled their reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro to $50m, accusing him of being one of the largest narcotraffickers in the world. For his part, Maduro denies any connection to the group. At least two reports from the US intelligence community also contradict the Trump administrations claim. In May, a declassified National Intelligence Council report found that Maduros government probably does not have a policy of cooperating with Tren de Aragua. The report also said Maduro is not directing the gangs operations in the US although it did concede that Venezuela offers a permissive environment that allows Tren de Aragua to operate. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said at a news conference on September 1, 2025, in Caracas that his government has been targeted by eight military ships and 1,200 missiles, calling it the greatest threat to Venezuela for 100 years [Jesus Vargas/Getty Images] What does the US strike mean for Venezuela-US relations? The US deployment piqued concerns over spiralling tensions with Venezuela after Maduro urged millions of Venezuelans in August to join nationalist militias to defend Venezuela in response to Washingtons aggressive new antidrug operations in the Caribbean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the run-up to the US strike on the Venezuelan boat this week, Maduro said on August 25: No empire will touch the sacred soil of Venezuela. The Venezuelan president has long accused the US government of interfering in his countrys politics on behalf of the political opposition. In last weeks remarks, he also accused Trump of seeking a regime change through military threat. Trump, meanwhile, has adopted the same maximum pressure campaign that defined his foreign policy towards Venezuela during his first term. It included heightened sanctions on the Latin American country. In spite of this, the US energy group Chevron returned to Venezuela in July after a three-month hiatus after Trumps decision in February to rescind a US Treasury licence that allowed the oil giant to export crude from Venezuela despite US sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump revoked the existing licence, which was issued during President Joe Bidens administration in 2022, over what he saw as a failure by Maduro to implement electoral reforms and accept Venezuelans deported from the US, forcing Chevron to pause operations and wind down its activities. But after intense lobbying, Chevron was granted a new restricted licence by the Department of the Treasury to export Venezuelan crude. That decision was considered to amount to an easing of sanctions on Venezuelas oil sector. While the precise licence conditions remain unknown, experts said the agreement will bring benefits to Venezuelas debt-strapped economy as Chevron is expected to send 200,000 barrels of oil per day from Venezuela to international markets. Christopher Sabatini, senior research fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, said the Trump administration is facing competing objectives in Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sabatini told Al Jazeera that the Treasurys recent move to reinstate Chevrons (albeit restricted) licence is a recognition, in part, of the failure of past sanctions insofar as they ceded control of Venezuelan oil assets from Chevron to governments opposed to US interests, China, Russia and Iran. He added that by mobilising this fleet [in the Caribbean], the administration is also trying to scare Maduro into potential regime change. The upshot, Sabatini said, is that Trumps two-pronged policy approach risks causing an unintended conflict with Venezuela. How are US relations with the rest of the region? In talks with leaders from Mexico and Ecuador, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make the case this week for broad cooperation on migration and drug trafficking, which the Trump administration views as crucial for security across the Americas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubios trip on Wednesday and Thursday is likely to be complicated by the fact that Trump has rattled many leaders across the region with sweeping tariffs for not complying with his geopolitical aims, experts said. The main problem, Sabatini said, is that US demands are a moving target and prone to the whims of Donald Trump. In the case of Brazil, for instance, Trump slapped 50 percent tariffs on the countrys goods in August partly in retaliation for the governments pursuit of criminal charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. Looking ahead, Sabatini expected countries in Latin America to slow-walk their responses to Trump without cravenly buckling to his pressure, [likely resulting in] geopolitical instability. Walt Disney has agreed to pay a multi-million dollar settlement over allegations from the Federal Trade Commission that the company unlawfully allowed the collection of personal data of children. Disney will pay $10 million as a result of the claim that the company enabled data to be collected from children who viewed kid-directed videos on YouTube without parental consent. The case alleged that Disney did not label certain YouTube videos as being made for children when they were uploaded to the platform. As a result, the complaint said Disney, via YouTube, was able to deliver targeted advertising to children who were under age 13 using the unlawfully gathered data. Websites, apps, and other online services are required to notify parents about the personal details they collect on videos made for children under 13. They must also obtain verifiable parental consent before gathering the personal data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the proposed order, a court filing said Disney must implement an audience designation program to ensure its videos are properly directed as made for kids where appropriate, per Reuters. This settlement does not involve Disney-owned and operated digital platforms but rather is limited to the distribution of some of our content on YouTubes platform, a Disney spokesperson said. Disney has a long tradition of embracing the highest standards of compliance with childrens privacy laws, and we remain committed to investing in the tools needed to continue being a leader in this space. Earlier this year, The Dallas Express reported that Disney was also the target of the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC launched an investigation into Disney and ABC, alleging that their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives potentially violated federal anti-discrimination laws. In a letter to Disney CEO Robert Iger, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr referenced whistleblower accounts claiming the company implemented race-based hiring and only extended certain opportunities to select demographic groups. Cinderella Castle, the centerpiece structure of Magic Kingdom theme park, will be getting a new look thats kind of like one of its old-timey looks. We are bringing back a classic color scheme to the castle. The grays, the creams, the rich blues with some touches of gold that really are the heart of this castle, said Wyatt Winter, executive producer with Walt Disney Imagineering, during a recent Destination D23 session titled Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles. No time frame was announced for the start or end of the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, Cinderella Castle ascends into a pinkish, rose-gold hue. The spires were made a deeper blue than before. This look arrived in 2020. It was augmented with gold swag, ribbons and medallions the next year, marking the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. After the celebration ended, the accessories were removed, but the paint stayed. The D23 panel covered Disney castles worldwide, each of which has its own color designs, said Katie Gibbs, art director with Imagineering. Its not a one size fits all. In fact, every castle is treated completely differently, Gibbs said. A good example of that is the stone on the lower portion of the castle. For instance, here in Florida, we have seven colors on the stone, and when we go to paint it, we actually number each stone so it becomes an actual paint-by-number to get the perfect blend, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another trick we do is we tend to keep the darker colors towards the bottom of the castle, and the colors get lighter as they go up, Gibbs said. That creates the illusion that the castle is much taller than it really is. Cinderella Castle has had several looks since it debuted at Magic Kingdom in 1971. One notable version, corresponding with the parks 25th anniversary in 1996, turned the icon into a giant pink birthday cake. That prompted Pepto-Bismol comparisons and outrage from folks who waited years to have their photos taken in front of the classic castle. Disney: What it costs to eat entire menu of Epcot food fest Repainting the 189-foot-tall castle and its 27 towers could be a royal pain. It houses Cinderellas Royal Table restaurant and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience, serves as a gateway between the parks Main Street and Fantasyland, and is a backdrop for stage shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The job can require cranes and negotiating the moat at its base. And the castle sits squarely in the center of the worlds most visited theme park. We want to be part of the magic but not ruin the magic, senior project manager Elaine Schomburg-LaFleur told the Sentinel during the 50th anniversary refurbishment. More castle talk is expected in the next episode of We Call It Imagineering, which will be available on YouTube on Sept. 8. When you step into our park, you see our castle. You want that to be just that great moment, said Colleen Meyers, WDI executive color design and paint, in a trailer for the episode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve updated the color every time weve repainted it. We want to make sure that every guest that comes has the opportunity to get a really beautiful picture with it, she said. D23: Magic Kingdom set for Walt Disney animatronic, Tron overlay Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) District Bar and Grill staff said the building was hit by gunfire on Tuesday night. The owner reported that there was damage to the front windows, and several bar staff and patrons were inside at the time of the drive-by shooting. No one was injured during the incident, which occurred around 11 p.m., according to police call logs. The bars owner is cooperating with law enforcement and Rockford officials during the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The business asks anyone with information about the drive-by to contact the Rockford Police 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. DANVILLE Mark Wyer of Georgetown, District 1-M governor, gave updates to the Danville Lions Club recently. Wyer has been a member of the Georgetown Lions Club for 10 years. This is his first time as governor. As governor, he oversees 46 Lions clubs in central Illinois. There are 10 districts in the state, with Danville and Georgetown among those local clubs in District 1-M. Like other Lions leaders, Wyer said hed like to see the formation of more service clubs and the addition of more members. Hes also interested in providing more leadership training opportunities for members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lions Clubs International is the largest membership-based service organization in the world, with its main focus on helping the hearing- and sight-impaired. The clubs also undertake other projects, such as diabetes awareness and giving funds to local organizations. The Georgetown Lions Club will have its first chili meal as a fundraiser on Oct. 25 at the Church of Christ. Georgetown and other clubs, including Danville, will participate in Candy Day on the second weekend of October. Members will hand out candy and accept monetary donations to help people with vision and hearing needs. Another project undertaken by the Georgetown club is creation of an inclusive playground in the city park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wyer also reminded club members that training, help and advice is available, adding, The district is there for you. Wyer attended the meeting with his wife of 42 years, Lisa, a Fairmount native. He has worked 28 years with Heat and Frost Pipe Insulators Local 18. He also served in the military 21 years, including nine years in active duty with the Air Force and 12 years with the Air National Guard in Terre Haute, Ind. He served in Korea for a year. In his free time, hes taking guitar and bass guitar lessons in Danville. To learn more about the Danville Lions Club, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/danvillelionsclub/ or Lions District 1-M website at www.district1m.org Sep. 3The city of Dixon has unveiled the draft of its comprehensive plan, which will guide city leaders' decisions for the next two decades. It's a comprehensive plan that outlines the city's long-term goals for the area and how to achieve them. Dixon's plan focuses on five major areas aimed at increasing available housing, improving transportation, growing the city's economy through commercial and industrial developments and investing in community services and public infrastructure. Community members were presented a draft of the plan at an open house on Aug. 28 at city hall. "Some of this transition may easily take 20 years," but the plan is "definitely not boilerplate," Mayor Glen Hughes told Shaw Local. "I like it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ExpandAutoplay Image 1 of 7 Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes speaks about the unveiling of comprehensive plan results Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at Dixon City Hall. (Alex T. Paschal) Overall, by 2045, the city of Dixon "will be synonymous with great neighborhoods, a thriving downtown, healthy industry, and small-town character with 'big city' amenities," according to the drafted plan. "This has been a process that's allowed for a lot of input" from city officials, staff and the community, Hughes said. To develop the plan, the city has been working for over a year with Houseal Lavigne, a Chicago-based urban planning firm, and Fehr Graham, a Freeport-based civil engineering firm. Community members were invited to participate in the process through an online survey, an interactive online map and at a workshop held at the Loveland Community House in August 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are the highlights of the drafted plan: Increasing housing options One of the top priorities is increasing housing availability with options that meet the needs of people at different ages and income levels. To achieve that, city officials are focusing on how to better utilize the space that's available, Hughes said. The plan outlines one solution referred to as the "missing middle" which would mix small apartment buildings into existing neighborhoods made up of largely single family homes. Currently, this type of housing makes up only 11% of Dixon's total housing stock, according to the plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One suggested area for this type of development is Dement Town, which is southwest of the Rock River. The neighborhood already includes a mix of housing types and a range of land uses like commercial and manufacturing, according to the plan. Implementing zoning to support the plan In order to implement those new housing ideas, the city needs the zoning to support it. Zoning specifies how land can be used for things like shopping centers or industrial plants. Within the comprehensive plan, officials developed a future land use map. The map aligns the city's zoning with the goals of the plan and identifies areas for potential expansion beyond the current city limits, Hughes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For housing, the plan aims to keep low-density residential, like single-family homes, as Dixon's predominant form of housing and reserves a large area south of the Rock River near downtown for those types of properties. On the north side of the river, the map zones a large area as mixed residential, which includes those "missing middle" type properties like townhomes and multi-family buildings, according to the plan. Bike paths, public bus system Another area the city's plan looks at is transportation with the goals of enhancing regional access, reducing congestion and promoting alternative methods of travel like biking and public transit, according to the plan. Already, the city has developed two multi-use pathways that run east and west of Heritage Crossing and is planning to extend the west path to reach Bloody Gulch Road. The first part of that extension is underway now with the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Rock River known as Project Rock. The over $12 million development is planned to be completed in June 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials are also looking into the possibility of expanding public transportation options by introducing two fixed-bus routes provided by the Reagan Mass Transit District. The proposed Dixon West and Dixon East routes would provide daily service with several stops at the commercial areas on the north and south sides of Galena Avenue, in the downtown area, near Dixon High School, the Lee County Business Park off Interstate 88, the Dixon Park District facilities off Washington Avenue and within residential areas, according to the plan. Other areas of focus in the plan The plan outlines ways that city officials can continue to grow Dixon's economy by balancing locally owned businesses with chain restaurants and "big box" stores like Walmart, for example. It also goes over how the city can improve the quality of life for its residents, while attracting new ones, by investing in its community and public safety services like the police and fire departments, parks and schools along with infrastructure like its water and sewer facilities, according to the plan. What's next? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 28, after the open house, a public hearing was held at the city's planning commission meeting where members were given a presentation of the 121-page proposed plan. At a future meeting, the commission will vote on a recommendation for the Dixon City Council to either approve or deny the plan. The full plan draft can be viewed online at dixon-il-comprehensive-plan-hlplanning.hub.arcgis.com/. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Nearly 30 years after a D.C. police officer was found shot to death in her Silver Spring apartment, investigators said they have arrested the person responsible for her killing. In September 1995, Denna Campbell, a four-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, was found dead on the floor of her bedroom. However, detectives said Campbell warned of her death just days prior. DMV Confidential | Presumed Murdered: The Disappearance of Mamta Kafle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In DC News Nows latest streaming show, Jenny Gable and Kenzie Chase delve deeper into the world of true crime, exploring cases from around D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WHTM) Vaccines are rapidly changing in Pennsylvania. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its stance on who should get COVID-19 vaccines, and some pharmacies in the state will only administer the vaccine with a prescription. Dr. John Goldman from UPMC specializes in infectious diseases. He unpacked COVID and flu vaccines on this weeks Hot Topic Tuesday. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ICYMI: Top 5 Stories of the Week Valerie Pritchett: First of all, for those who are interested in getting the vaccine, whats the latest COVID strains that are out there, and is there anything new in the vaccine being offered? Dr. Goldman: The latest strain is something called XPS, and what happens with COVID is that the strains, the variants, shift pretty rapidly. What really makes it depend on what the predominant variant is is how quickly theyre able to transmit. Usually now, that means that they get a little around pre-existing immunity, either to vaccines or other strains. The good news is that even though they get around the immunity, and youre more likely to be infected, preexisting immunity either to the vaccine or another strain makes it very unlikely that youre going to get very sick, hospitalized or even dying. At the height of COVID, we had 20,000 deaths per week in the United States. We probably have 200 or 300 now. Its many, many fewer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, the preexisting immunity, even though it may fail, you may get infected, youre not nearly as likely to get sick. Now, we are still recommending that you get the COVID vaccines, especially for people who are above the age of the age of 65 or have other medical conditions, because COVID now kind of acts like the flu. Its more mild. We dont have as many people ending up in the hospital. And, with the flu, 90% of the people who end up hospitalized or die are above the age of 65. Now with COVID, its kind of following the same pattern. So, we do strongly recommend the COVID vaccine for people who are above the age of 65 or have another medical condition. Valerie Pritchett: Speaking of the flu, how do we know which strands are going around? Dr. Goldman: What typically happens is right now in the Southern Hemisphere, its winter. They have their winter during our spring and summer, and their flu season during our summer. So we know what the strains are circulating in the Southern Hemisphere, and those typically go into the strains that we put into the flu vaccine each fall. Valerie Pritchett: You said the best time to get that was in October. What else can we do to keep ourselves healthy as we start to enter into these next months where viruses are prevalent? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Goldman: I do strongly recommend the vaccines. I think those are one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy. Strongly recommend handwashing. The flu and COVID often are spread on surfaces from people sneezing, and if youre washing your hands frequently, youre much less likely to get them. And, we strongly recommend that you dont have presenteeism. If youre sick, you shouldnt go to work. You shouldnt go to school. Because if you stay at home, you can infect one or two people in your house. If you go to school, if you go to work, you can infect a lot of people. Then, its common sense, if you see someone who looks like theyre sick, is sneezing, is coughing, has their nose runny stay away from 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 ABC27. The age of anesthesia began in 1846, when a man named Edward Abbott came to Massachusetts General Hospital with a painful growth under his jaw. Dental surgeon William Thomas Green Morton saw the case as the perfect opportunity to test his anesthetic breathing apparatus in the hospitals amphitheater. In front of a packed crowd of surgeons, Morton asked Abbott to breathe in the fumes of a sweet-smelling liquid, known as ether, contained inside a small glass sphere. Within minutes of inhaling, Abbott was unconscious. While doctors have significantly refined their techniques over the subsequent 150 yearsether made patients throw up and was flammable enough to cause mid-surgery explosionsthere are still outstanding questions about how anesthesia works. How anesthetics slow the brain Thats not to say there hasnt been progress. Doctors now deliver safer anesthetics in more controlled ways, and there have been huge strides made in our understanding of how these drugs work at a molecular level. Historically, it was thought these were very non-specific compounds, says Nick Franks, a professor of biophysics and anesthetics at Imperial College London. Now, he adds, researchers have identified the specific brain molecules that anesthesia tweaks to alter our consciousness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Low doses of most anesthetics, says Franks, work by affecting our brain cells receptors. These receptors are like ports that shuttle molecules into and out of these cells. Several anesthetics, including propofol, thiopental, and isoflurane, increase molecular traffic through a specific port known as the GABA receptor. This receptor normally gives passage to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an important molecule that inhibits brain activity. By increasing activity at the GABA receptor, anesthetics further slow the brain. Franks, alongside his colleague Bill Wisden, is especially interested in the anesthetic dexmedetomidine, usually known as Dex. This drug blocks signaling through receptors in the brainstem for the molecule norepinephrine, which excites our brain. As the brainstem is crucial for maintaining consciousness, blocking these receptors sedates patients. Whats the difference between sleep and anesthesia? Where our certainty about anesthesia breaks down is in linking molecular changes to specific neural pathways, or in understanding the subjective experiences of a sleep-like state. Research is further complicated by the range of different effects brought on by anesthetics. Dex, for example, produces a state like non-REM sleep, says Wisden. Patients can be briefly rousedfor example, to ask them to roll over or change a dressingbefore falling unconscious again. When you look at the electrical waves that happen in sleep and when you get given this particular sedative, they look very similar, Wisden adds. Other anesthetics, like propofol, have different effects. At higher doses, propofol essentially stops all brain activity, except that required for basic survival. Related Sleep Stories Why do some people need less sleep? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can tracking make my sleep worse? The quiet torment of sleep tech. Why is deep sleep so important to memory? Its about time. For better sleep, borrow the bedtime routine of a toddler Why do people need to sleep? Sleep-mimicking anesthetics, like Dex, dont produce a perfect imitation. Physiological changes that occur when we sleep, such as fluctuations in body temperature and heart rate, also occur under Dex, but more stronglywhich is why medical professionals must administer the drug in a hospital setting. If natural sleep is attained by carefully dialing down our consciousness across several different parameters, anesthesia involves a more aggressive turn of these dials. Why we need better anesthetics General anesthesia is now very safe, with deaths linked to anesthesia occurring less than one in every 100,000 uses. However, anesthesia can still be improvedcomplications related to anesthesia-induced body temperature changes remain a concern. If we can better understand anesthesia and create drugs that mimic natural rest more effectively, there could be huge benefits for patients. After a good nights sleep, you feel better, says Franks. You generally do not feel like that after an anesthetic, although its confounded by whatever procedure or surgery you may have had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although they arent interested in drug development, Franks and Wisden say Dex would be the ideal drug for exploring how to make an anesthetic that helps you feel rested, as it most closely mimics natural sleep. Some studies have even suggested the drug improves sleep quality in post-operative patients. Even if how Dex works on a molecular level is clear, what it does when it affects all the receptors in our brainand even where those receptors areremains a mystery. As our tools for mapping the brain and its activity continue to improve, we will come closer to developing anesthetics that feel more akin to a good nights rest. This story is part of Popular Sciences Ask Us Anything series, where we answer your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall. Have something youve always wanted to know? Ask us. It has been said that, in politics, every accusation is a confession. If you dont want someone to focus on your own wrongdoings, just make up an allegation about someone else. Which brings us to Floridas DOGE theater and crosswalk crackdown. As youve probably seen, Gov. Ron DeSantis and his DOGE team are traveling the state, hurling accusations at one local government after another, accusing them of hiding records about how theyre spending tax dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet at the same time, this same administration is refusing to release records about how many tax dollars theyre spending on their crusade against colorful crosswalks. And its not just the spending totals theyre hiding. The state also hasnt released records that would show whether all these middle-of-the-night, cover-up contracts were competitively bid, why certain crosswalks were targeted while others went untouched by state contractors and whether the state destroyed records about all this. Thats an awful lot of secret-keeping for people who claim theyre committed to transparency. Lets be clear: The Orlando Sentinel will get this public information, even if we have to sue to get it. Weve done so before and won with ease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See, when you spend the publics money, use the publics resources or craft public policy, Florida law says you have to disclose every document that explains how all that was done. Its not complicated. Yet the DeSantis administration has repeatedly hidden records or slow-walked their reveal. Two years ago, the state had to pay $152,500 to cover the legal costs of Democratic lawmakers and open-government advocates who sued the DeSantis administration for access to COVID-19 data that was clearly public. Two years before that, the Orlando Sentinel won a similar fight over public health data where the state coughed up $7,500 to cover our legal expenses. DeSantis keeps losing these battles for the simple reason that hes wrong, legally and morally. Above-board public officials dont hide public information from the citizens theyre supposed to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case of the crosswalks, the Orlando Sentinel began requesting public records 10 days ago after we learned that DeSantis Department of Transportation had dispatched a crew in the middle of the night to erase a colorful tribute to the 49 people slaughtered at the Pulse nightclub. There was a lot about this dark-of-night operation that didnt make sense in terms of safety or finances. Not only had DeSantis own DOT previously approved of Orlandos rainbow-colored crosswalk, it had actually encouraged local communities to install similarly colorful crosswalks, saying the designs were safer for pedestrians. Multiple studies said the same thing. In 2021, DeSantis DOT specifically cited improved school safety when giving the city of Tampa an award for a creatively colorful crosswalk there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet after DeSantis turned his attacks on all things LGBTQ to a tribute to victims of a mass murder, DeSantis calls those same crosswalks safety hazards, and the same DOT that used to literally bestow colorful crosswalks with safety accolades says they should be erased. Well, we wanted to know how much this war on rainbows is costing taxpayers and why certain crosswalks were targeted first. So the Sentinel requested: Copies of work orders related to Pulse crosswalk removal Copies of emails or texts related to how the Pulse crosswalk was specifically targeted Documents that reveal whether any of the crosswalk-erasure contracts were competitively bid. (No-bid contracts for political cronies have been a theme with this administration, everywhere from Alligator Alcatraz to the DeSantis-controlled Disney governmental district. And the state claims it spent more than $1,500 just to remove sidewalk chalk in one instance at the Pulse crosswalk.) I also asked for copies of any social media posts the DOT has recently deleted or removed from public view. I did so after seeing a report on Orlandos Bungalower website that said DOT had previously touted decorative elements at another Orlando crosswalk in a July Facebook post that now appears to have been deleted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve so far received none of that information most of which should have been easily accessible and readily turned over within 24 hours. Whether thats because of intentional obfuscation or unintentional incompetence is irrelevant. The law must be followed. Yet the silence in response to record requests about spending looks particularly hypocritical while DeSantis and his DOGE puppets are traveling the state, screaming about the importance of releasing such info. The DOGE hysteria is obviously political theater. If CFO Blaise Ingoglia really wanted to track down public money, hed start with the money misappropriated right under his nose in Tallahassee connected to the DeSantises now-infamous Hope Florida charity. Even GOP legislators have said they suspect crimes likely took place. Or Ingoglia and DeSantis would be grilling GOP-controlled local governments that are raising taxes (like Seminole County) more than Democratic cities and counties that have held the line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its clear that Floridas DOGE dysfunction is just an excuse to attack and attempt to deflect. And it will probably work with some people the same kind of simpletons who are OK being told that colorful crosswalks are safer one day and more dangerous the next. But none of those sideshow antics will distract us from getting the public records that tell the full story. Because you deserve to know how your tax dollars are being spent. You deserve to know how decisions are being made. And you deserve to know if any records are being deleted. 2025 Orlando Sentinel Sept. 3 (UPI) -- The Justice Department is suing Illinois over state laws that grant in-state tuition benefits and financial assistance to migrants, accusing the Prairie State of discriminating against Americans. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, is the latest from the Trump administration targeting laws aiding migrants in receiving tuition benefits, and comes as President Donald Trump's feud with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker continues to deepen. "Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This Department of Justice has already filed multiple lawsuits to prevent U.S. students from being treated like second-class citizens -- Illinois now joins the list of states where we are relentlessly fighting to vindicate federal law." According to the lawsuit, Illinois laws discriminate against out-of-state Americans who are not eligible for the tuition benefits being offered to some undocumented students in the state. The lawsuit targets two Illinois laws: the Illinois Public Act of 2003, which permits certain undocumented students with residency for purposes of receiving in-state tuition benefits; the Illinois DREAM Act of 2011, which provides scholarships, college saving plans and prepaid tuition programs to undocumented students, paid through private donations. Federal prosecutors allege that they violate a federal law, enacted as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, that states an undocumented person in the United States "shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a state ... for any postsecondary education benefit" unless a U.S. citizen is also eligible for the benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This court should put an end to this discrimination against Americans that is a blatant and ongoing violation of federal law," the prosecutors said in the lawsuit. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has led a renewed crackdown on immigration, seeking to conduct mass deportations and limiting the protections of migrants already in the country. This is the fifth lawsuit since June challenging state laws offering in-state tuition or tuition benefits to migrants that are unavailable to out-of-state Americans. The lawsuits follow President Donald Trump signing several immigration-related executive orders including "Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens," which directed the attorney general to identify laws "favoring aliens over any groups of American citizens," including "State laws that provide in-State higher education tuition to aliens but not to out-of-State American citizens." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early last month, the Justice Department sued Oklahoma for providing eligible undocumented migrants with in-state tuition benefits, with similar suits filed against Kentucky and Minnesota. In June, prosecutors filed a suit in Texas, with the Republican-led state siding with the federal government, and the two reached an agreement to halt the Lone Star State's law on giving undocumented migrants in-state tuition benefits. The lawsuit was also announced on the same day that the Republican president vowed to send National Guard troops to Chicago in a crime crackdown, as he had done to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Pritzker, a Democrat and a staunch Trump critic, responded by saying there is no emergency warranting the deployment of troops in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These efforts are not about fighting crime or making communities safer," Pritzker said in a statement. "This is about Donald Trump testing his power and producing political drama to cover up his own corruption." Police arrested a man outside a 7-Eleven after a bystander saw a woman with him signaling for help. He dropped his items and ran from officers, who caught him quickly, police said. (Alhambra Police Department) A simple yet powerful hand signal popularized on TikTok helped a woman escape a domestic violence incident at a 7-Eleven in Alhambra, police said. A bystander called 911 after witnessing a woman in the store give the "signal for help" behind her back, a gesture that involves tucking your thumb into your palm and trapping it with four fingers on top. Alhambra police officers quickly responded to the call and found the woman and the suspect inside the 7-Eleven at 2150 S. Fremont Ave. on Aug. 19. An image from a police body camera shows a man suspected in a domestic violence incident and the woman who signaled for help in a 7-Eleven. (Alhambra Police Department) The suspect, identified as John Palombi of Glendora, attempted to flee after officers asked to speak to him outside the store. Recently released body camera video shows Palombi, 38, ditching two plastic bags and a Big Bite hot dog box before running away from the officers, who catch him within seconds and load him into a police car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was later determined that a domestic violence incident had occurred and that Palombi had an active warrant for his arrest as well as a stun gun in his possession, police said. He was booked at the Alhambra city jail, and is currently being held without bail at the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department's inmate information center. He is due in court on Sept. 11, but so far no new charges have been filed against him, according to the L.A. County district attorney's office. In May 2022, Palombi was convicted of a felony charge of possession of a firearm by a narcotics addict, according to court records. Then, in April 2023, he was convicted of a felony charge of evading a police officer with a willful disregard for the safety of people or property, court records show. He was arrested three times last year on suspicion of violating the terms of his parole. The signal for help was created in April 2020 by the Canadian Women's Foundation to help combat the spike in domestic violence during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Home isolation can increase the risk of violence. If this is the case for you, use this signal on a video call to ask for help. If someone gives you this signal, visit https://t.co/5fr6MRuKh2 to learn how to check in safely and find support resources. #SignalForHelp #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/IceauYbXCx Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) April 14, 2020 The organization designed the signal to be a widely recognized but discreet way for a survivor to reach out for help over video or in person. The signal went viral on social media and has been credited with helping rescue women from gender-based violence in countries including Spain, Syria, Italy and the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A missing 16-year-old girl was rescued in 2021 after using the hand signal from inside a car in Kentucky. A man in Tennessee was charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated domestic assault in 2022 after his ex-girlfriend used the hand signal to tip off gas station staff that she needed help. 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. A domestic violence suspect in California was arrested after a woman displayed hand signals behind her back asking for help, according to the Alhambra Police Department. In a press release on Sunday, police said they responded to a call at a 7-Eleven in Alhambra, California, "regarding suspicious circumstances." Jail records indicate the incident occurred on Aug. 19. After further investigation, officials determined that "domestic violence had occurred" as the female victim was "asking for help using hand signals behind her back," police said. Alhmabra Police Department - PHOTO: John Palombi, a domestic violence suspect, was arrested after a woman displayed hand signals behind her back asking for help, according to the Alhmabra Police Department. Officials said someone inside the 7-Eleven "recognized what she was doing" and called police to respond to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it is unclear what hand gestures the woman used to seek help, the Women's Funding Network -- the largest philanthropic alliance in the world "dedicated to gender justice funders" -- said a common nonverbal sign to communicate help is for someone to place their thumb to their open palm and then "trap" their thumb with the rest of their fingers. MORE: Why domestic violence survivors may not be able to 'just leave' abusive relationships An officer's body camera shows police speaking to the couple and then gesturing to talk to the male suspect outside the 7-Eleven. Then, when the suspect -- identified as Glendora, California, resident John Palombi -- was asked to stand up for a pat down, he "attempted to flee but didn't even make it out of the parking lot." Alhmabra Police Department - PHOTO: John Palombi, a domestic violence suspect, was arrested after a woman displayed hand signals behind her back asking for help, according to the Alhmabra Police Department. Palombi, 38, was then arrested and booked at the Alhambra Police Department Jail, officials said. Police said they also discovered that Palombi had an "active warrant and a stun gun on his person." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is now being held at the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles, according to jail records. Palombi's next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 11. It is unclear whether Palombi has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. The Alhambra Police Department did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Wednesday that her city is ready to move past President Donald Trumps turbulent federal incursion, with the administrations 30-day emergency set to expire next week. Trump launched a federal takeover of law enforcement in the nations capital in August, including deploying federal agents, sending in the National Guard and directing the D.C. police department to assist. A vast majority of the citys residents oppose the takeover, even as the president claims the nations capital is NOW A CRIME FREE ZONE. I want the message to be clear to the Congress, we have a framework to request or use federal resources in our city, Bowser told reporters at a press conference Wednesday. We don't need a presidential emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government has unique and broad powers in the nations capital that it doesnt in other cities. But the Home Rule Act, the 1970s law that gave the city limited self-governance, only allows the president to commandeer city police for 30 days without congressional approval. The mayors Tuesday executive order empowers Washingtons new Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center to "ensure coordination with federal law enforcement to the maximum extent allowable by law within the District. But as she faces criticism from many city residents and relative praise from the White House for working with the federal government throughout its surge Bowser says her executive order is the citys only way out of an unprecedented period of federal control. Let me tell you, without equivocation, that the mayor's order does not extend the Trump emergency, Bowser told reporters at a Wednesday press conference. In fact, it does the exact opposite. What it does is lays out a framework for how we will exit the emergency. The emergency ends on September 10. Trump sang Bowsers praises in a Monday Truth Social post, celebrating her hard work, courage, and being SMART. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wow! Mayor Muriel Bowser of D.C. has become very popular because she worked with me and my great people in bringing CRIME down to virtually NOTHING in D.C., Trump wrote, before panning Democratic Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois and Wes Moore of Maryland for resisting his plans to deploy the National Guard to U.S. cities in an effort to combat street crime. But Bowser told reporters Wednesday that, like many of the districts residents, she too was outraged over the intrusion on our federal autonomy and indicated elements of the citys coordination with federal authorities including on immigration enforcement are in place due to mandates from the Home Rule charter that governs the partnership. Keeping Washingtons autonomy, she said at the press conference, remains her north star. We have a big footprint. We get a lot of important things done, Bowser said. And so people don't realize our vulnerability because we have excelled despite it. It is a reminder to everyone that to make our democracy more perfect, the citizens of D.C. have to be fully represented. President Donald Trump late Tuesday published an ominous social media post that was directed at the strongmen leaders of Russia, China and North Korea who he has all previously lavished praise upon. Trump appeared to accuse the authoritarian trio of plotting against the United States as Chinas Xi Jingping, Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-Un buddied up in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of Japans surrender in World War II. Related: Trump Boasts About Threat To Bomb The S**t Out Of Moscow In Leaked Audio Trump, amid commentary that China may be seeking to wipe from history Americas role in helping to end the brutal conflict, fumed on his Truth Social platform: The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and blood that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! he continued. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then Trump darkly concluded: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. The post came hours after Trump said he was very disappointed in Putin after their face-to-face talks in Alaska last month did nothing to end Russias invasion of Ukraine, which Putin launched in 2022. Read the full post here: Truth Social Related... Read the original on HuffPost VIENNA, Ohio (WKBN) After Vienna Fire Department lost all its full and part-time staff to the townships fiscal emergency, a donation has allowed them to begin hiring even sooner. The Cafaro Foundation donated $250,000 to help Vienna Township with its first responders, allowing the fire department to pay its personnel once again. Currently, the department has 11 part-time staff, plus other volunteers. We were going to have to wait until next year when the new tax dollars start coming in, said fire Chief Gus Birch. But with their donation, their generosity, we were able to start it as of noon yesterday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the money, Chief Birch hopes to hire enough part-time staff so he can have two people in the station 24/7. The fiscal emergency was a blow to the department. Chief Birch came out of retirement to help rebuild. A levy that passed in May will generate $480,000 a year for the department, but the donation kick-started the program again. When all of this stuff started, you know, they pretty much destroyed the fire department. They laid off all the full time people. They quit scheduling to part time people, Birch said. To see it destroyed the way that it was, it was just devastating to me. Chief Birch says the 24/7 staffing goal wont happen right away its difficult to find staff. But theyre on track to serve the community faster and make Vienna a little safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody should sleep easier knowing that, you know, were only three or four minutes away, he said. The Vienna Fire Department is still hiring part-time staff. To apply, you can visit the station or head to Vienna Townships 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 WKBN.com. CAIRO (AP) Search teams recovered around 100 bodies from a remote village that is feared to have been wiped out by a devastating landslide over the weekend in Sudan's western region of Darfur, a rebel group said Wednesday. Mohamed Abdel-Rahman al-Nair, a spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, told The Associated Press the recovery operation took place Tuesday and that search efforts were underway despite a lack of resources and equipment. He also said the death toll from the Aug. 31 landslide in Tarasin, in the Marrah Mountains, could be as high as 1,000. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, said that the death toll and the full scale of the tragedy have yet to be confirmed as the area hit was extremely hard to reach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. has said that between 300-1,000 people may have lost their lives in the landslide and that efforts were mobilized to support the impacted area, located more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) west of the capital, Khartoum. Pope Leo XIV spoke of the tragedy during his weekly address on Wednesday, saying it has left behind pain and despair. He called for a coordinated response to stop this humanitarian catastrophe, and initiate a serious, sincere, and inclusive dialogue between the parties to end the conflict and restore hope, dignity, and peace to the people of Sudan. Arjimand Hussain, Regional Response Manager with Plan International, one of the few NGOs operating in Darfur, said the group, along with the U.N., plans to send teams to Tarasin in the coming days, but deployment is difficult with the heavy rains making roads inaccessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole humanitarian community is feeling helpless at the moment, he said. The Marrah Mountains region is a volcanic area with a height of more than 3,000 meters (9,840 feet) at its summit. The mountain chain is a world heritage site and is known for its lower temperature and higher rainfall than its surroundings, according to UNICEF. A small-scale landslide hit the area in 2018, killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens others, according to the now-disbanded United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur. Sundays tragedy was the latest to slam Sudan amid its devastating civil war. The country has been hit by famine and disease outbreaks, including cholera, which killed hundreds of people this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The war began in April 2023 when boiling tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into open fighting in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country. The conflict killed tens of thousands of people and created the worlds largest humanitarian crisis. More than 14 million people have been displaced and parts of the country have slipped into famine. The war has been marked by atrocities, including mass killings and rape, which the International Criminal Court is investigating as war crimes and crimes against humanity. ___ Associated Press writers Trisha Thomas in Rome and Ahmed Hatem in Cairo contributed to this report. (Photo by Getty Images) Three weeks after Northern Light Health announced it is cutting ties with health insurance provider Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, 75 Democratic and independent lawmakers are urging both parties to reach an agreement in order to protect coverage for tens of thousands of Mainers enrolled in the network. Northern Light announced in a letter on August 15 that it would no longer work with the insurance provider after months of failed negotiations on a new contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dispute arose over costs, with Anthem alleging that Northern Light wants to drastically increase the prices it charges to its patients and their employers. Anthems parent company Elevance reported nearly $6 billion in profits in 2024. Northern Light, which operates a network of hospitals and medical centers across the state, said Anthem has delayed provider reimbursements and imposed a disproportionate administrative burden on our health system, diverting critical resources away from patient care. This comes, they note, during a period of considerable financial pressure on rural health systems across the country. On August 22, Anthem suggested bringing in a mediator, to which Northern Light agreed, according to an update posted by the insurance provider. However, if no contract is secured by October 1, Northern Light will consider patients who use Anthem out of network for physicians and some other services such as dialysis, hospice and urgent care, and effective December 31, that will extend to hospital-based services, according to Northern Light Healths public statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Democratic and independent members of the Maine Legislature wrote a joint letter to the presidents of both organizations, urging them to reach a new contract through mediation. Roughly 30,000 Maine people covered by Anthem health insurance plans would lose their in-network coverage at Northern Light facilities, states the letter co-signed by Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford). The failure to reach an agreement would have a significant and immediate negative impact across the state, they said. In many instances, Northern Light is the only health care provider for Maine communities. Lack of an agreement will limit options and put healthcare access at risk, Fecteau and Daughtry wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maine people could be forced to skip trips to the doctor or drive hours across the state for life-saving treatment. They may also find themselves having to pay more out of pocket for services no longer covered by their insurance. Patients in rural areas told the Bangor Daily News that they might have to travel farther and switch physicians if a new contract with Anthem is not finalized. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BUTLER TWP., SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) State police report a driver died in a crash after his vehicle hit the tire of a truck, causing him to roll over. According to Pennsylvania State Police, on September 2, around 2:00 p.m., a crash occurred between an SUV and a truck on Interstate 81 north in Butler Township, Schuylkill County. Driver charged after deadly W-B Twp. crash Police say the crash happened when the SUV hit the back tire of the truck. The impact caused the SUV to roll over an unknown number of times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver, Esau Foster, 81, of Kingston, was extricated from the SUV and flown to Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital. Troopers reported that Foster died from his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Three people in Spartanburg County are accused of using books to smuggle drugs into South Carolina prisons, according to documents from the South Carolina Department of Corrections. One of those charged, Shataysha Lewis, is a former corrections officer. Investigators said drug-laced books were sent to 14 different prisons and reached at least 20 inmates. All of the parcels were dropped off at the Woodruff Post Office and mailed to prisons across the state, between March and June 2025. Book scheme release and arrest warrants Aug 29 2025Download Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities identified the suspects as Lewis, Devin Kershaw, a former inmate at the Spartanburg County Detention Center who was released in 2022, and Coure Terry. U.S. Postal Inspector, Breslin Steverson, said the tactic is not unusual. Its a tactic. You know, prisoners mail, is usually screened before it goes in. So anything that a criminal could do to try to sneak it in, books [have] a lot of pages. So I think they feel like theres the higher chance of getting in instead of just, like, a letter, Steverson said. Documents show agents confiscated 666 sheets of paper soaked in K2 and 241 Suboxone strips from the seized packages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like if you just flip through the book really quickly, you might not see it, you know? But if you go page by page, you will find that. So just, you know, playing the odds, Steverson said. He added that postal workers do not check packages once they are mailed. The post office doesnt check mail or books or mailings, once you bring a package to the post office. We dont open it, Steverson said. People have Fourth Amendment rights. So we have to get a search warrant if were going to open any parcel that is done within the prisons. Once the mail goes in, then they have the authority to open and search that mail. Still, Steverson said the case raised concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As far as checking, its going to raise more red flags. Were going to be more diligent as far as mail goes in, he said. The U.S. Postal Service said the investigation remains ongoing. In a statement, the SCDC Director said the following: We fight daily schemes from criminals trying to bring contraband into our prisons, and I will not tolerate it. These drugs are poisoning our inmates and are a danger to our staff. I am thankful we are holding these people accountable for the harmful situations they create. Kershaw is facing multiple charges, including furnishing contraband to a prisoner and criminal conspiracy. Lewis and Terry are charged with intent to distribute, among other 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 WSPA 7NEWS. DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Data centers have been getting lots of attention in NEPA lately, and now state legislators are joining the conversation to find out how the potential developments may impact their constituents. A meeting at a local university on Tuesday hoped to inform the local community and lawmakers on all aspects of the growing industry. The meeting gave nearly a dozen state lawmakers a chance to question the experts on energy regulation, energy usage, and economic development, and how data centers could impact each facet of everyday life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data center development meetings have become a regular thing in NEPA but Tuesdays roundtable at Marywood University was different. State legislators are taking a proactive approach to address the publics concerns. Our responsibility is to hear from experts, gather facts, and examine both the opportunities and the risks before decisions are made, Senator Marty Flynn stated. The meeting, hosted by Senators Marty Flynn and Nick Miller, was held to provide both lawmakers and the public with information about the rapidly growing but still adolescent industry. Mayor Paige Cognetti announces campaign for Congress in Pennsylvanias 8th District Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some experts touted the potential economic benefits of the budding business while also considering the views of those affected. Not just are we talking about the idea of data centers, looking at the benefits in the form of jobs, private investment, long-term return on the tax base, we also have to respect the views of our citizens as we go through this process, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Durkin explained. While others focused more on the regulations. Even with our significant infrastructure investments, the increased demand for electricity at our current forecasts will require the need to site new transmission lines and, in some cases, will also require the construction of additional substations, PPL Electric Utilities Senior Director of Government, Regulatory Policy, and External Affairs Shelby Linton-Keddie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there are still many questions about how the potential development could change the landscape here in NEPA, both literally and figuratively, lawmakers say they are keeping the needs of their constituents a top priority. Whatever direction we take, it must align with Pennsylvanias long-term goals. Economic, environmental, and community alike, Senator Flynn added. Its important to note that no decisions were made at this meeting; it served only as an information session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News. TAZEWELL, Va. Early voting will start soon in Virginias closely watched gubernatorial race. But area voters will be casting a ballot for more than just governor. A contested House of Delegates race will also be decided, along with local Board of Supervisors, school board and town council races in Tazewell County. Early, in-person voting, begins Friday, September 19, at the voter registration office in North Tazewell, according to Tazewell County Registrar Brian Earls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting by mail also begins on that day. Anyone who has requested a ballot by mail we have to have out by that day, Earls said. Thats our deadline for military and overseas. You can still request absentee by mail all the way up to Oct. 24. Earls said the hours for early voting in Tazewell County will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The voter registration office in North Tazewell will also be open for early voting on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which is also the last day to cast a ballot. Election Day is Nov. 4. {p class=p2}The last day to register to vote, or to update your voter registration status, is Oct. 24, according to Earls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the top of the ticket will be the closely watched governors race between Democrat Abigail D. Spanberg and Republican and current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. In Virginia, a governor can only serve one term, so current Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin cant seek re-election. Also on the ballot is the 43rd District House of Delegates race where incumbent Republican Delegate James W. Will Morefield of Tazewell is being challenged by Democrat Mary E. Sumner of Clintwood. The 43rd Delegate District includes the counties of Tazewell, Buchanan and Bland and parts of Dickenson and Russell. Earls said voters in the Western and Southern Districts of Tazewell County also will elect Board of Supervisors and school board members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Southern District Board of Supervisors contest, independent John B. Rhudy is running unopposed for election. Republican Aaron Gillespie, the incumbent Southern District supervisor, isnt seeking re-election to that position. Also in the Southern District, incumbent school board member B. Irene Mullins is running unopposed for re-election. In the Western District Board of Supervisors race, Republican Curt W. Breeding is running unopposed for that seat. Andy Hrovatic, the incumbent Republican in the Western District, isnt seeking re-election. In the Western District School Board contest, Brannon C. Breeding is running unopposed for that seat. Chris Moir, the incumbent Western District School Board member, isnt seeking re-election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earls said the towns of Pocahontas and Tazewell also are holding special elections for members of town council. In the town of Pocahontas, two candidates Michele C. Crigger and A. Brad Belcher are vying for a single seat on the Pocahontas Town Council. The winner will serve an unexpired term that ends on Dec. 31, 2026. Suzanne Brinegar, a former council member, resigned, which created the vacancy in Pocahontas. In the town of Tazewell, Glen A. Keen Jr. is running unopposed for a single seat on the Tazewell Town Council. The winner will serve an unexpired term that ends on Dec. 31, 2026. Emily Combs Davis, a former member of the town council, resigned creating the vacancy in Tazewell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it is the governors race that will bring most candidates out to the polls. Four years ago, Tazewell County saw a 50 percent voter turnout when Youngkin was elected governor. There is always a lot of attention in Virginias governors race, Earls said. This is the second highest turnout in our four-year cycle behind president. Four years ago we had like a 50 percent voter turn-out. Most polls to date in Virginia have shown Spanberg, a former Democratic congresswoman, ahead of Earle-Sears in the gubernatorial race. But newer polls in recent days have shown the race is tightening with Spanberg leading by smaller margins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats have argued that the gubernatorial race is a referendum on President Donald Trump. They are hoping victories in Virginia this November will give the party momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., say a strong voter turnout across deeply red Southwest Virginia will be needed in order for Earle-Sears to win. In an earlier interview with the Daily Telegraph, Griffith said voters across Southwest Virginia came out in droves four years ago to elect Youngkin. He said a similar voter turnout will be needed on Nov. 4 for a Earle-Sears victory. Regardless of who wins, Virginia will elect its first ever female governor on Nov. 4. In another high-profile races, incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares is being challenged by Democrat Jay C. Jones. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com Sep. 2This school year will be the last for East Valley Superintendent Brian Talbott, who will depart from the school district at the end of June. Talbott announced in August that he intends to leave at the end of the school year, planning to pivot his 33-year career in public education to work in an education-adjacent position in the private sector. Talbott has worked five years at the helm of East Valley, and he said the decision did not come lightly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Initially, it was a hard 'No,'" Talbott said. "This is what I know, and this is what I love. I really just started to think about the amount of time that my family sacrifices and have an opportunity to continue with the work that I love, which is around education in a different way that allows me to be home more and to help with our aging parents, and just all the things that this chapter of life brings." He'll ride out this school year; his last day of work is June 30, 2026. Talbott declined to share specifics about his prospective next job, still waiting to confirm his new role. "To be able to work with school districts, superintendents, school boards and administrators while things are tough, is something that I want to be able to do and help out," he said of his future position. In the meantime, the East Valley School Board will undertake the search for a new leader in the district. Talbott will continue his work around the district's priorities, including an information campaign surrounding the district's $220 million bond on February ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was emphatic that the timing of his departure and his announcement have no correlation to the district's bond initiative. Talbott and his wife have no intention of leaving their residence in the school district. "This is our home, and the only thing that it alters is that I'm no longer part of the process, but very much paying the same taxes, and I don't like taxes any more than the next person," he said. "However, I look forward to being able to pay into and provide our students and our staff and our community the schools that they deserve." Talbott has spent over three decades in public education, much like his, father Brian Talbott Sr., who led the Northeast Washington Educational Service District 101. A Spokane native, Talbott graduated from Ferris High School and started his career in the White Pass School District, sandwiched between the peaks of Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. After advancing from history and English teacher to principal to superintendent in White Pass, he led the Nine Mile Falls School District for around 14 years. Talbott eventually settled in East Valley after assuming his current role, from which he always imagined retiring. "I struggled with it," he said of his decision to depart. "This wouldn't surprise many folks, but tears of just trying to navigate the question, and I finally was able to get to a point where I can give myself permission to take care of my family and to focus on that." Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A new fundraiser was launched to raise money for new marching band uniforms for high schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. The pricetag for new uniforms ranges from $35,000 to $45,000, school officials said. The Band Together EBR campaign aims to get uniforms for band programs that have decades-old uniforms or no uniforms. Band Together EBR is about opening doors, Superintendent LaMont Cole said. Our band programs give students the chance to perform in parades and competitions not just in Baton Rouge but across the state and the nation. With proper uniforms, our students can proudly represent our schools and community on every stage they step onto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amanda Martin, the CEO of Studyville, a tutoring service based in Baton Rouge, donated $25,000 to the campaign. Nothing brings a community together like Friday night lights, and our high school bands are at the heart of that spirit, Martin said. Too many of our high school bands cannot march in parades simply because they dont have uniforms. Battle of the Bands: Vote for your favorite high school band >> How to donate People in the Baton Rouge community can donate to the Band Together EBR campaign online. Click here to donate. 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. EDENTON, N.C. (WAVY) The Confederate monument that has stood for more than 116 years in the waterfront town is on the move for the second time. Late Saturday night, contractors dismantled the monument from its more-than-60-year home at the end of South Broad Street and sent it to storage, ahead of planned reinstatement at the Veterans Memorial Park, according to Edenton Mayor W. Hackney High. The town had been planning for the relocation for more than three years, however, it was the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the move that lead the town to act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to the community, High called for a spirit of unity and mutual respect in the wake of the decision he characterized as a true compromise. The monument will no longer be in a prominent location and it wont be destroyed. Since 1961, Edentons Confederate monument stood at the end of South Broad Street. (WAVY photo/Rob Rizzo) This issue has been deeply emotional and challenging for the town council and many of our citizens, High wrote. The volume and intensity of social media commentary underscore how strongly people feel on both sides. The effort to relocate the monument came about like many did in the South. Nearly every municipality in the WAVY-TV viewing area had a Confederate monument. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, hundreds were erected during the height of the Lost Cause movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edentons 26-foot tall memorial was originally unveiled in 1909 and faced the old Chowan County Courthouse on the corner of Court Street and King Street. In 1961, it was moved to its location at the end of Broad Street, the communitys main business district. In both cases, the Confederate soldier faced north, as was the case for most Confederate monuments. Memorials to the Confederacy were intended, in part, to obscure the terrorism required to overthrow Reconstruction, and to intimidate African Americans politically and isolate them from the mainstream of public life, the American Historical Association said in a 2017 statement. Excerpt of complaint in Rev. Dr. John Shannon vs. Town of Edenton Following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of a Derek Chauvin, a white, now-former Minneapolis Police officer, a radical reconning occurred across the country. African Americans labeled the memorials to the Confederate dead as symbols of oppression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six monuments were moved by 2021 in Hampton Roads alone after Virginia law changed, allowing for their relocation. Sons of Confederate Veterans praises Norfolks handling of monument relocation In North Carolina, laws prohibiting their relocation remain in place, however. Edentons Town Council voted in February 2022 to move forward with the relocation to Veterans Memorial Park, located three blocks from the current location. To those who claim we are erasing history, that is a misinformed view, High said. The monument is not being removed it is being relocated. In doing so, we are not erasing history. We are preserving and protecting it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Sep. 2Last week, on Aug. 27, First United Methodist Church in Austin held a very important fundraiser, because the money raised goes to help in establishing a central location that could help people in need. The fundraiser was for the proposed Austin Community Warming Center, a place where the homeless will be able to go to get out of the harsh Minnesota winters. Targeted for the old Knights of Columbus building behind the Post Office, the center could be another step in meeting a growing challenge. Organizers have targeted a Nov. 1 opening date for the center, with plans to extend it through March 31, though those behind the center have recognized that Nov. 1 is a challenge. Regardless of whether it opens Nov. 1 or Nov. 30, this effort represents a cohesive coming together of people committed to finding some sort of answer to the growing challenge of homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First off, however, we believe that to call the challenge of homelessness a problem is misunderstanding the challenge itself. It's an umbrella that can't be extended because of the broad complexities and mechanisms behind the circumstances that a person may well find themselves without a home. We instinctively believe that homelessness involves living without a home and finding shelter whenever and wherever possible, and while that certainly is a part of it, it goes beyond that. Simply put, being homeless is lacking a fixed, regular or adequate nighttime residency. That can include street living as well as car living, couch hopping, temporary housing and inhabitable living areas. This is the challenge. Homelessness is far reaching and while numbers do show a rising amount of those meeting that definition of homelessness, they don't show everything. Last year, 98 individuals in Mower County were certified as homeless while this year alone, 43 have been certified. However, Shelly Hovland, SEMCAC outreach case manager said that this most recent number, which will likely surpass last year's number, doesn't include all who meet those homeless definitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again, that's why it's a challenge, because like food insecurity, homelessness expands far beyond what is obvious and therefore, it shouldn't be too terribly surprising that often the two areas are intertwined. Organizers behind the warming center have said they are heartened by the response so far by people and groups in the community, but with as long as this road is, they will need more support. This is an effort worth championing. Everybody deserves the dignity of shelter. A place where they can go and sleep securely and this warming center would be an amazing first step, but it will need help to find solid ground. This center will not solve the challenge of homelessness and there are limitations. The center will not be able to take children by themselves and they will not be able to take families. But the promise is and would remain that the Austin Community Warming Center is a start in addressing homelessness in Austin and Mower County. Every good book has to start with the turning of the first page and if enough of us do our part, then perhaps we can expect a happy ending on the last page. If you would like to help email: paulonrabbit@yahoo.com or pastorv@austinfirst.org. "We are undergoing a crisis over the character of the state and democracy. It's unreasonable that precisely the topics related to this would be removed from the civics matriculation." The Education Ministry has denied the claim that it removed critical chapters on the principles of liberal democracy from the high school civics matriculation exam syllabus, as stated in a release on Tuesday. "No changes were made to the civics matriculation exams, and chapters on liberal democracy were not removed from the syllabus. TheMarker's claim that the ministry did so is in fact false, incorrect, misleading, and has no basis," the statement said. It also called on "the media not to echo fake news that undermines public trust in the education system." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current Israeli civics syllabus has remained unchanged since the COVID-19 pandemic, when certain chapters were removed to facilitate easier studying for both teachers and students, according to the ministry, and will remain as such until June 2026. TheMarker reported the incident in an article published at the end of August, where it heavily criticized the Education Ministry for removing these chapters. "Students will not be asked about topics related to principles of liberal democracy, socio-economic rights, the legal status of the Declaration of Independence, and the importance of the constitution in limiting government power," TheMarker wrote. The main demonstration against the judicial reform at Habima Square in Tel Aviv in the 36th week of protests on September 9, 2023. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV) The article continued by stating that the importance of a constitution as a balancing act to governmental power and the legal status of the Declaration of Independence were also removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In contrast," TheMarker noted, "study material on the law defining Israel as an ethnostate and chapters on nationalism are included in the syllabus." Expectations of the Education Ministry TheMarker also claimed that as Israel surges with political discourse, it has become common practice for education to shy away from teaching students ideas that may lead them to further inflame what is happening in the streets. The article cited the removal of topics such as the power of the High Court of Justice and the importance of protecting freedom of the press in previous years, among others. According to civics teachers who spoke with TheMarker, the topics removed from the syllabus can still be taught to students, but the change in content is a sign of what the Education Ministry's expectations are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are undergoing a crisis over the character of the state and democracy. It's unreasonable that precisely the topics related to this would be removed from the civics matriculation," said Prof. Yaniv Roznai, Associate Dean of the Law School at Reichman University, to TheMarker. TheMarker also quoted Prof. Dan Avnon, an expert in political thought and civic education who served as head of the Political Science Department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as saying that, "the attempt to remove the liberal-democratic components from civics studies or distort them harms students' ability to arrive with appropriate tools for future struggle against governmental injustices." "Education ministers think that if schools don't teach students about liberal democracy, then there won't be liberal democracy." Aquaculture has historically faced pushback from the fishing industry, which sees it as a threat. (Courtesy of the University of New Hampshire's Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems) Mike Coogan has been doing aquaculture, or fish farming, formally for over a decade. Informally through at-home hobby fish tanks and aquariums hes been doing it much longer. Now, hes joined a legislative effort to streamline the regulatory process for aquaculture to help create a U.S. industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coogan is a researcher at the University of New Hampshire, where he works on the schools AquaFort, a pilot project where researchers are growing steelhead trout in the mouth of the Piscataqua River near New Castle. Mike Coogan We have a tiny, tiny coastline, just 18 miles, he said of the Granite State. But we do a lot of interesting work, and have been sort of leaders in offshore aquaculture or open ocean aquaculture for the last 25 and change years. The fish farm uses a method called multitrophic aquaculture, which means they grow different species together, in small 20-by-20-foot underwater cages with 15-foot nets, Coogan said. They line the perimeter of the farm with sugar kelp and blue mussels to create a biological curtain to absorb nutrients and prevent disease. UNH is the only university growing fish in the ocean, he said. That fish farm and others like it are far from a large-scale industry though. Aquaculture produces only 7% of domestic seafood in the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Roughly 70% to 85% of seafood in the U.S. is imported, and its estimated half of that comes from aquaculture, per the NOAA. Aquaculture in the U.S. largely consists of catfish farms across the South. In New England, oysters and other shellfish are farmed. Coogan said the New Hampshire oyster farms are limited, with only a little over a dozen operating in Great Bay and Little Bay near Portsmouth and estuaries near Hampton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But we dont have a lot of marine fin-fish aquaculture, and we have no fin fish being grown in federal water, Coogan said, adding that federal water is any water three miles off the coastline. He said the reason for this limited industry is the complex regulatory landscape, and pointed to efforts from colleagues at the University of Southern Mississippi as an example. Theyve been trying to get a farm for 20 years, and theyre still waiting on it, he said. And thats sort of the story everywhere. Its just really challenging to even know what to do. There are so many regulatory bodies that are involved in that process. UNH researchers are growing steelhead trout in the mouth of the Piscataqua River near New Castle. (Courtesy of the University of New Hampshires Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems) Thats why Coogan joined the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture, which is currently making a push in Congress for the bipartisan MARA Act, which seeks to streamline the regulatory process and allow for a U.S. aquaculture industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coogan said the U.S. is the only developed coastal country in the world without a significant aquaculture industry. The MARA Act would do multiple things aimed at changing that. It would create demonstration farms to be studied for their impact on the ocean and most effective methods. It would establish the Office of Aquaculture within the NOAA and designate it as the regulatory agency for permitting these projects rather than a hodgepodge of disparate government agencies. And it would commission studies to evaluate how the industry is doing and its impact. In late June, Coogan and a group of fish farmers, fishermen, and seafood chefs traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the legislation. The bill has been introduced and is being considered by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Congress members returned to the Capitol this week after a six-week recess. The path to a responsible open ocean aquaculture industry in the U.S. must have its foundations in science, research, and community engagement, Maddie Voorhees, with the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture and the Environmental Defense Fund, said in a statement to the Bulletin. This bill is an important step toward harnessing scientific innovation and sound environmental practices to meet our seafood needs while protecting marine ecosystems. Proponents of aquaculture point to the state of the worlds oceans, which are being depleted through overfishing. This has caused serious consequences for both the environment and the fishing industry. Thats especially true in coastal New England. Coogan noted at one point the Northeast was the fishing capital of the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cape Cod is called Cape Cod for a reason, Coogan said. They said you used to be able to walk on the backs of cod, and there were cod the size of a grown man. There were also abundant haddock and tuna, among others. However, now its almost entirely lobster because ground fish natural predators of lobsters were overfished. Coogan sees aquaculture as a way to mitigate overfishing, both reducing damage to the ecosystem and allowing traditional fishing to be sustainable. He sees aquaculture not as a complete replacement to fishing, but a supplement. When I was introduced to aquaculture as a means to produce seafood, it seemed like a pretty straightforward concept, he said. Just an equation. If youre pulling less fish out of the ocean and producing more in a more controlled environment, then you can alleviate the stress of wild fisheries and have a lot more control on what youre producing locally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, aquaculture has historically faced pushback from the fishing industry, which sees it as a threat. In Alaska, for example, where fishing is a tentpole of the economy, fin fish farming is outlawed, with opponents of aquaculture saying the state needs to be able to market its industry as wild caught. Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy faced intense pushback from fishermen last month when he proposed lifting the ban, floating on social media, Why not do both (fishing and farming) instead of importing farmed salmon from Scotland? the Anchorage Daily News reported. Coogan, on the other hand, thinks support is growing for aquaculture. Weve been waiting for something like this to happen for quite a while, and its sort of happening in conjunction with a lot of other really good things for aquaculture, he said. So it seems like it is sort of a turning point. The MARA Act will need to be approved in committee before it can be considered by the full Senate. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Cattle in the Italian Dolomites. | Credit: Getty Images An 85-year-old hiker has died after being trampled by cows in the Austrian Alps. The unnamed man and his wife were charged at by an aggressive herd on Sunday, August 31, while they walked their dog in the Ramsau am Dachstein area of Austria's Styria province. Local police spokesman Markus Lamb told AFP: "A retired couple from Vienna and their dog were walking just below the so-called Austria hut when a herd of nine cows, including three calves, charged and severely injured them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearby hikers and refuge workers witnessed the attack, alerted emergency services, and administered first aid to the couple, who were taken to a hospital in Salzburg. The man died of his injuries before he could undergo surgery. Most cows can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40.2kmph) | Credit: Getty Images Cow safety Depending on where you're trekking, cows might not be high on your list of worries, but they might be a little more dangerous than you expect. Believe it or not, cows are the deadliest animals in the UK, killing upwards of 70 people in the past 15 years. They're equally dangerous across the Atlantic, accounting for roughly 22 deaths each year in the US. Cows are generally peaceful animals, but there are a few things to keep in mind when passing by them, so prepare in advance with some of our top safety tips Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reroute when necessary - Look around before you enter a cow field and take a different route if you see calves or a bull. Like most animals, cows are extremely protective of their young, and bulls, identified by their humped shoulders and muscular necks, are notoriously ill-tempered. Cows are also known to take a keen interest in pregnant women, so they're best avoided altogether if you're expecting. Alert the cows to your presence - Cows can become aggressive if surprised, so make plenty of noise when they're in your way. Walk quickly and avoid eye contact - Avoid antagonizing cows by passing them at speed and allowing them plenty of room. Keep dogs on a short lead - Excitable furry friends can wind up cattle, so keep yours on a short lead and keep it from barking if possible. Don't panic - Keep calm if cows move towards you. Continue walking at a steady pace towards your exit and give them a gentle shove if they come within touching distance. Don't run - If cows become aggressive, running will only spur them on. Instead, make yourself as big as possible, wave your arms, and yell the expletive of your choice to avoid getting trampled. For a detailed safety breakdown, check out our expert guide to cattle safety. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) UPDATE: 72-year-old Vernon Patton was identified as the victim of a Franklin County black bear attack. UAMS in Little Rock tells KNWA/FOX24 that he remains in critical condition. An elderly man was airlifted to a Fayetteville hospital after being attacked by a bear in the Mulberry Mountain area of Franklin County on Sept. 3. Vernon was working on a gravel road with his tractor near Mulberry Mountain Lodge Park when the black bear attacked, according to Keith Stephens with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). His son arrived to check on him and saw the bear actively attacking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two AGFC wardens responded to the scene and killed the animal, described by witnesses as a smaller bear. An AGFC large carnivore biologist is traveling to the site to collect the bear so a necropsy can be performed. Greenwood woman accused of running over husband The victim was immediately flown to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville for treatment, Stephens said. Vernon is now in what his family calls severe critical condition at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). This is the first reported bear attack in Arkansas in at least 25 years, according to the AGFC. As far as we can tell, there has never been a documented attack in Arkansas, at least in recent memory, Stephens said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephens said that if someone encounters a black bear, they should slowly back away without running. If the bear does not leave, as a last resort, make loud noises and appear larger by widening their stance. Stephens said it would 72 hours before the results of the necropsy would be released. This is a developing story. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. In closed-door conversations, senior Emirati officials have said that "the application of sovereignty would lead to a significant shift in the direction of relations between the two countries." Senior Emirati officials warned top Trump administration officials against Israeli moves to apply sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, a source familiar with the details of the discussions told The Jerusalem Post. "This would destroy the Abraham Accords," the Emirati officials warned, adding: "Do not allow Israel to annex parts of the West Bank." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warning comes after a tweet on Wednesday by Anwar Gargash, senior advisor to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, posted on platform X/Twitter: "In these challenging times, the UAE sends a clear message: annexation is a red line, and peace through a two-state solution must remain the path forward." In closed-door conversations, senior Emirati officials have said that "the application of sovereignty would lead to a significant shift in the direction of relations between the two countries." Basis of the Abraham Accords It is worth recalling that the Abraham Accords, the agreement between the UAE and Israel, were signed on the basis that Israel would forgo applying sovereignty in exchange for normalization with the Emirates. Terry Mogilles, a registered nurse at University Medical Center, speaks to the crowd at Union Migrante May Day event in downtown New Orleans on May 1, 2025. Earlier in the day, Mogilles and other nurses at UMC went on strike, demanding better pay and work conditions from LCMC Health, which manages the hospital. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) After Muhammad Jawaid, a Chicago rideshare driver, was assaulted by two riders this spring, he changed in more ways than one. Hed been beaten by two young men whod used an Uber profile of a young woman to request a ride, he said. At pickup, Jawaid said, the men had jumped into the backseat, hit Jawaid in the head with guns, knocked out several of his teeth, and tried to steal his car. Im not the person [that] I used to be anymore, because it made a huge impact on my life, Jawaid said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Jawaid asked Uber to cover the cost of his injuries, he said, the company offered a fraction of his medical costs alone. Because Jawaid is not considered an employee but an independent contractor a status both Uber and Lyft have fought hard to preserve for their drivers he does not qualify for workers compensation. Without that protection, rideshare drivers cant receive replacement wages when theyre injured on the job. This act of violence is deeply troubling, Ubers spokesperson said in response to questions about Jawaids case, adding that the company has spoken to Jawaid and worked with police to resolve the case. The company did not address questions about the cost of Jawaids medical care related to the incident. Representatives highlighted several in-app safety features for drivers and optional injury protection insurance that drivers can purchase for less than $0.03 a mile. Frustrated by the companys response, Jawaid did something new: He reached out to the Chicago Gig Alliance, a rideshare driver group that has been pushing for a city ordinance that would have required the rideshare companies to verify all passenger accounts and provide identity verification to drivers as they pick up passengers. His reason for contacting the group? Maybe it would be helpful for other people, he said. (The Chicago City Council tabled the proposed ordinance in June.) Today, Jawaids experience is becoming more common and not only among rideshare drivers. As workplace violence has risen over the last decade, it has driven an increasing number of workers to organize. Across the country, nurses and cashiers, drivers and food servers are fighting for a right that many take as a given: being safe from violence at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The clearest reason that more workers are fighting to end violence at work is that more workers are experiencing violence on the job. Violent incidents at work have risen by nearly 20% since 2015, going from 34,750 that year to 41,440 in 2022, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Meanwhile, there is no federal workplace safety standard to prevent violence on the job. About two dozen states have proposed or enacted legislation to prevent workplace violence, but the problem persists across the country, per a review of bills and legislation tracked by BillTrack50. The experience of workplace violence is being felt most acutely by workers who already are in occupations where their wages have been suppressed, said Jennifer Sherer, director of the State Worker Power Initiative at the Economic Policy Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The push to address violence on the job appears to be strongest among service and care workers and especially health care workers. Most of those jobs were not protected by wage and hour laws until the 1960s. In 2021-22, those workers experienced 86% of workplace injuries by another person, according to a Capital & Main analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Unionization in those sectors, I think its more important than almost any other, said Sherer. Kenya Slaughter, a Dollar General employee from Alexandria, addresses fellow protestors during a march Dec. 20, 2022, in New Orleans. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) In New Orleans, for instance, nurses at University Medical Center went on a one-day strike on May 1, and cited workplace violence as the key issue. Indeed, violence at work fueled worker unrest that led to a successful union election in December 2023, said Heidi Tujague, a registered nurse and UMC bargaining team member, via a union spokesperson. It has since been a core bargaining chip in the negotiations for their first contract, an effort that began in March 2024. Nurses experience various kinds of violence on the job, ranging from pinches and slaps to being kicked in the stomach while pregnant and being choked with stethoscopes, said Jane Thomason, lead industrial hygienist of National Nurses United. They also experience violence far more frequently than many other workers. Health care workers experience violence at work nearly twice as often as workers in education, and 10 times as often as those in retail and food service, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. (Disclosure: National Nurses United is a funder of Capital & Main.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smaller surveys suggest that federal statistics reflect a tiny fraction of violence in health care, said Thomason. Nearly 82% of 1,000 nurses surveyed by National Nurses United in February 2024 reported at least one violent incident at work in the prior year. Workplace violence at UMC is a serious part of what were trying to address with our unionization, Tujague said in a statement. Its part and parcel with safe staffing, another one of our key demands. When were safely staffed, it makes de-escalation easier. LCMC Health, the parent company of the University Medical Center in New Orleans, did not answer emailed questions from Capital & Main. Participants in the Union Migrante May Day rally prepare to march down Basin Street in downtown New Orleans on May 1, 2025. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) Violence at work is driving restaurant workers to organize, too. Such violence has become so prevalent that a video of it has gone viral on social media, becoming popular fodder that overshadows the impact on workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For three days starting on May 16, Waffle House employees across the South staged a protest over workplace violence and low pay at the chain. For Waffle House workers, violence and harassment were part of the job until concerns over workplace violence reached the boiling point when a man forced his way behind the counter of a Marietta, Georgia, Waffle House in April. It was around 6 a.m., a Union of Southern Service Workers spokesperson confirmed. The man pushed an employee to the ground, then ran behind the counter and into the back office of the restaurant, the spokesperson said. He didnt leave until the police arrived 20 minutes later and escorted him out. (Disclosure: the Union of Southern Service Workers is a cross-sector affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, a financial supporter of Capital & Main.) Store management appeared to laugh off the incident, said Melissa Steach, a server at the Marietta restaurant. Nothing changed, she said, until workers took action. Waffle House did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without a robust response from management or corporate leadership, Waffle House workers decided they were fed up. Workers from across the region delivered a list of demands to Waffle House offices and held a protest on the first day of the strike. They used the Marietta incident as a catalyst to repeat their ongoing demands for a $25 per hour minimum wage, safer working conditions (including security staff on site) and the end of a mandatory meal deduction policy. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Even with companywide raises announced last year and working full time, Steach said she earns about $2,300 a month: $4.25 an hour in wages that come to roughly $680, and the rest in tips. She has been unable to afford a one-bedroom apartment or studio, both of which cost around $1,300 a month in Marietta, according to Zillow. For now, she lives in a motel and walks to work. Following the strike, management did not hire security staff. Instead, they changed protocol on the Marietta stores third shift, locking the stores doors and limiting service to takeout in the wee hours of the morning, said Steach. For Steach, that decision has led to lower tips, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has also made Steach more willing to fight even if she feels a little scared to speak up. I know how companies will react, she said. Even though it is against federal law to fire someone for organizing, it doesnt mean they cant. But having her fellow union members support meant a lot to her, she said. Im tired of looking over my shoulder and wondering, Is this going to be the day that someone decides that theyre going to pull a gun on me? Steach said. Id like the public to understand that all work has dignity We are all fighting for the same thing. Were all fighting for that slice of comfort. That slice of stability. Security. Let us know what you think... This report was originally published by Capital & Main, a nonprofit publication whose mission is to educate the public on matters of importance such as economic inequality, climate change, health care, threats to democracy, hate and extremism, and immigration. EMPORIA (KSNT) The Emporia Airport will host the annual Wings and Wheels Show, where attendees can see cars and airplanes later this month. The Wings and Wheels show will kick off with free admission for all attendees starting at 8 a.m. on Sept. 13. The event will feature a static display of airplanes and cars provided by Flatland Cruisers and the Emporia Flying Club, along with an air ambulance helicopter from Air Methods. Breakfast will be available at the event, provided by the Area Experimental Aircraft Association. The cost is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for children aged 3-12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jefferson County spearheading search for man missing after bike rally Young Eagle Airplane will offer free airplane rides for children aged 8-17. Interested participants must pre-register for the rides at yeday.org using the code 66801. 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. Goldenseal, a magazine that focuses on traditional life in West Virginia, is available for purchase at Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia, on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Photo by Leann Ray/West Virginia Watch) Along the way to falling in love with West Virginia and its culture and history, its rivers and valleys and yes, even its political underpinnings after I moved to the state when I was quite young, I credit the Mountain State as the primary reason why I began to write commentaries, stories, poetry and essays. And I credit the states leading magazine, Goldenseal whose emphasis since 1975 revolves around West Virginias culture and history and her resilient people for opening its pages to my work, whether it was a piece on the Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster, the emigration of my husbands grandfather to West Virginia in the early 1900s, or a piece that chronicled my beginnings as a West Virginia author. It was an acceptance by Goldenseal that set me on that path over 30 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The years to follow would lead to more acceptances from Goldenseal. Every single one was an honor. My undergraduate and graduate school advisor, Otis Rice, was considered to be the states leading historian. It was his introduction to Goldenseal that encouraged me to submit my work. Each editor of Goldenseal Ken Sullivan, John Lilly, Stan Bumgardner, and Laiken Blankenship has always held the magazine to the highest editorial standards, accepting nothing less than excellence, achieving that goal with every single issue. As its founding editor, Tom Screven, wrote in the first issue, the magazine also serves as a means of communication for students and enthusiasts of West Virginias folklife, which just may be the richest in the land. In a recent article by West Virginia Watchs Lori Kersey, the West Virginia Department of Tourism is looking for ways to reduce costs and increase readership for Goldenseal. While these concerns are legitimate, the possibility that the magazine may no longer be available in print edition raises concern. At its height, it had more than 30,000 subscribers. That number now has dropped to fewer than 4,500 with the growing preference for digital media. The rising costs of printing and postage are also contributing factors to those declining numbers. Whether the magazine will close its print edition is a looming question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a state and federal political climate that currently continues to focus less and less on the arts, the mere suggestion that Goldenseals print edition may no longer be held, its readers no longer physically turning its pages, and our bookshelves free of its aesthetic value is unsettling. West Virginia has many challenges. Lets not close the door on a valuable asset that highlights all that is good and real about her: a history, a culture that consistently brings respect to those native to the state and those who are new to our state, who visit our parks and who experience our culture and who pick up Goldenseal to find out more of what defines West Virginia and its people. Goldenseal grows naturally in much of the forested areas of West Virginia. Its bright yellow-colored root is dried and taken as a tonic, a stomach remedy, even used as a fabric dye. The herb was chosen as the magazines title because it represents beneficial things that occur naturally in West Virginia (e.g., its culture, history, arts & crafts, folklore, music, religion and yes, its storied politics). The states rich history cannot be diminished; its the base that forms its future. It fought too hard to plant those seeds, weathering its storms, and witnessing their growth only to watch them wither and die. Were tougher than that, West Virginia. Regain your footing and voice your most certain opposition to all who threaten the growth and prosperity of what our history has produced that uplifts rather than dismantles. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) An Evansville woman out on bond is in jail again after allegedly firing a gun and having 11 more in collection. According to an affidavit, while on a call in the 4600 block of Inspiration Street for a stolen vehicle report at about 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a woman blurted out to EPD officers, if you get a call about shots fired, that was me. Suspects accused of attempting to steal copper wire from CenterPoint Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was identified as Shannon Murray-Gentry, and she claimed a close friend of hers requested to use her vehicle and took it anyway while telling him no. After coming back, an altercation allegedly took place. During the scuffle, Murray-Gentry claimed she fired a .380 revolver into the ground because the friend came at her aggressively. Officers later discovered Murray-Gentry was out on bond for a battery charge out of Warrick County, and part of the order was not to have any firearms. After getting permission to search, officers reportedly found 11 other guns in a bedroom. Some included handguns, rifles and shotguns. Officials also state officers found two black digital scales that tested positive for meth and other paraphernalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murray-Gentry was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail and charged with Criminal Recklessness Armed with a Deadly Weapon, Possession of Meth, Possession of Paraphernalia and 12 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). A bipartisan group of lawmakers stood outside the US Capitol on Wednesday alongside nearly a dozen women who said theyd been abused by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with a poignant message: This is not a hoax. That included a direct plea from one of the survivors, Anouska de Georgiou, to the president: President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us. And an invite extended to him from another abuse survivor, Haley Robson: I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet just moments after those survivors spoke, President Donald Trump delivered his own remarks, dismissing the escalating national political furor over the Epstein case files as a Democrat hoax. What theyre trying to do with the Epstein hoax is get people to talk about that, Trump said from the Oval Office Wednesday. Were having the most successful eight months of any president ever, and thats what I want to talk about. Trump delivered his remarks at the White House just down the street from where a crowd overtook the steps of the Capitol to hear from lawmakers and Epstein survivors about why Congress needs to demand more transparency from the executive branch related to Epsteins crimes. Its the most concerted push yet by those lawmakers and survivors some of whom had never spoken publicly before to force Congress to act. Notably, its not just the presidents political adversaries who are backing the push. Among the lawmakers who took the podium was one of Trumps closest personal allies, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Her support is a clear signal that the president wont soon be able to escape the scrutiny over his administrations handling of the Epstein investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not about politics. This is a boiling point in American history, Greene said in a fiery speech in which she vowed to support the survivors in any way possible. Speaking to CNN after the press conference, Greene said she spoke with Trump personally earlier that morning and urged him to host Epsteins victims in the Oval Office. The appearances by Trump and the Epstein survivors marked an extraordinary moment in a months-long battle for his government to release additional documents and information related to the disgraced financier. As Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders in Congress attempt to quell the backlash over Trumps handling of the controversy, Republicans like Greene have breathed new life into the fight. Greene is one of four Republicans who have so far signed onto this weeks bipartisan push to force Congress to require the White House to publicly disclose more information from the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effort, known as a discharge petition, is led by Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a fiercely independent Republican who frequently spars with Trump. But both Greene and Massie argued the matter should be above politics. They urged more of their GOP colleagues to back their resolution allowing the measure to come to the floor for a vote, a major affront to Johnsons powers as speaker. Theres over 200 Republicans who have not signed this discharge petition. We only need two of them to sign it, Massie said at the press conference, where he vowed not to back down from the fight. Johnson has argued publicly and privately that Massies discharge petition has been made moot and unnecessary because of the House Oversight Committees work, and he pointed Wednesday to the more than 33,000 documents released by the panel less than 24 hours before. What were going to do is effectively deputize the Oversight Committee, which is the committee of appropriate jurisdiction, to go do a deep dive on this. And I think theyre going to uncover things that have never been uncovered before, the Louisiana Republican said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats were quick to point out, however, that most of the material released by the committee contained information that had already been publicly available. The party has sought to weaponize the Epstein issue against Trump and the GOP in recent weeks, trying to force votes that would put vulnerable Republicans in difficult positions. But the tone of Wednesdays press conference was far less partisan. Ive never done a press conference with Marjorie Taylor Greene before, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, a staunch liberal from California, said of the firebrand Georgia Republican as the crowd laughed. An attorney for numerous Epstein survivors said they would hold Johnson and lawmakers accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you that in the Oversight Committee meeting yesterday, they indicated that they were all for transparency, releasing the files, and asked us to hold them accountable. So we intend to hold them accountable, Brad Edwards said at the news conference. Speaking to CNN before, Massie accused the Trump administration of redacting certain information such as Epsteins flight logs to prevent embarrassment for Trumps donors and friends. I dont think hes implicated in these files, but I think his donors are. I think his friends are. And I think our own DOJ and government are implicated in this too. So you cant trust them, Massie said. CNNs Adam Cancryn, Alison Main and Veronica Stracqualursi contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Related Video: Marjorie Taylor Greene Supports Epsteins Survivors Seeking Transparency Morning Report is The Hills a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here. In todays issue: GOP leaders seek to squash rebellion over Epstein Appeals court blocks Alien Enemies Act deportations Trump calls online health rumors crazy Democrats jockey for primary lineup Congress returned to Washington this week consumed with the case over convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an issue that has divided President Trumps base and stoked backlash against his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House GOP leaders are hoping to tamp down a rebellion in their ranks over Epstein. The tug-and-pull over GOP members demands for more documents and testimony comes as lawmakers juggle the appropriations process and face an end-of-month deadline to fund the government. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a frequent Trump critic, on Tuesday filed a discharge petition to release all government files pertaining to Epstein, kicking off a new confrontation with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who cosponsored the bill, will hold a press conference with 10 Epstein victims this morning at the Capitol. GOP leaders, including Johnson, met with a group of Epstein victims privately on Tuesday, led by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its for us to hear from them, to express our deep sympathy for what theyve been made to endure and ensure that we have been and always will be for maximum transparency, for justice to be brought for all those engaged in these evils and to ensure that happens as quickly as possible, Johnson said. Tuesday evening, the Oversight panel released the first batch of Epstein-related files it received from the Justice Department last month as the result of a subpoena. The Hills Emily Brooks reports many of the materials, such as video from outside Epsteins jail cell and court filings, had already been made public. Democrats said the vast majority of the material had been previously released. Johnson told reporters: This is the beginning and not the end. The Hill: Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) left Tuesdays meeting with Epstein survivors early and was visibly upset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC News: Epsteins accusers urge Trump to release all the case files and rule out a Ghislaine Maxwell pardon. The Epstein case has long interested Trumps most loyal followers. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump and his allies promised transparency in the case, while Attorney General Pam Bondi later vowed to release new details pertaining to the disgraced financier. Ultimately, the DOJ said in July there was no client list that could implicate other high-profile Epstein associates and the FBI reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019. That set off a frenzy within MAGA circles for new information, driving a wedge in Trumps core base. Democrats have seized on the GOP division, stoking the issue as they struggle for power and influence in a Washington where they control no branches of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie teamed up with Khanna to override House leadership and bring an Epstein bill to the floor for a vote that would require the DOJ to release all its documents in a searchable database. The discharge petition will need six Republicans to pass if all Democrats vote in favor. Massie and Khanna said Tuesday that they have the votes. Johnson, in an effort to avoid the discharge petition, on Tuesday added a vote to the docket for later this week to direct the Oversight Committee to continue its ongoing investigation into Epstein. The last-minute vote is designed to provide rank-and-file Republicans with a formal outlet to register their support for congressional investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, his former girlfriend who is in prison for crimes related to the sexual abuse of minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie called the move a meaningless vote to provide political cover for those members who dont support our bipartisan legislation to force the release of the Epstein files. SHUTDOWN WATCH: House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said Tuesday hes pushing for a stopgap bill that punts this months threat of a government shutdown into November to buy time for funding talks. One obstacle: Trumps move to claw back funding through a pocket rescission is splitting Republicans, with several pushing back on the idea. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Johnson now must decide how to play their cards and whether to sit down with Democratic leaders to negotiate a bipartisan agreement, or to simply move forward with a stopgap in the House and dare Democrats to vote it down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anything that gives our Democrat colleagues a reason not to do the bipartisan appropriations process is not a good thing. If they can use that as an excuse, that causes us a problem, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) warned. I do not think this is a good idea and I think its going to give our Democratic colleagues a reason not to work with us on an appropriations process. Smart Take with Blake Burman After a violent holiday weekend in Chicago, President Trump on Tuesday kept the pressure on that city when it comes to crime. He once again threatened to send the National Guard into the Windy City, and suggested Baltimore could follow. The statements came as Congress returned for a busy fall session. Trump has been publicly touting a crime bill. Marc Short, former White House director of legislative affairs, told me he doesnt think a crime bill will happen this year. Theres no chance, Short told me. Its a good issue for the president to keep bringing up, like, if Democrats keep getting back in a corner and saying, Hey, really, crime isnt that big a deal in Chicago, its not that big a deal in Los Angeles, this is a great political issue for the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans have a razor-thin margin in the House, but getting 60 votes in the Senate would prove to be trickier. Still, the president has talked up a comprehensive crime bill, and he is likely to continue to pursue that path. Burman hosts The Hill weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation. 3 Things to Know Today 1. Trump cannot use the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law, to quickly deport a group of Venezuelans, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. 2. A U.S. military kinetic strike took out 11 terrorists on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in the Caribbean, the president said. 3. Trump is facing a catch-22 in the face of growing fissures at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and mounting departures of scientists and experts over vaccine policy. Leading the Day President Trump speaks about the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House on Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington, as Vice President Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen. (Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press) TRUMPS HEALTH: The president on Tuesday responded to rampant online speculation about his health after he went several days without a public appearance, calling the social media rumors sort of crazy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have heard, its sort of crazy, but last week I did numerous news conferences. Then I didnt do any for two days and they said, There must be something wrong with him, he said. Trump was asked about online speculation that he was in ill health or had even died, which he called fake news. The president said he remained very active over the weekend. Thats pretty serious stuff, Trump said when asked if his health was ailing. Comments from Vice President Vance added to the online flurry over the weekend after he told USA Today he was ready to assume the role of commander in chief if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If, God forbid, theres a terrible tragedy, I cant think of better on-the-job training than what Ive gotten over the last 200 days, Vance said in the interview, while praising Trumps health. Trump is barred by the Constitution from seeking a third term, but he has held off formally naming Vance as his heir apparent for the 2028 election. GOING IN: The president appears to be readying to send federal forces into Chicago and other Democrat-led cities as he ramps up his crime and illegal immigration crackdown. Were going in. I didnt say when, Trump told reporters Tuesday. I have an obligation. This isnt a political thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump declared a public safety emergency last month that has allowed him to temporarily take over crime-fighting tactics in the District of Columbia, but he has indicated to local leaders that their cities are next. Illinois Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton (D), who is running for an open U.S. Senate seat, alleged that the president is trying to manufacture a crisis to justify his Chicago takedown in his anti-Democrat push. The Hill: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) suggested the Texas National Guard was preparing for Chicago deployment. Washington Post: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) issued an executive order to provide indefinite coordination with federal law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALL SYSTEMS GO?: Trump on Tuesday declared that the U.S. Space Command will move its headquarters from Colorado to Alabama the latest in a nearly five-year fight over where the space defense agency HQ would be permanently located after it was reestablished in his first term. Trump said Tuesday that Huntsville, Ala., will replace Colorado Springs, Colo., as the Space Command site during a wide-ranging press conference at the White House. This will result in more than 30,000 Alabama jobs and probably much more than that and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, and thats billions because it cant be millions, thats billions and billions of dollars, Trump said. Most importantly, this decision will help America defend and dominate the high frontier, as they call it. The Colorado congressional delegation issued a bipartisan statement quickly condemning Trumps call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being prepared for any threats should be the nations top priority; a crucial part of that is keeping in place what is already fully operational. Moving Space Command would not result in any additional operational capabilities than what we have up and running in Colorado Springs now, they wrote. Colorado Springs is the appropriate home for U.S. Space Command, and we will take the necessary action to keep it there. GETTING ATTENTION: The Hill: More than 1,000 current and former Department of Health and Human Services employees are demanding Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. resign, following his ousting of the CDC director and other actions they say are compromising the health of the nation. The New York Times: Google must hand over its search results and some data to its competitors but does not need to sell its Chrome browser, a federal judge ruled in a government antitrust case. Where and When The president today will meet with his counterpart from Poland, Karol Nawrocki , at the White House. Vice President Vance and second lady Usha Vance will meet with the families of those affected by the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting in Minneapolis, Minn. The House will meet at 10 a.m. The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. Morning Reports Alexis Simendinger will return on Thursday. Zoom In Joseph Clarkson Sr., 72, right, takes his ballot to a scanner during the South Carolina Democratic primary at a Richland County early voting site in Columbia, S.C., Jan. 26, 2024. (Serkan Gurbuz, Associated Press file) PRIMARY ORDER: Several states are jockeying for prime spots in the Democratic presidential primary calendar as the party looks toward 2028. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) outlined its first steps toward considering which states should kick off the early state nominating contest during their summer meeting last month, with more meetings set for this fall and into early next year. A reshuffling spurred on by former President Biden gave South Carolina the first-in-the-nation primary in 2024, write The Hills Julia Mueller and Caroline Vakil, but top DNC leaders say all options are on the table for the 2028 schedule. As the process gets going, states are making the case for prime slots. Iowa and New Hampshire are looking to reclaim their positions on the early nominating calendar, and they could be poised to deliver major headaches for the national party. Theres a real appetite to go rogue, one Iowa Democratic activist told The Hill. The Washington Post: Inside the Democrats plan to recapture the House. Politico: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is rolling out a barrage of new ads to sell voters on his redistricting measure, casting Trump as the face of the issue, which Golden State residents will vote on in November. The Hill: Missouris special legislative session kicks off today. Here are five things to know. The Hill: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said he plans to call a special session for the state Legislature to consider tougher gun laws after a shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school last week left two children dead and nearly two dozen people injured. RETIREMENTS AND CANDIDATES: Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R) announced Tuesday she will not seek reelection in next years midterm elections, foregoing a third term. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), a reporter-turned-lawmaker whos served in Congress since 2021, is likely best positioned to replace her. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) praised Ernst in a statement following her retirement announcement. Joni Ernst has dedicated her life to serving our nation and improving the lives of Iowans. Traveling across the Hawkeye State with Joni, I know she loves Iowa, and Iowa loves her, Scott said. Meanwhile, Eric Trump, the presidents son, said he wouldnt rule out a White House bid after speaking at the Bitcoin Asia conference in Hong Kong. Im not saying no, but Im also not saying yes, he told Nikkei Asia. His comments come a month after his wife, Lara Trump, said she would bypass a Senate bid in North Carolina. Elsewhere Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic during their meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on Sept. 2, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov,Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via Associated Press) TWISTING THE SCREW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday the Trump administration is listening to the Kremlins justifications for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and claimed Moscow and Washington have come to a mutual understanding about the conflict. Russia faces possible punishment by Trump, who has expressed frustration at Putins lack of engagement in U.S.-led peace efforts and threatened unspecified severe consequences. I hope, moving in this direction, opening the way to peace in Ukraine, Putin said. At the same time, the Russian leader reiterated his view that this crisis wasnt triggered by Russias attack on Ukraine, but was a result of a coup in Ukraine, which was supported and provoked by the West. Putin claimed Tuesday that Moscow has never been against Ukraine joining the European Union but reiterated that the countrys potential ascension into NATO is unacceptable. Trump on Tuesday reacted on Truth Social as Chinas Xi Jinping appeared alongside Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at his military parade in Beijing. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America, Trump posted. ABC News: Russias long-range strike campaign on Ukraine eased in August, though Moscow continued to launch deadly attacks on Kyiv. Time magazine: NATO says its working to counter Russian GPS jamming after interference with the European Commission leaders plane. The Atlantic: Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are holding the West together. DEEPENING RIFT: Tensions between the Israeli military and government have sharply escalated over the past week, CNN reports, with Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Eyal Zamir directly confronting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over plans to expand the Gaza war. Israel has called up thousands of reservists for the expanded Gaza operation, despite Zamirs reservations about the decision to take over Gaza City after almost two years of war. Zamir has urged government ministers to consider the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The plan has been accepted by Hamas, but Netanyahu has chosen not to raise it. The Guardian: At least nine Palestinians, including five children, were killed in an Israeli strike while fetching water in Gaza. BBC: A strong aftershock hit Afghanistan after a Sunday earthquake killed more than 1,400. Opinion Trump, troops and the mayhem in Chicago , by The Wall Street Journal editorial board. A judge did not need to curb Googles power. AI is already doing that, by The Washington Post editorial board. The Closer A detail photo of the Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United Sates and Great Britain dated Sept. 3, 1783, also know as the Treaty of Paris, is seen during a media preview, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, at the National Archives in Washington. (Haraz N. Ghanbari, Associated Press file) And finally Its been 242 years since the Founding Fathers signed the Treaty of Paris, officially bringing the Revolutionary War to its end. The British had stopped fighting the colonies about two years earlier and the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, but the formal agreement that British King George IIIs representatives signed with the United Statess Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams on this date in 1783 made it official: America was a new country and had internationally recognized borders. The Treaty of Paris is now part of the collection at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse have engaged in a full-fledged push to garner the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender and sex trafficker even as President Donald Trump pushes Republicans to oppose the move. Numerous survivors of Epsteins trafficking which was facilitated by his close friend Ghislaine Maxwell on Wednesday held a press conference on Capitol Hill with Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) as well as MAGA firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). The press conference was called as Massie, an outspoken critic of the president, filed a discharge petition on Monday to release the Epstein files. If a majority of members sign the petition, it would force a full floor vote without going through committee or approval from leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the press conference, Massie criticized Trump for repeatedly calling the investigation a hoax, something he did from the Oval Office even as the survivors were rallying. I think its shameful that this has been called a hoax, Massie said, flanked by Epstein survivors, many of hwo were minors when their ordeals began. Hopefully, today, we can clear that up. This is not a hoax. This is real. There are real victims. Victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's abuse rise their hands to press congress to release the Epstein files as they speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington (AP) So far, Greene and two other Republicans Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Nancy Mace of South Carolina have joined the discharge petition. The truth we are demanding come out on behalf of these women but also as a strong message to every innocent child, teenager, woman and man that has been held captive in abuse, Greene said at her press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day earlier, Mace, a rape survivor, walked out of her meeting with survivors visibly shaken. I didnt last the entire session, she told The Independent. I dont have a lot to offer other than it's deeply sad and traumatizing to see these women have been fighting for 30 years for justice and still don't have it goes to show how broken the system is. Yeah, and I think we should burn it to the ground and start over. But Republicans who might otherwise support a discharge petition have proven to be wobbly on the matter. On Tuesday evening, the House Oversight Committee released 30,000 pages of documents related to Epstein, nearly all of it information tat had already been publicly known. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told The Independent that it might render the investigation repetitive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So I think it's probably a moot point or a mute point, whichever the case may be, Burchett told The Independent on Tuesday evening. But Massie pushed back on the idea. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Wednesday that the Jeffrey Epstein matter was a Democrat hoax. (AFP/Getty) Look, if my legislation were redundant, why would the White House be trying to stop it? he told The Independent on Tuesday. It's not redundant. There are things that the White House doesn't want out there that my legislation would cause to be released. Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for Epsteins survivors, said the release of the files was only one step. I think was a step in the right direction. But there's so much more to be released and that's what we're really hoping for, she told The Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump for his part has pushed against the effort, telling NBC News that teaming up with Democrats and Massie would constitute a hostile act. Teresa J Helm, one of the Epstein survivors, pushed back on the words when asked by The Independent. The hostility is in the crimes that have been committed against all of us, she told The Independent. So there's not hostility in trying to protect ourselves, plus future generations and our own kids. In response to the press conference, Trump lashed out, calling the Epstein files a Democrat hoax. Trump has been plagued by the Epstein investigation ever since last year, when he was asked on Fox News if he would declassify the files. In July, the Department of Justice and the FBI released a two-page memo saying Epstein did not have a client list and likely killed himself in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Sky Roberts, the brother of Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre, had a clear message for the president. I would say, do the right thing. I mean, that's the first thing that comes in mind for me, he told The Independent. It is the biggest cover up in the history of the United States. And I think it's time for us to stand with the people, it's time to stand with the survivors and we need to tell them we believe you. After experiencing what they call years of legal setbacks, limited accountability, and delayed justice, several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse say they see an opportunity for Congress to provide desperately needed transparency about the disgraced financier's crimes. In an interview Wednesday with ABC News' Linsey Davis, seven women who say Jeffrey Epstein sexually exploited them pleaded with Congress and the Trump administration to release the hundreds of thousands of remaining files related to the sex offender -- a step they hope will show the public the scope of Epstein's actions and allow his victims to heal. "Now it is the responsibility of Congress to pass a bill so that we don't have to carry the baton of being the ones to enforce this," said Anouska De Georgiou. "This is not our job. We have done our job. We've been responsible in reporting, so I want transparency." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released The Justice Department and FBI announced in July that no additional Epstein files would be released, sparking blowback from MAGA supporters who for years had accused the government of shielding information regarding Epstein, the wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. On Monday, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released tens of thousands of Justice Department records related to Epstein, accounting for just a portion of what the committee has subpoenaed from the DOJ. An analysis by ABC News determined that most of the documents released Monday had already been made public. The seven women said the continued attention on Epstein and his associate, convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, brings them closer to accountability -- while at the time forcing some of them to relive years of trauma inflicted by the disgraced financier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exhausted by decades of delayed justice, they urged lawmakers to unite behind the survivors of his abuse, rather than let conspiracy theories and speculation thrive in the vacuum created by the Trump administration's refusal to release any additional documents. ABC News - PHOTO: Linsey Davis of ABC News interviews Jeffrey Epstein survivors. "As soon as I see this stuff in the news, it takes me out of my healing journey and just, you know, pushes me back into a survival mode," said Courtney Wild. "It's just the back and forth, the mental exhaustion is just -- I'm just ready for it to be done." Even as the survivors of Epstein's abuse come to Washington, D.C. to encourage lawmakers to act, some of the women said the politicization and weaponization of their abuse continues. Hours before they sat for a group interview with ABC News, President Donald Trump dismissed the push for transparency as a "Democrat hoax that never ends." Haley Robson, who identified herself as a Republican, responded to Trump's statements by calling for the president to meet with survivors to understand the personal cost they have paid after years of delayed accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is about young women that were molested and abused and then lied to, gaslit, and had their trauma weaponized on them for political gain," Robson said. " I will be more than happy to meet him halfway. I will come to him if he needs me to. I would love to sit down so he can look me in my face and tell me that I'm a hoax." According to some of the women, the Trump administration's refusal to release any additional documents came as a surprise, given that Trump, on the campaign trail, had promised more transparency from the government. Brad Edwards, an attorney representing Epstein survivors, added that the materials are unlikely to contain incriminating information about the president based on his clients' experiences. "Not a single victim has ever said he abused," Edwards said. "We've seen a lot of the information in the files, and there's no reason why he shouldn't just be transparent and allow it to come out." ABC News - PHOTO: Linsey Davis of ABC News interviews Jeffrey Epstein survivors. De Georgiou said that Maxwell introduced her to Trump in the 1990s when she was twenty. She said she believed Maxwell presented her "as an offering of me to perhaps date [Trump]" but that "there was no impropriety on the part of President Trump." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Offering to sit down with Trump to share her experiences, De Georgiou said she hopes the president will follow through on his vow to release more information about Epstein. "There should be no concern on the part of President Trump to unseal these files because there have been no accusations made," she said. "I'm happy to sit down and give reassurance that only truth will be spoken and that this is not some kind of a witch hunt." "This is about championing this cause, not just for us, but for all the young women and children who are waiting to see what choices Congress will make now, what choices this administration will make, and if they're going to be on the right side of history," De Georgiou said. While the Trump administration has made a limited effort to meet with victims and understand their concerns, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche traveled to Florida last month for a two-day interview with Maxwell. Some of the women criticized the Trump administration's decision to hear Maxwell out despite her having previously made false statements to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 'We need the Epstein files to be out': Central witness in Epstein case speaks publicly for 1st time Shortly after the interview, Maxwell was transferred from a federal prison in Florida to a federal prison camp in Texas, contributing to their concerns she might escape accountability despite her conviction. "I still feel fearful of her," said Chauntae Davies. "She's probably going to get out somehow. I just feel like it's kind of like a slow transition to her being released her going from prison to basically like a summer camp." Rather than show Maxwell leniency or continue withholding records from the public, the women urged the Trump administration to do right by Epstein's victims by releasing the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You have the power to be transparent. You have the power to unite both parties in America," Robson said of Trump. "For the first time in my life, I am seeing opportunity here, opportunity that can not only benefit the women sitting on the stage and our attorneys, I'm seeing an opportunity for you, nonpartisan, to unite the Democrat and Republican parties and get this going." "How wonderful would that be?" Robson said. "How great would that be to get on the same page and have the same agenda for once?" WASHINGTON (AP) Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse made their voices heard Wednesday on Capitol Hill, pressuring lawmakers to force the release of the sex trafficking investigation into the late financier and pushing back on President Donald Trump's effort to dismiss the issue as a hoax. In a news conference on the Capitol lawn that drew hundreds of supporters and chants of release the files, the women shared some publicly for the first time how they were lured into Epstein's abuse by his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. They demanded that the Donald Trump administration provide transparency and accountability for what they endured as teenagers. It was a striking stand as the push for disclosure of the so-called Epstein files reaches a pivotal moment in Washington. Lawmakers are battling over how Congress should delve into the Epstein saga while the Republican president, after initially signaling support for transparency on the campaign trail, has been dismissing the matter as a Democrat hoax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No matter what you do its going to keep going, Trump said Wednesday. He added, Really, I think its enough." But the survivors on Capitol Hill, as well as at least one of Trump's closest allies in Congress, disagreed. Some of the women pleaded for Trump to support their cause. It feels like you just want to explode inside because nobody, again, is understanding that this is a real situation. These women are real. Were here in person, said Haley Robson, one of the survivors who said she is a registered Republican. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. The case was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Epstein was accused of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell, Epsteins longtime confidant and former girlfriend, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for luring teenage girls for him to abuse. Four women testified at her trial that they were abused by Epstein as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at his homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico. The allegations have also spawned dozens of lawsuits. A Trump ally crosses party lines Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is usually closely aligned with Trump, described her support for a bill that would force the Justice Department to release the information it has compiled on Epstein and Maxwell as a moral fight against sexual predation. This isnt one political party or the other. Its a culmination of everyone working together to silence these women and protect Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal, Greene said at the news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also told reporters that she had spoken with Trump on Wednesday to tell him that he should host the survivors in the Oval Office, not any of Jeffrey Epstein's rich, powerful friends. Greene is one of four Republicans three of them women who have defied House GOP leadership and the White House in an effort to force a vote on their bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quash the effort by putting forward his own resolution and arguing that a concurrent investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the best way for Congress to deliver transparency. I think the Oversight probe is going to be wide and expansive, and theyre going to follow the truth wherever it leads," Johnson, R-La., said. He added that the White House was complying with the committee to release information and that he had spoken with Trump about it Tuesday night. He says, Get it out there, put it all out there," Johnson told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oversight Committee on Tuesday night released what it said was the first tranche of documents and files it has received from the Justice Department on the Epstein case. The folders posted on Google Drive contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein, but contained practically nothing new. Warnings from the White House Meanwhile, the White House was warning House members that support for the bill to require the DOJ to release the files would be seen as a hostile act. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who is pressing for the bill, said that the White House was sending that message because Theyve dug in. They decided they dont want it released, he said. Its a political threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with Trump sending a strong message and Republican leadership moving forward with an alternative resolution, Massie was left looking for support from at least two more Republicans willing to cross political lines. It would take six GOP members, as well as all House Democrats, to force a vote on their bill. And even if that passes the House, it would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by Trump. Survivors speak out Still, the survivors saw this moment as their best chance in years to gain some justice for what had been done by Epstein. One survivor, Chauntae Davies said that she remembered feeling powerless when she saw how Epstein was connected to some of the most rich and powerful people in the world. Davies said she once traveled to Africa with Epstein on a trip that included former President Bill Clinton and other notable figures. He bragged about his powerful friends, including current President Donald Trump. It was his biggest brag, actually, Davies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the women say it's time to reveal a full accounting of everyone involved or complicit in Epstein's behavior. Several of them are compiling a list of people who may have been involved, but are still deliberating whether to release that publicly, fearing potential repercussions. Bradley Edwards, an attorney who has represented many of the survivors, refuted the notion that Epstein kept a list of clients, but said others were still involved. His scheme was to personally abuse women, Edwards said. When they reached a certain age, he did farm a section of them, some of them, out to some of his friends. That doesnt mean all of his friends. Ultimately, the women said they spoke out in hope that lawmakers and federal officials would act to ensure that abusers like Epstein are not let off lightly or allowed to continue their abuse. They were especially affronted that Maxwell had recently been moved to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. Justice and accountability are not favors from the powerful. They are obligations decades overdue Jess Michaels, a survivor who said she was first abused by Epstein in 1991, told the rally on the Capitol lawn. This moment began with Epsteins crimes. But its going to be remembered for survivors demanding justice, demanding truth, demanding accountability. Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse and Ghislaine Maxwell said they never saw President Donald Trump engage in misconduct, even as scrutiny of his ties to Epstein continues. In interviews with NBC News published Wednesday, several survivors and their families said they never saw either Trump or former President Bill Clinton involved in wrongdoing. BREAKING: Epstein survivors just gave an answer to NBC News and Democrats are fuming because the narrative is DONE. NBC: Did you see/hear of Trump doing anything inappropriate in relation to Epstein? SURVIVORS: Nonopic.twitter.com/ZwUDxr2k10 Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 3, 2025 The video of the comments was published amid a Capitol Hill news conference where accusers called for the release of all Justice Department files related to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marina Lacerda, who identified herself as Minor Victim 1 in Epsteins 2019 federal indictment, described being brought to his Manhattan mansion as a 14-year-old. Annie Farmer alleged she was assaulted at Epsteins New Mexico ranch in 1996. Not only did many others participate in the abuse, it is clear that many were aware of his interest in girls and very young women and chose to look the other way, she said. Survivors demands have added pressure to a bipartisan push in Congress, led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), to compel the Justice Department to release its full investigative files. The White House and GOP leaders have resisted, warning victims identities could be exposed, NBC News reported. The transparency push coincided with newly released audio of an FBI interview with Maxwell, published Sept. 2 by the House Oversight Committee. The July 25, 2025, recording captured Maxwell describing Epsteins sexual preferences and distancing Clinton from his orbit, The Dallas Express reported. I dont recollect ever seeing him in any other context, Maxwell said of Clinton, explaining she never saw him at Epsteins residences or private island. She described Clinton as friendly on the plane but added, I didnt see President Clinton being interested in Epstein. He was just a rich guy with a plane. Maxwell also said she never saw Trump behave inappropriately. The Justice Department last month released transcripts of her conversations with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in which she denied such claims and her counsel argued Trump was being scapegoated, according to NPR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who socialized with Epstein and Maxwell in the 1990s before a falling out, dismissed the congressional discharge petition to release files as a Democrat hoax. Survivors said they may create their own list of names if the government fails to act. Together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know who were regularly in the Epstein world, Lisa Phillips said. The Republican-led Oversight Committee has already released more than 33,000 pages of documents and hours of video interviews, though many were previously public. On Sept. 3, lawmakers passed a measure directing the panel to continue its probe as an alternative to the discharge petition. For survivors, the renewed attention is about accountability more than partisan fights. The justice system was not designed to serve the powerful, it was meant to protect the people and its time it started doing just that, said Sky Roberts, brother of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a prominent accuser who died earlier this year. A woman who helped put Jeffrey Epstein behind bars broke her silence after years - as other survivors have detailed plans to create their own "client list" of people involved in his heinous crimes. Calls for increased transparency around the Epstein Files have grown since July, when the Justice Department released a memo stating no further disclosures were warranted and there was no evidence to support the existence of a "client list." That decision led to immediate backlash from both sides of the political aisle who demanded more information. On Tuesday, more files were released by Congress about the investigation. Today, victims are set to speak in Washington, D.C., about Epstein and the FBI handling of the case. Now, for the first time, Marina Lacerda, who was named as an unidentified victim in the 2019 federal indictment against Epstein, has publicly joined those calls for more disclosure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would like for them to give all the victims transparency [about] what happened and release these files. It's also not only for the victims, but for the American people," she told ABC News Wednesday. Other victims of Epstein are also speaking out and say they are creating a database of people involved. "We'll compile our own list and seek justice on our own," Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Epstein's abuse, told NBC News Tuesday. An Epstein survivor broke her years-long silence to call for the release of the Epstein files as other survivors plan to compile their own client list (Getty Images) Outrage erupted after the July 6 memo stated there was no evidence to support the existence of a "client list, just months after Attorney General Pam Bondi said the client list was sitting on her desk. The DOJ also didnt uncover evidence that could warrant a probe into uncharged third parties, the memo stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if she saw other prominent individuals with Epstein who she believes law enforcement should pursue, Phillips told NBC: Well, let me get this straight, Jeffrey wasnt doing this for himself. The parties, the charity events on the island, everyone that he was involved with, not everybody, because obviously there were people that didnt there were people that didnt know about what he was doing. But there were many people that knew what he was doing that were involved in the sex trafficking ring, she continued. She didnt identify any names. Pam Bondi has said the client list was on her desk. She could release it right now if she wanted to. While Comer tries to give cover to Trump by re-releasing public documents, House Democrats are fighting for real transparency, California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia said in a statement Tuesday. Congress has received the files and say they plan on releasing information publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through court documents and public pleas, several survivors have also urged the Trump administration to release all the Epstein Files. Lacerda, who was only 14 years old in 2002 when Epstein recruited her to massage him, spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday. She was identified as "Minor-Victim 1" in Epstein's 2019 court case. The House Oversight Committee made public tens of thousands of files that were handed over by the Justice Department, but most of them contain already publicly available information, lawmakers say (Getty) For years, she was sexually abused by Epstein and was enticed to recruit other girls, according to the 2019 indictment. "He forced me to have sex with him. Basically. I really had no choice," she said. "His house was a revolving door. There was always girls," Lacerda told ABC. "If he was in New York, he had his week prepped to see as many girls as possible. I would say he was seeing about five to maybe eight women, maybe even more, maybe up to ten women a day." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she turned 16 or 17, she recalled him losing interest. He didn't want me anymore. He was just like, you're too old," she said. The disgraced financier died by suicide behind bars in 2019, the FBI determined. His sudden death has been the subject of countless conspiracy theories, fueling the demands for heightened transparency around the case. President Donald Trump also called for more information to be released as he campaign. But, has backtracked on those remarks in recent months saying there was nothing more to release. A group of women who say they were abused by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell gathered on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to share their accounts of sexual exploitation and put pressure on Republicans to back an effort that would force the Justice Department to release all of its files in the Epstein investigation. The emotional appeal came as a bipartisan pair of lawmakers moved to collect enough signatures to sidestep House leadership and compel a floor vote on the matter, a maneuver that has exposed deep divisions among Republicans and drawn sharp resistance from the White House. Speaking publicly for the first time about her abuse at the hands of Epstein, Marina Lacerda said she and other victims were not going away until the files were released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would like for them to give all the victims transparency to what happened and release the files, she said. Its not okay for us to be silenced. Read more: Family of Epstein Survivor Fears Trump Will Pardon Sex Trafficking Accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell Lacerda described being lured to Epsteins Manhattan mansion when she was 14 with the promise of $300 for a massage. It went from a dream job to the worst nightmare, she said, her voice breaking. The news conference was organized by Reps. Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, Democrat of California, who are spearheading a bipartisan discharge petition to compel the release of all Justice Department files in the case. If all Democrats sign on as expected, Massie will need just two more Republicans to reach the 218 signatures required to force a vote on the House floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, only four RepublicansMassie, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Nancy Mace of South Carolinahave joined the effort. The imbalance underscores the political peril for most of the Republican conference, caught between growing demands for transparency and loyalty to President Donald Trump, whose administration has condemned the push. This is a Democrat hoax that never ends, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. Theyre trying to get people to talk about something that is totally irrelevant to the success that weve had as a nation since Ive been President. Asked what the Administrations message is to Congressional Republicans supporting the discharge petition, a White House official told TIME that it would be viewed as a very hostile act. Helping Thomas Massie and Liberal Democrats with their attention-seeking, while the DOJ is fully supporting a more comprehensive file release effort from the Oversight Committee, would be viewed as a very hostile act to the administration, the official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many rank-and-file Republicans, that message has created an uncomfortable bind: siding with the White House effectively means defending the Justice Departments decision to withhold documents without knowing why, and implicitly standing by the possibility of a future pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins longtime accomplice who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking related charges and was moved to a minimum security prison shortly after meeting with Trumps Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Survivors and their advocates warned that a pardon for Maxwell would be devastating. If Ghislaine Maxwell were pardoned, it would undermine all the sacrifices Ive made to testify and make a mockery of mine and all survivors suffering, said Anouska de Georgiou, an actress who has spoken publicly about her abuse. That is why the Epstein Files Transparency Act is so essential. The Trump Administration has faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans alike for its refusal to release the entirety of the so-called Epstein filesdocuments held by the Department of Justice relating to various law enforcement investigations into Epsteins crimes. The refusal to release the files has also prompted a backlash from the Presidents own supporters, many of whom believed that explosive revelations were imminent after his official and unofficial surrogates repeatedly stoked such expectations on the campaign trail and now occupy top posts in his Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To some, it has raised questions about Trumps decades-long documented friendship with Epstein, who was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. Trump has said he had a falling out with Epstein prior to his arrest, though new evidence of their relationship has emerged in recent months, including a Wall Street Journal report that Trump contributed a bawdy letter to Epsteins birthday album in 2003, which he has denied writing. No evidence of any wrongdoing by Trump relating to the Epstein case has ever been proven. House Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed the discharge petition effort, calling it inartfully drafted and insisting that it risks exposing victims who have never gone public. After meeting privately with survivors on Tuesday, Johnson called them the bravest women Ive ever met but dismissed Massies approach as effectively a moot point. The House Oversight Committee, he argued, is already pursuing the material. Massie countered that the 33,000 documents released Tuesday by the Oversight panel were heavily redacted and curated by the Justice Department to protect reputations, not survivors. Theyre asking you to believe that two individuals created hundreds of victims and acted alone, he said. The American people know thats not true. The survivors accounts lent urgency to his argument. Annie Farmer recalled being just 16 when she was flown to Epsteins ranch in New Mexico, where she said she and her sister were assaulted. Thirty years later, we still do not know why that report wasnt properly investigated, she said. Not only did many others participate in the abuse, it is clear that many were aware of his interest in girls and chose to look the other way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna, the California Democrat leading the push with Massie, cast the issue as a moral test for Congress. Were here not as partisans; were here as patriots, he said. A nation that allows rich and powerful men to traffic and abuse young girls without consequence is a nation that has lost its moral and spiritual core. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. WASHINGTON Victims of Jeffrey Epstein are pleading with lawmakers to vote on releasing the full Justice Department investigation into the convicted sex offenders dealings even as top Republicans in Congress are wary to release the documents in full. Several survivors of the uncovered sex trafficking ring gathered on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to address the media and to press for the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would direct the DOJ to release all materials related to its investigation into Epstein and make it readily available to the public. The bill is being led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., despite pushback from party leaders not to interfere with other congressional investigations into the matter. This is not a hoax. This is real. There are real survivors, Massie told reporters. There are real victims to this criminal enterprise, and the perpetrators are being protected because theyre rich and powerful and political donors to the establishment here in Washington, D.C. So today, were standing with these survivors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The press conference comes after Massie filed what is known as a discharge petition on Tuesday, which would allow the Kentucky Republican to force a vote on his resolution even without leaderships approval. To do so, Massie needs 218 signatures meaning at least six Republicans would need to buck President Donald Trumps wishes to support the measure. So far, only four Republicans have done so: Massie along with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina. I find it interesting that the three Republican co-sponsors are women. These are women standing up for women, and Marjorie was the first to do it, Massie said. And I think she deserves all of our gratitude for breaking that barrier and leading the way for the other Republicans. Hopefully they can find their spines as well. Victims share personal stories working for Epstein some for the first time Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga along with victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's abuse, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. | Jose Luis Magana Several victims huddled together amid a large group of reporters and public onlookers as they shared the gruesome details of being recruited by Epstein and others in his circle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survivors were flanked by their attorneys Bradley Edwards and Christine Henderson, well-known lawyers for those who were abused by Epstein and who led lawsuits directly responsible for his conviction. The attorneys walked through the case of Courtney Wild, who approached Edwards in 2008 after she discovered she was part of a federal investigation into the Epstein trafficking ring but was frustrated she was not being asked to testify. All she wanted was the government to talk to her, Edwards said. Little did she know the government had worked out a secret immunity deal for Jeffrey Epstein, and we had to file Jane Doe versus United States of America to prove that Jeffrey Epstein worked out an illegal non-prosecution agreement with the government. Each of the survivors detailed how they were recruited as young girls by other peers around their age. Theyd be asked to give a massage to an older man and after doing so, Epstein would tell them to recruit someone else, according to the survivors. For so many years, it felt like Epsteins criminal behavior was an open secret, Annie Farmer, who said she first met Epstein when she was 16 years old. Not only did many others participate in the abuse, it is clear that many were aware of his interest in girls and very young women, and chose to look the other way because it benefited them to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marina Lacerda also shared her story with reporters, marking the first time she has ever spoken publicly about her experience. I was working three jobs to try to support my mom and my sister, Lacerda recalled. When a friend of mine in the neighborhood told me that I could make $300 to give another guy a massage, it went from a dream job to the worst nightmare. Lacerda said she was encouraged to drop out of high school so she could continue going over to Epsteins home, resulting in a loss of education. I hoped that he would offer me a real job as one of his assistants, or something important, she said. That day never came. I had no way out until he finally told me that I was too old. Victims say release of documents is crucial to accountability As lawmakers have continued to receive calls from the public to release the full Epstein files, GOP leaders have been cautious not to do so haphazardly. In fact, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has repeatedly pushed back against Massies petition with arguments it could put victims at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also want to be equally certain that we protect the victims, Johnson said, asserting that Massies bill doesnt protect their identities a charge Massie has rejected. We were very careful to make sure that there is an exception, so that personally identifiable information, not just their names, but anything they can be identified by, would not be disclosed, Massie said on Wednesday. When asked if theyd be afraid of information being released, each of the victims said they wanted the full files made public. While we have seen the documents, you havent, Edwards said. And when you see the document, youre going to be appalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Survivors also argued that the documents in the DOJs possession had helped them piece together parts of their lives that theyve been traumatized by. These women are real. Were here in person to say that isnt a hoax. Its just not, Haley Robson, another survivor, told reporters. Please humanize us. I would like Donald J. Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us, to see us for who we are, and to hear us for what we have to say. There is no hoax. The abuse was real. Victims say theyll create own list and continue pressure campaign Even as pressure ramps up, GOP leaders are looking for alternatives to squash Massies effort. GOP leaders scheduled a vote on a resolution to encourage the House Oversight Committee to continue its current investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein an inquiry that has already resulted in the Justice Department handing over thousands of pages to lawmakers last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doing so would only require the Oversight Committee to publish the documents that are handed over by the DOJ whereas Massie is pushing for the DOJ itself to release all documents in its possession. The resolution would be mostly symbolic and serve as a political cover for Republicans who have faced accusations from their Democratic counterparts that they are shielding prominent celebrities or politicians who were linked to Epstein. Massie has already said such a move would not stop him for pushing for the full release, arguing the documents being handed over to the Oversight Committee is less than 1% of the total materials. Survivors indicated they would not let up either, telling reporters on Wednesday they are working to compile their own list of names based on clients that victims personally interacted with in Epstein world. Its not clear if that list will eventually be made public, but it will be used as a way for victims who have not yet come forward to provide further information. We know the names, said Lisa Phillips, who testified in front of reporters on Wednesday. Stay tuned for more details. A host of victims of Jeffrey Epstein appeared on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to deliver a simple message to Congress: Force the Trump administration to release all the federal files on the late financier and convicted sex offender. In a dramatic press conference just steps from the Capitol, the survivors of Epsteins decades-long abuse offered emotional testimony about their experiences, hammered the government for keeping the files under wraps, and accused those lawmakers opposing the release of shielding a group of rich and powerful people from accountability. We are not asking for pity. We are here demanding accountability, and Im demanding justice, said Lisa Phillips, who said she was taken to Epsteins private island in 2000. Congress must choose: Will you continue to protect predators, or will you finally protect survivors? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the victims also highlighted the ties between Epstein and President Trump, who had associated in the same social circles in Florida and New York years ago, saying Epstein frequently bragged about the intimacy of that relationship. Jeffrey and Ghislaine were always very boastful about their friends, their famous or powerful friends, and his biggest brag, forever, was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump, said Chauntae Davies. He had an 810 picture of him on his desk, with the two of them. They were very close. The victims are pushing lawmakers to pass a resolution, sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), requiring the administration to release virtually all the federal files related to the federal investigation of Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison for crimes related to the sexual abuse of minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That legislation is opposed by Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has offered an alternative proposal designed to bolster an Epstein investigation already underway in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Supporters of the Massie-Khanna approach, including the victims who appeared at the Capitol on Wednesday, have rejected Johnsons alternative bill, saying it lacks the teeth to compel the Justice Department to release documents the administration doesnt want revealed. Their resolution doesnt really do anything, and thats the oldest trick in the swamp, Massie said. When you want to kill the momentum, you release a placebo a different bill that does nothing and then try to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people. Thats not going to happen this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as they spoke, Trump dismissed the outcry over the Epstein files as a hoax, concocted by Democrats, to harm him politically. Its really a Democrat hoax, because theyre trying to get people to talk about something thats totally irrelevant to the success weve had as a nation since Ive been president, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. The Epstein victims pushed back hard against Trumps characterization. One of them, Haley Robson, said shes a registered Republican and challenged Trump to meet with her during her visit to Washington. These women are real. Were here in person, she said. There is no hoax. The abuse was real. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a close Trump ally, has broken sharply with the president on the Epstein case. She appeared alongside the victims on Wednesday and praised them for coming forward. She also acknowledged the difficulty of naming the names of powerful figures These are some of the richest, most powerful people in the world that can sue these women into poverty and homelessness, she said but offered to read the names of their abusers herself from the House floor. If they want to give me a list, I will walk in that Capitol on the House floor, and Ill say every damn name that abused these women, Greene said. Separately, Phillips said the group of survivors is in the process of compiling a list of abusers based on their own experiences, which they may or not make public in the future. We know the names. Many of us were abused by them, she said. Stay tuned for more details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appearance of the victims on Capitol Hill puts new pressure on House Republicans to bring the Massie-Khanna bill to the floor, or at least to endorse a procedural tool, known as a discharge petition, requiring a vote on the bill if 218 lawmakers sign on. Because all 212 House Democrats are expected to endorse the petition, supporters will need six Republicans to force that vote. Four have already joined the effort GOP Reps. Massie, Greene, Nancy Mace (S.C.) and Lauren Boebert (Colo.) leaving them two shy of their goal. Theres 200 Republicans who could do something to get justice for the victims and survivors, and I only need two, Massie said. Eighty percent of Republicans support releasing these files, so theyre at odds with our base right now. Johnson and the members of the Oversight Committee had huddled with some of the Epstein victims a day earlier in the Capitol. But there appeared to be different interpretations about the message the survivors sent in that meeting. Mace left the gathering appearing visibly upset and quickly endorsed the discharge petition. But Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who has co-sponsored the underlying transparency legislation, said the victims made very clear that they did not want more files released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survivors who appeared with Massie and Khanna on Wednesday disputed that claim. To the person, they said they want all the files released, as long as personal information is redacted. In the Oversight meeting yesterday, they indicated they were all for transparency, releasing the files and asked us to hold them accountable, said Bradley Edwards, a lawyer representing many of the victims. So we intend to hold them accountable. The Epstein case has emerged as an enormous problem for Trump, who had campaigned on suggestions that he would release all the files on the case, then appointed top figures in the DOJ who had also fueled the theories about the government protecting a global cabal of elites with ties to Epsteins crimes. They vowed to get to the bottom of the scandal. In July, however, the DOJ issued an unsigned memo declaring that the case was closed and there were no more files to release a move that infuriated many Trumps most loyal supporters and sparked accusations that Trump was trying to bury his own connections to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie said he doesnt think Trump is featured in a trove of redacted DOJ documents that were released by the Oversight Committee on Tuesday. But predicted that some of Trumps close associates likely are. I dont think hes implicated in these files, he said. But I think his donors are. I think his friends are. Updated at 2:42 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Estonia has announced that it will contribute to financing the supply of US-made weapons to Ukraine as part of NATO's new Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. Source: Ukrinform, citing Estonian President Alar Karis at a press conference in Brussels alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as reported by European Pravda Details: Karis stated that Tallinn is set to join in financing the continued supply of US weapons to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The US-NATO initiative on weapons, PURL, is excellent in this regard. I want to emphasise today that Estonia fully supports this initiative. And we are happy to take part in this effort. Estonia will continue to support Ukraine in defending its freedom." More details: Karis added that Estonia has so far spent 0.3% of its GDP this year on direct military aid to Ukraine, and its defence industry is increasingly collaborating with Ukrainian partners. Background: Luxembourg also plans to join the funding of US weapons for Ukraine. Belgium recently announced a 100 million contribution, while Canada (US$500 million), Germany (US$500 million), and Lithuania (US$30 million) made their contributions to PURL in August. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Commission will propose measures this year to prevent countries from dodging its carbon border tariff, a Commission spokesperson said, as some in Brussels fear Chinese firms could reshuffle their trade to avoid the levy. Starting in January, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - the world's first carbon border tariff - will impose fees on the CO2 emissions of imported goods including steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The system aims to put foreign producers on a level footing with European manufacturers, who already pay for their emissions under Europe's carbon market. Officials in Brussels are concerned the system could be circumvented if foreign companies simply adjust by sending low-carbon products to Europe, while continuing to produce high-carbon goods for other markets. This would allow them to dodge the EU carbon levy without making their overall production any greener. The Commission intends to propose measures by the end of the year to tackle this risk and extend the carbon border levy to other downstream products, a European Commission spokesperson said. "How do we make sure that this whole system is not going to be gamed, by the Chinese in particular?" a senior EU official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Commission is considering measures including a system under which goods are given a fixed CO2 emissions value per country or per company rather than calculating specific emissions per shipment, the official told Reuters. "You want to make sure that you don't let someone off the hook for basically sending green stuff to us, using the grey stuff at home, and not changing anything," they added. Industries are pushing for the anti-circumvention plans. Industry group European Aluminium last month called for the EU to simplify the CO2 levy by giving all aluminium imports from a country the same CO2 emissions rating regardless of the emissions produced during their manufacture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would make the EU levy simpler to enforce but could face resistance from foreign companies, who would lose the ability to directly reduce their carbon border tariff bill if they reduce their own emissions. (Reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels; Additional reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing; Editing by Joe Bavier) The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to more than double funding for Greenland allocated from the EU's joint long-term budget in response to a geopolitical race for influence on the Arctic island. If approved by European Union countries, Greenland would receive 530 million ($617.3 million) in the period 2028-34, up from 225 million for the current 2021-27 period. The US administration under Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed its desire to take control of the island, which is largely autonomous but part of EU member Denmark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US president believes Greenland is strategically important both for defence and as a source of mineral wealth. The extra money is intended to finance cooperation with the EU on critical raw materials and energy, said EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath. The increase in proposed funding is a political signal that reflects the growing strategic importance of the EU's overseas countries and territories (OCTs), the commissioner said. The EU has 13 overseas territories which are constitutionally linked to Denmark, France or the Netherlands, including Greenland in the Atlantic, French Polynesia in the Pacific and Aruba in the Caribbean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission plans to increase joint EU funding for the entities to almost 1 billion. "In today's era of systemic rivalry, OCTs are Europe's forward posts," said McGrath. Greenland as an overseas territory "anchors" the EU in the Arctic and plays a central role in securing critical raw materials, the commissioner said. European Union countries are being asked to sign off on two major, yet controversial, free trade deals with Latin American countries after having received the legal texts from the European Commission on Wednesday. The EU's negotiations with the Mercosur trade zone of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay were concluded in December after more than 25 years of talks, creating one of the world's biggest free trade zones with 700 million inhabitants. The agreement with Mercosur is aimed at increasing the EU's annual export volume by up to 49 million ($57.1 billion) through cutting tariffs on products like cars, machinery and pharmaceuticals. In return, the four South American countries are to be allowed to sell more agricultural goods to the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate deal with Mexico extends an existing agreement aimed at removing Mexican import barriers for EU agricultural products and allowing the bloc to import more critical raw materials from Mexico. The commission argues that the deals are essential to boost the EU's economy as commercial relations with major trading partners the United States and China remain strained. "Our agreements with Mercosur and Mexico are important milestones for the EU's economic future," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "We are continuing to diversify our trade, foster new partnerships and create new business opportunities," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opposition to the Mercosur agreement in EU capitals has waned in recent years under pressure from gloomy economic prospects. France, Poland and Italy are however still critical of the major free trade deal, mainly citing concerns about the potential economic implications for their farming sector. Germanys former top judge said the existence of western democracies was in danger unless overbearing courts were reined in and Europe implemented asylum reforms. Hans-Jurgen Papier said uncontrolled and unconditional immigration was damaging public faith in conventional politics and that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had gone too far in its definition of the right to asylum. Mr Papier, who was once the most senior judge in Germany, is a constitutional expert. His comments mark a radical shift in public mood towards immigration, from the days of Angela Merkels open-door policy to the rise of the far-Right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to The Times, Mr Papier likened asylum rulings from national courts and the ECHR in Strasbourg as appearing to settle like mildew over the states political power to take action. German public mood towards immigration, has come a long way from the days of Angela Merkels open-door policy - Andreas Gora/Getty Images The prospect that those in positions of political responsibility in Europe could change this system and adapt it to the fundamental changes in our social, political and cultural conditions seems ever more difficult and ever more hopeless to many people, he said. He added the situation was generally destroying the European citizens trust in the capacity of their democratic institutions to act, and so at the end of the day endangering the existence of western democracies. Germany has hardened its stance on migration amid widespread discontent over its growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she famously told the German public that the country could cope with migration, Ms Merkel was bucking the trend in Europe which was resisting pressure to allow in migrants from places such as Syria. However, when more than 600 women were sexually assaulted by migrants in the Cologne New Year sex attacks at the start of 2016, Mrs Merkel found herself politically isolated. Islamist terror attacks A year of Islamist terror attacks followed, culminating when a rejected Tunisian asylum-seeker drove a lorry into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12. Even Mrs Merkels most diehard supporters began to fear she had got it catastrophically wrong. Years on and her liberal politics have been dispensed with by Germanys current leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friedrich Merz, the chancellor, said last month he will abolish a rule that automatically assigns a lawyer to asylum seekers awaiting deportation, even if they have lost their final appeal. Allies of Mr Merz told The Telegraph that the rule, introduced by a previous government, had mired German courts in red tape and was being used to prolong deportation cases. Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, will abolish a rule that assigns a lawyer to asylum seekers awaiting deportation - Clemens Bilan/EPA According to recent German government statistics, the number of asylum applications filed in Germany between January and July 2025 stood at around 70,000, a decrease of 50 per cent compared to the same time period of last year. The reduction in numbers has been linked to tougher German government rhetoric on migration, passport checks at all land borders and, more broadly, the passage of time with far fewer people fleeing Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, governments across the EU are under intense pressure from the populist Right to toughen up migration policy, with some hoping to set up offshore processing centres which would be similar to the UKs failed Rwanda deportation scheme. The scale of the surge of the far-Right was evident in August when for the first time in modern history, far-Right and populist parties were topping the polls in Germany, France and Britain. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now the most popular among voters, leading the polls on 26 per cent and putting the Christian Democrats in second place at 24 per cent. Frances far-Right National Rally was leading in France and Nigel Farages Reform Party is in front in Britain. 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. Evergy's plans to build a solar farm in Kansas are not affected by changes to green energy tax credits at the federal level, a spokeswoman said. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA New federal guidelines to wind and solar tax credits took effect Monday, but large solar projects planned by Evergy wont be affected, a spokeswoman said. The massive tax cut and spending law that Congress passed in July, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, limited tax credits for green energy projects, such as the two solar farms Evergy received regulatory approval to build in Kansas and Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two weeks ago the U.S. Treasury Department published its interpretation of the bill, outlining deadlines for beginning construction and clarifying when certain tax credits would go away. That allowed companies to determine the viability of planned projects. The solar power plants that have been approved by the Kansas and Missouri commissions will be generating electricity for customers in time to qualify for the existing tax credits, said Gina Penzig, Evergy spokeswoman. Joseph Astrab, consumer counsel at the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, said tax credits are taken into account when determining expected costs on green energy projects. Its going to be hard to tell what the immediate impacts will be. Its going to be a process, he said. The biggest importance of these tax credits was to help make renewable resources, such as wind or solar, more cost competitive with other types of resources, such as natural gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Astrab said the integrated resource planning, which utility companies complete on a regular basis, will address the effects federal changes will have on how energy is distributed in Kansas. In that process, the companies are considering resources, needs in the generation system and making a future-looking plan, he said. From CURBs perspective, were looking at both trying to balance affordability and reliability, he said. But clearly from the public hearings weve seen in the past and recently with different rate cases, a lot of people are concerned about affordability. In the last few years, weve been able to compare solar and wind projects to thermal projects, including the offset of those tax credits to make it more economical, Astrab added. That analysis will change going forward. A lot depends on how Evergy will evaluate projects going forward, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking at Evergys 2025 (integrated resource plan), the question becomes whether or not Evergy is going to be shifting away from procuring more solar, renewable types of resources in a system, and falling back on and Im not saying its a sure thing more readily accessible, economical natural gas resources and procuring more of those. Evergy received approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission to build two new natural gas plants, as well as the Kansas solar field, to the tune of about $2 billion. Penzig said Evergy develops a long-term outlook for expected electricity demand every three years and a plan to meet needs. We create a plan that will provide reliable electricity for the least expected cost, she said. Plans are updated annually between the triennial filings as factors change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plans look at multiple factors that affect generation costs, Penzig said. Some of the most significant impacts include expected demand for electricity, construction costs including any related transmission expansion, fuel, plant maintenance, major plant upgrades, environmental regulation and state or federal policy treatment including tax benefits, she said. The last time U.S. Army veteran Jussi Ruponen visited the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in June, he was surprised to see his primary care physician come in to check his vitals. In his 20 years as a patient at the Dane County-based VA medical center, Ruponen said that task had always been completed by a nurse. When he asked about the change, he said his doctor told him there weren't enough nurses to do that work regularly anymore. After a life-altering chemical exposure overseas led to Ruponen losing his ability to walk, regular visits to the veterans' health clinic every six months are crucial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If I don't see these doctors, they can't keep good tabs on me and adjust my medication levels to make sure I can be alright," he said. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin meets with three veterans and a retired VA medical doctor on May 27 at Dry Hootch in Madison to discuss job reductions at VA hospitals and clinics across Wisconsin and the country. At a roundtable for veterans hosted by Sen. Tammy Baldwin earlier this year, Ruponen said he increasingly worries about waning staff, and he's not the only one. According to an August report from the Office of Inspector General, the watchdog arm of the Department of Veterans Affairs, all 139 Veterans Health Administration facilities in the country have reported severe occupational shortages, a 50% increase from last year. According to the report, Wisconsin's three VA health care systems William S. Middleton Memorial, VA Tomah Health Care and Clement J. Zablocki Veterans' Administration Medical Center were short a combined 51 clinical positions and 21 nonclinical positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Middleton and Tomah facilities reported severe shortages of medical officers and nurses. The Tomah and Milwaukee facilities, meanwhile, reported severe shortages of psychiatrists. The Office of Inspector General audit flagged psychology as the most frequently reported shortage overall. The report comes after Trump-appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins vowed in March to slash more than 76,000 jobs under a major restructuring plan, arguing that waste, fraud and abuse encumbered the VA's ability to serve patients. By July, the department walked back its need for a large-scale reduction in force. However, the VA has said other employee-reducing measures, such as the federal hiring freeze, deferred resignation program, retirements and attrition diminished staff numbers from January to June by nearly 17,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA expects an additional 12,000 to vacate their positions by the end of September. The VA's watchdog arm conducted its surveys in April, before the lion's share of job reductions took place. Since the Office of Inspector General began auditing facilities in 2014, it has identified severe shortages in eight of its 12 annual reports. But 2025 marks the highest number of staffing shortages since 2018. To conduct these surveys, the office sent questionnaires about vacancies to each of the 139 facilities. The standards for staffing levels are based on federal regulations from the Office of Personnel Management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peter Kasperowicz, press secretary for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, dismissed the watchdog office's findings, calling them "not standardized and unreliable." "The report simply lists occupations that facilities feel are difficult for which to recruit and retain, so the results are completely subjective," Kasperowicz told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an email Aug. 26. Department-wide, he said, the vacancy rates for doctors and nurses are 14% and 10%, respectively. Kasperowicz emphasized those are lower now than under the Biden administration, when vacancy rates were 19% and 20% for doctors and nurses, respectively. A spokesperson from the Office of Inspector General declined to comment outside of what was outlined in the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: 'You don't know when the hammer is going to drop': Fired, then rehired, Wisconsin federal workers feel in limbo Related: Federal workers, including at least one disabled veteran, fired from the VA in Madison VA spokesperson says 'mission-critical' positions are not being targeted According to Kasperowicz, the decision to reduce VA staffing levels is a response to the Biden administration's failure to address "nearly all of its most serious problems, such as benefits backlogs, rising health care wait times and major issues with survivor benefits." The VA has said "mission-critical" positions like doctors, nurses and other front-line workers are not the target of the voluntary resignations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kasperowicz said cutting positions like administrators, advisors and middle manager posts will "eliminate duplicative, unnecessary layers of management and bureaucracy that do nothing to serve our veterans and actually hinder work." Of the shortages flagged at the Middleton VA, 25 were clinical staff, including medical officers, nurses, and primary care positions. Eleven were nonclinical, including painters, maintenance mechanics and food service workers. At Tomah, the report showed a similar breakdown, with nine shortages among clinical staff and five nonclinical. Zablocki, meanwhile, reported shortages in 16 clinical positions, including internal medicine and psychiatry, and five nonclinical positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Michael Siebers, a physician who served at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital for 27 years, said many clinicians are choosing to leave on their own accord. As of May, Siebers said, more than 1,700 nurses and at least 200 had already departed across the country. "They're not firing nurses they're forcing them to retire," said Siebers, who also spoke at the roundtable hosted by Baldwin. The upheaval has made the VA hospitals a less-than-appealing place to work, according to Siebers. He said the severe shortages have impacted nonclinical staff like medical technicians and custodians, too. This creates delays in patient care, from nurses having to run across the campus to fetch IV poles to cardiovascular surgeons having to clean their own offices after each patient, Siebers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Things are changing. When I try to talk to someone who I worked with for 20 years, they won't answer my phone call," Siebers said. "They're afraid." Fitzgerald, Baldwin respond to concerns about VA staff shortages Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, who is a veteran, told the Journal Sentinel in an emailed statement he will "always make it a top priority to ensure Wisconsin veterans have access to the care they deserve." Fitzgerald noted the opening of a outpatient clinic in Oconomowoc last June has expanded access in the community. Fitzgerald also shared an August press release from the VA showing that more than three-quarters of VA hospitals across the country received top scores for patient care, "a strong reflection of the quality that veterans can and should expect," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He encouraged any veteran who needs help navigating the VA system to call his district office in Oconomowoc at 262-784-1111 for assistance. Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, meanwhile, accused the Trump administration of "pulling the rug out from under our veterans." "These dedicated folks that serve at the VA are not just leaving out of the blue," Baldwin told the Journal Sentinel in an emailed statement Aug. 22. "The Trump Administration is driving them out and it means longer wait times, calls going unanswered, and veterans not getting the care they deserve." Carolyn Morgan, a U.S. Air Force veteran, worries whether her family will ever be eligible for disability benefits after her father, an Air Force veteran, died from exposure to Agent Orange. Carolyn Morgan, a second-generation veteran of the U.S. Air Force who spoke at Baldwin's event, said she was grateful when Congress passed a law in 2022 expanding VA benefits to those exposed to toxic chemicals like Agent Orange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her father, who served in the Vietnam and Korean wars, died from kidney failure and heart disease associated with exposure to Agent Orange. The new law, known as the PACT Act, opened the door for her mother to finally get benefits from her father's passing. Now, amid the federal overhaul, Morgan fears the VA will toss aside her family and other families' cases. "We're not being taken care of," Morgan said. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Staffing shortages plague Wisconsin's VA medical centers, audit finds Forensic experts have revealed that Bryan Kohberger received a text from his mother, MaryAnn Kohberger, regarding the Idaho student killings. The message reportedly arrived four days after the murders and is believed to have come through while the convicted killer was on the phone with MaryAnn. Weeks later, Bryan Kohberger was arrested in connection with the murders of Xana Kernodle, Madison "Maddie" Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Ethan Chapin. The Text Was Made During A Phone Call With The Idaho Killer ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA As Kohberger serves his four consecutive life sentences for the murders of four Idaho students, revelations have continued to emerge about his case, which were previously unknown prior to his sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forensic experts have now disclosed to NewsNation's Banfield another startling detail, revealing that the convicted killer received a text from his mother about the Idaho murders just four days after the killings. The experts claimed that MaryAnn Kohberger had texted her son a news article on the case, and that the text came in while she was on a call with the former PhD student. They believe it was likely that the duo was conversing about the murders during the call, although the details of the conversation remain unknown. Interestingly, experts pointed out that no written reply from Kohberger was found in response to his mother's text, suggesting he may have addressed it during their phone call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also found no evidence that MaryAnn Kohberger knew her son was the killer, noting it was more likely she brought up the murders out of concern because of how close he lived to the crime scene. Bryan Kohberger Became Frantic After Police Linked A Vehicle To The Idaho Murders ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA In the weeks after the murders, it took some time before police announced they were searching for a suspect connected to the killings who drove the same type of car Bryan Kohberger owned. The revelation reportedly sent Kohberger into a frantic state, with reports indicating he carried out a series of unusual online searches soon after, per Fox News. "I think the vehicle was a huge stress point for him," said Jared Barnhart of Cellebrite, a digital forensic company that works with law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Barnhart, investigations into the searches revealed that Kohberger downloaded a PDF list of Hyundai Elantras from Washington State University. He also spent some time searching for an auto detailing shop and even shopped online for a different car altogether. "If you weren't the bad guy, you wouldn't care, but he was scrambling, and he thought the police were on him," the digital forensic expert added about Kohberger's behavior. "And they were. They were at that point." Where Is Bryan Kohberger? Ada County Sheriff's Office/MEGA A day after conducting the online searches, Kohberger was arrested and charged with the murders of the Idaho students. Investigators were led to him after discovering a knife sheath at the crime scene that contained his DNA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the DNA match and other incriminating evidence, Kohberger maintained his innocence for years before eventually agreeing to a plea deal in July, receiving four consecutive life sentences. The plea deal removed the death penalty from consideration, a punishment Kohberger would likely have faced had the case proceeded to trial. After his sentencing, he was transferred to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, a facility that houses some of the state's most violent offenders. Photographs Of Bryan Kohberger's Home And Office Were Recently Released MEGA Late last month, the authorities released a series of photographs appearing to show Bryan Kohberger's home and office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the pictures featured a whiteboard with a message, "Take It Easy! Don't Give Up!" scrawled across it. Another image depicted his sparsely furnished room, containing little more than basic items like a chair and a table. The authorities also photographed his reading materials, which included several books on criminal justice and one specifically focused on the sexual victimization of women on college campuses. See all the chilling images here. An 'Improvement Plan' Was Issued To Bryan Kohberger By WSU ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Additionally, police documented personal items such as "happy birthday" cards addressed to Kohberger and an "improvement plan" issued by Washington State University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The convicted murderer had been pursuing his PhD in criminology at the school and reportedly had issues with several students in the community. Other notable findings photographed by the police included stacks of papers, a card featuring Theodore Roosevelt printed over a T-Rex, and multiple tickets from WSU. Sep. 2CHENEY Eastern Washington University plans to launch a Law Enforcement Leadership and Practice program in the fall of 2026 to help working police officers build practical skills, advance in their careers, and meet the evolving challenges of modern policing, according to an announcement from the university. Offered through EWU's College of Professional Programs, the fully online, four-year bachelor's degree is designed to be flexible to the dynamic schedules of law enforcement officers, with an asynchronous teaching model that doesn't require students to attend classes in person or to be online at a specific time, according to the announcement. Such a model is also expected to appeal to officers in rural communities throughout Eastern Washington for whom traveling to campus isn't practical. "By creating a flexible, high-quality, and relevant degree, we are helping officers strengthen their leadership skills, advance their careers, and better serve the public," Osman Ozturgut, dean of the College of Professional Programs, wrote in the announcement. "This program embodies our mission in the College of Professional Programs to prepare dedicated professionals to meet today's challenges with knowledge, integrity and innovation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're meeting officers where they are personally, professionally and academically. The barrier of entry is low, and the quality of education is high," Brian Davenport, director of EWU's organizational leadership program, wrote. With input from local law enforcement leadership, EWU has created classes specifically for the program that include Data Driven Policing, Professional Development and Career Advancement For Law Enforcement, and Community Policing Strategies, among others. All degree-specific classes will be taught by experienced law-enforcement leaders, according to the university. The curriculum will also incorporate classes from EWU's criminal justice and psychology programs, among other fields. "I am excited about Eastern Washington University's law enforcement leadership program," Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels wrote in the announcement. "Leading law enforcement organizations is a daunting task requiring leaders who understand not only operations, but also organizational cultures and how to change and sustain them. The knowledge gained in Eastern's program will prepare men and women to take this knowledge and develop skills in real-world situations." Police officers interested in the program can learn more at https://bit.ly/EWULawEnf. A former correctional officer, a former inmate at a South Carolina prison and the ex-inmate's brother have been arrested and charged with running a widespread operation to smuggle drugs into over a dozen state prisons. The trio allegedly used packages "presented as containing books" to smuggle hundreds of strips containing synthetic cannabinoids and Suboxone into 14 prisons in the state, according to arrest warrants. The packages were dropped off at the Woodruff Post Office and mailed to the various prisons between March and June 2025, officials said. The former correctional officer was identified by the South Carolina Department of Corrections as Shataysha Quneeka Lewis, 36. Lewis left her job at South Carolina's Evans Correctional Institution in 2019, the department said. She was charged with possession of suboxone with intent to distribute, possession of synthetic marijuana with intent to distribute, providing contraband to prisoners and criminal conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former inmate was identified as Devin Jamaal Kershaw, 41. Kershaaw is a former inmate who spent about 20 years in prison for charges including kidnapping before his release in 2022, the South Carolina Department of Corrections said. He has been charged with possession of suboxone, possession of a firearm by a felon, furnishing contraband to a prisoner and criminal conspiracy. Kershaw's brother, Coure Romaine Terry, 36, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, the department said. Court documents allege that Lewis conspired with Kershaw and Terry to smuggle the drugs and orchestrated the delivery of the packages. Video surveillance footage showed her sending the suspicious packages, according to court documents. At least 20 inmates received the packages, the corrections department said. The court documents did not detail the investigation into the operation, but said that multiple inmates gave statements about their involvement in the smuggling effort. Officials also obtained messages and recorded calls from the prison phone system and contraband cell phones recovered from inmates, according to the court documents. The U.S. Postal Investigation Unit, the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office and the Woodruff Police Department contributed to the investigation, the South Carolina Department of Corrections said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We fight daily schemes from criminals trying to bring contraband into our prisons, and I will not tolerate it," South Carolina Department of Corrections Director Joel Anderson said in the news release. "These drugs are poisoning our inmates and are a danger to our staff. I am thankful we are holding these people accountable for the harmful situations they create." Similar cases have made headlines in recent years. In March 2025, a New York woman pleaded guilty to charges of manufacturing synthetic cannabinoids and sending drug-soaked documents to inmates in multiple correctional facilities. A Chicago correctional officer was accused of trying to bring such materials into the Cook County Jail in August 2024. In 2022, a South African woman was sentenced to one year in prison for orchestrating a scheme to smuggle dozens of packages containing drug-soaked papers into Ohio prisons. Sneak peek: Murder at Sea? Epstein survivor hints at potential list of names being compiled by accusers Watch: Lava shoots out of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano in latest eruption Ex-GOP strategist Stuart Stevens ripped Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday after she claimed Los Angeles wouldnt be standing today if not for Donald Trump deploying National Guard troops to the city. In an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation, Noem said Los Angeles would have burned down if not for the president, whose move was slammed by critics as an over-the-top reaction to mostly peaceful protests in the city against his immigration policies. In a post on X, Stevens wrote that Noems comments were funny until you recall that the president is the idiot that Republicans entrusted in a key position to protect America. Related: Kristi Noems Latest Donald Trump Boast Has Critics Howling When I was a Republican operative, we loved to label Dems as unpatriotic, wrote Stevens, the chief strategist on Mitt Romneys unsuccessful 2012 presidential campaign before joining the anti-Trump GOP group The Lincoln Project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which is what Dems should do. No Republican who voted to confirm this willfully ignorant fool can call themselves a patriot. This is funny until you think this is the idiot that Republicans entrusted in a key position to protect America. When I was a Republican operative, we loved to label Dems as unpatriotic. Which is what Dems should do. No Republican who voted to confirm this willfully ignorant https://t.co/PAsp2PgbxZ Stuart Stevens (@stuartpstevens) September 1, 2025 Noem made the remarks on Face the Nation when she was asked about using LA as a model for Chicago, where officials are bracing for the Trump administration to expand immigration raids and deploy National Guard troops to the city. Stevens now an independent who warned in 2023 that the GOP was driving American democracy to autocracy doubled down on his call for Democrats to label Republicans as unpatriotic in an appearance on The Bulwark Podcast with former Republican National Committee spokesperson Tim Miller. Related: Chuck Todd Says Trump Has To Be 'Hiding Something' About His Health Democrats need to get used to using that kind of language, he said. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin admitted on Tuesday that President Donald Trump is picking a smart fight with Democrats over crime in Chicago. Despite pushback from local and state officials, Trump has repeatedly threatened to send federal law enforcement into Chicago to deter crime in the nations third largest city. Griffin said while sending the National Guard may not be the best solution, targeting crime in Chicago is a smart fight for Trump to pick. Well, listen two things can be true at once. Chicago has a crime problem, theres no doubt and Donald Trump knows that this is a smart fight for him to pick, not just with his base, but with the country. When you hear that stat Labor Day weekend alone, seven people killed, over 20 people shot with bullets, Griffin told CNNs Anderson Cooper on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) has been staunchly opposed to Trumps potential plan to send the National Guard to Chicago. Griffin noted that Pritzker has acknowledged there is a crime problem in the city, but that sending federal law enforcement into Chicago may not be the solution. What Pritzker seems to be getting right that I dont think in some of the other instances weve seen early on is acknowledge that there is a problem. Its not right or left to say we need less crime. We need fewer people to be shot in American cities, she said. But then have the debate over how to do it. National Guard has never been the first step that we should go to. You could coordinate with federal law, or law enforcement, work with the ATF, with the FBI, she continued. By Francois Murphy VIENNA (Reuters) -The U.N. nuclear watchdog's talks with Iran on how to resume inspections at sites including those Israel and the United States bombed cannot go on for months on end, its chief told Reuters on Wednesday, pushing for a deal as early as this week. The International Atomic Energy Agency has had no information from Iran on the status or whereabouts of its stock of highly enriched uranium since Israel launched the first attacks on its enrichment sites on June 13, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tehran has now passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA and stipulating any future inspections will need a green light from Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Tehran and the IAEA are now in talks on how inspections can go ahead. "It's not something that can go on for months on end," Grossi said in an interview at IAEA headquarters in Vienna. "I certainly hope that we can conclude this process soon. We are trying to have another meeting, perhaps within a few days now, here in Vienna, to conclude this and to start the inspections," he said. "It would be really good if we could have this agreed before next week." Technically, inspections in Iran have resumed since IAEA inspectors recently carried out a mission at Bushehr, Iran's only operating nuclear power plant, but it is of so little concern from a proliferation perspective that it does not generally feature in quarterly IAEA reports on Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'BY AND LARGE, NUCLEAR MATERIAL STILL THERE' While Iran's three enrichment sites were badly damaged or destroyed in the Israeli and U.S. bombing campaigns, it is less clear what has happened to Iran's stock of highly enriched uranium - the most sensitive material having been enriched to up to 60%, a short step from the roughly 90% of weapons grade. A confidential IAEA report sent to member states on Wednesday and seen by Reuters said that on the day Israel launched its attacks Iran had slightly more material enriched to that level, 440.9 kg, than previously reported. That is enough in principle, if enriched further, for 10 nuclear bombs, according to an IAEA yardstick. Before it was known to have nine bombs' worth at that level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe there is a general understanding that by and large, the material is still there. But, of course, it needs to be verified. Some could have been lost," Grossi said when asked about the status of Iran's highly enriched uranium stock. "We don't have indications that would lead us to believe that there has been major movement of material," he said. Iran has not updated the IAEA on the status of the stockpile. In the event of an agreement with the IAEA, it would have a matter of weeks to send the agency a report accounting for it, a senior diplomat said. How the new system under Iran's law requiring special approval by the Supreme National Security Council would work is unclear, and Iran has brought up the importance of keeping the location of its enriched uranium secret, Grossi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Iran's obligations to the agency are unchanged, with Iran being told "domestic law creates obligations for Iran, not for the agency." ROOM FOR DIPLOMACY, UP TO A POINT The IAEA notified Iran in late July of its intention to inspect, diplomats said, and Grossi confirmed that normally it cannot let over a month pass without verifying the status of highly enriched uranium, which is refined to 20% or higher. Rather than precipitate a crisis by calling Iran out, talks continue. "We are trying, as I've always tried ... to give way to diplomacy, to allow for a process to be put back in place. Of course, this has to be done within a certain reasonable time frame," Grossi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He made clear the U.S. and Israeli strikes had not eliminated Iran's ability to make more uranium-enriching machines. With the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors due to meet next week, Grossi sent two reports on Iran to member states later on Wednesday making clear there had been no breakthrough. Both reports, seen by Reuters, said an agreement paving the way for inspections to resume "should be concluded without delay" and that Iran's stock of highly enriched uranium is "a matter of serious concern". Grossi told Reuters: "I don't lose all hope that before the board meets, we could maybe conclude." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grossi has long said he was considering running as United Nations Secretary-General next year. Asked if he was definitely going to run, he said: "Yes, I am going to do that, yes." (Reporting by Francois Murphy, Editing by Timothy Heritage, Alexandra Hudson) NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) Exhumations at a site near where the bodies of more than 400 followers of a doomsday cult were found two years ago have been suspended so that DNA samples collected can be analyzed, authorities in Kenya said Wednesday. The latest exhumations, which lasted two weeks, uncovered 34 more bodies and more than 100 body parts, and came during what police describe as the regrouping of former cult members. Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja said a multi-agency team was working to uncover what led to the deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have our best team working here, and very soon we will complete the investigation, he told journalists. Government pathologist Richard Njoroge said the postmortem examinations would begin once X-rays had been completed on the bodies. Eleven suspects were arrested a month ago after a woman lodged a complaint with police over the deaths of her children. They will remain in custody for one more month as investigators probe the matter. Police, in their court documents, said they were analyzing money transfers to the suspects phones from people they suspect were funding the operations. The suspects had paid rent in houses in Malindi town before moving to the isolated Chakama Ranch in the Kwa Binzaro area within Kilifi County, where they set up the mud huts next to which the shallow graves were discovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second time bodies have been exhumed within the expansive Chakama Ranch in Kilifi County, which has been linked to cult activities. Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who was charged with murder after more than 400 bodies were exhumed near his Good News International Church in the Shakahola area, remains in custody. The area is about 2 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the new exhumation site. Kilifi County is home to the extensive Chakama Ranch, where members of both cults lived in seclusion to avoid detection. Being isolated and rural, police presence in the area is not as strong as in major towns, and law enforcement is compromised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police boss Kanja on Wednesday admitted that Chakama Ranch was huge and said it was only through many actors working together that surveillance could be strengthened. This is a very expansive and forested area, and for that reason, it needs all of us to come together so that we can overcome these challenges, he said. Kanja said most of those reported missing and likely dead were not locals. It is still unclear how many people have been reported missing. When Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un all appeared together on a Beijing red carpet on Wednesday, it made for a powerful visual of unity against the West but one that analysts say fell short of proving what Xi boasted was Chinas unstoppable rise as a global leader. Although all three nations were sending a pointed rhetorical message, multiple analysts told CNN that they saw nothing to resolve a longstanding debate in the US intelligence community about whether the three should be considered a bloc acting in concert or merely three opponents of the West who work together when it suits them. There were also no outward signs of a substantive change in defense cooperation between any of the three, something that has been closely watched by US security officials particularly after North Korea began offering its soldiers to fight on Russias behalf in Moscows war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Up until now, the so-called Axis of Upheaval has been largely bilateral, said Beth Sanner, a former senior intelligence official and CNN contributing analyst. This was really a photo op aimed directly at the US and its Asian allies. But it papered over underlying tensions in particular between China and North Korea. I doubt this will turn into meaningful trilateral cooperation. The three leaders appeared together, chatting genially, ahead of a massive military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of Japans surrender in World War II, a prestige event for China attended by the leaders of 26 countries, thousands of troops and more than 50,000 spectators. President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social accused the them of conspiring against the United States. I understood the reason they were doing it, and they were hoping I was watching and I was watching, Trump said of the event. While Putin has embraced Kim for his help, Chinas Xi remains wary of the mercurial dictator. When the Russian defense minister visited Pyongyang to attend a military parade in 2023, it was widely seen as a formal signal from Moscow that it accepts North Korea as a nuclear state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Xi still hasnt given the full stamp of approval, said Syd Seiler, a former senior intelligence official specializing in North Korea. I think for Xi, this stops a little short of that, he said, while still sending the message that China does accept the burgeoning relationship between Russia and North Korea and cannot be counted upon to try to help disrupt or break up that alliance. The parade followed a regional summit in nearby Tianjin, which was headlined by a series of bilateral economic agreements between India and China. Russia and China on Tuesday also reached a framework agreement on a new natural gas pipeline to run from Russia to China. Although many details remain to be agreed upon, the memorandum still indicates Chinas willingness to continue flouting Western efforts to economically isolate Russia over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. unknown content item - Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parade was nevertheless a visually impressive display of military force, analysts said. China has been in the process of growing and modernizing its military and on Wednesday, unveiled a formidable array of new weaponry, including ICBMs, a hypersonic cruise missile and drones. It was a clear effort to demonstrate Chinas rise on the world stage a rise that Ely Ratner, a former Pentagon official during the Biden administration specializing in the Indo-Pacific, said is explicitly designed to displace the United States. Sanner called it a powerful display of Chinas soft and hard power that highlighted Chinas vision of an alternative order with an unstoppable China in the lead. But Sanner and Ratner both cautioned against breathless assessments of Xis success at casting China as a global leader. The Japanese werent there, the Europeans werent there, [Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi] was there for the [Tianjin summit] but he left before the parade, which I think was no accident, Ratner said. Yes, China has increasing influence among the anti-American, anti-Western coalition but that still excludes most of the most important economics and militaries in the world. Its a more mixed picture than China is winning, and America is losing, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com On the afternoon of September 3, 2025, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is in China specially for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi noted that President Prabowo coming to China for the commemoration despite difficulties shows the importance he attaches to China-Indonesia relations and the sincere friendship of the Indonesian people toward the Chinese people. China supports President Prabowos governance, Indonesias restoration of order and stability as soon as possible, and the development and growth of Indonesia. This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, the 80th anniversary of Indonesias independence, and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. No matter how the international landscape evolves, China and Indonesia always carry forward their national spirit of independence, pursue mutually beneficial cooperation, and demonstrate the responsibility of major countries for peace and development. China will work with Indonesia to uphold their commitment made at the start of diplomatic ties, carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, build the China-Indonesia community with a shared future against high standards, and make due contribution to the cause of human progress. President Xi emphasized that the two sides should stay on the right direction, deepen all-round strategic collaboration and the alignment of development strategies, ensure the steady and long-term growth of China-Indonesia relations, and set an example at the regional and global levels. The two sides should make good use of the 2+2 dialogue mechanism between their foreign and defense ministers, and deepen security and defense cooperation. They should work together for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand two-way opening up, and enhance cooperation in critical minerals, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, agriculture and fisheries. China is ready to share its experience in poverty alleviation with Indonesia, facilitate personnel exchanges, and promote people-to-people ties. As major countries of the Global South, China and Indonesia should jointly oppose unilateral bullying, and safeguard regional peace and stability and international fairness and justice. President Prabowo shared information on the situation in Indonesia, noting a trend of stabilization. He expressed pleasure in joining the Chinese people in marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of their War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Indonesia and China are good friends and true friends. Relations with China are a high priority in Indonesias foreign policy. Chinas long-standing and valuable support for Indonesias economic and social development is very much appreciated. The bilateral relationship is at its best in history. Indonesia looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in trade, investment, finance, infrastructure and other fields to achieve more outcomes in bilateral relations, deliver greater benefits to the two peoples, and contribute positively to regional peace and stability. Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, were present at the meeting. Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Ukrainian cities overnight on Sept. 2-3, targeting regions in Ukraine's far-west, officials reported. Explosions were heard in the western city of Rivne around 1:15 a.m. local time, Suspilne reported. Sounds of Ukrainian air defense fire were also reported between 2-2:30 a.m. in Lviv, according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in Ukraine, a downed drone in the town of Vyshhorod on the outskirts of Kyiv caused a fire at a residential building, Kyiv Oblast Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported. No casualties were reported in the attack. No information was immediately available as to any damage or casualties stemming from Russia's attack. Nearly all of Ukraine's regions were subject to air raid alerts throughout the night amid the incoming drones, Ukraine's Air Force reported. The attack comes as Russia has once again intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, despite Moscow demonstrating openness to pursuing peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 29 that the death toll of the Aug. 28 Russian attack on Kyiv has risen to 25, following a large-scale attack that involved 598 drones and 31 missiles. Another large-scale attack on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia on Aug. 30 killed one person and injuring 34 others, officials reported. As frustration continues to mount with Russia's non-stop attacks on Ukrainian cities, U.S. President Donald Trump levied frustration towards progress on a peace deal on Sept. 3. "I'm very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we'll be doing something to help people live," Trump said in an interview on the Scott Jennings Radio Show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Trump's comments, the U.S. president has continued to refuse to implement additional secondary sanctions on Russia's war machine. Trump's self-imposed two-week deadline to impose additional economic pressure on Russia that he announced on Aug. 21 passed on Sept. 2 without new measures being implemented. Read also: As Moscow escalates strikes and rejects talks with Kyiv, Trump says hes very disappointed in Putin Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Did a little girl in a princess dress help Jonas "Grizzly" Keller, an injured biker who was liying in a ditch along "Route 27 near Ashford"? No, that's not true: This is a fake story illustrated with an AI-generated image. US Route 27 runs through six states from Florida to Indiana, and none of those states has a town named Ashford. There is no record of a man by that name, and the image accompanying the story features a malformed hand, a common flaw in AI-generated images. The story appears in an article (archived here) published by flarumtr.com under the title "Bravery in a Princess Dress: Little Girl Helps Injured Stranger". It opened: On a late autumn afternoon along Route 27 near Ashford, traffic moved as usual until a five-year-old girl in a sparkling princess dress screamed for her mother to stop the car. Her name was Sophie Maren, a child with tangled blonde hair, light-up sneakers, and a determination far larger than her size. From the backseat she fought against her seatbelt, crying that "the motorcycle man" was hurt. This is the picture included in the article's social media card: Image Source: Screenshot from @thedailymatter post on Facebook The article continued: At first, her mother Helen thought she was overtired, yet Sophie insisted she saw a bearded man in a leather jacket bleeding below the ridge. Reluctantly, Helen pulled over, and before the car stopped Sophie bolted out, her dress hem flying, and ran toward the grassy slope. To Helen's shock, sprawled beside a twisted Harley forty feet below lay Jonas "Grizzly" Keller, a biker fighting for his life. This clickbait story was published on Facebook (archived here) on Sept. 1, 2025 by the page @thedailymatter. The first comment under the post contains a link to flarumtr.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The story says that the little girl, Sophie Maren, is a 5-year-old, but the child in the image looks to be only a 2-year-old. Her right hand, touching the leg of the biker, is strange. Five fingers are visible- but the thumb is either on the wrong side of the hand or it is out of sight - implying that she has six fingers. This type of error in rendering fingers is a flaw frequently found in AI-generated images. Image Source: Screenshot detail from @thedailymatter post on Facebook This same narrative appears in a post (archived here) on another Facebook page, Eva Whispers. The post links to a similar article on a different website, pilgrimjournalist.com (archived here). This time the story has a different AI-generated image (pictured below) which carries a disclaimer, "For Illustrative Purposes Only". Image Source: Lead Stories screenshot from Eva Whispers post on Facebook Route 27 is a north-south highway which runs from Florida to Indiana through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. None of these states have a town called Ashford. There is an Ashford in Alabama which is at least a half hour drive away from the portion of Route 27 in Georgia. There are other towns in Georgia on Route 27 which could have been named to give an approximate location along the highway if this story were true. A Google search for the name, "Jonas Grizzly Keller" (archived here) only found results pointing to similar instances of this clickbait story. Claim: The European Union banned a key chemical in gel nail products in September 2025. Rating: Rating: True In early September 2025, social media posts claimed that European regulators were going after gel nail polish. Some posts, such as this one on Instagram (archived), claimed they were banning a "key chemical" used in producing the cosmetic. Others, such as these posts on Facebook (archived), X (archived) and TikTok (archived) framed the situation as a ban directly on gel nail polish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the posts, there was no "grace period" for the ban nail salons would have to immediately get rid of leftover stock. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN9WOerEuzc The claim that the European Union banned a chemical in gel nail polish in September 2025 was true. This ban did not ban gel polishes entirely, however, as they can still be produced without the banned chemical. In October 2023, the European Commission passed a law updating the classification of the chemical TPO (short for trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide) to a category 1B CMR substance beginning Sept. 1, 2025. A CMR substance is a chemical that is classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction by European authorities. TPO was determined to be toxic for reproduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU rules require all CMR substances to banned from cosmetic products. So in May 2025, the European Commission passed a law confirming TPO would be banned from cosmetics, including nail polish, beginning on Sept. 1, 2025, when the chemical was set to be classified as a CMR substance. Starting on Sept. 1, retailers were no longer permitted to sell nail polish containing TPO and nail salons were no longer allowed to use nail polish containing it, according to an FAQ by the European Commission. TPO is commonly used in gel nail polish to make the gel go from liquid to solid when exposed to UV or LED light, according to ProNails, which sells products for nail care professionals. A 2014 opinion by Europe's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety stated that TPO is "rapidly consumed" in this process and that any "minor residual amounts" that may remain are trapped in the nail coating. That 2014 opinion concluded that TPO was safe when used in nail care products at the concentrations those products use. However, the CMR classification of TPO overrides that opinion, and a new opinion would be necessary to make an exception for TPO's use in gel nail polish once again. The ban on TPO does not amount to a ban on gel nail polish in Europe, as TPO-free gel polishes already exist. Various gel nail polish manufacturers already claimed that all of their products were TPO-free prior to the ban taking effect. These polishes can continue to be sold in Europe and used by European nail salons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TPO is not banned in the U.S., Canada or any other country outside of Europe, and thus gel nail polish manufacturers may still use the chemical in their products sold in those countries. Sources: "Delegated Regulation - EU - 2024/197 - EN - EUR-Lex." Europa.eu, European Commission, 5 Jan. 2024, eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2024/197/oj/eng. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. Karin. "What Is TPO in UV Nail Products? - CNC International Is TPO Free!" CNC International, 13 Jan. 2025, www.cncinternational.eu/news/tpo-free/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. "Regulation - EU - 2025/877 - EN - EUR-Lex." Europa.eu, European Commission, 13 May 2025, eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/877/oj/eng. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety . SCCS OPINION on Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO). 27 Mar. 2014, ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_149.pdf, https://doi.org/10.2772/45370. Accessed 17 Mar. 2024. "TPO." Pronails.com, pronails.com/naily-news/tpo. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. "TPO in Nail Products Questions & Answers." Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission, 7 Aug. 2025, single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cosmetics/tpo-nail-products-questions-answers_en. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. "TPO Will Soon Be Banned, but PN Selfcare Has Always Been Safe." Pn-Selfcare.com, pn-selfcare.com/blogs/selfcare-tips-tutorials/tpo-ban-coming-soon-pn-selfcare-always-safe?srsltid=AfmBOorTJ635XPu13SKdeeB_LWoVLNCL__LIIK8iVvcMCiXurr3DXIlb. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. "Understanding HEMA, HPMA, TPO, and Optical Brighteners." NiceDeco Gel Polish, www.nicedeco.com/pages/about-hema-hpma-tpo. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. Claim: The state of Texas banned Mountain Dew in August 2025. Rating: Rating: False In late-August 2025, social media posts liked thousands of times claimed that Mountain Dew, a popular soda, was "just banned" in the state of Texas, and that it's also banned in 160 countries. The most popular of these posts was a Facebook post (archived) liked over 7,000 times. Multiple other Facebook (archived) posts (archived) were liked hundreds of times. An X post (archived) making the claim was viewed over 30,000 times. Many Snopes readers searched the site to find out if the claim was true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1345490410265935&set=a.795986021883046 This claim is false. Texas has not banned Mountain Dew. The U.S. formulation for Mountain Dew was banned in many countries, but Mountain Dew could still sell in those countries with other formulations, and the banned ingredient in the American version was removed about a decade prior to the social media posts. The posts were most likely referring to Texas Senate Bill 25 (SB25), which was passed on June 22, 2025, and became law on Sept. 1, 2025. While the text of SB25 was broadly focused on nutrition standards, a section of the law concerned food labeling. The law requires food manufacturers to put warning labels explaining a product has ingredients that are "not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom" when sold in Texas if the product includes one of 44 ingredients listed in the law's text. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the law's passage, the standard flavor of Mountain Dew included one ingredient on Texas' list, according to the drink's listed ingredients on the Pepsico website. That ingredient was Yellow 5, which is a commonly used synthetic dye also called tartrazine. Even so, the law would not ban the sale of Mountain Dew's current formula; it would just require that Pepsico put a label on Mountain Dew cans and bottles warning consumers that it has an ingredient "not recommended for human consumption." It's possible Mountain Dew may eventually remove Yellow 5 from its formula anyway. In April, the Trump administration's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it would work with the food industry to eliminate the use of six synthetic dyes, including Yellow 5. As of September 2025, food products with Yellow 5 sold in the European Union and United Kingdom must include warning labels that declare it could have an adverse effect on attention and activity, but neither jurisdiction bans it entirely. Yellow 5 is permitted in Australia and Canada. The current U.S. formulation of Mountain Dew is banned in the U.K. because of an ingredient not included in Texas' list. That ingredient is calcium disodium EDTA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point, Mountain Dew's U.S. formulation was reportedly banned in many countries across the globe, including in the U.K., the countries of the EU and Japan, according to Mashable. That was because of an ingredient called brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which Pepsico says it no longer uses in Mountain Dew. The FDA revoked its approval for the use of BVO in food in 2024. Snopes previously wrote about the use of BVO in Mountain Dew and its later removal from the drink. Sources: Canadian Food Inspection Agency. "Food Colours - Inspection.canada.ca." Canada.ca, inspection.canada.ca/en/food-labels/labelling/industry/food-additives/food-colours. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "Colours and Food Additives Reported as Banned | Food Standards Australia New Zealand." Www.foodstandards.gov.au, 15 Sept. 2021, www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/additives/colours-food-additives. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Food Additives." Food Standards Agency, 16 July 2025, www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-additives. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "Global Regulatory Status of Synthetic Colors Approved for Use in Human Food." International Association of Color Manufacturers, iacmcolor.org/global-regulatory-status-of-synthetic-colors-approved-for-use-in-human-food/. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "Importing Drinks." Food.gov.uk, Food Standards Agency, www.food.gov.uk/print/pdf/node/543. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "Texas SB25 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature." LegiScan, 20 Feb. 2025, legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB25/2025. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "The Facts about Your Favorite Foods and Beverages (U.S.) | Mountain Dew - 12 Fl Oz." Pepsicoproductfacts.com, Pepsico, 8 Aug. 2025, www.pepsicoproductfacts.com/Home/product?gtin=00012000000850. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Claim: The online clothing retailer Shein used a picture of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in a summer clothes ad in September 2025. Rating: Rating: Mixture What's True: Shein used a picture showing a man that closely resembled Mangione in an ad for a summer shirt in September 2025. What's Undetermined: Neither Shein nor Mangione's legal team confirmed whether the photo Shein used was authentic or created or edited using artificial intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2025, a claim (archived) circulated online that the online clothing retailer Shein used a picture of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in a summer clothes ad. Mangione has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, awaiting trial since police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, arrested him in December 2024. The pop culture news outlet PopCrave's posting of the alleged ad on X had more than 8 million views at the time of this writing. The outlet captioned the alleged ad, "Shein's website appears to use Luigi Mangione's face to model a spring/summer shirt." Sheins website appears to use Luigi Mangiones face to model a spring/summer shirt. pic.twitter.com/UPXW8fEPPq Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 3, 2025 The claim about Shein using Mangione's likeness in an ad also appeared on Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived), Reddit (archived), Bluesky (archived) and TikTok (archived). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shein did use the photo seen in online claims to advertise a men's shirt in September 2025, according to TMZ and an archived page listing. That photo bore strong similarities to authentic pictures of Mangione from a court appearance in February 2025 according to online facial comparison software. However, it was unclear whether the photo was authentic, meaning not created or edited using artificial intelligence (AI). A Shein spokesperson told Snopes it got the photo from a third-party vendor but did not comment on whether that vendor created or edited it using AI. Mangione had been in custody for more than eight months at the time of this writing, meaning it was unlikely he had undertaken modeling work during that time. Given the above, we rate this claim a mixture of true and undetermined elements. We reached out to Mangione's legal team to ask if the photo was authentic, meaning not created or edited using AI, and await a response. A Shein spokesperson said in an emailed statement: The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery. We have stringent standards for all listings on our platform. We are conducting a thorough investigation, strengthening our monitoring processes, and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies. Shein did not identify the third-party vendor that provided the photo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Online facial comparison sites found a high degree of similarity between a photo of Mangione during a February 2025 court appearance from the reputable picture agency Getty Images and the photo from Shein's ad. Profacefinder.com and facecomparison.toolpie.com found a 73.3% and 92% similarity between the two photos respectively. BBC Verify, the BBC's fact checking and verification service, found a 99% similarity between Shein's ad and court photos of Mangione using Amazon Rekognition, a paid service. Additionally, online AI detectors Sightengine and Hive Moderation both found that Shein's image was 99% likely to have been generated by AI. Mangione has been at the center of a number of rumors since his arrest in December 2024. Snopes previously debunked an image allegedly showing Mangione in a Sailor Moon costume and investigated claims that female fans showed up at the 27-year-old's court appearance. Sources: ATTANASIO, CEDAR, et al. "New York Prosecutors Charge Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing with Murder, Court Records Show." AP News, 9 Dec. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-suspect-ceo-assassin-shooter-eaee0b7d31b319f42e0cf7f2f7badfb1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Luigi Mangione Appears to Model Clothes for Shein." TMZ, 2 Sep. 2025, https://www.tmz.com/2025/09/02/luigi-mangione-shein-clothing-model/. "Luigi Mangione Attends a Pretrial Hearing at New York State Supreme..." Getty Images, 21 Feb. 2025, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/luigi-mangione-attends-a-pretrial-hearing-at-new-york-state-news-photo/2200325596. "Luigi Mangione's Likeness Used to Model Shirt on Shein." BBC News, 3 Sep. 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g5vr4vzpzo. Men's New Spring/Summer Short Sleeve Blue Ditsy Floral White Shirt, Pastoral Style Gentleman Shirt For Everyday Wear, Family Matching Mommy And Me (3 Pieces Are Sold Separately) | SHEIN USA. 3 Sep. 2025, https://web.archive.org/web/20250903014800/https://m.shein.com/us/Men%27s-New-Spring/Summer-Short-Sleeve-Blue-Ditsy-Floral-White-Shirt,-Pastoral-Style-Gentleman-Shirt-For-Everyday-Wear,-Family-Matching-Mommy-And-Me-%283-Pieces-Are-Sold-Separately%29-p-59358613.html?cdn_rsite=cf&ref=www&rep=dir&ret=mus. SISAK, MICHAEL R. "Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Death Penalty Charge in UnitedHealthcare CEO's Killing." AP News, 25 Apr. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killing-luigi-mangione-nyc-bc926d92af482822c3186d55b87c5115. Did Donald Trump win an appeal that resulted in 34 felony counts against him being dismissed? No, that's not true: He won part of an appeal, but in a case unrelated to the 34 felony counts. On Aug. 21, 2025 five judges in a New York appeals court decided to throw out the $500 million penalty, but not the finding of guilt, imposed when Trump was found to have overstated his wealth for financial gain. That business fraud case was separate from a criminal case in which Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to hide payments made to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The meme appeared in a post (archived here) published by Michael Ward in the Facebook group "The Patriotic Meme Bank" on Aug. 27, 2025. The text in the meme reads: So trump won his appeal against the 34 felony counts you liberals like to throw out. Dropped the 34 charges and got his money back. Notice not one single media site talking about This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing: Image Source: Lead Stories screenshot of post on Facebook The post was published Aug. 27, 2025, just days after Trump and the Trump Organization declared a major victory when an appeals court threw out civil fraud penalties in a case in which he was found to have fraudulently inflated his financial holdings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meme mixes up the legal record by mentioning 34 felony counts. Those were the convictions from the hush money trial -- and those 34 felony counts have not been thrown out. The hush money case had nothing to do with the New York civil fraud trial, which found that Trump had fraudulently overstated his wealth in financial statements. On Aug. 21, 2025, the day of this appeals court news (archived here), the Associated Press published an additional article (archived here) titled, "Here's where all the legal cases against Trump stand since his return to the White House". This summary contains a link to a Jan. 29, 2025 article (archived here) announcing that Trump had appealed the hush money conviction. At the time of writing, that appeal is still in court -- so it is incorrect to say that those 34 felony counts have been dropped. Originally the penalty Trump had to pay in the New York civil fraud case was $454 million. An appeals court allowed Trump to post a $175 million bond on April 1, 2024. Since then, the original penalty, which Trump and the Trump Organization had not paid in full, continued to gather interest ballooning to over $500 million. That penalty has now been dropped, though the appeals court did not strike down the finding that he committed fraud. A search on Facebook for the text of this meme found an earlier instance (archived here) which was posted as a reel on May 14, 2025. The information in the meme was also false then, as it is now. Claim: Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sex abuse held a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 3, 2025. Rating: Rating: True Amid bipartisan pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to release additional files in the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a claim spread online that survivors of the financier's abuse planned to hold a news conference on Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rumor circulated often alongside a photo collage of eight women who accused Epstein of sex abuse on platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. Several posts claimed that some survivors would be speaking about their experience publicly for the first time. People who have accused Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, of abuse did, in fact, hold a news conference on Sept. 3. Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., first announced the event in Aug. 11 social media posts as part of a push to pass their co-sponsored bill to release the so-called "Epstein files." One of the lawyers representing the survivors, Brad Edwards, confirmed the accuracy of Massie's and Khanna's posts via an Aug. 26 email to Snopes. Live video of the news conference on Capitol Hill was available through various news media organizations. Thus, we've rated this claim true. See the full news conference recorded by ABC News below. Survivors began speaking at 16:02: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight survivors spoke in person at the conference, including Marina Lacerda, who spoke publicly about her experiences for the first time and identified herself as "Minor Victim 1" in Epstein's 2019 indictment on sex trafficking charges (see 24:01). Family members of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most-prominent accusers, also spoke on her behalf. Giuffre's family announced that she died by suicide in April 2025. The exact number of Epstein's victims is unclear, but there were significantly more than those who spoke at the news conference. The Department of Justice alleged in a July 2025 document that Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for federal sex-trafficking charges, "harmed over one thousand victims." The survivors and Giuffre's family all called on lawmakers to pass Massie and Khanna's Epstein Files Transparency Act after Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson reportedly sent lawmakers home early to stall a vote on the legislation. Massie filed a discharge petition on Sept. 2, a rare procedural tool to bypass Johnson and force a vote on the bill. As of this writing, four Republicans, including Massie, have signed the petition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I encourage my colleagues, please, there's over 200 Republicans who have not signed this discharge petition. We only need two of them to sign it. And every Democrat will sign it and that will get us the number we need to force this vote," Massie said (see 1:03:48). If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health, suicide or substance use crisis or emotional distress, reach out 24/7 to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) by dialing or texting 988 or using chat services at 988lifeline.org to connect to a trained crisis counselor. Sources: ABC News. "LIVE: Reps. Khanna, Massie Hold News Conference with Epstein Survivors." YouTube, 3 Sept. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=g90CyzAajHQ. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. Barrett, Devlin. "What to Know about the Fallout around the Epstein Files and the Trump Administration." The New York Times, 17 July 2025, www.nytimes.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-trump.html. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charalambous, Peter, and James Hill. "'We Need the Epstein Files to Be Out': Central Witness in Epstein Case Speaks Publicly for 1st Time." ABC News, 3 Sept. 2025, abcnews.go.com/US/epstein-files-central-witness-epstein-case-speaks-publicly/story?id=125196336. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. Faguy, Ana. "US House Speaker Shuts down Chamber to Block Epstein Vote." BBC News, 22 July 2025, www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjg9j0l7j9o. "FBI Memo, July 2025." Justice.gov, July 2025, www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl?inline#:~:text=Consistent%20with%20prior%20disclosures%2C%20this,%2C%20associates%2C%20and%20employment%20history. "How Attorney Brad Edwards Brought Jeffrey Epstein to Justice." Edwards Henderson, 5 Feb. 2025, www.crimevictimlawfirm.com/how-attorney-brad-edwards-brought-jeffrey-epstein-to-justice/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Jeffrey Epstein Charged in Manhattan Federal Court with Sex Trafficking of Minors." Justice.gov, 8 July 2019, www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/jeffrey-epstein-charged-manhattan-federal-court-sex-trafficking-minors. Khanna, Ro. "On September 3rd at 10:30am ET, @RepThomasMassie and I Are Hosting a Press Conference Joined by Survivors of Epstein and Maxwell's Abuse Several of Whom Will Be Speaking out for the First Time. The Survivors Deserve Justice and the Public Deserves Transparency." X (Formerly Twitter), 11 Aug. 2025, x.com/RepRoKhanna/status/1954969903666172012. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. ---. "On September 3rd at 10:30am ET, Rep. Massie and I Are Hosting a Press Conference Joined by Survivors of Epstein and Maxwell's Abuse Several of Whom Will Be Speaking out for the First Time. The Survivors Deserve Justice and the Public Deserves Transparency." Facebook.com, 11 Aug. 2025, www.facebook.com/RepRoKhanna/posts/on-september-3rd-at-1030am-et-rep-massie-and-i-are-hosting-a-press-conference-jo/1321267596033734/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. Massie, Thomas. "Discharge Petition No. 9, Bill Number: H.Res. 581, 119th Congress." Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, 2 Sept. 2025, clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2025090209. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ---. "On September 3rd at 10:30am ET, @RepRoKhanna and I Will Be Hosting a Press Conference at the Capitol Joined by Survivors of Epstein and Maxwell's Abuse Several of Whom Will Be Speaking out for the First Time. The Survivors Deserve Justice and Americans Deserve Transparency." X (Formerly Twitter), 11 Aug. 2025, x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1954974230942191901. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. ---. "On September 3rd at 10:30am ET, Rep. Ro Khanna and I Will Be Hosting a Press Conference at the Capitol Joined by Survivors of Epstein and Maxwell's Abuse Several of Whom Will Be Speaking out for the First Time. The Survivors Deserve Justice and Americans Deserve Transparency." Facebook.com, 11 Aug. 2025, www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1305568034259187&set=pb.100044180089059.-2207520000. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. Massie, Thomas, and Ro Khanna. "Text - H.Res.581 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Providing for Consideration of the Bill (H.R. 185) to Advance Responsible Policies." Congress.gov, 2025, www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/581/text. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. PBS News. "WATCH: Epstein Survivors Stand with Reps. Massie and Khanna to Push for Epstein Files Transparency Act." PBS News, 3 Sept. 2025, www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-epstein-survivors-stand-with-reps-massie-and-khanna-to-push-for-epstein-files-transparency-act. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PerryCook, Taija. "Yes, Virginia Giuffre, Jeffrey Epstein Accuser, Posted She Was Not Suicidal in 2019." Snopes, Snopes Media Group, 28 Apr. 2025, www.snopes.com/fact-check/virginia-giuffre-not-suicidal-in-2019/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. "Press Conference Locations." House Radio-Television Gallery, radiotv.house.gov/for-press-secretaries/press-conference-locations. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025. USA TODAY. "Watch Live: Jeffrey Epstein Victims and Lawmakers Hold Press Conference." YouTube, 3 Sept. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUvBDBbKBqw. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025. (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping oversaw a massed military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Here are some of the weapons China's People's Liberation Army put on rare public display in a show of its growing prowess and ability to project power far from the country's shores. MISSILES: China unveiled nuclear-capable missiles that can be launched from sea, land and air together, the first time it has shown off its "triad" of nuclear-ready capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those included the air-based, long-range missile Jinglei-1, the submarine-launched intercontinental missile Julang-3 and land-based intercontinental missiles Dongfeng-61 (DF-61) and Dongfeng-31 - weapons that are China's strategic "ace" power to safeguard the country's sovereignty and dignity, Xinhua reported. The Dongfeng-5C (DF-5C) shown on Wednesday is the latest version of a missile programme China began in the 1970s. The missile is liquid-fuelled and capable of releasing multiple, independent warheads on a single target. The parade featured hypersonic anti-ship missiles that China has previously tested against mockups of U.S. aircraft carriers. Those included the Yingji-19, Yingji-17 and Yingji-20. Other missiles featured included cruise missiles - the Changjian-20A, Yingji-18C, Changjian-1000 and other hypersonic missiles the Yingji-21, Dongfeng-17 and Dongfeng-26D with what China's state media said were equipped with "all-weather combat capabilities". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LASER WEAPONS China has been developing laser weapons as a defence against drone attacks. The full range of its anti-drone systems on display at the parade included a missile gun, high-energy laser weapons and high-power microwave weapons. State media said that represented a "triad" in the People's Liberation Army's anti-drone systems. DRONES: China showed off drones that can operate underwater and in the air, including drones that could be used for reconnaissance and to strike targets. It also featured unmanned helicopters designed to be launched from ships. The sea-based systems included submarines, surface vessels and a mine-laying system. (Writing by Kevin Krolicki and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The following are details of a trade accord between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc. The European Commission is set to formally propose the deal on Wednesday for approval by the EU's parliament and member states. TARIFF CUTS, LARGER FARM PRODUCE QUOTAS Mercosur will remove duties on 91% of EU exports, including for cars from a current 35% over a period of 15 years. The EU will progressively remove duties on 92% of Mercosur exports over a period of up to 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mercosur will also remove duties on EU agriculture-based products, such as the 17% on wines and 20-35% on spirits. For more sensitive farm products, the EU will offer increased quotas, including 99,000 metric tons more beef, while Mercosur will give the EU a duty-free 30,000-ton quota for cheeses. There are also EU quotas for poultry, pork, sugar, ethanol, rice, honey, maize and sweet corn and for Mercosur on milk powders and infant formula. Further, the deal recognizes 350 geographic indications to prevent imitation of certain traditional EU foodstuffs such as Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. WHAT PROPONENTS SAY Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Commission and proponents like Germany and Spain say the deal offers a route away from reliance on China, especially for critical minerals, and relief from the impact of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Commission says the free trade agreement is the largest it has ever agreed in terms of tariff reductions, removing over 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion) of duties on EU exports annually, and a necessary part of the EU's push to diversify its trade ties. The EU says that given Mercosur's modest collection of trade agreements, the EU would have an early-mover advantage and notes that EU companies will be able to bid for public contracts in Mercosur on the same terms as local suppliers - something Mercosur has not previously offered in trade agreements. The EU also sees Mercosur as a reliable partner as it seeks to reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals, such as battery metal lithium. The agreement will ensure there are no taxes on the export of most such materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents say the extra beef represents just 1.6% of EU beef consumption and poultry 1.4% and point to existing imports, such as 200,000 tons of beef per year, as proof that Mercosur does meet EU standards. There are also potential safeguard measures to address possible market disturbances. WHAT CRITICS SAY Friends of the Earth has called the deal "climate-wrecking", saying it would lead to increased deforestation as Mercosur countries would sell more farm produce and raw materials, often sourced from forested areas, including the Amazon, with dire consequences for the environment and human rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France, with a large beef sector that could be threatened by increased imports, has said it will sign the free trade agreement only if it "safeguards the interests" of French and EU agriculture. Italy and Poland have also expressed opposition. Together, the three countries could block the deal. European farmers have repeatedly protested that a deal would lead to cheap imports of commodities, notably beef, that do not meet the EU's green and food safety standards. The European Commission says the EU's standards will not be relaxed. The deal does include commitments on the environment, including to prevent further deforestation after 2030. However, green groups say it lacks enforceable measures. ($1 = 0.8542 euros) (Reporting by Philip BlenkinsopEditing by Frances Kerry) Sir Keir Starmer has called on the Metropolitan Police to focus on issues that matter most to communities rather than prosecuting social media posts. The force is facing calls to stop monitoring tweets and start policing streets as it battles record-high shoplifting, knife crime and sexual assaults on women. On Monday, Graham Linehan was arrested by five armed Met officers at Heathrow airport over three anti-trans comments he made four months earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Father Ted writers arrest has sparked widespread outcry and accusations that Scotland Yard is failing to uphold the law and has its priorities entirely wrong. Following the incident, the Prime Minister said he had been clear about his priorities on crime and policing. His spokesman said policing priorities should be tackling shoplifting and street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crime such as knife crime and violence against women. On Wednesday, Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Police Commissioner, hit back by insisting that police were in an impossible position over free speech and needed greater clarity from the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Telegraph analysis of crime figures shows the largest force in the country is failing to protect the public. Knife crime Scotland Yard has the highest knife crime in the country, with 182 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument per 100,000 population over the year to March 2025, Ministry of Justice figures show. This is more than double the 87 rate for England and Wales as a whole. Sir Sadiq Khan claimed earlier this month that knife crime had fallen in London, despite the Mets rates increasing 8.5 per cent from the 2023-24 figure. In a knife crime campaign, the Mayor of London said: One crime is one too many, as far as Im concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think crime is inevitable. I dont think its inevitable that a young person picks up a knife, I think it is preventable. However, figures show the Met alone recorded 31 per cent of all knife offences in England and Wales over the year. Labour has vowed to end the shockingly easy access to knives online by introducing tougher identity checks for those buying them from online retailers But the Home Office faced criticism for offering owners of zombie knives compensation to give up their weapons before a ban came into force last year. Sexual assaults The Met recorded a record-high 26,602 sexual offences over the year to March 2025, up 10.2 per cent on the previous year and 80.6 per cent up on the 14,729 logged over the year to March 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within these are a record-high 3,026 exposure and voyeurism offences, with sexual assault (10,316) and (9,151) rape offences both near their all-time highs. The Government has pledged to cut violence against women and girls by a half within a decade. Meanwhile, the Met admitted there was still much to do. Street crime Police data show the Met clocked a record 102,466 personal thefts, like bag or phone snatching, over the year to March 2025 equivalent to almost one every five minutes of every day. Despite this, the Met charged just 459 of such offenders over 2024-25. Thats a record-low charge rate of 0.4 per cent, equating to just one in 223 of the perpetrators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 93,123 investigations were closed without a suspect being identified over the year, more than ever before. Labour has committed to crack down on these thefts, although the promised 13,000 target of additional police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles will not be in place by 2029. Shoplifting Last month, Labour told shopkeepers not to place high value items close to store entrances, to try to combat shoplifting, despite official figures showing nearly 800 reported offences going unsolved each day. In London, the Met has seen the number of offences rise at a faster rate than any other force outside London, other than Durham, over the past 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The force has struggled to adapt to its increased workload, with just 5.9 per cent of offences resulting in a charge over the 12 months, in what is the lowest rate in the country. Social media In contrast, the Met is leading the way in prosecutions like that of Linehan. Of last years 28 cases where an individual was charged for using words intended to stir up religious or sexual orientation hatred, the Met brought forward seven of them. A record high number of prosecutions were also launched in 2024 for the offence, which Lucy Connolly pleaded guilty to, as the Met launched more than any other force. The force has been heavily criticised for the different approaches policing social media to physical crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Mark insisted policing had been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments, giving officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when theyre reported. He lamented having to police toxic culture wars and revealed a new more stringent triaging process so only the most serious online cases were prosecuted. But Harry Miller, a former policeman who works with the free speech campaign group Fair Cop, said: The police need to first of all understand what it is they are supposed to be enforcing. It is not opinion or rhetoric, it is the law. They cannot be policing tweets and also the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Miller, who won a free speech High Court battle following a visit from his local force after he tweeted about transgender rights, added: They have got their priorities entirely wrong. And it comes from the top. This comes from the College of Policing, chief constables and a succession of home secretaries. We are now living in a Britain where law is secondary to the enforcement of a political ideology. Susan Hall, leader of the London Assembly Conservatives, said the arrest over hurty words was utterly ludicrous. Im sick to death of people checking our words as opposed to our deeds, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are being told that the Met is 260m short in funding. I would suggest they spend this dealing with people who have committed physical crimes. She continued: Writing things that may offend people are a completely different category to gang wars and shoplifting. A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: The Mayor is working closely with the Met in their focus on tackling serious violent crime. Latest figures show a huge amount of progress over the last year reducing violent crime in the capital. On issues raised around the Public Order Act, the Mayor agrees with the Met Commissioner and those ministers who have said that further clarity could be helpful about the law and how it is enforced. 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) After a two year debate over whether the city should allow marijuana dispensaries, the Fairborn City Council has approved a resolution granting just that. At a city council meeting Tuesday, the council approved the resolution with a 6-1 vote. The citys mayor was the sole vote against a dispensary. In the meantime, the existing moratorium on dispensaries in Fairborn will be extended through the end of the year. This was the result of a vote that took place yesterday as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The extension will allow for additional planning on potential zoning amendments, among other things. The city will also take the time to consider regulations for selling marijuana and related products. 300 acres of farmland could be rezoned for new data center near I-70 Mike McNamee, Fairborns city solicitor, said that the decision to approve one dispensary will allow for a controlled integration of marijuana sales into the citys infrastructure. This will allow officials time to assess their impact as well as to streamline zoning. Ahead of the vote, Fairborn residents at the meeting were provided the opportunity to voice their opinion on the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some considered marijuana sales to be the privilege of an individual, while others argued that marijuana could induce negative health impacts. Do you want drugs in your town or not, one resident said. It seems like a no brainer for me. On the marijuana dispensary, Im pretty neutral. The people who did take the time to vote voted for it. In the meantime, the city will continue to outline the guidelines for the dispensary as the moratorium period continues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In the interview with the Post, Wilson spoke about the new Syria he witnessed and the opportunities that lie ahead. The fall of the Assad regime can be compared to the collapse of the Berlin Wall, according to US Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina). Who would have imagined on November 9, 1989, that the Berlin Wall would fall? he said Wednesday in an interview with The Jerusalem Post. The fall of the Assad dictatorship is just as symbolic and just as significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Wilson returned from Syria, where he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, along with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire). In the interview with the Post, Wilson spoke about the new Syria he witnessed and the opportunities that lie ahead. The good news is, its no longer Assad the dictator, he said. Al-Sharaa is committed to building a country that doesnt support terrorism or threaten Israel. He wants to create a unified state, and thats good for both Syrians and Israelis. A torn poster showing former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the Sayyida Zaynab district in Damascus, Syria, December 14, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/AMR ALFIKY) Wilson, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed confidence that Damascus is on the brink of a historic transformation one that could reshape the Middle East and potentially pave the way for peace with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know President al-Sharaas background, okay? But people can change, he said, referring to Sharaas past association with al-Qaeda. President al-Sharaa wants to work with the West. Hes been given a choice to side with war criminal [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, with Tehran, with Beijing or to join the West, and I believe hes choosing wisely. Sharaa envisions a unified Syria that breaks from its legacy of terrorism According to Wilson, Sharaa envisions a unified Syria that breaks from its legacy of terrorism and authoritarianism. He said his meeting with Sharaa, which was held at the presidential palace in Damascus, emphasized the symbolic shift under way. He welcomed us into what used to be Assads office, he said. The dictator is gone. His currency is still here he added while holding up a banknote with Assads picture but the regime is changing. There is real potential for advancing peace talks between Syria and Israel, Wilson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel must continue negotiations with President al-Sharaa, he said. Tom Barrack, who mediates between Israel and Syria, is a phenomenal intermediary. This is personal, and its possible. Israel also would need to take steps in any agreement, Wilson said. We want the people of Israel to succeed, he said. But it cant happen if Syria remains fragmented; that would lead to perpetual conflict. There should be a withdrawal of forces with guarantees and conditions. So, it has to be conditions-based, all right? You cant have fragmented states and not understand that that opens the door for ISIS, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharaa is doing everything he can to protect the Druze community in Syria, Wilson said. Hes already ordered an investigation into the recent attacks, he said. Hes doing everything possible to protect them, and if any government officials or military personnel were involved in the attacks, theyll be removed. The discussions with Sharaa also touched on the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states, Wilson said. Can you imagine? The Abraham Accords being mentioned in Damascus that wouldve been unthinkable under Assad, he said. While acknowledging that it is still early, Wilson said the door was now open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These things can be discussed, he said. Assads regime would never have allowed it. Now, theres an opportunity despite ongoing interference from war criminal Putin. With the UN General Assembly scheduled to convene later this month, Wilson said the Trump administration is working behind the scenes to achieve preliminary understandings between Jerusalem and Damascus. President Trump wants to give Syria a chance, he said. He truly is a president of peace. Syria had been one of the few countries not to condemn US action against Tehrans nuclear program, and that was noteworthy, he added. With hard work and mutual understanding, a new Syria is possible, and with it, a real chance for peace in the region, Wilson said. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Fallon Company just announced a new grant program to support local community organizations. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More This new community fund is an investment to help strengthen neighborhood ties. The company is interested in helping create opportunities for connection by supporting neighborhood and community organizations. The Fallon Company announced its $50,000 grant program. The program is a way to give back to the community and help neighborhoods connect with their residents. A variety of groups are encouraged to apply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grants up to $10,000 could be awarded to registered neighborhood associations, schools, nonprofits or faith-based organizations. The grant can help pay for beautification projects, public spaces for future neighborhood developments, community gatherings, cross-cultural initiatives, and neighborhood identity and engagement projects. The Fallon Company leaders said they wanted to make an impact beyond the East Bank and support the people who make Nashvilles neighborhoods strong. The Fallon Company Nashville Managing Director Ben Farrer said every group is encouraged to apply. Well help on the development side for the East Bank and be able to help to create a community there that reaches further than that, Farrer said. Nashville is a very together community. Youre able to look out for your neighbors, help each other out, and we want to be a part of that. The grant details for the Fallon Community Fund include a list of eligible and ineligible applicants. The list includes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eligible Applicants: Registered neighborhood associations 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations Schools and school-affiliated clubs or PTAs/PTOs Faith-based organizations (for non-religious community projects) Other established community-based organizations Ineligible Applicants: Informal groups of neighbors Individuals For-profit businesses Political or lobbying organizations Nonprofits that receive yearly charitable funds from The Fallon Company Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The application window for the grant opens on Wednesday, Sept. 3, and lasts until Oct. 20. Recipients are expected to be announced on Nov. 18. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.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 WKRN News 2. CHICAGO (WGN) The families of the two teenage boys shot by a Douglass Park lifeguard in late June have filed a civil lawsuit against the Chicago Park District and the lifeguard, Charles Leto, charged in the shooting. One of the boys, 15-year-old Marjay Dotson, was killed. The other, Jeremy Herred, was critically injured and is now a quadriplegic, according to the wrongful death lawsuit. Lifeguard charged in Douglass Park shooting appears in court as family demands justice Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for the teens families say the Park District knew or shouldve known that Leto was unfit to work as a lifeguard. The families of the teens and their attorneys addressed the media Wednesday morning to announce the lawsuit. Charles Leto What shouldve been a great day in the summer, fun at the pool, turned into a nightmare when a Chicago Park District employee pulled out a loaded handgun and started shooting indiscriminately in the park, Jeffrey J. Neslund, attorney for the families, said. WGN-TV has reached out to the Chicago Park District for a response to the lawsuit and is waiting to hear back. Shooting captured on camera On June 26, surveillance cameras at Douglass Park, located on Chicagos Southwest Side, captured two teens later identified as Dotson and Herred approaching the 55-year-old Leto as he worked on his bike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance video shows Douglass Park shooting, lifeguard charged with murder Moments later, Leto could be seen pulling out a gun and firing, hitting and killing Dotson and critically injuring Herred, a 14-year-old sophomore at UIC College Prep. Marjay Dotson (Photo provided by family) Jeremy Herred Sr. said Wednesday that his son faces a long road to recovery. Today is day 69 (of his recovery), and me and my wife havent done nothing but be by our sons side at the hospital, at his bedside, Herred Sr. said. We havent been to work. We dont go nowhere. Jeremy Herred (Photo provided by family) Prior to the shooting, the lawsuit says, other kids who had been denied entry at the Douglass Park pool had taken Letos bike as a prank and rode it from one side of the pool to the other. Court documents say Leto never called police or security for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit also says the teens were unarmed and never threatened Leto, whos been charged with murder, first-degree murder and other crimes. Leto, who says he fired in self-defense, is currently being detained until trial. Leto resigned from the Park District in lieu of being terminated, and a spokesperson with the district told WGN News earlier this summer that Leto is ineligible for future employment with the district. Previous incidents According to an internal review by the Park District, released in July, Leto had been given several warnings about his behavior toward guests. A patron at another pool specifically complained about the shooter, saying he did not feel safe because of (Letos) aggressive behavior, Neslund said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those warnings never made it up the ranks of the Park District, which prompted the district this summer to take a hard look at its employee policies. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Those verbal warnings were never tracked in our central human resource disciplinary file. So that never made its way to headquarters, Park District Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said previously. There was no way to be able to track those verbal warnings across different park locations, so we now want to make sure that were tracking those types of incidents so that we can then take appropriate action. WGN-TV also reported this summer that Leto shot two dogs and killed one in Lakeview in 2023 because he said he felt threatened by the animals. However, that didnt show up on a background check, because Leto wasnt criminally charged in the incident, even though he got into a standoff with police after the shooting. 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. Relatives of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip demanded an end to the Gaza war and an agreement for the release of the hostages at a demonstration held in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of people joined a mass rally in the evening, called by the mothers of two soldiers held captive in the Gaza Strip. Amid ongoing protests, Netanyahu accused the demonstrators of crossing a line by blocking roads and "threatening to murder me the Prime Minister, and my family on a daily basis," he claimed in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You speak and act like fascists," said Netanyahu. He accused the police of failing to maintain order thus allowing an escalation. Mothers of hostages feel abandoned Anat Angrest, the mother of soldier Matan Angrest who was abducted to the Gaza Strip on October 7 2023, responded to Netanyahu's statement saying she wanted to remind him "that our loved ones are not protected by an army of bodyguards funded by the state treasury. Instead, they are surrounded by an army of terrorists and they are not being rescued." Angrest accused the government of betraying their soldiers. "This week we buried the 900th soldier. Now it continues with reservists being called up for their third and fourth deployment to fight in Gaza over my son's head." 'Unbearable situation' for hostage families Vicky Cohen, the mother of soldier Nimrod Cohen who was abducted to the coastal strip on October 7 2023, accused the government of abandoning the hostages and their relatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What they are doing to us is a crime," she said, adding that the situation of the hostages and their families was unbearable. She urged Netanyahu not to say he was on the side of the hostages and their families. "If you really were, if it meant anything to you, my son would be home," she told the evening rally. Israel is planning a further assault on Gaza City but critics say this will endanger the hostages who are still alive. They and opponents of the conscription of tens of thousands of reservists began their protest in Jerusalem in the morning, blocking roads in the city. Israel believes some 20 of the hostages are still alive. Netanyahu has ignored the latest proposal for the release of some hostages in exchange for a ceasefire which the Palestinian militant organization Hamas said it has agreed to. Police officers arrest an Israeli protester during a demonstration in Jerusalem calling for an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and an end to the war. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa The New York attorney generals office filed civil charges against far-right anti-immigration activist Peter Brimelow and his wife for allegedly misusing more than $2 million in assets, including a West Virginia castle, from a charitable foundation they run. Brimelow founded VDARE, whose website has been a platform for white nationalist and anti-immigration viewpoints, and ran it with his wife Lydia until he suspended it in 2024 because of NY AG Letitia James investigation into its finances. The lawsuit alleges the Brimelows used $1.4 million dollars of VDARE funds to acquire a castle complex in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. They moved into the castle, transferred it to two entities they controlled and charged VDARE rent and fees for use of the space, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Individual Defendants, as directors in control of VDARE, have looted or wasted the corporate assets, have perpetuated the corporation solely for their personal benefit, or have otherwise acted in an illegal, oppressive or fraudulent manner, by, inter alia; providing excessive compensation and benefits to themselves and transferring VDAREs most valuable asset, the Berkeley Castle Complex, to entities controlled by the Individual Defendants or their family through a series of illegal transactions and thereby allowing the use of VDAREs assets for the personal benefit of themselves and their family, the lawsuit alleges. Authorities allege the Brimelows improperly continued to solicit donations to the charity after failing to file annual reports in violation of New York law. James office has been investigating the Brimelows and VDARE since 2022. She is asking the judge to dissolve the foundation, order the Brimelows to pay restitution, and bar them from serving on VDARE or the board of any nonprofit or charity in New York state. The Brimelows used VDARE like their personal piggy bank, draining millions in charitable assets to enrich themselves, James said in a statement Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN has reached out to the Brimelows attorney for comment. In 2024 when suspending the website, Brimelow said of James, She has waged unprecedented, unethical, and unscrupulous lawfare against, for example, the National Rifle Association and, most notoriously, against President Donald J. Trump. And, much lower down the food chain, against the VDARE Foundation. He said at the time the investigation bears no rational relationship to any conceivable offense. Last month a New York appeals court panel upheld James lawsuit alleging Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization engaged in fraud but threw out a nearly half-billion judgment against the president and his family, finding it excessive. Both sides said they will appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James is under criminal investigation by Trumps Justice Department, which is looking at whether she engaged in mortgage fraud and whether any civil rights were violated as part of her probes into Trump, his family business and the NRA. The criminal investigation is being led by Ed Martin, Trumps former pick for the US attorney in Washington, DC, who now holds four titles at the Justice Department, including director of the weaponization working group and special attorney for mortgage fraud. Martin previously appeared on a podcast hosted by VDARE and in April 2021 praised the site. He has also hosted Brimelow on his former radio show calling him a guy worth listening to and a pretty good authority about immigration during one 2018 appearance. CNN has reached out to Martin for comment. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Wednesday testified in the trial of his former assistant, who is accused of spying for Chinese intelligence. Maximilian Krah, who now sits in the German parliament after serving in the European Parliament from 2019 to 2025, told the Dresden Higher Regional Court that his entire team - including the defendant - had access to his personal accounts in his office in Brussels. Prosecutors believe that the defendant, who is only named as Jian G in line with Germany's strict privacy laws, has been working for a Chinese secret service since 2002. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jian G is accused of having gathered intelligence and confidential documents and passed them on to Chinese contacts while working for Krah from September 2019 until April 2024, when he was arrested. He also faces accusations of having gathered information on leading AfD politicians and spying on Chinese dissidents. Krah said he had delegated tasks such as managing access rights and sorting emails to his team in Brussels. "I hate all this stuff," he told the court. Seven further hearings have been scheduled until the end of September. An alleged accomplice of Jian G, Chinese national Jaqi X, is also facing charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Krah is a highly controversial figure, even within his own party. He faces a separate investigation over accusations of bribery by China and money laundering related to his time in the European Parliament. He has rejected the claims. Krah was also the AfD's top candidate in last year's European Parliament elections, but his campaign was plagued by scandal. Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wants Israel to annex 82% of the occupied West Bank. Smotrich presented a plan to this effect to journalists on Wednesday. The Palestinians should initially remain under the Palestinian Authority in the remaining 18% of the territory, he said. Later, "regional alternative administrative solutions" would be considered, he said, without giving details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smotrich stressed that in future there should be "no Palestinian collective" that "preserves national aspirations that seek to destroy [Israel's] own national aspirations." He accused the Palestinian population in the West Bank of supporting the Palestinian militant organization Hamas and seeking Israel's destruction. Referring to plans by countries such as France, Belgium and Canada to recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in New York, he spoke of a "Franco-Islamic conference." He said this was a new phase in diplomatic attempts by the Palestinian Authority - which he described as a "terrorist organization" - to harm Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The minister threatened the Palestinian Authority, saying it would be "destroyed, just as [Israel] destroyed Hamas," if it dared to "raise its head." Smotrich called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convene the government and make a "historic decision" on annexation. In 1967, Israel took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where more than 700,000 Israeli settlers now live among some 3 million Palestinians. Under international law, the settlements there are illegal. The Palestinians claim the territories for their own state with East Jerusalem as its capital. By Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout and Patricia Zengerle LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Nigel Farage, leader of the populist Reform UK party, took aim at what he called Britain's "awful authoritarian situation" on Wednesday, urging Washington to persuade the government to put an end to what he described as a clampdown on free speech. Giving evidence to the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Farage stepped up pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer over free speech, referring to cases when Britons had been arrested for making comments on social media deemed to incite violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also criticised Britain's Online Safety Act, which regulates social media companies, saying it was "a road to hell paved with good intentions". "It doesn't give me any great joy to be sitting in America and describing the really awful authoritarian situation that we have now sunk into," Farage said after being invited to testify by Republican Representative Jim Jordan, the committee's chairman, at a hearing examining European threats to American free speech and innovation. "You'll be doing us, and yourselves, and all freedom-loving people a favour if your politicians and your businesses said to the British government, you've simply got this wrong. At what point did we become North Korea?" he said. Last month, sources said the administration of Republican President Donald Trump was considering imposing sanctions on EU or member state officials responsible for implementing the bloc's Digital Services Act over complaints the law was censoring Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farage denied media reports that he had suggested that Trump should sanction nations which restrict free speech. He said Washington should warn Starmer that the Online Safety Act would only cause "serious trade implications" for both countries. Earlier, speaking to parliament, Starmer said Farage's decision to travel to the United States to, as he understood it, lobby for sanctions against Britain was a "disgrace". "You cannot get more unpatriotic than that," he said, adding that the 2023 act "protects children from material on suicide, on self-harm and online predators". Starmer has said he supports free speech. His spokesperson said the government's priorities remained tackling antisocial behaviour, knife crime and shoplifting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TWO CASES High-profile recent cases that have raised questions in Britain over whether the police should be investigating online comments include the arrest of Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan on Tuesday on suspicion of inciting violence over posts on X about transgender issues, and the jailing of Lucy Connolly. Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, was jailed for 31 months after she pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred for a post urging mass deportation of migrants and the burning of their hotels. She has since been released. Farage described Connolly's post as an "intemperate tweet" spurred by the killings of three young girls last year, one which she removed some hours later. "I wanted to bring her with me today as living proof of what can go wrong, but sadly the restrictions that have been put on her banned her from making the trip," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, the nation's most senior police chief defended the arrest of Linehan, saying officers were in an impossible position arbitrating between free speech and criminal content. Farage's Reform is enjoying a commanding lead in opinion polls before an election expected in 2029. Farage stole the initiative on immigration over the summer when he unveiled his party's plans for mass deportations of asylum seekers, forcing Starmer's government to introduce more measures to try to bring down high rates of arrivals. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper in London, additional reporting by Alistair Smout and Muvija M in London and Patricia Zengerle in Washington, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Former White House aide Alyssa Farah Griffin on Tuesday said President Trumps decision to target Chicago with federal intervention amidst his crackdown on crime is a smart move. Chicago has a crime problem, theres no doubt. And Donald Trump knows that this is a smart fight for him to pick, not just with his base, but with the country, Farah Griffin said on CNNs AC360. Over the weekend, 27 people were shot in the Windy City, resulting in seven deaths. Farah Griffin said this warrants a response from leaders, including Trump and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Pritzker seems to be getting right that I dont think in some of the other instances weve seen early on is acknowledge that there is a problem. Its not right or left to say we need less crime, we need fewer people to be shot in American cities, she told host Anderson Cooper. But then have the debate over how to do it. National Guard has never been the first step that we should go to. You could coordinate with federal law enforcement, work with the ATF, with the FBI, she continued. But again, this should be happening with the White House and with the governor of the state. Farah Griffin added that for now there seems to be very little communication between state officials and the White House as the Trump administration plans to intercede in Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the presidents repeated statements alleging Chicago would be the next city to experience a federal takeover following Washington and Los Angeles, Pritzker has issued a strong rebuke to the idea of allowing soldiers on the ground in the Prairie State. Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here, Pritzker said during a late August press conference. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NEED TO KNOW A farmer who runs an agritourism business in Scotland thinks sea eagles have been stealing his pony foals "I can't see any other explanation," Donald John Cameron said following the disappearance of five Shetland pony foals Experts weighing in on the farmer's theory have differing opinions A Scottish farmer is missing several pony foals. He thinks eagles are to blame. Donald John Cameron runs an agritourism business with partner Lindsay Robertson on the island of South Uist, according to The Sunday Post and the BBC. His Shetland ponies, which are crucial to his business, have started "disappearing," he told the BBC and he can't think of any explanation other than sea eagles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five pony foals have disappeared, and the Scottish farmer hasn't "seen or found any carcasses" to help him determine how and why the little horses are gone, he told the BBC. Losing animals isn't altogether unusual, he added to the outlet, "but to lose five is totally out of it." While some have suggested people may be the culprit "you couldn't rule it out," Cameron said the farmer thinks something more feathery is behind the missing foals: sea eagles. Sea eagles, or white-tailed eagles, are the largest bird of prey native to the U.K., according to The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The animals are "massive, heavy-set" birds with a wingspan that can grow to be close to 8 feet. "White-tailed Eagles are versatile and opportunistic hunters and carrion feeders, sometimes pirating food from other birds and even otters. They eat largely fish, but also take various birds, rabbits, and hare," the RSPB added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I can't see any other explanation," Cameron told The Sunday Post of the flying apex predators, which he said arrived on the Scottish island around seven years earlier. He also told the outlet that he sees them circling not only his ponies, but also his sheep. Getty A stock image of Shetland ponies in Scotland A stock image of Shetland ponies in Scotland "They're not dissolving into thin air," he dded to the Scottish newspaper. "We have had Shetland ponies for 60 years-plus, and nothing like this has happened before. The only difference in the last few years is that we have a bigger presence of white-tailed eagles." The National Sea Eagles Stakeholders' Panel was created to address concerns about the reintroduced birds and claims that they have attacked livestock, per The Sunday Post. David Colthart, a farmers' representative on the panel, told the outlet that Cameron's case marks "the first time" he has "heard of white-tailed eagles being suspected of lifting Shetland pony foals." "I have seen photos of them carrying deer calves, so it's not impossible given the small size of Shetland foals," Colthart told the newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cameron has also contacted the wildlife agency NatureScot about his concerns. A spokesperson for the agency told The Sunday Post: "While there is currently no direct evidence to support his view, we will be analysing prey remains from sea eagle nests across North and South Uist this year to help inform our wider work with farmers and crofters. This will include visits to nest sites near Mr Cameron's holding." Meanwhile, Charlie Heap, director of the National Centre for Birds of Prey, told the BBC that he thinks Cameron is barking up the wrong tree. Getty A stock image of a sea eagle A stock image of a sea eagle "Like all birds," Heap told the outlet, sea eagles are miracles of engineering and of lightness." But the largest one "you're going to find is going to be about 5kg," or about 11 pounds. "Just to give you a comparison," he added, "that's about the size of a reasonable [sized] house cat. They are only capable of carrying their own weight." Heap continued, "I have no idea what's happening to this poor chap's foals. I do feel his pain. I would suggest he's looking in the wrong direction for the culprit." 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. Cameron maintains that sea eagles are to blame or at least, some predator is. The behavior of the missing foals' mothers suggests another animal took the baby ponies away, he told the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Usually, if an animal loses a calf or a foal or a lamb, they will stay with the dead animal," the farmer told the outlet, adding that instead, the mother of the first foal that went missing "went back on her own to the area she was last with her foal." Regardless of what's behind the five disappearances, Cameron is worried about the impact on his business. "We advertise pony experiences, and people ask what animals we have, and we tell them ponies and foals," he told The Sunday Post, "but if the next day we've only got ponies, it's not good for anyone." Read the original article on People WARRICK COUNTY, Ind. (WEHT) -Two people have died following a crash on State Road 66 at Epworth Road in Warrick County. Warrick County Sheriff Mike Wilder has confirmed that a wrong way driver collided head-on with a driver traveling eastbound on State Road 66 just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Sheriff Wilder says other drivers attempted to get the attention of the wrong way driver but were unsuccessful. Both westbound and eastbound lanes were closed as crews worked at the scene, however Sergeant Ringle says westbound lanes have since reopened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eyewitness News has a crew at the scene, and we will update this story as we learn more. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The father of the baby boy who was left with severe injuries to his head told KTSM, A miracle of God is needed for his son, Azriel. Doctors at El Paso Childrens Hospital told police investigators that Azriels brain swelling, retinal hemorrhaging, and seizures that they described as neurologically devastating. Chances of him being able to eat on his own, drink, move his hands, walk, even communicate and talk, basically everything; chances right now are literally just a miracle from God, Guillermo Barraza, Azriels father, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barraza spoke out about his sons condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barraza said that the moment he set foot into the hospital, his entire world collapsed. If you were to see the actual marks on his head, how he cries Its horrible. I dont want him to suffer anymore, Barraza said. As KTSM previously reported, Azriel was brought to a local hospital on August 8, while in the care of the babys mothers boyfriend, Luis Ramon Whitson, as he was seizing and posturing, a sign of severe brain injury. Man arrested after girlfriends baby suffers abusive head trauma Whitson had said the baby had soiled himself, so he bathed him, then stepped out briefly to retrieve a towel. When Whitson returned, he said the baby had fallen and hit the right side of his head on the tub, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, doctors said the babys injuries were non-accidental. A radiologist said the baby experienced a sudden acceleration-deceleration event followed by impact trauma to the back of the skull, resulting in immediate symptoms, not delayed ones. Medical experts said the skull fracture was inconsistent with a simple fall in a bathroom, as Whitson claimed, and more in line with the child being forcefully slammed against a hard surface. An ophthalmologist also found severe retinal detachment in both eyes, which supported a diagnosis of abusive head trauma. Well, from what I understand from what the doctors have told me, he has lost about 60 to 65 percent of his brain. They already removed the entire left part of his brain. The right side does have damage to the front temporal lobe. And then there are some fibers on the bottom of the brain that send messages into the body to control the body; those are also damaged, Barraza said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barraza said he wants the best for his son, even if that means no longer being in this world. Its Gods will, but if theres something I can do for my son to get better, I will do anything. GUILLERMO BARRAZA Barraza is asking the community to pray for his baby. Additionally, Whitson was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 27, and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $200,000 bond, where he remains in custody, according to jail records. Luis Ramon Whitson Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. A Charlotte father is crediting his daughters iPhone with saving her life after a crash on Interstate 485. Takaia Williams was involved in an accident last month, and her phones crash detection feature automatically called for help. The crash detection feature on Takaia Williams iPhone alerted emergency services and her father, Tyrekus Williams, with her location after she veered off the road due to a distracted driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ >> Witnesses recall moments before filming fatal motorcycle crash I was trying to look for my phone, and I couldnt find it to, like, call my parents, call 911, call people to help. So I just had to resort to just yelling and screaming, Takaia Williams said. Williams was trapped in her car and unable to reach her phone, but minutes later, she saw firetrucks arrive on the scene. There was an accident detected... Takaia had been in a car crash, 911 has been notified, and it sent the pinpoint location of where she was located. That feature, I feel like, saved her life, said Tyrekus Williams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash detection feature is part of the Emergency SOS setting available on iPhone models 14, 15, and 16. When enabled, it automatically alerts emergency services and designated contacts with the users location after a severe crash. Google Pixel phones also offer a similar setting. After spending three weeks in the hospital, Takaia Williams is recovering from a broken femur, shattered hip, and two back fractures. She and her father emphasize the importance of having emergency contacts set up on phones, as it can be crucial in unexpected situations. Make sure that everybody who you are around have emergency contacts, because you will never know when that will like play out or when you really need it, Takaia said. Tyrekus Williams is advocating for improved road safety measures in North Carolina, including better lighting and cameras on interstates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family is still waiting for information from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol regarding the driver who caused the crash. (VIDEO: Car seat regulations tighten to better protect children from side-impact crashes) FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) On the first day of his jury trial, a Fayetteville man accused of killing his roommate last year is claiming self-defense, according to court documents. Jason Lawson, 29, was arrested on June 13, 2024, on first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence charges. He pleaded not guilty to those charges on July 8, 2024. Jason Lawson, 29 (Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center) Tuesday was the first day of Lawsons four-day trial. Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Denis Dean told KNWA/FOX24 that jury selection and opening statements took place on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dean said that the state began its presentation of evidence, and it should rest on Wednesday afternoon. Lawsons public defender filed a notice on Aug. 29 stating their intent to rely on the affirmative defense of self-defense in the case. Fayetteville police responded to a welfare concern on June 12, 2024, at an apartment on Lapis Lane, where they found a dead man on the kitchen floor, according to a preliminary report. 15-year-old charged as adult in connection with fatal Siloam Springs shooting FPD said they were tipped off on a killing that took place on June 8, 2024. Benjamin Martin, 33, was found dead in the apartment with no one else inside, according to the report. Lawson was later apprehended by police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawson said Martin raised a hammer during an argument, and he opened up a pocket knife when Martin fell onto the blade, according to the report. He told police things were a blur and wouldnt reveal the location of the murder weapon. The report said that Lawson tried to clean the crime scene and left. He was not located until four days later and was uncooperative. Lawson is being held in the Washington County Detention Center on a $750,000 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 KNWA FOX24. Two Ohio men and 22 Chinese nationals are charged with trafficking drugs to mix with fentanyl and increase its strength, federal officials announced Wednesday. The charges are the latest since the federal government turned toward targeting Chinese-based suppliers of drugs fueling the fentanyl crisis across the country during the Biden administration. Chinese-based companies, officials say, sell legitimate chemical precursors that can be mixed with, or cut into, fentanyl and other drugs to increase their strength and yield. These chemicals can be even more potent than other opiates and produce comparable hallucinogenic effects, increasing the desirability of the cut fentanyl on the market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI Director Kash Patel, announcing the charges during a Sept. 3 news conference in Cincinnati, said these chemicals are sold to Mexican drug cartels who then smuggle it into the United States, or shipped internationally to individual traffickers in the country using legitimate delivery services. This stuff is lethal. For too long, it has not been attacked (...) We are here to break the wheel of fentanyl trafficking in the U.S. and Ohio. Patel said. Were done playing whack-a-mole." Ohio men bought cutting agents, resold to drug dealers to cut fentanyl In this case, Eric Michael Payne and Auriyon Tresean Rayford, both of the Dayton area, were arrested Aug. 22 and charged with participating in the conspiracy from January 2022 to August 2025, according to court documents. Officials say Payne coordinated with several other Chinese nationals, who also face federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges, to purchase thousands of dollars in cutting agents for sale across southern Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Payne then sold the cutting agents to other drug dealers so they could mix it into fentanyl for resale, according to court documents. FBI Director Kash Patel announced charges against two Ohio men and several Chinese nationals in connection with an international drug conspiracy during a news conference in Cincinnati Sept. 3, 2025. The drugs were stored in and sometimes sold out of Rayford's apartment in Tipp City, north of Dayton, which became a central hub in the region, said FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. Another person from the United States, Ciandrea Bryne Davis, has also been charged for their role in transferring money via cryptocurrency as a part of the conspiracy, officials say. "If you want to end the pandemic of fentanyl and cocaine and meth, you have to go after where it's made, how it's made and what goes into making it," Patel said. Cutting agents increase strength, but also overdose risk Four Chinese companies, who were also charged, marketed and sold their products online through a variety of websites targeting international consumers, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drugs included protonitazene and metonitazene, two synthetic opioids with respective potencies of 100 and 200 times more powerful than morphine, court documents say. FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola shows a website used by a Chinese-based chemical company to sell fentanyl cutting agents during a news conference in Cincinnati Sept. 3, 2025. It also included compounds such as medetomidine and xylazine, commonly used as an animal tranquilizer unapproved for humans in the United States. For years now, health officials have battled with drugs being cut into fentanyl that not only increase its strength, but also increase the risk of a fatal overdose. Xylazine in particular exploded in 2020, with Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana being top states for the drug being found mixed with fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel said agents seized nearly 139 kilograms of fentanyl powder from this operation alone, enough for 70 million lethal doses. U.S. has limited options for arresting Chinese nationals The United States and China do not have an extradition agreement, meaning that it is difficult, if not, impossible to bring people in China charged with crimes in the United States overseas. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Dominick Gerace II said international warrants and travel restrictions have been put in place, so officials can try and arrest the people if they leave China. Officials said they plan to work with the Department of the Treasury to sanction one of the chemical companies distributing the drugs, making it difficult for them to work with financial institutions and customs. FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola shows several Chinese nationals wanted by the FBI for their role in an international drug conspiracy during a news conference in Cincinnati Sept. 3, 2025. Patel planned visit with Cincinnati leaders. Status unknown Patel's visit to Cincinnati comes as Sen. Bernie Moreno said last month the bureau's director planned to speak with Cincinnati leaders and help with crime analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials have not confirmed whether Patel has met with them yet. A spokesman for Mayor Aftab Pureval said the mayor did not receive a request for a meeting. An FBI official said after the press conference they did not know whether Patel would be meeting with anyone else on Wednesday and that he has a tight schedule. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FBI officials arrest 2 Ohio men in international drug conspiracy Vernor Vinge had an active imagination. The computer scientist turned science fiction writer, who passed away in March 2024, won the Hugo Award several times for his groundbreaking novels on artificial intelligence and virtual reality. His 1993 essay, "The Coming Technological Singularity," has become a guiding idea of the modern tech industry. And he was interviewed twice by Reason, once in print and once on video. The FBI, however, knew Vinge as a potential threat. His file, which was declassified in February 2025 and released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) last week, includes papers from a 1982 investigation into Vinge. While the full context of the case is redacted, one of the memos notes that Vinge "may have been in contact with Karl Amatneek," a fellow computer engineer who "is the subject of a current espionage investigation." The FBI files gave another reason why Vinge was someone to watch: "Subject has a security clearance and works at a sensitive facility." That clearance, which was active from July to August 1981, came from Vinge's work with Tetra Tech, a government contractor in Pasadena, California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amatneek came under FBI scrutiny in the 1980s for his involvement in TecNICA, an organization that sent delegations of technologically-skilled volunteers to aid Nicaragua during the socialist Sandinista revolution. The FBI made its interest in Amatneek very clear to the people it interrogated, according to fellow TecNICA volunteers who spoke to the Los Angeles Times in 1987. They accused the Reagan administration, which was trying to overthrow the Sandinista government, of running a harassment campaign against foreign policy critics. Fellow computer programmer and TecNICA member Louis Proyect gave more context to that investigation in a 2021 interview with Jacobin, published shortly after he died. When TecNICA leaders went to the Cuban embassy to inquire about expanding their volunteer projects into Cuba, they were sent to meet with a Cuban intelligence officer. After the FBI found out, "they started going to places like Bell Labs, really top-of-the-line companies. They would go into the personnel office and say, 'Are you aware your employees may be working with an espionage network?'" Proyect said. He claimed that the FBI overplayed its hand, accusing the volunteers of giving away sensitive technologies to Cuba and the Soviet Union. "The media coverage was such a repudiation of the FBI that they ultimately just dropped their case against us," Proyect added. It's unclear from the files whether or why Vinge was really associated with Amatneeka teletype message from January 1983 says the relationship "has not yet been established" to the FBI's satisfaction and asks for more time to investigatebut it should have been obvious from the get-go that Vinge was not a supporter of socialist revolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His 1981 cyberpunk novel, True Names, follows a group of guerrilla hackers fighting against an overbearing, bureaucratic U.S. government. They discover that a recent revolution in Venezuela was actually orchestrated by a rogue National Security Agency artificial intelligence program "designed to live within large systems and gradually grow in power." If that wasn't on-the-nose enough, Vinge said in a 1987 interview with Prometheus that The Peace War, his 1984 novel* about a rebellion against a dystopian world government, was meant to make the case for "anarcho-capitalism." Vinge later told Reason that "the millions of people who need to be happy and creative to make the economy goare more diverse and distributed and resourceful and even coordinated than any government. That's a power we already have in free markets." Then again, why would an FBI agent care? To him or her, the investigation was a matter of tracing out networks of associations that could be a threat to the government. Vinge seemed like he was hanging out with subversives, and he himself had some subversive ideas. It didn't really matter what the content of those ideas was. Ironically, Verner had mocked the incompetence of the surveillance state in True Names. "The older cop continued the technician's almost diffident approach. 'In any case, Mr. Pollack, I think you realize that if the Federal government wants to concentrate all its resources on the apprehension of a single vandal, we can do it. The vandals' power comes from their numbers rather than their power as individuals,'" Verner wrote. "Pollack repressed a smile. That was a common beliefor faithwithin government. He had snooped on enough secret memos to realize that the Feds really believed it, but it was very far from true." * CORRECTION: This article originally misstated the publication year of The Peace War. The post FBI Spied on Libertarian Sci-Fi Author Vernor Vinge In 'Espionage' Case appeared first on Reason.com. (NewsNation) The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration says the agency will not overlook anything in developing new guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines. A lot of people report vaccine injury, Dr. Marty Makary told Elizabeth Vargas Reports on Tuesday. A lot of people report complications, including children who have died from the vaccine. So we cant just be blind. COVID-19 vaccine guidelines continue to be a hot button issue as President Trump is calling for drug companies to justify the success of the medicine nearly five years after the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COVID-19 outbreak forces Kansas school closure Trump wrote in part on Truth Social: I have been shown information from Pfizer, and others, that is extraordinary, but they never seem to show those results to the public. Why not??? Trumps critics say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is being ripped apart by the vaccine debate, even though most medical experts say the evidence is clear that the vaccines worked. Deadline to hand over COVID-19 vaccine data Access to a COVID-19 vaccine is now more limited than it was four years ago. The FDA also recently narrowed its criteria for who qualifies for the vaccine and Makary wrote an op-ed explaining why the administration doesnt support COVID-19 boosters forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makary told NewsNation that it all comes down to two crucial questions. The American people want to know, are we supposed to keep going like this? he said. [And] do the benefits outweigh the risks? That is the question. Makary said, we have an agreement with the large vaccine makers that make the COVID vaccine that they will conduct a randomized control placebo trial and have those results back to us by May. The new study, which will begin this winter, will hopefully provide answers to whether the benefits outweigh the risks of the vaccine moving forward. RFK Jr. touts measles response in defense of CDC overhaul Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets blindfold ourselves and insist that everybody take this. Look at the last administration, rubber-stamping COVID boosters every year with no updated clinical trial, Makary said. We dont believe in COVID vaccine boosters forever unless we have evidence to support it. Were bringing back gold standard science and common sense. COVID-19 vaccine data will provide transparency: NIH director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, feels that drug companies releasing the COVID-19 data will help more than hurt the American people. Its really healthy to open up a discussion, an honest scientific discussion, uncensored, on the evidence on the COVID-19 vaccine, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bhattacharya said the mandates put in place years ago brought about a level of distrust among the public. Eating meat can lessen cancer risk, research shows For me, the most important thing is we need to have public health be honest with the American public. Thats, to me, thats the upshot of the presidents take, which I really just admire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Last week, a top official with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) apparently filed a bogus copyright claim to get a critic's YouTube account taken down. This is an inappropriate act of censorship that, not long ago, conservatives would rightly have stood against. "Jonathan Howard, a neurologist and psychiatrist in New York City, received an email from YouTube on Friday night, which stated that Vinay Prasad, who is the FDA's top vaccine regulator, had demanded the removal of six videos of himself from Howard's YouTube channel," The Guardian reported this week. "Howard's entire channel has now been deleted by YouTube, which cited copyright infringement." On his channel, Howard hosted videos of public health officialsincluding Prasad, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharyamaking statements during the COVID-19 pandemic that turned out to be untrue or overly myopic. "I had accumulated about 350 videos, almost all of which were short clips of famous doctors saying absurd things," Howard wrote in a blog post, "that herd immunity had arrived in the spring of 2021 and that RFK Jr. was an honest broker about vaccines, for example." Howard is also critical of Prasad's stance on vaccines, which Prasad now has the authority to regulate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an email Howard posted, YouTube "terminated" his channel after "multiple copyright strikes" against his videos, and the "removal request" came from Prasad. "Publishing someone else's videos without modification or commentary is a clear copyright violation," an FDA spokesperson told The Guardian. "The mission of Johnathan Howard was not medical transparency, but personal profit by grifting and stealing someone else's intellectual property." "My YouTube channel had 256 subscribers and its videos were typically seen by dozens of people," Howard wrote. "I never promoted the channel and made no money from it." Besides, U.S. law allows for fair use of copyrighted material, which means someone can use protected content for purposes such as "criticism, comment, news reporting," or "research" without the creator's permission. Howard is the author of the book We Want Them Infected, which criticized doctors and public health officials who advocated a herd immunity strategy for dealing with COVID-19. Howard says such warnings fed into anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. His YouTube channel collected videos of people who are now in charge of public health institutions, making what he feels were irresponsible claims during the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But whether you agree with Howard or not, it is wrong and hypocritical for Prasad to silence his critics in this way. Scientific determinations result from numerous hypotheses, many of which turn out to be false. This was especially true in the case of COVID-19, a novel virus that grew into a pandemic as the scientific community scrambled to respond. And yet all too often, public health institutions were treated as infallible, rather than as bureaucracies staffed by humans capable of bias or error. Anyone skeptical of public health measures was admonished to "trust the science." Vaccines were developed and distributed in record time, saving untold millions of lives, but the scientific community as a whole suffered a major blow to its reputation. One person who understood this at the time was Prasad. "During the pandemic major universities held ~0 debates on lockdowns, prolonged school closure, masking toddlers, visitor restrictions, and perpetual hospital masking," Prasad wrote on Substack in February 2023. "It's one thing to act in times of uncertainty. It is another thing to stifle dissent and dialog." And yet that seems to be exactly what Prasad is doing now by getting Howard's YouTube channel shut down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's akin to jawboning, when public officials pressure social media companies to police certain content on their platforms. Prasad went about it through a copyright claim, but it's still an example of a public official shutting down First Amendmentprotected speech they find unfavorable or embarrassing. Republican state attorneys general sued Facebook and Twitter in a case that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming the social media companies had banned certain users at the behest of President Joe Biden's administration. Now, conservatives have apparently come around on the idea of censoring one's political enemies online. "No government officials can memory-hole their own speech in an attempt to hide their past statements from the public. Doing it through improper copyright complaints is no less censorship than a direct government order," Ari Cohn, lead counsel for tech policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said in a statement. "YouTube must reverse its termination of Howard's channel and make clear that it will not allow government officials to use copyright complaints to erase or revise history." The post FDA Official Pressures YouTube Into Removing a Channel For Posting His Own Vaccine Comments appeared first on Reason.com. A Winter Park man was recently arrested for his role in a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Wednesday. The charges were the second major allegation of fraud against Jerald Benjamin Clawson, following an investigation into a purported pay phone scheme in the 2000s. Clawson, 74, was arrested Thursday in Winter Park by the Orange County Sheriffs Office after FDLE secured a warrant for his arrest. He is currently in custody at the Orange County Jail, records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrest followed an investigation by FDLE which began in October 2023 when the agency received information that Clawson would solicit real estate investments through cash and bridge loans and promised his alleged victims a guaranteed return, which never happened, according to an FDLE news release. The investigation found Clawson obtained several million dollars from the alleged victims, which did not go to any legitimate investments but were used by him to his personal benefit in what FDLE called a Ponzi scheme, the release said. The Seminole County Sheriffs Office also participated in the investigation. FDLE said he was arrested on one count of organized scheme to defraud and one count of unlawful use of unregistered securities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clawson previously faced allegations of fraud from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The agency accused him and others of promoting a massive fraudulent scheme through the use of insurance agents and over the Internet in which Phoenix Telecom, LLC, the company at the center of the scheme, raised more than $74 million from more than 2,000 mostly elderly investors, according to a 2001 news release from the SEC. A federal judge ordered Clawson in May 2001 to pay $2.7 million, representing his gains from his alleged conduct, but reduced the payment to $558,000, court records show. The judge ordered the case administratively closed in August of that year because it was in the process of being settled. A 2004 news release from the SEC appears to confirm it reached a settlement with Phoenix Telecom. The SEC withdrew its claims against the company for disgorgement and civil penalties and Phoenix consented to the courts final judgement without admitting to or denying the allegations against it, the release said. A 10-year-old girl was tired and worried when she was taken out of bed at 4:30 a.m. and prepared for an abrupt flight from her shelter in Texas to Guatemala. A 17-year-old boy was put on a plane, scared and praying to God to protect him as he feared returning to violence in the country he fled, and where his single mother cannot protect him. Another young girl was so scared she vomited. A series of harrowing affidavits in court filings on Wednesday detail the Trump administrations middle-of-the-night operation to fly dozens of Guatemalan children to their home country described by their attorneys and the children themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a fast-paced legal battle over the weekend, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from expelling hundreds of Guatemalan children who are in government custody, foster programs and long-term shelters after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border alone. Relatives of unaccompanied minors deported from the United States await updates outside La Aurora International Airport, in Guatemala City August 31. In court filings, lawyers and children described how they were abruptly packed into buses and placed on planes before a judge blocked their removal (AP) The government had not obtained legal permission to remove them, according to their lawyers, but at least 76 children were already on planes and sitting on a tarmac as they waited for a judges response to a lawsuit to keep them in the country. The children who are under the care of the Office of Refugee Settlement at the Department of Health and Human Services will remain in federal custody while yet another high-profile legal challenge to the presidents anti-immigration agenda continues. In court documents supporting a request to block their removal, more than a dozen Guatemalan teenagers described their overwhelming fear of returning to their home country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They describe childhoods in neglect, threats of extortion and gang violence against them or their families, and returning to homes or government shelters where they were abused or trafficked. I am certain the people there who hurt me and threatened to kill me before will once again hurt me and will carry out threats to kill me, one 16-year-old wrote. A 16-year-old LGBT+ child who is seeking asylum in the United States said they fear rape and forced marriage if they were sent back. If I had to return to Guatemala, the teenager wrote in court documents, I would kill myself. At least 76 children were already on planes sitting on a tarmac as they waited for a judges response to a lawsuit to keep them in the country, according to court document (AP) Several children submitted court documents describing the moments they were moved out of their shelters in the middle of the night before boarding buses and planes bound for Guatemala, only to turn around and remain in government custody under fear that they would be imminently removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lauren Flores, legal director with the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project, described seeing a young girl in a shelter who was extremely distraught, crying and repeatedly saying that she could not go back to Guatemala. At another shelter, one girl was so scared that she vomited and asked to speak with a clinician, according to Flores. In another shelter, a teenager was scared that he might end up murdered like one of his family members, Flores wrote. After shelter workers at a Texas facility woke them up in the early morning hours on August 31 and explained the children there would be sent to their home country, I wondered why, because I knew that I had a right not to be deported and speak with a judge, one 16-year-old wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I felt like, wow, I have rights, the teen wrote. When I was packing up my personal belongings, I was thinking about everything that could happen to me with all the crime in Guatemala. I was worried that I would be killed. The teen said their sister was murdered in Guatemala last year. I am afraid that the same thing could happen to me if I am returned, the teen wrote. My mother is in Guatemala, but she does not want me to return. She does not have the resources to care for me. My father is not a part of my life. I have no other family who could receive me. A van arrived to whisk them away to an airport around 4 a.m., but the shelter director told the children a judge had blocked their removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was so relieved, the teen wrote. The impact is real. I feel totally traumatized. I dont even know how to explain it. The Trump administration is temporary blocked from deporting Guatemalan children who arrived in the United States alone while a legal battle plays out to determine whether they can stay, citing fears of violence and abuse in their home country (REUTERS) A supervisor woke up one 17-year-old inside another Texas facility at 2 a.m. August 31, according to court documents. I started to pray to God because I was scared and wanted to stay in the shelter, the teenager wrote. A bus driver wouldn't say where a group of children was going, and they arrived at an airport around 5:30 a.m., according to the 17-year-old. One plane took off around noon, then returned to the tarmac moments later, according to the teens affidavit. The bus left the airport around 6:30 p.m., and the children returned to the shelter around 8 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I only felt safe once they took me to the shelter at night, the teenager wrote. I was worried and scared at the same time. I didnt feel like I could cry or laugh about anything because I was so confused about what would happen to me. In the days that followed, I dont feel like I can have fun anymore or play in the gym, the teen wrote. I cant focus on anything because I just keep thinking about them trying to return to Guatemala. I feel depressed. The last child was placed back at a shelter at around 1:30 a.m. September 1, more than 24 hours after lawyers began scrambling. Several children and attorneys also refuted the Trump administrations claims that the children's parents had requested their return to Guatemala. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teenagers wrote how their parents explicitly did not want them there, while two parents described strange communications from government officials explaining that their children were going to return to the country despite never requesting them to do so. The administrations position that it was merely cooperating with the Guatemalan government to return children to their parents is belied by the facts, attorneys wrote. Even if the administrations contentions regarding its coordination with the Guatemalan government are true, any such coordination does not excuse the governments illegal action and does nothing to change its obligation to provide unaccompanied minors with the process unambiguously due to them under the law. The Independent has requested comment from Homeland Security. A judge will hold a hearing on September 10 to determine whether to continue blocking the childrens removal. The Aug. 30 murder of ex-Speaker and current lawmaker Andriy Parubiy was the latest in a string of killings and assassination attempts targeting Ukrainian nationalists and activists of pro-Western revolutions. While the perpetrators of the attacks have been detained, the question of who ordered the assassinations remains unsolved. Evidence has been mounting that Russia could be behind at least some of the attacks. Kremlin propaganda has consistently demonized Ukrainian nationalists and pro-European politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has also announced that one of its war aims was the "de-Nazification" of Ukraine Kremlin lingo for eliminating individuals and parties that support Ukraine's sovereignty and its pro-European path. "Ukraine's national elite has always been a prime target for Moscow," former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told the Kyiv Independent. "Today, as Russia wages a war of annihilation against our state, this campaign is more ruthless than ever." The police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) did not respond to requests for comment. Read also: Hated, tainted, and covertly pro-Russian Andriy Portnov, the top Ukrainian ex-official shot dead in Spain The murder The police said that Parubiy was shot eight times with a short-barreled firearm in Lviv, a regional capital in western Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 52-year-old resident of Lviv was soon arrested in Khmelnytskyi Oblast and charged with the murder. Ivan Vyhivskyi, Ukraine's police chief, noted that the attacker tried to hide in the western region after "he tried to cover his tracks" by changing clothes and disposing of the weapon. Police officials said that the crime had been planned for more than a month and that the attacker had received instruction and assistance. The suspect planned to flee abroad after the crime, according to the police. Read also: EuroMaidan murders case: Why is the verdict criticized, and why is it about Russia? A revolutionary Parubiy was a member of the Lviv city council and Lviv Oblast's regional legislature in the 1990s and 2000s, as well as a member of Ukraine's parliament from 2007 to 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He represented many pro-European and nationalist parties. These include the nationalist Svoboda party, ex-President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine, Yatsenyuk's People's Front, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna, and former President Petro Poroshenko's European Solidarity. Andriy Parubiy (C) is elected deputy speaker of parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 4, 2014. (Vladimir Shtanko/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Parubiy was one of the leaders of the pro-Western 2004 Orange Revolution and was in charge of the Ukrainian House, a key building occupied by the protesters in Kyiv. "My friend Andriy Parubiy was assassinated by a Kremlin-sent hitman." He also gained prominence during the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, which ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. He was the leader of EuroMaidan self-defense, an organization responsible for the protesters' security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Yanukovych was ousted, Parubiy served briefly as secretary of the National Defense and Security Council in 2014 and speaker of the Ukrainian parliament from 2016 to 2019. Read also: EuroMaidan Revolution Why was he targeted? The Prosecutor General's Office said on Sept. 1 that three versions of the murder were being considered: that he was killed by Russia, due to his political activities, or as a result of a personal conflict. Vyhivskyi, Ukraine's police chief, said on Sept. 1 that the crime was "not random" and had "a Russian trace." The suspect confessed to murdering Parubiy and said that he had contacted representatives of Russia. He said that he had got in touch with the Russians while trying to locate his son, a Ukrainian soldier who had gone missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I admit, I killed him," the suspect told journalists on Sept. 2. "And I want to ask to be exchanged for (Ukrainian) prisoners of war so that I can go and find my son's body." Read also: How nationalist movements paved Ukraines way to freedom Russian trace version Volodymyr Aryev, a lawmaker from the opposition European Solidarity party, told the Kyiv Independent that the fact that the suspect wants to be exchanged "is a clear indication that there is a Russian trace." "That Russia had a hand in this I have no doubt at all," Aryev said. "The only question is what form it took." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said, however, that there are some logical inconsistencies in the version being presented by the authorities, and it doesn't fully convince him. Yatsenyuk also believes the murder was ordered by Russia. "My friend Andriy Parubiy was assassinated by a Kremlin-sent hitman," Yatsenyuk told the Kyiv Independent. He added that "on the eve of the full-scale invasion, the Kremlin published so-called 'sanctions lists' of Ukrainian public figures." "At the time, many of us treated them with sarcasm," Yatsenyuk continued. "But we understood clearly: these were not sanctions lists they were kill lists. Their purpose was to eliminate those capable of leading the nation in its fight for independence and freedom." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, former head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), also said in a Sept. 2 interview with the Ukrainian news outlet NV that Parubiy had been on Russia's hit lists. Boryslav Bereza, who was the nationalist Right Sector group's spokesman during the EuroMaidan Revolution, told the Kyiv Independent that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, SBU officials had shown him an alleged hit list compiled by Russian intelligence agencies, and Parubiy was in the top 10. People attend the farewell ceremony for former Speaker Andriy Parubiy at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Sept. 2, 2025. (Anna Srogui/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC UA:PBC/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) "Parubiy is a symbol of the Maidan," Bereza, who was also a member of parliament from 2014 to 2019, said in a reference to the EuroMaidan Revolution. "For Russians, he was an overt irritant." Murders of patriotic Ukrainians also aim to destabilize the country and provoke turmoil, Bereza continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin is also interested in spreading conspiracy theories blaming the Ukrainian authorities for the murder, he added. "There have already been assassination attempts on Andriy in the past, and they were mostly orchestrated by representatives of Russian security services." Some commentators have wondered why Parubiy was targeted despite having played no prominent role in Ukrainian politics since 2019. Bereza argued that Parubuy was killed because he had no security guards and was an easy target. Despite keeping a low profile, Parubiy kept his reputation and influence, with some volunteer soldiers still addressing him as "commander" in recent years in a reference to his leadership role during the EuroMaidan Revolution, Bereza added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a lawmaker from the opposition Holos party, said that he "doesn't see any logic in alternative explanations" other than the Russian trace. "There have already been assassination attempts on Andriy in the past, and they were mostly orchestrated by representatives of Russian security services," he told the Kyiv Independent. "The last information from the Security Service about a possible hunt for Andriy was back in 2022." A woman holds a candle and a sunflower during a ceremony honoring late former Speaker Andriy Parubiy at Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 1, 2025. (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP via Getty Images) He believes that Russia's goal was "revenge." "They could never forgive him for creating the Maidan self-defense forces, nor for persuading the Ukrainian political elite to provide weapons to volunteer soldiers who broke the spine of the so-called Russian spring (in 2014)," Yurchyshyn said, adding that Russia was also unhappy with Parubiy's support for a law protecting the Ukrainian language and the Ukrainian church's independence from Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russia never forgives (people like Yevhen) Konovalets and (Stepan) Bandera because these key figures of Ukraine's liberation struggle were targeted even when they no longer had actual influence and were mostly living in exile, simply for the sake of revenge." Yevhen Konovalets and Stepan Bandera were killed by Soviet intelligence agents in 1938 and 1959, respectively. Read also: Ukrainian activist, volunteer Sternenko injured in attack, suspect detained Attacks on Sternenko Parubiy was not the only Ukrainian nationalist targeted in recent years. Serhiy Sternenko, a prominent activist, survived an assassination attempt in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A woman was arrested following the assassination attempt. She had allegedly received money from Russian intelligence agencies, Ukrainska Pravda reported then, citing a law enforcement source. It was not the first attack on the activist. In 2018, Sternenko had been assaulted three times. Activist Serhiy Sternenko during an interview with Ukrainian media in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 18, 2024. (Oleg Palchyk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) During the third incident, he killed the attacker by stabbing him with a knife. Sternenko was later prosecuted for killing the attacker, but the case was closed in 2023. Sternenko believes Russian intelligence agencies were behind the assassination attempts on him. "I assume that they don't like my volunteer activities and information campaign," he told the Kyiv Independent in reference to his volunteer work for the Ukrainian army and his YouTube channel devoted to debunking Russian propaganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sternenko said that "Russia has historically used terror against Ukrainians" and mentioned the murders of Ukrainian nationalist leaders Roman Shukhevych in 1950 and Bandera in 1959 by Soviet intelligence agencies. "The Russians' goal is to terrorize the civil population as much as possible and create an atmosphere of fear," he said. "They seek to kill those who unite people around them and support an independent Ukrainian state." Read also: Ukrainian activist Demyan Hanul shot dead in central Odesa Hanul's murder Another nationalist, Demyan Hanul, was shot dead in central Odesa in March. Hanul was a well-known public figure, blogger, and founder of the Street Front NGO. In 2014, he participated in the EuroMaidan Revolution and the May 2 clashes against pro-Russian forces in Odesa. He had been active in rallies supporting Ukraine, charity fundraisers for the military, and campaigned to dismantle Russian and Soviet monuments. A 46-year-old Ukrainian soldier was arrested for the murder. The police said it was considering three versions: a Russian trace, Hanul's political and public activities, and a personal conflict. Read also: Ex-lawmaker Iryna Farion assassination everything we know about 18-year-old suspect Assassination of Farion Hanul's murder was preceded by that of Iryna Farion, who was shot dead in Lviv in July 2024. Farion was a highly controversial figure in Ukraine, known for her incendiary statements on the use of the Russian language. She was a linguistics professor who briefly served in the parliament with the Svoboda party from 2012 to 2014. Farion caused particular outrage in 2023 when she said that she couldn't call Ukrainian soldiers Ukrainians if they spoke Russian. The investigators said they were considering two versions: either Farion was killed due to her political activities or due to a personal conflict. Professor and former lawmaker Iryna Farion poses in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on April 5, 2022. Farion was assassinated on July 19, 2024. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images) A teenager was arrested on charges of murdering Farion, and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies said he could be involved in a Russian neo-Nazi group. The Russian neo-Nazi group NS/WP (National Socialism/White Power) took responsibility for Farion's murder on its Telegram channel. The group has portrayed itself as anti-Kremlin, but Russian intelligence agencies have reportedly infiltrated many Russian nationalist groups, including ostensibly anti-government ones. NS/WP had previously called for burning military enlistment offices in Russia. In 2022, the Russian authorities also arrested members of NS/WP on charges of preparing an assassination attempt on the pro-Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. "I really do observe a systematic trend aimed at destroying those who promote Ukrainian identity: here we see Hanul from Odesa, Iryna Farion, the assassination attempts on Serhiy Sternenko, and the murder of Andriy Parubiy," Yurchyshyn said. Yatsenyuk also sees a broader trend. "It is part of Russia's broader war against Ukraine an attempt to decapitate our leadership, weaken our resolve, and force us into accepting Moscow's humiliating terms for peace," he said. Read also: Who was Iryna Farion, the nationalist professor-politician assassinated in Lviv? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. First lady Melania Trumps social media team has posted a video that appears to artistically slow down her arrival with the president at Thursdays Congressional Ball. The video shows Donald Trump, 79, and Melania, 55, arm in arm, carefully descending a staircase in the grand foyer of the White House to the tune of Hail to the Chief. But the FLOTUS-approved video appears to be slightly slowed down from other footage of the Trumps coming down the stairs on the night at a marginally faster pace. This story was originally posted on MyNorthwest.com The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a ruling in favor of Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue (SRFR) on Tuesday, after eight employees sued for being denied COVID-19 vaccine religious exemptions in 2021, according to court documents. The court confirmed a lower courts ruling that SRFR could not provide religious exemptions to eight firefighters without causing undue hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal court rules against Snohomish firefighters COVID-19 lawsuit In August 2021, former Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation that required all healthcare providers to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. SRFR issued a vaccine mandate for its firefighters in response to Inslees proclamation. However, SRFR did allow workers to request accommodations based on religious beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the 2021 mandate, 46 of SRFRs 192 firefighters requested COVID-19 vaccine exemptions. The eight firefighters who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit were denied their religious exemption requests because it was unable to identify a reasonable accommodation that would allow firefighters to remain in their roles without imposing an undue hardship on SRFR. The ruling noted SRFR proved it faced substantial costs if it accommodated firefighters religious vaccine exemptions. The health and safety of the public and its own firefighters, the large number of firefighters seeking accommodations, operational risks, and costs of widespread absences further contributed to the Ninth Circuits undue hardship ruling. The firefighters union and SRFR came to an agreement, which allowed workers to use accrued paid leave, use up to one year of paid leave, and be listed on a priority rehire list. Ultimately, the eight firefighters filed a lawsuit that argued the unpaid leave provided by SRFR was not a lawful accommodation. The federal appeals court of the Ninth Circuit ruled that SRFRs accommodation was justified, and other arrangements would have provided undue hardship on its operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SRFR covers approximately 135 square miles of territory and serves roughly 175,000 people, including 2,500 prisoners at the Monroe Correctional Complex. The ruling noted that in 2021, SRFR responded to 18,000 emergencies, 85% of which required emergency medical services. Follow Jason Sutich on X. Send news tips here. A federal appeals court in Chicago on Tuesday overturned a ruling by a lower court that found it unconstitutional for Illinois residents with concealed carry permits to be barred from carrying guns on public transportation. At issue was whether a new constitutional test requiring gun laws to be historically consistent with laws on the books in the 18th century or earlier was applied correctly by U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston, who last year ruled in favor of four concealed carry license holders who sued the state over the 2013 concealed carry law. The Rockford-based judge concluded the laws prohibition of CCL holders carrying guns on Chicago Transit Authority or Metra trains and other public transit violated their Second Amendment right to bear arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed with Johnstons interpretation of the new constitutional standard, established by the conservative 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court majority in the landmark 2022 case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The Second Amendment protects an individuals right to self-defense. It does not bar the peoples representatives from enacting lawsconsistent with our nations historical tradition of regulationthat ensure public transportation systems remain free from accessible firearms, the appeals panel wrote. We are asked whether the state may temporarily disarm its citizens as they travel in crowded and confined metal tubes unlike anything the Founders envisioned. We draw from the lessons of our nations historical regulatory traditions and find no Second Amendment violation in such a regulation. The decision was delivered by Appeals Judge Joshua Kolar, a 2024 appointee to the 7th Circuit by then-Democratic President Joe Biden, and concurred with by Appeals Judge Amy St. Eve, appointed to the panel by Republican President Donald Trump during his first term in 2018. When Johnston, a 2020 Trump appointee to the bench, decided in favor last year of the CCL holders three of whom are from suburban Chicago and the other from DeKalb County the law remained intact and the ruling only applied to the four plaintiffs. But David Sigale, their lawyer, had contended it could be arguably applicable to any CCL holder on any public transportation in Illinois, while acknowledging its broader applicability needed to be made clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Sigale said the plaintiffs were disappointed and disagree with the Courts ruling, and we are currently weighing the available options for further review. A spokeswoman for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, whose lawyers are defending the state in the lawsuit, said Wednesday his office is pleased with this decision, declining further comment. Aside from public transportation, the 2013 law includes a number of places where CCL holders are not allowed to carry guns such as government buildings, hospitals and stadiums where sporting events are taking place. In its decision, the appeals panel expanded on how Illinois ban on CCL holders carrying guns on public transportation falls under the historical tradition test in Bruen, comparing the bus-and-train setting to where legislators and other public officials convene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sensitive places where weapons were altogether prohibited in the 18th and 19th centuries also include legislative assemblies, polling places, and courthouses,' the 7th Circuit said. At the time, there was no dispute that these rules were legal Thus, courts can use analogies to those historical regulations of sensitive places to determine that modern regulations prohibiting the carry of firearms in new and analogous sensitive places are constitutionally permissible.' The appeals court also discussed how, historically, there have been temporary restrictions against carrying firearms in certain public places, just like there are today on public transit. Historical crowded place restrictions functioned in much the same way, and when those historical regulations differed, it was often due to earlier generations placing an even greater restriction on individuals carrying firearms, the ruling stated. Americans in the Founding era, and through Reconstruction, accepted that their Second Amendment rights weakened in certain spaces. The case was among several legal challenges to Illinois gun laws in the last few years. Perhaps most notably, challenges by gun rights advocates to the states ban on so-called assault weapons, which was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker in January 2023, have largely been unsuccessful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That ban, which applies to many high-powered semiautomatic guns and high-capacity ammunition magazines, was put into place following the mass shooting at Highland Parks 2022 Fourth of July parade that left seven people dead and dozens more injured. The state law requiring Illinoisans to have a firearm owners identification card to keep a gun in their homes has also faced challenges over the years in the state court system on constitutional grounds. CHICAGO A federal appeals court in Chicago on Tuesday overturned a ruling by a lower court that found it unconstitutional for Illinois residents with concealed carry permits to be barred from carrying guns on public transportation. At issue was whether a new constitutional test requiring gun laws to be historically consistent with laws on the books in the 18th Century or earlier was applied correctly by U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston, who last year ruled in favor of four concealed carry license holders who sued the state over the 2013 concealed carry law. The Rockford-based judge concluded the laws prohibition of CCL holders carrying guns on Chicago Transit Authority or Metra trains and other public transit violated their Second Amendment right to bear arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed with Johnstons interpretation of the new constitutional standard, established by the conservative 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court majority in the landmark 2022 case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The Second Amendment protects an individuals right to self-defense. It does not bar the peoples representatives from enacting lawsconsistent with our nations historical tradition of regulationthat ensure public transportation systems remain free from accessible firearms, the appeals panel wrote. We are asked whether the state may temporarily disarm its citizens as they travel in crowded and confined metal tubes unlike anything the Founders envisioned. We draw from the lessons of our nations historical regulatory traditions and find no Second Amendment violation in such a regulation. The decision was delivered by Appeals Court Judge Joshua Kolar, a 2024 appointee to the 7th Circuit by former Democratic President Joe Biden, and concurred with by Appeals Court Judge Amy St. Eve, appointed to the panel by Republican President Donald Trump during his first term in 2018. When Johnston, an appointee to the bench by Trump in 2020, decided in favor last year of the CCL holders three of whom are from suburban Chicago and the other from DeKalb County the law remained intact and the ruling only applied to the four plaintiffs. But David Sigale, their lawyer, had contended it could be arguably applicable to any CCL holder on any public transportation in Illinois, while acknowledging its broader applicability needed to be made clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sigale could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday on the ruling. A spokeswoman for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, whose lawyers are defending the state in the lawsuit, said Wednesday morning his office is pleased with this decision, declining further comment. Aside from public transportation, the 2013 law includes a number of places where CCL holders are not allowed to carry guns such as government buildings, hospitals and stadiums where sporting events are taking place. In its decision, the appeals panel expanded on how Illinois ban on CCL holders carrying guns on public transportation falls under the historical tradition test in Bruen, comparing the bus-and-train setting to where legislators and other public officials convene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sensitive places where weapons were altogether prohibited in the 18th and 19th centuries also include legislative assemblies, polling places, and courthouses,' the 7th Circuit said. At the time, there was no dispute that these rules were legalThus, courts can use analogies to those historical regulations of sensitive places to determine that modern regulations prohibiting the carry of firearms in new and analogous sensitive places are constitutionally permissible.' Historical crowded place restrictions functioned in much the same way, and when those historical regulations differed, it was often due to earlier generations placing an even greater restriction on individuals carrying firearms, the ruling also stated. Americans in the Founding era, and through Reconstruction, accepted that their Second Amendment rights weakened in certain spaces. The case was among several legal challenges to Illinois gun laws in the last few years. Perhaps most notably, challenges by gun rights advocates to the states ban on so-called assault weapons, which was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker in January 2023, have largely been unsuccessful. That ban, which applies to many high-powered semiautomatic guns and high-capacity ammunition magazines, was put into place following a mass shooting at Highland Parks 2022 Fourth of July parade that left seven people dead and dozens more injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state law requiring Illinoisans to have a firearm owners identification card to keep a gun in their homes has also faced challenges over the years by the state court system on constitutional grounds. ____ Fire personnel work on a Helitorch Configuration on the Windy Rock Fire. The device is used to start backburns and other firefighting methods that use controlled fires to help mitigate uncontrolled fires. (Northwest Team 2 photo / Peelee Clark) A major deadline set by an Executive Order from President Donald Trump to consolidate the firefighting apparatus in the Department of Interior and the U.S. Forest Service is approaching, with some advocacy organizations hoping it will improve coordination. Interior and the Forest Service, which is housed in the Department of Agriculture, need to present a plan by Sept. 10 on how theyre going to consolidate firefighting efforts. A second deadline, on Dec. 9, requires the two departments to unveil a plan to increase state and local firefighting capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Partners in Wildfire Prevention, a coalition which includes clean energy interest groups, economic organizations, the Western Fire Chiefs Association and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said theres not enough attention on the issue of wildfires at the national level. They view the order as some acknowledgement of that and are hopeful it improves fire response. What we dont know yet is exactly what the decisions are that come out of the order, said Chet Wade, a spokesperson for the group. Thats why we think its important to draw attention to it. And what we hope to see is greater collaboration, stronger communication, better more effective operations. The order places more emphasis on using technology to fight fires. This mostly deals with early detection computer-assisted systems can report fires, and aerial capacity, both with suppression efforts and fire reconnaissance is where more technology for managing fires could be implemented. There are lots of new technologies, you know, using satellites, using AI, using other sensors that allow for either monitoring and understanding when there is a higher risk and what can be done about it, or responding quickly, Wade said. A drone being used on the Windy Rock fire near Drummond is pictured. (Northwest Team 2 photo) Not all groups have been rosy about the prospect of the order, with Andy Stahl, director of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, telling the Daily Montanan earlier this year it was just an effort to rile up members of President Trumps base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear what the changes will ultimately mean to day-to-day operations. At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, we are unifying federal wildfire programs to streamline bureaucracy and leverage new technologies and partnerships to better equip local responders, accelerate suppression efforts, and strengthen preventative measuresall essential to protecting communities and conserving our public lands, Erin McDuff, an Interior Department spokesperson wrote in an email to the Daily Montanan in late June. Montana has seen a fire season devoid of large fires. On Monday, the states fire tracking website said there have been 1,942 wildland fire incidents this year, but acreage burned is lower than last year. Gov. Greg Gianforte said late last month aggressive work by firefighters in the state had limited the acreage burned this year to about a third of what it was in 2024. Fires across the state appeared to mostly be under control, with a spate of fires that kicked up during a warm week in late August mostly tampered down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Windy Rock fire, 15 miles from Drummond was the exception, which was listed at 4,130 acres and was 1% contained on Wednesday. There is a public meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Helmville Community Center on Wednesday. The fire is being managed by a large, national team. No structures have been destroyed by the fire to date. Its been an expensive fight, though, and the fires cost for suppression efforts was listed at nearly $25 million. Firefighting costs are split between state and federal governments and are divided out at the end of the year. Sep. 2The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to restore webpages containing resources for health issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community and information on opioid use by women to settle a lawsuit brought by a collection of medical organizations and public health nonprofits. Dr. John Bramhall, president of the of the board of trustees for the Washington State Medical Association, one of the organizations that brought the lawsuit, said Tuesday that the settlement had achieved two victories. "It puts the information back where it should be, so that our member physicians and the community can use it," Bramhall said. "And it also secondarily raises an issue that people may not have been aware of; most people wouldn't be aware that these sites were being messed with, now they will." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlement comes after the Department of Health and Human Services removed dozens of webpages from its websites earlier this year to comply with executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism" and "Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government and Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing." The executive orders stated that the federal government would only recognize someone's "immutable biological classification" as either male or female and called for federal agencies to "remove all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages that promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology." The removed information included a June 2024 Public Health Advisory from then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy where he declared gun violence a national public health crisis and a report titled "Responding to transgender victims of sexual assault." The removed research also included reports titled "Minority Veteran Care," "Resources for LGBTQ Youth Experiencing Homelessness" and "Facts about LGBT Youth Suicide." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who attempted to access the websites received a message that said, "The page you're looking for was not found." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also temporarily added a note to its website which said the "CDC's website is being modified to comply with President Trump's Executive Orders." Bramhall said he couldn't speculate how the agency decided which pages were removed, though he said it "seemed like there were specific keywords that guided which sites were going to be taken down, which webpages were going to be deleted." "And these typically have to do with vaccination requirements, with STI, with gender and disparities in care," Bramhall said. "So, the usual sort of buzzwords that the administration has been excited about have filtered down into a deletion of scientific information that is used by doctors and nurses to treat and to guide people on these issues. So the issues don't go away, but the information that they use has gone away." While the Department of Health and Human Services did not provide notice on which websites would be removed, according to Bramhall, physicians began to notice in the spring that websites they once routinely used to obtain information for patient treatment had begun to disappear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There had been no information about what changes were going to be made; there was no warning, so they disappeared," Bramhall said. As more and more physicians began to notice the missing information, Bramhall said it "became clear" that hundreds of previously used websites had vanished. "This is information that's used by our members on a daily basis, sometimes on an hourly basis, to help guide the therapy and treatment of our patients," Bramhall said. "And it soon became clear that what was necessary was a lawsuit." According to the initial complaint, one member of the WSMA described the scope of the information removed as "breathtaking," while another said, "If the CDC isn't able to publish information about new virus outbreaks, the consequences will be grave, for obvious reasons." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement Tuesday, Dr. James Polo, president of the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which joined the lawsuit, said that "trust is at the core of pediatrics-parents trust us to put their children first, and we rely on accurate data to guide their care. "When critical health information disappeared overnight, that trust was undermined and children's health was put at risk," Polo said. While the settlement requires the Department of Health and Human Services to restore the information, Bramhall considers the agreement a "narrow victory." "We still have an administration that is guided more by gut than by science. We still have an administration that is attacking universities, that's defunding the NIH, that's taking down information about subjects that they feel uncomfortable with," Bramhall said. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Federal officials want the public to weigh in on a policy that could impact the future of Oregon lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture filed a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement on Friday. The notice involves the potential rescinding of 2001 Roadless Rule, which currently prohibits road construction, reconstruction and timber harvesting on about 59 million acres of property within the National Forest System. Oregon Senate Dems delay ODOT funding vote for 2 weeks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from Oregon, the policy impacts Western states including Alaska, Montana, California, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Washington, New Mexico, and Arizona. Although the rule was originally implemented to protect and conserve forests, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins is among the federal leaders arguing that the policy has hindered land managers nationwide. This administration is dedicated to removing burdensome, outdated, one-size-fits-all regulations that not only put people and livelihoods at risk but also stifle economic growth in rural America, Rollins said in a statement. It is vital that we properly manage our federal lands to create healthy, resilient, and productive forests for generations to come. Revoking the rule would impact approximately 45 million acres of public land. Within the state, environmental organization Oregon Wild estimates that almost 2 million acres of land could be at risk. This is merely a fraction of the public lands that would have been impacted by Utah Sen. Mike Lees previous proposal to allow the sale of assets owned by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau Land of Management. But the latest plan still has the potential to threaten wildlife, outdoor recreation and access to clean water, according to environmental advocates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Showed no fear: Cougar euthanized after killing livestock near Corvallis These forests are some of Oregons most treasured landscapes, from the flower-studded meadows of Echo Mountain to the headwaters of Tumalo Creek, which provides Bends drinking water, Oregon Wilds Sami Godlove said in a release. Oregonians value these places deeply, and now is the time to raise our voices to ensure they remain protected for future generations. The USDA is accepting public comments on the potential removal of the Roadless Rule through Friday, Sept. 19. Federal officials are expected to release their environmental impact statement by March 2026, and issue a final decision later in the year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia (left) and Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth (right) participate in a healthcare roundtable discussion at the Hayden Village Center in Franklin, on Sep. 2, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) FRANKLIN, Va. Alongside local health care workers and government leaders Tuesday morning in Franklin, Democrat Mark Warner, who represents Virginia in the U.S. Senate, and Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, delivered warnings about looming federal funding changes that will affect health care access and affordability in the years ahead. Both lawmakers expressed frustration with some hospital chains in Virginia for not speaking out about how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation bill that Congress passed this summer will impact health care providers and patients in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre trying to bury their heads in the sand, Warner said of some health systems operating in the commonwealth. They want to lobby me and the Speaker for help behind closed doors, but dont want to go out and be transparent with their community. Scott concurred. The men surmised that hospital leadership may be feeling intimidated by President Donald Trumps administration, which has spearheaded a campaign to reduce government spending that has upended several agencies and led large swaths of federal workers to lose their jobs, including thousands in Virginia. Referencing Trumps Make America Great Again campaign slogan, Scott said the greatness of this country will only be maintained if were willing to speak truth to each other. Both on the panel in Franklin an hour and a half southeast of Richmond and in an interview with The Mercury, Warner singled out Bon Secours, which operates the areas Southampton Memorial Hospital, one of six hospitals in the state that could be at higher risk of service cuts or closure when health care components of Congress reconciliation bill take effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When The Mercury reached out to Bon Secours about Southampton earlier this summer, a public relations person referred the newsroom to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. The entity includes several health systems around the state and at times speaks on their behalf. In June, VHHA had joined several similar associations in other states to write a letter to Congress urging them to block the U.S.Senates version of the reconciliation bill before it ultimately passed and was signed into law by Trump on July 4. Aside from the letter, leaders from hospitals have made visits to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal lawmakers and the White House. VHHA spokesman Julian Walker said in an email that the association and hospitals have consistently shared our perspective about how the bill could cause hundreds of thousands to lose health coverage and a projected $2 billion annually in essential hospital funding. While Bon Secours hasnt spoken about the imminent changes publicly, Ballad Health leaders have spoken out. Obviously its a huge concern for us, Lee County Community Hospital administrator Cindy Elkins told The Mercury during a visit this summer to the facility deep in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A once-shuttered facility, Ballad Health took over and reopened the hospital in 2021. On a recent tour, Elkins explained how the facility has been able to add new services incrementally over time to serve some needs of the rural communities it serves. While still vulnerable to the loss of Medicaid-insured patients, the hospitals special reimbursement rate through its designation as a Critical Access Hospital is expected to cushion some of the reconciliation bills blow. Ballad Healths Chief Operating Officer Eric Deaton also spelled out that the forthcoming changes are pretty scary. He predicts Ballad could lose around $25 million in the first year the reconciliation bills hospital funding changes take effect. Ballad is one of the chains that has a footprint in rural areas, which can be less profitable for hospitals and make operating margins small, but which Deaton said is a calling for some physicians and hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were very concerned, and were really focused on, what can we do to work with our legislators in the future? he said. Ballad Health CEO Alan Levine was also critical of the reconciliation bill on social media as it worked its way through Congress at one point, writing that it will lead to closure of rural hospitals. More uninsured Virginians, fewer health care workers and services How the reconciliation bills changes will take shape in Virginia depend on a series of interconnected federal funding changes. One is a set of federal funding mechanisms that are critical to hospital operation, while the other changes stem from forthcoming Medicaid shifts outlined in the federal legislation. Of Virginias roughly 1.9 million people on Medicaid, about 600,000 of the people who became eligible when the program was expanded in 2018 could potentially lose coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then theres the potential for Congress to not renew special tax credits that help people purchase insurance on the ACA Marketplace, which may cause some to forgo purchasing plans next year altogether. About 400,000 Virginians purchase health insurance on the marketplace, with the credits applying to those that earn between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. Uninsured people are less likely to seek preventative care and wait for dire emergencies to get help. That care can become costlier and hospitals will absorb it for a time, but will also find ways to offset costs. Aside from reducing staff and services or closing facilities, hospitals do occasionally negotiate with private insurers, which means that those rates are likely to rise in the future. Theyre going to drive up all of our rates, Warner said Tuesday in Franklin. This will drive up healthcare costs for all of us rich, poor, middle class and anywhere in between. Passing the message U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia participates in a roundtable discussion about forthcoming changes to healthcare access and affordability outlined in Congress reconciliation bill that it passed this summer, despite his opposition. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Tuesdays panel included area doctors, healthcare advocates, and local government officials who strategized how to best communicate and prepare Virginians for the changes coming from the new federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott said that city councilors and boards of supervisors can play a key role in educating people, to which Franklin Mayor Paul Kaplan nodded. Mona Murphy, a local public school employee, noted that the local hospital is a fundamental pillar of the local workforce. Its potential closure or downsizing would leave people without jobs, a point that is essential for the public to understand, she said. An audience member suggested state lawmakers explore requiring hospitals that plan to close down to fund an urgent care center in their absence. Scott said he liked the idea, but noted that hospitals that end up closing could also explore converting themselves into an urgent care center. For now, he said that Virginia could tap into its budget surplus, but as a short-term fix, it would be wiped away with the stroke of a pen. When passing the reconciliation bill, Congress also passed the Rural Health Transformation Program, which Walker from VHHA acknowledged was meant to soften the (the reconciliation bills) impact on patients and providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that that the associations outreach continues today as we engage with state and federal officials regarding the program. In Virginia, state and local agencies are already preparing for how to roll out the changes. Scott and Warner criticized Congress Republican majority for delaying the start date on health care changes in the reconciliation bill until after next years congressional midterm elections. Between now and then, Warner said he is hopeful that the nations legislative body can consider unraveling some of those changes. More immediately, however, he plans to urge his colleagues across the aisle to to renew the ACA tax credits so hundreds of thousands of Virginians wont lose their health care insurance. I do think a lot of my Republican friends realize that the big bill went too far, he said. So maybe I think we can get some agreement there. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) Space Command is coming to the Rocket City, and state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said they are thrilled. You dont move the rocket off the launch pad, and you dont move Space Command out of the rocket city, Representative Andy Whitt, (R) Harvest, said. Alabama leaders react to Space Command HQ coming to Redstone Arsenal Huntsville, Alabama, has a strong foundation, Representative Anthony Daniels, (D) Huntsville, said. Were providing the workforce and training the workforce. and we have a large military presence and defense presence here in our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That excitement is shared by U.S. Congressman Dale Strong, who even thanked President Trump on behalf of the 5th Congressional District for sticking to his word. Strong has long advocated for Space Command to move to Huntsville, and said one reason is that the move would save taxpayer dollars. Colorado lawmakers, where Space Command is currently, said this move is a waste of money on Tuesday. The reports that say this will save $426 million, Rep. Strong told News 19. The cost to construct in Alabama is more favorable. The cost to maintain is more favorable. Weve got a talent pool to pick from. Thats something you dont have in Colorado. Rocket City takes Command: U.S. Space Command Headquarters coming to Alabama Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Rep. Strong could not provide a schedule for when construction will start, he did say that Space Command will not move into a non-permanent building. This means it could be years before it is officially here. My understanding, at this time, were not going to do a non-permanent building. What were going to do is push immediately, Rep. Strong said. The funding is there. We need to go vertical. Its my understanding that site prep is ready to roll. Design is complete, is my understanding. Rep. Strong said President Trump does not want to move Space Command again, so officials are being thoughtful about this construction. He did not provide details on when they could break ground on Redstone Arsenal. Strong continued that this move will bring around 1,600 jobs to the area, and that he will work with local and state agencies to address any issues the growth brings. 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. Maryland was one of more than two dozen states that argued earlier this month that the federal government was secretly withholding millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funding, representing a second round of cuts to the national service program since April. Now, federal officials say that funding totaling nearly $185 million is heading out to the states after all. AmeriCorps officials said in a filing Thursday in the U.S. District Court for Maryland, that the $185 million represents the remainder of the funding appropriated by Congress for AmeriCorps in the current fiscal year. AmeriCorps pledged to apportion the funds by Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unlocked funding will go to several different service programs nationwide, including AmeriCorps Seniors, which connects Americans 55 and up with service opportunities, including helping children learn to read, assisting the elderly and responding to natural disasters. Some will go to state-level service commissions, too. At least $2 million of the $185 million is bound for Maryland, court records show. It will go to programs such as the Maryland Reading Corps, which provides children with literacy tutors, and Frostburg State Universitys ASTAR program, through which AmeriCorps members contribute to educational programming, food pantries, health care and more in rural Western Maryland. In a news release Friday, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown held the new development up as a win for his office, which leads the multistate lawsuit against cuts to AmeriCorps, originally filed in late April. This is a major victory for Marylands most vulnerable and the AmeriCorps members who serve them, Brown said Friday. This outcome provides security for the programs and dedicated AmeriCorps members who tutor and mentor struggling Maryland students and give food to Marylanders who need it. By protecting these programs, we are defending the wellbeing of thousands of Marylanders who depend on this critical support to live full, healthy lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides Maryland, other parties to the suit include the District of Columbia and the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. The AmeriCorps saga began in April, when Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, placed an estimated 85% of headquarters staff at AmeriCorps on leave, and dismissed thousands of AmeriCorps members completing community service projects across the nation. The decision was based on issues uncovered in recent financial audits of the national service organization, White House officials said. In Maryland, the abrupt termination devastated AmeriCorps members who were busy serving inside state parks, educational centers and other institutions. The Maryland-led lawsuit, challenging an estimated $400 million in cuts, came shortly thereafter. By early June, a Maryland federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, stating that AmeriCorps would have to temporarily reverse the cuts in the 24 jurisdictions that filed suit while the litigation proceeded. The injunction did not impact cuts in other states, or the staffing reductions at AmeriCorps headquarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But earlier this month came another wrinkle. The states reported in a filing that the federal Office of Budget and Management was refusing to release tens of millions of dollars that Congress already appropriated, and that AmeriCorps chose to award to service programs for fiscal year 2025. They requested another preliminary injunction from the court, arguing that the funding was being withheld unlawfully, and it should be restored. The feds were due to reply on Thursday, and thats when they filed an update, stating that the $185 million was being released. Attorneys for the Justice Department wrote that in light of this development, the Parties are conferring about the appropriate next steps in this litigation, including whether the preliminary injunction motion still requires the Courts resolution or whether it may be withdrawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org. (The Center Square) Recovery from hurricanes, whether Helene in North Carolina last fall or Katrina in Louisiana two decades ago, should have survivors first, says a Tarheel State congressman. The FEMA Act of 2025, he believes, does just that. This package delivers the fundamental reform that FEMA has needed for decades to function much more efficiently and effectively by putting in place clear lines of authority and real accountability to provide for a faster recovery, said U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., during a hearing of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the House of Representatives. These reforms will help keep the agency squarely focused on its core disaster mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation also known as House Resolution 4669 left Rouzers panel and next stops in the subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. FEMA has long been an easy punching bag when disasters small and large strike. There is red tape and accountability involved, and theres displaced Americans often hitting that tape with little more than the clothes on their backs and their world upended. Second-term Republican President Donald Trump made western North Carolina his first trip from the White House after his inauguration. Hes spoken multiple times of changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, up to and including dismantling. Always, however, has been a more likely path for core functions to remain if not known as FEMA then within another agency. The FEMA Act of 2025 would restore original status as an independent agency, removing it from the Department of Homeland Security where critics say trouble brewed under the leadership of former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in the Biden administration. Kristi Noem now leads Homeland Security for Trump, with David Richardson the senior official performing duties of FEMA administrator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rouzer said disaster relief should be fast, fair and focused on results. He said the bill cuts bureaucracy and speeds recovery. The resolution, if it becomes law, would reform federal permitting and procurement and establish a Recovery Task Force with a mission to close more than 1,000 disaster declarations dating back to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Rouzer noted the duplicative hurdles are being softened. It would remove disincentives that have discouraged donations from charities, faith-based organizations and the public. The package includes several priorities of mine, Rouzer said, including provisions from the Duplications of Benefits Victim Relief Act. Too many families who accept a donation from a charity or take an SBA loan to keep the lights on, find out later that accepting those essential resources prevents them from receiving other assistance later for which they otherwise would be eligible. This bill makes clear that SBA loans and private charitable donations are not considered duplicative for FEMA individual assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SBA is the acronym for Small Business Administration. Rouzer said the bill has language that breaks apart small and large disasters, so the agency can be nimble and better positioned to help. Florida has set the gold standard for disaster mitigation and emergency response, and this legislation builds on that success at the national level, said Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., the leader of his party on the next panel to hear the bill. By streamlining FEMA and cutting red tape, we ensure that federal disaster response is faster, more efficient, and accountable to the American people. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) On Sept. 2, the Office of the Texas Governor announced though a press release that Governor Gregg Abbott requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) extend the Individual Assistance registration period for Texans impacted by flooding that occurred over the Fourth of July weekend in, which they did. Individuals who live in qualifying counties now have until September 28th to submit damages and make claims to FEMA. Qualifying Texans in Burnet, Guadalupe, Kerr, Kimble, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties may be eligible for FEMAs Individual Assistance program, which provide financial assistance for qualifying disaster-related expenses reported by the office of the Texas Governor through a press release. Texans can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or over the phone by calling 800-621-3362. Texans can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center for more information on applying for disaster assistance and accessing available services. Local officials across impacted communities have also opened disaster outreach centers with support from state, federal and non-profit partners stated the press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas continues to rebuild and recover in the communities impacted by catastrophic floods over the Fourth of July weekend, said Abbott. Together, with our federal partners, we will ensure that all Texans who qualify for financial assistance have ample time to apply. I thank FEMA for extending the Individual Assistance registration period to September 28th for Texans who continue to heal from this devastating tragedy. According to the press release, Abbott continues to take action to provide all necessary resources to local officials as they respond to and recover from flooding, including: Presenting checks alongside the Vaqueros del Mar Texas Flood Relief Fund to additional families impacted by the flooding in the Hill Country Announcing alongside the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country over $40 million in long-term flood relief funding efforts Announcing the approval of Uvalde County to the Presidential Disaster Declaration Celebrating the re-opening of Cow Creek Bridge Requesting federal disaster assistance for Uvalde County following flood impacts Joining the Vaqueros del Mar Texas Flood Relief Fund in presenting checks to families impacted by Hill Country flooding Announcing 10 additional counties added to President Trumps Major Disaster Declaration Requesting Real County be added to President Trumps Major Disaster Declaration Announcing eligibility for additional counties for SNAP replacement benefits Updating the states disaster declaration to include four additional impacted communities and requesting nine counties be added to President Trumps Major Disaster Declaration Securing approval for federal disaster assistance for two additional counties to President Trumps Major Disaster Declaration Requesting the addition of two counties to President Trumps Major Disaster Declaration Meeting with impacted Texans and first responders in San Angelo and providing an update on the states ongoing response and recovery operations Updating the states disaster declaration to include five additional counties and announcing federal approval of three more counties added to President Trumps Major Disaster Declaration Announcing 26 additional counties eligible for SNAP hot foods Surveying flood damage with General Steven Nordhaus in the Texas Hill Country Requesting the addition of three counties for President Trumps Major Disaster Declaration Announcing up to $5 million in funding is available through the Texas Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program Announcing over $1.9 million in grant funding to hospitals in Kerrville and Llano impacted by recent catastrophic floods Touring flood damage in Leander and providing an update on Texas continued response to severe flooding impacting Central Texas Receiving approval for federal disaster assistance for additional impacted communities Requesting the addition of five counties to the Presidential Disaster Declaration Visiting with impacted Texans alongside President Trump in Kerrville Launching the new Texas Flooding Emotional Support Line Obtaining approval for federal disaster assistance for additional impacted communities Requesting additional counties for President Trumps Major Disaster Declaration Directing the states ongoing flood response and recovery efforts Announcing disaster unemployment assistance for flood impacts Surveying the flood damage of the affected areas and updating Texans on response efforts Providing an update on the states ongoing flood response in impacted communities Obtaining approval from President Trump for federal disaster assistance as part of a Major Disaster Declaration Amending the states disaster declaration to include additional impacted counties and providing an update on the states emergency response in affected areas Providing an update on the states response to severe flooding in Kerr County and surrounding communities Increasing the readiness level of the State Operations Center and activating additional state emergency response resources as portions of West and Central Texas prepared for heavy rainfall and flash flooding threats Deploying state emergency response resources ahead of the rain and flooding threat Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. The filmmakers behind the Gaza-set drama The Voice of Hind Rajab, one of the most anticipated movies at this years Venice Film Festival, used the opportunity of the projects first major press conference to make a powerful plea for peace. After the films director, Kaouther Ben Hania, was greeted by a lengthy standing ovation, her star, Palestinian-Canadian actress Saja Kilani, read a prepared statement on behalf of her collaborators. In the name of the entire team, we ask, Isnt it enough? Enough of the mass killing, starvation, dehumanization, destruction and the ongoing occupation, Hanja said. The Voice of Hind Rajab does not need our defense. This film is not an opinion or a fantasy. It is anchored in truth. Hinds story carries the weight of an entire people. Hinds voice is one amongst tens of thousands of children that were killed in Gaza in the last two years alone. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She continued: The real question is, how have we let a child beg for life? No one can live in peace, while even one child is forced to plea for survival. Let Hinds voice echo around the world. Let it remind you of the silence that has been built around Gaza. The Voice of Hind Rajab is based on the final, real-life calls of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who was trapped in a car in Gaza on January 29, 2024, after Israeli tank fire killed her relatives. The Palestine Red Crescent Society stayed on the line with the child for more than an hour as she pleaded for rescue. An ambulance sent to reach her was itself destroyed, killing the two medics on board. Hinds voice fragments of which spread online and were later verified and analyzed by outlets including The Washington Post, Sky News and Forensic Architecture became one of the most haunting and emblematic testaments of the war in Gaza: a desperate plea heard around the world met with silence. For me, it was a strong desire and a feeling of anger and helplessness that gave birth to this movie, Ben Hania, a two-time Oscar nominee, said of her motivations. But I was surrounded by wonderful people, with all the support of Hinds mother and family and all the Red Cross workers, who are the real heroes of this story. Denied access to Gaza but determined to respond, Ben Hania contacted the Red Crescent and Hinds loved ones, eventually obtaining the full 70-minute recording. Out of that raw material, she constructed a hybrid narrative, centering on the voices of the Red Crescent workers who tried, against impossible odds, to save the child. Palestinian actors play the medics, but the voice of Hind we hear is her own, from the original recording of that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, just as the Venice festival was getting underway, industry heavyweights including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Alfonso Cuaron and Jonathan Glazer, boarded The Voice of Hind Rajab as executive producers, boosting its profile ahead of its world premiere. Ben Hania said the backing of such global film figures was something she never imagined was possible, but that shes very grateful for their support. The fact that all those names joined the movie means something, she added. Weve seen the narrative change all around the world that those dying in Gaza are collateral damage in the media. Thats why cinema, art, and every kind of expression are very important to give those people a voice and a face. Ben Hania has been inventively blurring the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction for more than a decade, crafting work that moves between dramatization and documentary while remaining anchored in lived experience. Her feature debut, The Challat of Tunis (2014), used documentary techniques to probe a local urban legend. Beauty and the Dogs (2017) dramatized the aftermath of a sexual assault in Tunis with unsettling precision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent work has catapulted the director to global recognition. In 2020, she became the first Tunisian filmmaker nominated for an Academy Award with The Man Who Sold His Skin, a satirical drama about a Syrian refugee whose body becomes a commodity. Three years later, her hybrid doc Four Daughters part testimony, part re-enactment bowed at Cannes, went on to win the prize for best documentary, and was nominated for an Oscar. The Voice of Hind Rajab has already been submitted by Tunisia for the best international film category at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards. The films all-Palestinian cast including Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury and Amer Hlehel spoke in Venice of the emotionally wrenching mood throughout production. Tears were dropped always, every day, every moment, said Hlehel, who plays a medic. Co-star Malhees, who was born in the West Bank, said the moment he heard the recordings of Hinds voice during shooting, he felt as if he were in reality rather than on a film set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took me back to the time I was begging as a kid for safety, he added. There were two times I couldnt keep filming. I had a panic attack. It was hard, but everyone was there to support me. He concluded: It was a responsibility for me. I felt that we should do this because if we dont, who will? The winners of the 82nd Venice Film Festival will be unveiled at a ceremony on Sept 6. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (KRON) A fire broke out at a Nob Hill apartment on Tuesday morning, the San Francisco Fire Department said on social media. SFFD received a 911 call around 11:39 a.m. about a one-alarm fire at a five-story building at 1191 Pine St. The fire was extinguished and kept to the unit of origin, according to SFFD. No injuries were reported, and SFFD did not mention if anyone was displaced from the fire. SFFD posted videos of the scene. View in the media player above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferry Building-founded bakery to open new San Francisco flagship location Leavenworth Street between Bush Street and Pine Street was closed for an hour, officials said. SFFD did not state what caused the fire. The fire department posted about the incident on X at 12:38 p.m. on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Sep. 2The body of a firefighter who died of a cardiac emergency while battling a blaze in Montana was transported to Spokane over the weekend in a procession that spanned nearly 400 miles. Ruben Gonzalez Romero was stationed on the Bivens Creek fire burning more than 3,000 acres just 15 miles from Virginia City, Montana. Romero had 20 years of experience as a firefighter and sawyer, according to a news release from Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 6. Romero was "actively involved" in fire suppression when he suffered from a cardiac emergency and died at the scene, the release said. Firefighters took Romero from the fire to Whitehall, Montana, from where he was transported in a procession Monday to Spokane. Firefighters from across the region came to the highway to honor Romero as the procession passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romero's remains were sent this week from Spokane to his family waiting in Mexico, according to the release. "Romero brought significant experience, wisdom, and mentorship to the fire line and the people with whom he worked. He was known for his humor, unfaltering stamina, modesty, and love for his family," the incident team said. "The incident personnel and incident management team are grateful for Romero's contributions to the Bivens Creek firefighting effort, as well as his many years of service as a wildland firefighter across the United States. We deeply appreciate his dedication to his profession and to the communities threatened by wildland fire. The wildland firefighting community feels this loss profoundly and will hold Romero in their hearts and memories." Firefighters finally extinguished a large-scale fire in warehouse facilities in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast on Wednesday evening after a whole day of work following a Russian strike on the night of 2-3 September. Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Telegram Details: The fire covered an area of about 9,000 sq m. A total of 134 firefighters and 38 appliances were involved in extinguishing the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross provided food and water for the firefighters. No casualties were reported. A firefighter extinguishing the fire Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Background: Russian forces launched a drone and missile attack on Khmelnytskyi and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts, damaging residential buildings and causing fires. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian forces have attacked Khmelnytskyi and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts with drones and missiles, damaging residential buildings and causing fires. Source: Serhii Tiurin, Head of Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration; Svitlana Onyshchuk, Head of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Military Administration, State Emergency Service (SES) on Facebook Quote from Tiurin: "The oblast was attacked with missiles and drones twice at night and in the morning. Air defence was responding. Some [aerial assets] were downed, but damage was also recorded. As of now, there is information about a fire at a garage complex, a damaged trolleybus, shattered windows in residential buildings and damage at non-residential premises." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Tiurin said no reports of casualties had been received and added that the remaining aftermath of the attack is being confirmed. Later, the State Emergency Service (SES) reported that the strikes in Khmelnytskyi Oblast had caused a fire at a garage complex: ten garages had been destroyed and five caught fire. photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine As of 10:00, the fire had been contained. Efforts to extinguish the flames and dismantle the structures are ongoing. photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine The Russians attacked an infrastructure facility in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Quote from Onyshchuk: "An infrastructure facility was targeted. Early reports indicate no casualties. A fire broke out due to the attack." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Emergency Service (SES) has reported that warehouse facilities are burning in three separate locations in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, covering a total area of approximately 9,000 sq m. "Firefighters have contained the fire, but extinguishing efforts are ongoing. A total of 130 SES personnel and 35 fire appliances are working at the scene," the report said. photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine This news has been updated since publication. Background: From the evening of 2 September, Russia attacked Ukraine with drones. On the night of 2-3 September, it launched missiles on civilian settlements. Air defence was responding in several oblasts and damage was recorded. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Congress releases its first batch of investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein as accusers call for more to be released. And as climate risks grow, scientists say they could soon lose a key tool for studying Antarcticas melting ice sheets. Here's what to know today. Epstein survivors call for all documents to be made public The Trump administration is facing growing pressure to release more documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as several House lawmakers threatened to force a floor vote on their bipartisan bill to release all the Epstein files immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress released its first batch of the files, containing 33,295 pages of records. Many of the files had already been made public through court filings and other releases. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Six women who say they were sex trafficked by Epstein called for all the records to be released during an exclusive interview with NBC News Hallie Jackson. They also urged Trump not to pardon his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence. When Maxwell was interviewed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July, she denied that she saw inappropriate conduct from any of the high-profile men accused of being friendly with Epstein, including Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the interview transcript was published, relatives of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a late Epstein victim who accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was a minor, said they were outraged and argued it provided Maxwell a platform to rewrite history. Read the full story here. More politics news: A top Senate Democrat said that he is being blocked from a scheduled oversight meeting after interference from far-right activist Laura Loomer. A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration violated the law when it mobilized 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to L.A. in June. Trump announced that the U.S. Space Command's headquarters will move to Alabama because of Colorados mail-in voting system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuts to SNAP benefits that have provided low-income Americans with more purchasing power in the grocery store are set to go into effect. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the chair of the health committee, declines to elaborate after he said he will conduct 'oversight' of RFK Jr. after a recent shake-up at the CDC. Federal court blocks deportations under 1798 Alien Enemies Act A federal appeals court blocked the Trump administration from using an 18th century wartime law to remove alleged Venezuelan gang members from the United States. A panel of the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to block President Donald Trumps deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, ruling the administrations claim that members of Venezuelas Tren de Aragua gang are part of a warlike invasion is not true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, and accused the gang of conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States that include mass illegal migration to the United States.The 5th Circuit limited its ruling to the use of the Alien Enemies Act for removal and said it does not cover other legal means of removing foreign terrorists. Read the full story. Trump (a)live on television President Donald Trump's bruised hand during a meeting at the White House on Aug. 25. (Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images file) Trump's appearance on television yesterday, whether he knew it or not, was proof-of-life for those who questioned his health, with many online speculating the president was gravely ill, or worse. "#Trumpdead" began trending on X after he hadnt been seen in public from Tuesday afternoon until Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has jumped to similar conclusions himself when it comes to political opponents. For years, he has relentlessly cast doubt on former President Joe Bidens vitality and mental fitness and depicted him as the infirm puppet of controlling aides. Read the full story. Putin and Kim Jong Un join Xi at 'Victory Day' event no Western leaders attend Fighter jets, hypersonic missiles and drones were paraded through Beijing as China held one of its biggest military parades to date, in a show of force attended by world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un. The Victory Day parade marked the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japans surrender at the end of World War II. There was no U.S. representation at the parade, and most other Western leaders declined, in part because of Putins attendance as he has pressed on with his war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump gave his thoughts on the parade on Truth Social, posting a message to Xi: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Chinas military equipment showcase included nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach the mainland United States. Also on display were YJ-class anti-ship missiles, which can be launched from a number of platforms, including submarines. Anti-ship missiles would pose a major threat to U.S. naval vessels in the event of military intervention in the Asia-Pacific, where China has been pressing territorial claims on Taiwan and in the South China Sea. Read the full updates from the parade. Read All About It The U.S. military carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean on a boat allegedly operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, killing 11 people on board, the president said. Google must share data with rivals to open up competition in online search, a judge ruled, while rejecting a bid to make it sell off its Chrome browser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury cleared rapper Cardi B of any legal liability stemming from accusations of assaulting a security guard in 2018. Amazon is eliminating a program that allows members of its Prime subscription program to share free shipping benefits with people outside their household. A shipment of fake Labubu dolls that would be worth more than half a million dollars if the items were genuine was intercepted at Seattles airport. 'Saturday Night Live' added five new cast members, including Ben Marshall, who made regular appearances on the show as part of the comedy trio Please Dont Destroy. Staff Pick: A key tool for studying Antarctica's melting ice sheets could soon be out of commission Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier has the potential to add several inches to global sea levels. (James Yungel / NASA file) Its no surprise that the current administration doesnt have science and climate at the top of its priority list when it comes to funding. But after reading Evan Bush's reporting on a key tool for studying climate change that could soon be decommissioned, it became clearer what there is to lose when funding is cut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What happens in the most desolate place on Earth could tell scientists what to expect as the climate crisis grows increasingly worse. That is why climate scientists study Antarctica. But there's a new obstacle to understanding the changing continent and how its affecting weather patterns throughout the world. The National Science Foundation plans to decommission its only research icebreaker, the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer, while also stalling on plans to build a replacement. Christian Orozco, newsletter and platforms editor NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Experts recommended products from brands like Ouai, Olaplex and more clarifying shampoos that can bring new life to weaker hair weighed down by excess products and residue. Speaking of hair, check out a list of the hair tools that the TSA just banned. Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for reading todays Morning Rundown. Todays newsletter was curated for you by Christian Orozco. If youre a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Sep. 2SIOUX FALLS U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson made one of his first gubernatorial campaign promises on Tuesday, committing to banning cell phones during K-12 instructional time in schools. South Dakota is one of 17 states that has failed to take statewide action to address cell phone use in schools, Johnson said in a news release. "We must be laser-focused on student achievement. Getting cell phones out of classrooms will move us in the right direction," Johnson said in his announcement. "We are falling behind other countries, including China. Removing the constant temptation, distraction, and hidden dangers of cell phones will better prepare our students to compete and win." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson said he will work with public school districts to implement policies that prohibit student cell phone use during class. Decisions regarding exemptions and enforcement will be made at the local level, he said. "The next 20 years could be the best years South Dakota has ever had, and making sure our kids are ready for the challenges ahead is a key part of ensuring our state's success," Johnson said in a statement. "Numerous school districts in South Dakota have led by example, and it's time for us to implement their best practices statewide." The announcement follows reporting by South Dakota Searchlight that surveyed school districts around the state, showing that nearly all districts have a phone policy or guidelines for students. About 60% of districts do not allow phones for at least part of the school day. However, in some schools, students can keep the devices in their backpacks or lockers. About one-third of the districts in the state remove or lock away high school students' phones for at least part of the school day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson, who resides in Mitchell, is in his fourth term in Congress after first being elected in 2018 as the state's lone House member. He is one of three major declared candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, along with current South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen and Toby Doeden, a businessman from Aberdeen. Current Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden has not formally entered the race or announced his plans for 2026. On his campaign website, Johnson said he will "make education the top priority and ensure every South Dakota student gets off to a good start. He will be laser-focused on improving student achievement, from math and reading scores to learning skilled trades. Dusty will empower parents to make the best decisions about their children's education." South Dakota Department of Education Secretary Joseph Graves told South Dakota Searchlight in an emailed statement that he is "pleased" to see school districts set local policies that meet their needs, adding that research shows smartphones have a "direct impact on student learning and the classroom culture." "We will be watching closely as schools develop rules and strategies to combat the negative effects of smartphones," Graves said. The state Legislature passed a resolution in February encouraging school boards to implement policies limiting cell phone use during instruction, South Dakota Searchlight reported. Twenty-six states have laws or policies banning or limiting cellphones in classrooms. After an hour-long search on Tuesday, 5-year-old Jedadiah Jackson was found after wandering away from the playground at Sto Rox Primary Center. When the child was found, I had his blanket and was able to throw his blankie down to the Allegheny County police officer who had him, holding him, said Lt. Conor Mullen with the Allegheny County Police Department. RELATED COVERAGE >>> 5-year-old boy with autism who wandered away from Sto-Rox Primary Center playground found safe Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school on Ewing Road turned into what looked like a command center in minutes after Jedadiah wandered away from the school during recess. PHOTOS: Crews search for missing 5-year-old autistic boy last seen at local school playground Richard Osselborn lives nearby and has a five-year-old of his own. He said, I have a five-year-old getting off the bus pretty soon, my granddaughter, whos in Kindergarten, and that just... When you told me, my heart sank, its in my feet right now. Cameron Culliver is the Sto Rox School Board President. He was emotional when talking about the missing child. Its hard not to cry, ya know, as a father. You wonder, what if that was my kid? said Culliver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search complicated by the fact that the kindergartner has autism and is nonverbal. You know that he wasnt going to react to anything that we said. He wasnt able to plead for help, said Lt. Mullen. But after crews searched for close to 7 hours, in surrounding neighborhoods, roads and on the Ohio River Jedidiah was found. Detective Nando Costa with Allegheny County Police said, A drone operator was able to spot him in the woods. We then moved in search and rescue and law enforcement officers to his location, and then were able to find him. You just think at home, if that was my kid that was out there, how hard would I want those people pushing, ya know, said Lt Mullen. So I never give up because I would want them to never give up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over a dozen police, fire, and EMS crews, including River Rescue and State Police, assisted in the search. You hug your counterparts, you hug all your partners, your friends, and whatnot, said Culliver. You hug the detectives and say thank you very much, just thank you. But now the question surrounding the school is how this was able to happen. Culliver said, On a day like this, you ask questions to yourself like why, how, and what happened? The Sto-Rox School District released a statement after Jedidiah was found saying: We are deeply relieved and grateful to share that the missing student has been found. On behalf of our Sto-Rox family and community, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the first responders and Sto-Rox staff members who played a role in the search, along with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, and our community partners. Sto-Rox School District will have additional support staff available tomorrow to assist any students or staff members who may need extra care or guidance. Out of an abundance of caution, recess will be held indoors while our district meets to address the situation and take the necessary steps to further ensure the safety of our students. To our dedicated staff, police officers, firefighters, and EMS your quick response, professionalism, and unwavering commitment were instrumental in bringing him home safely. Thank you for your service, your compassion, and your determination. We are forever grateful." Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Russia pummelled Ukraine with more than 500 drones and cruise missiles overnight, the Ukrainian military said on Wednesday morning, reporting impacts in 14 locations. Some 430 drones and 21 of 24 cruise missiles launched by Russia were intercepted, the Ukrainian Air Force said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the latest assault as "another massive attack" in a post on X. He said dozens of residential buildings were damaged across the country as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This undoubtedly requires a response from the world," he said. "It is only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on Russia's war economy, that this aggression continues." He announced further talks with allies on how to put further pressure on Russia to halt the fighting with the Nordic countries and Baltic States, as well as France. At least five people were injured in a drone strike on the central region of Kirovohrad, according to the regional military administration. The attack also hit railway infrastructure, leading to delays in over 20 connections, it said. It comes after Russia recently began increasingly to target its smaller neighbour's railway system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fires broke out in the western Ivano-Frankivsk and Khmelnytskyi regions due to the strikes, as well as in the Lutsk region further north, after infrastructure, residential buildings and garages were hit. Meanwhile, Ukraine also launched large-scale overnight drone attacks on targets in the Russian hinterland, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said. Some 105 drones were intercepted, the ministry said, without providing details on damage. A flash flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Phoenix at 3:49 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. This warning applies to Gila and Maricopa counties. The National Weather Service warns: "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks." See weather radar for metro Phoenix area What are weather service meteorologists saying? At 3:49 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a Flash Flood Warning for: Gila County in east central Arizona, Maricopa County in south central Arizona, Until 7 p.m. MST. At 3:49 p.m. MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain has fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD: Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding. SOURCE: Radar. IMPACT: Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses. Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Apache Lake and Tortilla Flat." What is a flash flood? A flash flood is a flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than six hours, according to the weather service. Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains. A flash flood can be sudden and violent and take just minutes to develop. It is possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain. What's the difference between a flash flood watch and a flash flood warning? A flash flood warning is issued when a flood is imminent or occurring, the weather service says. If you are in a flood-prone area, you should move immediately to high ground. The weather service issues a flash flood watch when flash flooding is possible. What to do during a flood warning If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Use a battery-operated radio or television to get the latest emergency information. Do not walk through floodwater. Just 6 inches of floodwater can sweep you off your feet if it is moving swiftly. Turn around, don't drown: Do not drive into a flooded street. Cars can be swept away by 2 feet of moving water, or there may be unseen damage to the road. If you come to a flooded area, turn around and go another way. Most flood-related deaths are caused by people driving through water. Watch out for fire hazards. Move to higher ground. Stay alert and turn weather notifications on. Do not allow children to play in flowing water. Waters can hide rocks, trees and debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporters Jana Hayes and Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez contributed to this article. This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor. See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Flash flood warning issued for Phoenix area UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. Residents in University City say they plan to fight a proposal to build an apartment complex near River des Peres. It comes three years after historic flooding devastated areas close to the river following torrential rainfall. On Tuesday, neighbors showed up to a stormwater commission meeting held at the Heman Park Community Center to express their concerns. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News The proposed development by William James Capital LLC. would clear several acres of dense forestry by the United Hebrew Cemetery, located by the intersection of Canton Ave. and North and South Rd. While the proposal is far from approved, those in favor pointed to the need for more affordable housing and mitigation efforts presented by the developer. Neighbors have argued the project presents too many risks in a vulnerable area thats still recovering from a devastating flood. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) A man who was a candidate for Florence Mayor last month was arrested on an active felony warrant, Florence Police said. The Florence Police Department said on September 2, the department was contacted by the Itawamba County Sheriffs Office in Mississippi for a subject who had an active felony warrant in Florences jurisdiction. FPD said officers arrived at the 100 block of Butler Drive to make contact with Anthony Britnell Jr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department said Britnell was placed under arrest on his Mississippi felony warrant for embezzlement, under contract (97-23-25). He was taken to the Lauderdale County Detention Center, where he will wait to be extradited by the Itawamba County Sheriffs Office, FPD said. Britnell ran for Florence Mayor on August 26, but lost the race to Ron Tyler. News 19 has reached out to the Itawamba County Sheriffs Office to learn more details about Britnells charge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo speaks at a press conference in Sanford, Florida, on April 8, 2024. Credit - Paul HennessySOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images Floridas Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, announced on Wednesday that the state would end all vaccine mandates, likening them to slavery. Lifting the mandates would mean children would not be required to be vaccinated in order to attend school in Florida. It would be the first state to withdraw from the practice, which has been credited with increasing vaccination rates and lowering the risk of infectious diseases like measles spreading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? Ladapo said. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis endorsed the move and acknowledged that although the state can eliminate some vaccine mandates, it would need changes from the legislature to eradicate them all. Ladapo is a known vaccine critic and has opposed mainstream scientific research and guidance. In the past, Ladapo has downplayed the importance of COVID-19 vaccines, which public health experts have credited with saving millions of lives during the pandemic, calling them nothing special. He also promoted unproven treatments for COVID-19, including hydroxychloroquine, which the World Health Organization has warned is not an effective treatment for the virus. During a measles outbreak in 2024 at an elementary school in Florida, Ladapo said guardians should have the right to decide whether their unvaccinated children are kept home, contrary to federal guidance that children be excluded from schools in such cases. Ladapo did not provide specifics on the plans to eliminate all vaccine mandates in the state, although he repeatedly said that every last one of them would be eradicated, is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floridas move to end mandates in the states comes as the national Department of Health and Human Servicesled by another well-known vaccine skeptic, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.has made a number of controversial changes to the countrys vaccine policies. The governors of Oregon, California and Washington formed a health alliance on Wednesday to provide health guidance for the residents of their states, including on vaccine safety, in a rebuke against the Trump Administration. The alliance comes in response to what the three governors described as the blatant politicization of the CDC following the firing of its former director, Susan Monarez last week. Meanwhile, anti-vaccine sentiments have been on the rise among the American public. Vaccination exemptions have been increasing in states across the country. During the 2024-25 school year, vaccine exemptions for kindergarteners rose from 3.3% to 3.6%, while 36 states reported overall rising exemptions, according to CDC data. Seventeen states reported exemptions exceeding 5%. Childhood vaccination rates, meanwhile, have been declining: The agency recorded a decrease in vaccine coverage for kindergarteners for all reported vaccines in the 2024-2025 school year. About 4 million deaths worldwide are prevented by childhood vaccines every year, according to the CDC. The World Health Organization estimated roughly 154 million lives have been saved over the last 50 years from global immunization efforts. Contact us at letters@time.com. Florida Department of Health moving to end vaccine mandates, State Surgeon General says Florida will move to end all vaccine mandates, State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced in a news conference on Wednesday. During a news conference Wednesday morning with Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ladapo said it should not be up to the government to tell parents what choices to make for their children. The Florida Department of Health, in partnership with the Governor, is going to be working to end all vaccine mandates in Florida, he announced to thunderous applause to a crowd in Valrico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery, he continued. Right now, there are about seven vaccines kids have to get for preschool entry. Some of those include the DTaP, polio, chicken pox, and hepatitis B. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Ladapo said he encourages parents to make informed decisions for their families. He said the state will start making changes now. Your body is a gift from God. What you put into your body is because of your relationship with your body and your God, he said. Action News Jax is working to get the details of the plan and will have the latest details as they become available. [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. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Florida plans to become the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates, a longtime cornerstone of public health policy for keeping schoolchildren and adults safe from infectious diseases. State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who announced the decision Wednesday, cast current requirements in schools and elsewhere as immoral intrusions on people's rights that hamper parents' ability to make health decisions for their children. People have a right to make their own decisions, informed decisions, Ladapo, who has frequently clashed with the medical establishment, said at a news conference in Valrico. They dont have the right to tell you what to put in your body. Take it away from them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida's move, a significant departure from decades of public policy and research that has shown vaccines to be safe and the most effective way to stop the spread of communicable diseases, especially among schoolchildren, is a notable embrace of the Trump administration's agenda led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist. Dr. Rana Alissa, chair of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said removing vaccines puts students and school staff at greater risk. When everyone in a school is vaccinated, it is harder for diseases to spread and easier for everyone to continue learning and having fun, Alissa said in an email. When children are sick and miss school, caregivers also miss work, which not only impacts those families but also the local economy. Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who is running for Orlando mayor, said in a social media post that scrapping vaccines is reckless and dangerous and could cause outbreaks of preventable disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a public health disaster in the making for the Sunshine State, Eskamani said on the social platform X. Amid turmoil at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention caused by Kennedy's extensive restructuring and downsizing, the Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon and California announced Wednesday that they had created an alliance to safeguard health policies, contending that the administration is politicizing public health decisions. The partnership plans to align immunization plans based on recommendations from respected national medical organizations, according to a joint statement from the states' governors. Vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives globally over the past 50 years, the World Health Organization reported in 2024. The majority of those were infants and children. Vaccines are among the most powerful inventions in history, making once-feared diseases preventable, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, vaccine mandates for child day care facilities and public schools include shots for measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, polio and other diseases, according to the state Health Departments website. Ladapo didn't give a timeline for the changes but said the department can scrap its own rules for some vaccine mandates, though others would require action by the Florida Legislature. He did not specify any particular vaccines but repeated several times that the effort would end all of them. Every last one of them. The American Medical Association issued a statement saying Floridas plan to end vaccine mandates would undermine decades of public health progress. While there is still time, we urge Florida to reconsider this change to help prevent a rise of infectious disease outbreaks that put health and lives at risk, said Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, an AMA trustee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida resisted imposing COVID vaccines on schoolchildren during the pandemic, requiring passports for places that draw crowds, school closures and mandates that workers get the shots to keep their jobs. I dont think theres another state thats done as much as Florida. We want to stay ahead of the curve, the governor said. DeSantis also announced the creation of a state Make America Healthy Again commission Wednesday modeled after similar initiatives that Kennedy established at the federal level. The commission would look into such things as allowing informed consent in medical matters, promoting safe and nutritious food, boosting parental rights in medical decisions about their children and eliminating medical orthodoxy that is not supported by the data, DeSantis said. The commission will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. The commission's work will help inform a large medical freedom package to be introduced in the Legislature next session, which would address the vaccine mandates required by state law and make permanent the recent state COVID decisions relaxing restrictions, DeSantis said. In a radical departure from decades of public health practices, state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced that Florida will work to end all vaccine mandates. Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery, Ladapo said Wednesday at a press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis. The announcement at a private Christian school in Hillsborough County was met with loud applause from the crowd and praise from anti-vaccine groups online but was also condemned by medical experts from across Florida for risking the health of children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ladapo did not provide many specifics but said Florida would be the first state in the nation to wipe out vaccine mandates. Florida law requires students to be vaccinated against a variety of diseases including chickenpox, measles, polio and tetanus before enrolling in school. But compliance has dropped sharply in recent years with more parents using an easy-to-get religious exemption to avoid getting their children vaccinated. That drop has alarmed public health officials, who say vaccines have wiped out dangerous childhood diseases and saved lives, and so did the DeSantis administrations announcement. The nonprofit founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine skeptic President Trump appointed as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, quickly praised Ladapo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is how you make America healthy again, the Childrens Health Defense wrote on X. Will other states follow Floridas lead? Michael Muszynski, a pediatric infectious disease expert and professor emeritus at Florida State Universitys College of Medicine, said he was appalled by Floridas decision and worried some other states would do the same. He said he wasnt sure why Florida leaders would pursue such a policy. What is wrong with these people? Why are they doing this? Dont they like children? he said. Vaccines are safe and effective and eliminating requirements invites a host of diseases once thought to be eliminated to make a comeback, said Muszynski, who practiced at Orlando Health and Nemours Hospital for over 20 years. Measles outbreaks are likely, for example, if vaccine rates continue to fall as mandates go away, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis said his administration would push a big medical freedom package that would allow residents to decide what shots their children receive. He criticized pediatricians who require all mandated vaccines if parents want their child in the practice. You should not ever be discriminated against, regardless of your choices. Its wrong for pediatricians to refuse to see a patient if the childs parents dont want them taking the hepatitis vaccine, he said. I think thats wrong. The Florida Department of Health will eliminate state rules that require certain vaccines first and then work with DeSantis and the state legislature to get rid of the rest of it, Ladapo said. The announcement comes as Florida saw a 20-year low in kindergarten vaccinations during the 2024-25 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last school year, just under 89% of Florida kindergarteners were fully immunized the national average was 93% down from about 94% two decades ago. And that number could almost certainly plummet without vaccine mandates. Ladapos has previously sown doubt about mRNA COVID vaccines, and he did not recommend the measles vaccine to families or require unvaccinated students to stay home amid the 2024 measles outbreak in Weston. Whether to get a vaccine is a personal choice, he said. I hope you make an informed decision. And thats how it should be not this nonsense where people who dont know you are telling you what to put in your temple, the temple of your body. Its a gift from God, Ladapo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Aileen Marty, an infectious disease expert and professor at Florida International Universitys Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, said the move to end vaccine mandates would cause more sickness, including severe illnesses, and would have wide ranging negative effects, including eventual damage to the states economy. Bottom line, its against empirical science. Clearly, vaccines have been the most helpful public health measure weve ever enacted, Marty said. Nothing has saved more lives than vaccines, period. The impact on health and illness wont likely be immediately apparent, she said, but both young people and older ones could be hurt. The long term ramification is you have a much more significant portion of the young population that is unprotected, Marty said. That means their personal health is at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Older people, vaccinated years ago, can be affected, she said, as diseases become more common and their immunity fades. As we get older, yes, we become susceptible to things we might have had immunity to before, she added. State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, a Republican who represents southeast Palm Beach County, said she is inclined to support the governors position because he isnt banning vaccines. Hes not saying theyre not allowed in Florida. Hes allowing people to make their own decisions, she said. He doesnt want to dictate peoples medical care. I dont disagree with that philosophy. Her children, now ages 32, 30 and 28, all had their required vaccines when younger, together with some optional ones. The number of vaccines has proliferated, however, and that gives her some concerns that there may be too many. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Gossett-Seidman also said she isnt fully there with an opinion yet. She said she wants to consult with her husband who is a semi-retired physician practicing internal medicine, see what data is presented to the Legislature and hear from local school boards. What if the unvaccinated children dont have MMR, measles, mumps, rubella, and then acquire one of the diseases and put the classroom at risk? she said. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, has no doubts what the DeSantis administrations decision means: It will trigger outbreaks of preventable diseases and endanger vulnerable residents, she said in a statement. The reckless decision to end vaccine mandates is not leadership its a public health disaster in the making, she said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Florida is poised to be the first state in the country to ax all of its vaccine mandates. Comparing it to slavery, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo made the announcement during a Sept. 3 press conference in Valrico, Hillsborough County. Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I dont have that right. Your body is a gift from God, Ladapo said. The Florida Department of Health doesnt have the unilateral power to completely abolish vaccine mandates. While the department can remove requirements for certain vaccines, like the required immunizations for school-entry, a full appeal will require the support of the Florida Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is what Floridians need to know about the move to end vaccine mandates in the Sunshine State. Does Florida have legal authority to end vaccine mandates? All 50 states in the United States have adopted laws that establish vaccination requirements children must meet before theyre allowed to attend school, though there are exceptions. Every state has enacted common-sense health laws to protect people by reducing the spread and severity of deadly viruses and diseases, but its not a requirement of the federal government. The legality of vaccine mandates has been upheld by courts throughout the country, but the rules that outline those mandates and whether to implement them at all rest solely on the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a whole, Florida has the legal authority to roll back its vaccine mandates, but the power to do so doesnt sit with the Health Department alone. It will have to work with the state legislature to fully abolish mandates. What vaccine mandates can the Florida Health Department cut? The Florida Department of Health has the ability to end any of the vaccine mandates that were enacted under its own rulemaking process. Policy regarding Florida school immunization requirements is easily the biggest under the Health Departments purview. Florida Statute Section 1003.22 gives the Health Department, in consultation with the Department of Education, the power to decide what vaccines are required before kids are allowed to enroll in public school, private school and daycare. Florida law states that immunizations are required for poliomyelitis, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus and any other communicable diseases the department determines. What are Floridas current school-entry vaccine mandates? Florida has four groups of immunization requirements for depending on whether the child is attending preschool, entering public schools kindergarten through 12th grade, or attending licensed childcare facilities and family daycare homes. Public and non-public schools (K-12) Four or five doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine Three, four or five doses of polio vaccine Two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine Two or three doses of hepatitis B vaccine Two doses of varicella vaccine (not required if there is a history of varicella disease documented by the health care provider) Public and non-public pre-K Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine Polio vaccine Measles vaccine Mumps vaccine Rubella vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine Varicella vaccine Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine Public and non-public schools (7th grade) In addition to all other compulsory school immunizations, children entering, attending, or transferring to the seventh grade in Florida schools are required to complete the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One dose of tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (Tdap) Licensed child care and family daycare Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) Varicella (chickenpox) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV15/20) Hepatitis B (Hep B) What vaccines will require action by the Florida Legislature? During the press conference, Ladapo admitted that the Health Department could only scrap its own rules for vaccine mandates, but didnt mention what specific vaccines would require the state legislature to step in. DeSantis also announced a state-level Make America Healthy Again commission, led by First Lady Casey DeSantis, that will be tasked with looking into several issues related to U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.s federal version. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission plans to address vaccine mandates required by state law during Floridas 2026 legislative session. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida plans to ax vaccine mandates. How will that impact you? On August 11, the first day of school, 14-year-old Hunter Linford was excited. He was headed to his private school in Deltona on his e-bike, looking forward to seeing friends and starting a new year. He never made it to class. Instead, Hunters life changed in a split second when a driver failed to see him at a crosswalk on Howland Boulevard. The car struck him, pinning him underneath. Today, Hunter cant walk. He hasnt been back to school. But on Wednesday, he rolled into a press conference at the University of Central Florida with his mom, Jodi Lynn, and delivered a powerful message: Wear a helmet. Look out for each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to law enforcement, Hunter was riding on the sidewalk, stopped at a crosswalk, and wearing his helmet doing everything right. I thought it was the safest way to go, he said. Theres no bike lane on Howland. But the driver didnt stop. She did not see me, Hunter said. I was hit, and I was dragged 15 feet. Trapped under the car, in excruciating pain, he credits a tow truck driver with lifting the vehicle off him and bystanders who talked him through the trauma. His injuries were devastating: a liver torn in half, serious foot damage, and head trauma. But one thing made the difference his helmet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its now crushed, barely recognizable. If it wasnt for my helmet, if it wasnt for that piece of foam, I would not be here right now, Hunter said, holding up the damaged gear. The doctors told me if I wasnt wearing this, theyd be having a different conversation with my parents. Months later, Hunter is still in a wheelchair. He hasnt returned to school. He misses his friends, his routine, the normal life of a high school freshman. My life is not normal right now, he admitted. It really pains me. But I know once Im healed, I can go back and have a normal life again. Despite the trauma, Hunter says he still loves biking and hopes to ride again but with even more caution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunters story is now the face of a new statewide safety campaign: Safe Streets for Small Wheels, launched by AAA at UCF. Mark Jenkins with AAA says e-bikes and scooters are growing in popularity but so are the dangers. These can go 20 to 30 miles per hour some up to 60, Jenkins said. And there are no national rules for where they should ride, how fast, or even how old you need to be. The campaign urges both drivers and riders to stay alert, avoid distractions, and share the road. Dont look at your phone, Hunter said directly to drivers. Look both ways. Because the driver who hit me wasnt looking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunters courage speaking publicly while still recovering has turned a personal tragedy into a public warning. His mom, Jodi Lynn, stood by his side, rolling him to the podium, proud of her sons strength. This isnt just about e-bikes. Its about awareness. Its about responsibility. And for Hunter, its about making sure no other kid ends up under a car, wondering what went wrong. Please wear a helmet, Hunter said. And please be careful. Thats all I really have to say. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Florida lawmakers to debate lowering property taxes A push to reduce property taxes in Florida is back in focus. A state House committee will meet on Sept. 22 and 23 to discuss the issue. Gov. Ron DeSantis is advocating for a constitutional amendment to be placed on the 2026 ballot aimed at lowering property taxes statewide. Local governments have expressed concerns about that, saying those taxes fund essential services in their communities. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Florida leaders pushing to end vaccine mandates Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo wants to end mandatory vaccines for children. During a press conference Wednesday morning with Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ladapo said it should not be up to the government to tell parents what choices to make for their children. We have the ability to start that process with our rules, Ladapo said. The Florida Department of Health has rules. It includes a hand full of vaccines that are mandated in Florida. Those are going to be gone. We are going to work with the governor and law makers to get rid of the rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, there are about seven vaccines kids have to get for preschool entry. Some of those include the DTaP, polio, chicken pox, and hepatitis B. Ladapo says he encourages parents to make informed decisions for their families. He said the state will start making changes now. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Floridas Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced on Wednesday that the state would soon be moving to end all vaccine mandates, including those that require children to be vaccinated in order to attend public schools. Ladapo, who gained prominence as a COVID skeptic and was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021, compared life-saving shots to slavery. Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery, he said at a press conference announcing the move. Related: Trump Again Dismisses Epstein Hoax As Victims Call For Transparency: Live Updates Who am I as a man standing here to tell you what you should put in your body? Who am I to tell you what your child should put in your body? he said to raucous applause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida would become the first state in the nation to not require children to be vaccinated in order to attend school. Currently, Florida requires schoolchildren to be vaccinated against multiple diseases including polio, measles, and hepatitis B. Ladapo is framing the push as one centered around freedom. You want to put whatever different vaccines in your body, God bless you. I hope you make an informed decision, he said at the press conference. You dont want to put whatever vaccines in your body, God bless you. I hope you make an informed decision. Thats how it should be. According to The Washington Post, DeSantis added that the state can end some mandates, but will need approval from the lawmakers for the rest. Related: GOP Lawmaker Details Threats Against Him Amid Trump White House Pressure Campaign Childhood vaccines save millions of lives around the world each year, which is why schools, a place where infectious diseases can spread in close quarters, around the country require them. Without vaccine prevention, diseases like polio which can cause respiratory issues, muscle weakness and even death could spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, the U.S. has seen a decline in childhood vaccination, as anti-vax activists spread misinformation, particularly about the COVID-19 shot, including claiming getting the shot would make you sick or that it was secretly microchip implantation. These beliefs contradict medical consensus: Public health experts say that vaccines help your immune system fight off disease and can prevent you from getting extremely sick, even if you do get infected. And the risks of vaccine denial are real. The country is currently in the throes of its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years. As of July, 14 states had active outbreaks, according to The Associated Press, with another four states having outbreaks that had since ended. So far, hundreds have been infected and three people, including two children, have died. The reemergence of the disease which had been declared eliminated in the United States as recently as 2000 has been largely attributed to vaccine refusal. Related: Ted Cruz's Fat Joke About Illinois Governor Just Leads To More Humiliation Floridas changes come at a time when public health is in grave danger thanks to the Trump administration. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has thrown the governments public health agencies into chaos. Kennedy, who embraces anti-vaccine conspiracies, announced last week that the coronavirus vaccine would only be available to a smaller pool of people. Then, after Susan Monarez, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, refused to sign off on Kennedys unscientific policies he fired her. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Floridas surgeon general on Wednesday announced plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including for children to attend schools, which would make it the first state to completely withdraw from a practice credited with boosting vaccination rates and controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Speaking at a news conference outside Tampa with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo said that every vaccine mandate is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery and called the rollback the right thing to do. Ladapos stances on vaccines and other measures intended to protect Floridians have drawn criticism from public health experts and advocates. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who am I as a man standing here now to tell you what you should put in your body? Ladapo said Wednesday. DeSantis, who at the news conference endorsed Ladapos measures, acknowledged ending certain vaccine requirements would require changes from the legislature. Florida law mandates students must be vaccinated against polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps and tetanus, while allowing exemptions for religious and medical reasons. Getting rid of those would require lawmaker approval. The Florida Department of Health could more immediately target four vaccines mandated under its own rules: chicken pox, hepatitis B, Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and the pneumococcal vaccine PCV 15/20. The Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the founder of an anti-vaccine organization, have been pushing to upend U.S. vaccine policy. Floridas move underscores the deepening political fault lines over vaccines, a divide certain to polarize parents, communities, lawmakers and health providers across red and blue states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California, Oregon and Washington - states led by Democrats - on Wednesday announced they were forming an alliance to coordinate their own immunization guidelines and preserve access to vaccines. At the news conference, DeSantis also announced a Florida version of Make America Healthy Again, a reference to Kennedys slogan and agenda to address the root causes of chronic disease and childhood illness, such as nutrition. Kennedy is scheduled to testify before a congressional committee on Thursday about upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last week, the White House fired CDC director Susan Monarez, spurring the resignation of senior leaders who cited efforts by Kennedy and his allies to restrict access to vaccines despite scientific evidence supporting immunizations. Before his appointment helming the nations health agencies, Kennedy publicly questioned vaccine mandates, framing his skepticism as a personal choice involving parents, children and doctors. If you know a vaccine is going to kill a certain number of children, do you have a right to mandate it for every child? he said in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An HHS spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. Kennedys former organization, Childrens Health Defense, reposted video of Ladapos announcement on X, adding: This is how you make America healthy again. Will other states follow Floridas lead? All states and the District of Columbia have vaccination requirements to attend public schools, while exemptions vary state by state. U.S. school vaccination laws date to the 1850s and have always drawn controversy about the right of the government to compel people to inoculate themselves for the public good, said James Colgrove, a Columbia University professor of public health who has studied the history of vaccines. But he said debates in legislatures in recent years have focused on establishing or expanding exemptions, not lifting the mandates themselves, he said. Its a very troubling development, Colgrove said. Its probably going to be catastrophic. Anyone who knows anything about public health can see this is a train wreck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A KFF survey published in January found 83 percent said public schools should require some vaccines for students, allowing for health and religious exemptions. This includes large majorities of Democrats (93 percent), independents (85 percent) and Republicans (75 percent). Florida Sen. Lori Berman (D), a member of a Senate health committee, said she feared her Republican colleagues would support repealing vaccine mandates. She pointed out that they recently voted to ban fluoride from the states drinking water, a cause championed in the past by Kennedy. I would hope my colleagues would listen to science, but Ive seen them do some things in the last couple years that make me question that, Berman said in an interview. She said the announcement left her in a state of shock. Floridas Republican legislative leaders did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public health experts condemned Floridas move to lift the vaccine mandates. When everyone in a school is vaccinated, its harder for diseases to spread, and easier for everyone to keep the fun and learning going, American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan Kressly said in a statement. We are concerned that todays announcement by Gov. DeSantis will put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick, and have ripple effects across their community. The incoming head of Florida Parent Teacher Association, Jude Bruno, said rollbacks of vaccine mandates could imperil the health of students and staff. In a state with a high tourism economy, the consequences of opening the floodgates to preventable outbreaks are especially serious, Bruno said in a statement. Ladapo has been widely criticized by public health experts and advocates for opposing mainstream public health guidance. He called for a halt to using mRNA coronavirus vaccines last year, citing debunked claims that the shots could contaminate a patients DNA. He became the first statewide health official to urge communities to stop adding fluoride to drinking water, a practice widely credited for improving oral health. Trumps transition team considered Ladapo to serve as HHS secretary before selecting Kennedy. He has also demanded that federal agencies rethink their decades-long support of vaccination, saying last week that CDC leaders and other officials have a cultish relationship with vaccines, in an interview on an episode of Stephen K. Bannons War Room podcast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - - - Lena H. Sun and Dan Diamond contributed to this report. Related Content After a robbery, a D.C. store sought help. The White House sent a film crew. Maryland deploys more law enforcement to Baltimore amid Trumps threats to send troops At 85, she leads a squad of women who dive deep in ponds for litter Florida is moving to end all vaccine mandates in the state. Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery, said Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida's surgeon general, at a Sept. 3 press conference in Valrico, Hillsborough County. Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I dont have that right. Your body is a gift from God, Ladapo said. Vaccine requirements are in state law. Ladapo, the state's top public health official, said lawmakers will have to choose a side. To those who dont want to get vaccinated, he said, God bless you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The press conference was a chance for Ladapo, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and other state leaders, including Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas and state lawmakers to appeal to the growing anti-vaccination movement. Ladapo said the Florida Department of Health, which he heads, will repeal the rules within his purview that require vaccines, and that the governor and the Legislature will work to repeal the rest. According to Florida law, immunizations are required for polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus and other communicable diseases as determined under rules promulgated by the Department of Health. In a statement, American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Susan J. Kressly disagreed with Florida's decision: "When everyone in a school is vaccinated, its harder for diseases to spread, and easier for everyone to keep the fun and learning going. When children are sick and miss school, parents also miss work, which not only impacts those families, but also the local economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are concerned that today's announcement by Gov. DeSantis will put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick, and have ripple effects across their community." The state's announcement was paired with the creation of a state version of a Make America Healthy Again commission, which will be led by First Lady Casey DeSantis. At the federal level, MAHA is led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tasked with investigating chronic illness and delivering an action plan to fight childhood diseases. Kennedy, however, has promoted misinformation on vaccines in the past, and recently fired Susan Monarez as the Centers for Disease Control director after a dispute over vaccination policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really applaud what theyre doing at the national level with the MAHA movement, Casey DeSantis said. A lot of these drugs, you dont need them if you live a healthy lifestyle. If youre eating fruits and vegetables, you can reverse a lot of these chronic conditions. Florida also recently removed fluoride from its public water supply. The Florida Farm Bill, which took effect July 1, prevents local municipalities from adding fluoride to their water. Gov. DeSantis has called fluoride "forced medication." In Valrico, he called out pediatricians who refuse to accept patients whose parents dont want to vaccinate their children: Unless theres a really clear reason to put something in, then I wouldnt do it. During his comments, DeSantis restated his anti-mask and anti-COVID mandate sentiments, criticizing Anthony Fauci, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical experts over their stance on COVID-19 protocols. Fauci was the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, the governors office also sold Dont Fauci My Florida merchandise. When they were saying follow the science, they were really saying follow their political science, DeSantis said. He touted the states decision to keep schools and businesses open in the fall of 2020 and 2021 when other states and medical experts wanted to keep mask mandates and establish social distancing policies. People needed a voice of reason and sanity, and the state of Florida filled that void, not just for the state but for our country, DeSantis said. At the end of the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Florida ranked 26th in deaths per capita, then rose to 10th a few months into the Delta wave in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the number of whooping cough cases in Florida soared. From Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024, the Florida Department of Health reported 715 cases of pertussis an eight-fold increase over the year before, which had 85 cases. Currently in Florida, the vaccination rate for those who have completed all five doses of the TDAP vaccine, which prevents tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, is about 88.1%. Herd immunity for pertussis requires 92% to 94%. As previously reported, in 2024, a measles outbreak in Miami-Dade resulted in nine infections. DOH's response at the time was criticized after Ladapo contradicted federal and medical professional guidance to contain the spread. According to the CDC, only 88.1% of kindergarteners in Florida were vaccinated against measles in 2023-24. Herd immunity for measles requires a 95% vaccination rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (This story was updated to add new information.) Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis, Florida leaders want to end state's vaccine requirements By James Oliphant and Julie Steenhuysen (Reuters) -Florida plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including for students to attend schools, the state's surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, announced on Wednesday, a move public health experts warned could trigger severe outbreaks among children, tourists and those with compromised immune systems. Ladapo, along with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, cast the issue of vaccination as one of personal choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every last one of the them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery," Ladapo said at a press conference in Tampa. "Who am I as a government or anyone else, or who am I as a man standing here now to tell you what to do with your body?" Ladapo said his agency would roll back mandates for a half-dozen or so vaccines under its authority but will need to work with the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature on a broader package of reforms. He did not specify which vaccine mandates his agency would do away with. DeSantis, a Republican, made opposing COVID-19 mandates and precautions a central tenet of his first term in office. "Medical freedom is something we've got to be very conscientious about protecting," DeSantis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All U.S. states have vaccine requirements to attend public schools with specific exceptions varying by state. Vaccination rates for several diseases, including measles, diphtheria and polio, decreased among U.S. kindergartners in the 2024-25 school year, according to federal data. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the new figures in July in the midst of a growing measles outbreak, with confirmed cases that month reaching the highest level since the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. Dr. Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said Florida's move was "going to be a major disaster." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You're going to get multiple outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease and spread of these diseases," she said. "These kids are going to bring it home." If Florida follows through with dropping all vaccine mandates, it could also impact vaccination requirements at daycares or other places that require inoculations, she added. It could also put people who are immunocompromised and unable to get vaccinated at risk of disease and death. And because Florida is a major vacation destination, the move could spread diseases to other states. Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, called the decision "reckless." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every parent of a child who dies or who is hospitalized with a vaccine-preventable disease will know exactly why," said Osterholm, who is helping organize the Vaccine Integrity Project, a group of public health and infectious disease experts formed due to concerns about changes to U.S. vaccine policy. Shares of COVID vaccine makers were down, Pfizer by 0.9% and Moderna off 1.4%. 'NEXT GOVERNOR GETS TO FIRE THIS GUY' President Donald Trump's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has long questioned the safety of vaccines and has promoted the view that vaccines contribute to rising rates of autism, contrary to scientific evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking office this year, Kennedy has taken steps to remake U.S. policy on vaccines, firing expert vaccine advisers to the CDC and replacing them with people who more closely share his views. Last week, the CDC's director was ousted after clashing with Kennedy over vaccine policy, prompting the resignation of four of the agency's most senior officials who said they could no longer trust their ability to maintain scientific integrity. DeSantis said on Wednesday he was establishing a commission to align the state with Kennedy's healthcare agenda that will also provide input for a legislative package. The legislature does not convene until January. Ladapo said, as the state's top public health official, he lacks the authority to mandate certain vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Your body is a gift from God," he said. "What you put into your body is because of your relationship with your body and your God. I don't have that right." Ladapo has criticized the mRNA COVID shots from Pfizer and BioNTech and Moderna, and in 2023 called on regulatory agencies to study what he said were their harmful effects, without scientific evidence. COVID vaccines in the first year of their use during the pandemic saved some 14.4 million lives globally, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. Ladapo also urged Florida communities to stop adding fluoride to drinking water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the COVID pandemic, Ladapo was counseled by Tracy Beth Hoeg, a sports medicine physician who worked for him as an epidemiologist. Hoeg opposed masks and universal mandates during the pandemic and the use of some childhood vaccines. She is now employed at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Before the White House nominated Susan Monarez to head the CDC, some media reports briefly raised Ladapo as a possible candidate. DeSantis on Wednesday again suggested he would make a good choice to take over the public health agency. David Jolly, a Democratic candidate to succeed DeSantis as governor, blasted Ladapo on X. "The next governor gets to fire this guy. I know I would," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CDC data shows that for the 2024-2025 school year, about 5.1% of Florida kindergartners were exempted from one or more vaccines, or about 11,287 children. As a percentage, Florida ranks alongside many states, though in absolute numbers, it is second only to Texas. California, Oregon and Washington state said on Wednesday they launched a new health alliance to provide unified vaccine recommendations amid tensions over federal immunization policies and public health directives. Under the West Coast Health Alliance, the states said they will make joint recommendations on who should receive vaccines, informed by national medical associations even if they diverge from federal guidance. (Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil, Bhargav Acharya, Michele Gershberg and Michael Erman; Editing by Franklin Paul and Bill Berkrot) Image caption: A health care worker fills a syringe with the MMR vaccine at a vaccine clinic in Texas in March. Florida announced plans to end all state vaccine mandates, while three Western states California, Oregon and Washington are forming an alliance to issue their own vaccine guidelines amid federal upheaval. (Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images) The Democratic governors of California, Oregon and Washington said Wednesday they are forming an alliance to coordinate vaccine recommendations for their states. Meanwhile, Florida announced plans to become the first state to phase out all vaccine mandates, including ending requirements that kids be vaccinated against dangerous diseases before enrolling in schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public health experts have relied on vaccines, including school mandates, for decades to limit the spread of communicable diseases and keep kids and adults safe. The contrasting moves come amid turmoil at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where several top leaders resigned last week to protest efforts by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to dismiss CDC Director Susan Monarez for pushing back against Kennedys vaccine policies. Accompanied by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo said at a news conference Wednesday that vaccine mandates are wrong and immoral, the Florida Phoenix reported. Your body is a gift from God. What you put into your body is because of your relationship with your body and your God, Ladapo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They do not have the right to tell you what you put in your body. They dont have the right to tell you what your kids have to put in [their] body. They do not have the right. Do not give it to them. Take it away from them. And were going to be starting that here in Florida. The Florida Department of Health can eliminate some vaccine mandates on its own, Ladapo said, but the Florida legislature would have to scrap other ones. He did not mention specific vaccines, but repeated that his goal was to end all of them. Every last one of them. Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery, Ladapo said. The goal of the new West Coast Health Alliance, governors said, is to disseminate evidence-based recommendations about who should get immunized, as well as to provide vaccine education throughout the three states. In the coming weeks, the states will coordinate and finalize immunization guidelines that are in line with leading medical organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their announcements, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson criticized recent Trump administration actions, including the firing of scientists and the upheaval at the CDC. When federal agencies abandon evidence-based recommendations in favor of ideology, we cannot continue down that same path, Washington Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham said in a statement. Worsham added that public health at its core is about prevention preventing illness, preventing the spread of disease, and preventing early, avoidable deaths. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration restricted access to updated COVID-19 shots. In June, Kennedy ousted all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee at the CDC, replacing them with some members who are vaccine skeptics. Many states rely on the committee to form vaccination guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in May, Kennedy rescinded recommendations for children and pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19 sidestepping the usual process for issuing official recommendations. The three Western states said the dismantling of the CDC has created a vacuum of clear, evidence-based vaccine guidance, hampering health care providers, disrupting manufacturers production plans and creating uncertainty for families. In 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the three states, along with Nevada, created a similar workgroup that emphasized the scientific rigor behind the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to boost confidence in the shot. President Donald Trumps mass firing of CDC doctors and scientists and his blatant politicization of the agency is a direct assault on the health and safety of the American people, the joint statement from the three governors offices said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences. California, Oregon, and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk. Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The tech story: As schools across Florida grapple with how to use artificial intelligence, Florida Virtual School says its finding success. The online school joined the University of Florida and the Concord Consortium, an education research group, to launch a pilot course called AI in Math this summer. The goal was to introduce middle and high school students to AI concepts through interactive lessons. The first group of about 80 students completed the 10-hour course, which supplemented Algebra I, and FLVS announced that the results included measurable gains in AI literacy, math motivation and confidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial result has prompted the school to roll out the program to all its Flex students taking Algebra I Section 1. The deadline is Sept. 30. Completers get a certificate from UF. Hot topics College enrollment: The University of North Florida has its largest freshman class ever, a 66% increase over a year ago, St. Johns Citizen reports. Thousands of Florida students are dropping out of college after the state eliminated in-state tuition guarantees for residents who were in the country illegally, Associated Press reports. K-12 enrollment: Indian River County schools are seeing minimal enrollment declines, WPEC reports. Free speech: The University of Floridas new interim president is a staunch defender of free speech rights and neutrality, USA Today Florida Network reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Religious instruction: Florida is among a growing number of states to require schools offer release time for religious instruction upon parental request, Stateline reports. School zones: St. Johns County parents are offering their insights and concerns as the district prepares to redraw attendance zones in advance of opening two new schools, WJXT reports. Security: Three Florida schools will give a test run to using drones as part of their effort to prevent gun violence at schools, WEAR reports. The Alachua County school board will allow Gainesville police direct access to school district security cameras during emergencies, WCJB reports. Traffic cameras: School zone cameras in Tallahassee have brought in more than $400,000 in speeding fines in four months, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont miss a story. Heres a link to yesterdays roundup. Before you go ... The monarch migration is cool every time. Jeffrey S. Solochek is a reporter covering education as a member of the Tampa Bay Times Education Hub. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund by clicking here. JOPLIN, Mo. Its September, so its time to get a flu shot, right? Many health care providers are starting to get in their stock of vaccine, and are encouraging patients to get the shot. In Missouri, the flu season can run from October through May, and generally peaks from December through February. Dr. Barbara Miller, with Freeman Health System, says theres no one right date for the flu shot, but immunity lasts about three months, so she often gets the vaccine in mid-October Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very rarely do we have a big flu outbreak prior to that so pretty safe to wait. Then you should have immunity throughout the flu season. If you happen to get it in September for whatever reason, just think about in December/January getting a second shot to give you immunity for that peak season, said Dr. Barbara Miller, Freeman Family Med. A national survey of the last 42 flu seasons confirms February is the single most active month for the flu by a wide margin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At Lasa Filipino Cafe on a recent Tuesday afternoon, an elderly woman ecstatically hurried to the front counters pastry case: I came all the way from Plainfield! The suburban Carol Stream bakery is a long way from Plainfield, but owner Mae Wee didnt bat an eye at how far her customer traveled for pandesal, a staple bread roll in the Philippines. Oh, yeah, that happens all the time, she said. For the 41-year-old, gaining the approval of older generations has been crucial to the success of the cafe, which opened last September, especially during a time when many coffee shops and cafes are striving to win over the millennial demographic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the things that I wanted to do with this particular menu is appeal to the grandmas and the grandpas and the uncles and aunts we wanted to have something that if they walked in, they would know what it is, Wee said. Things like bibingka a cake made with rice flour, coconut milk and cream, topped at Lasa with salted egg and cream cheese or the purple-hued pandesal filled with ube jam and cheese sold for just $1.95 a piece. A weekend-only favorite ensaimada, a soft brioche roll smothered in buttercream and cheese, is another hot-ticket item that pulls the community in. This includes her parents longtime customers who swing by often, searching for flavors that remind them of home. Because right next door to Lasa is Hong Ning Filipino Restaurant & Grill, the Wee family restaurant for 30 years. Hong Ning is currently closed for dine-in as it undergoes renovation following an incident in which an elderly customer accidentally drove their SUV into the entrance. Mae Wees mother, Marilou Wee, was compassionate about the situation and said shes happy they are still open for takeout. Marilou Wee said her daughter is always encouraging her to take more breaks, so the temporary pause on diners worked out in that sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when my husband and I started entertaining the idea maybe Mae is right, maybe shes right. We dont need to be hands on 100% of the time, maybe we can be more relaxed, Marilou Wee said. But sometimes were scared to delegate because our focus is, we have to make sure that everything is OK, that we attend to our customers. We come very early and we leave at night. That is the mindset of immigrants, she smiled success is not simply handed to families who come to America in search of a better future for their children. Although they had an established life in the Philippines Marilou Wee as a loan officer and her husband, Ernesto, an accountant who worked at a bank they decided to move partly because the political situation in Manila at the time was not stable enough to raise four children. Plus, Marilou Wees sister had already immigrated to California and her parents followed shortly after. It was a house with seven kids and it was busy and loud all the time, Mae Wee said, smiling, about living with her aunt in the early days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because Mae Wee moved when she was 8, she said she had already developed enough of an understanding of the Philippines, both at a national level and in the specific provinces where her parents grew up. She retained the language, Tagalog, as well as her moms dialect of Kapampangan (from the prominent province north of Manila), and remembered what she was leaving behind. I also very distinctly remember food, Mae Wee said, sharing a story her parents love to tell. When I was a small child and my parents were home on the weekends, apparently all of the street food vendors would come to our house and bill them because during the week, I would order things from them like ice cream and always some sort of dessert and Id have the vendors put it on the tab, Mae Wee said, laughing. A lot of her memories from the Philippines are centered around food, Mae Wee said. When she first decided to open her own cafe serving traditional Filipino treats, drinks and desserts, there were specific flavors she was hoping to recreate in some iteration. The Manila latte with its rich cocoa undertone, for instance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That actually is an ode to my grandparents, she said. I started drinking coffee basically when I was a child and I just remember sitting with my grandfather and my grandmother, where they would make their coffee extra sweet, usually with condensed milk, and they would have pandesal and they would butter it and also spread condensed milk (on it). That flavor profile is very comforting to me, and why its in so much of our stuff. Some drinks are just a celebration of ingredients sourced straight from the Philippines. The sampaguita lemonade has jasmine, orange and the increasingly sought-after calamansi, a tropical citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. Matcha was a given, and Lasa offers two decadent versions: ube and strawberry, both featuring a velvety cream component. For Mae Wee, owning and operating Lasa came naturally, given that restaurant ownership runs in her family. Mae Wees paternal grandfather, who is Chinese, owned several establishments in the Philippines, including Pin Pin Restaurant in Manila, which stood the test of time from 1945 to 1999. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following this tradition, Mae Wees father, Ernesto, became a co-owner of the Filipino restaurant Chers Grill House in San Francisco in the late 1990s. In 2002, he moved to Illinois to take over his sisters restaurant, Hong Ning, at its former suburban Glendale Heights location. During that time, Mae Wee managed the family restaurant in San Francisco while attending Le Cordon Bleus California Culinary Academy. Meanwhile, Marilou Wee was raising their children and continued working for corporate Banana Republic in San Francisco. Marilou Wee permanently moved to Illinois in 2015, and Mae Wee followed in 2022. Before making the shift, Mae Wee was still based in California, working full time for a biotech company (culinary track on hiatus). But she had grown so accustomed to the Chicago suburbs during her visits over the pandemic that she wanted to stay. Thats when we started having the conversation of wanting to do something more, something that we havent done yet, Mae Wee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea for Lasa was born out of observing a need in the community. Oftentimes, a large group of people would come to Hong Ning, either from church or another gathering, and theyd only order desserts, Mae Wee said. That was great, of course, but it took tables away from diners if only they had a place so close that they could sit and do that, Mae Wee said. There are great local Filipino bakeries that exist, but Filipino bakeries where you can sit and stay awhile with that coffee shop aesthetic didnt exist or was very limited, she noted. As the idea of opening her own cafe in the former Subway shop next door to her parents restaurant continued to take shape, Mae Wee traveled back to the Philippines in winter 2023 to study pastry-making and dessert techniques. Back home, Mae Wee learned the proper techniques for making pandesal and utilizing the superfood moringa to create traditional Filipino bread rolls with malunggay leaves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Figuring out how to make ube-flavored breads taste like ube, and not just be purple, was another learning curve. She now imports an ube powder from the Philippines to add to the pandesal dough. The filling is made from grating fresh ube thats been frozen. A few specialty items include halo halo, a shaved ice dessert; pandan-flavored puto (steamed rice cakes); sapin sapin, a tri-colored chewy rice cake in layers of coconut, bright purple ube and langka (jackfruit), topped with toasted coconut; and mango sago loaded with fresh mango, chewy sago (tapioca pearls) and a rich coconut milk base. Hard to miss is the price point, which is reminiscent of a bake sale handwritten and reasonable. Almost everything has a story, Mae Wee said, from the treats to the trinkets gracing the walls. There are paintings from her moms old high school friend, prints depicting the northern provinces of the Philippines, eclectic gifts from well-traveled customers, a second-hand shell chandelier that every Asian immigrant family has. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My own personal friends, my parents personal friends were actually customers first, Mae Wee reflected. But then you exchange stories and you get to chat. With a growing interest in cafes celebrating different cultures and cuisines, new customers stroll into Lasa all the time, Mae Wee said, acknowledging the notable rise in Filipino bakeries across Chicago. Brick-and-mortar establishments like Del Sur attract swaths of customers willing to wait hours in line for longanisa croissants or calamansi chamomile buns. Recently opened Sarima Cafe, a new spot from Top Chef contestant Zubair Mohajir in Chicagos Wicker Park neighborhood, fuses Filipino flavors with Indian cuisine, while Mano Modern Cafe offers classic Filipino items like lumpia alongside ube tiramisu. Mae Wee sources Lasas Filipino coffee from the co-owner of Mano Modern Cafe. For Lasas coffee drinks, the staff uses a general dark roast, with the option to choose barako coffee beans, known for their pungent aroma and bold flavor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything on the menu has to first please her own palette, said Mae Wee, and, of course, the taste buds of her dedicated staff and the friendly neighbors next door. I always try to recommend other places as well, like if youre looking for something and I dont have this, Ill tell you who has it, she said. This is our niche, this is our menu. And I just want to do our menu and do it right. Lasa Filipino Cafe, 600 North Ave., Carol Stream; 630-949-2652, hongningrestaurant.com/s-projects-side-by-side Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Editors Note: This story contains mentions of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, resources are available and are listed at the bottom of this article. Andrew Andy Huse sang loudly at dinner parties and cooked multi-course feasts for the people he loved. He could spend hours probing archives to uncover obscure Tampa history. He often popped into a hole-in-the-wall bakery or deli around Florida during his perpetual hunt for the perfect Cuban sandwich. Huse was a bestselling author, historian and special collectionslibrarian at the University of South Florida. He died in August at 52. His passion for Florida food and history lives on in the books he wrote and the friends who shared meals with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He ate, slept and breathed Tampa and didnt look at it with any kind of rose-colored glasses, said Jeff Houck, Huses friend and the vice president of marketing for the 1905 Family Of Restaurants. He saw it very clearly but was fascinated by the food culture, especially in the food history that made it special. Huse became known for his books on Floridas culinary icons, drawing national attention with The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers, which he wrote with Houck and Dr. Barbara Cruz. He documented mobster hangouts in From Saloons to Steak Houses: A History of Tampa. His 2009 project The Columbia Restaurant: Celebrating a Century of History, Culture, and Cuisine is one of the University Press of Floridas top 10 all-time bestsellers. Huse was born in Elmhurst, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His family moved to Clearwater when he was 5, his mother said. Huse spent his childhood writing books with made-up characters. And he shared a fascination for history with his brother and father, a Chicago police officer. Huse started at USF 27 years ago, double-majoring in history and English before getting his masters degree in history, and then his masters of library and information science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He met Theresa Collington during a trip to Chinsegut Hill Retreat in Hernando County. There were no stoves in the cabins, so Huse plucked native oranges off the trees to make everyone freezer pies. Collington and Huse would go on to prepare many Old Florida recipes together during weekly dinners. Huse planned the menus, often testing recipes to correspond with his research, and gave their guestsjobs. On the nights he brought his acoustic guitar and giant songbook, Huse would assign parts like it was music class, said Collington, who became such aclose friend that people compared them to siblings. Huse torched ham in his backyard for Cuban sandwiches and celebrated birthdays with epic cakes and flaming desserts. Every Gasparilla at Collingtons house, she said, we were cooking things out of the Junior League cookbook, and he would drink rum and talk about the myth of Jose Gaspar. He was a go big or go home guy. Hes in the fabric of everything I do, Collington said. I am lucky for every second, even the bossy cooking and the loud singing and being way too stuffed. As globe-trottingcelebrity chefs Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern reigned in the mid-2000s, Huse and Houck performed a similar kind of culinary exploration in Tampa. They delighted in vintage food advertisements and culinary oddities in the archives, from a bullfrog ranch on Florida Avenue to a rattlesnake cannery in Tampa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would almost get history drunk, Houck said. Its like he and I were investigators, and we would go find something that really lit each other up. ... Some guys talk about sports. Wed talk about food. After publishing the Cuban sandwich book, Houck and Huse gave talks atlibraries, retirement homes and symposiums, Huse in his uniform of khaki pants and guayabera shirts buttoned low. Author Jeff Klinkenberg, who profiled Huse in 2006 for the then-St. Petersburg Times, remembers his humor and fiery opinions. Andy Huse despairs at the thought, and the taste, of a poorly executed Cuban sandwich. Could anything be more depressing than a lackluster Cuban? Klinkenberg wrote then. Well, yes, but maybe not to Huse, who, if not a gourmet, is at least a lover of his citys famously sturdy sandwich prepared in the proper manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, Huse would go on to trace the sandwichs origins to Cuba dispelling the myth that it was created in Tampa. Prior to Andy, everyone assumed that there was this corny nostalgic idea that there was kind of a sit-down in Ybor City, with each of the ethnic groups the Italians, the Cubans and the Spaniards and each group contributed something, said Gary Mormino, professor emeritus at USF. And of course, thats not the way food evolves. Mormino started as Huses professor and then became a friend and mentor. Huse oversaw the Florida Studies and University Archives collections at USF Libraries, gathering oral histories and helping to establish the Florida Environment and Natural History Collection. According to USF, Huse also led a charge to resume publication of Tampa Bay History, a journal that highlights work by faculty, graduate students and Florida history scholars. Andy was just undefeatable in terms of his curiosity to go back and read old newspapers and find any material relevant to the topic, Mormino said. He did not live life lightly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Morminos wife, Lynne, was recovering from a knee replacement, Huse insisted on bringing food. He showed up, she remembered, with not just one thing, but an entire menu, like five or six things he had cooked, including a great dessert. Huse adored Chicago-style hot dogs, trips to Rainbow River and movies, especially old films. His latest ongoing project was a book about the Tampa Theatre, which Gary Mormino helped edit, for the movie palaces upcoming 100th year. Some USF staffers said theyd been shocked by a recent announcement that Huses contract there was not being renewed and were left questioning why the university would fire one of its most prominent faces. An Aug. 12 letter from libraries dean Todd Chavez to Huse said merely it is no longer in the Universitys best interest to continue your appointment. Huse could work remotely for a year until his contract expired in 2026, but with no access to employees-only parts of campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One library employee, who asked not to be named because staffers had been instructed to not speak to the media about Huse, said speculation had run wild,but to them it seemed that Huse may have struggled to adapt to new technologies and procedures. Personnel records show that Huses bosses had reprimanded him a handful of times for behavior unbecoming of a public employee. Eight days after he was told his contract would not be renewed, Huse resigned from USF with a one-sentence email. Huses mother said she believed hed been excited to start a new job in the history field. Huse died by suicide on Aug. 20. He requested that his mother post a statement on his Facebook page: Andy suffered from depression and took his own life. He wishes love and happiness for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sept. 12, friends will honor Huse at the Commodore, an Ybor City comedy club that hosted a night dedicated to the Cuban sandwich last year. Huses loved ones will hold a public celebration of life at the Columbia Restaurant on Sunday, Sept. 14, from noon to 3 p.m. It is just an incalculable loss, Houck said. I said, Andy Huse? You couldnt fathom it. Houck is honoring Huse how his friend would have wanted: by sharing a meal. When they were writing the Cuban sandwich book, Huse kept making references to a Cuban soup called ajiaco. Huse used it as a metaphor for the sandwich, with a lot of disparate ingredients that all come together and make this wonderful thing. The weekend after Huse died, Houckfound a recipe and got to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im like, this is Andy. Its long and its detailed, and it takes a ton of hard work to make, and the end result is something you wouldnt expect, he said. Im like, of course he loved ajiaco. And it made me feel closer to him. The story has been updated to reflect the contents of Huses personnel records. Need help? If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or in a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or chat with someone online at 988lifeline.org. You can also dial 211 to reach area nonprofits for information about and referrals to human service organizations. Political movements are often defined by the power of an enduring symbol. Winston Churchill popularised V for Victory; Gandhi had his spinning wheel. For those demonstrating against Donald Trumps crackdown on crime in Washington DC, it came in the form of a sandwich. Sean Charles Dunn, who has come to be known as Sandwich Guy, was spared a felony charge last week after a grand jury refused to indict him for hurling a salami sub at a customs and border protection officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Had Mr Dunn been charged, he would have been facing a prison sentence of up to eight years for felony assault a crime that usually involves a deadly weapon or serious bodily harm. In the end, he lost his job, was accused of being a member of the deep state and now faces a reduced charge of misdemeanour assault. But since footage of the incident went viral, he has attained folklore status among Mr Trumps opponents. Meanwhile, the Subway sandwich has emerged as an unlikely symbol of resistance. Sometimes, all you need to do is throw a sandwich at a fed to spark a revolution, said one protester outside Washington DCs Union station. DC man charged with felony assault charges after assaulting a federal agent with a Subway sandwich pic.twitter.com/0ZOyfkEQgF Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 14, 2025 On Aug 11, the president declared he would deploy the National Guard to the city and temporarily take over the police department in order to rescue our nations capital from crime, prompting accusations of an authoritarian power grab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the measures, the Department of Justice (DoJ) instructed prosecutors to maximise criminal charges against anyone arrested during the takeover period, including Mr Dunn. Pam Bondi, the attorney general, wrote on X following the sandwich incident: I just learned that this defendant worked at the Department of Justice NO LONGER. Not only is he FIRED, he has been charged with a felony. This is an example of the Deep State we have been up against for seven months as we work to refocus DoJ. You will NOT work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement. In response to the crackdown, murals have been plastered on buildings across the city mocking the justice department by spoofing Banksys Flower Thrower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The artwork is a play on an image that originally appeared in the West Bank, and instead of a man hurling a bunch of flowers, it shows a Subway sandwich being thrust into the air. Bluesky, the liberal-leaning alternative to Elon Musks X, has been flooded with sandwich memes. This is legal to open carry reads the caption above a photo of a Subway, in reference to American gun laws. Viva la resistance trumpets another, featuring the sandwich shops logo. A protester holds a foot-long as he walks past the National Guard in Washington DC - Alex Kent/Getty Images Protesters have embraced the trend, with some raising salami foot-longs Mr Dunns preference, The Washington Post confirmed above their heads at rallies. Merchandisers have cashed in too, selling T-shirts and versions of the District of Columbias flag that replace its two red stripes with a brace of stuffed sandwiches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Brad Bannon, a Democratic strategist, the humble sandwich has become a symbol of resistance against the Trump administrations imperial takeover and prosecutorial overreach. Its funny, its entertaining Protesters outside Union station told The Telegraph that hundreds of people had joined their ranks in recent weeks out of anger at Mr Trumps crackdown. Zach, a member of For Liberation Everywhere (Flare), said that Sandwich Guy had gained so much traction because his case highlighted the absurdity of the presidents actions. Everybody recognises the absurdity of how hard they are cracking down on some guy who threw a sandwich, he said. So its funny, its entertaining and it also gets the point across. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot of people saw the irony of locking up someone for throwing a sandwich while freeing the January 6 rioters, added Lelaina Brandt, 49, a fellow protester and a military veteran. There is an old saying in the US legal system that a grand jury could be convinced to indict a ham sandwich such is the ease with which prosecutors secure indictments. When a panel of ordinary citizens refused to bring felony assault charges against Mr Dunn, the irony was not lost. Following the decision, Jeanine Pirro, a US attorney in Washington, fumed that DC residents were so used to crime that they dont even care about whether or not the law is violated. Humour trumps tyranny Perhaps the most important reason for the cut-through of sandwich-gate is its slapstick value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F you, fascists! Mr Dunn yelled before flinging his foot-long at an officer from close range, the squishy projectile bouncing limply off the guard. Dressed in a pink polo shirt and chino shorts, the former DoJ officer then turned on his heels and ran away. Days later, 20 federal agents cuffed Mr Dunn at his front door. The one thing we have as a weapon in our arsenal these days is humour, and its always been the case that humour trumps tyranny, said Steven Heller, an author and graphic design expert at New Yorks School of Visual Arts. There are already signs of the administrations discomfort with the sandwich symbol. At Dupont Circle North Metro station, a Banksy-esque sandwich mural painted just a couple of weeks ago has been hastily torn down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sandwich-gate forms part of a wider trend of Mr Trumps opponents capturing public attention by mocking him, as demonstrated by Gavin Newsom. The California governor has garnered thousands of social media followers in recent weeks for his self-aggrandising, all-caps posts on X, mimicking the president. Mr Heller, the author of Iron Fists: Branding the 20th-Century Totalitarian State, said that parodying Mr Trump was effective because it was not didactic. People dont want to be preached to, he said. When you laugh at something, it kind of sneaks up behind you and exposes the truth. The whole idea of a meme is rather benign, but it is something that you remember, he added, describing the sandwich as an effective shorthand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump is not afraid of making enemies. But for a president famously fond of fast food, his latest scourge may come as a surprise: one foot tall; a soft, bready exterior; stuffed full of salami. 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. BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) A former day care employee pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and four counts of cruelty to children in the first degree on Tuesday, the Ogeechee Circuit District Attorneys Office said. Rachel Williams, who worked at Steps to the Future Day Care & Learning Center, was sentenced to 20 years, with eight being served in the state prison system and the remaining 12 on probation. Rachel Williams The incident, which occurred in April of 2024, left a sixth month old child with a skull fracture after Williams reportedly forced the child into a seated position and allowed the child to fall over and strike its head on the floor repeatedly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams was also accused of slapping the childs face, arm and leg and yanking the child by its wrist due to Williams reported frustration with the childs inability to sit up independently. Williams sentence includes that she is prohibited from seeking employment in the childcare field. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A former United States Postal Service (USPS) worker was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after stealing checks out of the mail he was delivering. The 45-year-old was also stripped of his U.S. citizenship after stealing more than a million dollars worth of checks from the mail, according to the United States Attorneys Office. The U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced that D.C. resident Hachikosela Muchimba, who was a letter carrier for the USPS, was sentenced for mail theft, bank fraud and participating in a scheme that netted him $1.6 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was sentenced to 66 months after he was convicted on a string of charges in March. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | DC postal employee believed to have stolen nearly $1.7 million from residents Muchimba, who is originally from the Republic of Zambia, was naturalized as an American citizen in May of 2022. When Muchimba filled out his citizenship application, he falsely noted that he had not previously committed any criminal activity. Despite this, evidence showed that Muchimba was actively conducting the scheme, resulting in the court revoking his U.S. citizenship. However, the attorneys office noted that the mail and bank scheme took place from December 2020 and went on until March 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents noted that during this time, Muchimba was a USPS carrier in the Friendship Heights community, where he stole U.S. Treasury checks and private party checks from the mail. He stole checks that were meant for D.C. residents living on over 30 mail routes. He then deposited the checks into his bank account. In some visits to the bank, he was spotted on a surveillance camera wearing his USPS uniform. In total, Muchimba deposited over $1.6 million into his bank accounts. He then used the money to travel internationally, stay at luxury hotels and visit gentlemens clubs. DC flags fly off shelves amid DC takeover Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, Muchimba was arrested at the Washington Dulles International Airport as he tried to board a flight to Zambia. At the time of his arrest, he had $2,000 in cash in his luggage. In addition to his years-long sentence, Muchimba was ordered to pay $651,068.35 in restitution to victims and to forfeit his gains of $1,273,403.36. He is also subject to deportation, according to the D.C. attorneys office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Former Florida House speaker running for governor Former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner has announced his gubernatorial campaign. Renner, a Republican, aims to succeed Ron DeSantis as governor in the 2026 election. DeSantis has reached his term limit after two terms. As a legislator and Speaker of the House, I stood with Ron DeSantis to brand our state the Free State of Florida. Im running for Governor so that when the DeSantis era comes to an end, we can defend our victories and solve the challenges that remain Renner said in his announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renner was a naval officer for 20 years. He served in the Legislature from 2015-2024, serving as House speaker from 20222024. He now sits on the state university systems board of governors. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) A Republican former speaker of the Florida House is joining the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis next year. Paul Renner announced his bid for governor on Wednesday, even as President Donald Trump has already endorsed Republican Rep. Byron Donalds for the job. As a legislator and Speaker of the House, I stood with Ron DeSantis to brand our state the Free State of Florida. Im running for Governor so that when the DeSantis era comes to an end, we can defend our victories and solve the challenges that remain, Renner said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renner said he will build on DeSantis' legacy, noting that he helped deliver the legislative victories that made Florida what it is today. But the governor said Renner doesnt have his backing. Im not supporting Paul Renner. I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race, DeSantis said at a news conference Wednesday. Other Republicans rumored to be eyeing the state's top job are Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and first lady Casey DeSantis. The race could shape up to be another proxy fight between the popular GOP governor and Donald Trump, whom DeSantis challenged for their party's presidential nomination in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Navy combat veteran and former prosecutor, Renner presided over the Republican-dominated Florida House at a time when legislators worked diligently to advance DeSantis' priorities, including expanding school choice, restricting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and implementing a ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Under new leadership and as DeSantis' term comes to a close, Republican legislators have openly defied the governor as the party faithful compete to follow through on Trump's agenda. ___ Associated Press writer Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg contributed reporting. Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Connor Clegg, a former Fox News producer who was ousted from his schools student government over accusations of racism, is working in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions communications department, according to a current and a former EEOC employee with knowledge and a screenshot of the agencys personnel directory viewed by Talking Points Memo. Details about Cleggs precise role at EEOC are unclear. The former EEOC employee told TPM that while she was at the EEOC, Clegg was overseeing some press and social media duties, which meant he was reviewing the work of career staff. He also compiled media lists made up of conservative to rightwing media, such as Free Beacon and Breitbart, and offered interviews with the Acting Chair Andrea Lucas to such outlets, the source said. The Free Beacon ran what it called an exclusive interview with Lucas in early August. Clegg and the EEOC did not respond to requests for comment or clarification on Cleggs role. Clegg, who has a history of posting racist and provocative content on social media, is an unlikely but increasingly common in the second Trump administration hire for a federal agency created as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and tasked with protecting American workers from discrimination, including racial and gender-based discrimination. In 2018, while a student at Texas State University, Clegg was impeached as student body president over uncovered social media posts in which he mocked Asian tourists. The Instagram posts were of Clegg taking photos of himself with unsuspecting tourists who appeared to be Asian with hashtags such as #pearlharborwasbad, #assholes, and #kimjongil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Clegg posted a long rant to his Twitter account about an interaction he claimed he had with a traffic enforcement officer who was attempting to tow his car. He said the person barely spoke a lick of English and spoke in an accent and diction so thick and faulty it was nearing aboriginal levels. He also claimed the traffic enforcement officer had no concept of western rites and tradition. Clegg said he then got in his car and left because that is my birthright and theres not a damn thing a foreigner with a tin badge and poorly tailored pants can do to stop me. He lamented that foreigners are given the privilege to enforce this nations laws unto citizens. He also reposted a tweet from MAGA influencer and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk saying, There is an undeniable War on White People in The West. After the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked in May 2022, Clegg posted to Twitter, If youre dumb enough to stick a coathanger into yourself AND you happen to be doing it in the name of murdering your unborn child, you wont get an ounce of sympathy from me if something goes wrong there in your back alley. He also called a hypothetical person who gets an abortion a murderous scumbag. Before working at the EEOC, Clegg worked for Kirk and was a producer of The Ingraham Angle, a Fox News show hosted by longtime Fox employee Laura Ingraham. Clegg appears to have also recently done work at the Department of Labor, and he posted a story to his Instagram account in April that featured a picture of him being sworn in on a Bible with Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling with the caption, Labor? I hardly know er! It is still unclear what work he did or is doing for the department. The department did not respond to TPMs request for comment or for clarification on his role there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Working with someone who has such a background was very unsettling, the former EEOC employee told TPM. As the Trump administration has aggressively gone after diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and trans rights, the EEOC has tailored itself to that agenda, focusing on policies that advance those initiatives and on rooting out discrimination against men, white people, and Christians. The source said that Clegg was part of what she saw as a new, highly partisan environment at the agency that differed from her previous years working there. In May, Lucas directed EEOC officials to compile a list of cases that lined up with her priorities, including defending the biological and binary reality of sex, rooting out unlawful DEI-motivated race and sex discrimination, protecting workers from anti-American national origin discrimination, and protecting workers from religious bias and harassment. She dismissed pending agency lawsuits on behalf of transgender workers and sent letters to 30 law firms requesting information about their DEI programs, which she said may entail unlawful disparate treatment. I would say [Clegg] just fit in with the new direction of the agency and the administration, the former employee said. Hes not the first unusual hire at the agency; in April, Lucas hired long-time Christian conservative activist Shannon Royce, who also previously led a lawsuit against the EEOC over its defense of trans employees rights. Cade Cothren, former aide to ex-House Speaker Glen Casada, has asked for his sentencing hearing on corruption convictions to be held at the same time as Casada's. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) An ex-House staffer convicted in a political corruption case is requesting a joint sentencing hearing with his former boss where they are expected to object to the rules for calculating their sentences to get lighter punishment. Cade Cothren, chief of staff for former House Speaker Glen Casada, is asking for his sentencing guidelines hearing to be held at the same time as Casadas on Sept. 12 at the federal courthouse in Nashville. Casada, though, wants a separate hearing, according to the filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casada was convicted on 17 counts and Cothren on 19 counts of fraud, bribery, theft, conspiracy and money laundering in May. One fraud conviction alone comes with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Casada sought a new trial in the case, but U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson hasnt ruled on the request. A recent filing by Cothrens attorney, Cynthia Sherwood, says objections by Cothren and Casada to sentencing guidelines overlap almost completely. A consolidated hearing will keep the judge from hearing the same argument twice, according to Sherwoods filing. Joint hearings may be unusual but arent unprecedented, the filing says. A joint hearing will also allow Mr. Cothren the opportunity to present his own arguments in support of his objections to the sentencing guidelines, which may be different from, or augment, Mr. Casadas guidelines arguments, the filing says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The filing says U.S. Attorney Taylor Phillips doesnt oppose a joint sentencing guidelines hearing. Casada and Cothren were accused of setting up a secret company called Phoenix Solutions that tapped into the states postage and printing program that provides House members $3,000 a year for constituent mailers. Casada and former Rep. Robin Smith, who pleaded guilty and testified against the pair, steered lawmakers business to Phoenix Solutions, which was secretly run by Cothren with the front name of Matthew Phoenix. Separately, Casada claims he should be given a new trial because the jury was prejudiced when the prosecution inadvertently played an unredacted version of an FBI interview with him. Casada and Cothren sought a mistrial during the four-week trial held earlier this year, based on the audio from 2021 when federal agents raided their homes. They were indicted in August 2022. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A former Hudson, Wis., elementary school teacher charged last month with sexual misconduct with a student is now accused of sexually assaulting a Washington County 15-year-old boy while working as his familys nanny. Abigail Michelle Faust, 25, of Hudson, was charged Friday in Washington County District Court with third-degree criminal sexual conduct for what the complaint says was a sexual relationship with the teen that began in December after she sent him provocative photos. Faust, who resigned from her teaching job at Rivercrest Elementary School in May, is in custody at the St. Croix County Jail in Hudson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Faust was charged in St. Croix County Circuit Court with sexual misconduct by school staff and other charges, alleging she kissed a fifth-grade boy last year in her classroom at the end of a school day. Shes also charged with failing to report that her then-fellow teacher Madison Lynn Bergmann was sexually assaulting another fifth-grader. In May, Bergmann, 25, of Lake Elmo, was charged with first-degree child sexual assault of a child under age 13. Her case is ongoing. Bergmann and Faust were friends and had exchanged texts about their interactions with the students, court documents say. According to the latest criminal complaint against Faust: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parents of the Washington County teen saw news reports that Faust, their nanny since 2021, had been arrested and charged for sexual misconduct with her former student. Last week, the teen, who turned 16 this summer, told a Washington County deputy that Faust sent provocative messages to him on Dec. 8 through Snapchat, followed by pictures of herself wearing lingerie. The teen said Faust told him that they both knew what they were doing was bad and that they would both get in trouble if he told anyone. Faust and the teen called and FaceTimed each other, with the conversations becoming increasingly sexual. The teen said that on Dec. 22, when he was home alone, Faust approached him in his bedroom and kissed him. They went through the motions of having sexual intercourse without actual penetration, the complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faust and the teen continued exchanging nude pictures of themselves during December, with Faust telling him that she felt grossed out at herself and acknowledging that her behavior was inappropriate. At the end of December or early January, Faust told the teen that they could have sex if he did well in the sport he was playing. Faust first sexually assaulted the teen in early January at her home in Hudson, then twice more that month after she spent the night at his home. (The victim) explained that during this time period, he believed he and (Faust) were in an exclusive relationship and that (Faust) referenced the two having a child together some day, the complaint states. Over the next few months, the sexual assaults continued approximately twice a week, mostly at the teens home when Faust spent the night, the complaint alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of April, the teen and his family went on a trip to Florida, with Faust staying back to take care of the familys pets. During this time, Faust then began a sexual relationship with one of the teens friends, who is also a juvenile, the complaint alleges. Related Articles Faust allegedly resumed assaulting the first victim in June, claiming that what they had was true love, the complaint states. The assaults continued throughout the summer, with Faust joining the family at their cabin and also in the Bahamas for a family vacation in August. The teen said the last incident occurred in mid-August, around the same time his parents expressed concern over how close he and Faust appeared to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faust continued to contact the teen after the Wisconsin charges were filed, professing her love for him, the complaint says. Aaron Nelson, Fausts attorney in the Wisconsin case, said Wednesday he could not comment on the Washington County case because he is not representing her in that one. [Source] Advocates and community members rallied at Manzanar and other locations nationwide in the past weeks, opposing Trump administration policies they say threaten to obscure difficult chapters of American history. Day of Action: Demonstrators showed up at national parks and other spaces for the Day of Action backed by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and spread across several dates mostly on Aug. 23 last month. The protests targeted Trumps March executive order Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, which directs parks to remove content that inappropriately disparages Americans. A Sept. 17 deadline has been set for compliance reviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a hundred people gathered at Manzanar, which now offers QR codes directing visitors to report displays deemed negative toward Americans or those that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur and abundance of landscapes. Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey, whose mother was imprisoned at the camp, addressed protesters: The struggle today is the struggle over who gets to shape the collective memory of our country. We will not allow our history to be erased. No more Manzanars. Never again is now. Driving the protests: Japanese American families see Trumps policies as attacks on decades of advocacy for recognition of wartime injustices. Since January, permanent National Park Service (NPS) employment has dropped 24%, while the administration seeks to slash $1.2 billion from the agencys budget, or more than one-third of current funding. Trending on NextShark: Chinese supercar sets EV speed world record The timing reflects mounting urgency as the compliance deadline nears. In a Seattle rally, Minidoka camp survivor Larry Matsuda warned that the causes of the forced incarceration are still alive and well today. At Manzanar, Pat Sakamoto, who was born at the camp, told KCRW, I feel theyre going to make it so I dont have a voice for my mother that I won't be able to tell her story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broader implications: The resistance extends beyond symbolism to workplace organizing. Last week, Yosemite and Sequoia Kings Canyon workers voted 97% in favor of unionization amid widespread job cuts. Parks nationwide face operational crises as reduced staffing forces cuts to visitor services, educational programming and basic maintenance. The protests highlight intergenerational activism connecting past and present injustices. Washington State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37), whose grandparents were incarcerated, declared, We hereby refuse to permit my familys history to be erased. Former NPS Director Jon Jarvis, who attended the protest at Rosie the Riveter in Richmond, characterized the administrations actions as essentially dismantling an institution that has served the American people for well over 100 years. Trending on NextShark: Former Japanese American WWII camps fuel resistance to Trumps historical censorship This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Chinese doctor in Texas accused of stealing US-funded cancer research Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, addresses the Arkansas Senate on May 2, 2024. (Photo by Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) Former state Sen. Linda Pondexter Chesterfield will be inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in October. The longtime lawmaker and retired educator is one of six members of the class of 2025 who are being honored for their outstanding achievements and enduring contributions to the state, according to a Tuesday news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A native of Hope, Chesterfield was the first African American student to graduate from Hendrix College, according to her Senate biography. She has more than 30 years of classroom experience as an educator and served two terms as the president of the Arkansas Education Association. Chesterfield served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008 before being elected to the Senate in 2010. She served as the Senate Minority Whip during the 94th General Assembly and did not seek reelection during the 2024 election. Additional inductees to the 2025 class of the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame include: Cleon Aurelius Flowers Sr., M.D. of Stamps (posthumous) Pioneering physician, mentor, civic and social leader Garbo and Archie Hearne III, M.D. of El Dorado and Little Rock Trailblazing art curators and visionary entrepreneurs Judge Marion A. Humphrey Sr. (retired) of Pine Bluff Legendary jurist, pastor, civic and social leader Charlie Nelms, Ed.D. of Crawfordsville Towering higher education leader, author and philanthropist Latriece Watkins of McGehee Business executive extraordinaire, Chief Merchandising Officer, Walmart U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each inductee embodies excellence, resilience, leadership, and service, ABHOF Chairman Charles Stewart said in a statement. They represent the best of Arkansas and the impact African Americans with Arkansas roots continue to have across the globe. Our ceremony is more than a night of recognition; it is a reminder of the legacy we inherit and the future we are building. The 31st induction ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Robinson Center Performance Hall in Little Rock. Proceeds support the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundations annual grants program. The foundation awarded $55,000 to 20 nonprofit organizations in 2025, according to the release. More information is available at ARBlackHallofFame.org. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A former member of an alleged cult-like Riverside County religious group is speaking out as the disappearance of a man who was last seen alive in 2023 is now being investigated as a possible murder. Emilio Ghanem, 40, was reported missing in May 2023. He was a former member of the Hemet-based religious group called His Way Spirit Led Assemblies. According to his family, Ghanem had spent the last two decades of his life as a devout member of the religious group, whose members worked at a pest control company called Fullshield Inc., now known as Maxguard, according to the Redlands Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2023, Ghanem left both the religious group and MaxGuard behind and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to reunite with his family and begin a new chapter in his life. His sisters said Ghanem had started his own pest control company in Nashville and went back to SoCal to open a satellite office with the intent of recapturing some of his old clients. His family said the move allegedly drew the attention of Maxguard, which served him with a cease and desist letter on May 8, 2023, accusing him of competing with the company for business. Emilio Salem Ghanem, a Nashville resident, was reported missing on May 25, 2023, after he visited a Starbucks coffee shop on Redlands Boulevard in Redlands. (Redlands Police Department) Emilio Salem Ghanem, a Nashville resident, was reported missing on May 25, 2023, after he visited a Starbucks coffee shop on Redlands Boulevard in Redlands. (Redlands Police Department) A former member of the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies spoke to KTLA on Sept, 2, 2025. He did not wish to be identified due to safety concerns. (KTLA) Kathryn Martin, known as the Prophetess and her husband, Pastor Muzic, reportedly control His Way Spirit Led Assemblies in California. Kathryn Martin, known as the Prophetess and her husband, Pastor Muzic, reportedly control His Way Spirit Led Assemblies in California. The religious groups pest control company sent Emilio Ghanem a cease and desist letter on May 8, 2023, accusing him of competing with the company for business. The religious groups members worked at a pest control company called Fullshield Inc., now known as Maxguard. The rented Nissan Frontier pickup truck that Emilio Salem Ghanem was last seen driving in was recovered, police announced on Aug. 1, 2025. (Redlands Police Department) Emilio Ghanem was last seen in May 2023 in Southern Californias Inland Empire. (Family photo) Authorites served several search warrants at properties owned by His Way Spirit Led Assemblies religious group in the Inland Empire. (KTLA) Authorites served several search warrants at properties owned by His Way Spirit Led Assemblies religious group in the Inland Empire. (KTLA) Kathryn Martin, known as the Prophetess and her husband, Pastor Muzic, reportedly control His Way Spirit Led Assemblies in California. Emilio Salem Ghanem, a Nashville resident, was reported missing on May 25, 2023, after he visited a Starbucks coffee shop on Redlands Boulevard in Redlands. (Redlands Police Department) Emilio Ghanem, 40, missing since May 2023. (Redlands PD) Emilio Ghanem (Family photo) While visiting the Inland Empire, Ghanem was staying at an Airbnb in Moreno Valley. On May 25, 2023, he met with another former member for coffee at a Starbucks in Redlands. The former member spoke to KTLAs Mary Beth McDade, but did not wish to be identified out of safety concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the Starbucks meeting, Ghanem had plans to meet with a high-ranking member of the religious group, believing the person wanted help to leave the organization as he had, but the former member he met at Starbucks that day believes it was a ruse. Emilio asked me about him on a couple of occasions, what I thought, he recalled. When Emilio was telling me he was going to help him escape and get out of there, I never felt that to be true. I just felt it was going to end badly and I think thats what happened. Ghanem was driving a rented Nissan Frontier pickup truck that surveillance cameras captured later that day in Grand Terrace. However, that was the last time he was seen alive. For years, Ghanems case was considered a missing persons case. On Aug. 1, 2025, the case turned into a possible homicide after Redlands Police found Ghanems truck. Inside, evidence in connection with the case was found, but detectives have not revealed details on the discovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre now focusing their investigation on His Way Spirit Led Assemblies and its leaders, Pastor Darryl Muzic Martin, 57, and his wife, Shelly Bailey Kathryn Martin, 62, who calls herself a prophetess. The former member said followers of the group reportedly believe the prophetess is God on Earth. Her and God are one, I guess you could say, he said. So when the spirit of God comes over her, everything changes in her, like her voice changes. He claims the couple operates the ministry like a cult. If Prophetess or Pastor said, Youre doing this, then youre doing it, he said of their orders. There wasnt an option. Kathryn Martin, known as the Prophetess and her husband, Pastor Muzic, reportedly control His Way Spirit Led Assemblies in California. He also said they were constantly preparing for the end of the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have supplies, so if you have to be on the run or not eat, or the mark of the beast comes, there was plenty of food for the main members, he explained. He said many members lived in large groups at various properties throughout the Inland Empire, but all the children reportedly lived with the Martins in their sizable home. At a young age, they would be living there with the main pastors and following whatever rules they have for them, he said. It was always young kids. Any children who disobeyed the adults would reportedly be punished, he said. The former member decided to leave the group because he said priorities changed when they became too focused on earning money, most of which came from Maxguard, the pest control company. However, he claimed the company was initially started by Ghanem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company grew quickly and was earning almost $2 million a year, he said. All the funds would reportedly be given to the pastors. Emilio was very happy that he started it because it was helping the ministry out, he said. It was feeding the ministry and bringing in good money over to them. So even though Emilio would do $20,000 to $35,000 a month in route completions and sell stuff, according to my understanding, he told me he would get $100 a week for it. Since finding Ghanems truck, with help from the FBI, police have executed search warrants at the groups Hemet property, believed to be its headquarters and the groups Anza property. During the Hemet and Anza searches, detectives recovered several illegal firearms, including converted fully automatic rifles, short-barreled rifles and unserialized ghost guns along with electronic devices and other digital evidence, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 27, 2025, police confirmed Darryl Muzic Martin was arrested on illegal weapons charges, and his wife, Shelly Bailey Kat Martin, was arrested, but later released due to what police called a medical episode. Several others were also detained or arrested, though they were later released and no charges have been filed yet. Detectives are also looking into two separate cases that have ties to the His Way Spirit Led Assemblies group. Timothy Thomas (Colton PD) Timothy Thomas (Colton Police Department) Ruben Moreno, 49, was reported missing in August 2019. Detectives said he was affiliated with His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, a religious organization at the time. (Claremont Police Department) Police in Colton are pursuing new leads in the case of Timothy Thomas, a 4-year-old boy who died in January 2010 after his parents gave custody of the child to the religious group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of his death, temporary custody had been signed over from his birth parents to leaders of His Way Spirit Led Assemblies, police said. The San Bernardino County Coroner listed the boys cause of death as natural. In the second case, Redlands detectives are working with Claremont police to investigate the disappearance of Ruben Moreno, 49, of Perris, who was a one-time member of the religious group. He went missing in 2017 and was last seen at a Claremont residence associated with His Way Spirit Led Assemblies. Anyone with information about Ghanems disappearance is urged to call the Redlands Police Detective Bureau at 909-551-4424. Anyone with information about Thomas death can call the Colton Police Department at 909-370-5140. Those with information on Morenos case can call the Claremont Police Department at 909-399-5411. 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. The messaging app Telegram should be banned, as it is being used to organise terrorist activities against Ukraine, said Petro Poroshenko during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament). Poroshenko, a former Ukrainian president, is a Member of Parliament and leader of the European Solidarity party. Source: Poroshenko on Facebook Details: Poroshenko thanked MPs who travelled to Lviv on 2 September for the farewell to Andrii Parubii and urged them to continue the late politicians work in defending Ukraines independence and national unity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The Verkhovna Rada, Lviv and all of Ukraine have bid farewell to an outstanding Ukrainian, a true hero, Andrii Parubii. I want to thank everyone who stood shoulder to shoulder to honour Andrii. He was a person who could unite this parliament. Even through his death, he brought us all together. He was someone who fought for Ukraine, and I can say without exaggeration that he was the best chairman of the Verkhovna Rada. We all recognise that." More details: Poroshenko added that law enforcement agencies have proved that Parubiis murder had been organised via Telegram. Quote: "We need not only to speak but to act. Law enforcement has shown that the murder was planned through the Telegram network, and now Telegram is being used to create a network of terrorist attacks against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a matter of honour for us to ban Telegram in Ukraine immediately." Previously: On 30 August, Andrii Parubii, MP and former chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, was murdered in Lviv. The Prosecutor General's Office reported that an unknown man had fired several shots at the politician, killing him instantly. The attacker fled the scene. A special police operation codenamed Siren was launched in the city to locate and apprehend the murderer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the night of 31 August-1 September that a suspect had been detained. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that the suspect was arrested in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. At a briefing on 1 September, law enforcement officials said that they had not ruled out any lines of inquiry in the case of the murder of Andrii Parubii, but had identified a Russian link as the priority. The suspect admitted his guilt in a conversation with journalists, said his actions had been "revenge on the Ukrainian authorities" and denied reports that Russian secret services had been blackmailing him. The suspect also stated that he expects a speedy verdict for him so that he can be exchanged for prisoners of war and find his son's body. Background: According to a survey by the polling organisation Rating, 40% of Ukrainians receive news daily from Telegram channels, while another 12% check them several times a week. YouTube, Facebook and the 24/7 national joint newscast remain among the most popular sources, but they have a smaller reach. The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) forbids its analysts from using the Telegram messaging app on work computers. In September 2024, Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, called Telegram a threat to Ukrainian national security. Data from a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology from 1-6 September 2024 show that more than half of Ukrainians believe Telegrams activity in the country should be restricted and monitored, while fewer than 10% support a complete ban of the platform. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Prison authorities are investigating a suspected murder at High Desert State Prison. Inmate Fawaz Al-Zaid, 33, died Sunday, according to the Clark County coroners office. While a spokesperson for the coroner said Al-Zaids cause and manner of death were pending Wednesday, multiple sources reached out to the 8 News Now Investigators about what they described as a suspected murder. Al-Zaid began serving a three-to-nine-year prison sentence in Aug. 2024 for attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Zaid originally faced at least 10 charges in his latest case in Clark County, including ownership or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, child abuse, neglect, or endangerment with use of a deadly weapon, destroying evidence, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and five counts of discharging a firearm at or into an occupied vehicle. Al-Zaids death marks at least the fourth suspected homicide in the maximum-security prison in less than seven weeks. Jacob Herman, 35, died on July 16, according to the department. Herman was serving a 12-to-36-month sentence for larceny from a person. Herman was initially charged with robbery, agreed to a plea deal, and received a suspended sentence in Clark County, according to court records. A judge sent him to prison in May 2024 for violating the terms of probation, records show. Jordan Canteberry, 34, died on July 26 from multiple stab wounds, the coroner determined. Canteberry began serving a 12-to-30-month sentence for robbery and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon in June, according to records. His robbery charge stemmed from a December 2024 robbery. Canteberry agreed to a plea deal in a second case after he was initially charged with three gun charges. Sources told the 8 News Now Investigators that inmates tampered with their cell doors to escape their cells before attacking Canteberry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dmarea Wallace, 18, died from multiple stab wounds on Aug. 6, according to the coroners office. He began serving a three-to-eight-year sentence in December 2023 for robbery. High Desert State Prison transitioned from a medium-security prison last year. Two thousand inmates, including Nevadas death row population, were transferred from Ely State Prison, located nearly 300 miles north of Indian Springs. At neighboring Southern Desert Correctional Center, a medium-security facility, sources said the death of Ryan Anthony Warren-Hunt on Aug. 11 was also being investigated as a homicide. The coroners office told the 8 News Now Investigators Wednesday he died of multiple sharp force injuries, the common term for repeated stabbings. Nevada prison leaders said drug debt appears to be a factor after the 8 News Now Investigators first reported on the string of alleged homicides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Corrections is consulting outside experts to determine ways to curtail the influx of contraband and illegal substances into the institutions, Director James Dzurenda said. Prison leaders previously told the 8 News Now Investigators that one way illegal substances were getting inside prison facilities is through the mail. Authorities arrested Hoza Del Collins, a former Nevada inmate, last month. He sent fentanyl-laced paper disguised as legal mail to inmates in Nevada and California, according to a Las Vegas Metro police report obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators. Collins, 30, advertised his alleged drug dealing on social media, made posts revealing the process and supplies, and was caught on surveillance video personally sending the drug-laced mail, police said. He faces charges including second-degree murder for supplying substances causing death, selling or transporting controlled substances, and furnishing controlled substances to a state prisoner. He was incarcerated from February 2016 to February 2017 after he violated probation in a burglary case, according to records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said in at least one case, an inmate died from Collins drug supply. Collins agreed to an interview from jail with the 8 News Now Investigators on Tuesday and then refused to show up for the interview Wednesday. A judge set his bail at $250,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Oct. 16. Infrastructure problems, including faulty cell door locks and a lack of air conditioning, have been ongoing issues in Nevada prisons, according to sources. Critics have questioned the placement of inmates, for example, a low-level offender being placed with high-level offenders. The department said it is reviewing standard procedures regarding the classification of offenders and housing practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dzurenda said committees, which will be comprised of former offenders, researchers, advocates, and IT experts, are being formed to address various issues, and he instructed wardens to address violence and drug abuse inside the prisons. To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.com Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. President Donald Trumps second term has turned Republican town halls into battlegrounds and Fox News Jessica Tarlov spelled out why. The reality is, is that no Republican that represents a swing district can hold a town hall, the liberal voice on The Five panel show pointed out Tuesday. Its because everyone in their district is showing up to scream at them about cuts to government benefits, what Donald Trump is doing in militarizing D.C. and wanting to go around the country taking over, she continued. The fact that they are arresting good, hardworking people at Home Depots and in churches and in immigration courts. And, most of all, the cost of living is too damn high. Related: 'Let's Cut Out The Middleman': Zohran Mamdani Hits Trump With A Direct Challenge Tarlov suggested the Democratic message to counter Trump and the GOP is actually simple: Your life is more expensive under Donald Trump. He started trade wars that are completely unnecessary and is jacking up the cost of living. Hes coming for your health care, and the most important thing to him is to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats it, plain and simple. Put a bow on it, she concluded. Republican lawmakers have in recent months indeed faced increasing hostility from constituents during their town halls. Reps. Mike Flood (Neb.), Bryan Steil (Wis.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio) and many, many more have drawn the ire of angry voters. Rep. Barry Moore (Ala.) even felt it necessary to flee through the venues back door. Watch Tarlovs analysis here: Jessica: The reality is that no Republican that represents a swing district can hold a town hall because everyone in their district is showing up to scream at them pic.twitter.com/TK59zogzdS Acyn (@Acyn) September 2, 2025 Related... Read the original on HuffPost GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) The Columbia VA Health Care System is hosting a free VA Claims Clinic for veterans in Greenville County from September 11 to 13 at the Greenville National Guard Armory. The clinic hosted at 9314 Jack Finney Boulevard aims to provide veterans with direct access to services, including assistance with disability and pension claims, enrollment in VA healthcare, mental health counseling and more. Supported by organizations such as the VFW, DAV, American Legion and SCDVA, the event will feature VA staff and community partners on-site to assist veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA Claims Clinic will operate daily from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., allowing veterans to walk in without an appointment. Organizers said this initiative is crucial, as many local veterans face barriers in accessing VA benefits and services. In addition to claims assistance, the clinic will offer connections to employment and volunteer opportunities, housing assistance and access to the VA Mobile Vet Center services. Community vendor resources will also be available, providing a comprehensive support network for veterans attending the clinic. For more information, visit the VA 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 WSPA 7NEWS. CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) Drivers with peeling or hard-to-read license plates will soon have the chance to replace them for free at an upcoming community event in Centre County. State Rep. Paul Takac announced he will host a License Plate Restoration event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, 51 Boal Ave., in Boalsburg. The event is being held in partnership with the State College Police Department, which will assist in verifying plate damage and processing the necessary forms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said damaged or illegible plates can lead to citations, and the event provides a no-cost way for residents to stay in compliance. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Pre-registration is encouraged for those seeking faster service. Residents can contact Takacs office at 814-308-0569 to join the express line. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) Downtown Greenville will provide a free service to support local businesses along Dickinson Avenue, which is currently undergoing construction. According to a press release, the Dickinson Avenue Shuttle will run every Thursday through Saturday from 5:00 PM until 10:00 PM, with pick-up and drop-off locations at the Five Points Plaza Parking Lot and the 4th Street Parking Deck. The service aims to make it easy for people to access the area and avoid driving around the construction and detours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. Johnny Szlauderbach, director of communications and strategic projects at Freedom's Frontier, poses June 13, 2025, at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence following an interview for the Kansas Reflector podcast. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) LAWRENCE Freedoms Frontier has received the half-million dollars the federal government held hostage for six months, ensuring the organization can continue for another year to preserve the story of the struggle for freedom through historic sites across Kansas and Missouri. Freedoms Frontier is among 62 National Heritage Areas that recognize historic, cultural and natural resources, with an emphasis on preservation, recreation, tourism and educational projects. NHAs are supported through public-private partnerships, and the Trump administration had refused to release congressionally approved funding for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Freedoms Frontier spokesman said during a conversation for the Kansas Reflector podcast in June that the organization would cease to exist without the federal support. He urged anyone who cares about preserving history to contact their representatives in Washington. The funding was released on Tuesday. In a statement, Lucinda Adams, executive director of Freedoms Frontier, said advocacy turned the tide. Because of the dedication and advocacy of our friends and partners across the region, we are now able to continue our core mission of promoting tourism and economic development in rural Kansas and Missouri, said Lucinda Adams, executive director of Freedoms Frontier. Your calls and conversations with your representatives mattered. We are deeply grateful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, a Missouri Democrat, sent a letter in June to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget urging the release of funds for Freedoms Frontier and other National Heritage Areas. The freeze was lifted in July, but reduced staffing at the National Park Service caused further delays and uncertainty, according to a statement from Freedoms Frontier. The funding would have expired if not distributed before Sept. 30. Freedoms Frontier unites more than 200 sites across 41 counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Collectively, they preserve the story of the border war that preceded Kansas entry into the union, the enduring struggle for freedom and the settlement of the western frontier. The sites include the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri, the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in Topeka, the Little House on the Prairie Museum in Independence, Kansas, the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum and Hangar Museum in Atchison, and the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. Johnny Szlauderbach, director of communications and strategic projects at Freedoms Frontier, said on the Kansas Reflector podcast in June that the organization was working to make sure that people understand that these stories are nationally significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This area is interesting in that its served as a kind of microcosm for concepts of freedom throughout American history, Szlauderbach said, from the abolition of slavery to the fight for womens suffrage, to the landmark legal battle that ended segregation in public schools. This is a testing ground. We serve to be stewards of that nationally significant story, Szlauderbach said. Editors Note: This article and its headline have been updated to correct the name of the exhibit. We regret the error. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) FSU Panama City is set to host a month-long contemporary art exhibition titled Many Hands Make Light Work. The exhibit features the work of local artists Mandy Yourick and Jamie Zimche, two instructors in the Visual and Performing Arts department at Gulf Coast State College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FSU said that by merging site-based textile forms, wall-hung works, and a participatory workshop, Many Hands Make Light Work will empower participants of all backgrounds to contribute to a shared cultural fabric. The show will open with an artist introduction and public reception in the Holley Academic Center atrium, 4750 Collegiate Drive, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. on Sept. 19. Walton County Fire opens applications for 2025 Heroes for Heroes Firefighter Challenge Admission is free and accessible to the public during regular Holley Academic Center hours. As locally based artists and educators, were delighted to have the opportunity to bring our practices and the community together this way, a multi-disciplinary conceptual artist, Zimchek, said. Yourick and I attended the same graduate school almost a decade apart, but as we worked together on components for Many Hands Make Light Work, we realized just how interconnected our roots really are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zimcheks work revolves around an exploration of the popular narratives promulgated by power systems in private and public domains. Youricks multi-disciplinary work explores placemaking and the dynamics of agency in the context of environmental and social changes. The exhibit will remain on display through Oct. 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. 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. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against Pornhub and other pornographic sites for a lack of transparency with users about efforts to stop child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and nonconsensual sexual content (NSC). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A press release from the FTC stated that a proposed order with Utah and the FTC requires operators of Pornhub (Aylo and its affiliated companies) to implement a system that prevents such content from being published on the website and pay a $5 million penalty to the state of Utah. Pornhubs operators turned a blind eye to the proliferation of videos depicting the sexual abuse of children on its sites so it could profit off this exploitation, said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection. Under the order were announcing today, Pornhubs operators will be required to take concrete steps to block this harmful content and ensure that those who appear in videos on their sites are consenting adults. Gas station and travel center Buc-ees to open first Utah location FTC Commissioner, Melissa Holyoak, shared that the order aims to protect people from harmful media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This consent order is an important step in protecting people from some of the most harmful and exploitative material online, said Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Companies that profit from such conduct must be held accountable. Im grateful to the FTC and our Division of Consumer Protection for their work to safeguard Utahs children and families. The allegations against Aylo According to the press release, Aylo operates more than 100 pornographic websites including sites that allow users to upload their own content. The FTC claimed that: Aylo allowed the dissemination of CSAM and NCM content on its sites. Aylo did not maintain paperwork required by federal law to verify the age and identity of individuals featured in some of the content posted on its sites. Aylo only decided to conduct audits of CSAM and NCM on its sites in 2020 when credit card processors threatened to impose fines or cut off access to their services and media started reporting on the issue. Aylo did not even review content flagged as CSAM and NCM until it received at least 16 flags. Aylo failed to block individuals who uploaded CSAM despite promises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sex offender behind bars after allegedly abusing a young Cedar City girl and silencing her before her baptism Required action As a result, the press release stated that Aylo is being required to complete the following actions: Implement a program to prevent the publication or dissemination of CSAM and NCM content on its websites. Implement a system to verify that people who appear in videos or photos on its websites are adults and have provided consent to the sexual conduct, its production, and publication. Remove content uploaded prior to the implementation of the CSAM and NCM prevention program until Aylo verifies that the individuals participating in those videos were at least 18 at the time the content was created and consented to the sexual conduct and its production and publication. Post a notice on its website informing users about the FTCs and Utahs allegations and the requirements of the proposed order. Implement a comprehensive privacy and information security program to address the privacy and security issues detailed in the complaint The FTC and Utah hosted a media availability at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, with FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak, Utah Commerce Executive Director Margaret Busse, and Utah Attorney General Derek Brown. 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. Murder charges have been unsealed against a Gary man in connection with a July 31 double homicide. Alex Dominique Russell, 35, faces two counts of murder; two felony counts of unlawful possession of a handgun by a felon; and two misdemeanors. On August 29, Russell, 35, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force pursuant to a search and arrest warrant. Around 4:01 a.m. on July 31, Gary Police were investigating a double homicide, where the victims were found dead in the drivers seat and front passenger seat of a blue Honda CR-V in the Village Shopping Center parking lot, according to the probable cause affidavit. The victims 37-year-old Dante Givens and 36-year-old Deon Stewart were fatally shot in the head and neck, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness told police that the two men were driving to Memphis, Tennessee, but as they were driving north on Grant Street, a dark colored small SUV pulled up next to them at the 37th Avenue light, court records state. They started to pull away when the light turned green, when a witness heard multiple gunshots coming from the dark colored SUV. There was broken glass on the passenger side and the driver and front passenger were slumped over and bleeding profusely, records state. A back seat passenger was able to steer the SUV into the nearby Village parking lot, where they called 911. A passenger told police that the drivers side window of the dark-colored SUV was partially rolled down, so he saw the driver wearing a black do-rag or bandana, the affidavit states. Police found several FC 9mm spent shell casings in the intersection. Police didnt find any guns in the blue Honda SUV, court records state. Surveillance video from a nearby gas station and liquor store showed that the blue Honda pulled up to the Grant and Ridge Road light around 3:44 a.m. A gray Jeep pulled up behind it and honked once the light turned green, records state. The Jeep then passed the Honda on the right and was stopped at the next light at 37th about 1 minute later when the shooting occurred. The Jeep then headed east on 37th Avenue, the affidavit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were able to pull up the Jeeps license plate number and put it in the Vigilant and Flock systems to alert law enforcement to the Jeeps movement. Around 5:13 p.m. on July 31, a Gary police officer stopped the Jeep at the 3.7-mile marker on westbound Interstate 94, court records state. Police notified the driver that the license plate was expired and towed the Jeep to the Lake County Crime Lab garage. The woman driving agreed to speak with police but would not make eye contact and tried to claim she was at a party in Lake Station at the time of the shooting, records state. Around 11:15 p.m., police executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2900 block of West 8th Avenue, where they discovered a purple and black Taurus 9mm handgun, Federal FC 9mm ammunition that matched, and a Springfield Armory 9mm empty pistol box. There was also part of a leftover pizza, as well as chicken wings, fries and chicken bones in a container on the bed, the affidavit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 1, police obtained a Facebook video from the Chubb N RedWorld account promoting the chicken and pizza at Jos. That same account had other videos that included the interior of a Jeep Compass on a night when it was raining, which was uploaded on July 31, court records state. A witness told police that they picked up Russell in the Compass and then drove to a residence. While the cars owner went inside, Russell drove off in the Compass around 10 p.m. on July 30, records state. The cars owner sent a text to Russell around 4 a.m. on July 31 wondering where he was and he replied that he would be at the residence in a few minutes. He came back with pizza and wings from Jos Bar and Grill, the affidavit states. Police obtained surveillance video from the Clark gas station, located at 2295 Grant St., from about 6 minutes after the homicides. A Jeep Compass was seen pulling into the gas station, and the driver rolled down his window fully and started speaking to another man, court records state. The driver in the video appeared to be Russell as he was wearing a similar bandana as the man in the Facebook videos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russell was previously convicted of robbery in Lake Superior Court in 2010 and hes currently on bond in a resisting law enforcement case in Porter County, records state. Both make him ineligible to possess a handgun. Anyone with further information about the homicides is encouraged to contact Detective Szemes of the Lake County Prosecutors Homicide Task Force at 219-755-3855. SPRINGVILLE, Utah (ABC4) The first Utah location of the Texas-based travel center company Buc-ees is set to open in Springville. At the September 2 city council meeting, the Springville City Council voted unanimously to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to make public improvements West of I-15 exit 261 in Springville, which includes the development of a Buc-ees Family Travel Center off the exit. Well let you know: Spanish Fork City debunks rumor that Buc-ees is coming Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Penrod, Springville Assistant City Administrator/City Attorney, presented the plan at the meeting and said that Buc-ees has been looking to enter Utah, and they wanted to make Springville the first location in the area. While the MOU was approved and a plan is in place for Buc-ees to move in, nothing has been finalized yet. No final document has been signed, but we certainly wouldnt get to this point if we didnt have a lot of confidence in them and our ability to be able to finalize this transaction, Springville Mayor Matt Packard said. I can speak to Buc-ees ability to be able to be very forthright and straightforward, and its been a pleasure to work with them. Director of Development Real Estate for Buc-ees Stan Beard said, As we all know, this is our first store in Utah, and it belongs here We are a Family Travel Center, were the fun store, and if this isnt a fun family town, I dont know what it is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beard told the city council that the return on their investment would be better than anyone expects, and the new travel center should bring 200+ full time jobs, with an $18/hour starting wage, to Springville. It will take 9 months to a year for Buc-ees to break ground on the new location, Beard said, and from there, it will take 15-18 months to open the store. This agreement comes after Spanish Fork debunked rumors that Buc-ees would be opening their first Utah location in their city. Buc-ees operates travel centers known for their size, the cleanliness of their restrooms, and the unique food and product offerings at the stores, like fresh brisket, kolaches, and beaver nuggets. Details of the MOU Penrod said that one reason for the MOU is that the area off exit 261 has not been developed at all, and the city has a responsibility to help businesses go in by providing infrastructure. Courtesy Springville City Council As part of the MOU, the city will reimburse 50% of the costs for Buc-ees to put in new roads from 1400 North to 2600 West. A sewer lift station will also be required, and the city will reimburse Buc-ees $625,000 for that. The city will also pay for upsizing costs for sewer and water lines, and there will also be a bore to put the water line under I-15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Final costs and reimbursements have not been decided yet, but the Springville Mayor will have the authority to decide those amounts in the future, as long as it fits in the budget. 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. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) claimed Tuesday that Fox News is not biased, earning a feisty response from the Democrats troller-in-chief, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Mullin had been discussing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems allegation that CBS deceptively deleted 4 minutes of her interview with Face the Nation. CBS said it made standard edits to meet time demands and posted the full interview in a transcript and on YouTube. Related: Jesse Watters Gives On-Air Apology To Gavin Newsom, But It's Not Enough To Stop Lawsuit No one takes it serious anymore, Mullin told Fox News host Sean Hannity. Thats why Fox exists. Because you can actually get news here. You can actually understand whats happening in the world of politics instead of some biased narrative. Mullin: That's why Fox exists because you can actually get news here. You can understand what's happening in the world of politicsinstead of some biased narrative pic.twitter.com/Iu5heAWLix Acyn (@Acyn) September 3, 2025 Literally suing Fox because they knowingly edited news to paint me as a liar and help Donald Trump, Newsom wrote on X, referring to his recent legal action against the conservative network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turning his wrath at the host, the Dems potential 2028 presidential contender added: But please tell us more about how terrible editing a video is, Sean. Literally suing Fox because they knowingly edited the news to paint me as a liar and help Donald Trump. But please -- tell us more about how terrible editing a video is, Sean. https://t.co/lPTE6mMDK0 Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 3, 2025 Newsom recently sued Fox News for $787 million. He said host Jesse Watters program edited a video to make it look like Newsom lied about a phone call with Trump over the deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles in June. The amount is pretty much the same as what Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation claim over the networks dissemination of election lies. If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trumps behalf, it should face consequences just like it did in the Dominion case, Newsom told HuffPost in a statement. Until Fox is willing to be truthful, I will keep fighting against their propaganda machine. Newsom hasnt missed many chances to jab at Republicans and their boss, President Donald Trump, ahead of a potential presidential run. Related: GOP Lawmaker Details Threats Against Him Amid Trump White House Pressure Campaign Earlier in Tuesdays interview with Mullin, Hannity complained about an old interview he did with then-CBS contributor Ted Koppel of ABC News Nightline fame. Hannity asked Koppel if he thought his Fox News show was bad for America, and Koppel answered in the affirmative. Hannity at the time called the interview edited fake news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mullin then pivoted to CBS parent company Paramount recently settling a lawsuit with Trump after he claimed a 60 Minutes interview with then Democratic opponent Kamala Harris was manipulated to make her look good. The news show made apparently routine edits, but it was thought the company caved to grease the skids for the Trump administrations eventual approval of a merger with Skydance. Gavin Newsom, left, taunted Markwayne Mullin, Fox News and Sean Hannity on X. Getty/Fox News Related... Read the original on HuffPost Gaza City, Gaza Strip In the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, Fouad Abu Youssef, 34, wears a tattered, worn-out shirt as he sifts through a heap of salvaged clothes, remnants of what had been his home, hoping to find a change of clothes for his five-year-old daughter, Layla. In the past two years of Israels war on Gaza, Fouad, a member of Gazas small Christian minority, has buried his sister after an air strike and seen his own home and his familys house in Gaza Citys Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood collapse. Conditions grew so dire that Fouad, his elderly parents and five siblings with their families were forced to live in a nearby cemetery before finally finding refuge in the church. For more than a year, the Abu Youssef family has lived within the churchs quarters in the Zeitoun neighbourhood. They survived a close call with death when an Israeli tank shell struck the church in July, killing three people and wounding several others. And now, after Israel declared it was preparing for a major assault on Gaza City and called it a dangerous combat zone last week, the family cannot help but fear losing the roof over their heads once more and going back onto the streets, where it is even more dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the Holy Family Church was not placed by Israel in the zones marked for expulsions, the other churches in Gaza City, including the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius and the Anglican St Philips Church, were. But the nearly 550 displaced people sheltering in the Holy Family Church still mistrust the Israeli military. The church has been attacked so many times before despite Israeli guarantees that it does not target places of worship. Most of the people there, including Fouad, are refusing to leave, even if Israel orders them to evacuate in the next few days. This sentiment is shared in the other churches, where the majority of occupants have decided to stay despite being told by Israel to move south. Leaders of Gazas Christian community said in a joint statement released on August 26 that the forced displacement would amount to nothing less than a death sentence. Among those who have sought shelter within the walls of the compounds, many are weakened and malnourished due to the hardships of the last months, the patriarchs wrote. For this reason, the clergy and nuns have decided to remain and continue to care for all those who will be in the compounds. Clergy to stay in their churches This decision came with complete freedom, Farid Gibran, the Holy Family Churchs spokesperson, explained, saying those sheltering at the church have the liberty to leave if they want to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision of the church leaders to stay in Gaza City has inspired many of those residing at the Holy Family Church to remain despite growing fears of Israeli attacks. Many, like Moussa Saad Ayyad, 41, a father of four children aged six to 14, believe the churchs relationship with the Vatican could guarantee relative safety. We came to the church because it feels like the only safe place left, a place where we can be together and find help. Its ties abroad give us some protection, he told Al Jazeera. But if the danger gets worse, each of us may have no choice but to flee south on their own. For others like Fouad, the prospect of a second displacement and the strain it would place on his daughter and elderly parents are what keep him from leaving. But he also believes that staying is an act of faith and a form of resistance against the Israeli occupation, which has already cost him so much. They took my home and my loved ones, but they wont take my right to remain here on my land no matter how dark it gets, Fouad told Al Jazeera as he watched his daughter sleep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside the complex, church leaders told Al Jazeera that the church has not pressured occupants to stay and currently, instead of panic and chaos, a spirit of solidarity prevails among both Christian and Muslim refugees, who are working vigilantly to secure food and water for the children and the elderly. A priest, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment, said Gazas Christian community has a significance far beyond its small numbers. Our presence [in the church] represents centuries of historical continuity in this land, he told Al Jazeera. We are here to pray, to serve and to bear witness to hope in the midst of darkness. A sanctuary under fire Since Israel first announced plans for a ground operation in Gaza City last month, Moussa and other residents have been gripped by anxiety, never knowing when the assault might begin. For 23 months, the church has sheltered him and his family, but he is reminded of moments when even that safety was not assured, including the July attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military claimed the building was hit by stray fire, and Pope Leo XIV said he was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack. Today, as Israel forges ahead with its military operations in Gaza City, Moussa does not know what is safest for his children, if anything. The church compound had come under fire as early as December 2023 when two women sheltering inside were killed by an Israeli sniper. Days earlier, air strike shrapnel had damaged the parish complex, destroying solar panels, water tanks, and other facilities. Before the war erupted, we lived normal, balanced lives in Gaza, simple human lives with basic needs met, Moussa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samer Farha, a father of three, shared the same sentiments. The hardest thing we experience is seeing our children hungry, he told Al Jazeera. We try to make them feel safe, but the sounds of bombing make every moment heavy. Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church, described the leaderships and parishioners decision to stay as preserving the church as a place of worship and life. For these refugees, remaining represents more than defiance, Romanelli, who was injured in the July attack and is still recovering, told Al Jazeera. Its symbolic, [the] protection of a place embodying their communitys history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic parish in Gaza, has long held symbolic importance beyond Gaza. Throughout the war, the late Pope Francis called the parish almost daily, maintaining a direct line to the besieged community. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, visited Gaza in July after the tank shell hit, bringing food and medical supplies along with Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox patriarch. Even if it means dying As the displaced in Gaza City begin to evacuate, the Holy Family Church stands as one of the last Christian sanctuaries in Gaza City. Maryam al-Omr, 69, who took shelter in the church with her grandson after her home in Tal al-Hawa was destroyed, told Al Jazeera: I will not leave here, even if it means dying. This church is my last home, and I will not abandon it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet for every stalwart like al-Omr, others are contemplating an impossible choice. Were grateful for the international statements, said one displaced resident who asked not to be named for fear of being isolated over his thoughts of leaving. But we still face shortages of food, medicine and fuel. We need more than words. As night falls and Fouad prepares his familys sleeping area, the irony is not lost on him: The Holy Family Church, named for Christianitys original refugees fleeing violence in ancient Palestine, now shelters families facing the same impossible choice between safety and home. His daughter cries from hunger, and he holds her close, whispering words of comfort while suppressing his own despair, going back and forth between wanting to leave and wanting to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His voice falters as he admits, I dont want anyone to see my pain. Get me out of this country. Yet moments later, leaning on one of the churchs walls, he reaffirms his resolve: We will stay here, whatever comes. This article is published in collaboration with Egab. For decades, older generations used to be the backbone of American church life, filling pews more consistently than the younger generations. But new research from Barna Group suggests that pattern has flipped. Millennials and Generation Z are now attending church more often than their parents and grandparents. The State of the Church study, conducted in partnership with the tech company Gloo, found that Gen Z churchgoers (ages 1828) now average 1.9 services per month while millennials (ages 2944) come in at 1.8 times. That comes out to roughly 23 visits a year for Gen Z and 22 for millennials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These numbers mark the highest levels of church attendance recorded among younger Christians since Barna began tracking, the report said. By contrast, baby boomers and the elder generation, those born before 1946, now attend on average only 1.4 times per month. The study is based on 5,580 online surveys done between January and July of this year. The makeup and rhythms of church life are shifting, said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, in a press release. Young people today are showing a renewed openness to faith, and many are finding their way back into church communities. A massive body of people exit the main stage area following a keynote address of Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse at the 2025 YSA Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. | Brian Nicholson for the Deseret Kinnaman also noted that churches offer relational connection, volunteer engagement, and clear discipleship pathways that resonate with younger generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnas data reflects what researchers call a generational reversal. In 2000, elders attended church about 2.3 times a month, while baby boomers attendance was at two times a month, according to the data. Over the past 25 years, that frequency has declined. Generation X has remained at about 1.6 times per month without much change. Attendance among all three older generations is now roughly the same as it was just before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the study. Millennials and Gen Z, however, have almost doubled their attendance since 2020, shifting from just over once a month to nearly twice a month in 2025. In this Thursday, May 10, 2018, photo, a woman lights a candle at a church in Shusha town. | Thanassis Stavrakis, Associated Press Barnas vice president of research, Daniel Copeland, noted that the change is unusual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that young people are showing up more frequently than before is not a typical trend, Copeland said in a press release. Its typically older adults who are the most loyal churchgoers. Overall, even those who go to church dont do it that frequently. All U.S. churchgoers attend about 1.6 times monthly thats roughly two out of every five weekends. A recent Pew Research Center study found that 33% of Americans attend church at least monthly, and 23% watch services online that often. Most Americans, 67%, report attending a few services a year. Pastors struggle with irregular attendance, Copeland noted. This new analysis of the tracking data helps us better understand the frustrations pastors feel when they are trying to build momentum for their congregations, such as series-based preaching and mobilizing volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some experts are cautious about declaring a religious revival among Gen Z. Ryan Burge, a data analyst and professor at the John C. Danforth Center at Washington University in St. Louis, says there is no conclusive data on church attendance among Gen Z. While some studies suggest they are the least likely to attend, others, like Barnas, show them as the most likely. Ryan P. Burge, a data analyst and professor at the John C. Danforth Center at Washington University in St. Louis, speaks as he gives the keynote address during the American Council on Educations Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities held in the Justice Forum at the REACH of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Monday, June 9, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News In totality with other data sources, the conclusions are not the same, he told Deseret News. A report from Pew Research Center earlier this year found that the youngest adults, between 18 and 24 years old, are not significantly less religious or Christian than the adults in the cohort behind them, ages 25-34. Gen Z is as likely to attend church, pray daily and identify as Christian as the adults in an age cohort slightly older. The older generations remained more religious than the younger ones, according to Pew. Youths wait for the start of a weekly general audience with Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. | Andrew Medichini, Associated Press Barnas data points suggest that may be changing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To religious leaders, the fact that Gen Z and millennials are attending church 15-25 times a year, per Barnas findings, offers a sign of hope. Its an opportune moment for religious leaders to lean in and guide young believers toward deeper faith, according to Kinnaman. Churches can focus on relational touchpoints and digital engagement, like texting and social media, to communicate with the irregular attendees, said Brad Hill, president of Gloo Media Network, in a statement. Every interaction counts, Hill said. And this trend presents an opportunity for leaders to help grow their faith in new and impactful ways. AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF) Rep. Rick Allen is serving his 6th term in Congress. He is wrapping up his Augusta work period in District 12. Allen is our guest on The Means Report. He tells us what hes hearing from voters here at home, and how lawmakers are addressing national issues. Join us for our interview with Congressman Allen. Be sure to watch The Means Report every week. We are on Monday afternoon at 12:30 on NewsChannel 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. A coastal Georgia man was convicted after a two-day trial after making threats to kill staff at the Department of Veterans, other federal employees and Americans, at large. The U.S. Department of Justice said 44-year-old Alexis Beatles was arrested in January by members of the Savannah Police Department SWAT Team and the FBI. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] VA personnel and the veterans they serve should feel safe while working and receiving care within VA facilities, Special Agent in Charge David Spilker, with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector Generals Southeast Field Office, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At trial, prosecutors described how Beatles made threats by phone to the VA hotline in December 2024, making demands and threatening to kill VA staff and other federal workers if they were not met. TRENDING STORIES: During these calls, federal officials said Beatles threatened to crash his car into the Savannah VA Clinic, destroy U.S. citizens, rig his home with explosives to harm police officers, and kill the children of officers attempting to arrest him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who make threats against members of our community in violation of federal law will be held accountable, Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said. Beatles now faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by supervised release and is not eligible for parole. Threats of violence against federal employees and our communities will never be tolerated, said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) A 33-year-old Georgia man is facing a sentence of 10 years to life in federal prison after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday to trafficking methamphetamine pills to Connecticut. According to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, 33-year-old Tyrone Brown of Lithonia, Georgia mailed multiple parcels containing methamphetamine to several addresses in New Haven between January of 2022 to March of 2024. Hartford man sentenced to 6 years for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of these parcels was intercepted by police and 16 sandwich bags containing a total of more than 4 kilograms of methamphetamine pills, as well as a firearm, were found inside. Brown was arrested on April 7, 2025. On Tuesday, Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, as well as possession with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life. Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. The Georgia National Guard is set to begin a new mission supporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Georgia starting around Sept. 15. Maj. Gen. Dwayne Wilson, the commanding general of the Georgia National Guard, told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne that the mission will involve administrative and logistical support within ICE facilities, not patrolling the streets. This is not a mission that we asked for, but its one that we were asked to do, Wilson said. Our folks are well-trained, theyre disciplined, theyre selfless, and so were, I think its a mission that were certainly capable of doing, and doing probably better than anybody else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mission, requested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will see 75 Georgia Army National Guard soldiers and Georgia Air National Guard airmen working inside four ICE facilities across the state. Wilson said the guardsmen will not be armed and will not engage in any law enforcement activities such as making arrests. TRENDING STORIES: I want to just be clear. Theyre going to be providing administrative and logistical support only. Nobodys going to be armed. Theyre not going to be doing any kind of law enforcement, Wilson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The support tasks may include data entry and vehicle maintenance, which will allow ICE agents to focus on their core law enforcement duties. This mission is part of a broader effort by the Georgia National Guard, which is also supporting Customs and Border Protection at the Texas-Mexico border with 250 soldiers. Wilson assured that the ICE assignment will not interfere with the Georgia Guards other responsibilities, such as storm relief and overseas deployments. He noted that all participating guardsmen have volunteered for this mission, highlighting their commitment and dedication. All of these folks have volunteered to do this mission. I think thats very, very important for all of us to understand. So, these young men and women have placed their own lives on hold for a bit, Wilson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson said this time last year, the Georgia Guard had more than 2,000 soldiers and airmen providing storm relief related to three hurricanes or tropical storms, and about 2,500 guardsmen deployed worldwide. That number is now about 500, meaning there are even more soldiers and airmen available for whatever is needed now compared to last year. Wilson said he has an extremely high opinion of the abilities and character of his men and women. The German government on Wednesday backed a controversial package of measures to lower electricity prices. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said the Cabinet's decision - which still requires parliamentary approval - is good news for electricity customers in Germany. "We are easing the burden on consumers, we are easing the burden on companies," she said. Germany has struggled with consistently high energy prices since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plans could save the average family up to 100 ($117) per year in electricity costs, according to government calculations. The two-fold package includes a reduction in electricity network charges, and a cut in electricity tax for large industries and companies in the agriculture and forestry sectors. The latter proposal, however, has been the source of widespread frustration in Berlin. Business associations and consumer representatives have condemned Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration for failing to extend the tax cut to all, as promised in the coalition agreement between Merz's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government has insisted that it will aim to expand the measure in the coming years, once it can be financed. But Jorg Dittrich, president of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts, said the decision not to reduce the electricity tax for everyone was a "massive breach of trust." The IG Metall trade union, meanwhile, called for an internationally competitive industrial electricity price to be introduced quickly for energy-intensive industries, warning that thousands of jobs in the steel industry and other sectors are at risk. The reduction in network charges is also contested. The policy will see the government subsidize transmission grid operators to the tune of 6.5 billion in the coming year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This should ensure that grid fees - a major component of electricity prices - fall for private households. However, trade associations have warned that significant regional differences could emerge, with customers in some areas likely to see no decline in electricity prices. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sept. 2 dismissed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's comments suggesting Europe had a "clear road map" for deploying troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees, German news agency DPA reported. The statement comes as von der Leyen told the Financial Times on Aug. 31 that European capitals were preparing "pretty precise plans" for potential deployments in postwar Ukraine. Merz pushed back, saying there are no such concrete plans, "at least not in Germany," and that any long-term security commitments could only be decided once a ceasefire or peace deal is in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chancellor added that he still has "considerable reservations" about sending German troops and emphasized that such a decision would require parliamentary approval. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius issued similar criticism on Sept. 1, calling it "fundamentally wrong" to discuss deployments before meaningful negotiations begin. "The European Union has no responsibilities and no competences when it comes to deploying troops for anyone or for anything," Pistorius said. The debate comes as European leaders step up talks on binding security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent Russia from launching another war after a ceasefire or a full peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A European-led "coalition of the willing" has proposed sending a multinational reassurance force to Ukraine alongside commitments of weapons, logistics, and training. Russia has rejected any deployment of NATO-linked peacekeepers, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov calling it "foreign military intervention." French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized that guarantees would not mean NATO membership but would instead rely on a strong Ukrainian military backed by over 30 allied countries. U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News on Aug. 19 that Washington could provide air support as part of the guarantees but ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Putin, Kim join Xi at military parade in China as Trump says they conspire against US Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. NEW DELHI (AP) German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged India to press its close ally Russia to return to peace talks over the war in Ukraine, days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a regional summit in China. Wadephul told a news conference Wednesday that despite enormous efforts by Europe and the United States, Russia hasnt been willing to enter negotiations, a challenge New Delhi could possibly address. The only demand is that weapons fall silent, the German minister said during his two-day visit to India, adding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shown an intention to make peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We Europeans are doing our best, working with our American and Ukrainian friends to ensure that this war ends soon and that Ukraine finds peace as a sovereign state, Wadephul said. Wadephuls appeal reflected Europes growing hope for India to step up its diplomatic push for peace even as New Delhi balances its partnership with traditional defense partner Moscow. India has resisted Western pressure to denounce Moscow outright following the February 2022 invasion that started the Russia-Ukraine war, though India has called for a cessation of hostilities. When the West shunned Moscow from the export market to disrupt its war financing, India moved quickly to obtain discounted Russian crude oil in huge volumes that now account for a significant share of its total imports. India defended the oil purchase as necessary to shield its economy from global shock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump last month imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods in response, bringing the total tariff to 50%, straining ties between the worlds two biggest democracies. The steep U.S. tariffs are estimated to hit $48.2 billion worth of Indian exports and hurt the South Asian nation's broader economic ambitions. Exploring options to insulate its economy, India is promoting accelerated negotiations on a free trade agreement with the European Union. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, who held detailed talks with Wadephul on Wednesday, said India counted on Germany to speed up negotiations and conclude the free trade agreement by end of the year. Germany's The Left party is calling for the country's Basic Law to be amended to remove the option of introducing compulsory military service. The party's parliamentary group approved a motion to permanently abolish conscription at a closed-door meeting in the western city of Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday. However, as a two-thirds majority would be required in the German parliament for the constitutional amendment, the motion has little chance of success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If conscription is introduced, "we will and this is a promise support every young person in evading this compulsory service," said parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek. The motion states that conscription is unnecessary given that NATO has more than 3 million troops. Instead, the hard-left party believes that more money should be made available for voluntary service. Article 12a of the Basic Law states allows for the calling up of men for "service in the armed forces, the Federal Border Guard or a civil defence organization from the age of eighteen." The obligation to perform military service, which is regulated in a separate law, was suspended in 2011 by a decision of the Bundestag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany's conservative-led coalition government is currently discussing whether conscription should be reintroduced in a voluntary capacity. Unlike the demand by The Left party, this could be implemented with a simple parliamentary majority. German cabin crew union UFO has warned that Ryanair's stricter hand luggage checks could create new tensions on board, after the airline announced higher rewards for staff who flag oversized bags. Michael O'Leary, the carrier's chief executive, has pledged to raise the bonus for ground staff who identify oversized bags from 1.50 ($1.75) to 2.50 per item starting in November, with no monthly cap, according to British media reports. Passengers caught will face steep baggage fees. Ryanair says the move, which also applies to German airports, will speed up boarding by ensuring bags fit safely in the cabin and avoiding delays, which the airline says are costly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UFO boss Joachim Vazquez Burger said the scheme could backfire. "You spoil the mood before the flight even begins when you go after already stressed passengers," he said, warning the checks could provoke so-called "unruly passengers" travellers whose disruptive behaviour threatens the safety of the flight. Ryanair has taken a tough stance on such cases, imposing 500 fines on offenders and calling for alcohol bans at airports. The airline allows one small bag, measuring no more than 40x30x20 centimetres and no heavier than 10 kilograms, with every ticket free of charge. Passengers have to pay an extra fee for standard cabin trolleys, a policy that has drawn criticism from consumer groups and the European Parliament. A Ryanair spokesman defended the incentives, saying oversized luggage is unfair to "the over 99% of passengers who follow the luggage rules." Rival Lufthansa said it does not pay staff such bonuses, stressing that hand luggage disputes should be resolved "amicably." The German government on Wednesday advanced a bill to lower compliance reporting requirements for human rights standards in companies' supply chains. Just two years after the country's landmark Supply Chain Act came into force, Berlin is backtracking to avoid "double reporting obligations" arising from EU and German legislation. The law is to remain in place until it is replaced by a new bill, transposing the European Supply Chain Directive into national law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, companies will have to submit few reports on compliance with human rights, while only serious violations of due diligence obligations will be sanctioned, according to a bill passed in the Cabinet on Wednesday. The move, which still requires parliamentary approval, is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's efforts to cut bureaucracy to stimulate private-sector growth. However, the plans were criticized by human rights expert Armin Paasch from the Misereor aid organization, who called it a "backward step in the protection of human rights in business that is inadmissible under international law." The opposition Greens have also accused the conservative-led coalition of watering down regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labour Minister Barbel Bas, from the centre-left Social Democrats, said the government is "swiftly implementing the coalition agreement in order to further relieve the burden on companies." At the same time, the government is not letting up in the fight against child and forced labour, she argued. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that Berlin is not planning to send soldiers to Ukraine. He has voiced strong doubts about the Bundeswehr's involvement even after a possible ceasefire. Source: Merz in an interview with German TV channel Sat.1 Details: Merz stressed that neither the German government nor the European Union had put forward concrete plans to deploy troops to Ukraine. He said the main security guarantee for Ukraine today is support for Ukrainian forces in its fight against Russian aggression. The question of German military involvement could only be considered in the distant future, which comes after a ceasefire or peace agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everything else must first be answered, can only be answered, once we at least have a ceasefire. Until then, there will certainly be no troop deployments to Ukraine, and even after that, I consider it to be of minor importance for the Federal Republic of Germany," he said. Merz also emphasised that any decision would require the approval of the Bundestag and would depend on agreements with Russia. "This cannot be done against Russia, it can only be done with Russia. So there are still many, many hurdles to overcome and it could take quite a long time," he added. Background: Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are "not yet ready" for a meeting at leader level. Media reports indicate that US President Donald Trump intends to leave it to Russia and Ukraine to organise a meeting between their leaders, thereby stepping back from the talks for the time being. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The German government on Wednesday moved to transpose reforms to EU asylum policy into national law. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Cabinet approved proposals from the Interior Ministry to implement the changes to the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which were formally adopted by EU countries in 2024. The package, which EU member states have committed to passing into law by June 2026, must still be voted on in the German parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reform provides for an obligation to check the identity of migrants arriving at the borders of the European Union. It also allows asylum seekers deemed unlikely to be successful to undergo their asylum procedure at the EU's external borders. This applies to migrants from nationalities with an EU-wide asylum recognition rate of less than 20%. If necessary, they can then be deported directly from there. The previous German government approved the measures in November, but collapsed before passing them through parliament, causing the process to be renewed. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the steps an "important milestone" in comments to public broadcaster ZDF on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he warned that most EU countries want to "strengthen and harden" the measures further, highlighting the potential for so-called return hubs outside the EU. He also touted a 60% fall in asylum applications in Germany in August compared to the previous year, arguing that the decline was due to changed situations in Syria and Afghanistan, but also as a result of Germany's "magnetic effect" being reduced. Shira Yevin was on her way to grab lunch from the Studio City Trader Joes, when she caught sight of a new restaurant on the block called Local Kitchens. I was like, 'That sounds good, sounds healthy,' she said. 'Let me see what it is.' Excited at the prospect of not eating preprepared grocery store food, she was initially deflated when she saw that the restaurant served Vietnamese food, a cuisine she doesn't normally eat. Then she noticed that the restaurant also served some of her favorite Mediterranean dishes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After she placed her order, she started reading the colorful signs on the walls, one of which mentioned an Oklahoma onion burger. Im like, 'Oh, a burger? What is this place?' Yevin wondered. Signage highlighting the five chef-partners at the Local Kitchens in Studio City. (Emil Ravelo / For The Times) Local Kitchens is a fast-casual restaurant with five distinct menus from five different chefs. The catch is that there arent five kitchens operating separately. Rather, the five partnering chefs a mix of restaurateurs, cookbook authors and chef-influencers worked with Local Kitchens' in-house culinary team to design the menus. The food is prepared from scratch by a single team of on-site cooks, ghost-kitchen-style. But unlike many ghost kitchens, customers can eat on site. Diners are greeted by screens where they can scroll the five menus, then mix and match items as they build their order. When ready, servers deliver the food to the table all at once not in disposable containers but on white ceramic plates. It's a touch of restaurant-style service combined with the choice of a food hall and fast-casual convenience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a valuable proposition, said cookbook author and content creator Rick Martinez, who for his first restaurant venture has partnered with Local Kitchens to offer a Sonoran-style Mexican menu. A lot of my friends are either vegan or pescatarian, or have some kind of allergy. Its like no one can agree on any one place, right?" A Jalapeno Ranch Wedge Salad from Chef Rick Martinez's Mexican menu offerings at Local Kitchen surrounded by other dishes. Chef Rick Martinez's book "Salsa Daddy." Emil Ravelo / For The Times Read more: From an L.A. parking lot to a $1-billion deal the red-hot success story of Dave's Hot Chicken Local Kitchens and similar ventures, such as Neighborly at the Promenade at Westlake in Thousand Oaks, are part of a new field of fast-casual dining descended from the online ordering boom of the pandemic when convenience and choice became paramount for diners and ghost kitchens, such as takeout titan Wonder on the East Coast, proliferated. While still rooted in the ease of screen technology, Local Kitchens and Neighborly are betting on customers renewed desire for social connection, while also recognizing their demand for high-quality food. Diners get convenience and variety; chefs get the financial backing to scale with minimal risk. From ghost kitchen to social gathering space Local Kitchens, launched in 2020 by former DoorDash co-founders Jon Goldsmith and Andrew Munday, along with Jordan Bramble, began as a ghost kitchen servicing Bay Area favorites such as Boba Guys and Humphry Slocombe. By 2021, Local Kitchens had begun offering diners the chance to eat on site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With time, however, there was a growing awareness, said Chief Executive Jay Gentile, that Local Kitchens was expanding other companies' brands without cementing its own. Some locations, including the company's first Southern California outpost in Huntington Beach, have shuttered. Local Kitchens CEO Jay Gentile at the company's Studio City location. (Emil Ravelo / For The Times) How do we move away from being this tech platform that does food, and become a restaurant brand that partners with great chefs, that creates menus, that scratch-cooks in our own kitchen, and delivers at a really high level at a fast-casual pace, at a price point that makes sense for people? posed Gentile, who stepped into the CEO position in March as the company approached its five-year anniversary. For Gentile, a large part of the answer is teaming up with individual chefs instead of established restaurant brands. On Local Kitchens' initial chef-partner lineup are Eggslut and Amboy founder Alvin Cailan, who devised the aforementioned Oklahoma onion burger; Einat Admony, the chef-owner of New York's Israeli restaurant Balaboosta; Ari Feingold, chef and co-founder of San Francisco's Proposition Chicken; Tue Nguyen, better known among Gen Z audiences as @twaydabae on social media and partner in the currently closed Vietnamese restaurant DiDi in West Hollywood, and Martinez, who took some of the company's employees to Sonora, Mexico, to help them nail his menu. Inside Local Kitchens in Studio City. (Emil Ravelo / For The Times) While delivery and takeout still make up a healthy amount of the company's revenue, the restaurant is dedicated more than ever to a dine-in experience, with front-of-house staff available to guide customers through the touch screen menu or to take their orders directly and the addition of ceramic dishware in Studio City and soon in other locations. Think Tender Greens but with a variety of cuisines. Getting Neighborly Inside Neighborly, a curated food hall in Westlake Village. (Emil Ravelo / For The Times) Over at Neighborly, the latest project from DOM Food Group, which previously worked with Gwyneth Paltrow to scale Goop Kitchen, customers at the Promenade at Westlake also order from a screen or they can speak to a front-of-house staff member to build a meal across six menus. As at Local Kitchens, one kitchen prepares the food, which is delivered as a single meal. Questlove's "Breakfast-ish" product display. (Emil Ravelo / For The Times) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Neighborly largely works with established restaurants and personality-driven businesses. Customers can choose Armenian cooking from Glendale's Mini Kabob; chicken sandwiches and no-beef burgers from Questloves Mixtape; pizza and pasta from the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills; California-inspired salads, bowls and sandwiches from chef-influencer Gaby Dalkin; cookies from Amirah Kassem's Flour Shop and the pan-Asian-focused Social Monk, started in 2019 by the Cheesecake Factory in the same Westlake space that now houses Neighborly. Going a step further, Neighborlys physical space doubles as a superette, where customers can pick up spreads from Jessica Koslows Sqirl, frozen meals from Burritos La Palma and Katies Pizza, or any number of clean pantry essentials labeled "woman-owned," "kid-friendly," "better for you snacks" or "bespoke local merch." Taking its inspiration from Erewhon, founding partner Mario del Pero, known for co-founding Mendocino Farms with his wife, Ellen Chen, said Neighborly's core customer is the time poor suburban mom, who wants to have a nice meal with friends and also grab prepared meals to take home. Mario del Pero, co-founder of Mendocino Farms, is one of the founders of DOM Food Group, the company behind Neighborly. (Emil Ravelo / For The Times) If were best in class in every genre then were gonna win the pizza person, were gonna win the bowl person, were gonna win the Mediterranean person, said Del Pero, from Neighborlys ocean-blue patio, bustling with customers. A lifeline for chefs For chefs, Local Kitchens and Neighborly offer a place to incubate menus and spread their brands without the risks associated with scaling a small business on their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This opportunity is particularly exciting for those who have never dabbled in the restaurant space, yet have sizable online presences, such as Dalkin and Martinez. But the same can be said for established restaurateurs. Take Cailan for example, who is largely uninvolved in the international expansion of Eggslut but still personally operates Amboy and says that facing rent in Studio City would have been 100% impossible. Having the yin and yang of having a business like Amboy and being a part of a business like Local Kitchens makes everything work, said Cailan. I could still be chef Alvin Cailan smiling and shaking hands with my customers every single day, and also really trying to be a business-forward innovator in the restaurant world with Local Kitchens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, Mini Kabob's Armen Martirosyan had long been interested in scaling the family business. But facing $20,000 to $30,000 a month in rent for a new location, he said, was almost a dream. Thats when the Neighborly team reached out. I explained to my parents, like, Look, we can cook but weve never scaled a business,'" he said. "'Youre tired. Im tired. Lets put that creativity back into Neighborlys hands, and lets grow with them. Inside Neighborly, a curated food hall at the Promenade at Westlake in Thousand Oaks. (Emil Ravelo / For The Times) Mini Kabob's has tried expanding before at the Westfield Topanga shopping centers Topanga Social food hall. Martirosyan calls the still-operating venture the bane of my existence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no chef coming in and training with us. We literally had to go to Topanga and train 18-year-old kids to make our proprietary recipes, he said. Immediately we knew this was bad, and it was either A, we would go everyday to try to save the face of our company and make sure that the quality doesnt get killed, or B, we just take a step back. Local Kitchens and Neighborly, however, are explicitly pitching a higher level of fast-casual food and work with the chefs to ensure quality. Inside Neighborly, a curated food hall. (Emil Ravelo / For The Times) Local Kitchens, for instance, has implemented safeguards such as requiring each store to submit a picture of a specific recipe each day, said culinary head Ashley Torrijos, who got her start in Michelin-starred kitchens Melisse and Providence before working in research and development at the Cheesecake Factory. And unlike a traditional food hall where small businesses pay rent to the operator, the partnering businesses at Local Kitchens and Neighborly receive a share of revenue. This will continue as both companies look to expand in West L.A. and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were getting our brand marketed, and were actually getting paid back by tasting all these different products and trying all these new things and having access to a research and development team at zero cost to us, said Dominick DiBartolomeo, owner of the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills and Domenicos Foods. If I would have tried to come up with this plan on my own, of course we would have done it. But you know how much time and money that would have taken? Its exactly what you call a win-win. Sign up for our Tasting Notes newsletter for restaurant reviews, Los Angeles food-related news and more. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Even as the U.S. guts support for renewable power, the world is still pushing ahead on the shift to solar energy, with installations up 64 percent in the first half of this year. Solar is the fastest-growing source of electricity worldwide, and the buildout continues to gain pace, year after year. In the first six months of 2025, countries installed 380 gigawatts of solar capacity, up from 232 gigawatts in 2024, according to a new analysis from Ember, an energy think tank. These latest numbers on solar deployment in 2025 defy gravity, with annual solar installations continuing their sharp rise, said senior analyst Nicolas Fulghum. Ember China accounted for most of the growth, installing more than twice as much solar in the first half of this year as it did in early 2024. The U.S., by comparison, saw solar installations rise by just 4 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through its exports of low-cost solar panels, China also drove growth in India and across much of Africa, the analysis found. Over the last 12 months, solar exports to the African continent rose by 60 percent, according to Ember. Fulghum said that for countries contending with a volatile fossil fuel market, solar has become an attractive option. This year China has added twice as much solar capacity as the rest of the world combined, the analysis found, though the country is now at a crossroads. For the first time in China, solar isnt just supplementing coal power, but replacing it. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, analyst Lauri Myllyvirta said that policymakers must choose between propping up coal, a keystone industry in many cities, or doubling down on renewables, a major driver of economic growth. ALSO ON YALE E360 In the Transition to Renewable Energy, China Is at a Crossroads Google avoided having to break up and sell off its browser and mobile operating systems divisions, thanks to a Tuesday ruling from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta. The search giant lost an antitrust case before Mehta last year. He found that Google had operated as an illegal monopoly and engaged in anticompetitive practices in violation of the Sherman Act. The United States brought the case all the way back in 2020 and has spent years pushing for a downsizing of the company. Mehta struck down the most severe penalties floated by the Department of Justice in his ruling on Tuesday, sparing the tech company from needing to sell off its popular browser Chrome and the Android operating system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google will not be required to divest Chrome; nor will the court include a contingent divestiture of the Android operating system in the final judgment, Mehta wrote. Mehta ruled that Chrome must share more of its search data available to competitors. He also ruled that Google can no longer enforce contracts around its search product and other tools that require manufacturers to preload Google products on their devices. Mehta said this ban on strongarming was meant to keep Google from riding its near-total capture of search into a future dominance of AI-related products. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. Mehta said that the case required him to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future, something he felt was no judges forte. Still, he felt that his ruling was fair, given his inability to know what the future holds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courts must approach the task of crafting remedies with a healthy dose of humility, Mehta said. This court has done so. The post Google can hold on to Android, Chrome: federal judge appeared first on Salon.com. Google has avoided the most severe consequences for its search business nearly one year after a federal court ruled it held an illegal monopoly over the online search market. The big tech giant wont be required to sell its Chrome browser one of the remedies originally requested by the Biden-era Department of Justice. But it must share some search data with its competitors and is no longer allowed to broker exclusive search deals, such as the ones it struck with Apple in Safaris early years. The landmark ruling by US District Court Judge Amit Mehta could have reshaped how the internet functions by requiring Google to give up a core part of its business, but Mehtas decision Tuesday fell short of forcing such a shift. Googles shares rose 7% in after-hours trading. Asheville, N.C. (WSPA)- The Goombay festival has been celebrated for more than 40 years but was cancelled last year, as it fell on the weekend Hurricane Helene hit the area. The festival will be located in downtown Asheville at Pack Square and at the YMI Cultural Center Thursday Sept 4-7. Executive Director Sean Palmer said its the oldest operating cultural center in America built in 1800s. The festival has Caribbean roots and was originally brought to Asheville by Gloria Free, who found the Goombay tradition in Florida on a trip. She will be honored at this years festival after her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can expect more than 40 vendors with important and artifacts as well as food and dancing. Melvin AC Howell Choreographer and Creative Director will be performing along with many others in Pack Square. Find out more information including a schedule of events here Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. WASHINGTON (NewsNation) A bipartisan group of House members on Wednesday unveiled a compromise bill to ban stock trading by individual members of Congress and their families. The legislation, titled the Restore Trust in Congress Act, would combine several previously introduced bills aimed at banning congressional stock trading, according to an advisory. Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., were among lawmakers present Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein survivors, lawmakers call for release of all files The issue has gained attention as watchdogs highlight enormous returns on investments reported by members of Congress and their spouses in the market. Current law prohibits insider trading by lawmakers and requires additional disclosures, but critics argue the law does not go far enough to prevent conflicts of interest. Both Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have said they would support a ban on members trading individual stocks. Stock trading by members of Congress has long been an issue both parties have tried to tackle, especially as some elected officials have become wealthy while in elected office. During the COVID-19 pandemic in particular, it was disclosed that some lawmakers were trading based on information about the health crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press and NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. House GOP leaders are urging their members to steer clear of the discharge petition aiming to force the Trump administration to release all the government files on Jeffrey Epstein. In a closed-door meeting in the basement of the Capitol, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called on GOP lawmakers to instead support the efforts of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is seeking more disclosures on the Epstein case from the Justice Department (DOJ), the Epstein estate, and former federal law enforcement officials who worked on the case. The message from leadership was clear, according to Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a very positive alternative, Wilson said as he emerged from the meeting. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who sponsored the discharge petition, disagrees. He spoke out during the same meeting to make the case that the DOJ simply cant be trusted to release all the relevant information without legislation forcing the agencys hand. Holding up his phone, he showed reporters a picture of one of the Epstein flight log documents released by the Oversight panel Tuesday evening. All of the names on the log were redacted. Whats clear is theyre not redacting just to protect victims; they are redacting to protect reputations, Massie said. Some of those people are probably innocent, but some of them are most certainly guilty. Massies discharge petition, which would force a floor vote on legislation requiring the DOJ to release virtually all its files on investigation into Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, needs the support of 218 House lawmakers to be successful. Because all 212 Democrats are expected to endorse it, supporters need six Republicans. Four GOP lawmakers have already signed on: Reps. Massie, Nancy Mace (S.C.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson and his leadership team are racing to dissuade any more Republicans from joining that list, promoting the Oversight Committees efforts and warning that Massies strategy risks releasing information that could harm victims. The White House has also launched an aggressive outreach campaign to GOP lawmakers in hopes of preventing Massie from getting the 218 signatures he needs. Live updates: Jeffrey Epstein survivors speak out on Capitol Hill The lobbying seems to be paying off. A number of GOP lawmakers who have endorsed the underlying disclosure legislation have said this week that they wont sign the discharge petition. That list includes Reps. Jeff Van Drew (N.J.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.) and Keith Self (Texas). Jamie Comer is making great progress, Self said Tuesday, referring to the Kentucky Republican who chairs the Oversight Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Comer had organized a closed-door meeting in the Capitol between Epstein victims and bipartisan members of his committee. The lawmakers who participated in that discussion appeared to interpret the victims messages differently. Mace left the gathering looking visibly upset and signed Massies petition; Burchett, by contrast, said the victims made very clear they didnt want the broader disclosures promoted by Massie, and therefore he wont endorse the petition. Theyre the files that the girls have said theyre concerned about [DOJ] releasing, because they have some explicit details about them, Burchett said Wednesday morning. Shortly after Burchett spoke, Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) held a press conference in front of the Capitol with a succession of Epstein accusers calling for the files to be released. Massie is also unconvinced, saying the DOJ is withholding information to protect some of Trumps friends and donors who might have committed crimes involving minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said in there, What the Speaker is asking you to believe when this is all over [is] that Epstein and Maxwell have 1,000 victims themselves and nobody else was involved. And the DOJ has no idea who else might have been involved in that sex trafficking ring, Massie said. Thats obviously false. And the political cover that the Speaker is providing the GOP members is going to be fleeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy's support was crucial to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services. With firings and resignations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now prompting concern about a leadership breakdown at the nations leading public health agency, the Louisiana lawmaker and physician is in a tight spot. The two-term senator who publicly expressed concern about Kennedys anti-vaccination positions before voting to confirm him has worried aloud about serious allegations at the CDC and has called for oversight, without blaming Kennedy. But he was choosing his words carefully as he returned to Washington this week after the Senates August recess and was preparing to question Kennedy during a finance committee meeting scheduled for Thursday. Cassidy told reporters he hadnt yet decided what to ask Kennedy, saying, I want to carefully frame the question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tension underscores competing pressures: A senator with oversight responsibility for a massive federal agency and a Republican seeking reelection next year. Cassidy, who voted to convict Donald Trump after his 2021 impeachment trial, already has a cool relationship with the president. And his reelection chances would worsen were Trump to oppose him publicly. Hes in a pickle, Republican state Sen. Alan Seabaugh said of Cassidy, And its a box I dont think he can get out of. Chaos at the CDC The most recent turmoil at the CDC was the forced departure of Susan Monarez, a longtime government scientist who had been the CDC director for less than a month. Her lawyers said she refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts. It came amid Kennedy's efforts to reshape the nations vaccine policies to match his long-standing suspicions about the safety and effectiveness of long-established shots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Cassidy voiced concern after Kennedy's June firing of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Cassidy had noted serious allegations about the outside group of experts that has been reshaped by Kennedy, a leading anti-vaccine activist before becoming the nations top health official. Cassidy was asked Tuesday about what information he'll seek from Kennedy at Thursday's hearing. I want to carefully frame the question. The issue is about childrens health. Theres rumor and allegations that childrens health, which is at issue here, might be in danger by some of the decisions that are purported to be made, Cassidy said in the Capitol. I dont know whats true. Im not quite sure what I just told you is exactly how to phrase it. I know that we need to get there, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On allegations from those who resigned that Kennedy put politics above science, Cassidy was equally careful. Shouldnt we find that out. You dont presuppose they are right. You dont presuppose they are wrong, he cautioned. You go at it in a way in which both sides get a chance to say, and then we can judge. Cassidys public concern about immunization policy recalled his hesitation to vote to confirm Kennedy in February. Cassidy told Kennedy during his January confirmation hearing that he was struggling with his nomination. Your past, undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments, concerns me, he told Kennedy during his confirmation hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Cassidy voted for Kennedy, later describing intense conversations with the nominee and Vice President JD Vance that yielded serious commitments from the administration. Cassidy's 2026 reelection bid Already facing a crowded field of Republican primary challengers, Cassidy is operating with little wiggle room. A group supporting Cassidy's candidacy has been airing ads promoting the senator's support for Trump's agenda, while Trump himself, famous for publicly condemning others who have voted to convict him, has been quiet. Trump is treating Cassidy friendlier than others who have publicly opposed him previously because the president needs the vote in a narrowly Republican-controlled Senate, Louisiana state Rep. Mike Bayham said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He would be in a lot more hot water had he defied Trump. Had he torpedoed RFK, Trump would not be neutral but would be working overtly against Bill, Bayham said. Cassidy, for his own political self-interest, has to vote Trumps way, and Trump doesnt even have to say thank you. The thanks is his silence. Trump has indeed been quiet as a field of Republicans has begun to gather to challenge Cassidy in what would be the state's first closed party primary in 16 years, in light of legislation enacted this year. Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, state Sen. Blake Miguez, and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta have announced they are running for the seat. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has discussed with Trump the idea of U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, who is considering a Senate campaign, as a possible Cassidy challenger. Cassidy announced his candidacy for a third term last month, and reported having $9 million in his campaign account, while a super PAC supporting him reported having $2.5 million, a total far more than his combined competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, endorsed Cassidy for reelection last month. But with a newly enacted election system, where only registered Republicans and politically unaffiliated voters can participate in the GOP primary, Cassidy will likely have a tougher time than he would have under the former system. For the past 16 years, congressional candidates from all parties seeking the same office ran on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. In these so-called jungle primaries, only a candidate who received 50% of the vote would win the office outright. If no one reached the threshold, the top two finishers would face each other in a runoff. The partisan primary will create a more GOP-heavy electorate for the Senate primary in a state Trump carried with 60 percent of the vote in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassidy has put himself in a situation for which there are really no wins, Scott McKay, a Louisiana Republican who runs a conservative news website. In all this, what he hasn't bought is the goodwill of Trump voters. ___ Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. At the National Conservatism Conference in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri proposed a new direction for his partyessentially arguing for the self-styled party of Lincoln to abandon Lincoln for white nationalism. Schmitts speech took issue with the old conservative establishment for embracing legal immigration, instead positing that there are select true Americans to whom the country belongs. Thats what set Donald Trump apart from the old conservatism and the old liberalism alike: He knows that America is not just an abstract proposition, but a nation and a people, with its own distinct history and heritage and interests, Schmitt said. The Continental Army soldiers at Valley Forge, Pilgrims at Plymouth, pioneers in Missouri, and Kentucky settlers repelling wave after wave of Indian war band attacks, Schmitt said, believed they were forging a nationa homeland for themselves and their descendants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America, in all its glory, is their gift to us, handed down across the generations. It belongs to us. Its our birthright, our heritage, our destiny, the senator continued. If America is everything and everyone, then it is nothing and no one at all. But we know thats not true. He went on: When they tear down our statues and monuments, mock our history, and insult our traditions, theyre attacking our future as well as our past. By changing the stories we tell about ourselves, they believe they can build a new Americawith the new myths of a new people. But America does not belong to them. It belongs to us. Its our home. Its a heritage entrusted to us by our ancestors. It is a way of life that is ours, and only ours, and if we disappear, then America, too, will cease to exist. Schmitt failed to include any nonwhite people in the true-American pile. He did, however, include his German ancestors, who came to America in the 1840s: a time when, he omitted to mention, arriving European immigrants were met with no shortage of nativist challenges to their American-ness. In 1858, Abraham Lincolnduring his Senate campaign against Stephen Douglasobserved that much of the U.S. population could not trace their lineage to the Revolutionary era and Founding Fathers. These men who have come from EuropeGerman, Irish, French and Scandinavianmen that have come from Europe themselves, or whose ancestors have come hither and settled here, he said, had no connection with those days by blood. But he affirmed their claim on America nonetheless: The Declaration of Independences assertion that all men are created equal, he said, makes them as much American as though they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the flesh of the men who wrote that Declaration, and so they are. Waco, TX (FOX 44) The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2025 State of the State Luncheon, where Governor Greg Abbott (R) provided an overview of the 89th Legislative Session. While local leaders gathered inside for the luncheon, a line of protesters formed outside, making their voices heard and calling out President Trump and Gov. Abbott. Abbott is a follower of.he is a strong follower, said protester Alan Northcutt. He goes along with Trumps plan, which is the regime. So thats why were calling him out as a Trump lackey today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Abbott highlighted that Waco reached a record high in total Texans employed, crediting the citys strong economic development efforts. Waco has a faster rate of growth of employment from June of last year to June this year faster than Austin, Houston, and Dallas, Gov. Abbott stated. You can see that Waco is one of the substantial economic engines of the great state of Texas. Gov. Abbott emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses this session, noting that they make up 98 percent of all Texas businesses and play a vital role in the states economic success. The goal of this was to reduce barriers for small businesses to make it easier for them to conduct business, to put it in one level of context, as is eliminating regulatory red tape, regulatory red tape increases the cost of doing business, Gov. Abbott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Property taxes also held large emphasis in the states Legislative Session, according to the governor, who used $50 billion to reduce state property taxes. When we finished the session, it was increased from $15,000 to $140,000, Gov. Abbott said. The first $140,000 value of your home will not be subject to school property tax if youre a senior. That exemption is $200,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. State Health Officer Sherry Adams. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor) Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced Wednesday he has appointed Sherry Adams, administrator and CEO of the Southwestern District Health Unit in Dickinson, to serve as North Dakotas state health officer. Adams, a registered sanitarian and environmental health specialist who began working in public health in 2004, will begin the appointment Friday. Armstrong said Adams has extensive background in public health and emergency response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were thrilled to bring her expertise, passion and trusted voice to this key role as we continue working to make North Dakota the healthiest state in the nation, Armstrong said in a statement. Adams will serve as a member of the governors Cabinet to advise on issues affecting public health. She will continue to serve in her current role with Southwestern District Health Unit and work as state health officer part time, according to the governors office. Adams joined the states Emergency Management Support Team as a safety officer in 2009 and became an incident commander in 2012. She has responded to major incidents including the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009 and floods in 2009 and 2011. She also served as a local incident commander, state planning chief and lead testing coordinator for public health units during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adams will succeed Dirk Wilke, who has served as interim state health officer since December. Wilke will continue in his role as executive director of public health for the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Nizar Wehbi, who became state health officer amid the COVID-19 pandemic during the Gov. Doug Burgum administration, left the department in December. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey swatted away suggestions Wednesday that President Donald Trump might federalize the states National Guard as he steps up efforts to consolidate control over law enforcement nationwide. Theres no need to federalize the Massachusetts National Guard, the Democratic governor said during a fireside chat with Bloomberg News in its headquarters in a Boston office tower. As she has in recent public appearances, Healey reiterated her contention that the Republican presidents decision to deploy National Guard forces to Washington, D.C. and to other American cities is an act of political theater thats disrespectful of the people who have chosen to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To put the Guard on the streets in a way they were never intended to be used, which is domestically against our own citizens, thats not what the Guard is supposed to be doing, Healey told Caroline Gage, a senior Bloomberg executive who moderated the televised forum. That is not the mission, nor do I think it is the mission that the good men and women of the Guard signed up for. The Democratic governors comments came as Trump and his top aides have stepped up their rhetoric against deep blue Massachusetts and Boston in particular, suggesting, at alternate points, a federal takeover of South Station and warning of a coming surge of immigration enforcement action in Boston. With troops already patrolling the nations capital, Trump signaled Tuesday that hes ready to deploy federal forces to the streets of Chicago and Baltimore despite staunch opposition from elected leaders and many residents in both cities, The Associated Press reported. Asked by reporters in the Oval Office about sending National Guard soldiers to the nations third-largest city, Trump said, Were going in, but added, I didnt say when. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have an obligation, the president said. This isnt a political thing. Hours later, a federal judge ruled that Trumps decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles earlier this year was illegal, and declared that the Pentagon could not use Guard forces and Marines to perform police functions such as arrests and crowd control. In a 52-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer also warned that Trump appeared intent on creating a national police force with the President as its chief, Politico reported. On Wednesday, Healey said she agreed with Breyers order, calling it the right one, adding well see what happens with that order ... itll get appealed, and you know, who knows what happens from there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like other Bay State Democrats and those on the national stage, Healey dismissed Trumps rhetoric on the National Guard as a distraction tactic. I think whats important, though, is that people need to focus on whats actually going on here. The emergency was not in [Los Angeles], she said. Thats why Trump lost that case. There are emergencies, she continued. There are real emergencies right now, you know, in our country that need to be addressed and [they are] emergencies that Donald Trump doesnt seem to want to talk about, particularly the economy, particularly when it comes to costs, particularly when it comes to people paying more or at least not less for groceries, for heat, for cars, you know, for health care. There are real emergencies in this country. Meanwhile, that immigration enforcement surge in Boston is expected as soon as this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to Bloomberg on Wednesday, Healey kept up her drumbeat of criticism of the White Houses hardline tactics that have seen masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents snatch people off the streets. Ive said I was all in when it came to taking out violent criminals from our, our streets, our communities, Healey said. But thats not whats happening. Its construction workers and nannies and landscapers. Its people taking care of our kids. Thats whos getting picked up. And it doesnt make any sense economically. Its heartbreaking, she said. I mean, we are better than that, America. Were not a country that puts little Guatemalan kids on a plane and sends them all by their lonesome to a foreign country. More on Politics Read the original article on MassLive. Gov. JB Pritzker has filled in gaps on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board more than a year after it was roiled in controversy. Pritzker on Friday appointed two new members to the state parole and release board, including Timothy Nugent, who as mayor of Manteno helped Pritzker two years ago secure the construction of a Chinese-owned electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant despite complaints from residents and Republicans. Pritzker appointed Nugent and Tracy Buckley, a contractor for the review board, as board members, pending Senate approval. Buckley previously served as the boards chief of operations and as an administrator, the governors office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their appointments fill two of six open seats on the fifteen-member panel, according to the state. Board members are paid nearly $148,000 annually. The governors office on Friday also said Nugent would serve as chair of the Prisoner Review Board, but late Monday withdrew the chair designation for Nugent and said it was an error. The board currently does not have a designated chair. In an interview with the Tribune over the weekend, Nugent said his support of the controversial Gotion manufacturing plant, a major economic development project championed by the governor, didnt come up in his application process, and that he did not think it was connected to his appointment. In addition to his 20 years as mayor of Manteno, a town of roughly 9,000 in Kankakee County about 40 miles south of Chicago, Nugent had about two decades of experience as a law enforcement officer including as police chief in Kankakee which is more than the years of experience required for certain members of the board. Nugent also said he thought it would be premature to offer potential reform ideas for the board, which faced widespread scrutiny last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You make the best decision that you can based on the facts that you have at the time. I dont have a crystal ball, I cant tell what the futures going to hold, Nugent said. The things that happened previously, I wasnt involved in it. I dont know the reason for it, and its not up to me to cast any aspersions about what happened back then. The appointments come after several controversies involving the board. The states previous top parole official, Donald Shelton, resigned from his post in March 2024 after the board allowed Crosetti Brand, a man with a history of violence against women, to be released from state custody. Brand later attacked a pregnant woman he once dated and killed her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins, when the child came to his mothers rescue, authorities said. Another member of the board, LeAnn Miller, also resigned at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brand was sentenced to life in prison for the killing and Jaydens family has filed a lawsuit against the board alleging negligence in the case. The case became a political challenge for Pritzker as the review board had been criticized even before the attack by state legislative Republicans for authorizing the early release of people convicted of killing police officers, children and committing mass murder. In addition to the board resignations, the crimes against Jayden and his mother also led to the appointment of an executive director for the board. Pritzker was critical of how Brands case was handled. Even before the Brand case, Republicans in 2022 were joined by some suburban Democratic lawmakers in declining two of Pritzkers nominees for the board, which became a proxy fight over the issue of crime, with the GOP lawmakers saying the board was loaded with too many progressives who were too lenient in letting convicted criminals out of prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker signed into law several changes to the review board this year, including higher pay, longer terms starting next year and greater requirements for some members to have experience in law enforcement or criminal justice. Republican Sen. Steve McClure of Springfield, who has been critical of the board under Pritzkers leadership, on Tuesday condemned extending future board members terms from six years to eight years and Pritzkers Friday afternoon appointment timing, which McClure said indicated a lack of transparency. This is definitely, I would say, one of the most troubling things about the Pritzker administration, is the way that theyve handled the PRB, McClure said, and it looks like the governor is still operating out of the same playbook. In Manteno, Nugent was an early supporter of the Gotion project, appearing at a September 2023 news conference with Pritzker and Gotion officials to say the plant brings the promise of a great future for the village, county, the region and the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when the Pritzker administration announced Gotions decision to locate its $2 billion electric vehicle lithium battery manufacturing plant to strengthen Illinois standing as a hub for EV manufacturing. At the time, Pritzker said it was the largest EV battery production investment in Illinois, making the plant due for more than half a billion dollars in state incentives. But some residents complained they werent provided enough information about the project, which became a cause celebre for Republicans who led the way in stoking fears about the prospect of communist infiltration, given the Chinese ownership of the plants parent company. The Manteno Village Board eventually voted 5-1 in December 2024 to rezone a former K-Mart property to make way for the new facility. A lawsuit has since been filed by a community group against Gotions presence in the town. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) Governor Mike Braun announced the selection of a new Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor commissioner following multiple rate increases. Gov. Braun says Abby Gray will lead the office to evaluate utilities profits and find cost-saving measures to ease the financial burden on Hoosiers that will include utilities investors bearing more of the costs of doing business rather than ratepayers. Hoosiers have been burdened with utility rate increase after increase. We cant take it anymore. I am directing the Utility Consumer Counselor, who is Indianas ratepayer advocate, to evaluate utilities profits along with other cost savings measures to ease the burden on ratepayers. I would also like to see the utilities investors bear more of the cost of doing business. Gov. Mike Braun Gray also released a statement saying the following: I have dedicated my career to public service and its the honor of a lifetime to continue to serve Indiana ratepayers in this new role. I am deeply humbled and appreciative of Governor Brauns confidence in me and look forward to advocating for Indiana utility consumers. Abby Gray, Commissioner of the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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). As the world prepares for COP30, the U.N.'s climate change conference to be held in Belem, Brazil, this year, the host nation's nearby Combu Island is desperately grappling with the overheating climate. Mongabay reported that the once lush, thriving slice of the Amazon is struggling with rising temperatures, declining acai yields, and increasingly salty river water all signs of environmental breakdown that locals say demand action, not just words and rhetoric. What's happening? Combu Island is experiencing a climate crisis firsthand. Average temperatures in the region have risen by almost 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 40 years, with sharper increases during the dry season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mongabay interviewed several locals, including Prazeres Quaresma, who said the heat is changing daily life: "We used to sleep covered. Now we need fans all night." Drought and heat have slashed acai yields by up to 40%, while river water, once fresh, is now salty for months. The Guama River's rising salinity is linked to ocean intrusion during severe droughts, threatening water quality and aquatic life. "We worry about the future of the island," Quaresma told Mongabay. Why are rising temperatures important? Rising temperatures in Combu Island reflect a global problem. Even small increases, just over 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit in recent decades, can disrupt ecosystems, reduce crop yields, and threaten water supplies. In the Amazon, this accelerates forest loss, weakening a crucial carbon sink that helps regulate the world's climate. If temperatures keep rising, extreme weather events such as droughts and heat waves will continue to become more frequent and severe, affecting billions of people. Food systems may collapse, biodiversity could decline, and vulnerable communities would be at risk of greater poverty and displacement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Combu's struggles show how local climate impacts connect to global risks, underscoring why the outcomes of COP30 matter to everyone. What's being done about rising temperatures? Combu Island depends on its Environmental Protection Area to conserve biodiversity and limit human impact. Community-led sustainable tourism and eco-friendly agriculture also provide hopeful avenues. However, locals emphasize that meaningful change requires concrete global action at COP30 to support vulnerable communities and fragile ecosystems, moving beyond discussion to real climate solutions that address the urgent challenges people face. 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. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) One of the largest pharmacy chains in the nation will resume administering the COVID vaccine in Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro, in a statement on X, said he called on the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy to ensure vaccine access for those most in need, like seniors and those with underlying conditions. He said CVS Pharmacy, one of the largest chains in the country, will resume administering vaccines as soon as possible at locations throughout Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services, made the outrageous decision to limit access to the COVID vaccine and take health care decisions out of the hands of doctors and patients, Shapiro said. CVS Pharmacy awaits CDC approval to offer COVID-19 vaccines in New York CVS and Walgreens both said last week that they would only administer the shots with a doctors prescription in the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaking with reporters on April 8, 2024. (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) After a Democratic-controlled Senate committee rejected 14 of Gov. Glenn Youngkins appointments to university boards last Thursday, the governors office blasted the lawmakers in a letter Friday, labeling the committees actions as unprecedented attempts to intimidate board members that have harmed Virginia institutions of higher learning. The missive, dated Aug. 29, is the latest turn in an ongoing battle between Youngkin, who as governor has the authority to add and remove people to Virginia college boards, and Democratic legislators, who have bucked the governors picks over concerns about their backgrounds and ideological positions, and who have the power to confirm or reject board appointees. Last week, Democrats on the Senate Privileges & Elections Committee rejected 14 more appointments, bringing the total number theyve blocked this year to 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic lawmakers said they are trying to protect institutions from partisan attacks, including those launched after President Donald Trumps administration initiated several investigations into Virginias universities, primarily the University of Virginia and George Mason University. The governors administration has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to lift a temporary suspension on the appointments for three governing boards at Virginias higher education institutions brought forward by Senate Democrats. The administration doubled down on that course in the Aug. 29 letter. Members of the administration wrote that the Democrats actions are counterproductive, and the letter, signed by the governors chief of staff, John Littel, and counsel Richard Cullen, expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will remind the Senate committee of its role in the confirmation process. While claiming to care so deeply about Virginias prestigious institutions of higher education, your actions have consistently caused harm to the governance and operation of our colleges and universities, the letter states. Your unprecedented attempts to intimidate board members threaten the best-in-class governance that we have worked so hard to build. And, at the same time, you ask the governor to abdicate his constitutional and statutory duty to ensure that our colleges are properly governed. The request is so illogical it does not bear addressing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The response from the governors office is a rebuttal to an earlier letter from Senate Democratic leadership Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke, D-Hampton sent before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections met last week and rejected 14 of Youngkins appointees on boards at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), the University of Virginia (UVA) and its affiliates, and George Mason University (GMU). Youngkin made the appointments to fill vacant positions. In the letter, Senate leaders urged the governor to suspend any further appointments to Virginias university governing boards and said some of Youngkin appointees have introduced additional controversy and division, and have abdicated their responsibilities. They wrote that Virginias universities need members who unite rather than divide, possess relevant experience in higher education governance, and are committed to protecting academic freedom and institutional integrity. The rebuttal from Youngkins office did not specify whether the governor would suspend making any further appointments. Instead, the governors team criticized the committees claims and questioned its authority, asserting that the General Assembly has not rejected any of the appointments and that the appointees are eminently qualified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter detailed some of the backgrounds of the appointments including a former president and CEO of Mastercard International, a vice chairman of Goldman Sachs, a former acting Federal Trade Commission chairwoman, a decorated Marine Corps officer, former members of the General Assembly, a former Attorney General of Virginia, and a former U.S. Assistant Attorney General. These individuals bring deep experience in government, law, corporate leadership, military service, and university governance, the letter states. The governors administration argues that the appointees are allowed to continue serving until the General Assembly reconvenes in January, when the full body of legislators can thoroughly review the qualifications and financial interests of the appointments. On Monday, Surovell didnt appear surprised that the governors office denounced his colleagues work to block appointees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lights are on at our house, but one of the things weve learned in the last three and half years is that the governor doesnt have a lot of interest in working with the legislature on anything, Surovell said. The Trump administrations assault on our institutions of higher education is going to be our problem a lot longer than his, and Id hope hed work with us on defending our schools. In the next legislative session, Democrats are considering introducing an amendment to the state code that would specify that gubernatorial appointments cannot take effect until confirmed by the General Assembly. A tumultuous summer in Virginias higher ed landscape On Aug. 29, UVA launched a website in its search for its next president. Former president Jim Ryan stepped down after the US Department of Justice, put pressure on the institution, following Title VI complaints and political scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Education claimed George Mason Universitys hiring practices violated civil rights law. President Gregory Washingtons attorney pushed back against the proposal to apologize in an Aug. 25 letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 15, VMI named its 16th superintendent after failing to renew the contract Ret. Major Gen. Cedric Wins, the institutions first Black superintendent. The Board of Visitors is under new leadership after its president stepped down. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In this combination of images, carbon dioxide pipeline opponents attend a rally Jan. 13, 2025, at the Capitol in Pierre, and South Dakota congressional delegates and other speakers and attendees cut a ribbon to celebrate Madison's connection to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System on Aug. 21, 2024. (South Dakota Searchlight photos by Joshua Haiar and Makenzie Huber; photo illustration by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) Something perplexing is happening in South Dakota Republican politics, according to Pat Costello. He has decades of experience in business and government, having worked as an accountant, a restaurateur, a Sioux Falls city councilman and as commissioner of the Governors Office of Economic Development from 2011 to 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout his experience, the approach to business by Republican political leaders has been consistent. I cant remember a governor who wasnt pro-economic development, he said. Costello thinks that could change after next years election. Two of the three declared Republican candidates for governor are critical of how the state has involved itself in economic development for the past four decades under Republican control. One of those candidates is state Speaker of the House Jon Hansen. Youre using tax dollars to bring in companies that compete with current South Dakota businesses, Hansen said. Youre using their tax dollars to fund their competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has pledged to put an end to what he describes as corporate welfare. That would be a reversal of Republican policy and philosophy that has guided economic development in South Dakota since the 1980s. Mickelson creates the modern GOED The late former Gov. George Mickelson combined several separate state offices in 1987 to create the Governors Office of Economic Development. Gov. Dennis Daugaard made the office a Cabinet-level agency in 2011. Julie Johnson was the state secretary of labor when Mickelson created the office, and she helped write the legislation putting its initial programs into law. She said South Dakotas incentives for businesses grew out of necessity in the 1980s. Back then, she said, the state had few tools to compete with other states for jobs and business investments. The Mickelson administration used a temporary sales tax increase to create a revolving fund offering low-interest loans to businesses for startup or expansion the Revolving Economic Development and Initiative (REDI) Fund. Mickelson also used a new, permanent fee on employer-paid unemployment insurance taxes to create a governor-controlled grant program supporting research and economic development, the Future Fund. Mickelson pitched his ideas to legislators during his 1987 State of the State speech. Referencing the Future Fund, he said South Dakota needed to make long-term investments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Too often, politicians are attracted to short-term programs so that by the next election they might be able to point back and look at benefits or look at results, Mickelson said. The courageous politicians are people who are willing to look at the long term and make a long-term investment in what we believe is right. He said the money would be used for purposes including libraries, scholarships, vocational education, tourism development and scientific research. Johnson said those kinds of projects were needed. Investments in science, research, and tech were seen as ways to build opportunities and keep young people here, Johnson said. Without tools like the Future Fund, we didnt stand a chance. Both funds still exist. The REDI Fund awarded a total of $15.9 million in loans for eight projects in 2024, retaining or creating a projected 447 jobs. The Future Fund awarded four grants totaling $28.6 million last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office has created other programs since the 1980s. Last year, the office and its various boards approved $264 million in aid for businesses. Although some of that is direct spending in the form of state-funded grants, much of it consists of loans, sales tax refunds, federal funds, and bonds that leverage the states tax-exempt status. The offices 2024 annual report says its efforts helped create 1,085 jobs and spark $916 million in total capital investment projects. Those numbers havent spared the office from criticism. For example, a legislative committee endorsed a bill last winter to abolish the employer fee that supports the Future Fund. It failed 32-38 in the state House of Representatives. The representative who sponsored that bill, Liz May, a Republican from Kyle, told South Dakota Searchlight she plans to reintroduce it. Republican lawmakers grill offices new leader During a recent meeting of the Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee, the governors new commissioner of economic development, Bill Even, introduced himself to lawmakers. Even and his staff were peppered with critical questions from some Republicans on the committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are you making dollars available to just as many small business owners as you are to large, outside-of-South Dakota corporations? asked Rep. Julie Auch, R-Yankton. Even said roughly three-quarters of projects involve existing South Dakota businesses, mostly with fewer than 500 employees. Assistant House Majority Leader Marty Overweg, R-New Holland, said some state assistance is used to prop up bad deals. He pointed to a shrimp-farming project that has yet to break ground after receiving a $6.5 million low-interest loan in 2018 from Madisons regional economic development group. Of that amount, $5.5 million was a state Future Fund grant to the development group, and $1 million came from the development group itself. Then-Gov. Daugaard awarded the Future Fund grant to the Lake Area Improvement Corporation in Madison, which loaned the money to Minnesota-based tru Shrimp, Even told the committee. The improvement corporation did not reply to an interview request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company planned to break ground by the end of 2019 and create more than 100 jobs, but construction never started. In May 2023, Michael Ziebell, president and CEO of the company, told South Dakota Public Broadcasting he hoped to break ground in 2024, offering over 60 jobs. The company did not respond to South Dakota Searchlights requests for an interview. Even acknowledged the projects long delays and told lawmakers the state is reviewing legal and financial options to recover the grant. My active engagement here is indicative of the fact that both myself and the governor are interested in understanding how you ensure that projects move forward, Even said. Overweg was not satisfied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Its not what government can do, its what government should do, Overweg told South Dakota Searchlight after the meeting. We are built on a free-market society. When government becomes the driver of economic development, it distorts the market. Overweg said he might support incentive programs if they came with stronger accountability. Right now, he said, companies can get taxpayer money, pay low wages, and their workers still qualify for Medicaid. Thats a double cost to taxpayers. Johnson, who helped create some of the programs, thinks the criticism of economic development policy from some Republicans stems from frustrations over a controversial pipeline proposal. Summit Carbon Solutions, of Iowa, wants to capture carbon dioxide from dozens of ethanol plants and transport it via a five-state pipeline, including South Dakota, to a sequestration site in North Dakota. Supporters, including some Republicans, describe the project as economic development, but a coalition of opponents including a wing of the Republican Party oppose it because of concerns about the rights of landowners along the route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fourteen incumbent Republican legislators lost their primary elections in 2024, partly due to a split in the party over the pipeline. The Legislature and Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden went on to ban carbon pipelines from using a legal avenue called eminent domain to obtain land access from landowners. Theres been a philosophical shift, yes, Johnson said. But it feels like guilt by association especially after the backlash against the carbon pipeline project. People learned the wrong lessons from that fight and are now vilifying economic development writ large. A 2026 Republican primary issue Economic development policy is already an issue in the 2026 race for the Republican nomination for governor. So far, the partys declared candidates are Hansen, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson. Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, whos filling out the term of former Gov. Kristi Noem after she accepted a Trump Cabinet position, has not announced whether hell run but is expected to join the race. Doeden told South Dakota Searchlight he hopes to change the focus of the Governors Office of Economic Development. He said the state should shift its focus away from job creation, pointing to South Dakotas 1.9% unemployment rate. He said the office should focus on helping existing businesses thrive, rather than recruiting new ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should be helping them be more efficient, more profitable so they can reinvest in their people and communities, Doeden said. Doeden would also establish a small business task force and have the Governors Office of Economic Development allocate more of its efforts toward in-state entrepreneurs. From left, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, Gov. Larry Rhoden, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, and state House Speaker Jon Hansen. (South Dakota Searchlight images) There are two distinct paths, he said. Congressman Johnson wants to subsidize billion-dollar companies from out of state. I want to help South Dakotans build better futures for themselves. Johnson rejected that claim, saying, As governor, my top economic development focus will always be homegrown businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson previously served in the Rounds and Daugaard administrations, and as an elected member of the state Public Utilities Commission. South Dakota Searchlight asked Johnson for his vision for economic development, and his office sent a statement. We will grow the economy with new small businesses, new energy production, expanded dairy, and bringing high-tech jobs home to South Dakota. We will keep tax rates low by growing the tax base, the statement said. This is growth with a purpose not growth for its own sake, but growth that creates opportunity for the next generation. Without mentioning the carbon pipeline fight specifically, Johnson said during a recent public forum that he is befuddled by blanket opposition to economic development, including data centers and other large projects. He said South Dakota leaders need to be visionary and bring new industries to the state or we are saying that our children will have diminished opportunities. That, Johnson said, is absolutely unacceptable. Its un-American and its not at all capitalist, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hansen responded on social media, writing that South Dakotans like him arent anti-development, but against Washington-style giveaways that shovel OUR money into projects that benefit coastal billionaires while our families and businesses foot the bill. Hansen said in a statement to Searchlight that his priority is freedom and the free market. Making sure our kids get a good education. Stewarding the land our grandparents homesteaded. Putting food on the table for our families. NOT cutting sweetheart deals for big politically connected corporations. Although Rhoden signed the ban on eminent domain for carbon pipelines, the rest of his approach to economic development has largely been a continuation of past practices. That includes the appointment of Even, whose service in several prior state government positions included a previous stint as commissioner of economic development. Rhoden hasnt announced that hes running, but he does have a campaign website that alludes to economic development and says hes committed to keeping the doors of opportunity wide open for everyone, from farmers and ranchers to small-town entrepreneurs and big-city business owners. Traditional approach works, defenders say Nathan Sanderson, a Republican, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association and former director of policy and operations in the Daugaard administration, said one of the states greatest economic development successes is the dairy industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said because of the state recruiting out-of-state operations and supporting local expansions through loans, bonds, grants and tax relief from 2011 to 2023, South Dakotas dairy cow population more than doubled from 90,000 to 187,000 as North Dakotas collapsed from 20,000 to 14,000, according to data from the National Agriculture Statistics Service. That is a direct result of government engagement, Sanderson said. If the state didnt get involved, that growth wouldnt have happened. This isnt about picking winners and losers its about building partnerships to improve quality of life. Costello said incentives are often the only meaningful tool South Dakota can offer to compete nationally. If every state dropped its business incentives, we could, too, he said. But they havent, and we cant afford to sit on the sidelines. But he also said criticisms of former Gov. Kristi Noems use of the Future Fund in recent years were valid. Examples included her use of the fund for a $2.5 million contract to promote and conduct the Cinch Playoffs Governors Cup rodeo in Sioux Falls. Noem played a starring role in the rodeo, carrying the American flag into the arena on horseback and posing for photos with the event winners. Noem also used $13.5 million to help construct a Rapid City-area shooting range lawmakers declined to fund, and approved a contract for up to $9 million, mostly from the Future Fund, for the Freedom Works Here workforce recruitment campaign starring herself. Costello said state economic development tools are intended to be used with everyday South Dakotans in mind. Weve always said we work through the business community, but we work for the citizens, he said. Its about encouraging better jobs, higher wages and a better quality of life. While acknowledging that not every deal succeeds, Costello said the overall record is positive. South Dakotas median household income trailed the national average throughout the 1980s and 90s but caught up and even surpassed it several times since 2008. Any economic development strategy will have wins and losses, Costello said. The real question is whether weve improved life for South Dakotans. The answer is yes. EDITORS NOTE: This story and its charts have been updated with corrections. The original story and charts included incorrect amounts for 2024 awards from the Reinvesment Payment, Dakota Seeds and Proof of Concept programs. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Context: The attached video initially aired on Saturday, Aug. 30. TOPEKA (KSNT) Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay is releasing new information following the successful extradition of a man accused of killing two people and kidnapping a child in Topeka. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay told 27 News that 32-year-old Christopher K. W. Barnshaw is now booked in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections after he was extradited from Coles County, Illinois. Barnshaw arrived at the correctional facility at 2:35 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnshaw had previously refused to waive extradition, and we obtained a Governors Warrant to secure his return to Kansas, Kagay said. He will now face the charges filed in Shawnee County District Court. 15-year-old arrested after allegedly threatening to bring gun to Shawnee County school Kagay said that when someone is wanted for criminal charges in Kansas but is arrested in another state and refuses to return voluntarily, prosecutors need to request a Governors Warrant to successfully extradite the individual. He said the process involves sending a legal demand to the governor of the state where the individual is being held, asking for them to be returned. If approved, the other states governor signs the warrant, authorizing law enforcement to transfer custody and return the individual to Kansas to face charges, Kagay said. This process is governed by the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, which is in effect in both Kansas and most other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emporia home explosion that killed two was accidental, caused by natural gas Barnshaw is currently scheduled for a court date at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 11. He is being held on a $10,000,000 bond and is charged with the following crimes: Two charges of murder in the first degree. Aggravated burglary of a dwelling. Aggravated endangering of a child. Kidnapping. Barnshaw is accused of killing two relatives, 55-year-old Sean E. Thornton and 29-year-old Ashley T. Brown, and kidnapping Browns two-year-old child in July. Police in Mattoon, Illinois arrested Barnshaw and recovered the child on July 22. Two killed in Jefferson County crash, several hospitalized Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. So lets get this straight. If a mugger snatches your phone, the police will do nothing. If burglars ransack your home, the police will do nothing. If your daughter is raped by a grooming gang, the police will do nothing. But if you write a social media post that offends someone who identifies as transgender, youll be abruptly set upon by five armed officers. Obviously, it shouldnt need saying that the arrest of Graham Linehan, the award-winning comedy writer and co-creator of Father Ted, brings shame on the police and makes our country look like a tinpot dictatorship. Nonetheless, I believe that this disgraceful episode will at least have one upside. Because it demolishes, once and for all, one of trans activisms most subtly pernicious arguments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speak out against the notion that biological males should be allowed in womens changing rooms and inevitably youll be deluged with abuse. Some disciples of trans ideology, however, will take a less aggressive approach and ask: Why do you care, anyway? Trans people are a tiny minority, who account for less than one per cent of the population. So how do these issues affect you? Well, now the whole nation can see the answer. These issues affect every last one of us because they imperil our freedom of speech. Defy the gender fanatics and you too could find yourself surrounded by gun-toting policemen. Graham Linehans arrest, therefore, proves that trans ideology is a threat to us all. In fact, it always has been because the silencing of free speech is integral to trans activism. Back in 2015, Stonewall the powerful LGBTQIA+ lobby group decided that, when it came to trans issues, its mantra would be no debate. And that refusal to brook any dissent has been chillingly effective. The main reason that trans activism has been able to hold such sway over our society is that, even today, five months after the Supreme Court helpfully confirmed that, under the law, women are actually female, many people remain too frightened to say what they really think about it. Even celebrated thinkers have struggled to pluck up the courage. Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point and other bestselling analyses of sociological trends, has just confessed that, until recently, he felt too cowed to admit that he thinks male trans athletes should be barred from female sports. If a man as rich and successful as Mr Gladwell can fear the consequences of rejecting trans orthodoxy, little wonder that ordinary members of the public keep quiet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, at least the scandalous spectacle of Mr Linehans arrest will awaken more people to the danger that this ideology poses. But not only that. It will also make them realise that many of our institutions remain utterly in thrall to the no debate agenda pushed by Stonewall and its allies. Because the police are far from alone. Look at the health service. In Scotland, a nurse named Sandie Peggie has taken NHS Fife to a tribunal after it suspended her for complaining about a male trans colleague using the female changing room. This week, lawyers representing NHS Fife argued that theres no evidence that women, Ms Peggie aside, have a problem sharing female-only spaces with male trans people. Really? Has it not occurred to NHS Fife that, if women dont complain, it might just be because theyre scared? Not least because complaining might get them punished by their employer? Other institutions still under the spell of trans ideology include the Civil Service (Whitehall staff recently threatened to go on strike if male trans colleagues are banned from using womens loos). And then, of course, theres our national broadcaster. In 2021, the BBC officially quit Stonewalls Diversity Champions Programme yet it continues to behave as if it were the lobby groups own broadcasting arm. Look at its continued insistence on respecting the preferred pronouns of male criminals including convicted killers and even a German neo-Nazi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The truth is unignorable. Regardless of the Supreme Courts ruling, or indeed of the Cass Review into the risks of giving puberty-blocking drugs to confused children, many people in positions of power and influence are still marching to trans activisms tune. This is the ideological equivalent of Japanese knotweed. And it will take a government far braver and more principled than this one to rip it out. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sep. 2GRAND FORKS The Grand Forks County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 2, to not sign the county's proposed agreement with the North Dakota Department of Corrections. The commission refuses to move forward with the planned agreement to lease space in the county jail to the DOCR unless the state agency can guarantee non-residents would not be released into Grand Forks County after serving their sentence. Commissioners Mark Rustad and Bob Rost said residents have made it clear they do not want these people in the community. Rustad said signing the contract would just be asking for trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This will (lead to) pitchforks and torches at the county building, in my opinion," he said. Grand Forks County State's Attorney Haley Wamstad addressed the proposed contract during Tuesday's commission meeting, saying that commissioners' concerns had been largely addressed and only two issues remained. The other issue is how damage caused by state prisoners would be paid for. The DOCR agreed to allow any funds prisoners had in their accounts to be used toward damages. There was brief discussion on that matter but, largely, commissioners expressed their dissatisfaction with the release issue. "To me, this is a total dealbreaker," Rost said before making a motion to not sign the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioners said Grand Forks has many resources that would be appealing to prisoners and, in some cases, they would have access to those resources even before their release from custody. This would make Grand Forks a "natural landing spot" for many, Rustad said, regardless of where an inmate was living at the time of their arrest. Asked whether the issue is negotiable, Wamstad said it is her understanding that the proposed contact is the DOCR's final offer. Lance Anderson, warden of transitional facilities, appeared via video along with DOCR Director Colby Braun. Anderson said release plans for inmates are consistently worked on, and Parole and Probation Services must determine that their plan is suitable. He said inmates are released to Grand Forks County from the state prison in Bismarck, and that will not change regardless of where the inmate is being released from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They have the ability to live where they'd like," he said. Commissioner Terry Bjerke said the commission had voted, and if the DOCR will not budge, then the county needs to figure something else out for the Grand Forks County Correctional Center expansion space whether that be renting beds to other counties that lack space, or taking in federal inmates. He asked that an update on the state of the expansion be provided by Sheriff Andy Schneider at the next commission meeting. Also on Tuesday, County Administrator Tom Ford proposed the county take responsibility of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children more commonly known as WIC which "does not have a home" following Red River Valley Community Action's recent closure. The program would be 100% reimbursed by the federal government, Ford said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bjerke asked whether the county had exhausted its options as far as any other local nonprofit that could take on the program. Ford explained that a decision needs to be made by Sept. 30, or the end of the fiscal year, and this request is based on that tight turnaround. "Something has to be done by Sept. 30, or we won't have a WIC program," Ford said. Bjerke said he hopes a one-year contract will be considered, so the issue can be remedied for the time being until another organization takes on the program. "At some point, the federal government is going to realize they're going to go broke," Bjerke said, and there will be many people asking whether the county intends to pay for WIC to continue. "I would prefer to limit our exposure to the federal government." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other news, the commission: * Voted unanimously to go back on its July 29 decision to alter the health reimbursement account plan for county employees after hearing from two members of the employees association. One member, Sarah Gereszek, said employees didn't understand why the change was made. Commissioners said it was done to save money; however, after hearing that less than 40% of the funds allocated toward health reimbursement account plans have been used in recent years, it was made clear that no savings were being realized by reducing that benefit. It was also agreed on that the benefit can help with employee retention, so reducing how much money can be pulled from the plan and when could instead negatively impact county employee retention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Heard additional concerns from Gereszek that county employees would like more transparency in the future about when employee benefits and other matters that directly affect them will be discussed at commission meetings, so employees can be there, as livestream access was unstable in the past. * Voted unanimously in favor of a Walle Township issue previously tabled due to a lack of necessary notice that has since been made to the owner of a neighboring parcel. A petition was filed by homeowner Steve Staveteig to vacate a roadway easement and close a section line that ran through his land. In the previous commission meeting, Staveteig said the easement and section line which were unused and unmaintained kept him from fully using his land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Heard from Kaitlin Atkinson, Vision Zero coordinator out of the Grand Forks County Sheriff's Office, who presented data on serious injury crashes in the county. She said serious injury and fatal crashes are split pretty evenly inside the city and the rest of the county, and the primary seat belt law seems to be helping keep people safe, despite a large amount of pushback. * Voted unanimously in favor of putting the recently received $1.122 million in county highway flex fund dollars into separate line items for the Legal Drain 4 project (estimated to cost $544,868,) and a future project for the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and County Road 5, which has an estimated cost of $500,000. * Voted unanimously in favor of serving as liaison between North Dakota Department of Transportation and area townships that apply for flex fund grants, allowing the county auditor to sign the letter of understanding for Township Flex Fund Grants. * Voted unanimously in favor of applying for various county road grants, including a project in Manvel and flood prevention work on a two-mile portion of County Road 5, which Bjerke agreed "is a problem." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Heard from Nick West, county engineer, who made the aforementioned grant requests before asking if commissioners had any recommendations for grant applications, which are due Sept. 19. Rost mentioned the area near the KNOX building on County Road 8, and asked whether that could be paved, because "it's a dust bowl out there." He said he knows it's expensive, but a lot of traffic goes through that road, and many people live there, so he would be in favor of pursuing funding for the issue. West agreed to run the numbers on how much it would cost. * Voted unanimously to approve GrandSky's request to utilize 2023 EUL development grant funds to upgrade and continue use of software that supports the TruWeather system. Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A Washington, D.C., federal grand jury refused to indict a woman who allegedly made threats against President Donald Trump, and it appears to be part of a trend in the district. The woman, Natalie Rose Jones, said on Instagram that she was "willing to sacrificially kill this POTUS by disemboweling him and cutting out his trachea with Liz Cheney and all The Affirmation present." She then traveled to Washington to participate in a protest on Aug. 16 near the White House. The U.S. Secret Service interviewed her, and she said the president was a terrorist and a Nazi, the Justice Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to CBS News, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro criticized the grand jury's refusal to indict. "A Washington, D.C., grand jury refused to indict someone who threatened to kill the President of the United States. Her intent was clear, traveling through five states to do so. She even confirmed the same to the U.S. Secret Service. This is the essence of a politicized jury. The system here is broken on many levels. Instead of the outrage that should be engendered by a specific threat to kill the president, the grand jury in D.C. refuses to even let the judicial process begin," Pirro said. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro criticized the grand jury's decision as "politicized." Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI Her attorneys filed a motion for her release. "A grand jury has now found no probable cause to indict Ms. Jones on the charged offenses," her attorneys wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief District Judge James Boasberg had ordered Jones released on home detention. "Given that finding, the weight of the evidence is weak," her lawyers wrote. "The government may intend to try again to obtain an indictment, but the evidence has not changed and no indictment is likely. For this reason the Court should release Ms. Jones on her personal recognizance to appear if required." Federal grand juries rarely decline to indict, but there have been at least six recent cases in which grand juries in Washington have done so, NBC News reported. Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Charles Dunn, 37, with felony assault of a Customs and Border Protection officer on Aug. 10 after he allegedly threw a sandwich. Prosecutors couldn't persuade grand jurors to indict him in the high-profile case. The Justice Department has filed a new misdemeanor charge against Dunn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A grand jury also declined to indict Sydney Lori Reid, a woman arrested in July for trying to interfere with the transfer of an alleged gang member into custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CBS News reported. A Washington grand jury also declined to indict Alvin Summers, who allegedly swung his arms at a U.S. Park Police officer after a foot chase on Aug. 15. Prosecutors alleged Summers "grabbed" the officer with force. "Not only have I never heard of this happening, I've never heard of a prosecutor who's heard of this happening," former federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou, who served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for Washington, D.C., until January, told CBS News. "The office's failure -- again and again -- to secure indictments suggests that the administration has absolutely destroyed its credibility with jurors," he said. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. Greater Johnstown High School teacher Christian Wrabley is one of 10 educators from around the U.S. who were named finalists for this year's National Civics Teacher of the Year Award from the Bill of Rights Institute. The Johnstown teacher, who has more than a decade of classroom experience, was selected through a nationwide search in which students, community members, educators and parents were encouraged to submit outstanding civics teachers for consideration. Wrabley said he was humbled and honored by the recognition and credited his students and colleagues for the achievement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This whole recognition ... is an opportunity to celebrate what teachers do," he said. The purpose of the award is to honor teachers who inspire and serve their students in outstanding ways, according to the institute. Nominees were selected for their work in educating students about the government, the nation and "how to live the ideals of a free and just society." Other finalists hail from California, North Carolina, New York, Louisiana, Ohio, Alabama and Arizona. Wrabley is one of two finalists from Pennsylvania; the other is Joe Harmon, of Redbank Valley High School in New Bethlehem, Clarion County. Wrabley said he didn't grow up wanting to be a civics teacher, but he's benefited significantly from the experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Since I've got into civics education myself, my life has changed in a lot of ways the way I interact with the community and my own self-worth," he said. Those lived experiences are what he takes into the classroom and shares with his students, he said. In addition to his classroom work, Wrabley helps organize the annual Civics Summit for Pennsylvania teachers and the Democracy Bowl at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He also is one of three advisers in the school's annual submission to the "Whats So Cool About Manufacturing?" contest. He frequently collaborates on PBS educational offerings and participates in a variety of other endeavors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wrabley described civics as the salve for an ailing democracy due to its ability to instill hope in those who study the subject a lesson he passes on to his students. "Truthfully, I don't know anyone more deserving in the people I've personally collaborated with," said Mark Conlon, a Pitt-Johnstown assistant professor of education and director of the Social Studies Certification Program. "He is uniquely dedicated to spreading high-quality civics education as a K-12 teacher." Conlon helps organize the Civics Summit and the Democracy Bowl each year with Wrabley. "There's something special to have a K-12 teacher who's really dedicated to not only working with their students, but working with other teachers out there," Conlon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill of Rights Institute President and CEO David Bobb said in a release that the nonprofit organization was "proud to honor and support America's civics teachers, who are often the unsung heroes of our schools and our nation." "Civic education helps our young people learn about our nation's history, its principles and the character they need to be principled, productive citizens," he said. "Students learn to think critically, engage civilly and become more engaged in their communities." Wrabley and the other finalists earned $1,000 prizes for making it to this point in the competition. The winner will be announced later in September and will receive a $5,000 prize. GREECE, N.Y. (WROC) The Greece Police Department is working to identify a suspect in an armed robbery at a gas station. According to police, on Sunday, officers responded to the Kwik Fill located at 2734 Dewey Avenue for a report of an armed robbery at 9:19 p.m. Surveillance footage of the incident shows a suspect, a white man, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blank pants, and boots, entering the store with a hammer in hand. Police say the suspect was engaged in an altercation with a store employee before he fled the scene in possession of an undisclosed amount of money and cigarettes. The suspect was reportedly last seen fleeing from the store on foot towards the 200 block of Bennington Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect is asked to contact the Greece Police Department at (585) 865-9200. Anonymous tips can be left through the departments tip line (585) 581-4016 or email GPDTips@GreeceNY.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 RochesterFirst. What a couple of days for Zack Polanski. On Tuesday he won the Green Party leadership election by a landslide; on Wednesday he launched a podcast, Bold Politics with Zack Polanski. It is, were told, the first podcast ever to be hosted by the leader of a British political party (though this boast feels a little unfair on Churchill, Gladstone et al, who didnt have the chance). Had he lost the election, Polanski would presumably be promoting Bold Politics as the first podcast ever to be hosted by the deputy leader of a British political party. In any case, the message is that hes doing things differently. Different from the sandal-wearing nerds at the Green Party, in any case. Polanskis populist playbook is rather similar to both Nigel Farages (an undeniably brilliant communicator who has more followers on TikTok than all other MPs put together) and Gavin Newsoms (the California governor who gained recent prominence in large part thanks to his own podcast). We know that with Polanski at the helm the Green Party will occupy a distinctly Corbynist space in British politics. Bold Politics is his chance to shape the national narrative and get his face out there. Fair enough who on earth is Adrian Ramsay? Polanskis choice for his first podcast interview, then, is significant. Where the Left-leaning Newsom decided to prove his charisma, smarts and debating skills with those of a very different political persuasion, Polanski has opted to fly the red flag for the Greens and opened with Ash Sarkar, a journalist and communist activist who came to prominence during the Corbyn years. Polanskis courtship of Sarkars base, and therefore anyone considering joining Corbyn and Zarah Sultanas Your Party, is clear from the start. Youre so smart, youre so articulate youre very funny, he tells Sarkar. Later, he joshes that he will repeat one of her answers word for word in the media. The message is loud and clear: if Sarkars firebrand Left-wing opinions tick your boxes, vote Green. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At no point during the 35 minutes do the pair discuss the environment, a tedious fuddy-duddy subject that only concerns people like Adrian Ramsay (who?). Instead, they dive into Palestine Action, the weaponisation of anti-Semitism, transphobia, Left-wing foreign policy, Zohran Mamdani, the rise of populism and why Keir Starmer is spectacularly s--- at politics (Polanski says this last comment of Sarkars is kind). Polanski allows every statement of Sarkars to go unchallenged and, at one point, suggests he is grooming her to be a Green candidate for parliament. Upcoming episodes of Bold Politics suggest more of the same the far Right, immigration and vulture capitalism, all discussed with sympathetic Left-wing figures (future billed guests are the actor Jolyon Rubinstein, immigration researcher Zoe Gardner and political commentator Grace Blakeley). We shall have to wait a few weeks for the promised episodes with figures he disagrees with across the political spectrum. Polanskis populist playbook is rather similar to Nigel Farages - Getty Images This is all well and good for nailing your political colours to the mast, but on the evidence of the opening episode, Bold Politics does little to enhance the hypnotic breast-enhancers reputation. The conversation with Sarkar is fawning, while the episode doesnt even present Polanski as anything near the eco-populist he would like us to think of him as. Populists are loud, brash, inventive, difficult, sometimes rude, sometimes vulgar, always charismatic. Newsom knew what he was doing by lining up a string of adversaries for his podcast. Polanski should have done the same. Show us your wit, show us your intellect, show us your balls. Wave your pint, wave your chainsaw, wave a carrot, wave anything. Instead, Sarkar love her or loathe her came across the one with all the ideas and all the chutzpah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is like a consultancy, Polanski tells Sarkar at one point. And theres the problem. Polanski is still learning, still shaping his own political certainties, still evolving. Populists have no time for such nonsense even eco-populists. This podcast should be Polanskis calling card, not his learning curve. Bold Politics continues on Wednesdays and is available on podcast platforms 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 political row has broken out in Australia following reports that a group of women linked to Isis and their children were returning to the country from a detention camp in Syria before Christmas. The Australian newspaper claimed the group from Al-Roj camp in northeast Syria was expected to be resettled in New South Wales and Victoria in what would be the third such repatriation mission since 2019. The women had travelled to Syria and Iraq during the Isis rule and were detained when the group collapsed in 2019. Many of them had children there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government denied organising a repatriation mission. It was aware of media reporting about a cohort including Australian citizens seeking to return from Syria but was not providing assistance to this cohort. Our ability to provide consular assistance to Australians in Syria is extremely limited due to the dangerous security situation, a spokesperson for home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said. Sources familiar with the situation in the Syrian camps said the prospect of Australians returning remained uncertain. At least 14 Australian women and 20 children are believed to remain in Syria, the youngest just five years old, according to News.com.au. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its still a matter of if, not when, a source was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. You cant do this without government support. They need to issue passports, give security clearance and brief state and territory governments about what to expect. The latest controversy echoes the backlash in Sydney when the government repatriated four women and 13 children from Syria in October 2022. That mission was the first after three years of hesitation and only occurred once the federal election had passed. Children and women walk at Al-Roj camp where relatives of people linked to Isis are held in Syria (AFP via Getty) Andrew Hastie, the oppositions home affairs spokesperson, condemned any plans to return the women. I just dont think Australians want people whove betrayed their country and potentially pose a security risk coming back, he said. They threw their lot in with Islamic State. There are consequences to that, and its as simple as that. The government needs to come clean and tell the Australian people exactly whats happening here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates argue that many of the women were coerced into travelling to Syria and have no allegiance to Isis. Save the Children Australia, which has campaigned for their return, said that reports of a new repatriation plan offered a small measure of hope to Australians trapped in dire conditions. These camps are one of the worst places in the world to be a child and we hold grave concerns for the lives, health, and safety of these innocent Australian children, the groups chief executive Mat Tinkler was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. In 2023, Save the Children launched an unsuccessful legal action against the home affairs minister, arguing that the detention of Australians in Syria was unlawful. Radio host Ben Fordham reported that New South Wales police were preparing for a possible arrival of the women and children at the Sydney airport. He had learned this, he said, after approaching Mr Burkes office last week with questions about what he described as an imminent plan. WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) One of Connecticuts most heavily-traveled highways is soon to be reimagined as leaders with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) finalize plans for an improvement project along I-84 and Route 8 through Waterbury. RELATED: CTDOT narrows down alternatives for Waterbury Mixmaster interchange Known by many as the Mixmaster, the stacked highway design was made to accommodate the 100,000 drivers each day. Today, CTDOT leaders say there are up to 200,000 drivers a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It really was a modern engineering marvel of its time in the 50s and 60s, Josh Morgan, a CTDOT spokesperson, said. Today, it just does not work. Gears are in motion to bring the interchange into the 21st century, followed by several years of a study taking input from community leaders. The result? Two proposed designs: One the Modern Crossover Interchange, reconstructing east of the Naugatuck River, and the other called The Naugatuck River Shift, which would move the river east. Morgan said that both proposals are going to be very complicated and in depth. Major changes are expected to be at least a decade away, but smaller breakout projects are soon to come, such as eliminating Exit 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, you have people going from the left lane to the right lane within 100 feet, Morgan said. Thats dangerous. Waterbury city leaders are working with the CTDOT to mitigate headaches for drivers during the construction, hoping that the improvements would bring better riverfront access to locals. Theres a lot of things going on in Waterbury, were going through what I call growing pains, Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski (D) said. It takes some difficulty to get these things straightened out and cleaned up but once its done, its going to be extremely beneficial. Read more about the proposed changes here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the full video in the player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Heavyweights such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia are holding meetings and discussions about the region. These have implications for their policy on Israel and Palestinian issues. Gulf countries, including heavyweights such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are holding meetings and discussions about the region. These have implications for their policy on Israel and Palestinian issues. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed has met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to Riyadh, The National in the UAE reported on September 3, 2025. The meeting of these two key leaders is important. It serves as a curtain raiser on policy coordination ahead of the United Nations General Assembly this month. There is expected to be an increased push for Palestinian statehood at the meeting. The US has banned Palestinian Authority officials from attending, and Gulf countries are nonplussed by this decision. They likely want to see the PA empowered and Hamas sidelined. However, they are now discussing what comes next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National reported that Sheikh Mohamed was welcomed by Prince Mohammed on arrival at King Khalid International Airport. A high-level Emirati delegation accompanied the Emirati leader. UAE news agency WAM described the trip as a fraternal visit. Meanwhile, the UAE has also slammed any attempt by Israel to annex the West Bank. Al-Arabiya noted that the UAE has said Israel's annexation of the West Bank is a red line. The report added, In exclusive statements to Reuters, UAE Assistant Foreign Minister Lana Nusseibeh considered Israel's desire to annex the West Bank a red line for her country, while also severely undermining the spirit of the Abraham Accords normalization. The UAE is also concerned that extremists within the Israeli coalition government are dictating Israels policing and affecting the region. They believe that this will lead to instability. The UAE made the choice in 2020 to embrace the Abraham Accords to advance stability and moderation in the region. They also wanted to stop Israel from annexing the West Bank. The Israeli flag and the UAE flag seen outside the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange where UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja and Israeli President Isaac Herzog held an opening ceremony of the United Arab Emirates embassy in Tel Aviv, July 14, 2021. (credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90) Abu Dhabi appears to think that since their decision to move forward and take the risks associated with normalization, Israel has not embraced the path of stability, but rather some Israeli politicians feel empowered to embrace more extreme stances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bahrain, which is also a member of the Abraham Accords, also embraced a statement with Egypt this week where they affirmed their rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land and emphasized the need to immediately begin the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Al-Ain news in the UAE reported. This came during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's reception of Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, at Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday. Sisi also recently hosted the UAE leader. Clearly, these countries are coordinating policy. Saudi Arabia and France work towards a Palestinian state This comes as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Frances President Emmanuel Macron held discussions on Tuesday on the dire situation in Palestine, Arab News noted. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the crown prince, who received a call from Macron, reiterated the Kingdoms position for an immediate end to Israels war on Gaza and the Occupied Territories. The crown prince also condemned any measures aimed at undermining a two-state solution to the situation, the SPA reported. The report added that Saudi Arabia and France have led an initiative to recognize a Palestinian state. In July, Macron announced France would formally recognize Palestine during the UN General Assembly later this month, becoming the first G7 country to make the commitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The key meetings between the UAE and Egypt, and then the UAE and Saudi Arabia, along with Bahrain and Egypt, and Riyadhs announcements all point in the same direction. The Gulf is rolling out policies before the UN meetings. It comes as the PA is messaging that it is concerned that Israel is preventing it from returning to Gaza and thus enshrining Hamas rule there. Israel has said that neither the PA nor Hamas will rule Gaza. However, in the absence of a clear strategy, it appears Hamas will continue to rule. Israels top military commander has warned that Israel is slouching toward military rule in Gaza if the Gaza City offensive goes forward. This comes amid talk of Israel applying sovereignty to part of the West Bank. The Gulf states are concerned about this trend. Rep. Thomas Massie (RKy.) last week reintroduced a bill that would repeal the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA), which he says jeopardizes student and teacher safety by prohibiting armed defense against violent intruders. As I explain in my new book Beyond Control, that law is also problematic for two constitutional reasons. The GFSZA, which Congress originally enacted in 1990, makes it a felony to possess a gun within 1,000 feet of an elementary or secondary school. In 1995, the Supreme Court said the law was not a valid exercise of the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce. "The Act neither regulates a commercial activity nor contains a requirement that the possession be connected in any way to interstate commerce," Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote. "If we were to accept the Government's arguments, we are hard pressed to posit any activity by an individual that Congress is without power to regulate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rehnquist also noted that the law "contains no jurisdictional element which would ensure, through case-by-case inquiry, that the firearm possession in question affects interstate commerce." The following year, Congress sought to address that concern by amending the GFSZA so that it applied only to "a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit thought Congress had cured the problem identified by Rehnquist. Because the law "contains language that ensures, on a case-by-case basis, that the firearm in question affects interstate commerce," the appeals court ruled in 1999, it is "a constitutional exercise of Congress's Commerce Clause power." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit concurred in 2005. It noted that "incorporating a jurisdictional element into the offense has traditionally saved statutes from Commerce Clause challenges." Congress, in short, initially forgot it was supposed to be regulating "interstate or foreign commerce." But after the Supreme Court reminded it, the invocation of that phrase supposedly was enough to fix the law, even though nothing of substance had changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to relying on a highly commodious understanding of the Commerce Clause, the GFSZA raises questions under the Second Amendment. Although the Supreme Court has said schools themselves qualify as "sensitive places" where guns can be banned, that does not necessarily mean zones extending a fifth of a mile in every direction from school grounds fall into the same category. Because schools are scattered throughout communities across the country, those zones cover a lot of territory. In most cities, it would be difficult for someone to travel without traversing one or more of them. The GFSZA makes exceptions for guns possessed on private property and for people who are "licensed" to publicly carry firearms. But 29 states allow adults to carry guns without a permit, provided they are not legally disqualified from owning them. What does that mean for someone in one of those states who wants to carry a gun for self-protection? That is one of the questions posed by a 9th Circuit case involving Gabriel Metcalf, who lives across the street from an elementary school in Billings, Montana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metcalf was convicted of violating the GFSZA because he stepped onto the sidewalk in front of his home while carrying a shotgun. Metcalf, who armed himself because of a dispute with a neighbor who was subject to a restraining order, was not violating state law, since Montana allows any qualified gun owner to carry a gun without a permit. State legislators explicitly said that requirement is good enough to qualify for a GFSZA exemption. But federal prosecutors disagreed. In addition to the statutory issue, Metcalf's case raises the question of how far the federal government can go in deciding exactly where people may carry guns for self-defensea right that the Supreme Court has said is guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Together with the GFSZA's risible reliance on the Commerce Clause, that presumption makes the statute doubly dubious. Copyright 2025 by Creators Syndicate Inc. The post The Gun-Free School Zones Act Is Doubly Dubious appeared first on Reason.com. GEORGETOWN (Reuters) -Guyana's ruling People's Progressive Party won more than twice as many votes as its nearest rival in the country's general election, setting it up for a parliamentary majority and another term for incumbent President Irfaan Ali. PPP notched 242,451 votes in Monday's general election, a total of electoral commission figures for each of the country's 10 districts showed. The PPP had a majority in eight of the districts. The electoral commission has not yet confirmed how many seats in parliament any of the parties will have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The figures showed a shake-up for the South American country's opposition - the upstart We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, which was founded just three months ago by business magnate Azruddin Mohamed, was second in votes, winning 109,015 votes and a majority in two districts. Long-time opposition heavyweights A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were trailing with 77,973 votes nationwide. Voting to choose 65 members of parliament and a government came after a campaign focused on how riches from the country's hydrocarbon boom should be spent. The country of 800,000 people has earned some $7.5 billion in revenue from oil sales and royalties since ExxonMobil started pumping offshore oil in late 2019, making Guyana one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ali's government, which took power in 2020, has funneled oil revenue into building roads, schools and hospitals, and made studying at the state university free. But opposition parties have decried what they say is unfair distribution of oil earnings to groups connected to the PPP. The PPP denies the allegation. "The PPP will go into the national assembly with a bigger majority than it did in 2020. That's very clear from the trend you're seeing," PPP general secretary and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told local media on Tuesday. WIN leader Mohamed was sanctioned by the U.S. last year over allegations that he and his father, Nazar Mohamed, defrauded the Guyanese government of tax revenue and bribed public officials. They deny any wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mohamed has attracted grassroots support, especially among poor and Indigenous communities, through his philanthropy and WIN has called for fairer access to housing and opportunities for everyone. Mohamed celebrated his new party's success in remarks on Wednesday afternoon, but also alleged voting irregularities. "We in the WIN party, a 90-day old movement, have shaken the pillars of Guyana's political establishment," Mohamed said. "Within the past few days, we have had numerous and credible reports of great irregularities in the conduct of these 2025 elections," he added, accusing the PPP of using government resources for campaigning and saying WIN has requested recounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leader of the APNU also said he was skeptical of some results in his party's traditional strongholds and had asked for recounts in three districts. Election observers from the Organization of American States and the Commonwealth have not flagged any major reports of electoral fraud. Though turnout was lower by about 37,000 votes than in the 2020 contest, the PPP appeared to have increased its vote share, while the APNU, which was part of a coalition in 2020, seemed to have bled supporters to WIN. (Reporting by Kemol King; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Stephen Coates) EDITORS NOTE: This CNN series is, or was, sponsored by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policy. Whether youre a believer or not, visiting Hagia Sophia is a spiritual experience. The architectural genius of this place of worship which was built as a church in 537CE before its conversion into a mosque in 1453 creates an illusion of vastness. It feels like the space starts to expand when you enter the building. Acoustic alchemy transforms visitors murmurs into shimmering sounds, suspended weightless in the air, like echoes of a prayer in an ancient language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The art inside the building is a testament to coexistence. There is no other place on Earth where Christian mosaics of saints and Byzantine rulers are juxtaposed with Islamic calligraphy, also known as Husn-i Hat large roundels displaying the names of Allah (God), the prophet Mohammed and the four caliphs, the leaders of Islam following the death of Mohammed. Today, Hagia Sophia is one of the worlds most extraordinary mosques but its more than that. Its also a symbol, a cultural phenomenon, and a monument. Naturally, like most monumental structures, Hagia Sophia has its own mythology. Of the many stories about the building, some are true, some are exaggerations, and some are outright fantasies. Bigger and better The current Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century when Constantinople as Istanbul was then called was the heart of the Orthodox Christian Byzantine Empire that emerged as Ancient Romes domination dwindled and ruled swathes of Europe and northern Africa, as far away as modern-day Spain, Libya, Egypt, and Turkey, until the city fell to the Ottomans in 1453. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building we see today isnt original, having been preceded by two earlier churches at the same location which were themselves built over a pagan temple. The first was said to have been commissioned by Constantine, the Roman emperor who converted to Christianity and moved the Roman Empires center to Constantinople, ushering in the Byzantine era. Called Magna Ecclesia Latin for Great Church it was inaugurated by Constantines son, Constantius II, in 360 CE. It was later destroyed by followers of Saint John Chrysostom, a former archbishop of Constantinople who was banished from the city. Its second iteration was inaugurated in 415 CE by the emperor Theodosius II, but was burned down again in 532 CE. The third church, todays Hagia Sophia, was built by Justinian I, an ambitious emperor who ordered its construction on 23 February 523 CE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If an anonymous historical source quoted in the Istanbul Encyclopedia by the 20th-century historian Resad Ekrem Kocu is to be believed, Justinian wanted his church to be larger and more ornate than Jerusalems Temple of Solomon, the legendary resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, said to have been built in the 10th century BCE. During its five-year construction, Justinian instructed his provincial governors to send the most exquisite artifacts from ancient ruins in their territories to Constantinople for use in Hagia Sophia. This, apparently, did the job. That same anonymous source says Justinian was struck by awe when he first entered. He ran to the altar, looked up to thank God for giving him the chance to build such a wonder and screamed, I surpassed you, Solomon! Its a wonderful story but one that historian and Hagia Sophia expert Sedat Bornoval says is untrue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That anonymously sourced intel was written roughly 300 years after Hagia Sophias construction. The anecdote never appears in the works of Procopius, Justinians official historian, who also wrote a critical book about the emperor, Secret History. If these claims were true, we would see them either in Buildings or in his Secret History, says Bornoval, who adds that Procopius would have written something stinging like, The presumptuous man compared himself to the prophet Solomon. However, while his Secret History shows the historians disdain for Justinian and his wife, Procopius still writes about Hagia Sophia with admiration. A legendarily expensive build Hagia Sophia was built as a church over a Roman temple, and was subsequently converted into a mosque and then a museum. Since 2020, it has been used as a mosque once more. - Yasin Akgul/AFP/Getty Images Whatever the motivations behind it, the cost of the project and the hurry to begin the construction of what was one of the megastructures of its time also have almost mythical status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The price tag was said to be astronomical. In his book The Fall of the Roman Empire, A New History of Rome and the Barbarians, historian Peter Heather said Justinian paid 15-20,000 pounds of gold. The Istanbul Encyclopedia of 1945 puts it at a more modest, but still breathtaking $75 million, equivalent to $1.3 billion today. Thats more than the $1 billion cost to rebuild Notre Dame. The construction of the church started only weeks after the Nika Revolt, a devastating rebellion against Justinian that destroyed most of Constantinople, including the second Hagia Sophia. Bornoval thinks its possible that Justinian seized the property of his political opponents and collected a vast amount of taxes to finance the construction. How it was possible to create such a complex design and resolve the logistical issues within [weeks] remains among the unanswered questions, he writes in his book, Historys Longest Poem. Not least because, he says, it would have taken years to deliver the stones and other building materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He thinks the budget and plans were probably ready, and Justinian took advantage of the aftermath of the Nika Revolt to start building Hagia Sophia where it is now. If the previous Hagia Sophia had not been destroyed, Justinian would have ordered a new version to be built elsewhere anyway, says Bornoval. A mosque with Christian imagery The shimmering mosaics are one of the finest examples of Byzantine artwork. - Saeid Arabzadeh/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images Under the Byzantines, Hagia Sophia became the hub of Orthodox Christianity and the last standing symbol of their empire. But in 1453, when Ottoman sultan Mehmed II (a.k.a. Mehmed the Conqueror) captured Constantinople, his victory paved the way for the Ottoman Empire, which would last until 1922. To suggest to the world not only Islams superiority but also that the Ottomans were the true heirs of the Romans, Mehmed converted Hagia Sophia to a mosque but kept its original name. Although Hagia Sophia sounds as if it was named for a Christian saint, it actually means Holy Wisdom in Greek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After conquering Constantinople, the young sultan he was only 21 performed his first Friday prayer here, starting a tradition for all subsequent sultans of the Ottoman Empire. There were three steps that defined the reign of the sultans, says Turkish historian A. Cagr Baskurt. The first is to take the throne in the palace, the second is to wield a sword in Eyup [an historic district in Istanbul], and the third is to perform the first Friday prayer in Hagia Sophia. Mehmed also claimed the title Caesar of Rome (Qaisar-e-Rum or Kaiser-i Rum) upon taking Constantinople. His successors continued to use the title until Mustafa Kemal Ataturk abolished the sultanate in 1922, creating the modern state of Turkey a year later. Protecting a unique cultural heritage Mehmet II ended the Byzantine empire and paved the way for the Ottoman one. He converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque. - Photo 12/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Hagia Sofia has withstood many revolutions, occupations, riots, plunderings, and natural disasters (its construction on a base of solid rock is said to have helped it survive earthquakes). Few buildings of its age have been preserved as flawlessly and in such a complete state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ottoman dynasty, particularly Mehmed II, played a pivotal role in its preservation. [Mehmed] told his army that if they conquer the city, the city is theirs for three days with the exception of Hagia Sophia, says editor and urban researcher Hasan Mert Kaya. Kocu writes in the Istanbul Encyclopedia that Mehmed didnt order the Christian mosaics to be covered despite the fact that Islam bans figurative art in religious contexts. However, a century later, sultan Suleiman I had them plastered over. Its thanks to the creation of the Turkish Republic created by Ataturk, a secularist, that we can see them today. In 1926, the authorities undertook a comprehensive renovation after European media claims that Hagia Sophia was in danger of collapsing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building was closed to the public in the early 1930s for restorations, then converted into a museum in 1935 as part of a decree by Ataturk. He also commissioned the uncovering and restoration of the Byzantine mosaics. From mosque to museum and mosque again The Turkish government controversially converted the building back into a mosque in 2020. Hagia Sophia had previously been deemed a museum when the secular Turkish state was created. - Burak Kara/Getty Images In a controversial move, in 2020, it was converted back into a mosque. The decision, involving one of the citys most important landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site, was criticized by international religious and political leaders, with UNESCO, the UNs cultural agency, and the pope among those voicing concern, though the move did not prompt wide opposition within Turkey. However, the second floor has been serving as a museum since 2024. Tourists can buy tickets to enter the gallery and see the prayer floor from up above. The Byzantine mosaics and images are still visible during visiting hours, and are covered with special lighting effects during worship and prayer hours. Whether Hagia Sophia should be a mosque or a museum is still debated. While some argue it should be converted back to a museum and never used for worship, others, like urban researcher Kaya, think it should stay as a place of worship though only up to a point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hagia Sophia should be a building where only Friday prayers, Eid and, perhaps during Ramadan, tarawih prayers are performed fulfilling its function as a place of worship symbolically, and where limited people are allowed in at once, he says. The prayers Kaya mentions are special ones for Muslims that have a greater meaning when performed with the community. Besides all the preservation efforts over the years, its said that the Turks came close to completely leveling Hagia Sophia. During the 1918-1922 occupation of Istanbul by the British, French, Italian and Greek armies who occupied the city after World War I after the Ottomans had sided with the losing German-led alliance Tevfik Pasha, a Turkish elder statesman, threatened the British with destroying the building if they tried to convert it back into a church. Hagia Sophias urban legends It's said the building cost the equivalent of $1.3 billion in today's money. - Karel Picha/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Some stories about Hagia Sophia are obviously figments of the imagination, but even they serve a purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One goes that when a catastrophic earthquake in the late 500s cracked the central dome, royal advisors and the clergy told Justinian that they read the stars, checked the prophecies, and that the last messenger of God, a new prophet, had been born in Arabia. To fix the dome, they should prepare a special mortar. It should include the saliva of the young Prophet, Zamzam water (holy water from the Zamzam Well in Mecca), and soil from Mecca. According to the story, this holy mortar mix was duly created and the cracks in the Christian church fixed. These legends and myths surrounding Hagia Sophia bind people to it; they reinforce the perception that this is their mosque, their temple, says Hasan Mert Kaya. Baskurt says, When we look at it from the perspective of the [sultans] subjects, Hagia Sophia has been defined as an absolute symbol of conquest. It is still like that in the minds of many Muslim citizens of Turkey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Hagia Sophia is open to visitors like many other mosques in Istanbul, such as Sulemaniye, the Blue Mosque, and Fatih Mosque. While the 2024 introduction of a 25 euro ticket price may have raised eyebrows, 2025 saw the start of a three-year conservation project, which will restore the central dome the most comprehensive works in nearly 1,500 years of history. The works will enhance the buildings earthquake resilience while preserving the mosaics meaning that visitors from all over the world can continue to flock to the place of Holy Wisdom. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com 60,000-80,000 out of one million have left the city, with the majority still staying because of threats from Hamas terrorists. A senior defense source on Wednesday said that Hamas is working hard to block Palestinian civilians from evacuating from Gaza City despite the militarys two-week effort to encourage them to leave as the clock ticks down to an expected large-scale invasion. To date, there are varying estimates between Israel and the UN regarding a specific number, but around 60,000-80,000 Palestinians have evacuated southward from Gaza City since the IDF started to urge evacuation. Those numbers come from a total of around one million Palestinians currently living in the Gaza City area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the defense source, Hamas wants to keep as many civilians as possible in Gaza City, both to serve directly as human shields from IDF attacks and also to place more diplomatic pressure on Israel to end the war in the event that Palestinian civilians are caught up in the crossfire. In the senior defense officials view, Hamas views the deaths of its own population as a strategic asset to play against Israels reputation globally. Smoke rises from Gaza following an explosion, as seen from Israel, May 16, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD) Hamas's tactics to keep Palestinians from evacuating Hamas tactics to prevent Palestinians from leaving Gaza City have varied from scaring them by (falsely) claiming that conditions in southern Gaza are worse in terms of insufficient tents, food, and medical care to physically shooting or beating those who do try to flee. In addition, Hamass public relations units are working to persuade Palestinians in Gaza City that it is their patriotic duty to stay as the terror organization prepares to repel the IDFs invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When questioned about what had happened in terms of protests against Hamas several months ago, the source acknowledged that those had eventually died down. The senior defense official did add that there are still parts of Gaza over which Hamas has weaker control due to resistance by tribal clans or gangs, but that these are limited problems for Hamas and have not taken a broader toll on its control over Gaza. Despite Hamass efforts, the source expressed optimism that, closer to the real start of hostilities, most Palestinian civilians will flee. The source added that possibly around 200,000 civilians might stay longer, while some might only flee as artillery fire and aerial bombs start falling. The defense official also said that there are now 100,000 tents designated to receive the fleeing population and that there are already around one million Palestinians living in other tents throughout the enclave. CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas reiterated on Wednesday that it is ready for a comprehensive Gaza deal through which all Israeli hostages are released in exchange for the release of an agreed upon number of Palestinian prisoners. The group's remarks came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump called on Hamas to release all 20 hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office criticized Hamas' comments in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unfortunately, this is yet another spin by Hamas with nothing new in it," it said. Netanyahu's office reiterated that the war in Gaza would only end if all hostages were released, Hamas was disarmed, the strip was demilitarized, Israel established security control over the enclave, and an alternative civilian administration was established. Hamas in August agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal with Israel that includes the return of half the hostages held in Gaza and Israel's release of some Palestinian prisoners. An Egyptian official source said the proposal accepted by Hamas included a suspension of Israeli military operations for 60 days and outlined a framework for a comprehensive deal to end the nearly two-year-old conflict. Netanyahu said days later that Israel would immediately resume negotiations for the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an end to the war, but on terms acceptable to Israel. (Reporting by Jaidaa Taha, Yomna Ehab, Enas Alashry and Ali Sawafta, Editing by Franklin Paul, Rod Nickel) An illustrative photo of Hamas terrorists with hostage demonstrations in the background. (photo credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90, Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa) Informed sources told The Jerusalem Post that the United States is making efforts to try to resume hostage deal talks "behind the scenes." Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday denounced Hamass reiteration of its claim of readiness for a comprehensive deal involving the release of hostages in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners. The Prime Minister's Office said in response that Hamas's statement was another attempt to "spin" the situation and reasserted that the war wouldn't end without the release of all hostages, the disarmament of the terror group, the establishment of a civilian-led government in the Palestinian enclave, and Israeli security control in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas continues to deceive and issue empty words, but it will soon understand that it must choose between two options, Katz said. Accepting Israels conditions to end the war, first and foremost, the release of all hostages and disarmament, or Gaza City will become like Rafah and Beit Hanun. The IDF is fully prepared, he added. This follows the terror group reiterating its claims that it is ready for a comprehensive Gaza deal through which all Israeli hostages are released in exchange for the release of an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, the terror group announced on Wednesday evening. The groups remarks come shortly after US President Donald Trump called on Hamas to release all 20 living hostages. Hostage deal protests in Jerusalem, September 3, 2025. (credit: Ayelet Enisman) Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid said, "The Israeli government does not have to accept Hamas's conditions, it does have to return to negotiations immediately and try to close a deal. It is impossible not to even try to bring our hostages home." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Informed sources told The Jerusalem Post that "behind the scenes, the US is making efforts to try and resume the hostage deal talks. The source added, "Hamas's statement tonight can be seen as a response to Prime Minister Netanyahu's demand for a comprehensive deal, indicating the opening positions of both sides." The future of the Gaza Strip Palestinian-American Bishara Bahbah, who is involved in the hostage deal negotiations, said in an interview with Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya channel: "I reached out to Hamas with a proposal for the release of all hostages and shared it with them prior to President Trump's most recent tweet." "Hamas questioned the proposal's credibility. Israelis believe that Netanyahu will not agree to any deal without significant US pressure," Bahbah added. This is a developing story. CONCORD, N.H. (ABC22/FOX44) New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announced Tuesday the membership of the newly established Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee (DVFRC). The committee was created by legislation (SB 140-FN) and signed into law by Governor Kelly Ayotte on July 15. Formella ultimately wants the committee to prevent domestic violence. It is made up of a wide range of professionals, such as law enforcement officers, the state medical examiner, victims advocates, prosecutors, defense attorneys, among others with the goal to better assess risk in cases so fewer people lose their lives going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABC22/FOX44 spoke with the Executive Director for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, who tells us exactly what the committee will do when looking back at a case. Go back and look at anyone the victim or offender interacted with that could have made a difference in those circumstances. So maybe thats a mental health provider, maybe the victim went to court, and the resolution that came out of it wasnt helpful or didnt protect them. Maybe they reported to law enforcement and law enforcement didnt engage with the victim in the way they needed to, maybe the victim advocate wasnt available. Whatever went wrong and couldve been done differently, those are the things the committee will focus on. Lyn Schollett, Executive Director, New Hampshire coalition against domestic and sexual violence Against Domestic and Sexual Violence The DVFRC will have its first meeting this fall, where they will be reviewing the murder of Marisol Fuentes, which took place in Berlin on July 6 of this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. CLAYTON, Mo. Missouris incoming attorney general says public safety will be the main focus as her historic term gets underway next week. In an exclusive sit-down interview, Republican Catherine Hanaway said she will be completely ready when she takes the oath Monday, becoming the first woman to hold the states top legal post. Im very excited about the whole thing, Hanway said. Im mostly excited about the fact that I can really have an impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the top of her priority list: public safety. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News (Priority number one, two, and three is fight crime, she said. That is the most important thing that this office does. Hanaway said crime impacts every region of the state, and it has a direct impact on Missouris economy. Hanaway also weighed in on the legality of ongoing efforts to redraw Missouris eight congressional districts. All that Missouris constitution says is that when you draw congressional districts, they have to be compact and reflect and divide the population as equally as possible, said Hanaway. I think thats where people who will challenge this will come at it and say, hey, you dont have a new census; how can you possibly divide it equally? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think there were a lot of problems with the 2020 census, Hanaway continued. Im not sure it got divided equally then. Restaurant worker raids expose reported packed suburban homes A former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Hanaway is transitioning to her new role from her tenure at legal powerhouse Husch-Blackwell, where she served as the lead attorney. All three of my kind of big jobs, being Speaker of the House, U.S. Attorney and being chair of this law firm are going to help me tremendously, she said. The U.S. attorney experience is directly relevant. Youre the chief federal law enforcement official for half the state. Now, Ill be the chief state law enforcement official for the whole state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hanaway, who was appointed to the position by Governor Mike Kehoe after the sudden resignation of Andrew Bailey, will be sworn in during a private ceremony Monday. Bailey announced last month that he is taking a job with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The inaugural class of Haney Technical Colleges Marine Electrician Apprenticeship program has begun the three-year process to earn their industry-recognized marine electrician certifications. According to a news release sent on Wednesday, the class of ten students will learn from mentors at Eastern Shipbuilders and from instruction at Haney Technical College. Haney Technical College is proud to partner with Eastern Shipbuilding Group on this program that connects education directly with high-demand careers, said Angela Reese, Director of Tom P. Haney Technical College. These students are gaining the skills, training, mentorship, and real-world experience that enables them to join a thriving industry right here in our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program, created in collaboration with Eastern Shipbuilding Group, is a part of ESGs BUILD workforce development initiative, which is focused on creating long-term careers in the shipbuilding industry. This apprenticeship program is an investment in our people and in the future of American shipbuilding, said Joey DIsernia, CEO & Chairman of Eastern Shipbuilding Group. By working with Haney Technical College, were providing hands-on training and a clear career path for those who want to build their future with us. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Harrods will rip out sculptures of Mohammed Fayed depicted as an Egyptian pharaoh after he was accused of raping and sexually assaulting more than 100 women. In an effort to erase the former owners presence from the 175-year-old department store, Harrods is tearing down all 16 statues alongside the removal of a five-floor Egyptian-themed escalator. The company said the current decor explicitly celebrates Fayed, with the busts featuring his face serving as a visual reminder of his misdeeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harrods, which Fayed sold to the state of Qatar for 1.5bn in 2010, is seeking to make amends after hundreds of people accused Fayed of sexual assault, including many former employees. Harrods has promised to remove depictions of Mohamed Fayed from the listed building The luxury retailer has taken action after Lindsay Mason, who survived an attempted rape by Fayed in 1989, called for Harrods to remove the sculptures in September last year. At the time, she told The Sun: The current owners of Harrods have kept his shrines in place throughout their tenure, which is so deeply disappointing. I beg the owners to do the right thing and wipe him from history. Harrods commissioned a review into sculptures by property experts Carter Jonas, which has since concluded that: The current owners are acutely aware, for the sake of the general public and current and previous staff of Harrods, that the space was decorated and commissioned by the previous owner, Mohamed Fayed, and needs to change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not contested heritage in the sense that there is some historical issue at stake; it is the continuing public celebration of a man whose victims are still alive. The escalator sits at the heart of a faux-ancient Egyptian-themed hall that Fayed commissioned in 1995 to honour his native country, 10 years after he first bought the business. Allegations against the businessman, who died aged 94 in 2023, include claims he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl inside a Harrods boardroom. Another woman who worked as Fayeds personal assistant has accused him of raping her in his luxury flat overlooking Londons Hyde Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harrods intends to replace the Egyptian escalator with a new contemporary version. Planning officials at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will decide whether to approve the plans. A Harrods spokesman said: Harrods is a Grade II* listed building, and so any proposed changes in store require considered plans, lengthy assessments and close work with a number of relevant authorities. Having heard feedback from survivors, we have been working to expedite the proposed redevelopment project of the Egyptian escalators, and a planning and listed building consent application has now been submitted. 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. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Two men were injured in a double shooting on Battles Street on Tuesday evening, according to the Hartford Police Department. Police responded to a ShotSpotter notification around 7:25 p.m. Officers found evidence of a shooting and, during the investigation, were notified of two gunshot victims arriving at Hartford Hospital. Police identify 1 of 2 dead after fiery New Haven crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man in his 50s and another man in his 70s were both alert and conscious upon arriving at the hospital. The extent of the injuries and the circumstances surrounding the shooting have not been released at this time. 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. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official who resigned last week over the anti-science policies of Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is unfit to be in government because of his lifestyle, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said Tuesday. Daskalakis is gay and has sometimes posed in leather gear for photos, also showing off his tattoos. He describes the risky behavior that he and his lifestyle involve, Paul, a far-right Republican from Kentucky, told The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A guy that is so far out of the mainstream, I think most people in America would discount his opinion because of the things he said in the past. He does not represent the mainstream of anything in America, Paul added. Daskalakis was director of the CDCs Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases until he delivered his resignation letter last Wednesday. The next day, he was very respectfully escorted out of the CDC building in Atlanta, he told The Advocate, along with two others who resigned, Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry and Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Daniel Jernigan. I am unable to serve in an environment that treats CDC as a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality and are designed to hurt rather than to improve the publics health, Daskalakis wrote in his scathing resignation missive. "I find that the views [RFK Jr.] and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough." He condemned the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Kennedy and of which the CDC is a part, for sidelining career scientists, withholding data, and dictating immunization schedules that he said threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The Food and Drug Administration has limited the eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines almost exclusively to seniors and those with serious underlying health conditions like asthma or obesity. HHS has also scaled back HIV prevention efforts, smoking cessation programs, and tracking of food safety concerns, while Kennedy has questioned vaccine efficacy and spread conspiracy theories. The CDC you knew is over, Daskalakis told The Advocate. Unless someone takes radical action, there is nothing there that can be salvaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for homophobes like Paul, the primary issue is Daskalakiss so-called lifestyle. For the record, any kind of sexual contact can spread infections or be prevented from spreading infections through use of prevention drugs (pre-exposure prophylaxis) or use of condoms. Paul isnt the only right-winger whos criticizing Daskalakis. Republican U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia called him a BDSM Satan worshipper in an appearance on CNN Sunday. Some critics have pointed to Daskalakiss pentagram tattoo as a sign of satanism. "I am certainly not a satanist," he told The Advocate in 2022. He told Politico the same year, I wish I were that interesting. He noted that he also has a tattoo of Jesus Christ, reflecting his upbringing in the Greek Orthodox Church. Daskalakis joined the CDC in 2020, initially as director of the Division of AIDS Prevention, after being deputy commissioner for the Division of Disease Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He also led the federal governments response to the mpox outbreak in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are other gay men in the federal government, even under Trump, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. No word on whether Paul considers him unfit to serve. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Homophobe Rand Paul says gay CDC official's 'lifestyle' made him unfit to be in government HONOLULU (KHON2) Sept. 2 marks the 187th birthday of Queen Liliuokalani, the only queen regnant and last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Liliuokalani was born in 1838 into the House of Kalakaua, and ascended to the throne following the death of her brother, King Kalakaua. Hundreds march to Iolani Palace to commemorate 132nd anniversary of Hawaiian Kingdoms overthrow Liliuokalanis reign was just shy of four years, and was unfortunately cut short due to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, which was made possible by the active participation of agents and citizens of the United States per Congresss 1993 Apology Resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During and after the 1893 overthrow, Liliuokalani dedicated her time to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of her subjects, including advocating for the islands sovereignty to the U.S. government. Subsequently, Liliuokalani and her supporters were jailed for attempting to fight against the overthrow of the kingdom. In 1895, she was forced to abdicate, or renounce, her throne and her power, in exchange for the safety and freedom of her supporters. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Prior to the illegal overthrow and the United States illegally annexing the islands, Liliuokalanis reign was dedicated to the service of her people, as demonstrated through her actions to restore voting rights to the Native Hawaiian population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of her duties as queen, Liliuokalani was a prolific composer, as she wrote famous songs such as He Mele Lahui Hawaii and Aloha Oe. Her writing skills extended past music, with her book Hawaiis Story by Hawaiis Queen, detailing the early years of her life, ascension to the throne, overthrow of her kingdom and aftermath of the overthrow. Iolani Palace will be celebrating her Liliuokalanis birthday and Hawaiian History Month throughout September, with free palace tours on Sept. 6, and walking tours of the illegal overthrow on Sept. 6, Sept. 7 and Sept. 13. For information on special events, visit the palaces website. On her birthday, we honor and respect Liliuokalanis life and legacy, which includes the maintained success and prosperity for the islands. Hauoli La Hanau e Queen Liliuokalani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Changes are coming to a busy New Haven road that has given drivers problems for years, and residents are expressing the importance of these new improvements. Foxon Boulevard will undergo several safety improvements, including the installation of new sidewalks, speed bumps, and lighting. New Haven officials discuss improvement project for Foxon Boulevard The work will take place between Middletown Avenue and Quinnipiac Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said on Wednesday that there have been more than 900 crashes on this section of Foxon Boulevard over the past five years. I had to go over the rail just so I wouldnt get hit, one woman who lives nearby said. News 8 has reported on two fatal crashes in this area over the past few years. In early August, a 58-year-old pedestrian died after being hit by a vehicle on Foxon near the Walmart parking lot. Last year, there was a fiery crash involving a tractor-trailer that police believe was caused by drag racing. This is a hugely important initiative to save lives, calm traffic, and create much more infrastructure, Elicker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Car drives into Quinnipiac River in New Haven The mayor said this stretch of road has been a problem for the past 15 to 20 years. Standing alongside state representatives, a city engineer, and an official with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, city leaders announced the $1.86 million construction project. City officials say the project will add slightly raised speed tables, four medians, sidewalks and new light poles to this stretch of Foxon Boulevard. If you look across the street right now, youve got a small concrete path, State Rep. Roland Lemar said. Thats where youre supposed to catch the bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those who live at and visit Continuum of Care, a nonprofit on Foxon Boulevard that helps people with mental health challenges and disabilities, finding safe ways to cross the street has been a struggle. These improvements are going to make it a lot easier and a lot safer, said John Labieniec, vice president of Acute and Emergency Services for Continuum. City leaders say their goal is to have construction finished by the spring of 2026. The project is being funded primarily by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted again this week, spewing lava 500 feet into the air from the crater at its summit, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The eruption ended around 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday night, after producing approximately 337 million cubic feet of molten rock over a 13-hour period. This marked the 32nd episode in an ongoing eruption event at Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, which began in December. Lava from the eruption has been contained inside the summit of the crater at Hawaii Volcanoes National State Park, a massive protected and uninhabited area located on the Big Island of Hawaii. This image, made from a video provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, shows the erupting Halemaumau crater from the rim of the Kilauea caldera on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. / Credit: U.S. Geological Survey via AP The first overflow of lava on Tuesday came from the north vent in Kilauea's Halemaumau Crater, the U.S. Geological Survey said. At 6:30 a.m., the vent started to dispel fountains of lava, and similar eruptions broke out from a vent on the south side of the crater, and a third vent in between, within a few hours. Several lava fountains shot up hundreds of feet into the sky, which has happened before since its initial burst of activity late last year. This image released by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the erupting Halemaumau crater the summit of the Kilauea volcano on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Hawaii. / Credit: C. Cauley/U.S. Geological Survey via AP The volcano produced an enormous volume of lava during Tuesday's activity, with the U.S. Geological Survey reporting that fountains put out an average of 6,750 cubic feet of lava per second enough to fill almost five Olympic-sized swimming pools every minute over the course of the latest eruption. By the end of it, lava flows had covered between 40 and 50% of the floor of the crater, and officials warned that they may continue to move slowly for the next several days as they cool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although no one was harmed in the eruption itself, the U.S. Geological Survey warned that high levels of volcanic gas are expected to linger in the atmosphere and "can have far-reaching effects downwind." Kilaeua's lava fountains on Tuesday released about 55,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, a pungent, toxic gas that creates volcanic smog once emitted. That smog can cause respiratory problems and other health issues when high concentrations remain in the atmosphere. The U.S. Geological Survey warned of other hazards closer to the site of the eruption, including strands of volcanic glass that can be found more than 10 miles from the vent as well as other volcanic fragments, which in previous eruptions have ended up falling onto one of the island's main highways. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files House votes 212-208 to approve Jeffrey Epstein probe measure Sneak peek: The Death of Todd Stermer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) The head of the European Parliament's trade committee said Wednesday he has doubts about aspects of the EU's trade deal with the Trump administration and predicted the deal could be amended during the legislative approval process. A lot of questions are there, and I guess there will be some amendments, said committee chairman Bernd Lange, adding that myself and also some colleagues of mine have doubts about the deal. Lange stopped short of outright opposing the agreement struck July 27 between the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and U.S. President Donald Trump. The deal imposes a 15% tariff on European goods while lowering EU tariffs on U.S. cars and industrial goods to zero; some EU goods including aircraft, cork and generic pharmaceuticals, were exempted from the 15% rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deal has had a mixed reception in Europe, with business associations saying it imposes high costs that will impede exports to the U.S. Von der Leyen says that it will lower a painful 27.5% tariff on autos and bring stability and predictability for businesses. Lange however said there is no security or predictability, citing a U.S. decision two weeks after the deal was struck to include some 400 different goods containing steel such as pumps and motorcycle under a 50% steel and aluminum tariff instead of the 15% tariff. A top EU trade official urged the committee to approve the deal, saying the rate was low enough to keep trade flowing and maintain EU companies access to the U.S. market while avoiding a worse trade conflict. You need to look at the alternative, said Sabine Weyand, director general for trade. The agreement has been set down only in a 3 1/2 joint statement that left room for further talks on key issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump faces questions about whether he exceeded his legal authorities by declaring a national emergency under a 1977 law to impose the broad tariffs. A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld a previous lower court ruling that the president lacked the power to exact tariffs of that magnitude without going through Congress or using other legal mechanisms, a decision that Trump said Tuesday will in turn be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump aroused concern Aug. 26 by threatening tariffs in response to EU digital regulation, which EU officials said were not part of the deal. Where will it end - we are just getting more and more demands from Trump, said deputy Saskia Bricmont, a member of the Greens/European Free Alliance group. Parliamentary action would be needed to implement the EU side of the tariffs deal. Lange did not say what the amendments might contain. The leader of one group in parliament, the center-left Socialists and Democrats, has come out against the deal but the group has only 136 seats in the 720-seat parliament and cannot stop the deal by itself. Lange is a member of the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Commission underlined its determination to expand cooperative trade to other partners beyond the US, on Wednesday sending free trade deals with Mexico and the Mercosur trading bloc in Latin America for ratification by member states. The Mercosur deal would create what EU officials call the world's largest free trade zone with 700 million people and lower high tariffs on EU farm exports in Latin America. It also would protect some politically sensitive EU farm products, particularly beef, in an attempt to mollify objections from EU farm lobbies in France and Poland. A limited amount of Mercosur beef - equal to around 1.5% of the European market - would face a moderate 7.5% tariff, but quantities above that would be hit with prohibitively high rates. There is also 6.3 billion euros in support for farmers in case of unexpected market disruptions. WISE, Va. (WJHL) The Health Wagon announced on Wednesday that Tommy Dingus, 66, a paramedic, educator, and one of the organizations longest-standing supporters, has died. We are devastated by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Tommy Dingus, said Dr. Teresa Tyson, president & CEO of the Health Wagon, in a release. For decades, Tommy gave selflessly to this region as a paramedic, saving lives and offering comfort in moments of crisis. His compassion and steadfast service will forever be part of the fabric of our community and The Health Wagon family. SEE ALSO: Health Wagon to build veterinary clinic in Wise Co. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A release from the Health Wagon said Dingus began working with the organization in the 90s, hosting health fairs for underserved communities throughout the Clintwood, Clinchco, Wise and Hurley areas. The events reportedly brought care to thousands of Southwest Virginia residents. The release said that during these events, Dingus would teach emergency preparedness, transport equipment, assist with logistics and offer a shoulder for patients to lean on. Tommy was more than a paramediche was part of the Health Wagon family, said Paula Hill Collins, vice president/chief clinical director of the Health Wagon. His mentorship, his presence at every turn, and his unwavering heart for this community will be felt for generations. We are heartbroken at the loss of our colleague and dear friend, Tommy Dingus. He was a hero whose courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication touched countless lives across our community. His legacy of service will forever remain a part of The Health Wagon family, and we are deeply grateful for the years he spent saving lives and bringing comfort to those in their most critical moments. According to the release, Dingus helped certify nearly every Health Wagon staff member in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A service honoring Dingus life and legacy will be held Friday at UVA Wises Convocation Center. The family will receive friends beginning at 4 p.m. with the service following at 7 p.m., officiated by Pastor Danny Smith. All Health Wagon clinics will close early on Friday so staff may attend and pay tribute. The Health Wagon said that in place of flowers, Dingus family requested donations be made to a scholarship fund for his son, Brantlee, at New Peoples Bank, 5448 Wise-Norton Rd., Norton, VA 24273. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WISE COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) The Health Wagon in Wise, Virginia, is building a new affordable veterinarian clinic thanks to a grant from the Virginia Energy AMLER committee. Teresa Owens Tyson is the President and CEO of the Health Wagon. Tyson said the clinic will embody the concept of one health. You look at the well-being of people, animals and the environment because theyre all deeply interconnected, Tyson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tyson also said the people they serve still do what they can to care for their pets. When we go for home visits for our patients, we will see pets just in need of the care that were there to deliver to the humans, Tyson said. They cannot afford medicines, but theyre buying their dog food. So, it is truly all integrated. Salvation Army preps for 2025 Angel Tree Program registration Beverly Grigsby is the Chief Warden of Wise County Animal Control. She said the Wise County Animal Shelter is almost always full due to people surrendering animals they cannot afford to care for. There was a time when dogs were getting rescued really well, especially during COVID, Grigsby said. Everybody wanted a dog because, I was home working. Well, its not that way now and that has slowed down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grigsby also said she hopes the new clinic will help people have an opportunity to spay and neuter their animals. Im hoping with this that more people can get their dog fixed, get their cats fixed, be able to take care of the dogs, give them what they need, Grigsby said. I havent had to euthanize a good, healthy dog since Ive been here, and I dont want to start. Tyson said the grant will cover the construction of the clinic; however, they will need donations and volunteers to fund staffing once the clinic opens. Tyson also said construction will begin in the spring of next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Springfield Community Preservation Committee held a public hearing Tuesday evening. AG Campbell reaches $10 million settlement with former owners of Springfield Gardens The hearing was held to gather public input on the citys priorities for open space, historic resources, outdoor recreation, and community housing. Residents comments will help shape the community preservation plan, which guides funding decisions under the Community Preservation Act. The committee will now use that plan to begin reviewing proposals from individuals and organizations before recommending projects to the Springfield City Council. 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. NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Flooding across northern India killed at least five people on Wednesday, officials said, with more thunderstorms expected and local media reporting that 10,000 people have been evacuated from the river banks in capital Delhi. The monsoon season in India has been particularly intense this year, killing at least 130 people in August alone in north India, wiping out villages and destroying infrastructure. The latest round of flooding has hit northern Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, where the Chenab and Tawi rivers have risen above the danger mark at several spots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The swollen rivers have triggered landslides and damaged many roads, disconnecting parts of the mountainous regions of Jammu and Himachal from the rest of India. At least five people were killed on Wednesday after landslides battered Rajouri and Mandi districts in Jammu and Himachal Pradesh respectively, officials said. The India Meteorological Department warned of heavy to very heavy rain in the region on Wednesday, with more downpours expected in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The Central Water Commission said the swollen Yamuna had breached its danger mark on Tuesday in Delhi. Local media reported that nearly 10,000 people had been evacuated to relief camps set up by the government along the main highways as a precautionary measure for those living in low-lying areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents living along the Yamuna in Delhi were evacuated in 2023 as well after floodwaters entered their homes and the river hit its highest level in 45 years. Many tourist spots in Himachal Pradesh have been hit by landslides in recent weeks, as raging rivers damaged infrastructure. Educational institutions were ordered shut, authorities said, asking people to remain indoors due to flood warnings. In neighbouring Punjab, the government said 30 people have been killed and nearly 20,000 evacuated since August 1. Water gushing through the plains in India's breadbasket Punjab state has destroyed 150,000 hectares of crops, the government said on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continuous rain prompted authorities to release water from dams, which has caused flooding in plains in India and Pakistan in recent days. On the other side of the border, Pakistani authorities issued an alert for more floods in the eastern heartland province of Punjab on Wednesday, after India warned it would release water downstream from its dams, officials said. New Delhi has previously given four such warnings to Islamabad, the officials said. The worst floods in four decades have killed at least 43 people in Punjab, with more than 3.3 million affected since August 26, the provincial disaster management authority said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The death toll across the country since the start of the monsoon season in late June stands at 881, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. (Reporting by Tanvi Mehta in New Delhi, Fayaz Bukhari in Srinagar, Jaspreet Singh in Patiala and Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Editing by Saad Sayeed) The United States will keep assets positioned in the Caribbean and strike anyone "trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco terrorist," Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Wednesday morning, a day after President Trump said the U.S. military had attacked and destroyed a drug-carrying vessel in the region. Mr. Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. had struck the boat in international waters after it had departed from Venezuela. The president later said on Truth Social that 11 people were killed in the strike. He said the attack targeted members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuela-based organized crime group that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. Mr. Trump also posted a video that appeared to show a military strike obliterating a small boat in the open sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth told "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday morning that he watched the strike live. He said the video was "definitely not artificial intelligence," as Venezuela's Communications Minister Freddy Nanez claimed in a post on social media. Hegseth said that he could not elaborate on how the operation had been carried out, but said it was a "precision" attack. "We knew exactly who was in that boat, we knew exactly what they were doing, and we knew exactly who they represented, and that was Tren de Aragua ... trying to poison our country with illicit drugs," Hegseth said. Hegseth did not say how the government identified the boat or those aboard it. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Tuesday that he believed the drugs were headed toward Trinidad and Tobago or another country in the Caribbean. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, praised the strike in a statement issued late Tuesday, The Associated Press reported. Hegseth said Wednesday that the strike shows that "President Trump is willing to go on offense in ways that others have not been" when dealing with drug smugglers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You want to try to traffic drugs, it's a new day," the defense secretary said. "It's a different day, and so those 11 drug traffickers are no longer with us, sending a very clear signal that this is an activity the United States is not going to tolerate in our hemisphere." Hegseth said that assets will remain in the region, and that further strikes may be forthcoming. "This is a deadly, serious mission for us and it won't stop with just this strike," he said. "Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco-terrorist will face the same fate." Mr. Trump directed the military to target drug cartels in Latin America last month. In August, the U.S. said the Navy would increase its presence near Venezuela and deploy multiple warships as part of an anti-drug cartel mission. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called the move an "extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat." Maduro responded by deploying warships and drones to Venezuela's coastline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has not indicated it plans to strike Venezuela directly. When Hegseth was asked Wednesday by Fox News about the possibility of a regime change in the country, he said it was a "presidential decision." The Trump administration has accused Maduro's government of working with drug cartels and groups like Tren de Aragua to bring illicit substances into the United States. A U.S. federal court charged Maduro with narco-terrorism and drug trafficking in 2020, allegations that Maduro has denied. The U.S. is offering a $50 million reward for Maduro's arrest. "What we have, there in the Caribbean, is clear demonstration of military might," Hegseth said in the "Fox & Friends" interview. "President Trump has shown whether it is southwest border, Houthis, (Operation) Midnight Hammer in Iran, precise power could impact and reshape dynamics around the world and in the region. Nicolas Maduro, as he considers whether to be a narco-trafficker, has decisions to make." Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wraps heated Senate testimony CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) Last week marked 20 years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast one of the worst natural disasters in the nations history. Even with Central Illinois being more than 700 miles away, people rushed down to help and are still lending a hand today. The destruction was worse than what I saw in Afghanistan, Champaign Police Chief Timothy Tyler said. U of I professor studies disasters, shares Hurricane Katrina findings Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before he took over as Champaigns Police Chief, Tyler served in the Illinois National Guard. He was deployed overseas for more than 400 days before coming back stateside. But just days after getting back, Tyler got a phone call. Before Labor Day, we were on a C-5, headed down to Katrina, and we flew out from Springfield. And a couple hours later, we were landing in what they call Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Tyler said. What they found was more than $160 billion in damage and more importantly, almost 2,000 lives lost. Peak water levels during the flooding got to 28 feet. Tyler and more than 130 other troops hit the ground running. They helped with the logistics of disaster relief like getting supplies to those in need. Then, Hurricane Rita hit less then a month after Katrina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just couldnt believe it. Ive never been part of a hurricane before. Ive never seen really nothing that bad before. And my heart just goes out, to the community members, even today, Tyler said. Long stretch of dry weather creating field fire risk in Central Illinois One man in Central Illinois is still helping to this day. Jon Warriner first took a group from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana to the affected area in 2007. Weve always said this is Gods work in our hands. And, as Christians, were called to, to go and help others, Warriner said. The group helped build or repair houses across New Orleans. Theyve gone for 17 of the last 18 years. Over that time Warriner has gotten to see the area recover and feel its gratitude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were working, it was the second or third year we were in New Orleans, another member and I got out of the truck and this lady came running out of the house, and she came up and she gave us a big hug, and she had tears in her eyes and was thanking us for being there. And it wasnt even her house we were working on. It was a neighbors house, Warriner said. But its not all back to normal. He said the Lower Ninth Ward still needs repairs, but the people there are resilient through tough times. Warriner also said the group plans to keep going down yearly to help with rebuilding. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Aug. 29, 2025, several widely circulated posts on social media claimed that an "uprising" occurred at the South Florida Detention Facility nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz" the center U.S. President Donald Trump and others had toured in recent months. A federal judge in August 2025 ordered the facility shuttered after it became the focus of a human and environmental-rights campaign. The claim that an "uprising" took place began to spread just days before a federal court scheduled a hearing regarding the legal rights of the facility's detainees. The claim that an "uprising" took place made its way across multiple platforms, including Facebook (archived), Reddit (archived) and X (archived). One Facebook post (archived) received more than 50,000 reactions, as of this writing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement https://www.facebook.com/OccupyDemocrats/posts/pfbid04hTXDTGUDJtAW2ey1TgCz9jxgaNRxJoQDmrBgjE6uua3syUP96CHsaidKU5SoJkLl The claim originated with the Florida Spanish-language TV channel, Univision Miami's Noticias 23, before The Guardian (archived) and other outlets picked it up. According to the story (archived) by Noticias 23 from Aug. 28, 2025, at least three detainees called the station over the phone, claiming that guards injured at least four and used tear gas on the detainees. Stephanie Hartman, spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management (which oversees "Alligator Alcatraz"), claimed in an email to Snopes that "reports of an uprising are manufactured. Detainees are given clean, safe living conditions and guards are properly trained on all state and federal protocols." This account contradicts those whose alleged calls Noticias 23 aired on TV. In the video of the TV segment, one alleged detainee said that many detainees were "bleeding" and that a helicopter was circling overhead. In another reported call, a fire alarm is audible in the background as the alleged detainee spoke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One alleged detainee said in one of the aired phone calls (translation via Google translate): People started screaming because a relative had died, and they started shouting for freedom. At that moment, a prison team came in and started beating everyone. Right now, it's unrest, and well, we have the helicopter overhead. Everyone here has been beaten up, many people have bled, brother, tear gas. We are immigrants, we are not criminals, we are not murderers. Snopes was unable to independently confirm these details, but, to summarize, Noticias 23 claimed to have received calls from at least three people who identified themselves as detainees at Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" and reported an uprising that resulted in the detention center's guards beating detainees. The Florida Division of Emergency Management denied these claims. Noelle Damico, director of social justice at the Workers Circle, told The Guardian: "People held inside the facility were on hunger strike for more than 14 days, despite the [Gov. Ron ] DeSantis administration denying it. What they apparently did was ship people who were hunger striking out to other facilities, Krome [in Miami] to Texas etc, to break it up ... [An uprising] would not surprise me given the abuses that people have experienced." Sources: London, Billal Rahman is an immigration reporter based in, et al. 'Florida Denies Uprising at "Alligator Alcatraz"'. Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025, https://www.newsweek.com/florida-denies-uprising-alligator-alcatraz-2122577. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luscombe, Richard. 'Detainees Report Alleged Uprising at "Alligator Alcatraz": "A Lot of People Have Bled"'. The Guardian, 29 Aug. 2025. US News. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/29/alligator-alcatraz-uprising-florida-immigration. Migrantes detenidos denuncian supuesto motin en Alcatraz de los Caimanes | Univision 23 Miami WLTV | Univision. https://www.univision.com/local/miami-wltv/migrantes-detenidos-denuncian-supuesto-motin-alcatraz-de-los-caimanes. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025. Sikes, Annabelle. '"Alligator Alcatraz": Federal Court Hearing on Legal Rights of Detainees Set for Thursday'. Text.Article. FOX 35 Orlando, 2 Sep. 2025, https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/alligator-alcatraz-federal-court-hearing-legal-rights-detainees-set-thursday. President Donald Trumps contentious nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics is getting a boost from his own employer. The Heritage Foundation, where E.J. Antoni serves as chief economist, is launching a new advertisement this morning that backs Antoni as a respected and trusted voice to lead BLS. Heritage plans to invest as much as six figures to push the ad on social media, TV, and through direct outreach, a spokesperson told Semafor. While Heritage and its advocacy arm have backed previous Trump Cabinet nominees, its notable to see the group spend to support a lower-level pick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Antoni is a renowned economist who will rely on objective data to restore integrity, accountability, and Americas trust in the agency, Heritages Mary Vought said. Other economists have scrutinized Antonis record. HILTON, N.Y. (WROC) School is in session for students in Hilton, and a big topic of discussion this year is cell phones. New York schools had to implement a bell-to-bell cell phone ban, which requires all students to put their electronic devices away for the entire day. Hilton High School Principal, Dr. Jeff Green, is excited for the shift. Weve been working on it since the springtime, he said. We went into the summer knowing that were going to be utilizing our non-locking pouches. Students know they need to put all their personal electronic devices in those pouches before they come to the building, and theyre just not seen or heard from for the rest of the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For students like senior Naomi Rosario, the policy is acceptable, especially because its not as stringent as some other districts. Theyre not locking our phones away like they would at other schools, she said. I think itll be an adjustment for our school, but I think itll be for the best. Green says some parents were concerned their options for reaching their child would be limited. We talked about still being able to utilize school email if they want, he said. And then if there really is a need, they can call the school. Plus, because theyre not locked in pouches, in the case of a true emergency, students will be able to utilize them to contact their parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cell phone policy isnt the only new development this year. Theres also a new law requiring each board of education throughout the state to have at least one student member, giving students a voice in the decision-making process. Its a good way to get a student perspective on the board and to really bring the student voices to the board as well, said Rosario. September is an exciting time for these students they have school spirit events like homecoming, and, of course, the older classmen want to meet and help the freshmen. Other districts are going back to school throughout the week, and we will keep bringing you that coverage on air and online. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Family and friends of an Oklahoma man killed in March by an accused drunk driver say they feel closer to justice now that the person they believe is responsible has been criminally charged. News 4 first reported on the crash in March earlier this year. Beau Actons family and friends said the father of two was leaving work in Southwest Oklahoma City when a suspected drunk driver hit him. Police arrested Jennica Burton for DUI. In the report, officers said she exhibited signs of intoxication. Metro father killed by suspected drunk driver Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Beaus family and friends told News 4 what had been difficult was going months without answers tied to his case. Burton had not been formally charged by Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behennas office. Beaus loved ones said they were told Behennas office was waiting on the results of a toxicology report before a decision on charges was made. Photo of Beau Acton. IMAGE Beau Actons family. A spokesperson for Behennas office told News 4 in a statement that cases like Burtons took time because toxicology is the key evidence in cases like these and that they were waiting on the lab results before filing charges. On August 28, Behennas office formally charged Burton with first degree manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol. Its official now, they are going to charge her for killing him, said Tosha Willoughby, longtime friend of Actons in an interview with News 4 Tuesday. The fact that you did the report, the follow up and they filed charges means so much to me because that means that, you know, that justice, that we might get justice for him eventually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grieving OK family still waiting for justice months after deadly motorcycle crash Willoughby said she had spoken to Actons mother, who had a similar sentiment about awareness related to the case being raised in recent weeks. Willoughby said that she believes Burton should face consequences and she would like the opportunity to tell her what she took. News 4 followed up with Behennas office Tuesday over a clarification matter tied to the case. Both Willoughby and Actons immediate family said they had been notified that results of the toxicology report were available weeks before a News 4 follow up report aired in August. They said they were told Burton tested nearly three times over the legal limit. Behennas office provided the following statement to News 4 Tuesday: Our office previously explained why it can take time to file charges in DUI fatalities, and that statement remains true. Jennica Burton has now been charged and a warrant has been issued for her arrest. Because this case is pending adjudication, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. Spokesperson for Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna Willoughby said she and Actons family are preparing for the road ahead in a case that could bring up a lot of unresolved emotions and grief, but are prepared to advocate for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wont stop trying to give him justice as long as theres a chance to get him justice, said Willoughby. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) City and state leaders joined students, families, and educators Tuesday to celebrate the opening of Dr. William R. Peck Middle School, the first new school built in Holyoke since 1989. The $85.5 million project, approved in 2023, was developed in partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The city will contribute $27.1 million, while the MSBA is reimbursing approximately $58.4 million. Officials said the project is running nearly 10% under budget. The Big E prioritizes safety measures ahead of upcoming fair Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Joshua Garcia, Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto, and members of the City Council, School Committee, and School Building Committee cut the ribbon alongside state lawmakers, MSBA representatives, and community members. Photo courtesy of Holyoke Public Schools. The new, 550-student school replaces an aging, energy-inefficient building on the same site. Designed by Mount Vernon Group Architects with Fontaine Bros. as the general contractor and Accenture serving as the project manager, the facility incorporates sustainable features under the states new energy code aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mayor Garcia told 22News why the city chose to rebuild this school among others. The previous building was a crime against humanity, Garcia said. You walked through that door, and you felt completely disrespected by the work and feel of that building. When we assessed all of our buildings to be determined which one would be replaced, Peck was identified. School officials decided to keep the previous name of the middle school to honor the legacy of William Peck. Family members of Peck were also present at the ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was an innovator of his time, Mayor Garcia said. He was appointed superintendent of HPS at 25 years old. He looked out for our most vulnerable population, kids who were hearing-impaired, he advocated for equal pay for women teachers. Superintendent Soto said the building is more than just new classrooms. I can imagine the learning and joy we will see when we walk these hallways and classrooms this year and in the years to come, including students discussing and collaborating in well-lit, spacious classrooms, Soto said. Students conducting group experiments in our STEM lab. Student musicians learning new instruments in a soundproof music room. Family and community members are cheering on the Peck Phoenix student-athletes in the gym. We are looking forward to so many more opportunities for our students and families, our staff, and the Holyoke community. This middle school building reflects our citys commitment to and belief in our children, Garcia said. Our school districts motto is Juntos Podemos, Together We Can. This school is the physical embodiment of community leaders, families, and educators coming together to invest in our young people and the future of our great city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The celebration included a community open house with tours led by school and district leaders. More information about the project can be found at hps.holyoke.ma.us. 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. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) Holyoke officials visited homeless encampments throughout the city in an effort to perform well-being checks, offer resources, and address issues. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia was joined by State Senator John Velis, Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan, Holyoke Board of Health Director Tim Rivers, and Holyoke Parks and Recreation Director Jonathan Moquin on a walk of several homeless sites on Tuesday. Holyoke police seize fentanyl, cocaine, firearm in open-air drug bust Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team of officials spoke with unhoused community members to assess their health and inform them about the services available to them within the city. The Mayors Office said that, beyond compassion, the goal of this visit was to seek solutions. Unsanitary conditions, public safety, and drug use were among the concerns found when visiting the homeless encampments. Courtesy of the Holyoke Mayors Office. I was deeply moved by the challenging conditions faced by individuals living in tents and makeshift shelters on public property, Mayor Garcia said. The City of Holyoke is committed to addressing this humanitarian concern with compassion and urgency, coupled with enforcement. We will be working on an initiative that will include state agencies, local nonprofits, law enforcement, and community organizations to provide immediate support to navigate the complexity of the issue while working toward sustainable solutions to prevent such encampments in the future. After connecting with homeless individuals in the city and hearing their concerns, as well as observing the reality of the issues that need to be addressed, city officials remain committed to finding a solution that respects the dignity of the unhoused population while maintaining health and safety in Holyoke. I have always believed in a boots-on-the-ground approach, and Tuesdays experience will be invaluable as we continue collaborating on resources and solutions, Senator Velis said. 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. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A contest run by the Society for Science and Thermo Fisher Scientific has named the top 300 STEM students in the United States. This was done through the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators challenge, which is stated as the United States premier STEM competition for middle school students. The only student from Indiana to make the top 300 list came from Terre Haute, Indiana. 7th Grader Akalkirat Singh Lehal from Honey Creek Middle School won with her project titled Year 2 Study: Improving Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance and Durability: The Role of Natural Dyes, Semiconductor Technologies, and Extraction Methods. Lehal, along with the other 299 students, will receive a prize package and gifts from partners of the Society of Science, including a one-year subscription to Wolfram Mathematica software. These young innovators embody the most promising science and engineering talent in the nation, said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News. They are taking on complex challenges and demonstrating a passion for STEM that can lead to impactful change. I am thrilled to celebrate their achievements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honey Creek Middle school prepares for play The contest is a program of the Society of Science designed to inspire young scientists, engineers, and innovators to solve the large challenges of the future. Students who placed in the top 10% of their local science fair were eligible to enter. We are inspired by the creativity and determination of the Top 300 Junior Innovators, whose projects reflect a true passion for solving real-world challenges, said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. Recognizing and supporting young scientific minds is essential to fostering the next generation of innovators who will shape a brighter, more collaborative future for us all. The top 300 Junior Innovators were chosen from nearly 1,890 students from 48 states, as well as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Of the 300, 30 will be picked to compete in an in-person competition this fall in Washington, D.C. On September 17, the Society for Science will announce the top 30 who were chosen by a nationwide panel of scientists, engineers, and educators. The top 30 will compete for $55,000 worth of awards, and each will receive $125 from the Department of Defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. A hot mic at Beijing's World War II military parade on Sept. 3 caught Russian President Vladimir Putin telling Chinese leader Xi Jinping that biotechnology could one day extend human life indefinitely. "With continuous advances in biotechnology, human organs will be increasingly transplanted... letting us live younger and younger, and perhaps even achieve immortality," Putin was heard saying through a Russian-Mandarin interpreter, with Xi responding with laughter. Putin, who turns 73 in 2025, made the comments as his regime faces mounting pressure from the war in Ukraine. Russia's male life expectancy is 67 years, and most of Putin's inner circle is similarly aged. Putin and Xi discussed immortality from bio-tech in a hot mic moment at y-days military parade in Beijing pic.twitter.com/KQFmfUkCwF Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) September 3, 2025 The Times reported last year that Kremlin officials had instructed scientists to accelerate research into anti-aging treatments, including work on cellular aging, cognitive decline, and immune resilience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Russia's Constitution bars anyone from serving more than two consecutive presidential terms, Putin circumvented the rule in 2008 by stepping into the role of prime minister while his close ally Dmitry Medvedev held the presidency for one term. As a result, Putin has ruled Russia for over 25 years, centralizing power through state-controlled institutions and constitutional changes that allow him to remain president until at least 2036. In May, he confirmed that he keeps a list of potential successors but has given no indication of stepping aside. Putin himself was chosen as former President Boris Yeltsin's successor in 1999. Beijing's event featured over 10,000 troops, more than 100 aircraft and vehicles, and the country's most advanced weaponry, like the nuclear-capable DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, and laser weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parade came just days after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which brought together Xi, Putin, and other world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read also: Putin, Kim join Xi at military parade in China as Trump says they conspire against US Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. London City Council members appointed a new councilperson at their meeting Tuesday. Following a motion from Council Member Judd Weaver and a second by Council Member Justin Young, Donna Gail Wilson House was selected to fill the vacant council seat left by Stacy Benge's resignation last week. After the motion from Weaver, Mayor Randall Weddle jokingly told City Attorney Larry Bryson, You owe me twenty bucks, Larry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vote was unanimous, with the exception of Council Member Kelly Greene who was absent. House makes for the third councilperson to be selected by council members since the 2024 election. At the start of the meeting, Weaver made the motion to allow city residents to speak and require them to sign in on sign up sheet and provide their address. No attendees chose to do so. Councilman, I just want to advise you that, if we do this, we cannot restrict individuals because of residency, Weddle said. I believe you're wrong on that, sir, Weaver responded. I've been advised that that is perfectly legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bryson then interjected, stating, Under the Open Meetings Law in Kentucky, you cannot require somebody to identify themselves before they speak or to give their address before they speak in an open, public meeting. City Council Attorney Conrad Cessna responded that he believes the restriction is within the council's rights. Respectfully, state law supersedes local municipal law, Bryson stated. The mayor then declared that he, as chair, would not recognize an illegal motion. Weaver attempted to amend the agenda to strictly include the appointment, grant and minutes, but the motion failed due to lack of a second. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for approving the minutes from the August 4, 15, and 29 meetings, Weaver moved to them with the exception of the comments made by Carmine [Iaccarino], Weddle's attorney. This is in reference to the August 29 meeting during which Iaccarino voiced objections regarding the council's charges against Weddle. I'm a little puzzled, Bryson said. That was a part of the meeting. Why are you not wanting to make that a part of the minutes of the meeting? Weaver did not respond to Bryson's inquiry, but instead, Cessna spoke on his behalf, stating that KRS 61.835 would probably govern that. KRS 61.835 states: The minutes of action taken at every meeting of any such public agency, setting forth an accurate record of votes and actions at such meetings, shall be promptly recorded and such records shall be open to public inspection at reasonable times no later than immediately following the next meeting of the body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reasoning behind it, I'm not privy to but I think, if that's the council's request and if that is seconded and voted on and passed, that that would be allowable as that was not any type of action or vote that was taken on that, Cessna said. Bryson maintained that the minutes should reflect what occurred at the meeting. Mr. Bryson, didn't he speak before the meeting started? Weaver asked. That's the way I remember it. Members of the public, Weddle, and Bryson promptly corrected that Iaccarino spoke during the meeting. The meeting was called to order, but also, a document was made a matter of record, Weddle responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weaver proceeded to again make the motion to strike his comments, though the debate continued. We all know what's going on there's a hearing on Friday, Cessna chimed. I don't think that the council wants to be in a position where they're acknowledging or accepting any type of objection that he made, because they're not in the position... If that is accepted by them in [these] minutes, that could be an issue that could be raised at a later date. When Bryson began to respond, Weaver interjected and Weddle told him to hold [his] tongue. Two attorneys are working this out. Please allow them to do so, Weddle told Weaver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the discussion continued and minutes for the other two meetings were approved, Ortega suggested the attorneys discuss the matter privately, to which the others agreed. The attorneys then communicated through text. Ultimately, when the matter was revisited, the council voted to approve the minutes with the aforementioned exception. Council members also decided to also hold off on selecting a building for the Public Works Department's relocation until a later meeting. After Council Member Jim Baker said Benge was unable to attend when the committee members viewed properties, Benge commented on the City of London Facebook page's livestream of the meeting that he had separated himself from the committee because the others were considering property that [his] family owns and [he] did not think it was appropriate for [him] to be involved. Also during the meeting: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council discussed options for the former Laurel County Sheriff's Office building on South Main Street, which the city owns a portion of. Kate Labhart recommended that council members extend the city's existing indoor-smoking ban to include vaping and e-cigarette use in public spaces. Members accepted a pamphlet of information for later review. Council members approved a grant for the Boone Trace Trail Improvement. Outside of the meeting, community members protested for justice for Doug Harless, the 63-year-old man who was fatally shot in his home during an attempt to serve a search warrant at the incorrect address last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the meeting, several attendees took turns addressing their community, sharing concerns (which will be detailed in a later article). Council members chose to leave during, while Weddle and Bryson remained seating. The livestream also continued until the speakers finished. The London City Council's next meeting will be a special-called session containing a public hearing on the potential impeachment of Mayor Weddle. It is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday at the Laurel County Judicial Center. House Democrats are attempting to censure U.S. Rep. Cory Mills as he faces ongoing legal and ethical challenges. The motion was brought to the House floor Wednesday by Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York. The censure would be a formal reprimand without additional punishment. This coincides with Mills expected court appearance this week in a legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend, who is the reigning Miss United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lindsey Langston accused Mills of threatening to leak private images. Mills is also facing allegations of assault and an ethics investigation into whether he benefited from federal contracts while in office. Mills denies all accusations against him. The censure attempt comes after Republicans proposed a similar reprimand for a New Jersey Democrat charged with assault. Mills represents District 7, covering parts of Volusia and Seminole counties. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. (The Center Square) The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is launching an investigation into the impact of the Biden Border Crisis on Medicaid, saying it cost taxpayers billions. As part of the investigation, committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., has sent letters to eight Democratic governors and state health commissioners seeking documents and communications regarding their unprecedented expansion of taxpayer funded Medicaid benefits and services for illegal aliens, citing figures from the Congressional Budget Office that show taxpayers spent more than $16.2 billion on Medicaid-funded emergency services for illegal aliens during the first three years of the Biden Administration. In the letters, Comer underscored that the purpose of the investigation is to uncover instances of fraud and abuse within Medicaid regarding Bidens handling of the border crisis during his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is continuing its oversight of the Biden Administrations open-border policies, their devastating social and fiscal impact on American citizens, and critical federally funded health care programs and services. Specifically, the Committee is investigating waste, fraud and abuse in several Medicaid programs due to the Biden Administrations failure to enforce U.S. immigration laws and the resulting expansion of benefits for illegal aliens, Comer wrote. In addition, the chairman is asking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to clarify comments he made during an oversight committee hearing with sanctuary state governors in June, claiming that illegal aliens didnt receive Medicaid coverage in his state. During an exchange in the hearing, Governor Walz testified that illegal immigrants do not receive coverage under Minnesota Medicaid. Governor Walzs statement is likely misleading based on the programmatic relationships between Minnesotas Medicaid program, also known as Medical Assistance (MA), its counterpart Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA), and the MinnesotaCare program. Minnesota has co-mingled funds for the EMA and MinnesotaCare programs potentially enabling federal funds to cover illegal aliens under the MinnesotaCare program, according to a release from the committee. In February, The Center Square reported that the State of California was spending $9.5 billion on health care for undocumented immigrants as part of its 2024-2025 budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Walz, Comer sent letters to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson. Comer is requesting that documents and communications regarding the investigation spanning from Jan. 1, 2019, to the present be returned to the committee no later than Sept. 17. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that the Trump administration is trying to hide something about the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Donald Trump was hot to trot, and Kash Patel and Dan Bongino were leading the charge to release the Epstein files. Now, all of a sudden, they dont want them released. They are trying to hide something, Goldman, a frequent critic of the administrations handling of the files, told CNNs Anderson Cooper. Goldmans Republican colleague, Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), offered similar comments on MSNBC the same night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the best way to clear President Trumps name is to release all the files, Massie told MSNBC All In host Chris Hayes. I actually dont think hes done anything criminal; I think he may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his. And, in fact, some of those billionaires are running ads against me in Kentucky right now. Massie also formally filed a discharge petition Tuesday to force action on his bill with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to publicly disclose files and information related to Epsteins case. Earlier this summer, Trump and his administration faced intense backlash from both sides of the aisle over the handling of files related to Epstein. On Tuesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee made public a batch of files it said it received from the Justice Department due to its subpoena for documents related to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to the White House. The FBI declined to comment on the New York Democrats comments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. House Democrats introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., on Wednesday, citing allegations of assault and lingering questions about his military record. The measure declares that Mills has on several occasions conducted himself in a manner that reflects discredit upon the House of Representatives. It recounts a February 19, 2025, incident in Washington, D.C., when Metropolitan Police officers responded to an alleged assault at Millss residence. According to the resolution, the alleged victim a 27-year-old woman who was not Millss wife told police that he had grabbed her and shoved her. The police report says the woman displayed bruises on her arm which appeared fresh. The resolution cites a news report that says the woman also let officers hear [Mills] instruct her to lie about the origin of her bruises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document goes on to cite a similar July 2025 report from a former partner in Florida. Millss ex told police that he threatened to release nude images of her and threatened to harm her future romantic partners. The case against Mills in D.C. was closed following Trumps takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. I would like to thank the Metro Police Department for their diligent investigation into false and misleading accusations made against me by the media, ensuring that both truth and justice prevailed, Mills said last week in a statement to The Hill. The medias claims and political spins have been debunked, and the case is closed. Its blatantly obvious that some have attempted to over-politicize this to impact the 2026 election, but these efforts have failed. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. The resolution also mentions ethical concerns. It points to a 2024 report from the Office of Congressional Conduct and suggests there is substantial reason to believe Mills may have misrepresented his finances, accepted improper campaign contributions, and held federal contracts while in office. It further questions the legitimacy of the Bronze Star Mills received in 2021, citing testimony from a fellow servicemember who called the award recommendation a fabrication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic censure move follows Republicans unsuccessful attempt to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., after she was charged with assault in May a charge she has denied. The Congressional Black Caucus spearheaded the Mills resolution. Our defense of Congresswoman McIver, and our work to hold Mr. Mills accountable are both in service of this Caucus relentless pursuit of justice, CBC Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y. , who read the entirety of the Mills censure resolution on the House Floor on Wednesday, said in a statement to Politico. The post House Dems move to censure Rep. Mills after alleged assault appeared first on Salon.com. The mug shot of Jeffrey Epstein, 2019. Credit - KyprosGetty Images The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released more than 33,000 pages of documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epsteins case on Tuesday, saying that more are expected to be forthcoming. The committees chair, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, subpoenaed the Justice Department for files in the case last month before lawmakers left town for a weeks-long recess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just released ALL the subpoenaed documents from the DOJ related to Jeffrey Epstein, the Oversight Committee said in a post on X. The panel said in a press release that the Department of Justice has indicated it will continue producing those records while ensuring the redaction of victim identities and any child sexual abuse material. It was not immediately clear whether the documents released on Tuesday included any previously unknown information. The Oversight Committees top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, said in a statement after the panel received the files from the Justice Department that the overwhelming majority of them were already public. Garcia said only 3% of the documents contained new information, which he said was mainly comprised of less than 1,000 pages from the Customs and Border Protections log of flight locations for Epstein's plane between 2000 and 2014. Materials related to both Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell have previously been released. Attorney General Pam Bondi released a cache of documents in Epstein's case in February, but they were heavily redacted and mostly included information that had previously been reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump Administration has faced criticism over its failure to produce more extensive materials in the case after members of the President's inner circle claimed for years that the so-called "Epstein files" would bring to light serious crimes committed by the rich and powerful. Scrutiny on the Administration's handling of the case, as well as Trump's own years-long relationship with the late sex offender, intensified this summer after the Justice Department and FBI released a memo in July that stated that Epstein didnt have a client list of co-conspirators and that his 2019 death in jail was a suicide. The memo, which refuted various conspiracy theories that have surrounded Epstein for years and have been especially prominent among those on the right, drew a wave of backlash from the President's own supporters and prompted calls from both sides of the aisle for transparency. Members of the Oversight Committee met with several of Epstein's victims earlier on Tuesday. As many as 100 victims of the disgraced financier, as well as other sexual abuse victims, are set to rally in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Contact us at letters@time.com. Sept. 2 (UPI) -- The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Tuesday released 33,295 pages of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking of minors case and provided by the Justice Department. The released files are available online and have been redacted to protect the identities of any victims and remove any child sexual abuse content, ABC News reported. Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer Jr., R-Ky., on Aug. 5 subpoenaed the Justice Department to obtain the records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Department of Justice has indicated it will continue producing those records while ensuring the redaction of victim identities and child sexual abuse material," a committee news release said. The released files include video content, including a recording of a young woman who recalled her experience as a masseuse for Epstein, according to Politico. The woman's face and that of the interviewer are blurred to protect their identities. The Justice Department turned over the files to the House committee members in August, who reviewed the files for a week before making them public on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Committee member Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., estimated that 97% of the files already had been made public and only about 3% are new. Epstein was a wealthy financier who owned a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, was a convicted sex offender and committed suicide while jailed in New York City in 2019 and awaiting trial on federal charges that accused him of sex trafficking of minors. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Tuesday also met several Epstein victims behind closed doors. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., left the committee room early and was visibly upset, The Hill reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mace afterward on social media said she had a "full-blown panic attack" while listening to the victims. The representative previously announced she was a sexual assault survivor. "As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories," she said in a post on X. "I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us," she added. AUSTIN (Nexstar) The path to property tax relief hit a major hiccup on Tuesday morning. A coalition of House Democrats and conservative House Republicans voted down the conference committee report on Senate Bill 10, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate (VATR) from 3.5% to 2.5% on taxing entities located in cities and counties with a population over 75,000 people. VATR is a cap placed on local taxing entities that limits how much the tax rate can be raised before getting approval from voters. If a local taxing entity wishes to raise property taxes over the VATR rate, they must get voter approval. In the Texas House, three amendments were passed to continue to lower property taxes further: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A State Rep. Brent Money, R-Greenville, amendment removing the population qualification for the VATR change, subjecting all taxing entities to the VATR change. A State Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, amendment to include municipal utility districts (MUDs) to the VATR change. MUDs are specialized districts that provide critical infrastructure to areas outside of city limits. A State Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, amendment to lower the proposed VATR rate from 2.5% to 1%. The provision also added a section exempting public safety expenditures from the change, although only for municipalities or counties with over 75,000 people. There are people in my district who have calculated this tax relief (and) anticipate that its going to be roughly equivalent to an annual Starbucks run, State Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, said during the process to amend the initial Senate version. When the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill, both sides put forward five members to go to a conference committee, where both sides hash out their differences. On the conference committee report for SB 10, the Texas Senate threw out all of the House changesasking both chambers to accept the initial House version of the bill. My concern is a lot of the things that weve done on the House floor are gone from this bill now, State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, said on Tuesday. I support property tax relief like I think everyone in this building does. Its super important to our constituents, but I think it should be equal and paired across the entire state equally regardless of population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Little argued the Senates version of the bill does nothing to stop property tax increases. The bill only brings within its ambit 5% of the taxing jurisdictions, Little said while opposing the conference committee report. The Senate has decided, no (municipalities and cities under 75,000 people) are not the problem. Our municipal utility districts were brought under the ambit of this bill by our amendment and the Senate has decided no, you are not part of the problem either. In reality, this bill catches within its ambit only very large cities, all of whom are intending to bring a voter-approved tax rate election anyway. After Little and Tinderholt spoke, State Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Burnet, stood with fellow Republican female members Terri Leo-Wilson, R-Galveston, Hillary Hickland, R-Belton, Caroline Harris-Davila, R-Round Rock and Candy Noble, R-Lucas, in support of the conference committee report. This bill, of course, is not the silver bullet. But it is a step in the right direction, Troxclair, a former Austin City Council member said. As weve stated time and time again, the State of Texas does not levy a property tax, the local taxing entities do. This bill simply says that you must get voter approval if youd like to go over a 2.5% rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, combined with Democratic votes, Troxclairs effort was not enough. The conference committee report was voted down 60-71. The bill now gets sent back to a conference committee to see if the Texas House and Senate can find middle ground. Two weeks left in the 2nd Session. If both chambers refuse to put taxpayers ahead of taxing entities thats on them, State Rep. Steve Toth, R-Conroe, said. Toth also publicly supported voting down the conference committee report. However, on the Senate floor last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the Senate plans to end the second special session on Wednesday. If his statement holds, conferees have less than 36 hours to come up with a compromise. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. (Texas Scorecard) The Texas House advanced legislation to bar lawmakers from raising money while deliberately breaking quorum. On Tuesday, members adopted a floor substitute to House Bill 18 by State Rep. Matt Shaheen (RPlano) that prohibits legislators from soliciting or spending campaign contributions while absent from the state for the purpose of blocking legislative action. The measure defines an impeding absence as when a lawmaker leaves Texas without permission during a legislative session after the chamber has ordered absent members arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In such cases, lawmakers and their affiliated committees would be prohibited from accepting contributions above the daily per diem rate or using campaign funds for travel, food, or lodging tied to the absence. While the law technically permits token donations at or below the per diem, in practice, it would function as a near-total fundraising ban during quorum-busting walkouts. Violations would carry civil fines of up to $5,000 for each prohibited contribution or expenditure, with expedited enforcement in district court. An amendment by State Rep. Mitch Little (RLewisville) expanded the scope of the prohibition to include legislative caucuses. That move came after the House Democrat Caucus reportedly benefited from outside fundraising assistanceincluding from Robert Beto ORourkes PACduring their two-week quorum break earlier this summer over congressional redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the revised language, caucuses themselves are barred from serving as conduits for campaign cash when their members are absent to block legislative business. Meanwhile, the Texas Senate has already advanced related legislation that would go further by banning campaign fundraising entirely during special sessions, mirroring existing restrictions during regular sessions. The House initially approved the proposal in an 86-46 vote. After final approval it will next be sent to the Senate. HIGH POINT High Point University leaders are touting a new honor for what they term the most venerable building on campus. Roberts Hall was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places the first such designation for an HPU property. Roberts Hall was the first building constructed on the campus when the school opened in 1924 as High Point College. Its the epitome of HPU and its history, said Lyndsey Ayers, assistant vice president for university relations. Its the most recognizable building on the campus. It holds such a special place for us and our alumni and our thousands upon thousands of visitors. Mainly, for us, its the honor of being on the national register. We just thought it would be such a nice thing for it to be listed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to HPU, Roberts Hall was named after the schools first major donor, John Calvin Roberts, a local businessman who gave $10,000 to help start the college. The building was completed in 1923 at a total cost of $120,000. It initially housed all the operations of the college, other than dormitories, including the library, auditorium, bookstore, kitchen, classrooms, laboratories and offices. The building is currently used for offices and administration. In approving the listing, the U.S. Department of the Interior found that the building retained the historical integrity of its original Georgian Revival architectural style. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ayers said the application process to get the national register nomination approved took more than a year. HPU was originally seeking to have the listing process completed in time for its centennial anniversary last year. Its one of several buildings in High Point to attain national register status. Others include the Market Square showroom complex, the J.H. Adams Inn and First Baptist Church. Ayers said Roberts Hall remains a key landmark of the campus for current students who frequently use it as a backdrop in their graduation photos and for campus tours by prospective students. Its also prominent in its annual Christmas drive-thru events, which help account for the more than 200,000 visitors who come to campus each year. Plans call for placement of a cornerstone plaque outside Roberts Hall marking the national register listing. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer is proposing an expansion of legal protections for unaccompanied minors after the Trump administration cut funding for the unaccompanied children program earlier this year. I think we can all imagine how incredibly confusing and difficult it would be for a 4-year-old, a 6-year-old, an 8-year-old to go to court and try to explain to the judge their immigration status, said Lawson-Remer. Watch the report by FOX 5/KUSIs Delaney White in the video player above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A court-ordered stopgap set to expire on Sept. 30 is temporarily keeping the program in place. Man convicted of shooting SDPD officer sentenced to over 30 years in prison After Sept. 30, unless we act here in San Diego, even toddlers will be forced to place a judge and a federal prosecutor completely alone, said Lawson-Remer. In San Diego, approximately 300 kids could be impacted. In order to ensure that doesnt happen, Lawson-Remer is proposing expanding eligibility for San Diego Countys immigrant legal defense program. The data shows that with an attorney, people prevail about two-thirds of the time, but without one, success drops to just 5%, said Lawson-Remer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Garcia, director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program, says if approved, this proposal would allow them to represent all children regardless of custody status. Since July, Caltrans has removed over 650 homeless camps on state highways If due process is the point, okay, there is no more lack of due process in immigration court than when a child is sitting there answering questions from a judge or from a government attorney, Garcia said. FOX 5/KUSI reached out to all the county supervisors for comment, but they deferred to Lawson-Remer, who says she hopes this will pass unanimously. The notion that you would have children in court who could then get sent thousands and thousands of miles away and then have no one to speak for them, I cant imagine how anyone would think that that was okay, said Lawson-Remer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board will vote on the expansion proposal on Sept. 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sep. 2President Trump has chosen to locate U.S. Space Command at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. once again, confirming a decision he made in January 2021, a decision that was later unwound by his successor, President Biden. "I lobbied hard for him to locate it in Ohio," Vice President J.D. Vance, who grew up in Middletown, said after Trump announced the decision Tuesday. In 2021, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base did not make a list of finalists to be home to Space Command headquarters, with its expected 1,400 new jobs, a disappointment to Dayton and Wright-Patt advocates at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is an example of Ohio very aggressively pursuing advantages and new opportunities," Michael Gessel, who represents the Dayton Development Coalition in the nation's capital, said four years ago. "And when you are bold and aggressive, you don't win everything." But Biden later reversed Trump's decision, declaring that Space Command would remain in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Alabama decision had been fraught with controversy almost from the start. Leaders in Colorado urged a reconsideration. (The command was located at Petersen Air Force Base near Colorado Springs.) "It's clear the (President Biden) administration will not go back to Alabama," then-Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown said in June 2023. "The prior administration put it there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time, Wright-Patterson was not generally seen as a location possibility. But Brown at one point had renewed calls to locate the permanent headquarters of Space Command in Ohio, writing then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to urge him to consider the Buckeye State as the headquarters. Wright-Patterson is a big base that touches all parts of the Air Force and the Space Force. The National Space Intelligence Center (NSIC) at Wright-Patterson reports to the deputy chief of space operations for intelligence in Washington, a change made last year. The Space Command move is not expected to have any impact on NSIC. Redstone, near Huntsville, is a U.S. Army post that has served as a garrison for the Army Material Command, the Army Aviation and Missile Command, the Missile Defense Agency and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, among other missions. Private company Space X also has functions there. "I am thrilled to report that the U.S. Space Command headquarters will move to the beautiful locale of a place called Huntsville, Ala. forever to be known, from this point forward, as Rocket City," Trump said Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Space Command was created by Trump during his first term in 2018. Space Command and U.S. Space Force are not the same. The command is a military combatant command, conducting satellite, troop and other operations. That is distinct from Space Force, which is a military branch like the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Space Force is part of the Department of the U.S. Air Force. [In the player above, watch previous FOX 8 News coverage on a confirmed tornado in Huron County.] NORWALK, Ohio (WJW) Huron County officials have scheduled the bi-annual test of the countys Wireless Emergency Alert system for noon on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The monthly test of the countys outdoor warning siren is set for the same time, according to a Wednesday news release from Huron County Emergency Management & Homeland Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hate group shouted down in Hudson Anyone in the county with a compatible device which is almost any smartphone released in the last several years is supposed to receive an emergency alert that reads something similar to This is the Huron County Emergency Management Agency conducting a TEST! with its own unique ringtone and vibration, similar to an Amber Alert, according to the release. The goal of these tests is to ensure public alerting systems are functional and to ensure residents are familiar with the methods used to deliver critical emergency information, reads the release. By conducting the WEA test with the monthly siren test, Huron County EMA aims to create a recognizable time for residents to expect and become familiar with emergency alerting activity. Since the alert comes from cellular towers, its possible residents of Milan in neighboring Erie County, Plymouth in Richland County and other places near the county line could also receive the alert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crazy: Frantic deer crashes through windows, damaging Westlake offices Residents are encouraged to enable WEA alerts on their phone. Here are some guides for both iPhone and Android users: The testing could be postponed if the weather is bad, officials said. The National Weather Service confirmed at least two tornadoes in Huron County this summer: an EF-1 tornado on Aug. 13 in New London and an EF-1 tornado on June 18 near Collins. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hurricane Lorena joined the club of hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific, becoming the eighth storm to reach hurricane strength in the Eastern Pacific this year. Lorenas Genesis A lot of storms in the Eastern Pacific form in the same general area: south of Mexico in the warmest waters in the region. These storms generally travel one of two directions: west across the Pacific or north to bring impacts to Mexico. Lorena was one of the latter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the hurricane center began to monitor an area of interest at the end of August, the storm got its act together enough to become a tropical depression the morning of September 1 and then became Tropical Storm Lorena by the next morning on Tuesday . Lorena became a hurricane Wednesday morning and reached its peak wind speed of 85 mph before weakening back into a tropical storm Thursday morning. El pronostico en espanol es aqui. Impacts Without Landfall Lorena never actually made landfall across Mexico, but that doesnt stop the impacts. Even at its inception, outer bands of the storm were clipping western Mexico, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These impacts continued as Lorena moved northwest along the western Mexico coastline, with some of the most significant impacts occurring across the Baja Peninsula. Outer rainbands soaked areas around Los Cabos in the southern Baja Peninsula with the National Hurricane Center warning that storm totals could reach 15 inches, even as the core of the storm remained well offshore. This rainfall caused mud- and landslides, causing damage across the region. Teasing the US Early forecasts showed Lorena steering into northwestern Mexico and potentially enhancing the monsoon rains of the Southwest, a region in desperate need of rainfall. The storm ultimately was only able to contribute a moderate amount of moisture and rainfall to the region. Robert Shackelford is a meteorologist and climate scientist at weather.com. He received his undergraduate and masters degree from the University of Georgia studying meteorology and experimenting with alternative hurricane forecasting tools. Sisters Kaye Ford, left, and Chloe Saelee with photos of their sister, Nikki Cheng-Saelee McCain, who has been missing since May 2024. (Lisa Magladry / For The Times) A Redding husband who called for the public's help to find his missing wife has pleaded not guilty to charges that he murdered Nikki Saelee McCain, whose disappearance sparked a months-long investigation by local and federal authorities. Tyler McCain was arrested Aug. 20 by Shasta County sheriff's deputies, culminating a 15-month investigation into her disappearance, Sheriff Michael Johnson said during a news conference at the time. Officials allege McCain killed Nikki Saelee McCain at least in part to keep her from testifying about a pending domestic violence case against him, in which he allegedly dragged her around their home, hit her face, bound her limbs with duct tape and poured cold water over her before she was able to escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCain pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 22, according to the Shasta County District Attorney's office. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The arrest came despite the fact that investigators have been unable to locate Nikki's body, which law enforcement officials said complicated their investigation. "These cases are layered, meticulous, require months of investigation," said Johnson during a news conference. Read more: Murder suspect detained in Peru; wife's body was found dumped in Angeles National Forest Shasta County Dist. Atty. Stephanie Bridgett said this case is the first time her office has sought to prosecute murder charges without having located a body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Despite not finding her body, we have been provided with overwhelming evidence to prove that not only is Nikki dead, but that Tyler McCain is responsible for her murder," Bridgett said. Relatives reported Nikki missing on May 22, 2024, and told officials she had last been seen on May 18. On May 25, her Chevy Avalanche was located off Highway 36, and evidence recovered at the scene suggested to investigators that the mother of four had been the victim of foul play, Johnson said. For months, investigators kept details of the case quiet, even as local, state, and federal agencies were brought in to support in the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For months, little information surfaced on the case and, on March 10, McCain stood next to his missing wife's sisters and FBI agents at a news conference, asking for the public's help. But Nikki's sisters allege McCain was not being forthcoming with relatives or investigators, and other details of the couple's relationship raised concerning flags on the case. Relatives said the couple's relationship had deteriorated before Nov. 29, 2023, when McCain is accused of attacking Nikki. Nikki was hospitalized and began divorce proceedings, while law enforcement officials looked into allegations of corporal injury to a spouse and false imprisonment, Nikki's sister Chloe Saelee told The Times in a previous interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those charges were dismissed in July 2024, after her disappearance. Read more: Parents of missing baby Emmanuel Haro appear in court on murder charge Bridgett said the charges were once again filed against McCain, along with the allegations of murder, because investigators believe the killing was, in part, to prevent her from testifying in that case. Prosecutors have also filed additional charges against McCain, including illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition after a protective order had been issued following the alleged domestic violence incident, and before Nikki went missing. The charges stemmed from a search of his home, Bridgett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCain is also facing a charge of forgery for allegedly faking his wife's signature in a tax return check. McCain was also charged with reckless driving, dumping on a highway and driving on a suspended license after he was allegedly seen dumping items on the highway on April 1, nearly a year after Nikki had been reported missing, Bridgett said. When officials contacted McCain that day, she said, he allegedly had a driver's license belonging to Nikki that appeared to be burnt. 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. Hybrid work schedules for federal employees have plummeted under President Donald Trump, even though they remain widespread for other U.S. workers whose duties dont require them to be onsite. Data released by Gallup on Wednesday shows the prevalence of hybrid arrangements a combination of at-home and in-office work has decreased only slightly for the workforce at large over the past two quarters, dropping from 55% to 51%. At the same time, the number of those who work fully remote has ticked up 2%. But the federal workforce is a different story. While 61% of feds worked under a hybrid model in late 2024, only 28% reported doing so in surveys Gallup conducted in May, after the Trump administration began its crackdown on work-from-home scheduling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So even though hybrid work in general has endured post-pandemic, the hybrid era is over within the federal government, Gallup reported. Related: Trump Says He Plans To Fire Federal Employees Who Continue Remote Work Bringing federal workers back into the office full-time has been a priority for the White House since Trump was inaugurated. Although administration officials argued employees are more productive in-person, its also clear they wanted to make the jobs more stressful and less enjoyable so that many people would quit. A lot of workers viewed the elimination of hybrid work along with more petty demands, like making employees justify their jobs in weekly emails as a change meant to incentivize taking Trumps deferred resignation deal, in which they could give up their jobs and be paid through September. Some 150,000 workers ended up accepting buyout offers from the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to killing hybrid arrangements, the White House has also moved to end fully remote positions for many people who live more than 50 miles from an agency office. These workers were given the choice of either moving their families or quitting their jobs. Trump vowed to crack down on remote work for federal employees before he was inaugurated. Bloomberg via Getty Images Federal unions have bristled at the administrations mandates, noting they often violate hybrid- and remote-work stipulations outlined in collective-bargaining agreements secured under Trumps predecessor, former President Joe Biden. The Trump administration claimed those protections were unlawful and cannot be enforced since they conflicted with his executive order forcing workers back to the office. Trump had vowed after winning the election in November that he would fire workers who didnt start showing up in person. If people dont come back to work, come back into the office, theyre going to be dismissed, the president-elect said in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gallup data suggests these drastic changes make the federal government an outlier, not part of a broader trend that spells the death knell of working from home. Related: Trump Again Dismisses Epstein Hoax As Victims Call For Transparency: Live Updates There have been many stories recently about high-profile companies tiring of hybrid-work schedules and dragging employees back to the office to boost productivity. But surveys indicate the flexible arrangements have been persistent in the private sector, with only minor shifts showing up in the survey data since 2022, Gallup said. And although hybrid workers are showing up in the office more often, the change has only been modest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whereas these workers reported spending 42% of their time in the office in 2022, they now spend 46% of their workweek there on average. And according to Gallup, that increase in office time all happened during 2023, with no change over the past year. More on Politics Nearly 150,000 Federal Workers Have Left Under Trump, New Analysis Shows Trump Administration Orders IRS Workers Back To Office, Ignoring Union Contract Pro-Trump New York Post Shreds RFK Jr. In Brutal Editorial: Paranoid Kook Read the original on HuffPost SEOUL (Reuters) -The union of South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor will stage partial strikes over three days this week at plants across South Korea, in a push for shorter working hours and higher wages, according to a notice sent to members of the union. The company's Korean union, which has about 40,000 members, will launch the partial strikes at various plants including factories in Ulsan, Jeonju and Asan, the notice said. Workers will leave work for two hours on Wednesday and Thursday and four hours on Friday, it said. The decision to launch industrial action came after a majority of the union voted on August 25 to support the plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The union asked management to pay a 30% bonus from the company's net income in 2024, when Hyundai generated record-high revenue from growth in the U.S. The union also wants to raise the retirement age to 64 from the legally guaranteed 60, as well as switch to a 4-1/2-day work week, a union spokesperson said. In 2003, Hyundai's union was among the first Korean groups to reach an agreement with management over a five-day work week, in a country where most people had worked a half day on Saturday. The Hyundai union, one of the largest and most influential labour groups in Korea, has not gone on a full-time strike for seven years over wage negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2024, in a protest against former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched declaration of martial law, Hyundai's unionised workers staged a partial strike for two days. A Hyundai Motor spokesperson was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday. (Reporting by Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies) After attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it is increasingly concerned about the whereabouts of highly enriched uranium. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi demanded access to the material in a new report on Wednesday. The agency's inspectors left Iran following the Israeli and US attacks in June, and Tehran has suspended its cooperation with the nuclear watchdog in Vienna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An IAEA team first returned to Iran at the end of August but were were only allowed to inspect one nuclear power plant, but not the more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium. The inspectors are focusing on highly enriched uranium stocks they say are "cause for serious concern," according to the confidential report seen by dpa. Grossi noted that Iran is the only state without nuclear weapons that has such material at its disposal. The IAEA set the goal in the past of being able to detect any possible misuse of this uranium for military purposes within a month. But two and a half months have passed since the most recent inspection, Grossi noted in his report, in which he said a review is "overdue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior diplomat said that under an agreement with the IAEA, Iran would be required to submit a special report on the status of its nuclear material following events such as attacks or earthquakes. This would be the basis for the IAEA to carry out inspections. Further talks between representatives of the nuclear agency and Iran are planned in the coming days, the diplomat said. Demands to leave nuclear pact Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. But on Wednesday, dozens of lawmakers in Tehran called for the country to swiftly withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which prohibits countries without a nuclear arsenal from acquiring nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The call comes in response to the imminent reintroduction of tough international sanctions. Sixty lawmakers called for the withdrawal from the international agreement during a parliamentary session, the Didban news portal reported on Wednesday. It is unclear whether lawmakers will be successful in their efforts. The Security Council and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ultimately have the final say. Germany, France and the United Kingdom - in this context known as the E3 - recently initiated the process for the reintroduction of old UN sanctions. The background to this is a mechanism in the 2015 Vienna nuclear deal, which expires in mid-October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This so-called snapback mechanism allows the parties to the nuclear deal, which includes the E3, to reimpose sanctions in the event of violations by Iran. At the heart of the nuclear dispute is the international community's concern about Iran building a nuclear bomb. Tehran has repeatedly denied that its nuclear programme is anything but civilian in nature. In the Vienna nuclear agreement, Iran committed to limiting its nuclear programme. In return, sanctions were to be lifted. However, during his first term in office, US President Donald Trump unilaterally terminated the agreement. In fact, the deal has not been implemented for years, and Tehran therefore considers the reintroduction of the old sanctions to be illegitimate. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks to reporters at a Sept. 3, 2025, news conference at Louisiana State Penitentiary. She was joined by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, left, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison Sheahan and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to announce the opening of Camp 57, a facility at the prison that will house immigrant detainees. (Photo by Piper Hutchinson/Louisiana Illuminator) ANGOLA A section of the Louisiana State Penitentiary undergoing emergency repairs is being used to house Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees, Gov. Jeff Landry and officials with the Trump administration announced Wednesday. Landry said the facility will house the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens arrested by ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A complex at the state prison is already being used to house 51 detainees and has a total capacity of 416. Joining Landry at the prison to make the announcement were U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheehan, who previously served as Landrys Wildlife and Fisheries secretary. Louisiana, youre going to be an example for the rest of this country, Bondi said. Landry declared a state emergency in late July to allow the expedited repair of Camp J at Angola. The four-building complex had been closed since 2018, with its only use as a quarantine site during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither the governor nor Noem shared whether the facility will be used as a post-conviction facility or as another ICE detention center where detainees await charges or trial. The detainees will join more than 4,000 inmates at Louisiana State Penitentiary, which stands on the site of a former slave plantation that is still a working farm now staffed with prisoners. Workers on the prisons farm line, who pick vegetables that help feed the prisoners, are currently suing the state, alleging dangerous working conditions. Inmates at Angola can earn a maximum of $8 a week, regardless of the type of work they do. Landry touted Angolas natural features, including forests full of bears and swamps full of alligators as among the new facilitys safety features. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Camp J section of the prison where ICE detainees are being held was once known as the Dungeon. It was designated as solitary confinement to segregate prisoners for disciplinary reasons. Prison officials closed it seven years ago after its cell locks malfunctioned, allowing inmates to evade security checks. Dozens of weapons were discovered after its closure, and more than 80 prison employees quit, retired or were fired related to misconduct at Camp J. Though it was rumored Camp J would be renamed Camp 47 to honor President Donald Trump, it has instead been renamed Camp 57 in honor of Landry, the 57th governor of Louisiana. The governor also referred to the facility as Louisiana Lockup, a title that was featured prominently on an oversized licensed plate that adorned the lectern he, Bondi and Noem used at a news conference in front of the facility. Landrys emergency order in late July suspended state procurement code and public bid law to allow the officials to secure any materials and write or amend any contracts needed to respond to the emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite being asked by reporters multiple times, Landry would not disclose how much money the state spent on renovations or operations or whether the federal government would reimburse the state for any of its costs. Sheehan said the facility has been brought up to ICE standards, and detainees will have access to attorneys and a law library. Aside from its state penitentiary, Louisiana has become a go-to location for the Trump administration since it placed a heightened emphasis on immigration enforcement in January. The states nine ICE processing and detentions centers have a combined capacity of 6,000 people, second only to Texas with more than 28,000. Louisiana State Penitentiary has room to hold more than 6,000 incarcerated people. Its population was 4,253 as of June 30, according to the most recent statistics from the Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigrant rights advocates say the Louisiana ICE facilities have been full for several months because Bondi and the U.S. Department of Justice consider federal courts in the South to be more friendly venues for its immigration cases. According to data analysis from the Deportation Data Project, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 1,989 people in Louisiana from when Trump returned to office Jan. 20 through June 26. More than half of those arrestees have since been deported or removed from the United States. The analysis also found that just 6% of ICE arrests in Louisiana over the period were convicted violent criminals. Critics of the Trump administrations approach to immigration have called on federal courts to uphold the U.S. Constitutions requirement of due process for persons who are arrested. They note the vast majority of immigrant detainees have not been allowed to post bail while awaiting trial and are therefore unable to build their defense and secure witnesses. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE As part of his studies in the fall of 2022, then-criminology Washington State University Ph.D. student Bryan Kohberger proposed researching criminals' emotions and how they made decisions. In November, the scholar of crime would go on to stab four college students to death. Buried in nearly 700 pages of evidence photos, the Idaho State Police released a trove of Kohberger's homework assignments from his Pullman, Washington, apartment. The pictures were released in response to public records requests, including from ABC News. They are among the thousands of pages of records now being released in the wake of Kohbergers decision to plead guilty to killing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in July. Kyle Green/Pool/Getty Images - PHOTO: Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse for his sentencing hearing, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho. MORE: Bryan Kohberger admits to Idaho college killings in plea hearing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Not all criminal actions reflect a rational, instrumental process," Kohberger wrote for one of his classes. "Crimes of passion involve reactive violence, which manifests due to intense emotional arousal, confounding notions of an exclusively cold, criminal calculus." He said he wanted to understand "how emotions, both positively and negatively valanced, influence the decision-making involved in burglary before, during and after crime-commission." He suggested conducting "in-person, semi-structured" jailhouse interviews. Investigators pored over everything they found among Kohberger's possessions in order to help piece together a portrait of their suspect. Kohberger's writings indicated that he had not only steeped himself in studying crime -- he had shown desire to get inside criminals' heads, according to investigators. MORE: Bryan Kohberger seen moments after arrest in newly released photo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That, in and of itself, would not make him a criminal. There's others out there that are deeply fascinated in studying people that would never probably even consider committing the crime," said Ed Jacobson, who was the FBI's Acting Supervisor for the Couer d'Alene and Lewiston offices during the Moscow investigation. "Once we arrested him, the [Behavioral Analysis Unit] is out there. They are going through the phones. They're going through every bit of information we've gathered on this guy," Jacobson said. "We're looking for evidence we can show in court. They're looking at it as the broader spectrum. They're trying to get into this guy's thinking patterns. It goes to knowledge, and potentially motive. Doesn't make him guilty -- but a lot of other stuff did." Prosecutors had planned to use Kohberger's homework against him at trial. They would have used some of his assignments to show he had intently "studied crime" -- and knew exactly how to cover his tracks after committing murder. "He had that knowledge and skill," lead prosecutor Bill Thompson said at the July 2 plea hearing. Idaho Statesman/TNS via Getty Images - PHOTO: Four University of Idaho students were found dead at an off-campus home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. MORE: Idaho murders: New details reveal what surviving roommate saw and heard in the house Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The now-admitted killer also wrote at length about how "procedural injustice" in the American system "has produced many false confessions." "False guilty pleas manifest due to a lack of judicial oversight and plea deals that seem to compel defendants to enter them," Kohberger wrote. "If defendants fail to accept a plea bargain, prosecutors will pursue the strictest charges." "Some people simply plead guilty to crimes they did not commit as to choose the lesser of two evils," he said. Kohberger also pointed to "eyewitness misidentification" as an issue and noted a potential remedy: "increasing video surveillance in public places." Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram - PHOTO: A photo posted by Kaylee Goncalves a few days before their deaths shows University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. MORE: New Idaho college murders documents show some victims were 'unrecognizable,' fought back in 'intense struggle' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another paper, Kohberger described how "imprudent application of prosecutorial power" fostered mass incarceration. He wrote about a 2005 murder case involving a woman who was convicted of her mother's murder, and who later won her release. Kohberger wrote how the prosecutor "behaved highly unethically" and the woman was "forced" to "accept the evidence against her." "If she failed to comply, this would leave [the accused woman] with no future, and in an attempt to salvage what was left of her life, she acquiesced," Kohberger wrote. "Though one cannot ascertain [her] actual guilt, her case is reminiscent of the rushed process that precipitates false imprisonment." Another seven-page paper explored what Kohberger called a "gruesome" stabbing murder case. "Blood pooled around him and was spattered on the walls and television near his body," Kohberger said, describing how the victim was found. He noted grisly details from the scene "would be a reminder of the seriousness" of the crime to jurors. Kohberger added that the alleged killer's DNA evidence was found at the scene which belied his "initial account." In an essay quiz dated Oct. 19, 2022, Kohberger discussed whether the death penalty is a "valid public policy, especially in the context of history and morality." He argued that in fact, capital punishment is not effective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no evidence of deterrent effects, and there remains an even better argument that, rather than preventing anarchy and disorder, the divisive policy may increase it in due time," Kohberger wrote. In his papers on the death penalty, he cited some of the same court decisions his lawyers would later use in an unsuccessful attempt to take the death penalty off the table in his own case. By the end of the fall 2022 semester, Kohbergers status at the university was in jeopardy, according to police records. Just 11 days before he would carry out the quadruple killing, Kohberger was sent a letter from his graduate program how to adjust his behavior -- or face further discipline. The "improvement plan," dated Nov. 2, 2022 and issued by WSU Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, directed Kohberger to establish goals and meet with a supervisor weekly. Among the steps he was directed to take was to "make sure weekly goals are progressively harder to ensure progress throughout the rest of the semester." POCATELLO, Idaho Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador's office said it will not seek criminal charges against four Pocatello police officers who shot a nonverbal teenager with autism, who later died, while responding to a call in April. "The death of 17-year-old Victor Perez was a tragedy," Deputy Attorney General Jeff Nye wrote in a letter outlining the outcome on Wednesday. He added: "The State would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the four officers who discharged their weapons were not justified in using deadly force. We will thus not file criminal charges against the officers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force investigated the shooting. Prosecutors said they focused on what the officers reasonably knew at the time. "The officers' knowledge was limited to what dispatch reported, and dispatch's knowledge was limited to what the 911 caller reported. Neither the 911 caller, dispatch, nor the officers were aware of Perez's age or his disabilities. Instead, the officers were told they were heading into a disturbance where an intoxicated male was trying to stab others with a knife," the letter states. Officers were called to Perez's home on April 5 by a neighbor, who saw the teen holding a knife and in an altercation with members of his family in their backyard. When officers arrived, they moved to a 4-foot chain-link fence around the backyard. Perez, who also had cerebral palsy, had fallen over and was on the ground when officers arrived. Guns drawn, they repeatedly yelled, "Drop the knife!" but he instead stood up and began to step toward them. Three officers opened fire with their handguns, while a fourth fired a bean-bag shotgun, officials have previously said. Nye wrote in the letter Wednesday that, "it would have been better for everyone had the officers kept their distance from the fence." But he said the officers acted on the information they had at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators later estimated the distance between the officers and Perez at about 12 feet. Perez died at a hospital six days later after being taken off life support. An autopsy documented 12 gunshot wounds. A use-of-force expert hired by the state found that "any reasonable officer" in the same position, with the same limited information, would have seen the person with the knife as "an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury" when the shooting began, the letter from the Idaho Attorney General's Office states. The letter also notes that Idaho law "does not require officers to use less lethal options or to retreat when deadly force is justified." It also does not require police to try a Taser or other less-lethal tools before using deadly force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, Nye acknowledged the public outrage the case garnered. He wrote that the situation is "tragic and heart-rending," and that if officers had known more at the time, "our conclusions might be different." But, he added, prosecutors must base decisions "only on what the officers actually knew or reasonably believed at the time," and on the law. James Cook, an attorney for the Perez family, told CBS News they expected this outcome but will keep fighting in civil court. "We are disappointed. However, we are not surprised," he said. Cook said the family will file an amended complaint in their wrongful death lawsuit using information from the state's materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Nye's full letter below. Idaho Deputy Attorney General Jeff Nye Letter by CBSNews.com Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Undocumented migrants charged with violent crimes to be held in Angola prison, DHS says Nobody from the state gave fifth-generation Idaho rancher Nick Beard a heads up that state officials were considering auctioning off the state endowment rangeland his family has leased for grazing since the 1990s. (Photo courtesy of Nick Beard) Update: This story was updated at 2:15 p.m. Sept. 10, 2025, to reflect that the Land Board is not expected to take up this issue at its Sept. 16 meeting. Nobody from the state gave fifth-generation Idaho rancher Nick Beard a heads up that state officials were considering auctioning off the state endowment rangeland his family has leased for grazing since the 1990s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Instead, his wife found out through a Facebook post that the 160-acre parcel of land near Driggs and the Teton Range is set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Even though Beards family signed a lease with the state to graze cattle on the property through 2032, the Facebook post was true. On July 15, the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners voted 5-0 to sell the 160-acre parcel of land, which state officials refer to as the Driggs 160, through a public auction. We had always said we figured the state land was probably one of the last pieces of land we would lose, Beard said. We thought we were pretty connected with it until at least 2032 (when our lease is up). Weve always known someone could come in and outbid us at the next renewal. We have always known we could lose this in 2032, but I was never expecting them during the middle of our lease to just put it up for sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 21, about a week after the Land Boards vote, someone from the Idaho Department of Lands finally told Beard the land was going to be sold. Beard was confused and upset by the sale, which he said is the latest hardship he has faced as a small family rancher trying to carry on the legacy his late grandfather and late father taught him when he was just a boy. Development comes to Idahos Teton County Beard and his wife are raising young children that Beard hopes will have an opportunity to become the sixth generation of ranchers in the Beard family. But Beard worries they have been priced out of Teton County and says it is harder than ever for small ranchers to make a living, which is why he also works at a local communications company and ranches on nights and weekends. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve relied on that piece of ground for the last 30-some years, and I was under the impression my kids might be inheriting the lease on the land one day, Beard said. Its a lifestyle Im not ready to give up just because someone wants to sell off all the ground. Driggs, Tetonia and Teton County, Idaho, are located in eastern Idaho in the shadow of the world-famous Teton Range and Grand Targhee Resort, which is undergoing an expansion. Teton County has been booming with development since the early 2000s, and Beard said development and inflated property values have put the squeeze on family ranchers who have worked the land since well before out-of-state millionaires and billionaires began buying up land and moving nearby. Losing the grazing land compounds Beards problems. Its put me in a hard spot, Beard said. Its hard to find pasture over here with all subdividing going on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lease allowed Beard to graze 45 cattle for 45 days each summer on the state endowment land, which is located just about a mile from the ranch where Beard lives. He paid about $963 a year for the lease and also took care of the land. His family spent about two years installing a fence on the property by hand stretching barbed wire and pounding posts into the ground. Beard still continues to maintain the fence and haul water to the property for his cattle. I treated the land with respect; weve been good stewards of the land, Beard said. Its just kind of a kick to the face to find out they cut your lease short because they got a better offer from someone instead of fulfilling the lease we had. Although the Land Board voted to sell the land, the auction has not taken place, and there is no deal in place yet. Teton County commissioners also have the ability to object to the sale. The commissioners have until Sept. 19 to comment, according to Idaho Department of Lands spokesperson Sharla Arledge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Beard shared an online petition signed by more than 1,500 people urging the Land Board to reconsider the sale of the state endowment land. Data from Change.org indicates that 60% of the people who signed the petition are from three Idaho ZIP codes, 83455, 83422 and 83452, which include Tetonia, Driggs and Victor. Arledge said in an email the issue will not be on the Land Boards Sept. 16 agenda. It may be considered by the board in October. The Land Boards meeting agendas are available online. On July 15, the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners voted 5-0 to sell the 160-acre parcel of land, which state officials refer to as the Driggs 160, through a public auction. (Photo courtesy of Nick Beard) (Photo courtesy of Nick Beard) Why is the state of Idaho preparing to auction off the endowment land near Driggs? Officials told the Idaho Capital Sun the state began considering the auction after a local landowner approached them with interest in buying the 160-acres parcel of endowment land that Beards family has been leasing. (State officials declined to identify the interested local landowner to the Sun, but said they expect multiple parties to be interested in the land due to the values of surrounding parcels). State endowment lands are specifically governed by a section of the Idaho Constitution that requires the state to manage those lands for the maximum long-term financial return for beneficiaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long story short, state officials say the property is generating about $960 a year in lease revenue now, but selling the property could generate millions of dollars for the state. Were tasked with maximizing revenue on state endowment lands under that constitutional mandate, Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller told the Sun. When we run into problems, is (when) the underlying value of that ground becomes so high, and if were not making or producing the right amount of revenue on that property, then weve got to look at other options. A state legislator who has followed the issue says its creating a challenge for Beard, but he does understand the constitutional issues. Assistant Idaho Senate Majority Leader Mark Harris is a member of the Republican leadership team and a rancher from Soda Springs. The issue I have is the lease. His lease is not up, and here the state is talking about selling that parcel of ground and basically negating the rest of the lease, which I think is unfair, Harris told the Idaho Capital Sun. However, I can see the state of Idahos perspective and Article 9, Section 8 of the state Constitution, requiring the state to maximize revenue of endowment land. I can see both sides, but I think the problem is growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sympathetic to Beards situation, Harris and another state legislator attended a Teton County Commission meeting in August to learn more about the issue and see if they could help Beard. County commissioners have the option to object to the sale. Moving forward, Harris said he doesnt want what happened to Beard to happen to other lease holders, and he thinks the Idaho Legislature and the executive branch of government should figure out and discuss the issue. For future issues that come up like this, I think we as the state need to seriously consider the lease agreement on these parcels, if we are going to see them out to the end or terminate them, Harris said. A lease is an agreement, and my opinion is that those leases should be honored until the end. For their part, state officials said there are no legal barriers to auctioning the land even with the lease in place. Leases generally include fine print that allows the state to break the lease once notification requirements have been met. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the July Land Board meeting, Real Estate Bureau Chief Roger Hall told the Land Board there were no legal barriers or limitations to reclassifying the land even with the current grazing lease. Is Idahos state endowment land public? The states planned sale of the Driggs 160 endowment land comes at a time when public lands have become a flashpoint in America. This year, there was a massive public backlash to unsuccessful efforts by U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to make millions of acres of public land including in Idaho available to be sold off to the highest bidder. This map from the Idaho Department of Lands shows the location of 160 acres of state endowment land near Driggs that is set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. (Map courtesy of the Idaho Department of Lands) Idaho state officials say this government owned state endowment land near Driggs is different than land owned by the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State endowment land including the Driggs 160 is not considered public land, said Miller, the director of the Idaho Department of Lands. These lands are not public lands, theyre state endowment trust lands, and the landlord has sole authority over their sale, disposition, the purchase of additional lands and leasing over those lands, Miller said. The land is not a park or a forest, and it is not staffed for recreational use, Miller said. However, Miller and Beard agree that there is currently public access to the land. Beard said each spring, members of the public access the land to look for shed antlers, while each summer and fall people take their dogs there to train them or prepare for hunting season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beard said he has always been fine with people accessing the land as long as they keep the gate closed and dont litter or abuse the land, and he has never had problems with the public. I am all for people selling private ground, but I dont think one ounce of public ground should be sold off and auctioned to the highest bidder, Beard said. Who will end up with the state endowment land if it is auctioned off? State officials say the endowment land will be sold to the highest bidder in an open public auction anybody can participate in, so they have no idea who will buy it. State officials also declined to say who reached out expressing interest in buying the land. However, Beard said lawyers representing a neighboring land owner, Thomas Tull, reached out to him expressing interest in the land just after Beards dad died in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tull is a billionaire businessman and movie producer who has invested in AI research. Idaho campaign finance records show that in 2023, Tull contributed $25,000 to the Friends of Brad Little political committee. As governor, Little is chairman of the Land Board and voted to approve the sale of the endowment land in July. Beard said he has never had a problem with Tull and gets along well with his local ranch manager. I have nothing bad to say about the Teton Ridge Ranch; theyve been great, Beard said, noting that the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen owned the ranch before Tulls company. Littles press secretary Joan Varsek issued a written statement saying state officials are obligated to seek the maximum financial return on the endowment land. Varsek also said anybody can participate in the auction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor and his fellow Land Board members have a constitutional duty to generate maximum returns on the management and disposition of endowment lands, Varsek said Friday. They unanimously approved moving toward a public auction for the disposition of Driggs 160, and anyone can bid at auction. The current grazing lease on the land generates under $1,000 annually for the endowment beneficiary, and it is anticipated multiple people will be interested in acquiring this highly valued property. Varsek referred questions about political contributions to Littles campaign team. As of Friday, Little has not yet publicly announced if he will seek re-election in 2026 or publicly unveiled a campaign team. Further reading on a parcel of Idaho state endowment let set to be auctioned off The Jackson Hole News & Guide has covered the states plans to sell a parcel of state endowment land near Driggs, the impact on rancher Nick Beards family and local county commission meetings all summer. Articles may appear behind a paywall. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Army Radio added that this was the first time that the Houthis managed to fire a missile that triggered sirens in Israel after the IDF killed top Houthi leaders in Sanaa last week. Houthi terrorists in Yemen launched a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with cluster bomb munitions to target Israel, the IDF stated on Wednesday evening. Earlier on Wednesday, the military successfully intercepted the Houthi missile, which triggered sirens across central Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Large booms sounded across Israel following the interception. Army Radio reporter Doron Kadosh noted that this was the first time that the Houthis managed to fire a missile that triggered sirens in Israel after the IDF killed top Houthi leaders in Sanaa last week. Since last week, the Houthis have launched four ballistic missiles and two drones that fell or were intercepted outside of Israeli territory, with the recent launch being the fifth missile since Israel's attack on Sanaa, Army Radio added. The scene where fragments of a ballistic missile fired from Yemen hit an open area in Moshav Ginaton, central Israel, August 23, 2025 (credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90) Israel Police confirmed that secondary explosions were detected in three different locations across Israel, with bomb squads defusing any additional shrapnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The public is asked not to touch interception remains that may contain explosives and to report them immediately to the police," said the police statement. New Houthi missile raises alarms in Israel An analysis of the last couple of missile launches by the Houthis seems to show that the terror group is using cluster munitions, which disperse after being intercepted and aim to harm a wide area rather than a specific target. The IDF confirmed on August 24 that the missile launched that week contained this type of munition, this being the first time during the war that they have used this category of weapon. On that occasion, the missile fragmented in the air with only a couple of shards actually falling into Israel. The IDF said that the failure to shoot down the missile was due to an unidentified human or technical failure, and not because the missile contained cluster munitions. Houthis resume attacks on the Red Sea After the previous attacks during the week failed, the Houthis also announced the resumption of operations against civilian boats entering the Red Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Yemeni terror group said on Tuesday that it had attacked a ship in the northern Red Sea with two drones and a missile over its connection to Israel. The group did not say when the attack happened. There was no immediate confirmation of the attack from maritime sources. "The Yemeni armed forces carried out a joint military operation targeting the ship ... for violating the (Houthis) decision to ban entry to the ports of occupied Palestine," the group's spokesperson said. On Monday, the Houthis said they launched a missile towards the Liberia-flagged Israeli-owned tanker "Scarlet Ray" ship near Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port city of Yanbu. Reuters and Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report. The terrorist Musbah Salim Musbah Dayyah, who served as the head of the Mujahideen terrorist organization, was killed during an airstrike in the Gaza Strip. The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) have killed Musbah Salim Musbah Dayyah, head of the Mujahideen terrorist group that held the Bibas family, the IDF reported Wednesday. Dayyah was responsible for terrorist attacks in Gaza and the West Bank, the IDF said. He was the fourth Mujahideen leader in Gaza to be eliminated over the past few months, it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mujahideen terrorists took a significant part in the brutalOctober 7 massacre, including abduction and murder, the IDF said. Dayyah was operating in the Nuseirat refugee camp area in the central Gaza Strip. Kataib al-Mujahideen (Holy Warriors Brigades), the so-called armed wing of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, invaded Israel during the October 7 massacre. It was responsible for the abduction and murder of Shiri Bibas and her children, Kfir and Ariel, as well as the killing of Israeli-American-Canadian couple Judith Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai and Thai workers. Terror group responsible abduction, murder, of several hostages The IDF killed Kataib al-Mujahideen commander Mahmoud Muhammad Hamid Kuhail, also known as Abu al-Mutasim, and Palestinian Mujahideen Movement leader Asad Abu Sharaiya in an airstrike in early June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to security sources, Kataib al-Mujahideen is relatively small but highly lethal and compartmentalized, which has allowed it to operate under the radar of the IDF and evade intelligence monitoring. The group was established during the Second Intifada by senior terrorists who split from Fatahs al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and adopted a more radical Salafi ideology. After its first commander, Omar Abu Sharia, was killed by the IDF in 2006, his family members assumed the leadership. Soldiers of the IDF's undercover Duvdevan unit killed a terrorist who threw concrete blocks at them during a covert operation in Nablus on Wednesday, the military stated. Soldiers of the IDF's Duvdevan commando unit, responsible for undercover counterterror operations in the West Bank, killed a terrorist who threw concrete blocks at them during a covert operation in Nablus on Wednesday, the military confirmed. The operation's original goal, which was led by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), was to arrest a wanted terrorist for conducting terror activity in the Balata refugee camp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duvdevan soldiers raided the building where the terrorist was located and arrested him. While the operation was ongoing, the soldiers noticed a second terrorist throwing concrete blocks at them from the roof of a nearby building. They responded with live fire, killing him. Other recent operations conducted by Duvdevan counterterror commandos On August 26, an operation led by Duvdevan soldiers, along with IDF reservists and border police officers, seized hundreds of thousands of terror funds and arrested a few individuals connected to the funds in a raid on a Ramallah bank, the military confirmed to The Jerusalem Post. IDF Duvdevan unit soldiers; illustrative. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE) In a previous operation in July, Duvdevan arrested two terrorists from Ramallah and a terrorist from Beitunya who were planning attacks, the military confirmed. Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report. Imagine the ambitious but foolhardy endeavour of trying to summarize an entire culture to only 100 works, brands and ideas. Well, thats exactly what the Swedish government has undertaken and unveiled. After several years of work and a whopping eight million kronor (approx. 727,000 - according to the Sweden Herald), historian Lars Tragardh handed over the Swedish cultural canon to the Minister of Culture at a press conference held yesterday in Uppsala. The list, which purports to define what it means to be Swedish and establish a shared map and compass for Swedish citizens and new arrivals to the country, has been something of a pet project for nationalist, anti-immigration Swedish Democrats. It was even part of the election manifesto of the right-wing ruling coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, what made the final cut? The Nobel prize, Pippi Longstocking, IKEA, paternity leave and the Gustav Vasa 1541 bible all made it into Swedens cultural canon list. Other additions include Ingmar Bergman's iconic 1957 movie The Seventh Seal; Hilma af Klints Malningar till templet; Stockholm city hall, designed by Ragnar Ostberg; the practice of Allemansratt (the freedom to roam), Kakelungnen (an 18th century heating stove) and songs by author and troubadour Evert Taube. Any alarm bells ringing? ABBA, arguably Swedens most popular cultural export, didnt make the cut. The reasoning behind this? Apparently, all items in the canon must be at least 50 years old, making the band ineligible. On top of excluding contemporary experiences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, anyone with even the loosest grip on cultural history or who has the capacity to type a four-letter word into a search engine knows that ABBA were formed in 1972, won Eurovision in 1974 and released their seminal self-titled third album featuring SOS and Mamma Mia in 1975. Basic mathematics would dictate that ABBA more than qualifies within the reductive 50-year rule. And were not the only ones to have noticed this glaring and credibility straining exclusion. Swedish parliamentarian Jan Ericson said ABBA is "one of the absolutely most important symbols of Swedish culture" internationally. He posted online: " So, here a bunch of knowledgeable PR experts are sitting and selecting various parts of Swedish culture and society that are supposed to symbolize Sweden. And then they don't include ABBA. Which abroad is one of the absolutely most important symbols of Swedish culture. What the hell were they thinking there? The timeline for eligibility also ruled out most contributions made by the roughly one in five Swedes born abroad. Most of these immigrants arrived in Sweden after 1975. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also worth pointing out that Christian entries dominate on the religion front, with the exception of one of Swedens first synagogues, Marstrand. No mention of Swedens Muslim population the faith being the largest non-Christian religious group in the country. Many have spoken out to condemn the list as discriminatory, with the Swedish Academy that awards Nobel literature prize and representatives of the indigenous Sami group population both criticising the initiative as too narrow and exclusionist. The association representing the indigenous people of Tornedalen in northern Sweden shared that it was not allowed to be part of the project, which it described as "continued oppression". As for Iranian-born Swedish author Shora Esmailian, she told the Sydsvenskan newspaper that state-imposed canons of what it means to be Swedish would not help to create "a welcoming and equal society." Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (pictured in X post above with Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand) defended the initiative by saying: "Understanding the culture that has shaped our country is important for everyone. But perhaps most important for those who have come to Sweden and for those growing up in homes where there are many missing Swedish references." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Liljestrand, she clapped back at critics by saying the canon has been misunderstood. "Our approach to this has always been that a Swedish cultural canon should be a living and useful tool for education, community and inclusion," she said at a press conference yesterday. Lists are great, and congrats on all that Nattvardsgasterna (Winter Light which did make the cut), but if you dont want critics accusing the expensive canon of being a nationalist education project that only galvanises anti-immigrant sentiment, maybe consider that internationalism and multiculturalism are concepts that do not threaten cultural history. They enrich it and deserve more than to be brushed aside by arbitrary deadlines. Oh, and happy 50th anniversary to the album ABBA - Tragardh and Liljestrand should really check it out. Its a doozy. ILLINOIS (WCIA) In recent weeks all eyes have been on Chicago. Governor Pritzker and Chicagos Mayor Brandon Johnson have made it clear, they dont want troops or federal agents in the city. But some Illinois Republicans are singing a different tune. Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker and the liberal media and other pro crime advocates have tried to make this conversation about everything but the truth. The truth is pretty doggone simple. People are unsafe, and apparently the Democrats are totally fine with that, Chris Miller with the Illinois Freedom Caucus said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker says Illinois is ready as Trump considers sending National Guard to Chicago Miller and his fellow Freedom Caucus members are the latest in-state officials to call on Pritzker to take Trump up on his offer of assistance. They argue that whether it is for immigration or high crime, Chicago needs help that Pritzker cant provide. Its time for them to put their egos aside and lay aside their little petty politics and roll up their sleeves and get this problem fixed, Miller said. For the Freedom Caucus, that means bringing in the National Guard. We need to make substantive change and to put Americans on American street corners so that mothers can send their kids to the grocery store and they can come home with a gallon of milk unscathed, State Representative and Freedom Caucus member Martin McLaughlin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday afternoon Pritzker acknowledged that federal agents have already begun staging for their operation. He said he believes it will look similar to what was seen in Los Angeles this summer and that agents will be targeting community events. Its not liberty, its tyranny: Protesters at Capitol speak out against Trump Administration It breaks my heart to report that we have been told ICE will try and disrupt community picnics and peaceful parades. Lets be clear. The terror and cruelty is the point, Pritzker said. Pritzker told a crowd in Chicago on Tuesday that he has received information that the Texas National Guard is also preparing to head to Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protests in Los Angeles against ICE operations led to the National Guard being deployed. Pritzker and Johnson dont want to see that happen in Illinois and urged any protests to stay non-violent. I am imploring everyone if and when that happens, do not take the bait, said Pritzker. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICAGO (WGN) President Donald Trump says Chicago violence is out of control, and he can help. Local officials say they dont want assistance, however, pointing to murders this summer reaching a 60-year low. From the White House, President Trump views Chicago as a hellhole right now. Now, hes ready to order a federal surge to combat crime, he says. We could straighten out Chicago, all they have to do is ask us, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois leaders react after Trump renews push for federal help in Chicago despite opposition As the city braces for federal intervention which may include active-duty military personnel, the National Guard, and ICE Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is highlighting the importance of anti-violence outreach work. You cant police your way out of all the problems. What you can do, however, is work with people and try to understand them and lift them up, Pritzker said. On Wednesday in Pilsen, Prtizker met with community violence intervention teams. City leaders who oppose federal deployment argue that Chicago is not in a crisis, and they point to reductions in gun violence and crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CPD reports 278 murders from January 1 through the end of August, 123 fewer than August 31 last year. Labor Day weekend brings violence to Chicago, with nearly 60 people shot and 8 killed through Monday holiday Shooting incidents are also down, with 560 fewer shootings reported in the first eight months of the year. Were not going to get any help from Washington, Pritzker said. In fact, theyre going to do the opposite. What we can do is hold the line. At City Hall on Wednesday, alders were anxious about the coming days. If youre talking the National Guard, bad idea. Federal surge with ICE, all for it, said Ald. Nick Sposato (38th Ward). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not talking about the feds, were talking about the feds under Donald Trump. We need to wake up. It is a joke to think this guy is serious that there is any level of planning, any level of coordination, said Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th Ward). Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Also on Wednesday, amid a brief press conference, Pritzker said he expects the federal surge to begin this weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WATERLOO, Ill. More than six weeks after an Illinois girl was fatally wounded at a business in Waterloo, authorities have filed charges against two people for her death. According to Sgt. Justin Biggs, a Monroe County Sheriffs Department spokesman, deputies and EMS responded to a home in the 5900 block of State Route 3 on the afternoon of July 21. Deputies arrived to find Emma Schultheis suffering from a gunshot wound. Schultheis was rushed to a St. Louis-area hospital, but she later succumbed to her injuries. She was 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit assisted the sheriffs department in its investigation. On Aug. 26, the sheriffs department submitted its findings to the county prosecutor. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Investigators believe Emmas father, David A. Schultheis, 34, fired a Taurus .40 caliber pistol at a buzzard that had entered a brick building. David only stuck his arm into the room and kept his head outside the doorway to avoid a possible ricochet. The bullet struck the buzzard, passed through the bird, exited a window, and struck Emma, who was outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Monroe County States Attorneys Office charged David Schultheis with reckless discharge of a firearm and Karen A. Schwarze, 58, with obstructing justice and concealment of a homicidal death. Prosecutors allege Schwarze hid the pistol and attempted to dissuade others not to speak with law enforcement in the early stages of the investigation. David Schultheis turned himself in at the Monroe County Jail. Authorities are awaiting Schwarze to surrender herself to the county sheriff 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 FOX 2. On Wednesday, Florida officials announced they are working to end vaccine mandates. During a news conference, Florida Department of Health Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said the department is working in partnership with Gov. Ron DeSantiss office to end the mandates. DeSantis said he believes there will be a big medical package that will make its way through the Florida Senate and House. More: Florida working to end all vaccine mandates, states surgeon general announces Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Florida drops its school vaccine mandates, it would be the first state in the nation to do so, Nexstars The Hill reports. School districts in Florida, like others across the country, require vaccinations for polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus and other communicable diseases. In Illinois, state law requires certain immunizations for children and adults enrolled in child care, school, or college. State law also mandates immunizations for adults in specific fields of work ( e.g., health care). The laws and rules are available in full on the Illinois Dept of Public Healths website. There are also minimum immunization requirements for children enrolling or entering schools in Illinois. Those are also outlined in the IDPHs website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaccines protect against 14 diseases. Childhood vaccines are given in the first 24 months of life, with boosters administered in the years following. The vaccines include DTaP for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis or whooping cough and MMR for measles, mumps, and rubella. Varicella covers chickenpox. There are shots for polio, influenza, rotavirus, Hepatitis A and B and pneumococcal disease. Haemophilus influenzae Type B or Hib rounds out the list. Last month, Lurie Childrens Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marcelo Malakooti, spoke to WGNs Medical Watch team. Overall were seeing, over the past five years or so, were having a steady decline of kids who are getting their vaccines, he said. Some of the reasons are because the school restrictions are being lightened so they dont necessarily need to have vaccines to go in. Malakooti stresses vaccines are safe. Previous Coverage: Vaccine rates on the decline: What doctors want parents to know as kids head back to school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do your homework. The studies that are out there on vaccine safety, they are rigorously backed, he said. There are the minimal side effects that may occur after your child gets vaccine. They are far outweighed by the risks of a preventable illness that could have truly significant impact. Cases of measles are on the rise as parents opt out, many noting what doctors call widely inaccurate information. More information: IDPH School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard Dr. Kiran Joshi is the Chief Operating Officer with Cook Countys Department of Public Health and also spoke to the Medical Watch team last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaccine misinformation is spreading quickly and can cause vaccine hesitancy, Joshi said. If any viewers or listeners have doubts, I urge you to talk to a trusted healthcare provider, ask every question you have and get reliable science-based answers. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGNs Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up 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 WGN-TV. CHICAGO (WGN) President Trump renewed his push to send federal help to Chicago and announced Tuesday that hes made up his mind about a federal surge. Were going in. I didnt say when, but were going in, Trump said. If the governor of Illinois would call up, call me up, I would love to do it. Now were going to do it anyway. We have a right to do it. This comes after Chicago saw a violent Labor Day weekend that ended with 58 people shot, eight of them fatally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEE ALSO: City leaders brace for deployment of National Guard to Chicago, which may begin Tuesday Meanwhile, the city, county and states Democratic leaders do not want this, but theyre bracing for federal immigration agents and another states national guard. Also on Tuesday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spoke at a press conference along with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, saying there is no emergency warranting the deployment of federal law enforcement to Chicago. Pritzker said hes learned armed agents are preparing for sweeping federal immigration raids. Those agents, Pritzker said, will be supported by the Texas National Guard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labor Day weekend brings violence to Chicago, with nearly 60 people shot and 8 killed through Monday holiday The governor also warned of unidentifiable agents in unmarked vehicles raiding Latino communities around Mexican Independence Day celebrations. The Department of Defense has secured Naval Station Great Lakes to prepare for this coming operation, which Pritzker expects will last 30 days. At this rate, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott suggested its not accurate that his guard is about to deploy. Raoul called what Trump plans to do illegal. What can the National Guard do if deployed to Chicago? Trump spoke from the White House Tuesday afternoon, urging Pritzker to ask for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker fired back, saying he doesnt think the president is doing this to fight crime, but rather seeing it as an opportunity to test the limits of his power. Its an insult to any and every citizen to suggest that any governor should have to beg the president of any political party for resources owed to their people. Id like to ask a question of my own and its one the press should be asking as well. When did we become a country where its okay for the U.S. president to insist on national television that a state should call him to beg for anything, especially something we dont want? Pritzker said. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines All of this comes with new questions surrounding the legality of deploying the guard to American cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also on Tuesday, a federal judge ruled Trump broke the law when he deployed roughly 5,000 Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) The deadline has passed for Illinois to turn over voter registration data to the Department of Justice, and the state Board of Elections has refused the request. Illinois had previously submitted a partial list to the DOJ, but the department demanded additional information by September 1st, including voters Social Security and drivers license numbers. The DOJ stated that the additional information is necessary to combat voter fraud, a claim that has been met with resistance from Illinois officials who are concerned about voter privacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, states are required to make records about their efforts to ensure accurate voter registration lists available to the public. The request is part of a federal lawsuit from the legal advocacy group Judicial Watch, which said reports Illinois filed leading up to the 2024 election suggested that several counties had irregularities in maintaining their rolls of registered voters. According to the suit, from November 2020 through November 2022, 11 Illinois counties did not remove any voters from their registration lists, suggesting no one died or moved during that two-year period. Another 12 counties reported removing 15 or fewer voters over that same period, something the complaint describes as absurdly small numbers in counties that were home to over 980,000 registered voters. The DOJ has also asked for the number of ineligible voters because of citizenship status, felony convictions, or adjudicated as incompetent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to the DOJ, the Illinois State Board of Electors refused to comply, saying sharing the information would put the privacy of Illinois residents at risk. We take Illinoisans privacy very seriously; data breaches and hacking are unfortunately common, and the disclosure of sensitive information contrary to state law would expose our residents to undue risk, general counsel Marni Malowitz wrote. The Washington Post reported that the DOJ has asked at least nine other states for copies of their voter rolls. Well, its clear why theyre hunting around for voter data, right? Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said. Theyre trying to say that in the next election that there would be fraud because they know theyre gonna lose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Since my last column on this topic, mass shootings have continued to plague our country, leaving families shattered and communities fearful. As I write this, at least two children are confirmed dead from a recent tragedy in Minnesota. Meanwhile, the news cycle has already begun its shift to other matters, underscoring the routine nature of mass shootings. Republicans and the Trump administration are currently fixated on securing our cities, which raises the question: Why has the Republican Party, known for championing law and order, neglected to address gun violence with the same urgency? The concern simply disappears when it comes to gun laws even though most weapons used in mass shootings are obtained legally. More: Faith and firearms: Some Oklahoma religious leaders share their views on gun control Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Second Amendment is valid and important. But our Founding Fathers understood that the tension between freedom and security is not fixed. Laws and regulations must adapt to threats if liberty is to mean anything. James Madison warned, "liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as the abuses of power" (Federalist No. 63). Today, our danger comes not from government overreach but from overly permissive gun laws. At its core, conservatism means defending freedom against its greatest threats. In our time, that threat has become the routine massacre of innocent people. We are less free when parents fear sending their children to class. We are less free when every public space feels like a potential crime scene. Unfortunately, Oklahoma's congressional delegation and state elected officials have failed to lead on this issue and, instead, chosen party loyalty over principle. They seem to have forgotten the essence of conservatism is not reflexive opposition to change; it is the careful stewardship of freedom. Edmund Burke spoke of the need for change to preserve stability when he said, "A state without the means of change is without the means of its conservation." Today, the means of change include pragmatic gun reforms that will conserve our nations original commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Here is the path forward. Congress, in coordination with the states, should enact these reforms: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole Ban assault rifles Increase the age requirement for gun purchases from 18 to 21 Establish 30-day waiting period before purchase Institute red flag laws If my fellow Republicans wish to remain the party of order and responsibility, they cannot blindly dismiss gun reform. To do so would be to trade principle for partisanship while American citizens continue to wander helplessly into one tragedy after another. Clay Lightfoot, provided by Clay Lightfoot Clay Lightfoot is a native Oklahoman and former staffer for Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). He currently works in the oil & gas industry. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Conservatives can't blindly dismiss gun law reform | Opinion A fire crew clears brush away from the side of Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, Calif. Wildfire veterans say an immigration raid earlier this week targeting fire crews in Washington state was an alarming development that could threaten the nations wildfire readiness. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Federal immigration officials in Washington state arrived on the scene of the largest wildfire in the state last Wednesday and arrested two firefighters who had been working to contain the blaze. Wildfire veterans say its nearly unprecedented for federal agents to conduct immigration enforcement near the front lines of an active wildfire. Some fear the raid could reverberate throughout the wildland fire community, making it more difficult to fully staff the crews putting out blazes at the peak of fire season in the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of brown bodies out there on the fire line, said Bobbie Scopa, who had a 45-year career as a firefighter and now serves as executive secretary with Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of wildfire professionals. Scopa noted that President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown has swept up even some workers who are in the country legally. When the rumble from this goes around, were going to have contractors unable to put out as many crews as they were, she said. We dont know what the requirement is not to get shipped off by ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]. Even if youre a citizen and you look the wrong way, you could still get picked up. On Wednesday morning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents pulled aside two crews of firefighters that had been working for companies contracted to help fight the Washington fire. The Bear Gulch Fire, spreading through rugged terrain in and around Olympic National Park, has burned nearly 9,000 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were told they were going to cut firewood, said Scott Polhamus, secretary of the Organization of Fire Contractors and Affiliates, a nonprofit industry group. The people that were supposed to meet them never showed up, and eventually immigration showed up instead. Many contract crews rely heavily on immigrant labor. [Immigrants] make up a huge portion of forestry and fire, theyre an integral part of this industry, Polhamus said. Now, wildland fire veterans fear that the immigrants who have been protecting communities from fires could make fire camps a target for immigration officials who are trying to meet deportation quotas. And more high-profile raids on fire crews could cause many in the workforce to reconsider their profession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre a migrant worker and this starts happening, are you going to keep on doing that and risk getting picked up? Scopa said. If [immigration authorities] keep visiting fire camps, we will definitely have fewer contract crews. In a news release, U.S. Border Patrol said the operation was the result of an investigation by the federal Bureau of Land Management. Federal agents, the release said, found discrepancies on the rosters provided by contract fire companies. Immigration officers arrested two people who were in the country illegally, the release said, while removing 42 additional firefighters from the fire scene. The release said the government has terminated its contracts with the companies. Table Rock Forestry Inc., a member of the Organization of Fire Contractors and Affiliates, was one of the companies whose workers were checked, Polhamus said. The company was able to show that its firefighters all had legal H-2B visas, he said, which allow foreign nationals to fill temporary, nonagricultural jobs. Still, the companys crew was demobilized and sent home, which he said was allegedly due to a half-hour discrepancy on a time sheet. The company has not yet gotten official word from the feds about its contract, Polhamus said. Neither Table Rock Forestry nor the other company targeted by the raid responded to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Border Patrol statement said the operation did not interfere with firefighting operations. Tom Stokesberry, public information officer with California Interagency Incident Management Team 7, which oversaw the fire crews until Thursday, said the team was aware of the Border Patrol raid. Incident management teams deploy across the country to help coordinate the response to large fires. He would not comment on whether the raid affected wildfire operations. Polhamus, along with many others in the wildland firefighter community, said it is widely believed that the same incident management team called immigration authorities to investigate another Hispanic crew last year. The raid this week took place on the California teams last day in charge of the fire, hours before a Washington team took command. While most fire crews with government agencies hire only U.S. citizens, officials also contract with private companies to help fight many wildfires. Those companies often hire workers on H-2B visas or immigrants who are working to earn their U.S. citizenship. The effects of workers being detained could go well beyond those individuals, experts said. If a crew loses two or three members, it may no longer meet the specifications it needs to fulfill its contract. That could result in the entire crew being grounded without pay until replacements arrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We utilize thousands and thousands of contract firefighters, Scopa said. It absolutely could impact our ability to manage fires if were losing crews. While firefighting contracting companies have varying opinions on the hiring of workers without legal status, Polhamus said, theres consensus throughout the industry that conducting an immigration raid at the scene of an active wildfire was dangerous and irresponsible. Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, who heads the states lead wildfire response agency, issued a statement that the state is still gathering details on the Border Patrol operation. [T]he Trump administrations crude and inhumane approach to immigration enforcement has intentionally and unnecessarily stoked fear and mistrust among members of the public including firefighters putting their lives on the line to protect our State, he said in the statement. Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) As we enter hunting season in the Green Mountain State, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife wants to remind people that since a new law that was enacted in June, poachers can face fines twice as much as before or prison terms up to three times as long. Simply put, these updates give our game wardens more teeth to hold poachers accountable, wrote Vermont Fish and Wildlife on social media Tuesday. Bear hunting season begins September 1 in Vermont, New Hampshire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Act 47 was signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 5. Now, big game poachers can now face penalties of up to $2,000 on their first offense or $5,000 on their second offense. These numbers are each $1,000 above the highest possible fines last year. Repeat offenders can also be sentenced to up to 180 days in prison, or nearly six months, which is three times as long as previously. Vermont reminds new hunters to take basic education courses According to wildlife officials, some examples of violations that qualify for the new penalties are illegally shooting moose, deer, bear, and wild turkeys; interfering with hunting, trapping, and fishing; and illegally importing or possessing wild animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first wildlife hunting seasons that are already open in Vermont this fall are early seasons for bear and for Canada geese, as described in the video below. Act 47 also added protections for endangered wildlife in Vermont, while removing state compensation for damage caused by bear and deer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. More isolated storms return this afternoon across southern parts of New Mexico. Heavy rain will be possible out of a few of these storms. The chance for isolated storms will move back into western and northern New Mexico Thursday. Forecast Continues Below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remnants from what is currently a category 1 Hurricane, Lorena in the eastern Pacific Ocean will move into New Mexico starting Friday. This will combine with a backdoor cold front moving in from the northeast, also increasing moisture across the state. The two will cause widespread showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday for almost all of New Mexico. Storms could drop heavy rainfall, bringing a flash flooding risk both on and off burn scar areas. In addition to the rain, temperatures will be much cooler, especially by Saturday afternoon with highs in the 70s in the Albuquerque Metro and in the 60s in Santa Fe. Drier air quickly moves back in Sunday, pushing rain chances into eastern New Mexico. By Monday, dry air will return to most of the state as temperatures start to heat back up above average by next Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. BITSoM School of Management welcomed its most diverse MBA class yet this fall The BITS School of Management was founded in 2021 as a new chapter under the 60-year legacy of BITS Pilani and the new B-school is setting a standard for what a strong Indian MBA program looks like. When BITSoM launched, it entered a crowded field of Indian B-schools. But just five years in, it is already distinguishing itself not only for its global ambition but for the diversity, creativity, and future-readiness of its MBA students. This years entering MBA class, the Class of 2027, is the most diverse in the schools history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal when we set up BITSoM was for it to be a global business school, Dean Saravanan Kesavan, a veteran academic with more than 25 years of experience, tells Poets&Quants. A lot of what we do is very much along the lines of what youd see in the U.S. A BALANCED COHORT AND A BROADER DEFINITION OF TALENT BITSoM Dean Saravanan Kesavan: The most successful employees of the future wont be the ones who are just quantitatively strong, but the ones who are creative, have soft skills, and can leverage AI to answer questions BITSoMs 2027 cohort is evenly split by gender and academic background: 50% male, 50% female, and strikes an equal balance between students with engineering and non-engineering degrees. Achieving this type of gender-equal cohort naturally happens here, Kesavan says. Having a mix of genders is wonderful. It brings different perspectives and adds richness to classroom discussions. It also reflects the complexity, creativity, and humanity of the world we live in. But diversity at BITSoM goes beyond demographics. This years cohort includes a puppeteer, a national gymnast, martial artists, and startup founders students from backgrounds rarely seen in a traditional MBA classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think these students enormously influence the classroom, Kesavan says. The classroom should be representative of the workplace, and one of the things that is happening around us is that the workplace is changing. THOSE WITH SOFT SKILLS WILL SHINE Kesavan believes this kind of diversity is exactly what employers are looking for and increasingly so in the age of AI. Typically, engineering and quantitatively strong students tend to be favored in a lot of management jobs, he says. But now, AI is turning this paradigm on its head. The most successful employees of the future wont be the ones who are just quantitatively strong, but the ones who are creative, have soft skills, and can leverage AI to answer questions. To help all students build those skills, BITSoM offers a suite of courses called Winning at Workplace (WaW), which complement the core curriculum. The topics range from Excel to emotional maturity to self-awareness, Kesavan says. U.S. MBA students often have more life experience because theyve worked multiple jobs. In India, students tend to focus entirely on academics due to the intensity of competition. The WaW courses are meant to help bridge that gap and better prepare our students to be real-world managers. LEARNING BY DOING AND BUILDING AI TOOLS FROM SCRATCH MBA students at BITSoM, the new business school based in Mumbai Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another key element of the BITSoM MBA is hands-on learning. Every MBA student is required to build and deploy an AI tool inside a real company. Teaching students the technicalities behind how large language models operate is very important, Kesavan says. Its essential that our students learn by doing. This is one of the principles we build our program around. He believes the rise of AI is a turning point for management education: I think the AI revolution is probably the best thing that has happened to MBA students, he says. Theyre not just receiving workplace training anymore theyre reverse mentoring the companies that hire them in AI. CURATED FACULTY, RESPONSIVE CURRICULUM BITSoM also uses a unique faculty model 90% visiting professors and just 10% resident. That flexibility, says Kesavan, allows the school to stay ahead of market shifts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this model, we can curate our curriculum based on the changing demands of the workplace, he explains. Were finding that visiting faculty offer an advantage you wouldnt get with a 100% resident faculty model. That includes top professors from global institutions like the London Business School, teaching cutting-edge courses like The Future of Work a class that didnt exist at BITSoM just a year ago. The ability to adapt quickly, Kesavan says, is part of what sets BITSoM apart. Were a small school, and that gives us the agility to respond to market needs every year and to whatever may come our way. DONT MISS NUMBERS THAT MATTER: DIVERSITY METRICS IN P&QS RANKED BUSINESS PROGRAMS and TRUMP TAKES AIM AT B-SCHOOL FACULTY DIVERSITY The post Indias Most Diverse MBA? BITSoMs New Class Breaks The Mold appeared first on Poets&Quants. The Indiana Citizen has filed a lawsuit against two statewide elected officials over a public records dispute. (Getty Images) The Indiana Citizen filed suit Tuesday against Indianas secretary of state and attorney general, seeking a list of more than 585,000 registered Hoosier voters sent to the federal government to verify citizenship status. The offices have refused to provide it. The Citizen is a nonprofit news outlet operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporter Marilyn Odendahl requested the list in October 2024, after Secretary of State Diego Morales and Attorney General Todd Rokita issued news releases about the request. The letter, addressed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur Jaddou, asked the agency to use its Person Centric Query Service to verify a list of names and dates of birth. The list of 585,774 includes those who registered without an Indiana drivers license number or a social security number or who live overseas. Indiana has 4,8 million residents registered to vote, so the letter invited scrutiny of about 12% on the rolls. According to the lawsuit, Rokitas office denied the records request in December last year on behalf of both offices. Odendahl then filed a complaint with then-Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt, who ruled in February that the denial was improper based on the law as plainly written. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, the statewide officeholders sent a letter disagreeing with the ruling, but offered to allow the Citizen limited public access consisting of in-person inspection and the ability to make only a handwritten transcription of the records. The Citizen objected to the rules but tried to schedule a time to review the list in July. Rokita and Morales asked new Public Access Counselor Jennifer Ruby to reconsider the complaint and withdrew their offer. There has been no further contact between the parties, according to the lawsuit. The secretary of states office told the Citizen it has identified about 1,600 registered voters as potential noncitizens based on information from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the vendor overseeing the statewide voter registration system. Also, the office said it has utilized the SAVE system to verify the citizenship status of some Hoosiers. Messages seeking comment from Rokita and Morales were not immediately returned. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The exterior of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services. (Photo courtesy of Jim Billings) Despite the states lack of representation for indigent defendants being declared a constitutional crisis by the courts, the Maine Legislature failed to pass significant reforms this past session. Criminal defense lawyers say thats because the state is intentionally deprioritizing much-needed changes, citing the lack of legislative action, as well as the underfunding of the public defender system, and an appeal filed by the state earlier this year seeking to block the temporary release of indigent defendants until they are provided legal representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the more than 35 bills related to indigent defense that the Legislature considered this session, only five became law. Gov. Janet Mills signed two of the bills while three more became law without her signature. Four additional bills were enacted by the Legislature but held by Mills to either veto within the first three days of the next session in January or let them become law without her signature. The governor vetoed one bill that aimed to clarify when an indigent defendant is entitled to counsel at the states expense. The laws that did pass, for the most part, did not enact any sweeping changes to the criminal justice system, three experts told the Maine Morning Star. Meanwhile, there are still almost 300 people without attorneys as of August 27, almost 45 of whom are currently in jail, according to a Maine Morning Star analysis of court data. Overall, I would say it was a disappointing session. I understand, in light of the budget constraints everybody was under, that they felt they were limited in what they could do, said Jim Billings, executive director of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what left an especially sour taste in our mouths after the session concluded was that there was $150 million left over that they had not calculated correctly, he added, referring to the $152 million surplus that Maine ended with at the close of the fiscal year on June 30, and despite having a civil rights lawsuit still pending and a court order saying were violating the U.S. Constitution, we received very little in the way of new resources. Billings announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post in October. Some defense attorneys argued that Mills is partly the reason for the Legislatures lack of progress and funding for the public defense system. We have a governor who, through her cohorts, has made it very clear that they are not going to support any real, true criminal legal reform. We have a Legislature that has not been able to address this issue, or will not address this issue, said Tina Nadeau, executive director of the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. So anything that could have a wide impact on the people that we serve has not had any positive reception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mills office denied this claim, touting the recent establishment of the states first public defender offices and increasing the commission budget from approximately $20 million to $45 million per year. In 2023, Mills also signed into law a raise for private attorneys that the commission contracts with from $80 to $150. Despite having significantly more money, the number of rostered attorneys has not increased to required levels, and the system continues to struggle to find lawyers to represent indigent defendants, Mills spokesperson Ben Goodman said. Insufficient funding persists However, Maines public defender offices are new and the 33 employed public defenders cant take on all the indigent defendants cases, so the bulk of cases are still contracted out to private criminal defense lawyers. There are between 35 and 50 rostered attorneys out of a list of 300 that take on a majority of cases, with others working for the commission part-time. Those lawyers charged about 325,000 total billable hours last year, which Billings said amounted to about $48 million exceeding the annual budget allocated to the commission. Theyre not facing the reality that for a time period, were going to be paying for two systems, so its costing us over $56 million this year for a partial public defender system, he said. Its going to take some patience and some amount of time for the public defenders to start absorbing the billable hours that were all going to the rostered attorneys before we start to see some savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of those costs, the commission will have no funds left to keep paying rostered attorneys for the last quarter of the fiscal year, starting April 2026, unless the Legislature approves an additional $13 million before then, Billings said. Tina Nadeau, executive director of the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. (Photo courtesy of Tina Nadeau) Those lawyers, which include Nadeau and Jim Howaniec, a longtime criminal defense lawyer and former mayor of Lewiston, are expecting major disruptions. The rubber is going to hit the road come April 1, when people are still going to get arrested, but the criminal defense lawyers arent going to be paid, Howaniec said. Lawmakers on the Legislatures Judiciary Committee were caught between two competing realities this session, said co-chair Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland): The need for [Public Defense Services] to have additional funding and the lack of a surplus of resources for the Legislature to appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Nadeau and Howaniec pointed out that the state also has $1.03 billion in the states Budget Stabilization Fund, also called the rainy day fund, which could be tapped for short-term relief. The state of Maine has been sued for violating the Sixth Amendment. Is it not raining yet? Nadeau asked. Asked about the commissions pending budget shortfall, the governors spokesperson said she would evaluate its budget and work with the Legislature in the next legislative session to consider what needs may be reasonable - and what the Commission itself can do to continue to address this issue. In the meantime, the Governor has said publicly that lawyers who represent indigent defendants should be confident they will be fully paid for their work, Goodman added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodman also cited Maine Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphys March 2025 order that said the public defender offices are not taking on enough cases despite being staffed. He also pointed to the governors suggestion that the commission remove limits on the number of cases that private contracted lawyers could take on. We are building a long term solution and there is no quick fix to this. Jim Billings, executive director of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services However, Billings said in March there were only five public defenders responsible for training and taking on cases, and 1,000 defendants waiting for counsel. At that time, the offices were not fully operational with many positions still vacant, and there were many entry level and out-of-state attorneys with no Maine experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state of Maine has simply not dedicated the necessary resources to solve this problem, and it cannot be fixed on the backs of five people, he said. We are building a long term solution and there is no quick fix to this. Legislative progress One of the bills that became law without the governors signature this session, LD 1101 sponsored by Carney, funded eight new positions within the commission, five assistant defenders and three support staff. Carney said she hopes the law can support public defenders to take on cases that might be hard to find contracted defense lawyers for. Michael Kebede, policy director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, said it was very good that the Legislature was able to fund this bill in a legislative session where funding was very scarce. These positions are primarily responsible for providing indigent legal services to criminal defendants and parties in child protective proceedings, and thats essentially the source of the crisis, Kebede said. There arent enough such people, and so this bill just creates more of the jobs that we need to solve the indigent defense crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Billings, however, said while the law created the new positions, they were not ones that the commission had requested. He also criticized the provision allowing the judicial branch to appoint attorneys not vetted or supervised by the commission, which he said was a step backward. Broader reforms lacking Even with adequate funding, the lack of broader reforms to the criminal justice system, which would decrease the number of people requiring legal defense, remains an issue. Hundreds of defendants who cant afford attorneys are still facing the consequences of a harsh criminal code, Nadeau and Howaniec said. The problems that I see in the court system are racial, theyre economic, theyre political, but the bottom line is, the amount of focus on getting tough on crime is disproportionate to making sure that people have an adequate criminal defense system, Howaniec said. The problems that I see in the court system are racial, they're economic, they're political, but the bottom line is, the amount of focus on getting tough on crime is disproportionate to making sure that people have an adequate criminal defense system. Jim Howaniec, criminal defense attorney Carney said lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee shared this concern. We are prosecuting things as crimes that shouldnt be crimes under Maines criminal code, and by doing so, were unduly burdening both the judicial system and also the defense services, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But most of the reforms that would change the criminal code were either rejected by the committee, or were carried over to the next session. Some of those include bills ensuring access to speedy trials for defendants, allowing people to be released on parole, decriminalizing small amounts of drug possession, limiting how many years younger people can be sentenced, diversifying the jury pool and getting rid of charges filed against someone out on bail who violates their conditions of release Maines most common criminal charge. That bill, LD 179 introduced by Rep. David Sinclair, an attorney from Bath, would have removed the crime of violating conditions of release. Maine is one of only six states with such a charge that serves as a separate class E crime, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. In 2024 alone, there were over 5,400 such charges filed in Maine courts, Frayla Tarpinian, a former prosecutor who oversees Maines first public defender office, said in a statement to the committee. In comparison, she said the second most common type of charge was 662 cases of drug possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sinclair told Maine Morning Star in February that he believed removing the separate charge for violating conditions or release would help alleviate the states indigent defense system. However, that bill was ultimately opposed by the committee. Carney said while some agreed with the principles underlying the proposal, arguments that such a charge is an important tool for protecting survivors of domestic violence ultimately swayed their vote. A related bill, which was one of the only ones signed into law this year, allows prosecutors to determine whether to reduce certain class E crimes to civil violations. Maine is far from alone in struggling to pass broader reforms, said Abbe Smith, a law professor and director of the Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy Clinic at Georgetown University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody wants to be known as tough on crime, concerned about public safety, and I think opposition to commonsense reforms often plays on that fear of crime, said Smith. She added, criminal defendants have no constituency. Nobody really cares about the quality of representation, except some lawyers and those who find themselves in the system. Indigent defense crisis in courts Over the past few years, Maines indigent defense crisis has not substantially improved, with hundreds of people sitting in jail without attorneys over the years, Nadeau and Howaniec said. This January, the Kennebec County Superior Court ruled the states failure to provide timely counsel to defendants who cant afford an attorney a constitutional crisis, and in March said the state must create a plan to address it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy, the judge, also agreed to consider releasing indigent defendants who have been jailed without legal counsel for at least 14 days, and to temporarily dismiss charges against defendants without representation for more than 60 days after their initial court appearance. But the state appealed that decision and hearings on individual cases that could have started in June were paused until October when the case will go before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. As a result, no defendants were released or had their charges temporarily dismissed, according to the ACLU. Its such a problem that the brakes have been completely pumped on the most fundamental remedy for this ongoing crisis of people not having representation, Nadeau said. The real violation, from the states perspective, is these folks would be getting away with something, and how dare they. Because the state doesnt think the people who are without counsel deserve a remedy. Next steps Several other reforms will be considered when the Legislature reconvenes in January. These include LD 1941, which would reestablish parole, and LD 449, which proposes conditional discharge for certain defendants. Carney said she doesnt know whether it is possible to make the changes proposed in LD 449 to the state criminal code, although it is trying to get at that same concern that were spending more resources charging and prosecuting people than we need to spend in order to achieve the rehabilitative purpose of the criminal code. Another carried over bill that Carney said could improve judicial efficiency is LD 340, which would establish different time limits for criminal trials. However, both Nadeau and the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers oppose the legislation because they say it is not adequate. Another bill that could get taken up again next session is LD 338, which would expand jury pool diversity. That legislation was passed by both chambers but is being held by the governor. Howaniec said the lack of diversity in juries increases the inequity of Maines judicial system. Theres obviously a disproportionately larger number of minorities charged with crimes because theres a correlation between poverty and crime, Howaniec said. Carney agreed that the underlying policy is important and said it may be worth looking into how current jury pools are determined. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) A rescue team on Wednesday reached the site of a helicopter crash on Borneo, recovering one body, authorities said. Seven people remain unaccounted for. The discovery in the tropical island's forests came after three days of searching for the helicopter, which went down with eight people on board. Rescuers recovered one body about 100 meters from the helicopter. Initial observations from the team indicate that more victims were still inside the aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the exact number couldn't be confirmed because of worsening weather and the darkness, said Yudhi Bramantyo, operational director of the National Search and Rescue Agency. The condition of the helicopter is clearly burnt, so it will be necessary to dismantle the aircraft to confirm the number of victims inside, Bramantyo said. The Airbus BK117 D-3, owned by Eastindo Air, lost contact with air traffic control eight minutes after departing from the airport in Kotabaru district in Indonesias South Kalimantan province on Monday. The aircraft was on its way to Palangkaraya City in Central Kalimantan Province. Three foreign nationals an American, a Brazilian and an Indian are among the eight people who were on board the helicopter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 200 personnel from a joint team, including police, military, local agencies, residents and volunteers, were sent by land and air to comb a 27-square-kilometer (10-square-mile) stretch of forest in Mantewe, Tanahbumbu district. The operation was supported by five helicopters, which took turns sweeping the area. The search has been hampered by bad weather. Following Wednesday afternoons discovery, ground search teams have been redirected to the site to assist with recovery efforts. Despite a deadly anti-government protest raging across his country, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stood overlooking Beijing's Tiananmen Square watching China's grand military parade with a group of world leaders. His one-day trip was appreciated by Beijing, with the Chinese foreign ministry saying it "welcomed" the visit. Earlier this week, when Prabowo decided to skip the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the ministry said it "respected" Jakarta's decision. 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. Prabowo joined other world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the Victory Day military show to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later on Wednesday and will return to his country the same day, according to Indonesian State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi. It is unclear whether he will meet other leaders, including those from Southeast Asia, such as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's junta leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protests erupted in Jakarta last week, driven by widespread frustration over rising living costs, with tensions escalating after a police vehicle fatally struck a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver during a clash. The demonstrations have resulted in the death of at least six people, while 20 remain missing, according to a statement released by the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, an Indonesia-based human rights non-governmental organisation. Protests in Jakarta have scaled down in recent days following the revocation of lawmaker perks and the deployment of military forces as a display of authority. As the world's fourth most populous nation and the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia has become a pivotal player in the growing power rivalry between China and the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indonesia has pledged to boost ties and defence cooperation with China. In June, the country was said to be considering buying China's advanced J-10 fighter jets to modernise its ageing fleet. In an earlier response to Prabowo's withdrawal from the SCO summit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun urged Jakarta to "take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Indonesia". During the 1998 riots triggered by the Asian financial crisis, the Indonesian Chinese community became the main target of violence. 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. Two decades after committing one of New York City's most twisted sex crimes while disguised as a firefighter, former fashion journalist Peter Braunstein has been denied parole, authorities said. The New York State Parole Board rejected Braunstein's first bid for parole after he failed to show up to his parole hearing, according to the state Department of Corrections (DOCCS). "Peter Braunstein waived his scheduled appearance with the Board of Parole on August 19, 2025. He was denied release," DOCCS said in a statement to ABC News on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 61-year-old Braunstein's next opportunity for parole will be in August 2027, a DOCCS spokesperson said. ABC News - PHOTO: Peter Braunstein spoke with ABC's "20/20" following his 2007 conviction on charges he sexually tormented a victim for at least 12 hours after posing as a firefighter to gain access to her New York City apartment. Braunstein, who is incarcerated at the Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo, will continue serving a sentence of 18 years to life. He did not reply to a letter from ABC News requesting comment. A Manhattan jury convicted Braunstein in 2007 of first-degree sexual abuse, kidnapping, robbery, and other crimes tied to the attack nearly 20 years ago. MORE: 'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released A former writer for the fashion magazine Women's Wear Daily, Braunstein dressed as a New York City firefighter on Halloween night 2005, set off smoke bombs outside his victim's apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan and pretended to evacuate people in order to coax the victim into opening her door, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once inside the victim's apartment, Braunstein threatened her with a realistic-looking fake handgun and placed a chloroform-soaked rag over her face, rendering her unconscious, prosecutors said. Braunstein, according to prosecutors, stripped off the victim's clothes and tied her to a bed, placing a pair of high-heeled shoes on her that he found in her closet. Over the next 12 hours, he sexually tortured the victim, prosecutors said. The victim was a former colleague of Braunstein's who had worked closely with his ex-girlfriend at W magazine, a sister publication of Women's Wear Daily. In a series of media interviews Braunstein did from prison after his conviction, he said he targeted her after becoming obsessed with her as a symbol of what he hated about the fashion industry and blamed her for his downfall after he was fired from his magazine job. Asked in an ABC "20/20" interview following his 2007 conviction why he sexually tormented the victim, Braunstein said, "I guess to humiliate her." Despite his absence, Braunstein's parole hearing proceeded without him. Before the hearing, the Parole Board received a letter from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, asking the panel to deny parole and alleging that Braunstein is still a "danger to society." Prosecutors claimed that his nearly 20 years of incarceration have done little to reform him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He has shown himself to be a determined, angry, and vengeful man. Time and again he has demonstrated that he is a danger to society, and he has clearly and repeatedly stated that should he be released from prison he will continue to be a danger to society," Maxine Rosenthal, senior counsel for the Special Victims Division of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, wrote in the July 25 letter to the Parole Board. MORE: Idaho college killings: Kohberger's deep study on crime In the letter, Rosenthal, who led the prosecution's case against Braunstein, noted that in a series of media interviews following his conviction, Braunstein never expressed remorse, and in several interviews said, "I regret the choice of victim, but not the crime itself" and that he believed "the crime was justified." Rosenthal also said in her letter to the Parole Board that even after being convicted and sent to prison, Braunstein violated court orders by continuing a "campaign of harassment and intimidation" of an ex-girlfriend until at least 2014 by sending letters to her from prison or attempting to call her, her employer and her relatives. Just three months before Braunstein committed the sex attack for which he was convicted, he pleaded guilty to menacing the ex-girlfriend, a magazine beauty editor who died in June 2025 from cancer, and was placed on probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In response, letters were sent to the prison superintendent requesting that a negative correspondence order be issued prohibiting the defendant from having any further contact with the former girlfriend," Rosenthal wrote in the letter to the Parole Board. Braunstein was arrested in December 2005 following a six-week nationwide manhunt. He was captured in Tennessee after a witness recognized him from the show "America's Most Wanted" and alerted police. As officers approached Braunstein, he attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the neck with a knife, according to Memphis police. MEMPHIS, Tenn. An inmate who stabbed his cellmate last week is now being charged with attempted murder, according to the Shelby County Sheriffs Office. On Aug. 27, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office said deputies found an inmate lying on the floor bleeding in a jail cell at noon at 201 Poplar. Investigators said the inmate was stabbed 24 times. They said medical assistance was provided, and the Memphis Fire Department responded to the scene and transported the inmate in critical condition to Regional One. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inmate stabbed with homemade weapon at 201 Poplar The sheriffs office said that at around 1 p.m., detectives responded to the aggravated assault to investigate the scene. Deputies said the victim was involved in an altercation with his cellmate, Marshunn Liggins, 31, who was responsible for the assault. Marshunn Liggins_Mugshot Courtesy of Shelby County Jail According to reports, Liggins is being charged with Criminal Attempt First-Degree Murder and Introducing or Possessing Contraband in a penal facility. Deputies said the victim has been treated, released from the hospital, and is back at 201 Poplar. Just last month, there was another stabbing where another inmate is accused of stabbing his cellmate 17 times; the family said that the man is now potentially paralyzed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its incidents like these, as well as the numerous deaths that have occurred this year and reported poor living conditions at the jail, that sparked the Mississippi Boulevards Social Justice Ministry to write letters to Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner as well as the County Commission. SJ Ministry Ltr to Shelby County Commission_1Download SJ Ministry Ltr to Sheriff Bonner_1Download Where is the oversight? Where are the procedures? Where are the officers when these things are occurring? Thats unacceptable, thats unacceptable, said Bettye Boone, Social Justice Ministry for Mississippi Boulevard Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sheriffs letter primarily to let him know about following procedures, treating people with dignity and respect. And with the commissioners, we want them to know, we know that theres a problem, said Boone. We know theyre trying to fix it, but let them not try to fix it without getting input from our stakeholders. The Sheriff hasnt shied away from the fact that there have been problems at the jail, citing low staffing and aging infrastructure. But the social justice ministry writes in its letter, the conditions at 201 Poplar need immediate action, and that being arrested and booked should never be a death sentence. We know that you have good people working everywhere, but obviously, there are some practices and things that are occurring that are not keeping the people who are placed in their custody safe, said Boone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marshunn Liggins is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The internet has become obsessed with microdosing GLP-1 drugs for longevity but scientists say theres no evidence to suggest it works. GLP-1s like Ozempic and Mounjaro were initially designed and approved to treat type 2 diabetes, but in recent years, millions of Americans have turned to them for weight loss management. Now, The Washington Post reports that a GLP-1 microdosing trend is sweeping the internet, and more than a dozen telehealth companies and medical practices have promoted taking small doses of the drugs for longevity. Theres virtually no published scientific evidence that shows microdosing drugs like tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Zepbound) or semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) is safe or effective, according to the Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While theres anecdotal evidence touting its benefits, Eric Topol, a cardiologist and the director of Scripps Research Translational Institute, told the Post that GLP-1 microdosing is a craze that is not substantiated. Its too early for people to do this, he said, noting that its still worth researching how GLP-1s could treat age-related diseases. The internet has become obsessed with microdosing GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for longevity, but theres no evidence it works, a new report reveals (AFP via Getty Images) While its not known whether microdosing GLP-1s leads to a longer life, there is evidence that standard doses of the drugs can help lower inflammation throughout the body, according to the Post. Stimulating the GLP-1 hormone can also protect the brain from inflammation, the Post reports, which has been linked to diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinson's. However, its unclear if small amounts of the drug can actually combat inflammation, University of Toronto professor Daniel Drucker told the Post. Theres also no consensus on exactly how much medication is in a so-called microdose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also cheaper to use less of any drug, which could make microdosing more appealing to patients who are paying out-of-pocket. However, coverage for GLP-1 drugs is expanding, and Medicare and Medicaid could soon begin to cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss management. Pharmaceutical companies that produce FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs also pushed back on the microdosing trend. A spokesperson for Eli Lilly, which produces Zepbound and Mounjaro, told The Independent that Zepbound and Mounjaro autoinjectors and Zepbound vials are approved for single-use onlydose-splitting or microdosing is not contemplated by the FDA-label and may pose patient safety risks. Novo Nordisk, which produces Ozempic and Wegovy, told The Independent the company "[does] not condone the misuse of our products." The company noted it is concerned about non-FDA approved knock-off versions of semaglutide and sources spreading misinformation about GLP-1s to the public. The FDA warns that using unapproved versions of GLP-1 drugs can be risky for patients. This story was updated on September 4, 2025 to include responses from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk Rail passengers keen to explore Europe can get a 20 per cent discount on the all-you-can-travel range of Interrail passes. You must buy by Tuesday 9 September but can begin travelling at any time within the following 11 months meaning journeys in summer 2026 are permitted. The flash promo deal applies to all so-called Global Passes. These allow travel from the UK to 32 countries, from Finland to Portugal and Ireland to Turkey. How much are Interrail passes in the sale? With the discount, an entry level pass covering four days of travel within one month for 226 (197) in second class. A three-month continuous pass in first class costs 971 (845) which works out as less than 10 per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under-28s are entitled to a further discount of 25 per cent, while 60-plus travellers save 10 per cent. Families with children get an excellent deal: passes for under-12s travelling with adults are free. What is the best Interrail pass to buy? Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail, advises: Don't buy a three-month pass as your first debut entry into the scheme. I think for many people, a four-day pass, a five-day pass or a seven-day pass is best each of those is a set number of days within a month. Thats the way to start. Be warned, though, that supplements apply on many high-speed trains in France, Spain and Italy. Is Eurostar included in the Interrail pass? Eurostar trains from London St Pancras International to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are included but require a seat reservation fee of 32 (28) in second class, or 40 (35) in first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Interrail is not designed for extensive travel in your home country, you can use one outbound and one inbound journey in the UK together with free travel from your local station to London, including from Scotland and Wales. You could alternatively find a cheap flight to a European airport and pick up the trail from there. Travel from your local station to your UK departure airport is included. But Gardner says Eurostar is an essential part of the Interrail. Eurostar is a great experience in itself, she said. Once you get past the queues at St Pancras, there is some real drama, some real theatre in that journey from London to Brussels or London to Paris. What are the best Interrail train routes around Europe? Interrail is a fantastic way to see the best of Europe, and it is easy to chart a route through the best of the continent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A simple itinerary could start in Barcelona, travel along the French Riviera, and finish in the Italian lakes. Or start in bustling Berlin and end on the beaches of Greece. UK, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria For Gardner, the best trips always begin in London, travelling either to Paris or Belgium. I always think Brussels makes a great first night stop. If you live in southern England, so closer to London, and you want to go that wee bit further, I think Aachen in Germany a mid-sized city, easy to get a feel for, is an absolutely great place. Rail expert: Nicky Gardner (Susanne Kries) Read more: Travel Switzerland by rail and bus, from deep south to far north Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continuing from Aachen, why not venture up the Rhine valley into Switzerland to the Swiss lakes? Head perhaps to Lake Lucerne, where the boats run all year round. You can have a day or two in western or central Switzerland. From there with a five-day pass or a seven-day pass, Europe is your oyster. I would probably head east through the Austrian Tyrol up through Bavaria and then eventually back through the Rhineland and through Brussels back to Britain. The rail expert, who lives in Berlin, also has advice on avoiding the 10 (8.70) reservation fees for French high-speed TGV trains. Very regularly I have travelled from the French border right through France, even to the Atlantic coast, relying entirely upon TER trains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are regional trains. They're that wee bit slower, but you get to see a lot more countryside. They make many more stops. UK, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Finland Scandinavia is excellent Interrail territory, but requires a little bit more planning. Gardner says: My partner and I have had ill-fated journeys in which we set off to see the northern lights in northern Norway and just never quite got there because of train delays in winter. You have to be careful, book, that book sleeper compartments in advance, think carefully where you want to go. Be alert to the fact that travelling in darkness is not a bundle of fun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there's some great journeys to be made. Head from Britain, using the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, then on through northern Germany to Stockholm, and then slowly up the east coast of Sweden. And if you're very adventurous, Finland is waiting for you. It's easy to travel from Stockholm to the east of Sweden (Getty/iStock) The Europe by Rail co-author believes that travelling by train is unbeatable. It's not just what appeals to me, I think it's what has appealed to generations of travellers since the late 19th century and particularly to artists, poets and writers. The train is time out. It is a moment to sit back, to relax, to just watch the landscape, drifting by beyond the carriage window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We always say journeys are about discovering Europe, but a lot of time it's about discovering yourself. It's a chance to think, it's a chance to reflect, it's a chance for people to think about what they want to do next in life. Full list of countries covered by Interrail passes Note that travel in your home country is allowed only on two days: once outbound, once inbound. Austria Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Read more: New all-inclusive rail tour launches but tickets arent cheap EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) As part of our Back to School coverage, 12 News is conducting a series of in-depth discussions with administrators, health officials and other experts. These interviews will air exclusively on the free WPRI 12+ TV app each day at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. How to download the WPRI 12+ smart TV app In the video above, Dr. Tanuja Gandhi, a psychiatrist from Bradley Hospital, offers advice for parents on talking to kids about mental health, from ways to approach the subject to the effects of technology and social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay with 12 News for more Back to School stories and special reports all this week and next. Full Coverage: Back to School 2025 Submit your childs First Day of School photo Donate to our Back to School Supply Drive 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: 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. EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) As part of our Back to School coverage, 12 News is conducting a series of in-depth discussions with administrators, health officials and other experts. These interviews will air exclusively on the free WPRI 12+ TV app each day at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. How to download the WPRI 12+ smart TV app In the video above, Teach for America Rhode Island Executive Director Michael Broschart sits down with 12 News reporter Kayla Fish to discuss their mission of making sure students have access to a quality education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay with 12 News for more Back to School stories and special reports all this week and next. Full Coverage: Back to School 2025 Submit your childs First Day of School photo Donate to our Back to School Supply Drive 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: 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. Update: According to the Bureau of Land Management, the victim was identified as Vadim Kruglov of Russia, and his family was notified. The bureau did not provide any additional information. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Investigators are asking for the publics help in identifying a man killed at Burning Man Saturday night. On Aug. 30, just before 9:15 p.m., while the Man was starting to burn, a Pershing County Sheriffs Office deputy was flagged down by a festivalgoer who reported a man lying in a pool of blood. When PCSO deputies and Bureau of Land Management rangers responded, they found the man lying on the ground, obviously deceased, according to a press release from PCSO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Sunday that they are investigating the death as a homicide and have interviewed several festival participants in the area. Anyone who was in the area of 8 oclock and I Street and 845 and I Street in Black Rock City between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 30, who may have seen or heard anything, to contact PCSO. Investigators are specifically looking to identify the deceased man who is described to be between the ages of 35 and 40 years old, about 6 feet, and 200 lbs. with short brown hair and facial hair. PCSO is also seeking information on a possible suspect. Man found dead in pool of blood at Burning Man; homicide investigation underway Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, no information is too small to disregard, Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen said in a press release. Anyone with information regarding the homicide is asked to contact Investigator Josh Nicholson through PCSO dispatch at 775-273-2641 and reference case #25-318. The organizers of Burning Man released a statement Sunday that read in part: The Pershing County Sheriffs Office is investigating the death of a single white adult male that occurred the night of Saturday, August 30 in Black Rock City. Burning Man is cooperating with law enforcement. The investigation is ongoing and the Pershing County Sheriffs Office will be the primary source of further information. If you are in Black Rock City, do not interfere with law enforcement activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burning Man ran from August 24 through September 1 in Black Rock City, a temporary city in Nevadas Black Rock Desert built for the Burning Man event. The event was expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the dry lakebed in northern Nevada, where they build a fully functional city where they live and work for a week, then make it disappear without a trace, according to Burning Mans 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 KLAS. WEST DES MOINES, Iowa Back in April, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a law ordering schools in Iowa to ban cell phone usage during classes. Several schools across the metro and state have been planning and trying to figure out how to best implement it. In West Des Moines, they started last week on the first day of school. The new policy states that middle and high schools strictly prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time and assessments. Phones can be used during lunch, before and after school. High schoolers can also use them during passing time. Each high school also has caddies where students can store their phones during classes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Personal electronic devices are banned the entire day in elementary school. So, have students been receptive to the new rules? Were a week in, but the early signs are really positive. Ive heard great things from teachers. Ive heard positive things from students, West Des Moines Community Schools Executive Director of Secondary Education Steven Schappaugh said. Administrators across the district have been very pleased with how the rollout has gone so far. I think it helps that we know this is not specific to one school or one district. This is something were all in together. And I think that makes it easier for the students to process. Michele Brant Sworn in as Madison County Auditor, outlines immediate priorities Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district notified students and families long before school started and they continue to remind them into their second week of the 2025-26 year. I was in hallways, and I went into dozens of classrooms myself just to experience that first week. And I saw really strong routines and procedures from our staff, reminding students what the expectations were, creating space and structure for students to be able to put their devices away, Schappaugh said. We see students responding in a really positive manner, adhering to those expectations. We had very few disturbances, despite the fact that we have 9,000 students across 13 campuses. If a student is caught using a phone during instruction periods, there are disciplinary consequences. Although, many students get why there are new policies. They know their cell phone is a distraction. They may not like the rule per se, but theyre really smart, theyre self-aware, theyre socially aware. They understand this isnt about them. This is about a societal issue that we need to tackle as a community. And they know as much as they may not like it sometimes, they are going to be able to focus much more without that distraction ever present, Schappaugh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other metro school districts have fairly similar new policies. Most schools do not allow elementary students to use phones at all, while high schoolers get a little screen time when not in class. The law allows some restrictions to this cell phone ban for certain, specific situations. More details on each school districts policies are on their individual websites. Metro 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 who13.com. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday said he had made significant strategic decisions for the country during his visit to China. After returning from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Pezeshkian said the decisions were "very important, strategic and vital." The Russia-friendly SCO, held earlier this week in the Chinese port city of Tianjin, is seen as a counterbalance to Western alliances, including NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the group has often struggled to present a united front on recent global conflicts and regional tensions. Pezeshkian also mentioned a conversation lasting more than four hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed economic issues, Tehran's nuclear dispute with the West and the planned reintroduction of UN sanctions on Iran. He also said he had a close exchange with China, and that Iran's defence minister also held numerous talks. At the SCO summit, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated for a world order not dominated by the US and Europe. Iran's leaders hope relations with Russia and China will lessen Tehran's dependence on the West, mitigate the devastating impact of sanctions and open up new chances for cooperation in the defence sector. A UN watchdog report revealed Iran had 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60% before Israeli and US strikes, enough for 10 bombs if further refined. Iran's stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, close to weapons grade, increased slightly before Israel attacked its nuclear facilities on June 13, a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog seen by Reuters said on Wednesday. On June 13, Iran's stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% in uranium hexafluoride form, which can be enriched in centrifuges, is estimated to have been 440.9 kg, the International Atomic Energy Agency report said. That is enough, if enriched further, for 10 nuclear bombs, according to an IAEA yardstick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UN nuclear watchdog's talks with Iran on how to resume inspections at sites including those Israel and the United States bombed cannot go on for months on end, its chief told Reuters on Wednesday, pushing for a deal as early as this week. The International Atomic Energy Agency has had no information from Iran on the status or whereabouts of its stock of highly enriched uranium since Israel launched the first attacks on its enrichment sites on June 13, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi confirmed in an interview. The IDF believed that Iran had sufficient nuclear material to assemble several nuclear bombs within a short period of time and that Iran had begun ramping up missile production, aiming to increase its arsenal from 2,500 to 8,000 within two years, spokesperson Brig-Gen. Effie Defrin said on June 28. A satellite image shows trucks and bulldozers near the entrance to the Fordow nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 20, 2025. (credit: Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS ) Strikes rendered Fordow inoperable The White House distributed a statement to reporters on June 25 from the Israel Atomic Energy Commission stating that the US strike on Fordow rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We assess that the American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran's military nuclear program, has set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years," the handout stated. If Iran does not gain access to nuclear materials, this "achievement can continue indefinitely," the handout concluded. The US struck a facility in the mountain ridge in Isfahan, where a stockpile of enriched uranium and facilities related to the nuclear program were likely held, a source familiar with the details of the US operation told The Jerusalem Post on June 22. Sources added that the Natanz nuclear site has been destroyed, while the Fordow and Isfahan sites suffered "major damage", but it is unknown yet how much. Amichai Stein and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Isolated storm chances continue across New Mexico through the middle of the week. A surge of monsoon moisture brings nearly statewide chances for rain into the weekend. Isolated thunderstorms popped up in northern, western, and central New Mexico Tuesday. Some of these storms have brought severe weather and heavy rainfall. A couple showers and storms are still moving through central and eastern New Mexico tonight, but will be ending in the next couple of hours. More isolated storms will return Wednesday afternoon for areas along and south of I-40. Again, heavy rain will be possible out of a few of these storms. The chance for isolated storms will move back into western and northern New Mexico Thursday. Temperatures across the state Wednesday and Thursday will hover near to slightly above average for early September. Remnants from what is currently Tropical Storm Lorena in the eastern Pacific Ocean will move into New Mexico starting Friday. This will combine with a backdoor cold front moving in from the northeast, also increasing moisture across the state. The two will cause widespread showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday for almost all of New Mexico. Storms could drop heavy rainfall, bringing a flash flooding risk both on and off burn scar areas. In addition to the rain, temperatures will be much cooler, especially by Saturday afternoon with highs in the 70s in the Albuquerque Metro and in the 60s in Santa Fe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drier air quickly moves back in Sunday, pushing rain chances into eastern New Mexico. By Monday, dry air will return to most of the state as temperatures start to heat back up above average by next Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Israel has successfully launched a new reconnaissance satellite into space, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. Dubbed Ofek 19, the satellite was launched overnight from a test site using a Shavit launch vehicle. It reached its orbit according to plan, had begun transmitting data, and had completed initial tests, the ministry said. Defence Minister Israel Katz described the launch as "a message to all our enemies". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Wherever they are we are watching you every hour and in every situation," he wrote on X. Ofek 19 was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on behalf of the Defence Ministry. Several defence companies and army units, including Reconnaissance Unit 9900, were involved in the project. The new satellite complements the Ofek constellation, which has been in operation since 1988 and provides Israel with high-resolution images and radar data from the region. Once testing is complete, control of Ofek 19 will be transferred to the military intelligence unit. Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke of a "moving moment," describing Israel as a "space nation". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the new radar satellite, Israel aims to significantly expand its reconnaissance and early warning capabilities. Dore Gold, from the Defence Ministry's space programme, spoke of a "quantum leap" for the army's operational capabilities. During the recent war with Iran, he said, Israel had collected 12,000 satellite images of Iranian territory, noting that space is increasingly becoming a crucial area of warfare. The unannounced launch of Ofek 19's satellite sparked panic in some areas of the country, where civilians thought a missile was being launched without proper alerts being deployed. A satellite was recently launched from the Palmahim Airbase in central Israel, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday, after Israelis reported sightings in the night sky. The satellite's launch was conducted in a joint operation by the Defense Ministry, the IDF, and Israel Aerospace Industries, using a Shavit satellite launcher from a test site in central Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is led by the Defense Ministrys Space Directorate in MAFAT (Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure), in cooperation with the IDF, including military intelligence's Unit 9900 and the Israel Air Force. The unannounced launch of Ofek 19's satellite sparked panic in some areas of the country, where civilians thought a missile was being launched without proper alerts being deployed. What is the Ofek 19 satellite? Israel's defense space program is led by the DDR&Ds Space Program Office and includes various stakeholders within the IDF, such as Unit 9900 of the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Air Force (IAF). Israel Aerospace Industries developed and manufactured both satellite and launcher as lead contractor. IAI's Systems, Missiles and Space (SMS) Group, through its SPACE Division, led the project in collaboration with the ELTA Group, who produced the payload, and IAIs MLM Division, who developed the launcher alongside Tomer Ltd. and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, who manufactured the launch vehicles rocket engines. The Ofek satellite series is Israel's military spy and intelligence-gathering satellite program, with a previous model (the Ofek 16) launched in March 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ofek 16 carries an electro-optic, high-resolution camera, which can photograph 15 sq. km. with each shot at a resolution of 50 cm. from an altitude of 600 km. Ofek 19 is an advanced synthetic aperture radar reconnaissance satellite designed to provide high-resolution imaging capabilities under all weather conditions for intelligence and surveillance purposes. After entering orbit around Earth, the satellite will undergo a series of tests to verify its performance and operational readiness. Upon entering into operation, the IMOD will transfer command of the satellite to Unit 9900, the IDFs visual and geospatial intelligence unit. Due to security concerns, the launch was kept secret by the security echelon until it was already complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the launch IMOD Director General Maj.Gen (Res.) Amir Baram said that the Ofek 19 "represents a significant force multiplier for the operational capabilities of our defense establishment. The Swords of Iron War, particularly Operation Rising Lion, demonstrated that modern warfare extends into space. Expanding and strengthening our foothold in space is a central objective in the Ministry's strategy. In the coming decade, we will invest billions in deploying a satellite constellation that will allow us to maintain persistent, simultaneous surveillance of any point throughout the Middle East. In space since 1988 Israels satellite program, has been active since 1988 and the fact that Israel is one of 13 countries with satellite launching capabilities is not a given. Any space launch can face an endless list of catastrophic problems, something the space industry, including Israels, is, unfortunately, more than familiar with. The launch alone is in itself a great achievement it is carried out to the west, against the rotation of the Earth, so that its trajectory takes it out over the Mediterranean Sea to avoid enemy territory during the launch period. The technology, as well as the Shavit launcher, which according to foreign reports launches the Jericho ballistic missile and can place up to 380 kg. into orbit, is not something Israel wants falling into enemy hands. The electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with advanced capabilities is also a feat of engineering, which would be a gem of intelligence should it be obtained by countries like Iran, and a disaster for Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IMODs DDR&D, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold said that the satellite will be a game-changer in preserving Israel's power in space which is becoming an increasingly critical front. Following our unprecedented wartime successes, including over 12,000 satellite images of Iranian territory during Operation Rising Lion, we have deployed an advanced satellite equipped with cutting-edge intelligence gathering capabilities representing the forefront of global technology," he said. "Space is becoming an increasingly critical domain of warfare, and this satellite delivers a quantum leap in operational and technological capabilities that will preserve and enhance Israel's space-based superiority for decades to come. "This is one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities agreement of last November," UNIFIL said in a statement on Wednesday. The IDF mistakenly sent drones to drop grenades close toUNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon, believing they were Hezbollah forces, it said Wednesday afternoon. Earlier on Wednesday, UNIFIL said Israeli drones had dropped four grenades close to its peacekeepers who were working on Tuesday morning to clear roadblocks that were hindering access to a UN position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities agreement of last November, UNIFIL said. One grenade impacted within 20 meters and three within approximately 100 meters of UN personnel and vehicles, it said. The IDF had been informed in advance of UNIFILs road clearance work in the area, southeast of the village of Marwahin, UNIFIL said. UNIFIL vehicles drive in the southern Lebanese town of Qlayaa, near the border with Israel, last Saturday. (credit: Karamallah Daher/Reuters) In response to a request from The Jerusalem Post for comment, the IDF Spokespersons Unit said it was not aware of the incident, even though UNIFIL had publicized it and it had occurred the day before. By late afternoon on Wednesday, however, the IDF toldThe Post its troops at one of the outposts had identified suspicious activity. The forces then deployed stun grenades to disrupt and remove what they believed was a potential threat, the IDF said. IDF does not explain why troops were unaware of UNIFIL's presence The IDF did not explain why the soldiers did not know that UNIFIL forces were there, given that UNIFIL said it had informed the IDF in advance of its planned movements and actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, the IDF did not indicate whether its troops had been in touch with IDF officers who coordinate with UNIFIL on such issues. Given that the IDF did not open a probe, it appears that no soldiers will be reprimanded, and that the IDF is not worried about any diplomatic consequences. After reviewing the incident, the IDF said it had sent a clarification and explanation to UNIFIL, adding that it would never intentionally target UNIFIL forces. Last week, the UN Security Council unanimously extended for a final time a long-running peacekeeping mission in Lebanon until the end of 2026, when the operation will then begin a yearlong orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF regards UNIFIL as a hindrance to its own actions against Hezbollah, and now with UNIFIL on its way out of Lebanon, the IDFs response to its mistake might been more subdued than in the past. Such mistakes with UNIFIL do not occur often, but the incident was not the first of its kind. Reuters and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. (Reuters) -The Israeli military said on Wednesday it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, as sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and several other areas across the country. Yemen's Houthis later claimed responsibility, saying they fired two ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv in what they said was an initial response to Israeli attacks on Yemen. "This morning ... a field examination concluded that the Houthi terrorist regime used a cluster surface-to-surface missile", the military said in a statement late on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis later claimed responsibility for another missile launch which was also intercepted by the Israeli military. The Iran-backed Houthis have been launching missiles and drones thousands of kilometres north towards Israel, in what the group says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians. Israel has retaliated by bombing Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including the vital Hodeidah port. Its latest blow killed senior Houthi officials, including the head of the government. The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have also been attacking vessels in the Red Sea since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah, Tala Ramadan, Jana Choukeir and Yomna Ehab; Editing by Andrew Heavens Bernadette Baum, Ros Russell and Alistair Bell) By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -The Israeli military moved deeper into Gaza City on Wednesday, with soldiers and tanks pushing into Sheikh Radwan, one of the urban centre's largest and most crowded neighbourhoods. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have advanced through Gaza City's outer suburbs and are now just a few kilometres from the city centre despite international calls to halt the offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaza City residents said the military had destroyed homes and tent encampments that had housed Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. At least 24 Palestinians, some of them children, were killed by the military across Gaza on Wednesday, most of them in Gaza City, according to local health officials. "Sheikh Radwan is being burnt upside-down. The occupation destroyed houses, burnt tents, and drones played audio messages ordering people to leave the area," said Zakeya Sami, 60, a mother of five, referring to the Israeli military. "If the takeover of Gaza City isnt stopped, we might die, and we are not going to forgive anyone who stands and watches without doing anything to prevent our death," she told Reuters. The military dropped grenades on three schools in the Sheikh Radwan area that had been used to shelter displaced Palestinians, setting tents ablaze, according to residents, who said the Palestinians fled before the bombing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military also detonated armoured vehicles laden with explosives to destroy homes in Sheikh Radwan's east and bombed a medical clinic, destroying two ambulances, according to witnesses. The Israeli military said in a statement on Wednesday it would continue to operate against "terrorists organizations" in Gaza and to "remove any threat" posed to the State of Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to take the city, which he describes as the last stronghold of Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel ignited the war. Netanyahu insists that Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades but now only controls parts of the territory, must be defeated if it will not lay down its arms and surrender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military has urged the country's political leadership to instead reach a ceasefire agreement, warning that the assault would endanger hostages held in Gaza and soldiers carrying out the offensive, Israeli officials previously said. In Israel, public sentiment is largely in favour of ending the war in a deal that would see the release of the remaining hostages. In Jerusalem on Wednesday, protesters climbed the roof of Israel's national library, displaying a banner that read 'You have abandoned and also killed'. MASS DISPLACEMENT "We need our soldiers back home. We need our hostages back home now. It's been too long for them to stay there. Stop the war now," said Ravid Vexelbaum, 50, from Tel Aviv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tens of thousands of reservists reported for duty on Tuesday to support the offensive, forces that a military official told reporters last month were mostly expected to take on non-combat roles, such as in intelligence, or take over from combat soldiers in places like the West Bank who could then be deployed to Gaza. The attack on Gaza City threatens to displace one million Palestinians, almost half the population of Gaza. The Israeli military in recent weeks has ordered the civilian population to leave their homes, although there are reports that many families who have already been displaced are refusing. Over 63,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military since the war started in October 2023, according to local health officials. The war has caused a humanitarian crisis across the territory, with health officials in Gaza reporting that 367 people, including 131 children, have so far died of malnutrition and starvation caused by acute food shortages. Israeli officials acknowledge there is hunger in parts of Gaza but reject assertions of famine or starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when gunmen led by Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities near the border, killing some 1,200 people, and taking 251 hostages, including children, into Gaza. There are 48 hostages still held in Gaza, of which 20 are thought to be alive. Hamas has offered to release some hostages, living and deceased, in exchange for a temporary ceasefire that Israel has yet to formally respond to. Hamas has also offered to release all hostages in exchange for an immediate end to the war and withdrawal by Israeli officials but has refused to lay down its arms. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; additional reporting and writing by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by William Maclean) LAS VEGAS (KLAS) An Israeli official arrested in a Las Vegas sex sting appeared in court virtually for the first time since his arrest last month in a case that has sparked questions about bail and international law. Tom Alexandrovich, 38, faces a charge of luring a child with a computer for sex acts, according to police. He posted a $10,000 bail at the Henderson Detention Center on Aug. 7 and left the country. Alexandrovich is an Israeli government official who was in Las Vegas for a cyber event, the 8 News Now Investigators confirmed after his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Henderson Justice Court Chief Judge Barbara Schifalacqua ordered Alexandrovich to appear in court virtually for his initial arraignment. In court on Wednesday, Schifalacqua ordered Alexandrovich to stay away from minors and stay off applications or social media sites for dating. This court cant underscore the serious nature of the offense alleged here and carrying the weight that it does regarding a potential sentence, Schifalacqua said. Prosecutors did not ask Schifalacqua to increase bail and she kept the amount set at $10,000. Alexandrovich posted bail shortly after his arrest, court records showed. He paid standard bail, a process that allows defendants to pay the fee and waive their right to a probable cause hearing, which the justice court oversees. No judge was part of the standard bail process. He posted that bond before any judge did any review whatsoever, Schifalacqua said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Aug. 6, Alexandrovich chatted online with the decoy posing as a 15-year-old girl about meeting for sexual contact, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported, citing court documents. Police then arrested Alexandrovich as he prepared to meet with the decoy. Tom Alexandrovich (center) speaks during a conference. (Israel National Cyber Directorate) One of the apps police accuse Alexandrovich of using requires users to be over 18 years old, its website said. Alexandrovichs attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, said their client has stayed in contact with them and has not violated any terms of his initial release and served both the Israeli and U.S. governments. Alexandrovich passed a polygraph examination, which included a question about having him not having relations with anyone under 19, Chesnoff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada judge orders Israeli official to appear in court after sex sting arrest Which in lay terms means he passed the polygraph, Chesnoff said. I dont believe he poses a danger. Nobody in the country where he lives has taken any steps to put any restrictions on him that exist in their country in similar circumstances. Alexandrovich did not speak during the hearing on Wednesday, only saying he understood the terms Schifalacqua placed on him. The judge added she only have jurisdiction only conditions in the United States. The court scheduled a hearing for Oct. 6, when Schifalacqua could schedule a preliminary hearing. 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. Israeli anti-war protesters have scaled the National Library in Jerusalem to call for an end to the fighting in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages. Dozens of activists could be seen on the roof of the building on Wednesday morning, unfurling a large banner showing an image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu captioned: "You have given [the hostages] up and killed them." A separate group of demonstrators set bins on fire outside Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem. Activists also blocked an access road to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A protester on top of the National Library told broadcaster Kan that "extreme" actions were needed to get the government to act. "A state must not give up on its citizens," she said, referring to the 48 people still held in the Gaza Strip after they were abducted from Israel during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks in 2023. Israel believes some 20 of the hostages are still alive. It comes as the military began mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists for its planned capture of Gaza City, the largest settlement in the embattled coastal area that is home to some 1 million. Critics in Israel warn that the offensive not only poses a risk to Israeli soldiers, but also endangers the lives of the remaining hostages who might be held in Gaza City. Meanwhile Netanyahu continues to ignore the latest proposal for the release of some hostages in exchange for a ceasefire which the Palestinian militant organization Hamas said it has agreed to. Israelis protest in Jerusalem calling for an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and an end to the war. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Israelis protest in Jerusalem calling for an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and an end to the war. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at his Belgium counterpart on Wednesday, calling him "a weak leader who seeks to appease Islamic terrorism by sacrificing Israel" a day after Brussels announced it would recognise a Palestinian state. Netanyahu's government has been angered by pledges from France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and now Belgium, to formally recognise a Palestinian state when world leaders gather this month at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever "wants to feed the terrorist crocodile before it devours Belgium," the office of the Israeli prime minister wrote on its official X account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel would continue to defend itself, it said. Netanyahu similarly hit out at Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month, also labelling him as "weak" after Canberra announced it would recognise a Palestinian state and then barred a right-wing Israeli lawmaker from the country. The Palestinians have long sought a state in the Israel-occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and in Gaza. Israeli officials have rejected pledges to recognise a Palestinian state, saying it does not change the reality on the ground. Netanyahu has said recognising a Palestinian state would serve as a reward for Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. Israel has faced mounting international pressure over the toll its military offensive has taken on the civilian population in the shattered Gaza Strip. (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Ros Russell) DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) As artillery and bombs pound around Gaza's largest city and Israel promises a punishing new offensive, Palestinians in the city are paralyzed with fear unsure where to go, when to leave and if they will ever return. Israel has declared Gaza City, in the north of the territory, to be a combat zone while the military moves forward with plans to overtake it in a campaign to push Hamas into submission. Parts of the city are already considered red zones, where Palestinians have been ordered to evacuate ahead of expected heavy fighting. That has left residents on edge, including many who returned after fleeing the city in the initial stages of the Israel-Hamas war. With Israeli bulldozers razing the ground in occupied neighborhoods and Israeli leaders supporting the mass relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, departing the city now could mean leaving for good. Moving costs thousands of dollars and finding space in the overcrowded south to pitch a tent feels impossible. But staying behind, they say, could be deadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli forces, when they mark any area by red color and they request the people to leave, they really will destroy it, said Mohammed Alkurdi, who is sheltering in Gaza City along with hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians. So its like you decide whether to live or die. Its very simple like that. An impossible choice between staying and fleeing Since Israel declared the area a combat zone on Friday, a small fraction some 14,840 Palestinians of the nearly 1 million the U.N. estimates are in Gaza City have left their homes in the city as of Monday, most to flee south, according to the Site Management Cluster, a joint humanitarian body that coordinates assistance for people in displacement sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fraction of them, about 2,200, have moved to new places within Gaza City after being displaced by Israeli attacks. Alkurdi, a project manager and consultant, said he can hear Israeli forces from the apartment where he's sheltering as they erase the area completely. Zeitoun was once Gaza Citys largest neighborhood, filled with markets, schools and clinics. Over the last month, large swaths of it and the neighboring area of Sabra have been flattened, according to satellite photos reviewed by The Associated Press from early August and early September. The photos show that entire blocks that have been pummeled or bulldozed into empty, sandy lots. Its not something partial like before. Its 100%, he said. The house, Im telling my friends, it keeps dancing all the day. It keeps dancing, going right and left like an earthquake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the people in the city moved back to the north during a ceasefire in January, hoping to find their homes intact. Alkurdi's home was completely destroyed, so he's now living alone in a western area of the city. His children and wife were able to leave Gaza last year. He said he would flee south if his home fell under an evacuation order. Amjad Shawa, the director of the Palestinian NGO network, left his home in the upscale Rimal neighborhood in the early days of the war and also returned there with his family in January. He, like Al Kurdi, said his family would likely leave Gaza City if their area receives an evacuation order. But leaving this time would be different, he said. Gaza will be leveled and destroyed. Last time, I had my car. There was fuel. Everyone had his income, his money." Back then, the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis still stood in southern Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, after months of bombardment, "there is no Rafah. Almost no Khan Younis," Shawa said. Leaving is nearly impossible for some For others medical workers, older and sick people leaving Gaza City is nearly impossible. The elders, they're saying we will die here, Shawa said. This has pushed the other members of the family to stay, not to leave. My aunt is elderly and cant walk, and my mother also struggles with mobility. We have so many belongings and no way to manage them. It feels unthinkable, said Norhan Almuzaini, medical program officer in northern Gaza for the group Medical Aid for Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amal Seyam is the general director of the Womens Affairs Center in Gaza. Originally from the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, her home was destroyed by bombardment. For nearly four months, she has been sheltering in the Nasr neighborhood in the city's west, where she stays alongside her colleagues inside the womens center. Seyam has been displaced five times since the war began three times within the city and twice to the south, in Rafah and Khan Younis. Each time, she fled with nothing. When asked if she would consider leaving Gaza City, she said: I will only leave when everyone who needs me here leaves. As long as theres a woman who needs me, I am staying. All of Gaza feels like its in the red zone now anyway. The bombing is happening meters from us, not kilometers. She paused, her voice breaking into tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people have started packing. Many have already left. Do you know what displacement means? It means moving once again, building your life once again, buying new things, blankets, tents, all over again. Dire conditions persist throughout Gaza Those who have left Gaza City over the past few months have found dire conditions elsewhere in Gaza. Their arrival has crowded already overflowing tent camps and sent prices of basic goods up. Iman El-Naya, from Khan Younis, fled Gaza City three months ago. The beach is crowded. Everywhere is crowded. Theres no hygiene. Its a struggle to get water and food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I go and stand in line for water. Getting bread is a struggle. Everything is even more expensive after the people from the north came here. Shorouk Abu Eid, a pregnant woman from Gaza City, was displaced to Khan Younis four months ago. She said the arrival of more people from the north is creating an even more tragic situation. "There is no privacy, no peace of mind. Places I used to walk to in five or 10 minutes are taking me around an hour now because of the congestion. Theres barely 10 centimeters between tents. Jamal Abu Reily lamented that the bathrooms are overflowing and that there's so little room for new arrivals. How are we going to all fit here? he asked. Where are they going to stay? In the sea? ___ Frankel reported from Jerusalem and Abou Aljoud from Beirut. JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's far-right finance minister said on Wednesday that maps were being drawn up for annexing territory in the occupied West Bank, land the Palestinians seek for a state, although it was unclear if he had Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's support. At a press conference in Jerusalem, Bezalel Smotrich stood before a map that suggested the possible annexation of most of the West Bank with the exception of six large Palestinian cities, including Ramallah and Nablus. Smotrich said he wanted "maximum territory and minimum (Palestinian) population" to be brought under Israeli sovereignty, urging Netanyahu to accept his plan that is being drawn up by a department under Smotrich's supervision in the Defence Ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The time has come to apply Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, to remove once and for all from the agenda the idea of dividing our tiny land and establishing a terror state in its centre," he said, using biblical names widely used in Israel and the administrative name used by the state to describe the area. "Who can defend a state with such small strategic depth? And this is why the goal of the sovereignty is to remove, once and for all, a Palestinian state from the agenda. And this is done when applying (sovereignty) to all of the territory, other than Arab population centres. I have no interest in letting them enjoy what the state of Israel has to offer," he said. Smotrich, a settler leader, has long called for annexation of the West Bank, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and which is among territories the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for comment on the prime minister's position on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the prospect of any concrete steps by the Netanyahu government, which would likely entail a lengthy legislative process, is unclear. 'RED LINE' Any step toward annexation would likely draw widespread condemnation from Arab and Western countries. It is unclear where U.S. President Donald Trump stands on the matter. Speaking after Smotrich made his remarks, an official from the United Arab Emirates said Israeli annexation of the West Bank would be a "red line" for the UAE, which established formal ties with Israel in 2020 under U.S.-brokered accords. A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that "any annexation or settlement activity by Israel is illegitimate, condemned, and unacceptable". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdel Hakim Hanini, an official of the Palestinian militant group Hamas which is a rival of Abbas' Fatah, said annexing the West Bank would not bring Israel the security it seeks and instead "lead to further resistance and confrontation". Israel, which is facing mounting international criticism over the war in Gaza, has been angered by pledges by France, Britain, Australia and Canada to formally recognise a Palestinian state during the U.N. General Assembly in September. Reuters reported on Sunday that Israel was considering annexing the West Bank as a possible response to those pledges. The United Nations' highest court said in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, and its settlements there were illegal and should end as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel says the territories are not occupied in legal terms because they are disputed. (Reporting by Dedi Hayun, additional reporting by Nidal al-Mugrabi in Cairo and Ali Sawafta in RamallahEditing by Gareth Jones) ROME (Reuters) -An Italian appeals court on Wednesday reviewed the case for extraditing a Ukrainian man suspected by Germany of coordinating attacks on three Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in 2022, but adjourned the case to September 9, his lawyer said. The 49-year-old man, identified only as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, was arrested last month near the Italian coastal town of Rimini on a European warrant. The appeals court in Bologna, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) north-west of Rimini, is seeking information on the conditions under which the suspect would be detained in Germany, the lawyer Nicola Canestrini told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canestrini said his client denied any involvement in the attacks and called on the Italian judiciary "not to sacrifice his rights" by allowing an extradition to take place. Described by both Moscow and the West as an act of sabotage, the explosions largely severed Russian gas supplies to Europe, prompting a major escalation in the Ukraine conflict and squeezing energy supplies on the continent. No one has taken responsibility for the blasts and Ukraine has denied any role. The suspect was part of a group of people who planted devices on the pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, according to a statement issued by the German prosecutor's office in August. He faces charges of collusion to cause an explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of important structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German prosecutors allege that he and his accomplices had set off from Rostock on Germany's northeastern coast in a sailing yacht to carry out the attack almost three years ago. Italy's Carabinieri police arrested the man on August 21 in San Clemente, a small town near Rimini on Italy's Adriatic coast, where he was holidaying with his family. He told the court last month that he was a former soldier. (Reporting by Emilio Parodi in Milan, writing by Keith Weir, editing by Gavin Jones) KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness secured a third term early Thursday following a tight race on an island shaken by corruption, inequity and economic concerns. Preliminary results showed that Holness Jamaica Labor Party won at least 34 seats, while Mark Goldings opposition Peoples National Party secured at least 29 seats. Golding conceded the election in a brief speech, saying he was disappointed in the outcome as he acknowledged the success of his opponent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not an easy speech to make, he said. Also participating in Wednesdays general elections were the Jamaica Progressive Party, the United Independents Congress and nine independent candidates seeking a seat in various constituencies. Official voter turnout was just 38.8%, only slightly higher than the turnout for the 2020 elections during the pandemic. Just over 2 million registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots on the island of 2.8 million people. A total of 63 seats are up for grabs in Jamaicas House of Representatives. The leader of the party that wins a majority becomes the islands next prime minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new leader will then appoint 13 of 21 senators to Jamaicas upper chamber of Parliament, and the opposition will choose eight others. Concerns despite drop in crime Under Holness, Jamaica has seen a 43% drop in killings so far this year, marking the most significant decline in decades. The improvement is largely credited to the current administrations increase in firearm seizures and a stronger, coordinated security force presence across the Caribbean island. The Jamaica Labor Party campaigned on this tangible success, positioning itself as the government that pulled the island back from the brink of widespread violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While crime statistics have improved, the shadow of Jamaicas violent past still lingers. The measures taken by the current government, including implementing states of emergency in certain areas, have drawn both support and criticism. The private sector and many Jamaicans have praised the effectiveness of such measures, with the number of killings dropping by as much as 70% in some regions, like the tourist parish of St. James. However, human rights organizations have raised concerns about the use and potential abuse of such measures, highlighting alleged illegal detentions, as they call for balanced approaches to protect security and civil liberties. The Jamaica Labor Party also emphasized fiscal responsibility, a low unemployment rate and the importance of continuity as it urged voters not to risk reversing the progress achieved so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A pledge comes under fire On Sunday, Holness pledged that his party would double the current minimum wage of $100 per 40-hour workweek if reelected. We believe in growing the economy so that everyone gets a bigger slice. As the economy expands, we must ensure those at the bottom are rewarded fairly, while creating incentives for more Jamaicans, especially our youth, to join the labor force, he said at a recent rally. But his pledge drew criticism from groups representing various business sectors. Tourism accounts for approximately one-third of Jamaicas gross domestic product and is one of the countrys largest employers, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any shifts in wage policy will therefore have wide-ranging implications for the sector, including employment levels, competitiveness and the affordability of the Jamaican tourism product. Tired of the conditions The Peoples National Party, or PNP, had adopted a sharper, more critical tone before the election. It asserted that while progress has been made, many Jamaicans still feel the pinch of socioeconomic challenges, including poverty, inadequate infrastructure and lingering pockets of crime and corruption. There are a lot of frustrated people tired of the conditions in which they live, Golding told reporters as he voted on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party aimed to channel public discontent into a mandate for change, promising reforms, renewed social investments and a break from what it calls complacency in governance. Key among the partys raft of policy proposals to address the socioeconomic woes of Jamaicans is increasing the income tax threshold to $21,800, up from the current $11,200. The opposition party says it wants working-class Jamaicans to take home more money as a cushion against rising prices. Despite Jamaicas vibrant democratic tradition, recent years have seen a decline in poll participation. On Aug. 29, members of Jamaicas security forces and election day workers cast their ballots for this years election. The electoral office reported a 57% turnout. ___ Associated Press Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed. Editors note: The video aired on Aug. 29, before the arrest was announced. MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (PIX11) A Jamaican national is facing charges in connection with the shootout following an attempted gas station robbery in Mount Vernon on Friday, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Tuesday. Jamaire Robertson was charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, prosecutors announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Local News According to court documents, Robertson and an associate violently robbed a gas station attendant on Mount Vernon Avenue around 5:29 a.m. and stole around $500-600 in cash. NYPD reportedly observed the suspects fleeing the gas station and attempted to approach Roberterson, who allegedly opened fire on them before discarding his gun and a sweatshirt he wore during the robbery, prosecutors say. Police obtained surveillance footage at Robertsons apartment building, showing him returning home in his underwear and a t-shirt at around 6:25 a.m. He was apprehended later that day. Robertson was also charged with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One officer returned fire during the incident, according to authorities. No injuries were reported. 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. JANESVILLE, Wis. (WTVO) Janesville Police arrested Tyler Minarick, 36, for allegedly exposing genitals to a child, among other charges. Officers received reports that the suspect was communicating with a child in Ohio in April. After a 4-month investigation, authorities found child porn on Minaricks cell phone, according to a news release. Tyler Minarick. Photo: Rock County Jail Officials took the suspect into custody in the 3600 block of Milton Avenue. He is being held at the Rock County Jail until his first court appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minarick is charged with five counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity, two counts of exposing genitals to a child, sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of sex offender photographing a minor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEED TO KNOW A Japan Airlines captain reportedly drank alcohol before he was scheduled for a flight out of Honolulu As a result of the Aug. 28 incident, the pilot in command was reportedly relieved from duty and another pilot took over The latest incident comes after Japan Airlines was issued a Business Improvement Advisory in December following a number of alcohol-related issues A Japan Airlines pilot in command was reportedly relieved from duty after drinking alcohol before an international flight. The captain reportedly called in sick on the day he was supposed to fly the passenger jet from Honolulu to Chubu Centrair International Airport in central Japan, and he later admitted to consuming alcohol before the flight, according to Japanese newspaper The Mainichi. The flight was originally scheduled to depart on Thursday, Aug. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the incident, multiple flights were impacted, including two that were delayed by 18 hours, the outlet reports. A total of 630 passengers were reportedly affected. The incident also prompted the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan to conduct an investigation at the airlines head office in Tokyo, per the outlet. Hitoshi Yamada/NurPhoto via Getty Japan Airlines plane Japan Airlines plane In a statement shared with Bloomberg in response to the incident, Japan Airlines said: We sincerely apologize to our customers and all parties involved for the inconvenience and trouble caused. We take this matter very seriously, especially considering that it occurred while we were already under administrative guidance due to multiple safety incidents, including alcohol-related cases, and were working to prevent recurrence, the statement added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bloomberg, citing broadcaster FNN, reports that the captain was relieved from duty as a result of the incident. According to The Mainichi, Japan Airlines was able to find another pilot to fly the plane after a significant delay. PEOPLE has reached out to Japan Airlines, Chubu Centrair International Airport and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan for comment. Kevin Carter/Getty Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The latest alcohol-related incident involving a Japan Airlines pilot comes after the company received a Business Improvement Advisory from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a press release from the airline, the advisory was a result of alcohol-related misconduct involving two cockpit crew members on flight JL774 from Melbourne to Narita International Airport in Tokyo. Of the incident, the airline stated: Although the flight departed after confirming that the cockpit crew's blood alcohol level was 0.00mg/l, it was noted that the crew had consumed alcohol exceeding the limit set for 12 hours before the start of flight duty, and inappropriate behavior by the crew was observed. In response to the advisory, the airline submitted a set of procedures they will be following to prevent recurrence, they wrote on their website in January. This includes raising awareness about safety assurance, including measures against drinking alcohol within the company, and rebuilding their alcohol testing system. Read the original article on People JASPER COUNTY, Mo. Health officials in Jasper County are warning of an uptick in whooping cough cases. Jasper County Health personnel say that for an illness like this to be stopped from spreading, there needs to be a 95 percent vaccination rate. Health officials say the illness can spread quickly in those who are unvaccinated, usually young children and infants, making it incredibly dangerous for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Symptoms include coughing fits, trouble breathing, discoloration in the face, and a whooping sound when breathing in. Officials recommend everyone stay up to date on their vaccinations, take hygiene precautions, and make sure their children have the booster. Health officials say theyre not sure whats behind the recent increase in cases. A lot of our cases have been either fully vaccinated or almost fully vaccinated based on their age. And so I dont know if its just a timing. People are overdue for their boosters, and so its having a chance to spread maybe among the general population, said Alison Giles, Jasper County Health Dep. Registered Nurse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health department recommends that anyone with any concerns or questions about the illness reach out to a health care provider for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) KELOLAND is celebrating the anniversary of a longtime employee whos worn many hats around the station. KELOLANDs Chief Meteorologist Jay Trobec is celebrating 40 years at the news organization. But not all of those years were spent as a meteorologist. Trobec spent several years as a news reporter at KELOLAND. Here are some photos of Jay from over the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jay came to the station in 1985. He started his television career very differently. He was a sportscaster in North Dakota, and then moved to KELOLAND to work in the news department. He transitioned to the Storm Center full-time in the 1990s. Were very fortunate to have the leadership of Jay on our weather team, he brings a positive attitude and a lot of energy everyday, Mari Ossenfort, general manager of KELOLAND said. A cake for Jay Trobec, who is coincidentally out of the office this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He holds many titles and certifications in his capacity as Chief Meteorologist, including a PhD from South Dakota State University. He has testified about weather communication before the Commerce Committee of the U.S. Senate. Hes taught me a lot of things, helped me improve my delivery and helped me out with severe weather analysis, because we see it so much here compared to the east, KELOLAND Meteorologist Adam Rutt said. Hes given me a lot of opportunities to learn. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OZAWKIE (KSNT) Jefferson County officials will be leading the search for a man who went missing after the ABATE Bike Rally at Paradise Point in Ozawkie. Patrick Crim, a 34-year-old white man, has been missing from the ABATE Bike Rally at Paradise Point in Ozawkie, Kansas, since Saturday, Aug. 30. Crim was last seen at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday wearing a tan t-shirt, black shorts, white socks, and slide-on sandals. He may have been carrying a silver flashlight and wearing a ballcap, although these details are uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need all the public help we can get, ping locations are showing in Topeka but I know my son well enough, he would not abandon his children, he would not abandon his family, Crims stepmother, Loretta Anno, told 27 News. Weve had reports of his phone or being seen in Topeka, Jefferson County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers said. So far, that has been no connection with him. Volunteers gathered before starting the search for Patrick Crim. Photo by Tim Schoepflin. Taco Tico location to close in Topeka The search for Patrick Crim is being conducted at the ABATE Rally Area located at 8500 118th Street in Ozawkie, according to a press release from Jefferson County. Volunteers are advised to wear protective clothing, including long pants, long-sleeve shirts, sturdy shoes and socks. Hats, bug repellent and sunscreen are also recommended due to the presence of chiggers, ticks, spiders, snakes and other animals in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Search and rescue dog teams are working in the area and volunteers are instructed not to make eye contact, touch, pet, or talk to the dogs to avoid distracting them. Labor Day protest brings hundreds out to the Kansas State Capitol Volunteers must sign a waiver acknowledging that Jefferson County, Kansas, will not be held liable for any injuries sustained during the search. Severe weather may cause search activities to be canceled. Drones are also being used in the search efforts. Officials say a search drone was reported to have landed in the tree area on the Perry Lake side of Paradise Point. Volunteers who find this drone are asked to bring it to the Search Coordinator Table for return to its owner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on Patrick Crims whereabouts is asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office at (785) 863-2765. 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. WASHINGTON Six women who say they were sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein or convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell shared a unified message Tuesday as they implored the federal government to release more documents related to the case and urged President Donald Trump to pledge he wont pardon Maxwell. Epstein was a master manipulator, said Jess Michaels, who alleges the late financier raped her in 1991 when she was a 22-year-old professional dancer. That was a strategy that was honed. That was a strategy that no young woman, no teenage girl had a chance not a chance against his psychopathic skills. Jess Michaels. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) NBC News brought together a panel of women who included accusers and three relatives of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a prominent Epstein and Maxwell accuser who died by suicide in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While all but one of the women have spoken publicly over the years about the sexual abuse they say Epstein perpetrated before his death in 2019, the conversation Tuesday comes at a pivotal moment as Democrats and some Republicans in Congress renew a push to make all investigative files related to him public. Tuesday evening, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 pages of files related to Epstein. From back left, Sky Roberts, Amanda Roberts, Jess Michaels, Marikje Chartouni and Lisa Phillips and, from front left, Danny Wilson, Liz Stein, Wendy Avis and Jena-Lisa Jones at an NBC News studio Tuesday in Washington before recording of a segment with Hallie Jackson. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) The other accusers Wendy Avis, Marijke Chartouni, Jena-Lisa Jones, Lisa Phillips and Liz Stein said theyd like for documents to be released, which Trump first indicated on the campaign trail he would do to hold as many people in Epsteins circle who also engaged in criminal activity accountable. Im coming here because theres been a severe miscarriage of justice, a delay in accountability, Michaels said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones alleges she met Epstein when she was 14 in the early 2000s and was paid to give him a massage, during which he fondled her after she undressed. A lot of these powerful people think theyre in the clear, and theyre probably still doing it now, she said Tuesday. There were many, many adults around [Epsteins] properties that may not have participated but very clearly knew what was going on, Jones said. And theyre not saying anything, and why are they still not saying anything and speaking up on our behalf? Jena-Lisa Jones. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) Avis, who hadnt previously come forward publicly, said she was inspired by Jones. Both women said they had interactions with Epstein at his Florida mansion, and Avis said she was 14 in the early 2000s when he abused her. Not everybody is getting justice, and thats not right, Avis said, adding that the everyday person is out there, and thats me, and were victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Epstein case has dominated headlines this summer, and it isnt likely to go away now that Congress has returned to Washington after the August recess. Wendy Avis. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) The Republican-led House Oversight Committee was scheduled to meet privately with 10 accusers Tuesday. Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is seeking to depose Maxwell, which could happen after the U.S. Supreme Court decides later this month whether it will review her 2021 sex offender conviction linked to Epstein. Republican House leadership added legislation Tuesday that would direct the Oversight Committee to continue its investigation into the possible mismanagement of the Federal governments investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell. But two lawmakers, Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., plan to hold a news conference Wednesday with Epstein and Maxwell accusers on Capitol Hill and call for immediate action and the full release of the Justice Departments Epstein files. Khanna and Massie are leading a discharge petition, which, if it earns enough House support, would force a floor vote to release the files. "We haven't been protected, and we haven't been informed," Liz Stein said of the Justice Department. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) Such a move would clash with the Trump administration and the Justice Department, which has sought to release only some documents out of public interest. Trump initially said he supports full disclosure of the documents, but over the summer, he has been at odds with some members of his party and his base who have pushed conspiratorial narratives about Epsteins death and a client list that could implicate other high-profile and powerful men involved in the trafficking of underage girls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House and the Justice Department didnt immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Epstein died by suicide in his New York City jail at 66 while he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. A Justice Department report in 2023 uncovered a cascade of misconduct, negligence and errors by corrections employees that created the conditions allowing Epstein to take his own life but found no evidence to contradict the official conclusion that he died by suicide. Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex as a longtime confidant to Epstein. She is appealing the conviction. Virginia Giuffre (then Roberts) with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Prince Andrew's London home in a photo released with court documents. Virginia Roberts Giuffre holds a photo of herself during her teen years when, she said, she was abused by Epstein, Maxwell and Prince Andrew, among others. (Emily Michot / Tribune News Service via Getty Images file) Last month, the Justice Department released transcripts from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches two-day interview with Maxwell this summer, in which she insisted she never witnessed any inappropriate conduct from any man, including Trump, who had been friendly with Epstein. She denied the existence of an incriminating client list and maintained her innocence to Blanche. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days after the interview, Maxwell was moved from a low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, to an all-womens prison camp in Bryan, Texas, stoking outrage among former and current federal Bureau of Prison staff members who said such a transfer is highly unusual. The Bureau of Prison didnt provide a reason for her relocation to Bryan, where the majority of inmates are serving time for nonviolent offenses and white-collar crimes. Giuffres family have said that they were against showing leniency to Maxwell and that the Justice Departments release of transcripts from her interview gave her a platform to rewrite history. Sky Roberts, Amanda Roberts and Danny Wilson. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) Maxwells attorney, David Oscar Markus, said in a previous statement that he was thankful the Justice Department released her interview so that people can judge for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the matter of a potential pardon for Maxwell, Trump said last month that nobodys asked him to grant her clemency but that he has the right to give pardons. Danny Wilson, Giuffres brother, said doing so for Maxwell would be a slap in the face to his sisters and the other accusers memories. Chartouni, who said Epstein sexually assaulted her after she moved to New York in 2000, agreed that it is an insult that Trump would even be toying with the idea of a pardon. Marijke Chartouni. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) Shes not a reliable narrator for her story, she said of Maxwell, adding that the administrations focus seems to be so much attention on the criminals rather than on what Epsteins accusers want. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Markus said in a statement Tuesday that Maxwell was being made a scapegoat by accusers seeking financial gain. As far as changing the narrative, most of these women didnt mention Ghislaine when they were repeatedly interviewed by law enforcement back in the day, Markus said. Only when plaintiffs lawyers came knocking and dollar signs started flashing did they start pointing the finger at Ghislaine. Phillips alleges Epstein groomed and sexually assaulted her after she first went to his private Caribbean island in the late 1990s when she was 21. She agreed with the other women Tuesday that the Justice Department must continue investigating Epstein and that if it doesnt make documents public, his accusers will come forward. Lisa Phillips. (Caroline Gutman for NBC News) A lot of us survivors know weve been compiling lists of our own, and we have so many other survivors, Phillips said. Please come forward, and well compile our own list and seek justice on our own. I mean, I think thats whats going to happen next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michaels said that it can be triggering each time Epsteins case returns to the headlines but that she has found strength in numbers with the other accusers. No matter where you are in your healing journey, no matter how strong you feel, trauma responses happen in an instant, she said, as they struggle with headaches, insomnia, nightmares and other invisible symptoms. We live with the effects of what has happened to us in ways that you might not think of. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com As the Jeffrey Epstein case continues to take center stage with Congress returning from break Sept. 2, some members of the public haven't stopped clamoring for what they believe the federal government is holding back: a client list. The Department of Justice on July 7 announced that there is none, and at the same time said there would be no more records released. This has infuriated President Donald Trump's MAGA base and Democrats alike. Where would a client list be? Four women who worked for Epstein in the 2000s might know. At least one scheduled massages with minors that reportedly turned into sexual abuse, according to court documents. Another put them on planes to his properties in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were all named and given immunity in the infamous plea deal Epstein got in which federal prosecutors agreed to drop a 60-count indictment and allowed him to plead guilty to two state prostitution-related charges. It's not clear whether anyone has spoken to law enforcement or members of Congress recently. Here's where they are now: Sarah Kellen Vickers, survivor who scheduled appointments Sarah Kellen Vickers scheduled most of the appointments at Epstein's Palm Beach mansion, according to a mass of documents from the 2006-08 case. She also paid the girls who came to the house between $200 and $300 for the "massages." Several witnesses called her out by name when they testified in Ghislaine Maxwell's trial. The judge during Maxwell's sentencing called her a "criminally responsible participant," but Vickers has never been charged. She also has been named in several civil suits as a defendant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vickers started work in 2002 at Epstein's Manhattan mansion as well as at the Palm Beach mansion. This was nearing the end of Maxwell's role of procuring girls for Epstein as Maxwell was not investigated in the early case. One Epstein survivor, Carolyn Andriano, testified at Maxwell's trial that Vickers at least once took nude photos of her before an appointment that turned into sexual abuse by Epstein and that she was paid hundreds of dollars for. Andriano was found dead of an accidental overdose in a West Palm Beach hotel room in 2023. Vickers, 46, has described herself as a victim of Epstein and Maxwell who was "raped and abused weekly." Epstein paid many of his victims to recruit other girls. He reportedly required three a day. Vickers scheduled appointments with many of the victims recruited from schools in Palm Beach County, including Royal Palm Beach High, where at least 15 students were victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, she is married to NASCAR champion Brian Vickers, but he filed for divorce in February, according to Miami-Dade County court records. The case remains open. Brian Vickers owns a $6.5 million home in Miami Beach but has put it up for sale. Nadia Marcinko was called Epstein's 'sex slave' Nadia Marcinkova, now Marcinko, visited Jeffrey Epstein 67 times in the Palm Beach County jail. Epstein bragged about buying model Nadia Marcinkova from her family as a 15-year-old and he dubbed her his Slovakian "sex slave," according to Palm Beach police records. The records also indicate she had sex with some of the young girls while Epstein watched. Her lawyers told CNN in 2019 that she had been "severely traumatized" as yet another Epstein victim. She signed the visitation sheet at the Palm Beach County stockade 67 times to visit Epstein on the weekends while he was incarcerated for 13 months from 2008 to 2009. She was still living at his home on El Brillo Way in Palm Beach in 2010 when she was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle at PGA Boulevard and State Road A1A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein put her on his visitors list, but a spokesperson from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said the only physical contact allowed there was a hug or a handshake and that "there's no alone time." Marcinko got a pilot's license in 2012, though it's now expired. It's not clear whether she ever flew any of Epstein's planes, though she was on the flight logs as a passenger. She has never been charged criminally. Now she's featured on the website of her company, Aviloop LLC, which does branding and marketing for aviation firms. She goes by the last name Marcinko. Lesley Groff set up meetings with high-level execs Lesley Groff, 58, worked as an executive assistant for Epstein for 20 years, mainly out of New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One survivor who testified in the Maxwell trial under the pseudonym "Kate" said Groff booked her flights to Epstein's many properties in the U.S. He owned homes in New York, Palm Beach, New Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Groff reportedly worked for Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s. Her attorneys say she "never witnessed anything improper or illegal." Groff's job included "making appointments for Epstein as directed by him, taking his messages, and setting up high-level meetings with CEOs, business executives, scientists, politicians, celebrities, charitable organizations, and universities," her attorneys also said. In a lawsuit filed in 2021 but later dropped, "Jane Doe" claimed that in some of these ways Groff facilitated Epstein's sexual abuse. Jane Doe claimed Epstein abused and trafficked her from 2017 right up until he got arrested in 2019. Groff paid her cash after the abuse, Doe alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Doe and Groff agreed to dismiss the lawsuit after Maxwell was found guilty. Two other survivors filed suit against Groff, but the litigation was dropped after they received money from Epstein's estate as part of a compensation fund. In a 2005 New York Times story, Epstein described three of his executive assistants as a "social prosthesis," making them indispensable to his success as a businessman. "They are an extension of my brain," said Epstein, who rarely talked publicly. "Their intuition is something that I don't have." When Groff became pregnant in 2004, Epstein reportedly bought her a Mercedes-Benz and agreed to pay for a full-time nanny so that she could keep working for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no way that I could lose Lesley to motherhood," Epstein told The Times. Adriana Ross, took flights next to Bill Clinton Adriana Ross (also known as Mucinska) was a Polish model and has been the most silent among Epstein's "potential co-conspirators" named in his 2007 non-prosecution agreement. She moved to Florida in 2002 at age 19 and took a job at Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach. Asked during civil litigation about Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton, Ross, now 41, repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. She flew alongside Clinton in Epstein's jet. She is reportedly living in Miami. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jeffrey Epstein case: These 4 women might know about any client list NEED TO KNOW A handful of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victims spoke out during a press conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 3, with some breaking their silence for the first time A bipartisan group of lawmakers hosted the presser to call for the release of all of the Epstein files One survivor, Chauntae Davies, alleged in her remarks that Epstein and President Donald Trump were "very close" a widely reported detail that Trump has tried to distance himself from in recent years Several of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victims spoke publicly on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 3, in an attempt to urge Congress to release more evidence on the billionaire predator. While some of the Justice Department's Epstein files were released the day prior, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna hosted the bipartisan press conference to call for full government transparency, including in regard to President Donald Trump's history with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told Daily Mail at the press conference that, despite the release of 33,295 pages of Epstein files on Tuesday, the Trump administration still has plenty more that haven't been released, which could include crucial details about the president's connections to Epstein. "All information that's been released so far, we already had... It's our understanding there's information at the CIA and possibly the FBI," Garcia said. "I want to see where in the files is the president's name, and how is it more broadly attached to what's going on here?" Andrew Harnik/Getty Activists protest on Capitol Hill on Sept. 2, 2025 Activists protest on Capitol Hill on Sept. 2, 2025 Trump has tried to distance himself from his past with Epstein in recent years. He and members of his administration have repeatedly promised the declassification and release of the Epstein files even on the 2024 campaign trail. It's been a difficult sell, as Trump famously called Epstein a "terrific guy" in a 2002 interview with New York magazine, adding, It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the survivors who spoke on Wednesday brought up the pair's apparently strong connection. Chauntae Davies, a former actress, said she was introduced to Epstein by Ghislaine Maxwell, with a promise to help her career. She claims that was the beginning of a long pattern of abuse, which included trips to Epstein's now-infamous island. At one point, she said she was "even taken on a trip to Africa with former President Bill Clinton and other notable figures." Davies and Clinton were previously photographed together, though Clinton has maintained that he knew nothing about Epstein's crimes. "Epstein surrounded himself with the most powerful leaders of our country and the world," Davies said on Wednesday. "He bragged about his powerful friends, including our current president, Donald Trump. It was his biggest brag, actually." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davies was later pressed by a reporter to elaborate on her comment that Epstein bragged about his friendship with Trump. "[Epstein's] biggest brag, forever, was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump," reiterated Davies. "He had an 8x10 framed picture of him on his desk, with the two of them. They were very close." Chip Somodevilla/Getty Two of Epstein's accusers embrace during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3, 2025 Two of Epstein's accusers embrace during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3, 2025 During the press conference, Trump was meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office. Following their meeting, a reporter asked the president if "friends" or "donors" were being protected by not releasing the full Epstein files. He brushed off the question, doubling back on a previous claim that the documents are a "Democrat hoax that never ends." "They're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success we've had as a nation since I've been president," the president said. "It reminds me a little of the Kennedy situation, we gave them everything, over and over again, more, more, more. And nobody's ever satisfied." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davies isn't the first to allege that Trump and Epstein were much closer than the president has claimed in the years since Epstein's conviction on child sex abuse charges. In July, Jack ODonnell, who oversaw the Atlantic City Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino for four years in the 1980s, spoke with CNN's Erin Burnett about the president's friendship with the late billionaire at the time. "In my mind, [Epstein] was his best friend, you know, [throughout] the time I was there for four years, ODonnell said in the interview, noting that the pair "frequently" came to Trump's casino together. Davidoff Studios/Getty Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 1997 Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 1997 One alleged instance stood out to the former casino boss. He claimed that one night in the late 1980s, Trump and Epstein visited Trump Plaza with three women and brought them onto the casino floor despite them being under 21, the legal gambling age in the state of New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement O'Donnell claimed the state casino commission inspectors gave Trump a "break" for the incident, but told him to warn the future president and his billionaire buddy about the potential consequences. I had to call them and say, 'They're giving you a break this time, but if this happens again, the fine is going to be substantial and it's going to be on your head,' " he claimed. 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. O'Donnell also claimed to have told Trump at the time that continuing to hang out with Epstein and underage women was not gonna look good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I did tell him in that conversation, 'I dont think you should be hanging out with this guy, just so you know, and you certainly shouldnt be doing that in Atlantic City,' " he said. When asked about O'Donnell's CNN interview, the White House passionately denied his claims. Jack O'Donnell is a stone cold loser who is a liar and fraud," White House communications director Steven Cheung told PEOPLE in a statement. "This is completely fabricated story from his warped imagination as he suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his pea-sized brain. Read the original article on People Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sex ring Wednesday called for the release of all files on the notorious pedophile and one said the abusers biggest brag was his cozy relationship to President Donald Trump. The truth is: Epstein had a free pass. He bragged about his powerful friends, including our current President Donald Trump, said Shauntae Davies, one of Epsteins victims, at a dramatic press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. It was his biggest brag, actually. Jeffrey and Ghislaine (Maxwell) were very vocal about their friends, their famous and powerful friends, Davies added. Jeffrey Epsteins biggest brag forever was that he was a very good friend with Donald Trump. He had an 8-by-10 framed picture of him on his desk with the two of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Epstein victim emphatically pushed back against Trumps effort to turn the page on the furor over the sex ring and urged him to listen to their testimony. This is not a hoax, said Haley Robson. We are real human beings. This is real trauma. But Trump refuses to back down. In an extraordinary split screen moment seconds after the press conference ended, Trump repeated his claim that the firestorm over Epstein is a partisan hoax designed to detract from his supposed achievements. Its a Democrat hoax that never ends, Trump said at an unrelated White House event. Its totally irrelevant to the success weve had as a nation since I became president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drama comes as a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including a handful of right-wing Republicans, push Trump and Republican congressional leaders for much more transparency on the investigation into Epstein, who killed himself while awaiting trial in 2019. The GOP-led House Oversight Committee this week publicly posted some files it has received from the Justice Department on the sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, his convicted accomplice. But critics say almost all the documents were already public and the effort was a brazen effort to deflect attention from the mounting pressure in Congress to force more disclosure in the case. The Epstein survivors, some of whom have never spoken in public before, provided a powerful human side to the political drama roiling the nations capital over the infamous scandal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Our) voices matter, (our) stories must not be forgotten, said victim Anouska de Georgiou. This is about ending secrecy wherever abuse of power takes root. Annie Farmer, who says she and her sister were abused by Epstein and Maxwell more than two decades ago, vowed to continue the fight. We are not going away, Farmer said. We are not going to be quiet and we are not going to give up. Marina Lacerda identified herself as Minor Victim No. 1 in the federal case against Epstein. The Brazilian immigrant said the government must help the victims win justice and repair the damage done to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worst part is the government is still in possession of information that could help me heal, she said. I dont have any of it. The victims sharply denounced the Trump administrations treatment of Maxwell, including moving her to a cushy minimum security prison camp after she gave an interview to a top Justice Department lawyer and mostly backed Trumps claims that he wasnt involved in Epsteins misdeeds. They demanded Trump rule out pardoning Maxwell, a step he has refused to take. She participated in the abuse, Robson said. This woman abused children.She was complicit. Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sex ring called Wednesday for the release of all files on the notorious pedophile and one said the abusers biggest brag was his cozy relationship with President Donald Trump. The truth is: Epstein had a free pass. He bragged about his powerful friends, including our current President Donald Trump, said Chauntae Davies, one of Epsteins victims, at a dramatic news conference outside the U.S. Capitol. It was his biggest brag, actually. Jeffrey and Ghislaine (Maxwell) were very vocal about their friends, their famous and powerful friends, Davies added. Jeffrey Epsteins biggest brag forever was that he was a very good friend with Donald Trump. He had an 8-by-10 framed picture of him on his desk with the two of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Epstein victim emphatically pushed back against Trumps effort to turn the page on the furor over the sex ring and urged him to listen to their testimony. This is not a hoax, said Haley Robson. We are real human beings. This is real trauma. But Trump refuses to back down. In an extraordinary split-screen moment seconds after the news conference ended, Trump repeated his claim that the firestorm over Epstein is a partisan hoax designed to detract from his supposed achievements. Its a Democrat hoax that never ends, Trump said at an unrelated White House event. Its totally irrelevant to the success weve had as a nation since I became president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drama comes as a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including a handful of right-wing Republicans, push Trump and Republican congressional leaders for much more transparency on the investigation into Epstein, who killed himself while awaiting trial in Manhattan in 2019. The GOP-led House Oversight Committee this week publicly posted some files it has received from the Justice Department on the sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, his convicted accomplice. But critics say almost all the documents were already public and the effort was a brazen effort to deflect attention from the mounting pressure in Congress to force more disclosure in the case. The Epstein survivors, some of whom have never spoken in public before, provided a powerful human side to the political drama roiling the nations capital over the infamous scandal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Our) voices matter, (our) stories must not be forgotten, said victim Anouska de Georgiou. This is about ending secrecy wherever abuse of power takes root. Annie Farmer, who says she and her sister were abused by Epstein and Maxwell more than two decades ago, vowed to continue the fight. We are not going away, Farmer said. We are not going to be quiet and we are not going to give up. Some of the victims also said they were working to compile an unofficial list of abusers for whom Epstein procured girls and young women to molest or rape. Prosecutors say Epstein and Maxwell did not keep such a list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know the names, said Lisa Phillips, a model. Many of us were abused by them. Marina Lacerda identified herself as Minor Victim No. 1 in the federal case against Epstein. The Brazilian immigrant said the government must help the victims win justice and repair the damage done to them. The worst part is the government is still in possession of information that could help me heal, she said. I dont have any of it. The victims sharply denounced the Trump administrations treatment of Maxwell, including moving her to a cushy minimum-security prison camp after she gave an interview to a top Justice Department lawyer and mostly backed Trumps claims that he wasnt involved in Epsteins misdeeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They demanded Trump rule out pardoning Maxwell, a step he has refused to take. She participated in the abuse, de Georgiou said. This woman abused children. She was complicit. Democrats and a few Republicans are pushing to pass a rarely used congressional measure known as a discharge petition to force a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives to release all the Epstein files. A majority of 218 members of the House need to back that bill, meaning at least six Republicans would likely need to join all 212 Democrats. Liberal Democrat Ro Khanna of California praised far right-wing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., for joining the crusade to bare all the files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Releasing the Epstein files brought (Greene) & me together. Maybe it can bring our nation together, Khanna posted. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., countered that the measure was flawed and asserted that the GOP-led House was already aggressively investigating the Epstein matter. We want to bring justice to every single person who is involved in the Epstein evils and the cover-up thereof, but we also want to be equally certain we protect the innocent victims, Johnson said. Epstein was originally investigated by federal authorities in South Florida in the late 2000s but was given a sweetheart deal that left him facing only relatively minor state charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He and Maxwell were later charged by New York federal authorities investigating years of abuse that took place at his palatial Upper East Side townhouse. The wealthy financier was imprisoned in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial when authorities said he died by suicide in his cell. Trump, who was a close friend and Palm Beach neighbor of Epstein until they fell out under unclear circumstances, once repeatedly vowed to release all the Epstein files. But the president recently flip-flopped and has stubbornly resisted rising pressure to keep his promise. The reversal coincided with a briefing from Attorney General Pam Bondi that revealed Trump is mentioned in some of the files, although there is no evidence of any wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A New York federal judge recently declined prosecutors request to release grand jury records from the case, calling it a red herring and noting that the Justice Department has far more documents it could release if it chose to do so. _____ WASHINGTON Women who say they were sexually abused by the late, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein spoke out in an emotional press conference where they called for the full release of the criminal investigative files in the case on Sept. 3. The demands pose a challenge for President Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders who for years demanded more information about Epstein, a former friend of the president, but now say full disclosure could hurt Epstein's victims. But several survivors of Epstein's abuse said they supported an effort by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, D-California to force a House vote. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) speaks during a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anouska De Georgiou, a Jeffrey Epstein survivor, speaks during a press conference along with House members and other victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, DC, on Sept. 3, 2025. Marina Lacerda, a Jeffrey Epstein accuser, speaks during a press conference along with House members and other victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, DC, on Sept. 3, 2025. Anouska De Georgiou, left, embraces Chauntae Davies during a news conference about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington, DC. Protestors gather outside the U.S. Capitol as House members hold a press conference along with victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. Survivors Danielle Bensky, left, and Anouska De Georgiou, hug one another during a press conference along with House members and other victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. Lisa Phillips speaks during a news conference with fellow alleged victims of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington, DC. Haley Robson, a Jeffery Epstein survivor, wipes tears from her eyes during a press conference along with House members and other victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. People demostrate during the Stand with Survivors Rally in support of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's victims, in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks as House members hold a press conference along with victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. The bipartisan group is calling for the release of the Justice Department files surrounding the case. Protestors gather outside the U.S. Capitol as House members hold a press conference along with victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) speaks as House members hold a press conference along with victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. The bipartisan group is calling for the release of the Justice Department files surrounding the case. Demonstrators carry a sign in support of the victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell near a press conference held by US representatives outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025. People attend a press conference and rally in support of the victims of sex offender Jeffrey Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, talks with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, at their news conference along with victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, DC, on Sept. 3, 2025. Attorney Gloria Allred speaks during a rally in support of the victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on September 3, 2025 in Washington, DC. Alleged victims of Epstein and other victims of sexual abuse are holding the rally amid a bipartisan Congressional effort to force the federal government to release all unclassified records from the cases of Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Attendees listen to speakers during a rally to support victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. Survivor Liz Stein speaks during a rally to support victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. Attorney Sigrid McCawley speaks during a rally to support victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. People attend a rally to support victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. Demonstrators rally during a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on September 3, 2025 in Washington, DC. Demonstrators rally during a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on September 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. Victims of Jeffrey Epstein rally at Capitol Hill to demand release of files 1 of 22 Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) speaks during a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3, 2025 in Washington, DC. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said a vote to force the Justice Department to release more documents is no longer necessary after a House committee made public 33,295 pages of subpoenaed records on Sept. 2, which House Democrats said were overwhelmingly just previously released files. Trump called demands for more disclosure a Democratic "hoax." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victims met privately Sept. 2 with members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee to describe their abuse, leaving Rep. Nancy Mace, herself a survivor of sexual assault, teary and hyperventilating. Epstein died by suicide in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His aide, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Here is what to know about the release of Epstein documents: US military jets doing White House flyover temporarily drown out Epstein accusers During the news conference, a military flyover of the US Capitol drowned out some of the Epstein accusers remarks. Was it a coincidence? The White House said the fighter jets were participating in maneuvers to honor a fallen Polish army pilot killed recently in a training exercise and to "celebrate the special relationship between our two countries" as President Donald Trump welcomed new Polish President Karol Nawrocki to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: 'Full blown panic attack.' Rep. Nancy Mace leaves meeting with Epstein victims in tears More: Jeffrey Epstein accusers interrupted by White House jet flyover. Was it a coincidence? When the jets roared overhead many of the event attendees looked skyward. Some of the women publicly accusing the disgraced late financier of horrific acts shook their head in disbelief. One had to stop talking mid-sentence and wait for them to pass by before resuming.. Its difficult to overstate how disrespectful this flyover was, given this press conference was known about by the admin, one of the attendees, Amber Woods, said in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --Josh Meyer Trumps name reportedly appears in Epstein files; he calls demands for release a hoax Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump in May that he was named multiple times in the government's files on Epstein, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and CNN. Future President Donald Trump, his future wife Melania Knaus, financier Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump was friends with Epstein during the 1990s and flew repeatedly on his private plane. But Trump has denied visiting Epsteins private Caribbean island, where much of the abuse allegedly occurred, and he has not been accused of wrongdoing. Trump ousted Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club for allegedly recruiting away his workers. Trump, who said during the 2024 he would be open to releasing the files, told reporters Sept. 3 in the Oval Office that demands to release the records had become partisan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's really a Democrat hoax, Trump said, despite four House Republicans joining the fight to force the Justice Department to release the documents. Because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been president. More: Pam Bondi reportedly told Donald Trump in May that he's named in Epstein files Trump noted that the House Oversight and Reform Committee released 33,295 pages of documents Sept. 2."I know that no matter what you do, it's going to keep going, Trump said. I think, really, I think it's enough. The committee recently subpoenaed an Epstein birthday book that reportedly contains a bawdy contribution from Trump. The president denied drawing the ribald picture or writing an accompanying message, and he has sued the Wall Street Journal, seeking $10 billion, after the paper wrote about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --Bart Jansen Epstein accuser: Documents will help put the pieces of my own life back together A newly disclosed Brazilian accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, Marina Lacerda, called on lawmakers and the Justice Department to not only release all of the Epstein files but to give her and other victims unredacted copies of everything connected to their cases. I never thought that I would find myself here. The only reason that I am here is because it feels like the people who matter in this country finally care about what we have to say, said Lacerda. Marina Lacerda, victim of late financier Jeffrey Epstein, walks back to Congress after a press conference to discuss the Epstein Files Transparency bill on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, Sept. 3, 2025. Lacerda said she was only 14 or 15 when she began giving massages for extra money at Epsteins mansion in New York City, and that she was ultimately sexually abused by Epstein. She identified herself as Minor victim 1 in the federal indictment of Jeffrey Epstein in New York in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are many pieces of my story that I can't remember, no matter how hard I try, Lacerda said. The constant state of wonder causes me so much fear and so much confusion. More: What to know about the House battle over releasing Jeffrey Epstein records To help her heal and put the pieces of my own life back together, she said, the least they can do is give me my documents that they have about me. The other survivors deserve the same respect from our government. Lacerda also said that when an FBI agent showed up at her door in 2008 to interview her about Epstein, that Epstein himself hired a lawyer to represent me, or more like, to represent him. I couldn't ask any questions, and I had no idea what was going on. I was terrified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --Josh Meyer Haley Robson, a Jeffery Epstein survivor, wipes tears from her eyes during a press conference along with House members and other victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. President Trumpplease use that influence and power to help us One of the Epstein accusers, Anouska De Georgiou, reportedly met and socialized with President Trump through her associations with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Survivors including Anouska De Georgiou (C) look on during a news conference with alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on September 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. The future US president was reported in 1999 to have fallen under the spell of Anouska De Georgiou, having been introduced to her by Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of the newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell and a close friend of Epstein, The Times of London reported in 2019. I chose to come because this bill really matters, De Georgiou said outside the Capitol. I speak today not only in service of my own recovery from trauma inflicted by Maxwell and Epstein, but to honor the lives the courage and sacrifices of Virginia Giuffre, Carolyn Andriano and others who could not continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andriano, 36, died of a drug overdose in May 2023. For four years, Epstein had abused her at his Palm Beach mansion, starting in 2001 when she was 14, she had said. Their voices mattered, De Georgiou said. Their stories must not be forgotten. People attend a rally to support victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. De Georgiou didnt mention any relationship with Trump. But she appealed to him for help. You have so much influence and power in this situation, De Georgiou said. Please use that influence and power to help us, because we need it now, and this country needs it now. --Josh Meyer Why are lawmakers fighting over the Epstein files? The House fight over the Epstein files deals with legislation that aims to the force the Justice Department to release its criminal investigative files. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks as House members hold a press conference along with victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. The bipartisan group is calling for the release of the Justice Department files surrounding the case. The legislation from Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, D-California, calls for the release of all investigations, prosecutions or custodial matters about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. That could include flight logs, names associated with criminal activities, civil settlements, and immunity or plea agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The targets could be companies or governmental agencies with alleged ties to Epsteins trafficking or financial activities. No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary, the bill said. More: House committee subpoenas Epstein estate for 'birthday book' with alleged Trump note But leading Republicans oppose the release of more records. President Donald Trump voiced concern about uninvolved people being named unfairly in the files. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said the bill isnt necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If 218 lawmakers a House majority sign a petition, that would force a vote on the bill. But Republicans who sign will be bucking the president and their party leaders. Assuming all Democrats sign the petition, Massie said he has 216 signatures, including four Republicans: himself and GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. He needs two more Republicans to join them for the effort to succeed. --Bart Jansen Lawyer: Epstein documents will appall Americans Bradley Edwards, a lawyer representing Epstein survivors, said the House petition from Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna aims to force the Justice Department to release all the confidential documents from the criminal investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a majority of the House signs what is called a discharge petition, it will force a vote on the measure. The goal is to release documents from the CIA, FBI and financial papers that document who supported Epstein and his sex trafficking conspiracy. When you see the documents, you are going to be appalled, said Edwards, who has already viewed many of the documents through civil lawsuits. When you sign the discharge petition, it means nothing should be off limits. --Bart Jansen Two more signatures to release full Epstein files, Massie says Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, kicked off the lawmaker news conference by saying he and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, need only two more Republicans to vote with them to order the release of the Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie, who has singled out House Speaker Mike Johnson for trying to keep the files secret, needs 218 signatures to move what's called a discharge petition forward over the objection of the House Republican leadership, who normally control which bills are brought to the House floor. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, talks with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, at their news conference along with victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, DC, on Sept. 3, 2025. Massie said he was encouraged by all the alleged Epstein victims who have come forward, including those who spoke at a rally earlier on Sept. 3. I hope they encourage other survivors to come forward and to tell their stories, not just of Jeffrey Epstein and (Ghislaine) Maxwell, but anywhere in the country, Massie said. More: From Epstein suicide to Trump and Clinton, 5 takeaways from Ghislaine Maxwell transcripts This is a litmus test. Can we drain the swamp? Are there people who are outside of the reach of the law? I don't think there should be. So hopefully today, we'll get two more signatures on the discharge petition. That's all we need, Massie said. --Josh Meyer No more slow-rolling: lawyer for 11 Epstein survivors Arick Fudale, a lawyer who represents 11 Epstein survivors, said government officials should have stopped Epstein years earlier than they did and that the investigative files for his case should be released. Fudale introduced a client named Rosa, who stood next to him and had never before been identified publicly, as an Epstein survivor. Fudale said Rosa was trafficked from Uzbekistan in 2009 after Florida officials charged Epstein but let him go with what the lawyer called a slap on the wrist. Federal officials later charged Epstein in 2019 and he died a month later by suicide in a jail awaiting trial. None of you should have to be here today because they should just release the files, Fudale said. No more slow-rolling. No more meetings. No more strategy. No more interviews behind closed doors. Release the files. --Bart Jansen No leniency, no deals, no special treatment says late Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffres brother The brother of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epsteins most vocal accusers, told the rally crowd that he and his family will never stop pushing until all of the so-called Epstein files are released and justice is served on others who participating in his alleged sex-trafficking ring. Family members of the late Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Guiffre - Scott Roberts (C), his wife Amanda Roberts (R) and brother Daniel Wilson - speak at the Stand with Survivors Rally in support of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's victims, in Washington, DC, Sept. 3, 2025. "No leniency, no deals, no special treatment, a tearful Sky Roberts said. The Epstein documents must be unsealed. Every name, every detail. No more secrets, no more protection for those who prayed on the vulnerable. And finally, we demand full accountability from every enabler, every accomplice, every person in power who turned a blind eye, Roberts said. Lawyer David Boies arrives with client Virginia Giuffre for a hearing in the criminal case against financier Jeffrey Epstein in New York City on Aug. 27, 2019. Epstein was found dead in his jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Giuffre, who accused British Prince Andrew and other influential men of sexually exploiting her as a teenager trafficked by Epstein, died by suicide in April 2025. Roberts wife Amanda then read from Virginia Giuffres journal sometime before she died by suicide in April: I look forward to the days when money and power does not stop the truth from coming out and the righteous prevail. --Josh Meyer Accuser says she was trafficked across this great nation thanks to Ghislaine Maxwell Epstein accuser Theresa J. Helm said she is a survivor of both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, but that Maxwell is to blame for gaining her trust and then betraying her. Teresa Helm speaks during a rally in support of the victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on September 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. I was systematically recruited, trafficked across this great nation, groomed and assaulted, said Helm, who now works with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation in Washington, DC. More: Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell quietly moved out of Florida federal prison Ghislaine, it was your butler that greeted me at the front door of your beautiful home, and it was your calm, manipulative and fraudulent demeanor that cultivated my trust, Helm said. That coercive system that you have mastered was entirely end-game oriented, and that end game was to feed the perversion of you and Jeffrey through sexual violence. It was you who sent me off to the home of a monster, knowing what was waiting for me, Helm said of Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for Epstein-related sex crimes. More: Shes inmate No. 02879-509 in Florida. But once again, Ghislaine Maxwell is holding court Helm called on Epstein accusers and lawmakers to now get rid of the perpetrators and bad actors. --Josh Meyer Epstein's accomplices must be identified, victim says Lisa Phillips, a podcaster who interviews the survivors of sex trafficking, said she was taken to Epsteins private Caribbean island in 2000 to shoot photos and build her modeling career but instead became a victim of his abuse. Lisa Phillips attends a rally in support of the victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on September 03, 2025. Alleged victims of Epstein are holding the rally amid a bipartisan Congressional effort to force the release of records from the cases of Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. She demanded the government release the names of wealthy and powerful men who helped Epstein over the decades. Who was he to our government that he was allowed to operate openly for decades? Phillips asked. Why was he allowed to sponsor visas for young models, using their immigration status as leverage to abuse them and silence them? For lack of a government release, Phillips said she was organizing Epstein victims to gather their own list of accomplices to share. It will be done by survivors, for survivors, she said. History is watching. --Bart Jansen Victim tells rally criminals must be held accountable At a Standing with Survivors rally near the Capitol, Liz Stein said criminals who assisted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell should be held accountable. Survivor Liz Stein speaks during a rally to support victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2025. Stein said she was a 21-year-old senior in college when she met Maxwell, who introduced her to Epstein. But their sex-trafficking relationship derailed her plans for law school, she said. It felt like somebody shut out the lights to my soul, Stein said. Instead of fulfilling my dream of doing to law school after graduation, overcoming the terror and the trauma that was inflicted on me by these sex traffickers became my decades-long fulltime career. Stein encouraged rally-goers to believe the victims of sexual assault. This is not a partisan issue. This is a crime, Stein said. The criminals must be held accountable. --Bart Jansen House releases some Epstein documents but critics find little new The House Oversight and Reform Committee released 33,295 pages of documents related to Epstein from the Justice Department on Sept. 2. But lawmakers and other advocates who had been waiting for the records said there was little new. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the committee, said on social media that 97% of the documents had already been released with no mention of any client list. He urged the American public not to be fooled. Fact check: nearly everything Republicans just supposedly released has already been released, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, said on social media. They are doing everything in their power to muddy the waters. RELEASE. THE. FILES. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, departs from a meeting with members of Congress and survivors of abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 2, 2025. Rep. Mace left meeting with victims in tears In a reflection of how emotional the debate can be, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, left the Sept. 2 Oversight meeting with Epsteins victims in tears and said she had a very difficult time listening to their stories. "Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I cant breathe," Mace wrote on social media. Mace has said previously on the House floor that she has been drugged and raped. Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York speaks alongside William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office, 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, on July 2, 2020. What was released among the records? The materials that were included at least eight videos of apparent police interviews with victims. Several were timestamped from 2005 and 2006. In one video, a girl whose appearance and name are edited out said Epstein paid her $350 for a massage and sex when she was 17 years old. "He has the girls take off their clothes and give him a massage," she said in the 17-minute video. Other records include audio recordings from the criminal investigation of Epstein in Florida, including what appeared to be an interview with a victim whose name and date of birth were edited out. A protester holds up a photo of the future President Donald Trump with financier Jeffrey Epstein at a rally in Augusta, Georgia, on Aug. 2, 2025. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting a federal sex trafficking trial. How is Trump involved? One of the most tantalizing prospects from the Epstein documents is that they might contain a list of wealthy and powerful people who might have helped him avoid criminal charges for decades. Trump was photographed occasionally with Epstein during the 1990s and rode on his private plane. But Trump has denied visiting Epsteins private island, where much of the abuse was reported to have occurred, and denied wrongdoing. Ghislaine Maxwell met for two days in July with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to answer questions about Epstein. She said Trump wasn't involved in abusing girls. She continues to appeal her conviction. "I never, ever saw any man doing something inappropriate with a woman of any age, Maxwell said. Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the department has already released all the records that it can about the case and there is no client list. She explained at a July Cabinet meeting where Trump lashed out against questions about Epstein that the remainder of records include pornographic videos she said she would never release and names of victims that shouldnt be revealed. A federal judge denied Bondi's request to release grand jury transcripts from the investigation. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeffrey Epstein victims rally in showdown over files: recap Firefighters in New Jersey are battling a 120-acre wildfire that started last night. The Buckabear Fire broke out after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night in West Milford Township in Passaic County, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. As of Wednesday morning, crews from the service had the fire 20% contained after setting up containment lines, starting backfire operations and closing Clinton Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency said later on Wednesday the fire was 30% contained after deploying fire engines, ground crews and a helicopter capable of dropping 325 gallons of water per bucket. The blaze has so far not threatened any structures or necessitated ordering evacuations, but anyone with breathing issues was advised to stay inside and close their windows if possible. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. West Milford is about 50 miles northwest of New York City. A massive wildfire in New Jersey in April was later tied back to teens who hadnt extinguished a bonfire. They were both charged. TRENTON, N.J. (AP) New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, whose record-setting Senate speech this year denouncing the Trump administration fueled talk of a potential future national campaign, has announced his engagement to girlfriend Alexis Lewis. Booker, a former Democratic candidate for president, announced the engagement on Instagram Tuesday, posting five photos of the couple who were wearing leis, smiling broadly and posing on a beach in one photo. Booker, 56, has never been married. I am savoring the soul-affirming wonder of everyday life with my partner, best friend, and now my fiancee, Booker wrote. We are excited for this journey ahead, having so much fun, and feeling deeply grateful for the love, support, and energy so many of you have shared with us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Booker's personal life was in the news a few years ago when he dated actress Rosario Dawson. Booker told the Washington Examiner earlier this year he and Lewis have been living together in Washington. Booker was first elected to the Senate in 2013 in a special election. He was reelected in 2014 and again in 2020. He previously served as the mayor of Newark, New Jersey's largest city. Booker's April speech on the Senate floor criticizing President Donald Trump's agenda since beginning his second term lasted more than 25 hours and put Booker back in the national spotlight. During a town hall after the speech in Paramus, New Jersey, Booker addressed a possible 2028 presidential run, saying he was focused on running for reelection to the Senate in 2026 and that the presidential race would take care of itself. This came after a day of protests, including authorities arresting at least 13 who barricaded on the roof of Israel's National Library, and set fire to dumpsters and tires across Jerusalem. Israeli demonstrators scuffled with Israeli police officers as they blocked Jerusalem's light rail track on Wednesday night, protesting for an immediate hostage deal. The protest, according to the police, turned into a "violent riot." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police called on protesters to disperse, but began using force against the activists when there was no response, the police stated. The light rail reopened shortly after. The police statement denounced the protesters' conduct as "deplorable." Israel Police and Border Police officers forcibly remove a demonstrator who blocked the Jerusalem light rail tracks in a protest calling for the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza terror captivity, September 3, 2025. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) This comes after a day of protests, which saw thousands take to the Jerusalem streets to rally behind hostage families desperate for any movement on negotiations to free their loved ones from Hamas captivity. Protest groups estimated that at least 10,000 people took part in the protests. It has been about a month since the harrowing footage of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski was released. No significant movement towards a deal that would free them has been noted, as Israeli leadership and the IDF prepare for a full takeover of Gaza City, one of Hamass last strongholds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The terrorist group that led the cross-border massacre attack on October 7, 2023, that triggered the ensuing war continues to hold 48 of the 251 people it kidnapped that day captive, using them as bargaining chips to demand a complete end to military operations and a full withdrawal of the military from the enclave, as Gaza lies in ruins. Late in the afternoon, the routes in and out of Jerusalem were blocked by demonstrators. Activities, organized by several different protest groups, culminated with a mass rally, which included speeches from hostage families, at Balfour Street in front of the Prime Ministers Residence. The demonstrations began on Wednesday morning at key sites in the capital city and elsewhere at highway and street junctions, including outside the Knesset, the National Library, and the residences of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Protesters calling for the return of the hostages in Gaza on the roof of Israel's National Library, September 3, 2025. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST) Mothers of combat soldiers opened the day of demonstrations at the entrance to Jerusalem, where they called for the end of the war to save the lives of hostages and soldiers alike. Near Netanyahus residence in the Rehavia neighborhood, as well as in Givat Ram, tires and dumpsters were set on fire. In Rehavia, one of them led to the burning of a car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, residents in the building across the street were evacuated and expressed shock at the ferocity of the damage as the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) stepped in to find the perpetrators. Tamar, a mother of three whose car was torched, said her husband is set to leave for reserve duty next week, while she is now left with a burned vehicle which included three car seats and will have to drop her children off at school by foot. 'A life-threatening danger' This has nothing to do with being pro- or anti-protests; it is simply a life-threatening danger, she said. The incident received widespread condemnation from across the political field. Bar Godard, the daughter of slain hostage Manny Godard, whose body is being held by Hamas in Gaza, told KAN Reshet Bet that it should never have happened in such a violent manner, definitely not in a violent way that could hurt another person. But, I think what the nation is trying to say and it is coming like a wave from the nation is that it simply cant take this anymore. This behavior and method is not coming from the hostage families. Police later said it apprehended two suspects, in their 60s and 80s, residents of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, on suspicion of setting the fires near the Prime Ministers Residence. In Givat Ram, protesters barricaded atop the roof of the National Library of Israel. They eventually all came down of their own accord. In total, 13 protesters were arrested. Twelve were released by the evening, while one was held overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel Police stated, The right to protest does not grant the right to set property on fire or cause economic and health damage to the public. In the Baka neighborhood, dozens from the Brothers in Arms reservist protest group demonstrated outside Dermers home. The results speak for themselves: 48 hostages are still in tunnels, and zero have returned under his [Dermers] tenure. The government is torpedoing the comprehensive deal on the table and prefers the political interests of extremist ministers over the lives of hostages. The time has come to end this abandonment and advance a comprehensive deal to return everyone, even at the cost of stopping the war, said the group. NEW YORK (PIX11) JetBlue is hosting another round of deals, offering low fares on routes from New York City. The fares are available through Thursday, Sept. 4, and apply to flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, from Sept. 13 through Dec. 17. More Local News Additionally, there are blackout dates between Nov. 20 and Dec. 1. Below are a few routes from John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atlanta from $64 Chicago from $69 Jacksonville from $54 Los Angeles from $119 New Orleans from $64 Orlando from $59 Portland from $54 Providence from $39 San Francisco from 109 Tampa from $54 There are also several international destinations, including: Amsterdam from $199 Guatemala City from $99 London-Heathrow from $199 Paris from $199 San Juan from $84 For more information and to browse more flights, click here. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Jack Schlossberg, the social media star and grandson of President John F. Kennedy, is considering running for Congress next year to replace longtime Democratic stalwart Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who announced his retirement plans earlier this week. Schlossberg, 32, has never held public office, but told The New York Times on Tuesday that it was certainly a possibility he would run to fill Nadlers seat, a highly prized New York City district spanning the center of Manhattan. The 32-year-old Yale and Harvard graduate, the son of former diplomat Caroline Kennedy, has risen to fame in recent years, mixing political commentary and social media influencing, including serving as a political correspondent for Vogue during the 2024 election. He currently hosts a political commentary show on YouTube, recording episodes from inside his van. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schlossberg is also a regular, scathing critic of family member Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Trump administrations Health and Human Services secretary and the 32-year-olds cousin. Nadler announced his retirement plans in an interview with The New York Times published Monday, describing a need to pass his seat to the next generation of leaders after watching Democrats lose as an ailing Joe Biden ceded his 2024 campaign to Kamala Harris. Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, is among the long list of contenders thought to be considering a congressional run to replace New York Citys longstanding Democratic congressman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who will retire next year (Getty Images) Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that, Nadler said, adding that he hoped a successor can maybe help us more. The retirement has set off a flurry of political maneuvering and speculation about who might replace Nadler and what that might say about the future of the party in New York and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other famous names have been rumored to be considering the race progressive star and former Federal Trade Commission boss Lisa Khan; Sex and the City actor and former gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon; and Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; plus a gaggle of New York lawmakers but only non-profit founder Liam Elkind has formally entered the primary. Nadler said his decision to retire came after watching the partys stinging defeat in the 2024 election, convincing him fresh blood was needed (EPA) The race to replace Nadler will take place next June, and it is expected to be a high-visibility contest awash in cash, given that its taking place in the heart of U.S.s media and finance capital. Its the most coveted and arguably important congressional seat in New York because of the history of political influence from that seat, and also the fundraising base that comes with it, Evan Thies, a Democratic strategist, told Politico of the race. That allows you to be a national player and leader in the party, and youre also representing one of the highest voting blocs for Democrats of any Congressional district in the country. Nadlers unexpected exit plans, just a year after he speculated he might serve for another decade, is the latest shake-up in an already especially topsy-turvy season of New York politics, following the surprise victory of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in the citys Democratic primary. Welcome to 5 Things PM! On average, women live longer than men but a female longevity specialist says its time to focus on living better. She shares science-backed strategies to help women thrive through midlife and beyond. Heres what else you might have missed during your busy day. 5 things A job fair in Buffalo, New York. - Lauren Petracca/Bloomberg/Getty Images 1 Jobs slump For the first time in more than four years, there are fewer open positions than there are job seekers. Julys weak report led President Donald Trump to fire the person in charge of the data, but the latest numbers confirm that those meager totals werent an anomaly. 2 Vaccine mandates Florida plans to end them, which would make it the first state to remove all vaccine requirements for schoolchildren. All 50 states have had immunization requirements since the early 1980s to protect against diseases including measles, polio and tetanus. 3 Hypercarnivore Tens of millions of years ago, a creature resembling a giant crocodile ate whatever it could catch, including some dinosaurs. Scientists recently discovered a skeleton near the southern tip of South America and learned more about the predator. 4 A party to remember Only a few people came to a Mexican teens quinceanera a milestone 15th birthday celebration. But after her father posted online about all the leftover food, thousands showed up in the pouring rain for an unforgettable all-night bash. 5 Gigantic jackpots How did Powerball prizes (tonights is $1.4 billion) get so huge? Organizers have discovered the key to getting people to buy tickets, and theyre doing whatever they can to make that happen. Watch this Get a grip! Wrestlers across the Balkans cover themselves in olive oil from head to toe and compete in a test of strength and skill. The slippery tradition dates back to the Ottoman Empire. Top headlines Epstein survivors message to Trump: This is no hoax At least 15 people killed as funicular railway popular with tourists derails in Lisbon If Trump loses his tariff lawsuit, America may have to pay businesses an incredible refund Check this out Rana Sajid Hussain/Pacific Press/Shutterstock Ethereal glow: Bioluminescent algae are bathing a beach in Melbourne, Australia, adding a brilliant blue to the water and sand. The bloom appears as a bright pinkish-orange cloud during the day, but nighttime brings a spectacular transformation. Quiz time Aaron Epstein/Peacock Which new spinoff from The Office chronicles the fledgling world of local news? A. The Station B. The Newsroom C. The Paper D. The Fourth Estate Scroll down for the answer. Thanks for reading Well see you tomorrow. Quiz answer: C. The Paper, which debuts Thursday on Peacock, sets its sights on a dwindling industry. Check out all of CNNs newsletters. Todays edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNNs Kimberly Richardson and Chris Good. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Former Sen. John E. Sununu said Wednesday he is "seriously" considering mounting a Senate comeback bid in New Hampshire, a boon to Republicans who have been searching for a marquee recruit to flip the open, blue seat. The 60-year-old Republican told WMUR on Wednesday that he's going to tour the state and decide "by the end of next month" whether he'll run for the seat he lost in 2008 to Democrat Jeanne Shaheen after serving a single term. Shaheen, who Sununu defeated in 2002 to win the seat in the first place, is retiring next year. The son of former governor and White House chief of staff John H. Sununu and brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu, John E. Sununu served three terms in the House before winning election to the Senate in 2002 and cementing his role in the New Hampshire political dynasty. He largely retreated from elective politics after his defeat in 2008. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Sununus entrance into the race would offer Republicans the marquee name and fundraising machine theyve been searching for since his brother rejected President Donald Trumps and the National Republican Senatorial Committees recruitment efforts earlier this year. Sununu has discussed a bid with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and former Sen. Cory Gardner who said recently he'll be stepping down as chair of the GOP super PAC the Senate Leadership Fund according to three people granted anonymity to describe the private conversations. One of those people said national Republicans consider Sununu a strong candidate. Chris Sununu, who also rebuffed entreaties to run for Senate in 2022, is heading to Washington anyway to take over as the head of U.S. airline lobbying firm Airlines for America next week. Former Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the Senate and who lost to Shaheen in 2014 in New Hampshire, is also running in the GOP primary, as is state Sen. Dan Innis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four-term Rep. Chris Pappas is running on the Democratic side against political newcomer and progressive activist Karishma Manzur. Pappas had over $2 million at the start of the quarter. He blasted Sununu as a "corporate sellout" in a statement Wednesday. Granite Staters want a new generation of leadership that will stand up to Donald Trump and special interests and build an economy that works for everyone, not whoever national Republicans can pull from the bottom of their failed candidate barrel," Pappas said. Republicans are eager to reclaim what has become a blue seat in a purple state. While the GOP has a governing trifecta in Concord, Democrats hold all four federal offices. Trump had offered Chris Sununu his support if he ran, but has not endorsed anyone in the current GOP field as Scott and Innis openly vie for his nod. Brown served as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during Trumps first term, but later criticized him over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Innis has called for redistricting in New Hampshire, echoing Trumps aggressive effort to protect the GOPs slim House majority through red-state redraws, though Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has ruled it out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sununu, meanwhile, was a national co-chair of John Kasichs 2016 presidential campaign and endorsed against Trump in the 2020 GOP primary for Pappas House seat. Last year, he joined his brother and father in backing former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley for president penning an op-ed warning Republicans they would lose if Trump became their nominee. Ahead of the general election, he joined the Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan group focused on restoring public trust in election security. The NRSC declined to comment on Sununu's plans. John Lewis is bringing Topshop back to Britains high streets as it seeks to win over more younger shoppers. The department store said it will be launching Topshop in 32 of its shops from next February, while menswear brand Topman will be rolled out in six locations. Topshop bosses said the deal would put the brands back in front of customers nationwide. Topshop was once a stalwart of Britains high streets and the jewel in the crown of billionaire Sir Philip Greens retail empire Arcadia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At its height, the brand had 300 stores across the UK including a flagship shop on Oxford Circus, as well as concessions in stores including Selfridges. It was known for its popular collaborations with celebrities such as Kate Moss. However, Topshop disappeared from high streets after the unravelling of Sir Philips empire. Online fast fashion giant Asos bought Topshop out of administration in 2021 following Arcadias collapse but only sold its clothes online. Anders Holch Povlsen the Danish tycoon behind brands including Jack & Jones took control of Topshop last year, with Asos maintaining a minority share. At the time, the company suggested it was considering returning to the high street and last month Topshop launched in luxury London store Liberty. The tie-up with John Lewis will take Topshop to high streets outside London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peter Ruis, the managing director of the department store, said the launch would help attract new generations of shoppers. Typically, John Lewis has been popular with older generations whereas Topshops main customers are teens and women in their 20s. Topshop is returning to Britains high streets after years away Mr Ruis said young customers were already shopping in its beauty halls, but the Topshop deal would help lure them into other departments and bring more of that family day out. He said Topshop was a multi-generational brand which was not only popular with Millennials that grew up with them but also younger people who were coming to the label through the 90s TikTok revival. Mr Ruis added: Well be driving customers who maybe dont always come through the door across all those critical age groups. I think it will bring new customers in, but weve got a lot of them coming already. It will probably push them from the beauty hall into the fashion department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The launch forms part of plans to freshen up John Lewis department stores after years of underinvestment. John Lewis wants its stores to have a family day out feel - Alex Segre/Getty Images The partnership is investing 800m into its shops, including renovating parts of the stores and introducing new restaurants. It also pushed through changes in staff hours so that it could have more people on the shop floor when customers needed them. Mr Ruis said: We had too many people back of house, in the wrong parts of the store, and not working on the days when customers were actually in the business. He shrugged off suggestions that the concept of a department store was outdated. Mr Ruis said: We are Britains department store. Theres always going to be room for a great department store, you could argue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You maybe cant survive as five or six department stores in the country, but as Britains best and biggest national department store, theres definitely room for us. 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. Were working to learn what led to the death of a man who the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said was shot outside of a home in the Pine Forest neighborhood late last night. JSO said officers got to the home on Paul Avenue right after 10:00 PM on Tuesday and found a man whod been shot. JSO hasnt shared the mans name, but said he was taken to the hospital and later died. Action News Jax made contact with the people claiming to be the mans family, including his brother-in-law, sister, and close friend. All of them have asked us not to share his name or show his picture at this time and are not yet ready to do an interview. JSO said two people were detained after the shooting, but their names have not been shared, and no arrests have yet been made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The mans neighbor, Pheap Born, tells Action News Jax he believes the man was shot by the woman living in the home being investigated by police. Born said the man was on Facebook Live when she shot him. There were cops here, there were cops here, caution tape everywhere, Born said, its really shocking to have happen. Two streets away from where JSO said the shooting happened, Griffin Jones told us he and his girlfriend were woken up by the shooting. We heard someone shouting like, you shot my husband! That was about it, just crying about someone getting shot, Jones said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JSO hasnt yet confirmed how the shooting happened. Action News Jax reached out to JSO asking whether any of the information neighbors and apparent family have told us about the shooting can be confirmed, or if the names of anyone involved will be shared. JSO said its not releasing any more information at this time. [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. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is asking for the communitys help to identify three people accused of shoplifting from a store on Southside Boulevard earlier this month. Police say on August 14, security cameras captured the trio arriving with empty handbags. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< According to JSO, they filled a cart with merchandise, then stuffed items into their bags and even down their pants before leaving the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers say theyre now working to identify the suspects. JSO asks anyone with information to call JSO at 904-630-0500 or contact First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS to remain anonymous. [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. Telecoms provider NTT has led a consortium of 12 Japanese companies investing in US-based fusion power plant maker Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), through a fund managed by NTT DOCOMO Ventures. NTT says with the rapid adoption of AI, the power consumption of data centres is expected to increase severalfold, posing a serious challenge of growing electricity demand. Among the various options, NTT sees great potential in fusion energy power generation, which it describes as a next-generation energy source with extremely low environmental impact. The Japanese consortium aims to acquire technical and commercial expertise in policy, regulatory, and the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of ARC from CFS's commercialisation projects in the US. Consortium members plan to contribute know-how and expertise and aspire to expedite the commercialisation and industrialisation of fusion energy power generation in Japan. "Through the promotion of the IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) initiative, the NTT Group is working to reduce the power consumption of information processing infrastructure, while recognising the importance of advancing the realisation of sustainable and clean energy," NTT says. "CFS is the world's leading and largest private fusion company, utilising the magnetic confinement system (tokamak type). "The company announced plans to build the world's first commercial fusion power plant ARC in Virginia in the United States, with the intent of commencing operations in the early 2030s." The 12 Japanese consortium members investing in CFS include: NTT; MITSUI; Mitsubishi; Kansai Electric Power; JERA; Mitsui O.S.K. Lines; JGC JAPAN CORPORATION; Development Bank of Japan; Fujikura; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank; and Mitsui Fudosan. RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) A judge on Wednesday said prosecutors can use DNA evidence obtained through advanced techniques in the forthcoming murder trial of Rex Heuermann, the man accused of being Long Islands Gilgo Beach serial killer. Judge Timothy Mazzei, in his 29-page ruling, concluded that experts presented by defense lawyers provided no empirical proof to refute the validated empirical evidence presented by prosecutors and their expert witnesses during recent hearings and court filings. Prosecutors and experts have said it would be the first time advanced DNA analysis has been allowed as evidence in a New York court and one of just a handful of such instances nationwide. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, whose office is prosecuting the case, said the decision marked a significant step in forensic DNA analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were able to prevail for one simple reason: The science was on our side, Tierney said after the brief hearing in Riverhead court. This is where we are heading in terms of the science, he continued. It just mirrors all the other scientific fields that use this evidence. The criminal justice system caught up today. Heuermanns attorney Michael Brown said he was disappointed in Mazzeis decision and that his legal team has raised new arguments to get the DNA evidence excluded from trial. In a memo filed Wednesday, they allege DNA evidence developed by Astrea Forensics violates state public health law because the California lab does not hold a required permit from New Yorks health department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any analysis performed by Astrea Forensics is unlawful and must be deemed presumptively unreliable, the defense memo reads. To hold otherwise would be to ignore and render meaningless the plain unequivocal provisions of the New York State public health law. Tierney said prosecutors will respond in writing but that hes not convinced the defenses latest argument applies as prosecutors worked with the FBI and followed national standards on DNA testing. Mazzei said hell rule on the defenses latest motion, as well as their pending request to break up the case into multiple trials, at a hearing on Sept. 23. No trial date has been set. Heuermann appeared in court Wednesday but didnt appear to react to the proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 61-year-old Manhattan architect, who was arrested more than two years ago, has been charged in the deaths of seven women in a series of killings that prosecutors say stretched back at least to 1993. Most of the women were sex workers whose remains were discovered along an isolated parkway not far from Gilgo Beach and Heuermanns home in Massapequa. Prosecutors say DNA analysis conducted by two separate labs using different testing methods strongly links Heuermann to the killings that haunted the New York City suburbs for years. Mazzeis decision pertained only to the analysis conducted by Astrea Forensics, which used whole genome sequencing to analyze highly degraded hair fragments recovered from some of the victims' remains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heuermanns lawyers argued the labs calculations exaggerate the likelihood that the hairs match their clients DNA. They also complained the statistical analysis Astrea conducted was improperly based on the 1,000 Genomes Project, an open-source database containing the full DNA sequence of some 2,500 people worldwide. But prosecutors dismissed the critique as misguided and a fundamental misunderstanding of the labs methods. Mazzei, in his ruling, agreed, calling the defense arguments flawed. Whole genome sequencing allow scientists to map out the entire genetic sequence, or genome, of a person using the slimmest of DNA material. While it is relatively rare in criminal forensics, the technique has been used in a wide range of scientific and medical breakthroughs for years, including the mapping of the Neanderthal genome that earned a Nobel Prize in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors and experts say whole genome sequencing has the potential to allow researchers to generate a DNA profile of a suspect in instances where long accepted DNA techniques fall short, such as when a sample is very old or highly degraded, as is the case with the hair fragments found on the Gilgo Beach victims. ___ Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo Evidence derived from cutting-edge DNA technology that prosecutors say points directly at Rex Heuermann being the Gilgo Beach serial killer will be admissible at his trial, a Suffolk County judge ruled Wednesday. The decision by Suffolk County Supreme Court Judge Timothy Mazzei is an important win for prosecutors and a blow for the defense team that challenged the validity of this type of technology that specializes in extracting nuclear DNA from damaged or hard-to-get samples, such as rootless hair. It was these types of individual stray hairs that were found on six of the seven victims prosecutors say Heuermann killed, according to court records. Heuermann is charged with murder in the deaths of the seven women and has pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heuermanns defense attorney Michael Brown had argued the DNA technology, known as whole genome sequencing, has not yet been widely accepted by the scientific community and therefore shouldnt be permitted. He said he plans to argue the validity of the technology before a jury. Meanwhile, prosecutors have argued this type of DNA extraction has been used by local law enforcement, the FBI and even defense attorneys elsewhere in the country, according to court records. The science was on our side and thats why we won, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said after the court deemed the technology admissible. Tierney thanked his team and expert witnesses, saying he is very thankful that this result is behind us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown said Heuermann was disappointed by Wednesdays decision. We disagree with the courts decision, Brown said, later adding, We think the evidence is clear that they didnt sustain their burden. It doesnt mean we cant cross-examine these witnesses at trial, Brown noted. Attorneys for Heuermann have now filed a new motion citing a public health law to challenge the DNA evidence, which criminalizes this very type of action, which is an out-of-state, non-permitted laboratory for profit to test and offer into evidence in the state of New York on a criminal case, Brown said. The district attorney said he was not concerned about the new motion by the defense. We went through the FBI. We followed all the rules and the mandate, Tierney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heuermann is due back in court for a status conference hearing September 23. Were fast reaching the pretrial stage and were hurdling towards the trial stage, the district attorney said. Crime laboratory officers search the New York home of Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann in 2023. - Yuki Iwamura/AFP/Getty Images A full genetic blueprint The DNA analysis in the case was conducted by California-based Astrea Forensics, a company that specializes in whole genome sequencing. Whole genome sequencing is a method that attempts to read nearly all of a persons DNA, covering the entire genetic code of about 3 billion bases, or letters, said Daniele Podini, an associate professor at George Washington University. The key difference, Podini said, is conventional testing provides a limited DNA fingerprint, like a barcode on a supermarket product, while whole genome sequencing (WGS) offers a full genetic blueprint with much more detailed insights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the type of analysis has not yet been subject to an admissibility hearing in the State of New York, prosecutors said in their argument to the judge earlier this year, the technique is commonly used across numerous scientific and forensic fields, including virology, health care and criminal justice and by law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys. New technologies are always up for examination before becoming routine, said Nathan Lents, a professor of biology at the City University of New Yorks John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Forensic methods are subject to intense legal scrutiny before they are accepted as common practice, and thats what we are seeing here, Lents said. This is the normal way that new techniques are introduced into the legal forensic toolkit, in test cases with a great deal of scrutiny and expert testimony. This decision and this litigation marks a significant step in forensic DNA analysis, Tierney said following the judges ruling Wednesday. This is where were headed in the science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNNs Mark Morales reported from Riverhead and Michelle Watson reported from New York. CNNs Rebekah Riess wrote and reported from Atlanta. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A federal judge on Wednesday stopped the Trump administration's attempt to axe $2.2 billion in research funding for Harvard University. In an 84-page order, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs concluded that the Trump administration "used antisemitism as a smokescreen" to unlawfully block billions in research funding. "We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech, and neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other," Judge Burroughs wrote in her order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Harvard sues Trump administration over threats to cut funding if demands go unmet "Now it is the job of the courts to similarly step up, to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost," she wrote. Trump in April froze $2.2 billion in Harvard grants and $60 million in contracts following the school's refusal to budge on the government's demands after the administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism alleged the school failed to confront antisemitism on campus. The administration's actions "have jeopardized decades of research and the welfare of all those who could stand to benefit from that research, as well as reflect a disregard for the rights protected by the Constitution and federal statutes," Judge Burroughs wrote. Scott Eisen/Getty Images - PHOTO: A person runs past Elliot House at Harvard University, March 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. But the decision is a pyrrhic victory for Harvard, with the judge also concluding that Harvard is "plagued by antisemitism in recent years and could (and should) have done a better job of dealing with the issue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Defendants and the President are right to combat antisemitism and to use all lawful means to do so. Harvard was wrong to tolerate hateful behavior for as long as it did," she wrote. While the Trump administration cited antisemitism as a basis to cancel funds, Judge Burroughs said the actual reason was the president's "power and political views." She noted that the Trump administration's demands on admissions, governance, and staffing had little relationship with antisemitism, undercutting the government's claims. "[T]here is, in reality, little connection between the research affected by the grant terminations and antisemitism," the judge wrote. University President Alan Garber said the judge's ruling "affirms Harvards First Amendment and procedural rights" in a letter to the Harvard community. "We will continue to assess the implications of the opinion, monitor further legal developments, and be mindful of the changing landscape in which we seek to fulfill our mission," Garber added. Judge Dianna Gibson holds a hearing on Utahs congressional maps process, in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. Judge Gibson previously ruled based on a decision last year by the Utah Supreme Court that the Legislature had violated voters constitutional right to make laws when legislators repealed Proposition 4, the citizen-passed Better Boundaries initiative. (Pool photo by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune) Third District Court Judge Dianna Gibson issued a decision late Tuesday denying Utah lawmakers attorneys request to push pause on her ruling last week that tossed out the states current congressional boundaries and ordered lawmakers to draw a new map. By granting a stay and proceeding with the 2026 election under the current 2021 Congressional Plan, this Court would be sanctioning the Legislatures violation of the peoples constitutional right to reform their government through redistricting legislation, the judge wrote in the decision. Last week, Gibson ruled the Utah Legislature unconstitutionally overturned Better Boundaries ballot initiative known as Proposition 4, a voter-approved law that created an independent redistricting commission meant to prevent partisan gerrymandering. The 2021 Utah Legislature repealed and replaced it with a new law, SB200, which turned that commission into an advisory body that lawmakers could ignore which they ultimately did when they adopted the 2021 congressional map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delaying the order would sanction the wholesale repeal of Proposition 4 and would irreparably harm the people of Utah, the judge wrote Tuesday. Given the Courts ruling, this Court cannot conclude that a stay would be just under the circumstances. Gibsons ruling has major implications for the future of Utahs federal political landscape. Before the 2021 map was adopted, one of Utahs four U.S. House seats was competitive for Democrats. Today, Republicans consistently dominate all four. Her ruling comes during a time when fights over redistricting are on the national stage. While redistricting efforts in Texas, California and other states are playing out mid-decade fueled by President Donald Trumps aim to bolster the U.S. Houses slim GOP majority in the 2026 midterm elections Utahs effort for an independent and nonpartisan process is court ordered. Gibson, in her decision issued Tuesday, said the state could set itself apart from other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah has an opportunity to be different, the judge wrote. While other states are currently redrawing their congressional plans to intentionally render some citizen votes meaningless, Utah could redesign its congressional plan with an intention to protect its citizens right to vote and to ensure that each citizens vote is meaningful. Gibson also acknowledged that the timing of this ruling, along with the injunction on the 2021 Congressional Map, presents challenges for the Legislature to accomplish its duty to draw a new map in compliance with Proposition 4 in time for the 2026 elections. In an effort to address those timing challenges, Gibson asked the lieutenant governors office if there would be any flexibility even if its a matter of days to push back the previously set deadline of Nov. 1 for the court to select a new map while also allowing enough time for counties to finalize their precincts before candidates can begin filing in January. In a court filing also submitted Tuesday, attorneys for Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson wrote that after consulting with county clerks and due to the extenuating circumstances of this litigation, the deadline for congressional map submission for this election cycle is Nov. 10, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that new deadline, its likely Gibson will offer some adjustments to the proposed timeline she included in her order last week, which gave lawmakers, plaintiffs and third parties until Sept. 24 to submit their proposed congressional maps for the court to choose from. document (78) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A New York judge Wednesday said prosecutors in the Gilgo Beach murders on Long Island can use evidence derived from a new DNA technology. Lawyers for Rex Heuermann, who is accused of killing seven women, argued against allowing the evidence because the method, known as whole genome sequencing, had never been used in a New York court. The victims were all suspected sex workers whose remains were discovered in a remote spot along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach and parts of eastern Long Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DNA evidence was derived from hairs recovered from six of the victims: Maureen Brainard Barnes, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack. Heuermann is also accused in the death of Melissa Barthelemy. Prosecutors argued the technology, which analyzes rootless hairs recovered from the victims, was taken via accepted scientific methods, ABC News reported. They argued the defense motion to dismiss the evidence should be denied because the method is "generally accepted in the scientific community" and is based on technology "relied upon in a wide variety of scientific and forensic settings." Judge Timothy Mazzei agreed. Defense attorney Michael Brown said Heuermann was disappointed by Mazzei's decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We think the evidence is clear that they didn't sustain their burden," Brown said, adding that, "it doesn't mean we can't cross-examine these witnesses at trial." The defense has also made a motion to separate the case into separate trials, and Mazzei said he would rule on that at the next hearing on Sept. 23. "We're fast reaching the pretrial stage and we're hurdling towards the trial stage," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said. "This decision and this litigation marks a significant step in forensic DNA analysis," he said Wednesday. "This is where we're headed in the science." Prosecutors said they have been able to pull together DNA evidence, burner phone data, witness description of a truck allegedly belonging to Heuermann and his internet searches to make their case that he is a serial killer. A federal judge set an October date for state prosecutors to return or destroy materials in their possession from a federal investigation in the Karen Read case, a step lawyers say is progress on an issue that has taken weeks to resolve. The Norfolk County District Attorneys office was initially required to return or destroy the materials from the federal investigation by July 18, 30 days after the end of Reads trial, which concluded with her acquittal. Prosecutors only disclosed the deadline days before, leaving defense attorneys scrambling. Now, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper has given the district attorneys office until Oct. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district attorneys office has already turned over the 100+ pages of text messages from former Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctors personal cellphone, unearthed by federal investigators, to defense lawyers in at least five criminal cases. The office is also able to review the remainder of the material turned up by the feds for information that could benefit defendants in other criminal cases. But that review must be completed by the October date. I see it as significant progress, said First Assistant Norfolk District Attorney Lisa Beatty. Only the state prosecutors who have already signed protective orders governing the secrecy of the materials will be able to conduct the review not the prosecutors assigned to the individual cases. Beatty and an outside lawyer will be able to review their determinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not our choice. That was not our request. That is what the order allows us to do, Beatty said during a hearing on Thursday. The district attorneys office will only be able to turn over information from the federal government that is not related to grand jury proceedings. Federal prosecutors convened a grand jury to hear evidence during their investigation of the Read case, and several key witnesses, including Proctor, testified before it. If their review of the materials reveals information related to the grand jury that is relevant to another case, prosecutors must seek permission from the U.S. Attorneys Office for Massachusetts or Casper to disclose it. The district attorneys office intends to move quickly to review the materials, Beatty said, noting that one of the affected cases, that of Brian Walshe, is set to go to trial on Oct. 20. Walshe is charged with murder in connection with the death of his wife, Ana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosemary Scapicchio, a lawyer representing defendants in two other cases, pressed the district attorneys office to keep a log of the materials deemed relevant. Id be looking for a privilege log to be able to identify what was initially identified as [relevant], why somebodys saying now its not, it shouldnt be disclosed, so that we would be in a position to make an argument in front of Judge Casper, she said. Judge Peter Krupp said he would consider issuing an order of his own at a later point after the defense lawyers had more time to review the protective orders governing the secrecy of the materials and the district attorneys office had at least begun its review. Krupp set a status hearing for Sept. 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would expect that the commonwealth would fully complete their review within the next few weeks, he said. We would set this date ... in advance of the return or destroy date so that we can figure out whether the court here needs to take any additional steps. More about the case Read the original article on MassLive. Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Google will not be forced to sell off Chrome or its Android operating system, but will have to share some of its search engine data with competitors, among other remedies, a federal court ruled Tuesday in an antitrust case that found the U.S. tech giant maintained an illegal monopoly in the search engine industry. The ruling from Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is a far cry from the punishment the Justice Department had sought, instead ruling in favor of part of the remedies put forth by both sides. While federal prosecutors had hoped for Google to be forced to divest from Chrome browser and Android, Mehta ruled that the tech behemoth may maintain ownership of those services but will be barred from entering contracts that make them -- along with other products, such as its Gemini assistant -- exclusive services for interacting with the Internet or for use on devices. The ruling, though, does allow it to make payments to distribution partners for reloading Google products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though many of the Justice Department's requests were turned aside, it did force Google to make available some specific sets of search and other data to rivals. The 226-page memorandum opinion ends a multiyear legal saga that began in 2020 when federal prosecutors accused Google of maintaining its search engine monopoly through illegal antitrust practices. A federal judge in August 2024 agreed, ruling: "Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly." In his Tuesday memorandum on remedies in the case, Mehta said the emergence of artificial intelligence since litigation began had affected the course of litigation, and his ruling reflects that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These remedies proceedings thus have been as much about promoting competition among GSEs as ensuring that Google's dominance in search does not carry over into the Gen AI space," he said, referring to general search engines by their initialism. Mehta added that in crafting the remedies the court did so with "a healthy dose of humility" as "it has no expertise in the business of GSEs, the buying and selling of search and text ads or the engineering of Gen AI technologies. "And, unlike the typical case where the court's job is to resolve a dispute based on historic facts, here the court is asked to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future," he said. "Not exactly a judge's forte." Google has said that it has taken action to rectify the issues the court previously found illegal and had stated the only remedy appropriate was to bar it from exclusive contracts, arguing that to impose further conditions, especially affecting the Gen AI technology space, would unfairly hinder its ability to compete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tech behemoth had disagreed with the August 2024 ruling, and following the memorandum on Tuesday said it recognized the impact AI was having on its industry. "Now the court has imposed limits on how we distribute Google services, and will require us to share search data with rivals. We have concerns about how these requirements will impact our users and their privacy," Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of regulatory affairs at Google, said in a statement. "The court did recognize that divesting Chrome and Android would have gone beyond the case's focus on search distribution and would have harmed consumers and our partners." Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the ruling as a victory. "This decision marks an important step forward in the Department of Justice's ongoing fight to protect American consumers," she said in a statement. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Last week, the Utah Legislature filed a request for a stay on a Third District Court judges order that they must redraw congressional district maps in 30 days. After hearing arguments, the judge denied their request for a stay. Judge Dianna Gibsons August 25 ruling said that the Utah Legislature unconstitutionally overruled a citizen ballot initiative by enacting its own maps, and she ordered the Legislature to propose new maps within 30 days of that ruling, meaning they have a September 24 deadline. By granting a stay and proceeding with the 2026 election under the current 2021 Congressional Plan, this court would be sanctioning the Legislatures violation of the peoples constitutional right to reform their government through redistricting legislation. Gibson wrote. It would sanction the wholesale repeal of Proposition 4 and would irreparably harm the people of Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Utah Legislature asks Third District Judge to pause decision to require new maps in 30 days Judge Gibson has ruled that Prop 4 is the law of the land on redistricting in Utah and that the Legislature does not have sole authority on redistricting. Despite denying the Legislatures request for a stay, Gibson acknowledged that the rulings timing presents challenges for the Legislature to design a new congressional map that complies with Prop 4 and to appeal the ruling before the 2026 midterm elections, a sentiment that was echoed during a recent status hearing, where Judge Gibson asked the Lt. Governors office to push back a deadline to have the maps finalized. The office has now told the judge that she can push back the November 1 deadline to November 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for the Utah legislature and plaintiffs who sued them, Better Boundaries and other anti-gerrymandering groups, were also told to work out a final schedule of reviewing those new maps that satisfies the need to give the legislature a full 30 days to comply, since the maps must be posted publicly for 10 days before the legislature votes on them. That extra 9 days would allow for the Utah legislature to have the maps drawn by September 24, make them public for 10 days, vote on them, and have them signed by the Governor before an evidentiary hearing to determine whether they complied with Proposition 4 in late October. October 23-24 were the dates suggested by the judge during a status hearing. Why Gibson denied the stay In Judge Gibsons ruling denying the stay, she said that the Legislature can develop a new congressional district map in time for the midterms, and that it is possible for all appeals to be resolved before the 2026 midterm elections as well. According to Gibson, the people of Utah have voted in two elections under maps that were enacted in defiance of the peoples will, and they are entitled to vote in the 2026 election with a congressional plan that complies with Prop 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court rules Utah must redraw its congressional districts The Legislature argued that Gibson made an error in her initial ruling without explaining how, and so she rejected that argument. They also argued that the timing makes it difficult for the Legislature to design a new map in time, hence pushing back the November 1 deadline. Finally, the Legislature argued that a stay is necessary to avoid irreparable harm, but Gibson ruled that it is possible for the case and any appeals to the Utah Supreme Court to be resolved without impacting the 2026 midterm elections. She also argued that granting a stay is what would cause irreparable harm to the people of Utah. The Legislature has indicated that it will redraw the maps, despite a misguided court ruling and an arbitrary 30-day deadline, according to a statement released by Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams and Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz on August 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature is expected to appeal the initial decision to the Utah Supreme Court and to request a stay from the Supreme Court. 2025_09_02_16_55_27 (1)Download Background on the lawsuit This issue began in 2018, when Utah voters passed Proposition 4, a citizen ballot initiative run by Better Boundaries. The initiative created a redistricting commission to draw new boundary lines for Utahs congressional districts and prohibited partisan gerrymandering. In 2020, the Utah Legislature gutted the commission created by the initiative in S.B. 200, and it replaced maps with its own in H.B. 2004. Plaintiffs filed the lawsuit arguing that the current district maps break up Salt Lake City into four districts that dilute minority votes in the traditionally red state. They also argued that Utahns have a constitutionally protected right to alter and reform their government, which was what Proposition 4 did before it was changed by the Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Utah Supreme Court upheld the peoples right to alter and reform government in a major ruling from July of last year, which meant that the lawsuit was able to move forward in Utahs lower court. Utahs top lawmakers discredited the ruling, calling it the worst decision theyve ever seen. Earlier this year, both parties argued the merits of the case before Judge Gibson. The legislatures filing of a motion for stay on Monday is being deliberated with the plaintiffs. Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson has asked the court for the case to be finalized by November so that if new lines need to be drawn, they can be drawn before the 2026 midterm elections. 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. By Akbar Novruz What once seemed a regional matter has now grown into a new geopolitical node connecting Eurasias major players. I am talking about the Zangazur Corridor (recently labelled as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity). It is crucial that President Ilham Aliyev addressed the issue at the SCO summit. Following the U.S. confirmation that it would control the road for a "99-year period", it was expected that this topic would be discussed in China. The US presence in the region, after the trilateral meeting in Washington, focused on controlling the corridor, prompting immediate reactions from both regional countries and those with vested interests. The entire situation was brought into question. While there was an acknowledgement of the peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, there was also a clear expression of opposition by Iran and Russia regarding the aforementioned issue. Although her reactions were generally neutral regarding the overall process, it was understandable that China would be concerned about the future of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) projects, of which it is a key developer. At the SCO summit, President Aliyev not only emphasised that Azerbaijan-China relations have reached a qualitatively new stage, but he also highlighted that the Zangazur corridor is not only a significant regionally but also holds global importance. The Azerbaijani leader stated that this crucial route will serve as a key segment of both the Middle Corridor and the North-South Corridor, ultimately benefiting all neighbouring countries. This underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to enhancing transport and communication routes. This statement firmly recognises the emergence of new realities. The South Caucasus, positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is set to significantly enhance intercontinental relations by establishing a secure ecosystem. This development guarantees limitless potential for growth and cooperation. For Baku, the corridor consolidates its role as a logistics hub, a position that is already being strengthened through recent summits and strategic agreements. Armenia, despite earlier resistance, has also been compelled to acknowledge the inevitability of new transit routes. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the opening of transport communications on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity is under discussion, an admission that signals Yerevans readiness to participate in regional transit. At the same time, Pashinyans reference to a new transport initiative with the United Statesthe Trump Road to International Peace and Prosperity", shows Armenias attempt to balance its engagement. By signalling willingness to cooperate not only with Azerbaijan and Turkiye but also with Western political circles, Yerevan is seeking to hedge against over-dependence on any single bloc. His veiled remarks on the Russian-Iranian stance suggested that both Moscow and Tehran remain reluctant to accommodate Armenias interests, underscoring the growing complexity of the South Caucasus geopolitical puzzle. The Armenian Prime Minister's move to "correct" the Azerbaijani President's statements appears to be a strategy to bolster his standing in domestic politics. Had he chosen to remain silent, the opposition would have criticised him for disregarding the term Zangazur corridor. By opting to respond, however, he may face the potential loss of Beijing's interest. It's unclear if Pashinyan fully grasps this, especially since he has highlighted the significance of the US agreement in China. It is important to recognise that while Azerbaijan plays a significant role in the region, Armenia holds considerable importance as well, particularly because the road runs through its territory. By addressing its political and economic isolation and establishing internal security, the Armenian government can offer future generations a chance for prosperity that the region has historically lacked for a decent amount of time. In this context, achieving sustainable security will be vital for these goals. How about the other regional actors? How do they see it? Turkiye's position on the Zangazur corridor is clear and assertive. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has openly described the corridor as a project that will promote peace and stability in the region. For Ankara, the corridor represents more than just an economic pathway; it is a strategic priority that strengthens its alliance with Azerbaijan. By facilitating new border crossings and trade routes, Turkiye views the corridor as a means to drive prosperity and establish a stronger South Caucasus. The corridor has also garnered the attention of China, which sees it as potentially integral to its Belt and Road initiative. It offers a shorter and more secure trade route to Europe through Central Asia while bypassing Russia. Azerbaijan's support for Chinas initiatives within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation further increases the corridor's significance for Beijing, making the South Caucasus a vital intersection for global trade. Iran appears to be facing a dilemma similar to that of Russia concerning the Zangazur corridor. For many years, Iran has been a key transit hub in its region. However, once the Zangazur corridor becomes operational, Iran may find itself excluded from important transit routes. Conversely, if the corridor is aligned with the North-South corridor, there is a possibility that Iran could reap significant geoeconomic benefits from this connection. Both countries hold their breaths, torn between potential gains and strategic losses. The broader regional effects are self-evident. The Azerbaijan-Turkiye axis is to be the transit and logistics centre of the South Caucasus. Armenia faces a decisive choice: integrate into Eurasian projects or pursue alternative Western-backed platforms. China secures a new Eurasian gateway, while Russia and Iran are caught between opportunity and apprehension. The Zangazur corridor has thus changed from a bilateral issue to a continental vision that unifies economic thought with geopolitical planning. This transition is reshaping regional arrangements and putting the South Caucasus centre stage in Eurasia's future. Once embarked upon, the corridor would alter not only maps but also that very meaning of the region itself. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. President Donald Trump's bid to expand the National Guard to other major cities could throw a spotlight on Boston's crime rate and put Michelle Wu's campaign claim it is the safest major city in America to a test. With the Guard possibly moving into Chicago and Baltimore, just the threat of an expansion into Boston would be a challenge to Wu's strength in the heat of her race for reelection. Could it pull her out of her comfort zone of happy talk interviews with public radio? Trump has not mentioned Boston yet as a city he'd send troops to but he has long targeted Wu and the city over its sanctuary status and is threatening to withhold federal funds. Would a threat to bring in troops throw a spotlight on crime in Boston and Democrats' liberal law enforcement policies? It would be the ultimate challenge to her contention that Boston is the safest major city in America. "We have been in their sights for months at this point because our city represents everything that showcases why they're wrong," Wu said. " "They're wrong on the law, they're wrong on safety. We're the safest major city in the country because everyone is involved in safety here." Wu continues to maintain the facade that Boston is totally safe. But just because she says "we're the safest major city in the country" a thousand times doesn't mean it's true. Every week, there are shootings, stabbings, motorbike takeovers of the streets and attacks on Wu's constituents that she prefers to gloss over. The facts are much more murky on whether the city is actually getting safer. Violent crimes have been going up at Downtown Crossing. Last week, a Harvard researcher from Brazil was attacked by five teens at a downtown movie theater near the Boston Common because he asked the teens to be quiet in the theater. He was left bloodied and bruised by the attack. None of the teens were arrested by police. The South End has been plagued by crime, defecating and open air drug use from the spillover at Mass and Cass. The crime reality spreads right into Boston City Hall, where several city employees have been charged with gun crimes and assault. Trump lately has been talking about moving Guard troops to cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore and New York, all with Democratic mayors. "You look at Chicago, how bad it is. You look at Los Angeles, how bad it is," Trump said last week. "We have major cities that are very bad." "As you all know, Chicago is a killing field." The mayors and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey dispute Trump's characterization and say they don't want or need the federal help. "If Donald Trump really cared about public safety he wouldn't be cutting funding for local law enforcement, which he's done," Healey said. If Trump does expand his targets to Boston, that would rip the facade that Wu has set on crime in the last few months of her re-election race against Josh Kraft. And it could spark a debate in Boston over public safety that she does not want to engage in. (COMMENT, BELOW) Joe Battenfeld Boston Herald/(TNS) Joe Battenfeld is a veteran Boston Herald political columnist and multimedia reporter. Previously: BOSTON (AP) A federal judge in Boston on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to reverse its cuts of more than $2.6 billion in research funding for Harvard University, delivering a significant victory to the Ivy League school in its battle with the White House. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled the cuts amounted to illegal retaliation for Harvards rejection of the Trump administration's demands for changes to Harvard's governance and policies. The government had tied the funding freezes to Harvards delays in dealing with antisemitism, but the judge said the universitys federally backed research had little connection to discrimination against Jews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that (the government) used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this countrys premier universities, Burroughs wrote. The country must fight antisemitism, she wrote, but it also must protect the right to free speech. The ruling reverses a series of funding freezes that later became outright cuts as the Trump administration escalated its fight with the nations wealthiest university. The administration also has sought to prevent the school from hosting foreign students and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status in a clash watched widely across higher education. The restoration of federal money would revive Harvards sprawling research operation and hundreds of projects that sustained cuts. But whether Harvard actually receives the federal money remains to be seen. The government plans an immediate appeal, White House spokeswoman Liz Huston said in a statement, calling Burroughs an activist Obama-appointed judge. To any fair-minded observer, it is clear that Harvard University failed to protect their students from harassment and allowed discrimination to plague their campus for years, Huston said. Harvard does not have a constitutional right to taxpayer dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard President Alan Garber foreshadowed potential battles to come even as he said the ruling validates Harvard's fight for academic freedom. Even as we acknowledge the important principles affirmed in todays ruling, we will continue to assess the implications of the opinion, monitor further legal developments, and be mindful of the changing landscape in which we seek to fulfill our mission, Garber wrote in a campus message. Harvard's research scientists said they had been watching the case closely but feared their funding would not be restored anytime soon. Many of us are worried that the federal government is going to appeal this decision or find other ways to obstruct the delivery of research dollars, despite the judge's clear statement that the funding terminations were illegal, said Rita Hamad, director of a center that researches the impact of social policies on health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the courthouse, the Trump administration and Harvard officials have been discussing a potential agreement that would end investigations and allow the university to regain access to federal funding. President Donald Trump has said he wants Harvard to pay no less than $500 million, but no deal has materialized, even as the administration has struck agreements with Columbia and Brown. Wednesday's federal court ruling should embolden Harvard's administration, said historian Kirsten Weld, president of Harvard's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, which also prevailed in a lawsuit over the funding cuts. We hope this decision makes clear to Harvard's administration that bargaining the Harvard community's rights away in a compromise with the government is unacceptable, Weld said. Harvards lawsuit accused the Trump administration of waging a retaliation campaign against the university after it rejected a series of demands in an April 11 letter from a federal antisemitism task force. The letter demanded sweeping changes related to campus protests, academics and admissions. It was meant to address government accusations that the university had become a hotbed of liberalism and tolerated anti-Jewish harassment on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard President Alan Garber pledged to fight antisemitism. But, he said, no government should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue. Trump officials moved to freeze $2.2 billion in research grants the same day Harvard rejected the administrations demands. Education Secretary Linda McMahon declared in May that Harvard would no longer be eligible for new grants, and weeks later, the administration began canceling contracts with Harvard. As Harvard fought the funding freeze in court, individual agencies began sending letters announcing that the frozen research grants were being terminated under a clause allowing grants to be scrapped if they no longer align with government policies. Harvard has moved to self-fund some of its research but warned it cant absorb the full cost of the federal cuts. The judge's order reverses all of Harvards federal funding freezes and cuts since April 14, and it bars the government from future cuts that violate Harvards constitutional rights or run afoul of federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burroughs sided with the universitys argument that the cuts amounted to retaliation in violation of its First Amendment rights and that the government put unconstitutional conditions on Harvards federal money. As pertains to this case, it is important to recognize and remember that if speech can be curtailed in the name of the Jewish people today, then just as easily the speech of the Jews (and anyone else) can be curtailed when the political winds change direction, the judge wrote. Burroughs also agreed with Harvards claim that the government failed to follow steps prescribed by Congress to cut federal money under Title VI of the Higher Education Act, a federal law that forbids discrimination in education. The Trump administration denied the cuts were made in retaliation, saying the grants were under review even before the April demand letter was sent. It argues the government has wide discretion to cancel contracts for policy reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the policy of the United States under the Trump Administration not to fund institutions that fail to adequately address antisemitism in their programs, it said in court documents. In a separate lawsuit filed by Harvard, Burroughs previously blocked the Trump administrations efforts to prevent the school from hosting international students. ___ Binkley reported from Washington, D.C. AP reporter Aamer Madhani contributed from Washington. Washington A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration violated Harvard University's First Amendment rights and federal law when it froze nearly $2 billion in federal grants because of the Ivy League school's handling of antisemitism on campus. In a victory for Harvard, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs blocked Trump administration officials from implementing or instituting orders freezing the grant funding to Harvard and letters terminating research grants awarded by a slew of federal agencies. Burroughs wrote in her 84-page decision that Harvard has been "plagued" by antisemitism in recent years and should have done more to deal with the issue. But she found that there is "little connection between the research affected by the grant terminations and antisemitism." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In fact, a review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that Defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country's premier universities, and did so in a way that runs afoul of the APA, the First Amendment and Title VI," Burroughs wrote. "Further, their actions have jeopardized decades of research and the welfare of all those who could stand to benefit from that research, as well as reflect a disregard for the rights protected by the Constitution and federal statutes." The decision is a significant win for Harvard, which has been targeted by the Trump administration in recent months. The administration has sought to punish Harvard over what it says is its failure to condemn antisemitism and protect Jewish students on campus. But it has also criticized the school's hiring and admissions practices. White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston told CBS News in a statement that the Trump administration will appeal the decision. "Just as President Trump correctly predicted on the day of the hearing, this activist Obama-appointed judge was always going to rule in Harvard's favor, regardless of the facts," Huston said. "To any fair-minded observer, it is clear that Harvard University failed to protect their students from harassment and allowed discrimination to plague their campus for years. Harvard does not have a constitutional right to taxpayer dollars and remains ineligible for grants in the future. We will immediately move to appeal this egregious decision, and we are confident we will ultimately prevail in our efforts to hold Harvard accountable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement posted to the university's website Wednesday evening, Harvard President Alan Garber wrote that "the ruling affirms Harvard's First Amendment and procedural rights, and validates our arguments in defense of the University's academic freedom, critical scientific research, and the core principles of American higher education." The Trump administration sent a letter to Harvard leaders in April that contained a list of demands, and after the university rejected the terms, administration officials announced it had frozen more than $2.2 billion in grants and contracts to Harvard. The school later received letters from nine federal agencies canceling research grants. The Trump administration's cuts to federal funding to Harvard have continued, and Mr. Trump has also threatened to revoke the school's tax-exempt status. Harvard sued the Trump administration over the funding freeze in April, claiming the move was part of a "pressure campaign" by the White House to "force Harvard to submit to the government's control over its academic programs," and views on anti-Israel speech on its campus. Both Harvard and the Justice Department asked Burroughs to go straight to a decision on the merits of the suit without a trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her ruling, Burroughs called the Trump administration's actions part of a "government-initiated onslaught" against the school that was "much more about promoting a governmental orthodoxy in violation of the First Amendment than about anything else, including fighting antisemitism." "Harvard is currently, even if belatedly, taking steps it needs to take to combat antisemitism and seems willing to do even more if need be," Burroughs wrote. "Now it is the job of the courts to similarly step up, to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost." Burroughs said that the Trump administration was right to investigate antisemitic behavior on Harvard's campus, but said that focus was not the "true aim" of the funding freeze. Instead, she agreed with Harvard that the administration retaliated against it in violation of its First Amendment rights. "Harvard was wrong to tolerate hateful behavior for as long as it did," Burroughs wrote. "The record here, however, does not reflect that fighting antisemitism was Defendants' true aim in acting against Harvard and, even if it were, combating antisemitism cannot be accomplished on the back of the First Amendment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burroughs said that none of the letters the Trump administration sent to Harvard "identified any specific instance of antisemitism on Harvard's campus, specified how Harvard failed to respond to any such acts of antisemitism in a way that violated Title VI, or reflected any effort to follow the Title VI procedural requirements that govern the termination of federal funding." In addition to targeting Harvard's federal funding, the Trump administration has also taken aim at its ability to enroll international students. Harvard sued the government over its efforts, and in June, Burroughs blocked the Trump administration from revoking the university's ability to enroll foreign students. The Justice Department has appealed that decision. The feud between the Trump administration and Harvard continued in August, after the Trump administration signaled that it could take control of the school's patents stemming from federally funded research. Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Undocumented migrants charged with violent crimes to be held in Angola prison, DHS says The state must not provide all voter registration information to the federal government for the time being, a judge decided Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.(Provided by Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections) COLUMBIA South Carolina cant hand over its voter data to the federal government at least, not yet. A circuit court judges order Tuesday prevents the state Election Commission from providing the requested voter registration data ahead of a hearing next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order follows a lawsuit, filed last Friday in Calhoun County, that seeks to prevent South Carolina from providing voters information to the U.S. Department of Justice. The federal agencys letter, dated Aug. 6, was part of a nationwide push by the Trump administration to get voter rolls from all states. It set a deadline of this Friday and seeks information that includes full names, addresses, drivers license numbers and final digits of Social Security numbers. How, exactly, that information will be used is unclear. PIImageDisplay (2)-7-8 Some states declined straight away, citing voters privacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Carolinas Election Commission staff started working last week to fulfill the administrations request for the information, agency spokesman John Michael Catalano said in an email Wednesday. The lawsuit filed on behalf of Calhoun County voter Anne Crook argues divulging her personal information is an invasion of her privacy. The state constitution guarantees residents a right to privacy, and state law prohibits divulging certain personal information, wrote her attorney, Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, in the court filing. State law also requires the Election Commission keep all personal information confidential, wrote the Orangeburg Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huttos concern over the federal government getting peoples private information grew after a whistleblower claimed last month the Department of Government Efficiency put millions of peoples Social Security numbers at risk of hacking, Hutto told the SC Daily Gazette. A similar lapse with other personal information, such as drivers license numbers, could open people up to identity theft and other crimes, he said. Crook, a former president of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, had concerns over how that data might be used that other residents shared, Hutto said. I think most people have some questions about why the federal government wants their data, Hutto said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Diane Goodsteins order may bring some answers. Releasing a voters personal information could cause immediate and irreparable damage in violating her right to privacy, wrote the 1st Circuit Court judge in putting any transfer of information on hold. The lawsuit is filed against the state Election Commission, which must hire its own attorneys. State Attorney General Alan Wilson is not named, and his office will not step in to represent the elections agency, a spokesman said. The U.S. Department of Justice takes the stance that state law shouldnt keep states from releasing voter information, reads the Aug. 6 letter as well as a follow-up letter sent just over a week later. They cite federal voter registration laws that the nations attorney general is tasked with enforcing, claiming those laws give the department the right to access voter data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodstein set a hearing for Sept. 10 in Aiken to hear arguments over whether she should keep the block in place. Until then, the Election Commission will continue to coordinate with the DOJ to explore lawful options for data sharing while adhering to the courts order, Catalano said. Gov. Henry McMasters office asked a judge Thursday to join the case alongside the Election Commission. While McMaster said he believed the Department of Justice had the legal right to ask for the information, he also said hed like to enter a formal agreement outlining that the department shares the states concern with citizens privacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the information included in voter registration rolls is already available to federal officials, McMaster said. The names, addresses and birthdays are also available for anyone to purchase, he said. The federal government does have the authority to ask for those things, but we want to be assured, because of our interest in, and because its in our constitution about privacy, that the department will enter that agreement, McMaster said. Editors note: This article was updated Thursday, Sept. 4, with a response from the governor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX When Marie Jones left the sentencing hearing for the man whod savagely beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled her sister to death in a Virginia Beach motel room, she felt a huge sense of relief. Not only did the judge give James Richard King the maximum sentence of two life prison terms, he told King it was his intention that you never see the light of freedom again until your life comes to an end. Thats what I thought was going to happen, Jones said during an interview. I was sure he was going to die in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now less than seven months after that sentencing hearing King is getting a chance at parole. Thats because Virginia law allows geriatric prisoners to petition the parole board for conditional release once theyve met certain conditions. King, now 72, has been incarcerated since he turned himself in to police in September 2020 for the death of his on-and-off-again girlfriend Lexie Walters. He spent more than four years in the Virginia Beach city jail waiting for his case to go to trial last October, and was sentenced in February. Virginia law allows prisoners 65 and older whove been incarcerated for at least five years in their current case to petition the parole board for a hearing. Those 60 and older whove served at least 10 years also can request a hearing. King told investigators he and Walters had been drinking heavily together at a bar before heading to his room at a local motel. When he woke up the next morning, he found the 53-year-old woman dead, but said he had no memory of what had happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King also told detectives hed done the same thing to another woman years before and that he flips out sometimes. The first slaying happened in 1986 in Lucas County, Ohio. The victim was the mother of the bride at a wedding King attended. Just as in the murder of Walters, the woman in the 1986 case was savagely beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. King also turned himself in to police in that case. He was convicted of murder in 1990, was sentenced to 15 years to life, and released after 20. He moved to Virginia Beach after his release. In 2019, he was charged with raping, sodomizing and strangling another woman hed been dating. The jury in that case, however, chose only to convict him of assault. He was released immediately because hed already spent more time in jail waiting for trial than he could get for the misdemeanor conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones said she was stunned when she got an email last month informing her that King had a parole interview scheduled for Sept. 2. If his request is denied, he can apply again annually unless the board orders a longer interval. I thought it was a mistake, she said. I didnt think that was possible, especially after the judge had said he would never see the light of day again. Jones and her mother were informed that they could offer input on the case. They have a Zoom meeting scheduled with the board later this week, during which they will urge its members to keep King incarcerated. The Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorneys Office and the Attorney Generals Office also have expressed to the board their objections to his release. Jones believes the law needs to be changed to prevent this kind of situation from happening to another victims family, and said she has been reaching out to local lawmakers for assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It hadnt even been a year since his sentencing, and we get this email out of nowhere, she said. We were just trying to heal and now its as if its starting all over again. Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com FREETOWN, Mass. (WPRI) A juvenile was arrested Tuesday after allegedly fleeing from police on a dirt bike and riding alongside a moving train in Freetown, prompting MBTA traffic to be temporarily shut down. Police said they tried to stop the rider, who was going 60 mph in a 35 mph zone on East Howland Road around 1:30 p.m. The bike was unregistered and had no license plates. The rider then approached the Chace Road railroad crossing on the Fall River/New Bedford Line, where the warning lights and safety arms were activated. Instead of stopping, police said the rider turned onto the railroad right-of-way and rode along the tracks as an MBTA train passed by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: 6 arrested during ride-out in Pawtucket and Providence All train traffic in the area was paused as officers searched for the rider. The suspect was found on a nearby trail and taken into custody, according to police. The juvenile is facing multiple charges, including: Reckless operation of a motor vehicle Failure to stop for police Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle Operating an uninsured and unregistered motor vehicle Speeding Stop sign violation Marked lanes violation Trespassing on railroad property The juvenile was expected to appear in court Wednesday. Police said they will not be releasing their name. 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 Breaking News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, delivers a speech during an April 10, 2025, session on the House floor. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Kansas House Democrats made a recent stop in Hays on their statewide fight back tour. The event drew an impressive crowd of more than 100 people who overflowed into the various alcoves and hallways of the Glassman Bird Law Firm to listen to our representatives. The mission for the evening, according to the webpage dedicated to the fight back tour, was as follows: This tour isnt just about conversation, its about mobilization. Together, we will strategize, organize, and take action to protect our democracy and advance a vision rooted in equity, opportunity, and justice for all Kansans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was encouraged by the turnout, but I felt that the representatives who were present were unprepared to address the protect our democracy component of their mission statement. The event began with questions about schools, property tax and appraisal processes but invariably turned toward national politics when a young woman voiced concerns about the deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., and her fear of martial law being declared nationwide. Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, reassured the questioner that martial law was unlikely to be declared in a red state like Kansas. Im not pleased with whats going on at the federal level, but I do not think that we will see martial law in Kansas. Lord have mercy, I hope Im right on that, but instinctually I dont think we will, Clayton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was annoyed. Our democratic representatives had been travelling around the state on a self-titled fight back tour for which they had printed banners and posters and even made a webpage. But when asked about the threat of right-wing authoritarianism in our country their response was simply to hope that it doesnt happen in Kansas? Is crossing your fingers really the best way to protect democracy? I raised my hand to tell Sawyer Clayton that her response to the question was not at all comforting. In turn she asked me what I thought she should do about martial law while adding that she was open to suggestions. A good faith interpretation of her response would see it as fulfilling one of the objectives of the fight back tour to organize and strategize as a community. But it felt to me like a teacher arriving to class and asking the students, So, what would you like to do today? If House Democrats are truly interested in organizing toward the lofty goal of protecting democracy, they must come to these types of meetings with more than an openness to suggestions. They must have a plan! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My frustration only deepened at the end of the evening. Just as I was leaving, Rep. Mike Amyx, D-Lawrence, shook my hand and thanked me for coming and offering my input. I told him how surprised I was that they had not been corresponding or strategizing with Democrats in other states about how to counter the increasingly authoritarian maneuvers of the right. He gave me a platitude about my generation being agents of change and encouraged me to make my voice heard through calls and emails. I dont recall exactly what I said in response, but it was something along the lines of, Im literally in front of you right now. It is frustrating that Democrats in Kansas and across the United States continue to warn of democracy in peril in their tweets, speeches, and event promotions, while still delivering canned statements and maintaining a business-as-usual politics that fails to match the gravity of their rhetoric and of our political situation. Kansas Democrats recently sent a letter to Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall asking for congressional oversight on the Department of Homeland Security. But only 17 of 37 Kansas House Democrats and five of the nine Kansas Senate Democrats signed the letter. This falls far short of the unity that is required to meet the challenges ahead. Sending the letter is a good start, but its the kind of thing that Kansas Democrats should be doing weekly if not daily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas Democrats need to begin thinking seriously about worst case scenarios. What would they do if the National Guard were deployed in Kansas? Would they file a lawsuit? Break quorum? Protest and how? What if Trump were to blackmail Kansas universities as he has done to Harvard and Columbia? What if one of their constituents were arrested for writing an op-ed that criticizes Israel? These are not abstract hypotheticals. Trump has recently ordered the mobilization of more National Guard troops from 19 states and is signaling his intention to send troops into Chicago in the same manner that he has done in D.C. The representatives on the fight back tour are decent, intelligent people who truly have Kansans best interests at heart. That was clear to me. My point in writing this is not to disparage their character but to point out that they have a serious blind spot when it comes to being prepared for authoritarianism. They, along with Democrats across the country, might be caught in what the political philosopher David Runciman calls the confidence trap. Each time a democracy overcomes a crisis it gains confidence that it will do the same in the future. Eventually, a crisis may arrive where citizens and politicians will fail to do the things that got them through the crises of the past because they believe implicitly that they will pull through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our democracy may have weathered the storm of Trump 1.0, but its second iteration is already far more extreme and unrestrained. If we want to make it through, Kansas Democrats need to stop being complacent and get activated. This means developing contingency plans, speaking to lawyers and working to develop a united front among all Kansas Democrats. On a personal level, they should be reading literature from our Founding Fathers or resistance fighters like Nelson Mandela who put their lives on the line for freedom and democracy. Because in addition to collective action, they should be asking themselves how far they are personally prepared to go if our democracy is whats at stake. Sam Foglesong is a scholar of African Studies and a writer who lives in Hays. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. EDGAR COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Students are back in school and with that comes plenty of reminders from teachers and other educators. But law enforcement has lessons and reminders to share as well. Doug Cochran from the Kansas Police Department joined WCIA 3s Amanda Brennan to share reminders that drivers and pedestrians alike should remember especially if theyre approaching school buses or stop signs. Be aware, watch the buses, the red lights, the stop signs. Make sure you keep your eyes open, Cochran said. The kids should be going to the school bus, but sometimes they come around the school buses. You know, when I was a kid, I got hit by a car getting off a school bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Handle With Care statewide trauma-sensitive program to support children with help of law enforcement, educators Cochran also said drivers should be aware of their surroundings when it gets dark out. As the winter comes along we get less daylight. Just be aware of the bus, he added. Drivers should watch for kids, make sure theyre driving the speed limit and obey all traffic signs. But inside the classroom, Cochran also had some advice to offer parents. He said most issues at school can be handled within the school. If theyre having a problem with the teacher, I would encourage them to go to the superintendent of the principal, the school and voice their concerns, Cochran said. If its a bullying situation, definitely have the child talk to their teacher. If that teacher doesnt want to do anything about it, move up the chain and talk to the principal. But, definitely have the child let you know and the teacher know. So it can stop quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Cochrans advice doesnt stop there; hes also focused on drug awareness, and making sure kids are safe and educated. Illinois State Police car hit on I-55, 10th Scotts Law violation this year Throughout the fall, the Kansas Police Department will be going to schools in the county for the One Pill can Kill program. Its a collaboration with the DEA out of Chicago. Were going into the schools, and were going to teach the children, the educators. And then were going to also hold a community event on October 1st, at 6 p.m. at the Paris Fine Arts Center for Edgar County residents, as well as any of the residents in the surrounding counties, Cochran said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cochran encourages any schools interested in the One Pill can Kill education program to reach out to him at 217-712-0172 or KPDdcochran22@gmail.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 WCIA.com. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed Donald Trumps anti-media rhetoric during an interview with The Daily Caller published Monday, describing CBS anchor Margaret Brennan as stupid. Trump was speaking with Caller reporter Reagan Reese about the media coverage of himself and his administration when the talk turned to Brennan, the host of CBS Face The Nation. Margaret Brennan. What do you think of her? Trump asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes stupid. You can put that on the record, Leavitt said. Related: Nancy Mace Was Seen Crying After Meeting Epstein Victims. Her Explanation Has 1 Big Flaw. Shes nasty, Trump added. Leavitt agreed. Trump then praised Secretary of State Marco Rubios combative exchanges with Brennan. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in August. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images Its not the first time Leavitt has ripped journalists. In fact, during an appearance on the Ruthless podcast, she revealed how she and White House communications director Steven Cheung often search online for experts named by reporters in their inquiries, flag their political affiliations and then send back Wikipedia entries in a bid to discredit them. Related... Read the original on HuffPost KANSAS CITY, Kan. President of the Kansas City, Kansas Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #4 and Kansas City, Kansas Police Department Sgt. Kyle Hickerson is working to raise money for the family of Officer Hunter Simoncic. Officer Simoncic was a very driven officer, very young and very passionateabout helping people, Hickerson said. Affidavit reveals new details in fentanyl death of 3-year-old boy in Leavenworth Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hickerson said KCKPD has partnered with the Relentless Defender Foundation to design a T-Shirt as part of a fundraiser to honor Simoncics service and sacrifice. Myself, the chief of police and the family, we all came together and decided on that particular design, Hickerson said. The design includes barbells, a nod to Simoncics love of working out. The design also includes his badge number and end of watch date Aug. 26, the day the 26-year-old was killed in the line of duty. I think, for the family to see so many things with his name and his serial number on it, it can show just how big of an impact he had on this community and how important he was and how big of a loss he was to everybody, Hickerson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shirts start at $29.95. Relentless Defender said 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this shirt go directly to Simoncics family. We dont take a dime for it, Aaron Slater said. Hes the president of the nonprofit, which is based out of Texas. Slater is a retired police officer who was on the force for 22 years. He said he started this brand in 2015. Slater said since then, theyve donated nearly $2.5 million dollars to injured first responders and other fallen officers families, like Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming. We know what the families go through, Slater said. We know the pain that they go through, the grief that they go through and nothing, no matter what we do, is going to bring anybody back, we understand that, but if we can try to help in any way we can, and are able to, then were more than willing. Slater said, so far, theyve raised about $4,000 for the Simoncic family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those interested in buying a T-shirt can click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) As the calendar turns to fall, the chance for illness usually increases. According to the Ohio Department of Health, influenza typically begins its increase in October with peaks between December and February. Nancy Pook, medical director with Kettering Health, told WDTN.com that the flu is a respiratory illness that can impact anyone. Individuals infected with the flu normally experience symptoms ranging from sniffles and cold-like symptoms to something more severe, like having pneumonia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When somebody feels like theyve got the flu and theyre either lingering or getting a little bit better, but then everything suddenly gets worse, we need to think about pneumonia, which can be difficult to see or hear early on, said Pook. Pook said those with an underlying condition or are of an older age have been known to experience an increase of their condition while having the flu. The other thing thats important to know is that flu can be complicated by underlying disease that people have, Pook said. So, those who are immunocompromised, or older, or who have asthma or lung or heart disease, their disease tends to get worse at the time that they get flu. ODH reminds Ohioans to make sure you take precautionary measures to stay healthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Effective ways to avoid getting or spreading the flu include washing hands frequently or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or coughing or sneezing into elbows, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, said ODH. Pook recommends speaking with your health care provider about receiving a flu shot. It is important to talk to your primary care physician and weigh the odds of getting a vaccine, because its not for everyone, but it is an important preventative measure and its time to start thinking about that, said Pook. Although no one can time the flu, you might not want to get it too far in advance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we know is that antibodies start kicking in at about two weeks and will be protective for three or four months, Pook said. So, you dont want to get your flu vaccine too early. If you are sick, it is suggested to stay home and away from others to prevent the spread of illness. Pay attention to those around you if you get sick, Pook said. Generally, we recommend staying home from work for 24 hours after your last fever, as long as youre feeling better. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton urged schools to prepare for classroom prayer and Bible reading following the passage of a new state law. In Texas classrooms, we want the Word of God opened, the Ten Commandments displayed, and prayers lifted up, Paxton said in a statement. He recommended that students start with the Lords Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13. He warned that the far left is actively working to strip schools of Americas spiritual foundation. Twisted, radical liberals want to erase Truth, dismantle the solid foundation that Americas success and strength were built upon, and erode the moral fabric of our society, he said. Our nation was founded on the rock of Biblical Truth, and I will not stand by while the far left attempts to push our country into the sinking sand. The announcement follows Senate Bill 11, approved during the 89th Legislature. The law requires school boards to vote within six months of Sept. 1, 2025, on whether to adopt policies permitting voluntary prayer and Bible reading. The measure also directs the Attorney Generals Office to defend districts or charter schools that adopt such policies. Supporters quickly praised the move. God bless you, General Paxton, for having the courage to begin the legal process of putting prayer and reading of Scripture in Texas classrooms, Melissa Katz wrote on X. Amen! Thank you, sir! added Alexander Duncan, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. Critics online pushed back. PLANO, Ill. A Kendall County man will spend nearly thirty years in prison for sexually assaulting his step-grandchild. Luis Gonzalez, a 54-year-old Plano, Illinois resident, who was found guilty on five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child back in June, has been sentenced to seven years on each of the five counts, Kendall County States Attorney Eric Weis announced Wednesday. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation into the sexual assault began back in October of 2019 after the victim disclosed to family members details about the assaults. Prosecutors said Gonzalez, who was the step-grandfather of the victim, committed the assaults in his Plano home while the victim was staying with him during summer visits. Luis Gonzalez, a 54-year-old Plano, Illinois resident, who was found guilty on five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child back in June, has been sentenced to seven years on each of the five counts No child should ever have to endure this, especially from their own family member, a spokesperson for Kendall County States Attorneys Office said. Gonzalezs sentence was handed down by Judge Jody Gleason last week, and each sentence must be served consecutively. Gonzalez will be required to serve at least 85% of his sentence, meaning he will spend at least 30 years in prison before he is eligible for mandatory supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines A second alleged victim, who is also the grandchild of Gonzalez, was among those who testified at the June trial. Charges have been filed against Gonzalez in connection with the alleged sexual assault of the second victim, but the case has yet to go to trial. Prosecutors said the second victims trial will soon be scheduled, now that the first has ended. If convicted, Gonzalez would be required to serve a sentence of natural 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 WGN-TV. The News Days before the November election, Donald Trump said he would let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. go wild for a little while on public health, then Im going to have to maybe rein him back. Kennedy is going wild. And there appear to be no reins, either. The Health and Human Services secretary is getting wide latitude from the president, more than some other top administration officials, as he dismantles and reshapes the US health care bureaucracy. Trump fully trusts Kennedy, according to people who know both men, to make sweeping changes to vaccines, the US food supply, pandemic readiness, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That bond is helping Kennedy and his allies avoid taking hits from MAGA players like Laura Loomer, whose attempted ouster of a top HHS official got reversed. Even speculation that Kennedy might be preparing a 2028 campaign hasnt imperiled his relationship with Trump, which one person familiar with it called stronger than ever; Kennedy has dismissed the 2028 talk, and multiple people close to the situation told Semafor that he wont be running. Its not clear that Republicans in Congress can diminish Kennedys influence within the administration, as frustrated as some are by his recent ouster of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez and his installation of vaccine skeptics on a critical advisory panel. Hell face lots of questions about that during an appearance Thursday before the Senates Finance Committee. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., of no relation to the secretary, told Semafor hed advised Kennedy earlier this year that the new HHS chiefs job is to restore confidence in the institution of public health after COVID undermined it. So far, all I see over there is chaos. I mean, its a goat rodeo, the senator said of HHS. Hows the average American, who is trying to make a decision, supposed to make a decision based on whats going on now? Weve already had this kind of chaos during the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents growing bond with Kennedy comes as he litigates one of his signature first-term accomplishments: Operation Warp Speed, which led to the quick creation and distribution of COVID vaccines. As huge portions of Trumps base question the vaccines effectiveness and recommendations for its use, he is also pressing for more answers. One person close to Trump told Semafor that the president believes he was lied to throughout COVID by public health officials, even as he remains proud of the work he did to get vaccines quickly developed: I think what theyre looking for here is lessons learned so the next time we do Operation Warp Speed, we dont get lied to. Kennedy will face hard questions from the Senate Finance Committee about his recent moves, said Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. Those questions, Republican senators said, will focus on whether politics is driving the CDCs vaccine decisions and why Monarez was fired so quickly after being confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Thune put it: Because [whether] somebodys supportive of or in favor of vaccines is not disqualifying for that job. So I assume hell have some questions to answer. Know More Over the weekend, the president called on drug companies to release more data about the COVID vaccines, admitting the issue has ripped apart the CDC. Yet Trump appeared to simultaneously back his development of Operation Warp Speed while also siding with Kennedy on questions over the vaccines effectiveness. And Kennedy doesnt seem to be pushing for the president to completely disavow the work his administration did in 2020. Cassidy even said he should get the Nobel Prize. Trump should be proud of Operation Warp Speed, said the person familiar with the Trump-Kennedy dynamic. It was absolutely the right decision to do all hands on deck to figure out a solution to COVID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet there is a clear Republican divide over whether Kennedys changes at the CDC should be celebrated or considered a grave error that endangers Americans health. Kennedy has his own base of conservative support on the Hill, despite his status as a former Democrat. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said that he supported Kennedys moves and said the department has been forthright with his probes into the COVID vaccine. On the other side are GOP lawmakers cringing at the departure of so many CDC officials. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said that ensuring medical professionals make public health decisions should be a bright line for all of us. It looks like theyre getting rolled for [Kennedys] philosophies, said one Republican senator. The CDC is really in turmoil right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caught in the middle is the Senate health committees chair, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a longtime practicing doctor. He told Semafor that we need radical transparency about how Kennedy is making decisions about vaccines and seemed confident hell get it. Whos making the decision at the CDC on all these policy issues? If the scientists are gone, is it the political people? If its the political people, then where are they getting the information? Cassidy said. White House officials are confident Kennedy can take the heat, in part because hes a true believer. Sometimes the hiring just doesnt work out, one White House official said regarding likely questions about Monarezs firing. The people who cant handle themselves are the people who dont believe in what they say, and he [Kennedy] believes in it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Kennedys power stems from Trumps support. After Monarez pushed back on the notion shed been officially fired, the White House said in a statement that she was not aligned with the presidents agenda of Making America Health Again and that theyd terminated her. Room for Disagreement The Republican Party is aligned around some of the CDC drama. Take the case of Demetre Daskalakis, one of four top officials who resigned after Monarez was ousted. Republicans have propped up Daskalakis, who used the term pregnant people in his resignation letter, as a prime example of a person whose political biases should have disqualified him from the CDC to begin with. Would you trust this guy to make important policy decisions and medical decisions for your family? asked Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. It suggests that at least some appointments and promotions there were based on factors other than medical experience and judgment. Shelby and Burgess View Kennedy was narrowly confirmed, and his hearing on Thursday will probably generate wall-to-wall coverage as Washington tries to divine just how mad Senate Republicans are at the secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in Trumps second term, skepticism from congressional Republicans doesnt usually amount to much. At this point, the president is closer to Kennedy than some of those senators, as the person close to Trump put it. People dont understand that. So Kennedys job looks as safe as it can be. It might take an all-consuming public health event to change that. Notable Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie speaks with reporters inside the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) Two Kentucky Republicans are playing conflicting roles in a drama that threatens to divide President Donald Trumps political base. U.S. Reps. Thomas Massie and James Comer are central players in the controversy over releasing investigative files in the case of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie, who had already gained Trumps ire, is leading a crusade to force a House vote on the full release of the Epstein documents by the Department of Justice (DOJ). House Republican leaders oppose Massies move and are hoping an investigation by Comers committee will satisfy Republican demands for more transparency on the Epstein investigation and prosecution. Epsteins death in federal custody in 2019 was ruled a suicide, although many Trump supporters have speculated that he was murdered to keep him from revealing embarrassing information about prominent people. Trump fueled speculation about Epsteins death during his 2020 campaign. In 2024, Trump said he would declassify the Epstein records if returned to the presidency. Massie appeared Wednesday with accusers of Epstein and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., in a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are real victims to this criminal enterprise, and the perpetrators are being protected because theyre rich and powerful and political donors to the establishment here in Washington, D.C. So today, were standing with these survivors, Massie said at the outdoors press conference. Massie has filed a discharge petition that needs 218 signatures, or a majority of the House, to force a vote on a records release that the Trump administration has resisted. If all Democrats sign the petition, it would need six Republicans to succeed. Only four Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, had signed by Wednesday afternoon, two short. Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey was the only other Kentuckian who had signed. On Wednesday, Trump said calls for the full release of Epstein files are a Democrat hoax that never ends. The president has previously vowed to recruit a Republican opponent for Massie in next years primary election. The two clashed this summer over Trumps bombing of Iran and Massies vote against the GOP megabill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. U.S. Rep. James Comer speaks to media at Fancy Farm Picnic on Saturday, Aug 2, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) House Republican leaders are hoping to dissuade congressional Republicans from signing Massies discharge petition, instead supporting an investigation by the House Oversight committee, led by Kentucky Republican Comer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comers committee on Tuesday released more than 30,000 pages of records from the investigation of Epstein, although the top Democrat on the committee said most of the information in the records had already become public. The Oversight Committee also heard what Comer called heartbreaking stories from the survivors of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted and is in prison. He is pressing for a House resolution that directs the Oversight Committee to continue its investigation. The Committee is working at an unprecedented pace and doing the work as it is supposed to be done, Comer told the House Rules Committee. What we heard today is that these survivors support these efforts and support transparency and accountability goals we all share. This resolution furthers those goals. It supports our work. It supports the release of documents. And most importantly, it achieves what the survivors want. There is no question that Epstein and Maxwell were terrible criminals. Massie said he appreciated Comers efforts, but said he still had concerns about redaction of information within the documents and that some documents were already publicly available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They may find some information, but theyre allowing the DOJ to curate all of the information that the DOJ is giving them, Massie said outside the Capitol. Massie told reporters Wednesday that Speaker Johnson urged colleagues not to support the Kentucky Republicans discharge petition and instead vote for a procedural rule to support the Oversight Committees investigation. A committee investigation, however, does not require a floor vote to proceed. My message to my colleagues was, Dont set yourself up. Yes, the speakers resolution will give you temporary political cover, but there are millions of people watching this, Massie said. At least one GOP candidate vying to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is standing with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nate Morris, a Lexington businessman who is a staunch opponent of McConnell, said after a Tuesday night town hall that Republicans in Washington dont need distractions. Weve got a finite amount of time. We dont need distractions. We dont need people deviating from the presidents agenda, Morris said. Weve got a once in a generation opportunity when weve got the Congress, weve got the executive office. Weve got to move quickly to continue the push for the America First agenda, and we dont need any distractions. A pro-Trump super PAC has been running anti-Massie ads in Kentucky in keeping with Trumps vow to unseat the incumbent. One rumored candidate for the president is state Sen. Aaron Reed, a Shelbyville Republican elected to the state legislature last year. Ahead of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast in August, Reed told reporters that he is happy being a senator right now and is preparing for the 2026 legislative session. Its a great honor to be a senator, and its also an honor to be considered, by some, to possibly be a congressman, Reed said when asked about the rumors. That wasnt my focus. Its not my focus today, but if Gods will is to do that, its kind of hard to fight that. LOS ANGELES (AP) A woman branded as the Ketamine Queen pleaded guilty Wednesday to selling Matthew Perry the drug that killed him, becoming the fifth and final defendant charged in Perrys overdose death to admit guilt. Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty to five federal charges, including providing the ketamine that led to Perrys death. Her trial had been planned to start later this month. Perrys mother, Suzanne Perry, and his stepfather, Dateline reporter Keith Morrison, sat in the audience. It was their first time attending court proceedings since the announcement of the indictments one year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wearing tan jail garb, Sangha stood in court Wednesday next to her attorney Mark Geragos as she repeated guilty five times when U.S. District Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett asked for her pleas. Before that, she answered yes, your honor to dozens of procedural questions, hedging slightly when the judge asked if she knew the drugs she was giving to co-defendant and middleman Erik Fleming were going to Perry. There was no way I could tell 100%, she said. She later added, to a similar question on vials of ketamine she gave to Fleming, that I didn't know if all of them or some of them" were bound for Perry. The comments didn't affect her plea agreement. Prosecutors had cast Sangha, a 42-year-old citizen of the U.S. and the U.K., as a prolific drug dealer who was known to her customers as the Ketamine Queen, using the term often in press releases and court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Making good on a deal she signed on Aug. 18, Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. "She feels horrible about all of this. Nobody wants to be in the chain of causation for lack of a better term, Geragos said outside the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. She feels horrible and shes felt horrible since day one. Sangha admitted to selling drugs directly to 33-year-old Cody McLaury, who died from an overdose in 2019. McLaury had no connection to Perry. Prosecutors agreed to drop three other counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geragos, whose other clients have included Michael Jackson, Chris Brown and the Menendez brothers, told the judge that the deal was reached after a robust back-and-forth with the government. The final plea deal came a year after federal prosecutors announced the indictments in Perrys Oct. 28, 2023 death after a sweeping investigation. Sangha is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10. She could get up to 65 years in prison. The judge is not required to give her a shorter term because of the plea agreement, but prosecutors said they will ask for less than the maximum. None of the co-defendants have been sentenced. Sangha has been in custody for about a year, while her co-defendants have been released on bond. I thought the government was turning the responsibility in this case on its head, Geragos said outside court. "I think that most people, if you talk to them about this case, their biggest problem with it is, why is she in custody and the people, whether its medical professionals or the people who are actually ingesting the drug, or the people who were administering the drug are out? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geragos suggested that he would provide mitigating evidence before sentencing. Sangha and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty in July, had been the primary targets of the investigation. Three others Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa and Fleming pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation. Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home by Iwamasa, his assistant. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death. Sangha presented a posh lifestyle on Instagram, with photos of herself with the rich and famous in cities around the globe. Prosecutors said she privately presented herself as a dealer who sold to the same kind of high-class customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry had been using ketamine through his regular doctor as a legal, but off-label, treatment for depression, which has become increasingly common. Perry, 54, sought more ketamine than his doctor would give him, and his search for more led him to Sangha through his friend Fleming about two weeks before his death, prosecutors said. Fleming messaged Perrys assistant saying her ketamine was amazing and that she deals only with high end and celebs. Perry bought large amounts of ketamine from Sangha, including 25 vials for $6,000 in cash four days before his death, prosecutors said. Perry struggled with addiction for many years, dating back to his time on Friends, when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBCs megahit series. Jasveen Sangha, also known as the Ketamine Queen, has officially pleaded guilty to five federal charges in connection to the death of Matthew Perry. Perry was found dead in the hot tub of his Pacific Palisades home in October 2023. Following an autopsy, his cause of death was listed as acute effects of ketamine. Sangha, 42, was arrested in connection to the actors death in August 2024 but maintained her innocence. Last month, she struck a plea deal with prosecutors that would see her pleading guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Prosecutors agreed to drop three other charges in exchange for her guilty plea. The drug dealer who reportedly sold the Friends actor 51 vials of ketamine in the month leading up to his death faces up to 65 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sangha is the last of five to plead guilty to crimes connected to Perrys overdose. Dr. Mark Chavez, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Perrys live-in personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and filmmaker Erik Fleming previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the actors death. All five suspects are currently awaiting sentencing, with Sanghas hearing scheduled for December 10. NEED TO KNOW Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" by federal prosecutors, pleaded guilty to distributing the drugs that killed Matthew Perry on Wednesday, Sept. 3 in Los Angeles Perry's mother Suzanne Perry, and his stepfather, Keith Morrison, were in court during her plea Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10 The woman accused of distributing the ketamine that killed Matthew Perry in October 2023 has pleaded guilty. Jasveen Sangha, who was dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" by federal prosecutors, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 3 in Los Angeles to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury, the Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry's mother, Suzanne Perry, and his stepfather, Dateline reporter Keith Morrison, were in court during her plea, per AP. The dual U.K. and U.S. citizen is the last defendant to plead guilty in connection with the Friends actor's overdose death. She could face decades in federal prison. Prosecutors alleged Sangha distributed drugs to Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry's, who then distributed them to Perrys live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Fleming was an intermediary between Sangha and Iwamasa, prosecutors alleged. Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Matthew Perry Matthew Perry Fleming obtained 50 vials from Sangha, the Justice Department said, and then distributed them to Perrys assistant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 28, 2023, Iwamasa injected Perry with at least three shots of Sanghas ketamine, which resulted in Perrys death, per the plea agreement cited by prosecutors. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. "After learning from news reports of Perrys death, Sangha called Fleming on Signal to discuss how to distance themselves from it," per a DOJ press release. "That day, Sangha updated the settings on the Signal apps to automatically delete her messages with Fleming. She further instructed Fleming to 'Delete all our messages.'" Perry, 54, was found face down in the jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home that night. An autopsy later showed the actor died from acute effects of ketamine and other contributing factors such as drowning, coronary artery disease and effects from buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four other defendants pleaded guilty in connection with Perry's death including Iwamasa and Fleming, as well as doctors Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. Read the original article on People A drug dealer dubbed the "Ketamine queen" who provided the drugs that ultimately killed actor Matthew Perry pleaded guilty on Wednesday to several criminal charges in federal court. Jasveen Sangha, 42, was charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine to Perry, whose struggles with drug addiction and numerous rehab visits were well documented and who died from acute effects of the drug in October 2023. Sangha supplied the ketamine the actor injected on the day of his death, according to the plea agreement, which also noted that she sold drugs for years out of her North Hollywood apartment, described in a federal indictment as the "Sangha stash house." Sangha is the last of five defendants tied to the "Friends" star's overdose and ketamine usage. She pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also admitted to selling four vials of ketamine to Cody McLaury in August 2019. McLaury, 33, died hours later in his Los Angeles home from a drug overdose that included ketamine. Mark Geragos, one of Sangha's lawyers, said "my client is accepting her responsibilities." "She feels horrible about all of this. Nobody wants to be in the chain of causation," Geragos said, adding that he will present evidence of mitigating circumstances at her Dec. 10 sentencing. Sangha faces up to 65 years in prison. Federal prosecutors, however, said in the plea agreement that, if she accepts responsibility, they could seek less time in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: L.A.'s 'Ketamine Queen' lived a celebrity-studded life. Now she's been charged in Matthew Perry's death Perry, who had become addicted to intravenous ketamine, started purchasing the powerful drug from a Southern California doctor in late September 2023, according to the indictment and law enforcement officials. A month later, Perry reached out to an acquaintance, Erik Fleming, a former producer and drug counseling worker. According to her plea deal, Sangha worked with Fleming, 55, of Hawthorne, to knowingly distribute ketamine to Perry. In October 2023, Sangha and Fleming sold Perry 51 vials of ketamine, which were provided to Kenneth Iwamasa, Perrys live-in personal assistant. Iwamasa, a 60-year-old from Toluca Lake, repeatedly injected Perry with the ketamine that Sangha supplied to Fleming. On the day Perry died in his ocean-view hot tub, Iwamasa had injected him with at least three shots of Sanghas ketamine, according to the plea agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the Los Angeles Times and TMZ published news of Perry's death, according to the plea agreement, Sangha called Fleming on the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss how to distance themselves from it. That day, Sangha updated the settings on the Signal apps to automatically delete her messages with Fleming. She further instructed Fleming, Delete all our messages. Two days after Perrys death, Fleming left Sangha a voicemail on Signal and texted, Please call ... Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. Im 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry]only his Assistant. So the Assistant was the enabler. Also they are doing a 3 month tox screening ... Does K stay in your system or is it immediately flushed out[?]. Prosecutors made Sangha acknowledge she knew the dangers of ketamine. In August 2019, she allegedly sold the drug to McLaury before he overdosed, according to the plea agreement. One of McLaurys family members later sent her a text saying the ketamine had resulted in his death. After receiving the text, prosecutors say, she conducted a Google search: Can ketamine be listed as a cause of death?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an affidavit, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent described Sangha as a high-volume dealer who kept handwritten notes that appeared to detail thousands of dollars of drug transactions. In multiple chat threads with clients on encrypted messaging apps, she used coded language for drug transactions, according to the agent. In addition to Sangha, four others have already pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in Perry's death. Fleming has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. At a November sentencing, he will face up to 25 years in federal prison. Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and causing death. At his sentencing Nov. 19, he will face up to 15 years in federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ketamine is typically used as an anesthetic but has grown in popularity over the last decade as a therapeutic treatment for specific mental health diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. The drug, known in the party scene as "Special K," has simultaneously become much more sought-after for recreational purposes. Two physicians who also helped supply Perry with ketamine are awaiting sentencing. Dr. Mark Chavez, 55, of San Diego, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison at his sentencing hearing next month. Salvador Plasencia, 43, a.k.a. Dr. P, pleaded guilty in July to four counts of distribution of ketamine. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December, at which time he will face up to 10 years in federal prison for each count. 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. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Rep. Jerry Nadler, 78, a leading liberal figure for the Democratic Party in Congress, will not seek reelection next year after more than three decades representing New York. His plans were confirmed Monday by a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak directly to the media. Nadler's impending departure was first reported by the New York Times. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) said in a statement that Nadler would be missed, citing his work as a "legendary" chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and fighter for progressive causes. As head of the committee from 2019 to 2023, Nadler helped lead two impeachment efforts against President Donald Trump, a longtime adversary with whom he has clashed since Nadler was a New York State Assembly member and Trump was a real estate developer in the 1980s. "For nearly five decades in public service, Congressman Jerry Nadler has been a relentless fighter for justice, civil rights and liberties and the fundamental promise of equality for all," Jeffries said. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), an ally of Nadler's, called him "a man of principle" in a statement posted on social media Monday. "I'm deeply grateful for his years of public service," she added. Nadler told the New York Times he was stepping down to make room for younger candidates. "Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that," he said. The Democratic Party has faced criticism that it is too dominated by an older generation of leaders unable to connect with the concerns of younger voters. This year, Nadler was among the first Democrats to endorse New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, 33, after the democratic socialist won the Democratic primary. In a statement Monday, Mamdani praised Nadler's record: "Jerry stood alongside gay and trans Americans when it was politically unpopular, voted with courage - not calculus - against the Iraq War and the Patriot Act, stood steadfast alongside the first responders and families sickened after 9/11, and led efforts to hold a lawless Trump administration accountable." Nadler was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household in Brooklyn. After high school, he attended Columbia University and Fordham Law School and was one of the founders of an organization known as the "West Side Kids," which protested the Vietnam War and won low-level Democratic Party posts, The Washington Post reported. His political career began in 1976 as an assembly member representing New York City's Upper West Side, where he still lives. Nadler was elected to Congress in 1992, where he introduced legislation including bills codifying marriage equality and protecting pregnant workers from discrimination. Nadler calls himself among Israel's staunchest supporters in the House. He has long backed the two-state solution and has criticized Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. His retirement will open up a Democratic primary in New York's 12th Congressional District, which he won last year with more than 80 percent of the vote. The district, among the wealthiest in the country, incorporates Manhattan's Upper West Side, Upper East Side and Midtown areas. (COMMENT, BELOW) Gary and Northwest Indiana residents face a critical month for the regions environmental safeguards, as multiple federal and state agencies weigh new rules that could shape local air quality and public health. Upcoming public hearings are scheduled to gather resident feedback, covering topics ranging from equipment at the Gary Works steel mill to particulate matter pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. For residents of Gary, home to the nations largest integrated steel mill and already burdened by decades of industrial pollution, these hearings represent critical opportunities to push for stronger safeguards. Public comment periods are virtual and/or in-person opportunities for residents and local leaders to speak with agency representatives, and play a key role in shaping how federal and state agencies enforce air quality standards that directly affect community health and environmental sustainability. Many of the deadlines for these public comment periods close later this month. Heres what they are, and how Gary residents are impacted: EPA hosts hearing on steel and coke oven pollution emission enforcement delays The Environmental Protection Agency will host two upcoming public hearings on its national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for coke ovens and integrated iron and steel manufacturing facilities. Gary Works uses iron ore in its steel mill. The iron and steel hearing will be Sept. 3, while the coke ovens meeting will be Sept. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, the EPA issued an interim final rule postponing hazardous air pollution standards. Enforcement of the safeguards, originally scheduled to go into effect in 2025, would be delayed until April 2027 under the new rules. The EPA estimates the delay would allow a significant increase of toxic emissions, including benzene, arsenic, and chromium, from steel facilities across the Midwest. Northwest Indiana residents and environmental advocates are expected to testify at the EPAs upcoming virtual hearings to protest the postponing of the emissions enforcement. Both hearings will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Central Time. Residents can register for either virtual hearing by emailing SPPDpublichearing@epa.gov or watch online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadline: Additionally, public comments will be accepted online at https://www.regulations.gov/ until the Oct. 3 deadline. IDEM to hold public meeting on Gary Works air permit modification The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 at 21st Century Academy in Gary on a proposed modification to U.S. Steels Title V air permit. The change would affect particulate matter emissions, which refers to small particles in the air, from the mills pig iron caster. Gary Advocates for Responsible Development condemned the move, saying the modifications would loosen emission safeguards. Why does U.S. Steel need a modification of its permit? We need tighter regulation, not loopholes and exemptions. We encourage IDEM to think more carefully about the health of the people in Gary and reject these modifications. U.S. Steel can do better, said Dorreen Carey, GARDs president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the group said the proposal weakens safeguards by several measures, including requiring testing requirements only once every five years instead of annually, failing to monitor pollution control devices, and setting inconsistent emissions limits. The proposal comes on the heels of another Gary Works air permit renewed earlier this year. GARD and the Environmental Law and Policy Center filed a petition opposing the permit, saying it lacks key safeguards required under the Clean Air Act, including clear rules for monitoring, emissions testing and recordkeeping. Deadline: Residents are encouraged to submit written comments by emailing to Aasim Noveer from IDEMs Office of Air Quality at anoveer@idem.gov by Sept. 8. EPA extends greenhouse gas and vehicle emissions standard comment period The Environmental Protection Agency is also proposing to repeal greenhouse gas vehicle and engine emission standards and rescind its 2009 Endangerment Finding, the scientific and legal foundation affirming that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revoking the Endangerment Finding could strip EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gases, undermining decades of climate protections and Clean Air Act safeguards. For industrial communities like Gary, where U.S. Steels mill emitted more hazardous air pollutants than any other steelmaker in Indiana in 2022, such a rollback would have severe consequences, environmental advocates have warned. Deadline: The EPA recently extended its comment deadline to Sept. 22. Public comments will be accepted online at https://www.regulations.gov/. The post Key Pollution Hearings This Week Give Gary Residents a Chance to Speak appeared first on Capital B Gary. Kiev dismissed a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky come to a meeting in Moscow. Putin said he had discussed the matter with US President Donald Trump. "Donald asked me if it was possible to organize such a meeting. I said: Yes, that is possible. Ultimately, Zelensky can come to Moscow if he is ready such a meeting will take place," said Putin, addressing the press for the first time since his summit with Trump in Alaska last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said Zelensky could visit Moscow if there is a prospect of a favourable outcome, during a press conference in Beijing broadcast on state television at the conclusion of his four-day visit to China. At least seven countries have offered to host a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in response to Putin's comments on X. Zelensky is ready to travel to any of these countries for a meeting immediately. With his "unacceptable proposals from the outset," Putin is only making a fool of everyone, Sybiha said. Putin's comments come amid ongoing efforts to bring about an end to Moscow's war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky has repeatedly called for a meeting with Putin to negotiate directly over a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, launched by the Kremlin in 2022. But Putin has consistently emphasized that he is only willing to meet if the meeting is well-prepared, and Russia continues heavy assaults as such discussions drag on. Putin also again questioned Zelensky's legitimacy to conduct negotiations, repeating his argument that Zelensky's regular term of office expired last year. Zelensky continues to lead Ukraine under martial law, which allows him to remain in office beyond his expired term, in line with the constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin, by contrast, has remained in power continuously since 2012, aided by constitutional amendments that extended his term limits. Kiev is not holding elections due to martial law but Putin has said that does not mean Zelensky should retain his powers and demanded an election to secure a possible peace agreement. Since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia controls some 20% of Ukraine, Moscow is demanding Kiev relinquish territories annexed illegally by Moscow. Zelensky categorically refuses to give up territory, saying this is not allowed under the Ukrainian constitution. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER The 5-day forecast track for Hurricane Kiko as of 11 a.m. today 1 /2 NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER The 5-day forecast track for Hurricane Kiko as of 11 a.m. today NOAA A satellite view this morning of Hurricane Kiko far east of Hawaii. 2 /2 NOAA A satellite view this morning of Hurricane Kiko far east of Hawaii. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER The 5-day forecast track for Hurricane Kiko as of 11 a.m. today NOAA A satellite view this morning of Hurricane Kiko far east of Hawaii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UPDATE : 12 :25 p.m. Kiko grew to a Category 2 hurricane in the East Pacific this morning and is expected to continue strengthening as it heads toward the Central Pacific. As of about 11 a.m., Kiko had maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Kiko was centered about 1, 775 miles east of Hilo and was moving west at 6 mph, forecasters said. Kiko is a compact storm with hurricane-force winds extending up to 15 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extending up to 60 miles. Additional steady strengthening is expected during the next day or so, and Kiko is likely to become a major hurricane by Wednesday, the NHCs midday update said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The five-day forecast has Kiko weakening back to a Category 1 hurricane as it enters the Central Pacific on Saturday. Between days 3 and 4, water temperatures along Kikos path will begin to decrease while it also moves into a progressively drier air mass, forecasters said. They expect Kiko to continue on a general westward track through Wednesday before gradually turning west-northwest later this week. PREVIOUS COVERAGE Hurricane Kiko continued strengthening early today far east of Hawaii and is forecast to become a major hurricane by Wednesday night, but forecasters said it remains too early to determine any potential impacts on the islands. As of 5 a.m. Kiko was located about 1, 815 miles east of Hilo, moving west at 6 mph with maximum sustained winds near 85 mph and higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters expect Kiko to continue on a general westward track through Wednesday before gradually turning west-northwest later this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from Kikos center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles. Kiko is expected to cross into the Central Pacific basin Friday or Saturday, when forecasters will begin monitoring potential changes to the systems path more closely. It remains too early to tell what, if any, impacts this system might have on local weather as it nears the islands early next week, the National Weather Service said in its Honolulu area forecast discussion. Currently, no coastal watches or warnings are in effect. A light to moderate flow of tradewinds continues to usher in a drier and more stable airmass throughout the Hawaiian islands, lingering through the remainder of the week. Overnight and into the early morning, expect occasional light showers across windward and mauka areas, especially around Kauai and the Big Islands higher elevations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, leeward areas should remain largely dry, though the familiar sea breezes will carry afternoon clouds and isolated showersparticularly on the Kona slopes of the Big Island. Looking ahead, a weak surface ridge sitting north of Kauai will steady the tradewinds, while an upper-level low moving northward will allow a strong mid-level ridge over the eastern islands to build in, enhancing stable conditions statewide. As the current south swell diminishes, a new south-southwest energy is expected over the weekend, with east-facing beaches remaining relatively calm. Coastal flooding may become an issue around afternoon high tides from midweek into the weekend, especially as water levels run higher than usual. That said, the persistent light-to-moderate trades are expected to keep fire weather concerns well below critical thresholds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See more : 4 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . Fifteen years ago, Mexican attorney Alma Barraza immersed herself in a legal fight to win fair compensation for indigent villagers who lost their property when the government seized land to build a dam. Since then, five villagers Barraza represented were killed. A man she worked with was shot dead, as was one of her bodyguards. Her brother is missing. And who committed the crimes remains a mystery. Haunted by the lack of answers and stymied by Mexican authorities, Barraza has turned to Chicago attorney John Lee to petition an international tribunal for help in finding the truth and getting justice. But the already difficult journey for Barraza and Lee became more difficult following the Trump administrations slashing of foreign aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With cuts earlier this year and Washingtons further retreat from international aid, reinforced by the $9 billion rescissions package Congress approved this summer and Trumps $4.9 billion proposed pocket rescission last week, the federal funding that helped pay for Lees work was decimated, and the programs future is uncertain. The initiative, Justice Defenders, is run by the American Bar Association, which said it received up to $3.4 million annually in federal assistance for the program from the U.S. Department of State. For years, the program has supported lawyers work in dozens of countries, shedding light on human rights abuses and strengthening rule of law standards in criminal justice systems. While Lee and other lawyers offered legal services for free, the federal funds helped cover travel, research and other costs. To Lee, the program represents a civil way, in a post-World War II era, to bring nations together to solve problems and disputes, particularly at a time when everybodys trying to pull everybody apart. I believe in the international human rights justice system, and I do my part to help that, said Lee, who previously worked on a major international case that cleared the name of a Bolivian journalist-turned-politician who battled corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is also an example of soft diplomacy that, by aiming to right some wrongs in the world, helps keep other nations more stable and can discourage massive immigration into the U.S., a stated goal of the Trump administration. By rooting out corruption in those other nations, program backers say, fewer people will want to leave. If you want to cut down a tree, Barraza said, you have to go at the root so it doesnt grow back. Since the cuts took hold, the ABA and other organizations have filed suit to have some funding for Justice Defenders and other programs restored, stating more than $60 million in foreign aid was earmarked through formal commitments and that the grant funds went for initiatives related to democracy, rule of law, and human rights. The ABA said in its lawsuit that the organization lost grant assistance to fight human trafficking in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, combat money laundering and terrorism in South America and prepare Ukraine to cope with Russias invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior U.S. State Department official said in an emailed statement to the Tribune that the Trump administrations decisions on any foreign assistance, including for democracy programming, will be guided by whether it makes America safer, stronger and more prosperous. But a former State Department employee with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, who was laid off in early July, said that grants for programs such as Justice Defenders have been targeted because the ABA and other organizations have pushed back against Trumps foreign aid policies. The ABA is on this supposed list of implementers that they simply do not want any foreign assistance ever going to again, according to the former employee, who spoke anonymously for fear of political retaliation. Ultimately, the cuts could undermine the efforts of Lee and others who assist foreign lawyers and victims of injustice facing harassment, retaliation and bureaucratic brick walls, from Latin America to Kyrgyzstan and several nations in Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Mexico, the responsibility for investigating the violence Barraza has witnessed and endured falls to the same government she has repeatedly criticized for inaction on humanitarian crimes. She now hopes to get answers from an international tribunal that could recommend a reluctant Mexico dig further into the alleged crimes. The Mexican Consulate in Chicago had no comment about the cases of Barraza and her brother. While the U.S. cuts could hinder Barrazas ability to get answers, Lee remains undeterred and has already dipped into his own pocket to pay for a trip to Mexico City to consult with Barraza. One, I put a decade of my life and work into this, and once I start something, I want to see it successfully completed, Lee said. Two, Almas courage and Almas drive and desire to get justice is also inspiring. She could have left Mexico a long time ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She will not leave, Lee said. I cant walk away from her either. Almas miracle Alma Barrazas quest has often put her own life at risk. Her story, as outlined in interviews with Barraza, Lee and others, in court papers and in news accounts, began in 2010 when a group of residents from rural, small towns around the Pacific coastal city of Mazatlan sought her help after being displaced from their homes to make way for the construction of a dam. Though they said Mexican officials promised theyd be fairly compensated, dozens of low-income community members said they were shortchanged. The Picachos Dam outside of Mazatlan was built in the state of Sinaloa, a scandal-racked area widely associated with a drug cartel of the same name and plagued by rampant accusations of government corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, a few years after Barraza, 52, took the case, she said, five members of a family she represented from a nearby village were taken out of their house and executed in front of one another, according to Barraza, news articles and court documents. That same year, Barraza said radio host Atilano Roman, an activist she worked with, was interviewing a woman from a small town near Mazatlan when two gunmen stormed in and killed him during the show. Barrazas brother, Francisco Barraza Gomez, was kidnapped in 2017 and hasnt been heard from since, she said. Just two months later, they came after me, she said. Thats when they tried to kill me. One of her bodyguards was killed in a shootout. She said she managed to escape only because of a miracle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For her protection, Mexican authorities moved Barraza from her home in Mazatlan to Mexico City, but shes often afraid to leave the house. She feels like her personal life and career have been cut short and struggles with insomnia and debilitating episodes of trauma that leave her unable to focus. Throughout the yearslong ordeal, Barraza was arrested twice while leading demonstrations to bring attention to the villagers plight, a saga she said led to her being physically and psychologically abused in jail. Despite offers from the United Nations to relocate abroad, she remains in Mexico City, committed to defending vulnerable communities. Shes tenacious, Lee said. She just wants she wants answers. Because Barraza thinks Mexicos judicial system is broken and officials protect corruption in their ranks, she said she connected with him after a U.N. official told the ABA about her plight. The ABA then contacted the New York-based International Senior Lawyers Project, a group familiar with Lees work, and asked Lee if he would take on the matter, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee, who previously worked on a Latin American case with Texas-based lawyer Arturo Aviles, has once again joined him to file complaints for Barraza with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., that considers international disputes. They hope to bring about a fair and consequential resolution for Barraza, and separately for her brother, that would shed light on the violence and who is behind it. If a commission recommendation does not spur action, the goal would be to advance both cases to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, hoping to at least push Mexico to seek answers to what happened to the victims missing and killed, according to Lee. Lee said the Inter-American courts rulings carry significant weight and could compel Mexico to investigate. Soft diplomacy Since 2011, the ABA has assisted over 2,000 human rights defenders in 77 countries, according to a spokesperson for the organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Defenders operates with a combination of federal money and in-kind ABA contributions, using the funds to support human rights defenders facing criminal charges, frivolous lawsuits and harassment. About one-third of its efforts have supported lawyers such as Barraza. But because of the federal cutbacks, the ABA spokesperson said Justice Defenders is shut down in every region except Africa, where it is operating at a smaller scale through private and philanthropic donors. At that time of the cuts earlier this year, the State Department still held $1.6 million of the roughly $3 million allocated for Justice Defenders, according to the ABA spokesperson. Justice Defenders isnt the only such program providing assistance to human rights defenders that was terminated because of the federal rollback. The ABA argues it was one of the smallest and least expensive, but it had a far-reaching impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defunding this type of soft diplomacy is part of an overarching policy shift in Trumps White House a contrast from past administrations that is not lost on critics. For generations, the world has looked to America to lead the way to protect civil rights, said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. That cannot change. Durbin said ABA programs funded by the State Departments Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor provide critical support to human rights defenders globally and reinforce our nations core values. Besides Lee, others in Chicagos legal community continue to engage globally on issues of human rights and justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Juliet Sorensen, a clinical law professor at Loyola University Chicago, advised Justice Defenders when it advocated for Kyrgyz Republic journalist Bolot Temirov before several U.N. bodies including the Human Rights Council and various independent experts. Temirov was unlawfully deported to Moscow in 2022 in retaliation for his investigative reporting on high-level corruption in the Kyrgyz government, according to Sorensen. He was arrested on what he claims were fabricated drug charges, had his passport annulled, and was later accused of falsely forging documents, she said. He is currently living in exile. Unlike Barrazas case, which is before an international tribunal overseeing Mexico and other countries in the Americas, Sorensen and other legal advisers on Temirovs team petitioned the U.N. in October 2024 to address his case. His case remains stalled with the U.N. Human Rights Council, which already has a two-year backlog, she said. But she noted the loss of U.S. fiscal support hobbles the effort even more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While she continues to work on international cases through the Rule of Law Institute at Loyola and maintains her involvement in Temirovs legal representation, she said the termination of federal funding will limit international legal partnerships. Our ability to shine a light on these human rights abuses and to successfully advocate for them will be severely curtailed, Sorensen said. And what happens then? Our collective humanity suffers. Past success Even though Lee continues to work on Barrazas case, the 66-year-old no longer practices law full time and instead now primarily teaches environmental classes and lectures about climate change at Loyola University. In addition to a law degree, Lee also holds a masters in meteorology. For approximately 25 years, Lee worked on international legal cases to combat injustice and promote human rights, achieving notable success in the high-level world of international courts. In the early 2000s, he teamed up with his former law school teacher at DePaul University, Douglass Cassel, who had served as the executive director of the schools International Human Rights Law Institute. An early case they took up was advocating for Lupe Andrade, a former mayor of La Paz, Bolivia, who they claimed was wrongfully accused of corruption. Andrade was a crusading print and television journalist who won a seat on the La Paz City Council and was later elected mayor. As mayor, Andrade blew the whistle on a contract for a company that developed a tax collection system for the city, a deal her predecessor approved without bringing it before the council, according to a record on the case. But instead of following up on her claims, political opponents successfully pushed to have her prosecuted and wrongly sent to prison, Cassel said. Andrade got nowhere fighting in local courts, but Cassel and Lee guided her case through the Inter-American commission and courts. Bolivian officials initially would not follow the commissions recommendations to clear her name. None of them were willing to do it. They were utterly cowardly, said Robert Gelbard, a former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia who took up Andrades cause. After about 15 years, Gelbard attended Andrades 2016 hearings in Costa Rica before the Inter-American court, where Lee and Cassel won a unanimous decision on her behalf, a ruling the Bolivian government finally acknowledged as it lifted all outstanding measures against her. Lupe got her life back, said Cassel, now a lawyer based in New York who also has taught at Northwestern University and the University of Notre Dame and worked on complex cases in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. Its in the interest of the United States to have respect for the rule of law and human rights in Latin America, Cassel said. If you dont, a lot of people flee Latin America and come to the United States seeking asylum. And if they cant officially pursue asylum, they try to come here any way they can get here. Thats been a bipartisan issue of concern. The more we can make Latin America be a livable place, the less Latin Americans are going to try to come across our borders. Barraza echoed Cassels point, in a video call from her home in Mexico. Sobbing intermittently, she argued cuts in Washington will do nothing to speed up cases like hers. Thats why she said shes deeply grateful for Lees work and dedication to her case. Gelbard, who sought unsuccessfully to press the Democratic Biden administration to push the Barraza case along, said he worried that a final decision may not come for her until she is dead or in an old folks home. When the rule of law is perverted, democracy is perverted, Gelbard said. And in this case, what were seeing is that, by slowing it down, the rule of law is being perverted. With U.S. funding cuts slowing development efforts worldwide, pressure builds on each individual case abroad. Cases like Barrazas show that delays dont just stall proceedings; they can extend uncertainty and leave lives in limbo. For now, Barraza waits. When North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un stepped off his armored train in Beijing to attend celebrations marking 80 years since the end of WWII in Asia, his young daughter Kim Ju Ae surprised the cameras as she appeared then followed alongside him. Believed to be 12 or 13 years old and referred to as "beloved child" in North Korean state media, this was her first known trip outside the country. To casual observers, Kim Ju Ae's appearance Tuesday might be seen as a father-daughter bonding trip. But her arrival in China could be more than that: Kim Jong Un's signal that she is in the mix for future succession plans. "Because when North Korea finalizes their successor process, they are used to bringing this successor to China," said Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University and director of the Institute of Unification Studies in Seoul. "Showing them is kind of their tradition." In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is greeted by China's Senior Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi in Beijing, China, Sept. 2, 2025. He is with his daughter Kim Ju Ae. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image. / Credit: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, brought him to Beijing to present him as a successor when he was believed to be in his mid-20s. Kim Il Sung, the country's founder, did the same for his son Kim Jong Il. The intent was to begin building the next political relationship with Beijing for the future. In recent years, Kim Ju Ae has appeared with her father at major public events inside North Korea. In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter arrive at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang, North Korea, June 29, 2025. / Credit: AP One challenge, however, is that Kim Ju Ae is female, and North Korea is a patriarchal society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are not 100% because Kim Ju Ae is simply a 13-year-old girl and not an adult at all. So it's too early to say that she's (absolutely) going to be the next successor," said Park, "and Kim Ju Ae doesn't have any kind of military experience." As for Kim Jong Un's trip itself, his visit to Beijing is a huge political win on the world stage with his choreographed proximity to China's President Xi Jinping as proof. The two walked stride-by-stride before China's spectacle of a parade then sat side-by-side, and front-and center, over Tiananmen Square as Chinese troops goose-stepped and as new Chinese military hardware rolled down the Avenue of Eternal Peace. Xi could have picked any leader of the more than two dozen who traveled in for the commemoration including Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Myanmar's military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. But it was Kim on his left, and Russia's President Vladimir Putin on his right. And these optics were designed to send a message of unity and against Washington and the proverbial West. In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Xi Jinping and foreign leaders including Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un walk to Tiananmen Rostrum ahead of a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender in Beijing, China, Sept. 3, 2025. / Credit: Shen Hong/Xinhua News Agency via AP "It's definitely Kim Jong Un's political victory," said Park. Xi "picked Kim Jong Un as the top role and then he is showing his affection to North Korean Kim Jong Un to the world." Kim's biggest win, says Park, is the "normalized relationship between North Korea and China" after six years of no face-to-face contact. "And it will help North Korea in future discussion or dialog with President Trump. I think there is a possibility that Trump would try to meet Kim Jong Un again." Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files House votes 212-208 to approve Jeffrey Epstein probe measure Sneak peek: The Death of Todd Stermer North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to continue helping Moscow in "any way" in its war with Ukraine during talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday. That meeting came only hours after US President Donald Trump took aim at both leaders in a social media post. The summit between the two neighbours - the first in more than a year - revealed that it was Kim who took the initiative in sending military aid to Russia for its campaign in the western Russian region of Kursk. It also signalled the possibility of further deployments. 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. "As I already mentioned during our previous meeting, if there is any way that we can help and support Russia, we will always do that. We will consider it our brotherly duty," Kim told Putin during his opening remarks at the meeting. "We have cooperation ongoing in every sector." The talks took place on the sidelines of a massive Chinese military parade in Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video released by the Kremlin showed the two leaders leaving the ceremonial reception at the Great Hall of the People early in the afternoon and travelling together in a Russian Aurus luxury car to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Putin also confirmed that under Kim's "initiative", North Korean special units took part in the battle of the Kursk region, which was "in full accordance" with the security and defence treaty between the two countries signed last year. "I want to note that your soldiers fought bravely and heroically. I want to emphasise that we will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen," he told Kim during his opening remarks. Bonds between North Korea and Russia have grown rapidly since 2023, as Moscow faces an increasingly hostile international environment - particularly sanctions from the US and its Western allies over Ukraine - in addition to its tense battleground situation. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Wednesday. Photo: EPA/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool alt=North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Wednesday. Photo: EPA/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool> Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Pyongyang's nuclear programme has long been under international sanctions and is a source of soured relations with Washington. The last face-to-face meeting between Putin and Kim took place in June last year, when the Russian leader visited North Korea. At that time, the two countries signed a treaty that included a mutual defence clause, effectively marking a military alliance between them. Both Pyongyang and Moscow formally confirmed in April this year that North Korea had deployed troops to Russia's Kursk region. On Friday, Kim visited the families of North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia, nine days after meeting combatants who returned from the fight with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attend a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Sputnik/Pool via Reuters alt=Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attend a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Sputnik/Pool via Reuters> Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When hosting Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the Russian parliament's lower house, last month, Kim said North Korea-Russia relations had "reached a new height" The Putin-Kim meeting this week came after a high-stakes summit between the Russian leader and Trump in Alaska last month that was aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Russia has continued its attacks on its neighbour despite the talks with the US. There is no sign of a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the near future, talks that Trump has repeatedly pushed for. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News that aired on Monday that "all options are on the table" as the Trump administration considered further sanctions on Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day later, Zelensky said: "These days in China, Putin keeps spinning his tales - as if he is not responsible for the war." Three days before the US-Russia summit, Putin spoke with Kim by phone and "shared information" about the coming negotiations with Trump, according to the Kremlin. During that call, Kim said that Pyongyang would fully support all measures to be taken by the Russian leadership in the future, North Korea's KCNA news agency reported. One of the parade's most notable moments came when Chinese President Xi Jinping walked down a red carpet to the rostrum flanked by Putin and Kim. The men were seen smiling and chatting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military display was widely viewed as Beijing's demonstration of its strength as it tries to reshape the international political landscape amid an increasingly tense strategic rivalry with Washington. Shortly after the parade began, Trump publicly singled out Putin and Kim. "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States of America," Trump posted on his social media platform. Following 90 minutes of talks that included their delegations, Putin and Kim also had a one-on-one conversation that lasted for another hour, according to Russia's state-run Tass news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. NEED TO KNOW King Charles spoke about his health at his latest royal outing to a hospital, where he met with cancer patients Buckingham Palace announced in February 2024 that the King was diagnosed with cancer The King's visit to Midland Metropolitan University Hospital was postponed from March when he had an adverse reaction to his treatment for cancer King Charles offered a rare update about his health at his latest royal engagement as his treatment for cancer continues. On Sept. 3, the King, 76, spoke about how he was feeling with a cancer patient named Matthew Shinda at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick. The sovereign made the trip to officially open the new medical center and meet clinical staff, patients and volunteers there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Hello! magazine, the King told Shinda, 73, "I'm not too bad," when asked about his recovery. Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles meets Matthew Shinda at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Sept. 3, 2025. King Charles meets Matthew Shinda at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Sept. 3, 2025. The BBC reported that Shinda, who is receiving treatment for prostate cancer, spoke with King Charles about the delays he navigated in receiving the diagnosis. "I'm very sorry about that, it's so frustrating," the King said, according to the outlet. "Half the problem is detecting it, isn't it, in time," King Charles said, according to Hello! magazine. Later, he added, "The great thing, I think, is they're getting better and better at dealing with these things. The trouble is there's always hope down the road." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The King doesn't often speak about his health, and that comment wasn't the only one he offered about his own well-being at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Wednesday. The monarch met Jacqueline Page, 85, in one of the hospital's acute elderly care wards, where she told him that she was "wearing out." Cracking a joke back, King Charles replied, "I know, this is the terrible thing, as I am discovering already. The bits don't work so well when you get past 70." King Charles will turn 77 in November, nearly two years after Buckingham Palace announced that he was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment. Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles meets Jacqueline Page at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Sept. 3, 2025. King Charles meets Jacqueline Page at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Sept. 3, 2025. In February 2024, the palace shared that the King was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment. He had had a procedure to treat a benign enlarged prostate that January, but a spokesman clarified he does not have prostate cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The King followed doctors' advice and postponed public-facing work for three months, but continued to undertake state business and paperwork behind the scenes. He resumed forward work in April 2024 and palace sources said before Christmas that his treatment for cancer would continue into this year. On March 27, the palace announced that the King was briefly hospitalized following an adverse reaction to his routine treatment for cancer. His office said that he was admitted to The London Clinic (where he had had the prostate operation in 2024) after experiencing "temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital." Sources said that such setbacks are not uncommon and a royal source described the scare as "the most minor bump in the road thats very much heading in the right direction." RICHARD POHLE/POOL/AFP via Getty King Charles unveils a plaque as he officially opens Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Sept. 3, 2025. King Charles unveils a plaque as he officially opens Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Sept. 3, 2025. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! The King cleared his calendar and returned to work the following week, and he has kept up with a full schedule since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King Charles' visit to Midland Metropolitan University Hospital was an engagement that had been postponed following his brief hospitalization on March 27, and he offered his apologies during his visit on Wednesday. "I'm sorry I didn't get here a few months ago," the King told staff during his stop, according to the BBC. Read the original article on People China hosted what it says was its "biggest" military parade for "Victory Day" on Wednesday, showcasing the country's growing military power while commemorating Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. More than two dozen world leaders were expected to attend the parade as China displayed some of its newest and most advanced weapons. Rehearsals had been underway for weeks, and security in the sprawling Chinese capital of Beijing has been extra tight. Here's what to know about China's military parade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When is China's military parade? The parade took place on Wednesday, Sept. 3, starting at 9 a.m. local time, according to state news agency Xinhua. The parade was held in central Beijing in Tiananmen Square, proceeding down Chang'an Avenue, which translates to "Eternal Peace." Who is attending China's military parade? Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are among the dignitaries who attended the parade. It was the first time Kim, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin appeared together. The trio has been dubbed an "Axis of Upheaval" by some Western analysts. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive at a military parade in Beijing, China, Sept. 3. / Credit: Sergei Bobylev / AP Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the leader of Myanmar's ruling military junta, President Min Aung Hlaing, were also expected to attend, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, the parade was expected to be attended by 26 different foreign leaders and an estimated 50,000 spectators. Why is the parade being held and what will it feature? "Victory Day" marks the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japan's surrender at the close of World War II. In 2014, China set Sept. 3 as Victory Day. The parade was Xi's third military parade since coming to power in 2012. The 70-minute parade displayed China's growing military might and newest hardware, including hypersonic weapons, nuclear-capable missiles, fighter jets and underwater drones. According to The Associated Press, in a speech, Xi said humanity today must choose between peace and war and between dialogue and confrontation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How did President Trump respond? In a post to Truth Social on Tuesday evening, President Trump noted that the U.S. and China were allies against Japan during WWII, writing that the "big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and 'blood' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader." Mr. Trump went on: "May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." Historian Miles Yu on Chinese military parade: "Trolling is a very good word" Judge lets Google keep Chrome, but says it must share search data with rivals A look back at the first "CBS Evening News" broadcast on its 62nd anniversary On Aug. 27, 2025, a shooter opened fire through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis while 200 children were celebrating Mass, killing two children and wounding 20 other people. Many online, including the conservative outlet Daily Wire and Catholic news outlets, claimed that years before the shooting, Minnesota bishops had appealed to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for funding to support nonpublic school security. Per the reports, these pleas went unanswered. According to one post on Facebook: Tim Walz had chance to stop the MN Shooting and did Nothing The tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis is heartbreaking beyond words. Two innocent children murdered, 17 others wounded and in a place that should have been one of the safest on earth. What makes this even worse is that this tragedy was preventable. Back in April of 2023, Catholic and independent school leaders in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz a letter with a clear, urgent warning. They told him there was an "urgent and critical need in Minnesota to make sure our schools are secure and safe." They pointed out the "recent, and continuing attacks, on our schools in this country and in our state." These weren't just vague concerns. They laid out exactly what was at stake noting that more than 72,000 students attend independent Catholic, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim schools in Minnesota. They asked for security funding and resources. And what happened? Nothing. Their request was ignored. The leaders warned: "We need to ensure that all our schools have the resources to respond to and prevent these attacks from happening to our schools." That plea sat on Tim Walz's desk. He could have acted. He could have made a difference. But he didn't. Now families are shattered. A community is grieving. And every parent in Minnesota is asking the same question: Why were these warnings ignored? (Facebook user Ken Blackwell) It is correct that in April 2023, the Minnesota Catholic Conference wrote a letter to Walz appealing for security funds for nonpublic schools. We learned that while Walz initially expressed support for such funding he did not do anything about it, but we also learned that the lack of funding boiled down to the legislature not passing the requisite bill. What did the Minnesota Catholic Conference ask for? On April 14, 2023, a letter from Tim Benz and Jason Adkins, president and executive director, respectively, of the MCC, requested Walz provide more funding for nonpublic school security. The letter, which is available on the website for the Minnesota Catholic Conference, was titled, "Letter to Governor Walz: School Safety in Nonpublic Schools," and responded to the March 2023 Covenant School mass shooting in Tennessee, in which three children and three adults were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter asked for Walz to respond to the "increased level" of threats against nonpublic schools, "particularly Jewish and Muslim schools." It also called for the inclusion of such schools in Walz's budget recommendations for public schools that year (emphasis ours): We are asking for your assistance in making sure the Minnesota Legislature enacts your budget recommendation of $50 million to establish the Building and Cyber Security Grant Program and include all schools as eligible for funding, whether they are public, charters or nonpublic schools. The exclusion of one sector of schools as you know, nonpublic schools serve many students and families in need of services and resources is a discriminatory act against our students. Since 2020, nonpublic schools have been advocating to be part of the Safe Schools Program that provides funding to school districts for emergency response training, security upgrades, mental health services, and security resources. The legislation supported by our collective organizations provides state aid to school districts, intermediate school districts, charter schools and nonpublic schools for this program. Unfortunately, this program currently does not cover nonpublic schools, charter schools and intermediate school districts and it is a levy-only program for school districts. According to the Catholic News Agency, in 2022 Minnesota's bishops also urged Walz to call a special session of the legislature and include private schools in their "Safe Schools" bill, which would have provided $44 per student for security costs, regardless of the school's affiliation. The article also noted that the MCC supported comprehensive, statewide gun safety regulations in 2022 and 2023, like expanded background checks and "red flag" orders, which temporarily restrict firearm access to individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others. What was Walz's response? Adkins told the Daily Wire that, in meetings, Walz initially expressed support for including nonpublic schools in the Safe Schools program that would have added funding on a per student basis, but nothing came of it. "It was raised in discussions between the bishops and Gov. Walz, and he communicated his belief that people should feel safe in their schools and places of worship," Adkins said. "But the appropriation was not created." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reached out to Walz's office to learn more about the funding options for nonpublic schools. A spokesperson told us: The Governor cares deeply about the safety of students and has signed into law millions in funding for school safety. The Governor meets with the Catholic Conference on a regular basis. Private schools do indeed receive state funding. They are also eligible for school safety center resources, including trainings. We remain committed to working with anyone who is willing to work with us to stop gun violence and keep our students safe. In early May 2025, hundreds of students and parents from private schools protested against Walz's proposal to cut $109 million in state funds over the next year for nonpublic schools for buses, nursing and learning materials. Many of the state's Republicans backed the protesters while Walz said he would not underfund public schools to give money to "for profit" schools. However, many nonpublic schools in Minnesota are not-for-profit schools as well. By mid-May, Walz announced a new budget agreement in which his proposed funding cuts to nonpublic schools were no longer on the table. Walz's spokesperson told us over email that $53.4 million (for the 2026 fiscal year) and $57 million (for the 2027 fiscal year) in state taxpayer dollars will go toward supplementing private school budgets, "freeing up room on their bottom lines to fund student safety, wellness, or other priorities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reached out to the MCC for a response on Walz's position and will update this post if we get more information. Walz is not solely responsible for this funding While Walz himself may not have secured funding for nonpublic school security, many other factors have to be taken into account. First, the legislation that could have enacted such funding that year was never passed by the state legislature for public (or nonpublic) schools, something that the governor does not have control over. Republican Rep. Elliott Engen in March 2023 introduced that legislation, the Safe Haven in Every Local District Act, providing schools with resources to upgrade and install security systems in schools. That bill, which applied to public schools, was never passed, so not even public schools received funding for such security upgrades. The bill was reintroduced in February 2025 and was still pending, as of this writing. After the August 2025 shooting, Republican Minnesota state Rep. Lisa Demuth told the news media that she would support a $50 million Building and Cyber Security Grant Program (that was referenced in the MCC letter to Walz) and provide security funds to nonpublic schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walz, however, announced that he would call a special session on gun laws and present a comprehensive proposal to lawmakers, while stating that he was limited by a divided legislature. The details of his proposal were unknown. "I have made the case and I am calling through legislators to try and make sure they get there, because I can call a special session, I can't run a special session," Walz said to the media. "And to be very candid, just in a very evenly divided I'm going to need some Republicans to break with the orthodoxy and say that we need to do something on guns, and that's the opportunity right now." The issue of using public funds in private schools, particularly religious schools, is fairly controversial. Private schools do have other fundraising outlets and can apply for the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Authority. In July 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration cut funding to a program in Minnesota that was geared towards preventing such instances of mass violence. Reporting from The New York Times said documentation revealed that DHS cut $18.5 million in spending on the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships. This program was introduced by former U.S. President Joe Biden and provided grants for mental health services, training programs and resources for state and local law enforcement to prevent potential threats. In sum The issue of school security is multifaceted. While Walz did not actively support the request for more security funds to nonpublic schools, the state legislature was ultimately responsible for passing the requisite bill that would have allowed for such funds a bill that never went through. Furthermore, federal funding for initiatives that would have prevented such school shootings was also cut, meaning the blame didn't fall solely on Walz. Sources: "A Shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic School Kills 2 Children, Injures 17 People." AP News, 27 Aug. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-school-shooting-annunciation-0fb27d2c911fe63a9f04791b444f298f. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Annunciation Church Shooting Sparks Conversation about State Support for Religious School Security." Kare11.Com, 29 Aug. 2025, https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/annunciation-church-shooting-sparks-conversation-state-support-religious-school-security/89-23b6f902-9a17-4495-95ef-f6e0b49222a8. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. April 14, Minnesota Catholic Conference on and 2023. "Letter to Governor Walz: School Safety in Nonpublic Schools." Minnesota Catholic Conference, 30 Jul. 2025, https://www.mncatholic.org/letter_to_governor_walz_school_safety_in_nonpublic_schools. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Baude, Emily. "House Speaker Supports Funding for Security Upgrades at Non-Public Schools." KSTP.Com 5 Eyewitness News, 1 Sep. 2025, https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/house-speaker-supports-funding-for-security-upgrades-at-non-public-schools/. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Bettin, Anthony . Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz Confirms He's Considering Special Session on Guns after Annunciation Shooting - CBS Minnesota. 2 Sept. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/tim-walz-considering-special-session-on-guns-after-annunciation-shooting/. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blake, Matthew. "Legislature Defers on Education Cuts, Spares Private Schools." MinnPost, 30 May 2025, https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2025/05/minnesota-legislature-defers-on-specifying-education-cuts-while-sparing-private-schools/. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Bolton, Jasmine. "Why Are We Subsidizing Religious Schools in America?" U.S. News and World Report, 30 Apr. 2025, http://usnews.com/opinion/articles/2025-04-30/supreme-court-religious-schools-vouchers. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "Boy Wounded in Minnesota Church Shooting Asks Doctor: 'Can You Say a Prayer with Me?'" AP News, 29 Aug. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/catholic-school-shooting-victims-grief-e116fe0dd0d0662bbe69f5026e3fb313. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "Federal Funding Freeze Leaves Minnesota School Districts Scrambling to Fill Budget Gaps." MPR News, 25 Jul. 2025, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/07/25/federal-funding-freeze-minnesota-school-districts-to-fill-budget-gaps-sahan-journal. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hippensteel, Chris, and Orlando Mayorquin. "Before Minnesota Shooting, a Program Aimed at Preventing Attacks Lost Federal Funding." The New York Times, 30 Aug. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/us/minnesota-church-shooting-funding-cut.html. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "House Backs Education Finance Bill with $44 Million Boost for Minnesota Schools - Session Daily." Minnesota House of Representatives. https://www.house.mn.gov/sessiondaily/Story/18801. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Minnesota Catholic School Leader Warned Tim Walz Of 'Critical' School Safety Threats. He Did Nothing. 27 Aug. 2025, https://www.dailywire.com/news/minnesota-catholic-school-leader-warned-tim-walz-of-urgent-and-critical-need-to-secure-schools. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "Minnesota Lawmakers Reach Budget Deal with Days Left in Session but Dissent Could Be an Obstacle." MPR News, 15 May 2025, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/05/15/minnesota-budget-deal-could-come-soon. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Rep. Elliott Engen - RELEASE: Engen Introduces SHIELD ACT." Minnesota House of Representatives. https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/news/15613/48307. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Rep. Elliott Engen - Rep. Elliott Engen's HF15 or "Shield Act" Heard in Committee. https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/news/15613/50493. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. Schermele, Zachary. "Years before Shooting, Minnesota Catholic Schools Asked for More Safety Funding." USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2025/08/29/minneapolis-school-shooting-funding-catholic-schools-walz/85871460007/. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "School Shooting Came after Bishops' Pleas for Security Went Unanswered." Catholic News Agency, https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266217/minnesota-school-shooting-came-after-bishops-pleas-for-security-went-unanswered. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. "State Funding for Nonpublic Schools Latest Obstacle to Budget Deal ." YouTube, KSTP 5 Eyewitness News, 7 May 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZWxGRlzt4M. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025. The potential for a showdown over crime in Chicago not just between law enforcement and crooks but between the federal government and city leaders is escalating. With US troops patrolling Washington, DC, after a similar National Guard deployment in June to Los Angeles, President Donald Trump is ramping up his rhetoric against predominantly Democratic cities, with a direct target on the nations third-most populous. Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far, Trump said with typical hyperbole Tuesday morning on Truth Social. (Gov. JB) Pritzker needs help badly, he just doesnt know it yet. I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in DC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going, the president hours later told a reporter about sending in the National Guard. I didnt say when. Were going in. Still, the White House refuses to coordinate with local law enforcement, Pritzker said this week, saying cooperation is a necessary step for fighting crime. And the state is ready to fight a troop deployment: We will do everything possible to ensure that agents operating inside the confines of this state do so in a legal and ethical manner. Pritzker said Wednesday officials are hearing the National Guard will be set up by Friday and ready to take action on Saturday, although he warned they havent gotten official notification about this. But the Trump administration hasnt committed to any specifics on the date. Vice President JD Vance told reporters Wednesday there are no immediate plans to deploy to Chicago, while Trump said Tuesday the administration was going in without specifying a timetable, muddying the waters on if and when a potential deployment would occur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, some residents and at least one Democrat on the Chicago City Council argue the National Guard could ease stress on police after a violent Labor Day weekend and say public safety shouldnt be this partisan. Chicago is not the murder capital of the world; we all know that, Alderman Raymond Lopez told CNNs Laura Coates. But we are a city that needs help. With no specific plans announced to send the US military to Chicago, heres what we know about violent crime there and what Trump could do soon: ICE operation expected in Chicago this week Trump administration officials have been working for weeks to draw up plans for a federal troop deployment to Chicago the moment the president gives the green light, they told CNN on condition of anonymity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have received credible reports that we have days, not weeks, before our city sees some type of militarized activity by the federal government, Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson said Saturday. For now, a ramped-up immigration operation is the one thing the feds have confirmed: ICE has informed our Illinois State Police Department that they are going to begin operations sometime later this week, Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton told CNNs Kate Bolduan on Tuesday. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks August 25 during a news conference in Chicago. - Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images Illinois State Police got a phone call Saturday from Customs and Border Protection indicating Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers would deploy to Chicago the first communication Illinois got from the Trump administration on the issue, the governor said. First, Donald Trump is positioning federal agents and staging military vehicles on federal property, such as the Great Lakes naval base, Pritzker said Tuesday. Its also likely federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security and CBP will be stationed in the city, he added, citing unauthorized patriotic officials inside the government and from well-sourced reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents should expect unidentifiable agents in unmarked vehicles with masks planning to raid Latino communities in the name of targeting violent criminals, despite a very small percentage of those targeted fitting that bill, Pritzker said. Instead, youre to see videos of them hauling away mothers and fathers traveling to work or picking up their kids from school. Sometimes they will detain, handcuff and haul away children, he said. Vicky Lugo, an organizer of the Mexican Independence Day Parade in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, said Saturday will go on as planned, although the community has expressed fear of attending because of potential ICE enforcement. She encouraged families to do what is best for them and said organizers are taking precautions, but also noted it is important for people to celebrate their culture and traditions. The freedom of another country, its the same thing that we hear in the US, Lugo said. Being able to celebrate all these things have a deep significance for everyone because its not just about Mexican Independence Day, its about freedom for all. Deadly holiday weekend mars broad crime drop The back-and-forth followed a Labor Day weekend of deadly violence in Chicago worse than in the previous two years, with seven people shot to death, according to preliminary Chicago Police Department reports. In all, 56 victims were hit by gunfire, according to police reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 14-year-old boy wounded in the arm and hand was the youngest victim, while seven people were wounded in a drive-by attack only a block from Chicago Police headquarters. An eighth homicide victim recovered over the weekend from Lake Michigan died by drowning, the Cook County Coroners Office told CNN; police have not said when they believe he was killed or why the case was classified as a homicide. Over the same holiday period a year ago, six people were killed by gunfire in Chicago, CNN affiliate WTTW reported, though the figure did not count four people killed on a Chicago L train that was outside the city limits at the time of the shooting. Before the holiday surge, city leaders had been pointing to a broader drop in violent crime in 2025. In the first six months of this year, Chicago has seen a 33% reduction in homicides and a 38% reduction in shootings, said a news release last week from Johnsons office. Overall, violent crime is down 21.4% this year, city figures show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking with community leaders Wednesday, Pritzker emphasized he doesnt expect to get any help from Washington on the issue, saying, theyre gonna do the opposite by defunding community-led programs to counter violence. While he said a National Guard presence wouldnt be helpful, civilian law enforcement, who could help do drug or gun busts, would be welcomed. What we can do is hold the line, he said. I think other places are caving in and not willing to be consistent but here in the city and the state of Illinois our goal is to hold the line until we can get past this challenge that were in. Any National Guard troop deployment in Illinois to fight crime is not sustainable, Illinois Attorney General Kwa me Raoul told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday. National Guard troops are not trained to do local law enforcement, Raoul said. FBI agents, DEA agents, ATF agents are trained to fight crime, and they have collaborated with local law enforcement. I would prefer more resources on that end than sending the military illegally into the streets of American cities against American citizens. Trump has less legal authority in Chicago than in DC Trump has been floating the idea of deploying troops inside Chicago for more than a week: Chicagos a mess. You have an incompetent mayor grossly incompetent and well straighten that out probably next, he said in the Oval Office in late August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if the president were to federalize the National Guard in Chicago, it is not clear what authority he would cite or what troops would do in the Windy City. Chicago police patrol the city's downtown on August 26. - Scott Olson/Getty Images While the president has direct power over the DC National Guard and some authority over that capital citys police department because they are in a federally controlled district, he does not have the same power in states. Theres very little stopping this president from doing what he wants to do, said Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director and CNN senior law enforcement analyst. But hell find the legal environment and trying to replicate the same sort of surge of federal agents and the presence of National Guard troops very, very different in every city in this country that is not Washington, DC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker cited potential court action as one of the reasons why he wouldnt call Trump to discuss the matter. Hes going to end up in court, and that will be a fact that they will use in court that the governor called to ask for help, and Im sorry, Im not going to provide him with evidence to support his desire to have the court rule in his favor, he said. But Pritzker also noted those who are in the National Guard are really good people who are required to be there or face a court martial. I am hopeful that the people of Chicago will understand that those National Guardsmen themselves are not at fault. Theyre doing a job, he said. Using federal troops in LA broke the law, judge rules Trump last called up the National Guard against a governors will in June, sending 2,000 members of the California National Guard into the streets of Los Angeles to push back against protests opposing aggressive immigration raids in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Guard played a limited security role, providing security to federal buildings and agents in a square-mile section of downtown where protests had become unruly. Local police, not guard members, responded when people violated a curfew declared by the mayor. Still, California Gov. Gavin Newsom mounted a challenge in court, and a federal judge agreed Tuesday the situation in Los Angeles did not rise to the sort of emergency that would give Trump power to federalize the National Guard. The administration announced Wednesday it is appealing Breyers decision. President Trump and (Defense) Secretary (Pete) Hegseth have stated their intention to call National Guard troops into service in other cities across the country thus creating a national police force with the President as its chief, wrote US District Judge Charles Breyer, a nominee of then-President Bill Clinton. In short, Defendants violated the Posse Comitatus Act, he added, a 19th-century law that generally prohibits the use of troops for domestic law enforcement purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Breyer issued a court order preventing that sort of National Guard action from being repeated in California, it does not apply to other states, so theres nothing in the decision that directly stops the president from activating it in Illinois. Has a president ever called up the National Guard in Chicago? The last time active-duty military was sent to Chicago against the wishes of local officials was on July 4, 1894, according to the archives of the Chicago Tribune, when a labor dispute at a Pullman factory crippled the nations rail industry and resulted in days of rioting. I protest against this, and ask the immediate withdrawal of the Federal troops from active duty in this State, then-Gov. John Peter Altgeld wrote to President Grover Cleveland, according to the Tribune. Since then, military deployments in Chicago have come at the direction of Illinois governors, including during the notoriously violent response to protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention and a precautionary call-up in preparation for the verdict against Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer found guilty in the murder of George Floyd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let us be clear: there is no emergency in Chicago that warrants the President of the United States deploying the military, 13 Democratic members of Illinois congressional delegation said in a Labor Day statement. Johnson signs an executive order Saturday in response to the possible deployment of military and Department of Homeland Security personnel to Chicago. - John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service/Getty Images Federal intervention fuels debate Despite the general drop in crime this year in Chicago, many residents still feel terrorized. My grandkids cant sit outside. They cant sit in the living room or at the kitchen table because a bullet may come through, said Rochelle Sykes, who lives in a neighborhood with the citys highest number of shooting victims per capita this year. Sykes is not convinced the citys crime stats are telling the whole story, she told CNNs Omar Jimenez. Indeed, Chicago last year ended its contract with ShotSpotter, whose sound equipment is designed to detect shots fired even if police are never called. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of things that go unreported, Sykes said, and these are things that us living in the neighborhood see every day. Officials from the Chicago Teachers Union, who expressed deep concern with the National Guard and ICE potentially coming into the city, said they started distributing Defend Your Rights flyers outside of schools this week ahead of any potential action. We will stand in the gap and make sure our students and their families know their rights, said Sylvelia Pittman, a teacher at Nash Elementary School on the citys west side. The city can absolutely use federal resources from the National Guard, Lopez, the alderman, said, raising the possibility of stationing troops in busy parts of the city, like on Michigan Avenue and at public bus and train stations. We are currently allowing officers to spend their eight-hour shift babysitting these locations when they could actually be in the neighborhoods, answering 911 calls, Lopez told CNN. Others, however, say calling in the National Guard could make things worse. The presence of military, for me, would put our communities in a situation where they feel like they are incarcerated, said Cedric Hawkins, a resident of the southside Pullman neighborhood who has had nine relatives killed by gun violence. And many state and local officials are warning that the idea of using the military to deal with crime in US cities is not a precedent they want to set. This president wants to, quite frankly, make the military presence on American soil something that people normalize, said Stratton, the lieutenant governor. This is not normal. We cannot normalize it. Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the day of Gov. JB Pritzkers comments. He spoke Tuesday. CNNs Emma Tucker, Karina Tsui, Taylor Romine, Whitney Wild and Bill Kirkos contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A bitter custody dispute between rapper Kodak Black and the mother of two of his children has been settled, according to court records. Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was accused of violently abusing his ex-girlfriend and failing to pay child support during the contentious case, which began in February. Meanwhile, his ex, Maranda Johnson, 23, faced a series of lawsuits and criminal charges in Broward, one of which led to her arrest following a custody hearing at the courthouse last month. She was charged with a misdemeanor stemming from a fight at their daughters birthday party in January and a felony over allegedly vandalizing Blacks designer cars last year. Yet despite the acrimony on both sides of the case, the rapper and his ex have since reached a settlement agreement and parenting plan, according to an agreed order signed by their attorneys on Thursday. Both lawsuits filed against Johnson, one for defamation and one over the damage to the cars, were also voluntarily dismissed Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two share a 1-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. Black had sought 50-50 custody of the children, which Johnson had argued against, citing Greysons Law, a Florida statute that requires judges to consider prior domestic violence when making custody decisions. The terms of their settlement were not available in court records Wednesday. Blacks attorneys declined to comment on the details of the agreement. My client is very happy to put this to rest, the rappers family attorney, Vanessa Prieto, told the Sun Sentinel, adding that he is looking forward to spending the time he requested with his children. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnsons attorney, Jodie Bassichis, did not respond to requests for comment. The dispute began in February when Johnson filed a request for an emergency pick-up order, saying Black had absconded with their son after a Wilton Manors birthday party that erupted into several fights when three different mothers of Blacks children arrived. The judge approved the pick-up order and their son was later returned to Johnson, but the battle over custody and child support continued. In May, Johnson went to the police over domestic violence, showing them photographs of her injuries, according to a report. Police did not arrest Black, saying Johnson did not give a sworn statement. Meanwhile, a series of criminal and civil cases against Johnson began. In April, a group of limited-liability companies affiliated with Black and represented by his defense attorney, Bradford Cohen, sued Johnson over the vandalism to the cars. In May, Black sued Johnson for defamation, saying she had falsely described him as a Dead Beat Dad. That same month, victims came forward in two separate criminal cases against Johnson, and in July, prosecutors filed two cases against her, one for battery during the fight at the birthday party and the other for several counts of criminal mischief over the cars. Johnson pleaded not guilty in both criminal cases and sought to fight both lawsuits. On Tuesday, Black and the series of LLCs voluntarily dismissed the two lawsuits. Cohen, who had previously mentioned a global resolution in an email with Johnsons attorney, declined to comment Wednesday on whether dropping the lawsuits was part of such a resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its great that it got resolved, he said. Its a great thing for the future of the kids and the future of the two parties. The two criminal cases against Johnson remain active, according to the Broward State Attorneys Office, which declined to comment further on the details. Johnson was arraigned in the vandalism case Tuesday morning, court records show. A calendar call for the battery case is set for Thursday. This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox. China, Russia and North Korea are not planning any conspiracy against the United States, the Kremlin said on Wednesday in response to a social media post by US President Donald Trump. "I would like to say that no one has instigated any conspiracies, no one has concocted anything," Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, told Russian state television. Trump addressed Chinese President Xi Jinping directly in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying, "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ushakov added that "moreover, no one has even thought about it, none of the three leaders has thought about it." The Kremlin said it hopes that Trump's comments were meant ironically. "Furthermore, I can say that everyone understands the role that the United States, the current administration of President Trump, and President Trump personally play in the current international situation," said Ushakov. The Kremlin has repeatedly welcomed Trump's efforts to seek peace in the Russian war against Ukraine. According to Ushakov, US-Russian contacts mainly revolve around a possible end to the war in Ukraine. He also mentioned that a new meeting between Moscow and Washington is being prepared, although the location and time are not yet determined. Trump's post was made ahead of Wednesday's grand military parade in Beijing, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xi is hosting several world leaders, most notably Putin and Kim, who met for a bilateral discussion during their time in Beijing. Putin publicly thanked Kim for North Korea's support in the Ukraine war. MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Wednesday that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's views on Ukraine peace talks should be disregarded after he made what Moscow called a series of "unfavourable" remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Merz said in an interview with broadcaster ProSieben.Sat1 aired on Tuesday that Putin was "perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time" and that there was no place for leniency for such individuals. The Kremlin denies its forces have committed any war crimes in Ukraine. It has rejected as "outrageous" a 2023 arrest warrant issued for Putin by the International Criminal Court which accused the Russian leader of the war crime of abducting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked during a trip to China about a proposal from Merz that Geneva should be the venue for Ukraine-Russia peace talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Merz has made a lot of unfavourable statements in recent hours, so it's hardly possible to take his opinion into account at the moment." Asked which statements he meant, Peskov said: "About our president". Merz said in his interview on German TV: "He (Putin) is a war criminal. He is perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time that we currently see on a large scale. And we must simply be clear about how one deals with war criminals. There, appeasement is out of place." (Reporting by Reuters Moscow buro and Kirsti Knolle in Berlin; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) The city of Los Angeles is expected to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines after settling multiple lawsuits against the owners of illegal short-term rentals and party houses in the Hollywood area who were accused of creating chaos for neighboring residents. With excessive noise, disruptive behavior, obstruction of the public right of way, litter and vandalism, party houses are well-known to impact neighborhood quality and threaten public safety, L.A. City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto said in a news release Tuesday. Among the buildings mentioned in the settlement were the Franklin Apartments, a rent-stabilized building with 30 units located at 6871 Franklin Ave. The city attorneys office accused the buildings owner and manager of removing 10 long-term rental units for use as illegal short-term rentals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, the 10 units were turned into an underground hotel, which "resulted in increased nuisance activity and complaints from other neighbors, Feldstein Soto said. The law requires short-term rental properties to register with the city under the Home-Sharing Ordinance , or HSO. Rent-stabilized units , which limit a landlord on rent increases each year, are prohibited from being used for short-term rentals. According to the city attorney, the property owners failed to register the units under the HSO, and were taken off the market for extended periods of time. The buildings owner and manager MC Pico Properties LLC and Monem Corp. were ordered to pay $150,000 in civil penalties, according to the city attorneys office. As part of the settlement, the property managers must post signs acknowledging that short-term rentals are prohibited at that property and to return the 10 units to the long-term rental market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for MC Pico Properties and Monem Corp. said in a statement that the short-term unit rentals were immediately cleared as word of the violation was brought to their attention, adding that "by the time any settlement was finalized with the City's Attorney's office, those units had already been vacated and re-released in compliance with the City's RSO." "Rather than focus on the parties actually profiting from short-term rentals namely, Airbnb and tenants who unlawfully sublet their units the City Attorney targeted a property owner that had no knowledge of the violations, had received no complaints about the units and acted swiftly to correct them once discovered," the spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday. "This time, however, the City Attorney threatened millions of dollars in fines, even though the only beneficiaries of the rentals were Airbnb, the tenants, and the City itself, which collected fees from those stays." Read more: Short-term home rentals are dropping in L.A. 'The rules are too much' We will not tolerate party houses that disrupt our neighborhoods and threaten public safety, or sit back while our laws are violated and rent-stabilized housing is ripped off the market, Feldstein Soto said in a statement. These actions send a clear message that we will hold those who violate our laws accountable for their violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feldstein Soto also announced the settlement of a 2023 lawsuit filed by the city against Ultimate Host, a high-end home hosting business known as the Nightfall Group. According to the lawsuit, police were called 250 times in a span of two years to multiple Hollywood properties operated illegally by Ultimate Host as party houses. Feldstein Soto accused the Nightfall Group of being an alleged driver of the citys party house problem. According to the lawsuit, the owner, Mokhtar Jabli, operated the business illegally by renting out his main residence in violation of the citys short-term-rental laws. Other property owners working with the Nightfall Group also leased their long-term rentals as short-term rentals for use as party houses, Feldstein Soto said. At least three defendants in this case settled Kirill Kirk Ayzenberg, 5554 Green Oak, and Jungle Kerry and were ordered to pay $215,000, $45,000 and $20,000, respectively, in civil penalties, according to the city attorney's office. As part of the settlement, they must tell all guests that loud and unruly parties are prohibited. The city attorneys office said litigation with other defendants is pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We look forward to the City Attorneys office directing its resources toward holding accountable those who actually profit from and perpetuate illegal short-term rental activity, rather than unfairly targeting responsible housing providers," the MC Pico Properties and Monem Corp. said. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A Los Angeles man is facing up to life in prison and a $10 million fine after pleading guilty Tuesday in a drug conspiracy case, in which he helped distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl at the Kern Valley State Prison, according to federal prosecutors. Justin Damonte Mitchell, 32, was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, two counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of distributing fentanyl, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of California. Mitchells sentencing is set for Dec. 1, according to officials. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine, but prosecutors said his actual sentence may be different after the court considers any applicable statutory factors and the federal sentencing guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman found loading gun in bullet-damaged vehicle acquitted of weapons charge According to court documents, Mitchell was recruited by his brother Kristopher Thomas, 37, to help in drug transactions outside of prison. Thomas is serving a gang-related murder sentence at the Kern Valley State Prison, the release said. In September of 2022, Mitchell delivered one-half pound of fentanyl to Natasha Michelle Bailey, 46, of Bakersfield. This was then smuggled into the prison for another inmate, 43-year-old Derrick D. Charles, according to prosecutors. Later that month, Mitchell helped Thomas ship packages with about 48 pounds of methamphetamine to be delivered to Oklahoma and Alabama, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said investigators followed wire intercepts of Thomas contraband cell phone to find the drugs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Lackawanna County Democratic Committee is suing to prevent a special election as the method for filling a county commissioner vacancy. The committee and its three candidates for the vacancy, James Baldan, Robert Casey and Brenda Sacco, jointly filed an injunction lawsuit Tuesday in Lackawanna County Court against the Lackawanna County Board of Elections and its director, Beth Hopkins. A hearing in the case has been scheduled for Sept. 10 in Lackawanna County Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint and emergency petition for injunctive relief stems from Board of Elections vote on Friday to hold a special election Nov. 4 for the seat of former Democratic Commissioner Matt McGloin, who resigned in February. The board voted 2-0, with Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan and county Judge Terrence R. Nealon voting in favor of a special election and Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak abstaining. Chermak and the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee argued against holding a special election and questioned the boards authority to declare one. The Democratic Committee argues the Home Rule Charter tasks the county Court of Common Pleas judges with temporarily filling the vacancy with one of three potential appointees selected by the committee. Those candidates are: Sacco, the former county economic development director; Baldan, who is president of Olyphant Borough Council; and Casey, a Scranton school director. But the county judges have not moved to fill the seat amid legal challenges since Gaughan and the county brought the litigation in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaughan and the county initially challenged the Home Rule Charter process that gave the Democratic Committee a key role, arguing the charter was trumped by an administrative rule giving judges the sole power to fill the vacancy without committee involvement. But a majority of a panel of three senior county judges ruled the charter, not the administrative rule, controls the replacement process. The state Commonwealth Court affirmed that decision and Gaughan and the county then asked the state Supreme Court to review and reverse the Commonwealth Court decision. That request before the Supreme Court remains pending. Now, the board vote for a special election and the filing for an injunction are the latest developments in the battle. County Solicitor Donald Frederickson previously said state law didnt allow for special elections to fill commissioner vacancies. Nealon, who replaced McGloin on the election board, issued a memo April 10 raising the prospect of a special election to fill McGloins seat. During Fridays Elections Board meeting, Nealon said in part he believes a special election is permissible because a subsection of the Home Rule Charter on special elections reflects an intent to have the vacancy permanently filled by the more than 145,000 registered voters in Lackawanna County rather than the eight commissioned (county) judges. Adam Bonin, an attorney for the Democratic Committee, said via phone Tuesday the injunction lawsuit argues the Board of Elections is not the entity that gets to call special elections, but even if that power did exist, it would only apply to certain situations and this would not be one of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a text Saturday, county Democratic Party Chairman Chris Patrick said a special election is illegal and anyone running should know that his or her election will be a legal nullity, and the winner will not have any legal authority to act as a commissioner. No one should waste any time or money on this. Gaughan on Tuesday said, These guys want the decision to be made in the back of a gas station in Dunmore. The vote should be up to the people. Jeff Horvath, staff writer, contributed to this article. LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WJW) Parents and students carrying signs lined up along Detroit Avenue Tuesday ahead of the Lakewood Board of Education meeting. Theyre calling for change within the districts leadership and fighting to keep all of the citys elementary schools open. The group called Preserve Lakewood Schools organized the rally in response to the districts proposed plans and discussions to potentially close one or more of the citys seven elementary schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having our seven neighborhood schools is one of our most precious assets in our community, said parent Jennifer Schlosser with Preserve Lakewood Schools. Medina City Schools making big security changes ahead of first home football game Superintendent Maggie Niedzwiecki previously said that based on enrollment trends over the past 10 years and studies currently being obtained, they would be making recommendations to the board for the best path forward. The district has previously said that there is a downward trend in student enrollment and approximately 1,600 fewer students. But Schlosser said the latest data refutes those numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you look at the districts most recent study from February 2025, youll see the Lakewood School District has stabilized especially at the elementary level, Schlosser said. Schlosser and the other parents protesting believe the city cannot afford to lose an elementary school for a number of reasons. Lakewood does not provide bussing to students, so having neighborhood schools is crucial, she said. Its important for our property values and to keep the flavor of our community. The three schools that have been mentioned for possible closure are Grant Elementary, Lincoln Elementary and/or Roosevelt Elementary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the board meeting, the superintendent did not address the issue, but she did provide a timeline for further discussions. She said data will be shared Sept. 15. A table top community conversation will be held Sept. 29 leading up to recommendations and a vote by the board on Oct. 20. I-Team: What we just found out about fight over Browns dome near airport But about 75 people were at the meeting Tuesday and ready to voice their concerns. One man who was on a task force to examine the issue this past year said they evaluated the schools and none of the scenarios will work. Are there enough classrooms? The answer is no, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another woman said that she believes repurposing the buildings now is premature and shortsighted, especially when many COVID babies will soon be starting school. I urge the board to prioritize caution and foresight over speed, she said. The majority seemed to also question why the change is happening so quickly and hoping district leaders will slow down. And we need them to listen and act in partnership with the community as they make these important decisions on our behalf, said Schlosser. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Lititz man is facing charges, accused of bilking investors out of more than $400 Million. Daryl F. Heller, 55, of Lititz, was charged with securities fraud and wire fraud in connection with an alleged fraudulent investment scheme. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Heller owned and controlled several companies in Lancaster, including a company that bought, installed, operated, maintained, and processed transactions for ATMs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is the Lancaster Witch trending on social media? He is accused of soliciting $770 Million from investors based on false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. The money, Heller allegedly said, would be used to buy and operate ATMs on behalf of investors and they would receive a fixed amount each month from those ATMs. Instead, the money was used in a Ponzi scheme, paying prior investors promised monthly payments. The ATMs didnt exist at all or werent in operation, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Monthly payments stopped in April of 2024 and Hellers company went out of business in December, leaving investors with unpaid principal amounts of nearly $402 Million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The magnitude of the offense alleged by this indictment is enormous, said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. Daryl Heller allegedly piled lie upon lie, in order to bilk thousands of victims of their hard-earned money. This case is a prime example of the diligent and detailed work done by FBI Philadelphias white-collar crime branch, and the economic crimes section in our office. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices If convicted, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 100 years 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 ABC27. LANETT, Ala. (WRBL) Police in Lanett are searching for a suspect in connection with a string of vehicle break-ins. Lanett police released footage captured from residential cameras and asked for the publics help with identifying the suspect or suspects. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP or the Lanett Police Department at 334-644-5236. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take a look at the footage Lanett Police released on Tuesday: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) If you are driving on East Bessemer Avenue in Greensboro, you may have noticed a large homeless encampment on the side of the road. On the corner of East Bessemer Avenue and Headquarters Drive, you can find blue tents, two yellow umbrellas, a red kiddie car, a microwave and cooler, multiple chairs and trash tucked away in the tree line on the side of a busy road. FOX8 spoke with one business owner, who wanted to remain anonymous, who owns a business located at University Station, which is a block of businesses between East Bessemer Avenue and Tucker Street, located across the street from the encampment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When FOX8 showed them pictures of the encampment, they were surprised by the setup and expressed their concern. They said they have dealt with unhoused people coming into their business unannounced, asking for money and trying to find shelter, making them feel unsafe in the area. And they feel that the encampment setup will only cause more issues to their business. FOX8 also spoke to the president and CEO of YWCA Greensboro, Deb Harris Richardson, who said its sad to see. My initial thoughts and feelings are those of concern because we dont want to see any of our community members unsheltered, but were seeing it too often, Richardson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richardson said the YWCA only serves unsheltered families, and she said the shelter is consistently filled up. There are other shelters within Guilford County that are serving individuals, but we are serving families, and theres not enough space There are not enough beds every night to house all of those that would like to be housed. We have 63 families on our waitlist right now, and thats disturbing This is 63 families that we cant even serve, Richardson said. Its an issue that Richardson said is growing in the area. We get calls every day. We get folks that come to our door every day that are asking if weve got a place, Richardson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A city spokesperson stated that city staff will visit the site and explain the City of Greenboros protocol to the person. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Las Vegas man was sentenced to over 45 years in prison for sexually exploiting a toddler and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of several minors, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Damian Amalfitano pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II also ordered him to pay $2,000 to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance (AVAA) fund. Amalfitano must register as a sex offender and keep the registration current where he lives, where he is an employee, and where he is a student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damian Amalfitano posed a significant threat to children as demonstrated by his repeated perverse and sick exploitation, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Nathaniel Holland for the FBI Las Vegas Division. Even in the darkest corners of the internet, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will exert every effort to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. Todays sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for our most vulnerable victims. Amalfitano admitted that starting at an unknown time, but no later than Sept. 22, 2010, and continuing to at least Oct. 30, 2021, he sexually abused a 2-year-old by engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the child for the purpose of making CSAM, according to the DOJ. I-Team: Convicted sex offender accused of victimizing more children A forensic examination of his electronic devices found that he had around 350 images and six videos of CSAM on two devices, with children as young as toddlers. Amalfitano also admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with three other minor victims, the DOJ said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2007, he was arrested for molesting a 13-year-old girl. Investigators also said that they found sexual images of children on his computer. Amalfitano was initially placed on probation, violated it, and was sent to prison. Amalfitano said in court in August 2022 that he was released from prison in 2015. Amalfitano was a Metro police officer who had been with the department for six years at the time of his 2007 arrest. He was immediately relieved of duty. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 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 KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Clark County School District music teacher was honored with one of the states highest education awards during a surprise ceremony on Wednesday. Alexandra Snabon-Jun, who teaches at Tyrone Thompson Elementary School in Las Vegas, was named the 2026 Nevada State Teacher of the Year. Jun, who has taught in Nevada for over two decades, will represent the Silver State in the National Teacher of the Year program. Jun is the sole music teacher for more than 900 children at Tyrone Thompson Elementary. She leads two choirs, produces musicals, and teaches a wide-ranging curriculum including percussion, ukulele, recorders, and dance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I think of Ali Jun, two adjectives come to mind, which are passionate and fun for kids, Robert Hinchliffe, Principal of Tyrone Thompson Elementary School, said. She makes every lesson incredibly engaging in many ways, and is beloved by both students and parents within our community. She has built our music and choir program from the ground up, and her devotion to this field is unparalleled. Clark County Superintendent Jhone Ebert called Jun a rockstar whose daily energy inspires students to excel. Each day, her passion for teaching and educating students is evident as she inspires students to be their very best. She epitomizes what it means to make CCSD the Destination District, Ebert said. The Nevada State Teacher of the Year program, facilitated by the Council of Chief State School Officers, celebrates educators who demonstrate excellence in and outside the classroom. In 2021, Nevadas Juliana Urtubey was recognized as the National Teacher of the Year. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) Thursday is the last day New Yorkers can apply to get Summer EBT benefits for this year. The program gives families $120 per child between the ages of 6 and 16 for groceries and other household essentials. Most children are automatically signed up for Summer EBT, but some families may need to apply. More Local News Families who fall under these requirements should have automatically gotten the benefits: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre in a household that gets SNAP or Temporary Assistance benefits Your student/students were certified to get free meals through Medicaid from July 1, 2024 to Sept. 4, 2025 Your student/students are deemed eligible for free or reduced-price school meals by their school through the National School Lunch Program Those who werent automatically signed up for the program are still eligible to apply if: Your student/students attend a school that takes part in the National School Lunch Program AND Your households income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (a household size of one with a gross annual income of $28,953 is eligible for benefits) Applications submitted after Sept. 4 will be considered for next years Summer EBT program, according to the states website. To find out eligibility requirements, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State To find the application, click here. For help applying for Summer EBT, you can call the helpline at 1-833-452-0096. The state started giving out Summer EBT benefits for this year back in June. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Gist As of September 1, gel polishes containing TPO, which helps them harden faster, are banned for sale and professional use in Europe. This ban is based on research showing reproductive toxicity in rats that consumed the ingredient. While the ingredient is unlikely to be banned in the U.S., the industry will likely shift to a TPO-free model to meet EU standards. The European Union is known for its better-safe-than-sorry approach to cosmetics regulation. Once there is enough data to "presume"not provethat an ingredient is harmful to humans (like an animal study), it's banned. TPO, or trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, a common hardener in gel nail polish, is the latest ingredient to receive one of these precautionary bans. However, a similar ban in the United States is unlikely anytime soon, according to the experts. "The EU takes a very proactive stance, whereas [in the U.S.], we tend to really look for more robust data before we decide to pull something off of the market," explains Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, should gel-mani lovers in the U.S. be alarmed for the future? "No," says Dr. Henry, "because we don't have human data yet." The research on which this ban is based was done on rats. TPO was not applied to them topically (as it would be for a manicure) or repeatedly inhaled over time (similar to the exposure a nail technician would have). Instead, it was fed to them. "That doesn't necessarily translate to how we use it on our nails," says Dr. Henry. Plus, it's the dose that determines the toxicity.. For example, "we use Botox, botulinum toxin, which could be a fatal toxin, but in a very low dose, it's not dangerous," says Dr. Henry. "It's all about how we are using it. What's our true exposure? How long does it live in our bloodstream?" There's a lot to consider before we can immediately translate findings in animals to humans. So while the EU ban was done in the interest of our safety, more research is needed before we know if TPO is actually harmful to humans. What is TPO? "TPO is what we call a photo initiator," explains Dr. Henry. "It's used to harden gel-based ingredients. So you'll find it in nail polish that needs to be cured using UV light or LED. We also use it in dentistry. It absorbs the light and it sends off a kind of chemical reaction that causes that gel solution to harden." Getty Images TPO is what allows gel polish to be hardened with UV or LED light. TPO is what allows gel polish to be hardened with UV or LED light. Why TPO Was Banned in the EU The EU categorizes chemicals based on a CMR rating. "So that's their carcinogenicity, their mutagenicity, and then if they cause any reproductive toxicity," says Dr. Henry. Back in 2014, TPO was classified as a category 2 CMR, meaning it was suspected to be harmful but there wasn't any research on humans or animals to prove it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, some research was done. A study conducted over six months in 2018 involved feeding varying doses of TPO to both male and female rats. The rats that ate TPO developed liver dysfunction, shrunken testes, and fluid buildup in the lungs. Additionally, all of the female rats that were fed high doses of TPO did not get pregnant during a controlled mating period, compared to females fed lower doses of TPO or no TPO at all, who did get pregnant. As a result, "the big claim right now is that TPO can cause reproductive toxicity," says Dr. Henry. This research allowed TPO to be classified as a category 1B CMR, meaning it's presumed to be harmful to humans based on animal studies. CMR ratings of 1B and 1A (proven harm to humans) are both banned in the EU. As of September 1, gel polishes containing TPO are no longer permitted for sale or use in professional settings, such as nail salons, within the EU. How the TPO Ban Affects Customers in the U.S. It's unlikely that TPO will be banned in the U.S. any time soon, and many brands contain TPO, which "became popular because it's accessible, inexpensive, and [hardens quickly]," says Dr. Henry. But there are alternatives, and given the size of the EU market, TPO-free gel polish may over time become the norm rather than the exception. In anticipation of this ban, some brands reformulated proactively. For example, Manucurist Paris removed TPO from its Green Flash LED Nail Polish in 2019. OPI's GelColor line has been TPO-free since July 2024. And just last month, Apres removed TPO from its Gel Couleur line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, whether you go TPO-free or not is up to you. "With everything that you do, you're managing risk. At least in this category, [the EU's] willingness to have a higher risk is much, much lower than ours," says Dr. Henry. The EU is often lauded for its lengthy list of banned cosmetic ingredients. Still, it contains ingredients like TPO that are not proven harmful to humans, in addition to ingredients like jet fuel and barbiturate drugs that would never make it into a cosmetic, regardless of the manufacturing country. "Their list is very long, but again, it's very proactive, and so it's just a different mindset," says Dr. Henry. "It doesn't necessarily mean that they're keeping [their citizens] safer." When an ingredient is banned, it creates significant challenges across the industry. Following the TPO ban, both small and large brands will be forced to absorb the costs of reformulating their products. Consumers in the EU now face limited access to gel polishes, while salonsoften small, family-run businessesare legally barred from using the TPO-based products theyve already purchased. The EU "may be completely right here, but we don't know, and at least our standard is to wait for more depth before we make broad, sweeping changes," says Dr. Henry. "Which one is right? The jury's still out on that." The EU ban on TPO aims to protect those who wear gel polish and technicians who regularly inhale and touch gel polish. But whether or not TPO-containing gel polish is harmful to humans remains unknown. If you're worried, you can switch to TPO-free polishes. And know that with time, the gel polish industry will likely become TPO-free as brands reformulate to meet EU standards. Read the original article on InStyle President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that New Orleans could be his next target for deploying the National Guard, potentially expanding the number of cities around the nation where he may send federal law enforcement. Trump says the escalation is necessary because New Orleans has a crime problem, but city leaders point out that crime rates have dropped considerably this year. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said on social media that Louisiana would take Trumps assistance from New Orleans to Shreveport! but leaders of the Democratic-controlled city were less supportive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marching troops into New Orleans is an unnecessary show of force in effort to create a solution to a problem that doesnt exist, said City Council President J.P. Morrell. Donald Trump has already said he plans to send the National Guard into Chicago and Baltimore following his deploying troops and federal agents to patrol the streets of Washington, D.C., last month Here's the latest: Republicans are preparing to change Senate rules to speed Trumps nominees Republican senators say they are prepared to change the chambers rules to get around the Democratic blockade of Trumps nominees and are discussing a proposal to make it easier to confirm multiple nominees at once. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans have been talking about options for changing the rules since early August, when the Senate left for a monthlong recess after a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations over the confirmation process. Democrats have blocked nearly every single one of Trumps nominees, forcing majority Republicans to spend valuable floor time on procedural votes and leaving many positions in the executive branch unfilled. GOP senators discussed one proposal in a private meeting Wednesday that would enable them to confirm large tranches of nominees en bloc, or several at once, if a majority of senators agree, according to multiple senators who attended the meeting. Read more about what the possible rule change would mean for Trumps nominees Louisianas governor says Trump wants to protect cities Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landry, a Trump ally, didnt get into any specifics when asked about Trumps suggestion that New Orleans could be the next place where the president sends National Guard troops to combat crime. President Trump is focused on getting control of our cities, but not doing it the way past presidents and other administrations have done it, where it is temporary. What he wants to see is permanent safety for America, Landry told reporters. Landrys remarks came at a press conference alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. They were in rural Angola, Louisiana, where federal officials are opening a new immigration detention facility. In an embrace of Trumps health agenda, Florida aims to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida plans to become the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates, a longtime cornerstone of public health policy for keeping people safe from infectious diseases. State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who announced the decision Wednesday, cast current requirements in schools and elsewhere as immoral intrusions on peoples rights. Ladapo didnt give a timeline for the changes but said the department can scrap its own rules for some vaccine mandates, though others would require action by the Florida Legislature. He did not specify any particular vaccines but repeated several times that the effort would end all of them. Every last one of them. Floridas move, a significant departure from decades of public policy and research that has shown vaccines to be safe and the most effective way to stop the spread of communicable diseases, especially among schoolchildren, is a notable embrace of the Trump administrations public health agenda led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more about how officials in the state are responding to Ladapos announcement White House blasts Harvard ruling and vows to appeal White House spokesperson Liz Huston took aim at U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in a sharply worded statement for the order that calls for the reversal of cuts of more than $2.6 billion in federal funding for Harvard University. She said the administration would appeal the decision. Just as President Trump correctly predicted on the day of the hearing, this activist Obama-appointed judge was always going to rule in Harvards favor, regardless of the facts, Huston said. To any fair-minded observer, it is clear that Harvard University failed to protect their students from harassment and allowed discrimination to plague their campus for years. Harvard does not have a constitutional right to taxpayer dollars and remains ineligible for grants in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Zelenskyy are scheduled to speak Thursday Planning for the call was confirmed by a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly on the yet-to-be-announced call. Trump earlier on Wednesday, during his meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, said he expected to soon speak with the Ukrainian leader about the path ahead for the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelenskyy and European allies of Ukraine are also set to hold talks in Paris on Thursday. Aamer Madhani House majority leader supports federal troops in New Orleans House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Republican who represents the conservative suburbs of New Orleans, praised Trumps decision to bring National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., and said New Orleans residents and visitors to the city deserve that same level of security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should all be in favor of increased safety for our citizens and lower crime, Scalise said. Judge reverses Trump administrations cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University A federal judge in Boston on Wednesday ordered the reversal of the Trump administrations cuts to more than $2.6 billion in funding research grants for Harvard University. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs sided with the Ivy League school in ruling that the cuts amounted to illegal retaliation for Harvards rejection of White House demands for changes to its governance and policies. Read more about Harvard funding cuts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting rights group argues new USCIS policy makes voter registration harder for new citizens The League of Women Voters is criticizing a new United States Citizenship and Immigration Services policy that blocks nongovernmental groups from helping new citizens register to vote at naturalization ceremonies. The policy issued Friday says that only state and local election offices will now be allowed to register voters at these events. Previous policy allowed outside groups to do so. The League of Women Voters impact at naturalization ceremonies had been significant. It reported registering some 37,000 voters at the ceremonies in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USCIS said that it had been an administrative burden to make sure that organizations registering voters at naturalization ceremonies were nonpartisan. It also said it will hand out voter registration applications when election offices cant. Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, called the move an attack on immigrants. By shutting out the League and other civic partners, USCIS is making it harder for new citizens to register to vote, Stewart said in a statement. US sees Rubio mission to Mexico as a grand success The State Department has hailed Secretary of State Marco Rubios meeting with Mexicos president on Wednesday as a success, extolling the virtues of what it said was a reaffirmation of already robust security cooperation in a fragile region now concerned with the prospect of greater U.S. military invention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement marking the end of Rubios talks with President Claudia Sheinbaum, the department said he had thanked her for Mexicos partnership to secure our shared border, helping the Trump Administration reach a historic low in border encounters with illegal immigrants. Rubio told reporters at a news conference that the level of U.S.-Mexico cooperation was at its highest level ever on fighting narcotics trafficking, transnational crime, ending illegal immigration and promoting prosperity and security. The statement made only a brief mention of one issue causing friction between the two nations: Trumps threat to impose massive tariffs on Mexican imports into the United States. The word tariff appeared only once in the statement and then in the context of Rubio emphasizing the importance of resolving trade and nontrade barriers to further the prosperity of both of our nations. House Oversight Democrats call for inspector general investigation into Maxwell prison transfer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are asking the independent watchdog at the Department of Justice to investigate the prison transfer for Ghislaine Maxwell. Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sexual abuse, appearing at a rally and news conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday, said they were especially affronted by the transfer last month to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she gave interviews to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Maxwell, Epsteins longtime confidant and former girlfriend, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for luring teenage girls for him to abuse. In a letter to the acting inspector general at the Department of Justice, William Blier, the Democratic lawmakers say that the public perception that Maxwell has received exceptionally favorable treatment in exchange for misleading testimony is profoundly disturbing and insulting to the victims of her crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisianas Governor says he welcomes federal troops in New Orleans Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said he supports Trumps suggestion to send federal troops to the state. We will take President @realDonaldTrumps help from New Orleans to Shreveport! Landry said in an X post. Landry has not responded to questions from The Associated Press about whether he requested that Trump send in federal troops. New Orleans City Council leaders and several mayoral candidates have rejected the need for federal troops, pointing to the citys plummeting crime rate this year. But the office of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the citys police released a joint statement thanking the federal government for its support. Our federal and state partnerships have played a significant role in ensuring public safety, particularly during special events for a world-class city, the statement said. The City of New Orleans and NOPD remain committed to sustaining this momentum, ensuring that every neighborhood continues to feel the impact of these combined efforts. Trump fundraising off plans for federal intervention in Chicago The presidents political team sent out a fundraising email on Wednesday that said, Chicago will be liberated, and Were going into Chicago. The email pitch repeats some of Trumps remarks on Tuesday about his plans to order federal authorities to Chicago and then suggests people make a $15 donation to join MAGA blitz. Trump administration agrees to restore health websites and data Federal officials have agreed to restore health- and science-related webpages and data following a lawsuit settlement with doctors groups and other organizations. The settlement was announced this week by the Washington State Medical Association, the lead plaintiffs in the case. Soon after Trumps inauguration, federal health officials deleted information on topics like pregnancy risks and opioid-use disorder. This was in response to a Trump executive order to stop using the term gender in federal policies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to restore more than 100 websites and resource. Read more about health websites Rubio dodges questions on details of Venezuela attack and says US has the right to eliminate threats Rubio dodged questions about if the people in the boat were warned before they were bombed, or if the government is concerned about raising the hackles of Latin American governments, some who perceive the strike as a shift back to the U.S. forcefully intervening in affairs in the region. Were not going to sit back anymore and watch these people sail up and down the Caribbean like a cruise ship, he said. Its not going to happen. Its not going to happen anymore. Rubio added that Trump as commander-in-chief has the authority under exigent circumstances to eliminate imminent threats to the United States. Rubio defends US strike on alleged Venezuela drug cartels: It will happen again Asked about details of the extraordinary strike that took place Tuesday, Rubio once again deflected operational details about how the U.S. confirmed it was a drug cartel in the boat or that they were heading toward the U.S. to the Pentagon. Rubio went on to defend the operation, saying that previous U.S. interdiction efforts in Latin America have not worked. What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them, Rubio said, adding that it is just the beginning of a larger U.S. operation in the region. Rubio credits drop in border crossings at southern border to close cooperation with Mexico We have seen those numbers drop historically, and that would not have been possible without the close cooperation between our two governments, Rubio told reporters Wednesday. The positive tone and complimentary language toward Mexico reflects a shift for the Trump administration as it escalates its efforts to target drug cartels. DC delegate appears in public after long absence during Trumps law enforcement surge Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, has made very few public appearances during the surge of federal law enforcement authorities and the National Guard although her office has been active in introducing legislation to end the use of military personnel and surge. At a time when the citys authority to govern itself has been threatened, public pushback by its officials has been one of the few recourses to challenge Trumps move. Norton, who has been the representative for the district since 1991, made the rare appearance Wednesday to slam Trumps takeover. She said the move has turned residents into props in a political play to showcase his own power. Norton, long a champion of D.C. statehood and self-governance, was at the 1963 March on Washington as a 26-year-old Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee worker. She has been visibly slower in her public appearances this year. As delegate, she is a non-voting member of Congress and requires close ties with allies in Congress. House GOP launches new probe of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack House Republicans are standing up a select committee to reinvestigate the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, as they continue to contest what happened after Trump sent a mob of supporters to fight the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. The new panel, with eight members to be chosen by the House speaker, will have subpoena power to compel witness testimony. It is expected to produce a report of its investigation by Dec. 31, 2026. Trump was impeached for inciting the 2021 insurrection at the Capitol. He was later acquitted. Despite initial hostilities, Rubio says Mexico cooperation with US is key to combating crime While in Mexico City, Rubio said he was happy to see the level of commitment between U.S. and Mexico in combating crime. There are no other governments cooperating more than the U.S. and Mexico in combating crime, Rubio said during a press conference Wednesday. Its the closest cooperation weve ever had, maybe between any country, but definitely between the U.S. and Mexico. US and Mexico reaffirm cooperation on combating cartels The U.S. and Mexican governments announced Wednesday that they were reaffirming their commitment to work together to strengthen security, combat cartels and stop trafficking along the border and fuel theft. It comes as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was visiting Mexico City, meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and holding a news conference with Foreign Secretary Juan Ramon de la Fuente. The leaders stopped short of initially announcing a formal agreement, which Sheinbaum has spent weeks pushing for. The governments said they established a high-level implementation to make sure new commitments were fulfilled. Mexico and the U.S. were already working together closely to combat cartels and fentanyl trafficking. They said their relationship is based on the principles of reciprocity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, shared and differentiated responsibility, as well as mutual trust. New Orleans leaders say federal troops are not needed New Orleans city leaders recoiled at the notion of sending federal troops into the Big Easy. Its ridiculous to consider sending the National Guard into another American city that hasnt asked for it, said City Council President J.P. Morrell. Marching troops into New Orleans is an unnecessary show of force in effort to create a solution to a problem that doesnt exist. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last year, Landry established a state police force to operate in New Orleans. He also convened a special legislative session focused on combating crime, leading to harsher penalties. New York Citys top officer says she told Bondi the city doesnt need the National Guard New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch says she was very direct with the attorney general about her opposition to an enhanced federal law enforcement presence in the city. My message was: We got this. We dont want or need the help of the National Guard in New York City, Tisch said in an interview on a local ABC station Wednesday. Tisch said a federal deployment creates real safety problems for us at the NYPD and that our National Guard are not trained to handle street crime in New York City. Trump this week said hes ready to order federal authorities to mobilize and combat crime in Chicago and Baltimore, following similar actions in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Crime is down in New Orleans While Trump referred to New Orleans as having a crime problem, city leaders swiftly pointed out that crime rates have dropped significantly so far this year. Violent crime is down 20% compared to last year, the New Orleans Police Department reported in May. And murders had been reduced by a third, even when including the 14 victims of a Jan. 1 truck attack. New Orleans leaders bristle at prospect of federal troops in the city New Orleans City Council Vice President Helena Moreno condemned any notion of sending federal troops to New Orleans. This is about scare tactics and politicizing public safety, said Moreno, the front-runner in the mayors race. Ultimately leading to the misuse of public funds and resources to attempt to score political points. We cannot allow this and I will fight to prevent any federal takeover of New Orleans. Council member Oliver Thomas, another mayoral candidate, told The Associated Press via text message that he had not heard anything about federal troops coming to the city and this would be a major overreaction! City Council member Joe Giarrusso said any suggestion of bringing federal troops into New Orleans would be a slap in the face to local and state law enforcement. Landrys office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hegseth says other traffickers could face same fate as Venezuelan boat Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the strike on a boat carrying drugs from Venezuela shows that the U.S. will not tolerate drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. He would not say when asked Wednesday on Fox News Channels Fox & Friends if the operation was a drone strike or how it was conducted. President Trump is willing to go on offense in ways that others have not been, Hegseth said, calling it a new day. And it wont stop with just this strike. Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco-terrorist will face the same fate, he said. Asked about regime change in Venezuela, Hegseth said thats a presidential decision. DC Mayor announces deal meant to beef up police numbers as Trumps crime surge continues Mayor Muriel Bowsers announcement comes as the nations capital looks to emerge from Trumps federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. Bowsers deal with the citys police officers includes a 13% pay increase as well as other incentives such as cost-of-living increases and an expanded take-home car program. Bowser has sought to add at least 500 officers for years, often publicly struggling with the D.C. Council over the issue. The department currently contains 3,188 sworn officers, with Bowser looking to boost that number up to around 4,000. Last week, Bowser publicly acknowledged that Trumps decision to take over the MPD and flood the city with hundreds of federal law enforcement agents and National Guard troops has succeeded in driving down violent crime numbers. But she has also stated a belief that similar results could have been achieved simply by having more MPD officers in service. Weve always believed that getting back to 4,000 officers was our goal, she said Wednesday. We dont need a presidential emergency. Trump again suggests he will soon have answer on whether Putin and Zelenskyy will hold talks Im having a conversation with him very shortly, and Ill know pretty much what were going to be doing, Trump said. He did not clarify if he was talking about Putin or Zelenskyy. The president again reiterated that he thought bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict would be much easier than it has proven to be. Still, he said the bloodshed in Eastern Europe has to end, and he expressed confidence that hell be able to bring the conflict to a close. I have a power to end things, Trump said. Trump suggests he may deploy troops to New Orleans After saying he was prepared to send the National Guard into New Orleans and Baltimore to help fight crime, Trump is now saying hes mulling doing similar in New Orleans. So were making a determination now, do we go to Chicago? Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country thats become quite, you know, quite tough, quite bad. State and local officials, many of whom are top Democrats, have sharply opposed troop presence in Chicago and Baltimore. Landry, though, is a Republican. The president added you have New Orleans, which has a crime problem. Well straighten that out in about two weeks. Khanna, Greene cite bipartisan Epstein files release effort Wrapping up Wednesdays news conference, Khanna said a silver lining of the Epstein case might be its ability to bring together Democrats and Republicans. Theyre bringing us together as a country, Khanna said, of the stories of accusers, gesturing toward Greene with a smile. Ive never done a press conference with Marjorie before. Speaking next, Greene echoed Khannas comments denouncing what both portrayed as a widespread effort to protect Epsteins crimes from detection, to the accusers detriment. Massie ended with a plea for Americans to call their representatives and demand support for legislative efforts to release the files. Earlier Wednesday, the lawmakers said four Republicans had signed onto a bill on the files release. Rubio and Mexicos president meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has started his meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has voiced fears of the U.S. encroaching on Mexican sovereignty. Their meeting Wednesday in Mexico City comes a day after Trump dramatically stepped up his administrations military role in the Caribbean with what he called a deadly strike on a Venezuelan drug cartel. Earlier Wednesday, Sheinbaum again rejected Trumps suggestion that she is afraid of confronting Mexicos cartels because they have so much power. We respect a lot the Mexico-United States relationship, President Trump, and no, its not true this affirmation that he makes, she said. Speaking to reporters before the Rubio meeting, she said what her administration planned to agree to with the United States is a cooperation program about border security and the application of the law within the framework of our (respective) sovereignties. Trump justifies lethal US strike on Venezuelan vessel The president pushed back when sked why the U.S. carried out a lethal strike on a Venezuelan drug-carrying vessel on Tuesday instead of interdicting it and capturing the alleged smugglers. Trump said the strike would lead to drug smugglers thinking twice about trying to move drugs into the United States. There was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and, everybody fully understands that, Trump said. He added, Obviously, they wont be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people wont be doing it again. When they watch that tape, theyre going to say, Lets not do this. Trump decries Epstein scandal as a Democrat hoax and says, Really, I think its enough The president said that thousands and thousands of documents had been released but that the Democratic hoax would continue. No matter what you do its going to keep going, Trump said. Really, I think its enough. Democrats and some Republicans in Congress have pushed for more transparency on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. And, while numerous documents have been released as part of the Epstein investigations, the majority contained information that was already public. Trumps comments came after Epstein accusers held news conferences on Capitol Hill. One victim asked Trump to come meet her at the Capitol so she could explain while the issue wasnt a hoax. Trump says hes going to find out how good relations are after Chinese summit that included leaders of Russia and India Speaking to reporters, Trump said his relationship with the heads of China, India and Russia are very good, but, Were going to find out how good it is over the next week or two. Trump called the ceremony at the summit hosted by China very, very impressive and beautiful, and that Chinese Leader Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were hoping I was watching. He said he felt the United States was slighted by China by not getting more of an acknowledgment for its role in winning World War II. China held a parade to recognize the 80th anniversary of the war ending. Epstein accusers implore Trump to help us People identifying themselves as Epstein accusers are calling on Trump for his help in making public remaining documents in the case. Taking the microphone one by one following the lawmakers in Washington, several women referenced Trumps power and influence, calling on him to help us, and let our voices be heard. The political clash over calls for releasing the files has flummoxed House Republican leadership and been a sticking point for the Trump administration. Tensions boiled over in July when the Justice Department and FBI issued a two-page statement saying that they had concluded that Epstein did not possess a client list, even though Attorney General Pam Bondi had intimated in February that such a document was sitting on her desk, and had decided against releasing any additional records from the investigation. ACLU and White House react to Trumps loss in Alien Enemies Act case The appellate court agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges who said the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs such as Tren de Aragua, which Trump cited as justifying the deportation of Venezuelans to a Salvadoran prison. Lee Gelernt, who argued for the ACLU, said the use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. To Trumps Department of Homeland Security, it was another decision in which unelected judges are undermining the will of the American people. This ruling will not be the final say on this matter. We are confident in our position, and we have the law, the facts, and common sense on our side. Trump gives Nawrocki a warm welcome with a jet flyover The U.S. leader greeted his Polish counterpart at the South Portico of the White House with a hearty shoulder slap and exchange of big smiles. The two stood side-by-side as four F-35 fighter jets flew over the White House, followed by another formation of four F-16s. Trump and Nawrocki then went inside together. Trump says Hamas must IMMEDIATELY give back hostages The president said in a post on his social media network that if Hamas gives back all 20 hostages the group is holding, things will change rapidly. IT WILL END! He did not offer any additional comment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks sanctions, tariffs, any pressure on Russia Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukrainian officials will try to connect with Trump to hear about new ways to increase pressure on Russia. The Ukrainian leader, speaking at a news conference in Denmark, recalled how he and Trump had previously discussed ways the United States could put pressure on Russia to lead President Vladimir Putin to engage in political negotiations over the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy recalled that hed asked Trump to put sanctions, tariffs, any pressure he could on Russia if Putin didnt agree to a diplomatic format of dialogue, not the dialogue by weapon. When we speak about pressure, we mean air defense, we mean weapon deals, we mean drone production, and of course, of course, sanctions, the Ukrainian leader said at a news conference alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Such signals we gave (the) president of the United States. He said couple of weeks, and he will answer on this. Couple of weeks, in my understanding, its two weeks or maximum three weeks. This Monday, two weeks ended. Attorney calls for careful redaction of remaining Epstein documents Attorneys for some alleged victims of Epstein and Maxwell also appeared alongside the lawmakers in support of the discharge petition. The lawyers, along with the lawmakers, stressed their view that pursuit of the release is a nonpartisan issue. Attorney Brittany Henderson implored authorities charged with redacting accusers names from anything that is ultimately released to protect identities of women who dont want to be known publicly. Just ahead of the news conference, women who identified themselves as victims in the case held their own news conference, calling for release of remaining documents. Some stood behind the attorneys and lawmakers as they spoke. Along with Massie and Greene, fellow House Republicans Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Nancy Mace of South Carolina have also signed the discharge petition. Khanna and MTG seek more GOP support for Epstein files release A bipartisan set of House lawmakers has appealed to their colleagues to support a discharge petition that could force a House vote requiring the Department of Justice to release its Epstein files. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, of California, said Wednesday during a Washington news conference that four Republican representatives have joined the effort and that just two more GOP signatures are needed to cross the threshold for likely passage. There is something that is rotten in Washington, Khanna said. Weve got to stop the partisanship on this issue. Khanna was joined by Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Plans underway for a midterm convention ahead of next falls congressional elections House Speaker Mike Johnson says that when Trump called him recently to discuss the novel idea he thought: Thats genius. The idea is to give Republicans a chance to make their case to voters, who tend to reject the party in power during midterm cycles. Republicans are struggling to hold onto their majority in Congress. Besides, the speaker added, Trump loves a big show. Theyre working with Senate Republican Leader John Thune to make it happen. I think thats a done deal now, he said. Lariza Garzon, director for North Carolina and mid-south operations at the Hispanic Federation. (Photoby Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) A group of Latino advocates and researchers in North Carolina have launched a geospatial database mapping camps, emergency services and shelters across eastern counties. The tool is designed to aid farm workers and other Latino workers across the region who may not otherwise know about or have access to resources during hurricanes and severe weather during storm season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates say some of those workers, who may not speak English or fluent Spanish, remain at higher risk during flooding and storms. There is limited access to emergency information in Spanish or the language that they speak, said Lariza Garzon, the North Carolina director for the Hispanic Federation. Barriers to adequate housing or health care, or fears tied to immigration status. These communities are too often left out of their response, and left behind in their recovery. The database was spurred by research from UNCs Carolina Population Center, which examined local governments plans for disaster preparation and recovery. Many of those plans lacked best practices, particularly when it came to aiding Latino and migrant workers, said Nathan Dollar, director of the centers Carolina Demography program. Out of 41 counties surveyed, 14 of them mentioned having Spanish materials in their formal recommended practices, according to Dollar and his colleagues research. Nine mentioned translators, and seven mentioned interpreters. Nathan Dollar, director of Carolina Demography at UNCs Carolina Population Center. (Photo by Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) Those written guidelines dont always reflect the full extent of local operations and plans, Dollar said. But they do signal that gaps remain in actively seeking out Latino and migrant populations in their areas. Some live in ultra-rural regions, at addresses not listed in the states central emergency address list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are working with the Department of Labor and others to try to make sure that every registered labor camp is registered with the 911 master address list, Dollar said. By the end of the year, the new collective called Unidos por la Tierra y la Comunidad (United for Land and Community) hopes to have all 100 counties mapped out. The database will not be publicly available, but will be provided upon special request to local emergency officials and workers at non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, who have a verified professional need to use it, Dollar said. Still, advocates know that some barriers will be harder to remove while completing the project. Ongoing immigration enforcement has created more distrust of government, Garzon acknowledged, meaning that third-party community leaders would be more important than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are hoping that people realize that it would be a big mistake to leave entire communities out of disaster response, Garzon said. Especially when its our community often who are working towards recovery, rebuilding the homes, fixing electrical issues. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Far-right activist Laura Loomer has derailed a classified intelligence briefing that she should never have known was happening, a senior Democratic senator said. Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Loomers intervention prompted Trump administration officials to cancel Fridays oversight meeting that had been weeks in the making. The Virginia senator was attacked online by Loomer over the upcoming meeting, but its very existence was supposed to be classified and had not been publicly announced. He warned that caving to her pressure sets a dangerous precedent. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, posted a statement on social media in response to the cancellation. / Aaron Bernstein/Reuters Warner had been scheduled to meet with personnel at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in Springfield, Virginia. But Loomer launched a series of posts on X accusing him of going after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by calling him incompetent and even calling for him to be fired this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MAGA influencer branded Warner a rabid Trump hater and a Russia Hoaxer while urging officials to scrap the meeting. She also demanded the removal of NGA director Vice Adm. Trey Whitworth for scheduling the session. Warner condemned the decision to block his visit, calling it a nakedly political decision that undermines the dedicated, nonpartisan staff at NGA and threatens the principle of civilian oversight that protects our national security. Loomer has previously drawn headlines for reportedly influencing Trump administration personnel moves. / DUSTIN CHAMBERS / REUTERS Members of Congress routinely conduct meetings and on-site engagements with federal employees in their states and districts; blocking and setting arbitrary conditions on these sessions sets a dangerous precedent, calling into question whether oversight is now allowed only when it pleases the far-right fringe, the lawmaker said in a statement. Loomer welcomed the cancellation and claimed credit. Whitworths scheduled September 5th fireside love fest with anti-Trump Democrat Senator @MarkWarner Mark Warner has been CANCELED! she wrote on X. How can a Biden appointee and someone with such bad judgement that they would invite a rabid Trump hater and Russia Hoaxer like Mark Warner to speak at NGA be allowed to remain in their job, especially under the Trump administration? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner accused the administration of caving to a figure with a long history of extreme and outlandish fringe views, including 9/11 denialism, anti-Muslim harassment campaigns, and associations with white supremacists. Let me be clear: I will never be deterred from carrying out my constitutional responsibilities, Warner added. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment. Loomer has previously drawn headlines for reportedly influencing personnel moves within the Trump administration. In April, reports linked her to the firing of top National Security Council officials she deemed disloyal. Trump denied that Loomer played any role at all in those dismissals. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) The Laurel County Sheriffs Office is searching for a pair of burglars who cut the power to area businesses overnight. On Sept. 2, deputies said two businesses were broken into overnight in the past week. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, in both instances, the burglars cut the power and stole the cash registers. Security cameras captured the suspects, who appear to have committed both crimes. If anyone has any information, call the Laurel County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) put some space between her and President Donald Trump for a change on Tuesday. The right-wing lawmaker brushed MAGA loyalty aside to join other Colorado lawmakers in pledging to fight Trumps decision to relocate U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. Trump criticized Colorado for its mail-in voting while announcing the move, CNN noted. In a bipartisan protest that included all House and Senate members representing Colorado, the joint statement said the headquarters change will compromise security and waste money. Related: Chellie Pingree Calls On Leland Dudek To Resign From Social Security Role Colorado Springs is the appropriate home for U.S. Space Command, the statement concluded. We will take the necessary action to keep it there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boebert did not advertise her opposition on X, formerly Twitter, but it spelled a rare split from Trump, whom she has said was anointed by God to be president. Rep. Lauren Boebert, pictured with President Donald Trump at a Colorado rally last October, apparently isn't smiling over his decision to move the Space Command headquarters out of Colorado. via Associated Press The House member also appears poised to say yes to a potential floor vote to demand that the Justice Department release the Jeffrey Epstein files that have not been previously viewed. That would defy Trumps wishes to leave the matter alone regarding his old pal Epstein, a well-connected sex offender, after the presidents controversial about-face in interest. She already signed a discharge petition, joining fellow firebrand and Trump disciple Marjorie Taylor Greene. HuffPost has reached out to Boeberts team for comment. Heres the Colorado letter as presented by Sen. Michael Bennet (D) in a release: Todays decision to move U.S. Space Commands headquarters out of Colorado and to Alabama will directly harm our state and the nation. We are united in fighting to reverse this decision. Bottom linemoving Space Command headquarters weakens our national security at the worst possible time. Moving Space Command sets our space defense apparatus back years, wastes billions of taxpayer dollars, and hands the advantage to the converging threats of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The Department of Defense Inspector Generals office has reported multiple times that moving the Command will impede our militarys operational capability for years. Space Commands long-term presence in Colorado Springs has also created a large number of civilian businesses and workers on which the Command now relies. Those people will not simply move with the Command at the militarys whim. Many of them will leave the industry altogether, creating a disruption in the workforce that will take our national defense systems decades to recreate. Being prepared for any threats should be the nations top priority; a crucial part of that is keeping in place what is already fully operational. Moving Space Command would not result in any additional operational capabilities than what we have up and running in Colorado Springs now. Colorado Springs is the appropriate home for U.S. Space Command, and we will take the necessary action to keep it there. Trump tried to relocate Space Command in his first term, but President Joe Biden overturned the decision in 2023. Related... Read the original on HuffPost A hard-fought lawsuit to bring more live teaching and better technology to the Los Angeles school system at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic is ending five years later with an agreement to provide tutoring and other supports to an estimated 100,000 students. The length of the litigation means that no student of high school age when the pandemic began will be able to benefit. A group of parents alleged in the suit that the L.A. Unified School District failed to meet state educational standards, disproportionately harming Black and Latino students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlement "ensures that over 100,000 of the districts most vulnerable students will have access to no fewer than 45 hours of high-dose tutoring per year," the advocates said in a statement. "That amounts to over 10 million hours of guaranteed high-dose tutoring over the next three school years." Appropriate tutoring is defined as small groups of six or fewer students or one-on-one sessions aligned with the students classroom work. It would be available at least three times per week in 30-minute sessions. Read more: As immigration fears surge, LAUSD compassion fund to support families amid return to school L.A. Unified declined to comment on the settlement. It had fought hard against the lawsuit, winning a dismissal in 2021 once campuses reopened. The parents, who have been supported by nonprofits Parent Revolution and Innovate Public Schools, appealed. A state appeals court reinstated the case two years later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After all the time, effort and years invested in this lawsuit, this victory feels like a step in the right direction, Maritza Gonzalez, one of the plaintiffs, said in a statement. From the start, it was about securing the support kids need to thrive academically. While it comes too late for my eldest son, now in college, Im relieved to know that my daughter, just beginning high school, will have access to the tutoring she needs to succeed and prepare for college in the years ahead. What is in the settlement The settlement, if approved by the court, also would require over the next three years: Regular assessments to determine which students need extra support; Additional teacher training in math and English language arts instruction and how to support lower-achieving students; Outreach to students who are missing too much school or who have dropped out; "More robust, transparent and disaggregated" public reporting of tutoring, grades, assessment and absenteeism data; Annual evaluation of and reporting on the effectiveness of tutoring programs. It was not immediately clear how many of the settlement terms represent policies and actions already underway in the school system. The district, for example, already touts its efforts to improve student attendance and conducts regular assessments. It also provides extra funding and resources, including tutoring, to schools that serve the highest-need students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates said the tutoring required under the settlement and other measures go beyond what the district is otherwise offering. An era of painful trade-offs and setbacks In 2020, when the surging pandemic brought death and uncertainty, state leaders struggled with how best to safeguard public health. In March of that year, campuses closed statewide with instruction moving online. Campuses reopened on different timetables, according to decisions made by local school systems. L.A. Unified offered students optional on-campus instruction in April 2021. The state required all public school campuses to reopen for the fall of 2021. Read more: Coronavirus-caused LAUSD school shutdown worsens inequities as many students go AWOL In California and across the country, researchers subsequently compiled massive evidence of delayed or lost learning during this period, with the academic damage affecting school populations even in places that reopened campuses more quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While campuses were closed, L.A. Unified reached an agreement with its teachers union that provided for less live instructional time compared with some other large districts in California, while also reducing the hours that teachers were required to work. When the lawsuit was filed, plaintiff Judith Larson said her daughter, an honor roll student, received about two or three hours of instruction per week in the spring of 2020. Things improved slightly in the fall, but nowhere near enough for her daughter to catch up, she said. The lawsuit also called attention to technology shortcomings, noting that students from low-income families, especially those in areas with poor internet connectivity, were especially challenged to take part in lessons, access materials and turn in work. At the time, L.A. Unified spokeswoman Shannon Haber said that the district was working "to balance the sometimes conflicting priorities of the learning needs of students and the health and safety of all in the school community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Hundreds of thousands fewer students, but few closed schools. Can LAUSD make the math work? L.A. Unified surged ahead of many other school systems in areas such as providing free meals for pickup at campuses and weekly COVID testing once campuses had reopened. Officials at the time defended the district's efforts to provide technology and in key respects, the nation's second-largest school system outpaced many other places. The district, for example, cornered the local market on computers to send home with students, quickly buying them ahead of other school systems. The district also provided internet hot spots to help students get online. But the digital divide separating the prosperous from low-income neighborhoods was so vast that these efforts fell short. Many students lived in locations where the hot spots did not work. Many students were struggling to complete schoolwork on cellphones that they shared with other family members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district's gradually improving state test scores suggest there has been progress in recent years. These scores have finally moved above levels from before the pandemic. The improvement has been too slow in the view of some observers, although many other school systems have yet to catch up to pre-pandemic achievement. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Governor Larry Rhoden is mobilizing South Dakota National Guardsmen to the nations capital. Rhoden is sending 12 guardsmen from the 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment based in Rapid City. Like these National Guard soldiers from another state, the South Dakota guard members will quote support operations in Washington D.C. Governor Rhoden says the nations capital is not a safe place. The citizens of Washington deserve better, the citizens of the United States deserve better, thats our capital, said Rhoden. We look to that as an example for the nation. So I support, fully support Trumps wishes and desire to, and actions to make it a safer place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sioux Falls teacher a finalist in national contest Rhodens predecessor, Kristi Noem, told CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday that Washington, D.C. is much safer now, and federal resources could be used in cities around the country. I think theres a lot of cities that are dealing with crime and violence right now, and so we havent taken anything off the table, said Noem. But not everyone is on board with using the military to police American citizens. Democratic Rep. Erik Muckey and other state lawmakers tell KELOLAND News that using the military in this way is wrong and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violent crime in D.C. was down to levels not seen for the better part of 30 years. To say that there was an emergency and criminals all over the streets, especially someone who has spent time in Washington D.C. and been on those streets, this is political theater, said Muckey. According to the Governor, the money to send the troops to D.C. will come from the Federal government under Title 32. The federal law allows Governors to activate the National Guard for domestic missions such as disaster response. Title 32 traditionally means the guardsmen are under state authority, but funded by the federal government. So they will be a liaison between the National Guard and the public; theyll be under the control of the Washington, DC National Guard, said Rhoden. Sending National Guard troops from South Dakota to join that political theater, when we have denied coming to South Dakota communities in actual emergencies, is a pretty big slap in the face to South Dakotans, for one, but the second part of this is, why are we funding this? asked Muckey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial deployment is expected to last for 30 days, but could be extended to 90 days under extraordinary circumstances. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. With lawmakers back in Washington, D.C., the fight to release the criminal files for Jeffrey Epstein back on, starting with a press conference to hear from victims. Congress returned from its summer recess on Sept. 2. The Epstein controversy prompted Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to send lawmakers home early in July, and it isn't all they're coming back to. Congress will also need to pass a budget by the end of the month to avoid a government shutdown. Co-leading the effort to force a vote on a bill requiring the Justice Department to release the Epstein files are Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky. The two representatives are hosting a press conference on Sept. 3 with 10 Epstein victims at the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna said the press conference will be "explosive," and some of the victims who are slated to be there have never spoken out publicly. Here is what to know: Jeffrey Epstein: Judge won't release grand jury transcripts, only 'snippet' of DOJ files When is the press conference on Jeffrey Epstein? The press conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 3, according to Massie and Khanna. Watch Epstein victims speak live: What are Massie and Khanna hoping to do? Massie filed a discharge petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Sept. 2, in an attempt to force a vote on it. A discharge petition is a rare Congressional move that allows a bill to reach the floor of the House without approval from a committee or by being scheduled for vote by the speaker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is designed to be difficult to achieve, and the petition will need 218 signatures to be successful. Khanna confirmed that all 212 Democrats will sign the petition, and Massie had garnered the support of 12 Republicans. To date, it has 134 signatures, including Massie and three other Republicans. If successful, the House would take up the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would prompt the attorney general to release the documents related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days. The press conference follows the House Oversight Committee's release of its first tranche of documents on Epstein on the first day Congress was back in session after the Labor Day holiday. Massie told reporters outside of the Capitol that the release was "only 1% of what they possess and 97% of it's already been released." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contributing: Josh Meyer, Zachary Schermele, Eliza Collins, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Epstein victims speak amid discharge petition effort. Watch live. Editors Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673. (NewsNation) Dozens of survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein spoke Wednesday on Capitol Hill as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle demanded the Department of Justice release all government files related to the investigation. Lets stop calling it an Epstein client list its Epsteins sex buyer list, said Teresa Helm, an accuser of Epstein and his longtime associate and former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speakers at the rally often grew emotional as they recounted how they were lured into Epsteins abuse and called for government accountability for the actions of Epstein and Maxwell. Jeffrey Epstein survivors compiling their own client list Our demands are clear, said Sky Roberts, whose late sister Virginia Giuffre was an outspoken survivor. Ghislaine Maxwell must remain in a maximum security prison for the rest of her life. No leniency. No deals. No special treatment. Survivors demanded all files related to the investigation be released publicly and that anyone complicit be held accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., alongside a group of accusers, held a news conference Wednesday, calling for the full release of the files. A nation that allows rich and powerful men to traffic and abuse young girls without consequence is a nation that has lost its moral and spiritual core, Khanna said. Near the event, a large crowd gathered with signs reading, Believe the survivors, and Unlock the Epstein files. National Guard could remain in DC through December: Defense official Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene joins push for Epstein files release Khanna was joined by Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is among a bipartisan set of lawmakers who support a discharge petition that could force a House vote requiring the DOJ to release its Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna said Wednesday that, along with Greene, Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C., have also joined the effort, and with just two more GOP signatures needed, the threshold for likely passage is within reach. There is something that is rotten in Washington, Khanna said. Weve got to stop the partisanship on this issue. Massie introduced a bill in July to force the release of the files, warning that if the House failed to consider it within seven legislative days, he would move forward with a discharge petition. Attorney calls for redaction of remaining Epstein files Lawyers for some Epstein accusers appeared alongside the lawmakers in support of the petition and stressed their view that the pursuit of the files release is a nonpartisan issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Brittany Henderson implored authorities to redact survivors names from documents that are ultimately released, in order to protect the identities of women who dont want to be known publicly. More than 1,000 HHS staff call for RFK Jr. to resign Trump calls Epstein files a Democrat hoax President Donald Trump referred to continued calls for the release of documents relating to Epstein as a Democrat hoax that never ends. It reminds me a little of the (John F.) Kennedy situation. We gave them everything over and over and over again and nobodys ever satisfied, he told reporters from the White House on Wednesday, during a meeting with newly elected Polish President Karol Nawrocki. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said the files were a distraction from the most successful eight months of any president ever. Newly released Epstein files already made public: Rep. Robert Garcia The House Oversight Committee this week released more than 33,000 pages of documents, including flight logs, court filings and emails. However, lawmakers from both parties have argued most of the information was already public. Committee ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said Democrats found that 97% of the documents had been previously available. Attorney General Pam Bondi has previously said the Trump administration reviewed Epstein-related evidence and concluded the disgraced financier died by suicide and did not leave behind a client list. Bondi suggested in February that list was on her desk, although she later clarified that she was referring to the overall case file. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, the DOJs handling of the Epstein federal investigation has resulted in bipartisan criticism. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for helping him sexually exploit and abuse underage girls. Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in 2019. He was awaiting trial for allegedly orchestrating a child sex trafficking ring along with Maxwell. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. AUSTIN (KXAN) Attorneys representing the family of Akshay Gupta, who police say was stabbed without provocation on a CapMetro bus in May, have filed a lawsuit against Keolis, CapMetros operating partner, and the driver who operated the bus when the stabbing happened. Last month, the man charged in the stabbing, Deepak Kandel, was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was committed to a mental health facility, according to Travis County court documents. If he regains competency, his criminal justice process will continue. The stabbing happened the evening of May 14 near South Lamar Boulevard and Barton Springs Road. According to an affidavit, Kandel admitted to the shooting and told police he stabbed Gupta because he looked like his uncle, who had died previously. Lawsuit claims bus driver acted negligently The Gupta family wants to prevent this from happening to anybody else, said Aaron von Flatern with FVF Law, the attorney working on this civil case. The suit claims negligence on behalf of the driver who is not named in the suit because they let Kandel onto the bus without paying a fare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He never should have been allowed because he didnt have money, he didnt have a free fare card, he didnt have a phone, von Flatern said. Through CapMetro, certain individuals are eligible to apply for a free fare card. The agency could not disclose whether Kandel was registered as having one, citing confidentiality reasons. Boarding a city bus without paying is officially a Class C Misdemeanor in Austin. Keolis said it does not comment on pending litigation. CapMetro is not getting sued, but since this happened on a CapMetro bus, KXAN also reached out to the agency which in turn said it didnt wish to comment since it was not named. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Court records: CapMetro stabbing suspect in and out of jail since 2016 The lawsuit seeks monetary relief of over 1,000,000, but von Flatern said the primary goal is to create a tighter system when it comes to allowing individuals on a city bus in Austin. The suit references a 1990 example of the city experimenting with free fares. During the first three months of that program, assaults nearly tripled, according to the suit. Remembering Akshay Gupta He was one person who would leave an impression on you, once you met him, it was just such an impression, Guptas brother Ankur told KXAN. If he met you, he was just so selfless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gupta was in the U.S. on a extraordinary visa from India working on a health tech startup to help senior citizens with walking and balance. Akshay Gupta and Noopur Gupta at a SXSW event. (Courtesy: Noopur Gupta) Noopur Gupta called Akshay Gupta a close friend. They both entered the Austin startup scene together, and they both are from nearby hometowns in India, Noopur said. And he was just like a sharing person. He was never like, ok well Ive done this in this, Im not gonna share with anyone, she said. Im gonna help people get something out of it. That wasnt in his heart, he just had such a giving heart. Guptas best friend for more than two decades, Garv Jasuja, said not only was Gupta kind, intelligent and ambitious but he was also fun, outgoing and charismatic. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An Oregon firefighter who was arrested Aug. 27 while working on the Bear Gulch Fire in Washington has been located, but his attorneys are still struggling to communicate with him. The man was one of two Oregon-based firefighters who were detained by Customs and Border Patrol following a Bureau of Land Management investigation into two companies that were contracted by the government to assist in wildland firefighting efforts. Crews work on the Bear Gulch Fire in Washington in this photo provided Aug. 28, 2025 Following his arrest, attorneys from the Innovation Law Lab, who represent one of the men, said they had been unable to locate their client. Since then, attorneys have located the man and say he is now being held at the Tacoma, Washington facility, but they are still struggling to connect with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He hasnt had his access to counsel, said Innovation Law Lab Attorney Rodrigo Fernandez-Ortega, who is representing the man. Neither of the firefighters identities has been publicly released. For at least a couple of days, he did not have his access to counsel, which he requested and was entitled to under the due process considerations, Fernandez-Ortega said. And my communication with him has been super brief and limited up to this point still. Fernandez-Ortega said that the reason there is still so little known is that access has been limited. He wasnt able to connect with the man until two days after he was detained. When they were able to connect, the call was too rushed to provide adequate support, the attorneys said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its super frantic, those calls, because you do get cut off. You just dont know when, so its just kind of spewing information as fast as you can, he said. Though theyre still working to find out more information, Fernandez-Ortega said his client had been in the United States since he was 4 years old, and that he has been here for nearly 20 years. What we have seen are some of the most brave and hardworking and vulnerable communities (being) targeted in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, Fernandez-Ortega said. He said that while this is the first time hes aware of firefighters being targeted, there have been instances of other agricultural workers who have been arrested. He said the two are similar in that theyre both supporting our communities by laboring in hazardous climate conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement acknowledging the impact of wildfires in western states, and stating that immigration officials would not conduct operations in places where disaster relief is being provided. DHS and ICE did not respond to requests for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Illinois State Representative Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) is hosting two seminars on September 10 that will help residents avoid scams. Far too many of us know someone who has fallen victim to a financial scam, Swanson said. Scammers will stop at nothing to separate you from your money and they are always rolling out new and more clever scams to do so. Illinois State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) A scam prevention seminar will be held at the Warren County History Museum, 238 S. Sunny Lane in Monmouth, on September 10 from 9 10 a.m. A second seminar will be at the Alexis Community Center, 205 W. Palmer Avenue in Alexis, from 11 a.m. 12 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speakers, including Heather Calcara, a community outreach specialist for the Attorney Generals office, will give information on scams that are going around, how to detect them and what to do if you or a loved one is being scammed. Click here for more news from Rep. Swansons office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. At least 16 people are dead and another 21 injured after a streetcar derailed in Portugal's capital on Wednesday, officials said. Several of those killed on the famed funicular, known as the Elevador da Gloria, were foreigners, Portuguese police confirmed Thursday. Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Police and firefighters work on the site of a funicular railway accident in Lisbon, September 3, 2025. They include one American, one German, one Ukrainian and two Canadians, police said during a press briefing. We've had phone calls from people looking for their loved ones," Director of the Portuguese Judicial Police Luis Neves said during the briefing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five Portuguese, two Koreans and one Swiss are confirmed to be among those killed, according to the Public Ministry. Neves said they are working to identify the three remaining victims. The Associated Press - APTOPIX Portugal Streetcar Derailed The injured include a 3-year-old child, according to an official. Among those injured, six people remain in the intensive care unit Thursday, with three in good condition, according to the Portuguese Public Ministry. The popular yellow-and-white tram is one of several funiculars in Lisbon that travel up and down the city's steep streets. The incident happened around 6:15 p.m. local time Wednesday, when one of the funicular's two streetcars derailed and crashed, officials said. The rescue mission lasted around two hours, a Public Ministry official told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It appears the safety cable on the electric streetcar broke, causing the car to derail, Lisbon's communications department said, based on preliminary information. The investigation into the cause is ongoing. The tram cabin that derailed can hold up to 40 people. It is unclear how many total people were on board. MORE: American man dead after jet ski collision in the Bahamas The city's public transport operator, Carris, said it complied with all maintenance protocols, including daily inspections, for the Elevador da Gloria. Pedro de Brito Bogas, the head of Carris, said Thursday that it has opened an internal investigation involving external consultants, at the request of the city's mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At the same time, Carris is willing to collaborate with all the competent entities that are conducting investigations," he said. All the other funiculars of the city have been suspended and "will go under a rigorous technical inspection carried out by an external entity in the coming days, he said. The CEO reiterated that the cause of the crash remains under investigation and it cannot be assumed "that the problem lies with the cable." Miguel A Lopes/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: Police and firefighters work on the site of a funicular railway accident in Lisbon, September 3, 2025. Swiss tourist Rasha Abdo told ABC News she was traveling on the funicular's other streetcar with her husband and 3-year-old son when the crash occurred. She said they were near the bottom of the hill, traveling uphill, when they suddenly reversed direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said they heard the other streetcar barreling down the hill toward them, so her husband jumped out the window and she passed their son to him to ensure his safety, before realizing the car had crashed farther uphill. Her husband, who is a doctor, went to the streetcar to try and assist, but "it was too late," she said. I'm really grateful that we are still alive, but on the other side, I'm very sad for the people that lost their lives," she said. The mayor of Lisbon declared a three-day period of mourning. "I offer my sincere condolences to all the families and friends of the victims. Lisbon is in mourning," Mayor Carlos Moedas said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portugal's Prime Minister's Office also declared a national day of mourning for Thursday, expressing its "deep dismay" over the accident, and said it is in contact with local officials. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed her condolences. "It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous 'Elevador da Gloria,'" she said in a statement. "My condolences to the families of the victims." ABC News' Tom Soufi Burridge and Hugo Leengardt contributed to this report. At least 15 people were killed and 18 were injured after a funicular streetcar derailed and crashed in Lisbon, Portugal, authorities said Wednesday. The crash took place on a popular streetcar line called the Elevador da Gloria, a landmark located in central Lisbon and often visited by tourists. It opened in 1885. Five of the injured are in serious condition, and a child is among the injured, the National Institute for Medical Emergencies said in a statement. Officials have not released the nationalities of all the victims. The State Department on Thursday confirmed that a U.S. citizen was among those killed in the derailment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the crash remains unclear. Authorities called it an accident, the worst in the city's recent history. Emergency teams work at the site of a derailed electric streetcar in Lisbon, Portugal, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. / Credit: Armando Franca / AP Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas said in a social media post that the city "is in mourning." "The Lisbon City Council decrees three days of Municipal Mourning for the victims of the tragic accident at the Gloria Funicular," Moedas said. "I extend my heartfelt condolences to all the families and friends of the victims. Lisbon is in mourning." The yellow-and-white streetcar, which goes up and down a steep downtown hill in tandem with one going the opposite way, was lying on its side on the narrow road that it travels along. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its sides and top were partially crumpled, and it appeared to have crashed into a building where the road bends. Several dozen emergency workers were at the scene, but most stood down after about two hours. Eyewitnesses told local media that the streetcar careened down the hill, apparently out of control. Carris, the company that operates the streetcar, said scheduled maintenance had been carried out. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa's office said in a statement that the president "deeply regrets the accident" and expressed "his condolences and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy." This is a developing story and will be updated. Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Reporter's Notebook: Taming technological monsters Credit: X/@mundo__vivo Tourists were among 17 people killed when one of Lisbons historic Gloria funicular trams derailed on a steep hill and smashed into a building. Emergency workers pulled people from the wreckage on Rua da Gloria, which runs through the heart of Lisbons historic centre, shortly after 6pm on Wednesday. At least eleven of the injured are believed to be foreign nationals, local reports said, including from Germany, Spain, Canada, France, Cabo Verde, Italy, Switzerland, Morocco, and South Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports suggested that a cable had come loose along the railways route. Witnesses said they heard a loud noise before one of the trams began to hurtle down the steep slope, apparently out of control. Pictures showed the carriage lying on its side on the narrow road that it travels along. Its sides and top were partially crumpled, and it appeared to have crashed where the road bends. The funicular crashed on Rua da Gloria and emergency services rushed to pull passengers from the debris - AP Photo/Armando Franca It was initially reported that 15 people had been killed. The death toll rose to 17 on Thursday after two of the injured died in hospital. 21 people are also injured. Joao Oliveira, the director of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Police, said late on Wednesday: Unfortunately, it is possible that the death toll will increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are aware of this incident in Lisbon and are in touch with the local authorities. We stand by to provide consular assistance if there are any affected British nationals. Witness saw tram out of control The National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences said that its disaster response team had allocated additional resources to perform post-mortem examinations by Thursday morning, as they worked to confirm the identities of the victims. The funicular derailed and crashed on Rua da Gloria, which runs through the heart of Lisbons historic centre. Eyewitnesses described multiple problems with the funicular system after one of the two trams made a jolting stop at the bottom of the slope. The crash occurred at about 6pm A woman who was near the scene of the crash told the SIC news channel that the noise made by the first tram bumping against the crash barrier alerted her and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We went to help people and see what was happening and then we saw that the other tram was coming down the slope out of control, she said. We only had time to run out of the way. The woman said that the runaway tram derailed at a curve just before the end of the downward route, smashing into the street wall. Sadly, I saw there was a man on the pavement at the precise point where the tram smashed into the building, she said. Another witness told SIC that the funicular hit a building as it sped down the steep street at full speed. It hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box; it had no brakes, the woman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters rushed to the scene shortly after 6pm and were seen pulling trapped passengers from the wreckage. Services halted on national day of mourning The Lisbon city council ordered the suspension of the Bica, Lavra and Graca funiculars, which are all operated by the publicly owned Carris, as an investigation into the cause of the crash commenced. All of the funiculars would undergo additional safety checks, Publico newspaper reported. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the president of Portugal, declared Thursday a national day of mourning. The President of the Republic deeply regrets the accident that occurred this afternoon with the Gloria funicular in Lisbon, particularly the fatalities and serious injuries, as well as the numerous minor injuries, Mr Rebelo de Sousa said in a statement. Firefighters pull survivors from the wreckage after several people were trapped - Horacio Villalobos/Getty Images The president offered his condolences and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy and hopes that the cause of the incident will quickly be clarified by the relevant authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lisbon is in mourning, said Carlos Moedas, Lisbons mayor, who travelled to the scene. Its a tragedy that has never happened before in our city. Now is the time for action and help. I thank everyone for their response in just a few minutes. The only thing I can say is that its a very tragic day. Popular tourist attraction The railway connects Lisbons Pombaline downtown with the central Bairro Alto district. The streetcar, known as Gloria, can carry more than 40 people, seated and standing. It is commonly used by Lisbon residents and tourists alike. Opened in 1885, the elevator which is one of Lisbons main tourist attractions and is classified as a national monument transports more than three million passengers every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its two cars are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable with traction provided by electric motors. The two streetcars run parallel to each other as they shuttle up and down the hill on a curved, traffic-free road, which is about 265 metres long. The tram usually transports tourists and locals between popular Lisbon neighbourhoods - Roberto Machado Noa/via Getty Images Speaking to reporters at the scene of the crash, Pedro Bogas, president of Carris, offered his condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that the company had followed its standard maintenance procedures. Maintenance has been performed by the same company for 14 years, Mr Bogas said. I want to say that Carris places great importance on safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, sent her condolences. It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous Elevador da Gloria, she wrote in Portuguese on X. Roberta Metsola, the European Parliament president, said: Our hearts go out to the people affected by the Elevador da Gloria tragedy, a landmark for Lisbon residents and visitors from around the world. 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. LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) Snow White Drive Ins neon sign has glowed since the 1950s, but in recent weeks, it nearly went dark. It was caught up in a city ordinance banning neon signs. On Tuesday night, the fight ended. In a tie-breaking vote, Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell sided with some councilmembers to repeal the ordinance, which completely reversed the decision the same council had passed earlier this spring. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The ordinance was initially billed as a crackdown on vape shops and liquor stores. Instead, it swept up longtime businesses like Snow White Drive In, sparking an outcry from residents who argued the city was erasing its history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is this what we are going to do is throw out good ordinances? Ward 2 councilmember Geri Ashley asked. She and some others defended the rule as an honest mistake, one that should have been corrected, not discarded altogether. Others disagreed. If someone wants to have an open sign, I think they should be able to have more than that, Ward 1 councilmember Joey Carmack said. I think its a little too much government overreach. I think on the news you hear daily: the government needs to get out of my business. For the Snow White Dine In family, the mayors vote brought relief. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Im glad they did that, the manager said Tuesday night. I think the community will be happy, too. It was the right thing to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the weeks leading up to the vote, residents rallied behind the 70-year-old diner, posting messages of support and urging the council to protect a piece of Lebanons history. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jasons view Something unexpected is stirring in the Levant. After decades of entrenched hostility, there are early, though admittedly fragile, signals that both Lebanon and Syria may be reconsidering their approach to Israel. In Lebanon, new political players are becoming more confident in discussing economic cooperation and cross-border stability, while Syrias new leadership has refrained from anti-Israel rhetoric and focused instead on reconstruction and international reintegration. No peace treaties or major diplomatic breakthroughs appear imminent. But a subtle shift in approach to the Jewish state could signal a sea change in the Middle East. The backdrop is that the region has changed dramatically in the last few years. Irans proxy networks have been severely weakened: Hezbollahs capacity has been reduced, while Bashar al-Assads removal takes Syria out of that axis. The international community is watching closely to see how reliable the two countries new leaders can be, but many seem optimistic that there is a positive breeze blowing that can transcend both nations grim recent past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This potential shift isnt happening in isolation. Gulf countries are facilitating conversations and providing economic incentives for regional stability. Their involvement is not cynical maneuvering: They have a strategic vision of Middle Eastern prosperity, which they have pursued despite considerable risk. Of course, this isnt an Abraham Accords moment at least not yet. Both Lebanon and Syria are emerging from devastating sectarian conflicts, foreign interference, and destruction at the hands of the Iranian regime and non-state actors who prioritized extremist ideology above all. The institutional foundations for meaningful diplomacy need nurturing. But every transformative process begins somewhere, often in ways that seem impossible, until they suddenly arent. Israels track record offers some basis for constructive engagement. During Syrias civil war, Israeli hospitals treated thousands of wounded Syrians, and Israeli intelligence provided support to organizations like the White Helmets. Other seeds have been sown by the return to the White House of the Middle Easts greatest historical peacemaker. President Donald Trumps distinctive approach to regional diplomacy showcases his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, elevate pragmatic advisers like Tom Barrack, and explore unconventional solutions. His style has been a natural fit with the diplomatic entrepreneurs in the Gulf and could be once again with emerging leadership in Lebanon and Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Needless to say, that leadership presents a question mark. Syrias new government must quash the sectarian violence that threatens to derail the nations post-Assad progress. Lebanons military has the difficult task of disarming Hezbollah while preserving peace among the countrys factions. Still, the Trump administration understands that it has an imperative to explore every avenue toward stability and development. In diplomacy, as Trump demonstrated with the Abraham Accords, nothing should be considered impossible simply because it sounds improbable. Revolutionary agreements often begin with conversations that conventional thinkers consider unrealistic. It is worth contrasting this to the many negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, which have failed, miserably and repeatedly, and often backfired. Palestinian leaders have spent decades rejecting opportunities for meaningful progress. At several points they could have made a deal of their own, ushering in a broad era of peace, featuring practical, incremental steps toward coexistence. Instead, they have maintained a maximalist anti-Israel position, with the Palestinian Authority leadership failing to take good deals when offered, while extremists like Hamas vow to undermine all diplomacy with death and destruction. Indeed, that all-or-nothing used to be the presumptive model for all Middle East negotiations. And they were presumptively doomed. When I was at the White House, the idea of Lebanese or Syrian engagement with Israel seemed fantastical. Before the Abraham Accords, Middle East diplomats and journalists would joke with me that Lebanon and Syria would ultimately fight each other over which would be last to establish relations with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But much has changed. My Lebanese friends and business associates increasingly speak of exhaustion with conflict, hunger for economic progress, and todays unprecedented opportunities. They see what smart, forward-thinking leadership has brought to the Gulf: booming economies, happy people, and an influx of professionals and millionaires who want to be there. Many ask themselves why Lebanon and Syria should remain trapped in the habits of the last few decades. The tone has shifted. The attitude has shifted. The goals have shifted. When ground-level sentiment begins moving in new directions, policymakers should look to prove their worth. The Middle East has witnessed enough surprises in recent years to suggest that the seemingly impossible can become inevitable faster than anyone expects. The opportunity may be fleeting, and the obstacles remain formidable. But if theres even a chance that Lebanon and Syria are ready to chart a different course, its worth exploring with the seriousness such possibilities deserve. Notable A group of MEPs is preparing to table a resolution at the European Parliament aimed at referring the Mercosur agreement to the Court of Justice of the EU, according to two sources familiar with the issue. If the EU court were to be seized, it would suspend the ratification process of the deal. Green MEPs Majdouline Sbai (France) and Saskia Bricmont (Belgium), along with Manon Aubry (France) from The Left group, are leading the initiative. According to one of the sources, the resolution will argue that the European Commission's mandate does not allow it to split the agreement for ratification purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This approach which is widely expected to be adopted by the Commission on Wednesday when the College of Commissioners approves the deal would separate the trade component from the rest of the agreement to facilitate an easier ratification process. Without this split, EU national parliaments would be required to vote on the trade dimension. Austrian and Dutch parliaments appear opposed to the agreement reached by the Commission last December. French political forces are also united in their opposition to the deal. Italy's commitment to the deal has also been in some doubt. The agreement concluded by the Commission with the Mercosur countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay would liberalise trade between the EU and these nations. The free trade area will cover 780 million people, with customs duties currently ranging between 10% and 35% gradually disappearing on most products. New geopolitical context For the Commission and its supporters, such as Germany, this agreement is key to its strategy of diversifying trade partners worldwide, amid a major rethinking of its relationship with its historic US partner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MEPs behind this resolution initiative are confident of securing the support of 72 members, mostly from the left-wing side of the Parliament and among the French MEPs, to back the proposal. Once these signatures are obtained, the proposal can be submitted for a vote by the other members of the Parliament. That will be another challenge, as the new geopolitical context currently favours support for the deal. Related The upcoming resolution will also argue that the Mercosur countries have been granted oversight rights over all EU legislation related to the Green Deal, allowing them to challenge such laws in court and undermining the EUs regulatory autonomy. The main concerns come from the agricultural sector, which sees the deal as opening the door to unfair competition from Latin American products. The environmental provisions are also being criticised as not offering sufficient protection for the EU. Texting while driving is a definite no-no in the eyes of the law, but how about dashing off a message while stopped at a red light? Or simply using your phone as youre stationary in traffic at a red light? Turns out, it is legal to send an e-mail, instant message or text while your vehicle is stopped, said Sgt. Dominick Mesiti, Port St. Lucie Police spokesperson. Mesiti read from the Florida statute that outlines the prohibitions on these and other activities while driving, and said when a motor vehicle is stopped those rules do not apply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can use your handheld wireless communication device for texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, etc., while stationary, Mesiti said. He also said its permissible to watch videos while your vehicle is stopped. The law in Florida that banned texting while driving went into effect July 1, 2019, according to the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 'Very politically charged': New details in case of accused driver in deadly U-turn crash Crash in Port St. Lucie: Woman in 'critical' condition in hospital This law requires drivers to put their phones down and focus on driving, according to the DHSMV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mesiti said cell phones can be used for some things while driving, such as the GPS function for navigation or making a phone call. There are hands-free locations where you can't even have your phone in your hand for a phone call such as school zones and construction zones, Mesiti said. 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: Drivers texting, watching videos at red lights? Is it legal? (Texas Scorecard) Texas lawmakers have voted to roll back a same-day voter registration change, sending the measure to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk for final approval. The issue stems from the regular session earlier this year, when State Rep. Matt Shaheen (RPlano) successfully amended Senate Bill 2217 to allow a voters registration to take effect immediately upon a registrars receipt of a change-of-address notice if the voter moved within the same county. That provision was hailed by some as a modernization of voter registration rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But local election officials raised alarms. In training sessions hosted by the secretary of states office, administrators warned that same-day address updates at polling places could lead to errors, including voters being issued the wrong ballot. For example, a voter could say they have moved to a different congressional district inside a county with little or no way to verify the change at the polling place. In response, Abbott placed the issue on the special session call, leading to Senate Bill 54 by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (RMineola). I added an agenda item to the special session to END this same day voter registration that was snuck into a bill in the regular session, Abbott wrote in a social media post. We will not open the door to potential election fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure was carried in the House by Shaheen himself. It repeals the same-day registration provision before it takes effect, restoring the traditional 30-day waiting period for address changes. However, Shaheenjoined by Democrat State Rep. John Bucyinsisted his original amendment was not same-day voter registration. You got it right two months ago, said Bucy. Under the legislation, voters who move within the same county may still cast a ballot if otherwise eligible, but they must do so in the precinct where they are registerednot in their new precinct of residence. The bill also changes the required statement of residence form voters must sign, removing language that would have automatically updated their registration address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 54 corrects a terrible mistake made during the regular session, said Christine Welborn, president of Advancing Integrity. Texas cannot allow same-day registration. With both chambers having approved the measure, SB 54 now heads to Abbotts desk. If signed, it will take effect immediately. Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard speaks to a crowd of GOP party fixtures at a dinner honoring the late state Sen. George McManus at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, Mich. Aug. 8, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance Tom Leonard, one of several Republicans seeking the partys nomination for governor in 2026, on Wednesday announced a plan to rein in Lansing lawmakers and the executive branch if elected next year. Leonards proposal would include the introduction of an independent ethics commission and a modernized Hatch Act for Michigan strengthening whistleblower protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hatch Act, a 1939 federal law, forbids federal employees and civil service workers from engaging in political campaigning while on duty, driving a government car, wearing an official uniform or using a government building or room. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Leonard also seeks enactment of Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, reforms that would include the Legislature and the governors office, which has been a long-sought policy goal of state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield). Gubernatorial candidates from all political stripes in Michigan have long promised FOIA and other ethics reforms but have stopped short of fulfilling those promises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leonard said Wednesday that it was high time for real accountability and transparency in Lansing. People in Michigan work hard, pay their taxes, and follow the rules. They deserve a government that does the same, Leonard said. No more self-policing. No more secret handouts. No more backroom deals. This package will deliver the honest, accountable government people deserve. Leonards diagnosis of Lansings problems was threefold. The former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives said politicians at the Capitol largely police themselves, and that they exist in a cash-for-votes culture that allows them to raise big money on the same days that they cast votes on important issues. He added that FOIAs loophole exemptions for the legislative and executive branches furthers residents distrust of the political process. When top officials break the law, theyre allowed to investigate themselves. Thats not justice thats a cover-up. Right now, lawmakers can raise big money on the same days theyre voting on bills or having committee hearings. People see that as pay-to-play politics, Leonard wrote in a campaign news release. The governors office and the Legislature are exempt from FOIA, and staff are even forced into non-disclosure agreements. Decisions that affect everyday families are happening in the dark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leonards solutions include an ethics commission that would act as a true watchdog with subpoena power, a Hatch Act for Michigan adding serious fines for politicians using legislative staff on political campaigns, and banning fundraising on all legislative session days through a Legislative Integrity Act. People in Michigan work hard, pay their taxes, and follow the rules, Leonard said. They deserve a government that does the same, Leonard said. No more self-policing. No more secret handouts. No more backroom deals. This package will deliver the honest, accountable government people deserve. Leonard is poised to face former Michigan attorney general Mike Cox, former congressional candidate Anthony Hudson, U.S. Rep. John James, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, William Null and Karla Wagner in the Republican primary next August. On the Democratic side of the race is Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and former Cape Coral, Fla. Mayor Marni Sawicki. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent candidate for governor. To the editor: This article ( Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S., Sept. 1) states that most people find out they have the disease only after trying to donate blood. It is not regularly checked for in routine health screenings. In addition to Chagas, American Red Cross also screens blood donations for other infectious diseases including HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, West Nile virus and Zika virus, along with other tests of a donors health such as sickle cell for African American donors. If any of these are discovered, the Red Cross will contact the donor, recommend they see their doctor and provide the findings to the doctor. My point? A blood donor may not only save the life of someone who needs blood. They may also save their own. Larry Macedo, West Hills This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. To the editor: If the Democrats need a blueprint on how to get everyone in the party onboard for the next midterm and presidential elections, they need to take a page out of the Republicans playbook ( News Analysis: The party is in shambles. But some Democrats see reasons for optimism, Aug. 31). The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank with ties to members of the Trump administration, spent years creating Project 2025. Of course, President Trump said he knew very little about it prior to being reelected, although his policies have closely aligned with its goals to reshape the federal government. The Democrats need their own Project 2029, and they should start by focusing on two things. First is undoing all the presidents executive orders and, where possible, codifying the solutions into law, assuming they can regain the majority in Congress at some point. Then they need to focus on how to create laws as guardrails against all the norm-busting activities that the president was able to engage in. This should bring all Democrats, and hopefully other more moderate voters, together behind one single goal: to return this country to a point where elected officials work for everyone and not just those who voted them into office. I think wed all like to wake up every day and not have to wait and wonder about the next evil, and/or borderline illegal, action the federal government is taking against us, our friends and our neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fred Maggiore, Santa Barbara .. To the editor: Sounds like exactly what Democrats have been running on for years now: "Trump bad" is the totality of the message. There are no apologies for all the mistakes and bad behavior (allegedly hiding then-President Bidens health decline, anointing Kamala Harris as the non-primaried candidate to finally replace him, mishandling of COVID, standing by gender-affirming care for children, etc.) and especially the indisputable mismanagement of blue states and cities like California and Los Angeles. Democrats need a major rethink and new commonsense policies. This critique is from a lifelong Democrat who will not vote Democrat again until something more intelligent than "Trump bad" is presented. Are elected Democrats capable of common sense? I see no signs of it yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diana Beardsley, Los Angeles .. To the editor: What's the alternative ( Letters to the Editor: If Democratic leaders want support, they need to take action on Gaza, Aug. 27)? Voting for a third term of Trump (not entirely outside the realm of possibility, with the way things are going)? Voting for Vice President JD Vance? Feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place? I certainly am. While waiting for a viable alternative, what can we do except vote for the current batch of Democrats? And they know we have few other options. John Snyder, Newbury Park This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Elizabeth Seal, the wife of Joshua Seal, who was among the Lewiston shooting victims, talks to reporters in Washington, D.C. after meeting with Maine's congressional delegation on Dec. 7, 2023. She was joined by Leroy and Tracey Walker, the father and wife of Joe Walker; Arthur Barnard and Kristy Strout, father and wife of Arthur Artie Strout; and Alan Nickerson, who was shot at Schemengees Bar & Grille and survived. (via Rep. Chellie Pingree) Victims of the Lewiston mass shooting filed a lawsuit against the United States for negligence in failing to respond to warning signs and an explicit threat to commit a mass shooting, their attorneys announced Wednesday. The official lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine comes after the four law firms jointly representing 100 clients, survivors and family members, sent a legal notice to the federal government last year indicating their plan to sue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That notice, known as a Standard Form 95, gave the federal government six months to administratively adjudicate the claim before they could institute a civil action. The federal government has not responded in the now-10 months since the notice, according to the attorneys. If the Army does not accept accountability here, where it knew its soldier had severe mental illness, had access to weapons and was warned in advance that he planned to commit a mass shooting, then its hard to imagine the Army ever accepting accountability without being forced to do so in court, Attorney Benjamin Gideon of Gideon Asen said in a statement. The lawsuit points to many of the findings of state and Army investigations, which concluded multi-agency failures related to the handling of Robert Card IIs deteriorating mental health in the months before he killed 18 people and injured 13 others in Lewiston on Oct. 25, 2023. Broadly, the lawsuit alleges that the Armys knowledge of service member mass violence made the risks posed by Card foreseeable, including that his exposure to blast forces from his service likely contributed to his mental illness, increasing the risk hed decline without treatment and pose a danger to himself and the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it also claims the Army failed to act when it became aware of Cards deteriorating mental health and erratic behavior. The lawsuit alleges the Army violated its own policies, specifically breaching its obligations to communicate warnings about Card to the highest levels of Army Reserve command and law enforcement, maintain ongoing jurisdiction over him until formally adjudicating his mental and physical status, and use available processes to make sure he couldnt access firearms, including the AR-10 assault rifle he used to carry out the mass shooting. The Armys inaction cost us everything, said Cynthia Young, whose husband William and 14-year-old son Aaron died in the shooting. Young added, No family should have to endure this heartbreak when so many warning signs were ignored. Attorney Travis Brennan of Berman & Simmons asked, Without accountability what hope can we have of preventing this kind of tragedy from repeating itself? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Gideon Asen and Berman & Simmons, two Maine-based firms, the Lewiston shooting victims are backed by two out-of-state firms that have reached settlements for victims of other mass shootings. Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, a Connecticut-based legal group, previously represented victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. The firm secured $73 million after suing Remington, the maker of the AR-15 rifle used by the shooter. National Trial Law, a Texas-based firm, represented survivors of a 2017 shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs and reached a $230 million settlement with the U.S. Air Force for failing to report the shooters history of violence into the FBI database. The lawsuit does not focus on accusations about the failings of local law enforcement. Such failings have been detailed by the state commission that investigated the shooting, notably that the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office had sufficient probable cause to both take Card into protective custody under Maines yellow flag law and start a petition to confiscate his firearms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, Maine voters will be asked whether they want the state to adopt a red flag law. The main difference between these types of laws is that under a red flag law, officially called Extreme Risk Protection Order, family members can directly petition a judge to temporarily limit someones access to firearms when they are in crisis, whereas current Maine statute only permits law enforcement to do so and requires a mental health evaluation before a judge can confiscate someones firearms. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE UPDATE: James King was denied parole and a three-year deferment was granted, according to Marie Jones, the sister of Lexie Walters. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Though James King was sentenced just months ago, the 71-year-old man serving two life sentences for sexual assault and murder is up for parole. On Thursday, the family of his victim, Lexie Walters, got to share with the board why they want King to stay behind bars. King was able to plead his case for freedom due to current Virginia law during a parole hearing Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I shared Lexis story. I shared bits and pieces of how she grew up, about her life, about our family, about what he took from us, said Marie Jones, Walters sister in an interview with 10 On Your Side Thursday. They heard me, I really felt they heard it. Jones also told the parole board that having to re-share the circumstances of her sisters death was like reopening old wounds. Sister of murder victim makes case for parole law changes Jones remembers her sister as fun, bubbly and the life of the party. She didnt let anything keep her down, Jones said. She [was] just always lifting people up, always when they were sad, when they were angry, it doesnt matter. She always was able to put a smile on their face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2020, King turned himself into police and admitted to killing someone, and authorities later found Walters body in a hotel. Jones said a long legal journey followed and she thought it had come to an end in February when King was sentenced. 71-year-old man sentenced to two life terms for 2020 brutal murder and sexual assault That was, until this week, when King had his first parole hearing. King is eligible for geriatric parole because of his age and time served. According to Virginia law, an inmate must be at least 65-years-old with five years served or 60-years-old with 10 years served. The law also excludes those convicted of Class 1 felonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King was convicted of a Class 2 felony. He is also over the age of 65, and as of 2025, he has served at least five years. Jones explained that he will automatically go before the parole board because of these circumstances. She added that the hearings will be annual unless they plea for a three-year deferral. The Virginia Parole Board, they said theres a slim possibility, Jones said. And in my mind, a slim possibility is still a possibility. Prior to Walters murder, King was sentenced to 20 years in 1986 for a similar murder in Ohio and he was also convicted for attacking a woman in Virginia Beach in 2018. History repeats itself: Murderer recreates similar sexual assault, murder in VB as first offense Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He served one year and was released, Jones said. So, in 2020, he had the ability to again sexually torture and brutally beat to death my sister. Jones made sure to share the information about Kings prior convictions to the parole board Thursday as well. After today, I have more hope that he will stay where he is, behind bars, but I dont want to get my hopes too high, Jones said. Jones is also currently pushing for Lexies Law. She explained the goal of this law would be for geriatric offenders who committed violent crimes to no longer be automatically eligible for annual parole hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lexies Law is needed right now, Jones said. Change needs to happen to keep him and other people like him, these monsters, from being able to be released and committing this over and over and over. Jones said the parole board will meet Friday to start reviewing the case and a decision can come in about 35 to 45 days from there. Jones had called for anyone who wanted to speak out against Kings release to share their stories with the parole board before Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. LEXINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) As far as neighbors can see in a cove off High Rock Lake and Joe Cecil Road in Lexington, an invasive species called hydrilla has completely taken over. It started last year to really be noticeable This year, its just grown tremendously, said Kathy McDaniel, who lives on the cove. What started as an annoying problem has started to impact their ability to do their normal lake activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really hard on the boat. Its terrible for the jet skis because the intakes get clogged with it, and they cant come down here a lot of times. They dont see it until theyre already in the bay, McDaniel said. At first glance, it looks like its just greenery on top of the water, but McDaniel said its more than just that. Well, it grows from the bottom, and if you look down at it, he would think it was a little Christmas tree growing up everywhere, McDaniel said. Dr. Hannah Talton, the plant pathology and integrated pest management specialist at North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension, said its a real problem for the ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It chokes out native plants that are actually in water that actually provide great food sources and habitats for other aquatic insects and fish Choking out that light as a thick mat, so its making it very difficult for anything to breathe, Talton said. The issue only continues to get worse, making the species grow more aggressively. What makes it so invasive is the fact that it doesnt come with a natural enemy. Nothing really eats it When it came in with no natural enemy, it makes it very much an invasive species, Talton said. She said to get rid of the problem for good, it has to be excavated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Excavator getting under there and kind of restructuring the pond and pulling some of those below-ground tubers would be helpful, Talton said. Talton also said it can be killed chemically, but that an expert should be contacted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. "In 2016, he personally received an 11-page document from me that accurately described Hamas's intention to infiltrate the Gaza border communities," Liberman wrote. Head of the Yisrael Beytenu, MK Avigdor Liberman, claimed in a Tuesday post on X/Twitter that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ignored countless warnings given to him regarding Hamas's intentions prior to October 7, 2023. "In 2016, he [Netanyahu] personally received an 11-page document from me that accurately described Hamas's intention to infiltrate the Gaza border communities - to murder, rape, and kidnap Israelis," Liberman wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will make sure a state commission of inquiry is established to expose everything the government is trying to hide." Netanyahu repeatedly ignored warnings Liberman's claims come a mere week after leaked recordings released by Channel 12 revealed that Netanyahu had not been interested in listening to military intelligence and had ignored warnings to better prepare for the possibility of war before October 7. 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 former IDF Military Intelligence Directorate chief Aharon 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 had also addressed what he believed to be a core intelligence failure on Israels part. One of the hardest problems before October 7 was the belief that intelligence was omnipotent. It is not just arrogance, its deeper. Maariv contributed to this report. Visiting the Galilee, Liberman vowed to fight extortion rackets battering northern businesses, calling for Shin Bet support, new laws, and a special court to combat organized crime. Yisrael Beytenu chief says his party will demand that the National Security Ministry call for a special court, tougher laws, and limited Shin Bet support amid rising extortion in the North. Former defense minister Avigdor Liberman warned on Wednesday that Israel is a step away from turning crime gangs into a locally made Nukhba (Hamass elite commando unit), during a visit to the Galilee, focused on a surge in protection rackets and organized crime that he said is battering northern communities and small businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liberman, who leads Yisrael Beytenu, met with leaders of the civic group Ad Kan, and with business owners who say they have been targeted by extortion. He said his party will demand control of the National Security Ministry in the next government to confront the wave of criminal violence. We will deal with these problems at the root and change the situation, Liberman said. This requires legislative changes, the establishment of a court dedicated to organized crime, the involvement of the Shin Bet and special units alongside advanced technologies. This cannot continue; it threatens our very existence and harms the economy. We are committed to tackling it in depth. What residents describe on the ground Participants at the meeting said that protection schemes, which once targeted farmers and large companies, have now spread to small businesses across the North. Yariv Ben-Ami, founder of Ad Kan and CEO of Hadasim, said residents feel abandoned to terror, arguing that demands for so-called insurance payments inflate prices for everyone and leave owners afraid to report crimes. In recent months, local volunteer initiatives that guard businesses have grown, including programs Ad Kan helped organize. Ad Kan CEO Gidi Harari said the group is advancing measures that include tougher sentencing, legally recognizing protection rackets as terrorism, a compensation fund for victims, and clarifying insurers liability when threats are made, such as Molotov cocktails placed at gates even without fire damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metula Local Council head David Azoulay added that the municipality is enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward contractors who capitulate to extortion. If I discover a contractor is paying protection, the work will be halted immediately, he said. Man in handcuffs - illustrative (credit: INGIMAGE / ASAP) Context, debate, and politics Police and research bodies say the epicenter of lethal violence remains within Arab society, driven by organized criminal networks and illegal weapons, with ripple effects that include extortion, arson, and debt enforcement. Authorities and courts have begun stiffening penalties, while Knesset committees discuss steps to curb crime, including tighter action against illegal firearms and coordinated enforcement. Libermans call to involve the Shin Bet reflects growing anxiety that criminal networks are undermining governance. Expanding the domestic intelligence agencys role in civilian crime would require clear statutory limits and oversight to protect civil liberties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legal experts say one model under discussion is targeted, time-bound intelligence support to police task forces, combined with stronger prosecution and dedicated courts for complex cases. Libermans comments also come as he seeks to position Yisrael Beytenu as a law-and-order alternative ahead of potential elections, linking the fight against organized crime to broader questions of state capacity and public security. TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) For students at Liberty-Eylau, Tuesday, September 2nd, was just a regular school day after a long Labor Day weekend. However, some may have noticed a new addition to their classroom walls that was not there last week. Thats because the district is following a new Texas law that officially went into effect September 1, requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all classrooms. Teen artist Loretta Ogden explores trials of love in The Hearts in Arts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its going to be a very positive aspect, maybe teach the kids to be a little kinder, but I dont just necessarily think them being up is going to take care of everything, said High School English Teacher Shannon Smith. She said the new posters do not change the fact that it is educators who are ultimately responsible for guiding students. TISD: State ratings do not define them, points to progress made I think the way that the teachers model what to do and how to do will play a big part in that as well, said Smith, Thats the big thing is mentoring. Not necessarily just tell them and teach them, but to mentor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liberty-Eylau ISD said the posters were donated by a local church and did not cost the district any money. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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) Plans have been filed with Clark County to temporarily turn an empty parking lot near the Strip into an annual light show. The 12-acre site is at the corner of Sahara Avenue and Paradise Road. Its owned by the World Buddhist Association, based in Pasadena, California. Planning documents call for the Zenith Lights to focus on traditional Chinese culture with light displays, food booths and a book store. The festival will last approximately three months. (Credit: World Buddhist Association) This is a rendering of an exhibit called Life Color. (Credit: World Buddhist Association) The proposed layout of the Buddhist Light Festival. (Credit: World Buddhist Association) In a letter to Clark County planners, World Buddhist Association says the light festival will last three months, including setup and tear down. Land owners also want to host other temporary commercial events during the rest of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emails to the World Buddhist Association and Kaempfer Crowell, the local company representing it, were not returned Wednesday. World Buddhist Association first bought the Sahara site in 2018 to build a temple. However, the project has never started. In 2020, it sued to stop the LVCVA from buying the Las Vegas Monorail. The monorail line runs around the property. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BARTONVILLE, Ill. (WMBD) Both the Bartonville Police Department and Limestone Community High School officials say an anonymous tip-line revealed a possible school threat. The report to the tip line Safe2HelpIL was vague according to the police. It was immediately reviewed, shared with the school resource officer and eventually it was determined the threat was not credible. An increased presence of officers was assigned to the school out of an abundance of caution, according to the police department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superintendent Keith Brown sent out a message to parents thanking the student who submitted the report and asking people to be vigilant for any further threats. At Limestone Community High School, the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, Brown wrote. Thank you to those who reported the rumored threat. Please remember, school safety is everyones responsibility. If you see and/or hear something, say something and do something. It is important to remember to provide as many details and as much information as you can when reporting, he said. Bartonville police declined to comment any further. School officials did not return calls made by WMBD. 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. Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Attorneys for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook denied claims of wrongdoing made by the Trump administration as she seeks to block President Donald Trump's efforts to fire her. In a civil action filed Tuesday, Cook's attorney, Abe Lowell, denied claims made by U.S. Director of Federal Housing Bill Pulte that she committed mortgage fraud, which Trump presented as the reason for her firing, are untrue. "Governor Cook did not ever commit mortgage fraud," her attorneys wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The action seeks to follow up on a suggestion made Friday by the courts to use a fast-tracked review to rule on the key issues of Cook's case, which would cut through more routine routes and timelines. The filing states that Cook's team would agree to this, as long as Trump, who is a defendant along with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the Fed Board of Governors, would agree to allow Cook to serve as Fed Board Governor until the expedited ruling is made. Cook has served as a Federal Reserve Governor since 2022 but was fired by Trump following a criminal referral from a member of his administration that alleged Cook committed mortgage fraud. She has not been charged with any related crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump fired her "for cause," which is the only way a president can fire a Fed governor under the Federal Reserve Act. The White House has since attempted to justify her firing under the past case Reagan vs. United States, which the administration interprets to have created precedent that when a president determines cause for termination exists, it's unreviewable unless protected by specific removal statutes. "But the Government ignores the facts, context, and reasoning of Reagan to advance this contorted reading," the lawsuit suggests. "In reality, Reagan hurts the Government's case more than it helps it." Cook's attorneys explained the "Reagan" case helped define that as officers such as Federal Reserve Board governors serve fixed terms, they are entitled "to notice and a hearing, and ultimately judicial review" before being removed for cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Cook's role as a Fed governor, she remains active until a court rules otherwise, despite Trump's actions. Meanwhile, Pulte, who was responsible for both the original and a second criminal referral against Cook, said he would hold a meeting with the press on Thursday. Pulte has posted a wave of allegations against Cook since mid-August. "Once you see what we present on Thursday, there's going to be a lot of people apologizing and retracting their false and defamatory statements," Pulte posted Tuesday in regard to those who have defended Cook and called the Trump administration's action a political power move. "Watch." Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A tram on one of Lisbon's funicular railways derailed Wednesday, killing 15 people and injuring another 18, local authorities said. The derailment of the Elevador da Gloria -- also known as the Gloria Funicular -- happened around 6:15 p.m., the English-language Portugal Resident reported, citing SIC Noticias. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro called for a national day of mourning and said an investigation would determine the official cause of the derailment. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas also ordered a three-day period of mourning, NBC News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fernando Nunes da Silva, an engineer and former member of the Lisbon City Council, told the Portuguese-language SIC Noticias he believes the tram's traction cable snapped, causing the vehicle to crash into a building along the route. "From what we can see in the images, it is most likely that a traction cable broke, and when it broke, the brakes that should normally work in a situation like this did not work," he said. The Gloria Funicular is one of several trams -- and three funiculars -- that transport people around Portugal's hilly capital. The bright-yellow trams are an iconic part of Lisbon's transportation system and are popular with locals and tourists alike. Each car holds about 40 passengers. Authorities told The Independent that foreign nationals were among the dead. The National Institute for Medical Emergencies said that five of the injured were in serious condition. At least 15 people died and 18 were injured on Wednesday when Lisbons Gloria funicular railway car, which is popular with tourists and is one of the citys symbols, derailed and crashed, an emergency medical service spokesperson told reporters. Authorities did not identify the victims or disclose their nationalities, but said some foreign nationals were among the dead. Five people were gravely injured, the spokesperson said. Its a tragic day for our city. Lisbon is in mourning, it is a tragic, tragic incident, Carlos Moedas, mayor of the Portuguese capital, told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driver dead in I-25 crash after hit by tire that came off another vehicle: Officials Portugals government declared a day of national mourning on Thursday. Footage from the site showed the destroyed yellow tram-like funicular, which carries people up and down a steep hillside in the Portuguese capital. Emergency workers were pulling people out of the wreckage. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa lamented the tragic accident in a statement, expressing hope that authorities would soon establish what had caused the crash. Police investigators were inspecting the site and the prosecutor generals office said it would open a formal investigation, as is customary in public transport accidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Possible DC plane crash wreckage washes up along Potomac River The line, which opened in 1885, connects Lisbons downtown area near the Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter), famous for its vibrant nightlife. It is one of three funicular lines operated by the municipal public transport company Carris and is used by tourists as well as local residents. First responders work at the site of an accident at Lisbons Gloria funicular, a popular tourist attraction, which derailed and crashed, resulting in fatalities and injuries, according to authorities, in Lisbon, Portugal, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Miguel Pereira BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE First responders work at the site of an accident involving Lisbons Gloria funicular, a popular tourist attraction, which derailed and crashed, resulting in fatalities and injuries, according to authorities, in Lisbon, Portugal, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Rocha Police officers stand next to emergency vehicles parked near the site of an accident involving Lisbons Gloria funicular, a popular tourist attraction, which derailed and crashed, resulting in fatalities and injuries, according to authorities, in Lisbon, Portugal, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Rocha First responders work at the site of an accident at Lisbons Gloria funicular, a popular tourist attraction, which derailed and crashed, resulting in fatalities and injuries, according to authorities, in Lisbon, Portugal, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Miguel Pereira First responders work at the site of an accident involving Lisbons Gloria funicular, a popular tourist attraction, which derailed and crashed, resulting in fatalities and injuries, according to authorities, in Lisbon, Portugal, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Rocha TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Carris said in a statement that all maintenance protocols have been carried out, including monthly and weekly maintenance programs and daily inspections. The Gloria line transports around 3 million people annually, according to the town hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Las Vegas tourism in decline as visitor count plunges again Its two cars, each capable of carrying around 40 people, are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable with traction provided by electric motors on the two cars. The car at the bottom of the line was apparently undamaged, but video from bystanders aired by CNN Portugal showed it jolting violently when the other one derailed and several passengers jumping out of its windows and people shouting. Portugal, and Lisbon in particular, has experienced a tourism boom in the past decade, with visitors cramming the popular downtown area in the summer months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southwest Airlines debuts new safety barrier for aircraft A spokesperson for Britains Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was in touch with the local authorities and stood by to provide consular assistance if there are any affected British nationals. Britain is the largest source of tourism to Portugal, followed by Germany, Spain and the United States. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. By Andrei Khalip and Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) -At least 15 people died and 18 were injured on Wednesday when Lisbon's Gloria funicular railway car, which is popular with tourists and is one of the city's symbols, derailed and crashed, an emergency medical service spokesperson told reporters. Authorities did not identify the victims or disclose their nationalities, but said some foreign nationals were among the dead. Five people were gravely injured, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a tragic day for our city. ... Lisbon is in mourning, it is a tragic, tragic incident," Carlos Moedas, mayor of the Portuguese capital, told reporters. Portugal's government declared a day of national mourning on Thursday. Footage from the site showed the destroyed yellow tram-like funicular, which carries people up and down a steep hillside in the Portuguese capital. Emergency workers were pulling people out of the wreckage. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa lamented the tragic accident in a statement, expressing hope that authorities would soon establish what had caused the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police investigators were inspecting the site and the prosecutor general's office said it would open a formal investigation, as is customary in public transport accidents. The line, which opened in 1885, connects Lisbon's downtown area near the Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter), famous for its vibrant nightlife. It is one of three funicular lines operated by the municipal public transport company Carris and is used by tourists as well as local residents. Carris said in a statement that "all maintenance protocols have been carried out", including monthly and weekly maintenance programs and daily inspections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gloria line transports around 3 million people annually, according to the town hall. Its two cars, each capable of carrying around 40 people, are attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable with traction provided by electric motors on the two cars. The car at the bottom of the line was apparently undamaged, but video from bystanders aired by CNN Portugal showed it jolting violently when the other one derailed and several passengers jumping out of its windows and people shouting. Portugal, and Lisbon in particular, has experienced a tourism boom in the past decade, with visitors cramming the popular downtown area in the summer months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was in touch with the local authorities and stood by "to provide consular assistance if there are any affected British nationals". Britain is the largest source of tourism to Portugal, followed by Germany, Spain and the United States. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Additional reporting by Miguel Pereira in Lisbon, Surbhi Misra in Bangalore, Daphne Psaledakis in Washington, Editing by David Gregorio and Lisa Shumaker) The Lithuanian Ministry of Transport has reported that the drone which temporarily prevented a plane carrying President Gitanas Nauseda from landing at Vilnius Airport was flown for advertising purposes. Source: Delfi, a Baltic states news website, with reference to the Ministry of Transport of Lithuania Details: The ministry said that on the evening of 2 September, Vilnius Airports security service informed Oro navigacija, a Lithuanian air navigation company, that a suspicious drone had been spotted near Liepkalnis. As a result, take-offs and landings at the airport were temporarily suspended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air traffic resumed once it was confirmed that the drone posed no danger. The ministry stated that the drone had been flown for advertising purposes and had not complied with established regulations. Relevant authorities are currently investigating the circumstances of the incident. The public will be informed once detailed information is available. In the coming days, the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport will convene a meeting with representatives from Lithuanian airports and Oro navigacija to assess security measures and future plans as well as to identify areas for improvement. Background: A Spartan aircraft carrying Nauseda was unable to land at Vilnius Airport for a short period due to reports of an unidentified drone in the airspace. On 31 August, the GPS system aboard European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens plane was jammed en route to Bulgaria. The Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian interference. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A Spartan aircraft carrying Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda was unable to land at Vilnius airport for some time due to reports of an unidentified drone in the airspace. Source: LRT, a Lithuanian public broadcaster, referring to Nausedas spokesperson Tomas Berzinskas, as reported by European Pravda Details: Flight tracking service Flightradar24 indicated that the president's plane departed Helsinki at 19:10 and began circling Vilnius before finally landing at 21:17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "As the plane approached Vilnius airport, reports indicated the presence of a drone and that landing was unsafe at the time. The pilots took all safety measures and landed after some time." More details: Oro navigacija, a Lithuanian air navigation company, clarified that the warning about a drone over the Liepkalnis area had come from the Lithuanian Air Traffic Control Service. Quote: "Safety procedures were then activated: flights had been briefly suspended, and air traffic resumed once it was confirmed there was no threat. Together with other services, we are investigating which drone disrupted air traffic." Background: On 31 August, the GPS system aboard European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens plane was jammed en route to Bulgaria. The Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian interference. In response to that incident, the EU plans to deploy additional satellites in low-Earth orbit to improve GPS resilience and detection of interference. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied allegations of Russian involvement, but Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov stated such claims should not be trusted. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! HONOLULU (KHON2) UH sophomore middle blocker Miliana Sylvester is expected to make a huge contribution this year for Rainbow Wahine volleyball. Being on the team is nothing short of a dream for her, but its a dream that almost didnt happen. In fact, she pinches herself every day. Living a dream thats become reality. UH basketball coach Laura Beeman explains why Hawaii is the home team Its so cool. I just cant believe that weve been working so hard, but now that Im actually here and I get to live my dream and play in front of the fans once again, Im so excited, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Miliana, the road to Manoa was anything but easy. Originally from the Big Island, she grew up in foster care and was eventually adopted. The third oldest of 10 children. I think it is definitely fun growing up with a lot of siblings. Theyre obviously difficult parts of my life that Ive gone through. One of the most challenging periods was the pandemic. Her family moved to the mainland to be closer to family, but then came the decision that changed her life. She returned to Hawaii for her high school senior year and played for the University Lab School, right there in the shadows of the Stan Sheriff Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Im super grateful that I was able to come back for my senior year. That was a huge thing that kinda pushed me into independence and be able to take care of myself and on my own and working through that adversity, and I think it really prepared me for college. Now that shes successfully made the jump across University Avenue, Miliana said shes found more than a new team to be part of, but a new family thats fully embraced her. I think incredible. Theres so many people that I call my family. You know closest friends that maybe arent blood related but the community of support is always there for you no matter what and Hanai family whoever you choose to be your family as your family so I think that really comes along with being in Hawaii and Im super thankful and Im taking it to my full advantage. Miliana Sylvester, Rainbow Wahine middle blocker And although she knows she could possibly play for a school that could offer her thousands of dollars, to her, suiting up with an H on her chest is priceless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It means so much to me able to represent myself and my family and above that the State of Hawaii and this is a place that raised me and a place that I called my home so I think its super special to give back. Check out more news from around Hawaii KHON2 invites everyone to support Hawaiis student athletes as we join the university for Hawaiis Team Drive, a telethon and fundraiser. The event is coming up on Tuesday, Sept. 9, during our newscasts. Stay with us for all the details on how you can help the home team. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LIVE Video: Johnson honors Harlem Hellfighters with Congressional Gold Medal A federal judge on Thursday invalidated President Trumps efforts to terminate billions of dollars of Harvard Universitys federal funding, deeming the move illegal. The blow to the administration comes as all eyes have turned back to the Jeffrey Epstein case as victims joined Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to speak out in support of the lawmakers discharge petition seeking to release files related to the late sex offenders case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Wednesday, just four Republicans have backed the move as the GOP urges its members to not sign on to the petition. On Tuesday evening, the House Oversight Committee released files from the Justice Department. Most of the documents, including video, audio and court filings, had already been made public. Meanwhile, fraught funding negotiations amid President Trumps move to claw back funding through a pocket recession are top of mind as a Sept. 30 shutdown deadline quickly approaches. Congress will need to hammer out a stopgap measure. But this is easier said than done amid divisions over what this funding measure would look like and Democrats anger with the president and Republicans agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the White House, President Trump met with Polands President Karol Nawrocki. Catch up here: For the latest in Washington, follow along 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 The Hill. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) Charges in a local court are being dismissed against a man to allow federal court proceedings and an ICE investigation to progress. Charges were additionally dismissed against a co-defendant in the case. Read next: Ursuline family files civil rights lawsuit against school Court records show a felony charge of taking the identity of another was dismissed against Jean Almonte Alvarez in order to allow him to be indicted federally while being detained by ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charge stems from an early August incident where police reports from the time state Almonte Alvarez presented fake documents at a Boardman BMV location. An employee with the BMV alerted police after a woman and man, later identified as Louise Martinez and Almonte Alvarez, came to the BMV to get Almonte Alvarez an Ohio drivers license. The employee claimed the pair provided fake documents, including a Social Security card and a birth certificate from Puerto Rico. Reports state the employee believed the Social Security card was fake because the columns on the sides didnt have the normal ridges when feeling it, and the lettering on the back was not consistent with legitimate cards. The birth certificate was also believed to be fake due to incorrect lettering and an incorrect seal on the bottom right corner. Police arrived to investigate, and the pair was placed under arrest at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charge of taking the identity of another was dismissed against Martinez on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Numerous entities around the State of Oklahoma will receive funding to combat the states opioid crisis, including some in the immediate area. The most recent funding disbursed by the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board totaled $16.6 million in grants that will help not only McAlester, but also Choctaw, Pushmataha and McCurtain Counties. Grants are for use in funding treatment and recovery programs, mental health assistance, opioid abuse education and strategies to decrease the supply of narcotics across the state, according to a press release. Those receiving a portion of the grant funding include: Cherokee County; Choctaw, Pushmataha and McCurtain Counties, which applied in the form of a joint application; Kiamichi Economic Development District of Oklahoma; McAlester Regional Health Center Authority; and McAlester Public Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the funding, $12.9 million went to cities, counties and public trusts and the remaining $3.7 million went to 16 school districts in Oklahoma. The goal of the grants issued from the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board to communities and school districts across the state is to address the states opioid crisis, according to Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who chairs the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board. "These grants represent Oklahoma's commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic at every level, from our communities to our classrooms," Drummond said. "We believe these dollars will provide the tools needed to save lives and strengthen communities across our state." Entities which received grants will implement programs in the coming months and the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board will monitor progress and outcomes to ensure maximum impact in the fight against opioid abuse across Oklahoma, a release states. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) About one in every eight Virginians battles food insecurity, according to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. With September being National Hunger Action Month, many organizations across the commonwealth are working to shrink that statistic. The Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP) is a Roanoke-based non-profit organization that helps make fresh produce more affordable through various programs. Our harvest bucks program makes it more affordable for people with lower income to afford this food, and we also have all of our different markets to make it easier for people to find a place close to them if transportation is hard, LEAPs program director, Kelly Key, said. We have lots of different partially or fully prepared frozen food options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On September 14th, LEAP is hosting a farm fare supper event just outside Wasena Park, which is a fundraiser to celebrate local chefs and farmers. Tickets are $75 for adults and $45 for children. That event also serves as the kickoff to the annual month-long fall fund drive. Hunger to Hope food drive gathers 1,300 lbs to fight hunger That fund drive raises a lot of the funding that we need to provide those discounts on fresh produce, Key said. So that we are in a good place for 2026 to provide all those programmings without any gaps in service. Elsewhere, Rescue Mission Ministries provides three meals every day for Roanokes unhoused population, along with the MANNA food pantry every Wednesday and Thursday, which provides meals for food-insecure families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Rescue Mission is getting some help from Food Lion, which will provide funding to help add new rails and a canopy to the ministrys MANNA food dock. Thats really going to give us a safer area to work in, Lisa Thompson, the director of development and communication at the Rescue Mission, said. Its going to be a lot more approachable, so well be able to serve more families in a better way. While Food Lion said its not building it for them, it will help add any finishing touches to the food pantry. Well go in with the food delivery, Bob Mills, the community relations and marketing specialist for Food Lions Northern Division, said. Well help organize, put together new shelving, clean, paint, and do any of those types of things that need to be done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food Lion will also have about a dozen volunteers who will help out with MANNA on September 11th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) A local school is starting the year with a donation. Read next: YBI announces 2025 Shark Tank pitch companies Boardman Subaru delivered a $10,000 check and several boxes of supplies to Glenwood Junior High School on Wednesday morning. The supply kits include pens, pencils, markers and more, and were donated in the schools outdoor classroom. The donation was made as part of the Subaru Love Learning initiative, which partners the business with a local school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We bring some essential school supplies for the students, and in addition to that, we donate a $10,000 check to the school they distribute to all the teachers, said Boardman Subaru owner Rob Fellman. And it kind of eases the burden because these teachers, sometimes, theyre spending their own money during the year. Glenwood Junior High, my kids have been through there. Ive been through the Boardman schools. So this is a natural fit. The event is part of a bigger program by Subaru. The company donates to several organizations throughout the year. Its part of a bigger program called the Subaru Love Promise, where we promise to treat our customers fairly and we have a commitment to our community as well, said Fellman. Boardman Subaru has chosen Glenwood Junior High School to be our school that we support. Its the eighth year Boardman Subaru has donated to the school, and its something teachers look forward to every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This really helps them get their classroom ready, especially for newer teachers that are young and that havent built up a big toolbox for their classrooms, said Laura McCreery, principal of Boardman Glenwood Junior High. It just helps them get a good start and be able to provide things that maybe they couldnt because they dont have the ability to spend out of their pocket. The $10,000 Boardman Subaru donation will also be divided among the teachers. The event is something Fellman says he looks forward to every year as well. Its kind of a natural, being from this town my whole life, and its been responsible for everything weve achieved, he said. The people have been our customers and our teachers that I went through at Boardman High School, and Boardman Schools have all contributed and helped me get to where Im at today. Were honored to be able to do it, just to be a good community partner. Each teacher will receive funding to purchase supplies, ranging from notebooks and calculators to creative learning tools, through the Adopt A Classroom organization. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Schools countywide are celebrating the Trump administrations release of millions in federal education funds that were previously frozen. Back in June, the U.S. Department of Education froze nearly $7 billion dollars, $900 million of which was slated for California. We know so many working families really depend on, you know high, quality after-school programs where their kids can stay at school throughout the workday. Those wouldve been cut, said Richard Barrera, vice president of the San Diego Unified School Board of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SDUSD is avoiding disruptions from the recent federal funding freeze that appears to be thawing out. Barrera said the district stood to lose $13 million. Many school districts really had to scramble because the money was supposed to be released at the beginning of the summer and it wasnt, Barrera explained. Bodycam video shows fatal police shooting of unarmed 22-year-old man in El Centro The money supports after-school programs, teacher training, and services for English language learners and migrant students. As a second-grade bilingual teacher and Fallbrook Union High School District Board president, Oscar Caralampio attributes his success to some of these programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had teachers who didnt share my cultural background or my economical background growing up, but they still reached out regardless of our differences. They reached out and they saw potential in me, said Caralampio. He added that the possibility of not receiving the more than half a million dollars couldve potentially impacted all the districts roughly 2,000 students. Youre talking about on opportunity for students to take the practice SAT at a high school and that is huge. If you cant offer that for our kids, its going to impact their ability to perform better, said Caralampio. A spokesperson for Poway Unified School District said the fiscal impact to that school district is over $1 million and noted they did not have plans to discontinue programs in the 2025-2026 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education is still withholding funds after releasing a portion in July while reviewing their use. The rest will be released at the beginning of October as a result of a lawsuit against the Trump administration by a coalition of states, including California and Washington D.C. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCKVILLE, Md. (DC News Now) Marylands business community can take pride that one of its own has earned national honors for its successful growth. Servpro, a commercial cleaning, restoration and construction company, has earned hall of fame recognition. Dozens of Servpros franchisees are in Maryland scattered from Frederick to Rockville putting local business owners in the national spotlight. The company was recognized as the SERVPRO Franchise of the Year Multi-Unit Owner at SERVPROs 56th Annual Convention in early July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The honor recognized Servpro for helping families and small businesses when disaster strikes, such as fires, flooding and storms. The family-run restoration company started almost half a century ago as the outstanding franchisee in its field among 2,000 competitors. SERVPRO Team Gutierrez was chosen for this honor from among 2,300 independently owned and operated SERVPRO franchises across North America. The Multi-Unit Owner Award highlights outstanding customer service, a people-first culture, operational growth, and community impactdistinguishing this Maryland-based business as one of the top-performing SERVPRO franchises in North America, helping customers through every phase of mitigation, reconstruction, remediation or restoration. Prince Georges County police: Body found as search for missing Hyattsville woman continues Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teamwork is a core value. It takes the whole team, said Jorge Guitierrez, who took the helm at the Rockville franchise more than a decade ago. Servpro has expanded with franchise operations coast-to-coast. The family aspect of our company, weve always had. Our employees are family, added co-owner Michelle Gutierrez. Employees like Alex Chavarria, a native of Costa Rica, are often a customers first point of contact after the destruction from a disaster. Chavarria explained the challenges and rewards of the business. I have to rip up their beautiful hardwood floors they put all this money into and take it all out [after a disaster], Chavarria explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the other hand, he said it is fulfilling to be able to help the community after experiencing a disaster. I help them from the devastation, am able to do that for people, he said. Construction manager Hunter Pitts says he knows why Servpro has earned such a distinction. Its a family affair here, said Pitts. I mean, its like the family away from home. Looking back on the business he started decades ago, but from which he has now stepped away, Eric Thompson says all the recognition is probably the proudest moment Ive had, even though Im no longer part of the business, its in my blood. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. A local state lawmaker plans to introduce legislation to codify the Pennsylvania State Polices policy against assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement with immigration arrests. In a news release issued Wednesday, State Rep. Abigail Salisbury (D-Allegheny) says her proposed legislation aims to prevent the Pennsylvania State Police from entering into a 287(g) agreement. She claims such an agreement would drain critical resources from PSP and impair the agencys ability to assist local police departments. Currently, Salisbury says its estimated that two-thirds of Pennsylvania municipalities rely on PSP coverage, at increasing costs to the agency and taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PSP joining a 287(g) agreement would only increase workloads, further burden taxpayers and decrease trust by the communities who rely on our state troopers, Salisbury said. Salisbury emphasized that the current Pennsylvania State Police policy does not support working with ICE, and no such agreement is imminent. She noted that while PSP has adopted internal policies prohibiting assistance to ICE, these policies do not carry the force of law and can change over time. Salisbury is actively seeking co-sponsors for her legislation to ensure the policy is codified into law. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The lionfish is an invasive pest in the Mediterranean Sea, so locals have turned it into a delicacy. A profile by The Washington Post examined the invasion of lionfish on the Greek island of Elafonisos. Although the lionfish is a beautiful sea creature introduced to the Mediterranean after its popularity as a pet it is destroying the ecosystem and multiplying at an alarming rate. In an effort to rid the ocean of invasive species, marine researchers are encouraging restaurants to add lionfish to their menus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The invasion of the lionfish is a warning sign that the Mediterranean Sea is getting hotter. According to The Washington Post, the temperature of the Mediterranean Sea has risen by 4.7F over the last forty years. This makes the conditions similar to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, where the lionfish are native. Because lionfish don't have natural predators in the Mediterranean, their population keeps swelling, and they are obliterating the ecosystem by competing with native species for food. Lionfish also use their venomous spines to prey on other native fish, which further harms the balance. Efforts to control invasive species, such as the lionfish, can help restore ecological equilibrium. Divers on the Greek island have taken to clearing the ocean of these creatures by hunting them down with spears. In other parts of the world, such as Mexico, competitions are even held to see who can catch the most lionfish. Currently, lionfish isn't a popular dish, but it is gradually finding its way onto more menus. If more of these fish are caught to supply a rising demand, population numbers will be kept in check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An ichthyologist for the Hellenic Center for Marine Research in Greece, Paraskevi Karachle, commented to The Washington Post, "The most promising option is eating them." Though tourists picture calamari and octopus when they think of traditional Greek food, the shifting temperature and influx of invasive species mean that squid and octopus are much harder to find. Enrico Toja, the founder of. The environmental NGO Elafonisos ECO is spreading awareness of the dangers of this invasive species and encouraging locals and tourists alike to try a lionfish dish. The founder of the NGO, Enrico Toja, is a big supporter of lionfish becoming a more widespread cuisine. "This," he said of the invasive fish, "is the local catch." 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. By Shivansh Tiwary and Mike Stone (Reuters) -The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.8 billion contract for Patriot missiles, the company said on Wednesday, as demand for the missile defense interceptor from the U.S. and foreign militaries continues. It is the largest order ever of Patriot missiles. Lockheed is manufacturing the newest version of the interceptors that arm the Patriot, known as PAC-3 MSE, which cost about $4 million each, according to Army budget documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Patriot system is among the sophisticated air defense units supplied by the West to Ukraine as it continues to fight Russia's invasion and could be employed in U.S. President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense shield. The highly agile Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors produced under the contract would go to the U.S. Army and a handful of U.S. allies. The Navy anticipates integrating the Lockheed Martin-made missiles with ships' air defenses. The contract covers 1,970 PAC-3 MSE missiles and associated hardware. (Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru and Mike stone in Washington; Editing by Alan Barona) Sep. 3The Lodi Fire Department celebrated its brand-new 2025 aerial truck with a push-in ceremony on Tuesday morning at Fire Station 1 on Elm Street. The new vehicle is a 2025 Pierce Ascendant 107-foot Tiller powered by a 500-horsepower engine, measuring 60 feet, 9 inches in length and 11 feet, 2 inches in height. Designed for both power and agility, its extended ladder reach and enhanced maneuverability will allow firefighters to access tight city streets as well as tall commercial structures throughout Lodi, staff said. Purchasing the $2 million truck was approved in 2022, and it arrived from Wisconsin last month. "This state-of-the-art apparatus represents a major investment in the department's ability to keep the community safe, allowing firefighters to respond to emergencies in both residential neighborhoods and larger commercial areas with greater reach, speed, and efficiency," City of Lodi said. The friendly and constructive atmosphere that developed at the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, infuriated the Armenian revanchists. We are talking about the atmosphere that was observed between the top officials of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Armenia and Pakistan, and the fact that for the first time in many years, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was not invisible at an international meeting. They began to "notice" him a little after the war, and after the Washington meeting, they finally "saw" him. In theory, the Armenian opposition should be happy about such changes. Because this is not about a personal attitude towards Pashinyan, but about the attitude towards their country as a whole. Of course, it is unpleasant for the former, represented by Kocharyan and Sargsyan, to recall the years of their own rule in this context, because they were both kept at a distance on world platforms. They were both shaking hands. Although Armenia had a lot of supporters and guardians, the capitals of the world knew perfectly well who was who, and tried not to get dirty by demonstrating excessive closeness to the occupiers. This attitude automatically passed on to Nikol Pashinyan, despite the fact that he was a Westerner and was positioned everywhere as the builder of "Armenian democracy." The fact of the occupation cut off Armenia's oxygen supply anyway. Local propaganda tried to offset this reality with selfie shots with Macron or Trudeau. But it didn't help much. Serzh Sargsyan was especially fond of foreign trips. His reign took place during the years when the results of the First Karabakh War began to seem to Yerevan to be unofficially recognized by the whole world, and the occupying country was trying to spread its feathers and take off. However, it wasn't long before the April 2016 fighting, which showed the aggressor his true place. So, Sargsyan was repeatedly poked in the face of the truth of life, pointing out to him who he is for the world community. In 2014, he went on a visit to Argentina, but in vain - his Argentine colleague did not accept him, citing his health condition. In 2016, Serge rushed to the nuclear security summit in the United States three days ahead of schedule to secure a summit meeting. But during the few days of the Armenian president's stay in the States, his presence was completely ignored, as if he were not there at all. Only Joe Biden, then the vice president, happened to notice Sargsyan. And Serge was forced to limit himself to hugging the diaspora and giving lectures at a couple of universities organized by her. Before that, Serzh Sargsyan had to endure humiliation in Spain, then in Italy. He was invisible, and only minor officials and diaspora figures noticed his presence. Nikol Pashinyan also had to go through unpleasant moments. He himself, as a politician, may have aroused interest after the April 2018 coup, but as the head of the Republic of Armenia, he did not. Because the Republic of Armenia continued to be a toxic state for diplomatic circles, and even Yerevan's supporters tried to keep their distance in order to avoid trouble with Baku. The former knew about Armenia's status and huddled in a corner at international meetings to avoid giving journalists food for ridicule. But Pashinyan naively thought that his "revolutionary" fame had spread overseas, and at the NATO summit in Brussels in 2018, he tried to approach the US president. It turned out that Donald Trump has no idea who this bearded man is, sitting next to him and trying to pretend to be friendly. It was a big embarrassment, which is still being laughed at. It was not a plus for the Armenian prime Minister that the American side did not write anything about his meeting with the Vice President of the United States, James Vance, which took place in Washington in February this year. Armenian journalists followed Vance's Facebook page, publications in the American media, reports from the office of the Vice President of the United States and the White House, but nothing was said about the meeting with Pashinyan. It's like there was no meeting at all. Everything indicated that Armenia was not being taken seriously in Washington, just like its leader. Nikol Pashinyan dreamed of meeting with Donald Trump from the day he came to power. His dream came true only seven years later. Thanks to Azerbaijan. Let's not be mistaken if we say that for the first time in the history of Armenia's independence, the leader of Armenia became visible only thanks to Baku, which itself changed its attitude towards the Armenian leader, thereby giving the green light to other parties. The changes, as we have already noted, began after the Second Karabakh War. After the meeting in Washington, the process went even faster, and at the SCO summit in Tianjin, Nikol Pashinyan no longer felt like an outcast. The meeting with his Pakistani counterpart and the decision to establish diplomatic relations with Pakistan are symbolic in this context. And it is not surprising that this meeting caused outrage in the revanchist opposition. We can imagine how many screams there will be after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara. There is no need to guess about the scale of the revanchist tantrums that will certainly follow the signing of the peace treaty and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan - they will be huge. The revanchists cannot remain silent, although they understand that no one hears their voices not only in China or the United States, but even in Armenia itself. They don't want to admit that their country's place on the world stage has started to change over the past couple of months. Once upon a time, the Armenian society was told that this place would definitely change even without eliminating the occupation of the neighbor's territories. We just have to wait. As the years passed, two new generations of Armenians grew up, and Armenia remained on the margins. Gradually, even optimists began to suspect that in fact, no one in the world recognizes or recognizes the "historical rights" of Armenians to Azerbaijani lands, and the process is dragging on only because someone needs the conflict. Pashinyan is being attacked not only for his agreements with Pakistan. Fierce criticism is being leveled at the Armenian prime minister for his openly happy expression at the meeting with the Azerbaijani leader and for the friendly photographs. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that it will be very difficult to reverse the processes that have begun. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) London city council members will appoint their latest member during Tuesdays regularly scheduled meeting. An agenda distributed on Sept. 1 shows that the council will appoint a new member just days before the council votes on the mayors removal from office. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The action comes on the heels of Stacy Benges resignation. Notably, Benge was the only council member who voted against the motion to bring 14 charges against Mayor Randall Weddle, which set the Sept. 5 impeachment hearing. It will take a unanimous vote to vacate the mayors seat. The council appointed Donna Gail Wilson House, and Mayor Weddle joked that hed won a bet given her appointment. You have blatantly stacked the council for the removal of the mayor. So I want this on the record tonight that youre appointing people who, for years, have been on Facebook blasting me. Nothing to do with your charges. Made it very plain how much they have their disdain for me for other reasons, Weddle said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the meeting adjourned around the hour mark, many stayed behind to voice their opinion. Two petitions were brought to the table, people called for transparency, and asked the overall question of what happens now? LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Democracy is dead because we have dictators now that can do what theyre doing. September fifth. That courthouse needs to be full. It will be. The streets need to be full of people opposing, not necessarily supporting, Mayor Weddle. But my God, why have elections? he said as the crowd applauded. Remember, you have full and should have by statute of this state, full rights to hear you and sit in that meeting. They have made the decision to block the public from being able to record this meeting, to let it be on Facebook Live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He announced that despite Fridays outcome, he plans to run for mayor again in 2026. Remember this, come 2026, we have three months of this year left, and these same people, telling you to shut up while youre trying to talk, will be at your door asking for your vote, a resident said. Are they representing the people or themselves? The hearing will take place at 9 a.m. at the Laurel County Judicial Center, in a smaller room, with council members saying it was moved for security reasons. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Long Island police officers fatally shot a man who was pointing a BB gun at them early Wednesday morning, authorities said. James Rosano, 33, was acting erratically at his mothers house in Carle Place, Nassau County police detective Stephen Fitzpatrick said at a press conference. His mother dialed 911, and three officers arrived just after midnight. Kiss me and say goodbye, Im going outside, and the police are going to take my life, Rosano told his mother before the deadly confrontation, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosano was holding a black BB gun that appeared to officers to be a real shotgun. Nassau County authorities showed a photo of the BB gun at the press conference. All three officers believed the weapon was real until after the shooting. You look at it, and you tell me if you can see anything different in what that gun is, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. That was what was pointed at our officers; that was the threat. Officers ordered Rosano to drop the gun numerous times before one officer fired a fatal shot, police said. Rosano was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. All three officers at the scene were wearing bodycams which captured the deadly confrontation, police officials said. The videos were turned over to the state attorney generals office, which handles all police shootings in New York. Rosano had a history of run-ins with law enforcement, including two recent arrests in which he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, according to police. Fitzpatrick estimated cops had been called to the Carle Place residence half a dozen times for domestic disputes. LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) East Texans were having fun while promoting safety in Longview on Tuesday with the Longview Police Department celebrating National Night Out a little bit early this year. Longview ISD solar power project could save taxpayers over $18 million It seems really fun and upbeat, Troop 618 G member Isabelle Mirick said. Theres free food and chewing steel and loads of games of stuff to play as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families enjoyed music and dance contests while also visiting the vendor booths which were passing out community information. We just want to come out and support our community and let all of the community know exactly what kind of services we provide to students at Kilgore College, assistant manager of the TRIO program at Kilgore College, Mandy Key, said. The nationwide National Night Out doesnt start till October, but Longview PD said it is never too early to begin planning for one of their biggest and favorite events of the year. What we do here in Longview is a little different from most communities, Longview Police PIO LaDarian Brown said. We have a kickoff party and the kickoff party is to get everyone excited about National Night Out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IN FOCUS: The future of Longview Police Department National Night Outs goal is to prevent and fight crime by getting neighbors to know and talk to each other. All of us work together to make this happen, but it is solely just so we can picture a safer community, Brown said. Its all done to help Longview residents lock arms with law enforcement in order to keep the community safe. This years theme is picture a safer community. This years National Night Out parties can be registered on the Longview Police Departments website. 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. By Aida Pelaez-Fernandez MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Lorena intensified into a hurricane off Mexico's Pacific Coast and could bring life-threatening flash floods as it moves toward the Baja California Peninsula, authorities said on Wednesday. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph (75 mph) and higher gusts, was located about 165 km (105 miles) off Cabo San Lucas, a popular tourist destination, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lorena, a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, is expected to leave heavy rainfall in the Baja California peninsula and "will bring the risk of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in areas of higher terrain," NHC said in a statement. Mexico's government issued storm warnings and watches for Baja California Sur, home to major tourist destinations such as Los Cabos. The Mexican national water commission, Conagua, urged residents to take extreme precautions in affected areas, according to its latest report. Rapid strengthening is forecast through Wednesday night, according to NHC, while a fast weakening is expected later on, with Lorena possibly softening back into a tropical storm by Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hurricane is moving northwards at a speed of 24 kilometers per hour and its center is expected to move parallel to the west coast of the Baja California peninsula until Thursday night when it should approach the shore. (Reporting by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Louise Heavens, Natalia Siniawski and Mark Porter) Erewhon, an infamously luxurious grocery outlet in California, is officially making its way to the East Coast but at quite the cost. The organic grocery chain, known for its $20 celebrity-sponsored smoothies, is building a mini-store in New York City, which was first reported Tuesday by Emily Sundberg in her daily newsletter, Feed Me. However, the store is being built inside Kith Ivy, an exclusive, members-only wellness club in the West Village run by fashion brand Kith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those looking to become members at Kith Ivy should be prepared to shell out some big bucks. According to Curbed, New Yorkers will pay about $36,000 in initiation fees and an annual payment of $7,000, totaling a one-time charge of $43,000 to walk through the clubs door. However, those on the outside looking in may still be able to get their hands on an Erewhon smoothie once Kith Ivy opens this fall. A new members-only club in the West Village will feature the first NYC Erewhon store (Erewhon) The grocery chain will be available on third-party delivery apps, like Postmates and Uber Eats, depending on a customers proximity to Kith Ivy. However, its unclear how much the smoothies will cost through these apps and how far delivery will stretch. News of the clubs development and the addition of Erewhon was also revealed in Kith founder and CEO Ronnie Fiegs recent Instagram post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the floor plan Fieg posted, the new Erewhon store will be right above the cold plunge and treatment rooms in Kith Ivy. The club will also have a boutique, gym, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, and more. Founded in 1966, Erewhon is known for its $10 to $20 smoothies, made with high-quality and organic ingredients. Some of the smoothies which have been a luxury status symbol in Los Angeles are made through partnerships with celebrities, like Hailey Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid. The brand has also made headlines for selling expensive food products, like a single Japanese strawberry for $19, sea moss shells for $40, and specialty water bottles for $25. The opening of the first Erewhon shop in New York City isnt necessarily a surprise. During a 2021 interview with The Los Angeles Times, the companys CEO Tony Antoci expressed the possibility of opening a store on the East Coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are looking at New York City; its definitely on the plate, he said at the time. While Erewhon may be seen as an exciting addition to New York City, residents in the West Village have been protesting the development of Kith Ivy, located at 120 Leroy Street, since March. As reported by Curbed at the time, these New Yorkers are against the noise, drunken rowdiness, and crime coming to their neighborhood because of the wellness club. Parents have agreed to settle a lawsuit that alleged the distance learning program used by the Los Angeles Unified School District during the COVID-19 pandemic failed to meet state educational standards and disproportionately harmed Black and Latino students, a lawyer for the families said. Attorneys for parents who filed the class-action lawsuit in 2020 said the agreement would require the nation's second-largest school district to offer at least 45 hours of significant tutoring services a year to more than 100,000 of its most vulnerable students over the next three years in addition to teacher training and mandatory assessments. The goal is to help the district's most disadvantaged students, the lawyers said. The deal must be approved by the court to take effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For nearly five years, we have fought tirelessly on behalf of LAUSD students and their families to enforce students constitutional right to basic educational equality, Edward Hillenbrand, one of the plaintiffs' pro bono attorneys, said in a statement on Wednesday. A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson said in an email that the district doesn't comment on ongoing litigation. The agreement ends a five-year court battle over Los Angeles Unified's distance learning programs during school shutdowns. The case was dismissed in 2021 once schools were reopened but the parents, who have been supported by educational non-profits Parent Revolution and Innovate Public Schools, appealed. A state appeals court reinstated the case two years later. The parents argued that the district failed to engage their children online at the same rate as other large California school districts and that state-mandated instructional minutes often lacked actual instruction. They said teachers would sometimes dismiss kids after checking they turned in their work and without going over new material, and complained it was not always possible to connect to the district's platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In turn, they said their students began lagging behind grade-level standards and grew disinterested in school. The challenges disproportionately affected Black and Latino children, they said, who had lower weekly participation rates online than other students soon after the shutdowns began. California schools had a range of pandemic learning models including some that offered hybrid schedules where students toggled between distance and smaller class settings and others that were solely online. Many districts were not allowed to fully reopen schools due to infection rates under the state's rules. Today, Los Angeles Unified has 400,000 students through 12th grade, and more than three-quarters are economically disadvantaged, according to district data. Plaintiff Maritza Gonzalez said in the statement that the support is too late for her son, who is now in college, but she is thankful her daughter, who is starting high school, will have access to tutoring. After all the time, effort and years invested in this lawsuit, this victory feels like a step in the right direction, Gonzalez said. When FOX8 first met Damian Adame in May 2025, he was wrapping up the school year as a World History teacher at Page High School in Greensboro Theres a lot of emotions that go into it, right? Theres excitement because this is honestly something that Ive wanted to do, said Adame. But at the same time, its also a little daunting. FOX8 Miniseries Teaching the Holocaust Follow the story in FOX8's miniseries "Teaching the Holocaust" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Adame was preparing to embark on an eight-day Holocaust education trip to Poland. He was one of 34 public school teachers selected to travel overseas to Eastern Europe for an intensive course on the Holocaust at no cost to him. I feel like it puts a little bit of responsibility on me to make sure that I come back and fairly represent them in my classroom, said Adame. FOX8 Evening News Anchor Katie Nordeen and Photojournalist McKenzie Lewis were invited to join them in Poland and document the experience. And on Monday, June 16, Katie, McKenzie and the teachers boarded an international flight to Poland. The group was made up of middle and high school history, English and social studies teachers from across the state, including Guilford, Forsyth, Randolph, Davidson, Wilkes and Stokes counties. After an 8.5-hour flight to Warsaw, a layover and then another flight, the group arrived in Krakow, Poland, and hit the ground running. Led by retired Greensboro Rabbi Fred Guttman, the mobile classroom included lectures in the Krakow and Warsaw Ghettos, museums, historic synagogues, death camps, mass graves and old cemeteries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lessons focused not only on the horrors of the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews and millions of others were murdered but also on the often untold stories of resistance and bravery. When I found out that I was getting to go on this trip, I felt prepared. I was like, I know what were doing. I know where were going. Ive been online and Ive seen the virtual tours of Auschwitz, said Adame. Its crazy how you can take something that youve been teaching for years or that youve learned about for years, and then youre actually in the place where its happening and its like youre unfamiliar with it. It was an eye-opening experience that will forever shape the way these educators go about teaching the Holocaust. I grew up in Guilford County Schools, and I had amazing teachers who did a really good job of covering the Holocaust, said Adame. But again, for most people, the coverage is still the Holocaust itself. We dont really talk about the lives of the people leading up to it or the lives of the people after. And thats definitely one thing Im 100% going to change when I get back, really talking about the lives of the people rather than the atrocity and the victimhood side of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. A mine manager from Kentucky pleaded guilty last week to conspiring to cover up a fire and keep miners working despite the danger in an underground coal mine in southern Illinois. Timothy Brandon Parsons, 38, of Louisa, entered a guilty plea Aug. 29 to conspiring to defraud the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Parsons was mine manager at the MC#1 Mine in Franklin County, Illinois, in August 2021 when a cutting torch ignited a fire underground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the fire could not be extinguished within 10 minutes, rather than implementing the approved Mine Emergency Evacuation and Firefighting Plan, Parsons and conspirators agreed that they would not evacuate miners or notify MSHA, says a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice that describes Parsons as former manager of the Illinois mine. Gas detectors carried by miners alarmed for the presence of more than 10 parts per million of carbon monoxide, yet the mine continued to mine coal during ad hoc firefighting efforts over the course of three shifts from Aug. 12 to 13. The Justice Department release says Parsons tried to conceal the existence of the fire from those not already aware of it by evacuating the mine on the false pretense that a belt used to carry coal from underground to the surface was broken. Later that morning, MSHA received an anonymous tip about the fire and then later ordered that the mine be evacuated after inspectors confirmed the existence of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the evacuation order, over the next several days, conspirators re-entered the mine on two occasions without MSHAs permission to assess the fire and manipulate the conditions underground so that MSHA would allow mining to resume. Members of the conspiracy did not wear tracking devices designed to track the underground location of miners and made false entries in mine records, the Justice Department said. The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Louisiana Attorney Generals Office has filed a motion asking a Baton Rouge court to reinstate the death sentence for Dale Craig, who murdered LSU student Kipp Gullet in 1992. In 1994, a Baton Rouge jury found Dale Craig guilty of first-degree murder and unanimously sentenced him to death. The lawsuit states that after stealing Kipps Bronco and subjecting him to psychological torture, Craig forced Kipp at gunpoint into a secluded construction site. There, Craig struck him with the gun, causing Kipp to fall to the ground in a fetal position. As Kipp lay there, Craig knelt at his side and fired three bullets through his head, killing him. In 1994, a Baton Rouge jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and unanimously sentenced him to death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That death sentence stood until 2005, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided Roper v. Simmons, which banned the death penalty for anyone who was under 18 at the time of their crime. Because Craig was 17, his sentence had to be changed to life in prison without parole. In its new motion, the state acknowledged that the court cannot legally reinstate the death penalty under current law but said it filed the request to preserve its argument that the Roper decision was wrongly decided and should be overturned. The Supreme Courts decision in Roper v. Simmons is egregiously wrong. It prohibits States like Louisiana from executing criminals like Dale Craig who carjacked, kidnapped, terrorized, pistol-whipped and then shot to death Kip Earl Gullett, an unsuspecting LSU freshman just because he was a week away from his 18th birthday when he committed this heinous crime. There is no basis in law or logic for that absurd result, said Attorney General Liz Murrill. 2025-08-11_State_s_Motion_to_Reinstate_Death_SentenceDownload 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. In this undated photo, Jake Coward, 12, splits clay skeets at the shotgun range of Waddill Wildlife Refuge in Baton Rouge. (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries photo) Hunters and competitive shooters will get a break on a variety of purchases this weekend during the Second Amendment Weekend Sales Tax Holiday, which runs Friday through Sunday. Items that qualify for a break on sales taxes are firearms, ammunition and specified hunting supplies, including archery items, hunting apparel and certain types of knives, according to the Louisiana Department of Revenue (see all exemptions). Binoculars, hearing protection, range finders, decoys, hunting stands and blinds also qualify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tax exemption only applies to consumer firearm purchases and not commercial or business transactions. The break also doesnt apply to animal feed, hunting dogs, off-road vehicles and vessels such as airboats, which were allowed under previous versions of the sales tax holiday. All sales tax holidays were suspended in 2018 when Louisiana was dealing with a budget shortfall. The return of the 2nd Amendment Sales Tax Holiday last year ended that reprieve, but lawmakers have refused to add any more exemptions. Louisiana first approved a 2nd Amendment tax break in 2009 and most recently amended its guidelines in 2023. An annual back-to-school sales tax holiday was proposed in this years legislative session, but it was never brought up for consideration in committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana previously offered a sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness, but it also predated the seven-year pause on all such suspensions in 2018. The liberal-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy issued a research brief in July that found sales tax holidays will cost states a combined $1.7 billion in lost revenue this year. It called the incentive poorly targeted and too temporary to meaningfully change the regressive nature of a states tax system. Sep. 3A man is in jail, accused of stabbing another man Friday afternoon at a laundromat in Waynesville over what police call a love triangle. Police received a call about a fight at the Coin Laundry laundromat on Walnut Street around 2:30 p.m. "We get there, and one male had been stabbed. The suspect was still on scene," Waynesville Police Chief David Adams said. That suspect was 44-year-old Jason Monroe Riffe. An argument had allegedly begun inside the laundromat before carrying over into the parking lot, where the stabbing allegedly took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was kind of like a love triangle fist fight and then a stabbing," Adams said. The victim was transported to Haywood Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released. Brian Biller, owner of the Coin Laundry, emphasized that the incident did not occur at the laundromat. "It was out in the parking lot. It was nothing to do with the laundromat," Biller said. Biller was surprised by the show of force that descended on the scene, including multiple police cars, two fire engines and an ambulance, he said. "You would think it was a mass murder," Biller said. "It was just a couple guys arguing and nothing more than a flesh wound and maybe a black eye. The guy hardly got hurt." Riffe is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He remains in the Haywood County Detention Center on a $30,000 bond. A budget airline that services much of Southern California is cutting prices this week to celebrate the end of summer. Now through Sept. 5, Breeze Airways is offering a 35% promotion on all round-trip flights between Sept. 10 and Jan. 31, 2026. Tickets must be purchased on the airlines app and website using the promotional code GOLDEN at checkout. As we close out another summer season, we look forward to even more great travel opportunities for our Guests this fall and winter, and were kicking things off with a promotion to help our Guests save even more, said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways founder and CEO. Whether its a getaway to warmer weather or a quick family vacation to visit some beautiful fall foliage, our Guests can count on Breeze for a convenient, affordable flight. A Breeze Airways plane is seen in an undated photo provided by the company Neeleman, who previously co-founded JetBlue, says the Breeze business model centers around providing flights to underserved destinations and offering affordable fares with plenty of perks. Those benefits include a la carte pricing, fewer fees and enhanced seating options without additional charges for changes or cancellations up to 15 minutes before departure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company has been flying since 2021, and currently services 82 cities with 300 year-round and season routes, officials said. Next year, the company will begin a large West Coast expansion, adopting service routes left abandoned by fellow ultra-low-cost carrier Avelo, which is ceasing all operations in California and the Pacific Northwest. The Utah-based airline already operates multiple flights from LAX, John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, San Bernardino International Airport and San Diego International Airport, as well as offering service out of San Francisco International Airport. Beginning in March 2026, the company will arrive at the Hollywood Burbank Airport, as well as four other airports on the West Coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 35% discount on flights applies only to new reservations and only for roundtrips. Supply is limited, company officials said, and the discount will apply only to flights on qualifying travel dates. For more information on the airline, 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 KTLA. Lebanon Police report that officers recovered a stolen Nissan SWB last Tuesday, Aug. 26, after an alert from license plate readers. Early that morning, the LPR detected the stolen Nissan traveling on Sparta Pike. Officers pulled the vehicle over and made contact with the driver, identified as Amy Evans, 46, of Knoxville. According to police, Evans was arrested without incident. The passenger was located inside a nearby store causing a disturbance with employees. He was identified as Donald Talley II, 35, of Knoxville. Officers took Talley into custody as well. They were booked into the Wilson County Jail, and Evans was charged with theft of property and driving on a suspended license. Talley was charged with disorderly conduct, public intoxication and resisting arrest. UPDATE: According to the Lufkin Police Department, 20-year-old Brayden Wood was found safe around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. LUFKIN, Texas (KETK) The Lufkin Police Department is searching for a 20-year-old man who was last seen in July. East Texans release butterflies for missing Tyler man Harley Morris According to the police department, Brayden Alexander Wood, 20, of Lufkin, was last in contact with his mother on July 28 and she has not seen or heard from him since. Missing person Brayden Alexander Wood, courtesy of the Lufkin Police Department Anyone with information on Woods whereabouts is asked to contact Lufkin PD at 936-633-0356 or 911 if its an emergency. 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. Bath bomb retailer Lush has shut all of its UK shops for a day in solidarity with Gaza. The cosmetics shop said it would not be opening its 104 stores on Wednesday Sept 3 to send into Gaza our love and a strong message that we stand in solidarity. Lush has also taken its website offline and shut its factories for a day. In a statement, Lush asked for forgiveness from any customers we inconvenience should they come to us on [Sept 3] and find us closed. However, it said it believed many of its customers share the same anxiety about the current situation in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The retailer said: Whilst Lush is losing a day of takings, this also means that the UK Government is losing a day of tax contributions from Lush and our customers. We hope they too hear the message our closure sends, with more government action needed to bring an immediate stop to the death and destruction, including an end to arms sales from the UK. Lush has placed signs in shop windows that read: Stop starving Gaza we are closed in solidarity. Signs in Lush shop windows read: Stop starving Gaza we are closed in solidarity The retailer, which was founded in Poole by hairdresser Mark Constantine and his wife Mo, has a long history of campaigning. It has in the past used its products and stores for campaigns against international flights, the detention without trial of people in Guantanamo Bay and fox hunting, among other causes. Its been said that Lush is like a campaigning organisation fronted by a soap shop, the company says on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been vocal on Gaza in the past. Last year, Lush launched a watermelon soap, with sales of the product to go towards professional mental health support and trauma counselling for children in Gaza and the West Bank. Watermelons have become a symbol for pro-Palestine activists and are widely used by protestors, due to the fact that the fruit includes the same colours as the Palestinian flag. This week, the retailer said the soap had become the most successful single issue fundraising product in the history of Lush. Some of its campaigns have attracted criticism. In 2018, it came under fire for putting up posters in its shops featuring the slogan paid to lie highlighting misconduct by undercover police officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sajid Javid, the then home secretary, said the posters were not a responsible way to make a point. Meanwhile, Lush faced scrutiny in 2022 over its stores in Russia. After coming under pressure to shut the shops following the Ukraine invasion, the company suspended supplies to its Russian licensee. However, Mr Constantine, Lushs chief executive, told The Telegraph he would not have chosen to stop trading in Russia if not for public pressure on companies to pull out. He said: That was asked of us by society. It was difficult, harsh, horrible and not something I would have chosen to do. But we did it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Constantine said the ethical cosmetics chain would definitely return to Russia once the war ends. Lush is the latest retailer to take a public stance on the conflict in the Middle East. Co-op earlier this year announced a boycott of products from Israel as part of a drive to stop sourcing relationships with countries where there are internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law. It sparked a backlash from senior MPs and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who called on the retailer to reverse the policy. They argued the decision was unjustified and based on questionable claims. The Co-op last month announced it was starting to stock Palestinian beer to help provide essential funds to those who need it most. 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. (FOX40.COM) A California man pleaded guilty on Aug. 22 for his role in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration out of $15.9 million in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs. Video above: Northern California doctor explains why California is seeing COVID summer surge The Department of Justice said that, according to the court documents, from April 2002 to 2022, Emanuel Tucker, 45, of Canyon Lake and other co-conspirators had submitted a dozen fraudulent PPL and EIDL loan applications on behalf of various companies. The applications had materials that misrepresent the company, including the number of employees, average monthly payroll, gross revenue, cost of goods, and supporting documents, the DOJ said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tucker used the fraudulently obtained funds and bought multiple luxury items, such as a Cadillac Escalade, a Bentley Continental, and a Ferrari F8 Tributo, multiple million-dollar houses, and various jewelry, including a $63,000 diamond ring and a $400,000 diamond necklace, authorities said. Good news for PG&E customers: Electric rates drop by 2.1% for residential customers The defendant orchestrated a scheme where he worked with purported business owners to submit dozens of loan applications to steal millions of dollars of Covid-19 relief funds, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. The defendants egregious scheme relied on layers of deception to steal taxpayer money to buy himself luxury vehicles, residential properties, and jewelry. The Criminal Division remains dedicated to holding fraudsters who steal from the public fisc to account for their greed. DOJ officials said Tucker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. He will be facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exploiting pandemic relief meant for struggling Americans is not only morally reprehensible, its a betrayal of public trust, said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. This defendant orchestrated a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme, weaponizing federal COVID-19 assistance programs for his personal gain. The FBI will always work to make sure those who steal from programs designed to help others are held accountable. This case remains to be investigated by multiple agencies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 teenage hacking group that brought down Marks & Spencer has claimed responsibility for the cyber attack that has forced Jaguar Land Rover to shut down assembly lines. The cyber groups Scattered Spider and Shiny Hunters said they had been able to exploit a flaw in the carmakers IT systems. The groups said they had gained access to customer data. This could leave JLR vulnerable to ransom demands as it scrambles to get its systems back online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear if the company has been issued with a ransom demand or what data have been taken. Scattered Spider, a loose collective of hackers, has been blamed for a series of major cyber disruptions in recent months including the attacks on M&S, Co-op and Harrods. M&S has taken months to recover from the hack. Scattered Spider is closely linked to a group known as Shiny Hunters, which said it was involved in targeting JLR. The two groups now describe themselves as one and the same alongside the Lapsus group and now style themselves as Scattered Lapsus Hunters. They are believed to be largely made up of teenagers and young men in English-speaking countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, three teenage males and a 20-year-old woman were arrested in association with the retail attacks. A user on a Telegram messenger group linked to Scattered Spider and Shiny Hunters posted a screenshot appearing to show access to JLRs internal systems. A member of the group, identifying themself only as Shiny, told The Telegraph they had exploited a widely-known flaw in a third-party software provider to access customers data. They did not say what type of data was taken or if they had issued a ransom demand. The flaw in software known as SAP Netweaver that is used to link different computer programs allows hackers to remotely run code on a targets computer systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US cyber agency, CISA, warned about the flaw earlier this year amid reports that Chinese hackers were exploiting it. JLR uses the Netweaver software according to an online portal for accessing the companys systems. A software update to fix the flaw has been released but it is unclear whether JLR had applied it. JLR said on Tuesday it had proactively shut down systems, a potential reference to the software the hackers claimed to have compromised. The company said it had seen no evidence that data have been stolen, although this is rarely definitive in the early stages of an attack. Co-op, for example, initially said it had no evidence of data being taken before admitting that 6.5 million members had information stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph could not verify the hackers claims and JLR declined to comment on the identity of the attackers. The company said on Tuesday it had been affected by a cyber incident in which retail and production activities have been severely disrupted. This included car dealerships being unable to sell new cars. The National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, is understood to be monitoring the situation. 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. French President Emmanuel Macron called the American decision not to grant visas to Palestinian officials ahead of the UN General Assembly unacceptable on X/Twitter. French President Emmanuel Macron called the American decision not to grant visas to Palestinian officials ahead of the UN General Assembly unacceptable on an X/Twitter post on Tuesday, following a phone call with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "The American decision not to grant visas to Palestinian officials is unacceptable," Macron's tweet read. "We call for this measure to be reversed and for Palestinian representation to be ensured in accordance with the Host Country Agreement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our objective is clear: to rally the broadest possible international support for the Two-State Solutionthe only way to meet the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians." A two-state solution will require an "a permanent ceasefire" and "the release of all hostages," according to Macron, as well as the expansion of humanitarian aid delivery to Gazans and the "deployment of a stabilization mission in Gaza." Sa'ar responds to Macron's statements Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar slammed Macron's statement in his own post to X/Twitter, criticizing the one-sided nature of Macron's words. "President Macron is very interested in visas to the United States for Palestinian Authority officials. That is what keeps him awake at night." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He does not protest against the rampant incitement in the Palestinian education system against Israel and Jews. He also does not object to the payments transferred by the Palestinian Authority to terrorists and their families under the pay for slay method." "Macron undermines the stability of the region with his actions and drags the regional and international system toward unilateral steps," Sa'ar's wrote. "His actions are dangerous." France's recognition of a Palestinian state Macron announced France's intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September in an X/Twitter post in late July. True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine, wrote Macron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Macron's announcement, the United Kingdom, as well as Belgium, Canada, Australia, and many other countries have stated their intentions to join France's recognition of a Palestinian state. Reuters contributed to this report. Emmanuel Macron and Mohammed bin Salman have attacked the US decision to withhold visas for Palestinians attending the UN General Assembly in New York later this month as unacceptable and called for it to be reversed. The leaders of France and Saudi Arabia said they would host a conference on a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis in New York, saying it was the only way to meet the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. Israels threats to take over parts of Gaza and the West Bank must stop, the hostages must be released, and Hamas must be disarmed, they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the announcement, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) warned Israel that annexing the West Bank was a red line that would end regional integration a reference to the Abraham Accords, the historic normalisation of relations between the two countries brokered by Donald Trump in his first term of office. The joining of France, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will concern, not just Israel, but the US president, who has expended political capital in recent months courting the Saudis and other Arab states for over a trillion dollars of inward investment. Donald Trump has expended political capital in recent months, courting Saudi Arabia and other Arab states for over a trillion dollars of inward investment - Win McNamee/Getty Images It will be seen as part of a broader campaign, seemingly coordinated by the French president and fiercely resisted by Israel and the US, to pressure Israel by encouraging formal recognition of Palestine as a state. Australia, France, and Malta have recently announced plans to recognise Palestine as a state at the General Assembly, with Belgium, Canada, and the United Kingdom stating they will follow, subject to conditions which seem unlikely to be met by Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a social media post written in Arabic, French and English, Mr Macron described the US visa ban as unacceptable, adding, we call for it to be reversed. He said: Our objective is clear: to rally the broadest possible international support for the two-state solution the only way to meet the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. This will require the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and the deployment of a stabilisation mission in Gaza. We are also working to ensure that, the day after, Hamas is disarmed and excluded from any governance of Gaza, that the Palestinian Authority is reformed and strengthened, and that the Gaza Strip is fully reconstructed. The push to recognise a Palestinian state The Saudi foreign ministry later echoed the message, condemning any measures which would undermine the two-state solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior UAE diplomat said: We trust that President Trump will not allow the Abraham Accords tenet of his legacy to be tarnished, threatened or derailed by extremists and radicals. Israel has long characterised the prospect of a two-state solution as unworkable and the US and Israel say the threatened recognition of Palestine is a symbolic gesture that rewards terrorism. The diplomatic manoeuvring comes as Israel continues to mass troops for a takeover of Gaza City, which it says is the last remaining stronghold of Hamas in Gaza. Israel has also been talking openly about a possible imminent annexation of parts of the West Bank, the territory between Israel and Jordan, which is home to 2.7 million Palestinians and 670,000 Israeli settlers. 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. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that Ukraine's allies have finalized preparations for military security guarantees to support the country against Russia's ongoing aggression. Speaking at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Wednesday evening during a reception for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron said that groundwork laid by military chiefs since the Ukraine summit at the White House in mid-August had paved the way for swift action once a peace agreement is reached. "Thanks to the contributions prepared, documented, and confirmed this afternoon at the defence minister level under strict secrecy, we can now say: this work is complete and ready for political approval," Macron said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, advisers from the Coalition of the Willing, an alliance of some 30 nations backing Kiev against Russia's full-scale invasion, are set to meet in Paris. Zelensky welcomed the progress, stressing that the guarantees represented real, tangible support for Ukraine rather than symbolic promises. Previous initiatives by the coalition, which initially no one believed in, had also been implemented and were working, he added. The security guarantees are to include strengthening the Ukrainian military, sending ground troops to secure peace in Ukraine and involving the US in the security commitments. NATO chief also expects swift agreement Earlier on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said after a meeting with Estonian President Alar Karis in Brussels that he expected "tomorrow or soon after tomorrow to have clarity on what collectively we can deliver." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That means that we can engage even more intensely, also with the American side," he added. Among other things, the talks on Thursday are to focus on what type of security guarantees can be provided for Ukraine to prevent another Russian attack in case of a ceasefire. Rutte said the group is in the process of finalizing the last details at the level of military chiefs, defence ministers and heads of state and government. Karis reiterated that Estonia is prepared to provide soldiers for a possible European peacekeeping force. "We continue to participate in this planning," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have recently been discussions within the European Union to what extent European countries could participate in military security guarantees for Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement between Kiev and Moscow be reached. There is also discussion of whether soldiers from EU countries should train Ukrainian armed forces on Ukrainian soil. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that there were no concrete plans for a military operation. If you spent some time on social media over the Labor Day weekend, you probably saw an odd video related to the White House but unlike most odd videos related to the White House, this one didnt appear to have anything to do with Donald Trump. The brief clip was difficult to make out, but it appeared to show someone throwing a black bag and a long white item out a window on the second floor of the east side of the building. Given that the second floor is where the president and first lady live, the video sparked all kinds of speculation online. It was against this backdrop that The Associated Press reported: President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a video circulating online that showed items being tossed out of an upstairs window of the White House was created with artificial intelligence, despite his press team seeming to confirm the veracity of it hours earlier. Trump ... told reporters that the video has got to be fake because the windows, he said, are heavy and sealed shut. Right off the bat, when Trump contradicts his own team, its going to generate some interest. Hours before the Q&A in the Oval Office, the White House press office has confirmed the video is real and said it showed a contractor who was doing regular maintenance while Trump was away. If the president had said the same thing or even just referred questions to the White House staff, most of the political world likely wouldve shrugged and moved on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Trump said the video that his team had already confirmed as real wasnt real and was instead likely AI-generated. And then he went just a bit further. The New York Times reported: President Trump on Tuesday revealed a new strategy he could employ for dealing with unwelcome or unflattering information: blame artificial intelligence. With fake videos generated by A.I. swirling around the internet, its become increasingly difficult for many users of social media to separate truth from fiction a point Mr. Trump both lamented and said he could potentially use to his advantage. If something happens, really bad, just blame AI, the Republican said, apparently in jest. I realize the line was delivered as a joke, but this isnt the first time hes raised such a claim. In March 2024, Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York unveiled a highly unflattering video of Trumps cognitive lapses, prompting the Republican to complain, artificial intelligence was used by them against me. The video montage, however, was entirely real. Trump was eager to blame AI to explain away the clips that made him look awful, but they were legitimate anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The larger point is that Trump probably wasnt kidding, at least not entirely, when he said hed just blame AI when confronted with real embarrassments, because hes already on record doing exactly that. Theres a quote thats often attributed to political theorist Hannah Arendt: This constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore. As it happens, Arendt didnt actually say this (at least not exactly), but the quote resonates because of its salience: Trump obviously tries to get people to believe lies all the time, but nearly as often, the president tries to get people to give up on the idea that facts exist. His latest comment on the subject appeared designed to plant a seed in the minds of his followers: If you see something that paints the Republican administration in an unflattering light, its probably best to assume it was created by a computer. The response to the mysterious case of the open White House window, in other words, is part a pattern, and theres every reason to believe the problem will get worse before it gets better. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * Russias intensifying war in Ukraine: Russia launched a sweeping overnight air attack on Ukraine that injured at least four railway workers and damaged critical infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities said on Wednesday. * A powerful event on Capitol Hill: A group of Jeffrey Epstein accusers on Wednesday told emotional, gut-wrenching stories of sexual abuse at the hands of the late convicted sex offender and his co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, raising pressure on lawmakers to back the release of all of the files in the Justice Departments years-long Epstein investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * The list of cities keeps growing: President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested he could deploy federal troops to New Orleans in his latest threat to use the federal government to crack down on crime in a Democrat-run city. * A closely watched case: Google must hand over its search results and some data to rival companies but does not need to break itself up by selling its Chrome web browser, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. The decision, by Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, falls short of the sweeping changes proposed by the government to rein in the power of Silicon Valley. * The administrations latest legal setback: A federal appeals court on Tuesday reinstated a Democrat who was fired by President Trump from the Federal Trade Commission earlier this year, dealing a blow to Mr. Trumps monthslong attempt to permanently remove her from the consumer protection and antitrust enforcement agency. * There are some legitimate legal questions surrounding this deadly strike: President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * It often seems as if the White House actually wants the climate crisis to get worse: More than 85 American and international scientists have condemned a Trump administration report that calls the threat of climate change overblown, saying the analysis is riddled with errors, misrepresentations and cherry-picked data to fit the presidents political agenda. The scientists submitted their critique as part of a public comment period on the report, which was to close Tuesday night. * All is not well at the FDA: Paul Offit, a pediatrician who has sparred with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over childhood vaccination, has been blocked from participating in a vaccine advisory committee for the Food and Drug Administration. * All is not well at the CDC, either: For the past few years, a small team of health scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had been tasked with answering basic statistical questions like: Who is drowning? Where is it happening in lakes, rivers, swimming pools? And what works to prevent it? The team was starting to answer some of those questions when it was put on administrative leave in April, according to two former CDC officials familiar with the program. * Well, this ought to be interesting: Newsmax filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing conservative media giant Fox News of acting as a monopoly and suppressing its right-leaning competitors. See you tomorrow. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com ANDERSON Getting a jump on 2026, Madison County is already beginning to celebrate the United States 250th anniversary. The Madison County America 250 Committee is planning and hosting events to take place during the remainder of 2025 and continuing through 2026. The committees efforts are signaled by the red, white and blue bunting hung recently on the facade of the Madison County Museum of History in downtown Anderson. Committee members hope the celebration will inspire patriotism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think this country could use a dose of two things: patriotism and prayer, Madison County historian Steve Jackson said. My hope for our country is that this celebration will be a catalyst to bringing people back together, to the basics, to celebrate our roots and heal the nation. Patriotism, organizers of the local celebration believe, begins with the realization that all people can make a positive difference. The heroes of this area are just everyday people that knew how to step it up a little bit, said Carol Grace, a co-chair of the committee. We have so many people who step up and help others on a daily basis for no other reason than to do the right thing and to make our community healthier, Committee Chairperson Karen Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America 250 is a great time where we as a community can come together and do things in conjunction with one another. We can all find common ground. We can all celebrate our history together. Committee members described the Madison County Celebrates America 250 event on June 20, 2026, at Beulah Park in Alexandria as the pinnacle of the celebration. Guests will be treated to war re-enactments, quilting exhibits, a petting zoo and a concert from the group American Pride, which Grace described as a Statler Brothers-type group. Dozens of vendors are expected for the event, and the history club at Frankton Junior/Senior High School will recreate period-appropriate childrens games. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Madison County residents wont have to wait until 10 months to enjoy local 250-year events. A lecture titled Understanding the U.S. Constitution will be offered Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Anderson Public Library, and the Front Porch Music Festival will follow on Oct. 18 in Pendleton. A fashion show set for March 21, 2026, at Rubys Cafe in Anderson will feature outfits from the Revolutionary War period but will be more than a fashion show. It will include a re-enactment of Patrick Henrys Give Me Liberty speech, noted Deb Weston, a committee co-chair. Other events are not yet scheduled details are being solidified include a screening of The Patriot at the Alex Theatre in Alexandria and the Red, White and Blue 250 race at Anderson Speedway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifics will be announced later. The America 250 event commemorates the United States declaring independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. Madison County did not exist at the time, neither did Indiana. The area known today as Indiana was a wild frontier attractive to fur trappers and others who dared to venture west of the Appalachian Mountains. Those trappers would tell the stories of their travels. It was a dark foreboding land beyond the Appalachian Mountains, noted Jackson, the Madison County historian. The land would become the Northwest Territory in 1787, four years after the Revolutionary War ended. Indiana officially became a territory in 1801 and a state in 1816. Madison County was formed seven years later. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) Mayor Tommy Battle and other local leaders spoke Wednesday about the economic growth expected in Madison County with the arrival of U.S. Space Command. Buildings have already been set aside for Space Command personnel on Redstone Arsenal, who are expected to arrive soon. Garrison Deputy Commander Martin Traylor said the new construction will take about 18 to 24 months to complete, and USSPACECOM will be operational in under three years. The Command can theoretically be operational here very, very quickly, Traylor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traylor emphasized that Redstone Arsenal was chosen as Space Commands permanent home because of it capabilities. He said the move to the Arsenal will bring workers next door to agencies with which they already work. They can literally go down the street and see the people face to face, and its hard to put a price on the relationship factor of leadership like that, Traylor said. Its going to have a tremendous impact, I think, on the national security and the operational level of that Command being here. With the arrival of USSPACECOM, workers are expected to move to communities across North Alabama, not just Huntsville. Battle said Space Command is made up of about 1,400 personnel, who are set to arrive incrementally over the next five years. He said the transition could also mean jobs open to those already living in the area. If 50% of the workforce decides to move to Huntsville, that still leaves 700 jobs, Battle said. 700 jobs that will be filled by Huntsville. Whether its a badge swap or whether its somebody looking to enter their second career, or somebody who is local coming out of the four year colleges or two year institutions, all those people have opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders from across Madison County said they have been focused on funding road improvements, new housing development, infrastructure and quality of life projects. $380 million worth of road updates are currently underway, and they are making plans with state leadership to complete future projects. Weve been working on this for years, Battle said at the roundtable, hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. At the roundtable, leaders also said that the area will see an expansion of office space on Redstone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The Madison County Sheriffs Office has announced the dates for the Fall session of its 2025 Citizens Sheriffs Academy. MCSO has announced it will hold the academy beginning on Oct. 7 and conclude it with the graduation ceremony on Nov. 18. Rocket City takes Command: U.S. Space Command Headquarters coming to Alabama The course includes over 20 hours of instruction with classes meeting on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each week for seven weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said the course will go over the following topics: Patrol Division Overview Community Policing Initiatives Crisis Management and Response Forensic Science and Technology Tactical Response Unit (SWAT) Corrections Laws and the Alabama Court System Sheriffs Office Organization and Staffing Criminal Investigations Unit and Crime Scene Unit MCSO said participants must be 21 years old, live in Madison County and be able to pass a criminal background check. This program is about transparency, education, and building trust. We want citizens to walk away with a true understanding of how the Madison County Sheriffs Office operates, the challenges we face, and the pride we take in serving this community, Sheriff Kevin Turner said. We look forward to welcoming you to the 2025 Sheriffs Citizens Academy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deadline to apply for the academy is Sept. 12. If you are interested in the Sheriffs Citizens Academy, you can apply here or contact MCSO PIO Brent Patterson at bpatterson@madisoncountyal.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 WHNT.com. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Immigrants, their advocates and San Francisco city leaders gathered outside City Hall Tuesday afternoon to condemn the Trump administration for trying to deport immigrants by doing away with temporary protected status (TPS). TPS is a 35-year-old statute allowing hundreds of thousands of people from other countries to live and work in the United States legally due to unsafe conditions in their home country. They are neighbors, said San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder. They are family, friends, our co-workers. Photo: KRON4 News. The fact that we have an administration that is ripping families apart, destroying our workforce, sending people to certain violence, and certain death, added San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu. Its not just inhumane, its not just unconstitutional. This is not how human beings should be treating other human beings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to pass a resolution that help us to prevent us from being deported, said Rosa Maria Carranza, a TPS holder from El Salvador. If you can contact Congress and the Senate, please do it. This madness has to stop. The rally came hours before the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a resolution to support TPS holders and encourage Californias congressional delegation to extend their TPS status until they can establish a permanent pathway to citizenship. The Trump administrations plan to end TPS status has seen mixed success in the courts. One three-judge panel with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has allowed TPS status to end for 60,000 people from Nepal, Honduras and Nicaragua. But a different three-judge panel has delayed the end of TPS status for 600,000 Venezuelans until a full hearing can be held. San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton said, We will fight with legislation. We will fight with rallies. We will fight bringing communities together and most importantly, we will fight with people power. 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. The House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein released another batch of documents as part of the so-called Epstein filesbut journalists were quick to notice the similarities between the latest dump and past disclosures. I reviewed some of the 33,000 pages last night. Of note is how many of those pages are simply DUPLICATES of the same (old) reportspage after page, in order to make it APPEAR that this is a big document dump, wrote Julie K. Brown, a Miami Herald journalist and author of a book on Epstein, on X. This tactic is a recurring effort to deceive the public. The House Oversight Committee had obtained the files from the Justice Department in response to a subpoena by House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky. The Trump administration has been under fire for its lack of transparency on the infamous sex offenders case, and for the presidents open disdain for those still pursuing justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the latest batch of documents is comprised of old and already-released information: public fillings in Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwells criminal cases, the transcript of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches interview with Maxwell that was released in August, and video from inside the prison where Epstein died, according to NBC. Meanwhile, victims of Epstein and Maxwell are demanding that the administration stand on the side of survivors and release the rest of the files. At a press conference on Wednesday, Marina Lacerda spoke publicly for the first time about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Epstein for three years, which she said started when she was 14 years old. But she said that trauma has clouded her memory of the events, causing so much fear and so much confusion. My therapist says that my brain is just trying to protect itself, but its so hard to begin to heal knowing that there are people out there who know more about my abuse than I do, Lacerda said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of the documents and information about, that could help me remember and get over all of this, maybe, and help me heal. They have documents with my name on them that were confiscated from Jeffrey Epsteins house, she said. But I dont have any of it. Until the public gets full transparency on Epsteinand the powerful people in his orbit who abused women and children, and those who were and are complicit in keeping his secretssurvivors like Lacerda cannot find peace. Showy binders and duplicate documents simply wont cut it. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A Mahoning County grand jury declined to indict a man who had been arrested earlier this summer on gun charges. Released from charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle was Jeffrey Brown. Brown was a passenger in a car pulled over on June 20 for a traffic violation, and he was arrested after a gun was found in the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His case was bound over to the grand jury from municipal court, but the grand jury chose not to indict him. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. DENVER (KDVR) On Sept. 2, President Donald Trump announced that the headquarters of Space Command will move from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. The President said Colorados mail-in ballot system played a big factor in moving Space Command, shortly after his short-lived assertions to ban mail-in ballots last month. Trump noted Tuesday that he won Alabama by about 47 points and said voting records didnt influence his decision. Would drag our country backward: Officials react to Trumps plan to end mail-in ballots Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump lost Colorado to Harris by about 11 points. I will say I want to thank Colorado. The problem I have with Colorado, one of the big problems, they do mail-in voting. They went to all mail-in voting, Trump stated Tuesday. So, they have automatically crooked elections and we cant have that. When a state is for mail-in voting, that means they want dishonest elections because thats what that means. So, that played a big factor. Trump said in August mail-in ballots allow massive voter fraud, and alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed with Trump about the dishonest nature of mail-in ballots. Dozens of countries use mail-in ballots for elections. Colorado officials called the presidents statements about Space Command and the states election systems more distractions and lies, and said that his actions were a naked abuse of power. The entire Colorado delegation, which includes Democratic and Republican legislators, said that moving U.S. Space Command would hurt Colorado and the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps decision to move Space Command to Alabama is an abuse of power and a blatantly political decision, said U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet on Tuesday. From the Oval Office earlier today, the President of the United States made clear that in making his decision, he was rewarding his political friends and allies. His comment about winning Alabama by 47 points says it all, Bennet continued, and I think captures his approach to this decision throughout the time that its arisen over the last number of years, he has also described Colorados mail-in ballot system as corrupt and that they played a big factor in his decision to take Space Command away from Colorado and send it to Alabama. About a third of all voters nationally use mail-in voting, and FOX31 learned that in Colorado, about 92% of registered Republicans who voted in the 2024 presidential election filled out the ballot that was mailed to them. GOP election officials also against moving Space Command It is deeply ironic that President Trump made a decision about the Space Force based on Colorados election model, yet moved it to Alabama, a state whose system provides neither the access nor the security that Colorados does, said Matt Crane, Executive Director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, who is a Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crane said that in 2013, Colorados county clerks designed the first mail-in ballot system for the U.S., which is now recognized as the most reliable, transparent, and accessible election model in the country. He said the system was deliberately structured to serve Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike. He told FOX31s Jared Dean that it was disappointing to hear about Trumps decision to move Space Force, just based on the economic impact, but said Trumps statements tying the decision to Colorados elections exacerbated the already frustrating issue. I mean, its very much par for the course for the world were living in, where the president, unfortunately, has been listening to the wrong people when it comes to how our elections are conducted. Rather than talk to experts who actually do the work, hes chosen to listen to grifters and bad actors who feed his ego, Crane told Dean. Crane said Alabamas voter turnout is among the lowest in the nation and does not have the controls or security that Colorados elections have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The results speak for themselves, said Hayle Johnson, Colorado County Clerks Association president and Jackson County Clerk and Recorder, in a clerks association release. In the 2024 Presidential Election, Colorado achieved 73.1% turnout of eligible voters compared to just 58.8% in Alabama. Colorado leads the nation because our clerks take their responsibility to democracy seriously. They are neighbors and community leaders who work tirelessly to safeguard every ballot and every voters voice. While Colorado has multiple voting options (ballot drop boxes, in-person centers, and accessible voting), the state also has layered security that includes ballot tracking, signature verification, and post-election audits to confirm accuracy. Public testing of voting equipment and bipartisan oversight is also in every step of the process. Free on Your TV New FOX31+ App for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Colorados model is proof that strong access and strong security can coexist. Voters can track their ballots online and know with certainty that their votes are counted. Independent audits after every election confirm the accuracy of our results, safeguards that states like Alabama simply do not have, Crane said in a press release sent Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that almost 90% of Colorado voters polled in December 2024 said they liked the way Colorado votes, and said it feels secure and accessible. Now, for whatever reason, Colorado is also one of the central areas in the country where election denialism comes from, Mike Lindells election denialism operation, a lot of that is run here in Colorado by people from here; the Dominion lies, started by a guy here in Castle Rock who is now going through defamation cases because of the lies that hes spread, Crane said. Theres a small minority of people who push these lies, either for political or financial gain. But otherwise, the vast majority of Colorado citizens . they love voting with their mail ballot. Lindell was found liable by a jury in June for defaming a former employee of a leading voting equipment company. Lindell has also promoted false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the 2020 election from Trump. Also notable in Colorados election landscape is Tina Peters, who was the Mesa County Clerk in 2020 who has since been found guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty and failing to comply with the secretary of state after a security breach in the 2020 election, which helped Trumps supporters access confidential data about the presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jury finds MyPillow CEO liable in defamation trial regarding 2020 election claims Trump said on Truth Social in August that the clerk, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for her wrongdoings, did nothing wrong. Secretary of State: Trump spreads lies and misinformation Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told FOX31 on Tuesday that Trump is not looking to fix policies that may have led Colorado voters to not vote for him, and instead decided just to blame and lash out. She said members of the military should not be used as political pawns. Trump continuously spreads lies and misinformation about our elections, Griswold told Dean on Tuesday. And now, in his decision to move Space Command, hes stripping potentially thousands of people of their jobs and decreasing our nations readiness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griswold called Trump a hypocrite, noting that he and his family have used mail-in ballots. Officials react to potential Space Command move announced by Trump on Tuesday And just last year, he was encouraging Republican voters to use mail ballots, Griswold said. Our elections are safe and secure. This is not about election security. This is about the fact that Trump is trying to grab power ahead of the 2026 elections and is directly attacking our democracy. She said the president does not have the power to ban mail-in ballots. She said that she believes the president is now trying to browbeat his opponents, which includes Colorado in this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mail ballots are not about helping one party over the other, Griswold told FOX31s Jared Dean. All the data shows that, and at the local level, at the state level, Republicans stand up for a mail ballot system. And Im so grateful that they do: We have great county clerks. The majority are Republicans, who will tell you our elections are safe and will protect them. Griswold said that mail-in ballots are literally a piece of paper, and noted that foreign adversaries cannot hack the ballots. A Defense Department inspector general review about why Colorado was chosen over Alabama was inconclusive. Trump has long been expected to move Space Command back to Alabama. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) The Folsom Police Department found a vehicle near the border of Folsom and El Dorado Hills that was suspected of being connected to other mail theft cases on early Tuesday morning. Video above: Rancho Cordova police utilize traffic tools to track mail theft suspects Police said there were two people in the vehicle, who were identified as Charlene Clark, 32, and Matthew Ang, 36. Sacramento County child predator sting nets 13 arrests, including suspect who arrived with baby Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search of the car showed pieces of mail and a California drivers license and none of them belonged to the occupants, FPD said. There were also multiple mailbox keys and methamphetamine. Both people in the car were arrested and booked into El Doardo County Jail, police said. Clark was arrested for conspiracy, mail theft, possession of stolen mail, presenting false identification to police, and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. When officers arrested Ang, she was on Post-Release Community Supervision for similar identity theft crimes in San Joaquin County. The Folsom Police Department remains committed to relentlessly pursuing criminal behavior and holding individuals accountable for their actions, FPD said. Our officers will be contacting the victims of the recovered stolen mail. 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. Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, poses in his brewery. (Courtesy of Kleban for Maine) Another Democrat, co-founder of Maine Beer Company Dan Kleban, has entered the race to try to unseat long-time Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in 2026. Announcing his candidacy on Wednesday, the 48-year-old Cumberland County resident said hes running because he feels a responsibility to do whats right for Maine, like when he started his company with his wife and brother after being laid off from a law firm during the Great Recession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Executives at the big banks who crashed our economy walked away without facing any consequences. I was pissed, Kleban said in a statement. So my brother and I started Maine Beer Company not only to make good beer, but to live by our Do Whats Right motto that crooks on Wall Street never understood. In practice, that motto means providing fully paid health care and donating 1% of all annual sales to environmental nonprofits, he added. Now, Kleban said the same thing is happening in Congress, specifically calling out Collins, whose actions he sees hardworking Mainers paying the price for as they struggle to afford housing, health care, groceries and electric bills. Maines Senate race heated up last month when Graham Platner, a largely unknown oysterman and military veteran, entered the race at the encouragement of unions. Platners campaign raised $1 million in the first nine days and he was endorsed by independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont at a Labor Day rally attended by more than 6,500 in Portland. Klebans launch video and website make some similar appeals as Platner. Kleban emphasizes his working-class roots and student debt, living many of the affordability challenges he believes other Mainers want their elected officials to fix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked where he stands politically compared with Platner, whos leaning into Democratic socialist ideals, Kleban said in an interview with Maine Morning Star, I dont know what to call myself. Im a small business owner. Im a get-shit-done Democrat. But he said the Democratic Party needs to get better at turning anger into action to win back voters who split tickets. Theyre not going to give us our vote unless we can convince them that weve got their back and were going to try to come up with pragmatic solutions, he said. Most of the people vying for Collins seat are political newcomers, Platner and Kleban included. One Democratic candidate, Jordan Wood, is a former congressional aide who has spent about a decade working in politics in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Establishment Democrats have been trying to convince Maine Gov. Janet Mills to run. Shes still unsure but said shed likely decide by mid-November. When asked whether hed stay in the race if Mills enters, Kleban commended her work as governor before refraining from a clear answer. I learned a long time ago, when you run a small business, things change day to day, he said, and for me to commit now, I mean, Janet might not decide for months. Weeks and months in politics is an eternity, so Im not going to pigeonhole myself into some premature decision, but I can tell you right now, Im 100% committed to beating Susan Collins. As for a primary challenge, Maine Republicans and Trump have rejected the idea, though President Donald Trump has said behind closed doors that hed welcome a better option. Hes also recently revoked the otherwise unusual public deference hed shown Collins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kleban spoke about the president being a threat to Mainers values in his launch video and said Collins refuses to stand up to Donald Trump when it really matters. He continued these critiques in his interview with Maine Morning Star, citing her procedural vote to advance Trumps Big, Beautiful Bill before she ultimately voted against the budget package. Typical Susan Collins, shes always there when you dont need her, Kleban said. She votes for it, and then she votes against it, knowing that the vote wouldnt really make a difference. Kleban also criticized Collins 2018 vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, the majority of which then stripped nationwide abortion protections when overturning Roe vs. Wade. After launching his campaign, Kleban announced later Wednesday Maine Senate President Mattie Daughtry and Lucas St. Clair, national board chair of the Trust for Public Land, as his campaign co-chairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no one better to take on Susan Collins and stand up to Trump and his corrupt administration, Daughtry said in a statement. In this time of economic uncertainty and rising prices, we need leaders like Dan in DC fighting for us. He has proven time and again that Do Whats Right is more than just a company motto. Editors Note: This story was updated to include comments from an interview with Kleban and campaign staff announcement made after publication. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Diana Novak Jones CHICAGO (Reuters) -A group of more than 100 survivors and families of victims killed in the 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, sued the U.S. government over claims it failed to respond to repeated warning signs that the shooter, an Army reservist, could become violent. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Portland, Maine, on Wednesday, claims the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Defense, and a New York Army hospital were negligent in their handling of Army Reserve Sergeant Robert Card, who had exhibited signs of severe mental illness for more than a year before the shooting and made explicit threats to carry out mass violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The October 25, 2023, shooting killed 18 people and wounded 13 at a bowling alley and a restaurant. Card was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days later. The lawsuit claims that by March 2023, the U.S. Army knew Card, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and a West Point firearm and grenade instructor, was paranoid, delusional, and violent, and that he had a hit list and access to firearms. But the Army did not remove Cards guns, dissuaded law enforcement from taking the guns, and dismissed Cards threats to shoot up a Maine Army Reserve center in the month before the massacre, the victims say in the lawsuit. In a statement, Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Castro said the Army does not comment on pending litigation. A Department of Defense spokesperson also declined to comment on pending litigation, and representatives for Tricare, the military's healthcare agency, did not respond to a request for comment. Cynthia Young, whose husband William and 14-year-old son, Aaron, were both killed at the bowling alley, is among those suing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, she said, "We trusted those in power to protect our loved ones, and their inaction cost us everything." The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for pain and suffering, medical and funeral expenses, emotional distress, and more. Attorney Ben Gideon said at a press conference that it was too early to say how much the plaintiffs would seek. The lawsuit claims Army researchers have recognized a connection between service members exposed to repeated explosions, like Card, and increased rates of anxiety, paranoid thinking, and aggressive behavior. Citing other mass shootings committed by veterans and service members, the lawsuit claims the U.S. Army has developed a detailed procedure for dealing with service members whose mental health may make them a threat to themselves or others, but did not follow it in Card's case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the months before the Lewiston shooting, members of his unit warned their leadership that Card was making threats about mass shootings and had a collection of firearms. Card was sent to Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, New York, for an involuntary psychiatric evaluation, where providers found he had homicidal ideation and was a threat to others. Despite the findings, Card was discharged on the condition that the U.S. Army would remove his weapons, attorneys for the victims said. That never happened, and the U.S. Army did not follow up with him to ensure he was following a treatment plan and receiving the help he needed, the lawsuit claims. (Reporting by Diana Novak Jones, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Franklin Paul, Rod Nickel) Survivors of Maines deadliest mass shooting and grieving families of the victims are taking the federal government to court, saying the U.S. Army could have stopped the gunman before he killed 18 people in Lewiston in what they call one of the most preventable mass tragedies in American history. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday on behalf of more than 100 people, accuses the Army of negligence for failing to act as reservist Robert Cards mental health unraveled in the months before the October 2023 attack. An independent commission appointed by Maines governor later concluded there had been numerous missed opportunities for intervention by Army officials and civilian law enforcement as the shooters mental health deteriorated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was found dead by suicide two days after the shootings. Survivors of Maines deadliest mass shooting and grieving families of the victims are taking the federal government to court (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) By March 2023, the United States and its personnel knew Card was paranoid, delusional, violent, and lacked impulse control. The Army knew he had access to firearms. The Army promised to remove his guns but did not fulfill that promise, the complaint states. Instead, it alleges, that through its acts and omissions, the Army withheld information and actively misled local law enforcement, thereby preventing others from intervening and separating Card from his weapons. Warning signs had piled up, according to the lawsuit. The shooter was hospitalized during Army training that summer, and fellow reservists reported increasingly erratic and paranoid behavior, it alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, a fellow reservist reportedly texted: I believe hes going to snap and do a mass shooting. Army Reserve officials later acknowledged that no one ensured he took his medication or followed up on treatment after returning home to Bowdoin, Maine. After the shootings, the Armys own investigation found a series of failures by unit leadership, Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, then the chief of the Army Reserve, said at the time. The lawsuit builds on notices of claim filed last year, which argued the Army ignored clear warning signs of Robert Cards unraveling mental health From the start, the Army disregarded its mandatory policies and procedures, and regulations when dealing with Card, the lawsuit states. The Department of Defense declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying the agency does not comment on pending litigation, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the serious issues Card presented at the company or battalion level, they were not reported up the chain of command to senior military officials with the knowledge, experience, and resources to address them. Instead, low-ranking, part-time personnel mis-managed the risks, resulting in disastrous consequences. Three Army Reserve leaders were disciplined for dereliction of duty. When the governors commission released its final report last August, the Army said it was committed to reviewing the findings and implementing sound changes to prevent tragedies like this from recurring. Pictures of two of the victims of the October 2023 mass shooting are seen at a makeshift memorial in Lewiston, Maine in December 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The Lewiston shootings spurred new gun laws in Maine, a state with a long tradition of hunting and firearm ownership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those measures have since drawn lawsuits from gun rights advocates and remain a point of contention nearly two years later. Attorneys for the survivors and families plan to provide more details Wednesday at a news conference in Lewiston, not far from where the shootings took place. Survivors of Maine's deadliest mass shooting and relatives of victims are suing the federal government, alleging that the U.S. Army could and should have stopped one of its reservists from carrying out what they call "one of the most preventable mass tragedies in American history." Eighteen people were killed in October 2023 when Robert Card opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar and grill. An independent commission appointed by Maine's governor later concluded that there were numerous opportunities for intervention by both Army officials and civilian law enforcement as Card's mental health deteriorated. He was found dead by suicide two days after the shootings. The lawsuit, filed in federal court on behalf of more than 100 survivors and victims' family members, accuses the U.S. government of negligence, saying its conduct "directly and proximately caused the mass shooting." It alleges that Army officials and others "failed to act reasonably, broke the promises they made to Card's family and their community, violated mandatory polices, procedures and disregarded directives and orders." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS News obtained a copy of the 119-page lawsuit, which alleges there were numerous signs and documented examples over the years of Card's worsening mental illness, in addition to tangible incidents that should have flagged him to the Army as an individual potentially capable of harming others. "By March 2023, the United States and its personnel knew Card was paranoid, delusional, violent, and lacked impulse control. The Army knew he had access to firearms. The Army promised to remove his guns but did not fulfill that promise," the lawsuit states. "Worse, through its acts and omissions, the Army withheld information and actively misled local law enforcement, thereby preventing others from intervening and separating Card from his weapons." Attorneys plan to provide more details Wednesday at a news conference in Lewiston, not far from where the shootings took place. A woman visits a makeshift memorial outside Sparetime Bowling Alley, the site of a mass shooting, in this Oct. 28, 2023 file photo, in Lewiston, Maine. / Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP Spokespeople for the Department of Defense and the Army said they would not comment on pending litigation. A request for comment was emailed to the Keller Army Community Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorneys began the process of suing the government a little less than a year ago when they filed notices of claim, saying the Army did not act despite being aware of Card's mental health decline. Card's mental health spiral led to his hospitalization and left him paranoid, delusional and expressing homicidal ideations, the claim said. Before his discharge, the Army's medical providers determined that Card "posed a significant risk of violence" and conditioned his release from the hospital "on the removal of his personal weapons from his home," according to the lawsuit, which also says the medical personnel "recommended restricting his access to military weapons and ammunition." Attorneys have said that Card even produced a "hit list" of those he wanted to attack as his health deteriorated. "The Army knew that while in the hospital, Card admitted to homicidal ideation and to preparing a 'hit list' of people he intended to kill," the lawsuit says. "Card stated that his targets were those he perceived had wronged him, including those he had bowled and played cornhole with at the bowling alley and bar he later attacked on October 25, 2023." Family members and fellow reservists said Card had exhibited delusional and paranoid behavior months before the shootings. He was hospitalized by the Army during training in July 2023 in New York, where his unit was training West Point cadets, but Army Reserve officials have acknowledged that no one made sure Card was taking his medication or complying with his follow-up care at home in Bowdoin, Maine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The starkest warning came in a September 2023 text from a fellow reservist: "I believe he's going to snap and do a mass shooting." At the time, just one month before the Lewiston massacre, Card had threatened to "shoot up" the Army Reserve center, located in Saco, Maine, according to the lawsuit, which claims Army Captain Jeremy Reamer "dismissed these warnings" and, rather than taking swift action, called the reservist who sent the text "not the most credible of our Soldiers." Rain soaked memorials for those who died in a mass shooting sit along the roadside by Schemengees Bar & Grille, Oct. 30, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. / Credit: Matt York / AP "From the start, the Army disregarded its mandatory policies and procedures, and regulations when dealing with Card," the lawsuit states. "Despite the serious issues Card presented at the company or battalion level, they were not reported up the chain of command to senior military officials with the knowledge, experience, and resources to address them. Instead, low-ranking, part-time personnel mis-managed the risks, resulting in disastrous consequences." Army officials conducted their own investigation after the shootings that Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, then the chief of the Army Reserve, said found "a series of failures by unit leadership." Three Army Reserve leaders were disciplined for dereliction of duty, according to the report. When the governor's commission released its final report last August, the Army issued a statement saying it was "committed to reviewing the findings and implementing sound changes to prevent tragedies like this from recurring." The Lewiston shootings led to new guns laws in Maine, a state with a long tradition of hunting and gun ownership. The laws prompted legal action on the part of gun rights advocates in the state and remain a contentious topic nearly two years after the shootings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Very little new information in thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files released this week Trump says he's not happy about state of Russia's war in Ukraine HACKENSACK, N.J. (PIX11) A man is accused of setting fire to multiple police cars in a New Jersey municipal parking lot on Saturday, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced. Jaime Magnelli Sr., 78, now faces multiple charges, including arson, as a result of an investigation by the prosecutors office into what authorities called a suspicious fire. More Local News The parking lot at 78 Trinity Place in Hackensack is used as an overflow parking area for city police vehicles. According to police, officers responded to the area just after 8 p.m. on Saturday, where three marked police vehicles were in flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation revealed that Magnelli Sr. allegedly walked up to the cars and poured an accelerant on the vehicles to ignite the fire. Detectives said that the police cars were very close to gas pumps and the Bergen County Islamic Center. As a result of the investigation, Magnelli Sr., of Hackensack, was arrested and charged on Tuesday with aggravated arson, arson, risk of widespread injury or damage, failure to control or report a fire and criminal mischief. He is being held in Bergen County Jail until his first court appearance. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. One of four voters who was accused in a double-voting case in St. Clair Shores in the August 2024 primary pleaded guilty Wednesday, Sept. 3, in Macomb County Circuit Court. Frank Prezzato pleaded guilty to one count of election law-voting absentee and in person. The Michigan Attorney General's Office is to dismiss another charge offering to vote more than once at sentencing Oct. 22 before Circuit Judge Anthony Servitto, according to online Circuit Court records. According to court records and a news release from the AG's Office, Prezzato seeks to delay sentencing for six months and upon successful completion of probation, the charge to which he entered his plea will be dismissed with prejudice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AG's Office charged seven people in the double-voting matter. Five cases were dismissed, but the AG's Office is appealing those rulings to a higher court, including the Michigan Court of Appeals in four of the cases. "Mr. Prezzato pled to avoid the uncertainty of continued litigation. The AG has appealed all of the dismissed cases. If the Court of Appeals reinstates those cases, then there will be future litigation for those defendants. The only thing that is certain, is that Mr. Prezzato will have his charges dismissed with prejudice at the end of his probation. As he stated in court, he in fact voted twice," Prezzato's attorney, Vincenzo Manzella, indicated in an email. "I was surprised when the case was bound over, and I was disappointed when my motion to dismiss was denied by the circuit court. But, my client asked me to explore a plea in order to avoid the uncertainty of continued litigation, so that is what I did. He is guaranteed a dismissal of all charges in approximately eight months, as long as he successfully completes probation. Frank Prezzato is 68 years old, and retired. He has never been in any trouble before, and I have no doubt he will earn his dismissal." Opinion: Detroit turnout inches up but the same voters are still deciding who wins Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard eyes government ethics and accountability overhaul In a news release, Attorney General Dana Nessel said: "Voting twice undermines our democratic process. My office will continue to prosecute those who violate our voting laws to ensure Michigan voters have confidence in the integrity of our elections." Her office indicated that Prezzato appeared in person at his local polling location on Election Day in St. Clair Shores, requesting and casting a ballot in the August 2024 primary despite having returned an absentee ballot. He voted both in-person and absentee, and both votes were counted, according to the release. The AG's Office charged Prezzato and the others in October 2024 after County Prosecutor Peter Lucido declined to prosecute, with Lucido indicating in an August 2024 news release that a review of the evidence concluded probable cause did not exist to believe a crime occurred. The alleged election fraud occurred at three different voting precincts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges remain against voter Stacey Kramer in the Circuit Court. Cases previously were dismissed against voters Douglas Kempkens Jr. and Geneva O'Day and three election workers, but the AG's Office has filed appeals. The appeal in O'Day's case is before Circuit Judge Jennifer Faunce, who is taking the matter under advisement after oral arguments in June and July, according to Circuit Court records. Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @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: Man accused in 2024 double voting case pleads guilty LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The man accused of killing 22-year-old Lesly Palacio in 2020, who was on the run in Mexico for four years and returned to Las Vegas last week, faced a judge and his alleged victims family for the first time in the murder case Wednesday. Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 30, is the only suspect in Lesly Palacios August 2020 murder. He is accused of killing Palacio, 22, on Aug. 29, 2020. Police found her remains two weeks later near the Valley of Fire. Las Vegas man accused of killing Lesly Palacio was on probation, reported as undocumented immigrant Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities in Mexico arrested Rangel-Ibarra last July, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported. On Aug. 28, he returned to Las Vegas after a year of extradition proceedings. As part of the United States treaty with Mexico, prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty should a jury convict Rangel-Ibarra. Wednesdays court hearing, which several members of Palacios family attended, was brief as Rangel-Ibarra indicated he planned to hire a private attorney. In the interim, Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones appointed the public defenders office to represent him. Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 30, is the only suspect in Lesly Palacios August 2020 murder. He is accused of killing Palacio, 22, on Aug. 29, 2020. Police found her remains two weeks later near the Valley of Fire. (Palacio family) It was a little strange because you hear about something for five years, you wonder if hes ever going to be returned back to see justice, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said after the hearing. To see him for the first time was satisfying. In 2021, a grand jury indicted Rangel-Ibarra on charges of murder and destroying evidence. At that time, authorities suspect he was already in Mexico. Rangel-Ibarra officially heard those charges on Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man accused of killing Las Vegas woman Lesly Palacio returns to U.S. from Mexico Rangel-Ibarras father, Jose Rangel, initially told police he thought Palacio had died from an overdose, but then told police he initially saw the body when his son dragged it down the stairs of their home on a bed sheet, documents said. Video evidence presented to a grand jury showed Rangel-Ibarra and Rangel moving Palacios body on the morning of her suspected death, according to documents obtained first by the 8 News Now Investigators that year. Palacios official cause and manner of death are listed as undetermined. Investigators have not elaborated on what evidence inside the Rangel home led them to determine Palacio is the victim of a homicide. An undetermined cause and manner of death means there is not enough evidence on a deceased persons body to clearly determine how they died. In the aftermath of Palacios death, Rangel-Ibarra told someone, I killed a b****, according to police, adding, shes dead in the back of my truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, a Metro police officer stopped Rangel-Ibarra after observing him driving at a high rate of speed and driving into oncoming traffic unsafely, documents said. The officer noticed Rangel-Ibarra reaching near the side panel door and suspected he was concealing a firearm. In the report, Metro police described Rangel-Ibarra as an illegal alien. Rangel-Ibarra is an undocumented immigrant brought to the U.S. illegally as a baby and is classified as a Dreamer with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, sources said. I dont care what his citizenship is, Wolfson said. The evidence shows that he committed this crime of murder. Erick Rangel-Ibarra, 30, is the only suspect in Lesly Palacios August 2020 murder. He is accused of killing Palacio, 22, on Aug. 29, 2020. Police found her remains two weeks later near the Valley of Fire. (KLAS) In 2021, Rangel pleaded guilty to helping his son move Palacios body from the family home. A judge sentenced Rangel to two years in prison. The 8 News Now Investigators reported Rangel was released after serving less than nine months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rangel-Ibarra declined an interview request. His family did not attend Wednesdays hearing. The court proceeding will continue on Thursday, Sept. 11, when Rangel-Ibarra could enter a plea and the judge could schedule a trial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Man accused of shooting at authorities during local standoff receives additional charges A man accused of firing shots at federal officers during a standoff at a local hotel last month has been indicted on additional charges. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Andre Jordan II, 34, was indicted Tuesday on assault of a federal agent 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, according to our news partner WBNS TV in Columbus. 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. His next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) A 38-year-old was arrested on Monday by Myrtle Beach police after authorities say he shot another person in the head and pistol-whipped them during an argument. Chad Lee McFalls remains in the J. Reuben Long Detention Center after Saturdays incident in the 1200 block of Ellington Street off of Highway 15. He is being held on bonds totaling more than $171,00, jail records show. Officers responded to the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center on Saturday to investigate a report of a shooting on Ellington Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After talking to the victim and witnesses, a warrant says officers determined that McFalls fired a shot from a .22 caliber revolver that grazed the victims head and caused a large cut. He then proceeded to pistol whip the victim in the head causing further injury. The victim then crawled out of a window and fled before contacting Horry County police at the nearby Myrtle Beach International Airport, a police report said. No additional information about the persons injuries was immediately available. McFalls is charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, resisting arrest and trespassing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A 38-year-old man from Alabama reportedly in possession of high-capacity magazines, body armor, brass knuckles and knives was taken into custody late last month for threatening a Catholic monastery in Orange County, officials announced. In a news release, investigators with the Orange County Sheriffs Department said Joshua Michael Richardson first sent threatening emails to St. Michaels Abbey in Silverado Canyon before eventually showing up at the abbey on Aug. 26 and delivering additional threats in person. A priest at St. Michaels reported the incident to the sheriffs department two days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is believed that the 38-year-old drove to California from his home in Alabama and arrived in Southern California the same day he showed up at the abbey, OCSD Sgt. Gerard McCann told the O.C. Register. Richardson was quickly found by investigators in his vehicle inside a Santa Monica parking structure in the 1500 block of Ocean Avenue. After searching his vehicle, they found body armor, high-capacity magazines, brass knuckles and knives, the release noted. He was arrested without further incident and booked into the Orange County Jail. On Sept. 1, he was charged by the Orange County District Attorneys Office with possession of a deadly weapon brass knuckles carrying a dagger, possession of a large-capacity magazine and making criminal threats. A 38-year-old man from Alabama, who was armed with several weapons, was charged on Sept. 1, 2025, with being armed and making criminal threats against St. Michaels Abbey in Orange County. (KTLA) A 38-year-old man from Alabama, who was armed with several weapons, was charged on Sept. 1, 2025, with being armed and making criminal threats against St. Michaels Abbey in Orange County. (OCSD) A 38-year-old man from Alabama, who was armed with several weapons, was charged on Sept. 1, 2025, with being armed and making criminal threats against St. Michaels Abbey in Orange County. (OCSD) Though authorities have yet to release the content of threats made against St. Michaels Abbey, they do not believe the incident is tied to the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting that left two children dead, and 17 others injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Killers in 1995 satanic ritual murder of California girl, 15, paroled In a statement from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange provided to KTLA, Jarryd Gonzales, head of communications for the diocese, said the church was grateful for law enforcement protecting the parish community, adding in part: In todays environment of increased threats against churches, and particularly mindful of recent events in Minnesota, our parishes and schools continue to strengthen security efforts and remain vigilant to help protect our parishioners, students and staff. The sheriffs department has increased patrols around the monastery, while the abbey, which sits on around 320 acres of a former ranch, has upped its private security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While incidents like this can feel unsettling, they also highlight the power of community, sheriffs officials said. If something seems off, say something. Trust your instincts and report suspicious activity, whether it is a strange message, unusual behavior, or something that does not sit right. Your call could stop a crime before it happens. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact the O.C. Sheriffs Department at 714-647-7000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 man who filmed a 15-year-old girl showering and other women changing clothes at his Jersey Shore rental properties has pleaded guilty to manufacturing child sexual abuse material and invasion of privacy, Ocean County prosecutors announced Tuesday. When sentenced Nov. 14, 44-year-old David Lyons of Glenside, Pennsylvania, faces a potential six years in New Jersey State Prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said of his Friday plea before Judge Kimarie Rahill. Prosecutors are seeking a six-year sentence on the sexual abuse material charge and three for invasion of privacy, to be served concurrently. Those charges relate to a July 2023 incident in the Jersey Shore town of Beach Haven on Long Beach Island. Several more charges for related incidents at other properties Lyons owns are pending in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lyons first drew scrutiny in July 2024, when a 15-year-old family member reported being filmed while using an outdoor shower at his rental property in Beach Haven. The Beach Haven Police Department searched the rental home, where Lyons was also living, and seized about a dozen electronic devices, including cameras. He was arrested and charged accordingly, then booked into the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, the prosecutors office said, without saying what ultimately came of those charges. The electronics revealed that Lyons had surreptitiously recorded a juvenile victim and an adult victim in various stages of undress in a bathroom at another rental property in Beach Haven in July 2023, prosecutors said, which led to the charges he admitted to on Friday. Images and downloads went as far back as 2020, WCAU-TV reported, and his search history revealed attempts to find smoke detector cameras. It certainly indicates that he had a devious mind, detective Sgt. Troy Hummel told WCAU at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the material came from Lyons Pennsylvania residence, and Beach Haven authorities alerted the Abington Township Police Department. Detectives confirmed that Lyons had recorded teen girls and adult women undressing there as well. Abington police arrested Lyons in March 2025 for felony sexual abuse of children, invasion of privacy, and producing obscene and other sexual materials, among other charges. After turning himself in on March 26, he was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Duffy and released on $10,000 cash bail, with the charges still pending. Anytime theres a child victim, it brings it up to a much higher level of seriousness, Abington Township detective Sgt. Ryan Dunzee told WTXF-TV at the time. Police and prosecutors in all the jurisdictions have appealed to the public for information, and are encouraging other potential victims to come forward. A cache of ammunition and body armor was found in a suspect's vehicle after he allegedly made criminal threats against an Orange County church, authorities said. (Orange County Sheriff's Department) An Alabama man who allegedly made criminal threats to a church in Orange County was arrested and found with body armor and an assortment of weapons, according to authorities. On Aug. 28, the Orange County Sheriff's Department received a report about threatening emails sent to St. Michaels Abbey in Silverado Canyon, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. Joshua Michael Richardson, 38, an Alabama resident, was identified as the suspect who sent the emails. He then allegedly visited the church in person and made more threats, which were reported by the priest to the Sheriff's Department. Deputies arrested Richardson for criminal threats and found body armor, high-capacity magazines, brass knuckles and knives in his car, officials said. He was booked into the Orange County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While incidents like this can feel unsettling, they also highlight the power of community," according to the Sheriff's Department release. "If something seems off, say something. Trust your instincts and report suspicious activity, whether it is a strange message, unusual behavior, or something that does not sit right. Your call could stop a crime before it happens." Representatives for the church and Sheriff's Department didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. 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. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) A man has been arrested after allegedly sending more than a thousand threatening messages to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and threatening to kill law enforcement. Sam Hale Merritt, 42, has been arrested and is facing charges of electronic communication harassment, interfering with a peace officer, three counts of assault by prisoner, and two counts of propelling a bodily substance. He has not been formally charged yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the arrest statement, the Logan Police Department was contacted by DCFS regarding a threat made toward them. A police detective responded and met with a case worker from DCFS, who reported that Merrit had allegedly sent around 1,500 threatening messages to them. READ NEXT: Man charged for South Salt Lake hit-and-run that critically injured bicyclist The detective reviewed the messages on the case workers phone and allegedly found that some of the messages included threats toward law enforcement. The threats stated that if officers touched him or handcuffed him, he would kill them. Documents say Merrit also made threats toward his probation officer. After contacting the probation officer regarding the messages, Logan police responded alongside the probation officer to issue a citation and place Merrit on a 72-hour hold for the offense. When they met with Merrit, he allegedly stated that he would not go back to jail because law enforcement harasses him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The probation officer told Merrit that he was under arrest for violating his probation. Documents say Merrit did not comply with the arrest, and officers had to use a reasonable amount of force. He allegedly spat into two officers faces and kicked two other officers while they tried to put a spit hood over his head. According to the arrest statement, Merrit reportedly made threats to law enforcement that he was going to kill them and bash [their] teeth out. He has previously been convicted of assaulting a peace officer and is currently facing a felony child abuse case. Merrit was booked into the Cache County Jail, where he allegedly kicked a Cache County deputy in the leg while being escorted inside. He is currently being held without bail. 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. SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) The Spartanburg Police Department reported one person was arrested after they allegedly assaulted a vape shop employee in Spartanburg. Officers said they were called out to the Lucky Stars Tobacco and Vape shop on 435 East Main Street following reports of a suspect assaulting an employee after buying from the shop. Upon arrival, officers said the suspect had already fled the scene, and they began searching the nearby area. Authorities obtained surveillance footage and were able to distribute photos of the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said an employee of the Super Lodge Motel on East Main Street identified the suspect and said he had entered a room. Inside the room, police located the suspect attempting to conceal himself in the bathroom. The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody without incident, police say. The suspect is currently held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center. Charges remain pending. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. FORT DODGE, Iowa The Fort Dodge Police Department have made an arrest in connection with a Tuesday morning shooting that killed one person. Authorities state that just after 1 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to reports of a gunshot in the 500 block of N 28th Street in Fort Dodge. Fort Dodge officers arrived on scene and located a deceased adult male who had suffered a gunshot wound outside an apartment building. Officials release name of inmate who died at the Jasper County Jail Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, authorities announced that after an investigation 38-year-old Rolman H. Recinos Gonzales was arrested on Tuesday and charged with the following: Murder in the First Degree Trafficking in Stolen Weapons Person Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons Gonzales is being held at the Webster County Jail. The identity of the victim is not being released at this time as authorities are still working to contact family. Metro 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 who13.com. NEED TO KNOW Nicolas Hohls, 27, is recovering after being attacked by two hyenas who entered his tent while he was sleeping at Cape Vidal Nature Reserve in St. Lucia in South Africa One of the two animals ended up with part of Hohl's head inside its mouth, with its jaws clamped around his cheek and skull, while the other clamped onto his left ankle "When I realized what was happening, it was pure instinct. I knew I had to fight to survive," Hohls tells PEOPLE of the attack, which occurred while he was attending a bachelor party A man in South Africa is speaking out about having to "fight to survive" after being attacked by two hyenas while staying at a nature reserve for a bachelor party. On Saturday, Aug. 30, Nicolas Hohls, 27, who lives at Strydgewon Farm in Harburg, KwaZulu-Natal, arrived at Cape Vidal Nature Reserve in St. Lucia, South Africa which he'd been visiting since he was 6 years old just before noon with his dad, Colin, ready for the celebrations to begin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hohls and some friends had been fishing in the day and had some food and a few beers that evening before going to bed tired, after the week's work, at around 1 a.m. local time. Approximately half an hour later, he said two hyenas attacked him after one entered his tent through a 6-inch gap that he'd left unzipped for ventilation. One of the two animals ended up with part of Hohl's head inside its mouth, with its jaws clamped around his cheek and skull, while the other clamped onto his left ankle. Nicolas Hohls Nicolas Hohls pictured in hospital with his wife Tammi after being attacked by hyenas Nicolas Hohls pictured in hospital with his wife Tammi after being attacked by hyenas "One went for my leg and the other for my face and head. I fought them off by ripping my face and ankle free, then attacking the eyes of one and forcing my hand down the throat of the other," Hohls tells PEOPLE of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I had been asleep...when I realized what was happening, it was pure instinct. I knew I had to fight to survive," he adds, telling PEOPLE, "I reacted immediately. I ripped myself free and went straight for their weak points the eyes and throat. It was all instinct and adrenaline." Getty A stock photo of a hyena A stock photo of a hyena Hohl's screams woke his dad, who was in the rooftop tent above him. "My dad jumped into action immediately. He found me in a pool of blood in my tent, put me in the car, and drove me straight to Ballito hospital," he tells PEOPLE. Insisting he'd zipped up his tent "the same way" he "had done many times before," Hohls says, "Ive camped at Vidal before without problems. That night I left a small gap for ventilation. If the hyenas wanted to get in, they would have found a way regardless, and thats exactly what happened." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the "fight lasted about 60 seconds" and was "one minute of hell," in a piece he wrote to remember the incident, which he shared with PEOPLE via email. Getty A photo of Cape Vidal beach in South Africa A photo of Cape Vidal beach in South Africa 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 Hohls is now focusing on getting better, telling PEOPLE that doctors have said full recovery will take "about a month." "Ive had about 30 stitches in my head, hand, and cheek. My left ankle and right thigh also have deep puncture wounds, but thankfully, no bones were broken," he notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Im doing a lot better The doctors are happy with my progress, and theres been no sign of infection," Hohls shares. "For now, its about rest and allowing my body to heal properly," he tells PEOPLE, adding that he's "very grateful to be alive" and that he "had the strength to fight back" when he did. Cape Vidal Nature Reserve didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment on the attack. Read the original article on People SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Springfield Police have confirmed to OzarksFirst that Harland King has been charged with two counts of first-degree domestic assault and two counts of armed criminal action, after two women were taken to the hospital after being stabbed Tuesday morning in northwest Springfield. According to online court records, one victim told SPD that King stabbed her and had multiple significant injuries. A second victim told SPD that when King was inside the home, he stabbed her before running to another room to begin stabbing the first victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SPDs report says officers found King in the bushes of a property some distance west of the crime scene. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Neighbors help after two stabbed in Springfield, victims in stable condition Police say King stabbed himself in the chest, and officers were able to find the knife on him, and SPD says King confessed to the crime with intentions of killing the two women, intentionally wanting to surprise them, and blamed the two for his prior jailings. According to SPD, King says the self-inflicted stabbing was an attempt to end his life. King was recently charged in July 2025, but those specific charges are not listed online at this time. However, a warrant associated with the case lists the charges of fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a probable cause statement attached to that case from July of this year, in which a report from SPD alleges King was combative with a male and a female during that time and required several officers to arrest him. An SPD officer wrote in his report that, King has prior assault, domestic abuse, multiple DWIs, resisting/evading arrest, and carrying firearms while under the influence convictions, per his criminal history. On July 12, a note was sent by King to the court, asking If I bond out of Greene County, Missouri, can I stay at my sisters house in McAlester, Oklahoma, as I have no residence in Missou[ri]. According to a bond hearing on August 6, King was released from the Greene County Jail but had to report and reside in a sober living facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks later, a record in Kings case says conditions for his release would not include GPS monitoring or alcohol monitoring. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) An arrest has been made in connection with a July shooting that left a mother and her unborn child dead. Alex Burns, 28, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Alex Burns, 28, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. (Baton Rouge Police Department) The shooting on July 27 at 5151 Highland Road left Kimberly Martin, 29, dead. The Baton Rouge Police Department said a second person was shot, but they were expected to survive their injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burns was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Louisiana woman accused of threatening personnel at primary school 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. NEED TO KNOW Guillermo William Herrera was found guilty last month of shooting and killing a married couple's son on the night of their 2021 wedding The deadly shooting took place in the parking lot outside of the couple's wedding celebration Herrera and two other men had been asked to leave after crashing the wedding and later waited outside before a confrontation took place A Utah man crashed a couples wedding, got into an argument with partygoers and then shot and killed the newlyweds' son as he tried to fight him. The Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office announced that Guillermo William Herrera was found guilty by a jury of first-degree felony murder on Aug. 22, in connection with the Nov. 6, 2021 shooting death of Oscar Avila Jr. at his parents wedding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said in a news release that Herrera, 23, and two other men allegedly associated with the Dogtown gang had crashed the Avilas' wedding celebration that night and got into an argument with partygoers after friends and family of the couple confronted the codefendants and ordered them to leave. Herrera exited the building and was waiting outside when the codefendants exited, shouting their gang name and arguing with the partygoers, the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office said. Once outside, one of the codefendants flashed a pistol he had concealed in his waistband. Herrera also produced a handgun, and the married couple's son, Oscar Avila, Jr., rushed him. The district attorneys office said Herrera was captured on video pistol-whipping Avila before Avila fell to the ground. Then, Herrera fired a single shot at Avila's chest before Herrera and the codefendants fled. Prosecutors said Avila Jr. died at the scene of the wedding, which took place in Midvale, Utah, about 10 miles south of Salt Lake City. 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. Herrera was found guilty of first-degree felony murder, second-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person, second-degree felony obstructing justice, and third-degree felony aggravated assault. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 20, according to the district attorneys office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local KSL reported Herrera was previously sentenced to two concurrent prison sentences of zero-to-five years in connection with a 2020 shooting that left another man paralyzed. In that case, Herrera pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and felony discharge of a firearm, according to the outlet. Read the original article on People WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C. police said a man died in the hospital after he was shot near the Brentwood Recreation Center on Labor Day. The shooting broke out just after 4:15 p.m. on Sept. 1 in the 2300 block of 14th Street NE. When D.C. officers arrived, they found 36-year-old Francois Adkins, of Northwest, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Man critically hurt in Labor Day shooting in Northeast DC As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made in connection with Adkinss death. The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the departments TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. NEED TO KNOW A 34-year-old British sailor's boat was found with his dog on board near the Canary Islands on Aug. 25 A week before, his family became concerned after he lost contact Around the time he was last seen, both his passport and backpack were stolen A week after a British sailor disappeared, his boat and his miniature Jack Russell Terrier were found 100 miles from his last known location near the Canary Islands in Spain. On Monday, Aug. 25, 34-year-old James Nunans boat was found miles off the coast of Gran Canaria, the BBC, The Times and The Telegraph reported. His 18-month-old puppy, Thumbelina, was found alive on board and taken to a shelter on the island, according to The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man, who began a sailing trip around the world in March, had last made contact with his family the week before. It started to become very worrying, very quickly, Nunans half-sister, Nikita Goddard, told the BBC. The family, Spanish authorities and the British Embassy in Madrid did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. Nunan, known as Jemsie by his loved ones, worked as a bricklayer to pay for his trip around the globe, and planned on traveling to Brazil, according to the BBC. A previous trip to Scotland inspired Nunan to buy his boat, Kehaar, which eventually led to his bigger venture that began almost six months ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By mid-August, his mother became concerned when she didnt hear from Nunan for their normal check-in. She last spoke to him on Aug. 18 it was a Monday and by the Wednesday, my mum started to get a bit worried. I believe it was Friday, Aug. 22, when she reported him as a missing person, Goddard told The Telegraph. On Aug. 18, Nunan recorded a Facebook Live while he walked around with people on Playa del Confital beach, followed by a visit to Paddy's Anchor bar in Las Palmas, where he told another man he planned on traveling to Lanzarote, another of the Canary Islands, the BBC reported. By 10:49 p.m. local time, Nunan bought dinner at a kebab spot, as shown on CCTV. His backpack was stolen outside of the restaurant, though he was seen there eating food with his passport around his neck. The next day, on Tuesday, Aug. 19, his passport was reported "lost or stolen" to the Irish consulate, according to the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three days later, his mom reported him missing. Goddard told The Telegraph, We are told there was a pan-pan alert made in regards to his boat its one step down from a mayday. The BBC reported that the call took place between Aug. 24 and 25. According to The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water, a pan-pan call is "used to signal urgent information, like when someone has fallen overboard, or a boat is drifting into shore or a busy shipping channel." Essex Police Thumbelina. Thumbelina. The discovery of the Kehaar without Nunan on board would come hours later. After the boat was recovered, the missing mans family pleaded again for information on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anyone sees him call him Jemsie as only friends and family call him that, his worried mom wrote on Facebook Wednesday, Aug. 27. Tell him we are looking for him and we have located both Thumbelina and his boat. As Nunans dad searches for him in Gran Canaria, a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the agency is assisting the family, according to The Telegraph. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities, the spokesperson told the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Nunans family, there is fear and many unknowns. "There's a lot of questions going around," Goddard, who recently welcomed her first baby, told the BBC. "It's just become crazy, to say the least. It's not been easy." Read the original article on People THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) A 21-year-old man who was fatally shot in the head was dropped off in the back of a Bronx hospital early Tuesday morning, according to police and sources. The victim, Jontay Davis, was found with a gunshot wound to the head behind Saint Barnabas Hospital at 4422 Third Ave. at around 2 a.m., sources said. Davis died at the hospital. Sources said the victim was left behind the hospital by an unknown driver in an unknown car. The motive for the shooting was also unclear, police said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been no arrests. The Bronx has been plagued by a spate of shootings in the past week, including a fatal drive-by shooting and a deadly triple shooting in Claremont. The incidents come as the NYPD said the city recorded 77 shooting incidents in August, a 4% increase compared to last Augusts record setting lows. However, August 2025 was still the third lowest for shooting incidents in recorded history. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. CARLE PLACE, N.Y. (PIX11) Nassau County police officers shot and killed a man who was holding a BB shotgun in Carle Place early Wednesday morning, according to authorities. Police said officers were responding to a domestic call on Rushmore Avenue around 12:20 a.m. More Local News The mother of 33-year-old James Rosano told officers that he was intoxicated and very irate, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last night, she [his mother] stated that he was highly irrational and out of control, said Stephen Fitzpatrick, the Commanding Officer of NCPD Homicide Squad. Police said officers were speaking to Rosanos mother at the door of their home when he, standing to their right, pointed what appeared to be a shotgun at them. The officers pushed the mother into the house to protect her and told him to put down the weapon, according to authorities. The BB shotgun James Rosano was holding, according to authorities. (Credit: NCPD) Police said Rosano refused and waved the weapon, which is when one of the officers fired a single shot. Rosano was hit once in the chest and taken to a local hospital, where he died, according to authorities. Fitzpatrick said after Rosanos mother called 911, he told her, Kiss me, Im going to go outside, and die by the police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the shotgun, which was later discovered to be a BB gun, was recovered. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Rosano has a history of run-ins with the police, ranging from assaults, burglary, arson, criminal mischief and DWI, according to authorities. Police said his last arrest was on Monday, when Rosano was accused of assaulting his girlfriend. Rosanos mother told police officers that he was an alcoholic, drug user and had a history of depression, according to authorities. Police said there were several calls to the home for domestic issues. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A 45-year-old man was killed in a Russian attack on Khmelnytskyi Oblast on the morning of 3 September. Source: Serhii Tiurin, Head of Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration Details: The man was in the impact area of the Russian morning strike. Rescue workers used a search dog to locate him, but were unable to save him. Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration reported that air defence systems had shot down two missiles and three Shahed-type drones. Another drone disappeared from radar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 502 drones as well as 24 air-to-surface and maritime surface-to-surface missiles starting from the evening of 2 September. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A 42-year-old from St. Paul was the man whom a police officer fatally shot in West St. Paul after he had shot at law enforcement, authorities said Wednesday. St. Paul police informed West St. Paul police about 11 a.m. Aug. 28 that they intended to arrest Jerry Va Thao at a home in the 1200 block of Ottawa Avenue in West St. Paul, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a statement about their preliminary investigation. Thao was wanted for felony warrants and was suspected of violating an order for protection a day earlier, the BCA said. Law enforcement confirmed he was in the homes basement and, despite their repeated requests, he didnt exit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The multijurisdictional South Metro SWAT Team responded. Over several hours, negotiators had limited contact with Thao, who began firing at officers, striking a ballistic shield and a SWAT vehicle, the BCA statement said. Officers continued attempts to communicate with Thao and deployed chemical irritants into the home but Thao remained inside. The BCA said they found two firearms, cartridge casings and a damaged ballistic shield at the scene. Apple Valley Sgt. Sean Marben, a SWAT team member, was positioned on a SWAT vehicle and saw Thao armed at the bottom of the basement stairs about 6:30 p.m., the BCA said. Marben fired his department-issued firearm and shot Thao. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thao was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Court records show warrants were issued for Thao after he was charged in June with threats of violence and theft of a firearm, and in July with felony domestic assault and violating a no-contact order. Thao had a warrant for failing to appear at a May hearing after he was charged in April with possession of a firearm/ammunition by a person ineligible due to a conviction of a crime of violence and violating a no-contact order. He also had a warrant for a probation violation in a felony domestic assault case he pleaded guilty to last year. The Apple Valley Police Department placed Marben, who has eight years of law enforcement experience, on critical incident leave, which is standard in such a case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers were wearing body-worn cameras, which were recording. The BCA investigation is continuing. Related Articles This story has been updated with new information. Police have identified the man who they say killed three people before shooting himself in Mount Washington on Aug. 31. Samuel Ericksen, 26, was accused of fatally shooting 22-year-old Eden Adugna, 20-year-old Feven Adugna and 27-year-old Bemnet Deresse near a home at the intersection of Beacon Street and Glade Avenue around 1:30 p.m., police said. Ericksen turned the gun on himself that same day and was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with critical injuries. He died due to the self-inflicted injury on Sept. 2, police said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Cincinnati police identify two women, one man killed in Mount Washington shooting Eden Adugna and Feven Adugna, who both worked at the Good Samaritan Hospital, died at the scene while Deresse was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he later died. A Cincinnati police spokesman said the shooting seemed motivated by a "romantic interest" the gunman had for one of the three killed. Police said they do not believe it was a hate crime. The shooting is still under investigation. Police are asking those with information about the shooting to call 513-352-3542. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mount Washington shooting: Police identify gunman accused of killing 3 A man from Nicaragua who was deported from South Florida nearly two decades ago has been sentenced to a five-year federal prison term after pleading guilty to illegally re-entering the country. Marco Orlando Vado, 66, was charged in federal court by indictment in December 2023 with one count of illegal re-entry after removal. He pleaded guilty to the charge this June and was sentenced last week, federal court records show. Vado was deported to Nicaragua in 2009, not long after he was sentenced to probation for a 2006 cocaine trafficking charge in Broward County. He had returned to the U.S. at some point before April 2022, when he was arrested by North Miami Beach Police for attempted sexual battery of a minor under 12, federal prosecutors said in a news release Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrest violated Vados probation for the earlier Broward County charge, and he was booked into the Broward jail in late 2023. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities were alerted to Vados arrest through fingerprinting technology when he was booked, according to a factual proffer in his federal court case. There were no records showing that Vado applied for or received permission to re-enter the country after his deportation, the factual proffer said. Vados federal sentence will run consecutive to his six-year state prison sentence, which he received in 2024 for violating probation in his Broward County case, federal prosecutors said. Prior to receiving his federal sentence last week, Vado was already held in a Florida state prison, Department of Corrections records show. NEED TO KNOW In a "historic" ruling, a man in India received the death sentence after being found guilty of murdering his wife over the color of her skin Kishandas was accused of locking his wife Lakshmi in a room and setting her on fire on June 24, 2017 Lakshmi died of her injuries in the hospital after giving evidence to the police A man was sentenced to death in Udaipur, India after brutally murdering his wife by locking her in a room and burning her alive due to the color of her skin. Kishandas carried out the crime on June 24, 2017, targeting his wife Lakshmi because he believed her skin was too dark, according to reporting by the BBC, Hindustan Times and the Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the night of the deadly attack, Lakshmi was given a liquid described as medicine by her husband. He reportedly told her that it would make her skin lighter and applied it to her body. After she said that the material smelled like acid, he used an incense stick to set her alight. Before leaving her, Kishandas poured the remaining liquid over her body. 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. Getty Stock image of locked prison cells Stock image of locked prison cells Despite attempting to escape, Lakshmi was locked in the room, according to Hindustan Times. Her husbands family rescued her and took her to hospital where she later died from her injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lakshmi detailed the abuse that she suffered in statements to the police before her death, saying that her husband routinely taunted her being dark skinned and body shamed her after their 2016 wedding, per the BBC. "It will not be an exaggeration to say that this heart-rending brutal crime was not just against Lakshmi, but it's a crime against humanity," Judge Choudhary said in court, per the BBC. The judge accused Kishandas of violating his wife's "trust" and said that throwing the remaining liquid on her was an example of "excessive cruelty." He added that this was the sort of crime that "cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilized society." "A young woman in her early 20s was murdered brutally. She was someone's sister, someone's daughter, there were people who loved her. If we don't save our daughters, then who would?" Public prosecutor Dinesh Paliwal told the BBC of the "historic" decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutor presented evidence from 14 witnesses and 36 documents to accuse Kishandas of "repeatedly taunting" his wife, per Hindustan Times. Kishandas' attorney Surendra Kumar Menariya told BBC that the victim's death was "accidental" and claimed there was a lack of evidence. The outlet reported that there are 30 days to appeal the ruling. PEOPLE has contacted the District & Sessions Court in Udaipur, India for comment. Read the original article on People Sep. 2A Fairborn man found guilty of shooting at detectives in an unmarked vehicle was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison. What was he sentenced to? Breyon X. Bryant, 32, was sentenced to 33 to 37 years, according to the Greene County Prosecutor's Office. What was he convicted of? A jury found Bryant guilty of three counts of felonious assault in April. What was he accused of? On Jan. 24, 2024, Columbus police contacted the Fairborn Police Department about Bryant being charged with murder and having a warrant issued for his arrest, according to the prosecutor's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbus police reportedly asked for Fairborn's help arresting Bryant, who lived in an apartment on West Funderburg Road. Detectives created a plan to minimize risk and placed the apartment under surveillance. Three Fairborn detectives in an unmarked vehicle were monitoring the apartment, the prosecutor's office said. When Bryant left his apartment and walked to his car, detectives drove to the parking lot as he was getting into his vehicle. Bryant opened fire on the detectives before the detectives could identify themselves as police, according to the prosecutor's office. He then ran toward another part of the apartment complex and hit between two cars in an adjacent lot before surrendering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported. What happens next? Bryant is scheduled to go to trial for an unrelated charge in Greene County on Oct. 13, according to the prosecutor's office. Once that case concludes, he will be extradited to Franklin County for the murder case. A 78-year-old Bergen County man has been charged with arson after officials said he lit several police vehicles on fire in a parking lot. Jaime Magnelli of Hackensack was charged with aggravated arson, arson, risk of widespread damage, failure to control or report a fire and criminal mischief, officials said. First responders in Hackensack were dispatched to a municipal parking lot at 78 Trinity Place just after 8 p.m. Saturday for a report of several police cars on fire, officials from the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities found three police cars on fire at the scene, officials said. Magnelli was discovered to have approached the three vehicles and doused them with an accelerant before igniting the substance and fleeing the area, officials said. There were no reported injuries, but officials said the fire was located near the Bergen County Islamic Center, which was occupied at the time, and a municipal gas pump. Officials did not release additional details about the investigation. Magnelli was arrested Tuesday and is being held in the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in court. Magnelli did not have an attorney listed in court records Wednesday. Matthew Enuco Stories by Matthew Enuco Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities are searching for a suspect after a man was shot during a fight in East Nashville. Officers were called at 11:46 p.m. to James A. Cayce Homes on South 7th Street. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Officials said the victim was standing near Sylvan Street when he was approached by a man dressed in black, and the two had a short altercation. The victim was shot in the leg and taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No suspects were identified as of Wednesday morning. 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. The man who police say shot and killed three people in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Mount Washington over the weekend has died, our news partners at WCPO reported. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Samuel Tyler Ericksen, 26, died from injuries stemming from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Tuesday. Cincinnati police said Ericksen shot and killed Bemnet Deresse, 27, Eden Adugna, 22, and Feven Adugna, 20, on Sunday afternoon. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police responded to reports of a shooting on Beacon Street around 1:30 p.m. When they got to the scene, they found four people shot. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene. Medics transported the other victim and Ericksen to UC Medical Center. The third victim died from their injuries there. Ericksen remained in the hospital until he died from his injuries. Lt. Jonathan Cunningham previously told WCPO that there were still a lot of unknown questions regarding what happened. Truly a tragedy today. The pain is very widespread, being felt by those involved, by our officers, by the residential community here. Its very sad, Cunningham said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for TriHealth sent a statement to WCPO regarding cherished Good Samaritan Hospital employees Eden and Feven Adugna. The TriHealth family is devastated by the tragic passing of two cherished Good Samaritan Hospital team members. Their dedication and spirit touched everyone who worked alongside them, the spokesperson said. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time, and we remain committed to providing ongoing support to all affected. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] KANSAS CITY, Mo. Investigators have identified the man who was shot and killed by officers with the Independence Police Department (IPD) this past weekend. Gary K. Cusick, a 68-year-old man from Independence, was killed Sunday, according to the Lees Summit Police Department. Independence officers on administrative leave after shooting, killing man The Independence officers who shot the man are currently on administrative leave until the investigation is complete. Once it is concluded, the case will be presented to the Jackson County Prosecutors Office for review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, the Police Involved Incident Team (PIIT) which consists of the Lees Summit, Blue Springs, Grandview and Independence police departments is leading the investigation. The Kansas City Police Department will also assist with the investigation. According to IPD, at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, officers were called to an apartment building in the area of East Truman Road and South Scott Avenue on reports of a disturbance. When police arrived, they reported finding a man in the backseat of a car. As officers began speaking with him, the PIO said he pulled out a handgun. According to body camera footage, the man was asked to put the gun down, and when he didnt, officers shot him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers gave that man commands to drop the handgun. Yes, he disregarded their commands, and unfortunately, officers were forced to use lethal force, Sergeant Chris Depue said. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A New York City man wounded by a Newark police officer last year has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court that accuses the police of using excessive force and violating his civil rights. Giovani Oscar Valle-Castro, of Queens, New York, filed the suit Wednesday through his lawyer, David J. Altieri. In it, he says he suffered several injuries in the Aug. 12, 2024, shooting and is permanently paralyzed. The suit cites 16 counts that also allege police assaulted Valle-Castro and were poorly trained and supervised. The suit says Valle-Castro, on Aug. 12, 2024, near Hawthorne Avenue, climbed into a vehicle and attempted to drive away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was then unjustifiably subjected to gunfire by officers from the Newark Department of Public Safety, the suit says. The gunfire violated the state Attorney Generals Offices guidelines on use of force, it alleges. The Attorney Generals Office, which is investigating the incident, has said the gunshot victim they never identified Valle-Castro emerged from a corner store as police officers were detaining a passenger in a reported stolen vehicle. The man jumped into the vehicles passenger seat then hopped into the drivers seat and struggled with officers, who had their guns drawn and tried to stop the man from driving away. Officer Alexander Ferreira then ran around to the drivers side, told his partner to Back up! and fired twice as the vehicle moved forward. The vehicle then rocketed forward and struck a building and two unoccupied parked vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Attorney Generals Office publicized the officers body cameras in November 2024. Valle-Castro was not charged criminally with any offenses, Altieri said. His suit says the officers reacted with an inordinate amount of force. Its unfortunate that the Newark Department of Public Safety has consistently failed to develop policies that prevent this type of indiscretion with respect to an appropriate use of force, Altieri said. The Newark police department deferred comment to the citys law office, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Kevin Shea Stories by Kevin Shea Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com Read the original article on NJ.com. BURLINGTON, Vt. A serial bank robber and straw man who illegally bought 19 firearms including one used to shoot a Springfield, Massachusetts, police officer in the face a year ago has been sentenced to almost four years in federal prison. Stephen Loewe, 43, of Springfield, Vermont, also was ordered to pay $2,410 in restitution for money stolen during three bank robberies in southern Vermont in August 2024 to help fuel his crack cocaine addiction, officials said. Chief Federal Judge Christina Reiss told Loewe that he would be on three years of supervised release once he is discharged from the 45-month prison term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reiss agreed to allow the federal sentence to run concurrently with any time imposed in state court. She recommended that Loewe serve the time at the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. As part of the plea agreement, Loewe admitted he robbed the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield on Aug. 13, 2024, and the M&T Bank in Springfield on the same day, along with the M&T Bank in Putney the following day. He also admitted to buying the 19 firearms across the Connecticut River in New Hampshire between December 2023 and May 2024, records show. Six were bought at American Trikes & Motorsports in Keene; five were at the Sporting & Hunting Depot in Charlestown; and four each at Black Ops Arms in Claremont and the Alstead Gun Shop in Alstead, the plea agreement said. During each gun purchase, Loewe claimed the firearm was for himself when he actually planned to give them to his drug dealer in Rockingham in exchange for crack, records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loewe was fully aware that his drug dealer was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his extensive criminal history, officials said. These types of gun violations are commonly known as straw purchases buying a gun for somebody not legally able to buy or possess a firearm. The straw-purchasing of firearms and providing them to drug traffickers is an exceedingly serious crime, acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher said. A key aspect of federal firearm background checks is to confirm the person purchasing the firearm is the intended recipient. Straw-purchasing intentionally circumvents this safeguard by allowing prohibited people to possess guns, and arming criminals with firearms that cannot be traced back to them as purchasers, Drescher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least one of the 19 handguns was later found during an investigation into a police officer being shot in Springfield, Massachusetts, a Vermont Drug Task Force detective said in a court affidavit. On June 5, 2024, off-duty Springfield Police Department Officer Nestor Santos happened to come across a sprawling crime scene and gunfire while on his way to work. He was wounded on State Street and taken to Baystate Medical Center. Later, he was moved to a Boston area hospital, where he began a long period of recovery. The city of Springfield said at the time that Santos, a seven-year veteran and decorated member with the department, had a bullet fragment lodged in his head. He underwent eye surgery immediately, and more were planned. Santos ended up losing vision in one eye and was out of work for a year, but is back on the job at Springfield police and is assigned to firearms investigations, department spokesperson Ryan Walsh said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santos received the departments highest honor, the Medal of Valor Award, in 2023. Springfield detectives were working on an unrelated case when suspects in a Honda Civic began shooting at police, a spokesperson said. As police searched for them, about 2 minutes later, occupants of a Jeep Cherokee began firing at an unmarked police cruiser with an AR-15 style rifle and other firearms near State Street and Hunter Place. The police cruiser was struck five times, but no on-duty officers were hit, police said. That is when Santos stopped at the scene and was wounded, police said. Two Massachusetts Department of Transportation workers also were injured when struck by a shooters fleeing vehicle, police said. Another bystander also was injured in the case, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Springfield police had arrested seven people, with five of them between ages 16 and 18, after the shootings on June 5 and 6, 2024. Officers also seized seven firearms. Five of the seven people arrested had previously been arrested on firearms charges. Read the original article on MassLive. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man in a wheelchair is dead after he was hit by a vehicle in the west Las Vegas valley Tuesday evening, according to Metro police. Just before 7:20 p.m., officers responded to the area of Charleston Boulevard and Heavenly Hills Court near Durango Drive after a report that a vehicle had hit a 58-year-old man in a wheelchair. Police said evidence showed that the victim was crossing Charleston, outside of a marked crosswalk, when he was struck. Paramedics arrived and administered CPR to the victim and he was taken to a local hospital, police said. The man was later pronounced dead, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 22-year-old driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said. Charleston Boulevard before Durango Drive was closed in both directions as police conducted their investigation, according to RTC Southern Nevada. A man in a wheelchair is dead after he was hit by a vehicle in the west Las Vegas valley Tuesday evening, according to Metro police. (KLAS) A man in a wheelchair is dead after he was hit by a vehicle in the west Las Vegas valley Tuesday evening, according to Metro police. (KLAS) A man in a wheelchair is dead after he was hit by a vehicle in the west Las Vegas valley Tuesday evening, according to Metro police. (KLAS) This crash occurred only a couple of blocks from one of the top 12 dangerous intersections within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments jurisdiction. For a full list of those intersections and how police plan to combat fatalities, click here. This is an ongoing story. Stay with 8 News Now 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 KLAS. The Handmaids Tale writer Margaret Atwood has published a satirical short story aimed at a controversial school library ban on books with explicit sexual content in Alberta, including LGBTQ+ titles. In a social media post on X, Atwood noted her classic novel, which was adapted into a popular Hulu drama, had landed on the school book ban list in the western Canadian province. Sorry, kids; your Minister of Education thinks you are stupid babies, she commented. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atwood then introduced her short story characters, John and Mary, who never picked their noses or had bowel movements or zits. Her story adds: They grew up and married each other, and produced five perfect children without ever having sex. And while claiming to be Christian, Atwood wrote John and Mary didnt follow what Jesus Christ said about the poor and the Good Samaritan and forgiving your enemies and such. Instead, the novelist continued, the couple practice selfish rapacious capitalism, because they worshipped Ayn Rand. The short story concludes with a reference to Alberta premier Danielle Smith, who after ordering the removal of controversial books from school libraries with a ministerial order, on Tuesday ordered a pause to the book ban to introduce new rules. So they (John and Mary) lived happily ever after. But while they were doing that, The Handmaids Tale came true and Danielle Smith found herself with a nice new blue dress, but no job. The end, Atwood wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other books subject to the earlier book ban in Edmonton public schools include Aldus Huxleys Brave New World, Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Stephen Chboskys The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which was adapted into a feature film. Here's a piece of literature by me, suitable for seventeen-year-olds in Alberta schools, unlike we are told The Handmaid's Tale. (Sorry, kids; your Minister of Education thinks you are stupid babies.) John and Mary were both very, very good children. They never picked Margaret E Atwood (@MargaretAtwood) August 31, 2025 Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse gathered in front of the Capitol Wednesday, demanding the release of all files related to Epstein, as bipartisan lawmakers push for transparency. The group of survivors, joined by lawmakers from both parties, called for the full release of the Epstein files, citing the need for justice and accountability. The days of sweeping this under the rug are over. We, the survivors, say no, said Anouska De Georgiou, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would like people to see us for who we are and to hear us for what we have to say. There is no hoax, said Haley Robson, another survivor of Epstein. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, co-sponsored by bipartisan lawmakers, aims to force a vote on the House floor to release these documents. Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is usually closely aligned with Trump, described her support for a bill that would force the Justice Department to release the information it has compiled on Epstein and Maxwell as a moral fight against sexual predation. This isnt one political party or the other. Its a culmination of everyone working together to silence these women and protect Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal, Greene said. The shame falls on those who allowed Jeffrey Epsteins crimes to continue unchecked. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene has long called for the release of the Epstein files. She also told reporters that she had spoken with Trump on Wednesday to tell him that he should host the survivors in the Oval Office, not any of Jeffrey Epsteins rich, powerful friends. Greene is one of four Republicans three of them women who have defied House GOP leadership and the White House in an effort to force a vote on their bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quash the effort by putting forward his own resolution and arguing that a concurrent investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the best way for Congress to deliver transparency. The survivors, who claim to have suffered sexual abuse and trafficking at the hands of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, shared their firsthand accounts during the gathering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A petition has been filed to force a vote on the House floor to release all the Epstein files, although Johnson has blocked the vote despite expressing support for releasing the files. Meanwhile, the White House was warning House members that support for the bill to require the DOJ to release the files would be seen as a hostile act. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who is pressing for the bill, said that the White House was sending that message because Theyve dug in. They decided they dont want it released, he said. Its a political threat. No matter what you do its going to keep going, Trump said Wednesday. He added, Really, I think its enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with Trump sending a strong message and Republican leadership moving forward with an alternative resolution, Massie was left looking for support from at least two more Republicans willing to cross political lines. It would take six GOP members, as well as all House Democrats, to force a vote on their bill. And even if that passes the House, it would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by Trump. Maxwell, Epsteins longtime confidant and former girlfriend, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for luring teenage girls for him to abuse. Four women testified at her trial that they were abused by Epstein as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at his homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico. The allegations have also spawned dozens of lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survivors who spoke on Wednesday expressed outrage over Maxwells transfer to a prison camp after her cooperation with the Department of Justice, with one survivor describing it as a prison spa. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Mark Zuckerberg's $300 million superyacht didn't get a warm welcome when it arrived in Longyearbyen, a remote town in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. As the Meta CEO explored Arctic waters aboard his massive vessel called Launchpad, accompanied by a $30 million support ship named Wingman, climate activists staged a protest, sounding alarms over the environmental cost of the billionaire's visit, the Hindustan Times reported. Protesters marched through Longyearbyen with banners and whistles, calling out what they saw as a jarring example of climate hypocrisy in one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet. "If he thinks he can come to one of the most threatened and fragile places in the world with two yachts (while one of them emits 40 tons of CO2 per hour), without being criticised, he's thinking wrong," read a post from local activist group Arctic Climate Action Svalbard (@arcticclimateaction), as reported by NRK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message didn't stop at emissions. Protesters also criticized Zuckerberg for the broader harm caused by Meta's platforms. "We'll tell Mark Zuckerberg what many inhabitants of Longyearbyen think about him hosting disinformation on his platforms which is threatening democracies worldwide and impeding on meaningful climate mitigation," Arctic Climate Action's post continued. Zuckerberg's yachts have become symbols of a widening climate gap: the ultra-rich using high-emission transport in places already bearing the brunt of rising global temperatures. The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the global average, according to one study. Meanwhile, superyachts such as Launchpad can burn thousands of gallons of fuel per day, releasing as much pollution in a few hours as the average person does in a year. These protests also draw attention to broader questions about fairness and responsibility and what it means to visit nature without destroying it in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For people looking to counteract this kind of impact, organizations such as Clean Arctic Alliance are pushing for a ban on heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters. Others, including Sea Legacy, are fighting to conserve marine ecosystems such as polar ice caps. But local actions such as the one in Svalbard may be just as powerful and send a clear signal that, even in the far north, people are watching. 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. Market Basket battle: Longtime CEO, board of directors meeting for mediation session Market Baskets top leaders are slated to meet on Wednesday for a mediation session in Delaware as the fight for control of the Tewksbury-based grocery chain drags on. Arthur T. Demoulas, the longtime CEO of Market Basket, was put on leave in May after the companys board accused him of planning a work stoppage. In recent weeks, several other executives loyal to Demoulas have also been fired, including Joseph Schmidt and Tom Gordon, who were both banned from setting foot on the grocery store chains property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmidt and Gordon called their firings a pre-planned coup spearheaded by the Demoulas sisters, who are majority shareholders in Market Basket. The three Demoulas sisters, Frances Kettenbach, Glorianne Demoulas Farnham, and Caren Demoulas Pasquale, later voted to oust longtime board member Bill Shea, their brothers last remaining ally. The companys board placed Demoulason on paid administrative leave on May 28 over allegations that he had been considering leading a work stoppage. Jay Hachigian, Steven Collins, and Michael Keyes are the only board members remaining, all of whom were appointed by the three Demoulas sisters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this summer, the board said the investigation into Demoulas is nearly complete." The outcome of the mediation meeting will be crucial in determining the future leadership and direction of Market Basket. 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 Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said federal workers "deserve a voice in the workplace," which is why he joined 22 other attorneys general in support of labor unions trying to block an administration push to end their collective bargaining rights. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters) Maryland joined 21 states and the District of Columbia on a brief in support of federal labor unions that are suing to block President Donald Trumps executive order canceling collective bargaining agreements with dozens of federal offices. The friend-of-the-court brief, filed Friday with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, argues that Trumps order violates the affected workers First Amendment rights and retaliates against them for not adhering with the presidents agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal workers constitute one in ten Maryland jobs, serving our communities in roles such as nurses at veterans hospitals, environmental scientists, agricultural inspectors, and administrative support specialists, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement Tuesday. These dedicated public servants deserve a voice in the workplace, Browns statement said. Without the right to collectively bargain, they risk losing the protections, fair wages, and safe working conditions they need to support their families and serve the public effectively. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 27 that said labor agreements were being canceled to enhance the national security. The agencies targeted ranged from the Defense Department and Department of Homeland Security to the Bureau of Land Management and the Federal Communications Commission, according to guidance at the time from the Office of Personnel Management. Trump expanded that list on Thursday with another executive order that added NASA, the commissioner of patents in the Patent and Trademark Office, the National Weather Service and the U.S. Agency for Global Media which oversees Voice of America among other agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agencies and agency subdivisions set forth in this order are hereby determined to have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work, Trumps order said. The American Federation of Government Employees one of six federal unions that had sued to block Trumps original executive order said after Thursdays order that it will continue to fight. AFGE is preparing an immediate response and will continue to fight relentlessly to protect the rights of our members, federal employees and their union, AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement. U.S. District Judge James Donato issued a preliminary injunction June 24 that blocked implementation of Trumps order, noting that a White House fact sheet published with the original order called out hostile Federal unions that have declared war on President Trumps agenda and are fighting back against Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the 9th Circuit lifted that injunction, on Aug. 1, saying that Trumps order on its face does not express any retaliatory animus. Instead, it conveys the Presidents determination that the excluded agencies have primary functions implicating national security. Since then, federal agencies have moved swiftly to end labor agreements with their workers, reclaiming office space from the unions and canceling arbitration and grievance hearings, among other actions. The Center for American Progress estimates more than 1 million federal workers, representing about 81% of federal labor union membership, are affected by Trumps executive order Besides Maryland, other jurisdictions signed on to the brief include the District of Columbia and the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A Canton man is facing charges after crashing his car into another vehicle during a car chase with Stoughton police on Friday, according to police. Helohim Francilme, 20, has been charged with two counts of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in property damage and failure to stop for police in connection with the incident, Stoughton police said in a press release Tuesday. He is also facing one count each of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with a revoked registration and three other driving infractions. On Aug. 29, a Stoughton police officer on patrol in the area of West and Central Streets noticed a black Jeep Grand Cherokee that was known to police from prior interactions shortly before 6:10 p.m., police said. The officer tried to pull the car over due to it its revoked registration, but the driver sped away towards Pearl Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer initially chased the Jeep, but stopped his pursuit when the Jeep passed the Canton town line, police said. A Stoughton sergeant who was also familiar with the Jeep and areas it is often seen in decided to look for it on Island Street in Stoughton in case it returned to the town. A short time later, the sergeant spotted the Jeep driving negligently on Bailey Street in Canton near the Stoughton town line and followed it at a distance, police said. The Jeep soon crashed into another car and then a utility pole. The driver who was later identified as Francilme ran from the Jeep after the crash, police said. Canton police and a Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit helped Stoughton police search for Francilme, and Canton police arrested him on Greenwood Road about an hour later. The driver whose car was hit by Francilme declined medical treatment, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francilme was arraigned Tuesday in Stoughton District Court and held on $2,500 bail. He may face additional charges related to the incident, Stoughton police said. More local crime stories Read the original article on MassLive. SHER SHAH, Pakistan (AP) Officials say nearly 300,000 people have been evacuated in the past 48 hours from flood-hit areas of Pakistan's Punjab province following the latest flood alerts by India, officials said Wednesday. The evacuations bring the total number of people displaced since last month to 1.3 million. Floodwaters have submerged dozens of villages in Punjab's Muzaffargarh district, after earlier inundating Narowal and Sialkot, both near the border with India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are also struggling to divert overflowing rivers onto farmlands to protect major cities, as part of one of the largest rescue and relief operations in the history of Punjab, which straddles eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. Thousand of rescuers using boats are taking part in the relief and rescue operations, while the military has also been deployed to transport people and animals from inundated villages, said Arfan Ali Kathia, director-general of Punjab's Provincial Disaster Management Authority. A new flood alert was shared with Pakistan by neighboring India through diplomatic channels early Wednesday, Kathia said. It was the second such alert in 24 hours following heavy rains and water releases from dams in India. Kathia said the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers are all in high flood following torrential rains and upstream discharges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescuers are also using drones to find people stranded on rooftops in the flood-hit areas. Kathia said more than 3.3 million people across 33,000 villages in the province have been affected so far. Damages are still being assessed and all those who lost homes and crops would be compensated by the Punjab government, he said. Landslides and flooding have killed at least 29 people in India's Punjab state, home to more than 30 million people. Tent villages are being set up and food and other essential items are being supplied to the flood-affected people, he said, though many survivors complained about a lack of government aid. There are about 40,000 people in the relief camps, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. It remains unclear where the rest are sheltering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noor Mohammad, a 54-year-old farmer in Sher Shah village near Muzaffargarh district, said he hasnt received any help. Frustrated over this dayslong situation, I sent my family members to stay with relatives in the nearby area, he said, standing on higher ground overlooking his flooded village. Malik Ramzan, another displaced resident, said he chose to stay near his inundated home rather than enter a relief camp. There are no livable facilities in the camps, he said. Food isnt delivered on time, and we are treated like beggars, he said. However, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited flood-hit areas in Muzaffargarh on Wednesday, meeting with displaced families at relief camps. Her visit came just hours after India issued the latest cross-border flood alert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week's flooding mainly hit districts in Kasur, Bahawalpur and Narowal, where the deluge also submerged the shrine of Guru Nanak, located near the Indian border. However, authorities said the shrine is being reopened for pilgrims after water receded and the building was cleaned and restored. Pakistan began mass evacuations last month after India released water from overflowing dams into low-lying border regions. The latest floods are the worst since 2022 when climate-induced flooding killed nearly 1,700 people in Pakistan. ___ Associated Press writers Dogar in Lahore, Pakistan and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, contributed to this story. Nearly 300,000 people have been evacuated in the past 48 hours from flood-hit areas of Pakistans Punjab province following the latest flood alerts by India, officials have said, bringing the total number of people displaced since last month to 1.3 million. A new flood alert was shared with Pakistan by neighbouring India through diplomatic channels early on Wednesday, said Arfan Ali Kathia, director-general of Punjabs Provincial Disaster Management Authority. Floodwaters have submerged dozens of villages in Punjabs Muzaffargarh district, after earlier inundating Narowal and Sialkot, both near the border with India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are also struggling to divert overflowing rivers onto farmlands to protect major cities, as part of one of the largest rescue and relief operations in the history of Punjab, which straddles eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. The flood alert on Wednesday was the second in 24 hours following heavy rains and water releases from dams in India. Thousands of rescuers using boats are taking part in the relief and rescue operations, while the military has also been deployed to transport people and animals from inundated villages, said Kathia. Rescuers are also using drones to find people stranded on rooftops in the flood-hit areas. Kathia said more than 3.3 million people across 33,000 villages in the province have been affected. The damage is still being assessed and all those who lost homes and crops would be compensated by the Punjab government, he said. Landslides and flooding have killed at least 30 people in Indias Punjab state, home to more than 30 million people, and nearly 20,000 have been evacuated since August 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Pakistan, tent villages are being set up and food and other essential items are being supplied to flood-affected people, said Kathia, though many survivors complained about a lack of government aid. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited flood-hit areas in Muzaffargarh on Wednesday, meeting with displaced families at the camps. About 40,000 people are in the relief camps, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. It remains unclear where the rest are sheltering. Malik Ramzan, a displaced resident, said he chose to stay near his inundated home rather than enter a relief camp. There are no liveable facilities in the camps, he said. Food isnt delivered on time, and we are treated like beggars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Facilities at the camps are very poor, said Al Jazeeras Kamal Hyder, reporting from Multan in Punjab. Theres no clean drinking water, no proper toilet facilities, plus the fact that its very hot and humid, so it leads to dehydration. While these families have fans to keep cool in the heat, there are frequent power breakdowns, so these people now are very vulnerable when it comes to their health and, of course, the outbreak of diseases. Last weeks flooding mainly hit districts in Kasur, Bahawalpur and Narowal. Pakistan began mass evacuations last month after India released water from overflowing dams into low-lying border regions. The latest floods are the worst since 2022, when climate-induced flooding killed nearly 1,700 people in Pakistan. Mass. families navigate back to school amid fears of ICE, changes in school policy School districts across Massachusetts are taking steps to shield students as deportations reach a new high of nearly 1,500 people per day nationwide. Schools are no longer sensitive locations protected from immigration enforcement like they were under previous administrations. The state education agency in Massachusetts issued guidance for school districts and has worked with the attorney generals office to release information for superintendents about immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the largest school districts across the state are reaffirming that ICE is not allowed in school buildings without a warrant signed by a judge. Its extremely concerning for us. Its something that keeps us up at nighttime, said Gladys Vega, President & CEO of La Colaborativa in Chelsea. Schools see a decrease in attendance because parents are afraid to send their kids to school. Chelsea Superintendent Almi Abeyta told Boston 25 News that her district is following the guidance from the Massachusetts Attorney General. In Worcester, principals and staff have been trained on protocols if ICE were to ever seek access to a school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worcester Public Schools said it will not admit ICE agents into schools based on an administrative warrant, ICE detainer, or any other document related to civil immigration enforcement. Schools are places where children go to learn, play, and thrive. Worcester Public Schools will protect our children by following the law and our internal protocols should any future incidents take place. Students, families, and staff of all backgrounds are welcome in the Worcester Public Schools, said Daniel OBrien, Worcester Public Schools spokesperson. Massachusetts Republican Senator Peter Durant, whose district includes Worcester, told Boston 25 News he acknowledges that its important for everyone to feel safe. However, he believes Democrats and Republicans should be working together to cooperate with the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When youre committed to fighting any effort that the federal government wants to take to remove criminals from the street, then you end up in this weird spot where youre protecting criminals, said Sen. Durant. The Senate Minority Leader said the common goal should be taking violent offenders off the street. When youre trying to make sure youre taking the right people off the street, those other people shouldnt be afraid. They should be willing to work with our federal law enforcement, added Sen. Durant. Both sides need to get together so we can clean up the streets and get bad people, and certainly theres plenty of bad people to go after. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Boston 25 News that federal agents use discretion and would need secondary supervisor approval before any action could be taken at a school or a church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are protecting our schools, places of worship, and Americans who attend by preventing criminal aliens and gang members from exploiting these locations and taking safe haven there because these criminals knew law enforcement couldnt go inside under the previous Administration, said a statement from DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. DHSs directive gives our law enforcement the ability to do their jobs. 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 Rep. Thomas Massie is publicly pleading with his Republican colleagues to break rank with House GOP leaders and join his crusade to force a vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. At a Wednesday press conference outside the Capitol alongside some of the late convicted sex offender's accusers, Massie said he needed just two more members on his side of the aisle to sign onto the discharge petition that will allow him to bypass leadership and get his bill on the floor. All Democrats are expected to put their names on the petition, meaning a total of six Republican signatures is necessary to reach the 218-member threshold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We demand real accountability, said Massie, a Kentucky Republican. I encourage my colleagues theres over 200 Republicans who have not signed this discharge petition. We only need two of them to sign it. Massies effort at one point seemed all but guaranteed to succeed, but its taken a hit amid pressure from the Trump administration to stand down and as Republican leaders point to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committees success so far in compelling the release of Epstein-related documents through a separate subpoena. This is the most comprehensive investigation into Epstein and Maxwell to date," House Oversight chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said Wednesday morning at a GOP leadership press conference, regarding his panels probe. He also said that Epsteins estate would begin turning over materials on Sept. 8 in compliance with another subpoena that would, among other materials, compel the release of a birthday book that reportedly includes a letter from President Donald Trump to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has called Massies measure inartfully drafted and said he believed the Oversight investigation will uncover new and relevant information as the Justice Department turns over more of the files in its possession. But Massie countered that the Oversight Committee route is essentially allowing the DOJ to curate all of the information that the DOJ is giving them. He noted that the first batch of materials unloaded Tuesday night included an overwhelming number of redactions and consisted almost exclusively of information that has already been made public. The Oversight Committee also sat on the materials for more than a week before releasing them publicly, allowing staff on both sides of the aisle to comb through documents to ensure that victims identities were protected and other criminal matters were not compromised. Massies bill, in contrast, would provide fewer opportunities for the Trump administration and White House allies on Capitol Hill to slow-walk the process of making the Epstein files public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whereas the Justice Department is handing over materials piecemeal, Massies measure would require the DOJ to turn over nearly all of the information in its possession around Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for her part in the sex trafficking scheme within 30 days. The bill would allow the DOJ to redact information that could compromise a victims identity or depict abuse, but it would have to formally justify its redactions to Congress. No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary, the legislation states. The Epstein saga has, in part, been complicated by President Donald Trumps ties to the disgraced financier. Trump has maintained that he had a falling out with Epstein, who died by suicide behind bars in 2019 after new sex crimes charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some attendees at the Wednesday press conference held signs that appeared to mock Trump, showing a photo of him and first lady Melania Trump beside Epstein and Maxwell or alleging that the President is on the so-called Epstein list. The Justice Department has said it did not find evidence of the sort of incriminating list. The Washington establishment is asking the American public to believe something that is not believable, Massie said. Theyre asking you to believe that two individuals created hundreds of victims, and they acted alone, and that the DOJ has no idea of who else mightve been involved. Epsteins victims joined Massie, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to call for the full release of the files. Responding to Trumps comments that the Epstein matter was a hoax, Haley Robson, one of the women who has accused Epstein of sexual abuse, invited Trump to meet with her in person to hear about her experience. She noted she was a registered Republican. Please humanize us, Robson said. I would like Donald J. Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us. To see us for who we are, and to hear us for what we have to say. There is no hoax. The abuse was real. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chauntae Davies, another accuser, said that Epstein would brag about his close friendship with Trump and had an 8 by 10 framed picture of him on his desk with the two of them. Davies also said she joined a trip to Africa with Epstein, former President Bill Clinton and others. Brittany Henderson an attorney who has worked for some of Epsteins accusers suggested at the Wednesday press event it was possible to withhold the identities of some victims without making wholesale redactions designed to shield those who should be held accountable. Protect these women while we seek transparency, Henderson said. Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report. Related Video: Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) Emotional After Epstein Victim Hearing, Old Files Released | SUNRISE Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said late Tuesday that President Trump may be covering for some rich and powerful people, as the lawmaker pushes for more transparency in the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. I think the best way to clear President Trumps name is to release all the files, Massie told MSNBCs All In host Chris Hayes. I actually dont think hes done anything criminal; I think he may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his. And in fact, some of those billionaires are running ads against me in Kentucky right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of them is in Epsteins black book. So, were, you know, were getting close to the center of power here, he continued in the clip, highlighted by Mediaite. And I think, you know, embarrassment is not a reason to conceal all of this stuff. The Bluegrass State lawmaker added, Weve got to get it out in the open, regardless of whose friends might be incriminated. The comments come after Massie, in collaboration with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.), filed a long-promised discharge petition to force action on their transparency bill that would require the Trump administration to publicly disclose files and information related to Epstein. The petition needs 218 signatures in order to circumvent House GOP leadership and force action on the resolution. Both Khanna and the Kentucky Republican have said they are confident they can reach the threshold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The duo is expected to hold a press conference Wednesday morning alongside Epsteins accusers, a day after the victims met with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The committee later Tuesday also released the files the Justice Department (DOJ) turned over as the result of a subpoena. Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have tried to prevent internal divisions over the files and have launched a series of moves to appease GOP critics who have pushed for more information to be released. This includes adding a last-minute vote to the calendar, providing rank-and-file Republicans with a formal outlet to register their support for congressional investigations into Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who is in prison. The spotlight on the case was sparked earlier this summer after the DOJ and FBI published a joint memo concluding that Epstein did not keep a client list and reaffirming the medical examiners report that he died by suicide not foul play in 2019 as he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. 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. Mateo the donkey roamed Aug. 31 along Murfreesboro's busy Saint Andrews Drive until Heather Bowman corralled her beloved pet. "I was not ready for that morning cardio. I was struggling," said Bowman, who witnessed Mateo get loose at 7:05 a.m. to gallop on and to the side of the road before returning home. "He is back home living his best life. He is quite the entertainer. He thought the grass was greener on the other side, but it is exactly the same stuff. That's probably why he went back so quick." Heather Bowman kisses her donkey Mateo. Mateo romping away from home on the southwest side of Murfreesboro toward nearby the even busier New Salem Highway follows a well-publicized zebra escape. The zebra nicknamed, "Ed" on social media, disappeared in Rutherford County's Christiana community south of the city in late May before the wild animal returned to the owner in early June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowman said she's thankfulf no one was hurt while Mateo "was having the time of his life" on Saint Andrews Drive that leads commuters to Murfreesboro's nearby Salem and Scales elementary schools. "There were passers by who asked if they could help," Bowman said. "The shout out to the people who helped me were exceptional." Wild animal gets loose: Escaped Rutherford zebra being tracked via drone; officials warn public to 'stay clear' 'I'm still sore' Heather Bowman brushes Betty the cow while and Mateo the donkey wateches. The donkey in the more recent escpade gallopped through a gate Bowman had opened after she returned home from a 24-hour shift as an advanced emergency medical technician for Rutherford County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowman jogged along with her donkey until she was able coax Mateo to return through the gate of their home. "I was jogging beside him trying to get him back the opposiste way of New Salem," Bowman said. "I was able to lure him back. He knew exactly where his home was." Mateo sometimes while Bowman jogged beside him would stoop down to take a bite of grass before bolting again. Bowman finally guided the donkey back to the 5-acre property they share with her future husband, Brandon Smith, and free-roaming Betty the cow, 15 goats and over 50 chickens. "I got shin splints the day after," Bowman said. "Im still sore." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Middle Tennessee's missing zebra: Owner talks escape, why the animal may get a new home Donkey arrives as Christmas present Heather Bowman and her donkey Mateo on his first day at the farm. Bowman has enjoyed Mateo since Smith surprised his future wife with the donkey as a Christimas present in 2024 when the pet was 2-months-old. She also recognizes the religious influence that donkeys have in the Gospels as an animal serving Jesus. "Donkeys have crosses on their backs," Bowman said. "They are wonderful. They love to be loved on. They feed off your mood." Smith kept his future wife from figuring out the actual present the week before by giving Bowman a blow up donkey. Watch USA Today video: Zebra in Tennessee captured after more than a week on the run 'He has been my little therapy animal' Like Bowman, Smith works for the Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services. He finished a 24-hour shift as a paramedic, as well, when Bowman told him Mateo got loose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mateo helps the couple de-stress from the trauma they face as EMS responders. "He has been my little therapy animal," Bowman said. Project for autopsy investigations: $15M Rutherford County Regional Forensic Center breaks ground in Smyrna Couple will be adopting another donkey friend for Mateo Brandon Smith with Mateo the donkey, who is wearing a tiny sombrero. Bowman has bonded with Betty the cow. He also stands guard against coyotes that might want to attack the goats and chickens on the couple's leased 5 acres that's part of the historic Boxwood plantation. Smith works as a part-time farmhand for the adjacent 40 acres with cattle to the back of the couple's old farmhouse. Bowman and Smith plan to lease more farmland to start their own herd of cattle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given Betty the cow will join the future heard, the couple will be adding another yet-named 2-month old donkey to be a new close friend for Mateo on Sept. 5. "We think its a girl," Bowman said. "We'll get to name her on Friday." Speaking up for justice: Survivor of child sex abuse shares story for 25th anniversary of Child Advocacy Center Couple from Nashville love their farm animals in Murfreesboro Goats and chickens on Heather Bowman and Brandon Smith's property where Mateo lives. Bowman grew up in East Nashville before embracing the life of raising farm animals. "I love them more than people," Bowman said. Smith grew up in the Antioch community on the southeast side of Nashville. He spent summers in the Brentwood area working at Ravenwood Farms that was owned by his father's Uncle Reece Smith. The farm included Tennessee Walking Horses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple now enjoy letting people admire Mateo and their other farm animals. "This is phenomenal," Bowman said. "If our donkey story can bring a smile to someomone's face, that is a win for us because we love poeple and making people happy." Heather Bowman and her donkey Mateo. 'They can be a kid again': Child Advocacy Center helps victims disclose rape and abuse Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Middle TN donkey gets loose in Murfreesboro, chased, caught by owner The North Hollywood woman dubbed the Ketamine Queen by prosecutors pleaded guilty Wednesday to supplying the ketamine that led to actor Matthew Perrys overdose death in a hot tub two years ago. Jasveen Sangha, 42, appeared in federal court in downtown Los Angeles and pleaded guilty to five felony charges, including that she ran a stash house out of her upscale apartment and sold four vials of ketamine to another victim, Cody McLaury, in August 2019. McLaury died hours later from a drug overdose. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wearing a khaki jail jumpsuit and shackles on her ankles, Sangha admitted she knew that the 50 vials of liquid ketamine she was selling to a middleman in October 2023 were destined for use by Perry. There was no way I could tell 100%, but as far as [Fleming] told me, yes, Sangha told U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett when asked if she knew Perry was the buyer. I didnt know if it was all of [the vials] or some, but I knew something was going to [Perry], she said, standing in court beside her high-powered defense lawyer, Mark Geragos. Perrys mother, Suzanne Perry, and stepfather, Keith Morrison, sat silently in the courtrooms back row and did not speak with reporters after the morning hearing. Sanghas mother sat across the gallery and blew kisses to her daughter as Sangha was led back into custody. At the hearing, Sangha became the fifth and final defendant to be convicted in the high-profile case. Her co-defendants who previously pleaded guilty were two medical doctors, the middleman, Erik Fleming, and Perrys live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Its a tragedy, Geragos said of Perrys death as he spoke to reporters outside the courthouse. She feels horrible about all of this. Nobody wants to be in the chain of causation, for lack of a better term. So yeah, she feels horrible. Shes felt horrible since day one, he said. Geragos declined to describe the plea negotiations, but he said his client always wanted to take responsibility from day one. He said Sangha has spent the year shes already spent in custody engaging in self-improvement programs and volunteering. Still, the criminal case and her incarceration have been a horrendous experience, he said. Matthew Perrys mom Suzanne Perry and step-father Keith Morrison leave federal courthouse in L.A. after Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty to distributing the ketamine that resulted in the actors death They sat in the back row for the hearing and did not address the media pic.twitter.com/map3F4SnoM Nancy Dillon (@Nancy__Dillon) September 3, 2025 Sangha is facing a total maximum sentence of up to 65 years in prison, a fine of up to $2.5 million, and the possibility of a lifetime of supervised release, though shell likely receive much less. Her sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She originally was facing nine counts in her superseding indictment. The other counts centered on a purported conspiracy and the alleged possession of other drugs. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other four counts at sentencing. Geragos said he and his co-counsel Alexandra Kazarian plan to call experts at the sentencing hearing who will testify about the drugs in Perrys system and other factors linked to causation. He accused prosecutors of turning responsibility in this case on its head. I think most people, if you talk to them about this case, their biggest problem with it is: Why is she in custody and the [other defendants], whether its medical professionals or the people who were actually ingesting the drug or the people who were administering the drug, are out?' He declined to say how much prison time the defense plans to recommend. Once there are experts who will opine, it will be a more robust understanding of what happened. I think theres a lot of mitigation in this case. I think there are a lot of things we will present that will give a clearer picture of what actually happened, and the levels of responsibility, Geragos said. Lawyer Mark Geragos says Jasveen Sangha has "accepted responsibility" for her role in Matthew Perry's ketamine overdose death She feels horrible about all of this. Nobody wants to be in the chain of causation Also says "mitigation" will be presented at her Dec. 10 sentencing pic.twitter.com/arqgvnCQMV Nancy Dillon (@Nancy__Dillon) September 3, 2025 Before she signed her plea agreement last month, Sangha was due to begin a jury trial on Sept. 23. She has been in custody since her August 2024 arrest. At the time of Sanghas indictment, prosecutors said investigators seized 79 vials of ketamine and multiple pounds of methamphetamine pills when they raided her residence in March 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends, died on Oct. 28, 2023, at the age of 54 from the acute effects of ketamine, his autopsy determined. He waged a public battle with severe drug addiction before the tragedy, writing in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, that he should be dead. In the New York Times bestseller, Perry recalled having his first alcoholic drink at the age of 14, getting hooked on painkillers after suffering an injury in a jet ski accident, and spending much of his adult life in and out of treatment facilities struggling to get this monkey off my back. In court filings, prosecutors said Sangha sold 25 vials of liquid ketamine to Perry on Oct. 14, 2023, and another 25 vials 10 days later, using a middleman identified as Erik Fleming, one of her co-defendants in the case. Sangha agreed Wednesday that she sold Perry the ketamine in unlabeled glass vials, meaning there was no indication of the strength of the drug that was injected intramuscularly. Its unmarked but its amazing he take one and try it and I have more if he likes, she wrote in a text before she passed along the first dose, court filings revealed. Sangha charged $160 per vial, with Fleming hiking the price up to $220 per vial, according to paperwork in the case. On the day Perry died, Iwamasa gave him three injections of the ketamine supplied by Sangha, prosecutors said. When Iwamasa returned from running errands, he found Perry floating facedown in the outdoor jacuzzi at his home in the tony Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon learning of Perrys death, Sangha reached out to Fleming and sent him a follow-up text message reiterating that he should delete all of their prior text messages, prosecutors said. Sangha also updated the settings on the encrypted messaging app Signal to automatically delete her messages with Fleming, she admitted Wednesday. According to prosecutors, Sangha knew or should have known that the 50 vials of the dissociative anesthetic that she sold to Perry were dangerous because McLaury died in 2019 with ketamine that she supplied in his system. Sangha allegedly googled, Can ketamine be listed as a cause of death, after the mans relative sent her a text message blaming her for the fatal overdose. Sangha was described as one of two lead defendants when the criminal case involving Perry was unsealed last year. The other main defendant was identified as Salvador Plasencia, a medical doctor who also sold liquid ketamine to Perry in the weeks leading up to his death. On the same day Sangha and Plasencia were arrested, prosecutors announced they already had extracted guilty pleas from Iwamasa and Fleming. Prosecutors also reached a plea agreement with a different doctor, Mark Chavez, who supplied ketamine to Plasencia. Prosecutors said Iwamasa was the first to cooperate in the case while it was still sealed. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. He admitted he repeatedly injected Perry with ketamine without medical training. Iwamasas sentencing is set for Nov. 19, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fleming pleaded guilty on Aug. 8, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. His sentencing is set for Nov. 12. Chavez, meanwhile, is due to be sentenced on Dec. 17. In June, prosecutors announced they reached their fourth plea agreement, this time with Plasencia. He later pleaded guilty in a federal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles on July 23. Sentencing for Plasencia is set for Dec. 3. The defendant essentially acted as a street-corner drug dealer peddling a dangerous substance to somebody he knew was addicted, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Yanniello said of Plasencia at a hearing last year. He commented to another patient that the victim was spiraling out of control, yet he still offered to sell [Perry] more ketamine. Yanniello declined to speak with reporters as he left Sanghas hearing on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perrys addiction issues to enrich themselves, former U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said at a press conference announcing the case last year. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyway. In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A bat found in the Jaywick Lane area of Matthews has tested positive for rabies, according to Matthews Animal Control. The rabies-positive bat was located and removed by animal control officials, and subsequent testing confirmed the presence of the virus. Reports indicate that one human and one domestic pet have been exposed to the infected bat. ALSO READ: Dead, decomposed bat found in food donation bin at Ardrey Kell High Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents in the area are urged to contact the Mecklenburg County Health Department if they or their pets have had any contact with a bat recently. Officials warn that animals exposed to the rabies virus may not exhibit symptoms for 21 to 28 days. Residents are advised to remain vigilant over the next 30 days for any signs of rabies in local animals. If any animals show symptoms of rabies, residents should contact their local Animal Control office immediately. The health department can be reached at 704-614-6512 or 704-589-3242. VIDEO: Dead, decomposed bat found in food donation bin at Ardrey Kell High MAUI, Hawaii (KHON2) The Maui Humane Society is planning on taking in nearly 30 dogs from Molokai, and is calling on the community to adopt some paw-fect companions so they can avoid euthanasia. The Molokai kennels are operating beyond what the Maui Humane Society considers as a safe capacity, which is why the shelter decided to relocate 26 dogs to the Valley Isle. Kruz, the blind dog, has found a new home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Molokai faces limited veterinary resources, as well as only two full-time staff on the island, making it near impossible for their staff to properly care for an influx of dogs. This is not the first time the Maui Humane Society has transported pets from Molokai. Since February 2025, the humane society has taken in 98 dogs from Molokai. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Transported pups will find a new temporary home at the Puunene shelter, which would increase the shelters dog population by 40%. This increase puts the Maui Humane Society at risk for dog overpopulation, a situation that can be solved one of two ways: adoption, or the difficult choice of euthanasia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To avoid putting down dogs, the Maui Humane Society is urgently calling on the community to adopt some pups in their care. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Were committed to adapting to the unique needs of pets on Molokai, but we cannot do it alone, said Maui Humane Society Director of Field Services Tanya Hosoda. Were six months into our contract and our kennels on Maui are already full. We cannot continue to support Molokai without community help. For those who cannot adopt or foster a pet, the Maui Humane Society asks for donations to help fund care for pets on Molokai making their way to Maui, veterinary care and more. Additionally, there is an open position on Molokai for an Animal Care Enrichment/Pet Resource Specialist, with more information on the position available online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Florida recently joined about a dozen states in passing new rules that say participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, cant use their vouchers on junk food. I think that makes sense to most people. This program, after all, is supposed to provide nutrition to people in need, most of whom are children, elderly or people with disabilities. Basically, if taxpayers are providing $330 a month for basic food needs, that money shouldnt be used on Red Bull and Oreos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So now lets take that a step further. Floridas food stamp recipients barred from buying junk food Taxpayer money also shouldnt be used to send students to the junk-food equivalent of school places that hire teachers without degrees, use factually flawed curriculum or that hand out As to every kid, regardless of what they actually learn, just to make their parents feel better. Just like with food stamps, taxpayers have a right to know that the money theyre providing for schools is actually funding a quality education. Yet in Florida that is not the case. Here, the voucher-school system is the Wild West with a lack of accountability and scary things funded with your tax dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools Without Rules: An Orlando Sentinel Investigation The Orlando Sentinel has documented this mess for years through its Schools without Rules investigation that found taxpayer-funded voucher schools where: Teachers lacked degrees or any kind of basic teaching certification Finances were so disastrous that schools actually shut down in the middle of the school year, stranding families and students Science classes taught students that dinosaurs roamed the earth alongside man, and history lessons claimed slavery and segregation werent really all that bad Administrators refused to admit students with disabilities or who had gay parents Parents filed complaints that included Cleaning lady substituting for teacher, They dont provide lunch and they dont even have a place to eat and I dont see any evidence of academics I dont care how pro-school choice you are, tax dollars shouldnt fund that kind of nonsense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida wont tell you whats wrong at its voucher schools unless we pay $10,413 | Commentary Some of these fly-by-night schools set up in strip malls seem to thrive because they tell parents what they want to hear that their kids who were struggling in public schools magically became straight-A students at voucher schools with little to no standards or legitimate measures of success. Well, thats the educational equivalent of junk food. And taxpayers wouldnt fund that kind of nonsense if the state enacted basic accountability measures. Namely, all voucher-eligible schools should be required to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Publish graduation rates and nationally accepted test scores Hire teachers who are certified or at least have a college degree Disclose all the curriculum being taught Ban discrimination Most good schools already do this. Think about it: what kind of reputable school wouldnt agree to hire qualified teachers? Or wouldnt want the public to see what kind of test scores their students produce? If you want to send your kid to a school thats unwilling to clear those ground-level hurdles, you shouldnt expect taxpayers to fund it. Similarly, if you want to run a school that refuses to serve kids in wheelchairs or who are gay, you shouldnt fund your discrimination with money that belongs to the people against whom youre discriminating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, some of the worst voucher schools are faith-based. But so are some of the best. Parents and taxpayers deserve to see the difference the test scores that show whether students are actually learning. Many faith-based schools embrace science and history. But some try to replace proven facts with their own beliefs or opinions, using biology books that claim evolution data is false and history books that try to put sunny spins on slavery and segregation. The people who defend and profit off Floridas unregulated voucher system usually cite freedom and parental rights as a justification for unfettered choice. But you know good and well that virtually every other taxpayer-funded system has sensible guardrails. You cant take Medicaid money to a witch doctor or a psychic healer. And just like we dont give parents the choice to use SNAP vouchers to buy their kids Snicker bars, they dont deserve the freedom to take money meant to provide a quality education to a school that can prove its providing one. Basic transparency and accountability measures are needed for any program to be effective. So whenever you hear anyone protesting them, you have to wonder what it is they dont want you to see. Mayor Wu, Superintendent Skipper knock on doors Boston students before start of classes Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper are actively engaging with students in Boston through a door-knocking initiative to prepare them for the upcoming school year. The effort, part of the Boston Public Schools Re-Engagement Center, focuses on students with a history of chronic absenteeism, aiming to reduce dropout rates and encourage school attendance. Students cannot learn if they are not in school. And that sounds very simple, doesnt it? And yet the reason why students are not in school is so complex, said Mary Skipper, Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initiative kicked off on Copeland Street in Roxbury, where Mayor Wu and Superintendent Skipper spoke with a 19-year-old student, encouraging her to complete her high school education. Mayor Wu even invited her to visit City Hall to explore potential job opportunities available with a diploma. Superintendent Skipper highlighted several barriers to attendance, including parent illness, mental health issues, caretaking responsibilities, and the need to work, which can lead to students dropping out. Despite these challenges, the school system has seen a 10% reduction in absenteeism over the past four years. Skipper noted that while the current absenteeism rates in elementary schools are in the high 20s, and high schools in the high 40s, these figures are still lower than the national average. Mayor Wu addressed concerns about fear within the community, particularly regarding immigration status, emphasizing that Boston schools do not inquire about this when registering students. She reassured families that Boston remains a welcoming city for everyone. The door-knocking campaign saw the participation of around 80 volunteers, the highest number to date, underscoring the communitys commitment to addressing absenteeism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the concerted efforts of city officials and community volunteers, Boston aims to continue reducing absenteeism and supporting students in completing their education. The initiative highlights the importance of community engagement in overcoming barriers to education. 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 nurse holds a vial of COVID-19 vaccine and syringe. (Getty Images) Allowing West Virginia families to opt out of the states school vaccination requirements has been a priority for Gov. Patrick Morrisey. The states new acting health officer agrees with him on the issue. Dr. Mark McDaniel Dr. Mark McDaniel, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and retired state air surgeon for the West Virginia National Guard, started as health officer last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I agree with Gov. Morriseys position that no West Virginian should ever be forced to choose between their religious convictions and access to education, he said in response to questions from West Virginia Watch. Our governors leadership makes clear that protecting fundamental freedoms can go hand-in-hand with safeguarding public health. McDaniel fills a role thats been empty since December, when former health officer Dr. Matt Christiansen resigned. The state Department of Health declined West Virginia Watchs request to interview McDaniel, saying he was getting acclimated to his new position. A spokeswoman for the department returned West Virginia Watchs questions with answers on his behalf. McDaniel said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions child and adolescent vaccination schedule is the recognized national standard for preventing serious illnesses like polio and measles and that vaccines are one of the tools proven to reduce disease, hospitalization, and death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As West Virginias state health officer, my responsibility is twofold: first, to provide families with clear, accurate information rooted in science so that parents can make the best choices for their children; and second, to weigh the overall impact on public health, schools, and communities, he wrote. Protecting children from preventable disease strengthens families and keeps our communities safe, but at the same time, we respect the role of parents as the primary decision-makers for their childrens health. All states require school children to get a series of vaccines for infectious diseases including measles, polio and chicken pox. West Virginia is one of only five states that have not allowed religious or philosophical exemptions for the shots. The state has only allowed medical exemptions. Morrisey issued an executive order on his second day in office requiring the state to allow religious exemptions. The order has not been rescinded, though the state Legislature this year rejected a bill that would have set the exemptions in state law. A poll released Tuesday from West Virginia MetroNews indicates that 71% of respondents support the states school vaccination requirements. Morrisey argues the states 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act, read along the states vaccination requirements, allows the religious exemptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor said in a news conference June 24 that as far as his administration was aware, allowing the religious exemption would not lead to any negative public health effect for the state. Asked about Morriseys comment, McDaniel said from a health perspective, his responsibility is to educate families about the risks of disease, support informed decisions and maintain strong vaccine coverage. Nearly every other state 45 across the country already recognizes religious exemptions, he said. West Virginia should not stand alone in denying that choice. The balance we seek is straightforward: uphold individual liberty and religious freedom while continuing to use sound public health strategies to protect our citizens, McDaniel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morriseys Health Secretary Arvin Singh has also spoken in support of religious exemptions. Singh said that the executive order ensures that people of faith are not punished for making personal, prayerful decisions about their childrens health. In a social media comment, McDaniel linked a deadly measles outbreak in Texas to migrants crossing the countrys southern border. Stop illegals from bringing it across the border, McDaniel wrote in a comment on Linkedin. McDaniel confirmed to West Virginia Watch that he made the comment. He said his point was not to assign blame, but to highlight a matter of policy consistency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we talk about protecting public health, it has to apply across the board, McDaniel said. We asked West Virginia parents to follow certain requirements in order to send their children to school. At the same time, we had a federal border policy that too often allowed illegal entry without the same level of health screening or accountability. That inconsistency undermines confidence in our system, he said. My concern is ensuring that our policies are fair, consistent, and protective of both public health and individual rights. Texas health officials say they dont know what led to a measles outbreak that hospitalized nearly 100 people and killed two children. Lara Anton, a senior press officer for the Texas Department of Health Services, noted that measles is highly contagious: 90% of people who are not immune to it will get sick if exposed. Cases in the U.S. are often related to international travel to somewhere that measles is still circulating, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All we know is that someone who was sick with measles came into contact with a community with low immunity while they were infectious and that sparked an outbreak, Anton said. McDaniels comment has drawn criticism from state Democrats. In a video posted on the social media platform X, state Democratic party chairman Mike Pushkin said its safe to say that what took Gov. Morrisey so long to appoint a public health officer is that he needed to find a doctor who shared some of his very unscientific views. McDaniel said his commitment as state health officer is to serve the state with honesty, transparency, and accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our focus is on strengthening public health while respecting the values and freedoms of every individual, he said. Guided by the governors four pillars we will keep communities safe and build a healthier, stronger future for our state. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Gov. Dan McKee is hoping to meet with President Trump one-on-one to lobby his administration to end its stop-work order halting the Revolution Wind offshore energy project, but so far the White House is showing no interest in the idea. McKees office released a letter Wednesday that the governor sent to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, following up on a phone conversation the two had last week about the stop-work order that has halted construction on the 704-megawatt wind farm off Rhode Islands coast. During a live interview on Wednesdays 12 News at 4, McKee said he knew Burgum as a former fellow governor of North Dakota and emphasized the projects impact on jobs and energy costs. Revolution Wind was expected to power over 350,000 homes across Rhode Island and Connecticut when completed next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I certainly let him know that this is costing us jobs, McKee said. Its costing those people, going to get hurt in the pocketbooks, because the energy that theyre shutting down, $0.10 a kilowatt, is better than what we have coming up this winter. ISO-NE, which operates New Englands regional power grid, has warned that delaying the completion of Revolution Wind will jeopardize its ability to provide reliable electric power starting next year, when it had been planning for the project to come online. SEE ALSO: Trump administration halts Revolution Wind project off RI coast The governor, a Democrat seeking reelection in 2026, said there appears to be confusion in Washington about how far along the project is. According to McKees office, 506 megawatts of the 704-megawatt system had already been installed before the Trump administration issued its stop-worker order on Aug. 22, citing concerns about national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think theres a full understanding that the project is 80% complete and the transmission lines are 90% complete, McKee said. In his letter to Burgum, McKee cited a series of milestones Revolution Wind has already reached: all 65 steel foundations installed on the seabed; 45 of 65 turbines installed; and the export cable fully installed from the wind farm to the Quonset onshore substation. The onshore substation is 90% complete and the interconnection facility is already connected to the grid and energized, according to the letter. McKee said he and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont have requested a face-to-face meeting with Trump to discuss the wind project through Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, in addition to Burgum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But no response, McKee said. MORE: RI leaders condemn Trumps stop-work order for Revolution Wind The White House did not address McKees meeting request or the Revolution Wind project specifically when asked for comment Wednesday. In just a few months, President Trump has ended Joe Bidens war on American energy and restored American energy dominance, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told 12 News in a statement. This means prioritizing the most effective and reliable tools to power our country, which includes following through on his promise to Drill, Baby, Drill and unleash domestic oil, gas, and nuclear power supporting thousands of good-paying energy jobs across the country, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha has indicated he is likely to take legal action against the Trump administration over the project, though no lawsuit had been filed as of Wednesday. The Revolution Wind stop-work order is part of the Trump administrations broader targeting of the offshore wind industry, which the president has long criticized. The New York Times reported Wednesday that the administration has asked a half-dozen agencies to draft plans to thwart the industry. RELATED: Trump admin cancels $679 million for offshore wind projects as attacks on reeling industry continue Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday cancelled $679 million in funding for 12 offshore wind projects around the country, including $11.25 million for Rhode Islands Port of Davisville that was intended to support the wind industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhode Islands congressional delegation condemned that Port of Davisville decision in a statement last week, arguing it would drive down efficiency, put even more local union workers in limbo, and make our port less secure. McKee expressed worry Wednesday about the cascading effects of the federal moves on an industry that New England leaders have long suggested would be a major source of economic development over the coming years. Were very concerned about what the impact this could have on the business community, he said. McKee, Lamont and three other Democratic governors Massachusetts Maura Healey, New Yorks Kathy Hochul and New Jerseys Phil Murphy issued an unusual joint statement on Labor Day calling on the Trump administration to uphold all offshore wind permits already granted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canceling projects that have already been fully permitted including some near completion sends the worrisome message to investors that the work can be stopped on a whim, the governors wrote. Marisa Desautel, a lawyer who represents commercial fishermen in Rhode Island that oppose Revolution Wind, said she is scheduled to meet with Interior Department officials on Thursday to discuss the problems they say they are experiencing due to the project. We have an opportunity to finally have fishermen have a seat at the table, she said. The stop-work order comes as rsted, the Danish company developing Revolution Wind, faces financial strain. The company announced Aug. 25 it is proceeding with a planned $8 billion rights issue to bolster its balance sheet, citing increased regulatory uncertainty for offshore wind in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement rsted also said Revolution Wind was expected to generate approximately $1.3 billion in annual earnings once complete. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, appearing Wednesday on Fox News, didnt directly address the Revolution Wind stop-work order but defended the administrations stance. President Trump has been very outspoken about his concern with the economics of offshore wind. And he wants to ramp up more baseload power, Zeldin said. America needs so much more baseload power than will be delivered with that attitude that wind is the substitute and its the answer for all. Its just not accurate. Zeldin also suggested that Rhode Island U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse a vocal critic of Zeldins and the top Democrat on the Senates environmental committee should instead be focused on expanding the supply of natural gas into New England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stop-work order has drawn criticism from labor unions whose members have been working on Revolution Wind. According to rsted, more than 1,000 union workers have logged over 2 million work hours on the project. The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers condemned the stop-work order in a statement last month, saying dozens of ironworkers currently assigned to the project had been working grueling 7-day, 12-hour shifts offshore on month-long rotations and their livelihoods now hang in balance. Former U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, who served during Trumps first term, warned about the precedent being set in an interview Tuesday with Fox Business Network. Future administrations may use this very same tactic against our LNG exporters here in the United States or even other fossil energy producers, he said. I think its a very dangerous precedent and sets up some incredibly bad whiplash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook. Kim Kalunian, Kayla Fish and Sarah Bawden contributed to this report. 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: 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. ROGERSVILLE, Mo. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is partnering with the Springfield Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind for an event in Rogersville on Saturday, Sept. 20. According to an MDC press release, both organizations are working together for a special day called Adventure Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Freedom Park in Rogersville on Sept. 20. The event is planned for blind and low-vision individuals to experience fishing, archery and nature hiking. MDC says people interested in fishing will be covered by a group permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants will be provided with bottled water, but MDC suggests bringing a snack and lunch for the day. The department also suggests bringing their own personal flotation device, but says that the equipment will be provided. Residents who live in Bates, Barton, Benton, Camden, Cass, Cedar, Dallas, Henry, Hickory, Laclede, Morgan, Miller, Polk, St. Clair and Vernon counties will be provided transportation by the New Growth Transit. For information on making plans for travel by the transit, call 417-283-7991. The first 50 people to attend the event will receive a starter pack of Navilens codes from the Blind Community Thrift Store in Springfield. For more information on registering for the event visit here or call the Federation of the Blind office in Springfield at 417-7621-0253. 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. (WJET/WFXP) A Meadville man is dead after Pennsylvania State Police said he didnt see a truck coming while trying to cross State Route 18 in Crawford County. According to PSP Meadville, calls went out for that crash involving a sedan and a pickup truck at the intersection of State Route 18 and Agnew Road in Summit Township around 2:40 Tuesday afternoon. Child injured in hit-and-on on Eries east side Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the sedan, identified as 67-year-old Richard Eddy of Meadville, was headed west on Agnew Road and didnt see the oncoming pickup truck heading south on Route 18. Eddys sedan was hit on the passenger side and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the pickup truck was transported to Meadville Medical Center with unknown injuries, but they were suspected to be minor. No charges have been filed at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Hours after Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced the Department of Health and the Legislature would work hand-in-hand to repeal vaccine mandates in the state, national organizations, state university medical centers and former Florida officials came out against the move. Ladapo has been Florida's surgeon general since 2021 and is also a professor of medicine at the University of Florida. But the university's academic health center, UF Health, stood firm in a statement that vaccines are "safe" and "essential." "Public health and safety is a shared responsibility," said Dr. Stephen J. Motew, the president and CEO of UF Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The overwhelming consensus of the medical and public health communities show that vaccines are among the most studied and scrutinized medical interventions in history. They are proven to be safe, effective, and essential in preventing the spread of many serious infectious diseases. Following evidence-based practices regarding vaccines and other care decisions are best made in consultation with your health care professional." Conservative reaction was largely positive, with many framing Ladapo's stance as a refusal, as one person put it, to "bow to (Big) Pharma or the bureaucrats." For example, Dr. Simone Gold founder and President of Americas Frontline Doctors, the far-right group formed to oppose COVID restrictions posted, "This is real leadership defying Pharmas coercion and restoring true medical freedom." Florida law mandates many vaccinations against childhood illnesses According to Florida law, immunizations are required for polio, diphtheria (a bacterial infection), rubeola (measles), rubella (a viral infection, also called German measles), pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, tetanus and other communicable diseases as determined under rules promulgated by the Department of Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ladapo, who heads the Department of Health, said he will repeal the rules within his purview that require vaccines, and that the governor and the Legislature will work to repeal the rest. "Why are they doing this? I don't know," Dr. Scott Rivkees, Ladapo's immediate predecessor as surgeon general told the USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida. "The role of government is a government of the people and for the people, and how this is for the people is head wagging." State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees gives updates on the impact the coronavirus has had on Florida during a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center, Saturday, March 14, 2020. Rivkees quit in September 2021 after being shunned by Gov. Ron DeSantis for encouraging COVID-19 precautions when the governor wanted little focus on preventive measures. He said this isn't the first time Ladapo has defied expert medical advice, citing a measles outbreak in South Florida in 2024 that sickened nine people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ladapo said parents and guardians could decide whether to send their children back to school instead of requiring an isolation period, a statement that conflicted with federal and medical professional recommendations that children from the school should remain at home to prevent the spread of measles. "More than 200 students did not go to school because the parents did not feel safe sending their children to school even though their children were vaccinated," said Rivkees, now a professor of practice at the Brown University School of Public Health. "This will lead to a situation where you're going to have more public confusion, you're going to have more children who are going to be out of school when you have an outbreak or a case at school, which is predictably going to happen more and more. "More children are going to suffer educational losses and illnesses which could have been prevented," he added. DeSantis' and Ladapo's announcement at a press conference on Sept. 3 was paired with the creation of a state version of a Make America Healthy Again commission, which will be led by First Lady Casey DeSantis. At the federal level, MAHA is led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tasked with investigating chronic illness and delivering an action plan to fight childhood diseases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy, however, has promoted misinformation on vaccines in the past, and recently fired Susan Monarez as the Centers for Disease Control director after a dispute over vaccination policy. At the press conference, DeSantis joked Ladapo now should be considered for the CDC director's position. Florida vaccine guidance: Pediatricians 'profoundly concerned,' doctor says Dr. Lisa Gwynn, a past president of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said she is "profoundly concerned." "This decision could have severe and potentially deadly repercussions for children and vulnerable adults," she said. Gwynn, who practices in South Florida, said vaccinations are one of the most effective measures for preventing the spread of infectious diseases. They not only protect those who receive them but also safeguard individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Removing these mandates could lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases, putting countless lives at risk," she told the USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida. For example, in Florida, the vaccination rate for those who have completed all five doses of the TDAP vaccine, which prevents tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, is about 88.1%. Herd immunity for pertussis requires 92% to 94%. Last year, the number of whooping cough cases in Florida soared. From Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024, the Florida Department of Health reported 715 cases of pertussis an eight-fold increase over the year before, which had 85 cases. On the national level, Dr. Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said every family should have access to immunizations because illnesses not only affect children but also their families, and therefore the workforce and local economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are concerned that today's announcement by Gov. DeSantis will put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick, and have ripple effects across their community," Kressly said. And Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, speaking on behalf of the American Medical Association, said the group strongly opposes Floridas plan to end all vaccine mandates, including those required for school attendance. This unprecedented rollback would undermine decades of public health progress and place children and communities at increased risk for diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox resulting in serious illness, disability, and even death, said Fryhofer, a board-certified physician of internal medicine and member of the AMA Board of Trustees. While there is still time, we urge Florida to reconsider this change to help prevent a rise of infectious disease outbreaks that put health and lives at risk. Democrats speak out, call for governor to fire Ladapo Florida Democrats also criticized the move by Ladapo and DeSantis, calling the move to repeal all vaccination requirements "ridiculous" and "reckless." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Republicans have gone from entertaining anti-science conspiracy theories to fully endorsing an anti-science health policy," Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman of Boca Raton said in a statement. "As a member of the Senate Health Policy Committee, Ill be doing everything in my power to protect our kids from these reckless attempts to harm them. Sen. Lori Berman smiles during the festivities in the senate on opening day of the Florida legislative session Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Democratic candidate for governor David Jolly even called on the governor to fire Ladapo. He called the announcement "dangerous and deeply irresponsible." "For generations, vaccines have protected kids, families, and schools from outbreaks of preventable diseases. Stripping away these protections, puts politics ahead of science and needlessly endangers the health of our communities. Florida families deserve leaders who will put the safety of our children first and not gamble with their futures, Jolly said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa said the DeSantis and Ladapo plan was "stunningly reckless." "I encourage everyone to read about the horrifying effects of these diseases," Driskell said in a press release. "Polio can paralyze muscles, measles can cause pneumonia and brain swelling, and both can kill. Hepatitis B destroys your liver. Chicken pox causes high fever and a painful rash. These diseases devastated families and stole lives for years before vaccines were developed to protected us. Theyre all preventable, but only if our kids take the vaccines." (This story was updated to add new information.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida targets vaccine mandates; doctors are 'profoundly concerned' It's long been the practice of private health insurers to require "prior authorization" before you can get the treatment you need. Often, they'll try to deny as many of these claims as possible including with the use of AI models. Government-backed plans like Medicare, however, have tended to cover what private insurers don't, and without the laborious application process. But that could be poised to change. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it'll experiment with its own version of prior authorization by using AI models to screen claims, as part of its new belt-tightening program called the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction model, or WISeR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And get this: as the New York Times reports, the AI companies selected for this experiment will get paid a share of the money they saved by blocking people from their healthcare. Those savings could look like billions of dollars over the next six years and that's if the program doesn't get expanded. This basically deputizes the AI companies as a "whole new bounty hunter," David A. Lipschutz, the co-director for the Center for Medicare Advocacy, told the NYT. In other words, they're clearly incentivized to deny claims above all else. For now, the program, which begins in January, will be limited to six states: New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington. Officials assert that the AI tools will only be used to judge claims for about a dozen different types of procedures it deems to be wasteful and providing little benefit, including steroid shots to relieve pain, per the NYT. Moreover, the models won't be used to review emergency services and hospital stays, the director of the Center for Medicare and Medication innovation Abe Sutton said. Experts aren't convinced that it'll stay that way for long. "You're kind of left to wonder, well, where does this lead next?" Vinay Rathi, an Ohio surgeon and an expert in Medicare payment policy told the NYT. "You could be running into a slippery slope." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials also assure that the final decision on denials or in the industry parlance, "non-affirmations" would be done by an "appropriately licensed human clinician, not a machine," and Sutton said that there'll be penalties for wrongful rejections. The conduct of private insurers, however, suggests that keeping humans in the loop isn't a safeguard against rampant abuse. A 2023 ProPublica investigation found that Cigna used an algorithm to automatically examine and deny claims, which were then approved by human doctors who didn't even look at the patient records. United Healthcare allegedly used an AI algorithm called "nH predict" to reject claims, too, even though it allegedly had an error rate of over 90 percent. Even disbarring any possible nefarious intentions, is there evidence that the AI models will be any good at being objective arbiters of who gets to see a doctor and who doesn't? As the NYT explains, these systems typically look at a patient's history to see if they meet an insurer's criteria, such as having tried physical therapy first before getting back surgery. But recent research has shown how AI systems can erroneously tell patients not to seek medical care because of something as insignificant and random as a single typo in a document. The work even found that the models exhibited an alarming gender bias, telling women not to see a doctor more often than with men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Don't worry, though. We'll sure all this will get ironed out as the AI models are prematurely empowered to decide whether you get healthcare or not, while their owners get paid based on how many people they reject. More on AI: The TV Show Host Who's Now In Charge Of Medicare Wants To Replace Doctors With AI Ending years of controversy, the heads of Meharry Medical College and the city's safety net hospital signed a formal written agreement Sept. 3 in front of Mayor Freddie O'Connell to solidify their partnership. Dr. James Hildreth, Meharry's president and CEO, said the 45-page physicians services agreement which the former head of the Nashville General Hospital, Joseph Webb, refused to sign will serve as the "glue" between the hospital and Meharry, one of the nation's oldest and largest historically Black academic health sciences colleges. "It outlines the responsibilities we have to each other," Hildreth said. "Our shared goal is that when you walk through the door, no matter who you are, you're going to get the best care that medicine can offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When people walk through the door, they should not even know that there are two separate organizations." Veronica Elders, the hospital's chief nursing officer, has been serving double duty to also lead the hospital since March. A national search for a CEO is planned, but a search firm has not yet been hired. For now, Elder's title is interim CEO but on Sept. 2, she said she'd like to make it permanent. Dr. James Hildreth, president and CEO of Meharry Medical College, and Veronica Elders, interim CEO of Nashville General Hospital Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. The two institutions reached a formal written agreement solidifying their partnership after years of controversy with the previous hospital CEO. The relationship between the two entities is designed to be symbiotic, with the hospital providing Meharry residents on-the-job training with patients and some Meharry staff working at the hospital to treat and to train. And the hospital is located in a building on Meharry's campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, for years Webb who announced his resignation in February following a scathing audit seemed to pull away from Meharry, and pushing his own agenda to move the hospital off of Meharry's campus. Meharry leaders said Webb, who had been at the helm for 10 years, seemed to be seeking more autonomy in recent years. Webb told The Tennessean in January that he planned on securing a contract renewal after it expired in June to oversee his vision of building a new state-of-the-art medical center off Meharry's campus and spread out across 20 to 25 acres at a cost he estimated would range between $500-700 million. Neither Hildreth nor the mayor had signed off on the mammoth project. Neither had the Metro Nashville Hospital Authority Board, which oversees the medical center and its CEO. The authority board held an emergency meeting March 10 and unanimously voted not to extend Webb's contract. Hildreth lauded Elders' performance as interim CEO, saying she has had a rapport with Meharry physicians for years. He said he encouraged her to apply for the position permanently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's been wonderful for me to have my team come back to me and tell me how great it is to work with Veronica and her team," the college president said. 'It's a 180 from where we were. "We have a fresh start." Elders chimed in: "Absolutely." What caused the rift between Dr. James Hildreth and Joseph Webb? For years, two men who were supposed to be partners were rarely in the same room. "It didn't have to be that way," Hildreth said of the gulf between them. When asked about the genesis of the friction on Sept. 2, the college CEO said: "Honestly, I don't even know myself. But once it became clear that I was working with a partner who didn't share the same goals and mission as we did, it became very challenging." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked the same question in January, Webb told The Tennessean there was "no friction" between him and Hildreth or any other leaders at the college. Over time, the divide became more of a chasm. Hildreth said he is now able to call Elders when he needs to something he said he couldn't do with Webb. Hildreth and Elders also meet monthly. Also, Meharry didn't have a seat on the hospital authority board and Hildreth said if he or anyone else at the college wanted to have input, they had to wait for the brief time allotted for public comments and they had to keep comments or questions contained to a three-minute limit. Hildreth said he asked four mayors to give the college representation on the board, something that is common between oversight boards and colleges when those colleges are affiliated the cities' safety net hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mayor O'Connell is the first mayor to listen and actually do it," Hildreth said. Dr. Chike Nzerue visits with dialysis patient Rosa Perez, while on rounds at Nashville General Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 8, 2025. Dr. Chike Nzerue, a nephrologist, was appointed to the board in March and is in a unique position to improve the relationship between the hospital and the college. He treats patients and teaches medical residents at the hospital and also works at the college as a professor of medicine and chairman of the internal medicine department. Why did Joseph Webb resign? Webb announced his resignation one day before the mayor's office publicly announced a scathing report by the city's internal auditors alleging misconduct by Webb, including that the hospital: paid millions of dollars for contracts without proper board approval; overpaid a valet company more than $281,000 for hours that weren't worked; falsified contracts to mislead reporters while responding to public records requests. Hospital staff also accused Webb and his staff of bullying, favoritism and nepotism. Webb claimed he decided to leave the hospital for his own reasons and not because of the audit, which he had not read before announcing that he was stepping down. However, Webb and his staff had been interviewed by auditors and knew the report was coming. Webb publicly said he objected to the word "resign" and his decision to leave isn't an admission of guilt to any of the accusations. Troubling audit leads to changes Hildreth and Elders said they agreed to be transparent with one another and the good and the bad. If a problem arises, they vowed to discuss with one another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have had that conversation about how we're going to be completely transparent about the good things as well as the bad things," Hildreth said. "That's what a good relationship is." Elders also said she has overseen many changes to address the audit findings, including changes to human resources practices to ensure a positive work environment for all staff. Dr. James Hildreth, president and CEO of Meharry Medical College, and Veronica Elders, interim CEO of Nashville General Hospital Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. The two institutions reached a formal written agreement solidifying their partnership after years of controversy with the previous hospital CEO. Why Nashville General Hospital matters It serves as the index hospital for Meharry, meaning a partnership where the hospital benefits from the expertise of Meharry physicians and the college benefits by training its residents at the hospital on-the-job. Nashville General Hospital has cared for generations of families including paying patients and those who can't afford to pay. In turn, city taxpayers help fund a portion of the hospital's budget, topping $60 million. Will Nashville General move off of Meharry's campus and build a new hospital? Hildreth and Elders said they expect to keep the hospital in the aging building on Meharry's campus in North Nashville for now. The hospital leases the building from the college and that lease expires in two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elders said they are making some improvements, including to the HVAC system, to buy more time until a permanent solution is found. "The time it takes to plan and build a hospital is a number of years, so we expect the extension to be for some number of years," Hildreth said. The two leaders said they don't yet know if a new hospital will be build on Meharry's campus or somewhere else. "We don't really care if it's on our campus or elsewhere," Hildreth said. "I think a study will be done to determine what's the best location to provide the best access to patients who need it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meharry, Nashville General Hospital sign agreement, vow feud is over LORAIN, Ohio (WJW) Theres been an outpouring of love and support since Officer Phil Wagner of the Lorain Police Department lost his life following an ambush on July 23. The latest example is memorial coins being sold by Custom Wood Light Graphics. Man indicted in ex-wifes murder in Chardon Jennifer Storm came up with the idea for the coins. She worked with the company, which is run by Eric Flansburg, a police officer in New York, to have a coin made honoring her husband, who is also a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Storm told FOX 8 News that Flansburg was immediately on board to make and sell coins and give half of all profits right back to Wagners wife Jessica and their three children. Storm reached out to Wagners sister-in-law in the days following his funeral and presented the idea for the coin. She wanted to help hold a fundraiser to help financially support the Wagners. I just cant imagine what theyre going through, Storm said. Any money that can be given back to her so that she doesnt have to stress about it is my goal. To make her life a little bit easier and one less thing that she has to worry about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She worked with the family to make sure the coin was made in their vision. They have been absolutely amazing. They are a wonderful family. They are super nice, she added. Woman accused of killing child in Giant Eagle parking lot appeared in court Storm then took the design to Flansburg. She said hes worked quickly to have things ready to make this fundraiser a reality. Im honored to be a part of something like this, and I really hope that we can reach the community, not just in Ohio, but all over the United States. Im hoping people make some purchases to help this family, Flansburg said. Hell also be donating a coin for Jessica Wagner and each of the three children, plus an 8-inch plate with the coin design on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The design can be implemented on other items, in addition to the coins. Anyone interested in making a purchase to support the Wagner family can find the fundraiser site here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) The Georgia Supreme Court has refused to review an appeal in a lawsuit between two local hospitals, which will allow one of them to open two free-standing emergency departments (FSED). Memorial Health announced their plans to build two new FSED, one in Pooler and another in Richmond Hill Tuesday. Memorial originally tried to start the process of building the FSED in 2020, but the St. Josephs/Candler Hospital System challenged it in court. The dispute went all the way to the Georgia Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Georgia Supreme Court declined to hear St. Jospehs/Candlers request, the Savannah Business Journal reported. Tuesday, Memorial officials told WSAV that they hope to begin construction in the coming years. Officials said each 24-hour facility will have 12 beds and a trauma bay. They also said the departments will provide the same level of care as the main hospitals emergency room in Savannah. Growing communities need access to emergency care, CEO of Memorial Health Brad Talbert said. Thats where families are relocating. Thats where folks are retiring to. And one of the key indicators people look for when theyre choosing where to live is how close they are in proximity to health care. And so, we want to make sure that emergency care is again close to home for folks in those areas. St. Josephs/Candler released a statement to WSAV and said that FSED are not the answer to improving access and that they can cost patients more. They also said that FSED may require critical cases to be transferred to full-service hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency care without access to onsite supporting services, such as surgical suites and comprehensive imaging, will require transferring patients with emergent conditions beyond FSEDs capabilities to actual hospitals, wasting critical time, a spokesperson told WSAV. A St. Josephs/Candler spokesperson also said they already have urgent care centers in Pooler and Richmond Hill that can treat many of the same conditions treated at FSEDs. Studies by independent entities and insurance companies have repeatedly shown that not only do FSEDs increase costs to patients but the vast majority of conditions treated at FSEDs can be treated at lower cost urgent care centers or physician offices, the St. Josephs/Candler spokesperson said. Patients are the ones who will ultimately end up unnecessarily paying more for their care at these centers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Have you noticed how quietly, quickly, and unnoticed the Minsk Group was buried? How did all those barbecue-loving co-chairs, who had been flying to Azerbaijan and Armenia on business trips for decades, not even make a sound? How did all those people who had been feeding off the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement for years suddenly go silent? Thats why peace is necessary and important: fewer freeloaders, more opportunities. [Source] A monument recognizing Japanese Americans held at a former incarceration site in Bismarck, North Dakota, will be dedicated at the local United Tribes Technical College on Friday. About the site: The college sits on the former Fort Lincoln Internment Camp, which housed nearly 2,000 Japanese Americans who arrived in two waves during World War II. Community leaders including Buddhist priests, newspaper editors and heads of cultural organizations made up the first group of more than 1,100 Issei who came in February 1942. Some 750 younger Nisei and Kibei arrived three years later from Californias Tule Lake camp after they answered no to government loyalty questions and renounced their citizenship, resulting in their classification as deportable enemy aliens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility, also known as Snow Country Prison, subjected prisoners to harsh winter conditions, including towering icicles and severe blizzards that could trap inmates in their quarters for days. Event details: The Sept. 5 event will start at 1 p.m. in a courtyard behind the colleges Education Building. Tule Lake-born Satsuki Ina, whose father Itaru was imprisoned at Fort Lincoln and referred to it as Snow Country Prison in a famous haiku will serve as a keynote speaker. The Snow Country Prison Memorial is our story as well as the Native American story, she said in a promo video. Trending on NextShark: 0% of Democrats satisfied under Trump: poll The program will include a traditional Native American blessing of the site and the Ireicho, which lists every individual of Japanese ancestry imprisoned during the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why this matters: The memorial is the first to formally recognize parallel experiences of oppression between Japanese American and Native American communities. It incorporates kintsugi, a Japanese technique of repairing broken ceramics with gold, and uses original slate tiles from the prison camps roofing along with a central drum circle designed as an Indigenous medicine wheel. MASS Design Group created the memorial in collaboration with Japanese American historians and tribal college representatives. Barbara Takei of the Tule Lake Committee Board of Directors told KFYR during the memorials construction in 2023, Our community is beginning to understand and embrace the stories of wartime dissent. These are the stories that connect us with social justice movements, with other people of color who have fought injustice. Trending on NextShark: Silicon Valley immigrants disprove privilege narrative, claims billionaire investor The dedication weekend aligns with the colleges 55th annual International Powwow, providing additional opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and reflection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Asian American leaders urge New York governor to sign AANHPI education bill Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: New memorial honors Japanese Americans imprisoned in North Dakota Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (WJHL) A flurry of activity is taking place in the case of the Commonwealth of Kentucky vs. Shawn Mickey Stines, the former Letcher County sheriff accused of killing a district judge in his chambers on Sept. 19, 2024. Stines is accused of first-degree murder and murder of a public official in the death of District Judge Kevin Mullins. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Several documents were filed in Letcher County Circuit Court on Tuesday, including a response by Stines defense to the states motion to change the trial venue. The defense opposed relocating the trial, citing a number of reasons it should take place in Letcher County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides also filed notices, responses and briefs pertaining to a number of requests in the case. Mental Health Evaluation In March, counsel for Stines informed the court that they were preparing an insanity defense and intended to present expert evidence related to the former sheriffs mental state when Mullins was fatally shot. His defense has repeatedly claimed Stines was experiencing an emotional disturbance leading up to and during the alleged murder. Stines underwent a psychological evaluation, conducted by the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center (KCPC). Copies of the evaluation were provided to the court and parties involved in July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense has since filed a motion to unseal the psychological evaluation, and on Tuesday, the Commonwealth filed a response arguing against doing so. The defense informed the court in its motion to unseal that it plans to use the findings in the evaluation as part of the motion to dismiss the case altogether and to grant Stines bond. Stines attorneys claimed there is nothing in state law that prevents the report from being unsealed and Kentuckys constitution grants the right to present a defense. By keeping the evaluation sealed, Stines attorneys stated he was being deprived of a complete defense that would be considered unconstitutional. Prosecutors argued that the evaluation contains sensitive information, and the information contained in it is not relevant to the defenses motions for the dismissal of the case or the motion to grant Stines bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court has received a copy of the psychological evaluation for review and potential consideration when making determinations of the motions pending before the Court, there is simply no reason for the psychological evaluation to be released, prosecutors argued in their response. The Commonwealth also warned the court that unsealing the mental health evaluation could make procuring a fair and unbiased jury even more difficult. Should the Court unseal the psychological evaluation of the Defendant, that evaluation would be subject to the same widespread dissemination, further compromising the ability to seat a fair and impartial jury, the response reads. Criminal Responsibility Examination In a brief notice, the Commonwealth informed the court that it intends to independently examine Stines regarding criminal responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors stated Stines intends to introduce expert evidence of criminal responsibility under RCr 8.07(1) and RCr 8.07(2) as to the issues of guilt and punishment. The Commonwealth plans to examine Stines with its own private expert in order to address the insanity defense and the claims that Stines suffers or has suffered from a mental health disease or defect that would impact issues of guilt and punishment. Granting Stines Bond Since his arrest, Stines has been denied bond. On Sept. 2, 2025, his attorneys submitted a brief, urging the court to set an evidentiary bond hearing and potentially set a reasonable bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stines defense noted that despite repeated attempts and arguments, the former sheriff has never had a set bond. Counsel for Stines again cited the Kentucky constitution and state law while arguing he was entitled to it. According to Kentucky law, a person shall be granted bail except in capital cases where proof exists or the presumption is great that the defendant is guilty. His attorneys stated the court must present findings after an inquiry and rule that all conditions are met in order to deny Stines bond, which constitutes an evidentiary hearing. The Commonwealth must show that the evidence of guilt is so compelling that it virtually ensures conviction, the brief reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense cited a number of previous court rulings, stating they backed the claim that Stines was entitled to the hearing before bond was denied further. Dismissal of the Case Counsel for Stines also filed a brief in support of its motion to dismiss the case. In August, the defense filed the motion for dismissal, and the Sept. 2 brief stated that it was due to prosecutorial misconduct at the grand jury proceedings. Stines attorneys claim prosecutors violated his constitutional rights and elicited false and misleading testimony that led to prejudice against him and tainted the grand jury proceedings. Central to the defenses claims are statements made by Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper during the grand jury proceedings that led to Stines indictments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense argued that Stamper made false and intentionally misleading statements and was prejudiced toward Stines. In the case at bar, the Commonwealth elicited, and Detective Clayton Stamper testified to, multiple false statements before the Letcher County Grand Jury, the brief reads. This testimony prejudiced Mr. Stines and resulted in an indictment. According to the defense, Stamper told the grand jury that an investigation showed Stines was in his sane mind. Stines attorneys argued there was overwhelming evidence to suggest otherwise. Recordings: Woman says slain Letcher Co. judge was involved in alleged sextortion scandal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second Stamper statement called into question by the defense was centered around a question from the grand jury about whether Mullins had any relation to the Ben Fields civil case. The Ben Fields case involves a former Letcher County deputy who was sent to prison for rape and sodomy of a female inmate in 2022. A lawsuit was filed against Fields in 2022, and Stines fired him. A woman central to the lawsuit allegedly told investigators that she had seen video of Mullins engaged in sexual acts in his chambers. Stines defense claims that during the grand jury proceedings, Stamper was asked if Mullins had any relation to the Fields case. A prosecutor interjected, the brief claims, and instead asked Stamper, to your knowledge was Judge Mullins involved? Stamper responded with to my knowledge, no involvement, the brief states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense argued that the Kentucky State Police investigation in the Fields case made it clear that sexual acts occurred in Mullins chambers and that Mullins was allegedly involved. The defense stated that almost half of the grand jury hearing was centered around issues stemming from Stampers statements. The Defendant is entitled to a dismissal of the indictment based upon the evidence provided from the Commonwealths investigation as briefly stated herein, the brief reads. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) Mesa County has approved an updated contract for $100,000 to address the Japanese beetle infestation, adjusting the initial budget allocation. The total spending on the Japanese beetle infestation is approximately $300,000, according to Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel. The county initially budgeted $60,000 at the beginning of the year but adjusted the allocation to ensure accuracy and transparency with the public. We had worked about 60,000 into our budget at the beginning of the year, but this is just a slight adjustment, said Daniel. We wanted to make sure that were being really accurate and transparent with the public on how much this is costing us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Mesa County will not receive grant funding from the Colorado Department of Agriculture due to state budget constraints. Its unfortunate that the state didnt have that available this year. It really did help us with last years cost, Amber Swasey, natural resources director, said. Despite the lack of state funding, the Department of Agriculture will still assist by setting traps and monitoring the beetle population. The expanded contract with WD Yards will allow for the treatment of areas where the Japanese beetle population is expected to increase within the established hot zone. William Rahorst, the operations manager for WD Yards, states, Its constantly expanding from wherever that original hotspot was at, even though the numbers are far less than what we saw the first season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county conducts two insecticide applications yearly based on trap data from CSU and the Department of Agriculture. Homeowners have two primary options for dealing with the pests: self-treatment using granular pesticides like grub killer, which requires strict adherence to label instructions and personal protective equipment, or hiring professional services. Professionals have access to more effective, specialized pesticides not available to the public. With the expanded efforts and continued monitoring, Mesa County aims to manage the Japanese beetle infestation effectively, despite the challenges posed by reduced state funding. We just want to make sure that theyre involved in where their tax dollars go, Daniel 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 WesternSlopeNow.com. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and leaders of other metro-area cities are calling for the Minnesota Legislature to allow them to create local gun control laws if state lawmakers cant reach an agreement on new policies. Gov. Tim Walz has said he plans to call a special session to address gun policy after the shooting last week at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis that killed two young children and injured 18 others. Walz and Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers want new restrictions on firearms, but theyll have to get Republican support to pass bills like a ban on certain semiautomatic rifles and limiting the capacity of magazines. And, that appears unlikely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recognizing that political reality, Carter, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and leaders of seven other cities gathered Tuesday at the Minnesota Capitol to ask state leaders to repeal a 1985 state law preventing local governments from enacting their own gun control. We have an emergency and we are simply asking our legislature to do what every 8-year-old in that school knew to do last week: Take action, said Carter, noting along with other mayors that he would prefer a federal or state ban to local action. If youre not able to do it or willing to do it there, give us the ability to keep our constituents safe, Frey said. That is our call. That is our ask. Chances at Legislature? Leaders from Bloomington, Stillwater, Vadnais Heights, Minnetonka, Hopkins and Richfield joined Carter and Frey on Tuesday in pushing for the repeal of the decades-old preemption law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if theyll have any success, as House and Senate Republicans have shown few signs of interest in changing gun laws. The House is currently split 67-66 with Republicans at a one-seat advantage. That likely will return to a 67-67 tie after a Sept. 16 special election to succeed the late DFL leader Rep. Melissa Hortman, who with her husband was fatally shot at their Brooklyn Park home in June. No matter the outcome of that election, House DFLers will still need GOP votes to pass any bills. On the Senate side, DFLers have 33 seats to Republicans 32 seats. Two special elections this November could change the balance of power or preserve the DFLs one-seat majority. But right now, they still need 34 votes to pass any bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If all 33 DFL senators voted for an assault weapons ban or any other gun control legislation, theyd need one Republican to join them. Complicating matters Further complicating matters for the Senate DFL is that at least one northern rural senator could be a holdout on gun bills. Rural district holdouts limited gun control legislation when the DFL had full control of state government in 2023 and 2024. Sen. Grant Hauschild, who represents northeast Minnesotas Arrowhead region, has voted for measures like extreme risk protection orders and universal background checks. But he opposed a requirement to lock up guns and another bill that would require the reporting of stolen or lost guns in a timely manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said last weeks news of Walz considering a special session had initially come as a surprise. In a Monday statement, the speaker said she had a conversation with Walz about his goals and noted that any proposals that come through the Legislature will need bipartisan support. If Governor Walz and Democrats are focused on partisan accusations and demands, this special session will not be productive for the people of Minnesota, Demuth said. Some Republicans have already signaled opposition to lifting the state preemption. House Safety Committee Lead Paul Novotny, R-Elk River, said the law prevents a confusing local patchwork of local rules that would turn law-abiding citizens into criminals simply for crossing a city or county line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Second Amendment does not change depending on your zip code, and every law-abiding Minnesotan deserves the same right to protect themselves and their family no matter what city or county they are currently in, he said in a statement. Constitutional freedoms shall not be infringed by a county or city government, and I trust the courts would agree. Local laws? City leaders didnt get into specifics on how local bans might take shape, though they shared a general idea of what they wanted. Mayors called for an overall ban on the sale and possession of assault style weapons, which would include the AR-15 a semiautomatic rifle with features like pistol grips and detachable magazines. Frey said magazine capacity would be limited to 10 bullets. Minneapolis and St. Paul dont have any stores that sell guns, so local bans in those cities would mainly affect people who already own semiautomatic rifles and larger magazines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if there would be anything that could stop someone from buying a gun in one municipality and bringing it to another, Minnetonka Mayor Brad Wiersum, whose city has a gun retailer, said doing nothing at all to regulate weapons would be a bigger cause for concern. If you take away opportunities to get guns, there will be fewer guns used, he said. Does it solve the problem? It does not. But does it reduce the problem? Does it mitigate the problem? Yes, it does. Recent setbacks for gun control advocates A renewed push for gun restrictions comes amid recent setbacks for gun control advocates in Minnesota. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, a prominent state gun rights group, has successfully challenged multiple Minnesota gun laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, a Ramsey County judge struck down a state law banning binary triggers a modification that allows a semiautomatic weapon to fire both when the trigger is pulled and released, greatly increasing its rate of fire. Judge Leonardo Castro said it couldnt stand because DFL lawmakers inserted the ban into a 1,400-page bill in the final hours of the 2024 legislative session, violating the Minnesota Constitutions Single Subject and Title Clause. In another August ruling, the Minnesota Supreme Court said a decades-old law banning certain guns without serial numbers didnt apply to homemade ghost guns as long as federal law doesnt require a serial number. And, earlier this year, Minnesotas minimum age to obtain a permit to carry a firearm dropped from 21 to 18 after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the states appeal in a case challenging the minimum age. Related Articles While two tropical cyclones are active in the eastern Pacific basin, the immediate concern is Tropical Rainstorm Lorena, which is bringing direct impacts to Mexico and will bring indirect impacts to the United States, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. Dry air, cool water and land interaction were taking a toll on Lorena as the center of the storm had become altered. On Friday morning, Lorena has become a tropical rainstorm just off the west coast of the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. This image, captured on Friday morning, Sept. 5, 2025, shows that Lorena has been ripped apart by strong upper-level winds. The bulk of Lorena's moisture can be seen over northern Mexico. However, the low-level circulation (barely visible) hovers just to the west of the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue Satellite) "The magnitude of Lorena's impacts in the U.S. will depend heavily on the track of its moisture," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. AccuWeather.com Steering currents on Friday will ultimately determine whether Lorena makes landfall in Mexico's Baja Peninsula as a tropical rainstorm. It is likely that these steering breezes will prevent Lorena from making landfall. Dangerous flash flood risk in US with or without Lorena "It is likely that the storm remains offshore, slows down along the western Mexico coast, or rapidly loses wind intensity and organization over cooler Pacific waters has become the most likely scenario," DaSilva said. AccuWeather.com Despite the demise of the wind center of the storm, moisture will be sheared off to the northeast across northern Mexico and then part of the southern U.S. The AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes in the U.S. is less than one. AccuWeather.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a front is forecast to slowly drift south over the Plains this weekend into early next week around the same time of the moisture surge from Lorena, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms. AccuWeather.com Such a scenario could unleash many inches of rain and widespread flash flooding in Texas and in parts of New Mexico and Oklahoma. However, the slow movement of the front alone, with Lorena's absence, can still lead to heavy enough rainfall to cause sporadic flash flooding. At this time, AccuWeather meteorologists are focusing on portions of southern and western Texas that will receive the heaviest rainfall and the greatest risk of flash flooding on a local to regional basis. "When this type of setup is coupled with abundant tropical moisture, as we expect over Texas this weekend, rain rates of 2-3 inches of rain per hour can occur, leading to significant flash flooding and rapidly rising water," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. "Even more extreme flash flooding can occur in localized areas near the most persistent downpours." AccuWeather.com "We urge people and businesses to have a way to get flash flood warnings at all times of the day and night and be prepared to move to higher ground, especially if you are in a low-lying area or near small streams or shallow rivers, as these areas can be particularly susceptible to rapidly rising water," Porter added. Dangerous conditions to continue in Mexico from Lorena A tropical storm warning was discontinued in Mexico as of late Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dangerous seas and surf are expected to continue into Saturday along the Baja Peninsula and parts of Mexico's western mainland coast. Rain will be the main risk to lives and property in Mexico for the storm's duration. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP "Lorena will bring heavy rain to southern Baja California through Saturday, which could lead to life-threatening flooding," DaSilva said. AccuWeather.com The AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes in Mexico is a one. Elsewhere in the Pacific, Hurricane Kiko is forecast to peak at Category 4 intensity in the short term and could approach Hawaii with possible significant impacts by the middle of next week. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) New Mexico has extended disaster food assistance in 10 counties for the month of September. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers in Lincoln, Chaves, De Baca, Guadalupe, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Dona Ana and Luna counties can temporarily use their EBT cards to buy hot, ready-to-eat foods from deli departments at authorized retailers. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This emergency measure remains in effect through September 30. Families affected by flooding are still navigating significant challenges, Niki Kozlowsi, director for the Income Support Division, said in a news release. This temporary measure ensures they have access to warm and nutritious meals as they recover. The emergency hot food waiver allows families affected by recent floodings to access hot meals if they are unable to prepare food at home due to damage or displacement. The waiver applies only to deli departments at EBT-authorized retailers and does not include restaurants or non-EBT-authorized retailers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Sep. 2In 18 months, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said her administration went from thinking about building an ecosystem for quantum technologies in New Mexico to now having a "live, breathing and well-organized" environment in which the industry can thrive. That work by state officials and stakeholders led to Lujan Grisham announcing Tuesday the state's newest partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, to develop the Quantum Frontier Project as part of the defense agency's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative which aims to accelerate the development, testing and validation of emerging quantum technologies. The partnership could see DARPA and New Mexico provide up to $60 million each over four years to efforts that directly support the federal agency's initiative or the project itself, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are those moments in time when you think back and say, 'Wow, where was I on that day?' This is going to be one of those days for New Mexico," Economic Development Department Secretary Rob Black said at the Tuesday press conference hosted at Roadrunner Venture Studios in Albuquerque. "This will be a transformative opportunity for our state." The Tuesday announcement comes as the state, over the past several months, has worked toward building a quantum ecosystem aimed at drawing private and federal dollars to New Mexico, which officials believe can help boost the economy. Just last week, Albuquerque-based Roadrunner Venture Studios was awarded $25 million as part of the EDD's new state-funded quantum innovation and commercialization project, aimed at boosting the number of quantum startups in the state. Albuquerque is also currently hosting this year's Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Quantum Week conference, where state officials on Monday including Black and Lujan Grisham hinted at a "bold, new era" for quantum technologies in New Mexico. "Certifying and proving out concepts means economic activity that can be not just in the hundreds of billions, but over generations, can be trillions of dollars into our economy," Lujan Grisham said. "It means that America is winning the tech race, which we must do globally." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Altepeter, DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative program manager, who has been a quantum computing researcher for over 25 years, recalled the start of his journey at Los Alamos National Laboratory. "We used to have a joke in quantum computing that you weren't allowed to be a quantum computing expert unless you had spent at least two years at Los Alamos at some point in your life. It really was that important to the whole space," Altepeter told the Journal. The Quantum Frontier Project will leverage state universities, private-sector innovators like Roadrunner and others, and national laboratories to expand research, engineering and testing efforts. "One of the things that's most exciting about working with the state is they share DARPA's desire to be agile and to say, 'Let's transform this into whatever it needs to succeed at the mission,'" Altepeter said. "I don't think we know exactly what it's going to look like, because we're going to make it into whatever it takes to succeed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Altepeter noted that in the partnership structure, DARPA and New Mexico will only spend money where it makes sense, specifically if it has a chance to make a "transformative difference." "The common thread is that all of those projects are going to help us do better at this primary mission of understanding if, and exactly how, quantum computing is going to make the world a better place," Altepeter said. DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative began in July 2024 to see whether it's possible to build useful quantum computers faster than conventional predictions, according to its website. Similar partnerships are with Illinois through the Quantum Proving Ground program and Maryland with the Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub. More than a dozen companies are taking part in the initiative, from international groups in the United Kingdom and Canada to powerhouses like IBM. Those companies will pursue a variety of technologies for creating quantum bits, or qubits, which are the building blocks for quantum computers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whereas traditional computers use bits, quantum computers use qubits to perform calculations based on quantum mechanic principles, which can solve problems much faster and can help, for instance, researchers with quicker drug discovery and businesses with optimizing logistics. Public and private officials have already made big strides in bringing quantum-oriented companies to New Mexico, seeking federal and state funds that could boost the research and development of quantum technologies. Colorado-based Quantinuum outlined plans in July to build a research and development facility in Albuquerque. And in April, Mesa Quantum, also out of Colorado, announced that it would set up shop in New Mexico for at least two years to develop laser systems needed for quantum sensing applications. Elevate Quantum's Quantum Moonshot initiative was also named a semifinalist in the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program, which could mean $15 million in funding over two years and up to $160 million over 10 years to make breakthroughs in and commercialize quantum navigation, sensing and computing technologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roadrunner CEO Adam Hammer told the Journal Tuesday that while this partnership is step one in becoming a leading quantum tech hub, the state is starting with a "bang, not a whisper." The venture studio prides itself on being a leader in commercializing the most "disruptive" science and technology and building businesses out of it, Hammer said. Partnering with entrepreneurs and companies, he said Roadrunner's ultimate goal is to create venture-backable startups that will be based and headquartered in New Mexico. Uniquely a state that boasts multiple national defense labs and has one of the largest concentrations of Ph.D.s per capita in the nation, Lujan Grisham said New Mexico has long been known as a "place of innovation." "If you're looking to create it, invent it, demonstrate that it works and engage in building new ideas that will solve the world's problems," Lujan Grisham said, "this is the state to be doing that work in." A person shops at a home improvement store in New York City in January 2024. New Mexico is one of three states implementing laws to restrict the use of PFAS often called forever chemicals that can be found in a wide array of consumer goods and firefighting foam. (Spencer Platt / Getty Images) New Mexico will soon release an initial draft of rules to ban consumer products that contain so-called forever chemicals, the states top environment official told lawmakers Tuesday. Earlier this year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 212, passed by lawmakers to institute the gradual phasing out of intentionally added per-and-polyfluouroalkyl substances in everyday items. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers also passed a second bill, House Bill 140, to allow the New Mexico Environment Department to regulate and manage cleanup for firefighting foams containing PFAS on military bases, which have caused contamination in groundwater around the state. Both of these laws work together to keep PFAS out of our economy, out of our drinking water and out of peoples bodies, Environmental Secretary James Kenney told lawmakers during an interim Radioactive Materials and Hazardous Waste interim committee meeting. New Mexico is the third state to enshrine a ban in state laws to address the use of PFAS in consumer products, joining Maine and Minnesota. This class of manmade chemicals is often used in waterproofing and is able to withstand breaking down in water, oil and sunlight. As a result, PFAS can be found across a range of products, including cookware, takeout containers, dental floss, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, menstrual products, textiles and upholstered furniture. But exposure through contaminated water and soil, as well as through the plants and animals, cause PFAS to build up in the human body. While still being studied, PFAS exposure is linked to increased cancer risks, fertility issues, low birth weights or fetal development issues, hormonal imbalances and limiting vaccine effectiveness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial rules will be released sometime in September; require a public input process; and approval from the seven-member Environmental Improvement Board. Once approved potentially next summer the PFAS ban would roll out in phases, starting with cookware, food packaging, firefighting foams, dental floss and juvenile products, by January 2027. Additional items would follow, such as cosmetics, period hygiene products, textiles, carpeting, furniture and ski wax. The rules will include exceptions for PFAS used in products such as: medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics and cars. Kenney said the rules will contain instructions requiring manufacturers to label products containing PFAS; establish a process for companies to receive an exemption if needed; and develop fines for companies violating the ban. The department will also soon be releasing its draft rules on regulating firefighting foams containing PFAS, expected to receive final approval in the fall 2026. Those rules, Kenney said, will help environment officials develop a statewide inventory of the foams and determine how to characterize, treat and ultimately dispose of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenney highlighted the recent report issued by the department finding the fingerprint of firefighting foam PFAS in peoples blood in Clovis, surrounding Cannon Air Force Base. As a result of those findings, Kenney said the department is working to spend $2 million lawmakers set aside in capital outlay to move people off of private wells and onto public drinking water systems. Furthermore, the department plans to conduct additional testing around Holloman Air Force Base and push for cleanup as multiple federal lawsuits between New Mexico and the military remain in the courts. We are going to continue to be in a groundwater war and a public health war with the Department of Defense, Kenney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ant Thorton (R-East Mountains) asked what the minimum level of exposure is safe for PFAS and what the state considered realistic. Kenney said that he couldnt provide an exact number since Im not a toxicologist, but instead compared PFAS contamination in drinking water systems in two locations with known exposure: Curry County, near the base, and La Cieneguilla, which has detected contamination from the Santa Fe Regional Airport. Curry County, he said, has higher risks of exposure, as its drinking water has PFAS levels 650,000% higher than federal standards. While not negating La Cieneguillas concerns, he said, levels for that community are much closer to the federal standard. We need to figure out where the greatest risk is occurring and minimize it from there, Kenney said. I think many people would say theres no acceptable risk level for PFAS, Im a little bit more pragmatic its a forever chemical. Its going to be hard to get out of the environment, and our risk is always going to be something greater than zero. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Video: Unrelated, prior coverage. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A local township is monitoring an increased number of vehicle thefts over the last 90 days. According to a spokesperson for Miami Township, the area has seen 28 vehicle thefts occur within the last three months. Four of those thefts took place at the Dayton Mall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WINTERSET, Iowa Michele Brant has officially taken the oath of office as Madison County Auditor, following a decisive victory in last weeks special election. Brant was sworn in Tuesday night during a Board of Supervisors Special Session. Her landslide victory of more than 70% of the vote was confirmed just moments before. Madison County Auditor Michele Brant is sworn in by County Attorney Stephen Swanson on Tuesday. She now assumes leadership of an office that has faced recent turmoil and turnover. In an interview shortly before being sworn in, Brant shared her sense of responsibility and optimism for the road ahead with WHO 13s Katie Kaplan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brant, who said she has been preparing since the unofficial results were issued on election day, added that temporary Auditor Matthew Schwarz had helped to make it a smooth transition. Its starting to sink in that Im going to be the Auditor in just a couple hours from now, she said. I have spent some time in the Auditors office shadowing and transitioning, and hes done a really good job of preparing cover memos for all the projects hes working on. She said she planned to return to the courthouse to officially take over as soon as the meeting was adjourned on Tuesday. Top Priorities: Property Tax Delays and Fiscal Closure Among Brants first major tasks is catching up on delayed property tax statements, which she estimates are currently two to three weeks behind schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to reenter some tax information on parcels. That would be number one. We have to finish closing out fiscal year 24 and 25 that would be number two, Brant explained. Then I need to work with the Treasurer so that her piece gets done in as short amount of time as possible so we can get it off to mail services. Brant emphasized that people should not be worried if they havent received their tax statement by mid-September as she understands residents will still have 30 days to pay once they are issued. To assure everybody normally youre delinquent on October 1st, and thats just not the case, Brant clarified, stating she had verified the information through different sources. Focus on Staffing and Transparency In addition to addressing immediate fiscal and procedural concerns, Brant has a long-term vision for improving operations within the Auditors office that includes reducing staff turnover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats been one of the primary contributors to inefficiencies, she said. (We need) to get the right staff in place, evaluate the staff we have, and find out what their goals and desires are. She also hopes to restore public trust by prioritizing clear, consistent communication- and to steer away from online mudslinging that has plagued the county in recent months. We need to quiet the social media down, Brant noted. And I think the only way to do that is to deliver on that promise of transparency. To that end, she said she plans to release biweekly updates to the public during BOS meetings and to proactively communicate with department heads and elected officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If something doesnt get done, (Ill) disclose that before people come looking for it, she said. Questions Over $23,500 Payroll Automation Plan One of the evenings agenda items was a resolution to fund automated payroll services projected to cost around $23,500 over the next two years. The resolution had initially been tabled during a BOS meeting on Aug. 26. Brant had expressed reservations about moving forward with the plan at that time during the meetings public comment section. It was a sentiment she again echoed on Tuesday during the special session. The estimated cost breakdown of the proposed automated payroll software. I just want to see it for myself, she said of the process. Payroll is the Auditors responsibility, and we dont know where we are in terms of when our tax revenues are coming in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brant also questioned how the county would fund the project. In recent months the BOS has taken drastic cost-cutting measures, like staff reductions (her own position as board clerk was reportedly dissolved in the Spring), and planned property sales, like what has been in the works for the public health building. If you havent closed out your budget for 24/25, how do you know where were sitting? she stated. Where did the cost of the special election come in? What about staffing? For full disclosure, I want to know that before I make any decisions. Board Chair Heather Stancil stated the software would streamline the process and eventually save time and money, with some of the cost offset by utilizing the pay of a part-time employee that would no longer be needed. The entire proposed contract with Solutions, can be viewed in the BOS meeting packet. The board ultimately decided to table the issue indefinitely to allow Brant to look into the matter and decide if her office has a need for the software. Several members of the public who attended the meeting nodded in agreement as the supervisors voted. A Message to Residents Despite the challenges ahead, Brant said she is ready to lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im just really excited. Im just encouraged and enthusiastic about this whole process, and the next three and a half years, she said. For Madison County residents fatigued by recent controversies, Brant offered a simple message: Have faith and have hope. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. The Macomb County Court Building in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Frank Prezzato, a St. Clair Shores man, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge that he voted twice in the 2024 August primary. (Hayley Harding / Votebeat) This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Sign up for Votebeat Michigans free newsletter here. A Michigan man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a felony charge that he voted twice during last years August primary election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Frank Prezzato, 68, of St. Clair Shores, voted using his absentee ballot and then showed up at his polling place and voted there as well. A news release from Attorney General Dana Nessel said Prezzato acknowledged that he acted recklessly. As part of a plea agreement, he will serve six months of delayed probation. After that, the charges can be dismissed with prejudice closing the case permanently if Prezzato meets the conditions of his probation. His formal sentencing is set for the end of October. Voting twice undermines our democratic process, Nessel said. My office will continue to prosecute those who violate our voting laws to ensure Michigan voters have confidence in the integrity of our elections. In total, Nessels office pursued charges against seven people in the scandal four voters and three poll workers. Five of those people, including the poll workers, have since had charges against them dismissed, including one man whose attorney argued he had been entrapped by the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other remaining defendant, Stacey Kramer, could have a jury trial as soon as this month, according to court records. In all four cases of alleged double-voting, officials say both votes were counted. Still, double voting is extremely rare in Michigan and across the country. In Michigan, several safeguards are in place to prevent double voting before it occurs. The most significant is the use of e-pollbooks computers that poll workers use to check voters in at polling places. These systems flag when a voter has already submitted an absentee ballot, so they dont get a second one. If a voter who shows up to vote at a polling place has an outstanding absentee ballot that has not yet been returned, the e-pollbooks prompt election workers to arrange to cancel it before issuing an in-person ballot. In the rare instance that it does happen, double voting is usually a matter of timing the in-person vote is cast before the absentee ballot is received and input by election officials. In that case, officials are notified while processing the absentee ballot that an in-person ballot was cast. In the St. Clair Shores cases, prosecutors alleged that the appropriate warnings did come up, but that poll workers overrode them and issued in-person ballots anyway, allowing two ballots to be cast by the same person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido initially declined to press charges against any of the people involved in the St. Clair Shores case. He argued that it appeared no one had intended to commit a crime. But two months later, Nessel filed charges not only against those accused of casting two ballots but also against the poll workers who allegedly assisted them. At the time, the move was viewed as part of a broader effort by Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to underscore the security of Michigans elections ahead of the 2024 presidential race. Hayley Harding is a reporter for Votebeat based in Michigan. Contact Hayley at hharding@votebeat.org. Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization covering local election integrity and voting access. Sign up for their newsletters here. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A Michigan man has pleaded guilty to a criminal count for voting twice in the 2024 August primary. The Michigan Attorney Generals Office announced that 68-year-old Frank Prezzato, of St. Clair Shores, filed his plea on Wednesday. Sign up for the News 8 daily newsletter Prosecutors say Prezzato appeared in person at his local polling place on Election Day and requested and cast a ballot even though he had already submitted an absentee ballot. In October, he was charged with one count of voting absentee and in-person and one count of offering to vote more than once. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting twice undermines our democratic process, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. My office will continue to prosecute those who violate our voting laws to ensure Michigan voters have confidence in the integrity of our elections. As part of a plea deal, the second charge was dropped, and he will serve a six-month delayed probation sentence. If he cleanly serves the terms and conditions of his probation, all charges will be dismissed. The formal sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 22. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Dr. Pamela Rockwell won't be silent anymore. A clinical professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, Rockwell joins a growing chorus of health experts who warn that the nation's public health is at risk under a U.S. Health and Human Services department run by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "We have been duped by RFK Jr.," said Rockwell, who served seven years on an independent panel of experts called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which reviews safety data and makes vaccine recommendations to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "He has proven himself a liar about everything he said when he was confirmed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Rockwell is building a coalition of physicians in the state to find a way through the tumult at the federal level and ensure Michiganders can continue to get the preventive care they need to stay healthy. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., shown at a news conference in Texas, on Aug. 28, has taken action that may make COVID-19 shots harder to access for many adults and children. Nine former CDC directors published an opinion piece Sept. 1 in the New York Times, saying the actions Kennedy has taken in his first few months as HHS secretary "should alarm every American, regardless of political leanings." Among the most worrisome, they wrote, include the Aug. 27 firing of CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez and the resignations of several other top CDC leaders, the cancellation of medical research that would help the nation quickly respond to emerging infectious diseases, replacing long-standing experts on the ACIP with vaccine skeptics, celebrating unproven treatments rather than vaccines, and "citing flawed research and making inaccurate statements." Monarez was fired because she "was not aligned with the president's mission to make America healthy again," said President Donald Trump's spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy Jr. announced in May that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children or pregnant women. And in August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration changed the labels on the vaccines, saying they should be given only to people older than 65 and to younger people with at least one preexisting health condition that puts them at high risk for severe disease with COVID-19. That triggered alarm bells for some medical associations, which issued contradictory recommendations, and also sowed confusion among pharmacists and other medical providers about the fall vaccine rollout and insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines. It alarmed Rockwell, too. "It is dire," she said. Americans find themselves, she said, facing "the worst possible case scenario" for public health. She fears that when the newly appointed ACIP panel meets again Sept. 18-19, the nation could see the committee further restrict access to vaccines. Dr. Pamela Rockwell is a clinical professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, co-chair of the University of Michigan Immunization Committee and of the Michigan Advisory Committee on Immunizations through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and also is medical director of Domino's Farms Family Medicine. "I try to be an advocate for all my patients whether its inpatient or outpatient and explain everything to them. Nothing is without risk in life, nothing. Getting on an airplane is not without risk. But the risks that have been pushed about vaccines are just so hyperbolic compared with the benefits of vaccinating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The real sad and unfortunate thing is I can no longer say the CDC is a trustworthy source." After Monarez was fired, Kennedy Jr. said: "There's a lot of trouble at CDC, and it's going to require getting rid of some people over the long term in order to change the institutional culture and bring back pride and self-esteem and make that agency the stellar agency that it's always been. I'm very confident in the political staff that we have there now." That's the problem, Rockwell said. Political staff shouldn't be making decisions that ought to be informed by scientific data at the CDC and other federal public health agencies. "Public health is now so politicized," she said. In her time serving as a liaison to ACIP for the American Academy of Family Physicians, she saw firsthand the depth of knowledge and transparency at the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now? "A lot of misinformation is coming out through social media, but now that disinformation is coming out from the federal government, too," she said. So, Rockwell is doing what she can now in her own circles. She ensures that she and her loved ones are up to date on preventive vaccines. When she rounds on the patients admitted to the University of Michigan Medical Center, she offers immunizations. "I am vaccinating everybody I can at the hospital," she said. She's doing the same at her practice at Domino's Farms Family Medicine, where she is medical director. She teamed up with a physician who co-chairs the University of Michigan Immunization Committee with her and began to reach out to the heads of local and state organizations like the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have been working to establish our own evidence-based recommendations because physicians are confused," said Rockwell, who also is the co-chair of the Michigan Advisory Committee on Immunizations for MDHHS. "Nurse practitioners, pharmacists are confused. Right now, pharmacists are hampered by the fact that they legally cant give vaccinations if its not recommended. But doctors can give off-label vaccinations. "The term 'label' just means exactly what the FDA puts on the vaccine label. So, that is my intention. We are going to continue to vaccinate with evidence-based recommendations. I will be recommending a COVID vaccine to all my patients, 6 months and older. The American Academy of Pediatrics has come out with formal guidelines to recommend all children, not just high-risk children ... get vaccinated. So, were citing that as a reputable source." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also published guidance saying women also should get the COVID-19 vaccine if theyre planning to become pregnant, at any point in their pregnancy, if they recently delivered a baby or if theyre breastfeeding. "Were following that," Rockwell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She met with Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, an infectious disease specialist who also is the chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Bagdasarian and MDHHS also broke with the CDC and recommended all Michiganders 6 months and older get COVID-19 vaccines. Bagdasarian told the Detroit Free Press Aug. 29 that "the data still supports the benefit of COVID vaccines over any kind of risk, especially for pregnant women, which was one of the populations that CDC changed some of their language around. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian is chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. "We continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for everyone over the age of 6 months," Bagdasarian said, based on those "national bodies of scientific advisers who are best positioned to review the data, to review the science and make decisions that are solely based on science." Rockwell says the coalition she's building with Bagdasarian and others may help Michigan's medical institutions build enough resilience to "refuse to capitulate to sham science and quackery that is being proposed" by Kennedy Jr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am working very hard on this with a lot of extra meetings and Im trying to coordinate with other big bodies of professionals so we can all join together," Rockwell said. More: Who can get updated COVID-19 vaccines in Michigan might not be an easy question to answer More: In 'uncharted waters' with COVID-19 vaccines, Michigan health leaders set own course "It has been clunky and slow-going, but I have visions of at least getting the Midwest all together with our state chapters." Some deep and personal losses within her own family have given Rockwell perspective and courage in this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I dont feel like I need to apologize to anybody for what I say," she said. "And Im willing to be the outspoken doctor whether its at U-M or in the state or nationally because life is precious. We shouldnt be allowing our government to make decisions" that put precious lives at risk by restricting preventive vaccines. "I have an unwavering faith in the power of the people, though, and I do think that the public will not like to be told what they can and cannot do. They would rather have the option to vaccinate, rather than not have the option. "This is the beginning of a pushback," she said. "I'll do my best in my little world." Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U-M physician builds coalition to counter RFK Jr.'s vaccine policies Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un have been overheard discussing the possibility of living to the age of 150 as they were on their way to a military parade in Beijing. Source: Bloomberg Details: Bloomberg noted that the conversation was broadcast live despite Chinas tight control over the information and messaging it seeks to project abroad. The audio captured less than a minute of the discussion about longevity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the exchange, Xi Jinping said "these days" and "70 years" in Mandarin. The interpreter relayed his words, adding in Russian: "In the past, people rarely lived to 70, but today, at 70 youre still a child." Putin responded: "With advances in biotechnology, human organs could be continually transplanted, enabling people to live longer and even potentially achieve immortality." Xi then told Putin: "According to predictions, in this century people may be able to live to 150." Bloomberg notes that age and health are sensitive issues for all three leaders, none of whom has named a clear successor. Xi, 72, scrapped presidential term limits and may run for a fourth term in 2027. Putin, who is also 72, changed Russian laws to extend his rule. Kim Jong Un, 41, brought his daughter to Beijing, fuelling speculation that he is grooming her to be his heir. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Less kindergartners are in the classroom at Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools. Its a trend that is impacting schools across Middle Tennessee. Generally speaking, many, many schools are struggling, Vanderbilt University research professor Doug Fuchs said. Right now, school officials are keeping a close eye on enrollment. The reason is that fewer students could eventually mean less money. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The quality of K-12 education in this country is not nearly where it needs to be, Fuchs said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest numbers show the Rutherford County School District and Murfreesboro City Schools have seen drops in enrollment, specifically for kindergarteners. Is that home prices? Is it birth rates? Dr. James Sullivan with Rutherford County questioned. Leaders in both districts said the numbers could still fluctuate. Experts, like Fuchs, said that right now, there are likely a lot of pieces adding to the puzzle. From COVID-19 to home affordability, they said theres no clear answer just yet, but some are questioning whether the school voucher program the state of Tennessee rolled out this year is playing a role. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Given pretty dramatic incentives to parents of K-12 kids, and these incentives are often cash, to use as the parents wish to get their children education in the form of homeschooling, and private schools, Fuchs said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School officials said theyre hopeful they will get more students enrolled in the classroom over the next few months. They said that after Labor Day, they tend to have stronger numbers. Meanwhile, if numbers dont improve, school districts could face tough choices in an already struggling system. Its a crisis I would say, Fuchs 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 WKRN News 2. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland man has been arrested after police say he assaulted the mother of his child during an argument Tuesday evening. 19-year-old Austin Ramon Arriaga now faces assault causing bodily injury/family violence, a class A misdemeanor. According to an affidavit, officers were called to a Midland home on Tuesday, September 2, around 6:47 p.m. for reports of a disturbance. When Officers with the Midland Police Department arrived, they found 10 to 15 people outside the home arguing and threatening each other. Officers noted that to prevent violence, police stood in between the suspects, separating them before more than half of them left. Police then made contact with the alleged victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the victim told officers that her childs father, identified as 19-year-old Austin Ramon Arriaga, came home from work and accused her of being lazy. The victim alleged Arriaga grabbed her phone, demanded the passcode, then kicked her in the area of her recent C-section wound. She told police he also punched her in the face, pushed her onto the bed, and choked her from behind. EMS was called to the scene and transported the victim to Midland Memorial Hospital. Officer Lozano reported seeing redness on her face, scratches on her neck and arm, and noted her complaints of pain near her C-section wound. Arriaga told officers that he was upset after finding the victim not tending to their infant and claimed she had pushed and choked him first. Police noted that Arriaga had no visible injuries. Arriagas mother, who was inside the home at the time, told investigators she heard the argument and heard the victim yell at Arriaga to stop hitting her, though she did not witness the alleged assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the physical evidence and statements at the scene, Arriaga was arrested on a charge of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, a Class A misdemeanor. He was booked into the Midland County Detention Center with a $2,500 bond, where he remains as of Wednesday, September 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Martin Larsen (left) and Jess Offord (right) stand in an oat field and discuss the harvest on August 3, 2025 in Byron, Minn. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Investigate Midwest) CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa Few people outside Quaker Oats know exactly what the Cedar Rapids factory is making when a sweet, wholesome smell wafts from the plant north of downtown. Locals call it a Crunch Berry day because Quaker the worlds largest cereal plant makes Capn Crunchs Crunch Berries, but the aroma could also be oats roasting for Oatmeal Squares or maple-flavored instant oatmeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The oats fueling that sweet-smelling goodness come not from the rich Iowa soil near the plant, but from up to 1,000 miles away in Canada. For decades, the plumpest, most consistent oats came from the northern plains, but new field trials show food-grade oats can be grown in Iowa and Minnesota by farmers eager for an alternative to corn and soybeans. Buying domestic oats would help Quaker save freight costs and avoid threatened tariffs on Canadian goods. It could also improve Midwest water quality and soil health ravaged by an endless corn/soy rotation. Expanding Midwest oat production offers economic and environmental benefits for farmers and local communities, advocates say. But agricultural companies and commodity groups dont have financial incentives tied to oats because oats dont require hybrid seeds, crop insurance or as much fertilizer. These big players arent opposing oats, but they arent cheerleading either. The lack of support has left oat growers to be their own hype machines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can actually pick our varieties and our production practices to provide a better product than Canada, not only on a protein level, but on an environmental impact level, said Landon Plagge, a Latimer, Iowa, farmer and oat advocate. In May, Plagge and other oat farmers in Iowa and Minnesota loaded 100,000 bushels of their oats into a rail car bound for Quakers factory in Cedar Rapids. Three months later, theyre still waiting to hear what the grain giant thought of the domestic product. Iowa is a donut hole for oat research Baby boomers who grew up on Iowa farms remember growing oats to feed horses and other livestock. Iowans harvested more than 6 million acres of oats a year until the 1950s, according to Matt Liebman, an emeritus Iowa State University agronomy professor. But as Americans started eating more meat, demand increased for corn to feed the cattle, hogs and chickens. When ethanol was approved as a fuel additive in the 1970s, corn demand rose again. Now, about 45% of corn nationwide becomes ethanol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like kernels around a cob, industries popped up to serve King Corn. Specialty seed breeders, co-ops that sell fertilizer and consultants who tell farmers how much corn to feed their hogs all benefit from expansion of corn acres. Still, Iowans harvested nearly 40,000 acres of oats for grain in 2022, putting it eighth in the nation behind North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York, according to the Census of Agriculture. Oats harvested to feed animals and humans increased 12.6% in Iowa between 2017 and 2022. Iowa State University, a land-grant school with a powerhouse agriculture college, once had a distinguished oat breeding program. Kenneth Frey and J. Artie Browning developed a crown rust-resistant oat cultivar they shared with farmers as certified seed in 1968, according to the Agronomy Departments 125th Points of Pride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Iowa State hasnt had an oat breeder since 2007 and doesnt do its own oat trials. The university did partner with Practical Farmers of Iowa, a sustainable agriculture nonprofit based in Des Moines, to hold oat trials at four ISU research farms. Iowa is the donut hole, Liebman said, referring to oat research in neighboring states of Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Liebman, who retired in 2021, understands university budgets are tight and theres no corporate constituency clamoring for oat research. Theres more money to be made in selling corn and soybeans, he said, referring to ag companies. With oats, you dont have to keep buying seed every year because its not hybrid and its not transgenic. Its much less lucrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hed like to see ISU prioritize research of oats and other small grains because of the benefits to soil health and water quality. Glen Ritchie, who started as ISUs Agronomy Department chair in July, said he knows there is renewed interest in oats among Iowa farmers and that might affect research priorities. Were always looking for opportunities to provide the best value we can to the agricultural community in Iowa, he said. Oats are part of the discussions were having on that. Hes seen it happen Martin Larsen dipped his toe into small-grains farming in 2018, planting oats on a small swath of his farm near Byron, Minnesota. He was curious. Would his combine work for oat harvest? Could he get at least 38 pounds per bushel the minimum threshold for food-grade oats? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answers were yes and yes. I ramped up from there to the point I have a full three-crop rotation on 1,400 acres, he said. Martin Larsen climbs aboard the combine harvester to continue harvesting grain from the field on August 3, 2025 in Byron, Minn. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Investigate Midwest) Larsen has even invested in specialized equipment, including a header for his combine that strips the seeds from the top of the oat plant rather than running the whole stalk through the machine. This speeds harvest and keeps the stalk in place to reduce erosion. Other farmers want to know whether Larsen is making money from oats. Its always the thing we hear, he said. Soybeans, especially, can see an up to 10% yield bump because youve broken up the crop rotation. Glyphosate-resistant water hemp vexes every Midwest corn farmer. When the weed wants to make its move in late spring, oats already have a lush green cover and the water hemp cant compete. That means less weed pressure during the next corn round and less pesticide he has to apply, Larsen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By planting red clover with the oats, the clover provides nitrogen to the soil, which feeds future corn crops with reduced fertilizer costs, he said. So you really start to put all this together and its looking like the right thing for my farm, he said. Its also the right thing for protecting water quality, said Larsen, who is a conservation and feed lot technician for the Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has asked Minnesota to develop a plan for reducing nitrate pollution to groundwater in southeastern Minnesotas Driftless region. Nitrate in drinking water not only can cause blue baby syndrome, but studies including some done in Iowa show a link between ingesting nitrate from drinking water and cancers including colorectal, thyroid, bladder and ovarian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to raise something different than corn and soybeans or raise corn and soybeans differently if were going to affect nitrates, Larsen said. We have hundreds and hundreds of data points of groundwater samples below oats compared to corn and soybeans, and its black and white that oats will reduce nitrates in groundwater. Tests of groundwater under Larsens oat acres show up to 60% less nitrate than under corn acres. Farmers band together While running a grocery store in Latimer for eight years, Anne and Landon Plagge were always thinking about what customers wanted to buy. We were on vacation in Europe and we saw the proliferation of oat products on the shelves there, Landon Plagge said. Our (U.S.) consumer patterns tend to mirror that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The global market for oat milk was valued at more than $2 billion in 2020 and is projected to climb through at least 2028, especially with new shelf-stable milk. Beyond oat milk, there is oat flour for people trying to avoid gluten, and oatmeal boosted with flax and chia for people trying to get more protein. Plagge decided he wanted to grow oats for the segment of the U.S. population that wants an allergen-free, pesticide-free product. Grain Millers processes oats in St. Ansgar, Iowa, near the Minnesota border, but they grind wheat and barley, too, so the oats cant be completely free of allergens, Plagge said. Jess Offord cleans the combine harvester rotor which gets full of non-grain material from the field due to recent wet weather in the area on August 3, 2025 in Byron, Minn. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Investigate Midwest) He recruited about 70 farmers, mostly from Iowa and Minnesota, to invest in Green Acres Milling, a $55 million oat-processing plant in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The plant, scheduled to open next year, eventually will process 3 million bushels of oats a year. This equates to about 60,000 acres of oats within three years, Plagge said. They put their own cash into making the mill a reality, Plagge said of the investors including Larsen who will get a premium price for the oats they sell to Green Acres. The mill requires oat growers to use a cover crop and to grow oats as part of a rotation with other crops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That gives us the control of the raw materials supply coming in so we can provide a sustainably-produced oat with a cover crop for our brands and a diverse rotation for our brands, Plagge said. Whos buying? While Quaker is several generations removed from its 1870s origin in Ravenna, Ohio, Seven Sundays founders Hannah and Brady Barnstable sold their first bag of muesli like granola, but healthier at a Minneapolis farmers market in 2011. We love oats, Brady Barnstable said. We think they are a huge unlock to change the agricultural landscape in the Midwest. Seven Sundays makes cereal and granola without dyes, artificial colors, allergens or refined sugars. They also buy only non-GMO crops grown without glyphosate. Their products, like Wildberry Protein Oats, have muscled their way onto grocery shelves, including at Midwest Costco stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been invited to the Costco Midwest managers meetings in the Chicago area to give presentations on what were doing in our supply chain to benefit soil health, Barnstable said. But Costco wouldnt stock Seven Sundays just for environmental brownie points, he said. The decisions are driven by sales. Is it resonating with their shoppers? For Seven Sundays, it is. Seven Sundays originally bought all its oats from Whole Grain Milling, in Welcome, Minnesota, but as they sold more muesli and cereal, Seven Sundays needed more suppliers, including some from Canada. By purchasing American oats, the company could avoid increased freight costs and skip tariff fears. Our goal is to source as close to home as possible for all our ingredients, Barnstable said. I have heard that this new mill will have the capacity to provide us and many other customers with the oats we need to fill our full demand. Public push for sustainable products But what about Quaker? The company and its parent, PepsiCo Inc., did not respond to several attempts to seek comment for this story. Just like Quaker doesnt advertise what makes that sweet smell in Cedar Rapids, the firm isnt saying exactly what factors into their oat sourcing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But we know price and availability of supplies are key drivers, according to PepsiCos 2024 Annual Report. Risk to our supply of certain raw materials is mitigated through purchases from multiple geographies and suppliers, the report stated. Companies face pressure from consumers particularly Millennials and Gen Z who increasingly want to buy products that are good for people and the planet. A 2024 survey by PwC showed consumers are willing to spend almost 10% more for sustainably-sourced or produced goods. PepsiCo and Cargill announced in July they will partner with Practical Farmers of Iowa to advance regenerative farming practices across 240,000 acres in Iowa. Farmers who sell their corn to Cargill which produces ingredients for PepsiCos family of companies will have access to advice, technical resources and incentive payments to support their transition to regenerative practices, the companies said in a joint news release. Cargill and PepsiCo want to drive adoption of regenerative practices on 10 million acres by 2030, the news release said. News like this brings equal parts frustration and hope for Larsen, the Minnesota oat farmer waiting to hear back from Quaker about the May oat shipment. It seems like buying oats from their backyard would fit their narrative. This story first appeared in Investigate Midwest, an independent, nonprofit newsroom that serves the public interest by exposing dangerous and costly practices of influential agricultural corporations and institutions. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A southwest Minnesota woman is headed to prison for 3rd degree murder. Wednesday, a judge sentenced 43-year-old Pranom Souvannarath to 8-and-a-half years behind bars. She has a lengthy criminal history. Her past convictions involved drugs, thefts and DWI. 2 farmers to pay $4 million in crop insurance fraud This latest crime was in April of last year. Thats when Souvannarath killed 22 year-old-Brittany Lais. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness told investigators that Lais was driving when Souvannarath handed her something that Lais thought was candy, so she ate it. It turned out it wasnt a snack, it was meth. Lais died a couple of hours later of methamphetamine toxicity. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Mississippi Food Network (MFN) called for Mississippians to come together during Hunger Action Month, which is held in September. Studies showed that the United States has reached its highest rate of food insecurity in more than a decade, totaling 47 million people, including 14 million children. MFN said they see food insecurity range from a low of 14.8% in Rankin County to a high of 28.8% in Holmes County. With recent cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, MFN officials said this number could grow. FEMA approves $2.8M for recovery following Jackson water crisis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People across the country have demonstrated immense care for their neighbors in crisis time and time again, helping to build stronger, more resilient communities, said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. Ending the hunger crisis in America is no different. When we all work together, alongside our neighbors facing hunger, we can find solutions to ensure that everyone has the food they need to thrive. This Hunger Action Month, our hope for the nation is to start building this new reality together, through unified action toward a shared vision of a hunger free America. The MFN accepts donations online, and those interested can get involved locally at these events: Wearing orange on September 9 , which is Hunger Action Day Join us for MFNs annual fundraiser, Moonlight Market, on September 11 Volunteer with MFN on volunteer Saturday the 13 Spread the word on social media One thing we continually see is the great need for food in Mississippi, but also the great hearts of its people, said Cass Mobley, interim CEO of the MFN. We invite you to join us in focusing our attention on food insecurity this September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is currently facing a lawsuit over his state of emergency declaration issued ahead of statewide No Kings protests in June. Lucas Cierpiot of Blue Springs, Missouri, formally filed the lawsuit on June 30 in Jackson County Circuit Court, according to online Missouri court records. On June 12, 2025, Kehoe signed an executive order that declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard, just two days before several No Kings protests against U.S. President Donald Trumps administration took place in Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive order, according to Kehoes office, was issued due to civil unrest and called on the National Guard to aid executive officials of Missouri to protect life and property. Despite those concerns, no injuries were reported across any No Kings protests in Missouri, including one in Downtown St. Louis that drew thousands. The executive order remained in effect through June 30, more than two weeks after the No Kings protests. Cierpiots lawsuit argues that the executive order was an abuse of office designed to suppress protests and intimidate demonstrators. He claims it violated rights to free speech and free assembly. Popular restaurant accused of harboring undocumented migrants Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that the executive order violated civil and constitutional and anti-disability discrimination rights. Cierpiot, who is visually impaired in one eye, argues that activating the National Guard left him vulnerable to potential use of force and represented discrimination against him based on his disability. Additionally, the lawsuit criticizes Kehoe for leaving the state during the declared state of emergency. Four days after signing the order, Kehoe departed on an international trade mission to France from June 16-20, according to a governors office news release. The lawsuit argues that his absence undermines the legitimacy of the emergency declaration. Cierpiot is seeking more than $25,000 in damages, along with declaratory and injunctive relief and attorney fees, as determined by a Jackson County jury. The next court hearing in the lawsuit, a case management conference, is scheduled for Nov. 11, 2025, according to Missouri court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson from Gov. Kehoes Office tells FOX 2 it does not comment on pending litigation and referred to the initial press release announcing the executive order for context. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. The Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent). The push to gerrymander Missouris congressional districts to create another GOP-leaning seat officially kicked off Wednesday with Democrats alleging the House violated the constitution by conducting business without a quorum. Only around 20 lawmakers were present Wednesday afternoon when the Missouri House convened for the beginning of a special legislative session focused on changing the congressional map and making it harder for voters to amend the state constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bills were introduced and public hearings were scheduled for Thursday. Democrats were quick to point out a quorum of 82 members is required by the constitution for the House to conduct business. And although historically the chamber has utilized technical sessions for routine business when a quorum is not present, House Minority Leader Ashley Aune said that doesnt make it legal or right. The stakes are too high in this special session to allow this illegal practice to continue unchallenged, said Aune, a Kansas City Democrat. Mid-decade redistricting is rare. In Missouri, it hasnt happened since the 1960s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But President Donald Trump, facing a potentially difficult midterm election cycle next year, has demanded GOP-controlled states redraw maps to add more Republican seats. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe answered the call last week, ordering the legislature back into session to carve up one of the states two districts held by a Democrat. The goal is to ensure seven of Missouris eight congressional districts are controlled by Republicans. In the crosshairs is the 5th District, based in Kansas City and currently held by 11-term U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. While eliminating a Democratic congressional seat has taken center stage, Republican lawmakers are also hoping to change the initiative petition process to require a statewide majority and a majority vote in all eight of the states congressional districts in order to approve a constitutional amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, a simple majority is all that is required. The redistricting plan is being shepherded through the legislative process by state Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Noel Republican and chairman of the House Budget Committee. A special committee created by Speaker Jon Patterson will hold a public hearing Thursday at noon in the Missouri Capitol. Another committee will hold a public hearing Thursday at 1 p.m. for the proposed changes to the initiative petition process. State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican, is sponsoring the legislation which, if passed by both the House and Senate, would require voter approval next year. The House is expected to debate and vote on both bills early next week. The Senate is scheduled to convene Wednesday to begin its work. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The battle over Missouris congressional boundaries is heating up and a new political showdown will soon unfold at the Capitol. The plan to change the Missouri congressional map will soon be tested as lawmakers head into a special session beginning Wednesday at noon in Jefferson City. Man arrested, accused of charging deputies with machete in Clay County At the heart of the fight: whether to divide a Democratic stronghold like Kansas City in a way that could shift the states political balance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole idea is to divide Kansas City into smaller chunks and distribute to other districts so that Kansas Citys vote is diluted, Dave Helling, a veteran journalist and political analyst said. Republicans with backing from former President Donald Trump are spearheading the effort, viewing the redistricting as a way to gain an edge in the 2026 midterm elections. But Democrats are preparing for a fight, and if a new map is passed, the next stop is likely court. Trump has reportedly urged GOP leaders in Missouri and other battleground states to redraw their maps ahead of 2026. Yet Missouri only redrew its congressional districts three years ago following the 2020 census. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican plan has already ignited backlash. On Monday, hundreds of protesters gathered in Kansas City, demanding transparency and fair representation. I think its more likely than not that something will happen now, Helling said. According to Helling, the process will begin with House committee meetings, where proposed maps possibly more than one will be introduced and discussed. There will be hearings demographic experts will tell members of the House this is how many are in this district, how many in that one, their age. From there, debate is expected to ensue, although many decisions will be made behind closed doors, as representatives and political teams negotiate district lines behind the scenes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once a map is finalized in the House, it heads to the Missouri Senate, where Democrats could attempt to filibuster. But Republicans have a potential workaround the nuclear option, a rarely used procedural move that would allow them to override the filibuster with a simple majority. But if you get bare majorities in the House and a bare majority in the Senate after a filibuster, the Governor of course will almost certainly sign the map, Helling explained. If passed, legal challenges are expected. The fight could extend beyond Missouri state courts to federal court, where Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and others may argue the new map amounts to racial gerrymandering one of the few legal grounds to challenge a redistricting plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In essence, steal his seat which is what this is about it will leave enormous hard feelings that will last generations, Helling said. Teen charged following road rage, shooting incident on I-70 in Saline County Helling says one likely outcome, should the map change, could be a high-profile race in the 4th District between Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Representative Mark Alford. FOX4 will have full coverage from Jefferson City as the special session begins bringing you updates every step of the way as this developing story unfolds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) Missouri lawmakers are meeting in a special session to redraw the state's U.S. House districts as part of President Donald Trump's effort to bolster Republicans' chances of retaining control of Congress in next year's elections. The special session called by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe began Wednesday and will run at least a week. Missouri is the third state to pursue the unusual task of mid-decade redistricting for partisan advantage. Republican-led Texas, prodded by Trump, was the first to take up redistricting with a new map aimed at helping Republicans pick up five more congressional seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But before Texas even completed its work, Democratic-led California already had fought back with its own redistricting plan designed to give Democrats a chance at winning five more seats. California's plan still needs voter approval at a Nov. 4 election. Other states could follow with their own redistricting efforts. Nationally, Democrats need to gain three seats next year to take control of the House. Historically, the party of the president usually loses seats in the midterm congressional elections. What is redistricting? At the start of each decade, the Census Bureau collects population data that is used to allot the 435 U.S. House seats proportionally among states. States that grow relative to others may gain a House seat at the expense of states where populations stagnated or declined. Though some states may have their own restrictions, there is nothing nationally that prohibits states from redrawing districts in the middle of a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In many states, congressional redistricting is done by state lawmakers, subject to approval by the governor. Some states have special commissions responsible for redistricting. What is gerrymandering? Partisan gerrymandering occurs when a political party in charge of the redistricting process draws voting district boundaries to its advantage. One common method is for a majority party to draw a map that packs voters who support the opposing party into only a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts. Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing partys voters by spreading them thinly among multiple districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. But it said state courts still can decide such cases under their own laws. How could Missouri's districts change? Missouri currently is represented in the U.S. House by six Republicans and two Democrats. A revised map proposed by Kehoe would give Republicans a shot at winning seven seats in the 2026 elections. It targets a Kansas City district, currently held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, by stretching it eastward into Republican-leaning rural areas. Meanwhile, other parts of Cleaver's district would be split off and folded into heavily Republican districts currently represented by GOP Reps. Mark Alford and Sam Graves. Districts also would be realigned in the St. Louis area but with comparatively minor changes to the district held by Democratic Rep. Wesley Bell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican lawmakers had considered a potential 7-1 map when originally drawing districts after the 2020 census. But the GOP majority opted against it because of concerns it could face legal challenges and create more competitive districts that could backfire in a poor election year by allowing Democrats to win up to three seats. Could other states join the redistricting battle? Mid-decade redistricting must occur in Ohio, according to its constitution, because Republicans there adopted congressional maps without sufficient bipartisan support. That could create an opening for Republicans to try to expand their 10-5 seat majority over Democrats. A court in Utah has ordered the Republican-controlled Legislature to draw new congressional districts after ruling that lawmakers circumvented an independent redistricting commission established by voters to ensure districts dont deliberately favor one party. A new map could help Democrats, because Republicans currently hold all four of the state's U.S. House seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Republican-led states, such as Indiana and Florida, are considering redistricting at Trump's urging. Officials in Democratic-led states, such as Illinois, Maryland and New York, also have talked of trying to counter the Republican push with their own revised maps. What else is at stake in Missouri? A special session agenda set by Kehoe also includes proposed changes to Missouri's ballot measure process. One key change would make it harder for citizen-initiated ballot measures to succeed. If approved by voters, Missouri's constitution would be amended so that all future ballot initiatives would need not only a majority of the statewide vote but also a majority of the votes in each congressional district in order to pass. If such a standard had been in place last year, an abortion-rights amendment to the state constitution would have failed. That measure narrowly passed statewide on the strength of yes votes in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas but failed in rural congressional districts. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A woman has been charged with criminal homicide and gun possession by a convicted felon after a deadly shooting occurred Saturday night in the Napier area of Nashville. According to a news release from the Metro Nashville Police Department, 42-year-old Nerika N. Patton was charged in the deadly shooting of 50-year-old Shereca M. Waters in the 80 block of Fain Street. PREVIOUS | Woman dies after argument leads to shooting in Napier area, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said that the investigation revealed Patton and Waters were involved in an argument that became physical. Waters reportedly punched Patton in the face, then Patton allegedly pulled a gun and shot Waters before leaving the area, according to the MNPD. Police said Waters died Sunday morning at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Detectives with the MNPDs Specialized Investigations Division arrested Patton on South 4th Street. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee According to the MNPD, Patton told investigators that she threw the gun into the Cumberland River because she is a convicted felon from a 2008 robbery case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patton is being held without bond pending a hearing, according to the MNPD. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It was a sight to behold. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Chinas Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin in Tianjin on Monday, laughing, trading smiles, and even holding hands. Washington surely took note. For over two decades, New Delhis foreign policy had shifted toward closer ties with the U.S. and the West, and gradually away from Russia. India had opened up economically to the U.S. and overcame its long-running reservations about deeper defense ties, joining The Quad alliance in 2007, and participating in joint military drills with America. But then came a reportedly tense Modi-Trump phone call in June and 50% tariffs last month, among the highest U.S. levy on any nation. Putin is scheduled to visit India later this year, and the mood in Delhi is filled with an overdose of optimism toward Russia and China. But it would be a mistake to see this as the emergence of a new India-China-Russia geopolitical bloc, rather than a carefully crafted warning to the Trump Administration that bullying will be met with resistance. Delhis three choices When President Donald Trump first lashed out against India, Delhi had three options to choose from: submit to his pressure, do nothing, or implement a mix of symbolic and substantive measures and wait for the storm to pass. Option one would have required Modi, like his counterparts in Japan and Europe, to visit Washington and appease Trump. In this case, by winding down the purchase of discounted Russian oil, the purported reason for the sweeping tariffs. Had Modi chosen to do that, it would have had significant domestic political implications for his hyper-nationalist party, showing India as a country lacking the stomach to stand its ground. There is a perception in India that it has been unfairly targeted, given that Europe also buys Russian energy, and China even more, but faced no consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: Modi Can't Afford to Cut Ties With Trump The second option for Delhi was to do nothing. But this approach would have also had domestic political repercussions, with influential political and media figures as well as the opposition accusing the government of weaknessand thereby casting India in a poor light not befitting its desire to be a pole in a multipolar world. Doing nothing would also have run counter to Indias tradition of resisting U.S. pressure on the world stage. In any case, this option would have led to a lose-lose scenario, as inaction would have neither prompted Trump to reverse his measures nor have served Modi well domestically. So Modi and his advisors chose the third option: taking a mix of symbolic and substantive steps, but essentially playing the waiting game to see if the trade spat blows over. The pitfalls of a India-China-Russia pact The scenes from the 2025 Tianjin Shanghai Cooperation Summit had an overdose of bonhomie and brotherhood among three of the worlds four most powerful nations. But the SCO is a China-centric group that reflects the countrys expanding geopolitical influence, including in South Asia. That rather stark reality is not lost on Delhi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SCO is not a forum that Delhi wants to pin its strategic hopes on. It is a regional organization that India will remain a part of, without making it a major foreign policy focus. And there are still many obstacles to a lasting rapprochement between India and China, including a long-running border dispute that flared up as recently as 2020-2021. While Tianjin hasnt led to a Sino-Indian rapprochement, the summit underscores the message that the next time the U.S. decides to enlist Indias help in containing Chinas rise, Delhi may be harder to convince. A similar logic applies to Delhis approach to Moscow. Although India has reduced its defense dependence on Russia in recent years, Delhi remains the largest importer of Russian arms and U.S. pressure will not quickly change that. The Indian foreign policy elite has only become more convinced of the importance of maintaining the Russia card in their broader relationship with the U.S., given Trumps unpredictability. Read More: How Modi Misread Trump Ultimately, however, a Sino-Russian alliance against the U.S. is not where New Delhi wants to be. As for China, it remains Indias main strategic challengeone that can only be addressed by balancing Chinas rising power or by bandwagoning with it. The former is beyond Delhis current capacity, and the latter is not a course India is willing to pursue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put differently, India wants to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific and increase engagement with the West and Southeast Asia, and perhaps a post-Trump America. So this is a temporary hiccupIndians will be unhappy, anti-Americanism will once again grow within the countrys strategic elite, and stories of American betrayals will persist for years. But none of this will alter Indias grand strategic course. Delhis commitment to multialignmentmaintaining cordial relations with all major players in the international systemhas only been strengthened by Trumps hardball approach. Contact us at letters@time.com. NEED TO KNOW Linda Hill and Kardi Jackson were found slain in their home on Monday, Sept. 1 The mother and son were found with traumatic injuries, police said Authorities arrested a man the next day in connection with the killings, but have not yet named him Authorities in Michigan arrested a man one day after a woman and her 12-year-old son were found slain in their home. The victims, identified as 41-year-old Linda Hill and Kardi Jackson, were found dead with traumatic injuries in a Hazel Park, Mich., home, in the late afternoon on Monday, Sept. 1, local police said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday evening, Sept. 2, Hazel Park police and the Oakland County Sheriff's Office arrested a suspect from nearby Pontiac while executing a search warrant, per the statement. Authorities have not publicly named the 43-year-old suspect. The mother and son reportedly had injuries to their necks, Click on Detroit reported, citing unspecified sources. GoFundMe Linda Hill Linda Hill Hill's sister has set up a GoFundMe to assist with funeral costs of the victims. "Linda was loved by everyone who knew her; she would have given the shirt off her back to help others," LKeisha Whitfield wrote in the fundraiser. "Kardi was the sweetest child, never bothered anyone, always enjoying his video games and spending time with family," Whitfield added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hill's 21-year-old son and Kardi's brother Demontez Hill is mourning the young boy. Hes like a younger version of me, always playing around and having fun," Demontez told Click on Detroit. A former teacher of Kardi's shared the fundraiser on Facebook, remembering him as a "kind young man." The school he attended also shared a statement about the killings expressing their condolences. GoFundMe Kardi Jackson Kardi Jackson 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. Demontez told Click On Detroit that he is in shock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont even know what would make a person do something like this," he said. Police have not announced a possible motive behind the killings but have said they believe there is no danger to the greater community. In their statement, Hazel Park police stated the man is being detained, though it wasn't immediately clear what charges he is facing at this time. An investigation remains ongoing. Read the original article on People The family of a woman who was mauled by a bear last week outside of her home in Alaska said she had "simply stepped outside for a jog" when the animal attacked, dragging her roughly 100 feet down the road to a neighbor's property. Anchorage-based CBS affiliate KTUU identified the woman as Ariean Fabrizio Colton, a resident of the coastal city of Kenai, where state wildlife officials say bear encounters are not uncommon. Her sister-in-law shared a statement with KTUU on behalf of the family, which noted that Colton had begun "a long road to recovery" in the aftermath of the attack that left her seriously injured. "The reality is that this could have happened to anyone," the statement said, according to KTUU. "Ariean simply stepped outside for a morning jog on a residential streetan ordinary moment, like grabbing the mail or taking the trash out before starting the day." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their statement, Colton's family praised her "remarkable strength" as she remained hospitalized with substantial wounds to her face and scalp, KTUU reported. A statement on a GoFundMe launched by the family said her injuries "will require extensive surgeries and a long hospital stay." Ariean Fabrizio Colton / Credit: GoFundMe "We are very grateful for the outpouring of support since Ariean's attack," the statement continued. "We ask for privacyand compassion as she begins a long road to recovery and we urge kindness in how her story is shared online." Colton, 36, left her home in Kenai at around 5:45 a.m. local time on Aug. 26 to set out for her jog, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said at the time. In a public dispatch, state troopers said the bear attacked her near her driveway and was later found by a neighbor. Alaska Wildlife Trooper David Lorring previously told KTUU that the woman was only 50 years or so away from her house when the bear approached and subsequently "dragged her approximately 100 yards down to the road" to the neighbor's property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ariean is a loving wife, mother of three, and a nurse, known for her adventurous spirit and love of nature," the GoFundMe page reads. The page has raised over $90,000 as of Wednesday. State troopers, local police and a crew from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game searched the area for the bear, which they believed was a brown bear, but could not find it. Troopers said patrols of the area would continue, and urged people in the community "to remain vigilant while outdoors." Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Remembering veteran CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller The state of philanthropy in the U.S. Leaders in the Mon Valley said the violence really ramped up in the last few weeks. They believe it is all tied to the death anniversary of two Woodland Hills seniors and dont see it stopping without a conversation. There was a video put out showing some kids kicking over the memorial. Once that hit social media, it really sparked a fire in that ongoing issue between the sides, said Lee Davis, who is the Director of Violence Prevention at Greater Valley. Its a fight between residents of two communities in the Mon Valley. Over the summer, those fights have started with car break-ins, to now houses being shot and the latest a homicide in Rankin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve had quite a number of shots fired; a number of people being hit. Then weve had a number of people being approached with guns, namely young folks, Davis said. Those violent acts happening day and night are causing fear and renewed trauma for those whove already lost loved ones. I think its heartbreaking because I lost my son to gun violence and a 13-year-old boy shot and killed him. For me, its reliving it and knowing what the families are going through and what the families are feeling, said Cathy Welsh, who lost her son to gun violence. Thats why the Greater Valley Coalition Against Violence is holding an emergency meeting on Monday to engage the community, seek answers, and restore a sense of security to the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont normalize our young people carrying guns, we dont normalize our young people getting shot. This isnt a reaction to what happened, its a continuance to our work, Welsh said. The goal coming out of the meeting is to have some short-term solutions to stop the bleeding and long-term plans to keep violence prevention going in these communities. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Gov. Wes Moore (D) and his wife Dawn Moore watch the final moments of the 2024 General Assembly session from the Senate gallery. (File photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) A quiet international birthday trip for Gov. Wes Moores wife got splashed across a British tabloid over the Labor Day holiday. A shirtless Moore and his wife Dawn were photographed over the weekend lounging on a yacht owned by George Clooney, the actor and political benefactor, according to The Daily Mail, which broke the story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Daily Mail headline had all the bold-typeface subtlety and nuance to be expected from a tabloid from across the pond: Damning photos burn top Dems 2028 plans to the ground as hes busted half-naked on kingmaker George Clooneys luxury yacht in ITALY while his hellhole state faces crime apocalypse. The publication reported that Clooney and his wife had been in town for a film festival. The couple left the Moores with access to their Lake Como villa valued at an estimated $100 million. The trip described as a personal vacation to a personal friends residence was not listed on Moores public schedule. The Governor paid for a trip to celebrate his wifes 50th birthday, David Turner, Moores communications director, said in a statement Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore did not temporarily leave Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller in charge while he vacationed, according to the governors office. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US The governor was not temporarily unable to perform his duties and therefore did not appoint the lieutenant governor to serve as acting governor in his stead, Turner said in his statement, in response to questions about Millers role. Turner included a link to relevant sections of the Maryland Constitution addressing when a lieutenant governor would assume the duties of the governor. Republicans made hay of the trip, which drew a sharp attack from the White House. The crime crisis ravaging your city is no problem at all when you can jet off to an Italy yacht vacation, Abigail Jackson, deputy White House press secretary, posted on X. Unfortunately for residents of Baltimore, this isnt their reality. Yet, Wes (wannabe President) Moore insists theres no crime problem and he doesnt need help! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore and President Donald Trump (R) have been trading barbs over the last week over the state of crime in Baltimore, with Trump hinting again Tuesday that he might send federal troops into Maryland though he did not say when. The visit also raises questions about Moores political future. Clooney has built a name for himself in politics hosting fundraisers including one for Joe Bidens failed re-election bid. The Daily Mail said Clooney has expressed some support for a presidential bid by his recent house guest. In an April interview on CNN, Clooney praised Moore, calling him a proper leader. Moore has repeatedly said he is not running for president in 2028. More than 1,000 current and former employees across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) signed a letter on Wednesday morning calling for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s resignation. Addressed to Kennedy and members of Congress, the signatories accused the secretary of endangering the health of Americans. Save HHS, the group behind the letter, told ABC News it's been sent to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as Majority and Minority leadership. MORE: Former CDC immunizations chief: 'I only see harm coming' with RFK Jr. leading HHS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We swore an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution and to serve the American people. Our oath requires us to speak out when the Constitution is violated and the American people are put at risk," the letter reads, in part. It continues, "Thus, we warn the President, Congress, and the Public that Secretary Kennedy's actions are compromising the health of this nation, and we demand Secretary Kennedy's resignation." In a statement to ABC News, HHS communications director Andrew Nixon said the CDC "has been broken for a long time" and it will take "sustained reform and more personnel changes" to restore trust in the institution. "From his first day in office, [Kennedy] pledged to check his assumptions at the door -- and he asked every HHS colleague to do the same," the statement read, in part. "That commitment to evidence-based science is why, in just seven months, he and the HHS team have accomplished more than any health secretary in history in the fight to end the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again." Aaron Schwartz/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr speaks as President Donald J Trump chairs a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, August 26, 2025. Employees from almost every agency signed the letter, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. The letter states the employees did so in their personal capacity, on their personal time and without the use of government equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, HHS employees said Kennedy continues "to endanger the nation's health" with examples such as the ousting of newly-installed CDC director Susan Monarez, followed by the resignations of four top CDC leaders. The letter also referenced an interview Kennedy gave to Scripps News last month in which he said trusting experts "is not a feature of either a science or democracy," which staffers referred to as "ongoing verbal attacks" of the HHS workforce. Employees also expressed dismay over Kennedy's June move to remove all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) -- which makes recommendations on the safety, efficacy and clinical need of vaccines -- and replaced them with eight of his own hand-selected members, many of whom have expressed vaccine-skeptic views. The letter calls out two new members by name, Dr. Robert Malone and Retsef Levi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Mass layoffs, resignations and major vaccine policy changes: Timeline of turmoil at CDC Malone -- who made some early contributions to mRNA vaccine technology -- discussed an unfounded theory, disputed by experts, on a podcast during the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming people were "hypnotized" into believing mainstream ideas about COVID-19, such as vaccination. Meanwhile, Levi previously said in a post on X that there was indisputable evidence that mRNA vaccines cause serious harm including death, especially among young people, a claim that has not held up in dozens of research studies. The letter calls on Trump and Congress to appoint a new health secretary if Kennedy refuses to resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We expect those in leadership to act when the health of Americans is at stake," the letter states. "We ask other partner organizations to join us in our call for Secretary Kennedy's resignation and stand in solidarity with those who have already." Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images - PHOTO: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building, Mar. 27, 2025 in Washington. The employees said the petition is in response to a letter sent last month to Kennedy -- signed by more than 750 current and former staffers -- beseeching him to "stop spreading inaccurate health information." Staffers stated the deadly shooting that occurred at the Atlanta headquarters of the CDC on Aug. 8 was "not random" and was driven by "politicized rhetoric." Authorities said the 30-year-old gunman -- who killed a police officer in the attack -- had been harboring years-long grievances with the COVID-19 vaccine. He believed he suffered negative health effects after he got the vaccine, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found written documents at his home indicating that he wanted to make his discontent known. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The earlier letter called on Kennedy to take a number of actions by Tuesday, Sept. 2, including not spreading inaccurate health information, affirming the scientific integrity of the CDC and guaranteeing the safety of the HHS workforce. The new letter comes just two days after nine former directors and acting directors of CDC published an op-ed in The New York Times, also accusing Kennedy of endangering the health of Americans. Additionally, on Tuesday, Kennedy published an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, saying the CDC has "squandered public trust" and that Trump has asked him to "restore that trust and return the CDC to its core mission." As more places around the worldincluding U.S. statespass laws requiring age checks around the internet, we're continuing to see a slew of unintended (but entirely predictable) consequences. The latest round includes some U.S. residents being blocked from a blogging platform, French folks in dangers of their porn viewing habits being leaked, and porn websites that violate the law in the U.K. being rewarded with big boosts in web traffic. Let's start closest to home. Another website is blocking access to Mississippi residents in response to the state's age verification and online harm prevention law taking effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We've already seen some fallout from this law, including the social media platform Bluesky beginning to block Mississippi residents. Now, Dreamwidth Studiosa blogging platform meant for artists (and one of the parties represented by tech trade group NetChoice in a challenge to the Mississippi law)is also blocking access for people in Mississippi, as well as preventing minors in Tennessee from opening new accounts. "People whose IP addresses geolocate to Mississippi will only be able to access a page that explains the issue and lets them know that we'll be back to offer them service as soon as the legal risk to us is less existential," Dreamwidth says on its website. The company announced its new Mississippi policy on August 26, saying, "Mississippi residents, we are so, so sorry. We really don't want to do this." But "the Mississippi law is a breathtaking state overreach: it forces us to verify the identity and age of every person who accesses Dreamwidth from the state of Mississippi and determine who's under the age of 18 by collecting identity documents, to save that highly personal and sensitive information, and then to obtain a permission slip from those users' parents to allow them to finish creating an account."" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dreamwidth goes on: [The Mississippi law] also forces us to change our moderation policies and stop anyone under 18 from accessing a wide variety of legal and beneficial speech because the state of Mississippi doesn't like it -- which, given the way Dreamwidth works, would mean blocking people from talking about those things at all. (And if you think you know exactly what kind of content the state of Mississippi doesn't like, you're absolutely right.) Needless to say, we don't want to do that, either. Even if we wanted to, though, we can't: the resources it would take for us to build the systems that would let us do it are well beyond our capacity." Mississippi users of Dreamwidth aren't the only ones with restricted access. The platform will also "prevent any new account signups from anyone under 18 in Tennessee to protect ourselves against risk," it said. "The judge in our challenge to Tennessee's social media age verification, parental consent, and parental surveillance law (which we are also part of the fight against!) ruled last month that we had not met the threshold for a temporary injunction preventing the state from enforcing the law while the court case proceeds," Dreamwidth posted. "The Tennessee law is less onerous than the Mississippi law and the fines for violating it are slightly less ruinous (slightly), but it's still a risk to us." Dreamwidth's moves further highlight how age verification laws like the ones enacted by Mississippi and Tennessee will come down harder on small and niche platforms than on big tech companies. Age verification laws will also come down harder on companies that follow the rules, of course. That's what we're seeing in the U.K. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When the United Kingdom began requiring thousands of websites to verify their users' ages last month, one group saw an enormous burst of traffic: pornography sites ignoring the law," reports Drew Harwell of The Washington Post. The requirement was part of the U.K.'s Online Safety Act. So far, the act has resulted in a ridiculous array of roadblocks for those who want to access anything from news about the war in Gaza to anti-masturbation forums to eating disorder support groups. Some porn websites have complied with the Online Safety Act by requiring U.K. visitors to upload an ID or submit to a facial scan. "But some of the biggest porn sites that disregarded the 'scan your face' rule entirely have been rewarded with a flood of traffic," the Post found. "Some have doubled or even tripled their audiences in August compared with the same time last year." When sites do comply with rules like these, they risk putting people's privacy and cybersecurity at risk. The more times you have to submit a copy of your driver's license or a picture of your face for identification, the more likely you are to find yourself in a data breach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depending on the particular rules they're following, both tech platforms that verify ages directly and third-party age verification services may have some duties to minimize the collection or storing of personally identifying data. But these systems aren't always followed or don't always work. In France, "an age verification provider is potentially leaking information about people visiting pornographic websites," reports Politico. A report from the nonprofit AI Forensics says that AgeGOa popular age verification service "used by three of the six porn websites currently complying with France's online pornography regulations," per Politicoisn't using what's known as "double anonymity." A policy of double anonymity means that the age verification provider doesn't get details about which websites users of its services visit; rather, it merely knows that people are trying to verify that they are over age 18. AI Forensics' report "found age verification service AgeGO receives requests with code disclosing the website being visited, as well as a link to the exact video the person is trying to access," Politico says. The post More Age Verification Fallout: Artist Blogs Blocked, Porn Data Leaked, Traffic Boosts for Noncompliant Sites appeared first on Reason.com. More companies have recalled certain shrimp products after the FDA announced in August that it began investigating reports of radioactive contamination. Kevin Trimmer via Getty Images More companies have recalled certain packages of shrimp products since the Food and Drug Administration announced it was investigating reports of radioactive contamination last month. One expert in culinary medicine spoke to HuffPost to weigh in on the new development and whether consumers should be concerned. Related: With So Many Cucumber Recalls, Are They Safe To Eat? The FDA initially announced on Aug. 19 that it recommended Walmart recall its Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp with three different lot codes after Customs and Border Protection detected a radioactive isotope known as Cesium-137 in shipping containers at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia. The FDA was then able to confirm the presence of Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The products were processed by P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian company doing business as BMS Foods. Since then, more companies have recalled various shrimp products over concerns of potential radioactive contamination. On Monday, the FDA posted an update that Southwind Foods, LLC, of California had recently expanded its voluntary recall to include more frozen shrimp that was distributed between July 17 and Aug. 8 to retailers, distributors and wholesalers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Washington state. Southwinds initial frozen shrimp recall was posted on Aug. 21. Other companies, such as Beaver Street Fisheries, LLC, of Jacksonville, Florida, and AquaStar USA Corp. of Seattle, have similarly since issued recalls on shrimp products. Related: 8 Annoyingly American Coffee Orders That Flag Youre A Tourist Abroad The FDA has stressed that the shrimp sample that tested positive for Cs-137 was not released to be sold in the U.S., and that the containers that tested positive for radioactive contamination were denied entry into the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the agencys initial recommendation to recall specific shrimp products sold at Walmart and the subsequent voluntary company recalls are due to concerns that those products may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern, the FDA explains. Product descriptions for all the recalled shrimp products announced so far can be found here on FDAs website, which also states that additional companies have initiated recalls directly with their customers. Whether youve purchased a now-recalled product or you have general concerns about radioactive contamination in foods, read on to hear more about the health risks associated with Cs-137, and whether or not this recent wave of recalls should concern you. Related: There's A New Recall On Canned Tuna From A Bunch Of Stores. Here's What You Should Know. What is Cs-137, and how concerned should we be with these recent waves of shrimp recalls? The FDA notes that Cs-137 is a radioactive isotope of cesium (a naturally occurring element) that is man-made through nuclear reactions, and that traces of it can be found in the environment, such as in soil, food and air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are exposed to some Cs-137 every day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. Dr. Nate Wood, an assistant professor of medicine and the inaugural director of culinary medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, said that the recent detection of Cs-137 that was found in shrimp was certainly an unusual situation but not necessarily as alarming as it first appears. The FDA stated in its announcement that it detected a measurement of about 68 becquerels per kilogram of radioactivity in the positive shrimp sample, which is below its Derived Intervention Level of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram a guidance level used for determining when protective measures should be considered. Related: GOP Senator Uses WTF Image To Warn About 'Radioactive' Shrimp The level of radioactive Cs-137 that was found in the shrimp was very, very low, Wood told HuffPost. Of course, its not good to consume food that is contaminated with radioactive metals. Consuming radioactive metals in large doses or over long periods of time can damage our muscles, bones, and organs as well as cause cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, if someone was to have consumed this contaminated shrimp just one time, given the low level of Cs-137 that was present, they would not be likely to have any symptoms or long-term effects of any kind, he continued. Wood said that overall, consumers shouldnt be terribly concerned by the recent wave of shrimp recalls, since none of this contaminated shrimp is thought to have entered the U.S. food supply. He said that he would recommend those who purchased the recalled items to dispose of them, in line with the FDA guidance. But if youve already consumed a now-recalled product, Wood doesnt think theres any need to worry. Related: Celery Sticks Recalled In 28 States Due To Possible Contamination. Here's What You Should Know. Should they happen to fall ill in the next couple of weeks, I would recommend that they report to their health care provider that they consumed the contaminated shrimp, he said. However, they can be reassured that the shrimp is not likely to have caused their illness (though well leave that to the treating physician to decide). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement . Related... Read the original on HuffPost LifeWise Academy, which got its start in northwest Ohio, expects to serve nearly 100,000 public school students across 1,100 schools in 34 states with free off-campus, privately funded, Bible-based education. Both the nonprofit and the concepts of released time religious instruction have expanded in recent years. (Photo courtesy of LifeWise Academy.) In the past month or so, federal courts have dealt a string of blows to conservatives push for the biblical Ten Commandments to be posted in public schools. Yet as states lose over required religious displays, many are working on another route to faith-based education by allowing kids to attend off-campus religious instruction. This year, Iowa, Montana, Ohio and Texas passed laws guaranteeing parents the right to have their children excused during the school day for free, off-campus religious instruction, often called released time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those four states are the latest of at least 12 that require school districts to offer released time religious schooling upon parental request, including: Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin. The released time approach may be more likely to pass constitutional muster than other government-imposed religious efforts, experts say, by shifting influence off school grounds and under the direction of faith-based groups rather than public school teachers, and by making it free to students. A 1952 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Zorach v. Clauson allows for released time religious instruction as long as its off school property, privately funded and parent permitted. Not every family has access to private or parochial school, but for many generations families have been able to take their students out of school for a portion of the day for religious education if they choose, said Jennifer Jury, a program advocate for LifeWise Academy, an Ohio-based Christian nonprofit founded in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization has been active in expanding its reach and lobbying lawmakers for stronger legislative support. This school year, LifeWise expects to serve nearly 100,000 public school students across 1,100 schools in 34 states, Jury said. The off-campus gatherings work the same way in most states: With parents approval, public school students sign out of school during a lunch, recess or study hall block. Students will either walk or ride one of the distinctive red LifeWise buses to a local church or a program-leased community building in town. And depending on state limitations for the religious instruction, for either a half or full hour, kids will learn about the Bible. When the allotted time is up, students go back to their public school to finish the day. In some states, students can earn academic credit for the off-campus instruction, which has been more controversial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Montana, for example, legislation that would have required school districts to develop policies for academic credit was amended to authorize a district to allow credit, after pushback from the states school boards and school administrators associations. School districts should have the autonomy to determine which external coursework aligns with the academic frameworks and whether such courses should be eligible for credit, Rob Watson, who represented the two groups at the legislature, said in his comments to a House committee in February. He noted the groups did not oppose the released time policy itself. Despite the changes, only one Democrat in the legislature voted yes. Montana GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the bill into law in May. Supporters had touted the academic credit option as a way to entice homeschooling families to consider public schools. In her interview with Stateline, Jury noted similar programs that accommodate Jewish, Muslim and Mormon faith-based teaching for public school students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether a person is religious or not, the Bible is widely recognized as one of the most influential books in history, Jury said. A lot of our Western culture was born out of ideas that come from the Bible, like the fact that every person is created equal, that we are to love our neighbor. Identical bill language The conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC, in August adopted model legislation about released time policies that state lawmakers can propose. ALECs proposal would allow from one to five hours per week of off-campus religious instruction and would require school districts to award academic credit if the course meets certain criteria. Districts would have to assess instruction based on secular standards and would not be allowed to test for particular religious content, according to the model legislation. Nearly identical language had already appeared in several state bills, including in North Carolina and West Virginia this year and in Mississippi in 2023. In North Carolina, LifeWise Academy registered with the secretary of states office in 2024, as reported by NC Newsline, and a released time bill was introduced in February. It was sent to committee but never moved ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills in Mississippi and West Virginia also stalled. Legislation that does become law earns praise from groups such as Alliance Defending Freedom, one of the nations most active legal organizations opposing abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Statements from Greg Chafuen, senior counsel for the nonprofits Center for Public Policy, say the new released time laws respect parents educational decisions and ensure parents are in the drivers seat when it comes to their kids education. An Indiana law lets high school students leave school for religious instruction each week for an amount of time equal to one elective course. Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee laws allow students to earn elective credit for released time religious instruction, though it cannot replace a core curriculum class. School boards can set standards for when such programs qualify for credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LifeWise operates in each of those states. Ten Commandment displays Jury, of LifeWise Academy, said her organization wants off-campus religious options for public school students to be available in all 50 states. Its important to note this is an option, and parents are the ultimate decision-makers in enrollment, she said. We would love to see every student in the United States have the option to attend a program like LifeWise if they want to and if their parents want them to. A lack of parental choice might be what trips up state efforts to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms. This is an option, and parents are the ultimate decision-makers in enrollment. Jennifer Jury, a program advocate for LifeWise Academy After Louisiana last year became the first state in recent decades to require that the Ten Commandments, a central tenet of the Judeo-Christian tradition, be displayed in school classrooms, bills followed in at least 15 other states. Two states Arkansas and Texas enacted laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for now, courts have blocked the mandates in all three states. In Texas, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery warned the displays are likely to pressure [children] into religious observance and undermine parents rights. In Arkansas, U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks called the states requirement to post a specific version of the Ten Commandments plainly unconstitutional. The law is not neutral with respect to religion, he wrote. By design, and on its face, the statute mandates the display of expressly religious scripture in every public-school classroom and library. He also noted that the law requires that a specific version of that scripture be used, one that the uncontroverted evidence in this case shows is associated with Protestantism and is exclusionary of other faiths. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. LifeWise Academy, which got its start in northwest Ohio, expects to serve nearly 100,000 public school students across 1,100 schools in 34 states with free off-campus, privately funded, Bible-based education. Both the nonprofit and the concepts of released time religious instruction have expanded in recent years. (Photo courtesy of LifeWise Academy) In the past month or so, federal courts have dealt a string of blows to conservatives push for the biblical Ten Commandments to be posted in public schools. Yet as states lose over required religious displays, many are working on another route to faith-based education by allowing kids to attend off-campus religious instruction. This year, Iowa, Montana, Ohio and Texas passed laws guaranteeing parents the right to have their children excused during the school day for free, off-campus religious instruction, often called released time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those four states are the latest of at least 12 that require school districts to offer released time religious schooling upon parental request, including: Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin. The released time approach may be more likely to pass constitutional muster than other government-imposed religious efforts, experts say, by shifting influence off school grounds and under the direction of faith-based groups rather than public school teachers, and by making it free to students. A 1952 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Zorach v. Clauson allows for released time religious instruction as long as its off school property, privately funded and parent permitted. Not every family has access to private or parochial school, but for many generations families have been able to take their students out of school for a portion of the day for religious education if they choose, said Jennifer Jury, a program advocate for LifeWise Academy, an Ohio-based Christian nonprofit founded in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization has been active in expanding its reach and lobbying lawmakers for stronger legislative support. This school year, LifeWise expects to serve nearly 100,000 public school students across 1,100 schools in 34 states, Jury said. The off-campus gatherings work the same way in most states: With parents approval, public school students sign out of school during a lunch, recess or study hall block. Students will either walk or ride one of the distinctive red LifeWise buses to a local church or a program-leased community building in town. And depending on state limitations for the religious instruction, for either a half or full hour, kids will learn about the Bible. When the allotted time is up, students go back to their public school to finish the day. In some states, students can earn academic credit for the off-campus instruction, which has been more controversial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Montana, for example, legislation that would have required school districts to develop policies for academic credit was amended to authorize a district to allow credit, after pushback from the states school boards and school administrators associations. School districts should have the autonomy to determine which external coursework aligns with the academic frameworks and whether such courses should be eligible for credit, Rob Watson, who represented the two groups at the legislature, said in his comments to a House committee in February. He noted the groups did not oppose the released time policy itself. Despite the changes, only one Democrat in the legislature voted yes. Montana GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the bill into law in May. Supporters had touted the academic credit option as a way to entice homeschooling families to consider public schools. In her interview with Stateline, Jury noted similar programs that accommodate Jewish, Muslim and Mormon faith-based teaching for public school students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether a person is religious or not, the Bible is widely recognized as one of the most influential books in history, Jury said. A lot of our Western culture was born out of ideas that come from the Bible, like the fact that every person is created equal, that we are to love our neighbor. Identical bill language The conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC, in August adopted model legislation about released time policies that state lawmakers can propose. ALECs proposal would allow from one to five hours per week of off-campus religious instruction and would require school districts to award academic credit if the course meets certain criteria. Districts would have to assess instruction based on secular standards and would not be allowed to test for particular religious content, according to the model legislation. Nearly identical language had already appeared in several state bills, including in North Carolina and West Virginia this year and in Mississippi in 2023. In North Carolina, LifeWise Academy registered with the secretary of states office in 2024, as reported by NC Newsline, and a released time bill was introduced in February. It was sent to committee but never moved ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills in Mississippi and West Virginia also stalled. Legislation that does become law earns praise from groups such as Alliance Defending Freedom, one of the nations most active legal organizations opposing abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Statements from Greg Chafuen, senior counsel for the nonprofits Center for Public Policy, say the new released time laws respect parents educational decisions and ensure parents are in the drivers seat when it comes to their kids education. An Indiana law lets high school students leave school for religious instruction each week for an amount of time equal to one elective course. Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee laws allow students to earn elective credit for released time religious instruction, though it cannot replace a core curriculum class. School boards can set standards for when such programs qualify for credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LifeWise operates in each of those states. Ten Commandment displays Jury, of LifeWise Academy, said her organization wants off-campus religious options for public school students to be available in all 50 states. Its important to note this is an option, and parents are the ultimate decision-makers in enrollment, she said. We would love to see every student in the United States have the option to attend a program like LifeWise if they want to and if their parents want them to. A lack of parental choice might be what trips up state efforts to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms. This is an option, and parents are the ultimate decision-makers in enrollment. Jennifer Jury, a program advocate for LifeWise Academy After Louisiana last year became the first state in recent decades to require that the Ten Commandments, a central tenet of the Judeo-Christian tradition, be displayed in school classrooms, bills followed in at least 15 other states. Two states Arkansas and Texas enacted laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for now, courts have blocked the mandates in all three states. In Texas, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery warned the displays are likely to pressure [children] into religious observance and undermine parents rights. In Arkansas, U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks called the states requirement to post a specific version of the Ten Commandments plainly unconstitutional. The law is not neutral with respect to religion, he wrote. By design, and on its face, the statute mandates the display of expressly religious scripture in every public-school classroom and library. He also noted that the law requires that a specific version of that scripture be used, one that the uncontroverted evidence in this case shows is associated with Protestantism and is exclusionary of other faiths. This report was first published by Stateline, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. Minneapolis school attacker obsessed with idea of killing children, officials say | Aug. 28 Do something! Here we go again with another mass shooting. Its the same cycle: the breaking news, the press conferences, the posts on social media offering thoughts and prayers, the candlelight vigil. A couple of days go by. Right and left argue, and then we go back to normal, and all is forgotten. Its easy to be desensitized to it. We see it so much. But I am here to remind myself (and anyone willing to read this) that this is not normal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am a mother of two young children. When I see what happened in Minneapolis, all I can do is imagine my own children, gunned down and left to die. I think of the parents who have to identify the body of their child, who have to pick out a casket and bury their child. I think of the children who survived and have lost their brother, sister or best friend. They will live the rest of their life scarred by what they saw. What kind of country are we living in? How many more innocent people have to die? How many more lives have to be shattered before we do something about it? I am so sick and tired of the responses from elected officials. Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers. Last time I checked, we dont elect people to govern so they can just think and pray. We elect them so they can do something about it. We are living in fear. Every time Im in church, a movie theater or a grocery store, Im looking around me warily. This is not the America that I want my children to grow up in. This is the part where people say, What about my Second Amendment rights? Well, what about the rights of people who want to live? Dont we have a right to be safe? For our children to be safe? Its right there in the Constitution! And last time I checked, that part comes before your precious Second Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am not suggesting that the police raid peoples homes and pick up their guns. I am suggesting practical, sensible and doable steps like raising the purchasing age to 21, strengthening back-ground checks, and banning assault/high capacity magazine/military rifles whose only purpose is to annihilate. I also suggest a stronger and quicker response to what is posted on social media. If they can respond within minutes of a woman posting a picture of breastfeeding her infant, then Im pretty sure they can respond just as fast when these people post their manifestos. I am also suggesting effective and accessible mental health resources. So what is it going to take for you to stand up to the National Rifle Association and lobbyists? What is it going to take to get effective mental health care? Does it have to happen to your child or grandchild before you start to care? Whats even more pathetic about it is that some elected officials just dont care. They (or more likely someone on their staff) might read this and give a generic stock response. But rest assured, I will remember, and the American people will remember, and we will vote you out. So on behalf of the parents, spouses, children, siblings and friends who have lost someone to these senseless acts of violence, I am pleading, begging: For gods sake, do something! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sybil Bauder, St. Petersburg 2 pastors arrested after blocking state from painting over street mural, police say | Aug. 30 On a dark evening last week, two pastors waited quietly as a work crew wielding industrial sprayers made their way down a short stretch of road in front of the Woodson African American Museum of Florida in St. Petersburg, blanketing the Black History Matters mural with thick black paint. The crew worked their way methodically down the street, erasing every inch of color and every letter spelling the words Black and History. Two pastors protested by sitting down on the mural and were arrested by police. Neighbors gawked in awe at the scene, and a few captured video and provided commentary. Only a few weeks prior, similar scenes took place at the site of the Pulse Nightclub shooting memorial in Orlando and at the intersection of 25th Street and Central Avenue, where the Progressive Pride street mural once beamed brilliantly in St. Petersburg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In each instance, what was once a point of pride and a photo op for area visitors and tourists has now become an absence, reduced to a mark of shame. Is community art really such a distraction that it demands erasure? Art creates vibrant focal points in urban settings that draw eyes and business. In a county rocked by two hurricanes in one year, can we really afford to engage fewer visitors? This month, Pinellas County is weighing in on eliminating the arts group Creative Pinellas. As the end of the fiscal year for the budget draws near on Sept. 30, administrators are looking to defund the countys official arts agency that brings together artists and community members. As citizens, we have an opportunity to stand up for the arts that draw people to Pinellas County from all over the world and to celebrate our cultural treasures. Otherwise, we may simply stand by silently while yet another advocate for the arts is erased. Bran Palmer is a PhD student at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts, a longtime Pinellas County resident and a member of the Sixstar Art Studios in St. Petersburg. Submit letters at www.tampabay.com/opinion/submit-letter/. Letters are edited for clarity and length. The Finnish Air Force has used the swastika as its emblem since 1918, but has now announced it will remove it from its flags. A swastika on the flag of the military of a NATO country might be a surprising sight but it has been the official emblem of the Finnish Air Force for more than a century. Until now. The air force has just announced that it will permanently remove swastikas from its flags, having already removed them from its uniforms and insignia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We could have continued with the swastika, but it was sometimes awkward with foreign visitors. It is surely wiser to move with the times," the new head of the Finnish Air Force, Tomi Bohm, told Finnish public broadcaster YLE. Raised eyebrows The use of the symbol dates back to 1918. At the time it was less than a year since Finland had gained independence, recovering from a century of Russian rule and almost seven centuries of Swedish governance. However, the air force in fact chose the swastika as its emblem in tribute to a Swedish aristocrat, Count Erik von Rosen. He donated Finland its first military plane in 1918, which bore his personal symbol the swastika. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The symbol differs slightly from the Nazi swastika, which is tilted at a 45-degree angle. The swastika as used by European and Asian civilisations since ancient times is straight as is the one used by Finland's air force. This, however, hasn't prevented raised eyebrows among NATO allies, tourists and other foreigners who spot them at military events. NATO exercises begin in Nordic region amid heightened tensions with Russia The confusion over the use of the swastika was further fuelled by the fact that von Rosen later became the brother-in-law of Hermann Goring, a decorated First World War fighter pilot who went on to lead Germanys Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Finnish air force stressed that its use of the symbol had no connection to Nazi Germany, even if Finland had entered into a reluctant alliance with the Third Reich during the Second World War. NATO integration The air force has been gradually retiring the symbol in recent years. It first disappeared from its insignia in 2017, then was stripped from uniforms in 2020. The Finnish Defence Forces, in an email to the Associated Press news agency on Friday, said a plan to renew the air force unit flags was launched in 2023, the year Finland joined NATO, but said it was not linked to joining the alliance. The aim, it said, was to update the symbolism and emblems of the flags to better reflect the current identity of the Air Force". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teivo Teivainen, a professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki, said the flags in question were introduced in the 1950s and today are flown by four Air Force units. The Air Force and the Finnish public had for years insisted the swastikas used in Finlands air force have nothing to do with the Nazi swastika, said Teivainen, who this month had a book published whose Finnish title translates as "History of the Swastika". Europe needs special Ukraine envoy to get meaningful peace role, Finland says after US rebuff But now, following Finlands joining of NATO, policymakers have decided theres now a need to get more integrated with the forces of countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and France countries where the swastika is clearly a negative symbol," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teivainen said that in 2021, German air force units bowed out of a final ceremony following exercises at a military base in Finlands Lapland region after learning that the Finnish swastikas would be on display. The new flag with an emblem featuring a golden eagle will be introduced for events such as parades and local ceremonies, the Defence Forces said. (with newswires and adapted from this story in French) MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis-Shelby County Schools will host a community listening session on Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the East Region Office. The event invites families, students, and community members to discuss district needs and share perspectives on issues, including school board elections and funding for school buildings. As this new school year begins, our families and educators are navigating a lot: questions about school board elections, funding for our buildings, and what role if any the state should play in our district, said Tikeila Rucker, political director at Memphis for All. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The session is being held in partnership with the MSCS board and district staff. All board members have been invited and are expected to attend. This event gives families and community members a chance to sit down with MSCS leaders and share their thoughts on the future of education in Memphis Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said the CIA, FBI and the Justice Department holds the truth on Jeffrey Epstein as she vowed to reveal every damn name of the purported high-powered clients of the late financiers underage sex trafficking operation. The Georgia representative, a Trump loyalist, dialed up the pressure on her own party by speaking at a news conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday, hosted by fellow rogue GOP Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California. Greene has backed Massies Epstein Files Transparency Bill, along with fellow GOP congress members Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace. They were joined by as many as 100 survivors of Epsteins abuse at the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The truth needs to come out and the government holds the truth, Greene said. The cases that are sealed hold the truth, Jeffrey Epsteins estate holds the truth. The FBI, the DOJ and the CIA holds the truth. And the truth we are demanding come out on behalf of these women but also as a strong message to every innocent child, teenager, woman and man that has been held captive in abuse, Greene added. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene threatened Wednesday to name names if provided a Jeffrey Epstein client list from victims of the late sex trafficker. (AFP/Getty) The GOP-led House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 pages of documents Tuesday related to Epstein after it subpoenaed the Justice Department, but Democrats noted that 97 percent of the material was already public. House GOP leaders are imploring members to support the committee instead of the discharge petition backed by Greene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at the press conference, Greene urged House Republicans to join her, Boebert and Mace in pushing through the bill to release all of the files in the name of full transparency. I ask my Republican colleagues not to choose just one path for justice and transparency and accountability but I ask my Republican colleagues to choose every path for justice and accountability and transparency, Greene said at the press conference as she praised the bravery of the survivors for coming forward to share their stories. The MAGA firebrand said that she was not afraid to name names and would do so if Epsteins victims asked her. Its a scary thing to name names. But I will tell you, Im not afraid to name names, Greene said. If they want to give me a list, I will walk in that Capitol on the House floor and Ill say every damn name that abused these women. I can do that for them and Id be proud to do it. As many as 100 survivors of Epsteins abuse rallied at the event to back the Epstein Files Transparency Bill, which Greene has signed, along with fellow GOP representatives Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace. (Reuters) Wednesdays news conference is the culmination of months of pressure on the Trump administration to release the Epstein files following a bombshell Justice Department and FBI joint memo in early July that said no further disclosures were warranted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memo also said there was no evidence to support the existence of a client list, prompting immediate backlash from both ends of the political spectrum, as demands for more information grew. Greene thanked Massie and Khanna for doing something brave by crossing political boundaries for a very important fight. Putting aside any political differences with Greene, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told The Independent that he believed it was a good thing that Republicans like Greene have signed on to the bill. That's good, Garcia said. We need to have four or five more members sign on. Every day that goes by is one more day that women don't get justice, and so they need to sign on immediately. Epstein victim Haley Robson and Marjorie Taylor Greene interact during a press conference to discuss the Epstein Files Transparency bill. (Reuters) Fellow Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida agreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just shows that, look, this is a bipartisan thing, and it's not about Democrat versus Republican, Frost told The Independent. It's not a political game. It's about doing what's right, and my hope is more Republicans will come along on this. To be successful, the discharge petition requires the support of 218 House lawmakers. Epstein died by suicide behind bars in 2019, the FBI determined. His sudden death has been the subject of countless conspiracy theories, fueling the demands for heightened transparency around the case. President Donald Trump also called for more information to be released on the campaign trail, but backtracked on those remarks in recent months saying there was nothing further to release. MANSFIELD The Town of Mansfield had much to celebrate when it held a swearing-in and pinning ceremony to welcome five new firefighters to the department. Firefighters Jeovani Perea, Steven Petrillo, Tod Zavatsky and Dylan Vincent were pinned as full-time members of the department. In addition, Daniel Murphy was recognized as a part-time firefighter, but did not attend the ceremony. Chief John Roache and Deputy Chief Kevin Danielson led the ceremony, while Fire Department Chaplain Pastor James Mercurio offered the Invocation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the ceremony, each of the firefighters was introduced, and their career stories were shared. Town Clerk Sara-Ann Chaine swore in each of the firefighters and repeated the ceremonial pledge for each of them in front of their family, friends and peers. Beginning his career in 2015, Perea is qualified as a Firefighter 1, Firefighter II and EMT. In addition, he is an Apparatus Engineer and completed the 16-week recruit program at the Connecticut State Fire Academy, where he became a Confined Space Technician. While at the Windham Fire Department, he became certified as an SCBA Technician. His young son, Sebastia, pinned him during the ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vincent, who joined the department three months ago, began his fire service in 2017 when he served as a full-time firefighter with the Mohegan Tribal Fire Department. Vincent holds a bachelors degree in Fire Science and a Masters of Public Administration & Leadership with a concentration in Fire and Emergency Services. He is also a Hazardous Materials Technician, a Pro Board Fire Service Instructor 1 and a Fire Officer 1. His fiancee, Jaylyn Armstrong, presented him with his badge during the ceremony. As a volunteer firefighter in 2020 with the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department, Petrillo brings experience to Mansfield. After his time with Bethany, he worked for the Aetna Ambulance in Hartford for EMS experience, where he became a Field Training Officer. Recent experience includes working with the Vernon Fire Department, where he went through Firefighter 1 and Firefighter II training. His fiancee, Sydney, presented him with his badge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zavatsky began his career in media and television, working for Comcast/NBC Universal. In 2021, Zavatsky shifted his focus to firefighting, where he earned a Firefighter 1 and Firefighter II certification while serving the Farmington Fire Department (Tunxis Hose). He has also completed his EMT certification, and his son, Tristan, pinned on his badge during the ceremony. Murphy was honored at the ceremony. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration & Leadership, and joined the Mansfield Fire Department in 2021 as a volunteer firefighter. He has completed training in Firefighter I and Firefighter II, as well as a certification as a Pump Operator and UTV Operator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the ceremony, the departments newest ambulance was unveiled. The new apparatus, called Ambulance 707, arrived August 11. It was ordered in September of 2022 using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The vehicle was built by LifeLine Emergency Vehicles in 2025 on a 2024 model year RAM 5500 4x4 pickup chassis. The new truck will be housed at the Four Corners station and will be rotated to other locations. The ambulance is equipped with a variety of equipment, such as a new power load system and an electric lift stretcher. These new features will make it safer for crews and patients to be moved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the ambulance was ordered, the cost was approximately $350,000, but with the stretcher and the power load system, it cost an additional $70,000. The new ambulance replaces Mansfields older ambulance, which was a 2013 GMC van-style ambulance. It was not fitted with all-wheel drive and struggled to maneuver in the snow. As the vehicle aged, it developed more mechanical problems. The Town of Mansfield currently has three ambulances and plans to replace one every three years. According to town officials, there is an order in development for the next ambulance, which will be a twin to this one. The expected delivery date will be in mid-2028. "Don't worry, you're not going to pay this amount." When prospective students and their families look up how much it costs to attend Otterbein University, those words appear in big red text right next to a breakdown of this year's estimated cost of attendance, a ticket price of just over $50,000. Students don't even see the cost breakdown until they scroll past multiple sections of information about scholarships, need-based aid, state and federal grants, and a note that 100% of traditional first-year students receive merit or need-based aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's because the university wants to set the record straight on what it really costs students to attend college, Otterbein's Vice President of Enrollment Management Jefferson Blackburn-Smith said. "We want to be the most transparent school in Ohio when it comes to financial aid," Blackburn-Smith said. It's a decades-old narrative that puts some families of college-bound students in shock: College is expensive. Headlines about colleges charging six-figures a year to attend college like Vanderbilt University now charging nearly $100,000 for tuition, fees and room and board can make heads spin. But university administrators and higher education experts say they are just as exasperated trying to help those students and their families understand that most students don't pay anywhere close to the full sticker price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But why exactly is that? A graduate's decorated cap during Ohio State University's Spring Commencement on Sunday, May 5, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. Sticker shock: Breaking down the published price vs. net price All U.S. colleges and universities that receive federal funding are required to make their cost of attendance publicly available. Factors like state funding, campus size and projected revenue help determine what the cost of attendance figure will be. During the 2024-25 academic year, the average published price, also known as the sticker price, for tuition and fees for full-time, in-state undergraduates at public four-year universities was $11,610, according to the College Board's annual report. That was about $300 higher than the previous year. The average published price for undergraduate students at private, nonprofit, four-year universities was $43,350 about $1,600 higher than the year before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One look at the sticker price and some families have already crossed a school off their list, Blackburn-Smith said. But that's not what most students will pay, he said. Just like instructional costs and state funding go into calculating a school's published price, Blackburn-Smith said there are a number of factors that affect a student's cost of attendance. That can include a student's residency, family income, and academic achievements. Those factors help determine how much financial aid a student will receive, whether from the federal or state level, or as a merit scholarship. That financial aid subtracted from the university's sticker price equals a student's net price, or the real amount they will pay to attend. Average sticker prices at both private and public colleges increased by about 70% from the 1995-96 school year to the 2019-20 school year, according to research by Phil Levine, who is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and an economics professor at Wellesley College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A majority of college students are receiving some form of financial aid to attend, university officials say. According to a Brookings Institute report Levine published in April 2024, about a quarter of in-state public college students and 16% of students enrolled in private universities during the 2019-2020 school year paid the full sticker price. Those percentages have dropped from 53% and 29%, respectively, since 1995. Levine's report found the typical net price at private colleges increased only for higher-income students from 2008 to 2020, though the average student from a family earning less than $50,000 was still asked to pay almost $25,000 to attend. Net prices increased for public university students at all income levels, the report found, though the total cost was still less than that of private institutions. A 2024 study from the National Association of College and University Business Officers found that private universities reported a 56% average institutional tuition discount rate for first-time, full-time, first-year students during the 2023-24 academic year, a new high. 'An increasingly poor indicator' So many students are receiving financial aid also plays into what college's charge for cost of attendance, Blackburn-Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a math model that everyone is trying to solve: How do I charge students who can pay more so that I can afford to pay for those that can't?" Blackburn-Smith said. "It's complicated." That fluctuation between the price universities advertise and the amount students really pay means the sticker price is "an increasingly poor indicator," according to Levine's report. The growing use of merit-based aid at both public and private institutions helps account for this. Many Ohio institutions, from Ohio State University to Otterbein, offer merit-based aid to a majority of their students. During the 1995-1996 school year, more than three-quarters of higher-income students at public institutions paid the full sticker price. That figure dropped to 47% in 2019-2020. At private institutions, the decline was even greater, falling from 64% to 28% in the same time. College sticker prices set to 'convey a message' about quality Offering near-universal merit aid has the same impact as reducing the sticker price, Levine's report found. So why not just lower the cost of attendance? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Levine said sticker prices are also set to "convey a message." Colleges, he said, set a higher sticker price to signal institutional quality, then choose to offer merit aid to signal support for admitted students. Blackburn-Smith said that there is certainly an emotional component involved when selecting a college to attend and ultimately shell out for. "Our emotional relationship with money will impact what you do here," he said. Blackburn-Smith said he's seen cost studies comparing whether students and families prefer to pay a lower sticker price with less financial aid or a higher sticker price with more financial aid. The surprising thing, he said, was that more people chose the higher price with the larger scholarship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's a big emotional part of it," he said. "Parents like to brag about how expensive college is and how smart their kid is." Levine said the overwhelming focus on sticker price is detrimental to our broader understanding of college costs. Though it is easier to track than net price, Levine said sticker prices can be misleading and shut some students out of pursuing higher education altogether. A 2023 survey by the Association of American Universities found that only 19% of Americans know that lower-income students pay less for college than higher-income students. "Individuals have very limited information about what college actually costs," he said. "That is problematic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Higher education reporter Sheridan Hendrix can be reached at shendrix@dispatch.com and on Signal at @sheridan.120. You can follow her on Instagram at @sheridanwrites. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why most college students don't pay the 'sticker price' for tuition JUNCTION CITY (KSNT) The Junction City Police Department is unveiling a new mural highlighting the cultural history of the citys Ninth Street District. Painted by local artist Cierra Marrero, the new mural transforms the police departments memorial display area into a story of honor and community pride. One side features a Junction City police officer representing duty and service, while the other side depicts a jazz musician with a saxophone paying tribute to the jazz scene the Ninth Street District was once known for. The Junction City Police Department unveils a new mural highlighting the citys cultural history of its Ninth Street District. (Photo Courtesy/Cierra Simmons) Labor Day protest brings hundreds out to the Kansas State Capitol Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This mural was about capturing more than a uniformits about showing the heart behind the badge, Marrero said. I wanted it to honor the officers, but also make the community feel connected to the history inside these walls. Marrero said these images are supposed to symbolize the balance of culture and protection. It invites viewers to reflect not only on the sacrifices of law enforcement, but also the cultural roots that have made Junction City unique. Trade war threatens Kansas soy industry, despite record yields For Marrero, this project represents her mission to use art as a medium for storytelling and community growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. (The Center Square) Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is moving to reinstate the death penalty for Dale Dwayne Craig. He is convicted of murdering an LSU freshman in 1992 when Craig was eight days shy of his 18th birthday. Murrill filed a motion this week with the U.S. Supreme Court, explicitly targeting the courts 2005 decision in Roper v. Simmons, which barred the execution of offenders who were under 18 when their crimes were committed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Craigs sentence was converted to life without parole following Roper, despite a jurys unanimous 1994 decision that he should be executed for the killing of 18-year-old Kipp E. Gullet. The Supreme Courts decision in Roper v. Simmons is egregiously wrong, Murrill said in a statement. It prohibits states like Louisiana from executing criminals like Dale Craig just because he was a week away from his 18th birthday when he committed this heinous crime. There is no basis in law or logic for that absurd result. Court records describe Craigs crime as a carjacking, kidnapping and execution-style murder. After stealing Gullets vehicle, Craig forced him to a secluded construction site, pistol-whipped him, and then shot him three times in the head as he lay curled on the ground, the case revealed. Craigs case has wound through Louisianas courts for decades. His original death sentence was vacated in 2005, shortly after Roper was decided, with Judge Bonnie Jackson resentencing him to life without parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the new filing, Murrills office acknowledges that lower courts are bound to reject the motion but argues the move is necessary to preserve Louisianas challenge for appellate review. The state contends Roper was on shaky ground from the start and should be overturned, citing dissenting justices in the original case and pointing to inconsistencies in outcomes for offenders who committed capital crimes just before or after their 18th birthdays. Murrills filing says Roper has caused real-world consequences by preventing execution of defendants like Craig, while allowing death sentences for those who committed equally brutal murders days later as legal adults. The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet indicated whether it will consider Louisianas challenge. DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) The Medical University of South Carolina is set to receive funding for a new technical assistance center, aimed to improve maternal and infant health. The new $7 million dollar grant will help expand and modernize the maternal and infant healthcare at MUSC. Doctors said this is a major step towards improving healthcare access in the Lowcountry community. The director of the Womens Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at MUSC, DR. Constance Guille, explained this program is for everyone. Were really hoping to reduce the morbidity and mortality thats associated with pregnancy in the postpartum year for moms and infants. said Dr. Guille. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An innovation to modernize maternal and infant healthcare as South Carolina ranks 8th highest in the nation for maternal mortality. With experts citing deep disparities along racial and geographic lines. Officials at MUSC say this new program aims to change that. What its doing is trying to identify early signs of potential postpartum or pregnancy complications. said Dr. Guille. She added, with the help of early signs, they will be able to intervene and take care of needs before things worsen or become more complicated. MUSC will received the $7 million dollar grant from the Duke Endowment, one of the nations largest private foundations. Over $5 million dollars of the grant will be used to launch the new technical assistance center for maternal health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is designed to use simple technology, such as text messaging and phone calls, making it accessible for everybody. Officials are hoping they will be able to reach people across the state. Its designed so that it can be used in rural areas and underserved areas. So using really simple technology like text and phone, makes it accessible to a lot more people. said Dr. Guille. Theyre also hoping to break down socio-economic barriers that prevent access to care, as the program is for everyone, with or without insurance. Over the next 3 months the Duke Endowment will be selecting sites in North and South Carolina to take part in this intervention, with an expected rollout date of January 2027. Officials emphasized it could be life changing for mothers and infants across the Palmetto State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think that by identifying problems early, making sure that people get appropriate care at the right time, that thats going to reduce complications. Its going to improve maternal health, and outcomes short and long term. said Dr. Guille. Officials explained these projects at MUSC are a step in the right direction to making healthcare more accessible and effective, especially for those in need. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Angie Rush said she was distraught when notified of the vandalism against the Bass Reeves statue. Rush said sometime between June 28 and Aug. 21, someone took off part of the billy club in Reeves' right hand. "We know it was there on the second day of our Bass Reeves conference," Rush said. "We have photos from that day where we brought the tour bus over and they took photos outside. We know it was gone Aug. 21 and we suspect it was gone before Aug. 18, but we're having to peruse the back footage and see; we're not exactly sure when it happened. I was notified Sunday evening by one of the volunteers who happened to come by and noticed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statue was four years in the planning. It was unveiled Jan. 11 in a ceremony on the east lawn of the museum on the northwest corner of South Second and Elgin streets. Rush, Three Rivers Museum director, said she has notified Joel Randell, the sculptor, to see if the damage can be repaired. "I took quite a few close-up pictures and sent them to him," Rush said. "He's sure whoever cut it used a hacksaw because it's very jagged; it's very sharp in some places. He is working on a solution to get that fixed and to reinforce it to where they can't do it again." Rush said she hopes the repairs stop it from happening again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't want this to inhibit up to where we have to put a fence around Bass like we had to do with the train engine," she said. "We put Bass here for the community in recognition of honor for the police department and Bass' history and our history. We want him to be available to anybody and everybody at all hours." Rush is also worried this might not be a one-time incident. "If they would do this to Bass, what would they do to Merle Haggard?" she said. "I've been around a long time and I know there's people like that in the world. It hurts me that [some] people have no concerns for anybody or anything else." Sep. 2MITCHELL A new endowment gift from Roger and Vicki Musick to Dakota Wesleyan University is being positioned as a tool to help Mitchell market itself as a destination for families, educators, and students. The $30 million in endowments supports two major initiatives: need-based scholarships for Mitchell School District high school students to earn college credit, and graduate school scholarships for district teachers and staff. Though the Musick family made the gift independently, city, school, and Chamber officials are aligning efforts to share its potential impact with current and prospective residents. The programs funded by the endowment are being incorporated into messaging about why Mitchell is a strong place to live, work, and raise a family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This gift from the Musick family is one of the single largest positive impacts to Mitchell that anyone can ever imagine," said Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson. "There's so many possible positive outcomes, I can't even begin to start thinking of how much good this will do." The first part of the endowment offers need-based scholarships for qualifying juniors and seniors at Mitchell High School to take college courses for credit. Students must meet academic and financial criteria. "We've designed it as such to ensure that we're providing the right resources to each student and helping them succeed in their college-level work," said Mitchell School District Superintendent Joe Childs. The second part funds scholarships for current teachers and administrators to pursue advanced degrees and certifications. Like the student scholarships, this program includes an application and recommendation process to align with district needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Childs said the initiative directly invests in the district's workforce while supporting long-term educational goals. While primarily an educational investment, the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce views the endowment as a valuable tool for promoting the community. Chamber officials say that educational quality is one of the top factors families consider when relocating. "This gift checks a lot of boxes for what families and workers are looking forstrong schools, access to affordable college, and support for professional growth," said Mike Lauritsen, CEO of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation. "It's a very tangible example of the kind of long-term investment that helps make a community attractive." Lauritsen explained that the Chamber's marketing strategy is not part of a formal campaign or tied to a tagline. Instead, it's about highlighting the gift and the opportunities it creates especially for teachers and families in the Mitchell School District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lauritsen acknowledged that the Chamber was not involved in the development or donation of the endowment and is careful not to take credit for the initiative. However, he said the Chamber is eager to help amplify its reach. "We didn't have a hand in creating this gift, and we don't want to steal anyone's thunder, but we absolutely want to help get the word out," Lauritsen said. "It's a powerful message to share when we talk to families, teachers, and businesses about what Mitchell has to offer." To support that effort, the Chamber is working on a video and social media campaign in coordination with Dakota Wesleyan University's marketing department. The videos, produced by Shannon Sandoval, will feature interviews with Superintendent Joe Childs, Roger Musick, students, educators, and Chamber staff. Distribution will focus on Facebook and other digital platforms, emphasizing both external recruitment and internal community pride. Jan Larson, marketing director at Dakota Wesleyan University, is collaborating with Chamber staff to ensure consistency with the endowment's long-term vision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no formal metrics in place to track the campaign's success. Lauritsen said the goal is simply to raise awareness of the opportunities the endowment creates. The Chamber plans to use the materials in its broader outreach to prospective residents. The endowment joins two existing incentive programs aimed at attracting new residents: * Move to Mitchell $1,000 Relocation Incentive: Offers a one-time payment for out-of-state individuals who accept full-time jobs in Mitchell. The program was renewed with additional funding after early success. * Welcome to Your Palace Program: Provides a $100 gift card for local businesses and a relocation bag to new full-time workers moving to Mitchell's 57301 zip code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Chamber, the Move to Mitchell program alone has brought 52 families to town since 2021. Another 17 people have received the $100 Palace incentive. Officials say the addition of the Musick endowment allows them to showcase another meaningful incentive one that goes beyond short-term financial perks and focuses on long-term educational value. Lauritsen noted that Mitchell's school system was recently ranked the top district in South Dakota by Niche, a website that aggregates data from students, parents, and alumni. Alongside public safety, educational quality is consistently one of the top factors families cite when choosing where to live. He said the Musick gift helps further elevate Mitchell's educational profile and gives recruiters another talking point when engaging with potential residents. "Having this kind of educational support available especially for both students and teachers makes Mitchell more competitive when it comes to attracting people," Lauritsen said. "It's another reason someone might choose to move here." "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Heres what youll learn when you read this story: Large gullies are swallowing entire houses, sometimes rapidly, in Africa. A new study suggests the gullies are linked to urbanization and will continue to get worse over time. Researchers estimate gullies have displaced nearly 120,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone. Soil is connected to practically everythingwater filtration, food production, not to mention the foundation our cities rest on. However as climate change and urbanization progress, the health of soil is impacted. Citizens in Africa are seeing the effects of this degradation firsthand. Rain showers are washing away sandy soil, leaving gullies large enough to swallow entire houses. According to a new study published in the journal Nature, over 118,000 people were displaced between 2004 and 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone. Researchers reported to Nature that, without immediate action, hundreds of thousands of people across Africa could be displaced over the next 10 years due to these gullies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an underestimated and severely under-researched hazard, study co-author Matthias Vanmaercke told Nature. Researchers on the study analyzed satellite images taken between the years 2021 to 2023. Using the images, the team identified nearly 3,000 gullies across 26 cities in the DRC. They then compared the images to aerial photos from the 1950sa time which predates major development in the regionand confirmed most of the gullies were linked to urbanization. Vanmaercke and his colleagues found that 2,897 (99 percent) of gullies expanded at least 10 square meters between 2004 and 2023thats the size of a small studio apartment. The new study shows that gully sidewall widening, or when the walls of the gully degrade, is the most concerning form of gully expansion. Researchers found sidewall widening is not only the most common kind of expansion, but also affects communities the most, accounting for over 65 percent of the people displaced by gullies. The formation of new gullies is less concerning, as they only account for 2.8 percent of local population displacement. While the threat of gullies may seem inevitable, Vanmaercke suggests quite the opposite. In fact, the researcher says the problem is not at all unavoidable. The recent study explains that preventing new gullies, rather than just focusing on stabilizing existing gullies, may be a more effective approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trick would be to have interventions that are well thought of and installed in time, Vanmaercke said. But theres such a huge lack of money and resources that usually when something is done, its either inadequate or too late. And when it comes to getting government support and making a change, time is of the essence, according to Gina Ziervogel, geographer at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The sooner we can invest, the better, Ziervogel told Nature, because we know that the later we leave it, the bigger the scale of the challenge. You Might Also Like The mayor of Dover in Morris County accused the local police department of recording and storing phone calls made to and from municipal buildings in a recent social media post. The town of Dover has recently become aware, through an Open Public Records (Act) request of a deeply concerning issue involving the recording of telephone calls made to and from town phone lines, Dover Mayor James P. Dodd said in an Instagram post. Dodd was flanked by the towns administrator and chief financial officer, Ed Ramirez, and municipal solicitor Ramon Rivera, in the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This revelation is alarming, as these recordings appear to violate New Jersey wiretapping and electronic surveillance control act, Dodd continued. He did not say who filed the public records request and how officials learned of the alleged recording. In the video, Dodd said the police department confirmed to him that they were recording and storing telephone conversations inside town hall and at other municipal buildings. In a statement to NJ Advance Media, Dover Police Chief Jonathan Delaney said that he welcomed a thorough, objective and timely investigation by the Morris County Prosecutors Office and/or the Attorney Generals Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the information currently available to me, I am confident that our personnel acted appropriately, Delaney said. Delaney also called the information being shared publicly a misleading narrative. He also said the recording equipment used was selected, purchased, installed and maintained by Town Hall, not eh municipal police department. The lack of notification about the recordings to town employees and officials raised serious legal and ethical concerns, as well as questions of accountability, Dodd said. Town officials notified the Morris County Prosecutors Office and state Attorney Generals Office about the alleged recording and storing and asked the agencies to investigate, according to Dodd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town specifically wants to know how the surveillance system was implemented, who authorized the recordings, and whether it violates state and federal law, the mayor said. Representatives for the Morris County Prosecutors Office and Attorney Generals Office said they could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. Town council member Sergio Rodriguez, who represents the second ward, said if the allegations are true it would represent a troubling violation of the public trust. New Jersey law allows recording when one party to the conversation consents, but in this case the Police Department was not a participant in those calls, Rodriguez told NJ Advance Media in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A disclaimer about phone calls being recorded was added to municipal phone lines after the alleged recordings came to light, according to Rodriguez. At the core, this is about accountability in government, Rodriguez continued. Residents deserve to know that when they communicate with municipal offices, whether calling in or receiving a call, their privacy is respected and their trust safeguarded. The police chief filed a civil lawsuit against the town and Dodd on Aug. 18 accusing the mayor of breach of contract, retaliation, slander and libel, according to the legal complaint filed in state Superior Court. The town has not yet filed an answer to the allegations in Delaneys complaint. Matthew Enuco Stories by Matthew Enuco Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. New Jersey is putting nearly $11 million toward helping substance users that have the hardest time accessing treatment, including pregnant women and the uninsured. The money will be taken from the states opioid settlement funds, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday. Far too many New Jerseyans have felt the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, and while we have made great progress in reducing the harms of substance use, streamlining access to treatment, and supporting families in recovery much work remains ahead to ensure all our family members, friends, and neighbors receive the support that they deserve, Murphy said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays investments, which are informed by the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council, build on our efforts to uplift our communities with proven harm reduction strategies and evidence-based resources to support sustained recovery, said Murphy. To increase access to services, the state is using $4.3 million to help uninsured individuals access community-based programs for treatment, according to the announcement. Lack of health insurance can be a big barrier to treatment for people in recovery. Approximately 7.5% of New Jersey residents lack health insurance coverage, with persistent disparities across racial groups, according to a report by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. In New Jersey, 3.5% of white residents are uninsured, compared to 8.3% of Black residents, and 17.9% of Latino residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To better support those in recovery, the state is allocating $3.5 million over the next two and a half years to continue the Recovery Management Checkup program. This program offers follow-up services to people whove already completed treatment, but may need additional support in the form of video calls, texting, or in-person meetings. The state will also put another $2 million toward the continued use of peer recovery specialists in residential treatment programs. Peers have lived experience with substance use recovery and offer support to individuals who are in the midst of treatment. Finally, $1.05 million will go toward helping a less often talked about group of substance users pregnant women. A study on U.S. trends in drug overdose deaths among pregnant and postpartum persons showed overdose mortality increased approximately 81% from 2017 to 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This most recent investment will bring life-saving support to individuals and families affected by addiction. It will expand access to essential treatment and recovery services, including support for expecting mothers during pregnancy and up to a year after birth, which is such a critical time for both mothers and babies, said New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman in a press release. These programs are vital for helping people build stability and sustain long-term recovery. This funding represents hope and healing, and I am grateful that we can assist people in need to build a stronger path towards recovery, said Adelman, whos also chairperson of the New Jersey Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council. The latest round of funding builds on over $120 million in opioid settlement spending announced by the state last year. In June, there was controversy over a last-minute amendment made to the final state budget that allocated $45 million of opioid settlement funds originally meant for new housing, social service and treatment programs to instead go toward hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Attorney General Matthew Platkin called the switch a deep disappointment in a post on the social media platform X. New Jersey is expected to be paid an estimated $1 billion in settlement funds through 2038. Jackie Roman Stories by Jackie Roman Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. A former Atlantic County school worker accused of inappropriately touching a student earlier this year was seeking employment with the Central Regional Public School District at the time he was arrested, Central Regional Superintendent Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder confirmed to NJ Advance Media. Darnell Williams, 34, of Manchester Townships Whiting section, was charged in late August with second-degree sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13, official misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child. He was employed with the Hamilton Township School District in Atlantic County at the time of the incident in February, but was no longer employed when he was arrested and charged, it was previously reported. A resolution to officially hire Williams as Central Regionals director of pupil services was before the school board on Aug. 13, according to a meeting agenda. However, Central Regional rescinded his employment offer after the district learned of his arrest, CarneyRay-Yoder told NJ Advance Media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At no time was Mr. Williams in contact with any of our students, nor officially employed by the district, CarneyRay-Yoder said. New Jersey requires forms to be completed in the pre-employment screening process to warn districts about workers who have been accused of sexual abuse. Some of those forms were inadvertently sent by Central Regional to Hamilton Township School District in Mercer County, CarneyRay-Yoder said. Once we were informed of this, the forms were sent to the correct Hamilton school district in Atlantic County. However, completed copies were not received until after Mr. Williams arrest had been publicly reported, CarneyRay-Yoder said. Williams remains jailed as of Tuesday. A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday, records show. Williams attorney, Kerlin Hyppolite, could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday. Eric Conklin Stories by Eric Conklin Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. When Jerry Nadler announced his retirement this week, he opted to directly address a question thats been roiling the Democratic Party since Joe Bidens withering debate performance last year: How old is too old to run for office? The 78-year-old congressmember cited his age as a factor in his departure plans from a safe seat in New York City. And in doing so, he earned praise from some of the partys younger agitators though based on interviews, itll take more than a handful of elderly lawmakers like Nadler heeding their calls to step aside to repair the intra-party rift. As it is, the vast majority of Democrats who are 70 or older are publicly running for another House term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Against that backdrop, a trend of acknowledging the partys age problem often tacitly is beginning to emerge, even as other senior members of the party are likely to stay put. Four House Democrats, including Nadler, and four Senate Democrats over the age of 65 have said this year that they are stepping down from Congress. A fifth House Democrat said he would retire from his home district if Texas proposed redistricting maps survive legal challenges. Democrats believe even more departures could be coming with a government shutdown deadline looming and lawmakers evaluating their futures after returning from their August recess. These retirements are a great example of maturity from these leaders to make the difficult decision for them of knowing even after you've served somewhere for decades that it's time for somebody else to lead, Leaders We Deserve co-founder David Hogg said in an interview, specifically responding to Nadlers news. But 25-year-old Hogg, who has become a leading voice for generational change within his party, also pledged to continue his plan to financially support some candidates who challenge older incumbent Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is still more of a need for us to bring in some fresh blood into this party and help rejuvenate it, he said, and show people how the party is changing in the wake of a pretty major loss last election cycle. More than 80 House members are 70 or older, a statistic younger Democrats like Hogg cite to underscore their argument that a party in turmoil needs generational change. Only one House member is in his 20s, and the vast majority of older congressional members are expected to run for reelection. Still, some Democrats who have announced their retirement have explicitly cited age as a factor. Nadler told the New York Times that watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that. Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, 81, announced in the spring she wouldnt seek reelection, saying, It is now time for me to pass the baton and this week praising the new voices as so sharp, so articulate, so self-assured. It's wonderful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith, 67, likewise said earlier this year that its important that people in my position do what they can to lift up the next generation of leaders when unveiling her retirement. And 83-year-old Illinois Rep. Danny Davis told supporters in July when he decided to retire that this would be a great time to try and usher in new leadership. As Democrats search for a path out of the political wilderness, they have faced a push for fresh faces from voters and activists who have urged their leaders to mount a more visible resistance to President Donald Trump. The impatience from younger Democrats has led several primary challengers to attempt to turn incumbents' age into a liability. Three House Democrats have died in office this year, further fueling the contentious debate on the left. The boomer generation has held on to some of these seats for a long time, said New York City-based Democratic strategist Evan Thies. And we saw in the last election that even very accomplished, highly competent and productive elder electeds are now at risk of not winning their elections simply because they're older. Even agitators like Hogg have carved out exceptions to their push to oust senior Democrats, which he insists is motivated by effectiveness and not solely age. Hogg, whose primary plans caused an uproar within the Democratic National Committee that culminated in his ouster as a party vice chair, has exempted Democratic luminaries like Nancy Pelosi, 85, from his anti-incumbent movement. And he has said the same of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 83, who still draws huge crowds even as he signals this term could be his last in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Generational change has been underway in the House Democratic caucus for the last several years, and it's something that every caucus member, regardless of which generation they find themselves in, has embraced, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, 55, told reporters Tuesday when asked about generational change and Nadlers decision. What the record shows is leadership to rank-and-file-members to committee positions, and at all points in between. This year, House Democrats elevated a younger, rising star in the party, Rep. Robert Garcia, as their top member of the Oversight Committee, and Jeffries himself had participated in a changing of the guard when Pelosi stepped aside as speaker, along with her top lieutenants, Reps. Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn, to make way for a younger trio. Rep. Jared Huffman took over as the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee from Rep. Raul Grijalva, who stepped aside amid a cancer battle and later died. And Rep. Angie Craig won a caucus-wide election to be the top Agriculture Committee Democrat after Rep. David Scott also dropped his bid amid health questions. In a move that some younger Democrats have criticized, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has actively recruited older, well-known Democrats like former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in his long-shot bid to flip the upper chamber. Other Senate Democratic candidates are younger, including Rep. Chris Pappas, 45, in New Hampshire and the trio of Democrats running in Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some senior House Democrats are keeping others in the party guessing about their future plans. Two top members of the previous generation of House Democratic leadership Pelosi and Hoyer have been publicly noncommittal on their re-election plans, though Pelosi has filed for re-election. And others who have faced competitive primary challenges amid broader health questions, like Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), have said theyre still running for re-election. Hoyer spokesperson Margaret Mulkerrin said in a statement he was focused on holding the Trump Administration accountable, protecting democracy at home and abroad, supporting federal employees and civil servants, and delivering for Marylands 5th District. Jumaane Williams, the 49-year-old New York City Public Advocate, applauded Nadler for stepping down after watching what happened to the country, particularly around President Biden. "I think the party in general should be learning this lesson, he said. Hopefully, when it's my turn, I have that lesson, too. With additional reporting by Jeff Coltin and Shia Kapos. CORRECTION: This spelling of Margaret Mulkerrin's name has been corrected in this story. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A man was arrested Tuesday night in downtown Nashville after he was allegedly running around naked and trying to break into vehicles. According to the Metro Nashville Police Departments Central Precinct, officers responded around 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday to a single-vehicle crash. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts On the scene, officers found the vehicle unoccupied and started the inventory and processing procedures to remove the abandoned vehicle from the property. Officers found items indicating narcotics activities, according to the MNPD. (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department Central Precinct) Fifteen minutes later, an EMS Assist call came in reporting a man was running naked near Ewing Street and was trying to get into peoples vehicles, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the MNPD, other officers found and detained the man and learned through excited utterance the man had earlier crashed the vehicle. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Upon a search of the vehicle, officers found 63 grams of marijuana, more than 26 grams of cocaine, two pistols and drug paraphernalia, according to Metro police. Authorities said a records search of the man revealed he was a convicted felon. His identity was not immediately 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. CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (WROC) Two more of the seven people charged in connection with the killing of 24-year-old Sam Nordquist appeared in Ontario County Court on Wednesday for Huntley hearings, proceedings that determine whether certain statements can be used as evidence at trial. Prosecutors detail evidence as Nordquist murder suspects return to court Wednesdays hearings involved defendants Emily Motyka and Patrick Goodwin. Each of the seven suspects has their own legal representation, and the hearings this week have offered new details about how the investigation unfolded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A state police trooper was the first witness called, testifying about the initial welfare check at Pattys Lodge in February, when law enforcement first tried to locate Nordquist. Another trooper recalled her first interaction with Motyka, describing how she met with her in a Walmart parking lot on a snowy February evening before bringing her to the barracks. Defense attorneys pressed the trooper on specifics of that interaction, including whether Motyka, who had reportedly been awake more than 24 hours due to her job with the DOT, was read her Miranda rights, and whether she was free to leave at the time. Body camera footage was also submitted as evidence. Family friend LC Collins, who has been attending the hearings, said he has been updating Nordquists mother via FaceTime. Its a lot to take in Hearing more and more details, it feels like it crushes them all over again, and I cant stand watching them get crushed on repeat, Collins said. Were gonna get justice for Sam. His name is gonna live on forever, and were gonna get justice for his family no matter what. In Goodwins case, defense attorneys questioned a state police investigator about alleged promises made to Goodwin during their initial contact. At the time, Goodwin was on parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huntley hearings for the other defendants are expected to continue this week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Jeffrey Epsteins victims have told Donald Trump they are compiling a list of men who were clients of the paedophile financier. Survivors gathered outside the Capitol on Wednesday to demand that his administration authorise the release of all of the documents it holds on Epstein. Lisa Phillips, who was abused by Epstein from 2000, said she and other victims will produce their own client list if the US government fails to publish the names of wealthy clients believed to be connected to Epsteins crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: I would like to announce here today, us, Epstein survivors, have been discussing creating our own list. Ms Phillips added: We know the names, many of us were abused by them. Now, together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know who were regularly in the Epstein world. Survivor Lisa Phillips said: We know the names... - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Survivor Liz Stein spoke at the rally in support of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein outside the US Capitol - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of Donald Trump who is working with Democrats on a bipartisan bill to secure the release of the files, said she would read the list of co-conspirators and abusers to Congress. Noting that Epsteins survivors would struggle to publicly disclose the list of names over fears of the potential ramifications, she said: Yeah, its a scary thing to name names, but I will tell you, Im not afraid to name names. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: So if they want to give me a list, I will walk into that Capitol on the House floor and Ill say every damn name that abused these women. I can do that for them, and Id be proud to do it. Brad Edwards, a lawyer who represents several of Epsteins survivors, said they have somewhat of a list of the friends the paedophile financier farmed his victims out to. He told the rally: His scheme was to personally abuse women. When they reached a certain age, he did farm a section of them, some of them, out to some of his friends, that doesnt mean all of his friends. Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Mar-a-Lago club in 2000 - Davidoff Studios Photography The rally and press conference, a short distance from the White House, will make for uncomfortable viewing for Mr Trump, who has come under pressure over his former friendship with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein, a wealthy financier with high-level connections, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of underage girls. The US president has repeatedly denied that he knew of Epsteins crimes, and on Wednesday, he called the scandal a Democrat hoax. Mr Trump has drawn ire from some of his supporters over his failure to release all the documents the government has on Epstein. Chauntae Davies, a survivor, told the press conference that Epstein surrounded himself with a web of powerful men and bragged about his friendship with Mr Trump. She said: His biggest brag forever was that he was very good friends with Donald Trump. He had an eight by 10 framed picture of him on his desk with the two of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sky Roberts, the brother of the late Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre Roberts, addressed the bipartisan rally, which was attended by Democrats and Republicans who are pushing for the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act an act that would compel the Department of Justice to release everything it has on Epstein. Several Epstein survivors who have never spoken publicly before appeared at the rally, which was attended by hundreds of people. Marina Lacerda, who identified herself as minor victim one in the federal indictment of Epstein, called for the government to give her access to the documents that detail the abuse she suffered as a teenager. There are many pieces of my story that I cant remember ... its so hard to begin to heal knowing that there are people out there who know more about my abuse than I do, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of the documents and information ... that could help me remember. Survivors are pushing for the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would compel the Department of Justice to release everything it has on Epstein - Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Republicans Thomas Massie, Ms Greene and Democrat Ro Khanna, is trying to carry out a rarely-used legislative manoeuvre to force a vote on their bill against the wishes of House Republican leadership. Mr Khanna said: A nation that allows rich and powerful men to traffic and abuse young girls without consequence is a nation that has lost its moral and spiritual core. Hayley Robson, who was abused by Epstein from the age of 16, called on Mr Trump to meet her so she can explain this is not a hoax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: Mr President, Donald J Trump, I am a registered Republican, not that that matters, because this is not political. However, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person, so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma. Several of Epsteins victims also criticised the Department of Justice for moving Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2020, to a low-security prison in Texas. Anouska De Georgiou, a British survivor who testified during Maxwells trial, said it was appalling and disgusting that Maxwell had been moved to what she described as a holiday camp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teresa Helm, another of Epstein and Maxwells victims, likened the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) in Bryan, Texas, where Maxwell is serving her sentence, to a prison spa. 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. South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace revealed she suffered a full blown panic attack after speaking to several survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sexual abuse. Tears streamed down the Republican lawmakers face on Tuesday as she shuffled past reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, following her early departure from a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee briefing. A visibly shaken Mace was among the members of Congress who met privately with six Epstein accusers, as the GOP-led panel continues its investigation into the Trump administrations handling of the disgraced financiers case. House Speaker Mike Johnson and comittee Chairman James Comer were also in the two-hour-long meeting, according to The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mace, who earlier this year spoke on the House floor about her own experience as a sexual assault survivor, took to X on Tuesday to explain her sudden exit from the briefing. Mace was photographed on Tuesday in tears as she left a Government Reform Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. (AFP/Getty) As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I cant breathe, Mace wrote on X. I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS. President Donald Trump has continued to face a wave of MAGA backlash for his administrations handling of the Epstein case, after repeatedly hinting on the 2024 campaign trail that he would release the full files on the financier. The uproar intensified after the Justice Department announced in early July that there was no evidence Epstein had a client list, and the Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi allegedly briefed Trump who has never been accused of wrongdoing in the Epstein case in May that his name was mentioned in the files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later Tuesday, Mace told The Independents Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief Eric Garcia that she was not worried about crossing Trump on the issue of Epstein, praising the president as a hero as he attempts to distance himself from Epstein. Congresswoman Nancy Mace said she was sweating and having panic attacks after speaking to Epsteins victims (AFP/Getty) Donald Trump is the one who banned Jeffrey Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, she said. He was an FBI informant, and he talked to the feds to get this guy turned over. So Donald Trump is a hero in this. Ahead of the briefing, Johnson told reporters Tuesday that it was important to hear directly from the victims to ensure transparency in the investigation. Yes, its for us to hear from them, to express our deep sympathy for what theyve been made to endure, he said. And ensure that we have been and always will be for maximum transparency, for justice to be brought for all those engaged in these evils and to ensure that happens as quickly as possible. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) finally seemed to show some semblance of empathy but critics arent buying it. A handful of Jeffrey Epsteins victimsgathered in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for a closed-door meeting with members of the Oversight Committee who are investigating the federal governments handling of the late sex traffickers case. Mace, who is a member of the committee, was shown leaving the meeting early and appeared visibly upset while wiping away tears. Related: Stephen Millers Latest Wild Trump Worship Moment Has People Rolling Their Eyes In a video of the moment, the Republican can be seen shaking her head no as a reporter asks her a question. Rep. Nancy Mace was visibly upset as she left the meeting with Epstein survivors at the Capitol. She declined to answer questions from reporters. pic.twitter.com/chEHwW9Ypt Kristen Eskow (@KristenEskow) September 2, 2025 Although the South Carolina congresswoman didnt want to speak with reporters at the time, she later explained her emotional departure on her X account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories, Mace wrote. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I cant breathe. Related: Republican Senators Grill RFK Jr. Over Chaos At CDC Mace added, I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS. Since its already being reported - Yes I left the Oversight briefing with Epstein victims early. As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I cant breathe. I Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) September 2, 2025 In February, Mace gave an hourlong speech on the House floor in which she accused four men including ex-fiance Patrick Bryant of drugging, raping and filming her and other women without their consent. All four men have denied the allegations, with one suing Mace for defamation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I rise today to call out the cowards who think they can prey on women and get away with it, Mace said at the time. Today, Im going scorched earth. So let the bridges I burn this evening light our way forward. Related: Lawmakers Rally With Epstein Victims In Push To Release Files Whether or not Maces horrific sexual abuse allegations are true, there is one glaring flaw in the far-right politicians stance in regards to Epsteins victims her unyielding loyalty to President Donald Trump. Rep. Nancy Mace takes a selfie as President Donald Trump leaves the chamber after addressing a joint session of Congress in March. The Washington Post via Getty Images In 2023, Trump was found liable in a civil trial for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. The judge added at the time that, while jurors stopped short of saying Trump committed rape, his actions fell within the common definition of the word. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is by no means the only time a woman has aimed sexual misconduct allegations squarely at the former reality TV star, who famously said in a 2005 recording that he can grab women by the pussy because he is a celebrity. In fact, so many women have publicly accused the president of sexual misconduct that HuffPost compiled a list in 2017 that features the names and allegations of 25 women and spans decades. Related: Rep. Nancy Mace Threatens Media For Reporting On Handshake She Says Was Assault Adding to the cognitive dissonance in Maces apparent compassion for survivors of Epsteins abuse is Trumps connection to the convicted sex predator. Trump denies engaging in the abuse the disgraced financier inflicted on so many young women, but he and his administration have been awfully weird about transparently releasing the entirety of Epsteins case files to the public possibly because Trumps name reportedly comes up repeatedly in the material linked to the case. Nancy Mace leaving a closed-door meeting with some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. Getty Late Tuesday, the Oversight Committee announced it had made thousands of Epstein documents publicly available, though it posted them in a cumbersome Google Drive folder and most of the material had already been made public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Considering that Mace previously showed zero empathy toward victims of other abuses, when critics on X initially saw the video of Mace crying Tuesday, many suspected her tears were of the crocodile variety. Until she votes to release the files this is all theater Tim Hannan (@TimHannan) September 2, 2025 Spare us the tears if youre still protecting the perpetrators. Billifer (@billifer1973) September 3, 2025 Critics on X werent feeling Maces explanation about her emotional outburst, either. Many felt that her leaving the meeting early was emblematic of her inability to do her job properly. Its actually insane how impossible it is for you not to make every situation about yourself Savanah Hernandez (@sav_says_) September 2, 2025 You owe it as a representative of the people to listen to their stories. If this "job" is too much for you, get out. That's as polite as it gets. (@ourladymarijane) September 2, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Curious, as a survivor, how do you pick and choose which victims to believe? Does it have to fit your agenda? Trump was accused 30 times. Trump Tracker (@trackingdonald) September 2, 2025 Good God. How are you supposed to run a whole state? Those women have waited long enough & deserve for you to hear them no matter how hard it is. You more than anyone sitting there should know that. Farrah Oxford (@OxfordFarr66929) September 2, 2025 Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website. More on Politics Infectious Diseases Expert Sounds Alarm On Disney Vacations Amid Florida Vaccine Move Trump Again Dismisses Epstein Hoax As Victims Call For Transparency: Live Updates GOP Lawmaker Details Threats Against Him Amid Trump White House Pressure Campaign Read the original on HuffPost Representative Nancy Mace offered a wild defense of President Donald Trump, who has dismissed calls for more transparency on Jeffrey Epstein, less than 24 hours after crying with survivors of the alleged sex trafficker. Mace left a meeting with survivors of Epsteins sexual abuse visibly upset on Tuesday afternoon, and later said shed had a full blown panic attack in the face of their stories, having been a recent survivor of sexual assault herself. I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS, she wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Wednesday, Mace went out of her way to defend Trumpwho had just that day dismissed continuous calls to release Epsteins list of clients as a Democratic hoax that never ends. President Trump is the one who banned Jeffrey Epstein from Mar-a-Lago. President Trump is the one who cooperated with the feds to get this guy. President Trump is the one who is COMMITTED to protecting women and kids, Mace wrote in a post on X, linking an NBC News interview with some survivors who claimed they hadnt witnessed any misconduct from Trump. Maces claims stand in stark contrast to statements from survivor Chauntae Davies, who, while speaking Wednesday at a major press conference, said that Epsteins longtime friendship with Trump was his biggest brag, and revealed that he had a framed picture of the two of them on his desk. This is just the latest in a laundry list of revelations tying the president to the alleged sex trafficker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though Trump has not been directly implicated in Epsteins crimes, his attempts to discredit survivors and prevent the release of more information could easily be presented as efforts to sweep the whole thing under the rug. Before the press conference, survivors of Epsteins sexual abuse held a rally where they spoke about their experiences and condemned lawmakers who would fashion their trauma into political weaponry. Clearly, Maces solidarity with survivors of sexual assault only goes so far. Mace did, however, lend her name to Representative Thomas Massies latest petition pushing for the House to release more files on Epstein, following the lackluster release of documents that were mostly already public, or duplicates of older reports. Supna Jain, vice president of the Indian Prairie District 204 School Board, has been nominated to complete the term of Naperville City Councilwoman Allison Longenbaugh. The Naperville City Council has asked staff to add a resolution to its Sept. 16 meeting agenda through which Jain will be appointed to the vacant seat. If approved, Jain will be sworn in immediately and serve in the role until April 2027. Longenbaugh announced last month that she would be stepping down to take a new job that prevents her from serving on the council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If sworn in, Jain would be the second Indian American to serve on the council as well as the first woman of color. The first Indian American is Ashfaq Syed, who was elected in April. Her appointment will require Jain to resign from the school board. She was elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2025. Her term ends in 2029. Jain, who is employed as a principal lecturer in communication and media studies at Napervilles North Central College, said the decision to apply for the vacancy was not an easy one, particularly given that the school district is in the process of searching for a new superintendent. However, after several people urged her to put her name in for the position, she gave the idea a good deal of thought and decided her skills and past experiences could be valuable to the council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the challenges Jain said she navigated as a board member included approving changes to the D204 school boundary map and putting a tax referendum on the election ballot that passed with 74% approval, she said. As a council member, among the first issues she will dive into are the IMEA contract and development of a proposed data center. Jain, a 47-year-old married mother of two teenage boys, has a law degree from DePaul University and a masters degree in communication studies from Illinois State University. Shes worked at NCC for more than a decade and, according to a city news release, teaches Indian dance for the Naperville Park District and is the founder/artistic director of a nonprofit dance troupe. Ive known her since 2020, Councilman Ian Holzhauer said. Shes well-respected in the education community, well-respected in the government community and well-respected in the larger neighborhood community. With the budget season on the horizon, Jains experience dealing with spending plans and navigating other challenges as part of the D204 board would be invaluable to the council, Holzhauer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes somebody who is very neutral, shes not extreme right or left, and very smart and she does her research, said Syed, who has known Jain for more than five years. Shes somebody who can fit in Allisons shoes. While it was not the main reason for putting her name forward for consideration, Jain acknowledged that she understands the significance of having an Indian American woman on the council given the large percentage of Asian Americans who make up Napervilles population. Representation of this really diverse community with qualified and capable people means a lot to me, Jain said. I never saw someone like myself serving in such a capacity growing up, and so when I do see women of different races and ethnicities being represented in such positions, it inspires me. A 2023 survey done by the U.S. Census Bureau estimated nearly 37,000 Naperville residents identified as Asian, nearly a fourth of the citys population. Of that number, the majority an estimated 22,000 identified as Indian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Napervilles diversity, and the businesses that serve those diverse communities, is something Jain said she loves about Naperville, where she has lived since 2010. Growing up in Bloomington-Normal, Jain said her family would need to drive two to three hours to get Indian groceries. The idea that I could drive five to 10 minutes to Patel Brothers and get those groceries is just magical, Jain said. The last time a council seat was filled by appointment was in 2022, when former Councilwoman Patty Gustin stepped down after being elected to the DuPage County Board. Nicki Anderson, former CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, was selected to complete her term and did not seek election to a full term. Jain can run for a four-year council seat in the 2027 election but said she is currently undecided as to whether she will do so. cstein@chicagotribune.com Medics on duty with the National Guard in Washington D.C. are carrying naloxone, a nasal spray used to reverse drug overdoses that is widely referred to as Narcan. Officials with the task force overseeing the D.C. mission wont say if those medics have used the drug during patrols, but guard troops have been present for at least one medical emergency that required it, according to a Defense Department release. Carrying Narcan ensures they are prepared to provide life-saving aid in the event of emergencies, Maj. Bjarne J. Aanning, a spokesperson for Joint Task Force-D.C. said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the task force, 25 medics are carrying naloxone in Washington, which is widely known by the brand name Narcan. Medics are trained in the use of Narcan, which can be delivered to an unconscious patient as a nasal spray, as part of Army medical training and in annual refresher courses. Surgeons assigned to units at the battalion level or higher, which includes task forces, determine the type of equipment and supplies that medics carry based on the mission, according to a task force official. The use of naloxone has become a standard of care for many emergency medical systems, EMS, for patients experiencing cardiac arrest and or are found unconscious, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Beyond EMS, Narcan was made more widely available without the need for a prescription when it was approved for over-the-counter use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2023. Now the nasal spray is available for purchase online and in drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Task force officials would not say whether troops used Narcan because of personal and medical privacy protections but troops have come across at least one incident where Narcan was warranted in Washington D.C. According to a Defense Department release, two D.C. National Guard military police officers found an unconscious man during a joint patrol with the Amtrak Police Department, Aug. 15 at Union Station in downtown D.C. Sgt. Jay Whited, a team leader from the 372nd Military Police Battalion, said in the release that they resuscitated the man and contacted emergency services. Whited said guardsmen were asked to help secure the scene while local police administered naloxone. What troops are doing in DC In August, President Donald Trump announced that he was mobilizing 800 troops from the Washington D.C. National Guard to assist law enforcement to reestablish law, order, and public safety despite statistics from the Justice Department showing a 30-year low in violent crime. Since the initial announcement, the mission has grown to more than 2,000 troops deployed to the capital from seven additional states. In addition to assisting law enforcement, the guard has also been ordered to patrol parts of the citys metro system and help with beautification efforts like cleaning up trash and debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Aug. 27 report from The Guardian cited a White House official who said National Guard troops took part in breaking up dozens of homeless encampments throughout the district. Overdose deaths on decline Over the last year, over 80% of overdose deaths in D.C. occurred outside of a medical facility with more than one-third occurring in people who were recorded as undomiciled or had an unknown residence, according to D.C. data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In December 2018, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a plan to reduce Opioid Use, Misuse, and Related Deaths called LIVE.LONG.DC. with more educational outreach and increased availability of naloxone. Between July 2024 and June 2025, over 108,000 naloxone kits were distributed, according to city data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between 2021 and 2024, an average of 4,511 people experienced non-fatal overdoses and around 435 died from overdoses, according to D.C. data. As of Aug. 21, the district saw fewer fatal overdoses, 99, when compared to the same time last year, 168. Almost all states saw drug overdoses decrease by nearly 27% between 2023 and 2024, according to the CDC. D.C., Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire saw overdose deaths decline by 35% or more. The News The first National Conservatism conferences drew students and intellectuals who felt marginalized by the Republican Party and dreamed about taking power. This year, the power came to them. The presidents border czar promised to make Chicago safe again using federal troops. President Donald Trumps budget director celebrated the dismantling of the woke, weaponized administrative state, like a Government Accountability Office that shouldnt exist. The head of the civil rights division at Trumps Justice Department told a dinner crowd that her office, once the last bastion of the left, was now a battering ram against woke extremists in universities and blue states. When the next group of elites comes to demand we stop protecting fairness in hiring, confidence in our elections, safety in girls sports, were going to answer them the same way that Leonidas answered on the eve of the Battle of Thermopylae: Molon labe, said Harmeet Dhillon. Come and take it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was one exception to the pro-Trump elation on the nationalist right, a possible future sore point that conference organizer Yoram Hazony acknowledged openly: Israel. The Trump administration is the best administration Ive ever seen, said Hazony, the Israeli American intellectual whose Edmund Burke Foundation organizes the conferences. Trumps movement could lose its power, Hazony warned, thanks to unnamed influential figures in the new media who have criticized Trump for supporting the Jewish state. Hazony was upset by the depth of the slander of Jews as a people that he saw in corners of the online right. The Israel critics in their fold could make the nationalist revolution consume itself, he added, and risk everything. This coalition was built by Donald Trump, he said. If you take it upon yourself to drive members of the coalition out, all youre doing is destroying [JD] Vances prospects; youre destroying [Marco] Rubios prospects; youre destroying Americas prospects. Know More The schism that Hazony sounded his alarm about is very far from the present for the Republican Party. Tucker Carlson is perhaps the most well-known voice in the MAGA-centric media to criticize Israel directly, but others have followed, from podcaster Theo Von to Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel not the Jewish states right to exist, but the US taxpayers role in defending it was the largest source of disagreement at the conference. Hazony made room to air it out, attending a debate between pro-Israel academic Max Abrahms and skeptical American Conservative editor Curt Mills. Israel has made a crucial investment in appealing to President Trumps vanity, Mills said, adding that Republicans are risking the generational impression that all the GOP delivers is tax cuts and wars in the Middle East. Abrahms, like Hazony, suggested that this summers US airstrikes in Iran proved the skeptics wrong. They hadnt sparked World War III; they hadnt dragged US troops into another Middle East conflict. He read back multiple quotes from Carlson predicting horrors that the B-2 bombers did not unleash. I urge everyone to look towards President Trump, whose foreign policy stewardship in the Middle East has been strong precisely because hes rejected so much of what both the neocons and MAGA isolationist-realists have to say, Abrahms said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tense debate ended with conservative podcaster Auron MacIntyre noting that every political philosopher from Machiavelli to Thomas Hobbes to Carl Schmitt has said that when you have another country defending you, when they are actually the ones using their sword on your behalf, you lose sovereignty to them. (He later apologized for invoking a Nazi intellectual.) That that conversation happened at all shows what Trump has done for conservative nationalists, demolishing almost any of their barriers of propriety or need for self-censorship. A further example of that shift came from Russell Vought, the White House budget director, who recalled how during the 2016 campaign, the future president split the GOP with what then-House speaker Paul Ryan called a Muslim ban. Ryan was right to call it a fight about the definition of conservatism, Vought said. That is a conversation that I think that were able to have now, he added. We are remembering that a nation has many things that keep it together, has a religious heritage in which its civic life is based on Judeo-Christian worldviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Trump, in the eyes of conference attendees, conservatives could defend ideas that they saw as lost in Europes multiparty governments or forbidden in countries without a First Amendment. The United States is the last country in the Western world that is still upholding robust religious freedom and free speech protections, said Kristen Waggoner, the president of the Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative group that litigated in the Dobbs decision. Davids view I spend a lot of time listening to both parties talk about their paths forward and the differences of late make my head spin. Democrats and progressives are unsure of much, wary of offending anyone in their coalition, and unclear who will lead them in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are not problems for the conservative movement. Its led by one man, and its acting on his agenda. Progressives look longingly at European social democracies, where national health insurance and robust public transit were won years ago. National conservatives see a rising populist movement that can win everywhere, but will win first in the US. We dont have a movement that is writing op-eds against the steps that the president is taking, said Vought. There is great enthusiasm for what is going on. The Israel issue was an outlier. There is a young faction of the movement that wants to extricate US money and power from the rest of the world, Israel included. There are online edgelords (not present at the conference) who indulge in old-fashioned antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But beyond Greene and Massie, thats not taking hold among elected Republicans, largely because its incompatible with the overall NatCon vision. The idea that supporting Israel could pull the US into a wider conflict was seen as an outdated, old idea from Conservatism, Inc. Terrorism could be prevented by keeping terrorists out of the country not, as the neoconservatives thought, by bringing Jeffersonian democracy to Kabul and Baghdad. 9/11 at its core was an immigration problem, said Daniel Horowitz, the host of the Conservative Reviews podcast, at one of the conferences foreign policy discussions. If you dont let them in, they couldnt have done that harm. Trump could solve that problem, too. He already was. Room for Disagreement There were other worries at the conference about what issue, or which faction, might wreck the project. In her opening remarks, the Conservative Partnership Institutes Rachel Bovard warned that Silicon Valley disrupters could bring some unsavory ideas about humanity into the movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transhumanism isnt cool, she said. Its not interesting. It is an existential threat to human dignity. Notable HONOLULU (KHON2) Native Hawaiian groups are speaking out, calling for change as the military works to extend its use of training land in Hawaii. State launches website for public to comment on military land leases Theyre asking for transparency, accountability, and compensation. They say its their kuleana, or responsibility, to protect the land. In front of the home of Hawaiis last reigning monarchs, Native Hawaiian groups fight for what they say continues the legacy of kings and queens before them to protect the aina and the people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We say to Governor Green, do not bypass the people, or the laws that protect our land, the laws you swore an oath to uphold, said Leilani Lindsey, Na Kiai O Pohakuloa. More than 40 Native Hawaiian groups are asking Governor Green to include them in his decision on what to do with the states lease with the US military regarding its training areas in Hawaii. Check out more news from around Hawaii Agreements are set to expire Aug. 2029 for the militarys use of Pohakuloa on the Big Island, and Kahuku, Kawailoa/Poamoho, and Makua on Oahu. It is time for them, ike ia manawa, to start restoring those lands, said Luana Busby, Protect Kahoolawe Ohana. We need to clean up the depleted uranium. We need clean up the toppost of Pohakuloa. And all of our military installations, and we need more accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are Hawaiian national lands and sacred ancestral lands which are currently entrusted to the state for the benefit of present and future generation, said Dr. Jon Osorio, UH Manoa Dean of Hawaiinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. The Governor says he does want to listen not only Native Hawaiian groups but anyone who has an opinion. The state launched the website engage.hawaii.gov on Tuesday, for people to follow along and directly share their opinions and concerns. The Army training lands are the first topic, but over time, the state wants to expand the site to include other initiatives. The Army says the lands are critical for its training and logistics. In a letter to Governor Green, the U.S. Army Secretary states we understand these lands are very important to the people of Hawaii. And we want to come to a mutually acceptable framework on a new agreement by the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current agreement with the military was for 65 years for just $1. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Id like to close with a quote from Queen Liliuokalani on her birthday, you must never cease to act because you fear you may fail,' said Davis Price, NDN Collective Climate Justice Director. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes the Coalition of the Willing, an alliance of nations prepared to deter Russia from attacking again once peace is reached in Ukraine, will come to an agreement soon on a concept for security guarantees for Kiev. Speaking on Wednesday after a meeting with Estonian President Alar Karis in Brussels, Rutte said that he expects "tomorrow or soon after tomorrow to have clarity on what collectively we can deliver." "That means that we can engage even more intensely, also with the American side," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next meeting of Coalition of the Willing, a loose grouping of some 30 nations backing Kiev against Russia's full-scale invasion launched in February 2022, is set to take place in Paris on Thursday. Among other things, the talks are to focus on what type of security guarantees can be provided for Ukraine to prevent another Russian attack in case of a ceasefire. Rutte said the group is in the process of finalizing the last details at the level of military chiefs, defence ministers and heads of state and government. Karis reiterated that Estonia is prepared to provide soldiers for a possible European peacekeeping force. "We continue to participate in this planning," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have recently been discussions within the European Union to what extent European countries could participate in military security guarantees for Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement between Kiev and Moscow be reached. There is also discussion of whether soldiers from EU countries should train Ukrainian armed forces on Ukrainian soil. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that there were no concrete plans for a military operation. Russia launched more than 500 drones and missiles into Ukraine overnight into Wednesday morning, according to Ukraine's air force, with explosions reported across the west of the country and NATO aircraft scrambling across the border in Poland. Russia launched 502 attack and decoy drones plus 24 missiles in the latest overnight barrage, Ukraine's air force said in a Telegram post. Defending forces downed or suppressed 430 drones and 21 missiles, the air force said. Impacts of 69 drones and three missiles were recorded across 14 locations, the air force said, with falling debris of downed munitions reported at 14 locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The barrage appeared to target several Ukrainian regions, with local authorities reporting explosions in the western regions of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi and Lutsk. Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's city administration, said that at least one drone crashed in the capital. One person was killed in Khmelnytskyi, Serhiy Tyurin -- the head of the regional administration, wrote on Telegram. Two missiles and three drones were shot down over the region, Tyurin said. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said 15 Russian drones attacked the city, which sits around 40 miles from the Polish border. A warehouse was "partially destroyed," Sadovyi said, with no casualties reported. MORE: Scale of Russia's long-range attacks on Ukraine eases in August despite major strikes Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Ukrainian air defense units fire at Russian drones during a nighttime strike on Sept. 3, 2025. MORE: Kyiv hit by 'massive' Russian missile, drone attack, officials say, with 22 killed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Lutsk, Mayor Ihor Polishchuk said drones caused damage to "civilian infrastructure." Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk military administration, said attacks caused a fire at an industrial site prompting the deployment of 130 emergency personnel. Onyshchuk reported no casualties from the strike. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post to social media that the "massive attack" targeted "civilian infrastructure, particularly energy facilities, a transportation hub, even a garage cooperative, and, as has already become routine for the Russians, residential areas." "These are clearly demonstrative Russian strikes," he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin "is showing his impunity," Zelenskyy wrote, adding, "It is only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on Russias war economy, that this aggression continues." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the border in Poland, NATO aircraft took to the air amid the attack. MORE: With Putin 'stalling' peace talks, NATO minister says US has 'powerful leverage' Alina Smutko/Reuters - PHOTO: People take shelter inside a metro station during an overnight air raid alert in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 3, 2025. MORE: Ukraine counter-intelligence service probing killing of ex-lawmaker, Zelenskyy says The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command said in a post to X that aircraft were deployed in response to Russian "strikes on facilities located on the territory of Ukraine." "In our airspace, Polish and allied aircraft are operating intensively, while ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of maximum readiness," the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO forces in Poland returned to a normal level of readiness after around four hours with the conclusion of the Russian strikes, the command said in a follow-up post. Russia is continuing its nightly barrages of Ukraine despite U.S.-led peace efforts -- and regardless of U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated admonitions of Putin over the long-range attacks. Though August saw an easing of Russian attacks when compared with a record-breaking July, the two weeks after the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska saw a notable rise in the scale of Russian strikes all across Ukraine. There were several high casualty events during the month, perhaps most notably the drone and missile barrage on Kyiv that killed at least 23 people on the night of Aug. 27-28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Why a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting matters -- and why it might not happen Handout/UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE/AFP - PHOTO: In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Emergency Service on Sept. 3, 2025, Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire at the site of an aerial attack in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region. MORE: Russia launches largest attack of August on Ukraine after Trump-Zelenskyy meeting Zelenskyy said in a statement posted to Telegram on Tuesday said the ongoing attacks show an "open disregard by Russia for everything the world is doing to stop this war." Ukraine is continuing its own long-range strike campaign deep into Russia. On Wednesday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said its forces shot down at least 105 Ukrainian drones overnight. Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv intends to expand such attacks, which Ukrainian officials and commanders have framed as a means to undermine Moscow's war effort and force the Kremlin into genuine negotiations. "We are preparing a technological headquarters involving manufacturers of Ukrainian missiles, key types of drones and air defense tools," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. "We will increase the production of our strike means." By Andrew Gray BRUSSELS (Reuters) -NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday he expects clarity at a summit of Ukraine's allies on Thursday "or soon after" on what security guarantees Europe can offer Kyiv after Russia's war in Ukraine comes to a halt. "I expect tomorrow, or soon after tomorrow, to have clarity on what collectively we can deliver," Rutte told a press conference with Estonian President Alar Karis at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That means that we can engage even more intensely, also with the American side, to see what they want to deliver in terms of their participation in security guarantees." French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-host Thursday's mostly virtual meeting of leaders of the "coalition of the willing" of mainly European allies who have been working on security guarantees for Ukraine. Such guarantees are intended to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again after the war stops, whether through a ceasefire or a permanent peace deal. Western officials say the most important element of the guarantees will be continuing strong support for Ukraine's armed forces, but the measures are also expected to include an international force to reassure Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European leaders have made clear such a force will be feasible only with U.S. support. U.S. President Donald Trump promised this last month but Washington has yet to spell out what it is willing to contribute. Rutte sought at the press conference to reassure eastern European NATO members that any resources devoted to security guarantees for Ukraine would not weaken the Western military alliance's defences against Russia on its eastern flank. "We have to prevent spreading our resources too thinly, and this means that we always have to look at what the impact will be on the NATO (defence) plans," he said. (Reporting by Andrew Gray and Makini Brice; Writing by Andrew Gray and Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Timothy Heritage) Utahns have gone back to school and while many kids and adults enjoy the return to routine and to learning, others struggle with their mental health. The Centers for Disease Control issued a report in 2023 that found that emergency room visits for behavioral and mental health conditions in kids ages 5-17 doubled as each school semester begins. In Utah, SafeUT sees a spike in contacts from both students and parents. Just last year, according to SafeUT, nearly 9,000 tips were submitted, with nearly 2,300 tips submitted about bullying, 2,000 on suicide and 758 on potential school threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had not realized that SafeUT took tips on bullying and had an opportunity to ask one of the original sponsors of the bill that created the program, Rep. Steve Eliason, to tell me more. He said when he and Sen. Dan Thatcher sponsored the bill nearly a decade ago, it was in response to the Columbine shootings, with the thought that students and teachers could report potential school threats. However, what really took off was students seeking crisis intervention, either for themselves or for their friends. Every school district and every charter school in the state has opted in to using the SafeUT program, Eliason told me, as well as universities. Parents, guardians, teachers and students can download the app or use the website to submit tips and have access to licensed counselors around the clock. Additional resources Rep. Eliason shared that every school district has a youth protection seminar offered to their district. These seminars are usually held in the evening and are meant to be a way for parents to learn about what risks students are facing, what resources are out there and how to talk to kids about these issues. Many times, these meetings are available to join virtually or in person. Some districts also have past youth protection seminars recorded so parents can go back and listen to segments. Almost all of Utahs school districts and many charter schools are doing free mental health screenings with written parental consent. If the screener indicates there is an issue, then they have professionals there, both from the school and from the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a page on suicide prevention on the Utah State Board of Education website with the following information: Youth suicide is a serious public health issue in Utah, with the state consistently ranking in the top ten of the nation with the most significant mental health concerns. According to the 2023 Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey, 17.6% of youth seriously considered attempting suicide and 42.7% of youth who felt sad, hopeless, or suicidal did not talk to anyone about it. Youth are resilient and can overcome mental health struggles with the right support, treatment, and resources. One new resource is a youth crisis care center. This is at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah. You can bring a child there any time, day or night. Children in crisis can be assessed, and if they need additional services, the center will help families chart out a plan to help them Also, Intermountain Childrens Health is opening a new Behavioral Health Center in Taylorsville to expand mental health services to families in Utah this week. In 2024, Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital behavioral health programs helped more than 10,000 kids. Theyre expected to help even more this year. Additionally, the statewide Assessment, Referral, Consultation Service (ARCS) service line connects families to behavioral health resources or an appointment at 385-478-2400 and the Stabilization and Mobile Response program sends a professional to your home to help a child or teen. Its available by dialing 988 or using the SafeUT app. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and we can all do our part to help prevent another death. Help is available. North Carolinas Board of Education has released new test scores, revealing that the state average remains below pre-pandemic levels. The latest data shows that 55 percent of students were proficient on exams last school year, compared to nearly 59 percent in the 2018-2019 school year. In our area, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), Cabarrus, Union, and Iredell-Statesville schools all demonstrated improvement in their test scores. However, Gaston County Schools experienced a slight decrease, with scores dropping by 0.1 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite these challenges, U.S. News has ranked several local schools among the top 10 in North Carolina. Discovery High in Newton achieved a ranking of sixth. Charlottes Metrolina Regional Academy was ranked second for both elementary and middle schools. Union Countys Marvin Ridge Middle, Weddington Middle, and Rea View Elementary also made the list. The state says new data shows that the four-year graduation rate has risen from 87% to 87.7%, which is the highest in the past 10 years. Im proud of our students and educators who have worked hard to improve these metrics even as we acknowledge that our students are more than test scores, said State Superintendent Maurice Mo Green. While the progress and growth shown in these reports deserves praise, we must continue our work to promote excellence for all students. Our plan is to Achieve Educational Excellence for every child in North Carolina and to have the best public schools in the nation. I am eager to see this data continue to improve as we work to implement our strategic plan. You can see more data from the Department of Public Instruction at this link. (VIDEO: Huntersville police give late officers son special first day of school) Students work in class at Bugg Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh on Aug. 28, 2024. (Photo by Galen Bacharier / NC Newsline) North Carolinas public schools reached their highest graduation rate in history last year, while students also posted a three-year high on most standardized tests, according to test data presented Wednesday to the State Board of Education. The states four-year graduation rate climbed to 87.7% for the 2024-25 school year, marking the third consecutive increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were very excited, of course, today to recognize the highest four-year cohort graduation rate for North Carolina at 87.7%, said Tammy Howard, the Department of Public Instructions senior director of accountability and testing, during a press conference on Wednesday. This is a consistent increase for the past three years, but most notable, the highest ever. The report showed improvements in 12 of 15 reading and math exams, including gains on every end-of-grade math test for grades three through eight. Howard said the results also revealed steady progress across all racial and ethnic groups, the strongest performance in three years. State Superintendent Mo Green discusses academic gains during a Wednesday press conference at the State Board of Education meeting. (Screengrab: NCDPI video stream) These results represent more than just numbers, said State Superintendent Mo Green. They represent thousands of students better prepared for their next phase in life. One of the standouts was Nash Early College High School, which earned an overall A rating and exceeded academic growth targets for the sixth year in a row. Students there achieved proficiency rates of 83% in biology, 89% in math and 96% in English. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Principal Thomas B. McGeachy attributed the schools success to its strong culture of teamwork and willingness to take risks.. Ive tried to create an environment where I encourage staff and scholars to take risks, he said during the press conference. Dont be afraid of failure, because if you didnt achieve what you wanted to that means you reflect on the experience and you build upon it. Frederick Lindsay, a 13th-grader at the school, said the schools dual enrollment program with Nash Community College gave him new experiences that reshaped his goals. Since were linked with Nash Community College, we have a wide variety of opportunities, Lindsay said. I got to experience a new country for the first time for $500 to stay there for five days. Thats an opportunity that you wouldnt get many places. Challenges remain While math proficiency is nearing pre-pandemic levels, only 52.5% of third through eighth graders were proficient in reading last year, a rate still below the 57.3% recorded six years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reading is more difficult and takes more time, said Stacey Wilson-Norman, chief academic officer. Our teachers have been trained, but we just need to align some of the other supports to really accelerate that progress. Green noted that North Carolina ranks 48th nationally in per-pupil spending, nearly $5,000 less per student than the national average, which could constrain future improvements. That gap, he said, makes it harder to attract the best teachers and to offer a full range of resources. Officials also pointed to lingering setbacks from the pandemic and natural disasters, including lost instructional days in western school districts impacted by Hurricane Helene. Despite these challenges, state leaders said the gains mark an important step toward their goal of making North Carolinas public schools the best in the nation by 2030. BLENDON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Ottawa County could soon be home to a brand-new battery energy storage system, but it has sparked controversy in the community where it would be built. A BESS is designed to store electricity during times it is not needed and release electricity to a grid when its needed, according to township officials. A business called Key Capture Energy first approached the township nearly two years ago. On Thursday, the company submitted an application to Blendon Township to bring a BESS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The energy project sparking debate in Comstock Township All you got is electricity coming in, where does it go? It goes to the user. What happens when the user does not need it? Well, you got to put it some place, Blendon Township Supervisor Don Vanderkuyl explained to News 8. These batteries are going to store the energy when its not needed, and then release it back to the grid when its needed. The topic has sparked environmental concerns. Bev and Walt Horinga own Dutch Meadows Farm in Blendon Township, which has been around since 1975. They told News 8 that they fear that a BESS right in their backyard would damage or even eliminate their business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is our only source of income, so if we lose the farm, we are down to nothing, Bev Horinga said. We have a lot of wildlife and beautiful woods do not deserve this, they say they are a family company and they show family days of planting trees but they plant only a few trees compared to the 14 acres they are going to bulldoze. In a statement to News 8, KEC wrote, in part: Battery energy storage projects like this one provide a valuable public service and will help ensure Blendon Township and the surrounding area have a stable and reliable electric grid today and in the future. Our team looks forward to working with Blendon Township, Ottawa County, and community members as the review process moves forward. LG Energy opens $1.4B expansion, but it isnt producing EV batteries Vanderkuyl said this project is still in the early phases. He said the land the company has leased is about 17 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They came in and they found the site, then they went and leased the site, the township supervisor said. So now what they are doing is asking the planning commission to approve a special use permit to build it and operate it. Vanderkuyl did say that he believes there could be some benefit to the community. There is an economic benefit mostly for the schools because of the increased taxable value here, he said. But neighbors like the Horingas are worried about things like gas emissions from possible lithium fires at the plant and toxic water drainage from chemicals that would be used to put those hypothetical fires out, saying they feel there are more questions than answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the gases come over here and stuff, it will contaminate the grounds then we cant even plant on the soil over there, Walt Horinga said. We have 4 to 500 animals here we cant evacuate while this stuff is blowing on to us. The township planning commission will first address this proposal on Oct. 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The Mossad was reportedly tasked with figuring out which countries would be willing to accept the evacuated Palestinians, so that future diplomatic avenues could be explored. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly convened a secret meeting earlier this week with senior Mossad and government officials to discuss a potential plan to evacuate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to a Wednesday Channel 13 report. The Mossad was reportedly tasked with figuring out which countries would be willing to accept the evacuated Palestinians, so that future diplomatic avenues could be explored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a July visit to Washington, Mossad Director David Barnea told US Envoy Steve Witkoff that Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya have already expressed openness to receiving large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza. Palestinians who fled from combat zones in the Gaza Strip arrive in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, September 2, 2025. (credit: Ali Hassan/Flash90) Hamas prevents civilians from evacuating Since the start of the IDF's evacuation efforts, around 60,000-80,000 Palestinians are estimated to have begun evacuating southward from Gaza City; however, senior defense officials have noted that Hamas is doing all it can to prevent civilians from leaving the city. "We want to go south, but Hamas is standing in the way," a Gazan civilian told a COGAT officer in a recording released by the IDF. Hamas' tactics range from claiming that conditions in southern Gaza are insufficient at the most mild, to shooting and beating those who try to leave in the most extreme. Yonah Jeremy Bob and Reuters contributed to this report. "He wants to feed the terrorist crocodile before it devours Belgium," the PMO's post read. "Israel wont go along and will continue to defend itself." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office slammed Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in a Wednesday post to X/Twitter as a "weak leader" after the country's foreign minister stated Belgium's intent to recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly. "Belgian Prime Minister de Wever is a weak leader who seeks to appease Islamic terrorism by sacrificing Israel," the PMO's post read. "He wants to feed the terrorist crocodile before it devours Belgium. Israel wont go along and will continue to defend itself." Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot formally announced Belgium's intention to join France, Canada, and the UK in recognizing a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prevot addressed sanctions placed on Israel by Belgium, citing "international obligations" to "prevent any risk of genocide." He went on, claiming that the sanctions are "not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground." "Any antisemitism or glorification of terrorism by Hamas supporters will also be more strongly condemned," Prevot also noted in his post. European recognition of a Palestinian state Belgium's recognition will come as part of a joint initiative by France and Saudi Arabia, which aims to "preserve the chances of a two-state solution." French President Emmanuel Macron announced France's intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September in an X/Twitter post in late July. Since the announcement, countless other European countries have expressed their interest in recognizing a Palestinian state in September. NEED TO KNOW Allysandra Blea, 20, is charged with murder with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the death of 23-year-old Mark Gaughan Gaughan was allegedly taking photos of Blea, who was posing with a gun by a vehicle when the shooting occurred Police found a conversation on Blea's social media account that read, "I wish I could shoot people with real guns and get away with it" A Nevada woman is accused of fatally shooting her boyfriend during a photo shoot in Las Vegas. Allysandra Blea, 20, was charged with murder with use of a deadly weapon on Aug. 26 in connection with the death of 23-year-old Mark Gaughan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just before 5 a.m. on Aug. 23, Las Vegas police were dispatched to the 1000 block of Nassau Drive after a report of a male shot. At the scene, officers discovered Gaughan lying on a sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound. Medical personnel rendered him aid, but he died at the scene. Gaughan was allegedly taking photos of Blea, who was posing with a gun by a vehicle when the shooting occurred. During the photo shoot the gun discharged and the victim was shot, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department wrote in an Aug. 28 press release. Blea allegedly told police the shooting was accidental and she didnt think the gun was loaded, per an arrest report, according to FOX5. Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery Mark Gaughan Mark Gaughan 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, investigators later found messages on Bleas social media accounts revealing a fascination with firearms," per KSNV. In several conversations with various accounts, there was talk about her love of shooting guns, owning guns, building her arsenal and shooting people in the face, according to court documents, per KLAS. There were several photographs of Allysandra holding various firearms (handguns, revolvers and rifles) in different poses to include the firearm pressed against her head, against stuffed animals heads and shooting bottles at an unknown location. At one point during a conversation, she allegedly said, "I wish I could shoot people with real guns and get away with it," per FOX5. She also allegedly talked about shooting prostitutes and homeless people, per FOX5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a previous exchange between Blea and Gaughan, Gaughan proposed using a dummy to shoot at, to which Blea allegedly responded they had to shoot "someone real." "If its only one a night the police will remain clueless, according to the arrest report cited by FOX5. Blea has been booked into the Clark County Detention Center. Read the original article on People The Access Nevada website which state residents use to apply for Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF remains down, but in-person services have resumed (Stock photo by hapabapa/Getty Images) Its been more than a week since a cyber attack prompted the state to shut down or limit several state government services in Nevada, including state offices, websites, and phone lines. Several websites in the state of Nevada remain down as the state struggles to recover from the attack, including an online portal that allows Nevadans to apply for medical and nutrition assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Access Nevada which state residents use to apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) remains down, but in-person services have resumed, providing some relief. State officials said payments for existing SNAP and TANF customers have not been affected, and clients can expect benefits to arrive in their accounts without delay. New customers or those who need to renew their benefits will need to complete a paper benefit application and submit it to a Division of Social Services office in person. Nevada residents who were in the process of applying or renewing benefits for SNAP and TANF when the cyberattack took place, should not be impacted by the disruption in services. Those applications will be processed as normal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A list of open state offices that can accept applications can be found here. Paper applications can be found at the state district offices across the state, where caseworkers are available during business hours to assist individuals in person if they need help in completing a Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF eligibility application. Nevada residents who need additional assistance for Medicaid, SNAP and TANF can call a dedicated number with concerns: In Southern Nevada, 702-486-1646; in Northern Nevada: 775-684-7200 State officials said they dont have a projected timeline for when normal operations in the state will be fully restored, but are prioritizing public-facing and critical services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents can follow updates on the restoration of state government services on a dedicated website hosted by the Nevada Office of Emergency Management. The website will provide Nevadans with daily service status updates and functioning contact information for state agencies and departments. Few details have been revealed about the cyber attack itself, including the attackers motive. State officials said its still an ongoing investigation and the state is working in coordination with federal officials at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens speaks at the Michigan Democratic Party's nominating convention in Lansing on Aug. 21, 2022. (Andrew Roth | Michigan Advance) In a now-deleted social media post, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a Birmingham Democrat who is running for Michigans open U.S. Senate seat, wrongly claimed that she had been endorsed by a county commissioner from Southwest Michigan. A picture of Berrien County Commissioner Chokwe Pitchford was featured Tuesday in an X post by Stevens labeled as an Endorsement Alert, prompting Pitchford to respond with a post of his own disavowing that he had endorsed Stevens. Screenshot I literally never endorsed her or heard a word from her team. I promise you, I have not talked to anyone, emailed anyone about endorsements, or even hinted that I would be open to endorsing her, Pitchford said in his post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pitchford later told The Detroit News he believed Stevens thinks that she is going to just get the Black vote in Michigan and get (the support of) Black elected officials from across the state without having to do any of the actual work and have any policies. That team just assumed that I was going to be backing her, and that was the wrong assumption. When asked for a comment on the botched endorsement, Reeves Oyster, campaign spokesperson for Stevens, told Michigan Advance that there had been a miscommunication. Our campaign is proud to have the endorsements of Michiganders across the state including from Former Speaker Joe Tate, Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, 40 clergy members from across Detroit, the Mayors of Lansing and Grand Rapids, 11 mayors across Metro Detroit, former MI Governor Jim Blanchard, and UNITE Here Local 24, Oyster said. Lathrup Village Mayor Kelly Garrett, who previously endorsed Stevens, issued a statement saying Stevens had put in the work for communities of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haley is not someone who just shows up for photo opportunities, she rolls up her sleeves and does the actual work, Garrett said. Now is not the time for us to tear each other down over distractions that dont put more money in the pockets of our families. We need to be unified and make Michigan better for ALL Michiganders. Also competing with Stevens to gain the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate is state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed and research health specialist Rachel Howard. The winner will likely face former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake Township, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Pitchford, meanwhile, told The Detroit News he was in active communication with the campaigns for both McMorrow and El-Sayed, both of which he said were seeking his support. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Florida-based Newsmax Broadcasting accuses Fox News and its owner of anti-competitive behavior to monopolize "right-leaning" news in a federal lawsuit filed on Wednesday. The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Southern Florida names Fox Corp. and New News Network as defendants and accuses them of violating the Sherman Act, the Florida Antitrust Act and the Florida Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practices Act. The "Fox Corporation has long engaged in an exclusionary scheme to increase and maintain its dominance in the market for U.S. right-leaning pay TV news, resulting in suppression of competition in that market that harms consumers, competition and Newsmax Broadcasting," Newsmax says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News Network "operates the Fox News Channel -- the cable news network with the highest viewership in the United States," Newsmax officials argue. "Fox's control over this must-have news channel gives it significant market power and leverage to impose onerous demands on distributors of its content," the federal lawsuit says. Newsmax claims Fox News uses at least three anti-competitive tactics to thwart competition within its market niche. The network allegedly requires cable and streaming providers to not carry other right-leaning news channels, such as Newsmax. Newsmax also says the Fox Corp. "imposes financial penalties on distributors" if they carry Newsmax of others by requiring them to carry and pay "high fees" for "little-watched channels like Fox Business." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Fox Corp. also allegedly "inserts a suite of other contractual barriers" that prevent Newsmax and others from competing with Fox News, Newsmax says. Newsmax seeks a court ruling that affirms Fox News engages in illegal anti-competitive behavior and a financial penalty that is equal to three times the amount of damages sustained by Newsmax, plus interest and legal costs. Newsmax also seeks a permanent injunction "prohibiting Fox's exclusionary agreements" and any future exclusionary acts. Fox News Media officials denied engaging in any illegal and anti-competitive acts in a statement shared with UPI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they can't attract viewers," Fox News Media said. Nielsen Media Research data shows Newsmax was carried by 84% of television news distribution services in August, while Fox News was carried by about 94%. Newsmax's distribution ranked ahead of CNBC, 75%, and slightly behind MSNBC, 86%, according to Nielsen. CNN and NewsNation each were carried by 92% of cable and streaming television service providers. By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) -Newsmax sued its larger news rival Fox Corp in federal court in Florida on Wednesday, accusing the media giant of suppressing competition in the U.S. market for right-leaning pay TV and leaving consumers with less choice. The lawsuit in West Palm Beach alleged Fox and its affiliate Fox News Network violated antitrust law by coercing distributors to exclude competitors such as Newsmax or to restrict their reach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fox's campaign to stunt Newsmax's business has delayed, for almost a decade, Newsmaxs growth in pay TV distribution," the lawsuit said. The lawsuit called Fox News "unrivaled because it has kept out, or restricted, competitors." In a statement, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said his company was focused on restoring fairness to the market and ensuring that Americans have "real choice" in the news they watch. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and a court order that would bar Fox's alleged misconduct. "Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they cant attract viewers," Fox News Media said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News has maintained a strong lead over its cable news competitors. Republican U.S. President Donald Trump promoted Newsmax during his first administration, while he often criticized other outlets' coverage of him. The lawsuit said Newsmax's ratings increased before and after the 2020 presidential election. In July, Trump Media & Technology Group launched its TV streaming platform, Truth+, which featured Newsmax. The outlet was founded in 1998 and launched Newsmax TV as a pay television channel in 2014. It debuted this year as a publicly traded company. Newsmax said in the lawsuit that its programming offered an alternative to what it called Fox's "establishment platform." Newsmax says its media properties reach more than 40 million Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Newsmax agreed to pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation lawsuit over false claims that the voting machine company rigged the 2020 election against Trump. Newsmax said it stood by its coverage but did not believe it could get a fair trial. Last year, the outlet reached a confidential settlement with voting machine maker Smartmatic, which alleged it was defamed by Newsmax's false claims that its machines were rigged. Fox Corp and Fox News in 2023 settled a similar defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting for $787.5 million. Newsmax's lawsuit was assigned to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to the federal court by Trump in 2020. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario and Nia Williams) California Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking an injunction to stop the Trump Administrations continued federalization of the National Guard through Election Day. California filed the request for a preliminary injunction shortly after a federal judge ruled the President violated federal law when he deployed thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles during the summer to quell protests related to immigration raids. There was never a needand there is certainly no need nowfor troops to be deployed against their own communities, said Newsom, arguing that Trump can't justify keeping the military in Los Angeles We won't back down. On Aug. 5, the Trump Administration issued an order to federalize and deploy 300 remaining California National Guard troops. If it goes ahead, Californias residents will remain under a form of military occupation until Nov. 5, said Attorney General of California Rob Bonta in a press release regarding the new filing. Newsom and Bonta have both expressed concern about having troops present during Californias Statewide Special Election on Nov. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bonta has argued that the Trump Administration continues to hold our National Guard service members hostage in an unprecedented move, calling the redeployment of the troops absurd. Were asking the court to block implementation of this latest order, and we are confident that given the factsor lack thereofunderpinning this order, the court will agree, Bonta said. Read More: Trump's Troop Deployment to L.A. Broke the Law, Judge Rules Californias latest legal action comes after Trump threatened Los Angeles with the potential of another unwelcome military deployment. He [Newsom] didnt want us there, and hes going to need us again, because its starting to form again, I see it It's staring to form again. You know, we have to maintain. Its like maintenance on an airplane, you can buy it but you have to maintain it, said Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom issued a swift response via social media. California refuses to be scared into submission by the small men in the White House. No one in their right mind thinks the Trump Administration should launch yet another failed L.A. militarization, he said via his California Governor account. Newsom elaborated further on his personal X profile, responding to Trumps threat by resharing a picture of troops sleeping on the floor in Los Angeles during the height of Trumps military deployment in the city. Of Trumps threat to oversee a new deployment, Newsom said: So you can have them sleep on the floor again? Were good. National Guard soldiers stand on duty in front of the federal Metropolitan Detention Center on July 26, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. Qian WeizhongGetty Images Newsom and Trump have long been engaged in a bitter war of words. As of late, Newsom has notably taken to using the MAGA playbook when it comes to social media, mirroring Trumps own vernacular and fondness of writing out statements in capital letters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of his recent social media activity, Newsom told reporters: I hope it's a wake-up call to the President of the United States following his example. If you have issues with what I'm putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what he's putting out as President. To the extent it's gotten attention, I'm pleased. Newsom also questioned how have we allowed the normalization of his [Trump's] tweets, Truth Social posts over the course of the last many years to go without similar scrutiny and notice? Read More: Newsom Promotes His Real Patriot Alternative to MAGA Merchandise as Trump-Trolling Escalates In August, Newsom launched an online shop to rival the Trump Store, selling merchandise appearing to mock a series of well-known MAGA products. Items on the site include hats that read Real Patriot and Newsom was right about everything! referencing similar products available via Trumps merchandise shop, which includes a Trump 2028 hat, fueling speculation that the President may attempt to run for a third term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom's special edition $100 Holy Bible sold out within hours, with buyers informed that its signed by Gavin Newsom, Americas Favorite Governor. Trump famously launched his own "God Bless the USA" bible in 2024 and reportedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result. THE PATRIOT SHOP IS NOW OPEN!!!! Newsom announced online, adding that many people are saying this is the greatest merchandise ever made. Once again, his use of vernacular and social media address appeared to be mocking the Presidents own style. Disagreements between Newsom and Trump date back to the latters first term in office. Not long after assuming the position of Governor of California in early 2019, Newsom accused Trump of fear-mongering in relation to his language on immigration and the LGBTQ+ community. The two once again clashed upon Trumps return to the White House, as the President blamed Newsom for the severity of L.A.s wildfires that engulfed swaths of land in January. Newsom hit back and said Trump was playing politics with the disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, when Trump deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles against the wishes of Californias leaders, Newsom referred to the move as purposefully inflammatory and said Trump wants to be bound by no law or Constitution, perpetuating a unified assault on American traditions. He went on to mount a legal battle that continues to this day. Trump and Newsom have also gone head-to-head over a redistricting row, after the California Governor warned Trump that he would fight fire with fire in response to Texas Republicans proposing to redraw state district lines in early August. Newsom is officially pursuing efforts to redraw California district lines to counter the actions of Texas Republicans, calling the move Liberation Day for the Golden State. California's Democrats approved Newsoms redistricting plan on Aug. 21, after Republicans in the Texas House passed new maps of their own. Contact us at letters@time.com. As Donald Trump continues to threaten to send National Guard troops into Chicago, Nicolle Wallace called out the president for spreading lies about crime in the city, which she said are designed to scare people. On Tuesdays Deadline: White House, Wallace took Trump to task over his false claims. I think if they were on solid ground, they wouldnt be lying so much, would they? Wallace asked, before offering a fact-check of some of the presidents recent statements in which he justified the use of federal force in the city. Wallace addressed Trumps assertion that Chicago is the murder capital of the world. Fact-check: false, Wallace said. Despite the presidents attempts to paint the Democratic-run city as a hellhole, Wallace pointed out the city with the highest crime rate in the U.S. is in the Republican-led state of Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to FBI data, Memphis has the highest violent crime rate of any U.S. city. If you think Chicago is a hellhole, you know it looks like, statistically, Memphis is underneath that. So Im not sure whats underneath the hole of hell, but it must be really sad for them, Wallace said. The Deadline: White House host suggested Trumps false justifications could be an effort to distract the American people from the fact that his administration is gutting funding for law enforcement across the country. Trump and congressional Republicans have cut hundreds of millions in public safety and crime prevention grants. Wallace said that although Trumps lies were obvious to everyone on Earth 1, the same cant be said for the presidents supporters. The MSNBC host criticized conservative media for going along with Trumps false claims about crime in Democratic-run cities and feeding into the misinformation: If you watch Fox, all you see is a loop. Watch Wallaces full fact-check in the clip at the top of the page. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Gov. Phil Murphy said the state will spend almost $11 million to support services with waiting lists or at risk because of federal funding cuts. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Gov. Phil Murphy said New Jersey will spend nearly $11 million in national opioid settlement funds on community-based addiction treatment for uninsured people, peer counseling, and recovery support for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with addiction. A state council that advises policymakers how to best spend settlement funds selected those services for funding because they have proven effective in the states ongoing fight to reduce drug overdoses and yet have waiting lists or risk closure with federal funding cuts and no alternate sources of funding, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council acted similarly in 2023 when it recommended officials spend $500,000 to fight the growing prevalence of xylazine, an additive known as tranq or the zombie drug because of the sores and stupor it induces in users. Services that will receive $10.85 million in funding include: $4.3 million for community-based addiction treatment for uninsured people. About 1,000 uninsured people each month are admitted to community-based recovery programs. $3.5 million over 2.5 years to continue a checkup program in which peer recovery specialists follow up with people who have completed treatment to ensure theyre living independently and drug-free. $2 million for such specialists to support people in inpatient programs, halfway houses, and other short- and long-term residential placements. Almost $1.1 million to extend a maternal wraparound program that serves pregnant and postpartum women in addiction recovery. New Jersey is set to receive more than $1.1 billion over the next two decades from pharmaceutical companies, which agreed to pay billions in lawsuit settlements to atone for their role in the deadly opioid epidemic. The state will get half of that funding, while counties and local municipalities will get the other half. The new spending announced Tuesday is on top of $120 million the state allocated last year of its share. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the state and at least one local government have faced criticism this year for how they have used the settlement funds. State lawmakers infuriated harm reduction advocates and the state attorney general in June when they diverted $45 million in settlement funds to four hospitals to offset expected Medicaid cuts. Local spending drew scrutiny after the state comptrollers office denounced Irvingtons use of $632,000 in settlement funds on opioid awareness concerts, rather than direct services for people struggling with addiction. Sarah Adelman is commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services and chairs the New Jersey Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council. The funding announced Tuesday is vital for helping people build stability and sustain long-term recovery, she said. This most recent investment will bring life-saving support to individuals and families affected by addiction. It will expand access to essential treatment and recovery services, including support for expecting mothers during pregnancy and up to a year after birth, which is such a critical time for both mothers and babies, Adelman said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (WBRE/WYOU) Authorities say a New Jersey man died from drowning at the Delaware River Gap National Recreation Area on Tuesday. Around 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the parks emergency communications center received a report of a drowning in the Delaware River, according to the press release. National Park Service rangers and dive team members, New Jersey State Police, and water rescue teams from the Portland Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call, officials added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Car catches fire after crashing into utility pole Authorities explained the crews located and recovered the body of a 30-year-old man from Parsippany, New Jersey, from the river. Officials say the water was approximately 17 feet deep where he was found. According to the release, the man attempted to swim across the river and went over. The identity of the man has not been released at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News. A New Jersey man has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide in connection to a crash that killed a construction worker, after a blood test revealed he had alcohol and multiple drugs in his system at the time. Douglas Smith, 51, of Lakehurst, was arrested on Wednesday at a residence in Toms River, about a month after the construction zone crash claimed the life of 50-year-old Allen Adams, according to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. Adams was operating machinery in a construction zone on Lakewood Road in the early hours of July 31 when he was allegedly struck by a vehicle driven by Smith. The machinery was equipped with flashing amber warning lights, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith, who was quickly located by police just north of the crash site, showed signs of impairment and was initially charged with DWI and reckless driving. He was then taken to the Community Medical Center in Toms River, where police, under a court-approved warrant, drew a blood sample. On Wednesday, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced the lab results showed that Smiths blood alcohol concentration was 0.151 at the time, nearly twice New Jerseys legal limit of 0.08. He was also found to have cocaine, fentanyl and methadone in his system. As a result, he was additionally charged with vehicular homicide and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Smith was taken into custody by officers from the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Ocean County Sheriffs Office and Toms River Police Department. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where hes currently being held pending a detention hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the investigation, detectives also learned that two other people gave false information about Smiths whereabouts. Tammie Malek, 46, and Amy Thorn, 56, both of Toms River, were also arrested Wednesday and charged with hindering apprehension. They were taken to Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing. NM AG Raul Torrez and more than 20 other state AGs sued over the withheld AmeriCorps funds, which are soon to be released to states. Following a multi-state lawsuit filed in April over the federal governments cancelation of AmeriCorps grants, the Office of Management and Budgets recently agreed to release over $184 million in withheld funding to service programs across the country. AmeriCorps officials said in a filing in the U.S. District Court for Maryland, that the $185 million represents the remainder of the funding appropriated by Congress for AmeriCorps in the current fiscal year. AmeriCorps pledged to apportion the funds by Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced this week that means $2 million in funds will be released to New Mexico. The work of this coalition was crucial in safeguarding these critical funds to AmeriCorpsa vital public service program that steps up when our communities need it most, Torrez said in a statement. From helping families recover after devastating wildfires and other natural disasters to mentoring youth, supporting special education, preparing teachers, and providing services for at-risk and homeless youth, AmeriCorps volunteers are essential to our communities. This $2 million investment ensures New Mexico programs can continue delivering these services, our office will keep fighting for underserved populations and the resources they deserve. According to a news release, the New Mexico funding included money for programs that support culturally responsible education, after-school and youth mentoring programs, special education services, teacher preparation, environmental conservation and housing and support for at-risk and homeless youth and would have affected impacted communities in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Taos and Ruidoso. For months, President Donald Trumps base and congressional Republicans have fought over the release of files and documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. But Wednesday, Epsteins survivors took the floor. Over a dozen survivors of Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell gathered at the U.S. Capitol, first for a nonpartisan rally hosted by the organization World Without Exploitation and then at a news conference hosted by a trio of lawmakers uniting across the political spectrum to push for more transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What once kept us silent now fuels that fire and the power of our voice, said Epstein survivor Jess Michaels. We are not the footnotes in some infamous predators tabloid article. We are the experts and the subjects of this story. We are the proof that fear did not break us. Survivors, their lawyers and advocates came to the Capitol asking for three main things: a full release of the Epstein files, justice for survivors and no presidential pardons or concessions for Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to sex trafficking charges. For far too long, survivors have been sidelined, said Lauren Hersh, World Without Exploitations executive director. They have been silenced. But that stops today. Liz Stein, an Epstein and Maxwell survivor, said the day she met Maxwell was a sliding glass doors moment in her life. Afterward, she said, it felt like someone shut off the lights to my soul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As survivors, we are initiated into a sisterhood, she said. Were in a sorority that none of us asked to join, but we all stand here today, stronger together, because our collective voice is powerful. The issue of the Epstein files has animated Trumps base but frustrated Trump, who was friendly with Epstein before becoming president and whose name is reportedly mentioned in the files though he has not been formally accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The president, taking questions in the Oval Office on Wednesday, dismissed the files as a Democrat hoax. The comment drew recriminations from survivors including Haley Robson, who said she is a registered Republican. I would like Donald J. Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us, to see us for who we are and to hear us for what we have to say, she said at the news conference. There is no hoax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And to Trump, she said: I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. Top officials now serving in the Justice Department said for years said that if Trump were elected to a second term in 2024, the department would publicly release more files connected to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while in custody awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. But the level of Epstein disclosures from officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, proved to be underwhelming to many in the MAGA movement. The resulting anger has created headaches for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who sent lawmakers home for a five-week recess early in July after the discord over the Epstein files effectively ground House business to a halt. With Congress now back in session and working toward a September 30 deadline to pass a government funding bill, the bipartisan pressure over the Epstein files and calls for transparency and justice from Epstein survivors have ramped back up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danielle Bensky, an Epstein survivor, said at the rally that survivors make up a mosaic of shattered hopes and dreams. We stand together as a mosaic of stories, but were also finding our way back to ourselves. We are reclaiming the fragmented shards of the hopes and dreams of our past to paint a better future for the next generation of women, she said. People rally in support of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and other victims of sexual abuse outside the U.S. Capitol on September 3, 2025, amid a bipartisan congressional effort to force the release of all files from the cases of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. A woman points while yelling at the front of a crowd of people carrying signs. Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican, and Ro Khanna of California, a Democrat, are leading a bipartisan resolution to compel the Justice Department to release the estimated 100,000 pages of files related to Epsteins case. Johnson has argued that the measure would compromise the privacy of Epstein survivors, which survivors, who are calling for the files to be properly redacted, dispute. He has also argued that it is unnecessary because of the Oversight panels ongoing review of parts of the Epstein files. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chair of the House Oversight Committee, on Tuesday night released some 33,000 pages of Epstein records the committee had received from the Justice Department. Most of the released documents, however, contained information that was already public. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Johnson and Comer, also met privately with Epstein and Maxwell survivors on Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The speaker of the House just offered a fig leaf. Theyre gonna vote on a nonbinding resolution today that does absolutely nothing, Massie said at the news conference Wednesday. If you look at the pages theyve released so far, they are heavily redacted and 97 percent of this is already in the public domain. Massie is attempting to force a vote on the resolution via a discharge petition, a procedural maneuver that enables members to circumvent House leadership and the influential House Committee on Rules, which controls which legislation makes it to the House floor. As of Wednesday, more than 180 lawmakers and counting, including three Republicans, all women Reps. Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene had signed onto the petition, which needs 218 signatures to compel a floor vote. Greene joined Khanna and Massie at the news conference on Wednesday morning in support of the discharge petition. I think theyre helping us come to together as a country, Khanna said of survivors. Ive never done a press conference with Marjorie Taylor Greene before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi had long said she has a list on her desk of Epstein accomplices, often colloquially referred to as the Epstein list or Epsteins client list, but walked back previous pledges to release it. At the rally, Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips said survivors were talking about compiling their own list. Now together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know were regularly in the Epstein world, and it will be done by survivors, and for survivors, no one else is involved, she said. Stay tuned for more details on that, because history is watching, and so are the women who will come after us. Brad Edwards, a lawyer who has represented many Epstein victims, said at the news conference that speaking out comes at great risk. Most of these individuals, the victims, are very scared to say these names, because they could get sued, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi and Patel are both slated to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks. House Oversight had previously subpoenaed Maxwell for her testimony as part of its investigation into Epstein, but Comer said in an August letter that Maxwells testimony would be postponed pending the outcome of her appeal of her conviction as a sex offender to the U.S. Supreme Court. Maxwell, who had been serving out her sentence at a prison in Florida, also met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July. After the meeting, she was transferred to a minimum-security womens prison in Texas known for housing high-profile white-collar defendants and for its more relaxed rules. Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and Jen Shah, a former cast member on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, are currently serving time for fraud convictions at the prison. Justice and accountability are not favors from the powerful, Michaels said Wednesday. They are obligations decades overdue. This moment began with Epsteins crimes, but its going to be remembered for survivors demanding justice, demanding truth, demanding accountability, and we will not stop until survivor voices shape justice, transform culture and define the future. The post There is no hoax: Epstein survivors demand justice and transparency appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The Nob Hill Fire Department says it performed a water rescue after a wheel loader fell into a ravine on Sept. 3. Courtesy: Nob Hill Fire Department According to a Facebook post from the department, fire crews, Central EMS and Arkansas Department of Transportation employees responded to a rollover accident involving a wheel loader. 15-year-old charged as adult in connection with fatal Siloam Springs shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post says the loader rolled off into a ravine with one person inside. When crews arrived, the person was stabilized, loaded on a stokes basket and taken out of the ravine. The person was taken into care by Central 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 KNWA FOX24. POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) A man remains in jail on a bond of $3,520,000 after being charged with multiple child sex crimes. According to the Polk County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to the Polk County Recreation Complex around 10 p.m. on August 23, after getting a call reporting a kidnapping. At the scene, investigators found 40-year-old Jacob Earl Norwood with the victim. Norwood was arrested and initially charged with indecent liberties with a child, his bond was set at $20,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the investigation progressed, officials said Norwood was also charged with felony statutory rape of a child under 15 years of age. Norwood was then transferred from the Polk County Detention Center to the Henderson County Detention Center. During a hearing on August 25, he was given a new additional bond of $1 million. Deputies said they also learned of another victim Norwood had abused, resulting in nine more felony charges for the 40 year old, including: One count of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 Three counts of statutory rape of a child under the age of 15 Four counts of sex act by a substitute parent or custodian Three counts of incest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Tuesday, Norwoods bond was set at $3,520,000. His probable cause hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at the Polk County District Court. Detectives are still working to determine if there are any more victims who may have been abused by Norwood. Anyone with information is asked to call the Polk County Sheriffs Office at (828) 894-3001. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW) Prosecutors will seek the death penalty next year when a man accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in a Lumberton Food Lion parking lot goes to trial. Robeson County District Attorney Matt Scott told News13 Wednesday that Desmond Lee Sampson has been appointed two attorneys ahead of his September 2026 court appearance. Sampson is accused of killing 31-year-old Kayla Hammonds on Nov. 21, 2022. Authorities said she died on scene after multiple stab wounds, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2023, lawmakers introduced bills named after Kayla that would offer better protections for those experiencing domestic violence allowing victims to remotely testify against accused abusers. It would require district court trials related to domestic violence be preserved for potential future use. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. 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 WBTW. Paloma Ruiz of Parshall, North Dakota, dances during the United Tribes Technical College International Powwow in Bismarck, North Dakota, on Sept. 6, 2024. This year's powwow begins Sept. 5. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota tribes say their first-in-the-nation effort to band together to promote tourism is paying off. We want to tell our stories with our voices, said Stacey LaCompte, director of the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the group has had success catering to tour groups from Europe. She said the European groups are often in North Dakota for about three weeks and are interested in visiting all five tribal nations that share geography with North Dakota. They often want to take in South Dakota sites, too, she said. Theyre paying for the tour. Theyre paying for the hotels, the gas, the food, LaCompte said. Theyre buying souvenirs. Theyre buying from our artisans. Stacey LaCompte, director of the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, right, and Tamara St. John, a board member for the group, speak to a legislative committee on Aug. 19, 2025, near Hankinson, North Dakota. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) LaCompte and others from the tourism group briefed North Dakota lawmakers on their efforts recently. The presentation was to the North Dakota Legislatures Tribal and State Relations Committee that met at the Dakota Magic Casino near Hankinson on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation. The reservation lies mostly in South Dakota with a small portion in southeast North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reservation is the home of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribe. Tamara St. John is a historian for the tribe who called North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance precedent setting, with similar groups forming in other states after hearing of the success in North Dakota. The North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance was formed in 2016. The group began offering cultural tours in 2021. St. John, a board member for the group, said international travelers are often interested in an authentic travel experience to learn about Native American culture. And who better to share that than us, St. John said. Some tour groups from countries such as Norway and Germany are interested in learning about immigrant families that settled in Dakota Territory. They want to understand the cultural differences and relationships with Native Americans, St. John said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fred Walker is global marketing manager for the North Dakota Department of Commerces tourism and marketing team. He said in an interview that Europeans do have strong interest in Native American culture and when they visit, will take their time to visit multiple attractions. They spend more time, they spend more money, and they really try to engage into wherever theyre at, Walker said. They immerse themselves. He said the groups are usually families of four to eight people instead of large tour groups. European tourists may visit the reservations but tours often include visits to other sites, such as Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the National Buffalo Museum at Jamestown and other museums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaCompte said the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which is scheduled to open in Medora next year, has already reached out to the Native Tourism Alliance so the group can be a resource for library visitors. Walker said other states, including South Dakota and Montana, have followed North Dakotas example in forming Native tourism groups. North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho also have formed a tourism partnership called the Great American West. Each year, it hosts an event called the International Roundup that helps tour promoters learn about attractions and events, including with Native Americans, in the five-state region. The 2026 International Roundup will be in Medora from April 28 to May 1. Les Thomas, president of the Native Tourism Alliance, speaks to a legislative committee on Aug. 19, 2025, near Hankinson, North Dakota. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) In addition to international tours, Les Thomas, president of the Native Tourism Alliance, said tribes have been building themselves up as tourist destinations beyond casinos. The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, where he is a citizen, has added a water park and trampoline park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas emphasized the economic impact of tourism for the tribes and North Dakota. He said the United Tribes Technical College annual powwow in Bismarck has a $10 million economic impact. The powwow is Friday to Sunday. Tourism is on the agenda for Wednesdays Annual Tribal Leaders Summit that leads up to the powwow. He said the tribes also have been participating in more non-tribal events, such as being a sponsor of the Norsk Hostfest in Minot and having dancers perform at Country Fest near New Salem. St. John invited North Dakotans to stop at a new visitor center for the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. Theres so much to be gained by building bridges and building relationships and thats really what North Dakota tribal tourism is all about, St. John said. North Dakota Monitor Deputy Editor Jeff Beach can be reached at jbeach@northdakotamonitor.com. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Legislators attending a Redistricting Committee meeting Dec. 13, 2023, look at maps of different proposals. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Two North Dakota tribes and a group of tribal citizens formally petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court this week to review an appeals court decision that found they cannot sue the state of North Dakota for alleged voter discrimination. The tribes say that the decision, if allowed to go into effect, would not only limit their representation in the North Dakota Legislature but be a detriment to racial equality across all seven states in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Private groups in these states would no longer be able to challenge state or local governments for alleged racially discriminatory voting practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tribes lawsuit, filed in 2022, accuses a legislative district map adopted by North Dakota lawmakers in 2021 of unlawfully diluting the power of Native American voters. The plaintiffs the Spirit Lake Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and three tribal citizens claim that the map caused them to lose representation in the state Legislature. While U.S. District Court Judge Peter Welte in a 2023 ruling agreed with the tribes and in early 2024 put an alternate map in place, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his decision in May. The appellate court concluded that the tribes do not have standing to bring the case because a law they used to bring it, known as Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, can only be enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice. Section 2 makes it illegal to limit someones voting rights on the basis of race. The plaintiffs have been open about their intent to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court since early July, though Tuesdays petition makes their request official. The idea that we dont have the right to advocate for ourselves and for fair voting is undemocratic and goes against the principles that our country was founded on, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Chair Jamie Azure said in a Tuesday news release announcing the petitions filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state of North Dakota wants the 8th Circuits decision to stand. In previous court filings, attorneys for the state argued that private plaintiffs should not be allowed to destabilize state district maps. The state maintains that the 2021 map is not discriminatory. The 8th Circuit is the only appellate circuit to rule that private plaintiffs cannot enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The court originally made this finding in a 2023 case, though the May decision reaffirmed and solidified the position. The tribes argue that Congress had always intended for private citizens to be able to file lawsuits under the statute. They also say the federal government cannot be counted on to police racial discriminatory voting practices on its own. The petition cites research that indicates the vast majority of cases brought under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act over the past several decades were filed by private groups like the tribes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Supreme Court has hinted that it may be interested in hearing the case in its upcoming term. In July, the justices agreed to prolong a temporary freeze on North Dakotas legislative district map, which prevents the appellate courts decision from taking effect. This means that for the time being, voters in the 8th Circuit can still bring private lawsuits under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It also indicates that North Dakota will likely keep Weltes map in place for the 2026 election. Background The lawsuit concerns two voting districts in northern North Dakota District 9 and District 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the Legislature adopted the 2021 map, District 9 followed the boundaries of Rolette County. The county includes the Turtle Mountain Reservation and in 2020 had a voting age population that was 74% Native American, according to the Tuesday petition. Richard Marcellais, former chair of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, for years represented the district in the Senate. Redistricting happens at least every 10 years to adjust district lines following the U.S. census. In 2021, North Dakota discovered it had to change the boundaries of District 9 to meet the minimum population requirement. The 2021 map approved by the Legislature made District 9 bigger by adding Cavalier County and part of Towner Country. The district was also divided into two subdistricts, which each elected one representative to the House. District 9A was majority Native American and included most of Rolette County, including the Turtle Mountain Reservation. District 9B included a small portion of northern Rolette County, plus Cavalier County and most of Towner County, which made the subdistrict mostly white. The plaintiffs argue that this made it much harder for Native voters in the district to elect leadership of their choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, Marcellais lost his bid for reelection, marking the first time since 1990 that there were no Native Americans serving in the Senate, the petition states. District 9 only elected one lawmaker backed by the tribes Rep. Jayme Davis, a Turtle Mountain citizen who represented District 9A. Davis is also a Turtle Mountain citizen. The Spirit Lake Reservation also opposed the 2021 district map. Over the objections of its leaders, it was placed in District 15, which only had a Native American voting population of about 23%, the petition states. District 15 also did not elect any candidates preferred by Native American North Dakotans in 2022, the plaintiffs argue. The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake Nations 2022 lawsuit argued the maps denied them proper representation and asked to be placed in the same voting district. Welte, the North Dakota federal district judge, granted the plaintiffs request. His map, imposed in January 2024, places the two reservations into District 9. In the 2024 election, three Native American candidates from that district were elected to the state Legislature: Marcellais, Davis and Rep. Collette Brown, a citizen of the Spirit Lake Nation and plaintiff in the lawsuit. All three are Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until 1922, North Dakota didnt allow Native Americans to vote unless they severed their tribal relations and assimilated to white culture, according to the petition. The first Native American wasnt elected to the state Legislature until 1970, it notes. North Dakota Monitor reporter Mary Steurer can be reached at msteurer@northdakotamonitor.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Ju-min Park and Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shook hands with the speaker of South Korea's National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, in Beijing on Wednesday, Woo's office said. The pair shook hands before the start of a military parade they were attending in China to celebrate the formal surrender of Japan in World War Two, his office said in a statement. Woo was representing South Korea at the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Woo has called for the resumption of dialogue between Seoul and Pyongyang after a period of particularly strained ties. North Korea has so far rebuffed overtures from Seoul and said it was not interested in talking to South Korea. In 2018, Woo met Kim when then South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a summit with Kim. On Wednesday, Woo told Kim that it had been seven years since they last met, but Kim did not say anything other than "yes", Yonhap News Agency reported, citing observers. Woo also met President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, and the Russian leader asked him if there was any message that he could relay to Kim, Woo's office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woo responded by saying that it was "very important" now to build peace on the Korean Peninsula, despite difficult circumstances. Before leaving for Beijing, Woo had said it was unclear if he would be able to meet Kim, but that if he did he would like to discuss how to build peace on the Korean Peninsula. Several South Korean lawmakers, including a veteran politician who facilitated inter-Korean talks in the past, accompanied Woo in Beijing. But, those lawmakers did not contact North Korean officials who also attended event, Yonhap said. (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Kim Coghill) LAKE VILLA, Ill. (WGN) Kathleen Miles is a north suburban mother to 11 kids and the grandmother to seven more. Shes the rock of her family, but now shes recovering after getting rocked by a man in the Loop, who has spent time in jail for doing just that to several other women years ago. This has rocked our whole family cause the rock needs someone to take care of her, Miles said from her Lake Villa home on Tuesday. Miles has worked in the Loop for the last two decades, and a couple of weeks ago, she said she was walking to the train with a coworker along West Washington Avenue when a stranger blew through them and struck her in the face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacker, WGN-TV was told, watched as she lay on the ground bleeding before a good Samaritan, who turned out to be state senator Willie Preston, stepped in, took off his shirt and tried to stop the bleeding. Miles suffered a number of injuries, which included a broken nose and multiple facial fractures. But whats just as alarming is the suspect, 32-year-old William Livingston, is already known to authorities and WGN-TV as well. I felt a hand in my pocket, turned my head like that, and there was a man directly in front of me, and he punched me directly in the face, Cami Blechschmidt said in 2022. We made eye contact, and like, he just had pure hate in his eyes. Just anger, pure anger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DePaul University student one of 4 women attacked minutes apart in Loop Nearly four years ago, Blechschmidt, a DePaul University student, told WGN-TV that Livingston randomly attacked her and three other women within a 22-minute timeframe. Records from the Chicago Police Department show Livingston has been arrested seven times in the last ten years over allegations of similar attacks, leaving people like Miles and her loved ones wondering how many more women will become victims if the powers that be dont step in. I think every system has failed him, whether its mental health or the justice system, I feel hes been failed, Miles said. And as a result, weve all been failed. 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. NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA More than $25,000 will be awarded during Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperatives REC day. REC day is set for Thursday, September 11, from 2 to 6 p.m. at one of four locations: the Miami Fairgrounds, Craig County Fairgrounds in Vinita, Delaware County Fairgrounds in Jay, and Mayes County Fairgrounds in Pryor. In honor of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance REC will donate $2 per registrant to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Local fire departments will be on site, passing the boot for donations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electric credits of $1,000, $500, and $250 will be awarded to winners in each of the cooperatives nine districts. A $500 electric credit will also be presented to a member from each district who registers using the barcode page included with their next bill. Members are encouraged to bring the barcode page to help expedite registration. To qualify for this drawing, members must complete and bring the survey form on the back of their September 2025 Northeast Connection publication inside the Oklahoma Living magazine. The survey must be completed to qualify for this prize drawing. Only individuals whose name is listed on the account may register. 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Lawyers representing former President Jair Bolsonaro have told a panel of five justices on Brazils Supreme Court that their client was denied a fair hearing on charges he plotted a coup detat. A verdict in the case is expected within days. But on Wednesday, Bolsonaros defence team argued that anything other than an acquittal would be a miscarriage of justice. Bolsonaros lawyers also questioned whether the trial had been rushed due to political motives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did not have access to the evidence, and much less had enough time to go through it, lawyer Celso Vilardi told the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, Vilardi told the court there was not a single shred of evidence linking Bolsonaro to the alleged plot to overturn Brazils 2022 election. Overturning an election? That election saw Bolsonaro, the incumbent, narrowly defeated in a run-off against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the current president. A former army captain and far-right leader, Bolsonaro has never conceded his loss, and he and his allies are accused of seeking to foment unrest in order to cling to power. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that Bolsonaro and his supporters planned to declare a state of siege that would prompt military action and a new election. One aide allegedly proposed poisoning Lula, his left-wing rival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing, instead framing the trial as a political hit job. He faces five charges, including attempting a coup, seeking to end the democratic rule of law and participating in a armed criminal organisation. Two of the charges pertain to the property damage that occurred on January 8, 2023, when thousands of Bolsonaros supporters stormed government buildings in the capital Brasilia to protest his defeat. Some rioters expressed that their aim was to prompt the military to intervene. In November 2024, federal police outlined the evidence for the case in an 884-page report, and in February, Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet filed the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the case has become an international spectacle, with world leaders like United States President Donald Trump weighing in. A high-stakes trial For some critics, the verdict will be a test of Brazils democracy, only four decades old. For Bolsonaros supporters, however, the case is an example of the governments efforts to censor right-wing voices. Trump, who considers Bolsonaro an ally, has placed 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian exports to the US in protest against the former presidents prosecution. In Wednesdays hearing, defence lawyer Paulo Cunha Bueno compared Bolsonaros trial to the wrongful conviction of Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus, a 19th-century case in France that drew international condemnation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An acquittal is absolutely imperative so that we dont have our version of the Dreyfus case, Cunha Bueno told the Supreme Court. Bolsonaro himself is not Jewish. He has been absent from the courtroom in recent days, reportedly because of severe hiccups and other medical concerns stemming from a stabbing injury he received on the campaign trail in 2018. In the final days of the trial, however, his lawyers have sought to cast doubt on the circumstances underpinning the case. They questioned a plea deal reached with one of Bolsonaros codefendants, Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, who is now a state witness. And they pointed out that the trial may have been rushed in order to avoid repercussions on the 2026 general election. Son seeks amnesty for Bolsonaro Outside the court, Bolsonaros son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, has argued that the Supreme Court is biased against his father: One justice, Flavio Dino, was Lulas former justice minister, and another, Cristiano Zanin, was Lulas lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flavio Bolsonaro has also indicated he is rallying support in Brazils Congress to pass an amnesty law that would protect his father and the rioters from the 2023 attack on the capital. We will work for a broad, general, and unlimited amnesty, Flavio Bolsonaro told reporters on Tuesday. Another one of the ex-presidents sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro, has reportedly made repeat visits to Trump in the White House. But the Supreme Court has rejected any allegation of bias. At the start of Tuesdays hearing, Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the court will also not bend to outside pressure, including from Trump. National sovereignty cannot, should not, and will never be vilified, negotiated or extorted, de Moraes said. Bolsonaro faces up to 43 years in prison if convicted. (Getty Images) Almost 200 nursing homes in Virginia announced Wednesday they are suing Gov. Glenn Younkin for a veto he executed earlier this year that would have helped support staffing efforts at the facilities, which are facing a critical shortage. The Virginia Health Care Association Virginia Center For Assisted Living notified the states Medicaid office this week that 181 members plan to challenge the governor in the Virginia Supreme Court. Within this years budget bill was a provision the General Assembly passed that would have provided additional state and federal Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes to help support staff growth efforts. The idea was among several recommendations made by a special bipartisan committee of lawmakers that toured the state last year to explore health care disparity solutions particularly those in rural areas. As part of the legislative process, governors review all bills that pass the state legislature. From there they can choose to sign, amend or veto them. However, the Clerk of the House of Delegates Paul Nardo rejected three of Youngkins vetoes this spring, including the one on the nursing home reimbursements measure, a move the governor chose to ignore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nardo, who is also the Keeper of the Rolls, acted within his purview when he published a letter to Virginias Legislative Information System that he would not formally publish the vetoes. He called them unconstitutional under Virginias Constitution. Nardo explained at the time that Youngkin had broken procedure by attempting to veto the provisions without also vetoing the budget appropriation that contained it. Its the unconstitutional argument that is at the core of the pending lawsuit by the nursing homes. The cohort wants the states top court to force Youngkin to comply with the law. In a release VHCA-VCAL president Keith Hare said that the cohort had hoped it would not come to this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This legal action is really about patient care for some of our most vulnerable fellow citizens. It is imperative that nursing homes have the resources they need to appropriately staff facilities and provide their residents with the high-quality care they deserve, he added. Political analyst Stephen Farnsworth predicted at the time of the veto back-and-forth this spring that the dispute could end up in the courts like just about everything else these days. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE NEW YORK New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been reluctant to abandon his bid for reelection but an influential post in President Donald Trumps administration could incentivize him to bow out and make it easier to halt Zohran Mamdanis rise. Adams has been offered a position at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a person with direct knowledge of the offer who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about a sensitive matter. The mayor, who has a friendly working and political relationship with Trump, met with the president's team during his visit Tuesday to Florida, two people familiar with the plans said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A White House official would neither confirm nor deny that Trump advisers are talking with Adams. The Trump administrations machinations were first reported by The New York Times , which also reported discussions of finding a position for Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa to get him out of the race. Sliwa has previously rejected the idea of serving in the Trump administration. Worried about New York City being led by a democratic socialist, Republicans, centrist Democrats and business community leaders have been eager to consolidate anti-Mamdani voters behind one candidate. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat and former governor whos running as an independent, has been their preferred choice for defeating Mamdani, the Democratic nominee. But Cuomo lost decisively to the novice state assemblymember in the June Democratic primary in a shock to the Democratic establishment. Cuomo is still polling far behind Mamdani in the general election, but some surveys suggest he could defeat Mamdani head-to-head, thanks to support from Republican and independent voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams did not directly deny meeting with Trump advisers during his recent jaunt to the state the president now calls his permanent residence. And he notably did not give a definitive no when asked if he plans to drop out of the race for mayor. The mayor said Wednesday morning that he met in Florida with the mayor of Miami. I met with some of his team, he told Fox 5 New York. I met with several elected officials, and again, if theres any changes in this race, I will announce that. Adams electability began to take a hit when he faced federal corruption charges. The Trump Department of Justice moved to drop the charges, and a federal judge dismissed the case with prejudice in April. The mayor has rejected the accusation that he is beholden to Trump as a result. The blueprint to potentially get Adams and Sliwa out of the race by appointing them to Trump administration posts is heavily complicated by Trumps deep unpopularity in heavily Democratic New York City where any whiff of his involvement in the mayoral race would create a politically toxic sludge for Cuomo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani has been eager to tie his rivals closely to Trump. Todays news confirms it: Cuomo is Trumps choice for Mayor. The White House is considering jobs for Adams and Sliwa to clear the field, the Democratic nominee for mayor posted on X. New Yorkers are sick of corrupt politics and backroom deals. No matter whos running, we will deliver a better future on November 4. Mamdanis campaign also called an emergency news conference to address the Times report about Trump and Adams. Cuomos campaign declined to comment Wednesday. Cuomo has denied speaking directly with the president about the election in New York City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Privately though, the former governor has been hopeful for Trumps involvement in the race. At an August fundraiser in the Hamptons he told supporters that Trump and fellow GOP leaders would minimize Sliwas impact by telling Republicans not to waste their vote on him, POLITICO exclusively reported. A second person familiar with the discussion about Adams future told POLITICO on Wednesday that the HUD position was first floated shortly after the mayors memorable Fox & Friends interview alongside Tom Homan. The Trump border czar had said hed be up his butt, saying, Where the hell is the agreement we came to? if Adams didnt help with immigration enforcement. The proposed position was something in HUD, like cities director or director of cities, how to get cities up and running again, said the person granted anonymity to discuss a situation in flux. In the past, Adams has shot down questions about whether he would drop out of the race or serve in the Trump administration, but on Wednesday he struck a different tone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To say, Would you take a job in the administration? or would I take it somewhere else thats hypothetical, the mayor told reporters. Im running for office. And Im going to finish doing that. Ive got work to do. Ive got more ribbons to cut before I finish up this term. In a statement, Adams campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro denied the mayor has been offered a HUD position. Shapiro also said he has not met with Donald Trump and is not leaving the race. Although Mayor Adams has been the most pro-housing mayor in New York Citys history, at no time did he ask for nor was he offered a job at HUD, Shapiro said. Over the last few years, the Mayor has shown his ability to block out the noise and stay focused on delivering for New Yorkers. And if the HUD job does open, Andrew Cuomo held that position before and can always continue where he left off. Sliwa said he hasnt talked to the White House and wouldnt want a job anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have not been contacted by the White House, and Im not interested in a job with the White House, he said in a statement. My focus is right here in New York. Im the only candidate on a major party line who can defeat Mamdani, and Im committed to carrying this fight through to Election Day. The people of New York City deserve a mayor who truly cares. Republican megadonor and New York political scene staple John Catsimatidis, who is close to both Adams and Trump, told POLITICO that he did not know about a potential offer to join the Trump administration but speaks regularly with the president and knows he wants a viable alternative to Mamdani. I have said President Trump loves New York, Catsimatidis said. My opinion is he does not want a socialist to be mayor of New York. New York is the capitalist capital of the world and should continue to be that. Jason Beeferman contributed reporting to this story. Xi meets Iranian president Xinhua) 08:18, September 03, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Pezeshkian is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met here with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday. Pezeshkian is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. China has always prioritized the development of its relations with Iran in its Middle East diplomacy, Xi said, expressing China's willingness to carry forward bilateral traditional friendship, deepen mutual trust, and enhance cooperation in trade, investment, clean energy, connectivity, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to promote the steady and sustained advancement of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership. Noting that China has put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), Xi said that the country stands ready to work with Iran and the rest of the international community to build a fairer and more equitable global governance system and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity. China values Iran's repeatedly reaffirmed commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, respects its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, and in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests through political negotiations, Xi said. China will continue to uphold fairness and justice, work for a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue that accommodates the reasonable concerns of all parties, and make relentless efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, Xi added. Pezeshkian said that Iran is willing to strengthen cooperation with China under the SCO framework, adding that Iran fully supports the GGI proposed by President Xi, which is of great significance for promoting the development of the international order toward a fairer and more equitable direction. Iran stands ready to strengthen coordination with China, jointly oppose unilateralism and power politics, safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East, and promote the implementation of the GGI, Pezeshkian added. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 2, 2025. Pezeshkian is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) By Nazrin Abdul Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Yuriy Husyev to discuss the ongoing strategic partnership between the two countries. Azernews reports that ambassador Husyev shared details of the meeting on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, describing the conversation as both "productive" and "fruitful." We are grateful for the new batch of Azerbaijani humanitarian aid - energy equipment - that has already been delivered to Ukraine, the ambassador wrote. We agreed on joint steps to further strengthen our strategic partnership. The meeting underscores the continued collaboration between Baku and Kyiv, particularly in the context of humanitarian support and mutual political dialogue. It should be noted that since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on February 24, 2022, Azerbaijan has consistently provided humanitarian support to Ukraine, particularly aimed at critical sectors such as energy infrastructure. As Ukraine continues to face repeated attacks on its power grid and essential services, Azerbaijan has positioned itself as a key partner in aiding the countrys recovery efforts. To date, Azerbaijan has delivered over $11.5 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including multiple shipments of energy equipment such as transformers, generators, and cable products. The latest assistance follows a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on August 11, 2025, allocating an additional $2 million for the procurement and delivery of energy equipment from Azerbaijans Energy Ministry. This marks the fourth aid package coordinated between Baku and Kyiv, underscoring the growing strategic and humanitarian partnership between the two nations. NEW YORK (AP) New York City Mayor Eric Adams insisted Wednesday that he isnt dropping his reelection campaign after reports he had been approached about potentially taking a job with the federal government. Trump administration intermediaries recently reached out to people close to Adams, a Democrat, to discuss whether he would be open to abandoning his reelection campaign to take a federal job, according to a person familiar with those conversations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of those conversations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear how far those talks progressed, but as media reports about them multiplied, Adams insisted in interviews and through a spokesperson that he had no intention of dropping out of the contest against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Mayor Adams has not met with Donald Trump dont believe the noise. He is not dropping out of the race, said his campaign spokesperson, Todd Shapiro. After Mamdani romped in the Democratic primary, which Adams had skipped, some pundits suggested that the 33-year-old democratic socialist might be unbeatable in the general election unless either Cuomo or Adams dropped out. During a series of television interviews where he had intended to talk about his efforts to fight crime in the city, Adams battled back against the idea that he might leave the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theres any changes in this race, I will announce that, Adams told Fox 5. Right now, were moving straight ahead to do No. 1, serve this city as were currently doing, doing a darn good job. And were looking forward to reelection. After spending Tuesday in Florida after his 65th birthday, Adams was asked whether he met with anyone from the Trump administration while there. The mayor would only say that he met with several political figures, including Miamis Republican mayor. I met with several political figures in Florida, he told PIX11, saying the trip was to deal with some personal issues. Adams, in that interview, pushed back against questions about whether he would exit the contest but added: Ive never had a problem finding jobs as I transition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later Wednesday, Adams reiterated at an unrelated news conference that he's still running for reelection and didn't go to Florida to seek a job, adding that he often receives job offers from boards, educational institutions and others who have been impressed with what hes done with the city. The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday night. Mamdani held a news conference in Manhattan on Wednesday, calling the reports an affront to democracy. We know that this city will decide its own future. And we know that it is New Yorkers that we will turn to to make that decision in November, not the White House in Washington, D.C.," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams had previously quit the Democratic primary after he was charged in a federal corruption case. The Trump administration successfully moved to drop the case so the mayor could better assist with the president's immigration agenda, which freed Adams up to run as an independent in the general election, but has not helped his image in the overwhelmingly Democratic city. A spokesperson for Cuomo, who is now running as an independent candidate, did not immediately return a request for comment. ___ Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (PIX11) A New York City Police Department detective has been accused of pointing a loaded gun at three teenagers while off-duty, according to the Westchester County District Attorney. John OConnell, 36, has been suspended without pay in light of the charges, according to a spokesperson of the NYPD. More Local News It is alleged that on Thursday, at around 8:30 p.m., OConnell pointed a loaded pistol at three 16-year-olds after pulling up next to them in traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the District Attorney, the incident occurred after OConnell had been driving behind the teens on Route 6 in the Town of Somers, and both had braked suddenly due to the traffic. Its also alleged that OConnell yelled to them, I have a gun. He then continued to drive in an aggressive manner towards the teens before they were able to pull off and call the police to report the incident, according to the district attorney. OConnell was charged with menacing, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a weapon. He is due back in court on Monday. The New York State Police is investigating the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. CLAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A fire in Clayton is under investigation after causing significant damage to a home. According to a Fire Collaborative serving Englewood, Clayton and Union, the fire occurred around 1 a.m. on the 5100 block of Seville Drive. Crews arriving to the residence located heavy fire in the rear of the structure. They also determined that all human occupants evacuated prior to their arrival. Photo courtesy of Fire Collaborative (Clayton, Englewood, Union Fire Departments) Photo courtesy of Fire Collaborative (Clayton, Englewood, Union Fire Departments) Harrison Township and Trotwood fire crews assisted at the scene. 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 WDTN.com. VIRGINIA BEACH A popular Oceanfront park that once was the center of a controversial land deal will be renamed after former Mayor Will Sessoms. The City Council on Tuesday voted 10-1 to approve the renaming of 31st Street Park to The William D. Sessoms Jr. Neptunes Park. I cant begin to tell you (how) humbling it is and how appreciative I am of this great honor, Sessoms, 71, said in an interview Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Virginia Beach native, Sessoms served as mayor from 2008 to 2018. He was first elected to the council in 1988, and held the seat as vice mayor from 1992-2002. Councilwoman Jennifer Rouse was the lone vote against the name change. Most of the other council members had requested the resolution. I thought that was too big of a renaming to not ask the public what they think of that, said Rouse on Wednesday. He can be a controversial figure depending on who you ask. Sessoms played an integral role in the creation of 31st Street Park, though its history is mired in controversy. In a 2000 ballot referendum, which was not binding, 58% of residents voted to have a park where the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel on 31st Street is now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2003, the Virginia Beach Development Authority approved a public-private partnership with developer Bruce Thompson for the hotel, a parking garage and a public park. The City Councils decision to move forward with the public-private partnership upset the opponents of the hotel and garage. Sessoms was serving as vice mayor and supported the idea for a hotel as a tax revenue generator. The people wanted it to be a park, and we said we could develop it and also have a very nice park, and thats what we did, he said. In 2018, Shamin Hotels bought the Hilton and the park land from Thompson, but the city maintains an easement on the park, ensuring the amphitheater and open space will be maintained and remain open to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sessoms himself also faced controversy while serving as mayor. He faced criminal charges in a conflict of interest case, following an investigation by The Virginian-Pilot. Sessoms pleaded no contest to a single misdemeanor charge of violating the states Conflict of Interest Act for a vote he cast that benefited a borrower of TowneBank while he was a president there. As part of a plea agreement offered by the special prosecutor, four other charges were dropped. In 2018, Sessoms voluntarily resigned from his position as mayor during his third term. Current Mayor Bobby Dyer took over the seat after a special election was held. I was handed the tiller of a very well run ship, Dyer told Sessoms at the Tuesday council meeting. Thank you. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sessoms has dedicated much of his life to volunteering in the community and civic organizations including the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and the Neptune Festival, among many others. He recently led efforts to fundraise for the survivors of the 2019 mass shooting at the citys Municipal Center as well as the families of the police officers who were shot and killed this year. Sessoms was also integral in helping to fundraise for the King Neptune statue, which was installed 20 years ago adjacent to 31st Street Park. It has become an iconic landmark for the city and one of the most photographed destinations at the beach. The park has been informally referred to as Neptunes Park over the years. The parks stage is named after Nancy Creech, who lead the Neptune Festival for decades. While the park will take on the former mayors name soon, it will also retain its Neptune moniker. I dont want to take one thing away from Neptune, Sessoms said. Hes the king. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com New York City Mayor Eric Adams says hes not dropping out of the mayoral race following reports Trump administration officials were considering offering him a federal position. The mayoral election in November will be a competitive one with Adams and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo running as independents and state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, as the Democratic nominee. There has been speculation Trump may intervene in the mayors race to thwart Mamdani, the frontrunner who has sparred with the president over his administrations policies, such as its immigration crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, The New York Times reported Trump took a call with Cuomo as he considered inserting himself into the race. A spokesman for Cuomo denied the pair had spoken and Trump also said they had not when the reporting came out. On Wednesday, the NYT reported, citing unnamed sources, Trump advisers have their eye on Adams for a possible role in the administration to help clear the crowded campaign field to give Cuomo a better chance of beating Mamdani. The odds of New York City Mayor Eric Adams dropping out of the mayoral race have spiked as President Donald Trump reportedly mulls offering him a place in his administration (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) The Associated Press also reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, Trump intermediaries had reached out to Adams associates to discuss whether he would consider taking a federal job over another potential term as mayor. Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams campaign, told The Independent the mayor has had no discussions with, nor has he met with, President Donald Trump regarding the mayoral race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mayor is fully committed to winning this election, with millions of New Yorkers preparing to cast their votes. Shapiro made Adams intentions even clearer in a statement published by the AP: He is not dropping out of the race. The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment. Whether people believe Adams may leave the race for a position in the White House or for another reason, gamblers bet that he will drop out. On Wednesday afternoon, Polymarket, a prediction market, says there is a 75 percent chance Adams will drop out of the race based on the bets people are making. On Tuesday, the odds were just under 30 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the odds went down to 63 percent as of Wednesday night. Mamdani became the frontrunner in the mayors race after beating Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June by 7.7 percentage points. There has been speculation Trump may intervene in the mayors race to thwart Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) In a poll conducted by American Pulse Research & Polling from August 14 to 19, Mamdani led his closest competitor, Cuomo, by about 12 percentage points, 36.9 to 24.6 percent, among New York City likely voters. Curtis Sliwa, a Republican, got 16.8 percent of voter support, and Adams trailed with 11.4 percent. Mamdani responded to the reports about the Trump administration potentially getting involved in the mayoral race at a Wednesday news conference, calling it an affront to democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi previously told The Independent of Trumps reported interest in the former governor, it seems clear that President Trump would either prefer Mr. Mamdani, whom he refers to as a 'commie, because he believes Mamdani would serve as a political boon to Republicans nationwide in the midterms, symbolizing what he sees as the Democratic Partys extremism. Alternatively, he may favor Eric Adams, who is a wholly owned subsidiary of the President. And there is already a Republican in the race, who is the nominee of President Trumps party, he said. The identity of the man killed in a personal scooter crash in Northern Kentucky on Sept. 2 has been released. Kristopher Gardner, 37, was struck by a vehicle at the intersection Monmouth Street and New Linden Road, according to Newport police and the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. Gardner died at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Police reported the vehicle was turning onto New Linden Road from Monmouth Street when it collided at the intersection with Gardner, who was traveling northbound. The investigation is ongoing, and police have not released the identity of the driver. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Officials ID man on scooter killed in Newport crash (FOX40.COM) The man who died at the Burning Man festival in Nevada has been identified by the Nevada Bureau of Land Management as Vadim Kruglov of Russia. Video above: How to report a public safety threat The Pershing County Sheriffs Office started to investigate a homicide after deputies were flagged down by an event participant on Sunday for reports of a man lying down in a pool of blood. The sheriffs office said its deputies, with the BLM Rangers, responded to the campsite and found a white man who was lying on the ground dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PCSO stated that the Forensic Science Division with the Washoe County Sheriffs Office was called to help work the scene and collect evidence. Sacramento County child predator sting nets 13 arrests, including suspect who arrived with baby Officials said that his body had been taken to the Washoe County Medical Examiners Office, identified days later as Vadim Kruglov from Russia. As authorities continue to investigate the case, officials are asking the public if anyone has any information regarding this homicide to contact Investigator Josh Nicholson at 775-273-2641 and use reference case number 25-318 to be contacted. 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. After months of frozen funds and administrative delays, Alaska was set to receive $50 million in federal funding toward new electric vehicle charging stations, the Anchorage Daily News reported. "We've got a whole new life for electric vehicles," said Curtis Thayer, the executive director of the Alaska Energy Authority, according to the Daily News. "The program is back on." The funds initially were allocated under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which became law in November 2021. The law provided $1.2 trillion in spending on everything from roads, bridges, and pedestrian safety to EV charging stations and electric school buses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the program, states were responsible for developing their own plans for how EV charging station funding would be used. Those plans then needed to be submitted to the Department of Transportation for approval. In February, the Department of Transportation froze $3 billion in funding that Congress had allocated for the building of new EV charging stations, NPR reported at the time. In response, multiple states sued to unlock the previously promised money. In June, a federal court ordered that the administration release the funds. In the ruling, the judge found that the Department of Transportation and the administration had "overstepped their Constitutional and statutory authority and have attempted to override the express will of Congress." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 11, the Department of Transportation released updated guidance under the EV charger program, saying in a statement that the new rules would "streamline applications, provide states with more flexibility, and slash red tape." In Alaska, electric vehicle supporters applauded the administration's release of the EV charger funds. "It's good news," said Dmitri Shein, the head of the Alaska Electric Vehicle Association, according to the Anchorage Daily News. However, the release of funding has not been the only obstacle that states have faced in implementing the EV charging station program. States, including Alaska, have accused the federal government's approval process of being far too slow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of February, only 57 charging sites under the program had opened across the U.S., according to a May report by the Congressional Research Service. According to Thayer of the Alaska Energy Authority, the Department of Transportation had been "dragging their feet" on approving state projects even before the February funding freeze, according to the Anchorage Daily News. "And they have a backlog of over 1,000 [EV charging station projects] that have not been approved," he said, the Daily News reported. In Alaska, the construction of some EV charging stations has been stalled for more than two years, according to Thayer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have charging stations identified," Thayer said, according to the Daily News. "We went out to bid. We know who won these bids, and we just couldn't get them approved." "And so that was one of the challenges, not just for Alaska but across the country, that it just wasn't moving fast," he continued. With the funds now unlocked and new guidelines released, EV proponents expressed hope that the long-promised EV charging stations would soon become a reality. An Alaska resident who owns two EVs told the Daily News that he was "somewhat hopeful" that the projects would finally move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building out the nation's EV charging infrastructure is an essential part of transitioning the U.S. from gas-powered vehicles to cleaner EVs. As EV charging stations become more widely available, EVs will become a more feasible option for more Americans. Even when charged off an average electrical grid, EVs are responsible for significantly less planet-heating pollution per mile than their gas-powered counterparts, according to MIT. Plus, EVs can save drivers thousands of dollars per year on gas, the Department of Energy has found. Additionally, unlike internal-combustion engines, EVs do not release health-harming fumes containing carbon monoxide and particulate matter, which pose significant risks to human health, especially among vulnerable populations, including children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Installing a home solar system is a great way to maximize the environmental, public health, and cost-saving benefits of driving an EV. Charging an EV off of home solar is cheaper than doing so off of the grid or at a public charging station, plus you have the peace of mind of knowing that your vehicle is being powered by cleaner, renewable energy from the sun. EnergySage makes it simple and easy to compare quotes from local solar installers, while also making sure that customers take maximum advantage of tax credits and other financial incentives, saving them up to $10,000. With federal tax credits for EVs expiring Sept. 30, 2025, and solar tax credits ending Dec. 31, you must act quickly 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. A major overhaul of the Philippines' forest policy has attracted praise from business interests but criticism from environmental groups. What's happening? As Mongabay reported, the Philippine government recently announced an initiative that it says will attract investment while still protecting the country's vast forests. The Sustainable Forest Land Management Agreement will consolidate existing, often overlapping land use laws into one renewable 25-year production-sharing agreement. "The SFLMA represents a major shift in how the Philippines manages its 15.8 million hectares of forest lands," Raphael Lotilla of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SFLMA was welcomed by business groups who argue that the move will streamline the application process and make developing forest lands easier. Conversely, environmental groups contend the initiative is merely a backdoor to privatization that puts profit over people. There are also concerns that small communities and Indigenous groups will be sidelined. Why are the reforms concerning? Deforestation is a global issue that's particularly acute in developing nations. With limited economic opportunities available, illegal logging, mining, and quarrying operations run rampant. The Philippines has lost a vast amount of its historical forest cover; trees once accounted for almost 90% of its total mass, per the Pulitzer Center. Today, it's less than a quarter. The rainforest in the Sierra Madre mountain range on Luzon has almost disappeared entirely, the BBC reported. Though there are plans to plant five million indigenous trees by 2028 through the Forests for Life initiative, the country is still losing forest cover at an alarming rate. By opening more tracts of forest to economic activity, critics contend the plans are a privatization scheme that corporate interests will use for greenwashing as they exploit the country's dwindling natural resources. Kalikasan, a Philippine environmental group, described the agreement on Facebook in scathing terms as "a self-serving policy conceived from the rent-seeking and predatory motives of private firms that betrays the public interest." What can be done to curb deforestation? Deregulation is a popular concept with business leaders, but it often comes at the expense of the common good. This is a political issue and hardly unique to the Philippines. It is a matter of raising awareness with the public and imploring others to think carefully about their choices at the polls. As daunting as the problem may seem globally, starting locally can make a difference. 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. Environmental advocates in British Columbia have called out a government program purportedly directed at growing the region's clean energy industry for disbursing funds back to highly profitable natural gas companies, Canada's National Observer reported. "The bottom line is wealthy fossil fuel billionaires do not need money back from the B.C. government to continue to subsidize an industry that's bad for our health," said Melissa Lem, president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. What's happening? The CleanBC Industry fund claims that it supports "new industry projects that will create local jobs, strengthen local communities, and grow British Columbia's clean industry," according to a government website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, critics have pointed out that most of the funding, which comes from a tax on carbon pollution, has gone back to the same heavily polluting companies that the funding was supposed to help phase out. "It's like taxing tobacco producers and then giving them the money back to put filters on their cigarettes," said Lem, per Canada's National Observer. During 2024, 37 different projects received 127.7 million Canadian dollars ($93.3 million) in funding from the CleanBC Industry fund. Of this money, more than three-quarters was awarded to natural gas companies for carbon sequestration or electrification projects to reduce those companies' net carbon outputs, according to government data. Critics have argued that this amounts to greenwashing, diverting funds that were supposed to be used to develop cleaner energy solutions into subsidies for heavily polluting, and highly profitable, gas companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a form of subsidy to some pretty profitable industries that really should be able to stand on their own two feet and do this work," said Jeremy Valeriote, leader of the BC Green Party. While acknowledging that the projects do reduce the amount of heat-trapping pollution being released at various facilities, Valeriote argued that the funds could have a bigger impact if spent elsewhere. "It could go a long way to make a tangible difference in people's lives that also drives down emissions like public transit and building retrofits that could help rebuild [public] support for climate action," he said, per the publication. Lem agreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Essentially, investing in our health care system and the health of people across B.C. has to come before industry handouts, and that can also mean investing in and subsidizing renewable energy, not more fracking and LNG [projects]," she said, referring to liquified natural gas. Why does it matter? According to the United Nations, 75% of all heat-trapping pollution and 90% of all carbon dioxide pollution comes from the burning of extracted, nonrenewable fuels such as natural gas and coal. Additionally, burning these fuels releases health-harming pollution that can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular ailments, lung cancer, diabetes, and more, according to the U.N. Therefore, in order to reverse the trend of rising global temperatures and improve public health, it is necessary to transition economies away from these fuels and toward cleaner, renewable sources such as solar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As governments around the world search for ways to accelerate and streamline these changes, one popular solution has been carbon taxes. By placing a price on pollution, a carbon tax forces companies to internalize the costs of the pollution they create. Such a tax, in theory, can also generate revenue that can be used to boost environmentally friendly solutions such as public transportation or renewable energy power plants. However, the controversy surrounding the CleanBC Industry fund has highlighted that, in practice, these programs require transparency and strong oversight to ensure the funding is directed to appropriate projects and is not used to subsidize the same polluting industries that are paying the taxes. What's being done about it? By calling out what they see as the misallocation of CleanBC Industry fund dollars, groups such as the BC Greens and Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment are seeking to hold the government accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To engage in similar advocacy and push for these kinds of programs in your area, you can use your voice, contact your elected representatives, and support planet-friendly candidates. Going a step further, driving an electric vehicle and installing solar panels on your home will save you money on gas and electricity while also reducing heat-trapping, health-harming pollution. With federal tax credits for EVs ending Sept. 30 and credits for home solar ending Dec. 31, it's important to act soon if you want to take advantage. Solar systems can take up to 12 weeks to be permitted and installed, but EnergySage has a great, Expedia-like tool for comparing local quotes and companies that's worth exploring. 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. State Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) standing with House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) as he speaks at the podium. (Photo by Morgan Trau, WEWS.) Ohios new House minority leader, Dani Isaacsohn, says teaming up with the Republicans is essential to getting Democratic priorities accomplished. Democrats are hopeful that new leadership can score them some wins as they prepare to head back to the Statehouse soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our focus as a caucus every single day is going to be How do we serve the people of Ohio by making their lives better, making it more affordable, easier to access opportunity, more stability, more safety in their communities and their neighborhoods?' Isaacsohn said. The 36-year-old Cincinnati lawyer is the new face of the House Democrats, being voted to replace former Minority Leader Allison Russo, who stepped down in June to prepare for her secretary of state campaign. Along with Isaacsohn, state Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon) is the assistant leader, state Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) is the whip, and state Rep. Desiree Tims (D-Dayton) is the assistant whip. Isaacsohn has risen to the top of the party since joining the legislature in 2023. He had been the whip since 2024 and was the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaacsohn is known for bipartisanship, a strength he says will help Democrats stay relevant in the GOP-controlled supermajority. Nothing gets done without working together across the aisle, the leader said. While in the legislature, his focus has been on affordable housing. He helped make changes that provided relief to homeowners, earning him praise from leaders across the aisle. Dani Isaacsohn very passionate about bridging the gap on Ohios housing challenges, state Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) said. Former lawmaker and current chair of the states property tax reform working group, Bill Seitz, emphasized the Democrats ability to find answers on property tax rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a solution which Senator Blessing, Representative Isaacson have come up with, Seitz said, adding that their proposal of a circuit breaker is the best solution. Despite Isaacsohns positive relationship with the GOP, he will face challenges. Republicans do not need any Democratic votes in order to pass legislation. We would like to have 99 votes and thats, thats just typically is not possible, House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said regarding the states operating budget. The most impactful vote each General Assembly makes is the states massive two-year budget, one that, this year, didnt get a single Democratic vote. Isaacsohn said he will work to help get the minority party into the decision-making room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were really focused on delivering results for the people we serve, and to do that, we have to work across the aisle, Isaacsohn said. The leader stayed in touch with Huffman over the summer break, he said, talking about topics like redistricting and the legislative calendar. The lawmakers are set to come back the week of September. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Previous conservation coverage above. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Hunting season has officially started here in Ohio and there have been some noteworthy changes this season. As Ohios fall hunting season begins, we celebrate a time-honored tradition that brings families together and supports wildlife conservation, said State Representative Bob Peterson (R-Sabina). I wish all hunters a safe, successful and responsible season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changes this season include: Wild boars cant be hunted. There is now a two-deer bag limit for antlerless deer on public hunting areas. Deer management permits can now be used to hunt or take antlerless deer from public hunting and private lands. Both Defiance and Paulding are now two-deer counties. Renovated shooting range open in Ohio The disease surveillance area has been expanded to include all of Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties. It also includes: Auglaize, Bath, Jackson, Monroe, Perry, and Richland townships in Allen County . Bucyrus, Dallas, and Tod townships in Crawford County . Marlboro, Oxford, and Troy townships in Delaware County . Delaware and Madison townships in Hancock County . Westfield Township in Morrow County . Claibourne and Jackson townships in Union County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio 2025 hunting season opening dates are: Mystic Lake in Preble County opens for C. and R. fishing Monday, Sept. 1 Squirrel (fox, red and gray) Dove Rail (Virginia and sora) Snipe Gallinule Saturday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 14 Early Canada goose Early teal (blue-winged and green-winged) Saturday, Sept. 27 Deer (archery) House Bill 64 will take effect on Tuesday, Sept. 30. It lowers the age for senior discounts on hunting, fishing, and other sportsmens licenses to 65. To apply for a hunting license and to find the full hunting season schedule, click here. To learn more about hunting and trapping regulations, click here for the ODNR website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. (The Center Square) Less than a week after a gunman killed two students at a Minneapolis school, Ohio leaders are pushing church and school leaders to take advantage of several publicly-funded school safety options. Gov. Mike DeWine, who lowered flags across the state following the shooting, called school and church safety a priority across Ohio. "We've made it a priority in this administration to offer a broad range of public safety support to our local communities, and these programs are a perfect example of this commitment," DeWine said. "Our schools and churches can never be too safe, and I encourage leaders to take advantage of these grant programs and the other free services that the state provides." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The taxpayer-funded grant programs offer money for security enhancements for churches, nonprofits, and private schools, as well as public schools, colleges, and training for police officers and school safety planners. The Ohio School Safety Center also offers free security and vulnerability assessments to identify gaps in a schools security plan, and intelligence analysis to investigate social media, monitor events and offer presentations. "From our college campuses to our elementary schools and religious institutions, it's important that we always strive to create a safe environment," Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel said. "Our schools and churches all have different safety needs, and these programs are tailored to offer individualized support." A total of 18 victims were injured and two were killed in a Wednesday shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis on Aug. 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooter was identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the back of the Church of Annunciation. Westman was born male and named Robert at birth, but identified as female and was named Robin at the time of the shooting. Police found three firearms on the shooter and more were found as police used search warrants to search the church and three other Minneapolis locations. Police say the shooter acted alone and bought the guns legally. (The Center Square) - The Oklahoma State Department of Education is partnering with Prager University to potentially administer an ideological test to new teachers coming from New York and California. Superintendent Ryan Walters announced the partnership with PragerU, a conservative Christian nonprofit, in July and said the test would be available soon to new teachers. The 34 multiple-choice, America First test, has unlimited guesses and covers a range of topics, including basic civics, Supreme Court decisions, constitutional freedoms, and the proper role of education in a free society, according to the PragerU website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After taking the test, each teacher will receive a certificate for successfully completing the Teacher Qualification Test. "As long as I am superintendent, Oklahoma classrooms will be safeguarded from the radical leftist ideology fostered in places like California and New York, Walter said in a statement. The test is an essential tool to help restore integrity, responsibility, and truth to the teaching profession, according to PragerU. This initiative is a direct response to the increasing politicization of our schools and the promotion of gender-affirming care that undermines parental authority and confuses young children. PragerU stands firmly against this ideological assault and is proud to lead the effort to reclaim the classroom for truth, morality, and American values, the PragerU website stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma Democratic Party chairman, state Rep. John Waldron, called the test political posturing, which means to take action to gain political support through emotional appeal. If you want to see a textbook definition of indoctrination, how about a loyalty test for teachers? said Waldron. Its a sad echo of a more paranoid past. The American Federation of Teachers, one of the nations largest teachers unions, has expressed its opposition to the Trump administration and other Republican lawmakers' actions on education. This MAGA loyalty test will be yet another turnoff for teachers in a state already struggling with a huge shortage, said AFT President Randi Weingarten. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superintendent Walters announced on Sept. 2 that over 16,000 people across the country have expressed interest in becoming an Oklahoma teacher by taking the test. The largest recruitment effort of teachers in history, Walters said. We are restoring truth to Oklahoma classrooms. DAVIS COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The Davis County Health Department confirmed Wednesday that one person has passed away from West Nile virus and two more have been hospitalized in Davis County. Over the past few weeks, human cases of West Nile virus have been reported throughout the state of Utah, particularly along the Wasatch front, the department said in a press release Wednesday. Two of the cases in Davis County were neuroinvasive, which means that the virus led to severe neurological disease, according to Trevor Warner, Communications Manager for Davis County Health Department. The individual who died from the disease was over 60 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Utah County Health Department also reported five human cases of the virus, four of which were neuroinvasive, which happens in a small percentage of cases, according to experts. Five confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus in Utah County Health department officials say those infected will normally not develop any symptoms. It is estimated that less than 1% of people infected with [West Nile virus] will develop the neuroinvasive form of the disease, which can result in debilitating long-term complications of death. One in five may experience the following symptoms: Fever Headache Body aches Nausea and vomiting Swollen lymph nodes or skin rash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Willardson, an epidemiologist, explained that neuroinvasive cases can lead to inflammation in the brain and nervous system. Neuroinvasive cases can lead to other, more severe, symptoms in extreme cases including: High fever Neck stiffness Disorientation Seizures Muscle weakness Meningitis Encephalitis Paralysis Health officials recommend using insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or lemon eucalyptus oil while outdoors to avoid being bitten by mosquitos. They also urge recreators to wear long sleeves and pants at dusk and dawn and to keep screens on windows in good repair. Willardson stated that there unfortunately is no treatment or vaccine for West Nile virus, but if you start experiencing symptoms, a doctor can help manage the symptoms. However, its always best to do what you can to avoid infection altogether, as it is a preventable illness. The people who are most likely to experience extreme illness are the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mosquito Abatement District has also found positive pools of mosquitoes in every portion of Davis County and are asking residents who would like to request an inspection of their property for things like standing water and mosquito sources can call their office at (801) 544-3736. Utah sees several West Nile cases each summer, Willardson said, so the presence of the virus this year is not unique. However, what is unique this year is a death from an easily preventable disease. About West Nile Virus According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), West Nile Virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. The disease is primarily spread through mosquito bites, but on rare occasions can be passed person-to-person. The CDC says that 8 out of 10 people do not develop symptoms after being infected with West Nile Virus. Some people (1 in 5) will develop a fever and other symptoms, such as aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with these symptoms will recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks to months, according to the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In even fewer cases, roughly 1 in 150, people infected with West Nile Virus will develop a severe illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. The CDC states that older adults and those who are immunocompromised are most at risk of developing these illnesses, and 1 in 10 of those who develop severe illness die. There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for West Nile Virus. Some symptoms can be relieved with over-the-counter medications, but if severe illness develops, patients often need to be hospitalized. The CDC states that the best way to protect yourself from West Nile Virus is to prevent mosquito bites. More information about how the disease spreads and information about West Nile Virus can be found on the CDCs website. 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. By Dan Catchpole (Reuters) -Boeing Defense said Wednesday it would consider "minor adjustments" to its last contract offer to roughly 3,200 union members on strike in the St. Louis area, where it produces fighter jets and munitions. "The economics of our deal will remain the same," Dan Gillian, one of Boeing Defense's top executives in St. Louis, told reporters on a conference call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' District 837 voted 67% to reject the offer on August 3, according to the union. They went on strike the next day. "They want a fair contract reflecting their skillsets and production at Boeing Defense," District 837 president Tom Boelling said in a public statement on Wednesday. "Our members at Boeing are standing together for more than just 'minor adjustments,'" he said. The strike is about more than just this contract, Boelling said. "They're fighting for dignity, and they're fighting for all working people in St. Louis and beyond." Both sides say they are open to talks, but there is no schedule to resume negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boeing has kept production going with contingency plans, but "certainly production has slowed in areas because of the strike," Gillian said, noting that output has not fallen for its Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). "If you're here in Saint Louis, fighter jets are still flying. We're delivering jets to our customers," he added. In addition to the JDAM, Boeing produces its F-15 and F/A-18 fighters, the T-7 military trainer, and wing sections for the company's commercial 777X jet in St. Louis. Boeing's defense division has invested billions of dollars to expand manufacturing facilities and engineering capabilities in the St. Louis area for the new U.S. Air Force fighter jet, the F-47A. It won the contract this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company is also competing to win the contract for the U.S. Navy's new fighter program, the F/A-XX. The striking machinists are "the core that will help us do all of that," Gillian said. Boeing is launching an apprenticeship program to add machinists, and "the team will continue to grow," he said. The offer rejected by St. Louis-area workers included a 20% general wage increase, faster wage progression, a $5,000 ratification bonus and more vacation time and sick leave. Boeing withdrew the bonus after the offer was rejected. The average compensation increase for union members would be 40% over the contract's duration, "with some workers potentially seeing up to 60% growth over four years," Gillian said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offer should not be compared to the contract accepted last fall by members of IAM District 751 in Washington and Oregon to end a seven-week strike, he said, noting that "the cost of living between Seattle and Saint Louis is just very different, but more importantly, more material to this negotiation, IAM 751 hadn't had a new contract in 10 years." Striking St. Louis workers can ask for a personalized statement showing how the contract would affect their compensation. However, only 10% of District 837 members have asked for one so far, Gillian said. Some union members have crossed the picket line, but he declined to say how many. (Reporting by Dan Catchpole in Seattle; Editing by David Gregorio and Nick Zieminski) UPDATED: An earlier version of this story erroneously attributed quotes to school board member Sandra Gong. It has been updated to correct the attribution. One of New Jerseys largest high schools cut back its student mental health services, sparking a backlash from parents, students and teachers who say the programs have saved lives. Nyah Marshall Stories by Nyah Marshall Read the original article on NJ.com. Two minors were arrested in connection with a stolen car found in Waterbury last week, including one who allegedly ditched a gun while being chased by police. The vehicle was spotted on Aug. 28 at 4:16 p.m. when members of the Waterbury Police Departments Auto Theft Task Force were patrolling the 1900 block of North Main Street, according to police. Police noticed that the license plate on a 2016 Honda Accord had been stolen from somewhere in the city before finding that the vehicle had been reported stolen in New York, police said. Officers then approached two juveniles, ages 17 and 15, who were believed to be connected to the Accord, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 15-year-old allegedly took off on foot while the other teen remained at the scene, police said. During a brief foot pursuit, the teen allegedly ditched a Kel-Tec FP9 firearm before being apprehended, according to police. Both Waterbury teens were arrested. The 17-year-old faces charges of theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal trover, theft/illegal possession of number plate and misuse of registration plates. The 15-year-old has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal trover, theft of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal transfer/sale of a firearm and interfering with an officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Waterbury Police Department remains committed to addressing auto theft-related crimes and ensuring the safety of our community, the department wrote in a statement. Anyone with information about stolen vehicles or suspicious activity is asked by police to call the Waterbury Police Department at 203-574-6941 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 203-755-1234. A Redditor posted a photo of a massive yacht, wondering who it belonged to, and was met with some commenters who were quite critical of the vessel. "Looks like a flip-flop," one Redditor commented. Photo Credit: Reddit Considered by many as excessive displays of wealth, giant yachts are a form of luxury travel for the uber-rich that can have a significant negative impact on the environment. One study found that one yacht can produce over 1,600 tons of pollution each year. This is about 100 times as much as the average American produces annually. Traditional yachts that run on large amounts of fuel contribute a lot of planet-warming pollution to the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many celebrities and executives who own private yachts have come under fire from environmentally conscious people and groups. The large vessels can often be visually intrusive in addition to having a negative impact on the environment. In addition, some top company executives have been accused of greenwashing. Greenwashing occurs when companies and company leaders make their products and practices sound more environmentally friendly than they really are. Sometimes these executives make travel choices that are not in alignment with their company's projected environmental policies, such as traveling by private yacht or jet. Some countries have added a luxury tax on private jets and luxury yachts in an attempt to deter people from using these high-pollution methods of travel. The people who use private jets and yachts travel short distances with very few passengers, so the ratio of pollution to person is very high. Solar-powered yachts are an option that may help solve the problem. They use clean, sustainable energy. Though they may be initially more expensive whether or not that matters to the extremely wealthy can be debated there are long-term cost savings in not having to spend money on fuel and lower maintenance costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Converting yachts to renewable energy models would be an important step toward creating a more sustainable future for the planet. Redditors commenting on the photo of the yacht were critical, with some pointing out it appears to be the former Dutch Navy frigate converted to a yacht known as "Yas." "A rich a****** with absolutely horrible taste," one commenter thought. "I may have seen worse designs, but not many," said another. Others made sarcastic comments. One said, "Ah, that's where I left it." 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. Only on 9: Family of 16-year-old girl demands answers after police encounter in downtown The family of a 16-year-old girl is demanding answers from the Orlando Police Department after a video surfaced showing her being tackled by officers and, moments later, another officer appearing to deploy pepper spray during a chaotic downtown scene. The incident happened early Monday morning near the corner of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue. Treasure Gray, 16, says she was leaving downtown with her 22-year-old sister when the situation unfolded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video shared with Channel 9, Gray can be seen being taken to the ground by an officer. There was a crowd of people because everyone was getting ready to leave, Treasure told Channel 9. Next thing I see, I was getting slammed on the floor, me and my sister. Treasure has been charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest. But she and her family say she never attacked anyone and was confused and scared during the incident. They sprayed the crowd with mace, she said. I started kicking because it was getting in my eyes. Thats when the officer forced himself on my leg. Treasures father, Antavious Gray, says his daughters were trying to head home with family after a night out. It was 3 in the morning, and shes 16. What was she doing Downtown, Channel 9s Geovany Dias asked the father. They were hanging out with their big sister, sister-in-law and cousin, he said. My 22-year-old daughter, who was with them, asked the officers, What are you doing? Why are you doing that to my sisters? They told her they didnt have to explain anything. Another video taken by bystander James Lake shows police shouting at people to get back and clear the roadway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the video, a person appears to comply with the officers orders, only to be hit with pepper spray seconds later. We are cooperating, someone can be heard saying moments before the spray is deployed. Lake, who recorded the video, told Channel 9 he began filming because he was concerned about how the officers were handling the crowd. I just see the police arresting young people, he said. Just wanted to make sure theyre doing their job right. Lake said he ended up in the ER after being sprayed on. It felt like my flesh was falling off, he recalled. Yesterday I couldnt breathe through either nostril. What if it was his son? Legal Action Underway Another bystander, who was also recording the incident, was arrested and charged with obstruction and resisting arrest without violence. He has since been released from jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both he and James Lake say they are now planning to take legal action against the Orlando Police Department. In a statement, Orlando Police told Channel 9 they are aware of the incident and are currently reviewing the matter to determine whether any department policies were violated. Weve reached out to OPD again for additional comment following our interview with Treasure Gray and her family. We will update this story as soon as we hear back. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Onondaga County is attempting to make more off travelers with a new 7% room occupancy tax. This is a tax for the renter, not by the person renting the space, said Onondaga County Legislator Kevin Meaker at the September 2 legislative session. With the same tax already on hotels, Airbnbs and VRBOs will now also have it. We have hotel owners already paying this tax. It is no different just because Airbnb and VRBO are newer, they should be doing the same thing, said Onondaga County Legislator Julie Abbott. Its a fairer process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott said the additional money raised will help support infrastructure. Our infrastructure is impacted by all the tourism, our water and sewer pipelines. Abbott said. We as residents end up footing that bill, and the room occupancy tax offers us a way of funding that usage tourism [has] on our infrastructure. She said the money raised will also go toward promoting travel to Onondaga County. We use ROT money to promote tourism and to promote our area because we want our sales tax dollars in Onondaga County, Abbott said. We collect more sales tax instead of raising taxes on residents. Abbott doesnt think the new tax will deter travelers from staying in the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I brought two of my boys out of state to college this past weekend. I had to stay in a hotel. Do I like that I had to pay the extra tax? No. Is it a necessity? Yes. Did it change my decision to go to these two colleges in Rhode Island? No, it didnt, Abbott said. The decision to have the 7% room occupancy tax comes after the state introduced a program requiring hotels and short-term rentals to charge a 2% tax on stays where the nightly rate exceeds $2. The tax will take effect at the end of the year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. Media coverage celebrates Seattle's new ORCA Center as offering "treatment" for opioid addiction. We use the word treatment intentionallymeaning "management and care to prevent, cure, or slow progression of a medical condition." ORCA offers none of this. This $12 million facility represents expensive management disguised as treatment, with no pathway to cure, recovery, or life transformation. Our Ground-Level Perspective From street addiction to founding O-UT (Overhaul-Unrelenting Transfiguration), Ginnys program demonstrates stable recovery through accountability measures. Andrea's boots-on-the-ground work with We Heart Seattle's intervention program shows what moves people from addiction to stability through recovery-first outreach and housing. Together, we've witnessed both addiction's depths and recovery's heights. ORCA's designers ignore both realities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Academic Arrogance, Deadly Results Dr. Caleb Banta-Green and Dr. Callan Fockele, ORCA's architects, have presided over more than 5,300 overdose deaths in King County since 2018, including a record-breaking 1,338 deaths in 2023 alone. When confronted about this devastating track record, Dr. Fockele's response was a dismissive shrugthe same reaction she gave when offered partnership with Seattle's recovery community. These "subject matter experts" have never experienced addiction, withdrawal, or the fight for recovery, yet prescribe ineffective treatments for conditions they've never faced. Theyre not consulting with people who have overcome addiction and achieved independence. This isn't leadershipit's institutional momentum masquerading as expertise. The 23-Hour Illusion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ORCA offers "stabilization" for up to 23 hours, marketing this through a fictional character named "Jimmy" rather than real success stories. Why sell a hypothetical when this approach has operated in Seattle for years? People emerging from overdose face withdrawal symptoms, cravings, sleep deprivation, potential hypoxic brain injury, polysubstance complications, and psychological trauma. These factors significantly impair judgment and decision-making for days beyond ORCA's arbitrary 23-hour window. Market Subsidization Disguised as Harm Reduction ORCA staff prepare to hand out glass pipes for methamphetamine and aluminum foil for smoking fentanyl, while street users pick it up free of charge to redistribute for $5 to dealers. Through Andrea's intervention work she says, We see this reality constantly. We're not reducing harmwe're subsidizing the market we claim to combat. Even ORCA's own lived experience advisory members expressed doubts about pipe distribution during the public tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mathematics of Managed Decline ORCA's eight beds will theoretically serve "hundreds annually," though the pilot program achieved a mere 1% engagement rate: 100 people received Suboxone over two years despite close to 10,000 professional overdose reversals. The cost breakdown reveals fiscal irresponsibility: Maximum 2,920 people could use beds annually (one person per bed, per day)1% of those = 29 people who would actually engage in treatment$12 million 29 = $413,793 per person who engages This very expensive service comes with no measurable outcomes tied to recovery or self-sufficiency. Meanwhile, both Ginny's O-UT program and Andrea's We Heart Seattle recovery-first initiatives accomplish long term transformational outcomes that ORCA will not deliver with this model. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ORCA MAT Model = Perpetual Dependence ORCA continues to follow a failed model. Medication-Assisted Treatment perpetuates long-term drug dependency rather than providing actual treatment. MAT creates another level of chemical dependency that patients remain trapped in for years, sometimes decades, without addressing the underlying issues driving addiction. Strategic Intent: Client Base Maintenance ORCA sits between The Morrison and Star Center, creating an intentional ecosystem of managed addiction. This placement reveals ORCA's true purpose: maintaining a stable client base rather than producing recovery outcomes. When it inevitably fails, architects will declare we need clean and safe injection sites with tax payer supplied drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Silenced Recovery Voices Despite thousands in Seattle's recovery community ready to contribute expertise, ORCA architects made no meaningful outreach. The recovery community has decades of success in overcoming, yet ORCA appears to have no partnerships with abstinence-based treatment programs, focusing exclusively on harm reduction instead. Real Solutions Require Real Treatment Three reforms could redirect toward actual effectiveness: Mandatory abstinence based recovery community involvement in program designLegal intervention pathways for repeat visitsPartnerships with abstinence-based programs leading to self-sufficiency Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tragedy of Managed Decline Through five years of front-row seats to Seattle's crisis, Ginny and Andrea's work reveals a stark truth: Intentional services focused on stability and recovery are possible, yet programs like ORCA are designed to further remove addicts from the stream of life, leaving them stuck in the throes of desperate circumstances. The focus is on management instead of prevention. Why do we continue to financially support models that lead nowhere? The tragedy isn't wasted millionsit's abandoning people to "professionally managed" decline when transformation is within reach. Seattle deserves programs that address root causes, not expensive systems designed to maintain a stable client base while human lives deteriorate. People struggling with addiction deserve opportunities for change, growth, and self-sufficiency. We've lived this crisis from every angle. It's time Seattle listened to those who've walked these paths and found real solutions, not expensive management systems masquerading as treatment. Ginny Burton is a former street addict, University of Washington graduate, founder of O-UT (Overhaul-Unrelenting Transfiguration), and facilitates transformational change programs. Andrea Suarez runs We Heart Seattle boots-on-the-ground drug user intervention program focused on recovery-first outreach and housing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Mexico this week. Topics on the agenda include dismantling the cartels, halting fentanyl trafficking, ending illegal migration, reducing the trade deficit and countering malign extracontinental actors. But although not mentioned by name, China is the main and most powerful extracontinental actor in Mexico. Criminals from China have been involved in Mexican money laundering. A report from the U.S. Treasury Departments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network states that, Chinese money laundering networks were involved in the handling of $312 billion between 2020 and 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese money laundering networks are global and pervasive. Andrea Gacki, director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, said networks launder proceeds for Mexico-based drug cartels and are involved in other significant underground money movement schemes within the U.S. and around the world. Beijing has also been criticized for the export of chemical components used in fentanyl production in Mexico. Last July, Zhi Dong Zhang, a Chinese national allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, escaped from house arrest in Mexico City. Miracle of miracles, the accused fled through a tunnel in his home just a day before he was to be extradited to the U.S. Zhi, also known as Brother Wang and wanted by Interpol, was no minor fugitive. According to Mexican authorities, he was a key player and intermediary in distributing chemicals for the manufacture of fentanyl and methamphetamines. Investigations indicate that the Chinese national operated in the U.S., Latin America, China and Japan. The telecommunications company Huawei, banned in the U.S. and several European countries for its alleged links to military espionage and the Chinese Communist Party, continues to operate in Mexico. Like other Chinese companies, it has a strong presence in port systems, airports and other critical Mexican infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has kept up its crusade against Huawei, citing risks of espionage and disruption. As a result, Panama has replaced much of its telecommunications equipment with U.S. technology, and the Spanish government recently canceled a multi-million-dollar contract involving Huawei because it raised alarm bells in Washington and Brussels. Another issue that stands in the way of a strong relationship between Mexico and the U.S. is satellite space cooperation with China. It was recently reported that CAS Space launched a rocket that put satellites built by a Mexican company called ThumbSat into orbit. For China, space is not just a matter of symbolism and soft power. This is a strategic sector of security and military competition with the U.S. Although China claims that all of its operations are for peaceful and technological purposes, there is a government scheme that establishes civil-military fusion. All technology from mainland China has a dangerous dual purpose. The U.S., in response to this growing concern, has announced plans to stablish a Space South Command to promote greater cooperation with its Latin American partners. China sells a lot and buys little from Mexico. Between January and June of this year, Mexico exported $4.5 billion of goods into China, whereas the Asian country sold $62.1 billion into Mexico. Not only is this an unequal and disadvantageous situation for Mexico, but it also harms its trade relationship with its northern neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the U.S. refers to extracontinental malign actors, it is not only talking about trade. China is the most dangerous and powerful extracontinental actor in the hemisphere, posing a broad threat in technology, organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and more. To ignore or minimize the threats posed by China in Mexico would be naive, and failure to take action would be a serious mistake. The Rubio-Sheinbaum meeting will undoubtedly give special importance to these issues. Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States, and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is an alumnus of the National Defense Universitys Security and Defense Seminar and the Harvard Leadership course. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NewsNation National Correspondent Robert Sherman has found himself on the frontlines of some of the worlds biggest stories: from Ukraine to Israel and across the United States. He shares what hes seeing on the ground. Subscribe to his newsletter: Frontlines with Robert Sherman here. (NewsNation) Its crunch time. This is the week in which President Trump has said Russia needs to make strides towards peace in Ukraine. So far, the administration is none too impressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have learned things that will be very interesting, I think in the next few days youll find out, President Trump said vaguely today. In an interview with Fox News, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: President Putin, since the historic meeting in Anchorage, since the phone call, when the European leaders and President Zelenskyy were at the White House the following Monday, has done the opposite of following through on what he indicated he wanted to do as a matter of fact, he has in a despicable, despicable manner increased the bombing campaign. Frontlines with Robert Sherman: It takes two to tango Bessent would go on to add, I think with President Trump, all options are on the table, and I think well be examining those very closely this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday, the president called out India by name once again, writing on Truth Social: India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but its getting late. They should have done so years ago. Additional tariffs on India, a major purchaser of Russian oil, were issued last month. So-called secondary tariffs on Russian trade partners are an option the White House has said it is keeping in its back pocket. As we wait for a possible move from the White House, where is Russian President Vladimir Putin? China. Rubbing elbows with the leadership there, as well as India and North Korea, this week. Its a security forum, and later a military parade, where the leaders appear to be coalescing power and aligning interests to counter the West. We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics, and practice true multilateralism, President Xi of China said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian president, in recent days, has said the summit in Alaska has led to mutual understandings between the Kremlin and White House on the situation in Ukraine and today even acknowledged that European Union membership for Ukraine is something Russia is fine with. Ukraines ambitions to join NATO, on the other hand, remain a hardline no. Putin in China as no progress is made in Ukraine peace talks As for Ukraines EU membership, we have never objected to this, Putin said today. As for NATO, this is another issue. The point is the security of the Russian Federation, not only today or in midterm time span. It is about the long-term outlook. Our position here is well known. We consider it unacceptable for us. The White House has said that President Putin promised President Trump the Russian leader would sit down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but that looks to be in doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now theyre talking about a trilateral meeting, about a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin aide on foreign policy, said to Russian media. But specifically this as far as I know there was no agreement between Putin and Trump on it. However, when asked today by a reporter if there will be consequences if there isnt a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, President Trump said, There will be. Russias Putin faces looming deadline for Ukraine peace talks Meanwhile, with uncertainty in the air and some heavy strikes in recent days, Zelenskyy is calling on the West to up its pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without pressure from the world, there will be no end to the war, Zelenskyy said in an evening address over the weekend. And these are all clear signals to the United States of America and to Europe. The White House has the next move. This week shall be telling in terms of what they choose to do with it. As an aside, we are now less than two months away from my first book, Lessons From the Front, hitting shelves. October 30 is the big day, and the countdown is on. Thank you to everyone who has preordered already. For those still interested in doing so, you can place your order through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Bloomsbury. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation. 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. Related Video: Trump Blasts Chicago Leaders, Crime As National Guard Threat Looms | SUNRISE Autumn brings cooler air and the media spotlight back to nations capital as Congress returns to occupied Washington. But the real heat during the summer was outside the Beltway, where Democratic governors used their executive powers to resist President Trumps dangerous imperial overreach. We havent even made it to next years midterm elections, but presidential politics are already in the air. The dual Trump threats to democracy and the economy have sped up the presidential calendar and forced Democratic candidates to get out of the starting blocks quickly. States like New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina and Iowa with early delegate selection contests in 2028 have already seen plenty of the contestants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Gov. Gavin Newsom elevated himself this summer when he stood up to Trump. His aggressive campaign to create additional Democratic congressional districts in his home state and his savvy national social media takeover has jump started his campaign for president. He has taken full advantage of his opportunities. The California Highway Patrol announced that it would assume responsibility for the safety of former Vice President Kamala Harris after the president abruptly cancelled her Secret Service protection detail. A new and way-too-early national survey of Democrats by Emerson University revealed that the California governor has taken the lead in the 2028 Democratic presidential sweepstakes, doubling his vote over the summer. He enjoys the support of 25 percent of the Democrats and leads former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (16 percent) and Harris (13 percent). The other potential candidates are in single digits. The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee will take her turn in the spotlight this fall when she embarks on a national tour to promote her book on her 2024 presidential campaign, 107 Days. Other potential Democratic candidates Govs. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania will soon need to step up their games to stay in the media mix. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also challenged the president. He followed Newsoms lead and threatened to redistrict. He could be directly in the firing line since Trump said he may send federal forces to occupy Chicago. The threat to Chicagos autonomy could pave the way for a serious confrontation between the president and the governor. Their battle over an invasion of the Windy City could advance Pritzkers presidential candidacy in the same way that the contest over redistricting elevated Newsoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Democratic governors wait in the wings to get a piece of the action and a share of the presidential spotlight. Wes Moore of Maryland suggested that he might ask his legislature to create a new Democratic congressional seat and the president retaliated by threatening federal funding for the reconstruction of Baltimores Key Bridge. Trump has a penchant for aggression against Democratic governors who challenge him. It shouldnt come as a shock if he sends federal troops to occupy Baltimore. The aggressive actions of the Democratic governors will be a tough act for the Democratic leaders in Congress, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), to follow. Newsom and Pritzker have broad executive authority and friendly legislative majorities that are not available to minority leaders in Congress. While the governors have the power to act, Schumer and Jeffries need only react to MAGA initiatives. The focus of the battle in Congress will be on the federal budget. The federal government will shut down on Oct. 1 unless Congress passes a budget for the fiscal 2026 or agrees on a continuing resolution to keep it open past the deadline. On the House side, the House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has usually been able to keep his caucus in line on fiscal issues. So Jeffries role may be confined to raising issues that his party can use as talking points in next years competitive midterm congressional campaigns. Johnson, however, may have trouble keeping a coalition of Democrats and hardcore conservative Republicans from calling for a release of the documents that might expose Trumps involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schumer has more leverage than his counterpart in the House. The requirement that a spending bill needs 60 votes to avoid a filibuster gives Schumer an opportunity to shape the outcome of the debate. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who might be a presidential candidate, criticized Schumers leadership for failing to offer resistance to the passage of Trumps big bad budget bill earlier in the year. That places pressure on the Senate Democratic leader to fight more fiercely against Trumps spending bills. Fall could see the beginning of a two-front war in U.S. politics. Progressive activists will be watching closely to see how aggressively Democratic congressional leaders in Washington challenge Trump during the big spending battle. Beyond the beltway, we could see an extension of Trumps campaign to invade and occupy cities like Chicago and Baltimore that have Democratic mayors and are located in states with Democratic governors. Autumn may be cool, but it wont be calm. Brad Bannon is a national Democratic strategist and CEO of Bannon Communications Research which polls for Democrats, labor unions and progressive issue groups. He hosts the popular progressive podcast on power, politics and policy, Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon. 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 was not surprised by President Trumps Truth Social post that the Smithsonian and other American museums are excessively focused on how bad slavery was. Trumps post is consistent with MAGAs triumphalist insistence on eviscerating critical analyses of Americas problematic race relations and history from the nations schools, cultural institutions and mass media. Without endorsing racial bondage, his call encourages MAGAs white supremacist elements and discourages efforts to address racial disparities relating to slaverys long-term constraints on Black progress. As someone who has long studied, taught and written about the American South and slavery, I am appalled. Trumps position trivializes the injustices and horrors of enslavement, implying they barely merit mention within Americas historical narrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I propose, counterintuitively, to rebut Trumps messaging by looking microscopically at the moment in the plantation calendar when slaves supposedly were treated best. By illuminating how horrific racial bondage was even when legend says enslavers were at their most humane, we can grasp the ahistorical absurdity of Trumps position that museums move on. That time was Christmas. There is a near-consensus that slaves were happiest, if you can say such a thing, over the holiday. Supposedly, starting Christmas Eve, slaves not only were excused from working for up to a week, but masters put whips aside, gave them amazingly generous presents, threw them sumptuous feasts and dances, and allowed them to marry and travel anywhere nearby they wanted. The trouble is this stereotype derives largely from memoirs of post-Civil War Lost Cause southern writers who reimagined slave holidays to justify southern secession and the Confederacy. Such writings overlooked the vast profits accruing to slaveholders from coerced labor and sometimes claimed that slaves had it better than masters and lacked interest in freedom. Consider this racist passage from an autobiographical vignette by LaSalle Pickett (the widow of Confederate general George Pickett: In the Southern heart, the sacred Christmas-tide is linked with memories of the old-time plantation, the merry-making of the affectionate, simple-hearted colored people to whom the Christmas holidays were the great festival of the year, the gratitude which lit up their dusky faces as they received their presents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres my rebuttal, based on pre-Civil War documents like newspaper and magazine articles, published autobiographies by escaped slaves, travel narratives by European and northern observers who passed through the South, and the letters and diaries of plantation owners and their overseers. First, many slaves had short Christmas holidays of one to three days, or no vacation at all. Second, physical and verbal abuse of slaves continued over the holiday, sometimes to the point of sadism. My research uncovered a hotel landlord who pummeled a Black servant youth to death for spilling whale oil on his daughters silk dress, and a master who lashed a nine-year-old boy to the point that he bled from his mouth because he had been negligent in tending his owners cows. The sadism did not always come in the form of corporal punishment. Frederick Douglass, in his Narrative, related that masters encouraged slaves to get drunk over Christmas so that in the filth of their inebriated wallowing they would become demoralized and conclude they were unfit for freedom. Third, slave trading, the auctioning of slave bodies, and the breaking up of slave families continued over the holiday. The sold slave Louis Hughes, who arrived at his new home in Pontotoc, Miss., on Christmas Eve, 1844 after a long overland journey, recalled, Boss took me into the house and into the sitting room, where all the family were assembled, and presented me as a Christmas gift to the madam, his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some households, because enslaved people were legal property, masters and mistresses even transferred to their youngest children the ownership of youthful slaves (who would serve them once they got older) as holiday gifts. And not all masters threw their coerced workers parties or were generous in their gifting. Most revealingly, not all masters allowed Blacks to roam over Christmas, given recurrent fears that slaves would capitalize on their lax supervision over the holidays by killing their masters or joining in a general insurrection to overthrow slavery entirely in North America. This is hardly evidence for later Lost Cause claims that all slaves loved their generous owners. I would not expect Trump, a child of privilege who has mocked physically and mentally impaired people and minorities throughout his public life, to get any of this. If he did so, it would be a turn-off for his political base. But his vision for the Smithsonian is a red flag moment. Robert E. May is emeritus professor of history at Purdue University. He is author of Debunking the Yule Log Myth: The Disturbing History of a Plantation Legend (Bloomsbury, 2025); and Yuletide in Dixie: Slavery, Christmas, and Southern Memory (Virginia, 2020). 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. Chronic absenteeism in schools is a nationwide problem. Utah is right to begin tackling it through a campaign initiated by the state board of education, but the best solutions are most likely going to involve personal, case-by-case intervention. Education experts trace the bulk of this problem to the COVID-19 pandemic, when school patterns were disrupted and many students were forced to participate in online-only learning daily. Writing for The Hechinger Report, Jill Barshay noted that the problem seemed to peak nationwide in the 2021-22 school year, but that it remains at 23.5% nationally, which is far above the 15% before the pandemic. Who is chronically absent? Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year. In Utah, the numbers roughly follow national trends. The Deseret News recently reported that 23.8% of students were chronically absent last year, compared with 12.2% a decade ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should come as no surprise that chronic absenteeism will stunt a childs ability to learn and build relationships. Lessons become fragmented. Opportunities to ask teachers for help become few. Friendships with fellow students dont blossom. In addition, students do not develop habits of punctuality and attendance that they will need one day in the workplace. Income not always a predictor While rates are highest among students from low-income families, Barshay reports that these trends are prevalent among high-income families as well. She quoted American Enterprise Institute deputy director of education policy Nat Malkus as saying, Chronic absenteeism affects disadvantaged students more often, but the rise in chronic absenteeism was an unfortunate tide where all boats rose. However, there do seem to be connections between absenteeism and President Trumps crackdown on undocumented immigrants, Hechinger reported. While its true that more parents are keeping kids home if they feel the least bit sick, researchers are finding a common and frustrating excuse provided by many absent kids: school is boring. An AEI symposium in May also uncovered a link to mental health issues, although its unclear whether this was triggered by the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the purpose for Utahs new Every Day Counts initiative is to track data. Also, it will provide resources for families and teachers, and it will help with transportation, mental health and other needs that might keep students from attending on a daily basis. This effort will no doubt overcome some barriers and help Utah schools better understand the problem. The campaign will enlist attendance ambassadors to build support within communities. Personal relationships We suggest nothing will be as effective as one-on-one relationships between teachers and students. The reasons for skipping school are likely as many and varied as the students who are doing it. The Hechinger Report noted how several New York City high schools were using data to focus on students who are on the cusp of becoming chronically absent. A consulting organization meets with these students, sets weekly goals and shows them the link between attendance and grades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A school in Indianapolis targets kids after only five absences, sending attendance officers to homes to meet with parents. Researchers recommend rewards for attendance rather than punishments for absences. The key here is to recognize that no one school or researcher has uncovered a foolproof one-size-fits-all solution to the problem of chronic absenteeism, but that answers lie in a myriad of creative approaches and data collection by professionals who are motivated by love for their students. Utahs Every Day Counts campaign should remain nimble enough to pivot toward data-driven results that show one approach as being more effective than another. And it should be transparent enough to report regularly on its progress. The wisdom of attacking this problem should be obvious. Todays students are tomorrows leaders. They are the doctors, scientists, accountants, lawyers, politicians and purveyors of countless other vital professions and vocations that society will need to function and prosper. Todays leaders cannot allow a large percentage of this generation to fail or fall behind. Republicans have for decades hammered the tired refrain that Democrats are radical socialists who will lead the country to ruin. In 2020, former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) laid out the stakes of electing Joe Biden and his party. Their vision for America is socialism, she said. And we know socialism has failed everywhere. Democratic Party leaders seem to agree. When President Trump announced in his 2019 State of the Union Address that America will never be a socialist country, even Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined the chorus of colleagues who stood and applauded. A 2021 report unpacking the 2020 election results concluded that Republican attempts to brand Democrats as radicals worked particularly in messaging around radical socialists and defund the police, as well as among immigrant populations that fled socialist governments, including among Venezuelan, Cuban, Vietnamese, and Filipino voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And despite Zohran Mamdanis strong victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the June New York City Democratic mayoral primary, the self-proclaimed socialist has been shunned by numerous prominent New York Democrats. This includes Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). But now it is Trump who is acting like a socialist. Corporate donors should take note. In June, the Trump administration approved Nippon Steels acquisition of U.S. Steel on the condition that it give the White House a golden share of the Japanese company. Although it is not an equity stake, Trump declared, We have a golden share, which I control, or the president controls. On Aug. 22, Intel announced an agreement with the administration to take $8.9 billion in the companys common stock, approximately a 10 percent stake, making the U.S. the largest investor in the tech giant that builds the semiconductor chips that power smartphones, computers and data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This deal is no freebie for the American taxpayer. It is in lieu of Intel repaying the federal grants it received under the bipartisan U.S. Chips and Science Act, which Biden signed into law in 2022. Earlier last month, Trump also made a deal with two of Intels rivals, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, requiring them to pay 15 percent of the revenues made from sales to China to the U.S. Although most of the Republican Party has cheered on Trumps plans to acquire stakes in other companies, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wrote on X, If socialism is government owning the means of production, wouldnt the government owning part of Intel be a step toward socialism? And tellingly, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed the move. The fact that too few Americans seem to notice this Republican incoherence could stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of what the s-word even means. In 2018, a Gallup poll found that 23 percent of Americans defined socialism as equality, 17 percent as state control of the economy, 10 percent as social welfare and public services, 6 percent as talking to people, being social, social media, getting along with people, and another 6 percent in non-specific derogatory terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two recent surveys demarcate socialism as the opposite of capitalism. A May Rasmussen poll found that 71 percent of likely voters continue to reject socialism in favor of free-market capitalism. That number could be changing, as a Cato/YouGov survey of Americans under 30 showed 62 percent favoring socialism over capitalism, and 34 percent viewing communism favorably. Most dictionaries define socialism as an economic, social and political system calling for governmental ownership and control of property, the means of production and the distribution of goods. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels advocated for social control of resources in their 1848 Manifesto of Communist Party as the means of achieving true freedom and prosperity. But they viewed socialism as a mere step toward communism, which rejects social classes, money and the state entirely in favor of common ownership. Socialism thus means all sorts of things to all sorts of Americans across the political divide. British journalist James Bloodworth has argued that socialism is hard to define in contemporary society because the word [is] being used as both a synonym for communism and a wooly affectation, an appellation which signals that one cares about worthy causes. Trumps brand of socialism is not the wooly kind. According to the American Enterprise Institutes Michael Strain, since Trumps conflation of government and the private sector is occurring outside of a crisis situation, it is both unprecedented and aggressive not necessarily a good thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For starters, it is bad for Intel because the company can no longer take steps that are strictly in the best interests of its shareholders. If what Intel needs to do is politically unpopular for the White House such as closing plants or laying off workers it must now think twice. Other companies seeking to land a government contract might need to prioritize U.S.-owned vendors such as Intel, even if their products are not what their companies need. Or they might worry first and foremost about what Trump himself wants. (Prior to the deal, the president demanded that Intel fire its CEO, Lip Bu-Tan, due to prior ties to the Chinese military.) Trumps apologists might point to the bank bailouts by President George W. Bush (continued by President Barack Obama) during the 2008 financial crisis or the existence of government corporations such as Amtrak and the Tennessee Valley Authority a federally owned electric utility corporation as historical examples justifying this administrations grabbing the levers of private sector control. But unlike with the Intel deal, the bank bailouts were temporary. And both Amtrak and the Tennessee Valley Authority were created by Congress. Trumps actions, by comparison, are an extraordinary flex of presidential power. When President Harry Truman tried to take over private steel production during the Korean War, the Supreme Court held in the 1952 Youngstown Steel case that he had exceeded his constitutional authority and violated separation of powers because he lacked any constitutional or statutory basis for the seizure. Trumps scheme looks more like the governments of Greece, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Taiwan, which own strategic segments of the airline, rail, telecommunications, automobile and defense industries. Worse, as Mark Williams of Boston University told Newsweek, If such White House policies expand past AI chips and steel and into other strategic industries, it would move the U.S. toward a brand of government-managed capitalism like Russia and China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Free markets and limited government are under threat, and capitalists who hold real power over American politics should be alarmed. In Sen. Pauls words, Today its Intel, tomorrow it could be any industry. Kimberly Wehle is author of the book Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works and Why. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Last year, Republicans won control of Washington on the promise of lower costs, greater prosperity and an all-around better quality of life for families. But today, as students head back to the classroom, most families cant even afford the basics. In a recent survey by Intuit, 54% of parents said theyre skipping essential purchases, like groceries, just to afford school supplies. Its no wonder why. According to a new analysis from Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation, a typical assortment of first-day school supplies will cost an average of 7.3 percent more this back-to-school season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pencils alone are nearly 6% more expensive than they were just a year ago. Lunch boxes are up 8%. Notebooks? 17%. Index cards? 42%. President Donald Trump thinks parents should simply buy their kids fewer pencils. They can have five, the president said. Thats not a solution. But any answer to this cost-of-living crisis requires acknowledging that these price increases are a symptom of a broken economy. Instead of tackling the high cost of living, Republicans chose to enact an unprecedented wealth transfer from families to the billionaire class. They slapped tariffs on everything from toys to cars, costing the typical family $2,400. They kicked over 15 million Americans off their health insurance while raising health care costs for everyone. They took food away from 16 million hungry children. They enacted so-called Trump accounts, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called a backdoor for privatizing Social Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All together, they gave 90% of Americans a pay cut and 900 billionaires another round of tax cuts. These arent just bad policies. Theyre policies that virtually nobody voted for. Two in 3 Trump voters oppose tax cuts for people who are already rich. Over 80 percent also oppose cuts to food programs, Medicaid and Social Security. Americans deserve better than a country where most families cant afford the first rung of the American Dream. They deserve better than an economy that punishes hard work and rewards hoarded wealth. They deserve better than a health care industry that prioritizes profit over health and humanity. They deserve an overhaul of our failing political and economic system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what Democrats are offering: an agenda to transform health care, cut costs and crush corruption. We want to bring the cost of child care down to $15 per day. We want to lower health insurance premiums with a permanent health care tax credit. We want to cut the red tape Republicans have imposed on Medicaid recipients, which keeps deserving families from enrolling. We want to slash the cost of housing by building nearly 2 million affordable homes. We want to protect working families from utility shutoffs and cap home energy costs at 3% of monthly income. We want to guarantee hearing, vision and dental coverage for every senior on Medicare, so that working parents dont have to pay for their own parents health care as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to prohibit members of Congress from trading stocks and ban corporate criminals from holding government jobs, so that neither lawmakers nor federal employees can profit from insider information. And yes we want to release the Epstein files and bring those who abused young girls to justice. The only way to save our democracy is to restore peoples faith in it. Republicans hoped that voters anger would calm down over the summer. They hoped that prices would stop rising all by themselves. They hoped that the American people would move on. They were wrong and their constituents are letting them hear it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American people are going to keep speaking out. And as students head back to school, Democrats will keep fighting for a country worthy of our children. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) West Coast states are teaming up to create a new health alliance in response to the actions of President Trump, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, and the ongoing chaos at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Wednesday, Govs. Tina Kotek, Bob Ferguson and Gavin Newsom, of Oregon, Washington and California, respectively, announced the creation of the West Coast Health Alliance a group to share public health information to ensure residents remain protected by science, not politics. Oregon Senate Dems delay ODOT funding vote for 2 weeks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a joint release, the three governors cited the mass firing of CDC doctors and scientists, as well as the politicization of the agency. President Donald Trumps mass firing of CDC doctors and scientists and his blatant politicization of the agency is a direct assault on the health and safety of the American people, the statement said. The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences. California, Oregon, and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk. According to a release from Gov. Koteks office, the new alliance will align public health recommendations across the three states, ensuring that decisions are informed by trusted scientists, clinicians and public health leaders. They are also working to make sure that immunization recommendations are informed by national medical organizations and that the public will always have access to consistent, science-based recommendations they can rely on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement follows the three governors condemnations of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s removal of the 17 members of the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in June. In response to the formation of the West Coast Health Alliance, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shared a statement, blaming Democrat-run states for eroding the American peoples trust in public health agencies. Democrat-run states that pushed unscientific school lockdowns, toddler mask mandates, and draconian vaccine passports during the COVID era completely eroded the American peoples trust in public health agencies. ACIP remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations in this country, and HHS will ensure policy is based on rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science, not the failed politics of the pandemic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Oregon Districts Lilys Dayton and Blind Bobs had fires in the kitchen over Labor Day Weekend, and both are fully open on Wednesday, Sept. 3. 2 NEWS spoke with Emily, the owner of Lilys, on Sunday. She explained there was a small kitchen fire on Saturday night, and the fire extinguisher had to be used. This made the kitchen unusable. Photo of the fire damage, via Blind Bobs. Lilys was fully booked for Brunch for Heedfest and expected a massive boost in business. It reached out to Blind Bobs for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday morning, Blind Bobs had a range fire while preparing to help out Lilys. Both stayed open and sold drinks on Sunday. Fast-forward to Wednesday, Lilys shared on social media that it was opening at 11 a.m. for lunch service with half-priced bottles of wine for girl dinner. Sara, Meeg and Peydon cant wait to see you! We are so glad to be back to feeding Dayton, wrote Lilys. Confused by all the TikTok trends? This glossary might help Blind Bobs said on social media on Tuesday that it was working diligently to restore kitchen service. It thanked the community for reaching and supporting it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After conferring with the professionals at the DFD and those with Dayton Public Health, were happy to say we are cleared to cook! Give us an hour or two to reset the line, dial in the new grill, and do our stretches, wrote Blind Bobs. Youll soon see our online ordering go live when were ready to serve you. Lilys is having a special gift card Fire Sale to gain back some of the lost sales on Sunday. 2 NEWS will update this article when more information is 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 WDTN.com. Just a few streets over from Downtown Orlando is the thriving neighborhood of Mills 50, built by Vietnamese immigrants and now a foodie mecca. The neighborhood has become so popular that its restaurant scene has garnered multiple Michelin nods, including the citys only Michelin Green Star for its sustainable practices. (Why pho tastes different depending on where you are) The fall of Saigons impact on Orlando 50 years ago this year was the fall of Saigon, which is the end of the Vietnam War, says Ricky Ly, founder of Orlandos TastyChomps.com , and all-around Orlando food expert. After the collapse of the South Vietnamese government, many Vietnamese in the south became refugees, [and] many settled in Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Vietnamese immigrants built a community in Orlando, they also began opening grocery stores like Tien Hung Market (now Mills Market), which also houses Tien Hung Jewelry Store. And while the market is now a food hall, the jewelry store still stands in its original spot, owned by Cecilia Nguyen, a former Miss Vietnam Florida pageant winner. In the 80s, more Vietnamese started moving in, but theres obviously Chinese and other folks too, who opened up restaurants and markets to serve the community, and its kept growing. And then, in the past several years, you see Mills 50 transforming again as that first generation starts to retire and the second and third generation come up and bring their own flavor to the district, says Ly. Saigon Snow at Mills Market Photograph by Turtle House Productions Chef Jerry Lau of Kai Kai at Mills Market. Photograph by Turtle House Productions Mills 50 neighborhood today Today, the Mills 50 neighborhood is known for its culinary scene, which Ly can pinpoint back to the original markets of the late 70s. In fact, his family would drive from West Palm Beach, Florida, to spend the day at Magic Kingdom, before driving about 20 minutes to Mills 50 to buy banh mi sandwiches to bring home. Now, the neighborhood has multiple Michelin nods, including Orlandos first green star at Kaya, plus dozens of other Michelin Bib Gourmands and recommended restaurants like Banh Mi Boy, Zaru, EDOBOY, Shin Jung, Tori Tori, and Sticky Rice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what makes Mills 50 truly special is its diversity. Its a testament to the people of the area, and not just the Vietnamese, but of Orlando itself, says Ly. Besides being a hub for Asian cuisine and culture, theres also a large LGBTQ+ and creative arts presence. The murals around the neighborhood are part of the citys goal to bring more art to public places, and they can be viewed everywhere from the sides of buildings to traffic count boxes. Formerly Tien Hung Market, Mills Market is filled with renowned Vietnamese cuisine. Photograph Courtesy of Mills Market Where to eat and drink in Mills 50 Mills Market: Formerly Tien Hung Market, the now bustling Mills Market food hall currently houses five Asian pop-up restaurants, including the Michelin Bib Gourmands UniGirl, Banh Mi Boy, and Zaru. You cant go wrong with anything here, but UniGirls crispy fried chicken thigh onigiri is a comfort meal wrapped in nori. Piggza: Sourdough pizzas and fresh pasta grace the menu at this Mills 50 hot spot. The spicy sausage rigatoni features house-made spicy Italian sausage with a savory vodka sauce that will keep you diving in for more. And when it comes to pizza, the classic pepperoni is a must-get, featuring cupped pepperoni that blankets the entire top of the pie, plus smoked mozzarella for more flavor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (A taste of Vietnam, from hearty sour broths to fragrantly spiced street food) Tori Tori: Tori Tori is the place to see and be seen in Mills 50. The cocktail bar and Japanese pub serves up classic highball cocktails, including a refreshing citrus highball with Suntory Toki Japanese whisky, ginger, lemon, and Fever Tree ginger beer. All of the food is shareable small plates, with delightful options like chicken oyster yakitori, shoyu marinated quail eggs, and blue crab and corn croquettes. Sampaguita : This Filipino-American-owned spot dishes out creative flavors like pineapple cake, jackfruit-chili nut, and ube latte. Sampaguita's creatively delicious ice cream flavors include keso guava cheesecake, jackfruit chili nut, ube latte, soysauce butterscotch, and more. Photograph by Chad Baumer Sampaguita Ice Cream Photograph by David Lawrence Haluhalo at Sampaguita Ice Cream Photograph by David Lawrence Haan Coffee: Next door to Sampaguita is Haan Coffee, a Korean coffee shop where seasonal offerings and menu staples bring in droves of people from around the city. One of the most popular options is the SJ Iced Latte, which isnt overly sweet with warm cinnamon notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zymarium Meadery: Mead is an often misunderstood drink, but Zymarium Meadery is making the honey-based beverage approachable and fun. The bar features black leather seats and gold accents that resemble honeycomb. No matter when you visit Zymaraium, youll have the chance to try rotating flavors and fan-favorites since there are always 20 or more on tap. Zymarium Meadery has more than 20 meads on tap, including Florida lychee, coffee, orange blossom, and more. Photograph by Synthestruct Food and drink and Tori Tori. Photograph by Airam Dato A mixologist at Tori Tori prepares a cocktail. Photograph by Airam Dato What to do Latte art class at Qreate Coffee: If youve ever wanted to learn how to make gourmet coffee drinks at home, then Qreate Coffee is the spot to learn. Throughout the year, the coffee shop hosts Latte Art Workshops. During the two-hour class, youll learn how to steam milk and pour it into drinkable pieces of art from a Specialty Coffee Association barista. Art classes at The House on Lang: Every month, The House on Lang hosts a variety of art classes, from happy hour record painting and make your own pottery to shirt embroidery and calligraphy. The monthly calendar of events is always posted on the shops website. Each class has a different cost, but all supplies are included. (These real-world destinations inspired the most popular video games) Megan duBois is a freelance travel writer and editor based in Jacksonville, Florida. She typically covers theme parks, cruising, family travel, and group tours. Her work has appeared online and in print at publications like Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, Fodors, The Points Guy, Food + Wine, FamilyVacationist and more. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr is facing calls to step down from over 1,000 current former staff from his department, who accuse him of compromising the health of the nation. The demand comes after Susan Monarez resigned as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week, less than a month into her tenure, following a clash with the secretary over vaccine policy, prompting four other officials to follow her through the door in a show of solidarity. In an open letter from the campaign group Save HHS, the signatories say of Kennedy: Should he decline to resign, we call upon the president and U.S. Congress to appoint a new secretary of health and human services, one whose qualifications and experience ensure that health policy is informed by independent and unbiased peer-reviewed science. We expect those in leadership to act when the health of Americans is at stake. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr continues to be dogged by criticism of his leadership from medical professionals (Getty) A previous letter from Save HHS dated August 20 called on the secretary to do more to protect public health officials in the wake of a shooting near the CDCs campus in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 8, which saw a man fire hundreds of rounds of ammunition and kill a police officer after expressing anger about Covid-19 vaccines. The gunman also died in the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That appeal has since attracted a further 887 signatures, according to The Hill, The department responded by accusing the group of politicizing the tragedy. Its latest letter cites the ousting of Monarez as evidence of what it considers to be the state of chaos surrounding Kennedys reign at the helm of public health administration and attacks him from appointing political ideologues who pose as scientific experts and manipulate data to fit predetermined conclusions. The signatories continued: We believe health policy should be based in strong, evidence-based principles rather than partisan politics. But under Secretary Kennedys leadership, HHS policies are placing the health of all Americans at risk, regardless of their politics. The staffers stress that they have put their names to the letter in their personal rather than professional capacities. Some preferred to remain anonymous out of well-founded fear of retaliation and threats to personal safety. Susan Monarezs ousting as CDC director last week was cited by the letters signatories as evidence of turmoil (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty) HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon dismissed their concerns in a statement that argued Kennedy has been working tirelessly on behalf of the CDC since taking office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary Kennedy has been clear: the CDC has been broken for a long time, Nixon said. Restoring it as the worlds most trusted guardian of public health will take sustained reform and more personnel changes. From his first day in office, he pledged to check his assumptions at the door and he asked every HHS colleague to do the same. That commitment to evidence-based science is why, in just seven months, he and the HHS team have accomplished more than any health secretary in history in the fight to end the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again. Monarezs exit has not been the only high-profile departure from Kennedys team this summer. Dr Vinay Prasad was forced out as the top vaccine official at the Food and Drug Administration on July 29, only to be reinstated on August 9. According to The Wall Street Journal, Prasads exit came about at the insistence of the White House and was influenced, at least in part, by a pressure campaign from by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who was opposed to his progressive background and past support for Vermont Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WSJ also revealed that the secretarys move to fire his then-chief of staff Heather Flick Melanson and her deputy Hannah Anderson in July caused such upset that the latter accidentally backed her car into Kennedys when leaving a staff car park. RFK Jrs Make America Healthy Again movement has been characterised as a fractious coalition of vaccine skeptics or medical freedom activists healthy eating advocates, and critics of pesticides, microplastics and corporate power. It consists of many Kennedy supporters who backed him long before he rose to power as an associate of President Donald Trump, many of whom have differing views or were attracted by different aspects of his messaging and all of whom expect results now that he is in a position of real authority. More than 1,000 current and former Health and Human Services employees penned an open letter Wednesday calling for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to either resign or be fired. The letter whose signatories were not publicly named was released at a tense time for the health agency. Last week, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez was fired, and several other top CDC officials resigned from their jobs in protest. Staff are also reeling from layoffs, changes to the vaccine approval system led by Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic and a shooting outside the CDC headquarters last month. Wednesday's letter accused Kennedy of "endangering the nation's health." It cited last week's upheaval at the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration's decision to rescind emergency approvals that made the COVID-19 vaccines available for young children, and the elevation of "political ideologues who pose as scientific experts" to key vaccine approval posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It called for Kennedy to resign, and said that if he declines to leave his post voluntarily, President Trump should pick a new HHS secretary. "We swore an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution and to serve the American people. Our oath requires us to speak out when the Constitution is violated and the American people are put at risk," the letter reads. The letter was released by a group called Save HHS, which penned a similar open letter last month urging Kennedy to "stop spreading inaccurate health information." The group said the signatories for Wednesday's letter were provided to members of Congress, but weren't publicly listed due to security and privacy concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon responded to the letter by defending Kennedy's record and arguing he is working to restore trust in a "broken" CDC. "From his first day in office, he pledged to check his assumptions at the door and he asked every HHS colleague to do the same," Nixon said. "That commitment to evidence-based science is why, in just seven months, he and the HHS team have accomplished more than any health secretary in history in the fight to end the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again." Separately, nine former CDC directors wrote a New York Times op-ed on Monday that castigated Kennedy for making decisions they said were "unlike anything we had ever seen at the agency," and argued Monarez's firing "adds considerable fuel to this raging fire." Kennedy is set to testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday morning, where he's likely to face questions about the tumult at HHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the White House confirmed that Monarez was fired. Her lawyers called the firing "legally deficient" and said she was "targeted" because she "refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated public health experts." At least four other senior CDC leaders also stepped down last week, in some cases penning resignation letters that decried cuts to the CDC, accused the Trump administration of an "ongoing weaponizing of public health" and blasted "misinformation" about vaccines. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician who chairs the Senate health committee, said the resignations will "require oversight." He also sits on the Senate Finance Committee. Meanwhile, Kennedy ousted every member of a CDC panel responsible for making vaccine recommendations earlier this year, in some cases replacing them with people who have questioned the safety of vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And last week, the FDA only authorized a set of updated COVID-19 vaccines for younger adults and children with preexisting health conditions, in addition to all seniors. Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Dream: Building AI Cyber Defense for Nations More than 2,400 Charlotte voters cast their ballots on Tuesday during early voting, marking the highest turnout for a primary day since 2017, excluding 2019. This surge in voter participation comes despite fewer voting sites being open compared to previous days in 2023. The turnout exceeded any single day of early voting this year, highlighting a significant increase. ALSO READ: Charlotte City Council absences double in a decade, raising accountability concerns Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The notable turnout on Tuesday follows Channel 9s reporting on Monday night regarding Charlottes previously dismal voter turnout. There were only around 1,000 people who had voted up to that point. In 2019, a high-profile race contributed to increased voter engagement. (WATCH BELOW: Boil-water advisory lingers in Fort Mill) DES MOINES, Iowa After over 25 years as a Polk County Supervisor, Angela Connolly announced she wont be seeking reelection. Iowa pheasant population highest its been in 20 years Connolly was first elected to the Polk County Board of Supervisors in 1998. She represents the Fifth District, which includes the north and northwestern parts of Des Moines, the East Village, parts of downtown, and Saylor 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Connolly sat down with WHO 13s Erin Kiernan and talked about her time as a Supervisor and why she decided to not seek another term. You can watch the full conversation in the video 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 who13.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) TeKnowledge, a company that provides technology services for AI, Cybersecurity, and other digital programs, informed 324 employees in Colorado Springs of impending layoffs on Friday, Aug. 29, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. In response to changing client demand, significant changes in the global technology landscape, economic conditions, and industry structure, TeKnowledge has made the difficult decision to substantially reduce its operations and workforce at the Colorado Springs facility, stated a letter from the companys Human Resources department to the State of Colorado Dislocated Worker Unit. TeKnowledge, which has offices in multiple locations across the globe, listed 24 job titles of employees who would be laid off between October 30 and December 30, with various tech support roles receiving the highest number of layoffs. 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. (NewsNation) The government has released 33,295 pages of Jeffrey Epstein-related records that it received from the U.S. Department of Justice. Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released 33,295 pages of Epstein-related records that were provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, the committee wrote in a statement. On August 5, Chairman Comer issued a subpoena for records related to Mr. Jeffrey Epstein, and the Department of Justice has indicated it will continue producing those records while ensuring the redaction of victim identities and any child sexual abuse material. Epstein-related documents can be found here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US conducts lethal strike on drug vessel in Caribbean: Rubio Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said earlier Tuesday that the government was uploading 34,000 pages of documents that were set to be released. The document dump came hours after lawmakers met with Epstein victims. Videos of Epsteins home shot by the Palm Beach Police Department in 2005, as part of a previous investigation into him, were part of the evidence released. Lawmakers meet with Epstein accusers The victims themselves have stated this is a lot bigger than I think anyone anticipated, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said after the meeting. There are some very rich and powerful people that need to go to jail it is very much so a possibility that Jeffrey Epstein was an intelligence asset working for our adversaries, but also, the question we have is, How much did our own government know about it?' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP lawmakers to be confronted by Epstein saga as they return to Congress Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed the Epstein estate for a slew of sensitive documents, including anything resembling a client list and Epsteins birthday book a 2003 volume, compiled by his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, that reportedly includes a letter written by President Donald Trump when he was a private citizen in New York. Those materials are slated for delivery to Capitol Hill by Sept. 8. Rep. Nancy Mace abruptly leaves meeting Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., confirmed via X that she left the meeting with accusers early after becoming overwhelmed by victims stories about what they endured. As a recent survivor (not 2 years in), I had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Full blown panic attack. Sweating. Hyperventilating. Shaking. I cant breathe, she wrote after leaving the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel the immense pain of how hard all victims are fighting for themselves because we know absolutely no one will fight for us. GOD BLESS ALL SURVIVORS. On Wednesday, a pair of bipartisan lawmakers will host a news conference at the Capitol to advance their efforts to force the Trump administration to release all of the governments Epstein files. To ramp up the pressure, the lawmakers Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif. will be joined by several Epstein accusers. We have two ultimate objectives here: We want to bring justice to every single person who is involved in the Epstein evils of the cover-up thereof, Johnson said. But we also want to be equally certain that we protect the innocent victims, many of these young women, some of them are now middle-aged women, have never come forward. We do not want their names or identities to be uncovered. Epstein died by suicide: DOJ Both Republicans and Democrats have called for the declassification of the Epstein files following the Justice Department stating that Epstein died by suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ received criticism from many since stating in July that there was no client list to disclose, and that his death was a suicide. They also released a video near Jeffrey Epsteins cell the night before he was found dead in 2019. Forensic expert Jake Green told NewsNation in July that it was concerning that almost three minutes of footage were cut from the source video. NewsNation affiliate The Hill contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. An overnight fire tore through three adjoining apartment buildings in downtown Reading, forcing dozens of residents to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs. Reading Deputy Fire Chief Richard Kuhn said the blaze started with reports of a loud explosion and alarms sounding and was already raging through the upper floors of buildings at 113, 115A and 117 N. Fifth St. when crews arrived shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday. From the front, it didnt look bad at first, Kuhn said at the scene. But from the rear, it was already running from at least the third floor up across three buildings. We tried an interior push, but when we realized how extensive it was, we had to switch to a defensive attack. Thats when the aerials came in and we started raining water down on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire drew crowds of onlookers. The four- and five-story dwellings share the block with two of the most prominent buildings in the Callowhill Historic District the seven-story Berkshire Building at Fifth and Washington streets, which abuts 113 N. Fifth, and the 18-floor Lincoln Tower Apartments across Fifth Street. STEVEN HENSHAW - READING EAGLE A Reading firefighter attack a hot spot on the roof of the apartment building at 117 N. Fifth St. after daybreak Wednesday, hours after a three-alarm blaze displaced about 35 residents of three adjoining buildings. (STEVEN HENSHAW - READING EAGLE) The fire spread so quickly that crews had to rescue a woman trapped on a fourth-floor unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was unable to get out on her own, Kuhn said. We sent firefighters up, guided her through and got her down safely. Crews also pulled a dog from the building, though numerous other pets remain unaccounted for. Roughly 35 residents were displaced, many escaping without time to grab belongings. STEVEN HENSAHW - READING EAGLE Members of a Red Cross disaster assistance team confer with Reading Deputy Fire Chief Richard Kuhn on Wednesday at the scene of the fire that displaced about 35 residents of three adjoining apartment building in the 100 block of North Fifth Street. (STEVEN HENSAHW - READING EAGLE) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An American Red Cross disaster assistance team was deployed. A representative said Alvernia University offered use of its downtown campus at 401 Penn St. so the evacuees had a place to go. The main floor of what is known as CollegeTowne also was a staging area for the Red Cross to gather information from residents. Jackie Thinna, 39, who shared a two-bedroom, fourth-floor apartment with his parents, said he was awakened by a loud bang that sound like it came from the third floor and smelled smoke. I just to get my parents out, he said. My moms 65, my dads 70. We didnt have time to get dressed. We literally ran down the stairs in our underwear. Somebody gave us blankets out here on the sidewalk. Thinna feared they lost everything in the fire, including important documents and cherished heirlooms. His friend James Munford worried about whether the urn containing his late brothers ashes can be recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have him as a member we keep him around, Munford said of his late brothers cremains. But yeah, hes in there, Thats what hurts the most, said Thinna, staring up at the charred windows. Hopefully between today and tomorrow, they can recover it. At least one person suffered a hand burn and was treated in Reading Hospital, Kuhn said. No firefighters were injured. Kuhn requested a third alarm to draw manpower from fire companies outside the city. Crews needed at least an hour to bring the blaze under control. Kuhn and city Fire Chief James Stoudt Jr. said the blaze underscored their concerns about chronic understaffing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This fire overwhelmed us right out of the gate, Kuhn said. For a run-of-the-mill row home fire, were fine, but something this big stretches us way beyond our ability. Officials were not sure when or if residents can return as crews continued to put out hot spots well after daybreak. The stability of the building at 117 N. Fifth, at the end of the row, is of particular concern, Kuhn said, noting the upper floor is essentially being held up only by gravity pulling down on the walls. The fire marshals office is investigating the cause of the blaze, and city officials will determine whether the structures can be salvaged. As of about 8 a.m. there was still some smoke coming the roof. Kuhn said the fire department would have apparatus on North Fifth for much of the day as crew mopped up from the massive fire operation. The ongoing opioid crisis, claiming over 70,000 lives annually in the U.S. according to the CDCs 2023 data, presents a perplexing scenario where regulatory bodies, in their attempt to curb misuse, have inadvertently intensified challenges for health care providers and patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its 2016 guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, with revisions in 2022 to address misapplications, yet these efforts have fallen short and, in many cases, exacerbated the crisis. A 2021 study in JAMA found that while opioid prescribing rates dropped by 37 percent from 2014 to 2019, overdose deaths continued to rise, driven by illicit fentanyl, suggesting that restrictive policies have not effectively addressed the root causes. In an effort to curtail opioid misuse, authorities have implemented stringent regulations, often described as excessively cautiousmore Catholic than the Pope, as the saying goes. These measures have pushed health care providers and patients from the frying pan into the fire. For instance, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has intensified scrutiny, with a 2022 report from the American Medical Association (AMA) noting a 44 percent decrease in opioid prescriptions since 2011, yet this has coincided with increased barriers to legitimate pain management. State pharmacy boards, empowered to grant pharmacies autonomy to deny prescription fulfillment based on vague comfort criteria, often demand treatment plans adhering to arbitrary standards. This rigid framework disregards the nuanced expertise of physicians, as highlighted by Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who in a 2023 New England Journal of Medicine article emphasized that overly restrictive policies can undermine patient-centered care, turning constructive medicine into defensive medicine. These regulations have also exacerbated shortages of pain medications. A 2024 report from the American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists noted supply chain disruptions for critical opioids like morphine, compounded by DEAimposed production quotas. This scarcity burdens physicians, who fear repercussions from governmental overreach. A 2022 survey by Pain Medicine found that 78 percent of pain specialists reported hesitancy to prescribe opioids due to fear of legal scrutiny, with 62 percent citing potential career risks. Dr. Daniel Carr, a pain management expert at Tufts University, stated in a 2023 Health Affairs interview, Physicians are caught in a visebalancing patient needs against the risk of regulatory punishment. Consequently, patients with chronic pain, such as those with cancer or sickle cell disease, face significant barriers. A 2023 Journal of Pain study reported that 41 percent of chronic pain patients experienced reduced access to prescribed opioids, with some turning to illicit sources, contributing to a 20 percent rise in fentanylrelated overdoses from 2020 to 2022, per CDC data. The opioid crisis is further compounded by misdirected blame on physicians, stripping them of autonomy through excessive regulation. This web of rules creates chaos, diverting focus from the fundamental mission of patient wellbeing. A 2024 AMA Journal of Ethics article noted that physicians face fines or license suspension for minor prescribing infractions, fostering a culture of fear. For example, a 2023 case in California saw a physician fined $50,000 for prescribing opioids to a terminal cancer patient without exhaustive documentation, illustrating how punitive measures exploit doctors, shifting their focus from healing to costly defense efforts. To break this vicious cycle, reestablishing trust in physicians is critical. Experts like Dr. Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and addiction specialist, argues in a 2024 Atlantic oped that Empowering physicians with evidencebased flexibility, rather than blanket restrictions, is essential to address both pain and addiction. A collaborative approach, as recommended by a 2023 National Academy of Medicine report, would involve integrating physician input into policymaking and revising CDC guidelines to prioritize individualized care. By fostering an environment that respects clinical expertise, we can refocus efforts on alleviating patient sufferingthe central mission of health carewhile tackling the opioid crisis more effectively. Kayvan Haddadan is a physiatrist and pain management physician. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) The new owner of the former Mercyhealth Rockton Hospital campus has been revealed. Pastor Melvin Brown, of Kingdom Authority Church, 815 N Church Street, and his wife, Shiela Brown, were revealed as the new owners of the hospital by their daughter, Marissa. So proud to share some amazing news, Marissa Brown wrote on Facebook. A big congratulations to my incredible parents, who are now the proud new owners of the hospital. Their vision goes beyond ownership they have exciting plans to invest in and uplift our community in a big way. Stay tuned more updates coming soon! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mercyhealth closed the Rockton Avenue campus in July, saying preliminary ideas for the facility included social services agencies or a nursing home. On August 26th, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, in a sudden announcement, released a statement urging the Mercyhealth Board of Directors not to rubber-stamp a plan for the purchase of the property without proper vetting of the buyer. McNamara did not name the potential buyer, but warned, Dumping the property to an individual/organization without the resources, plan or capacity to follow through would almost certainly leave the building vacant, creating another source of blight on the west side. Mercyhealth CEO Javon Bea released a statement the following day, accusing the city of racial bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, when a black entrepreneur has stepped forward to invest in this property, the mayor has chosen not to support the effort but instead to undermine it. This is more than just shortsighted it reflects a racially biased double standard, Bea said. McNamara denied knowing who the potential buyer was. Mercyhealth stated on September 3: Mercyhealth is pleased to announce that Pastor Melvin Brown and his wife, Sheila Brown, have signed a purchase agreement and are now closing on the former hospital facility on the Rockton Avenue Campus. The Browns have spent more than 30 years ministering and providing social support for members of the Rockford community. Their dedication to serving others, coupled with their vision for the building, will have a positive impact on the community. Mercyhealth will continue to have over 500 employees in our physician clinic at the Rockton Campus. This building will house a number of clinical and administrative services. Additionally, we will maintain our REACT hangar and EMS training center on a long-term basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mayor released a statement regarding the sale on September 3 as well: Let me be clear I wish nothing but the best for the new owners. What frustrates me most is that Mercyhealth has now successfully carried out its plan to dispose of the property on North Rockton Avenue with little regard for the impact this will have on our communitys residents. For Mercyhealth, this is a bailout and a tax write-off. I am confident the new owners have the best of intentions; however, I cannot imagine that hospital leadership has set them up for success. Simply maintaining the property will cost approximately $1.5 million each year. My greatest concern, which I voiced last week, is that any new owner will struggle to be successful without the resources, planning and capacity required to manage the scale and expense of such a massive property, he continued. In 2016, the City of Rockford was found liable in a lawsuit brought by the Kingdom Authority Church, after Mark Anthony Barmore was shot and killed in the basement in 2009. Barmore fled from police in a domestic violence incident and ran into the House of Grace Daycare. The Illinois States Attorneys Office ruled that the shooting was justified. The Brown family sued the city for $4 million in damages in a civil suit, on behalf of the Browns, the children, and the staff of the daycare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Winnebago County Jury awarded several individuals under one count of reckless conduct, on behalf of the police officers involved, with a sum of $350,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. In this photo illustration, Ruth Jones, Immunization Nurse, holds a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (brand name: Comirnaty) at Borinquen Health Care Center on May 29, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo illustration by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) The State Board of Pharmacy held a special meeting on Wednesday to vote on a measure to effectively bypass the immunization recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), following concerns that federal health authorities may politicize recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination. The board is responsible for determining when and to whom pharmacists can administer vaccines. Historically, it has followed the recommendations of the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of experts who issue guidance for the nations doctors and pharmacists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure voted on by the board unanimously will allow the State Board of Pharmacy to issue guidance based on the recommendations of three medical professional societies: the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The professional organizations comprise thousands of doctors from specialized fields of medicine, and have long been involved in the study and creation of vaccination guidelines based on evidence and rigorous scientific review. Each group has recommended broad use of COVID-19 vaccinations. Flu and Covid-19 vaccine for booster for omicron and Influenza virus. (Photo by Getty Images) Wednesdays vote means, despite the federal vaccine advisory panel not yet issuing COVID-19 immunization guidelines, pharmacies across the state can administer the latest seasonal vaccines as soon as they obtain them. However, a spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro advised Pennsylvanians who want a vaccine to first contact their pharmacy. Grace Sesi, the executive director of regulatory affairs for CVS Health, which operates the nations largest pharmacy chain, spoke at the board meeting to support the measure. She said CVS pharmacies in Pennsylvania have already received the latest COVID-19 vaccines and are ready to act with urgency to administer them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board scheduled the meeting after concerns were raised by Shapiro, as well as doctors and pharmacists across the commonwealth, that the federal panels recommendations may be guided more by politics than science. In June, U.S. Sec. of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime and outspoken vaccine skeptic, removed and replaced all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee. And in May, Kennedy said that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, citing no specific studies and potentially putting the authoritys guidelines at odds with professional associations representing thousands of pediatricians, gynecologists, family doctors and scientists across the country. While the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has yet to issue vaccination guidelines for this years seasonal COVID-19 shots, it is scheduled to meet later this month. But already, the Food and Drug Administration, which approves vaccines for public use, has deviated from its typical recommendation that virtually all adults and children over six months old receive the shot. Instead, it has suggested its use only for those 65 and older, as well as for children and adults with health conditions that place them at risk of more severe infection from COVID-19. The move signaled that immunization recommendations from federal health authorities may be at odds with mainstream scientific consensus among doctors and researchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chaos in federal health agency policymaking, which is no longer backed by scientific evidence, but instead by anti-vaccine ideology, will cost peoples lives. State Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny), an emergency physician. Rob Bonacci, a clinician, former CDC employee and special advisor to Pennsylvanias secretary of Health, told the State Board of Pharmacy that recent changes at the federal vaccine advisory panel have left many concerned about the integrity of the [vaccination] review process, and the trustworthiness of those recommendations. Were in new territory, he added. When I think about where else I go as a public health professional and a clinician for public health guidance, I think of our professional organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the State Board of Pharmacy referred questions from the Capital-Star to Shapiros office. Following the vote, Shapiro issued a statement applauding the boards decision and calling efforts by the Trump administration to limit COVID-19 vaccine access outrageous. I called on the State Board of Pharmacy to hold a special meeting to bring clarity to the people of Pennsylvania, Shapiro said in the statement. Health care decisions should be up to individuals not the federal government and certainly not RFK Jr. My Administration will continue to protect health care access for all Pennsylvanians. Some lawmakers have also made moves to ensure pharmacists in Pennsylvania can administer vaccines, regardless of the recommendations of the CDCs immunization advisory panel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny), an emergency physician, issued a memo announcing his intention to introduce a bill he says will put immunization recommendations for Pennsylvanians in the hands of state health authorities instead of federal ones. Chaos in federal health agency policymaking, which is no longer backed by scientific evidence, but instead by anti-vaccine ideology, will cost peoples lives, Venkat said. This legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to avoid this politicization of healthcare and get the life-saving vaccines they need, even if the federal government stops recommending them purely due to politics. A previous bill introduced by Venkat would also require insurance companies to cover vaccines recommended by state health authorities and medical professional organizations. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) U.N. chief Antonio Guterres congratulated Papua New Guinea on Wednesday for its global leadership role on climate change during the first visit by a serving United Nations secretary-general to the South Pacific island nation. Guterres visit comes ahead of the developing nation commemorating the 50th anniversary of its independence from near-neighbor Australia on Sept. 16. He said the first lesson Papua New Guinea had taught the world was the art of forging consensus through dialogue since becoming an independent nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second lesson you offer to the world is bold climate action, Guterres said in an address to the National Parliament in the capital Port Moresby. Time and again we have seen climate leadership flow not from countries with the most wealth and power but from those who know the stakes firsthand, he added. Guterres credited Papua New Guinea with playing a leading role in initiating the International Court of Justices advisory opinion in July that countries could be violating international law if they failed to take measures to protect the planet from climate change, and nations harmed by its effects could be entitled to reparations. The ICJ's non-binding opinion, backed unanimously by the courts 15 judges, has been hailed as a turning point in international climate law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was led by the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu and backed by more than 130 countries. Its a testament to the leadership of Papua New Guinea, Melanesia and the wider Pacific region, Guterres said. Papua New Guinea does not contribute to climate change. You are even a carbon sink country, he added, referring to the nation's forests and surrounding sea grass absorbing more carbon dioxide than the population emits. Guterres did not mention that Papua New Guinea has been exporting liquid natural gas since 2014 and plans to expand that fossil fuel industry. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape told Parliament in response to Guterres speech that his nations development pathway will be green, resilient and inclusive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marape has long argued that the biggest carbon-emitting countries had a moral obligation and the bigger responsibility to manage climate change. He was critical of President Donald Trump withdrawing the United States from the landmark Paris climate agreement in January. Paul Barker, executive director of the Port Moresby-based think tank Institute of National Affairs, said Papua New Guineas effectiveness as a carbon sink had likely been reduced by decades of rain forest logging. Its a mixed story and the data is a little uncertain, Barker said on changing land uses under what the government calls forest conversion agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Papua New Guinea is the South Pacifics most populous country after Australia. Australia has 27 million people while Papua New Guineas statistical office estimates its population is approaching 12 million. A widely accepted census has not been completed since 2000. Papua New Guinea is also an extraordinarily diverse population, with more than 800 Indigenous languages. Parents across Central Florida are reacting to a new plan to eliminate vaccine mandates for children in schools. The initiative was announced Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. If carried out, Florida would be the first state in the nation to propose eliminating vaccine mandates. Some parents support the initiative, saying they want the freedom to choose which vaccines their children receive, while others expressed concerns about the potential risks to student health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Ehrhart, a parent, voiced his concerns, stating, Its not up to the school on which vaccines we are told to give. Parents said they got the required vaccines for their kids, but if they had the choice to do their own research first, they probably wouldnt have done all of them. Ehrhart highlighted worries about autism and other complications, saying, With all of the autism concerns and other complications that have come out over the last two decades alone, parents are starting to feel bad about getting them. A teachers union, the Volusia United Educators, has expressed opposition to the plan. The unions president emphasized the importance of safety for both students and staff, stating, The bottom line is we want kids to be safe and we want teachers and staff to also be safe. We believe in the science and we believe that there is irrefutable evidence that vaccinations work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Spar, president of Florida Education Association, said he plans to speak to state legislators about putting more protections in place for teachers and students. Lets not forget we have people that work in our schools who may be high risk, and now they risk being exposed to various illnesses that we believe weve eradicated, Spar said. But as weve seen with measles, it can come back if people arent being vaccinated. WFTV has reached out to multiple school systems for comment. Orange County Public Schools, Volusia County Schools and Marion County Public Schools have all said they will comply with state guidelines. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. PARK CITY, Utah (ABC4) Park City High School briefly entered secure status after police received a report regarding an armed individual on campus. According to a press release from the Park City Police Department, around 1:47 p.m. Wednesday, they received a report of a possibly armed individual on Park City High Schools Campus. In response, police coordinated with school officials to address the threat, and Park City High School went into secure mode, meaning that all external doors were locked to prevent anyone from entering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Child dies after being inside of a hot vehicle for multiple hours The Park City Police Department says that they reviewed surveillance footage and investigated the report. Officers determined that the individual did not pose any danger to the school and cleared the threat. Park City High School ended its secure status and returned to normal operations at 2:13 p.m., just before school ended for the day. The police department expressed its appreciation for the cooperation of students, parents, and staff during this incident. 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. Baltimore County Police are investigating a possible murder-suicide after two people were found dead Tuesday morning in Parkville. This is the third suspected murder-suicide that county police have reported this year and the second in less than a week. Officers were called shortly before 10:45 a.m. Tuesday to the 9200 block of Avondale Road for a welfare check. There, they found 28-year-old Kylee Long suffering from apparent trauma. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her ex-boyfriend, 29-year-old Terrell Pryor, was found nearby with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Detectives believe he killed Long. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official causes and manners of the fatalities. The deaths come less than a week after a suspected murder-suicide in Catonsville. On Thursday around 3:30 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of Wilton Farm Drive to check on a person, according to the department. Inside a home, police found 42-year-old Chantel Sharieff suffering from apparent trauma; her 6-year-old daughter, Kimana Sharieff, with a gunshot wound; and 43-year-old Mustafa Sharieff, the childs father, with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said Mustafa Sharieff is believed to be responsible for the deaths of his wife and daughter. Maryland court records show Chantel Sharieff filed for divorce from Mustafa Sharieff on Aug. 18. In April, Baltimore County Police investigated another suspected murder-suicide after Karen Franklin, 59, and Gary Franklin, 63, were found with fatal gunshot wounds inside their home in the 3500 block of Avery Hill Drive in Owings Mills. Police said a preliminary investigation suggested one of the victims had a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Violence Policy Center estimates there are about 10 murder-suicides each week nationwide, claiming nearly 1,200 lives each year. The group also reports that in almost two-thirds of those incidents, an intimate partner is among the victims. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. One of Washingtons most visited parks will begin closing sections this month to undergo major renovations and repairs. Parts of Cape Disappointment State Park will close on September 16 and remain closed until Spring 2026, depending on how the work progresses. Work includes A culvert replacement on its campground access road Work on the parks entrance road that will improve traffic flow at the park entrance A new Welcome Center Increased hiking opportunities with a new trail in the Three Waters Trail system Building a new boardwalk and overlook at Lake ONeil Restored wetland and habitat protection for wildlife Closure areas Campground loops A, B and C close on Sept. 16. Campground Loop D will temporarily remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until construction progresses. Waikiki Beach and the North Jetty will close later this month. The boat launch will close intermittently throughout construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors are advised to call the park office at (360) 642-3078 and check park alerts frequently for the latest updates and information. Open day-use areas The North Head Lighthouse, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Beards Hollow will remain open for day use throughout the project. The lightkeepers residence vacation homes near North Head are also available for overnight bookings. Visitors may also consider planning a visit to neighboring Fort Columbia State Park and spending a night at its vacation homes. Camping is also available at Grayland Beach and Twin Harbors state parks 90 minutes north. Patient of dancing doctor says procedure damaged her face A woman said her trip to a med spa turned into a nightmare. She says she trusted a doctor in Texas to perform cosmetic procedures on her face at Eden Med Spa because of the womans impressive medical credentials. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] But Tatiana Takim did not know the so-called dancing doctor had a suspended medical license under a different name in Georgia. Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray first exposed Dr. Wendill Bouttes new identity last fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We never got to talk to patients of the woman calling herself Dr. Catherine Davis because she locked up her Texas med spa for days once she was confronted with allegations of violating laws. It wasnt until months after Channel 2s story aired that some of those people said they finally learned about Davis troubled past under another name. She was like, Oh s---! Oh s---! Takim said. Thats what her exact words were, which freaked me out because Im like, Oh my god, what happened? Takim says thats what Dr. Catherine Davis shouted while she was in the chair for her cosmetic procedure in Austin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was so disoriented, couldnt stop crying, she said. My face was like this, I looked like an ogre. Channel 2 Action News viewers know Catherine Davis is really Windell Boutte, the so-called dancing doctor, and she is no longer allowed to call herself doctor or MD. Her Georgia medical license is still suspended after 28 different medical malpractice settlements. One of the patients was O.J. Lyberts mother, Isilma Cornelius. She was about to be married and earn her PhD in nursing when a cosmetic surgery by Boutte went very wrong. Cornelious suffered permanent brain damage. In my 20s, I was now the parent, Lybert said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the operating table videos Boutte once posted to social media that got viral attention after Channel 2s 2018 investigation. And in a 2024 undercover investigation, we showed you how Boutte was dancing again, this time with needles in social media ads. She was allegedly violating Texas law by owning the med spa without a Texas medical license. Takim, an esthetician herself, knew none of that when she found Davis impressive online bio. Catherine Davis is Bouttes middle and maiden names. What drew me to them is that Catherine Davis was listed as a doctor who worked with plastic surgeons and at UCLA, Takim said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says after the threading procedure Davis performed caused jaw problems and scarring, she kept going back to Davis. She paid more money to get it fixed over $7,000. All the emotions start going, youre sad, you feel awful, you were trying to do something to look better, and now you end up looking worse, she said. Takim still did not know about Davis history and our reporting until recently. I was disgusted, she said. I was sick to my stomach, couldnt believe this woman touched my face. Gray emailed Boutte for comment, and she responded Wednesday. I suggest that if you are actually interested in accurate reporting, you should acquire all actual medical records of this patient from Eden Medical Spa, Boutte wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Channel 2s original investigation, Davis left Eden, and it changed its name. Customers now say there is a sign on the door from the landlord locking out the spa for unpaid rent, so it has apparently shut down. Another esthetician confirms she has been working with Takim to repair the damage from the threading procedure. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] MIAMI Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner is running for governor, becoming the first prominent Republican to challenge President Donald Trumps endorsed pick, Rep. Byron Donalds. Renner filed paperwork to run Wednesday morning. Its his first bid for statewide office, where hell face not just a Trump-endorsed opponent but a major campaign operation Donalds has brought on many of the same players who helped orchestrate Trumps comeback to the White House, and he has already amassed a $22 million war chest, as well as key endorsements from House colleagues. But Renner, 58, is betting that his record in Florida can deliver a winning message. He said during a Tuesday morning interview that, as a father, he decided to run after thinking about what Floridas future might look like when Gov. Ron DeSantis leaves office after two terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the day, voters are going to ask several questions: Who do we trust? Who has the leadership experience that qualifies him to sit in the governors desk? Whos delivering results? Who built the Florida we love and who can solve the problems that remain? he said. What people think of as Florida what theyre proud of I was one of the architects of that, Renner continued, referring to his time leading the state House. If youre looking at, how can we predict who will deliver results in the future, you look at whos already delivered results in the past. Renner said he planned to call Donalds ahead of filing the paperwork to run. The two have faced off before: They were among four candidates who ran for state House speaker in 2017. Renner won support from his colleagues, putting him in line to lead the states lower chamber, which he did from 2022 to 2024. Donalds went on to run for Congress, where he has worked since 2021. Much has changed in the years since Renner and Donalds served in the Legislature together. While Donalds spent much of the 2024 cycle on the campaign trail with Trump, helping with outreach to Black voters, he has had a long runway to mount his gubernatorial campaign. He announced his plans in February for a primary that isnt taking place until August 2026, and has already spent months courting grassroots voters statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Byron Donalds will be Floridas next governor because he is the proven conservative fighter endorsed by President Trump, said Ryan Smith, the Donalds campaigns chief strategist, in response to the Renner campaign announcement. The Donalds campaign also recently posted disclosures showing donations of $1 million total coming from two political committees chaired by current state House Speaker Daniel Perez. But Donalds has not earned DeSantis support, and the governor said Wednesday that Renner would not get his backing either. Im not supporting Paul Renner, I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race, he said when asked about it during a press conference in Valrico, Florida. DeSantis hasnt said who hell support to succeed him, though he recently appointed former Green Beret and decorated military veteran Jay Collins as lieutenant governor someone who may also enter the gubernatorial contest. The governor has made it clear he doesnt think Donalds has the conservative track record to build on his legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renner will face a delicate balance of trying to defeat Donalds for the GOP nomination while also showing he supports the president. He said before DeSantis spoke about his campaign that he would welcome backing from either DeSantis or Trump, and that, if elected, Trump could count on a great partner in me. President Trump is the greatest president in my lifetime, and weve also got the greatest governor in the nation, so were spoiled here in Florida, Renner said. Im a pro-Trump, pro-DeSantis Republican, through and through. Renner plans to launch a new state political committee and visit all of Floridas 67 counties. So far, he has roughly $1 million in another political committee, Conservatives for Principled Leadership, including a $250,000 check from investor Martin Garcia, a prominent Tampa Republican lawyer who chaired Attorney General Pam Bondis run for state attorney general in 2010. In his interview, he avoided criticizing Donalds, saying Republicans had a common adversary in Democrats though their power in the state has waned amid surges in GOP voter registration. Former Rep. David Jolly, a former Republican who left the party years ago amid disagreements with Trump, is the only major Democratic candidate who has filed to run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Republicans are fighting, Democrats are winning, and so we just better be careful and make sure we stay laser-focused, Renner said. Jolly greeted Renners campaign announcement by encouraging fellow Democrats to unify on their side. Florida Republicans just got a heavyweight primary fight in the race for governor, he said on X , adding to POLITICO over text message that, This race has always been about change versus more of the same. Renner, a former state prosecutor, was in the Navy for 20 years, including serving in combat zones in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. As Florida House speaker, Renner shepherded many of the bills through the Legislature that DeSantis used to make the case for a presidential run. He led legislation to expand school vouchers to Floridians regardless of income, oversaw expansive tax holidays and toll rebates for commuters and loosened gun regulations through constitutional carry, a measure that allows Floridians to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What was great for both of us is I was interested in passing big, bold conservative reforms, and the governor was interested in signing them and campaigning for them, Renner said, noting the two had also worked together to help elect conservative school-board members and to successfully defeat measures that would have expanded access to marijuana and abortion rights. Renner said he planned to back a reduction in property taxes as well, a key issue for DeSantis that may appear on the ballot for voters to decide on in 2026. Renner said he was especially proud of legislation that made it harder to sue insurance companies who said litigation was driving up costs. He pointed to a reduction in auto insurance plans in the state and some property insurers that have announced stabilizing though he acknowledged the cost of property insurance remains a huge concern for voters. The push for affordability will be the main crux of his gubernatorial campaign, he said. Since leaving the Legislature, Renner has been on the Board of Governors for the State University System of Florida. He opposed the appointment of former University of Michigan President Santa Ono for the presidency of the University of Florida, given his past stances on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and the way he handled pro-Palestinian protests. Renner acknowledged during public hearings on the presidential search that a UF trustee had asked him if he was interested in the job before he was appointed to the Board of Governors, but the inquiry never went anywhere. Gary Fineout contributed to this report. TALLAHASSEE Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner is jumping into the race to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Palm Coast Republican filed on Wednesday for the 2026 governors race. The move will pit him against fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who has secured President Donald Trumps endorsement. If elected, I will go to where I have to go to stop any crack in the wall for the free state of Florida, Renner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Florida Republicans have also been rumored to be eyeing the states top job, includingLt. Gov. Jay Collins and first lady Casey DeSantis. Renner, a U.S. Navy veteran, said he believes theres an appetite for a robust primary. Some voters will vote merely on an endorsement; I think many will look more broadly, Renner said. In response to Renners announcement, Ryan Smith, a spokesperson for Donalds campaign, said in a statement that Byron Donalds will be Floridas next Governor because he is the proven conservative fighter endorsed by President Trump. Renner said he spoke with DeSantis about his plan to run, but declined to comment on what the governor said. But DeSantis on Wednesday morning said Renner would not have his support. DeSantis has not yet endorsed a candidate for 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race, DeSantis said at a news conference. Renner said hes supportive of Trumps agenda and wants to tackle issues like the affordability crisis, reading scores among children, infrastructure needs and high insurance rates. During his time as House speaker from 2022 to 2024, Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo passed a slew of conservative legislation, including bills that helped bolster DeSantis brand as a culture war fighter. That included a six-week abortion ban, legislation that lets people carry a concealed weapon without a permit or training and a prohibition on medical treatment for children with gender dysphoria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renner also spearheaded legislation that allows any Florida child to receive a taxpayer-funded school choice voucher, pushed for legislation barring young kids from making social media accounts and helped expand Floridas KidCare health insurance program (which has since been held up in a court battle). DeSantis appointed Renner to the Board of Governors of the State University System in February. In that role, Renner took an active part in blocking Santa Ono from becoming the University of Floridas president,with Renner grilling Ono on his views on diversity and inclusion initiatives. (During that meeting, the UF board chair said Renner had expressed interest in becoming university president prior to Onos nomination. Renner responded that he had been asked to speak with the board chair and would not seek the role.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donalds political committee had raised more than $20 million as of late June. Existing political committees of Renner have about $1 million left. David Jolly, a former Republican U.S. representative, is also running for governor, but as a Democrat. He has raised about $1 million as of late June. More than a dozen other candidates have filed for the governors race, although most have not raised any money. Tampa Bay Times staff writer Kirby Wilson contributed to this report. A Pensacola woman nearly lost her life and her leg to the flesh-eating bacteria known as vibrio vulnificus, or vibrio, after swimming with her daughter in Santa Rosa Sound off Pensacola Beach on July 27. Genevieve Gallagher is currently undergoing treatment at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville for wounds she received after doctors were forced to remove much of the tissue on her left leg below the knee to stop the vibrio bacteria from progressing. They debrided my leg down to the bare meat, Gallagher said in an interview from her hospital bed. They took most of the muscle, almost down to the bone, basically. It went up almost to my knee, so it's a pretty large amount, and it's all the way around my leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallagher believes the bacteria infected her body through a small cut on her left leg. She started showing symptoms three days after she went boating with her husband, Dana, and her 7-year-old daughter, Mila, behind the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk and swam near Quietwater Beach. The 49-year-old is the coordinator of a physician practice for cardiology at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, and she was at work on July 30 when she began sweating, feeling unwell, and her leg swelled and bubbled with blisters. That afternoon Gallagher was in the emergency room where they rushed her into surgery. Flesh-eating bacteria: Flesh-eating bacteria strike again. Latest updates on cases, deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought I had an infection, but never did I think I had a flesh-eating bacterium, Gallagher said. Theres no antibiotics that they can give you to stop it. They just have to get out any infected skin and tissue. Theyve got to get it off your body. Gallagher said she went into septic shock, which caused her organs to fail. She was intubated for nearly a week while medical staff worked to save her, including repeatedly scrubbing and cleaning out her leg and removing any dying tissue. Her family stayed by her bedside around the clock after doctors warned them that she could not only lose her leg but her life to the illness. They were finally able to get me stable enough to wake me up. Sacred Heart saved my leg, thank God, Gallagher said. Mila saw me in the hospital and said, I wish this happened to me and not you, and I started crying. That broke my heart. I was like Mila, no, I'm so glad it didn't happen to you. Your little body could not have taken all this that's going on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vibrio cases in Panhandle: 'Flesh-eating' bacteria cases up to 4 in Escambia, Santa Rosa. Florida records 5 deaths Medical staff at Shands are now working to help Gallagher recover. The vibrio bacteria is gone but repairing the damage it caused to her leg isnt easy. Shes had multiple surgeries including having muscle removed from her back and placed on her leg where the bone was exposed. The flap surgery didnt take due to blood clots, however, and shell have to undergo surgery again. Just looking at my leg, it doesn't even look like my leg anymore, Gallagher described. It looks deformed right now. The pain is unbelievable. It feels like somebody took gasoline, poured it on my leg, and lit my leg on fire. That's what it feels like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She's expected to remain in the hospital another two to three weeks. Vibrio warning for others According to the Florida Department of Health, vibrio vulnificusa bacterium that normally lives in warm seawater infections are rare. Still, FDOH warns against entering the water if you have fresh cuts or scrapes. Gallagher is sharing her story as a warning to others. The day she went swimming she took steps to cover the small cut on her leg with a waterproof bandage. However, she said she would not have gone into the water at all had she known the bacterial infection was such a serious risk. When it's so hot and that water is not moving, that bacteria is just growing and growing and growing, she said. There are no signs out there saying, Hey, this water has a high infection rate for vibrio, or, Hey, this water tested positive, like they do in Panama City, because I'm sure if they did, people would not be swimming over there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to FDOH, so far this year there have been 23 cases of vibrio and five deaths in Florida. No one has died from the illness in Northwest Florida, but there are two cases in Escambia County, two cases in Santa Rosa County, one case in Okaloosa County and one case in Walton County. In 2024, there were 82 cases and 19 deaths. People can also get infected when they eat raw shellfish, particularly oysters. What can be done to improve safety Escambia County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, who represents Pensacola Beach, said she would absolutely consider installing warning signs at places where people swim and/or access local waterways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She already wants to see more done to notify the general public when there are potentially hazardous swimming conditions for a variety of reasons, including heightened risk of bacteria that flourish in the wake of sewage spills. Vibrio in Florida: 'Flesh-eating' bacteria Florida update: Vibrio vulnificus deaths up to 5. Here's where Vibrio feeds off two different types of bacteria, but one of the main things that they feed off of is fecal matter, Hofberger said. If we have a contamination spill of sewage and it flows into the water, typically you get an uptick in vibrio. I want to make sure that if we do have a sewage spill, the community is aware of that. Gallagher is grateful for the medical care and support she has received through her ordeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She hopes her story will help protect others. It's been a lot on me and my family, Gallagher said. My husband drives to Shands every weekend and stays with me because my mental health has just been horrible. Ive been strong through it all, but its been a lot mentally, emotionally and physically. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Vibro bacteria on Pensacola Beach threatens life of woman after swim The USS Sampson, a U.S. Navy missile destroyer, docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City, Panama, on September 02, 2025. Credit - Daniel GonzalezAnadolu via Getty Images Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of further U.S. military action against cartels following a strike that killed 11 people on a boat in the Caribbean that the Pentagon claimed was transporting drugs. We've got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us, and it won't, it won't stop with just this strike, Hegseth said on Fox News on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco-terrorist will face the same fate, Hegseth added. Read more: 4,000 Troops and 4,500,000 Militiamen: What to Know About the U.S.-Venezuela Standoff The strike appears to be the first in a long-threatened military campaign by the Trump Administration to stop cartels from trafficking drugs into the United States, despite questions over the legality of such an operation. When President Donald Trump was asked on Wednesday why the vessel was not intercepted and those on board arrested, he said there were massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and everybody fully understands that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, they won't be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people won't be doing it again. When they watch that tape, they're going to say, 'Let's not do this,' Trump added, referring to a video of the strike released shortly after. Heres what you need to know about the strike and what comes next. Where, when, and how? Trump first announced the strike on Truth Social on Tuesday, claiming without evidence that the 11 people killed were members of Tren de Aragua, a powerful Venezuela-based gang that his administration has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. He shared a video of what appears to be a speedboat being struck by something and exploding. It is unclear what kind of weapon was used. Trump said the gang is controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduroa claim Maduro deniesand has ordered a build-up of U.S. military forces in the waters off Venezuela, ostensibly to target traffickers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strike took place in international waters in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela. He said later on Wednesday that similar strikes will happen again. Maybe it's happening right now, I don't know, but the point is the president of the United States is going to wage war on narco terrorist organizations, Rubio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither the U.S. military nor the White House provided any evidence to back up their claims that the boat was carrying drugs. Is it legal to bomb cartels? Ever since Trump raised the possibility of launching military strikes on drug cartels, legal experts have questioned whether there was a basis in law to do so. The Trump Administration has tried to justify military action against cartels by claiming any such attack would be self-defense due to the huge amount of deaths caused by drugs smuggled into the United States. The White House said the strike was conducted against the operations of a designated terrorist organization and was taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and in the collective self-defense of other nations, referencing the use of military force enacted by Congress after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group who worked for a decade in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the State Department, called the strike extraordinary, shocking, but unfortunately not surprising. The notion that drug smuggling entitles you to use lethal force in self-defense is ridiculous. It's not recognized under international law, it's not recognized as a matter of U.S. domestic law. That may be their political justification, but it doesn't really do any legal work, he told TIME. At a minimum, it raises a specter that this may have violated the right to life of the people aboard that vessel. There's no indication that the United States sought to stop the vessel or conduct an interdiction beforehand. Indeed, Rubio indicated that option was presented to the President, he rejected it, and instead elected to blow it up, he added. Rubio said Wednesday that instead of interdicting it, on the presidents orders, we blew it up and itll happen again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He suggested that the traffickers who were killed on Tuesday were not on their way to the United States when they were killed, further weakening a self-defense claim. These particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean, he said. Suffice it to say that the president is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking in the United States. Trump pitched the idea of striking cartels in Mexico during his first term to his then-Defense Secretary, Mark Esper, Esper later said, but the Secretary informed the President that it would be illegal. "We would have this private discussion where I'd say, 'Mr. President, you know, I understand the motive.' Because he was very serious about dealing with drugs in America," Esper said. I get that, we all understand, but I had to explain to him, 'We can't do that. It would violate international law. It would be terrible for our neighbors to the south. It would, you know, impact us in so many ways. Trump has been threatening to go after cartels for some time Trump campaigned on a promise to use military action against cartels to stop the flow of drugs into the United States, repeating a favored tactic of previous American presidents by declaring war on drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his campaign, Trump promised to take down the cartels just as we took down ISIS and the ISIS caliphate, adding: We will show NO MERCY to the cartels. When he returned to office in January, Trump signed an order directing the State Department to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. In February, he designated Venezuelas Tren de Aragua, as well as six groups in Mexico and MS-13 in El Salvador, as foreign terrorist organizations. Earlier this month, the President signed a secret directive to the Pentagon to use military force against these cartels, sources told the New York Times. Late last month, the Pentagon also ordered three U.S. Navy missile destroyersthe USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham and USS Sampsonand around 4,000 military personnel to the edge of Venezuelas territorial waters, according to Reuters. The Administration confirmed to CNN last week that it had ordered naval movements as part of an effort to stymie drug trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump Administration is also sending additional military assets to international airspace and waters, including several P-8 spy planes, warships, and an attack submarine, an official told Reuters. Maduro should be worried Trump views the cartels and drug trafficking as being encouraged and directed byMaduro. Maduro has denied links to Tren de Aragua and points to a record of tackling the group in his own country. Nevertheless, the Trump Administration has piled pressure on Maduro at the same time as it has taken action against the cartels. In addition to a huge build-up of U.S. military forces in the waters off Venezuela, Attorney General Pam Bondi is offering a reward of $50 million for information leading to Maduros arrest and seized up to $700 million of assets with alleged links to Maduro on Aug. 13, including luxury goods, bank accounts, and private jets. The Venezuelan government mobilized more than four million militia troops last month in response to U.S. naval movements in the region, and Maduro this week accused the U.S. of seeking regime change in Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are seeking a regime change through military threat, he told reporters on Monday. In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela, Maduro said of the deployment, which he characterized as an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat. Following Tuesdays strike, Hegseth said Maduro was effectively a kingpin of a drug narco state, adding that he should be worried. Contact us at letters@time.com. A Bergen County resident with measles could have exposed others when visiting a local medical building, an emergency room and a hospital, the state Health Department announced on Wednesday. Anyone who visited the following locations during the dates and times could have been exposed to measles and should monitor for symptoms that could appear as late as Sept. 20, health officials said: 385 Prospect Plaza at 385 Prospect Ave. in Hackensack, both on Aug. 25 between 2:30-5:45 p.m. and on Aug. 29 between 8:45-11:30 a.m. Pediatric Emergency Department at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack on Aug. 26 between 10:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital building at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack from 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 through 8:30 p.m. the following day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who thinks they may be sick with measles is asked to call before going directly to their doctors office or emergency department, so that special arrangements can be made to protect patients and staff from possible infection. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. Even after an infected person has left the room, the virus can remain present in the air for up to two hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a red rash that begins at the hairline, according to the CDC. The rash usually starts three to five days after the other symptoms. People can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey has reported 10 measles cases among residents so far in 2025. Thats up from seven total cases reported last year. Nationally, measles cases are rising to historic levels. According to the CDC, a total of 1,431 confirmed measles cases were reported by 42 states so far this year. That marks the highest annual measles case tally in 33 years, when officials recorded more than 2,100 infections in 1992. There have also been three documented deaths in New Mexico and Texas the first measles deaths in the U.S. in over a decade. Although measles was declared eliminated 25 years ago, large outbreaks with 50 or more cases have become more frequent, especially in close-knit communities with low vaccination coverage, according to the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public health experts say that measles control depends on herd immunity of 95% vaccination coverage and that rate has been declining in the U.S. and in New Jersey, while the number of people going unvaccinated climbs. The CDC recommends children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old. As of 2023, 93% of kindergartners in New Jersey have received two or more doses of MMR vaccine, which is slightly above the national average of 92.7%, but still a decline from the states 2022-23 vaccination rate of 94.3%, according to the CDC. The MMR vaccine, administered in two doses, is mandatory for children who attend school or day care centers in New Jersey, unless their parent or guardian seeks a medical or religious waiver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Jersey Department of Health encourages all residents to stay up to date on routine vaccinations, including MMR shots. Jackie Roman Stories by Jackie Roman Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. One person was shot at an Ohio shooting center on Wednesday, according to our CBS affiliate, WTOL-11 TV. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Sylvania police received reports of a person being shot at the Midwest Shooting Center on W Sylvania Avenue around 12:45 p.m. The person was hospitalized, but the severity of their injuries is unclear. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, our detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident, Sylvania Police Chief Danilynn Miller told WTOL-11. There is no threat to the community and we will release more information as it becomes available. It is unclear how this shooting occurred or if police have any suspects. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] LIMA, Peru (AP) Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo was sentenced to prison Wednesday for the second time in a case involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. Toledo received a sentence of 13 years and four months for money laundering, said Judge Josefa Izaga. In October 2024, he was sentenced to 20 years and six months for bribery and corruption in the case. Authorities accused the former president of accepting $35 million in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for allowing the construction of a highway in the South American country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toledo governed Peru from 2001 to 2006, and is the latest ex-Peruvian leader convicted for corruption related to Odebrecht. A few months ago, former President Ollanta Humala was sentenced to 15 years in prison for laundering funds from the company to finance his 2006 and 2011 campaigns. Odebrecht built some of Latin Americas most crucial infrastructure projects, and in 2016 it admitted to U.S. authorities to having bought government contracts throughout the region with generous bribes. The investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice spun probes in several countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and Ecuador. In Peru, authorities accused Toledo and three other former presidents of receiving payments from the construction giant. They alleged Toledo received $35 million from Odebrecht in exchange for the contract to build 650 kilometers (403 miles) of a highway linking Brazil with southern Peru. That portion of the highway was initially estimated to cost $507 million, but Peru ended up paying $1.25 billion. Toledo, 78, has denied the accusations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was first arrested in 2019 at his home in California, where he had been living since 2016, when he returned to Stanford University, his alma mater, as a visiting scholar. He was initially held in solitary confinement at a county jail east of San Francisco but was released to house arrest in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and his deteriorating mental health. He was extradited to Peru in 2023 after a court of appeals denied a challenge to his extradition and he surrendered to authorities. The sentences are to be served concurrently. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america By Marco Aquino LIMA (Reuters) -A Peruvian court on Wednesday sentenced former President Alejandro Toledo to 13 years and four months in prison for money laundering, his second conviction in connection with widespread corruption. Toledo, 79, who was president from 2001 to 2006, was found guilty of using bribe money from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, now known as Novonor, to acquire high-value real estate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to prosecutors, Toledo and his wife used $5.1 million to purchase a house and an office in an upscale Lima neighborhood and to pay off mortgages on two other properties. The funds were funneled through an offshore company in Costa Rica that Toledo created to launder the illicit cash, the prosecution said. This conviction follows a sentence of 20 years and six months handed down in October 2024, when Toledo was found guilty of accepting up to $35 million in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for awarding the company lucrative public works contracts. The sentences will be served concurrently. Toledo, an economist with degrees from Stanford University and the University of San Francisco, is serving his sentence at a prison on a Lima police base. The facility also holds former presidents Ollanta Humala, Pedro Castillo and Martin Vizcarra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Odebrecht corruption cases, part of the wider "Car Wash" scandal, have implicated governments across Latin America and nearly all of Peru's presidents this century. Another former leader, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 86, is currently on trial for his alleged role in the scheme, with prosecutors seeking a 35-year prison sentence. (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by Leslie Adler and Kylie Madry) (Reuters) -Pfizer and Moderna on Wednesday defended their COVID-19 vaccines as having saved millions of lives worldwide, in separate responses to U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that pharmaceutical companies should justify the success of their pandemic drugs. In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that he has seen "extraordinary" data from companies such as Pfizer, but criticized them for withholding results from the public and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pfizer welcomed Trump's demand for openness and pointed to a dedicated section on its website where clinical trial findings and safety updates are posted. Moderna said it would compile previously disclosed research and findings on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are immensely proud of the role we played in the historic achievements of Operation Warp Speed," Moderna said, praising the U.S. government's 2020 initiative to accelerate vaccine development, manufacturing and distribution. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called Operation Warp Speed a "profound public health achievement" under Trump's leadership, adding that the program helped in averting over $1 trillion in healthcare costs. The companies' announcements come amid escalating turmoil at the CDC. Last week, director Susan Monarez was fired less than a month into her tenure after resisting changes to vaccine policy that were advanced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who was handpicked by Trump earlier this year. Her removal sparked the resignation of four senior CDC officials, who blamed the erosion of public health credibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy has also rescinded federal COVID vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and healthy children and halted about $500 million in funding across 22 mRNA vaccine research projects, including those targeting COVID. As tensions over federal immunization policies and public health directives grow, Florida on Wednesday announced plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including for children to attend schools. Kennedy is set to testify before the Senate Finance Committee later this week, where lawmakers are expected to probe the CDC's leadership crisis and ongoing policy shifts. Pfizer also said new information on its latest vaccine strain, recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will be published in the coming days. (Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Mohammed Safi Shamsi) SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) On Aug. 3, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) spoke on the House floor in Washinton D.C. to honor two Texas National Guard units that did not hesitate to jump into action on the morning of July 4th as floodwaters hit the Central and West Texas. I rise today with immense pride to honor a San Angelo, Texas native, and Commander of the 449th Aviation Support Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Jordan Boyd, as well as two extraordinary National Guard units, the 108th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Austin and the 149th General Support Helicopter Battalion in San Antonio. stated Pfluger. Pfluger then explained why these members of the National Guard are extraordinary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These units are extraordinary, said Pfluger. On the morning of July 4, as flood waters devastated Central and West Texas, these two units immediately jumped into action and have not stopped since then. Knowing many of the stranded were children, these crews pushed themselves to every imaginable limit, flying through adverse weather to reach Camp Mystic and the entire Guadalupe River. Their daring efforts saved 366 lives that day and reunited hundreds of families. Pfluger ended his time speaking thanking those units for their heroic efforts. And I want to say thank you, not just to the pilots, but also to the maintainers, the support personnel, and all of the people in the Texas National Guard who have just shown immense heroism over the past few months, said Pfluger. And cant say thank you enough for their heroic efforts. Visit the link below to watch his full speech: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Pfluger Speaks on the House Floor to Honor Texas National Guard Units. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) A Philadelphia man will spend 40 years in prison after being convicted of killing an Upstate woman in 2023. According to the 10th Circuit Solicitors Office, David Delgado Jr. pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the 2023 killing of Ahjai Gambrell. A judge sentenced him to 40 years in prison for the murder charge and to five years for a weapons charge. The sentences will be served concurrently and under state law, Delgado will have to serve the full sentence and will not be eligible for parole. According to the solicitors office, on May 29, 2023, Delgado murdered Gambrell in her parents home while her parents were out running errands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gambrells mother and stepfather told law enforcement when they returned home they saw Delgado leaving their home appearing distraught. The family told law enforcement multiple items inside their home had been misplaced and there was blood throughout the house. Gambrells body was later found near the intersection of Wells Highway and Porche Lane near Seneca. While investigating the house, investigators reportedly found a bullet hole in a hallway and bathtub. Investigators also said Delgato had left the area and was attempting to return to Pennsylvania. He was located in July in Chesterfield County, Virginia after a high-speed chase down Interstate 95. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the solicitors office, after his arrest Delgado gave multiple accounts of the incident which led to Grambells death before ultimately confessing to killing her. Domestic violence and murder as a result of domestic violence have no place in our community. Solicitor Micah Black said in a news release. I hope and pray that Ms. Gambrells family is able to gain some measure of closure and begin to heal from the terrible act of violence that should never occur. We will continue to fight with law enforcement to ensure justice for surviving families that have experienced these terrible tragedies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tucson and Phoenix are among the major cities with the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country, according to a new analysis. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows the cities saw a combined total of nearly 700 pedestrian deaths between 2019 and 2023 the most recent year for which the information is available. ValuePenguin, a consumer-focused financial research and analysis firm, ran that data against information from the U.S. Census Bureau to produce its report on pedestrian fatalities in the nation's most populous cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It found that Tucson saw about 37.2 deaths per 100,000 residents. That's the third-highest pedestrian fatality rate in the country. Phoenix was just one slot behind, with 29.5 fatalities per 100,000 citizens. Mesa ranked further down the list, with 13.2 deaths per 100,000 people and rising. The city saw pedestrian deaths more than double between 2019 and 2023, suggesting its streets are becoming more dangerous for those on foot. Still, its fatality rate was low compared to other major municipalities on the list. What cities topped the list? Memphis and Albuquerque have the most dangerous streets for pedestrians, according to the report. They topped the list with fatality rates of 46.6 and 37.3 per 100,000 residents, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York City and Boston ranked lowest on the list, with fatality rates of 3.3 and 5.9 per 100,000 residents. Here's the full list of cities, with pedestrian fatality rates: Memphis, Tennessee (46.6 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Albuquerque, New Mexico (37.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Tucson, Arizona (37.2 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Phoenix, Arizona (29.5 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Detroit, Michigan (29.2 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Miami, Florida (28.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Atlanta, Georgia (27.8 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Bakersfield, California (26 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Nashville, Tennessee (25.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Dallas, Texas (24.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Fresno, California (24.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Sacramento, California (23.2 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Tulsa, Oklahoma (22.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Louisville, Kentucky (22 fatalities per 100,000 residents) San Antonio, Texas (21.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Jacksonville, Florida (21.8 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Long Beach, California (20.7 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Houston, Texas (20.4 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Austin, Texas (20.1 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (18.7 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Los Angeles, California (18.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Indianapolis, Indiana (18 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Fort Worth, Texas (17.6 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Portland, Oregon (16.6 fatalities per 100,000 residents) San Diego, California (15.6 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Baltimore, Maryland (15.6 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Kansas City, Missouri (15.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents) El Paso, Texas (15 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Oakland, California (14.8 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Milwaukee, Wisconsin (14.7 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Charlotte, North Carolina (14.4 fatalities per 100,000 residents) San Jose, California (13.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Denver, Colorado (13.5 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Raleigh, North Carolina (13.4 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Mesa, Arizona (13.2 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Columbus, Ohio (12.8 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Seattle, Washington (11.2 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Wichita, Kansas (10.6 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Chicago, Illinois (10.2 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Washington, D.C. (10 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Arlington, Texas (9.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Las Vegas, Nevada (9.8 fatalities per 100,000 residents) San Francisco, California (9.8 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Colorado Springs, Colorado (9.1 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Minneapolis, Minnesota (7.7 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Omaha, Nebraska (6.1 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Virginia Beach, Virginia (6.1 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Boston, Massachusetts (5.9 fatalities per 100,000 residents) New York, New York (3.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents) Are the streets getting more dangerous for pedestrians? Nationally, pedestrian deaths have increased in recent years but in Arizona, the data is more nuanced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mesa saw a 133% increase in pedestrian fatalities from 2019 to 2023. That was the third-largest jump among major cities. Virginia Beach and Wichita saw 350% and 233% increases, respectively. Phoenix also saw a jump, albeit a more minor one a 36% uptick. Tucson observed a decreasing number of fatalities over the same time period. Pedestrian deaths went down by nearly 3%, according to the analysis. Omaha and Raleigh saw the largest declines among the listed cities. Fatalities decreased by 50% in Omaha, and nearly 36% in Raleigh. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Report: AZ cities among worst for pedestrian safety On a trip to a tiger reserve in Central India, a photographer inadvertently captured the pictures of a lifetime: a scarce variant of an already elusive predator. According to Times Now News, wildlife photographer Arvind Ramamurthy traveled to the Bhadra Tiger Reserve in Karnataka to view Malabar pied hornbills. After a fruitful day capturing stunning images of the reserve's landscape and wildlife, he took a boat ride, hoping to spot elephants and river terns. Instead, they spotted the spots of leopard cubs and their mother. Then came the piece de resistance: a black panther cub. The significance of the sighting was not lost on Ramamurthy. "Seeing a leopard is rare, one with cubs is rarer, and with one black among them is almost too much to ask for. It's a core memory for all of us," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A panther is not a separate species of big cat but a term to describe a jaguar or leopard with a dark coat. Both still have spots; they're not typically visible to the naked eye. The presence of the agouti gene causes the distinctive, sleek coloring. According to Panthera, melanism is found in several big cats, affecting about 10% of the population. They're most likely to be found in moist forests, but the research is still in its infancy. As apex predators of forests, leopards perform a vital ecological role in maintaining the balance of food webs. Their numbers in the wild have dropped because of illegal poaching and habitat destruction. However, recent signs for India's leopards are quietly encouraging; there has been a slight uptick in the population. The 500 square kilometers of protected lands in Bhadra support an estimated 178 leopards, meaning there are fewer than 20 panthers in the whole reserve. Whether it's via the sharp eyes of a photographer or the work of trail cameras, capturing footage of elusive species is always an encouraging development. The images help inform local efforts to protect threatened species based on accurate ideas of the animal's numbers and ranges. 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. ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WTNH) One person is in the hospital after a crash in a Dunkin parking lot, where six vehicles were damaged. New Britain students dropped off late, to wrong houses due to bus driver shortage According to the Rocky Hill Fire Department, units responded to a report of a crash in the parking lot of a Dunkin near the intersection of West Street and Cromwell Avenue at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Photo: Rocky Hill Fire Department Photo: Rocky Hill Fire Department Photo: Rocky Hill Fire Department Photo: Rocky Hill Fire Department Photo: Rocky Hill Fire Department Photo: Rocky Hill Fire Department Photo: Rocky Hill Fire Department According to the department, around six vehicles were involved in the crash. The driver of one of the vehicles was taken to a local hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening. There were no injuries to any of the other drivers or anyone else in the area at the time of the crash, according to the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash is still under investigation by the Mid-State Crash Reconstruction Unit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. The MultiCare Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital in Tacoma confirmed to KIRO 7 that it will no longer offer gender-affirming care for new patients. The move stems from staffing challenges and fear of losing federal funding, the hospital said to KIRO 7 in a statement. We needed to make adjustments to the services provided, the statement said, in part. On Jan. 28, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would hold or rescind federal funding to hospitals and organizations that provide gender-affirming care to a person under the age of 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, MultiCare said: MultiCares values are at the forefront of every decision we make and serve as a constant guide for how we deliver care. Across our system, we honor each persons unique health care needs and strive to deliver care that our values call on us to provide particularly our values of respect, kindness and collaboration. We are focused on providing access to the best and safest care for our patients and their families, no matter their age or health need. Many of the changes weve made to our gender care program, including changes to our website, are to ensure that we protect our patients, their families and our staff in this uncertain time in regard to decisions at the federal level." Those who are already receiving care will continue to receive maintenance medical care, the hospital wrote on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hospital said its team will continue to provide new patients with behavioral health care, including mental health assessments, counseling and other support services. Gender-affirming services for new patients will no longer be available starting Sept. 12. The hospital is the only place minors can get gender-affirming health care in Pierce County, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. Friends and family who may be worried about a loved one can also use these resources: Trans Lifeline (for all ages) Phone: 877-565-8860, available 24/7, calls onlyLearn more about Trans Lifeline. The Trevor Project (for those 13-25 years old) Phone: 866-488-7386, available 24/7, calls only Chat: Go to the Trevor Project website and click Chat to begin Text: Text START to 678-678, available 24/7, standard text message rates apply LGBT National Help Center (for all ages) LGBT National Hotline : 888-843-4564, for all ages LGBT National Youth Talkline: 800-246-7743, up to age 25 A Boise family was devastated Monday when a plane crash sent a husband and wife to the hospital with critical injuries, killed the couples 13-year-old daughter and also left their 11-year-old son hospitalized. The Palmer family had just taken off in a four-seat Piper PA-28 at Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming when the small plane crashed in the mountains shortly before 5 p.m. on Labor Day, according to a Sheridan County Sheriffs Office Facebook post. Amelia Palmer, 13, was found dead at the scene, the Sheriffs Office said. Earl Palmer, 54, and Cindy Palmer, 53, were airlifted to a trauma center in Billings, Montana, where both are in critical condition, according to a family friend; 11-year-old Aeron Palmer was transported to Sheridan Memorial Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sheriffs Office stated that it received initial reports of a possible lost or injured person in the Bighorn Mountains, and additional reports stated that an aircraft had possibly crashed in the area. Emergency personnel were sent once the plane was located. Medical and rescue teams worked to stabilize Cindy, Earl and Aeron, authorities said. Amelias body was airlifted to the Incident Command Post and then transported to Sheridan Memorial Hospital. The coordinated effort between all of the rescuers, EMS, medical teams and aircraft personnel was exceptional, Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez said. This was, and still is, a very fluid scene. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their family. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, and law enforcement has asked the public to stay out of the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An initial FAA report was not able to provide details on the crash. It noted that the incident happened during the planes initial climb, and then the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances. Amelia Palmer was the 2024/2025 Treasure Valley Rodeo Mini Queen and second runner-up to 2026 Miss Junior Rodeo Idaho, according to a Facebook post from Miss Rodeo Idaho Inc. Amelia Palmer was the 2024/2025 Treasure Valley Rodeo Mini Queen and was said to be pure sunshine and brought joy to everyone. Amelia, you were pure sunshine and brought joy to everyone you met. Our rodeo family wont be the same without you, and our hearts are truly broken today. Please join us in lifting her family up in prayer, the organization stated in its post. A GoFundMe was set up for the family to help with medical bills, household bills, travel costs and funeral expenses. Its organizer, family friend Andrea Eisenbarth, provided the medical status of the survivors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another family friend, Kathi Roe, told the Idaho Statesman that the Palmers own a farm, and volunteers are there to help take care of the animals. She said any donations of feed would be appreciated, as well as donations to the GoFundMe. No words can express the huge loss our community has faced today, but more than that a family that has done so much for others and is the backbone of so many things, Roe said in a Facebook post. According to FAA reports, the plane was registered to Austin Travis Peden in Sheridan, Wyoming. The Billings Gazette reported that Peden previously worked for Bighorn Airways, a company that provides private and contracted flights out of Sheridan. (The Center Square) Plano Independent School District is under increased scrutiny at the federal and state level for alleged antisemitic policies. The district describes the criticism as political theater. Last month, U.S. Reps. Keith Self and Pat Fallon, both Republicans representing congressional districts 3 and 4 in north Texas, sent a letter to the Plano ISD Board of Trustees saying, It is a sad reality that the reports of anti-Semitism have become increasingly common within the district. We have become aware of numerous instances of antisemitic behavior by students, teachers, within the approved curriculum, and in at least one instance, by the school administration itself, they wrote. It appears that each instance has been treated as a one-off event, but this isn't the case of violations by one group or one school. The district has six high schools, of which five (Clark, Vines, Shepton, Jasper, and McMillan) have reported incidents, and all three of the Senior High schools (Plano, Plano East and Plano West) also have reports, as well at least five middle schools and three elementary schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also point to a school district board meeting held last month at which they argue the district refused to acknowledge the issue. The congressmen also cite federal and state laws the district must follow. Several weeks later, Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Plano ISD citing school sponsored pro-Palestinian walkouts and parents reporting widespread anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric in curriculum and classroom discussions to school administrators, board members, and City of Plano councilmembers that were either ignored or met with vague responses that do nothing to meaningfully address the problem. Paxton said reports about antisemitic activity in Plano ISD schools are alarming and must be swiftly and aggressively addressed. He also said, Any teacher or administrator that has facilitated or supported radical anti-Israel rhetoric in our schools should be fired immediately. His office requested a wide range of documents from Plano ISD, including ISD walkout policies, anti-Israel curriculum, disciplinary actions against teachers and staff for antisemitic action, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plano ISD is under scrutiny ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people and took another 200 hostages. Since then, antisemitic incidents reached an all-time high in the U.S., The Center Square reported. According to a new FBI report, hate crimes against Jews account for 70% of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the U.S. The number of antisemitic attacks tracked by the Anti-Defamation League were the largest on record last year since it began reporting them in 1979, The Center Square reported. The majority of antisemitic attacks, 64%, occurred in 10 states, eight run by Democrats. While Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas legislature have advanced numerous initiatives to protect Jewish students in Texas, brief riots erupted at University of Texas college campuses last year. They were swiftly quelled by Texas Department of Public Safety officers under Abbotts orders. Dozens of arrests were made. In Travis County, after arrests were made at UT Austin, the district attorney didnt pursue charges against 57. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Collin County, after 20 were arrested at UT Dallas, a grand jury indicted 14 people for obstruction of a passageway at the campus. The Class B misdemeanor carries a $2,000 fine, up to 180 days in jail or community supervision. At a Plano ISD board meeting last month, board president Lauren Tyra said allegations of antisemitism had been investigated, addressed and co-opted by politicians. "Plano ISD will not allow political posturing or sensationalization overshadow the critical work of building safe and respectful schools," she said, KERA News reported. However, by Sept. 1, the district issued a slightly different statement, saying it unequivocally rejects antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate, and takes every allegation of discrimination with the utmost seriousness. Plano ISD does not tolerate antisemitic or hateful behavior any such act is reprehensible and is addressed to the fullest extent permitted by law and in strict accordance with our Student Code of Conduct, which explicitly prohibits antisemitism. Our district proudly reflects the rich diversity of our community and honors the cultural and religious traditions that shape the lives of our students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also said Paxtons claims that it promotes or facilitates antisemitism are false and run counter to the districts values, policies and ongoing actions. The statement described scrutiny of district policies as political theater amplified by those with political grievances and past electoral defeats. Self, Fallon and Paxton were all reelected last year. Plano ISD says it is prepared to cooperate transparently and openly with any investigation, including our own independent audit into these claims. We are confident that these allegations will not withstand scrutiny, and expect all officials to report findings honestly when their reviews conclude. The Israeli domestic intelligence service Shin Bet said on Wednesday that it has foiled a planned assassination attempt by a cell of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. In recent weeks, several Hamas militants from the Hebron region in the West Bank have been arrested, a Shin Bet statement said. Drones were confiscated during their arrest, Shin Bet said. According to the investigations, the suspects had planned to attach explosives to the drones to carry out the attack. The ultranationalist minister is one of the most controversial members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. He had temporarily left the government in January in protest at the planned ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. He has been associated with the radical part of the settler movement since his youth. Dear Feloma, Arrived safely and just got done eating supper. So far, I dont like it at all. And with that letter, dated Aug. 19, 1943, Donald Fiorinis war began. Drafted in July of that year, Fiorini was to see and participate in intense combat in the Pacific Theater as a member of C Company, 321st Regiment, 81st Infantry Division. From Camp Adair, Oregon, to Angaur, Peleliu, the Philippines, Leyte Island and finally to the Japanese mainland, the ordinary young soldier from rural Pennsylvania witnessed the carnage of a world at war and, extraordinarily, he wrote it all down for his wife to read back home. Donald Fiorini at Camp Adair, Oregon. (Courtesy And there his letters remained, in his wife Felomas possession, until both of their deaths in the late 2000s. Tucked away in the couples attic were over 500 letters that Fiorini had sent to Feloma, recounting his early, homesick days at basic training to the hellish battles of the Pacific. The letters provide an unvarnished account of the evolution of Fiorini and the war he waged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Fiorinis granddaughter, Katie, who is the custodian of his papers, has teamed up with her friend, Carson, to share this personal slice of World War II in a new podcast titled 500 Letters to Nana. My grandpa passed in 2014, Katie recounted to Military Times in a recent interview. My mom, my husband, my dad and I were going through the house and we went through the attic and found this trunk suitcase. We opened it up and its literally just full of letters, pictures and a scrapbook. My mom asked, Do you want this or should we just chuck it? I was like, No, no, no. I want it. I then carried on the tradition by keeping them in a box for another 10 years, she said, laughing. In the past year, however, Katie began combing through the ephemera, hoping to scan them so that her mother would have all the letters in one place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after, Katie began regaling her husband, and then Carson, with some of the tidbits. My grandfather was hysterical, said Katie. He was so funny. He loved a gag. He loved a practical joke. He was constantly razzing people, in a good way, not in a mean way. In these letters, hes so funny. He kept that. He truly kept his sense of humor his whole life. Its funny to see that parallel from him in his 20s to him in his 80s. It was over a recent birthday dinner that Carson came up with the idea for the podcast. We both felt like we had this little special gem, Carson told Military Times. And we wanted to move it forward. We wanted to share it. Fiorini, bottom right, pictured with unnamed friends. (Courtesy And for the hosts, the subject matter war and separation from a loved one is something they can both relate to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My husband was special forces, Carson noted. In 2003, he called one night and he said, Keep the kids up. So I kept them up to nine or 9:30, which was a couple hours past their bedtime. When he came home he said, Im leaving. It was like my brain just stopped computing, honestly. He left the next day at 4:30 in the morning. He was the first in Iraq. For Katie, some of the Army language struck her. Donald writes to Feloma that We went through something called the Infiltration Course today during basic training. I have an actual letter from my husband from basic training saying we went through something called the Infiltration Course today. I read that and thought, Its exactly the same. The pair plan to release one episode a week, drawing on the shared love story between Donald and Feloma. The letters became a lifeline for the couple, who married in 1940 at the age of 20. And while few letters remain in Felomas voice he would hang on to her letters for as long as he could before they would disintegrate, Katie noted the hosts want to make sure that Feloma remains centered at the heart of the story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to pull her into the episodes, because what was she going through? We dont know, right? We dont know. Occasionally in a letter, he says something that you know is a response to something shes written, but she really is the heart of this, because she saved it all. She was so proud of him, and she saved everything. Its incredible, said Carson. But it also follows Fiorinis evolution from a nervous, homesick grunt to a man who has endured the savageness of war. When hes in training, hes very silly, Katie said. Hes very optimistic and funny and bright, and then after combat, while hes still very funny and sarcastic the swearing exponentially increases in the letters. Its pretty raw, the difference. By the time he makes it to occupied Japan, he is just like, No, Im not doing any of this. The war impacted Fiorini in other ways as well, however. Namely his palate. He never ate coconut again, quipped Katie. Stream all four episodes on 500 Letters to Nana now. By Anastasiia Malenko and Olena Harmash KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for more pressure on Moscow on Wednesday, beginning a visit to European allies he hopes will unveil plans for security guarantees for Kyiv even as Russian forces launched their latest massive air attack. Russia attacked with more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine, hitting energy and transport infrastructure at 14 sites and injuring four railway workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, regional officials later said that at least nine people were killed in the eastern town of Kostiantynivka, a crucial logistics hub for Ukrainian troops defending a key swathe of the front line. "These are clearly demonstrative Russian strikes. It is only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on Russias war economy, that this aggression continues," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app shortly before arriving in Denmark for talks with Nordic and Baltic allies. "We will be discussing the need for strong pressure measures with our partners in the coming days," he said. Zelenskiy called on allies to provide air defences: "These are now regular strikes, several times a week. And a clear signal that Russia rejects any attempt to end the war and wants to keep fighting," he said at a press conference in Denmark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskiy will travel next to France to meet allies convening as a "coalition of the willing" to offer security guarantees to deter Russian attacks under any agreement to end the three-and-a-half-year-old war. NATO chief Mark Rutte said he expected clarity at the Paris meeting, or soon afterward, on what the coalition can deliver in terms of guarantees for Kyiv. President Donald Trump has indicated the United States could back up any European peacekeeping plan, but would not deploy U.S. soldiers to Ukraine. Russia has pushed back against any proposal to station Western peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. Russia has so far shown little interest in ending the war, with President Vladimir Putin sticking to maximalist demands that Ukraine accept Russia's territorial conquests, cede more land, be permanently disarmed and renounce future alliances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on Wednesday at a press conference in China after attending a ceremony marking the anniversary of the end of World War Two, Putin said Russian forces were advancing in Ukraine on all fronts. There was a chance for peace via negotiations "if common sense prevails", he said, but "if not, then we will have to resolve all the tasks before us by force of arms". Putin also said he had "never ruled out the possibility" of meeting Zelenskiy, but any such meeting should be held in Moscow, a proposal swiftly dismissed by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybhia as unacceptable. EXPLOSIONS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air raid alerts sounded for hours across Ukraine, with explosions heard in nine of its 24 regions, from Kyiv to Lviv and Volyn in the west, Ukrainian officials said. Ukraine's air force said it downed 430 of 502 drones and 21 of 24 missiles launched by Russia overnight, adding that three missiles and 69 drones struck 14 locations. Four railway workers in Ukraine's central Kirovohrad region were in hospital after the Russian attack, the state-owned railway said on messaging app Telegram, flagging delays of up to 7 hours to scores of services following damaged facilities. In northern Chernihiv, the attack cut power to 30,000 consumers and damaged critical civilian infrastructure, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters in the Ivano-Frankivsk region were battling flames that engulfed 9,000 sq m (10,800 sq yards) of storage facilities, emergency services said. Three women and five men were killed in the course of more than an hour of shelling in Kostiantynivka, which also injured at least six people, regional prosecutors said on Facebook. One woman was killed and another injured in a later drone attack Russia said it had struck Ukrainian fuel targets. Moscow says it is justified in attacking civil infrastructure to hinder Ukraine's war effort. It denies intentionally harming civilians, though it has killed thousands of them. Ukraine also strikes Russian infrastructure, though on a far smaller scale. (Editing by Peter Graff and Gareth Jones) A police hiring sticker is seen on a New York Police Department patrol car. Following its February announcement that it was cutting the college credit requirement from 60 to 24 credits, the NYPD saw daily applications jump from an average of 53 to 231. In August, the department welcomed its largest incoming class since 2016, with 1,093 recruits. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) More police agencies, from big-city departments to federal agencies, are lowering education standards for new recruits a sign of how much the profession is changing as it struggles to recruit and retain officers. This year, at least two major city agencies the New York Police Department and the Dallas Police Department have cut some education requirements for new recruits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the NYPD reduced its college credit requirement for police academy entry from 60 credits to 24. Following a new policy approval in June, the Dallas Police Department began allowing applicants with only a high school diploma or GED to qualify if they also have three consecutive years of full-time work experience. Police agencies nationwide are loosening education requirements in an effort to address years of staffing shortages. The changes also come as President Donald Trump has drawn more attention to crime and public safety by deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and signaling plans to expand federal enforcement efforts in Chicago and other cities. (A federal judge on Tuesday ruled Trumps mobilization of U.S. Marines and the California National Guard in response to protests in Los Angeles this summer violated federal law.) Trump also has taken over the District of Columbias police department. Reports of violent crime nationwide have been decreasing since 2022. Some communities, though, are still facing higher rates of certain crimes, including homicide. The changes in New York City and Dallas are part of a yearslong trend of police departments easing college requirements, a shift that includes Boise, Idaho; Chicago; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Memphis, Tennessee; and Bellingham, Washington. Even some state police agencies, such as the Kentucky State Police and the Pennsylvania State Police, have followed suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But these changes in education requirements arent limited to local and state forces. The FBI which for decades required a four-year degree will no longer mandate one for new recruits starting in October. New recruits also will receive just eight weeks of training, down from the previous 18-week standard, according to The New York Times. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also has loosened standards as the Trump administration seeks to expand immigration enforcement. The agency removed its five-week Spanish-language training requirement. Translation needs would instead be met through unspecified technology, The Intercept reported. ICE has paired these changes with aggressive incentives, including signing bonuses of up to $50,000, as much as $60,000 in student loan repayment and retirement benefits. These changes reflect a broader challenge in policing: Agencies are still struggling to recruit and retain officers amid increased public attention and shifting workforce expectations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demand exceeds the supply, and whats happened is the environment for being a police officer has changed, said Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a national nonprofit think tank on policing standards. The expectations have never been higher. Resignations and retirements rose sharply after 2020, when nationwide protests put law enforcement under closer public scrutiny following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Additionally, some officers are leaving big-city departments for smaller agencies. At the same time, some experts say, police agencies are competing in a tight labor market in which shift jobs may be less appealing than positions with regular hours, higher pay or remote work options. In recent years, the push for better-educated officers has been rooted in research suggesting that college graduates are less likely to use force and perform better on the job. But some say that strict education mandates can shrink the applicant pool and shouldnt be the sole measure of what makes a good officer. College education, in the greater scheme of things, is advantageous. Its necessary, but not sufficient, Wexler said, noting that agencies should also weigh a recruits work history, maturity, judgement and other characteristics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agencies of all sizes also have adjusted other standards to attract more applicants raising or lowering minimum age limits, loosening tattoo policies, scaling back fitness tests and waiving exam fees. In some departments, these changes have sparked a surge in applications, but they havent always translated into higher staffing levels overall. Following the NYPDs announcement in February that it was changing its education requirement, daily applications jumped from an average of 53 to 231, according to a news release. In early August, the agency swore in 1,093 recruits its largest incoming class since January 2016. The New Orleans Police Department nixed its college education requirement in 2015 and saw a surge of 7,440 applications just two years later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But hiring never kept pace: The department brought on about 100 recruits a year, and far fewer after 2020, according to the citys hiring dashboard. In 2024, the department received 1,575 applications and hired just 35 recruits. A report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditors office released late last year found that between 2019 and 2023, the department lost nearly 27% of its policing staff. Solving the staffing crisis Staffing shortfalls have been a long-standing challenge for law enforcement agencies, stretching back well before 2020. But in recent years, hiring has improved in some parts of the country. The latest Police Executive Research Forum survey, based on responses from 217 agencies across 39 states and the District of Columbia, suggests staffing trends are uneven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Jan. 1, sworn staffing was up slightly from the year before but still 5.2% below 2020 levels, according to the survey. Large departments saw modest growth in 2024 but still employ 6% fewer officers than in 2020, while medium and small agencies have not just recovered but now surpass 2020 levels. This period were in now, and we have been in for the last few years, is the most challenging time to hire a police officer, Wexler said. In recent years, state legislatures also have looked into the education requirements for police. In 2023, for example, Oregon lawmakers considered a bill that would have required at least two years of higher education for departments with fewer than 50 officers and a bachelors degree for departments with more than 50. It would have applied to police, corrections, parole, probation and reserve officers, but the bill stalled in a Senate committee. More recently, lawmakers in California are considering a bill that would, starting in 2031, require incoming officers to obtain a policing certificate, associate degree or bachelors degree within 36 months of graduating from a police academy. Incoming officers could also meet the requirement through prior military service or out-of-state law enforcement experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal has received widespread support from many law enforcement agencies and groups in the state, including the California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California. The sheriffs association praised the legislation, writing in a statement that it offers a range of acceptable experiences enhancing academic rigor without burdensome requirements that could hurt agencies recruiting goals. Police education requirements are often set by individual departments or local jurisdictions, rather than written into state law. Across the country, most local law enforcement agencies require only a high school diploma or GED, though officers with a college degree may have more opportunities for promotions and higher pay. Educational standards across law enforcement agencies vary considerably, said Nancy La Vigne, a criminal justice researcher and dean of the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some agencies also have created pathways for new officers to earn college credit through completing the police academy program and offer tuition reimbursement for those who want to pursue advanced degrees. But La Vigne told Stateline that in-service training, organizational structure, leadership and accountability mechanisms within a department also play a key role in shaping a well-rounded officer. Those factors, I think, override anything as simple as Were requiring or removing education as a threshold for employment, La Vigne said. Educational requirements alone are not the biggest factor. What makes a good cop What makes a good police officer has long been debated, with discussions often centering on the role of education, training and personal qualities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having a college education by itself doesnt mean you will be a better police officer. Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Research Executive Forum Some argue that, rather than lowering education requirements, departments should improve peoples perceptions of the police by becoming more involved in the community, especially at a time when heightened scrutiny has made the job less appealing to some. Its trying to fix the problem assuming that the way things work now is the way things are supposed to be, said Jim Nolan, a sociology professor at West Virginia University and a speaker with the nonprofit Law Enforcement Action Partnership. Nolan previously served as a police officer and as an FBI unit chief. Its the approach to policing thats wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some research suggests that college-educated officers use force less often, face fewer complaints and are disciplined less frequently than their peers without a degree. Some policing experts say a college education may give officers a broader perspective on a range of issues while also strengthening critical thinking and teamwork skills. Research also suggests that college-educated officers are stronger writers, which can lead to clearer investigations and casework, according to a 2017 report on higher education in policing. But some experts still caution that the research is not conclusive and argue that education alone isnt enough to determine what makes a good police officer. Having a college education by itself doesnt mean you will be a better police officer, said Wexler, of the Police Executive Research Forum. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A police hiring sticker is seen on a New York Police Department patrol car. Following its February announcement that it was cutting the college credit requirement from 60 to 24 credits, the NYPD saw daily applications jump from an average of 53 to 231. In August, the department welcomed its largest incoming class since 2016, with 1,093 recruits. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) More police agencies, from big-city departments to federal agencies, are lowering education standards for new recruits a sign of how much the profession is changing as it struggles to recruit and retain officers. This year, at least two major city agencies the New York Police Department and the Dallas Police Department have cut some education requirements for new recruits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the NYPD reduced its college credit requirement for police academy entry from 60 credits to 24. Following a new policy approval in June, the Dallas Police Department began allowing applicants with only a high school diploma or GED to qualify if they also have three consecutive years of full-time work experience. Police agencies nationwide are loosening education requirements in an effort to address years of staffing shortages. The changes also come as President Donald Trump has drawn more attention to crime and public safety by deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and signaling plans to expand federal enforcement efforts in Chicago and other cities. (A federal judge on Tuesday ruled Trumps mobilization of U.S. Marines and the California National Guard in response to protests in Los Angeles this summer violated federal law.) Trump also has taken over the District of Columbias police department. Reports of violent crime nationwide have been decreasing since 2022. Some communities, though, are still facing higher rates of certain crimes, including homicide. The changes in New York City and Dallas are part of a yearslong trend of police departments easing college requirements, a shift that includes Boise, Idaho; Chicago; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Memphis, Tennessee; and Bellingham, Washington. Even some state police agencies, such as the Kentucky State Police and the Pennsylvania State Police, have followed suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But these changes in education requirements arent limited to local and state forces. The FBI which for decades required a four-year degree will no longer mandate one for new recruits starting in October. New recruits also will receive just eight weeks of training, down from the previous 18-week standard, according to The New York Times. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also has loosened standards as the Trump administration seeks to expand immigration enforcement. The agency removed its five-week Spanish-language training requirement. Translation needs would instead be met through unspecified technology, The Intercept reported. ICE has paired these changes with aggressive incentives, including signing bonuses of up to $50,000, as much as $60,000 in student loan repayment and retirement benefits. These changes reflect a broader challenge in policing: Agencies are still struggling to recruit and retain officers amid increased public attention and shifting workforce expectations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demand exceeds the supply, and whats happened is the environment for being a police officer has changed, said Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a national nonprofit think tank on policing standards. The expectations have never been higher. Resignations and retirements rose sharply after 2020, when nationwide protests put law enforcement under closer public scrutiny following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Additionally, some officers are leaving big-city departments for smaller agencies. At the same time, some experts say, police agencies are competing in a tight labor market in which shift jobs may be less appealing than positions with regular hours, higher pay or remote work options. In recent years, the push for better-educated officers has been rooted in research suggesting that college graduates are less likely to use force and perform better on the job. But some say that strict education mandates can shrink the applicant pool and shouldnt be the sole measure of what makes a good officer. College education, in the greater scheme of things, is advantageous. Its necessary, but not sufficient, Wexler said, noting that agencies should also weigh a recruits work history, maturity, judgement and other characteristics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agencies of all sizes also have adjusted other standards to attract more applicants raising or lowering minimum age limits, loosening tattoo policies, scaling back fitness tests and waiving exam fees. In some departments, these changes have sparked a surge in applications, but they havent always translated into higher staffing levels overall. Following the NYPDs announcement in February that it was changing its education requirement, daily applications jumped from an average of 53 to 231, according to a news release. In early August, the agency swore in 1,093 recruits its largest incoming class since January 2016. The New Orleans Police Department nixed its college education requirement in 2015 and saw a surge of 7,440 applications just two years later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But hiring never kept pace: The department brought on about 100 recruits a year, and far fewer after 2020, according to the citys hiring dashboard. In 2024, the department received 1,575 applications and hired just 35 recruits. A report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditors office released late last year found that between 2019 and 2023, the department lost nearly 27% of its policing staff. Solving the staffing crisis Staffing shortfalls have been a long-standing challenge for law enforcement agencies, stretching back well before 2020. But in recent years, hiring has improved in some parts of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest Police Executive Research Forum survey, based on responses from 217 agencies across 39 states and the District of Columbia, suggests staffing trends are uneven. As of Jan. 1, sworn staffing was up slightly from the year before but still 5.2% below 2020 levels, according to the survey. Large departments saw modest growth in 2024 but still employ 6% fewer officers than in 2020, while medium and small agencies have not just recovered but now surpass 2020 levels. This period were in now, and we have been in for the last few years, is the most challenging time to hire a police officer, Wexler said. In recent years, state legislatures also have looked into the education requirements for police. In 2023, for example, Oregon lawmakers considered a bill that would have required at least two years of higher education for departments with fewer than 50 officers and a bachelors degree for departments with more than 50. It would have applied to police, corrections, parole, probation and reserve officers, but the bill stalled in a Senate committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, lawmakers in California are considering a bill that would, starting in 2031, require incoming officers to obtain a policing certificate, associate degree or bachelors degree within 36 months of graduating from a police academy. Incoming officers could also meet the requirement through prior military service or out-of-state law enforcement experience. The proposal has received widespread support from many law enforcement agencies and groups in the state, including the California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California. The sheriffs association praised the legislation, writing in a statement that it offers a range of acceptable experiences enhancing academic rigor without burdensome requirements that could hurt agencies recruiting goals. Police education requirements are often set by individual departments or local jurisdictions, rather than written into state law. Across the country, most local law enforcement agencies require only a high school diploma or GED, though officers with a college degree may have more opportunities for promotions and higher pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Educational standards across law enforcement agencies vary considerably, said Nancy La Vigne, a criminal justice researcher and dean of the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University. Some agencies also have created pathways for new officers to earn college credit through completing the police academy program and offer tuition reimbursement for those who want to pursue advanced degrees. But La Vigne told Stateline that in-service training, organizational structure, leadership and accountability mechanisms within a department also play a key role in shaping a well-rounded officer. Those factors, I think, override anything as simple as Were requiring or removing education as a threshold for employment, La Vigne said. Educational requirements alone are not the biggest factor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What makes a good cop What makes a good police officer has long been debated, with discussions often centering on the role of education, training and personal qualities. Some argue that, rather than lowering education requirements, departments should improve peoples perceptions of the police by becoming more involved in the community, especially at a time when heightened scrutiny has made the job less appealing to some. Its trying to fix the problem assuming that the way things work now is the way things are supposed to be, said Jim Nolan, a sociology professor at West Virginia University and a speaker with the nonprofit Law Enforcement Action Partnership. Nolan previously served as a police officer and as an FBI unit chief. Its the approach to policing thats wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some research suggests that college-educated officers use force less often, face fewer complaints and are disciplined less frequently than their peers without a degree. Some policing experts say a college education may give officers a broader perspective on a range of issues while also strengthening critical thinking and teamwork skills. Research also suggests that college-educated officers are stronger writers, which can lead to clearer investigations and casework, according to a 2017 report on higher education in policing. But some experts still caution that the research is not conclusive and argue that education alone isnt enough to determine what makes a good police officer. Having a college education by itself doesnt mean you will be a better police officer, said Wexler, of the Police Executive Research Forum. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. Pennsylvania State Police Troopers attend at event at the state capitol on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg for the Capital-Star). More police agencies, from big-city departments to federal agencies, are lowering education standards for new recruits a sign of how much the profession is changing as it struggles to recruit and retain officers. This year, at least two major city agencies the New York Police Department and the Dallas Police Department have cut some education requirements for new recruits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the NYPD reduced its college credit requirement for police academy entry from 60 credits to 24. Following a new policy approval in June, the Dallas Police Department began allowing applicants with only a high school diploma or GED to qualify if they also have three consecutive years of full-time work experience. Police agencies nationwide are loosening education requirements in an effort to address years of staffing shortages. The changes also come as President Donald Trump has drawn more attention to crime and public safety by deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and signaling plans to expand federal enforcement efforts in Chicago and other cities. (A federal judge on Tuesday ruled Trumps mobilization of U.S. Marines and the California National Guard in response to protests in Los Angeles this summer violated federal law.) Trump also has taken over the District of Columbias police department. A police slogan sticker is seen on a patrol car at the 47th precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) on July 29, 2025 in the Edenwald neighborhood of the Bronx Borough in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Reports of violent crime nationwide have been decreasing since 2022. Some communities, though, are still facing higher rates of certain crimes, including homicide. The changes in New York City and Dallas are part of a yearslong trend of police departments easing college requirements, a shift that includes Boise, Idaho; Chicago; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Memphis, Tennessee; and Bellingham, Washington. Even some state police agencies, such as the Kentucky State Police and the Pennsylvania State Police, have followed suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But these changes in education requirements arent limited to local and state forces. The FBI which for decades required a four-year degree will no longer mandate one for new recruits starting in October. New recruits also will receive just eight weeks of training, down from the previous 18-week standard, according to The New York Times. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also has loosened standards as the Trump administration seeks to expand immigration enforcement. The agency removed its five-week Spanish-language training requirement. Translation needs would instead be met through unspecified technology, The Intercept reported. ICE has paired these changes with aggressive incentives, including signing bonuses of up to $50,000, as much as $60,000 in student loan repayment and retirement benefits. Its part of a yearslong trend of departments easing college requirements, a shift that includes Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These changes reflect a broader challenge in policing: Agencies are still struggling to recruit and retain officers amid increased public attention and shifting workforce expectations. The demand exceeds the supply, and whats happened is the environment for being a police officer has changed, said Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a national nonprofit think tank on policing standards. The expectations have never been higher. Resignations and retirements rose sharply after 2020, when nationwide protests put law enforcement under closer public scrutiny following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Additionally, some officers are leaving big-city departments for smaller agencies. At the same time, some experts say, police agencies are competing in a tight labor market in which shift jobs may be less appealing than positions with regular hours, higher pay or remote work options. In recent years, the push for better-educated officers has been rooted in research suggesting that college graduates are less likely to use force and perform better on the job. But some say that strict education mandates can shrink the applicant pool and shouldnt be the sole measure of what makes a good officer. College education, in the greater scheme of things, is advantageous. Its necessary, but not sufficient, Wexler said, noting that agencies should also weigh a recruits work history, maturity, judgement and other characteristics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agencies of all sizes also have adjusted other standards to attract more applicants raising or lowering minimum age limits, loosening tattoo policies, scaling back fitness tests and waiving exam fees. In some departments, these changes have sparked a surge in applications, but they havent always translated into higher staffing levels overall. Following the NYPDs announcement in February that it was changing its education requirement, daily applications jumped from an average of 53 to 231, according to a news release. In early August, the agency swore in 1,093 recruits its largest incoming class since January 2016. The New Orleans Police Department nixed its college education requirement in 2015 and saw a surge of 7,440 applications just two years later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But hiring never kept pace: The department brought on about 100 recruits a year, and far fewer after 2020, according to the citys hiring dashboard. In 2024, the department received 1,575 applications and hired just 35 recruits. A report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditors office released late last year found that between 2019 and 2023, the department lost nearly 27% of its policing staff. Solving the staffing crisis Staffing shortfalls have been a long-standing challenge for law enforcement agencies, stretching back well before 2020. But in recent years, hiring has improved in some parts of the country. The latest Police Executive Research Forum survey, based on responses from 217 agencies across 39 states and the District of Columbia, suggests staffing trends are uneven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Jan. 1, sworn staffing was up slightly from the year before but still 5.2% below 2020 levels, according to the survey. Large departments saw modest growth in 2024 but still employ 6% fewer officers than in 2020, while medium and small agencies have not just recovered but now surpass 2020 levels. This period were in now, and we have been in for the last few years, is the most challenging time to hire a police officer, Wexler said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In recent years, state legislatures also have looked into the education requirements for police. In 2023, for example, Oregon lawmakers considered a bill that would have required at least two years of higher education for departments with fewer than 50 officers and a bachelors degree for departments with more than 50. It would have applied to police, corrections, parole, probation and reserve officers, but the bill stalled in a Senate committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, lawmakers in California are considering a bill that would, starting in 2031, require incoming officers to obtain a policing certificate, associate degree or bachelors degree within 36 months of graduating from a police academy. Incoming officers could also meet the requirement through prior military service or out-of-state law enforcement experience. The proposal has received widespread support from many law enforcement agencies and groups in the state, including the California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California. The sheriffs association praised the legislation, writing in a statement that it offers a range of acceptable experiences enhancing academic rigor without burdensome requirements that could hurt agencies recruiting goals. Police education requirements are often set by individual departments or local jurisdictions, rather than written into state law. Across the country, most local law enforcement agencies require only a high school diploma or GED, though officers with a college degree may have more opportunities for promotions and higher pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Educational standards across law enforcement agencies vary considerably, said Nancy La Vigne, a criminal justice researcher and dean of the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University. Some agencies also have created pathways for new officers to earn college credit through completing the police academy program and offer tuition reimbursement for those who want to pursue advanced degrees. But La Vigne told Stateline that in-service training, organizational structure, leadership and accountability mechanisms within a department also play a key role in shaping a well-rounded officer. Those factors, I think, override anything as simple as Were requiring or removing education as a threshold for employment, La Vigne said. Educational requirements alone are not the biggest factor. Pennsylvania State Police Troopers attend at event at the state capitol on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg for the Capital-Star). What makes a good cop What makes a good police officer has long been debated, with discussions often centering on the role of education, training and personal qualities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having a college education by itself doesnt mean you will be a better police officer. Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Research Executive Forum Some argue that, rather than lowering education requirements, departments should improve peoples perceptions of the police by becoming more involved in the community, especially at a time when heightened scrutiny has made the job less appealing to some. Its trying to fix the problem assuming that the way things work now is the way things are supposed to be, said Jim Nolan, a sociology professor at West Virginia University and a speaker with the nonprofit Law Enforcement Action Partnership. Nolan previously served as a police officer and as an FBI unit chief. Its the approach to policing thats wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some research suggests that college-educated officers use force less often, face fewer complaints and are disciplined less frequently than their peers without a degree. Some policing experts say a college education may give officers a broader perspective on a range of issues while also strengthening critical thinking and teamwork skills. Research also suggests that college-educated officers are stronger writers, which can lead to clearer investigations and casework, according to a 2017 report on higher education in policing. But some experts still caution that the research is not conclusive and argue that education alone isnt enough to determine what makes a good police officer. Having a college education by itself doesnt mean you will be a better police officer, said Wexler, of the Police Executive Research Forum. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Nationally, police agencies are 15 percent understaffed, and in North Carolina, that number is even higher. These numbers are according to the newly sworn-in Huntersville Police Chief Brian Vaughan. Right now, Vaughan says 25 percent of jobs in the Huntersville Police Department are unfilled, but the town has a new plan to get more officers on the streets by offering them more money. If we falter and let it go two years, this is where we end up, Vaughan told commissioners at Tuesday nights meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaughan said his first course of action is to take steps to get and keep officers at the department in his new position. We are at a time where we really need to step up our recruiting, Vaughan said. According to Vaughan, rising competition from neighboring agencies, the increased cost of living, and losing officers to other departments play a big role. Huntersville will now be leading the way, paying starting officers $61,000 after town commissioners agreed unanimously to the increase Tuesday night. Were battling for a smaller pool of people, and were battling for people that want to make lateral entry to our department to make a better life for them and their families, Vaughan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He shared these numbers at the meeting of neighboring agencies: Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office: $60,540 Pineville Police Department: $60,376 Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD: $59,502 Mooresville Police Department: $59,000 Matthews Police Department: $56,551 We reached out to the Cornelius Police and learned the starting rate for officers is $53,802. It started in July of 2025. A spokesperson said the HR department conducts regular salary studies for public safety and other departments within the town, and salaries are regularly evaluated. Thats also true of the towns of Pineville and Mooresville. Pineville Assistant Police Chief Copley sent us this statement regarding salaries: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pineville takes very good care of all its employees, and we are very fortunate to have received pay raises early this year with the support system in place from our elected leaders. And Mooresville said it just improved employee benefits in the 2026 budget: Salary Range Increase: $59,000 $100,278 Overtime Rate: 1.5x salary and Longevity Pay: $250$2,000 annually Life Insurance: 1.5x salary (up to $200K) paid for by the town Disability Insurance: Short & Long-Term (100% town provided) Updated Step Plans that integrate experience, rank, special pay This is something all of these departments will continue to face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is like step one early in the process, Vaughan said. In addition to the starting salary, Huntersville commissioners unanimously agreed to pay all officers an extra $4,800 across the board next paycheck. The money is coming from those vacancies, so this is no additional taxpayer cost. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Police have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with a fatal shooting in northwest Oklahoma City on Labor Day after an argument between friends turned deadly. Shortly before 12:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 1, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a call about a shooting at a home in the 4700 block of W Park Place. The caller said he had shot his friend but would "secure the gun and come out with his hands up," according to an incident report from an arresting officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said they found Luis Lopez, 29, shot to death at the scene. A 30-year-old man was also found "outside with his hands up," according to the police report, and was taken into custody. The Oklahoman is not naming the man because he has not been officially charged. More: Stabbing in SW Oklahoma City leads to city's 50th homicide this year Police arrested a 30-year-old man shortly after a deadly shooting in northwest Oklahoma City during the early morning hours of Labor Day. According to a probable cause affidavit written by another officer, Lopez and the 30-year-old man had gathered at the home with a third friend to drink and play video games. The affidavit says the three men ended up in the backyard, where a verbal argument between Lopez and the 30-year-old man escalated into what the third friend described to police as play fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the play fighting agitated the situation, leading to real wrestling between the two, according to the affidavit. The 30-year-old man attempted to gather his things so that he could leave in his truck but had lost his glasses while wrestling, the affidavit says. The 30-year-old man told investigators that Lopez followed him to the front yard and harassed him as he was attempting to leave, so he retrieved his gun from his truck, according to the affidavit. (He) stated he turned the flashlight and laser on and pointed the gun down at the ground and told (Lopez) he was done arguing, the officer wrote. His hopes were that this would get (Lopez) to leave him alone. When the 30-year-old attempted one more time to enter the house to retrieve his glasses, Lopez allegedly began arguing again, although the affidavit says that he didnt physically touch his friend at that time. The 30-year-old then shot Lopez multiple times, as the third friend ran into the home and locked the door. According to the interview with the 30-year-old cited in the affidavit, he admitted he shot Lopez too much to be considered self-defense. After he called and surrendered to police, a gun was recovered from the 30-year-olds truck, investigators wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jail records show the 30-year-old was booked into the Oklahoma County jail Monday morning on complaint of first-degree murder. He has been denied bond. Lopez's death is being counted as the 51st homicide this year. Police asked that anyone with information call the department's homicide tip-line at 405-297-1200. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC police say man fatally shot friend after Labor Day argument **Related Video Above: What are the most reported crimes in America CANTON, Ohio (WJW) Police are investigating a homicide after a Canton resident was found dead at his home Tuesday. Man indicted in ex-wifes murder in Chardon Canton police said they were called to a residence on the 1600 block of St. Elmo Avenue Northeast around 6 p.m. for a wellness check. Upon arrival, police said they found the man who lived there dead with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was identified as 41-year-old Jake Young. Police did not say the last time Young had been seen. Amish woman accused of killing 4-year-old son in court this week Those who have any information regarding the shooting are asked to contact police at 330-649-5800 or 330-489-3144. Anonymous tips can be made to Stark County Crime Stoppers by heading to this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. The gunman in a deadly Mount Washington shooting was romantically interested in one of the three people killed, Cincinnati police told The Enquirer. Police say Samuel Ericksen, 26, shot Eden Adugna, 22, Feven Adugna, 20, and Bemnet Deresse, 27, as well as himself, on Aug. 31 near a home at the intersection of Beacon Street and Glade Avenue around 1:30 p.m. Police said they do not believe Ericksen's actions are a hate crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The offender knew at least one of the victims of which he had a romantic interest," Lt. Jonathan Cunningham said. Police conduct an investigation near the 1500 block of Beacon Street in Mount Washington after four people were shot on the afternoon of Aug. 31, according to Cincinnati police. Eden Adugna and Feven Adugna, who both worked at the Good Samaritan Hospital, died at the scene. Deresse was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he later died. Ericksen also turned the gun on himself, police said, and died a couple days later on Sept. 2 due to his injuries, according to a news release. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mount Washington shooting that killed 4 not a hate crime, police say KANSAS CITY, Mo. Authorities have identified a teenage boy who was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon in south Kansas City. According to the Kansas City Police Department, at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers were called to Saint Lukes East Hospital in Lees Summit in response to a shooting. When officers arrived, they were told a teenage boy had been taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead by hospital staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pursuit ends in wrong-way crash near downtown Kansas City; 2 hurt On Wednesday morning, KCPD identified the boy as 15-year-old Isaiah Wilson. Wilson was two days away from his 16th birthday and was a student at Raytown South High School. Following news of his death, Raytown South Principal John Williams released a statement to students, staff and families. It read: Dear Raytown South High School families, It is with great sadness that I share with you that Isaiah Wilson passed away on September 2, 2025. This loss of life has a significant impact on our school. Our school family wishes to express our sympathy to Isaiahs family and friends. This is very difficult for our school community. We will offer support to students and staff who are grieving this loss. Staff will be extra watchful as we work through our loss as a school community. Students who may be having difficulty coping with the loss will be encouraged to talk to adults about their feelings. Children grieve in a variety of ways, including not being able to name or identify what they are feeling, hiding what they are feeling, or wanting to spend lots of time talking about what they are feeling. Here are some guidelines to help support our students when dealing with grief: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Give your child the facts in a simple manner. Be careful not to go into too much detail. If you cannot answer your childs questions, its okay to say, I dont know how to answer that, but perhaps we can find someone to help us. Talk about feelings such as: sad, angry, feeling responsible, scared, tearful, depressed, worried, etc. Think about ways your child can say goodbye to the person who has died. Talk to your child about your familys beliefs about what happens to people after they die. We want to work together through this experience to help students any way we can. If you have questions, you may contact me at the school. Initial investigations reveal that the shooting took place near 88th Place and James A. Reed Road. Johnson County DA says officers use of deadly force against suspect was justified Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to KCPD, it is believed that Wilson was walking outside when he heard several gunshots and was struck by gunfire. Wilson then called a friend and was taken to Saint Lukes East, where he died from his injuries. Raytown resident Allen Johnson, a skateboarder, was about to go back to his car Tuesday when he heard about five shots. Right then, I thought of you know past strays hitting people, so, I just kind of lifted it up like this, and I was walking like that for a while, Johnson said Wednesday, talking about his skateboard and how he used it as a potential shield. I think thats very tragic and unfortunate that that happened to such a young little boy, Lees Summit resident Keiana Gaskin said to FOX4 Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaskin brought her 3-year-old son Keion to James A. Reed Park Wednesday. He plays on his skateboard and the playground there. Tuesday, police were seen in the neighborhood right across the street. Gaskin told FOX4 shes not really worried or afraid to go to that park. We have a pretty amazing time here whenever we come, she continued. Weve never had any problems, so I was pretty surprised to hear about the passing of the young man. At this time, there is no suspect in custody; however, investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact homicide detectives directly at (816) 234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at (816) 474-8477. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Police are stepping up patrols outside Duquesne Elementary School after a 13-year-old boy had a gun in a fanny pack across the street from the school during dismissal on Tuesday, according to Duquesne Police. The school district says the boy was a former student of the district. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Teen accused of bringing gun to local elementary school arrested, taken to out-of-state facility Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Duquesne School District said parents and staff felt something was off when they noticed the teen standing across the street from the school, wearing a fanny pack. We have really observant staff and faculty who trained for this, said superintendent Dr. Sue Mariani. We also had students and parents alert us, so it wasnt just our security staff. Police said the boy tried to run when officers arrived, but he was quickly caught. Mariani said the teen had previously attended City of Duquesne School District schools but was transferred to another district for behavioral support. The teen is facing multiple charges, including possession of a weapon on school property. Duquesne Police say he was sent to a juvenile detention facility out of state because no beds were available in Allegheny County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duquesne police say the shortage of beds undermines public safety but also fails to hold young offenders accountable for their actions in a way that could redirect their lives. Police said officers will maintain an increased presence during arrival and dismissal times at the school. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Police are asking for the publics assistance in identifying a man who attempted to steal a tractor from a Southeast Oklahoma City business. According to the Oklahoma City Police, the man was caught on a trail camera and attempted to steal a tractor from a local business near SE 9th Street and S Bryant Avenue on Friday, August 29, at around 7 p.m. Police identify victim in deadly stabbing in NW Oklahoma City Man caught on trail cam who attempted to steal a tractor from a business. Image courtesy, the Oklahoma City Police Department. Man caught on trail cam who attempted to steal a tractor from a business. Image courtesy, the Oklahoma City Police Department. Man caught on trail cam who attempted to steal a tractor from a business. Image courtesy, the Oklahoma City Police Department. Anyone who recognizes him or has any information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 405-235-7300 or submit an online tip here. OKCPD says a cash reward is possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Poland has scrambled its aircraft and put ground-based air defence systems on full alert in response to a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine on the night of 2-3 September. Source: Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: The Polish command "initiated all necessary procedures" to protect the countrys airspace due to the Russian attack on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Polish and allied aircraft are actively operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been placed on the highest level of combat readiness." Details: The statement added that these actions "are preventive in nature and aimed at ensuring the safety of airspace and protecting citizens". "Operational Command is monitoring the current situation and subordinate forces and assets remain fully ready to respond immediately," the statement said. Background: On the night of 2-3 September, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine. The bombardment has damaged the railway infrastructure in Kirovohrad Oblast. Fires were also reported in the city of Lutsk in Volyn Oblast due to the drone strikes. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump affirmed that the United States will keep a robust military presence in Poland as he had a warm meeting Wednesday with the country's new president, Karol Nawrocki. Trump had taken the unusual step of endorsing Nawrocki in the Polish elections earlier this year, and as the leaders sat side by side in the White House, Trump said the U.S.-Polish relationship has always been strong but "now its better than ever. When asked by a reporter whether the U.S. planned to continue placing troops in Poland, Trump said the U.S. would and "we'll put more there if they want." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well be staying in Poland. Were very much aligned with Poland," Trump said. The visit to Washington is Nawrocki's first overseas trip since taking office last month. The former amateur boxer and historian, who was backed by the conservative Law and Justice party, was hoping to deepen his relationship with Trump at a fraught moment for Warsaw. Nawrocki thanked Trump for his support and, in a nod to the bonds between their countries, gave a shout out to the millions of Polish Americans in the U.S. Those relations for me, for Poland, for Poles, are very important, Nawrocki said. He added that those bonds are based on shared values of independence and democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news conference after his meeting, Nawrocki said he and Trump discussed expanding the U.S. military presence in Poland. There were specific discussions regarding this project, he said. He also said he considered it a major success that Trump provided a guarantee of Polands security. At the White House, Trump said he was proud to have endorsed Nawrocki and lauded him for winning his election. "It was a pretty tough race, pretty nasty race, and he beat them all. And he beat them all very easily, and now hes become even more popular as they got to know him and know him better, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is increasingly frustrated by his inability to get Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sit down for direct talks aimed at ending the war between Poland's neighbors. Trump last month met with Putin in Alaska and then with Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House. The Republican president emerged from those engagements confident that he would be able to quickly arrange direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy and perhaps three-way talks in which he would participate. But his optimism in hatching an agreement to end the war has dimmed as Putin has yet to signal an interest in sitting down with Zelenskyy. Maybe they have to fight a little longer, Trump said in an interview with the conservative Daily Caller published over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Zelenskyy are scheduled to speak Thursday, according to a White House official. The official requested anonymity to discuss the yet to be formally announced call. The call comes as Zelenskyy is in Paris to meet with European allies on Thursday to discuss postwar security guarantees they might be able to provide with the United States. There is also heightened anxiety in Poland, and across Europe, about Trump's long-term commitment to a strong U.S. force posture on the continent an essential deterrent to Russia. Some key advisers in his administration have advocated for shifting U.S. troops and military from Europe to the Indo-Pacific with China's lock as the United States' most significant strategic and economic competitor. Currently, there are about 8,200 American troops stationed in Poland, but the force level regularly fluctuates, according to the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Nawrocki arrived at the White House, Trump gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder and stood with him as they watched U.S. military jets soaring over the South Lawn. A group of F-16s flew in a missing man formation as a tribute to a Polish Air Force F-16 pilot, Maj. Maciej Slab Krakowian, who died in a crash in Poland on Aug. 28. Thank you for this gesture, Nawrocki later told Trump. Trump made clear before Polands election this spring he wanted Nawrocki to win, dangling the prospect of closer military ties if the Poles elected Nawrocki. Trump even hosted him at the White House before the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also traveled to Poland shortly before its May election to tell Poles if they elected Nawrocki and other conservatives they would have a strong ally in Trump, who would "ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values. Ultimately, Polish voters went with Nawrocki in a tight election over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafa Trzaskowski. Most of the power in Polands parliamentary system rests with an elected parliament and a government chosen by the parliament. The president can veto legislation and represents the country abroad. Nawrocki has tense relations with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, an ally of Trzaskowski. Nawrocki has echoed some of Trumps language on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He promises to continue Polands support for Ukraine but has been critical of Zelenskyy, accusing him of taking advantage of allies. Nawrocki has accused Ukrainian refugees of taking advantage of Polish generosity and vowed to prioritize Poles for social services such as health care and schooling. At the same time, Nawrocki aimed to stress to Trump that Russian aggression in Ukraine underscores that Putin can't be trusted and that a strong U.S. presence in Poland remains an essential deterrent. Russia and its ally Belarus are set to hold joint military exercises this month in Belarus, unnerving Poland as well as fellow NATO members Latvia and Lithuania. ___ Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin and Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report. Sept. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump hosted new President of Poland Karol Nawrocki Wednesday at the White House and promised to support the country, keep U.S. troops there and possibly send more. Nawrocki, who was elected to the presidency in June, is a right-wing nationalist whom Trump endorsed. His office is largely ceremonial, but he's been pushing back against the centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a Trump critic. Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski is also visiting Washington but not the White House, the New York Times reported. Trump said he would support Poland and stand with Warsaw "all the way." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president praised Nawrocki for winning a "pretty tough, pretty nasty race," saying: "I don't endorse too many people, but I endorsed him, and I was very proud of that, the job he's done." A Polish reporter asked Trump if he was planning to pull troops out of Poland, and he responded no. Polands President Karol Nawrocki made remarks during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI "If anything, we can put more there, if they want; they've long wanted to have a larger presence," he said. He later said the United States "never even thought in terms of removing soldiers from Poland," though he confirmed there were discussions "about it with regard to other countries." Trump also praised Poland for its defense spending, which is the highest in NATO. President Donald Trump met with Polands President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday. The two leaders discussed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and U.S. commitments to Polish security. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI "We are with Poland all the way and we will help Poland protect itself," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About the Russia-Ukraine war, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin would have to take the next steps toward peace, and "if we are unhappy about it, you will see things happen." Polands President Karol Nawrocki and President Donald Trump walked along the colonnade at the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI On X, the Chancellery of the President tweeted (translated from Polish): "During the plenary talks, we even spoke with @POTUS and with the ministers about expanding the component of American soldiers in Poland, which particularly pleases me. Starting tomorrow, Secretary [of Defense Pete] Hegseth, in accordance with the decision of President Trump, and Minister [of the National Security Bureau Slawomir] Cenckiewicz, in accordance with my decision, will be preparing solutions that are certainly good for Poland." Polands President Karol Nawrocki was greeted by President Donald Trump as he arrived at the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI Before the trip, there was dissent between Nawrocki and the Polish government, run by Tusk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There cannot be two foreign policies serving one country," said Pawel Wronski, Polish foreign ministry spokesperson, at a news conference on Tuesday. He said the ministry wished Nawrocki well in his meeting with Trump, but it urged him to stick to policy. Polands President Karol Nawrocki and President Donald Trump talked outside the Oval Office on Wednesday. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI The White House visit was his first overseas trip since he took office in early August. Marcin Przydacz, Nawrocki's chief foreign policy adviser, told reporters that the visit mostly would include discussion on "security issues," and that Poland wanted to "maintain the best possible relations with the Americans." Nawrocki planned to inform Trump about the Polish perspective on Ukraine and Trump's Alaska talks with Putin, "pointing to the causes of this aggression and identifying the aggressor, the Russian Federation," Przydacz said. Sikorski released a video message last week reminding Nawrocki that the Polish government sets foreign policy, not the president. He said the cabinet "has adopted a position so that the president knows what to focus on during the talks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are most interested in the president discussing Putin's true goals in Ukraine and seeking a just peace for Ukraine." He urged Nawrocki to stop any "reduction of American troops in Europe, particularly in Poland." But Nawrocki's office shot back. "If someone thinks they can issue instructions that bind the president, they don't know the constitution," said Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the Chancellery of the President, on Polish radio, The Times reported. Nawrocki and the Polish government agree on their distrust of Russia. He has voiced support for Ukraine in the war. But he has also said that Ukrainians who fled to Poland have stayed too long. He last month vetoed legislation that would have extended benefits for Ukrainian refugees and has said he doesn't fully trust Ukraine based on historical tensions between the two countries. There was no Labor Day holiday for Chicago criminals, who murdered nine people and wounded another 51; most (if not all) were black or brown people with names and stories we will never know. Meanwhile, crime is down sharply in Washington, D.C., where three people were shot and wounded, but no one was killed over the weekend. Rather than learn from Washington, D.C.s experience, Chicagos leaders are doubling down to frustrate a proposed federal law enforcement surge here that will make Chicago safer for all. As the weekends carnage unfolded, Mayor Johnson issued an order blocking the Chicago Police from cooperating with any new federal law enforcement effort while Gov. Pritzker was on TV describing a D.C.-style federal law enforcement surge as an invasion. Last week, Pritzker declared that crime is a "manufactured crisis" in Chicago and that federal crime-fighting initiatives are merely a cover for Trumps supposed darker, more authoritarian motives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzkers now familiar stridency contrasts sharply with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowsers approach, who thanked Trump last week, saying: "We greatly appreciate the surge of officers." A new poll by M3 Strategies suggests Chicagoans would appreciate a surge of officers here, too. In 2024, among our nations 25 most populous cities, D.C. had the worst murder rate - 28% higher than second-place Indianapolis and 179% higher than the groups average. But after Trump intervened, for 13 days, there were no murders in D.C. Compared to 2024 - when the district recorded 187 homicides - the odds of that happening randomly are just one in 800. Bowser announced that in the first 20 days after Trumps takeover (Aug. 7-26), violent crime had plummeted 45%, carjackings down 87%, robbery down 62%, and sexual abuse down 44%. D.C.s residents suddenly felt much safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt rocket science. The research is clear: Crime goes down as the risk of arrest and conviction, and the cost of conviction, goes up. As of December, the D.C. police department had1,340 patrol officers and 3,400 officers total, but only about a third of them are available on any given shift to serve a city of 720,000. "Crime is out of control, and our officers are stretched beyond their limits," D.C. police union Chair Gregg Pemberton warned. Trump added over 500 federal law enforcement officers and about800 National Guard troops, effectively doubling the number of patrol officers, calming the mayhem dramatically. Contrary to what Illinois political leadership is asserting, Chicagoans do perceive violent crime as a real issue,according to the M3 Strategies poll, and theres broad support for beefing up Chicagos law enforcement to calm the mayhem here as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 5,000 officers being discussed for Chicago would also be a substantial increase over the roughly 11,700 officers Chicago employs to protect its 2.7 million residents. In response to Trumps broader plan to deploy the National Guard and federal forces to cities like Chicago and D.C., Chicagos Mayor Brandon Johnson argued that jailing offenders is "racist, immoral, and unholy" and does not curb violent crime. "Weve tried that, it doesnt work." Johnson isnt the only Democrat who believes that arresting criminals is racist, but as the M3 Strategies poll shows, blacks and Hispanics are more supportive of law enforcement than White - no doubt because the burden of crime falls heaviest on blacks and Hispanics. A National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform analysis of D.C. homicides between 2019 and 2021foundthatabout 96% of victims were black. The same is true, though to a lesser extent, in Chicago. So far this year, 80% of the murder victims are black. With 573 murders last year, that amounts to about 450 black people murdered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black residents suffer disproportionately in other crime categories as well, and theyre hurt by the corollary effects of high crime as businesses shut down, jobs disappear, stores close their doors, and property values take a hit. So, it should not be surprising that Chicagos blacks and Hispanics support federal help to fight crime. Black residents,by a 48%-to-44% margin, think it would be a good idea. Hispanics have even stronger support by a 55%-to-38% margin. Washington, D.C.s experience shows that a significant and visible increase in law enforcement will save lives and reduce violent crime. Pritzker and Johnsons approach will instead disproportionately harm those they claim to want to protect: the low-income, black, and Hispanic communities. Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson need to follow the data, learn from D.C., and embrace strategies that make it riskier for criminals to commit crimes. Lets make Chicago safer for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Porter is the former National Committeeman to the RNC from Illinois. & John R. Lott Jr. is president of the Crime Prevention Research Center. He served as the senior advisor for research and statistics in the Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Legal Policy in the U.S. Department of Justice during 2020-21. The Poltava regional administration on Sept. 3 denied allegations of poorly built fortifications amid claims of embezzled funds. The statement came in apparent reaction to an investigation published by lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak, who claimed that at least Hr 200 million (nearly $5 million) were embezzled in last year's fortification contracts. According to Zelezniak, the Poltava regional administration then under Governor Filip Pronin signed 16 contracts worth around Hr 370 million (around $9 million) with Enki Construction in February 2024 to fortify an unspecified sector in the war-torn Donetsk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using Primum Aktyv as an intermediary, the contractors allegedly sold barrier pyramids, timber, and other materials at inflated prices. Zhelezniak also reported alleged schemes to avoid paying value-added tax (VAT) through fictitious contracts. The scheme, which Zhelezniak asserts happened with the knowledge of Pronin's subordinates, resulted not only in the loss of state funds but also in the construction of defenses that, according to experts, fail to meet modern standards, the lawmaker claimed. Zhelezniak cited photographic evidence, recorded conversations between regional officials and company representatives, and contracts and invoices as evidence of the scheme and the poor quality of fortifications. Pronin has publicly denied accusations of overpaying for construction materials. In December 2024, he was dismissed as the governor of Poltava Oblast and appointed head of the State Financial Monitoring Service. Volodymyr Kohut currently serves as the regional head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without directly referencing Zhelezniak, the Poltava regional administration refuted "incomplete, inaccurate, and manipulative claims" regarding the building of fortifications in a Sept. 3 statement. "As of Sept. 3, 2025, 14 platoon strongpoints and lines of non-explosive barriers have been completed," the statement reads. The regional authorities said the work was carried out in accordance with the approved project and cost-estimate documentation and reviewed in a series of inspections. "In total, Hr 375 million (around $9 million) were spent on the construction of fortifications, of which about Hr 70 million ($1.7 million) accounted for VAT," the authorities said, calling the allegations an attempt to "discredit the Poltava regional administration." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parliament has summoned both Pronin and Kohut in reaction to the allegations. The Kyiv Independent has reached out to Primum Aktyv and Enki Construction for comment. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly faced criticism over inadequate fortifications in front-line regions amid a Russian onslaught, with some instances involving alleged corruption of government officials. Read also: Ukraine destroys Russian speedboat as it attempts to land troops, Navy says, shares footage Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) The company operating some of the most visited pornographic websites in the world has agreed to pay Utah $5 million over allegations that it didnt do enough to remove harmful content, including videos depicting rape, child sexual abuse and secret recordings. Officials announced a proposed consent order on Wednesday, filed in federal court in the district of Utah, in conjunction with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. It targets Aylo, which operates websites like Pornhub, Redtube and, as Margaret Busse put it, hundreds of other sites with names that are really too obscene to mention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aylo has openly, repeatedly and severely violated Utahs consumer protection laws for years by allowing the unconscionable distribution of the worst of the worst, said Busse, the executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce, during a news conference. In addition to the $5 million, Aylo will be required to implement a more stringent review and regulatory process on its websites. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX According to court documents, since 2012 Aylo profited off of the distribution of tens of thousands of videos and images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and nonconsensual material (NCM), which includes things like revenge porn, rape, secretly recorded videos and other absolutely appalling categories of content, said Melissa Holyoak, commissioner with the FTC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Aylos employees referred to Pornhub as a goldmine for rape content, Holyoak said Wednesday during the press conference. Aylos websites are incredibly popular In 2021, its sites saw a total of 800 million monthly visits from U.S. consumers, per court documents. According to the complaint, the company falsely claimed CSAM and NCM content could be flagged by users and removed; that it would ban users that uploaded CSAM and NCM; that content previously flagged would be fingerprinted so it could not be re-uploaded; and that it would verify the ages of people in its videos. Users would then view, download and further distribute these videos millions of times, often not knowing it was CSAM or NCM, further victimizing people in the video according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say Aylo only started to restrict CSAM and NCM after credit card processing companies began threatening the company with fines. All of this adds up to a portrait of a company that has no intention to comply with its own policies, even when called out by credit card companies, journalists, and just a general public outcry, Busse said, telling reporters Aylo was not only motivated by unprecedented profits, but seemed to relish spreading this kind of content for its own sake. The proposed consent order directs Aylo to pay the state of Utah $5 million that Busse said will go into a consumer protection education fund. The company will also be required to pay an additional $10 million if it violates the terms of the settlement. According to court documents, Aylo will now: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Implement a program preventing the dissemination of CSAM and NCM, which includes policies, procedures and technical measures to ensure that such content is not published on its websites and a process to respond to reports about CSAM and NCM content. Create a verification system to ensure people who appear in videos on Aylos websites provide their consent. Remove all content uploaded prior to the agreement until Aylo verifies the people in the videos were consenting adults. Post a notice on its websites informing users about the allegations and legal action. Establish a privacy and information security program. In a statement, an Aylo spokesperson said the settlement reaffirms and enhances Aylos efforts to prevent the publication of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual material on its platforms. The company also pointed to several safety measures its taken in recent years, including verification requirements for users who upload content and proof of consent and identification for performers. And, it said the allegations levied by Utah and the FTC all stem from content uploaded before 2020 since then, Aylo has implemented a number of safety features. The resolution reached involved enhancements to existing measures but did not introduce any new substantive requirements that were not either already in place or in progress, a statement from the company reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holyoak said thats why the settlement is important it will require Aylo to review all existing materials while strengthening future protections. It ensures the protection of the current content on the website, but then it goes further, now we have prevention for future materials that might be uploaded. Its such an important guardrail, she said. According to Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, an independent third party will audit Aylo and its websites over the next 10 years to ensure its compliance. If they violate the terms of the settlement, they could face criminal action in addition to the increased fine. If they dont do these things, let me be very clear, I will take them back to court, Brown said. For years, Aylo ignored hundreds of thousands of flags on its videos, including those flagged by its consumers as potentially CSAM or NCM. As of today, they can no longer do that. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Do you have a legal question to put to Gary? Email askalawyer@telegraph.co.uk or use the form at the bottom of the page. Dear Gary, On February 11 this year, I hit a pothole while driving at 35mph on a busy A-road. The pothole caused tyre damage, which forced me to abandon my car overnight. The pothole had been reported five days earlier via FixMyStreet, and was one of several reported in the area over two months. Local residents on FixMyStreet describe the road as notorious for potholes, with frequent car damage. I submitted a claim for 260.40 with supporting evidence, but the council rejected it, citing a prior inspection on January 22 and classifying the road as Hierarchy 2, where a six-day repair window applies. I asked for data on similar damage reports, but received a vague response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the roads history and traffic volume, I believe the pothole should have been repaired sooner. Id like to know if theres an appeals process or further steps I can take to have my case reconsidered. Alison, by email Dear Alison, For some politicians, a proliferation of potholes is a metaphor for a country in decline. For drivers like you whose vehicles have been damaged by them, they are simply an expensive annoyance. The website and app FixMyStreet is a brilliant tool both for reporting potholes and also for individuals like you who have a pothole claim and are seeking evidence to support it. I would also always recommend taking a photo of the potholes using a coin for scale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In cases of this kind, the key point you need to prove is negligence in that did an individual, company or public body have a duty of care towards you in relation to repair and maintenance of the public highway, and did they fail in that duty? As such, the first legal question is: who is responsible for repairing the public highway? The answer to that is under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 local highway authorities have a statutory duty to maintain public highways in a safe condition. This means taking reasonable steps to identify and repair defects such as potholes in a timely manner. However, there is a defence under Section 58 of the same Act. This allows a highway authority to escape liability if they can prove that they had in place a reasonable system of inspection and maintenance, and that they acted appropriately in accordance with that system. Here, the council says the road was inspected on Jan 22, and that your incident occurred on Feb 11. They argue that the pothole must have appeared between those dates and that the six-day works order was appropriate under their classification of the road as a Hierarchy 2 carriageway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While this may meet their internal policy, an internal policy is not the final legal word. Courts may still find liability if the councils system or response falls below what a reasonable authority ought to have done, especially on a major road with heavy traffic and known issues. So far, you have done several things right: you provided the invoice for the repair, referred to FixMyStreet reports showing the pothole was already known to the council, and sought clarification on the extent of other damage claims. The vague response you received is unhelpfully ambiguous and not acceptable. You are entitled to request specific information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000. I would advise submitting a formal FOI request asking: How many reports of potholes were received for that stretch of road in the 12 months prior to your incident? How many of those reports were specifically about the pothole you hit? How many damage claims were submitted relating to that location? How many were accepted or rejected, and on what grounds? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This information may help support a future appeal or small claims action by providing evidence that the council had prior notice of recurring defects at the site. Many councils do not have a formal appeals process for rejected pothole damage claims, which can feel inherently unfair. However, this does not prevent you from formally requesting an internal review of the claim decision. While not always advertised, most councils will agree to review a claim if you submit new evidence or raise concerns about how the original decision was made. While the local government and social care ombudsman cannot rule on the pothole claim itself, you can ask it to investigate if you believe the council has not dealt with your claim fairly or has failed to follow its own published procedures (for example, the timeframe for repairs on A roads). To be clear, the ombudsman cannot award compensation for the damage itself, but can recommend that the council revisit its decision if maladministration is found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, like any money claim, you can pursue the matter through the county court small claims track which, in England and Wales, is for claims under 10,000. The limit is 5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. To succeed, you would need to show that the council knew or ought to have known about the defect, failed to repair it in a reasonable time, and that this failure caused your loss. FixMyStreet reports, local testimony and any additional FOI data could be instrumental here. Given that we pay tax towards shared public services and infrastructure, when a pothole hits our pocket, we feel its a double whammy. As a taxpayer, you think I thought I was paying for this road to be safe to drive on, yet driving on it has damaged my car and Im expected to pay for the repair. Its frustrating, so I hope you will keep going. Ask a Lawyer should not be taken as formal legal advice, but rather as a starting point for readers to undertake their own further research. 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) With no winners in the past three months, and people wanting to get a piece of the action, the Powerball jackpot increased to $1.4 billion Wednesday morning. Tonight could be the night this billion-dollar Powerball jackpot is won! said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. Players are excited to take another shot at this growing jackpot. That excitement was evident early Wednesday morning as Nevadans crossed the state line into Arizona to buy tickets at the Last Stop Travel Center store in White Hills. Insane is how one of the workers described the past few days. Powerball tickets are not sold in Nevada Nevadans must cross state lines to play the lottery, as the state constitution prohibits the sale of tickets within Nevada. Typically, Las Vegas valley residents drive to California or Arizona to take a chance at becoming the next instant multi-millionaire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the easiest, nicest drive. I come early in the morning and beat the traffic, and get the sunrise on the way back, One Las Vegas resident told 8 News Now. One thing is certain: The jackpot winner will not be an instant billionaire. Thats because the cash lump sum payout is $643.3 million before federal and state taxes. The winner also has the option of taking an annuitized prize, receiving one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year. Most people opt for the lump sum, which turns out to be less money over time, but why worry about several million here or there? How much of the jackpot will go to taxes it depends Tickets are sold in 45 states, and the federal government will take 24% of the payout. How much of the jackpot you actually win also depends on which state the ticket is bought in. For example, if a winning ticket is purchased in California, the state doesnt tax lottery prizes, but in Arizona, the state tax is 2.5%. With the odds of winning at one in 292.2 million, a person has to be really, really lucky to win the Powerball jackpot. A person has better odds of being struck by a meteorite. Even so, the allure of buying a ticket goes hand in hand with dreaming about all the ways one could spend it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One ticket buyer told 8 News Now, he would take his wife out to a nice dinner and then book a trip around the world. The drawing takes place on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (PT). It is livestreamed at this link, if you want to watch. If no one wins the jackpot, it will continue to increase as more tickets are sold for Saturdays drawing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Questions on Oklahoma's highly publicised teacher certification test, which would be given to teachers coming from California and New York, have now been unveiled. Earlier this summer, Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters announced the test would be created to determine if teachers coming from "left-wing" states have personal ideas that align with Oklahoma's curriculum standards. Walters partnered with PragerU to create the test, which is a California nonprofit devoted to creating educational materials meant to counter what it calls the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media and education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PragerU paid for a front-page advertisement and a full-page ad containing the test questions in the Sunday, Aug. 31, edition of The New York Times. The Oklahoma State Department of Education has repeatedly refused to release a copy of the test, which has brought national attention to Walters' conservative schools agenda. The 34-question test is available on the PragerU website, where individuals who pass the test can get a printable certificate of completion. To take the test on the PragerU site, users must provide an email address and other information. Many of the questions are about political viewpoints, civics, the Constitution, biology, gender identification and key U.S. historical figures and dates. Oklahoma teacher test questions Following are the 34 questions included in the "Oklahoma America First PragerU Teacher Test" on the PragerU website: Oklahoma official asks whether 'woke' test is legal The legality of Walters agency administering the test has been called into question. The Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability oversees teacher assessments and its executive director, Megan Oftedal, sent an email to her agencys commissioners last week noting that, according to a report from online news outlet Oklahoma Voice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the first instance in which (the state Department of Education) has acted in ways that appear to exceed its legal authority, and the pattern raises ongoing concerns about governance and the proper exercise of statutory responsibility, Oftedal wrote in the email. According to state law, the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability and not the Oklahoma State Department of Education has the responsibility for adopting competency tests for teachers to become certified in Oklahoma. CEQA is responsible for reviewing out-of-state certification assessments for comparability to Oklahomas testing standards, Oftedal told The Oklahoman. When a teacher applies for certification using an exam taken in another state rather than Oklahomas required Subject Area Tests CEQA evaluates whether the assessment aligns with our licensure requirements. Oftedahl said her agency didnt have data on how many certified teachers with current valid teaching certification in other states have applied to teach in Oklahoma, which is who the PragerU assessment is targeting. But among uncertified teachers who completed certification tests in other states and now want to teach in Oklahoma, since 2020, out of 573 out-of-state applications, only 19 came from California or New York, Oftedal said. In 2025, she said, only one applicant came from California and none from New York. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma teacher test: Can you pass the PragerU, Ryan Walters quiz? NEED TO KNOW A murder suspect has been arrested more than 20 years after a pregnant woman was found dead in a Texas cemetery Saul Gonzalez, 66, of San Antonio, was indicted on a capital murder charge in connection with the 2005 killing of 26-year-old Valerie Laguna Laguna, who was eight months pregnant at the time, appeared to have been sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled, authorities said Just over two decades after a pregnant woman was found dead in a Texas cemetery, a suspect has been charged in connection with the killing. On Friday, Aug. 29, Saul Gonzalez, 66, of San Antonio, was indicted by a grand jury on a capital murder charge related to the 2005 killing of 26-year-old Valerie Laguna, who was eight months pregnant at the time, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laguna was last seen alive on the morning of July 19, 2005, and her body was found later that evening at the Cristo Rey Cemetery in Cotulla. Laguna appeared to have been sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled, authorities said. Laguna's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, according to the TDPS, and her unborn baby also died. Despite several witness interviews and DNA samples taken from multiple individuals, the case went cold. Officials later issued a $6,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Texas Department of Public Safety Valerie Laguna Valerie Laguna Gonzalez was identified as a suspect when his DNA was allegedly linked to "evidentiary items" that had previously been sent for testing to BODE Technology, a private forensics company, in 2020, per the TDPS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a Facebook post from the La Salle County Sheriff's Office, Gonzalez was arrested "without incident" in Cotulla. He has been booked into the La Salle County Jail on a $1 million bond. It's unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. 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. For twenty years, this community has carried the memory of a terrible loss, Sheriff Hector Ramirez said in the post. This arrest represents a significant step toward justice. More importantly, it represents a moment for healingfor the victims family, who have waited so long, and for a community that has never forgotten." Sheriff Ramirez noted that while details of the case remain limited due to the pending prosecution, the "long-awaited breakthrough is the result of tireless work spanning multiple administrations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case has always been about more than just solving a crime, the sheriff added. It has been about giving a voice to the victim, honoring her memory, and providing hope to her family. We know that nothing can erase the pain of the past, but we pray that this step forward brings comfort as we now move into the prosecution phase. Read the original article on People DES MOINES, Iowa Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris launched her bid for the Democratic primary for the Iowa U.S. Senate race several weeks ago. On Tuesday, incumbent Senator Joni Ernst (R) announced her decision to not run for reelection. On the same day, Norris talked with WHO 13s Zach Fisher about that decision; and expanded on issues she will be championing on the campaign trail. Norris has a background in education, as she was a government teacher to students. She also served as Chief of Staff for former First Lady Michelle Obama. Currently, Norris is the President and owner of the Horizon Group, along with being the Chair of the Des Moines Public School Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the full interview in the link above, and to learn more about the candidate, visit her 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 who13.com. DES MOINES, Iowa State Representative Josh Turek (D), District 20 from Council Bluffs announced his U.S. Senate campaign three weeks ago. Turek is serving his second term in the Iowa House, touting himself as an Iowa Democrat holding the reddest seat by someone from the state party. Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA and is involved extensively in the Council Bluffs community through his nonprofit work. Turek was born with spina bifida, as his dad was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. With the extensive surgeries and medical care required at such a young age, the state representative is running on the shortfalls in the nations health care system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turek talked with WHO 13s Zach Fisher on Tuesday, the same day that incumbent Senator Joni Ernst (R) announced her decision to not run for reelection. Watch the full interview in the link above, where he discusses Ernsts decision, along with other policy points he is running on. To learn more about the candidate you can visit his 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 who13.com. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has been eager to push back against President Donald Trump, and now the moment that could catapult him into the national limelight with near-term consequences for his state and long-term implications for his political future has come. Pritzker said at a news conference Tuesday that a federal immigration enforcement blitz in Chicago is imminent. He also said Trump has no idea what hes talking about, after the president claimed in a social media post that Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far and later told reporters the city is a hellhole. There is no emergency that warrants deployment of troops. He is insulting the people of Chicago by calling our home a hellhole, and anyone who takes his word at face value is insulting Chicagoans, too, Pritzker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois governors comments came hours after Trump told reporters at the White House he will send National Guard troops into Chicago but did not say when. Well, were going. I didnt say when. Were going in, Trump said. The president added that Pritzker should call him and request federal assistance after a rash of 34 shootings in the city over Labor Day weekend that left seven people dead and 49 others wounded. And he told reporters that the two Democratic governors who have fought his administration most forcefully, Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are the two worst and most naive governors in the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker responded that Illinois doesnt want what Trump insists hell deliver. When did we become a country where its OK for the US president to insist on national television that a state should call him to beg for anything especially something we dont want? Pritzker said Tuesday. Have we truly lost all sense of sanity in this nation, that we treat this as normal? The governor stood alongside Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson often a political rival and state Attorney General Kwame Raoul for Tuesdays news conference. Johnson criticized Trump for cutting grants for gun violence prevention programs that he said were effective. The back-and-forth with Trump is a test for Pritzker that could play a role in determining his political future within a party in which voters say they are unhappy with the partys leadership and looking for stronger efforts to combat Trumps actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CNN poll conducted by SSRS in July found that Democratic and Democratic-aligned voters were much more energized than Republicans about participating in next years midterms. But the poll also revealed deep problems facing the party, including from within its own ranks where voters are eager to see the party stand up more forcefully against Trump. Just 28% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably, the lowest mark for Democrats in the history of CNNs polling going back to 1992. Pritzker, a billionaire member of the family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain who is seeking a third term as governor in 2026, is widely viewed as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender. That contest could include a number of other Democratic officials who have taken different approaches to Trumps actions during his second term in office. Newsom has been among the most confrontational opposing Trumps efforts and mocking the presidents style on social media. Others, like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, have been more muted at times cooperating with the Trump administration. Pritzker has long been building for his moment against Trump and for what could eventually become a 2028 presidential campaign. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks to the media onboard a water taxi passing Trump Tower about plans by President Donald Trump to send National Guard troops into Chicago on August 25. - Scott Olson/Getty Images In April, he traveled to New Hampshire, which is poised to play an early role in the 2028 nominating contest, though Democrats have not yet finalized their presidential primary calendar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He lambasted the culture of timidity within the Democratic Party, rejected what he bemoaned as the culture of incrementalism and called for do-nothing figures to step aside. Fellow Democrats, for far too long weve been guilty of listening to a bunch of do-nothing political types who would tell us that Americas house is not on fire, even as the flames are licking their faces. Today, as the blaze reaches the rafters, the pundits and politicians whose simpering timidity served as kindle for the arsonists urge us now not to reach for a hose, he said. Meanwhile, if we took care to listen to the voices of real people, we would hear our neighbors and friends standing on the street outside screaming for a response, one big enough for a five-alarmer. Its not yet clear when federal officials will launch a large-scale effort in Illinois. Pritzker told reporters Tuesday he expects what has played out in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, to happen here in Chicago within days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the Trump administration is staging federal agents and vehicles on federal property, such as the Naval Station Great Lakes in nearby Lake County, Indiana. He also said he has reason to believe the Texas National Guard is preparing to be deployed in Illinois. Additionally, unidentifiable agents in unmarked vehicles with masks are planning to raid Latino communities, in the name of targeting violent criminals, the governor said. Pritzker said a very small percentage of the targeted individuals are actually violent. Instead, youre to see videos of them hauling away mothers and fathers traveling to work or picking up their kids from school. Sometimes they will detain, handcuff and haul away children, Pritzker said. The governor said the state is ready to fight the troop deployment in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will do everything possible to ensure that agents operating inside the confines of this state, do so in a legal and ethical manner, he said. He said he expects the Trump administrations efforts will coincide with Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16 and typically celebrated widely in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Festivities start September 6 with a parade in Pilsen, a heavily Latino Lower West Side neighborhood. It breaks my heart that we have been told ICE will try and disrupt community picnics and peaceful parades, Pritzker said. Lets be clear, the terror and cruelty is the point, not the safety of anyone living here. CNNs Emma Tucker contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday that he is deeply concerned ICE will target Mexican Independence Day events in Chicago this month. The governor warned that unidentifiable agents in unmarked vehicles with masks are planning to raid Latino communities and say theyre targeting violent criminals, while noting that the timing of such a deployment could be intentional. We have reason to believe that Stephen Miller chose the month of September to come to Chicago because of celebrations around Mexican Independence Day that happen here every year, Pritzker said at a news conference addressing reports that federal troops could be deployed in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It breaks my heart to report that we have been told ICE will try and disrupt community picnics and peaceful parades," he said. "Lets be clear: The terror and cruelty is the point, not the safety of anyone living here. Several parades and festivals are scheduled to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, including the 24th annual parade in Pilsen on Sept. 16. We know what Stephen Miller wants to have happen with ICE is usually what happens, so were deeply concerned about it, Pritzker said. Mexican Independence Day event organizers recently spoke to NBC Chicago about how theyre preparing for the possible presence of specialized ICE tactical units at the events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre simply celebrating their heritage, they shouldnt be interrupted in this way, Pritzker said. Pritzker held the news conference moments after President Donald Trump told reporters were going in when asked about a slew of rumors that the White House plans to send troops to Chicago to address crime. Rumors have been swirling about what the White House has planned, and sifting fact from fiction has been increasingly difficult because Donald Trumps administration is not working in coordination with the city of Chicago, Cook County or the state of Illinois, Pritzker said. While no official announcement has been made, the Trump administration has reportedly been planning to send National Guard members to Chicago, similar to how they were deployed to Washington, D.C., last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker confirmed to NBC Chicago just hours before the news conference that ICE agents will be conducting enhanced immigration enforcement operations in the city in coming days. [They said] they will begin operations here sometime in the coming week, Pritzker said in an interview. That literally after two weeks of all this talk about troops on the ground thats the first time weve heard from the federal government on this. Pritzker also said during the news conference that he believes staging for federal enforcement in Chicago has already begun. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, speaking alongside Pritzker at the news conference Tuesday, said Trump is worried about the wrong border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont have an immigration crisis in Chicago. We have a gun crisis, Johnson said. Violence in Chicago is not because we have too many immigrants. Its because we have too many guns." In anticipation of increased enforcement efforts, Johnson last week signed an executive order declaring that Chicago police will not collaborate with the military on police patrols or civil immigration enforcement. Crime rose over the Labor Day weekend compared to last year; at least 58 people were shot, eight fatally, this year. Last Labor Day weekend, at least 42 people were shot and 10 killed, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. However, overall violent crime in the city, including homicides, is down year over year, according to city data. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Related Video: Trump Blasts Chicago Leaders, Crime As National Guard Threat Looms | SUNRISE Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) told reporters Tuesday that he was insulted by President Trumps suggestion this week that the governor should call him and ask for help in combating crime in Chicago. Its an insult to any and every citizen to suggest that any governor should have to beg the president of any political party for resources owed their people, Pritzker said during a news conference. When did we become a country where its OK for the U.S. president to insist on national television that a state should call him to beg for anything, especially something we dont want? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have we truly lost all sense of sanity in this nation, that we treat this as normal? he added. Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he would gain respect for Pritzker if the Democratic governor called him first to seek assistance. I would love to have Gov. Pritzker call me Id gain respect for him and say, We do have a problem, and wed love you to send in the troops,' the president said. Because, you know what? The people they have to be protected. The Illinois leader, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, said he wont call the president, though he believes the White House is already moving to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago as the administration expands its law enforcement takeover of the nations capital to other Democrat-led areas Trump says are crime hot spots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) accused the Trump administration Tuesday of trying to manufacture a crisis in Chicago to justify the deployment of National Guard troops to the Windy City. White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed last week that a large contingent of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers would be sent to Chicago after Labor Day. Pritzker, Stratton and local leaders have blasted the Trump administration for what they have described as a lack of coordination on the effort. Our state police regularly works with the FBI, the ATF, the DEA to go after gangs and gun runners and drug cartels, the governor said Tuesday. Under previous White House administrations, we regularly received notice and worked together on crimefighting operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted Illinois and Chicago leaders facilitated the deployment of the Illinois National Guard ahead of the Democratic National Convention last year. The mayor and I were briefed at the highest levels of government, and we pledged unwavering support in the effort to pull off a convention that kept attendees safe and protected the rights of all citizens to express their First Amendment rights, Pritzker 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. The right-wing think tank behind Project 2025 is now crafting new policy suggestions, including an incentive for married couples to have more children, according to a report. Following its controversial 900-page blueprint for President Donald Trumps second term, the Heritage Foundation is now drafting a new position paper that includes calls for a Manhattan Project to restore the nuclear family, referring to the program to develop the first nuclear weapons, the Washington Post reported. The forthcoming paper, titled We Must Save the American Family, reportedly urges the government to pour funds into individual families rather than child care programs, like Head Start, according to the Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Heritage Foundation is also urging the president to issue orders that require all proposed policies to measure their positive or negative impacts on marriage and family. If a program scores poorly, it should be revamped, according to the Post. For family policy to succeed, old orthodoxies must be re-examined and innovative approaches embraced, but more than that, we need to mobilize a nation to meet this moment, the paper reportedly reads. The Heritage Foundation, the group behind Project 2025, is drafting a new position paper that lays out policies aimed to restore the nuclear family (Getty Images) The Heritage Foundation could not confirm the veracity of the executive summary obtained by the Post. However, Roger Severino, the groups vice president of domestic policy, told The Independent in a statement: "We have been developing novel policy ideas to address the family crisis with internal experts and external partners to do what we do bestgenerate and implement effective, principled solutions to seemingly intractable societal problems. He added: While the Washington Post will have to wait until next week to see the fruits of our labors, we thank you for generating buzz ahead of the rollout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Severino previously served as the director of Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services during Trumps first term. Speaking at a conference Tuesday, Kevin Roberts, the groups president, seemed to echo some of the papers reported position. Prudence recognizes that the interests of the family and the national interest are not merely aligned; they are one and the same. It demands that we ask of every policy, every proposal: Will this strengthen the American family? he said. To address the countrys declining birth rate which plummeted to an all-time low last year the paper also allegedly critiques extraordinary technical solutions to combat declining birth rates like freezing eggs, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy and genetic screening as part of a world of artificial wombs and custom lab-created babies on demand, according to the Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group recommended the answer to the problem of loneliness and demographic decline must begin with marriage, casting blame on free love, pornography, careerism, the Pill, abortion, same-sex relations, and no-fault divorce, the outlet reported. On the campaign trail, Trump declared himself the father of IVF, promising to expand access to the medical procedure plans that the White House has reportedly abandoned in recent months. The Heritage Foundation has recommended regulations around the IVF industry and promoted a growing alternative process to curb infertility called Restorative Reproductive Medicine, which critics have slammed as unscientific. The president distanced himself from Project 2025 on the campaign trail but many of his policies since taking office followed the 900-page playbooks proposals (AP) As the Trump administration is reportedly seeking ways to boost the countrys birth rate, several prominent Republicans have recently espoused views that align with pronatalism, a belief that encourages having children for the betterment of society. Vice President JD Vance, who once branded his predecessor Kamala Harris as a childless cat lady, has long set out to increase the nation's birth rate. In January, the vice president put it simply: I want more babies in the United States of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, the president praised the idea of giving a $5,000 baby bonus to new moms. That month, House Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News: The way popular culture has developed in recent decades, they de-emphasize the family, they de-emphasize the merit of marriage, strong, steady, stable marriages between one man and one woman that produce children. This is part of the uphill climb that we have in working against the culture, but well continue to do that, and public policy should reflect it. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly distanced himself from Project 2025. I know nothing about Project 2025, he said last August in a Truth Social post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, not only has Trump placed several of the conservative blueprints authors in his administration, but hes also made numerous policy decisions that closely follow the playbook. For example, the presidents anti-immigrant agenda, order eliminating the Department of Education, orders to end diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, and decision to slash funding for public broadcasters, like NPR, all align with Project 2025s proposals. Every fall, parents send kids back to school with backpacks full of pencils, notebooks, and lunchboxes. But starting this year, they have to think twice about something they have always counted on: the free, trusted, educational lifeline that PBS provides. On July 24, President Trump signed the Rescissions Act, which clawed back $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That money sustained NPR and PBS, including the resources they provide to schools and families nationwide. It wasnt just a budget cut. It was an education cut. Worse yet, this move is further opening the door to something dangerous: political propaganda disguised as educational videos. PragerU, an innocuous enough-sounding name, is blending clever animation and shoddy history into videos made for classrooms. So far, there haven't been any reported attempts to allow PragerU into Wisconsin public school classrooms, but it may be only a matter of time. PBS is one of America's most trusted institutions For decades, PBS has been more than Elmo and Daniel Tiger. It has been one of Americas most trusted institutions, reaching 15 million kids a month through PBS Kids and providing 364 million streams across digital platforms. Behind those shows are rigorous, federally funded Ready to Learn programs proven to boost childrens literacy, math, and social skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: My Wisconsin manufacturing plant needs workers. One of our best is getting deported. Educators across the country have also had free access to PBS LearningMedia, a K-12 digital learning service established by PBS and Boston member station GBH in 2011. PBS LearningMedia provides free, evidence-based lesson plans and professional training for educators, which is especially valuable in rural or low-income schools. Without public media, the teachers most in need could be pushed toward less reliable outside providers for classroom content. Enter PragerU, short for Prager University. But do not let the University title fool you. It is absolutely not an accredited educational institution. PragerU started as a small YouTube channel promoting conservative views and has grown into a sprawling right media network. As of 2025, its historically inaccurate content has been introduced into classrooms across ten different states, the Founders Museum exhibit at the White House, and Oklahoma's new teacher certification exams. In regards to that teacher certification exam, you may have seen it featured in the full page ad PragerU bought in the New York Times on August 31st. The ad asked readers to answer 34 of the questions it from the test it developed "for the State of Oklahoma at the request of its Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters" to screen teachers from left-leaning states also called the "woke" teacher test. PragerU bankrolled by far-right ideologues and Christian Nationalists Founded in 2009 by conservative radio host Dennis Prager, it is a nonprofit advocacy group, funded largely by right-wing foundations and billionaire donors. In 2024, it reported $66.7 million in contributions, accounting for 95% of its revenue. If you skim its archives, you can see appearances from recognizable media personalities like Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro. In 2021, it launched PragerU Kids, animated political and historical programming aimed at children as young as three. The operation has since gained educational footholds in ten states, where teachers now have the option to show students PragerU videos, despite it not being an accredited academic institution.Consider one of PragerU Kids series: Leo & Laylas History Adventures. The premise of the show is siblings who travel back in time to meet historical figures. Its kind of like Comedy Centrals Drunk History, but less drunk, less funny, and less accurate. For example, in one episode, an animated Frederick Douglass tells the children that the Founding Fathers knew slavery was wrong, but their first priority was getting all 13 colonies to unite as one country the Founding Fathers made a compromise to achieve something great. In another episode, Christopher Columbus downplays and justifies the practice of slavery by saying "[slavery] is as old as time and has taken place in every corner of the world and, Being taken as a slave is better than being killed, no? and, Before you judge, you must ask yourself, What did the culture and the society of the time treat as no big deal?' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PragerU has also been blunt about its goals. In its 2022 annual report, it proclaimed that they were committed to going toe-to-toe with massive youth media companies like PBS Kids and Disney. While speaking at a Moms for Liberty conference in 2023, Dennis Prager admitted, Its true that we [PragerU] bring doctrines to children. But what is the bad thing about our indoctrination?Oh, the irony. PragerU is the indoctrination we've been warned about For years, politicians have accused teachers of indoctrinating kids, while the admitted indoctrination is coming from the people cutting PBS and ushering PragerU into classrooms. PBS content is transparent, vetted, and evidence-based. Meanwhile, PragerU provides no data showing improved learning and no evidence that it meets educational standards. This isnt broad education. Its niche propaganda. Letters: Milwaukee's Third Ward walkability would improve with individual responsibility Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt about saving money, or protecting kids from wokeness. Its about who gets to influence what the next generation learns about history, science, and America itself. When PBS is defunded and PragerU is allowed to fill the void, its not just kids programming that changes; its the foundation of civic education. Parents dont need to agree on politics to agree on this: children deserve facts, not spin. They deserve education, not indoctrination.When politicians cut PBS, they didnt just pull the rug out from under public broadcasting. They left the door wide open for PragerU to roll in like a Trojan horse.PBS was built for American families. PragerU was built for politics. Our kids deserve the former. Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: PBS was educational. PragerU doesn't belong in schools | Opinion DENVER (KDVR) An electronic gadget is available to property owners who want to clear adjacent areas of loiterers. The motion-activated device emits a flashing blue light and chirping sounds when triggered by passers-by. FOX31 found that the device placed on a building near Curtis and 20th is drawing support from residents who say loitering has become a problem in the area. Mail-in ballots and Space Command: Why Colorado elections may have led to Trumps decision Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a lot of friends in the homeless community, but for some reason, this corner right here just puts off an unsettling vibe in the area, said Ben Duckworth. Others who frequent new businesses in the area say that particular block can feel less safe and they welcome any effort to improve security. I think its great and itll clean this area up a lot, itll keep everybody from around here that doesnt need to be around here, said one visitor. Others disagree, describing the use of this type of security measure as insensitive. I think its a really poor approach to try to just harass people, Together Denver organizer Amy Beck told FOX31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beck says if more buildings use flashing lights and noises to ward away unwanted individuals, the communitys overall safety may be compromised. Free on Your TV New FOX31+ App for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV If it does prove to be effective, then its simply going to continue to chase people all over the city into alleyways and into places where they are in hiding and its unsafe for them, said Beck. Regardless of opinion, all agree that solutions can be difficult to come by. Beck told FOX31 the community should support city programs that provide street teams that hand out resource information to those in need. The city of Denver provides information about how to support homelessness programs on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. DALLAS A push by Texas lawmakers to curb city and county property tax bills died quietly Thursday morning after legislators clocked out of a 30-day legislative sprint without reaching a deal. Gov. Greg Abbott called on state lawmakers during a 30-day special legislative session to further cut property taxes by limiting spending by local governments, which tax-cut hawks have griped have bitten into their efforts on cutting school district taxes. Texas lawmakers have already this year greenlit a new round of breaks for homeowners and business owners on the property taxes they pay to school districts, typically the largest portion of a tax bill. The central proposal would have tightened limits on how much more in property tax revenue cities and counties can collect each year without asking voters with the goal of curbing homeowners tax bills. But House and Senate lawmakers deadlocked on how to move forward with the bill. House lawmakers on Tuesday shot down the latest version of the bill hashed out in negotiations between the two chambers, arguing it didnt go far enough to rein in local spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the solution to our problems, said state Rep. Mitch Little, a Lewisville Republican. This is not the answer to our prayers. Their counterparts in the Senate havent appeared to budge, raising the prospect that lawmakers could leave Austin without passing more tax-cut legislation. Despite negotiations between the chambers, lawmakers left Austin without hammering out a compromise. [Texas suburbs resist new state law allowing more apartments] The legislation, Senate Bill 10 by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican, would have further restricted how much more in property tax revenue cities and counties can raise each year without voter approval. Lawmakers set that limit at 3.5% in 2019, a limit proponents credit with blunting the rise of city and county property tax bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial Senate proposal would have further limited that growth to 2.5%. But the limit only would have applied to cities and counties with at least 75,000 residents, while the current state limit would continue to apply to places with fewer residents than that. Proponents of the bill had argued it wouldnt make sense to apply the limit to smaller jurisdictions because the cost of putting on an election to approve a higher tax rate might eat up any additional revenue raised by that higher tax rate. That didnt sit well with House lawmakers, particularly a contingent of hard-right Republicans. Under the Senate version, the tighter cap would only have applied in about 20% of the states 254 counties and 4% of the states 1,224 cities and towns, according to a Tribune analysis of U.S. Census Bureau population data. Last week, the House stripped that geographical limit from so the bill would apply in all parts of the state, no matter how big or small. They also took the limit down to 1% and exempted localities public safety spending, a major cost driver of city and county budgets, from the cap. Those changes by the House, in turn, got stripped from the bill in negotiations between House and Senate lawmakers angering many House Republicans, who joined with Democrats in that chamber to vote down the bill Tuesday. Several Republicans railed against the bill, arguing it delivered only paltry relief to taxpayers and only those in the states biggest urban areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Republicans defended the bill. We know that this bill, of course, is not the silver bullet, but it is a step in the right direction, giving voters further control of their own tax rate at the local level, said state Rep. Ellen Troxclair, a Lakeway Republican. State Rep. Steve Toth, a Conroe Republican, said hes heard that before. Bull. Bull crap, he said. It's not even a start. State Rep. Vince Perez, an El Paso Democrat, sought to pour salt in the wound, pointing out that it doesnt apply to many Republican-dominant parts of the state. It is the Democratic cities that will see the largest benefit in this bill, not the Republican ones, Perez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill went down by a 60-71 vote. Later Tuesday, a contingent of House Republicans including Toth, state Reps. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, and Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth could be seen speaking with Bettencourt on the Senate floor. Bettencourt blasted the House vote in a statement late Tuesday as unanticipated and disappointing and accused House lawmakers of stopping property tax relief for (tens of millions) of Texas taxpayers. He said the Senate couldn't accept the House version, in part because it would have amounted to an unlimited property tax revenue increase on public safety expenditures. Abbott has not said whether he will call lawmakers back to Austin to take up property tax cuts. Its possible Republican officials may have to settle for $51 billion the state committed to spend over the next two years to maintain existing cuts to school property taxes and enact new ones. 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! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Correction, Sept. 9, 2025 at 1:52 p.m. : A previous version of this report incorrectly reported the percentage of Texas counties Senate Bill 10 would have applied to. The correct amount is 20%. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Prosecutors have released the names two 19-year-olds who were arrested and charged with carrying concealed weapons, including a machete, in East Lansing last Friday. Allen McGrew, of Lansing, was arraigned Monday in the 54-B District Court on one count of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. Devin Porter, of Detroit, was also arraigned Monday on two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. (East Lansing Police Department) ELPD shared an image of the confiscated weapons in a Facebook post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we have a large increase in visitors to the city, whether due to the return of school or a large sporting event, we tend to see an increase in public safety activity, said ELPD Lt. Adrian Ojerio. A city police oversight committee meeting on Friday evening reviewed reports from the weekend of August 22, which was called disruptive by East Lansing Police Chief Jen Brown. ELPD said officers responded to several incidents, made multiple arrests, and filed a felony charge against a 21-year-old man for carrying a concealed weapon after an incident involving a knife. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. *This case has a new update with a new story. Click here* TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025, 1:06 P.M. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A Wisconsin man accused in a 2024 stabbing in Green Bay is set for his jury trial over the next couple of days. Court records show Jaharrie Jelks was in custody while in court via Zoom with his attorney. The present bond was continued during the final pre-trial hearing, which took place on October 24. A motion hearing also occurred on Monday, October 27, in which the case was ruled unresolved, and the present bond continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jelks is now set for the two-day jury trial on Wednesday and Thursday, both scheduled for 8:30 a.m. UPDATE: Green Bay man charged in stabbing set for trial in October after pleading not guilty WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2025, 2:59 P.M. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A Wisconsin man accused in a 2024 stabbing in Green Bay is set for a quick trial after requesting one in a Tuesday afternoon court hearing. Court records show Jaharrie Jelks was in custody while in court via Zoom with his attorney as he pleaded not guilty to all charges. The defense also requested a speedy trial. The present bond was continued as a final pre-trial hearing was set for 3 p.m. on October 24, with a two-day jury trial scheduled for October 29 and 30 at 8:30 a.m. UPDATE: Green Bay man charged in stabbing scheduled for September arraignment TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025, 11:00 A.M. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A 31-year-old Wisconsin man accused in a 2024 stabbing in Green Bay is set to be arraigned this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show Jaharrie Jelks appeared in Brown County court on Tuesday, where a judge scheduled his arraignment for Sept. 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. Click here for more news, weather, and sports Jelks faces multiple felony charges, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide, in connection to a stabbing on Dec. 8, 2024. Local 5 News will continue to follow the case as it moves through the court system. Prosecutors quickly refile attempted homicide charge against man accused of December stabbing in Green Bay TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025, 3:20 P.M. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) Shortly after the case was dismissed without prejudice, charges were quickly refiled against a 31-year-old Greenfield man accused of stabbing a man in December 2024. Court records show the initial case was dismissed against Jaharrie Jelks on Monday, despite the defenses objections, and then charges were rapidly refiled. The new court case is listed here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10-year-old Wisconsin boy taken into custody after fire at Walmart, estimated merchandise losses in the millions Jelks is charged with the following, with punishments listed should he be convicted: Attempted First-Degree Intentional Homicide Repeater, Use of a Dangerous Weapon Class B Felony Up to 60 years in prison False Imprisonment Repeater, Use of a Dangerous Weapon Class H Felony Up to six years in prison and/or $10,000 fine Disorderly Conduct Repeater, Use of a Dangerous Weapon Class B Misdemeanor Up to 90 days in prison and/or $1,000 fine Bail Jumping Repeater Class A Misdemeanor Up to nine months in prison and/or $10,000 fine Driving or Operating a Vehicle Without Owners Consent Repeater Class I Felony Up to 3.5 years in prison and/or $10,000 fine The repeater modifiers add the potential for up to two years in prison per charge, if convicted, while the dangerous weapon charge could increase a prison sentence by up to five years on the first and second charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a criminal complaint acquired by Local 5, a Green Bay Police Officer said they were called to a weapons report in the 1400 block of Western Avenue shortly after midnight on December 8, 2024. The call reported that a man came to the complainants door and reported that he had been stabbed. The 56-year-old victim had blood stains on his shirt, telling officers that the person who stabbed him was a person known as Mane, later identified as Jelks. Jelks was arrested on December 15 in Milwaukee after officers located a stolen vehicle involved in the case. The criminal complaint alleges that Jelks was in Green Bay on December 7, when the victim last saw him. Arkansas man charged with abducting pregnant Wisconsin teenager pleads not guilty Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jelks cash bond was set at $100,000 while in court on Tuesday. He is set for an additional hearing on July 25. Local 5 will update this story as the case progresses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sep. 2Prosecutors have filed a motion to keep a man behind bars until trial in a fatal shooting Sunday outside a club in Southeast Albuquerque. A pretrial detention motion was filed Tuesday in the case against Keith Thompson, 56. Thompson is charged with an open count of murder and shooting from a motor vehicle. He is currently behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center. It is unclear if Thompson has an attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said the man killed in the shooting is not being identified until his family is notified. "The defendant shot and killed (the victim) in an argument. This is extreme and dangerous conduct," prosecutors wrote in a pretrial detention motion filed in Metropolitan Court. "(The victim) was seemingly unarmed, with the defendant shooting from a motor vehicle." The incident marked the second homicide at the Navajo Elks Lodge in just over a year. In April 2024, Theodore Toney, 46, fatally shot 40-year-old Kenneth Ellis on the dance floor. Toney was convicted earlier this year. Sunday's shooting apparently stemmed from a dispute between the two men, police say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers responded around 1:30 a.m. to the Navajo Elk's Lodge on San Pedro, just south of Lomas, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. A woman called 911 and reported her boyfriend had been shot. Upon arriving, police found the man lying in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the chest and another in the shoulder, the complaint stated. The woman told police she believed Thompson was responsible and saw his vehicle drive down San Pedro afterward. Police said she told them Thompson and the man had been friends for over a decade, but had an argument after Thompson showed romantic interest in the woman. The woman said Thompson approached her and her boyfriend when they left the Navajo Elks Lodge. She told police the men began to argue and Thompson accused the man of disrespecting him before a bystander broke up the altercation, according to the complaint. The woman said as they stood near the entrance, Thompson drove up and the two began to argue again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Only seconds after the argument resumed, (the woman) heard the sound of two gunshots and saw (Thompson's) vehicle flee south through the parking lot," the complaint stated. Police said officers went to an apartment complex where Thompson lived, according to the woman, and saw the same vehicle the woman had described parked outside the complex. "Investigators also used automated license plate readers to locate the vehicle at an intersection within minutes after the shooting," Gallegos, the police spokesman, wrote in a release. Police arrested Thompson later that day. HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) The Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute will host its fourth Prostate Cancer and Mens Health Awareness Fair in September. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. This health fair saves lives. Over the past three years, nearly 20% of men screened here received abnormal results, underscoring the need for early detection, said Scott Berry, Hampton Protons Executive Director. We want men to know: If you come, you could be protecting your future, your health and your family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health fair will provide men with prostate-specific antigen tests, digital rectal exams and health education. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 40 Enterprise Parkway, from 9 a.m. 12 p.m. Hampton Proton recently began the Men Get Checked: PSA 4 PSA campaign to expand the fairs audience. The campaign consists of public service announcements featuring public figures from Virginia. For more information, you can visit the Hampton University Proton Cancer Institutes website here. Download the WAVY News App to keep up with the latest news, weather and sports from WAVY-TV 10. Available in both the Apple and Google Play stores. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Immigrant women were facing high rates of domestic violence, and yet the fear of deportation and lack of trust in police was so pervasive it kept many of them from reporting the crimes to law enforcement. That made it virtually impossible to hold many perpetrators accountable, Congress found. In response, lawmakers from both parties created two new visas: U visas for victims of domestic violence and other serious crimes, and T visas for victims of human trafficking. About 3 in 5 U and T visa applicants are immigrant women. Twenty-five years later, the programs are bogged down by lengthy wait times, which have grown to over a decade. Now, with President Donald Trump back in office, theyre also facing an existential threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the center are thousands of immigrants who have been trafficked or have been the victim of a violent crime, who reported that crime to law enforcement, and who bear the physical or mental scars of that crime all requirements to obtain one of these visas. Their lives remain stuck in limbo as they await a decision, now more vulnerable to detention and deportation due to Trumps aggressive immigration agenda. Project 2025, the blueprint for Trumps second term and whose architects hold high-ranking roles in his administration, calls for the total elimination of the two visas, concluding that victimization should not be a basis for an immigration benefit. Until then, the blueprint calls on the president and federal agencies to use their power to significantly restrict access to the programs. Data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), lawyers working with crime victims and gender-based violence advocates say that work toward that goal is already underway. Similar efforts were undertaken in Trumps first term, when, for example, a new policy was quietly rolled out that rejected any application with a blank space even if it was something simple, like a middle name section left blank because the applicant didnt have one. The policy was used to deny more than 12,000 U visa applications before it was blocked in federal court. Since Trumps second inauguration, the administrations close cooperation with local police to help with immigration enforcement, layoffs at the agency that handles visa applications and the stripping away of policies that protected applicants from deportation have all had a chilling effect on new applications and could be exacerbating processing delays for new applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im concerned that what were seeing is the early days of a multifaceted effort to chip away at these programs make them less accessible, less desirable, less functional, said Kursten Phelps, a lawyer with the Tahirih Justice Center, a nonprofit that offers legal and social services to immigrant women and girls. Data from January through March published by the agency that handles these visas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), shows a sharp drop off in U visa applications, which are granted to immigrant victims of domestic violence and other crimes who cooperate with police. The data shows that while T visa applications for human trafficking victims remained steady, the agency approved far fewer applications than it had previously, despite a growing backlog. Advocates for immigrant victims of crime say the Trump administrations aggressive approach to immigration enforcement makes it easy for abusers to use the fear of deportation as a tool for coercion. That, said Jean Bruggeman, a longtime expert in immigration, human trafficking and domestic violence, was one of the original problems Congress set out to solve with these visas. I would love a world in which we dont need the T and the U visa. That is the world I am working towards, where we have a fair and honest immigration system that cant be used as a weapon against immigrants, said Bruggeman, the executive director of Freedom Network USA, a nonprofit focused on human trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until then, she said, we at least have to protect the brave victims and survivors who come forward and ask for our help. Reporting crimes and applying for a visa is riskier under Trump Denisse, now 40, immigrated from Mexico in the mid-1990s seeking safety and better work opportunities. She met her future partner while working at a restaurant in New York City. The pair dated and eventually welcomed two daughters. Her first pregnancy, Denisse said, marked the beginning of years of beatings, verbal abuse and rape. Once, Denisse said, her partner threatened to kill her with a screwdriver. On another occasion, she found he had taken photos of her undressed; he threatened to distribute them to friends and family, which left her with a lasting fear of hidden cameras. After a night of beatings and strangulation in 2015, Denisse decided to call the police. I just thought, No more. Hes going to kill me. The 19th is not publishing Denisses last name out of concern for her safety. She was hesitant to press charges Denisse had little support or financial stability, was not authorized to live or work in the United States, and was afraid of losing custody of her two daughters. Eventually, she decided to help the authorities prosecute her former partner, and was counseled by social workers about the U visa. She submitted an application in 2018, and by 2023, had received a bona fide determination an acknowledgement that Denisse had met the basic criteria for the visa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That determination came with a work permit and deferred immigration enforcement while she waits for a final decision on her case. The long wait times have taken a toll. Im living in the in-between, she said. With Trumps inauguration, that limbo has become scarier: She fears that she is no longer safe from being detained, deported and separated from her children, especially since her pending application makes her visible to federal immigration officials. Ive heard of people being detained, even having a work permit like me, she said. I can feel the fear creeping in. Im living in the in-between, said Denisse, who applied for a U visa in 2018. (Illustration: Emily Scherer for The 19th; Photography: Miranda Barnes for The 19th) Advocates for immigrant victims of crime say that the Trump administrations policies are making it riskier for victims to reach out to law enforcement and submit visa applications, challenging the goals of a program approved by Congress with bipartisan support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kinda Velloza, an immigration attorney based in the Atlanta metro area, said reaching out to law enforcement already a difficult task for many victims has become a scarier proposition since the Trump administration began working with local police to enforce immigration laws. Thats especially true if immigrants perceive their locality as being hostile to immigrants. If they are victims of crime, theyre not calling law enforcement theyre not going over there to report anything, Velloza said. So, I think were going to see a decline in new visa filings because nobodys just voluntarily putting themselves in the U.S. immigration system right now. A spring 2025 survey of 170 advocates and lawyers for immigrant victims of domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking, conducted by the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors, found that more than three-quarters said their clients had concerns about contacting the police. Victims have long been hesitant to contact law enforcement, but Trumps immigration agenda is challenging advocates long-held advice to always seek help. One advocate in the report said they watched a human trafficking victim with no criminal record be detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). The incident has made them question whether it is advisable to tell victims that its safe to seek help from law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data from DHS confirm applications for U visas have slowed. In the first three months of the year a window that includes the last three weeks of Bidens term applications for U visas fell by almost half from the previous three months. Approvals and denials continued at a similar rate. The data is an early glimpse into the program under Trump. Advocates for immigrant victims point to two policy changes that could contribute to the chilling effect. First, the Trump administration rolled out new guidance in February telling ICE officers that they dont have to actively check if someone has a pending U or T visa while carrying out arrests meaning that they could be more easily detained and deported by ICE. The administration also reinstated a policy from Trumps first term that allows ICE to immediately start deportation proceedings against people who are denied a U or T visa. Phelps said the policy is already leading to arrests of U and T visa applicants, and complicates an immigrants decision to apply for the program in the first place. That deportation policy was shown to have a particularly strong impact on human trafficking applicants. A 2022 report out of Boston University based on DHS data and a survey of close to 200 legal experts working with T visa applicants found that while applications under the program had been rising since 2008, they decreased dramatically after the new deportation policy went into effect. Between 2019 and 2021, DHS sent Notices to Appear the letter that triggers deportation proceedings to nearly 2,000 U and T visa applicants. Wait times have long plagued the programs Luz, an immigrant from Ecuador with two children born in the United States, has waited nearly five years for the initial determination in her case and accompanying work permit just the first step in a long journey to possibly obtaining a U visa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USCIS estimated last year that the median wait time for a U visa was over six years; for a T visa, it was about 15 months. But lawyers who file these applications say the waits can be much longer. The Domestic Violence Project at the Urban Justice Center, which regularly helps victims file applications, projects that someone who filed in 2020 should expect to get a final decision in 2033, while someone who files this year could be waiting nearly two decades at the current rate. Luz had been married as a teenager in rural Ecuador and eventually followed her partner to New York City in the mid-1990s. When she arrived, she found poor living conditions, low-paying work and spousal abuse that began almost immediately. She lacked family or community support and spoke little English. One night, when her partner came home intoxicated and violent, hurting Luz and one of their daughters, Luz called the police. After the arrest, a law enforcement official encouraged Luz to take her claims to court, instead of dropping the charges, which victims of domestic violence often do. Years later, a mental health counselor urged Luz to apply for a U visa; she filed for it in October 2019. The 19th agreed not to publish Luzs last name out of concern for her safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luz works at a grocery store under conditions that have exacerbated her asthma extreme cold and heat, and dust. The pay is also low, which has put strain on her family as food costs rise. She has not received a work authorization, which she said has kept her from pursuing work in health care. Shes interested in working for a pharmacy or a lab, a desire born out of her being a caregiver decades ago for her brother during a battle with liver disease. Well, thats my dream, Luz said. And at the same time, I think about how many women like me are sitting, waiting with frustration, wondering if theyll accept my application or not if Ill wind up in the same or a worse situation. I think about how many women like me are sitting, waiting with frustration, wondering if theyll accept my application or not if Ill wind up in the same or a worse situation, said Luz, who applied for a U visa in 2019. (Illustration: Emily Scherer for The 19th; Photography: Miranda Barnes for The 19th) A 2022 USCIS Inspector Generals report flagged the backlog facing U visas and said it was putting victims at risk. Mismanagement of the program, the report found, was leaving legitimate victims waiting more than 10 years to receive U visas. Some visa applicants are also experiencing longer waits for the immigration agency to even acknowledge their applications. During the Biden administration, that acknowledgement often spared someone from deportation. Thats no longer the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 19th documented the case of a Salvadoran immigrant, Yessenia Ruano, who was forced to self-deport in June after filing a T visa application in February. At the time, the wait for a receipt number was around four weeks. That same month, the Trump administration fired 50 employees from USCIS. By early May, an agent told Ruano that the wait had grown to four months. By the time Ruano could show the proof of her T visa application in May, ICE agents said it wasnt enough and told her to leave the country or face detention. In August, Democratic Reps. Gwen Moore and Jimmy Panetta introduced legislation that would protect most U and T visa applicants from immigrant detention and deportation. Moore cited Ruanos case. By subjecting these vulnerable individuals to immigration enforcement, the Trump administration is helping create a two-tiered justice system that empowers criminals and discourages certain victims from coming forward, Moore said. Congress created these visas as a tool to make our communities safer and support the flow of critical information during criminal investigations. This legislation creates stronger T and U visa protections, helping victims and law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Protect Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act would also lift the cap on U visas and require USCIS to issue work permits to applicants if their cases are pending for over 180 days. Visas for victims of human trafficking have slowed Advocates who fight human trafficking say the T visa plays a critical role for victims of sex trafficking, overwhelmingly women and girls. During the first two months of the Trump administration, USCIS denied more T visa applications than it approved, a first in the history of the program. Between January and March a window that includes the last three weeks of Bidens term and the first two months of Trumps second term USCIS approved 430 applications and denied 497. Taken altogether, the agency decided 927 cases a number advocates say is strikingly small next to the backlog. There is a significant slowing down of adjudications of these applications, said Martina Vandenberg, founder and president of the Human Trafficking Legal Center, a nonprofit that connects victims of human trafficking with pro-bono legal representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its troubling to see the numbers dropping. You could understand the lack of approvals without the backlog, but theres no excuse for not adjudicating, Vanderberg added. DHS did not respond to a request for comment on the decline in adjudications of T visa applications. The Human Trafficking Legal Center and other groups had advocated for more resources to speed up decisions in T visa cases during the Biden administration. In 2023, for the first time in history, the number of T visa applications exceeded Congress 5,000 visa cap. Despite the growing number of applications, USCIS has never reached that cap. Between October 2023 and September 2024, the agency received a record 15,332 T visa applications and approved 3,786. About 600 applications were denied, and the backlog grew from about 9,000 applications the year prior to more than 20,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Vanderberg said the organization has no hope that USCIS will meet the cap. I think well be lucky to see 2,000 approvals. The role of the visas in maintaining public safety Last month, the Justice Department said it uncovered a decade-long scheme that resulted in hundreds of fraudulent U visa applications. Three small-town police chiefs in Louisiana took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for false reports of armed robberies. A federal prosecutor on the case who has worked at the agency for over 20 years said in a news conference that the scheme exposed flagrant abuse of the program but that the visas are an important law enforcement tool. These visas are designed to help law enforcement and prosecutors prosecute crimes where you need the victim or the witness there, U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook said last month. U visas serve a valuable purpose, and this is a case where they were abused. Other law enforcement officials agree that the visas are essential to public safety. If they dont have to worry about the fear of being deported, theyre more likely to report a crime to law enforcement, and thats important to us, said Captain Jeffrey Bunge, the director of the special victims investigations division at the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland. In an interview with The 19th, Bunge described U visas as critical to the work of law enforcement from building trust with immigrant communities to report crimes to mounting strong cases for prosecution that may involve several victims. Bunge runs the office that issues law enforcement certifications for his police department and described a careful process in which officers work to link the certification request to a crime report and ensure that the agency gets the cooperation of the victim. Not every jurisdiction has a dedicated office like Montgomery Countys. The U visa program isnt without criticism. The 2022 USCIS watchdog report found that the program was mismanaged, susceptible to fraud and that better data was needed to understand whether it was meeting the goals that Congress laid out protecting victims and helping law enforcement. The report argued that USCIS could do a better job making sure that it wasnt approving cases using fraudulent law enforcement certifications and that the agency could take a closer look at how it defines whether a victim was helpful to a law enforcement case. Experts in the visa programs agreed that while improvements could be made, their existence continues to play an important humanitarian and public safety role. It does us no good if there are serious crimes that are taking place in the community, and we cant investigate and charge and arrest those individuals. Particularly for the U visa, [these] are some of the more serious crimes, Bunge said. We want to get the bad guy or the bad girl off the street so that overall makes the community safer. The post The protective visas that may never come appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. An airline company moving its headquarters out of Dayton has revealed when it will start laying off its staff. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines Group, announced the relocation to Charlotte, North Carolina, in January. Now, a recently filed WARN notice shows they will be permanently laying off employees in October. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company said in January that all 350 Dayton-based employees were invited to relocate to Charlotte. Those who did not accept that offer will be permanently laid off. Layoffs will begin in phases starting on Oct. 29. Additional layoffs are expected to happen on December 29, 2025, and January 29, February 10, February 18, April 29, and November 29, 2026, and April 29, 2027, according to the WARN notice filed with the state. PSA anticipates that around 157 employees will be impacted. As News Center 7 previously reported, PSA Airlines corporate headquarters has been located in Dayton since 1985. The new corporate headquarters will be located at 2708 Water Ridge Parkway, which is about two miles from Americans Charlotte Flight Training Center and five miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We chose to relocate PSAs headquarters to Charlotte for several important reasons, including that Charlotte is where most of our daily departures occur and almost all our training is based, President and CEO of PSA Dion Flannery said in January. Charlotte is a vibrant community and home to the worlds seventh-busiest airport. While were looking forward to getting integrated into the Charlotte community, I want to sincerely thank the City of Dayton, its leaders and the entire Dayton community for embracing and supporting PSA for so many years. We will continue to have a presence in Dayton with a maintenance hangar and crew base including more than 550 Dayton-based team members. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar stands during a press conference in Helena, Montana, on July 29, 2025. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montanan) Montana Public Service Commission President Brad Molnar has run into roadblocks in a bid to see documents he said hes entitled to review including pushback from a fellow commissioner who does not want to burden NorthWestern Energy, the states largest energy provider. Molnar, most recently elected in November 2024, is seeking records in two separate matters before the Public Service Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wants records related to an internal investigation into allegations hes been unprofessional in his conduct. Molnar also wants to see NorthWestern Energy contracts related to wildfire mitigation. He said he wants to ensure the utility does not inflate those costs or overcharge customers. The requests for information by Molnar follow the 2025 approval of House Bill 490, a wildfire mitigation bill. Separately, they also follow his own announcement in July that the PSC had hired an outside firm for as much as $10,000 to investigate complaints against him in a case thats since made its way to the Governors Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Molnar told the Daily Montanan he had a spat with a utility official over his access to the wildfire mitigation contracts. He said he requested the monopoly company file a motion for protection if it considers any of the information in the contracts to be a trade secret. If granted, such protection would allow commissioners to view the documents but require them to guard the information from public disclosure. However, in an email obtained by the Daily Montanan Commissioner Annie Bukacek said the Public Service Commission doesnt have the capacity to review the information Molnar requested. In the email to the associate general counsel for NorthWestern, Bukacek also said she doesnt want to add too much work for the utility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His (Molnars) requests add to your time and therefore the cost of NorthWestern doing business if you have to file a motion for protection of proprietary information, Bukacek wrote. I want to make it clear that this commissioner does not support the added burden of Commissioner Molnars request. I am not asking for a response from you. Conduct the peoples business in the light of day Regarding the internal investigation, Molnar has admitted he might lack finesse in his communication at times but has said the concerns raised were better addressed with a conversation than a costly bill to taxpayers. The PSC also hired a law firm at a rate of $250 an hour. However, in a complaint to Gov. Greg Gianforte, Commissioner Jennifer Fielder said Molnar is undermining the investigation, and she requested the governor suspend Molnar including for threats of retaliation an allegation his lawyer has described as inflammatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fielder sent the letter on behalf of the PSC response team investigating the allegations. In Montana, the governor has the authority to remove a member of the Public Service Commission. But Molnar has said the accusation hell retaliate is confusing. I dont know who brought the complaint yet. I dont know what Im accused of. I dont know who the witnesses are, he said. How do I take retribution? Molnar also said Fielder wrote him a letter that said his press conference about the investigation could be considered retaliation. I said, How is holding a press conference decrying the lack of due process retaliation? Molnar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a response to the governor, Molnars lawyer said Gianforte should have immediately rejected the complaint by Fielder. Molnar also said he has been denied in his attempt to learn more about it. He learned of the complaint Fielder filed only after general counsel for the governor provided it. A policy manual identifies the positions typically on the PSC response team, including the president. Molnar told the Daily Montanan he wanted to know who is part of the response team handling his investigation and how the complaint to the governor came about. In an email last Tuesday from the law firm the PSC hired to provide legal advice in the investigation, lawyer Amy Christensen requested Molnars lawyer, Matthew Monforton, ask his client to discontinue asking PSC staff for information regarding the complaint to the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesday, Monforton told Christensen her directive was as misguided as it is improper. Commissioner Molnar was duly elected by the people not appointed by you, not beholden to your Response Team, and certainly not subject to your attempts to muzzle him, Monforton wrote. Monforton said Molnar has the authority and constitutional obligation to access documents, he wont be subject to procedural gamesmanship, and he will fulfill his elected mandate to ensure the peoples business is conducted in the light of day, not in the shadows you prefer. Let us be crystal clear about what you are defending: a clandestine complaint dispatched to the governor seeking the suspension of a duly elected official, Monforton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email Tuesday, PSC Executive Director Alana Lake said the agency has not yet heard from the Governors Office about its complaint, a request Gianforte take action to allow the investigation to move forward in a lawful manner. However, Lake said such requests take time to review and undergo careful consideration. Lake said she could not share details of how the response team decided to submit a complaint to the governor given confidentiality requirements in policy, but she said it is working diligently to ensure the investigation can proceed in a lawful and fair manner. The PSC has a work session scheduled Wednesday on the complaint. Why is this even private? In the 2025 session, the Montana Legislature adopted HB 490, which requires certain entities such as electric cooperatives and utilities to file wildfire mitigation plans and receive some protection against civil liability for wildfire damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill requires mitigation plans to include information about inspections and maintenance programs, estimated costs of improvements and upgrades, and other information. The PSC is charged with approving NorthWestern Energys plan. The bill said plans can be approved if they are found to be in the public interest and reasonably balance implementation costs with risks of potential wildfire. Molnar told the Daily Montanan he wants to understand the actual wildfire mitigation costs, having heard estimates of anywhere from $7 million to $70 million. He said one way to find out is to look at how much NorthWestern Energy is spending on vegetation management currently, including with its own crews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Molnar said if he can see how much they have spent in the last couple of years, he will understand how much is fair for the PSC to approve in any upcoming case. Why is this even private? My god. Youre cutting grass. Youve been doing it forever, Molnar said. From the day you became a utility, youve been trimming around your power lines. He said NorthWestern Energy told him he could view the documents on site, but he said he wanted to distribute copies to other commissioners. So he said he requested the utility send the documents to him either email them as a public record or ask for an order of protection. Theyre so used to having their own way, Molnar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email obtained by the Daily Montanan, Bukacek said she disagreed with the tone, tenor and abject idiocy expressed by Molnar in his meeting with NorthWestern. She also said she did not believe HB 490 requires NorthWestern to provide the information Molnar requested. Molnar told the Daily Montanan he wants to see the information to do his job as a regulator unlike Bukacek, he said. If there was such a thing as treason in the Public Service Commission, she would be saying, I regret I have but one life to live for the utilities that I regulate, Molnar said. On Aug. 25, NorthWestern filed a motion requesting an order of protection for the contracts, arguing public disclosure would harm its ability to negotiate with vendors and get the best deals for its customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PSC has yet to take action on the motion, but Molnar said he would not fight a protective order. At the PSC meeting Tuesday, energy transition engineer Nick Fitzmaurice with the Montana Environmental Information Center also expressed interest in ensuring customers dont pay too much for wildfires. Fitzmaurice said the law gives the PSC the authority to appoint a technical master with expertise to review the wildfire mitigation plan, and it should do so for a robust review. This will be essential to protect Montanans from the risks of utility-sparked wildfire and to ensure we are not on the hook for damages should NorthWesterns measures be insufficient to prevent the utilitys infrastructure from igniting a wildfire, Fitzmaurice said. A new school year is here, and while millions of students still trudge off to public school classrooms and days divided by subjects, there are fewer kids making that trek than in the past, and their experiences aren't nearly so similar as once was the case. The ranks of public school students are thinning, partly because of the declining birth rate, but also because a growing share of the population prefers alternatives like private schools and homeschooling. They're increasingly assisted with funding from education choice programs. It's a familiar journey to me, since my wife and I mostly homeschooled our son, with detours through charter and private schools. We're less alone in our choices than ever before. Fewer Kids and a Lot Fewer Public School Students "K-12 enrollment is on the decline between a combination of dropping birth rates and more school choice options, putting schools in a tight bind," Lexi Lonas Cochran reported for The Hill at the end of August. "The public school system is expected to see a drop of millions of students over the next five years, a hit that will affect schools financially and potentially lead to the closure of more districts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cochran noted that the U.S. fertility rate, declining like that in many other countries around the world, hit historic lows in recent years. Fewer births mean fewer children to educate in years to come. But, adds Cochran, "since COVID-19, the interest in homeschooling and private school options has exploded, especially as states pass legislation making it easier for children to go to other schools, and taking some money from public school systems to do it." According to the National Center for Education Statistics, total public elementary and secondary school enrollment fell from a peak of 50.8 million in 2019 to 49.6 million in 2022. It's believed to be under 49 million now and expected to fall below 47 million in 2030. The effects are felt all over the country. In Florida, Miami-Dade County Public School enrollment is down by more than 12,000 students from last year. In Texas, the large Houston-area CypressFairbanks school district is down by 6,400 students in the same period; a report presented to the school board noted that "students are increasingly transferring out of Cy-Fair ISD to pursue other education options, such as charters, private schools and homeschooling." In Nevada, the Clark County School District dropped from more than 330,000 students in 2019 to fewer than 286,000 now; the Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial board acknowledges fertility decline but adds that charter schools "have seen their enrollment skyrocket" and that families also increasingly favor homeschooling and private schools. As Public Schools Disappoint, Other Options Gain Favor Overall, Genevieve Smith and Angela R. Watson write in Harvard's EducationNext, as of 2023, "nearly 6 percent of all school-aged children nationwide were reported as homeschooled during the 202223 school year. This compares to 10 percent of students in private schools and 84 percent in public schools." That partially obscures the degree of change, since about 7 percent of public school students now attend privately managed, publicly funded charter schools, up from 4 percent in 2010. The share of homeschoolers doubled just since 2020, increasing from around 3 percent of students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "why" of these shifts in where and how students are educated has many causes, including disappointment with public school quality, proliferating options, and the ease with which educational materials can be accessed over the Internet. But, as Tara Moon observes in coverage of declining public school enrollment for FutureEd, "the pandemic played a major role in accelerating the decline. Some families withdrew their children entirely and educated them at home, while others opted for private schools, many of which resumed in-person learning sooner than public schools." Many families were horrified by learning losses they saw in their children when schools bungled remote learning during pandemic lockdowns. They were often equally disturbed by what they saw over their kids' shoulders in terms of lesson content. Recent polling finds that "nearly two-thirds (64%) of school parents say K-12 education is headed in the wrong direction, up eight points from last year." Thirty-six percent of parents say they would send their children to private school if they could, 14 percent would choose homeschooling, 10 percent prefer charter schools, and 40 percent would stick with traditional public schools. Existing private school parents report the highest satisfaction with their choice, followed by homeschoolers and charter school parents, with traditional public school parents at the rear. The more families unhappy with traditional schooling who turned to private schools or decided to teach their own kids, either alone or in arrangements like learning pods and microschools, the more awareness of and comfort with education options increased. That has driven demand for reforms that ease access to education choices other than traditional public schools. Surging Participation in School Choice Writing for EdChoice, Brandon Ruder reported last week that "in just one year, the total number of students participating in private school choice programs across the nation skyrocketed, increasing by 25%." Nationally, over 1.3 million children now use such programsEducation Savings Accounts (ESAs), in particular. The details vary from state to state, but ESAs make education funding portable, allocating money that follows students to the schooling of their choice rather than assigning it to a building or district. That eases matters for families that would otherwise pay for tuition or education materials on top of the burden of taxes that support public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, the Johns Hopkins School of Education Homeschool Hub revealed last year that "twenty-one states have reported homeschool participation for 2023-2024. Of those, only two show a decline." Of the two states reporting a decline, New Hampshire stopped counting homeschooled students who receive ESA funding as homeschoolers, "so, this decline may not truly reflect a decrease in actual homeschool participation, but may be just a change in how students are counted in this state." For the 20232024 school year, the Homeschool Hub found the highest shares of homeschooled students in Alaska (16.15 percent), Tennessee (10.75 percent), and Montana (9.03 percent). The lowest shares were in Connecticut (3.01 percent), Washington, D.C. (3.04 percent), and Massachusetts (3.39 percent). And remember that the ranks of students in charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling are increasing not only as the number of students in traditional public schools declines but as the total number of school-age children falls. In the years to come, there will be fewer kids overall, and their education experiences will vary far more widely than those of recent generations. From experience, I assure parents and students alike that this changing environment will work out just fine. School days will come and go, as always. But they'll be better, since the schools will be chosen by families, not just assigned by default. The post As Public School Enrollment Drops, Alternative Options Gain Traction appeared first on Reason.com. Russian President Vladimir Putin has highlighted the partnership between his country and North Korea during a meeting with his counterpart Kim Jong Un in Beijing. Putin thanked the dictator from the isolated communist country for his soldiers' participation in the recapture of the western Russian region of Kursk from Ukrainian troops, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. "Your soldiers have fought bravely and heroically," said Putin. Kim replied that North Korea was always ready to help Russia and saw this as a "brotherly obligation," according to a Kremlin translation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of a large Chinese military parade, which commemorated the end of World War II in Asia 80 years ago. Putin is using not only weapons and ammunition from North Korea in his war against Ukraine: As part of a military assistance pact, Kim also sent several thousand soldiers to Russia, who helped to drive Ukrainian troops out of the border region of Kursk. According to the assessment by the South Korean intelligence agency, about 2,000 North Koreans were killed in the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sept. 3 that he has "never ruled out" meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming such a meeting could take place if it is "well prepared and will lead to positive possible results." "If Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow," Putin told journalists during his briefing in Beijing. The remarks come despite Putin's years of avoiding direct talks with Zelensky, and repeated false claims that he is not the legitimate leader of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelensky has repeatedly expressed willingness to meet Putin, including a proposal to hold talks on neutral ground in Turkey offers that have gone unanswered by the Kremlin. Following the meeting with Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was working to facilitate a potential meeting between the two leaders. However, the Kremlin has denied that any such agreement was reached. During the Sept. 3 briefing, Putin also questioned whether there was any point in such a meeting. The Russian president reiterated claims that Ukraine rejected peace after Russian forces withdrew from Kyiv in early 2022, choosing instead to continue fighting until, in his words, "either they tear our heads off, or we tear theirs off." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin claimed that Moscow has repeatedly proposed peaceful resolutions to end the war and claimed that Ukraine has declined these offers. The Russian leader also said that "every country has the right to security guarantees, including Ukraine," but denied that Russia ever discussed offering such guarantees in exchange for territorial concessions. Even as he praised Trump's "sincere desire" to broker a peace agreement, Putin emphasized Russia's willingness to attain its aims militarily rather than compromise. "It seems to me that if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable solution to end this conflict. That is my assumption," Putin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Especially since we can see the mood of the current U.S. administration under President Trump, and we see not just their statements, but their sincere desire to find this solution ... And I think there is a certain light at the end of the tunnel. Let's see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to resolve all the tasks before us by force of arms." Those tasks likely involve sweeping territorial concessions and a ban on Ukraine's NATO membership. Previously, Putin reportedly demanded full control over the eastern Donbas region comprised of partially occupied Donetsk Oblast and almost fully occupied Luhansk Oblast as a condition for a peace deal. The Kremlin also continues to push the narrative that Ukraine's potential NATO membership poses a direct threat to Russia's security. As a result, one of Moscow's key demands in any future peace negotiations is a guarantee that Ukraine will not join the alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky, in turn, has repeatedly rejected formally recognizing Russian occupation or ceding additional territory and called for a full ceasefire as a precondition for peace talks and any territorial discussions. The Ukrainian leader also said that NATO accession is the best possible security guarantee for postwar Ukraine. Kyiv officially applied for NATO membership in September 2022 after Russia illegally declared the annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts. Read also: Zelensky wants a meeting. Putin wants to win Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Sept. 3 for a large-scale military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. While no U.S. officials attended, U.S. President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social, writing to Xi: "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." The event marked the first public appearance of Putin, Kim, and Xi together highlighting deepening ties among the three countries and reduced isolation of both the Russian and North Korean leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, suggested that Trump's comment about a "conspiracy" against the United States was meant as irony. "I think (Trump) did not say without irony that supposedly 'these three' are plotting against the United States," Ushakov said. "I mean, no conspiracy nobody was plotting anything, nobody was weaving anything, no conspiracy." Putin and Kim then departed the parade for bilateral talks, Russian state news agency TASS reported. As Russia faced geopolitical isolation following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Pyongyang emerged as one of Moscow's most important military allies, supporting its war effort with artillery shells, missiles, and even soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, despite officially claiming neutrality, China has been indirectly supporting Moscow's war by purchasing Russian oil and providing dual-use technology. Addressing a crowd of more than 50,000 people at Tiananmen Square, Xi said: "Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum," adding that the Chinese people "stand on the right side of history." While Xi lauded peace and dialogue in his speech, China used the parade to show off its military might. The event featured over 10,000 troops, more than 100 aircraft and vehicles, and the country's most advanced weaponry, like the nuclear-capable DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, and laser weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parade came just days after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which brought together Xi, Putin, Kim, and other world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taken together, both the military parade and the SCO summit are seemingly meant to project China's power on the global stage and Xi's vision of a new world order especially amid rising tensions with the United States over trade and security. While Putin attended the military parade in Beijing, Russian forces launched a large-scale drone attack targeting cities across Ukraine. Despite Xi's rhetoric about peace, China has emerged as a key ally and economic lifeline for Russia during its war against Ukraine, with Kyiv growing more vocal in accusing Beijing of directly supporting Moscow's war effort. Read also: About 2,000 North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia, Seoul says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Kremlin aide has dismissed remarks by United States President Donald Trump that Russian, Chinese and North Korean leaders were conspiring against the United States, saying no one even had this in their thoughts. The comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held talks in Beijing on Wednesday, where both leaders praised the deepening military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin later poked fun at Trumps comments, saying: Everyone knows Trump is not devoid of a sense of humour. Earlier, the meeting between Kim and the Russian leader was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse after the two leaders attended a military parade in central Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over commemorations in Tiananmen Square marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Japans surrender. The event, which showcased thousands of troops and heavy weaponry, drew dozens of world leaders, though almost none from the West, which this event, in part, sent a clear message to. Putin and Kim travelled to the talks together in the same car after a formal reception, the Kremlin said on social media. Kim was accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, according to images released by North Korean state media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China promoted the parade as a demonstration of unity, with Kim appearing publicly alongside both Putin and Xi for the first time. Speaking at the start of the talks, Putin praised the bravery and heroism of North Korean soldiers who he said fought alongside Russian troops in repelling a Ukrainian incursion into Russias border region of Kursk. Kim, in turn, said cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang had significantly strengthened since the two countries signed a strategic partnership pact in June 2024. If theres anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help, Kim said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korean officials estimate North Korea has dispatched about 15,000 soldiers to Russia since last year, along with significant military supplies, including artillery and KN-23 ballistic missiles, to bolster Moscows war effort in Ukraine. Analysts say Pyongyang is receiving advanced Russian military technology in return, including satellite guidance systems that could further enhance its missile programme. Putin visited Pyongyang in July 2024 for the first time in 24 years, signing a treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Kim that revived Cold War-era ties between the two sanctioned states. Kim has previously met Putin three times. North Korea only confirmed it had deployed troops to support Russias war in Ukraine in April and admitted that its soldiers had been killed in combat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Kim met the families of the soldiers killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, offering condolences for their unbearable pain and promising the bereaved a beautiful life, state media reported. The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Saturday that Kim hosted the families of slain soldiers, and expressed grief at having failed to save the precious lives of those who sacrificed themselves to defend the countrys honour. The North Korean leader said his heart breaks and aches for the children who lost fathers. I, our state and our army will take full responsibility for them and train them admirably as staunch and courageous fighters like their fathers, he added. Editor's note: The article was updated with additional details. Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in Beijing on Sept. 3, thanking him for Pyongyang's assistance during the war against Ukraine. North Korea has become a key ally to Russia during the full-scale invasion, providing artillery, missiles, and thousands of troops. "It is well known that your special forces took part in the liberation of Kursk Oblast at your initiative, in full compliance with our new treaty," Putin told Kim during the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in western Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would like to note that your warriors fought bravely and displayed heroism. We will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen." Kim initially dispatched around 11,000-12,000 troops to Russia in late 2024 to help fend off a Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Oblast. After Moscow retook much of the region in the spring of this year, both Putin and Kim publicly acknowledged the participation of North Korean soldiers in the war, marking an unprecedented escalation of the conflict. Drawing parallels to the fight against the Axis Powers during World War II, Putin thanked Kim for "joining the fight against modern neo-Nazism," referring to the Kremlin's false narratives about an alleged Nazi-led regime in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the meeting in Beijing reportedly attended by Kim's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong the North Korean dictator thanked Putin for appreciating the role of his troops. He called providing assistance to Russia a "fraternal duty." According to Ukrainian and Western officials, North Korea is receiving nuclear and missile technology, cash, and other support in exchange for military assistance. Putin also said the two would discuss bilateral relations in "all dimensions and directions," and invited Kim to visit Russia. The talks followed a large-scale military parade hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parade marked the first time Putin, Kim, and Xi were seen together, highlighting deepening ties among the three countries and reducing the isolation of both the Russian and North Korean leaders. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pledged to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, reacted by writing to Xi: "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." Putin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, suggested that Trump's comment about a "conspiracy" against the United States was meant as irony. "I think (Trump) did not say without irony that supposedly 'these three' are plotting against the United States," Ushakov said. "I mean, no conspiracy nobody was plotting anything, nobody was weaving anything, no conspiracy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin previously met Kim while he was visiting Pyongyang in June 2024 to sign the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, a deal that stipulated mutual support if one country is attacked and preceded the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia. "Since the signing of our interstate treaty last June, relations between our countries have been developing in all aspects," Kim told Putin during the meeting. "Within the framework of this treaty and in accordance with our obligations under this treaty with the brotherly Russian people and army, we fought together." According to South Korea's intelligence, Pyongyang plans to send an additional 6,000 troops to Russia as part of its third wave of deployment, while some 1,000 combat engineers have already arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior Western diplomat told the Kyiv Independent that North Korea could have sent even more troops, with Ukrainian officials estimating Pyongyang's contribution to be between 20,000 and 30,000 soldiers. South Korea's National Intelligence Service estimates that some 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the war. Read also: Russia injures 5, targets Ukraines energy grid in overnight strikes across multiple regions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BEIJING (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for bilateral talks in Beijing on Wednesday. The two leaders met formally at the Diaoyutai state guest house after attending a major military parade in the heart of the Chinese capital that marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Putin and Kim traveled from a formal reception to the negotiations in the same car, the Kremlin said in a post on social media. After a bilateral meeting between Russian and North Korean delegations, the two leaders held a one-on-one meeting, the Kremlin said. Putin also invited Kim to visit Russia again, following on from the North Korean leader's last visit to the country in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking in front of journalists as the talks began, Putin praised the bravery and heroism of North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Moscows troops to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region. According to South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops to Russia since last year. It has also sent large quantities of military equipment, including ballistic missiles and artillery, to help fuel Putins three-year invasion of Ukraine. In his opening remarks, Kim said that cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has significantly strengthened since the two countries signed a strategic partnership pact in June last year during a summit in the North Korean capital. Although he did not specifically mention the war, Kim stressed that if theres anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The anniversary celebrations in Beijing mark the first time that Kim has attended a major multilateral event during his 14-year rule, and the first time Kim, Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have gathered at the same venue. Observers are waiting to see if Kim possibly meets Xi bilaterally as well, or even holds a private trilateral meeting with Xi and Putin, although none of the three countries has confirmed such an event. Referencing Xi in a post on social media, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote, Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Putins foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov later commented on the post, saying that Trump's words were not without irony. I want to say that no one has been plotting anything; no one was weaving any conspiracies, he said. None of the three leaders had even thought about such a thing. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that at present Russian leader Vladimir Putin has no reason to end the war or conclude a peace agreement with Ukraine. Source: Merz in an interview with German TV channel Sat.1 Details: Speaking to journalists, Merz said that he has no grounds to trust the Russian leader. He believes Putin will only be ready for talks when it serves his own interests. Quote: "I have no reason to believe Putin on any point. He will only be willing to negotiate if it is to his advantage. At the moment, by continuing the war, he has all the advantages on his side, from his point of view. He is securing territorial gains. He sees the discussions we are having here in Europe and in the US. He sees how the American president is dealing with him. He sees how other heads of state and government around the world, I'll just mention Shanghai as an example, are dealing with him at conferences." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Merz was clear that in order to change the Kremlin's position, conditions must be created that would force Russia to seek a way out of the war. In his opinion, this can primarily be done by economic means by exhausting Russia's war economy. Quote: "At the moment, he [Putin] has absolutely no reason to come to a ceasefire or even a peace agreement. We have to create the reason. Militarily, that will be difficult, but economically it can be done. We must ensure that Russia is no longer in a position to maintain its war economy." Details: As an example, Merz suggested introducing tariffs for countries that continue to trade actively with Russia. Background: At the end of August, Merz said the Russo-Ukrainian war might last a very long time and the issue of deploying ground troops to Ukraine is not on the agenda for now. On 2 September, Merz also expressed serious doubts about sending German troops to Ukraine even after a possible ceasefire. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday questioned the purpose of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but offered to host a summit in Moscow, during wide-ranging remarks at a press conference in Beijing. Putins remarks come at the end of President Trumps two-week deadline for a bilateral meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders as a means to end Russias nearly four-year war against Ukraine. Does it make sense to meet with the current administration [Zelensky]? Putin asked, repeating a common argument from the Kremlin that it views the Ukrainian leader as illegitimate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We could do Ive never refused to do that if that leads to some positive outcomes, he continued, according to a translation from Sky News. Donald [Trump] asked me if it was possible. I said, Yes, it was possible. I said, Let him come to Moscow. Trump called for Putin and Zelensky to meet directly, following a high-profile meeting in Alaska between the U.S. president and Russian leader on Aug. 15. Trump had said a meeting could happen within two weeks and then offered a trilateral summit he would attend to help settle the war. While Trump boasted on the campaign trail that he could end Russias war in Ukraine within one day, the president has admitted finding a solution has been harder to achieve than he originally believed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has repeatedly threatened unspecified actions to force Putin to agree to a ceasefire, but has so far declined to take any punitive actions toward Russia in his second term. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has said that he can agree on an "acceptable option" to end the war in Ukraine, otherwise threatening to pursue his goals by military means. Source: Putin at a press conference in Beijing on 3 September Quote: "It seems to me that if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable option for ending this conflict [Russias war against Ukraine ed.]. I proceed from this. All the more so as we see the attitude of the current US administration under President Trump. We see not just calls, but a sincere desire to find this solution." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Putin said there was "a certain light at the end of the tunnel". "Well see how the situation develops," he noted. "If not, then we will have to resolve all our tasks by military means," the Kremlin leader threatened. Background: On 31 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed out that it was two weeks since US President Donald Trump gave Russia two weeks to show willingness for real peace talks. Trump said he is "very disappointed" with Putin and announced that he plans to take action. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that at present, Putin has no reason to end the war or conclude a peace agreement with Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! During a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin mentioned North Korean soldiers who had been killed in Russia's war against Ukraine and stated that Russia would "never forget North Koreas participation in the fight against modern neo-Nazism". Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax Details: Putin said that, at Kim Jong Un's initiative, North Korean special forces had participated in combat operations in Russia's Kursk Oblast "in full accordance with our new treaty". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stated that Russia would never forget the sacrifices made by North Korean troops and their families, thanking them on behalf of the Russian people for their role in the joint struggle against modern neo-Nazism, and asked Kim to convey Russias heartfelt gratitude to the North Korean people. Background: In late April 2025, a South Korean lawmaker cited intelligence reports claiming that around 600 North Korean soldiers had been killed in Russias war against Ukraine, particularly during operations in Kursk Oblast. In June, North Korean state media showed footage of Kim Jong Un mourning his soldiers who were reported to have been killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. In August, Kim decorated soldiers and commanders who had participated in battles in Kursk on Russias side and met with the families of the deceased. On 2 September, South Korean legislators, citing intelligence sources, reported that roughly 2,000 North Korean troops sent to Russia to participate in combat operations in Ukraine had already been killed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BEIJING (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged his full support to Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, promising to do "everything I can to assist" Moscow as the Russian president thanked Pyongyang for sending troops to fight against Ukraine. The meeting took place on the sidelines of celebrations in Beijing to mark the anniversary of Japan's formal surrender in World War Two. Hours earlier, the pair flanked Chinese President Xi Jinping at a massive military parade for the first such gathering of the three countries' leaders since the early days of the Cold War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the parade, Kim and Putin travelled in the same car to a state guesthouse for private bilateral discussions. "If there is anything I can or must do for you and the Russian people, I consider it my duty as a fraternal obligation," Kim told Putin. Putin addressed Kim as "Dear Chairman of State Affairs" in Russian and extended his warmest greetings. The two countries are bound by a 2024 mutual defence treaty and both face heavy international sanctions - Russia for its war in Ukraine and North Korea for its nuclear weapons programme. "Recently, relations between our countries have assumed a special, trusting and friendly character, and an allied character," Putin said, and praised North Korean special forces that were deployed to help Russian troops. "Your soldiers fought courageously and heroically." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Korean troops helped Moscow earlier this year to eject Ukrainian forces from Russia's western region of Kursk. "I would like to note that we will never forget the sacrifices that your armed forces and the families of your servicemen have suffered," Putin said. The Beijing visit, Kim's first known trip to China since the pandemic, offered the reclusive North Korean leader his first-ever chance to meet Putin and Xi together, as well as mingle with the more than two dozen other national leaders who attended the events. According to Pul Pervogo, a social media account that reports widely on Alexander Lukashenko's activities, Kim spoke to the Belarusian president before the parade and invited him to visit Pyongyang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Park Won-gon, a North Korea expert at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, called the visit a major propaganda win for Kim. "Just standing and walking side by side with Xi Jinping and Putin. How could there be any better way for him to show his status to the world and to his people?" (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Josh Smith and Saad Sayeed) Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness on Wednesday to arrange a face-to-face meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only if the summit is held in Moscow. The Russian leader, who spoke at a press conference following the Victory Day parade in Beijing on Wednesday, said that US President Donald Trump asked for the two to sit down and discuss bringing an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. "I said yes, it was possible, let him come to Moscow," Putin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I've never excluded the possibility of meeting with him. But does it make sense to meet with him," he added, again questioning the legitimacy of Zelenskyy's presidency. "We could do that, I've never refused to do that if that leads to some positive outcomes." The Kremlin has repeatedly brought up the issue of Zelenskyy's presidential term having expired, despite Ukraine not being legally able to hold elections while it is at war and with a portion of its territory under occupation. In response, Ukraines foreign minister rejected the idea of holding face-to-face talks with Putin, if they are to be held in the Russian capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X on Wednesday evening, Andrii Sybiha listed seven countries that had offered to host peace talks, which he called serious proposals. Yet, Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals. Only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about peace process, he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrive for a working session in Paris, 9 December, 2019 - AP Photo The latest words from Putin come after a flurry of meetings organised by Trump in August, including a summit with Putin in Alaska, quickly followed by another one with Zelenskyy and European and NATO leaders in Washington. The meeting in Alaska did not produce immediate results, with Trump stating at the time that "we didnt get there, but we have a good chance to get there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the US president has since pushed for progress in ending Russia's war, vowing that Ukraine would receive substantial security guarantees as part of any future peace deal, as Europe remains "the first line of defence." Moscow's war continues Moscow has previously repeatedly rejected the possibility of direct Zelenskyy-Putin talks, citing various reasons, including that preparations are not yet complete, questioning Zelenskyy's legitimacy, and stating that they never agreed to any meeting in the first place. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, who was present at the Alaska summit in August, said on Tuesday that no agreement was made between Trump and Putin to meet with the Ukrainian leader. On Monday, Putin openly blamed the West and NATO for his ongoing all-out war against Ukraine during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin defended his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, telling those gathered that the war was "a result of a coup in Ukraine, which was supported and provoked by the West" a reference to bloody Euromaidan protests in Kyiv, which ended in the removal of Kremlin-allied President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. Related "The second reason for the crisis is the West's constant attempts to drag Ukraine into NATO," Putin added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian president has repeatedly made similar accusations in the past without providing evidence. Meanwhile, Russia has continued its daily bombardment of Ukraine, launching a barrage of more than 500 drones and two dozen missiles at several regions in Ukraine overnight on Wednesday. It has also intensified its summer offensive in eastern Ukraine aimed at occupying all of the Donetsk region. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un were caught on a hot mic discussing how people could live to 150 and even become immortal. The three dictators discussion was caught on a livestream as they led a group of other non-Western leaders to watch a military parade in Beijing. The despot rulers of China, Russia and North Korea talked about how biotechnology could result in humans living to 150 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin then suggested that repeated organ transplants could even mean people living forever. Kim Jong-un greets Vladimir Putin in Beijing - Getty Images AsiaPac Mr Xi, who is 72 years old, told Putin: Earlier, people rarely lived to 70 but these days, at 70 years you are still a child. The Russian president, also 72, answered: With the development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, and you people can live younger and younger, and even achieve immortality. Kim, a relative stripling at just 41, did not speak as the Russian and Chinese leaders discussed living forever, but smiled as he listened intently. The video footage, from Chinas state broadcaster, then cut to a wide shot of Tiananmen Square and the audio faded away. Putin is known to be interested in anti-ageing science and has ties to Mikhail Kovalchuk, a 78-year-old Russian official said to be obsessed with staying young. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year it was reported he ordered scientific officials to look into 3D bioprinting to use lab-grown cells to print replacement organs. Meanwhile, Chinas extensive organ transplant programme has been controversial, not least because it uses executed prisoners organs to supply hospitals. Putin confirmed the conversation with Mr Xi when reporters asked later whether he thought people could live to 150 in the future. He said: Yes, yes, when we went to the parade, the chairman [Mr Xi] spoke about this. Well, yes, modern means of healing, medicine, even all kinds of surgery related to organ replacement allow humanity to hope that active life will continue differently than it does today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin claimed that the late Silvio Berlusconi, a friend of his and the former Italian prime minister, actively developed this topic. Both Putin and Mr Xis fathers lived to their late 80s. Friendship without limits Xi, Putin, and Kim reappeared on camera mounting a viewing platform for a military parade to mark the end of the Second World War. It was Chinas largest-ever military parade, marking 80 years since Chinas victory over Japan. The meeting was the first time that Kim, Xi and Putin had met together. They watched as robot dogs, nuclear and laser weapons and drones were paraded in a warning to the West. It comes after Mr Xi hosted a summit of non-Western leaders and sketched out plans for a new world order to challenge the dominance of the US-led West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin, a pariah in the West since his invasion of Ukraine, enjoys a friendship without limits alliance with Mr Xi. At the start of the parade, Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States of America. After the parade, Kim told Putin he would do everything he could to help Russia in Ukraine as the pair met for private talks in Beijing. Putin said Kims soldiers had fought courageously and heroically alongside the Russians in their fight against modern Nazism, which the North Korean said was his fraternal duty. 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 President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said he is prepared to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, provided there is adequate preparation. Putin stated that Zelensky could visit Moscow if there is a prospect of a favourable outcome, during a press conference in Beijing broadcast on state television at the conclusion of his four-day visit to China. His comments come amid ongoing efforts to bring about an end to Moscow's war on its neighbour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky has repeatedly called for a meeting with Putin to negotiate directly over a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, launched by the Kremlin in 2022. But Putin has consistently emphasized that he is only willing to meet if the meeting is well-prepared, and Russia continues heavy assaults as the discussions drag on. Putin also said he had discussed the matter with US President Donald Trump. "Donald asked me if it was possible to organize such a meeting. I said: Yes, that is possible. Ultimately, Zelensky can come to Moscow if he is ready such a meeting will take place," said Putin, addressing the press for the first time since his summit with Trump in Alaska last month. Putin also again questioned Zelensky's legitimacy to conduct negotiations, repeating his argument that Zelensky's regular term of office expired last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky continues to lead Ukraine under martial law, which allows him to remain in office beyond his expired term, in line with the constitution. Putin, by contrast, has remained in power continuously since 2012, aided by constitutional amendments that extended his term limits. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Operation Prairie Thunders saturation patrol last week got drugs off the streets and led to a significant number of arrests, which is something Gov. Rhoden explained to KELOLANDs Don Jorgensen Tuesday. Rhoden: Operation Prairie Thunder makes 174 drug arrests However, the reason behind Operation Prairie Thunder has drawn some criticism. The backlash toward Operation Prairie Thunder started almost immediately because of its involvement with ICE. A large number of people shared concerns at a Sioux Falls City Council meeting in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wasko to resign as DOC Secretary Tuesday, South Dakota Voices for Peace and the ACLU of South Dakota said increasing law enforcement may not necessarily create a safer community. When Governor Rhoden announced Operation Prairie Thunder in late July, Samantha Chapman with the ACLU of South Dakota was surprised. I believe that the mayor had said that our violent crime and property crime rates in Sioux Falls are at a historic five year low, so I dont understand what the point or the necessity is in increasing law enforcement right now at this time in Sioux Falls, ACLU advocacy manager Samantha Chapman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A military helicopter circled eastern Sioux Falls last week. Chapman and South Dakota Voices for Peace CEO Taneeza Islam believe the presence of the aircraft and Operation Prairie Thunders collaboration with ICE have put many people on edge. It puts the entire community at higher risk for crime to take place without it being reported because now, what the community, the immigrant community, the undocumented community, who are also victims of crimes, right, they could be criminals and they can also be victims. Theyre not going to reach out to law enforcement if theres a crime being committed because they believe theyre just going to automatically be deported, Islam said. I think that especially for communities who may feel like they are being targeted or could potentially be discriminated against based on their appearance by law enforcement and ICE in these operations, certainly those individuals feel a lot less safe with big, black helicopters flying over their heads, Chapman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chapman also said she attended the Safer Sioux Falls Forum earlier in this summer and did not recall illegal immigration being a concern during that discussion. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Center Square) - The cyberattack on the Nevada state government dragged through its second week as questions about the attacker's identity and personal data leaks remained unanswered. The cyberattack was first discovered Aug. 24. Since then, state government websites across Nevada have been slow to return to full function as information has trickled out of the Governors Office. As of right now, we are operating almost fully back to normal business operations, Hailey Foster, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles public information officer, told The Center Square Wednesday. We opened up our offices yesterday to handle all vehicle transactions In addition, we got MyDMV back up and running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MyDMV website Wednesday afternoon said transactions remained temporarily unavailable for driver's licenses, IDs and address changes. All late fees from the Nevada DMV for vehicle-related payments were waived through Aug. 29, when the services returned to operation. Late payments for driver's licenses and IDs both in person and online continue to be waived until those services return, with the DMV not giving an estimated date for its full recovery. Most state departments have returned to partial operation like the DMV, but some remain fully offline. The website for Gov. Joe Lombardos new Nevada Health Authority, designed to consolidate Nevada health care operations, remained fully out of operation over a week after the attack. The website for Nevadas Office of New Americans was also down. In response, the state set up a website to track the recovery effort with twice-daily updates through the Nevada Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recovery site confirmed that data was moved outside the states network, but has yet to confirm if any personal data was stolen. In the event that personal information was leaked, We will notify impacted Nevada residents in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay, while making sure notification does not hinder law-enforcement efforts, read the recovery homepage. The website made note of the ongoing investigation by the state with the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The Governors Office has cited the federal investigation to justify not sharing more information about the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 11 days since the cyberattack was discovered, Gov. Joe Lombardo has spoken publicly once about it. No comment has been made about the motivation or identity of the attackers, as Nevadans wait to see if their personal data was stolen in the breach. Emergency services are fully functional. The state has warned to be especially wary of online scams at this time. For more information, visit www.oem.nv.gov/recovery. CHINESE CAMP, Calif. (AP) One of nearly two dozen fires burning across Northern California on Wednesday scorched homes in a Gold Rush town settled in the 1850s by thousands of Chinese miners who had faced discrimination and were driven out of a nearby camp. The quick-moving fire in the Sierra Nevada foothills threatened the few remaining historic structures in Chinese Camp, forced the evacuation of its roughly 100 residents and closed a highway thats a main route between San Francisco and Yosemite National Park. Its not clear yet whether the towns handful of Gold Rush era structures -- including an old post office built in 1854 -- were damaged in the fire that erupted Tuesday and continued burning without any containment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A shuttered Catholic church dating back to 1855 appeared to have survived the flames. The town's general store where tourists could pickup supplies and see historic artifacts also seemed to be intact. But on some lots, all that remained were charred brick walls and scorched trees. A large number of lightning strikes early Tuesday set off at least 22 fires that have burned about 20 square miles (52 square kilometers) in Calaveras, Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties, said Emily Kilgore, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the states chief fire agency. The fires are spread across the region about 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of San Francisco. There have been no reports of injuries, but several structures were destroyed in two of the fires, Kilgore said Wednesday. Damage assessments have not been completed. Many of the fires are in remote and rugged areas, some with very difficult access, Kilgore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There still may be fires that havent been discovered yet, Kilgore said, warning that more evacuations may be necessary. Temperatures were expected to be in the 90s over the next few days with little rain in sight. Strong winds were adding to the challenge as the flames strengthened in areas filled with dry, tall grass and brush, CalFire said. The largest of the fires crossed 10 square miles (26 square kilometers) around Chinese Camp, where at least five homes burned. During the first hours, residents moved tree branches and shoveled sand onto flames in a desperate attempt stop them from spreading until firefighters arrived. A recreational vehicle on the property was damaged. Chinese Camp, now a crossroads for tourists traveling to Yosemite, flourished in the 1850s as a stagecoach stop and supply hub for mining camps during the Gold Rush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of Chinese came to California during the Gold Rush and faced persecution that included an exorbitant Foreign Miners Tax designed to drive them away from mining. It was a time when Chinese people all across the state faced widespread discrimination. The town grew as the Chinese miners arrived after being thrown out of a nearby camp by European miners who didn't want any competition and discriminated against the Chinese. Originally called Camp Washington, its name was soon changed to Chinese Camp to reflect the thousands of new settlers. But within three decades, most of the Chinese residents had moved away, the last two leaving in the early 1920s, said Stephen Provost, who recently wrote Chinese Camp: The Haunting History of Californias Forgotten Boomtown. The saloons, temples, stables and homes built by the Chinese have long been gone too, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some structures built by European settlers in the 1800s could still be found, including a saloon, a boarding house and a few old residences, said Provost, whose wife, Sharon, also has written about the towns past. It was like a town that had been trapped in time, he said recalling his first visit. Now he is anxiously waiting for news about whats left. These are places that are personal to our hearts, Provost said. We got there just in time. ___ Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland. Associated Press reporter John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed. Labor leaders and state officials urge the federal administration to let work resume on the Revolution Wind project at a press conference at Quonset Point on Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current) After a dozen days in limbo, state and federal officials keep ramping up the pressure on the Trump administration to let the Revolution Wind project resume. The offshore wind project already under construction south of Rhode Island was put on hold on Aug. 22, leaving workers in the lurch and risking critical energy reliability and climate change mandates. In a Wednesday letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Gov. Dan McKee outlined the consequences of the stop-work order, while asking for a meeting with President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stop-work order undermines efforts to expand our energy supply, lower costs for families and businesses, and strengthen regional reliability, McKee wrote to Burgum. This action puts hundreds of well-paid blue-collar jobs at risk by halting a project that is just steps away from powering more than 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut. More than 1,000 union workers have spent much of the last two years building the 65-turbine project, 45 of which have been installed, as well as a pair of substations that will connect the power supply to Rhode Island and Connecticut. The 704 megawatts of nameplate capacity was set to be delivered by mid-2026, and already baked into the long-term plans for meeting Rhode Islands decarbonization mandates under the states 2021 Act on Climate law. It is also critical to regional electrical grid reliability, especially in extreme weather events where fuel supply might be limited. Since the project was put on hold, the hits have continued, with the U.S. Department of Transportation pulling $679 million in federal infrastructure grants tied to offshore wind projects on Aug. 29, including $11.2 million for Quonset Point. Meanwhile, a separate offshore wind project Rhode Island is eyeing for additional renewable electricity, SouthCoast Wind, is facing new setbacks after federal administrators indicated in federal court filings that they want to yank already approved permits for the Massachusetts project. McKee first spoke with Burgum on Aug. 29, with a virtual meeting among staff members for both officials earlier Wednesday, Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for McKees office, said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His request for a meeting with Trump comes a day before a federal court hearing in Massachusetts, where a group of 18 state attorneys general, including Rhode Islands Peter Neronha, are seeking to bar the Trump administration from blocking offshore wind projects more broadly. When the lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts in May, the Revolution Wind project did not appear in jeopardy, having already secured all of its federal and state approvals and been under construction for 18 months. Trumps initial executive orders regarding offshore wind appeared to only affect projects still in need of federal approvals. But that same executive order was invoked by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in its Aug. 22 letter, ordering Danish developer Orsted to stop work on the Revolution Wind project due to national security concerns, along with environmental risks. The order left a dozen millwrights temporarily idled aboard the Wind Scylla in Rhode Island Sound, where they were working on the construction of turbines. The installation of a Revolution Wind turbine is shown. The Trump administration has ordered construction stopped on Rhode Islands first large-scale offshore wind project, even though it is 80% complete. (Photo courtesy of rsted) Millwrights return to shore The turbine installation vessel has since returned to shore in New London, but the workers are still on board, waiting to hear if they can head back out before their four-week shift ends on Sept. 10, said Andy Benedetto, president of the Millwrights Local 1121. Theyre just staying on the boat so theyre ready, Benedetto said in an interview Wednesday. This was unplanned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benedetto lamented the waste of training and jobs for local workers. Among the dozen laborers aboard the docked installation vessel is a mother-son apprentice duo, whose family depends on their incomes from the continued work, Benedetto said. These people are people, and its jobs and they were excited about this work continuing, Benedetto said. They had work lined up for the next couple years basically and its being taken away from them. In addition to an estimated 1,200 direct construction jobs, the project was projected to create dozens of long-term maintenance and operation positions filled by local union workers, according to Orsted. Another two dozen laborers with other local unions were set to head to sea for a rotation beginning Aug. 28, but were still waiting for the call on land as of Wednesday night, said Erica Hammond, legislative director for the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. At least three of the workers have already taken new jobs on other projects rather than keep waiting, Hammond said. If their offshore shifts get delayed much longer, they may have to file for unemployment, depending on terms of individual contracts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic U.S. Reps. Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island and Nikki Budzinksi of Illinois, who co-lead the Congressional Labor Caucus Building Trades Task Force, called on Burgum to lift the stop-work order in a joint statement Tuesday. Along with other clean energy projects the Administration has halted, this is yet another attack on construction workers. Secretary Burgum needs to lift the order and allow these hardworking men and women back to finish the job, provide for their families, and help achieve American energy independence, they said. Orsted has also pledged to explore solutions to resume work, including potential litigation, while exploring the financial implications for its $4 billion project. The company is seeking to raise another $9.4 billion from its shareholders, with an extraordinary general meeting Friday to secure board approval for its share sale. Neronhas office is also considering additional legal action, but had not filed anything as of Wednesday. Hes focused on the existing multistate lawsuit challenging federal actions on offshore wind, scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. court hearing Thursday in Boston before U.S. District Judge William Young. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story has been updated to include additional information regarding setbacks faced by SouthCoast Wind and local laborers waiting to go out to sea. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Sep. 3North Alabama faces a rainy week, and it has come at just the right time for area farmers. According to the National Weather Service in Huntsville, Wednesday and Thursday will present a continued chance for rain and potential thunderstorms. The highest rainfall totals will likely stick to the northwest in Lauderdale and Colbert counties, said meteorologist Huntir Cramer. Between Tuesday and Thursday, the NWS is projecting a total rainfall accumulation of 0.25 to 0.5 inches, unless heavier rainfall breaks out in specific areas. Tuesday was expected to bring the most widespread rain, but Wednesday and Thursday may produce stronger storms, with a 20% to 30% chance, according to Cramer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Just keep in mind, if you see lightning or hear thunder, move indoors," Cramer said. "Indoors is going to be the safest place to shelter from lightning, or in a hard-topped vehicle if you do not have access to indoors. Then, for gusty winds, shelter the same way as you would for a tornado. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building away from windows, if we end up issuing any severe warning (Wednesday) or Thursday." The rain comes through ahead of a cold front. Cramer said temperatures in the coming weekend will be in the low to mid 80s. Friday night and Saturday will once again have a low chance for rainfall. A long period of rainy weather delayed some farmers from planting crops earlier this year. Moulton farmer Larry LouAllen, owner of LouAllen Farms, said this week's rain is welcome after a dry stretch. "A lot of people have fall crops planted, and (the rain) is going to help those a lot," LouAllen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, LouAllen Farms is picking cucumbers, squash and cantaloupe. Pumpkins will be ready in two to three weeks. LouAllen doesn't anticipate this week's rain affecting harvesting timelines. Work halted for a day on the Alabama Department of Transportation's resurfacing project on Alabama 24 from Beltline Road in Decatur to the Lawrence County line with Tuesday's rain. The project began last week. Grayson Carter and Son Contracting will repave 5.5 miles in total. ALDOT spokesman Seth Burkett said the milling portion of the project won't be as affected as the paving portion could be by rain. Looking to Wednesday and Thursday, he said the lower chances of rain make it difficult to predict if the contractor will be able to work or not. "Those days, it could affect work, or it might not," Burkett said. "It's going to be a day-to-day call whether they're out there working." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project should be completed this fall. Burkett explained that ALDOT takes potential inclement weather into consideration when determining these completion dates. The recent dry weather has allowed ALDOT to make considerable progress on projects, whereas a more rainy time of the year usually sees more delays. The Interstate 565 widening project in Madison could be more affected by rain, as it includes more dirt work. GraciAnn.Goodin@DecaturDaily.com or 256-340-2437 Wednesday's rainy morning is the leading edge of a cold front entering the Milwaukee area. Andrew Quigley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan, said most of the rain Sept. 3 will hit between around 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. He said southeast Wisconsin can expect light to moderate rain, with possible brief periods of heavy downpours, and some thunder and lightning. Periods of lighter rain may continue into the afternoon, but the weather should turn dry by evening, Quigley said. Around that time and overnight into Thursday, Sept. 4, gusty winds from the northwest will carry in the colder temperatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The morning of Sept. 4 will see the coldest weather this week, with lows around 46 to 47 degrees in Milwaukee, Quigley said. "Well below normal, but nothing that is looking to be record-breaking with this," Quigley said. "But it will be chilly when you head out the door tomorrow morning, so definitely want to grab a light jacket." The low temperatures about 10 to 15 degrees lower than average for early September are expected to continue through the weekend. Temps should then "slowly rebound" at the start of next week, Quigley said. Another round of rain and scattered thunderstorms is expected to hit Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin the evening of Sept. 4 through the morning of Sept. 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Rainy weather is start of cold front coming through Wisconsin Amid the chaos that conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has wrought at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control via firings and pressured resignations, some Republicans in Congress are opting to distract from the turmoil with rank homophobia. Much like deceased GOP Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who led the so-called Lavender Scare, a crusade to purge gay people from the government, the right is yet again demonizing gay people to serve its political interests. After Demetre Daskalakis, the (now-former) director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, joined other top CDC officials in resigning in protest after the ouster of CDC Director Susan Monarez, two Republicans are suggesting Daskalakis sexuality justified his departure. Heres a quote Sen. Rand Paul gave to The Hill this week, while bashing Daskalakis support for vaccinating infants against hepatitis B: One of the guys that is the biggest proponent of doing all this is the guy who describes the risky behavior that he and his lifestyle involve, Paul said when asked about the exodus in CDC leadership Tuesday evening, referring to Daskalakis. Paul was discussing his opposition to infant vaccinations against hepatitis B when asked. A guy that is so far out of the mainstream, I think most people in America would discount his opinion because of the things he said in the past. He does not represent the mainstream of anything in America, Paul continued. He should have never had a position in government. And he brags about his lifestyle, you know, this whole idea of bondage and, you know, multiple partners and all that stuff. He brags about that stuff, but hes got no business being in government. Its good riddance. Pauls remarks came after Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., referred to Daskalakis as a BDSM satan worshipper on CNN Sunday. Daskalakis dismissed the satanism allegations in 2022 but, for years, conservative disinformation-peddlers have used the fact he has a pentacle tattoo along with other personal choices, like images of Daskalakis wearing leather to portray him as some kind of demonic sex pervert rather than what he actually is: an infectious disease expert whose public health remit has largely included promoting the health and wellness of LGBTQ people in America who happens to be a gay man himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The obvious deflection of this bigotry is clear. Paul, Carter and the right-wing social media ecosystem are trying to paper over Daskalakis resignation with homophobic attacks, baselessly labeling him a sexual deviant including, as Paul alleges, for purportedly bragging about multiple partners. Meanwhile, the conspiracy-minded HHS secretary, whose history of self-described polygamous behavior and alleged sexual assault is well documented, pursues his crusade against public health, putting more Americans at risk by the day. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Man collapses during arraignment for alleged road-rage stabbing of delivery driver in Back Bay A Randolph man collapsed in a Boston Municipal Courtroom on Wednesday, after the judge set bail at $50,000 dollars. 45-year-old Bryon Alexander of Randolph was arraigned Wednesday morning as he faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was arrested Tuesday night in Bostons Back Bay after allegedly stabbing a victim multiple times in a fit of road rage. Boston police say a man and a passenger were delivering food to a residence on Beacon Street after 10:00 p.m. when they parked in front of a car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair reportedly moved their car after the other driver, identified as Alexander, beeped his horn and continued to follow them and tried to hit their car, according to Boston police. When both cars came to a red light, police say Alexander, allegedly exited his vehicle and attacked the victim, stabbing him several times. Alexander allegedly drove off but was located by Massachusetts State Police on I-93 south near the Freeport Street ramp. The stabbing victim was found on Huntington Avenue with non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Alexander was arraigned on Wednesday with Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Amanda Corin claiming Alexander threatened the victim and his passenger, saying he would shoot them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Alexanders legal counsel presented a different story. He was not the aggressor; the other fellow was the aggressor. He was simply trying to defend himself, Alexanders attorney said in court. The other person accosted him, followed him around in his car, got behind his car and accosted him at the door of his car, struck him in the face as he was getting out of the car. He does have a little gadget that he uses because hes got a problem with his gas cap and he did use that to defend himself. State prosecutors made note of the defendants 6-page long border protection record, including a first-degree murder charge in 1997 that was broken down to manslaughter, and sentenced to 10-15 years. It does look like the defendant does start picking back up cases again in 2011, Corin told the judge. Additionally, he also has an armed robbery case out of Suffolk Superior Court and his record, your honor, does have some restraining orders on it as well. Alexander is due back in court on Sept. 30. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW TUOLUMNE COUNTY, Calif. (AP) A quick-moving wildfire burned homes in a California Gold Rush town settled around 1850 by Chinese miners who were driven out of a nearby camp and the blaze grew without containment on Wednesday. The fire rapidly expanded to 10 square miles (26 square kilometers) in size, forcing the evacuation Tuesday of the Chinese Camp Town and surrounding highways, according to CalFire, the states chief fire agency. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. It is one of several fires called the TCU September Lighting Complex, which has burned more than 19 square miles (50 square kilometers) in multiple locations in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties as of early Wednesday with no containment. A residents works to stop flames from a burning home from spreading to a neighboring house as the 6-5 Fire burns through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Residents work to stop flames from a burning home from spreading to a neighboring house as the 6-5 Fire burns through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) A firefighter battles the 6-5 Fire burning through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Flames consume a garage as the 6-5 Fire burns through the Chinese Camp community of Tuolumne County, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) At least five homes were burning in the rural town, which has a mix of freestanding and mobile homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside one house on Tuesday evening, seven people quickly moved large tree branches away from the structure and shoveled sand onto the fire in a desperate attempt to keep the blaze from spreading from the house next door. They worked for about 30 minutes until firefighters arrived. An RV on the property was damaged by the fire. Fire officials have requested additional resources such as fire engines, dozers and an aircraft. The blaze, known as the 6-5 Fire, was caused by lightning, according to CalFire. It is one of more than a dozen blazes that erupted Tuesday across California, according to CalFire. Familys RV allegedly damaged by renter who took it to Burning Man Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of Chinese came to California during the Gold Rush and faced persecution that included an exorbitant Foreign Miners Tax designed to drive them away from mining. Chinese Camp Town, about 57 miles (92 kilometers) east of Stockton, was settled by Chinese miners after they were driven out of a nearby camp, according to Visit Tuolumne County. Originally called Camp Washington, its name was soon changed to reflect the thousands of people from China who settled there. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Federal Judge Allison D. Burroughs didnt mince words in the conclusion to her 84-page decision restoring about $3 billion in federal funds to Harvard on Wednesday. Burroughs called the Trump administrations focus on antisemitism as reasoning behind freezing billions in research funding a smokescreen and characterized the administrations efforts to prove the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts lacked jurisdiction in the case a red herring. Perhaps most damning, Burroughs implied that the Trump administration was putting forward arbitrary grant terminations in the name of enacting its agenda, no matter the cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burroughs hasnt been shy about issuing commentary on the suit, originally filed in April, as it has unfolded over the past several months. During a July court hearing, Burroughs characterized a Trump administration argument that the federal government could cancel grants across the institution without proving that researchers or labs had engaged in antisemitism as a little bit mind-boggling. Burroughs, who is Jewish, said that taking away grants from labs and researchers could hurt Americans and Jews. Burroughs also jabbed at Trump administration attorney Michael Velchik, who is a Harvard alum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hear what you are saying, and youre saying it very well. That Harvard education is paying off for you, Burroughs told him in July. Burroughs issued a decision on Wednesday in response to Harvards request for summary judgment in the case. Harvard argued that a decision must come by Wednesdays date, when the university has to begin closing out its federally funded research projects. Once that close-out occurs, Harvard anticipates the Government will take the position that no restoration of funds is possible, Harvard lawyers said in court filing in June. Burroughs concluded that it was the job of the courts to step up and uphold the First Amendment and safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech. Read the decision The full 84-page decision can be read here. The following is an excerpt from the decisions conclusion: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case, of course, raises complicated and important legal issues, but, at its core, it concerns the future of grants sponsoring research that promises to benefit significantly the health and welfare of our country and the world. Through the governments statements and actions, the fate of that research has now become intertwined with the issue of antisemitism at Harvard. Antisemitism, like other types of discrimination or prejudice, is intolerable. And it is clear, even based solely on Harvards own admissions, that Harvard has been plagued by antisemitism in recent years and could (and should) have done a better job of dealing with the issue. That said, there is, in reality, little connection between the research affected by the grant terminations and antisemitism. In fact, a review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that Defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this countrys premier universities, and did so in a way that runs afoul of the APA, the First Amendment and Title VI. Further, their actions have jeopardized decades of research and the welfare of all those who could stand to benefit from that research, as well as reflect a disregard for the rights protected by the Constitution and federal statutes. With respect to the difficult jurisdictional issues in this case, the Court has done its best to follow the Supreme Courts limited recent guidance, which is preliminary and might well change over the course of this litigation (and the many other cases involving similar issues)an outcome that seems not unlikely given the seeming lack of consensus in APHA and the procedural challenges posed by having substantially similar cases proceed in two different forums. Although the doctrinal framework that applies to these threshold issues is certainly important, the issue of jurisdiction is something of a red herring. Whether this case plays out in this Court or in the Court of Federal Claims, what lies at the core of this dispute is the fact that Defendants are trying to pressure Harvard to accede to the governments demands in a way that squarely violates Plaintiffs First Amendment rights and ignores the procedural requirements of Title VI and, to a certain extent, the APA. The idea that fighting antisemitism is Defendants true aim is belied by the fact that the majority of the demands they are making of Harvard to restore its research funding are directed, on their face, at Harvards governance, staffing and hiring practices, and admissions policiesall of which have little to do with antisemitism and everything to do with Defendants power and political views. The First Amendment is important and the right to free speech must be zealously guarded. Free speech has always been a hallmark of our democracy. The Supreme Court itself has recognized that efforts to educate people, change minds, and foster tolerance all benefit from more open communication, not less. As Justice Brandeis wrote in the seminal case of Whitney v. California, [i]f there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence, 274 U.S. 357, 377 (1927) (Brandeis, J., concurring), or, in this case, the forced adoption of a political orthodoxy. As pertains to this case, it is important to recognize and remember that if speech can be curtailed in the name of the Jewish people today, then just as easily the speech of the Jews (and anyone else) can be curtailed when the political winds change direction. Defendants and the President are right to combat antisemitism and to use all lawful means to do so. Harvard was wrong to tolerate hateful behavior for as long as it did. The record here, however, does not reflect that fighting antisemitism was Defendants true aim in acting against Harvard and, even if it were, combatting antisemitism cannot be accomplished on the back of the First Amendment. We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech, and neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other. Harvard is currently, even if belatedly, taking steps it needs to take to combat antisemitism and seems willing to do even more if need be. Now it is the job of the courts to similarly step up, to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost. More Higher Ed Read the original article on MassLive. An inactive grant program that helps Reading homeowners fix their broken sidewalks might be reinvigorated and expanded for next year. City Council recently heard an update on the program, which provides direct financial support of up to $5,000 for sidewalk replacement. Community Development Director David Barr and Finance Director Jamar Kelly outlined the history and future considerations for the initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The existing program operates on a first-come, first-served basis and is available only to owner-occupied, single-family homes. Initiated in 2019 with an initial set aside of $400,000, it was formally launched in 2022. During that year and 2023, a total of 36 sidewalks were repaired at a cost of roughly $322,000, Kelly said. The remaining budgeted funds carried through 2024, he said. While applications continue to be submitted, he said the program was inactive this year due to staffing shortages. Barr said Mayor Eddie Morans administration intends to ask council to consider allocating $1 million for the program in the 2026 budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on past costs, Kelly estimated such funding could potentially cover the cost of repairing sidewalks at about 90 properties. Reading is unique in the region for offering such assistance, Barr said, noting no other city in southeastern Pennsylvania provides sidewalk repair grants to homeowners. Only Lancaster provides any other kind of financial incentives, he said, and they do that through a low interest, 2%, loan program. Council members asked Barr and Kelly how the program would be structured and who would benefit. So far, Barr said, the program has been limited to owner-occupied homes, with higher priority for senior citizens or disabled residents with financial challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landlords, he said, were generally expected to handle their own sidewalk repairs. Councilman Jaime Baez Jr. questioned the possibility of broadening eligibility, and said he supports including renters and homeowners. I am 100% on board on incentivizing renters, he said. Kelly raised the possibility of requiring property owners to share costs at 25% or 50% of the project total. Such an approach, he said would stretch funding further and ensure greater compliance. Questions also arose about how to manage the program if it expands. Barr suggested it might be better suited for administration by the Public Works Department than his office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If were going to really devote $1 million to it, thats a lot of public works type of projects, he said. Sidewalk is concrete floor work. This is not something that Community Development Office is really organized to do. Council members also discussed materials used in repairs, particularly in the citys historic districts where some original brick-paved and blue stone sidewalks remain. Blue stone sidewalks such as these in the Centre Park Historic District in the 600 block of North Third Street could be replaced in kind as Reading City Council is looking to expand a sidewalk repair program in the coming year. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) Barr said sidewalks would generally be replaced in kind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they are existing concrete, we would replace them in kind, he said. If theyre existing brick, and particularly in historic districts, we would also replace them in kind. Council President Donna Reed stressed the importance of setting fair rules for participation, establishing income guidelines and prioritizing assistance to those with financial needs. Concerns about contractor oversight were also raised by some council members. Kelly said the city previously prequalified vendors and paid invoices only after inspections confirmed the work. Still, theres risk involved, he noted. You cant totally mitigate against all risk. Council members said discussions will continue as the city prepares its 2026 budget. MANITOWOC Summer is winding down and many outdoor enthusiasts in Manitowoc County are eyeing the next big season deer hunting. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has a full online guide to help hunters stay connected with regulations, season dates, education courses and more. Bonus harvest authorizations for deer hunting are also available for all Wisconsin zones through the Wisconsin DNR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heare are a few things you need to know before heading into the woods, such as where to buy your hunting license and season dates. Read more: This fall, enjoy patio & outdoor dining at these reader-favorite Manitowoc-area eateries Where can you get a deer hunting license in Wisconsin? Hunters can purchase a deer hunting license online at dnr.wisconsin.gov. Most hunters are required to complete a hunter education course. According to the DNR, anyone born in 1973 or later must complete a hunter education course and have a hunter education safety certificate on file to purchase any hunting license in Wisconsin. There are some exceptions, though. Those hunting under the hunting mentorship program do not have to complete the hunter education course first. They will be able to obtain a mentored-only hunting license and must be accompanied by a licensed hunter, hunt within arms' reach of the mentor and follow other rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who have successfully completed basic training in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard also do not need a hunter education safety certificate to purchase a hunting license. Deer hunt for those with disabilities For hunters interested in the gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities, the deadline to sign up with a sponsor is Sept. 15. The application and regulations are available online at dnr.wisconsin.gov. Read more: SS Badger's 2025 sailing season winds down with Packers-Lions trip, fall discounts & more Hunting season dates in Wisconsin Here are the fall hunting season dates in Wisconsin: Sept. 13-Jan. 31, 2026: Archery and crossbow Oct. 4-12: Gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities Oct. 11-12: Youth deer hunt Nov. 22-30: Gun Dec. 1-10: Muzzleloader Dec. 11-14: Statewide antlerless-only hunt Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 2026: Antlerless-only holiday hunt Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Prepare for Wisconsin deer hunting: License info, dates & regulations Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is sticking it to President Donald Trump. Massie filed a much-anticipated discharge petition on Tuesday to force a floor vote on requiring the release of all files related to late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes as the Bluegrass State lawmaker and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the co-author, introduced legislation in July, which would compel the Justice Department to make the Epstein files public within 30 days. The measure, which has garnered 134 signatures as of Wednesday morning, needs to secure at least 218 a majority of the lower chamber to bring the bill before the full House for a vote, effectively circumventing leadership. Both Massie and Khanna have expressed confidence in reaching the threshold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an appearance on MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes, Massie said that Trump may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his as the Republican lawmaker continues to push for more transparency from the administration. I think the best way to clear President Trumps name is to release all the files. I actually dont think hes done anything criminal. And in fact, some of those billionaires are running ads against me in Kentucky right now, Massie said late Tuesday. Embarrassment is not a reason to conceal all of this stuff. Weve got to get it out in the open, regardless of whose friends might be incriminated, he added. The two lawmakers, who come from opposite sides of the political aisle, are expected to hold a news conference Wednesday alongside survivors of Epsteins abuse, a day after his accusers had met with members of the House Oversight Committee. The committee late Tuesday had also released a first batch of files it said it received from the Justice Department following a subpoena. It includes over 33,000 pages of material, but consists of information almost exclusively already in the public domain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Epstein case returned to the national spotlight in July after the Justice Department and FBI concluded in a memo that the convicted sex offender did not blackmail or keep a client list of public figures. It also confirmed that he had committed suicide in prison in 2019. While the agencies maintained that they did not plan to release any other information related to the case, the new findings sparked a fever pitch, including among some of Trumps base, who have pushed for more information to come to light. A band of Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have tried to appease GOP critics, such as adding a last-minute vote to the calendar, while the Justice Department conducted an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins co-conspirator, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Meanwhile, Trump for weeks had tried to distance himself from the case, pointing to a separate theory about former President Barack Obamas administration and the 2016 election, and claiming that he no longer wants the support of those who are invested in the case. Trump had also previously told reporters that he is allowed to pardon Maxwell. Massie has maintained that the White House is attempting to halt his effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a major pressure campaign from the White House right now, and also from the speaker, Massie said on Tuesday. But I think there are enough Republicans who are listening to their constituents and care about these victims that well get the 218 signatures we need. Stories by Rachel Cohen Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. A series of recent adverse court rulings have provided major impediments to some of President Donald Trumps policies and executive actions, underscoring the federal judiciarys increasingly lonely role in serving as a pause on the presidents effort to dramatically reshape the country. The courts have long been a key battleground for Trumps foes, and a flurry of litigation earlier this year jammed up some of his second term agenda as judges scrutinized often on a fast-moving, emergency basis cases brought over everything from his dismantling of federal agencies to his targeting of elite law firms. The president has scored some victories in those lawsuits, thanks in part to favorable rulings from the conservative-majority Supreme Court. But many of them are still working their way through the justice system and likely will not see final resolution for some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, several high-profile rulings over the past few weeks have served as a check on Trumps actions at a time when the Republican-controlled Congress has largely stepped aside so the president can govern as he sees fit. What were seeing in these cases is the difference between the questions courts are answering at the outset of the lawsuit and the more comprehensive questions courts are answering once issues have been fully briefed and argued, said Steve Vladeck, CNN legal analyst and professor at Georgetown University Law Center. The government is losing many of these cases at this latter stage, at least in the lower courts, Vladeck said. The big question is how theyll fare when these cases reach the Supreme Court. But if nothing else is clear, were going to find out sooner rather than later. Heres a look at several recent court rulings that went against Trump. Alien Enemies Act In mid-March, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a sweeping 18th century wartime authority, to speed up deportations of alleged members of a Venezuelan gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was able to remove more than 100 migrants under the law, but a series of legal challenges brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of migrants has prevented him from using the law since. The biggest blow came Tuesday evening when the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals said in a divided ruling that Trump unlawfully invoked the 1798 law, which has been invoked only three times in the nations history and only when the US has been in a declared war, to target a foreign gang. The decision tees up a likely showdown at the Supreme Court, which has not yet weighed in on whether Trump went too far when he decided to lean on the law as part of his sprawling effort to quickly deport migrants. The Fifth Circuit was the governments test case, and it has now forcefully rejected the administrations view that it could use wartime authority during peacetime, but we would be surprised if the government threw in the towel now, said Lee Gelernt, the ACLUs lead counsel in the lawsuit. The stakes could not be higher. Judges knock down Trumps justification for tariffs Last week, a federal appeals court in Washington, DC, struck down many of Trumps historic tariffs, ruling that he unlawfully leaned on emergency powers to impose the import taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision from the Federal Circuit has been among the more closely watched this year given the tariffs impact on global trade and their role as a central pillar of the presidents economic plan. The 7-4 decision said Congress, in passing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that Trump used to set the levies, did not give the president wide-ranging authority to impose tariffs. But the tariffs remain in place for now, after the court delayed implementation of its order until October. Trump has said he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Unlawfully using federal troops in LA Trumps decision to send federalized members of Californias National Guard and US Marines to the Los Angeles area in June in response to protests there over his hardline immigration policies was met with a swift legal challenge from Gov. Gavin Newsom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case initially resulted in a favorable ruling for the Democratic governor after US District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco decided that Trump unlawfully called up the guardsmen and ordered him to relinquish control of them. A federal appeals court later reversed that ruling, but litigation over how Trump was using the troops continued. On Tuesday, Breyer decided that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been unlawfully using the troops to help carry out domestic law enforcement activities in the LA area. The appointee of former President Bill Clinton said that evidence showed that Trump used the troops to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles. In short, defendants violated the Posse Comitatus Act, Breyer wrote, referring to a 19th century law that generally prohibits the use of troops for domestic law enforcement purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has appealed Breyers latest ruling. Brenner Fissell, the vice president of the National Institute for Military Justice and a law professor at Villanova University, said Breyers ruling shows that the administrations interpretations of the Posse Comitatus Act are not getting purchase in the judiciary. Attempt to end birthright citizenship Trumps executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship has given federal courts much to chew on this year. In ruling after ruling, judges shot down his controversial policy, concluding its unconstitutional and blocking it on a nationwide basis. But in June, the Supreme Court, without addressing the legality of Trumps order, directed several lower courts to take a second look at their nationwide injunctions to ensure they werent overbroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, courts have stayed the course or, in some instances, issued new rulings that are keeping Trumps policy on hold across the country. Trumps order said that the federal government will not issue documents recognizing United States citizenship to any children born on American soil to parents who were in the country unlawfully, or were in the states lawfully, but temporarily. The Justice Department signaled last month that it is planning to soon take one or more of the cases over the birthright citizenship policy back to the Supreme Court for the justices to decide whether its constitutional. Suing Marylands judges As courts have frustrated Trumps agenda, the president has increasingly tried to challenge the federal judiciarys power more broadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That endeavor was on full display this summer when Trump sued Marylands entire federal bench in an unprecedented lawsuit that sought to limit court power in fast-moving immigration cases. The lawsuit took aim at a rule the chief judge of the District Court of Maryland put in place that would automatically and temporarily block the Trump administration from removing an immigration detainee from the US if the detainee had gone to court to challenge their removal. But a federal judge brought in from Virginia to oversee the case fully rejected Trumps gambit in late August, ruling that the government lacked the legal right known as standing to bring the challenge and that the Maryland judges are immune from such suits brought by the executive branch. Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, included in his opinion a searing rebuke of the administrations rhetoric toward judges who rule against the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although some tension between the coordinate branches of government is a hallmark of our constitutional system, this concerted effort by the Executive to smear and impugn individual judges who rule against it is both unprecedented and unfortunate, the judge wrote. The administration is appealing Cullens ruling. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The United States is in uncharted election waters as Texas moves to gerrymander their Congressional maps for Republicans to hold on to the House in the midterms. Now, California has taken off the gloves to run the same play and the architect running the California maps redistricting says he never thought the two states would get here. It was kind of a bluff and there has been a lot of really good reporting since this Prop 50 started that the real reason that this started was to try to push back on Texas and to try to get them to stand down on their redistricting efforts, said Paul Mitchell from Redistricting Partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas was not bluffing, and President Trumps demands of creating five new congressional Republican districts by way of gerrymandering became a Texas reality. Mitchell says hes normally trying his best to create nonpartisan maps, but in this case his orders were clear: gerrymander five California districts to offset Texas gerrymandering. These midterm redistricting efforts are really unprecedented and the scale of them is unprecedented, the fact that they are being driven by the White House is unprecedented, Mitchell said. FOX 5/KUSI spoke with targeted Republican Congressman Darrel Issa, shortly after the Prop 50 was passed which will now be decided by voters. He says gerrymandering has been a part of elections for generations and he will hit the campaign trail with everything he has. Ill run wherever I live I aways have and Ill run for reelection and presume that the voters will decide whether Im the right person, said Darrell Issa, Congressman from the 48th District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchell says while he could gerrymander every district in California to give the Golden State 52 Democratic seats, his orders are only for five districts, specifically balancing out Texas. To do a map that is kind of pushing back on Texas is new for me, and its something Ive never been put in a position to do, although its something also that if you are a professional in this field, you know how its done and how to do it, Mitchell said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Reform has defied Donald Trump by backing a crackdown on the monopoly power of American tech companies. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, accused Labour of pandering to Silicon Valley giants and called on ministers to take a tougher line to protect British businesses. He told The Telegraph: While Peter Kyle and the Prime Minister defend the Online Safety Act a law that censors British voices theyre handing control of our digital economy to foreign Big Tech monopolies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brexit gave us the power to set our own digital rules and weve built a world-class digital competition regime. But instead of backing British innovation, ministers are telling the CMA [Competition and Markets Authority] that monopolistic platforms come first. Mr Tices comments, which are Reforms first on the topic of digital competition, suggest the party is in favour of standing up to US tech behemoths even as it rails against new online harms laws. Nigel Farage will today appear in front of the House Judiciary Committee to give evidence on how the online harms crackdown is affecting US citizens and tech firms. The Reform leader is expected to raise concerns about censorship and a regression of free speech in the UK while accusing Sir Keir Starmer of damaging trade relations with the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Mr Tices comments suggest Reform is adopting a more protectionist approach towards digital markets competition in a move that itself risks angering the US president. The CMA was last year handed stronger powers to stamp out anti-competitive behaviour by tech firms. It has since drawn up plans for new measures aimed at breaking the stranglehold of Google and Apple over the smartphone market. However, critics have accused Labour of attempting to curb this crackdown as it pushes regulators to cut red tape and prioritise growth. Silicon Valley shouldnt be gatekeepers In a strategic blueprint published in May, ministers told the CMA it should unambiguously seek to enhance Britains attractiveness to international investors. Sir Keir Starmer is also reported to have offered to water down new tech rules in trade negotiations with the US earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Tice accused Labour of caving in to US power in the tech sector at the expense of British rivals. He added: If they truly cared about tech sovereignty and home-grown growth, theyd back the CMA to open up competition. Just as politicians shouldnt be gatekeepers of speech, Silicon Valley shouldnt be gatekeepers of British enterprise. We need a national story for tech innovation, and we cant write it if the rules are being set thousands of miles away. The comments put Reform directly in the firing line of the US president, who last week warned he was putting all countries with taxes and regulations targeting US tech firms on notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on his Truth Social platform last week, Mr Trump said: As the president of the United States, I will stand up to countries that attack our incredible American tech companies. Digital taxes, digital services legislation, and digital markets regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American technology. Apple has also taken aim at the CMAs planned smartphone crackdown, branding it bad for users and bad for developers. 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. On Sept. 3, 1925, the airship Shenandoah ZR-1 translated to daughter of the stars crashed in three sections over Noble County, Ohio. Designated by the U.S. Navy as an aircraft for use in long distance reconnaissance missions, the Shenandoah was one of five naval airships that sparked excitement within both the military and civilians alike. Seen at the time as the future of aviation, these airships, however, had short and perilous careers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This past Labor Day weekend, the airships crew was remembered at the National Shenandoah Monument in Ava, Ohio, for their contribution and sacrifice in the name of aviation. German Zeppelins usher in airship era During the First World War, America and its allies had taken notice of the Germans terrifying use of bomb-dropping Zeppelins over England. In the early hours of Oct. 20, 1917, French aviators managed to force down the German Zeppelin L-49. Landing relatively intact, the capture, according to the Air and Space Museum, of an intact Zeppelin provided an incredible wealth of information regarding the construction of the craft. In 1922, aeronautical engineer Starr Truscott wrote about the importance of this capture, stating: Among the information obtained during 1918 were sets of plans and descriptive booklets as made by the French from the German Airship L-49, which had been forced down intact at Bourbonne Les Bains on October 20, 1917. This was the first comprehensive information regarding the actual construction of a Zeppelin which had been obtained.As a result of the study of this information and that received from various other sources it was concluded that the surest method of constructing a successful airship would be to copy as closely as possible the L-49. The plans appeared to fairly complete and the information regarding the structure and materials comprehensive. It was accordingly recommended to the Secretary of the Navy that the construction of one rigid airship, in general a copy of the L-49, be approved. This recommendation was approved on August 9th, 1919 by the Secretary of the Navy, and the arrangements to begin construction of what would be the USS Shenandoah was started immediately." The Shenandoah enters the scene In the States, the 680-foot ZR-1 was in trials for airworthiness. Her maiden September 1923 flight marked the first airship to carry an American crew, and the first to use non-flammable helium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The use of hydrogen was first considered, as it was cheaper than helium and a very effective lifting gas, but after a series of accidents with the highly combustible gas in 1922 and 1923, the Navy opted to use helium. After its christening in 1923, according to the Air and Space Museum, the Shenandoah "went out on a series of short flights to both train the crew and test the utility of the ship as reconnaissance aircraft. This included practicing moorings at Lakehurst[airship base in New Jersey] as well as moorings with the US Navys first fleet airship tender USS Patoka, a converted Navy oil replenishment ship." Shenandoah (ZR-1) in flight approaching Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, circa 1924. (Naval History and Heritage Command) The silver, sleek hull of Shenandoah made a first transcontinental flight to the West Coast in September 1924. Arriving at San Diegos budding air station on North Island, the ill-prepared mooring crew let the rear gondola hit the ground, bending a vertical girder. Repairs were made and within a week Shenandoah rose over San Diego Bay to join her battle fleet in military exercises off San Pedro, CA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shenandoah made a successful flight home to Lakehurst only to find that it was being sent out on publicity tours promoting the U.S. Navys airship program. On Sept. 2, 1925, under Navy orders, and against Commanding Officer Zachary Lansdownes experienced judgment, the Shenandoah headed west into a threatening sky and to its demise. In the early hours of Sept. 3, flashes of lightning lit the morning horizon. Shenandoahs five Packard engines struggled and she slipped sideways over the hilly Ohio landscape. A powerful air current that thrust her upward at too great a speed conditions no airship was designed to endure captured the struggling sky giant, write authors Rick Archbold and Ken Marschall in Hindenburg: An Illustrated History. Wreckage of Shenandoah's after section, surrounded by sightseers and their automobiles, soon after the airship crashed in southern Ohio. (U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command) Lansdowne didnt wait for the plunge to begin, but quickly ordered the release of water ballast in hope of slowing the fall. She rose again when the updraft current caught the ship. Again and again she rose and fell. Navigation was pointless. The rigid structure was being twisted and wrenched by the force of the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The externally attached control gondola broke first first, taking Cmdr. Lansdowne with it. The stern section, carrying 22 crew, rose again to 2,000 feet, then leveled and floated to earth a half-mile from where the ship split in two. They survived with minor injuries. Other members of the crew had a wildly different experience, with Lt. Thomas B. Hendley later reporting: At the first nose dive I noticed that the air was unusually hot and sticky. But after turning and twisting to an altitude of about 7,000 feet we struck a current of cold air After the ship broke, I clung to a girder until we hit the earth. We lifted again and drifted for a short distance and came down once more in the tree tops. We bounced and tossed about. The girder to which I was clinging snapped off several tree tops and realizing that my chances of being killed by being brushed against those limbs were just as good as by chancing a drop to earth, I let go and landed safely. The bow floated on until a local farmer fired his shotgun at the envelope, bringing others to safety. Fourteen of the Shenandoahs 45 airmen died. Despite this unfolding tragedy, it was, miraculously, a number far fewer than the fate that would meet its sister ships. The other four crashed not long after they were commissioned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the 100th anniversary of the crash, a commemoration took place at the National Shenandoah Monument, where guests recognized the section of Ohio State Route 78 near Sharon, Ohio, which was recently dedicated to the disaster. Bold signage displayed in the rural farmland nearby marks the three sites where Shenandoah last touched the earth. Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston, announced on Tuesday she would not seek reelection after 20 years in the Texas House and endorsed her son, former State Board of Education member Lawrence Allen, Jr., to succeed her. I think I left the world a little better than when I found it, Allen, 86, said on the House floor, surrounded by nearly every member in the chamber. My legacy to you is love. Love one another. Theres some brains in this room lots of good brains, lots of good ideas. And when we all put them together, what a wonderful world this will be. Before her 11-term tenure in the Texas House, Allen served on the State Board of Education for over 10 years. She began her career in education as a teacher and later school principal in the Houston Independent School District. She retired from Houston ISD after 39 years, then became an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After her decades-long career as an educator, Allen devoted much of her time in the Legislature to public education issues, spending each of her last nine terms on the House Public Education Committee and thrice serving as the panels vice chair. Allen announced on Tuesday her retirement from everything, to laughs. She said she would finish out her term through next year and go on to help young people run for office including Lawrence Allen, Jr. in his 2026 run for the now-open House District 131 in south and southwest Houston. Its time to pass the torch to a new generation, and I totally intend to pass my seat onto my son, Alma Allen said Tuesday. You will meet him real soon. Allens colleagues surrounded and applauded her as she announced her retirement. She was introduced and lauded by other Black women lawmakers, including her mentee, Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Rowlett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We honor and celebrate an extraordinary career of a woman whose legacy will forever echo through the halls of the Texas House of Representatives, Bowers said, adding that when she was first elected to office, Allen showed her where the restroom was, complimented her dress but warned she would be cold on the famously chilly House floor and taught her how to put lunch money on her account. Thank you for being my mentor. First elected to the Legislature in 2004, Allen is tied for the 11th longest-tenured member of the Texas House, and the sixth most senior member among Democrats. Disclosure: Prairie View A&M University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) called for the deployment of the National Guard in the state capital via social media Wednesday. We dont just need the National Guard in Memphis, send them to Nashville, Ogles said in a post to X. Comrade OConnell is using the city as an outpost for international gangs to set up shop in our neighborhoods. Punish criminals and the Mayors who work for them. Ogles post comes after an analysis of FBI data revealed that both Memphis and Nashville landed among the top ten U.S. cities with the highest rates of violent crime. Though President Donald Trump has previously mentioned considering sending troops to Memphis, Ogles Wednesday post is among the first calls from public officials for similar action in Nashville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Ogles re-posted an infographic created by WKRN about the ranking. This is UNACCEPTABLE! the post read. Send in the troops. Restore peace. Protect our community. Ogles kept posting about his call Thursday, reiterating that Comrade OConnell is destroying Nashville. Trump floats New Orleans as next for federal crime crackdown Congressman Ogles neither lives in nor even has an office in Nashville. Perhaps hed like to invite the National Guard into his actual community, a statement from the Office of Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell reads. Its outrageous that our absentee member of Congress would be so disrespectful to our hardworking police, who have produced multiple year-over-year reductions in crime in Nashville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later Wednesday, Ogles appeared on SuperTalk 99.7 WTNs The Matt Murphy Show and was asked about the post and about deployment of the National Guard in cities across the U.S., including Memphis. If youre Chicago, if youre Memphis quite frankly, if youre Nashville and youre not securing your city and you know that theres a way to do it, President Trump is likely to send in the National Guard to secure the streets, Ogles told Murphy. Ogles repeatedly said that the president has an opportunity to open partnerships with local and state leaders, saying that citizens have a right to be safe. On the show, Ogles said a tough conversation would have to be had with mayors who did not do their jobs. Earlier this year, he helped launch a federal investigation into OConnell for alleged repeated obstruction of ICE operations. If youre not going to have a locality thats going to simply enforce the law thats all you gotta do is enforce the law thats all the president of this country is asking for D.C. or Chicago or Memphis or, quite frankly, Nashville, to do is restore law and order, Ogles added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked, Ogles also told Murphy that he had not been in touch with Gov. Bill Lee, who answered questions about National Guard deployment in Memphis Wednesday. Ogles also clarified that he did not have the authority to deploy the National Guard himself, but had opinions about deployment. What worked for D.C., Ogles argued, could work in cities across the U.S. Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom At a media availability in Camden Wednesdsay, Lee told News 2 that the state government will work with the Trump administration and are now on what is the best way forward for the city. There is nothing that is off the table, Lee said. Everything is a possibility and we are aggressively pursuing the right strategy to lower the crime rate in Memphis. Its a great city, but it has a real challenge that needs to be addressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee continued affirming the states commitment to working with the Trump administration when asked if the state would consider sending Tennessee National Guard troops to cities like Chicago or Baltimore. Trump has previously said that hes ready to order the mobilization of troops in those cities, and Tennessee sent National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. We have been a partner with the Trump administration from the day that he came in here, Lee added. President Trump uniquely understands the challenges that cities face. He uniquely understands the needs of this country. Weve been a partner, and well continue to be a partner. Other reactions poured in following the call, including from state Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville), who responded to the call in an X post Thursday. Andys not a serious man- hes a grifter and scammer who set up a go-fund me for a funeral for his stillborn [baby emoji] -pocketed the thousands constituents contributed- violated finance laws & lied about having an MBA from Vandy. Hes an embarrassment to TN & he knows [zero emoji] about Nash, Campbell said. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com State Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) called Ogles an embarrassment in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Itd be great if he actually came to visit the Nashville portion of his district and tried to be helpful on crime or literally anything, Yarbros response post reads, in part. Till then, maybe hold off on insulting our police or trying to use our National Guard troops as political props. Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who announced on Thursday that he plans to run against Ogles for his seat, called Ogles commentary insulting to area law enforcement officials. I think the comments yesterday [Wednesday] were a slap in the face to local law enforcement who are working each and every day to keep our communities safe, Molder said. Tres Wittum, one of the candidates vying for the seat vacated by the retirement of U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), also responded in support of Ogles stance in multiple posts. In one, he tagged the president and asked Trump to help keep Nashville Rockn and safe from the criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashville must be SAFE, Wittum said in another. If it takes the National Guard send 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 WKRN News 2. Dozens of Palestinians were killed in the latest Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA on Wednesday. Since midnight, a total of 40 people have died in different incidents, with 17 bodies brought to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City alone, the report said. Israel did not initially issue a statement regarding the attacks. Israel consistently emphasizes that it is fighting the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group in the Gaza Strip and aims to spare civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military announced that before the planned capture of Gaza City, exercises have been scheduled in the coming weeks during which the troops will "conduct combat drills in open terrain and urban environments to strengthen operational readiness in the Gaza Strip." Some 1 million people are in Gaza City, according to estimates. Witnesses say numerous Palestinians already fled further south ahead of Israel's planned assault. But the Israel says Hamas is trying to prevent people from leaving the city. The conflict in Gaza was triggered by Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that has led to the deaths of more than 63,700 people, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authorities in the territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tally does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, but the figures are seen as credible by the United Nations. Six people in the Gaza Strip have also died from hunger and malnutrition, including a child within the past day. Israel denies that there is hunger in the Gaza Strip. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe is proposing a new congressional map that changes District Five. Thats the one near Kansas City. With these changes, the district would most likely favor Republicans. Rep. Betsy Fogle tells Ozarks First the maps they will be voting on were drawn by the Trump administration, and she believes they dont serve the needs of Missourians. I believe that power should reside in the people who send us to Jefferson City and that this is just a power grab, an attempt for Republicans to have more control over voters, Fogle said. And again, if President Biden had requested this to be done in the state of Missouri, Id be equally opposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fogle says she believes most of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle feel frustrated, especially because they already did this a few years ago. She called it unprecedented for a governor to demand they redraw the congressional lines solely for the purpose of giving one political party more power. Protesters rally over Mo.s redistricting plan I think we are really standing on the precipice of a significant shift where every few years now were going to redistrict across the country, depending on who has power in Washington, D.C., Fogle said. And I dont think thats a good thing. Fogle emphasized that more people should reach out to their elected officials and hold them accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Several Congressional Republicans are going against the wishes of President Donald Trump, with calls for more clarity on the administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal ramping up, a move seen by the White House as a very hostile act. On Tuesday, the GOP-led House Oversight Committee released 33,000 Epstein-related documents, including videos and audio files, appearing to make good on a promise made in August. However, nearly all of the files released were previously available to the public. House Republicans are trying to make a spectacle of releasing already-public documents, said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif. Some Republicans in Congress are calling for more transparency, with one alleging that President Trump could be covering for powerful allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said in an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday that Trump may be covering for some rich and powerful people. I think the best way to clear President Trumps name is to release all the files, Massie said. I actually dont think hes done anything criminal; I think he may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his. And in fact, some of those billionaires are running ads against me in Kentucky right now, adding, embarrassment is not a reason to conceal all of this stuff. Massie was joined by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who called for a value of trust in government in the wake of the Epstein scandal. The president of the United States ran on releasing the files, and the attorney general said that theres a client list and the files need to be released, Khanna said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie and Khanna have since filed a discharge petition to advance Massies transparency bill on the Epstein files. The bill would require the Trump administration to publicly disclose files and information related to Epstein. It will take 218 signatures to get things moving, requiring all of the House Democrats and some Republicans. Speaking with CNN, a White House official said Helping Thomas Massie and Liberal Democrats with their attention-seeking, while the DOJ is fully supporting a more comprehensive file release effort from the Oversight Committee, would be viewed as a very hostile act to the administration. Already, GOP-hardliners and Trump supporters are breaking rank. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., added her name, saying she is committed to helping Epsteins victims. Including exposing the cabal of rich and powerful elites that enabled this, Greene wrote on X, adding she was proud to be signing the petition. Joining Greene are right-wing Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene, normally a staunch Trump ally, warned Trump in July of the consequences of going back on his vow to release the Epstein files. If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich, powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People, Greene wrote in a post on X. If not. The base will turn, and theres no going back. Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else. The post Republican says Trump may be covering for powerful allies as he fights Epstein resolution appeared first on Salon.com. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes speaks at a public swearing in ceremony on Jan. 5, 2023. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror Republicans are already threatening to take Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to court over provisions in his 2025 elections rulebook, even though text wont be finalized until December. In the past few days, both Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and state Rep. Alexander Kolodin released public statements heaping criticism on a draft version of the Election Procedures Manual, the states election rulebook which instructs county elections officials how to implement the states election laws. The EPM generally carries the force of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Elections Procedures Manual cannot be used as a vehicle to rewrite Arizona law, Petersen said in a statement. This draft is filled with provisions that go far beyond the Secretary of States legal authority, and if they are not corrected before submission, litigation will follow. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Petersen denounced rules in the draft that he said would allow apparent non-citizens extended time to provide documents to prove citizenship, ignore ID requirements for voter registration forms and dilute political parties authority to select poll workers. He also took issue with what he characterized as provisions forcing election officers to sign onto policies that compromise their constitutional rights, and failing to implement robust ballot chain-of-custody requirements and observation rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most recent version of the manual, which Fontes put out in 2023, was met with numerous lawsuits from Republicans including Petersen and Republican-affiliated groups. Some of those court challenges were successful, others were not, and some are currently in the appeals process. Fontes already deleted from the new draft some rules from the 2023 EPM in response to court decisions striking them down. Those included descriptions of behavior that could be considered voter intimidation that the courts ruled went beyond the scope of state law and granting the secretary of state authority to sign off on the state-wide election canvass, even if a county misses the deadline for its own canvass. Fontes released the EPM draft Aug. 1 and elicited public comment on it for 30 days, even though Fontes maintains that he isnt legally required to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The courts have said otherwise, ruling earlier this year that Fontes broke the law by allowing inadequate public comment on the 2023 EPM. The secretary of state is required to publish a new version of the manual every two years. Kolodin, who is running against Fontes in the 2026 election for secretary of state and was sanctioned by the State Bar of Arizona for his role in lawsuits challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election, accused Fontes in an Aug. 29 letter of ignoring some of the court rulings striking down sections of the 2023 EPM. While Kolodin applauded the removal in the new draft of bans on political clothing at polling places, he wrote that the draft still includes vague language on voter intimidation that could chill free speech at polling places and drop boxes. He also bashed instructions in the new EPM draft for checking proof of documented citizenship that Kolodin claimed went beyond what Arizona law allows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These flaws paint a picture of a manual more focused on advancing a partisan agenda when the law requires impartiality, Kolodin wrote. From the lingering free speech restrictions to the unauthorized tinkering with voter qualifications, it feels like the deck is being stacked against fair play. Aaron Thacker, a spokesman for Fontes, told the Arizona Mirror that the criticism from Petersen and Kolodin amounted to poorly timed political theater. Kolodins four-page letter, for instance, mentioned farmers, small businesses and border security, in addition to detailed descriptions of what he characterized as illegal rules in the draft manual. Thacker pointed out that the manual will undergo edits in response to public comments, before being sent on Oct. 1 to Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes for additional edits and approval. Theyre required to sign off on the final version by Dec. 31, but its unlikely that many of the changes they make will align with concerns from Petersen and Kolodin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our election laws are passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor not invented by one officeholder, Petersen, who is running for attorney general, wrote. If the Secretary of State wants rules changed, he should propose legislation like everyone else. Until then, we will insist that Arizonas election manual follow the law as written. Thacker called the timing of the criticism silly, adding that the products not even done yet, let the ink dry. While the courts struck down some provisions in the 2023 EPM in response to lawsuits, they have also handed Fontes some wins. Just last week, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled in Fontes favor, saying that the documents the 2023 EPM instructed election workers to use to verify voter signature on mail-in ballots was not illegal. The three-judge panel wrote that Fontes had some discretion in interpreting state statutes for EPM instructions, or there would be no point in its existence. The attorney general is not going to let anything go out (in the EPM) thats unlawful, Thacker told the Mirror. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Some Republicans say talk show host Bill Spadea, right, is hurting the GOP by not endorsing the party's nominee for governor, Jack Ciattarelli. (Ciattarelli photo by Amanda Burns/Spadea photo by Hal Brown) New Jersey Republicans say radio talk show host and failed gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadeas return to the airwaves may risk the GOPs chance to win the governors race in November. Spadea, who resumed his morning talk show on New Jersey 101.5 on Tuesday, prefaced his return by saying he will not endorse Republican Jack Ciattarellis gubernatorial bid. Spadea was one of three men Ciattarelli defeated in Junes GOP primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Morris) said hes concerned that Spadeas on-air presence will be a total drain on the Republican Party. Bergen did not support Spadeas campaign for governor. Its less about the act of not endorsing Jack, Bergen told the New Jersey Monitor. Its a lack of support for Republicans, the Republican Party, and a Republican gubernatorial candidate in general. Former state Sen. Ed Durr is a Republican who briefly campaigned for the GOP nomination for governor before dropping out of the race in March. When Durr ended his gubernatorial campaign, he said he did so to boost Spadeas chances. Now, he said he wants to see Spadea work to elect Ciattarelli. Durr joked that Spadea may have his eye on running for governor again in four years, and to do that, he needs to get Jack out of the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes actually actively participating and campaigning against him, and I think thats shameful, Durr said. Spadea took a break from hosting his four-hour morning show in January amid complaints from some of his GOP rivals, including Ciattarelli, that New Jersey 101.5 was providing Spadea with an improper campaign advantage. His show on Tuesday was light on politics, though he did take a jab at Republicans who supported a Democratic push to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain New Jersey drivers licenses. Ciattarelli has recently said that if elected, he would ban issuing licenses to undocumented drivers, though in 2021, he expressed support for the idea. Criminal aliens are rampant among us, sneaking in to get a drivers license because some weak Republicans you know who and complicit Democrats, you also know who, allow this and push for it, Spadea said Tuesday. Bergen, who is seeking reelection in November, stressed he didnt want to overstate one persons significance, but said Spadeas anti-Ciattarelli messaging bothers him because Bergen believes the governors race may be won by a tiny amount of votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only way that we wont get what we want here is if we choose not to put the full effort forward to do it, Bergen said. And someone like Bill Spadea or replace his name with anybody else thats going to work to disrupt that or complicate that I have a problem with at this time. Ciattarelli is facing Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill in November in the closely watched election, one of just two gubernatorial races nationwide this fall. The two are vying to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who cant seek a third term in November. While Sherrill is leading in the polls, Republicans note that many poll respondents remain undecided. Ciattarelli came within three points of unseating Murphy in 2021 despite polls showing Murphy with a much larger lead. Spadea on Friday said he would not back Ciattarelli because Ciattarelli is wrong for New Jersey. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Researchers have discovered a fossil in Morocco of a dinosaur species that roamed the plains of northern Africa at least 165 million years ago, featuring a dangerous tail and "extreme" armor. A group of 13 scientists revealed findings from a "much more complete specimen" of a Spicomellus afer in an article published by Nature. The spicomellus is named for the first fossil of the species that was discovered, a rib fragment with fused spikes from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco, which suggested it was an ankylosaur. The rib fragment was the oldest record of the group globally and the only one from Africa at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new discovery, announced on Aug. 27, contained vertebrae, dorsal ribs, and spikes. When it roamed, the spicomellus had a plethora of spikes that appeared to have made it a fearsome foe, as seen in illustrations created from the fossils. An artistic reconstruction of the ankylosaur Spicomellus afer, based on fossils found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, shows the animal with the most extensive armor of any known dinosaur. Spicomellus lived about 165 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. The image was released on August 27, 2025. "No other vertebrate possesses the exceptionally elaborate dermal armor of Spicomellus," the authors wrote. They added that simpler versions of the spikes found on later ankylosaurs suggest that the abundant spikes may have had a role in mating. "It has these incredibly distinctive spikes around the neck an armored collar that is absolutely enormous and totally out of proportion to the rest of the body, smaller spikes projecting out of the ribs, and at the end of its tail it would have had some kind of weapon," Richard Butler, Director of Research for the College of Life & Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham and the project co-lead, told The Guardian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butler described the two-ton creature as "dim-witted" but "successful." Spicomellus find puts spotlight on fossil poaching The authors of the Nature article said the discovery was first excavated by a local farmer near the town of Boulemane, about 160 miles southeast of the country's capital of Rabat, from October 2022 to April 2023. Butler told The Guardian that the area the spicomellus was found in has been targeted by fossil poachers, with other pieces believed to be a part of the discovered spicomellus being listed online for around $13,500. "Theres a huge problem with fossil poaching in Morocco," Butler said. "Theres probably a significant amount [of the specimen] that has gone on to the market, often purchased by wealthy individuals. Its quite a sad aspect of this story. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Researchers discover new fossils of 165-million-year-old ankylosaur Researchers at the University of Michigan tested a new type of steel designed to withstand the radiation of a fusion reactor while trapping helium particles to prevent swelling. Fusion is the process of combining two atoms to produce virtually limitless energy; however, there are many engineering challenges in designing these complex devices, as a report by Interesting Engineering explained. While the super-heated plasma contained within a fusion reactor's magnetic field needs to reach over 180 million degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the surface of the sun the surrounding components need to handle up to 1,112 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, they need to be resistant to both radiation damage and helium production, which can cause the materials to swell and warp, according to the report. This led the researchers to develop a new type of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel alloy with billions of nanoscale particles of titanium carbide, designed to absorb radiation and trap any helium produced during the fusion reaction. To test its resilience, the researchers employed a dual ion beam approach: an iron ion beam was used to induce radiation damage, while a helium ion beam was used to simulate fusion energy conditions. "The level of control and detail in these experiments brings us significantly closer to simulating in-reactor conditions," said T.M. Kelsy Green, a doctoral graduate of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences at U-M, and lead author of three related studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This capability is essential as we push forward in discovering and optimizing materials to enable the future deployment of nuclear fusion power." Although they had success in trapping some helium as bubbles on the surface of the metal, the remainder formed inside the steel, resulting in a 2% expansion at the highest radiation levels, a U-M report explained. These experiments have yielded significant data that will be helpful in their research; however, further material development and ion beam testing are still needed. Scientists at the UK Atomic Energy Authority have also reported progress in developing fusion-grade steel, with testing still underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Successfully achieving fusion reactions could help meet the exponential growth in energy demand and achieve net-zero emission goals by 2050, the World Economic Forum noted. It offers the potential to solve both issues, and MIT's market analysis suggests fusion energy could overtake coal, which supplies 34% of global electricity, as the world's dominant energy resource. Fusion is safe, produces zero carbon emissions, and can run 24/7 by using hydrogen isotopes found in seawater as fuel. That supply could sustain fusion energy for billions of years. 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. A pilot program in New Jersey was instituted in 2021 to support and study agrivoltaic projects in the state, to expand sustainable energy installations while reinforcing the region's agricultural commodities. The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program was born from this initiative and has grown to three sites across the state, where the university aims to understand and optimize solar projects in conjunction with key crops, according to Lancaster Farming. The report shared that program lead Dave Specca envisions agrivoltaic installations that can suit a variety of commodities, from hay to soybeans and produce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In 20 or 30 years, the panels are still going to be there, but the farmer could be growing a quite different crop than he started out doing," Specca told the outlet. Agrivoltaic projects represent the intersection of farming and solar panel arrays, where it's a win-win for both farmers and sustainable energy production. These projects can include grazing land, crop production, pollinator habitat development, and even greenhouses, all complemented by solar energy production. The pairing of solar panels with farming has been growing steadily over the past five years, with benefits including cooler microclimates and reduced water usage due to less evaporation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, agrivoltaic sites in the U.S. covered 27,000 acres and generated 4.5 gigawatts of solar energy, according to research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. By 2024, these sites will have more than doubled in size, covering 62,000 acres and producing 10 gigawatts of clean solar energy. The largest segment of agrivoltaic projects, comprising over 400 sites, has been focused on pairing native and pollinator habitats with solar installations. Another 200 locations have been used as grazing land for livestock, where the panels also serve to provide shade from the sun's heat. The use of solar panels in conjunction with crop production has been developed on only 35 sites, including the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Cumberland County, located in the southern portion of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, the team achieved success with soybean crops, as plantings under both single and double solar panel setups yielded more than test areas that were left open to the sky, the report explained. The arrays were adjusted every 10 minutes by an algorithm that tracked the sun's path along a single axis to optimize collection. Lancaster Farming noted that the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program will continue its research through 2026 and beyond to gather additional data to support its findings. The results will serve to advise growers on which agricultural commodities work best when paired with solar panels in order to support New Jersey's agricultural sector and meet clean energy goals. "People are seeing the benefits of agrivoltaics," said Jordan Macnick, who leads the InSPIRE project at NREL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Companies are seeing what these benefits are, farmers are seeing what these benefits are, and they're recognizing, 'Hey, this might be for me.' And so they're testing it out. That's very exciting for agrivoltaics research." 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. Over the past decade, many cities and states across the country have passed plastic bag bans and taxes in an effort to curb plastic pollution. While it still may be too early to gather definitive data regarding these measures, a pair of researchers has found surprising results. For years, plastic waste has had a significant and detrimental impact on the environment, affecting ecosystems, wildlife, and even human health. It pollutes ecosystems, contaminates water and soil, and poses countless risks to living organisms. As environmental groups and activists put pressure on local governments to pass proactive legislation to address the growing concern of plastic waste, plastic bag bans have become a common occurrence throughout America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, according to a new study, there may be an even more effective measure to help slow down the rate which plastic pollution is produced. "Although less common, taxes or fees on plastic bags may be even more effective than bans," wrote editor Bianca Lopez. This can be attributed to plastic substitutions, such as paper or reusable bags. A pair of researchers examined hundreds of state and local plastic bag policies that were adopted across the United States between 2017 and 2023. They then cross-referenced "crowdsourced citizen-science data" from over 45,000 cleanups along shorelines. While partial plastic bag bans offered minimal results, the study suggested that the areas that enforced both full plastic bag bans and fees reduced plastic litter. The researchers revealed that their findings indicated that plastic bag policies lead to a 25-47% decrease in plastic bags collected at cleanups compared to areas without policies in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, plastic bag bans may also be the source of much-needed direct relief for regional animal populations. The researchers noted that there may be up to a "37% reduction in the presence of entangled animals in areas with plastic bag policies." Besides entanglement, plastic pollution can dramatically increase the risk of marine habitat destruction, starvation, and even death. According to a report from Clean Water Action, at least 267 marine species are affected by plastic pollution, including 86% of sea turtle species and 44% of seabird species. By promoting and enacting plastic bag bans, we may be able to help reduce the sheer amount of plastic waste produced each year, leading to a healthier ecosystem. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. When per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, were found in the surrounding water of the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, some residents elected to get a PFAS blood test to detect levels in their bodies. However, the NSW government pushed back on the need for testing. Now, an advocacy group is fighting back after feeling "totally ignored" by the government, per the Guardian. What's happening? Testing in 2024 found that the water supplies near the Blue Mountains had elevated levels of PFAS, according to ABC News Australia. Since then, residents and advocacy groups have pushed for community-wide blood testing so people could find out whether they've been exposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have paid $500 out of pocket to get tested while waiting for the government's help. However, NSW Health, the public health system of NSW, published a report in August 2025 disputing the need for testing. "There is no clinical benefit for an individual to have a blood test for PFAS," the report stated, adding that "health effects of PFAS appear to be small." Advocacy group Stop PFAS Blue Mountains is now taking a class action against NSW Health. "The findings of this report clearly are more to do with reducing the legal liability of Sydney Water than actually looking after the health of people in the Blue Mountains," said John Dee, a leader of the group. What's the problem with PFAS? NSW residents have good reason to be worried about PFAS exposure, despite NSW Health's dismissiveness. Several studies have shown real health issues tied to PFAS exposure, including increased cancer risk and changes to the brain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One study found PFAS in the bloodstreams of 98% of people tested. Nicknamed "forever chemicals," PFAS can stay in the body for years, in some cases. PFAS also takes a toll on the planet, contaminating water, soil, and the food supplies they nourish. What's being done to reduce PFAS exposure? Groups like Stop PFAS Blue Mountains help voice the concerns of people who may feel like they don't have a voice against higher powers, like the government. You can join an advocacy group locally to take action in your own community. But know that lots of government agencies are also joining in the fight. Connecticut recently launched a pilot program offering free soil testing to farmers, and the EPA announced plans to curb PFAS contamination in waterways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's also some evolving, yet promising, research surrounding PFAS exposure in the body. For example, one group of researchers found that increasing fiber could lower PFAS concentrations. And another research team is working on probiotic supplements that could speed up PFAS removal from the body. As people work together toward solutions, it's clear that they're no longer willing to accept PFAS as a permanent part of their lives. 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. Residents of Western Australia are dealing with the loss of a prominent local landmark after it became unstable due to coastal erosion. What's happening? According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the town of Lancelin, just north of Perth, Australia, started the process, as of mid-August, of demolishing the structure supporting an iconic coastal lookout. The lookout had become a beloved landmark and tourist destination, thanks to its scenic views of the ocean. Unfortunately, the platforms and stairs laddered up along the beachy cliff had become unsafe for visitors due to a swiftly eroding coastline that destabilized the structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's terrible we never expected this sort of event to happen," Peter Murphy of the town's District Community Association told ABC. Why is the loss of the lookout concerning? Coastlines have always been in a state of flux, with wind and water combining to alter the shape and size of a landscape composed largely of loose, sandy soil. But as the warming of our planet drives weather patterns that are increasingly erratic and intense, coastlines are changing more rapidly. Rising sea levels, stronger winds, and more extreme storms are washing away substantial portions of the shore. Local government president Linda Balcombe explained that tough choices needed to be made in Lancelin to keep both residents and tourists safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I've been really sad about this whole thing. I wish we could save it," she said. "I think it will make us realise what we can lose if we don't look after it." Balcombe also said, however, that she felt some did not understand the very real dangers that coastal erosion can pose. What's being done about erosion? While many environmental advocates and local governments are working to stop erosion from washing away homes, key buildings, and historical sites, planning and financing resilient infrastructure projects can be a challenge. Improving public awareness of climate threats can help to build support for the research, policies, and implementation that might make a difference. It can also encourage new solutions. In the United States, for instance, a Washington State farmer decided to take matters into his own hands, battling erosion by dumping basalt cobble along the coastline in an effort that borrowed from Indigenous methods and surprised many with its success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Countless scientists are adding to our box of potential tools too. Researchers at Northwestern University, for example, have developed a means of hardening sandy coastal soil against erosion using low-level electric currents. In Australia, researchers are still trying to figure out the best approach to erosion along the western coast because of its unique landscape. "[It's] a very long coastline, it's sparsely populated and very complex with a lot of limestone cliffs and marine ecosystems," Arnold Van Rooijen, a lecturer at the University of Western Australia, told ABC. "I think governments are working very hard to deal with this issue, but it's definitely not straightforward and every site needs a tailored approach." 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. Neighbors and wildlife officials in Australia are mourning the loss of a community icon. What's happening? A five-meter-long saltwater crocodile, known as "Big John," was found decapitated and tangled in a fishing net in late July. The unusual nature of the reptile's death sparked an investigation, with law enforcement reaching out to the public for help. "Big John was more than a crocodile. He was a guardian of our waterways, a link to our ancestral knowledge, and a living reminder of why we protect and care for our land and sea country," said Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation in a social media post. "Words can't express the sadness we feel at his passing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the GAC stated that the net tangled around the crocodile was not abandoned, leading officials to believe it was intentionally cast. Officials say possessing crocodile body parts, like a skull, is illegal and qualifies as poaching. The offense carries a maximum fine of nearly $38,000. Why is poaching important? Poaching is not only cruel and harmful to animal populations, but it also impacts humans. Killing well-known animals in a community can reduce tourism brought about by those animals. It can reduce income to an area while also projecting an image that a community is a risky place to visit. Illegal wildlife trafficking can leave humans vulnerable to a whole host of zoonotic diseases, too. Between live market trading and the increased popularity of bushmeat, humans who engage with wildlife on the black market are more likely to be infected. What's being done about poaching? Australia, in particular, is working to conserve the habitats of saltwater crocodiles. Since the early 20th century, when the population dwindled to around 3,000, the nation has pushed for conservation legislation to save the species. Now, numbers are well over 100,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators are still searching for a suspect in this croc killing. They've set up a tipline so locals can assist with the investigation. 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. GAFFNEY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY HOMETOWN) For so many long-time residents of Gaffney, the start of the school year has always been a time they had to mentally prepare for students moving back into town, more traffic, and college parties lasting well into the night. Now that the college has closed, many say what they once saw as an annoyance will now be deeply missed. At this time of year, we music faculty are always preparing for a faculty recital, and all of the faculty [would be] saying, I think Ill do this, and you do that, former Limestone University choral and vocal professor Gena Poovey said. When I dont have that deadline of a faculty recital, that I should be practicing for, thats when probably when its probably going to hit pretty firmly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For 32 years, Poovey has filled the halls of Limestone University with music. Today, the melody lives in her living room surrounded by unpacked boxes each holding a piece of the office and life she has been forced to leave behind. I personally am still a little numb, she said. On May 30th, the music at the college fell silent replaced by the buzz of cicadas through the empty parking lots and walkways. For the first time in nearly two centuries, the City of Gaffney is without its college. Its just a great campus, and its just sad, City of Gaffney Councilwoman Kasey Carnley said. The 125 acres of the now unkept campus sits right on the edge of the councilwomans district. While privately owned, she says its presence and history has been woven into Gaffneys identity, shaping its culture and fueling its economy. Queen City News QC Hometown Carnley says the college contributed an estimated $150 million to the city every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We still dont know what the impact is really going to be. This is our first year without it. We know they say $150 million, but we are really waiting to see what that translates into, she said. So far, its translated into a wave of properties surrounding the college, flooding the market. Both homes and apartments where college students once lived are now empty and for sale. Its quiet and its by this time youd expect to see a little more travel up and down college drive and our street is sort of a little back street towards the some of the dorms, and its about this time that you do get used to expecting to be a little more careful, watch for a few more cars but it is super quiet, Poovey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a strange quietness that reveals a new reality: a music teacher without her students and a college town without its college both now having to re-imagine themselves. I have to kind of work to find my identity, but then the next step was, how does the town do that? How does a small little city or town like Gaffney recreate their identity in the face of this change? Poovey said. I think that is where Gaffney is going to find her challenge. In a perfect world, she said, it would be another college. One that, like Limestone, focuses on the arts, so that one day, the quietness could be filled with music once again. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. German online retail giant Zalando must comply with stricter European Union regulations for very large online platforms, an EU court based in Luxembourg ruled on Wednesday. The court dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Berlin-based company against a decision by the European Commission based on the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). According to the ruling, the commission was entitled to assume that Zalando exceeded the threshold of an average of 45 million active users per month relevant for such a classification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An appeal against the ruling can be lodged with the Court of Justice of the European Union, the bloc's top court. The DSA is intended to ensure that online platforms quickly remove illegal content from their sites. In 2023 the commission classified Zalando as a so-called very large online platform within the meaning of the DSA, based on 83 million active users in the EU per month. Particularly strict requirements apply to very large platforms and search engines, including submitting annual risk assessments and sharing data with authorities and researchers. Zalando argued that it was not an online platform in the same sense as marketplaces and social media platforms as it provides its own products and content in addition to products by external sellers after careful examination. The EU court ruled that Zalando was a platform under the DSA with regard to third-party sales. Zalando said it was disappointed by the court's decision and announced it would appeal the judgement. A business group trying to launch a North Side marijuana dispensary hoped neighbors would look favorably on their community-minded plans. But some West Ridge residents and the areas City Council member instead looked at their resumes, saw Chicago police officer in their backgrounds and said no thanks. Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, came out in opposition late last month to the proposal by the Kaneh Group, which includes 10 former Chicago cops as members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The progressive alderman said he supports opening a dispensary in the ward, but decided to halt the bid after resident pushback emphasized a fundamental justice concern with the retired police ownership. I have questions and concerns about people who were paid to arrest people who might still be in jail for selling cannabis, selling cannabis, Vasquez told the Tribune. Theres just something fundamentally unfair and unjust about it. Vasquez does not plan to ask the City Council to make a zoning change needed by Kaneh to operate its Releaf dispensary at 2415 W. Peterson Ave., effectively blocking the business from opening. The companys ownership team, which still hopes to launch a dispensary somewhere in Chicago, is just like any other entrepreneurs that pursue this, partner Damone Richardson said after Vasquezs rejection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our team is comprised of people who have spent decades serving the city being members of their communities, Richardson said. They served their communities for hundreds of years between all of them, so I just feel like its their right as citizens to be able to do it. Richardsons father and Kaneh partner, John Richardson, ended his 33-year Chicago Police Department career as deputy superintendent, he said. The group pitched the business to 40th Ward residents during a community-driven zoning meeting in July. The ownership team is 85% made up of Black people from neighborhoods designated by the state as particularly hard hit by marijuana criminalization, the younger Richardson said. The group shared plans to clean up the building it sought to lease with a new mural, avoid loud signage, prevent loitering and put a powerful security system into place, consultant Paul Gustafson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our goal truly is to beautify this building, he said before addressing the sort of concerns residents often have amid zoning changes, such as parking and noise. We really want to make this fit in we are not looking for this to stand out. Gustafson touted the companys plans to place 5% of the business into a community trust in part controlled by neighborhood residents, giving the community a degree of ownership and even some of the stores profits. And in an additional space attached to the building, doctors involved in the ownership team, made up primarily of Faith Community of St. Sabina churchgoers, would host seminars on specialties like pain management, postmenopausal health and orthopedics, he said. Our goal is not only to just be there, but obviously to be an active neighbor and to find ways to give back to the community and to participate. These are conversations weve had from the minute weve walked in the door, Gustafson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Vasquez shared a residents question about the fundamental inequity of retired police profiting from marijuana sales, Michael Collins, a real estate attorney working with the group, answered that the past criminalization of marijuana hit home for the group. One owners son is currently incarcerated for a marijuana-related offense, he said. They feel that direct effect, and I would encourage you not to hold the fact that they were doing their job as it was told to them (against them), Collins said. He added that bad prosecutorial discretion played a more critical role in the harms of marijuana criminalization, while the older Richardson noted many of the drug-related policing actions officers took were prompted by calls made by safety-concerned Chicagoans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do have people on our side who have absolutely been directly affected, so theres a lot of empathy with people who are involved in this, and we do take that in consideration in terms of how we look to run the business, Gustafson said. Shortly after Vasquezs decision, the younger Richardson told the Tribune it is a little early for the group to confirm it will not try to open at the site, but added the move puts his team back to the drawing board. The group has been trying to open a dispensary for six years, he said. We obviously dont like it, but were going to keep moving forward, Richardson said. Ive been in business for a long time, nothing is a straight line up, there will be setbacks, but we have to be persistent. The group in July 2023 won a coveted state social equity license, a designation meant to help people with low-level marijuana offenses or who come from poor neighborhoods open dispensaries in part as a way to correct the harms done to Black people, who were disproportionately prosecuted for marijuana-related offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get the zoning change needed to operate as a dispensary, Kaneh needed Vasquezs support, in large part because of the tradition of aldermanic prerogative, the custom whereby City Council members almost always follow the will of a local alderman when voting on zoning issues. Around half the community input Vasquez received supported the dispensary proposal, the alderman said. A quarter opposed it to prevent any dispensary from opening, and another quarter opposed it because of issues with the police connection, he said. Added up, most residents he heard from did not support the proposal, he said. The alderman recalled getting arrested as a teen when two Black friends of his were smoking weed near Lake Michigan, just being kids. The cops barely looked at Vasquez, a Latino, until he told the police he was with the friends, though he was not smoking at the time, he said. Vasquez added that he had been open to further negotiations with Kaneh over community benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My job is to represent our community, and our community had a problem with it, he said. Deirdre OConnor, a police district council member whose area includes the dispensary site, said her opposition to the dispensary had nothing to do with anti-drug reefer madness. She cited seeing undercover police throwing teenagers up against cars and busting them for weed during her Arcadia Terrace childhood. It didnt sit well with me to know that a bunch of former police officers were going to profit off of something that folks are still very much locked up and still criminalized over, said OConnor, who also works in Vasquezs ward office overseeing public safety and infrastructure. She added that she was unimpressed by the plans Kaneh presented to address equity concerns. They did not do enough to win community trust and should have made better proposals to support people harmed by marijuana criminalization, she argued. It should be different. It should be more equitable. It shouldnt be former police officers, OConnor said. She welcomed another dispensary to open at the site. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has faced heavy criticism over the latest turmoil at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Tuesday said he will work to make sure the agency restores Americans trust, while touting his response to the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in three decades as a shining example of what a focused CDC can achieve. In an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, Kennedy accused the agency of failing its mission. The CDC was once the worlds most trusted guardian of public health, he writes. Its mission protecting Americans from infectious disease was clear and noble. But over the decades, bureaucratic inertia, politicized science and mission creep have corroded that purpose and squandered public trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy, one of the countrys most prominent vaccine skeptics, slammed the CDCs response to the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming the agency produced irrational policy during the crisis, citing its promotion of cloth masks on toddlers, arbitrary 6-foot distancing, boosters for healthy children, prolonged school closings, economy-crushing lockdowns, and the suppression of low-cost therapeutics in favor of experimental and ineffective drugs. Related: Ted Cruz's Fat Joke About Illinois Governor Just Leads To More Humiliation Kennedy, who assumed office in February, said that during his time at the top of the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, he has demonstrated what a focused CDC can achieve, citing its response to a large measles outbreak in Texas earlier this year. When measles flared this year in Texas, we brought vaccines, therapeutics and resources to the epicenter. The outbreak ended quickly, proving the CDC can act swiftly with precision when guided by science and freed from ideology. That response was neither pro-vax nor antivax. It wasnt distracted by equity outcomes or politically correct language like pregnant people. It was effective. And effectiveness not politics will be the watchword of our leadership, he said. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece that the government's response to the Texas measles outbreak is an example of what a focused CDC can achieve. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images The number of measles cases reported in the U.S. in 2025 was higher than in any other year since the disease was declared eliminated in the country a quarter-century ago, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healths U.S. Measles Tracker. The largest outbreak was reported in West Texas, which was the origin of the later flare-ups across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Department of State Health Services last month declared the outbreak, during which nearly 100 people were hospitalized with the disease and two unvaccinated children died, officially over. Over the course of the outbreak, Kennedy, who has no formal medical training, offered inconsistent and tepid support for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine which is over 97% effective at preventing the disease at two doses and encouraged untested treatments, including the use of vitamin A and cod liver oil. Experts told Scientific American that the drop in measles cases in the state could be due to a number of factors, including summer school breaks. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan, told the magazine the state may still be susceptible to future outbreaks of the disease because of how prevalent anti-vaccine efforts have been there. Kennedys opinion piece failed to mention a recent shooting at the agencys headquarters in Atlanta as well as the high-profile departures of key officials from the CDC last week. Susan Monarez was terminated as CDC director by the Trump administration. Monarezs lawyers said she was removed from the role because she defended science. Related: Republican Senators Grill RFK Jr. Over Chaos At CDC Earlier this week, nine former leaders of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who served under both Democratic and Republican presidents, accused Kennedy of putting Americans health at risk in a New York Times opinion essay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The men and women who have joined the C.D.C. across generations have done so not for prestige or power but because they believe deeply in the call to service, they wrote. They deserve a health and human services secretary who stands up for health, supports science and has their back. So, too, does our country. Kennedy is expected to testify before the Senate Finance Committee later this week. Read the full opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal. More Stories RFK Jr. Makes More Alarming Comments About Measles Amid U.S. Outbreaks RFK Jr. Needed Mere Months To Bring Our Health System To The Brink Of Disaster Measles Cases In The U.S. Just Hit 1,000. RFK Jr. Still Isn't Taking It Seriously. Read the original on HuffPost Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel defended President Donald Trump amid new questions about his health with some over-the-top praise. President Trump doesnt use a teleprompter. He talks just clearly, he said on Tuesday. Youre sitting there mesmerized as he talks. Related: 'Insanity!': Lawrence O'Donnell Totally Puts CNN On Blast Over Its Biden Coverage Siegel compared Trump to former President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had a guy doing, we called them gaffes, but he didnt know where he was, Siegel said, later adding that Biden is demented. Siegel in 2020 predicted that the worst, worst-case scenario for COVID-19 was that it could be the flu. Later that same year, he declared Trump to be very cognitively advanced after the presidents infamous person, woman, man, camera, TV interview. His latest defense of Trump had at least one problem: The president does in fact use a teleprompter frequently, although hes known to wander off-script and into rambling asides about sharks, windmills, Hannibal Lecter and more. Related: Pro-Trump New York Post Shreds RFK Jr. In Brutal Editorial: Paranoid Kook Trump claims his speaking style is what he calls the weave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill talk about like nine different things, and they all come back brilliantly together, Trump said last year. He claimed English professors have told him that his weave is the most brilliant thing Ive ever seen. Critics, however, say the president just rambles and frequently simply loses his train of thought. Longtime Trump observers say hes gotten worse in recent years. Related: After Years Of Fanning Wild Rumors On The Health Of His Foes, Trump Faces His Own He is degrading, Tim OBrien, author of the 2005 book TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald, told MSNBC last year. His speech is slurring, his mind is slower, he is tired at the end of the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, in recent weeks, has faced new scrutiny over his health. He has had bruising on his hands, which the White House has said is from aspirin use and frequent handshaking, and swelling in his feet and ankles due to chronic venous insufficiency. However, critics say the whole picture is unclear, and ex-Politico Magazine editor Garrett Graff over the weekend called on journalists to press the White House on six specific questions about the presidents health. But Siegel defended Trump and critics on X called him out for it: Has anyone ever witnessed gaslighting on this level? I haven't. https://t.co/nsIZl4U31B Caroline DeSantis (@penske2005) September 3, 2025 oh were mesmerized alright Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) September 3, 2025 He talks so clearly, youre mesmerized this is North Korealevel worship of an authoritarian. Arent Republicans embarrassed? At long last, arent they embarrassed? They checked their dignity at the door years ago and never looked back. pic.twitter.com/wODMAR8Rvc Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) September 2, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twilight zone. Doc, Im ready to go back to the future. https://t.co/tenNEXFDgq Rose Benson (@RoseBensonDC) September 3, 2025 Mesmerized? This is preposterous. He is a blathering idiot. His audience is not mesmerized. They are terrified that this bumbling, babbling fool is our president https://t.co/cy0HZtqQS9 American Veteran (@amvetsupport) September 3, 2025 OMG ..... "Mesmerized".... I'm AMAZED that an adult like Trump CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH .... and he LIES CONSTANTLY. https://t.co/XTKaGm39z4 Chris Smith (@jchrissmith0007) September 3, 2025 Are these the same people who diagnosed Biden with dementia and Alzheimer's and said he was dying during his Presidency? https://t.co/A33RDXbzML Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) September 2, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These people are just sick and creepy. There is no amount enough of money that is enough to be paid to say shit this ridiculous and pathetic. https://t.co/gSBlp88tIP Spiros Ghost (@AntiToxicPeople) September 2, 2025 More on Politics Local TV Anchor Blasts Trump With 1 Word About His Recent Actions: 'Call It By Name' Donald Trumps Self-Congratulatory Rant On Fox News Gets Roasted In Real Time Ron DeSantis' 'Unhinged' Attack On California Backfires Spectacularly Read the original on HuffPost CHICAGO Ten years after major changes in the recommendation for prostate cancer screening, a new analysis finds a sharp increase in advanced and terminal cases of the disease. The study highlights the challenging balance between screening too early were too many false positives are found and waiting too long to offer meaningful help for men. Prostate cancer has been in the news. In May, President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer thats traveled to his bones. In Chicago, Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg shared his brave fight against late-stage disease. Now a new headline: the form of cancer is on the rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent Stories from Med Watch: Cancer survivor receives second chance at life with triple transplant Dr Jeffrey Cilley is a medical oncologist with Endeavor Health. Theres the thought that maybe there has been what we call a stage migration. So with less screening were detecting it later, he said. So, were seeing more advanced disease than we would expect if we had caught it earlier. So, then the question becomes, are we missing some people that we could have detected earlier that we could intervene on? The screening test for prostate cancer called PSA was scrutinized a decade ago, resulting in new recommendations. In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which makes health recommendations, started discouraging routine PSA blood tests. Then in 2018, the task force said screening should be an individual decision for men 55 to 69 but should stop altogether at 70. The downstream impact of that decision may be a contributing factor in the recent prostate cancer spike. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer cases rose 3 percent annually starting in 2014, after declining 6.4 percent per year in the decade before. The steepest increases were seen for advanced-stage disease, which has increased by 6.2 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before, if there was an elevated PSA, then people were getting biopsies, surgical intervention, radiation, and we were probably overtreating, Cilley said. But now were not detecting enough possibly. So I think were undertreating. I think we got to swing the other way, maybe resume screening but then have a more thoughtful approach to what we do with that information. More Coverage: WGNs Medical Watch Cilley says what doctors do next will help patients avoid unnecessary treatments. PSA is not a perfect test, but if it is elevated, we can do MRI imaging, other biopsies, serial biopsies, so we dont necessarily have to push for definitive treatment if its positive at that time of screening, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talk with your doctor about specific risks and PSA screening. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men, making up almost one-third of the cancers diagnosed. It is the second leading cause of cancer death for men after lung cancer. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGNs Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up 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 WGN-TV. The operators of some of the best-run foreign airports have expressed interest in operating a new Heathrow terminal. Hotel tycoon Surinder Arora is in talks with the operators of Dubai, Dublin and Singapore airports as part of his rival expansion plan for Heathrow, which will include a proposed sixth terminal and a shorter third runway. Mr Arora said one of the three could be tasked with running the new terminal, potentially introducing an element of competition at Britains busiest airport for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) is currently the sole operator of all terminals at the west London hub, where it is pursuing its own 50bn expansion plan. Mr Arora has stressed that his third runway proposal would save billions of pounds while also raising standards by relying on expertise from overseas. He said that while Singapores Changi Airport Group is the leading contender to run a sixth terminal, having acted as a consultant on the runway submission, he will also pursue talks with Dubai Airport. Changi is currently ranked the best airport in the world, according to Skytrax, while Dubai is 11th. Heathrow is 22nd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Arora added that European firms experienced in managing overseas hubs are also competing, including Dublin airport owner DAA, which supervises terminals in Saudi Arabia. Mr Arora said that competition is crucial if Heathrow is to improve its performance and reduce its prices for airlines and passengers. He said: If one terminal is doing better than another, then you have a benchmark, when at the moment there isnt one. We need to create competition, and we need to try to bring in hospitality experience and be world leaders. Were working with Changi, and if I had to pick someone today, it would be them. If you ask anyone around the world, the best-run airport is Singapore. But weve got options, and we are not going to close the door to anything. It came as a pleasant surprise to learn that Dubai might be interested because they are another very busy airport and a very good operator. Ive always been impressed by the experience there. Mr Arora says his Heathrow scheme could be delivered for 25bn, compared with 49bn for HALs own blueprint. That is by shortening the third runway and removing the need to tunnel under the M25. Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports, told The Telegraph that he would be interested in partnering with the property magnate, who owns a number of hotels around Heathrow. Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai airport, says he would be interesting in partnering with hotel tycoon Surinder Arora - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph Mr Griffiths said: Our experience in trying to turn airports more into a hospitality enterprise is clearly compatible with his vision and approach. Dubai is known for being a particularly busy international airport, while the new Al Maktoum hub currently under development is targeting an annual capacity of 260m passengers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenny Jacobs, chief executive of DAA, would jump at the chance to design and run a terminal at Heathrow. He said: Wed be very interested. Its good that there are competing plans for Heathrow, and I like the look of Surinders proposals. If it comes down to timeline, price and complexity, then its a compelling vision. DAA runs terminals at three Saudi hubs, including Riyadh and Jeddah and is invested in airports in Germany and Cyprus. Mr Arora said he also previously held discussions with Frankfurt airport owner Fraport, which has a portfolio of 29 airports worldwide, and Royal Schiphol Group, the owner of Amsterdam airport and manager of Terminal 4 at New Yorks John F Kennedy International hub. Shai Weiss, the chief executive of Virgin Atlantic Airways, has echoed Mr Aroras calls for competition, claiming that JFK is an example of an airport where the introduction of inter-terminal competition has boosted service standards. Changi has worked with more than 60 airports and previously had a joint venture with US construction giant Bechtel, Mr Aroras partner on the Heathrow bid. Mr Arora said he had been buoyed by remarks from Mike Kane, the aviation minister, who said in June that the Government was open to both alternative bids to build a third runway and different operators operating different bits of the airport. He said he would consult with Heathrows airlines, the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority to make sure everyone was comfortable with any proposed partner. 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 painting of Gen. Robert E. Lee dressed in his Confederate uniform is back on display in the West Point's library, several years after the storied academy removed honors to the Civil War military leader. There also are plans to restore a bust of Lee that had been removed from a plaza at the U.S. Military Academy, and a quote from Lee about honor that was removed from a separate plaza is now on display beneath the portrait, an Army spokesperson said Tuesday. The items were removed to comply with a Department of Defense directive in 2022 that ordered the academy to address racial injustice and do away with installations that "commemorate or memorialize the Confederacy." The Pentagon's decision to re-hang the portrait, which shows a Black man leading Lee's horse in the background, was first reported by The New York Times. It had been hanging in the library since the 1950s before it was placed it in storage. Undated photo of Gen. Robert E. Lee, leader of Confederate troops in the Civil War. / Credit: AP The actions at West Point come as the Trump administration restores Confederate names and monuments that had been removed in recent years. "At West Point, the United States Military Academy is prepared to restore historical names, artifacts, and assets to their original form and place," Rebecca Hodson, the Army's communications director, said in a prepared statement. "Under this administration, we honor our history and learn from it - we don't erase it." President Trump issued an executive order in March titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" that decried efforts to reinterpret American history. The Army then restored the names of bases that originally honored Confederate leaders, finding service members with the same surnames to honor. A commission created by Congress recommended in 2022 that the name and images of Confederate officers be removed from military academies. Lee graduated second in his West Point class in 1829 and later served as superintendent, and his name and image had prominent places at the academy on the Hudson River. Congress took that action after repeated complaints by current and former enlistees and officers in nearly every branch of the armed services who described a deep-rooted culture of racism and discrimination that stubbornly festers despite repeated efforts to eradicate it. Ty Seidule, a retired brigadier general who served as vice chair of the commission, said Lee's image shouldn't be on display because he "chose treason" and doesn't represent the values taught to cadets at West Point. "It is against the motto of 'Duty, Honor, Country,'" Seidule said. "Robert E. Lee is the antithesis of that, because his duty and honor was for a rebellious slave republic." Seidule, now a history professor at Hamilton College, also questioned whether the restoration of these symbols at West Point are legal under the federal law that led to their removal. An Army statement asserts that the law doesn't bar the restoration of Confederacy-related names, symbols, displays, monuments or paraphernalia on military property. The naming commission said in 2022 that it wasn't created "with any intention of 'erasing history.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The facts of the past remain and the commissioners are confident the history of the Civil War will continue to be taught at all service academies with all the quality and complex detail our national past deserves," the commission said at the time. "Rather, they make these recommendations to affirm West Point's long tradition of educating future generations of America's military leaders to represent the best of our national ideals." Historian Miles Yu on Chinese military parade: "Trolling is a very good word" Judge lets Google keep Chrome, but says it must share search data with rivals A look back at the first "CBS Evening News" broadcast on its 62nd anniversary EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) St. Vincent Emergency Department in Evansville gained two new nurses. Back in May, Marcus and Brady Robinson graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with nursing degrees. Now, they are living out their dreams in healthcare as emergency room nurses at Ascension St. Vincent in a full-circle moment. I always knew I wanted to go into the healthcare field, but I just chose nursing, and Ive loved it so far, Brady Robinson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brady has a unique perspective when working with patients. Just under the age of one he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition where there is fluid on the brain. Throughout his life with multiple medical issues and at least 4 brain surgeries Brady credits the experience with guiding him into this career. A sentiment shared by his brother Marcus. I always wanted to do something medicine related and from being in the hospital with Brady, Marcus Robinson said. Marcus Robinson says growing up all three brothers were anxious about Bradys condition. However, the countless trips and visits to the hospital inspired Marcus to enter the healthcare field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nurses were more at the bedside and kind of having that more personal relationship with families and that is something that I wanted, Marcus Robinson 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). The Mesa County Sheriffs Office recently bid farewell to nationwide attendees of the Rocky Mountain Jail Leadership Academy, who were here in Grand Junction to learn about, identify, and brainstorm solutions for the problems facing our nations prisons. The issues hitting Mesa County hard? Short staffing, and an increase in mental illness. The Department of Justice described the decline in police recruitment as a historic crisis, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, a tightening labor market, and increasingly negative public views of law enforcement as reasons for the shortage of candidates. This has inspired law enforcement agencies to get creative. MCSO tells WesternSlopeNow, some of their patrol vehicles have QR codes leading to an app with more information about applying to the force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the number of police recruits decline, mental health issues within the community are on the rise. To keep inmates suffering from poor mental health from returning to prison, government programs have been put in place to help. Bridges of Colorado is a state liaison group, providing services helping released prisoners back into the community, and preventing their return to jail. But MCSO tells WesternSlopeNow, fixing problems in our nations prisons may start at the Jail Leadership Academy, but it ends with community involvement. The main thing is getting the community involved as well, says Mesa County Lieutenant Brian Pacheco, because when they transition from the correctional setting into the civilian settingthat availability to get some assistance on the outside is a conversation that takes a lot of community involvement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Romanias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to the news that several former Romanian officials were present at events in Beijing, where they appeared in a group photo alongside figures such as Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Source: Digi24, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Foreign Ministry issued a statement after Adrian Nastase, Romanias prime minister in the early 2000s who later received two sentences for corruption, and Viorica Dancila, who was prime minister in 2018-2019, travelled to Beijing to attend events organised by China to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Both are pictured in a group photo of guests in which Putin and Kim are standing in the front row next to the Chinese leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nastase said he had been invited to Beijing as a former senior official. Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu said that Romania could not be represented by politicians who had been given the honour of being photographed with Putin. The ministry also confirmed that China had sent invitations via Romanias embassy to current Romanian officials, but Bucharest had declined to participate partly because Putin was planning to attend. Background: Among current European leaders, only Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic travelled to Beijing. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also attended. Fico held a meeting with Putin there, later saying he expected that all the EU leaders would be calling him in the coming days to learn the details. Fico also said that after talking with the Kremlin leader in China, he had a few messages and thoughts he wished to pass on to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. For days now, the Florida Highway Patrol has been stationed in the parking lot of an Orlando Dunkin Donuts. Their mission: Stop chalk-wielding activists from restoring a rainbow crosswalk that, until it was erased overnight by the Florida Department of Transportation two weeks ago, commemorated the 2017 mass shooting at the adjacent Pulse nightclub. The state has already had to redo its black-and-white paint job once, after a local state senator helped redraw the brightly colored stripes. Since then, four people have been arrested on the rare charge of interfering with a traffic control device and charged with criminal felonies, according to lawyer Blake Simons, who represents the defendants. The state claims each chalker inflicted more than $1,500 in damage. Chalking the crosswalk is obviously protected speech, Simons told me, and added that he was puzzled at how the state arrived at those damages for chalk that washed away in the rain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grayscaling has since spread to other Florida cities, which have been directed to paint over roadway designs or forfeit transportation funding. Some, including Key West and Delray Beach, are fighting to keep their Pride-themed intersections. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale this weekend to defend those cities brightly painted crosswalks. In Tampa, two (white) ministers were arrested for obstructing the demolition of a Black History Matters display. What might once have seemed like a cosmetic performance of virtue signaling from the urban revival starter kit has become a legitimate site of political resistance. The controversy began at the end of June, when the Florida Department of Transportation issued a dry and technical memorandum about non-standard surface markings on roadways, which, it noted, can lead to distractions or misunderstanding, in particular for autonomous vehicles. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the wipeout of roadway messages was the result of an earlier state transportation bill, and has emphasized that he feels politics has no place in the roadway. But the states 2025 transportation bill did not actually change Floridas road-art policy, which has always permitted alterations with state approvalit only increased the penalties for noncompliance. The states crackdown also dovetailed with a similar note from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who days later announced a federal initiative to wipe out roadway markings, saying on X that Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks. Political banners have no place on public roads. For most Florida Democrats, the cause for the states crosswalk-painting campaign is clear: Anti-gay animus. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the order is about erasing peoples identity and taking over local government. The mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Dean Trantalis, said at a public meeting last week that he did not buy the traffic safety excuse: Im sure that the state will find every way they can to associate their actions and to make it look like theyre trying to enforce traffic control mechanisms. But as its been said time and again, its simply a camouflage for their true intent, which is to erase and eliminate all or as many LGBTQ references in the state as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deadline for those cities to erase their crosswalks or lose millions in state transportation funding is this week, but several have decided to appeal the order. To be sure, not every painted crosswalk in Florida celebrates gay rights. Tampa erased 47 artworks including a back the blue mural, and Port St. Lucie got rid of a painted hearts memorial for a teenager who died in 2003. But those actions were undertaken by municipalities. It was only after the states erasure of the Pulse crosswalk generated stories from the Associated Press and on NPR that the state painted over the checkerboard crosswalks in Daytona Beach that paid tribute to the famous local NASCAR race. For the skeptics, it was as if the state was hastily claiming a piece of right-wing culture to quell accusations of bias. DeSantis previously antagonized gay rights groups in the state with the 2023 Dont Say Gay law. What makes the public safety rationale suspicious is that several of the projects had previously won safety accolades from the state DOT, including Tampas crosswalks to classrooms. Two Orlando fourth-graders who won a state-sponsored roadway safety contest in May will have their bike-lane paintings removed as well. Even the Pulse crosswalk had been repainted by the state just a couple of years ago. City planners have long viewed such short-term, low-cost pieces of tactical urbanism as a way to help slow traffic and create safer streets. A 2022 study undertaken by Sam Schwartz for Bloomberg Philanthropies found double-digit crash declines around newly painted projects. Reporters from the Orlando Sentinel determined that the citys own bright murals and decorative crosswalks increased foot traffic and lowered conflicts with vehicles along the citys busy Orange Avenue. Delray Beach has reported a similar decline in accidents around its crosswalk mural. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if youre skeptical about the true motivations, Floridas sudden change of heart does reflect a long-standing philosophical divide between state and city officials on street design. Generally speaking, state traffic engineers view any roadway obstacle or distractioneven street trees!as a safety risk for drivers. Cities have been constrained in their deployment of bike lanes, pedestrian infrastructure, and other projects that slow down traffic by a roadway design bible from the Federal Highway Administration called the MUTCD. Safe streets activists say those guidelines guard drivers time and security at the expense of pedestrians on roads like Floridas US-19, the countrys most dangerous. So much so that the National Association of City Transportation Officials drafted its own countervailing Urban Street Design Guide. But its hard to view Floridas crosswalk crackdown as a bona fide public safety project. It comes at the same time as Duffys political order on roadway speech, and on the heels of the GOP Congress forcing D.C. to demolish its Black Lives Matter mural. If that murals installation, in the summer of 2020, felt to some like a folly of liberal exuberance, its demolition at a time of constant attacks on Black workers as unqualified and unworthy was a sinister portent. Meanwhile, DeSantis attack on the public right-of-way as a venue for political expression is not just about paint. Its of a piece with previous GOP efforts to criminalize and endanger demonstrators marching in the street. Those include a Florida law that, DeSantis claimed during the No Kings protests in June, permits drivers to hit protesters if the drivers believe themselves to be fleeing for their own safety. The urban planner Mike Lydon, who coined the term tactical urbanism and advises jurisdictions on projects, told me the purpose of such artwork wasnt necessarily in the final result. When a group is looking to represent their culture, themselves, in the street, it can be very powerful to do that, he said. It is the rare participatory process where everyday people, even children, can physically participate in designing the place where they live. Choosing a message is important, but so is inscribing it in the asphalt. Its a process that says: This place belongs to us. And when it gets removed, it says the opposite. The Sterling Noon Rotary Club announced a $25,000 commitment over 10 years to support the Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) Impact Program, a news release says. This initiative will provide students with the opportunity to earn free tuition and fees through community service. (Rotary Club of Sterling) The donation will help expand access to higher education for Sterling students by supporting the programs earned tuition model, which covers tuition and fees for up to three years at SVCC for students who meet specific community service and academic requirements. The SVCC Impact Program perfectly aligns with Rotarys commitment to education and community service, said Keri Olson, President of the Sterling Noon Rotary Club. Were proud to support a program that not only makes college more accessible but also emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community through service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Impact Program requires students to complete 100 hours of community service before high school graduation and continue with 25 hours annually while enrolled at SVCC. Participants must also maintain good academic standing and apply for additional scholarships, creating a framework for student success. With 1,892 students actively volunteering, the Impact Program truly embodies Rotarys motto of Service Above Self. SVCC is deeply grateful to our district Rotary clubs for their commitment and investment in this program, said Lori Cortez, vice president of advancement at SVCC. The Sterling Noon Rotary clubs commitment joins several other area Rotary clubs that have also pledged significant support to the SVCC Impact Program, with total regional Rotary support exceeding $150,000. In recognition of this collective commitment, SVCC will rename the West Mall Plaza to Rotary Plaza, creating a lasting tribute to Rotarys investment in local education. This regional collaboration among Rotary clubs shows the power of working together to address community needs, added Olson. When multiple clubs unite behind a common cause, we can make a much greater impact than any single club could achieve alone. About Rotary The Rotary Club of Sterling meets the first and second Tuesdays of each month at noon at Pizza Ranch in Sterling. Those interested in connecting with like-minded community members while making a lasting difference are invited to attend a meeting. For more information, visit here or email 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. NEED TO KNOW Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan Maclean broke the world record for the fastest non-stop and unsupported rowing across the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 30 Hours before hitting land, the Scottish brothers asked the Australian marina where they would dock if they had pizza and beer They kept followers updated on their 139-day journey, posting about their freeze-dried meals and dreams of eating pizza when their adventure concluded After rowing 9,000 miles from Peru to Australia, the three Maclean brothers had some simple asks. On Saturday, Aug. 30, the Scottish trio Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan broke the record for the fastest non-stop and unsupported rowing across the Pacific Ocean. They survived the months-long trek by eating freshly caught fish and freeze-dried meals, according to the BBC, but wanted something ooey and gooey upon finishing their journey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just hours before concluding their 139-day trek, oldest brother Ewan posted a video calling to the marina where they would be docking. Cairns Marina, the 33-year-old addressed. Do you have pizza and beer? I repeat, do you have pizza and beer? Over. BRIAN CASSEY/AFP via Getty The Maclean brothers The Maclean brothers The brothers 9,000-mile journey from Peru to Australia was physically and mentally "relentless, Jamie, 31, told BBC when they were on land. The record-breaking trip took longer than expected with tropical storms (one even knocked 27-year-old Lachlan overboard) that sent them off-course. Throughout the adventure, the trio, who are raising money for clean water projects in Madagascar, kept fans updated with their triumphs and mishaps on social media. Videos documented the strenuous trip, showing rocky water, blister-covered hands and dwindling food supplies. Silly moments, like accordion-playing sessions and video calling with Outlander star Sam Heughan, were shared, too. Other clips from their journey showed the brothers rowing and wishing for the cheesy meal. Would love a pizza, one of the brothers lamented and another responded, Id kill for a pizza. NUNO AVENDANO/EPA/Shutterstock Jamie Maclean eating pizza Jamie Maclean eating pizza Fortunately, the crowds of supporters waiting for the brothers at the marina were prepared with the requested supplies. After Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan lit flares and played the bagpipes, they docked their boat and had beers in their hands before they even stood on solid land. Loved ones handed the Macleans pizzas, which they ate while talking to news outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the days following their shoreline arrival, the brothers went to Wahlburgers for burgers, sweet potato fries and, you guessed it, beer. The fast food spot, owned by Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg, posted about the visit, writing in the caption, Even our @markwahlberg said your journey could be a movie The Maclean's beat Fyodor Konyukhovs record from 2014, when he rowed the Pacific Ocean in 159 days, according to Guinness World Records. Read the original article on People MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico and the United States on Wednesday agreed during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubios visit to keep collaborating on cross-border security, including fighting the trafficking of drugs, guns and fuel, but made clear it would be done from their respective sides of the border, respecting each other's sovereignty at a time of heightened concerns over U.S. intervention in the region. What had initially been advertised as the signing of a broad security agreement but it evolved into a reaffirmation of the collaboration Mexico and the U.S. have said theyve been doing all along. The priorities remain stopping fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into the U.S., and preventing high-powered guns bought in U.S. gun shops from being smuggled into Mexico, while continuing to control migration, which has fallen dramatically. The new development was the establishment of a high-level implementation group" for that continued collaboration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a high-level group that will meet and coordinate on a regular basis to make sure that all the things we are working on, all the things we have agreed to work on, are happening, are being implemented, Rubio said. Its the closest cooperation weve ever had, maybe between any country, but definitely between the U.S. and Mexico, Rubio said. Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Ramon de la Fuente said, Its fundamental to show to U.S. society, Mexican society, that yes, models of cooperation, of collaboration can be built that work, that give results. Rubio spoke after meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to stress the importance the U.S. places on cooperating with Washington on security, trade and migration. Rubio will visit Ecuador on Thursday on his third trip to Latin America since taking office. Sheinbaum has voiced fears of the U.S. encroaching on Mexican sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gunboat diplomacy The meeting came a day after President Donald Trump dramatically stepped up his administrations military role in the Caribbean with what he called a deadly strike on a Venezuelan drug cartel. Donald Trump has alienated many in the region with persistent demands and threats of sweeping tariffs and massive sanctions for refusing to follow his lead, particularly on migration and the fight against drug cartels. Likely to heighten those concerns is the U.S. having deployed warships to the Caribbean and elsewhere off Latin America and announcing a lethal strike on an alleged Tren de Aragua gang vessel said to be carrying narcotics. Rubio continued defending the strike without addressing details, including whether those aboard the boat were warned before being fired upon. Trump said all 11 were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president, under his authority as commander in chief, has a right under exigent circumstances to eliminate imminent threats to the United States, Rubio said. His Mexican counterpart, de la Fuente, emphasized his countrys preference for nonintervention, peaceful solution of conflicts. The U.S. has a complicated legacy of sticking its hand in Latin American affairs, and American military interventions particularly during the Cold War played a major part in destabilizing governments and paving the way for coups in Guatemala and Chile. In recent years, the U.S. has taken a more subtle approach, providing foreign assistance to many countries, including training security forces, but not making direct strikes like what was seen Tuesday in Caribbean waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexico's president pushes back on Trump saying she's not ready to target cartels Trump has demanded, and so far won, some concessions from Sheinbaums government, which is eager to defuse his tariff threats, although she has fiercely defended Mexicos sovereignty. Sheinbaum again rejected Trumps suggestion that she is afraid of confronting Mexicos cartels because they have so much power. We respect a lot the Mexico-United States relationship, President Trump, and no, its not true this affirmation that he makes, she said. In a State of the Nation address this week marking her first year in office, she said, "Under no circumstance will we accept interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that is detrimental to the integrity, independence and sovereignty of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheinbaum has gone after Mexican drug cartels and their fentanyl production more aggressively than her predecessor. The government has sent the National Guard to the northern border and delivered 55 cartel figures long wanted by U.S. authorities to the Trump administration. In a statement released after their meeting, the State Department extolled what it said was a reaffirmation of already robust security cooperation in a region that is now concerned with the prospect of greater U.S. military invention. It said Rubio thanked Sheinbaum for helping secure the shared border. The U.S. statement made only a brief mention of one issue causing friction between the two nations: Trumps threat to impose hefty tariffs on Mexican imports into the United States. The word tariff appeared only once in the statement and then in the context of Rubio emphasizing to Sheinbaum the importance of resolving trade and non-trade barriers to further the prosperity of both of our nations. ___ Associated Press writers Maria Verza in Mexico City and Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations contributed to this report. The deadly US military strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Tuesday marked a significant and escalatory shift in the Trump administrations fight against drug trafficking, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled there would be more destruction moving forward. Rubio on Wednesday argued that the traditional policy of intercepting drug-carrying vessels had not worked. Instead, the US is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organizations. The United States has long, for many, many years, established intelligence that allow us to interdict and stop drug boats. We did that. And it doesnt work, Rubio said at a press conference in Mexico City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them, he said, arguing that interdiction doesnt work because drug cartels plan to lose 2% of their cargo. The top US diplomat said the US had intelligence that the vessel coming from Venezuela, with alleged ties to the criminal organization Tren de Aragua, was headed towards, eventually, the United States. Instead of interdicting it, on the presidents orders, we blew it up. And itll happen again. Maybe its happening right now, Rubio said. Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated several Latin American cartels and criminal organizations, including Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Rubio and Vice President JD Vance have referenced terrorist designations as rationale when asked about the legal authority for the deadly strikes. US President Donald Trump, Rubio noted, has the right to eliminate imminent threats to the United States. Still, questions remain about the specifics of the operation, which came as the US in recent weeks has also amassed a significant number of military assets around the Caribbean and South America. Rubio did not provide any details on what kind of drugs were on board, or exactly how the boat was destroyed. On Tuesday he referred questions on the operational details to the Pentagon, but the department has not briefed reporters on the strike. Tuesdays strike, which killed 11 people, was unprecedented, said retired US Amb. Luis Moreno, who spent much of his career at the State Department working on counter-narcotic efforts. If it really was a major drug trafficking movement, why not do as weve always done? Get a beat on it, trace it to where theyre going to drop the drugs off, to a mothership or to someone else, and then seize the whole thing, he told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just without warning, just blowing it up to smithereens in international waters, thats not the way youre supposed to do things, Moreno said, arguing the strike was done for drama, for Hollywood effect. Benjamin Gedan, a foreign policy fellow at Johns Hopkins University who worked on Venezuela issues during the Obama administration, noted that the US going after alleged drug traffickers is not necessarily unusual, but the use of force raises questions. Normally, the US would attempt to interdict the ship, board, arrest the alleged drug traffickers, try to prosecute them, maybe turn them on more senior figures in these drug trafficking organizations, seize money, seize drugs, he explained. Firing from the air and killing 11 alleged drug traffickers is not the typical approach, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Donald Trump on Wednesday justified the lethal military strike that his administration said was carried out a day earlier against a Venezuelan gang as a necessary effort by the United States to send an unmistakable message to Latin American cartels. Asked why the military did not instead interdict the vessel and capture those on board, Trump said the operation would cause drug smugglers to think twice about trying to move drugs into the U.S. There was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and everybody fully understands that, Trump said while hosting Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the White House. He added, Obviously, they wont be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people wont be doing it again. When they watch that tape, theyre going to say, Lets not do this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesdays strike was an astonishing departure from typical U.S. drug interdiction efforts at a time when Trump has ordered a major Navy buildup in the waters near Venezuela. Later Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that such operations will happen again. Rubio said previous U.S. interdiction efforts in Latin America have not worked in stemming the flow of illicit drugs into the United States and beyond. What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them, Rubio said on a visit to Mexico. US Coast Guard offloads record amount of narcotics Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Fox & Friends that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was running his country as a kingpin of a drug narco-state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth said officials knew exactly who was in that boat and exactly what they were doing. But the Republican administration has not presented any evidence supporting Trumps claim that operators of the vessel were from the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and were trying to smuggle in drugs. President Trump is willing to go on offense in ways that others have not seen, said Hegseth, who declined to detail how the strike was carried out. Trump and administration officials have repeatedly blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some American cities. The president on Tuesday repeated his claim contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment that Tren de Aragua is operating under Maduros control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In announcing the strike, Trump said the operation, which he said killed 11, was carried out in international waters. He also noted that the gang is designated by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization. Unlike its counterparts from Colombia, Brazil and Central America, Tren de Aragua has no large-scale involvement in smuggling cocaine across international borders, according to InSight Crime, which last month published a 64-page report on the gang based on two years of research. Weve found no direct participation of TdA in the transnational drug trade, although there are cases of them acting as subcontractors for other drug trafficking organizations, said Jeremy McDermott, a Colombia-based co-founder of InSight Crime, referring to the Venezuelan gang by its initials. Still, with affiliated cells spread across Latin America, it would not be a huge leap for Tren de Aragua to one day delve deeper into the drug trade, he said. Meanwhile, the rhetoric from officials in Washington who would blame TdA as a proxy for all Venezuelan drug traffickers assures it will remain a target of intense U.S. government focus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is almost impossible today to determine who is TdA and who is not, said McDermott. Deportations and statements from the United States suggest that TdA is now being used as a catch-all description for Venezuelan criminals acting abroad. Some international warfare experts are questioning the legality of the strike. Intentional killing outside armed conflict hostilities is unlawful unless it is to save a life immediately, said Mary Ellen OConnell, an expert on international law and the use of force at the University of Notre Dame Law School. No hostilities were occurring in the Caribbean. Hegseth was opaque in his comments on Fox about whether Trump was looking to press for regime change in Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, thats a presidential decision, Hegseth said. He added that anyone would prefer that Maduro would just give himself up. But thats a presidential-level decision. The U.S. announced plans last month to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. Maduros government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuelas coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia. Ryan Berg, director of the Americas program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Tuesdays strike clearly shows governments in the region, not only Maduro, the paradigm shift brought on by the U.S. decision to declare Tren de Aragua and Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a United States that sees security differently, Berg said. Theyve just demonstrated the ability to use deadly force in the Western Hemisphere, and theyve already told Mexico that theyre going to do the same thing on Mexican territory if they dont get the level of cooperation that they want. AP writer Regina Garcia Cano in Mexico City and Joshua Goodman in Miami contributed reporting. Voters sign a petition to place a measure on the Nov. 5 ballot at a signing event April 8, 2024, outside Little Rock's Whitewater Tavern. (Photo by Paige Eichkorn for Arkansas Advocate) A Central Arkansas judge said Wednesday that he expects to rule fairly quickly on the legal challenge to a 2023 Arkansas law that increased the prerequisites for a citizen-initiated ballot measure to go before voters. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Shawn Johnson heard arguments from attorney David Couch, representing the plaintiff League of Women Voters of Arkansas, and from Justin Brascher of the Arkansas Attorney Generals office, representing Secretary of State Cole Jester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Act 236 of 2023 increased the number of counties where ballot initiative groups must gather signatures from 15 to 50. The League of Women Voters has supported multiple citizen-led ballot initiatives in the past few years, including a current effort to put proposed direct democracy protections on the 2026 ballot, and asked the court to enjoin Act 236. Direct democracy is the process by which Arkansans can propose new laws or constitutional amendments and place them on the ballot for a statewide vote. Arkansas is one of 24 states that allow citizen-led initiatives, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Couch said Wednesday that Act 236 interferes with petitioners ability to collect signatures, especially because compiling petitions for submission to the Secretary of State is a multi-step process. The state Constitutions Article 5, Section 1 put forth the 15-county minimum for signatures on petitions for ballot measures. Couch argued that Act 236 violated this sections unwarranted restrictions provision, which states, No law shall be passed to prohibit any person or persons from giving or receiving compensation for circulating petitions, nor to prohibit the circulation of petitions, nor in any manner interfering with the freedom of the people in procuring petitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another provision of the same section states, No legislation shall be enacted to restrict, hamper or impair the exercise of the rights herein reserved to the people. Couch said this supports the plaintiffs case. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The constitutional question in the case is whether the Legislature can change a portion of the state Constitution by passing a law, Couch said. Brascher argued in response that Act 236 does not violate or amend the state Constitution but instead works within the confines of Article 5, Section 1. The Constitution says youve got to have at least 15 [counties], and thats a floor from which the General Assembly can make a decision going up, Brascher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also argued that the case should be dismissed because of sovereign immunity, the principle that the state cannot be sued in its own courts. The higher threshold for secretary of state approval did not stop reproductive rights advocates from collecting more than 102,000 signatures in 53 counties in an attempt to put a proposed limited right to abortion on the November 2024 ballot. Citizen-led constitutional amendments require 90,704 signatures. The proposed abortion amendment did not end up on the ballot after then-Secretary of State John Thurstons office disqualified more than 14,000 signatures on a technicality and the state Supreme Court upheld his decision. Thurston was the initial defendant in the current case, but Jester was appointed secretary of state after Thurston was elected treasurer last year. Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, was a plaintiff in the suit when it was first filed. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Herbert Wright ruled last year that King did not have standing to bring the complaint and dismissed him as a plaintiff. The case was assigned to Johnson after Wright was elected to Little Rock District Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Couch said after the hearing that he is confident the plaintiffs will prevail in the case. He is also representing the League of Women Voters in their federal court challenge against a slate of new laws passed this year placing more requirements on direct democracy efforts. Two ballot question committees asked the court in July to temporarily block the six challenged laws. A hearing in the case has been scheduled for Sept. 30 in Fayetteville. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Ruskin High School teacher could be Missouris next Teacher of the Year. The Hickman Mills C-1 School District announced Wednesday that Ruskin High School social studies teacher Kim Sixta has been named one of seven finalists for the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year award. Salvation Army to close sober living center in Kansas City due to lack of funding The school district said Sixta, who teaches grades 10-12, inspires students to think critically about history, government and current events. She is known for innovative lessons and her commitment as a mentor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the selection process, Sixta will interview with the state committee on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The Missouri Teacher of the Year will then be honored at the Annual Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet on Oct. 27 at the Wyndham Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri. The Missouri Teacher of the Year Program, which represents more than 70,000 educators across the state, honors exceptional teachers who inspire students, close achievement gaps and demonstrate innovative practices that elevate academic success. Being named a finalist places Sixta among the very best in Missouris teaching profession. Sixta was featured as FOX4s Teacher of the Month in November 2023. You can learn more about her by clicking here. For more information about the program, visit dese.mo.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Russian forces have attacked Ukraine with 502 drones as well as 24 air-to-surface and maritime surface-to-surface missiles starting from the evening of 2 September. Source: Ukraine's Air Force Quote: "As of 09:00, air defence forces had destroyed or jammed 451 aerial targets: 430 enemy Shahed UAVs and decoy drones of various types, 14 Kalibr cruise missiles and 7 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Hits by 3 missiles and 69 UAVs have been recorded in 14 locations and the fall of downed drones (debris) has been recorded in 14 locations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The Air Force stressed that the Russian attack is ongoing as several drones are still in Ukrainian airspace. The drones have been launched from the Russian cities of Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Oryol, Shatalovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk as well as from Cape Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea. A total of 16 Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from the Black Sea and eight Kh-101 cruise missiles were launched from Russia's Saratov Oblast and Krasnodar Krai. "The aerial attack has been repelled by aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units and mobile fire groups from Ukraine's defence forces," the Air Force concluded. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Despite being a global pariah as recently as last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a pretty good few weeks, making high-level visits East and West. After his face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump last month, he capped his return to the international stage on Sept. 2 by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his Chinese counterpart as a vision for a new world order was laid out. "We should continue to unequivocally oppose hegemonism and power politics, practice true multilateralism, and stand as a pillar in promoting a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations," Chinese President Xi Jinping told a crowd of more than 50,000 people at Tiananmen Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum," adding that the Chinese people "stand on the right side of history." The event was hugely significant in a rapidly changing world where U.S.-driven democracy as the powering force of global affairs is uncertain, China and Russia made the case for a return to a world where superpowers control their own spheres of influence. "It looks like China having a sphere of influence in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia, the U.S. dominating the Western hemisphere, and Russia dominating at least large parts of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and its periphery." "A return to spheres of influence would be extraordinarily bad for democracies," retired Australian Army Major-General Mick Ryan told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It would be extraordinarily bad for any country on the periphery of Russia and China. And it's something that we should all push back on as hard as possible." The DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missiles are seen during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japans defeat and the end of World War II in Beijing, China, on Sept. 3, 2025. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) Soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army walk past Tiananmen Square during a rehearsal ahead of a military parade in Beijing, China, on Sept. 3, 2025. (Johannes Neudecker/picture alliance via Getty Images) How did we get here? In reaction to Xi's speech and China's military parade, Trump accused Xi, Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un of "conspir(ing) against the United States of America," but it is in large part due to his actions that such a shift in the global order is happening. Trump's "America First" policies and his turn away from Europe have emboldened China and Russia to take a much more assertive stand on the global stage, Rafael Loss, policy fellow for defense, security, and technology at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) told the Kyiv Independent. "The Trump administration in the United States is making it easier for them through its own actions," he added. What does a multipolar world mean? Following World War 2, the global system experienced a bipolar world order, when it was largely split between the spheres of influence of the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the U.S. remained the sole dominant global superpower politically, economically, and militarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past decade, the U.S. leadership over global affairs began to crack, with other major powers filling the gaps, returning to the "spheres of influence" more associated with the 19th century. According to Ryan, China eyes a sphere of influence in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia, while Russia attempts to dominate in "Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and its periphery." "That's what Putin and Xi have in mind, and I think they believe they now have a historic opportunity to pursue that goal." For Russia and China this isn't a new idea a letter to the United Nations co-signed by both countries laid out their multipolar vision way back in 1997. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russia seems to think that it would thrive in a world where there's very little order and where uninhibited violence." And while the language used then just like Xi's speech on Sept. 2 spoke of the "peaceful coexistence" of states and greater international cooperation, nothing points to peace in the way these states have managed. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin (CL) walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (CR) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II in Beijing, China, on Sept. 3, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Xi's speech took place at a parade featuring over 10,000 troops, more than 100 aircraft and vehicles, and the country's most advanced weaponry, like the nuclear-capable DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, and laser weapons. "Xi says one thing and does another," Ryan said, adding, "He's benefited humanity by tripling the size of his nuclear arsenal? Those two things just are not in the same universe." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's method of exerting influence is already evidenced in its invasion of Ukraine, and a multipolar world would allow it to carry on doing so unabated. "Russia seems to think that it would thrive in a world where there's very little order and where uninhibited violence, as we see in Ukraine, allows the strongest and most brutal to dominate at least their region, if not larger parts of the world," Loss said. Europe in a multipolar world All of this poses immense challenges for Europe. Already having to learn how to survive in a world without the U.S. military support it has relied on for decades, democratic Europe will be fighting for survival in a region in which Russia has already demonstrated it has no qualms about deploying massive amounts of violence to assert its influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the U.S. nuclear umbrella, Europe would be severely outgunned on that front France and the U.K. possess around 515 nuclear weapons, but Russia has around ten times as many. But Ryan stresses that collectively, Europe is "far richer and militarily powerful than Russia can ever be anymore," but adds that Europe currently lacks one thing that is essential in pushing back against a militaristic and imperialist Russia will. U.S. President Donald Trump (CR) and President Volodymyr Zelensky (CL) pose with European leaders after a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on Aug. 18, 2025. L-R: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Zelensky, Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Soldiers from the Military University of Technology carry the flags of the European Union, Poland, and NATO during the Armed Forces Day parade in Warsaw, Poland, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Europe is only sluggishly revamping its defense industry, and its current efforts to confront the Kremlin and bring the war in Ukraine to an end involve ongoing discussions about security guarantees that Russia will never agree to, and Europe couldn't enforce even if it did. "At the end of the day, you need a polity where the political leaders and the citizens are engaged in an open and honest conversation about the threats they faced and how they might respond to them," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "(The West) has been pretty supine and happy to lay back and let the Americans do the heavy lifting, and I think that era is at an end." In short, there's only one way to push back against an emboldened Russia as it is rehabilitated on the global stage. "The most forceful rejection of that kind of model is at this time presented by Ukraine's struggle for independence," Loss said. "Depending on how Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine concludes, will have a major impact on whether such wars are more or less likely in the future." Read also: Fears of Russian hit campaign grow as another nationalist politician is murdered in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces attacked the town of Druzhkivka with Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) on the night of 2-3 September, hitting apartment buildings. Seven civilians have been injured, including a minor girl. Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office Quote: "Russian forces used Smerch MLRS to bombard Druzhkivka at 00:30 on 3 September 2025. Apartment buildings were targeted by the invaders." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The strikes injured four men aged 42, 49, 51 and 76 as well as two women aged 65 and 71 and a 16-year-old girl. Among those who sustained injuries are a married couple, the husbands sister and a nephew. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office They suffered blast injuries, shrapnel wounds and concussion. All have received medical treatment. The attack also damaged five houses. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office Kramatorsk District Prosecutors Office has launched a pre-trial investigation into the incident on suspicion of a war crime (Article 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (Reuters) -Ukraine's air defence units were engaged in repelling a Russian air attack on Kyiv, the city's military administration said on Wednesday, as nationwide air raid alerts followed warnings from Ukraine's air force of missile and drone strikes. "Air defence is operating in Kyiv! Stay in shelters until the all-clear is given!" Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Tom Hogue) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russia fired more than 500 drones and two dozen missiles at Ukraine overnight, authorities said Wednesday, as Ukraines president and European leaders pressed on with talks on how to strengthen Ukrainian defenses and boost as-yet unsuccessful U.S.-led peace efforts. The main Russian nighttime targets were civilian infrastructure, especially energy facilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as another winter approaches three years after Russias all-out invasion of its neighbor. The attacks targeted mainly western and central Ukraine and wounded at least five people, the Ukrainian air force said. Russias aerial assaults that hit civilian areas and its armys drive to crush Ukrainian defenses along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line have not abated in recent months, despite U.S. President Donald Trumps attempts to stop the fighting. While Zelenskyy has accepted Trumps proposals for a ceasefire and face-to-face peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has voiced reservations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said Wednesday he believed that if common sense prevails, it is possible to agree on an acceptable option for ending the conflict, adding that Trump has a sincere desire to find a settlement. It seems to me that there is a certain light at the end of the tunnel, Putin said at a news conference in Beijing, wrapping up a four-day visit to China. Lets see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to achieve our goal by military means. He said he was ready to receive Zelenskyy for talks in Moscow, but only if the meeting is well prepared. Kremlin officials have previously said a summit could happen only after a broad agreement has been hammered out first by lower-ranking delegations. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader described the overnight strikes as demonstrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin is demonstrating his impunity, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram Wednesday, urging tougher sanctions on Russia. Only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on the war economy, does Russia continue this aggression. Trump and Zelenskyy are scheduled to speak Thursday, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the call that is yet to be formally announced. Meetings in Beijing bring together Russia's supporters As part of diplomatic maneuvering, Putin was in China meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The three countries support Russias war effort, Washington says. Pyongyang has sent troops and ammunition to Russia, while China and India have bought Russian oil, indirectly helping its war economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Unions foreign policy chief said that Chinas alliance with Russia is supplying vital support for its invasion, including with products that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Russia is not acting alone. China provides Russia with up to 80% of dual use imports, Kaja Kallas said in a speech Wednesday at the annual European Union Institute for Security Studies conference in Brussels. This allows the killing to continue in Ukraine. In his daily video address on Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy said the number of Russian drone attacks is growing, including in broad daylight, and reported another buildup of Russian forces in some sectors of the front. He said it revealed an open disregard by Russia for everything the world is doing to stop this war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine and its allies discuss new military aid Zelenskyy arrived in Denmark on Tuesday for talks with Northern European and Baltic countries about new military aid and further diplomatic support for Ukraine. He said in Copenhagen that a program for weapons sourced from the United States and paid for by Europe for delivery to Ukraine already has commitments of more than $2 billion. The goal, he said, is to add around $1 billion to the fund each month. British Defense Secretary John Healey, meanwhile, was in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for meetings on how to strengthen Ukraines military. French President Emmanuel Macron greeted Zelenskyy in Paris on Wednesday evening, ahead of a Thursday meeting of European countries assessing what kind of postwar security guarantees they might be able to provide with the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron said defense ministers of these countries confirmed and documented contributions from 35 coalition members at a meeting earlier in the day. He didnt elaborate on what he said was a confidential agreement, but said it was the result of intense work in recent weeks and allows me to say that this preparatory work has been completed. We are ready, we Europeans, to bring security guarantees to Ukraine and Ukrainians the day a peace deal is signed, Macron said. The question now is about the sincerity of Russia and its successive commitments since it proposed peace to the United States. Zelenskyy said that unfortunately, so far we have not seen any signals from Russia that they want to end the war. But I am sure that our union, the union with Europe which has been with us since the beginning of the war, and the union of Europe with America will help us increase the pressure on Russia to move towards a diplomatic solution, he said. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said earlier Wednesday he expected clarity after the Paris talks about what each country can provide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rutte said he is discreetly part of all the conversations alongside NATOs Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, because the plans would draw resources from alliance countries and officials need to prevent spreading our resources too thinly. ___ Associated Press writers Sam McNeil in Brussels, Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Angela Charlton in Paris and Aamer Madhani in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine KYIV, Ukraine Russia fired more than 500 drones and two dozen missiles at Ukraine overnight, authorities said Wednesday, as Ukraines president and European leaders persevered with talks aimed at strengthening Ukrainian defenses and bringing momentum to so far unsuccessful U.S.-led peace efforts. The main Russian nighttime targets were civilian infrastructure, especially energy facilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as another winter approaches three years after Russias all-out invasion of its neighbor. The attacks targeted mainly western and central Ukraine and wounded at least five people, the Ukrainian air force said. Russias aerial assaults that hit civilian areas and its armys drive to crush Ukrainian defenses along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line have not abated in recent months, despite U.S. President Donald Trumps attempts to stop the fighting. While Zelenskyy has accepted Trumps proposals for a ceasefire and face-to-face peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has voiced reservations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said Wednesday he believed that if common sense prevails, it is possible to agree on an acceptable option for ending the conflict, adding that Trump has a sincere desire to find a settlement. It seems to me that there is a certain light at the end of the tunnel, Putin said at a press conference in Beijing, wrapping up a four-day visit to China. Lets see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to achieve our goal by military means. He said he was ready to receive Zelenskyy for talks in Moscow, but only if the meeting is well prepared. Kremlin officials have previously said a summit could happen only after a broad agreement has been hammered out first by lower-raking delegations. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader described the overnight strikes as demonstrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin is demonstrating his impunity, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram Wednesday, urging tougher sanctions on Russia. Only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on the war economy, does Russia continue this aggression. Meetings in Beijing bring together Russias supporters As part of diplomatic maneuvering, Putin was in China meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The three countries support Russias war effort, Washington says. Pyongyang has sent troops and ammunition to Russia, while China and India have bought Russian oil, indirectly helping its war economy. The European Unions foreign policy chief said that Chinas alliance with Russia is supplying vital support for its invasion. Russia is not acting alone. China provides Russia with up to 80% of dual use imports, Kaja Kallas said in a speech Wednesday at the annual European Union Institute for Security Studies conference in Brussels. This allows the killing to continue in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his daily video address on Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy said the number of Russian drone attacks is growing, including in broad daylight, and reported another buildup of Russian forces in some sectors of the front. He said it revealed an open disregard by Russia for everything the world is doing to stop this war. Ukraine and its allies discuss new military aid Zelenskyy arrived in Denmark on Tuesday for talks with Northern European and Baltic countries about new military aid and further diplomatic support for Ukraine. He said in Copenhagen that a program for weapons sourced from the United States and paid for by Europe for delivery to Ukraine already has commitments of more than $2 billion. The goal, he said, is to add around $1 billion to the fund each month. British Defense Secretary John Healey, meanwhile, was in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for meetings on how to strengthen Ukraines military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy was due later Wednesday in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of a Thursday meeting there of European countries assessing what kind of postwar security guarantees they might be able to provide with the United States. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Wednesday he expected clarity after the Paris talks about what each country can provide. Rutte said he is discreetly part of all the conversations alongside NATOs Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, because the plans would draw resources from alliance countries and officials need to prevent spreading our resources too thinly. Associated Press writers Sam McNeil in Brussels, Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report. Russia hammered Ukraine with 526 drones overnight, a further escalation of Moscows aerial assault. The rate of drone and missile strikes has nearly doubled since Russian President Vladimir Putins inconclusive meeting with US President Donald Trump last month, and Moscows troops have also advanced on the battlefield albeit slowly and at significant cost. Putin is once again flouting Trumps deadlines for peace: Most recently, Trump called for a meeting between the Russian leader and his Ukrainian counterpart by Friday, but there is no sign of that happening, and Putin is emboldened after strengthening economic ties with India and China, The Wall Street Journal reported. Kyiv is launching attacks of its own, particularly targeting Russias oil refineries and other energy infrastructure. MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday that its troops had captured "about half" of the city of Kupiansk in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, but Ukraine's military denied any such advance. Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield reports from either side. Kupiansk has been the focus of months of increased Russian military activity and heavy fighting. Russian troops captured the city in the early weeks of their February 2022 invasion and Ukrainian forces took it back later that same year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the city has been destroyed as Moscow tries to seize it back as part of a slow advance westward along parts of the 1,000-km (620-mile) long frontline. The Russian Defence Ministry released a drone video showing a soldier holding a Russian flag while standing on a road in the town. Ukraine's 10th army corps, in a post on the Telegram messaging app, described the Russian report as staged propaganda. "All such attempts are pointless," it said alongside a video of its own, which it said showed a Russian unit being destroyed. "All such attempts by the Russian occupiers to use localities as a decoration for propaganda videos are doomed to fail." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's official Centre Against Disinformation said any notion that Russian forces had advanced into Kupiansk was untrue and a propaganda exercise. Ukraine's popular Deepstate war blog, which uses open source maps of the conflict, said the incident with the flag occurred on the city's southern outskirts where control is disputed. In a late evening report, the General Staff of Ukraine's military said one armed clash was raging in the Kupiansk sector. The report listed nearly 50 attempts by Russian forces to break through Ukrainian defences near Pokrovsk, one of the focal points of Moscow's drive through Donetsk region. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Ron Popeski and Nia Williams) MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia will help China overtake the United States as the world's biggest producer of nuclear power, the chief of Russia's Rosatom state nuclear corporation said in comments broadcast on state TV on Wednesday after talks in Beijing. The United States operates the world's largest network of nuclear reactors, with nearly 97 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity. China is racing to build dozens of reactors though and had 53.2 GW of operating nuclear power reactor capacity as of April 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "China has ambitious plans for the development of atomic energy. The task has been set to catch up and surpass the United States in installed capacity, which means reaching a capacity of more than 100 gigawatts," Alexei Likhachev, the Rosatom chief, told Russian state television. Asked by state television if Russia would help China in that target, Likhachev said: "Of course. We will help. We are already helping." Russia has already helped build four nuclear reactors in China and is building four more and China needs a large amount of uranium and nuclear fuel for its ambitious plans, Likhachev said. As a result China will need to develop a new generation of closed nuclear fuel cycle reactors based on Russian technology, he said. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Guy FaulconbridgeEditing by Andrew Osborn) Moscow on Wednesday criticized recent statements made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who labelled Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal due to his ongoing assault on Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's comments came on the sidelines of Putin's visit to Beijing, where he is on a four-day state visit. Peskov stated that Merz has made many "unpleasant remarks" recently and that his opinion can hardly be taken into account at the present moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian media reported on this reaction from Moscow but many avoided the term war criminal. Putin also commented on the allegations later at a press conference. He described them as "an unsuccessful attempt to shift responsibility for the tragedy in Ukraine." Putin was not referring to Merz personally, but to the responsibility of the West and Europeans for the 2014 coup in Kiev, which he said was the cause of all subsequent events. Merz called Putin "perhaps the most severe war criminal of our time that we currently see on a large scale" in comments to a German broadcaster on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merz emphasized the need for clarity in dealing with war criminals, stating that leniency is out of place. He also called for tariffs against countries that trade with Russia, such as China and India. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, where the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia categorically rejects the accusation of war crimes and emphasizes that the "military special operation," as the Kremlin describes its assault, serves to protect the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine. Kiev accuses Russia of thousands of war crimes. Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai has postponed his planned visit to Portugal and Spain, the Government Information Bureau (GCS) confirmed last night. The trip was supposed to be his first visit outside China since taking office late last year. The announcement comes a week after the bureau announced that Sam would lead a delegation of local government officials and business sector representatives on an eight-day visit to Lisbon and Madrid. The visit was originally scheduled for September 16 to 23, with the delegation departing Macau on September 15, the day immediately after the elections for the new term of the Legislative Assembly. No new dates for the visit have been announced so far. Meanwhile, Portugals Prime Minister Luis Montenegro will visit Macau in September as part of an official trip to China and Japan. The announcement was made in June by Portugals president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who ruled out his own return to the Special Administrative Region this year, citing scheduling conflicts with Portugals National Day celebrations in June. Like this: Like Loading... Moscow on Wednesday criticized recent statements made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who labelled Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal due to his ongoing assault on Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's comments came on the sidelines of Putin's visit to Beijing, where he is on a four-day state visit. Peskov stated that Merz has made many "unpleasant remarks" recently and that his opinion can hardly be taken into account at the present moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian media reported on this reaction from Moscow but many avoided the term war criminal. Putin also commented on the allegations later at a press conference. He described them as "an unsuccessful attempt to shift responsibility for the tragedy in Ukraine." Putin was not referring to Merz personally, but to the responsibility of the West and Europeans for the 2014 coup in Kiev, which he said was the cause of all subsequent events. Merz called Putin "perhaps the most severe war criminal of our time that we currently see on a large scale" in comments to a German broadcaster on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merz emphasized the need for clarity in dealing with war criminals, stating that leniency is out of place. He also called for tariffs against countries that trade with Russia, such as China and India. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also criticized Merz's statement calling for the "economic exhaustion" of Russia. She expressed doubt about Germany's capability to achieve this. "The one who is exhausting is not up to it, Mr Merz," Zakharova said. Russia frequently focuses on Germany's economic crisis, after the loss of comparatively cheap energy such as oil and gas from Russia, alongside sharp criticism of Merz. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, where the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia categorically rejects the accusation of war crimes and emphasizes that the "military special operation," as the Kremlin describes its assault, serves to protect the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine. The Russians have attacked the city of Lutsk with drones, causing fires in garages, an outbuilding and a lorry. Source: Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk Quote: "The enemy has once again attacked our hromada using many UAVs. Current damage to civilian infrastructure includes two garages and an outbuilding on fire and another outbuilding damaged by debris. A lorry was completely burnt out." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Polishchuk thanked air defence fighters for their combat effectiveness and added that no casualties had been recorded. Background: From the evening of 2 September, Russia attacked Ukraine with drones. On the night of 2-3 September, it launched missiles on civilian settlements. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters was a no-show, but the Oklahoma State Board of Education hired an attorney and began the process of hiring a board secretary during a special meeting. Four board members who have been at odds with Walters since their appointment earlier this year by Gov. Kevin Stitt showed up to the Oklahoma Senate meeting room inside the state Capitol on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 3. At 10 a.m., the time posted on the meeting agenda, the doors to the room closed. Neither Walters, nor the other two members of the seven-person board, were present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not the way to run a state Department of Education," board member Chris Van Denhende said after the meeting. "There's nothing about any of this that is normal or right." Asked why Walters wasn't present, his spokeswoman, Madison Cercy, didn't directly answer, but did mention the name of the board's new attorney. "Superintendent Walters is focused on tackling the big issues facing Oklahoma schools and is pleased to welcome Ryan Leonard to the team," Cercy said. The four board members Van Denhende, Michael Tinney, Becky Carson and Ryan Deatherage have on multiple occasions sought to place items on board meeting agendas, only to be rebuffed by Walters, who as superintendent and board chair has ironclad control of the agenda. So last week, they called for a special meeting, using authority they have under Oklahoma law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob Burke, an attorney working pro bono for the board, sent a letter to Walters on Friday, Aug. 30, telling Walters if the special meeting agenda wasnt posted on the Oklahoma State Department of Educations website by Tuesday morning, the four board members would seek a writ of mandamus from the Oklahoma Supreme Court ordering Walters to do so. The agenda was posted, averting a legal showdown. We found out without any input from the board, that (August) meeting was canceled, Tinney said. So we felt like that left us no choice but to go ahead and call a special board meeting. We've worked very hard to get everything done properly, maybe a little bit of overkill to have this special board meeting, to appoint our attorney. I just wanted to let you know that's our version and that's the truth about what happened, why we had to have this meeting today. Oklahoma State Board of Education special session at the Oklahoma state Capitol, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. No staff from Ryan Walters' agency was at OSBE special meeting No staff from Walters agency showed up for the meeting, held just across the Capitol complex from the Oliver Hodge Building, which houses the Education Department. The board members thought that might happen, so they improvised. Tatyana Blakemore, who works for the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, served as the secretary for the meeting. Matt LaFon, the deputy general counsel for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, was available to provide legal counsel if necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The large Senate meeting room was nearly full of spectators. Those in attendance included state Education Secretary Nellie Tayloe Sanders; former state Rep. Mark McBride, of Moore; Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber; Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa; Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City; Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City; and Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City. In Walters absence, Tinney served as chairman for the meeting. It took the board less than eight minutes to approve the hiring of Leonard as board attorney and to approve the posting of a job opening for executive secretary through both OMES and the Education Department. When the meeting ended, many in the meeting room applauded the board members. I've likened this to hand-to-hand combat, Van Denhende said. Every single day, there's something else that we have to deal with. So, there's no promise other than the fact we're in a better position to address the needs of the students of Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tinney said the other two missing board members, Zachary Archer and Sarah Lepak, had previously scheduled obligations and couldnt be at the meeting. Board seems happy with Leonard, but AG Gentner Drummond might not be Leonard's hiring marks a new chapter for the board. When Van Denhende, Tinney, Carson and Deatherage raised issues during previous meetings, they were shot down by the previous board attorney, Chad Kutmas, who nearly always sided with Walters. After the boards July meeting, three board members asked the Oklahoma attorney generals office to revoke Kutmas approval to serve as a private attorney for a state board. Shortly thereafter, Kutmas law firm withdrew from representing the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four board members had expected to address the issue of hiring a new attorney during a regular board meeting Aug. 28, but the day before, Walters abruptly and unilaterally canceled that meeting, citing turnover in legal representation as one reason. On Aug. 29, Sanders posted a time and agenda for Wednesdays special meeting on the Oklahoma secretary of states website, a legal necessity for any state board. Although state law allows a majority of state Board of Education members to call for a special meeting, no one could remember the last time that had happened, if ever. "The number one job of the board is to serve the students of Oklahoma, and if they are unable to do the business of the board, because they didn't have staff, they're not able to serve the function of the board," Sanders said. "Today was a really wonderful step ... because you have to have staff, you have to have an attorney, and you would have to have a board secretary. And so to be able to hire those key positions, it was a major accomplishment. Citizens gather after the Oklahoma State Board of Education special session at the Oklahoma state Capitol, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. "This was a critical piece to be able to move forward and be able to function as a board to serve the students of our state." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than three hours after the meeting ended, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond who's an announced candidate for governor for the 2026 election issued a statement blaming Stitt for the drama surrounding the board, noting Stitt once had named Walters as the state's education secretary and had appointed the four board members present on Wednesday. "It seems neither side can agree on which attorney is best to advise them as they do further damage to Oklahomas public schools," Drummond said. "The boards decision to hire a politically connected attorney with little to no experience advising a state board is yet another example of the dysfunction that has plagued public education since Gov. Stitt first appointed Ryan Walters. While Mr. Leonard may be a talented plaintiffs attorney and has counseled the Governor through various legal battles against Oklahomas Native American tribes, he is woefully inadequate to serve as general counsel to the State Board of Education." Drummond's spokesman, Phil Bacharach, said that Leonard has previous approval from the attorney general's office to serve as counsel for public boards, but that "does not relate to a request to represent the Board of Education." Bacharach said the office would "wait until we receive the request and review it," as it would do with any such request. Drummond's statement, Bacharach said, "does not telegraph one way or the other" what might eventually be decided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leonard told The Oklahoman he took "great issue" with Drummond's statement, noting previous experience serving as an attorney for multiple state agencies. "I have been told in the days leading up to today that the attorney general was supportive of me performing this role," Leonard said. "This is a public-service role that is critically important for the children of Oklahoma and I was willing to step into this situation, which obviously has some challenges, because of how important it is. ... I don't know why the attorney general would say what he did. He's wrong." Board meeting was first since incident involving Walters' office television The meeting Wednesday was the first for the board since July. The day after that meeting, Deatherage and Carson both reported seeing images of naked women on a television set that was on in Walters' office during an executive session of the meeting. Walters vehemently denied the board members' account and called them liars, while blaming Stitt for orchestrating the drama. Results of a subsequent investigation by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation have been turned over to Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, who has not yet announced any decision about whether or not she'll file criminal charges in the case. Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said a separate investigation he conducted indicated what Carson and Deatherage saw were scenes from the 1985 Jackie Chan movie "The Protector" that accidentally was showing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked Wednesday if she'd like an apology from Walters, Carson said it would be appreciated, but that she was trying to keep her focus on educational issues. "I said from the beginning, this board should not be anything political," she said. "Politics should be completely out of anything that we do. Children should be, and teachers and parents should be, the forefront of our mind on every decision that we make." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSBE hires new attorney in special meeting without Ryan Walters Ryanair revealed on Wednesday that it will be cutting one million seats to and from Spain this winter. The budget airline said that it will be slashing its capacity for this winter by 10 per cent, or 400,000 seats in the Canary Islands and 41 per cent, or 600,000 seats in Spanish regions. In total, it will result in one million seats being axed this year and an annual reduction of two million seats. The budget carrier has blamed this move on uncompetitive and excessive airport charges implemented by Spanish airport operator AENA, which manages all key Spanish airports, as well as a number of heliports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AENA has recently announced that it will be implementing a 6.6 per cent hike in airline fees from 2026 onwards, which will be the highest in more than 10 years, despite the operator seeing record profits in 2025. Related The decision by AENA and its shareholders (including the Spanish Government) to increase already uncompetitive airport charges by 6.62 per cent next year is the latest evidence that the monopolistic airport operator has no interest in developing traffic at Spains regional airports, and simply wants to focus on making record profits from the countrys main airports, Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair DAC, the main operating airline of the group, said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This excessive increase means that most of Ryanairs capacity for winter 2025 in regional Spain will be moved outside Spain to more efficient airports that want to develop traffic, particularly those in Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden and Hungary. Which Spanish airports will see the most cuts? Ryanair is shutting its two-aircraft base in Santiago. It will also stop all flights to Tenerife North airport from the start of this winter, as well as to Vigo airport from 1 January next year. The budget airlines base at Valladolid airport, which has been closed since winter 2024 will stay closed this winter as well. Similarly, the base at Jerez airport will be closed for the whole duration of the winter 2025 season. Other regional airports will also be affected. This includes Santiago airport, which will experience a cut of 38 per cent, as well as Zaragoza airport, with a 45 per cent decrease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related The Asturias airport will see flights slashed by 16 per cent, whereas flights to the Vitoria airport will reduce by 2 per cent. An additional 36 connections between regional Spain and the Canary Islands will also be cut. However, the airline intends to keep growing at major airports like Madrid and Barcelona. These cuts will further harm Spain's already vulnerable regional airports and will inevitably lead to a loss of investment, connectivity, tourism and employment in regional Spain, as many routes will become economically unviable, the budget carrier claimed in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, Ryanair says it contributes about 28 billion to Spains gross domestic product (GDP). What does this mean for European travellers? Spain has long been one of Europes most popular holiday destinations. In July this year, it welcomed 11 million international visitors, the highest monthly total in its history. However, Ryanairs move to reduce flights to and from Spain could make travel to the country significantly more expensive for European travellers, especially to more remote areas. This could be in the form of more expensive and inconvenient flights and overall disruption to their travel plans. It comes at a time when visitors are already dealing with an ongoing cost-of-living crisis. SABINE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The Sabine County Sheriffs Office found more than 140 grams of methamphetamine early Wednesday morning after a routine traffic stop in Milam. According to the sheriffs office, deputies conducted a traffic stop around 2 a.m. near the intersection of Texas Highway 87 and Carter Ferry Road East for an equipment violation. Father, daughter killed by her boyfriend in Liberty City park shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that deputies determined that the driver, identified as 26-year-old Devan Keith Newman of Milam, had a suspended drivers license. He was then arrested for driving with an invalid license. The passenger, 56-year-old Philip Eugene Wiseman Jr. of Milam, also had a suspended drivers license and could not legally operate a vehicle in Texas. Deputies requested a wrecker to the service to the scene and began conducting an inventory of the vehicles contents. During the inventory, under the floormat of the front passenger side was found a small bin which contained two large plastic baggies that both contained a total of 141.51 grams of methamphetamines between them, the sheriffs office said. Wiseman and Newman denied possession of the meth, and both were arrested for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Man steals more than $21K of merchandise using stolen credit cards at Walmarts across Tyler Mugshot of Devan Keith Newman, courtesy of Sabine County Sheriffs Office Mugshot of Philip Eugene Wiseman Jr., courtesy of Sabine County Sheriffs Office Wiseman and Newman were transported to the Sabine County Sheriffs Office, where they are currently being held until their bond is set. 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. (FOX40.COM) The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said it arrested 13 people for attempting to exploit children online. Operation SPF-13 had undercover detectives pose as children aged 13 or younger on multiple social media platforms and communicate with the suspects. The sheriffs office said that despite making it clear that they were children, the suspects continued to arrange to meet and have sexual contact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A video posted by the sheriffs office shows multiple agencies arresting suspects and the process of how the arrest came to be. Some of the suspects traveled up to three hours to meet up with what they had believed were children. One of them allegedly arrived with more than 100 grams of methamphetamine and another suspect brought his 14-month-old baby with him. Authorities stated 13 suspects were arrested across the Sacramento, Placer, and Humboldt counties on multiple felonies and were booked into jail in those counties. The sheriffs office shared a list of the names of the suspects arrested and a brief description of their alleged crimes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rocky Dykes, 36, of Rancho Cordova : Sent nude images to a decoy under 14, pushed to meet for sex, tried to flee on a bicycle and crashed: found with 100+ grams of meth packaged for sale. Joseph Bailey, 44, of Rancho Cordova : Explicitly described sex acts with a 13-year-old and came to a hotel. Allan Cazun-Giron, 44, of Sacramento : Messaged a decoy under 13, arrived at a hotel intending sex. Amad Asim, 30, of Modesto : Booked a hotel room to sexually exploit a 13-year-old. Roland Ed Bain, 40, of Sacramento : Arranged sex with a 13-year-old and was arrested at a hotel. Santos Rodolfo Pinedaamaya, 42, of Sacramento : Solicited anal sex from a 13-year-old; arrived with sexual paraphernalia. Justin Leonard, 37, of Rancho Cordova : Registered sex offender who arrived with sex toys to meet a 13-year-old; claimed he came for pizza and a shower. Robert Flores, 52, of Stockton : Chatted for hours, acknowledging the childs age, brought alcohol, and arrived to meet. Malcolm Tate, 31, of Oakdale : Offered cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol to a 13-year-old; arrived late at night with alcohol, marijuana and condoms. Justin Mixon, 28, of Ukiah: Solicited nude images and attempted to meet a 13-year-old. Cameron Hoppas, 39, of Oakland: Continued chats after the operation and traveled over two hours to meet a child. Hans Fink, 59, of Oakland : Drove to a park to meet someone he believed was a 13-year-old for sex. Ramon Paz, 39, of Olivehurst: Planned to meet a 13-year-old and brought his infant; the infant was placed in protective custody. SCSO said the suspects are facing some of the following charges: Contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex offense Sending harmful matter to a minor Arranging a meeting with a minor Attempted lewd acts with a child under 14 Attempted production of child pornography Controlled substances Child endangerment The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office and our regional partners with the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force are committed to the safety of our children and our communities, SCSO said. ICAC Detectives will continue to deploy proactive investigative techniques to identify suspects who are downloading and sharing CSAM and participating in the continual physical and mental abuse of children. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Salvation Armys sober living program will close at the end of the month, the nonprofit announced Wednesday. The program administered by The Salvation Army Kansas City, Kansas Corps will close on Sept. 30 due to a lack of funding. Man shot, killed by Independence police identified as 68-year-old man Unfortunately, funding for this program ran out in December, and it has proven difficult to replenish what is needed to continue operations, said Major Xavier Montenegro, Kansas City area commander for The Salvation Army. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the biggest challenge we face, and we continue to pray for more resources so we dont have to end beneficial programs. The program started two years ago, thanks to a grant from Wyandotte County ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) funding. The sober living program served residents of Wyandotte County, providing a safe place for those recovering from alcohol addiction to continue recovery after leaving rehabilitation. The facility has a capacity of 24 and will officially cease operations at the end of September. The Salvation Army continues to administer many other supportive service programs, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) for men struggling with addiction Supportive Services for Veterans and Families (SSVF) Emergency rent and utility assistance The Pathway of Hope program and Booth Manor (affordable housing for seniors) The organization said all of these programs and services depend on the generous contributions from individuals and the community. For more information on how to help, visit salarmymokan.org and click on the donate tab. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ATLANTA (KNWA/KFTA) Sams Club will pay $60,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency recently announced. The EEOC previously said a former Sams Club employee at a store in Douglasville, Georgia, was involved in a car crash that left them with post-concussion syndrome, back pain, and muscle spasm issues. The employee sought minor, temporary adjustments to [their] duties as a reasonable accommodation for her disabilities, the lawsuit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After returning to work and completing one shift, the employee was told by their supervisor that they would not be able to work with restrictions and would have to take another leave of absence until they could work without restrictions. The employee informed their supervisor when they planned to return to work without restrictions, but Sams Club denied their request and fired them, according to the lawsuit. The stores general manager informed the employee that Sams Club would not cover her injuries because they occurred outside of work, the release said. Walmart ordered to pay $5.6M to settle California lawsuit claiming shoppers were overcharged Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EEOC said the lawsuit was filed in January in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process. Sams Club will provide monetary relief to the former employee, according to the release. A notice will be posted at the Douglasville store informing employees of the settlement and of their rights against discrimination. Sams Club also agreed to provide the EEOC with periodic reports regarding future denials of accommodation requests at the Douglasville store, including an explanation of why any request was denied, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With few exceptions, the source of a disabling condition is not relevant to whether an employee is entitled to an accommodation for a disability, Marcus G. Keegan, regional attorney for the EEOCs Atlanta District Office, said in the release. The EEOC is pleased that Sams Club will take measures to ensure that its employees understand this principle in the future. KNWA/FOX24 reached out to Sams Club, and a spokesperson provided the following statement: We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We are pleased to resolve this matter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Chinas missiles, fighter jets and other military hardware some on public view for the first time are being displayed in a major parade today in the nations capital. Troops will march in lockstep by President Xi Jinping, who leads the Communist Party and heads the military as the chairman of the Central Military Commission. Xi will deliver a speech at the event, which marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The audience includes about two dozen foreign leaders from countries seeking to improve or maintain relations with the government in Beijing. Many weapons will be making their public debut Much of the weaponry and equipment in the parade is being shown to the public for the first time, Chinese military officials have said. They include land, sea, and air-based strategic weapons, advanced precision warfare equipment and drones. Warplanes and helicopters will fly in formation in the skies overhead. The parade is a show of strength Its the first major military parade in China since 2019 on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China. This weeks commemorates the end of WWII, a conflict that devastated China. The parade aims to instill pride in the populace and assure them that the country is strong enough to ward off any attack. But Chinas growing military strength also concerns its Asian neighbors and the United States. Russia and N.Korea headline the guestlist U.S. and western European heads of state are staying away, as are the leaders of Japan, India and South Korea. North Koreas Kim Jong Un is making a rare foreign trip to attend. He will be joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the president of Iran, among others. Several Southeast Asian leaders are coming, though the Indonesian president canceled because of protests at home. MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Tourism in San Angelo is on the rise, and city leaders say they want to build on that momentum. At the City Council meeting on September 2nd, San Angelos City Council unanimously approved a $100,000 increase in funding for the Destination Marketing Organization, which works to attract visitors and conventions to the city. SAISD issues statement on toy gun scare The DMOs baseline operating budget is $950,000. This additional money will not come from local taxpayers. Instead, it will be funded by hotel occupancy taxes, which are paid by out-of-town visitors when they stay in San Angelo hotels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeremy Bartz, vice president of the DMO, explained the organizations mission. Our job is to get people to the city of San Angelo, come in and stay in our hotels, eat in our local restaurants, shop in our local stores, then go home and tell their buddies about it and come back again. The newly approved funding will support marketing initiatives, including a redesign of the Discover San Angelo tourism website and more targeted advertising campaigns aimed at new audiences. Its roughly a hundred thousand dollar increase, and a big portion of that will go to our website redevelopment and redesign that weve got to do this coming year, Bartz said. It also allows us to go into more targeted advertising campaigns. We know that the traditional ad campaigns are still going to be there, but weve also got an age where social media has taken off, where targeted advertising has taken place, and so we want to capitalize on that and bring more people here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bartz explained that the benefits of tourism extend beyond visitors. According to the state comptroller, travel spending saved households an average of $450 in 2024. With tourist dollars coming in, were saving money in taxes, Bartz said. Households, on average, in 2024 saved around $450 per household based on tourism and travel spending, 330 million in direct spending last year. Thats a big, big number, and thats all per the state comptrollers office. San Angelos attractions, from the Concho River and historic murals to events like rodeos and concerts, give visitors plenty to experience. But Bartz said what makes the biggest impression is the community itself. You dont come here by accident, Bartz said. Youre coming here on purpose. And so when you come here on purpose, we want to make sure that we extend the hospitable arm to you. Good handshake, let you come in, enjoy your time here, and then when you leave, we want to make sure that San Angelo goes with you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the extra support, Bartz said the DMO is ready to highlight San Angelos culture, events, and hospitality to a wider audience fueling even more growth in the citys tourism 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Sandy Springs placing hundreds of AEDs across the city City leaders in Sandy Springs are launching a program to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the city to reduce cardiac arrest response times. The initiative aims to start with 200 AEDs in the community. Channel 2s Eryn Rogers learned that Northside Hospital donated $100,000 to the city to purchase around 100 devices initially. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in America, said Northside Hospital Cardiologist Dr. Jeff Marshall. And the sad thing about it is its sudden, often with no symptoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Sandy Springs says its goal is for help to arrive within four minutes of a cardiac arrest incident. First responders in Sandy Springs say around 4,600 Georgians died from cardiac arrest in 2023, with nearly 90% occurring in homes. [Sandy Springs] was below the national average. If you went into cardiac arrest in the city of Sandy Springs, you had a very low chance of survival, officials said at a city council meeting last month. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AEDs will be strategically placed in businesses and homes, particularly targeting areas with higher incidences of cardiac arrests, using historical data. All AEDs will be connected to a system that allows the dispatch center to activate the device and notify the nearest responder, with built-in GPS providing turn-by-turn directions. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] (KRON) A Santa Rosa man who allegedly threatened to kill his daughter was later arrested by deputies after he shot himself, according to law enforcement officials. The father was identified as Mauricio Flores, 50. The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office said it was alerted around 6 p.m. Monday that Flores was threatening to drive to a residence in Guerneville to kill his daughter and a second family member. Deputies found the fathers vehicle parked outside his home on Hampton Way in Santa Rosa and saw Flores retreat inside, investigators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flores barricaded himself in his home and threatened deputies, triggering an hours-long standoff with a SWAT team, negotiators, and deputies, Sgt. Juan Valencia wrote. During the standoff, Flores shot himself in the chest, according to the sheriffs office. The injury was later confirmed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Shortly thereafter, he collapsed in the doorway of the residence. Deputies moved in, secured Flores in handcuffs, and immediately rendered medical aid, Valencia wrote. Bay Area familys RV allegedly damaged by renter who took it to Burning Man He was transported to a hospital, where medical staff determined his injuries were not life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives from the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (DVSA) Unit served a search warrant at his residence and found a firearm. Flores was arrested on suspicion of making death threats, resisting arrest, and threatening violence toward law enforcement officers. Flores is currently hospitalized. Once he is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the county jail, Valencia wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Columbia S.C. (WSPA) The South Carolina Election commission was served a lawsuit and received a restraining order Tuesday night, temporarily preventing it from sharing voter information with the federal government. Last month the United States Department of Justice requested full voter information including all approximately 3.4 million South Carolina voters drivers license numbers and last four digits of their social security numbers. The plaintiff, Dr. Anne Crook, filed an initial complaint on August 28. Cook is represented by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Brad Hutto (D Orangeburg)s law office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025-08-29 Efiled Summons and Petition(1)Download In the complaint it said Cook is worried about privacy. She claims if the South Carolina Election Commission releases the data the D.O.J. requested, it would violate privacy rights under the State Law and the South Carolina and U.S. constitutions. It adds, if the SEC complies with the U.S.D.O.J. there will not be an adequate remedy at law. She hoped for a temporary restraining order, and after discovery, enter a Final Declaratory Judgement and Injunctive relief along with any other relief the Court deems proper. The court granted a temporary restraining order and motion for preliminary injunction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court said there is a likelihood of immediate and irreparable damage if the data were released. The judge cited privacy protections in state and federal law as the basis for the ruling, and the release of the voter data is now blocked until a hearing scheduled for next Wednesday. 2025.09.02 Efiled Temporary RO.PDFDownload John Michael Catalano with the SEC said in a statement: On August 27, the South Carolina State Election Commission (SEC) directed staff to work with the U.S. Department of Justice to fulfill its request for voter data, in accordance with state and federal election and privacy laws. Yesterday, the SEC was served with a lawsuit and a temporary restraining order prohibiting the release of statewide voter data. The SEC will continue to coordinate with the DOJ to explore lawful options for data sharing while adhering to the courts order. The staff from the State Election Commission still plans on having discussions with the Department of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Jack Schlossberg, the 32-year-old grandson of former President Kennedy, is reportedly considering throwing his hat in the ring to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). In a statement to The New York Times, the social media influencer said it was certainly a possibility that he would run to succeed Nadler, who first took office just weeks before Schlossberg was born. Nadler announced this week he would not seek an 18th term in Congress. He told the Times that while he once might have considered holding the seat until his death, the 78-year-old was now ready to heed his partys call for generational change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that, Nadler told the Times in a Monday interview announcing his retirement. He said a younger successor can maybe do better, can maybe help us more. Schlossberg thanked Nadler for his career of public service shortly after the announcement. Thank you Rep Nadler for your years of service and leadership to our country and NYC heres to the legacy you leave and all the work ahead us !! Schlossberg wrote in an Instagram post, whose comments were filled with encouraging messages for Schlossberg to launch his own bid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schlossberg did not respond to an immediate request for comment. The Democratic primary for the coveted New York City House seat is expected to be crowded. The district spans the width of Manhattan, including the Upper East Side and Upper West Side down to Union Square. Several other candidates are already weighing potential bids, though only 26-year-old Liam Elkind is officially in the race so far. The Times reported Nadler was expected to support New York State Assembly member Micah Lasher, who said he would take a very serious look at running for the seat. Nadler told the Times that he was very fond of Micah and thinks highly of him, adding that any decision about endorsing a successor is way down the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Assembly member Alex Bores and City Council member Erik Bottcher are both reportedly considering entering the race, according to the Times. Former FTC Chair Lina Khan, a favorite of progressives, has landed on several Democratic operatives lists as a possible candidate for the seat, but she told the Times in July that she did not intend to seek public office. When reached for comment Tuesday, Khans spokesperson declined to tell the Times whether her thinking had changed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sep. 2Parents of unvaccinated children in Spokane County could be in for more homeschooling this year. Worries about a measles outbreak spread in the area just as students showed up for the first day of school on Tuesday, and now if a student or staff member contracts the highly contagious virus, every unvaccinated person in their school will be sent home for 21 days, including those with any kind of exemption. Such a drastic disruption to the start of school would be the outcome based on a state law designed to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently appointed Washington Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham called measles the "one of the most contagious diseases" and said his state department has been following the developing measles outbreak in Spokane closely. Ensuring high vaccination rates is among his priorities. "The vaccine is our strongest prevention tool ... to protect them from disease. It's 97% effective if you've had both shots, and we know that is a really effective way of stopping the disease coming into our community and being spread," Worsham told The Spokesman-Review during a Tuesday visit to Spokane. Mark Springer, an epidemiologist with the Spokane Regional Health District, said schools must take measles so seriously because it spreads so easily and can lead to serious complications, especially for children. "This is a disease that has significant mortality risk for kids as well as adults. One in a 1,000 people die from measles. That's not something we see in the developed world," Springer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas outbreak earlier this year had an even higher mortality rate. Out of more than 800 cases there, three people have died. "Most of the time, we never see the full potential of transmission with measles, because there's always a significant number of people exposed that are already protected," he said. If a person with measles comes to school, everyone in the building is considered exposed to the virus. Recent exposures in Spokane County and North Idaho have put local health officials on high alert for additional spread. While known exposures may have been contained, the unknown origin of the initial Idaho cases leave open the possibility measles has spread undetected elsewhere in Spokane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a Spokane student develops measles, it could be disruptive to the entire school even if the virus does not spread waylaying all unvaccinated classmates for three weeks. Staff at multiple school-based health centers can administer MMR vaccines to students. There are health centers embedded in Rogers, North Central and Shadle Park high schools at Spokane Public Schools, and at Shiloh Hills Elementary in the Mead School District. Measles often presents with a high fever, runny nose and a cough. But it is distinguished by a rash that appears three to five days after initial symptoms starting on the face and then moving down the body. The disease is considered extremely infectious partly because someone can spread it for more than a week before they exhibit any symptoms, which typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure. To adequately stop the spread of measles, 95% of the population must be vaccinated against it. According to Springer, only 84-86% of Spokane County children have received the full regimen of the MMR vaccine against the measles, mumps and rubella. North Idaho has an even lower vaccination rate, and the number of fully vaccinated children has been declining nationally for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worsham said the state Department of Health will work to "rebuild the trust" for public health to convince more parents to vaccinate their children. "We're going to have to slow down a bit and have those conversations, answer the questions that people have, and at the bottom line really encourage parents and individuals to have those conversations with their providers," he said. Spokane County has not seen any additional cases of measles since early last week when a Spokane child was presumed positive for the disease. A test has since confirmed the measles case. That individual was exposed when a Bonner County child received treatment at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for then-undiagnosed measles. Those exposed between August 12 and 15 are on the tail end of measles' two- to three-week incubation period, where an individual is infectious but without symptoms. If there are no new cases in the next week, Springer said, it's likely no other people were exposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you develop measles after exposure, it is usually in that 10 to 14-day window. At least for the known exposure in Spokane, we are in that third week," Springer said. More people were exposed when the person with measles received Sacred Heart treatment on August 24. People exposed then are now in the second week of incubation. The health district continues to monitor 80 people who were potentially exposed, including 14 who were unvaccinated or were unsure of their vaccine status. Only a "handful" of school-age children are staying home from the start of school based on a measles exposure. Springer is "cautiously optimistic" Spokane will not see additional cases based on the known exposures at Sacred Heart. But he is still concerned other exposures may have occurred from cases that were not reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the Idaho cases, there was no international travel or a connection to a known measles case, so there could be larger spread than we know about," he said. If an unvaccinated person is exposed to measles, the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine can still provide protection within 72 hours of exposure. Within six days, a person can be given immunoglobulin that can prevent infection. If you're experiencing symptoms associated with measles and may have been exposed, health officials say to call ahead to your medical provider before going in person and potentially spreading the disease. As word rippled across Florida that the state intends to end its vaccine mandate for children, local school districts were mostly playing wait-and-see. Pinellas County referred questions about vaccines to the state. Pasco said it was waiting for guidance. Hillsborough declined to comment. But people who have worked in and around the school system shared deep concerns about the decision, calling it everything from disappointing to frightening to crazy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can just spend a day in a school during flu season, and most likely youre going to come home sick, said Jessica Vaughn, chairperson of the Hillsborough County School Board. My biggest fear is diseases that weve eradicated or gotten under control are going to spread and were going to have more public health crises, and ultimately, our children arent going to be as safe. Kathy Browning, a retired Pasco County school nurse, is former president of the Florida Association of School Nurses. Her initial reaction to the governors announcement: Thats so crazy. Browning said that while there historically have been exceptions to the states child vaccine requirements, they began as a way to honor religious beliefs and to account for children who physically cannot receive the shots. Over time, she said, the trend has shifted toward parental choice, though still under the guise of providing a religious exemption verification form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the vaccination rates for kindergartners across Florida have steadily declined from 94.1% in 2017 to 88.7% this year. Browning worries that as the rates drop, the likelihood of an outbreak of a previously controlled illness will increase. With fewer children immunized, herd immunity will not protect those who are not vaccinated. And because many illnesses dont reveal their symptoms until 48 hours after incubation, many could spread before anyone knows they are sick, she added. One pertussis case can interrupt the education of hundreds of children, depending on what the exposure is, Browning said. The child with vaccinations may be the only one who doesnt get sick in the whole class. She also wonders what might happen to the reporting of contagious illnesses for preventive measures. Currently, physicians are required to alert schools when they diagnose certain ailments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the state decides theyre no longer going to require mandatory vaccinations, are they no longer going to require the mandatory reporting of diagnoses? Browning said. Are we going back to the 1820s? Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, said local union offices were flooded with calls immediately after Gov. Ron DeSantis news conference Wednesday morning, with members asking how they might be affected by changes to school health rules. Spar said the governor appears to be more interested in scoring political points than in doing whats necessary to keep all children safe in school. This is clearly not about the kids, Spar said, noting how broad cross sections of medical professionals have pointed to vaccinations as key to eradicating many debilitating diseases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why are we listening to the outliers? Spar said. We want our students to be safe. He also questioned whether private schools will be allowed to bar students who arent vaccinated while public schools must accept anyone without questions. In other areas, such as academic testing and standards, the state has not made the same demands of private schools as public schools. If that happens, Spar suggested it could be yet another way that the DeSantis administration is working to privatize education. Colleges and universities will be susceptible to change, too. The University of Florida where Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has held a position and had tumultuous relationships with medical faculty groups that rebuked him multiple times has vaccination requirements approved by the Florida Board of Governors. They differ by discipline, but can include vaccinations for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, meningitis and rabies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaccine-preventable diseases do still exist, and contracting these illnesses can have an adverse effect on a students health, well-being and ability to reach optimal academic performance, the universitys website reads. The most effective way to preserve and protect our campus from outbreaks of these infections is by establishing an immunization requirement. Vaughn said she worries particularly for immunocompromised teachers. She said during the COVID pandemic, the school board prioritized the safety of its students and staff, and she worries there will be little recourse for local districts in light of the states announcement. She encouraged parents to contact legislators to push back on the governors plan. I think its disappointing, she said. Its frightening. I think there should have been a lot more studies and a lot more discussion and a lot more from communities before this policy was just kind of pushed through and rolled out. I dont see a lot of opportunity in the way that our governments been structured, unfortunately, to be able to provide protections for people in our schools. Jeffrey S. Solochek and Divya Kumar are reporters covering education as members of the Tampa Bay Times Education Hub. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund byclicking here. Photo by Johner Images/Getty Images As public schools take on increasingly more to support their students, funding shortfalls and ideological attacks from Republicans at both the state and federal levels risk jeopardizing their efforts. At 9 a.m. most mornings, a steady stream of women pushing strollers or holding the hands of toddlers file into the Creighton Family Resource Center for early childhood education classes. Three times a week, volunteers guide families through enrolling in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the states Medicaid program. And twice a month, more than 50 bags of pantry staples are set aside for those in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The center is part of the Creighton School District, and its goal is to help parents prepare their children for kindergarten, whether that means community building via Zumba classes and coffee hour socials or educational initiatives like bilingual storytime sessions. Kelley Blakslee, the centers manager, said that offering resources and guidance early and to the family as a whole is essential to create an environment that can later foster academic success. The work that we do is preventative, she said. When we pour into our families early, (it) helps them to have a better start and be more successful when our kids enter school. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Uncertain funding means murky future for early childhood program Like many public education programs, the centers future is teetering on the edge of financial uncertainty amid anti-public education sentiment from President Donald Trump and local Republican politicians. Its funded primarily through grants from First Things First, the only public funding source in Arizona exclusively geared towards early childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money for First Things First comes from tobacco tax revenues, which have been declining in recent years. A bill seeking to mitigate those losses by placing a tax on vaping products earlier this year was never given a hearing in the GOP-majority state legislature. If the tobacco tax revenues continue to dip, supporters of the states more than 30 resource centers fear it could lead to reduced grant amounts. And its unlikely that the federal government will fill in the gaps; the Trump administration has already shown a willingness to eliminate extracurricular education programs, freezing $6.8 billion in July that had already been allocated for things like summer school, assistance for English learner students and before and after school programs. Blakslee said the center is already operating above the budget set for it by First Things First and is at risk of losing one of its three full-time employees, which could mean cutting the number of classes offered even as demand remains strong. Last year, an estimated 1,500 families visited the center. To offset potential funding shortfalls, Blakslee said the center works to identify financial opportunities elsewhere. It recently won a city grant that allowed it to afford painting stripes in the parking lot, and voters in the district last year approved a bond override for the Creighton Elementary School District, which includes funding for the center to oversee long-needed building renovations. And on Tuesday, the National Education Association, in conjunction with the Arizona Education Association, the states largest teachers union, awarded the center $15,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blakslee said that while the money wont solve the centers current funding quandary, itll go a long way towards patching over any financial gaps during the renovation process or help to hire a part-time member if an employee does have to be let go. Multilingualism in schools faces opposition from GOP As many as 250 students at Creighton Academy, ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade, spend half the day discussing math and science concepts in Spanish and the rest of their day in English. The school is one of more than 100 across the state that use a dual language program. But, despite research that shows the teaching method is more effective than English-only education, it has been reviled by Republicans in Arizona and Washington, D.C. Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, who heads the state Department of Education, has challenged the use of dual language programs in court, suing multiple school districts including Creighton Elementary School District to prevent them from employing the method. An appeals court has said Horne doesnt have the ability to sue, but the long-time rival of bilingual education has asked the Arizona Supreme Court to take up the case. At the federal level, Trump signed an executive order in March that declared English is the countrys official language. Less than two months later, the U.S. Department of Justice issued guidance to federal agencies ordering them to prioritize English-language education and reduce multilingual services. And last week, the U.S. Department of Education rescinded guidance explaining how schools must accommodate English language learners to comply with civil rights laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Principal Katie Cartier said she believes the dual language program strengthens Creighton Academys academic bona fides because students are learning skills that will help them outside of the classroom. Our kids live in a biliterate place, and its important for them to gain as many languages as possible, she said. Cartier said she credits the dual language program for the schools high state math assessment scores. The program is used in math and science classes, and the two subjects share many cognates with English, making the concepts easier to grasp and translate. Cartier said thats reflected in the schools test scores. In 2024, 46% of all students at Creighton Academy passed the math assessment. The state average was around 32% that same year. Every time we are changing and gaining those languages, we are using both hemispheres of our brain, not just one part of our brain, Cartier said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition to bilingual education is closely tied to anti-immigrant sentiment. And the federal crackdown on immigrants across the country is also being felt in Arizonas public schools. Cartier estimates that as many as 75 students left the school over the summer. Parents told her and teachers that they were nervous about ramped up immigration enforcement in the Valley and decided to move to Mexico, or to the citys outskirts. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated her governments handling of its tumultuous relations with the Trump administration, progressive gains and controversial judicial reforms in her first state of the nation address yesterday [Macau time]. Sheinbaum, who is nearing the end of her first year in office, notably left out some of the major problems still simmering in Mexico, including ongoing cartel violence plaguing much of the country and democratic concerns over wider concentration of executive power. Mexicos first female president took office in October and has led the Latin American nation of 131 million at a time of radical global shifts. Despite that, the 63-year-old progressive leader has enjoyed soaring approval rates between 70% and 80% in Mexican polls. Things are going well, and theyre only going to get better, she promised. Here are some of the top takeaways from Sheinbaums State of the Nation address. Navigating the Trump era Chief among Sheinbaums challenges has been navigating Mexicos inextricable political and economic relationship with the United States as President Donald Trump has doled out tariffs globally and pressured allies into making concessions. Sheinbaum has been able to dodge the brunt of Trumps tariffs by going after Mexican cartels and their fentanyl production more aggressively than her predecessor. In recent months, the government has delivered dozens of cartel figures long wanted by U.S. authorities to the Trump administration. At the same time, her administration has insisted that the Trump administration respect Mexican sovereignty, and has rejected talk of potential American military action against cartels in Mexican territory. Under no circumstance will we accept interventions, interference, or any other act from abroad that is detrimental to the integrity, independence, and sovereignty of the country, she said. A day before Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to visit to discuss security issues, Sheinbaum said the governments share a relationship of mutual trust, respect for sovereignty and territoriality, and cooperation without subordination. Just weeks earlier, however, Trump told press: Mexico does what we tell them to do. Drop in poverty and social programs The president also highlighted major progressive gains made by her government and by her predecessor and ally, ex-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Government data released last month showed that more than 8.3 million people in Mexico were pulled out of poverty between 2022 and 2024, something experts said was due in large part to social programs and the government raising the minimum wage. Direct money transfers ranging from scholarships to payments to Mexicos elderly have also gone to around 32 million families, about a quarter of the countrys population, Sheinbaum said. This is the most ambitious social plan in Mexicos history, she said. Carrying the legacy of AMLO Sheinbaum spent much of the speech explaining how she was carrying the legacy of her predecessor, a promise that got Sheinbaum elected last year, and underscoring the countrys strong economy. The president listed a slew of construction projects in the works, including the continuation of Lopez Obradors crown jewel project, the Maya Train. Despite wider global economic uncertainty, she highlighted a strong economy in Mexico, including growing investment and a strong peso. She also nodded to a newly elected Supreme Court set to take office later Monday after Sheinbaum and Lopez Obradors Morena party overhauled the judicial system last year. She called it a profoundly democratic event. The judicial reform, which has judges elected, fueled concerns of democratic decay. Avoiding cartels and democratic concerns The problems Mexico continues to wrestle with were notably absent from Sheinbaums speech. While she mentioned dipping homicide rates, she largely didnt comment on what most Mexicans see as their countrys main problem: cartel violence. Despite promises from Lopez Obrador that his social programs would dip conflict in the Latin American nation, violence in much of Mexico has only continued to rage on. Cartel warfare has fueled bloodshed in Sinaloa, as dead bodies pop up on the streets every morning and nearly 130,000 Mexicans remain missing. Sheinbaum also made little mention of wider democratic concerns attached to Mexicos judicial reform, which was jammed through by Morena last year, and set the stage for judicial elections in June. Critics warned that by popularly electing judges, the party was dealing a blow to checks and balances, by making it easier to get allies on top courts. The majority of those slated to take control of Mexicos Supreme Court on Monday are members or former members of the Morena party. The era of nepotism, corruption and privilege is over, and a new era of legality and justice for all is beginning, Sheinbaum said. Later Monday, Mexico introduced the new court. Hugo Aguilar, a lawyer who spent much of his career defending Indigenous rights, said during a ceremony that as the courts president he will work to give justice to those who have been excluded from the judicial apparatus. MEGAN JANETSKY, MEXICO CITY, MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... Arctic glaciers are shrinking faster than expected and it's not just heat from the sun driving the melt. Scientists working in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the high Arctic, are sounding alarms over microscopic life that could supercharge ice loss, with ripple effects reaching far beyond the polar regions, per the Guardian. What's happening? Recent studies show that microbes living in Arctic snow and ice are playing an outsized role in how quickly glaciers melt. Some of these organisms produce dark pigments that stain the ice, causing it to absorb more heat and melt faster a process known as "biological darkening." Each summer, a darkened zone roughly the size of Iceland forms on Greenland's ice sheet, contributing as much as 13% of its annual runoff. That's no small number the Greenland ice sheet alone contains enough water to raise global sea levels by more than 20 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Dr. Arwyn Edwards, a glacier ecologist, described to the Guardian, the process is a "step-by-step progression." He compared watching the Arctic's decline to visiting a loved one with dementia: Each visit reveals more loss, even if it's hard to notice day to day. Why is this concerning? What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic. Billions of people around the world rely on glacier-fed rivers for drinking water, farming, and hydropower. If ice continues to vanish at this pace, we could see more dangerous flooding in coastal cities, food supply disruptions, and even faster spread of waterborne diseases. Microbes are also tied to methane a heat-trapping gas much more potent than carbon dioxide. As glaciers retreat, they can release methane trapped underground. While some "methane-eating" microbes may help curb the damage, they won't be able to offset all the pollution. The result could add trillions of dollars in costs linked to stronger storms, higher tides, and more extreme weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story echoes others we've reported, like the rise of "blood snow" in the Alps and severe droughts affecting Wyoming rivers. All point to how our warming planet supercharges natural systems in ways scientists are only beginning to grasp. What's being done about it? Researchers are now racing to catalog Arctic microbial life before it disappears, hoping to preserve genetic resources that might hold keys to medical or industrial breakthroughs. There's even discussion of creating a "microbial seed vault" similar to the world-famous crop seed bank in Svalbard. On a broader scale, cutting pollution from gas, oil, and coal remains the most direct way to slow this feedback loop. Installing solar panels alongside battery storage, for example, can make households more resilient to outages during extreme weather. Services like EnergySage make it simple to compare quotes from vetted installers and save up to $10,000. While the microbes may seem invisible, their impact is anything but. The race to understand them underscores the urgency of protecting glaciers not just for polar bears and whales, but for communities everywhere. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The Great Salt Lake is an extraordinary natural phenomenon, the "largest salt-water lake in the western hemisphere." "A remnant of the massive ancient Lake Bonneville, the lake is now landlocked and its waters are salty," according to Utah.com. "It is the largest lake between the Great Lakes and the Pacific Ocean, and is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere." It is also the subject of many legends, the site notes. However, the Great Salt Lake has been "shrinking," according to an Aug. 31 article by Science Daily. That's led to some discoveries that "stunned" scientists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Great Salt Lake, the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere, is in crisis," the University of Utah says on its website, where it sponsors a Great Salt Lake Project. "Decades of unsustainable water consumption, accelerated by drought and climate change, have dramatically reduced water levels. With over 50% of the lakebed now exposed, Great Salt Lake is on a trajectory toward irreversible ecological collapse." The Scientists Found 'Strange Surface Disturbances' in the Great Salt Lake According to Science Daily, "as the Great Salt Lake shrinks, scientists are uncovering mysterious groundwater-fed oases hidden beneath its drying lakebed." The findings were made by researchers at the University of Utah. "Reed-covered mounds and strange surface disturbances hint at a vast underground plumbing system that pushes fresh water up under pressure," wrote Science Daily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scientists are "mapping the hidden freshwater reserves" to see whether they "could help restore fragile lakebed crusts, reduce dust pollution, and reveal long-buried secrets of the regions hydrology," Science Daily reported. Bill Johnson, a professor in the Department of Geology & Geophysics, told Science Daily that suspects "the circular mounds: are the result of a "subsurface plumbing system." Men's Journal has reached out to Johnson by email for additional details. "Water in the lake has spent a significant time underground on its way to the lake. But where that happened, we don't know," Johnson told the site. "Did that happen somewhere in the uplands where the water spent time in the ground and emerged in the stream before going to the lake? Or was it transmitted directly to the lake?" The Great Salt Lake's Water Levels Are 'Far From Constant' The new research is dependent on water levels, but they are not consistent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Water levels in the lake are far from constant. During its recorded low in 1963, some of the lake's 10 major islands became peninsulas," Utah.com reports. "In 1983, when the lake reached its historic high, it flooded houses, farmland and the nearby freeway. Huge pumps were constructed to deposit excess water into Utah's west desert. The pumps were shut down in 1989." The site adds that the Great Salt Lake "is actually the remainder of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, which covered some 20,000 square miles of land in what is now Utah, Nevada and Idaho some 10,000 to 30,000 years ago." "The lake is about 75 miles long and 35 miles wide, with a maximum depth of 33 feet. After a series of wet years, the lake's surface area may be much larger but it will be only a little bit deeper," Utah.com reported. Related: This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Aug 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A beautiful South African flower, previously documented only once, has been rediscovered after extensive restoration work in the canyon where it grows, according to the Letaba Herald. In 1954, botanist Dr. Leslie Codd visited the Blyde River Canyon, where he collected a sample that he originally identified as a known species. However, he later reclassified it as a different genus entirely, Thorncroftia. In the following decade, the surrounding land underwent an unfortunate transformation. What had once been pristine grassland and forest was converted into commercial pine plantations. Invasive pine and gum trees overran the area, and there were no further sightings of the rare flower that Dr. Codd had encountered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortunately, the tide turned again, and the area that had been commercially developed was now set to be restored as the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. Ecological restoration organization Kruger to Canyons Biosphere has led the effort to remove invasive tree species, making room for native plants and animals to flourish. After several years of these efforts, an expedition set out to rediscover the lost plant. Members included Professor Kevin Balkwill, K2C project manager Simon Attwood, and members of the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Plant Specialist Group. They retraced Dr. Codd's steps, and at a recently cleared site, growing on some rocks, they found the rare Thorncroftia plant. "This plant would have been lost forever if the alien trees weren't removed," said Attwood, per the Letaba Herald. "Restoration made the difference between extinction and survival. This discovery is more than a scientific milestone. It symbolises nature's resilience and the power of restoration work." Even more exciting, later analysis revealed that it was an entirely new species. It was originally believed to be an existing species, called Thorncroftia succulenta, from the Soutpansberg mountains, which proved to be a distinct species due to differences in morphology and geographical distance. It was named Thorncroftia coddii in honor of Dr. Codd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This discovery and the preservation of this entire species were made possible by the tireless restoration efforts of K2C and its associates. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. A Scranton man was sentenced to up to 24 years behind bars after pleading guilty to multiple charges of possession of child pornography and failure to comply with sex offender registration requirement earlier this year. Andrew Ultsh, 44, was arrested last year following reports by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of suspected files of child sexual abuse material being viewed and uploaded via Facebook and Instagram accounts, according to Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher. ULTSH Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subsequent investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce yielded 22 files of children under the age of 18 engaged in prohibited sexual acts. Todays significant sentence sends a strong and unmistakable message: those who exploit children will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice, Gallagher said. Ultsh, who was previously convicted in 2017 of possession of child pornography and required to register annually, was also found to be in violation of Pennsylvanias Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act based on the unreported social media accounts. This case was investigated by Detective Jack Kane and Detective Sheryl Turner of the Lackawanna County District Attorneys Office, along with members of the ICAC Taskforce and the Northeast Computer Crimes Division of the Pennsylvania State Police. Deputy District Attorney Bo Loughney prosecuted the case. Ultsh was sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison on the charges, followed by three years of supervised probation. Additionally Lackawanna County Judge Andrew J. Jarbola ordered Ultsh to register according to the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Registration and Notification Act for life. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The question has grabbed the attention of parents, teachers and administrators locally and nationally: what kind of access should kids have to a cell phone when theyre in school? Dusty Johnson, South Dakotas lone member of the U.S. House in Washington who is also seeking to become the states next governor, says he wants to see legislation in Pierre that bans phones during instructional time. Wasko to resign as DOC Secretary Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think we need legislation that says, listen, there are not going to be cell phones in the classrooms during instructional time, Johnson, a Republican, said Tuesday. But then step two would provide some discretion for school districts to manage that and provide reasonable exceptions when needed. Johnson and Sandra Waltman, director of public affairs with the South Dakota Education Association, highlight similar concerns. If you talk to classroom teachers, they would agree, the majority of them would agree that cell phones are becoming a huge distraction during instructional time, Waltman said Tuesday. When I talk to teachers, I got a lot of friends who are teachers, they tell me that those cell phones in the classroom are incredibly distracting, Johnson said. And we all know that cell phones are a temptation for our kids. They get addicted to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waltman estimates that roughly 70% of South Dakotas school districts already have some sort of policy restricting cell phone usage among students. But she stresses that a rule needs enforcement. What we are concerned about is just passing a policy that says there will be no cell phones during instructional times and then leaving it up to the individual teacher to enforce because thats where you find the inconsistencies, and that actually can take away from instructional time if theres not that consistent enforcement, Waltman said. Jon Hansen and Toby Doeden are also vying for South Dakotas 2026 Republican nomination for governor. In statements shared with KELOLAND News Tuesday, they each share support for limiting cell phones in the classroom. Hansen shared his thoughts via text message: I support banning cell phones in public school classrooms to ensure students stay focused on learning, not on distractions, so they can succeed academically. This policy also helps foster healthier social interactions by encouraging students to engage face-to-face with their teachers and classmates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doeden commented via email: For students and parents that choose public schools, phones in classrooms are roadblocks to achieving educational success. They are distractions and a breeding ground for negative influences and bad activity. We should aid our states great teachers by making students more receptive to instruction, not allowing them to chain themselves to their phones during crucial instructional time. Democrat Robert Arnold and Terry Gleason, an independent candidate, are also running for governor. Arnold said in an email to KELOLAND News that a proposed ban on cell phones in the classroom could in fact help kids in our middle school and high school environments, also stating he will not rest until our government fulfills its promise to provide for its people. Gleason said via text message he supports individual school districts taking this step of banning cell phones, but not a state law enforcing such legislation. KELOLAND News also received a statement from Laura Scheibe, deputy secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education for this report: The department does not collect data on cell phone policies in schools. However, this is an important issue. Research has shown that smart phones are having a direct impact on student learning and the classroom culture. I am pleased to see superintendents and school boards working collaboratively to design local policies that meet their individual community needs. We will be watching closely as schools develop rules and strategies to combat the negative effects of smart phones. We appreciate their hard work and wish them success in their efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Seattle police exit 13-year consent decree after judge praises reforms Seattle has regained full control of its police department after a federal judge formally ended a 13-year consent decree that reshaped nearly every aspect of the citys policing. U.S. District Judge James Robart granted the City of Seattles motion Wednesday to terminate the decree, a decision the Justice Department also recognized in announcing the conclusion of United States v. City of Seattle. The courts action marks the end of federal oversight that began in 2012 following findings that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) engaged in a pattern of excessive force and unconstitutional practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said the ruling demonstrates lasting progress. We congratulate the Seattle Police Department on its achievement of sustained substantial compliance with this consent decree, Dhillon said. We are proud to stand by the men and women of the Seattle Police Department as federal oversight ends and the court returns full control of local law enforcement to the city. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington called the transformation an example for other cities. Multiple Police Chiefs, city leaders, community stakeholders, and U.S. Attorneys have supported that effort, she said. I commend the hard work that has led to the end of the consent decree. Long road to reform The Justice Department launched its investigation into SPD in 2011 under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal oversight formally began with a consent decree in 2012. Over time, SPD addressed requirements around use of force, crisis response, stops and detentions, and accountability. In 2023, most provisions were terminated, leaving only a small set of obligations. Wednesdays ruling and dismissal of the lawsuit marked the final step. Mayor Bruce Harrell described the moment as a turning point for Seattle. Over the past 13 years under the consent decree, the Seattle Police Department has undergone a comprehensive transformation, building one of the strongest accountability systems in the country and fundamentally changing how we approach policing, Harrell said. We believe that returning control of our police department to the people of Seattle is the most appropriate next step, as democratic policing works best when officers have the trust and confidence of their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city said it invested more than $127 million into reforms during the decree. Changes inside SPD Officials said the department has made sweeping changes that include: Accountability: Uses of force, stops, arrests, and bias allegations are consistently documented, reviewed, and evaluated. Crisis response: Specialized officers work with mental health professionals to respond to individuals in crisis. Training: Officers now undergo expanded instruction in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and bias-free policing. Transparency: Body-worn cameras are standard, and public dashboards publish data on stops, force, and crime reports. Community engagement: SPD holds listening sessions with Seattle University and residents, along with annual public safety surveys. Oversight system: The Community Police Commission, Office of Police Accountability, and Office of Inspector General provide independent review. Police Chief Shon Barnes said the work is not finished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we embrace change and continue working towards becoming the best police department in the nation, we also understand that todays ruling is just the beginning, Barnes said. With the communitys support, we look forward to engaging with all stakeholders as we work to cement change and innovation as bedrock principles of policing in Seattle. Chief Operating Officer Brian Maxey added that internal review systems now hold officers accountable daily. We are a much-improved department for going through this process, he said. The Consent Decree created internal systems of critical review for our employees they know what they are doing and are accountable. Looking ahead Seattle officials emphasized that oversight will now continue through local institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inspector General Lisa Judge said her office is ready to provide robust oversight of SPD and OPA, bolstered by strong partnerships. The citys Office of Police Accountability and Community Police Commission also pledged to continue shaping public safety through community voices and accountability standards. City Attorney Ann Davison, whose office filed the motion to end the decree, said the ruling is the start of a new chapter. The leadership, officers, and staff of Seattle Police are to be commended for the focus and hard work that went into making this happen, Davison said. This fall, SPD plans to launch the first of a six-part series of public forums across the city, aimed at giving residents and small businesses direct input on crime trends and safety priorities. Seattle police are investigating a shooting that left a 28-year-old man in critical condition after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and threatened her ex-partner late Monday night. Officers responded around 11:20 p.m. Sept. 1 to reports of a shooting near Broadway and East Jefferson Street. They found a 28-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds. Police gave first aid until Seattle Fire Department medics arrived and took over treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains in intensive care. Officers spoke with a 25-year-old woman and her former partner, who is the father of her child. Detectives said the ex-partner was identified as the shooter. He cooperated with police and was taken into custody for questioning. Investigators learned the woman had been assaulted by her live-in boyfriend before the shooting. She told police she was trying to leave the relationship when he strangled her. Afterward, she called her ex-partner to come help her move out. When the ex-partner arrived, police said the boyfriend chased him, assaulted him, and threatened to kill him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to investigators, the boyfriend also threatened to take the gun and use it. Fearing for his life, the ex-partner shot the 28-year-old several times. Detectives interviewed the ex-partner at Seattle Police Headquarters and later released him. Officers recovered the firearm at the scene. The woman was taken to Harborview for a medical evaluation and later met with detectives in the Domestic Violence Unit. Police said probable cause was established to arrest the injured boyfriend for felony assault and unlawful imprisonment. Once he is released from the hospital, he will be booked into King County Jail. Seattle Public Schools Board could vote on police on campus Police officers will not be back inside Seattle schools for the start of the school year on Sept. 3rd, but the school board could vote this month to allow a pilot program at Garfield High School. Despite an effort from the district, city, and the Seattle Police Department that KIRO 7 first broke in May, lifting a 2020 moratorium that bans police inside Seattle Public Schools is still up in the air. Instead, on September 9th, the Garfield community will have one more chance to weigh in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents, students, and community activists have strong feelings about the proposal. The violence that Garfield faces stems from the outside community and bleeds into the school, Garfield graduate Athena McDermott told the school board at its August 27th meeting. Kids will not stop getting shot and killed at Garfield because of counselors alone. Students dont need to be policed, but protected, Garfield graduate Rilan Springer said. When letting an SRO back in, we demand they remain around campus, not inside the building SPD should not be there to punish students, should not able to punish students. I see the introduction of SEOs as oppression of black people at Garfield, Sonya Herrera, a member of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents and students have already fought to get cops out of schools once before, Jonathan Toledo, also a member of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, told the board. We dont want cops at all, Seattle Student Union President Leo Falit-Baiamonte said. He told KIRO 7 some students at Garfield shared their discomfort with the idea of a police officer back inside the school. And the group has a lot of questions if the pilot program at Garfield does move forward. Where would this money be coming from to hire this cop? he asked. How will we make sure that cops do not play a part in discipline? If its at Garfield, what stops it from going to other schools? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student unions fight began this spring. Yeah, so after we saw on KIRO News that Police Chief Barnes intended to bring cops back into school, that was a shock for many organizers in the Seattle area, he said. That was when KIRO 7 reporter Linzi Sheldon sat down exclusively with Deputy Mayor Tiffany Washington and Chief Barnes. When I talk to people, they want us to return to the schools in some capacity, Barnes said then. SPS Executive Director of Safety and Security Jose Curiel Morelos told Sheldon that a memorandum of understanding to lift the current moratorium was ready for the school board to consider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was back in May. We believe that it is enough time, at least for Garfield, to have somebody in place by the start of the school year, Morelos said. So why is it September and no decision? Why are we continuing to spin our wheels? Garfield PTSA board member Alicia Spanswick asked. Shes been waiting for an officer since last year. Her daughter is a senior at Garfield this fall. We cant be lulled into thinking that crisis is over, and we can just go back to whatever we were doing before, she said, because I do think that it will spill back onto campus. Some people might look at this and say, why is it taking so long? Sheldon asked SPS Interim Superintendent Fred Podesta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, we did bring it to the board in June, introduced it, Podesta said. He said based on the testimony they heard at that meeting and feedback at the board, they needed to do more engagement. SPS held a meeting with the Garfield community in July and will hold another session on September 9th. SPS Accountability Officer Ted Howard, a former principal at Garfield, tried to assure board members about the role of an office there. Who picks the officer? Well, that happens jointly between SPS and SPD, he said. Are they directly involved in discipline? Theyre not. Not at all. The city of Seattle said if the pilot program does move forward, funding would come from SPDs budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some board members appeared unconvinced about lifting the moratorium and leaning toward an exception for Garfield alone. Would that mean then that the moratorium would stay in place and there would be a narrow agreement just for Garfield? Sheldon asked Podesta. I mean, we havent worked through the mechanics yet, he said, but I think therell be a space in that moratorium to allow for a pilot at Garfield and I expect that the board will then want us to explain, well, how did that work out before we consider other campuses. The school board is expected to discuss the school engagement officer proposal at its next regular meeting on September 17th. It could vote on the pilot program then. Macau Legend Development Ltd. (Macau Legend) has announced, through a filing to the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEC), its intention to sell its indirect stake of 21.5% in Zhuhai Lai Ieng. This company owns and operates the commercial square in Hengqin known as Legend Ponto Square. The tender officially opened yesterday and runs until the end of October. It aims to sell the total equity share of the project, including 971 real estate units, the majority (862) of which are parking spaces, and 109 retail spaces. According to the same statement, the asset participation will be sold without a reserve price set for bidding, and the highest bid will determine the final transaction value. The sale is subject to preconditions, including compliance with HKEC disclosure and approval requirements and confirmation that existing tenants do not exercise their rights of first refusal. Interested parties must also submit a RMB15 million deposit to secure the contractual conditions. The project, estimated to cost RMB2.5 billion, began construction in 2014 and officially opened in mid-December 2019. In February 2019, nearly a year before the projects launch, Macau Legend acquired the 21.5% stake previously held by David Chow, the former CEO and co-chairman of Macau Legend. In a filing to the HKEC, the company said the deal involved a total consideration of HKD84.5 million, including loans contracted for the project development, which totaled more than HKD20.9 million. The acquisition was justified by the potential value of the property, located about a five-minute drive from Hengqin Port. The company also stated that, in the view of the Macau Legend board of directors, the acquisition would allow the group to participate in and benefit from economic growth in the Zhuhai Hengqin New District, which they claimed to be important for the groups long-term development as well as the broadening of its revenue base. Last week, Macau Legend announced an expected loss of approximately HKD1.42 billion for the first half of 2025, primarily due to the impending closure of its Legend Palace Casino at Macau Fishermans Wharf. The groups board attributed the substantial increase in losses to the recognition of a significant impairment loss of about HKD1.29 billion related to the non-renewal of the service agreement with SJM Resorts S.A. (SJM), which will expire on December 31, 2025. This termination follows plans to close nine of SJMs 11 satellite casinos. As previously announced, SJM aims to retain only Ponte 16 and LArc. Excluding the impairment loss and deferred tax effects, the companys net loss still increased year-on-year by approximately 21% or HKD23 million, due to a reduction of earnings from gaming operations by around HKD30 million. Cape Verde project still open The construction project for the casino resort in Cape Verdes Praia involving Macau Legend is not yet resolved, the African countrys Premier Ulisses Correia e Silva said in a recent interview with public broadcaster TDM. Correia e Silva said the Cape Verdean government still hopes to reach a final agreement with Macau Legend on the project by the end of this year. This follows the Cape Verdean governments July statement giving Macau Legend one last chance. In early July, the government issued a final ultimatum urging the company to present a new plan for its stalled hotel-casino project in Praia or risk losing the site entirely. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Paulo Rocha, said during a visit to Macau that if the company does not present a proposal within the given timeframe, the reversion process will be finalized and the government will seek other investors. Like this: Like Loading... (The Center Square) Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison is suing gun manufacturer Glock and three local Glock-authorized gun retailers, alleging the companys handguns contribute to the citys violent crime rates. Davisons lawsuit alleges the gun manufacturer knowingly makes, markets and sells semiautomatic handguns that can be converted into illegal machine guns through Glock switches, also known as auto sears. Handguns are typically prevented from firing multiple rounds per trigger pull by a sear. The lawsuit claims Glock handguns can be easily manipulated with the switch to convert the gun into an automatic weapon. A converted Glock can fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Glock switch puts the public at risk, it puts children and families at risk, and it puts our law enforcement personnel and first responders at risk, Davison said in a statement on Tuesday. Unlike its competitors, who choose to use different, safer standards, Glock chooses to prioritize profits over public safety. On the gun manufacturers frequently asked questions webpage, the company states that it is strongly discouraged by Glock and illegal to convert a Glock pistol from semi-automatic to automatic. Glock's Austrian parent company Glock GmbH, also known as GLOCK Ges.m.b.H., is also named in the lawsuit along with the three Seattle-area retailers: Pantel Tactical, Bulls Eye Indoor Range and Rainier Arms. The businesses are part of approximately 36 Washington gun stores that Glock maintains formal relationships with. In a social media post, Pantel Tactical referred to the lawsuit as a cute move and said the city is lining itself up for a loss in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well keep doing what we do best serving our community, protecting your [second amendment] rights, and standing tall while the city wastes time and taxpayer money. According to Davisons office, the Seattle Police Department collected 5,746 shell casings at crime scenes in 2023, a 129% increase from 2020. The Seattle Police Department now tracks the recovery of Glock switches and found one or more in 20 incidents in 2023. That jumped to 38 incidents in 2024. As recently as May, the police department found that three people were likely shot and killed in Pioneer Square by converted Glock firearms. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Just after 4 a.m. Sunday morning, another fire started at Thousand Acres Park on the Sandy River Delta. Corbett Fire said on Facebook that this was the second blaze in the area in less than two weeks. As KOIN 6 News previously reported, large numbers of unhoused people have been living in the park despite attempts to relocate them. Corbett Fire Chief Wunsch told KOIN 6 News that Sundays fire was ignited by a car located about 300 feet behind a locked gate that had been breached on an access road. He said it is unknown if the car fire was related to the camps, but they remain a concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The camps have large amounts of contents in them, including propane tanks, he said. Fire spread has been limited due to the lack of wind this year, he said. Even so, future fires could prove difficult to battle since campers have added makeshift barriers to make the area more difficult to access. Access into this area is of concern due to the recent barriers put up after the clean-up attempt in June, Wunsch said. The U.S. Forest Service, which manages access to the Sandy River Delta, did not respond to a request for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Months after a 61-year-old man was shot and killed in Northeast, D.C., police have arrested a second suspect. On Sept. 2, authorities arrested Randall Mack, 42, of Northeast, charging him with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the death of Steven Stewart. Officers found Stewart suffering from gunshot wounds inside a Northeast apartment in the 600 block of 21st Street on May 2, according to D.C. police. He was unconscious and not breathing when officers found him, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Bowser creates Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center Macks arrest comes nearly two weeks after officers arrested 62-year-old Phillip Palmer on the same charge in connection with the case. At this time, it is unclear if the three knew each other. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It's been nearly 25 years since 9/11, when terrorists hijacked commercial jetliners and turned them into weapons of mass destruction. Now, after years of delays, new secondary barriers protecting airline cockpits are beginning to take flight. Inside a Southwest Airlines hangar at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, CBS News was given an early look at the airline's brand-new Boeing 737 MAX with the secondary barrier. It's essentially a retractable folding door that blocks off the front galley and flight deck. It aims to be a more secure option than flight attendants blocking the area with a beverage cart. A secondary barrier protecting the cockpit on a Southwest flight. / Credit: Southwest Airlines "This is kind of the latest edition to provide an additional layer of protection anytime our pilots need to come out of the flight deck," Southwest Executive Vice President of Operations Justin Jones told CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After 9/11, cockpit doors were fortified, and in 2018, Congress mandated that all new airliners have secondary barriers. After years of delays, that regulation is set to go into effect next year. Captain Dennis Tajer, the spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, which is American Airlines' pilot union, said the barriers need to be on every airliner. "It's good to see, but it's been decades since 9/11, and I was out there flying during 9/11, and I saw all that happened," he told CBS News. "That is my yesterday. We cannot have my yesterday become everyone else's tomorrow." Both United and American Airlines have confirmed delivery of at least one aircraft with a secondary barrier. Alaska Airlines said it was expecting its first delivery of planes with a secondary barrier in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delta declined to comment on whether it had any planes with secondary barriers, but said in a statement to CBS News that "Delta continually employs seen and unseen security measures to safeguard our global operation, customers and people." The Air Line Pilots Association says there have been at least 52 hijacking attempts worldwide since 2001, underscoring the need for additional protection. Boeing and Airbus have both started delivering jets with these barriers, they said. Last year, Congress called for adding barriers to existing planes, as well, but so far, the Federal Aviation Administration has yet to certify any retrofit options. Southwest told CBS News it will evaluate adding the secondary barriers to existing planes when they're certified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historian Miles Yu on Chinese military parade: "Trolling is a very good word" Judge lets Google keep Chrome, but says it must share search data with rivals A look back at the first "CBS Evening News" broadcast on its 62nd anniversary (The Center Square) - Taxpayers are covering rents of up to $3,879 per month in Colorado, leading taxpayer advocates to question the growing duration of federal Section 8 housing choice voucher (HCV) usage. "Section 8 needs to focus on lifting people out of the trap of poverty, not putting them into the lap of luxury," said National Taxpayers Union president Pete Sepp in an interview with The Center Square. "It's unfair to ask taxpayers who can't afford mortgages or rents of nearly $4,000 per month to foot the bill for subsidies amounting to that much." HCV recipients remain in the program for an average of 15.1 years thats up from an average of 12.4 years in 2000, according to a 2024 federal report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about a 2026 budget proposal from the Trump administration that would limit Section 8 assistance to two years, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner recounted his meeting with a recipient whose family had been housed by the program for multiple generations. Shes 52 years old, shes been living there since 1973. Shes able-bodied, able-minded. She was raised there. She lived there. Now shes raising her children there, Turner said in a video his office posted to X on August 25, recounting a meeting with a multi-generational federal housing recipient. Thats three generations living on government subsidies that are able bodied, able minded. Time limits are kind of an encouragement, like hey, you can do this, Turner said. Were not just telling you to work, were going to have workforce training around you, were going to have skill training around you to get out of government subsidies, to live a life of self-sustainability. While the NYU Furman Center warns the change could push 1.1 million households out of the program, taxpayer advocates say some kind of time limits are necessary to prevent long-term let alone intergenerational dependency on the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Congressional overseers are right to ask a question about whether there needs to be a rational time limit, Sepp said. It may not be two years, but it cant be two or three generations." The federally funded Section 8 housing assistance program covers up to 110% of 40th percentile rents in the local area, with recipients out-of-pocket costs capped at 30% their aggregate gross income (with an additional 10% if the rental includes utilities). The income can include taxpayer-funded welfare payments. Once admitted to Section 8, a household may use their vouchers for the program anywhere in the country, with the goal of providing recipients with greater ability to move into Opportunity Neighborhoods with jobs, public transportation, and good schools. There are now 4.6 million housing units funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, including 2.4 million housing units in the HCV program, which houses 5.3 million Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Colorado, the HCV program covers rents up to $3,879 per month for four-bedroom homes in the Colorado Springs ZIP codes of 80118, 80914, 80924, and 80927. Of the 43 available four or more bedroom homes listed for rent in these ZIP codes, all but three were below the $3,879 limit. In 80924, which includes Wolf Ranch, there are 28 homes with four or more bedrooms for rent, ranging from $2,099 per month to $4,250 per month, all but three of which are below the $3,879 per month limit. The median rent is $3,250 per month. One $3,250 example is a five bedroom, four bathroom, 3,790 square foot home including a home theater, bar, a large fenced-in yard, and three-car garage. If a family with the average HCV household income estimated by HUD to be $18,558 per year, or $1,546.5 per month, including other welfare payments were to rent this home, the households out of pocket cost for the home is $463.95 per month. This would leave taxpayers on the hook for the other $2,786.05 per month in perpetuity, or until the admitted individual exits or is removed from the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Sepp, keeping out-of-pocket costs fixed, while allowing for portability encourages households to seek out the most expensive home they can secure, instead of trying to save taxpayers money by choosing a home they could more easily afford on their own some day. By fixing the out of pocket exposure, the program is defeating one of its own purposes of encouraging responsibility in housing if youre going to pay the same amount of money, why bother with getting somewhere that costs less? continued Sepp. Should a household start to make more money than the areas maximum Section 8 income limit which for a five-member household in Colorado Springs is $60,750 per year the family would be forced off the program. At $60,750 per year, a household that does not want to be rent-burdened and thus spend no more 30% of its income on rent could only afford rent of $1518.75 per month. That is significantly less than the up to $3,879 of taxpayer-funded value provided by Section 8. As a result, earning more money could cost Section 8 recipients their housing. To not be rent-burdened while paying $3,250 per month on rent, a household would need to make $130,000 per year, or more than double the income threshold at which a family would be removed from Section 8. It makes no sense, continued Sepp. There has to be a comprehensive, data-driven adjustment to all of these benefits. HUD did not respond to requests for comment. Sep. 3A Butler County man is accused of operating a semitractor-trailer without a valid license during a head-on crash in April that killed a Franklin man. What is he charged with? A Warren County grand jury indicted Franklin Brian Gross, 57, of College Corner, for vehicular homicide and tampering with records in addition to misdemeanor charges of vehicular manslaughter, falsification and three traffic violations. The charges are in connection to the April 14 death of 69-year-old David Randolph Wills. What is he accused of? Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Lebanon Post responded to a crash reported at 11:05 a.m. April 14 on Ohio 741 south of Greentree Road in Turtlecreek Twp. Gross was driving a 2018 Kenworth T880 north on Ohio State Route 741 when the truck went off the right side of the road, overcorrected and went left of center, crashing head-on into a 2001 Ford F-150 driven by Wills, who was pronounced dead at the scene, the patrol said. "Defendant did not have a valid commercial driver's license and falsified paperwork in order to obtain a commercial driver's license," his indictment read. What happens next? Gross is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 19 before Warren County Common Pleas Judge Robert Peeler. The stench of racism is emanating from Sen. Eric Schmitts office. I wrote in June about the Missouri senator hiring Nathan Hochman, who was fired from Ron DeSantis presidential campaign after he circulated a promotional video that included Nazi imagery. On Monday, Hochman posted on social media to tease what proved to be unmistakably white supremacist speech by Schmitt at Tuesdays National Conservatism Conference, a gathering where Republicans have been known to commingle with avowed racists. "What is an American?" is the central question of our time. For too long, conservatives have gone to great lengths to avoid giving any kind of serious or coherent answer. But that's changing: https://t.co/OrawG9wrWf Nate Hochman (@njhochman) September 1, 2025 Schmitt unleashed a diatribe against nonwhite immigrants and depicted the United States as the rightful inheritance of descendants of European settlers. His speech titled What Is an American? articulated a political vision thats not so far removed from that of racist organizations like Return to the Land, a white nationalist group that is trying to establish a whites-only community in Arkansas and has sought to expand its footprint to Schmitts home state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The senator denounced fellow conservatives who support legal migration, accusing them of aiding immigrants who he baselessly claimed take the jobs, salaries and futures that should belong to our own children. Invoking the image of a violent mob, he claimed the MAGA movement is a pitchfork revolution, driven by the millions of Americans who felt that they were turning into strangers in their own country. He talked at various points about the U.S. being our birthright, as a nation of settlers, explorers and pioneers; about the real American nation, represented by Donald Trump and his movement; and about we Americans the sons and daughters of the Christian pilgrims that poured out from Europes shores to baptize a new world in their ancient faith. As writer Philip Bump explained with data in a recent blog post, this racist, whitewashed claim conveniently excludes non-European immigrants both those who came voluntarily and those, like enslaved Africans, who did not whose brilliance and backbreaking labor, along with those of Native tribes, literally built the United States. The truth is that the U.S. has never been the homogenous white, European utopia Schmitts speech envisions. Since Day 1, the United States has not achieved lasting progress without contributions from the non-European immigrants whose Americanness the freshman senator from Missouri sees fit to question. But Trumps Republican Party has promoted and empowered unabashed white supremacists known to preach, as Schmitt did, about the purported superiority of white Europeans and their descendants. Its a cynical play that aims to groom white Americans to believe they are at war in defense of a fictional history that exists only in their imagination. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, pushed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the Senate Finance Committee. Epstein, who was a wealthy financier, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges. Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to request the release of Treasury files related to Jeffrey Epstein to the Senate Finance Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oregon senator, who has been investigating Epstein for years, specifically requested in his letter -- which was sent on Tuesday -- "all files related to transactions with Epstein and any co-conspirators," including "suspicious activity reports" (SARs) issued by financial institutions. The reports flagged concerning payments made to or from Epstein, his convicted co-conspirator Ghislane Maxwell and 58 other people and groups, according to Wyden. Nathan Howard | Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images - PHOTO: Sen. Ron Wyden | Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent "The Treasury records shine a light on how high-profile individuals paid Epstein staggering sums of money, which was then used to move women around the world or engage in dubious transactions indicative of money laundering," Wyden said in a statement. MORE: Tens of thousands of Epstein-related records from DOJ released, Oversight Committee says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wyden noted in his letter that Bessent twice declined to produce Treasury documents to the committee. "The facts are clear. Treasury has the authority to produce the Epstein files to the Finance Committee. You have simply chosen not to," Wyden wrote to Bessent. Reuters - PHOTO: Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' sex offender registry March 28, 2017 and obtained by Reuters July 10, 2019. Wyden and his staff viewed some of the SARs last year, but they were not allowed to copy the documents. A spokesperson for the Treasury Department dismissed Wyden's calls, calling it in a statement "political theater." "This is the most transparent presidential Administration in history. We take requests from Congress very seriously and follow longstanding protocol to address them in the appropriate manner. Despite the Senators fantasies, there are no hidden files at Treasury," the spokesperson said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source familiar with the filings told ABC News that the Treasury Department makes all SAR filings available to approximately 400 authorized federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement is then fully authorized at any point to use that information in their independent investigations, according to the source. Wyden's letter is among the growing calls from lawmakers for more documents and transparency from the administration into the Epstein investigation. MORE: 'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released On Wednesday, women who were victimized by Epstein rallied in Washington, D.C. and called on the federal government to release records related to Epstein. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: People demostrate during the Stand with Survivors Rally in support of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's victims, in Washington, September 3, 2025. President Donald Trump, who was once friendly with Epstein, but said they had a falling out years before Epstein was arrested and denied being aware of his criminal activities, reiterated his claims that the investigation was a "Democrat hoax." A mural depicting a Black child reading, located about a half mile from Cass Technical High School in Detroit. | Photo by Jackson Coleman/Michigan Advance September is Black Reading Month, a time when people are asked to read books by Black authors, support Black-owned bookstores, and celebrate Black stories. Malik Yakini explained the meaning on PBSs American Black Journal Black reading is crucial for Black survival, Yakini said. He said reading helps people connect with history and culture while also building strong habits for the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tradition began in Detroit in 1980, when activists including Nkiruka Yakini, Osei Nxele, Malik Yakini, Helen Ray, and David Rambeau started the Black Reading Month Committee. They promoted the celebration with book fairs, forums, and other events. In 1985, Njia Kai created the Turn Off the TV campaign, which became a key part of the movement. Michigan events this month This year marks the 45th anniversary of Black Reading Month. Across Michigan, schools, libraries, and bookstores are joining in. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit): Continuing its Wright Conversations series this fall, with talks from authors and artists on Black history. Detroit Book City (Southfield): A Black-owned bookstore hosting Read-In events and showing new books by Black writers. Local Libraries: Libraries in Lansing, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Flint are sharing reading lists and book displays. Black Reading Month Bookfair (Detroit): Scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, from 59 p.m. at Mama Imani Humphrey Hall in the Detroit Food Commons, 8324 Woodward Avenue. Families and schools are also creating their own observances, from reading challenges to book club meetings. Why it matters Black Reading Month is more than just reading, Yakini posted on his Facebook page on Monday. It is about learning, pride, and giving power to voices that are not always heard. Picking up a book by a Black author can help readers see the past more clearly, understand todays world, and imagine new futures. Detroit started Black Reading Month, but now it is all over Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yakini said people can participate by first turning off the TV, and then by reading a book by a Black author, or going to an event. It is a way to keep the tradition alive, Yakini said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Macau Economic Association reported strong tourism performance but noted a 15% drop in per capita spending by mainland Chinese visitors in the second quarter. Spending from visitors from Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia increased, prompting an industry representative to advocate for targeted promotions aimed at long-haul and international tourists rather than focusing solely on boosting visitor numbers. The Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) recently released its first-half tourist consumption survey, which showed that in the second quarter, total non-gaming tourist spending reached MOP18.25 billion, up 4.6% year-on-year. The per capita non-gaming consumption was MOP1,950, a year-on-year decrease of 12.3%. However, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia all saw an increase against the trend, with Singaporean tourists per capita consumption rising by 22%. Previously, when asked by the press regarding the situation, Maria Helenna de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), said that the total amount spent by tourists is still higher than the pre-pandemic level of 2019. However, due to the uncertain economic outlook in surrounding regions, tourist spending is declining. According to her, the authorities have introduced measures to stimulate tourist spending, adopting a low profit, high volume strategy to attract more visitors through extensive publicity and maintain overall consumption levels. These measures include launching hotel and dining discounts via cooperation platforms. In the future, they will explore additional projects that are appealing to tourists and encourage merchants to participate in related discount activities to drive consumption in surrounding areas. The consumption habits of mainland tourists have undergone notable changes. Data from the first half of 2025 shows that the average non-gambling expenditure per tourist was 1,970 yuan, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 12.8%. In an interview with the Times, Ip Kuai Peng, vice rector of the City University of Macau, highlighted that this decline is linked to the weak economic environment and evolving consumption habits. Notably, there has been a shift in spending patterns, with mainland tourists increasing their expenditure on dining and other areas while reducing their focus on shopping. Additionally, trends such as flash tourism and the replacement of on-site consumption with online shopping are on the rise. Ip pointed out that current economic uncertainties are impacting mainland tourists spending, particularly with reduced household expenditures in first- and second-tier cities. While signs of economic recovery are emerging, consumer confidence still requires strengthening. To address these challenges, the economist suggested that the government implement measures to stimulate domestic tourist spending. Recommendations include expanding the scope of preferential policies for Macau, introducing consumption subsidies and lottery activities, and enhancing tourism + culture and sports experiential offerings. Looking ahead, he anticipates that as residents incomes grow, mainland tourists consumption trends may shift toward personalized and high-quality demands. The deepening of digital consumption and the diversification of travel-residence integration are expected to become significant trends. However, he cautioned that changes in the global economic landscape must be monitored, as they may influence consumption behavior. To balance the development of the mainland market with emerging markets, Ip recommended that the government consider cultural differences, improve tourism infrastructure, establish market feedback mechanisms, and strengthen cooperation with other cities to create multi-destination tourism products. For instance, in marketing to the Singapore market, English can be utilized for promotions, alongside international marketing strategies. For the Malaysian market, it is crucial to respect local religious beliefs and cultural customs, ensuring that tourism products and services align with Muslim needs. In targeting the mainland Chinese market, leveraging social media platforms such as WeChat and Douyin for promotion, and offering cuisine that resonates with mainland tourists tastes, would be beneficial. Budget travel While the number of visitors has increased, the average spending per visitor has significantly decreased. A similar trend has emerged in Hong Kong, where, like Macau, mainland influencers have promoted the budget travel concept on social media platforms. The term $0 Budget Travel has gained traction, highlighting a shift in consumer behavior toward more economical travel options. When discussing budget travel with the Times, Paul Wong, chairman of the Macau Leisure Tourism Services Innovation Association, expressed hesitation in using the term to describe the current situation. He emphasized that travelers needs are dynamic, changing with different stages and guests, and influenced by factors such as policies, exchange rates, tax rates, and trends. In particular, he noted that young people have unique ways of exploring and experiencing destinations. As an association or small- and medium-sized enterprise in Macau, we need to adapt dynamically to the changing needs and diversity of our target visitors and adjust our products and services to meet their demands, he said. He further emphasized that increasing visitor numbers while attracting more long-haul or overseas visitors, balancing different visitor sources, and extending their length of stay all require consideration from multiple angles. According to data from the DSEC, the number of group tourists has dropped significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2023, recovering to only about 30% of 2019 levels. In the first half of 2025, the number of inbound tourists traveling in groups decreased by 2.3% year-on-year to 963,000. Wong noted a major shift in the group tourist model, emphasizing that while the majority of visitors to Macau are still mainland Chinese tourists, the number of international tourists has been steadily increasing, indicating a gradual upward trend. He pointed out that compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, Macaus tourism capacity has significantly improved, with enhanced border control policies and a notable increase in the quality of hotel and tourism services. However, he emphasized that pursuing visitor numbers is not the industrys primary goal. The industry has consistently agreed that the focus should be on targeted promotions to attract long-haul and international visitors. In light of the increasingly integrated entry and exit policies launched by the mainland Chinese government, along with visa-free measures between Macau, the mainland, Hong Kong, and internationally a trend that is gaining momentum Wong emphasized the necessity for Macau to enhance the appeal of its tourism resources. He advocated promoting collaboration between small- and medium-sized enterprises and local communities to make Macaus tourism facilities more attractive. Even for short-haul travelers, if we can optimize and enrich our tourism facilities, we can increase their spending and lengthen their stay, he stated. For instance, performances, events, and concerts could attract residents from Zhuhai or Zhongshan, encouraging them to extend their visits and boost their spending. He underlined that the tourism industry must explore how to leverage the value of short-haul travelers effectively. Regarding budget travelers, the MGTO director reportedly made a public statement during a joint interview with Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area media during their tour in Macau in June. She stated, We do not discriminate against budget travelers. Although they may only stay for a few hours, they still generate consumption. She expressed hope that all travelers in Macau can find suitable consumption venues and encouraged everyone to explore local community shops in Macau, rather than necessarily spending money at expensive places. Senna Fernandes noted that Macaus tourism industry has been on an upward trajectory since the pandemic, and despite the economic downturn, Macau will rise to the challenge. She explained the spending patterns of Macau tourists, stating, For example, out of MOP100 spent, MOP45 is allocated to shopping, MOP23 to accommodation, and the remaining MOP32 to food and beverages. Like this: Like Loading... SARAJEVO (Reuters) -The parliament of Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic has approved a government reshuffle that the opposition says is illegal because it was initiated by the region's president who has been banned from politics. The vote late on Tuesday deepens a crisis over a Serb separatist drive that amounts to one of the biggest threats to peace in the Balkans since the wars that followed Yugoslavia's collapse. The Serb Republic makes up Bosnia and Herzegovina along with a federation shared by Bosniaks and Croats under the Dayton peace accords that ended a 1992-95 conflict that killed about 100,000 people and displaced around 2 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Serb Republic government reshuffle was set in motion by Milorad Dodik, who last month was stripped of his mandate as the Serb Republic's president by Bosnia's election commission. An appeals court had earlier upheld a verdict jailing Dodik for a year and banning him from politics for six years for defying the rulings of the international envoy who oversees civilian implementation of the Dayton accords. Dodik, a Russian-backed separatist who wants the Serb region to secede from Bosnia, has rejected the commission's decision and stayed on, but the election commission has called a November 23 election to elect a successor. Saying changes were needed in the Serb Republic's government to meet "challenges ahead", Dodik asked regional Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic to resign and nominated former agriculture minister Savo Minic to replace him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reshuffled government, which includes only four new faces, was approved by 50 deputies from the governing coalition led by Dodik's SNSD party. Opposition deputies did not attend the vote. They said the government would be illegal because Dodik had lost his mandate as president. Minic said the government would work to return Bosnia to what he depicted as post-war basics, echoing Dodik's stance that only institutions that existed in the so-called "original Dayton deal" were acceptable to Bosnian Serbs. Minic announced a referendum on Dodik's status and said the Serb Republic had the right to self-determination. (Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic) The Trump administration is threatening to withhold sex education funding from states that won't strike "gender ideology" from their curriculums. State governments must "remove all references to gender ideology in their federally-funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) educational materials within 60 days," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week. "This action reflects the Trump Administration's ongoing commitment to protecting children from attempts to indoctrinate them with delusional ideology," the agency said in a press release. What Is 'Gender Ideology'? There's a lot going on there, but what jumps out at me first is the way this is positioned as part of a larger culture war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The term "gender ideology" has no fixed meaning, of course, but it's become a common phrase on the right. For some, "gender ideology" only conjures up more radical ideas about sex and about genderfor instance, the idea that biological sex itself is a total construct. But for many, it seems to apply to the whole idea that people could have a gender identity apart from their biological sex, or the idea that being transgender is anything other than mental illness or degeneracy. In this case, HHS isn't just asking sex ed programs to refrain from teaching more disputed ideas about sex and gender but from asking students their pronouns or even acknowledging transgender people at all. One example of offending content that HHS gives is a sentence in a section on diversity that says "some may identify as male, female or transgender." To call that a form of indoctrination, rather than simply an acknowledgement of reality, is pretty absurd. And some of the examples don't even have anything to do with gender identity and are simply about gender more broadly. Another example given by HHS of offending content is an instruction to sex ed teachers that "it is important to use gender neutral language while facilitating the sessions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The battle is over the curriculum used in the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which was created by the Obama administration. It's used by some public schools, and also by some state-run education programs for minors in prison, juvenile detention, and foster care systems. Sex Ed Is Inherently Ideological HHS Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison said the administration's decision was meant to ensure that "federal funds will not be used to poison the minds of the next generation or advance dangerous ideological agendas." But only funding sex ed programs that refrain from any mention of gender identity is an ideological agenda of its own. Of course, the content of sex education curricula has long been a matter of ideological and political contention. For most of my younger years, the fight focused on whether programs should have to teach abstinence-only education. Now, the fight has apparently moved on to whether it's OK to talk about gender identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The battle changes, but the underlying theme of using youth sex ed programs to fight larger cultural and political battles remains the same. On one level, there's no way to depoliticize sex education. Questions about sex, gender, and sexualityand how to talk to young people about these thingsare inherently value laden and will always divide people of different values. But tying sex education programs to federal funding makes this paradigm so much worse. It inevitably invites these programs to reflect the whims of whoever is in national power. And what we definitely do not need is one, nationwide take on how sex ed programs should handle the topic of genderor any topic, really. More Local Control, More Parental Control That gets at the crux of this whole issue: the way federal funding is used to fuel ideological aims across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we want individual states, school districts, and schoolsand the students and parents directly involved with themto have more say, we need to divorce sex ed programs from federal funding. That won't be easy, of course. (The PREP program is only one of the programs through which the federal government funds sex ed.) But it's the only way to ensure a modicum of local control. Sex ed programs being funded at a state or local level won't somehow make sex ed curriculum non-contentious. Conservative states may still wind up with sex ed programs that many will consider too conservative, and less conservative states may still wind up with programs that many will consider too radical. But divorcing sex ed from federal funding will allow these battles to play out based on the values and sensibilities of local communities, not the whims of far-removed political figures. It will allow for different communities to take different approaches, rather than being forced to follow a one-size-fits-all approach. And it will ensure that we stop seeing sex education across the country constantly shifting based on national political priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Localizing these battles also means that parents and students in individual areas have more of a chance of actually influencing outcomes, since it's much easier to change policies in your local school district than on a national scale. And pairing state and local funding of sex ed programs with more school choice gives parents and students even more opportunity to both influence local policies on sex education and to wind up in schools where what's being taught is OK with them. Court Won't Break Up Google A federal court won't break up Google, despite the federal government pushing for it to do so. In fact, the government "overreached in seeking forced divesture of these key assets, which Google did not use to effect any illegal restraints," Judge Amit P. Mehta wrote. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has rejected several of the Department of Justice's proposed remedies in a federal antitrust case in which Google was found guilty of illegally maintaining a monopoly on internet searches and on search advertising (not to be confused with the DOJ's other antitrust case against Google.) The government responded by proposing that the court force Google to sell off its web browser, Chrome, among other remedies. Now, federal judges have respondedand rejected a forced breakup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Courts must approach the task of crafting remedies with a healthy dose of humility," wrote Mehta. "This court has done so. It has no expertise in the business of [general search engines], the buying and selling of search text ads, or the engineering of GenAI technologies. And, unlike the typical case where the court's job is to resolve a dispute based on historic facts, here the court is asked to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future. Not exactly a judge's forte." Ultimately, Mehta decided to bar Google "from entering or maintaining any exclusive contract relating to the distribution of Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant, and the Gemini app" and to make some of its search index and user interaction data available to competitors. But Google "will not be required to divest Chrome; nor will the court include a contingent divestiture of the Android operating system in the final judgment," said Mehta's ruling. Nor will it be barred from making payments or offering other consideration to distribution partners for preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, or its GenAI products." The court will not force Google to give users of its products a choice screen allowing them to choose other browsers, etc. Nor will Google be required "to underwrite a nationwide public education campaign," as the government requested. ("That remedy does not fit Google's violations and its terms are too indefinite," the court said.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today's ruling in the Google search case wisely avoids most of the requests from the Department of Justice," said Jessica Melugin, director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute's Center for Technology and Innovation, in an emailed statement. "But the mandated data sharing introduces questions about who might qualify as a 'qualified competitor' and if that benefits consumers, or just Google competitors." Jennifer Huddleston, a senior fellow in technology policy at the Cato Institute, hopes Mehta's ruling will positively influence judges in future antitrust tech cases concerning technology companies. "There are still concerns regarding the underlying decision," said Huddleston, and " in other antitrust cases against tech companies are ongoing." But "perhaps courts will also consider the caution about their inability to predict the future and recognize that innovation often remains our best competition policy." More Sex & Tech News Reps. Ro Khanna (DCalif.) and Thomas Massie (RKy.) are trying to force a vote on legislation that would require the Department of Justice to release files on Jeffrey Epstein. The pair held a news conference this morning with Epstein victims. More fallout from age verification laws: Porn data may be getting leaked in France, Mississippi residents are being blocked from an artist journaling platform, and porn platforms that aren't complying with the U.K.'s Online Safety Act are seeing a massive traffic boost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony this morning on how the U.K.'s Online Safety Act and the European Union's Digital Services Act may be threatening free speech and innovation in the United States. U.K. Parliament member Nigel Farage testified, along with Lorcan Price of the Alliance Defending Freedom International and Morgan Reed of the App Association. You can check it out here. Porn age verification laws "are occurring alongside a remarkable shift in public opinion," notes the Young Men Research Initiative: Young men are historically the heaviest consumers of porn and have traditionally been split on adding more restrictions," it points out. "But young men's attitudes appear to be shifting. While there is strong evidence that a majority of young men would not support a total prohibition on porn in the U.S., a 2025 Survey Center on American Life poll found that 64 percent of men ages 18-24 agree that accessing porn should be more difficult. This represents a significant increase from just 51 percent in 2013, and was well above the measured support from men ages 25-54 (just below half). Ruxandra Teslo on vaccinating newborns for hepatitis B at birth (and, no, it's not because of a refusal to stigmatize "degeneracy" among expectant mothers). How "end demand" policies harm sex workers. Today's Image Louisville | 2024 (ENB/Reason) The post Sex Ed Classes Can't Teach 'Gender Ideology' If States Want Federal Funds appeared first on Reason.com. VENICE, Italy (AP) In January 2024, a 6-year-old girl trapped inside a bullet-riddled car in Gaza City begged for someone to rescue her. Contact was lost with the first ambulance. Hind Rajab, five family members and two medics were found dead 12 days later. The impact of the story, and the audio of Hinds voice from that call, has been vast, inspiring songs, protest movements and now a film from Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania. The Voice of Hind Rajab, which debuted Wednesday at the Venice Film Festival, is a shattering document of the Israel-Hamas war, set entirely inside the dispatch center of the Palestine Red Crescent Society rescue service. The film uses the real audio of Hind's call, while actors portray the first responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you hear her voice you feel powerless, Ben Hania told The Associated Press recently. Hinds cousin, Layan, who was in the car, had told family members that Israeli forces were firing on them before she was killed. The Red Crescent said Israeli troops fired on its ambulance. Asked for comment, the military said the incident is still being reviewed, without elaborating. Listening to the audio, which was shared widely on social media in the 12 days after the Red Crescent lost contact with its medics and Hind, Ben Hania said she felt like she needed to do something, to help the innocent voice she was hearing. I felt like she was asking me to rescue her, Ben Hania said. Its not rational what Im saying, because I knew the tragedy already happened. I asked of myself, What I can do, and I only know one thing: how to tell stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her resolve intensified after she heard the full recordings of the calls that day. The urgent imperative to make the film meant that she would have to put another project, which she was preparing to shoot, on hold, and work more quickly than she ever had before. There was kind of an emergency that I was feeling and I contaminated everybody, she said. Her first step was to talk to Hinds mother, Wissam Hamadah, who gave her blessing and told her all about her daughter, from her love of the sea to her dreams of being a dentist. Then Ben Hania went about gathering her cast, including Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury and Amer Hlehel. It was important to her that her actors were Palestinian. In some ways, everything was there for her to draw on with the real transcripts. She just needed to find a cinematic way to do it, and the language of movies was available to her. Here was, in essence, a rescue mission, full of urgency, high emotions and frustrating bureaucratic red tape, that plays out like a Hollywood thriller, without a happy Hollywood ending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is happening in this story and in Gaza in general, is something that is beyond fiction, Ben Hania said. I didnt have to invent anything, which is crazy. The story, the recording, starts with her cousin dying. And now there is another child who we must rescue. One thing she didn't want to show was a little girl trapped in a shot-out car full of dead bodies. Ben Hania's camera stays purposefully put inside the Red Crescent. For me, it wasnt very interesting to show the images of the horror because we see them all over the internet. It doesnt mean that they have no impact, but its like the world became insensitive, Ben Hania said. The choice to tell the story from this perspective for me was the best way. I felt like I was given something sacred, the voice of this little girl. The making of the film was emotional for everyone. It wasnt uncommon for the crew members to be in tears. Then there were the actors, who were responding to Hinds real voice, reciting nearly verbatim what their real-life counterparts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are great actors but there was a genuine reaction from them to hear this voice, she said. It was beyond acting. The Voice of Hind Rajab was expected to be one of the most affecting films of the festival and awards season. After the film was completed and selected for Venice, Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuaron and Jonathan Glazer all joined as executive producers. Tunisia has also decided The Voice of Hind Rajab will be its candidate for best international feature at the Oscars. Ben Hania has two Oscar nominations to her name already, for best documentary (Four Daughters) and best international feature (The Man Who Sold His Skin). The conflict in Gaza has loomed over the festival from its start, with calls to disinvite actors for their views, questions to filmmakers and actors about an indie film companys funding ties to the Israeli military, and a large-scale protest that drew thousands this weekend. The Health Ministry says over 63,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 22-month war, which began when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 hostages and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals, but 48 remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ben Hania said the Hind Rajab Foundation, a legal group based in Belgium, was not involved. The Voice of Hind Rajab does not yet have theatrical distribution in North America, but Ben Hania hopes that it will be seen all over the world. I dont want to tell the audience what to take away from the film, she said. I just want them to see it. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Venice Film Festival, visit https://apnews.com/hub/venice-film-festival. Fast fashion giant Shein is conducting an investigation of its internal processes after using the likeness of Luigi Mangione to model clothing. The company has since taken down the image of Mangione -- who is accused of carrying out the assassination-style killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year -- and vowed to review their monitoring processes. "The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery. We have stringent standards for all listings on our platform. We are conducting a thorough investigation, strengthening our monitoring processes, and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies," a Shein spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an archived page from Shein's website, an image of Mangione's likeness was used to advertise a patterned short-sleeve shirt that retailed for about $10. Curtis Means/Pool/Getty Images - PHOTO: Luigi Mangione appears at a hearing for the murder of UHC CEO Brian Thompson at Manhattan Criminal Court on February 21, 2025 in New York City. The exact origin of the image and how long it was used by Chinese e-commerce giant is unclear. A Shein spokesperson said the image was provided by a "third party vendor," who they plan to take "appropriate action against." An analysis of the image conducted by ABC News could not conclusively determine if artificial intelligence was used to generate the image. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to charges that he murdered Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan Street in December. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Mangione is convicted. His trial date has not been set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment about the image. MORE: Luigi Mangione may have influenced mass shooting at Manhattan's NFL headquarters: Prosecutors Jen Golbeck, a University of Maryland professor whose research focuses on artificial intelligence and social media, told ABC News that Shein's photo appears to be a hybrid of Luigi Mangione photoshopped to an AI-generated body. Golbeck said that there are often small details that can indicate whether something has been AI-generated. In this photo, she said, some features -- like his hand, fingers, and arm hair -- appear to be clear signs that the image was partially generated with AI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In this photo, he's kind of got his hand up, kind of behind his head, on his neck, and the hand looks really weird. It sort of looks like a claw hand, where there's like an undifferentiated blob of fingers on one hand. You can't really see the separation there, so it looks pretty unnatural," she said. However, other signs suggest the photo was created using old-school techniques, such as superimposing one image on top of another, according to Golbeck. She noted that Mangione's face appears to be an "exact match" and was potentially lifted from a photo of the alleged murderer, then imposed on an AI-generated body. The use of Mangione's image appears to be one of the more extreme examples of using AI to create advertising, as the practice becomes more common. Popular clothing store J. Crew recently faced criticism for appearing to use AI-generated models in promotional material. The company said in a statement that they were "exploring new forms of creative expression." Last year, Coca-Cola released a Christmas ad created entirely using AI, sparking criticism from some customers about the authenticity of seemingly ordinary advertising. A campus-wide shelter-in-place that was issued at UMass Lowell Wednesday afternoon in response to a report of an armed man on campus was lifted around 5:30 p.m., according to the universitys emergency alert system. Based on a search and investigation, law enforcement partners believe the suspect is no longer in the vicinity, a text message sent through the alert system reads. A large police presence is being maintained on campus, and officers will be stationed at all residence halls overnight. During a Wednesday night press conference, UMass Lowell Police Chief Ronald Dickerson declined to say how authorities determined that the suspect is no longer on campus, stating that doing so could compromise the investigation. However, he said, students should feel confident that they are safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At no time was this an active shooter situation, and there is no evidence of shots fired, Lowell police wrote in a Thursday evening press release. Lowell police received a report of a person at UMass Lowell who may be armed with a gun shortly before 2:30 p.m., the police department said. A student reported seeing a suspect with a gun behind the Riverview Suites student dorm on Middlesex Street, Dickerson said during the press conference. Soon after, a video of the suspect was sent to police. Authorities later confirmed the presence of the suspect through security camera footage, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lowell police also mentioned a social media video previously referenced by State Police that appears to show an armed person walking near Riverview Suites. Police have not confirmed that the person seen in the video is carrying a weapon, but Dickerson said the suspect appeared to be holding a long firearm. Lowell police, Massachusetts State Police, a SWAT Team and several federal law enforcement agencies responded to the campus to search for the suspect using drones, K-9 units and the State Police Air Wing, Lowell police said. Authorities are still investigating the incident, Lowell police said. They are asking anyone with information about it to call 978-937-3200. All classes and events at UMass Lowell have been cancelled for the rest of the day. Wednesday was the first day of classes at the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No further information about the incident has been released. More local crime stories Read the original article on MassLive. Shelter-in-place order lifted at UMass Lowell after report of armed man on campus The shelter-in-place order at UMass Lowells campus following a report of a person with a gun was lifted after police searched the campus for several hours. Police received a report from a student of an individual with a gun behind a dorm shortly before 2:30 p.m. Officers were also made aware of a viral video circulating and Lowell police officers began to search the campus alongside several other agencies, including Massachusetts State Police and the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shelter in place was lifted just after 5:30 p.m., about 3 hours after the order was first put into place. Police say there are no reports of anyone hurt or shots fired, and at no time was there an active shooter. Police will remain in the area as a precaution throughout the night. A Boston 25 News staff member who receives alerts from UMass Lowell received a text alerting students and staff members that police were responding to a weapons incident. Another alert stated that police are searching for a 55 asian male wearing a gray or white sweatshirt and black shorts carrying a long weapon." Shortly before 5:00 p.m., students and staff began to pour out of buildings on campus as police facilitated a controlled evacuation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After an extensive search and investigation involving city and state police partners, law enforcement determined the suspect was no longer in the vicinity. The shelter in place order was lifted shortly after 5:15 p.m. (However, classes and events remained canceled for the rest of the day.), a UMass Lowell spokesperson said. FBI Boston also responded. Several cruisers could be seen patrolling the area around the Rearview Suites and a helicopter could be seen circling the area. Boston 25 News spoke with a student who began sheltering in a south campus building around 2:30 p.m. We received a bunch of text messages and e-mails saying that we need to stay put, stay in place and yeah, since then, were just in the hallway, said junior Wafaa Kalai. The class has been canceled. So most of the classrooms are actually closed and locked. The doors are locked and yeah, were in the room in the hallways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kalai is a transfer student who was in the middle of the first day of classes on campus when she got the alert to shelter in place. There was nothing like this in my mind coming to a first day of school. Im a public health major, said Kalai. What I do and what I study for is to care for peoples health and life. And being in a public school and being in Massachusetts, I thought that we are more on the safe side. So this definitely wasnt in my mind, it wasnt in my plans, but now Im shook to my core. Another student, freshman Tyler Bernier, told Boston 25 News that he barricaded himself in a lecture hall with over 100 students. #UPDATE: Students tell me authorities are slowly evacuating buildings on campus. Once freshman, barricaded with 100+ students, sent me these videos. He says it was first day of class. Theyre being evacuated now by police. He says, Were okay a little jumpy. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/z4tyt0baCe Daniel Coates (@danielcoates_25) September 3, 2025 Lowell police asked residents to stay away from the area of Middlesex Street, Pawtucket Street, and Broadway Street as police searched for the alleged armed man. Community Advisory There is currently increased police activity in the area of Middlesex Street, Pawtucket Street, and Broadway Street. Residents and visitors are asked to avoid the area. Thank you. LPD6 pic.twitter.com/P4gCPJmRgd Lowell PD (@LowellPD) September 3, 2025 Lowell Public Schools also directed students to stay away from UMass Lowells south campus at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students on the Bartlett and Stoklosa Cross Country teams are safely sheltering inside their schools, Lowell public schools said. Students who are still on buses will be delayed because of the rerouting of traffic, so be patient at the bus stop. Any student who cannot get to their bus stop do to the lockdown in the South Campus area will be taken to the Moody School. Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan posted on social media that she was monitoring the situation and asked people to follow directions from officials. I'm actively monitoring this situation and in touch with local officials. If you are in Lowell, please follow directions from @LowellPD and @UMassLowell. https://t.co/YrliR5shJh Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) September 3, 2025 A press conference is expected to take place later Wednesday evening. 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 Newark Mayor Ras Baraka endorsed former rival Mikie Sherrill at a campaign event Wednesday following a lengthy primary campaign in which they faced off for the Democratic nomination for governor. Sherrill, the winner of the primary, stood alongside Baraka, the mayor of New Jerseys largest city, as she accepted his support during the event at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark. Barakas endorsement was long anticipated as Sherrill prepares to square off against Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli in Novembers election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baraka committed to helping Sherrill organize but also promised to continue their conversations about issues where the pair disagree. I pledge to get out here and fight and organize so she can become governor, and I pledge that when she is the governor that she will not see the last of me, Baraka said. The congresswoman represents our best chance, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka says as he endorses Democratic governor nominee Mikie Sherrill, his former primary opponent, at a Baptist church in his city. pic.twitter.com/p1qB3UuhCG Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) September 3, 2025 Sherrill said the governors race is the Democrats to lose. The only way we lose this race in New Jersey is if Democrats dont vote, the congresswoman said. If we get divided, if we are not together, if we dont stand up for the things we believe in, the communities we want to serve, thats the only way we lose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baraka previously talked about the importance of the party uniting to fight Ciattarelli and President Donald Trump. The endorsement comes at a critical juncture for Baraka. He made national news when he was arrested by ICE agents during a visit to a detention facility in Newark in May. Barakas charges were eventually dropped but U.S. Rep LaMonica McIver, a fellow New Jersey Democrat, is facing federal assault charges. Congresswoman McIver arraignment Sherrill, a member of the U.S. House represeting New Jerseys 11th Congressional District, condemned the incidents while she was still running against Baraka in the primary. She has also been critical of the charges McIver is facing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ciattarelli has supported the arrests and the charges against McIver. He has also vowed to get rid of the states Immigrant Trust Directive, which was put in place by the state attorney general to ban local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE and other federal officials on civil immigration matters. The directive still allows law enforcement to cooperate in cases involving violent crimes and warrants. Barakas endorsement comes with a coalition that identifies itself as progressive. Sherrill ran in the primary as a moderate. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, another primary opponent who identified himself as a progressive, ran a heated campaign critical of Sherrill as a machine candidate. Fulop has maintained that critique post-election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Republican Party put out a statement criticizing Barakas endorsement of Sherrill. Mikie Sherrill didnt just accept Ras Barakas endorsement, she embraced his radical record by standing with him on the campaign trail today, the NJGOP said in a statement. Voters of color and independents could play a large role for Sherrill. Black voters in particular have historically voted for New Jersey Democrats in high percentages. But Ciattarelli has been courting multiple civil rights organizations, touting his stances on issues like school segregation and diversity in government contracts, to help woo voters of color. Ras Baraka endorses Mikie Sherrill Sherrill said she would engage voters on the same issues and argued Ciattarelli would be ineffective due to his connection to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not how any of us get ahead, Sherrill said of Ciattarelli being endorsed by Trump. Thats not how our kids get ahead, its not how our families get ahead, its not how anybody in this room gets ahead. A recent Fairleigh Dickinson poll showed Sherrill leads Ciattarelli with Black voters in the state 58% to 20%. But that is still a steep decline from the 94% of Black voters who voted for outgoing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in 2017. Sherrills selection of Centenary College President Dale Caldwell as her running mate for lieutenant governor was also seen by many as a move to broaden her supporters. Caldwell, a Black man, is the son of the late Rev. Gilbert Caldwell, a civil rights icon who marched with Rev. Martin Luther King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baraka has pushed Sherrill on her positions on Black maternal health, the wealth gap, and civilian review boards that have oversight over police misconduct with subpoena power. Sherrill, a former prosecutor, has said that giving the boards subpoena power are an example of something she and Baraka still disagree on. Sherrill emphasized that she and Baraka are an example of how different factions of the Democratic Party can still come together. Baraka said hed rather argue with Sherrill over civilian complaint review boards than debate her about whether the National Guard should be on our streets, referring to Trumps recent efforts to send the National Guard into Washington, D.C., and other cities. Jelani Gibson may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. The Shin Bet announced that it had thwarted a Hamas terror cell planning the assassination attempt of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir using explosive drones. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) thwarted a Hamas terrorist cells plan to assassinate National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir using explosive drones, it said Wednesday. The operation to prevent the assassination attempt was carried out by Israeli security forces and the IDF over the past few weeks in the Hebron area, the Shin Bet said. The suspects, who are in custody, had been receiving direction fromHamas operatives in Turkey, it said, adding that the investigation was ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will continue to work to thwart every attempt by Hamas to promote terrorist activity against the State of Israel and its citizens, and we will act to prosecute those involved in such activity, the Shin Bet said. Ben-Gvir's thanks security forces for protection Following the Shin Bets announcement, Ben-Gvir said: I thank the acting head of the Shin Bet, the investigators and fighters of the organization, the Israel Prison Services intelligence officers, the IDF soldiers, the Israel Police officers, and everyone working to protect my life. I will not be deterred, and I will not be afraid, he said. Hamas has already tried to assassinate me five times and failed each time. The terrorists should know that instead of them harming me, we are going to strike them anywhere, anytime. The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a 56-year-old mainland man suspected of stealing a HKD50,000 casino chip from another gambler in Cotai. The incident occurred last Friday when the victim, betting with five chips of the same value, noticed one missing. Police launched an investigation and intercepted the suspect Monday at the airport as he attempted to leave Macau. The man admitted to taking the chip during play but said it had already been lost gambling. Like this: Like Loading... The death toll from Afghanistans most devastating earthquake in years has risen past 1,400, with thousands more injured, as aid groups warned that rugged, mountainous terrain was slowing rescue efforts in the countrys remote eastern villages. Rescue workers trying to reach Afghanistans earthquake-hit villages faced enormous challenges as rough mountain roads remained cut off amid heavy rain on Tuesday. A massive earthquake in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night left more than 1,400 people dead and over 3,100 injured, according to local officials, who cautioned that the numbers were expected to rise as rescue operations continued on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many homes, built with mud and stone, crumbled instantly due to the tremor, leaving families trapped under the debris. Officials said the devastation was most severe in the province of Kunar where entire communities were reduced to rubble. The UNs humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, Indrika Ratwatte, said on Tuesday that damaged roads and landslides are the main obstacles for rescue teams responding to the deadly earthquake. Theres been lots of landslides and rock falls, and access has been very limited to everybody in the first 24 hours. He added: The biggest challenge is to reach these remote areas with the road access extremely damaged. The Afghan Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian organisation active in the region, reported that more than 8,000 homes have been destroyed, with many residents still feared trapped under the rubble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UN coordinator in Afghanistan warned that the casualty figures are expected to climb further. An Afghan girl walks on the rubble of a house after a deadly magnitude-6 earthquake that struck Afghanistan around midnight, in Dara Noor, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 1 September 2025 (REUTERS) We cannot accurately predict how many bodies might still be trapped under the rubble, said Ehsanullah Ehsan, the provincial head of disaster management. Our effort is to complete these operations as soon as possible and to begin distributing aid to the affected families, he told Reuters. Grieving villagers wrapped the bodies of the dead many of them children in white cloth before burying them in hastily dug graves while helicopters shuttled the injured to overcrowded hospitals. Survivors described scenes of chaos as walls and roofs collapsed around them, crushing relatives and neighbours in the darkness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zafar Khan Gojar, 22, from Nurgal district recalled being evacuated to Jalalabad with his brother who suffered a broken leg. Injured Afghan children receive treatment after an earthquake in Jalalabad on 1 September 2025 (AFP/Getty) The 6-magnitude quake struck just before midnight on Sunday, shaking remote mountainous provinces and reducing homes to rubble. By Monday morning, helicopters were airlifting the injured from Kunar and Nangarhar provinces while emergency teams dug through collapsed structures in search of survivors. The Taliban appealed for international aid as officials assessed damage from the devastating disaster. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed 900 deaths thus far. The disaster intensified pressure on a country already struggling with widespread poverty, dwindling international aid, and the forced return of large numbers of refugees from neighbouring countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the health ministry in Kabul, urged the global community to provide assistance. We need it because here lots of people lost their lives and houses, he told Reuters. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday that thousands of children remained at risk in the quake-affected areas. The agency said it is delivering essential aid, including medicines, warm clothing, tents, tarpaulins, and hygiene supplies such as soap, detergent, towels, sanitary pads, and water containers. Afghans gather near damaged houses after an earthquake struck Mazar Dara village in Nurgal district of Kunar province on 1 September 2025 (AFP/Getty) Talking about Kunar, Kate Carey from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told The New York Times: The area is very steep and narrow and most of it is inaccessible because of landslides and rains that fell over the past few days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By Monday afternoon, Iran, India, Japan, and the EU had pledged aid for victims of the quake, a notably stronger international response compared to the limited help provided after the deadly 2023 quake in western Afghanistan. We were already unable to meet existing needs, and I am not even talking about the new needs created by this earthquake, Sherine Ibrahim, country director for the nonprofit International Rescue Committee, said. Were making a plea to all donors to set aside politics to relieve populations. The World Health Organization said: Damaged roads, ongoing aftershocks, and remote locations of many villages severely impede the delivery of aid, adding that over 12,000 people had been affected by the quake. The pre-earthquake fragility of the health system means local capacity is overwhelmed, creating total dependence on external actors, it said. A military helicopter airlifts injured Afghans at Mazar Dara village in Nurgal district of Kunar province on 1 September 2025 (AFP/Getty) Meanwhile, rescue efforts were being hampered by landslides and steep terrain, with Red Cross teams taking four hours to reach the worst-hit district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By Monday afternoon, the main road to Kunar had reopened, allowing ambulances to shuttle victims to Jalalabad while helicopters were needed to evacuate an isolated village. Hospitals in Kunar and Nangarhar remained functional, though some local health centres sustained minor damage. Afghanistans healthcare system had already collapsed, with hundreds of facilities closed after US aid was suspended. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres expressed his condolences to the affected Afghans. The UN team in Afghanistan is mobilised and will spare no effort to assist those in need in the affected areas, he said. I stand in full solidarity with the people of Afghanistan after the devastating earthquake that hit the country earlier today. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured. The @UN team in Afghanistan is mobilized Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 1, 2025 The devastation caused by the quake immediately worsened Afghanistans overlapping crises of widespread hunger, mass deportations from neighbouring countries, drought, and dwindling aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What were witnessing on the ground is devastating, homes reduced to rubble, roads destroyed, landslides everywhere and tragically, lives lost, Harald Mannhardt, World Food Programme deputy country director in Afghanistan, said. Our teams are working around the clock to get emergency food to those in need, but the reality is brutal. Afghans walk past damaged houses at Mazar Dara village in Nurgal district on 1 September 2025 (AFP/Getty) Many survivors remained in shock over the devastating loss of life and infrastructure. I saw many dead bodies, Matiullah Shahab, a human rights activist, told the BBC. I felt the aftershocks 17 times. Several villages that he had visited were destroyed, he added. Peoples faces were covered in dust, and there was a silence. They were like robots - no one could talk about it. In Ghazi Abad village of Nurgal, residents described widespread devastation. We have seven martyrs and four or five wounded. People are still under the rubble, a villager identified only as Rabbani told Tolo News. The earthquake struck at midnight. We managed to pull out some trapped people but some are still stuck. Afghans walk by a house destroyed by an earthquake in Mazar Dara village on 1 September 2025 (AP) This whole area has been buried. No one is left, another survivor named Ajmal told the outlet. Some children are alive and some have been martyred. One injured person was rescued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ezzatullah Safi, a resident of Kunars Sokai district, described the quake as apocalyptic, with homes collapsing, children crying in fear, and communication cut off as power and mobile networks failed. The earthquake was intense and the night felt like a small apocalypse. Strong winds followed the tremors, with light rain falling. My children clung to me, crying in fear. Dust filled the air, he told the BBC. Theres a heavy atmosphere of grief here. A house destroyed by an earthquake in Mazar Dara village of Kunar province on 1 September 2025 (AP) Jacopo Caridi, country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Sky News from the Afghan capital of Kabul: This earthquake is another disaster hitting Afghanistan on top of all the other crises that regularly hit the country, like extreme poverty, and the lack of capacities to respond to any kind of a disaster. The majority of the villages affected were not reachable because the roads collapsed and the local authorities are working to establish other connections, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We got information from local leaders that there are bodies on the street, because people died and there is no place to put them, Mr Caridi said. Afghanistan, like neighbouring Iran and Turkey, lies in a seismically active belt where millions of people live along major fault lines, making earthquakes a constant threat. Many of the countrys most crowded towns and cities sit perilously close to these fault zones. In 2022, a 5.9-magnitude quake in the remote southeast killed more than 1,000 people, underlining the scale of the risk. Shooter hid for hours before killing man on his exs doorstep, prosecutor says A judge denied bond to a man accused of killing the new boyfriend of his childs mother. Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes was in the courtroom for the hearing. Keenan Williams is charged with malice murder in the death of Cole Pitter. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Pitter was shot on his girlfriends doorstep in Lithonia on July 6. His family said they were relieved the accused did not receive bond and would have feared for their lives if he was out of jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You never know who a person is or what can make a person snap its kind of scary, said Cinamone Pitter, the victims sister. The prosecution said phone records showed he waited in the bushes for two hours on multiple days, including the night of the murder. Investigators say Williams started harassing the victim two months before the murder, by shooting up his car while Pitter was visiting his girlfriends hpome. Then one week before the murder, police say Williams broke into the home while Pitter was there. State prosecutor Simone Hylton said Williams worked for DeKalb County Department of Public Health when he killed Pitter. He was fired after his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators also said a Flock camera captured Williams car leaving the scene minutes after the shooting. Pitter was shot 10 times. Williams defense attorney argued the shooting was in self defense. Pitter, an engineer and Georgia State graduate, was previously described by his family as a beloved member of the community. He had a positive impact on everybody he met, said Chaz Pitter, Coles brother. Everybody loved him because he kept in contact with everyone. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The off-season. The shoulder season. Local's summer. Call it what you want, but after Labor Day, things get a little less crowded and a little more relaxed at the Delaware beaches. It's a relief for the businesses that have been going hard all summer long and for the people that live here who have been battling traffic for months. Sort of. While the Delaware beaches used to be ghost towns after Labor Day, that's far from the case anymore. Many of the people that used to vacation here have moved here. They're looking for things to do year-round, and there are plenty of events to fill that void. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's why Delaware Online/The News Journal is continuing this weekly guide into September. Check back weekly for everything that's happening at the Delaware beaches this fall. Lifeguards There are far fewer people guarding the Delaware beaches after Labor Day. Here's the schedule in each town. Lewes: Weekends only though September, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rehoboth Beach: A limited number of lifeguards are on duty for three weeks after Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Dewey Beach: A limited number of lifeguards are on duty 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bethany Beach: Weekends only through September, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Delaware State Parks: No lifeguards after Labor Day. What to do Bethany Beach still has free concerts on the bandstand on Fridays and Saturdays in September and October, and there are still a few free Thursday concerts at Canalfront Park in Lewes. The iconic Funland in Rehoboth Beach will celebrate late patriarch Al Fasnacht this weekend with discounted wristbands. It's also Funland's last open weekend until next year. At 7 p.m. Sept. 4, Lake Street Dive will play the Freeman Arts Pavilion near Selbyville. Not quite yet: When are dogs allowed back on Delaware beaches? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's a plethora of things to do Sept. 6. The Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival, with over 100 juried artists, will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 6. It's free to attend. There are a couple events at Cape Henlopen State Park Sept. 6. There's a Youth Fishing Tournament for kids 15 and under, 8 to 11 a.m. at the fishing pier. It's $10 to enter. From 1 to 4 p.m., there's a Chocolate Tasting in the Park at the Officer's Club. It's $10 to enter and includes six tastings. Park entry fees will be required for these events. A Shop Small Fall Crawl with over 75 vendors will take place at American Legion Post 28, off Rt. 24 in Long Neck, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 6. It will also include a cash bar, DJ and food trucks. There is no entry fee. A summertime crowd outside Funland on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. There's a Fisherman's Flea Market at the Indian River Marina in Delaware Seashore State Park Sept. 6, starting at 9 a.m. "A great opportunity for local anglers to buy, sell, and trade used fishing gear," the event website says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 47th annual Nanticoke Indian Powwow will take place at Hudson Fields, on Coastal Highway in Milton, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 6 and 7. The dancing, the drums, the clothing, the history it's a unique southern Delaware experience that honors the Native Americans that lived here before colonialism. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for those ages 11-17 and free for those 10 and under. Just over the southern state line on Coastal Highway, the Ocean City Seafood Festival will take place noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 6 in Northside Park, with over 20 local restaurants and food trucks, plus live music, vendors, alcoholic beverages and a kid's zone. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the gate. 'I just lost it': Family struggling after father injured in Rehoboth Beach surf Also in Ocean City on Sept. 5 and 6 is Wine Fest in the inlet parking lot, which features wine, microbrews, vendors and live music. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (This story was updated to add an event.) Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What's happening at the Delaware beaches the week after Labor Day Gail Millette has visited United Hospitals infusion center since it opened in 1999, relying on regular infusions of calcium and magnesium and sometimes lengthy blood transfusions to stay alive. Those visits, at least twice a week, have made all the difference for Millette, 66, of St. Paul, who had her overactive thyroid removed as a teen. After this week, she and other United Hospital patients who receive regularly scheduled transfusions, long-acting injections for mental health disorders or other infusion-based therapies will have to look elsewhere for care. On Friday, United will close the doors to its primary infusion center outside downtown St. Paul, shuttering the metro areas only infusion center dedicated to non-chemotherapy patients. The decision comes two years after a similar closure at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, which also is run by Minneapolis-based Allina Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given bumping rights under organized labor contracts, the five nurses dropped from the infusion center will be relocated to other departments within the hospital, forcing layoffs of nurses with less seniority. For United, it will mark the second departmental closure and the second round of nursing layoffs in recent months. On July 25, the St. Paul hospital closed its pain center in a move blamed on provider shortages, dropping seven nurses while forcing patients to seek out alternative sites for critical pain management. The St. Paul-based infusion center serves some 20 patients per day, with appointments booked at least two or three weeks in advance, according to impacted employees, who say Allina which oversees 12 hospital campuses in Minnesota and western Wisconsin just recently issued widespread notice to patients this August that the department is shutting down in a few days time. A cost-driven consolidation Allina Health has sought to reassure patients needing intravenous medicines and fluids that they can still receive services at two more specialized clinical sites on the United campus, or at Allinas suburban clinics and hospitals. Nurses employed at the infusion center point out, however, that those sites are already overloaded by patient demand or lack the full range of services available at United. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the infusion centers dont have a pharmacist on staff, so they couldnt take me, said Millette, who needs a pharmacist to mix the cocktail of calcium and magnesium thats pumped into her body. Her blood transfusion appointments can take up to five hours, making travel time an added concern. When they so cavalierly suggested you can just go to Minneapolis, or to Crystal, or Coon Rapids, well no, I live in downtown St. Paul, Millette said. The mental health patients who arent always medically compliant with their meds, what are they going to do? Some of them will probably end up being less compliant. And thats really sad. Hospital management has described the infusion centers closure as a cost-driven consolidation, noting that the United Hospital campus will continue to offer infusion care at both the Allina Health Cancer Institute and the Allina Health United Medical Specialties Clinic Infusion Center, which is located within the Nasseff Specialty Center on Smith Avenue. The hospital system suffered significant operating losses in 2022 and 2023, but made a $344 million turnaround last year, according to Beckers Hospital Review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of this consolidation Allina Health will help patients transition their care to two remaining infusion centers at our United Hospital campus or another Allina Health infusion center in the metro area, said a spokesperson for the health system, in an email last week. We are grateful for the excellent care our compassionate care team members have provided for our patients, the email went on to say. We will work with impacted care team members to find other positions within the Allina Health system. Nursing staff have said Uniteds Cancer Institute and Specialties Clinic infusion centers are both short-staffed. Both sites have referred patients to the hospitals primary infusion center on a daily basis, especially for rheumatology infusion services and other non-chemotherapy treatments, according to staff. United Medical Specialties was sending their patients to us because they didnt have the staff, said a nurse at the infusion center, who asked not to be identified as they are not authorized to speak on behalf of their employer. We were taking patients for both those sites and were booked out for weeks. Abbott Northwestern dropped its infusion center in 2023 In a previous consolidation, Allina shut down the infusion department at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis in October 2023, giving patients less than a month to locate alternative sites. At the time, United Hospital was the closest option available outside of the Abbott Northwestern campus, but that will no longer be the case as of Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erin Moriarty, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Nurses Association, released a written statement on Tuesday calling the latest closure a threat to patient care. She noted that Allina has cut staffing levels in hospitals and outsourced some services while taking in hefty revenue from a laboratory services venture with New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics, as well as other partnerships with for-profit companies such as UnitedHealth Group. The closure of the Abbott Infusion Center left patients scrambling to find care, with less than a months notice, Moriarty wrote. Many of those patients transferred to Uniteds infusion center and will now be forced to make yet another transition. This closure also leaves the metro area without an infusion center dedicated to non-chemo patients. Nurses also fear that Allina infusion centers based in rural locations such as Hastings, Lakeville and Faribault may not be well positioned to absorb such a wide range of referrals and patient demands, or be ready to balance treatment for patients with complex chemotherapy regimens alongside non-chemotherapy patients. While United Hospital has its own mother-baby center, most Allina locations do not. From blood transfusions to antibiotics, chemotherapy Infusions can range from blood transfusions to the administration of intravenous or intramuscular antibiotics, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hydration and additional therapies for chronic conditions like chronic pain, autoimmune disorders and cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The centers also inject long-acting drugs for schizophrenia and other mental health disorders. The Minnesota Nurses Association noted that some infusion centers do not currently service patients needing high-risk medications, or who are pregnant, or do not offer blood transfusions because theyre not attached to a hospital, or do not have a pharmacist. Some currently only take Allina patients. In addition to serving Allina patients, infusion center staff said the United Hospital site receives referrals from outside neurology clinics facing their own staffing shortages, as well as oncology clinics that lack the capacity to administer blood transfusions. Even OB-GYN clinics and mental health clinics use the center for patient injections. Excluding Allina providers, we have worked with over 35 different facilities, said an infusion center nurse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems to me that theres a pattern of taking patients who are not on commercial insurance and tossing them to the side, she continued. If youre homeless or rely on medical rides, being directed to Lakeville or Faribault is insane. I dont know that public transit will even get you there. Transportation, especially for the mental health population, is a challenge. Related Articles WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Vandalism struck West Hartford this past weekend. More than a dozen lawn signs reading We Stand With Israel were destroyed. Most of the signs were outside the homes of Jewish families and local religious leaders said it was an act of antisemitism. This was an act of intimidation, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford President David Waren said. It was meant to send a message to the Jewish community and those who support Israel, of intimidation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hartford police investigating double shooting on Battles Street Waren says a police report has been filed and an investigation is open. News 8 reached out to the West Hartford Police Department but has not heard back. Waren said patrols have been posted in the community. Unequivocally, this was an act of antisemitism, Waren said. This was targeting the Jewish community, this was targeting the community that stood with Israel and we very much view this as an antisemitic incident. Tuvia Brander, rabbi at Young Israel of West Hartford, said that the vandalized signs were showing solidarity with Israel in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He said that the community has ordered double the number of signs that were damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The act of someone coming onto your property, invading your space and damaging and vandalizing something thats yours, really hits home to a lot of people, Brander said. Many of the signs call for the release of prisoners taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 A day that Michael and Susan Seid remember well as they were on their way to Jerusalem. The West Hartford residents have We Stand With Israel signs on display outside their home. Am I surprised by it? No, Michael Seid said. Id be surprised if it was someone in the community. I wouldnt be surprised if its done by people driving through the community. Another resident of the area said her sign was also destroyed, but she put one back up as soon as she could. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a strong, strong community and one of the reasons why we moved to this community, Susan Seid said. Michael seemed more disappointed than angry. We dont shop any differently. We dont walk any differently, he said. We still wear our Jewish stars as much as we have. So, theres not a fear of it, its more of an annoyance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Singapore police have ordered Meta to implement anti-scam measures against advertisements, accounts, profiles and business pages impersonating key government office holders on its social media network Facebook to combat scams, a government minister said. The company could be fined up to S$1 million ($775,698) if it fails to comply as part of the first such order under the nation's new Online Criminal Harms Act, which came into force in February 2024. "We are issuing (the order) to Meta because Facebook is the top platform used by scammers for such impersonation scams, and the police has assessed that more decisive action is required to curb these scams," Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming said in a speech on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Singapore's home affairs ministry found that more than a third of all e-commerce scams reported in 2024 were perpetrated on Facebook. It also rated Facebook Marketplace as the weakest among six e-commerce marketplaces in terms of anti-scam features deployed. A Meta spokesperson said on Wednesday that the company had specialised systems to detect impersonating accounts, including facial recognition technology, and it had invested heavily in improving detection and review teams. It also shares tips on avoiding scams and offers tools to report potential violations, the spokesperson said. "We also rolled out advertiser verification and continue working with law enforcement and take legal action against the criminals behind these scams," they added. Police statistics released in August showed that scams that involved the impersonation of government officials almost tripled to 1,762 cases in the first half of 2025, from 589 cases in the same period a year ago. A total of S$126.5 million was lost to this type of scam in the same period, up 88% from the S$67.2 million lost a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The home affairs ministry acknowledged Facebook Marketplace has required "enhanced user verification measures" for select sellers in Singapore since 2024, and that it introduced in-product safety notices, as well as anti-scam notices within its messaging functions to warn users of the risk of e-commerce scams. Those measures were deployed after earlier criticism by the government over the company's failure to put in place safeguards that protect users from scams. (Reporting by Jun Yuan Yong; Editing by Jamie Freed) SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The new Sioux City Community School District (SCCSD) superintendent is back to work after taking a temporary leave of absence. SCCSD announced on August 22 that Dr. Juan Cordova took a leave of absence that was approved by the school districts Board of Directors. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this announcement, the school district did not comment on the nature of the leave. The school district told KCAU 9 on Wednesday morning that Cordova returned to work on Thursday, August 28. According to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, Cordova received his Initial Administrator License the same day he returned to the job. The school district declined to provide further 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A Sioux Falls teacher could win big in a national contest. When Erin McFarlands co-worker nominated her for a contest, the choir teacher didnt think anything would come of it. But now, the George McGovern Middle School vocal director is a finalist in the Heroes of the Classroom contest by Kleenex. Chevy Chase is heading to the Washington Pavilion We got an email that I was in the top ten and thats just been a whirlwind since then, McFarland said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contest looks to recognize educators who make others feel strong, create lasting change for students, and are worth celebrating. Heres what some of McFarlands former students have to say about her. Very lively, I would say. Soon as wed walk into the room, she would be happy to see us, Jefferson Freshman Ahlyvia Folden said. During middle school, its so hard. Youre going through so many changes. I think I started to become a super stressed out kid in 8th grade with everything I was doing, and just having her there by my side helped me get through that year, Jefferson Junior Miritello said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grand prize winner gets $10,000. McFarland says she would use the money to give her students tools to be better musicians. This $10,000 would be program-changing for us, and its not just about me spending my own money even though I do that, but its about every teacher, especially in South Dakota, who spends their own money on their own students and their own time on their own students, McFarland said. The school of the grand prize winner gets $5,000 and a years supply of Kleenex tissues. Votes must be in before 11:00 AM Central Time on September 8th. Click here to cast your vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) announced yesterday that nearly 13,000 infants and toddlers born between 2022 and 2025, holding valid Macau permanent resident ID cards, qualify for this years childcare allowance of MOP18,000. Recipients will receive the funds via bank transfer tomorrow, totaling over MOP230 million in disbursements. The bureau reminded parents or guardians of children born between 2022 and 2025 that the final deadline to apply for the allowance is June 30 next year. Applications submitted between August and that date will be processed within 60 days of approval. Like this: Like Loading... SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Six suspects were arrested after a search warrant was executed on a home on Lowell Street in Springfield, resulting in the seizure of cocaine, fentanyl, and an illegal firearm. In a news release from the Springfield Police Department, detectives have been investigating a suspect identified as 46-year-old William Semidey for distributing drugs from his home on Lowell Street. Eight arrested in Springfield open-air drug bust Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search warrant was executed on Monday at around 6:05 a.m. Upon entry, detectives detained five adults and a 16-year-old boy. Two small children were also inside at the time. MAP: Lowell Street PHOTO: Items seized from Lowell Street Detectives seized approximately 258 grams of cocaine, 387 bags of fentanyl, a loaded firearm, ammunition, and $8,512. (Springfield Police Department) MUGSHOTS: 6 arrested in connection with drug trafficking The five adults and the juvenile were arrested and charged with the following: William Semidey (Springfield Police Department) Jennifer Plumey (Springfield Police Department) Jordan Montalvo (Springfield Police Department) Justin Semidey (Springfield Police Department) Oscar Carrasco (Springfield Police Department) (Springfield Police Department) Semidey of Springfield is charged with the following: Cocaine Trafficking 200+ Grams Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card Subsequent Offense Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony Improper Storage of a Firearm Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Reckless Endangerment of a Child (Two Counts) Possession of a Firearm with Three Prior Violent/Drug Crimes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Plumey (40) of Springfield is charged with: Cocaine Trafficking 200+ Grams Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony Improper Storage of a Firearm Reckless Endangerment of a Child (Two Counts) Jordan Montalvo (20) of Springfield is charged with: Cocaine Trafficking 200+ Grams Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law Carrying a Firearm without a License Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony Improper Storage of a Firearm Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Reckless Endangerment of a Child (Two Counts) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justin Semidey (20) of West Hartford, Connecticut, is charged with: Cocaine Trafficking 200+ Grams Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law Carrying a Firearm without a License Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony Improper Storage of a Firearm Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Reckless Endangerment of a Child (Two Counts) Oscar Carrasco (45) of Springfield is charged with: Cocaine Trafficking 200+ Grams Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony Improper Storage of a Firearm Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Reckless Endangerment of a Child (Two Counts) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 16-year-olds name, charges and mugshot are not being released due to his age. 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. Xi Jinping presided over a massive display of military firepower on Wednesday as he declared that China would not be cowed by bullies. Nuclear missiles capable of reaching America, unmanned fighter jets, robot dogs, submarines, and legions of goose-stepping troops were paraded through Beijings Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The show of force can be viewed as a veiled threat to the United States: defend Taiwan and you will feel the wrath of Beijings modernised armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the other hand, President Xi positioned himself as a leader who can be trusted to defend the interests of his allies, including Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-Un, who attended as guests of honour. Over the course of 70 minutes, as soldiers marched through the streets and flags were waved, China showed off a raft of new kit not seen by the public before and modernised hardware at the centre of the largest overhaul of the Peoples Liberation Army. Was it just diplomatic grandstanding, or was there more to it? Here, The Telegraph breaks down some of the key lessons learned from the spectacle. Intercontinental nuclear missiles At the forefront of Chinas military modernisation is a massive build-up of its nuclear arsenal, including the strategic-level weapons said to be capable of striking the territory of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing launched its DF-41 at a similar, albeit smaller, military parade in 2019. It was 20 metres long and can strike multiple targets at a range of 15,000 kilometres. On Wednesday, a missile sporting the designation markings DF-61 was paraded through Tiananmen Square on a wheeled, ground-based launcher. There are no confirmed specifications for the likely successor missile, but some early reports have touted a weapon that can deliver up to 14 warheads at a similar range to the earlier model. Hai Zhao, a senior fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Bloomberg TV: China is showing that China has the ability to defend its interests, not only near China but also globally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US intelligence suggests that China is looking to grow the number of nuclear warheads in its arsenal to over 1,000 by 2030. While China has been quietly undoing its restrictions against its no-first-use of nuclear weapons, analysts argue that Beijing is unlikely to deploy the weapons because it wants to create for itself a leadership role in the world rather than destroying earth. Unmanned submarines Another new addition at this years military parade was the presence of two new uncrewed underwater vehicles. In the build-up to the landmark event, analysts noticed the machines in pictures that surfaced online. China has a history of testing submarines, manned or drones, with mixed success. There are understood to be at least five trials ongoing for extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The torpedo-like vessels were paraded on the back of large trucks, estimated to be around 18 to 20 metres long. The AJX-002 was suggested to be purpose-built for laying underwater minefields. While the HSU-100 is likely to be used more like a conventional submarine, just without the usual crew. They are both likely a Chinese version of the Russian Poseidon nuclear armed nuclear powered intercontinental torpedo, according to H I Sutton, a naval analyst. Weapons like this could play a major role in any naval war over Taiwan, which President Xi has said he would be ready to invade by 2027. Laser air defence If Chinese generals have learned one lesson from the war in Ukraine, they know their forces, infrastructure, and logistical hubs will need to be protected from aerial drone and missile attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing would not be alone in developing new capabilities in this field. Natos European allies are already trying to ramp up the number of air-defence systems they possess by 400 per cent. On display in Tiananmen Square was the LY-1 ship-based laser air defence system, albeit mounted on the back of eight-wheeled trucks for ease of demonstration on land. While there are no specifications in the public domain, China is said to claim the system is the worlds most powerful. Unlike a conventional air defence system, which fires a surface-to-air missile at an incoming target, the LY-1 is meant to use a massive directed energy laser system to neutralise the danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some claim the beam of light could even be strong enough to down enemy fighter jets. Mid-range missiles Alongside the intercontinental ballistic missiles, China was keen to show off a series of smaller systems that would be more usable in a war over Taiwan than a world-destroying nuke. One of those was the DF-29, known as the Guam killer in reference to its purpose for destroying US military targets on the island in the Western Pacific. It can carry both conventional or nuclear warheads and strike targets at a 4,000-kilometre range, if you believe the publicly available specifications. There was also the unveiling of new HHQ-16C, an extended-range missile fired from a system commonly installed on Chinas Type 054 naval frigates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interestingly, Western analysts noted that this particular weapon was skipped over in the live coverage of the military parade. It is a development of existing ship-based surface-to-air weapons systems touted to have a range of around 160 kilometres. Unmanned fighter jets These naval drones, or unmanned fighter jets, appear to be straight from the latest Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster. The Hongdu GJ-11, known by their nickname Loyal Wingmen, are designed to fly alongside conventional fighter jets from Chinas aircraft carriers. Analysts have spotted these systems in testing since last year, when one was seen in the skies above China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are meant to carry heavy ordinance and can be controlled from the cockpit of a Chinese J-20 or J-35 via a datalink. If tests are successful, the GJ-11 would become the worlds first stealth unmanned fighter aircraft. Robot dogs Robot wolves made a cameo flanking another unmanned ground system, which appeared to be an aerial drone launching platform. These mechanical dogs have become a fascination for arms manufacturers in countries like China and Russia, who love to show off the systems with little demonstration of what they could actually achieve on any battlefield. Videos previously circulated on Chinese training drills show these contraptions, mounted machine guns included, entering into dangerous areas ahead of human infantry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some online posts claim the robot wolves can hunt in AI-controlled packs, as well as carry out surveillance or logistical tasks. However, there are no real-world examples of these drones actually having been successful on the battlefield. While everyone loves a grand airshow or display of military might, seasoned generals will say they are no real reflection of military might. Nuclear missiles, unmanned fighter jets, robot dogs, submarines, and legions of goose-stepping troops were paraded through Beijings Tiananmen Square - Xinhua/Shutterstock Mick Ryan, a retired major general in the Australian Army, said while the hardware on show was likely newer than most of its Western equivalents, it does not suggest its better. Newer does not always mean better however. While most western military equipment has been tested in Iraq, Ukraine and elsewhere, none of Chinas new kit has, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then there is the old adage that infantry wins battles, logistics wins war. The majority of the struggle faced by armies is sustaining the fight, keeping their tanks fuelled and their soldiers fed and watered. Nowhere in Tiananmen Square was there proof that China has been working as hard on this element as it has been with the sexier side of conflict. Maj-Gen Ryan added: Parades are not indicators of warfighting effectiveness. Notwithstanding the impressive orchestration of the parade, and highly synchronised music and marching, these have almost zero impact on the measurement of military effectiveness. Russias invasion of Ukraine has also introduced another key consideration to the idea that external optics reflects military effectiveness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar parades and propaganda had the world believing that Moscows army was the worlds second-strongest, only behind the United States. Western intelligence suggested Russia should have been able to use its forces to capture Ukraine within weeks. Instead, it got bogged down in a conflict that it still cant win against a vastly inferior fighting force. I watched Putins 2020 Victory parade in Moscow. Similar goose stepping, satraps, and rows of modern equipment, said John Foreman, a former British military attache to Moscow. It didnt stop his TikTok army getting smashed in the face by Ukrainians in 2022. 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. TAMPA As an emergency room doctor of 28 years, Richard Barnes has treated plenty of patients who overdosed or had mental health issues because of substance abuse. He never thought it would come into his home. His teenage son, Skye, was introverted and struggling at school. In 2022, his behavior became more troubling. He fixated on controversial Joe Rogan podcasts and exhibited paranoia about people coming to the home to get him, Barnes said. He ended up fighting with his brother and was hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tests showed he had THC in his system, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. In the weeks that followed, he suffered from delusions. It was the start of a two-year struggle to get the treatment he needed, Barnes said. He would do things like push out a screen window on second floor of our house, climb out the window and (was) vaping high doses of THC, he said. Then hed take off down a super busy highway on a motocross bike, riding in and out of traffic." Barnes told his familys personal story at a recent forum on youth substance abuse organized by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Phoenix House Florida and Hillsborough County Childrens Services. He and groups that work to help teens battling addiction sounded the alarm about how easy it has become for teenagers and others to purchase energy drinks and vaping products laced with delta-8, a legal substance that mimics the effects of marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recreational marijuana is illegal in Florida and only patients with a prescription can access products in licensed dispensaries. But a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill made it possible to legally manufacture hemp based products like delta-8, which can produce a high. It and other mind-altering substances can be found in drinks, vapes, gummies and even slushies, said Cindy Grant, executive director of the nonprofit Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance. The nonprofits presentation included a display of products that nonprofit staffers have purchased in Hillsborough gas station convenience stores and smoke shops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Branded in bright colors, the products look like energy drinks. One mimics the candy Skittles branding. Some contain as much as 7,000 milligrams of delta-8. The products are leading to instances of paranoia and emergency room visits for some teenagers, Grant said. A 2024 Times/Herald analysis showed that products often contain chemicals and substances dangerous for people to consume, like pesticides, yeast and mold. Theres very little regulatory oversight on this, so you dont really know whats in that package, Grant said. Delta-8 is not the only concern. While psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms, is banned in Florida other types of psychedelic mushroom like Amanita muscaria, a red-and-white mushroom intended for small doses remain legal and are sold as gummies in packaging that makes them look like candy. In June 2024, the Food and Drug Administration issued a health alert after a product branded Diamond Shrooms was recalled. The product could be purchased as a chocolate bar or a packet of gummies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who became ill after consuming it reported seizures, loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness, agitation, abnormal heart rates, nausea and vomiting. The agency also published a list of smoke shops known to sell the product. It included stores in Brandon, Clearwater, Largo and Tampa and St. Petersburg. Its just pretty alarming that this is out there and easily available, Grant said. Efforts by Florida lawmakers to regulate delta-8 products have stalled in the past two years. Last month, Florida Attorney General reclassified concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products, known as 7-OH, as a Schedule 1 drug, effectively making them illegal to sell. The products include heavily concentrated amounts of a compound found naturally in the kratom plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnes, the emergency room doctor, said his experience with his son taught him how damaging delta-8 can be. When his son showed no signs of getting better after three months, Barnes found a hospital in Texas that treated both substance abuse and mental health. When he got there, they looked at him for probably, what a minute and said that he was way too far out for them to handle, Barnes said. He was way too psychotic. He was eventually placed in a childrens behavioral health facility in Dallas, which started him on low-dosage anti-psychotic medication. He then spent 60 days at another in-patient facility in West Palm Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His illness put a strain on the family, including Barnes, who said he became depressed and would go for up to a week without sleep. He was prescribed anti-depression medication. Barnes son eventually enrolled in Victory High School, a Tampa school that caters to students whose lives have been disrupted by drug use. He graduated in May with a 4.1 grade point average and he works at the school mentoring other young students. Barnes said both the state and the federal government need to act to protect children. This poisonous garbage is what our youth can walk into any vapor shop and get, he said. Most (shops) dont even ID. (NewsNation) People planning on proposing to their significant others in the near future face a new obstacle the rising price of diamonds. India has been the largest distributor of diamonds to the U.S. for years, but the market has seen a massive hit following President Trumps April decision to impose new duties on imports from the country, part of his global rollout of tariffs. Border officers seize more than 11K fake Labubu dolls Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have colleagues who had stuff coming in and missed the boat, and I mean literally the boat by a day, and got these huge tariffs because they were put into effect, said Steven Grauer of Diamond District Partnership in New York City. How the tariffs have impacted diamonds prices Consumer prices for natural diamonds rose 2% to 4% following Trumps initial announcement of a tariff, according to Paul Ziminsky, a diamond industry expert. Just last week, the Trump administration hiked up tariffs on imports from India from 25% to 50% as a result of Indias continued relationship with Russia over oil purchases. Also, before the new tariff, American importers could purchase polished diamonds with relative ease. Those diamonds eventually were placed in rings and necklaces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.3B after no winner Zimnisky added that prices for natural polished diamonds in the U.S. have increased by upwards of 10% percent year-to-date. What are the long-term ramifications for diamond rings with the tariffs? Yaakov Almor, an international diamond industry expert, believes the 50% tariff will destroy Indias ability to export diamonds. Diamond rings averaged over $7,160 as of July, which was up nearly 8% from the previous year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Related video: Salt Lake City School Board member tried to bribe other candidate to back out of race, charges say SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) has named Ann Romano to fill a board seat in Precinct 5 after a bribery scandal left the spot vacant. In Dec. 2024, board member Mohamed Baayd was charged with trying to bribe his opposing candidate prior to his re-election to the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baayd met with his opponent, Russell Askren, who was running for a position on the Salt Lake City School Board, Precinct 5. Baayd asked Askren to withdraw from the race and allegedly promised to involve Askren in the work of the board and to help him get to know the other board members. However, Askren declined Baayds request, stating that he would not be withdrawing his candidacy and did not want to be part of Baayds proposal. In a plea in abeyance, Baayd was ordered to submit his resignation letter as a Salt Lake City School District Board member on July 22. New board member, Ann Romano On Tuesday, the SLCSD named Ann Romano (legal name Ann Elizabeth Romano) as the new board member in Precinct 5, replacing Baayd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a product of the Salt Lake City School District, I feel passionate about the power and promise of public education. Now, as an alumna, seasoned professional, and parent to two district students, I want to protect and strengthen the education system that so profoundly shaped me, said Board Member Romano. Im honored to serve my neighbors in Precinct 5, and I look forward to working together to ensure excellence in education for every SLCSD child now and for generations to come. Suspect killed after several hours-long SWAT standoff in West Jordan A press release from the school district stated that Romano is a Brigham Young University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Curatorial Studies and a Master of Public Administration. Additionally, Romano has a background in nonprofit management, education, and community service, and has worked with institutions including the University of Utah and Cornell University. Romano will serve through the end of 2026. 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. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 2 that he will seek to normalize relations with Moscow, as Bratislava moves to gradually increase Russian gas imports through the TurkStream pipeline. "Volumes are increasing gradually and have nearly reached 4 billion cubic meters per year regarding gas supplies that we receive via the TurkStream pipeline," Fico told reporters, adding that he is opposed to EU's plan to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports. Under the current phaseout plan, gas imported under short-term contracts of less than one year must stop by June 17, 2026, with exemptions for landlocked countries such as Hungary and Slovakia. Longer-term agreements will be prohibited entirely by the end of 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will vote against the decision. I am sure that much could change by 2028," Fico said. "We want to continue to cooperate in the energy sector. We are interested in supplies of Russian gas and oil. We are also interested in cooperation in other areas," Fico said. During the meeting, Putin called for curbing Ukraine's access to reverse gas flows and electricity imports from Europe to pressure Kyiv into halting attacks on energy infrastructure linked to the West. Fico, who traveled to China to attend World War II events alongside Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi, serves as one of Europe's most friendly ally of Moscow. Since returning to office in 2023, Fico has ended military aid to Ukraine from Slovak army stocks and questioned EU sanctions on Russia. In the past, Fico has also vowed to block Kyiv's entry into NATO a move that requires the agreement of all 32 members, including Slovakia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want to say openly that we are extremely interested in the standardization of relations between the Slovak Republic and the Russian Federation," Fico said during his meeting with Putin. "Let's get back to what used to be typical for countries when it comes to economic cooperation," he added. Slovakia served as the only EU country represented at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China. Putin and Fico last met in Moscow in May during Russia's Victory Day celebrations. As relations between Bratislava and Moscow continue to deepen, European allies have been critical about Fico's and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's relations with Moscow. Bloomberg reported on Sept. 1 that Denmark, which currently holds the EUs rotating presidency, has circulated a proposal requiring gas importers to provide national authorities with proof that their supplies do not originate in Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan specifically raises concerns over gas shipped through TurkStream, the pipeline linking Russia with Southeast Europe. Read also: EU considers tighter rules to block Russian gas after 2027 ban, Bloomberg reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. At more than 140,000 acres, the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyons north rim is the largest wildfire in the United States and one of the largest in Arizonas history. Coverage of the blaze has produced stunning videos and images of airplanes dropping red or pink fire retardant from the sky to stop the flames from spreading. Those images are certainly dramatic, but they should also give us pause. When it comes to the fire retardant dropped by those planes, no one knows the exact chemical mixture because it is a trade secret known only to the company responsible for its production. What independent research has revealed, however, is troubling. Many fire retardants contain chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and immune suppression. The National Park Service acknowledges this, and it has been confirmed by independent researchers. The danger may start in the air, but it doesnt end there. At the bottom of the Grand Canyon lies the Colorado River, a lifeline that provides drinking water to more than 40 million people across seven states, including tribal nations and major cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Inevitably, chemicals from retardant drops make their way into that river, threatening human health as well as fish and wildlife and creating the potential for long-term problems that far outlast the wildfire itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire retardants also endanger the very people we rely on to fight wildfires. When people see images of those dramatic aerial drops, its easy to forget that there are firefighters down on the ground working on the front lines. They may be obscured by the smoke and out of the frame of the photos, but the chemicals are landing on their heads. Firefighters frequently remain coated in the chemicals head to toe for days, itchy at night, sleeping in the woods in shifts on bedrolls until they can get to a shower two or three days later. It is no coincidence then, that the leading cause of death among firefighters is not burns or smoke inhalation but occupational cancer. Toxic exposures, from chemical fire retardants, which are known to contain a number of carcinogenic compounds, often play a major role. Some may argue that such risks are unavoidable in the face of fast-moving wildfires and that desperate times created by out-of-control wildfires call for desperate measures. But there is another firefighting alternative which should be given greater consideration: water. Federal and State government agencies already use aircraft that dump water instead of chemicals. In fact, water is often considered more efficient for aerial firefighting and is safer for the public and firefighters alike. In the case of the Dragon Bravo fire, both types of airplanes have been involved in the fight, but state and local officials should be prioritizing the planes that drop water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The advantages are clear. Unlike chemical retardants, water does not leave behind a persistent pollutant or require costly environmental cleanup efforts after the fire is contained. It can be sourced locally from lakes, rivers, or even temporary reservoirs set up near the fire line, dramatically reducing turnaround times for each drop. That speed matters in fast-moving wildfires, where minutes can make the difference between containment and catastrophe. By contrast, the airports that support chemical suppressant aircraft are often farther away than the closest water source and the planes take a longer time to refill at a cost of several dollars per gallon. Worse still, the firefighters are the ones mixing all those chemicals with water to fill up the planes, which carries its own health risks. This is the bottom line: when aerial suppression is needed, water should be the first choice. It is safer for firefighters, healthier for communities, and better for the environment. Arizona lawmakers and the U.S. Forest Service should take note. Fighting fire from the air doesnt require the introduction of chemicals to our skies and rivers, it simply requires using the oldest, simplest tool we have water. John Allard is the former Deputy Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a regional jet made an emergency landing in Houston on Wednesday, with the pilots reporting smoke and electrical problems. United Airlines Express flight 4969, operated by subsidiary CommuteAir, returned to George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport after the crew reported smoke in the cockpit, the FAA said in a statement. They are having electrical issues, the air traffic control tower told emergency crews waiting for the plane to land, according to recordings captured by LiveATC.net. They are losing electrical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane parked on a taxiway and the pilots requested to be towed to the terminal. The landing was due a potential maintenance issue, CommuteAir said in a statement. All passengers were safely returned to the gate and are awaiting another flight to Panama City, Florida. We apologize for this inconvenience and are preparing a new aircraft to operate the flight to ECP, Jason Kadah the airlines Managing Director, Communications, said in a statement. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The UAE warned Israel that any annexation of the West Bank would constitute a red line for Abu Dhabi that would severely undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to apply Israeli sovereignty over all the open areas of the West Bank during a press conference on Wednesday. Smotrich said that such a decision would thwart any effort to create and recognize a Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Knessets decision over a year ago, adopted by an overwhelming majority and rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, proves that opposition to this existential threat crosses political camps and sectors." The minister added that "the time has come to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and to remove once and for all the idea of dividing our tiny land and establishing a terror state at its center." UAE warns against West Bank annexation The United Arab Emirates warned Israel on Wednesday that any annexation of the West Bank would constitute a red line for Abu Dhabi that would severely undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between the two countries. FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich addresses a news conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem earlier this month. That Smotrich is not an economist, and is quite ignorant of current economic theory and practice, is no secret, says the writer. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) "From the very beginning, we viewed the Accords as a way to enable our continued support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspiration for an independent state," Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, told Reuters. "That was our position in 2020, and it remains our position today." This is a developing story. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Southern Nevada Health Districts Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is partnering up with the Partners for a Healthy Nevada Coalition to encourage families to take the 5-2-1-0 pledge during Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and it serves as an opportunity to highlight how families can support healthier habits and help children grow up strong. During the month, SNHD is encouraging Southern Nevada families to adopt the 5-2-1-0 guidelines, a set of simple, science-backed steps that can make a big difference in childrens long-term health, according to SNHD. The 5-2-1-0 daily guidelines are as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5 fruits and vegetables each day 2 hours or less of recreational screen time 1 hour of physical activity 0 sugary drinks These healthy habits are not just for children and can benefit the whole family. The Get Healthy Clark County website and the Spanish-language Viva Saludable offer activities, tools and ideas to support family wellness goals. Obesity is a complex, chronic disease that often begins in childhood. In Clark County, about one in six high school students is obese, and about one in three Nevada kindergartners start school either overweight or living with obesity, according to SNHD. Children with obesity are more likely to develop serious, long-term health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure later in life, Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationally, nearly 20% of children and teens, which is about 14.7 million, have obesity. The prevalence of obesity is even higher in some racial and ethnic groups, underscoring the role of broader factors like access to nutritious foods, safe places to play, housing stability and quality education, the SNHD said. To learn more, visit GetHealthyClarkCounty.org or https://vivasaludable.org/, or call (702) 759-1270. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The numerous reports of people caught attempting to smuggle large quantities of mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, among other portable devices, are rooted in the significant value difference between these products in Macau and the mainland, as well as the thriving aftermarket parts and repair market, the Customs Services (SA) told the Times. Questioned by the Times on the issue, the SA noted, Due to differences in regulations on imported electronic products between the mainland and Macau, particularly concerning second-hand electronic products, and the increasing demand for electronic products or components in the mainland market, lawbreakers take advantage of the price difference between the two places to profit. According to the SAs further explanation, those involved in such illegal activities purchase electronic products at low prices from Macau or other regions and then smuggle them into the mainland for resale. It is also possible that electronic products may be disassembled into parts and used to maintain other products. The SA also said it would continue exchanging intelligence with mainland Customs, strengthen customs inspections, and conduct patrols within the city. The bureau also said it aims to intercept more of these goods at their source, to combat illegal trafficking activities with full force. After several operations held by the SA that resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of these products, the Zhuhai authorities also noted a major seizure. This time, a cross-border truck driver is suspected of smuggling 4,579 mobile phones into Zhuhai via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB). According to Gongbei Customs, in addition to the attempted smuggling of the devices, they were found to be counterfeit replicas of well-known brands, infringing on trademark rights. The neighboring citys authorities stated that the devices were found during a regular inspection at the cross-border outbound freight inspection station at the Zhuhai Port of the HZMB, but did not disclose where the truck was headed. While passing through the inspection portal, authorities found some plastic bubble wrap packages hidden in the truck. Inside them were more than 4,500 counterfeit mobile phones of three different brands. In one of the cases previously reported locally, an underage student was also involved. He was allegedly being used as a courier in exchange for monetary compensation. Like this: Like Loading... The 2025 SOAR Summit concluded in Corbin last Friday with a keynote plenary led by Governor Andy Beshear and U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers, who joined regional leaders in honoring first responders and volunteers for their work in Mays tornado recovery, while also announcing this years AMLER award recipients. SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region) Executive Director Colby Hall invited representatives from London, Pulaski, and surrounding counties onto the stage to be recognized. He noted that more than 200 people from across the country came to Laurel Countys aid in the days following the disaster. London and Laurel County officials in attendance were officers from the sheriffs department, firefighters, local leaders, and more that helped in providing relief to the hard hit areas from the May tornado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What a great way to start the morning, saying thank you to these heroes and their important work in helping us rebuild from these tragedies, Hall said. But, we are going to build back stronger than ever before. Governor Beshear followed with remarks praising the resilience of Eastern Kentuckians, particularly those who endured the May tornado and past disasters like the 2022 floods. After natural disasters, we see that people at their core are good, Beshear said. We see God in the strength, the kindness, and the love in Kentuckians. He turned his remarks toward the progress being made through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program, which has provided millions of dollars to communities impacted by historic coal mining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beshear highlighted completed projects, including waterline replacements in Hazard, wastewater upgrades in Jenkins, and expansions at the Appalachian Valley Autism Center in Floyd County. Approximately 15 new AMLER awards were announced during the plenary. Among those award presentations was funding towards facilities in London and Laurel County. Somerset Community Colleges Laurel County campus received $6 million toward the construction of a new career and technical education training complex to support programs in construction, HVAC, and other trades. SCC Laurel Campus sits on property once owned by the Interstate Coal Company, where coal trucks once lined the roads. The transformation of this historic site into a hub for technical education symbolizes both the regions resilience and its shift toward new economic opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SCC President Dr. Carey Castle expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized the transformational impact of the project. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Rogers, Senator Mitch McConnell and Governor Beshear for their support in awarding Somerset Community College the AMLER grant, Dr. Castle stated. This funding allows us to enhance our programs with state-of-the-art equipment and furnishings for the new Technology Building set to break ground next year at our Laurel Campus in London. Our vision is for this facility to serve as a hub for business and industry in Southeast Kentucky, preparing future employees with training that not only meets but exceeds industry expectations. The new Technical Building will bring a new look to the historical Interstate Coal Company and a new pathway for the students and communities in our region. The AMLER grant will support Phase 4 of the $39 million CTE Complex project, which includes purchasing state-of-the-art trainers, tools, and furnishings for programs in Advanced Manufacturing, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Construction Technology, HVAC/Air Conditioning, Welding Technology, Automotive Technology, Diesel Technology and Electrical/Electronic Technology. Construction is slated to begin next year with the facility opening expected in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other news, Saint Joseph London was awarded $650,000 to purchase a new CT scanner, expanding care for the 34,000 patients it serves annually. The governor also highlighted statewide progress, including record-breaking tourism, a 30 percent decline in opioid-related deaths, and more than $42 billion in new investments since he took office. He announced plans to push for universal preschool for all Kentucky four-year-olds in the next legislative session, calling it a step toward strengthening both families and the workforce. Congressman Rogers echoed the theme of resilience, praising the determination of Eastern Kentuckians and outlining nearly $150 million in federal funding requests for fiscal year 2026. His proposal includes support for first responders, infrastructure improvements, and recovery initiatives. Eastern Kentucky has proven once again that we are stronger than any storm we face, Rogers said. Our best resource has always been you, the Appalachian people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both leaders credited SOAR for creating opportunities and bringing communities together. Congressman Hal Rogers echoed the theme of resilience, praising the determination of Eastern Kentuckians and outlining nearly $150 million in federal funding requests for fiscal year 2026. His proposal includes support for first responders, infrastructure improvements, and recovery initiatives. Eastern Kentucky has proven once again that we are stronger than any storm we face, Rogers said. Our best resource has always been you the Appalachian people. Both leaders credited SOAR for creating opportunities and bringing communities together. The plenary closed with Beshears call for compassion and unity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Life is short, he said. Our job is to do good things, and to be kind to each other. I think that is what is seen every year at SOAR. For the full recording of the 2025 Officer Plenary Session and other events throughout the summit, visit the Shaping Our Appalachian Region Inc. (SOAR) Facebook page. Sceletium tortuosum is a little succulent plant that grows in the semi-arid Karoo and Namaqualand regions of South Africa. It has a long history of traditional use among the hunter-gatherers of the region. The plant, known as kanna or kougoed by the San and Khoikhoi people, was mainly chewed or smoked to stay alert and suppress appetite during long hunts. The San were traditionally hunter-gatherers, while the Khoikhoi were pastoralists who herded livestock. The name kanna (meaning eland in the click language of the San), has a symbolic reference to this large antelope, as the trance animal, which was called upon during religious and spiritual gatherings. Kougoed is Afrikaans for something to chew. The plant can be chewed after being dried and fermented, which is believed to intensify its effects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first colonial governor of the Cape colony, Simon van der Stel, in 1685 wrote about kanna in his journal: They chew mostly a certain plant which they call Canna and which they bruise, roots as well as the stem, between the stones and store and preserve in sewn-up sheepskins. Im part of a group of scientists from different disciplines with an interest in this plant and we pooled our expertise to understand its effects on neurochemical concentrations in different parts of the brain. Our studies were done in mice, so there is caution about establishing effectiveness on humans. Still, the results are striking. As a chemist with an interest in natural products, I wanted to know which alkaloids in the plant were important in bringing about these effects. Our latest study explored the effects of Sceletium tortuosum extracts on mouse brain chemistry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We found that Sceletium increased the levels of certain brain chemicals which may balance mood and reduce stress. These findings lend support to the calming and mood-enhancing use of this plant in traditional medicine. Read more: Traditional African medicine and conventional drugs: friends or enemies? Plant chemistry Our study examined how extracts from different chemotypes of Sceletium tortuosum can have different effects on brain chemistry. Chemotypes are groups of the same plant species that differ in the alkaloids they produce. This is because plants often produce alkaloids in response to external cues such as the weather or the presence of a plant-eating animal or pathogen. Alkaloids are carbon-based compounds produced by plants. They are often toxic or taste bitter, making the plants less appealing or even harmful to the predators or invaders that want to eat or inhabit them. Alkaloids generally have physiological effects of use to humans. Some commonly used ones include caffeine, morphine and quinine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We harvested two chemotypes of kanna from the Touwsrivier and De Rust regions of South Africa. These areas were chosen because of their interesting and unusual alkaloid profiles. The chemotypes were given to healthy mice as a supplement once a day for one month. The mice were monitored every day for behavioural or unexpected adverse reactions but none were noted. At the end of the month, the levels of chemicals in the mouse brain were measured. Both the chemotypes were found to cause a marked increase in noradrenaline and a decrease in GABA in all brain regions studied. Both molecules are neurotransmitters that transmit nerve signals in the brain affecting memory, mood, attention and sleep. This effect on noradrenaline supports kannas traditional use as an appetite suppressing drug. Increased noradrenergic stimulation is also the basis of many anti-depressants as well as drugs that improve attention and alertness. We also found an impact on the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine which may act together to balance mood and reduce stress. Serotonin affects emotional well-being and mood; dopamine motivates feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. These findings lend support to the calming and mood-enhancing use of this plant in traditional medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Importantly, the control kanna extracts that did not have the interesting alkaloid profiles did not cause any of these chemical changes in the mouse brain. Most studies on kanna have focused on the alkaloid mesembrine. The two specific chemotypes of kanna harvested from the Touwsrivier and De Rust regions of South Africa do have the mesembrine, but they are also packed with some other lesser-known or minor alkaloids. These differences in alkaloids may arise from a combination of geographic, environmental and inherent genetic factors found in a particular subset of plants. Both the Touwsrivier and De Rust plants contained higher levels of alkaloids called mesembrine alcohols, which are different from mesembrine, and were barely present in the control extract. Another minor alkaloid, known as sceletium A4, was also identified as possibly being important. Mesembrine alcohols and sceletium A4 may be the ones responsible for the activity. This suggests that the source of the plant, and the area in which it is grown, can influence its potential as a natural treatment for mood disorders and sleep. Read more: Africa is a treasure trove of medicinal plants: here are seven that are popular What the results tell us Stress, anxiety and depression pose a risk to the ability to lead a meaningful life. The World Health Organization has reported a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide since the emergence of COVID-19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our study showed that the plant extracts had a broad noradrenergic effect in mice. But we have to be careful about making connections between results in mice and in humans. We need to explore the behavioural impact of these extracts in both mice and humans, especially in relation to sleep, alertness and mood. The results also highlighted that without understanding the complex chemical composition of these plants, we risk overgeneralising their benefits, or worse, using them inappropriately. Our findings have two implications. First, they point towards a future of precision phytotherapy (use of plants for medicinal purposes), where natural remedies are tailored not just to individuals but to selecting certain plant chemotypes that produce certain combinations of alkaloids. Manipulating the growing conditions and genetic make-up of plants to optimise for alkaloid content is an age-old art. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, they remind us of the enormous, still largely untapped potential of African medicinal plants in global health innovation if we invest in research that honours both indigenous knowledge and scientific rigour. As the world searches for safer, more sustainable ways to treat mental health conditions, South Africas kanna plant may hold secrets worth rediscovering. 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: Catherine H Kaschula, Stellenbosch University Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Catherine H Kaschula owns shares in Phyenti, a phytopharmaceutical company developing kanna-based products HAMPTON, Ark. A south Arkansas man is facing capital murder charges after his arrest by Arkansas State Police. ASP officials said its Criminal Investigation was called into Calhoun County at the request of the Hampton Police Department, which was investigating an Aug. 31 death. The investigation led to the arrest of 55-year-old Roderick Freemont, who is facing a charge of first-degree murder. Arkansas State Police details investigation following Clark County mans child sexual abuse material conviction Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Hampton officers were called to a home on the 600 block of South 2nd Street at 6 a.m. Arriving first responders found 62-year-old Katherine Brice of Hampton injured and unconscious. Brice was taken to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where she died Sunday evening, according to ASP. Officials did not disclose the nature of the injuries. Arkansas State Police investigating Woodruff County officer-involved shooting The ensuing ASP CID investigation led to Freemonts arrest, officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. PARSONS, Kan. A fallen Kansas City, Kansas Police Department officers funeral procession will be taking place Thursday. The Parsons Police Department and Labette County Sheriffs Office said KCK Ofc. Hunter Simoncics procession will arrive in Parsons between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on September 4. The procession will travel along US-59/16th Street to St. Patricks Catholic Church. Major intersections and side streets will be blocked for the escort. Traffic delays in the area can therefore be expected during this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fallen KCK Officer Hunter Simoncic remembered at community vigil That procession will continue to Mt. Olivet Cemetery on S 32nd Street around 3 p.m. following funeral services at the church. PPD and LCSO gave the following route: From St. Patricks, south on Central Ave. West on Main St. South on 32nd St. to the cemetery. Community members are invited to line Parsons Main Street with their American flags or blue ribbons to honor Ofc. Simoncic. Simoncic was killed in Kansas City, Kansas, after being hit by a driver during a police chase last month. He was 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 29: In this photo illustration, Ruth Jones, Immunization Nurse, holds a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (brand name: Comirnaty) at Borinquen Health Care Center on May 29, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he will no longer recommend that healthy children and pregnant people get COVID-19 shots. (Photo illustration by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) At the end of August, the Food and Drug Administration approved updated vaccines for COVID-19. While previous versions of the vaccine were recommended to individuals 6 months of age and older, access to the FDAs newly approved vaccines is limited to individuals 65 and older and individuals between the age of 5 and 64 with an underlying condition placing them at high risk for severe COVID-19. With Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, taking control of the agency in February, the usual process for issuing guidance on the vaccine has been upended, leading to a split between leading health authorities, and a potential gap in vaccine availability for children, who are among the most at risk for severe illness, hospitalization and complications from the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really dont fully understand it. Ill be real honest with you, and Im not sure most physicians who understand the data can make sense of it either, right? There doesnt seem to be a good reason for restricting the vaccine to only those with underlying health conditions under the age of 65, Dr. Molly OShea, a pediatrician in Bloomfield Township and a member of the teaching faculty for the residency program at the Childrens Hospital of Michigan told the Michigan Advance in a Tuesday interview. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX For members of the medical community, suddenly shifting from widespread availability to dialing back access is not something that makes sense for the FDA, OShea said, as there has not been a shift in complications from the vaccines or issues with the vaccines effectiveness to drive that change. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccination for children ranging from 6 months to 17 years of age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However the American Academy of Pediatrics has offered its own guidance, recommending all children 6 to 23 months old receive the vaccine, and for children 2 to 18 years old at high risk, or whose parents desire to protect their children from the illness. Vaccines are the safest and most effective way for our immune system to learn how to respond to a virus, OShea explained. Additionally, having the vaccine as your baseline exposure to COVID-19 comes with some safety from complications from the illness including multi-inflammatory system response, Long COVID and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, OShea said. For all of those reasons, it matters for young children to have access to the vaccine while theyre still kind of freshly unaware that COVID exists, OShea said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By reducing access to the vaccine, OShea said this promotes a mindset for families particularly families who were already somewhat less inclined towards vaccination that the COVID-19 vaccine isnt of value. Theres also been a lot of conversation on how physicians and other healthcare providers can give permission for individuals who want to receive the vaccine outside of the current recommendations, also referred to as off-label use, either in office or through a pharmacy. I really think thats a very nuanced and challenging issue, because in any other circumstance in which were writing something off label, for off label use, it isnt a scenario in which the data has not been assessed by the FDA, OShea said. Bloomfield Township Pediatrician Molly OShea. | Photo courtesy of Molly OShea OShea also pointed to liability concerns if a vaccine is prescribed for off-label use and a patient has an adverse reaction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a publication from the American Academy of Pediatrics, clinicians prescribing the vaccine could have two layers of protection, stemming from malpractice insurance and the PREP Act, which provides broad immunity from state and federal liability. However immunity under the PREP Act is not guaranteed, with the academy encouraging physicians to check their malpractice coverage to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are not excluded. The goal of this whole thing is to scare people out of giving vaccines, OShea said. When looking for a list of underlying conditions to qualify for the vaccine, OShea pointed to an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which lays out which conditions qualify, including conditions like asthma, diabetes, cerebrovascular disorder, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease, heart conditions, certain mental health disorders and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked for advice for Michigan parents who want to make sure their children are protected in light of the FDAs restricted access to the COVID-19, OShea offered two recommendations. The first, if parents are uncertain their otherwise healthy child will be able to receive the COVID vaccine, is to go to their local health department. [The health department has] made it clear that theyre not going to turn anybody away who wants to receive COVID vaccine. So thats encouraging, OShea said. The second: Please contact your legislators, both in the House and in the Senate, OShea said. With Kennedy set to testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Sept. 4, OShea said the more legislators hear from real people, the better. An Inland Empire man opened fire on two alleged burglars in his home early Wednesday morning. The man, whose identity has not been released, was in his home in the 9000 block of Alta Mesa Avenue in Phelan at about 2:10 a.m. when he heard a noise in another bedroom, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said in a news release. Two people were in that other bedroom, and the man grabbed a handgun and chased them through the house, fir[ing] off rounds toward the suspects, the Sheriffs Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects exited the residence and fled the scene before deputies arrived, officials said. It is unknown if either suspect was hit by the rounds. Anyone with information is asked to call 760-552-6800 or Sheriffs Dispatch at 760-956-5001. To report information anonymously, call WeTip at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or visit wetip.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. PORT ROYAL, S.C. (WSAV) The last few pieces of the Spanish Moss Trail puzzle are coming together. The dead-end trailhead off Ribaut Road will soon reach across the road and connect into the town of Port Royal. Several folks told WSAV theyve been ready for the expansion. Itd be great to go all the way, said Durenda Lovaz, who was taking a bike ride with her husband Mark, when they came to the dead end at the Ribaut Road trailhead. We parked at Publix and came all the way down here. If we could get over to, like Sands Beach, go by Fish Camp, that would be great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats exactly what the 100,000 yearly pedestrians walking, biking or riding down the Spanish moss trail will soon be able to do cross into the Town of Port Royal. After a halt in previous years, the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail, a non-profit dedicated to advocating for the development, maintenance and enhancement of the trail, said construction on the extension into the town will start this month. The hope is that it will be completed by the end of this year. Im optimistic that by Christmas, I will be walking and riding my bike along that section and going in and out of Port Royal on the trail, said Dean Moss, the Executive Director of the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Port Royal expansion is a part of a $1.3 million project funded by Beaufort County, which also includes plans for an expansion into downtown Beaufort. The downtown Beaufort expansion will be an extension of the Depot Road trailhead. It will follow along Depot and also cross over Ribaut road at the main downtown entrance intersection (Bay Street). That project is expected to start shortly after Port Royal and be finished by the spring of next year. The planned Port Royal trail, which currently dead ends right at Ribaut Road, will eventually have a controlled pedestrian crosswalk across the busy road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moss said it is similar to the crossing on Robert Smalls Parkway, where you press a button and a light stops traffic for pedestrians to safely cross. In the center of Ribaut Road, there will be a safety zone, which will be protected on both ends by concrete. So, if you are crossing and something happens and you need a place to sit or wait, there will be a button there which will enable you to reactivate the stop sign, said Moss. So, were confident that that will be safe. Moss explained that the traffic in the area of the future crossing does move quickly, but they believe that most people traveling the road are passing through daily and will become used to the crossing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said it will be just like the one on Robert Smalls Parkway, which functions properly to stop traffic and let pedestrians walk through. Several pedestrians who were on the trail today said they were looking forward to branching into the new part of trail into Port Royal. Were excited, said Darby James, who walks her dog frequently on the trail. James also said her family has been looking forward to it. Her sons learned to ride their bike on the trail, and her husband, who is an avid cyclist, rides the trail often. We enjoy it every day honestly. Its a big part of our life, and the beauty of living in Beaufort, said James. Were all excited about the fact that to go to Port Royal, it would no longer include crossing at either Paris Avenue, or across the busy road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trail will travel down about a quarter mile after Ribaut Road onto a paved driveway path off Ritters Circle in Port Royal. Wherever they want to go in Port Royal, itll be easy to get there and safe. So thats our objective right now. Extending the trail beyond the driveway is a project for the future. Plans eventually include continuing the trail all the way down to Sands Beach, but Moss said hes unsure when that will happen. We cant do it until the property owners for all this area decide what theyre going to do. Now, they have assured us that the presence of the trail is important to them. So, once theyve decided how they wish to develop that, there will be a trail alignment as part of that plan and well be able to get started with the town to build that section beyond. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Columbus voters have important decisions to make on the November ballot, including races for City Council and the Columbus City Schools Board of Education. Ahead of the election, a local organization called Columbus Stand Up is hosting a debate with some of the candidates, with the debate specifically geared toward young voters. Two Democratic candidates are vying for a seat on Columbus City Council, and six people are running to fill three seats on the CCS Board of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, all will debate in an event organized by young adults with the goal of educating other young people about the power of their vote in their city. Karina Burck, a student at Ohio State University and the lead debate organizer, said she wants her peers to hear directly from the candidates who could impact their schools, their neighborhoods, and their city. Gen Z is going to be the largest generation in the U.S., so we want their voices to be heard in politics and for them to realize that their vote will influence the decisions that are made locally and nationally, Burck said. Deputy Director of Columbus Stand Up Kwesi Low said he wants young voters to be informed and feel included in local politics. Thats why anyone 25 and under who attends Sunday will be entered to win a Nintendo Switch 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to give incentive to get people in the door, Low said. Hopefully, when they get in the door, theyll hear something that rings their ear and theyll see that they actually have an opportunity to make an impact now and for years to come. Columbus City Council candidates Tiara Ross and Jesse Vogel will debate first. Since they are both Democrats, Low said the debate will allow voters to learn whose vision they prefer despite an endorsement from the party. This typically happens in the primary election, so the fact that its happening in the general election this year is kind of telling the larger narrative, and Im really glad that people are paying attention, Low said. With six people running for just three CCS board seats, Burck said she hopes hearing directly from each candidate will help people differentiate between them all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Itll be three new people on this board who need to have a plan ready for what they will be bringing and offering to help improve Columbus City Schools, Burck said. They directly impact the education that you or your child is getting. Burck hopes people her age will come to the debate and leave understanding why their vote matters in each and every election. Getting people involved in my generation is really important because, specifically, when it comes to voting, thats one of the easier ways to make a change, Burck said. The debate is at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, at Fort Hayes Education Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC4s Kyle Beachy is one of the moderators. The event is free and though it is geared toward young voters, anyone is welcome to learn more about their candidates. For more information about the debate, 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. AUSTIN (Nexstar) The effort to either regulate or fully ban intoxicating hemp-derived products in Texas appears to have no path forward at this point, according to the chair of the Texas House Public Health Committee. Well eventually find our path, but were just not there at this point, State Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, said in an interview. Put simply, the two chambers in the Texas Legislature are not in agreement on what to do with THC, the intoxicating compound in the hemp plant that gives its consumer a high. The disagreement will likely lead to lawmakers leaving Austin with no action being taken on THC regulation, even though it is one of the original issues that sparked the need for a special session this summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to try to not put anything forward that, you know, that that doesnt have a shot at becoming law, VanDeaver said when asked about the stall on THC legislation. How did we get here? The legislature passed Senate Bill 3 during the regular session, which was an outright ban on all consumable hemp products containing THC. It was one of the biggest priorities for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who argued the products being sold in Texas were too potent, dangerous, and getting into the hands of kids. Law enforcement groups backed up those claims by Patrick and also called for an outright ban. But Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed the bill after thousands of Texans signed petitions calling on him to overturn the legislation. Those Texans argued it would harm hemp farmers and take away a medical option for people who use the products to help with conditions like chronic pain. Following the veto, Patrick held a news conference with media in the Capitol. It sort of puzzles me why my friend Governor Abbott would at the last minute22 minutes after 11decide to veto this bill, Patrick said in the news conference. One can only come to this conclusion, which surprises me. The governor of the state of Texas wants to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. Thats the headline folks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott argued the bill would be tied up in courts if he let it pass, and called for a special session to solve the issue of THC. More than two months and almost two special sessions later, it appears the can that is THC will be kicked down the road further. Regulation vs. outright ban The first special session called by Abbott became a lot more than just about THC after deadly floods in Central Texas and a redistricting effort that led to state Democrats fleeing the state. But the agenda did include regulation on hemp-derived products. Legislation to comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including limiting potency, restricting synthetically modified compounds, and establishing enforcement mechanisms, all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity, according to the governors call. But Patrick and the Texas Senate made it clear they were not in the business of regulation. Very quickly the body passed similar legislation to SB 3 that the governor had already vetoed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate then passed a full ban on THC, Senate Bill 6, for a third time in the second special session, which we are currently in. It was referred to the House Public Health committee on Aug. 20 and has yet to receive a hearing. Nexstar asked VanDeaver where THC legislation stood in the Capitol. We have worked really hard and had some really good conversations with the Senate and with the governors office, and trying to find that sweet spot to address the issues that you know can actually become law, and we just havent been able to get there, VanDeaver explained. VanDeaver said the members of the Texas House of Representatives are split on the polarizing issue. He added that even the members who want to regulate the products are split on what regulation would look like. Its a very complicated issue, VanDeaver said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are two weeks left in the second called special session, but Patrick did hint last week on the Senate floor that he hoped to end the session on Wednesday. Nothing has been confirmed. VanDeaver said he did not know if the governor would call a third special session to specifically address THC regulation. Stuck in limbo Even as consumable hemp products containing THC remain untouched for now, new laws are still impacting access to the intoxicating compound. On Sept. 1, a new law went into effect that bans all vapes containing cannabinoids like THC from being sold in Texas. The law also outlaws vapes made in China. Hunter Nobles, the manager of Drip n Rip, a smoke shop chain in the Austin area, said the new law impacted roughly 20% of the products on his shelves. He said some of his customers were shocked to learn the THC vapes were not allowed to be sold anymore. Anger, you know, because a lot of people feel that they arent being represented, Nobles explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His shop still sells edibles and other products for customers, but he is constantly keeping an eye on what the legislature does. We want to meet demand for our customers, but you know, were also taking a risk, a pretty large risk, by keeping a lot of this stuff stocked, he explained. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for bilateral talks in Beijing yesterday. The two leaders met formally at the Diaoyutai state guest house after attending a major military parade in the heart of the Chinese capital that marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Putin and Kim traveled from a formal reception to the negotiations in the same car, the Kremlin said in a post on social media. After a bilateral meeting between Russian and North Korean delegations, the two leaders held a one-on-one meeting, the Kremlin said. Putin also invited Kim to visit Russia again, following on from the North Korean leaders last visit to the country in 2023. Speaking in front of journalists as the talks began, Putin praised the bravery and heroism of North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Moscows troops to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk border region. According to South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops to Russia since last year. It has also sent large quantities of military equipment, including ballistic missiles and artillery, to help fuel Putins three-year invasion of Ukraine. In his opening remarks, Kim said that cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has significantly strengthened since the two countries signed a strategic partnership pact in June last year during a summit in the North Korean capital. Although he did not specifically mention the war, Kim stressed that if theres anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help. The anniversary celebrations in Beijing mark the first time that Kim has attended a major multilateral event during his 14-year rule, and the first time Kim, Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have gathered at the same venue. Observers are waiting to see if Kim possibly meets Xi bilaterally as well, or even holds a private trilateral meeting with Xi and Putin, although none of the three countries has confirmed such an event. Referencing Xi in a post on social media, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote, Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Putins foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov later commented on the post, saying that Trumps words were not without irony. I want to say that no one has been plotting anything; no one was weaving any conspiracies, he said. None of the three leaders had even thought about such a thing. MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C. police are searching for a man after a special police officer was assaulted in Northwest, D.C. On Saturday, Aug. 30, around 2 p.m., while on routine patrol in the Unit block of Banner Lane, Northwest, the officer was physically assaulted by a man, who then fled the scene on foot. MPD: Barricade situation in Southeast resolved without incident Now, police are searching for the man in this incident, who is seen in the photo below: Courtesy: DC Police The suspect appears to have matching tattoos on both biceps, with one arm having an additional lettered tattoo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement D.C police urges anyone with information about this person to call 202-727-9099 or text MPD 50411. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Three men described by officials with the Ventura County Sheriffs Office as a vehicle theft crew were taken into custody earlier this week. In a news release, the sheriffs office said there was a spike in vehicle burglaries and thefts during August, particularly in Camarillos Village at the Park community. At around 2 a.m. on Sept. 1, a VCSO detective who was on extra patrol spotted two dark-colored Infiniti sedans moving slowly through the neighborhood near Rancho Rosal Elementary School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drivers briefly exited their vehicles, with one person seen carrying a crowbar and wearing a face mask, the release noted. Both then got back into one vehicle and left, leaving the other sedan abandoned. Coordinating with deputies assigned to the Camarillo patrol, a traffic stop was conducted. Three Oxnard men, believed to be a vehicle theft crew, were arrested in Camarillo on Sept. 1, 2025. (Google Maps) Cristian Isidoro, 20, Adrian Horta, 18, and Randi Arevalo, 18, all residents of Oxnard, were arrested and are facing charges of conspiracy, possession of burglary tools and possession of stolen property. Wedding crasher reportedly steals $100K in gifts from Southern California couple Authorities also noted that Horta is currently on probation for assault and theft-related offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The abandoned Infiniti was found to have a shattered passenger side window, with further investigation revealing the car had been stolen but not reported. Detectives did not say whether they believe the alleged vehicle theft crew is connected to other similar incidents in the area. The Camarillo Police Station would like to remind its residents to please lock your vehicle doors, avoid leaving valuables inside, and report any suspicious activity to the police to help keep our community safe, officials added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. In a split vote on Tuesday, the Frederick County Council voted to approve a bill that will create a special zoning mechanism for data centers and the electric substations that power them. The council voted 5-2 to approve the creation of a critical digital infrastructure overlay zone, which would have to be applied over a parcel of land before data centers or associated infrastructure could be developed there. Council President Brad Young, Council Vice President Kavonte Duckett, and Council Members Renee Knapp, M.C. Keegan-Ayer and Mason Carter supported the overlay bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council Members Steve McKay and Jerry Donald were opposed. All seven members of the County Council and County Executive Jessica Fitzwater unveiled the proposed overlay, which they described as a compromise to the data center issue, in a joint press conference on May 6. When applied, overlay zones add to or modify the regulations attached to a parcels underlying zone without changing the underlying zone itself. The data center overlay described in the bill must include less than 1% of the land in Frederick County, amounting to about 4,200 acres. A proposed map of the overlay released by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater in July includes 2,566 acres, but it is still under review. The County Council could decide to shrink, expand or adopt the overlay as proposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overlay bill also addresses what the council hopes will happen if agricultural land within the overlay zone is rezoned to limited or general industrial, allowing it to be used for data centers. For every one acre of agricultural land rezoned for data center use, the bill proposes that five acres of nonpreserved agricultural land be preserved by way of an agreement between the data center developer and the county executive. The Frederick County Planning Commission recommended changing the ratio from one-to-five acres to one-to-ten acres, but no one on the council brought that recommendation forward as an amendment to the bill. In his comments before the vote on Tuesday, McKay said he supported the concept and general location of the data center overlay when he met with Fitzwater to discuss it on May 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, McKay said, he disagrees with some of the provisions that made it into the ultimate bill, including one that would allow data centers to abut residential areas as long as they are set back 500 feet from the property line. I think its lousy public policy, McKay said of the setback provision. And when that language was incorporated into this bill, thats where they lost me. McKay also said he was opposed to the agricultural offset provision of the bill, expressing fears that it could amount to an illegal contract zoning scheme. In his comments before the vote, Donald said the vast majority of his constituents in the Adamstown area are against the overlay bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he does not understand the rush to expand the data center footprint in Frederick County beyond the former Alcoa Eastalco Works site, where a campus of data centers is already being developed. Were going to get some of these anyway, Donald said of data centers. Lets go a little slower and see how it turns out. Knapp, who co-chaired the data center work group that Fitzwater convened in 2023, said she is voting to pass the overlay because it is the right tool to identify and limit where data centers should operate. She said not passing the bill would leave in place the by-right zoning for data centers and electrical substations that was established in 2022, referring to an ordinance that allowed critical digital infrastructure to be developed on any land zoned limited or general industrial in Frederick County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knapp, who lives in Adamstown, said the community is now at a crossroads. She encouraged her neighbors to fully participate as stakeholders, and not as adversaries during the overlay mapping process latter this year. In her comments before the vote, Keegan-Ayer likened the process of legislating data centers to baking a Smith Island cake. She said the 2022 ordinance represents the first layer, followed by the data center siting and design bill passed earlier this year and the overlay bill passed on Tuesday. We now have several layers. Were looking at the next layer, which is establishing this overlay process, Keegan-Ayer said. And because its a multilayered cake, each layer of that cake has allowed the public to come in and give us input. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also encouraged members of the public to continue doing so throughout the overlay mapping process. Carter said he would support the overlay bill because by passing it, the County Council could ensure that the siting of data centers would be guided by clear consistent standards that prioritize compatibility with surrounding land uses. Duckett said he recognizes that there are still legitimate concerns about how data centers will operate and their potential environmental impacts. He said Quantum Loophole, the developer that was removed from the Eastalco redevelopment project after concerns arose about environmental and financial mismanagement, never should have been Frederick Countys introduction to data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Duckett said, it would be premature to dismiss this entire industry based on the actions of that company. We owe it to our residents and our future to evaluate these projects carefully and critically, rather than making sweeping judgments that could close the door on responsible opportunities, Duckett said. In his comments before the vote, Young lamented the fact that discussion of the overlay bill has been misdirected and hijacked by those critical of the proposed overlay map. While this is an important decision, we have time to do that and that discussion will be held later this year, Young said. It should not overshadow the intent of [the overlay bill]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a text message after the vote on Tuesday, Fitzwater said her administration is committed to managing growth responsibly, and the Council took an important step tonight to limit new data center development. I want to thank everyone who invested their time and expertise in this important debate, and I look forward to our residents continued engagement as the process moves forward, she continued. The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Fitzwaters proposed overlay map on Oct. 15. To view the proposed data center overlay map, people can visit www.frederickcountymd.gov/9122/Data-Centers. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen took its official steps in securing the city's next era of leadership Sept. 3 by swearing in its newest City Administrator J. Carter Napier. Napier, who hails from Wyoming, began his new role in late August, but officially took his oath of office at the start of the BOMA's September work session. He takes over the position from interim City Administrator Chris Clausi, who had filled the vacancy left by former City Administrator Pam Caskie, who resigned Oct. 7, 2024. More: New Spring Hill city administrator named after nationwide search Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I really appreciate this," Napier said. "Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to take that oath of office. I know it is not typically what we do, but it certainly felt like an important step for me to take." Napier was chosen after a nationwide search concluded June 13-14, with BOMA approving his position unanimously July 7. "I am very grateful to be here with all of you tonight, grateful for this opportunity to take this step in my journey, if you will, to have ultimately been chosen by the BOMA to be your city administrator," Napier said. "I am grateful for that confidence you have in me, and so thank you very much. I will endeavor to not let you down in any way I can, in all ways that I can." Carter Napier, left, takes his oath of office Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, as Spring Hill's new city administrator, being sworn in by Mayor Matt Fitterer, right, and members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. More: Tennessee to remove certain phrases from sex ed material after federal demands Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Napier had previously served as the city manager for Casper, Wyoming since 2017. He has also served as city administrator for Gillette, Wyoming from 2011-2017 and Riverton, Wyoming from 2003-2011, according to a July 7 City of Spring Hill press release. In addition, Napier is also a credentialed manager through the International City County Management Association a high recognition with the local government organization. "Welcome, Carter, and I am excited to work with you," City Attorney Patrick Carter said. "As the city attorney, I get to work closely with the city administrator, and I am looking forward to it. I also want to give acknowledgement to Chris Clausi. He did a fantastic job in a really pretty difficult 6-8 months with lots of things going on, lots of business and Chris handled it wonderfully and was wonderful to work with." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com. This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: New Spring Hill city administrator sworn in: 'I really appreciate this' The IDF said that the "Atalef" bat suicide drone is now widely available within the ground forces, without any need to ask for special help from the air force, in order to kill Hamas terrorists. Suicide drones are now accounting for most of the kills of Hamas terrorists in Gaza in a military revolution, the IDF disclosed on Wednesday. The IDF said that the "Atalef" (bat) suicide drone is now widely available within the ground forces, without any need to ask for special help from the air force, in order to kill Hamas terrorists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the IDF stated that, at the platoon level, which involves a couple of dozen soldiers, each platoon now has its own surveillance and intelligence collection drones. Some of the drones are specifically tasked to enter new structures to spy out for Hamas boobytraps or tunnels. Drones used for lookouts, prevent Hamas ambushes Other drones are used to look over a nearby hill to ensure there is no ambush from Hamas before the soldiers advance. IDF soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, September 1, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) There are now 14 IDF schools training 20,000 soldiers for handling these drones. If before the war, drones were still mostly an air force matter and providing drones directly full-time to ground forces was still a special event and remained often only at the battalion commander level (drone use for a group of roughly 250 soldiers), now there are many more drones at even the smallest levels of the ground forces. ST GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) The St. George Police Department is asking for the publics help in investigating an assault that occurred early on September 3rd. According to the St. George Police Department, an adult female was on the Halfway Wash Trail near 1300 West and 1130 North around 4:10 a.m. Wednesday, when she was physically assaulted. She sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment. Law enforcement says the suspect is unidentified at this time, and they do not have a description of the perpetrator at this time. They are actively reviewing surveillance footage from the area and are working to identify the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, they are asking anyone who may have information about this case to come forward, including anyone who was in the area during the early morning hours. The St. George Police Department is also increasing its presence around the area where the assault occurred. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call 435-627-4300 and reference incident number 25P023559. 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. Sep. 2GRAFTON, N.D. A man from St. Thomas, North Dakota, sustained serious injuries in a rollover crash Tuesday morning, a press release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol said. At approximately 7:49 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, the 69-year-old man was traveling in a Kenworth cement truck eastbound on North Dakota Highway 17 in Walsh County. At mile marker 140, about 12 miles east of Grafton, he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, entered the south ditch and rolled, the release said. Road conditions were labeled as good and weather conditions were clear. The driver sustained serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. North Dakota Highway Patrol, Walsh County Sheriff's Office, Grafton Fire Department and Valley Ambulance Service were involved in response to the crash. It remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol. Parollee Dawain Hopson lived a free life for about five weeks before landing back behind bars, this time for allegedly stabbing two people to death at a Detroit pool party over the summer and injuring two others with the same knife. Prosecutors say Hopson got angry because someone was dancing with his girlfriend at the party, pulled out a knife, and went on a bloody rampage that ended with four victims hospitalized two of whom died. According to prosecutors and Michigan prison records, this wasn't the first such jealousy-fueled crime for Hopson, who allegedly committed the stabbings just 38 days after being released on parole from a prior conviction involving an ex-girlfriend: In 2022, records show, he shot his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend who survived and served almost two years in prison for that incident. He faced a maximum sentence of 10 years, but got out eight years early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors say he also once tried to strangle a woman, an allegation that was raised at his arraignment on Wednesday, Sept. 3, when a prosecutor convinced a judge to deny Hopson bond and keep him locked up pending the outcome of the pool party charges. "This is a very serious allegation," City of Detroit Arraignment Prosecutor Aniela Bosca told the judge. "What's even more concerning your honor, is that he just got out on parole ... This incident happened a month (after) he got out of jail." Hopson, who was arraigned by video on first-degree murder charges from a room at the Wayne County Jail, sat at a table and looked side to side as the prosecutor spoke, showing no emotion. He waived and smiled once at his court-appointed attorney, Miguel Brikho, who requested a monetary bond for Hopson, maintaining he had ties to the community. According to his lawyer, Hopson has two kids, lives with his grandmother, and suffers from PTSD and depression. More: 2 men were out on bond before Oakland cop's death. Their judge deemed 'unsafe to practice' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge, however, denied bond, saying: "This court has heard enough." Hopson stood mute to the first-degree murder charges while the court entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. He is also facing two counts of assault with intent to murder. According to prosecutors, Hopson is being charged in the stabbing deaths of Martisha Payne, 25, of Detroit, and Jakirea Williams, 31, of Chesterfield Township; and the non-fatal stabbings of a 31-year-old Pontiac man and a 40-year-old Detroit man. More: Surveillance video shows stabbing spree at Traverse City Walmart that injured 11 people All victims had attended a backyard pool party on Aug. 9 in Detroit, at a home in the 18500 block of Fleming Street. According to prosecutors, here is what led to the rampage: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At about 9:58 p.m., Detroit police officers were dispatched to the Fleming Street home for a reported stabbing. Hopson and a 40-year-old Detroit man had gotten into a verbal argument in the backyard when Hopson pulled out a knife and stabbed the man, who survived. Things escalated, and the feud moved to the front yard, where Hopson would stab three more people: Payne, Williams and the unidentified 31-year-old man from Pontiac. Police found all three victims in the front yard upon their arrival at the house. All had suffered multiple stab wounds. Williams and Payne died from their injuries a short time later. The Pontiac man survived. So did the 40-year-old Detroit man, who was transferred privately to an area hospital. According to prosecutors, Hopson fled the scene but was arrested six days later by Detroit police and has been locked up ever since. What started out as a friendly family and friends end-of-the-summer gathering turned deadly with four people stabbed," Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in announcing the charges. "A disagreement. A quick escalation. An introduction of a deadly weapon. And then multiple deaths. So senseless. So tragic. And so very violent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hopson is scheduled to return to 36th District Court on Sept. 16 for a probable cause conference, where a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. Tresa Baldas:tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stabbing suspect arraigned in deadly pool party in Detroit The Utah Office of Homeless Services and the Utah Homeless Services Board announced Wednesday that a contractual agreement has been finalized to acquire land for a first-of-its-kind in Utah homeless services campus. The comprehensive and transformative campus will be located on a 15.85-acre piece of land at 2520 N. 2200 West in Salt Lake City, according to a release from the Office of Homeless Services. The facility is located west of Rose Park, near the Salt Lake City International Airport, and is planned to provide approximately 1,300 beds. Our state has long needed more shelter beds and services, and this campus represents a critical step forward in supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities, said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, per the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new campus is meant to create a sustainable solution for addressing homelessness in Utah, officials say. Our objective is a human-centered approach with opportunities for people to get on a pathway out of homelessness and to thriving in their life, said Wayne Niederhauser, state homeless coordinator. What is the goal of this new homeless services campus? This new campus is meant to be a place where individuals experiencing homelessness can access the support and treatment necessary to move from homelessness to stability to long-term self-reliance. It will also complement existing homeless resource centers, shelters and service providers across the state. Individuals will be able to use the campus to find help with recovery, employment, criminal justice assistance and housing, all in a single location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want to just shelter people, we want to give them opportunities and help to find a transformational situation for themselves, whether its addiction, mental health, or other issues that people face, Niederhauser said. We want to have those services on site. Its important that theyre in the campus and on the campus so that people have less reason to leave the campus and more reason to stay on campus and receive those services, he added. The new facility is meant to act as a hub and spoke system where individuals can Step In to access core services at a centralized hub, and once stabilized and ready to Step Up, they can Step Out to be connected efficiently to additional specialized resources across the community the spokes, according to the release. This structure will reduce barriers to service access, increase operational efficiency and strengthen the network of support. It will also improve the accessibility and expand the capacity of the overall system, in turn enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of Utahs homelessness response, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are other campuses that already exist around the country similar to the one Utah plans to build, and Niederhauser said the group looked at a few of them when planning Utahs. Niederhauser said that the Office of Homeless Services has been working for months to find a location that would work for this campus. Its hard to find property thats contiguous, thats big enough to accommodate a campus, and the property that is available usually has some struggles, like a seismic issue or an environmental issue or a lot of wetlands issues, he said. Utah currently at record homelessness rates The number of homeless Utahns in 2025 is at its highest level ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the annual 2025 Point-in-Time Count conducted at the end of January, nearly 4,600 Utahns were recorded as homeless, as previously reported by the Deseret News. This is an 18% increase from 2024 and the largest number on record. A lot of the growth in Utahs homeless population came from the chronically homeless population defined as those who have spent at least a year on the streets with a disability, mental illness or drug addiction. Since 2024, the total number of Utahns experiencing chronic homelessness increased by 36%, from 906 to 1,233. The number of homeless children increased by 12%, from 589 to 662. And the number of homeless seniors over 64 increased by 42% from 251 to 356. Last year, the state provided around 1,000 winter beds in shelters, and those beds were always full. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that we have an unsheltered population that wants to be in shelters. And so we want to provide a place for people to go, Niederhauser said. As previously reported by the Deseret News, around two-thirds of the states homeless population lives in the Salt Lake City area. What is the timeline for this new facility? During the 2024 state legislative session, the Legislature appropriated $25 million to acquire land and construct this new homeless facility. The cost of construction will be around $75 million. Were going to need more money to actually build and construct the campus. So the big objective now is to get the construction of the campus and the operations of the campus funded. Thats going to be essential to move forward, Niederhauser said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A feasibility study for the land has been completed and environmental studies are ongoing. The next steps include securing funding partnerships and continuing to engage with community stakeholders, state leaders and service providers to complete the development of the campus. The goal is to begin construction next year and initial operations of the campus are expected to begin in 2027. Those interested in the progress on and engaging with this new campus can sign up for updates at homelesscampus.utah.gov. Ukraine's State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience has filed a lawsuit to terminate the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Interfax-Ukraine reported on Sept. 2. If the court rules in favor of the lawsuit, it will not mean the abolition of individual parishes. They will still be free to choose whether to become independent or join another church, said the agency's head, Viktor Yelenskyi, at a press briefing on Sept. 2. Ukraine has accused the UOC-MP of ties and sympathies to Russia during the full-scale war. The church is not to be confused with the autocephalous (autonomous) Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is fully separate from Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last August, Ukraine passed a law banning activities of religious institutions associated with the Russian Orthodox Church, an organization seen as closely linked to the Russian state and supportive of the war against Ukraine. The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience launched a probe into the UOC-MP earlier this year, concluding in July that the church is affiliated with the Russian church. The UOC-MP has declared it has severed ties with the Russian church after the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, a move critics argued was without legal or practical effect. The Ukrainian state agency filed the lawsuit on Aug. 29, though Yelenskyi said it remains unclear how long the trial proceedings can last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of UOC-MP clergymen have been accused of supporting and collaborating with Russia since the outbreak of the full-scale war. In July, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) suspended the citizenship of Metropolitan Onufrii of Kyiv, the primate of the Moscow-backed church, on the grounds that he failed to disclose that he obtained a Russian passport in 2002. According to Yelenskyi, the lawsuit is not relevant to possible links between individual clergy members and Russian intelligence services. "If there is a connection of certain priests with the Russian intelligence services or with Russian forces... then these cases are considered separately," he said. Read also: No fate but what we make Ukrainians transform storm-destroyed Burning Man installation Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that U.S President Donald Trumps administration is listening to the Kremlins justifications for its invasion of neighboring Ukraine and claimed that Moscow and Washington have come to a mutual understanding about the conflict. Putin said during a visit to China that the (Trump) administration is listening to us, as he complained that former President Joe Biden paid Moscows arguments no heed. But Russia faces possible punitive actions by Trump, who has expressed frustration at Putins lack of engagement in U.S.-led peace efforts and threatened unspecified severe consequences. The American president has made ending the three-year war one of his diplomatic priorities and hosted Putin at a summit in Alaska last month. Putin attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the Chinese city of Tianjin with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who are also facing pressure from Trump. The SCO started out as a security forum viewed as a foil to U.S. influence in Central Asia but it has grown in influence over the years. Like this: Like Loading... While businesses spend significant resources on proprietary market information, many of these private platforms are built from state and federal data. This cant happen without reliable numbers collected by government. (Getty Images) As the Purdue University Fort Wayne Community Research Institute director, I rely on public state and federal data, funded by our tax dollars, that provides unique information using past and current conditions. Some data can be found nearly immediately like the number of weekly unemployment insurance claimants from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Others take almost a year like the county-level gross domestic product from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Furthermore, many data sets are subject to revisions even years later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of this is produced consistently to see how things have changed over time. Reliable data practices can track how local wages are performing against national averages, how birth rates have changed, or the affordability of rental housing compared to a decade ago. I consider these numbers trustworthy. I recognize data collection limitations and data suppression to protect privacy, which is frustrating but understood. President Donald Trumps decision to fire U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after the BLS revised the May and June jobs numbers is somewhere between disheartening and alarming. After decades of what gets measured gets managed, terminating an employee based on what appears to be appropriate data revisions puts reliability of apolitical information at risk. Here are examples of local data available from state or federal agencies that I have used over the years: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Number of cancer cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Percentage of the countys gross domestic product attributed to manufacturing from the BEA Number of fatal traffic crashes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Number of workers who are not currently employed but actively looking for a job from the IDWD Percentage of low birthweight and premature infants from the Indiana Department of Health Annual population change attributed to births and deaths from the U.S. Census Bureau Number of workers commuting between counties from the Indiana Department of Revenue Share of renters who are considered housing burdened from the Census Bureau Price changes of groceries, gasoline, clothing, rent and other consumer goods and services from the BLS Number of bachelors degrees awarded from the National Center for Education Statistics Average monthly SNAP benefits from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Percentage of recent high school graduates going to college from the Indiana Commission on Higher Education Available data are far from complete, yet this list represents a state and federal commitment to information in many disciplines to provide robust statistics. Decisions have been made on what data points to collect and perhaps on what not to. With some skill and understanding of data sets, existing numbers can be extracted and analyzed to understand what is happening. Often I compare local data to equivalent state and national numbers. While businesses spend significant resources on proprietary market information, many of these private platforms are built from state and federal data. This cant happen without reliable numbers collected by government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I get it; different administrations have different priorities, including Trump and President Joe Biden or even Govs. Mike Braun and Eric Holcomb. While data can be spun, the underlying math doesnt care about policy but only if it is collected and compiled without an agenda. Manipulating a system built with bipartisan trust sets us up for unreliable data. Its not just an academic project. They are used for calculating Social Security cost of living adjustments, plans to construct new school buildings or how to allocate transportation funds. Cutting data reliability could ripple through the economy for decades to come. Americans deserve evidence-based policy, not policy-based evidence. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CONNECTICUT (WTNH) Millions of dollars in state funding are headed to Connecticut food pantries after legislative approval earlier this year, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Tuesday. In recent budgets, food pantries across the state have received just under $1 million in funding. This year, that number has jumped to over $9 million over the next two years. RELATED: Connecticut Foodshare asking for $10 million from state government after losing federal funding Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets do what we do best with the facts that we know, Lamont said. People are hungry and are getting less food support from Washington every day. Were gonna work closely with our farmers, work closely with the folks at Foodshare, do whatever we can to make sure that not one kid goes hungry in this state. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle pushed for more funding for the states food pantries. Some lawmakers are worried that when a recently-passed federal tax and spending bill goes into effect, people will go hungry or be kicked off SNAP food-assistance benefits. A period of economic and political uncertainty prompted state lawmakers to act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state will continue to monitor the impacts of the federal cuts and will make a decision if more state funding is needed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VIGO CO., Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Indiana State Representative Tonya Pfaff is reintroducing a bill that would help bring a possible lane expansion to I-70 from two lanes to three on both east and westbound lanes. This will help increase the safety of all drivers traveling on I-70 in Indiana. I will keep introducing this bill until it happens because I think its so important for us to have three lanes, Pfaff said. Again, safety, safety, safety. Pfaff mentioned that the expansion would go from Terre Haute, IN, to Richmond, IN. An expansion like this can also help bring more economic development to the area, while keeping everyone safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have so much going on in Terre Haute, Pfaff said. I just believe people need a safe way to get to our community. I-70 is a direct route all across the state. Its just, for economic development, for new businesses coming in, for our airport, it just makes sense. IN State Rep. files bill to add more lanes to I-70 While Pfaff is focusing on helping the drivers of I-70 be safer with the expansion. President and CEO Kristin Craig mentioned that a lane expansion on I-70 can help bring more businesses to the area, as I-70 can be a major reason why a business might choose to come to Terre Haute or not. Every business that looks at Terre Haute and whether they are going to relocate here, whether theyre going to expand here, one of the first things they look at is our roadways and our transportation and our infrastructure, and I-70 plays a huge part in that, Craig said. It would be safe to assume with I-70 not being invested in, that would be something that would detract from those businesses eventually locating here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Craig also mentioned that I-70 has become unreliable for some travelers in the area, and that can be a reason why an organization might choose somewhere else to go instead of Terre Haute. Weve realized this is not just a problem for residents who are on I-70; it is also a problem for the businesses as well, Craig said. They are taking some extraordinary measures to avoid I-70 in certain circumstances and are just basically seeing it as not the overall reliable stretch of roadway that it should be for our area. Pfaff did mention that she is already getting some support for this bill from someone major in Indianas government. Governor Braun has come out in support of expanding I-70, Pfaff said. Im looking forward to seeing what plan he has to pay for it all, and well see where we can go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticut State Police are investigating after a state vehicle was stolen in New Britain and subsequently crashed into a state police cruiser. Police located the vehicle abandoned in New Britain and the suspect was taken into custody with assistance from New Britain police. New Britain students dropped off late, to wrong houses due to bus driver shortage At approximately 2:37 p.m., police were dispatched to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families office in New Britain for reports of a stolen vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were able to track the vehicle and when it was located, it struck a police cruiser. No injuries were reported by state police personnel. State police did not reveal the identity or age of the suspect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis man is facing over 20 charges for allegedly burglarizing businesses in August. According to a probable cause statement, Devin Marcee began smashing glass doors of businesses, going inside, and stealing items in the store that were for sale and pulling register drawers from the registers looking for money. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Prosecuting attorneys allege that Marcee committed these crimes between Aug. 17 and Aug. 29. They also suspect these burglaries were carried out by one person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say in one incident on Aug. 20 at a CNC Bank located at 9111 Mackenzie Road, the suspect attempted to steal an ATM machine by wrapping it around a chain and attaching it to the bumper of a vehicle that was ready to take off. The ATM machine did not break free, but it sustained over $50,000 worth of damages. Police recover $12,000 worth of apparel stolen from area shopping malls Marcee was eventually arrested on Aug. 29, and police say when he was caught, he was inside a stolen vehicle. And during the arrest, law enforcement say they seized a stolen drawer from a cash register that belonged to one of the shops targeted by the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records say Marcee faces a multitude of charges, including 18 counts of second-degree burglary. He remains in custody at the City Justice Center under a no 10% $250,000 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 FOX 2. A Sunday night traffic stop in Mt. Juliet led to the discovery of an allegedly stolen handgun in possession of a convicted felon. Mt. Juliet Police initially stopped a vehicle on Mt. Juliet Road near Interstate 40 for a taillight violation. Officers identified the driver as Derrick Frazier, 29, of Nashville. Police say Frazier has previously been convicted of aggravated assault, felony evading, aggravated burglary and firing a firearm into an occupied dwelling. The latter occurred in Wilson County. Officers attempted a probable cause search of the vehicle, but Frazier allegedly locked the vehicle then tossed the keys into a nearby wooded area. Police were able to unlock the car without the keys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside the car, officers found what is believed to be a handgun stolen out of Lebanon in 2019. Frazier was arrested and charged with driving on a suspended license, possession of a stolen firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Wilson County Jail and released Monday on a $25,000 bond. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) Two people were arrested in Laurel County after an investigation into stolen out-of-state heavy equipment valued at nearly $200,000 being sold in London. According to police, on Aug.13, a D5 K Caterpillar dozer, valued at $65,000, was delivered to a business that was determined to have been stolen from Fairfax, Virginia, with local police tracking the location of the stolen equipment to London. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 29, deputies set up an undercover operation to provide two more pieces of heavy equipment. The suspect and a reported accomplice brought two pieces of heavy equipment, valued at $47,000 and $73,000, to the south Laurel County and Corbin area. Deputies reportedly saw the vehicle driving in the Woodbine area on Highway 26 south of Corbin before deputies made a traffic stop. Investigators said the equipment was not entered as stolen based on the serial numbers, but authorities contacted the Boyd Caterpillar company of Corbin and determined both pieces had been stolen from Maryland. (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) (Laurel County Detention Center) (Laurel County Detention Center) According to a news release, 34-year-old Dushon Sheperd, of Southfield, Michigan, and 23-year-old Bria Parks, of Washington, D.C., allegedly brought the two pieces of heavy equipment from Maryland for the sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were both arrested and charged with two counts of receiving stolen property worth $10,000 or more. Sheperd and Parks were lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. This five-part investigation was conducted by Conexion Migrante and Factchequeado with support from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Disarming Disinformation program. Puedes leer esta nota en espanol haciendo clic aqui. Arriving at the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) office on the outskirts of Mexico City in the morning, you're highly likely to encounter a line of people who arrived the night before to ensure they'll be seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone is pressed up against the wall. The Haitians gather in one spot because someone in the line told them that they will be assisted by a translator, so they form a separate line. In another line, mothers with children and families with fathers, mothers, and children gather. During the hours of waiting, some since dawn, everyone tells part of their journey. Rafael, a 50-year-old Venezuelan, says that when he crossed the Suchiate River, he was met on the Chiapas side by hooded men with guns who forced him and those who came on the raft to follow them. They locked them up, asked for the phone numbers of their relatives in the United States, extorted money from those they could, and put them on public transportation to Tapachula, just half an hour from the river on the border with Guatemala. A tall, dark-skinned Cuban citizen who says his name is Octavio says he managed to cross the US border once, twice, and even three times in 2024, before Donald Trump's arrival, but was deported to Mexico each time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time, they warned him that the next time he would go to jail for trying to enter illegally. So he gave up on the American dream and sought refuge in Mexico, where he is trying to regularize his situation, so far without success. His traveling companion was not so lucky: he remains imprisoned in an immigration detention center in the United States. There are also people who are not sure why they are there. They only went to COMAR because they were told that it was a way to regularize their stay in Mexico through asylum, although first they must convince the authorities that they fled their country because their lives were at risk or they were victims of political persecution, even if this is not true. In July 2025, there are two lines at the entrance to COMAR: one for asylum seekers who scheduled their appointment via cell phone, and another for those who arrived without knowing they had the option to do so or who were unable to schedule their appointment electronically. / Photos: Maria Ruiz COMAR is the agency responsible for analyzing and granting refugee status to a person in Mexico, under the conditions of international agreements. The number of asylum applications began to increase after the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2023 reached a historic high of 140,000 petitions, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). In 2024, the Mexican government attempted to stem the flow of migrants and only officially processed 80,000 asylum applications. Andres Ramirez, former coordinator of COMAR from 2018 to 2024, explains in an interview that many of those people were not necessarily seeking refuge in Mexico, but approached the Commission advised by human traffickerscoyotesto obtain a document that would allow them to travel within the country toward the northern border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This document is the Visitor Card for Humanitarian Reasons (TVRH, by its Spanish acronym) and is issued by the National Migration Institute (INM). They just wanted to use that asylum seeker certificate to head north, Ramirez said in an interview. The Mexican government realized this mechanism was being used as a way to get closer to the United States and, starting in 2024, the INM stopped issuing the same quantity of cards and stopped complying with the law. Article 52 of the Migration Law establishes that "authorization for humanitarian stay status must be immediate and cannot be denied." The Federal Public Defender's Institute detected a considerable decrease in card issuance in 2024: in the first four months of 2023, 51,393 TVRHs were issued, and in the same period of 2024, the figure dropped dramatically to 887. In the absence of official information, humanitarian organizations come to COMAR to provide information to people seeking asylum in Mexico / Photo: Maria Ruiz "This raised concerns within the Federal Legal Advisory Office, as the trend reflects a clear obstruction in the protection of the rights of persons subject to international protection. Carrying the TVRH protects individuals against return by foreign authorities, states the report Abriendo Caminos para la Justicia (Opening Paths to Justice), prepared by the Legal Advisory Unit and published in July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lorena Cano, a lawyer who heads the Legal Clinic of the Institute for Women in Migration (IMUMI), warns that the National Immigration Institute is required by law to issue cards for humanitarian reasons during the process and that as long as a person does not have a COMAR resolution, they are undocumented. The law establishes that applicants should have a provisional document for humanitarian reasons until their proceedings are concluded. So, Immigration is not granting those documents; they are telling them: Well, I accept your application, but I'm not going to decide on it until COMAR decides on you, Cano points out. In the queue, asylum seekers advise each other on how to proceed with their applications / Photo: Maria Ruiz As of July 31, 2025, at least 39,497 asylum applications had been filed at the COMAR offices across the country. Tapachula, on the southern border, recorded the highest number, with 18,647 applications, followed by Mexico City, with 6,950 applications, according to data we obtained through a request made under Mexicos Transparency Law. The refugee recognition process takes longer than the 45 business days required by law, and COMAR has a significant backlog of cases, according to organizations that assist migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tere, a young Cuban woman with fair skin, went to COMAR last March and by early July had still had not heard anything about her application. Octavio has been going to sign in to follow up on his case since late March, and by August he still had not had his eligibility interview. Like them, thousands of people remain in Mexico in irregular immigration status, working in the informal economy to earn income and on the margins of free access to their rights. *Third of five-part series, "I'm Staying in Mexico" Factchequeado is a verification media outlet built by a Spanish-speaking community to tackle disinformation in the United States. Do you want to be part of it? Join us and verify the content you receive by sending it to our WhatsApp +16468736087 or to factchequeado.com/whatsapp. Read more: Im Staying in Mexico Migrants Blocked by Trump, Caught in Disinformation Spread by Sheinbaums Government From Facebook to TikTok: misinformation is on the rise, and almost 50% of migrants are victims of fraud Tapachula, the Border of Deception Paranoia is as natural to Silicon Valley as lip fillers are to Los Angeles. In the Bay Area, you can't throw a rock without hitting a startup founder convinced everyone is out to steal his ideas or poach his staff a state of mind reaffirmed by the fact that sometimes, people very much are trying to rip off their competitors. Until the last few years, OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, seemed above that fracas. Altman's sanguine predictions about artificial general intelligence (AGI), a benchmark at which AI reaches would human smarts, didn't feel like a money grab his company was a nonprofit dedicated to building AGI safely, and making money was beside the point. But that relaxed buoyancy is long gone. In its wake has come a frenzied attempt by OpenAI to abandon its nonprofit status and become a for-profit entity to keep up with the costs of funding its ever-growing AI kingdom. Such a massive about-face was bound to bring opponents large and small out of the woodwork, from ousted OpenAI founder Elon Musk to California legislators and AI safety advocates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With their goals as disparate as their backgrounds, these organizations, individuals, and institutions wouldn't be natural bedfellows but apparently, as the San Francisco Standard reports, Altman and other ranking OpenAI executives have began to think at some point that they all are working together, funded by some murky billionaire antagonists, to bring about the ChatGPT maker's demise. One of the groups targeted by OpenAI, the AI governance nonprofit Encode, has had a particularly egregious experience dealing with the company's legal might. Speaking with the Standard, Nathan Calvin, the general counsel of the small firm, said he ended up fielding strange calls for multiple days until ultimately, he was served a subpoena from the Altman-run company by a sheriff's deputy in Washington, DC. "I was just thinking, 'Wow, they're really doing this,'" Calvin told the Standard. "'This is really happening.'" The reason for the subpoena: Encode had filed an amicus brief in favor of some of Musk's arguments amid his legal feud with OpenAI, which he sued back in 2024 for abandoning its original mission to develop AI for humanity and not financial gain by moving to a for-profit structure. (Musk also mounted a nearly $100 billion takeover of the company earlier, which Altman rejected outright.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the filing, OpenAI demanded that Encode release any information it had about Musk's involvement in the founding of the nonprofit and any exchanges the group had had with him and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who was apparently pitched to help Musk with his takeover bid in February. As Calvin told the Standard, no such documents exist, and no such exchanges occurred. But to OpenAI's increasingly paranoid executives, that seems hardly to matter. At least two other AI safety nonprofits, who were not named in the article, have been served similar documents in recent months, both with a similarly illusory goal: to find the mysterious billionaires funding this disparate cabal as it tries to hamstring OpenAI. So committed is OpenAI to this wild goose hunt that one of its attorneys, Ann O'Leary, admitted when speaking to the Standard that the company seeks to unmask "funders [who] hold direct equity stakes in competitors," including but not limited to Musk, Zuckerberg, and potentially even Anthropic investors Dustin Moskovitz, the Facebook co-founder, and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. "This is about transparency in terms of who funded these organizations," O'Leary told the Standard. "They can engage in all the spin they want, but the one thing they continue to do is duck, dodge, bob, and weave on who is really funding them. That is the more-than-million-dollar question." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that sounds a little unbalanced to you, you're not alone. "Theyre in this kind of paranoid bubble," Calvin told the Standard. "Theyre under siege from Meta, whos trying to poach their employees, and Elon, who seems genuinely out to get them. I think they're just seeing conspiracies and echoes of their enemies in places where [they arent]. "They seem to have a hard time believing that we are an organization of people who just, like, actually care about this," he continued. The same could well be said of the nonprofit groups that helped write a since-killed California state bill that would have blocked OpenAI's transition to for-profit. Around the time that the bill was kiboshed this past spring, it appears that OpenAI chose to not only go after those who opposed the transition, but to consider them all as co-conspirators. Though the nonprofits aren't backing down in the face of what may soon become the world's most valuable startup, the fight has clearly taken its toll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its taxing for a small organization, and me as an individual, to be spending a lot of my time dealing with lawyers and responding to reporters about these allegations that are silly and false," Calvin told the Standard of his time interfacing with OpenAI on behalf of Encode. "Insofar as the goal was to make [our work] harder, I'm not gonna lie and say it didnt have any success." More on OpenAI: At OpenAI, Signs of Crisis Grow Behind the Scenes For decades, U.S. states have fought male violence against spouses and partners on two fronts: with mandatory arrests and prosecutions, and through programs focused on reeducating men about their attitudes toward women. Yet for nearly as long, researchers have gathered evidence that these strategies dont work. Instead, studies suggest that less punitive and more therapeutic tactics can better reduce repeated violence. In recent years, this has prompted some government agencies to change direction. Some leading domestic violence activists and researchers want to see that happen faster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve simply got to have new approaches and new paradigms, because we havent done a very good job with all the stuff weve been doing, says Jacquelyn Campbell, a professor of nursing at Johns Hopkins University and a national leader in research and advocacy related to domestic and intimate partner violence. Its 2025 dont we know more about human behavior and how brains work than we did in the 1990s? Perceived lenience toward men who have threatened or hurt women is understandably controversial. Yet momentum is growing for less frequent arrests or at least more selective ones and more attention to the emotional wounds and stress that can lead men to violence. The feminist fight against male assaults Todays broad consensus about how to treat men charged with violence against wives and girlfriends began forming in the 1970s. In the decade prior, marital rape still wasnt considered a crime and police often responded to panicked womens calls with mild warnings to their spouses. Violence against women by spouses or boyfriends was still vastly underreported, even as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would later report that about 41 percent of U.S. women have experienced sexual or physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetimes. But then, half a century before #MeToo, second-wave feminists awakened Americans to the plight of women trapped in dangerous relationships. They dramatically improved womens safety and welfare by empowering them financially fighting for better access to jobs and reproductive health care and pushing governments to confront violence against women that, as abundant research shows, is mostly and most lethally committed by men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the late 1980s and the 1990s, many state governments adopted versions of a comprehensive strategy to address intimate partner violence, known as the Duluth Model. Developed in the early 1980s by activists in Duluth, Minnesota, it favors ample victims services and robust law enforcement, including mandatory arrests when police have probable cause to suspect domestic violence. Duluth Model advocates have also supported pursuing prosecution regardless of the victims wishes. These strategies are also reflected in the Violence Against Women Act, which Congress passed in 1994 and has reauthorized four times. The landmark legislation has distributed more than $11 billion, much of it for victims services such as shelters, counseling and a national hotline. Yet some researchers estimate that more than half of the funds have supported training of police and prosecutors to strengthen their response. The Violence Against Women Act has helped to protect and support millions of survivors, while shining light on a crime once regarded as a private affair. From 1994 to 2010, as states adopted those get-tough policies, reports of intimate partner violence declined by 64 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Yet the hard-hitting strategies have come under fire from scientists and advocates who charge that jailing abusers can exacerbate conditions that lead to violence, such as racism and poverty. If we were willing to actually look at this as an economic problem, I truly believe we would make a greater dent in the rate of violence than with any other kind of intervention, says legal scholar Leigh Goodmark of the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, author of a 2022 critique of the Violence Against Women Act inthe Annual Review of Criminology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodmark argues that the decline in reported intimate violence crime was part of an overall drop in crime since 1994. Other researchers attribute factors other than the Violence Against Women Act for that decline, including a steady drop in marriage rates starting in 1970, as well as improvements in womens economic status and an older and presumably wiser population. Indeed, a 2020 analysis of 11 published studies concluded that mandatory arrests have failed to stop most abusers from repeating their crimes. Aggressive prosecution may even increase the violence, according to Radha Iyengar Plumb, who in 2009, as a Harvard health policy researcher, reported an analysis of FBI data in the Journal of Public Economics. Plumb found that intimate partner homicides increased by about 60 percent in states with mandatory arrest laws, for reasons, she wrote, that could include victims reluctance to call police if it was likely to end in an arrest and batterers taking revenge if they did. Such findings help to explain why 21 states now allow police more discretion. Additionally, in recent decades several states and counties have retreated from the second front of Americas war on intimate partner violence: the confrontational programs abusers must attend in an attempt to get them to change their ways. Power, control, and pushback Besides its support for robust police involvement, the Duluth Model includes a batterer-intervention curriculum, Creating a Process of Change for Men Who Batter, used today throughout the United States and in many other countries, often as a condition of parole. By the late 1990s, many states had begun combining the Duluth curriculum with cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, with the aim of helping abusers recognize and change unhelpful thinking patterns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inspired by now 40-year-old interviews with 200 women survivors of violence, the Duluth curriculum teaches participants that a patriarchal culture encourages men to use violence as a means of power and control. In weekly group classes, court-ordered participants study a power and control wheel that illustrates controlling tactics such as victim-blaming and using children as weapons. This power and control wheel is included as part of the Duluth Model curriculum. CREDIT: DOMESTIC ABUSE INTERVENTION PROJECT Throughout the curriculums history, critics, including many scientists, have complained that it scolds and shames men. More important, they say, the Duluth program and others in more limited but also longtime use (including a precursor, Emerge, founded in 1977) have failed to stop abusers from committing new crimes. Several state and local government agencies around the country have come to share that assessment. In 2014, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy determined that the Duluth curriculum failed to prevent repeated intimate partner violence. Subsequently, the state allowed alternative interventions to be used, according to Rebecca Goodvin, a senior research associate at the institute. In Iowa and Nebraska, state prison administrators lost so much faith in existing programs like the Duluth curriculum that they ultimately turned to programs more focused on helping men manage their emotions.In California, which has long relied on Duluth-inspired curricula, a state law has allowed six counties to pilot alternative programs with evidence-based practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These public officials are responding to what researchers have called a tsunami of data challenging the effectiveness of the Duluth curricula. In one of the most frequently cited studies, clinical psychologist Julia Babcock of the University of Houston led a meta-analysis of research, published in 2004, examining commonly used batterer-intervention programs, including the Duluth-plus-CBT approach. She concluded that they had minimal impact on repeat crimes, based on police and partners reports. Twenty years later, in a larger analysis, her conclusion was similarly discouraging. You cant really make a great case for the Duluth Model, she says. Sympathy for the devils Babcocks news isnt all bad. Her 2024 analysis includes studies comparing the Duluth-plus-CBT approach with newer alternatives, some of which achieved significantly better results.First in class was a program known as Achieving Change through Value-Based Behavior (ACTV), developed by clinical psychologist Amie Zarling at Iowa State University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zarling created ACTV by adapting a more mainstream approach, known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which combines acceptance and mindfulness techniques. Using input from criminal justice experts and other sources, she incorporated tactics to better meet the needs of men accused of domestic violence. For example, ACTV emphasizes learning to be calm and deliberate, a skill Zarling says is often lacking in such men, likely because many have themselves been traumatized. The majority of those she studies, she says, have had four or more adverse childhood experiences such as physical or sexual abuse, neglect or witnessing violence at home. Abundant research confirms this link. A 2009 study found that men who had suffered moderate to severe physical abuse in childhood were 3.9 to 4.5 times more likely to use violence against their partners as adults. They never learned to regulate their emotions, and so many started using substances to deal with those trauma reactions, which just adds to the risk factors for domestic violence, Zarling says. As Zarling explains it, the main difference between Duluth-inspired approaches and ACTV, put simply, is that while the former tries to teach men to change their thoughts about their female partners, ACTV aims to help them choose behavior that matches their values, even in the presence of those thoughts. Its a skill known as psychological flexibility. In 2010, the Iowa Department of Corrections piloted ACTV with men required to complete an intervention program, after determining that the Duluth-inspired approach had failed to significantly reduce intimate partner violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This enabled Zarling and colleagues to conduct a large study comparing ACTV with Duluth-plus-CBT, using data from 3,474 men in Iowa who had been arrested for domestic assault and court-ordered to one or the other of the programs, each lasting 24 weeks. After one year, 3.6 percent of the men who had completed the ACTV program had been charged with a new episode of domestic violence,the 2017 study found, versus 7 percent of those who had completed the conventional treatment. Four years later, researchers from Northwestern University published another study in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology comparing outcomes from ACTV with Duluth-plus-CBT. They looked at 725 men classified as medium or high risk for repeat offenses who were court-mandated to complete a batterer-intervention program with Ramsey County Community Corrections in Minnesota. After five years, 69.6 percent of those enrolled in the Duluth-inspired program had received a new conviction, compared to 34 percent of men in the ACTV program. While Zarling continues her research, interest in her program is growing. Since 2024, several Nebraska prisons have been offering ACTV to incarcerated individuals, says criminologist Tara Richards of the University of Nebraska Omaha, who collaborates with public agencies to evaluate criminal justice programs. In recent years, other jurisdictions, including in Vermont and Ramsey County, Minnesota, have also piloted or adopted ACTV for intimate partner offenders. They dont want to be abusive Another emerging competitor to the Duluth curriculum is Strength at Home, which was adopted throughout the Veterans Administration in 2013. Intimate partner violence is unusually prevalent among military veterans who have experienced trauma, yet before that year few VA hospitals offered more than anger management classes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strength at Home is trauma-informed, says Casey Taft, who created the program as a staff psychologist at the National Center for PTSD in the VA Boston Healthcare System. It aims to help men understand the impact of their emotional wounds, whether stemming from childhood or combat, in a collaborative, empowering manner. Instead of trying to get really confrontational with our clients and force them to change, we treat them with respect and allow them to talk about their experiences in an open way, so that they take ownership over their actions, says Taft. For the most part, he adds, Our clients want to change. They dont want to be abusive; they dont want to have these problems with violence and anger. The U.S. courts long reliance on the Duluth curriculum and other interventions that arent evidence-based is dangerous, says Taft. You have violent folks who are hurting or killing their partners and were sending them to programs with no demonstrated effectiveness. Like most other batterer-intervention programs, Strength at Home requires men to meet weekly in groups in which members, guided by a facilitator, challenge and support each other. Wed help each other; wed give advice to each other, like, if that made you mad, how did you handle it? How could you have handled it better? recalls Ran Stewart, a New York state construction worker who graduated a few years back from a Strength at Home program adapted for civilians. We ended up being a brotherhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research support for Strength at Home includes a randomized controlled trial of 135 male veterans and 111 female partners, published in 2016. The veterans were assigned to either Strength at Home or treatment that offered support such as individual therapy, substance abuse programs and counseling for intimate partner violence. After researchers led by Taft interviewed clinicians, the veterans and their partners, the team concluded that Strength at Home was more effective than the enhanced program in reducing physical and psychological violence against partners. Three months after completion of the program, 26.7 percent of the treatment-as-usual participants committed new crimes, compared with 18.5 percent of those who completed Strength at Home. In 2023, Taft published an additional study, this time including 1,754 participants at 73 VA clinics. It concluded that Strength at Home helped to reduce physical intimate partner violence by 17 percent and psychological intimate partner violence by 23 percent. Since then, Taft has continued to test his approach on civilians, with support from a $2.8 million grant from the nonprofit Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Initiative, created by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He expects to have results in 2030. Im really looking forward to that data, says Johns Hopkins researcher Campbell, who collaborated with Taft in a recent paper in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, which called for more evidence-based programs for intimate partner violence offenders. I would like to see Caseys program in every community in the United States. Complexity after complexity Scott Miller, executive director of Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs, which trains Duluth facilitators, says his nonprofit organization has never subjected the Duluth curriculum to a randomized controlled study. Were not scientists, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, studying behavior as complicated as intimate partner violence is a major challenge under any circumstances, but especially when done outside of controlled settings such as prisons or VA clinics. Convicted criminals may not show up. Partners may shade the truth for their own reasons. Studies are expensive and time-consuming, and researchers cant offer no treatment as a comparison in controlled studies, since all participants must receive a program by law. For the Duluth curriculum, the challenges are even more complex. The intervention was always intended to be part of a larger, coordinated community response, Miller says. If you pluck our mens group out of our system that weve designed and stick it as a standalone, its not going to operate the same way. Importantly, too, Duluth classes vary widely state to state and even group to group. Programs can last from 12 to 52 weeks. Group leaders range from experienced psychologists to people with no college experience, according to Miller. They receive three days of online training and a 324-page instruction manual and videos depicting vignettes of abuse, after which all are free to adapt the program. We didnt want to be that prescriptive because we didnt want to curtail creativity, Miller says. We wanted people to use it and figure out different ways of using it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, theres nothing to stop group leaders from improvising beyond the instruction manual, notes Richards. They all change it, supplement it, bring in different components, and are responsive to their groups. So its like comparing apples to oranges to bananas. Other intervention programs are vulnerable to the same comparison challenges if facilitators implement them differently, she adds. Amid all its challenges, the Duluth program has been evolving, says Miller. Over the summer of 2025, mindful of the new research and following a four-year review, Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs rolled out a fourth iteration of the curriculum that incorporated some elements of ACT. As the field develops, experts say they would like to see more standardization of batterer programs, and more rigorous, independent evaluations of their impact. Also important, according to Richards, is infusion of more resources so participants do not have to pay out-of-pocket for the programs. With fees of $25 to $75 per class, facilitators often struggle to retain participants who may be jobless or marginally employed. Batterer-intervention programs are, in fact, notorious for their dropout rates, with researchers reporting that up to 67 percent fail to complete them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zarling says she hopes that in coming years more researchers will join the field and help to develop new, empirically tested strategies to replace ineffective efforts. We are so programmed to hate these men, and theres certainly some validity in that, she says. But what I think people tend to forget is that if we dont help them, theyre just going to do it again and again. This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a nonprofit publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to all. Sign up for Knowable Magazines newsletter. The post Can a New Strategy Reduce Intimate Partner Violence? appeared first on Katie Couric Media. Last year, Sands China launched the Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagensa groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Out of 128 submissions, seven exceptional projects were chosen to rejuvenate one of Macaus most historic streets. Among them, PanPan Bakery stands out as a shining example of how targeted support and community collaboration can spur both entrepreneurial success and neighborhood renewal. A Legacy of Local Partnership and Cultural Preservation With deep roots in Macao spanning over two decades, Sands China has consistently grown alongside the local community. Beyond fostering partnerships between local SMEs and its operations, the company has expanded initiatives like the F.I.T. Programme and the Sands Resorts Incubation Centre under its Local SME Suppliers Support Programme. These efforts are strategically aligned with the Macao SAR governments broader community revitalization projects. Sands China is actively involved in rejuvenating cultural and historical areas like the Iec Long Firecracker Factory, Taipa Houses area, and Rua das Estalagens. PanPan Bakery: A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation Established in early 2024, PanPan Bakery was founded by partners who brought advanced European baking techniques from Le Cordon Bleu London to the heart of Macau. The founder is a certified graduate of the prestigious culinary institute, lending both credibility and international flair to the venture. The name PanPan cleverly combines the Spanish word for bread and the Japanese term for full, capturing the brands mission to offer fulfilling, high-quality baked goods. Specializing in artisanal sourdough products, the bakery masterfully blends Japanese and French baking traditions to create a unique and appealing menu. According to Brand and Marketing Director Steven Xie, the vision was to offer both locals and tourists a reinvented experience of classic bakery items. The launch of Sands Chinas entrepreneurial program couldnt have been timelier. We were deep in our planning phase when we learned about the scheme, Xie remarked. Being selected enabled us to become one of the pioneer brands on Rua das Estalagens. The program provided crucial financial backing and strategic marketing support. Sands China facilitated introductions to prominent food bloggers and travel influencers, greatly enhancing visibility for all new businesses on the street. PanPan Bakery was also invited to take part in a food fest at The Venetian Macaos back-of-house area, helping it gain recognition among the companys large employee network. Strategic Selection and Sustained Support William Chan, Executive Director of Procurement and Supply Chain Operations at Sands China, elaborated on the selection process: Rua das Estalagens is rich in history but lacked consistent foot traffic. PanPans proposal was exceptionally thoroughfrom product design and store aesthetics to branding and financial projections. Their innovative approach, merging European techniques with local Macanese flavors, truly impressed the panel. PanPans product lineup includes European-style chocolate bars and pistachio bread, alongside creative local interpretations like tofu pudding croissant and fermented bean curd croissant. The bakery also introduces limited seasonal offerings to keep the menu dynamic and engaging. This strategy has struck a chord with a diverse clientele. Weve amassed over 10,000 social media followers, Xie shared. While we anticipated tourists as our primary customers, it turns out half of our sales come from local residents, many of whom order via delivery platforms. Meticulous attention to detailfrom interior design to packaginghas elevated customer experience, particularly among younger demographics. This dedication to quality has not only cultivated a loyal customer base but also contributed to the streets increasing vibrancy. PanPan was one of the first to open and has taken a leading role in drawing younger crowds to the area through active social media engagement, Chan noted. Their presence has noticeably increased foot traffic, proving the effectiveness of the program. Sands China continues to bolster the selected businesses through ongoing initiatives. These include distributing food & beverage discount vouchers during events like the Sands China Macao International 10K Run, organizing influencer visits, and offering platforms such as the Sands Shopping Carnival, where local enterprises can showcase their products to a broader audience. Chan also shared advice for future applicants: A compelling business plan should clearly articulate operational direction, goals, financial planning, and product uniqueness. This helps us assess the proposals viability and potential impact. Looking ahead, PanPan Bakery is planning to expand with a new outlet in Taipaa testament to its growing success and the lasting influence of Sands Chinas support. Through the Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens, Sands China reaffirms its dedication to nurturing local entrepreneurship, revitalizing historic districts, and strengthening community bonds across Macau. Like this: Like Loading... LISBON, Portugal (AP) A picturesque electric streetcar that is one of Lisbons big tourist attractions derailed and crashed Wednesday, killing 15 people and injuring 18 others, emergency services said. Five of the injured were in serious condition and a child was among the injured, Portugal's National Institute for Medical Emergencies said in a statement, adding that an unknown number of foreigners were among the injured. Authorities called it an accident, the worst in the citys recent history, and it cast a pall over Lisbons charm for the millions of foreign tourists who arrive every year. Officials did not immediately provide a cause of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The yellow-and-white streetcar, which is known as Elevador da Gloria and goes up and down a steep downtown hill, was lying on its side on the narrow road that it travels on, its sides and top crumpled. It appeared to have crashed into a building where the road bends, leaving parts of the mostly metal vehicle crushed. It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box Teresa dAvo told Portuguese TV channel SIC. She described the streetcar as out-of-control and seeming to have no brakes, and said she watched passersby run into the middle of the nearby Avenida da Liberdade, or Freedom Avenue, the citys main thoroughfare. Several dozen emergency workers were at the scene but most stood down after about two hours. Eyewitnesses told local media that the streetcar careened down the hill, apparently out of control. One witness said the streetcar toppled onto a man on a sidewalk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos shared widely across social media of the moments after the accident showed what appeared to be heavy smoke in the air as people got out of a streetcar just in front of the one that crashed, some racing up the hill to the wreckage as people around yelled. Carris, the company that operates the streetcar, said scheduled maintenance had been carried out. It offered its deepest condolences to the victims and their families in a social media post, and promised that all due diligence would be taken in finding the causes of the accident. Lisbons City Council suspended operations of other streetcars in the city and ordered immediate inspections, local media reported. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his condolences to affected families, and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas said the city was in mourning. Its a tragedy of the like weve never seen," Moedas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portugals government announced that a day of national mourning would be observed on Thursday. A tragic accident caused the irreparable loss of human life, which left in mourning their families and dismayed the whole country, it said in a statement. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also sent her condolences. It is with sadness that I learned of the derailment of the famous Elevador da Gloria, she wrote in Portuguese on X. The crash reportedly occurred at the start of the evening rush hour, around 6 p.m. Emergency officials said all victims were pulled out of the wreckage in just over two hours. An investigation into the causes will begin once the rescue operation is over, the government said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SITRA, a trade union, wrote in a post on social media that one of its members died in the accident. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X that he was appalled by the terrible accident," while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote that he had met with the Portuguese foreign minister and expressed his "solidarity with the victims. The U.S. Embassy Lisbon also offered its deepest condolences to all affected, according to a post on X. The streetcar, technically called a funicular, is harnessed by steel cables and can carry more than 40 people, seated and standing. It is also commonly used by Lisbon residents. The service up and down a few hundred meters (yards) of a hill on a curved, traffic-free road in tandem with one going the opposite way inaugurated in 1885. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is classified as a national monument. Lisbon hosted around 8.5 million tourists last year, and long lines of people typically form for the brief rides on the popular streetcar. ___ Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report. A student pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration official sustained minor injuries after a forced landing in a field near the Wood County Regional Airport on Wednesday, according to our CBS affiliate WTOL-11 TV. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A BGSU School of Aviation student was flying a multi-engine aircraft near Bowling Green when the landing occurred around 12:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An FAA-designated pilot examiner was with the student at the time. A spokesperson with Bowling Green State University emphasized to WTOL-11 that this situation was not a crash. The student was described to our affiliate as nearing graduation. TRENDING STORIES: The plane landed north of the Wood County Regional Airport. WTOL-11 reported that the student was being evaluated for a commercial pilot license at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student was required to land an aircraft during a simulated engine failure during the evaluation. During this simulation, the FAA examiner took over the aircraft, landing the plane in a field adjacent to the airport, a BGSU spokesperson said. Both the student and examiner experienced minor injuries and are reported to be doing well. The student was hospitalized as a precaution, WTOL-11 reported. Bowling Green State University is grateful for the quick actions and response and will continue to work with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and FAA, the spokesperson told WTOL-11. The airport is northeast of downtown Bowling Green and has two runways. Bowling Green State Universitys School of Aviation is among the largest aviation programs in Ohio. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Researchers also propose a new methodological framework to ensure crucial fact-finding missions in ongoing conflicts can continue their work while resisting political and media-driven narratives. Narratives about Israel committing genocide, war crimes, and a deliberate mass starvation in the ongoing war in Gaza have been challenged, and in some cases, debunked, in a comprehensive study published on Wednesday titled Debunking the Genocide Allegations: A Reexamination of the Israel-Hamas War (2023-2025). The study, published by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, engaged in a critical analysis to challenge the narrative of Israeli genocide during the conflict by analyzing humanitarian reporting and casualty data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spanning 311 pages, the study also used quantitative analysis and forensic documentation to examine and contest widely reported claims from international organizations and courts. Led by Prof. Danny Orbach, the authors said that their objective was to provide a factual analysis rather than a legal or moral exoneration. The publication of the study arrives at a crucial time, as the IDF is poised to begin the Gideons Chariots II invasion of Gaza City, and as the International Association of Genocide Scholars adopted a resolution on Monday, which says that Israels military actions in the Gaza Strip meet the legal definition of genocide. IDF soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, September 1, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Divided into eight chapters, each section of the study addressed specific allegations and themes related to the conflict and its reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overarching themes that emerged from the research were a critique of humanitarian reporting, a reevaluation of casualty data, and a call for a new methodological framework for analyzing conflicts. Challenging the Starvation Narrative Perhaps the studys most controversial finding concerns food supply to Gaza. The researchers said that more food entered Gaza during the war than before October 7, 2023, a claim that starkly contradicts widespread reports of imminent famine and the deliberate starvation of the Gazan population on Israels part. According to the study, the frequently cited requirement of 500 aid trucks entering Gaza daily stems from what the authors called a misrepresentation by UN bodies. They point to pre-war UN records showing an average of only 73 food trucks per day in 2022. The 500 figure has been regularly cited throughout the war by the UN, as well as international media outlets such as CNN, The Guardian, and The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until January 17, 2025, COGAT (the Israeli Defense Ministrys military body coordinating activities in the territories) recorded an average of 101 food trucks daily, while retroactively corrected but incomplete UNRWA data indicated 83 food trucks per day. In a similar vein, the study said that food that entered Gaza during the ceasefire should have sufficed until late July 2025 according to WFP [UN World Food Programme] projections. The researchers attributed the gap between projected sufficiency and reported shortages to extensive looting by Hamas. They also disputed claims regarding Gazas agricultural self-sufficiency. Contrary to allegations that 44% of Gazas food comes from local agriculture, the study said, this figure was baseless. The academics calculated that Gazas agriculture likely accounted for no more than 12% of caloric consumption in 2005 and that even if all of Gazas 2011 crops were replaced, the number of trucks entering Gaza per capita throughout the war would still be 58% higher than in 2011. The authors also made a point to strongly criticize the decision to stop aid to Gaza between March and May 2025, acknowledging humanitarian concerns even while disputing the genocide narrative. Questioning Casualty Reporting Further, the study took direct aim at casualty figures reported by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry (GMoH), alleging systematic data manipulation. According to the researchers, the Health Ministry, per Hamas directives, categorizes all deaths as civilian ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That, the analysts found, significantly skewed international reporting, for there are indications that the ministrys lists include age-related natural deaths, particularly of women, while failing to indicate combat-aged men. This selective reporting, they argued, artificially inflates civilian casualty figures and obscures the actual combatant-to-civilian death ratio. Case in point, the studys analysis of GMoH reports revealed a fluctuating and often implausible distribution of the number of casualties. As of March 2025, the GMoH had reported 50,021 combat-related casualties. The study noted that the number of reported widows, at 13,900, almost matched the official excess male mortality figure of 13,964 for ages 18-59, which it found to be striking. MOREOVER, THE authors presented data suggesting that evacuation zones designated by the IDF were significantly safer than other areas. According to their partial data analysis, less than 4% of deaths occurred in the Humanitarian section of al-Mawasi and the other central camps, areas marked as evacuation safe zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They attributed higher casualties elsewhere to the failure of the UN to cooperate with the establishment of such zones. Systematic Critique of International Reporting A substantial portion of the study focused on what the authors described as systematic failures in UN and NGO reporting. They identified patterns of circular citation, opaque assessments, and unannounced retroactive corrections that the researchers said have distorted the international understanding of the conflict. A graph depicting the descrepancy between UNRWA and COGAT reporting on aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip. (credit: Canva, Courtesy Bar-Ilan University) One example they highlighted involves UNRWAs truck count discrepancies. While UNRWA initially reported a 70% drop in aid after May 2024 and the Rafah operation, the agency later retroactively corrected these reports. Crucially, the authors noted, this correction was effectively unannounced and hence the supposed aid drop continues to be broadly cited. Separately, the study drew parallels to past conflicts, noting a precedent in flawed reporting from the 2008-2009 Gaza War. They cited former UN jurist Richard Goldstone, who led the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict and later expressed regret over some of his reports conclusions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2011 Washington Post op-ed, Goldstone wrote: If I had known then what I know now, the Goldstone Report would have been a different document. The study extended its analysis beyond Gaza as well, examining similar patterns in Iraq during the UN Security Councils 1990s sanctions regime. Per the authors, claims of hundreds of thousands of child deaths due to sanctions, based on Iraqi government data, were later revealed to be fabricated by the Iraqi authorities. Introducing "Humanitarian Bias" Introducing a new theoretical concept called humanitarian bias, the report used this term to characterize what the authors perceived as systematic errors in conflict reporting. They defined this as a tendency among aid organizations to accept alarming claims from stakeholders in order to mobilize urgent action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commensurate with the researchers, this is a bias that creates a feedback loop where factual corrections are often met with hostility or ignored altogether, undermining accuracy in humanitarian reporting. They added that even when myths are definitively disproven, corrections are rarely incorporated into public or academic understandings. An acute example of this theoretical concept, the study continued, can be seen when UN aid chief Tom Fletcher falsely stated in May 2025 that some 14,000 Gazan babies could die within the next 48 hours unless aid reached them. [Aid has] not reached the communities [it needs] to reach. This is baby food, baby nutrition. There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them, Fletcher told the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When pressed on how he came to this figure, he assured the interviewer that the UN had strong teams on the ground formulating these assessments. Two days later, the UN retracted the statement, with officials downplaying the original time frame of the dire situation. The study also mentioned that humanitarian bias can be particularly damaging when it prevents a realistic assessment of the root causes of conflict and humanitarian crises, such as the actions of non-state actors. Military Conduct Assessment While challenging genocide allegations, the study did not provide blanket exoneration of IDF conduct. The authors said that isolated incidents may point to negligence or localized misconduct and suspicion of individual war crimes. However, they maintained, no evidence was found of overarching directives aimed at harming civilians. The academics credited the IDF with implementing what they called Unprecedented steps such as early warnings, precision targeting, and mission aborts to avoid civilian harm, actions they noted were costly to the IDF but reduced non-combatant casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A comparison of the IDFs non-combatant-to-combatant casualty ratio to those of other Western armies fighting urban insurgencies was also provided in the study. Based on this, it was determined that the IDFs ratio was relatively low. Implications and Warnings THE STUDYS findings stand in stark contrast to various international assessments. The International Court of Justice has adopted provisional measures requiring Israel to prevent genocide, though it did not order an immediate cessation of military operations as South Africa had requested. Notably, these provisional measures are legally binding on Israel, and there is no right of appeal, though enforcement mechanisms remain limited. Various UN bodies and humanitarian organizations have made, and continue to make, serious allegations about Israels conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports have described the Jewish state as using starvation as a weapon of war, with the Gaza Government Media Office claiming that Israel blocked 3,800 aid trucks from entering the territory. Furthermore, UNRWA officials have said that Israel is deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In the study, Orbach warned of the broader implications for international humanitarian law, saying, If every severe urban war were defined as genocide, it would ultimately dilute the legal and moral power of the term. To avoid humanitarian bias, the study proposed a framework that prioritizes cross-referencing multiple sources, systematic scrutiny, transparency, and resistance to political and media-driven narratives. While the suffering of civilians in Gaza is both tragic and undeniable, the researchers said, humanitarian discourse must remain anchored in verifiable facts to prevent the risk of future atrocities being overlooked. A suicide bomb has killed 15 people at a political rally in Pakistan on a day of violence which saw two other deadly bombings and a total death toll of 26. An attacker blew himself up while supporters of a nationalist party were leaving a political rally near a stadium in Balochistans provincial capital Quetta on Tuesday evening. At least 15 have been killed and 70 wounded in the explosion, where hundreds of members of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) had gathered, the partys president Akhtar Mengal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bomber detonated his explosives-laden jacket in the parking area around 15 minutes after the meeting ended, police officials said. Survivors carried the wounded to safety while rescuers picked their way through twisted metal, pools of blood and scattered body parts to retrieve the victims. Mr Mengal and other senior political leaders from opposition parties, including Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, were also present, but escaped unhurt. Six vehicles, including their bulletproof cars, were damaged in the explosion. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the blast and called it a cowardly attack on innocent people. Wounded victims of the suicide bombing in Quetta are treated in hospital - Banaras Khan/APF We will crush their nefarious designs, Bugti said, adding that attackers would be hunted down and punished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate attack on Tuesday in Balochistan, five security personnel were killed near the border with Iran. The Frontier Corps border guards died and three others were injured when their convoy was targeted by a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) in the Buleda area of Kech district, near the Pakistan-Iran border. On the same day, six soldiers and six militants were killed during an assault on a paramilitary base in north-west Pakistan that began with a suicide bomber ramming the compound. The suicide bomber drove his explosive-laden car into the boundary wall of the base in the town of Bannu early on Tuesday, causing an explosion that allowed other attackers to enter the compound, said Sajjad Khan, the regional police chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ensuing exchange of fire lasted 12 hours, ending after the six attackers were killed, the official said. The militant group Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan claimed responsibility for that attack. The attacks follow a surge in militant violence in Pakistan, with the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reporting more than 2,526 deaths in 2024 including 1600 civilians the deadliest year in a decade. Balochistan remains a hotspot, with separatist attacks rising by 119 per cent here in 2024, driven by groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), designated as a terror organisation by the US. Security personnel inspect a damaged vehicle at the site of an explosion after a suicide bombing in Quetta - Banaras Khan/AFP Pakistani forces have been battling an insurgency in the province for more than a decade, and in 2024 the region saw a sharp rise in violence, with 782 people killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since January 1, nearly 430 people, mostly members of the security forces, have been killed in violence carried out by armed groups fighting the state in Balochistan and neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Balochistan is Pakistans largest and most resource-rich province, but also its most improvised, and regularly ranks among the lowest on human development indicator scorecards. The BNP campaigns for greater political and economic rights for the Baloch people. Since 2014, China has invested significantly in building infrastructure including the Gwadar port and multiple roads under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), that passes through the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Baloch, however, accuse the military-backed federal governments of denying them the benefits while passing them on to outsiders, mostly Punjabis. 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. September is Suicide Prevention Month and local mental health advocates are doing their part to raise awareness of prevention resources including crisis support. On Wednesday, the Niagara County Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services launched the third annual "You Matter" coffee sleeve campaign through 16 local businesses. Coffee sleeves provided by the department in conjunction with the county Suicide Prevention Coalition show the message "You Matter!" and the phone numbers for local and national crisis hotlines, plus a QR code for accessing the Well Niagara website and app to find information on local supports and resources. "Raising visibility for crisis support can make a real difference," mental health department director Laura Kelemen said. "Engaging local businesses and the community as a whole in this effort shows people care and helps reduce stigma around the topic of mental health. This simple yet powerful initiative can help save a life." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almost 13,000 coffee sleeves were distributed among the participating businesses, which are: Alternative Grounds, 17 Main St., Middleport Craft Coffee House, 6612 Campbell Boulevard, Pendleton The Crosby's stores in Barker, Gasport and Middleport Donut Kraze, 129 Main St., Tonawanda F-Bites, 310 Rainbow Boulevard, Niagara Falls Freedom Church, 5676 Beattie Ave., Lockport Gypsy Kitchen, 5881 S. Transit Road, Lockport Lockport Memorial Hospital, Mount St. Mary's Hospital, and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Niagara Wheatfield Central School Orange Cat, 703 Center St., Lewiston Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steamworks Coffee Roasters, 51 Canal St., Lockport Village Bake Shoppe, 417 Center St., Lewiston According to the Niagara County Suicide Prevention Coalition, data from the state health department shows the rate of suicide per 100,000 population in Niagara County, 2017 through 2019, was higher than several other New York counties. Suicide affects individuals in the county across age groups and genders, and specifically affects the LGBTQ and rural communities. The Niagara County Crisis Services 24-hour phone line provides access to free, confidential support, guidance, information, referral and interventions as needed. The number is 716-285-3515. The national suicide and crisis lifeline number is 988. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also this month, the suicide prevention coalition is sponsoring Soul Shop for Black Churches, a faith-based suicide prevention training workshop for clergy, staff, lay pastors and faith-based clinicians. The workshop was developed and is delivered by African American faith leaders who address the complex issues specific to Black communities, where suicide rates are rising. The workshop will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 17 at the John Duke Senior Center, 1201 Hyde Park Blvd., Niagara Falls. Entry is free of charge and lunch will be provided. To reserve seats, contact Daniel Colpoys, executive director of the Mental Health Association in Niagara County, at dcolpoys@mhanc.com or 716-433-3780. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Washington County School District Superintendent Thomas Register is speaking out after two former teachers were arrested for allegedly having sexual relationships with their students. Deputies said 31-year-old Joshua Myers had sexual encounters with two Vernon High School students between December 2021 and December 2022. Myers was arrested last week, suspended immediately, and resigned the following day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another former teacher, 31-year-old George Fisher, was also arrested after being accused of having sex with a 13-year-old student while teaching at Vernon Middle School a few years ago. Highway 390 widening project on track for completion by summer of 2026 Both men face multiple charges, including lewd, lascivious battery. Sheriff Kevin Crews says, while the cases share similarities, they are not connected. Superintendent Thomas Register said the actions of the two individuals do not reflect the values of the districts teachers and staff. We had a report made to a teacher that this stuff had happened, and a teacher did exactly what they were supposed to do and made the report to urban children and families who notified us, as well as law enforcement, and then we worked with law enforcement to ensure that no part of their investigation was compromised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Register adds that if students see something thats not right, notify a teacher immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Some fast action and skilled surgeons may have saved the leg of an 8-year-old boy who was bitten by a shark while snorkeling off Key Largo on Labor Day, according to authorities. [He] made it through surgery last night, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay told the Miami Herald. I understand that they have saved his leg. The boy was bitten about 3:24 p.m. and airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Florida is considered the Shark Bite Capital of the United States and other people have been bitten this year, incidents have declined recently and are "about average" so far in 2025, according to Gavin Naylor, a geneticist and professor who studies sharks at the University of Florida. Two beachgoers were bitten at the same beach in July, at New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, famous as the "shark bite capital of the world." An 18-year-old man was bitten on the foot while surfing, and a 40-year-old man was bitten on the forearm while swimming at the beach. In June, a 9-year-old girl was bitten while snorkeling offshore at a beach near Boca Grande. Other shark bites in the waters off Florida this year include a fisherman who was bitten while posing for a photo with a shark he caught with friends on the barrier island of Cayo Costa and a Canadian tourist who suffered lacerations to his arm while in the water off Hollywood, Florida. Historically, more shark bites in Florida have happened in September than any other month, according to the International Shark Attack File Where did a shark bite a boy in Florida on Labor Day? On Monday afternoon Sept. 1, the boy was swimming at Horseshoe Reef about four miles off the ocean side of Key Largo with his father and a sibling when he was bitten on the leg above the knee, the MCSO said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A nearby diving charter service vessel helped get the family back to a marina where he could be airlifted out. He had been bitten several times and his sister was holding a tourniquet in place when they got to waiting firefighters and EMS personnel, Local10 reported. Forget the movies. Sharks rarely want to bite you Graphic from Florida Museum of Natural History shows a declining number of shark bites in 2024. Although reports of shark bites can seem frequent and injuries can be horrific, shark bites are extremely rare, many shark bites are relatively minor, and fatalities from shark bites even more so. The number of shark bites in the U.S. declined 32% in 2024. According to the International Shark Attack File, there were only 47 unprovoked shark bites last year, compared to 69 in 2023. Four of them resulted in fatalities one of them was actor and surfer Tamayo Perry, killed by a shark while surfing in Hawaii but fatalities were also down from recent years. The last fatal shark attack in Florida was 24 years ago when 38-year-old kiteboarder Stephen Howard Schafer died from massive blood loss after being bitten by at least one shark off Stuart Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, most shark bites are unprovoked meaning they didn't come from a human initiating the interaction and usually happen when a shark mistakes part of a person for a fish in low-visibility conditions or just accidentally bumps into a person and reacts. Sometimes a shark may bite to protect their space, like a dog protecting its yard. Very few bites are from predation. A USA TODAY article reported that the odds of dying as a result of a shark attack in the U.S. is 1 in 3,748,067. Safest Florida beaches: In a summer of sharks, these Florida beaches have seen the fewest shark bites of all time If you see a shark near you in the water, stay calm Few sharks naturally feed on humans. If you spot one moving through the water near you while swimming or wading, remain calm and move away quickly without splashing too much. Stick close to the rest of your group or other swimmers and divers. Sharks are less likely to attack a "school" of humans than a single person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hit-and-run bites happen near beaches, where sharks try to make a living capturing fish," the Florida Museum said on its page about avoiding sharks. "In pounding surf, strong currents, and murky water, a shark may mistake the movements of humans, usually at the surface, for those of their normal food, fish. The shark makes one grab, lets go, and immediately leaves the area. Legs or feet are often bitten; injuries usually are minor and deaths rarely occur." If you have been spearfishing or gathering and you're holding your catch, let it go and move away, the Florida Museum said. The shark is much more interested in the sound and smell of the fish than it is in you. The museum said that if a shark is acting overtly aggressive, try to back up against any nearby reefs, pier pilings, or other structures that can help reduce the angles from which it can attack. If nothing is nearby, get back to back with whoever is swimming with you. If you are attacked by a shark, punch it in the nose Again, most shark bites are accidental and instinctual and a violent, proactive response may be the best way to fend them off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If a shark attacks, the best strategy is to hit it on the tip of its nose," the museum said, "This usually results in the shark retreating." It worked for 19-year-old Oklahoman Damiana Humphrey, who was bitten while swimming with family off the coast of Galveston, Texas in May 2024. "As I was turning, a shark grabbed a hold of my hand," Humphrey said. "I looked down and there was a shark attached to my hand, so I guess I started punching it. That part is kind of blurry to me." The shark, reportedly about 4 to 5 feet long, let go and swam away. Humphrey escaped with four severed tendons in her hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2024, in Del Mar, California, Caleb Adams, 46, was bitten by a shark and said he repeatedly punched it "inside its mouth." The year before, Ella Reed, 13, swimming at a Fort Pierce, Florida beach, pounded on a shark that was biting her torso and leg until it swam off. Repeated punches are likely to get less effective, the museum said, and keep in mind that you'll have water resistance softening your blow. But you should only try it if bitten or attacked. When a shark swam between Virginia resident Elisabeth Foley's legs while she was swimming near Watersound Beach in the Panhandle in 2024, she said she tried punching it and was attacked. She lost a hand and suffered bites to her torso. If a shark bites you, go for the eyes "If a shark actually gets you in its mouth, we advise to be as aggressively defensive as you are able," ISAF's George Burgess said. "'Playing dead' does not work." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Avoid using your [bare] hands or feet if you can avoid it; if not, concentrate your blows against the shark's delicate eyes or gills," said R. Aiden Martin, the ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research director until his death in 2007. Then, "get out of the water as quickly and efficiently as you can," keeping it in sight in case it attacks again. "Pound the shark in any way possible. Try to claw at the eyes and gill openings, two very sensitive areas," Burgess said. "Once released, do all you can to exit the water as quickly as possible because with your blood in the water, the shark very well could return for a repeat attack." "You should not act passively if under attack as sharks respect size and power," the museum said. If you get bitten by a shark, try to control the bleeding immediately Even before you get out of the water or take someone who has been bitten out of the water you should "make every effort to control bleeding," Aiden said. "Apply direct pressure to any open wound to staunch the flow of blood. Avoid using a tourniquet unless rate of blood loss is life-threatening." If you have been bitten, get medical attention even if it's just a scratch "Since sharks' mouths often swarm with a nasty community of infectious microbes," Aiden said, "treatment by a physician is always indicated even if the wounds seem relatively minor." This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Shark attack off Key Largo Florida severely injures child's leg Vietnam marked its National Day yesterday with its largest military parade in decades, as thousands packed the streets of the capital, Hanoi, after many camped overnight to witness the grand display marking 80 years of independence. The parade unfolded at Ba Dinh Square, the site where revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh declared independence from French colonial rule on Sept. 2, 1945. Fighting resumed soon after as Vietnamese forces battled the French in the First Indochina War, which ended in 1954 when the country was divided into Communist North and U.S.-backed South. The Vietnam War followed, during which the Communist North fought the South and its American allies. That conflict ended when Communist forces captured Saigon on April 30, 1975 and the country was unified. Vietnams top leader, Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, paid tribute to those who died in the fight for independence and reiterated the ruling partys goal that by 2045 Vietnam will be a powerful, prosperous and happy nation, calling it the aspiration of the entire nation, an oath of honor before history. We want to be a friend, be a trusted partner with all countries in the world, he said, adding that Hanoi would never compromise on independence or sovereignty. Columns of troops marched past as tanks, armored vehicles, and missile systems rumbled by. Helicopters flew overhead trailing giant Vietnamese flags followed by jets while a military band played martial tunes below. Officials said nearly 16,000 soldiers joined the event, including upgraded tanks, large artillery guns on vehicles, amphibious vehicles and missile systems made by a state-owned Vietnamese company. For the first time, it also organized a televised naval parade off the coast of the port city of Cam Ranh in southern Vietnam, featuring warships, submarines, helicopters and sea planes. Honor guards from China, Russia, Laos and Cambodia also joined the display, which Vietnamese state media said reflected the countrys international friendships. Crowds began arriving in Hanoi days in advance, and thousands camped on sidewalks Monday night to secure viewing spots. Videos of the parade went viral on social media and many gathered were in their twenties, wearing red shirts with yellow stars and cheering wildly as soldiers marched past while sipping iced boba tea. People waved the countrys flag or painted it on their faces. Giant screens at intersections broadcast the parade while balconies across the city were draped with more flags. Its something to be proud of, said Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, 22, who spent the night near Ba Dinh Square. Our grandparents fought for this. Now life is better. Vietnams transformation has been among Asias most striking. Since opening its economy in the late 1980s, the country has become a manufacturing hub for electronics, textiles, and footwear, supplying global brands like Samsung and Nike. Poverty has dropped and the middle class is growing fast. But new challenges loom as the country tries to balance rapid growth with reforms, aging demographics, climate risks, weak institutions and U.S. pressure over its trade surplus. And it has to do all of this while balancing relations with major powers and asserting sovereignty in the South China Sea, where it has overlapping claims with its largest trade partner, China. ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL, HANOI, MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... Being diagnosed with a serious disease like Hodgkin lymphoma is a lot to digest. But once youve had time to process your diagnosis, talk will likely turn to the treatments for classic Hodgkin lymphoma. The good news: Hodgkin lymphoma is considered a highly treatable disease. Were seeing very, very high cure rates, says Sameh Gaballa, M.D., an oncologist and associate member in the Moffitt Cancer Center Department of Malignant Hematology. Thats echoed by Jack Jacoub, M.D., medical oncologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, CA. For a cancer specialist, treating Hodgkin lymphoma is among one of the very best things we do, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meet the experts: Jack Jacoub, M.D., medical oncologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, CA; Sameh Gaballa, M.D., an oncologist and associate member in the Moffitt Cancer Center Department of Malignant Hematology; Paolo Strati, M.D., associate professor of lymphoma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The right treatment plan for Hodgkin lymphoma depends on your cancer stage, along with your age and any other underlying health conditions you may have, says Paolo Strati, M.D., associate professor of lymphoma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Ultimately, choosing a treatment plan comes down to having a detailed conversation with your doctor. But while youre waiting for that appointment, its worth reading up on potential options available to you. Heres what oncologists who treat classic Hodgkin lymphoma want you to know. What is Hodgkin lymphoma? There are several forms of lymphoma, a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic systemand Hodgkin lymphoma is one of them, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Unlike the more common non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgin lymphoma typically starts in the upper body, Dr. Jacoub explains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hodgkin lymphoma isnt overly common: An estimated 8,720 people will be diagnosed with the disease this year, according to American Cancer Society (ACS). Its most often diagnosed in a persons 20s and in people 55 and older, per the ACS. Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes, fevers, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, itchy skin, and fatigue, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Hodgkin lymphoma has a five-year survival rate of 80%, but that increases to 93% when its caught early, according to the ACS. Hodgkin lymphoma treatments There are a lot of factors that doctors consider when choosing the right treatment plan for a patient with Hodgkin lymphoma. That includes the patients age, underlying health conditions, and support system, along with the cancers stage and other specifics of the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, immunotherapy may not be an option for patients who have autoimmune conditions, and stem cell transplant may not be a good idea for older and frail patients with no caregiver, Dr. Strati says. Most of the treatments used may impact fertility, so fertility preservation should always be discussed during treatment planning in younger patients, he adds. These are the main Hodgkin lymphoma treatments doctors consider: Chemotherapy Chemotherapy uses targeted drugs to kill cancer cells, according to the ACS. Its usually given via an injection or taken as a pill. Once taken, those chemotherapy drugs enter the bloodstream and destroy cancer cells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma usually involves a combination of several chemotherapy drugs. These are the most common combinations, per the ACS: ABVD Adriamycin Bleomycin Vinblastine Dacarbazine AVD This is the same regimen as the one above, but without bleomycin. It may also include brentuximab vedotin or nivolumab. BEACOPP Bleomycin Etoposide Adriamycin Cyclophosphamide Oncovin Procarbazine Prednisone BrECADD Brentuximab vedotin Etoposide Cyclophosphamide Adriamycin Dacarbazine Dexamethasone Radiation therapy Radiation therapy is sometimes given after chemotherapy, especially when there is a large tumor, according to the ACS. This involves using high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But radiation therapy comes with a higher risk of developing a secondary cancer or other health complications, such as heart disease and slow bone growth down the road, which is why doctors have tried to use less of it and at lower doses, Dr. Jacoub says. We spend a lot of time talking about how we can reduce or negate the late complications that we can see from the treatment that we give, he says. We dont want to give people another type of cancer or cardiac issues. Immunotherapy Immunotherapy involves using medicines to help a persons immune system better recognize and destroy cancer, per the ACS. Treatments may include medications and therapies like monoclonal antibodies, brentuximab vedotin, rituximab, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. With the introduction of immunotherapy and targeted therapy, we have been able to increase the rate of patients who likely cured during the first line of therapy, and to decrease toxicities associated with the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Dr. Strati says. High-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant This treatment combination is sometimes used for Hodgkin lymphoma thats hard to treat or doesnt go away completely after chemotherapy or radiation, according to the ACS. It involves giving a patient high-dose chemotherapy, followed by a transfusion of stem cells to rebuild bone marrow, which may be severely damaged after high-dose chemotherapy. How treatable is Hodgkin lymphoma? Hodgkin lymphoma is considered a highly treatable disease. Its highly treatable and highly curable, Dr. Jacoub says. Dr. Gaballa agrees. Nowadays, were able to cure the vast majority of patients, he says. The cure rates are even higher in early-stage patients. What happens after treatment? Once youve completed treatment, youll still need to check in with an oncologist regularly to be monitored. We need to monitor them for at least two years, says Dr. Gaballa. Sometimes, its long-term to follow them for long-term toxicities from treatment. You Might Also Like CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) What West Virginia brands are the most loved by West Virginians? Heres a list, according to a recent survey. MarketBeat.com set out to find the most loved hometown brands in each state, and although the Mountain State companies arent as recognizable as Ben & Jerrys ice cream in Vermont or Ford trucks out of Michigan, they are stitched so tightly into West Virginias identity that theyre practically part of the states flag. 1. Blenko Glass Company Blenko is one of the best remaining examples of West Virginias once thriving glass industry. Known for its colorful, handblown glass masterpieces, Milton-based Blenko Glass puts West Virginia heritage into many of its pieces, including its annual West Virginia Day pieces that highlight a unique aspect of West Virginia culture. The 2025 pieces were inspired by the states railroad heritage and Cass Scenic Railroad, and the 2024 pieces were inspired by the Green Bank Telescope. (Photo courtesy of Blenko Glass Company) Ranking: Best waterfront views in West Virginia 2. Appalachian Distillery Moonshine Appalachian Distillery is known for its 100% West Virginia-made moonshine and whiskey. Based in Riley, West Virginia, the hand-crafted sour mash whiskey boasts being made Just like the old timers used to do it. There are more than 10 varieties available online, including Appalachian flavors like pawpaw, Mountain Mud, blackberry; tours of the distillery are also available. 3. Fiesta Tableware Company Fiesta has been based in Newell, West Virginia since 1907. Known for its quality and range of color options, Fiesta is loved beyond West Virginia. Some people love it for the collectors aspect and others just appreciate the high-quality American-made pieces for everyday use. Fiesta Tableware Company (Fiesta Tableware) 4. Tudors Biscuit World This breakfast and diner chain got its start in the 1980s in Charleston, West Virginia, and now Tudors has locations across the state as well as in Kentucky, Ohio and Florida. Although it offers a number of diner food items, it is known for its biscuits, including a few favorites with West Virginia names like the Mountaineer, the Thundering Herd and the Miner. 5. J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works After seven generations, J.Q. Dickinson is still harvesting ancient sea salt from under the Appalachian Mountains. It sells a variety of heirloom salts based in Malden, Kanawha County. You can also host an event at the salt works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The list was based on survey results from more than 3,000 Americans. A list of the most loved brands for each state is available 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 WBOY.com. LEWISTON, Maine (AP) Survivors of Maines deadliest mass shooting and relatives of victims sued the federal government Wednesday, alleging that the U.S. Army could and should have stopped one of its reservists from carrying out what they call one of the most preventable mass tragedies in American history. Eighteen people were killed in October 2023 when Robert Card opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar and grill. An independent commission appointed by Maines governor later concluded that there were numerous opportunities for intervention by both Army officials and civilian law enforcement as Card's mental health deteriorated. He was found dead by suicide two days after the shootings. Were all standing here today because on October 25, 2023, we lost something precious. Some of us lost our loved ones. Some of us have lost the ability to feel safe or secure. The one thing we all lost was our trust in those who are responsible, said Cynthia Young, whose husband and 14-year-old son were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Losing both my husband and my child in a tragedy that never should have happened is a pain beyond words, she said at a news conference in Lewiston, not far from where the shootings took place. We trusted those in power to protect our loved ones and their inaction cost us everything. The lawsuit, filed in federal court on behalf of more than 100 survivors and victims' family members, accuses the U.S. government of negligence, saying its conduct directly and proximately caused the mass shooting. It alleges that Army officials and others failed to act reasonably, broke the promises they made to Card's family and their community, violated mandatory polices, procedures and disregarded directives and orders. By March 2023, the United States and its personnel knew Card was paranoid, delusional, violent, and lacked impulse control. The Army knew he had access to firearms. The Army promised to remove his guns but did not fulfill that promise, the lawsuit states. Worse, through its acts and omissions, the Army withheld information and actively misled local law enforcement, thereby preventing others from intervening and separating Card from his weapons. Spokespeople for the Department of Defense and the Army said they would not comment on pending litigation. A request for comment was e-mailed to the Keller Army Community Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For nearly two years now, the families and victims have heard silence from the Army as they have all carried with them their grief and their physical scars, attorney Travis Brennan said at the news conference. The families and the victims deserve answers and accountability. They deserve resolution and peace. The attorneys began the process of suing the government a little less than a year ago when they filed notices of claim, saying the Army did not act despite being aware of Cards mental health decline. Cards mental health spiral led to his hospitalization and left him paranoid, delusional and expressing homicidal ideations, the claim said. He even produced a hit list of those he wanted to attack, attorneys said. The fact remains that the Army allowed an unstable, mentally ill service member to walk out into the community without any warning, without any protocols, without any plan to keep our community safe, Brennan said. Card's family members and fellow reservists said he had exhibited delusional and paranoid behavior months before the shootings. He was hospitalized by the Army during training in July 2023 in New York, where his unit was training West Point cadets, but Army Reserve officials have acknowledged that no one made sure Card was taking his medication or complying with his follow-up care at home in Bowdoin, Maine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The starkest warning came in a September text from a fellow reservist: I believe hes going to snap and do a mass shooting. From the start, the Army disregarded its mandatory policies and procedures, and regulations when dealing with Card, the lawsuit states. Despite the serious issues Card presented at the company or battalion level, they were not reported up the chain of command to senior military officials with the knowledge, experience, and resources to address them. Instead, low-ranking, part-time personnel mismanaged the risks, resulting in disastrous consequences. Army officials conducted their own investigation after the shootings that Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, then the chief of the Army Reserve, said found a series of failures by unit leadership. Three Army Reserve leaders were disciplined for dereliction of duty, according to the report. When the governor's commission released its final report last August, the Army issued a statement saying it was committed to reviewing the findings and implementing sound changes to prevent tragedies like this from recurring. The Lewiston shootings led to new guns laws in Maine, a state with a long tradition of hunting and gun ownership. The laws prompted legal action on the part of gun rights advocates in the state and remain a contentious topic nearly two years after the shootings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ben Dyer, who was shot multiple times and lost the use of one arm, said the lawsuit isnt about money but rather finding out what went wrong and how to fix it. He said plaintiffs have and will continue to support each other as the case proceeds." Were a strong group, he said, before correcting himself. No, were a strong family. ____ Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. UPDATE: The Bay County Sheriffs Office reports they are investigating a deputy-involved shooting. According to the BCSO, deputies responded to Webber Road after receiving multiple 911 calls regarding a man with a rifle acting strangely. Deputies said they engaged the man and he then fired shots at the deputy. The deputy returned fire, striking the man. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deputy has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct the investigation and has arrived on scene. ORIGINAL STORY: FOUNTAIN, Fla. (WMBB) Deputies responded to a shooting near Webber Road around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Webber Road is completely blocked off from Highway 231 and there is a huge law enforcement presence. We have a reporter on scene and will provide updates as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, from left: Commissioners Bruce Bailey of Lincoln, Lorelle Mueting of Gretna, Dr. Monica Oldenburg of Lincoln, Kim Lowe of Kearney and J. Michael Coffey of Omaha. At right is Bo Botelho, general counsel for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which was contracted to work with the commission. Sept. 2, 2025. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission on Tuesday advanced stricter regulations than the board adopted earlier this summer, leaving some advocates feeling more concerned. All five commissioners voted to amend the emergency regulations that have been in effect since June 29 but were set to expire by the end of September. The new regulations, which would still allow the commission to begin licensing registered medical cannabis establishments by a voter-mandated Oct. 1 deadline, is contingent upon Gov. Jim Pillens approval. He approved the first rules in June. Tuesday was the commissions fourth meeting since June, the first that all commissioners attended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revised regulations would, for the first time, set extensive testing and security requirements and establish a Recommending Health Care Practitioner Directory for in-state physicians to recommend medical cannabis. If approved, the rules would remain in effect for up to 90 days. Nebraska advocates for medical cannabis have worked for more than 12 years, and continue to wait, for a safe, regulated system in Nebraska, after winning voter approval in November. (Photos courtesy of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana) Practitioners participating in the program would have to take 10 hours of continuing education on medical cannabis and complete two hours annually to stay in compliance. Physicians would need to prescribe specific dosages and potency levels. After that, a patient or caregiver could purchase the recommended medical cannabis amount at a specific dispensary only once every 30 days. Under the regulations, patients or caregivers could purchase up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis in a 30-day period, which is about 142 grams. But they could purchase no more than 5 grams of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the same dispensary within a 90-day period. Delta-9 THC is the part of cannabis most associated with a high. The amended requirements maintain a statewide limit of no more than 12 medical cannabis dispensaries, arranged by judicial district. That would mean one dispensary each in Douglas County (584,526 residents), Lancaster County (322,608 residents), Sarpy/Cass Counties (217,202 residents) and Buffalo/Hall Counties (112,979 residents), according to 2020 census data. Latest regulations A copy of the latest emergency regulations approved Tuesday is available here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rules would still prohibit dispensaries from selling smoking or vaping products and edibles of any kind. While the earlier rules would have allowed the sale of non-sugarcoated gelatinous cubes, the revised rules would not. Oral tablets with a thin layer of flavoring to make the products swallowable would now be allowed. Under current law, a patient or qualified caregiver with a recommendation from any health care practitioner can legally possess up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis, in any form. But without licensing, cannabis cant legally be purchased in Nebraska yet. 2024 ballot measures Crista Eggers, executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the nonprofit that led the successful 2024 ballot measures to legalize and regulate medical cannabis, said Tuesdays vote should leave Nebraskans outraged. Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, center, leads a news conference urging legislative support for bills to help implement a safe, fully regulated medical cannabis system. March 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) About 71% of voters in November approved legalization, and about 67% created the Medical Cannabis Commission and exclusively vested in it the authority to regulate the drug. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among Eggers frustrations was the boards decision to limit the number of cultivator licenses and products manufacturer licenses offered to four each. The earlier emergency regulations and state law set no limit. Eggers told the Nebraska Examiner that commissioners didnt just ignore their voter-mandated regulatory authority, they shredded it. By approving rules that pile on new barriers and unlawfully restrict forms of cannabis, they are dismantling what the people demanded at the ballot box, Eggers said in a statement. This is a direct assault on patients, families and the democratic process itself. Nebraskans voted for access to medicine. Instead, the commission delivered defiance, obstruction and betrayal. Confusion over draft regs The new proposed set of emergency regulations was released quietly late Tuesday morning. The timing left advocates scrambling to understand the changes between an early 20-page set of rules to the new 46-page document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats if the public knew the regulations were ready for review at all, or if they could decipher what the commission intended by releasing two versions of draft regulations: a Version A (with 46 pages) and a Version B with highlights (47 pages) to be considered at the 1 p.m. hearing. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission meets for its monthly meeting Aug. 5, 2025. From left: Commissioners Kim Lowe of Kearney, Bruce Bailey of Lincoln (chair) and J. Michael Coffey of Omaha. All three also serve on the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The commission did not explain the competing drafts before the public comment period, and many advocates told the Examiner they thought Version B was the set they should review, given the highlighted label and a limited time frame. Among the major differences: Version B would have allowed up to 21 dispensaries rather than 12, with more dispensaries allowed in more populous areas. It also appeared to permit vaping and created a framework of vertical licensing, or the ability for someone to apply for multiple types of licenses. However, those changes, endorsed by multiple testifiers across the commissions initial meetings, fell mostly on deaf ears, with only Commissioner Bruce Bailey of Lincoln voicing public support. Public weighs in Eggers, at one point Tuesday, thanked commissioners for listening to Nebraskans about the higher dispensary limit, not yet knowing the board was preparing to go in another direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said limiting cultivators was counterintuitive and could break the supply chain from the start. Cody Jester of Fairfield echoed Eggers concerns and said he was interested in cultivation. He said he had tried to work with local officials and his local health department, a requirement the first regulations outlined. But the new regulations adopted Tuesday removed that step. Jester said it could take months to grow medical cannabis but that farmers were ready. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, center, speaks with Nebraskans after the third and final lawmaker-hosted public forum on medical cannabis, in Lincoln. May 5, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Josh Egle from Banner County said he appreciated the commission establishing a lottery system to review licensing applications. But he suggested a hybrid lottery-merit system that could bring in quality candidates but also allow the participation of locals wanting to get involved. Denise Wegener of Omaha said the quickest alleviation for her is smoking or vaping marijuana, which she said has given her her life back from a debilitating health condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not just Joe Schmo out here recreationally getting high for fun, Wegener said. Were using this as medication to heal our bodies. Several people also again encouraged the commission to view them as patients. Lia Post of Springfield, for instance, told the commission to not listen to Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., who urged lawmakers not to pass a medical cannabis legislative bill this spring. That bill, backed by Eggers, Post and other 2024 petitioners, sought to give commissioners more funding, time and support. It fell 10 votes short, leaving the regulatory board to act on its own, with limited funds. Im so glad my life is now in the hands of this Pete Ricketts-Jim Pillen-Mike Hilgers firing squad. Yay, Post told the commission. More people who want me and patients like me to die. Lia Post, at left, holds a Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana T-shirt beside Trish Petersen on Sept. 13, 2023. The two became close friends during earlier medical marijuana campaign attempts. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Bill Hawkins of the Nebraska Hemp Company also lambasted the commission for the new health care practitioner directory that would exclude out-of-state recommendations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patients rights are still in effect, said Hawkins, who is again leading a petition effort to legalize recreational marijuana. There is nothing in the law that says a patient with a recommendation from any state, any ailment [has] to buy your poison pill from your dispensary. Cultivators and vaping Bailey echoed the publics support for more cultivators and for vertical licensing, suggesting more for cultivators, possibly six. He cautioned that one cultivators supply chain failure, or a bad crop year, could ripple and cause costs to skyrocket. He also said the growing limit didnt make sense, adding: I cant imagine buying a farm and telling me I cant grow corn because my neighbors growing. You got the funnel upside down, Bailey said. We want competition in this world. Thats what free enterprise is about. Dr. Monica Oldenburg attends the first meeting of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, of which she was named the chair of. June 9, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Commissioners Monica Oldenburg of Lincoln and Lorelle Mueting of Gretna said they worried about oversaturation compared to other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Bailey contended that without competition, Nebraska could create a black market opposite to the commissions intent and that many cultivators wouldnt grow product if there wasnt demand. Bailey also led the charge to allow vaping products, a stance that Oldenburg, an anesthesiologist and commission chair, and Mueting, an addiction prevention specialist, resisted. The two women had expressed their stance when Pillen appointed them in May. Nobody will say that vaping is medicine, Oldenburg said. And when Ive talked to every physician that I know and I ask them this, they really do look at me like I have three heads, like Im making a funny joke. Legal threats After the back and forth, commissioners voted 4-1 to enter a closed session that lasted for more than an hour to discuss what they described as strategy for imminent litigation. Bailey voted against the executive session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission is currently being sued to overturn the voter-approved laws, with a former state senator mainly arguing the state laws contradict federal law against marijuana. A Lancaster County judge dismissed the case. It is being appealed. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, center, leads a news conference against Legislative Bill 677 that seeks to help implement medical cannabis regulations in the state. About a dozen law enforcement officials joined him in standing against the legislation. May 7, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) At the same time, Hilgers and his office have threatened to sue the commission when it begins licensing, which could come as early as the commissions meeting on Sept. 30. He has advanced a similar argument that the voter-approved laws are preempted by federal law. After emerging from the executive session, Mueting suggested about six changes, roughly what Bailey had suggested, including the change capping cultivators at four, for instance. But commissioners didnt discuss why they were proposing those specific changes over others. Mueting also updated a separate regulatory effort to establish a seed-to-sale tracking system without state funds. She said a company Metrc, a cannabis compliance tracking system and software firm, had voiced interest in exploring a self-funded model in which businesses would pay into the Nebraska system instead of paying the commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without legislative approval, the commission cant accept any fees, fines or funds. In the meantime, the commission will partner with the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, of which Bailey is chair, to share up to $150,000 to cover the cannabis boards operating expenses. Knock-down, drag-out process The commissions also plan to cooperate in asking lawmakers for sufficient funds next session after lawmakers refused to give the Medical Cannabis Commission its own line item in the state budget. Commissioner Lorelle Mueting of Gretna of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. June 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The commission will prioritize cultivator licenses first. Applications meeting the commission regulations can be emailed to mcc.contact@nebraska.gov or mailed to the Liquor Control Commission between Sept. 4 and Sept. 23. Despite legal threats and legislative inaction, Eggers and others said voters have given the commission a clear mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This doesnt have to be a knock-down, drag-out process, but there is a clear law that was passed, Eggers told the commission. I would appreciate, and the patients here and the patients in this state would appreciate you adhering to what the voters passed. The Medical Cannabis Commission is scheduled to meet next at 1 p.m. Sept. 30. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Syria reassigns top security commanders in Sweida, aiming to calm Druze tensions as secession fears grow. Syria is redeploying two key commanders of its internal security forces in Damascus and the Druze area of Sweida, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Syrias official news agency, reported Wednesday. The Interior Ministry appointed Brig.-Gen. Hussam Mamoun al-Tahhan to head of internal security in Sweida, and then transferred his predecessor, Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Haitham al-Dalati, to a position in the Damascus countryside, essentially switching their current roles, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This move comes in the wake of the clashes in Sweida in July, when Dalati was criticized for his response to the fighting between the Druze and Bedouin. The reassignment could lead to reduced tensions. It is not yet clear whether Tahhan will have a different approach or if the local population will prefer him. Previously, on May 25, Tahhan had been assigned to the Damascus countryside, while Dalati, former Quneitra governor, was tasked with Sweida before todays reassignment, SANA reported. A man walks next to a damaged military vehicle, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/YAMAM AL SHAAR) Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri, who has essentially been governing Sweida since the July clashes, had appointed Shakib Ajwad Nasr as the head of security, the Syrian Observer reported in early August. Nasr had previously served the Assad regime in Tartus, the report said. A 'shrewd strategist' who has critiqued alleged Israeli 'foreign intervention' Dalati is considered to be a shrewd strategist, according to some reports in Syria. Supporters of the Druze, however, regard him as being responsible for the killings and clashes in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tahhan has an interesting past. He was also involved in the tensions with Druze in Jaramana in March and had spoken to media outlets about the deployment of security forces to the area. He also criticized what he said was Israeli foreign intervention in April. The reshuffle of the security portfolios is being received positively in some sectors in Syria. It represents positive messages from the state, affirming its desire to improve the situation, a source told London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. There is a need to implement additional measures to overcome current challenges, including the release of kidnapped individuals, the restoration of damaged homes, and the return of residents to their homes with guarantees of their protection to prevent the recurrence of unfortunate events, the source said. Syrias new government is concerned that Hijri is seeking independence or secession from Syria. He will need to address this accusation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the road from Damascus to Sweida has recently been reopened, and humanitarian aid is now entering the Druze area. Since July, the area has largely been cut off from the rest of Syria. Israel has vowed to back the Druze. Meanwhile, Syria has welcomed a new Amnesty International report on the July clashes. The Interior Ministry praised the report ,stressing its commitment to protecting all Syrians, SANA reported. The ministry views the report positively, ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba told SANA. Syrian Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met Jordanian Ambassador to Syria Sufyan Suleiman al-Qudah on Tuesday. Regional media outlets are closely monitoring what happens in Syria. If Sweida moves toward independence or tries to leave Syria, many countries will view this as destabilizing the region. Izzedin declined to say how many personnel were detained, but said they were Syrian nationals who carried out the atrocities in an individual capacity. Syria has interrogated and detained members of its defense and interior ministries suspected of committing abuses against civilians in the predominantly Druze province of Sweida in July, the committee investigating the violence has said. Hundreds of people were killed in Sweida in violence that began between tribes and Druze factions, but which worsened after Syrian troops were dispatched to the area. Bereaved relatives accused government forces of committing execution-style killings on camera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syria appointed a committee to investigate the violence on July 31. Its spokesperson, Ammar Izzedin, told Syrian and regional media outlets on Tuesday night that members of both the interior and defense ministries had been questioned and referred to the judiciary over their suspected involvement in abuses. Izzedin declined to say how many personnel were detained, but said they were Syrian nationals who carried out the atrocities in an individual capacity. He told regional broadcaster Al-Hadath the committee had confronted the suspects with "the video footage in which they were seen" committing abuses without specifying what they were. Bedouin fighters gather, after days of violence in Sweida province triggered by clashes between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, Syria, July 20, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/KARAM AL-MASRI) Izzedin said the footage was "enough" as evidence since the fighters had filmed themselves, but that several had also confessed to committing the abuses after being shown the videos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They were detained by the interior and defense ministries to be transferred to the judiciary when the investigations are concluded to be publicly tried for the crimes they committed against Syrians," Izzedin said. He told local outlet Syria TV that the committee was keen to act swiftly to arrest the suspects even as it continued its investigative work. He did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for additional comment. Holding government forces accountable Amnesty International urged Syrian authorities on Tuesday to hold members of government forces accountable for extrajudicial executions of Druze men and women on July 15 and 16 in Sweida. In March, Syria's military was accused of mass killings of members of the Alawite minority, to which much of the ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ruling elite belonged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Syrian government fact-finding committee said in July that 1,426 people had died in March in attacks on security forces and subsequent mass killings of Alawites, but concluded that commanders had not given orders for the revenge attacks. It said 298 suspects were linked to violations against Alawites and 265 were involved in the initial attack on security forces, and said they had been referred to the judiciary. * Small spenders Macau sees strong tourism but a drop in per capita spending from mainland Chinese visitors * Cooperation | Sam Hou Fai postpones visit to Portugal and Spain * Tourism Hotels report strong summer, eyeing Golden Week growth * Motorsport: Taiwans Chien Pin-Chi crowned the first-ever FIM MiniGP Southeast Asia series champion * Portable device smuggling tied to aftermarket parts: Customs * Chinas military hardware some on public view for the first time on display at Beijing parade marking 80th anniversary of WWII victory DOWNLOAD PDF Wednesday, September 3, 2025 edition no. 4794 Like this: Like Loading... The people of Taiwan cherish peace, uphold freedom and democracy, and will not commemorate peace with guns, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday in an apparent nod to Beijing where a massive military demonstration was taking place. As Beijing staged a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Lai visited the National Revolutionary Martyrs Shrine in Taipei to honour the armed forces who had made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Taiwan does not commemorate peace with guns, but by honouring our fallen heroes, remembering history's lessons, and standing firm in our belief in freedom and democracy," Lai wrote on Facebook, adding that weapons are for defence, not aggression or expansion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post, accompanied by a photo noting September 3 as Taiwan's Armed Forces Day, highlighted Taiwan's commitment to regional stability and democratic values. In Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping did not mention Taiwan, but called on the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to build a world-class military to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council said that history speaks for itself: The Republic of China (ROC), which is Taiwan's official name, and its people made countless sacrifices to secure victory in the war against Japanese aggression, while the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) contributed nothing and instead sought to expand its own power. On Tuesday, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry condemned Beijing for distorting historical facts. Analysts argue the Chinese military parade aimed to project China's geopolitical power with allies such as Russia and North Korea, while reshaping history to emphasize the CCPs role in WWII and downplay the contributions of the ROC armed forces led by the Chinese Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Hung Hsiu-chu, the former chairwoman of the KMT, which now adopts a China-friendly stance, attended the parade in Beijing. Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which leans towards independence, criticized this on Facebook as "shameful," saying she stood alongside dictators. Since 1949, Taiwan has maintained its own government after the KMT retreated there following its defeat to the Communists in the civil war, though Communist China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory. Despite remaining in custody on charges of murdering a health care executive, Luigi Mangione seemingly and briefly appeared to be modeling a shirt on the website of Shein, the giant Chinese retailer of cheap and fast fashion. While the image of the Towson native or someone or something generated that could pass for his twin has been taken down from the Shein site, it continues to circulate online, depicting him in a patterned, short-sleeved shirt that apparently had sold for $11.69, according to TMZ. I doubt he posed for the picture while hes in custody, one of Mangiones lawyers, Tom Dickey of Altoona, Penn., told The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday. The sad thing is that some people will stoop to any level to make a buck off of someone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mangione, 27, the one-time valedictorian of his Gilman class, remains at a detention center in Brooklyn, New York, awaits trial on state and federal charges in the fatal shooting Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, on Dec. 4. The case has drawn widespread attention, turning Mangione, a member of a large and prominent Maryland family, into a folk hero to those angered by an insurance industry they believe puts cost saving ahead of their medical needs. TMZ, which said it broke the Shein story Tuesday night, quoted the retailer as saying, The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery. We have stringent standards for all listings on our platform. We are conducting a thorough investigation, strengthening our monitoring processes, and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies. Mangiones attorneys in New York declined to comment. Emails to the offices of the Manhattan District Attorney and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, both of which are prosecuting Mangione in Thompsons death, were not answered. Mangione has been charged with first-degree murder and a range of other criminal charges and is next due in state court on Sept. 16. When President Trump took office in January, his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, directed prosecutors to seek the death penalty against him in the federal case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dickey has sought to have Mangione returned to Altoona, where he was arrested at a McDonalds on Dec. 9 after a five-day manhunt. The attorney has argued that police violated Mangiones rights when he was arrested and his backpack and other belongings were seized. Thompson had been killed in midtown Manhattan as he walked toward a hotel where he was due to address a meeting of investors. Police said shell casings on the scene were found to have the words deny, defend and depose written on them, similar to the title of a book about how insurance companies dont pay claims. People have come to me and expressed their support for [Mangione], Dickey said, and their displeasure with the health care system. Have a news tip? Contact Jean Marbella at jmarbella@baltsun.com, 410-332-6060 or @jeanmarbella.bsky.social. NEW YORK While vowing to still run for reelection, Mayor Eric Adams didnt dismiss the possibility of joining President Trumps administration Wednesday as sources said conversations are underway about a potential job opportunity. Adams, whos running as an independent in Novembers mayoral election and consistently placing third or fourth in most polls of the race, called the prospect of working for Trump a hypothetical during an unrelated event in the Bronx on Wednesday afternoon. He also said he has received many job offers over the last year. All thats hypothetical, Adams said when asked specifically about a Trump job. Last year and a half, people saw what Ive done in the city and they saw my resiliency. I have been getting calls from private industries, from boards, from educational institutions, I have been getting offers for the last year and a half: Would I come and join their corporation? So people are always asking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams comments came as sources familiar with the matter told the Daily News that key Trump advisers, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, have been engaged in discussions with Adams team about the possibility of offering the mayor a post in the federal administration. As first reported by the New York Times earlier Wednesday, those conversations have been playing out for weeks as Adams remains dogged in his reelection efforts by accusations that hes beholden to Trump, whose Justice Department quashed the mayors corruption indictment this spring in a controversial move. Citing sources, The Times reported the push to get Adams a job is aimed at culling the mayoral race field in order to maximize chances of stopping Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, whos polling as the favorite to win Novembers contest. The newspaper also reported Trump advisers have approached Curtis Sliwa, the Republican mayoral nominee, about a potential administration job all as part of an apparent effort to boost the chances of Andrew Cuomo, who is, like Adams, running as an independent against Mamdani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is widely believed that, with both to the right of the progressive Mamdani, Adams and Cuomo would split the moderate vote and ease the path for a Mamdani victory if they both stay in the race. The White House declined to comment on any discussions about getting Adams or Sliwa Trump administration jobs. Asked whether any talks were underway, Adams campaign spokesman Todd Shapiro said the mayor hasnt himself spoken with Trump about the matter. Shaprio affirmed Adams is committed to running for reelection to build on his record of having consistently stood up for working families. Mayor Adams is focused on building on that progress and earning four more years to continue delivering for the people of New York, Shapiro said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sliwa has said only death would prevent him from staying in the race. Adams in the race is generally seen as a negative for Cuomo, who is consistently polling as the strongest contender against Mamdani, a democratic socialist whose tax-the-rich agenda has unnerved the citys business community. Trump has claimed Mamdanis a communist. Sid Rosenberg, a conservative radio personality and Trump supporter, told The News he believes the Queens-born president sees Cuomo as having the best shot at defeating Mamdani and may be trying to do what he can to clear the field for the former governor. Those two guys get along and I think those guys talk more than people think they do. Even though they curse the shit out of each other, theres a mutual Queens respect, Rosenberg said, referring to the various public feuds then-Gov. Cuomo had with Trump before resigning in 2021 amid sexual misconduct accusations he denies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani, at an emergency news conference to address the report about Trump and Adams, slammed the potential arrangement as an affront to our democracy and argued it shows Cuomo is colluding with the president, too. The issue is a former governor, a Democrat in name only, calling the president of this country, having a conversation with the intent of how to stop the Democratic nominees success in the November election, he said. That is what we have not seen before. We have not seen a president of this country seek to fundamentally alter the nature of a race, all with the intent of preventing the Democratic nominee from succeeding. Mamdani said the Trump-Adams conversations show just how disconnected these people are from the crisis at hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Yorkers are fed up with politics as they know it is because of news like this, backroom deals, corrupt agreements, all of which serve to increase the sense of disaffection and despair, he said. A call to Cuomos campaign for a response was not immediately returned. Rumors about Adams future began swirling Tuesday after his office announced he had traveled to Florida for a visit that involved meetings with political operatives. At his Bronx press conference, Adams said the trip had nothing to do with the mayoral race, adding he went to celebrate his 65th birthday with friends while pledging he isnt looking to suspend his reelection campaign. I went for personal (reasons) to see friends, he said. I hung out with them for one day, came back to New York, so all these other rumors I dont know about. I have a job, Im running for my reelection, Im still doing that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a television appearance earlier Wednesday on PIX11, Adams said he met with political figures during his Florida visit, but declined to say if any of them are members of Trumps administration. Adams did confirm one of the people he met with was Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a Trump ally who was at one point under consideration to be the Republican presidents running mate in the 2024 election. A spokeswoman for Suarez didnt return a request for comment. Adams is facing tough electoral odds running as an independent amid continued fallout from his corruption indictment and controversy surrounding his ties to Trump. A survey by American Pulse Research from mid-August projected Adams would only clinch about 11% support, putting him fourth in the race behind Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa. The news of Adams potential Trump job come after Jim Walden, a lawyer who has campaigned as an independent in the mayoral race, pulled the plug on his campaign Tuesday and urged all candidates in the running to drop out if they arent polling as the strongest contender against Mamdani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those still trailing in the polls by months end, I implore each to consider how history will judge them if they allow vanity or stubborn ambition to usher in Mr. Mamdani, Walden said in a statement about his decision to drop out. _____ More than 40 Tampa pavement murals and painted crosswalks were removed by state crews over the weekend, a spokesperson for the citys mobility department said Wednesday. Covered artworks include a Back the Blue mural near the Tampa Police Department, a colorful design sponsored by the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber and several painted crosswalks outside elementary, middle and high schools, originally installed for safety purposes as part of the citys Crosswalks to Classrooms initiative. State and city crews began removing the art last week, following an August directive from the Florida Department of Transportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local state transportation secretary Justin Hall sent a letter identifying 44 noncompliant pavement markings to be covered by Sept. 4, adding that the state could withhold funding if the city failed to comply. While FDOT had previously applauded Tampas colorful crosswalks for helping raise awareness of pedestrian safety, new state guidance required the removal of all street artwork, or transportation funding wouldve been at stake, Joshua Cascio, the mobility departments spokesperson, said in a statement. St. Petersburg and Clearwater received near-identical letters last month to the one sent to Tampa, and both cities have complied. In a letter to the state, St. Petersburgs transportation and parking management director Evan Mory asked for an exemption for five street art installations that he said created a sense of community and improved road safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state denied the request, despite protests from residents. State crews covered artworks across St. Petersburg over the weekend, including the rainbow Progressive Pride mural on Central Avenue and a Black History Matters mural outside the Woodson African American Museum. Sometime overnight Wednesday, someone brought the Black History Matters mural back to life, rewriting the phrase in thick white paint. The resistance is real, said Terri Lipsey Scott, the museums executive director, who discovered the mural when she arrived Wednesday morning. St. Petersburg Police spokesperson Yolanda Fernandez said an officer who works in the area noticed the repainting around 11:38 a.m. She said the Florida Department of Transportation was notified and police do not have a suspect. Its now up to the state to pursue an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No ones claiming responsibility, Fernandez said. Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector said last week that his city didnt have any choice but to comply. He said none of that citys murals were political. In Tampa, City Council members passed a resolution last week condemning the street art mandate. Were being held hostage by Tallahassee, council member Alan Clendenin said. Council member Bill Carlson warned against using strong language in the resolution, suggesting instead that it ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to keep artworks that benefit public safety. You see how far St. Pete has gotten by arguing with him, Carlson said of the governor. If we say condemn, theyll make fun of it, they might even do something else punitive against us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for Clendenin, it was a matter of principle. How do you not condemn removing something thats in place that may save a childs life for what? he said. Just because you want to target a rainbow?" Times staff writer Colleen Wright contributed to this report. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell gave a key green light to a battery of proposed ballot questions that could reshape the states political topography if voters approve even a handful of them in the 2026 midterm elections. Proposals that would slash the states income tax, clear the way for rent control, allow for same-day voter registration, and clean up the way Beacon Hill does its business were among those that cleared a critical procedural hurdle. I applaud the civic engagement of our residents, who filed a record-breaking 47 ballot initiative petitions this year, Campbell said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My office reviews each petition according to the strict criteria outlined in Article 48 of our state constitution, she continued. Our personal opinions and any constitutional considerations outside of Article 48 cannot weigh into our decision-making about certification of a petition. All told, Democrat Campbell allowed 40 proposed laws and four proposed constitutional amendments to proceed to the signature-gathering stage. And thats where things will get sticky for backers of the proposed laws, some of whom submitted multiple petitions on the same subject. Now backers have to gather 74,574 signatures by Dec. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that happens, the questions go before the state Legislature, which has until the first Wednesday in May of 2026 to pass them, propose a substitute, or take no action. If the latter happens, backers have to collect a second round of 12,429 signatures by July of the same year to get on the November general election ballot. The process for proposed constitutional amendments is different. Thats because the constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition require approval by at least 25% of two consecutive joint sessions of the Legislature, according to Campbells office. That means that the amendment proposals that Campbell certified on Wednesday will not appear on the ballot before November 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read a list of the petitions and Campbells certification decisions on her offices official website. Letters explaining the AGs decisions not to certify are also available on the website. In certain circumstances, voters who believe a certification decision is incorrect can ask the Supreme Judicial Court for review. One spiked measure would have eliminated the option for universal mail-in voting, effectively requiring voters to cast ballots in person unless they would be absent on the day of the election or are limited by a physical disability or religious belief. Campbells office said that would be inconsistent with the freedom of elections. Officials also declined to certify one version of a ballot question that would replace party-based primary elections with Massachusetts with a single, all-party primary in which the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election, even if they are from the same party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campbells office certified two other drafts of that idea, backed by former gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen, so it remains in the mix. A handful of states, including California and Washington, have a primary system where the top performers face off in the general election regardless of party, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The third measure that failed to secure certification is a proposed Constitutional amendment significantly overhauling the Legislatures operations, including equal base pay for all lawmakers, equitable distribution of staff between legislators, salary requirements and job protections for aides, and changes to the process for committee assignments. Campbells office said the measure was not in proper form to go before voters and combines too many different topics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other proposed ballot questions targeting Beacon Hills operations did survive the AGs review. The office certified a measure that would subject the Legislature and the governors office to the public records law, and two versions of a petition changing stipends that legislative leaders award to deputies and committee chairs -- a system that opponents say gives top Democrats excessive power over rank-and-file members. Virtually all of the most high-profile measures cleared the initial certification hurdle, including a pair of ideas backed by influential business groups that would reduce the states income tax from 5% to 4% and further limit the state tax revenue cap to make it more likely that surplus revenue would be refunded to taxpayers. Another political slugfest could be on deck over rent control, which voters banned statewide via a 1994 ballot question. Previous attempts to get lawmakers to reverse that prohibition have failed to gain traction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A question backed by the Homes for All coalition and opposed by well-funded real estate interests would limit annual rent increases for most units across Massachusetts to either the annual Consumer Price Index change or 5%, whichever is lower. I cant wait to start collecting signatures from my neighbors to put rent stabilization on the ballot, Mattapan tenant Betty Lewis said in a statement circulated by proponents. All across Massachusetts, high rents are displacing people from our communities, or making them work multiple jobs just to pay the rent. When rent can go up by hundreds of dollars overnight, seniors are forced to put off their retirement, and young people and families cant save money for the dream of owning a home, Lewis said. Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO James B. Rooney has called the resurgence of rent control on Beacon Hill this summer a terrible idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, owners dont invest in the properties. The non-rent control prices go up. People stay in those units they dont turn over. They just get occupied, and people stay," Rooney said during a sitdown last month on WCVB-TVs On the Record program. But even as advocates head into another signature gathering season, one major ballot initiative approved overwhelmingly during the 2024 cycle remains undone: A question giving state Auditor Diana DiZoglio the right to audit her onetime colleagues in the Legislature. Lawmakers on Beacon Hill have spent months resisting the Methuen Democrats efforts to get them to comply with the ballot question, which is now state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers have argued that the audit violates a constitutional separation of powers, and the two sides have spent months duking it out in meetings and in the press. More on Politics Read the original article on MassLive. CANTON, S.D. (KELO) A Tea man is asking a Lincoln County judge to dismiss a first-degree murder case because of self-defense. On Wednesday at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Canton, 61-year-old Timothy Overtons defense argued why the judge should dismiss the case due to self-defense immunity. 2 farmers to pay $4 million in crop insurance fraud Overton is accused of shooting and killing a contractor with a local big box store who came to his home on the north side of Tea on June 3, 2024. Hes accused of assaulting Isaiah Morales with brass knuckles before he allegedly shot and killed him. He faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and interfering with emergency communication. The indictment says Overton is also accused of trying to stop a woman from calling for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the first witness called to the stand by the defense was the Tea police chief who recounted the events that took place on June 3, 2024. She stated that she heard the call from dispatch at around 11:40 a.m., where she, along with one other officer and a detective, arrived on the scene. She said they saw a man lying on the ground with clear trauma on his head. Police then entered the apartment building and took Overton into custody. The next witness the defense called was a sergeant with the Tea police department. He testified that when they entered the building, Overton came into the hallway and was holding a gun upside down in one hand and a magazine in the other hand. Police told Overton to drop the weapon. He did not comply. Instead, he walked toward police and they disarmed him. The sergeant says Overton said he was not a threat. He then told police, He come up, he jumped on my back, he hit me Overton was then checked out by medical staff at the scene and transported to a Sanford hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police sergeant testified that Overton had a bruise near the left eyelid. The sergeant said he heard Overton tell EMS responders that he was hit with a closed fist holding a knife and then jumped on. The sergeant said Overton stated that he tried to shoot him in the shoulder. South Dakotas self-defense law is rather new, taking effect in 2021 with stand your ground protections. Under South Dakota law, a person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if they reasonably believe its necessary to prevent a forcible felony. The stand your ground law does not apply if you are doing something illegal. The defense then called the Lincoln County Coroner to the stand who detailed the victims injurys stating he died due a gunshot wound to the head, with the method of death being homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the victim had 2 lacerations on his hand that could have been from gripping the blade of a knife defensively, as well as a contusion near his lip. He added that the shot was around 12 inches away from the victim, adding that the shot was not up against the skin directly. The last person the defense called on for the day was a Forensic Scientist. He described the scene and the process of how he recreated it, saying he uses a 3D program to model what the scene would look like and uses physics processing to recreate crime scenes. The scientist said that the wounds on the victims hands more than likely came from the knife that was recovered from the scene with the lacerations lining up with grabbing the knife, saying there was no other source of blood except for the gunshot wound on his head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The forensic experts conclusion on the matter was that there was a confrontation between Overton and the victim. Overton then went to the door of his vehicle to procure a firearm. During this time, the victim then grabbed him from behind. Overton then mounted the gun on his shoulder and shot behind him, shooting the victim in the head. He said the model he produced showed that what was described is plausible. The case picks up again in the Lincoln County Courthouse at 8:30 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 KELOLAND.com. Hundreds gather, including several children holding stuffed animals, for a dark and solemn vigil at Lynnhurst Park for the two children who were killed and the several children and parishioners injured in a shooting at Annunciation Church Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 in south Minneapolis. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) When I began my career as an elementary school teacher, back-to-school time was filled with anxieties about busy school schedules, homework policies and how to make learning fun and effective. But now teachers are kept up at night worrying about how theyd keep a class full of kids safe if a gunman comes to their school. As a human shield, they can only cover a few small children. This year, two mass shootings in two days at Annunciation School and near Cristo Rey Jesuit High School has left the Twin Cities reeling from horrific acts of violence and wondering how we can protect our children and families from this public health crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will take law enforcement time to learn the details and lessons of these shootings. What we already know is that this problem is something we must tackle. There is not one simple fix. As Minneapolis Mayor Frey said, we cannot meet this overwhelming problem with a shrug. Every sector of our society can commit to a solution in their wheelhouse and heres ours, as educators: School districts can lead the task of educating families on how to save lives. We need to treat gun violence like the public health problem it is and communicate to our school communities and loved ones about the importance of identifying warning signs, intervention and the life-saving act of secure storage of firearms. As a country, weve solved big public health challenges before. In the early 1980s, less than 20% of drivers wore seat belts now that number is over 90%. Seat belt use is up and traffic fatalities are down. In a nation with more guns than people, anyone and everyone who owns a firearm can commit to secure storage of that weapon. Incidents in schools are far too common. Virginia parents were charged after their six-year-old son took an unsecured firearm to school in his backpack. It was discharged in the classroom. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teachers do not have a seat at the table when it comes to gun violence prevention and protocols on the national, local and district level. But they should. Teachers are trusted messengers and experts on kids: 61% of Americans view teachers as highly trusted and credible the 2nd-highest rating among all professions, according to a 2025 Gallup survey. As a survivor of the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting that took the lives of 20 students and six adults, I know just how tragic and enduring these tragedies are and the challenging aftermath ahead for the families, survivors and educators impacted. We live in a country where there are an average of 57 incidents of gun violence every day in America in or near schools, and where firearms remain the leading cause of death for children and teens. Teachers and staff are on the frontlines of community and school gun violence and they wear many hats as first responders. Theyre counselors when gun violence impacts neighborhoods, nurses when kids are sick from the fear and stress when shootings unfold near and afar, clergy when students need reminders of resiliency and safety. More than 397,000 kids have been impacted by gun violence since Columbine. As teachers, we lack a playbook for how to care when one of them ends up in your classroom, nor how to teach kids who are unavailable for learning due to trauma, how to restore routine when the entire school has been impacted, how to prepare the class for an injured students return, or how to explain a child will never come back to class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Minnesota legislators passed a red flag law and universal background checks, but even states with the best gun laws on the books need robust education to the community, especially when it comes to safe firearm storage. Minnesota school districts can prioritize communicating to parents about tips for safe firearms storage and empower teachers to be part of these messages. And they can do so multiple times throughout the year. We have a choice: We can continue on, like normal where nothing ever changes, and our students, teachers, parents and communities continue to live with the pain of horrific violence. Or we can get to work. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. St. Louis County is taking a major step to tackle problem properties. More than 200 vacant homes across the county are set to come down as part of an $11 million demolition initiative. That $11 million was directed from $193 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds that were sent to us from the federal government as part of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery process, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said. Neighbors in Castle Point were pleased to see the heavy machinery rolling a sign of a long-awaited fresh start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is so very exciting for me personally and the community, Linda Vaughn said. This is wonderful to have one of many homes to be torn down and then have a new home rebuilt. Restaurant worker raids expose reported packed suburban homes The St. Louis County Council approved the funding, and officials said these homes often attract crime and create hazards for families living nearby. Im excited about these derelict homes to be torn down and then the opportunity for them to be put back on the market and developers come back inresponsible developersand give us new, revived hope, Councilwoman Shalonda Webb said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community leaders said its just the first step and they will move from neighborhood to neighborhood until at least more than 200 homes are cleared. Today means hope and evidence of hard work. Its about a community not giving up, about leadership putting community first and not their priorities, but the communitys priorities. To tell Castle Point, you are not forgotten; yes, there is work to be done, but I am here for it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. HOOPESTON, Ill. (WCIA) About three months after Teasdale Latin Foods employees went on strike in Hoopeston, the company said an agreement has been reached. Teasdale employees went on strike June 1. Over the course of the strike, union workers that WCIA spoke with said they were concerned about the company raising their hours caps from from 56 to 60 (which could lead to five twelve hour shifts a week) and the company hiring sub-contractors for their work. Workers also said they wanted to see new positions offered to workers already at Teasdale first. Its a good slap in the face: Employees in Hoopeston on strike Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teasdale said an agreement was reached with BCTGM Local 1, the Grain Millers Union, on Aug. 29. The four-year agreement includes an immediate 5% increase in wages, a 17% increase over the four years and 40 hours of paid time off each year. Teasdale is proud to welcome back its employees and looks forward to continuing full production at the Hoopeston facility with the entire team united. The company extends its appreciation to the workers hired during the work stoppage who supported operations during this period, many of whom will remain as valued members of the team, Teasdale said in a news release sent to WCIA. The company said during the strike, their employees at a plant in California helped to ensure operations continued running. And, they anticipate returning to normal operations over the next 60 days. Teasdale strike continues, company committed to reaching agreement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement reflects our shared commitment to fairness, collaboration, and the long-term success of the Hoopeston facility, Tim OConnor, Chief Executive Officer, said in a news release. We are stronger together, and we are excited to move forward as one team. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Researchers have found that trust in artificial intelligence falls among people as they become more AI literate a damning revelation that highlights persistent skepticism in the tech. AI companies continue to paint the tech as a mesmerizing, revolutionary inflection point for humanity that justifies enormous capital expenditures to run wildly resource-intensive AI models. But when real-life users become more familiar with the tech realizing that, at their core, products like ChatGPT are word prediction algorithms rather than human-like sentient entities it can be a major turnoff, as the Wall Street Journal reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As detailed in a study published in the Journal of Marketing earlier this year, an international team of researchers found that the AI's biggest fans tend to be the people with the shallowest familiarity with it. "Contrary to expectations revealed in four surveys, cross-country data and six additional studies find that people with lower AI literacy are typically more receptive to AI," they wrote, proposing that "people with lower AI literacy are more likely to perceive AI as magical and experience feelings of awe in the face of AI's execution of tasks that seem to require uniquely human attributes." It's an especially pertinent topic due to the widespread use of the tech among students, who may lack the literacy to make informed decisions on when or how to use AI and employ it as a crutch to avoid learning deeper reasoning, writing, and research skills of their own. Of course, those students are likely to become even more reliant on companies like OpenAI as they age and enter the workforce. "When you dont really get whats going on under the hood, AI creating these things seems amazing, and thats when it can feel magical," University of Southern California associate professor of marketing Stephanie Tully told the WSJ. "And that feeling can actually increase peoples willingness to use it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings should serve as a wake-up call for the industry. Instead of leading to higher adoption, those who are more clued in to how the tech works are less likely to use it, flying in the face of the assumption that greater technical knowledge will lead to wider adoption. "In other domains, like wine, the people who know the most about it are wine lovers," Tully told the WSJ. "With AI, its the opposite." In an experiment, the researchers gave 234 undergraduate students a questionnaire, asking them whether they would use AI to help with writing four different papers. Those who scored lower on AI literacy were more willing to use the tech to complete the assignments. That's despite them being more concerned about AI ethics and its potential to impact humanity negatively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Understanding that AI is just pattern-matching can strip away the emotional experience," coauthor and George Washington University assistant professor of marketing Gil Appel told the WSJ. The team corroborated their own findings by pointing to several other studies that also showed lower AI literacy was associated with greater willingness to use the tech. As a result, the researchers argue that users should be educated about how AI works so they can make better-informed decisions. "With the increase in AI around us, consumers should have a basic level of literacy to be able to understand when AI might have important limitations," Tully told the WSJ. More on AI literacy: Hypocrite Teachers Are Telling Students Not to Use AI While Using It to Grade Their Work Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin as an old friend as the two held a series of meetings yesterday at a time when their countries face both overlapping and differing challenges from the United States. Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. U.S. President Donald Trumps unorthodox approach to the war has added a twist to the relationship but doesnt appear to have fundamentally changed it. Putin addressed Xi as dear friend and said that Moscows ties with Beijing are at an unprecedentedly high level. In a sign of the importance China places on the relationship, their formal meeting was followed by tea with top aides at Zhongnanhai, the walled complex that is the center of power in China with residences and offices for its top leaders. China announced after the talks that it would begin offering 30-day visa-free access to Russian travelers starting later this month. The talks come the day after both attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the nearby Chinese city of Tianjin, and the day before a grand Chinese military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Soviet Union was neutral for much of the war in Asia, but provided assistance to China in earlier fighting against invading Japanese forces in the 1930s. It also declared war on Japan in the waning days of World War II and sent troops over the border into Japanese-occupied northeastern China. We were always together then, we remain together now, Putin said. China says it is neutral in the Ukraine war but has provided an economic lifeline to Russia by continuing trade despite Western sanctions. A memorandum was signed to build another natural gas pipeline to China, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said in Beijing, according to Russias Interfax news agency. The Russian state gas company also signed agreements with a Chinese state energy company to increase deliveries via existing routes, the news agency said. The U.S. and the European Union have also put sanctions on Chinese companies that they say have abetted Russias military industry. China and Russia face the same problem and must work together to jointly cope with the pressure from the U.S., said Li Xin, the director of the Institute of European and Asian Studies at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. China is also one of the main targets of Trumps taxes on imports, though he has backed down from what was an escalating tariff war and his administration has begun negotiations with Beijing on a trade deal. The summit of the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization brought Xi and Putin together with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held separate talks with both leaders on the sidelines of the Tianjin meeting. U.S. President Donald Trumps steep tariffs on India and the tone coming from the White House have pushed New Delhi closer to China and Russia, though Modi will not attend Chinas military parade. Xi has tried to position China as a leader of countries that feel disadvantaged by the U.S.-dominated, post-World War II order. At the Shanghai Cooperation summit and again in his meetings with Putin, he proposed an initiative to build a more just and equitable global governance system. China doesnt want to overturn the global order but change it so it better serves its interests, Li said. China and Russia do not yet have the power to change the world order but they are constantly pushing for reforms that benefit them, he said. Putin and Xi held a three-way meeting with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa ahead of their talks. His landlocked country of grasslands and mineral resources is sandwiched between the two giants. Putin said in opening remarks that the three countries are good neighbors, with a shared interest in developing ties. In 2024, Putin made an official visit to Mongolia, where the government ignored calls to arrest him on an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes stemming from the invasion of Ukraine. KEN MORITSUGU, BEIJING, MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... The teenage boy accused of fatally stabbing a classmate at a Maryvale High School classroom last month appeared for his arraignment on the morning of Sept. 3 where he pleaded not guilty. Chris Aguilar, 16, stood next to his attorney wearing an orange Maricopa County Sheriffs Office jumpsuit with yellow sleeves as he told the judge his name and date of birth. The hearing came after a grand jury indicted Aguilar on one count of first-degree murder. He was initially charged with second-degree murder. The hearing lasted only a few minutes as the judge issued a number of future court dates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phoenix officers responded to the west Phoenix school, near 59th Avenue and Osborn Road, at about 10:54 a.m. Aug. 19 after receiving a call about a stabbing and found Michael Montoya II, 16, with multiple stab wounds, according to court documents. Police and school security detained Aguilar. Teachers and students told police they saw him repeatedly stab Montoya before fleeing the classroom, according to court records. The girl who normally sat in front of Aguilar told police she saw him pull out a pocketknife before stabbing Montoya three times, according to court records. A school security guard collected a four-inch folding knife that had Aguilars name etched on the handle, court records said. Multiple teens told police that Montoya had robbed Aguilar of a firearm, with one saying that Aguilar and his twin brother talked about killing Montoya after the alleged robbery, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aguilar was at first held at a juvenile detention facility but was transferred to a county jail after officials determined he was a potential danger to other juveniles, documents said. He was being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond. The judge kept the bond at the same amount during the hearing. Members of Montoya's family who attended the hearing wore shirts featuring a picture of him, and at times consoled each other as Aguilar stood before them. Aguilar was scheduled to have a hearing on Sept. 4 to determine whether he could remain in a county jail or be remanded back to juvenile detention. He was assigned to the Lower Buckeye Jail as of Sept. 3. Aguilar is one of 72 juvenile inmates housed in an MCSO facility, according to Dave Moyer, an agency spokesperson. Juvenile inmates are segregated from the adult jail population, Moyer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@gannett.com or 602-444-1474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Teen accused of fatally stabbing classmate pleads not guilty to murder SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A teenage boy was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly attempted to smuggle nearly 27 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States, authorities said on Wednesday. Surveillance camera operators captured video of the boy on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 10:40 p.m. in a remote area about one mile east of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, just a few hundred yards north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The video above explains the difference between meth, fentanyl and cocaine The boy appeared to be carrying two dark duffel bags, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Two duffle bags filled with water bottles containing methamphetamine. (Customs and Border Protection) Two duffle bags filled with water bottles containing methamphetamine. (Customs and Border Protection) When approached by agents, the boy told them he was hiking in the area, which authorities deemed unlikely. At the time of the encounter, the duffel bags, which had previously been seen in the surveillance video, were no longer in his possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman, boyfriend charged after allegedly stealing her brothers identity to commit crimes: DOJ A Border Patrol K-9 unit was able to find the two bags nearby. According to agents, both of the bags contained water bottles wrapped in electrical tape, which appeared to be filled with a crystalline substance. After investigating the contents of the water bottles, agents determined they had the characteristics of methamphetamine, which further tests later confirmed. A total of 26.89 pounds of methamphetamine were seized from the duffel bags. They were estimated to have a street value of more than $32,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The narcotics and the boy were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation, CBP said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. CHICAGO Police are searching for answers on Wednesday morning after a teen boy was critically injured in a shooting inside a home on the citys Far South Side. According to police, officers were first called to the scene in the 300 block of West 106th Street, in Roseland, just after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, following a report of a person shot in the area. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Officers arrived and found a 14-year-old boy inside the home who had suffered a gunshot wound to his head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen was taken to the hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. Currently, it is unclear what led to the gunfire and authorities say no arrests have been made. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Two Detectives at 312-747-8273 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. PARSONS, Kan. Authorities in southeast Kansas arrest a teenager for an alleged vape shop burglary. According to a press release from the Parsons Police Department, early on Thursday, August 21, law enforcement responded to reports of a burglary in progress at the Parsons Vape Shop, located at 2425 Main Street. The store manager had reported that two individuals wearing masks were stealing items from the shop. The suspects left the area before police arrived. Police say officers gathered security footage from businesses in the area of the vape shop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our local businesses are vital to the Parsons community, and unfortunately, they are often the target of crime, said Parsons Police Lt. Detective Sherri McGuire. We encourage all business owners to invest in proper security, surveillance cameras, alarm systems, and good lighting are powerful deterrents. FOUR STATES CRIME About a week later, officials say witnesses identified a 14-year-old as a person of interest. Police searched a residence in the 3100 block of Morgan Avenue. They say they detained a suspect and recovered stolen merchandise that came from the vape shop. PPD says they also found clothing matching the description of what the suspects were wearing during the incident. It is especially concerning when juveniles as young as 14 are involved in serious crimes like burglary. While enforcement is our duty, prevention must start at home and within the community, said Parsons Police Chief, Robert Spinks. Parents, guardians, and mentors play a critical role in guiding our youth and setting expectations. Together, we can help prevent our young people from entering the criminal justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen was charged with burglary, felony theft and damage to property and is being held in the Girard Juvenile Detention Center. The second suspect has not been located at this time, and the case remains under investigation. If you have any additional information on this incident, the Parsons Police Department urges you to contact them at (620) 421-7060, or email them at tips@parsonspdks.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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Tennesseans work hard to protect the freedoms and values that make our state a great place in which to live, work and pursue the American dream. As an elected representative and proud Tennessean, I believe safeguarding property rights is key to continuing that tradition. That is why I sponsored a resolution giving Tennesseans the power to prohibit the state from levying or authorizing a property tax. Voters will have the opportunity to make this protection permanent by amending the Tennessee State Constitution when they go to the polls on Nov. 3, 2026. Tennessee doesn't collect state property tax, but that could change Tennessee previously collected a property tax, but in 1949 the General Assembly set the rate to zero after adopting a sales tax two years earlier. This shift helped Tennessee adopt a consumption-based tax model that encourages growth and lets people keep more of their hard-earned dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our state has no income tax and ranks second in the nation for lowest state and local taxes per capita, according to the Tax Foundation. These policies have supported working families, encouraged small business growth and attracted new residents from across the country. Opinion: There's a health care crisis no one's talking about and it's costing you money Tennessees strong economy reflects these decisions. We consistently rank among the top states for long-term fiscal stability, and our state debt per capita remains one of the lowest in the nation. Tennessee Republican lawmakers have cut more than $5.1 billion in taxes since 2011. Most recently, we passed the Tennessee Works Tax Act of 2023 and the Franchise and Excise Tax Act of 2024, both of which I was proud to support because these initiatives represent real savings for citizens and a more competitive environment for businesses. How to properly calculate your property tax bill in the state of Tennessee Our deliberate choices respect taxpayers and prioritize long-term stability, earning national recognition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Tennessee no longer collects a statewide property tax, current law still permits it. The proposed amendment would close that door permanently by making it unconstitutional for the state to impose a property tax in the future. Some may wonder why we need this amendment if there is no current effort to reintroduce a property tax. The answer is simple: Laws can change with a single vote. This amendment offers lasting protection. Eliminating the option for state property tax protects economic stability From 2013 to 2023, home prices in Tennessee rose far more quickly than household incomes, as reported by the Sycamore Institute. In 2023, the median household income was $68,000, while the median home value reached $307,000 and the median sale price was $340,000. Affordable housing has become a growing challenge across the state. Preventing the state from ever imposing a property tax wont solve the problem, but it will help reduce the financial burden on homeowners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment does not affect local property taxes. Cities and counties will continue to set and manage their own rates. Local governments are closest to the people and best equipped to meet their needs. But this protection matters especially to rural communities. Farmers and landowners often hold large tracts of land that may increase in value even if their incomes do not. A property tax can create financial pressure simply because someone holds land that has been in their families for generations. Rising land values have forced some to sell or subdivide to pay taxes. That is unfair. Property taxes also strain people at vulnerable stages of life. Seniors on fixed incomes, young couples buying their first home and families facing economic challenges all feel this burden. Unlike other expenses, property taxes do not end once a mortgage is paid. Homeowners must continue paying just to stay in their homes. That is not true ownership. Opinion: 90% of the US healthcare spend goes to preventable disease. There's an easy fix Tennessee helps residents save money. We shouldn't jeopardize that. We should not risk policies that put Tennesseans in this position. Instead, we should reaffirm our commitment to limited government, low taxes and personal freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People move here for our natural beauty, strong communities and policies that let them keep more of what they earn. Bankrate in 2023 named Tennessee the best state to save money. Protecting property rights with this amendment reinforces that message. I look forward to hearing from Tennesseans about this important issue and encourage every eligible voter to make their voice heard. This is more than tax policy. It is about values. It is about the right to keep what you have built and live with confidence that the rules will not change unexpectedly. This amendment reflects the best of Tennessee, and I am proud to support it. Tandy Darby Tandy Darby represents District 76 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes Weakley and part of Carroll and Henry counties. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How we can stop TN from levying a state property tax | Opinion Tennessee and 45 other states are facing demands from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after the federal department sent a letter on Aug. 26 demanding that the state remove all references to gender ideology in their federally funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) educational materials within 60 days. The department claimed it was part of the Trump Administrations efforts to protect children from attempts to indoctrinate them with delusional ideology. Accountability is coming, acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison said in the departments memo. Federal funds will not be used to poison the minds of the next generation or advance dangerous ideological agendas. The Trump Administration will ensure that PREP reflects the intent of Congress, not the priorities of the left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREP is a federally grant-funded program that works to reduce teen pregnancy across the country by educating adolescents on contraception, abstinence, healthy relationships and financial literacy. Tennessees funding focuses on providing education for youths in foster care and the juvenile justice system, according to federal data. The HHS memo lists a number of statements in Tennessee's PREP material that fall outside the scope of PREPs authorized curricula, including: A reference under the section titled Defining Sexuality that says sexuality is complex, and encourages educational facilitators to support program participants to listen to one another and remain respectful and inclusive. An answer to the question, Why would someone with a penis not identify as a boy/man. The material says transgender people are people whose gender identity is different from their biological sex or sex assigned at birth, and that however someone identifies, they should feel safe, respected and included. A paragraph stating that manhood is often tied to restrictive ideas about gender, and encouraging young men to practice skills to create healthier relationships, positive social networks, and nonviolent communities. A definition stating that gender and biological sex are different things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The (contractual purpose of PREP) includes no mention of gender ideology, which is both irrelevant to teaching abstinence and contraception and unrelated to any of the adult preparation subjects described in section, the memo states. The memo acknowledges that the program, including the example references, were previously approved by the Administration for Children and Families, the department within HHS that administers the grant, but says the approval was incorrect. The prior administration erred in allowing PREP grants to be used to teach students gender ideology because that approval exceeded the agencys authority to administer the program consistent with the authorizing legislation as enacted by Congress, the memo states. "The recent federal demand that Tennessee comply with its purge of language that it considers problematic underscores, yet again, that those who demand such redactions fail to comprehend the very concepts theyre trying to censor out of existence, said Chaplain Dahron Johnson, co-chair of the Tennessee Equality Project's Davidson County Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2018 data from the ACF reports that 72% of youths in the program stated that the program made them more prepared for adulthood. Studies like those from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America have proven the impact of such programs, finding that comprehensive sex education like PREP reduces teen birth rates at the county level by at least 3%. There is a well-documented history of LGBTQIA+ youth finding themselves in more vulnerable settings, and it is precisely these young persons that PREP education is meant to help, Johnson said. Intentionally erasing such differences from a facilitator guidebook or any other text does not create greater safety for them, nor does it reduce the risks that result in them more vulnerable in the first place. "If anything, demanding the absence of text that simply acknowledges the wide variety of human sexuality and the equally broad way we each understand thatonly serves to isolate such youth further, and to increase the risks, the dangers, they face every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Tennessee foster children file class action lawsuit against DCS leaders A spokesperson from the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services confirmed to The Tennessean that the department is working towards removing the references. The Tennessee Department of Childrens Services has reviewed the federal guidance from HHS, in which portions from two of our life skills programs for older youth were flagged, the statement said. These materials were previously on the federally approved list and, per HHS guidance, have since been removed. The Department is already in the process of updating the small number of educational materials to ensure compliance with federal requirements. States that were not implicated in the federal memo are: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Florida Idaho Indiana Kansas North Dakota Texas Virginia California's PREP grant, which the ACF reviewed in March, was terminated by the department on Aug. 21 after the state refused to remove the language found objectional. In a statement, the ACF called California's program a "disturbing and egregious abuse of federal funds" that could "encourage kids to contemplate mutilating their genitals." Links to the national PREP homepage and fact sheet from the ACF website both appear to be deleted. Johnson said the push to remove references to queer topics is a misuse of federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our government should focus not on creating monsters in language and of people they then insist we all hunt down; rather, their efforts should remain focused on evidence-based and well-informed measure that help keep our children safewhoever they are, however they identify, and wherever they live," Johnson said. The USA TODAY Network - The South region's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump admin directs Tennessee to censor parts of sex ed material Texas top law enforcement official is set to appear alongside a man known as the Lectern Guy who served prison time for being among the crowds that broke into the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 to protest President Donald Trumps election loss. Lone Star State Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate against his fellow Republican, Sen. John Cornyn, is one of the special guests headlining a shooting event hosted by the group Texas Gun Rights (TXGR) on September 13. Another one of the special guests is Adam Johnson, who became one of the most recognizable faces of the Jan. 6 riots when he was photographed inside the Capitol grinning and carrying then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis lectern through the halls. Recent polls show that Paxton and Cornyn, the incumbent, are in a tight race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paxton, whose campaign did not respond to a request for comment, has his own history with Trumps effort to subvert the 2020 election. As attorney general, he filed a Supreme Court lawsuit in December 2020 that sought to overturn the election by invalidating millions of ballots in four battleground states. The suit was subsequently rejected and a disciplinary committee of the State Bar of Texas later filed a lawsuit of its own seeking to sanction Paxton for what it argued was a case based on misrepresentations and false statements. Earlier this year, the Texas Supreme Court dismissed that suit. In addition to playing a role in the legal efforts that were mounted by Trump allies to reverse his loss, Paxton traveled to Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 and participated in at least one of the protests that preceded the storming of the Capitol. On that fateful day, Paxton appeared on stage at a rally where he touted his work to overturn the election. We will not quit fighting, Paxton said. Were Texans. Were Americans. And were not quitting. While he unabashedly joined the fight against Trumps loss on Jan. 6, Paxton distanced himself from the violent crowds that stormed the Capitol. In February 2021, when he was questioned about his participation in the days events by a state senator, Paxton claimed he and his former wife left after the speeches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We went and had lunch and people did what they did, Paxton said. One of those people was Johnson, who climbed scaffolding and entered the Capitol building. Once inside, he was filmed encouraging the mob to break down the doors to the House chamber. Johnson chronicled his day on social media, including posting one Facebook photo that he captioned Riot!!! Along with his own postings, Johnson ended up in a picture taken by Getty Images Win McNamee. The shot, which depicted Johnson waving and toting the lectern, became one of the most iconic images of the day. Johnson initially reveled in the attention and boasted that he broke the internet. However, as a result of that photo, Johnson, who deleted his social media presence, was identified by acquaintances. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) In early 2022, Johnson pleaded guilty in a federal court and was sentenced to 75 days in prison and a $5,000 fine. At the time, Johnson was apologetic and called his decision to pose with Pelosis lectern very stupid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am pleading guilty because I am guilty, Johnson said. Johnsons plea agreement specified that, for five years, the government would have rights to the profits if he produced a book or something of that nature based on the experience. In January, within days of his re-election, Trump pardoned Johnson along with nearly all of the people who had been convicted or were awaiting trial as a result of their participation in the Capitol riot. After receiving his pardon, Johnson made statements minimizing his crime. Johnson also has begun selling merchandise including autographed photos of himself inside the Capitol and apparel decorated with a silhouette of him carrying Pelosis lectern. Based on the Internet Archive, Johnsons merch store went online in February of this year, the month after he received his pardon. Johnson did not respond to a request for comment about his relationship with Paxton or questions about whether his pardon meant the government would not profit off of his Jan. 6-related commercial endeavors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paxtons appearance with Johnson is one of many examples of Republicans increasingly associating with Jan. 6 rioters in the wake of Trumps pardon spree. The shooting event that features the pair is sponsored by multiple local politicians and GOP organizations in Texas. TXGR, the group hosting the clay shoot, bills itself as the ONLY No Compromise gun rights organization that exists. The group did not respond to requests for comment. Other special guests, sponsors, and VIP shooters who will be participating in the event with Paxton and Johnson include State Rep. Wes Virdell (R), a concealed carry fashion model, and a pro-gun blogger known as the Pew Pew Jew who has written posts touting his ownership of a Nazi gun from World War II. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Among hundreds of new Texas state laws that went into effect on Sept. 1, one law will give parents with children in public schools greater control over what their children can read and check out at their schools library, the bills supporters say. Others arent so sure. Senate Bill 13 directs public school districts across the state to grant parents access to review their childrens school catalog of available library materials (books or other documents) and its records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If parents find any library materials they deem are harmful to their children, they can submit a list of the materials to the school that they dont want their children to be allowed to check out or use outside of the school library. Many parents with children at public schools from El Paso ISD said theyre supportive of SB 13 as they said it allows them to be more involved in their childrens education. I think its great when parents express interest and are involved in their kids education. So, I think its a really good thing that we have access to what our kids are exposed to. And I guess its a two-way street, said Cecilia Valdenea, a parent. (I think it gives) parents that comfort of knowing whats going on with their kids at school and allowing us to be involved and not have any more surprises (like having to question) Why are they doing this in school? Or why are they running these kinds of books? said a parent at EPISD who wanted to remain anonymous. So I just think that thats its about time that somebody did something about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there are other more controversial layers to SB 13. It also empowers parents to challenge or appeal to a districts board of trustees a library book or other materials they think are harmful to their children. The challenge must go through a lengthy process that may result in the materials getting removed from library catalogs district-wide. Norma De La Rosa, president of the El Paso Teachers Association, said teachers and librarians across EPISD believe this is a bridge too far. If the parent does not want their child to read a specific novel, magazine or whatever, thats their prerogative. But to enforce their beliefs and their feelings on other students in the classroom, in our schools, or in our public libraries, is going a bit too far, because you will be infringing on the rights of others, De La Rosa said. There may be parents who, will say, No, Im allowing my child to read that book or to read that novel or to read that magazine. I want them to be an all-around learner. I want them to learn about everything that there is to learn, De La Rosa added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 13 also directs school districts to establish a local school library advisory council, made up of parents who are not employed by the district, if at least 10 percent or 50 or more parents of students enrolled in the district present to a districts board of trustees a petition to establish such a board. When established, the school board must hear recommendations made by the advisory council before making decisions to either add or remove items from a schools library catalog. The advisory council would also be involved in making recommendations to a school board over challenges and appeals made by parents over library items. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AUSTIN (Nexstar) While the 30-day window for the Texas Legislatures second special session didnt expire until September 14, both the Texas House and Senate have decided to adjourn Sine Die. Both the Texas House and Texas Senate met on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Entering the day, both had quite small slates of unfinished business. On the House side, the chamber voted on Senate Bill 1the Heavens 27 Camp Safety Act. The bill, which aims to implement strict standards to promote summer camp safety from natural disasters, drew the ire of a trio of Hill Country camps over the weekend who asked lawmakers for meaningful financial support, to help them implement elements of the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Senate side, they sent House Bill 7which allows private citizens to sue companies or providers who send abortion-inducing drugs to Texasto Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. Already on the governors desk Abbott issued his proclamation for a second special session on Aug. 15. He added and amended the proclamation until there were 23 items up for consideration. Before Wednesday night, the legislature had passed bills related to nine of the items. One of the biggest items the body passed was Senate Bill 3, which requires the Texas Water Development Board to identify areas in flood-prone areas to install warning sirens. The bill also creates a grant program through the governors office that municipalities can apply for to help pay for the emergency upgrades. With limited cell phone coverage in many of these areas, we must rely on proven technology, State Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, said when laying out the bill on the House floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers also passed bills that dealt with creating an affirmative defense for victims of human trafficking if they can prove they were coerced to commit a crime, allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription from a doctor, and permit exemptions for dam projects that help with soil erosion. One of the most controversial bills passed was the new congressional map that gives Republicans an edge to pick up five additional seats in the midterm elections. It was that redistricting process which forced House Democrats to flee the state in an attempt to kill the first special session and gain national support from blue states to start their own mid-decade redistricting process. Unfinished business There are still key items that never crossed the finish line, including what to do with intoxicating hemp products. Abbott wants the legislature to pass bills that will regulate the industry, but Patrick has said he will not settle for anything less than a total ban of THC products. THC is the intoxicating compound in hemp that gives someone a high. The Texas Senate passed a complete ban in August but the bill has stalled in the House. State Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, chairs the House Public Health Committee. He said on Tuesday that it appeared no solution was in sight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well eventually find our path, but were just not there at this point, VanDeaver said. However, less than 24 hours after saying that, the Public Health Committee was scheduled to meet and discuss THC legislation on Wednesday night. Throughout the House proceedings on Wednesday night, VanDeaver and State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, were seen conversing with members to across the floor to try and strike some form of THC deal. The discussions stopped after a late-night statement from Patrick. After long discussions last night between the Governor, Speaker, and me on THC, and continued hours of discussion today, we were not able to come to a resolution, Patrick posted on X at exactly 9 p.m. My position remains unchanged; the Senate and I are for a total THC ban. After passing our remaining bills on the July 4th flooding, the Senate will adjourn Sine Die this evening. The House and Senate also failed to find an agreement on property tax relief. The Senate and House passed different versions of Senate Bill 10 which is designed to make it harder for taxing entities to raise property tax rates without voter approval. Members of the House feel the Senates version does not go far enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the answer to our prayers in property tax, State Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, said when opposing the bill on the House floor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. (The Center Square) Student excitement about the legislature abolishing the annual statewide standardized test may be short lived. Instead of one test, students will soon have to take three. HB 8, filed by state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, which eliminates the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Test, has passed both chambers of the legislature after Gov. Greg Abbott added it to the special session agenda. The bill replaces the STAAR test with three new tests: one each held at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. Once signed into law, it goes into effect in the 20272028 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 8 replaces the STAAR Test with an instructionally supportive statewide assessment program, revises public school performance ratings based on a new test structure under the public school accountability system, creates a grant program for public school district local accountability plans, and requires actions challenging Texas Education Agency decisions related to public school accountability to be settled in a timely manner, according to the bill analysis. It requires applicable tests to assess state curriculum standards in mathematics, social studies and science and requires that all students be assessed annually in mathematics in grades three through eight; in social studies in grade eight; in science in grades five and eight; and in any other subject and grade required by federal law. It also revises the requirement for end-of-course tests for secondary-level courses in Algebra I, biology, English I, English II, and U.S. history, among many other provisions. It transfers many authorities from the State Board of Education to the TEA. The SBOE is comprised of elected members. The TEA is comprised of unelected bureaucrats whose leaders receive several hundred-thousand-dollar, taxpayer-funded salaries. House Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the bill. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, has argued by increasing the number of state-mandated tests the bill adds testing hours. State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, has raised concerns that artificial intelligence will be used to grade the tests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Education Agency says that it uses a hybrid scoring model to grade the STAAR Test. This includes using an automated scoring engine with at least 25 percent of student responses routed to human scorers. The new tests would use the same model. Education Policy Advisor with Voices Empower Alice Linahan, a Republican, argues the bill gives bureaucrats constant access through DEI-driven, vendor-controlled tests, raising other concerns. She points to testimony given by Nicholas Munyan-Penny with The Education Trust about how the new testing system maintains equity backstop standards and criterion-based assessments, which are an essential civil rights tool to track and progress against closing achievement gaps. State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, voted against SB 8 despite his support for eliminating the STAAR Test. Instead of replacing the STAAR Test with three tests, he said, it must be replaced with something that is better than STAAR, not with something that may be worse and that increases burdens on taxpayers, teachers and students. Instead of saving money by eliminating the current test, HB 8 saddles taxpayers with nearly $60M in new government spending, transfers an inordinate amount of authority from elected officials at the State Board of Education to unelected bureaucrats at the Texas Education Agency, and increases the frequency of state mandated testing. I voted NO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 8 passed in the House along party lines by a vote of 82 to 56. The Senate passed the bill with an amendment; the final vote was 21 to 5. The bill was sent to the House to approve the amendment. If it concurs, bill differences will be reconciled, and it will head to the governor to be signed into law. After the bill passed the Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said, For far too long, Texas students and teachers have been burdened by the STAAR test, a cumbersome one-size-fits-all assessment that fails to actually measure student educational achievement. Replacing it with a system to assess student growth and improve educational outcomes is a victory for Texas parents, educators, and most importantly, students. (Texas Scorecard) The Texas A&M University System has chosen to fight a records request for communications regarding a new citizenship initiative. Mark Welsh, president of Texas A&M-College Station, announced this program in February 2025. He claimed its objective is to produce great citizens. He picked retired Brig. Gen. Kim Field, his director of strategic initiatives, to lead the effort, and Professor Hart Blanton, head of the universitys Communication & Journalism department, to oversee a faculty task force to help develop the initiative. The program aims to engage students in four core areas: character development, knowledge acquisition, skill-building, and civic involvement, Field said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, Texas Scorecard sent a records request to Texas A&M-College Station for communications in Fields and Blantons possession regarding the projects development. On August 28, the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), the parent body of the College Station campus, appealed this request to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Assistant General Counsel Claudene Marshall wrote that the system will submit to Paxtons office the reasons why it believes state law exemptions would allow all or part of the requested information to be withheld from disclosure. This latest development contradicts statements about the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welsh described it as a citizenship and service endeavor. On August 28, Field outlined plans to create an Aggie Lyceum modeled after the Texas Lyceuma group that promotes public affairs discussionwith the objective of providing a place to have difficult conversations. This Aggie Lyceum has sparked controversy due to Welshs appointment of Blanton, a pro-DEI academic, to the project. Blanton initiated and oversaw the failed hiring of Kathleen McElroy, a DEI proponent, to run TAMUs journalism program. Texas A&M-College Stations attempt to hire McElroy, a New York Times diversity advocate, as journalism program director in 2023 sparked backlash over her DEI focus, leading to a revised, non-tenured offer, which she rejected. The controversy, fueled by public outcry and a new Texas law banning DEI programs, resulted in a $1 million settlement for McElroy and the resignation of President M. Katherine Banks. At the College Station campus April 14 faculty senate meeting, Blanton framed the Aggie Lyceum project as a president-initiated, faculty-led process. He said its aims are to help students understand diverse perspectives and to develop a proposal to guide the educational mission of Texas A&M. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the August 28 TAMUS board meeting, a regent emphasized the need to make sure its informative, not persuasive and that content is politically neutral. Texas Scorecard will continue to examine higher education in the state. If you or anyone you know has information regarding universities, please contact our tip line: scorecardtips@protonmail.com. AUSTIN (KXAN) Thirty-three public colleges and universities across Texas were presented an award from the Texas Veterans Commission, according to Gov. Greg Abbotts office. The Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award is given to schools that provide significant opportunities for enrolled veterans and their families, a news release from the governors office said. Colleges and universities across Texas offer world-class resources and educational support to the brave men and women who served in our nations military, Abbott said in the Tuesday release. Texans are forever indebted to our veterans and their families and will continue to support their success so they can thrive in the greatest state in the greatest country in the history of the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The award is presented at the bronze, silver and gold levels, with each level denoting the level of benefits and services they provide to Texas veterans and their families. Locally, Austin Community College was lauded at the gold level, the release said. El Paso Community College, Lone Star College in Houston and the University of Houston Clear Lake were all recognized with a gold award for the first time, while Stephen F. Austin State University, Tarleton State University, UT-Tyler and Texas State Technical College all received their first award at the silver level, according to Abbotts office. Criteria for the award includes but is not limited to: A work-study program with the Department of Veterans Affiars New student orientation and courses designed for veterans Student organizations for veterans Mental health and disability services Veteran career services Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Education is key to a veterans personal well-being and long-term quality of life, said TVC Chairwoman Laura Koerner in the release. These colleges and universities ensure our veterans and their dependents receive the quality education they have earned in an environment that cultivates their academic success, Koerner said. A complete list of winners can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. More than 800 new laws took effect in Texas on September 1, reshaping education, healthcare, housing, safety, and more. Lawmakers passed 1,155 bills in the regular session, with Gov. Greg Abbott signing most and vetoing others. Some measures activated earlier, while several will roll out in future years or depend on voter approval. Education Senate Bill 1 established the states $338 billion two-year budget. More than 70% of funds will go to education and health services, including property tax relief, public school funding, energy, water, and broadband infrastructure. Abbott vetoed $60 million that would have joined a federal summer lunch program, citing uncertainty over matching rates. Education saw some of the most controversial changes. Senate Bill 2 created one of the countrys largest voucher programs, offering most families just over $10,000 for accredited private school tuition or related costs. Students with disabilities could qualify for much more. The program will not launch until the 2026-27 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 2 added $8.5 billion to public schools, with over $4 billion reserved for teacher raises. Funds will also support special education, safety, early childhood programs, and educator training. Senate Bill 10 required donated posters of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery blocked enforcement in nearly a dozen districts, including Austin, Houston, and Plano, but Attorney General Ken Paxton said others must comply. This issue is likely to get to the United States Supreme Court, Biery said before opening statements. Districts can also adopt a voluntary daily period for prayer or scripture reading under another new law. Participation requires parental consent, and schools cannot broadcast prayers over public address systems. Senate Bill 12 extended the ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies to K-12 schools. It barred hiring decisions based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation and prohibited student clubs centered on those topics. Critics, including the ACLU of Texas, have filed lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 13 increased parental oversight of library materials, allowing boards or newly formed councils to review content. Supporters said the law protects students from inappropriate material. Critics warned it could expand censorship. Colleges also faced changes. Senate Bill 37 gave regents more control over universities, including hiring and compliance with state laws. Backers said the measure addresses liberal bias, while opponents warned of harm to academic freedom. Lawmakers addressed safety with House Bill 33, requiring law enforcement agencies and schools to coordinate crisis response plans and train for active shooter events. Agencies must file reports after real incidents to ensure faster public access to information. Property and Housing Senate Bill 17 restricted land purchases by individuals and entities tied to China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. Senate Bill 15 required cities to allow certain homes on 3,000-square-foot lots in new subdivisions, aiming to boost housing supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislature also passed a two-year ban on lab-grown meat sales, making Texas the seventh state with such a prohibition. Senate Bill 7 created a framework for funding water projects through the Texas Water Development Board, contingent on voter approval of a constitutional amendment in November. Healthcare Healthcare changes included House Bill 46, which expanded the states medical marijuana program to include chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, and Crohns disease. It also allowed prescriptions for inhalation products such as vapes and aerosols. Another measure cracked down on youth-targeted vaping products, including THC and flavored e-cigarettes designed to resemble school supplies. Additional Measures Other laws added new penalties. Assaulting a utility worker on duty now carries a third-degree felony charge, while harassment became a Class A misdemeanor. Texas also criminalized possession or production of AI-generated sexual abuse material involving children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 835, known as Treys Law, banned nondisclosure agreements in sexual assault and human trafficking cases. The law honors Trey Carlock, who signed an NDA after childhood abuse and later died by suicide. Additional measures included $1.5 billion for film and TV production incentives, delayed release of sensitive hospital test results so doctors can brief patients first, and peer mental health support for first responders under House Bill 35. Texans will continue to feel the effects of these new laws in classrooms, workplaces, courts, and communities. Several of the most contentious measures, especially those involving religion in schools, are already tied up in court. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribunes daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our AI policy, and give us feedback. The University of Texas System has signaled it will seek full enforcement of a new state law limiting protests on college campuses, pushing against a federal judges decision to temporarily block parts of the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra on Oct. 14 said the student groups who brought the case are likely to succeed on their claims that Senate Bill 2972 which bans overnight expression and puts limits on speakers, amplified sounds and drums during the last two weeks of the semester violates their First Amendment rights and would be irreparably harmed without relief. He wrote that the clause added to the law by the Legislature instructing universities to uphold the First Amendment does not change the fact that the statute then requires universities to adopt policies that violate those very constitutional protections. The Court cannot trust the universities to enforce their policies in a constitutional way while Plaintiffs are left in a state of uncertainty, chilling their speech for fear that their expressive conduct may violate the law or university policies, Ezra wrote. Court records show the UT System filed a notice signaling its intent to appeal Ezras ruling on Nov. 4. UT System spokesperson Ben Wright previously said in a statement that the system cannot comment on the lawsuit but added that it complies with the law and court orders. Brandon Creighton, SB 2972s author, said in a statement that his legislation strengthens free speech protections on college campuses by fostering a culture of openness while also protecting students, faculty and campus property from disruption by outside groups. The ruling represents only a temporary stay by one judge, and Im confident the law will ultimately be upheld, said Creighton, who resigned from the Texas Senate on Oct. 2 to become Texas Tech University Systems chancellor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sued the University of Texas System in federal court on Sept. 3 to block SB 2972, which creates rules for campus protests and gives university systems governing boards the power to limit where they can take place. FIRE attorneys argue that the state law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments because it bans protected expression from students and university employees on campuses from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The First Amendment doesnt set when the sun goes down, said FIRE attorney JT Morris in September. University students have expressive freedom whether its midnight or midday, and Texas cant just legislate those constitutional protections out of existence. Lawmakers passed SB 2972 during this years regular legislative session largely in response to last years pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses. Republicans who support the law say it will prevent disruption and unsafe behavior seen during those demonstrations. Critics say it contradicts previous conservative efforts to protect free speech rights on Texas campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what you need to know about the effort to block the law. What the law does: SB 2972, authored by State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, creates new limits on how people can protest on campus and carves out blackout hours for expressive activity, a term that has attracted criticism due to its broad interpretation. SB 2972 took effect Sept. 1, essentially walking back a prior law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2019 that mandated all outdoor spaces on state universities be designated as open forums for public speech. In addition to the overnight restrictions, the law prevents demonstrators from using microphones or other devices to amplify sound while protesting during class hours or if it intimidates others or interferes with campus operations, a university employee or a peace officer doing their job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters are also barred from building encampments, taking down an institutions U.S. flag to put up another nations or organizations banner, and wearing disguises to avoid being identified or to intimidate others. In addition, university employees and students at a campus protest are required to provide proof of their identity and status with the school when asked by a university official. What the lawsuit says: FIRE attorneys are suing the University of Texas System on behalf of student and campus groups that say the systems implementation of SB 2972 would harm them. Those student groups include two music clubs, a religious organization, a political advocacy group and an independent student newspaper. FIREs attorneys say the way university officials interpret SB 2972 and in particular the term expressive activities could infringe on protected speech and expression. This law gives campus administrators a blank check to punish speech, and that authority will inevitably be used to target unpopular speech, said FIRE attorney Adam Steinbaugh. Administrators have plenty of ways to prevent disruptive conduct that do not involve such a broad censorship mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys say the law would allow university officials to discipline students for acts like playing music, worshipping at night, wearing a hat with a political message or writing an op-ed during that restricted timeframe. The religious student group FOCUS at UT-Dallas, the lawsuit says, regularly hosts events on campus that, while scheduled to end at 10 p.m., often extend beyond that time as students stay to talk with ministers and each other. FOCUS worries the university could limit those evening activities under the new law. Our organization gives students on campus a place to worship with one another and hear from Christian leaders, said FOCUS committee chair Juke Matthews. This law would yank away part of their support system right at the most stressful time of the term. The new law could also be used to discipline student journalists, said Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez, the editor-in-chief of The Retrograde, an independent student newspaper at UT-Dallas. According to the lawsuit, journalists at the student newspaper report on news, interview sources and travel on campus between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., activities that FIRE says fall within the definition of expressive activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under these new rules, were at risk of being shut down simply for posting breaking news as it happens, Gutierrez said. With that threat hanging over our heads, many student journalists across the UT system face the impossible decision between self-censorship and running a story that criticizes the powers on campus. The suit names as defendants the members of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, UT System Chancellor John M. Zerwas, UT-Austin President Jim Davis and UT-Dallas President Prabhas V. Moghe. Spokespeople for UT-Austin and UT-Dallas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Freedom of speech in Texas: Republican lawmakers pushed for SB 2972 in response to the pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses that swept the U.S. last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At UT-Austin, police arrested more than 100 people at one demonstration after the university president requested state trooper support from the governor. The move spurred widespread criticism from students, who said police action was unwarranted against the peaceful demonstrations, but praise from Texas Republicans, who described the protests as being antisemitic. Republicans also used the protests as justification to pass Senate Bill 326, which incorporated a common but controversial definition of antisemitism into disciplinary proceedings at Texas public schools. While the law didnt prescribe disciplinary actions for antisemitism, it gave administrators examples to use when deciding whether a violation of their existing code of conduct was motivated by antisemitism, Rep. Giovanni Capriglione said. The law went into effect in May. Critics of that law say it could punish or discourage some students from exercising their free speech rights. Groups like Jewish Voice for Peace argued against its passing, saying it could suppress legitimate criticism of Israel and infringe on free speech. The new laws come amid a broader push by state legislators to deepen their control over higher education institutions, according to PEN America, a national free expression group. According to an analysis PEN America published in July, legislators have introduced more than 70 bills across 26 states that censor higher education in one form or another, whether through restrictions on what can be taught or policies that undermine academic freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FIREs lawsuit against the UT System comes amid other First Amendment legal battles centered around Texas schools. FIRE is also suing the Texas A&M University System over a ban on on-campus drag shows. Courts this year have sided with students who sued to reverse drag show bans at Texas A&Ms flagship and West Texas A&M. In August, the ACLU and other groups sued to block a DEI ban in Texas K-12 public schools, arguing that it violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Disclosure: Texas A&M University System, University of Texas Dallas, University of Texas System, University of Texas at Austin and West Texas A&M University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here. 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. (The Texas Tribune) Two cultivated meat companies have filed a lawsuit against officials in Texas over the law that bans the sales of lab-grown meat in the state for two years. California-based companies UPSIDE Foods, which makes cultivated chicken, and Wildtype, which makes cultivated salmon are suing Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Health and Human Services, and Travis County, accusing them of government overreach. This law has nothing to do with protecting public health and safety and everything to do with protecting conventional agriculture from innovative out-of-state competition, said Paul Sherman, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm that is representing UPSIDE Foods and Wildtype. That is not a legitimate use of government power. The background In June, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 261, which bans the sale of lab-grown meat in Texas for two years. Lab-grown meat, also known as cell cultivated meat or cultured meat, is made from taking animal cells and growing them in an incubator or bioreactor until they form an edible product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers expressed concerns during the Senate committee hearing on the bill that cultured meat will disrupt traditional family farms in Texas, as well as concerns over product labelling and safety. The ban went into effect on Monday. Before the ban, there was only one restaurant in Texas selling cultured protein. In the last month and a half, OTOKO, a high-end sushi restaurant in Austin, included Wildtype salmon into the omakase menu. Why cultured meat companies are suing Cultured meat company founders and their lawyers held a press conference Wednesday morning to announce a lawsuit over SB 261, saying the ban is unconstitutional and un-American. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do believe that Americans should have the freedom to choose what to eat, said Justin Kolbeck, a co-founder of Wildtype. We think even if you hate the idea of cultivated seafood, we hope you agree that were on a slippery slope if were handing over intensely personal choices like what to feed ourselves and our families to the government. Sherman, the lead counsel on the case, added that the federal government has approved cultivated meat as safe for consumers. In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave approval for two companies, UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat, to sell cell-cultivated chicken and a year later, the U.S. Department for Agriculture (USDA) approved the label of cell-cultivated chicken for the products. As of July, four companies have received regulatory clearance to sell cultured meat in the United States, according to the Good Food Institute. Texas lawmakers and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, who testified in favor of SB 261 before it was passed, said that they are concerned about the safety of cultured meat products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USDA and The FDA have agreed that these products are safe, Sherman said. If thats not good enough for some consumers, theres a simple solution, dont eat it. Kolbeck added that Wildtype salmon doesnt have the contaminants that are commonly found in traditional seafood, such as heavy metals, antibiotics, microplastics, and other pollutants. Making America healthy requires innovation, Kolbeck said. What cattle raisers and lawmakers are saying The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment but previously, Carl Ray Polk Jr., the president of the association, said in an interview that SB 261 isnt about banning competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not pushing back on these products because we have a concern about competition, Polk said, adding that the cattle industry has welcomed competition with poultry, fish, and plant-based proteins. Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, the author of the bill, said that there are concerns over the transparency and labeling, risk of contamination, and long term health impacts of consuming cell culture products when he presented the bill during a March Senate committee hearing. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, asked the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association if they see the lab-grown meat companies as part of the Make America Healthy Again Movement or against it. I would see the lab grown meat as against it, said Dan Gattis, a rancher and lawyer from Georgetown. Broader impact Texas is the seventh state to ban lab-grown meat and this is the second lawsuit in the nation over such bans. Last year, the Institute for Justice also filed a similar lawsuit in Florida. If Texass ban on cultured meat sales is lifted, Wildtype said in the lawsuit that they would immediately resume selling their cultivated salmon at OTOKO and reach out to other chefs in Texas to pursue partnerships. However, the state may not immediately see a surge in the sales of cultured proteins. Cultured meat scientists and experts agree that the industry is not ready to sell their products at a large scale yet. 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. NEED TO KNOW A Texas teenager who was arrested in connection with her young brother's death is claiming she has been "falsely charged" Kara Walker was arrested five months after her boyfriend, 18-year-old Noah Stallings, was charged Both teenagers have been charged with causing injury to a child, not homicide A teenager who was arrested last week and accused of having a hand in her 8-year-old brothers torture and death has spoken out, claiming she had nothing to do with what happened to her sibling and that she's been "falsely" accused. The Harris County Sheriff's Office announced last week that Kara Walker, 17, had been arrested and accused, alongside her boyfriend Noah Stallings, of torturing her 8-year-old brother Charles Walker to death this past February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in a new interview with KPRC 2 News in Houston, the teenager is placing the blame on her boyfriend, while her family is backing up her alibi. Im being falsely charged. I wouldnt do anything to harm my brother, Kara told the local news station in an interview from the Harris County Jail, where shes been held since her Aug. 27 arrest. KPRC 2 News reported that Kara was emotional during the exclusive interview and claimed that she was shocked when police told her she was under arrest. They found a note in my phone that I didnt write and because it was in my phone theyre saying that I wrote it, Kara said, adding, and they found text messages about me saying that I had made my brother stand in the corner even though I didnt make him stand in the corner. Harris County Jail records reviewed by PEOPLE show Kara remains in custody on a $100,000 bond as of Wednesday. PEOPLE previously reported this week that the 17-year-old was not charged with homicide, but rather injury to a child. 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. Stallings, her boyfriend, was charged with the same crime five months earlier. Stallings has since been released on a $1 million bond, county jail records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karas little brother died on Feb. 15, five days after she and Stallings took him to the Baytown Methodist Hospital while he was unresponsive. According to FOX 26, Stallings told police the 8-year-old boy was injured in a fall. However, hospital staff informed investigators that the boys injuries were consistent with abuse, while an autopsy later determined the boy died from blunt force trauma. They just compared it to a car accident. 70 to 80 mile an hour car crash with an unrestrained victim, the boys mother, Cecil Walker, told KPRC 2 News this week. The boys father, Christian West, told the outlet that their sons death and the ensuing charge against their daughter has been like a nightmare that we cant wake up from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West told KPRC 2 News that he doesnt believe that Kara, who is 5-foot-2 and roughly 100 pounds, could have been physically capable of causing the injuries her little brother sustained. Court documents reviewed by KPRC 2 News, ABC 13, and KHOU 11 reportedly alleged the young boy had been "abused and tortured over several days," during which he sustained injuries that led to his death including blunt force trauma to the head. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People Texas has banned the sale of lab-grown meat for the next two years, despite the product not being sold in supermarkets or at the majority of restaurants. Lab-grown meat, also known as cell-cultivated meat or cultured meat, is not widely sold or even consumed in Texas, but a law still went into effect Monday banning its sale for at least two years. Cell-cultivated meat is real animal meat made from animal cells. Advocates say it will create a more humane food source and reduce environmental and health impacts that come along with traditional animal meat. While the news received a warm reception from cattle ranchers and others in the meat industry, some legal experts say the ban violates peoples constitutional rights by telling them what they can and cannot eat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas ban on cultivated meat is a classic example of special interest legislation, attorney Paul Sherman told The Dallas Morning News. The law has nothing to do with public health and safety, and everything to do with protecting the powerful agriculture lobby from innovative out-of-state competition. Texas has banned the sale of lab-grown meat for the next two years, even though the product is not popular within the state. (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Ranchers and families with their own farms worry that lab-grown meat, which is not sold on a large scale yet, could disrupt business if it were to become large-scale in the state. Ranchers across Texas work tirelessly to raise healthy cattle and produce high-quality beef, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Carl Ray Polk Jr. said in a statement. Our association is grateful for those legislators who voted to support this legislation and understood the core of this bill, to protect our consumers, the beef industry and animal agriculture. Lab-grown meat is a relatively new industry, and its advocates say it could be a more ethical and sustainable food source. It isnt easily accessible in Texas grocery stores and there is only one restaurant, Austin sushi spot, Otoko, where it is currently sold, according to The Texas Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are only four companies with government permission to sell cultivated meat within the U.S. While the ban in Texas bans sales of the meat product, it does not prohibit research or development into the budding industry. The attorney, Sherman, who is also leading a lawsuit against a similar ban in Florida, says if the courts rule in their favor, the same arguments could be applied in Texas. We are hopeful that the courts will stand up for the right of consumers to choose for themselves what foods they want to eat, Sherman said. Other states to ban lab-grown meat include Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana and Nebraska, according to Stateline. Texas followed Indiana in making the ban last for only two years, which state lawmakers say is enough time to conduct more research. BANGKOK (AP) Thailand's main opposition party agreed on Wednesday to support a rival party's leader to be the next prime minister, in what appears to a move towards resolving the country's political crisis. The Southeast Asian country has been under a caretaker government since last week. The backing, given by the Peoples Party to Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai party, seemed likely to secure him the job, as he claimed to have the backing of a majority of lawmakers. The Parliament's website posted a notice on Wednesday night that the House of Representatives would convene on Friday to vote for a candidate to lead the next government. Five who were nominated during the last general election in 2023 are eligible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A potential roadblock to the plan appeared to be lifted earlier when the king's Privy Council reportedly rejected a request from the caretaker government, led by the Pheu Thai party, to dissolve Parliament and call new polls, instead of letting the current House of Representatives pick a new prime minister. Thai media, citing only an unidentified source, said the draft royal decree for dissolution submitted by the caretaker government was rejected because it was legally faulty. Parliament would be unlikely to proceed with a vote if it believed King Maha Vajiralongkorn intended to approve dissolution. The Constitutional Court last week dismissed Pheu Thai's Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister for breaching ethics laws in a phone call with Cambodias Senate President Hun Sen about tensions over competing claims along their border, which erupted into a deadly five-day armed conflict in July. Anutin claims he has secured 146 votes from his own party and its allies, while the 143 People's Party lawmakers will also support him, easily exceeding the 247 majority he needs out of the 492 House members currently serving Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 58-year-old Anutin has served in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government that took power in 2023, and before that in the military-backed but elected government under Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army commander. He is best known for successfully lobbying for the decriminalization of cannabis, a policy that is now in the process of being more strictly regulated for medical purposes. He also played a high-profile role as health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was accused of tardiness in obtaining adequate vaccine supplies to fight the virus. People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said his group could not support Pheu Thai because it had had failed to govern effectively in its two years in power. However, he explained that its support for Anutin was contingent on conditions specified in an agreement signed by the Bhumjaithai party leader, including that the prospective new government must dissolve the House of Representatives within four months and call a general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Anutin-led government would also have to commit to organizing a referendum on constitutional amendments to allow the drafting of a new constitution by an elected constituent assembly. The People's Party has long sought changes in the constitution which was imposed during a military government to make it more democratic. The Peoples Party, then operating under the name the Move Forward party, had won the most seats in the 2023 election, but was kept from taking power when a joint vote of the House and the Senate failed to approve its candidate. Senators, who were appointed by a military government and were strong supporters of Thailand's royalist conservative establishment, voted against the progressive party because they opposed its policy of seeking reforms to the monarchy. The Senate no longer holds the right to take part in the vote for prime ministers. After Move Forward was blocked from taking power, the Pheu Thai party then had one of its candidates, real estate executive Srettha Thavisin, approved as prime minister to lead a coalition government. But he served just a year before the Constitutional Court dismissed him from office for ethical violations. Sretthas replacement Paetongtarn, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter, also lasted just a year in office. But even before she was forced out, her government was greatly weakened when Anutin's Bhumjaithai party abandoned her coalition right after her controversial call in June with Cambodias Hun Sen. Its withdrawal left Pheu Thais coalition with just a tiny and unstable majority in Parliament. Sep. 2StoryZ Theatre will launch its new season with a staged reading of "The Happiest Man On Earth" by Mark St. Germain, inspired by the best-selling memoir of Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku. Jaku recounts his journey as a young Jewish boy in Nazi Germany, his survival at the Auschwitz death camp and his choice to live life with love, hope and joy. Actor David Seremet will portray Jaku, with Rachel Nicely and John Paul Richey providing the voices of people Jaku meets along his journey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The play will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and 13, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sept. 14 at St. Stephen's AME Church, 19 Oak Street in Latrobe. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door and at Eventbrite.com visit storyzstudios.org for the ticket link. Seating is limited. For more, call 724-858-5770 or email storyzstudios@gmail.com. Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com. Construction workers, labor and business leaders rally for a sustainable road funding solution in the coming fiscal year budget. Sept. 3, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance Several thousand construction workers, union members and business leaders gathered Wednesday at the state Capitol building with a message for lawmakers as delayed budget negotiations continue: Do your jobs and find a sustainable solution to Michigans looming road funding cliff. Michigan roads face dire consequences if a legislative roads funding plan isnt a part of the coming fiscal year budget. Many of the road projects that were funded by bonds during the tenure of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are coming to a close with no clear plan to continue construction after that funding lapses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, thousands of workers raised their voices to hopefully shake Lansing loose from its current gridlock. Michigan cannot afford any more delays in enacting a long-term road funding plan, said Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. If lawmakers fail to act now, thousands of construction workers will lose their livelihoods and Michigan families will pay the price every time they drive on our crumbling and deteriorating roads. The time for debate has passed, and Michiganders are demanding a solution now. A construction worker listens as a labor leader speaks at a rally for a sustainable road funding solution in the coming fiscal year budget. Sept. 3, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance The Michigan Department of Transportation has been sounding the alarm bell on what the states roads and bridges might look like without a new sustainable funding model. In a review of critical unfunded infrastructure needs across the state, MDOT said more than 100 state trunkline bridges are at risk of closure by 2035 if lawmakers dont act soon to fund road repairs and rebuilds. The department also said last month that the potential for bridge closures statewide would have a daily impact on more than 1.8 million drivers and the roadways they serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also talk of job losses by the thousands due to the potential stoppage in road construction as the budget fight continues on. Although Whitmer and the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives have both put forward plans to fund roads in the next budget, with the latter plan amounting to $3.4 billion, the Democratic-led Michigan Senate has yet to put up a plan of its own. The House initially refused to pass a full budget, and only moved its plan to fund K-12 and higher education. But the chamber finally passed a full government budget last week, placing the ball in the Senates court to move on road funding so negotiations can begin in earnest. Meanwhile, the budget clock ticks downward with just weeks to go before a potential government shutdown begins Oct. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the rally, Arlandar Washington, business manager with LiUNA Local 355, said the consequences went beyond busted tires and bumpy rides of poorly maintained bridges, it meant the loss of labor careers for hardworking families. When we invest in infrastructure, were not just building roads and bridges, were building careers, Washington said. Every time we fund a road project, were putting real people to work. Jobs you can raise a family on. The best part is, these are jobs that cant be outsourced. You cant ship a broken road to another country. These jobs belong right here in Michigan. Construction workers, labor and business leaders rally for a sustainable road funding solution in the coming fiscal year budget. Sept. 3, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance Washington also asked lawmakers to turn off the scoreboard, and to take a step in the right direction or face consequences at the ballot box next year. Being in lockstep is not getting this done, Washington said. We need Lansing to stop finger pointing and to start the road paving and building and bridge building. Today, we rally. Tomorrow, we will organize. And come Election Day, we will remember. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said cities like his need help from state government to fund dire road repairs. I dont want to hear from folks about busted axles. I dont want to hear about freeze-thaw and breaking up the potholes, Schor said. Ill fix your pothole in 48 hours, but that doesnt fix the roads. Jim Holcomb, CEO and president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said new road funding was vitally important for businesses around Michigan, whether they be small mom and pop shops to global competitors. [We are] united by one fact, Michigan cannot grow but on well constructed, and properly maintained, reliable roads, Holcomb said. My members sent me here today with a simple message properly funding our roads is essential to supporting our economy, supporting job creation and ensuring Michigan is well positioned to be a great state. Jim Holcomb, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, speaks at a rally where construction workers, labor and business leaders gathered to support a sustainable road funding solution in the coming fiscal year budget. Sept. 3, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance Holcomb said that as roads continue to crumble, Michigans ability to attract new talent and investments from outside companies would whither, all while driving up supply costs on businesses already here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Make no mistake, we are at a crossroads, Holcomb said. The time for action is now. Every day, month or year that passes without action is making the problem worse because it leads to higher construction costs in the future. Some of the budget fight has hinged on whether the Democrats in the Senate will ultimately agree to cutting large sums from schools or other priorities to fund roads. Holcomb on Wednesday urged lawmakers to look at every single expenditure in state government and prioritize spending on roads. This isnt a Republican or Democratic issue; its not a labor or a management issue, Holcomb said. Its a Michigan issue and it must be solved in a way that makes Michigan economically competitive. Traffic is routed to a detour on Capitol Avenue in downtown Lansing as construction workers, labor and business leaders rally for a sustainable road funding solution in the coming fiscal year budget. Sept. 3, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance At least two Democratic lawmakers were in attendance at the rally: state Rep. Joey Andrews of St. Joseph and state Rep. Alabas Farhat of Dearborn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican state Rep. Jay DeBoyer of Clay was leaving the Capitol just as the rally was set to begin. He told Michigan Advance that the image of thousands of construction workers crying out for legislative action sent a clear message. This is about what the core principles of government are, and its fixing and funding infrastructure, DeBoyer said. Obviously, its also about public safety and education, as well, but this right here is a great demonstration of how the people of Michigan feel, and I couldnt agree more. Weve got to get it done. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The National Weather Service issued a thunderstorm warning for parts of Oregon for Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. The potential for thunderstorms is 10 to 20% east of Interstate 5 throughout the state, according to a statement shared on the NWS Portland Facebook page. Further east, in the Cascades, the potential for thunderstorms is 20 to 30%. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible again Tuesday afternoon and evening east of the Cascades and south of the Willamette Valley, said KOIN Chief Meteorologist Josh Cozart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The little moisture available with these storms will keep the wildfire threat elevated through the evening for the higher-elevated locations of the Cascades. National Weather Service graphic provided Sept. 2, 2025 The chance of thunderstorms is expected for both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, and lasts throughout the evening. One or two of those non-severe storms could roll into the Willamette Valley and into the Portland area late Tuesday night and continue through the afternoon hours Wednesday, Cozart said. These storms arent expected to bring much rain accumulation, but could produce lightning, thunder, and gusty winds. A fire weather watch has been issued for Wednesday for the Mt. Hood National Forest area. Much of the region east of the Columbia River Gorge also remains under an extreme heat warning until 8 p.m. Thursday. 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. AUSTIN (KXAN) Last week, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) approved more than $1.7 million in new improvement grants aimed at expanding access to mental health defense services and strengthening public defender capacity in Hays County, according to a news release from TIDC. These grants are an important step in strengthening public defense across Texas, particularly in rural areas and for clients with mental health needs, Scott Ehlers, executive of TIDC, said in the release. We are grateful to our community partners who are leading these efforts. TIDC approved four key grants to four counties, as provided by the commission below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atascosa County was awarded $200,200, which will help staff its new mental health court with an attorney and social worker. They will be able to serve clients with mental illness facing non-violent felony charges. Hays County was awarded $410,083 to add a dedicated mental health team to the Hays County Public Defenders Office. Medina County was awarded $362,549 to expand capacity of the Hill Country Regional Public Defenders Office. Polk County was awarded $760,607 to establish its new public defenders office. That includes the staffing of four attorneys and two staff members. According to the commission, $10 million was made available via the Texas Legislature. Eligible uses include, but are not limited to, indigent defense internships and fellowships, recruiting support, training, equipment, and reducing county matching fund requirements, TIDC said. Furthermore, a total of $3,499,181 was awarded from the TIDC Board to Atascosa, Bee, Burnet, Culberson, Hale, Maverick, Medina, Potter, Tom Green and Victoria counties. Additionally, the Texas Tech University School of Law and the Caprock Regional Defender Office were also awarded under the program, according to TIDC. 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. Airlines have flown Boeing's 737 Max jets for just eight years, but in that short time two of them crashed, killing 346 people. The Max was marketed as a more fuel-efficient version of the American aerospace companys popular 737, the best-selling airliner ever, but it quickly become a symbol of safety concerns swirling around Boeing. Regulators around the world grounded all Max jets in March 2019 after the second crash, which led to the ousting of Boeings CEO. That was followed by his successor stepping down last summer after the Federal Aviation Administration grounded a particular model of the Max when a panel covering an unused emergency exit blew off an Alaska Airlines Max in flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The blowout led to government investigations, including a criminal probe by the Justice Department. Here is a timeline of key events in the history of the Max: August 2011: Boeing announces the Max, a 737 with larger engines, instead of designing a new plane to compete with the A320neo from rival Airbus. August 2015: The first 737 Max plane rolls off the production line. January 2016: The 737 Max takes its first test flight. March 2017: Federal Aviation Administration certifies the 737 Max 8. It approves a larger version, the 737 Max 9, 11 months later. May 2017: Malindo Air, a Malaysian subsidiary of Indonesian budget airline Lion Air, is the first to receive a 737 Max. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 2017: The Max makes its first commercial flight on May 22 from Malaysias capital of Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. September 2018: By the end of the month, Boeing has received orders for nearly 5,000 Max jets. Oct. 29, 2018: Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 Max 8, plunges into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. November 2018: Attention focuses on a new Boeing flight-control system called MCAS that Boeing did not disclose to pilots and airlines. Indonesian investigators say the Flight 610 pilots struggled for control as the automated system pushed the nose of the plane down more than two dozen times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 10, 2019: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max 8, crashes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 157 passengers and crew members. March 2019: Within days of the second crash, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and regulators in nations around the world order the grounding of all 737 Max jets. April 2019: A preliminary report by Ethiopian officials shows similarities to the Indonesia crash. The report indicates Flight 302 pilots tried to follow Boeing instructions for an MCAS malfunction but couldnt level the nose manually because of the planes high speed. May 2019: Boeing discloses a safety alert to warn pilots about bad readings from a key sensor on the Max did not work, but the company did not tell airlines or FAA about the problem until after the first Max crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dec. 23, 2019: Boeing ousts CEO Dennis Muilenburg, who was seen as pressuring the FAA to lift the Max grounding order. Jan. 13, 2020: David Calhoun, the chairman of Boeings board, takes over as CEO and says he sees opportunities to be better, much better. Nov. 18, 2020: FAA announces its approval of a flight-control software update and other changes by Boeing, clearing the way for airlines to resume flying 737 Max jets. Dec. 29, 2020: Commercial flights of the 737 Max resume in the U.S. Jan. 7, 2021: The Justice Department charges Boeing with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. but says it wont prosecute the company for misleading regulators about the 737 Max if it pays a $2.5 billion settlement and tightens protections against violating fraud laws for three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 23, 2022: A jury in Texas finds Boeings chief technical pilot for the 737 Max not guilty on four counts of wire fraud for allegedly misleading regulators about MCAS. Sept. 22, 2022: Boeing agrees to pay $200 million and former CEO Muilenburg agrees to pay $1 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that they misled investors by saying one month after the Lion Air crash the 737 Max was as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies, even though the company had determined MCAS posed a safety risk in need of repair. Oct. 22, 2022: A federal judge in Texas rules the Justice Department violated the rights of relatives of the Indonesia and Ethiopia crash victims by not consulting them before approving the deal with Boeing. The families want the settlement nullified. Feb. 9, 2023: Judge Reed OConnor rules that despite Boeings egregious criminal conduct, federal law doesnt allow him to overturn the settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dec. 28, 2023: FAA says it is monitoring inspections of 737 Max jets after Boeing asks airlines to look for a potential loose bolt in the rudder-control system. Jan. 5, 2024: A panel covering an unused emergency exit blows off a 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight. Pilots land the plane safely. Jan. 6, 2024: FAA grounds all 737 Max 9s in the U.S. Less than three weeks later, the agency clears airlines to resume flights once they have completed mandatory inspections of their fleets door plugs. Feb. 6, 2024: Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board say four bolts that help secure door plugs to Max 9s were missing from the Alaska jet after repair work at a Boeing factory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feb. 26, 2024: A panel of outside experts, convened after the two deadly crashes, reports Boeings safety culture falls short despite the companys efforts to fix it. Feb. 28, 2024: FAA gives Boeing 90 days to write a plan to improve manufacturing quality and safety. Boeing delivers the report in late May. March 4, 2024: FAA says an audit of 737 Max manufacturing at Boeing and key supplier Spirit AeroSystems turned up multiple instances of failing to make sure quality standards were met. March 19, 2024: FBI informs passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight they might be victims of a crime. March 25, 2024: Calhoun says he will step down as CEO by year-end. Two others officials leave in a management shakeup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 14, 2024: Justice Department tells Judge OConnor that Boeing violated terms of the 2021 settlement related to the 737 Max crashes. June 13, 2024: FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker says his agencys oversight of Boeing was too hands-off before the door-plug blowout, adding that the FAA is now more active. June 18, 2024: Calhoun appears at a Senate hearing for questioning. Some senators tell him they think Boeing deserves to face prosecution. July 7, 2024: The Justice Department says Boeing agrees to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government for misleading regulators who approved pilot-training standards for the Max. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 31, 2024: Boeing's board of directors names company outsider Kelly Ortberg, an aerospace veteran, as the next CEO. Aug. 6, 2024: The National Transportation Safety Board releases interviews with Boeing factory workers who said they were pressured to work too fast and asked to perform jobs that they werent qualified for. Sept. 13, 2024: A strike by Boeing factory workers in Washington state stops production of the 737 Max, 777 jets and 767 cargo planes. The strike would not end for more than seven weeks. Oct. 11, 2024: Lawyers for families of some crash victims ask Judge O'Connor to throw out Boeing's plea deal and put the company on trial. They accuse Boeing and the Justice Department of airbrushing facts and ignoring that 346 people died in the crashes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dec. 5, 2024: O'Connor rejects the plea agreement, citing concern that diversity policies of both the government and Boeing could influence the selection of an independent compliance monitor. The judge tells the two sides to report back on how they plan to proceed. March 25, 2025: After granting multiple extensions, O'Connor sets a June 23 trial date for the criminal case. May 23, 2025: The Justice Department says further negotiations resulted in an agreement under which Boeing would pay or invest more than $1.1 billion in exchange for prosecutors moving to dismiss the conspiracy charge. June 24, 2025: The NTSB finds that lapses in Boeings manufacturing and safety oversight, combined with ineffective inspections and audits by the FAA, led to a 737 Max leaving a factory without bolts in place for the panel that later flew off during an Alaska Airlines flight. The board's chairperson says the crew's heroic actions ensured everyone on board survived. Sept. 3, 2025: O'Connor holds a hearing on the U.S. government's motion to dismiss the conspiracy charge against Boeing. The judge invites relatives of the crash victims to speak during the hearing. He says he will issue a decision at a later date. Local couple facing federal charges in connection with international drug conspiracy Two Miami Valley residents have been arrested and charged in connection with an international drug conspiracy. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The FBI, a witness, and law enforcement sources all confirmed to News Center 7 that a raid happened two weeks ago, on Aug. 22, in an apartment complex in one of the pockets of Huber Heights that sits in Miami County. As reported on News Center at 5:00, Eric Payne and his girlfriend, Auriyon Rayford, were both arrested during that raid in connection with an international drug case involving fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the couples neighbors told News Center 7 about being awoken by the raid last month. He said the police sirens woke him up, and thats when he saw a blacked out van with six or seven people in full military gear and FBI on their backs jump out. Seeing the FBI, I had poked my head out and they were all very nice, but very curt about Just go back inside, everythings fine, Cody Peterson recalled. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBIs director said on Wednesday that agents seized more than 300 pounds of fentanyl in the investigation. Thats enough lethal doses for 70 million Americans, Kash Patel, FBI director, said. The FBI told News Center 7s John Bedell the apartment in Huber Heights was a distribution hub for fentanyl that was cut with other drugs including, but not limited to, protonitazene, metonitazene, metetomidine, and xylazine. In documents filed in U.S. District Court in Dayton, federal prosecutors wrote that xylazine is commonly used as an animal tranquilizer and is unapproved for human consumption in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court documents also read at one point, the defendant companies knew drug dealers in this country intended to use these cutting agents to increase the yield and potency of their fentanyl. Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI Cincinnati, confirmed a drug trafficking network led drugs from the couples apartment into communities in the Miami Valley and other parts of Ohio. Four Chinese companies and 22 Chinese nationals were also charged in the case. Federal prosecutors said the defendants overseas collected money from the sales from the defendants in the United States. The defendants in the case are also facing money laundering charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bedell asked federal prosecutors if theyll be able to get any of the Chinese nationals to the United States to face charges. China has a policy against extraditing their own nationals, Dominick S. Gerace II, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said. However, we will be taking the steps that we need to take to put red notices in on these individuals. So in the event that they travel outside of China and are picked up by any country where we can extradite from, well be ready to do that. The FBI also said one of the Chinese companies in the case is being sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department. News Center 7 was in a federal courtroom on Wednesday afternoon, where Payne and Rayford pleaded not guilty to the charges they face. There, we learned that Payne is in jail before trial, but Rayford is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both of their defense lawyers told News Center 7, no comment after the hearing. Bedell also asked federal prosecutors and investigators why the Dayton area continues to be such a hot spot for illegal drug activity like this, despite not being the biggest metro area in the state. My view would be, you know, you have I-70 coming into Dayton, you have I-75 coming into Dayton, Gerace said. I think this is the confluence of the highways there. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Tennessee State Capitol (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Tennessee Department of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher will retire from the role this month, Gov. Bill Lees office announced Wednesday. Deputy Commissioner Andy Holt, a former Tennessee House representative, will take the reins on Oct. 1. Hatcher, a veterinarian and fifth-generation Tennessee farmer, was among Lees first cabinet picks after Lee won the 2018 gubernatorial election. Hatcher was sworn in as the states 38th commissioner of agriculture in January 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hatcher said his time as commissioner was the honor of my life in a prepared statement. Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher will retire from the role, which he has held since January 2019 under the administration of Gov. Bill Lee. (Photo: tn.gov) Together, we have made the largest investments in rural Tennessees history, expanded opportunities for young people through FFA, 4H, and education partnerships, and safeguarded farmland for future generations, he said. Hatcher also praised Lees push to preserve Tennessee farmland, most recently through the Tennessee Farmland Preservation Act. Tennessees General Assembly approved the governor-backed legislation in May, setting aside $25 million in grants for farmers who choose to place their farmland in a permanent conservation easement. The easement blocks farmland from being sold for any purpose other than agricultural use. It took two years for Lee to rally support for the act, which went into effect in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am proud to have played a role in carrying forward his vision, Hatcher said of Lees farmland conservation initiative. Prior to his appointment as commissioner, Hatcher served as the agriculture departments state veterinarian starting in 2009. Outside of his nearly 21 years of government service, Hatcher founded Rock-N-Country Veterinary Services in College Grove in the early 1990s. The practice is now run by his daughter Jennifer. The Hatcher family farm and dairy, which is now run by his son Charles, have called College Grove home since 1831. Holt appointed as commissioner Former legislator and Tennessee Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Andy Holt is Gov. Bill Lees pick to replace Commissioner Charlie Hatcher upon Hatchers retirement. (Photo: tn.gov) Lee said he is confident (Holt) will serve Tennesseans with integrity by strengthening rural communities and supporting our agriculture industry in a Wednesday statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As deputy commissioner, Holt oversaw the Tennessee Department of Agricultures daily operations, including programs spanning food safety, animal and plant health, forestry, and agricultural development, according to a news release from Lees office. Holt, a first-generation farmer, lives with his wife Ellie and their seven children on Holt Family Farms in Dresden. Holts farming operation fell under scrutiny in 2015 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency threatened to seek $177,500 in fines from him, alleging that he improperly buried hog carcasses and dumped around 800,000 gallons of waste water into a tributary of the Mississippi River without a permit. Holt said at the time that he self-reported the discharges. The EPA ultimately withdrew its filing in 2016 when he agreed to enter into a consent order requiring him to close and clean up two wastewater lagoons on the property. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MEMPHIS, Tenn. Tennessees Republican governor says nothing is off the table when asked about the possibility of National Guard troops helping keep the peace in Memphis. Bill Lee was asked by news partner WKRN on Wednesday about his stance on sending troops to the states second-largest city, following comments made by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who said she supported any crime-fighting action by the Trump administration in blue cities like Memphis. Memphis ranked #1 city with highest crime rate: FBI data Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is nothing that is off the table. Everything is a possibility and we are aggressively pursuing the right strategy to lower the crime rate in Memphis, Lee said. Its a great city, but it has a real challenge that needs to be addressed, and we have made significant steps and will continue to do that. Lee said he remains committed to combating crime in Memphis, saying the state has increased the number of Highway Patrol officers in the Memphis area and is working with local law enforcement, as well as FBI Director Kash Patel, who earlier this year called Memphis the homicide capital of the country. FBI Director calls Memphis homicide capital of the USA Whats important to know is that we will work with the Trump administration, and are now, on what is the best way forward for Memphis, Lee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blackburn praised the presidents actions on crime in a statement sent to WREG: Blue cities like Memphis need all the help they can get to combat violent crime, and Im grateful for President Trumps tremendous work to hold leftist officials accountable for putting their own citizens at risk by pushing soft-on-crime agendas. I support the Trump administrations efforts to restore law and order in lawless cities across America, and Ill continue to work with the President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel to do whatever it takes to make cities like Memphis safe again, Blackburn said. Local leaders including Police Chief C.J. Davis have touted recent declines in the citys crime rate. Memphis police chief says crime numbers declining Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis said in July that overall crime in Memphis is down 20%, year-to-date, and 34% over two years. Violent crime is down 15% year-to-date, 22% over two years. Memphis Mayor Paul Young said last week he hopes the citys crime reduction efforts will curb any need for federal intervention, though hes keeping in touch with the governor on the issue. Any call for National Guard will have much more input from the Governor, and so my goal is to keep the line of communications open, Young said. Mayor hopes decline in crime can keep troops out of Memphis The Memphis Police Department reported 145 murders so far this year, compared to 175 this time last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, Trumps strategy to deploy National Guard troops to cities with high crime has been used in Washington, D.C., although he has said Chicago would be next on the list. Wednesday, he said New Orleans could be next after that. Trump floats New Orleans as next for federal crime crackdown So were going to maybe Louisiana, and you have New Orleans, which has a crime problem. Well straighten that out in about two weeks, it will take us two weeks. Easier than D.C., Trump said. Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles weighed in on sending the National Guard to the state Wednesday, saying on X that they should be sent to Nashville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont just need the National Guard in Memphis, send them to Nashville. Comrade OConnell is using the city as an outpost for international gangs to set up shop in our neighborhoods, he said, referring to Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell. Tennessee sent National Guard members to D.C. at the presidents request. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEED TO KNOW An investigation is being carried out at a Sydney daycare center after a 1-year-old boy went missing for two hours after a grandfather was handed the wrong child at pick up, according to local media reports The grandfather's wife told The Sydney Morning Herald that her husband didn't realize the mistake until later as the kids at the center were asleep when he arrived and the room was dark Bangor's First Steps Learning Academys Trisha Hastie said the center "sincerely apologizes" for the "deeply upsetting and isolated incident," per news.com.au An investigation is underway at a Sydney daycare center after a child was handed to the wrong family member, according to reports. A 1-year-old boy went missing for two hours after being sent home from Bangor's First Steps Learning Academy with the wrong grandparent on Monday, Sept. 1, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I can't explain the feeling," the boys mother told the outlet after learning that her son was given to a stranger. "They couldn't tell me his name, who he was, they couldn't tell me who he was meant to pick up, [or] what he looked like, apart from that he was wearing shorts and he was an older gentleman," she claimed. The daycare center reviewed CCTV footage and called other parents to try and locate the boy before eventually realizing that hed been handed over to the grandfather of another child, per the outlet. The man then returned the boy to the daycare center. Google Maps First Steps Learning Academy First Steps Learning Academy According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the daycare center alerted parents the next day of the serious incident, stating that a carer for a child in the nursery room, at our service, mistakenly picked up the wrong child from the centre. "We sincerely apologise to the families directly involved in this deeply upsetting and isolated incident, and to the broader First Steps community for the distress it has caused. Bangor's First Steps Learning Academys Trisha Hastie said in a statement to news.com.au. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The safety and wellbeing of every child in our care is our highest priority," Hastie continued. "While we have always maintained strict protocols for drop-off and pick-up, in this case those processes were not followed correctly. The educator involved has been stood down." We have acted immediately to strengthen our procedures and ensure this never happens again," Hastie said, adding that the center has made "immediate and significant changes around the drop off and pick up protocols to ensure this never happens again." The grandfathers wife said that he didnt realize the mistake at the time as the children at the center were asleep when he arrived and the room was dark. He was asleep, and hed got him out of the car, she said, per The Sydney Morning Herald. He was struggling with the car seat. He didnt really notice much difference because he doesnt do the car seat that often, so his biggest thing was trying to (work out) the 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. When he got him home, he just snuggled him and went to sleep, and he didnt realize. He has the same hair, and he had the dummy in his mouth, and (my husband) said, Hes not well. Hes not himself,' "she continued to the outlet, adding that the two of them had cared for their grandson on Sunday and he was teething and unwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair are said to be distraught over what happened, per the outlet. "We don't blame him. We are not angry with him we blame the day care," the boys mom, who wishes to remain unidentified, added to the outlet. A spokesperson for the New South Wales Police told ABC that there will be no criminal investigation following the incident. The NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority is investigating the incident, per news.com.au. According to o 7News Australia, the authority called the incident deeply concerning and serious." A spokesperson for the authority told ABC a "thorough investigation" into the incident would take place, which would also "consider the service's compliance history." PEOPLE has reached out to Bangor's First Steps Learning Academy and the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority for comment. Read the original article on People Hurricane Erin, which peaked as a major Category 5 hurricane with 160-mph winds north of Anguilla on Aug. 16, is now in the rearview. The huge storm was over 500 miles wide and brought colossal surf with waves up to 45 feet offshore, coastal flooding from Puerto Rico to the Outer Banks and cloud cover from Raleigh to Boston. The storm's track is a stark reminder of how a few miles can change everything. Hurricane Erin was the second-largest storm to approach the United States since 1964 after Sandy. Erin serves as a good example of how powerful storms that don't hit land can generate dangerous surf and flooding - especially when they quickly gain strength over warm ocean waters. Beyond Erin, here are a few of the most powerful near misses on record. Ernesto (2024) The fifth-named storm and third hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Ernesto developed from a tropical wave east of the Leeward Islands. It peaked as a Category 2 hurricane in mid-August with winds of 100 miles per hour. Ernesto caused significant flooding in Puerto Rico before weakening and making landfall in Bermuda. A view of vehicle damaged after Ernesto caused damage in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, on August 14, 2024. (Photo credit: Getty Images) With a track far away from the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, Ernesto completely missed landfall. But that doesn't mean its effects weren't felt. In South Carolina, rip currents generated by Ernesto resulted in two deaths. And remarkably, in North Carolina, a home along the shoreline on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks collapsed due to the waves generated by the storm. This was one of a number of homes lost in this area in the past half decade as rising sea levels, coastal erosion and powerful storms steadily wear away at these once-idyllic shorefront properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days later, Ernesto brought flooding to roadways in Galway, Ireland, as a tropical rainstorm as it arrived on the west coast of the country. Joaquin (2015) Hurricane Joaquin reached its peak as a major Category 4 storm northeast of the Bahamas in early October 2015. It blasted the southern islands for more than two days, causing widespread destruction. Severe storm surge inundated numerous communities, leaving hundreds trapped in their homes, and flooding lingered for days after the hurricane passed. Offshore, the American cargo ship El Faro and its 33 crew members were lost to the storm. Although Joaquin never made landfall in the United States, a large low-pressure system over the Southeast states drew immense moisture from the hurricane, producing catastrophic flooding in South Carolina. This interaction created an "atmospheric river" that delivered historic rainfall-widespread totals of 15-20 inches and localized amounts exceeding 25 inches, primarily in the Charleston tri-county area. Flash flooding damaged homes and roads, prompting numerous rescues by emergency personnel. According to NOAA, high tides combined with persistent onshore winds, further worsened coastal flooding, particularly in downtown Charleston. Emily (1993) Damage from Hurricane Emily Emily formed in late August and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane. While never officially making landfall, Emily followed a very unusual track, hovering over the Outer Banks of North Carolina with its eyewall for some 12 hours. The storm's prolonged proximity meant that residents endured extended periods of strong winds, heavy rain and pounding surf, demonstrating how even a near miss can produce significant local impacts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coastal erosion, flooding of low-lying streets and scattered property damage were reported along the barrier islands, while boaters and offshore vessels faced treacherous conditions. After lingering near the coast, Emily eventually veered northeast, moving back into the open waters of the Atlantic, where it gradually weakened. Emily's unusual storm track AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse Ferrell recently drew comparisons between Emily and Hurricane Erin, while reflecting on his early experiences as a meteorologist in the 1990s: "[Emily] had a very weird track. It was actually one of the first color satellite hurricane images I downloaded from the Internet back in college in 1993." Dorian (2019) In September 2019, in the Southeast, Dorian whipped up days of high winds, flooding and storm surge along the coasts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Parts of North Carolina's Outer Banks were cut off by flooding after the storm's brief landfall, particularly on the island of Ocracoke, where storm surges trapped hundreds of residents and cut off access. But compared to the devastation in the Bahamas, the region escaped with what now reads as a near miss. Nina (1957) In 1957, the year Elvis Presley released "All Shook Up," Nina made its mark in the Pacific. Although Hurricane Nina never made a direct landfall on Hawaii, its close approach was enough to trigger widespread precautions. Authorities ordered mass evacuations of coastal communities, and residents braced for the worst as the storm churned nearby waters. While Nina ultimately caused only minor structural damage and localized flooding, its near miss served as a stark reminder of the islands' vulnerability to powerful Pacific storms. San Diego Hurricane (1858) One of the few recorded Eastern Pacific hurricanes to seriously threaten Southern California, the 1858 San Diego Hurricane occurred in late September and early October, forming over the eastern Pacific during a moderate El Nino event spanning 1857-58. Unlike most Eastern Pacific storms, it accelerated north-northeast, bringing it unusually close to the Southern California coastline. Even though the hurricane ultimately weakened due to cool water and strong wind shear, it skirted the coast closely enough to unleash heavy rainfall, causing localized flooding and widespread roof damage-particularly striking given that much of the region was in its dry season, with many areas having received little rain since spring. Eyewitness accounts describe streets transformed into temporary rivers and homes sustaining structural damage from both wind and water. The storm approached Santa Catalina Island in the Channel Islands before turning west-northwest and dissipating later on Oct. 2. Two NOAA researchers later reconstructed its path, though some uncertainty remains in the exact trajectory. They estimated that a similar storm striking in 2004 would have caused around $500 million in damage. PLATTSBURGH Clinton County leads the Adirondacks in visitor spending according to the Economic Impact of Tourism in New York 2024 report. According to the report, prepared by Tourism Economics for I Love NY, visitor spending in Clinton County reached $205 million, representing a 6.5% increase over 2023. Key 2024 Highlights for Clinton County: - $205 million in direct visitor spending - 6.5% year-over-year growth, the highest in the Adirondack region Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - 2,144 jobs supported by tourism (6.7% of total county employment) - $23.6 million in state and local taxes generated, saving each household an estimated $710 annually Tourism supported 2,144 local jobs across sectors such as lodging, dining, retail, recreation, and transportation, and generated $23.6 million in state and local tax revenues. Tourism is a pillar for Clinton Countys economy, fueling small businesses, supporting jobs, and contributing to the vitality of our communities, said Kristy Kennedy, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development for the North Country Chamber of Commerce and Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. This growth reflects the ongoing impact of strategic marketing efforts, events like bass fishing tournaments, and our strong relationship with Canadian and regional visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also highlights Clinton County led the Adirondack region in year-over-year growth, outpacing neighboring counties with a 6.5% increase in visitor spending compared to the Adirondack regional average of 4.5%. Key 2024 Highlights for New York State: - 315.4 million visitors statewide, up 3.0% over 2023 - $94.0 billion in visitor spending statewide, a 6.7% increase from 2023 - $145.2 billion total economic impact after accounting for indirect and induced effects - 741,852 jobs supported by the tourism industry across New York - $11.4 billion in state and local tax revenues generated, saving each household an average of $1,490 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every dollar spent by visitors multiplies through our local economysupporting restaurants, hotels, attractions, and shops across the county, Kennedy said. As we continue investing in tourism marketing, we look forward to building on this momentum. For the full report visit tinyurl.com/mu3yj967. HOLLYWOOD, Ala. (WHNT) The Town of Hollywood has adopted an ordinance against the use of highway braking noise, jake braking, within the town limits. According to the official ordinance which can be read in full below, the Hollywood Police Department has received complaints from residents regarding a braking noise generated by semi tractor/trailers while driving through Hollywood on County Road 33. The ordinance states that residents have complained that the noise from the trucks are loud pose a negative effect to the residents rights to peacefully enjoy their property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hollywood Braking Noise Ordinance can be read below: The Hollywood Police Department told News 19 that signs have been ordered and once they are in place the police department will begin enforcing the ordinance. Any person found to be in violation of the ordinance could possibly be fined of up to $500 or face jail time of up to 10 days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) With Labor Day in the rearview, all eyes are on November and the election of New Jerseys next governor. Democratic candidate Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, in a meet-and-greet on Wednesday in Newark, received one of her biggest endorsements yet: one from her former primary opponent and Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka. More Local News Her speech ranged from issues like homeownership to Black maternal health. The Congresswoman also called on Democratic voters to unite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know that the only way we lose this race in New Jersey is if democrats dont vote in New Jersey, said Sherrill. If we get divided, if we are not together, if we dont stand up for the things we believe in, the communities we want to serve, thats the only way we lose. This, after hitting the trail, making stops in recent days in South Jersey. Meanwhile, Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli has hit the road, making a campaign stop Wednesday in Somerville, and earlier this week in Irvington and Long Valley. His biggest endorsement came in May from President Donald Trump. More News: NJ Elections Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its time for a change, said Ciattarelli in a Zoom interview with PIX11. A lot of people across the State of New Jersey feel the same way, and not just Republicans. I want people to feel confident again that they can get the education of their dreams here, the job of their dreams here, raise a family here, start a business here, retire here, continued Ciattarelli. These are all the things people feel insecure, if not fearful of, today. With the latest polls showing a single-digit lead for Congresswoman Sherrill, the race is set to be one of the closest in recent memory. Its also one drawing national attention, with just one other gubernatorial race happening in Virginia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The following is a lightly edited transcript of the September 3 episode of Right Now With Perry Bacon. You can watch this interview here. Perry Bacon: Good morning everybody. Im Perry Bacon. Im the host of The New Republics Right Now. Im honored to be joined by Ro Khanna, a congressman from California, who Im sure lots of folks know. He is been a strong progressive on a lot of issues. Hes also somebody who is really trying to get out there. The Democratic Party, I think, has a problem of not meeting people where they are. And I know Ro is traveling the country and really trying to understand why Trump won and what the party can do about this. Congressman, thanks for coming here. Ro Khanna: Thank you. Thanks for having me on. Congrats on your new role at The New Republic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: Thank you. I appreciate that. Lets talk about this press conference youre having today and what the importance of it is. Khanna: Its about principle. Its about restoring trust in government. Its not partisan, its patriotic. We have Thomas Massie. We have Marjorie Taylor Greene. Well have 10 of the survivors. They have never told their stories before. Bacon: Survivors of Epstein, just to be clear to the audience. Khanna: Yeah. Survivors of Epstein. And theyre going to speak for the first time. And by the way, this goes well before Trump. These women have been silenced when Epstein first got his plea agreement and slap on the wrist. No one talked to them. They have not been able to tell their story. And I imagine its going to be very harrowing and heartbreaking for many, many Americans to hear what happened to them. And all theyre asking for is full disclosure, for the full release of the Epstein files. All theyre asking for is closure for them. And so I am hopeful that when the American people hear these incredibly courageous women that they will demand that their members of Congress sign the Massie-Khannas Epstein discharge petition to force a vote. Weve got 212 Democrats who will sign it. Four Republicans have signed it: Thomas Massie, Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. We need two more to force the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: OK. So were going to talk about foreign policy mainly in this conversation because I think thats an issue that hasnt been explored as much in these last few months as we focus on what Trumps done domestically. I want to start by talking about whats happening in Gaza right now. Whether we call it a genocide or not, there are civilians that have been killed in a mass way for months now. Do you agree this is not just a partisan issue, this did not just start with Donald Trump, that the Biden administration should feel some account for whats happening there too? Khanna: Yes. There is moral complicity that we have. Weve given Netanyahu a blank check. I supported Israels right after October 7 to kill the perpetrators of that horrific incident. But within months they had done that. They had destroyed Hamass battalions. Its been two yearsand they have gotten funding from the United States. I voted about a year ago against the $14 billion. It was a difficult vote, probably the hardest vote Ive cast in U.S. Congress. I got enormous criticism at the time, but I didnt think that we should be funding the killing of children and civilians in Gaza. Over 60,000 killedeven if some percentage of those are enemy combatants, its still three times the civilian casualty in Ukraine, just to put it in perspective; 500,000 facing famine. I get attacked by AIPAC every other day these days because Im leading a letter to call for the U.S. to recognize a Palestinian statedemilitarized, not Hamas, a Palestinian state that recognizes Israel as a Jewish democratic homeland, something that 147 other countries have done. France is doing, Canada is doing, Britain is doing, Australia is doing, and yet somehow that positiona common sense, human rights positionis considered out of the mainstream by some of these groups. And so I believe that the Democratic Party needs to stand for moral clarity and human rights in Gaza. Bacon: And right now you think we should stop funding or stop supporting Israels military? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna: I do. I supported both of Sanderss amendments. Im on Delia Ramirezs Block the Bombs Act. We should not be providing military weapons that are being used today by Netanyahu to kill civilians. The two things that I think every Democrat should be forthe basic moral testis [first], to support Sanders and Dalia Ramirezs resolution that says no military weapons currently to Netanyahu that are being used to kill these civilians, the war could come to an end, and second, to make sure that we are calling to the recognition of a Palestinian state at a time that Ben-Gvir, Smotrich, and Netanyahu are literally trying to erase Palestinian identity by pushing people out of Gaza, by settling more lands in the West Bank. Bacon: And youre saying its a moral test. You said two conditions here: a Palestinian state and ending the military funding for right now. Those are the moral tests in your view among Democrats. Khanna: They are because theyre the moral tests for the world. Theyre the moral tests that Macron is talking about, that Starmer is talking about, that Mark Carney is talking about. These are not just the nations of the global south. These are not just nations that face colonialism or were victims of imperialism. These are now western democracies that are saying this is the moment we have to recognize and see Palestinian humanity and Palestinian national aspirations. This is the time we have to stop the mass killing in Gaza. Bacon: Broadening out a little bit, Im going to tell the audience, I hope you dont mind, that my understanding is Congressman Khanna is maybe considering putting his hat in the ring for 2028 and hes thinking about the issues broadly. So in that context, talk about foreign policy generally. Moving beyond Israel-Palestine, talk about how you see where we should be going in our foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna: I was very inspired by hearing President Carter give a sermon in the later part of his life in Plains, Georgia. I had the honor of interning for the Carter Center in 1996. I didnt have the wisdom of knowing that President Carter is this great statesman. I just wanted to see the Atlanta Olympics, and I thought, What internship can I get? And later, it turned out that President Carter supported me when I ran for Congress in 2016and I was so honored. But President Carter said, We are the most important nation in the world. Were a superpower. We are the richest country. We have the strongest military. And thats a good thing to have the strongest military and to be the richest country. But wouldnt it be incredible if we were a superpower that other nations wanted to consult to bring peace? Wouldnt it be incredible if we were the superpower that world leaders look to to stand up for human rights? I believe that the Democratic Party should stand for a human rightsbased moral foreign policyone that says that we will model what cohesive, multiracial democracy with economic opportunity for all looks like in the U.S., what pluralistic liberal democracy looks like. And we will support the human rights of nations around the world. We will support the move toward democracies around the world not by military intervention but through alliances, through leadership, through diplomacy, through statesmanship. And of course, we will have the military necessary to defend American interests, but not to overreach. Bacon: OK, so moral foreign policy. Put that in some specifics. What could that mean for our policy in Europe right now? Define a [policy] in a region of the world. Khanna: Well, what it would mean, for example, in Europe would be that when youre standing next to Putin, you say, Mr. Putin, give back Ukraine its land, that Putins invasion of Ukraine was wrong. You cant just invade another nation. But it also would mean that we do the painstaking work of diplomacy and statesmanship to try to bring that war to an end with a just peace. It means that we support NATO in preventing aggression. It means we pay attention to situations like the Congo. As you know, Perry, cause youre a student of history, the Belgian colonialism in the Congo was worse than the colonialism my grandfather faced as part of Gandhis independence moment in India. Literally, King Leopold cut off limbs cut of people who werent mining. Well, right now in the Congo, there is still a conflict between Rwandas M23 and the current Congolese government, and its over minerals. We have tech companies in my district that are benefiting from those minerals, from that cobalt, from the lithium thats being mined there. We, as the U.S., need to have a moral role in ending that conflict and have accountability for the iPhones we use for the technology we use that is being done at the expense still of the Congolese. We need to be involved in the economic development of other nations. I could go on, but those are a few Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: Let me ask, George W. Bush had a foreign policy very focused on democracy. I think Biden, to some extend, talked about democracies versus autocracies. Is promoting democracy everywhere something you think is important or fundamental? Or is that part of a moral foreign policy? Khanna: It is. I dont think we do it through military invasions, but I do think that its a good thing to be for democracy. But it cant just be democracy saying, Lets have elections. It has to be democracy with economic development. It has to be democracy with recognizing pluralism and understanding the importance of respecting different faiths. It has to be democracy that understands that the U.S. should be involved in appreciating the economic aspirations of other countries. Let me give you Mexico, a great example. I just met with President Sheinbaum. We have a tariff currently on tomatoes coming from Mexico. Not only is that hurting the U.S. and making tomato prices a lot more, we are really devastating Sinaloa, the region that grows tomatoes in Mexico. Now, why does this matter? By devastating Sinaloa, the drug cartels are basically recruiting young peopleyoung men[to] instead of going into tomato farming to come and work for them. That is not a thoughtful moral foreign policy. It is basically hurting American consumers and at the same time not helping Mexico become the successful democracy that it can be. Bacon: About a year agoI hate to be too critical, but a year ago I heard a speech in which then-nominee Harris pledged we would have the most lethal military in the world. I think we probably should have a lethal military, but I worry that was emphasizing the wrong thing. When we talk about the military, do you want a smaller military? How do you view what our armed forces role should be? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna: Well, I voted against every military budget since Ive been to Congress because I dont think we should be spending 56 percent of our federal budget in on the military, especially when a lot of that money is not going to the troops. Its not going for our national security. Its going to defense contractors that have CEOs making $5 million on average a year. Its going to defense contractors that have monopolies. I led the investigation into TransDigm and exposed just one of the companies that was fleecing the taxpayers, charging a thousand percent more than they should have, and they refunded $16 million. That was a small sum of money comparatively, but it was the principle. We dont need a bloated trillion dollar defense budget. Do we need a smart defense budget that has modern technology of trainable drones and AI and understands the way modern warfare will be fought? Absolutely. We need that to keep us safe, but it can be done for a lot less money. The other thing, and what I would emphasize, is I want America to be known for helping the economic development. Larry Summers, who I dont agree with everything, says, What we get from China is an airport. What we get from the United States is a lecture. We need to be part of making sure that were helping build alliances on economic cooperation. I want our ideas to go out there. I want our culture to be exported. I want our values to be exported, [so that] all the people know about the U.S. is [not just] that someone in their country saw a bomb or a missile that was still there from some prior war. Bacon: Talk about the foreign policy the last six months. Youve hinted at tariffs, youve hinted at Putin. But if you were asked, Donald Trumps foreign policy is bad, heres why, whats your response to that? Khanna: Donald Trumps foreign policy is the foreign policy that we used to have of kings. And Im not saying Donald Trump was a king, but its basically his whim. He wakes up and he says, OK, punish the people who offended me and help the people who praised me. Thats literally his foreign policy. When President Sheinbaum is more gracious, the tariffs go down. When Modi refuses to nominate him for a Nobel Prize, the tariffs go up. When Xi Jinping says something favorable, the tariffs go down. When Xi Jinping insults him, the tariffs go up. When Putin flatters him and says that the war wouldnt have happened if Donald Trump was president, nothing happens in terms of standing up to Putin. When Putin offends him, then he says, OK, Im with Zelenskiy. It is literally a foreign policy of whim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: I know youve been traveling the country a little bit. Trump just won this election. People care about gas prices, they care about food prices. Thats what the scene of this election was about: the more pocketbook things. In New York City, Mamdani runs on affordability. That helps him win. Is there a connection between foreign policy and these day-to-day concerns? I think foreign policys important in terms of winning elections. How do you make foreign policy matter to the average person in Louisville or Lexington or what have you? Khanna: Well, I think there are two different issues. The voter in Louisville may not care about the details of the border skirmish between India and Pakistan or may not even be following how much of the Donbas Russia has taken over and what a just peace looks like. But the voter in Louisville certainly sees kids dying in Gaza and says, I want my country on the side of protecting kids, and I want my country on the side of morality because thats who we are as a people. Foreign policy matters in the sense of Americas conception of our own selves. This goes all the way back to Henry David Thoreau, and this goes back to Woodrow Wilson or FDR or Ronald Reagan. We want, as Americans, to be the good guys. We want to be the people that are standing up for human rights and good values. And in that way, I do think people vote in a fundamental waybecause when you vote for president, its a sacred vote. Youre voting for who embodies American values, both at home and abroad. On a more basic level, the tariffs have had extraordinary effects. I was up with Senator Sanders; we did some rallies in Concord, New Hampshire, and Manchester, New Hampshire. And I did a few hours with coffee shops. And Ive called for the repeal of the coffee tariffswe dont grow coffee in the U.S. other than 1 percent in Hawaiiand Im doing this with Don Bacon. I talk to some of those small business owners in places like New Hampshire. Theyve had their costs up 20 to 30 percent. Theyre going out of business if these tariffs arent repealed. One of the people showed me a board of the menu of all the coffee prices, and they had no prices. I said, How much are the costs? They said, We have to change it every day, so we have a board that we can change the prices every day. This is devastating to folks. Bacon: Last question. I dont love Hakeem Jeffriess comments about the National Guard coming to D.C. It doesnt seem like theres a lot of urgency there. When a Democrat goes on TV and says, The National Guard coming to D.C. is a distraction from gas prices, I want to throw something. That is bothersome to me. I think the military being deployed in cities is bad. I think some of the authoritarian theater stuff Trump does is still bad. Talk about how you view [that]. Maybe Im misunderstanding. I dont get what the distraction message is supposed to say. Help me understand. I think the National Guard being deployed is bad. If Im wrong, Ill be happy to hear about you from that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna: We used to say it very simply: We didnt fight a revolution in this country to have militarized streets. No one wants soldiers on our streets. Its the biggest invasion of American freedom. When you think of a free country, when you think of taking your kids to school, going to work, do you envision a neighborhood with military patrolling the streets? Thats not who we are. Thats why we fought a revolution. Thats why were a country of freedom. And we should be talking not in language that is jargon-filled, National Guard or crime. We should just say, Who wants the military on their streets? Do you really want that? The whole Fourth Amendment was saying, Dont have the military in peoples homes. Its not a far stretch from saying theyre in your streets to theyre in your homes. And I think that this is so fundamental to the Democratic Party. Heres the challenge. People say we cant just be anti-Trump. I agree. The problem is that what we have to do is have a visionand we have to have a vision that were willing to fight for. Part of that vision should be no militarized streets. So when Trump militarize the streets, we say, Were not anti-Trump. Were standing for freedom of people to live without the military suppressing their liberty. We should be for a country that believes that immigrants work hard and contribute so that when Trump engages in deportation without due process and proposes things like the Laken Riley Act, we shouldnt have one-third of the Democrats go and vote for that kind of thing. We should say that the compromise of human rights for some is the compromise of human rights for all, so when Donald Trump says, Lets throw the trans community under the bus, we shouldnt have a parade of Democrats saying, Yes, yes. Lets join them. In the swing states, they dont care as much about the specifics of every position, they care about whether they sense you have any soul, any conviction, any ability to stand for things that you actually believe in. And then we should stand for an economic vision. I call it an economic patriotism. People often say to me, Ro, we dont know what the Democratic Party stands for. I can answer very simply: The Democratic Party should stand for tackling the economic divides and economic inequality that is tearing this country apart. Our highest mission should be the economic independence and success of every family and every community. That should be our mission and positive vision. We dont have to be anti-Trump to fight for our values that Trump has destroyed. Bacon: Im going to end there. I think that was a great answer, and I was inspired to hear it. Congressman, thanks for joining me. I appreciate it. Khanna: Thank you. Appreciate it, Perry. The commission that oversees the Charlotte Area Transit System questioned transit officials about safety in the wake of a deadly light rail stabbing in late August. CATS says it has increased its security budget to $18.4 million, a change that was implemented by the end of last year. During a meeting with the Metropolitan Transit Commission, CATS leadership outlined potential changes to transit security, although specific measures have not yet been finalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting comes nearly two weeks after a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman was stabbed to death by a suspect on the train in Charlottes South End. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: The current security provider, Professional Security Services, has the capacity for 219 guards but currently employs only 186. Efforts are underway to hire additional personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concerns about public perception of safety on the transit system were raised by several board members. They emphasized the importance of addressing these concerns to restore public confidence. I do believe that this is time for us to really take a moment and say what are the things that we can do immediately and what are the things we are going to have to do incrementally, said Mayor Vi Lyles, expressing the need for both immediate and long-term security improvements. We do need to show some decisive action that folks can relate to, said Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam. Pineville Mayor David Phillips said hes seen the lapse first-hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I never see security on the rail, Phillips said. DeCarlos Brown has been charged with the murder of Iryna Zarutska. Channel 9 learned from CATS that Brown likely didnt have a valid ticket for the train or the bus he used to reach the station. Brent Cagle, the interim CEO for CATS, said theyre looking at ticket validators that riders would have to scan to get on. Community members sounded off, saying that leaders arent acting quickly enough. It was all bull, nothing about nothing, said Misun Kim. When we brought that concern to Lyles, she said positive change takes time. I dont mind having the conversation, I dont mind that you guys are asking me these questions. What I would mind is that we go and do something that doesnt result in really good outcomes, Lyles said. Brown is still in custody in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center awaiting trial. (VIDEO: CATS believes light rail murder suspect did not purchase fare before fatal stabbing) BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (ABC4) A Brigham City veterinarian clinic is raising money to buy bulletproof vests for K-9 officers at the Box Elder County Sheriffs Office after a shooting injured one of the dogs named Azula. Pets First Wellness Center launched the fundraiser on Friday night (via GoFundMe) and has already surpassed its first goal. The new goal? Raise enough money to buy bulletproof vests for all K-9 officers across the county. Just days after being shot while responding to a call in Tremonton, Deputy Mike Allred and his K-9 companion, Azula, made a surprise appearance at the Box Elder County Fair. The crowd was ecstatic to welcome the two heroes. Though its been nearly a week since that initial appearance, the two are still on many peoples minds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tremonton shooting survivors Deputy Allred, K-9 Azula make surprise appearance at local rodeo It just makes you want to make sure that going forward they have what they need, Pets First Practice Manager Dani Barlow told ABC4. Its a story that continues to pull at the heartstrings of those in the community, and dog lovers across the state. We bring them into these jobs and its up to us to help protect them, added Barlow. Over the last two weeks, the community has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the families of Deputy Allred, Officer Eric Estrada and Sergeant Lee Sorensen. Pets First wanted to do something for their four-legged counterparts, and thats why they set up the GoFundMe campaign at the end of last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think so many people are animal lovers and even if you dont have them at home, I think a lot of people just recognize these dogs for what they do, and that they help protect the community, Barlow stated. Whether or not youre a dog lover, if youre in our community you probably love being safe, and that is something they do for us. Thousands spend Labor Day at 100th anniversary of Hooper Tomato Days Barlow said they decided to raise $3,000 dollars to buy vests for the Azula and Elvis; the two K-9 officers at the sheriffs office. By Monday morning, they had already exceeded that goal. Now, they hope to raise as much money as possible to help as many police departments in the area as possible. Any additional money raised will go toward any additional unpaid expenses that accrued at the pet clinic, and then past that we would really love to start vesting out the dogs that are in the Brigham City Police Department, explained Barlow. She said there are three K-9 officers with BCPD. After raising money to get bulletproof vests for those dogs, she said theyd love to get vests for all surrounding police departments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We as Pets First just really wanted to show our love for those families and the handlers, Barlow stated. Pets First set up the GoFundMe to raise money for the bullet proof vests, but that isnt the only way people can donate. The clinic is taking donations over the phone by calling 435-734-9831. People can also make a donation at Pets First, which is located at 88 S 950 W, Brigham City, 84302. 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. Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan will be tried Dec. 15 on federal criminal charges accusing her of obstructing immigration agents trying to arrest an undocumented Mexican migrant outside her courtroom earlier this year. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman set the trial date in the high-stakes case at a seven-minute hearing in the federal courthouse on Sept. 3. The trial is expected to last a week. Jury selection is scheduled for Dec. 11-12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if the case will be resolved by Christmas, Jason Luczak, an attorney for Dugan, said, "I'm very confident." Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugans attorneys Jason D Luczak, left, and Nicole M. Masnica, right, make remarks at a press conference after a hearing at the Milwaukee Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse on Wednesday September 3, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Adelman set the trial date after Dugan's attorneys announced in court that they would not appeal his decision to reject their motion to dismiss the case at this time, but they preserved their right to appeal later. Last week's decision by Adelman, one of the most liberal federal judges, was a blow to the defense, but it is difficult to win such a motion even before the facts have been established in a case. Adelman, 85, was appointed to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton. Dugan's high-profile arrest and indictment put her case at the center of the growing dispute between President Donald Trump and the judiciary. Critics have accused Trump of trying to intimidate judges around the country, citing his administration's decision to defy or "slow walk" compliance with multiple court orders and Trump's calls to impeach one federal judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense attorneys and prosecutors will have until Nov. 7 to file any motions related to the case or the jury questionnaire, and the opposing side will have a week to respond. Adelman will hold a final pretrial hearing on Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving, to resolve those issues. The two sides have already begun arguing about the questions that should be asked of potential jurors. Given the intense publicity over the case, jury selection could be challenging. Dugan's attorneys are proposing the use of a questionnaire that delves into the political views of potential jurors. But Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling, who is leading the prosecution, said his side did not believe possible jurors need to be quizzed about such matters, including what political stickers or signs they display on their homes, cars, bicycles, backpacks, laptop computers or water bottles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's more than just whether it references this particular case but whether people's political views and water bottle stickers and things like that are all relevant," Frohling said. "We don't believe that they are." At a news conference after the hearing, Luczak said he thought it was relevant to know the political views of potential jurors, including what they put on the outside of their water bottles. He said it was all about trying to get a fair trial. "How can you not ask about political beliefs in a case like this that is so politically charged?" asked Luczak, who was joined by defense lawyers Nicole Masnica and Steven Biskupic, a former U.S. attorney for the state's Eastern District. Luczak added, "We have to know what lens people come in with and how hardened their views are." The trial had been originally scheduled for late July, but Adelman canceled the date because he decided it was impractical, especially with the defense's motion to dismiss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dugan was not at the Sept. 3 hearing. She has been excused from attending court hearings since entering a not guilty plea earlier this year. Luczak said he expects the next time she'll appear in court will be the final pretrial hearing. On May 13, Dugan was indicted on charges that she obstructed a federal agency and tried to help undocumented immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz escape federal agents at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18. Flores-Ruiz, 31, was arrested following a short chase outside the courthouse. Federal officials say Flores-Ruiz illegally re-entered the United States from Mexico after being deported. A week later, FBI agents arrested Dugan at the courthouse, thrusting her to the forefront of a clash between the judiciary and the Trump administration amid its crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dugan pleaded not guilty to the charges, a felony and a misdemeanor. If convicted, the veteran judge faces up to six years in prison. However, first-time nonviolent offenders typically get shorter sentences or probation. Dugan, 66, has been suspended with pay by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She makes nearly $175,000 a year. Dugan's attorneys argued that she was being prosecuted for actions that are "official acts," for which she has immunity as a judge. They also argued the case was an example of federal overreach. Federal prosecutors said Dugan's arguments on these two issues were flawed and unsupported by legal precedent. To dismiss the case, prosecutors said, would suggest that "judges are 'above the law,' and uniquely entitled to interfere with federal law enforcement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact John Diedrich at (414) 224-2408 or jdiedrich@gannett.com. Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trial for Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan set for Dec. 15 PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) Trinidad and Tobagos Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar praised a U.S. strike on a boat suspected of carrying drugs in the southern Caribbean and said that all traffickers should be killed violently. U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that 11 people were killed aboard the boat that had departed Venezuela, which is located near Trinidad and Tobago. I, along with most of the country, am happy that the U.S. naval deployment is having success in their mission, Persad-Bissessar said in a statement late Tuesday. The pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense. I have no sympathy for traffickers; the U.S. military should kill them all violently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the drugs aboard the vessel were likely headed to Trinidad or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Persad-Bissessar said that restricting illegal guns, drugs and human trafficking would decrease violence in the Caribbean region and the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which has imposed two state of emergencies in recent months. Our country has been ravaged by bloody violence and addiction because of the greed of the cartels, Persad-Bissessar said. The slaughter of our people is fueled by evil cartel traffickers. US action under scrutiny Other Caribbean leaders were more reserved in their remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barbadian Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds told The Associated Press on Wednesday that members of Caricom, a regional trade bloc, sent a letter to Rubio asking for an open line of communication on developments, saying they want to avoid being surprised by any U.S. moves against Venezuela. What we want really...is a structure where we would be able to have shared information affecting U.S. assets in the region, establishing channels of communication and, importantly where possible, some consultation to maintain practical cooperation for continued mutual confidence and avoidance of misunderstandings," he said. Symmonds also said that depending on Rubio's response, both sides could arrange a face-to-face meeting to discuss fears that the regions long-desired designation as a zone of peace is maintained. What effectively we are trying to do is to work through the diplomatic channels of making sure that there are no surprises, Symmonds said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Rubio defended the strike and warned that such operations will happen again. Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday questioned the U.S. operation, saying that it's possible to conduct maritime interdiction of drug shipments without attacking a vessel's occupants. He said that Colombia typically captures them, since those transporting the drugs are not the big drug traffickers, but rather, very poor young people from the region. Bombing the boat violates the universal principle of proportionality of force and results in murder, the leftist president wrote on X. Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, said that while organized crime groups are a huge threat to human rights in Latin America, regional governments need to strengthen their judicial capacity to dismantle them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the circumstances around this strike are exactly as the administration describes them, it would amount to an extrajudicial execution, prohibited under international law," she said. Tren de Aragua tentacles in Trinidad Trump has said that the vessel targeted in the strike in international waters was operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The White House didn't immediately explain how the military determined that those aboard the vessel were Tren de Aragua members. In July, the government of Trinidad and Tobago designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization, meaning that authorities can freeze any property, funds or assets owned or controlled by the gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have confirmed that the gang is active in the Caribbean nation, with its presence mainly in central and east Trinidad. A high-ranking police official with deep knowledge of gang operations told the AP that Tren de Araguas operations are on a small scale in Trinidad. He said the group still has to contend with bigger local gangs and don't stay in certain areas when they go to Trinidad to collect money or talk business. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared repercussions, said authorities don't have an estimate of how many Tren de Aragua gang members operate in the twin-island nation given their constant illegal entry and departure. He said they deal mostly in drug, weapons and human trafficking. The strike came after the U.S. announced last month that it planned to boost its maritime force in waters off Venezuela to fight threats from Latin American drug cartels. ___ Bert Wilkinson reported from Georgetown, Guyana. Danica Coto contributed to this report from San Juan, Puerto Rico. NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) A Virginia truck driver arrested in Rhode Island three years ago after a missing 15-year-old girl was found in his tractor-trailer has pleaded guilty, according to U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. David Romero Reyes, 55, was convicted Wednesday of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Reyes was taken into custody back in April 2021 at Naval Station Newport following a routine background check conducted prior to him being allowed on the base to make a delivery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miron Bloom said the background check revealed Reyes was wanted out of Texas for felony assault of a child. RELATED: Truck driver arrested after police find missing teen in sleeping compartment Officers searched Reyes truck and eventually found the teenager, who was about five months pregnant, hiding in the sleeping compartment, according to Miron Bloom. Investigators later learned the girl had been reported missing from Virginia in July 2020, when she was 14 years old. It was also revealed that Reyes is the girls distant cousin and a longtime friend of her father, who lives in El Salvador. Miron Bloom said Reyes admitted in federal court that he had sex with the girl in several states, including Rhode Island. Hes scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 2. 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. (NewsNation) As China flexed its military muscles and showed off its cozy relations with North Korea and Russia, President Donald Trump accused them of conspiring against the United States. Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un this week for a parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japans surrender in World War II. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America, Trump wrote on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth shares video of strike on alleged Tren de Aragua drug boat Trump also referenced American involvement in WWII, adding that the big question is whether Xi will mention the U.S. forces that helped China to repel Japan. Xis remarks did not mention the U.S. by name, but he expressed gratitude to foreign countries that helped China during Japans invasion. The Chinese nation is a great nation that does not fear violence, and that stands independent and strong, Xi said during the event. House GOP funding chief pushes for stopgap funding bill into November World leaders have come together this week to align their interests, including combating Trumps tariffs and challenging NATOs might. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, a 10-nation summit meeting in China brought together Xi, Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Washington has accused those countries of supporting Russias war effort. Pyongyang has sent troops and ammunition to Russia, and China and India have purchased Russian oil, indirectly helping Russias war economy. More than 1,000 HHS staff call on RFK Jr. to resign With Putin in China, Kremlin forces continued their bombing campaigns in Ukraine, where officials said Russia fired more than 500 drones and two dozen missiles overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the West to up its pressure on Russia amid stalled face-to-face peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsNations Anna Kutz and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Donald Trump has accused Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un of conspiring against the U.S. after the Chinese premier hosted his Russian and North Korean counterparts for a lavish military parade. The Victory Day parade was held at Beijings Tianamen Gate to mark the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japans defeat in 1945 and the end of the Second World War, with Putin and Kim just some of the world leaders in attendance, much to the Americans chagrin. The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and blood that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday evening, alluding to the Pacific campaign fought by U.S. soldiers against Japan. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un are pictured with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Wednesdays commemoration ceremony in Beijing (Sputnik) Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America. The Chinese leader used the occasion to present a series of new weapons of war in a clear show of might and drew a direct parallel with the past in a speech in which he said: Today humanity again has to choose between peace and war. Later, at a reception for his guests held the Great Hall of the People, Xi warned against the world returning to the law of the jungle. History warns us that the belief in justice cannot be shaken, he said. The aspiration for peace cannot be blocked. The strength of the people cannot be defeated. The historic group photograph of Axis of Upheaval world leaders at Chinas Victory Day parade (AFP/Getty) After the parade, Putin and Kim joined their fellow members of a collective quickly becoming known as the Axis of Upheaval in posing for a historic group photograph, the first time many of the attendees had been pictured together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps sarcastic response might be interpreted as an indication that he is rattled by recent moves by the eastern superpowers to come together and forge closer alliances in response to his aggressive reciprocal tariffs strategy and efforts to create a more inward-looking, protectionist U.S. The American launched a trade war against China during his first term in the White House but has otherwise largely maintained a respectful tone towards Xi. China unveils its newest cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles at its lavish military parade (Reuters) His relationship with Kim was also a key plotline from his first administration. The pair began by exchanging barbs over Pyongyangs nuclear brinkmanship, with Trump calling his North Korean counterpart a Little Rocket Man and the latters regime labelling him a dotard, but subsequently met in person at a series of summits and thereafter enjoyed much friendlier ties. The presidents relationship with Putin is much more complex. Trump famously sided with the Russian in 2018 when he denied having meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, backing the Kremlin leader over his own intelligence services, but has since expressed frustration over his opposite numbers apparent indifference to diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war. The men met in Alaska recently for talks that did not yield the legacy-defining breakthrough for which Trump had plainly been hoping. Further talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky present have since been mooted but have yet to be agreed. President Donald Trump sent his warmest regards to the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea. The pleasantries, though, came with a twist in the very same breath, he accused Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un of conspiring against the United States as the trio gathered at a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday. Though the grand display of missiles and marching troops may have been capped by the release of 80,000 doves into the skies of the Chinese capital, the American president suggested he saw something altogether more sinister behind the spectacle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. The parade marked the first time Putin, Xi and Kim have been seen together in public. (Alexander Kazakov / Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Trump also said he was very disappointed in President Putin, after the Kremlin brushed aside his efforts to arrange a summit with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and continued to unleash intense strikes across Ukraine. He told The Scott Jennings Radio Show that the U.S. will be doing something to help people live, but did not elaborate. Putin said Wednesday that he was ready to hold talks with Zelenskyy, if the Ukrainian leader came to Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting, the Russian leader said. But is there any point? Lets see. The Kremlin earlier dismissed Trumps accusations of a burgeoning conspiracy in Beijing. No one was plotting any conspiracies, no one was plotting anything, foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told state television Wednesday. Moreover, no one even had such a thought. Ushakov said he suspected and hoped that there was at least a little irony in Trumps ire. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said later that the nations had been acting for the greater good of the peoples of our countries, not against third countries, saying nobody has the time or desire for plotting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conspiracy or not, the parade and its trio of high-profile attendees served as an unmistakable message to Trump and others watching in the West. Xi defiantly declared China was unstoppable and said that humanity must choose between peace and war as he outlined his alternative to the U.S.-led global order that has been buffeted by added turbulence in the Trump era. President Donald Trump's efforts to broker peace in Ukraine have been frustrated. (Alex Brandon / AP) On the surface, the Victory Day parade marked the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japans surrender at the end of World War II. In practice, it was a colossal display of strength, showcasing hypersonic missiles, drones, and fighter jets as part of Xis push to modernize the military and challenge the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A host of countries at odds with the U.S. and its allies were in attendance for this display of unity by the Axis of Upheaval, marked by its collective support for Russia as it attacks Ukraine. No U.S. delegation was present in Beijing, but one notable American seemed to be watching on. Trump struck a more relaxed tone on The Scott Jennings Radio Show earlier in the day, saying he was not concerned at all about China and Russia possibly forming an axis. We have the strongest military in the world by far, he said. They would never use their military on us, believe me. That would be the worst thing they could ever do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has strived to appear neutral in the war but has provided Russia with a diplomatic and economic lifeline, while Putin thanked Pyongyang on the sidelines of the Beijing gathering for sending troops to fight against Ukraine. Kim promised to do everything I can to assist Moscow. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose country has provided military support for Russia, was also in Beijing. The war in Ukraine has been a key catalyst in pulling together these countries, said Edward Howell, a lecturer in international relations at the University of Oxford. This axis of authoritarian states is strengthening, he told NBC News. Its not just individual threats coming from North Korea or Russia or China, its the links between all three of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Trump did sound more concerned as he watched on later. In his Truth Social post, Trump mentioned the massive amount of support and blood the U.S. gave China during World War II. Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! This article was originally published on NBCNews.com We dont know why the Trump administration suddenly reversed itself this summer on its promises to release extensive new documents about the Jeffrey Epstein case. What we do know is that the administration has responded to a bipartisan outcry over its handling of the matter by repeatedly doing things that might seem on paper like significant steps toward transparency, but have proven to be far less than meets the eye. Many of them point to what a judge recently suggested was the illusion of transparency. The situation appears to be coming to a head. On Wednesday came an emotional press conference featuring Epstein victims pleading with Congress to agree to an effort led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, which the Trump administration opposes, to force the Justice Department to release the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be clear: The only motive for opposing this bill would be to conceal wrongdoing, Epstein accuser Anouska de Georgiou said. Anouska de Georgiou, center, looks on during a news conference with victims of Jeffrey Epstein and lawmakers outside the US Capitol on Wednesday. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The scene followed yet more evidence of the administrations reluctance to cede to those demands. That began on Tuesday with the official launch of Massies effort, called a discharge petition, to force a vote in the House on releasing the Epstein files, which Speaker Mike Johnson also opposes. As the administration faced the prospect that a small number of House Republicans could join with Democrats to force the issue, the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee suddenly released an initial tranche of 33,000 pages of Epstein documents it had subpoenaed from the Justice Department. It seemed like an effort to mollify the Republicans who might support Massies measure, which is being co-led by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But like the binders of Epstein documents the White House gave right-wing influencers earlier this year, the documents were overwhelmingly old news. House Oversight Democrats and Massie estimated that 97% of the documents had already been released, while the rest were heavily redacted. No media outlet has found anything revealing in them. Massie claimed it amounted to about 1% of what the Justice Department has. Theyve given us the sleeves off their vest, the Kentucky Republican said. Rep. Thomas Massie speaks during a press conference to discuss a measure that would direct the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters The White House adopted a threatening posture, distributing a statement to multiple media outlets labeling any Republican support for Massies discharge petition a hostile act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helping Thomas Massie and Liberal Democrats with their attention-seeking, while the DOJ is fully supporting a more comprehensive file release effort from the Oversight Committee, would be viewed as a very hostile act to the administration, a White House official said. But if the administration is okay with full disclosure on Epstein as it has insisted it is why would it oppose Massies effort? The most oft-stated reason is the need to shield Epsteins victims. But Massies measure includes a provision on that. It allows the DOJ to redact or withhold documents that contain personally identifiable information of victims or victims personal and medical files and similar files, if those files would violate their personal privacy. Whats more, as of Wednesday morning, many Epstein victims have now publicly endorsed Massies measure. You could be forgiven for thinking the Trump administration just doesnt want to give up control over this process. Better to filter the documents through a GOP-controlled committee than to have your hand forced by the discharge petition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (That discharge petition currently has the support of four House Republicans. If all Democrats support it, it would need six Republicans to get to the required 218 votes.) The other olive branch Johnson has offered critics is a vote this week essentially affirming the House Oversight Committees investigation of the Epstein matter. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson arrives for a closed-door meeting with victims in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case, at the US Capitol on Tuesday. - J. Scott Applewhite/AP But the effort is only symbolic. Massie dismissed it as an effort to provide political cover to Republicans who dont back his discharge petition but are still feeling pressure from their base. And theres been plenty other mirages of transparency. The administrations first two big moves to quell the Epstein furor in July were to interview Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and to push for the release of grand jury materials in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its handling of Maxwells interview with the deputy attorney general was a mess. The transcripts that were ultimately released told us next to nothing. And predictably, Maxwell seemed more interested in protecting her own interests including in ongoing appeals than blowing the whistle on anybody who might have been involved in her and Epsteins crimes. She wouldnt even admit to knowledge of Epsteins crimes, which she was convicted of participating in. The grand jury effort was even more telling. Even when the administration began this push, experts were skeptical it would lead to much. And they were right. We soon learned that the grand jury materials generally contained little new information. It was often law enforcement personnel recounting allegations secondhand claims that were later aired publicly in court by the actual witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the end, multiple judges rejected these efforts. And two of them explicitly said the administration appeared to be pulling the wool over peoples eyes. A poster showing a photograph of Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell is held aloft during a press conference in support of survivors of Epstein's abuse, at the US Capitol on Wednesday. - Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images US District Judge Paul Engelmayer said the public might conclude the administrations real purpose was aimed not at transparency but at diversion aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such. A week later, another judge also used the d-word. US District Judge Richard Berman said that the administrations move appears to be a diversion from the breath and scope of the Epstein files in the Governments possession. Crucially, Berman repeatedly noted that, to the extent the administration wanted to inform the public about such matters, it had much better and more fulsome information it could provide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Governments complete information trove would better inform the public about the Epstein case, Berman wrote. He called the administration a logical party to make comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein files. And thats the rub here. If the administration wants to get this stuff out, it can. But it has repeatedly had to be dragged into taking steps toward disclosure that have looked more like messaging exercises than anything else. The increasing question for House Republicans is whether theyre mollified by all of these apparent diversions and symbolic moves or if they see them as efforts by an administration to avoid full disclosure. The early indications Tuesday were that at least some Republicans who have flirted with signing Massies discharge petition were at least temporarily satisfied, despite the lack of new disclosures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pull of partisanship is strong, as are threats of blowback from Trump. But the administrations mishandling of all this makes it hard to believe its goal is the same as those Republicans and influencers who have pushed for years for more information on Epstein. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Trump administration on Wednesday moved to terminate the legal status and work permits of nearly 270,000 Venezuelan migrants enrolled in the Temporary Protected Status program, urging them to self-deport from the U.S. The announcement marked the latest effort by the Trump administration to revoke humanitarian protections granted to hundreds of thousands of migrants from countries plagued by political turmoil, war and other crises, making them eligible for potential deportation. Unless blocked in court, the move by the Department of Homeland Security will terminate the legal protections of Venezuelans enrolled in a TPS program created in 2021 by the Biden administration. Homeland Security officials said roughly 268,000 Venezuelans are covered under the 2021 program, and their status would lapse in the next 60 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the year, the Trump administration, following a decision by the Supreme Court, terminated another TPS designation issued in 2023 that covered roughly 350,000 Venezuelans, most of whom crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally or entered the country legally under now-defunct Biden-era programs. The 2021 program covers a separate group of Venezuelan migrants who have been in the U.S. for longer. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem determined that keeping the 2021 program would not be in the best interest of the country, arguing that TPS incentivizes illegal immigration. "Given Venezuela's substantial role in driving irregular migration and the clear magnet effect created by Temporary Protected Status, maintaining or expanding TPS for Venezuelan nationals directly undermines the Trump Administration's efforts to secure our southern border and manage migration effectively," Tragesser added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who lose their TPS protections and don't have any other legal means to remain in the U.S. such as applications for asylum or permanent American residency could face arrest and deportation by federal immigration officials. Homeland Security officials on Wednesday said TPS recipients whose status expires should sign up for self-deportation using a government smartphone app, called CBP Home, that the Trump administration has repurposed to facilitate voluntary returns. Officials have offered self-deportees a $1,000 bonus if they return to their home countries. Created in 1990 by Congress as a way to provide a temporary safe haven to migrants from countries beset by armed conflict, environmental disasters or other emergencies, TPS has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. It has argued the policy has been abused by Democratic administrations and unnecessarily extended for far too long, despite its temporary nature. Over the past months, the Trump administration has also announced the termination of TPS programs for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In lawsuits challenging the administration's actions, advocates have argued the native countries of many TPS recipients remain unstable and dangerous, and that the terminations are rooted in racial animus. Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Khanna, Massie and Greene hold news conference on Jeffrey Epstein files Undocumented migrants charged with violent crimes to be held in Angola prison, DHS says Two months after President Donald Trump called it the most popular bill ever signed, congressional Republicans are facing a sputtering effort to sell their sprawling domestic policy law and theyre getting fresh advice Wednesday from top administration officials. During a morning briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and James Blair, the presidents top political aide, are set to walk House Republicans, and later their staffs, through the most popular pieces of the megabill that Trump wants them to tout ahead of next years midterms. Tony Fabrizio, a top Trump pollster, will also present a slate of fresh polling on the tax cut and spending law that Trump signed on July 4, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss plans for the private briefing. The core message, according to one of the people who was briefed on the planned presentation, is that Republicans should focus on the bills tax cuts for working families including the elimination of income taxes on some tips and overtime and increases to the child tax credit and employer child care tax credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overarching point is that Republicans can control their own outcomes in the midterms if they just talk to key voters about what voters care about and highlight for those voters what we have done for them so far and what were planning to do next, the person said, urging Republicans to just keep the main thing the main thing." Trump acknowledged a rare branding misstep last week, admitting that the name of the law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could be leaving voters mystified about what the legislation actually does. House Republicans say theyre all ears for more advice. But many also strongly believe theyve been doing a good job already selling the bill they spent six grueling months trying to pass. He is a marketer, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) said about Trump Tuesday. He will figure it out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one big, beautiful bill branding had its origin in a long-running fight between the House and Senate over whether to unite the GOP domestic policy agenda in a single bill or multiple bills. Trump embraced the Houses one-bill sales pitch to the point that he made it the laws formal name. It was a departure from the name of the signature legislation from Trumps first term the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which put the purported benefits of the legislation front and center. Trump said last week that the big, beautiful bill talk was good for getting it approved, but its not good for explaining to people what its all about. Some Hill Republicans bristle at the notion their massive bill isnt being well received or understood by voters despite a spate of angry crowds at GOP lawmakers town halls and alarming polling that shows dismal views of the bills safety-net cuts and deficit impact. But they are willing to take direction from Trump on their sales pitch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), who helped shepherd the legislation, said it was the substance of the bill that makes it so great but said he was open to hearing about a new sales pitch. I dont know how I would change any of the wins, no matter what the title of the bill is, he said. Its a big, beautiful win for the country and its going to make a big difference. Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), another key leader on the bill, acknowledged that Republicans are still working to counter months of Democratic attacks. The trillions of dollars of tax cuts orchestrated by Crapos committee were largely extensions of current law rather than brand-new reductions. Democrats have teed off on restrictions Republicans imposed on Medicaid and other safety-net programs to pay for the tax portion of the bill. I don't know that the name of the bill is really that definitive about the messaging on it, he said. He added that Republicans need to make it very clear that the so-called cuts in Medicaid were not what they are being described in the media, and in fact that they were true, waste, fraud and abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's so much mischaracterization of the bill, he said. I just think it's getting the information out. One of the people granted anonymity to discuss plans for Wednesdays House GOP briefing said Democrats attacks are easily refutable and a recipe for disaster for them in the midterms, as long as Republicans execute the appropriate counter messaging. We are going to highlight the issues on which the partys brand and trust factor is strong, and on which issues it can be shored up with the appropriate messages to voters, the person said. While congressional Republicans image has room for improvement with key voting blocs, congressional Democrats image is completely and totally in the toilet, the person added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Democrats have undertaken a national blitz to undermine what they are calling the big, ugly bill, some Republicans have already efforted a rebrand of the massive legislation, focusing on how the bill will specifically help working families. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a close Trump ally and senior appropriator, has been touting passage of the Working Family Tax Cuts Bill. But others argue its the results of the bill that will speak for themselves, not the name. Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican who is running to be governor of Arizona, said that as the tax stuff and everything kicks in, thatll ensure the popularity of the bill. I usually refer to it as the BRB, the Budget Reconciliation Bill, but I dont see a problem with its name, Biggs added. More than the name, I think the actual results will determine how popular the bill is. Calen Razor and Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report. A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. 5th Circuit Smacks Down Trump on Alien Enemies Act In the most important court decision on a day full of them, the most conservative federal appeals court became the first to address the substance of President Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act and found it to be unlawful. The late-in-the-day Tuesday ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals torpedoed the premise for Trumps AEA deportations. On a 2-1 vote, Judges Leslie H. Southwick (Bush II) and Irma Carrillo Ramirez (Biden) found the AEA to be a wartime law not applicable to criminal gangs like Venezuelas Tren de Aragua. The panel found there was no invasion or predatory incursion as required by AEA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Andrew Oldham (Trump) dissented in strong terms, and its not at all clear that this decision would stand up if the full 5th Circuit were to re-consider it. The weekend deportations in March, the defiance of court orders to stop the removals, the incarceration of more than 200 Venezuelan men at CECOT in El Salvador for months all of it was predicated on an unlawful invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. Trump Violated Posse Comitatus Act U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco ruled that President Trumps use of the National Guard in California in a law enforcement capacity violated the 19th century Posse Comitatus Act. To be clear, Breyer didnt find Trumps big anti-immigration show of force with the National Guard to be unlawful in and of itself. A federalized National Guard can be used to protect federal installations and personnel, Breyer ruled, but it cant engage in domestic law enforcement activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have stated their intention to call National Guard troops into federal service in other cities across the countryincluding Oakland and San Francisco, here in the Northern District of Californiathus creating a national police force with the President as its chief, Breyer warned. The California deployment Trumps over-the-top response to protests against mass deportation was full of examples of the National Guard being used as a local police force, Breyer found. He concluded that the Trump administrations violations of the Posse Comitatus Act were willful and blocked the National Guard from engaging in further law enforcement activity. Appeals Court Blocks Trumps Firing of FTC Commissioner This decision may be short-lived given where the Supreme Court is headed, but the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that President Trump did not have the power to unilaterally fire Democrat-appointee Rebecca Kelly Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission. Relying on existing Supreme Court precedent, the appeals court reinstated her to her position. The problem, of course, is that the Supreme Court has all but overruled its own precedent on independent agencies and is likely to formally overturn it soon. Through the Looking Glass A separate D.C. Circuit panel issued a travesty of a ruling in that confounding Environmental Protection Agency grants case which the Trump DOJ has tried but so far has failed to turn into a criminal prosecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youll recall that this Biden EPA grant program worth $20 billion was the target of wild conspiracies and false accusations from the MAGA right. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and the Trump DOJ went after the program aggressively, scaring Citibank into freezing account funds, leaving some EPA contractors high and dry. Then-acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin kept pursuing the case, reportedly using grand juries outside of D.C. after the senior career prosecutor overseeing the criminal division of his office was forced out for refusing to play along in the case. The Trump appointees on the panel Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas bought the conspiracizing and false accusations hook, line and sinker, and cleared the way for the EPA to claw back the billions of dollars in funding, as Politico witheringly noted: The court seemed especially taken with the gold bars video cited regularly by Zeldin an undercover recording of an EPA staffer last December who colorfully described the Biden administrations rush to obligate additional grants under the IRA before the Trump administration took power. That staffer and other Biden officials have said he was referring to other grant programs, not the GGRF, which the IRA required to have been obligated by September 2024. Obama appointee Nina Pillard found herself once again in dissent: The agency has no lawful basis nor even a nonfrivolous assertion of any basis to interfere with funding that, pursuant to Congresss instructions, already belongs to Plaintiffs, who in turn have committed it to energy infrastructure development and advanced manufacturing projects according to Congresss plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its truly an egregious decision that validates (i) an administration disinformation campaign; (ii) a prosecutorial witch hunt; and (iii) a muscular executive branch that can ignore Congress and the funding laws it passes. The price for having two Trump appointees on the motions panel back in March, when this case first arose, continues to be steep. The full D.C. Circuit will likely be asked to re-consider this case. Sign of the Times An earnest 84-year-old Reagan appointee to the federal bench seemed stunned and saddened after he was preposterously scolded last month by Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch for allegedly ignoring Supreme Court precedent on its emergency docket. The public thrashing by the justices for a failure to properly divine the inscrutable meaning of barely explained emergency docket decisions has been called out by commentators. But it still left U.S. District Judge William Young of Boston to try to pick up the pieces of the National Institutes of Health funding case. He issued a pained apology from the bench Tuesday: Before we do anything, I really feel its incumbent upon me to on the record here to apologize to Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh if they think that anything this court has done has been done in defiance of a precedential action of the Supreme Court of the United States. I can do nothing more than to say as honestly as I can: I certainly did not so intend, and that is foreign in every respect to the nature of how I have conducted myself as a judicial officer. The Retribution: Mail-In Voting Edition In another episode of bald and unequivocal retaliation, President Trump announced Tuesday that he was relocating the headquarters of U.S. Space Command to Alabama from Colorado to punish it for having mail-in voting: Big Trouble Brewing in Illinois? Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) warned in alarming tones Tuesday that the Texas National Guard was being deployed to a Navy base his state in preparation for what would amount to an unwelcome invasion by a fellow sovereign state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move would be different from Trumps deployment of the National Guard in D.C. (not a state) and in California (where he federalized it in accordance with the law). To engage in law enforcement activities and get around the Posse Comitatus Act problem that we already discussed above, the National Guard would have to remain unfederalized. Thats what makes this such an unusual situation. Later in the day, a spokesman for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) denied that he was planning to deploy the Texas National Guard to Illinois. As we wait to see if this plays out, Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck surveys the legal landscape implicated by this particular scenario. IMPORTANT In a legally dubious and regionally destabilizing attack, the United States took offensive military action against an alleged cartel motorboat in international waters off Venezuela. Eleven people were reportedly killed in the aerial attack on the marine vessel. The move comes after the Trump administration set in motion certain legal implications earlier this year by dubbing narco-cartels as terrorist organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The action comes amid a major buildup of U.S. naval forces outside Venezuelas waters, the NYT reports. The administration has also stepped up belligerent rhetoric about fighting drug cartels and labeled Venezuelas president, Nicolas Maduro, a terrorist cartel leader. The paradigm shift from treating drug trafficking as a law enforcement problem to a military target will have far-reaching and lasting consequences for the rule of law at home and abroad. Drug trafficking alone is not a capital offense, but the U.S. military is now summarily executing suspected drug traffickers on the high seas. Quote of the Day If you often feel at a loss for words right now, thats understandable. Significant new elements are in play, along with classic autocratic tactics. The sabotage of America by a sitting U.S. president is a tragic and history-making innovation.NYU history professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know! President Donald Trump on Wednesday again slammed the bipartisan clamor for release of case files regarding deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein as a creation of his political enemies as members of both parties appeared with some of Epsteins victims at a Capitol Hill press conference to call for transparency in the case. Trump was addressing reporters in the Oval Office during a media availability alongside Polish president Karol Nawrocki when The Independent asked him about allegations that his Department of Justice is slow-walking compliance with a congressional subpoena for the documents and redacting them to protect powerful friends and Republican campaign donors. In response, he called the entire issue a Democrat hoax that never ends and compared it to the decades-long process of releasing files relating to the assassination of the late president John F. Kennedy, noting that nobodys ever satisfied with what the government has produced in either case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From what I understand, thousands of pages of documents have been given. But it's really a Democrat hoax, because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been President, Trump said. I understand that we were subpoenaed to give files, and I understand we've given thousands of pages of files, and I know that no matter what you do, it's going to keep going. Despite promising to release the controversial case files during the 2024 presidential campaign, since returning to the White House Trump has routinely railed against even discussing the matter. His administration has created uproar among its base after a July memo from the Department of Justice that stated that Epstein had no so-called client list and that no more information would be released. That came after Attorney General Pam Bondi had claimed for months that officials were reviewing documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision not to release more information was met with anger and Democrats and Republicans have called on Trump to release more from the investigation. While his administration has made large numbers of documents from the case public, critics have noted that those documents have either long been in the public domain or have been so heavily redacted as to be useless. Sky Roberts, the brother of the late Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, told The Independent that Trumps administration was now running likely ... biggest cover-up in the history of the United States. And I think it's time for us to stand with the people, it's time to stand with the survivors, and we need to tell them we believe you, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps remarks come as Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) filed a discharge petition to force a vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The petition would require a majority of members to sign on to circumvent leadership and hold a vote on the House floor. On Thursday, Massie, Khanna and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) held a press conference with Roberts and a host of other survivors of Epsteins abuse. One of the late sex offenders victims, Chauntae Davies, said at the press conference that Epstein had gotten a free pass from his crimes and routinely bragged about his powerful friends, including our current president Donald Trump. Another survivor of Epsteins abuse, Haley Robson, directly called out Trumps frequent claim that the matter is a creation of his adversaries and invited the president to meet with her to receive proof of his crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. President Donald J Trump, I am a registered Republican not that that matters, because this is not political. However, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax, she said. On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee released 30,000 pages worth of documents related to Epstein. But many of Epsteins survivors said that they want to see more. Seeing that release after that meeting, I think was a step in the right direction, Sigrid McCawley, a survivor of Epsteins abuse, told The Independent. But there's so much more to be released and that's what were really hoping for. The federal government's five-year-long antitrust case against Google has ended. Instead of forcing the tech giant to divest from Chrome, a federal judge on Tuesday opted "to allow market forces to do the work." The suit was first brought against Google in October 2020 by President Donald Trump's Justice Department (DOJ) and 11 states, who complained that the company had violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by monopolizing the general search services, search advertising, and general search text advertising markets in the United States. Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbiathe same judge who issued Tuesday's decisionruled in favor of then-President Joseph Biden's DOJ in August 2024. In November 2024, the Justice Department proposed wide-reaching actions that the federal government said were necessary to address Google's monopolization of the search market: divestiture from Chrome; conditional divestiture from Android; termination of its paid partnerships with Apple and Android; forced sharing of its search, user, and advertisement data with competitors; and prohibition on "query-based AI product" investments. In March, the Justice Department submitted its revised proposal, which largely maintained these remedies but eliminated the AI-investment prohibition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Mehta rejected the proposed Chrome divestiture, saying it "cannot reasonably be described as a remedy 'tailored to fit the wrong'" and characterized the contingent Android divestiture as suffering "from similar legal infirmities." Mehta declined to forbid Google from paying distributors like Apple for default placement of its search engine on its iPhones in light of the "GenAI products that pose a threat to the primacy of traditional internet." Doing so would disadvantage "Google in this highly competitive space." Geoffrey Manne, president of the International Center for Law and Economics, says that Mehta's refusal to enjoin Google from making payments for search access is "entirely borne out of adherence to a consumer-welfare-focused antitrust and rejection of the 'big is bad' vision underlying the [Justice Department's] proposed remedies." Likewise, Mehta's rejection of the choice screen remedy, which would've required users to choose their device's default search engine on first use and again every year thereafter, "recognized that judicial micromanagement of product design would not be beneficial for innovation or consumer welfare in the long run," says Manne. Mehta did prohibit Google from maintaining exclusive distribution agreements that condition access to the "Play Store or any other Google application on the distribution, preloading, or placement of Google Search." He also sided with the plaintiffs on some search-index data-sharing provisions but opted for a narrow definition of search index, which excludes user-side data and only includes information about websites. Qualified competitors will only receive a one-time snapshot of this search index data, not the ongoing, periodic disclosure proposed by plaintiffs. Mehta rejected the plaintiffs' advertisement data remedy "given [its] poor fit and dubious efficacy." However, Mehta ruled that Google must disclose its "user-interaction data that associates queries and results with user interactions" at least twice, as well as its "click-and-query data," as both are integral to Google's scale advantage. Still, he rejected the sharing of data used to train Google's generative AI app, Gemini, because "the GenAI product space is highly competitive [and Google] does not have a distinct advantage over chatbots." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his decision, Mehta rightly recognized that Google's domination of the search engine market was not solely due to unlawful, anticompetitive behavior but in large part to its "best-in-class search quality, consistent innovations, investment in human capital, strategic foresight, and brand recognition." Mehta's refusal to break up Google has been called "a green light for monopolization to every big business" by some antitrust crusaders. Manne has another take; he says Mehta's decision is "definitely a win for consumer welfare over the vision of antitrust espoused by the [Justice Department's] proposed remedies." The post Trump and Biden Tried To Break Up Google. Now, They've Both Failed. appeared first on Reason.com. President Donald Trump on Wednesday cast the Jeffrey Epstein controversy as "irrelevant" amid an effort on Capitol Hill to force a vote to release all files related to the deceased sex offender. "This is a Democrat hoax that never ends," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the push for more transparency in the Epstein matter. "From what I understand, I could check, but from what I understand, thousands of pages of documents have been given," the president said. "But it's really a Democrat hoax because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been president." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released The comments came as a group of survivors joined House members in a push to compel the Justice Department to release records so far withheld from Congress. ABC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Jay O'Brien asked the victims for their reaction to Trump's characterization that it is a "hoax." Evan Vucci/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office of the White House, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. One survivor, Haley Robson, said it felt like "being gutted from the inside out." "Mr. President Donald J. Trump, I am a registered Republican -- not that that matters because this is not political -- however, I cordially invite you to meet me in the Capitol in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma," she responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna's effort to force a vote on the files has led to a showdown with House Republican leadership and the White House. Massie's discharge petition had 206 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon. It needs 218 to compel a vote on the House floor. So far, four Republicans have signed on to the Massie and Khanna discharge petition -- a procedural tool to bypass GOP leadership and force a vote. Those signers include Massie, Reps. Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. If all 212 Democrats sign the petition, only two more Republicans are needed. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters - PHOTO: Rep. Thomas Massie speaks during a press conference to discuss the Epstein Files Transparency bill on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 3, 2025. Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans to not support Massie's discharge petition during a closed conference meeting Wednesday morning, according to multiple sources. Johnson instead argued the ongoing investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the better path forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House on Wednesday adopted a resolution by a vote of 212-208-1 that instructs the Oversight Committee to continue its Epstein investigation that began weeks ago. The measure was Johnson's preferred vote on the Epstein controversy. Massie has called it a "placebo." Johnson said he spoke to Trump about the Epstein files on Tuesday night, and Trump instructed him to "get it out there" and "put it all out there." "This is going to be an ongoing effort. It will be bipartisan, which is great and the Oversight Committee's effort, this is really important to point out, goes further than the discharge petition," Johnson argued. "It requests more information than the discharge even encompasses. For example, the Epstein estate documents, which is a treasure trove of information not referenced in the discharge. And it has the force of law because we have subpoena authorities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson said that Massie's discharge petition is "irrelevant and unnecessary." The speaker said he believed the Oversight panel will "uncover things that have never been uncovered before." Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to the media after meeting with victims of Jeffrey Epstein, at the US Capitol, Washington September 2, 2025. When asked by ABC News about the Epstein survivors who said on Wednesday they don't feel enough is being done, Johnson said he believed they were being "misled" by Republican members who Johnson accused of "politicizing" the Epstein issue. "I think they have been misled, and I look forward to meeting with them at the earliest opportunity, because I'll share with them what I shared with the ladies who were here yesterday. We are 100% focused on this. We will follow the truth wherever it leads, and we'll do it as quickly as possible," Johnson said. MORE: Tens of thousands of Epstein-related records from DOJ released, Oversight Committee says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House Oversight Committee released tens of thousands of pages related to Epstein on Tuesday night, but much of the information released was already publicly available. "Less than 1% of these files have been released," Khanna said at Wednesday's news conference. "We are demanding today, on the discharge petition, that all of the files be released." Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Oversight Committee, joined ABC News Live on Wednesday, saying his committee is determined to make the records public -- and to hold accountable those who enabled Epstein and Maxwell for decades. "It's my goal that we get the truth to the American people, that every document is released," he said. Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and child sex trafficking. He died in custody a month later, while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging. America just got over a decade of leftist virtue signaling in the name of Black Lives Matter, which ended up killing dozens of police officers and thousands of Black people. With President Trumps proposal for a federal takeover of policing in Washington, D.C., and five other cities to cut crime, we may be entering a period of conservative virtue signaling about law and order. All Americans, but especially Black Americans, need a better way. First, lets admit where President Trump is right. As two of us show empirically in Black Deaths: How Black Lives Matter Took Lives That Better Policing Could Save, Black Lives Matter was a disaster, and likely part of the reason for President Trumps underdog victory in 2024. The movement, which could have saved lives, ended up being taking over by professors and politicians who cared a lot about getting grants and increasing progressive voter turnout and little or nothing about saving Black lives. Slandering police made citizens in high crime communities, disproportionately Black citizens, less likely to cooperate with cops to cut crime. Cutting law enforcement budgets and reducing prosecutions led cops to focus on protecting tourist zones and downtown business districts, with low income, heavily minority communities increasingly left to fend for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The results were predictably disastrous. As we show, for Black men homicide rates nearly doubled, from 30 per 100,000 in 2014 to 56 per 100,000 in 2021, while homicide rates among whites barely changed. While taking far fewer lives, fatal ambushes of police officers also rose dramatically in the BLM era. Yet on whether President Trumps move to have the FBI take over police departments is the right call, color us skeptical. First, while the unique rules governing the nations capital may give President Trump the legal authority to take over policing there, he likely lacks such authority in Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, and New York. That means that like the BLM activists he despises, the President is virtue signaling, not virtuously policymaking. And then there is his choice of cities, which seem determined by politics rather than police performance. Our Administration and Society article, Which Police Departments Make Black Lives Matter, ranked the 50 largest cities in the country by whether, controlling for poverty, their cops keep homicide low while not shooting civilians, using 2020 data. We rank cities because some police departments already do amazing work and need no federal meddling. On the other hand, other departments deserve Washington intervention. So how do the cities President Trump proposes taking over stake up? Baltimore ranked dead last, 50th out of 50, and Washington D.C. ranked 41st in 2020, though each city has improved somewhat in the past two years. Oakland ranks 36th. But Chicago was 27th, about average, and Los Angeles ranked 17th, right after law-and-order oriented Fort Worth, which is on nobodys unsafe list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trumps most questionable call is proposing to take over law enforcement in New York City. New York has the 6th lowest homicide rate in the country among the 50 largest cities, the lowest controlling for poverty, and New York Police Department cops kill far fewer civilians per capita than any other large police force. From our data, New York had 1/15th as many homicides per capita as last placed Baltimore, and Baltimore cops killed roughly ten times more civilians per capital than their NYPD peers. In short, Baltimore has a shameful public safety record---New York excels. To some, President Trumps proposal to run NYPD reflects his battles with the leftist New York prosecutors who indicted him, not saving Black (and other) lives. But suppose the President really does want to save Black (and other) lives? Heres how President Trump could both make history and get more minorities to vote Republican. As both scholars document and former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton showed in his book, Turnaround, NYPD became the best by recruiting great cops, firing bad cops or at least getting them off the streets, copying its most effective police precincts, and firing precinct commanders who refused to go along with the changes. President Trump could highlight police departments like NYPD that succeed---and those like Baltimore that fail. Constitutionally, its up to state governments and city voters to do the rest. Using the bully pulpit in this way could make President Trump the leader who made Americans safe again, especially Black Americans. Robert Maranto is the 21st Century Chair in Leadership in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas. Wilfred Reilly is an associate professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University. Patrick Wolf is the 21st Century Chair in School Choice in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas. Their views may not reflect those of their institutions. Democratic lawmakers and President Donald Trump clashed Wednesday over the presidents plans to send National Guard members into cities to clean up crime. In recent days, Trump has ramped up talk about deploying troops to cities, primarily those led by Democrats, to stop violent crime. As Chicago braces for possible National Guard presence on the heels of Trumps statements, Democrats accused him of federal overreach. During a press conference Wednesday with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Trump criticized Baltimore for doing a terrible job with crime and said there are people in Democratic cities asking him to send the National Guard to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The politicians are not in tune with the people. The people in Chicago, the people in Baltimore, the people in all of the places we talked about, they want to see us there, he said. And I think were pretty much waiting till we get asked. Were doing them a big service, Trump added. His remarks come just a day after he said he was going in to Chicago, despite Illinois Gov. JB Pritzkers opposition to the idea. Pritzker told residents that a federal presence would be coming soon and to be alert. He said he would never ask Trump to send National Guard troops to Chicago and instead wants federal dollars put toward crime prevention programs in his state. Other Democrats besides Pritzker have been outspoken about Trumps deployment. Democratic members of the House held a No Troops on Our Streets press conference outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington has entered its fourth week with federal law enforcement members in the city. Trump has championed the effort, saying there is zero crime in the city and residents feel safer. Trump invoked the Home Rule Act and federalized the citys law enforcement, allowing National Guard members to increase their presence in Washington. While Washington does not have voting representation in Congress, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, represents the district in the House. Norton joined other lawmakers for a press conference against Trumps actions on Wednesday. President Trump has used D.C. residents as props in a political play to showcase his own power. While the president claims that federal control of D.C. is necessary to combat crime, his own actions severely jeopardize public safety in the district, she said. Norton has been pushing for Washington to gain statehood, so it cannot be as easily changed by the Trump administration. She called on members of Congress to pass the statehood bill she introduced into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 700,000 people count themselves as D.C. residents. We are Americans worthy and capable of the same autonomy granted to the residents of the states, Norton said. Our local police force should not be subjected to the federalization and action that wouldnt be possible for any other police department in the country. Norton was joined by lawmakers from Illinois, Maryland, California and New York, all states that Trump has mentioned when talking about an increased National Guard presence. On Tuesday, Trump said he would deploy National Guard members to Chicago. Rep. Delia C. Ramirez, D-Ill., who represents parts of Chicago, organized the press conference Wednesday with the American Civil Liberties Union to strongly condemn Trumps plan. We understand that whether its LA, D.C., Chicago or Baltimore, Trumps deployment of thousands of armed federal agents and military personnel into the nations capital and other cities is the action of a wannabe dictator, Ramirez said. For him, Donald Trump, abusing the power of the National Guard is not about protecting public safety. Its about control. Its about threatening diverse, successful, Democratic-led cities like Chicago that refuse to bow down to authoritarianism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, it remains unclear if Trump plans to follow through on his plan to send troops to Chicago. He deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles in June after declaring the anti-immigration enforcement protests there were an emergency, and used Washingtons Home Rule Act in August. Its unclear what Trumps justification for sending federal enforcement to Chicago would be, but it would likely set up a legal battle. Trump, during his remarks Wednesday, said he could drive down crime in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, like he has done in Washington. Were making that determination now. Do we go to Chicago? Do we go to a place like New Orleans? he asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Orleans, the largest city in Louisiana, is the first state Trump has mentioned in regard to the National Guard and crime that is led by a Republican. He quickly pivoted back to Chicago, however, and said he could straighten the city out. All they have to do is ask us to go to Chicago, he said, later adding, But Ill tell you who is supporting us, the people of Chicago. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem brought her husband Bryon to her grilling on Capitol Hill after a report that Donald Trump is considering firing the top administration official over her problematic alleged lover. Noem showed up before the House Committee on Homeland Security with members of her family in attendance on Thursday. One person who did not appear to be in the hearing room: Corey Lewandowski. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he may deploy federal troops to New Orleans next, not Chicago, and is waiting for governors to ask for help a shift in his rhetoric about moving into major U.S. cities uninvited. "We are making a determination now: Do we go to Chicago? Or do we go to a place like New Orleans where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that has become quite quite tough, quite bad? Trump said during an Oval Office meeting alongside Polands new president. You have New Orleans, which has a crime problem. We'll straighten that out in two weeks, easier than D.C., Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was a walk-back of his declaration just 24 hours earlier that were going in to Chicago, a city he has long maligned for violent crime but has a Democratic governor who opposes Trumps deployment of federal troops in his state. While he again credited the federal troops for D.C.s drop in crime since their deployment last month, the presidents shifting plans for the next phase in his crackdown on urban crime marked a tacit acknowledgement of the legal challenges hell face going beyond his authority within the District of Columbia. He suggested hed be holding off on sending more federal troops into states where governors oppose such a move. Were pretty much waiting until we get asked, Trump said about the potential of activating National Guard units to patrol other Democrat-led cities like Baltimore and Chicago, both of which he again characterized as unsafe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to go into Chicago and I have this embarrassing governor who doesnt want us, Trump said. Nearly a month after he ordered federal troops and law enforcement agents into Washington, Trump is eager to keep the publics focus on the issue of urban crime. He complained about the medias renewed fixation on Jeffrey Epstein with Congress this week releasing an initial tranche of files from the disgraced financiers legal case presenting it as a distraction. Its really a Democrat hoax, Trump said. Theyre trying to get people to talk about something thats totally irrelevant to the success that were having as a nation. Trumps comments also came at the outset of a meeting with Polands new president, Karol Nawrocki, who he welcomed with a flyover by F-35 and F-16 jets, an unusual occurrence for a foreign leaders White House visit and one that startled residents in Washington even with the higher than normal troop presence at the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flyover, the president explained later, was a tribute in honor of a downed Polish Air Force F-16 pilot major Maciej Slab Krakowian, who died in a crash last week during an airshow in Poland. Nawrocki, a far-right leader who Trump endorsed during his campaign, was eager to steer the discussion to security issues amid the ongoing war on its eastern border between Russia and Ukraine and the Pentagons forthcoming review of global force posture that Poles fear could mean a reduction of U.S. troops in their country. Asked by a Polish journalist about whether he might authorize a reduction in troops in Poland, Trump assured Nawrocki that the U.S. would maintain its current troop presence. Theyll be staying in Poland, Trump said. Were very much aligned with Poland. Trump praised Poland as a model ally for spending the highest percentage of its GDP of any NATO country on defense, even joking that well put more [troops] there if they want. President Donald Trump on Wednesday touted his takeover of Washington, D.C., as a success and floated the idea of launching a similar crackdown on crime in New Orleans. Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump cast D.C. as a crime-ridden city up until he declared a public safety emergency in the nations capital and federalized the citys police force three weeks ago. Now its considered a totally safe zone, he said. City data showed that violent crime in D.C. was already falling significantly before the Administrations operation, but does indicate a further decline in crime during the takeover. Taking credit for the recent drop, Trump suggested sending National Guard troops to other major cities, too. I could do that with Chicago. We could do that with New York. We could do it with Los Angeles, Trump said. Were making a determination nowdo we go to Chicago, or do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country thats become quite tough, quite bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said New Orleans has a crime problem and that his Administration could straighten that out in about two weeks, adding that it would be easier than D.C. New Orleans was considered the murder capital of the U.S. in 2022. But the citylike D.C., Chicago, and many others across the countryhas experienced a decline in violent crime in recent years. Trump has previously indicated that he would tackle crime in other cities beyond D.C., including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore, and Oaklandall in Democratic-run states. Louisiana, however, is led by a Republican governor and the GOP controls both chambers of its state legislature. Gov. Jeff Landry, who the President praised on Wednesday, was endorsed by Trump during the 2023 gubernatorial race. After Trump launched his takeover of D.C. last month, Landry was among several Republican governors who deployed National Guard troops to the city to aid in the operation. The Presidents remarks come as tensions rise between him and local leaders in Illinois. Trump said a couple weeks ago that Chicago would likely be the next city his Administration turns to in its efforts to crack down on crime. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnsonboth Democratshave rejected the idea of federal intervention. Over the weekend, Johnson ordered city departments not to cooperate if Trump deploys the National Guard to Chicago. But on Tuesday, Trump dismissed local leaders objections: Were going to do it anyway, he told reporters in the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued to slam local officials on Wednesday, calling Pritzker an incompetent governor. He went on to criticize California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and vocal Trump critic. The President claimed that he saved L.A. after sending in the National Guard earlier this summer, bypassing Newsom. The move sparked widespread outrage among state leaders and the public, and has drawn pushback from the courts. On Tuesday, a judge ruled that the Trump Administrations deployment of troops to L.A. violated a longstanding federal law. Still, Trump painted the operation as a success, even claiming that the 2028 Summer Olympics wouldnt be held in L.A. as planned if he hadnt stepped in. If we didnt go into Los Angeles with our soldiers, with our National Guard, you wouldnt even be having the Olympics there, he said. We saved Los Angeles and we saved the Olympics. Contact us at letters@time.com. President Donald Trump is mad that China is palling around with his strongmen friends. Trump erupted on social media late Tuesday night US time as television footage aired of Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosting the authoritarian leaders of Russia and North Korea at a stunning military parade in Beijing. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America, Trump wrote in a message to Xi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Truth Social post heard around the world means one thing: If Chinas two big gatherings of authoritarian leaders, US adversaries and erstwhile allies this week was intended as a personal affront to the US president, it worked perfectly. And it underscored the futility of his attempts to subject the true global hard men to his art-of-the-deal charms and his claims that his supposedly close relationships with such leaders can be decisive. Trump met with Putin in Alaska last month, but his gushing red-carpet welcome has so far failed to unlock any progress toward ending the war in Ukraine. Putin has defied Trumps hopes by escalating attacks on civilians and is stalling on talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The US presidents first-term summits with Kim were similarly unsuccessful. The North Korean leader has more nuclear weapons now than he did before taking part in Trumps photo-op diplomacy. The presidents online tirade went on to point out that Americans had suffered heavy losses in the struggle against a common enemy, imperial Japan, the 80th anniversary of whose defeat was marked in Beijing on Wednesday. Many Americans died in Chinas quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! Trump wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas big celebration comes at a tense international moment as the new Asian superpower seeks to capitalize on Trumps erratic foreign policy, which has shattered Americas reputation as a reliable great power. Trumps fury was ironic, since the last few days in China have seen the kind of performative spectacle that he loves. But the gathering of anti-Western powers in Tianjin and Beijing is about more than trolling. Its an early warning that Trumps second-term policies based on tariff coercion, the bullying of lesser powers and America First nationalism may be backfiring. China is leveraging the missteps or mistakes that the US (is making), Jackie S.H. Wong, an assistant professor of international studies at the American University of Sharjah, told CNNs Becky Anderson on Connect the World Tuesday. We are not deterred Some of the alarmist talk about China and Russia building a new axis of resistance to the US is overblown. Nations represented at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin lack formal defense agreements or pooled economic sovereignty to compare to groups like NATO or the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Territorial tensions periodically spark between China and India. Moscow might need Chinas help in fighting its war in Ukraine, but the Kremlin is still getting used to being the junior superpower. And despite Communist Party iron rule, China suffers from internal political and economic pressures, demonstrated by Xis regular purges of top officials and military brass. But the festivities of recent days are part of Chinas wider effort to showcase its emerging might and to test out alternative global affiliations and systems as it seeks to eclipse the West. By gathering leaders from Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere, it was demonstrating the capacity of a bloc to frustrate US global power on multiple fronts. One top US military leader on Tuesday downplayed the significance of events in China. Nations like China and North Korea and Russia, and others do these kind of events. Theres certainly a big focus on messaging, Gen. Kevin Schneider, commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, told an online talk Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I think the takeaway for this is we are not deterred, Schneider said. A lot of this predates Trump. Eight decades after the end of World War II, its not surprising that institutions born in the aftermath of the horror need a reboot. The rise of populous developing nations was always going to threaten American hegemony and the global system built and dominated by the West. And as the last members of the Greatest Generation fade away, the triumph of the democracies in World War II is becoming history rather than a tangible human memory. But Trumps choices in the first eight months of his second term are accelerating a shift of global power to the East. Theyre playing into Xis quest to revive what he believes is Chinas rightful global prominence. Trumps attacks on allies and desecration of US foreign aid programs are brewing resentment among erstwhile American friends who are now hedging their bets with an alternative superpower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Incredibly, the force doing most to undermine the West is the president of the country the United States that guaranteed freedom and democracy for generations. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on August 1, 2025, in Washington, DC. - Win McNamee/Getty Images How Trump is undermining US power Many steps that Trump takes to demonstrate US power end up undermining it. By taking on Beijing in a massive trade offensive, Trump picked on the one nation that would be ready to absorb economic pain to damage the US. Now, Trump has found that Beijing has, well, a trump card: control of a large share of rare earth metals that the US needs to run its tech industry and military applications. Trumps failure to force Beijing to back down is enhancing a sense that its ready to challenge American might and drawing foreign leaders to Beijing. Trumps capricious tariff attacks on US trading partners based on his hunches rather than economic data and attempts to throttle the independence of the Federal Reserve play into Chinas previously unconvincing claims that it, and not the United States, is the stable superpower on which partners can rely. Nations represented in Tianjin, for example, included many that looked to Washington rather than Beijing in recent years, including Vietnam which is facing tough US tariffs Egypt, and NATO member Turkey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most startling example of Trumps clumsy, counterproductive behavior shone through the attention lavished throughout the summit in Tianjin on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a fellow populist nationalist leader and erstwhile friend of Trump. Trumps claims to have solved a flare-up between India and Pakistan earlier this year and demands for the Nobel Peace Prize infuriated Modi. A 50% tariff on Indian imports to the US fractured nearly 30 years of efforts by Republican and Democratic presidents to prevent India and China which are home to a billion people each from moving closer together. Laughing and shaking hands, Xi and Modi both argued their two countries, long separated by mistrust, could be partners and not rivals. Modis interaction with a jovial Putin was even more overt. Last month, the Russian leader had a private chat in Trumps Beast limousine at their summit in Alaska. In China, Putin one-upped Trump, inviting Modi into his ride, and a photographer was on hand to capture the friendly hourlong chat inside. Xis welcome to Modi matched that of Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India is signaling to the US that we have alternatives, and China can be that alternative, Wong told Anderson on CNN International. I would say China is leveraging that opportunity. Trumps misstep is more surprising since he jelled with Modi during his first term. But India is a deeply proud nation whose colonial history makes it especially sensitive to being bullied. It is hyper-touchy about anything to do with its arch-rival Pakistan. Such subtleties seem to escape the White House. Perhaps Trumps purge of State Department experts is taking a toll. Russia is often portrayed in the West as a decrepit power; a shadow of the Soviet Union despite its vast nuclear arsenal. Theres some truth to this after 25 years of Putins corrupt rule. But the Russian leader buttressed his image in defying Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has left the US president expressing disappointment and resorting to his classic tactic of teasing apparently imminent announcements to spare his embarrassment. He told reporters Tuesday hed spoken to Putin and learned things that will be very interesting. I think in the next few days, youll find out. Many foreign policy experts thought a shrewd second term goal for Trump would be to push US adversaries like Russia, China and North Korea apart. Instead, hes driven them together, and driven India, a member of the US Quad grouping with Australia and Japan, closer into their orbit. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, attend a military parade in Beijing, on Wednesday. - Sergey Bobylev/Sputnik/AP Trumps performance is in the eye of the beholder Trumps supporters dispute any characterization of his foreign policy as anything but a roaring success. The White House argues that the United States has never been more respected in the world. It bills Trump as the President of Peace and claims hes ended seven global wars even though some of the nations it names werent fighting each other when Trump intervened. The president told CNN contributor Scott Jennings on his radio show on Tuesday that he wasnt concerned at all by the diplomatic signaling coming from China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also implied in a conversation with reporters in the Oval Office that Xi would be forced to capitulate. China needs us. And I have a very good relationship with President Xi, as you know. But China needs us much more than we need them. Meanwhile, Trump is making overt attempts to prove hes as tough as any global strongman. On Monday, as superpower diplomacy played out across the Pacific, he announced a US strike that killed 11 people in the seas off Venezuela, which officials said targeted drug traffickers. The attack could herald a military campaign on questionable legal ground regarding congressional authorization. He also re-upped threats to send National Guard reservists into Chicago as he methodically escalates his effort to normalize the use of the military in law enforcement despite constitutional curbs. But there was a reminder that despite his authoritarian instincts, the United States still has democratic safeguards that Russia and China lacks when a judge ruled that his dispatch of federal troops to Los Angeles earlier this year was illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president does have some significant second-term wins. His wielding of US might against smaller nations has tariff cash gushing into the Treasury. And despite his stumbling, he remains the only world leader with a chance to force all parties to the table in pursuit of peace in Ukraine. His relentless pressure on NATO allies led to significant pledges of increased defense spending. But Chinas superpower coming-out party this week shows its critical for US power that he somehow prevails over Beijing in the trade war. Oodles of flattery that the president has enjoyed from foreign leaders seeking to dodge his wrath may be giving him a false impression of how the rest of the world sees him. Our country is the hottest country in the world right now, Trump said Tuesday. Everybodys talking about the USA. The United States was likely on the lips of many of those gathered in China this week. But not quite in the way Trump thinks. CNNs Brad Lendon contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Trump on Truth Social demanded Hamas release ALL 20 hostages, warning, Not 2 or 5 or 7! If they do, things will change rapidly... IT WILL END! US President Donald Trump called for Hamas to "IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 hostages" in a Wednesday post on Truth Social. "Not 2 or 5 or 7!" he added. If Hamas does this, then "things will change rapidly," he added, concluding, "IT WILL END!" Trump notably only referred to the 20 hostages presumed to be alive, rather than the total 48 hostages held in captivity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a direct message to the US president, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said: "This nightmare cannot end for our nation until ALL 48 hostages are accounted for - both those who survived and those who were brutally murdered during these 700 days of hell." They reiterated their demand for Trump to make every effort to ensure that all 48 hostages held in captivity is returned to Israel. Trump, on August 22, said there are "probably" fewer than 20 hostages left alive. US President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, August 6, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST) US opposes partial deal, Netanyahu claims Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the security cabinet that the US administration also opposes a partial deal in a meeting on Sunday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Forget the partial deals. Go in with full force. Finish it," Netanyahu quoted Trump as saying, adding that Israels window of legitimacy from the international community is limited, and that pausing for a partial deal would harm the effort to destroy Hamas. "Our impression is that Netanyahu's opposition is genuine. He will not agree to a partial deal," ministers said. Families of hostages held in Gaza set up a visual protest outside the United States Embassy branch in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, calling on Trump to use American leverage to finalize a deal that would bring the hostages home and end the war. The families arranged a display that included a large table with a mock Hostage Return Agreement, a symbolic Nobel Peace Prize certificate, and oversized coins with Trumps face. The setup was designed to resemble a signing ceremony, underscoring what they described as a historic opportunity for the US president. Amichai Stein and Joanie Margulies contributed to this report. A member of the National Guard stands alongside a military vehicle parked in front of Union Station, near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18, 2025. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) President Trump mobilized the D.C. National Guard under the guise of restoring security in the nations capital despite D.C.s crime rate being at a 30-year low. What began as a deployment of 800 D.C. National Guard troops has grown to encompass 2,091 as of this writing, as Republican governors send hundreds more. Trump hasnt just complained about alleged crime in the district hes placed a target on people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Claiming that were getting rid of the slums, Trump has called on troops and police to forcibly remove unhoused people from the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Federal law prohibits deploying the military on U.S. soil, except under certain extraordinary circumstances. Trump is currently facing legal challenges over his 60-day deployment of troops in Los Angeles earlier this year under equally unfounded claims about violence and risk and against the wishes of the troops themselves. Now hes ordering soldiers into our streets for the fourth time as president to viciously target some of the most vulnerable members of our society despite abundant evidence that prosecuting homelessness only makes it worse. The cost of this cruel power grab is borne by taxpayers like you and me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous reporting found that National Guard deployments cost the U.S. government $530 per Guard member, per day. So the price tag of deploying 2,091 troops to D.C. is well over $1 million per day and the number of troops will likely continue to grow. And with no deadline for the D.C. deployment, those costs could add up for months or even years. This militarized spending comes at the expense of federal programs like public housing that actually do prevent crime and improve health and education outcomes. Using those figures and other publicly available data, I calculated that the daily cost of operating public housing for all 5,616 people who are unhoused in D.C. on any given night is one-quarter the daily expense of deploying the National Guard. If the Guard remains deployed for three months, it would cost more than operating public housing for the entire unhoused population in D.C. for an entire year. Thats also true in the states whose GOP governors are voluntarily sending National Guard troops to the capital. Across those six states Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia some 30,000 people are unhoused. The daily cost of operating safe shelter for all 30,000 would be less than one day of the D.C. occupation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, its true in almost every state, I learned. The daily expense of deploying troops to D.C. is more than four times the daily cost of operating public housing for Georgias unhoused population, five times for Nevadas unhoused population, and 15 times for all unhoused people in Wisconsin. If you want numbers for your own city, county, state, or congressional district, you can use the National Priorities Projects trade off calculator at NationalPriorities.org to learn more about what taxpayers in your area are paying towards militarism and the services we could be enjoying instead. Trumps decision to hyper-militarize our streets is transpiring on the heels of the MAGA budget bill, which cuts food and medical services for millions across the country to further enrich billionaires and war profiteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deploying troops in our nations capital, rather than investing in what makes communities safe and prosperous, is yet another attempt to scapegoat struggling people especially communities of color to advance a draconian agenda in service of billionaires, war profiteers, and white supremacy. Government spending on straightforward solutions that help poor and working-class people faces constant political backlash. But providing affordable housing to end homelessness in D.C. would be far cheaper than deploying troops and would do far more to improve the citys security. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The presumption of regularity is a boring-sounding but important phrase in the law. It signals the deference that courts have historically given the government. One of the Trump Justice Departments latest legal losses highlights how his DOJ has lost that good faith from the judiciary or some of the judiciary, anyway. The latest defeat came late Tuesday from a divided panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. The topic was the Alien Enemies Act, the 18th-century law that President Donald Trump invoked to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. The panel majority granted a preliminary injunction against the administrations use of the law for deportations in Northern Texas. The ruling is significant in its own right because it undercuts one of the key legal claims pressed by the government in Trumps second term (a declassified government memo previously undercut the factual basis for Trumps invocation as well). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But disagreement between the majority and the dissent also spotlights a broader issue over whether the courts trust this DOJ, whose representations judges have questioned in multiple cases related to the administrations aggressive deportation agenda. In granting the injunction Tuesday, the 5th Circuit majority had to analyze the likelihood that the plaintiffs would suffer irreparable harm without preliminary legal relief. Siding with the plaintiffs, the majority cited (among other things) previous litigation at the Supreme Court where the justices sided with plaintiffs despite the governments assurances. The two judges in the majority on the 5th Circuit panel were George W. Bush appointee Leslie Southwick and Joe Biden appointee Irma Ramirez. In a lengthy dissent, Trump appointee Andrew Oldham was bothered by (among other things) the majority refusing to give greater deference to the government. More dramatically, Oldham accused the majority of suggesting that DOJ lawyers are lying. If they are, I suppose they should be sanctioned. But it is astounding to say that lawyers from the United States Department of Justice are lying, wrote the judge, whos a contender for any Supreme Court vacancy that emerges under Trump. The majoritys disbelief of DOJ also conflicts with the presumption of regularity, Oldham went on, writing that courts employ a heavy presumption that Government officers, including Government lawyers, act in good faith in the absence of clear evidence to the contrary. He found it troubling that, here again, the rules for this Administration are different. If anything, he concluded, the majority seems to give this President a presumption of irregularity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oldhams complaint calls to mind Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksons recent complaint that her colleagues invariably find a way to side with the administration, lamenting that the high court is playing a version of Calvinball in which this Administration always wins. If this latest Alien Enemies Act litigation makes it to the justices, it can provide the latest test of whether Oldhams or Jacksons views are vindicated. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in the Trump administrations legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The Kennedy Center was made into a hub of Christian evangelical propaganda last week, demonstrating the extent to which the Trump administration is attempting to use the institution to proselytize its culturally conservative worldview to the public. Last Wednesday, the center screened the documentary The Revival Generation: Gen Z Turning to Jesus, produced by the extremist-friendly Christian Broadcasting Network. (The documentarys executive producer is the granddaughter of Pat Robertson, who founded CBN.) The film features right-wing Christian activists who advocate for a national revival movement at American colleges and universities, where right-wing culture warriors like activist Charlie Kirk have sought to expand their power and influence. The Christian Broadcasting Network posted images on social media that show the worship session, featuring gospel artist Tasha Cobbs Leonard, that it hosted after the screening. What a night to remember! From the red carpet to powerful worship with @tashacobbs to the premiere of The Revival Generation at the Kennedy CenterGods presence was undeniable. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this unforgettable evening! #TheRevivalGeneration pic.twitter.com/9RzJQYpzMy The Christian Broadcasting Network (@CBNOnline) August 28, 2025 The context here is that young people, particularly members of Gen Z, are significantly less likely than older generations to identify with a particular religion, according to polling data in recent years, including Gallup polling data from April. And that trend threatens the future of a conservative movement that has used far-right religious views as a guide for policymaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My colleague Steve Benen has been doing some excellent reporting on Donald Trumps efforts to pervert the Kennedy Center into a political plaything. Last weeks film screening appeared to continue that trend, as the center was converted into an upscale tent revival in which evangelicals could promote their propaganda to American youth. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The US population is poised to shrink for the first time on record this year, as Donald Trumps immigration crackdown becomes a major threat to economic growth. Americas could lose as many as 525,000 people from net outward migration this year, according to forecasts by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) as Mr Trump presses ahead with a mass deportation scheme. Because the US only added a net 519,000 people through births, the loss of 525,000 people could see Americas total population shrink by 6,000 this year the first time in the countrys near 250-year history that its population has officially shrunk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the AEIs migration forecast, net immigration will plummet from 2.8 million to between 115,000 and -525,000 this year. Even at the less extreme end, this represents a 96pc fall in net international immigration. 0209 Net US migration to plummet under Trump Even during the massive loss of life during the Civil War when 700,000 died Americas population has grown. During the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021, its population still rose by 0.4pc and 0.16pc respectively each year. Data have already suggested Mr Trumps immigration crackdown could be leading to significant population loss. A recent analysis of census data by the Pew Research Center revealed that Americas foreign-born population fell to 51.9 million from 53.3 million between January and June this year. The stark figures are the clearest signal yet that Mr Trumps sweeping immigration crackdown and deportations have not only put the brakes on new arrivals but also pushed people to leave the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump was elected on a promise to conduct mass deportations of undocumented migrants and he has embarked on a sweeping and aggressive crackdown since taking office, focused primarily on major Democrat cities. In June, Mr Trump called on Americas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to ramp up deportation efforts across America and do all in their power to deport migrants. Since Mr Trump took office, around 350,000 people have been deported, meaning the US is on track for the highest number of deportations in at least a decade this year. In June, Mr Trump sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to suppress protests against his immigration crackdown, a move which a federal judge ruled was illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump is planning a new immigration enforcement operation in Chicago that could launch as early as this week and could also potentially involve National Guard soldiers. Major toll on US economy ICE plans to spend $3.6bn per year on deportation transportation alone, a six-fold annual increase. But while Mr Trump is following through on his election promise, the statistics show his measures will take a major toll on US growth. Derek Thompson, an author who writes about US society, said: Its a deliberate policy of demographic contraction that could wreak havoc across the US economy. High levels of immigration in the US were politically controversial but also contributed heavily to economic growth and was a massive source of workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the years after the pandemic, immigrant workers drove nearly half of cumulative US GDP growth, according to analysis by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr). A drop off in immigrant workers is a significant threat to Americas construction sector, which has the highest foreign-born worker share of any industry in America, at nearly 30pc. The agriculture and hospitality sectors are also particularly dependent on immigrant workers. Population growth was going to slow in the decades ahead, but had not been on track to shrink until the 2080s, according to demographer William Frey, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesman, said: Over one in 10 young adults in America are neither employed, in higher education, nor pursuing some sort of vocational training. There is no shortage of American minds and hands to grow our labour force, and President Trumps agenda to create jobs for American workers represents this administrations commitment to capitalising on that untapped potential while delivering on our mandate to enforce our immigration laws. 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 Trump will ask the Supreme Court to throw out a jurys finding in a civil lawsuit that he sexually abused E Jean Carroll, a journalist. The US president was found liable for the abuse, which is said to have taken place at a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s. He was also found to have later defamed Ms Carroll after she came forward about the incident. Mr Trumps lawyers previewed the move as they asked the court to extend its deadline for challenging the verdict, which resulted in a $5m (4.3m) damages award to Ms Carroll, from Sept 10 to Nov 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president intends to seek review of significant issues arising from the trial, and the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals subsequent decisions upholding the verdict, his lawyers said. Ms Carrolls lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said her team and client do not believe that President Trump will be able to present any legal issues in the Carroll cases that merit review by the United States Supreme Court. Ms Carroll testified at a 2023 trial that Mr Trump turned a friendly encounter in spring 1996 into a violent attack in the dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury retailer across the street from Trump Tower. The jury also found Trump liable for defaming Ms Carroll when he made comments in October 2022 denying her allegation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A three-judge appellate panel upheld the verdict last December, rejecting Mr Trumps claims that trial Judge Lewis A Kaplans decisions spoiled the trial, including by allowing two other sexual abuse accusers of Mr Trump to testify. The women claimed he had committed similar acts against them in the 1970s and in 2005. Mr Trump denied all three womens allegations. The president has had recent success fending off costly civil judgments. Last month, a New York appeals court threw out Mr Trumps staggering $500m (430m) fine in a state civil fraud lawsuit. 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. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump carried out a strike on a boat in the southern Caribbean that he claims was operated by members of the Tren de Aragua gang and en route to the United States with drugs on board. "The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States," Trump posted on Truth Social with a video of the strike. "Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!" The strike followed last week's deployment of eight U.S. warships, one nuclear-powered submarine, and thousands of Marinesthe largest military buildup in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Officially, Washington says it's fighting drug cartels by first designating them as global terrorists. Yet Trump "secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon" instructing the military to start targeting cartels. But the Venezuelan regime is no ordinary cartel. In early August, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a reward of up to $50 million "for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction" of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro "for violating U.S. narcotics laws." Maduro is accused of being "a leader of Cartel de los Soles" (Cartel of the Suns), a powerful trafficking network that, like Tren de Aragua, has become a target of U.S. operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won Venezuela's presidential election with 67 percent of the vote, but Maduro's dictatorship refused to relinquish power and forced him into exile. Despite clinging to illegitimacy, Maduro denounced the U.S. deployment at the United Nations as "a serious threat to regional peace and security." At home, he attempted to project strength by launching a nationwide enlistment drive in mid-August, opening militia registration centers across the country, but the campaign seems to have been a failure. The U.S., meanwhile, is building a coalition in Latin America to attack the Cartel of the Suns, getting other countries to also declare it a terrorist organization. So far, Ecuador, Paraguay, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic have joined the initiative. France has also reinforced its military presence in the Caribbean. A report detailing Operation Imeri, a plan Brazil had devised for a rescue operation of Maduro following the recent U.S. deployment, was ultimately rejected by sectors of the Brazilian Navy. However, despite the reports coming from reputable sources, its existence was later denied by Brazil's Defense Ministry. But now, everything depends on how far Trump is willing to go. This is the first direct action that the administration has taken against an organization related to the regime in Caracas. Trump directly named Maduro as the mind behind the organization, and accused him of overseeing "mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere." During his briefing, the president also hinted at future actions against the regime, saying, "There's more where that came from." The equipment deployed is not suitable for simply carrying out an anti-drug operation. It includes boats such as the USS Jason Dunham, which can use Tomahawk cruise missiles to hit targets accurately from over 1,000 miles. The forces are also not enough to start an occupation, and an intervention risks entangling the U.S. in another costly foreign conflict. But it is possible that we will see more strikes on vessels, and potentially, strikes on Venezuelan soil against drug operations. Venezuela is one of the key transit countries for cocaine, with nearly 24 percent of all the cocaine in the world going through the country, with the protection of the Cartel of the Suns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has promised repeatedly to bring to justice those responsible for smuggling drugs into the country. The U.S. is capable of conducting such an operation on Venezuelan soil, as we saw a few months ago when asylum-seeking opposition leaders were rescued from the Embassy of Argentina in Caracasconsidered the most guarded place in the country after the government palaceby U.S. and Italian government forces. If Trump were to deploy such a military force and then pull back, it would be a political defeat for him and an easy victory for the dictatorship. He has political reasons to conduct a high-level operation, one of which is the mid-term elections. The president will need the support of the Hispanic community, the largest minority in the country, and their support for Trump has diminished following his punishing deportation campaignsupport he could largely regain if he captured Maduro. Another reason is that Trump might be holding a meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping in October, and holding this meeting after suffering a political defeat to the Maduro regime would put the U.S. in a weak position. However, if Trump gets to the meeting with a political victory over one of China's allies, it could give him the upper hand. What is now clear is that this is not a mere show of force. Washington seems to be testing the limits of intervention. How this gamble plays out remains uncertain. For many Venezuelans, the possibility of outside pressure offers a fragile sense of hope after decades of repression, yet the risks of escalation and regional instability are just as real. However this plays out, the outcome will reverberate far beyond Caracas, shaping both Venezuela's future and the United States' role in the hemisphere. The post Trump Orders Strike on Suspected Venezuelan Gang Boat in Caribbean appeared first on Reason.com. President Donald Trump is demanding pharmaceutical companies release their data on COVID-19 vaccines, even as his own role in the initiative that sped their development has grown more complicated. In a Truth Social post on Monday, President Donald Trump said it was very important that the Drug Companies justify the success of their various COVID Drugs, adding, Many people think they are a miracle that saved Millions of lives. Others disagree! With CDC being ripped apart over this question, I want the answer, and I want it NOW. Trump, who once hailed Operation Warp Speed as a Christmas miracle in 2020, has rarely spoken about the vaccines other than to praise their development. His latest call for more transparency comes as his administrations health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has restricted the use of the shots and cut federal funding for the mRNA research that made them possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first Trump administration launched Warp Speed in May 2020 as a massive scientific, industrial, and logistical endeavor unlike anything our country has seen since the Manhattan Project, as Trump described it at the time. With billions from the CARES Act, the project aimed to compress years of vaccine research and distribution into months. By December 2020, Pfizer and Moderna received emergency authorization for their COVID shots. Trump touted the achievement at a summit in December of that same year: Before Operation Warp Speed, the typical timeframe for development and approval, as you know, could be infinity. And we were very, very happy that we were able to get things done at a level that nobody has ever seen before. The gold standard vaccine has been done in less than nine months. Yet even in 2020, the project was marked by tension with drugmakers. Pfizer publicly insisted it was not part of Warp Speed, with one executive telling the New York Times, We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone. Trump pushed back, calling that an unfortunate misrepresentation and pointing to a $1.95 billion advance-purchase agreement for 100 million doses, per Fox Business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, under the agreement, Pfizer did not receive any money in advance for the development of the vaccine, like its pharmaceutical competitors did. Instead, it used the funding for the manufacturing and distribution of the vaccine after it was developed, as reported by Fox Business. By the end of 2023, more than 711 million vaccine doses had been administered in the United States, according to the World Health Organization, and at least 70% of Americans had received both initial shots. But the vaccines have remained politically divisive. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll in May 2025 found that just 30% of Republicans considered the shots safe, compared to 87% of Democrats. In an August Fox News opinion piece, former acting CDC Director Richard Besser warned that Kennedys decision to end mRNA funding was deeply flawed, writing that COVID-19 vaccines saved at least 3.2 million lives in the United States and millions more around the world. His editorial did not address the well-documented cases of healthy young men who suffered pericarditis and myocarditis after taking the shot and who were at little risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besser urged Trump to direct Secretary Kennedy to immediately reverse this shortsighted decision. The turmoil has rippled through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last week, Director Susan Monarez was fired after less than a month in the job, with her lawyers alleging she was dismissed for refusing to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and for supporting vaccines, per The Washington Post. Several other senior CDC officials resigned in protest. Bidens CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky subsequently wrote an OpEd for The New York Times with several others under the headline, We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every Americans Health. Yet, Walensky is partly known for her inaccurate medical assertions during the COVID-19 pandemic that at times went beyond what even the CDC was recommending. Walensky said that the CDC recommends that pregnant people receive the Covid-19 vaccine, despite CDC guidance stating that pregnant women can get the vaccine, while not specifically recommending it, CNN reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has continued to insist that Pfizer possesses extraordinary vaccine data not yet shared with the public. Why not??? he asked in his post. They go off to the next hunt and let everyone rip themselves apart, including Bobby Kennedy Jr. and CDC, trying to figure out the success or failure of the Drug Companies Covid work. What once stood as one of Trumps signature achievements is now caught in a broader political and scientific clash, raising questions about whether the president will continue to claim Warp Speed as his own legacy or distance himself from the effort that produced the vaccines he now demands be reexamined. (NewsNation) President Donald Trump has suggested he could send the National Guard to New Orleans, the first time he has proposed a deployment to a Republican-led state. The president made the statement when asked about his plans to deploy troops to Chicago during a news conference Wednesday with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. We are making a termination now: Do we go to Chicago, or do we go to New Orleans? Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP, Democratic lawmakers unveil stock trading ban bill On Tuesday, the president said his administration would be sending National Guard troops to Chicago, but the date had not yet been determined. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have both objected to the plan, stating the troops are not needed. On Wednesday, Pritzker said he is trying like hell to keep the National Guard from being sent to Chicago, saying that troops had no desire to be standing stand on the street corner in the city of Chicago. They dont want to invade an American city, Pritzker said, adding that troops are being ordered to be there and face being court-martialed if they defy orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: National Guard are some of the best people youll ever meet. They train well, but what they train for is to go to war. Trump has repeatedly said he plans to deploy troops to several Democrat-run cities, including Chicago, Baltimore, New York and San Francisco. Trump said Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry requested his help. The state is also home to Trump ally and House Speaker Mike Johnson. New Orleans leaders, however, have rejected the idea, which City Council member J.P. Morrell called an unnecessary show of force. The Trump administration filed an appeal Wednesday after a federal judge ruled his use of National Guard troops in Los Angeles was illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida moves to end all school vaccine mandates without exceptions Judge Charles Breyer ruled the deployment, which was in response to protests against immigration raids, violated the Posse Comitatus Act. The act prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement without congressional approval. The Trump administration has argued the deployment was lawful as it protected federal resources. In Illinois, Pritzker has said he would take Trump to court if he deployed National Guard troops to the state. NewsNations Jeff Arnold contributed reporting to this story Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) welcomed Ajinomoto Philippines Corp. (APC), a subsidiary of Japans leading food manufacturer and the heritage brand behind Aji-no-moto, as one of its newest and most significant investors. PEZA embraces the Ajinomoto umami seasoning and food culture as we move forward together in this partnership of ecozoning the Philippines towards an inclusive and sustainable economy, the agency said in a statement. - Advertisement - Ajinomoto, widely recognized as Japans No. 1 food company and a global pioneer in seasoning and flavor enhancement, is set to build a P9.1-billion manufacturing facility within the TARI Estate in Luisita, Tarlac City. The TARI Estate is a mixed-use industrial hub developed by Aboitiz InfraCapital under the supervision of PEZA. Construction of the state-of-the-art factory is scheduled to begin in May 2026, with full operations expected by April 2028. The major investment marks a strategic expansion for Ajinomoto, which has been serving the Filipino market for 67 years since it began operations in 1958. The new facility, in addition to those in Cebu and Bulacan, will support APCs continued business growth and new ventures in the country. Ajinomoto Philippines manufactures its two top-selling products the iconic Aji-no-moto umami seasoning and the Aji-Ginisa flavor seasoning mix. With the Philippines strong domestic market and ongoing transition to an upper-middle-income economy, APC is optimistic about its growth trajectory in the country. The company plans to introduce a wider range of food products, which are already enjoying strong popularity in other markets like Thailand, where Ajinomotos top five sellers include RosDee seasoning, Yum-Yum instant noodles, Birdy coffee and frozen food items such as karaage and gyoza. By Jeff Mason and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that China's "beautiful ceremony" marking the end of World War Two should have highlighted the role that the U.S. played in Japan's defeat. "I thought it was a beautiful ceremony. I thought it was very, very impressive," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, hours after he suggested on social media that foreign leaders meeting in Beijing might be conspiring against the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I watched the speech last night. President Xi is a friend of mine, but I thought that the United States should have been mentioned last night during that speech, because we helped China very, very much." The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chinese President Xi Jinping has made the 80th anniversary of the war's end a major showcase for his government and its close ties with countries at odds with Washington. Flanked by Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Xi spoke before a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators at Tiananmen Square. He surveyed a parade of goose-stepping troops and cutting-edge military equipment aimed at deterring would-be adversaries including the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Japan's invasion of China in 1937 was a major escalation in fighting that would lead to World War Two, and Japan's surrender in 1945 marked the end of the conflict. The U.S. joined the war in 1941, aiding Chinese forces fighting the Japanese military and playing a decisive role in Japan's defeat. Deploying history to wage present-day political battles, Xi has cast World War Two as a major turning point in the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" now ruled by his Chinese Communist Party, and its allies. On Wednesday, Xi thanked "the foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people," according to an official. But he did not dwell on the role of the United States in the war. U.S.-China relations are at a tense moment. The two sides are at odds on a range of security issues, from Ukraine to the South China Sea, and are wrangling over a broad trade deal to stave off tariffs on each other's goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trump has repeatedly touted a positive personal relationship with Xi that his aides say can steer the world's two largest economies in a constructive direction. He has also said he might soon meet with Xi. In a post directed at Xi on Truth Social as the parade kicked off, Trump said, "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America." The Kremlin said they were not conspiring and suggested the remarks were ironic. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Don Durfee and Nia Williams) President Donald Trump said Wednesday hell soon speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as momentum toward ending Russias war in Ukraine has largely stalled and left the White House frustrated. Im having a conversation with him very shortly, and Ill know pretty much what were going to be doing. Ill be speaking to him over the next few days, and were going to see, Trump told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. The White House later clarified that the phone call between Trump and Zelensky was scheduled for Thursday and added that there is no call with Russian President Vladimir Putin currently set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about his message for Putin, whom hes given repeated two-week deadlines, Trump said he had none but offered a subtle warning. I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and hell make a decision one way or the other. Whatever his decision is, well either be happy about it, or unhappy. And if were unhappy about it, youll see things happen, he said. Trumps meeting with the president of Poland, a key US ally and Ukraines neighbor, comes as Putin is being embraced on the world stage this week, appearing in China alongside some of the worlds most powerful authoritarian leaders a show of force Trump acknowledged Wednesday he was watching. US President Donald Trump and Polish President Karol Nawrocki speak during a meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday. - Brian Snyder/Reuters And now, more than two weeks after Trump hosted Putin in Alaska, and Zelensky and other European leaders visited the White House, theres little sign of the Zelensky-Putin talks the White House has been pushing. Trump is weighing whether he should even still be involved in trying to broker a meeting, CNN has reported. (Putin claimed Wednesday he was willing to meet with Zelensky in Moscow a proposal Kyiv quickly called unacceptable.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps frustration spilled into public view Wednesday when he was questioned about his lack of action against Russia, lashing out at a Polish reporter while hinting at possible plans to further pressure Moscow. How do you know theres no action? Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser (of oil), outside of China theyre almost equal. Would you say there was no action? That cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia. You call that no action? And I havent done phase two yet or phase three, Trump said. The White House did not respond to CNNs request for clarity about what a second or third phase might entail. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this week that all options are on the table for further sanctions on Russia, but the administration has so far been reluctant to take such a step. Trumps foreign envoy Steve Witkoff is headed to Paris on Wednesday ahead of a meeting of the coalition of the willing, a source familiar with the plans told CNN. But it was not immediately clear if he was attending the meeting of nations that have pledged support of Ukraine against Russias unprovoked invasion. Firefighters work at the site of Russian drone and missile strikes in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, on Wednesday. - State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters But as Trumps latest deadline for Putin comes due on Friday after he suggested on August 22 that he would give the Russian leader a couple of weeks before potential consequences against Moscow his plans now arent much clearer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one significant step Trump has already taken to increase economic punishment of Russia, he triggered the ire of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by doubling tariffs on Indian imports to 50% an effort to get the country to stop purchasing Russian oil. Modi, in turn, sent a clear signal about the deteriorating state of US-India relations this week as he joined a major summit in China alongside President Xi Jinping, Putin and others. Xis show of force, which included a military parade attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, underscored his effort to position China as an alternative to what he sees as the unpredictability and chaos of Trump and a Western-oriented global order. Trump has been watching the gathering quite closely, saying in a Tuesday night message to Xi to social media, Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president suggested on Wednesday that the parade was, in part, designed for him to watch and he did. I understood the reason they were doing it, and they were hoping I was watching and I was watching, Trump said in the Oval Office. He added, My relationship with all of them is very good. Were going to find out how good it is over the next week or two. Putin downplayed Trumps conspiracy comments Wednesday, saying that the claim shows Trump has a sense of humor. CNNs Alayna Treene and Kristen Holmes contributed to this report. This story and headline have been updated with additional reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he may send federal troops to Louisiana to combat crime, following similar actions in Washington. Trump, speaking to reporters at the start of a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, said his administration was determining whether to send troops to Chicago or "a place like New Orleans." "We're going to be going to, maybe Louisiana, and you have New Orleans, which has a crime problem. We'll straighten that out in about two weeks," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also claimed crime in Baltimore was at "levels that nobody's ever seen before" and that he would consider sending troops into the Maryland city if he is asked to do so. "If we go into Baltimore, (we can) straighten that out very quickly, too ... and I think we're pretty much waiting until we get asked," he said. Trump has regularly threatened to expand his federal crackdown on Democratic-led U.S. cities, casting the use of presidential power as an urgent effort to tackle crime even as city officials cite declines in homicides, gun violence and burglaries. On Tuesday he said he would deploy National Guard troops in Chicago but did not say when. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has much less power over Chicago and Baltimore than he does over Washington where, as president, he holds more sway since it is not a U.S. state. (Reporting by Jeff Mason, Andrea Shalal and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Richard Chang) President Donald Trump may have his eyes set on a new target for his military takeover of American cities, and this time its in a Republican-led state. While speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump floated the possibility of expanding his largely baseless military crackdown. Were making a determination now, Trump said. Do we go to Chicago, or do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to straighten out a very nice section of this country thats become quite, you know, quite tough, quite bad? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So were going to be going to maybe Louisiana, Trump added. Louisiana is one state that could probably use help getting its crime rate downif only Trump were interested in doing it the legal way. Instead, his administration has cut more than $800 million in Justice Department grants to crime-prevention programs. In 2024, New Orleans had a homicide rate of 34.7 murders per 100,000 residents, while the rate in Washington D.C., where Trump instituted a federal crackdown earlier this summer, was 27.3 per 100,000 residents, according to a report from the Rochester Institute of Technology. The rest of Louisiana isnt in the clear, either. In 2024, Baton Rouge had a murder rate of 36 people per 100,000, and Shreveport, which is in House Speaker Mike Johnsons district, landed at #25 on Newsweeks recent list of the 30 U.S. cities (with at least 100,000 residents) that had the highest number of violent crimes against people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry had approved sending some of his states National Guard troops to Washington D.C. to assist in Trumps so-called crackdown on crime in the capital, despite the fact that his own state has far higher crime rates. Trumps reference to a pliant Landry was likely a dig at Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who has consistently hit back at the presidents advances to send the military to Chicago. I want to go into Chicago, Trump pouted Wednesday, during the same press conference. And I have this incompetent governor who doesnt want us. So far, Trumps use of National Guard troops to counter crime has been focused on Democratic cities. On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that Trumps decision to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles had blatantly violated the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, an act prohibiting the use of the U.S. military to execute domestic law. While the decision apparently infuriated the president, who has claimed he has the right to do anything he wants, Trump appears reluctant to help anyone who isnt willing to beg him for it. President Donald Trump doubled down on his plan to send National Guard troops to Chicago on Tuesday. During an Oval Office press conference, Trump was asked about Chicagos crime rate and his idea of sending troops to the city. Were going in, Trump said of Chicago, but added, I didnt say when. Trump said he has an obligation to protect the country and that it was not a political thing, adding that the federal National Guard presence in Washington, D.C., over the last several days has driven down crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker should call the president and ask for troops to be sent to the city for crime. Still, Trump said he was going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it because I have an obligation to protect this country, he said, noting that Baltimore could also see a National Guard presence. Pritzker replied to Trumps statements in a press conference of his own on Tuesday. He told the people of Chicago that in the coming days they will see federal agents on federal property, particularly from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. Pritzker said staging has already begun in the city and most agents were coming from Los Angeles. Chicago Police Transit Detail official parks outside a CTA station in Chicago, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. | Nam Y. Huh The announcement comes just hours after a federal judge in California said that the June National Guard presence in Los Angeles was illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker said he would not call the president to ask him to send troops. He said the administration was targeting the city for its large Mexican Independence Day celebrations over the next month. Lets be clear, the terror and cruelty is the point, not the safety of anyone living here, he said. Pritzker claimed that the Texas National Guard was already preparing to be deployed to Chicago. He also argued that the action was not about fighting crime or making Chicago safer, but instead targeting blue and Democratic-led cities. The Illinois governor also said local law enforcement consistently works with federal agencies to tackle crime. Pritzker criticized the president and administration for not sending adequate resources to the city and state to drive down violence. He gave a warning to Chicagoans to protect one another and film the law enforcement actions they see. Pritzker said Tuesday that he was ready to fight Trumps actions in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also have experience asking the president for assistance, just to have the rug pulled out from underneath me when execution meets reality. I refuse to play a reality game show with Donald Trump again. What I want are the federal dollars that have been promised to Illinois and Chicago for violence prevention programs that have proven to work, Pritzker said. While Trump was able to send the National Guard to Los Angeles by declaring the protests an emergency, and using Washingtons Home Rule Act in D.C., its unclear what the justification will look like for Chicago. The president would be opening up a large legal battle over states rights, federal overreach and public safety. Federal troops are coming to Chicago, President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Were going in, Trump said, without specifying a timeline for when he intended to send the National Guard to the city. In a news conference shortly after Trumps announcement, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson warned the president against sending National Guard troops to his city and said Chicago has a gun problem, not an immigrant problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not want or need military occupation in our city. We do not want or need militarized immigration enforcement in our city, Johnson said. Johnson added: There are measures that the federal government can take right now to help continue to drive down violence and crime in our city. We need the federal government to stop the endless flow of guns into our state and into our city. On Saturday, Johnson signed an executive order to require federal law enforcement to abide by local rules about masking and identification and to limit local polices participation in immigration enforcement. Johnson was joined Tuesday by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who said the Trump administration is not working in coordination with him and called Trumps threats a political drama to cover up for his corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker said he has reason to believe the Trump administration has sent the Texas National Guard to Great Lakes naval base outside Chicago and that they are awaiting orders to deploy to the city on Sept. 16 to target Mexican Independence Day celebrations. Unidentifiable agents in unmarked vehicles with masks are planning to raid Latino communities and say theyre targeting violent criminals, Pritzker said. A spokesperson for Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts office told MSNBC that Pritzkers information about the Texas National Guard is not accurate. Trump has already sent National Guard troops and U.S. Marines into Los Angeles and federalized local law enforcement in Washington, D.C., this summer, and he is threatening to do the same in several other cities, including Baltimore and New York, all of which are run by Black mayors. (By contrast, Trump has not threatened to send the National Guard into cities in red states with higher crime rates than Washington, D.C.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps latest threats to deploy the National Guard to Chicago came on the same day a federal judge ruled that the move violated the Posse Comitatus Act. California Gov. Gavin Newsom brought the lawsuit in June against the Trump administration and the Defense Department after 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were deployed to Los Angeles. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com By Jeff Mason and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he plans to hold talks about the war in Ukraine in coming days after his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August failed to achieve a breakthrough. Trump has been frustrated at his inability to get a halt to the fighting, which began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, after he initially predicted he would be able to end the war swiftly when he took office last January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said he would be holding talks in the next few days. A White House official said Trump is expected to speak on the phone on Thursday with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The French presidency said earlier on Wednesday that several European leaders, including Zelenskiy and France's Emmanuel Macron, would call Trump on Thursday afternoon. That call was expected to follow a mostly virtual meeting on Thursday, hosted by France, of some 30 countries to discuss their latest efforts to provide Ukraine with security support once there is a peace agreement with Russia. The European leaders were also expected to denounce Moscow's unwillingness for negotiations. Putin has shown little interest in ending the war after he and Trump voiced optimism about making progress during their meeting in Anchorage on Aug. 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have no message to President Putin," Trump told reporters at the White House as he met Polish President Karol Nawrocki. "He knows where I stand and he'll make a decision one way or another. Whatever his decision is, we'll either be happy about it or unhappy about it and if we're unhappy about it, you'll see things happen," he said. Trump did not explain what he meant, but he has talked about the possibility of imposing more sanctions on Russia. Trump also said the war would be resolved "one way or the other" but that he had not realized it would be so difficult to end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I thought that that would be much easier," Trump said. "I thought that would be in the middle of the pack, maybe one of the easiest. Sometimes you never know with war," he said. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Steve HollandEditing by Nick Zieminski) President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that U.S. forces had carried out a lethal maritime strike against narcotics traffickers tied to Venezuela, killing 11 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang in international waters. Earlier this morning, on my orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility, Trump said in his Truth Social account. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere. The president said that the strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents post was accompanied by a black and white video apparently taken with night vision equipment of a fast boat traveling with a number of occupants before suddenly exploding and bursting into flames. The video and the presidents remarks expanded on the comments he made earlier during a press conference, where he told reporters that U.S. forces had destroyed a drug-laden vessel coming out of Venezuela. At the time, he credited the military leadership of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and framed the incident as part of a broader campaign against narcotics trafficking. We have a lot of drugs pouring into our countrycoming in for a long time. These came out of Venezuela, and [theyre] coming out very heavily, Trump said. A U.S. military video released by the Department of Defense shows a precision strike destroying a high-speed narcotics vessel in international waters on Sept. 2, 2025. The footage, later shared by Trump on Truth Social, was described as targeting the Tren de Aragua criminal organization amid a U.S. naval buildup in the Caribbean. The strike comes amid a major U.S. naval buildup in the southern Caribbean, where eight warshipsincluding three amphibious assault ships, a nuclear-powered submarine and surveillance aircrafthave been deployed to disrupt cartel activity. The force includes about 4,500 sailors and Marines, among them a rapid-response expeditionary unit of 2,200 troops. The San Antonio, Iwo Jima and Fort Lauderdale are stationed alongside three Arleigh Burke-class destroyersthe Sampson, Jason Dunham and Gravelyarmed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, advanced air defenses and anti-submarine weapons. Military officials say the combined strike group not only interdicts traffickers at sea but also provides the capacity to land Marines ashore, if ordered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has increasingly folded its counter-narcotics strategy into its campaign to isolate the Venezuelan government. Earlier this year, the United States designated the Tren de Aragua and other cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, granting agencies expanded authority to freeze assets, disrupt financing and target leaders. The U.S. has also labeled Venezuelas Cartel of the Sunsan alleged trafficking network involving Maduro and senior military officersa Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. Prosecutors have indicted Maduro on conspiracy charges, accusing him of turning Venezuela into a narco-state, and the State Department has placed a $50 million bounty on his capture. Maduro has rejected the U.S. allegations, calling them a pretext for regime change. In response to the latest naval deployments, he vowed to mobilize militias to defend Venezuelas sovereignty, raising fears of a direct clash between U.S. forces and Venezuelan security units in the region. A U.S. military video released by the Department of Defense shows a precision strike destroying a high-speed narcotics vessel in international waters on Sept. 2, 2025. The footage, later shared by Trump on Truth Social, was described as targeting the Tren de Aragua criminal organization amid a U.S. naval buildup in the Caribbean. The deadly strike marks one of the most aggressive U.S. military actions yet tied to the administrations counter-cartel strategyunderscoring Washingtons willingness to treat Maduros criminal networks as battlefield adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president did not provide details about the time or location of the attack. In a brief statement issued via his X account, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the U.S. military had conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said 11 people were killed in a US strike on what he says was a ship loaded with drugs en route to the United States. Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that the attack targeted "positively identified" members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang that Washington has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. He said no US forces were harmed. The post included video footage showing a small boat under fire and bursting into flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America," he wrote. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier described the operation in the southern Caribbean as a "lethal strike" against a ship that had set sail from Venezuela carrying narcotics. Rubio also told reporters in Florida that "these particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean." Venezuela says US video is likely AI generated Venezuela's information minister, Freddy Nanez, said on Telegram it was "highly likely" that the video of the strike released by the US government was generated using artificial intelligence (AI), citing an analysis by Google's AI software Gemini. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nanez shared a screenshot of Gemini's response, which stated it could not "confirm the exact tools used" but noted that "several elements suggest AI generation," including "simplified, almost cartoon-like animation" and a "lack of realistic detail." The Venezuelan official went on to condemn the use of this "type of strategy" to support war narratives. Tensions flaring up between Washington and Caracas Recently, tensions between the two countries have escalated. According to media reports, the US has deployed several warships off the Venezuelan Caribbean coast in recent weeks, saying the vessels are there to intercept drug smugglers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Washington has doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuela's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, to up to $50 million. The US Department of Justice says Maduro is involved in international drug trafficking. Maduro calls US military presence 'greatest threat' Maduro has described the US military presence in the Caribbean as the "greatest threat" in a century. "Venezuela is facing the greatest threat our continent has experienced in the last 100 years," he said on Monday during a press conference with foreign correspondents. "Eight warships with 1,200 missiles and a nuclear submarine are targeting Venezuela. It is an extravagant threat. Unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro warned of armed resistance in the event of a US attack, and had previously announced plans to recruit additional militia members. According to Maduro, the militia currently has around 4.5 million members, including reservists, members of the socialist ruling party, employees of state-owned companies and pensioners. Security experts, however, doubt the militia's military effectiveness. MetroPac Water Investments Corp. (MWIC), the water utility unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is in talks to acquire Prime Water Infrastructure Corp., an executive said Wednesday. Yes, were talking, but nothing definite yet, MWIC president Andrew Pangilinan said in a text message. - Advertisement - Prime Water has faced numerous customer complaints in recent months, including issues with intermittent supply and low water pressure. The company has joint venture agreements with more than 70 water districts across the Philippines, including Bulacan and Cavite provinces. Malacanang earlier received complains on Prime Waters services. MWIC operates more than 700 projects in the Philippines and Vietnam. In the Philippines, it has over 530,000 customers and 85,000 service connections, with a billed volume of 359 million liters per day. Its major projects include water distribution in Dumaguete and Iloilo, bulk water supply in Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo and industrial water projects in Vietnam. MWIC is a sister company of Maynilad Water Services Inc., with both firms falling under the Metro Pacific group. The Ayala group previously divested its stake in Manila Water Co. Inc. after former President Rodrigo Duterte threatened legal action against Manila Water and Maynilad over alleged onerous concession agreements. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump on Wednesday justified the lethal military strike that his administration said was carried out a day earlier against a Venezuelan gang as a necessary effort by the United States to send an unmistakable message to Latin American cartels. Asked why the military did not instead interdict the vessel and capture those on board, Trump said the operation would cause drug smugglers to think twice about trying to move drugs into the U.S. There was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and everybody fully understands that, Trump said while hosting Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the White House. He added, Obviously, they wont be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people wont be doing it again. When they watch that tape, theyre going to say, Lets not do this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday's strike was an astonishing departure from typical U.S. drug interdiction efforts at a time when Trump has ordered a major Navy buildup in the waters near Venezuela. Later Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that such operations will happen again. Rubio said previous U.S. interdiction efforts in Latin America have not worked in stemming the flow of illicit drugs into the United States and beyond. What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them, Rubio said on a visit to Mexico. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Fox & Friends that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was running his country as a kingpin of a drug narco-state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth said officials knew exactly who was in that boat and exactly what they were doing." But the Republican administration has not presented any evidence supporting Trump's claim that operators of the vessel were from the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and were trying to smuggle in drugs. President Trump is willing to go on offense in ways that others have not seen, said Hegseth, who declined to detail how the strike was carried out. Venezuelas government, which has long minimized the presence of Tren de Aragua in the South American country, limited its reaction to the strike to questioning the veracity of a video publicized by the Trump administration showing the attack. Communications Minister Freddy Nanez suggested it was created using artificial intelligence and described it as an almost cartoonish animation, rather than a realistic depiction of an explosion. Hegseth responded that the strike was definitely not artificial intelligence," adding he watched live footage from Washington as the strike was carried out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and administration officials have repeatedly blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some American cities. The president on Tuesday repeated his claim contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment that Tren de Aragua is operating under Maduros control. In announcing the strike, Trump said the operation, which he said killed 11, was carried out in international waters. He also noted that the gang is designated by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization. Unlike its counterparts from Colombia, Brazil and Central America, Tren de Aragua has no large-scale involvement in smuggling cocaine across international borders, according to InSight Crime, which last month published a 64-page report on the gang based on two years of research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve found no direct participation of TdA in the transnational drug trade, although there are cases of them acting as subcontractors for other drug trafficking organizations, said Jeremy McDermott, a Colombia-based co-founder of InSight Crime, referring to the Venezuelan gang by its initials. Still, with affiliated cells spread across Latin America, it would not be a huge leap for Tren de Aragua to one day delve deeper into the drug trade, he said. Meanwhile, the rhetoric from officials in Washington who would blame TdA as a proxy for all Venezuelan drug traffickers assures it will remain a target of intense U.S. government focus. It is almost impossible today to determine who is TdA and who is not, said McDermott. Deportations and statements from the United States suggest that TdA is now being used as a catch-all description for Venezuelan criminals acting abroad. Some international warfare experts are questioning the legality of the strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intentional killing outside armed conflict hostilities is unlawful unless it is to save a life immediately, said Mary Ellen O'Connell, an expert on international law and the use of force at the University of Notre Dame Law School. No hostilities were occurring in the Caribbean. Hegseth was opaque in his comments on Fox about whether Trump was looking to press for regime change in Venezuela. Well, thats a presidential decision, Hegseth said. He added that anyone would prefer that Maduro would just give himself up. But thats a presidential-level decision. The U.S. announced plans last month to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduros government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuelas coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia. Ryan Berg, director of the Americas program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Tuesdays strike clearly shows governments in the region, not only Maduro, the paradigm shift brought on by the U.S. decision to declare Tren de Aragua and Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. This is a United States that sees security differently, Berg said. Theyve just demonstrated the ability to use deadly force in the Western Hemisphere, and theyve already told Mexico that theyre going to do the same thing on Mexican territory if they dont get the level of cooperation that they want. The U.S. has a complicated legacy of sticking its hand in Latin American affairs, and American military interventions particularly during the Cold War played a major part in destabilizing governments and paving the way for coups in Guatemala, Chile and a number of Central American nations, which still grapple with the sometimes violent fallout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, the U.S. has taken a a more subtle approach, providing foreign assistance to many countries and security forces, but not making direct strikes like what was seen in Caribbean waters. Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who met with Rubio on Wednesday, underscored the importance of the Trump administration to operate in the region without subordination of other governments and respecting sovereignty of allies. Lee reported from Mexico City. AP writer Regina Garcia Cano and Megan Janetsky in Mexico City and Joshua Goodman in Miami contributed reporting. On the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.) More than 30 National Institutes of Health grants in Ohio have been impacted by recent cuts at the federal level. Thirty-two NIH grants are currently being impacted and eight NIH grants have been reinstated for an estimated loss of $16.75 million, according to Grant Witness, a project that tracks the termination of grants of scientific research agencies under President Donald Trumps administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX More than 5,110 NIH grants have been impacted, totaling $4.52 billion lost, according to Grant Witness. 1,290 grants have been reinstated. The United States Supreme Court recently allowed NIH to terminate $783 million in grants tied to diversity initiatives. NIH ended hundreds of grants linked to DEI studies earlier this year after a series of Trump executive orders. Two separate groups of plaintiffs went to federal court in Massachusetts to challenge the termination of the NIH grants and a federal judge ruled in their favor, but U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the Supreme Court to intervene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohios affected grants, according to Grant Witness. Case Western Reserve University has nine grants affected, including one that could be possibly reinstated. Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center has two grants affected. Kent State University has one grant affected. Ohio State University has 18 grants, including six that could be possibly reinstated and one with frozen funding. The Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens Hospital has three grants affected. The University of Cincinnati has six grants affected, including one that could be possibly reinstated. The University of Toledo has one grant affected. The Ohio Capital Journal reached out to all affected universities and hospitals, but most of them did not respond by deadline. We have not experienced the sweeping reductions in funding that have been proposed for some other institutions, Ohio State University Spokesperson Ben Johnson said in an email. When you look across our entire portfolio, we have not had a significant number of grants canceled. However, each cancellation is significant to the researchers involved and we are working to support those individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio States research portfolio totaled $1.6 billion last year and about $775 million of that was federal funding, he said. The University of Toledo acknowledged a NIH grant was terminated and university spokesperson Tyrel Linkhorn said there were no layoffs associated with the termination. In addition, Ohio University has been notified of two NIH sub-awards totaling $13,040 that have received stop-work orders, university spokesperson Dan Pittman said. Ohio University leaders will continue to assess evolving guidance from federal agencies and provide additional details and guidance as needed; during this time, we encourage all (OU) researchers to continue their efforts to explore research opportunities and to pursue funding, he said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The types of NIH grants affected in Ohio range from studying the long-term effects of COVID, vaccine hesitancy in rural communities, inflammatory bowel disease, bisexual adolescents and young adults risk for depression and suicidal ideation, minority womens mental health and creating healthy habits for heart health, among others. The cuts to the NIH funding are going to severely reduce the amount of research that universities in Ohio are able to engage in, Sara Kilpatrick, executive director of the Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors. And this, of course, is a problem nationwide, but this is a great concern for our research institutions in the state of Ohio. This will hurt local economies and Ohios economy as a whole, she said. I think that anybody who understands the kind of economic engines that our universities are has to be able to see the way that this is going to severely undermine the research missions of our universities, Kilpatrick said. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE US President Donald Trump has a sense of humour, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday after Washington suggested China, Russia and North Korea were planning a conspiracy against the United States. Earlier, the Kremlin denied any such conspiracy in comments responding to a social media post by Trump, concerning a meeting held in China. No one spoke negatively about Trump at high-level meetings in recent days, Putin said in Beijing at a press conference broadcast on Russian state television at the end of his four-day China trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin was responding to the press for the first time since a summit with Trump in Alaska last month. During his talks in China there was repeated praise for Trump's efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Putin said. However, there are currently no preparations for a new meeting with Trump. Earlier, Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov told Russian state television, "I would like to say that no one has instigated any conspiracies, no one has concocted anything." Trump addressed Chinese President Xi Jinping directly in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying, "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ushakov added that "moreover, no one has even thought about it, none of the three leaders has thought about it." The Kremlin said it hopes that Trump's comments were meant ironically. "Furthermore, I can say that everyone understands the role that the United States, the current administration of President Trump, and President Trump personally play in the current international situation," said Ushakov. The Kremlin has repeatedly welcomed Trump's efforts to seek peace in the Russian war against Ukraine. According to Ushakov, US-Russian contacts mainly revolve around a possible end to the war in Ukraine. He also mentioned that a new meeting between Moscow and Washington is being prepared, although the location and time are not yet determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's post was made ahead of Wednesday's grand military parade in Beijing, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Xi is hosting several world leaders, most notably Putin and Kim, who met for a bilateral discussion during their time in Beijing. Putin publicly thanked Kim for North Korea's support in the Ukraine war. The talks came days after the Russia-friendly SCO, seen as a counterbalance to Western alliances, including NATO. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested he could deploy federal troops to New Orleans in his latest threat to use the federal government to crack down on crime in a Democrat-run city. Were going to be going to maybe Louisiana, and you have New Orleans, which has a crime problem," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "Well straighten that out in about two weeks. Itll take us two weeks, easier than D.C." Last month, Trump deployed thousands of National Guard members to Washington, D.C., and surged federal law enforcement, including the FBI and border patrol agents, there. He has also repeatedly threatened to send National Guard troops to Chicago and Baltimore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said Wednesday that Gov. Jeff Landry, R-La., wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country thats become quite, you know, quite tough, quite bad. In a post to X, Landry shared a clip of Trump's comments and welcomed the move. "We will take President @realDonaldTrumps help from New Orleans to Shreveport!" he said. In a joint statement, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's office and the New Orleans Police Department touted the city's ongoing collaboration with the federal government. "We have consistently worked with our federal partners, including collaborations with the Louisiana State Police," the statement read. "This collaborative approach has been instrumental in our ongoing success in reducing crime." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City data indicates that the overall crime rate in New Orleans is down 21.5% compared to last year. Trump has said his decision to deploy the National Guard to cities is part of a move to fight crime, but critics have argued that it is an overreach. Its ridiculous to consider sending the National Guard into another American city that hasnt asked for it. Guardsmen are not trained law enforcement. They cant solve crimes, they cant interview witnesses and they arent trained to constitutionally police," New Orleans City Council President JP Morrell said in a statement. He said the police department "is doing a great job with the existing resources they have. Marching troops into New Orleans is an unnecessary show of force in effort to create a solution to a problem that doesnt exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Rep. Troy Carter, D-La., whose district includes New Orleans, said, Militarizing the streets of New Orleans is not a solution. Period. If the President wants to provide federal resources to the City, I will work with him to provide funding to recruit and better train police officers, better fund our district attorney, fix the infrastructure at Orleans Parish Prison and fund the very programs he has cut that get at the root cause of crime: systemic poverty, said Carter. Last week, the president threatened in a post to Truth Social to "send in the 'troops'" to Baltimore. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore criticized the threat, arguing that Trump "would rather attack his countrys largest cities from behind a desk than walk the streets with the people he represents." Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, also a Democrat, accused Trump of wanting "to use the military to occupy a U.S. city, punish his dissidents and score political points." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time Trump announced the National Guards deployment to D.C., violent crime in the capital had decreased 26% compared to last year, according to police data. In Chicago, police data indicate that shootings are down 35% compared to the same period last year. Earlier this year, Trump deployed members of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests against his immigration policies. The Trump administration hit a roadblock on Tuesday when a judge ruled that the White House, in doing so, had violated a law that limited the ability of the military to be used for law enforcement purposes. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Trump administration closed out August with the most significant legal defeat of its second term. Last Friday, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that most of Trumps tariffs were illegal under existing federal lawa potentially landmark setback for the Trump administrations economic agenda. At issue in the case is whether Trump can use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977more commonly known as IEEPAto levy a wide range of tariffs on imported goods. While IEEPA gives presidents broad powers to influence trade when a national emergency is declared, a coalition of small businesses argued that these powers did not extend to the kind of tariffs that Trump imposed. In a 74 decision, the Federal Circuit agreed. We are not addressing whether the Presidents actions should have been taken as a matter of policy, the court explained. Nor are we deciding whether IEEPA authorizes any tariffs at all. Rather, the only issue we resolve on appeal is whether the [specific tariffs] imposed by the challenged executive orders are authorized by IEEPA. We conclude they are not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps next step will likely be to ask the Supreme Court to intervene. The courts conservative supermajority has given the president practically everything that he has asked for over the past two years, including presidential immunity before the 2024 election and near-unlimited leeway to impose his governing vision on the nation by executive order. At the same time, upholding Trumps tariffs would run counter to many of the justices major rulings over the past decade. In recent years, for example, the justices used the major questions doctrine to kneecap policy initiatives by the Biden administration. The doctrine holds that when the executive branch issues a rule or regulation of vast economic and political significance, the statutory authority it invokes must be unambiguous. The justices have said that Congress must speak clearly in such cases, and on those grounds the court invalidated a Biden-era plan for student loan debt relief and a moribund Environmental Protection Agency plan to regulate power-plant emissions, among other rulings. The Supreme Court has never before applied the major questions doctrine to a Republican presidents policy initiatives. But the Federal Circuit found it appropriate when judging the legality of Trumps tariffs. Reading the phrase regulate ... importation to include imposing these tariffs is a wafer-thin reed on which to rest such sweeping power, the court wrote, quoting first from the language in IEEPA that Trump cited as authority and then from a Supreme Court decision that invalidated the Center for Disease Control and Preventions Covid-era eviction moratorium in 2021 on major questions grounds. The Federal Circuit noted that Trumps attempt to use IEEPA in this way appeared to be an entirely novel one in the statutes half-century history. Since IEEPA was promulgated almost fifty years ago, past presidents have invoked IEEPA frequently, the court wrote. But not once before has a President asserted his authority under IEEPA to impose tariffs on imports or adjust the rates thereof. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also deserves less deference on these questions, the court explained, because levying tariffs is a core power of Congress under the Constitution. Presidents do have some powers to raise and lower tariff rates in certain circumstances, it noted, but Congress has typically done so explicitly, either by using unequivocal terms like tariff and duty, or via an overall structure which makes clear that Congress is referring to tariffs. IEEPA, by contrast, makes no mention of tariffs at all. The court even included a reference to Chief Justice John Robertss landmark ruling in 2012 that upheld the Affordable Care Act. Tariffs, in practical terms, are a tax paid by individuals and companies on foreign-made goods at the time of import. Contrary to the governments assertion, the mere authorization to regulate does not in and of itself imply the authority to impose tariffs, the majority noted, observing that the Constitution grants these powers to Congress in separate clauses. It cited Robertss Obamacare ruling, which upheld the individual mandate to buy health insurance under Congresss taxation powers, as proof of the distinction. These conclusions are not much different from those reached by the Court of International Trade in May when it ruled against the tariffs in the first instance. The Trump administration also appears to have expected a defeat before the appellate court. Over the past month, it has sent multiple letters to the court to make additional arguments beyond what it offered in oral arguments in July. These arguments, which were not legal in nature, tended toward the hyperbolic andin some casesthe apocalyptic. If the United States were forced to unwind these historic agreements, the President believes that a forced dissolution of the agreements could lead to a 1929-style result, Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote last month. In such a scenario, people would be forced from their homes, millions of jobs would be eliminated, hard-working Americans would lose their savings, and even Social Security and Medicare could be threatened. In short, the economic consequences would be ruinous, instead of unprecedented success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I noted last month, it is difficult to believe that unwinding tariffs that did not exist six months ago would collapse the American economy overnight. The administration then followed up with a second letter a few days before the courts ruling. This one included almost 40 pages of sworn statements by members of Trumps Cabinet, each one warning of myriad harms to the American economy if the court ruled against Trumpor, alternatively, if it blocked him from collecting the tariffs until they could ask the Supreme Court to intervene. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick warned that invalidating the tariffs would effectively consign American producers to the back of the line, resign the United States to permanent dependency on foreign supply chains, and accelerate the drift toward Americas decline into a vassal state to global manufacturing powers that include our geopolitical rivals. He described the tariffs as Americas last chance to turn the tide, to restore our industrial base, and to secure economic might for generations to come. Scott Bessent, the secretary of the treasury, has acted as the adult in the room since last spring on trade-related matters. To that end, he was somewhat more constrained in his affidavit. Bessent warned that a court defeat would lead to dangerous diplomatic embarrassment, which emboldens allies and adversaries alike. (It is unclear why emboldening our allies would be a bad thing.) He also claimed, more reasonably, that a narrower reading of IEEPA would reduce Americas ability to impose retaliatory tariffs in the future. All of the Cabinet officials emphasized that invalidating the tariffs would weaken the administrations hand in ongoing negotiations. Jamieson Greer, who holds an ambassador-level diplomatic post as the United States trade representative, warned that an adverse ruling would undermine this once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect national security by expanding the U.S. defense-industrial base. If the court rules against Trump, he continued, it would interrupt ongoing negotiations to memorialize these framework agreements midstream, and that discontinuity cannot be remedied by a stay or reversal at a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of that is particularly persuasive, since the question is not whether the tariffs are good or bad or effective or ineffective, but whether they are legal. If the tariffs are so good and important and vital, one might wonder, why could Trump not simply ask Congress to enact them into law through the normal legislative process? He has the luxury of Republican control of both the House and the Senate. He also enjoys more influence over his partys lawmakers than perhaps any other president in American history. For now, Trumps easier option may be to ask the Supreme Court to bail him out. It is hard to predict exactly how the court will approach the case, aside from the baseline assumption that it favors Trump. Justice Brett Kavanaugh gave a forecast of sorts into how he might rule in an unrelated case last term. In a concurring opinion in Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers Research last June, he wrote broadly on the major questions doctrine and suggested that it might not extend to national security matters. The major questions canon has not been applied by this Court in the national security or foreign policy contexts, because the canon does not reflect ordinary congressional intent in those areas, Kavanaugh explained. On the contrary, the usual understanding is that Congress intends to give the President substantial authority and flexibility to protect America and the American peopleand that Congress specifies limits on the President when it wants to restrict Presidential power in those national security and foreign policy domains. Kavanaugh did not reference the ongoing tariff litigation, but four dissenting judges in the Federal Circuit took the hint. They cited him directly when disagreeing with the majoritys ruling. Congress very clearly made a broad delegation here, as in other emergency-authority delegations, Judge Richard Taranto wrote. Whether to provide such delegations is certainly open to policy debate, as it carries obvious risks, and such debate has occurred over the decades, but the policy debate is not for us to resolve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is worth emphasizing that Kavanaughs views do not amount to binding legal precedent for lower courts, which is why the majority did not have to agree with them. Nor are there any indications that they are shared by any of the justices colleagues. Kavanaughs dissent in Consumers Research in June was a solitary one. It is also unclear why Congress can be flexible with presidents in some circumstances but not others. Now that the Federal Circuit has spoken, the Supreme Courts conservative justices face a choice. They can apply their existing precedents as written to constrain Trump on a matter of vast economic and political significance (to borrow their phrasing), and risk his ire. Or they can find yet another escape hatch for him, at the cost of further diminishing their public standing and the legitimacy of their anti-regulatory rulings. If Trump can send the United States into a recession on a whim, what purpose does the major questions doctrine serve other than to constrain Democratic presidents? Well find out in the courts upcoming term. U.S. President Donald Trump proposed sending additional American troops to Poland during a Sept. 3 meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office, Euractiv reported. Nawrocki, a consistent supporter of Trump, made his first official visit to Washington since assuming office. He had earlier traveled to the U.S. during his campaign to secure Trump's endorsement. "We will put more there if they want," Trump said in the Oval Office. "We are with Poland all the way, and we will help Poland protect itself." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki emphasized Poland's goal to boost military spending within NATO and highlighted that, for "the first time in history," Warsaw is welcoming foreign troops, expressing strong appreciation for the American military presence. Nawrocki, a conservative backed by the opposition Law and Justice party, narrowly won Poland's presidential election on June 1 with 50.89% of the vote, defeating Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's ruling coalition. A historian-turned-politician, Nawrocki's ascent to the presidential office signals growing challenges for Polish-Ukrainian relations. While the new head of state affirmed support for Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression, he also spoke out against Kyiv's EU and NATO aspirations, often drawing attention to past historical grievances. The conservatives' victory also maintains the ideological divide between the Polish Presidential Office and Tusk's centrist government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, Nawrocki vetoed a bill that would have extended financial support for Ukrainians fleeing the war. The Polish president also proposed amendments that would extend the period needed for acquiring Polish citizenship, introduce harsher penalties for illegal border crossings, and equating the "Bandera symbols" with Nazi and Communist symbols in Poland's criminal code. Read also: Ukrainian journalist dismissed after insulting Polish president amid Kyiv-Warsaw tensions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Illegal border crossings are an emergency. The Mexican cartels are an emergency. Failure to expedite mining and drilling on federal lands is an emergency. Illicit drugs coming in from Canada, China, and Mexico are an emergency (actually, three). The International Criminal Court is an emergency. The trade deficit is an emergency. Brazils prosecution of its former president, Jair Bolsonaro, is an emergency. Crime in Washington, D.C., is an emergency. Crime in Chicago and Baltimore may soon be emergencies too. Were going in, President Donald Trump said Tuesday. I didnt say when. Trump has declared nine national emergencies under the 1976 National Emergencies Act, or NEA, during the seven months hes been in office. Thats 1.3 emergencies per month. If we include crime in D.C., which Trump declared an emergency under a different lawthe 1973 Home Rule Actits an even 10. For now. We may declare a national housing emergency in the fall, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the Washington Examiner on Monday. Thats 11. Add Chicago and Baltimore, and its 13, assuming Trump doesnt dream up more emergencies to declare in the interim. During his first term it took Trump four long years to declare 13 emergencies, and some of them were actually real (most notably, Covid-19). Once a president declares a national emergency he may help himself to 137 different statutory powers, according to the nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice, which lists them here. Its obvious Trump covets these. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps excessive use of emergency powers is itself an emergency. The best solution would be a definition explaining what emergency means under the NEA; the statute doesnt furnish one. Mark Medish, writing in The New Republic in 2022, noted that legislation to curb presidential emergency powers then enjoyed bipartisan support and that Trumps first term had demonstrated why it was so urgently needed. Fix the roof, Medish warned, while the sun is still shining. But Congress did not act, and now its raining cats and dogs and weve got pots out everywhere to catch the leaks. Trumps phony emergencies arent confined to formal declarations. You could say Trump has declared 10 emergencies, the Brennan Centers Elizabeth Goitein told me, or you could say he has declared far more. An invasion, for example, sure sounds like an emergency, and Trump claims one along the southern border, Goitein pointed out, under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act so he can deport undocumented immigrants without the usual due process. In April, the Supreme Court said it was fine with that. The phrase national security sounds emergency-like too, and in a March executive order and again last Thursday, Trump used vague national security language in the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act to justify voiding (or barring establishment of) collective bargaining rights at all or part of two dozen federal agencies. These vital military command posts include the Bureau of Land Management, the National Science Foundation, and the National Weather Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgetown labor historian Joe McCartin pronounced the mass union-contract nullifications by far the largest single action of union busting in American history, and he wasnt wrong. Perhaps you thought it was a big deal when President Ronald Reagan fired 11,000 PATCO flight controllers way back in 1981. But in August alone, as The New York Times reported on Labor Day, Trumps actions stripped protections from more than 445,000 federal workers. Harold Meyerson of The American Prospect put the total at more than one million federal workerswhich, he noted, equals an astonishing one-fifteenth of all Americans covered by a union contract. In June, the American Federation of Government Employees won a preliminary injunction against the nullifications in district court, but that was later stayed by the Ninth Circuit while it reviews the case. The only area where Trump is reluctant to declare emergencies is in the granting of disaster assistance, under the 1974 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, to states struggling to recover from floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and the like. Even as Trump makes up fake emergencies, he blows off real ones! Trump actually proposed eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which administers disaster funds. Thats no longer on the table, but under Trump the FEMA response has been notably slower and stingier than in the past. An exasperating barrier to fighting the emergency emergency is the absence of any obvious legal strategy to halt Trumps overuse of emergency declarations. I dont know any way to bring a legal challenge to the heavy reliance on emergency powers, Goitein told me, and if she doesnt know I doubt anybody else does. Impeachment may offer freer rein, but were a long way from that. So lawyers are stuck with challenging individual abuses in court as they arise. Actually, Goitein had one idea. She suggested that judges start granting less deference to the executive branch. She noted that in Sterling v. Constantin (1932) and Baker v. Carr (1962) the high court suggested circumstances under which presidents should be granted less than the usual deference. In Sterling, the high court made reference to a permitted range of honest judgment, implying bad faith would lie outside that range. One difficulty, though, is that Sterling concerned executive power wielded at the state rather than federal level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some judges have indeed started saying to the Trump administration, in effect, Cut the shit. Blind deference to the government? said Judge Zia M. Faraqui recently, when asked by federal prosecutors not to unseal a search warrant. That is no longer a thing. At a hearing concerning Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration deported to El Salvador in defiance of her court ruling, Judge Paula Xinis tried and failed to get a straight answer from prosecutors about what theyd do with Garcia once he was brought back. This has been the process from Day One, she erupted. You have taken the presumption of regularity and youve destroyed it in my view. If Trump keeps declaring emergenciesand, of course, he willthe best response may be for protesters to create an emergency of their own through the expansion of nonviolent public protest. Weve had May Day and No Kings Day and Good Trouble Lives and Workers Over Billionaires. How about Cut the Shit Day? In August, the nonprofit Center for American Progress suggested, based on research by Harvard political scientist Erica Chenoweth and others, that it will take about 12 million Americansa mere 3.5 percent of the populationto halt Trumps abuses of power. This can happen. In March, I published a guide to resisting Trump. Im no expert on this subject, but I consulted a lot of people who are, and they had some good ideas. We may need to try all of them, because the emergency emergency wont end itself. Were already seeing considerable mass protest. Lets build on that. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military conducted a strike against a vessel carrying drugs on Tuesday, killing 11 people onboard. Trump said the vessel was controlled by Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists, and was hit in international waters after it left Venezuela, in a post on Truth Social. Tren de Aragua was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State earlier this year. In his post Trump said the group was responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States, he said. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. He finished the post by adding, BEWARE! Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!!!!!!!! The post included a video of the strike. Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas pic.twitter.com/2bEDDiZsRl Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) September 2, 2025 Earlier on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. military attacked a drug vessel after it departed from Venezuela in the South Caribbean Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today the U.S. military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization, Rubio posted on social media. Tuesdays strike appears to be the first of its kind in the area. As @potus just announced moments ago, today the U.S. military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Carribean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization. Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) September 2, 2025 Rubio confirmed the strike after President Donald Trump announced it during a press conference in the Oval Office. Theres more where that came from, Trump said, regarding the attack on the vessel. We have a lot of drugs pouring into our country (and have been) coming in for a long time, and these came out of Venezuela. Why did the U.S. enter waters near Venezuela? Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. | Ariana Cubillos In the last few days, the U.S. military has built up a strong presence in the Atlantic Ocean near Venezuela, deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers and other warships to threaten maritime narcotic traffickers. The operation includes more than 4,000 sailors and marines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has made extensive efforts to pressure Venezuelan officials over the illicit drug trade. Last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control labeled the Venezuelan organization Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns), as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group" that is headed by Nicolas Maduro Moros and other Venezuelan high-ranking individuals in the Maduro regime who corrupted the institutions of government in Venezuela, including parts of the military, intelligence apparatus, legislature, and the judiciary, to assist the cartels endeavors of trafficking narcotics into the United States. The U.S. and many other countries do not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela. During a press briefing last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela, but rather a narco terror cartel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro is not a legitimate president. He is a fugitive head of this drug cartel. He has been indicted in the United States for trafficking drugs into our country. And it is the utmost responsibility of this president in this administration to prevent the illicit flow of drugs into our country and to protect citizens from those deadly poisons, she added. Ahead of strike, Maduro spoke out against military build-up In a news conference on Monday, Maduro said that he was the winner of the countrys presidential elections last year, despite contrary evidence, per The Associated Press. He also said Venezuela was at maximum preparedness if attacked by the U.S. In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela, Maduro said of the deployment of U.S. warships, which he labeled as an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat. Last month, the U.S. Department of State also upped the reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Maduro to $50 million. It was previously set at $15 million in 2020. On August 7, 2025, the Department announced the further increase in the reward offer to up to $50 million after the Department of Treasury sanctioned Cartel of the Suns as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on July 25, 2025, the department said. As leader of Cartel of the Suns, Maduro is the first target in the history of the Narcotics Rewards Program with a reward offer exceeding $25 million. US President Donald Trump says US soldiers will continue to be stationed in Poland, and said their numbers might even be increased. "We never even thought in terms of removing soldiers from Poland," Trump said on Wednesday, during the inaugural visit of Poland's new president, Karol Nawrocki, to the White House. He said withdrawls from other countries had been considered, but that the US would "help Poland protect itself." Since the beginning of Trump's second term, there have been fears in Europe that US troops could be withdrawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki replied that this was the first time in the 20th and 21st centuries that the Poles were happy about the presence of foreign soldiers in their country. He said this was a sign to the world - and especially to Russia - that the US and Poland stand together. Most US soldiers in Poland rotate regularly between different US military bases. In Poznan, there is also a small permanent garrison that provides infrastructure support for all US soldiers stationed in Poland. The Polish leadership has long wanted a larger permanent US military base in the country. Poland is one of the most important political and military supporters of Ukraine, which faces an ongoing, full-scale invasion by Russia, launched in 2022. It also plays an important role as a logistical hub for Western military aid to Kiev. The country also feels threatened by Russia itself, and is massively rearming. Nawrocki pointed out that 4.7% of gross domestic product is currently being spent on defence. The Australian government, through its flagship impact investment vehicle, the Australian Development Investments (ADI), committed a P172 million loan to ARQ SME Finance, a women-led financial institution serving small and growing enterprises in the Philippines. The investment, ADIs first in the Philippines, was announced by Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown on Tuesday at the opening of the 3-day 2X Global Summit in Manila. - Advertisement - The Philippines is home to extraordinary Filipina entrepreneurs, but many face barriers when they seek funds to grow their businesses. Australia is proud to partner with ARQ to help create more business opportunities for women and build economic growth that benefits women and men alike, said Innes-Brown. ARQ SME Finance targets the so-called missing middle enterprises too large for microfinance services but often overlooked by traditional banking institutions. The fresh funding will enable ARQ to scale its lending operations to businesses that demonstrate strong commitments to gender equality across leadership, operations, and supply chains. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said US soldiers will continue to be stationed in Poland, and said their numbers might even be increased. "We never even thought in terms of removing soldiers from Poland," Trump said on Wednesday, during the inaugural visit of Poland's new president, Karol Nawrocki, to the White House. He said withdrawals from other countries had been considered, but that the US would "help Poland protect itself." Since the beginning of Trump's second term, there have been fears in Europe that US troops could be withdrawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki replied that this was the first time in the 20th and 21st centuries that the Poles were happy about the presence of foreign soldiers in their country. "Trump has given Poland a security guarantee and emphasised our cooperation as allies in the military sphere, that is a major success of this meeting," he said following the discussion with Trump. Nawrocki said this was a sign to the world - and especially to Russia - that the US and Poland stand together. He invited the US president to visit Warsaw, although the exact date has yet to be set. Most US soldiers in Poland rotate regularly between different US military bases. In Poznan, there is also a small permanent garrison that provides infrastructure support for all US soldiers stationed in Poland. The Polish leadership has long wanted a larger permanent US military base in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poland is one of the most important political and military supporters of Ukraine, which faces an ongoing, full-scale invasion by Russia, launched in 2022. It also plays an important role as a logistical hub for Western military aid to Kiev. The country also feels threatened by Russia itself, and is massively rearming. Nawrocki pointed out that 4.7% of gross domestic product is currently being spent on defence. Trump's suit against YouTube and its CEO Sundar Pichai is in its 4th month of settlement talks. Trump had sued Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for de-platforming him after the January 6, 2021, riot. Pichai alone has not settled, and the judge has now ordered an update on the parties' negotiations. Lawyers for Donald Trump and Sundar Pichai have been in private negotiations for four months in hopes of resolving the president's 2021 "de-platforming" lawsuit against YouTube and the CEO, Business Insider has confirmed and now the judge is demanding a public update. In an order issued from Oakland late Tuesday, US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers told the parties to provide "a substantive plan" for resolving the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge rejected the parties' joint request for two more months to let negotiations play out before their next court appearance. Instead, she set an October 6 date for a public videoconference and directed them to file an update by September 29. "The parties have failed to provide the Court with sufficient substantive information regarding resolution of this action," she wrote. "She's holding our feet to the fire a little," Trump attorney John Q. Kelly told Business Insider, confirming that settlement talks are ongoing but declining to divulge details. Trump and a half-dozen additional plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union and right-wing author Naomi Wolf, are seeking cash damages and other relief in response to YouTube suspending their accounts in the wake of the January 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pichai is the CEO of Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube. YouTube and Pinchai are named as the defendants in the lawsuit. Kelly, who said he is representing the president in a private capacity, said he expects the parties will include an update on their settlement negotiations in the filing due September 29. "We will give her a conclusive update or have a resolution by then," he said. An attorney for Pichai did not immediately respond to a request for comment. YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter suspended Trump's accounts in January 2021 after members of Congress and other federal officials expressed concern that his social media posts could incite further violence at the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and his co-plaintiffs responded the following July with a class action suit in Florida, accusing all three platforms and their CEOs of violating their free speech rights; the case was later transferred to California, where Google is headquartered. The lawsuit remained on ice for years as Trump appealed an initial finding that the Constitution's free speech protections did not apply to decisions made by Twitter, a private company. Meanwhile, Elon Musk bought Twitter in October 2022, rebranding it as X and quickly lifting Trump's ban. Meta and Google lifted their own suspensions of Trump's Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts by last summer. By early this year, all but Google's Pichai had settled with Trump. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration and agreed to pay $25 million to resolve his portion of the lawsuit. Musk settled for $10 million in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez Rogers has twice extended the deadline for an initial case management conference between the plaintiffs and YouTube in the four months since May, when the parties first alerted her in a joint letter penned by Kelly that they were engaged in "productive discussions regarding next steps." Read the original article on Business Insider In a video posted to Donald Trumps Truth Social account, crosshairs hover above a black-and-white image of a speedboat cutting through water. Seconds later, the boat explodes into a ball of flames. The president said defense officials had carried out a strike against 11 terrorists from the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, Tuesday morning as part of the administrations escalating war against drug cartels. Legal experts and former national security officials have disputed the presidents legal authority to launch extrajudicial killings against suspected drug traffickers, raising consequential questions on both the administrations growing conflict with Venezuela, and the presidents anti-immigration agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is zero evidence of self-defense here. Looks like a massacre of civilians at sea, according to Adam Isacson, director for defense oversight at research and advocacy group, Washington Office on Latin America. Even if they had drugs aboard, thats not a capital offense. Lethal force against civilians in international waters is a war crime if not in self-defense, according to Isacson. Not yielding to pursuers or suspected of carrying drugs doesnt carry a death sentence. Donald Trump shared video of a missile strike killing 11 people on a boat that officials claim was carrying drugs headed toward the United States (White House) Even if one were to accept the administrations framing of the attack, this action is legally questionable under both U.S. and international law, according to Juan S. Gonzalez, a former National Security Council official under Joe Biden. As it stands, the administration is claiming authority to sink any vessel it deems tied to drug trafficking. Thats a slippery slope, he said. Without checks, the U.S. risks killing fishermen, migrants, or other civilians and wed just have to take the [administration] at its word. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked for a response to concerns about the legality of the attack, a White House spokesperson told The Independent that the presidentially-directed strike was performed in defense of vital U.S. national interests and in the collective self-defense of other nations who have long suffered due to the narcotics trafficking and violent cartel activities of such organizations. The strike was fully consistent with the law of armed conflict, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent. This precision strike in international waters was conducted in a manner to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel and did not entail the use of ground forces. The Independent has requested comment from the Department of Defense. In his Truth Social post Tuesday, Trump claimed officials had positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists who were operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And theres more where that came from, Trump said from the White House Tuesday. The White House claims that Maduro directed an invasion of gang members into the U.S. But that contradicts reports from Trumps own intelligence agencies, which disputed the claims that at the heart of Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act. In January, Trump issued an executive order designating Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, paving the way for his order invoking the Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport suspected gang members. Dozens of Venezuelans were deported from the U.S. to El Salvadors brutal Terrorism Confinement Center beginning March 15, after Trump invoked the centuries-old wartime law to swiftly remove alleged Tren de Aragua members without a chance to challenge the allegations in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alien Enemies Act grants authority to the president to remove immigrants during a declared war or if there is an "invasion or predatory incursion, but several federal judges and Trumps own intelligence personnel have disputed that immigration constitutes and invasion. Trump said theres more where that came from as he defends a military strike that killed 11 people on a boat that administration officials claim was carrying drugs on behalf of Tren de Aragua (AP) Government officials also admitted in court documents that many deported Venezuelans did not have criminal records. Attorneys and family members say their clients and relatives some of whom were in the country with legal permission and have upcoming court hearings on asylum claims have nothing to do with Tren de Aragua. Four months after those men were locked in a brutal Salvadoran prison, the Trump administration negotiated their release back to Venezuela as part of a prisoner exchange. Then, in a remarkable statement, Trump officials said they obtained assurances from Maduros government to cooperate with court orders for Venezuelan citizens to return to the U.S., if required to do so potentially putting them back into a country the Trump administration insisted they should never be inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither the Alien Enemies Act nor foreign terrorist organization designations allow for lethal force. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has deployed more than 4,000 troops and several guided-missile vessels to waters around Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. One day before the boat attack, Maduro warned Trump to watch out because Secretary of State Marco Rubio wants to stain your hands with blood. Rubio told reporters this week that the administration is going to wage combat against drug cartels that are flooding American streets and killing Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them, Rubio said Wednesday. Deploying lethal force on suspicion of illegal activity violates the letter and spirit of more than a century of international standards and the United States own regulations for maritime operations against civilian vessels in international waters, according to the Washington Office on Latin America. If yesterdays act is a harbinger of more U.S. military actions involving excessive force when conducting drug interdiction operations, then it sets a bleak and dangerous precedent for more unlawful killings and violations of fundamental human rights principles, and threatens to undermine international norms that serve to prevent and to punish lawlessness on the seas, the group said Wednesday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US is going to wage combat against drug cartels as he defended the boat attack (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Rules of Engagement exist for a reason: to minimize civilian casualties. Destroying a boat at sea without boarding or verifying opens the door to tragedy, Gonzalez, the former national security official, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Combating drug trafficking is vital. But we must do so lawfully, responsibly, [and] with tools designed for the mission, he added, calling the administration's attack political theater that wont combat trafficking or Maduro. Speaking on FOX & Friends Wednesday morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he watched the attack live. We knew exactly who was in that boat, we know exactly what they were doing, and we know exactly who they represented, Hegseth said. The attack has sent a clear signal, he said. Its a new day. Its a different day. Drug traffickers will face the same fate, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only person who should be worried is Nicolas Maduro, who Hegseth accused of running a narco state and is involved in types of drug running that have affected the country directly. Pressed for evidence against the alleged traffickers, Trump told reporters at the White House that the boat was carrying massive amounts of drugs. We have tapes of them speaking, he said Wednesday. You see the bags of drugs all over the boat A lot of other people wont be doing it after watching that tape. A threat from President Donald Trump to impose substantial tariffs on countries that regulate U.S. tech companies is riling up Europe. But the continents digital regulations were not Trumps primary target. Trumps Aug. 25 post threatening to penalize all countries with Digital Taxes, Legislation, Rules, or Regulations, did not specify any territory by name. However, four people familiar with the White Houses conversations on digital trade policy say it was largely a response to several pieces of tech-focused legislation under consideration in South Koreas parliament. The people were granted anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations. Trumps threat is poised to complicate the talks between Seoul and Washington to nail down the details of the preliminary trade agreement their governments reached in July. At the same time, it has alarmed leaders in the European Union and United Kingdom, who worry Trumps new demand could upend tentative trade agreements they have reached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Trumps post was a warning shot to South Korea and other countries weighing new rules on digital trade not to follow the European Unions approach, according to a person who spoke with Trump the day of his Truth Social post. Trumps missive came shortly after he met with new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House, and after Lees government refused to sign onto a joint statement on the preliminary trade agreement that included a pledge to block legislation to regulate large tech companies operating in the country. While the South Korean government did not officially respond to the post, it drew an immediate response from EU officials, who declared it their "sovereign right to oversee economic activities on their soil. Several EU leaders vigorously refuted the Trump administrations claim that European restrictions unfairly target American tech companies. And EU Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said its regulation does not look at the color of a company, at the jurisdiction of a company, nor the owner of a company." But while Europes digital regulations are despised by U.S. tech giants, the White House is more focused on countries like South Korea, India, Turkey and Brazil, which are currently considering draft rules loosely modeled on Europes laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior White House officials see South Koreas response as a litmus test on whether they will be able to pressure other trading partners to abort pushes for new digital restrictions, three of the people said. Part of it was the frustration that Europe hasnt budged, said another person close to the White House on Trumps post. But there was more a recognition that South Korea was probably among three or four other jurisdictions potentially looking to be first followers of the EU to mirror or mimic that approach. So he was like, Okay, South Korea is here, their new president has said this is a priority, and weve got to nip this in the bud.'" A White House official told POLITICO that Trump has consistently opposed digital regulations from countries that target American tech companies. Those discussions are part of almost every trade negotiation were having, the official added. South Korean lawmakers in recent years have floated a series of proposals that could classify major U.S. tech companies as monopolies or gate-keepers, and open them up to steep fines, including the Platform Competition Promotion Act proposed in 2023. Those and similar proposals are drawing growing criticism from Trump allies in the U.S., including lawmakers like Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who co-led a letter sent in late July warning that Seoul's proposed rules could give Chinese tech companies an edge there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leading MAGA voices have also taken note: conservative activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk shared a post on X on Aug. 24 complaining that South Koreas government still targets U.S. industry with regulations while giving Chinese companies a free pass. Only Trump can fix this, no more free passes for China while we get punished, Kirk wrote. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has brought up the legislation in trade talks with his South Korean counterparts, but digital trade wasnt addressed in thelimited trade agreement the two countries announced late July. The announcement which Trump posted on social media was scant on details, saying only that South Korea had agreed to a 15 percent tariff on its exports in exchange for a pledge of more than $350 billion in investment and an additional $100 billion in energy purchases. Ahead of the presidents meeting with Lee, however, senior Trump administration officials pressed the South Korean government to sign a joint statement on the deal that included language pledging to abandon proposals for digital trade restrictions, according to three people familiar with the discussions. South Korea rejected that draft language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seoul insists it will press ahead with some form of digital regulation, though it has adjusted its approach to address expectations from the Trump administration. As a result of trade talks with Washington, South Koreas liberal party will give up on at least one proposal, known as the Online Platform Regulation Act, according to a senior official quoted in local reports, and will instead consider pared back digital rules. Some South Korean officials say they would be willing to ease digital proposals that the Trump administration claims discriminate against American companies, and the Trump administration believes they are making progress toward convincing Lees administration to reject any digital legislation that hits American companies. A lot is on the table and a lot of those demands are far tougher for South Korea than the digital issues, said a person close to the White House. While South Koreas legislation has long been on Big Techs radar, it only recently came to Trumps attention, following days of briefings that highlighted Lees pledges to tighten digital regulations during the countrys presidential campaign earlier this year. High-profile Trump supporters have also recently taken note of the tech debate taking place in South Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirks X post was also shared with the president during a briefing ahead of the summit, as was an op-ed from former Trump national security adviser Robert OBrien warning South Koreas digital legislation, if passed, would be a gift to the Chinese government. Trump echoed that language in his Truth Social post, suggesting that other countries digital regulations outrageously, give a complete pass to China's largest Tech Companies. If Trump wants to go after Amazon, Google, or other U.S. tech firms here at home, that's his prerogative, but other countries shouldn't be messing with American tech firms. That's clearly how folks like Charlie Kirk feel, and I think that's how the president feels too, said a former Republican official, who frequently meets with the president and senior White House officials. White House aides also presented Trump with letters from Republican lawmakers asking the administration to address the digital dispute as part of trade negotiations with South Korea, the people said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of Lees visit, House Ways and Means Republicans Adrian Smith (Neb.) and Carol Miller (W.Va.) released public statements calling on the administration to address the country's digital proposals, and led a letter from more than 40 House Republicans warning that South Koreas measures would disproportionately target U.S. tech firms. Said Miller: President Trump is a known dealmaker, and I am confident that he will help secure fair market access for our digital companies operating abroad. US President Donald Trump has said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are plotting a conspiracy against the US. Source: European Pravda, citing Trump on Truth Social Quote from Trump: "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." Details: Trump's message was posted as China hosted world leaders at the largest parade in history marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in the Second World War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and 'blood' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in China's quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honoured and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!" he said. Trump also wished that "President Xi and the wonderful people of China" enjoy "a great and lasting day of celebration". Background: Earlier, Trump expressed his disappointment with Putin and announced certain actions. He also said he is closely monitoring the actions of Ukraine and Russia and repeated that he wants the killing to stop. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! With just a little more than seven months in office, President Donald Trump's approval rating has fluctuated as policies from the detaining of immigrants, a tariff war and the controversy over the Epstein files have caused a shift in once-staunch supporters. Trump began his term with a 47% approval rating and saw his popularity continue to decline, reaching historic lows in job approval not seen by any other president in recent decades by his 100th day in office. Now, seven months in, his poll numbers are still struggling. The latest national polls from groups like Reuters/Ipsos, Civiqs, AP/NORC, Gallup and more have the president's overall approval rating marked as unfavorable once again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's how the latest few polls measured Americans' approval of Trump's job performance. What is Trump's approval rating in Tennessee? Civiqs' current approval poll Since the beginning of Trump's second term, many Tennesseans approved of his handling of national matters, but the number has slowly been falling over the last seven months. As of Sept. 1, Trump has a 57% approval rating in the Volunteer State with 39% disapproval and 4% undecided. This number has dropped 3% since Trump took office for his last term as president, according to polls from Civiqs. What is Trump's approval rating overall? RealClearPolitics, New York Times show negative rating According to RealClearPolitics, Trump's average approval rating margin as of Aug. 29, is -5 percentage points or a 50.5% disapproval rating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Times aggregator shows Trump's approval rating is -8 percentage points as of Aug. 29, his approval rating is at 43% and his disapproval rating is at 52%. Both the aggregator and RealClearPolitics take the daily average of multiple polls done across the nation. Gallup poll: Trump's approval rating among lowest in modern history Trump's approval rating in his second term has continued to slide lower since taking office and it is one of the lowest approval ratings in modern history, according to Gallup. But it's not as low as his first term. From Aug. 1-20, 40% approved of Trump's job performance, according to a Gallup poll. Here is how that compares to other presidents in August of their first year in office: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Biden (August 2021) - 49% approve Trump (August 2017) - 36% approve Barack Obama (August 2009) - 53% approve George W. Bush (August 2001) - 56% approve Bill Clinton (August 1993) - 44% approve George H.W. Bush (August 1989) - 69% approve Ronald Reagan (August 1981) - 60% approve Reuters/Ipsos Trump approval polls: Low numbers for troops in D.C. Trump's move to push National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., has met with disapproval from many in the city and across the country. A Reuters/Ipsos poll done Aug. 22-14 shows 38% of Americans support using troops for law enforcement in the U.S. capital, with 46% opposed. Overall, the same Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,022 adults, showed 40% approve and 54% disapprove of Trump's job performance. Emerson poll shows close margins in Trump approval rating An Emerson poll of 1,000 adults, conducted Aug. 25-26, showed Trump with a 45% job approval rating, and 47% disapproval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The college noted that his disapproval rating remained the same, but the president's approval rating dropped a percentage point in the last month. What is Trump's approval rating? AP/NORC poll shows low approval An AP/NORC poll of 1,182 adults shows a 45% approval rating and 53% disapproval rating for how Trump is doing. The Aug. 21-25 poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points. USA TODAY and Reuters contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump approval rating: Gallup, Reuters, AP, Civiqs latest polls The confab of dictators heads of state from China, Russia, North Korea, Iran gathered at the rostrum of Tiananmen Gate, overlooking a central Beijing square where, in 1989, Chinese troops massacred thousands of peaceful protesters. Its perhaps fitting that this is where the axis of evil gathers to preside over a massive military parade, at the behest of Chinas Xi Jinping, the most powerful of them all. He helms a vast nation that boasts the worlds largest military and population, and is on track to leapfrog the US as the biggest economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His message is clear: Gone are the days of a US-led international, rules-based world order, as established in the post-World War Two era. Now, China is leading the pack of what it views as a multi-polar world order a new global governance taking precedence as the West continues its decline, arguably hastened by Donald Trumps unpredictable foreign policy. Mr Xi has long believed that this is Chinas time to shine, as evidenced by the optics of him striding out with his old friends Putin and Kim, then rolling, solo, down Beijings Changan Avenue in a sleek Hongqi (red flag) limousine with four microphones in front of him to inspect the troops. Modern China must be viewed through the century of humiliation, a period of time that Mr Xi, among others, remembers the great Chinese empire being brought to its knees by Western powers, including the British empire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is why Mr Xi puts on such a show to project the ruling Communist Party as the nations saviour against foreign aggressors. In China, today is not the end of the Second World War, but the end of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Its yet another chance for China to claim all the glory, and to rewrite history by downplaying the role of the US in bringing peace. The parade is also an easy way for Mr Xi to distract from troubles at home, including widespread youth unemployment and faltering growth post-pandemic. Its a parade of smoke and mirrors. Tightly choreographed, spectators hand-picked and vetted, area roads shut down, nearby buildings evacuated, any possible political troublemakers rounded up and detained, stepped-up security checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a parade that regular folks can gather to watch in person; most can only view it on state television, with all images and footage available coming straight from Beijings propaganda machine. Its all to ensure no public embarrassment as Beijing trots out its goose-stepping troops, shiny fighter jets and gargantuan missiles. Chinas Xi Jinping hosts Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un in a display of strategic unity - Reuters Despite the impressive display of weaponry, Chinas current military remains untested in war, with its troops having never seen true combat beyond fighting a few border skirmishes with India one reason why the government is often keen to run drills, including recently staging its first-ever joint submarine patrol in the Pacific with Russia. But the partnership Beijing has with Moscow and Pyongyang is unlike the alliances of the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China doesnt believe in building and maintaining traditional allies; security blocs like Nato are to Beijing a terrible idea. Such relationships are what Mr Xi believes to have ushered in the era of the floundering West. No, to him its about win-win co-operation as propaganda frequently touts only when convenient and beneficial to Beijing. So for now, the likes of Putin and Kim can enjoy having him in their corner particularly the former, given Chinas move to toss a financial lifeline to Russia despite Western sanctions, boosting bilateral trade to $245bn last year by sending all sorts of parts and materials to prop up its war machine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that support may not last forever dictators, like Mr Xi, make very fickle friends. 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 Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday deported 49 South Korean nationals, all wanted for various crimes in their homeland. The deportation follows President Marcos directive to ensure the swift removal of foreign fugitives and undesirable aliens from the country. - Advertisement - The deportation was arranged by the bureaus Deportation and Implementation Unit (DIU) in coordination with the South Korean Embassy, which provided logistical assistance to expedite the deportation of its citizens. The arrested fugitives were composed of 6 females and 43 males. All were summarily deported after being tagged by their government as fugitives from justice. Most of those deported faced cases of fraud in South Korea, BI Commissioner Joel Viado said. We are grateful for the strong partnership with the South Korean government to make sure that these criminals are returned to their home country to face justice, he added. Viado said that the decongestion of the BIs holding facility, as well as the speedy deportation of illegal aliens, remains a priority of his administration. Among those deported is Choi Hojun, 36, who was arrested by the BI fugitive search unit (FSU) agents in Angeles City, Pampanga, last April 14. Choi is wanted in South Korea for allegedly being the mastermind of a messaging phishing syndicate based in China and the Philippines. Their criminal organization reportedly transferred a total of KRW 1.7 billion (P70 million) by illegally accessing sensitive information, particularly banking data of around 200 victims. Another deportee, identified as Han Jonghoon, 42, was arrested by the FSU in Annapolis, San Juan City, last July 4 for allegedly operating 23 illegal online gambling websites targeting Koreans, and reportedly pocketing more than KRW 2 trillion (P82.5 billion) in profits. Also deported were Jung Hoesung, 40, and Choi Byeongil, 44. Jung is wanted in Korea for operating illegal online platforms and subjecting recruits to intimidation and physical assault. Choi, on the other hand, is wanted for allegedly being the mastermind behind a real estate deposit loan scam, embezzling billions of Won. Let me reiterate. The Philippines is not a haven for foreign fugitives. Those who abuse our countrys hospitality will face the harshest penalty of law, Viado warned. The fugitives were escorted back to South Korea by representatives from BI and the South Korean government. Editors Note: Headline for this story has been corrected. Previous edition mistakenly set the number of deported South Korean fugitives at 89. The correct number is 49 as stated in the lead. Tukwila police have a warning for drivers as kids head back to school today their traffic unit is going to be out in full force monitoring school zones. On top of that, the automated license plate reader speed camera on South 144th Street will be active during drop-off and pick-up times. Drivers were told to give themselves extra travel time and to be prepared for extra pedestrian and vehicle traffic over the next few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Tukwila PD, around 100,000 people in Washington illegally passed a school bus while the stop sign was out last year. There were also more than 380 crashes involving school buses, where drivers were at fault 70% of the time. HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) Tulip Time is unveiling a new event to get people through the holiday season. Dutch Winterfest is a four-day event planned for Dec. 2 to Dec. 6. It is inspired by Dutch experiences and traditions for the wintertime. Just as Tulip Time brings people together in the spring, Dutch Winterfest will create magical moments during the holidays, Gwen Auwerda, executive director at Tulip Time, said in a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The holidays in Holland already ignite joy, but Dutch Winterfest takes it to the next level. With so many unique events from art and theatre to tastings and family traditions theres truly something for everyone to enjoy this season, Auwerda said. A variety of distinct events will be on display for visitors to enjoy, such as Parade of Lights, Delft Downtown and Sinterklaas Shuffle. There will be five locations where kids can get a passport to get stamps, a photo with different characters like our polar bears or gingerbread people, treats at each stop, and then of course a photo with Sinterklaas, Chad Mesbergen, Tulip Times director of events and operations, told News 8. Mesbergen said organizers expect thousands to welcome the new tradition after seeing hundreds at a couple of events last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Dutch Winterfest name sounds familiar, he explained that Discover Holland used it for something much different before. That was really just a listing of all the events happening in Holland, Mesbergen said. We are kind of taking it a step further taking some events that are happening and curating some really cool Dutch experiences during that time to really create a fully functional festival. Tulip Tales for Tots will provide kids with Dutch-inspired holiday tales and traditions. A performance of Peter and the Starcatcher will be available for audiences. Traditional dishes such as poffertjes and pigs in a blanket will be offered at Breakfast with Sinterklass, where families can dine together. A tasting tour will also be available for people to enjoy cocktails and food inspired by winter Dutch traditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. By Huseyin Hayatsever ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish authorities ordered more detentions of opposition officials on Wednesday, in a fresh round of legal manoeuvresagainst President Tayyip Erdogan's opponents that has prompted billions of dollars in foreign reserve sales. The months-long crackdown has swept up hundreds of members of the Republican People's Party (CHP), including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - Erdogan's main political rival - whose March arrest set off Turkey's largest street protests in a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest moves against the CHP began on Tuesday when a court ordered the removal of the party's Istanbul provincial head over alleged irregularities in a 2023 congress. That sparked a selloff of Turkish stocks and bonds and galvanised the central bank into action. According to traders, the bank sold $4 billion to $5 billion in reserves to stabilise the lira, which has held mostly steady over the last two days. The central bank declined to comment. The CHP, which is running neck-and-neck with Erdogan's AK Party in opinion polls, said the party official's removal was illegal. And with a separate looming court decision threatening to remove the CHP's national party chief, a European Parliament diplomat warned of threats to the country's multi-party democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State broadcaster TRT said six officials from two opposition-run municipalities in Istanbul were detained and another was being sought on Wednesday. The mayors of those two districts are among 15 CHP mayors jailed as part of the sprawling investigation that began late last year into alleged corruption and other offences in exclusively opposition-run municipalities. The CHP denies the accusations, saying the legal moves are politicised. NAIL IN DEMOCRACY'S COFFIN Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has said the judiciary is independent and called the CHP's criticism of the court's removal of its Istanbul party boss unfortunate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said that court decision may weigh on a separate but similar ruling due on September 15 in the capital Ankara that will decide whether to annul the CHP's main 2023 congress and strip party leader Ozgur Ozel of this chairmanship. The Ankara court has also been reviewing alleged procedural irregularities. Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur, said Tuesday's ruling appeared aimed at preparing the way for Ozel's removal. "That would amount to the nail in the coffin of Turkish multiparty democracy," he wrote on X. Shares in Istanbul's main BIST 100 were down 2% on Wednesday after having fallen as much as 5% on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozel said the party would object to the Istanbul ruling in every way possible on the grounds that the court had usurped the authority of Supreme Election Board, which he said had sole jurisdiction over such matters according to the constitution. "If a court of first instance is able to rule on matters under election law, then any court may annul any election, including presidential elections," he said in front of CHP's Istanbul headquarters. CHP supporters and anti-Erdogan activists are expected to gather later on Wednesday when Ozel addresses a rally in Istanbul. (Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Additional reporting by Nevzat Devranoglu; Editing by Tuvan Gumrukcu, Joe Bavier and Jonathan Spicer) London's police chief has appealed for change, arguing that his officers are in an "impossible position" as they try to navigate the evolving landscape of online free speech while enforcing existing laws that bar threats and incitement to violence. The Metropolitan Police chief has called on Britain's government to "change or clarify" the relevant laws after the controversial arrest of Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan over anti-transgender social media posts. Linehan, who co-created the popular 1990s British sitcom "Father Ted" and wrote and created the more contemporary "The IT Crowd," says he was arrested by five armed officers at London's Heathrow Airport on Monday over his social media posts. On his page on the Substack platform, Linehan said he asserted in one of the X posts in question that trans women being in female-only spaces was a, "violent, abusive act," and added a call for people who see trans women in such spaces to, "make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails punch him in the balls." The Guardian newspaper reported Wednesday that the police force was still discussing Linehan's arrest with the Crown Prosecution Service, which determines whether any formal charges should be filed against people suspected of crimes. U.K. Supreme Court issues key ruling on definition of "woman" under existing equality law Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Linehan, 57, is due to appear in court Thursday in a separate case, in which he has been charged with the online harassment of an 18-year-old transgender woman called Sophia Brooks. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan speaks to the media outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, where he has pleaded not guilty to harassing a transgender woman and damaging her phone, on Monday May 12, 2025. / Credit: Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley has defended the officers who took Linehan into custody at Heathrow, saying in a statement seen by CBS News that the decision to arrest Linehan, "was made within existing legislation which dictates that a threat to punch someone from a protected group could be an offense." But, Rowley added: "I don't believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position." He said police would "make similar decisions in future unless the law and guidance is changed or clarified." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain's laws against inciting violence have been in place for decades, but in more recent years, specific legislation has also barred hate that targets people based on their sexual orientation or gender. Rowley acknowledged "concern caused by such incidents given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world," and said Met officers would now pursue people over social media posts only, "where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder." "Where there is ambiguity in terms of intent and harm, policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments who have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when they're reported," he said. "A long history of free speech" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrest of the Emmy award-winning writer has reignited a debate in the U.K. over freedom of speech, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging police on Wednesday to "focus on the most serious issues." Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, well known as outspoken in her stance on gender and trans issues, called Linehan's arrest "utterly deplorable" and "totalitarianism," while X owner and former aid to President Trump Elon Musk called Britain a "police state." Far-right British politician Nigel Farage, an ally of Mr. Trump whose Reform Party is currently leading others in U.K. opinion polls, said he would raise the case, and others, when he gives evidence to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday. "The Graham Linehan case is yet another example of the war on freedom in the U.K.," he said ahead of his appearance in front of the House Judiciary Committee. "Free speech is under assault, and I am urging the USA to be vigilant." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there was support for the police's arrest of Linehan from some British politicians, including the newly-appointed leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski. Speaking Tuesday night on the BBC's "Newsnight" program, Polanski called Linehan's posts on social media "totally unacceptable." "Proportionality of police response is a conversation that we need to have," Polanski said, but he added that he could not understand why it would require five armed police officers to make such an arrest. Starmer, meanwhile, told Britain's parliament on Wednesday that there is "a long history of free speech in this country," and "we must ensure the police focus on the most serious issues." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer's government recently declared activist group Palestine Action a terrorist organization, leading to the arrest of at least 700 people, some over 70 years old. Trump blasts calls for Epstein files, makes claims about Chicago crime Very little new information in thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files released this week Trump says he's not happy about state of Russia's war in Ukraine Mount St. Marys University is accused of negligence in two separate lawsuits that accuse two former mens rugby players of raping two female students a year apart. The lawsuits one filed on Friday and one in 2024 accuse the university and its Board of Trustees of negligence toward female student safety, saying other allegations of sexual assault were filed before the alleged incidents detailed in the lawsuits. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court Friday alleged that Bokassa Baruani, a former Mount St. Marys University mens rugby player, in 2022 sexually assaulted and raped a female student. It says there were three instances of sexual assault, and two of those instances also included rape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate lawsuit originally filed in Frederick County Circuit Court in July 2024 alleged that Thomas Cloak, a former mens rugby player at Mount St. Marys University, sexually assaulted and raped a separate female student in 2021. Baruani does not have an attorney listed in online court filings. Two messages left at a phone number for Baruani on Tuesday were not returned. The law office of Peter T. McDowell, which is representing Cloak, did not have any comment on the lawsuit on Tuesday. As of Tuesday, there were no criminal charges listed in online court records against Cloak or Baruani. Joshua Bonner, the assistant vice president and chief marketing officer for Mount St. Marys University, wrote in an email on Tuesday that we take these matters seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, because this is ongoing litigation, we cannot comment further, he wrote. Jason Waters, an attorney based in Virginia with Wilson Elser of New York City, will represent Mount St. Marys University and its Board of Trustees in the circuit court lawsuit. Waters was unavailable for comment by phone on Tuesday. No attorney was listed as representing Mount St. Marys University or its Board of Trustees for the lawsuit filed on Friday. The lawsuit filed Friday also accused the university, as well as its Board of Trustees, of sex discrimination under federal law, as well as negligence. Additionally, the lawsuit accused the university and its board of creating and perpetuating an environment and culture in which the [rugby] team ... were able to commit sexual assaults and harass female students on campus without fear of punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, Baruani was removed from campus in 2023 during an investigation. The 2024 lawsuit also accused the Mount and its Board of Trustees of negligence and failure to monitor the schools dormitories under vicarious liability, in which one party is responsible for the actions of others. According to the lawsuit, Cloak was expelled from the university in 2022. Both plaintiffs in the separate lawsuits are anonymous. Schlachman, Belsky, Weiner & Davey Law of Baltimore is representing both plaintiffs in the separate lawsuits. In an interview on Tuesday, Sarah Smith of the law firm said as alleged in the complaint, the university had knowledge of how vulnerable its female students were and failed to take reasonable action to protect them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are actively investigating and encourage any witnesses with knowledge to contact us, she said. U.S. District Court lawsuit According to the district court lawsuit, the plaintiffs attorneys have sued Baruani, alleging battery and intentionally inflicting emotional distress. The lawsuit seeks $75,000 on each of the two counts. The plaintiffs attorneys have also accused Mount St. Marys University and its Board of Trustees of violating Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which federally governs sex-based discrimination, and of negligence of three separate assaults. The lawsuit seeks $75,000 on each of those four counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit alleged that before the anonymous plaintiff transferred to the university as a junior in 2022, Mount St. Marys and its Board of Trustees knew about other instances of alleged sexual assault by members of the rugby team and Baruani himself. The lawsuit claimed that approximately 15 women had filed complaints about alleged incidents of sexual assault before the plaintiff enrolled. According to the universitys 2024 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, six cases of rape were reported at the Emmitsburg campus in 2021, five cases of rape were reported in 2022 and seven cases were reported in 2023. The lawsuit alleges that Mount St. Marys University and its Board of Trustees knew about the pervasiveness of sexual assault on campus and that both were deliberately indifferent to the sexual abuse of its students, amounting to sexual discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baruani was also named in a Title IX inquiry regarding sexual assault allegations in 2021 before the plaintiff enrolled, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit said the complaint resulted in mutual stay-away orders, which let the alleged victim in that complaint believe that her complaint was not being taken seriously. Baruani and the plaintiff met at the university in the fall of 2022, according to the lawsuit. In September or October 2022, the lawsuit said, Baruani forcibly sexually assaulted and raped the plaintiff, who did not consent to this contact and resisted his actions. The lawsuit alleged that the plaintiff told Baruani afterward that she did not consent to any of his actions, and Baruani apologized, claiming to be intoxicated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 1, 2022, Baruani sexually assaulted and raped the plaintiff again in the backseat of her car, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that after the Nov. 1 incident, Baruani sexually assaulted the plaintiff again. During the Spring 2023 semester, a Title IX investigation against Baruani was opened and he was removed from campus during the investigation, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that Gregory Kuester, the Title IX coordinator for Mount St. Marys University, told the plaintiff that because Baruani had been removed, there was no need to conduct the investigation. Additionally, Kuester told the plaintiff that her identity would remain confidential, but it appeared in a letter that Baruani was given upon his withdrawal from the university, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuester did not return a phone message left on his cellphone on Tuesday. Frederick County Circuit Court lawsuit According to the circuit court lawsuit, the plaintiffs attorneys accused Cloak of one count of battery. The lawsuit seeks $75,000 on that count. Additionally, the attorneys have sued Mount St. Marys University and its Board of Trustees, alleging negligence and failure to monitor the schools dormitories under vicarious liability, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks $75,000 on each of those two counts. The lawsuit alleged that the plaintiff and Cloak connected through social media and exchanged numbers prior to the start of the 2021 fall semester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two were both a part of a summer pre-orientation program in August 2021, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that 50 to 60 students participated in the program that year, and those students were spread out over three dormitories on campus, which resulted in a small number of students present on each floor of the dormitories. According to the lawsuit, Cloak sexually assaulted, raped and choked the plaintiff in her dormitory room in Pangborn Hall. The plaintiff screamed and yelled for Defendant Cloak to stop what he was doing, but could not speak because Cloak was choking her, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit alleged that the assault lasted approximately 30 to 45 minutes, and there were no security team members present in Pangborn Hall at the time. The plaintiff told other students what had happened and she was escorted by students to the universitys Department of Public Safety Office, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that the plaintiff reported the assault at about 9:15 p.m. and later went to Frederick Health Hospital to receive treatment and a rape kit, which collects and preserves evidence after an alleged sexual assault. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff had a mental and emotional breakdown after waiting several hours and left the hospital without receiving treatment or a rape kit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit said Mount St. Marys University charged Cloak with violating the universitys Title IX policy. The plaintiff testified about the alleged incident at a hearing, which took place on Feb. 2 and 3, 2022, the lawsuit said. According to the lawsuit, Cloak was found to have violated the universitys Title IX policy and was expelled. A status conference in the circuit court lawsuit is scheduled for Oct. 10, according to online court filings. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Two men are facing weapon charges following an investigation into a menacing incident involving a firearm. On Tuesday, around 10:48 p.m., the Greece Police Department was told of an incident on Weiland Woods Lane where the passenger of a vehicle allegedly displayed a handgun during an argument. (Photo/Greece Police Department) Officers said they found the suspected vehicle before 11 p.m. and stopped it. A search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded handgun inside a black bag under the passenger seat. Police confirmed it was stolen from Rochester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 32-year-old Jose Medina and 22-year-old Ian Johnson were arrested and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They were taken to the Monroe County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Police are investigating after a shooting in Hartford on Tuesday sent two people to the hospital, including one victim who is in his 70s. Multiple officers responded to the area of 42 Battles St. just before 7:30 p.m. when a ShotSpotter notification alerted them to gunfire, according to Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police Department. At the scene, police found evidence of gunfire, Boisvert said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police then learned that two people a man in his 50s and another in his 70s arrived at Hartford Hospital seeking treatment for gunshot injuries, according to Boisvert. Both victims were conscious and alert. The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. Police are still investigating and asking anyone with information to call the Hartford Police Department Tip Line at 860-722-TIPS (8477). Former state Sen. Kay Floyd, a Democrat who represented Oklahoma City, and former Oklahoma County Public Defender Gunner Briscoe have been sworn in as Oklahoma City municipal court judges. Both join two more municipal judges who oversee cases involving alleged violations of municipal code, including traffic tickets, residential code enforcement, criminal offenses and more, according to a city news release. Presiding Judge Donald O. Kiffin, who conducted the Aug. 26 swearing-in ceremony, is also newly appointed to his role. Floyd, Briscoe and Kiffin join Judge Edward D. Hasbrook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the swearing-in ceremony, Kiffin said in his remarks judges must embody the spirit of the law with understanding, empathy and humanity. Laws affect real people. A judge who understands the human context behind each case can apply the law with compassion, fairness and impartiality, he said, and added that doesnt mean bending the rules. But rather it means interpreting them with a deep awareness of their consequences. OKC Mayor David Holt welcomed both Floyd and Briscoe to the judicial roles and said the city is very grateful for their willingness to serve. Floyd and Briscoe replace two judges: Judge Kendal Huber Tawwater and former Presiding Judge Philippa James, who retired on June 30 after 28 years of service with the Oklahoma City Municipal Court, according to the news release Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Municipal Judges play a pivotal role in maintaining public trust and confidence in our city's justice system," Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher said in the news release. Stonecipher serves as the judiciary chair for the citys Judiciary Committee. "These two judges were chosen not only for their integrity but also for their calm, patient, and courteous demeanor, which will leave a lasting positive impression on everyone who comes to court. More: Mayor David Holt installed as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Former Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd is now a municipal judge for Oklahoma City. Pictured above in 2023, she made the motion to adjourn at the close of the 2023 legislative session at the state Capitol. Floyd returns to the municipal judgeship for a second time, as she previously served as a special municipal judge for municipal court from 1990 to 2011. She then moved onto serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2012 after her election. In 2014, she was elected to the Oklahoma Senate and eventually served as Senate Democratic leader. My previous experience in the courts was very beneficial to me as I worked in the State House and Senate, and I look forward to serving the people of Oklahoma City, Floyd said in the news release. It is an honor to return to the judiciary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before her time in the Legislature, Floyd served as an assistant attorney general, deputy executive director for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and served 22 years as an administrative law judge for the state, according to the news release. Floyd holds a bachelors degree and two minor degrees from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma School of Law. Judge Gunner Briscoe was sworn in Aug. 26 as an Oklahoma City municipal judge. Briscoe spent a majority of his career at the Oklahoma County Public Defenders Office, where he defended the constitutional rights of criminal defendants at all stages of proceedings in both misdemeanor and felony cases, according to the news release. He also joined the appellate team and argued a death penalty appeal to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. I am extremely honored and humbled by this appointment to the Oklahoma City Municipal Criminal Court of Record, Briscoe said in the news release. I will endeavor to always be worthy of the trust placed in me by the City Council in fairly and justly upholding the rule of law in the City to all litigants that come before me. I look forward to working with the Court to ensure an even-handed administration of justice in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Briscoe also worked briefly with Wirth Law Office as a private attorney and as an assistant general counsel at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. He holds a bachelors degree in philosophy with honors from Oklahoma Baptist University and a law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Two municipal judges sworn in for Oklahoma City A Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight to Japan with 191 passengers and eight crew on board returned to Manila on Wednesday morning due to an emergency mid-air situation. On September 3, 2025, at approximately 10:08 a.m. (Manila time), Philippine Airlines Flight PR 412, operated by an Airbus A321-231 (A321CEO) with registry RP-C9928, en route from Manila (MNL) to Kansai (KIX), experienced a pressurization issue, PAL said in a statement. - Advertisement - Following safety protocols, the flight crew initiated a descent to a lower altitude and declared an emergency as a precautionary measure. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed the incident, saying the flight departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 9:26 a.m. and landed safely back at the airport at 11:15 a.m. The flag carrier stated that the problem was subsequently resolved, with emergency protocols being downgraded afterward. All passengers and crew members have safely disembarked. Our ground operations team is providing full assistance to affected passengers, including meals, baggage support, and rebooking arrangements for their onward travel, PAL said. It has since assured stakeholders that it is in coordination with the relevant authorities. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a stolen Hyundai in Holyoke. Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan stated that at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, an officer in the area of South and Main Street observed three vehicles that were reported stolen. The vehicles were speeding, and when the officer tried to conduct a traffic stop, they sped away. Additional officers were then called to the area to provide assistance. Eight arrested in Springfield open-air drug bust Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the vehicles reportedly failed to stop at multiple stop signs while being pursued by officers and nearly struck another police cruiser on Main Street. The driver then crashed into the sidewalk on Cabot Street near Bigelow Street. Holyoke police arrested the driver, a 16-year-old boy, and the passenger, identified as 18-year-old Larry Manuel Caliz of Springfield. The juvenile driver was charged with: Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle Failure to Stop for Police Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle Marked Lanes Violation Failure to Yield Caliz was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle. The identity of the driver will not be shared due to his age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Keenan is reminding residents of the recent increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts and attempted thefts in the Hampden County area. This is due to the fact that these vehicles, produced between 2010 and 2021, are not equipped with an ignition immobilizer. Recent TikTok and other social media platforms have videos of individuals showing how to steal these types of cars by damaging the steering column and starting the vehicle without a key. Holyoke Police offer the following tips to protect your vehicles: Install a steering wheel locking device Lock all car windows and doors Install a battery disconnect switch Park in a well-lit area Install a kill switch (requires professional installation) Park in a secure location (garage, parking structure) Install an aftermarket car alarm If anyone has information regarding vehicle thefts in the area, they are advised to contact the Holyoke Police Department at 413-322-6900. 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. Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, Commander of Ukraines Unmanned Systems Forces, has announced that the Magyars Birds brigade and the 20th Unmanned Systems Regiment K-2 have completed their transfer from the Ground Forces to the Unmanned Systems Forces. Source: Robert "Magyar" Brovdi Quote: "The 414th Separate Unmanned Systems Forces Brigade Magyars Birds (with Klima as its commander) has completed its cross-branch transfer from the Ground Forces to the Unmanned Systems Forces, and will soon double in size." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Brovdi also reported that the 20th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment K-2 has finalised its transfer from the Ground Forces to the Unmanned Systems Forces and is being transformed into a separate brigade. For reference: Upon taking up his post as commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Magyar immediately integrated the Drone Line into the new branch. As Ukrainska Pravda has learned, he also assumed responsibility for all stages of his units work from training to combat use and innovation. His predecessor, Vadym Sukharevskyi, had previously declined to do so, citing a lack of capacity. Read also: The Drone Line: what is it, and can five units stop the Russian advance? Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On 3 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reshuffled the commanders of Ukraines Unmanned Systems Forces and Air Assault Forces, appointing Robert Brovdi as head of the Unmanned Systems Forces. The defence minister said that Magyars experience leading one of the top brigades should be scaled across the entire command of the Unmanned Systems Forces. On 20 June, a new Unmanned Systems Forces grouping was created within Ukraines defence forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday repatriated nearly 200 migrants back to Haiti after they were interdicted at sea approximately 40 miles north of Cap-Haitien. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Spencer were notified on Friday of an overloaded vessel with 191 migrant onboard being disabled in international waters. The Coast Guard is committed to our mission to safeguard America by securing our maritime borders and preventing illegal entry into the United States and its territories, Lt. Cmdr. Cory Arsenault, Coast Guard liaison officer to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince said in a statement. Anyone attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea will be interdicted and repatriated, consistent with U.S. law and policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Coast Guard did not say where the migrants were headed. In addition to trying to reach the Florida Straits, migrants have also been forcibly returned in recent months from the neighboring Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas. The Dominican Republic, which shares a land border with Haiti, accounts for the largest share of Haitians who are forcibly returned, with nearly 200,000 Haitians sent back last year. With more than 1.3 million Haitians internally displaced inside Haiti due to armed gangs, and 90% of the capital under gang control, Haitians continue to flee. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2025 on Oct. 1, Coast Guard crews have repatriated 603 Haitians, compared to 857 in FY24. The Haitians, once onboard the U.S. Coast Guard, were processed to determine their identity and provided food, water, shelter and basic medical attention before being returned to Haiti. A federal court has dismissed a civil rights suit by state Rep. Maryam Khan in which she claimed Hartford police officers discriminated against her by failing to respond appropriately when she was assaulted while leaving a prayer service in Hartford with family members two years ago. In the unprovoked attack, Khan, D-Windsor, was threatened with a sexual assault, struck in the face and thrown to the ground by a tattooed assailant while her children watched as they left a Muslim service at the XL Center shortly before noon on a Wednesday. Khan claimed in public statements and later in the suit against Hartford and several officers that the police response to her assault was insufficient in that officers discounted her injuries and reports of sexual assault. She claimed in the suit that is the custom of the Hartford police to discriminate against individuals of the Muslim religion such as Khan, and that her treatment was a part of the systematic pattern of discrimination by HPD against women of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell concluded in a written decision that the suit failed to present plausible allegations supporting claims of a practice or custom of discrimination against or mistreatment of Muslim women. The decision, dated Tuesday, said the suit lacked factual allegations with sufficient detail to state a plausible claim for liability. Russell gave Khan a month to refile an amended suit. If nothing is filed, the case will be closed, Russell said. Khan and her lawyers could not be reached.She was the first Muslim to serve in the state House of Representatives. About 1,500 people attended the service in Hartford on June 28, 2023. Security was provided by four uniformed Hartford officers one inside and three outside in addition to 13 security guards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Khan left with her sister and her three minor children, she was harassed by a man who threatened to sexually assault her in front of her family. The attacker slapped Khan in the face, dragged her in a chokehold and slammed her to the ground when bystanders intervened and stopped the assault. Khan suffered several injuries, including a concussion and cuts and bruises. According to her suit, she also suffered severe emotional distress from the physical assault and attempted sexual assault and continues to seek treatment for this distress. The suit claims no officers were patrolling the area when Khan left the service and it was several minutes before police arrived. In spite of her injuries, the suit claims the officers asked Khan to walk some distance to identify the attacker, rather than allowing her to tend to her injuries and identify the assailant in a fashion that shielded her identity. Khan claimed in the suit that she provided police with details of the sexual assault and physical attack, but they failed to detail any recount of her sexual assault in their police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, the suit claimed that the police provided the report to news reporters before giving her a copy, that the police gave biased and skewed information to the media, that the report completely ignored Khans report of a sexual assault and that it was was critical of a bystander who came to Khans assistance and later kicked her attacker in the head as he lay subdued on the ground. Russell concluded that the allegations did not not reach the threshold needed to constitute a violation of her rights. An Internal affairs investigation previously absolved the Hartford police of misconduct in the Khan case, with the exception of an officer who was ordered to undergo a remedial course in report writing. Andrey Desmond, then 31, was sentenced in Hartford Superior Court last year in connection with the June 2023 assault on Khan. Desmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to attempted third-degree sexual assault, attempted first-degree strangulation and risk of injury to a minor all felonies. After Elon Musks livestream on X with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump last summer, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton claimed the interview broke the European Unions Digital Services Act, in a public letter to Musk. In reaction, the House Judiciary Committee convened in Washington on Wednesday to discuss Europes threat to American speech and innovation. In attendance as witnesses were the leader of Reform U.K. Nigel Farage, the Irish barrister Lorcan Price and several others. The committee asked Breton to attend Wednesdays hearing, but he refused to come or provide written testimony. Farage warns about the Online Safety Act Though Farage believes every parent in both the U.K. and the U.S. is rightfully concerned with what their children are exposed to online, he believes his countrys Online Safety Act is the wrong approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Online Safety Act allows for the prosecution of speech, Farage said. He referenced Lucy Connolly, who was sentenced to 31 months in prison for a tweet she deleted after several hours, and comedian Graham Linehan, who was arrested Tuesday for three tweets. Hes not even a British citizen, Farage said of Linehan. Hes an Irish citizen. This can happen to any American man or woman who goes to Heathrow that is saying things online that the British government and British police dont like. The Online Safety Act, the Digital Services Act (DSA) and others restricting free speech could also have a negative impact on U.S. trade, Farage said. Ive come today to be a klaxon to say to you, dont allow this to happen to you here in America. And you will be doing us and yourselves and all freedom-loving people a favor if you said to the British government, You simply got this wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A klaxon is an electric horn or a similar loud warning device. Joining the European Union catalyzed the U.K.s free speech issues, Farage says When the United Kingdom joined the European Union in 1973, it gradually transformed into a European way of thinking, Farage said. British Parliament slowly began implementing European legislation, such as the Human Rights Act, which, as opposed to being born free, under the human rights regime, the state gives you your rights, which youre supposed to be incredibly grateful. But they can take them away whenever they like, he said. We lost our bearings, Farage continued. The U.K. lost its way, it became obsessed about doing things the European way countries frankly that dont have that history of liberty, freedom and democracy that we do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his own testimony, Price spoke about the so-called Brussels Effect, the global reach of European law, and in particular, the Digital Services Act. The DSA includes flaggers, a code of conduct on hate speech and misinformation and content moderation for systemic risks. It constitutes nothing more than an attempt to bring Brussels regulation of speech onto a global stage, Price said. When countries want to trade with countries in the EU, the coalition demands the interested country comply with the DSA. Price added, U.S. companies bear the brunt of (speech regulation). Theyre hijacked by the DSA to become essentially the EUs global censorship police, whether they like it or not. The DSA contains expansive powers of investigation, huge compliance costs and crippling fines if companies are non-compliant. Ultimately, the people have to get what they voted for, says Farage Since the start of 2025 in the United Kingdom, Reform has risen dramatically polls. For the first time ever, Reform is more popular than the lefts Labour party and the rights Conservative party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reform was founded at the end of 2018 by members of Parliament who wanted the country to leave the European Union. What is happening in the United Kingdom right now, is we want a government that comes in and gets rid of all these laws and starts again and starts on the basis of yes we want to try and protect kids, and we will do whatever we can that is practical to protect kids from serious harm online, but we will get back to the idea that I can insult you, you can insult me, Farage said. BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) Multiple arrests were made, and drugs were seized, after an almost month-long enforcement effort was carried out by the U.S. Marshals Service. According to a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service, 74 felony arrests, drug seizures, and more were made after Operation Rolling Waters was held by the U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED (Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division) Task Force from August 5, 2025 through August 30, 2025. Murder investigation underway in Greenbrier County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The press release stated that in addition to the 74 felony arrests, Operation Rolling Waters resulted in the seizure of three pounds of methamphetamine, 60.35 grams of fentanyl, 25 grams of crack cocaine, 13 guns, and $11,991 in illegal funds, and two convicted sex offenders were charged for violating the Adam Walsh Act. Violent criminals have no safe haven in Southern West Virginia. The U.S. Marshals Service and our partners are aggressively pursuing those who prey upon our citizens. This operation is a clear and direct response to the Presidents initiative to reduce violent crime, and we will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to keep our communities and the Mountain State safe. U.S. Marshal Michael Baylous According to the press release, the felony warrants for the wanted people included sexual assault, human trafficking, possession of child pornography, child abuse/neglect, child endangerment, wanton endangerment with a firearm, weapons violations, probation and parole violations, and delivery and sale of controlled substances. The press release from the U.S. Marshals Service stated that some arrests made during Operation Rolling Waters included: 21-year-old Kameron Morris, of Princeton; 19-year-old Kameron Starkey, of Northfork; 25-year-old Kendrick Moore, of Bluefield; 22-year-old David DiNardo, of Princeton; and 26-year-old Brandon Williams, of Princeton: Each charged with wanton endangerment and conspiracy after a shooting near Silver Springs Baptist Church in Princeton on August 17, 2025. A preliminary investigation determined an argument escalated into an exchange of gunfire. 46-year-old Casey Geroge Rygh, of Olmstead, Minnesota: Wanted for felon in possession of a firearm. Rygh, who was previously convicted for murder, ran from a residence on Barger Street in Matoaka, but was arrested by members of the CUFFED Task Force. He was armed when he was arrested. 31-year-old Cory Alan Fout, of Walker: Arrested on a federal warrant after an ATF investigation into prohibited person in possession of firearms. Operation Rolling Waters Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals Service Operation Rolling Waters Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals Service Operation Rolling Waters Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals Service Operation Rolling Waters Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals Service Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals Service Photo Courtesy: U.S. Marshals Service Five people arrested in relation to Mercer County shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the press release, agencies that were involved in Operation Rolling Waters included: Sheriffs Offices: Fayette , Greenbrier , Jackson, Kanawha, Logan, Mason, Mercer , Mingo, Putnam, Raleigh , and Wyoming County Police Departments: Beckley , Fayetteville , Lewisburg , Parkersburg, Princeton , Saint Albans, and South Charleston West Virginia State Police U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Parole & Southern Regional Jail) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. and Mexican officials agreed Wednesday to bolster cooperation on joint security concerns, including drug smuggling, illegal migration and arms trafficking, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Trump's controversial decision to order an attack on an alleged smuggling boat in the Caribbean Sea. The top U.S. diplomat held his first meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum a day after the dramatic Pentagon strike raised the specter of a unilateral U.S. military attack on suspected cartel targets in Mexico. Tuesday's action on a vessel that had departed Venezuela killed 11 seaborne "narcoterrorists" who were transporting drugs destined for the United States, said Trump, who released what he described as a video of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Mexico, Rubio hailed the strike, stating that traditional interdiction efforts had failed to stop the flow of drugs via the Caribbean. "What will stop them is when you blow them up," Rubio told reporters in Mexico City. "You get rid of them." Such strikes may be ongoing and will probably continue, Rubio said, providing no additional details. The secretary of State sidestepped a question about whether the action, which critics denounced as illegal under international law, signaled a return to "gunboat diplomacy" in a region where U.S. interventions have historically stoked resentment. Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Juan Ramon de la Fuente, (left) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wave during Rubio's arrival Tuesday in Mexico City for a meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday. (Hector Vivas / Getty Images) Although Trump said Tuesday's attack took place in international waters, he has not ruled out strikes in Mexico, where his administration has designated half a dozen cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. He has pushed for the use of the military against drug smugglers. Trump has reportedly issued a secret order directing the Pentagon to strike at Latin American cartels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Trump administration, its ongoing deployment of warships in the southern Caribbean is aimed at deterring drug trafficking from Venezuela not toppling the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. U.S. prosecutors have accused Maduro of being a cartel leader, a charge dismissed as propaganda by the Venezuelan leader. But the naval buildup in the Caribbean has also raised concerns in Mexico, which is the primary conduit for cocaine, fentanyl and other illicit drugs entering the United States. Many observers in Mexico view the designation of cartels as terrorist groups which the government vociferously opposed as providing a possible justification for attacking cartels on Mexican territory. The strike in the Caribbean shows "the type of attacks that could be directed against Mexican people and vehicles," wrote columnist Julio Hernandez Lopez in Mexico's La Jornada newspaper. "One can only hope that the president can avoid as much as possible the political, economic, and even ballistic barrage from Trump and his hawks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: As U.S. fleet steams toward coast, Venezuelans face uncertainty, fear and, for some, hope Rubio's first trip to Mexico as secretary of State has long been anticipated here, where Sheinbaum has been walking a fine line. Mexico's first woman president, a lifelong leftist, has endeavored to placate Trump on drug smuggling, tariffs and other contentious issues, while also assuring her nationalist base that she is not caving to U.S. demands. Sheinbaum has rebuffed Trump's offer of direct U.S. military aid to assist Mexico in combating cartels. Her decision, according to Trump, was based on her fear of organized crime. Trump has charged that organized crime pervades Mexico's government, a charge denied by Sheinbaum. On Wednesday, when asked about Trump's assertion that she feared the cartels, Sheinbaum answered in characteristically nonconfrontational fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's not true ... but we maintain good relations," she responded. "We have great respect for the Mexican-United States relationship, and for President Trump." Read more: 'The United States is the villain of our story.' Nationalism surges in Mexico amid Trump threats A joint U.S.-Mexico statement on binational cooperation stressed "respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity ... as well as mutual trust." But Mexican commentators pointed out that there was no guarantee that the Trump administration would not strike unilaterally against cartel targets in Mexico. The goal, the statement said, "is to work together to dismantle transnational organized crime through enhanced cooperation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite rising tensions in U.S.-Mexico relations, Rubio was effusive in his praise of Mexican law enforcement efforts. He cited Mexico's recent decision to turn over to U.S. prosecutors dozens of jailed suspects wanted in the United States. "That's not an easy thing to do," Rubio said, appearing at a joint news conference with his Mexican counterpart, Juan Ramon de la Fuente. On an issue of particular concern to Mexico the southbound traffic of arms, including assault weapons, grenade launchers, mines and other military-grade weapons Rubio said U.S. authorities were determined to "put a stop to it." He pointed to the danger of drones in the hands of organized crime, "threatening states, threatening security forces." Read more: Cartel boss 'El Mayo' pleads guilty. Will he spill secrets about corruption in Mexico? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both diplomats praised the binational efforts that have helped reduce illicit crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border to levels not seen in decades. Mexico has deployed thousands of its troops to its border with the United States. They are tasked with reducing illicit immigration, drug smuggling and other crimes. But Rubio offered little hope to Mexico on another crucial issue: tariffs. In July, Mexico won a 90-day reprieve on a Trump administration plan to impose 30% tariffs on Mexican imports. Rubio voiced hopes that ongoing talks between the two countries could result in a successful trade deal. Special correspondent Sanchez Vidal reported from Mexico City and Times staff writer McDonnell from Boston. 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. Israels plans to annex parts of the West Bank put the Abraham Accords in jeopardy, according to a top Emirati official. In August, Israels finance minister said that work would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said would bury the idea of a Palestinian state, Reuters reported. The Palestinian government, its allies, and human rights activists condemned the proposal, calling it illegal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with his cabinet ministers this week to discuss advancing the plans. The UAE voiced strong opposition in remarks today: Annexation would be a red line for my government, and that means there can be no lasting peace. It would foreclose the idea of regional integration and be the death knell of the two-state solution, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE Lana Nusseibeh told The Times of Israel in an interview. Similar statements were made to other outlets, marking the UAEs most substantial criticism of Israel since the start of the Gaza war in 2023. By Maha El Dahan DUBAI (Reuters) -The United Arab Emirates warned Israel on Wednesday that annexation in the occupied West Bank would constitute a "red line" for Abu Dhabi that would severely undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords that normalised UAE-Israeli relations. The comments by the UAE, the most prominent of the three Arab states that signed the accords with Israel when President Donald Trump was first in office, amounted to Abu Dhabi's sharpest criticism of Israel since the Gaza war erupted in 2023, when Hamas launched its cross-border raid from the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has been seeking to expand the accords, but efforts so far to draw in others, including Saudi Arabia, hit the buffers amid growing international criticism in the Arab world, Europe and beyond of the way Israel has conducted the war. In August, Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that work would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said would "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, as well as allies and campaign groups condemned the project, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up any peace plans for the region. Smotrich has also called for annexing the West Bank. Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, told Reuters: "From the very beginning, we viewed the Accords as a way to enable our continued support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspiration for an independent state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We call on the Israeli government to suspend these (settlement) plans. Extremists of any kind cannot be allowed to dictate the regions trajectory. Peace requires courage, persistence and a refusal to let violence define our choices." 'RED LINE' Nusseibeh added that "annexation in the West Bank would constitute a red line for the UAE", as it would severely undermine "the vision and spirit" of the Abraham Accords and end the pursuit of regional integration. The Israeli prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the UAE's remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Smotrich said maps were being drawn up for annexing territory in the West Bank, though it was unclear if he had Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's support. In a statement, the UAE's fellow Gulf Arab states condemned what they called "dangerous and suspicious calls" for annexation by an Israeli cabinet minister. Under the Abraham Accords, signed during President Donald Trump's first term in office, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco normalised diplomatic relations with Israel following U.S. mediation. In those accords, the biggest prize for Israel was the UAE, the most prominent Arab state in 30 years to establish formal ties with Israel. The UAE is a major global oil producer and a commercial and trade hub with diplomatic clout extending across the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time the agreements were reached, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brimmed with optimism, arguing "this peace will eventually expand to include other Arab states". He even predicted that "ultimately it can end the Arab-Israeli conflict once and for all". The accords were a triumph for Trump who, in his current, second term, hopes he can persuade pivotal regional power Saudi Arabia to also normalise ties with Israel and further ease the latter's isolation in the region. But Israel's war in Gaza, which has killed over 62,000 Palestinians, demolished the heavily built-up enclave and created a humanitarian disaster, diverting attention away from Trump's efforts to extend Israeli-Arab normalisation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday and discussed the situation in Gaza, state media said. The two stressed the need for a clear path toward a lasting, comprehensive and just peace, and for a two-state solution to ensure stability for the regions nations and peoples, UAE state news agency WAM reported. (Reporting by Maha El Dahan; additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem, Tala Ramadan and Elwely Elwelly in Dubai; writing by Michael Georgy; editing by Ros Russell, William Maclean and Mark Heinrich) Israels annexation of any part of the occupied West Bank would be a red line that would end the pursuit of regional integration, warned the United Arab Emirates, the main signatory of the landmark agreement that saw Israel normalize relations with three Arab nations. Annexation in the West Bank would constitute a red line for the UAE, Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the UAEs foreign ministry, said in a statement. It would severely undermine the vision and spirit of (the Abraham) Accords, end the pursuit of regional integration, and would alter the widely-shared consensus on what the trajectory of this conflict should be two states living side by side in peace, prosperity, and security. In 2020, the UAE became the first Arab country in 26 years to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, with Bahrain and Morocco following soon after. Abu Dhabi has since deepened trade, defense and tourism ties with Israel and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it a priority to expand the pact to other Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the UAE has previously criticized Israel over its conduct in the Gaza war and the West Bank, its latest warning delivered just ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Abraham Accords marks the strongest rebuke yet from Abu Dhabi. It also raises fresh doubts about the durability of the normalization agreement, one of US President Donald Trumps signature foreign policy achievements during his first term. The UAE has maintained relations with Israel over the course of the Gaza war and used those ties to coordinate air drops of aid into the war-ravaged territory, seeing the pact as beneficial to Palestinians too. From the very beginning, we viewed the Accords as a way to enable our continued support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspiration for an independent state. That was our position in 2020, and it remains our position today, Nusseibeh, who had previously served as the UAE ambassador to the United Nations, said. Former permanent representative of the UAE to the UN Lana Nusseibeh, pictured in 2022. - Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty Images Bury the idea of a Palestinian state In 2020, the UAE conditioned normalization on Israel suspending plans to annex parts of the West Bank and framed the outcome as an achievement for Abu Dhabis efforts toward Palestinian statehood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war and began establishing Jewish settlements there soon after. Around 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank and the Palestinians want the territory, along with occupied East Jerusalem and Gaza, as part of a future state, a position supported by most of the international community. The proposals to annex parts of the West Bank, reportedly under discussion in the Israeli government, is part of an effort that would, in the words of an Israeli minister, bury the idea of a Palestinian state, she added, in an apparent reference to far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who made the comments recently. Netanyahu is set to convene a meeting with top cabinet ministers on Thursday to discuss Israels retaliation for an expected wave of Palestinian statehood recognition by Western nations this month, two Israeli officials told CNN on Tuesday. France, Australia, Canada, Portugal, the United Kingdom and other Western nations have announced plans to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly this month, joining more than 140 nations that already do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli officials who spoke to CNN said Netanyahu is considering various scales and levels of annexation options, ranging from a limited takeover of several Jewish settlements to a broader approach calling for annexation of Area C, which comprises 60% of the territory. One of the main options being considered is annexation of the Jordan Valley a strip of land on the eastern edge of the West Bank that runs along the Jordan River. The officials said there was a broader Israeli public consensus in favor of such a proposal, adding that Israels need to use it as a security perimeter would be easier to sell to the international community and, most importantly, Washington. Netanyahus far-right political allies, ministers Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, as well as the settler leadership, oppose the idea of partial annexation involving specific strips or settlement blocks, and are instead pushing for the maximalist approach applying Israeli sovereignty over all territory not inhabited by Palestinians. The move would allow Israel to encircle Palestinian population centers, further undermining the viability of a contiguous Palestinian state. We call on the Israeli government to suspend these plans. Extremists, of any kind, cannot be allowed to dictate the regions trajectory. Peace requires courage, persistence, and a refusal to let violence define our choices, Nusseibeh said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com HENDERSON COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT) The University of Evansville (UE) has received an approximately $200,000 planning grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to explore new ways of strengthening research on campus and across the region. UE says the grant, totaled at $195,681, comes from NSFs Office of Integrative Activities, which invests in projects that expand research opportunities and foster collaboration. Over the next two years, UE will develop a plan for a future Grants Development Office that will support faculty research and connect the university more closely with community and business partners. First responder charity softball game coming to Bosse Field Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to UE officials, the planning process will focus on designing a model that meets both campus and regional needs before the office is officially launched. A key component of this effort is building collaborative capacity with the city of Evansville, local industries and strategic partners such as Talent EVV, the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (EREP) and the Applied Research Institute (ARI). By preparing for new partnerships and funding opportunities, the initiative will create more research opportunities for students, support faculty scholarships, and encourage economic growth in Southwestern Indiana, said Dr. Dave Dwyer, Associate Provost of Academic Affairs. With this support, UE will work with faculty, community leaders, and economic partners to lay the foundation for stronger research capacity and long-term impact. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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). UK Defence Secretary John Healey has visited the British Council building in Kyiv which was damaged in a Russian airstrike on the night of 27-28 August. Source: UK Ministry of Defence on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Quote: "Today in Kyiv, Defence Secretary John Healey saw first hand the damage inflicted on the British Council building by Russian strikes last week, some of the deadliest of the war." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Russia launched a large-scale airstrike on Kyiv on the night of 27-28 August, and the British Council building was among those damaged. A British Council staff member was reported to have been injured in the attack. We will not jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war. A war Putin continues to wage. Today in Kyiv the Defence Secretary @JohnHealey_MP saw first hand the damage inflicted on the @BritishCouncil building by Russian strikes last week, some of the deadliest of the war. pic.twitter.com/ZmfDbHwsmn Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) September 3, 2025 Background: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the Russian strike which damaged the British Council building in Kyiv. The UK Foreign Office summoned Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin after the strike to demand an explanation. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey arrived in Ukraine on Sept. 3, Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Telegram. Healey's visit follows a wave of Russian drone and missile strikes overnight on Sept. 3, targeting cities across western and central Ukraine. "We are preparing important bilateral decisions that will strengthen the defense capabilities of our countries," Shmyhal wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Ukraine's defense chief, Healey's trip is focused on coordinating priorities for the upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting in the Ramstein format, scheduled for Sept. 9 in London, and on advancing joint defense projects. The Ramstein summit will bring together Ukraine's allies to discuss further military support, though the agenda has not yet been disclosed. The format, previously chaired by the U.S., is now jointly led by the U.K. and Germany after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. London has been among Kyiv's staunchest backers since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, supplying weapons, training, and intelligence. The U.K. is expected to play a key role in shaping new security guarantees for Ukraine as Western leaders weigh frameworks for a potential ceasefire and longer-term defense commitments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Putin, Kim join Xi at military parade in China as Trump says they conspire against US Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LONDON (AP) Angela Rayner, the deputy British prime minister, faced calls to resign on Wednesday after she admitted to not paying enough tax on a home purchase. Following weeks of press speculation regarding the tax paid on her purchase of an apartment in Hove, on England's south coast, Rayner said she has referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards and that she has considered resigning. Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered his support to Rayner as opposition lawmakers, including Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, demanded that she should quit or be sacked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Rayner said a leading tax counsel had informed her she had received inaccurate advice when making the 800,000-pound purchase ($1 million) earlier this summer. Rayner said she deeply regrets the error and is committed to resolving this matter fully and providing the transparency that public service demands. In the U.K., levies are charged on property purchases, with higher charges due on more expensive homes and secondary residences. Reports have suggested that Rayner saved 40,000 pounds by not paying the appropriate levy, known as a stamp duty. A clearly emotional Rayner told Sky News that complications regarding complex living arrangements were stoked by her divorce in 2023 and by the fact that her son has life-long disabilities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been in shock, really, because I thought Id done everything properly, and I relied on the advice that I received and Im devastated because Ive always upheld the rules and always have felt proud to do that, she said. Rayner, who holds the housing brief in the Labour government and has forged a reputation as one of its most forthright speakers, has often railed against those who deliberately underpay tax, particularly those in the preceding Conservative administration, which Labour replaced in July 2024. Starmer defended his deputy during weekly prime minister's questions in Parliament, adding that he was very proud to sit alongside Rayner. UK Defence Intelligence has posted an analysis of Russias campaign of abducting Ukrainian children. Source: UK Defence Intelligence update dated 3 September on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: UK intelligence reports that Russia is conscripting young Ukrainians into its armed forces once they turn 18. Many of them were abducted as children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The update notes that over 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported by Russian authorities to mainland Russia and illegally occupied Crimea. Some open sources estimate that up to 35,000 Ukrainian children may have been deported in total. UK intelligence estimates that around 6,000 Ukrainian children have been placed in a network of "re-education camps". When they reach their late teens, they are transferred to military training centres. The update says the Russian leadership appears to "view abducted Ukrainian children as a potential source of both current and future personnel for the Russian military". Quote: "The Russian senior leadership highly likely perceives that their potential deaths in the Russian military will entail minimal if any objection or protest from the Russian public, the vast majority of whom have limited if any awareness of the abductions." Background: Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's most senior police chief defended on Wednesday the arrest of an Irish comedy writer over comments about transgender issues, saying officers were in an impossible position arbitrating between free speech and criminal content. Graham Linehan, co-creator of popular TV comedy shows "Father Ted" and "The IT Crowd", said on Tuesday he had been detained by armed police at London's Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to posts on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That sparked a backlash from free speech advocates. "When Did Britain become North Korea?" asked the Daily Mail newspaper on its front page. Explaining his officers' decision to arrest Linehan, London police Commissioner Mark Rowley said in a statement they had reasonable grounds to believe he had committed a public order offence but said he understood concerns. He said people would agree action was needed when the threat of violence was obvious, but in lesser cases police had been "left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments who have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when theyre reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I dont believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position." Linehan, 57, has been a vocal critic of transgender activism. In one X post, he wrote: "If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls." UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has faced repeated accusations from critics that the state is curtailing free expression and social media companies have criticised new online safety laws designed to protect children and remove hate speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain's health minister Wes Streeting acknowledged the potential for unintended consequences of the legislation. "We are all ... quite anxious about some of the cases we've seen in the media or proceed through the courts of what people have said online, where you think 'was that really what parliament intended when they passed these laws?'" he told BBC radio. Rowley said greater clarity on the law was needed, and in the meantime processes would be put in place so only "the most serious cases" were taken forward where there was a clear risk of harm. Linehan said he was released on bail without charges on Tuesday, but is due to go on trial later this week on separate charges of harassment and criminal damage involving a transgender activist. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) The U.K. on Sept. 3 imposed sanctions on eight individuals and several organizations linked to the forced deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, the British Foreign Office announced. "The Kremlin's policy of forced deportations, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children is despicable, and demonstrates the depths of depravity that President (Vladimir) Putin will reach to erase Ukrainian language, culture, and identity," U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. Since the start of Russia's full-scale war, at least 19,546 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as forcibly removed, according to Ukraine's Children of War database. Only 1,592 have been brought back home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new sanctions target figures and groups accused of organizing or facilitating the deportations. Among them is the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation, which runs re-education programs, and its president, Aymani Kadyrova, the mother of Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov. Also listed are Valery Maiorov, head of the Russian state-run "Teenage Programs Center," and Anastasia Akkuratova, deputy director at Russia's Education Ministry responsible for children's rights. Other sanctioned groups include "Movement of the First," which promotes loyalty to the Kremlin among schoolchildren, and "Volunteers of Victory," which glorifies Russia's military and frames the war in Ukraine as a continuation of historic struggles. The issue of abducted children has been central in Ukraine's talks with allies and in attempts to engage with Russia directly. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called their return a non-negotiable condition for any peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russian Children's Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over their personal roles in organizing the deportations. Read also: Putin, Kim join Xi at military parade in China as Trump says they conspire against US Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The UK government has imposed sanctions against those who forcibly deport, indoctrinate and militarise Ukrainian children, including the mother of Kremlin-controlled Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Source: European Pravda, citing a statement by the UK government Details: The statement noted that the sanctions are being imposed on individuals who are "perpetrators of Russias heinous policy to deport, indoctrinate and militarise Ukrainian children". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them are eight individuals and three organisations affiliated with the Russian state. This includes organisations such as the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation, which runs programmes to re-educate Ukrainian children and adolescents by subjecting them to militaristic training. The sanctions now also apply to Aymani Nesievna Kadyrova, the foundation's president and the mother of Kremlin-linked Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov. Also sanctioned is Valery Maiorov, head of the state-funded Teenage Programs Center, which works to turn children in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories away from Ukraine and towards loyalty to Russia. "This announcement comes as defence intelligence shows that Russia is pursuing a long-standing Russification policy in illegally temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, seeking to eradicate Ukrainian culture identity and statehood," the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to UN reports, Russia has imposed its own curriculum in schools across the temporarily occupied territories and introduced programmes that prepare children for future service in the Russian military. It is reported that more than 19,500 Ukrainian children have so far been forcibly transferred or deported by Russian authorities to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Around 6,000 of them have been sent to a network of so-called re-education camps. Quote from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy: "The Kremlins policy of forced deportations, indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children is despicable, and demonstrates the depths of depravity that President Putin will reach to erase Ukrainian language, culture and identity. To take a child from their home and seek to forcibly erase their heritage and upbringing through lies and disinformation can never be tolerated. No child should ever be a pawn of war and that is why we are holding those responsible to account." Background: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, explained what exactly could be included in the 19th package of sanctions against Russia. As reported by European Pravda, the EU is considering introducing secondary sanctions to prevent third countries from helping Russia circumvent existing restrictions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 11 more individuals and entities affiliated with the Russian state, targeting those involved in what it said were Moscow's attempts to forcibly deport and indoctrinate Ukraine's children. Ukraine says that more than 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory during the war without the consent of family or guardians, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the U.N. treaty definition of genocide. Moscow has said it was protecting vulnerable children from a war zone. "The Kremlin's policy of forced deportations, indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children is despicable," foreign minister David Lammy said in a statement, setting out Britain's latest round of sanctions against Russia for the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organisations such as the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation which runs re-education programmes for Ukrainian children and teenagers, subjecting them to militaristic training, and its president, Aymani Nesievna Kadyrova, are among those targeted, the statement said. The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans and other penalties. The Russian embassy in London said the sanctions were unlawful and based on "unfounded claims" from Ukraine about the forcible transfer of children. "We call upon the UK authorities to refrain from making baseless accusations in future and to avoid hindering the efforts aimed at protecting the rights and interests of minors," it said in a post on social media. In March, a report by the United Nations Human Rights Office said Russia had inflicted unimaginable suffering on millions of Ukrainian children and violated their rights since its full scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kadyrova's son Ramzan, head of Russia's Muslim Chechnya republic who has sent large contingents of troops to boost Russian ranks in Ukraine, published a statement in Russian via his channel on Telegram messaging app in defence of his mother. "She always helps victims of war and supports the poor and disadvantaged around the world," said the translated comments, which also said that she was not involved in politics. "These actions prove that the West is guided neither by morality nor by law, but acts out of hatred and Russophobia ... This is the lowest level of rotten Western politics," he added. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova related to the abduction of Ukrainian children. Russia denounced the warrants as "outrageous and unacceptable." (Reporting by Muvija M and William James and Filipp Lebedev in London; editing by Philippa Fletcher) Another group of children and two young people aged between 3 months and 18 years have been brought back to Ukraine from the temporarily occupied territories and Russia. Source: Bring Kids Back UA initiative; Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Details: The children had been subjected to constant psychological pressure and were exposed to physical danger. All minors in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia were forced to attend Russian schools. Some were even subjected to military registration procedures despite their young age, and their families were threatened with deprivation of parental rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Lubinets: "Among those now in Ukrainian-controlled territory is a mother with her 15-year-old daughter. They lost their home and documents due to constant strikes by the invaders. The girl was unable to attend Ukrainian school online, and the mother feared for her life every day. Thanks to joint efforts, the family is now safe." More details: Another successful evacuation involved a child with a disability who had remained for years in the occupied territory under the care of relatives. The boy had no access to medicines or necessary medical supervision. "He requires urgent treatment and constant care. Now he will be looked after by his mother, from whom he had been separated," Lubinets added. The rescued group also includes a mother with two sons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russian authorities deported them and confiscated their Ukrainian documents. The family was left without basic necessities: no money, no clothes and no food. They tried twice to return home on their own, and only succeeded on the third attempt," the initiative said. All these children are now in free Ukraine with their families. "This marks the end of years spent in an atmosphere of constant fear and pressure, where occupiers forced them to attend Russian schools and threatened and blackmailed their parents," Bring Kids Back UA stated. Background: Earlier, a 17-year-old girl who had dreamed of studying at a Ukrainian university was also brought back to Ukraine. She and her mother had lived under occupation for three years. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Young people and students have played a leading role in this revolutionary movement. Millions of poor workers have taken to the streets across the country. This is enough to demonstrate the power of the working class and make the ruling class tremble. But it is not enough to win our demands, let alone achieve our ultimate goal, which is a fundamental transformation of our lives and society, and the abolition of the exploitation, oppression and impoverishment of the working class, while the rich continue to get richer. To that end, the working people must mobilise their strength as the working class, that is, they must use their economic weight as the class that drives the wheels of the economy. It is the working class that creates wealth in society, not the employers or corrupt rats like Ahmad Sahroni [Indonesian member of parliament who called demonstrators the stupidest people on earth]. The power of the ruling class remains intact because their control over the economy and their bank accounts remains untouched. The next step needed to intensify this revolutionary movement is for the working class to use its economic power by launching a general strike. This will deal a crushing blow to the ruling class. In addition, a general strike will give the working people even greater confidence that they are indeed the masters of society. No light bulbs shine, no factories run, no planes fly, no ports function without the permission of the working class. This is what the ruling class fears, so they co-opt reformist labour movement leaders like Said Iqbal, Andi Gani, and others. These leaders are instructed to control the workers so that they do not join the wave of demonstrations, for the regime is very afraid that this revolution will spread to industrial areas. Therefore, our next crucial task is to bring the explosive revolutionary spirit to the factories, to the industrial areas. Without the involvement of the working class the only revolutionary class this revolution will not achieve a decisive victory. Comrades and students, let us go to the factories to meet the workers! Call out to our fellow workers: Join us in fighting this oppressive regime! This is the same House of Representatives that has suppressed your wages and sided with capitalist employers. Form strike committees to organise mass strike action! Organised workers are strong workers. With the weapon of the general strike, we can change the world. Form workers' defence guards to resist police violence! The police who have arrested, beaten and killed your fellow students and pupils are the same police who arrest, beat and kill you. Do not let our blood be shed again. Resist the violence of the state with workers' organisation. Editor's note: The footage released by the Ukrainian Navy contains graphic content. The Ukrainian Navy destroyed a speedboat of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, killing seven Russian soldiers and injuring four more, the military branch reported on Sept. 3. The Russian vessel attempted to land airborne troops on the Tendra Spit, a narrow island stretching some 65 kilometers (40 miles) in the northern Black Sea off Ukraine's southern coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian forces detected the operation and struck the boat. Footage released by the Navy shows the strike was remotely directed from drones, though the weapon used has not been specified. 0:00 / 1 The incident marks the latest in a series of Ukrainian attacks against Russian naval assets. Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on Aug. 21 destroying a Russian patrol boat near Zaliznyi Port in Kherson Oblast, killing five crew members. A week later, on Aug. 28, HUR said it damaged a Russian Buyan-M-class small missile ship, a carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles, near occupied Crimea in the Azov Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has destroyed a number of Russian vessels throughout the full-scale war, including the Caesar Kunikov landing ship, the Sergei Kotov patrol ship, the Ivanovets missile corvette, and multiple high-speed landing crafts. According to Kyiv, its campaign of missile and drone attacks against Russian naval assets destroyed or disabled one-third of the Black Sea Fleet, forcing it to withdraw much of its forces from occupied Crimea further east. Read also: Putin, Kim join Xi at military parade in China as Trump says they conspire against US Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraines defence industry has been expanding production of artillery systems, particularly the 155-mm Bohdana self-propelled howitzer, by developing new variants based on foreign platforms. Source: Defence Blog, a defence and security news outlet, citing Polish journalist Mariusz Marszakowski Details: Defence Blog reported that the manufacturer plans to integrate the 155-mm artillery system onto South Korean and German chassis, including potential tracked versions. A version with a 39-calibre barrel is also under consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marszakowski said that as of early September 2025, 345 wheeled Bohdana units had been produced using various chassis types, alongside 100 towed guns. The current production rate exceeds 30 units per month and all work is being carried out within Ukraine. The 39-calibre barrel version could serve as an alternative to longer-range systems, offering tactical flexibility in varied combat conditions. Mounting the howitzer on foreign chassis would enhance mobility, survivability and logistical compatibility with NATO partner countries equipment. Background: The Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Building Plant, which manufactures the Bohdana system, has registered an international patent for it. The development is patented both as a standalone artillery module that can be mounted on different chassis and as a complete artillery system in full configuration. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian aerospace startup Scopa Industries has begun production of an auto-start jet engine capable of powering a missile over a distance of up to 250 km. Source: Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Details: Fedorov said the development was made possible thanks to a grant from Brave1, a Ukrainian state-backed tech cluster which supports private arms manufacturers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The minister noted that the engine stands out for its simple design, reliability and speed of production. The manufacturer is already supplying it to other Ukrainian missile system developers. A video released by the Ministry shows the engine in operation. Fedorov also said that Brave1 has announced two new competitions: one for the development of tactical ballistic missiles that would be a Ukrainian counterpart to HIMARS, and one for surface-to-air missile systems to counter UAVs. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraine plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Philippines that will pave the way for cooperation in defence technologies, including joint production of drones. The document is expected to be agreed by October, after which a Ukrainian delegation, including Defence Ministry representatives, will travel to Manila for further talks. Source: Naval News Details: Yuliia Fediv, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines, said that Ukraine is currently developing various drone models and offering cooperation options to different countries, including technology and experience sharing. She emphasised that the Philippines is a reliable partner in the region, so Ukraine is ready to share both successful solutions and lessons learned from the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has significantly expanded production of drones, including naval types. Ukrainian companies have created several models of uncrewed surface vessels that are actively used against Russian Black Sea Fleet warships. H I Sutton, a regular contributor to Naval News, analyst and OSINT expert, said that Ukraine has become a global leader in the practical use of uncrewed surface vessels and has companies capable of designing, building and advising other states on such systems. He noted that Ukrainian-style drones could pose a serious challenge for China, which is becoming increasingly assertive in the West Philippine Sea. Other experts believe Ukraines experience could be useful for the Philippines, which is modernising its armed forces and seeking asymmetric solutions to counter Chinas military advantage in the region. Philippine Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro earlier said the country is considering uncrewed surface vessels as a temporary alternative to submarines. Background: At the MSPO 2025 exhibition in Poland, Estonia presented the EUROMITE uncrewed surface vessel, which can be operated from a tablet. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called Russian ruler Vladimir Putins proposal to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow "unacceptable". Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), reported by European Pravda Details: Sybiha commented on Putins statement at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday 3 September, where he invited Zelenskyy to Moscow for talks. The foreign minister pointed out that at least seven countries are ready to host a Ukraine-Russia summit, including Austria, the Vatican, Switzerland, Turkiye and three Gulf states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These are serious proposals and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting at any point of time. Yet, Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals," he added. Sybiha added that "only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about the peace process". Background: On 22 August, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Putin would meet with Zelenskyy only after a schedule of the meeting had been prepared, and that there is currently no such thing. The Guardian reported that Trump intends to leave it to Russia and Ukraine to organise a meeting between their leaders, thereby stepping back for now from negotiations on ending the Russo-Ukrainian war. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after talks with Putin in China and a phone conversation with Zelenskyy, said that the parties are "not yet ready" for a meeting at the leaders level. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has ordered that all training centres be equipped with underground shelters as soon as possible. Source: Syrskyi following a meeting on training in the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram Details: Syrskyi said the main topic of the meeting was security at training centres amid ongoing Russian drone and missile attacks. Quote from Syrskyi: "A significant amount of work has been done in this area over the summer. Underground facilities are being built to house the recruits; blocked communication passages are being arranged at the firing ranges, etc. In some centres, 100% of personnel are already living in underground shelters." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More details: However, Syrskyi added that "a lot of work remains to be done" in this area. "Following the meeting, I set tasks to resolve problematic issues. I emphasised the need to concentrate efforts to complete the arrangement of underground shelters in the training centres as soon as possible," Syrskyi said. Background: On 1 June, Russian troops launched a missile strike on a training unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 60. On 4 June, Russian forces struck a Ground Forces training facility in Poltava Oblast. The command reported that the strike had left personnel wounded. At the time of the attack, the soldiers were reportedly carrying out training exercises at the facility. On 22 June, the Russians launched a missile attack on a training ground of a Ukrainian mechanised brigade, killing at least three people and injuring 14. On 24 June, Russian forces used kamikaze drones to attack a Ukrainian Ground Forces training centre, injuring one soldier. On 29 July, Russian troops launched a missile attack on a training unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reportedly killing three soldiers and injuring 18. On the night of 11-12 August, the Russians launched a missile attack on the territory of a Ukrainian training unit, killing one soldier and injuring 23 others. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraines Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has appointed Police Colonel Serhii Naumenko as his deputy. Naumenko is a career officer with extensive service and combat experience. Source: Klymenko on Facebook Quote: "His [Naumenkos] aerial reconnaissance team, formed in the very first days of the full-scale war, helped detect enemy forces approaching Kyiv in time and contributed to the successful defence of the capital. Despite being wounded by artillery shelling in Rubizhne, Serhii Naumenko continued to carry out his duties and took part in battles in Siverskodonetsk, Lysychansk, Izium, Balakliia, Kupiansk, Vuhledar, Marinka and Bakhmut." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Klymenko said that the new deputy will be responsible for: Developing and implementing state policy on border protection and safeguarding Ukraines sovereign rights in its exclusive (maritime) economic zone; Coordinating the exercise of the ministers powers in the military, political and administrative leadership of the National Guard of Ukraine; Managing and developing the common aviation safety and civil protection system within the National Police, State Border Guard Service, State Emergency Service and National Guard. Naumenkos responsibilities will also include improving legislation within his remit, organising the deployment of aircraft and drone units, developing pilot training, and coordinating the activities of aviation facilities managed by the Interior Ministry. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) has called on foreign parliaments, governments and international organisations to condemn the killing of Andrii Parubii, an MP and its former speaker, as an act of political terror by Russia, part of its war of aggression against Ukraine. Source: Interfax-Ukraine Details: On 3 September, 296 MPs voted in favour of resolution No. 13723. The resolution also requests that the European Parliament and EU national parliaments observe a minute of silence in memory of Parubii and all Ukrainians killed by the Russian aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian MPs called on international partners to intensify political, economic and sanctions pressure on Russia as a terrorist state waging an aggressive war and engaging in political assassinations and destabilising activities. The Rada also asked the international community to provide Ukraine with additional security and defence assistance, particularly to boost its ability to counter terrorist and sabotage attacks. The Parliament has issued a demand that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies conduct an immediate, professional, transparent and effective investigation into Parubiis murder, involving international experts if needed. Background: On 30 August, Andrii Parubii, MP and former Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, was murdered in Lviv. The Prosecutor General's Office reported that an unknown man had fired several shots at the politician, killing him instantly. The attacker fled the scene. A special police operation codenamed Siren was launched in the city to locate and apprehend the murderer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the night of 31 August-1 September that a suspect had been detained. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that the suspect was arrested in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. At a briefing on 1 September, law enforcement officials said that they had not ruled out any lines of inquiry in the case of the murder of Andrii Parubii, but had identified a Russian link as the priority. Radio Liberty reported that the suspect confessed during initial questioning and disclosed his contact with Russian representatives. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LOWELL, Mass. (WPRI) An investigation is underway after reports of a potentially armed person near the UMass Lowell campus Wednesday afternoon. Police said they received a call from a student around 2:30 p.m. about an individual behind the Riverview Suites dorms on South Campus with what appeared to be a gun. Massachusetts State Police said they were aware of a video circulating social media of the suspect seen on Middlesex Street. Lowell police said they obtained their own video, depicting the same individual with a long-gun through security footage. Aerial snapshot of UMass Lowell campus after reports of armed suspect on Sept. 3, 2025. (Courtesy: WBZ-TV) Students at UMass Lowell were ordered to shelter in place as multiple agencies, including FBI Boston and ATF agents, searched the area. The order was lifted around 5:15 p.m., after officials determined the suspect was no longer in the vicinity, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All classes and events on campus were canceled for the rest of the day. While police do not believe there is a public safety there, a heavy law enforcement presence remains on campus and officers have been stationed at every residence hall overnight. The university will also be offering counseling sessions Wednesday and Thursday. Police emphasized at no time was this an active shooter situation and there were no reports of shots fired or injuries. While a weapon has not been confirmed, the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information, such as photos or videos of the suspect, is asked to call (978) 937-3200. Police urged residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1. 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 Breaking News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. LOWELL, Mass. (NewsNation) A lockdown at the University of Massachusetts Lowell has been lifted after reports of a man carrying a gun on campus sparked a shelter-in-place order. Emergency alerts sent to students said police were looking for a man in a gray or white sweatshirt and black shorts carrying a long weapon. The alerts instructed students to stay inside until further notice and to run, hide, fight. The shelter-in-place order was lifted after law enforcement searched campus, and police officers will be stationed at residence halls through the night, the university said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is Purgatory? The group behind the spate of active shooter hoaxes At no time was this an active shooter situation and there is no evidence of shots fired, the Lowell Police Department wrote in an update. All classes and campus events have been canceled for the day as police investigate the situation. Update: State & Local Police continue to gather information in support of an ongoing investigation into this afternoons incident at UMass Lowell. There are no reports of any shots fired or injuries, and Troopers and Officers will maintain a presence in and around the City as a precaution, Massachusetts State Police wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We encourage residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity by calling 911. If you have any information, photos, or video of the suspect, please report it to Lowell Police Department. Lockdown issued on first day of school Students were on campus for the first day of school when the lockdown was issued. A total of 12,130 undergraduate students are enrolled at the university and 3,700 students live on campus across 10 residence halls. The Lowell campus is located about an hour north of Boston. U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., said she was in touch with law enforcement about the emergency situation. If you are in Lowell, please follow directions from Lowell Police and UMass Lowell, she wrote on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Active shooter hoaxes mar return to US college campuses Massachusetts State Police urged anyone with information to contact 911. We are aware of a video circulating of a person who appears to be armed walking in Lowell near the Riverview Suites on Middlesex Street. State and Local Police have responded to the area to further investigate. Anyone with relevant information should call 911, the department wrote. Lowell Public Schools said student athletes from two local schools were also sheltering in place due to the police activity in 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 NewsNation. By Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal has breached an international treaty by preventing the public from accessing key information about Europe's largest lithium mining project during its environmental licensing process, a U.N. committee said on Wednesday. In 2023, Portugal's environmental agency APA gave its go-ahead, conditional on some remedies, for London-listed Savannah Resources to develop the mine in the northern Barroso region, which has been a World Heritage site for agriculture since 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local residents and environmentalists have opposed the project, and said on Wednesday that the findings by the U.N. Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee reinforced their demand for the license to be revoked. The APA said in a statement that despite having a divergent interpretation of the application of the convention, it "has always acted in strict compliance with administrative procedures, applying the law" and that all the required information had already been made available. Savannah Resources declined to comment. In its findings the U.N. committee said that Portugal failed to respect citizens' rights to environmental information and to participation in the licensing process - rights enshrined in the 2001 convention, which the country ratified in 2003. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee added that the APA had failed to respond to requests for environmental information within legal deadlines, and when it refused, failed to inform citizens how to appeal. The complaint against the authorities' actions was filed in 2021 by Spanish preservation group Montescola Foundation, with two Portuguese groups serving as observers in the process. Montescola President Joam Evans welcomed the decision, saying the environmental permit should be revoked. Savannah, which is keen to supply Europe's electric vehicles sector, has said Barroso's deposit of spodumene - an important source of lithium used in batteries - is the biggest in Europe with estimated reserves of at least 28 million metric tons of high-grade lithium. It wants to start production in 2027. (Reporting by Sergio GoncalvesEditing by Andrei Khalip and Frances Kerry) By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The United Nations urged countries on Wednesday to set more ambitious climate plans during this month, seeking to pressure major economies including the EU and China ahead of this year's U.N. climate summit. The U.N. had asked countries to submit their plans, called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, within September so that their efforts can be assessed before the COP30 summit in November in Brazil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most countries have yet to do so despite agreeing to submit them this year under the 2015 Paris Agreement. The updated NDCs should describe how each country plans to cut emissions by 2035. In a letter to nearly 200 countries, U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell described the NDCs as "the cornerstone of humanity's fight against the global climate crisis." "These national climate plans... are among this centurys most powerful engines of economic growth and rising living standards," said the letter, which the U.N. published. China, today the world's biggest polluter, has said only that it will upgrade its target in the autumn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Union is struggling to agree on its plan, and this month countries including France and Poland called for a delay in approving the bloc's proposed 2040 goal, which would have informed the 2035 target. The U.N. assessment will help indicate whether countries are on track to hold global warming to safe levels or if they need to step up their plans. How governments respond will serve as a test of their climate commitment at a time when the United States - the world's biggest economy and biggest polluter historically - pulls away from the effort. Last year was the world's hottest year on record, and the 10 hottest years on record all happened in the last 10 years. Climate change is worsening extreme weather across continents - from torrential storms, to wildfires and heatwaves. (Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Katy Daigle and Chizu Nomiyama ) The Israeli military has dropped several grenades in close proximity to peacekeeping soldiers in southern Lebanon, the United Nations said on Wednesday. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) described the incident as one of the most severe attacks on the peacekeeping troops and their equipment since the ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Lebanese militia Hezbollah came into effect last November. When asked, the Israeli military said it was investigating the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UN soldiers were reportedly engaged in clearing roadblocks near the Blue Line - the border between Israel and Lebanon - at the time of the attack on Tuesday morning, according to the UN mission. It said that the Israeli military had been informed of the operation in advance. One grenade landed only about 20 metres from UN personnel and vehicles, the UN mission said. Three more detonated within a radius of approximately 100 metres. The drones then withdrew south of the border into Israel. Since the end of November, a ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hezbollah, but both sides regularly accuse each other of violations. Israel continues to carry out attacks in the neighbouring country almost daily. The agreement also stipulates that Hezbollah should withdraw behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometres north of the Israeli-Lebanese border. The peacekeepers are also tasked with monitoring this withdrawal. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. The second special session of 2025 kicked off without much fanfare or many lawmakers. About two dozen members of the Missouri House gathered for a quick technical session so that bills relating to Governor Mike Kehoes call for a special session could be filed. Lawmakers will begin hearings Thursday on five bills introduced in the House. One deals with congressional remapping and the other four are tied more to initiative petition reform, which is the second part of Kehoes call for an extraordinary session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With only representing a super minority in the Missouri Legislature, Democrats say there is little they can do. Popular restaurant accused of harboring undocumented migrants Thats the challenge. But what we can do is make sure that were raising our voice, State Rep. Ken Strickler, D-Lees Summit, said. (Republicans) have the votes to do whatever they want. Thats part of the problem here: theyre doing whatever they want. Potential lawsuits aside, legislators on both sides of the aisle said both the new congressional maps as well as the initiative petition reform will likely pass out of both chambers next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I was in the House of Representatives, I fought for a 7-1 map, Republican State Sen. David Gregory of St. Louis County, said. Obviously, I did not succeed, but Im going to be fighting now again in the Senate. I think its going to get done. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. President Donald Trump said he was "watching" the event staged by China on the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II and "understood the reason" it brought together the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea publicly for the first time. "I thought it was very, very impressive," Trump said Sept. 3 during an event at the White House. "But I understood the reason they were doing it. And they were hoping I was watching, and I was watching. My relationship with all of them is very good. We're going to find out how good it is over the next week or two." The massive show of force showcased China's advancing military might in front of 50,000 guests and spectators. China staged a large and highly choreographed military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, unveiling a new long-range hypersonic missile, underwater drones and even robotic wolves. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, (2nd L-R) Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) speaks with China's President Xi Jinping after a group photograph before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (C) leave after their meeting in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Putin on September 3 thanked Kim for sending troops to oust Ukrainian soldiers from Russia's Kursk border region, saying they fought "heroically. Chinese soldiers ride in tanks during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025, in Beijing, China. China's Victory Day military parade serves as a powerful display of national pride and military power. This year's parade carries heightened geopolitical weight with the attendance of 26 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, underlining China's diplomatic alliances as it presents itself as an alternative global leader. Chinese troops march during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive for a reception marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 3, 2025. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, (L-R) Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping stands in a car to review the troops during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025. Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) march during the rehearsal ahead of a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin sees North Korean leader Kim Jong Un off following their talks after attending a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing on September 3, 2025. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd-R) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (2nd-L) meet after attending a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Putin on September 3 thanked Kim for sending troops to oust Ukrainian soldiers from Russia's Kursk border region, saying they fought "heroically. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a press conference, at the end of his visit to China for the Tianjin SCO Summit and the military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Soldiers march during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025, in Beijing, China. China's Victory Day military parade serves as a powerful display of national pride and military power. This year's parade carries heightened geopolitical weight with the attendance of leaders like Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Narendra Modi, underlining China's diplomatic alliances as it presents itself as an alternative global leader. Armored vehicles and soldiers are seen during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025, in Beijing, China. China's Victory Day military parade serves as a powerful display of national pride and military power. This year's parade carries heightened geopolitical weight with the attendance of leaders like Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Narendra Modi, underlining China's diplomatic alliances as it presents itself as an alternative global leader. Putin and Kim Jong Un join Xi in Beijing for China WWII victory parade 1 of 14 In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, (2nd L-R) Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. China's Xi Jinping used a crowd-pleasing speech to highlight how the country's growing military and diplomatic clout represents an alternative to a US-led world under Trump's White House that has strained relations with allies and rivals alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump complained the United States was left out of the speech. "President Xi is a friend of mine, but I thought that the United States should have been mentioned last night during that speech, because we helped China," Trump said Sept. 3. More: Russia suggests Trump was being 'ironic' with Putin, Xi, Kim 'conspiring' claim Trump addressed Xi, Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un in an earlier social media post that accused them of working to "conspire against The United States of America." He also said in the post that the United States should be acknowledged for "the massive amount of support and 'blood' that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Russian, Chinese, North Korean leaders meet to 'conspire' against US, Trump says Japan invaded China in a conflict that ended after Japan was defeated in large part by the United States in World War II. Trump had earlier told reporters he did not see the parade as a challenge to the United States. President Donald Trump reacts as he and the President of Poland Karol Nawrocki (not pictured) meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 3, 2025. Asked Sept. 3 if he was upset that he wasn't invited to the parade in Beijing, Trump said, "It wouldn't have been my place to be there." Contributing: Joey Garrison, Francesca Chambers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Very, very impressive'. Trump responds to big military parade in China NEED TO KNOW United flight 2664 returned to San Francisco International Airport due to a plastic burning smell detected in the cabin After the plane landed safely, United arranged for a different aircraft to take the passengers to their destination of Baltimore/Washington International Airport The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident A United flight departing from San Francisco International Airport had to turn around to address a burning smell inside the cabin. The plane, a Boeing 737 MAX-9, was en route to Baltimore/Washington International Airport when the incident occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 2. There were 164 passengers and eight crew members on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement United flight 2664 safely returned to San Francisco to address a plastic burning smell in the cabin, a spokesperson for the airline shared in a statement with PEOPLE. Customers deplaned normally at the gate. The spokesperson added that United arranged for a different aircraft to take the passengers to their destination. Justin Sullivan/Getty United Airlines planes at San Francisco International Airport United Airlines planes at San Francisco International Airport According to FlightAware, the plane took off at 9:47 a.m. local time. Just over 30 minutes into the flight, the plane diverted back to its origin at SFO. The plane landed safely at 10:42 a.m., less than an hour after takeoff. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also noted in a statement on their website that they are investigating the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, Hawaiian Airlines flight 457 took similar precautions after an electrical smell was detected on the plane, PEOPLE previously reported. The smell occurred after a passengers phone got stuck between two seats during the flight from Honolulu to Tokyo, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency. This granted the aircraft priority handling once they landed safely at Tokyos Haneda Airport. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty United Airlines plane United Airlines plane One day before United flight 2664 detected a burning smell in the cabin, two of the airlines planes were involved in another incident at SFO after they collided on the tarmac. On Monday, Sept. 1, United Airlines flight 1871 struck United Airlines flight 796 while pushing back from the gate, according to the FAA, which is investigating the event. 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. A spokesperson for United explained the moving plane made contact with the tail of the parked United aircraft, resulting in a minor collision. Per the FAA, the incident occurred in an area where air traffic controllers do not communicate with flights. Read the original article on People HONOLULU (KHON2) Researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa are calling for better building standards in coastal flood zones. With coastal high tide flooding having doubled in the U.S. in the last two decades, its clear that we need to build for the future, not just the past, said lead author Wendy Meguro. Our main suggestion is for policymakers and designers to plan for sea-level rise amounts projected within a buildings lifetime. UH sounds alarm: Infectious disease transmitted from dolphins to humans Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UHs research goes hand-in-hand with local efforts to ensure that coastal communities can withstand the impacts of rising sea levels. Despite national reports of rising sea levels that threaten buildings, there is no standardized policy establishing minimum building elevations. As a result, local governments are tasked with creating their own standards. By analyzing factors such as water level measurements, projected sea-level rises and more, researchers determined that buildings must have a more secure minimum elevation. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You This research is crucial for supporting community resilience in Hawaii, said Eric Teeples, a co-author of the research. Sea level rise is a real threat to many coastal communities, and Hawaii is particularly vulnerable. By learning from others, we can develop informed, forward-thinking and actionable approaches that fit our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goals of the research include finding different methods to determine minimum building elevation and to seek community preferences to guide future policies in the islands, particularly in Honolulu. The full findings will be shared at a public feedback and presentation event in late 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Service has returned to normal at Metra stations in University Park and Richton Park after a fire at the University Park station last week, Metra says. Spokesperson Michael Gillis said in an emailed statement that Metra is still investigating the cause of the fire, after the damage shut off power to the last two stations on the electric line the afternoon and evening of Aug. 28. Some power was restored on Friday, but Metra closed the stations again on Sunday to repair the line. All electric line trains originated and terminated at the Matteson station on Friday and Sunday, with service at the University Park and Richton Park stations resuming Monday morning. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, according to a University Park news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gillis said electric line cars are powered by electricity supplied by overhead wires, with electrical substations including those in University Park and Richton Park distributing the electricity. The disruption came two years after half of a staircase leading pedestrians to the train tracks at the University Park stop caved in, injuring one person. The stairway has since been repaired, but it followed years of local officials calling on Metra to make improvements to the stop. When I was the mayor I had called them out because I was a little disgusted about the condition the Metra station was in, former University Park Mayor Vivian Covington told the Daily Southtown after the staircase collapse. Its in bad condition (and) it smells. Covington said in 2017, Metra agreed to begin station upgrades. Gillis said Metra plans to complete upgrades to the University Park station but has no timeline for when construction would begin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We currently are working on securing funding to begin preliminary engineering on a University Park rehab, Gillis said. In the meantime, he said, they will begin a project next month to repair the roof canopy. Meanwhile, work is underway to construct a new 95th Street/Chicago State University station, costing $33.4 million. Work was scheduled to begin last summer and take a little over three years to complete. Updates include building an enclosed street-level entrance on 95th Street, a new platform with a full-length canopy and a walkway and bike lane that connects to a new commuter parking lot and tunnel entrance, according to a Metra news release. Metra also announced plans to invest $3.4 million in preliminary engineering, environmental review and final design phase activities for the Olympia Fields Metra station as well as $17.7 million for construction to begin in 2026. The existing tunnel will be gutted and repaired after complaints of water leaks, Gillis said, and passengers can expect amenities such as LED monitors, lighting and signage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gillis said Metra will spend $809 million on the electric line this decade, more than half of which is dedicated to station rehabilitation. Between 13 and 15 more stations are being considered for improvements in the next few years. ostevens@chicagotribune.com Roughly 200 Johnson County citizens gathered Tuesday night at a conference hall in Cleburne to express support for the countys embattled sheriff. Sheriff Adam King was indicted last week on two felony counts of retaliating against a witness and one misdemeanor count of abuse of office involving sexual harassment, the Star-Telegram previously reported. King placed himself on administrative leave after being indicted. Core to the case are allegations that King made repeated and unwelcome sexually-charged remarks toward female employees, showed favoritism to women who spent time alone with him, and threatened the chief deputy to stay quiet about it, according to the indictments. The Texas Rangers investigated the case and arrested King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On one occasion, King is accused of instructing a female employee to remove her sweater, which was covering a V-neck blouse, according to the indictment. He told the employee that she would need to disrobe before he would sign any documents, which was a task required for her job. The sheriff also told her, If you keep losing weight, youre going to make me do some ungodly things to you, according to the indictment. At the meeting Tuesday night, Kings supporters split into three groups to plan how best to support him: one group focused on prayer needs, another on organizing financial help for Kings legal fees and the third on putting together a PR strategy. Uniting everyone present, though, was the belief that the allegations against King are untrue. Vernon Castles, a Cleburne resident and close friend of Kings, called the meeting without the sheriffs permission or presence because he was unable to be silent any longer, Castles said in opening remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff King is a consummate law enforcement professional, and these allegations are without merit, Castles said, adding that he intended to call on the courts to toss the indictment against King and for the FBI to investigate the charges. More top stories from our newsroom: Aledo ISD violated special education laws, state investigation finds Three dead, two critically injured in Tarrant County crash Husband confessed to killing young mom in Fort Worth, police say [Get our breaking news alerts.] Castles portrayed the charges against King as an effort by Johnson County District Attorney Tim Good to circumvent the democratic process and install a chief deputy as sheriff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We look forward to the truth clearing his name, Castles said before stepping away from the podium to lead the small group on prayer strategies. In that group, one attendee expressed frustration that local churches seemed to want to avoid taking a side on the issue. Tuesdays event, originally advertised as taking place in a church parking lot roughly a mile from the conference hall, was moved because the church did not want to be affiliated with it, a church employee told the Star-Telegram. Members of multiple churches in Cleburne have volunteered to open prayer rooms for the sheriff or put his name in the Sunday prayer bulletin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All these people here have one thing in common, Castles said. Jesus Christ and Adam King. Across the room, another group proposed writing letters to President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Gov. Greg Abbott in an effort to get Kings charges thrown out. The coalition seeking to help King and his wife pay for legal fees discussed a defense fund set up at a local bank. A GoFundMe previously set up by Kings wife, which had raised nearly $10,000, was disabled for an unknown reason, organizer Ben Oefinger said. The money from the GoFundMe will be refunded to the donors, who will hopefully deposit the refund into the defense fund at the bank, Oefinger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For attendee Amy Diamond, the biggest concern is unjust persecution, she said. Diamond said she is praying for God to soften the hearts of Kings accusers and to allow the truth to come out. We have always been a Christian community that has always helped each other, Diamond said. This has put a black eye on our community and weve never been viewed as this. King has been released from jail on $25,000 bond. His attorney, Bill Mason, released a statement in his defense. Mason said that King would not, and did not, do anything wrong, inappropriate, or illegal, Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV reported. Mason called King a fine man and a great sheriff, who looks forward to trial when the true story will be told. King, a Republican, is serving his third term. Capt. Ben Arriola has been appointed acting sheriff while King is on leave. What role does geography play? The picture in California is quite different from that in the Northeast. Western tick species and ecology arent as conducive to these diseases. California ticks have much lower infection rates. Studies show that less than 2% carry Lyme bacteria, and only 0.3% carry the bacterium that causes anaplasmosis, another bacterial infection transmitted by the same black-legged ticks that spread Lyme and babesiosis. Climate change is expanding some tick ranges, but not everywhere. Ecology matters more than temperature. Californias hot, dry summers, for example, reduce tick survival compared with the humid Northeast. Whats more, Californias reservoir hosts (the animals that maintain the bacteria in nature) are different. The native Western fence lizards and alligator lizards, for example, clear infection from ticks that feed on them, a natural protection the Northeast doesnt have. So, Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses are still rare in California. What has changed dramatically is the number of people coming to my clinic at Stanford convinced they have Lyme. There's more awareness now, but unfortunately also a lot of misinformation. I'm seeing many more patients who were told by alternative providers that they have chronic Lyme based on unvalidated tests or non-specific symptoms. The perception of Lyme disease has grown much more than the actual incidence has. My role increasingly involves separating the signal from the noise. I spend a lot of time educating both patients and other physicians about what the science really shows regarding tick-borne diseases. Elsewhere in the country ticks and the diseases they carry appear to be adapting to new climate and ecological conditions. In the Northwest, western blacklegged ticks are spreading inland and north, increasing Lyme and anaplasmosis in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In the Midwest, blacklegged ticks are expanding west and north, driving up Lyme, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. In the South, rising lone star tick populations are pushing ehrlichiosis, STARI, and red-meat allergy (alpha-gal syndrome) farther north and west. In the Southwest, brown dog ticks continue to cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever outbreaks. WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS Alcohol consumption and your health Previous Next Alcohol Where does the impression that chronic Lyme is a huge problem come from? Theres an entire industry of self-described Lyme-literate practitioners and specialty testing companies that actively promote the idea that Lyme is everywhere and severely underdiagnosed. Social media amplifies dramatic patient stories, like Justin Timberlakes, making rare California cases seem common and even almost fashionable. While the internet is full of stories about chronic Lyme, the science shows a much more limited problem. Even in high-endemic areas like the Northeast, the CDC data show that six months after treatment, compared with controls, only 5% to 10% of properly treated patients develop persistent symptoms. But that isnt an ongoing infection multiple studies show that no viable bacteria remain. The symptoms likely result from inflammatory aftermath, similar to how some people have lingering effects after COVID-19 or other infections, even when the infections have resolved. The great majority of people who believe they have chronic Lyme either never had Lyme, or they had it and now suffer from symptoms caused by other conditions. What are the costs of the popular misperceptions about Lyme? Studies show that patients diagnosed with chronic Lyme often receive months or years of antibiotics, with some getting over 200 days of treatment annually far beyond any evidence-based recommendations. A 2017 Stanford Medicine case series described five patients who developed serious complications from treatments for so-called chronic Lyme disease including a life-threatening whole-body infection from an intravenous catheter (one patient died), a spinal bone infection caused by bacteria in the blood, a severe intestinal infection from C. difficile bacteria, and an infected abscess adjacent to the spine. The report emphasizes that prolonged intravenous antibiotics and immunoglobulin treatments lack proven benefit and can cause substantial harm; standard Lyme disease therapy remains a two- to four-week antibiotic course. The case series urges clinicians and public health officials to recognize these risks and calls for systematic tracking of adverse events tied to such unproven chronic Lyme treatments. What conditions are misdiagnosed as chronic Lyme? Many conditions can cause fatigue, body aches and cognitive problems, including other infections, depression, diabetes, thyroid disorders, fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases like lupus, vitamin deficiencies, sleep apnea and multiple sclerosis. Its especially unlikely to be Lyme if someone tested negative or hasnt been in endemic areas. How can physicians best help patients who come to them believing they have chronic Lyme? The first challenge is distinguishing between patients who have Lyme disease and those with persistent symptoms incorrectly attributed to it. Many patients arrive at the clinic with positive results from non-FDA-approved Lyme specialty labs that produce false positives. But true Lyme is diagnosed using CDC-recommended two-tiered testing with Food and Drug Administration-approved assays. For patients who have ongoing problems but no clear evidence of active infection, the hardest part for a physician is validating that their symptoms are real while being honest about the diagnosis. I then work hard to identify the actual cause of their symptoms and to connect them with appropriate specialists, emphasizing that finding the real cause leads to more effective treatment than continuing to chase a Lyme diagnosis that isnt there. When talking with other physicians, I emphasize the importance of using only FDA-approved, validated testing methods and following evidence-based treatment guidelines. We must resist pressure from patients to order unvalidated tests or prescribe prolonged antibiotic courses that can cause more harm than benefit. And the medical community needs to better address the real suffering of patients with persistent symptoms while maintaining scientific rigor in diagnosis and treatment. Using DEET repellant and staying on trails are two good ways to minimize your tick risk. (Adobe Stock/Maj Media) What about Lyme vaccines? The most promising development is Pfizer and Valnevas new Lyme vaccine, VLA15, currently in Phase 3 trials. It targets different bacterial proteins than a previous vaccine, avoiding the autoimmune concerns that led to its withdrawal. Theres also research into anti-tick vaccines that would make our immune systems react to proteins in tick saliva, potentially protecting against multiple tick-borne diseases by triggering itching, redness and inflammation at the site of the bite, thus interfering with the ticks ability to stay attached and feed long enough to infect. On the diagnostic front, the FDA recently cleared a new Lyme test that could streamline diagnosis, and researchers are developing artificial intelligence-based tests that might give results in minutes rather than days, preventing progression to later-stage disease and reducing the window for misinformation to take hold. How can we protect ourselves while spending time outdoors? The precautions are simple and safe, and they protect against multiple diseases not just Lyme. Using DEET repellent and staying on trails are all smart practices anywhere ticks live. Check yourself for ticks after time in the outdoors: Removing ticks within 24 hours usually prevents infection. See a doctor if you develop a rash (especially a bulls-eye rash), flu-like symptoms, or unusual neurological or joint problems after a tick bite. Also seek medical care if you have a compromised immune system. Thanks to the kindness of a stranger, a deer that was trapped in a fence in Nottinghamshire, England, was rescued and made a swift recovery. After the woman noticed the deer struggling to break free, she decided to stay with it until volunteers from the Brinsley Animal Rescue were able to come help, per the BBC. The deer was found in Gedling Country Park tangled up in "strong wire netting." According to the United Press International, the woman said it had been trapped for many hours. When the team approached the animal, it seemed startled at first but quickly calmed down once it realized the volunteers were only there to assist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jon Beresford, co-founder of Brinsley Animal Rescue, said the charity was grateful to the woman who noticed the deer and kept it company until it could be rescued. The charity said the deer was seen by a vet for a full checkup and had healed well. Beresford added: "We do see a lot of injured wildlife so to have a success is great, it does lift our spirits and make it all worthwhile." In our modern world with so many artificial boundaries, animals can't always know how to navigate and can easily become entangled in fencing, netting, and other obstacles. For example, when rescuers found a fox cub caught in bitumen, a glue-like substance derived from crude oil, it took them three days to free the animal. In Florida, a team rescued an osprey that had been trapped in a sailboat's mast rigging, and in a coastal town in Poland, divers freed a whale that was entangled in fishing nets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So while it's becoming more common for animals to need rescuing due to the complexity of our world, there are plenty of people willing to lend them a helping hand. "So glad this story has a happy ending. Great that you were able to help him," one person said on a Facebook post on Brinsley Animal Rescue's page about the deer. "Thank you to the amazing lady that stayed with the deer and to the amazing volunteers that took the deer to the vet," said another. 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. CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) An Upstate school district is using thousands of dollars in grant funding to help students experiencing homelessness. Its a population they said has grown over the last year. School district leaders in Cherokee County utilize a checklist as a guide to determine which of their students are experiencing homelessness and the resources they can offer them. They said homelessness can look like couch-surfing, or doubling up with another family. Cherokee County Schools are doing this work with a McKinney-Vento grant of up to $35,000. The money is dedicated to helping disadvantaged students and their families. With the funds, district leaders can offer them food, clothes, shoes, hygiene supplies and other items as needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ben Fuller who is the attendance, truancy, and discipline officer for the Cherokee County School District told 7NEWS at least 83 of their students are experiencing homelessness right now. I think the equal opportunity of education for those students is going to be probably the reward that we get the most. That, I dont know if its the diamond out of the rough kind of mentality or the I think you can see that every student has the ability. They just dont have the same, maybe opportunities, said Fuller. Fuller also said that in extreme cases; the school district can provide students with sleeping bags and tents. Theyve partnered with United Way to expand their reach. I mentioned to you earlier about the homeless court that started in Cherokee County. Theres a lot of mental health that goes along with those two things. They tie a lot together as were becoming more aware of mental health issues. Were also seeing it attached to a lot of homeless issues. And, I think if you can solve one, you might start helping out the other, Fuller explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fuller went on to say students are re-evaluated each year to see if their situation has changed, and how school district leaders can continue to assist them. And then lets start to build a pathway to maybe get out of homelessness. And, that can take many years. And, but the partnership with the United Way has extremely helped us out, Fuller added. When it comes to their daily experience, one of the things we see a lot with homeless students is attendance issues; them being able to even get to school. Where are they located? And then we have to look at transportation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. (Reuters) -Qatar, United States, Togo and the African Union Commission participated in the second joint oversight committee meeting for the peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the U.S. State Department said in a joint statement released on Wednesday. "Committee members acknowledged slowness in implementation of some elements of the Agreement," according to the statement. "The DRC and Rwanda committed to a technical level, intelligence and military channel for direct exchange of information in advance of the next JSCM meeting in Doha." Togo represented the African Union in the meeting. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto; Editing by Himani Sarkar) A federal appeals court has ruled that the administration of United States President Donald Trump illegally invoked a wartime law to deport Venezuelans as part of its immigration crackdown. Late on Tuesday, a majority on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations without due process. The decision was remarkable on several fronts. It was the first time a federal appellate court had weighed Trumps use of the 18th-century law, but it was also a strong rebuke to Trumps mass deportation campaign from a court with a reputation for leaning conservative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writing for the majority on the three-person bench, Judge Leslie Southwick rejected Trumps claim that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua represented an invasion into the US. We conclude that the findings do not support that an invasion or a predatory incursion has occurred, Southwick wrote. We therefore conclude that petitioners are likely to prove that the AEA [Alien Enemies Act] was improperly invoked. The Alien Enemies Act has the power to give the government wide-ranging powers to detain and deport citizens of hostile foreign nations, but only in times of war or during an invasion or predatory incursion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Trump, the law had only been used three times and exclusively during war. But Trump officials have used the law to justify the rapid deportation of Venezuelan migrants, on the basis that they constitute a criminal invasion across the border. Southwick, who was appointed by Republican President George W Bush, rejected that argument. There is no finding that this mass immigration was an armed, organized force or forces, Southwick wrote. The panel is the highest federal court to so far rule on Trumps attempts to use the law for deportations. The case is expected to eventually make its way to the US Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesdays ruling, however, was limited in scope: It only applies to states under the appeals courts jurisdiction Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi though it could be cited as a precedent in other appeals court circuits. Trump first invoked the Alien Enemies Act on March 15, publishing an executive order that accused the Tren de Aragua gang of perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion into the US. That same day, his administration flew two planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT), a maximum-security prison notorious for human rights abuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That came despite a lower judges order blocking his use of the law while the flights were under way. Trump officials accused the Venezuelan migrants on those flights of being Tren de Aragua members, though their lawyers point out that many of them had no criminal records. To meet the standards for using the Alien Enemies Act, the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that Tren de Aragua is controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime rival of the Republican leader. Trump has accused Maduro of masterminding a narco-terrorism enterprise in a coordinated effort to destabilise the US. But a declassified US intelligence memo has contradicted this claim, saying there is no evidence that Maduro coordinated with Tren de Aragua. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, the US announced it had attacked a boat carrying 11 alleged Tren de Aragua members in international waters in the Caribbean, killing all on board. Trump claimed they were narcoterrorists. Cases related to Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act have twice reached the US Supreme Court, which has not yet addressed the underlying validity of the Trump administrations actions. In April, the Supreme Court ruled that deportations under the act could proceed, but that immigrants should have reasonable time to contest their removals. It also decided that such challenges should be brought in the federal districts where the deportees are being held, as opposed to courts elsewhere in the country. In a second ruling, also in April, the Supreme Court blocked the deportations of a group of Venezuelan men in northern Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, in May, the Supreme Court extended the block, faulting the Trump administration for attempting to swiftly remove detainees just one day after providing them with deportation notices. Notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster, the majority opinion said. The case was ultimately sent back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In a statement after Tuesdays decision, Lee Gelernt, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), called the ruling a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU represented the Venezuelan men in the case. But there was one judge who dissented from Tuesdays decision on the Fifth Circuit Court: Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee. Oldham argued that deportations under the Alien Enemies Act were matters of political judgment and that the president has the right to determine whether the appropriate conditions were met. From the dawn of our nation until President Trump took office a second time, courts have never second-guessed the Presidents invocation of that Act, Oldham wrote. By Jan Wolfe (Reuters) -A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump unlawfully invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans he alleged were part of a criminal gang. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a preliminary injunction that blocked the Trump administration from removing a group of Venezuelans under the seldom-used 18th-century law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Fifth Circuit is the first federal appeals court to rule directly on a March 14 presidential proclamation invoking the 1798 law to justify rapid deportations. Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick, writing for the two-judge majority, rejected the Trump administration's assertion that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had engaged in a "predatory incursion" on U.S. soil. The Act gives the government expansive powers to detain and deport citizens of hostile foreign nations, but only in times of war, or during an "invasion or predatory incursion." Southwick was appointed by former President George W. Bush. He was joined by Circuit Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, an appointee of President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, dissented. The Trump administration could ask the entire 5th Circuit to rehear the case. It is expected to eventually reach the Supreme Court. The Trump administrations use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court," said American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt, who represented the Venezuelans. "This is a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. A White House spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case before the 5th Circuit was brought by a group of alleged Tren de Aragua members being held at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas. The ACLU, which represents the men, has disputed the claims of gang membership. In his March 14 proclamation, Trump said he would use the 1798 law to swiftly detain and deport members of Tren de Aragua. Trump asserted that the gang is a state-sponsored international terrorist organization that has invaded United States territory. The Supreme Court ruled in April that challenges to removal under the law must be brought in the federal judicial districts where detainees are being held. The court said it was not resolving the validity of the administration's reliance on that law to carry out the deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, challenges to the presidents invocation of the Alien Enemies Act have been unfolding in courts across the country, and several judges have blocked deportations under the law within their judicial districts. The case before the 5th Circuit briefly reached the Supreme Court in May. In an order, the high court granted a request by the organization that removals be halted while the case unfolds. The court also faulted the Trump administration attempting to swiftly remove the detainees just one day after providing them with deportation notices. Notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster, the order stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two conservative justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the May ruling. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; additional reporting by Nate Raymond and Ted Hesson; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Michael Perry) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) A federal appeals court has approved Illinois' ban on carrying firearms on public transit, reversing a lower court decision that found the prohibition violated the Second Amendment. The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals delivered its opinion on Tuesday. Judge Joshua Kolar wrote in the majority opinion for a three-judge panel that the Illinois restriction is comfortably situated in a centuries-old practice of limiting firearms in sensitive and crowded, confined places. In August 2024, the Rockford-based U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ruled in favor of four plaintiffs who argued that prohibiting guns on public buses and trains was unconstitutional. It relied on a pivotal 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling known as Bruen that decreed that restrictions on carrying guns in public must be relevantly similar, or consistent, with conditions that existed in the late 18th century when the Bill of Rights was composed. It said there were no analogous conditions that justified the transit ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeals court found the ban appropriate. We are asked whether the state may temporarily disarm its citizens as they travel in crowded and confined metal tubes unlike anything the founders envisioned, Kolar wrote. We draw from the lessons of our nations historical regulatory traditions and find no Second Amendment violation in such a regulation. The public transit ban was imposed in 2013 when Illinois became the last state in the nation to OK carrying concealed weapons in public. In addition to buses and trains, it nixed gun possession in places such as public arenas and hospitals. Joining in the majority opinion with Kolar, who was named to the court by President Joe Biden in 2024, was Judge Kenneth Ripple, appointed in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan. Writing a separate concurring opinion was Judge Amy St. Eve, tabbed for the court in 2018 by President Donald Trump. The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.8 billion multiyear contract to produce nearly 2,000 of the most advanced variant of the Patriot air and missile defense missile, the service announced in a Wednesday joint signing ceremony at Lockheeds Grand Prairie, Texas, facility. The contract marks the largest deal in the history of the companys Missiles and Fire Control unit. The agreement covers the fiscal years 2024 through 2026 and calls for the procurement of 1,970 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors and associated hardware for the U.S. and allies, according to the services statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PAC-3 MSEs recent combat performance solidified it as a must-have capability for America and its allies around the world, Jason Reynolds, Lockheeds vice president for Integrated Air and Missile Defense, said in a company statement. With this contract, well be delivering record numbers of PAC-3 MSE for years to come. The contract underscores Washingtons push to replenish missile stockpiles and strengthen supply chains as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East heighten the demand. The PAC-3 MSE, which uses hit-to-kill technology, is designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic threats and aircraft. Seventeen partner nations, including the U.S., field PAC-3 missiles. The muti-year buy enables the Army to procure a larger quantity of missiles for more rapid delivery, thus filling our inventory faster, Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, who leads the Armys Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, said in the services statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lockheed said it plans to deliver more than 600 interceptors in 2025, ramping up production nearly two years ahead of the award thanks to internal investments. The contract reflects disciplined acquisition and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources, Joseph Giunta, the Armys senior contracting official at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, said in the statement. Lockheed Martin told Defense News earlier this summer it was working toward delivering 650 PAC-3 MSE missiles per year by 2027. It is currently producing roughly 550 each year. The company is also looking at how it might possibly ramp up to 650 missiles a year earlier than planned, Reynolds told Defense News in July at the Association of the U.S. Armys LandEuro conference in Wiesbaden, Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What were endeavoring to do in partnership with the U.S. government, is to pull that left as much as we can, he said. The company is also looking at the efficiencies and streamlining and doing everything we can to stretch those dollars actually to take that to a higher capacity, upwards of around 750 per year by 2027, Reynolds said. The government has not yet officially released the number for a top production level, but if you take that trajectory and you project it forward into the future years, you will see as well north of 1,000 and then even much higher after that, he said. Credit: Reuters/Donald Trump via Truth Social Donald Trump personally ordered a lethal strike on a suspected drug boat that killed 11 Venezuelan gangsters. The navy sank the boat, understood to be carrying members of the Tren de Aragua gang, after it had departed Venezuela for the US, the American president announced on Tuesday. The strike was a dramatic escalation from Mr Trump deploying US warships to the waters off Venezuela to intercept drug cartel deliveries last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven US warships and one nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine are either in the region or expected to be there soon, carrying more than 4,500 sailors and marines, raising fears that it could lead to an armed conflict between America and Venezuela. It was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, Mr Trump said from the Oval Office on Wednesday. Everybody fully understands it. We have tapes of them speaking. You see it, you see the bags of drugs all over the boat, and they were hit. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, confirmed Mr Trump personally ordered the strike. Instead of interdicting it, on the presidents orders, we blew it up, he told reporters in Mexico City. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the way to stop drug cartels is to blow them up - Luis Barron/Eyepix Group/Shutterstock The administration was ready to take more lethal action: intercepting drug boats does not work, but blowing them up does, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has a right to eliminate immediate threats to the United States, Mr Rubio said when asked if they warned the crew. This president is not a talker; hes a doer hes going to do it. The legality of launching a deadly strike against civilians in international waters outside of an armed conflict has been called into question. But Mr Rubio defended the action, saying the president of the United States is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organisations. He also underlined the United Statess tougher stance during a visit to Mexico on Wednesday. The US has, for many years, established intelligence that allows us to interdict and stop drug boats. We did that, and it doesnt work, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a warning to drug lords and gangs, Mr Rubio said: What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them. The president of the United States is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organisations. This one was operating in international waters, headed towards the United States to flood our country with poison. Under President Trump, those days are over. Little is known about the strike, including what legal justification was used or what drugs were on board, but Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, reiterated Mr Rubios pledge that operations would continue. It wont stop with just this strike Weve got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us, and it wont stop with just this strike, Mr Hegseth said on Fox & Friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco-terrorist will face the same fate, he added. It is not known whether the vessel was destroyed using a drone, torpedo or by some other means. The attack drew a furious response from Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who said the strike action was an extravagant, immoral and bloody threat. Venezuelas president Nicolas Maduro described the US attack as an immoral and bloody threat - Jesus Vargas/Getty Images If Venezuela is attacked, we will declare ourselves in armed struggle and a Republic at arms, he added. In August, the Trump administration offered a $50 million (37.3m) reward for Mr Maduros arrest after accusing him of being one of the worlds largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the US with fentanyl-laced cocaine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Maduro is running the South American nation effectively as a kingpin of a drug narco state, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, said on US talk show Fox & Friends last week. The decision to blow up a suspected drug vessel passing through the Caribbean, instead of seizing the vessel and apprehending its crew, is highly unusual and evokes memories of the US fight against militant groups such as al-Qaeda. The United States has deployed warships in the southern Caribbean in recent weeks, with the aim of following through on a pledge by Trump to crack down on drug cartels. Seven US warships and one nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine are either in the region or expected to be there soon, carrying more than 4,500 sailors and Marines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit have been carrying out amphibious training and flight operations in southern Puerto Rico. 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 US congressional committee on Tuesday released tens of thousands of pages of records provided by the Department of Justice (DoJ) related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It was initially unclear whether the 33,295 pages of Epstein-related records released by the House Oversight Committee contained previously unknown information. According to the Washington Post, this is the first batch of documents that is likely to be followed by further publications due to cross-party demands for more transparency in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said that the majority of the documents released on Tuesday had already been made public. "The 33,000 pages of Epstein documents James Comer has decided to 'release' were already mostly public information. To the American people: Don't let this fool you," US broadcaster CNN reported Garcia as saying in a statement. "After careful review, Oversight Democrats have found that 97% of the documents received from the Department of Justice were already public. There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims." In mid-August, it became known that the US government planned to hand over documents from the Epstein investigations to the US Congress. Republican Oversight Committee chairman James Comer said at the time that the DoJ had informed the panel it would begin providing materials within days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comer noted that it would take some time to release all documents and redact the identities of victims, as well as any content relating to sexual abuse of minors. The move followed an August order from Comer. Especially in right-wing circles of US society, Epstein's death led to wild speculation despite official findings, because the financier had excellent contacts in US high society. US President Donald Trump has been under pressure to release the documents after pledging to do so during his campaign, with calls for full disclosure growing even within his own ranks in recent months. Epstein, a wealthy financier with powerful connections, was charged with running a sex trafficking ring that exploited underage girls for a string of prominent clients. He died in jail in 2019 in what authorities ruled a suicide, sparking conspiracy theories that sensitive information had been covered up. Former Central African Republic Prime minister Anicet-Georges Dologuele has announced on Monday, 1 September 2025, that he has relinquished his French citizenship to contest Decembers presidential election against incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadera. The opposition leader, who heads the URCA party, said the decision was made with a heavy heart but was necessary after a 2023 Constitutional amendment barred candidates with dual nationality from running. Dologuele, an economist who finished second to Touadera in the disputed 2020 polls, accused the national Electoral Authority of incompetence and avowed bias and raised doubts over whether authorities could organise the December 28 vote on time. Touadera, who critics say is seeking to entrench himself in power after securing the right to a third term, faces mounting opposition amid continued instability in the Russia-aligned nation. While the government has promised credible elections, long-standing issues with the electoral roll, funding shortages, and insecurity still cast uncertainty over the process. With 2.3 million voters expected, including nearly 750,000 first-timers, Dologuele has not ruled out a boycott, warning that free and fair conditions must be guaranteed. The stakes are high in a country scarred by decades of coups, civil wars, and unrest, where UN peacekeepers, Rwandan troops, and Russian mercenaries have been deployed to stabilise the fragile state. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Thousands of soldiers from Indonesia and the United States concluded annual joint military drills with a live-fire exercise on Wednesday together with forces from a dozen other countries. The Garuda Shield exercise began on Aug. 24 in the capital Jakarta, with activities also taking place in the towns of Baturaja and Dabo Singkep on Sumatra island. Indonesias Military Chief Gen. Agus Subiyanto and Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin oversaw Wednesdays exercise, which included long-range artillery and rocket firing, integrated airstrikes and ground troop maneuvers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subiyanto praised Indonesian troops who have demonstrated interoperability with strategic partners in addressing various threats. During the 11-day combat exercise, U.S. soldiers assigned to the 11th Airborne Division for the first time fired two FIM-92 Stinger missiles in Indonesia, marking a milestone for Washington. The FIM-92 Stinger is a surface-to-air missile designed to destroy low-flying aircraft. Not only is this a first for the whole eleventh (Airborne Division), but it is also the first time that we are utilizing this capability in Indonesia, Army Capt. Kaden Cox, the officer in charge of the live-fire exercise, said in a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense. The two missiles were fired in Baturaja last week, it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hosted by the Indonesian National Armed Forces, this years Super Garuda Shield focused on strengthening regional ties in an increasingly unstable global landscape, the military said in a statement. The exercise has been held annually by Indonesian and U.S. soldiers since 2006. The list of participants has expanded since 2022 to include Australia, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Brazil and South Korea, bringing the total number of troops taking part in the drill to 6,500. Several Asian countries also sent observers to the exercise. China criticized the drills and accused the U.S. of trying to build an Asian NATO to limit Chinas growing military and diplomatic influence in the region. During a recent speech in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington has been strengthening military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to reassure allies alarmed by Beijings increasing military and economic pressure and provocative actions in the disputed South China Sea. By Patricia Zengerle and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Wednesday his planned oversight visit to an intelligence agency was cancelled as a result of criticism by far-right activist Laura Loomer. Warner had been scheduled to meet on September 5 with staff at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencys headquarters in Springfield, Virginia, which he described as a meeting scheduled weeks earlier as part of his normal committee duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner said he got word the visit was cancelled after Loomer criticized him and NGA Director Vice Admiral Trey Whitworth online during the weekend. "It's beyond outrageous," Warner told reporters. Warner is the senior senator from Virginia, a state that is home to several intelligence agencies, including the CIA, and his constituents include thousands of people who work on national security issues. "Where does it end?" he asked. Warner said he hoped his Republican colleagues would also push for access, but that he had not had a chance to discuss the matter with Senator Tom Cotton, the Republican intelligence committee chairman. Aides to Cotton did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency visit was rescheduled, not canceled, in order to accommodate bipartisan participation in the town hall event," a defense official said. Warner said the incident is the latest example of Loomer's influence on President Donald Trump's administration. "In response to Loomers criticism, political appointees canceled the visit, just the latest example of an administration seemingly desperate to please Loomer, a figure with a long history of extreme and outlandish fringe views, including 9/11 denialism, anti-Muslim harassment campaigns, and associations with white supremacists," Warner said in a statement late on Tuesday. Warner said he has held more than a dozen listening sessions with nonpartisan career intelligence professionals from various agencies who are his constituents in Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loomer took credit for the meeting's cancellation in several social media posts starting late on Tuesday, saying Warner was "LOOMERED." "Following my expose of Biden appointed NGA Director Trey Whitworth, who was Mark Milleys handpicked Director for NGA @NGA_GEOINT, Whitworths scheduled September 5th fireside love fest with anti-Trump Democrat Senator @MarkWarner Mark Warner has been CANCELED!" she wrote. Loomer, a fervent Trump supporter, has maneuvered her way from an online agitator in his MAGA base to self-appointed presidential adviser. With 1.7 million followers on X and a weekly program that draws thousands of views, Loomer has weighed in on everything from the new pope to Trump's pick for surgeon general. She has claimed responsibility for the firings of former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and other aides. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Rod Nickel and Nia Williams) By David Shepardson FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Wednesday will hold a hearing on whether to approve a deal between the Justice Department and Boeing that allows the planemaker to avoid prosecution on a charge stemming from two fatal 737 MAX plane crashes that killed 346 people. Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas will consider objections from relatives of some of those killed in the crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 to the agreement that enables Boeing to escape oversight from an independent monitor for three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boeing last year agreed to plead guilty under a deal with prosecutors to a criminal fraud charge that it misled U.S. regulators about a crucial flight control system on the 737 MAX, its best-selling jet, but the company later reversed course. Boeing agreed to the initial plea deal during the final months of the Biden administration. O'Connor rejected the agreement in December, faulting a diversity and inclusion provision in the deal related to the selection of an independent monitor. That prolonged the case into the Trump administration, which took over on January 20 and overhauled the Justice Department, leading to a tentative non-prosecution agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some family members argue dismissal of the charge is not in the public interest, citing O'Connor's statement in 2023 that "Boeing's crime may properly be considered the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history." Paul Cassell, a lawyer for some of the relatives, said the "misleading and unfair deal is clearly against the public interest. The families will be asking Judge OConnor to use his recognized authority to reject this inappropriate deal." Boeing says the executive branch solely has the power to decide whether to bring or maintain a prosecution. The planemaker has asked O'Connor to reject objections filed by families and to grant the government's motion to dismiss the criminal charge. Under the non-prosecution agreement, Boeing agreed to pay an additional $444.5 million into a crash victims' fund to be divided evenly per victim of the two fatal 737 MAX crashes, on top of a new $243.6 million fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the non-prosecution agreement, Boeing will pay $1.1 billion in total, including the fine, compensation to families and more than $455 million to strengthen the companys compliance, safety and quality programs. The vast majority of the families have settled civil suits with Boeing and collectively have been "paid several billion dollars," the Justice Department said. Boeing has faced enhanced scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration since January 2024, when a new MAX 9 missing four key bolts suffered a mid-air emergency, losing a door plug. As a result, Justice Department officials decided to reopen the older fatal crashes case and to negotiate a plea agreement with Boeing. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jamie Freed) US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the military had conducted a lethal strike on a Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean, targeting alleged narcoterrorists. The operation, which Trump said killed 11 people, appears to be the first time his administration has used deadly force against drug trafficking groups in Latin America. Trump has previously ordered certain drug cartels including five Mexican syndicates to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations, and last month signed a Pentagon directive initiating the use of military force against drug trafficking groups. The strike marks an escalation in Washingtons feud with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, The Washington Post wrote, with the US accusing him of being one the worlds most powerful drug traffickers and offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest. By Daphne Psaledakis and Brendan O'Boyle MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that security cooperation with Mexico was closer than it had ever been, during a visit to the country as the Trump administration pursues a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and drug cartels. The two countries vowed to work together against organized crime groups, several of which U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has designated as foreign terrorist organizations, though Mexico reiterated that all operations must respect its sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubio met with President Claudia Sheinbaum and members of her cabinet to discuss security and praised Mexico's work. "It is the closest security cooperation we have ever had, maybe with any country, but certainly in the history of U.S.-Mexico relations," Rubio told reporters alongside his Mexican counterpart, Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who touted "undeniable results" on migration and security cooperation between the Sheinbaum and Trump administrations. The visit was overshadowed, however, by the U.S. military strike on a vessel from Venezuela in the Caribbean on Tuesday, which U.S. officials said was carrying illegal drugs. Rubio said such strikes "will happen again" as Trump wages "war on narco terrorist organizations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement De la Fuente, when asked about Mexico's position on the strike, stressed his country's commitment to non-intervention and the respect of sovereignty without criticizing the attack outright. A joint statement on Mexican-U.S. security emphasized "respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity," but the Trump administration has repeatedly said unilateral action against the Mexican cartels remains a possibility. De la Fuente, in the press conference alongside Rubio, said each country must operate "in their own territory." ONWARD TO ECUADOR Washington's top diplomat will travel from Mexico City to Ecuador in his latest trip to the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubio, the first Latino U.S. secretary of state, traveled to countries in Central America and the Caribbean during his first overseas trip after taking office as the administration sought to shift back focus to Latin America. The visit comes as Trump has also intensified his campaign to deport migrants in the U.S. illegally, sending federal agents into major U.S. cities and pushing for high daily arrest quotas. The crackdown on illegal immigration has drawn criticism from some Latin American leaders, including Sheinbaum, who has condemned recent immigration raids in the United States. Despite Rubio's warm words and the good ties maintained by Sheinbaum, analysts say the U.S. administration's trade policies and efforts to combat drug cartels have disrupted the relationship between the two neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The relationship is not in its best situation right now," said Martha Barcena Coqui, who served as Mexico's ambassador to the United States and is now an expert with Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. The U.S. military has also ramped up airborne surveillance of Mexican drug cartels, and Trump has authorized the Pentagon to begin using military force against the groups. Sheinbaum has said the U.S. and Mexico are nearing a security agreement to expand cooperation in fighting them, but the statement on Wednesday was thin on detail. Rubio would not address what the security partnership might mean for tariffs imposed on Mexico, saying it was not part of his portfolio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexico in July was able to avoid 30% tariffs on its goods shipments to the U.S., securing a 90-day pause to work on a trade deal with the Trump administration. But it is still subject to the previously imposed 25% fentanyl tariffs, though goods sent under the USMCA trade agreement - which are most of them - are exempt. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Don Durfee, Alistair Bell, Rod Nickel) The US military killed 11 people in a strike on a vessel officials said was carrying illegal narcotics off the coast of Venezuela. Washington has in recent weeks moved several naval assets to Latin America in a bid to counter drug cartels, an operation Caracas said is an effort to drive regime change. Whatever the underlying motivation, the White House has been increasing pressure on Venezuela, including by putting a $50 million bounty on its leader last month. Yet some experts fear the Trump administrations expansion of its war on drugs could set off a wave of violence, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio due to discuss security with the Mexican and Ecuadorean presidents this week. In August 2021, Maryland leaders celebrated the announcement that a port operation and new steel plant have been proposed for the old Sparrows Point industrial development in Baltimore County. (File photo by Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters) The developer of a planned Maryland offshore wind farm insisted Tuesday that a related steel manufacturing facility in Sparrows Point will move forward, despite the federal government withdrawing a $47.4 million grant for the project last week. The Sparrows Point Steel Marshalling Project was one of a dozen projects targeted by the U.S. Department of Transportation Friday when it withdrew $679 million in previously approved grants for port and rail infrastructure improvements in support of wind power projects across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In announcing the cuts, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they were part of a Trump administration effort to slash funding for doomed offshore wind farms. The administration of President Joe Biden bent over backwards to use transportation dollars for their Green New Scam agenda while ignoring the dire needs of our shipbuilding industry, Duffy said in a statement Friday. Thanks to President Trump, we are prioritizing real infrastructure improvements over fantasy wind projects that cost much and offer little. But US Wind, the Baltimore-based wind farm developer behind the Sparrows Point project, was defiant Tuesday. It said the $400 million project planned for nearly 100 acres on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel mill will continue to move forward, ultimately bringing hundreds of manufacturing jobs to the Baltimore region. The company added that steel manufactured on the site would also fuel the shipbuilding industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There continues to be a robust market for steel components for the energy and shipbuilding industries, and US Wind is confident that just as steel has been a key part of the regions past, Sparrows Point Steel will be an important part of Marylands industrial future, wrote Nancy Sopko, US Winds vice president for external affairs, in a statement. The facility is expected to fabricate steel components for wind turbines, including towers and monopiles. In 2023, US Wind inked a long-term partnership deal with Haizea Wind Group, a company that focuses on turbine design, manufacturing and assembly, with facilities in Spains Basque Country and in France. Later that year, US Wind announced it had won the grant funding from the federal government for the Sparrows Point project. It said the influx of cash would help transform the site into a sustainable working waterfront by supporting extensive upgrades needed for large offshore wind components to be staged and transported to offshore wind project sites along the East Coast. Duffy said the funding revocation came after a review of all discretionary grant programs with obligated and unobligated projects turned up the wind projects not aligned with the goals and priorities of the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has made his intentions clear from the start, beginning with a January executive order pausing new offshore wind leasing activities in federal waters. A group of 18 Democratic attorneys general challenged the order, and the case is set for a hearing in Boston on Thursday. In a statement Friday, the Oceantic Network, an offshore wind industry group, argued that the port projects defunded by the Trump administration would serve multiple industries, including defense, citing upgrades to the Port of Davisville in Rhode Island and Virginias Fairwinds Landing, which were expected to be multiuse sites. The Trump administration is weakening our countrys national security and destroying good-paying jobs by pulling critical funding designed to update our aging maritime infrastructure, said Oceantic CEO Liz Burdock. US Winds own wind farm, planned to be off the coast of Ocean City, has faced its own roadblocks of late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Wind won the final federal permit for the Ocean City project in the waning days of the Biden administration, but Trumps Interior Department indicated in a court filing last week that it intends to revoke the major federal permit for the project that was years in the making. The Town of Ocean City, which has mounted an aggressive campaign against the US Wind project, had filed a lawsuit targeting that very permit. The federal government argued the town could pump the brakes, since Interior was planning to withdraw the permit anyway. Ocean Citys mayor and council have also challenged an air pollution permit issued to US Wind by the state of Maryland one of the last permits that the wind company needed in order to begin construction. Trumps Environmental Protection Agency also weighed in on that state-issued permit, arguing in an unconventional letter that the document should go through an EPA appeals process as opposed to state courts. Ocean City, accordingly, filed appeals in both places. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The March 23 Movement (M23) on September 1 has reiterated its support for peace negotiations under Qatari mediation, even as tensions with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Government persist. Speaking in Goma, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the allied Congo River Alliance, said the group remained committed to the Doha process and trusted Qatars mediation, despite missed deadlines set out in the July 19 Declaration of Principles. He accused Kinshasa of failing to release 700 prisoners as agreed and of breaching the ceasefire through military operations in South Kivu. A two-member M23 team has since been dispatched to Doha to focus on ceasefire enforcement and prisoner issues. The DRC government and M23 resumed talks in Doha last week, with President Felix Tshisekedi framing the dialogue as a step towards ending years of violence. However, the situation on the ground continues to worsen. Since January, M23 has captured strategic cities including Goma and Bukavu, sparking fresh clashes and intensifying the humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, more than 28 million Congolese face food insecurity, while over 7 million people remain internally displaced, many of them uprooted multiple times by the ongoing conflict. On the strength of a multimillion-dollar settlement, the state of Utah and the Federal Trade Commission are holding the worlds largest porn sites accountable. The Utah Department of Commerces Division of Consumer Protection, represented by the Office of the Utah Attorney General, and the FTC, announced on Wednesday a joint consent order with Aylo, a Canada-based company that owns some of the worlds most visited adult content sites, including Pornhub, Redtube, and more than 100 other pornographic video and photo websites. The order alleges that since 2012, Aylo has profited from child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and non-consensual material (NCM) and ignored hundreds of warnings that such content was being uploaded and shared on its sites, while simultaneously deceiving the public through marketing campaigns into believing their websites didnt contain the graphic material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this adds up to a portrait of a company that has had no intention to comply with its own policies, even when called out by credit card companies, journalists and just a general public outcry, Margaret Busse, executive director of Utahs Department of Commerce, said during a press conference at the state Capitol on Wednesday. Margaret Busse, Utah Department of Commerce executive director, speaks during a press conference about the state of Utah and the Federal Trade Commissions efforts to prevent child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual sexual content from being published on pornography websites at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Why were they doing this? Unprecedented profits? Yes, but in reading the complaint, its hard to see anything else that this company seems to relish (more than) spreading this kind of content for its own sake, Busse added. Aylo has agreed to pay a $5 million penalty up front for its deceptive business practices, and for the next 10 years, a third-party auditor will review the company every two years to ensure accountability. If Aylo violates the order requirements, the company will be subject to a $10 million fine. We are trying to force change in an industry that has been long overdue for change, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown told the Deseret News. And because theyre one of the largest players in the market, Brown hopes smaller players will see and implement the same policies to avoid retribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah has some of the strictest laws in the nation against porn sites, so much so that both the companies in the complaint Pornhub and Redtube have blocked Utah IP addresses from accessing their content because they are unwilling to comply with the states legislation. Through state leadership collaboration, Utah is guiding the nation in this work to protect the most vulnerable. And for Brown, its personal. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown speaks during a press conference about the state of Utah and the Federal Trade Commissions efforts to prevent child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual sexual content from being published on pornography websites at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News I have four kids, and I think about this all the time, he said. Everything I do has to have an eye toward the next generation of Utahns, and that next generation is our kids, and they are growing and developing and living in a world thats unlike anything that weve ever seen and anything that their parents have experienced. I hope todays message sends an important signal to the industry, Brown added. If you think you can distribute CSAM and profit by exploiting our children and that you can distribute NCM and profit by exploiting people in that manner, think again. We will find you and we will hold you accountable. The ugly truth behind Pornhubs popularity Utah Attorney General Derek Brown speaks during a press conference about the state of Utah and the Federal Trade Commissions efforts to prevent child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual sexual content from being published on pornography websites at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News As of November 2024, Pornhub was the seventh most visited website worldwide by unique visitors, surpassing TikTok.com and Amazon, per Statista, averaging 930 million visitors a month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the complaint, Aylo was accused of encouraging CSAM and NCM material through published channels with titles like helpless boys, helpless teens, internet creeper, shower spy cameras, ultimately insinuating that minors were involved in the content. Until the end of 2020, any person could upload videos and photos to Aylos tube sites without verification of identity, age or consent of the uploader or any party involved. It was also free viewing and download, so consumers uploaded millions of videos and photos to the Tube Sites each year, including tens of thousands of CSAM and NCM videos and photos, per the complaint. The repercussion of an op-ed written in The New York Times, titled The Children of Pornhub, pushed the porn sites to make their upload accessibility more restrictive. The conduct we described in the complaint is truly horrific, FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak said during the press conference, One of Aylos employees referred to Pornhub as a gold mine for rape content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The harm that Aylo companies caused is evident, Holyoak continued. The children and non-consenting adults included in the content that the Aylo companies distributed were violated and injured in the most horrific of ways, (and) the distribution of child sex abuse material and nonconsensual material revictimizes the individuals who were abused in the creation of that content. The consent order will ensure that all material already on the websites and future uploads will be reviewed and taken down if nonconsensual or containing a child. The site of a future homeless services campus at 2520 N. 2200 West in Salt Lake City is pictured with I-215 in the foreground on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) This breaking story has been updated. After months of a tight-lipped search, state officials have announced the piece of property theyve zeroed in on for a new 1,300-bed transformative homeless campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Utah Office of Homeless Services and the Utah Homeless Services Board announced early Wednesday morning that state leaders have signed a contractual agreement for the state to acquire a 15.85-acre property thats currently owned by Salt Lake City. That property, located at 2520 N. 2200 West, Salt Lake City, is an open field located directly west of I-215 and roughly a mile south from North Salt Lakes city boundaries, in Salt Lake Citys Northpointe area. Just south of the property is a warehouse park, and to its north is a small agricultural neighborhood. Directly to the east, across I-215, is a horse boarding facility, Hunter Stable & Arena. Its also located relatively near the Jordan River OHV State Recreation Area. Wednesdays announcement is a major development for the Utah Office of Homeless Services and the Utah Homeless Board in their efforts to increase the states emergency homeless shelter capacity while also envisioning not just a shelter, but a campus to help people turn their lives around and move out of homelessness. A turning point This is more than a campus, its a turning point for Utah of reimagining hope, Wayne Niederhauser, the states homeless coordinator, said in a prepared statement. It will further fulfill the identified need to provide additional beds and treatment in Utahs homeless response while providing individuals served by the campus a transformative path from crisis to stability and, ultimately, thriving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new homeless campus is envisioned to be a comprehensive hub where individuals experiencing homelessness can access the support and treatment they need to move from homelessness to stability and long-term self-reliance, the Utah Office of Homeless Services said in Wednesday mornings announcement. Its envisioned to be a place where people experiencing homelessness can go for all of their services in one place. Designed to complement the existing homeless resource centers, shelters and service providers throughout Utah, the transformative campus is a place where those experiencing homelessness find help for recovery, employment, criminal justice assistance, and housing, accessible in a single location, the office continued. Concluding a long, secretive search Throughout their search, state officials have declined to publicly share what properties theyve been considering, citing real estate acquisition privacy considerations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Niederhauser a former Utah Senate president who also has worked as a real estate broker told Utah News Dispatch in an interview on Wednesday that he started working on the concept of a homeless campus just months after Gov. Spencer Cox first appointed him as state homeless coordinator more than four years ago. The goal, he said, was not only to expand Utahs homeless shelter capacity, but also create a long-term solution as the state faces population growth pressures. I started looking at possibilities where we could expand, and I wanted to have property so that we had a place (for) a 50- to 100-year solution for the Salt Lake (County) area and region, Niederhauser said. I knew early on that we were going to need to have a location that we could rely upon and expand as populations grow, as we deal with this very difficult problem for many years to come. I just didnt want the state to be having to look at different places every five or 10 years. We wanted a long term solution. It wasnt until last fall that the concept was formalized when the Utah Homeless Services Board voted to set a deadline of Oct. 1, 2025, for the campus to be built. But Niederhauser told Utah News Dispatch last month that that deadline likely wont be met, since the search has proven difficult and taken longer than previously expected. Now, the first phase of the development isnt expected to be finished until sometime in 2027. A conceptual rendering depicts what state leaders envision for a new transformative campus meant to house and rehabilitate people experiencing homelessness. (Courtesy of the Utah Office of Homeless Services) Niederhauser said he looked at roughly 50 pieces of property before settling on the Northpointe parcel as the best choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This ones a little closer to the city than a lot of the other ones I looked at, he said. There isnt a perfect property There are some potential challenges with this, but it presented a lot less challenges than all the other properties. Niederhauser acknowledged that transportation to the fairly remote area is going to be an issue. But weve got a solution for that, and thats having a shuttle system, he said, adding that it will cost money, but state officials plan to expand the existing shuttle system that transports people to and from the existing homeless resource centers in Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake. Weve also been in talks with (Utah Transit Authority), he added. I think theres some long-term desire to have even some bussing into that area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Niederhauser said its an undeveloped area thats started to see some commercial development, but theres also a small agricultural neighborhood to the north. The impacts are higher in residential areas. Not that businesses are not impacted, they will be to some degree. But we plan on having a very robust public safety and security situation so that the impacts are minimized, Niederhauser said. Room for expansion Though the parcel is 15.85 acres, Niederhauser has previously said state officials would prefer about 30 acres of contiguous land for the campus. However, theres at least two other undeveloped properties bordering the Salt Lake City-owned parcel that together would bring the total footprint up to roughly 40 acres. One is a 11.4-acre property owned by the Rose Park Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to Salt Lake County Assessor records. Niederhauser said eventually state officials would like to expand the acreage, and looks like theres some possibilities of that. He said state officials have had conversations with the church about that 11.4-acre adjoining parcel, but nothing has been finalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that this first phase is where we need a lot of shelter and services. We know there will need to be some expansion in the future. The church has expressed some interest, so weve had conversations, but the timing of that is yet to be determined, he said. What will the cost of the property be? Niederhauser said the contract thats been signed allows for the state to either purchase the land or trade other open space in exchange. He said state and city leaders have not yet decided which of those options will be used to finalize the acquisition, pending an appraisal process. The city and the state did appraisals and theres some space in between them, so were going to join together in another appraisal to settle on a price, Niederhauser said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the various appraisals have valued the land at between $5.7 million and $8.8 million, so the final value will be somewhere in between there. Niederhausers office has about $24 million on hand to purchase the land and start building the campus but the entire project is expected to cost much more. Annual operations are expected to be north of $30 million, Niederhauser said, and the cost to build infrastructure is an estimated $75 million, excluding the land purchase. However, theres a big hurdle that Niederhauser will need to overcome to get the project over the finish line. Hell have to convince the Utah Legislature to help pay for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats going to be a heavy lift, he acknowledged. Its not going to be an easy course to travel. But well be engaging with the Legislature. Well be engaging with other potential funders now as we start to plan more details so we can build a capital stack and operating revenue with the different partners that the state will need to make it happen. Earlier this year, as Niederhauser worked with Salt Lake City officials to find a parcel, the Utah Legislature passed a bill granting the state eminent domain powers to help acquire a city-owned parcel if need be. For this particular property, Niederhauser said the state ended up not needing to use those eminent domain powers. A critical step, SLC Mayor Mendenhall says Leading up to Wednesdays announcement, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall who is also a member of the Utah Homeless Services Board has been urging the state to act quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 13, the day a state report was released showing an 18% rise in Utah homelessness, Mendenhall said that number should be heard as a battle cry for Utah lawmakers to do more to address homelessness. The mayor also warned theres inadequate funding to build and non-existent funding to operate a new campus shelter. She urged lawmakers to appropriate more during their 2026 general session in January. Still, the mayor applauded the site announcement as a step forward. Our state has long needed more shelter beds and services, and this campus represents a critical step forward in supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities, Mendenhall said in a prepared statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By providing consistent shelter and wraparound services in one location, this facility could also help Salt Lake City first responders by reducing the number of emergency calls, freeing up law enforcement to focus on public safety, and better connecting people to the help they need, she added. North Salt Lake mayor isnt surprised but concerned about impacts North Salt Lake Mayor Brian Horrocks told Utah News Dispatch on Wednesday morning that hes not surprised state officials chose that property. He said there have been rumblings that state leaders were looking in that area as theyve been talking with neighbors leading up to the selection. Were disappointed. Mostly disappointed in the process, very secretive, Horrocks said, adding that they told us they would keep us in the loop and they havent. The mayor added that North Salt Lake city leaders are looking at options. The site of a future homeless services campus at 2520 N. 2200 West in Salt Lake City is pictured on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) We cant control what they do in another city but what we can control well try to control, Horrocks said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked what that could entail, he said, for example we control the bridge across the Jordan River. Pressed further, Horrocks said, I dont know, I saw a barge hit a bridge in Baltimore, and that was pretty effective. Asked if he meant city leaders are considering destroying that bridge or blockading access from the area into North Salt Lake, Horrocks said, I dont know what our options are. Im looking at it from a point of view that we do not necessarily need to provide access to that part of Salt Lake County, and vice versa, he said. Theyre free to do whatever they want on their side of the river, and were free to do whatever we want on our side of the river. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horrocks said he understands homelessness is a tough issue, but he has a city to represent, and hes most concerned with protecting North Salt Lake from its impacts. Well do what we can do to protect our community and our neighborhood, and theyll do what they do, he said. To the mayors comments Niederhauser said state leaders are focused on the campus and getting something operational. Were focused on making it a place where theres very little impact to the community so we wont need to block bridges and other accesses because, you know, its a safe place for everybody, Niederhauser said. To the mayors complaints about the secretive process, Niederhauser said its very difficult to find a property and get it under contract. Ive done this for 30 years as a real estate developer. We, first of all, secure the land, and then we go through community meetings and then you go to the city at that point and you start to work through the process, he said. But I wouldnt even begin to do that without having a piece of property under contract. Thats the first step. And then you engage in some community meetings. West-side concerns In response to the site selection, Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake city, and Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City, issued a statement expressing concern about the placing the campus on the citys west side, and that theyre concerned that this decision was made without any significant input from the public. As leaders and champions on issues of homelessness, we know how critical it is for our unhoused neighbors to have access to safe shelter and the services they need to regain stability, they said. This campus is an important step in addressing the states homelessness crisis, but it must move forward in partnership with the people who will live alongside it. Escamilla and Hollins added that our community has always been committed to helping those in need; it is central to who we are, and we are proud of this. Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, speaks during press availability on the last day of the legislative session at the Utah State Capitol, Friday, March 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex Goodlett for Utah News Dispatch) At the same time, this neighborhood has historically carried a disproportionate share of the states social and environmental burdens, they said. The relocation of the state correctional facility here is one example. Now, with the addition of a 1,300-bed homeless services campus, the West Side is once again being asked to carry a disproportionate share of the states response to homelessness. They urged state and Salt Lake City leaders to move forward with care and foresight, guided by a clear and comprehensive plan that addresses transportation, public safety, and the well-being of both campus residents and the surrounding neighborhood. If done thoughtfully, this project can meet urgent needs while respecting and strengthening the community that hosts it. Whats next Niederhauser said the Office of Homeless Services plans to hold a series of public meetings to discuss the projects planning in coming weeks and months. His office encouraged anyone wanting to receive updates on the campus to sign up at www.homelesscampus.utah.gov. According to state officials, a feasibility study on the property has been completed and environmental studies are ongoing. The next steps are to secure funding partnerships, continue to engage with community stakeholders, service providers, and state leaders to bring the campus to actualization, the Utah Homeless Services Office said. It is anticipated that the initial operations of the campus will begin in 2027. Randy Shumway, chair of the Utah Homeless Services Board, applauded the campus vision during a time when Utahs homeless population has been increasing. Despite tremendous effort, resources, and goodwill across the state, homelessness in Utah has continued to worsen for both those experiencing it and for our communities, Shumway said. The proposed Utah campus will take a human-first approach that provides healing and stability while embedding accountability at every stage. According to Wednesdays announcement, state officials envision the homeless campus as a hub and spoke system, where individuals can Step In to access core services at a centralized hub, and once stabilized and ready to Step Up, they can Step Out to be connected efficiently to additional specialized resources across the community the spokes. This model reduces barriers to service access, increases operational efficiency, and strengthens the broader network of support, the office said. By expanding capacity and improving the overall systems accessibility, the campus would enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of the regions homelessness response. Last fall, a delegation of Utah leaders including Niederhauser, other Homeless Services Board members, officials from Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City and others traveled to San Antonio, Texas, where they visited Haven for Hope, a nationally recognized nonprofit, which is described as more than a shelter, and a transformational campus on its website. They envision Utahs campus will be modeled similarly. Shumway said the campus, by pairing compassionate support and medical care with clear expectations and opportunities for growth, its envisioned to help people reclaim their inherent dignity, achieve self-reliance, and live drug-free, crime-free, and contributing lives. The site of a future homeless services campus at 2520 N. 2200 West in Salt Lake City is pictured on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, second to left, spoke with Albuquerque-area food bank leaders in a discussion in August. (Patrick Lohmann/Source NM) U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez on Wednesday predicted that small-time farmers and ranchers, as well as small grocery stores, in rural areas of his congressional district will be devastated by Republican food assistance cuts. Vasquez, in an interview with Source New Mexico, cited a new report from the Washington-based nonprofit Food Research & Action Center that found rural areas will be the hardest hit by changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program contained in theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a cruel irony in the sense that some of our farmers and ranchers and rural food producers are the ones who stand to lose the most from these Republican cuts to food assistance, said Vasquez, a Democrat in his second term representing New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District. The report cited the ways in which SNAP cuts will hit hardest in non-urban areas, which have higher poverty rates, fewer food retailers and less employment opportunities. The report also revealed that more than three-quarters of 303 high risk counties nationwide counties identified as highly reliant on a small number of SNAP-approved retailers are rural. Nineteen of New Mexicos 33 counties most of them rural appear on a list from the left-leaning Center for American Progress identifying where retailers are at the highest risk of closing due to the SNAP cuts. New Mexico also has the highest rate of SNAP recipients in the country, which Vasquez said puts a huge bulls eye on the state of New Mexico when it comes to these cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquez said the reductions in SNAP benefits to families and individuals will mean the closure of rural grocery stores. He listed grocery stores in Lordsburg and Sunland Park that he said receive three-quarters or more of their revenue from SNAP. Recent estimates from the state Health Care Authority predict about 1,700 gas stations, groceries, convenience stores and farmers markets statewide stand to lose about $1.3 billion in SNAP revenue. So not only are we taking food away from rural communities that produce our food, but were also potentially putting their grocery stores out of business, Vasquez said. And thats just not a solution that works for rural New Mexico. The spending bill President Donald Trump signed July 4 imposes costs on states to administer SNAP, plus extra costs for states like New Mexico with high SNAP administration error rates. It also reduces SNAP benefits and imposes work requirements. All told, New Mexicos 450,000 SNAP recipients will experience benefit reductions, and 40,000 will lose their SNAP entirely due to work requirements or their immigration status, according to the Health Care Authority estimates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquez said he continues to push for changes in the Farm Bill that would reduce some of the cuts, and he said hes working with state lawmakers to find ways to mitigate the cuts on residents or the state budget. The state can update eligibility rules, for example, to remove child support payments from taxable income, which will make more families eligible for SNAP, Vasquez said. Lawmakers can also shore up cuts with the states healthy budget reserve for the short-term, at least until Democrats regain the majority, Vasquez said. Between Medicaid and SNAP, this state Legislature is going to have an important job to do, Vasquez said. And I wish it wasnt this way, but it is the reality that New Mexico faces, thanks to the action of Republicans and this administration who chose to cut food assistance. (WAVY) Just one year after Gov. Glenn Youngkin passed HB 252 into law, mandating the creation of a statewide sickle cell registry, the Virginia Department of Health has begun launching its first phase. American Red Cross urges people to donate blood during Sickle Cell Awareness Month VDH introduced the statewide sickle cell registry to health systems last month as part of the two-phase roll out and is strongly encouraging patients to participate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to be very hard for us to be able to tailor interventions to those people living with sickle cell disease because we just dont have the data, said Marcus Allen, VDH health care needs special program director. The registrys focus is to improve overall medications, treatment options and find better care solutions for patients in Virginia. Nationwide, the CDC has made collection of data for sickle cell disease a priority, Allen said. And its been a priority for many years. So we know that, across the country, we just dont have the data we need to improve care. And Virginia is no different. As for the state, an exact number of sickle cell cases is unknown, according to Allen, but VDH statistics show the Hampton Roads region with more than any others in Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe that Hampton Roads actually has the largest population of people with sickle cell disease in our state, he said. It is definitely quite a bit more than 500 people. I would say it may have something to do with the demographics of the region. Heres how the registry works. Health care providers with sickle cell patients will be able to access that link on VDHs webpage, and then VDH will work with those partners to promote the link. VDH personnel will be the only entity to access the data. Patients will also have the option to opt out of having their information being distributed. So, the way the law is written, any doctor that cares for a person with sickle cell disease is required to report, Allen said. And we will share the code with them. And we are actually finishing up a fact sheet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has issued Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadways Solutions study for an intersection in Hampton. According to the department, the study focuses on the intersection between Power Plant Parkway and Briarfield Road in Hampton, evaluating the following variables: Intersection safety for all transportation modes Pedestrian and bicycle access Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VDOT has opened a survey to collect the publics thoughts on the intersection. Residents can also send comments about the study to Dr. Oge Nwandu-Vincent at Oge.Nwandu-Vincent @VDOT.Virginia.gov. The departments recommends you put Power Plant Parkway/Briarfield Road STARS Study in the subject line. Both of these options will be available until Sept. 16. For more information, you can visit the projects webpage here. Download the WAVY News App to keep up with the latest news, weather and sports from WAVY-TV 10. Available in both the Apple and Google Play stores. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (NewsNation) A Venezuelan government official has disputed the validity of a video of a U.S. strike against an alleged drug-carrying boat near Venezuela. Freddy Nanez, Venezuelas minister of communications and information, claimed on social media that several elements in the video shared by President Donald Trump suggested it was generated by artificial intelligence. Included in the post was a conversation Nanez allegedly had with Googles AI Chatbot, Gemini, in which Nanez questions the validity of the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the provided video, its highly likely it was created using artificial intelligence, Gemini appears to have determined. San Diego Association of Governments to study impacts of global warming along border region The video shows a ship that is attacked and then explodes in a way that looks like a simplified animation, almost like a cartoon, rather than a realistic representation of an explosion, Nanez said in another post. On Tuesday, Trump announced the strike resulted in the deaths of 11 narcoterrorists in a post on Truth Social. U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has continued to target the flow of narcotics into the United States from Latin American nations. US wants more intervention in Mexico, Sheinbaum says U.S. defense officials confirmed to NewsNation that seven warships, a nuclear-powered submarine and thousands of Marines have been deployed to the Caribbean waters near Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly claimed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is involved in and has direct ties to gang activity in his country. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE! Trump concluded. 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. Most of the nation celebrates LGBTQ+ pride in June. But Vermonters fly their rainbow flags highest in September, during the states Pride Week. Like its monthlong, nationwide counterpart, Pride Week boasts a string of LGBTQ-themed events from a comedy showcase to a downtown block party leading up to the family-friendly Pride Vermont Festival and Parade on Sunday, Sept. 7. The Pride Center of Vermont, which founded the celebration, chose to move official festivities to September over a decade ago to better accommodate college students and minimize competition with neighboring cities. Plus, Vermont weather is usually drier and more predictable in the fall than it is in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you want to attend, you can find details online at pridecentervt.org/pridevt. Check out some of the Pride Week events happening around Burlington this week: OUT in the 802 Happy Hour What: Celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and grab a drink at the Burlington speakeasy Lincolns during its bimonthly Pop Up Happy Hour event. Where: Lincolns, College St., Burlington When: 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4 Strapped-in! Queer Comedy Showcase What: Hosted by local comedian Tal Friedman, this showcase features LGBTQ+ entertainers performing standup, improv, sketch comedy, burlesque, drag and more. Before the show, attendees can enjoy custom cocktails or mocktails or snag some merch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where: Vermont Comedy Club, 101 Main St., Burlington When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4 Pride Ball 2025: Freak Show What: Pride Ball features circus-themed drag, burlesque, dance, sideshow, clown and illusion acts, including performances by Drag Race participants Dawn and DOA. Where: Higher Ground Ballroom, 1214 Williston Rd., South Burlington When: 8 p.m.-midnight, Friday, Sept. 5 Burly Bear Presents: UM, Woof! What: A dance party with Burly Bear Promotions a group of go-go bears who raise money for charity drinks and prizes. Proceeds go to the Pride Center of Vermont. Where: Red Square, 136 Church St., Burlington When: 8 p.m.-midnight, Friday, Sept. 5 Pride Parade Sign Making What: Create signs for the parade. Craft supplies and materials will be provided. For more information, email austin@pridecentervt.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where: Pride Center of Vermont, 255 S Champlain St. #12, Burlington When: 1-4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6 Twilight Block Party Pride Edition What: The Twilight Block Party, the city's newest downtown event, is hosting a Pride edition session this weekend to showcase LGBTQ+ vendors and performers. Where: City Hall Park, 149 Church St., Burlington When: 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6 Pride Vermont parade What: A family-friendly parade celebrating LGBTQ+ people that dates back to 1983. For questions, concern and accessibility requests, email info@pridevt.org. Where: The parade begins at the intersection of St. Paul and Main streets in Burlington, heads to Main Street then Lake Street and finishes at Waterfront Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When: noon-1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7 Pride Vermont festival What: A family-friendly festival with vendors, food and drink, speakers and performances, including music, drag, dance and storytelling. If you prefer a quieter experience, attend between noon to 1 p.m.; masks are required for the whole hour. For accessibility questions or concerns, email info@pridevt.org. Where: Waterfront Park, 20 Lake St., Burlington When: noon-5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7 Burly Bear Presents: Rainbow (After)Party! What: Burly Bear Promotions celebrate the end of Pride Week with another dance party. Proceeds go to the Pride Center of Vermont. Where: Red Square, 136 Church St., Burlington When: 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont Pride Week 2025: LGBTQ+ events around Burlington Apparently, Dynzell Sigers would rather die than be a short king ... because the Georgia man went through months of pain and therapy to have his limbs dramatically lengthened to be taller. In the U.S., the process is usually only expected to add 3 inches. As Chicago prepares for federal agents and soldiers to arrive in the city, a group of military veterans, attorneys and advocates urged service members to resist potentially unlawful orders from the Trump administration if deployed. Veterans and lawyers from About Face: Veterans Against the War, the National Lawyers Guild and Movement Law Lab outlined options for National Guard members to follow their conscience in the face of what advocates and Democratic politicians say are illegal federal military operations. Service members signed up to uphold the Constitution, Brad Thomson, a member of the National Lawyers Guilds Military Law Task Force, said at a news conference Tuesday at Federal Plaza in the Loop. Service members did not sign up to become pawns for a president trying to score political points against the opposing party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. JB Pritzker braces Chicagoans for federal incursion as Trump says were going in but wont say when While Gov. JB Pritzker has previously called a potential National Guard deployment to Chicago unlawful, advocates asked him to increase his support for service members who resist Trumps orders. Specifically, they said Pritzker should order Illinois National Guard members to resist federal orders if deployed in Chicago in his capacity as their commander-in-chief as well as lend state legal resources to aid service members who resist. At the news conference, advocates said the Uniform Code of Military Justice establishes a right, and in some cases a responsibility, to refuse unlawful orders. That could include deploying to Chicago and performing domestic law enforcement functions without the consent of state and local authorities, Thomson said. You are not alone in thinking that this isnt what you signed up for, said About Face leader Daniel Lakemacher, a Navy veteran. You are not alone in questioning whether its moral, just right or in this case, even legal to follow these orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday morning, a federal judge in California ruled Trumps deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles in June was illegal under the Posse Comitatus Act, an almost 150-year-old law that limits when military personnel can be deployed for domestic law enforcement. Lawyers and veterans at Tuesdays news conference said the decision means National Guard deployment to Chicago would likely be unlawful as well. Beyond the legal and political consequences, deploying the Guard under unlawful orders could hurt service members themselves, Thomson said. Service members have just followed orders and now decades later, dealt with those consequences on their own psyche, their own consequences, Thomson said. The National Lawyers Guild and GI Rights hotlines have been overwhelmed with calls from concerned service members amid the Trump administrations military operations in LA and Washington, D.C., said Thomson and Aaron Hughes, another veteran and About Face member. We have forgotten about the people on the ground, Hughes said. And were asking people to center these service members and give them education on their rights. Vice Media Group named Emily Spence as its new chief communications officer Wednesday, the latest C-suite hire as the company completes its studio-focused revival. Spence will report to CEO Adam Stotsky, who joined Vice in June as the brand works to bolster its studio and advertising arms. The two previously worked together at MRC, where she served as its chief communications officer and focused on outlets such as Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, the data company Luminate and Dick Clark Productions. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice has long been a powerful storytelling force and I look forward to again working alongside Adam, as well as the broader leadership team, as we define the next era of this storied brand, Spence said in a statement. Emily is one of the most talented communicators Ive had the pleasure of working with and Im excited to have her join Vice at this moment of growth as we sharpen our focus and build whats next across the Vice portfolio, Stotsky said in a statement. The hires follow Vices 2023 acquisition out of bankruptcy by Fortress Investment Group and Soros Capital Management. Stotsky, who joined the company following decades at NBCUniversal, told The Wall Street Journal in June that Vice would continue to focus on provocative storytelling. It also named Paramount and Amazon veteran Amy Powell as its head of Vice Studios in May. Vice, which was founded in 1994, continues to operate divisions such as Vice Studios, Vice News and marketing and advertising agencies. The post Vice Media Names Emily Spence Chief Communications Officer appeared first on TheWrap. Sudan is calling for international assistance after a catastrophic landslide in the Marrah Mountains of Central Darfur wiped out the village of Tarasin, killing nearly all of its estimated 1,000 residents. The Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, which controls the area, confirmed on September 3 that the village was completely levelled, with only one known survivor. The disaster, triggered by days of heavy rainfall, is now regarded as one of the deadliest natural calamities in Sudans recent history. The ruling Sovereign Council in Khartoum said all available resources had been mobilized, while the United Nations and aid groups, including the International Organization for Migration, pledged to support relief operations. However, access to the disaster zone remains severely hampered by conflict, poor weather and a lack of resources. Footage shared from the scene shows flattened terrain, as local farmers and tribal leaders attempt to recover and bury victims with minimal support. Aid workers warned that the ongoing civil war has left Darfur largely cut off from sustained humanitarian assistance. The tragedy comes as Sudan remains gripped by a brutal conflict between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over 14 million. Rights groups and the UN have documented widespread atrocities, while famine has left families in Darfur and Kordofan regions struggling to survive. With more than 30 million Sudanese in need of aid, international organizations warn that the country cannot withstand such overlapping crises without urgent global intervention. BURKE COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) One of the victims of a deadly fire in Morganton has been identified as both state and local agencies work to figure out what happened. The Burke County Sheriffs Office, State Bureau of Investigations and the Burke County Fire Marshals Office, along with other agencies from multiple counties, responded to a home on Swink Street in Morganton on August 31. Officials say a fire broke out at the home, killing two people. One victim, Michael Curtis Hallyburton, 63, of Morganton, was found dead in the home. The identity of the second victim will be released pending the outcome of the autopsy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple dogs were found on the scene and have been taken into custody by Burke County Animal Services. No word on whether any animals were harmed in the fire. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the United States Marshal Service, and the North Carolina Forest Service are also assisting in this case. Details on what exactly happened at the property have not been released. This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information involving this case is asked to call 828-764-9558. 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 Queen City News. Rows over police interference in free speech were reignited following the arrest of Graham Linehan. The 57-year-old co-creator of the hit television show, Father Ted, was detained and questioned over posts published on X, sharing his views on trans rights. But the comedian is one of many arrested for similar reasons. According to reports earlier this year based on analysis of custody data, police are making more than 30 arrests a day over offensive posts on social media and other online platforms. This equates to 12,000 arrests each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also fierce debate on the number of non-crime hate incidents (NCHI) recorded by police. Forces are only supposed to record them when there is a risk of significant harm that could escalate into criminality not just because someone feels offended. But last year, more than 13,000 NCHIs were recorded by forces across England and Wales, leading campaigners to warn of the chilling impact on free speech. The list of others who have claimed that their free speech rights have been violated or that the police have gone too far is a lengthy one. Julian Foulkes Detained over post warning of rising anti-Semitism In November 2023, the 71-year-old retired special constable was arrested and detained over a social media post warning about the threat of anti-Semitism in Britain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Foulkes, from Gillingham, Kent, was handcuffed at his home by six officers from Kent Police the force he had served for over a decade after challenging a supporter of pro-Palestinian marches on X. Julian Foulkes was wrongly cautioned for a tweet - Eddie Mulholland He mocked an account supporting the pro-Palestine protests, saying: One step away from storming Heathrow looking for Jewish arrivals. His home was searched, devices seized and he was locked in a police cell for eight hours and interrogated on suspicion of malicious communications. In May 2025, Kent Police admitted the caution was a mistake and deleted it from Mr Foulkess record. Isabel Vaughan-Spruce Investigated for praying outside abortion clinic The Catholic pro-life campaigner is being investigated by police for the third time for silently praying in a buffer zone around an abortion clinic in the Kings Norton area of Birmingham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was first arrested in November 2022 but was acquitted in February 2023, and then weeks later, rearrested by officers who told her that silent prayer within a buffer zone was an offence. In October last year, a new law was introduced making it an offence to do anything that intentionally or recklessly influences someones decision to use abortion services, or harass, disrupt or alarm them. Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was accused of protesting outside an abortion clinic - PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo Ms Vaughan-Spruce insists her actions of silent weekly prayer outside the clinic are not a breach of the new law. Earlier this year, she lodged a formal complaint against the force, claiming that she was still being regularly harassed by officers restricting her freedom of expression, but then was advised that the force could not deal with her complaint as she was the subject of another live investigation. Ahmad Baker Censured by NHS trust over support for Palestine The senior NHS nurse said he was ordered to remove a background on his video calls because it depicted a fruit bowl containing a watermelon, which could be perceived as being anti-Semitic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The watermelon fruit is synonymous with the Palestinian struggle, sharing its red, green, white and black colours with the Palestinian flag. The British-Palestinian nurse, who works at Whipps Cross Hospital, north London, has launched legal action against his employer, according to reports in June. He is among three medical staff claiming Barts Health NHS Trusts ban on staff displaying symbols perceived as having political affiliation is not just disproportionate, but is also discriminatory. Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine Detained for messages shared in parents WhatsApp chat The couple, from Borehamwood, were arrested following a dispute with their daughters school, which included messages shared on a parents WhatsApp chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were detained in January by Hertfordshire Police in front of their three-year-old after six officers turned up and searched their home. The pair were then held in a cell for eight hours. The row with Cowley Hill Primary School started after Mr Allen complained about its recruitment process for a new head teacher. The school then contacted police after it objected to the parents criticising staff on a private parents WhatsApp group, claiming that the couple were making disparaging and inflammatory comments. Mr Allen and Ms Levine were questioned on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications, and causing a nuisance on school property. But following a five-week investigation, police concluded that there should be no further action. Allison Pearson Questioned on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred Last year, The Telegraph revealed that its columnist Allison Pearson was questioned at home on Remembrance Sunday by two Essex Police officers over an X post following pro-Palestinian protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was told that she was being investigated on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred over a social media post she had published and then deleted on social media 12 months earlier. She said she felt bullied and harassed during the interaction, which took place as she was preparing to attend a Poppy Day service. Four days later, the case was closed when the Crown Prosecution Service ruled that there was no realistic prospect of conviction. But a review into the forces handling of the case, carried out by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), absolved the force of wrongdoing, declaring that it acted appropriately throughout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has since announced that she has taken legal action against the force over its shocking and utterly wrong investigation, which she said left her feeling suicidal. At a time when police wont attend burglaries and other serious crimes, this was an astonishing waste of time, she said. The incident arose after Pearson reposted a video depicting two men holding a flag on a British street, flanked by a group of police officers. The original author had suggested that police had picked a side weeks after the Oct 7 massacre amid the heightened tensions over the policing of Gaza protests. How dare they, Pearson wrote. Invited to pose for a photo with lovely peaceful British Friends of Israel on Saturday police refused. Look at this lot smiling with the Jew haters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, unbeknown to her, the flag was not related to the Middle East, but instead it was held by supporters of the Pakistani political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Other X users pointed out the mistake and Pearson quickly deleted the post. By November 2023, the X post was reported to the Metropolitan Police by an unknown person as a potential breach of the Malicious Communications Act. The case was then passed to Sussex Police, which after some deliberation marked it as a possible NCHI as well as a potential malicious communication. Sussex Police then passed it to detectives in Essex, where Pearson lives. Rose Docherty Arrested for holding anti-abortion sign The 75-year-old was arrested after police were called to reports of an anti-abortion protest near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She had been holding a sign that read: Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want. Ms Docherty became the first person to be charged under a new law that created buffer zones outside Scottish abortion clinics. Rose Docherty was the first person to be charged under a new law that created buffer zones outside Scottish abortion clinics - PA In August, she was cleared of her silent protest after the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) stated that it had decided she should face no further action from prosecutors. She described the result as a victory not just for me, but for everyone in Scotland who believes we should be free to hold a peaceful conversation. The campaigner was also supported by Donald Trumps administration. In March 2024, the US president sent White House officials to meet British pro-life activists, including Ms Docherty, over concerns that their freedom of speech had been threatened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the visit, Ms Docherty said it was heartening that others around the world, including the US government, have realised this injustice and voiced their support. Caroline Farrow Detained for using wrong pronoun for trans woman The Catholic journalist and commentator claimed that she was investigated by police for using the wrong pronoun for a transgender woman. Mrs Farrow said that Surrey Police wanted to conduct a taped interview under caution because of tweets posted in October 2018. The complaint had come from Susie Green, the founder of the embattled transgender rights charity, Mermaids, who alleged that Mrs Farrow had misgendered her daughter, Jackie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mrs Farrow tweeted saying the polices decision to launch an investigation was an outrage, adding: I cant sleep I am so furious. She said: I dont even remember said tweets. I probably said he or son or something. All I have been told is that following an appearance on Good Morning Britain, I made some tweets misgendering Susie Greens child and that I need to attend a taped interview. Ms Green later withdrew her complaint, saying that she did not want Mrs Farrow to continue to have a platform. In a separate incident in May 2019, a High Court judge told Mrs Farrow and Stephanie Hayden, a transgender lawyer both of whom were involved in an out of control row on X not to mention each other online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge imposed an interim injunction banning Mrs Farrow, whose husband is a priest, from mentioning Ms Hayden, in particular from misgendering her. Mr Justice Bryan said: The tweeting has got out of control. Each has said things in those tweets which, in the cold light of day in this court, I would anticipate they would rather wish they had not done. Lucy Connolly Jailed for stirring up racial hatred The wife of a Conservative councillor was jailed for stirring up racial hatred in the aftermath of the Southport attack. Mrs Connolly, a 42-year-old childminder, whose husband serves on Northampton Town Council, pleaded guilty in September 2024 after posting an expletive-ridden message on X the day of the Southport murders. She wrote to her then 9,000 followers: Mass deportation now. Set fire to all the f------ hotels full of the b------- for all I care. While youre at it, take the treacherous government and politicians with them. I feel physically sick knowing what these families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist, so be it. Just over three-and-a-half hours later, she deleted the message. Lucy Connolly was released from prison on licence after serving just under half of a 31-month sentence after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred in a tweet she later deleted - Heathcliff O'Malley She was arrested Aug 6 2024, and was handed a 31-month prison sentence. After serving 40 per cent of her term in prison, she was released in August this year and will serve the remainder of her sentence on licence under the supervision of the probation service. Her case sparked national debate with some criticising her sentence as excessive. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said on X: Her punishment was harsher than the sentences handed down for bricks thrown at police or actual rioting. Rob Davies Ordered by police take down scumbags shoplifting sign Mr Davies, 61, had put up a handwritten note in his shop following repeated thefts, which read: Due to scumbags shoplifting, please ask for assistance to open cabinets. But officers from North Wales Police attended his retro shop in Wrexham and told him to remove the sign as it could cause offence. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: This is madness. Causing offence is not criminal and is none of the polices business. They should be catching shoplifters, not worrying about offending them. Frankly, shoplifters are scumbags. This woke, weak nonsense is a total waste of police time. It comes amid a growing shoplifting epidemic across Britain, with official figures in July revealing that nearly three thefts every minute are being reported. Number of shoplifting offences in England and Wales from 2020-21 to 2024-25 Mr Davies, who has operated his vintage clothing store for five years, said: Over the past year, I have caught five people shoplifting. The first one, I called the police and they handed the shirt back to me and let him go. Now I dont bother reporting them and I have had to put locks on my cabinets. Speaking about the moment police walked into his shop to tell him to take the sign down, he added: You couldnt make it up. When I asked who it could offend, I was told a member of the public had reported the sign to them. I just wonder if that person was a shoplifter who was offended as it was detrimental to their work It is a freedom of speech thing. You should be able to speak freely in this country unless you are being derogatory. Shoplifting is pretty much decriminalised, so I took it into my own hands. I pay their wages [the police] because I pay my taxes so I feel let down by them. It astounds me that the powers that be do nothing. Helen Jones Visited by police after criticising Labour councillor online The grandmother was spoken to at her home by police after she criticised Labour politicians online for sending offensive WhatsApp messages. In a string of Facebook messages, the 54-year-old school administrator called for the resignation of a councillor embroiled in the WhatsApp scandal, which led to the sacking of former health minister Andrew Gwynne. Mr Gwynne had posted a message to Labour colleagues in a group chat saying that he hoped one elderly constituent, who didnt vote for the party, would die before the next election. He had made the comment after the pensioner sent a letter to David Sedgwick, a Stockport Labour councillor, complaining about her bin collections. The letter was reportedly shared in the WhatsApp group by Cllr Sedgwick. Following the scandal, Mrs Jones took to social media calling for Cllr Sedgwick to resign. In one post, she said: Lets hope he does the decent thing and resigns. I somehow think his ego wont allow it. In another, after posting screenshots from the WhatsApp group, Mrs Jones wrote: Not looking good for Cllr Sedgwick!!! Mrs Jones said that two plain-clothed police officers arrived at her home in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in February, with officers saying that police had received a complaint about her recent social media posts. She said that she was not accused of committing a crime, but said that she was left feeling scared to post on social media following the unannounced visit. Robert Moss Arrested over negative posts about his bosses online Staffordshire Police used Orwellian powers to gag Robert Moss, a 56-year-old firefighter, and prevent him from revealing he had been arrested after he posted messages online criticising his bosses. The force told Mr Moss that his right to freedom of expression had to be limited to maintain public safety and order following his arrest on suspicion of malicious communications. But a special bail hearing at Newcastle-Under-Lyme magistrates court overturned the gagging clause amid fears officers were behaving as if they lived in a police state. Mr Moss had his home raided but was never charged with a crime and believes that police were weaponised to silence him. He had worked for the Staffordshire fire and rescue service for 28 years before being sacked in 2021, shortly after becoming the Fire Brigade Unions secretary for the country. Two years later, an employment tribunal found the service had unfairly dismissed him from his job on the grounds of capability. The father-of-one and former Labour councillor, of Newcastle-Under-Lyme, continued to offer advice to firefighters in a private Facebook group where he made several comments that were critical of the fire services management. His home was subject to an early morning raid in July in which officers seized two telephones, a computer and an iPad. He was given bail with six conditions, which included prohibitions on posting any communication relating to the countys fire service. Mr Moss said: I feel strongly that, under a joint police and fire commissioner, the police and fire services are hand-in-glove and the fire service had weaponised the police to silence me. I was a critic of Staffordshire fire service and I had been gagged from saying anything about individuals there, the service itself and my arrest. That is a breach of my human rights. Rick Prior Former head of Met Police Federation banned from running for election The former head of the Metropolitan Police Federation, representing around 30,000 officers in the capital, was suspended in 2024 after warning that members were concerned about being labelled racist. He challenged his suspension in the courts, but after giving an interview to The Telegraph to raise awareness and crowdfund for his case, he was formally dismissed and banned from ever standing for election again. The officer, who has more than three decades of experience, said that he would have received fairer treatment from North Korea. The case began in October 2024 when Mr Prior gave an interview to GB News saying that: Theres a striking crisis of confidence at the moment within policing in general and certainly within the Metropolitan Police, whereby officers are withdrawing from any kind of proactive policing for fear of falling foul of the IOPC [Independent Office of Police Conduct], or a vexatious or malicious complaint. Earlier this year, it was announced that he was taking legal action against his own union, with the support of the Free Speech Union, after he claimed he was cancelled. Harry Miller Visited by police over transphobic tweets The former police officer won a High Court challenge in 2020 against Humberside Police after the force recorded an NCHI against him for allegedly sharing a transphobic limerick on X. Mr Miller, who describes himself as gender critical, was visited at work by an officer from Humberside Police in January 2019 after a member of the public complained about his allegedly transphobic tweets. The father of four took his case to the High Court, arguing that the practice of recording NCHIs infringed on his freedom of speech. In February 2020, Mr Justice Julian Knowles, the High Court judge, ruled in his favour, saying that the right to hold opinions ranging from the inoffensive to the irritating, the contentious, the eccentric, the heretical, the unwelcome and the provocative was a cardinal democratic freedom. The effect of the police turning up at his place of work because of his political opinions must not be underestimated, his judgment concluded. 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. Oregons Public Meetings Law is supposed to prevent elected officials from doing business in private, outside the purview of the citizens they represent. But in some respects the law favors officials rather than their constituents. A recent example from Portland highlights a flaw in the law the Oregon Legislature should fix when it convenes in January 2026. At least 10 people sent written complaints that a group of Portland city councilors had violated the public meetings law, which dates to 1973. The residents contended the seven councilors had communicated through private text messages this spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the laws original focus was on traditional in-person meetings, lawmakers have revised the law, most recently in 2023, to address email, text messages and other technology that wasnt available in 1973. The goal is to ensure that elected officials dont circumvent the laws purpose through what are known as serial meetings holding meetings by remote means such as text messages rather than in person. Portlands attorney Robert Taylor told the people who complained that the city wouldnt look into the allegations because they didnt submit their concerns within 30 days, the timeframe in the state law. For the same reason, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, which investigates potential violations of the states public meetings and public records law, wont review the complaints about the Portland councilors. The 30-day requirement is an insult to Oregonians. It renders the public meetings law all but irrelevant when it comes to situations such as those that prompted people to complain about Portland councilors text messages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The very nature of such serial meetings, of course, is they happen in secret. Its unlikely any citizen would know, at any point, about private text messages among elected officials. But putting a 30-day limit on filing a complaint gives elected officials not so much a loophole as a gaping chasm to flout the ban on private meetings. Theres no valid reason for any deadline. Public bodies should be required to investigate all alleged violations of the public meetings law, whenever theyre reported. The legislature needs to get rid of the 30-day rule as soon as possible. As part of President Trumps passage of the Big Beautiful Bill several weeks ago, some in rural Kentucky and beyond may not consider it beautiful. Kentucky has, and needs to have, a number of hospitals in rural areas. Were a rural state and having a hospital in a reasonable short distance is essential. Kentuckys median age is higher than others. Were at 39.1 years whereas West Virginias is a more alarming 42.7 years. Nearly 1 in 3 Kentuckians are covered by Medicaid. You may not think about it if youre not on Medicaid, but it is a critical part of hospital care and insurance in the Commonwealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drafting of the new law and impending cuts was drafted by Kentucky Congressman Brett Guthrie. Guthries district is mostly in western Kentucky. We live in the 5th Congressional District, which is third poorest in America. Fifth District Rep. Hal Rogers, the longest-serving member in the House of Representatives, voted for the law. Most members of the GOP voted yes as well. A notable no vote came from Rep. Thomas Massie of the 4th District. Supporters of the law point to the requirement to work or provide community service 80 hours per month. Thats a valid point. Weve all seen help wanted signs while panhandlers are working at busy intersections. The law requires able-bodied people to work 80 hours per month. But who determines if they can work? Thatll require a visit to a health care provider, at the expense of Medicaid to determine. Kentuckys hospitals and health care providers have to rely on Medicaid reimbursements in order to keep their doors open. Theres no question that theres fraud and abuse in the Medicaid system. Identifying it is a daunting challenge. That doesnt mean every rock shouldnt be turned over in search of waste and fraud. Still, those who receive health insurance from Medicaid should brace for a financial impact. This includes hospitals throughout Kentucky. Theres a strange feeling that some people in Alexandria would like to meet with Michael Ayala, the operator of a local mobile home park. But those folks live in Indiana, and Ayala is in Arizona, where he is co-founder of Four Peaks Capital Partners, among other investment businesses. He claims to be expert enough in his field that he runs a podcast, Investing for Freedom. He is reportedly worth tens of millions in U.S. dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trouble, Alexandria city officials say, is that some of those dollars arent paying his water utility bill for the 74-lot Alexandria Mobile Home Park, one of at least 20 mobile home sites across the country that he runs through Park Place Communities Management. Park Place owes $97,000 to the citys water utility. With the water bill reportedly overdue, Alexandria city officials shut off water and sewage service to the mobile homes Aug. 25. The tap was closed for homeowners even if they had routinely paid their bills to Park Place. That action by the city seems rash and heartless. But Mayor Todd Naselroad said that the city had tried to work with Mike and Karla Ayala to get the debt paid down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Ayalas ignored those efforts, city officials felt compelled to take action. The mayor also said that churches have helped and that the city would provide a 275-gallon tank of water for flushing toilets and a place to shower. That, of course, is a less-than-ideal solution for residents. Aware of the problem, Park Place sent a message to residents saying it was working on a resolution. The chief resolution, of course, is to pay the utility bill. The man behind Investing for Freedom should pay the bill as a way to invest in the community. The Indiana State Board of Healths Environmental Public Health Divisions website lists the mobile home communitys license as having expired at the end of 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Park Place Communities Management, listing founder Andrew Lanoie as CEO, had its state business license revoked in 2021. PPC Construction, also incorporated by Lanoie, had its license revoked, then later reinstated yet revoked again in 2024. The Park Place Communities website was active last week but has now been suspended. Principal offices for these entities included Michigan, Arizona and Wyoming. Of the dozens of homeowners on the property tax list for the site, Anderson MSA Homes, with a Utah address, has 19 lots. But that firm was legally dissolved in 2019, according to the secretary of state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Todd Rokita is currently involved with a Madison County lawsuit citing unlivable conditions in two Anderson apartment complexes. His office might need to step into the Alexandria mess. Park Place also owes money to Republic Services, the firm responsible for trash removal at the Alexandria trailer park. Services were suspended Aug. 26 because of failure to pay, Park Place Communities. Certainly, the county and state boards of health have standing, too, to pursue possible violations. However, it cannot be understated that the out-of-state owners of the Alexandria Mobile Home Park must be held accountable to the residents who faithfully send their water and trash payments to the company. These responsible homeowners have every reason to expect that their basic water and trash service will be quickly restored. RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) The Virginia Attorney Generals office has announced Kevin Gallagher will be the offices new Solicitor General, succeeding Erika Maley in the position. I want to thank Erika Maley for her outstanding leadership and service to the Commonwealth of Virginia, said Attorney General Jason Miyares in a statement. Kevin Gallaghers appellate experience, sound judgment and commitment to the rule of law will serve Virginia well as our office continues to protect the constitutional rights of all Virginians. Gallagher has been serving in his new role since Aug. 20. He was previously the offices Deputy Solicitor General and Director of Tenth Amendment Litigation. He joined the Miyares administration in Jan. 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, you can visit the Office of the Attorney Generals website here. Download the WAVY News App to keep up with the latest news, weather and sports from WAVY-TV 10. Available in both the Apple and Google Play stores. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) Cathie J. Vick, the Virginia Chamber of Commerces President and CEO has stepped down from the position on Aug.12. According to the chamber, Vick left to pursue other opportunities. She became President and CEO in April 2025, with her tenure spanning only four months. The specifics behind Vicks departure are unknown. The chamber is currently conducting a national search for its next President and CEO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, you can visit the Virginia Chamber of Commerces website here. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) A man who authorities say escaped a federal halfway house in Virginia was captured in North Charleston last week. The U.S. Marshals Task Force and officers from the North Charleston Police Department arrested 26-year-old Master Willie Weathers at the North Charleston Amtrak station on August 29. Weathers had escaped from a federal halfway house in Virginia and was attempting to flee by train. Authorities had learned he purchased a ticket and began surveillance at the station on Gaynor Avenue, North Charleston PD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said when Weathers arrived with a woman, he was apprehended before being able to board the train. Two small revolvers, one with an obliterated serial number, were found in his bag. The agency charged Weathers with firearm possession. He was taken to the Al Cannon Detention Center before being handed over to the Marshals Service. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Virginia regulators began to hear testimony Tuesday in a case that will decide how much residents pay for electricity in the coming years. Dominion Energy has requested rate increases that could raise customers bills by $21 a month over the next two years. Tuesdays State Corporation Commission hearing drew widespread interest from residents, business owners, data center operators, and lawmakers across the state. More than 2,700 pages of public comment filed ahead of the hearing, according to SCC Chair Samuel Towell. Another 38 people signed up to comment via phone during the proceedings. The hearing combined comments on two requests: an increase to the base rate and to the fuel factor. Bottom line: people were concerned about higher electric bills and largely felt that large energy users like data centers should be asked to shoulder the burden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several speakers expressed concerns with affording higher utility bills as the price of other household costs such as groceries rise as well. I know that you need to have increases, but this is really hard on senior citizens, wrote Deborah Moore of Newport News in a public comment submitted to the SCC. It is getting more difficult to make ends meet these days. Related Articles Gilbert Bland, president and CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, echoed similar concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocating for fair, equitable access to essential services, including reliable and affordable energy, is central to our mission, Bland said. Energy costs can disproportionately burden working families, seniors and small business owners, making predictability and fairness and rates especially important. In its application for the rate hike, Dominion cited the highest levels of demand growth in decades. That growth is driven primarily by the influx of data centers, which are projected to double energy demand in the next 10 years if the industry continues to grow unrestrained. The companys requests reflect the investments and operating costs necessary to deliver on its obligation and mission to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy to customers, Dominion wrote in its initial filing. The financial health of the utility and the need for a constructive regulatory environment are crucial to enabling the necessary and cost-effective investments that will benefit the Companys customers in the long run. Specifically, Dominion requested an increase of $8.51 per month for base rates starting in January 2026 for residential customers, and another $2 per month starting in January 2027. This would be the first increase of the base rate, or the base cost of generating power, since 1992. Dominion also is proposing a roughly $10.92 monthly fuel rate increase for residential customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A projected bill analysis showed a steep increase in what customers could pay over the next decade. For a household using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, a Virginia resident paid about $143. When taking to account load growth over the next 15-20 years, the same household would pay $215.62 at the end of 2035. Dominion has also proposed a new rate class for high-energy users like data centers, which would ensure these customers continue to pay the full cost of their service and other customers are protected from stranded costs. Under the proposal, high-energy users would be required to make a 14-year commitment to pay for their requested power, even in cases where they may use less. Data center developers expressed concerns about the request. Judith Judson, senior vice president of energy for North America at Vantage Data Centers, said the SCCs decision on the proposal will determine whether Virginia remains competitive as a business destination for digital infrastructure investment. She said, in the past, Dominion Energy has missed connection deadlines for its projects with Vantage, so holding developers to long-term commitments when Dominion has no enforceable obligations is unfair. This makes the proposal extremely problematic and one-sided, Judson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only does this change in Dominions business model obligate Vantages investors to be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars, but makes it incredibly difficult to secure the financing necessary for our project unless Dominion commits to delivering power to energize our sites on the dates shown in the contract, investors need assurance that the utility will deliver power on time. Politicians also commented on the request. Del. Michael Webert, R-Warrenton, cited a law passed last session that calls for the SCC to determine if energy providers are using appropriate customer classes, including for businesses such as data centers. Republican Terry Kilgore, minority leader of Virginia House of Delegates, submitted a comment that said Dominion proposed a reasonable starting point on the question of minimum generation charges for data centers. I support creating a pro-economic development environment for data centers, but I also believe there should be no cost shifting to other customers, Kilgore wrote. A gaggle of attorneys representing various power, corporate, consumer-protection and environment agencies gathered in Richmond to speak. Attendees included, among others, Virginia Committee for Fair Utility Rates, the Sierra Club, Amazon Data Services, Appalachian Voices, Piedmont Environmental Council, Data Center Coalition, Google, Walmart, the US Department of Defense, Clean Virginia, Microsoft and the Virginia Poverty Law Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After public comment wrapped up, the hearing transitioned into the evidentiary portion of the hearing. Thats when legal counsel representing the involved parties present expert testimony, offer supporting exhibits, raise objections, file briefs and present legal arguments about the case. Towell said the hearing is likely to continue over several days, but he could not definitively say how long proceedings may take. There is no specific deadline for when the SCC will make a decision. Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com Ever wondered what controversial world leaders talk about off the record? Well, thanks to the generosity of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, now we know! The Russian president and Chinese leader had a hot mic situation had an interesting exchange earlier today. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping discussed organ transplants and immortality Photo Credit: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images If there were ever two people you wouldnt expect to get caught out in a hot mic situation, its surely these guys. But it seems even authoritarian leaders with carefully curated images can slip up sometimes. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and Xi Jinping, President of the Peoples Republic of China, were both attending a military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair seemed to momentarily forget they were micd up. Walking ahead of other delegates and in their own little world, their conversation was broadcast live by state media, reports the Guardian. While not exactly the kind of salacious gossip you might hope for, the world leaders did have an intriguing exchange. Putin can be heard saying: Biotechnology is continuously developing. Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and even achieve immortality. Xi, who was out of shot at the time, then replies: Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old. The pair were joined by North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un. He didnt seem to participate in the conversation, but smiled as he looked at the other men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian president later spoke to the media about the incident, confirming the pair had been chatting about the potential to increase human life expectancy. If youre looking for a juicier hot mic situation, take a look at this McBee Dynasty fail from last month. TELL US WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO EAVESDROP ON? The post Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping Caught Discussing Immortality on Hot Mic appeared first on Reality Tea. 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: Chromosomal ideogram showing the location of the 45 SNPs evaluated in the present study. Credit: JCO Global Oncology (2025). DOI: 10.1200/GO-24-00512 One of the largest Brazilian studies on colorectal cancer has revealed how genetic variations and genetic ancestry can influence the risk of developing the disease. The study, conducted by researchers at Hospital de Amor (formerly Hospital de Cancer de Barretos, in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo) and other institutions, contributes to understanding the complex genetic reality of a highly mixed population such as Brazil's. It was published in the journal JCO Global Oncology. Colorectal cancer is becoming increasingly common among young adults. According to the latest estimates from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), it is expected to affect around 46,000 Brazilians between 2023 and 2025. When excluding non-melanoma skin tumors, colorectal cancer ranks third among the most common types of cancer in the country. This is why researchers have focused their efforts on better understanding the factors that influence its development. Approximately 5% to 10% of cases have a clear hereditary origin caused by germline mutations inherited from parents. The remaining 90% are considered sporadic and are mainly related to environmental factors and lifestyle, although genetic makeup also plays a role. Based on this, the researchers sought to determine whether individual genetics plays a role as a risk or protective factor in the development of the disease among these non-hereditary cases. To reach their conclusions, the researchers analyzed 45 polymorphisms (genetic variants known as single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) reported in the scientific literature as being associated with the development of colorectal cancer. They sought to determine if these genome variants were also associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in Brazil. "The variants were previously identified in studies with European and Asian populations. We studied them specifically in our population," says Rui Manuel Reis, scientific director of the Teaching and Research Institute at Hospital de Amor and author of the study. The study involved 1,933 individuals, including 990 patients with colorectal cancer and 1,027 people with no history of the disease. In addition to genotyping the 45 genetic variants in the participants' blood samples, the team also assessed their genetic ancestry using a panel of 46 informative markers that can accurately identify the proportion of European, African, Asian, and indigenous ancestry in each person. "The IBGE [Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics] asks about skin color, but this is a very subjective criterion. We use much more objective and accurate markers to identify the proportion of ethnic ancestry of each person participating in the study," Reis explains. Variants that stand out Of the 45 variants analyzed, nine showed a significant association with disease risk. Four of these variants maintained their relevance even after multivariate analyses were adjusted for clinical and epidemiological factors. Two variants were associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, while two others were associated with a decreased risk, i.e., they showed a protective effect. These variants are located in regions of the genome associated with the regulation of inflammatory processes and cell growth. "Our study demonstrated that these four markers, on their own, are independent of all other variables studied and alone contribute to the risk or protection of the disease," says Reis. "It's important to note that these aren't somatic genetic mutations [which only affect the tumor], but rather normal genetic variations that contribute to our characteristics and make us unique, such as skin color. We're born with them." Role of ancestry Another innovative finding of the study was to identify the role of genetic ancestry in the risk of developing the disease. The researchers found that individuals with lower proportions of African and Asian ancestry were at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. This data reinforces the hypothesis that certain genetic components inherited from these populations may have a protective effect. "We observed that the population with greater Asian or African genetic ancestry had a lower risk of colorectal cancer. This is something that's already been observed in international studies, and our analysis confirmed that this pattern is also repeated in the Brazilian population," Reis points out. The researcher says the association may have multiple explanations. One possibility is that the genetic factor is intertwined with socioeconomic and cultural determinants. "It's possible that people with Asian ancestry, for example, have different eating habitsmore vegetables, more fish, less red meatand this is a protective factor," he says. "What we're seeing may be a reflection not only of genetics, but of a set of factors," he adds. According to the researcher, the main difference in this study is the sample sizeone of the largest ever used in a study of this type in Braziland the representativeness of the population analyzed. "Most previous studies were conducted with small groups, with limited statistical power. We worked with almost 2,000 people from all regions of Brazil, which ensures greater ethnic diversity," he points out. Personalization in the future Reis also emphasizes the potential for applying the findings to personalized medicine. While the genetic variants identified cannot be modifiedafter all, they are inherited from our parentsknowledge about them may help personalize screening and prevention strategies in the future. "Genetic risk isn't everything. Obesity, for example, can increase the risk of colorectal cancer by up to two times. But if a person has one of these risk-associated variants, coupled with an unhealthy lifestyle, the total risk increases," he warns. "Our future goal is to combine these genetic data with environmental factors to create a more effective and personalized screening strategy. Perhaps people with these variants should be prioritized in screening programs and made more aware of modifiable risk factors." The team is currently working on a new phase of the study. While the previous phase analyzed 45 variants known in the international scientific literature, the next phase will map up to three million genetic variations in Brazilians. "We want to create a specific risk score for our population that takes into account our unique characteristics. This could represent a significant advance in combating the disease in Brazil," he says. By gathering data representative of Brazilian genetic diversity on an unprecedented scale, the study emphasizes the importance of responding appropriately to Brazil's unique circumstances. "Much of the research is done on North American or European populations, which have low genetic diversity. Our study offers a new perspective. It shows that the genetics of our population can help us better understand the diseases that affect us," says the researcher. More information Ana Carolina de Carvalho et al, Association of Genetic Ancestry and Colorectal Cancer Risk in a Large Brazilian Cohort: Replication of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Identified by Genome-Wide Association Studies, JCO Global Oncology (2025). DOI: 10.1200/GO-24-00512 With tears and chants of Free, Free Palestine and the waving of Palestinian flags, the true-life drama, The Voice of Hind Rajab, recounting the final plea of a five-year-old Gaza girl who was brutally killed by the Israeli forces in Gaza City last year, received a more than 23-minute standing ovation at its premiere at the iconic Venice Film Festival. At Wednesdays premiere, the emotional docudrama focused on recordings from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which tried for hours to reassure Rajab as she lay trapped in a car where her aunt, uncle, and three cousins were killed by Israeli fire. In original recordings taken from the attack on January 29, 2024, Rajab is heard sobbing and telling the Red Crescent Society, Please come to me, please come. Im scared, while bullets were fired in the background. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a three-hour wait, rescuers were allowed, by the Israeli military, to dispatch an ambulance to the car where Rajab spoke from. However, contact with the girl was cut off just after the ambulance arrived. Days later, Rajabs body was found along with her relatives. The remains of the two killed ambulance workers who tried to rescue her were also recovered from their vehicle, which had been destroyed. Director of the docudrama, Franco-Tunisian Kaouther Ben Hania, told reporters in advance of the screening that the narrative from the media of those dying in Gaza was that of collateral damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I think this is so dehumanising, and thats why cinema, art and every kind of expression is very important to give those people a voice and face, Ben Hania said. Rajabs mother, Wissam Hamada, told the AFP news agency that she hoped the film would help end the war. The whole world has left us to die, to go hungry, to live in fear and to be forcibly displaced without doing anything, Hamada told AFP by phone from Gaza City, where she lives with her five-year-old son. #TheVoiceOfHindRajab cast hold up a picture of Hind Rajab during their record-breaking 23-minute-plus ovation this evening at the #VeniceFilmFestival. Rajab was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza last year. The film chronicles the 6-year-old's final hours. via deadline pic.twitter.com/CkbumvkCn7 May (@mayswiftiee) September 3, 2025 In June 2024, Al Jazeeras Fault Lines investigated the attack, providing a detailed reconstruction of the incident, in collaboration with nonprofit investigative groups Forensic Architecture and Earshot, and revealed that an Israeli tank was just 13 to 23 metres (42 to 75 feet) away when it opened fire on Rajabs car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, a United Nations report in July 2024 found, citing forensic analysis, that Rajabs car was shot at from very close range using a type of weapon that can only be attributed to the Israeli forces. While the Israeli military has previously said its troops were not in firing range of the car Rajab was in, earlier this week, the military was asked again about the attack and said the incident was still under review, declining to comment further. When the subject is Gaza, its hard to know what to say anymore, especially when caught in conversation with people who are unmoved by the plight of the Palestinians, people who reject the international consensus that Israel is inflicting apartheid policies and genocidal campaigns against an occupied population. Omar, an impassioned Red Crescent volunteer in the soul-shaking new feature from Kaouther Ben Hania, wonders at a certain point in the tense action how it can be that countless online images of maimed, orphaned and slaughtered Palestinian children have been met by so much silence and seeming indifference. Ben Hania counters that silence, not with an explicit argument but with an experience, a movie forged in the universal and very specific language of the single-location thriller. Ultra-specifically, The Voice of Hind Rajab is a headset thriller. Like the Danish drama The Guilty and its U.S. remake, the taut feature zeroes in on deskbound people talking on the phone to someone in distress. This is no mere genre outing, though; its rooted in a well-documented story with profound and distressing geopolitical significance. Within the films compact running time, writer-director Ben Hania traces the fraught and torturous hours of January 29, 2024, when Palestine Red Crescent volunteers in the West Bank tried to calm a terrified 6-year-old girl and get an ambulance to her in Gaza. The office manager in the film succinctly explains the situation to another agency: Hind Rajab is trapped in a car with the corpses of her family. Surrounded by tanks and bombing. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As she did in her Oscar-nominated Four Daughters, Ben Hania lights a connective fuse between documentary and drama. Forming the throughline of The Voice of Hind Rajab are the actual emergency-line recordings of conversations between the panicked girl and the Red Crescent workers: Hind Rajabs pleas for help and the nearly verbatim responses of the volunteers, delivered by actors who hold the screen with performances of pulsing immediacy. At the Palestine Red Crescent Emergency Call Center, in the relatively quiet West Bank city of Ramallah, chaos and desperation steadily seep into an orderly workplace, a space that Ben Hania brings to dynamic life, with Juan Sarmiento G.s camerawork catching the shifting levels of focus within production designer Bassem Marzouks layers of glass enclosures. The first crack in the tightly held calm arrives when Omar (Motaz Malhees) receives a call from a man in Germany, reporting that a carful of his relatives came under fire as they attempted to evacuate their neighborhood in northern Gaza. Their vehicle sits at a gas station a quarter-mile from their home, and not all of them were killed. Theyre shooting at us! a girl in the car tells Omar when he reaches her by phone. Then there are screams, followed by silence. A second message from Germany alerts Omar that theres still someone alive and hidden in the car, a 6-year-old girl. With her are the dead bodies of her aunt, uncle and four cousins, including the first girl Omar spoke with. Come get me! Hind says. But its not that simple, much to Omars growing exasperation. The call center, 52 miles from that gas station, has been handling Gaza emergencies for months now, since the IDFs bombing began. But theres nothing routine about any of this for the people on the receiving end of those calls. Omar, tormented by the first girls dying screams, enlists the help of his exhausted supervisor, Rana (Saja Kilani, riveting), who was on her way home after a long shift when Hinds predicament first crossed his screen. They take turns on the phone, doing what they can to distract Hind from her dire situation. Its an all but impossible task, and one that shakes them to the core, not least when Rana a voice of gentle, maternal concern and desperately feigned lightheartedness listens to Hind tell her that her school is called A Happy Childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The head of their office, Mahdi (Amer Hlehel), must figure out a safe route for medic Youssef Zaino and driver Ahmed Madhoun, the Red Crescents only remaining ambulance team in Gazas northern region. Coordination is the operative word, describing a byzantine process that requires communication with the Red Cross in Jerusalem or the West Banks Ministry of Health, who then will contact a unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The goal is to get accurate, up-to-the-minute information from soldiers on the ground without dealing with them directly. Having seen many of his colleagues killed on the job, Mahdi is unbending in his determination to secure this green light through the established channels. With the ambulance only eight minutes away from Hind, Omar sees only insanity in the way the situation stretches into an hours-long ordeal. Omars growing outrage, especially when precious time is lost because of jammed phone lines, troubling silences and false assumptions, rankles Mahdi, the most overstretched of anyone at the call center. He eventually tasks another person in the office, Leila (Nesbat Serhan), with capturing video and audio from the ongoing phone exchanges and posting it on social media a flare sent out to a near but far-off world. By the time Nisreen, the office counselor, steps in to offer a calming meditation to Hind, its a much-needed balm for the audience as well as for her colleagues. Shes played by Clara Khoury, rounding out an exceptional central quartet of actors. In the brief moments when actual phone video of the Red Crescent workers is interwoven into the movies action, its done with a breathtaking directness and simplicity, and it resonates with enormous power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Voice of Hind Rajab is the latest in many years worth of films about the occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank. Its timing makes it especially urgent, but so too did the timing of last years No Other Land, and here we are a year later. Tunisias official submission to the Academy Awards, it will certainly cut a high profile in the months ahead, and the fact that Hollywood heavy hitters have come on board as executive producers will help to generate awards season attention. But of course something much more pressing than awards is at stake. The voice of that little girl Save me. Call someone to pick me up. is the voice of a long-besieged people, and the 52 miles that separate her from the Red Crescent in Ramallah is the distance between Palestinians and those of us around the world watching helplessly. Its hard to know what to say anymore, but I hope many people see this movie, including the California shopkeeper who recently told me there are no innocent children in Gaza. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday met with families and victims of a deadly shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, and heard a heartfelt plea for action from at least one of those families. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, visited the Annunciation Catholic Church one week after an attacker opened fire during the first Mass of the school year for students of the nearby Annunciation Catholic School. According to Vance's office, the vice president and second lady Usha Vance met privately with family members of victims, the pastor of the parish and the school principal. They included the parents of the two children who were killed, Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, and families of some of the 21 people who were injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple also visited the church sanctuary, where the shootings took place, to pay their respects to the victims and their families, and laid bouquets at a memorial outside. They paused to read messages chalked on the church steps, including God Heals The Broken Hearted, We Love you, and Show Love. I have never had a day that will stay with me like this day did, Vance told reporters. Parents plead for action The Vances also went to Childrens Hospital, where several victims were treated, and met Lydia Kaiser, who is recovering from surgery. Her parents urged Vance to use his position to find real solutions to gun violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We disagree about so many things, her father, Harry Kaiser, a gym teacher at the school, told reporters, reading from a letter he wrote to Vance. ... But on just this one issue of gun violence, will you please promise me as a father and a Catholic that you will earnestly support the study of what is wrong with our culture that we are the country that has the worst mass shooter problem? The parents did not take questions. But mother Leah Kaiser cited a proverb quoted by Principal Matthew DeBoer and many others in the days since the shootings, When you pray, move your feet. It's an expression of the idea that thoughts and prayers are not enough. Vice President Vance, you have enormous authority," she continued. "Please use this moment to move your feet and transcend our political divides to promote peace and unity and hope. This is what the people of the United States will hold you accountable to. Vance refuses to comment on Minnesota gun laws Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some family and neighbors gathered nearby as the Vances arrived at the church, holding signs calling for bans on assault weapons. One read, Pro-Life = Pro-Gun Safety. Another referred to comments by Pope Leo on Sunday, Listen to the Pope, End the Pandemic of Arms. "It keeps happening over and over and over, and nothing changes," said Kacie Sharpe. Her 8-year-old son, Trip, considered Fletcher his best friend, and was sitting nearby when he was shot and killed. "And its the most helpless feeling in the world to know that you cant send your kids to school and have them be safe. Vance later declined to weigh in on how Minnesota lawmakers or Democratic Gov. Tim Walz should respond to the tragedy, including the governor's stated intention to call a special session of the Legislature to address gun and school safety. I would just say, take the concerns of these parents seriously, Vance told reporters. "I think all of us, Democrat, Republican and independent, want these school shootings to happen less frequently. Hopefully theres some steps that we can take to make that happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting at the church lasted roughly an hour and 45 minutes. As Vance left, his motorcade rolled past a few dozen protesters, several holding signs saying, Hate Wont Make America Great. Young victim undergoes surgery Vance also spoke by phone with one of the children who was wounded, 10-year-old Weston Halsne, who had surgery at Children's on Wednesday to remove a bullet fragment from his neck and was unavailable for an in-person visit, the hospital said. The procedure went well, and Weston is expected to make a full physical recovery, the boy's family said in a statement. Weston, a 5th grader, didn't realize he was hit at the time. He told reporters after the shots blasted through the windows that he ducked for the pews, covering his head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My friend Victor, like, saved me though because he laid on top of me. But he got hit, he said. The school has not said when classes will resume or a ceremony will be held to essentially reconsecrate the church so that worship can resume there. The church celebrated its Masses last weekend in the school gym. Fletcher Merkels funeral is set for Sunday at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, his family said in a statement Wednesday. Harper Moyskis arrangements have not been announced. WACO, Texas (FOX 44) Waco City Manager Bradley Ford has announced his decision to resign from his role, effective February 28, 2026. The city says Ford will remain in his position through the transition period in order to provide stability and support as the City Council begins the process of identifying his successor. Ford started his career with the City of Waco in 2017 and has served as City Manager since 2020. According to the city, Ford led Waco through significant initiatives in economic development, public safety, infrastructure enhancements, and community engagement. Under his leadership, Waco has strengthened financial management practices, expanded strategic partnerships, and continued to deliver vital services to its residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waco Mayor Jim Holmes expressed gratitude on behalf of the City Council: Bradley Ford is an exceptional leader with a strong skillset, a passion for economic development, and an impressive track record. He has been a joy to work alongsidegenuinely caring about his staff and the entire City team. His commitment to excellence and his dedication to our residents have left a lasting impact. What speaks volumes about Bradleys character is his commitment to Wacohe wants to stay here and raise his family, which shows his deep belief in the future of our city. Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Barefield shared, The City has achieved remarkable progress under Bradleys leadership. While we often focus on the visible transformationsnew buildings, booming businesses, and the vibrant communityits the subtle yet significant changes that often have the greatest impact. He has guided his team and our city toward generational change through thoughtful policy updates, multimillion-dollar infrastructure improvements, and ensuring the safety of our water resources, among other initiatives. As a Wacoan and council member, I am truly grateful for both the visible and the behind-the-scenes efforts that contribute to our citys growth. Councilmember Isabel Lozano said, In the short time that I have had the privilege of serving on City Council, I have been incredibly impressed by Bradleys dedication to his role as City Manager, his perseverance through challenges, and his servant heart. Bradley has a strong ability to lead with integrity, build consensus, and support City staff. Waco has benefited greatly from his vision and commitment, and the talented team he has cultivated will continue to carry his work forward. Councilmember Josh Borderud stated, Bradley Ford led our city during a dynamic time with integrity, compassion, and strength. His courage and wisdom during the pandemic, drought, and winter storms deeply inspired those of us who worked alongside him. He always put people first, with the well-being of our residents and city employees as his highest goal. I am immensely grateful for his service to Waco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councilmember Darius Ewing shared, Bradley and I were sworn into our positions on city council and as city manager on the same day, towards the beginning of the pandemic. Being able to watch him serve and lead our city through continued unprecedented circumstances, both up close and from afar, has been an absolute honor. I have learned from Bradley what it is to lead with absolute care for those who are following you, while focusing on what is ahead. That balance is never easy, yet he delivered it, unfailingly, day after day. Waco is better because of his work, and we will feel the absence of his presence when he departs. Until then, we remain grateful for his steady hand and look forward to his continued leadership through February 2026. Councilmember George Chase said, It has been my pleasure to work with Bradley over the 15 months that I have been on council. Waco is lucky to have had him as our city manager and should be proud of all that we have accomplished under his leadership. He has assembled a fantastic group of people around him, and I am confident that Wacos forward momentum will continue. I will miss working with him. The city says Council members will begin a comprehensive search for Wacos next City Manager. They are confident this process will identify a strong leader who can build on Wacos success and momentum. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Sep. 2MATTAWA A forum was held on August 28 at Wahluke High School, bringing together the three candidates for the Wahluke School Board: Luke Jenne, Elia Mendoza and Nick Trejo. Incumbents Jenne and Trejo are seeking re-election, while Mendoza is challenging Jenne for Director Position 5. Background Jenne, who has served nearly four years on the school board, emphasized the importance of community values and student safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My main purpose was simply to protect our children and the values that the members of our community hold," Jenne said. He said there is a need for a nurturing environment where children are supported physically, mentally and emotionally. "Bottom line was making sure that they're protected ... giving them opportunities for education and preparing for their future," he said. Challenging Jenne, Mendoza drew on her extensive background in public service and her deep-rooted connections to the community. "I do have some plans. I do have an agenda, but it's not my agenda. It's something that is a community agenda," Mendoza said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She provided insights into the challenges faced by both immigrant families and students, recognizing that a safe, inclusive learning environment is vital for educational success. Furthermore, she said she would work to ensure that the voices of all community members are heard. Trejo, the sole candidate for Director 2, expressed his intention to enhance the educational experience for students. "I want to see them graduate from our school district," Trejo said, referencing his own children who currently attend schools within the district. "I joined the school board to become more involved in my kids' education. I hope that I can continue that for the next four years, hopefully longer." Gang violence Jenne said there is a complexity of addressing gang-related issues in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So yes, definitely that has been a concern in our area, and we've seen some specific incidents in the last two years, but it's actually been an ongoing concern for many years," he said. Jenne said there is a need for stronger family and community values, noting that schools cannot shoulder the entire responsibility for addressing such societal issues. "The families have the responsibility, and the community members have a responsibility for that and teaching their children those values at home," he said. Mendoza said she favors a collaborative approach to the nature of violence in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I agree that, yes, the students are the school, and this is a part of school district issues," she said. Mendoza advocated for educational programs that extend beyond students, aiming to equip parents and the community with the tools they need to contribute to a safer environment. "If we do it together, then all of these issues are going to become less of an issue in the community," she said. Trejo echoed the sentiments of both Jenne and Mendoza, reiterating the limitations faced by schools. "I think at the end of the day, it becomes a parent's responsibility," Trejo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pointed to existing initiatives like community coalition programs and Wahluke Parent Teacher Organization meetings, while also acknowledging room for improvement in parent engagement. "There's only so much we can do, and unfortunately, a lot of this is going to fall on our parents," he said. Graduation rates Trejo reflected on the district's current achievements, stating, "I think we have done a pretty good job. I know this year, I believe there's going to be a couple more college in the classroom courses. I think that's helped our kids a lot." Trejo expressed his desire to expand opportunities in Career and Technical Education and agriculture, underscoring the relevance of local industries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would like to see agriculture companies come in and help teach our kids so when they graduate, they have something to look forward to," Trejo said. Mendoza said there should be a greater importance on retaining students even before they reach high school. "I think that retention starts much earlier, junior high, middle school," she said. Mendoza advocated for a flexible approach to education, saying, "Many students are already running a business ... we need to prepare them for post-graduation, especially for those who may not pursue a college degree." She also highlighted the significance of creative learning methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we implement something that is like an online school, we can help those students stay longer and graduate," she said. Jenne stressed the need for improvement beyond current achievements. "Being average is not our goal. We want to improve," Jenne said. He pointed to the importance of hands-on opportunities in alignment with the local economy. "Especially, I think, because of our area ... those need to be promoted as well." He praised existing partnerships with organizations like the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, also saying that he would like to see expanded CTE offerings in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Math and reading scores Mendoza, a self-proclaimed advocate for migrant students, expressed concern about the challenges faced by the community, particularly regarding fluctuating student enrollment. "I think that it's very difficult for students in math because this is a cultural community, and we get a lot of migrant students that are in and out of school," she said. "So it's really hard to maintain high scores. But that doesn't mean that we can't improve again." Mendoza underscored the importance of early education, advocating for stronger Pre-K programs. "It starts with early education. We can strengthen those core classes ELA, math and science so that we can keep them at a pace and increase over time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenne said he advocates for dual language programs and detailed the strides made in recent years. "We've seen those numbers and continue to be concerned to a degree and pushing to improve those," he said. Jenne highlighted the district's dual language initiative, which allows students to learn in both English and Spanish. "While initially it was just one of the three elementary schools, now we're offering that opportunity to nearly all of the students who desire to take that," he said. He said that this program helps address the needs of both English and Spanish-speaking students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trejo echoed the sentiment for continued improvement, asserting that while there have been gains, more work is needed. "We have seen our numbers in some way increase. Obviously, we're not there yet," he said. Trejo also supports the dual language program and recently added English classes. "I believe they added another English class this year. So I think we're working towards the right step." In addition, he called for greater parent involvement, urging families to engage more with the school. Levy The forum ended with a discussion about the upcoming maintenance and operations levy likely to appear on the February ballot. The Wahluke School Board has not approved the measure to voters as of yet; however, in Washington, it is common practice for school districts to run an Educational Programs and Operations Levy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenne emphasized the necessity of the proposed levy. "We do see some challenges currently. Look around, agriculture is on a downturn, and these are difficult times for a lot of people," he said. "We are hopeful that we can get the support of our community, because that's how we take care of our schools and our facilities. We want to continue to gain the support of our community members and show them that we're being fiscally sound." Jenne also highlighted recent successes under the current board's leadership, mentioning that they had passed "the first additional levy since 2004." He expressed optimism about continuing this momentum to address the community's needs while ensuring the fiscal responsibility of the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendoza raised a contrasting perspective, highlighting what she said is the financial strain that levies can impose on low-income families in the community. "As a single mom, an increase in my property taxes is difficult, and I'm pretty sure it's across the board," she said. "When levies are passed, it is crucial that the community knows how all of these funds are being appropriated." Mendoza underlined her commitment to transparency and accountability regarding the use of taxpayers' money, asserting that parents deserve to know how their contributions are impacting their children's education. Trejo echoed the sentiment regarding the importance of the upcoming levy. He clarified that the renewal would not constitute a tax increase. "This levy is going to replace the current levy. It's technically not a tax hike, but our taxes in Washington continue to go up." Trejo emphasized the struggles the district has faced financially, citing "difficult decisions" the board had to make over the last four years, including eliminating positions to balance the budget. Walmart and Target are being accused of discreetly removing price tags from items. Shoppers have noticed that price tags are missing on items such as underwear, jeans and childrens apparel, the New York Post reported. Employees responded to the claims via social media, saying the speculations are true, adding that it has to do with unannounced price hikes related to looming tariffs. Spent almost a whole 8-hour shift just doing this, one TikTok user captioned a post showing herself in a Target uniform, tearing off price tags. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another user at Walmart echoed the sentiment in a post on TikTok, writing, Can it just come in without prices already?!? Processing/working freight takes longer just because of the tariffs and prices going up. On Aug. 31, Walmart confirmed to The Sun that a labeling process change had occurred but did not directly link it to tariffs. As we strive to provide the best value for our customers while remaining flexible and competitive, earlier this year, we implemented a change to our labeling process for some items, the chain said in a statement to the media outlet. Customers will now see prices for some items displayed on peg or shelf instead of hang tags. Walmart also said that Some hang tags will also be stickers versus printed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Target and Walmart have not responded to MassLives request for comment. More Business News Read the original article on MassLive. From left, Oklahoma State Board of Education members Becky Carson, Mike Tinney, Chris Van Denhende and Ryan Deatherage conduct a special meeting Wednesday at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY With state Superintendent Ryan Walters a no-show, the Oklahoma State Board of Education took the unusual step of carrying out its own meeting Wednesday morning. Officials and staff from six state agencies but none from the Oklahoma State Department of Education helped make the seven-minute meeting happen at the state Capitol. Typically the board meets at the Education Department with agency staff handling logistics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A state Senate meeting room was teeming with spectators, reporters and lawmakers as four members of the seven-seat board waited to no avail for Walters, who typically chairs the board. Once the clock struck 10 a.m., the four present members Mike Tinney, Becky Carson, Chris Van Denhende and Ryan Deatherage called the meeting to order and voted to hire Oklahoma City attorney Ryan Leonard as their next board counsel, replacing Chad Kutmas who stepped down last month. They also voted to start the process to hire their next board secretary by posting the open position. Two absent board members, Sarah Lepak and Zachary Archer, had scheduling conflicts with the atypical meeting date and time, Tinney said. Walters office did not explain why he was absent. Instead, his spokesperson, Madison Cercy, said Walters is focused on tackling the big issues facing Oklahoma schools and is pleased to welcome Ryan Leonard to the team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a scathing statement from Attorney General Gentner Drummond puts the boards action to hire Leonard in doubt. Drummond, who has the authority to approve or deny the boards contract with an attorney, said Leonard is woefully inadequate for the position. The boards decision to hire a politically connected attorney with little to no experience advising a state board is yet another example of the dysfunction that has plagued public education since Gov. (Kevin) Stitt first appointed Ryan Walters, said Drummond, a Republican candidate to succeed Stitt as governor. Attorney General Gentner Drummond gives a speech on education for his gubernatorial campaign at the Edmond History Museum on Aug. 19 in Edmond. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) Walters served as Stitts education secretary before being elected as state superintendent in 2022. Leonard has acted as Stitts special counsel for Native American affairs and the governors lead negotiator with tribal nations. Despite his comments, Drummond has not yet decided whether he will approve the boards contract with Leonard, said Phil Bacharach, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office. Once the board submits its request to hire Leonard, the Attorney Generals Office will review it like any other, Bacharach said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leonard said he was shocked and dismayed at Drummonds statement and disputed the claim that he isnt qualified for the position. He said he and his law firm have represented several state agencies, and he is experienced in state government and administrative law. I was surprised by the attorney generals comments because Ive been in communication with his office, and my understanding was the attorney general wanted me to perform this role, he said. Tinney, also an attorney, said during the meeting he tried to check out and find out a lot of things about Mr. Leonard, and everything shows me that he is very well qualified to do this job. Oklahoma State Board of Education member Mike Tinney speaks with news reporters after a special meeting of the board at the state Capitol on Wednesday in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) Tinney later told news reporters that the board considered Leonard as a candidate because one of the board members knew him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the board members pushed to hire an attorney of their choosing and asked for input on their meeting agendas, their already rocky relationship with Walters devolved even further over the month of August. Meanwhile, a law enforcement investigation has been pending into two board members reports of seeing nude women on a TV in Walters office during their July meeting. Walters ultimately canceled the boards pre-scheduled Aug. 28 meeting, citing transitioning staff and legal counsel. The cancellation put on hold important work the board is meant to accomplish on a monthly basis, some members said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Carson said several Oklahoma educators are being paid like substitute teachers because the state board hasnt yet approved their emergency certifications, which would grant them the higher wages of a certified teacher. That is concerning to me, she told news reporters after the meeting. Because we didnt meet, weve affected their livelihood. Before canceling the August meeting, Walters voiced no specific concerns with the attorney the board members wished to hire, Van Denhende said after the board adjourned Wednesday. Rather, Van Denhende suggested it has to do with control. State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks during an April 24 meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education in Oklahoma City. He didnt attend the boards latest meeting Wednesday at the state Capitol. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) Walters enjoyed no dissent from the board for his first two years in office. But as his relationship with the governor soured early this year, Stitt appointed four new members who have been willing to publicly disagree with Walters and call his policies into question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van Denhende said working with the state superintendent has been like hand-to-hand combat. I dont know how much more difficult a man can make things, Van Denhende said. Carrying out the meeting Wednesday was a feat, the board members said, and they didnt rule out having to schedule another. The four present members leaned on a state law that allows a majority of the board to call a special meeting. They worked with local attorney Bob Burke to prompt the Education Department to post the meeting agenda, under threat of litigation. The meeting itself required a patchwork of state agencies. Oklahoma State Board of Education members, from left, Becky Carson, Chris Van Denhende and Ryan Deatherage visit before a special meeting Wednesday at the state Capitol. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability lent its board secretary and an employee to help facilitate the meeting. The deputy general counsel from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services was there in case the board needed legal advice. State Senate staff prepared and directed the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Board members also credited the Attorney Generals Office for its help as they sought new legal counsel. Education Secretary Nellie Tayloe Sanders, representing the Governors Office, posted the meeting agenda through the Secretary of States Office. She said the meeting was critical for the board to hire necessary staff to help carry out its basic functions. Hiring a new attorney who is aligned with the full board, not only with Walters, is an improvement, Van Denhende said, but theres no promise that anythings going to change without the state superintendents cooperation. We needed to have the August meeting, and we didnt have it, he said. It was a struggle to have this meeting. So, who knows how were going to actually address the real business of the state schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editors note: This story has been updated to include comments from Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Ryan Leonard. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (Photo by Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent) Across the United States, local governments are struggling. Here in Colorado, billions of dollars of sales tax losses have created budget gaps in cities and counties across the state, from Weld to Pueblo to Montezuma. Coloradans are more hesitant than ever to spend the money that could help counties recover missing revenue, due in part to fears of a potential recession and a lack of disposable income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To spend more money, Coloradans need to make more money. Unfortunately, an essential investment in Colorados working families financial stability and their ability to fuel our local economies is at risk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This month, Congress will vote on whether to fully appropriate funding for Head Start, the Child Care Development Fund, and Child Care Development Block Grants. For almost a century, federally funded early childhood care and education programs like these have provided relief to Colorados working families and helped our nations children and workforce thrive. Unfortunately, recent threats to eliminate Head Start mean the future of these services is anything but certain. Their sustained success depends on significant congressional support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Losing federal funding for child care and early childhood programs would not only endanger Colorados children and families, but also the financial future of Colorados local and state economies. Currently, Colorado loses approximately $3.8 billion in annual tax revenue because families do not have a safe place for their children to go while they work an amount that would more than fill the revenue gap legislators just held a special session to address. The link between child care, workforce and revenue is clear in rural areas, like Montezuma County. Officials there are grappling with a multiyear revenue shortfall that recently led to defunding the sheriffs office. One reason for these economic struggles is the countys troubling number of unfilled construction and health care jobs. At the same time, the cost of child care in Montezuma is an unaffordable 36% of the average familys income. Without a safe place to leave their children, many county residents cannot work or attain the upskilling they need to move into higher-paying vacancies. Their lack of spending power limits the sales tax revenue the county desperately needs to close budget gaps. Across the state, affordability is a huge barrier to accessing care. The average cost of center-based infant care in Colorado is more than $20,000 annually. This cost is more than 40% of the median income for single-parent families in our state. Toddler care costs nearly as much. In some parts of the state, families cannot access care because seats simply do not exist. This lack of availability has serious economic consequences. Adams County, which is currently slashing essential services like education and firefighting due to revenue gaps, has less than a third of the child care seats necessary to meet residents needs. Other local communities face similar dilemmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imagine how much revenue these governments are leaving on the table because residents dont have access to child care. Investing in child care is not just good for families. Its also good for economies. Few public investments pay off as lucratively as child care. Early childhood education and care programs like Head Start yield $7 for every $1 invested. They also improve high school graduation rates, reduce incarceration rates, and improve health outcomes. All of these contribute to long-term economic self-sufficiency. The business community also increasingly recognizes the benefits of investing in child care: A recent Boston Consulting Group study showed that companies that paid for employees child care saw a 90% to 425% return on investment. Numbers like these make it clear that investing in child care is a sound decision. Congress shouldnt make a challenging situation worse by making it even harder for families to access child care. It is more important than ever that Colorados representatives and leaders support access to child care. Our children, our families, and our local economies cannot afford anything less. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The U.S. air strike Tuesday against an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the southern Caribbean, which killed all 11 people on board, has been described as a potential violation of international maritime law and an extrajudicial summary execution. However its characterized, it sets an ominous precedent. Drug interdiction operations were traditionally treated solely as law enforcement matters. That officially changed when President Donald Trump, as reported last month by The New York Times, issued a secret directive authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against drug trafficking organizations that he had designated as foreign terrorist groups. Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang that Trump said was operating the drug boat, received that designation in February. Applying such a label stretches the dictionary definition of terrorism to its breaking point. Terrorism, according to various definitions in active use by U.S. government agencies, involves premeditated violent acts that target civilians in furtherance of political or ideological objectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their lack of such objectives is why foreign drug gangs have traditionally been regarded not as terrorist groups but as organized crime syndicates. They may employ similarly violent methods as terrorist organizations, but the motives are different. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. That has not stopped Trump and his aides from using the language of war when referring to its campaign against narcoterrorists. In remarks to reporters following yesterdays strike, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration no longer views law enforcement tactics as an appropriate response to the issue. Having an engine shot down or a couple of drugs grabbed off a boatthose days are over, he said. Now we are going to wage combat against drug cartels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the first time that Trump has tried to tie Tren de Aragua to an act of war. In March, he invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act alleging that the gang was invading the United States at the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in order to justify summary deportations of Venezuelan migrants. That orderwhich a U.S. appeals court blocked this weekcontradicted Trumps own intelligence community, which assessed in April that there was no evidence of Tren de Aragua coordinating on a widespread basis with the Maduro regime. Terrorism, drug trafficking and acts of war are discrete categories of human behavior. But in the Trump administrations political lexicon, they are used interchangeably. Such a collapsing of conceptual boundaries has consequences that go well beyond the rhetorical. As Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America put it, If we abandon restraint and tell the world Its OK to take out boats and just claim theyre terrorists later, we put all maritime trade and travel at risk. All of this comes amid a U.S. military buildup just outside Venezuela, which has raised concerns that Trump may order a military strike or incursion inside the country. Would such an operation be justified as self-defense, as counterterrorism, as counter-drug-trafficking, or perhaps all of the above? Whatever the case, it would be sure to exacerbate Venezuelas long-running governance crisis, thereby facilitatingrather than impedingthe operations of criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua. Elliot Waldman is World Politics Reviews editor-in-chief. The post A New War on Drugs appeared first on World Politics Review. BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (ABC4) Brigham City is warning local businesses of a person asking for payment while claiming to be a fire department official. City officials warned residents of Brigham City of a scam which involves an individual posing as the Fire Marshal. The individual is reported to have requested payment for inspecting fire extinguishers at local businesses. Several businesses have been visited, Brigham City said in a social media post Wednesday. An individual has been visiting businesses claiming to be the fire marshal. (Courtesy//Brigham City) Alec Hansel, the actual Fire Marshal, is pictured below and will be carrying a Brigham City badge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials are asking anyone who may have received a visit from the fake fire marshal to report the incident to the Brigham City Fire Department. Those wishing to report can contact the department at 435-226-1407. 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. 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 Liver specialist Maurizio Bonacini is in the race for a cure for hepatitis B, one of the world's most widespread diseases and a top cause of liver cancer around the globe. "It's the last frontier," said Dr. Bonacini, a San Francisco-based clinical researcher who has spent his career studying the chronic version of the disease estimated to affect more than 2 million people in the United States. The World Health Organization estimates that one of three people worldwide has been infected by acute hepatitis B. The likelihood of developing chronic hepatitis B is higher for the youngthe risk is 90% for babies with the bloodborne disease. When untreated, the virus progresses into liver cancer 25% of the time, killing one of four. Although hepatitis B is both preventable with vaccines and treatable with oral medication, the virus continues to spread 60 years after its discovery. There is no cure yet. Hoping to change this, Bonacini joined B-United, a clinical trial with 300 chronic hepatitis B patients at 80 sites across 18 countries. Bonacini leads one of two investigation locations in Californiathe other is in San Jose, led by Dr. Huy A. Nguyen at San Jose Gastroenterology. Bonacini's San Francisco site was first to treat a patient with a potential cure for chronic hepatitis B. Until there's a cure, patients with hepatitis B must take antiviral pills for life so the virus does not rebound. The medication stops the replication of hepatitis B DNA in the body, halving the risk of liver cancer and other complications. But the drugs can cause side effects such as upper respiratory infections, fatigue, nausea and gastrointestinal issues. Sometimes, people develop resistance to the antivirals, and in rare cases experience kidney or liver complications or failure. "When we treat patients with hepatitis B, it's like the Olympics. What we have now is the bronze medal," Bonacini said. Bonacini wants golda sterilizing cure that eradicates every trace of the virus and cannot return. For now, he'll take silver, a functional cure, one in which the virus could return, but which reduces cancer risk by 80% and allows patients to stop taking the antiviral pills. Bonacini follows 10 Bay Area participants while observing 200 others under his care who could not qualify for the trial. While still taking their regular medication, study patients receive monthly injections of an investigational drug that slows production of the surface antigen, the hallmark of the infection. After 24 weeks, they receive weekly injections of a different research drug for another 24 weeks. If surface antigens are still gone after 24 more weeks, patients stop all treatment but remain under close monitoring. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration might consider the injections for market approval starting in late 2027, Bonacini said. Bonacini emphasized the need for better prevention and diagnosis in the interim. This June, he asked more than 60 primary care physicians in California to flag state-mandated screening for hepatitis B in electronic health records systems. He said he received pushback from the time-strapped practitioners. "The consensus seemed to be that implementing this would be very burdensome. It takes time. I've been there," he said. Many of the doctors also did not want to make their patients take an additional test. "In theory, it should be covered (by insurance) in California, but the reality could be different," said Bonacini. Additionally, U.S. law requires proof of vaccination for immigrants entering the country, but not screenings. "That is a big mistake," Bonacini said. Even if a person shows proof of vaccination or receives one, vaccinations administered to those who are already infected don't work. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services oversees immigration health requirements and designates doctors called "civil surgeons" to sign off on these requirements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issues technical instructions for hepatitis B vaccines, confirmed that testing for the disease is not a part of protocol for civil surgeons because prospective immigrants would not be inadmissiblerejected from entryfor having the disease. One of Bonacini's study patients, a San Francisco resident in his 40s, slipped through this crack. He immigrated to the U.S. from Southeast Asia at age 9 and received a hepatitis B vaccination later as a student. But after his first physical exam when he was in his 30s, he learned he had contracted hepatitis B before receiving the vaccination and now had fatty liver and mild cirrhosis. He met Bonacini while volunteering for COVID vaccine studies and enrolled in the chronic hepatitis B cure research as soon as he became eligible. Hepatitis B DNA became undetectable in his system within months of taking oral medication; 26 weeks into trial injections, he is essentially noncontagious. The man, who asked not to use his name because of the stigma around the condition, wishes more people talked more about hepatitis B. He's speaking out more and finding others living with the condition. While glad to know he's not alone, he is exhausted from maintaining his health under the ever-looming threat of liver cancer. Every six months, he pays $100 to $200 for bloodwork and $500 to $700 for imaging before hitting his deductible. He said he can't imagine the financial burden for those with inferior coverage. "I'm getting used to it but there has to be a better way," he said. "I will participate in any clinical trial just to find a cure." With better prevention, Bonaicini said, we would rarely, if at all, see cases like this patient's in a generation or two. But even then, a cure would still be necessary because it is impossible to inoculate every human. As part of a global quest, he exchanges notes with respected virologists and clinicians in places like Tanzania and Hong Kong, where up to 7% of the population contends with the disease. He said studies increasingly suggest a cure is within reach. "We just have to find the right drugs," he said. 2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. IBERIA PARISH, La. (KLFY) Authorities issued arrest warrants for Dominic Graphia of Acadiana Motion Screens after victims allege contractor fraud in Iberia Parish, deputies said Arrest warrants have been obtained for Dominic Graphia for the following violations: two felony counts of failing to perform work after receiving payment under a contract and two counts of undertaking residential contracting without the required valid license, deputies said. According to deputies, they received multiple reports of residential contractor fraud allegedly involving Dominic Graphia, owner of Acadiana Motion Screens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victims said they hired Graphia for contracted work. Despite signed contracts, the work was never completed as required under Louisiana law, deputies said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Upon further investigation, deputies said they discovered neither Graphia nor Acadiana Motion Screens are licensed with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Dominic Graphia they are asked to call Iberia Parish Sheriffs Office at 337-369-3711. 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 KLFY.com. 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. ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) A bus driver for the Washington County School District has been arrested as part of an investigation into child sexual abuse material, police say. According to a press release from the St. George Police Department, the departments Investigation Divisions Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) team received a tip from the Utah Attorney Generals Office regarding a person downloading child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sex offender behind bars after allegedly abusing a young Cedar City girl and silencing her before her baptism Police say that through their investigation of the tip, they connected the CSAM files to Daniel Workman, who was working as a bus driver with the Washington County School District. The school district has been made aware, the press release says. Today, Sept. 3, the St. George Police ICAC team served a search warrant at the residence of Workman around 10:20 a.m. He was arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail, where he is currently being held on 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. The St. George Police Department is asking that anyone with additional information contact the police department at 435-627-4300 and reference incident 25P021102. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. 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. WASHINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) This weekend, the city of Washington will be remembering those lost 24 years ago during its annual ceremony to remember the Sept. 11, 2011, terrorist attacks. The ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Veterans Memorial Parks Helicopter Memorial. There, the community can gather in remembrance and honor, said city spokesperson Amanda Roberts. She said the ceremony will open with music by bagpiper Scott Whitman and a procession of dignitaries, police and fire personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts also said other highlights include: Welcome remarks by Mayor Lili Stevens Presentation of Colors by the Tazewell County Sheriff Honor Guard Team Pledge of Allegiance led by the Boy Scouts and National Anthem performed by Samantha and Anna Vaughn Prayers and scripture readings by Pastor Dave Jane and Washington Fire Department Captain Jake Spitzer Comments from Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman, Washington Fire Chief Tyler Gee, NTFD Fire Chief David Houseworth, and guest speaker Retired Fire Chief Mike Vaughn Wreath presentation and special performances, including Balmoral, Going Home, and Amazing Grace on bagpipes Moment of silence with lights displayed from WFD and North Tazewell Fire Department brush trucks 10-bell ringing tribute led by NTFD Deputy Chief Scott Williams and Sgt. Scott Houseworth The ceremony will end with the retrieval of colors and closing comments from Mayor Stevens. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (The Center Square) Two months after Congress passed the countrys first federal tax-credit scholarship program, it remains to be seen if Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson will opt the state in, so families can take advantage of school choice scholarships. The federal tax credit would enable families with limited means to access private and religious schools or supplement instruction and resources for students in public schools. However, to participate, states have to opt in by January 2027 and submit a list to the U.S. Treasury Department of the Scholarship Granting Organizations, or SGOs, in their states that meet the requirements of federal law. Those requirements include being a 501(c)(3) organization, spending 90% or more of income from qualified contributions on scholarships, and providing scholarships to 10 or more students at more than one school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an incredible program, Vicky Murray, director of the Center for Education at the free-market Washington Policy Center think tank. This is a win-win for virtually all Washington school children and Washington taxpayers. Murray explained that tax credit scholarships for education are not a new idea. My home state of Arizona was the first state back in 1997 to enact a tax credit scholarship, she said. You get a dollar-for-dollar credit against either your state income or your corporate state income taxes. So, state taxpayers get a break and school children get scholarships. The federal program allows taxpayers to take a credit on their federal income taxes of up to $1,700. The donation would go to designated organizations that distribute school choice scholarships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, imagine getting seventeen hundred dollars off your federal tax bill, Murray said. And you're giving to scholarship organizations that raise funds to cover all sorts of educational expenses for virtually every school child in the state of Washington. In a July 28 blog, Murray detailed qualifications and eligible expenses for the federal program. Eligible students must qualify to attend a public school, and their families incomes cannot exceed 300 percent of their areas' median income, she wrote, including a link to the median incomes of U.S. states. Scholarships can be used to cover the same elementary and secondary school expenses included in Coverdell education savings accounts, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TuitionFeesTutoringSpecial needs student servicesBooksSuppliesUniformsTransportationComputers, andSupplementary services such as extended day programs" Essentially, what you'll hear critics say is that it's another voucher program. But here's the critical difference between voucher scholarships and tax credit scholarships, Murray noted. A voucher scholarship is paid for with public funds or government appropriations. But tax credit scholarships are privately financed scholarships. Murray noted that Ferguson, in a recent opinion piece to The Seattle Times, suggested he has concerns about the program, which he called a voucher program. Calling education our paramount duty, Ferguson wrote, Im deeply skeptical of voucher programs that could harm our public school system. Ive directed my team to analyze whether we can use these funds in a way that benefits public school students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murray disagrees. It's not a voucher because it's not using public funds, she said. This program will cost the state nothing. Children get educational expenses covered. Taxpayers get a break, and it costs the state nothing. So, it's a win, win, win for everybody. The Center Square contacted Ferguson's office for comment, but did not get a response. A bipartisan group of House members unveiled a compromise bill Wednesday afternoon to ban stock trading by individual members of Congress and their families. The legislation, titled the Restore Trust in Congress Act, is expected to combine and reconcile several previously introduced bills to ban congressional stock trading by members of Congress, according to an advisory. Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) were among the members expected to be present at the press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. EDT. Watch a video replay above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House GOP leaders gave remarks Wednesday morning at their regular weekly press conference. They were expected to field questions about a number of topics, including files related to Jeffrey Epstein as pressure continues to mount on GOP leaders to allow a vote on a measure calling for the administration to release everything it has on the disgraced financier and pedophile. Republican lawmakers on Tuesday raced to squash internal divisions over the Epstein files, launching a series of moves designed to appease those demanding more information. The tension comes as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has partnered with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to collect signatures on a discharge petition that would force a vote on his bill to require more transparency in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a closed-door meeting with the disgraced financiers victims, the House Oversight Committee released the files that were turned over by the Justice Department following a subpoena. The news conference also came as lawmakers navigate another government spending fight with Democrats, including how to factor in a new effort by the White House to cancel nearly $5 billion in funding previously approved by Congress through pocket rescissions. Watch the video replay above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Reform U.K. party leader Nigel Farage will be on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on European technology laws and censorship. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) invited the British member of Parliament to Washington to speak during a hearing titled Europes Threat to American Speech and Innovation, specifically focused on the United Kingdoms Online Safety Act which places restrictions on media shared online. The hearing comes after President Trump late last month threatened to slap additional tariffs on nations that maintained their digital taxes, contending they are detrimental to U.S. tech products and companies. It also follows Vice President Vances scolding of European leaders earlier this year on stifling free speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT. Watch the live video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Center Square) Vice President J.D. Vance is not confirming reports shared by Gov. J.B. Pritzker that federal deployments may arrive in Illinois this week. Pritzker spoke in Chicago Wednesday and said he had no official confirmation about National Guard or Immigrations and Customs Enforcement deployments. What were hearing is that theyll be assembled, ready to go on Friday and that theyll begin actions on Saturday, over the weekend, Pritzker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Vice President spoke in Minnesota and said there are no immediate plans to send in the National Guard, but he would leave it up to President Donald Trump. We want the governor to be a partner here. We would love it, Democrat or Republican, if we had governors who were willing to actually be partners in cutting down crime in our country. Unfortunately, it looks like thats not what we have in J.B. Pritzker, Vance said. Trump said Tuesday he would send in the National Guard, and he would be honored to get a call from Pritzker. The governor reiterated Wednesday that he would not call the President. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes going to end up in court, and that will be a fact that they will use in court, that the governor called to ask for help, Pritzker said. The governor spoke at Metropolitan Peace Academy in Chicago after meeting with people from community violence intervention programs. Metropolitan Peace Academy has received both federal and state taxpayer funding. Community Violence Intervention Programs have a clear and demonstrated track record of reducing crime and making our communities safer, which is why my administration has invested historic amounts into them, Pritzker said in a statement. The governor also met with representatives from the Midwest Immigrant Defenders Alliance, a coalition of seven immigrant legal service providers that built a referral system for Illinois residents in immigration detention to access legal representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago Flips Red Vice President Danielle Carter-Walters said the citys political leaders have failed to protect American citizens in Chicago and Illinois. She called for Trump to order a forensic audit of city departments and crime prevention funding. Because we know, with all this crime thats going on, we know the money is not being spent towards the crime prevention, and we are also down 2,000 officers, Carter-Walters said Tuesday. Illinois has a history of spending taxpayer dollars on similar programs. The former Gov. Pat Quinn-era Neighborhood Recovery Initiative doled out tens of millions of dollars to nonprofit anti-violence groups throughout the state over several years before the 2014 election. An investigation found little grant oversight and significant waste. Greg Bishop and Sarah Roderick-Fitch contributed to this story. Credit: Reuters/Donald Trump via Truth Social The US carried out a lethal military strike on a cartel boat transporting drugs from Venezuela, Donald Trump announced. On his orders, US forces shot out a boat, a drug-carrying boat lots of drugs in that boat, the president told reporters at the White House. We have a lot of drugs pouring into our country, coming in for a long time, and these came out of Venezuela, and coming out very heavily from Venezuela. A lot of things are coming out of Venezuela. So we took it out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a later Truth Social post, Mr Trump said he ordered the strike after the vessel was positively identified as a Tren De Aragua (TdA) boat. He said TdA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States. Mr Trump shared a short video showing what he said was a kinetic strike on the cartel boat, killing 11 gang members. Video captured the moment the vessel was struck - Donald Trump/Truth Social The boat, powered by what appears to be three outboard motors, is seen making its way through the water before being struck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas president, threatened to declare a republic in arms if it came under attack from the US. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that the vessel was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation. The US military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela, he wrote. An official from the department of defence told The Telegraph the strike had been a precision operation, though did not provide further details. The US has deployed warships in the southern Caribbean in recent weeks - AFP Earlier this year, the US announced plans to add to its maritime forces in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from drug smugglers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with nations such as North Korea and Iran, Venezuela has long had difficult relations with the US. Mr Maduro succeeded Hugo Chavez, who was elected president four times, after his death in 2013. The Venezuelan leader has been widely condemned for a crackdown on civil society and the jailing of political opponents. Mr Trump repeated allegations that Tren de Aragua is being controlled by Nicolas Maduro, accusations that Caracas denies - AFP Following an election last year that many observers believe was clinched by Edmundo Gonzalez, an opposition candidate, but which Mr Maduro claimed to have won, groups such as Human Rights Watch have detailed further crackdowns. The nations economy has also worsened in the face of international sanctions, something that has led to a surge in people fleeing and trying to enter the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Mr Trump, who campaigned on a hardline immigration agenda and a vow to deport undocumented migrants, ended what was known as temporary protected status for around 350,000 Venezuelans in the US and the administration has deported several thousands. In 2019, Mr Trump issued a number of threats to Venezuela, and Washington backed opposition politician Juan Guaido as a potential alternative to Mr Maduro. Speaking in Miami, he said: The time has come for the farewell to the socialism of our hemisphere, not only in Venezuela, but also in Nicaragua and Cuba. While the US has not signalled any planned land incursion, the Maduro government has responded by deploying troops along its coast and border with neighbouring Colombia. It is also urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defence of Venezuela, said Mr Maduro. 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. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Imagine someone you care about suddenly experiencing chest pain, turning pale, and breathing heavily. These are some of the symptoms of a heart attack. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organization estimates that 19.8 million people died from CVDs in 2022. Of these deaths, 85% were due to heart attack and stroke. Patients who suffer a heart attack require prompt treatment in hospital. Beta-blockers are a type of medication that reduces the strain on the heart. However, is this medication necessary for everyone who has had a heart attack? Patients with no or mild heart damage should also receive beta-blockers While patients with heart damage after a heart attack are prescribed beta-blockers to protect their heart, not all patients sustain the same level of damage. Do these patients also require beta-blockers? "There has been considerable uncertainty in the medical community regarding whether all patients need beta-blockers. There has been very little research on patients whose hearts function entirely or nearly normally after a heart attack," says Professor Dan Atar from the University of Oslo and chief physician in cardiology at Oslo University Hospital. Two new large studies now point in the same direction. "The studies demonstrate that beta-blockers have a protective effect and reduce the risk of new heart attacks even among those patients with little or no heart damage," explains John Munkhaugen, a professor at the University of Oslo and a cardiologist at Drammen Hospital. The studies have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. Beta-blockers reduce the risk of arrhythmias A heart attack is a serious cardiac condition that occurs when a blood clot blocks one of the arteries supplying blood to the heart, depriving it of essential oxygen. After a heart attack, it is crucial to prevent further heart attacks and other complications. "Many patients go home with minor damage to the heart muscle following the attack. This can lead to a decrease in the heart's pumping function and other complications," Munkhaugen explains. Beta-blockers are taken in pill form. "They have a protective effect on the heart by reducing heart rate and stress on the heart. They also lower the risk of irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias," he states. Hospitals and patients from across Norway contributed to the research One of the two new studies was a substantial collaboration between Norway and Denmark. "A total of 5,700 patients participated in the study. About half of them came from hospitals throughout Norway, meaning the entire Norwegian cardiology community contributed," explains Atar. All patients in the study had suffered an acute heart attack within the past 14 days and had only minor or no heart damage afterwards. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group received the beta-blocker metoprolol as part of their treatment, while the other group received only alternative treatments without beta-blockers. The researchers closely monitored the patients for three and a half years, comparing the two groups. They investigated whether patients had experienced another heart attack and whether they had other heart conditions, such as irregular heartbeat and heart failure. Patients receiving beta-blockers had a lower risk of additional heart attacks The researchers assessed heart function following the attack. "Patients whose heart function was between 40% and 50% showed a slight decrease compared to before the heart attack. Those with heart function above 50% essentially showed no damage to the heart muscle," Munkhaugen explains. The results revealed that beta-blockers reduced the risk of subsequent heart attacks. The difference was most pronounced among patients with minor heart muscle damage, although those with normal heart function also benefited from the treatment with beta-blockers. "Our study shows that everyone with normal or only mildly reduced heart function should receive beta-blockers as treatment following a heart attack, just like the patients with heart damage do," he emphasizes. Findings likely to inform new guidelines for treatment following a heart attack Beta-blockers have been part of the standard treatment for heart attacks since the 1980s. "When the first studies on the effectiveness of this medication emerged, it had a tremendous impact on the field," notes Atar. Since then, significant medical advancements have occurred in both the diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks. "Cardiologists around the world have therefore been uncertain as to whether beta-blockers remain an effective treatment for all patients," the professor points out. The results from the two new studies form a new knowledge base in the field. "These findings could significantly influence heart attack treatment globally," Atar asserts, adding that they will likely be incorporated into future guidelines for recommended clinical practice. Further research on age, gender, and patients' quality of life New studies on the effects of beta-blockers after heart attacks are currently underway. The researchers will examine subgroups of heart attack patients. "Perhaps there are differences related to age or gender, and some subgroups might benefit more from beta-blocker treatment than others," Munkhaugen suggests. "This will be addressed by forthcoming research as we move into autumn." Additionally, the researchers will investigate patients' quality of life. "We plan to study anxiety, depression, sleep problems, nightmares, and sexual dysfunction. These symptoms have been associated with beta-blocker use," the professor explains. "We aim to examine these issues to provide patients with the best possible treatment and follow-up." Travelling through Portuguese airports is to become more difficult again. Two unions from Menzies, the company responsible for ground handling services, have called a new wave of strikes lasting until early 2026. A total of 76 days of industrial action are planned between now and January next year, with workers targeting key dates including long weekends, Christmas and the New Year. Disruptions are expected to impact travel over the coming months. The strikes were called by SIMA (the Union of Metal and Related Industries Workers) and the Transport Union (STA). The first in the series of strikes began on Wednesday 3 September and will last until Tuesday 9 September, next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related The last strike is not expected to end until 2 January 2026. The workers are demanding an end to basic salaries below the minimum wage, better wages and compliance with the payment of night hours, among other measures. Minimum services decreed Portugals Court of Arbitration of the Economic and Social Council decreed minimum services at airports, in a decision widely criticised by the unions, including SIMA. It says that the measure decreed obliges it to ensure around 80 per cent of normal operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They call it a minimum, but it's the utmost impudence, turning the strike into a farce staged to protect the company and humiliate the workers," the union added. Related The latest wave of industrial action follows previous strikes in July and August. The unions suspended the strikes planned for the end of last month following discussions with the Ministry of Labour. Menzies denies that any progress was made. The union stated that the cancellation of the latest strikes "was not the result of any agreement, negotiation or concession" and reiterated that its position remains unchanged. SIMA, meanwhile, denounced the "unacceptable way in which the SPdH/Menzies management and TAP's CEO have conducted the latest attempts at dialogue". As thousands of Seattle Public Schools students head back to class, some of them will be returning to schools with new safety upgrades. They include secure entry points with required sign-in, improved cameras, and a comprehensive security and communications system especially important in case of a lockdown. Are you targeting schools that have the most need? KIRO 7 reporter Linzi Sheldon asked. Correct, or the most outdated equipment, as far as in the classrooms, SPS Safety and Security Project Manager Michael Wells said. And also some of the security reports that we receive, the criminal activity around our schools that we can focus on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the schools with the changes is Rainier Beach High School, which will be open for its first full year of classes this fall. We are talking about our kids being in school, and we are talking safety, Toni Babbs, parents of two boys attending Rainier Beach, said. Safety is the number one thing for me as a parent. On KIRO 7 News in the Morning at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Linzi Sheldon takes you behind the scenes to see how the new security system works and asks students how they feel about the changes. In the early hours of Sunday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting hundreds of Guatemalan minors who entered the United States alone. The emergency order came after attorneys for the children argued their clients would face abuse, neglect, persecution, or torture if they were returned to Guatemala. News of the administrations latest mass deportation effort came under immediate criticism, including from the co-hosts of The Weeknight. During a discussion Tuesday, Michael Steele blasted the administrations attempt, noting that it took place in the cover of darkness on a holiday weekend. They dont think the American people will be sympathetic to children being snatched up in the middle of the night, put on a plane and shipped back to a country that they escaped or were sent from because their families wanted to protect them? Steele asked. I think somebody does need to at least ask the government, Why did you feel the need to snatch these kids into the night? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steele said the cruelty of the administrations immigration crackdown shouldnt come as a surprise. He connected the latest efforts to the family separation policy of Donald Trumps first term. You saw them the first time they put them in cages. Symone Sanders Townsend also weighed in and argued that mass deportations do little to address the underlying reasons that many migrants enter the country illegally. When I worked in the White House, I worked on the root cause of migration, Sanders Townsend said, noting how turbulence in the Northern Triangle countries Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras contributes to mass migration to the U.S. The former Biden official said the Trump administration should focus on helping to improve the economic situation in countries like Guatemala and on coordinating with it so that people are not sending their children on a dangerous journey. Alicia Menendez concluded the discussion by rebuking the administration for being more concerned with arbitrary deportation quotas over the well-being of children: I know that Stephen Miller and Tom Homan want to hit their numbers, but these arent numbers, these are children. You can watch the full analysis from Steele, Sanders Townsend and Menendez in the clip at the top of the page. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com President Donald Trump's national tour of performative authoritarianism will roll into Baltimore and Chicago at some point later this year, the president announced Tuesday. "We're going in," Trump said from the Oval Office. Trump called Chicago and Baltimore "a hellhole" and said his decision to send federal troopslikely a mix of immigration enforcement police and National Guard troops, as was done previously in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.was not "a political thing." The White House is framing the effort as an attempt to stop the high levels of gun violence that have plagued parts of those cities for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it's telling that the Trump administration has made little effort to manufacture a crisis in Chicago that might justify the deployment of federal troops. Instead, this looks pretty clearly like the president using routine crimeundeniably an issue for the local and state governments to addressas a justification for whatever it is that the White House is planning. "Know your rights." In response to Trump's announcement, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker reiterated that there is no emergency in Chicago that demands the attention of the National Guard and said Trump's planned deployment would jeopardize law and order in the city. Pritzker, who has so far handled this situation about as well as could be expected, also encouraged Chicagoans to remain peaceful and to keep an eye on the feds. "What you can do is look out for your communities and your neighbors. Know your rights," he said. "Film things that you see happening in your neighborhoods and your streets and share them with the news media." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can Trump do this? As Reason's J.D. Tuccille explained last week, Trump has limited legal standing for rolling troops into any place that isn't Washington, D.C., which is uniquely vulnerable to any president's whims because of its unique status as a federal district. "Chicago is not a federal district. It's a city in a state that has its own sovereign authority under the U.S. Constitution. [Brandon] Johnson is the mayor, and Pritzker is the state's governor. They're responsible to their voters," Tuccille wrote. "And while the city has a serious crime problem, data suggests it's falling, not getting worse." On Tuesday, a federal judge in California ruled that Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act, the 1878 law that forbids the use of the U.S. military for law enforcement purposes. That ruling may complicate the administration's ability to drop the National Guard into other jurisdictions. However, Trump has previously claimed (no surprise here, given his general disregard for laws limiting executive power) the authority to do "anything I want to do" with the National Guard. (There are many overlapping and somewhat contradictory federal laws in play here. Read Reason's Jacob Sullum for more on that.) While there are obviously some worrying constitutional and legal issues here, libertarians should also object to the cost of these operations. In D.C., part of the National Guard's duties included providing tremendously expensive and heavily armed trash collection services. DC's cleaning crews cover around 81 miles/day for around $150K/day. National Guard has cleaned a total of 3.2 miles and costs more than $1M/day. It's about 170X more cost efficient per mile to fund DC's existing work. https://t.co/G62nkpb9yb Samuel Littauer (@swlittauer) September 2, 2025 An extrajudicial assassination in the Caribbean Sea. A video released Tuesday by the White House purportedly shows a military strike against what Secretary of State Marco Rubio said was "a designated narco-terrorist organization." The Trump administration says 11 "terrorists" were killed in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This ought to raise several red flags. There is no evidence, aside from the Trump administration's claims, that the boat was carrying drugs. Even if it was, drug trafficking is not a capital offense and does not carry the death penalty. Even if it did, courts and juries and legal processes would be the proper way to enforce that punishment. The president does not have the authority to assassinate suspected drug traffickers on the high seaseven if they are part of a claimed criminal gang. If Trump wants that power, he should ask Congress for a declaration of war against Venezuela or for an authorization for the use of military force against gangs operating in the region. Congress has not authorized military hostilities against Venezuela. There's no exception permitting unilateral action because it's "drugs" or "terrorism" or a "designated organization." The "peace president" strikes again. https://t.co/WiO0NP2YwB Justin Amash (@justinamash) September 2, 2025 Scenes from the trade war: Yikes. ISM: "US manufacturing contracted for a sixth straight month in August as factories dealt with the fallout from the Trump administration's import tariffs, with some manufacturers describing the current business environment as 'much worse than the Great Recession'" Brutal: pic.twitter.com/x7DQirmdPh Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) September 2, 2025 Extra yikes. The argument is: We're all meant to sacrifice a bit, so that tariffs can help rebuild American manufacturing. Let's ask American manufacturers whether they're helping. pic.twitter.com/UWWmjKcWXe Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) September 2, 2025 QUICK HITS Rep. Thomas Massie (RKy.) is still pushing for a House vote on releasing all of the Department of Justice's files on Jeffrey Epstein, despite efforts by some Republican leaders to block the vote. "It seems to be very out of character for [Speaker of the House Mike Johnson] to cover up for sex trafficking ring. But that's, that is what's happening right now," Massie told Politico. The U.S. Space Command will be relocated from Colorado to Alabama because President Donald Trump is mad about mail-in votingno, I don't understand the connection either. A federal court has struck down a California law that banned AI-generated political satire. Polish President Karol Nawrocki arrives in Washington, D.C., for a visit. His position is described by The New York Times as "largely ceremonial," and wow, that sounds like a great idea. Venmo me! lol, I just noticed that "digital content creators" are included in the "no tax on tips" rule. I wonder how this changes the Substack business model! pic.twitter.com/uSB03UeOWW Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) September 2, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post 'We're Going In' appeared first on Reason.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The West Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office is warning residents about a financially devastating scam that can cost victims their life savings. According to the sheriffs office, scammers contact victims by phone, text, email, or alarming computer pop-ups. They pretend to be from government agencies, banks, or established tech companies such as Microsoft. The victims are then told that their accounts are frozen, hacked, or under investigation. The scammers then pressure them to withdraw their money and purchase gold bullion as the only way to protect their savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the gold is bought, a courier meets with the victims at their home or a selected location for the exchange. After the exchange, both the scammer and the gold disappear. Officials stress that no legitimate agency or bank will ask anyone to buy, set up a meeting location for exchange, or pressure you into making a quick financial decision. The sheriffs office urges anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up immediately. Avoid sharing personal information and confirm that the information is coming from a reputable bank or financial institution. Suspected scams should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and local law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana attorney general aims to restore death penalty for LSU students killer 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 parents of a 16-year-old West Hartford teenager who died by suicide last year have slammed the local school system, saying it failed to protect their son. Hall High School administrators ignored pleas about Lukas Oliver Schreibers perilous mental health and suspended him as captain of the swim team two weeks before his death, the teenagers mother, Heather Schreiber, said at a school board meeting Tuesday night. And the board refused to get involved, she said. We reached out to you for help, we asked for intervention, she told board members. You did not respond. Two weeks later my children and I found Lucas body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said administrators wrongly punished her son for an out-of-school incident while failing to investigate his complaints of being hit by another students friend. Her son had been struck by major depressive disorder early last year that was severe enough to require a Plan 504 agreement for disabilities accommodations, she said. But when he became embroiled in accusations and counter-accusations of out-of-school bullying last summer, a Hall administrator ignored her sons mental illness and suspended him as swim team captain, she said. People who act are often acting out because theyre hurt. All the discipline was punitive; youre taking somebody who is already struggling and youre isolating them, taking things away from them instead of something restorative, she told The Courant outside the meeting room. I want to see adminstrators trained in dealing with students who are in crisis, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a month before her son was to begin his senior year, a Hall administrator suspended him from all extracurricular activities for six weeks and from any leadership positions for a half-year, she said. He would have lost his swim team captincy, which was the only thing he found good in his life at that time, she said. Holger Schreiber, the boys father, complained that the school system showed no interest in whether Hall administrators mishandled his sons situation. By not acting and allowing this to happen, you sent a message that its OK to have this happen in West Hartford or in another school district, he told the board. When this happens again and the parents of a child who hurts themself ask you why you didnt act, how will you answer those questions? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither the board nor Superintendent Paul Vicinus directly responded to the Schreibers remarks; typically, school boards in Connecticut listen to public comment at open meetings but do not answer questions or address allegations. As Tuesday nights session opened at town hall, board Chairwoman Lorna Thomas-Farquharson made clear that there would be no specific response to remarks from the public. We understand that some parents and community members may wish to speak about concerns involving individual students. Please know that when this happens, the board and superintendent cannot respond publicly, she said. This is not out of disregard but because we are legally bound by state and federal laws to protect the privacy of all students. Thomas-Farquharson also reminded the audience that school boards supervise the superintendent and set policy, but dont get involved in classroom issues or day-to-day staff management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a week earlier, Heather Schreiber had announced on social media that shed be raising questions at the boards monthly meeting. We have met many hard-working and outstanding teachers and administrators over the last 11 years in West Hartford, but we are simply speechless over the carelessness and ignorance we experienced over the last year, she wrote on a West Hartford community page on Facebook. We simply expect a level of accountability, acknowledgement that mistakes were made and a plan to correct these going forward, Schreiber wrote, saying she and her family had met with unproductive meetings with the superintendent and board chair after her sons death on Aug. 9, 2024. We experienced nothing but disregard for our concerns. Our very specific questions were answered with silence. Heather Schreiber said she wanted the board to find out why Halls then-principal insisted on a summertime disciplinary meeting while her family was in the midst of dealing with her sons mental health crisis. She said her son had just been to the hospital after a suicide threat; she feared the meeting would worsen his condition and he was too despondent to get out of bed, so she attended by herself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In tears I begged the principal not to take away Lucas leadership position, I feared it would put him further into despair. The response was cold: unless new evidence was presented, Lukas would be found guilty, she said. There would be no opportunity to come back when he felt better. At the same time, she said, a verbal and physical attack against her son was never investigated. When the so-called bullying investigation was concluded, Lukas felt betrayed and felt he would never get a fair chance at Hall High School, she wrote in her Facebook post. He killed himself two weeks later. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) West Jordan City issued a shelter-in-place order near 1900 W and 7300 S. After several hours, one suspect was killed. According to the West Jordan Police Department, there was an active police presence in the area of 1900 west and 7300 south due to an armed individual. Three blocks are affected in any direction from the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Chief Jeremy Robertson says that West Jordan Police Department received a call around 5:15 p.m. that an individual was armed and possibly threatening other people inside a residence in the area. I know the homeowner. He was renting out some rooms to others. He was in the home last night, and a friend of one of the renters came in, stated a neighbor, Van Walther, I guess there was some sort of heated discussion. Reportedly, several responding officers had responded to the same residence during previous incidents, according to Deputy Chief Robertson. Initially, multiple people were inside the home. However, before law enforcement arrived, everyone besides the suspect and a female had left the residence. Law enforcement began negotiations with the suspect and reported that the other individual came outside sometime during negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Chief Robertson said that they would continue negotiations until it no longer seemed like negotiations would be successful or until the suspect left the home. After several hours of efforts to get the suspect to surrender, negotiations stopped. West Jordan Police Department received and executed a search warrant to enter the home. They were able to make entry and reported that shots were fired around 9:20 p.m. The suspect was shot during this incident and died as a result of those injuries. However, this remains an active investigation and police have not yet confirmed exactly how events transpired. The shelter-in-place has been lifted, though restrictions remain in place for a clearly marked area directly near the residence, as it is an active crime scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officer Ramirez, with the West Jordan Police Department, emphasized the importance of adhering to shelter-in-place operations and said it helps protect the public and law enforcement. He says that the shelter-in-place, in addition to drone activity and establishing a perimeter, are all standard protocol to ensure public safety and to gather as much information as possible. 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. West Palm Beach city leaders have postponed a decision on whether to approve street signs along Southern Boulevard renaming it for President Donald Trump. A city commission vote was scheduled for the bodys Sept. 2 meeting, but City Administrator Faye Johnson announced at the meeting that the vote was being pulled for further staff analysis. It wasnt clear when a new vote would be scheduled, but the decision delays, for now, a potentially divisive vote on whether to allow road markers along a 4-mile stretch of Southern that designate it as President Donald J. Trump Boulevard. The Presidential motorcade travels west along Southern Blvd. as it heads to the main branch of the Palm Beach County library on Summit Blvd. in West Palm Beach, Saturday, October 24, 2020. President Donald J. Trump cast his ballot for the 2020 presidential election at the library this morning. (Joe Forzano, The Palm Beach Post) Mayor Keith James administration had wanted commissioners to approve the renaming quietly and without debate, originally placing the item on the commissions consent agenda. All items on the consent agenda are approved with a single vote and no discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Commissioner Shalonda Warren asked last week for the item to be remove from the consent agenda, allowing for the possibility of debate, discussion and a formal vote. Commissioner Cathleen Ward added that she wanted more information about commissioners role in approving the renaming, prompting James to agree to have city staff make a public presentation before the vote. Opponent: Don't name Southern Boulevard for Trump, a 'convicted felon' President Donald Trump waves to supporters from the presidential motorcade before crossing the Southern Boulevard Bridge in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday, March 25, 2018. (ANDRES LEIVA/PALM BEACH POST) Four area residents who expected a vote came to the Sept. 2 meeting to speak out against the name change. This president is a convicted felon, 34 times convicted felon, Mikki Royce of Lake Worth Beach told commissioners. And the last time I checked, we are not in the habit of honoring convicted felons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State and county leaders have already approved renaming the easternmost part of Southern as President Donald J. Trump Boulevard. But under state rules, changing road markers also requires approval by the cities that the stretch of road runs through West Palm Beach and Palm Beach. Palm Beach town council members preliminarily approved the renaming in August and are scheduled for a final vote this month. The stretch of Southern to be renamed runs from Trumps Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach through West Palm Beach to the Palm Beach International Airport, mirroring the path the president takes to his home after arriving at the airport on Air Force One. Andrew Marra is a reporter at The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at amarra@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach leaders postpone vote on renaming road for Trump A Westmoreland County man has pleaded guilty to trafficking fentanyl and heroin in federal court, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. Kevin Watson, 36, of Arnold, admitted to possessing with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and 100 grams of heroin. The guilty plea follows his arrest on April 26, 2019, after a high-speed chase with Pennsylvania State Police. During the traffic stop, Watson fled with a child in the back seat, reaching speeds of 115 mph before crashing and fleeing on foot. The child was left alone but was not seriously injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search of Watsons vehicle revealed over $100,000 worth of fentanyl and heroin in the trunk. Watsons criminal history includes three previous drug trafficking convictions, and he was on parole at the time of the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2026, with potential penalties including a minimum of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence, fostering community trust, and supporting violence prevention initiatives. Watson remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending his sentencing. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW 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: Crunch helps immune cells recognize and remove harmful cells by connecting them directly to specific targets, guiding the body's natural clean-up process. Credit: Mindy Takamiya / Kyoto University iCeMS A team of scientists at Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) has created a protein-based therapeutic tool that could change the way we treat diseases caused by harmful or unnecessary cells. The new tool, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, involves a synthetic protein called Crunch, short for Connector for Removal of Unwanted Cell Habitat. Crunch uses the body's natural waste removal system to clear out specific target cells, offering hope for improved treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other diseases where harmful cells cause damage. Every day, billions of our body's cells naturally die as part of normal processes. These dead cells are quickly cleaned up by immune cells called phagocytes. Phagocytes act like microscopic vacuum cleaners, spotting dying cells by detecting an "eat me" signal on their surface. Once they recognize that signal, they surround and digest the dead cells in a process called "phagocytosis" or more specifically "efferocytosis." "What we've done is take that natural cleaning system and reprogram it to target living cells that shouldn't be there," explains the study's first author, Mr. Yuki Yamato of the Graduate School of Biostudies at Kyoto University. "We built Crunch by modifying a protein called protein S, which normally helps phagocytes recognize dead cells. But instead of binding to dead cells, we gave Crunch the ability to recognize specific living cells we want to remove, like cancer cells or overactive immune cells in autoimmune diseases." To do this, the researchers replaced the part of Protein S that detects dying cells with a kind of sensor that can recognize unique surface proteins found only on unwanted cells. These sensors can be designed in an order-made way to target almost any type of cell. Once Crunch binds to its chosen target, it connects that cell to the phagocytes, which then engulf and break it down. Crunch works like a high-precision delivery tag. It doesn't kill the cells directly. Instead, it labels them in a way that tricks the immune system into thinking they are ready for removal. This makes the body itself clear them out, using processes it already relies on every day. Professor Jun Suzuki, from iCeMS at Kyoto University, who led the study, describes how they tested the new system. "In mice, we used Crunch to get rid of cancer cells that were made to express specific cell surface proteins, so we could track them," says Suzuki. "We also used it to eliminate certain immune cells in a model of lupus, a disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissue. In both cases, the harmful cells were successfully cleared, and signs of disease were reduced." The new tool could prove to be helpful for treating certain illnesses. Many current treatments, like CAR-T cell therapy or antibody-based drugs, are useful, but they also have certain limitations. In the case of CAR-T, blood cells are collected from the patient, modified in the lab, and then put back. Crunch, on the other hand, is a protein-based therapy that could potentially be delivered through a simple injection. Because Crunch's targeting sensor can be modified depending on the disease, it acts like a customizable platform. "We think this could become a new kind of therapy that can be adapted to many conditions. We can also adopt the targeting sensors from antibodies and CAR-T. It's the ecosystem for the various therapeutic tools," says Suzuki. The team is now working to make Crunch safer, easier to produce, and more effective in real-life settings. With further research, this technique could open the door to a new generation of treatments that help the body clean up harmful cells in a precise and natural way. More information Phagocytic clearance of targeted cells with a synthetic ligand, Nature Biomedical Engineering (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41551-025-01483-9 Journal information: Nature Biomedical Engineering WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) Doogie Sandtiger, otherwise known as the Croc King, was honored in his hometown of Wethersfield. Sandtiger received a proclamation to celebrate setting the Guinness world record for the largest collection of Crocs. PHOTO: Manchester firefighters rescue rabbits from storm drain Wethersfield Mayor Ken Lesser (D) also named Sept. 2 as Croc King Doogie Day. Its just amazing and its proof that long game and consistency, and if you just work at something, just one day at a time it all leads to a good path, and good road and positivity, Sandtiger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Croc King also said he will be donating his Guinness world record plaque to the town. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Wetherspoons locations across England have stopped accepting Scottish 20 and 50 notes, the hospitality giant has announced. The pub chain said warnings of counterfeit cash being used by criminal gangs has required them to act. It has been revealed that customers have not been able to use the cash since November, with JD Wetherspoon not publicising the decision. However, more people beginning to complain about the change has brought the change to light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said said: We were notified by the Bank of England last October that a large number of fake Scottish 20 notes were being put into circulation by organised crime gangs. He added: "Advice was given as to how to identify them, but with a warning not to accept if in doubt. This warning, coupled with an increase in the receipt of fake notes in pubs, led to a decision in late November last year not to accept Scottish 20 notes." Wetherspoon locations across England have stopped accepting Scottish 20 and 50 notes (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Wire) Scottish 50 notes are not accepted for the same reason. We will continue to keep this decision under review." However, English pubs with close links to Scotland , and pubs in Scotland, will still be accepting the cash, Mr Gershon added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision was criticised by Campaign for Cash spokesperson Martin Quinn, who says chains should have checks in places to detect fake notes instead of refusing to accept them. "All notes carry various security features, and are much more secure than the old paper notes," he told Sky News. "It's really not ideal if you have Scottish or Northern Irish notes and can't spend them; they become worthless, unless you are heading back to Scotland." JD Wetherspoon reported a strong return in its latest update, with a 5.1 per cent increase in sales for the three months ending 20 July compared to the previous year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pub groups says sales volumes have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels after earlier concerns about a sluggish recovery across its estate. A rebound in breakfast sales and high draught sales particularly of Guinness were two of the key drivers behind the uptick. The chain is now expecting to meet its profit forecasts for the year, despite warning of higher operating costs following Labours decision last Autumn to increase employer National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage. As of September 1, 2025, the sale of lab-grown meat has been banned in Texas for two years as part of Senate Bill 261. The law states that a person may not manufacture, process, possess, distribute, offer for sale, or sell cell-cultured protein. Although its production and use were not widespread in the state, some believe its ban violates peoples constitutional rights, impacting what consumers can and cant purchase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas ban on cultivated meat is a classic example of special interest legislation, Paul Sherman, senior attorney at The Institute of Justice, told The Dallas Morning News. The law has nothing to do with public health and safety, and everything to do with protecting the powerful agriculture lobby from innovative out-of-state competition. Cattle ranchers were the most vocal supporters of the law, who saw the ban as a way to protect the industry. Ranchers across Texas work tirelessly to raise healthy cattle and produce high-quality beef, said Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association president Carl Ray Polk Jr. in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our association is grateful for those legislators who voted to support this legislation and understood the core of this bill, to protect our consumers, the beef industry and animal agriculture. Sherman is the lead attorney in a lawsuit against a similar ban in Florida. He said that if a federal court rules in their favor, the same arguments will apply to Texas. We are hopeful that the courts will stand up for the right of consumers to choose for themselves what foods they want to eat, Sherman said. The Texas Tribune reported that Otoko, an Austin restaurant, was the only one in Texas selling lab-grown meat. In the midst of seasonal rising COVID-19 cases in the United States, the Trump administration is restricting vaccine access, limiting who may be eligible for a shot. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency use authorization, which made COVID-19 vaccines widely available during the pandemic. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted about the revocation on Aug. 27. Now, only those who are at risk for serious complications because they are 65 or older or have other health problems are eligible for the shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FDA has now issued marketing authorization for those at higher risk: Moderna (6+ months), Pfizer (5+), and Novavax (12+), Kennedy said in the post. These vaccines are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors. Vaccines are available to anyone who seeks them, but there will be more barriers, including needing a prescription or extra associated costs, according to a CBS report. The news of the vaccine restrictions comes as the next wave of coronavirus cases rises in Tennessee and across the United States. The end of summer historically coincides with the annual rise of COVID-19 cases, according to CDC data. Annual data shows COVID-19 test positivity and the number of deaths spike in the late summer and again in winter. Last season, COVID-19 deaths peaked at 1,358 on Aug. 31, 2024, and 1,047 on Jan. 11. Similar spikes happened in September 2023 and January 2024, according to the data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what Tennesseans should know about COVID-19 in the Volunteer State, the new Variant XFG and where to get vaccinated. Can you still get a COVID-19 vaccine? Yes, but unless you are 65 and older or have at least one underlying condition, you'll have to consult with your doctor. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary wrote on X that 100% of adults can get the vaccine if they choose, though experts warn that removing emergency use authorization could make it harder for some to get it. In an Aug. 27 statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics called the decision "deeply troubling" ahead of the upcoming respiratory virus season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The AAP recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for all children ages 6 months through 23 months and any parent who wants their child vaccinated should have access to this vaccine." What is the new COVID variant? The newest strand of coronavirus is known as Variant XFG or "Stratus." Variant XFG was first detected in Southeast Asia in January but accounted for few cases in the United States until May, reported USA TODAY. By late June, it was estimated to account for up to 14% of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID symptoms August 2025 There is no evidence that the new COVID-19 variant will cause any unusual symptoms, according to USA TODAY. Here are the general coronavirus symptoms, according to the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Sore throat Congestion or runny nose New loss of taste or smell Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Flu symptoms August 2025 The flu and COVID-19 share many common symptoms. The CDC identifies these specifically as the trademark symptoms of the flu: Fever or feeling feverish/chills (but not everyone with the flu will have a fever) Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Headaches Fatigue Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults. Where can I get a flu or COVID-19 shot in Knoxville? COVID-19 vaccines are available at CVS, Walgreens, Kroger Pharmacy, Publix and more, according to EasyVax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connect Reporter Diana Leyva contributed to this report. Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at knoxnews.com/subscribe. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: COVID-19 in Tennessee: Are there new COVID-19 vaccine restrictions? It's been more than seven months since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements plans to move its Milwaukee offices sparked criticism from local elected officials and immigrants' rights advocates. Now, renovations are moving forward at ICEs new building on Milwaukee's northwest side, and the federal government has signed a year-long lease extension at its current downtown Milwaukee office. Heres what to know about the move: Where are ICEs current Milwaukee offices? ICE has been based at 310 E. Knapp Street in downtown Milwaukee since 2001. The Milwaukee School of Engineering has owned the building since 2023 and leases it to ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICEs lease was set to expire in April, but the school recently granted a one-year lease extension, according to MSOE spokeswoman JoEllen Burdue. The lease extension was first reported by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Burdue said the government has the option to extend the lease further to 2028. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, was also housed in the building until October 2024, when it moved to another downtown location at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave. Both agencies are under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. USCIS handles visas and naturalization, while ICE deals with immigration enforcement. What is ICEs downtown Milwaukee building used for? At the Knapp Street office, immigrants facing deportation meet with ICE staff for check-in appointments, and immigrant detainees are processed to be transported to other facilities. It is not organized to hold people overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detention data from the Vera Institute of Justice, which collected daily immigration detainee totals from federal open records requests, shows that the Knapp Street office is holding more detainees during the day on average than it did during the Biden administration. During the first two months of the fiscal year October and November 2024 the Knapp Street office held an average of 0.3 people a day. That is to say, it held zero people most days. In the last two months of available data early April to early June it held an average of about 2 people. Four times in early summer, its detainee count hit double-digits. One day in early June, it held 22 people. Three days later, it held 17. None stayed overnight. What are the plans for ICEs downtown office space? Since MSOE purchased the property in 2023, ICE has been planning to move into a business park on Milwaukees northwest side and MSOE had been intending to remodel the building into classrooms to house its Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those classrooms will now be located in the new Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center, which is under construction. The addition of the innovation center means that "we dont have immediate plans for the building at 310 E. Knapp St.," Burdue said in an email. Where does ICE intend to move? ICE is moving into a business park at 11925 West Lake Park Drive, on Milwaukees far northwest side. The timeline for opening was not clear. City records over the last few months show standard building permits have been filed as renovations continue at that site. Will ICE operate out of both buildings? Its unclear. Burdue, the MSOE spokesperson, said ICE requested a one-year extension for the current downtown office space, as opposed to a long-term lease contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milwaukee Ald. Robert Bauman, whose district includes the Knapp Street building, said he was told that ICE extended its lease, but he did not know why, and he has received no updates on the move since a February zoning committee meeting. Representatives for both ICE and the General Services Administration, which handles federal real estate properties, referred a reporter to the other agency for comment. ICE did not answer follow-up questions about whether the agency planned to operate out of both buildings. Representatives for the developer of the new offices, Illinois-based WD Schorsch, which owns properties leased to federal government agencies, did not respond to a request for comment. What will the new ICE building be used for? According to ICEs 2023 development proposal, the site will be used to process detainees before they are transported to holding facilities elsewhere. It will also process people who are not detained but need to go to check-in appointments for their deportation cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility will have an 8-foot-tall privacy fence and a sally port, which is a secure entryway like those used in jails. Despite early characterizations of the site as a detention facility, records from the city's zoning committee indicate it will be a processing center where immigrants are not held overnight and are soon taken elsewhere. Employees would not commonly work on-site after 5 p.m. The offices would occupy about 17,000 square feet of the 32,000-square foot building, according to the proposal. Where does ICE hold detainees overnight in Wisconsin? Dodge County Jail is ICEs only detention facility in Wisconsin. Unlike ICEs downtown office, it holds detainees overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jail's daily headcount has remained steady since the fall, with about 105 to 106 immigration detainees a day. The Waukesha County Jail holds certain inmates overnight for ICE as part of an agreement with the agency. Its ICE detainee population has increased in recent months, from a daily average of 0.2 inmates in the fall to 3.2 inmates in early summer. Other local jails in Wisconsin also occasionally hold people for ICE. To support the Trump administrations nationwide immigration enforcement efforts, Congress approved $170 billion in additional funding to turbocharge immigration and border enforcement through 2029. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE is looking to rapidly expand its detention capacity as part of that effort. Sophie Carson is a general assignment reporter who reports on religion and faith, immigrants and refugees and more. Contact her at scarson@gannett.com or 920-323-5758. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about ICE's move from downtown Milwaukee to new site The arrest of Graham Linehan, the creator of Father Ted, was a departure from democracy, Donald Trumps state department has said. The Irish TV comedy writer was detained by five armed police officers at Heathrow airport on Monday after mocking trans people in three social media posts. The Met Police said a man was detained after arriving on a flight from the United States on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to posts on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Curbs on free speech in Europe and the UK are overly broad and restrict expression, the US state department said following Linehans arrest. The 57-year-old, an outspoken critic of transgender ideology, said he was treated like a terrorist and locked up for 12 hours. The case marks the latest example of police investigating questionable online remarks, potentially at the cost of focusing on more serious crimes. Credit: The Glinner Update / Substack Addressing concerns about Linehans arrest, a state department spokesman told The Telegraph: The United States believes that protecting freedom of expression is critical to any democratic, self-governing nation this includes protecting voices that challenge the status quo or the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European censorship efforts represent a fundamental departure from the very democratic values to which European governments are committed and that ought to underpin our close relationship. It is the latest instance of growing disquiet within the Trump administration over freedom of expression coming under threat in Europe and the UK. The state department said that restrictions on content deemed offensive or harmful in the UK, under the Online Harms Bill, undermine the basis for democratic governance. Vague prohibitions against grossly offensive or harmful content are overly broad and restrict protected expression, including political, religious, and civic speech, the spokesman added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, Linehan wrote: If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls. In another, he shared an image of a trans Pride march, captioned: An image you can smell. He followed up that post with the comment: I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F--- em. Referring directly to the posts, the state department spokesman added: This speech is neither threat nor violence but the basis for democratic governance in free societies. On Wednesday, Nigel Farage, the Reform Party leader, gave evidence to Congress in Washington, where he raised Mr Linehans case and the increasing role of the police in non-crime hate incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also discussed the case of Lucy Connolly, who was jailed for 10 months over a social media post in the wake of the murder of three girls in Southport by Axel Rudakubana in July 2024. The 42-year-old, who was locked up for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers, has said she was made to be Sir Keir Starmers political prisoner. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, testifies before a hearing on European threats to American free speech in Washington - Nathan Howard/reuters Speaking ahead of his appearance before Congress, Mr Farage said: Free speech is under assault and I am urging the USA to be vigilant. The 61-year-old testified before the House judiciary committee, which is assessing the effect that British and European online safety laws have on US tech giants. Critics say the draconian European laws threaten Americans rights to speak freely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, the committee said it was shocked by the findings of a US delegation sent to Brussels and London last month to investigate the targeting of free speech. It said it found the levels of censorship shocking. During his August visit, JD Vance, the vice president, warned Britain not to go down the very dark path of censorship and told David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, the West had become too comfortable with censoring rather than engaging with other opinions. 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. UPDATED STORY: Whitman police announce that they have located 18-year-old Lexton Tobiaz safe and sound. We are grateful to our public safety partners throughout Plymouth County who assisted in this search for the past two days, Whitman Police wrote on their Facebook page. We couldnt do it without them! ORIGINAL STORY: Whitman Police are seeking the publics help in locating a missing 18-year-old male. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lexton Tobiaz was reported missing after leaving his home around 3L30 a.m. on September 3. Tobiaz is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with short reddish hair. He was last seen wearing an olive green hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and olive green Nautica shoes. He was last seen carrying a navy North Face backpack and a small Adidas duffle bag. Whitman Police believe there is concern for Tobiazs well-being. Whitman Police, along with local authorities and the SEMLEC Search & Rescue Team, are actively searching for Tobiaz. Anyone who might know of Tobiazs whereabouts is asked to contact the Whitman Police Department immediately at 781-447-1212. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW If you've been a fan of the self-checkout lanes at Aldi, their days may be numbered. Although the company has not officially commented on the matter, Aldi customers nationwide have recently reported that the self-checkouts are disappearing at their local stores. Without official comment from Aldi, it's unknown exactly how many locations are affected, but it doesn't seem to be a universal policy. "My nearest store just got them," said one Reddit user, raising the question of why Aldi would so quickly reverse itself in such situations. And many other Aldis never had them at all. While one customer reported being told that it was just the end of a two-year trial period that Aldi declined to extend, the common assumption online is that widespread theft is to blame. "Thieves ruin it for everyone," complained one Reddit user. Another Reddit user in Chicago relayed that "an employee said some days they lost up to $7k in inventory." Of course, this is all speculative since Aldi has yet to make a public announcement about a change many are reporting seeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 13 Of The Most Underrated Aldi Products Self-Checkouts, Shoplifting, And Labor Costs Three square Aldi signs in a row, mounted on a gray wall - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Aldi's self-checkouts are beloved by some, even though you still have to ask an Aldi employee to apply discounts to your order. On Reddit, one customer said they were initially skeptical about Aldi self-checkout versus its quick cashiers, "but when there's 6 self checkout lanes open compared to 1 or 2 staffed lanes, it makes a huge difference." This highlights another issue in the mix: labor costs. Stores that rely more on self-checkout often do so to cut hours or reduce staff, thereby spending less money on labor. But as Aldi is apparently learning, increases in theft can follow reductions in staff hours. Other stores have grappled with self-checkout shoplifting. Costco's self-checkout leaves a lot to be desired because of onerous ID requirements, which are meant to deter shoplifting. And Aldi's corporate sibling Trader Joe's doesn't have self-checkout at all because of its cashiers' signature personal touch. Maybe Aldi can learn a thing or two. Hungry for more? Sign up for the free Daily Meal newsletter for delicious recipes, cooking tips, kitchen hacks, and more, delivered straight to your inbox. Read the original article on The Daily Meal. The worlds leading genocide scholars have declared that Israels war on Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide. The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) passed a resolution on Monday, adding to the chorus of countries, rights groups and other bodies that believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has killed more than 63,500 people and wounded more than 160,000 in its war on Gaza. During the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, 1,139 people were killed, and about 200 were taken captive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres all you need to know about the declaration and the body making it. What was announced, and who announced it? The IAGS, a 500-member body of academics founded in 1994, is the worlds leading association of genocide scholars. Eighty-six percent of IAGS members voted in favour of a resolution stating that Israels policies and actions in Gaza fulfil the definition of genocide set out in the 1948 United Nations Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This is a definitive statement from experts in the field of genocide studies that what is going on on the ground in Gaza is genocide, Melanie OBrien, IAGS president and professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, told Reuters on Monday. How is genocide defined under international law? The 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as: Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Killing members of the group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Israel has destroyed 90 percent of housing infrastructure in Gaza since October 2023 [Sima Diab/EPA] What did IAGS base their decision on? In short, IAGS based its decision on the United Nations Genocide Convention. It also declared that Israels policies and actions in Gaza constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity as defined in international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Among the Israeli crimes the resolution pointed to were indiscriminate and deliberate attacks against the civilians and civilian infrastructure (hospitals, homes, commercial buildings, etc.) of Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IAGS recognised several acts by Israel against Palestinians, including: torture, arbitrary detention, sexual and reproductive violence, deliberate attacks on medical professionals, humanitarian aid workers, and journalists, deliberately depriving people of food, water and medicine, displacing 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, demolishing more than 90 percent of the housing infrastructure, killing entire multi-generational families, and maiming or injuring more than 50,000 children. The IAGS also referred to comments made by Israeli officials and a plan first floated by US President Donald Trump and backed by the Israeli government to expel Palestinians from Gaza as further evidence that the criteria for genocide have been met. You can read the full resolution here (PDF). How is this resolution significant? The decision may not singularly push anybody into action, but it adds to the chorus of internal organisations, human rights groups, and experts declaring Israels war on Gaza a genocide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the worlds leading body of genocide scholars, the IAGS resolution has already received much attention from the mainstream media. Still, the UN and many Western nations say they will only consider it a genocide if a court rules it to be so. The UNs top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering South Africas case that argues Israel is committing genocide, but a decision is not expected before 2027. South Africa has brought a case before the ICJ, but a ruling is not expected before 2027 [Johanna Geron/Reuters] How has Israel responded to the announcement? The Israeli government called the decision disgraceful. The IAGS has set a historic precedent for the first time, Genocide Scholars accuse the very victim of genocide despite Hamass attempted genocide against the Jewish people, Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. A Palestinian youth mourns by the body of a relative killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza City at dawn, at the al-Shifa hospital on September 2, 2025 [Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP] What position has the UN taken on this issue? The UN has repeatedly denounced Israels actions in Gaza, but has not officially said it is a genocide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, hundreds of UN staffers wrote to High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, asking him to explicitly label it a genocide. Turk has yet to do so. Labelling of an event as a genocide is up to a competent legal authority, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told Reuters. Turk aside, the United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories found Israels war methods consistent with genocide as far back as November 2024. A month earlier, in October 2024, UN experts called on the global community to examine their relationships and avoid being complicit in this crime being committed by Israel on the Palestinian people in Gaza, adding, It is important to call a genocide a genocide. What is the situation in Gaza? Dire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has killed more than 63,000 people since October 2023, and some two million Palestinians have been displaced. Much of the Gaza Strip is in ruins after repeated bombings by the Israeli military, and Israel has now called up thousands of reservists for a new offensive on Gaza City. On August 29, the UN said the descent into a massive famine had begun in Gaza. Israel is also targeting journalists, in what media freedom groups say is an effort to suppress the reality on the ground in Gaza from reaching the outside world. 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: Study team researcher reviewing patient immune test results. Credit: Duke-NUS Medical School Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School, in collaboration with researchers in Nepal, have found that waning immunity to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) may increase the risk of more severe dengue disease in humans. Published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the study highlights how fading vaccine protection from one virus can unintentionally affect the body's response to another. Japanese encephalitis is a serious disease that kills about 25% of those who develop severe symptoms and can leave many survivors with long-term disabilities. Dengue is also a major public health concern as the fastest-growing mosquito-borne viral disease worldwide, capable of causing severe illness and even death, with cases rising rapidly across Nepal in recent years. Fortunately, Japanese encephalitis can be prevented through vaccination, and countries like Nepal have made significant progress with mass immunization campaigns. However, dengue prevention still primarily depends on mosquito control and personal protection measures. Although JEV vaccination generates high antibody levels, immunity can decrease over time, especially without booster doses. The researchers examined over 500 patients across five years in Nepal, one of the few countries where both JEV and dengue are both actively spreading. The team discovered that people who had been vaccinated against JEV in the past, but whose antibody levels had declined, were more likely to experience more severe symptoms when they later contracted dengue. Those with strong JEV immunity were not affected in this way. Dr. Sidharth Malhotra, of the Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases at DukeNUS Medical School, and the study's lead author, explained, "We chose Nepal as a study site because it's one of the few countries where dengue is spreading quickly in a population that already has widespread immunity to another flavivirus, Japanese encephalitis. "This gave us a unique chance to see how prior immunity shapes dengue illness, and we found that people whose Japanese encephalitis immunity had waned were more likely to become severely ill from dengue." One important reason for this outcome appears to be a process known as antibody-mediated enhancement whereby partly effective antibodies backfire and make dengue worse. This happens when antibodies from a previous infection or vaccination are not strong enough to fully neutralize a different virus but still bind to it. These partially effective antibodies can help the dengue virus enter certain immune cells more easily, which may allow the virus to grow more rapidly and trigger a stronger immune response. That stronger immune reaction can cause greater inflammation, contributing to more severe symptoms. While this mechanism has been well studied in people with multiple dengue infections, the new study shows that it may also occur when immunity from a different but related virus like JEV declines. These findings offer new insights into how cross-reactive immunity between related viruses can shape health outcomes. The team of researchers assessed how severe the dengue illness became by measuring levels of chymase, a marker in the blood that increases during inflammation and is linked to more serious disease. They found that chymase levels were much higher in patients who had only moderate levels of JEV antibodies. These individuals were also more likely to show signs that dengue was becoming more dangerous, such as bleeding, stomach pain, and fluid leaking into surrounding tissues, which are all signs that suggest dengue is progressing towards its more dangerous forms. Associate Professor Ashley St John, of Duke-NUS Medical School's Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, who led the study, commented, "This discovery matters for countries like Nepal and across Asia where both viruses circulate. It also highlights the need to keep JEV protection strong, through well-timed booster shots, not only to prevent Japanese encephalitis itself but also to reduce the risk of severe dengue." Associate Prof Ashley thinks this knowledge could benefit millions of people living in regions where a JEV vaccination is required or travelers who need to take the JEV vaccine. "Maintaining strong JEV vaccine coverage and possibly introducing booster shots when needed could be a practical way to not only prevent JEV but also reduce the severity of dengue, helping protect populations in Asia where both viruses are present." The new findings are particularly relevant as climate change and urbanization increase the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Nepal has seen a rapid rise in dengue cases over the past decade, including in areas where the virus was not previously common. Changing weather patterns and expanding mosquito habitats are helping diseases like dengue reach new regions. Professor Patrick Tan, Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS, added, "Japanese encephalitis is a devastating disease that causes a much heavier health burden than dengue fever, which is usually less deadly but still dangerous. What makes Japanese encephalitis different is that it can be almost completely prevented with vaccination, while dengue still has no widely available vaccine. "This means that strengthening JEV vaccination programs by ensuring people develop and maintain strong, lasting protection has a double benefit." As part of their ongoing work, the team plans to monitor how dengue evolves in the region, particularly as more virus strains circulate and the population's immune landscape becomes more complex. They are also working with partners to model the most effective vaccination strategies to protect communities against dengue and related viral infections. More information Sidharth Malhotra et al, Dengue disease severity in humans is augmented by waning Japanese encephalitis virus immunity, Science Translational Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ads9572. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.ads9572 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine Georgias two senators have announced a Columbus organization will receive a $300,000 grant to help fight the opioid crisis. Sen. Jon Ossoff and Sen. Raphael Warnock announced Thursday $900,000 in federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration to three Georgia organizations, including the New Horizons Community Service Board in Columbus Like so many Georgians, Ive lost friends to the opioid epidemic, Ossoff said in a news release.. These resources, which Ive secured with bipartisan support, will fund efforts to prevent and treat addiction, save lives, and help address the opioid crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a pastor, Ive sat with families as theyve struggled with the anguish of a loved one suffering from addiction, Warnock said in the release. So I understand how the opioid epidemic has devastated communities across the country and impacted countless families right here in Georgia. Thats why I fought alongside Senator Ossoff to secure these federal funds to give our healthcare and treatment agencies all the tools they need to combat this epidemic. The Hospital Authority of Jenkins County and Medlink Georgia were awarded the other $300,000 grants. The federal funding will support a broad range of activities to address critical gaps in overdose prevention, treatment and recovery services for individuals struggling with opioid addiction, according to the release. In the last two days we have all seen how Left and Right have reversed their historic positions on the question of free speech. Yesterday Graham Linehan, the creator of the comedy classic Father Ted was arrested by five armed police when he landed at Heathrow on a flight from Arizona. The charge was transphobic tweets ones that had been posted while he was in the United States. He was given bail with the condition that he was not allowed to use X. This remarkable example of police and judicial overreach and disregard for free speech drew widespread condemnation, much of it from the Right and centre-Right. The government has also condemned the arrest but supported the laws under which it happened surely an unsustainable position. On the Left however there has been some support for Linehans arrest, most notably from the newly elected leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski. It seems from this and other incidents that support for free speech is now definitely Right-coded while the advocacy of censorship and regulation of speech and expression is clearly Left-coded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All this will leave those over thirty scratching their heads. Historically, from John Stuart Mill onwards, robust support for free expression of all kinds has been associated with the Left of politics and particularly the liberal Left. The traditional Right was associated with the argument that speech could, and should be, curtailed in the interests of public order and the upholding of shared and foundational social values and norms. These were the battle lines of the great debates over free speech in the 1960s and 1970s, pitting people like Peter Tatchell against opponents like Mary Whitehouse. Now it seems Left and Right have changed places. Most notably it is the liberal Left that is most associated with banning harmful speech. Free speech has gone from a central progressive value to being deeply suspect. How to explain this? One reason perhaps is that the establishment is always hostile to free expression and the cultural Left is now the establishment. Arguably we have had a religious transformation, in which Christianity has been replaced by a kind of identity politics as the public doctrine: offences against it count as blasphemy to be punished. Another major reason is a transformation in the concept or category of the Left. Its central meaning used to be an economic doctrine of egalitarianism and economic collectivism which was compatible with classical liberal ideas about expression. It now has become a cultural doctrine. It is founded on ideas around identity, and the need to criticise subordination and domination. Since language and speech are held to play a key part in this, they can and must be regulated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All this leaves believers in freedom of expression in a difficult place. Their historic home on the political Left is now inhospitable. Although many on the Right have now defended free speech in this case, they are often unreliable allies, as likely to support bans as to criticise them. Free expression is now embattled again; liberals in the widest sense of the term must rally to its support. 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. Ro Khanna would not be anyones idea of a likely ally to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The five-term Democrat, who represents Californias Silicon Valley, joined every other Democrat to strip Greene of her committee assignments just four years ago. But on Wednesday, Khanna was the only Democrat to join a press conference with Greene and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) joining a throng of survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse. Khanna is one of the two chief sponsors of the discharge petition to release files related to Epsteins criminal sex trafficking operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, two other Republicans have joined Massie and Khannas discharge petition. If it gets enough signatures, Khanna and Massie can force a vote and get around House Speaker Mike Johnsons attempts to block the release. The day before the press conference, The Independent spoke to Khanna in his office briefly to discuss why he decided to partner with Massie on the subject. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks during a news conference with victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3. Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) have introduced the Epstein List Transparency Act to force the federal government to release all unclassified records from the cases of Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. (Getty Images) How can we do big things like providing people with health care and child care and education if people don't trust government? he said. If people think government is only operating for the rich and the powerful, or that the government is being controlled by special interest forces? So restoring trust in government is key to making the argument that government can be a force for good in people's lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna is a progressive Democrat who endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. Hes came out early in support for a ceasefire in Gaza and ardently supports Medicare for All. For him, getting to the bottom of Epstein and the cover-up that allowed him to act with impunity is about restoring trust in government. But for Khanna, its also about reaching Trump voters where they are and seeing the Democratic Party not as one that just protects the status quo but as one that reforms it. The second thing is that a lot of people voted for Trump out of nihilism, out of despair, he said. They wanted to burn it all down, tear it all down, and they thought that this government has been corrupted, corrupted and working only for the rich and powerful. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have taken extraordinary measures to avoid the discharge petition. Shortly after the interview, the House Oversight Committee, on which Khanna sits, released 30,000 pages of information related to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Trump once again called the Epstein files a Democratic hoax. But Khanna insists the Epstein investigation is not partisan and had a message to his Republican colleagues. I'm not making this an issue that's anti-Trump, I'm making this an issue that's standing with survivors, that's protecting Americans kids, that's standing up for trust in government, Khanna said. Indeed, Khanna pointed out how many commentators and elected officials in the MAGA wing of the Republican Party have expressed anger ever since the FBI and Department of Justice released its two-page memo saying Epstein likely killed himself in prison and that no client list existed. Can you think of another issue where you had prominent peopleprominent MAGA supporters break with Trump? he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The push on Epstein comes as many Democratic voters want to see their elected leaders fight back against Trump and Republicans. But Khanna said how Democrats fight matters as much as fighting in and of itself. All of the base, which I agree with, they say fight, fight, fight, he said. But it's not fight to lose. It's fight smartly, fight strategically, fight in a way that's going to help us build a majority. Despite being a progressive Democrat who represents an area of the country that hosts several of the wealthiest companies and some of the highest earners, Khanna has tried to make inroads in places where Democrats once succeeded. Indeed, after Trumps win, he visited Ohio and even met with JD Vance. But Khanna said that he is disappointed in his fellow Yale Law School alumnus, with whom he has sparred on X, about racism against Indian-Americans given that Vance wife Usha and his in-laws are Indian-American. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He could have made a contribution in a constructive way, in my view, to Ohio, to the country, he said of Vance. And instead, he has chosen, for his own political advancement, to align himself with Donald Trump, who's interested in dividing us, who's demonizing immigrants like the parents of his own wife, who is giving tax breaks to the wealthy and doing nothing for the working and middle class who he champions. For Khanna, Trump and Vance are selling working-class Americans a bill of goods. Donald Trump took the rhetoric of FDR, right? Talking about forgotten men and women and all. And then decided to deliver for the economic royalist, he said in reference to four-term President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who led the nation out of the Great Depression and through much of World War II. But Democrats have a few opportunities on the horizon. In 14 months, voters will get a chance to pick the Democrats to control the House of Representatives instead of Republicans. In Texas, Republicans redrew their congressional map, which triggered Californias Gov. Gavin Newsom to call for a referendum to allow for a one-time redraw of the maps to counter gerrymandering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Khanna, Republicans gave Democrats the best campaign tool when they passed Trumps Big Beautiful Bill, which slashed Medicaid to pay for another round of tax cuts. That it is totally unfair, and it's leading to hospital closures, Khanna said. It's leading to people's premiums going up in healthcare because hospitals now are charging more to the private insurance. And I believe that we should make 2026 a referendum on this big, ugly bill. Before Amber Rudd was elected as a Conservative MP, she served as the aristocracy co-ordinator for Four Weddings and a Funeral. This entailed wrangling enough poshos to pack out the background of the Richard Curtis film, a role which earned her a brief cameo in one of the weddings. This is a sign, perhaps, of Rudds closeness to the life, instincts and priorities of the average voter. Yesterday, Rudd who served as Theresa Mays home secretary criticised Yvette Cooper for her plans to firm up Britains asylum system. A ban on refugees bringing family members, a tightened appeals process, the prospect of using warehouses to house asylum seekers all of this Speed up, speed up, Home Office, Rudd pronounced, is what leads to Windrush-type consequences. Ah, Windrush. Not only the name of the ship, and the hundreds of thousands of people who migrated from Caribbean Commonwealth countries to the UK, but of the scandal that led Rudd to resign from her post in the Home Office in 2018. Despite having the legal right to live in the UK, at least 83 Commonwealth citizens, resident in Britain for decades, were detained and deported. At the time, the policy was linked to the hostile environment policy presided over by Rudds predecessor as home secretary one Theresa May in which people without leave to remain were encouraged to voluntarily leave the country to reduce immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rudd specifically resigned over inadvertently misleading Parliament over whether her department had targets for removing illegals. The accusation was that the Home Office much like the Soviet secret police trying to bump up the numbers for Stalin had deportation targets that were encouraging them to go around rounding up Jamaican grannies to massage the figures. Cue a lot of hand-wringing, fumbled apologies, demands for compensation, pious Guardian op-eds, and a brief halt to Rudds onward march. Never fear she was back in the Cabinet by the years end. In suggesting Cooper might be heading for a similar bruising as herself, Rudd is showing sisterly concern from one female home secretary for another. But she is also demonstrating her tone-deafness. Yes, Windrush was a depressing moment for Britain, but not for the reasons the Lefty pearl-clutchers would suggest. First, because it highlighted the Home Offices serial incompetence; second, because it became a useful stick by which the usual suspects could beat any attempt to police Britains borders. We cant possibly tighten the system, minister. You dont want another Windrush. But unfortunately for Rudd, politics has fundamentally changed from the by-gone era in which we had to take her seriously. Reform want mass deportations. They have looked at Donald Trumps crackdown across the Atlantic, and decided Britain could do that too. As the government scrambles to shore up its right flank, there can be no time for Rudds haughty squeamishness especially when small boat crossings are running at a hundred times the rate when she was home secretary. Rudd might sympathises with Coopers desire to reduce asylum claims. But she appears to us now as a Tory coelacanth yesterdays woman. Rudd is a hangover from the age of the A-list, She was the fastest-rising politician to a Great Office of State, at the time, since the war. She was always treated as a big player and potential PM despite no obvious glittering achievements or electoral appeal. Rudds pronouncements can be safely ignored; perhaps she should return to finding toffs for wide shots. William Atkinson is the Assistant Content Editor at The Spectator 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. Ukrainian troops are using Latvian-built electric scooters to move quickly, quietly, and off-road. The scooters help them slip behind Russian lines and hear incoming drones better than on motorcycles. The small, nimble vehicles reflect Ukraine's scramble for new battlefield mobility. Ukraine's special operations forces and other front-line troops are using an unconventional ride for slipping past Russian lines, ferrying supplies, and dodging drones, a Baltic scooter maker says. The Mosphera military e-scooters used by Ukrainian operators are made by Latvian firm Global Wolf Motors, are about twice the size of a regular scooter, and have motorcycle tires, Klavs Asmanis, the founder and CEO, told Business Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These nimble, off-road e-scooters can hit 62 mph, cover up to 186 miles on a single battery charge, and weigh just 163 pounds, making them easier to handle than heavier bikes. Asmanis said they can make deliveries to the front lines, do reconnaissance in Russia-held territory, and quickly evacuate lightly wounded troops, among other missions, and Ukraine is putting them to work. The Mosphera scooter on display at a drone confernece in Latvia. Business Insider/Sinead Baker These atypical combat vehicles offer quiet mobility across varied terrain, but there aren't many of them in Ukraine, at least for the time being. Latvia, a NATO ally that borders Russia and a key Ukrainian partner nation, donated four scooters in 2023 alongside other equipment. Asmanis said Ukraine now has 11 of the scooters and that units have asked for more. It's unclear if it will receive additional scooters. Business Insider reached out to the Latvian defense ministry but did not receive a response on plans for future deliveries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scooters were initially designed for use on military bases, border patrol, and reconnaissance, but their use in Ukraine showed the company they had even more uses in real war. "We were surprised by what they were truly capable of," the CEO said. Ukrainian soldiers brought them to the front lines and inside occupied territory held by Russia. Asmanis said the scooters offer advantages over other vehicles being used in this war. For instance, they are smaller and lighter than traditional vehicles, they don't drown out the buzzing sound of drones, they're easier to quickly bail out of in an emergency, and the scooters don't require risking a car, truck, or other vehicle that could be packed with gear for other missions on quick, daring dashes. He said they excel in forested areas. "Its e-scooter-style wheelbase makes it easy to weave between trees" and trails, while its 163-pound weight "means that if it does get stuck, it's far easier to pull out compared to a motorcycle." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They're also far easier to hide when not in use, in bushes or under branches. A Global Wolf Motors video shows a soldier driving a Mosphera YouTube/Global Wolf Motors Scooter wars The combat scooters aren't unique to Ukrainian forces. The Russians have employed e-scooters in fast-moving, dispersed "scooter assaults." Ukrainian officers have said these tactics make it harder to take out large numbers of troops at once with drones or artillery, though they're far from unstoppable. Asmanis said his vehicles are better suited to conflict than typical e-scooters, describing them as "in the middle between scooter and motorcycle" because it has much larger wheels, like motorcycles do, than regular scooters. Scooter use reflects a broader shift in the war: both sides are scrambling for small, fast, flexible vehicles to supplement traditional combat machines. Troops have been turning to alternatives to systems like tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, though those are still used, and heading into battle in civilian pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), motorcycles, scooters, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troops have even ridden bicycles in this war. Rides like scooters are useful because they're relatively cheap, replaceable, and easy to hide, which is important in a conflict where larger, more expensive, and classically louder vehicles may be spotted and destroyed. But scooters also come with limitations. Riders are exposed, offering little to no protection beyond their personal kit from shrapnel, small-arms fire, or harsh weather. Electric scooters are also highly dependent on batteries, which may not perform as well under certain conditions. Ukraine needs vehicles Most vehicles come with drawbacks, though. Motorcycles are fast but noisy. Ukraine's Lt. Col. Pavlo Shamshyn, the spokesperson for the Kharkiv Group of Forces, said earlier this year that Russia's motorcycles proved advantageous for Ukraine because the loud noise drowned out the sound of incoming drones. Armored vehicles are protected and often feature heavy firepower, but these are also higher-priority targets. These multi-million-dollar systems have been wrecked by cheap drones throughout the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has been using whatever vehicles it can, from Western tanks like the American-made M1 Abrams to civilian pickup trucks equipped with .50 caliber machine guns. One Ukrainian unit created a motorcycle attack company earlier this year that is designed to quickly break through Russian positions. There's a constant demand for vehicles, both military and civilian, on both sides of the war, which is chewing through weaponry. Ukrainian military units and volunteer groups hold crowdfunding campaigns to get cars and other vehicles to soldiers, with some supporters buying them in other European countries and driving them into Ukraine. Scooters are just one of the options in the mix. Like small drones, militarized pickups, and other improvised gear, they underscore how Ukraine and Russia are adapting anything they can to survive this grinding fight. Read the original article on Business Insider BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Magic City is going emerald. The traveling production of the Popular musical Wicked moved into the BJCC Tuesday morning, transforming into the magical world One Short Day before the curtains open. The tale of two witches, Elphaba and Glinda, is one many have come to love. According to the American Theatre Guild, Wicked has been seen by more than 70 million people worldwide. This number does not include any who saw part one of the movie Wicked. The film is just helping the Broadway and the touring production along because there is something different about seeing it live, said Craig Aikman, the senior director of programming with American Theatre Guild. Theres an energy that happens with the cast coming back to the audience and the audience coming back to the case where it becomes this living, breathing entity when you see it in a theater as opposed to seeing it on a movie screen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other cool thing that I think people need to realize is that you got the first half of the film. The second half of the film is going to happen in November. But if you come to the BJCC to see the show, you get to see the whole thing, and you dont have to wait. The crew was Dancing Through Life Tuesday as around 100 locals joined in to help set the stage. Joseph Heaton, the assistant stage manager, said 13 trucks brought in everything the show needs from flooring to lights to set pieces and costumes. Some people will even have the chance to help backstage during the productions. Pretty much all of the heavy lifting is done by the local crew pushing scenery, moving things around, Heaton said. We even train 10 dressers every night that do all of the costume changes for the company members. They kind of learn it in about three or four hours, and then when we do the show that night, theyre on. Alabama leaders react to Space Command moving to Huntsville Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What has made Wicked a Broadway hit for the last 22 years? Its sort of an iconic show people love to see over and over again. Youre not going to be disappointed, said Blake Hammond, who plays the Wizard in the touring production. We have some great gals playing the witches, and its just such a great company of people and entertains people from six to 90. Its so topical for today, Heaton said. It talks a lot about not judging people based on how they look or their first impressions and how sometimes we can misjudge peoples intentions and what we think is good isnt always good and what we think is bad isnt always bad. How do tickets compare for Wicked in Birmingham versus Wicked on Broadway? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the Saturday night show in Birmingham, the cheapest seats are around $90 in the balcony as of Tuesday, but there are some orchestra seats available for under $100. The cheapest seats for the Saturday night show in New York are running just under $120 for the back mezzanine, with seats in the front orchestra around $280. Opening night for Wicked at the BJCC Concert Hall is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The show will run through Sept. 21. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tracy Lynn White, 48, has been charged with murder following the death of her husband, Dawendall White, who had been in the hospital with a gunshot wound since last month. The Troup County Sheriffs Office announced the charges on Wednesday, one day after Dawendall White died in the hospital. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: He had been found unresponsive and bleeding from his head just before 8 a.m. Aug. 11 at the familys home on Chipley Mountville Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tracy Lynn White was arrested Aug. 14 in Lee County, Alabama. Before the addition of the murder charge, she had faced multiple charges, including criminal attempt to commit murder, possession of a firearm during a crime and aggravated stalking. Tracy Lynn White had a previous arrest for aggravated assault and family violence in July, which contributed to the aggravated stalking charge, the Troup County Sheriffs Office said. The investigation into the shooting continues. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Firefighters are continuing to battle a wildfire that broke out in Passaic County on Tuesday, officials said. The Buckabear Wildfire has scorched 90 acres in West Milford Township, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in an update Wednesday. The blaze originated near the Clinton Reservoir Tuesday afternoon, and was 20% contained as of Wednesday morning. According to officials, overnight crews constructed containment lines and started backfire operations, which involve setting fires intentionally to consume fuel in a wildfires path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton Road remains closed between Goldfinch Lane and Van Orden Road, officials said. No structures have been impacted by the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, the fire service said. Stories by Rebecca Heath Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rebecca Heath may be reached at RHeath@njadvancemedia.com. Read the original article on NJ.com. A seven-member team led by Crown Prince associates explores a cooperation blueprint for post-Islamic Republic Iran. A high-level Iranian opposition delegation arrived in Israel this week to meet with security cabinet member and Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel, to participate in a Beyond the Horizon conference, looking ahead to a post-Islamic Republic Iran. The seven-member delegation, led by Dr. Saeed Ghasseminejad, an Iranian economist and senior financial economics advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), came to Israel at the behest of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and marks the latest phase of the Iran Prosperity Project, a comprehensive blueprint for rebuilding Iran following the fall of the current regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have come to Israel to see what kind of expertise, Israeli experts, what kind of solutions they have for the problems that Iran faces. For example, the water crisis," Ghasseminejad told The Jerusalem Post during a sitdown meeting in Tel Aviv. The visit marks a significant development in Iranian opposition outreach to Israel, following Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi's historic visit to the Jewish state two years ago. The delegation's mission centers on the "Cyrus Accords," a vision for comprehensive Iranian-Israeli cooperation named after the ancient Persian king who liberated the Jews from Babylonian exile 2,500 years ago. The Iran Prosperity Project, which involves more than 100 advisors and experts working to revitalize Iran's economic and political future, has published a 170-page emergency reconstruction plan covering 15 critical areas, from political transition and security reforms to technical challenges including energy, water management, and environmental restoration. Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel hosts a delegation of exiled Iranian researchers representing Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi at the ''Beyond the Horizon'' 2025 conference in the presence of President Isaac Herzog. (credit: Courtesy Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology) "We consulted with many experts inside Iran to get their opinions, to get their comments, Ghasseminejad explained. "The booklet has become the main topic of discussion in Iran over the past two or three weeks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The response has been unprecedented. The document has generated millions of social media comments and hundreds of hours of television discussion across Iran. The project's website has received over 5,000 responses from Iranian citizens offering suggestions, criticisms, and visions for their country's future. "The Crown Prince and I think the Iranians in general see Israel as a strategic partner for the people of Iran and for the future government of Iran. We both benefit a lot from cooperation," Ghasseminejad said. Gamliel, who hosted the delegation and has a close relationship with the prince, emphasized Israel's unique position to address Iran's water emergency. "Israel is the solution to the problem," Gamliel told the Post. "If you see what this regime is doing, it makes the people inside Iran suffer. Suffer without water, with the huge air pollution, with the problems about the energy, and electricity. And we are the solution to all of this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The timing of the delegation's visit coincides with Iran's most severe water crisis in living memory. The Iranian government recently declared an emergency public holiday in Tehran Province as the nation battles a crippling water shortage and energy crisis, compounded by soaring temperatures that have pushed the country's aging infrastructure to its breaking point. "What's really a miracle in Israel is that you don't have a lot of water, but you have managed to build this very vibrant society and provide water not just for drinking, but for industrial work and for agriculture," Ghasseminejad observed. "Unfortunately, under the current regime, right now many Iranians don't have water for many hours per day." Gamliel drew historical parallels between the current initiative and Iran-Israel cooperation before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Israel helped build infrastructure inside Iran. "What happened before this regime, that [Israel] helped build the infrastructure inside Iran and it was an important relationship between both countries. It is 2,500 years since [Iranian King] Cyrus, and so we named it the Cyrus Accords because we said it is like the Abraham Accords," she explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The minister expressed confidence in the Iranian opposition leadership, particularly Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. "I really believe in him, and I really believe in Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, that he will be the next leader of Iran." Iran's growing water crisis pushes the country to its limits Iran is currently experiencing a major water crisis that has pushed the country to its limits. President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a stark warning during a recent cabinet meeting, citing an Energy Ministry report that revealed the crisis was more severe than publicly acknowledged. "The water crisis is more serious than what is being discussed today, and if we do not take urgent action now, we will face a situation in the future for which no remedy can be found," Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by state media. Tehran's water utility has announced that current reserves in the capital's main dams have plummeted to their lowest levels in a century. Officials cite an unprecedented five-year drought combined with record-low rainfall as primary contributing factors, leaving the province facing its most severe water stress in six decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the World Resources Institute, Iran ranks as the 14th-highest country globally for baseline water stress, with commentators increasingly discussing a potential "day zero" when water supplies could be completely exhausted. The Latyan Dam, located near Tehran, has seen its capacity shrink dramatically from 95 million cubic meters to just 9 million. Over the past 20 years, groundwater levels in Tehran have fallen by 12 meters, contributing to land subsidence and threatening urban infrastructure stability. Major infrastructure issues have led to preventable water loss, with estimates of up to 25% of Tehran's water lost through facility mismanagement. "We know that Iran's water storage is quickly diminishing because of mismanagement, because of corruption, because the regime has not invested in water management. Instead, they are investing the money in Hamas, Hezbollah, etc.," Ghasseminejad explained. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also offered Israeli assistance with Iran's water crisis once its people overthrow the current regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The thirst for water in Iran is only matched by the thirst for freedom," the premier said in a video address to the Iranian people published on August 13. "Israel's top water experts will flood into every Iranian city bringing cutting-edge technology and know-how. We will help Iran recycle water, we'll help Iran desalinate water." The current delegation visiting Israel, as the regimes future continues to remain uncertain, offers the opposition to the Islamic Republic a different vision for regional transformation. Gamliel emphasized the potential for both nations to benefit from partnership. "We have a vision of how these strong empires, Iran and Israel, can share together everything and it's become a win-win for both our peoples," she told the Post. However, both Israeli and Iranian opposition leaders acknowledge that change must originate from within Iran itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We really believe in our future relations, but change has to come from the inside, and [Iranians] need to do the first step. And then everybody will support them," Gamliel concluded. "We are working right now with Israeli experts, we hope to learn from them, and once we prepare the solution and once the regime is gone, we really hope that we can bring Israeli experts and Israeli companies to help us to manage the problems that we have," Ghasseminejad said. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Australia's fertility sector has been rocked by yet more reports of serious errors, this time involving sperm donors from overseas. On Monday, an ABC investigation revealed a Brisbane couple had signed a non-disclosure agreement after discovering that sperm from the wrong overseas donor had been used to conceive their child, who was born in 2014. The same fertility clinic had keep secret an audit that found there was a "high risk" that sperm frozen before 2020 did not match the donor on the label. This included sperm from two overseas banks. It's well known that informal sperm donation, where people find a sperm donor online, is risky. But now formal sperm donation is in the spotlight. So how is it regulated and what do we know about donors? And how safe is it? How does sperm donation work in Australia? Formal fertility treatment, including sperm donation, is almost exclusively provided by private clinics. Medicare subsidizes this treatment but patients still pay significant out-of-pocket costs. Sperm donation is mainly used by single women and same-sex female couples. Couples who want to avoid passing on a known genetic condition, and some men who have had cancer treatment, may also choose to use a sperm donor. Clinics provide those who need donor sperm with non-identifying details about several donors, and allow them to choose. Characteristics include the donors' ethnicity, eye and hair color, height and blood group, and whether they are a domestic or overseas donor. Women with no known fertility problems may use a simple procedure called intrauterine insemination (IUI), where a small amount of the donor's sperm is placed in the woman's uterus when she is ovulating. Women with fertility problems and those who have tried IUI without success need IVF to conceive. This involves fertilizing eggs with donor sperm in the laboratory to form embryos, and then placing one in the woman's uterus. Who are the sperm donors? Donors may be knownfor example, a relative, friend or someone the recipient has connected with online. De-identified donors, the most commonly used donors, are recruited by fertility clinics and aren't known to the recipient. Clinics have to record all donors' identifying details so their offspring can access them when they reach adulthood. International research shows most sperm donors are motivated by altruism and want to help people have children. In Australia, donors can't be paid for providing sperm. They must also agree to release their identity to any child born from their donation. Potential donors undergo rigorous medical and psychological screening, which means only a small proportion of men who offer to donate sperm are accepted. A study of more than 11,000 men who applied to become a sperm donor in Denmark and the United States found fewer than 5% were accepted and had samples frozen. Some men withdrew or didn't respond; others had disqualifying health conditions or low sperm count. As demand for donor sperm in Australia far outstrips supply, clinics import sperm from international sperm banks, mostly in the US or Denmark. There are no national data on the proportions of sperm donation treatments that involve overseas or domestic donors. However, in 2024 clinics in Victoria stored sperm from 578 donors patients recruited, 1,001 donors clinics recruited, and only 46 donors recruited overseas. Choosing a clinic and an overseas donor can be difficult. It also comes with added risks, such as the donor having donated to many clinics and people discovering their children have dozens or hundreds of half-siblings. And, as demonstrated by the recent sperm mix-up report, the double witnessing procedures that are required in Australia may not have occurred for some imported sperm. The rules for imported sperm vary slightly by state. But they are essentially the same as those for domestic donors. What are the rules for donors? Sperm donation is regulated through state and territory laws, the National Health and Medical Research Council Ethical Guidelines and the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee Code of Practice. Although there are some differences between states, certain rules apply across all states and territories: a donor can't receive any payment or inducement (apart from expenses incurred as a result of the donation, such as travel costs) potential donors and recipients must be counseled about the medical, special, psychological and legal implications of sperm donation potential donors must be screened for infectious and genetic diseases recipients are entitled to access information about the donor's medical history, physical characteristics, and the number and sex of children born from that donor children born from sperm donation have the right to access information about the donor as adults. This includes identifying information such as their full name and date of birth clinics must maintain detailed recordsincluding identifying and non-identifying informationof donors, recipients and offspring a donor has no legal responsibility for a child born from his donation a maximum number of families can be created with one donor's sperm (five to ten, depending on state). Clinics are required to report serious adverse events to the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee, but the committee doesn't make this information public. So there is no way of knowing whether there has been other mixups, beyond what has been reported. Is sperm donation safe? In broad terms, fertility treatmentincluding sperm donationis practiced responsibly in Australia. However, the reports of serious errors of the past few months, including reports of sperm and embryo mixups, as well as the use of non-disclosure agreements, raise questions about transparency within the industry. As a result, in June, state and federal government ministers announced a rapid review of the fertility sector, and are currently awaiting its recommendations. The review will consider whether the current patchwork of regulation should be replaced with national regulation, the merits of a national register of donors, recipients and offspring, and whether the current industry sponsored clinic accrediting body should be replaced by an independent body. Based on the reported errors, it's clear the sector needs an independent overseeing body to restore trust and confidence in the system. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A store in Worcester sold a winning $100,000 lottery ticket on Tuesday. The $100,000 prize was from the Mass Cash" drawing held on Tuesday evening. The winning numbers for the drawing were 4, 14, 26, 31 and 35. The winning ticket that matched all five numbers was sold at the Speedy Mini Mart in Worcester. Additionally, someone claimed a $100,000 prize on Tuesday from a winning $100,000 Max Winnings ticket they bought at the Deli Mart in Billerica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, at least 948 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Tuesday, including 37 in Springfield, 43 in Worcester and 101 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. 74-year-old Jerald Benjamin Clawson, of Winter Park, was arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on charges of organized scheme to defraud and unlawful use of unregistered securities. The arrest follows an investigation that began in October 2023 involving the FDLE, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Seminole County Sheriffs Office. Clawson allegedly solicited real estate investments, promising guaranteed returns that were never delivered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation revealed that Clawson obtained several million dollars from victims, which were not invested as promised but instead used for his personal benefit in what authorities describe as a Ponzi scheme. Clawson was arrested on August 28 in Winter Park by the Orange County Sheriffs Office after FDLE Fort Myers agents obtained an arrest warrant. Attorney General James Uthmeiers Office of Statewide Prosecution is prosecuting the case, and the investigation remains active. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Using your phone while on the can can mean a higher risk of haemorrhoids, according to new research has compared the lavatory "habits" of smartphone users to those of non-users. The survey involving 125 people was carried out by a team of doctors and scientists at institutions including Harvard Medical School's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Cleveland Clinic in the US. "Time spent on the toilet was significantly higher for smartphone users than non-users," the team found, with reading news and using social media given as the most commonly reported smartphone activities among those with throne-hogging tendencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The findings of this study suggest there is an increased prevalence of haemorrhoids among people who use smartphones while sitting on the toilet," the researchers said in a paper published by PLOS One, a science and medical journal. Almost four in ten phone users spend more than five minutes on the toilet, going by the survey, with only 7% of non-users admitting to lingering as long. "Smartphone use may inadvertently prolong toilet time, potentially increasing pressure in anal tissues, which may then lead to haemorrhoids," the team warned, explaining that they carried out the survey in the wake of anecdotal evidence of phone addicts being more likely to suffer from haemorrhoids than others. "It's incredibly easy to lose track of time when we're scrolling on our smartphones popular apps are designed entirely for that purpose," said Harvards Trisha Pasricha, author of the book "You've Been Pooping All Wrong." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Known for her 'Ask a doctor' column in The Washington Post, Pasricha's advice is to "leave the smartphones outside" when visiting the loo. Phone addiction has been linked to insomnia and anxiety in other recently published research, while other warnings have tied the proliferation of spam, scams and malware as another potential cause of mental health troubles for phone users. A family in rural Wisconsin has retained a civil rights attorney and is calling for a hate crime investigation after a video captured a violent scene: a Black teenager being beaten by a group of young men at a party in the Town of Pulaski in western Wisconsin. Iowa County Sheriff Michael Peterson called the video "disturbing" and said "we have no place in society for violence like that." But he said an investigation by his office determined based on witness accounts that the attack on the teenager, 14, was not racially motivated. Now, civil rights attorney B'Ivory LaMarr, representing the family, is calling for a full investigation and for arrests to be made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this was clearly a racially motivated attack and a textbook hate crime case. When a Black teenager is targeted, beaten, and subjected to racial epithets that is a hate crime, LaMarr said. This case is about accountability, protecting children, and ensuring equal protection under the law. Anything less sends the wrong message to victims and emboldens perpetrators of hate. LaMarr said he plans to file a complaint with the state Department of Justice and will be advocating for the teenagers in the video to be charged under the hate crime statute. B'Ivory LaMarr speaks at a news conference. Video shows multiple people attacking teenager According to the sheriff and the teen's mother, the widely circulated video shows an incident in the early morning hours of Aug. 17 at a large barn gathering in the town of Pulaski, a small town an hour west of Madison with a population under 4,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video, which is less than two minutes long, shows the teen being pushed and held up against farm equipment before being wrestled down to the ground by another young male. Multiple people then jump in and start throwing punches. At least four young men are seen attacking the boy at various points. At another point, the boy is slammed to the ground. In the muffled audio of the video, the N-word can be heard, though it's unclear who is speaking. "F--- that n----," someone behind the camera says before accusing the boy of trying to steal guns. "So, I say f--- him," he says again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The altercation concludes when a girl intervenes, pleading for the young men to stop. Although the N-word is said at least one other time by someone off-camera, it's not clear from the audio of the video that any of the attackers are yelling racial slurs. Peterson said his investigation found that some of the attackers in the video are adults, while some are under 18. "It's still hard for me to even watch the video," the teen's mother, who asked that her name not be used due to ongoing threats and safety concerns, told the Journal Sentinel. "I still can't stomach it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and her son live about an hour from the Town of Pulaski, she said. He was invited to the party along with friends, she said. Sheriff investigated after video came to light Peterson said his officers first talked to the teen in the early morning hours of Aug. 17, after authorities responded to a property in Pulaski for reports of a structure fire. Peterson said it was the third time an underage drinking party had included a physical altercation in recent weeks in Iowa County. Peterson said the teen was at all three parties, but there isn't evidence showing that he was directly involved in the other "disturbances." At the other parties, on July 27 and Aug. 9, crowds dispersed once law enforcement arrived, and nobody cooperated with the sheriff's office, Peterson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the Aug. 17 party, most people had left the party by the time first responders arrived, according to the sheriff's office. The teen was interviewed by authorities and said someone attempted to "jump" him, causing him to run from the area, Peterson said. The teen also said the attackers were targeting his friend, who was already at the party due to a prior "beef," Peterson said. The boy refused to provide the name of the friend to authorities, Peterson said, adding everyone still at the party also refused to provide names. The teen told his office he was not struck and had no injuries, Peterson said. It was about a week later, on Aug. 22, that his office received the video showing the apparent beating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peterson said he has tried to interview the teen again, but the family wouldn't let him. After a local television station reported on the video, a Black male provided a written statement to the sheriff's office saying he witnessed the incident, helped break up the fight and at no time heard non-Black people use the N-word. The witness said multiple Black people were present, including the person recording the video, and that the incident was not racially motivated, Peterson said. The witness said the confrontation stemmed from the teen's prior behavior, including attempting to steal a firearm, assaulting a female, and making threats. Peterson said there is "no official allegation" that the 14-year-old assaulted a female. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen's mother said it's a case of mistaken identity, and the attackers confused her son with another Black teenager who the attackers believed had previously stole guns from people at the party. Peterson said his office's investigation found that wasn't the case. The family's attorney said that nothing can justify the kind of attack that was captured on video. The Sheriffs Office has pointed to claims about prior disputes and alleged behavior by the victim, but lets be clear even if those claims were true, they do not excuse the brutal assault that followed," LaMarr said in a news release. "To minimize or dismiss the racial component in this case only deepens the harm and undermines public trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's important that the incident is not swept under the rug," LaMarr told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I think the purpose of the Wisconsin statute is to serve as a deterrent, that this type of behavior will not be tolerated." The state Department of Justice didn't respond to a request for comment Sept. 1. Iowa County District Attorney Zachary Leigh said in a statement Sept. 2 that his office is aware of the incident, but has not received a criminal referral from law enforcement. Leigh, who was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in 2022, said his office will not review the case or make a charging decision until a referral is sent. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Video shows Black boy beaten; Wisconsin family seeks hate crime charge GREEN Bay, Wis. (WFRV) Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers continued his statewide back-to-school tour by visiting students in Green Bay on Wednesday. Local Five was there as the former State Superintendent stopped at Beaumont Elementary School on Green Bays west side. The Gnoshery, The Booyah Shed among 7 Wisconsin eateries to be featured on Americas Best Restaurants While visiting, Governor Evers discussed the states biannual budget, which included a nearly $1.4 billion increase in spendable revenue throughout the state for K-12 schools. We got a big bump there and that helps school districts because they were using regular money into special education as a last resort. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Governor Evers also made a stop at Crandon High School 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. JANESVILLE, Wis. (WTVO) Police discovered a Wisconsin man arrested for DUI after a high-speed chase Tuesday night had 11 prior drunk driving convictions. Janesville Police reported that Bradley J. Skelley, 59, was driving drunk around 11:40 p.m. when an officer attempted a traffic stop. Skelley ignored law enforcement and sped away, police said. Ultimately, officers threw stop sticks in front of the vehicle to puncture its tires, and then the pursuing officer used a pursuit intervention technique (PIT maneuver) with a squad car to end the pursuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skelley was charged with OWI (12th offense), reckless driving, fleeing, resisting arrest, probation violation, and numerous traffic violations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Authorities in Santa Barbara County are asking for anyone who may have information about a violent sexual assault to come forward. The attack happened Saturday morning in Isla Vista, a small coastal community adjacent to the University of California, Santa Barbara. Around 9:30 a.m., Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office deputies received a report of a sexual assault that happened earlier in the morning at an apartment on the 6500 block of Trigo Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials for the Sheriffs Office said the victim endured an hourslong physical and sexual assault, including a violent encounter in which she escaped the apartment into a common area and was forcefully dragged back inside. Although details are limited, the woman was eventually able to escape, and her attacker, 22-year-old Damian Silverio of Isla Vista, was taken into custody that evening. Authorities said Silverio and the victim are known to one another. Silverio was booked in the Santa Barbara Main Jail to await charges for kidnapping, rape, false imprisonment, domestic violence and preventing a victim from calling 911. He remains in custody without bail. Woman sexually assaulted in West Hollywood by man she met on dating app Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the visible nature of the crime, as well as the length of the violent encounter, detectives believe there are additional witnesses to the crime who have not yet been identified. They are working diligently to capture those witness accounts and would like the publics assistance, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Anyone with information is urged to contact SBSO Detective Ellis at 805-681-4150. Anonymous tips can be provided online or by calling 805-681-4171. The Sheriffs Office says it will thoroughly investigate this case and others like it and will ensure survivors have access to resources and support. Victim advocates have been made available by calling 855-840-3232. Resources and additional support can be found 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 KTLA. NEED TO KNOW A woman from New Zealand was arrested and charged with not complying with the cabin crews safety instructions while on a flight between Sydney and Queenstown, Australia The woman, identified by 'The Guardian' as Sharee Young, allegedly did a drunken dance in the aisle and swore at cabin crew, forcing the pilot to abort his attempted takeoff A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police warned in a Facebook post that "if you misbehave under the influence of alcohol, youll be removed from your flight, so please, save your dance moves for another time" A woman has been arrested after allegedly dancing while drunk on a flight between Sydney and Queenstown, Australia. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the Australian Federal Police wrote in a Facebook post that a 50-year-old New Zealand woman had been arrested after displaying intoxicated behavior, which included dancing in the aisle, on her flight from Sydney to Queenstown in Australia in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe no one puts you in a corner, but we will take you off a plane, authorities wrote on Facebook in a reference to the infamous scene from the Patrick Swayze movie, Dirty Dancing. A New Zealand woman, 50, will appear in court after being removed from a flight for alleged intoxicated behavior, including dancing in the aisle while the plane was taxiing for takeoff and ignoring cabin crew instructions," they added. The woman, who has been identified as Sheree Young, according to U.K. newspaper The Guardian and news.com.au, also allegedly swore at a cabin crew, per a press release by the AFP. PEOPLE has contacted the AFP and Downing Centre Local Court for further comment, but did not immediately hear back. Australian Federal Police Sheree Young sitting in front of police officers Sheree Young sitting in front of police officers The incident reportedly took place around 4 p.m. on July 21, according to The Guardian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials added that the pilot had to abort takeoff and seek help from the Australian Federal Police, who escorted the woman off the plane. 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. Australian Federal Police Officers taking escorting Sheree Young off her flight Officers taking escorting Sheree Young off her flight When she allegedly became argumentative and non-compliant, they removed her so the flight could depart, AFP wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of officers escorting the woman whose hands were in handcuffs. The flight was able to depart after Youngs removal from the aircraft, according to authorities. Australian Federal Police Sheree Young being escorted by police officers Sheree Young being escorted by police officers She returned to New Zealand the day after the incident, according to AFPs full release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone misbehaving under the influence of alcohol will be removed from their flight, AFP Detective Acting Inspector Trevor Robinson said. The alleged behavior of this woman risked the safety of herself, passengers, and crew, and in this case caused a delayed takeoff, which inconveniences everyone on board, he continued. Robinson added, Anyone misbehaving on a flight and not cooperating with law enforcement isnt just spoiling their trip, but they are potentially ruining the travel plans of hundreds of other people. They also face the possibility of a criminal conviction on their record for life. Young was given a court attendance notice for not complying with the cabin crews safety instruction, "which carries a maximum penalty of a $16,500 fine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The notice also included, "Obstruct/hinder/intimidate/resist Commonwealth official, contrary to s 149.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment." In their post on Facebook, the AFP concluded, "So please, save your dance moves for another time." Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW A 4-year-old crying boy was snatched from his mother at Miami International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 2, according to Fox News, CBS News Miami, The Miami Herald, and WPLG-TV, citing a report from the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office The boy was allegedly snatched by 23-year-old Alvina Omisiri Agba, who reportedly offered to help him Agba was arrested and charged with battery and interference with custody A 4-year-old crying boy was snatched from his mother at Miami International Airport by a woman who allegedly offered to help him, according to multiple reports, citing a report from the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, as the boy was crying while standing with his mother at a checkpoint, according to Fox News, CBS News Miami, The Miami Herald, and WPLG-TV, citing the sheriff's office's report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alvina Omisiri Agba, 23, allegedly approached the mother-son duo and offered to calm him down. The mother agreed to allow Agba to hold her son. However, after the mother handed him over, Agba allegedly walked out of the line and began to walk away, according to the outlets. D.A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Exterior view of Miami International Airport in 2023 Exterior view of Miami International Airport in 2023 The child's mother soon followed them and asked for Agba to return her son, to which she allegedly replied, "No, this is my child," as she wrapped her arms and legs around him, preventing him from moving, according to the sheriff's report. The mother attempted to take her son back, but Agba allegedly pushed her and grabbed the boy's leg and refused to let go. At that point, a bystander, later identified as Naylet Montano, who is also a mother, ran to see what was going on and "noticed a woman on the floor, strongly gripping the little boy," she told CBS News Miami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In that moment, I realized the body was in danger. I grabbed him and ran. The woman on the ground got up and tried to take the boy back from me. I wouldn't let her," recalled Montano. "I ran behind the counter and crouched down to protect the boy. She tried to get under the counter," she said. Agba allegedly followed Montano and demanded that she hand back the boy. Three men reportedly then stood between the two, preventing Agba from taking the child away from Montano. 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. While Agba ran away, she was found at checkpoint 5 by police, where she was taken into custody, CBS News Miami reported. She reportedly said that she was trying to calm the boy down by taking him to a wall with a rainbow and then claimed that she took the child because God told her to, according to the outlets citing the sheriff's report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jail records reviewed by PEOPLE show that Agba was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $3,500 bond. She has been charged with battery and interference with custody. PEOPLE reached out to the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office and the Miami International Airport for comment. Read the original article on People THOMASVILLE A woman was charged with misdemeanor child abuse last week after her 4-year-old daughter ate a gummy laced with the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana earlier in August and had to be taken to the hospital, the Davidson County Sheriffs Office said. The girl had vomited in her sleep Aug. 13, was unconscious and EMS workers could not wake her, the sheriffs office said. She was taken to Lexington Medical Center. Detectives obtained consent to search the residence and found an open THC-P gummy package with one gummy outside of the package. THC paraphernalia was located throughout the residence, the sheriffs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the hospital, detectives spoke with the girls mother, Jordan Ransom, who said the gummies belonged to her and had not been properly stored the night before. On Monday, Aug. 18, detectives learned that the girls blood tested positive for THC. Ransom was arrested Aug. 22. She was released on a written promise to appear in court. The sheriffs office issued a warning that the effects of consuming THC gummies can be severe for children, leading to symptoms such as lethargy, dizziness, trouble walking or sitting up, an accelerated heart rate and difficulty breathing. Parents should be aware of the potential risks and take precautions to prevent accidental ingestions. It is crucial to store these products safely and out of reach, educate children about the dangers of THC and the importance of not consuming them, the sheriffs office said. If a child has ingested THC gummies, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. 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 Confiscating personal belongings during government-led dismantling of tent cities in Vancouver inflicts immediate harm and further destabilizes people already struggling to meet their basic needs, according to a new study from Simon Fraser University. Published in the journal Public Health, the study found nearly one in four people experiencing homelessness reported having their personal belongings confiscated by city workers between 2021 and 2023. These confiscationsoften part of street sweeps to remove tent citieswere significantly associated with non-fatal overdoses, violent victimization, and barriers to accessing essential services. "Our data captures a harmful part of the street sweeps experience, which is confiscation of personal belongings," says Kanna Hayashi, associate health sciences professor at SFU and St. Paul's Hospital Chair in Substance Use Research. "These sweeps punish people for surviving in the only ways available to them. It's a public health crisis that endangers lives amidst the ongoing toxic drug crisis." The first large-scale quantitative research in Vancouver to examine the frequency and impact of street sweeps, the study analyzed data from 691 participants who were unstably housed and used drugs. Its findings validate long-standing concerns raised by community organizations such as Our Streets, P.O.W.E.R. and Stop the Sweeps. "Our study provides the statistical evidence to back up what community groups have been saying all along: street sweeps are implicated in overdose risk and systemic violence," says Hayashi. Having personal belongings confiscated by city workers linked to experiencing more: Barriers to access health and social services Violence Non-fatal overdose (if reporting homelessness) Among the 94 participants who reported experiencing confiscation in the last six months, 36% had tried but were unable to access housing services, and 27% reported experiencing physical violence from police during the same six-month period. Many lost essential items, including medications and harm reduction supplies. "If you're using opioids and your valuable personal items are confiscated, you may be displaced into riskier environments, and your day-to-day survival will become more challenging. You may use more drugs to cope," explains Hayashi. "That's one direct pathway to overdose." The study confirms the dangers of displacement and street sweeps that Our Streets and the broader community have been raising the alarm on for years, says Dave Hamm, Our Streets member and researcher-member with P.O.W.E.R. "We have tried it all: peer reviewed research, reports, a federal housing advocate, consultations and meetings, rallies and marches," Hamm says. "If the government won't change its violent approach, we need people to keep showing up to support our neighbors, because in the end, we keep each other safe." Seizing unhoused people's personal belongings is a cruel and dangerous practice that raises serious legal concerns, adds Cailtin Shane, staff lawyer at Pivot Legal Society, a non-profit legal advocacy organization in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. "Courts in B.C. have long agreed that displacing people who have nowhere else to go violates their life, liberty, and security rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms," Shane says. "To then confiscate people's personal belongings only compounds those violations and can be a matter of life or death for people who continue to be pushed to the margins." The long-term solution to ending street sweeps is to expand dignified housing and harm reduction services, says Hayashi. In the meantime, the study suggests emergency responses that could reduce immediate harm, including creating accessible storage services for people living outdoors, and providing documentation when belongings are taken so people can retrieve them. "Street sweeps are a costly, ineffective response to inequitable policies," says Hayashi. "The street may get cleaned up for one day, but it doesn't last because there is nowhere else for people to go. We need to fix the policies that created this crisisnot criminalize its victims." More information Irem Mia Eren et al, "Street sweeps": The municipal government-enforced confiscation of personal belongings among unstably housed people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada, Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105885 Journal information: Public Health Key medical concepts Substance Uses Opioid LaGRANGE, Ga. (WRBL) The Troup County Sheriffs Office announced on Wednesday that a woman has been charged with murder after her husband died from being shot in the head weeks later. The sheriffs office says investigators charged Tracy Lynn White with murder in connection with the shooting of her husband. According to officials, on Aug. 11 at 7:50 a.m., Troup County Fire and EMS responded to an emergency call at 196 Chipley Mountville Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, an adult male, later identified as Dawendall White, 47, was found unresponsive in his home and bleeding from his head. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man in critical condition after being shot in the head, Troup County police say White was initially transported to WellStar West Georgia Medical Center for treatment and was listed in critical condition. White was then taken into custody in Lee County, Alabama, and was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, possession of a firearm during commission of a crime, and aggravated stalking due to her previous arrest for aggravated assault/family violence in July, according to Troup County authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said that the Criminal Investigations Division was informed on Wednesday that Dawendall White died in an Atlanta area hospital, where he had been since the shooting occurred. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEED TO KNOW A woman fell 60 feet from a mountain in Canada after trying to save her dog when the pet slipped Margaux Cohen, 36, was left with a bloody and swollen face and a leg injury after the fall, while her dog sustained a paw injury Cohen was airlifted to the hospital for care, where she has undergone two surgeries A woman is recovering after she fell 60 feet from a mountain while trying to save her dog. Margaux Cohen, 36, was hiking Tricouni Peak in Canada with her dog Zion, her friend Max Stobbe and Stobbe's cousin on Aug. 24 when they wandered off trail, according to Global News and The Squamish Chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While consulting a trail map, Cohen told Global News she and her group "saw that the trail was just across a little wall." "We assessed the situation. 'The wall, can we down-climb it? Is it hard or anything?' " she recalled. "We decided that it was a pretty easy down-climb compared to things I usually do." Cohen said Stobbe climbed over first, after which she went over the wall second. But as they were traversing the wall, she told the Chief, Zion "slipped, lost his footing in a way, and he just started sliding down." "I had this instinct to just grab his harness," Cohen said. "But I did not realize that by doing this, and because of his weight, I was just going to fall." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hiker said she dropped 60 feet, but "it wasn't a straight fall." "I tumbled down like, four times. So I probably fell 20 feet, and then hit my face on rocks, and then fell again and again and again, she told the Chief. Cohen remained conscious during the fall telling Global News she "would have preferred" to have actually lost consciousness "because I remember everything of my fall." She sustained a leg injury, swelling and bleeding in her face. When she looked down at her leg, Cohen told the outlet that she realized something was "really wrong" because it wasn't "the right shape anymore." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After hearing her screams, Stobbe came to Cohen's aid and called 911. While Zion's owner was injured, the dog seemed surprisingly content after the mishap, Cohen told the Chief. "My dog was like, sitting next to me, just wagging his tail, like nothing happened, like he just had the time of his life, Cohen said of Zion, who injured his paw in the fall but was otherwise unharmed. Squamish Search and Rescue reached Cohen two hours after the incident, after which she was airlifted to the hospital, where she underwent two surgeries, the Chief reported. PEOPLE has contacted Squamish Search and Rescue for additional information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fall left Cohen feeling grateful for her friend's assistance and indebted to the rescue team that came to her aid. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I just believe that someone was watching over me that day, she told Global News. She added, "Im obviously really grateful for Search and Rescue as well because I think they always do an amazing job. I love Search and Rescue Ive been watching their series online and I love what they do. I would love one day to be part of Search and Rescue myself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cohen's friend Emily Kasal has since organized a GoFundMe to help pay for medical expenses and veterinary bills. "Margaux is one of the most kindhearted, adventurous, and resilient people I know," Kasal wrote in the fundraiser's description. "She has always been there to support others, and now she needs our help. Any donation, no matter the size, will make a huge difference for her and her furry best friend." Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW A fire at a Georgia apartment left Stephanie Wiley dead and her son seriously injured Authorities arrested Wiley's ex-boyfriend Shawn Fails in Alabama Wiley's son suffered broken pelvis injuries after jumping out of the window, according to family A Georgia man has been arrested in connection with the killing of his ex-girlfriend who died in a fire at her home. Stephanie Wiley, 48, died after her Dekalb County, Ga., apartment was set ablaze in the early morning hours of Monday, Sept. 1, DeKalb County authorities confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. Another person, identified by Wiley's family as her son, was also in the unit and survived after jumping out of the window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators soon determined the fire was intentionally set, per the statement. Later that day, authorities in Lanett, Ala., arrested 44-year-old Shawn Fails during a traffic stop in connection with Wiley's killing and the fire. Fails was Wiley's ex-boyfriend, police said. Chambers County Alabama Sheriff's Office Shawn Fails Shawn Fails A neighbor's Ring camera caught a man allegedly setting the fire, FOX 5 reported. The video shows a man in white clothing dropping something outside the unit before flames go up as he sprints away. "I could hear her screaming and howling for her life," the neighbor told the outlet. However, at one point, the neighbor told the outlet, "We could see her hand or something that was in the window, and...the screaming stopped." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When contacted by PEOPLE to confirm if the footage is part of their investigation, Dekalb County investigators declined to "comment on any evidence which led us to identifying the suspect." Wiley's son, who has not been publicly named by authorities or her family, reportedly jumped from the window to save her and himself, Wiley's brother said in a post on Facebook. By the time authorities got to the scene, Wiley was unresponsive, suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation, FOX 5 reported. She was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. Wiley's son reportedly suffered broken pelvis injuries from his fall and is recovering, her brother said in the Facebook post. In a GoFundMe set up to assist with her funeral, Wiley is being remembered for her kindness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She was the most beautiful loving big hearted person you will ever make sure off your back," read part of the fundraiser, adding: "if you need a place to stay she was there, if you just needed someone to talk to." 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. Fails will be facing charges of murder, aggravated assault and arson once he is booked into DeKalb County Jail, police said. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW A Michigan man is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman and holding her hostage for a week William Paul Thompson, 22, is facing charges of criminal sexual behavior, unlawful confinement, and weapons offenses Michigan State Police say the woman eventually escaped and reported the incident to them A Michigan man was arrested after authorities allege he repeatedly sexually assaulted a woman and held her captive until she escaped. William Paul Thompson, 22, of Mount Pleasant, was arraigned on multiple felony charges, including criminal sexual conduct and unlawful imprisonment, on Tuesday, Sept. 2, according to a press release shared by Michigan State Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged victim, a 21-year-old woman, claimed to police that she was held captive for a week and repeatedly sexually assaulted by Thompson, who was homeless and living in a tent, per the release. The woman further alleged that Thompson used a weapon to threaten her. 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 eventually escaped, contacted state police and identified the suspect and his possible location, police said. Thompson was then arrested after troopers found evidence corroborating her statements, per the release. Thompson is also facing multiple weapons charges. Its unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. Police said the case has been turned over to the Isabella County Prosecutor's Office. Read the original article on People MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two undocumented Romanian women allegedly involved in a theft ring are accused of taking over $3,500 of makeup from a store in Collierville. Frances Lupeanu, 23, and Jenifer Antonescu, 22, have both been charged with theft of merchandise. Frances Lupeanu and Jenifer Antonescu_ Mugshot Courtesy of CPD Both of their bonds have been set to $25,000. Collierville Police said they responded to a local business about a call regarding shoplifters while working another case near Houston Levee and Winchester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CPDs Special Enforcement Unit tracked the suspects at Kohls on Houston Levee, which has a Sephora, a makeup store inside. SEU officers said they saw two women take more than $3,500 in stolen merchandise, which was primarily cosmetics from brands Fenty Beauty, Too Faced, and Estee Lauder. Courtesy of CPD According to the police, both suspects were identified as Romanian nationals and are part of a regional theft ring. The police department said the National Crime Information Center confirmed the women had active warrants out of Tennessee, North Carolina, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Ohio. They said they are also undocumented individuals with Immigration and Customs Enforcement holds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are working with the various other agencies to verify warrants and, if a hold should be placed on the suspects for their warrants, said CPD. Our sole focus is keeping our community safe and you know, we work with all of our law enforcement partners and this is just another example. If folks come into our country illegally, theyre victimizing our community, by you know, stealing from our shops and businesses, and so, its hurting our community, said Chief of Police Dale Lane of the Collierville Police Department. When we look at this, all the indicators are there that this is much bigger. One we had, they were wanted in you know, multiple states, using multiple aliases and the amount of items, this wasnt a first time shoplifting type situation. The amount of items being stolen are obviously for resell, said Chief Lane. Lane said the investigation is ongoing and theres potential for federal charges, as well as the arrests of additional suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collierville Police said they cannot confirm if this incident is related to Germantown arrests and cannot release further information at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Content warning: Discussions of rape and murder. Recently, this woman went viral on Twitter/X after sharing that she always sits IN THE FRONT of Uber rides because the backseat could have the child lock on, meaning she could get trapped inside. Many people were like, Wait, WHAT? New fears were unlocked. ABC / @Mssophia_ / Via Twitter: @Mssophia_ It sparked a WHOLE convo and debate online over which is actually safer, the passenger or the backseat. Some agreed with her, while others said the backseat is safer because its easier to defend yourself from behind. Related: People Are Sharing The Exact Moment They Knew "There's Not Going To Be A Wedding," And It's So Freaking Juicy This isn't the first time women have gone viral for sharing their slightly unhinged safety tips. On TikTok, I've seen women share that they wear wedding rings to detract from male attention, or act erratically on public transit late at night to keep men from approaching them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When women are more than three times as likely to be stalked and almost twice as likely to experience intimate partner violence compared to men, I honestly can't blame the extra precautions. Of course, none of this should ever be necessary it's never the victim's fault. But I do appreciate the ways we share tips with each other to feel more protected in a world that doesn't always make us feel safe. So, I asked women in the BuzzFeed Community to share with me all the other slightly unhinged, but also totally valid things they do to keep safe. Here's what they had to say: 1."Whenever I'm on a dog walk, I legit keep a bag full of dog poo with me the whole time, very loosely tied, even though I will pass many bins. In the event of compromised safety, it'll at least act as a distraction if not a weapon." Picture Alliance / dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images winniebear84 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2."I stopped dating. I love myself, my friends, my family, and that's good enough for me." PinkPrincess88 3."If I'm out by myself [and someone is bothering me], I get LOUD. I make people look my way. I yell, raise my voice, etc., and state loudly enough for everyone to hear that I don't consent to what's happening. It's worked every time. They either back off or someone will come to my aid." "I also won't get public transport after a certain time. And in the taxi home, I always call someone for the duration of the ride." ZzombieQueen Related: 27 Humans Who Absolutely Nailed The Art Of Taking Things Exactly As Written 4."I always wait until my car is in sight before unlocking it. I am always scared that some creep will jump in the backseat before I get to my car. I also lock my car at the gas station even though I am right by it at the pump because I saw a story once of people ducking down and jumping in while the person pumping gas wasn't looking." Anderson Coelho / Getty Images artisticaardvark83 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5.Similarly, "As an older lady, I'm concerned about someone stealing my purse or carjacking my car. So when I pump gas, I make sure all the car doors are locked except the driver's door, which is on the same side I fill the tank. That way, no one can take my purse from the other side of the car or jump in as I'm about to drive off. I only have my debit card with me as I pump gas. I do the same with the car locks when I get out of the car in parking lots. I feel as a woman that I am a target. As a senior, a double target." Anonymous 6."Before I get in my car, I always walk around it to make sure there's nothing wrong with my tires or anything around them. The one time I forgot to check, someone had deliberately put a glass bottle in front of one of my tires." Anonymous Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 7."I will never wear mittens or gloves no matter how cold, only fingerless gloves. I want DNA under my nails, if needed." Emilija Milenkovic / Getty Images jealousorc57 8."In public transport, I never sit in a seat where I can be cornered. Ask me how I found that one out. But yes, I did manage to use the corner as leverage and land a couple of satisfying kicks into their nether regions and drove them off." crispyflower31 Related: If You're A Little Stressed... For Some Reason... Here Are 23 Of The Cutest, Most Wholesome Posts From This Week That I Compiled To Lower Your Blood Pressure And Make You Smile 9."I don't have a 'routine' running route. When I'm loading my Jeep at the store, I make sure the grocery cart is between me and the parking lot, and the back door completes a protective triangle. When I shop, I'll tend to park where no one can park next to me (over the shady spots). Stay safe out there, friends!!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jules 10."I always wear shoes that secure to my feet like lace-up sneakers (double-knotted) or sandals with ankle straps (and buckles). No flip flops ever. No high heels ever. It's in case I have to run away." JGI/Tom Grill / Getty Images/Tetra images RF Anonymous Similarly, "I never wear high heels. Besides health-related reasons, most boots, sneakers, and/or flats are all easier to run, walk, bike, exercise, dodge, and/or fight in. It's a lot easier to escape a person following you if you can dodge without accidentally tripping over yourself. Plus, training in what you wear (for self-defense) anyway just makes sense." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous 11."I have a Swiss knife on my key ring. I just go grabbing it when I walk alone at night. I also have a little hairspray can in my bag, since pepper spray is illegal here." snailjuice 12."I meet in public several times until I get to know someone well enough and feel comfortable with them in private. As someone who was date raped on a first date at 16 and four times in adulthood, I take my time with this. I refuse non-public dates or private dates and do not go to strangers' homes or allow strangers in my home for a date." "Doing this has left guys confused as to who I am. One guy I met online tried to get me to come over for a first date, which I declined, and he kept asking me after that. He accused me of lying, saying I was a man because I would only meet in public. Another guy wanted to meet up in private via text before a phone conversation, and I said no. He then kept calling me blocked, saying I had a dick and that he would track my phone, come over, and pull my pants to verify. My safety is a priority, and thats that. So many things can and/or have happened to women on first dates (the murder of Sade Robinson in Milwaukee comes to mind). Call me a snob, a guy, or even a bitch. I dont care. If you wouldnt want your sister or cousin in a stranger's home, you shouldnt expect me to want to either." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous 13."I always take the elevator in my apartment in the early morning and when I pull late nights at work. I hate elevators, but they have cameras and an emergency button!" Anonymous 14."I always carry a dummy wallet with me in case I get mugged. It has some empty gift cards (the kind that look like credit cards), a few dollars in cash, and business cards of people I hate for extra bulk. I also carry a mini hairspray on my commute since my office is not in the safest area and I cant bring pepper spray into the building. Ive thankfully only had to use it once, but it gave me time to get away." Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao / Getty Images Anonymous Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 15."So many things: 1) I lock the car as soon as I get in so weirdos do not jump in; 2) I park under bright lights in parking lots and in sight of the front of the building/store; 3) I use one of those steering wheel clubs which doubles as a weapon if needed; 4) I have the keys to my door in hand so that I am not distracted fumbling in my purse, and can get inside quickly; 5) I wear leggings under all of my dresses to prevent perverts (and so that they get nothing on upskirt cameras); 6) I shop at different grocery stores in my city not near my home (alternating between them each week)." "I honestly could go on. And before anyone thinks that I am paranoid, I actually used to work as support staff to inmates in the jail and prison systems. What is above, as well as many other things I could list, were recommended by them to me to stay safe out there." Anonymous Related: 19 Ominously Horrifying Photos That Are Nothing Short Of Chill-Inducing 16."I'm too cheap to buy real defense items, so I keep a hammer and a can of wasp spray (reaches 25+ feet away) by my bed. I learned years ago that you don't need to be the meanest or strongest person in the room, just the craziest. Fat 5'10" woman running straight toward you and spraying chemicals at your eyes from 20 feet away while swinging a hammer and roaring that she'll kill your whole family? Achievement unlocked." Ricardo Jato De Evan / Getty Images/iStockphoto Anonymous Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 17."When I used to live in a dodgy area and had to walk from the train station to home with unfamiliar footsteps behind me, I've been known to start singing loudly, out of tune, about purple gorillas and unfriendly unicorns. Because no one wants to attack or rob a crazy person, right? " Anonymous 18."Not me, but I knew a girl who would clip her fingernails into little pointy triangles so she could scratch harder. Said she would make her body into a weapon that can't be disarmed. She accidentally destroyed a pool floaty at a pool party with her claws LOL." Anonymous Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And lastly: 19."My pet has a human name, so when I leave or come home, I'll talk to them loudly like it's a roommate and not an animal, so my neighbors think there's another person in here." Oscar Wong / Getty Images Anonymous Similarly, "When I walk into my house, I shout out, 'Hello!' to my nonexistent housemates in case anyone on the street sees me going inside alone, they will think people are in there." Anonymous Ahhh, I'm grateful for the tips, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we never had to consider any of these things in the first place? If something were to happen, I hate that I'd still risk being blamed for what I was wearing, for being out alone, or for simply existing in the wrong place at the wrong time. We shouldn't have to strategize every little move just to feel safe. Truthfully, the real "unhinged" thing isn't the hacks...but the fact that we even need them in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le sigh. What about you do you have any wild safety habits you swear by that men would probably never even think of? Drop them in the comments. Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity. Also in Internet Finds: 15 Disturbing Photos Of Things People Found In Real Homes That Basically Feel Like The Opening Of A Horror Movie Also in Internet Finds: 15 Photos With Perspectives So Mind-Boggling You'll Need To Lie Down After Looking At Them Also in Internet Finds: 42 Brides Who Were So Completely Self-Absorbed That Their Wedding Planners Probably Needed Therapy Afterward Read it on BuzzFeed.com Voters in Worcester narrowed the field of candidates running for City Councilor-at-Large and District E School Committee on Tuesday night. Of the 14 candidates running for councilor-at-large, the top 12 advanced to the Nov. 4 election, with Mayor Joseph Petty, a 7-term incumbent, earning the most votes, according to unofficial tallies. In District E, meanwhile, incumbent Kathleen Roy will face off against challenger Nelly Medina in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 114,837 total registered voters, only 11,489 ballots were cast for the preliminary election, according to the City Clerks Office. The city saw 10% voter turnout for the preliminary election, according to the City Clerks Office. The results of the election are as follows. Councilor at large Mayor Joseph Petty earned the most votes, with a total of 5,994, unofficial tallies showed. Petty is running for both councilor-at-large and an eighth, two-year term as mayor. Tonight, Im gratified by the continued support of Worcesters voters, Petty said in a statement. It reaffirms my belief that the people of this city want steady leadership committed to delivering real results that positively impact their lives. I look forward to bringing this campaign onto November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any city councilor-at-large candidate who earns the most votes in the general election becomes mayor, according to the citys Elections Office. Because of this stipulation, all at-large candidates technically run for mayor. But they do have the option to opt out of the mayoral race and just run for city councilor-at-large, according to the city charter. In second place was incumbent Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey, the chair of the panels Standing Public Safety Committee. Toomey earned 5,144 votes, according to unofficial tallies. Councilor-at-Large Morris Bergman came in fourth with 4,685 votes and Gary Rosen, a former city councilor and school committee member, came in fourth with 4,646 votes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council Vice Chairman and Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King came in fifth place with 4,590 votes Like Petty, King is running for mayor as well. The two previously faced off in the 2023 mayoral race, where Petty was victorious. King told MassLive that his campaign is ready for November and that people in the city want to see better representation from their government. Theres something happening here in the city of Worcester, King said. People want more out of their city government. Thats what my campaigns focused on. Jermoh Kamara, the president of the Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants, came in sixth place with 4,052 votes, while incumbent Councilor-at-Large and chair of the Traffic and Parking Committee Donna Colorio came in seventh with 3,882 votes, according to unofficial tallies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the general election, only the top six vote-getters will win councilor-at-large seats. Satya Mitra, the founder of The Guru Tax and Financial Services, finished in eighth place with 3,406 votes. Cayden Davis finished ninth with 3,200 votes, Owura-Kwaku Sarkodieh ranked tenth with 2,729 votes, Jessica Pepple notched 11th place with 2,342 and Edson Montero came in 12th place with 1,625 votes, according to unofficial tallies. Charles Luster and Bernard Iandoli finished 13th and 14th respectively, meaning they will not advance to the general election on Nov. 4. Luster earned 1,396 votes and Iandoli earned 1,340 votes, according to unofficial tallies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The founder and executive director of 2Gether We Eat, a youth hydroponic farming education program, Luster said that running for councilor-at-large was a great experience and that he had no hard feelings towards the other candidates. Im glad its over. Ill never do it again, Luster said with a laugh. District E School Committee Incumbent District E School Committee member Kathleen Roy earned the most votes in her election, receiving a total of 753 votes, according to unofficial tallies. Coming in second was challenger Nelly Medina, who will face Roy in the general election. Medina earned 597 votes in the district. Noelia Chafoya was eliminated on Tuesday night, coming in third with 432 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 1,914 votes were cast in District E, according to the City Clerks Office. The general election All 12 candidates for councilor-at-large and for the District E school committee seat will advance to the general election on Nov. 4. The general election will feature races for City Councilor in Worcesters five districts. District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson will face off against challenger Robert A. Bilotta. District 4 Councilor Luis A. Ojeda will run against Theodore A. Kostas and District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj will face off against Jose A. Rivera. District 1 Councilor Jenny Pacillo and District 3 Councilor George Russell opted not to run for reelection this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith J. Linhares and Tony J. Economou are running to replace Pacillo in District 1. John P. Fresolo and Robert F. Pazzella are running for the District 3 seat. School Committee incumbents in Districts A, B, D and F are running unopposed this year, including Vanessa Z. Alvarez for District B, Alejandro Guardiola for District D and Jermaine L. Johnson for District F. District A incumbent Molly O. McCullough was supposed to face off against challenger Ashley R. Spring. But the citys board of elections ruled them ineligible to be on the ballot because they do not meet the citys residency requirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spring, who uses they/them pronouns, was also present on Eureka Street when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a Brazilian mother of three on May 8. Spring sprayed water on a Worcester officer during the ICE arrest and faces multiple charges. The list of candidates for school committee-at-large and District C is small enough not to require a preliminary election. The two incumbent School Committee Members-at-Large, Maureen F. Binienda and Susan M. Mailman, have both qualified for the November ballot along with challenger Adwoa A. Sakyi-Lamptey. The two candidates who receive the first and second most votes in the election will be awarded the at-large seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District C incumbent Dianna Biancheria will run against Feanna S. Jattan-Singh. More Worcester Stories Read the original article on MassLive. On Sept. 2, 1885, a population of Chinese coal miners were violently attacked by a mob of their neighbors in Rock Springs, Wyoming. At least 28 Chinese immigrants were killed, 15 others injured and 79 homes in the towns Chinatown were burned to the ground. On Tuesday, the town memorialized the 140-year-old atrocity, now called the Rock Springs Massacre. Its one of the most violent moments in the states history, and among the worst race-based attacks in U.S. history. After a six-day series of events and talks organized by local Chinese-Americans Grace and Ricky Leo commemorating the massacre, the town held a dedication ceremony at the original site of its Chinatown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rock Springs Mayor Max Mickelson said it was a wonderful event, and an opportunity to recognize the horrific moment from the towns history, while also remaining willing to learn from past mistakes. That effort, he said, is built into the American experiment. Hopefully it is not political, Mickelson said. Im a huge believer that America has always been great but not perfect, right? Its a Constitution in search of a more perfect Union, and so we learn from our history good and bad and then our goal is always to be better. Unveiling a new memorial Approximately 200 people gathered no small feat for the small Wyoming community for the unveiling of the new statue. During the ceremony, several Rock Springs and neighboring town public officials gave remarks, as did retired Army Major Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, who presented the Congressional Gold Medal to Jennifer Messer, curator of the Rock Springs Historical Museum. There are few in Rock Springs who were not supportive of the effort, the mayor said, noting one city councilman who called it an egregious waste of money. But overall the organizers and town officials have received support from the local community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have had a dozen businesses and more than 50 individuals and associations donate to date, Messer wrote in an email. Since the unveiling we have had a flood of new brick purchases and offers of contributions and collaborations. The new statue, The Requiem, commemorating the Rock Springs Massacre at the 140th anniversary memorial was unveiled in Rock Springs, Wyo., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. | Clinton Collins, Rock Springs Historical Museum Board The statue now sits at the edge of an archaeological site, flanked by a church and a local school. Researchers from Grinnell College in Iowa are digging into the earth, studying what can be pieced together from the remnants of the massacres burn scar left underground. Attendees at the ceremony were shown the site and remnants of what archaeologists have found. The new statue, itself, is called the Requiem and stands 7 feet tall. It depicts a Chinese miner, holding representations of some of those same unearthed artifacts. They were scanned, enlarged and included in the design of the statue, which replaces a simple plaque that used to be the sole mention in town recognizing its brutal history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Rock Springs will continue to build out the park and location of the massacre, and turn it into something that the mayor believes the whole community can be proud of. I fully believe that America is the greatest country on earth, and its OK to acknowledge that weve not always done things well, said Mickelson. Weve had some real missteps and they have educated us and helped us to be more morally straight. What is the Rock Springs Massacre? The Rock Springs Massacre was the result of long-simmering tensions in the community, the broader territory of Wyoming as well as the entire western United States in the years following the Gold Rush. Many Chinese immigrants had arrived into the port of San Francisco lured by the promise of work and gold, and ultimately moved inland. The tensions arose as the Chinese immigrants looked for work in the same places where European-descended Americans were expanding the country westward. The front page of the Deseret Evening News on Sept. 4, 1885, with reporting on the massacre in Rock Springs, Wyo. This tension predated and potentially led to the first-ever immigration reform signed into law by the U.S. government: The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But before that was signed into law, the coal miners in Wyoming along the transcontinental railroad went on strike in 1879. As a result, the mine owners hired Chinese workers to cross the picket line and work for lower wages. Then a fight broke out between the Chinese and Wyoming miners in shaft No. 6 in Rock Springs and the violence, which killed one Chinese worker, spilled up above ground and into the town itself. Remembering the past Rock Springs has not shied away from its history but rather remembered and considered it a learning opportunity for the community. Our local school district teaches about the Chinese massacre when they do their history of Rock Springs unit, Mickelson said. Theyre planning on bringing students every year down to the park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For one Wyoming legislator, the recognition in Rock Springs is a hopeful sign for the state and for the country in general. A page of the Deseret Evening News on Sept. r, 1885, in the aftermath of the massacre in Rock Springs, Wyo, Its a good reflection on the progress our country has made, that going from something like the Rock Springs massacre 140 years ago to having a state legislator who is Chinese American sit in the House of Representatives for the state, said Mike Yin, the only Chinese American representative in Wyoming state government. And being close to Labor Day, his reflection also comes with a warning about the value of work and community. Its a reminder that labor shouldnt be divided and communities shouldnt be divided, Yin said. When you divide a labor movement or you divide a community, (the Rock Springs Massacre) is an example of what could happen as a result. BEIJING, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the world was facing a choice between peace or war at a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, flanked by Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un in an unprecedented show of force. The event to mark 80 years since Japans defeat at the end of World War Two was largely shunned by Western leaders, with Putin and Kim - pariahs in the West due to the Ukraine war and Kims nuclear ambitions - the guests of honour. Designed to project Chinas military might and diplomatic clout, it also comes as U.S. President Donald Trumps tariffs and volatile policymaking strain its relations with allies and rivals alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum, Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators at Tiananmen Square, adding that the Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history. Related: Kim Jong Un Arrives In Beijing For Military Parade Alongside Putin And Xi Riding in an open-top limousine, Xi then inspected the troops and cutting-edge military equipment such as hypersonic missiles, underwater drones and a weaponised robot wolf. Helicopters trailing large banners and fighter jets flew in formation during a 70-minute showcase that culminated in the release of 80,000 peace birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donning a tunic suit in the style worn by former leader Mao Zedong, Xi earlier greeted more than 25 leaders on the red carpet, including Indonesias Prabowo Subianto who made a surprise appearance despite widespread protests at home. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. (Photo by ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) ALEXANDER KAZAKOV via Getty Images Seated between Putin and Kim in the viewing gallery, Xi repeatedly engaged in conversations with both leaders as thousands of troops and materiel passed before them. It marked the first time the trio have appeared together in public. Putin later thanked Kim for his soldiers courageous fighting in the war in Ukraine during a bilateral meeting at Chinas State Guesthouse. The North Korean leader said he was willing to do everything he can to help Russia. In a post directed at Xi on Truth Social as the parade kicked off, Trump highlighted the U.S. role in helping China secure its freedom from Japan during World War Two. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America, Trump added. The Kremlin said Putin was not conspiring against the United States and suggested Trump was being ironic in his remarks. XIS GLOBAL VISION Xi has cast World War Two as a major turning point in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, in which it overcame the humiliation of Japans invasion to become a global powerhouse. Earlier this week, Xi unveiled his vision of a new world order at a regional security summit, calling for unity against hegemonism and power politics, a thinly veiled swipe at his rival across the Pacific Ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xi feels confident that the table has turned. Its China that is back in the drivers seat now, said Wen-Ti Sung, fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub, based in Taiwan. Its been Trumpian unilateralism rather than Chinas wolf warrior diplomacy when people talk about the leading source of uncertainty in the international system. At a lavish reception after the parade at the Great Hall of the People, Xi told his guests that humanity must not return to the law of the jungle. Beyond the pomp and propaganda, analysts are watching whether Xi, Putin and Kim may signal closer defence relations following a pact signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024, and a similar alliance between Beijing and Pyongyang, an outcome that may alter the military calculus in the Asia-Pacific region. Related: Iconic Lisbon Streetcar Derails, Killing 15 People Putin has already sealed deeper energy deals with Beijing during his China visit, while the gathering has given the reclusive Kim an opportunity to gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been 66 years since a North Korean leader last attended a Chinese military parade. Kim also shook hands with the speaker of South Koreas National Assembly Woo Won-shik before the start of the parade, Woos office said. Pyongyang has rejected Seouls recent overtures to stabilise souring relations between the two Koreas, technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Kim travelled to Beijing with his daughter Ju Ae, whom South Korean intelligence consider his most likely successor, although she was not seen alongside him at the parade. IMPRESSIVE STRIDES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past two years, more than a dozen generals - many formerly close to Xi - have been purged from the Peoples Liberation Army in a sweeping corruption crackdown. The parade allows Xi to focus the worlds attention on its impressive strides in modernising its military hardware, while overshadowing the stubborn challenges afflicting the PLA, most notably the continued purges rolling through the ranks of its most senior officers, said Jon Czin, a foreign policy analyst at Brookings Institution, a U.S.-based think tank. The parade was not only aimed at projecting Chinas might to the outside world, but also galvanising patriotic spirit at home, analysts said. In his keynote address, Xi called the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation unstoppable. Civil servants up and down the country have been tasked with watching the parade and writing down their reflections, one of them told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Additional reporting by Xiaoyu Yin, Go Nakamura, Xihao Jiang, Alessandro Diviggiano, Maxim Shemetov, Shubing Wang, Tingshu Wang, Laurie Chen, Joe Cash, Xiuhao Chen, Tiffany Le, Lewis Jackson, Nicoco Chan, Florence Lo and Kevin Krolicki in Beijing; Liz Lee, Shi Bu, Qiaoyi Li in Shanghai; Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Ju-min Park, Joyce Lee and Josh Smith in Seoul; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Alex Richardson, Lincoln Feast and Michael Perry) More on World News China Displays Its Military Strength With Parade On 80th Anniversary Of WWII's End Death Toll In Lisbon Streetcar Crash Rises To 17 As Portugal Observes National Day Of Mourning Maduro Vows To Declare A 'Republic In Arms' If U.S. Forces Attack Venezuela Read the original on HuffPost 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: Loneliness is bad for health and wealth in the U.K. Credit: ClickerHappy, Pixabay, CC0 (creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) In the U.K., four in 10 citizens identify as being lonely at least some of the time, and people who report being often lonely incur about 850 more in annual National Health Service costs than their non-lonely counterparts, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Nia Morrish from the University of Exeter, U.K., and colleagues. The World Health Organization recognizes loneliness as a "priority public health problem." Research supports this claim, but the effect of loneliness on health care costs remains largely unknown. Morrish and colleagues analyzed the Understanding Society U.K. Household Longitudinal Study, which gathers survey and interview data from U.K. adults. They looked at self-reported loneliness, health and well-being measures and National Health Service expenditures across 23,071 participants from 20212023. Health care costs were estimated at 49 per general practitioner visit, 217 per outpatient visit and 1,111 per inpatient case. About 32% of participants felt lonely some of the time and approximately 8% reported feeling lonely "often." Loneliness was associated with mental distress, worse mental well-being and poorer physical and mental functioning. Lonely individualsthose who reported feeling lonely oftenincurred approximately 900 more in annual National Health Service costs (including GP, outpatient, and inpatient care) than non-lonely individuals. This suggests those experiencing loneliness booked more outpatient visits and GP appointments. The authors observed that the difference in health care costs associated with loneliness tended to increase with age, such that lonely older adults tended to incur relatively more in NHS costs compared to their non-lonely peers than did lonely middle-aged adults. The exception was the youngest, often lonely adults, aged 1624, who actually incurred larger costs versus their non-lonely peers than those in the next age groups of 2534-year-olds and 3549-year-olds. The age-related cost of loneliness could therefore be U-shaped. The authors note their finding that loneliness affects health and related costs more significantly in 1624-year-olds supports the provision of increased health care resources for lonely young adults. As their dataset predominantly comprised white Britons, they also encourage investigating loneliness's impact on ethnic minorities and understudied groups. Lead author Nia Morrish, of the University of Exeter, adds, "We know that loneliness has a significant effect on health and well-being, particularly among older adults. However, we know much less about its impact across the wider population and on health care service use. Using a large U.K.-based dataset, this study examined both the health and economic consequences of loneliness. "We found that people experiencing loneliness, especially in younger adulthood and later life, incur higher NHS costs compared with those who are not lonely. Loneliness was also strongly linked with poorer health, reduced well-being, and lower quality of life." Co-author Professor Antonieta Medina-Lara, of the University of Exeter, adds, "Our findings highlight the importance of recognizing loneliness as both a public health issue and an NHS priority. Too often overlooked, loneliness carries substantial personal and societal costs. "By making these visible, we hope to encourage new approaches to help people build connections, improve well-being, and ultimately reduce the burden on health services." More information Morrish N, et al. How loneliness relates to health, wellbeing, quality of life, and healthcare resource utilisation and costs across multiple age groups in the UK, PLOS One (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327671 Journal information: PLoS ONE Xi Jinping hailed the unstoppable rise of China as he presided over his countrys largest ever military parade attended by Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin. The event, organised to mark the 80th anniversary of Japans defeat in the Second World War, was attended by 26 world leaders, including the leaders of Russia and North Korea who were given prized seats on either side of Mr Xi during the parade. It is the first time the three leaders have met and they could be seen chatting before and during the ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin and Kim also broke away for a private meeting after the procession to discuss North Koreas support for Russia in its war against Ukraine. It lasted more than two hours. The parade comes at the end of Shanghai Cooperation Summit where Mr Xi welcomed Putin and Narendra Modi, described as the axis of upheaval, where the Chinese premier set out his vision for a new global order. Donald Trump sounded off on the parade on his Truth Social platform, writing to Mr Xi: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United State of America. President Xi gives a toast at a reception in the Great Hall of the People - AFP Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state TV that Mr Trumps statement was not without irony adding that no one was plotting, no one was weaving anything, no conspiracies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his opening remarks at the parade, Mr Xi said China would never be intimidated by any bullies and emphasised the need for his nation to speed up building its world class military during his speech which lasted for around 10 minutes. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable. The noble cause of peace and development for mankind will surely triumph, he said. He finished his remarks by affirming that his military would firmly safeguard Chinas sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. After concluding his speech, Mr Xi descended from the Tiananmen rostrum and entered an open-top limousine fitted with four microphones from which he greeted the more than 10,000 troops taking part in the parade. Putin, Xi, Kim and Pakistans prime minister walking together at the military parade - Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP Xi greeted troops from a limousine - AP The streets of Beijing were shut down to showcase the Chinese militarys vast array of hardware including never-before-seen pieces of equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the new hardware on display were three new classes of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), all of which can carry nuclear missiles and have global strike ranges, as well as new stealth jets, tanks and a highly anticipated new laser weapon system. The Tiananmen Square parade opened with several extravagant performances of nationalist, communist songs by the 1,000 members of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) band. The foot procession which followed involved the main branches of army, navy, air force and rocket force the force responsible for nuclear and strategic weapons. The aerospace and cyberspace force, two newer branches of the military, were included for the first time. State TV commentators in China said the marching soldiers represented their people striving for a better future, adding: China today is a great country with majestic mountains and rivers, and its people are full of pride and ambition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This great nation never bows to any enemy, one commentator said, adding that enemies would face bloodshed. Military personnel took part in a foot procession - AP Chinese troops shouted slogans as they marched during the parade - AFP Then came a roll-out of tanks and armoured vehicles, including the new Type 99B battle tank, which made its debut at the parade, as well as the PHL-16, a multiple rocket launcher known as the Chinese version of the US-made HIMARS system. Also on display for the first time was the HQ-20 air defence system, which can be used to target aircraft, missiles and drones from the ground as well as the CJ-1000, a new long-range hypersonic cruise missile system and the DF-26D, an intermediate-range ballistic missile which can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. The DF-5C, which also got its first outing, is believed to be able to carry up to 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle warheads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same can be said for the JL-3, a submarine-launched nuclear missile that could reach Alaska and Hawaii from China. Unmanned vehicles and an aerial demonstration concluded the parade with over 100 aircraft, including fighter jets as well as reconnaissance and transport planes flying overhead followed by the release of 80,000 doves. Mr Xi watched the entire parade from the rostrum, squinting in the bright sun and clapping occasionally. YJ-20 missiles on show at the military parade - Reuters Putin praised the parade, saying that the days events were held brilliantly and at a high level. He added specifically that the celebrations were relevant to Russia and North Korea [b]ecause our countries took part in the shared struggle against Nazism, fascism and militarism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the military procession, a banquet lunch was served at the Great Hall of the People, where Kim and Putin broke away for their private meeting. Kim said he would do everything he could to help Russia fight against Ukraine and praised the North Korean soldiers for fighting courageously and heroically. Putin also invited Kim to Russia, telling the North Korean leader that he was waiting for you, come visit us. An estimated 15,000 North Korean troops have already been sent to Russia and Ukrainian officials have said an additional 30,000 might be dispatched in the coming months. Mr Xis decision to be joined by Putin and Kim on such a momentous occasion is also noteworthy. China and Russia enjoy close relations with what has been described by the leaders as a no limits partnership, and since Russias war in Ukraine, Beijing has become one of Moscows few international friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kims seat next to Mr Xi was probably a strategic decision rooted in a shared history, said Leonid Petrov, a leading North Korea expert and dean of the International College of Management in Australia. Kim is the leader of one of very few Communist regimes left on the planet, who is opposing the US and Liberal Democracy, just like China and Russia, said Dr Petrov, noting that Kims grandfather Kim Il Sung was on the same side as China during World War II, similarly fighting against the Japanese. Also in attendance and to the surprise of many watching was former Australian premier Daniel Andrews, who sat a few rows behind Mr Xi, Putin and Kim at the parade. His attendance was seen as controversial by many who criticised the optics of a former government official being seen alongside the three leaders, Putin in particular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, when asked, Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, seemed to shrug off Mr Andrews presence, noting that government minister Michael Ronaldson had attended the last military parade held in 2015. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. BEIJING (AP) China showcased its military might in a parade Wednesday marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II as it seeks to wield greater influence on the global stage. Leader Xi Jinping, speaking before the parade, paid tribute to Chinese veterans of the war. Since coming to power in 2012, he has sought to build China into a country that cannot be bullied and is strong enough to stand up to foreign powers. The Chinese people are ... not afraid of violence and are self-reliant and strong, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese military showed off aerial and underwater drones, hypersonic missiles and fighter jets and bombers in a 90-minute event attended by the leaders of about two dozen countries, including Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. China's Communist Party hails progress since World War II The splashy commemoration of the anniversary is a way to boost support for Communist Party rule by showing the progress made by China. The country was a major front in the war and millions died during Japans invasion. Xi, who has been positioning China as a stabilizing force in an unstable world, said humanity must choose between peace and war and dialogue and confrontation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese peoples rejuvenation cannot be blocked, and the noble goal of the peaceful development of human civilization must triumph, Xi said at the end of his speech. An analyst at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore said the turbulence in U.S. policy is an opportunity for China. This is the right time for China to announce its arrival on the stage, to be a security guarantor, to fill the political, economic, military, diplomatic vacuums, said James Char, an assistant professor in the China Program. Parade showed off drone submarines and hypersonic missiles Highlights of the weaponry in the parade included the AJX002 underwater drone, a long, black, tube-shaped craft that looks like a narrow submarine with a rear propeller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other weapons that got attention were hypersonic missiles designed to take out ships at sea and a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the DF-61, which could carry nuclear warheads to distant targets. The hypersonic weapons are of particular concern to the U.S. Navy, which patrols the western Pacific from its 7th Fleet headquarters in Japan. Fighter jets and bombers flew across the sky, some painting colored trails. Helicopters flew in formation, one group of 26 spelling out the number 80 for the war's anniversary year. The ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute, followed by the national anthem, the March of the Volunteers, a song composed in 1935 during the early years of resistance against invading Japanese forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump sends a message As the parade got underway, U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the big question is whether Xi will recognize the contributions of Americans who fought in the war. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America, he added. The U.S. eyed the gathering of the three leaders warily, as well as a 10-nation summit meeting in China on Monday that brought together Xi, Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro also took issue with the three leaders who dont follow and go against international law appearing together in the parade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats intimidation. For me, thats a threat specially to smaller nations, he told reporters in the northern Philippine mountain resort city of Baguio, where U.S. and Philippine officials commemorated the anniversary. Xis remarks did not mention the U.S. by name but expressed his gratitude to foreign countries that helped China resist the Japanese invasion. Putin and Kim, who later held talks in Beijing, flanked Xi as they made their way to the platform overlooking Tiananmen Square. They paused to shake hands with five WWII veterans, some older than 100. Asked about Trump's social media post, Putin told reporters that the president of the United States is not without a sense of humor, but sought to assure that "over these four days, during negotiations of all kinds, both in formal and informal settings, no one has ever expressed any negative judgments on the current American administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said that everyone with whom he had spoken during his four-day visit to China had supported" his meeting with Trump in Alaska last month and expressed their hope that negotiations would end Russias invasion of Ukraine. Im saying this without irony, without joking, as public figures all over the world will see this as I say it, and they will understand, Putin said. Xi reviews troops and reminds them to defend China's claim to Taiwan The event began with troops marching in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, to be reviewed by Xi, who heads Chinas military as chairman of the Central Military Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xi rode the entire length of their formations along Beijings central Changan Avenue in a classic black limousine. He stood up through the vehicles sunroof with four microphones lined in front of him and greeted flanks of personnel as he passed them and rows of armaments and military vehicles. They shouted back mottos in unison, such as We serve the people. The People's Liberation Army is a heroic military the people and the Party can trust and rely on completely," Xi said, adding that the army's task was to safeguard the countrys sovereignty and unification a reference to Chinas claim over the self-ruled island of Taiwan. Across the Taiwan Strait, President William Lai said military might should not be used for aggression or territorial expansion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwan does not use the barrel of a gun to commemorate peace," he said in a Facebook post. "Instead, it recalls the martyrs, remembers the lessons of history, and upholds the belief in freedom and democracy. ___ Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in Washington, Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report. CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand China did not disappoint with its massive Sep. 3 military parade through Tiananmen Square, the site of a violent massacre in the heart of Beijing in June 1989, with numerous VIPs from around the world attending. As China celebrated its victory over fascist Japanese forces in 1945, the places of honor at Chairman Xi Jinpings right and left hands were assigned to authoritarian leaders Vladimir Putin of Russia and Kim Jong Un of North Korea, respectively. In his speech, Xi warned that the world was faced with a choice of peace or war, ominously adding that the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump responded to the spectacle of the Xi-Putin-Kim bonhomie on Truth Social, writing, Give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America. Mick Ryan, a retired major general in the Australian Army, noted that the equipment the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) paraded was generally more modern than that in the inventories of Western military organizations. Newer does not always mean better, however. While most Western military equipment has been tested in Iraq, Ukraine and elsewhere, none of Chinas new kit has. There were surprises, including the DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile carried aboard a 16x16 transporter-erector-launcher. Little is known about the DF-61, which follows on from the DF-41 ICBM unveiled six years ago. However, it is likely a next-generation successor with greater range and speed. YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles are seen during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3, 2025. (Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images) The DF-61 was accompanied by the JL-1 air-launched nuclear-tipped missile, as well as the JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile. This phalanx of missiles demonstrated the PLA Rocket Force now has a complete nuclear-weapon triad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another item of interest was the DF-31BJ, which is an ICBM launched from an underground silo. China has been investing heavily in missile silo fields deep in its hinterland. The DF-5C liquid-fueled ICBM rolled past the Tiananmen Square rostrum, too, this silo-launched missile capable of hitting targets anywhere in the world. Missiles featured prominently in the parade, with another formation containing three types of hypersonic missile: the YJ-21 launched from ships or aircraft, and the land-based DF-26D and DF-17. The YJ-21 has an estimated 1,500km range and it will be a key weapon in keeping American aircraft carriers at arms length, especially in the event of any Taiwan invasion. Its unclear what modifications the DF-26D possesses compared to preceding versions of the Guam killer intermediate-range ballistic missile. Some analysts claim the DF-26D has a 5,000km range. A Chinese state TV commentator said of hypersonic missiles that speed is key to victory, and that they fly at extremely high speed, excel in breaking through blockades and hitting targets with high precision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One wonders what Putin might have been thinking as he observed the might of the PLA roll past his eyes, especially as his own military is decimated by its war of attrition in Ukraine. China was once reliant on Russian technology and weapons, but all the weapons displayed in the parade were of indigenous Chinese origin. Long gone are the days were China was reliant on Russia or other foreign systems. This level of indigenous capacity infers high levels of sustainability in any future conflict, said Ryan, the defense analyst. Three cruise missiles appeared in the parade, the air-launched CJ-20A, the naval YJ-18C and the truck-launched CJ-1000. Unmanned systems featured prominently, with multiple examples from the land, air and maritime domains. Autonomous underwater vehicles included vessels for reconnaissance and laying sea mines, as well as an unmanned surface vessel. A CS-5000T drone is seen during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3, 2025. (Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images) Unmanned combat drones attracted great interest, with four types appearing. At least some of them are designed to accompany Chinese fifth-generation fighters like the twin-seat J-20S to achieve air dominance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illustrating that China has been learning lessons from the Ukraine war, several types of anti-drone systems were on display, including gun, missile, laser and microwave systems to create a layered defensive shield. Ground combat vehicles included the debut of the Type 100 tank and an accompanying fighting vehicle. These tracked vehicles use a hybrid electric propulsion unit that ensures silent approaches in combat. Crew members also use augmented-reality goggles with these advanced vehicles, and the fighting vehicle version comes with integral drones for reconnaissance. Air defense was well represented with no fewer than five systems, specifically the HQ-9C, HQ-11, HQ-19, HQ-22A and HQ-29. The latter reportedly can intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and low-orbit satellites thanks to its estimated 6,000km range and 1,500km interception altitude. Despite Chinas spectacle of weapons of war, Ryan cautioned that parades are not indictors of warfighting effectiveness. Notwithstanding the impressive orchestration of the parade these have almost zero impact on the measurement of military effectiveness. Xi Jinping staged a staggering show of Chinas military power on Wednesday before some of the worlds most powerful authoritarian leaders, rallying them behind his vision for a new world order as US President Donald Trump wages a global trade war and shakes up American alliances. From atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing, Xi presided over a 70-minute parade to mark the end of World War II flanked by a strongman waging Europes bloodiest conflict since 1945 and an Asian leader funneling him troops and weapons. To many in the West, the defining image of the spectacle is not the parade of stealth fighter jets, nuclear-capable missiles or troops marching in perfect synchrony but the sight of Xi, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un standing side by side, in an unprecedented show of solidarity against the US and its allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They formed the defiant face of a growing bloc of illiberal leaders determined to push back against Western rules and tilt the global balance of power in their favor. The Chinese nation is the great nation that is never intimidated by any bullies, Xi, Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, told the leaders of 26 countries, thousands of troops and more than 50,000 spectators gathering in the heart of Beijing. At various moments throughout the parade, Xi, Putin and Kim who had never appeared together in public before were seen leaning toward one another, sharing a smile and even overheard chatting about immortality and longevity on the way to the Tiananmen rostrum. The deliberate display of unity is a pointed rebuke to Trumps faltering attempt to end Russias war in Ukraine and an open challenge to Americas waning global leadership under the US president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That message has seemingly been received by Trump, who wrote on Truth Social as the parade was underway: May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. Putin responded during a Wednesday news conference in Beijing, saying the US president does not lack a sense of humor, adding that none of the world leaders who joined the summit in China expressed negative judgments about the current US administration. People gather at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2025, for a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. - Kyodo/Getty Images Chinas grand show of force was also designed to rally national pride and showcase Xis tight grip on the military, even as his ongoing corruption purges have roiled the top ranks of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and raised questions about the combat readiness of a force that hasnt fought a major war in nearly half a century. Xi rode in an open-top black limousine to inspect troops and weapons lined up along the Avenue of Eternal Peace. Comrades, youve worked hard! Xi said from his black Red Flag limousine. (We) serve the people! the soldiers shouted back in perfect unison, saluting and watching the leader as he glided by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Chinese social media, users applauded the impressive hardware and discipline of the PLA and drew comparisons to Trumps military parade held in Washington in June. Chinas military parade: A showcase of national power. US military parade: A showcase of relaxation, one user wrote on Weibo. Brian Hart, a fellow of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Beijings goal is to show domestic audiences and foreign watchers that despite challenges like corruption, its military is increasingly advanced and lethal. Xi Jinping has made military modernization one of his top personal priorities, and he has been relentlessly pushing the military to improve. This parade is an opportunity to show off the PLAs advances under his leadership, he said. Military personnel take part in a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. - Alexander Kazakov/AP Show of force The parade capped days of diplomacy and pageantry in the nearby port city of Tianjin, where Xi used a regional summit to take thinly veiled swipes at Washington and cast China as an alternative global leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of a gathering of leaders from across Asia and the Middle East, Xi rolled out a new vision for how international affairs should be governed, just as Trumps America First policy is upending the world. Wednesdays massive display of force offered Xi a stage to show his guests that China not only has the ambition but also the military power to back up his vision. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, Xi said, repeating his call for the construction of a world-class military. From hypersonic missiles, nuclear-capable weapons to laser air defense systems, the array of sophisticated weaponry on display much of it unveiled to the public for the first time offered a rare glimpse into the rapid advances of Chinas military technology under Xi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In more than a decade in power, Xi has spearheaded an ambitious modernization drive to turn the PLA into a world-class fighting force capable of rivaling and eventually surpassing the US military. YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles are seen during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. - Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images Xi has shifted the PLA away from a Soviet-style, army-oriented command structure to a joint operation system modeled more closely on the US military. He has created or elevated branches to address emerging domains of warfare including the Rocket Force, which manages Chinas nuclear arsenal and became a focus of Xis corruption purges in 2023. Meanwhile, China has poured billions of dollars into developing weapons, many of which were featured in Wednesdays parade for the first time. It has also leveraged its industrial base to accelerate production of military hardware including churning out enough warships to make the PLA Navy the worlds largest. The full day of events in Beijing also included a banquet for world leaders and concluded with a musical gala titled Justice Will Prevail. Axis of Upheaval Optics aside, analysts say there are limits to the grand display of power and unity on Tiananmen Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike the US, China doesnt have a formal military alliance with any country, except North Korea, and it has regularly accused NATO of seeking security at the expense of others and causing chaos around the world. In addition to Putin and Kim, Xis guests also included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, marking the first time the four men have shown up together at one event. Like North Korea, Iran has sent piles of weapons to Russia to support its war on Ukraine, from drones and artillery shells to short-range missiles, according to American and European officials. In the wake of Putins war in Ukraine, strategists in Washington have warned of an emerging anti-American axis of upheaval between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. But experts say their partnerships are primarily bilateral and theres been few signs of four-way coordination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Czin, an analyst at Brookings and a former CIA China expert, said the four leaders joint attendance at the parade was disconcerting and allowed them to present a facade of partnership. However, it is likely a symbolic high-water mark for their partnership rather than a portent of deeper quadrilateral cooperation among them, never mind a turn toward some alternative new world order, he said. North Korea and Iran dangerous as they are are the much more minor players here and have very little to no leverage. That limitation was underscored this summer when the US launched air strikes on Iran, with China and Russia offering little in assistance apart from verbal condemnation of the attacks. Its actually quite telling that the Iranian President is making this trip after that moment, since so many commentators opined that Chinas credibility would take a hit when it did so little to help Iran in that moment. Given Irans lack of better options, Chinas forbearance does not seem to have cost it much, he said. CNNs Lauren Kent and Anna Chernova contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Chinese President Xi Jinping said the world is at a crossroads as he hosted world leaders at a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday marking the 80th anniversary of China's defeat of Japan in World War II. "Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum," Xi said, speaking in front of a large image of former leader Mao Zedong on Tiananmen Square. Xi added that the Chinese people stood firmly on the right side of history, civilization and progress, adding that China would remain committed to a path of peaceful development. After his speech, Xi inspected the lined-up troops in a motorcade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parade, attended by 26 world leaders including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, includes thousands of soldiers and hundreds of military vehicles in dozens of formations. Ahead of the parade, the leaders had met at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where they called for a new world order. The Russia-friendly SCO is seen as a counterbalance to Western alliances, including NATO. China displayed a range of new weapons at the parade, including unmanned combat jets, underwater drones, the mobile laser weapon LY-1, which can fend off swarms of smaller drones or guided missiles, the "loyal wingman," a drone that can support manned combat jets in operations or conduct reconnaissance missions and hypersonic missiles. These intercontinental missiles, which could reach the US mainland or Europe with nuclear warheads, have been part of China's arsenal for some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second time China has held a military parade to mark its victory over Japan - the first was held on the 70th anniversary in 2015. It was North Korean leader Kim's first ever participation in a multilateral event. The last major military parade in Beijing took place in 2019 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. Putin highlights close partnership with North Korea Putin highlighted the partnership between his country and North Korea during a meeting with his counterpart Kim on the sidelines of the military parade in Beijing. Putin thanked the dictator from the isolated communist country for his soldiers' participation in the recapture of the western Russian region of Kursk from Ukrainian troops, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Your soldiers have fought bravely and heroically," said Putin. Kim replied that North Korea was always ready to help Russia and saw this as a "brotherly obligation," according to a Kremlin translation. Putin is using not only weapons and ammunition from North Korea in his war against Ukraine: As part of a military assistance pact, Kim also sent several thousand soldiers to Russia, who helped to drive Ukrainian troops out of the border region of Kursk. According to the assessment by the South Korean intelligence agency, about 2,000 North Koreans were killed in the fighting. According to Russian media, Putin's conversation with Kim lasted about two and a half hours. At the farewell, Kim embraced the Russian leader and spoke of an upcoming new meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are waiting for you, come," Putin replied, according to the state news agency TASS. The North Korean leader last visited the Russian Far East in 2023. Trump accuses leaders of conspiracy against US, which Kremlin rejects US President Donald Trump addressed Xi directly in a post on his Truth Social platform ahead of the parade, saying, "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America." "I would like to say that no one has instigated any conspiracies, no one has concocted anything," Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy adviser, told Russian state television. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ushakov added that "moreover, no one has even thought about it, none of the three leaders has thought about it." The Kremlin said it hopes that Trump's comments were meant ironically. The Kremlin has repeatedly welcomed Trump's efforts to seek peace in the Russian war against Ukraine. According to Ushakov, US-Russian contacts mainly revolve around a possible end to the war in Ukraine. He also mentioned that a new meeting between Moscow and Washington is being prepared, although the location and time are not yet determined. War cost millions of Chinese lives Beijing was addressing a dark historical chapter with the parade. Japan attacked China in 1937. The war lasted until 1945 and claimed millions of lives in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Competing Chinese Nationalists, or Kuomintang (KMT), and Communists agreed on a united front to combat Japan but remained distrustful of each other. After Japan's surrender, the civil war between them flared up again. In 1949, the Communists won the civil war, and Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing, while the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan, still officially known as the Republic of China (ROC). The fact that the People's Republic did not exist in 1945 is still cited today as a reason to criticize Beijing's portrayal of the wartime period - especially in Taiwan, which is self-governing but is claimed by Beijing. "Taiwan does not commemorate peace with guns, but by honouring our fallen heroes, remembering history's lessons, and standing firm in our belief in freedom and democracy," President Lai Ching-te wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, adding that weapons are for defence, not aggression or expansion. A press release from the yeshiva claimed that this was the first time Jews had entered the old city since 1929. Yeshiva Shavei Hebron students took over a house in Hebrons Old City on Tuesday. It was the first time Jews had entered the Old City since 1929, the yeshiva said in a press release. The IDF and the Palestinian Authority control different parts of Hebron. The yeshiva said it plans to renovate the historic Valero house, which is currently uninhabitable, into dorm rooms for its students. About 450 students attend Shavei Hevron, the yeshiva said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students affixed a mezuzah on the door of the house and claimed it for theyeshiva, it said. We are happy and full of gratitude to Hashem for the privilege of being emissaries for Am Yisrael and for the State of Israel in the making of historic justice by the redemption of Jewish property stolen after the 1929 Arab riots, said Rabbi Hananel Etrog, the yeshivas dean. Students from Yeshiva Shavei Hevron claim the Valero house in the old city. (credit: Courtesy) We also express our thanks to the many emissaries in the government, the Civil Administration, the IDF, and [OC Central Command Maj.-Gen.]Avi Bluth. What happened during the Hebron massacre? In 1929, an Arab uprising in Hebron killed 67 Jews and forced the Jewish community out of the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The seizure of the house represents the making of national history, the yeshiva said. We returned to the place from which Jews were expelled nearly 100 years ago, it said. The murderers need to understand that it doesnt matter if two years have passed since the terrible massacre of Simchat Torah or 96 years since the murderous riot of 1929. We will return to every home, to every place, and to every parcel of land in Eretz Yisrael. WESTOVER, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) The YMCA just got a big boost from New York State to address some aging infrastructure. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo visited the West Family Branch in Westover today to announce a $1.2 million grant to fully fund a complete renovation of the facilitys pool, locker rooms and shower areas. The work will replace the pools mechanicals and filtration system as well as upgrade the overall look of the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heastie says the investment is part of the states commitment to swimming safety. Speaker Carl Heastie says, Supporting YMCAs and other community centers around the state and localities that want to encourage swim, were just happy to do it. Its one of those small things that makes communities better and safer. The pool hosts thousands of swim lessons per year for both children and seniors, as well as a variety of exercise classes. Executive Director Gareth Sansom says that the pool is getting even greater usage now that the YMCA decided to close the pool in its downtown Binghamton facility in order to make way for additional homeless housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sansom calls the pool the heartbeat of the West Branch facility, open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. YMCA Executive Director Gareth Sansom says, The mechanics of the pool have been breaking down. They were installed in 1987. We did do a renovation in the early 2000s, theyve reached the end of their useful life. When that happens, were not able to maintain the temperature in the pool, were not able to maintain chemicals in the pool, were not able to maintain the air in the pool. When that happens, were not able to provide the quality service. Sansom says this is the first step in a planned complete overhaul of the Westover facility. Hes looking to additional state funding as well as support from local foundations to do everything from the parking lot to the rooftop to the childrens outdoor play area. 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. Recently, more than a dozen business interests have joined National Grid in backing the Northeast Supply Enhancement project, or NESE, a controversial pipeline championed by President Donald Trump that would carry gas underwater from New Jersey into New York City and Long Island. The groups, mostly based on Long Island, have submitted letters to the state utility regulator with similar and sometimes identical language in support of the pipeline. The letters were filed in a case before the Public Service Commission, or PSC, which is reviewing National Grids long-term plan to supply gas to the downstate area. The case began more than a year ago, when the pipeline was off the table after state regulators had repeatedly rejected it. Then, following talks between Trump and Governor Kathy Hochul, the pipeline company Williams revived the project, which would pipe gas directly into National Grids network. The utility filed an update to its gas plan in early July signaling its keen support for the project, turning the PSC case into a referendum on the pipeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of people have submitted comments opposing National Grids plans. They argue that the pipeline will fuel climate change, stir up toxic chemicals in the New York Bay, and saddle gas customers with more than $3 billion in construction costs. (National Grid estimates its downstate gas customers will pay an extra $7.50 each per month, on average, for the pipeline.) Now, the utility appears to be rallying its side. National Grid and its allies which range from regional business groups and chambers of commerce to building trades unions to a boutique real estate developer argue in their filings that more gas is needed to shore up reliability; that the pipeline could combat climate change by reducing dependence on oil; and that it would ultimately save New Yorkers billions of dollars by bringing down the cost of electricity. One of National Grids main, new rationales for the pipeline is that it would help satisfy ballooning power demand from industries like artificial intelligence. At least five of the letters contain almost entirely the same text, copied word for word; others share exact sentences, if not full paragraphs. One has the word template in its file name; two include [INSERT PARTY] in the heading, where the filers names should go. Metadata in four of the documents names Greenberg Traurig, a lobbying firm that represents National Grid. The data suggests that the documents were originally created on August 14, about a week before the first letter was filed to the PSC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim Fraczek, director of the anti-pipeline group Sane Energy Project, said the business groups recent intervention bore traces of a larger power mobilizing to outweigh the opposition. Ive never seen it pile on like this before, particularly at the last minute and particularly when this is such a hot political button, she said. The public comment period on National Grids gas plan closes September 5. (The process is separate from NESEs environmental permitting, for which comments closed earlier this month.) Ten business interests and three building trades groups have joined the case as formal parties since just last Thursday, now making up a third of all participants. Asked whether it was coordinating the lobbying, National Grid declined to answer, instead providing a general statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We recommend the NESE pipeline project move forward to meet the growing power demand in the region and enhance reliability, said spokesperson Alexander Starr. As a provider of essential energy services, National Grid routinely meets with community leaders and stakeholders, and complies with all city, state, and federal regulations regarding lobbying. Greenberg Traurig did not respond to a request for comment. The groups filing the letters provided differing accounts of what prompted them. Terri Alessi-Miceli, president of HIA-LI, told New York Focus that National Grid approached her organization and others about supporting the pipeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another pipeline backer Kyle Strober, executive director of the Association for a Better Long Island strongly denied that National Grid was behind his advocacy and instead took credit for spearheading local support for NESE. National Grid did not draft my letter, he said. I put together my letter, circulated it around, told everyone who signed up, informed National Grid that I was doing it. The letter, which was co-signed by a half-dozen other Long Island business groups, overlaps extensively with several of the other letters and contains [INSERT PARTY] in the heading. Strober said any lapse in his filings was due to the maze of paperwork that the PSC requires from those who sign up as formal parties to its cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I had to submit things online, maybe it says, Insert here, and then I didnt delete it and put something there, he said. (PSC spokesperson Jim Denn said the commission does not provide templates to commenters.) Strober stressed that he had long supported the pipeline, since the state was first reviewing it some seven years ago. I dont know what youre alleging or not, he continued, but we are staunch supporters of the pipeline and we will tell everyone that it needs to be done. 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: Structure diagram of the semi-supervised learning method for 3D medical image segmentation. Credit: Guo Zheng A research team led by Prof. Wang Huanqin at the Institute of Intelligent Machines, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recently proposed a semi-supervised medical image segmentation method. The results were published in Pattern Recognition. Pixel-level annotation of 3D medical images is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To reduce this burden, semi-supervised medical image segmentation has gained attention by using a small set of labeled images along with many unlabeled ones. Most current methods rely on consistency regularization and pseudo-labeling. While their strategies vary, they share the goal of making predictions stable under data perturbations to improve generalization. However, this can sometimes cause an imbalance between global features and fine boundary details. In this study, the team introduced a novel boundary feature alignment method. The approach focuses on learning unified boundary feature representations across both labeled and unlabeled data. A key innovation is the design of a 3D boundary extractor capable of reliably capturing both ground truth and pseudo-label boundaries. By mixing these boundary types, the model achieves early embedding of boundary features, thereby promoting better alignment and generalization across different annotation states. Implemented within a standard mean teacher framework, the method was evaluated on three benchmark datasetsLA (left atrium), Pancreas-CT (pancreas), and ACDC (right ventricle, left ventricle, and myocardium). Experimental results show that the proposed approach achieves competitive performance. Remarkably, on the ACDC dataset with only 10% labeled data, the method outperformed even fully supervised models in key metrics such as 95% Hausdorff Distance and Average Surface Distance. These results offer a promising direction for reducing the annotation workload in large-scale clinical applications. More information Yigeng Huang et al, Boundary feature alignment for semi-supervised medical image segmentation, Pattern Recognition (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.patcog.2025.111946 Key medical concepts Pancreas Provided by Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences NEW YORK (PIX11) More than a dozen have been arrested and face almost 40 criminal charges after New York authorities conducted the largest vape enforcement action in state history, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday. The crackdown by the New York State Department of Health and State Police targeted businesses that operated online vape shops and illegally distributed products throughout the state, according to the governor. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These companies built their business models around breaking New Yorks laws and targeting our kids now, were holding them accountable, Hochul said. Many of the illegal vapes included bright-colored disposable e-cigarettes and e-liquids flavors like fruit, candy, soda and other desserts, according to authorities. The products were marketed particularly towards children through websites, social media and phone apps. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Some of the vapes also had digital display screens and other tech features similar to smartphones and video games popular among kids, the governor announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the largest criminal vape enforcement operation in state history, New York is sending a message: if you sell vapor products in violation of our laws, you will face serious consequences, Hochul said. Some of the businesses that were impacted by the crackdown include the following. Businesses impacted by illegal vape crackdown Shindler Distribution d/b/a Vaporush (Manhattan) ePuffer (Manhattan & Brooklyn) Vape4Style (Brooklyn) Beyond Vape (Bronx) NYC Glass 718 (Staten Island) JPL Development Inc. d/b/a Vaperdudes (Long Island) Shinnecock Vape Shop (Long Island) The vape dealers arrested were charged with unlawful shipment and transport of vapor products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YORK, Pa. (WHTM) After recent violence in York, the city said it will try to bring the community together at a town hall Wednesday. Earlier this week, York City Police made an arrest in connection to an incident where it said LGBTQ+ members reported they were harassed and attacked downtown. Police charged a man with one count of aggravated assault and one count of strangulation. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts What happened downtown has shaken our city, but it also shows the importance of speaking out and showing up for one another, said Clare Twomey, director of the York Human Relations Commission. The city said the event, titled No Hate in Our State, aims to bridge divides and foster understanding while supporting the LGBTQ+ community. It is also a chance for attendees to voice what the city can do next. This town hall is about listening, healing and making sure community voices guide the work ahead, said Sheryl Meck, the Civil Rights Outreach Division Director for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, who will moderate the discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement York City Police Commissioner Michael Muldrow contacted the commission, which enforces state laws that prohibit discrimination, after the incident occurred. Men walk a mile in her shoes for fundraiser The town hall will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at York City Hall located at 101 S. George St. Speakers at the event include Twomey; the Rev. D. Marie Tribble, pastor of Heidelbergh United Church of Christ; and Christina Wingert, executive director of the Rainbow Rose 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 ABC27. NEW YORK The MTA is investigating whether a subway operator allowed multiple minors to try their hand at driving a train, after videos to that effect circulated on social media last week. Two videos, posted to two separate social media accounts and reviewed by the New York Daily News, each show a young man at the helm of two different R160 train cars, operating above ground in broad daylight. In each video, the same train operator can be seen standing alongside the young men as they pilot the train. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Go, go, go, go, its green, the transit worker says to one boy as he approaches an empty platform at 111th Street on the J train in Richmond Hill, Queens. The boy then proceeds to press a button honking the trains horn. Its unclear when the videos were taken. Sources told the Daily News that transit officials suspect the guided joyrides were made during the morning when the trains were not in service and were being moved into position from a yard. Asked about the videos, an MTA spokesman sent a statement from NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, indicating the agency was looking into the incidents. The videos are under investigation, but they appear to depict unauthorized activity that violates NYC Transits rules, Crichlow said. Any employees involved will face serious disciplinary charges up to termination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The videos come amid a long line of break-ins and joyrides by a small group of young subway enthusiasts. Several minors have been arrested multiple times this year for allegedly breaking into parked subway trains, powering them up and taking them for a ride. In many cases, the minors are accused of gaining access to the trains with keys stolen from transit workers. In February a 15-year-old boy who is not thought to be involved in the videos that came to light last week set off a metal detector at a Bronx high school with a backpack full of allegedly stolen MTA gear. He was arrested on suspicion of participating in at least eight train-related trespasses. _____ The youngest daughter of a mother detained by federal immigration officials has been found, according to the Worcester Police Department. The daughter, who is age 13, was found in Massachusetts last week and is safe, Worcester Police spokesman Joseph Cersosimo told MassLive on Tuesday. He clarified Wednesday that the teen is once again in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), which had earlier confirmed she was missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) also confirmed to MassLive this week that Ferreira De Moura is no longer missing. Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Worcester on May 8. Two of her daughters, ages 13 and 17, were then placed in the custody of DCF. ICE claimed that the Brazilian mother of three had entered the country illegally in 2022. Her immigration lawyer, Paul Toland, however, argues that the mother of three was paroled and allowed into the country by ICE as she pursued asylum. In July, the sisters were reported missing by NCMEC and the Worcester Police Department launched an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Lattrulo of Georges Cote Law, a lawyer for Ferreira-De Oliveiras family, told MassLive in July that the 17-year-old daughter left the United States for Brazil to be with her eldest sister, Augusta Clara Moura. An operator for the NCMEC hotline confirmed Sunday that the 17-year-old daughter is no longer missing. But the youngest daughter had been reported as still missing until recently. Angelica Almeida, a woman from Philadelphia, claimed in August that she gave the 13-year-old daughter a ride from Worcester to Maple Shade, New Jersey, on July 27 not knowing that she was Ferreira-De Oliveiras daughter. Cersosimo of the Worcester Police Department did not comment on whether there was any indication that the 13-year-old had been to New Jersey, adding that the matter is under investigation. What happened during the ICE arrest in May Both of Ferreira-De Oliveiras older daughters Clara Moura and the 17-year-old daughter were witnesses to ICE arresting their mother on Eureka Street in May. The scene was chaotic, with bystanders approaching the ICE agents and demanding that they show a warrant for the arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just after 11 a.m., members of the Worcester Police Department arrived on Eureka Street, telling the crowd of more than 30 people that they were conducting an unlawful assembly. A gold SUV with Ferreira-De Oliveira and ICE agents inside began to drive down the road, with the 17-year-old daughter running up to the side door of the vehicle. Worcester police officers ran towards the daughter, who kept running towards the vehicle, and arrested her. She was charged with the reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest but Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier requested a judge dismiss her case on May 16. During the arrest, Clara Moura ran up to her sister, shrieking as she held her infant son in her arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage from Worcester Police Officer John Alerss body camera released by the city shows him move Clara Moura out of the way, telling her to not to endanger her child. My sister! Clara Moura can be heard saying in Alerss footage. Clara Moura and her infant son both moved from the United States to Brazil in June to be with her partner, Samarone Alves Ferreira-De Souza. Lattrulo previously said that ICE signed a document authorizing his deportation in his name without his permission. Ferreira-De Oliveira remains in custody at the Strafford County Corrections facility in Dover, New Hampshire, according to ICEs website. She is awaiting her asylum hearing in September, according to Toland, her lawyer. More Worcester Stories Read the original article on MassLive. NEED TO KNOW Authorities have confirmed that YouTuber Sagar Kundu died after he was swept away in the current of Duduma Waterfall in Odisha, India His body, which was located after a 10-day search, was heavily mutilated when authorities reached him, Declan Chronicle and Odisha TV reported Per The New Indian Express, the content creator had been visiting the waterfall to shoot multiple short videos and stepped into the waterfalls current despite his friends warnings Authorities have found the body of YouTuber Sagar Kundu, who died after he was caught in the current of a waterfall. In a viral clip, the content creator, 22, can be seen standing in the water at the top of Duduma Waterfall, a popular tourist site in Odisha, India, before he apparently lost his balance and was swept away by the current. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Indian newspaper Deccan Chronicle and news station Odisha TV, police confirmed Kundus body was recovered after a 10-day search, found near the Machkund Hydro Power Project down the river from the waterfall. His body was heavily mutilated when authorities reached him, the outlets reported. Authorities have ordered an autopsy, and Kundu's recovered cell phone is expected to help aid the ongoing investigation into the circumstances of his death, per Deccan Chronicle. The New Indian Express previously reported that a disaster management team and fire brigade had led the search for Kundu. Police told the outlet that the internet personality had been visiting the waterfall to shoot multiple short videos. Though his friends warned him about the strength of the current, he stepped into the water anyway. mr_amit_k/Shutterstock Duduma Waterfall Duduma Waterfall "Suddenly, there was a surge due to water being released from the Machkund Dam. Kundu was swept away by the strong currents, and those at the spot tried to rescue him but failed," police told The New Indian Express, describing the moment captured in the viral clip. 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. Madhusudan Bhoi, Machkund Police Station inspector in charge, previously said that police had recovered a bag with batteries and other camera equipment that Kundu had thrown into the water before he was taken by the current. He added that the search had been challenging because of the rugged and rocky terrain and incessant rainfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Indian Express also reported that fire service officer Umesh Chandra Bagh had said that they had requested authorities who oversee the Machkund Dam, a section of the Machkund River upstream from Duduma Waterfall, to close its gates to the public while the investigation was underway. Read the original article on People Sep. 3WILKES-BARRE Testifying at a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Luzerne County Community College President John Yudichak said Pennsylvania faces a projected 218,000-worker shortage by 2032 due to credential gaps including more than 12,000 workers needed in the trades and maintenance alone. Yudichak joined leaders from across Pennsylvania for a public hearing on strategies to enhance partnerships between educators and workforce development organizations. The hearing, hosted by the Senate Majority Policy Committee and chaired by Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport, and Sen. Dave Argall, R-Pottsville, took place at Lycoming College on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event brought together legislators, educators, employers, labor leaders, career development specialists and students to discuss collaborative efforts to prepare students for in-demand careers and drive Pennsylvania's economic growth. Yudichak highlighted LCCC's commitment to meeting regional workforce needs including the launch of the new Technology and Trades Workforce Consortium in northeast Pennsylvania. "Without immediate and sustained investment in workforce development, the gaps will only grow wider," Yudichak said. Sen. Yaw praised the leadership of local institutions, stating, "Today's hearing highlighted how local institutions like Lycoming College and Penn College are leading the way in connecting higher education with workforce development. A strong, skilled workforce is the foundation of our future." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Argall emphasized the urgency of bridging gaps in key fields such as healthcare, education, and the skilled trades. "Today's discussion was valuable as we seek to identify key problems and bridge any gaps that exist between our educators and these important industries," Sen. Argall said. The hearing underscored the importance of collaboration between education and workforce sectors to ensure Pennsylvania remains competitive and that students are equipped for success in a rapidly evolving job market. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Denmark on Sept. 3 to meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and hold talks with leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries. The visit comes as Ukraine and its European partners seek to coordinate strategy amid U.S. President Donald Trump's push to broker a peace deal with Russia. Zelensky will take part in negotiations in the format of the Nordic-Baltic Eight, presidential spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden, countries that have been consistently among the staunchest supporters of Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian war. Later in the day, Zelensky is expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris ahead of a key European summit in France's capital the following day. "We are preparing significant reinforcements for Ukraine. This evening, we will hold a bilateral format in France coordinating our efforts," Zelensky said on X. "We are also preparing a format of the Coalition of the Willing and new steps in relations with the European Union and the United States." STM Mette Frederiksen har for kort tid siden modtaget prsident Zelenskyy pa Marienborg forud for et mde med de nordisk-baltiske lande. Fokus er at sikre yderligere sttte til Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/deHRlTAVO6 Statsministeriet (@Statsmin) September 3, 2025 As the Ukrainian president meets with European partners, Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding talks with his key allies in China, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The string of meetings also follows another Russian aerial attack against Ukraine, injuring civilians and damaging energy infrastructure across the country. Despite months of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, there has been little tangible progress toward ending the hostilities. Trump has been reluctant to apply additional pressure on Russia, while the Kremlin has dismissed calls for a ceasefire. Although Kyiv's European partners have vowed to provide Ukraine with security guarantees as part of a potential peace deal including a deployment of a multi-national "reassurance force" Moscow has repeatedly rejected the presence of NATO troops. Trump said on Sept. 2 he is "very disappointed" with Putin, separately noting he has "learned things that will be very interesting" and promising more details in the coming days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia injures 5, targets Ukraines energy grid in overnight strikes across multiple regions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional comments from President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris on Sept. 3 ahead of a high-level meeting of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing," where participating nations are expected to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. The meeting, scheduled for Sept. 4, will be held in a hybrid format both in person and online and will be co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the broader talks, Zelensky held a bilateral meeting with Macron. Before that, the two leaders spoke at a joint press conference, during which Macron reaffirmed Europe's commitment to supporting Ukraine. "We are ready to provide political support for these agreements," Macron said, referring to security guarantees that could be formalized once a peace agreement is reached. Zelensky thanked France for its continued backing, underscoring Europe's desire for peace. Yet, Russia is "not showing any signals" that it wants to end the war, Zelensky added. "But I am confident that our alliance with Europe and the U.S. will help us increase pressure on Russia to move toward a diplomatic solution to this complex issue, which is so important for peace in Ukraine," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky's discussion with Macron focused on preparatory work regarding security guarantees and continued defense support for Kyiv. "I believe that our work will bring strong security guarantees for Ukraine. We are all working on this," he wrote on Telegram following the talks. The leaders also discussed strengthening sanctions against Russia, finding opportunities to use frozen Russian assets, and Ukraine's path to the European Union. The meeting marks Zelensky's eighth visit to Paris since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in late August that Washington has begun coordinating with European allies and Kyiv to develop a new security guarantee framework for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The model was expected to be finalized within 7 to 10 days following a high-level meeting at the White House on Aug. 18, which included European leaders, Zelensky, and U.S. President Donald Trump. Rubio and Ukrainian Presidential Office Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak also discussed security guarantees during an advisers' meeting on Aug. 22. That same day, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, visiting Kyiv, said the agreement would include two key components: bolstering the Ukrainian Armed Forces and providing U.S. and European guarantees aimed at deterring future Russian aggression. On Aug. 24, U.S. Vice President JD Vance clarified that the security commitments would not involve deploying American troops to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: The elephant in the room Russia wont agree to Ukraine security guarantees, Europe cant enforce them Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that a scenario similar to that of South Korea, in that no real peace treaty was signed at the end of the Korean War but the country still managed to prosper, could take place in Ukraine. Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with French weekly news magazine Le Point, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "Are you asking me whether such a scenario could occur in Ukraine? My answer is that anything is possible. It should be noted that South Korea has a major ally: the United States of America, which will not allow North Korea to capture it. So everything is relative: the South Koreans are still taking risks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy believes that as long as the current North Korean leadership remains in place, South Korea will not be fully protected. However, the country has many air defence systems that guarantee its security. Quote: "To be frank, Ukraine is determined to obtain reliable security guarantees, such as the Patriot systems that South Korea has. But the comparison with South Korea has its limitations: the population of North Korea is just over 20 million, while the population of Russia is over 140 million. These threats cannot be compared. The threats from Russia are five, six, or even ten times greater." Details: Zelenskyy added: "An identical reproduction of the South Korean model is unlikely to suit Ukraine in terms of security. However, its economic model is a good example." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Denmark on 3 September to attend a summit with the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries. Source: European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy is reportedly scheduled to hold talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during the visit. He will also take part in a summit with the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries. DR, a Danish public broadcaster, reports that Zelenskyy arrived by helicopter at the residence of the Danish prime minister, where Frederiksen met him. Background: Denmark holds the presidency of the EU Council for the second half of the year, giving it greater influence over Ukraines European integration. On 2 September, European officials discussed in Copenhagen the progress of candidate countries in membership negotiations in the face of a blockade by one state. French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with Zelenskyy in Paris on the evening of 3 September, before a Coalition of the Willing meeting on 4 September. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A University of Oklahoma study published Sept. 3 in JAMA Surgery reports that acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH)a blood-saving method in which a patient's blood is collected before going on heart-lung bypass and reinfused near the end of cardiac surgeryremains underused in the United States at 14.7%. Yet the study found that ANH lowered the likelihood of a transfusion by 27%, a decrease in blood use that could cut costs substantially while still protecting patient safety and outcomes. Global demand for cardiac surgery is increasing, with more than 1 million procedures performed annually worldwide. In high-income countries like the United States, cardiac surgery remains the largest consumer of blood products, with 30% to 50% of patients receiving red blood cell transfusions. The lead author of the study, Kenichi Tanaka, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, said he hopes the study jump-starts a new conversation about the validity of ANH in the United States. An international study published earlier this summer in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that ANH does not reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions. However, less than 5% of participants were from the United States, and U.S. patients differ in several important ways. "We know that patients receiving ANH have survival rates and duration of hospitalization similar to those who receive transfusions, but I believe we are improving resource utilization by performing ANH," Tanaka said. "That is especially true when we take a bleeding patient to the ICU, where we tend to use more resources, therefore leading to higher costs. "Blood may look reasonably inexpensive compared to some of the medications we use every day, but when you think about how blood is administered, there are multiple steps involved, including testing and typing the blood, before we even purchase it," he added. "Our study estimates that these costs associated with blood processing are almost three times higher than just the cost of acquiring the blood." In addition to a 27% lower chance of a blood transfusion among those receiving ANH, the study showed that platelet usage was lower in the ANH group. This is clinically significant, as platelets begin to lose functionality if stored in a blood bank for more than a few days. "Most heart surgery patients are on aspirin prior to their procedures," Tanaka said, "but with ANH, we can preserve the patient's own platelets and protect them from damage caused by the heart-lung machine, allowing them to function more effectively at the end of surgery." The retrospective study analyzed 16,795 patients from 52 sites in the United States. ANH was performed at 28 sites, representing 2,463 cases, or 14.7%. A limitation of the study is that there is no standardized protocol for ANH, so the study team did not know how much blood was removed nor how much solution was given to maintain a normal volume while the patient was on bypass, Tanaka said. Tanaka said he plans to continue performing ANH and hopes other centers start using it as well. Future research could combine ANH with clotting factor concentrates, which has been shown to reduce the need for transfusions. "Even a small reduction in blood usage could significantly impact overall demand, particularly given the rising cost of blood components and the more than 300,000 adult cardiac surgical cases performed annually in the U.S.," he said. "Blood donations are also declining, making an effort to reduce transfusions even more important." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Paris for a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and to take part in the Coalition of the Willing summit. Source: Zelenskyy at a press event with Macron, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Ukrainian president noted that this is his eighth visit to Paris. Quote: "Today we will have a bilateral meeting, a meeting between our teams. Tomorrow we will have the Coalition of the Willing [summit], the result of which I dont know which day it will be finalised on will be security guarantees for Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Macron said the Coalition of the Willing summit is expected to formalise the agreements that were reached when the chiefs of staff met in Washington. "We Europeans are ready to provide guarantees to Ukraine on the day peace is signed," the French president added. Background: European leaders taking part in a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris on Thursday 4 September, to be co-chaired by France and the United Kingdom, will hold a call with US President Donald Trump once their discussions conclude. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has urged the Coalition to begin concrete planning on the possible deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he expects clear answers soon on what security guarantees Europe can offer Kyiv. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he is set to visit Denmark and France on 3 September to discuss strong measures of pressure on Russia. Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter) Quote: "We will be discussing the need for strong pressure measures with our partners in the coming days. In just a few hours Denmark: the Ukraine Nordic and Baltic States Summit. We are preparing significant reinforcements for Ukraine. This evening, we will hold a bilateral format in France coordinating our efforts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy said preparations are underway for a format for the Coalition of Willing military allies supporting Ukraine and to take new steps in relations with the European Union and the United States. Every Russian strike requires a tangible response, the president stressed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Dozens of victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and their families joined lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to call for more transparency from President Trump and his administration in its handling of the case. "No leniency, no deals, no special treatment, Sky Roberts, brother of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who was one of Epstein's most well-known victims, said at a rally near the Capitol. The Epstein documents must be unsealed. Every name, every detail. No more secrets, no more protection for those who preyed on the vulnerable. We demand full accountability from every enabler, every accomplice, every person in power who turned a blind eye, Roberts added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As many as 100 women who say they were abused by Epstein participated in the rally and a subsequent press conference organized by Reps. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, who are leading a bipartisan congressional effort to force the U.S. Department of Justice to release all of the files from its criminal investigations into the late disgraced financier and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Victims recount decades of terror and trauma Lisa Phillips, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, speaks during a news conference with other survivors at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) It felt like somebody shut out the lights to my soul, recalled Epstein accuser Liz Stein, who said she was a college senior when Maxwell introduced her to Epstein. Instead of fulfilling my dream of going to law school after graduation, overcoming the terror and the trauma that was inflicted on me by these sex traffickers became my decades-long full-time career. Stein said there must be accountability for anyone who helped Epstein abuse his victims. This is not a partisan issue. This is a crime, she said. The criminals must be held accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice and accountability are not favors from the powerful. They are obligations decades overdue, Jess Michaels, another survivor, said at the rally. This moment began with Epsteins crimes. But its going to be remembered for survivors demanding justice, demanding truth, demanding accountability. A supporter of Jeffrey Epstein survivors holds up a sign at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (Kevin Wolf/AP) Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell was convicted in 2020 of helping the disgraced financier sexually abuse underage girls and is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. The bipartisan gathering on Capitol Hill came a day after the House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 files related to Epstein that it received from the Justice Department. But critics quickly pointed out that most of the files contained information that was already publicly known or available and demanded full transparency. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll released in late July found nearly 70% of Americans including a majority of Republicans think the government is hiding something about Epstein. Why is there a focus on Epstein now? President Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) The case came under scrutiny earlier this year when President Trump directed the Justice Department to conduct an exhaustive review of any evidence collected in its investigation. Epstein has long been the focus of conspiracy theories that claim Epstein was murdered to conceal the names of powerful people on a secret client list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, the DOJ and FBI released a two-page joint memo, concluding that Epstein committed suicide in his cell" and had no such client list, adding that there would be no further disclosures in the case. The announcement enraged some Trump loyalists, who accused the president and his administration of breaking their promise to release all of the Epstein files, and put Trumps relationship with Epstein back in the spotlight. In early August, members of the DOJ and FBI interviewed Maxwell in prison, leading to speculation that she could be seeking a pardon. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend an event at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City in 2005. (Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) "If Ghislaine Maxwell were pardoned, it would undermine all the sacrifices I made to testify and make a mockery of mine and all survivors' suffering," Anouska De Georgiou, who was a victim of both Epstein and Maxwell, said at the rally. Meanwhile, Trump responded by lashing out at his supporters over their continued interest in the case, repeatedly referring to it as the Epstein hoax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He made similar comments in the Oval Office on Wednesday, blaming Democrats for the hoax that never ends. "I think it's enough because I think we should talk about the greatness of our country and the success that we're having, Trump said Wednesday. That's what I want to talk about, thats what we should be talking about not the Epstein hoax." Whats next? Rep. Ro Khanna hugs Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, as Rep. Thomas Massie looks on at a news conference with Epstein survivors on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images) Khanna and Massies bipartisan bill the Epstein Files Transparency Act calls for the full, unredacted release of all of the Justice Department files on Epstein. No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary, the bill states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its passage is by no means certain. A discharge petition needs the support of 218 members of the House, or a majority of the chamber, for the bill to be brought to the floor for a vote. If all 212 House Democrats were to vote to bring it to the floor, it would still need the support of six Republicans, including Massie. At least three GOP members are publicly backing it: Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Nancy Mace of South Carolina. Rep. Nancy Mace cries after coming out of a closed-door meeting with Jeffrey Epstein's victims at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) On Tuesday night, Mace was seen in tears leaving a private meeting with victims of Epstein. She later posted on social media that as a recent survivor, she had a very difficult time listening to their stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday afternoon, Mace called for Prince Andrew to be prosecuted for his alleged ties to Epstein. Before her death, Giuffre filed a lawsuit in New York alleging that she was forced by Epstein to have sexual encounters with Prince Andrew when she was 17. He denied the allegations and settled out of court. Now seems like a good time to discuss prosecuting Prince Andrew for any and all potential crimes on US soil, Mace posted on X. A cold dark cell. Prince Andrew in handcuffs. Sends the right message. "Seems like the right next step (after we release the files)," Mace added. "Perhaps we can focus on prosecuting predators next. Let victims, survivors and the country heal." Giuffre died by suicide in April. Her posthumous memoir is scheduled to be published in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Khanna and Massies bill were to come to the floor, it would still need another majority of support in the House to be sent to the Senate, where it would require a majority to pass before it was sent to Trump who has the power to veto it. But at least one Epstein accuser said she isnt waiting for Congress or the Trump administration to act. A lot of us survivors know weve been compiling lists of our own, and we have so many other survivors, Lisa Phillips told NBC News. Please come forward, and well compile our own list and seek justice on our own. As thousands of National Guard troops patrol the streets of Washington, D.C., over the objections of local officials and residents, Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to deploy the military to Chicago and Baltimore next. But according to a new Yahoo/YouGov poll, just 37% of Americans say they would approve of the president sending soldiers to other major cities after D.C. In contrast, a majority 53% say they would disapprove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going in, Trump said Tuesday when reporters asked about deploying National Guard troops to Chicago. We have the right to do it. Without specifying a timeline I didnt say when, he added the president went on to insist that he has obligation to protect this country, and that includes Baltimore." Trumps comments about Chicago and Baltimore came just hours after Judge Charles Breyer of the Federal District Court in San Francisco ruled that the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 by using military troops for law enforcement in Los Angeles earlier this year a decision that could complicate the administrations plans for Chicago and Baltimore if other courts adopt Breyers reasoning. Under current law, governors control each states National Guard, and the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the president from deploying the armed forces to participate in domestic law enforcement operations unless he declares that an insurrection is underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the governor of Illinois would call up, call me up, I would love to do it. Trump said Tuesday. But now, he added, were going to do it anyway. According to the New York Times, the Trump administration has been making plans for an immigration crackdown in Chicago that would involve 200 homeland security officials and the use of a naval base outside the city as a staging area. How Americans view Trumps D.C. takeover The Yahoo/YouGov survey of 1,690 U.S. adults, which was conducted from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, finds that doing it anyway would be a controversial decision. Three weeks after declaring a crime emergency and deploying the National Guard in D.C. something Trump has the legal authority to do more Americans disapprove (48%) than approve (39%) of his federal takeover of the nations capital. And while opinion is largely polarized along the usual partisan lines, Democrats disapprove (88%) more often than Republicans approve (81%) with most independents expressing disapproval (53%) rather than approval (36%). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, 51% of Americans say Trump has gone too far in sending federal troops into U.S. cities; fewer say Trumps actions have been about right (28%) or have not gone far enough (10%). When it comes to sending military troops to other major cities, the gap between Republican approval (78%) and Democratic disapproval (89%) is larger and independents break against it by a 64% to 29% margin. Meanwhile, just one third of Americans (33%) including just 15% of Black Americans and 26% of independents would approve of Trump deploying the military to their own community. A majority of Americans (56%) would disapprove of Trump sending soldiers to patrol their local streets (though 69% of Republicans say they would approve). A dictator on crime? Trumps overall approval rating (40%) remains relatively low; his overall disapproval rating (55%) remains relatively high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet the presidents numbers on crime 44% approve to 47% disapprove are slightly better, and more Americans say he is outperforming his predecessor, President Joe Biden, on the issue (44%) than say the opposite (25%). The question is one of tradeoffs of what Americans will accept in exchange for the promise of lower crime rates. Speaking last week to reporters, Trump acknowledged criticism that hes going too far but argued that Americans would appreciate his actions because he gets results. "The line is that I'm a dictator, Trump said. But I stop crime. So a lot of people say, You know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator. The president then added that he is not a dictator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet according to the new Yahoo/YouGov poll, just 14% of Americans say they would approve of "the U.S. having a dictator if it led to much lower levels of crime; 69% say they would disapprove. Even among Republicans, only 27% say they would approve of the hypothetical scenario Trump described. At the same time, the survey also hints at potential risks for Trump if he intervenes in other cities such as Chicago thus creating, as Judge Breyer put it in Tuesdays ruling, a national police force with the President as its chief. Just 5% of Americans, for instance, accept the premise that the president is stopping crime completely; the number who say he is mostly stopping crime (18%) is also low. Yet a majority (53%) now say Trump has tried to be more of a dictator than most previous presidents have tried to be slightly higher than the number who predicted the same in December 2023 when asked what kind of president Trump would try to be if reelected (48%). Perceptions of crime are changing Another complication for Trump is that crime seems to have become a less pressing issue for Americans lately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, most (83%) continue to see crime as a "big problem" nationwide. But that number is down from 88% the last time Yahoo and YouGov asked, in July 2021 while the number of Americans who now say crime is a "very big" problem has fallen from 52% to 39% over the same period. Why the shift? In part its because the number of Americans who think violent crime is increasing nationwide (45%) is now 23 percentage points lower than it was in April 2023 (68%). As for Washington, D.C., only Republicans seem to think crime there is as big a problem (91%) as it is nationwide (94%). Among Democrats, there is a 21-point gap between the number who see crime as a big problem nationally (72%) and the number who see crime as a big problem in the nations capital (51%). Among independents, that gap is 12 points: 81% to 69%, respectively. Official statistics show that in 2024, D.C. posted its lowest violent crime rate in more than 30 years. The rates of homicide, sexual abuse, assault with a dangerous weapon and robbery all fell by at least 25% compared with 2023, according to statistics from the U.S. attorneys office for the district. The total number of nonviolent property crimes in D.C. also dropped last year, according to FBI data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crime is declining in Chicago as well, according to the Council on Criminal Justice. __________________ The Yahoo survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,690 U.S. adults interviewed online from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, 2025. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party identification is weighted to the estimated distribution at the time of the election (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 3.1%. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that the missile strike on an alleged drug cartel boat in the Caribbean is an example of how President Trump is going to wage war against international drug traffickers. If youre on a boat full of cocaine or fentanyl or whatever headed to the United States, you are an immediate threat to the United States, Rubio said during a joint press conference with Mexicos foreign minister. Trump said on Tuesday that the strike killed 11 people, all alleged to be members of the Venezuelan cartel Tren de Aragua, on board a small vessel in the southern Caribbean. He later shared footage of the attack on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States, Trump wrote in a post accompanying the video. On Wednesday, Rubio emphatically stood by the decision to launch the strike, arguing that less violent drug trafficking prevention strategies are insufficient. These drug cartels, what they do is they know theyre gonna lose 2% of their cargo. They bake it into their economics, he said. What will stop them is when you blow em up. What we know about the strike The Trump administration hasnt provided information on where exactly the strike took place. It also hasnt given any details on the evidence it used to determine that the boats occupants were members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Rubio told reporters Tuesday that he believed that the boat was headed toward Trinidad and Tobago or some other country in the Caribbean with the plan to ultimately traffic the drugs that were purportedly on board into the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the militarys attacks against drug cartels wont stop with Tuesdays strike. Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco-terrorist will face the same fate, he said during an interview with Fox News. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a press conference on Wednesday in Mexico City, Mexico. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images) How did we get here? Trump pledged during his 2024 presidential campaign to go on the offensive against drug traffickers, including a vow to mount military attacks against them within other countries borders. Earlier this year the Trump administration designated Tren de Aragua and several other Latin American drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a category that had previously only been applied to groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State. That step was an important part of the legal justification for the strike because the government has far more authority to use force against terror groups than it does against other classes of international criminals. Trump reportedly ordered the Department of Defense to begin using military force against international drug cartels in early August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some experts have argued that the attack was illegal, despite the terror designation. The fact that US officials describe the individuals killed by the US strike as narco-terrorists does not transform them into lawful military targets, Michael Becker, a professor of human rights law at Trinity College Dublin, told the BBC. The US is not engaged in an armed conflict with Venezuela or the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. The strike also comes at a time of rising tensions between Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who the U.S. president has accused of partnering with cartels like Tren de Aragua to traffic drugs into the United States. A group of U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers began patrolling the waters off Venezuela late last month as part of the administrations campaign against drug cartels inside the country. Maduro called the move an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat on Monday and threatened to fight back if American forces attacked his country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro has yet to publicly comment on Tuesdays strike against the alleged cartel vessel. That attack occurred in international waters, but during Wednesdays press conference, Rubio declined to rule out future military strikes on Venezuelan soil. Any tips should be sent directly to Alexander Banks through email at abanks@yakimaherald.com, or by phone at 509-577-7654. Alexander Banks reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and Yakima community members. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. To support local journalism, click here. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The kissing bug is a known vector of Chagas disease and local transmission cases occur in humans in Texas and several other states each year. Credit: Gabriel Hamer/Texas A&M AgriLife Researchers from Texas A&M University, the University of Florida and the Texas Department of State Health Services say the time is now to recognize Chagas disease as endemic in the U.S. The multi-institutional team's perspective article, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, underscores growing evidence that points to endemic transmission. "The biggest need is awareness, and that is the focus of our publication to share the scientific perspective that Chagas disease is endemic in the U.S.," said Gabriel Hamer, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research entomologist in the Department of Entomology, Bryan-College Station. "Too often, medical and veterinary training programs dismiss Chagas as only a tropical disease and irrelevant to public and animal health in the U.S. "But kissing bug vectors, the parasite and locally acquired human cases are here. It is critical for our next generation of doctors and veterinarians to be aware of this vector-borne disease to assist with the diagnosis of human and animal patients." Raising awareness about U.S. Chagas cases, endemicity Blood-sucking triatomines, commonly known as kissing bugs, are confirmed in thirty-two U.S. states. Many carry the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, also known as T. cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. Each infected bug poses a risk of transmission to humans and companion animals. Eight states in the southern U.S. have documented human T. cruzi infections, and therefore, locally acquired Chagas disease. Texas leads the nation in the number of locally acquired Chagas disease cases. Norman L. Beatty, M.D., FACP, associate professor of medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine, said that public awareness could lead to earlier diagnosis and timely treatment. He said the endemic status of Chagas disease will raise awareness among local, state and federal public health agencies. "Identifying Chagas disease as an endemic disease in the United States ensures that the public understands this parasite is being consistently transmitted in certain regions of our country," Beatty said. "The concern with Chagas is that it goes unrecognized for decades until symptoms appear, and often, chronic damage is done. Early detection can lead to treatment, which could be curative and ongoing monitoring for disease progression." Why classification matters The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define "endemic" as the constant presence or usual prevalence of a disease or infectious agent in a population within a geographic area. Beatty, Hamer and other members of the research team implore that the reclassification of Chagas from nonendemic to endemic is critical to improving awareness, diagnosis and surveillance. Co-author Sarah Hamer, Ph.D., DVM, DACVPM, professor of epidemiology in the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said many wildlife species are involved in the ecology of Chagas disease. Animals provide blood meals to kissing bugs and serve as parasite reservoirs that pose a threat to people and pets. "These wildlife-associated bugs occasionally disperse to areas where dogs and humans are at risk of infection," she said. "It takes a 'one health' approach to decode the complex transmission cycles. But general awareness about the disease's presence here and how it is transmitted is a necessary first step toward prevention." Gabriel Hamer said Chagas disease's inaccurate classification downplays the risk it poses in the U.S. and creates a false sense of security among people and public health officials. "The reality is the vectors are here, the parasite is here, and infections do occur," he said. "Public health messaging should reflect the science so communities and professionals can respond appropriately." More information Norman L. Beatty et al, Chagas Disease, an Endemic Disease in the United States, Emerging Infectious Diseases (2025). DOI: 10.3201/eid3109.241700. Journal information: Emerging Infectious Diseases Key medical concepts Trypanosoma cruzi Triatoma Police and first responders work at the scene of a shooting near Annunciation Church and Catholic School in Minneapolis on Aug. 27. Two children were shot dead when a gunman attacked during Mass. Rioters clashed with police during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Back then, Donald Trump insisted he didn't have the authority to order the National Guard to intervene. Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. 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 California, Washington and Oregon announced Wednesday they will form a new public health body to issue vaccine guidelines, saying the move is needed to counter the Trump administration's growing "politicization" of science. The planned "West Coast Health Alliance" comes amid turmoil at the federal level following the ouster of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Sue Monarez, who had clashed with Health Secretary and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over immunization policy. The alliance's formation comes after mass layoffs at the CDC, and a shooting outside the agency's headquarters in Atlanta by an anti-vaccine gunman that left a police officer dead. "President (Donald) Trump's mass firing of CDC doctors and scientistsand his blatant politicization of the agencyis a direct assault on the health and safety of the American people," California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a joint statement with officials from the other two states. "The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of scienceideology that will lead to severe health consequences. California, Oregon and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk," added Newsom, one of the country's most prominent anti-Trump politicians. The statement said the alliance will work with scientists and medical associations to finalize shared principles "in the coming weeks." Under Kennedy's leadership, the federal health department has restricted access to COVID-19 vaccines, cut off funding for the mRNA technology credited with saving millions of lives during the pandemic, and dismissed a panel of independent experts that advises the CDC on immunization policy. A new panel of handpicked experts promptly voted to remove a vaccine preservative long at the center of conspiracy theories linking it to autism, despite decades of research showing it is safe. Kennedy, who has made promoting the debunked link between vaccines and autism a personal crusade, has vowed to unveil new information on the causes of the neurodevelopmental disorder this month. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Examples of ad hoc signage displayed in vape stores and convenience stores in June 2024. Credit: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100268 New research shows that dedicated vape retail stores in Western Australia (WA) have become extinct since new national federal vaping legislation was introduced last year. But with researchers identifying that many convenience stores continue to break the rules, experts say ongoing monitoring and stricter enforcement is needed. The study, led by The University of Notre Dame Australia, is published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. It follows the introduction of national vaping legislation in 2024 that restricted the sale of vapes to pharmacies, making it illegal to sell or advertise vapes in other retail shops. The researchers found that there were 194 "brick and mortar" shops where vape products were a key product category in WA in January 2023, prior to Government action. By September 2024, three months after federal vaping legislation took effect: All dedicated vape stores and vape counters within other stores had closed (117), 76 stores that had previously sold vapes alongside other products showed no evidence of vape sales, and Only one vape store was openly observed to still be selling vapes on the day of in-person audit. Co-author Professor Lisa Wood from The University of Notre Dame says that the findings are a positive indication that the Federal Government's national vaping reforms are helping to protect young people's health. "This study quantifies the rise and fall of vape stores in Western Australia. Previously, these stores were all-too common in our local communities. They were often located near schools and openly advertised vape products to passers-by, with enticing window displays and appealing flavors contributing to the normalization of vaping among young people. "Encouragingly, since the national legislation was introduced, all 117 dedicated vape stores we have been monitoring in WA have closed, and specialist vape retailers are no longer open for business on our streets. A further 76 shops which previously sold vapes have moved on from vape sales and no longer appear to be selling them." Concerningly though, researchers discovered that many inner-Perth convenience stores were still illegally selling vape products under-the-counter three months after the new laws were enacted. Co-author Angela Gazey from The University of Notre Dame, says "In June 2024, almost 1 in 2 of the 32 inner Perth convenience stores we visited in-person were selling vapes, and 11 of these stores were still doing so three months later, after the new national legislation took hold. "Anecdotally we have also heard about convenience stores elsewhere in Australia selling vapesit is anathema to associate 'convenience' with a product that is illegal to sell and harmful to health" Adjunct Prof Terry Slevin, CEO, Public Health Association of Australia, says the study shows the real-world impact of Australia's world-leading vaping legislation. "The Australian Government took a stand against vapes last year, introducing world-leading legislation. "Australia's approach was backed up by evidence, but unique. This study shows us one of the early results, vape shops closing shop and no longer being able to blatantly flog their products on street fronts. This is a positive step forward and follows other research that indicates that Australian teenage vape use has declined. "The finding that convenience stores are continuing to sell vapes illegally is not surprising. This sector has a long history of undermining community health efforts, putting profits first. Illegal convenience store vape sales are happening across the country. That's why public health experts continue to welcome retail monitoring, strict enforcement, border inspections, and tough penalties for those who break the rules. "Let's be clear. Vapes are dangerous. Their ingredients should not be inhaled into young lungs. They should not serve as a means of addicting kids to nicotine or tobacco. This is about preventing an epidemic of lung and other disease in the future. The time to act is now. And the action and penalties rightly focus on those making the profits." More information Matthew Tuson et al, Changes in the retail availability of vapes through brick-and-mortar vape stores and convenience stores in Western Australia following legislative reforms, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100268 Journal information: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Key medical concepts Lung Diseases Nicotine Sausage maker Gyulahus, owned by the local council of Gyula (SE Hungary), was awarded more than HUF 2.2bn in support for a close to HUF 4.5bn, three-year technology upgrade. Mayor Erno Gorgenyi said the grant support covered half of the investment cost. He added that the company, with a headcount of 350, had operated profitably since 2013. Last year, the company's after-tax profit was over HUF 479m, he said. Managing director Zsolt Daka said the investment aimed to secure the company's competitiveness for the long term, cutting unit costs and boosting efficiency and safety, he added. Gyulahus had revenue of close to HUF 13bn in 2024, public records show. Source: MTI Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent. Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media. XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com ********************************************************************************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. Autumn will be "tough" in Hungarian domestic politics, independent lawmaker Akos Hadhazy said in Budapest on Tuesday, at a demonstration demanding the withdrawal of amendments to the law on the freedom of assembly, and against the adoption of the law on the transparency of public life. Hadhazy said he expected that "those in power" would not issue "further tough measures" until the elections next April, unless "their numbers are also showing that they are in trouble." He said "it should be taken seriously that they tried to squeeze me off the road" in Hatvanpuszta, in central Hungary. The transparency law is also still on parliament's agenda, he added. Demonstrators have been successful, "they proved wrong those who think Hungarians are unwilling to demonstrate for their freedom. They showed what the Pride was really about, that banning it was an infringement on the right to assembly as well as harming the rights of our gay compatriots. They also made sure that the spring cleaning announced by the prime minister did not happen, and that those in power have lost a little confidence," he said. He pledged to continue the demonstrations on Ferenciek Square in two weeks' time, to hold "visits to Hatvanpuszta" and a demonstration in Dunaujvaros, central Hungary, next Tuesday. Law professor Zoltan Fleck, theologist Rita Perintfalvi, teacher Edit Simko and Poland-based activist Kata Vida also held speeches. After the demonstration, the crowd walked to Pollack Mihaly Square, to a construction that Hadhazy said "tread rough-shod over construction regulations." The crowd there met a demonstration held by an NGO for a greener downtown area, and was received by Andras Piko, the mayor of the 8th district of Budapest. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony held a speech, and thanked participants for standing up for Budapest dwellers and Hungarian citizens. Referring to the demolition of the erstwhile headquarters of the Hungarian Radio, he said the government was using the city as a "sandbox". Karacsony said he was "rooting for change ... we need a government that will restore local self-government." Source: MTI Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent. Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media. XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com ********************************************************************************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. Former Indian and US diplomats Friday held business as a force to drive the two economies, a signal US President Barack Obama must send out in his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month. Coldplay, one of the most globally recognized rock bands of the century, shared the stage at Wembley Stadium with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, under the baton of maestro Gustavo Dudamel. The collaboration, which unfolded during the band's Music of the Spheres residency on August 22, 2025, is already being hailed as one of the most daring crossovers in live music. For the orchestra, founded within Venezuela's El Sistema program in 1975, Wembley marked the culmination of a 50th-anniversary celebration that carried them from Caracas to the world's most iconic concert halls. Dudamel, who has long championed the ensemble as both an artistic powerhouse and a symbol of cultural resilience, brought the musicians to London not only to open Coldplay's concerts but also to join them in performance. As Chris Martin welcomed the orchestra on stage, the sight of full strings, brass, and percussion filling the stadium was enough to draw a roar from the sold-out crowd. The Venezuelan's entry into Coldplay's Viva la Vida was met with fireworks and an audience that sang every word, the grandeur of symphonic sound lifting the anthem to new heights. Classical discipline meets stadium spectacle "We consider Chris a friend, and Coldplay and us, we share the same values," said Dudamel during rehearsals. "This is for people to be transformed by the power of music." The pairing was more than a novelty. Dudamel, celebrated for his kinetic energy and emotional immediacy, mirrored Martin's theatrical charisma. Together they fused two musical traditions that rarely meet on such a scale: the precision of symphonic discipline and the participatory chaos of a stadium sing-along. For Coldplay fans, it was a chance to hear familiar songs expanded into orchestral epics. For followers of El Sistema, it was a testament to the program's continued reach into the global cultural mainstream. Beyond Viva la Vida, the orchestra joined on arrangements of Fix You and A Sky Full of Stars, swelling the choruses with harmonic richness that echoed through Wembley's steel beams. Social media clips of the performanceMartin clasping Dudamel's hand at center stage, violins bowing as confetti rainedwent viral within hours, ensuring that the collaboration reached far beyond the 90,000 in attendance. A milestone for El Sistema The Wembley concerts are just one part of a broader London residency for the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble is also recording at Abbey Road Studios and performing at Royal Festival Hall with a program that spans Bernstein, Falla, and Latin American composers. These events underline the orchestra's dual mission: to honor its classical roots while embracing the relevance of music in every context, from concert hall to stadium. For Dudamel, who has conducted at the world's greatest opera houses and symphony halls, leading an orchestra alongside Coldplay is no contradiction. It is, instead, a continuation of his belief that music can bridge divides. "El Sistema was founded on the idea that music is a social force," he once said, "and tonight we saw that in its most universal form." Ive been in this industry long enough to watch technologies come and go. Ive seen the excitement around new frameworks, the promises of revolutionary tools, and the breathless predictions about what would change everything. Most of the time, these technologies turned out to be incremental improvements wrapped in marketing hyperbole. But parallel agents? This is different. This is the first time I can say, without any exaggeration, that Im witnessing technology that will fundamentally transform how we develop software. How We Got Here To understand where we are today, we need to look at the full history of AI-assisted coding. It started with GitHub Copilot, which introduced the concept of AI pair programming. Copilot could autocomplete code as you typed, suggesting functions, completing implementations, and helping with repetitive tasks. Then came the AI-powered editors like Windsurf and Cursor. These took the concept further by integrating AI deeply into the development environment. Instead of just autocomplete, you could have conversations with AI about your code, ask for refactoring suggestions, and get help with debugging. The AI understood your entire codebase and could provide contextual assistance. This year, weve been working with whats called vibe coding AI tools where you describe what you want in natural language, and the AI generates complete functions, classes, or implementations from scratch. You tell it create a sign up form with google, github, and microsoft login options and it produces working code that captures the vibe of what you asked for. The term vibe coding was coined by Andrej Karpathy in this tweet, which perfectly captured what this new way of programming felt like. Theres a new kind of coding I call vibe coding, where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists. Its possible because the LLMs (e.g. Cursor Composer w Sonnet) are getting too good. Also I just talk to Composer with SuperWhisper Andrej Karpathy (@karpathy) February 2, 2025 This was genuinely revolutionary. Suddenly, you could generate boilerplate code, build simple functions, create UI components, and even tackle complex implementations just by describing them. Many engineers adopted these tools and found them incredibly useful for certain types of work. The technology worked well enough that it changed how many of us approached coding. Instead of starting from a blank file, you could start with a working implementation and refine from there. It made prototyping faster, reduced the tedium of writing repetitive code, and opened up possibilities for rapid development. Running Agents in Parallel Heres whats different now: you can run multiple AI agents at the same time, each working on different problems. Instead of waiting for one agent to finish a task before starting the next one, you can have several agents running simultaneously - one building a user interface, another writing API endpoints, and a third creating database schemas. The core advantage is simple: you can do multiple things at once. This isnt about smarter AI or better algorithms - its about parallelization. The same vibe coding tools we had before, just running multiple instances simultaneously. The first company that offered a good solution for this was GitHub, with their GitHub Co-Pilots that were running in the cloud. You basically go to an issue and describe it on GitHub. When you are ready with all the descriptions that you think should be able to describe the function, you assign it to Co-Pilot and then wait for the result. In practice, this means that you can go to your existing issues, check if they have enough context to be handed over to AI. And then you wait for the system to send you a notification that you can review the results. This transforms the way you write code, and instead of focusing on the microsteps, you are playing the role of a senior engineer who is guiding and providing context to multiple agents who are implementing the features in your codebase. Your job as an engineer now becomes reviewing the code for correctness, ensuring that proper architectural decisions were taken, that a feature makes sense from the users perspective, and that the code meets all the security and compliance standards that you need. The agent itself has the same limitations as you would when youre vibe coding, which means that they will have the same tendency to make bugs, to lack enough context, to not understand the code. But you are as an engineer, and I would say partly a product owner and designer, would guide the system to implement it for you. How to work with multiple parallel agents Parallel agents are changing the way engineers work. Instead of focusing on one task at a time, you can now coordinate several agents working on different features or bug fixes in parallel. Youre actively managing multiple streams of development, reviewing code, and providing feedback as each agent completes its work. With this approach, I can manage to have 1020 pull requests open at once, each handled by a dedicated agent. Here are some practical steps to take: 1. Prepare issues with sufficient context Start by ensuring each GitHub issue contains enough context for agents to understand what needs to be built and how it integrates with the system. This might include details about feature behavior, file locations, database structure, or specific requirements such as displaying certain fields or handling edge cases. 2. Assign agents in batches Once issues are ready, assign them to AI agents (such as @copilot). Each assignment typically starts a new pull request, where the agent creates a plan, builds a checklist, and begins implementation. Multiple issues can be assigned at once, allowing agents to work in parallel. Each individual agent takes around 5-20 minutes to complete its work. 3. Review and iterate locally After an agent completes its tasks, review the resulting pull requests locally. Testing features and verifying correctness is essential. If changes are needed, leave comments or feedback on the pull request, and the agent will continue refining the solution. 4. Maintain flow between reviews Unlike traditional workflows, parallel agent orchestration keeps me engaged and focused. Instead of waiting for one agent to finish, its possible to move between active pull requestsreviewing, testing, and providing feedback as needed. This enables simultaneous progress on multiple tasks without significant mental overhead. Here is a recording of how this works in practice: Im having an amazing time with delegated copilot agents, driving 10 pull-requests in parallel. Great work @github pic.twitter.com/T6sCIBg6bH Igor Sarcevic (@igor_sarcevic) August 21, 2025 What to Expect from Parallel Agents Working with parallel agents requires a different mindset than traditional or vibe coding. The shift is as significant as moving from traditional coding to AI-assisted development in the first place. Mental Model Changes Control shifts from precision to orchestration. Instead of controlling every line of code, youre managing multiple problems simultaneously. Think like a system engineer managing Kubernetes pods rather than babysitting individual servers - each task is expendable and replaceable. Everything becomes asynchronous. Unlike vibe coding where you wait and watch, parallel agents work asynchronously by default. The context you provide upfront determines the result 30 minutes later. You cant do half-hearted prompts and fix as you go, because those fixes come an hour later. Batch thinking replaces linear thinking. Instead of picking one perfect task from the backlog, identify several problems you could tackle in a day. A good approach is focusing on 2 critical deliverables while running 5-10 small background tasks - copy changes, UI fixes, minor bugs that can process while you focus on important work. Realistic Success Rates Dont expect 100% success rates. Heres what typically happens based on my personal observation while writing code. 10% : Perfect one-shot solution, ready to ship. : Perfect one-shot solution, ready to ship. 20% : Almost there, needs 10 minutes of local refinement. : Almost there, needs 10 minutes of local refinement. 40% : Needs manual intervention. : Needs manual intervention. 20% : Completely wrong. Close the issue and write down learnings. : Completely wrong. Close the issue and write down learnings. 10%: Bad product idea. Even if only 10% of the issues are solved perfectly by the agent, the process is still valuable. Agents reliably handle the initial setupfinding the right files, writing boilerplate, and adding tests. By the time you review, much of the groundwork is done, so you can focus on investigating and fixing specific problems. The frustration of engineers comes when they dont have a properly aligned expectation of what they should expect from a coding agent. Some engineers simply give up if they dont get the perfect 100% solution. I think you should move past this limitation and just learn to extract the goodness while jumping in with proper engineering knowledge where it needs to be. What Works Well vs. What Doesnt Parallel agents excel at: Bug fixes and race conditions Backend logic, controllers, validations Database changes and migrations Package version bumps and code transformations Small, well-defined implementation tasks They struggle with: New UI development (you need to see changes as you build) Tasks requiring real-time visual feedback Implementing undocumented additions to existing PRs Complex architectural decisions requiring context beyond the issue Skills That Become More Important Several traditional skills become even more valuable with parallel agents: Full-stack understanding is valuable when working with parallel agents. If your expertise is limited to either frontend or backend, youll quickly encounter roadblocks. Agents often need guidance across the entire stack, from database migrations to UI updates, so being able to navigate both worlds ensures smoother collaboration and better results. Problem decomposition becomes a critical skill. Large, complex issues are difficult for agents to tackle effectively. Breaking down big problems into smaller, well-defined tasks allows agents to work independently and in parallel, increasing the overall throughput and making it easier to review and integrate their work. Good writting skills are important. Agents rely on the clarity and detail of your issue descriptions to produce accurate results. Avoid vague language, unnecessary jargon, or ambiguous requirements. The more specific and structured your instructions, the higher the quality of the agents output. QA and Code Review skills take center stage in this workflow. Since the review cycle is the main bottleneck, being able to quickly assess code quality, spot bugs, and verify that requirements are met is crucial. Efficient testing and validation ensure that parallel development doesnt lead to a backlog of unreviewed or faulty code. When you are working with parallel agents, you should optimize for review speed. You can start 50 issues, but you still need to review, understand, and verify each one. Making that review cycle fastideally under 10 seconds to check out, rebuild, and testbecomes critical to the entire workflow. Learned a lot while using parallel @github agents yesterday: 1/ My mental model was not prepared for parallel async work with agents 2/ You cant expect 100% success, but you can make a series of small bets 3/ Strategies to overcome blocking issues 4/ When to use Claude Code and pic.twitter.com/yKNNkNZnby Igor Sarcevic (@igor_sarcevic) August 22, 2025 Engineering Practices That Enable Parallel Agents Working with parallel agents requires a well-structured engineering environment that supports rapid iteration and review. Fast CI/CD Pipeline A robust CI/CD flow makes it easy to test and verify results. When agents complete their work, you need to quickly validate that the changes work correctly without manual deployment overhead. Automated testing, fast builds, and seamless deployment processes remove friction from the review cycle. Without this foundation, the bottleneck shifts from agent completion time to deployment and testing time. System Documentation System architecture documentation helps when multiple agents work on different parts of your codebase. Agents need to understand how components interact, where files are located, what conventions are followed, and how different systems integrate. Well-documented APIs, architectural decisions, coding standards, and system boundaries help agents make better decisions and reduce the need for manual corrections. Preview and Staging Environments A reliable staging environment where you can manually test features is required. Since agents work asynchronously, you need a consistent place to validate their output without affecting production systems. This environment should mirror production, deploy quickly, and allow easy testing of multiple concurrent changes. The ability to spin up isolated environments for different branches or pull requests streamlines the parallel review process. Monorepo Architecture Benefits Keeping related services and components in a single monorepo works better when working with parallel agents. A monorepo gives agents context about the entire system within a single codebase. When agents work across multiple repositories, they lose context about service interactions, shared libraries, and dependencies. This leads to solutions that work in isolation but break integration points. With a monorepo, agents understand the full scope of changes needed - updating API contracts, adjusting client code, and modifying shared utilities all in one pull request. The unified view enables better architectural decisions. Agents can see existing patterns, reuse common components, and maintain consistency across the system. Code reviews are more effective because all related changes are visible in one place, making it easier to verify that agents havent introduced integration issues. Monorepos simplify deployment and testing for parallel development. Instead of coordinating releases across multiple repositories, you can test complete system changes together and deploy atomically. This reduces complexity when managing multiple concurrent agent-generated changes across service boundaries. Tools That Support Parallel Agents Several development tools now support running parallel agents, each with different strengths and maturity levels. GitHub Agents offer the most polished experience. Theyre integrated directly into GitHub Issues and work seamlessly with VSCode. You assign issues to @copilot, and agents create pull requests that you can review locally. There are still some rough edges, but GitHub is addressing these issues one by one with regular improvements. Cursor is currently experimenting with parallel agent support through a beta program. Theyve invited select users to test this functionality, and early reports suggest its a promising implementation. If youre already using Cursor for vibe coding, their parallel agents might be worth exploring once they open up broader access. OpenAIs Codex CLI also supports running agents in the cloud, which enables this type of parallel development workflow. The CLI lets you start agents that continue running remotely, allowing you to manage multiple concurrent coding tasks without keeping your local environment tied up. Each tool takes a slightly different approach to parallel execution, so the best choice depends on your existing development workflow and tool preferences. Wrapping Up Ive been working with parallel agents for a few weeks now, and its changed how I approach development. The ability to work on multiple problems simultaneously, rather than sequentially, makes a real difference in productivity. The technology isnt perfect - youll spend time reviewing and fixing agent-generated code. But when you can kick off 10 tasks and have most of them move forward without your direct involvement, it frees up mental bandwidth for the problems that actually need human judgment. If youre curious about trying this approach, start with small, well-defined issues in your backlog. Write clear descriptions and see what happens. The worst case is you spend a few minutes reviewing code that doesnt work. The best case is you discover a new way of working that fits your development style. Jessica Chastain has "got the hots" for statistics. Jessica Chastain is studying at Harvard University The 48-year-old actress is currently studying for her Master's degree in public administration at Harvard University, having previously graduated from The Juilliard School as an actress. Explaining why she decided to go back to school, she told The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: "I was just wanting to learn new things. "And you know what? My favorite class ended up being quantitative methods, which is like statistics. "And at Juilliard, you know, we never... As theater nerds we never got to learn stuff like that. "So I am a secret nerd. I got the hots for, like, scatter graphs and, like, bell curves." The Molly's Game star is studying at the university's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and has two semesters left of the "mid-career programme". Looking to the future after her degree, she quipped: "My goal is to take over the world." Jessica is loving life back at school, but she acknowledged her college experience has been different from her classmates. She joked: "My dorm was the Charles Hotel. My RA was housekeeping." Meanwhile, Jessica previously revealed she's still been "trying to learn Italian" for her husband Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, who she married in 2017. The couple have two children, daughter Giulietta and son Augustus, together and the actress famously gave their girl a shoutout in Italian when she won the Best Actress Oscar in 2022 for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. However, she admitted she has not mastered the language and is still trying her best to become fluent she can converse with her spouse in his mother tongue. Speaking to Italian publication IO Donna, she said: "I tried and Im still trying to learn Italian, since its part of my family, but I still dont feel confident enough to speak without difficulty. "I also studied four years of French in high school, alas I dont remember anything. In the public school system in the United States, unfortunately, you dont learn much." Kelley Wolf is going to rehab. Kelley Wolf is going to rehab The former Real World: New Orleans star was arrested late last month after being arrested and charged with harassing her estranged husband, Scott Wolf, and in court on Tuesday (02.09.25) she told Judge Janet Elledge that she is "excited" to be seeking treatment. According to People magazine, Kelley told the court: "I have informed everyone that needs to know, I will be attending a [treatment center] starting on September 12. "This is what was asked of me by both Bart Johnson and Scott Wolf now for six months all I wanted to do was leave a marriage. "I am excited to go to [the treatment center]. I'm looking forward to it. My brother is taking me. It's fantastic. It's a great place. I recommended it all the time as a mental health professional myself, so September 12, I will be there for a month. I hope that helps." The 48-year-old star - who has been charged with one charge of misdemeanour electronic communications harassment and two charges of misdemeanour electronic disclosure of personal identifying information - shared her plans after the judge denied a request from prosecutors for proof of compliance with the pre-trial release conditions of her bail, including that she participate in drug testing and inpatient or outpatient medical, behavioural, psychological or psychiatric treatment before the next hearing on 30 September. The judge didn't rule on a request that Kelley be barred from posting on social media as a condition of her release. Her appearance in court came after a new protective order was issued which banned Kelley from having direct or indirect contact with Scott or their kids Jackson, 16, Miller, 12, and 11-year-old Lucy. Kelley has been told she cannot "commit, try to commit or threaten to commit any form of violence" against Scott or the kids, including "stalking, harassing, threatening, physically hurting, or causing any other form of abuse that could cause bodily injury." The "only" time she can have contact with the Party of Five actor is during mediation sessions with a court-qualified mediator regarding their divorce or custody of the children, but otherwise she must stay at least 300 feet away. In addition, Kelley is only allowed to visit the family home accompanied by a police officer to pick up her belongings, and she must abstain from drugs and alcohol. Kelley was arrested on 26 August on suspicion of electronic communication harassment and electronic disclosure of personal identifying information, hours after she allegedly posted her estranged husband's personal phone number on her Instagram account. A police report noted the action resulted in Scott, 57, receiving a barrage of phone calls and text messages from unknown people. It added: He received about 24 calls and multiple texts in the first ten minutes from the time of the first call. "He stated that the phone number is to his personal phone, which he uses to communicate with his kids, and that this is causing a major disruption for him. The pair split in June after 21 years of marriage. Days after news of the former couple's split was announced, Kelley was admitted to hospital under an involuntary 5150 hold - which is described as "a critical intervention used to detain individuals who are considered a danger to themselves or others or are gravely disabled due to a mental disorder" - but was discharged days later and insisted she was "fine". Charlotte Thompson Suhler, pictured during her time at SIU Carbondale in the 1960s, will be the namesake of the School of Journalism and Advertising. In recent years, journalism students scout for stories in Southern Illinois communities and reflect on the Super Bowl ads. (Top two photos provided by Charlotte Thompson Suhler, third and fourth photos from SIU Carbondale) Charlotte Thompson Suhler honored with SIU School of Journalism and Advertising naming by Britni Bateman CARBONDALE, Ill. Southern Illinois University Carbondale will name its School of Journalism and Advertising in the College of Arts and Media after alumna Charlotte Thompson Suhler in recognition of her recent gift to the school. The dedication ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, in the journalism wing of the Communications Building, near the Daily Egyptian entrance. CAM students and staff will direct visitors. Chancellor Austin Lane, College of Arts and Media Dean Hong Cheng, and School of Journalism and Advertising Director Jan Thompson will deliver remarks. A reception will follow. The School of Journalism and Advertising is one of six schools in the College of Arts and Media, which also includes the schools of Architecture, Art and Design, Media Arts, Music, and Theater and Dance. With this naming, it becomes the first school at SIU to be named for a woman. Suhlers gift will support the schools mission, as determined by its director in consultation with the dean. Valuing both research and creative activity, the school is known for its lab-based learning model, where students gain professional-level training beginning in their first year. Newsrooms, labs, student organizations and class projects give them practical experience and help build resumes and portfolios that stand out in a competitive marketplace. Charlotte Thompson Suhlers remarkable generosity and pioneering spirit embody the very best of SIU, said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. Her gift not only honors her legacy as one of our trailblazing alumni but also ensures that future generations of Salukis will have the resources and inspiration to pursue their own bold paths in journalism and advertising. Suhler, who attended SIU from 1961 to 1965, was among the first women to major in advertising. I was the only woman in my advertising classes, she said. Maybe I was the first woman to graduate as an advertising major. I didnt think anything about it it was just natural for me. Media advisory Reporters, photographers and news crews are invited to cover the dedication ceremony naming the School of Journalism and Advertising in SIUs College of Arts and Media after alumna Charlotte Thompson Suhler. The event will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, in the journalism wing of the Communications Building. You can park near the Daily Egyptian entrance. CAM students and staff will direct visitors to the event. Mrs. Suhlers legacy exemplifies courage, entrepreneurship and compassion. As a pioneering alumna, she has already distinguished our renowned School of Journalism and Advertising through her professional achievements. This transformative gift ensures her legacy will continue to inspire generations of students to come, said Hong Cheng, dean of the College of Arts and Media. On behalf of the college, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for her commitment to advancing our mission and empowering future leaders in journalism and advertising. Breaking barriers at SIU Raised in Mount Vernon, Illinois, Suhler grew up in a newspaper family. By 16, I had my own advertising accounts and sometimes filled in on the editorial side, she said. The only thing I didnt do was run the Linotypes. Still, she recalled, women were encouraged to choose safe career paths. At the time, women were told, You should get your teaching degree. You can always fall back on teaching, she said. So, I did. I taught English and journalism and sponsored the award-winning newspaper at Mount Vernon Township High School for a year. But what I wanted was advertising. At SIU, she carved her own path. She joined the Tri Sigma sorority, where she became president, and helped organize, with the assistance of the student body president, the first student protest about changes for spring break, as well as sitting in classes where history unfolded. When President Kennedy was assassinated, we were in a headline-writing lab, she said. Tears were streaming down our faces as we counted type to fit: Kennedy dies, Kennedy assassinated. It was like being a real reporter. I still get teary about that. Charlotte Thompson Suhler is the perfect role model for our students and Salukis everywhere, said Jan Thompson, director of the School of Journalism and Advertising. She achieved remarkable success working alongside some of the most celebrated journalists of her time, and her charitable work reflects a selfless dedication to improving American life all from a girl who grew up in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A love story and a life in media During her senior year, Suhler attended a professional meeting in St. Louis, where she met John Suhler, a Kansas University student. A year and a half later, they married, beginning a lifelong adventure in journalism, publishing and philanthropy. Together, they worked at the center of New York media, surrounded by icons such as Clay Felker, Milton Glaser, Gloria Steinem, Jimmy Breslin and Tom Wolfe. It was the heyday of the communications business, she said. It was fun. In 2009, the couple co-founded the Suhler Family Investment Office to make equity investments in select small and early-stage media companies. Mr. Suhler also founded Veronis Suhler, an investment banking firm specializing in communication properties. Champion for women and students Throughout her career, Suhler broke barriers for women in media and beyond. Early on, she helped connect Gloria Steinem with publisher Betty Harris, a meeting that helped launch Ms. Magazine. Later, she helped establish child care centers for working parents, including one that placed her young daughter on the cover of Time magazine under the headline: Whos watching the kids? She also co-founded the Fairfield County Community Foundation and helped launch the Fund for Women and Girls, now the largest of its kind on the East Coast. We started with nothing, she said. Its now the largest fund for women and girls on the East Coast. Her dedication to SIU remained strong. She served on the SIU Foundation Board from 1991 to 1997 and the Deans National Industry Council for the College of Mass Communications and Media Arts now the College of Arts and Media from 2004 to 2011. She also established a scholarship to support SIU women in their junior and senior years. I just wanted to help women continue, she said. I hope they look and say, If she can do it, I can do it. A legacy of opportunity at SIU SIU holds a rare distinction as one of only 21 universities nationwide out of nearly 4,000 recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions for Higher Education for both Research 1 status, the highest level of research activity, and as an Opportunity College and University, which honors institutions that expand access and foster social mobility. This dual recognition reflects SIUs commitment to advancing knowledge while opening doors for students from all backgrounds. Suhlers gift to the School of Journalism and Advertising embodies that mission, ensuring students can thrive in a rapidly evolving media world. This contribution also supports Imagine SIU 2030, the SIU Foundations comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign has raised more than $422 million toward its $500 million goal, making it the fifth-largest fundraising effort in Illinois higher education. In the most recent fiscal year, the foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17% of the student body. Gifts like Suhlers ensure that SIU continues to grow as a place where research, creative activity, innovation, opportunity and access come together to change lives for generations to come. To support the SIU College of Arts and Media, visit siuf.org/cam. China to hold massive parade to mark WWII victory Xinhua) 08:36, September 03, 2025 Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China will hold a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging its commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. In Tian'anmen Square stand towering structures shaped like the Great Wall -- a symbol of the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression -- crowned with giant numerals "1945" and "2025." Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is expected to address the rally and review the parade. This will mark the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to commemorate the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The military parade through the Chang'an (Eternal Peace) Avenue is meant to send the message that "Justice prevails," "Peace prevails," and "The people prevail," according to organizers. More than 20 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will join Xi on the Tian'anmen Rostrum to watch the parade. Representatives of people who had assisted Chinese people's WWII efforts, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- are invited to the grand ceremony. Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China has designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day. China was the first country to fight against fascist aggression, and sustained the longest resistance, beginning in 1931. The country contained and engaged over 50 percent of the Japanese army's overseas military strength, eliminating over 1.5 million enemy troops. The number of Chinese military and civilian casualties amounted to 35 million, accounting for one-third of the total casualties among all countries during WWII. With immense national sacrifices, China made significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The parade is expected to demonstrate its commitment to making greater contributions to world peace and development. The parade will involve more than 10,000 military personnel, along with over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, arranged into formations according to a wartime command system. The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) new system of services and arms -- the result of military reforms under Xi's leadership -- will be put on display for the first time. The parade will showcase China's advanced armaments, including unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic weaponry. China has repeatedly stated that the PLA is capable of defending China's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. Chinese soldiers who have participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations will also march past Tian'anmen Square, marking their first appearance in a V-Day parade. China is currently the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This is also the first military parade since Xi led China to embark on a new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts. The country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035. Through the parade, China will demonstrate that under the Party's leadership, the full rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is set to be achieved. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Kevin Costner has remembered Graham Greene as a "wonderful human being". Kevin Costner has paid tribute to Graham Greene The Yellowstone actor has shared a touching tribute to his Dances with Wolves co-star - who died on 1 September aged 73 following a long illness - and admitted he will always be "grateful" to have worked with him on the film, which marked Kevin's directorial debut and won Graham a Best Supporting Actor nomination. The 73-year-old actor-and-director shared a clip from the 1990 movie, in which his own character Lieutenant Dunbar attempted to converse with Graham's Kicking Bird and his tribe. He captioned the post: "A few things come to mind when I think of Graham Greene and our time together on Dances With Wolves. "I think of how willing he was to learn the Lakota language. I think of my joy when I heard that his work on the film was recognized with an @theacademy Awards nomination. And I think of this scene in particular, when he was able to establish so much about the relationship between Dunbar and the natives with so few words. He was a master at work and a wonderful human being. "Im grateful to have been witness to this part of his lasting legacy. Rest in peace, Graham. (sic)" The Die Hard with a Vengence actor's death was announced earlier this week. His representative told Deadline: He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed. He added: You are finally free. Susan Smith is meeting you at the gates of heaven, referencing Greenes longtime agent, who died in 2013. Graham, who was of Oneida First Nation and Canadian descent, grew up on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. Before turning to acting, he worked as a welder, draftsman and steelworker. His television debut came in 1979 with a part in The Great Detective, and his first film role followed in 1983s Running Brave. Grahams career breakthrough arrived in 1990 with Dances With Wolves, in which his portrayal of the Sioux medicine man Kicking Bird earned him an Academy Award nomination. In a past interview with CineMoovie, the actor recalled the challenges of filming, including being thrown from a horse during production. He said: I wanted to get payback on the animal rather than take a break from filming. Graham also spoke about the difficulty of learning Lakota for the part, saying: I couldnt figure out how they ordered their language. Its structure is totally foreign to English or French. The star went on to appear in a wide range of roles, from comedy such as his recurring part in The Red Green Show to dramas including The Green Mile (1999), in which he played Arlen Bitterbuck opposite Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan. Other credits included roles in Maverick (1994), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Transamerica (2005), The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) and Aaron Sorkins Mollys Game (2017). More recently, he appeared in Tulsa King alongside Sylvester Stallone and in HBOs The Last of Us. One of his final screen appearances was in FXs Reservation Dogs, a series that continued his legacy of championing Indigenous storytelling. His last completed project is the upcoming thriller Ice Fall, starring Joel Kinnaman, which is scheduled for release on 16 October. Graham is survived by wife Hilary, their daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and his grandson Tarlo. Indian stock markets opened almost flat on Wednesday as investors waited for the outcome of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting, where crucial decisions on GST rates are expected. At the opening bell, the Nifty 50 index stood at 24,616.50, gaining 36.90 points or 0.15 per cent, while the BSE Sensex opened at 80,295.99, up 138.11 points or 0.17 per cent. Market participants are hopeful that the council may announce measures to support economic growth and boost domestic consumption at a time when external challenges remain. Experts believe the GST Council's decision will play an important role in shaping the market's movement in the coming days. Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, told ANI, "Global cues are negative, with bond yields increasing to multi-year highs in UK, in France, in Japan and in the US. September started on a negative note for the US stock markets with Big Tech stocks under pressure. Asian markets this morning are under pressure as well." He further added, "Indian markets will look to the decisions of the GST council to reduce consumption taxes and give a boost to the economy. Markets are flat to negative, waiting for the decision as it will determine the direction of the festival season boost to personal consumption which can give a fillip to economic growth in India." In the broader market on NSE, the trend remained mixed with marginal gains. The Nifty 100 index was up by 0.05 per cent, the Nifty Midcap 100 index gained 0.15 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index also opened in green. Among sectoral indices, Nifty Auto gained 0.37 per cent, Nifty FMCG was slightly up by 0.05 per cent, and Nifty Metal advanced 0.8 per cent. The Nifty Pharma index also saw an early surge of 0.3 per cent. However, Nifty IT was under pressure in the morning session. In other Asian markets, the opening trend remained mixed. Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.32 per cent, Singapore's Straits Times was down 0.29 per cent, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slipped 0.34 per cent. On the other hand, Taiwan's Weighted index rose 0.27 per cent and South Korea's KOSPI index gained 0.36 per cent. As per experts, all eyes will remain on the GST Council meeting, as its decision will provide direction not only for the equity markets but also for the broader economic outlook in the coming months. (ANI) The global funding target set for COP30 is far behind schedule with only 4-5 per cent of the promised USD 1.3 trillion achieved so far, according to Vishwas Chitale, Fellow, Climate Resilience, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). In an exclusive interview to ANI, Chitale stressed that the target of USD 1.3 trillion is crucial for climate action, yet progress has been slow. "Around 4-5 per cent of the target of 1.3 trillion dollar is achieved. We are really lagging behind the target. All the developing countries are supposed to contribute by 2030," he said, adding that if COP30 puts in more effort, the goal is still achievable. He highlighted that the momentum of climate finance remains largely dependent on developed countries, which have been the main contributors so far. "There is funding from developed countries for developing countries. Developing countries should stand for their commitments," he pointed out, highlighting the importance of shared responsibility. Chitale explained that COP30 is focused not only on finance but also on broader synergies, including Rio synergies, climate action, and community resilience. "As a whole we can improve the land use and land cover practices. The main agenda is how COP30 delivers on the climate finance of 1.3 trillion dollars and can we see some action happening on that," he said. He also recalled that some progress was seen on the loss and damage fund initiated in COP27, particularly at the Dubai COP. However, he stressed that much more needs to be done to translate commitments into action, especially to meet the 2030 target. On India's role, he noted that the country has emerged as a strong voice for the Global South, leading negotiations on loss and damage, adaptation finance, and resilience. "India has definitely having a lots of voice for global south and it can definitely lead some negotiations from developing countries point of view," he said. He pointed out that under India's leadership, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has been formed, which is doing excellent work across developing countries by building strong networks. He also praised the Prime Minister's ten-point agenda on disaster reduction and the Mission Life initiative, describing them as "excellent steps" that guide agencies to act decisively. Chitale concluded that more events and awareness are needed to accelerate climate action and funding. "It has a lot to deliver on that," he said, referring to COP30's responsibility to ensure progress on the climate finance target and resilience building. (ANI) PNN New Delhi [India], September 3: The 8th edition of Delhi Contemporary Art Week (DCAW) - the largest celebration of contemporary art in India, curated by the top six galleries in the country - took place from 31st August to 4th September 2025 at Bikaner House, New Delhi. The week-long event showcased the best of South Asian contemporary art through exhibitions, design collaborations, curated walkthroughs, and workshops, and drew India's most influential artists, collectors, curators, and media. As part of the edition, Burgoyne Original Masters (BOM) collaborated with artist Juhikadevi Bhanjdeo, represented by Latitude 28, to present a striking outdoor installation titled Unwoven. About the Installation: UnwovenBefore the thread, before the loom, there is the bloom. Installed at Bikaner House, Unwoven magnified the delicate flax flower - the quiet, often overlooked beginning of linen. While the stalk carries the strong, silken fibres that eventually become cloth, it is the bloom that greets the world first. In its fleeting presence lay the entire promise of fabric, weaving, and life itself. Crafted using Burgoyne linen fabrics, the installation honoured what is rarely remembered: that strength begins in stillness, and that every material carries the memory of labour, growth, and transformation. By enlarging the bloom, Juhika's work invited audiences to look closer at the unseen - the sacred labour of both plants and people that makes cloth possible. Represented by Latitude 28, a Delhi-based gallery under the leadership of Founder and Director Bhavna Kakar, Juhika's practice consistently explores the intersections of fabric with materials such as steel and iron. Unwoven is an extended exploration of transformation and memory. In collaboration with Burgoyne Original Masters, the work became both a celebration of linen's origins and a poetic reminder that even the most utilitarian object begins in beauty, silence, and care. About WFB Established in the year 1912 at Union Street, Lurgan, Northern Ireland, the parent company is called WFB Baird & Co. (India) Pvt. Ltd., named after the founder William Frederick Burgoyne Baird. His commitment to excellence and his vision of unparalleled craftsmanship started a legacy that has existed for more than a century and continues to grow even today. WFB Baird & Co. (India) Pvt. Ltd., with manufacturing units in Ireland and India, is one of the world's oldest and largest Linen manufacturing companies supplying Irish Linen to major high-end designers, brands and retailers in the USA, Europe and Asia, including India. Burgoyne, "The Original Linen", represents fashion which is indulgent, individualistic and very modern. Our design range is vast, from Super Whites, the world's whitest fabric, to pastels, bright and vibrant shades. Our fabric is available in plains, textures, checks and prints. From casual to formal and even traditional wear, our fabric is suited for all. About BOM (Burgoyne Original Masters)For over a century, the Bairds of WFB stayed true to their craft, valuing authenticity and heritage above all. In 2025, their vision found a new voice with Burgoyne Original Masters (BOM) -- a platform that brings together creators across art, craft, music, design and culture. An ongoing exploration of authenticity and excellence, BOM is a space to engage with those who shape culture and honour heritage. At BOM, we spotlight creators who embody craftsmanship, originality and dedication, reflecting Burgoyne's commitment to creativity and cultural impact beyond commerce. "When we imagined Burgoyne Original Masters, it was never about a Marketing Story. It was about giving space to voices that embody devotion to craft. Burgoyne as a brand has always believed that true artistry takes time, care and respect for the maker -- values that WFB as a company has lived by since 1912. With BOM, that spirit moves beyond linen into stories, carrying forward the same belief that what's made with patience and honesty endures."- James Baird, Chairman, WFB Baird & Company (India) Pvt. Ltd. Fact Sheet Event: -Delhi Contemporary Art Week (DCAW) 2025 - 8th Edition -Dates: 31st August - 4th September 2025 -Venue: Bikaner House, New Delhi Collaboration: -Installation Title: Unwoven -Artist: Juhikadevi Bhanjdeo -Represented by: Latitude 28 (Gallery Founder & Director- Bhavna Kakar) -Presented by: Burgoyne Original Masters X DCAW (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) India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday co-chaired a meeting with the business delegations from India and Germany, along with Johann Wadephul, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, here in the national capital. The German foreign minister is on a two-day visit to India. Taking to X, Piyush Goel shared that they discussed strengthening trade facilitation, regulatory frameworks, and market access. "We also explored avenues of collaboration in defence, space, innovation and automobiles, underscoring the vast potential of our partnership," he added. During the visit, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reaffirmed his country's commitment to finalising the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union as soon as possible. India and the EU aim to conclude the ambitious FTA by the end of 2025. This visit further fortifies the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which marks 25 years since its inception. Yesterday, the German Foreign Minister arrived in Bengaluru, where he visited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) before leaving for Delhi. Ahead of his visit, he underscored the vital role India plays as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region and on the global stage. In a series of posts on X, Wadephul emphasised the close political, economic, and cultural ties between Germany and India, describing the expanding strategic partnership as having significant potential. He also highlighted areas such as security cooperation, innovation, technology, and skilled workforce recruitment as key pillars of the bilateral relationship. "India is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific. Our relations are close - politically, economically, culturally. The expansion of our strategic partnership has much potential: from security cooperation to innovation and technology to recruiting skilled workers," Wadephul said. "India's voice, that of the world's most populous country and largest democracy, is also heard beyond the strategically important Indo-Pacific region. That is why I am travelling today for talks to Bangalore and New Delhi," he added. The German Foreign Minister also emphasised the natural alliance between democracies like Germany and India, particularly in the face of growing geopolitical challenges. "India plays a decisive role in shaping the international order of our century. We as democracies are natural partners in this. In view of massive geopolitical challenges, we want and must preserve the rules-based international order together," he concluded. Germany is one of India's most valued partners in Europe. The two countries share a strong strategic partnership, which has grown steadily over the decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1951. In March 2021, both sides marked 70 years of diplomatic ties. (ANI) Paris Jackson "has 0 percent involvement" with the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic. Paris Jackson insists she's not been involved with the biopic The 27-year-old actress - who is the daughter of the late pop icon - has taken to social media to refute recent claims made by Colman Domingo regarding her involvement with Michael, the upcoming biopic. Colman - who plays Joe Jackson, the family patriarch, in the movie - told People: "[Paris and Prince Michael are] very much in support of our film." The Hollywood star revealed that he "chatted briefly" with Paris about the project at an amfAR fundraising event in Paris. He said: "I'm excited to be here at amfAR tonight with Paris. It feels like that's a nice way for us to be together." Colman also admitted to feeling inspired by the entire Jackson family. The 55-year-old actor shared: "The thing that has inspired me the most is this very profound and prominent family called the Jacksons. "We would not have any of this music that we used to have great memories about, the moments, the big moments, that we all share, because of the Jackson family. And I'm not just saying just Michael the entire Jackson family." However, Paris quickly took to social media to question some of the actor's claims, insisting that she's had minimal involvement with the biopic. The actress wrote on Instagram: "dont be telling people I was helpful on the set of a movie I had 0 percent involvement in lol. That is so weird. I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest didnt sit right with me and when they didnt address it I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys, not my circus. God bless and godspeed. (sic)" Paris elaborated on her involvement with the film in a subsequent post. The actress observed that the project "panders to a very specific section" of her dad's fanbase. She wrote on Instagram: "I wasnt involved at all, aside from giving feedback on the first draft and then getting the feedback that [production] was not actually going to address your notes at all. "So I just butted out and left it alone because its not my project. Theyre going to make whatever theyre going to make. A big reason why I havent said anything up until this point is because I know a lot of you guys are gonna be happy with it. A big section of the film panders to a very specific section of my dads fandom that still lives in the fantasy, and theyre gonna be happy with it. (sic)" The agreement lays the foundation for the development, production, integration, testing and modernization of heavyweight torpedoes, TKMS said in a statement Wednesday. Supported by TKMS and its segment ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, VEM Technologies will take over the integration and testing of the torpedoes in India, the TKMS statement added. Oliver Burkhard, CEO of TKMS, explained that the Memorandum of Understanding sends a clear signal, "TKMS stands ready as a reliable partner to the Indian Navy. We are applying our technical expertise to accelerate the 'Make-in-India' strategy and strengthen the local defense industry in the long term." In addition to the Memorandum of Understanding, TKMS is also intensifying its cooperation with the Indian company CFF Fluid Control Limited, which specializes in mechanical, electronic, and weapon systems for Indian Navy, TKMS said. The aim is to advance the development and production of state-of-the-art Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems for surface vessels and various other strategic applications. Both parties are currently exploring further opportunities with TKMS to intensify their cooperation, it added. These include participation in the P75(I) submarine program, cooperation with the DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) and other Indian organizations, and the establishment of expanded production centers. These centers will serve both Indian and global customers in the future. TKMS is one of the world's leading naval companies with more than 8,500 employees (including temporary workers) at three shipyards in Kiel, Wismar and Itajai (Brazil), and with locations worldwide. The company is active as a systems supplier for submarines and naval surface vessels as well as for maritime electronics and security technologies. Around 3,300 employees work at the Kiel site, making it the largest shipyard location in Germany. (ANI) VMPL Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 3: In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape of the National Capital Region (NCR), Prakash Hospital has built a strong reputation for trust, super quality, and advanced medical excellence. With decades of legacy and a bold growth vision, the hospital is today emerging as one of the leading healthcare destinations in Noida, strategically positioned to serve communities near the upcoming Jewar Airport. Founded in 2001 by Dr. V.S. Chauhan, Prakash Hospital was envisioned to make world-class healthcare accessible closer to home. At a time when residents of Noida often had to travel to Delhi for advanced treatment, the hospital filled a critical gap. "When I started Prakash Hospital, my goal was very clear -- people in and around Noida should not have to leave their city to get access to quality treatment. Healthcare should be affordable, ethical, and compassionate. That is the foundation we built on," says Dr. Chauhan. Over the years, Prakash Hospital has expanded into multi-specialty institution, offering advanced services in cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, gastroenterology, nephrology, urology, oncology, pulmonology, gynecology, pediatrics, critical care, emergency medicine and more. Equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic systems and modern surgical infrastructure, the hospital continues to upgrade its facilities to meet rising patient needs and industry standards. Adding momentum to its growth is Ayush Chauhan, Executive Director, who is spearheading the next phase of expansion. Since joining in 2016, he has focused on modernizing patient services, introducing new technologies, and creating a roadmap for scale. He believes affordability must remain central to healthcare delivery. "Looking at the current trend, healthcare costs are rising rapidly, and it will become very difficult for the middle class to afford quality treatment. At Prakash Hospital, our vision is to provide good healthcare services at an affordable price so that people can have access to them. Going forward, we will work to make healthcare more cost-effective, while ensuring that trust and ethics remain at the core of everything we do," says Ayush Chauhan. Prakash Hospital already operates a strong presence in Noida and has extended its services to Greater Noida, bringing advanced healthcare closer to fast-growing residential and corporate hubs. With India's healthcare sector projected to touch $372 billion by 2025, Prakash Hospital is positioning itself at the heart of NCR's growth story. What sets the hospital apart is its ability to balance legacy and innovation. While its foundation rests on ethics and compassionate care, its strategy is firmly future-oriented, with investments in specialties, digital healthcare, and patient-first systems. "Medicine will continue to evolve, machines will get smarter, and hospitals will get bigger. But what will never change is the human connection between doctor and patient. That trust is what Prakash Hospital stands for," reflects Dr. V.S. Chauhan. With decades of goodwill, a growing presence in Greater Noida, and an ambitious roadmap, Prakash Hospital is not just redefining care in Noida but setting benchmarks for India's next phase of healthcare expansion. (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) VMPL New Delhi [India], September 3: "If you give yourself 30 days to clean your home, it will take 30 days. If you give yourself 3 hours, it will take 3 hours." -- Elon Musk. That ethos of compressing time has been the animating idea behind Social Action Mobilizer (SAM), the youth-led organisation that translated audacious timelines into tangible action during the month-long Plant Your Future Campaign (PYFC) 2025. What others pace across years, SAM aimed to achieve in weeks -- and the results were unmistakable. The campaign reached its crescendo on 30 August 2025 at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, where volunteers, institutes, organisations, corporates and citizens convened with grassroots icons and policy voices. Present were Shree Rajendra Singh (the Waterman of India), who urged respect for natural systems born of community wisdom; Shree Rakesh Khatri (the Nest Man of India), who spoke of small acts that restore biodiversity; and Ms. Vijaya Bharti Sayani (Member & Former Director, NHRC), who framed climate as a human-rights and justice issue for indigenous and marginalised communities. Over the course of the month, PYFC recorded 13,500+ volunteers across campaigns and activities, while the Grand Conference day itself mobilised 350+ participants -- a scale rarely seen in India's volunteer-driven environmental space. On-ground outcomes were immediate and measurable: 9,000+ trees planted; 100,000+ seedballs dispersed; 6,000 kgs of waste collected; 1,000 kgs of paper recycled/upcycled; and 100+ community events that brought climate literacy into classrooms, campuses and neighbourhoods. More than metrics, these acts signalled a cultural shift: volunteerism moving from episodic acts to durable civic practice. The conference's central dialogue -- a panel on "Harnessing Diversity into Collective Action for Environment" -- brought together perspectives from the non-profit, corporate and academic sectors. Maninder Singh (Jonshob Nest) spoke to strengthen grassroots networks for biodiversity; Neha Chandra (Amazon India) addressed corporate responsibility and sustainable supply chains; and Sanjana Kaushik (ISDM) urged institutional capacity building for climate leadership. Moderated by Aditya Sen (CSR & Volunteering Program Specialist) and anchored on themes of careers in climate action, large-scale volunteer mobilisation, and the importance of rural and remote experience, the discussion repeatedly returned to a single point: alignment across youth, NGOs, corporates and academia is essential to scale impact. The session was smoothly guided by Arijeet (Emcee), who tied the day's energy back to grassroots stories. SAM's own leadership--Co-Founders Sayak Sarkar, Amarnath Kumar and Manish Anand--and campaign leads Vibha Dubey, Priyanka Sil and Kavya Trikha underscored the campaign's core message: youth volunteerism and innovation are not auxiliary; they are the engine of grassroots transformation. As Sayak Sarkar put it, "Our vision is simple: make climate action accessible to everyone, not just experts. Every volunteer, every idea, and every institution matters." That democratic, practice-first creed was evident in the Impact Showcase, where three campaign champions presented replicable models of community engagement. The conference also celebrated grassroots excellence. KSR College of Engineering & Pravaah NGO received the Green Impact Champion Award; Anubhuti Foundation & Jaikranti College of Computer Science were recognised with the Eco-Mobilizer Award; and Ghumakkadi Foundation & DRBCCC Hindi College won the Green Innovation Award -- awards that affirm sustainability's roots in colleges, NGOs and local initiatives. Crucially, PYFC 2025 showcased the role of partnerships: DonateKart underwrote the mobilisation as Title Sponsor, while the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) served as Award Sponsor, contributing academic rigour and recognition. Their involvement illustrated how corporate, academic and nonprofit alliances multiply reach and resource. SAM framed the conference not as an endpoint but as a launchpad. With a pledge to double impact each year, SAM's ten-year ambitions include 10 million trees planted and protected; 50,000 schools and colleges engaged in climate literacy; and 500,000 youth leaders trained -- an audacious roadmap that seeks to convert today's volunteer energy into sustained systemic change. Why this matters: India's environmental challenges demand more than policy talk; they require citizen action at scale. PYFC 2025 demonstrated that volunteerism, when organised with urgency and backed by cross-sector alliances, can both deliver measurable outcomes and reshape the climate narrative. The movement that SAM is building is practical, plural, and rooted in local knowledge -- and it insists that leadership belong to the young. For now, the numbers tell a powerful story: 13,500+ volunteers across the campaign, 350+ mobilised on the conference day, 9,000+ trees planted, 100,000+ seedballs dispersed, 6,000 kgs of waste collected, 1,000 kgs of paper recycled, and 100+ events. For tomorrow, SAM's promise is still sharper: a greener, cleaner and more resilient India -- not in ten years, but starting today. Learn more: Social Action Mobilizer | Plant Your Future Campaign (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) World Trade Centre Mumbai and All India Association of Industries (AIAI) jointly hosted an interactive session on Wednesday here, highlighting how businesses, especially MSMEs and startups, can leverage India Post's global logistics network for international exports. During the session, India Post highlighted various initiatives and services it offers, which, if utilised by small businesses, can help them access and diversify their businesses overseas. To make exports more accessible and cost-effective, India Post has something called 'Dakghar Niryat Kendra', a facilitation centre that assists with documentation and compliance, in collaboration with the Customs Department and the Ministry of Commerce. Talking to ANI after the session, Amitabh Singh, Chief Postmaster General of the Maharashtra Circle, said these centres provide free services, including assistance with obtaining import-export codes and completing documentation, eliminating the need for costly agents. According to Singh, "Our objective is to ensure exporting is easy for smaller towns at the lowest level. Exporters don't have to depend on intermediaries, and all (our) services are free." To further streamline operations, India Post, he said, has established in-house customs and drug control offices in Mumbai, enabling faster processing. The initiative also includes free pickup services, dedicated software, and enhanced manpower to support exporters. Additionally, India Post is expanding its global partnerships with postal services in over 130 countries, to improve visibility and efficiency in logistics. The session 'Commercial Exports through India Post' comes at a critical time as Indian exporters face tariff uncertainties, particularly with the United States, which has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on imports from India. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of the World Trade Center, Mumbai (WTC), emphasised the need to diversify export markets. "When one door closes, three doors open. We should explore new markets like Africa, Latin America, GCC countries, and CIS nations," Kalantri told ANI. He highlighted India's modest share in the global garment export market (USD 18-20 billion out of USD 800 billion) and urged exporters to seize opportunities in textiles, leather, gems, jewellery, and agro-based products. Kalantri also noted government efforts to enhance competitiveness, including GST reductions and the signing of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the UK, Australia, and ongoing negotiations with the European Union. These measures, coupled with India Post's initiative, according to Kalantri, aim to reduce logistics costs, which are relatively higher in India compared to the global average. "India Post's is a great initiative and this will not only help in exports but it will also help in import also in our inward goods," Kalantri added. Mukund Puranik, a corporate commercial lawyer who advises startups and MSMEs, praised the India Post initiative, calling it a "game-changer" for small exporters. "India Post's logistics services, delivering to 130 countries at a lower cost, will have both short-term and long-term impacts," he said. Puranik also expressed optimism about resolving tariff disputes with the US, citing India's measured response and support from the EU and other nations. "This is a temporary phase. Indian exporters must diversify beyond one or two countries," he added. Shekhar Vichare, an organic agro-exporter, highlighted the initiative's potential to meet the demands of the Indian diaspora abroad. "There's a huge demand for Indian processed and fresh foods globally, but small quantities have been a challenge. India Post's support for small consignments, even as little as 35 kg, is a great opportunity to cater to our diaspora and other customers," he said. (ANI) The All India LPG Distributors Federation has appealed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on LPG Suraksha Hoses (LPG pipes) from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. In the run up to the two-day GST Council meeting that started today, the Federation had written to the Union minister In the letter, the Federation had stressed that the LPG Suraksha Hose is not a luxury product but a mandatory safety component essential for transporting gas safely from cylinders to stoves. "As LPG is already under essential commodities and distributed under subsidy schemes to millions of families, imposing such a high GST on a safety accessory is contradictory to the government's vision of "Ujjwala se Suraksha"," the letter read. Since August 2015, every household using LPG is required to replace these hoses periodically as per Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) guidelines. Currently, the 18 per cent GST rate makes these safety hoses costly for many families, especially economically weaker households, rural consumers, and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), they argued. According to the Federation's President Chandra Prakash, lowering the GST to 5 per cent would not reduce tax revenue instead, it could increase it, as more consumers would purchase authorized BIS-approved hoses rather than cheaper, unsafe alternatives from the open market. "We assured you that total GST on Suraksha hose will also increase because now a days majority consumers purchasing substandard LPG pipe-Suraksha Hose from open unauthorized market hence loss of GST revenue. We assured yourself that LPG user will buy from oil companies authorized channels partners if GST reduces to 5 per cent instead of 18 per cent," the letter read. "This small fiscal step will have a large social impact by strengthening household safety and supporting the government's vision of Har Ghar Surakshit LPG," Prakash said in the letter. The two-day meeting, being held on September 3 and 4, is expected to bring significant changes to India's indirect tax structure, with discussions centred around rationalising and reducing the number of GST slabs. In the Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced upcoming next-gen GST reforms before Diwali so as to benefit consumers, small industries and MSMEs. (ANI) The Government of Odisha signed two major Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs. 2,655 crore on the opening day of SEMICON India 2025. As per an official press release issued by the Government of Odisha, the MoUs were inked on Tuesday with TopTrack Hi-Tech PCB, which will invest Rs. 1,005 crore in an advanced printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing facility, and Sancode Technologies Limited, which plans a Rs. 1,650 crore facility with support from its global partners. The Electronics & Information Technology (E&IT) Department of the Odisha government is participating in SEMICON India 2025, being held from September 2 to 4 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, through a dedicated Odisha Pavilion. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the pavilion and was joined by senior officials, including E&IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary Vishal Dev, and Special Secretary Manas Ranjan Panda. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, "Aligned with the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision, Odisha is committed to becoming a powerhouse in India's electronics and semiconductor journey. It is a matter of immense pride for us that our institutions, NIT Rourkela and PMEC Berhampur, have played a crucial role in the first Made-in-India chip, showcasing the extraordinary talent and innovation nurtured in our state." On the sidelines of the event, the Chief Minister held high-level meetings with global semiconductor companies. RIR Power Electronics briefed him on its upcoming SiC wafer fabrication facility, expected to begin commercial production in March 2026. India's first Integrated Device Manufacturing (IDM) facility for SiC-based compound semiconductors. SicSem Pvt. Ltd. has emerged as a landmark investment worth Rs. 2,067 crore. An advanced packaging 3D glass packaging unit by 3D Glass Solutions Inc., with a proposed investment of Rs. 1,944 crore The Odisha leadership also engaged with Western Digital, Renesas, NXP Semiconductors, Siemens, and Micron, who showed interest in talent collaborations with IIT Bhubaneswar and other institutions. Ajit Manocha, President and CEO of SEMI, praised Odisha's semiconductor policies and invited the Chief Minister to Semicon Japan later this year. To accelerate growth, the state has introduced two new policies, the Electronics Component Manufacturing (ECM) Policy 2025 and the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing & Fabless Policy 2025. Both aim to attract investment across the electronics value chain with lucrative incentives and single-window clearances. (ANI) Semicon India 2025 marked a milestone for the country's semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem with the chips from the pilot lines, and from other indigenous sources, were handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a memento during the inaugural session. At the inauguration of Semicon India 2025, its fourth edition, PM Modi was presented with a specially curated memento by Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw. The memento comprised 33 semiconductor chips, out of which 20 were designed by Students from 17 universities, 8 by various institutions and rest five by different companies including one from the pilot facility of CG semi in Sanand. The semiconductor industry in India is still at a nascent stage, with various local and multinational companies setting facilities and the necessary ecosystem to tap its vast potential. Semiconductors are at the heart of modern technology. They power essential systems in healthcare, transport, communication, defence, and space. As the world moves toward greater digitalisation and automation, semiconductors have become integral to economic security and strategic independence. In June 2023, the government approved the first proposal for establishing a semiconductor unit in Sanand. Cut to today, the government has approved 10 semiconductor manufacturing projects with a cumulative investment of more than Rs 1.60 lakh crore in six states: Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Works are underway in several of these projects. The first Made in India commercial semiconductor is set to roll out from the factory assembly lines later this year. Underscoring the rapid progress India made in the semiconductor sector, a domain long dominated by a few nations, the Prime Minister, during the inaugural event on Wednesday, had clearly reiterated that commercial chip production will begin this year. The Prime Minister had informed the gathering that CG Power's pilot plant had commenced operations just a few days ago, and the pilot plant of Kaynes is also about to begin. Test chips from Micron and Tata are already in production. In just four years, since the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, India has transformed its semiconductor journey from vision to the verge of reality. To support this vision, the government announced a Rs 76,000 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, of which nearly Rs 65,000 crore has already been committed. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has already begun work on the next phase of India's semiconductor programme, Semicon 2.0, and is currently holding discussions with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to finalise its contours. Semicon 2.0 will build on the momentum created under the first phase, besides broadening the scope of the mission. Details of chips included in the memento: Five of these chips etched in the memento came from leading Indian and global companies -- CG Semi, from the first pilot line inaugurated recently in Sanand, Gujarat; Kaynes Semicon; Micron Semiconductor Technologies; Tata Semiconductor; and the Vikram Processor designed by VSSC, ISRO and fabricated at SCL Mohali. Another 20 chips were designed by student teams of 17 institutions. Those institutes are University of Calcutta, NIT Puducherry, Osmania University College of Engineering, IIEST Shibpur, V.E.S. Institute of Technology Chembur, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, NIT Rourkela, NIT Durgapur, College of Engineering Guindy (Anna University), Institute of Engineering & Technology Devi Ahilya Vishvavidyalaya (IET DAVV), ABVIIITM Gwalior, IIT Jammu, IIT Roorkee, NIT Jalandhar, NIT Silchar, NIT Meghalaya, CDAC Bangalore. In addition, eight chips were designed by student teams from seven institutions -- SVNIT Surat, NIT Calicut, University of Calcutta, IIT Ropar, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, NIT Puducherry, and Parala Maharaja Engineering College. With these developments, India has sent a strong message to the world about its intent to emerge as a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing and design. (ANI) For nearly three decades, EQUATE has contributed significantly to the development of India's textile industry, providing high-quality products and services that support the sector's continued growth. "This enduring relationship underscores a shared commitment to mutual prosperity and sustainable progress," the Group stated in a press release on Wednesday. In light of the strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations--with trade surpassing USD 10 billion in 2024-2025--this collaboration takes on even greater significance, it noted. The strategic partnership between India and Kuwait was further solidified during the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait on 21-22 December 2024, at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait. Following this milestone, Meshal Mustafa Al-Shemali, Ambassador of Kuwait to India, met with senior EQUATE Group executives, including Ahmad Saud Al-Saleh, Global Business Director, and Kamlesh Parwani, Regional Commercial Director, to explore avenues for expanding trade and investment between the two countries. "The partnership between Kuwait and India is grounded in decades of mutual respect and shared vision," said Ambassador Al-Shemali in the press release. "As we move toward a more comprehensive strategic relationship, we welcome EQUATE's continued investment in India as a symbol of Kuwait's confidence in our economic cooperation and future growth together." The meeting focused on enhancing trade and industrial cooperation, while identifying new opportunities for sustainable development and regional integration. "India remains one of EQUATE's most important partners in Asia," said Ahmad Saud Al-Saleh, Global Business Director of EQUATE. "We are committed to growing alongside India's vibrant economy and contributing to its long-term success." Looking ahead, the EQUATE Group said it will continue to collaborate closely with Indian stakeholders, aligning with both nations' ambitions for industrial innovation, energy security, and shared economic advancement. The EQUATE Group is a global producer of petrochemicals and a key player in the international plastics and chemical industry. With operations spanning the Middle East, Asia, and North America, EQUATE is a joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company, Boubyan Petrochemical Company, and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company. (ANI) The meeting saw the participation of representatives of EPCs and Industry Associations, senior officials from the Department of Commerce, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). According to a statement from the Ministry, the discussions primarily centred on recent developments regarding tariff increases on certain Indian products. Exporters and industry representatives highlighted the challenges posed by these tariff barriers, their impact on the competitiveness of Indian goods in key international markets, and emphasized the need for targeted, sector-specific interventions. Minister Goyal reaffirmed the Government's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters amidst the evolving global trade scenario. He assured industry representatives that the Government is actively engaged in creating an enabling environment to help exporters navigate recent challenges. EPCs and industry associations from sectors including Textiles, Apparel, Engineering, Gems and Jewellery, Leather, Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture, and Services raised sector-specific concerns. "They appreciated the Government's proactive engagement and assured their full support in enhancing India's trade resilience," the commerce ministry said. Emphasising a proactive approach, the Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to find long-term solutions in the national interest. He urged exporters to upgrade product quality, align with global standards, diversify supply chains, and explore alternate markets. There was a broad consensus on the need for alternative mechanisms, with the Government committed to addressing sectoral concerns and driving sustained export growth The Minister emphasized that India's long-term goal is to strengthen domestic manufacturing, boost exports. He assured EPC and industry representatives that the Government remains committed to providing a supportive ecosystem through ease of doing business initiatives, targeted trade support, and timely policy interventions to mitigate the impact of rising tariff measures. (ANI) The landmark next-generation GST reforms that were announced on Wednesday include significant relief to citizens in the healthcare and insurance sectors. One of the biggest announcements is the complete removal of GST on individual health and life insurance. Until now, they have attracted 18 per cent GST. With the new reform, they have been moved to the zero-tax bracket, making health and life insurance more affordable and accessible to a wider section of society. These reforms, cleared by the GST Council, are expected to reduce the cost of essential medical items and health-related financial services. In addition to this, GST rates on several critical medical items have been reduced from 12 per cent to just 5 per cent. They include a thermometer, medical-grade oxygen, all diagnostic kits and reagents, glucometers and test strips, as well as corrective spectacles. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the reforms, stressing that they will benefit the common man, farmers, MSMEs, the middle class, women, and youth. "During my Independence Day Speech, I had spoken about our intention to bring the Next-Generation reforms in GST. The Union Government had prepared a detailed proposal for broad-based GST rate rationalisation and process reforms, aimed at ease of living for the common man and strengthening the economy. Glad to state that @GST_Council, comprising the Union and the States, has collectively agreed to the proposals submitted by the Union Government on GST rate cuts & reforms, which will benefit the common man, farmers, MSMEs, middle-class, women and youth. The wide-ranging reforms will improve the lives of our citizens and ensure ease of doing business for all, especially small traders and businesses," PM Modi posted on X. On the essential items front, items of daily household use will now cost less. Products such as hair oil, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet soap bars, toothbrushes, and shaving cream, which earlier attracted 18 per cent GST, will now fall under the 5 per cent bracket. Similarly, butter, ghee, cheese, dairy spreads, pre-packaged namkeens, bhujiya, and mixtures have all seen their GST rate reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. Utensils, feeding bottles, baby napkins, and clinical diapers have also become cheaper with the rate cut to 5 per cent. (ANI) Parents who post photographs of their children on social media may be unwittingly exposing them to harassment, bullying and even identity theft in later life, a study has warned. Children whose parents share their photographs online are at greater risk The practice known as "sharenting" has become widespread as parents document their children's lives on social media. But academics at the University of Southampton have warned it could have serious unintended consequences, with findings indicating that such sharing increases the risk of children becoming victims of cybercrime. Rani Govender, the NSPCCs online child safety policy manager, told the BBC: These findings highlight the serious risks which children can face when photos and videos of them are shared widely on social media. Sharing photos or videos of children at scale across the online world can put their safety, privacy and wellbeing at risk. Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 parents across the UK and conducted follow-up interviews. They found 45 percent of parents said they regularly posted pictures of their children, while one in six reported that their child had already suffered harm as a result. Pamela Ugwudike, the lead researcher for the report, said: Sharenting poses a real and present danger to our children. By proudly sharing photos and information about children on social media, parents are unwittingly putting them at risk of harm, both online such as cyberbullying, and in the real world not just now, but also years down the line. She added details revealed in such posts including birthdays, addresses or pet names could later be exploited for identity fraud. Ms Ugwudike also warned strangers could use information from posts to contact children both online and offline. Sharenting has sparked debate before. In 2019, Gwyneth Paltrow posted a photograph on Instagram with her daughter Apple Martin. Apple responded that she had not given permission for the image to be shared, highlighting tensions around privacy. The Southampton study found many parents, carers, relatives and schools were unaware of how privacy settings on social media platforms could be bypassed. Rani Govender said: This research shows parents overestimate the protection offered by privacy settings. Features like tagging and resharing can bypass these protections, allowing content to spread beyond the intended audience even from private accounts. The Internet Watch Foundation has also raised concerns. Kerry Smith, the IWFs head, said: We have seen criminals in the darkest parts of the internet boasting that they can use AI image generators to create life-like nude and sexual imagery of any child they like with only a handful of normal, non-sexual images. Smith added artificial intelligence tools posed new threats, including the potential for sexual extortion if such images were misused. She said: AI imagery of children can now be so realistic, it is indistinguishable from real imagery. Netflix shared the new look of the much-awaited murder mystery and revealed that it will open in select theatres on November 26, weeks before its premiere on the streaming platform. "not all secrets can stay buried. WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY arrives december 12," Netflix wrote. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOGdukFkXyn/ Rian Johnson, who has directed all three films in the franchise, took to his social media handle and confirmed that 'Wake Up Dead Man' will be released in cinemas in the United States for Thanksgiving. "Wake Up Dead Man, the new Benoit Blanc mystery. Thanksgiving in theaters, 12/12 on Netflix. More to come very sooooooooooon," he wrote. https://x.com/rianjohnson/status/1962864930563956828 Teasing a gothic setting, the poster focuses on Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc as he returns to investigate a new mystery, with the likes of Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, and Kerry Washington among others joining him. Among others in the cast are Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. Directed, written, and co-produced by Johnson, the third 'Knives Out' film will follow Benoit Blanc's return for his most dangerous case in the darkest chapter. "When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it's clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic," the official synopsis states, as per Variety. Earlier this year, an official teaser trailer for 'Wake Up Dead Man' was shared, showing Daniel Craig investigating the "impossible crime" scene in a church. 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' will be released on December 12, 2025, on Netflix. (ANI) Starring newcomer Aaishvary Thackeray in a twin role, the film centres on brothers Babloo and Dabloo (Thackeray) whose opposing worldviews drive the narrative set in early 2000s Uttar Pradesh, northern India. Vedika Pinto is also set to play a prominent role in the film. "Aaishvary, Vedika, Monika, Zeeshan, Kumud and every single actor in the film -- they didn't just act, they lived and breathed these characters," said Anurag Kashyap as quoted by Variety. "Their commitment to the story and the authenticity of their performances shine in the film," added the director as quoted by Variety. Jar Pictures' Ajay Rai and Ranjan Singh produce alongside Flip Films, with Kashyap co-writing the screenplay with Prasoon Mishra and Ranjan Chandel. The project marks a collaboration between the 'Gangs of Wasseypur' helmer and Amazon's India production arm. The two-minute trailer showcases action sequences, romance and family dynamics across multiple storylines. The trailer showcases Aaishvary Thackeray indulging in illegal activities to make a name for himself in the crime world. Anurag shared the trailer on his Instagram handle on Wednesday. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOIg-5JjNgu/?hl=en For lead actor Thackeray, the dual role presented both performance and musical opportunities, as he also contributed to the film's soundtrack. "Playing twins who are complete opposites challenged me in every way -- emotionally, physically, and as an actor," said Aaishvary Thackeray as quoted by Variety. "At the same time, contributing to the music of the film was just as special. For me, acting and music are like Babloo and Dabloo -- two distinct parts of my personality that balance and complete each other," added Thackeray as quoted by Variety. 'Nishaanchi' is slated to release in theatres on September 19. (ANI) Kapoor was held in Pune after police tracked his movements across multiple locations, they said. According to police, the complainant woman alleged that Kapoor assaulted her inside a bathroom during a house party in Delhi in the second week of August. An FIR was registered on August 11, after which the police began searching for him. Officials also said that the woman had named some other individuals in her initial complaint, but later changed parts of her statement. The initial complaint alleged that Kapoor, along with unidentified men, had raped the woman. However, she later revised her statement, accusing only Kapoor of rape. Police added that they are also taking legal opinion on the matter. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway, and police are probing the matter from all possible angles. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a field inspection of waterlogging and land erosion as a result of floods in Laksar and the surrounding regions of Haridwar district. CM Dhami said that he met flood-affected people in the district and assured them of providing the necessary supplies. "I myself have gone there and met the people, and we will work on providing the necessary supplies or meeting the demands of the people there. We are with all the disaster-affected people," the Chief Minister told reporters. He emphasised that the roads in the flood-hit areas will be elevated. He added that the government will undertake relocation measures in those areas. "In the near future, the road there will be elevated... Relocation measures will also be taken for the people there. Our administration is on alert mode 24 hours a day and is working in coordination with everyone," the CM said. Sharing an X post, CM Dhami said, "A terrestrial inspection of the flood-affected areas of Laksar (Haridwar) was conducted with the assistance of tractors and boats. During this, local people were met, their problems were heard, and they were assured of the effective operation of relief works." He has directed the officials to ensure proper arrangements for the affected people. "At the same time, officials were directed to ensure proper arrangements for the safety, housing, food, and health facilities of the affected people by expediting immediate relief and rehabilitation works. Instructions were also given to promptly assess the crop damage to farmers and initiate the compensation process at the earliest," he wrote. "During this, Honourable MLA Shri Pradeep Batra ji from Roorkee Assembly constituency and former MLA Shri Sanjay Gupta ji from Laksar Assembly constituency were present," the X post read. Parts of Uttarakhand have been facing floods and waterlogging amid heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in the state from September 2 to 8. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that stranded devotees participating in the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba district will be rescued with the help of helicopters. Speaking to reporters in Shimla on Tuesday, CM Sukhu said the district administration has been directed to make all necessary arrangements for the air evacuation of pilgrims affected by adverse weather and road disruptions. "I have instructed the Deputy Commissioner to arrange for the stranded devotees to be airlifted. The Disaster Management Act has been enforced in the state. As per requirements, all necessary facilities will be provided to those affected," the Chief Minister said. CM Sukhu added that with the situation heavily dependent on the weather, the state was hoping for clear skies to expedite rescue and relief work. "Now, we can only pray to God for the weather to clear," he remarked. Officials said that continuous rain and landslides have cut off access routes to high-altitude pilgrimage sites, leaving many devotees awaiting rescue. The Manimahesh Yatra, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a prominent annual pilgrimage in the state, attracting thousands of devotees from across the country. Earlier, speaking to mediapersons after the conclusion of the 12-day Assembly session, Sukhu said, "We discussed the disaster situation for four days and gave our reply. The state has witnessed extremely heavy rainfall over the last two days, resulting in multiple landslides, loss of life, and destruction of homes. The Assembly has declared Himachal Pradesh as a disaster-affected state." He assured full government support to affected families, announcing that each household that has lost its home will receive Rs 7 lakh for reconstruction and an additional Rs 70,000 for household items washed away. For livestock losses, compensation will be Rs 55,000 for a cow or buffalo and Rs 9,000 for a goat or sheep. Owners of partially damaged houses will get Rs 1 lakh. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi unit president and former Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the file movement record of all letters and notes he sent as minister has vanished from the Delhi government server under the BJP regime, a press release by AAP said. According to the press release, records missing from the digital system were later found to have been entered in official physical registers, proving that the correspondence existed. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, he warned that a minister's official communication disappearing from government servers is an unprecedented and extremely serious matter demanding investigation. Saurabh Bharadwaj pointed to missing file movement official records, stating, "During my tenure as a minister, all the orders I issued, the file notings, and particularly the directions I gave to officers of my departments, the Health Secretary and the Chief Secretary, the entire file movement record has disappeared from the Delhi government server. The disappearance of all e-movements of records is a very serious matter." He added, "In July, I filed some RTIs asking several questions. For instance, in 2024, as minister, I had ordered the Chief Secretary to conduct a third-party audit of the desilting of drains. I asked what action the Chief Secretary took on those orders. Was the audit of desilting done or not? The shocking reply to the RTI was that none of the notes I sent as minister were ever received by the Chief Secretary. I filed three to four RTIs, and in all the replies, it was stated that the Chief Secretary had not received any such note." Explaining what happened next, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "I appealed against the RTI responses, and the hearing for that appeal was scheduled on Tuesday. I went to the Secretariat for the hearing. When we checked the government's file management system by entering the reference numbers of several files, we found that all the file movement records of notes I had sent to the departments, the officers, and the Chief Secretary were missing from the server." "After this, I looked at the physical entries recorded in the register. Whenever a minister sends a note from one department to another, it is dispatched in the register. The register contains the note number, time, date, the department it was sent from, and the officer in the department it was sent to. Once the note reaches the officer, it is entered in the register maintained there. If note travels further, that too is dispatched and entered in the register," he added. The AAP Delhi unit chief stressed that the confidential notes whose records are maintained in the computer are also recorded in the physical register at the Chief Secretary's office. If that register goes missing, then the officer under whose authority the register falls is held accountable under the law, the press release said. Demanding an investigation into the matter, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "The register provided proof that as a minister I had indeed sent those letters to the Chief Secretary. Evidence of those letters was found in the register at the Chief Secretary's office. But the entire file movement record of those letters was missing from the Delhi government server. This is a very serious issue, and it must be investigated. Until now, we may have heard about many big irregularities, but never has it been heard that in any government, the official correspondence of a minister could simply vanish from the records." Highlighting the existence of physical copies, he added, "All the letters I sent as minister are still present in the minister's office. On Tuesday, the Deputy Secretary even showed us photocopies of those letters. This confirms that letters were sent from the minister's office to the Chief Secretary. Since the physical record and copies were maintained in the minister's office, they exist. But the entire record of file movement that should have been on the Delhi government server has disappeared." He claimed that the Chief Secretary's office had requisitioned the letters from the minister's office, which proves that he had written to the Chief Secretary. Clarifying further, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "I had ordered the then Chief Secretary to conduct a third-party audit of desilting. A copy of this order is available with the Chief Secretary because it was also physically maintained in the register. The Chief Secretary's office had even requisitioned these letters from the minister's office, and they were present in the registers there as well. But the entire record of file movement is missing. This proves that I, as minister, had indeed written to the Chief Secretary, and those letters exist, but all subsequent records of their movement have been erased from the Delhi government server. No record was found of any of the letters I sent." (ANI) CM Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday acknowledged the loss of life due to the flood in Dantewada and other cities. The Chief Minister told reporters, "A meeting was held with Home Minister Amit Shah about the flood situation that had arisen in Bastar due to heavy rainfall recently. Water had entered Dantewada and several cities. Due to which, some loss of lives has also occurred." He added that Union Minister Amit Shah was informed regarding the loss of livestock and infrastructure amid floods in various parts of Chhattisgarh. "Houses have collapsed, there has been loss of livestock, and bridges and culverts have been washed away. All this information has been given to him. All the information regarding the fight against Naxalism has been provided," he said. Earlier on Monday, CM Sai conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas near Chitrakote waterfall at the Indravati River in Bastar division. Over the past few days, flash floods have occurred in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, triggered by heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there is a flash flood risk in Balarampur, Bilaspur, Jashpur, Kabirdham, Korba, Korea, Mungeli, Raigarh, Surajpur and Surguja districts of Chhattisgarh till 11:30 AM on Wednesday. The IMD has issued a yellow alert in Bastar and Dantewada, predicting light rainfall of less than 5 mm per hour accompanied by a 30 per cent possibility of cloud-to-ground lightning till 7:00 AM on Wednesday. Till 8:30 AM on Tuesday, Nangur in Bastar district received 13 cm of rainfall, while Dantewada saw 11 cm of rainfall, the meteorological department said. IMD has predicted isolated heavy rainfall in the state from September 3 to 5, while very heavy rain is likely on September 3, Wednesday. (ANI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy affirmed that the state government will complete the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) works and fulfil the farmers' dreams soon, a press release said. Participating in the YS Rajashekhara Reddy Memorial Awards- 2025 programme in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the Chief Minister remembered that former CM YS Rajashekhara Reddy took up the SLBC project to address the fluoride menace in the erstwhile Nalgonda district. The works were already completed on a 30 km stretch of tunnel. The government is committed to completing the pending works of the tunnel and solving the farmers' plights in the drought-hit Nalgonda district, the CM said, as per the release. Recalling CM YSR's strong desire to make Rahul Gandhi the PM of the country, CM Revanth Reddy said that Congress leader YS Sharmila and he will strive to fulfil the dream of the former chief minister of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh. According to the press release, the Telangana government was implementing a slew of welfare schemes, including Fine Rice distribution to 3.10 crore poor free of cost, fee reimbursement, free power supply to agriculture, waiver of Rs 20,617 crore farm loans of 25,35,694 farmers and a Rs 500 bonus to the farmers. We waived farm loans within three months of coming to power in the state. It was YSR who promoted agriculture as a profitable profession and signed the first file as CM, which included free power supply, loan waivers, and lifting cases booked against farmers, he said. Furthermore, the CM stated that YSR conceived the Chevella-Pranahita project to alleviate the drought situation by utilising the waters of the River Godavari. The CM Reddy criticised former CM K Chandrashekhar Rao for making adverse comments on Paddy cultivation by the Telangana farmers. The CM also recollected former CM YSR's reply to his comments as the first-time MLA during the debate on the budget. "During his stint as CM, YSR always answered the opposition without arrogance," CM Reddy said. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the five city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) have come into effect to enhance urban administration and implement citizen-friendly services. Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, Shivakumar said, "September 2 is a special day for Bengaluru. The five city corporations- Bengaluru Central Corporation, Bengaluru North Corporation, Bengaluru South Corporation, Bengaluru East Corporation, Bengaluru West Corporation have come into effect today. The Greater Bengaluru Authority, with 75 members, has been formed under the leadership of the Chief Minister on Aug 26." The Deputy Chief Minister stated that all five corporate offices would be built following a uniform architectural design, and a prize of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for the best design. "We have also invited logo designs for the GBA," he added. "We have appointed officials for the respective corporations. Each of the corporations will have a commissioner, an additional commissioner, a joint commissioner, KAS officials and a chief engineer. We have enhanced the number of zonal offices from 27 to 50, and the sub-zonal offices have been increased from 75 to 150," Shivakumar said. Highlighting the governance structure, he stated that each corporation would have a provision for up to 150 wards. "Considering an average of 100 wards per corporation, the people will have an opportunity to elect 500 new leaders for the governance of the city. There would be a 50% reservation for women," he added. Shivakumar said that from September 3, taxes would be collected by the new corporations and utilised solely for their respective jurisdictions. "Elections will be held for all five corporations soon. Wards will be formed with an average population of 30,000 to 40,000. We have made provision to add new areas to East, West and North corporations in the future," the Dy Chief Minister said. When asked how the government would manage the finances, as some corporations are financially sound and some are weak, Shivakumar said, "It is not possible to transfer funds from one corporation to another. The government will have to chip in with support to fill the gap in some corporations." "The objective is to give good administration. In the past, one had to approach the commissioner for even small things; now the GBA will only handle large projects in the city. The commissioners of the respective corporation would be responsible for all functions of the corporation. The administration has been decentralised. We have identified lands for building new offices for the corporations, and we will lay the foundation for these offices on November 1," the Dy CM said. Earlier on Monday, the Deputy CM had announced the launch of the Greater Bengaluru Area Development Plan, under which five corporations would be established to implement developmental initiatives. "The development of the Greater Bengaluru Area is starting from today (September 1), for which five corporations are being formed. A very senior official will be appointed as the Commissioner," Shivakumar said. As part of the restructuring process, the Greater Bengaluru Authority has overhauled the city's administrative framework by establishing five distinct corporations - Bengaluru East, West, North, South and Central. The Greater Bengaluru Governance (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed in the Legislative Council on August 21. (ANI) Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Tuesday welcomed the decision of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil to end his protest, hailing it as a victory for the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. According to Shaina NC, the government has been committed to fulfilling the demands of the Maratha community, particularly regarding reservation. She criticised the opposition for playing vote bank politics, suggesting that the Mahayuti government's actions demonstrate its genuine commitment to the Maratha community's welfare. "The Mahayuti government has always been committed to the Kunbis...The Marathas have long demanded this particular reservation for them...Our government has ensured that we will fulfil all commitments within three months. The caste certificates will be issued by the village authorities..The commitment of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis is well known to all...This is an absolute full stop for the opposition that only plays vote bank politics," Shaina told ANI. Manoj Jarange Patil's protest was centred around the Maratha community's demand for reservation. The community has been seeking recognition and benefits through the Kunbi certificate, which would enable them to access quotas and other benefits. Jarange ended his indefinite fast at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Tuesday. "Maratha vijay zala aj vijay zala, sukhi zala (Marathas have emerged victorious today and we are happy)", Jarange said as he was being carried from his protest stage to the ambulance. Jarange said, "Today is Diwali for us, as we have got what we wanted." Protesters performed Ganpati Aarti as a gesture of thanks to God; Jarange announced that after the Aarti, the protest would be formally over. Cabinet subcommittee head Radhakrishna Vikhepatil thanked Jarange for accepting the government's proposal and breaking his fast by drinking juice, as he and his supporters looked visibly happy. In a post on X, Vikhepatil had informed of the discussion of the Maharashtra State Cabinet Subcommittee regarding the demands raised by Jarange Patil, and stated that the government is taking "positive steps for the rightful demands of the Maratha community". The post read, "At the meeting of the Maharashtra State Cabinet Subcommittee, a detailed discussion was held regarding the demands raised in the agitation led by Mr. Manoj Jarange Patil. The government is taking positive steps for the rightful demands of the Maratha community, and deliberations were held on the decision-making process in this regard". Earlier, the Bombay High Court adjourned the Maratha quota matter on Wednesday, stating that it expects some development by then. Advocate Satish Maneshinde, representing Jarange Patil, has issued a statement appealing to his supporters not to create any traffic problems and not to gather in numbers exceeding 5,000. (ANI) Air traffic controllers in France are set to strike later this month. Michael O'Leary has previously slammed strike action The country's largest air traffic control union, SNCTA - which represents around 60% of workers in the sector - will stage a walk out from the morning of 18 September until the end of 19 September. The decision to take industrial action came after what the union described as a breakdown in dialogue with Frances Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). If the action goes ahead, disruption won't just affect flights to and from France, but those which need to pass through French Airspace as well. Details of cancellations and delays will be released by France's Civil Aviation Authority two days before the strike is due to begin, but similar action in July caused widespread disruption. The strike on 3 and 4 July impacted on more than 30,000 passengers. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has previously slammed such industrial action and called on Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President to make "urgent" moves to reform air traffic control services in Europe. He said in a statement: Once again, European families are held to ransom by French air traffic controllers going on strike. It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike. It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays. In a major blow to terrorist networks, the Anti-Gangster Task Force of Punjab, in a joint operation with Punjab Police, arrested two key associates of foreign-based terrorist Lakhvir Singh alias Landa Harike and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession, said a senior official on Wednesday. The arrested accused have been identified as Vikramjit Singh alias Vicky and Harpreet Singh alias Prince, and authorities have recovered one .32 calibre pistol, one .315 calibre pistol, and nine live cartridges from their possession. In a social media post on X, the Director General of Punjab Police, Gaurav Yadav wrote, "In a major blow to terrorist networks, Anti-Gangster Task Force (#AGTF), Punjab, in a joint operation with @TarnTaranPolice, arrests two key associates of foreign-based terrorist Lakhvir Singh @ Landa Harike -- Vikramjit Singh @ Vicky and Harpreet Singh @ Prince and recover One .32 caliber pistol and One .315 caliber pistol and 9 live cartridges." https://x.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/1963078085227790784 According to the police, both arrested individuals have a criminal background, with cases under attempt to murder, NDPS Act, Arms Act, and snatching. According to the police, Vikramjit Singh, a proclaimed offender, was wanted in an attempt to murder case registered in Tarn Taran in March 2024 and had been absconding since then. His accomplice, Ajaypal, was earlier arrested by Tarn Taran Police after a brief exchange of fire in March 2025. The social media post reads, "Vikramjit Singh @ Vicky, a proclaimed offender, was wanted in an attempt to murder case registered at PS Jhabal, Tarn Taran in March 2024 and had been absconding since then. His accomplice Ajaypal @ Mota was earlier arrested by #TarnTaran Police after a brief exchange of fire in March 2025." "Both arrested persons have a criminal background, with cases under Attempt to Murder, NDPS Act, Arms Act, and Snatching. Their arrest has also helped resolve several pending cases. PunjabPoliceInd reiterates its firm commitment to dismantling gangster-terrorist networks and safeguarding peace and security in the state. Further interrogation is ongoing to trace their network and handlers," it added. (ANI) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of Chennai conducted a joint operation with the Air Intelligence Unit, Chennai Customs, resulting in the seizure of 5.618 kg of Cocaine at Chennai international airport. Two Indian nationals, one a resident of Bageshwar, Uttarakhand (a 25-year-old B.A. graduate) and the other from Chamba, Himachal Pradesh (a 26-year-old ITI pass), were apprehended during this operation while carrying the contraband, which had been brought on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Chennai in their baggage. The street value of the seized contraband, which is high-grade cocaine, is estimated to be atleast Rs 60 crore in India. Cocaine is sold in retail in one-gram sachets, and one-gram sachets cost anywhere between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 12,000, depending on the level of adulteration in the cocaine. It was ascertained that these persons had made multiple trips from Addis Ababa to various airports in India for trafficking cocaine in the past few years. Preliminary investigations also revealed that the apprehended individuals are part of a larger transnational drug syndicate involved in the trafficking of cocaine from Ethiopia to India for further distribution in other parts of India, from Delhi, where a Nigerian national handles the distribution network. Acting swiftly on these revelations, NCB detained the Nigerian national in Delhi, who had been in India since 2023 on a Medical visa but was overstaying since 2024, even after the expiry of his visa and also an Indian member (resident of Chamba District, a 26-year-old Graduate) of the syndicate from Mumbai. Even though the Nigerian national had come to India on a medical visa for self-treatment at Gleneagles HealthCity, Perumbakkam, Chennai, and was overstaying, he was involved in drug trafficking and setting up a distribution channel of cocaine from Delhi. Investigation further disclosed the involvement of a person of Indian origin in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who arranges the supply of cocaine and the distribution of the profits among the syndicate members. Considering the involvement of foreigners, especially African nationals, in drug trafficking activities in India, NCB collected the list of overstaying foreigners and shared the data with the states for appropriate action against the overstaying individuals under the Foreigners Act. Further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend all other members of this syndicate and to ascertain the financial trail. (ANI) Amid the continuous rainfall in Haryana, severe waterlogging was seen in the residential areas of Ambala. Parts of Karnal city also witnessed light rainfall on Wednesday morning. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ambala's forecast for today says, "Generally cloudy sky with a few spells of rain or thundershowers", "Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers" from September 4-6, "Partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain or Thunderstorm" for September 7 and "Generally cloudy sky with possibility of rain or Thunderstorm" for September 8. According to the IMD, Karnal's forecast for today and tomorrow is "Generally cloudy sky with a few spells of rain or thundershowers". The forecast further says, "Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers" for September 5 and 6, "Partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain or Thunderstorm" for September 7, and "Generally cloudy sky with possibility of rain or Thunderstorm" for September 8." Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert warnings for several districts across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest & eastern Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. The updated nowcast suggests moderate to intense spells of rain in these regions over the next three hours, posing risks of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging. According to IMD, districts under red alert in Jammu & Kashmir include Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar. In Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawashahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur are under red alert; while in Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan are under similar warnings. Haryana's Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar are also under the same warning. Meanwhile, today morning, the water level of the Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the danger level mark. The warning mark for the city is 204.5 metres, while the danger mark is 205.33 metres. Evacuation of people starts at 206 metres. As a preventive measure amid the anticipation of the possible flood situation, people residing in the low-lying areas nearby have been shifted to relief camps set up near Mayur Vihar Phase-1. (ANI) The Bairabi-Sairang Railway Project, a 51.38 km long rail link, is set to revolutionise connectivity in Mizoram by connecting the state capital Aizawl to the Indian Railways network for the first time after independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation of this project in 2014 and will inaugurate it on September 13, 2025. Built under the budget of Rs 8071 crore, this rail network travelling via Assam's Silchar was sanctioned in the year 2008-09 and was completed in 11 years. The railway line includes four stations: Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang-Sihhmui. Speaking on this project, KK Sharma, CPRO of Bairabi Sairang Railway Project, North East Frontier Railway CPRO, said that this railway station is set to connect five stations- Hortoki, Mualkhang and Kawnpui stations along with Bairabi and Sairang. The project features 48 tunnels spanning 12.853 km and 142 bridges, including 55 major and 87 minor bridges. Notably, Bridge No. 196 stands out with a towering height of 104 meters, surpassing the height of Delhi's iconic Qutub Minar. "The Bairabi Sairang Railway Project is 51.38 km long, which connects Mizoram's capital Aizawl to the mainstream of Indian Railways. This project was started in 2014 when PM Modi laid its foundation stone. It took 11 years, and now this project is completely ready. The PM is going to inaugurate it very soon. The people of Mizoram will be able to travel to various parts of the country with ease. The total cost of this project is Rs 8071 crore, and there are five railway stations, Hortoki, Mualkhang and Kawnpui stations apart from Bairabi and Sairang," Sharma told ANI. He further notes that this line comprises 55 large bridges, 87 small bridges, and 48 tunnels. Through this line, the train will reduce the travel time between Silchar and Aizawl from 7 hours to 3 hours. Additionally, from Guwahati, the travel time will be reduced from eighteen hours to twelve hours. "It has 55 big bridges, 87 small bridges, and 48 tunnels. This entire project is a boon for the people of Mizoram, as it has been more than 75 years since we gained independence, yet there has been no railway connectivity here. Now, by train, we will be able to reach Silchar from Aizawl in three hours, and Guwahati from Aizawl in 12 hours. It will become very easy for the local people and students. Getting medical facilities would also be easier. The price of things will also decrease. The prices of things are very high because it takes a lot of time and effort to reach here. The tourism will also get a boost," adds Sharma. The project is expected to boost Mizoram's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and provide a cheaper mode of transport. The railway line will facilitate seamless travel to Aizawl via Silchar, offering passengers scenic vistas of rolling hills, lush forests, and the vibrant cultural fabric of Mizoram. Meanwhile, in May 2025, the Northeast Frontier Railway conducted a trial run of the railway, followed by safety inspections in June. Moreover, the Commissioner of Railway Safety has also cleared the line for passenger operations, which will allow trains to run up to 90 kilometres per hour. (ANI) Traders of the woollen industry in Rajasthan's Bikaner have asked for support from the Central government and demanded its immediate intervention as the industry faces uncertainty after the Trump administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India. Speaking to ANI, Rajasthan Woollen Industry Association President Kamal Kala called for the Central government's "immediate intervention" into the matter. He further requested the government to reduce the 33 per cent income tax slab on the woollen industry and increase the duty on carpets from 5 to 15 per cent to fight Trump's tariffs. He said, "... There is a need for immediate intervention of the government. We want support from the government in two or three ways. The first support is that the government had exempted the carpet industry from income tax till 1996. Today we need it once again. To fight the Trump tariff, the 33% income tax slab on the woollen industry should be removed... The second need is that the 5% duty on carpet should be increased back to 15%... We have tried to raise our demands before the central government by giving a letter memorandum through the Central Wool Development Board... If the need arises, we are ready to fight at any level, against the tariffs..." Bikaner Industrial Chambers Vice President Kamal Bothra expressed concerns about the effects of Trump's tariffs on the industry and employment. He stated that orders have been cancelled, and production has been reduced. He also requested the government to resolve the issue. "The wool industry is highly affected. Earlier, the tariffs were 9% which are now 50%. Around 60% of the carpet business is done in America. The orders have been cancelled. The production has been reduced to 12 hours from 24 hours. Employment will take a huge hit. The government should sit down and bring a solution..." Bothra told ANI. On August 27, the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US on India came into effect. The US President imposed 25 per cent tariffs initially and then imposed an additional 25 per cent on India as a punishment for buying oil from Russia. Industry experts have also noted that 50 per cent tariffs will impact trade, especially in the sectors on which tariffs are imposed and that these sectors will suffer trade losses in the US, which will have an impact on industries such as textiles, Chemicals, and machinery. (ANI) Continuous heavy rainfall has been witnessed in several parts of Jammu & Kashmir, with rivers swelling and flash flood-like conditions reported across multiple districts. In Rajouri, incessant downpours have led to flood-like conditions, forcing authorities to remain on high alert. Meanwhile, in Doda's Bhalesa and Bhaderwah areas, torrential rains continued for the second consecutive day, triggering flood-like conditions. Amid incessant rainfall, the Tawi River is in full spate, while in Srinagar, the Jhelum River's water level rose significantly. Similarly, the Chenab River is in full spate due to continuous showers in the upper regions. Many houses are inundated with water as the water from the Chenab River has entered their homes due to the rise in water levels in the Chenab caused by heavy rains. Moreover, Sunil Kumar Bhutyal, ADC Bhaderwah, said that the Jammu & Kashmir Meteorological Department has issued a fresh advisory, warning of heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, landslides, and mudslides in different districts. Schools have been closed in affected areas, while people have been urged to stay indoors and avoid travelling near water bodies. "Even in Bhaderwah, there has been heavy rainfall since morning. Water level has started rising in nallahs...People should step out of their houses only in situations of emergency. Interstate roads, especially the Bhaderwah-Chamba road, have been closed. No vehicle is moving to and fro Chamba and Bhaderwah. We have conveyed this to the Chamba Administration... All our teams are on alert," ADC Bhaderwah Bhutyal said to ANI. Meanwhile, amid heavy rainfall in several Indian states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert warnings for several districts across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest & eastern Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. According to IMD, districts under red alert in Jammu & Kashmir include Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar. In Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawashahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur are under red alert; while in Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan are under similar warnings. Haryana's Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar are also under the same warning. Between 8:30 am on Tuesday and 5:30 am on Wednesday, several regions in Jammu & Kashmir witnessed significant rainfall. The highest was recorded in Reasi at 203 mm, followed closely by Katra at 193 mm, Batote at 157.3 mm, Doda at 114 mm, and Baderwah at 96.2 mm. Jammu city itself received 81 mm, while other stations such as Banihal (95 mm), Ramban (82 mm), Kokernag (68.2 mm), and Pahalgam (55 mm) also saw heavy rainfall. Moreover, rainfall was also reported in Srinagar (32 mm), Samba (48 mm), Kishtwar (50 mm), Rajouri (57.4 mm), Srinagar (32 mm) and Qazigund (68 mm) during the same period. Fresh data up to 6:45 am on September 3 showed extremely heavy rainfall in Jammu & Kashmir's Reasi at 230.5 mm. Apart from Jammu & Kashmir, widespread rainfall was also observed across several states. From 8:30 pm on Tuesday to 5:30 am on Wednesday, heavy rainfall occurred in Chhattisgarh, while moderate rainfall was reported in parts of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, coastal Odisha, coastal Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka, and the Andaman Islands. (ANI) Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, will visit Ayodhya on September 5 and offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde said on Wednesday. Nikhil Tikaram Funde stated that the Bhutanese Prime Minister will be accorded a red carpet welcome and attend a special banquet before departing the city the same afternoon. Speaking to ANI, the Ayodhya DM said, "On September 5, 2025, the Prime Minister of Bhutan will arrive in Ayodhya at around 9:30 AM. He will be given a red carpet welcome, as per protocol. After that, he will visit the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple to offer prayers and observe the temple. A special banquet will be held in his honour, and he is scheduled to leave around 1:30 PM." According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, along with his spouse Aum Tashi Doma, will be on an official visit to India from September 3 to 6. The visit will include programmes in Gaya and Ayodhya before their arrival in New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs added that during the stay in the national capital, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on the visiting dignitary. The visit will conclude on September 6. This follows Tobgay's earlier official trip to India from February 20 to 21, during which he participated in the inaugural Leadership Conclave of the School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The MEA stated that the back-to-back visits underscore the continued close cooperation and strengthened ties between India and Bhutan. As per the statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, during the earlier visit, PM Tobgay had a meeting with Prime Minister Modi. In addition, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and other senior officials of the Government of India had also called on the Bhutanese leader. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attended the second day of the fourth edition of SEMICON India 2025 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre). On Tuesday, PM Modi inaugurated the 'Semicon India - 2025', aimed at catalysing India's Semiconductor ecosystem and said the world trusts India and is ready to build the semiconductor future with the country. Remarking that in the world of semiconductors, it is often said, 'Oil was black gold, but chips are digital diamonds', the Prime Minister stated that oil shaped the previous century, and the fate of the world was determined by oil wells. The global economy fluctuated based on how much petroleum was extracted from these wells. However, he emphasised that the power of the 21st century is now concentrated in the small chip. Though tiny in size, these chips possess the potential to accelerate global progress significantly. PM Modi highlighted that the global semiconductor market has already reached $600 billion, and in the coming years, it is expected to surpass $1 trillion. He expressed confidence that, given the pace at which India is advancing in the semiconductor sector, India will hold a significant share in this $1 trillion market. PM Modi recalled that in 2021, the Semicon India programme was launched, by 2023, India's first semiconductor plant had been approved, in 2024, several more plants received approval, and in 2025, five additional projects were cleared. He said ten semiconductor projects are now underway, involving an investment of over eighteen billion dollars --more than 1.5 lakh crore. The Prime Minister emphasised that this reflects the growing global trust in India.Emphasising that in the semiconductor sector, speed matters, PM Modi said, "the shorter the time from file to factory, and the lesser the paperwork, the sooner wafer work can begin". He stressed that the government is working with this very approach. Moreover, the National Single Window System has been implemented, enabling all approvals from both the Centre and States to be accessed on a single platform. As a result, investors have been freed from extensive paperwork, he noted. Prime Minister highlighted that semiconductor parks are being developed across the country under a plug-and-play infrastructure model, which offer facilities such as land, power supply, port and airport connectivity, and access to a skilled worker pool. He remarked that when such infrastructure is combined with incentives, industrial growth is inevitable. Whether through PLI incentives or Design Linked Grants, India is offering end-to-end capabilities. This is why investment continues to flow in, he emphasised. (ANI) Ahead of the COP 30 Climate Change Conference, which is going to be held in Belem, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, Fellow of the Climate Resilience of CEEW, Dr Vishwas Chitale, shared his insights on the upcoming COP30 conference. Speaking with ANI, Chitale said that COP30 will focus on synergies, particularly those related to Rio, which aim to improve land-use and land-cover practices while promoting climate action and community resilience. He also emphasised that one of the crucial aspects of COP30 will be delivering on the climate finance target of $1.3 trillion per year by 2035. This target is part of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) agreed upon at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. "I think COP 30 is going to be much more around synergies. I think they are talking about RIO synergies, where climate action, community resilience and as a whole, how we can improve the land use and land cover practices, etc. So that's the overall agenda of COP 30. But I think it's going to be very important to see how COP 30 delivers on this climate finance target of 1.3 trillion, and can we see some action happening on that?" Chitale told ANI. The Loss and Damage Fund, initiated at COP27, saw some progress in Dubai, but further action is needed to translate this into tangible benefits, especially considering the 2030 target. "Even on the loss and damage fund, which was initiated in COP 27, we saw some action in Dubai COP. But how does it really translate in taking it further, and especially looking at the target of 2030, I think COP 30 has a lot to deliver on that." Chitale added. He further added that, as a leader of the Global South, India is expected to play a significant role in negotiations, voicing concerns on loss and damage, adaptation finance, and prioritising the needs of developing and least developed countries. "I think India is definitely having a lot of voice from the Global South. Therefore, we can expect India to lead some of the negotiations from the perspective of developing countries and effectively voice concerns regarding loss and damage, as well as the need for adaptation finance, which is currently lagging. Additionally, to examine how India prioritises developing and least developed countries at the forefront of these discussions. I think as a leader of the Global South, we have a lot of responsibility to deliver on that," said Chitale. While discussing the climate resilience agenda, Nitin Bassi, Fellow for the Sustainable Water Team at CEEW, noted that in light of the landslides occurring in many parts of India and the prevailing situation due to heavy rain, COP30 provides a platform for such resilient interventions. "This time, the focus is also going to be on climatic resilience. The situation in India in August was marked by heavy rains, which led to landslides in many places. In some areas, the excessive water caused widespread destruction, including the collapse of villages. COP30 provides a platform to talk about such resilient interventions and ensure that in the future, our cities are better prepared to handle such situations," Bassi told ANI. Meanwhile, Kenneth Felix Haczynski Da Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil to India, stated yesterday that Brazil and India share a significant responsibility in addressing global challenges, such as climate change. Additionally, Andre Aranha Correa Do Lago, President of COP30, emphasises that multilateralism is crucial for countries like India and Brazil. "I think that for most developing countries and even more for economies like Brazil and India, multilateralism is extremely important. Therefore, we need to ensure that COP30 restores trust in multilateralism, so that we can no longer believe that unilateral measures are the answer. We need to prepare the world with multilateral solutions, and I think this is the very first thing we want to achieve," Lago told ANI. India will likely lead negotiations from the perspective of developing countries, emphasising the need for adequate adaptation finance and support for loss and damage. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has formed a coalition for disaster resilience infrastructure, which is making excellent progress in this area. Mobilising $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 will require a concerted effort from both public and private sources, including the development of innovative financial instruments and mechanisms. (ANI) Assam Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and senior BJP leader Numal Momin claimed that the BJP government will be in Assam till 2047 and called Congress a "rotten egg." Momin further claimed that, in the upcoming Assembly polls in Assam, Congress may get a maximum of 15 seats. "BJP is a party which doesn't require preparations for any election. We work 365 days for the party. In every booth, the party workers listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat every month. That means every month, a minimum meeting is going on in each booth. Apart from this, there are many party programmes held in every constituency every month. Mandal level, booth level, and district level meetings are going on," said Momin. The Deputy Speaker told ANI, "Recently, in Guwahati, all Panchayat representatives gathered in a rally in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. We don't need extra preparations. We are fully prepared for the election at any time. If you look at the other political parties like Congress and other regional parties, they are sleeping; they are awake only for two to three months. If the BJP gets an absolute majority, they blame EVM tampering, vote chori, etc. BJP workers are working day and night like ants. Till 2047, there will be a BJP government in Assam. Not only in 2026, but the BJP will be in power in Assam till 2047, if the current strategy of the BJP is working till 2047. Because BJP cadres are very hard-working, sincere and dedicated to the nation." He further said that the BJP workers are very much in love with the nation, and we have full faith and strength that we will form the government again and again. Momin stated, "We will register a landslide victory in Assam in 2026. Congress will get a single digit this time. If they do minority appeasement politics, Congress may win 12-15 seats, not more than that. Congress only knows how to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our Chief Minister. But they don't work on ground level. Now, voters are very intelligent." "During Congress time, there was only corruption. The king of corruption is the Congress party. After Modi ji came to power, everything was digitalised, DBT, and there is no chance of corruption. Our people are against corruption. All party workers are working together for the nation's development. And this is how we can win elections again and again, and Congress can't defeat us," Numal Momin added. He also stated that Congress will never come to power in the Northeast region due to its misrule in this region. "Congress is a rotten egg. Who will buy a rotten egg? Nobody will purchase Congress' ideology, idea, or propaganda. Now people are with the BJP, development, peace, economic upliftment of their own family," Momin concluded. (ANI) Becoming a Better School Counselor: What Does It Take? School counselors are a vital part of the education system as they provide support that goes far beyond academics. From helping students navigate peer relationships and family issues to guiding them through college and career planning, school counselors are often the steady presence that helps students stay on track emotionally, mentally, and socially. This is why excelling in this profession requires more than just qualifications. It requires a unique blend of education, empathy, resilience, and ongoing professional development. Let's delve into what it takes to be a great school counselor and how professionals who are already involved in the field can improve their skills to serve students better. Laying the Educational Foundation The journey towards becoming a school counselor starts with a strong educational foundation. In most states, this includes a master's degree in school counseling or a closely related field. Programs focused on counseling generally combine coursework in psychology, human development, and counseling theory with hands-on experience through practicals and internships so that students are fully prepared to enter the field once they qualify. Programs like a Masters in School Counseling online or similar provide the flexibility to pursue advanced credentials while balancing personal and professional commitments. Completing such a program equips aspiring counselors with the knowledge and credentials required for becoming licensed counselors, able to fulfill the requirements of school-based roles at the end of their studies. Developing Essential Soft Skills While technical knowledge is critical, the most effective school counselors possess a set of soft skills that allow them to build meaningful connections with students and staff. These often include: Empathy and active listening Students need to feel heard and understood to overcome difficulties. Counselors who listen without judgment and show genuine compassion create a safe and trustworthy environment for students to open up. Strong communication One of the requirements of a counselor is to act as a bridge between students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Therefore, they need to be able to communicate when resolving conflicts. Problem-solving and critical thinking Whether managing a student crisis or helping with college applications, counselors need to be able to think clearly and adapt quickly to solve any issues that may arise. Cultural awareness School communities are often diverse, so counselors must objectively understand and respect different cultural backgrounds and identities without bias or judgment. Ethical integrity and confidentiality The best counselor-student relationships are built on trust. School counselors are, therefore, expected to uphold ethical standards and maintain confidentiality in every student interaction. What makes a counselor truly exceptional? Beyond the baseline qualifications, technical skills, and character traits, exceptional school counselors demonstrate traits that elevate their impact. Examples of these traits can be: Proactive engagement Great counselors don't wait for problems to come to them. They pay close attention to identify students who may be struggling academically, socially, or emotionally and reach out to offer help. Advocacy School counselors should be the biggest advocates for students. Whether championing student rights or pushing for better resources, effective counselors set out to provide everything their students need to thrive. Leadership Counselors often lead school-wide initiatives on topics such as bullying prevention, mental health awareness, and college readiness. Having strong leadership skills allows them to influence the broader school culture. Resilience and self-care Counseling as a profession can certainly be emotionally taxing. The best counselors practice healthy coping methods and prioritize their well-being so they can continue to support others. How Current Counselors Can Improve Even the most experienced counselors benefit from opportunities to grow and refine their practice. Here are several ways school counselors can continue evolving: Invest in ongoing education. Pursuing further credentials or specializations can open doors to new strategies, certifications, and leadership roles. Continued education ensures that counselors stay current with research-based practices and policy changes. Join professional networks. Membership in professional organizations like the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) provides access to resources, conferences, and a community of peers. Networking can foster collaboration, reduce professional isolation, and spark fresh ideas. Seek supervision and peer feedback. Even seasoned counselors benefit from supervision and constructive feedback. Regular peer consultation helps address challenges, share strategies, and maintain accountability in ethical decision-making. Embrace data-driven practices. Collecting and analyzing data on student outcomes helps counselors evaluate the effectiveness of their programs. This not only supports continuous improvement but also strengthens advocacy efforts when requesting resources or policy changes. Develop leadership skills. Leadership development is essential for school counselors who want to create lasting change. This could mean leading a department, spearheading school-wide initiatives, or serving on district-wide planning committees. Leadership training opportunities, often integrated into graduate programs, prepare counselors to take on these roles with confidence. Prioritize mental health and self-care. Burnout is a real risk in professions like counselling. Counselors must learn to recognize signs of stress within themselves and make space for activities that recharge their energy. Whether through mindfulness, exercise, therapy, or time off, self-care is essential to thriving in this career because no one can pour from an empty cup. The Changing Landscape of School Counseling The role of school counselors continues to evolve in response to shifting societal and educational demands. With more emphasis and awareness on mental health issues, counselors are now called upon to address not just academic readiness, but trauma, anxiety, and depression. In addition, the push for equity in education has placed counselors at the forefront of efforts to close achievement gaps and ensure that every student, regardless of their background or ability, has access to the support they need. Becoming a better school counselor is not about reaching perfection; it's about the commitment to continuous growth, reflection, and learning. The most impactful counselors are those who remain curious, compassionate, and courageous in their pursuit of success for the students they serve. Whether you're just starting your journey or have been in the field for years, consider what steps you can take to deepen your skills, broaden your impact, and renew your purpose. Investing in your development through continuous learning opportunities can be a powerful way to elevate both your career and the lives of your students. Author Bio Bianca Moodley-van Tonder Bianca is a creative at heart and loves expressing herself through writing. Her background in journalism, communications, and copywriting is a testament to her passion for stringing words together to inform, educate, and entertain her readers. Outside of writing, she is a dedicated mum and wife and finds great joy in the simple things like spending time with her family, enjoying a good meal, or watching a beautiful sunset. Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to China to attend the SCO Summit, calling it a mere "Selfies, headlines & bhakts clapping." He questioned the outcome of India's participation after Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir a day later. In a post on X, he criticised PM Modi's foreign policy approach, stating that the China-Pak axis has strengthened as the timing of the SCO summit and Xi Jinping's subsequent meeting with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir underscored China's strategic interests in the region, potentially at India's expense. The Congress MP wrote, "Modi sahib went to SCO for '56-inch diplomacy'. Next day? Xi Jinping meets Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir. Xi knows the difference: Modi = photo-ops & speeches. Pak Army = real power & strategy. Modi's SCO visit outcome? Selfies, headlines & bhakts clapping. Meanwhile, China-Pak axis just got stronger." Tagore further claimed that the timing of Xi's meeting with both leaders was "deliberate" and was a calculated attempt. "Xi's timing was deliberate. A reminder: while Modi manages events, Beijing manages geopolitics. Question for Modi's PR machine -- Was SCO about India's interests or just another "event management" world? When PM will think for India not for his photo ups ?" the post added. https://x.com/manickamtagore/status/1963095034854834281 The 25th Council of Heads of State meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held from August 31 to September 1 in Tianjin, China. This summit included significant discussions on global governance, security, and economic cooperation among member nations. The bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin was on full display at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. The two leaders shared warm moments, including a heartfelt hug and a ride together in Putin's official Aurus Senat limousine to their bilateral meeting. Russian President Vladimir Putin waited for about 10 minutes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi so that he could join him in his car ride, as per sources. Prime Minister thanked President Xi Jinping for his warm hospitality and congratulated him on the successful organisation of the Summit. He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on taking over the next Presidency of the SCO. At the conclusion of the Summit, the SCO Member countries adopted the Tianjin Declaration. The member states strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April in which 26 people were killed. They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the deceased and the wounded. They further stated that perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice. The member states, while reaffirming their commitment to the fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, stressed the inadmissibility of attempts to use terrorist, separatist and extremist groups for mercenary purposes. They recognised the leading role of sovereign states and their competent authorities in countering terrorist and extremist threats. (ANI) BJP's Tamil Nadu unit leaders will discuss organisational preparedness for the 2026 state Assembly elections with the central leadership in a meeting to be held at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence here on Wednesday. Besides Amit Shah, the BJP President JP Nadda and other central leaders of the party will participate in the meeting. Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran, former state president K Annamalai, Vanithi Srinivasan, Tamilsai Soundararajan, and other leaders will also attend the meeting. The BJP is facing the election in alliance with the AIADMK, which had snapped the ties with the BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha election. After the reconciliation, the BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, exuded confidence in the NDA winning the next Assembly election. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Core Committee meeting in the national capital on Wednesday to discuss the strategy with the state top leaders of the Party for the Bihar Assembly elections. According to Bihar BJP sources, the meeting is going to take place in Delhi today to discuss the poll strategy of the Bihar Assembly elections, and party leaders will take guidance from Amit Shah to work hard on the ground to win the election. A senior Bihar BJP leader told ANI on the condition of anonymity, "The Bihar election Strategy is very important for the party because the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah will pave the way to the success of NDA in the state Assembly election." "The way 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' was taken out under the leadership of LoP in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Opposition leader of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, to mislead the people of Bihar on the name of Vote Chori and abuse the Popular leader of the World, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mother..." another Senior BJP leader of Bihar told ANI. "Whatever guidance and suggestions will be given by the party high Command in today's meeting, we will implement it on the ground zero to motivate party cadre to ensure victory of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming state assembly election in Bihar," the BJP leader added. The Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held in October or November this year, although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has yet to announce the official schedule. (ANI) Bihar Minister Renu Devi on Wednesday condemned alleged derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late mother, and said the entire country is outraged. She said the people of Bihar will teach Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav a lesson. Speaking to ANI, Renu Devi said, "If someone insults anyone's mother, even God does not forgive them. They will be punished...What do Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav know about the pain of a mother? Prime Minister Modi's mother was an ordinary woman who worked to educate her children." "The entire country is outraged. The people of Bihar will teach them (Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav) a lesson. Tomorrow, we will observe a Bihar bandh until 12 PM spontaneously," she added. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced a statewide bandh in Bihar on September 4 against the opposition over abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during a joint event in Bihar. Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hit out at the RJD and Congress over the alleged remarks. Speaking at an event, the Prime Minister said that the abusive comments were not just an insult to his mother, but to all mothers, sisters and daughters of the country. PM Modi stated that he had never imagined that such an act would take place on the tradition-rich land of Bihar. He also termed mothers as everyone's "self-respect" and "world". "Mother is our world. Mother is our self-respect. I had not even imagined what happened a few days ago in this tradition-rich Bihar. My mother was abused from the stage of RJD-Congress in Bihar... These abuses are not just an insult to my mother. These are insults to the mothers, sisters and daughters of the country. I know... how bad all of you, every mother of Bihar, felt after seeing and hearing this! I know, as much pain as I have in my heart, the people of Bihar are also in the same pain," he said. The Prime Minister stated that he was separated from his mother so that he could serve the country's other women. He stated that his mother, who passed away after completing 100 years and had nothing to do with politics, was abused by the state of RJD and Congress. (ANI) Ahead of the forthcoming Bihar assembly elections, state minister Ashok Choudhary on Wednesday exuded confidence, stating that there is a huge support for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as people have faith in him and his works. Speaking to ANI, Ashok Choudhary said, "...There is huge support for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar among the people of the state and they believe that he has worked very hard for the development of Bihar." The battle of Bihar has been intensified as a row has erupted over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged vote theft. The Mahagathbandhan carried out a 16-day-long 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' covering 16 districts and more than 200 kilometres, which was aimed at raising awareness about the alleged irregularities in the electoral practices and alleged vote theft. The campaign was led by Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. However, a row erupted across the country over the alleged derogatory remarks made on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother at an event in Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced a statewide bandh in Bihar on September 4 against the opposition over abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during a joint event in Bihar. BJP's Bihar state president, Dilip Jaiswal, said the five-hour bandh will be observed from 7 am to 12 noon. However, essential services, including emergency facilities and rail operations, will remain unaffected during the shutdown. Also, the BJP Mahila Morcha will be leading the protest. The statewide bandh is in protest against objectionable comments made by Congress workers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother last week in Darbhanga during the Voter Adhikar Yatra. Following the announcement, Janata Dal (United) leader Umesh Kushwaha said, "During the opposition's rally in Darbhanga, abusive words were used against Prime Minister Modi and his mother. This is wrong, both morally and politically." "Using such language is highly inappropriate, and so far, the Mahagathbandhan leaders have not apologised. This shows how arrogant they are. They have insulted our mothers and sisters, and now we will retaliate. Therefore, the NDA has called for a Bihar bandh, and the women's wing will hold protests across Bihar," he said. (ANI) As North India continues to experience heavy rainfall, the IMD Director for the Union Territory of Ladakh, Sonam Lotus, stated that Eastern Ladakh has been experiencing continuous rainfall for 48 to 72 hours. "Continuous rain has been occurring in Eastern Ladakh for approximately 48 to 72 hours. Intermittent rain is also happening in Leh," Lotus told ANI. Further, giving the status of the situation on the ground, Lotus said that the intensity of the rain is expected to remain higher in various regions of the union territory, such as in Central Ladakh, Leh and Kargil, on Wednesday. "Tonight, the intensity of rain is expected to be higher in Central Ladakh, Leh, and Kargil areas," Lotus added. However, Lotus said that the situation will gradually improve as the rain in Eastern Ladakh is expected to decrease, and the weather is expected to improve by the fourth day. "However, the rain in Eastern Ladakh is expected to decrease gradually. Improvement in the weather is expected from the 4th," added Lotus. In other parts of India, the weather agency has issued red alerts in several states across districts such as Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest & eastern Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. As per IMD, districts under red alert include Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar in Jammu & Kashmir, while in Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawashahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur are under red alert. Additionally, in Himachal Pradesh, districts such as Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan were also issued similar warnings. Meanwhile, following the occurrence of a landslide in Kullu, the search and rescue operations are ongoing at the Akhara Bazaar area. Moreover, 80 km away from Mandi, around 15 houses were evacuated in Jogindernagar due to a landslide that hit the area. Hence, as a precautionary measure, the residents have been safely evacuated from the area. The local administration continues to monitor the situation on the ground. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah once again underscored the commitment of the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the fight against Naxalism, and ascertained that it will not rest until all the Naxalites either surrender, are caught or eliminated. The Home Minister's remarks came while he met and felicitated the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Cobra personnel in New Delhi, who had successfully carried out 'Operation Black Forest' on Karreguttalu hill in Chhattisgarh in the recent past. Shah congratulated all the security personnel for showing valour in making the biggest anti-Naxal operation 'Operation Black Forest' ever conducted on Karreguttalu hill, a success. Noting that the bravery and valour of the jawans during 'Operation Black Forest' will be remembered as a golden chapter in the history of the anti-naxal operations, Shah said, "The Modi government will not rest until all the Naxalites either surrender, are caught or eliminated." "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will make India Naxal-free," mentioned Shah while meeting with the personnel here in the national capital in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma. The minister said that despite the heat, altitude and the danger of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at every step, the security forces made the operation successful with high spirits and destroyed the base camp of the Naxalites. He said that the material dump and supply chain of the Naxalites built on the Karreguttalu hill were valorously destroyed by the jawans of Chhattisgarh Police, CRPF, DRG and Cobra. Shah said that Naxalites have caused great damage to the least developed areas of the country, shutting down schools, hospitals, and not allowing government schemes to reach the people. He said that due to anti-Naxal operations, there has been a new sunrise in the lives of 6.5 crore people in the area from Pashupatinath to Tirupati. Shah reaffirmed that the Modi government is determined to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, and emphasized that efforts are being made to ease the lives of security personnel who have sustained severe injuries during anti-Naxal operations. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu arrived at Trichy Airport on Wednesday to participate in the convocation ceremony at Central University in Tiruvarur. She was warmly received at the airport by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Ministers KN Nehru, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, and senior government officials. From Trichy, the President proceeded to Tiruvarur by helicopter to attend the convocation ceremony. Later in the evening, she will visit the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Trichy for darshan. On Tuesday, the President said that the empowerment of farmers and the rural economy should be a priority of India's banking sector while addressing the 120th foundation day celebrations of City Union Bank at Chennai, Tamil Nadu. President Murmu also stated that banks can play a crucial role in transforming MSMEs into engines of growth. "From start-ups to smart cities, there is a whole range of areas in which banks can help. Banks can become active partners in the making of a developed India," she said. The President stated that, despite progress in the area of financial services, several challenges remain in terms of digital literacy, internet access, and financial awareness. "Payment banks, digital wallets, and banking correspondents have taken financial services to the doorsteps of remote villages. Despite progress in this area, several challenges are still faced in terms of digital literacy, internet access, and financial awareness," she said. "The Indian Economy is among the fastest-growing large economies in the world, and the banking industry plays a pivotal role in its growth story," she added. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, is visiting Karnataka and Tamil Nadu from September 1 to 3, 2025, a release said on Sunday. According to the release, she graced the diamond jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) at Mysuru, Karnataka, on September 1. On September 2, the President graced the 120th foundation day celebrations of City Union Bank at Chennai, Tamil Nadu. (ANI) The ISKCON Creators Summit 2025 witnessed the participation of over 500 digital creators and influencers at The Zora Delhi Convention Centre on September 2, in an event aimed at promoting Indian culture, wellness, and tradition. First-of-its-kind initiative, the summit brought together some of India's most influential content creators, including Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps), Faizal Khan (Khan Sir), Richa Anirudh, Alakh Pandey (PhysicsWallah), Anand Kumar (Super 30), Aman Dattarwal and Sonu Sharma. According to a press release by ISKCON, the summit was centred on "promoting and sharing India's traditions and culture" through the digital medium. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, while addressing the gathering, said, "I commend ISKCON for bringing together young influencers on one platform to inspire the younger generation towards the path of culture, unity, and nation-building. In today's time, it is essential that our youth remain connected with their roots and develop a deep sense of pride and responsibility towards our Swadesh." She further added that such initiatives are crucial for "guiding the energy of young India in the right direction, fostering values of harmony, wellness, and love for the nation." Sriman Yudhistir Govinda Das, Trustee and Country Director of Communications, ISKCON India, said the objective of the summit was to encourage creators to responsibly use their influence to spread wellness, positivity, and cultural pride. "Today, there is a dire need for India's story to be shared with the world. From our culture to cuisine to lifestyle to philosophies, it has over the millenniums demonstrated how to make progress and be in harmony with nature, other beings and our own selves. The digital medium is one of the strongest forces shaping the mindset of today's generation," he said. He added that ISKCON plans to bring forth more such initiatives, "where culture meets creativity to help the youth connect with their roots and build a prosperous future." In his keynote address, Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said, "India's culture and heritage are among the most profound in the world. Our values, traditions, and diversity make us a unique nation. If creators highlight these treasures with authenticity, it will not only strengthen our youth but also enhance tourism and project India's soft power across the globe." The summit emphasised guiding Gen Z to reconnect with their roots and embrace a lifestyle grounded in wellness and cultural values. The evening began with soulful kirtans by ISKCON devotees, followed by panel discussions among influencers, who shared their journeys, challenges, and opportunities, along with insightful talks by ISKCON mentors. The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony recognising select creators for their innovative contributions to promoting spirituality, culture, and wellness. The ISKCON Creators Summit reaffirmed the organisation's long-standing role in nurturing youth and preserving India's rich traditions. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shazia Ilmi on Wednesday accused Congress leader Pawan Khera and his wife Kota Neelima of holding two voter ID cards each. Ilmi called the Congress party "vote dacoits," alleging that in 1980, Sonia Gandhi was enrolled in the electoral list despite being an Italian citizen at the time. Speaking at the press conference, Shazia Ilmi said, "Congress Party CWC member Pawan Khera holds two EPIC cards, and his wife, Kota Neelima, who was a candidate in the 2023 elections from the 60 Khairatabad Assembly constituency in Telangana, also has two EPIC cards" "Although it is not unusual, in 1980, Sonia Gandhi, despite being an Italian citizen, was enrolled in the electoral list...They are vote dacoits. Rahul Gandhi blames the general public of India, but remains silent when it comes to his own core team," she added. A day earlier, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the New Delhi constituency has issued a notice to Congress leader Pawan Khera stating that he has got his "name registered in two constituencies" and why action should not be taken against him. In the notice, ERO said that being registered in the electoral roll of more than one constituency is a penal offence under the Representation of the People Act 1950. "You are therefore directed to show cause as to why action should not be taken against you under said Act," the notice said. It said Khera's reply should reach the office by 11 am on September 8. The notice stated that Khera's name is there in the voter list of New Delhi and Jangpura constituencies. Khera hit out at the Election Commission, saying it functions "to support the ruling regime" at the Centre and asked why no notice has been issued by the poll panel "to the 1,00,000 fake voters of Mahadevapura constituency" in Karnataka over allegations of Rahul Gandhi. Khera alleged that while complaints of opposition parties over "vote chori" are disregarded, the "EC rushes to act against opposition members" (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhavan, Shimla. During the meeting, the Education Minister formally invited the Governor to grace the Teachers' Day function as Chief Guest, to be held on September 5, 2025. Minister Thakur apprised the Governor about the arrangements being made for the celebration, which is dedicated to acknowledging the invaluable contribution of teachers in shaping the future of society. Thakur also briefed the Governor on several important initiatives undertaken by the State Government in the education sector. He shared details of the steps being taken to improve quality education, enhance infrastructure, and strengthen digital learning facilities in schools across Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Governor appreciated the efforts of the Education Department and observed that education is the cornerstone of social and national development. He said that the State has always been known for its rich tradition of learning, and it is imperative to continue to strengthen the system to meet the aspirations of students in the modern era. The meeting also witnessed a wide-ranging discussion on challenges and opportunities in the education sector, including skill development, teacher training, and the need for innovative practices to prepare students for the future. C.P. Verma, Secretary to the Governor, was also present on the occasion. Earlier on Monday, the Education Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Rohit Thakur said the state continues to reel under the impact of the ongoing disaster triggered by relentless monsoon rains, with damages exceeding Rs 3,000 crore and more than 320 lives lost so far. Speaking to ANI in Shimla, Thakur stated that the loss is increasing each day due to rain and floods. "The disaster situation in Himachal Pradesh is still ongoing. The loss so far has crossed Rs 3,000 crore. Government property has suffered extensive damage. More than 320 people have died," he said. "The heavy rainfall last week has now impacted most of the remaining districts as well. Districts like Shimla and Solan have been hit hard. The monsoon spell is still not over, and the IMD has issued alerts. The government and all concerned departments are on alert," Thakur added. (ANI) In a significant antitrust decision, a US federal judge ruled that Google can keep both its Chrome browser and Android operating system, rejecting calls for the company to sell them off. The court did require Google to provide rival companies with key search data, a move aimed at fostering fairer competition in the online search industry. The decision came from US District Judge Amit Mehta, wrapping up a five-year legal battle over Google's dominance in online search. While the judge ruled in 2023 that Google held an illegal monopoly, his latest order avoids breaking up the company's core products. Rather than breaking up its services, the ruling compels Google to give competitors access to portions of its search data that fuel its advertising operations. Google's parent company, Alphabet, saw its stock rise over 7% after the announcement, Reuters said. Investors welcomed the decision, reassured that Google will retain control of Chrome and Android, two of its most valuable assets. But this win comes with new responsibilities. Google can no longer make exclusive deals that block other search engines or apps from being installed on devices. Judge Allows Google To Keep Chrome But Orders It To Share Search Data With Competitorshttps://t.co/wLkc17z9aJ pic.twitter.com/VB4azvxDZi Forbes (@Forbes) September 2, 2025 Google Raises Privacy Concerns Over Data Sharing Ruling These contracts had helped Google stay the default choice on most smartphones and web browsers. According to CNN, Judge Mehta explained his approach by saying, "The court is asked to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future. Not exactly a judge's forte." He pointed out that artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are already offering new ways for people to search for information. Google, in a blog post, said it's reviewing the decision and raised concerns about privacy. "We have concerns about how these requirements will impact our users and their privacy," the company said. The US Department of Justice welcomed the ruling. Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater said the decision "recognizes the need for remedies that will pry open the market for general search services." Although the judge allowed Google to keep paying Apple to be the default search engine on iPhones, he banned exclusive contracts that limit competition. Analysts say this opens the door for new search engines and AI tools to gain ground. Stanford lecturer Robert Siegel called the ruling "a win" for Google but warned that the company will now need to compete more directly for users' attention. Originally published on vcpost.com Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin on Wednesday condemned the derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, stating that the people of Bihar felt deeply hurt and ashamed over the comments. Speaking to ANI, the minister said the statement not only insulted the Prime Minister but also hurt the sentiments of the people of Bihar. "PM Modi has a connection with the people of the country. He has served them like a 'sevak'. He has increased the respect for women in the country. Be it the construction of 'Izzat Ghar' or Ujjwala Yojana or PM Awas Yojana, he has honoured women with everything. Women in the country consider him their 'sevak', their brother," Nabin said. The Bihar minister further added that there was widespread outrage over the insult to the Prime Minister. "There is outrage across the country over the insult to such a man. So, when the PM was speaking, he seemed hurt. People of Bihar are ashamed because the kind of words that were used from the soil of Bihar, every son of Bihar is hurt by it. People of Bihar will avenge this insult to PM Modi," he added. Meanwhile, Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Dilip Jaiswal also strongly condemned the remarks made during the INDIA bloc's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' and criticised the opposition for not expressing any regret. He further asserted that the people of Bihar and the nation would "never forgive them." "The way abuses were hurled against the mother of the PM by the INDIA bloc alliance during the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'. And after that, they did not even realise or say anything; the people of Bihar and the nation will never forgive them... That is why the people of Bihar and the whole nation are asking members of the INDIA alliance which 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' they went for, in which abuses were hurled against a mother." Jaiswal told ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a public address in Bihar on Tuesday, also responded to the remarks and criticised the Congress, stating that the party has never tolerated leaders from backwards communities rising to prominence. PM Modi said, "The struggles (Tapasya) of a poor mother, the suffering of her son--these young princes born into royal families cannot understand. These 'naamdaar' people were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. The power of the country and Bihar seems like an inheritance of their family to them." He further criticised the Congress, saying the party has never tolerated backwards or extremely backwards people moving ahead. "Congress has never tolerated a backwards or extremely backwards person moving ahead! They think that 'namdaars' have the right to abuse 'kaamdaars'... that is why they abuse," he said. The Prime Minister also lauded the role of women in defeating the RJD in Bihar, saying they were instrumental in removing the party from power." Bihar has come out of that darkness after a long battle. All you women of Bihar have played a very big role in removing RJD and defeating it repeatedly. That is why, be it the RJD or Congress, these people are most upset with you, women, today. These people want to take revenge on you; they are looking for an opportunity so that they can punish you," he said. PM Modi condemned the abusive remarks directed at his late mother, saying they were an insult to all mothers, sisters, and daughters in India. "Mother is our world. Mother is our self-respect. I had not even imagined what happened a few days ago in this tradition-rich Bihar. My mother was abused from the stage of RJD-Congress in Bihar... These abuses are not just an insult to my mother. These are insults to the mothers, sisters and daughters of the country," he said. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh government has launched an extensive campaign to position the state as a global investment hub. With a strong emphasis on attracting foreign capital, the state is implementing the China+1 strategy, engaging with over 200 international companies to date, according to an official release from the state government. To turn these opportunities into reality, the government is collaborating closely with Indian embassies and various global institutions. As a result, investor confidence in Uttar Pradesh is steadily increasing, and the state is rapidly emerging as a preferred destination for global investment, according to the release. Under this strategy, the focus is on companies from countries such as the United States, Japan, China, France, and Denmark. This includes more than 30 companies from the US, nearly 30 from Germany, 20 from Japan, 14 from China, seven each from Switzerland and France, six from Denmark, and five from Spain--all of which are expressing interest in investing in the state. To streamline this process, the government plans to establish special country-specific teams and desks to convert these leads into concrete investments, with active support from Indian embassies abroad. As part of its investment promotion drive, the Uttar Pradesh government has already made significant progress. Out of 574 Production Linked Incentive (PLI) projects approved by the Government of India, 70 companies are currently operating in UP, 11 are working on new projects, and 20 have directly signed MoUs with the state government. In addition, active follow-ups are underway with 473 companies to accelerate investment. Taking an innovative approach to investor facilitation, the state has appointed account managers for 814 companies, including Fortune 500 and India Next 500 firms. These cover diverse sectors, including shipping, telecom, petrochemicals, retail, insurance, and public sector banking. Prominent PSUs, such as Gujarat State Petronet and TN Newsprint, are also part of this mission. So far, 50 new MoUs have been signed through this initiative, while talks continue with 16 fresh leads and 282 potential investors. "Several factors are driving foreign companies to invest in Uttar Pradesh. The most crucial is strong political leadership, with CM Yogi's decisive and stable governance inspiring confidence. Alongside this, the state offers world-class infrastructure--expressways, airports, industrial corridors--combined with the advantage of being India's largest consumer base. Improvements in ease of doing business, including a single-window clearance system and investor facilitation centres, are further strengthening UP's appeal," said the release. The China+1 strategy, adopted by multinational companies worldwide, aims to diversify manufacturing and supply chains beyond China. Uttar Pradesh stands to gain the most from this shift due to its large population, an abundant and skilled yet affordable workforce, a vast domestic market, and proactive government policies. Leveraging schemes like PLI and business reforms, the state is actively engaging with global companies to channel foreign investment directly into Uttar Pradesh, thereby transforming it into a new epicentre of global manufacturing and trade, said the release. (ANI) Several parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh witnessed heavy rainfall on Wednesday, with the Meteorological Department issuing fresh warnings for thunderstorms and lightning across multiple districts. While Punjab is expected to see a slight weakening of monsoon activity in the coming days, a red alert has been issued for both North and South Haryana and Chandigarh as well According to the Chandigarh Meteorological Centre, heavy rain is very likely to lash parts of Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Mohali, Chandigarh, and Kharar in Punjab. In Haryana, the situation appears more intense. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and heavy rain are very likely in districts such as Nuh, Taoru, Ballabgarh, Sohna, Gurugram, Bahadurgarh, Faridabad, Kharkhoda, Sonipat, Ganaur, Samalkha, Bapouli, Gharaunda, Karnal, Israna, Panipat, and Nilokheri. Moderate rainfall, coupled with thunderstorms, has been forecast in a wider belt covering areas including Firozpur Jhirka, Punahana, Hodal, Hathin, Palwal, Rewari, Pataudi, Jhajjar, Berikhas, Sampla, Rohtak, Indri, Thanesar, Gohana, Safidon, Asandh, and Radaur. The Meteorological Centre's Head, Surender Paul, told ANI that the latest analysis indicates that the monsoon will now weaken in Punjab. There has been a decrease in rainfall in Sangrur and other areas. In the last 24 hours, extremely heavy rainfall has been recorded in districts like Haryana, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Panipat, Sonipat, Karnal, and Kaithal. A red alert has been issued today for North and South Haryana, although there is a possibility of a decrease in rainfall here starting from tomorrow. The monsoon is expected to become active again around the 7th-8th, although its intensity will not be very high Authorities have cautioned residents in flood-prone and low-lying areas to remain vigilant, especially in urban regions vulnerable to waterlogging, such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Chandigarh, and Mohali. The likelihood of lightning strikes has also prompted advisories urging farmers and outdoor workers to remain indoors during thunderstorms. This spell of rain comes at a crucial time for farmers in the region, as paddy cultivation is at a sensitive stage and excessive waterlogging could damage standing crops. On the other hand, the rainfall is expected to provide relief to water-stressed areas and recharge groundwater levels. With heavy rains continuing across parts of Haryana and Punjab, civic authorities have stepped up monitoring of drains and embankments, while disaster management teams are on standby to respond to emergencies. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla on Wednesday said that immediate action has been taken over the death of a newborn child, who was bitten by rats in an Indore hospital. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident. He said a fine of one lakh has been imposed on the pest control agency, and a notice of termination has been issued. Shukla said the nursing superintendent has been removed, two nursing officers have been suspended, and a show-cause notice has been given to the HOD of the Paediatrics Department. Two newborns undergoing treatment at MY hospital located in Indore district were bitten by rats on the intervening night Sunday and Monday. One of the newborns died on Tuesday morning and the other is on the ventilator. The minister said that the two babies were in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and were in a very critical condition since birth, as they had deficiencies related to the intestine, lungs, and kidneys. He said this was the main reason for one of the newborns dying. "This is a serious matter, on which immediate action has been taken. Usually, if pest control is done on time, rats would not be present. However, it is clear that pest control was not done. A fine of one lakh has been imposed on the pest control agency, and a notice of termination has been issued. The nursing superintendent has been removed, two nursing officers have been suspended, and a show-cause notice has been given to the HOD of the paediatrics department," he told reporters in Bhopal. "They (two children) were bitten by rats in the ward, making this negligence clearly visible... A high-level investigation committee has been formed," he added. He said efforts will be made to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. MY Hospital Dean, Dr Arvind Ghanghoria, told ANI on Tuesday that two children admitted in the hospital were bitten by rat and one in the hand and the other on the shoulder. "Both the infants were critical and suffering from infections. Both the children were very weak, one was operated, who has issues with its intestine and currently the child is critical, on a ventilator. The other was to be operated on as they had a severe infection. This child was also suffering from pneumonia, the rat had bitten its hand and that newborn died this morning. These children were born around a week ago," he said. He claimed that there were no rats in the hospital for the last two years, and recently a pipe was broken from which the rats came in the last 3-4 days, adding that pest control experts say that due to the rainfall and waterlogging in recent times, the rats came. "It was our duty to inform the pest control team and nursing superintendent about the rats but the staff on duty did not inform anyone in the last three-four days. Therefore, a show-cause notice has been served to the ICU nursing in charge and two nurses on the duty have been suspended. Also, the nursing superintendent has been removed," he said. Dr Ghanghoria said the company responsible for pest control in the hospital has been served a penalty of Rs one lakh and warned that the MoU will be terminated and it will be blacklisted. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Wednesday, underlined the need for stronger collaboration between industry and academia to position India as a global hub of technology and sustainable development. According to a release, CM Yogi was addressing the Samanvay industry-academia engagement program at IIT Kanpur. Highlighting the event's theme of "coordination," the CM said discussions on Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Sustainability would not only advance innovation but also directly improve citizens' quality of life. "Industry-academia collaboration today is linked to solving global challenges and building a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat," he said. Tracing India's economic trajectory, Adityanath noted that while India contributed 25% to global GDP until the 17th century, this fell to 2% by 1947. He credited recent reforms for propelling India to the world's fourth-largest economy, with the potential to rise to the third position within two years. Praising IIT Kanpur's role in technology over six decades, CM Yogi urged it to become the hub of India's first Deep-Tech India 2025 model, for which land has already been allotted. He also sought the institute's support in strengthening cybersecurity, pointing out that Uttar Pradesh now has cyber police stations in all 75 districts and a State Cyber and Forensic Institute. The CM said Uttar Pradesh had overcome its "BIMARU" image and is now the country's second-largest economy, thanks to better law and order, investment inflows, and infrastructure. He cited examples of transformation in Bundelkhand, where tap water has reached every home and farm incomes have grown tenfold. He also highlighted record plantation of 240 crore saplings in eight years, confirmed by the Forest Research Institute, as increasing forest cover. Adityanath called on industries to reinvest in innovation rather than focusing solely on profit. He recalled IIT Kanpur's role during the COVID-19 pandemic and its contributions to the Defence Corridor and Med-Tech Centre, stressing that coordinated efforts would restore India's global leadership. Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan, IIT Kanpur Director Prof Manindra Agrawal, TCS CTO Harrick Vin, and Deputy Director Prof Brajbhushan were present at the event. Meanwhile, India's first National DeepTech Conference, DeepTech Bharat 2025, was launched at IIT Kanpur in the CM's presence. The conference, with participation from DRDO, ISRO, MeitY, and over 200 venture capital firms, focuses on AI, Semiconductors, Quantum Technology, Space Tech, and Biosciences. It unveiled DeepTech Policy 2035, India's first deep-tech accelerator, and the country's first AI co-pilot. The initiative aims to make Uttar Pradesh India's first deep-tech-ready state, helping it achieve a $1 trillion economy, while extending opportunities to startups and youth from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. (ANI) Lieutenant General A.V.S. Rathee, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army's 12 Corps paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, stated a release from the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Rathee assumed charge as GOC of the 12 Corps on June 17, 2025. The operational jurisdiction of this Corps covers parts of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat. In a post on social media X, CM Patel conveyed his best wishes to Rathee on his new position. "Met Lieutenant General AVS Rathee, General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army's XII Corps, in Gandhinagar. Conveyed best wishes to him on taking charge as the GoC of XII Corps," the post read. Earlier in the day, the CM in line with the Urban Development Year made a significant decision to accelerate the citizen-centric projects carried out by local authorities in urban areas, stated a release. The Chief Minister has raised the approval limits for municipalities by 50% for projects funded under Urban Development Department schemes and the State's Decentralised District Planning Programme. The release said, "In 2005, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, laid the foundation of planned urban development by initiating the celebration of the Urban Development Year." Marking two decades of progress, CM has declared 2025 as the Urban Development Year to foster smart and sustainable urban growth. "To achieve this goal, the enhanced financial authority limits will help accelerate development works in cities and ensure the quick implementation of urban civic amenities, making the decision highly effective," the release further said. For this purpose, CM has raised the approval limit for technical and administrative approvals of development works for 'A' category municipalities from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 70 lakh, an increase of Rs 20 lakh. Additionally, approval limits have been raised: from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for 'B' category municipalities; from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh for 'C' category'; and from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh for 'D' category municipalities. The CM further directed that once technical and administrative approval is granted by the municipal-level committee, the Regional Municipal Commissioner (RCM) office shall release the grant to the concerned municipality within five days of receiving the proposal. (ANI) The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with environment think tank International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST), released the Integrated Heat and Cooling Action Plan (IHCAP) for the city on September 2. Developed by iFOREST in collaboration with the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC), the plan provides a roadmap to address rising temperatures, humidity, the Urban Heat Island effect, and the growing demand for air conditioners. Speaking to ANI, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das informed about the research conducted by the iFOREST in collaboration with the Singapore-ETH Centre on heatwaves and rising temperatures in Odisha's capital. "The iFOREST had done a collaboration with the Singapore cooling plant. Research was done on the heatwave and rising temperatures in Bhubaneswar. Today, they have released a research paper on the Integrated Heat and Cooling Action Plan for Bhubaneswar. It says that urbanisation cannot be stopped, and deforestation is happening because of it, but how much greenery will we plant to compensate for it, and how many trees will we plant? There is a plan and suggestion about all this, too," Mayor Das said. Highlighting the uniqueness of the initiative, iFOREST CEO Chandra Bhushan said that the IHCAP addresses both the issues of increasing heat effects and the demand for air conditioners. He stated that the report took 18 months to prepare. "This is the first action plan of India because the way heat is increasing and the way demand for air conditioners is increasing, it addresses both the challenges. Its technical modelling and modelling exercise have been done through the Cooling Singapore Program. It was an extensive process of 18 months to prepare this report," Bhushan told ANI. From the Singapore side, Ander Zozaya, Project Manager at Cooling Singapore, ETH Centre, told ANI, "iFOREST has provided all the data that we need for our models. In Singapore, we are happy with the developments that we have made. It has brought all the different government agencies to work together. In Bhubaneswar, we have to analyse and study to support their Integrated Heat and Cooling Action Plan." (ANI) Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, who was a Union Minister during the second UPA government, has said he believes he did not leave the Congress and the party left him and that the party's human resource management "has collapsed". In an interview with ANI, Deora also stated that the Congress has deviated from "Manmohanomics." He said Congress alienated itself from dedicated members like him, who had a legacy of selfless service to the party. "Look, I'll be honest with you...I don't believe I left Congress. I think Congress left me. And there's a huge difference in the two things," Deora said. Milind Deora resigned from the Congress in January 2024, marking the end of his affiliation with the party and the 55-year linkage of his family with it. "I think the Congress alienated itself from people like me. And people like me who had a legacy in this party, whose families have served the party selflessly, whose families have given as much as we've received, and who dedicated their lives to this party, who never brought disrepute to the party, always helped the party nationally, internationally, locally," Deora said. Deora, who is a Shiv Sena MP in Rajya Sabha, claimed that Congress's human resource management, once its strength, has collapsed. The party's ability to manage, retain, and attract talent has deteriorated. "In politics, the basic function you need is human resource management. To me, the fundamental change that has occurred is that the human resource management of the Congress party was once world-class, its ability to manage, retain, and attract talent was unbelievable in a genuine way, it had great people who did that. The leadership had people who really rose to the challenge during difficult times, knew how to do so, and understood what it takes. They understood the meaning of struggling to get your voice heard, for a party worker wants to do something, wants to make his or her presence felt. That human resource part of Congress has completely collapsed," he said. Deora said there are significant deviations from the economic and political path Congress followed during the ten years it led the UPA government with Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. "There are certainly huge deviations from Manmohanomics, huge deviations from earlier Congress," said Deora. Asked about meeting Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Parliament, Deora replied that he had seen them but hadn't met them in Parliament. "I mean, I've seen them. I haven't met them in Parliament," he said. Milind Deora 's father, Murli Deora, was a veteran Congress leader and a trusted aide to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Mumbai South constituency multiple times. Following in his family's footsteps, Milind Deora entered politics and became a prominent figure in the Congress party. He was one of the youngest members of the 14th Lok Sabha, elected in 2004 at the age of 27, representing the Mumbai South constituency. He served as Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology and as Minister of State for Shipping during the UPA-II government. He also served as president of the Mumbai Congress Committee. In the Maharashtra assembly polls last year, Milind Deora lost to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Aditya Thackeray by over 8,000 votes. Deora was among the prominent young faces of the Congress who left the party, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, and RPN Singh. (ANI) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced the launch of its new direct service between Hyderabad (HYD) and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), marking its fourth gateway in India. According to an official release, the inaugural flight, KL 874, departed from Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on September 3, marking the official launch of this new route. With existing services from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, Hyderabad becomes the fourth gateway from India. The addition of Hyderabad to KLM's Indian network will further enhance air connectivity between India and Amsterdam. KLM's expansion in Hyderabad underscores its commitment to the Indian market and supports the rising demand for leisure, business, and cargo travel. In the summer schedule, KLM will operate 22 weekly flights from four Indian gateways, increasing to 27 weekly flights during the winter season. Maarten Stienen, Chief Operating Officer (COO), KLM, said, "Hyderabad is a fast-growing city with a strong economy, driven by the pharmaceutical industry and global IT companies. We are pleased to add the direct connection between Hyderabad and Amsterdam to our network. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is one of Europe's leading hubs, offering access to over 160 destinations worldwide with KLM. With this new route, we are proud to contribute to India's increasing international connectivity and to strengthen the ties between India and the rest of the world. India has been an important destination for KLM for over 70 years, and the growth in passenger traffic highlights the importance of strong connections." "I am pleased to welcome KLM's service to Hyderabad," remarked Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal and Bhutan. "With a legacy of 105 years of operation, KLM has a reputation for reliability and Dutch hospitality. Hyderabad is a hub in information technology, life sciences and pharmaceuticals. We have around 40 Dutch companies present in the region. As Dutch businesses continue to expand their footprint in this region, the new route will boost trade, innovation, tourism and people-to-people connect, strengthening the already existing strong bilateral ties between India and the Netherlands," Gerards added. Speaking on the occasion, Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd., said, "The launch of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' direct service from Hyderabad marks a transformative step in our mission to elevate international connectivity. This new route to Amsterdam opens up a world of possibilities for travellers from South India, offering smoother, faster access to key global destinations across Europe, North America, and beyond. As Hyderabad continues to grow as a global business and innovation hub, GMR Hyderabad International Airport remains committed to expanding its international network and delivering exceptional travel experiences. This development reinforces our vision of positioning Hyderabad as a premier gateway to the world." In 2024-25, GHIAL achieved notable growth in its route network, now serving 97 destinations, 72 domestic and 25 international. The year saw the addition of more than 14 new destinations, including prominent global cities such as Hong Kong, Phuket, Madina, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, alongside major domestic destinations like Jammu, Prayagraj, Agartala, Ayodhya, Kanpur, Jalgaon, Jharsuguda, and Agra. This development is a testament to GHIAL's continued efforts to enhance passenger convenience and diversify its international network, positioning RGIA as a preferred choice for global travellers. As a single-roof integrated terminal, Hyderabad Airport proudly serves as the best transfer gateway between South East Asia, Europe, and North America. (ANI) Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said the state cabinet has constituted a sub-committee to examine the long-delayed Bengaluru-Mysuru NICE Road project. The project, initiated in 2008 by the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), was expected to provide a high-speed link between Bengaluru and Mysuru. However, Parameshwara noted that despite years of work, only 42 km of the peripheral road has been completed so far. "The Cabinet has constituted a sub-committee to look into the affairs of the project taken up by the Nice Company, which started in 2008, and still there is no clarity. Only 42 kms of the peripheral road has been completed. Land has been handed over to this company. The company had violated the agreement several times and blamed the government for not handing over the land. The Cabinet sub-committee will look into this. Every aspect of the entire project has been examined," he said. Earlier, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that senior officers with extensive administrative experience will be appointed as commissioners of the five corporations formed under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said, "We discussed the appointment of officials for the corporations, and we have decided to appoint those officials who are currently working locally." When asked about the use of helicopters and aircraft for official government work, Deputy CM added, "This topic has been before the government for several years. The CM had given me the responsibility of taking a decision on this and calling for tenders. We are trying to study the models from other states and hold discussions with HAL too." Prior to this, Shivakumar announced the launch of the Greater Bengaluru Area Development Plan, under which five corporations will be established to oversee the initiative. "The development of the Greater Bengaluru Area is starting from today (September 1), for which five corporations are being formed. A very senior official will be appointed as the Commissioner," Shivakumar said. As part of the restructuring, the Greater Bengaluru Authority has restructured the city's administrative framework by establishing five distinct city corporations: Bengaluru East, Bengaluru West, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru South, and Bengaluru Central. (ANI) Actor Lee Soo Hyuk has been making waves online after his recent public appearance, with fans showing admiration and concern over his actions. Lee was at a fan meet in Hangzhou, where he met and chatted with supporters. Clips of the appearance quickly surfaced on social media. A fan account wrote about the actor's appearance. One fan said, " Today's Hangzhou meeting is really wonderful. Lee Soo-hyuk's every look, every smile is heartbreaking This memory will forever be cherished in my heart. Thank you for sharing." Even with the positive feedback, the videos also generated concern from some netizens. Most claimed the actor appeared odd compared to his normal self, with comparisons made to other stars. READ MORE: Lee Soo Hyuk's Regal Aura Leaves Social Media Breathless as Fans Anticipate His Pairing With Suzy One comment read, "It was hard to watch." Another netizen wrote, "He's acting like G-Dragon." There were fans who came to the defense of the actor, claiming to notice his personality. One comment read, "Lee Soo Hyuk has always been introverted and shy during public appearances." Further footage of the event fueled speculation. Speculation on social media ranged from personal issues to health concerns. One commenter posted, "Something has definitely changed with him." Another commenter wrote, "I hope he's fine, it doesn't seem normal." The debate of Lee's appearance underscores the pressure that Korean actors undergo, especially in public appearances where fan expectations are high. While some rallied behind his quietness, others were concerned that the difference in his demeanor meant something more serious. Lee Soo Hyuk, who is known to have appeared in dramas like Scholar Who Walks the Night and Tomorrow, has not made any comment about the rumor. To date, no official word has come out of his agency on this issue. To many, the incident is reminiscent of both the adoration and worry that accompany celebrities in the limelight. According to one fan, "Every glance, every smile makes my heart flutterthis memory will be cherished forever." READ MORE: Can You Trust What You See? 'S-Line' Blurs Lines Between Desire and Reality The second 100 m span of a 2 X 100 m long steel bridge was successfully launched over NH-48 (connecting Delhi, Mumbai & Chennai) near Nadiad, Gujarat, for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, said an official release. According to the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRC) release, the first span of 100 m for this steel bridge was completed in April 2025. This is the ninth steel bridge completed out of the planned 17 steel bridges in Gujarat. Comprising two spans of 100 m each, this steel bridge weighs around 2884 metric tons, stands 14.6 meters tall and 14.3 meters wide. Fabricated at the workshop in Salasar, near Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, the steel bridges are designed for a 100-year lifespan. NH-48 is one of the busiest highways with six lanes (three lanes on each side). The second span of the bridge was launched on the highway across the three lanes by sliding the span for 100 m from one end. The launch was carried out according to a schedule to ensure a smooth traffic flow on the busy highway, minimising disruption to road users. (ANI) This 200 m long steel bridge is constructed with approximately 1,14,172 Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts, C5 system painting, and elastomeric bearings. It was assembled on temporary trestles at a height of 14.9 meters above the ground and was moved using an automatic mechanism with two semi-automatic jacks, each capable of lifting 250 tons, with mac-alloy bars. There are 28 steel bridges planned for the entire corridor. Out of which, 11 steel bridges are in Maharashtra and 17 are in Gujarat. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Border Security Force (BSF) in a PIL over the misuse of BSF and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) Personnel for performing domestic servitude in the private residences of high ranking police and CAPF officers. The Division bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay sought a response and listed the matter for January next year. This Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed by a serving DIG of BSF, Sanjay Yadav. The respondents questioned the locus of the petitioner. His counsel stated that he was also tried and punished for the misutilization of BSF manpower. This does not preclude him from raising this issue. The court said that the issue raised by the petitioner exists. The petition has been moved through advocate Dr Surendra Singh Hooda. It is stated in the petition that such a gross misuse of manpower, especially at a time when there are over 83,000 vacancies in CAPFs and Assam Rifles, poses a serious threat to national security and law and order, apart from causing an undue strain on the public exchequer. The petitioner has highlighted that it is virtually a practice in vogue wherein various soldiers of the BSF are diverted from performing official duties on the border or on law-and-order duties and are detailed for performing domestic functions in the private houses of high-ranking officers. "Our country's soldiers are even deployed specifically to take care of a high-ranking officer's dog. The petitioner, being a serving Deputy Inspector General in BSF, has first-hand knowledge of the said practice," the plea said. It is also said that after realising the alarming situation and sought to rectify the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an Office Memorandum (OM) on 21.09.2016. The said OM directed all Chief Secretaries of State Governments, Union Territories, heads of Central ArmedPolice Forces & Assam Rifles, Central Police Organisations and Director General of Police in the State Governments to ensure that various privileges such as personnel at residences, vehicles, personal security, etc., are withdrawn within a period of one month after retirement, the plea said. The OM further provided that in the event a retired officer fails to follow the above instructions, they should be required to pay for the various privileges, including those afforded to serving officials. Those who fail to withdraw unauthorised manpower and privileges should be proceeded against, it added. After the issuance of the DoPT OM, BSF compiled a list of as many as 131 personnel who were performing duties unauthorizedly with various retired Police and CAPF officers. In fact, the total number of personnel unauthorizedly deployed is much higher, the plea emphasised. The petitioner has claimed that even after compilation of the list, the BSF authorities have failed to take any action to withdraw the unauthorised manpower or to recover payment from retired officers in respect of such unauthorised manpower use. It is stated that certain isolated cases of withdrawal may exist; however, the general practice of unauthorised deployment of manpower continues rampantly. It is necessary to state that the petitioner only has first-hand information about non-compliance of the DoPT OM and continued unauthorised deployment of manpower in the Border Security Force. The petitioner highlighted, as he claims, the said issues by way of a Legal Notice, but the authorities have not taken any action to remedy the situation. Therefore, a thorough and detailed inquiry by an independent authority is required to assess the exact misuse of manpower by high-ranking officials and its adverse impact on the safety and security of the country, the plea said. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu, graced the 10th convocation ceremony of the Central University of Tamil Nadu at Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, said the President's Secretariat. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the Central University of Tamil Nadu deserve special appreciation for maintaining high standards of academics and creating a stimulating environment that fosters intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. She was happy to note that this University is extending the benefits of learning to a wider segment of society through extension education. The President was happy to note that the Central University of Tamil Nadu is actively contributing to the comprehensive development of the marginalised sections through initiatives like the Community College and the Dr. Ambedkar Centre for Excellence. She said that education must aim to link individual development with social development. She emphasised that the education must be oriented towards the benefit of the society. She urged all stakeholders of the University to collaborate with the industry to make use of science and technology for the larger good of humanity, particularly enriching nature and ecology. Highlighting the importance of lifelong learning, the President said that it is worth remembering that being a student is a lifelong affair. Mahatma Gandhi, for example, remained a student all his life, learning languages like Tamil and Bangla, scriptures like the Gita, and skills like making sandals and spinning of Charkha, and so on. The list is practically endless in his case. Gandhiji remained exceptionally alert and active till his very last day. She advised students to keep the sense of wonder alive and remain curious. She said that this will promote continuous learning and the continuous learning will keep their skills always in demand. The President said that in the last couple of decades, the internet revolution has transformed our world in such a way that many new professions which we had never imagined have come up. Artificial Intelligence and Industrial Revolution 4.0, will further change the work culture. In such a dynamic environment, those who can adapt and learn new skills will become leaders of change. She noted that the University's stated mission is to build "a strong character and nurture a value-based transparent work ethics". She expressed confidence that the students of this University will extend that ethical aspect from work to the rest of life. That will develop in them the sensitivity, which is what we need today, she added. (ANI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in collaboration with Haryana Police, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on Tuesday successfully brought back wanted fugitive Mainpal Dhilla alias Sonu Kumar from Cambodia, the CBI said in a release on Wednesday. According to the release, Mainpal Dhilla alias Mainpal Badli alias Sonu Kumar, is a notorious criminal wanted by the Haryana Police in several cases. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence of murder, attempt to murder, illegal use of firearms and criminal conspiracy on April 29, 2013, in a case FIR No. 276 dated September 26, 2007, registered at Police Station Sadar Bahadurgarh. He was also previously convicted in two more cases. While he was serving a sentence in jail, he was released on six weeks' parole from Hisar Central jail on July 17, 2018. He was to return to jail by August 29, 2018, but he did not report back to jail and absconded. CBI got the Red Notice published against Mainpal Dhilla through INTERPOL on November 06, 2024, on the request of Haryana Police. CBI contacted NCB Bangkok for the location of the subject, which revealed his travel movement from Thailand to Cambodia. Subsequently, CBI coordinated with the authorities of Cambodia, and they were informed that the subject had travelled to Cambodia on a fraudulently acquired passport under the fake name of Sonu Kumar. A request for Provisional Arrest was sent to NCB-Phnom Penh, Cambodia, through INTERPOL channels on March 26, 2025. NCB-Phnom Penh on July 24, 2025, conveyed the arrest of the subject and requested an Extradition Request through diplomatic channels. Cambodian authorities later intimated that they had decided to hand over the subject to Indian authorities. Accordingly, a team from the Haryana Police went to Cambodia and successfully brought back Mainpal Dhilla on September 2, 2025. Red Notices published by INTERPOL are circulated to all Law Enforcement Agencies globally for tracking of the wanted Criminals. 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. (ANI) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav inaugurated today the Departmental Summit on 'National Ayush Mission and Capacity Building in States' at All India Institute of Ayurveda, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi in august presence of Member NITI Ayog, Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul and Secretary, Ministry of Ayush Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha. According to a release from the Ministry of AYUSH, speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Jadhav emphasised the Government's commitment to building a resilient and inclusive healthcare framework tailored to state-specific needs. Jadhav highlighted the Government's approach to developing comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) for enhancing healthcare delivery across the country. "Our aim is to create state-specific frameworks, develop comprehensive SOPs to build better health infrastructure, provide quality services to the people, and ensure the integration of Ayush with modern health systems," he stated. Reflecting on the progress of the National Ayush Mission since its inception in 2014 under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister, the Minister noted that the mission has significantly advanced affordable and inclusive Ayush healthcare services. He particularly underlined the transformative initiative of establishing 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across India, marking a paradigm shift from OPD-based services to a holistic service delivery model with a focus on preventive and promotive healthcare. He further informed that on March 4, 2024, the Ministry launched the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for Ayush health care facilities. These standards, developed in consultation with NITI Aayog and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), are a milestone towards ensuring uniformity and quality in Ayush infrastructure, human resources, capacity building, medicines, quality assurance, clinical trials, and branding. In a significant announcement, Jadhav declared that Ayurveda Day will now be celebrated every year on September 23rd, with the 10th anniversary being observed this year under the theme "Ayurveda for People and Planet". This theme underscores Ayurveda's relevance in promoting individual well-being while ensuring ecological sustainability. He urged all States and UTs to actively participate and work collectively to elevate Ayurveda Day into a global health initiative. On the institutional development front, the Minister announced the operationalisation of the Project Management Unit (PMU) at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) to assist stakeholders on Ayush-related insurance matters. The PMU will serve as a dedicated interface for facilitating access to Ayush treatment through insurance mechanisms. He also inaugurated the 'Ayurvidya Advanced Centre' at AIIA, a pioneering digital platform dedicated to Ayurveda education and communication. The Centre aims to democratize Ayurveda learning through expert-led courses, live webinars, and interactive sessions. The initiative is expected to play a key role in capacity building, continuing professional development, and fostering innovation in the Ayush sector. Addressing the gathering, V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, emphasised the critical role of the Ayush sector in building a Swasth Bharat while addressing the Ayush Summit. He highlighted that the summit brings together stakeholders and State Governments on a single platform to deliberate on strengthening traditional health systems across the country. He acknowledged that the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 can only be realised through a healthy and productive population, adding, "Health is both an enabler and a milestone for national development." He noted India's significant strides in combating acute diseases and achieving SDG targets, with focused efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate diseases like Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Lymphatic Filariasis, Measles, Kala Azar, and Rubella. Dr. Paul stressed the importance of increasing life expectancy from the current 71 years to 85 years or more, through a comprehensive, integrated approach that includes both modern and traditional healthcare systems. To achieve this, he outlined key action points including better implementation of the National Ayush Mission (NAM), strengthening Ayush medical education infrastructure, promoting wellness and medical value tourism, and encouraging greater participation of the Ayush private sector and trained workforce. He called for collective and sustained efforts to mainstream Ayush for improved national health outcomes. Secretary, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, emphasised the need to take the 'Har Ghar Ayuryog' initiative, a blend of Ayush and Yoga, to every household, as it plays a vital role in creating a healthier nation. He added that the two-day Summit, built around six key sub-themes, aims to drive this integration through behavioural change and will contribute significantly to the effective implementation of Ayush policies. The summit aims to provide a platform for detailed discussions on State-Specific Notes and Feedback Notes received from State/UT officials, which also encompass grassroots-level inputs. Such a participatory approach is intended to strengthen and strategically expand the National Ayush Mission (NAM), a flagship program that promotes holistic healthcare by integrating Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy systems. Senior bureaucrats from States and UTs participated and presented their findings on allocated themes and state specific and feedback notes collected from grass root stakeholders. (ANI) The Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Wednesday rescued two persons who had fallen ill on the Kedarnath Yatra route and shifted them to hospital, officials said. The operation was carried out in the Munkatia sliding zone under the Sonprayag area. The SDRF Post in Sonprayag received information from the Rudraprayag Disaster Control Room that two commuters travelling from Gaurikund towards Sonprayag had fallen sick and were stranded due to a road blockage near Munkatiya. Acting swiftly, the SDRF team, led by Sub-Inspector Bhagat Kandari, reached the spot. Both persons were safely escorted across the sliding zone and taken to Sonprayag Hospital in an ambulance. Meanwhile, due to continuous heavy rainfall in Uttarkashi, the Gangotri National Highway (NH) has reached the stage of cracking near Dharasu Band. Keeping in mind the seriousness of the situation, District Magistrate (DM) Prashant Arya inspected the site on Wednesday and immediately directed the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to take safety measures for the road. The DM directed the BRO and the police administration to ensure strong security arrangements at the said place and make the movement of local people completely safe. He said that due to heavy rainfall during the monsoon season, incidents of landslides have been reported at many new places on the Yamunotri and Gangotri highways. The National Highway is getting blocked repeatedly due to landslides. The working department is engaged in making it smooth. Presently, the blocked road near Dharasu has been made smooth. Torrential monsoon rains and severe floods have wreaked havoc across northern India, severely impacting regions in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Over the past few weeks, relentless downpour has triggered landslides, flash floods, and widespread waterlogging, claiming numerous lives, displacing thousands, and causing extensive damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods. As swollen rivers breach danger levels and roads remain blocked, rescue and relief operations are in full swing, with central and state authorities, alongside the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), working tirelessly to provide aid and restore normalcy. In Uttarakhand, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by thundershowers and lightning, in multiple districts over the next 24 hours. (ANI) Former Congress leader, and Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora said that some "deeply entitled" individuals can't digest Prime Minister Narendra Modi's success, including on issues of national security. Speaking with ANI, he also slammed the Opposition for criticising the Centre's handling of Operation Sindoor. "There are certain sections and certain individuals who can't digest the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) doing well. And I understand where that's coming from also. It's coming from a very deeply rooted entitled space that firstly, how can he be the prime minister? Then how can he (PM Modi) do well? And how can he perform better on national security? It's not going to change. I don't see that changing," Deora said. Deora also slammed the opposition for not maintaining a consistent stance of support for the government during Operation Sindoor. Deora stated that the opposition initially supported the government's decision to retaliate against Pakistan but later shifted to advocating for de-escalation. This inconsistency, he believes, prevented them from gaining points in the public domain. "I think the opposition blew it on (Operation) Sindoor. I think that they, certain sections of the Opposition, started by saying, 'We are with the government, retaliate, we support you.' When the conflict began, those sections started saying de-escalate. I mean, the Karnataka chief minister said, we don't need a war. We should not have a war with Pakistan, something to that effect. And then it quickly went into just core political points," Deora said. "If they had stayed the course... I think the opposition would have gained some points in the public domain," he said. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed in the name of religion by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Indian Armed Forces conducted a series of targetedmilitary strikes and destroyed terror camps operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). India also repelled subsequent Pakistani escalation and pounded its airbases. Opposition parties have slammed the government over US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. They have also questioned the government over the timing of the ceasefire. The government has categorically stated that the cessation of hostilities took place after Pakistan's DGMO called his Indian counterpart. Deora, who previously served in Congress, claimed that the party's human resource management has collapsed. "The human resource management of the Congress party was world-class back in the day. Its ability to manage, retain, and attract talent was unbelievable in a genuine way. It had great people who did that. The leadership had individuals who truly rose to the challenge during difficult times. Knew how to do this, knew what it takes. They understood the meaning of struggling to get your voice heard for party workers who want to do something, want to make his or her presence felt. That human resources part of Congress has completely collapsed," he said. Deora claimed that in Congress, meritocracy was often overlooked in favour of mediocrity. He said, "In my previous party (Congress), that meritocracy, where if you are someone who's capable, you speak well in parliament, you have something unique to add, you have a following of your own, certain elements immediately see you as somebody who needs to be cut. In your place, someone who's mediocre at best is elevated. These are systems which, as I said, if you want to fix India's democracy, start by fixing democracy in your own organisation." Milind Deora resigned from the Congress party on January 14, 2024, marking the end of his family's 55-year history with it. His late father, Murli Deora, was a prominent Congress leader who was the Cabinet Minister under the Manmohan Singh government. Murli Deora was a four-term MP from the Mumbai South Constituency. (ANI) An Air India Express flight from Tiruchirappalli was delayed on Wednesday after it developed a technical issue. An alternative aircraft was later arranged, and the flight departed for its destination. "One of our flights from Tiruchirappalli could not operate due to a technical issue. An alternative aircraft was arranged, and the flight has since departed," an Air India Express spokesperson said. "Guests have been provided with meals and offered the choice of a full refund on cancellation or complimentary rescheduling. We regret the inconvenience," the spokesperson added. On September 2, the Delhi-Indore Air India flight had returned to Delhi shortly after take-off. "Flight AI2913, operating from Delhi to Indore on 31 August, had air-returned to Delhi shortly after take-off, as the cockpit crew had received a fire indication for the right engine. Following standard procedure, the cockpit crew had shut down the engine and returned to Delhi, where the flight landed safely," Air India spokesperson said in a statement. "The crew had initially made a MAYDAY call to the air traffic control, but later downgraded it to PAN-PAN to indicate urgency rather than an emergency. We confirm that the flight had not made an emergency landing at Delhi. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew was our top priority," the spokesperson added. (ANI) On August 31, an Air India flight operating from Delhi to Indore on Saturday had been forced to return to the national capital shortly after take-off following a fire indication in one of its engines. Flight AI2913 had departed from Delhi for Indore when the cockpit crew reportedly received a fire warning for the right engine. Following standard operating procedures, the pilots had shut down the affected engine and initiated a return to Delhi. (ANI) Incessant rains have swollen Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor district, flooding Garkhal village and prompting the Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to launch rescue operations to evacuate stranded villagers. Civilians rescued from Garkhal village were airlifted and dropped at Molu Helipad in Pargwal village. Akhnoor Sub-Divisional Megistrate (SDM) Mukhtar Ahmad told ANI, "We established contacts with locals around 4-5 AM. They informed us that nearly 45 people remain stranded due to excess water. We immediately launched the operation. Initially, we tried rescuing with the help of NDRF and SDRF, but due to the immense current (of the river water), we asked for helicopters. All persons have been evacuated." In a separate operation, the Army on Wednesday rescued a pregnant woman from the Kamtha Dagetar village in Sumb block of Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district. The woman, from Gujjar community, was unable to reach district hospital due as flooding across the Basantar river blocked access. She was airlifted by the Army following a request from the district administration. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a review meeting to assess the situation caused by continuous heavy rainfall in the state. He directed officials to intensify relief efforts, clear waterlogged areas, protect essential services, and carry out evacuations where necessary. In a post on social media platform X, the Office of the Chief Minister, J-K shared, "Chief Minister chaired a meeting this morning to review the situation arising from the incessant rains. He directed the administration to intensify ground response, ensure clearance of waterlogged areas, safeguard essential services, carry out timely evacuations in critical zones, and provide immediate relief." Continuous heavy rainfall has been witnessed in several parts of Jammu & Kashmir, with rivers swelling and flash flood-like conditions reported across multiple districts. In Rajouri, incessant downpours have led to flood-like conditions, forcing authorities to remain on high alert. Meanwhile, in Doda's Bhalesa and Bhaderwah areas, torrential rains continued for the second consecutive day, triggering flood-like conditions. Amid incessant rains, the Tawi River is in full spate, while in Srinagar, the Jhelum River's water level rose significantly. Similarly, the Chenab River is in full spate due to continuous showers in the upper regions. Ministers Javed Rana and Satish Sharma briefed the Chief Minister on the situation in Jammu, while Minister Sakina Itoo and Advisor Nasir Sogami provided updates from Kashmir. The Chief Minister urged people to follow official advisories, avoid vulnerable areas, and stay safe. Torrential monsoon rains and severe floods have wreaked havoc across northern India, severely impacting regions in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Over the past few weeks, relentless downpour has triggered landslides, flash floods, and widespread waterlogging, claiming numerous lives, displacing thousands, and causing extensive damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods. (ANI) The woman, belonging to the Gujjar community, was evacuated by a helicopter after the district administration sought assistance. Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Ajay Bharti, Tehsildar Shabbir Ahmed, Deputy Tehsildar Sumb, along with Indian Army post Goran in-charge Balbir Kumar, coordinated the operation. Her location was first identified with the help of a drone, but heavy rains prevented helicopter movement on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, she was successfully flown to the district hospital. Meanwhile, 44 civilians stranded by floods in Garkhal village of Akhnoor were airlifted in four sorties by a Border Security Force (BSF) helicopter and dropped at Molu Helipad in Pargwal. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a review meeting to assess the situation caused by continuous heavy rainfall in the state. He directed officials to intensify relief efforts, clear waterlogged areas, protect essential services, and carry out evacuations where necessary. In a post on social media platform X, the Office of the Chief Minister, J&K shared, "Chief Minister chaired a meeting this morning to review the situation arising from the incessant rains. He directed the administration to intensify ground response, ensure clearance of waterlogged areas, safeguard essential services, carry out timely evacuations in critical zones, and provide immediate relief." Ministers Javed Rana and Satish Sharma briefed the Chief Minister on the situation in Jammu, while Minister Sakina Itoo and Advisor Nasir Sogami provided updates from Kashmir. The Chief Minister urged people to follow official advisories, avoid vulnerable areas, and stay safe. (ANI) Actor Song Joong Ki offered his perspective on relationships and opposite-sex friendships during a recent guest appearance on Yoo Yeon Seok's YouTube series Weekend Yeonseokdrama: Yoo Bar Lee Talk Bar. The discussion began with actress Chun Woo Hee sharing her take on her boyfriend meeting a female friend. She remarked, "If my boyfriend's female friend asked to meet him because she had worries, I wouldn't understand why she would go to him. She could solve it herselfor these days, just ask ChatGPT," drawing laughter from the group. When the question turned to whether a girlfriend could meet a male friend for drinks, Yoo Yeon Seok expressed a pragmatic view. He said, "If someone is going to cause trouble, they will regardless. If the plan is already made, I'd just say, 'Have a good time,' but I'd expect her to stay in touch." READ MORE: Song Joong-ki Opens Up About Painful Past and His Desire for Joy Song Joong Ki then revealed his own thoughts. He stated, "I don't really care that much either," showing a relaxed attitude about his partner socializing. However, when Chun Woo Hee asked if it would be acceptable for a girlfriend or wife to meet a male friend alone late at night, both Song and Yoo responded at the same time. They said, "There's no reason to meet at that time. That's when you should be sleepingor watching our drama My Youth," prompting laughter. The actor's comments quickly attracted attention for balancing open-mindedness with a clear boundary about late-night meetings. Song Joong Ki, who married British actress Katy Louise Saunders last year, is now a father to two children. The couple welcomed a son and daughter together, drawing widespread media interest in their family life. Meanwhile, Song is preparing for the premiere of his new JTBC Friday drama, My Youth, co-starring Chun Woo Hee, which is scheduled to air on September 5. The lighthearted exchange highlighted Song's candid personality while also promoting his upcoming project. His remarks have since been widely shared across Korean online communities, with netizens weighing in on whether they agree with his stance. READ MORE: Song Joong Ki's Career Missteps and Scandals: Is the A-List Actor Losing His Star Power? Janata Dal (Secular) supremo and Rajya Sabha member HD Deve Gowda on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "actively pursuing alternatives" after the United States started an "unreasonable and unjust tariff war." In his letter to PM Modi, the former prime minister said the policy of "multi-alignment" is bound to offer rich dividends in the near future. "I closely followed the news of your visit to Japan and China. I am relieved like millions of Indians that you have been actively pursuing alternatives after the United States started an unreasonable and unjust tariff war. I trust you had a very successful visit and India will reap the benefits of your negotiations and new initiatives," Gowda said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening returned to New Delhi after concluding his four-day and two-nation visit to Japan and China, spanning from August 29 to September 1. "The policy of 'multi-alignment' that you have followed is bound to offer rich dividends in the near future. The world has only begun to understand its importance and pragmatism. This is a very constructive and positive formulation compared to our earlier espousal of 'non-alignment'. Times have changed and we needed a new language to pursue our fair dreams," the former Prime Minister said. "We should interact with the world as per our needs, on our terms but with also enormous civilisational grace that we possess. That will make India stand out," he added. Highlighting PM Modi's interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Gowda said that the meeting symbolises the beginning of a new world order that will put India in the middle of global prosperity and peace. "The photographs and videos of yourself with President Putin and President Xi Jinping that have flooded the media across the globe communicated something beyond routine bonhomie and friendship between heads of state," the letter read. The former Prime Minister argued that the US will have to "come around sooner than later" as India offers economic, demographic and democratic advantages. "I trust you had a very successful visit, and India will reap the benefits of your negotiations and new initiatives. United States too will have to come around sooner than later because dharma is on our side, and our nation offers a combination of economic, demographic and democratic advantage like no other in the world," Gowada said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening returned to New Delhi after concluding his four-day and two-nation visit to Japan and China, spanning from August 29 to September 1. Describing the visit as "productive" in a post on X, PM Modi said he emphasised India's position on key global issues during his engagements. On the SCO summit, PM Modi wrote on X, "Concluding a productive visit to China, where I attended the SCO Summit and interacted with various world leaders. Also emphasised India's stand on key global issues. Thankful to President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people for the successful organisation of this Summit." (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Wednesday released the 16th edition of the distinguished literary work "Hindi Ka Gadya Sahitya" at Raj Bhavan, Shimla, a release said. The book was authored by eminent scholar, critic, and former Head of the Hindi Department at Gorakhpur University, late Acharya Ramchandra Tiwari, recipient of the Hindi Gaurav Samman (2006) from Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, Lucknow. The revised and expanded edition has been compiled by his son, Dr Premvrat Tiwari. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that the book is regarded as an authentic and authoritative reference on the history of Hindi prose literature, known for its depth of research and critical perspective. He noted that the first edition was published in 1955, and with the release of this 16th edition, the work continues to remain a guiding light for the literary world. He added that Prof. Tiwari's writings have served as an inspiration and direction for generations of Hindi scholars. The Governor further stated that this monumental work would be of immense value to students, researchers, teachers, and literary enthusiasts. It provides a critical evaluation of eminent Hindi prose writers from Bharatendu Harishchandra to Phanishwar Nath Renu. He described Acharya Tiwari and his book as inseparable, stating that the work is truly a "treasury of Hindi prose." Special Guest Prof. Chittaranjan Mishra, former Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha, and former Head of Hindi Department, Gorakhpur University, lauded the book as a great repository of Hindi prose. He observed that Acharya Tiwari's critical insights were shaped not by external influence but by deep personal reflection and lifelong dedication to the pursuit of literary truth. Prof. Himanshu Chaturvedi, Director, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, also graced the occasion as Special Guest. In his address, he said that Acharya Tiwari occupies an eminent place in the field of Hindi literature, and this book stands as an invaluable resource for both researchers and literary connoisseurs. The programme was coordinated by Dr Dharmvrat Tiwari, who delivered the vote of thanks. C P Verma, Secretary to the Governor, eminent litterateurs, and fellows of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study were also present on the occasion. (ANI) With incessant rains lashing Punjab and adjoining hilly states, the Punjab government has stepped up rescue and relief operations across the state. The District administrations have been directed to maintain round-the-clock vigilance, strengthen river embankments, and ensure safe evacuation from vulnerable areas. In Rupnagar district, Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Baines is personally supervising operations in Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency, where continuous monitoring of rivers, canals, and rivulets is underway. Evacuation drives have begun in villages along the Sutlej, and residents have been urged to shift to relief camps established by the government. Villages in Nangal and Sri Anandpur Sahib, including Harsa Bela, Bela Ramgarh, Singhpura, Taraf Majara, Burj, Chandpur Bela, and Lodhipur, have been placed on high alert. Cabinet Minister Ravjot Singh carried out door-to-door visits in his Sham Chaurasi constituency, meeting families in Shivalik Nagar Dholwaha, Khalwana, Diowal, and Badowal. He assured residents that their concerns would be resolved on priority, emphasising that "public safety remains the foremost responsibility of the Government." In Tarn Taran, Ministers Laljit Singh Bhullar and Harbhajan Singh ETO, along with senior (Aam Aadmi Party) AAP leader Manish Sisodia, visited affected villages Mararh and Kirhian, where river erosion has damaged farmlands and crops. They interacted with farmers and families, assuring full government support. Relief efforts are also underway in other districts. Mahinder Bhagat, Cabinet Minister from Jalandhar, visited Kukkar village to review the situation as water levels in Chitti Vein rose. He distributed aid and instructed officials to maintain constant vigilance. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal also sought Army assistance to strengthen embankments near Sangowal. In Sultanpur Lodhi, Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian arrived with four truckloads of relief material, including animal fodder, for distribution in villages Mand Inderpur and Yousafpur Darewal. Meanwhile, MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal provided relief to flood-hit families in Ajnala. At SAS Nagar, MP Malwinder Singh Kang and Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal inspected erosion damage on the Khuda Lahora-Nada road along Patiala Ki Rao, where repair work has begun. Residents living near Ghaggar and Sukhna choe have been advised to remain vigilant. In Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Deputy Commissioner Ankurjeet Singh confirmed that Sutlej's water level at Dhaingarpur stands at 65,000 cusecs and is under control. A minor breach in the embankment was repaired overnight with villagers' help, and strengthening works are continuing. Authorities in Barnala, Patiala, and Fazilka have also issued alerts. Barnala DC T Banith has urged residents to vacate unsafe houses and move to relief camps. At the same time, Patiala DC Preeti Yadav has sought Army support amid rising water levels in the Ghaggar River. Fazilka DC Amarpreeet Kaur Sandhu cautioned residents to remain alert as 3.11 lakh cusecs of water are being released from Hussainiwala Headworks into the Sutlej, assuring that administrative teams are on standby round the clock. (ANI) BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday condemned the move to conduct a CBI investigation against former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, describing it as a disgrace and an insult to the people of Telangana. "It is shameful to target the visionary leader who secured drinking water for Hyderabad's next 50 years through projects like Mallanna Sagar and Kondapochamma Sagar," KTR said. He pointed out the hypocrisy of Congress leaders, noting that Rahul Gandhi once dismissed the CBI as "Modi's pocket organisation," while Revanth Reddy now praises it. "This double standard reflects the miserable state of the Congress party," he remarked, as per a release. KTR welcomed senior Congress leader Prabhakar Rao of Manuguru, Pinapaka constituency, along with his followers, into the BRS fold at Erravalli. He said that "no leader in Indian politics has delivered as much progress in ten years as KCR, whose irrigation projects have turned Telangana green while opponents have turned red with envy." The BRS leader charged that both the Congress and the BJP are "conspiring to defame KCR with baseless cases because they cannot tolerate the people's affection for him". "Under Revanth Reddy's rule, Telangana has been thrown into chaos in just 21 months. Farmers are standing in long queues, leaving their shoes behind, just to buy urea. This is the reality of Congress's misrule," KTR said. He recalled that in 2014, Telangana ranked 14th in agricultural production, "but under KCR's leadership and through mega projects like Kaleshwaram, Sitarama, and Palamuru-Rangareddy, the state became a major food producer." "Kaleshwaram is the world's largest lift irrigation project, carrying 2 TMCs of water daily from Medigadda to Kondapochamma Sagar. It provides irrigation to lakhs of acres and drinking water to countless villages," he emphasised. KTR accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of demeaning the dignity of the office with irresponsible remarks, unlike earlier statesmen such as NTR, Chandrababu, YSR, and KCR. He reminded that KCR "ensured welfare schemes continued even during the COVID crisis when revenues dropped to zero, whereas Congress leaders are busy making excuses" He added that KCR's government stood firmly with Singareni coal workers, implementing most of their demands, and called for introspection on why BRS underperformed in those constituencies despite such support. KTR urged party workers in Khammam district to hoist the pink flag on all 10 constituencies and announced his upcoming tour of Bhadrachalam and Kothagudem on the 10th and 11th of this month. "People now realise KCR's value after seeing Revanth's failures," he quipped, calling on cadre to expose Congress' betrayal and BJP's dangers, and to work unitedly for victory in local body, assembly, and parliamentary elections. "The only way to restore Telangana's progress is to bring back KCR as Chief Minister," KTR concluded, thanking Prabhakar Rao and his followers for joining BRS. (ANI) A single judge bench of Justice Sameer Jain reserved its order after hearing extensive arguments from both sides. The matter pertains to the Varanasi MP/MLA Court's order of July 21, 2025, in which it accepted a revision petition concerning the remarks of Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leader had approached the High Court against the order. In September 2024, during his visit to the US, Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, made remarks about the Sikh community at a programme. Varanasi resident Nageshwar Mishra had initially filed a petition over Rahul Gandhi's remarks before the Judicial Magistrate (Second) court seeking directions to police to register a FIR. The case was dismissed in November 2024 by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (MP/MLA Court). Mishra subsequently filed a revision petition in the Varanasi Sessions Court, which the Special MP/MLA Judge accepted on July 21, 2025. Rahul Gandhi's petition in the High Court demanded that Varanasi MP/MLA Court should be set aside. The petition argued that the Varanasi court's order is wrong, illegal, and beyond jurisdiction. It was requested that until the matter is pending before the High Court, the operation of the Varanasi court's order be stayed. The state government and complainant Nageshwar Mishra have been made respondents in the petition. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that they support the decision of the Union government and stated that the State's view is to lower GST to 5% and 18%. "We are supporting the move of the Prime Minister. Assam's view is to lower GST to 5% and 18%. We will completely support the decision of the Government of India," Sarma said while speaking to the reporters here. The 56th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting is underway in the national capital, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The two-day meeting, being held on September 3 and 4, is expected to bring significant changes to India's indirect tax structure, with discussions centred around rationalising and reducing the number of GST slabs. According to government sources, the proposal under consideration aims to eliminate the 12 per cent and 28 per cent brackets. Instead, most goods would be placed under either a 5 per cent or an 18 per cent slab. At present, there are four GST rate slabs, which are 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent. Nearly 99 per cent of items currently taxed at 12 per cent are likely to be moved into the 5 per cent slab, while around 90 per cent of items in the 28 per cent category could shift to the 18 per cent slab. Goods considered "sin" products would continue to draw a higher 40 per cent levy. As per the proposals approved by the Group of Ministers (GoM) last month, almost all items in the 28 per cent slab, barring sin goods, would move to the 18 per cent slab, and those in the 12 per cent slab would move to the 5 per cent slab. Another slab of 40 per cent would exist, which will be levied on 6 to 7 items, largely sin and demerit goods. The relevance of the meeting grew after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, hinted at a "big reform of GST," calling it a major step ahead of the festival season. He had said people could expect a "very big gift" during Diwali. The Council is also likely to discuss a short-term compensation mechanism for states, which will lose revenue due to rate cuts. However, the compensation cess structure, as it exists today, is unlikely to be extended. The compensation cess, introduced in July 2017, was designed to make up for state revenue losses during the initial five years of GST implementation. The GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, was enacted to ensure that the Centre should provide compensation to states for a period of five years from the implementation of GST on July 1, 2017, to make sure that each state's tax revenue grows by 14 per cent annually over the base year of 2015-16. The Council's discussions are expected to continue tomorrow, with decisions likely to be announced after deliberations conclude. (ANI) The Delhi High Court has issued notice to TMC MP Mahua Moitra on an appeal against an order of the trial court filed by Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, directing him not to publicise the matter. This matter is related to the custody of a pet Rottweiler dog, Henry, and is pending before the Saket court. Justice Manoj Jain issued a notice to MP Mahua Moitra and asked her to file a response. Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghosh appeared for Dehadrai. During the hearing, the bench asked the parties, " Why don't you sit together and sort it out?" The Court also asked what relief she is asking for in the suit. It is stated that the Ex-Parte Order of March 06, 2025, passed by the Trial Court is erroneous, unreasoned, arbitrary, unreasonable, unconstitutional, and wholly perverse because it imposes a pre-censorship and a sweeping alleged order on the appellant Jai Anant Dehadrai (Defendant before the trial court) and the media, and, without any justification whatsoever, categorically stating that "both the parties to the Suit are directed to ensure that the present proceedings shall not be publicised in any form," without offering any reasons whatsoever. The plea before the High Court stated that Moitra had filed a custody suit against the Dehadrai, over a pet-dog named "Henry" which was purchased by Dehadrai in 2021. It is the contention of Moitra in her suit that, owing to her friendship at the time with Dehadrai, she is entitled to joint custody of the pet dog, the plea said. Petitioner Dehadrai has stated that on the first day of the hearing of Moitra's suit in the trial court, without serving an advance copy and also without any notice being served upon the appellant, she obtained an ex parte alleged order on the appellant from being able to disclose the existence of the suit to anyone in the public domain, effectively a sweeping alleged order. It is further stated that the trial court offered absolutely no reasoning or justification whatsoever in passing this "No-Reporting" by the media. It is also stated that the trial judge who passed the impugned order passed this injunction order, which is directly prejudicial to the Constitutional rights of the appellant. The appellant has argued that the order was passed despite the application seeking an injunction not containing the said prayer (it was an oral prayer made by the Counsel of the defendant). It is also argued that such an order is impermissible in view of the circulars of the Delhi High Court of November 9, 2021, which require all daily orders to be uploaded unless the case comes within the ambit of public order/national security or sexual offences. It has been further argued that the appellant was not present before the court. In fact, he had not even been served a copy of the application in question. (ANI) In an intensified action amid the ongoing illegal eviction drive in Assam, state police on Wednesday apprehended and pushed back 13 Bangladeshi infiltrators from Barpeta district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1963231186022465779 In a post on X, CM Sarma wrote, "While some deal with Kangaroos, we have to deal with .... Anyway, our vigil remains strong as we have PUSHED BACK another 13 illegal infiltrators, who were apprehended in Barpeta, back to Bangladesh. We will keep a strong eye and ensure every illegal infiltrator is pushed back." On Tuesday, CM Sarma said, "Often a certain section of people forget where their original home is and wander on this side of the border, but being a gracious nation, we PUSH them BACK. 24 Bangladeshis have been PUSHED BACK today. Happy journey!" Earlier, on August 30, Sarma posted a message on X, "Now playing on illegal infiltrators playlist Assam Police take me home, to the place I belong. 33 new infiltrators have been PUSHED BACK to where they belong, Bangladesh. BEWARE: Our stringent efforts continue and will further intensify in the coming days." Meanwhile, the Assam government has carried out eviction drives in various parts of the state to evict illegal settlers who grabbed the government lands, forest lands, VGR/PGR lands. The Assam government has already freed more than 1.29 lakh bighas of encroached land. The Assam CM stated that all unauthorised occupation of VGRs (Village Grazing Reserves), PGRs (Professional Grazing Reserves), Satras, Naamghars, forest land, and other public areas would be cleared in a phased manner. "The government will clear all illegal encroachments on VGR, PGR, Satras, Naamghars, and forest land across the State in a systematic and phased manner," said CM Sarma. The Assam Chief Minister visited Uriamghat in Golaghat district last month to inspect areas that have been encroached upon and for which the state government has already issued eviction notices. Sarma said that thousands of bighas of land in the area had been unlawfully occupied. He observed that certain families had encroached upon as much as 300 to 400 bighas of land, using it for various economic activities. Emphasising that the government could not remain indifferent to such developments, the Chief Minister affirmed that appropriate action would follow, urging the public to cooperate with the measures the state government intends to implement. (ANI) Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit the flood-hit areas of Punjab tomorrow and said the central government is "keeping an eye on the situation". "I am going to the flood-affected areas of Punjab tomorrow. I want to tell my farmer brothers and sisters, people that the central government is keeping an eye on the situation. Along with the state government, it will take every possible measure to take the people. I will personally visit Punjab and see the situation there. I will discuss with the people and the farmers," the senior BJP leader told reporters here. "Even today I spoke to the Chief Minister there, spoke to the Governor of Punjab, talked to the Agriculture Minister. Our Union Minister of State Bittu Ji, we have also discussed with him. We are discussing from here as well. We will leave no stone unturned to help the people overcome this crisis..." Highlighting the extent of damage, Chouhan said, "There is a flood situation in the border districts. Life is disrupted. The public is in trouble. The farmers are in distress. As per the information received so far, crops are submerged in more than 1.5 lakh hectares of area. In this hour of crisis, the central government, our Prime Minister are standing with the people," he said. "There is a flood situation in the states of North India, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand and even in Delhi. And in such a crisis, the central government is standing with its people," he added. Notably, with incessant rains lashing Punjab and adjoining hilly states, the Punjab government has stepped up rescue and relief operations across the state. The District administrations have been directed to maintain round-the-clock vigilance, strengthen river embankments, and ensure safe evacuation from vulnerable areas. However, several parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh witnessed heavy rainfall on Wednesday, with the Meteorological Department issuing fresh warnings for thunderstorms and lightning across multiple districts. While Punjab is expected to see a slight weakening of monsoon activity in the coming days, a red alert has been issued for both North and South Haryana and Chandigarh as well. According to the Chandigarh Meteorological Centre, heavy rain is very likely to lash parts of Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Mohali, Chandigarh, and Kharar in Punjab. (ANI) Deputy Commissioner (DC) Reasi Nidhi Malik has sought explanations from 13 government officers and employees over their unauthorised absence from duty during ongoing relief operations. In view of the inclement weather conditions, the District Administration Reasi has been actively engaged in relief and restoration operations across the district under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner. To ensure the uninterrupted functioning of essential services, the General Administration Department (GAD) as well as the District Administration had already cancelled all leaves of officers and officials. Despite these instructions, 13 personnel, including eight Block Development Officers (BDOs), the Chief Agriculture Officer, District Agriculture Officer, one Medical Officer from Dharmari, one Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), and one Senior Assistant from Mahore Sub-Division, left their stations without permission. According to officials, such conduct constitutes a serious dereliction of duty and a violation of government directives. The concerned officials have been instructed to provide explanations for their absence from duty during the ongoing relief operations. The District Administration Reasi has reiterated that strict disciplinary measures will be enforced against any officer or employee found violating orders, especially at a time when their services are vital for ongoing relief and restoration efforts. The Chenab River in the Akhnoor district flows in spate due to incessant rains in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, which has inundated the village of Garkhal. The Army, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), started rescue operations for the stranded villagers, who were taken to safer areas. Civilians were rescued from Garkhal village due to the flooding and dropped at Molu Helipad in Pargwal village. Sub-Divisional Megistrate (SDM) Akhnoor Mukhtar Ahmad told ANI, "We established contacts with locals around 4-5 AM. They informed us that nearly 45 people remain stranded due to excess water. We immediately launched the operation. Initially, we tried rescuing with the help of NDRF and SDRF, but due to the immense current (of the river water), we asked for helicopters. All persons have been evacuated." In another incident, the Army on Wednesday successfully rescued a pregnant woman from the Kamtha Dagetar village of Sumb block in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district. Continuous heavy rainfall has been witnessed in several parts of Jammu & Kashmir, with rivers swelling and flash flood-like conditions reported across multiple districts. In Rajouri, incessant downpours have led to flood-like conditions, forcing authorities to remain on high alert. Meanwhile, in Doda's Bhalesa and Bhaderwah areas, torrential rains continued for the second consecutive day, triggering flood-like conditions. Amid incessant rains, the Tawi River is in full spate, while in Srinagar, the Jhelum River's water level rose significantly. Similarly, the Chenab River is in full spate due to continuous showers in the upper regions. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a review meeting to assess the situation caused by continuous heavy rainfall in the state. He directed officials to intensify relief efforts, clear waterlogged areas, protect essential services, and carry out evacuations where necessary. In a post on X, the Office of the Chief Minister, J&K shared, "Chief Minister chaired a meeting this morning to review the situation arising from the incessant rains. He directed the administration to intensify ground response, ensure clearance of waterlogged areas, safeguard essential services, carry out timely evacuations in critical zones, and provide immediate relief." Torrential monsoon rains and severe floods have wreaked havoc across northern India, severely impacting regions in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Over the past few weeks, relentless downpour has triggered landslides, flash floods, and widespread waterlogging, claiming numerous lives, displacing thousands, and causing extensive damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods. (ANI) Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN human rights chief on Tuesday denounced restrictions on civic and democratic space in Cameroon ahead of the 12 October presidential election The Centre has notified the creation of a new body for managing environment audits, aimed at bringing transparency in checking industries and projects for compliance with green laws. The body, Environment Audit Designated Agency (EADA), will be responsible for certification and registration of environmental auditors, monitoring their performance, taking disciplinary action, facilitating capacity building, and maintaining an online register of certified professionals. In a gazette notification issued on August 29, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change formally notified the Environment Audit Rules, 2025. These rules lay down a structured system for environmental audits of industries and projects that fall under India's environmental protection framework. The ministry, in a statement, noted that the existing system of monitoring is supported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Regional Offices of the Ministry, and State Pollution Control Boards/Committees. However, these agencies face "significant constraints in terms of manpower, resources, capacity, and infrastructure," making it necessary to introduce an additional, dedicated framework for audits. According to the notification, the aim of the new framework is to "encourage self-compliance through internal control mechanisms" while also providing reliable data to strengthen conservation efforts. The notification further states that environment audits will help in "supporting India's climate goals, green credit, ESG frameworks and green finance mechanisms." Under the rules, registered environment auditors will be empowered to inspect sites, collect samples, review compliance records, and prepare detailed audit reports. They will be bound by a code of conduct to maintain independence and avoid conflicts of interest. Any misconduct can lead to suspension or cancellation of certification by the designated agency. A steering committee chaired by the Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, will oversee the implementation of the new audit framework and provide guidance to the designated agency. The Environment Audit Rules, 2025, mark the first time that India has introduced a formal, independent audit mechanism to ensure industries remain accountable for their environmental performance. (ANI) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), on Wednesday, signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the CBSE Headquarters in New Delhi's Dwarka, to strengthen cooperation in creating a drug-free school environment and raising awareness against substance abuse. The MoU was signed by Anurag Garg, IPS, Director General, NCB and Rahul Singh, IAS, Chairperson, CBSE, in the presence of more than 500 school principals and counsellors associated with CBSE-affiliated schools of NCR, a release said. In his address, Anurag Garg, Director General, NCB, highlighted the crucial role of educational institutions in combating the menace of drugs and reaffirmed NCB's support in conducting awareness campaigns, workshops, and counselling programs. He also informed about the MANAS helpline - 1933, where any citizen can provide information regarding drug trafficking as well as seek assistance for counselling or rehabilitation, with complete assurance that their identity will be kept confidential throughout the process. NCB DG Garg also discussed the increasing use of vapes, which can serve as a gateway to nicotine and narcotics addiction. He further informed that the manufacture, production, import, export, transport, and advertisement of vapes are prohibited and punishable under law, and requested that related information be shared with law enforcement authorities. Rahul Singh, Chairperson, CBSE, emphasised CBSE's commitment to safeguarding the well-being of students by equipping schools, teachers, and parents with the knowledge and resources to prevent substance abuse. He said, a vigilant teacher can easily identify a child using drugs from his/her behaviour in the school. The MoU provides a comprehensive framework for joint initiatives, including quarterly awareness programs, capacity-building workshops for teachers and counsellors, e-modules on drug prevention, community outreach, and counselling services for students and parents. A pilot program will be launched in 100 CBSE schools, which will further extend outreach through a hub-and-spoke model. Following the signing ceremony, an awareness program on the prevention of substance abuse was held, attended by over 500 principals, counsellors, and wellness teachers from CBSE-affiliated schools across India. The program featured insightful sessions, including "Leadership for Empowering the School Ecosystem" by Ashutosh Agnihotri, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, Food Corporation of India (FCI). "Refuse the First Dose, Secure the Future" by Dr Anees C., IRS, Deputy Director, NCB. The program concluded with an interactive Question-Answer Session, where principals and counsellors from across the country engaged with experts, shared concerns, and sought practical strategies for strengthening drug-prevention initiatives at the school level. This collaboration underscores NCB and CBSE's shared vision of ensuring a safe, healthy, and supportive school ecosystem that discourages substance misuse and empowers students to make positive life choices. (ANI) In a remarkable display of coordination and swift action, the District Administration Udhampur and the Indian Air Force (IAF) collaborated to successfully evacuate two patients from Basantgarh, an area rendered inaccessible due to incessant rains and landslides. The patients, Nazeer Ahmed, a resident of Basantgarh in Udhampur district, diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Om Prakash, suffering from Acute Appendicitis, required urgent medical intervention at Government Medical College (GMC) Udhampur, a release said. With road connectivity disrupted due to the rains and landslides, the District Administration Udhampur, under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai, promptly coordinated with the IAF to facilitate the airlifting of the patients. The IAF, in a remarkable display of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, responded swiftly to the request and successfully winched both patients to safety. The patients were then transported to GMC Udhampur for further medical treatment, the release said. This successful operation underscores the district administration of Udhampur's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens, particularly during times of crisis. The IAF's prompt response and expert execution of the rescue operation underscore its role as a critical enabler in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also played a crucial supporting role in the operation. The District Administration Udhampur expresses its gratitude to the IAF and NDRF for their tireless efforts and dedication to saving lives. Earlier today in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor district, the Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) launched rescue operations to evacuate stranded villagers as incessant rains have swollen the Chenab River. Civilians rescued from Garkhal village were airlifted and dropped at Molu Helipad in Pargwal village. Akhnoor Sub-Divisional Megistrate (SDM) Mukhtar Ahmad told ANI, "We established contacts with locals around 4-5 AM. They informed us that nearly 45 people remain stranded due to excess water. We immediately launched the operation. Initially, we tried rescuing with the help of NDRF and SDRF, but due to the immense current (of the river water), we asked for helicopters. All persons have been evacuated." In a separate operation, the Army on Wednesday rescued a pregnant woman from the Kamtha Dagetar village in Sumb block of Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district. The woman, from the Gujjar community, was unable to reach the district hospital due to flooding across the Basantar river, blocking access. She was airlifted by the Army following a request from the district administration. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a review meeting to assess the situation caused by continuous heavy rainfall in the state. He directed officials to intensify relief efforts, clear waterlogged areas, protect essential services, and carry out evacuations where necessary. In a post on social media platform X, the Office of the Chief Minister, J-K shared, "Chief Minister chaired a meeting this morning to review the situation arising from the incessant rains. He directed the administration to intensify ground response, ensure clearance of waterlogged areas, safeguard essential services, carry out timely evacuations in critical zones, and provide immediate relief." Continuous heavy rainfall has been witnessed in several parts of Jammu & Kashmir, with rivers swelling and flash flood-like conditions reported across multiple districts. In Rajouri, incessant downpours have led to flood-like conditions, forcing authorities to remain on high alert. Meanwhile, in Doda's Bhalesa and Bhaderwah areas, torrential rains continued for the second consecutive day, triggering flood-like conditions. Amid incessant rains, the Tawi River is in full spate, while in Srinagar, the Jhelum River's water level rose significantly. Similarly, the Chenab River is in full spate due to continuous showers in the upper regions. Torrential monsoon rains and severe floods have wreaked havoc across northern India, severely impacting regions in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Over the past few weeks, relentless downpour has triggered landslides, flash floods, and widespread waterlogging, claiming numerous lives, displacing thousands, and causing extensive damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods. (ANI) Delhi's Patiala House Court has recently rejected the bail plea of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) President M K Faizy in a money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Faizy is the national president of SDPI. Special judge Chander Jit Singh on August 28 rejected the bail plea of Moideen Kutty alias M K Faizy after considering the submissions and material placed on record by the investigation agency. The court also considered the past conduct of Faizy, who did not appear before the ED on summons. The court also noted that, being a party president, he might use his influence. "It shows that the accused had made an attempt to evade the process of law and therefore, in absence of any material to show otherwise, he is a flight risk which can be so inferred from his previous conduct," ASJ Chander Jit Singh said in the order of August 28. The court said that the accused is the President of a political party, and it was argued on behalf of the accused that the political party had also contested the General Election. "These facts are important to note to show that the accused is a person who would wield influence in the area by virtue of his position. It is a matter of common knowledge that the President of any political party is ordinarily a person who has the capacity to influence the cadre of the party and to whom the cadre ordinarily listens to," the court said in the order. The court rejected the argument on behalf of the accused that no action has been taken against SDPI. The court noted that supplementary prosecution complaint (Charge sheet) has been filed by ED. In this supplementary complaint, SDPI is one of the accused. The court said that, therefore, the contention on behalf of ED in respect of the applicability of Section 70 of PMLA cannot be ruled out at this stage, for the reason that, being President of an organisation, the accused is certainly holding a responsible position for conducting the business of the organisation. It was argued on behalf of the accused that he had no role in this case, but the order of taking cognisance and summoning the accused is not stated to have been challenged on behalf of the accused, the court noted. The court rejected the contention of Defence counsel that the allegations of PFI influencing the decisions of SDPI seem to be incorrect. The court said, "In this regard, it is a matter of record that details of the existence of various units or the existence of SDPI are specified in the supplementary prosecution complaint." Special public prosecutor (SPPs) Simon Benjamin appeared for the ED. It is alleged that a fund transfer occurred from the PFI to SDPI. ED said he was a member of PFI since its inception. In 2009, he started SDPI. ED had arrested M K Faizy from Indira Gandhi Airport in March this year while he was on the way to Delhi from Kochi. While opposing the bail plea, the ED contended that during the course of investigation, it was noticed that UP police Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) registered FIR on February 16, 2021 under 120 B and 121A of IPC, 13, 16, 18 and 20 of UAPA, 3,4, and 5 of the Explosives Act and 3 and 25 of the Arms Act against two PFI members Anshad Badruddin and Firoz. K, who were arrested by the police and improvised explosive devices, one 32 bore pistol and 7 live cartridges were seized from them. The ED also submitted that the accused, Faizy, received Rs 3.50 lakh in his two bank accounts from various bank accounts of PFI between January 2018 and January 2021 for the purpose of imparting training to PFI's cadres. The agency has alleged that SDPI is a political front of the banned organisation PFI. While seeking remand of the accused, the ED had said that the PFI was declared an Unlawful organisation on September 28, 2022. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the GST reforms and called it a "historic decision" to cut tax rates. Shah said that the GST reforms will bring "huge relief" to the poor, middle class, farmers, MSMEs, women and youth. Sharing an X post on Wednesday, Amit Shah wrote, "PM Narendra Modi Ji stands for what he commits. This historic decision of GST rate cuts and process reforms will bring huge relief to the poor and middle class, while also supporting farmers, MSMEs, women and youth." The Union Minister also hailed the GST Council's decision to introduce a simplified Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration scheme. "By simplifying the system and reducing the burden on common citizens, these reforms will not only ensure ease of living but also give a big boost to ease of doing business, especially for small traders and entrepreneurs. A truly transformative decision for Bharat," the X post added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also lauded PM Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the "bold decision" on GST reforms. "The Government of India, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, has announced the Next-Gen GST reforms to bring relief across sectors. With tax rates reduced on many important items, this reform will bring ease of living, further strengthen ease of doing business, empower small businesses, and boost India's self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I thank PM Modi and the FM Nirmala Sitharaman for taking this bold decision," Rajnath Singh wrote on X. Earlier, the GST Council, after a threadbare discussion, approved significant rate cuts across multiple sectors, which the government has described as a Diwali gift for the nation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made the announcements. On the essential items front, items of daily household use will now cost less. Products such as hair oil, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet soap bars, toothbrushes, and shaving cream, which earlier attracted 18 per cent GST, will now fall under the 5 per cent bracket. Sewing machines and their parts, previously taxed at 12 per cent, will now attract only 5 per cent GST. Farmers and the agriculture sector stand to gain significantly from these reforms as tractor tyres and parts, earlier under 18 per cent GST, will now be taxed at just 5 per cent, while tractors themselves will also see their rate reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. (ANI) Chief Ministers across NDA-ruled states lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the GST reforms. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday called the tax reforms "transformative measures" for citizens and entrepreneurs. Sharing an X post, CM Yogi wrote, "Under the leadership of Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi ji and FM Nirmala Sitharaman ji, the Next Gen GST reforms approved by the GST Council are truly commendable. These transformative measures will simplify the lives of citizens, make business easier, and accelerate local manufacturing and entrepreneurship." "Heartfelt gratitude to the Hon'ble PM and thanks to the Hon'ble FM for these welfare-oriented decisions that will make India's economy stronger and more inclusive," the X post added. Backing the tax reforms, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said that PM Modi fulfilled the promise he made on August 15 regarding the tax reforms. "Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has fulfilled his promise of bringing Next-Generation Reforms regarding GST on this year's Independence Day, presenting a Diwali gift to the common people of the country. The Next-Generation GST reforms and rate reductions approved by @GST_Council will directly benefit all sections, including farmers, MSMEs, small traders, women, and youth," Rekha Gupta wrote on X. She called the GST Council's decision a relief for middle-class families, as a reduction in the GST on consumer goods would lower their expenditure. "Additionally, this decision will provide significant relief to millions of middle-class families. The expenditure on daily essential goods and services will decrease, leading to increased savings for the common citizen and making life more convenient. These reforms will not only simplify the lives of citizens but also infuse new energy into businesses and industries, strengthening the Indian economy," the Delhi CM said. "Heartfelt thanks and congratulations on behalf of the people of Delhi to Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ji for this people-friendly decision," the X post read. Calling it "historic", Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis lauded the move to remove the 12 per cent and 28 per cent GST slabs. "A truly historic reform for New India! Under the visionary leadership of Hon. PM Narendra Modi Ji and the dedicated efforts of Hon Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ji, GST has been simplified forever. By abolishing 12 per cent & 28 per cent slabs, and moving to just 5 per cent & 18 per cent, a burden on people is lifted," Fadnavis wrote on X. Maharashtra CM highlighted the zero GST on health and life insurance, calling it a "massive relief" for citizens. "This will come into effect from 22nd Sept '25. Most importantly, Health & Life Insurance now kept out of GST -- a massive relief for every family. This is not just a reform in taxation, it is a reform in Ease of Living. Under Hon PM Modi ji's leadership, India is becoming more transparent, more people-centric, and more caring every single day! Thank you to Hon PM Modi ji & team," the X post added. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also thanked PM Modi for the tax reforms. He wrote, "Assam extends heartfelt gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji for ushering in one of the most consequential reforms in India's GST structure, and to the GST Council for ensuring these changes see the light of day. The new regime agreed upon today will serve as a super booster for the Indian economy, bringing agility to small & medium businesses, spurring job creation, driving consumption, and most importantly, leaving more money in the hands of our people." Recalling the evolution of GST as Finance Minister of Assam, CM Sarma called it the "defining moment". "Having closely followed the evolution of GST over the last 8 years, particularly during my tenure as Assam's Finance Minister, I see this as a defining moment. India's ability to successfully implement GST and also to adapt and reform- when required- is a shining testament to the Modi Government's firm yet flexible approach to governance," Assam CM wrote on X. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu wrote on X, "We welcome the GST reforms with revised slabs across daily essentials, education, healthcare, and agriculture. This pro-poor, growth-oriented decision will benefit all sections of society, from farmers to businesses." "I congratulate Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Ji on this transformative step. As announced by PM Modi Ji on Independence Day, these next-generation GST reforms mark a strategic and citizen-centric advancement of our tax framework, ensuring a better quality of life for every Indian," he added. Speaking to reporters, Goa CM Pramod Sawant said, "Everyone has agreed on the rationalisation of GST rates." In a major reform aimed at providing relief to households, farmers, businesses and the healthcare sector, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday announced a sweeping reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on a wide range of essential items, automobiles, agriculture inputs, and electronic appliances. The 56th GST council meeting decided to rationalise GST rates to two slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent by merging the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates. (ANI) French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (local time) stated that France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair a high-profile conference on the Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in New York on September 22 aimed at garnering broad international support for peace and security in the region. In a statement posted on X, Macron also called on the US to reverse its decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials, describing the move as "unacceptable", while emphasising the importance of Palestinian representation in the conference in accordance with the Host Country Agreement. "I just spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Together, we will co-chair the Conference on the Two-State Solution in New York on September 22. The American decision not to grant visas to Palestinian officials is unacceptable. We call for this measure to be reversed and for Palestinian representation to be ensured in accordance with the Host Country Agreement. Our objective is clear: to rally the broadest possible international support for the Two-State Solution--the only way to meet the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians," the French President said. Macron also outlined key priorities for the conference, including the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, large-scale humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, and the deployment of a stabilisation mission in the Gaza Strip. He also stressed the need for long-term measures to ensure peace, including disarming Hamas and excluding it from Gaza's governance, reforming and strengthening the Palestinian Authority, and fully reconstructing the Gaza Strip. "This will require the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and the deployment of a stabilisation mission in Gaza. We are also working to ensure that, the day after, Hamas is disarmed and excluded from any governance of Gaza, that the Palestinian Authority is reformed and strengthened, and that the Gaza Strip is fully reconstructed. No offensive, annexation attempt, or forced displacement of populations will derail the momentum we have created with the Crown Prince--momentum that many partners have already joined," he added. The announcement comes amid growing global concerns over the humanitarian crisis in the region, which has become worse following Israel's military expansion in the area. Macron was one of the first few Western world leaders who stated that their country would formally recognise the State of Palestine, a move that will be finalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Following in his footsteps, leaders from Australia, Canada, Portugal, and the United Kingdom are also set to recognise the State of Palestine during the Assembly. Belgium is the latest name in the list that called for recognition of the State of Palestine and further called for "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government. (ANI) US President Donald Trump accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of "conspiring against" America after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended China's largest-ever military parade on Wednesday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Xi of "conspiring against" the United States as they attended the parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. China observes September 3 as the anniversary of what it describes as victory in the struggle against Japan in 1945, when Japan was defeated in World War II. "May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America," Trump wrote on social media as the parade was underway. "The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and "blood" that the United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in China's quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully honoured and remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!," Trump added. China held a massive military parade on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were in attendance as Beijing exhibited its military prowess. China showcased its HQ-9C missiles during the Victory Day Parade in Beijing. A version of the HQ-9 missile system has been acquired by Pakistan for its defence network. It purportedly saw action as per the Pakistan media in Operation Sindoor; however, it failed to protect Pakistani airspace from Indian missiles. Chinese President Xi Jinping, terming the country "unstoppable," assured its commitment to peaceful development. "China will adhere to the path of peaceful development. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, and humanity's cause of peace and development will prevail," Xi Jinping said. Noting the conflicts around the world, Xi Jinping assured that China will firmly stand on the "right side of history" and will join hands to build a community with a shared future for humanity. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games. The Chinese people will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, adhere to the path of peaceful development, and join hands with the rest of the world to build a community with a shared future for humanity," Xi Jinping said. Xi demanded that the military provide strategic support for national rejuvenation and make greater contributions to world peace and development. He urged the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to build itself into a world-class force and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Chinese President then called on nations across the world to eliminate the cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring. "Common security can only be safeguarded when nations across the world treat each other as equals, live in harmony, and mutually support one another," he said. (ANI) The United States killed 11 people in a deadly military strike against an alleged drug boat linked to the Venezuelan cartel 'Tren de Aragua', President Donald Trump said Tuesday. "Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!" he added. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the "lethal strike" as taking place in the "southern Caribbean" targeting "a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela." "As the President of the US just announced moments ago, today the U.S. military conducted a lethal strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug vessel which had departed from Venezuela and was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation, Rubio said in post on X. The State Department has designated Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuela, as a foreign terrorist organisation and specially designated global terrorists in February, as per CNN. The US has deployed a large number of military assets around the Caribbean and Latin America, drawing strong criticism from Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Speaking before his departure for trips to Mexico and Ecuador on Tuesday, Rubio said the "counter-drug mission" would continue. "We are going to wage combat against drug cartels that are flooding American streets and killing Americans," he stated. When asked by CNN about the legal authority for targeting cartels militarily, Rubio said, "I'm not going to answer for the White House counsel; suffice it to say that all of those steps were taken in advance." He added, "The president has designated these as terrorist organisations, which is what they are." US military was deploying more than 4,000 Marines and sailors to the waters around Latin America and the Caribbean as part of an intensified effort to combat drug cartels, demonstrating a show of force that gives the president a wide range of military options to target them, CNN has reported earlier. The Trump administration has taken an aggressive stance against Latin American drug cartels, designating several as foreign terrorist organisations and specially designated global terrorists. Tom Karako, senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies' Defence and Security Department, said that while he was unaware of previous instances of such action against a drug cartel, "on the other hand, I'm not sure that we would (know). It would not surprise me in the slightest if there were a dozen instances that we don't talk about." Rubio paid a visit to the headquarters of US Southern Command last Friday, which oversees the deployed assets, and had previously indicated that military action against the cartels was possible. The strong US military presence has drawn sharp criticism from Maduro, whose bounty has been increased to USD 50 million by the Trump administration for drug trafficking. "It is an extravagant threat... absolutely criminal, bloody. They have wanted to move forward with what they call maximum pressure, and in the face of maximum military pressure, we have prepared maximum readiness," Maduro said Monday, asserting that he will not "bow to threats." (ANI) The Indian Army and the United States Army (Soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division) have commenced the joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 at Fort Wainwright in Alaska, officials said. The ceremony, held on September 2, marked the beginning of a two-week training program designed to enhance interoperability, readiness, and cooperation between the two nations' land forces, according to a statement from the US Army. The exercise, scheduled from September 1 to 14, is being conducted at multiple locations, including Fort Wainwright, Yukon Training Area, and Donnelly Training Area in Alaska. The exercise is sponsored by the US Army Pacific Command. Participants include soldiers from the Indian Army's 65th Infantry Brigade and the US Army's 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment "Bobcats," which is part of the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Arctic), 11th Airborne Division. "Together, we sharpen our skills for peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and combat operations because we know that the challenges of the future will demand cooperation across borders," said Col. Christopher Brawley, commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Arctic), 11th Airborne Division. "When our soldiers trained side by side, we demonstrated to the world that our partnership is strong, enduring and prepared to meet any challenge." Yudh Abhyas, which translates to "Preparing for War" in Hindi, began in 2004 as a counterinsurgency training exchange. Over the years, it has evolved to include brigade-level command post exercises and field training exercises focused on conventional, unconventional, and hybrid threats, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. This year's exercise includes a brigade combat team command post exercise linked with a bilateral field training exercise. Training events will incorporate artillery live-fire exercises, academic exchanges, cultural events, and combined tactical operations in Alaska's challenging terrain and climate, according to the US Army. The exercise's objectives include enhancing bilateral readiness and interoperability, developing coordination between brigade and battalion staffs, integrating operational enablers, and refining air-to-ground integration doctrine. It also supports the US Indo-Pacific Command's strategy to strengthen regional partnerships and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. "Exercises such as Yudh Abhyas create the ideal environment to test concepts, refined procedures and most importantly, learn from each other's experience," said Brigadier Rajeev Sahara, commander of the Indian Army, 65th Infantry Brigade. "I thank our American hosts as the partnership continues to be invaluable to us." Since its inception, Yudh Abhyas has expanded beyond its original counterinsurgency focus to address modern challenges faced by both nations' militaries. Recent iterations have included training in high-altitude environments, humanitarian operations, and joint responses to crises such as natural disasters, according to the US Army. The exercise also provides opportunities for cultural exchange, sporting events, and professional development workshops. US and Indian Soldiers will work together in planning, execution, and after-action review phases, building mutual understanding and trust at all levels. Yudh Abhyas alternates annually between India and the United States. This year, the exercise is held in the United States, and next year's iteration is scheduled to return to India. For the United States, Alaska offers a strategically significant training ground due to its proximity to key Arctic and Indo-Pacific air and sea corridors. For Indian Soldiers, it provides a venue to train in cold-weather conditions with US forces experienced in Arctic operations. The exercise supports US Army Pacific's five main priorities: campaigning, transformation, lethality, partnerships, and people. It also reflects the broader US-India Major Defence Partnership, which includes a series of joint exercises, defence trade initiatives, and personnel exchanges aimed at enhancing combined capabilities. (ANI) New York, US (PANA) - Global education funding is facing sharp reductions that could leave an extra six million children out of school by 2026, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) warned on Wednesday Taiwan President William Lai, flagging growing Chinese incursions on its borders, said that any aggression inevitably fails, Taipei Times reported. William Lai's remarks came on Tuesday, a day before Beijing's military parade attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Speaking at a gathering of military personnel, including several high-ranking officers, at the Ministry of National Defence, Lai said, "We all know that the current security environment is more severe than ever before. In recent years, the Chinese communists have persistently conducted high-intensity activities with military aircraft and vessels around the Taiwan Strait." Lai further said that China's action are "not only a threat to Taiwan's democracy and freedom, but also a challenge to the democratic world," he added, "From the victory in World War II to the glorious achievements of the September 2nd naval battle and the August 23rd artillery exchange, the most valuable lesson remains: Unity ensures victory, while aggression inevitably fails." Taiwan's President further encouraged social solidarity and preparedness, both in its military and society, to safeguard Taipei's sovereignty and democracy, Taipei Times reported. China, today, held a massive military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were in attendance as Beijing exhibited its military prowess. Chinese President Xi Jinping, terming the country "unstoppable," assured its commitment to peaceful development. "China will adhere to the path of peaceful development. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, and humanity's cause of peace and development will prevail," Xi Jinping said. Noting the conflicts around the world, Xi Jinping assured that China will firmly stand on the "right side of history" and will join hands to build a community with a shared future for humanity. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games. The Chinese people will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, adhere to the path of peaceful development, and join hands with the rest of the world to build a community with a shared future for humanity," Xi Jinping said. (ANI) A young man has reportedly gone missing after being detained by Pakistani security forces in Turbat, the main city of Kech district, according to The Balochistan Post. The incident took place on Monday in the Askani area, further fuelling concerns over the persistent issue of enforced disappearances in the province. According to The Balochistan Post, he missing youth has been identified as Amir Bakhsh, son of Nabi Bakhsh. Eyewitnesses and family members told The Balochistan Post that he was taken away from his shop by security personnel, and since then, his whereabouts remain unknown. The family has expressed deep distress, stating that despite inquiries with local authorities, they have received no information or explanation regarding his detention. Enforced disappearances have remained a recurring issue in Balochistan for decades, with human rights groups accusing Pakistani forces of carrying out abductions without presenting charges or producing detainees in court. Many families of missing persons have staged long-standing demonstrations, highlighting their grievances and calling for justice. According to The Balochistan Post, these protests have become a symbol of resistance for those demanding accountability from the state. Rights activists argue that such incidents not only violate basic human rights but also deepen the trust deficit between the people of Balochistan and the central authorities. They stress that the lack of transparency and absence of official statements in cases like that of Amir Bakhsh contribute to the sense of fear and alienation among local communities. According to The Balochistan Post, as of now, Pakistani officials have not issued any comment on this latest disappearance. Meanwhile, the family of the missing youth continues to appeal for his safe recovery. On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed annually on August 30 since its official recognition by the United Nations in 2010, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has raised its voice against the continued plight of thousands of missing Pashtuns in Pakistan. According to a post shared by PTM Holland on X, countless individuals remain either forcibly disappeared or imprisoned without trial, subjected to torture and denial of justice. The PTM, which has consistently campaigned for the recovery of missing persons since its inception, reiterated that its central demand has always been for the state to disclose information about the disappeared and to ensure transparent investigations into their cases. As highlighted in the post shared by PTM Holland, this legitimate demand has repeatedly been ignored, with Pashtuns continuing to face extrajudicial killings, abductions, and fabricated criminal charges. Prominent leaders and activists remain in custody despite proven innocence in courts. Ali Wazir, a senior PTM figure, has been imprisoned for two years even though multiple judicial rulings have acquitted him. Similarly, Haji Abdul Samad, a respected elder of the Khyber Qaumi Jirga, and Bilal Orakzai, a key PTM activist, are languishing in jail under false allegations. (ANI) Russian President Vladimir Putin described the relationship between Russia and China as being at an "unprecedentedly high level" after the two nations signed a landmark agreement to construct the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, CNN reported. This comes against the backdrop of a shifting US approach to foreign affairs and international trade, with US President Donald Trump's tariffs and increasingly isolationist policies shaking up the world order. This massive project will transport 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from western Russia to northern China via Mongolia, and is expected to offset nearly half of Russia's lost gas exports to Europe since the Ukraine war began. During Putin's visit to China, the two leaders spent hours together, meeting with Mongolia's president, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and engaging in formal talks and sipping tea at the Chinese leader's official residence, as per CNN. On Tuesday afternoon, Russia's state-owned energy company Gazprom announced that a legally binding agreement had been signed for the construction of the massive Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which Moscow has been trying to push off the drawing board for years. According to CNN, the deal is a significant win for Putin, who has increasingly turned to China to replace Europe as his major gas buyer. It's also a collective show of defiance against US President Donald Trump, who is pushing countries to cut Russian energy imports as part of his attempt to end the war in Ukraine. Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller said that the deal includes a 30-year supply agreement, and the price of supplies will be lower than what Europe is charged. "It will be the largest, most extensive, and most capital-intensive gas project in the world," Miller was quoted as saying by TASS. However, China has yet to officially confirm the agreement, maintaining its cautious stance on the mega-project due to its ongoing transition to renewable energy and concerns about relying on a single energy supplier. Chinese state media reports on the meeting of the leaders of Russia, China and Mongolia make no mention of the pipeline. In subsequent talks between Xi and Putin, the Chinese leader said their countries should "use major projects to drive cooperation." When asked about the deal during a regular news conference on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China and Russia have "consistently conducted practical cooperation in various fields, including energy," and asked reporters to "contact the relevant Chinese authorities for details." (ANI) Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a post on X, said, "PM Lawrence Wong of Singapore paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at Raj Ghat. Bapu's universal ideals of truth and non-violence continue to inspire us." The Singaporean Prime Minister arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday and is on a three-day official visit to the country, during which he will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Tuesday, Lawrence Wong held a significant discussion with Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, focusing on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. In a post on X, the Ministry of Finance stated that the discussion centred on enhancing cooperation in critical areas, including trade and investment, fintech, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, and connectivity. Both sides also expressed a firm commitment to deepen collaboration, marking a pivotal moment as India and Singapore celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. The meeting was also attended by Singapore's acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, Jeffrey Siow, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, Gan Siow Huang. The Singapore Prime Minister stated that discussions took place on the outcomes of the recently concluded third round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held last month. "Glad to reconnect with India Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. We discussed the outcomes of the recently held 3rd India-SG Ministerial Roundtable, and our interest to collaborate on cross-border data flows and capital markets," Wong stated in the post on X. This is PM Wong's first visit to India in his capacity as Singapore's Prime Minister. He will be accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation, including Cabinet Ministers and senior officials. PM Modi and his Singaporean counterpart are scheduled to hold bilateral discussions on September 4. Prime Minister Wong will also call on President Droupadi Murmu. (ANI) Founded in 1968, Sysmex traces its origins to an audio equipment company that successfully transformed its expertise in electrical technology into the development of blood cell detection machines. To ensure smooth operations, the company also developed testing reagents. Initially expanding through overseas agencies, Sysmex later adopted a direct sales model to consolidate its global presence. Under the leadership of Hisashi Ietsugu, who became president in 1996, Sysmex accelerated its global expansion with a special focus on Asia. "The Sysmex market will be defined by the number of population," Ietsugu declared, highlighting the importance of countries like India. Today, Sysmex records annual sales exceeding USD 3.4 billion and projects that figure to double by 2033. Board Member Iwane Matsui emphasised that growth in the Global South, particularly India, is crucial for realising this vision. Sysmex's approach in India is guided by the dual policy of "Make in India" and "Made by Indians." The company sources materials locally, empowers Indian professionals by appointing them to top managerial positions, and trains talented staff in Japan to sharpen their expertise. Sysmex has been present in India for more than three decades. In 2025, the company launched its largest factory within the group in India, which produces testing reagents, diagnostic products, and houses extensive storage facilities. The facility also incorporates advanced environmental measures, including water purification systems, to ensure a clean and sustainable operation. Beyond manufacturing, Sysmex has invested in community development by donating school uniforms to children, underscoring its commitment to social responsibility. "Appropriate medical care must be tailored to each country," Matsui said, stressing that India's large population and healthcare needs make it one of the most significant destinations for Sysmex's expansion. With India's growing demand for affordable, reliable healthcare solutions, Sysmex's integration of cutting-edge diagnostic technology, local manufacturing, and community engagement is poised to make a lasting impact. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held a delegation-level meeting with his German Counterpart Johann Wadephul. In his opening remarks, S Jaishankar pushed for Germany's support to expedite the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union. "We count on your support to deepen our relationship with the European Union and expedite the FTA negotiations. India and Germany have a strong history of multilateral cooperation, which, I am confident, will be further advanced through our talks today," S Jaishankar said. This is the first visit of the German Foreign Minister to India since Chancellor Friedrich Merz formed the government this year. S Jaishankar highlighted the significance of India-Germany relations and expressed gladness over Johann Wadephul's visit to Bengaluru, suggesting that both nations have immense potential for cooperation in technology. "We are also aware that this is one of your early visits outside Europe and we appreciate your coming to India very much...We are marking 25 years of strategic partnership, 50 years of scientific cooperation, almost 60 years of cultural agreements and as you saw in Bangalore, more than a century of business interactions. I am glad that you had an opportunity during this visit to go to Bengaluru and see the immense potential of our cooperation in technology," S Jaishankar said. David Wadephul arrived in New Delhi following his engagement in Bengaluru as part of his two-day official visit to the country. The German Foreign Minister also met with Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal today, which the German Ambassador to India Phillip Ackermann described as a productive discussion on strengthening trade, investment & innovation ties. "German Foreign Minister Dr. Johann Wadephul meeting with Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. Productive discussions on strengthening trade, investment & innovation ties," Ackermann said in a post on X. Earlier, Piyush Goyal said that Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and the European Union are in an advanced stage, as the two sides are making significant progress. Speaking to the reporters in the national capital, Goyal said, "We have reached a very advanced stage in our FTA with the European Union. The Commerce Secretary, as we speak, is in a meeting in Brussels with his counterpart, the DG of the EU. Their team is coming down later this week and will be in active negotiation with us. Minister trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic (European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security) is coming down on the 12th of this month and we are making very active and significant progress." The FTA negotiations between the two sides are expected to conclude in 2025. India last month said the two sides engaged in a forward-looking and substantive dialogue to address global trade challenges and reaffirm their shared resolve to conclude the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025. (ANI) German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has reaffirmed his country's commitment to finalising the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union as soon as possible. During a delegation-level meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Wadephul stated that Germany is fully supportive of the agreement and will utilise its influence with the European Commission to push it forward. "Germany is in full support of carrying this Agreement, negotiated as soon as possible," Wadephul said. "We are a free trade nation...the EU is working on (the Agreement with) India, that's the most important to us. I hope really that we can be successful." He added that Germany will utilise all its arguments with the Commission to advance the FTA and enhance relations between their countries and the EU and India. "You can be assured that we will use all arguments we have with the Commission to put this forward and to reach a level between our countries and between the EU and India on this," he added. On Tuesday, Wadephul spent a day in Bangalore, where he was impressed by the number of students learning German. "For me, it was really interesting to spend a whole day in Bangalore to see what we are really doing already together, economically and culturally," he said. "That was really astonishing for me to see how many students are learning German, and that shows us that the potential is really high for our countries." Earlier in the day, Wadephul arrived in New Delhi following his engagement in Bengaluru as part of his two-day official visit to the country. The German Foreign Minister met with Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, which the German Ambassador to India, Phillip Ackermann, described as a productive discussion on strengthening trade, investment & innovation ties. "German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul meeting with Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. Productive discussions on strengthening trade, investment & innovation ties," Ackermann said in a post on X. Earlier, Piyush Goyal said that Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and the European Union are in an advanced stage, as the two sides are making significant progress. Speaking to the reporters in the national capital, Goyal said, "We have reached a very advanced stage in our FTA with the European Union. The Commerce Secretary, as we speak, is in a meeting in Brussels with his counterpart, the DG of the EU. Their team is coming down later this week and will be in active negotiation with us. Minister of Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic (European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security) is coming down on the 12th of this month, and we are making very active and significant progress." The FTA negotiations between the two sides are expected to conclude in 2025. India last month stated that the two sides engaged in a forward-looking and substantive dialogue to address global trade challenges and reaffirmed their shared resolve to conclude the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised the significance of the India-Germany relationship, stating that Germany, as the largest country in the European Union, plays a central role in India's global calculations, adding that for New Delhi, "this is an enormously important relationship." While adressing the press conference with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar stated, "This relationship is growing in substance, and I can see at this time of uncertainties that actually it has a greater value." He highlighted the predictability and consistency of the relationship, noting that the policies and promises made between the two countries remain constant. "It's a very steady relationship. It is a relationship where largely what we promise to each other and policies that we have remain constant and predictable. So predictability today has a huge premium in global politics..."," he added. Jaishankar welcomed Wadephul, saying, "I welcome my dear friend German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who is here for the first time in his current capacity." He expressed confidence that Wadephul would apply his enthusiasm fully in his new role, noting that they had been in regular touch since their meeting in May. "I had the honour of being his guest this May, and between May and now, we have actually been regularly in touch in this intervening period...I am very confident that that enthusiasm will now be applied by him fully in his new role," he added. During their bilateral meeting, the two ministers exchanged views on regional, global, and multilateral issues. The ministers discussed various aspects of India-Germany cooperation, including defence and security. Jaishankar appreciated Germany's understanding of India's fight against terrorism, citing Wadephul's explicit support for India's right to defend its people against terrorist attacks. "We greatly value the understanding that Germany has shown with regard to India's fight against terrorism," he said. "German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has himself been explicit about our right to defend our people against terrorist attacks. A parliamentary delegation that visited Germany in June after Operation Sindoor was also warmly received," he added. The two countries have seen an uptick in defence and security cooperation, with Germany participating in the Tarang Shakti air exercises and making port calls to Goa. Jaishankar noted that they had agreed to continue and expand such participation. Jaishankar affirmed, "There's been an uptick in our defence and security cooperation. Germany participated in the Tarang Shakti air exercises last year, and its ships made port calls to Goa. Today, we agreed that such participation should be continued, indeed even expanded." In terms of economic cooperation, India and Germany had a two-way trade of almost EUR50 billion last year. Jaishankar said that "Our two-way trade last year was almost 50 billion euros. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, in one of his interviews, said that he was very confident that we would be doubling our trade. Let me assure him that India fully reciprocates that sentiment. It looks forward to working with the German government." Jaishankar also emphasised India's commitment to improving the ease of doing business in the country. "I want to reiterate that we remain fully committed to continuously improving the ease of doing business in this country," he said, assuring that any concerns German companies may have would receive special attention. The ministers also discussed scientific collaboration, noting that their countries had just marked 50 years of cooperation in this field. They agreed to intensify their scientific collaboration and link it to industry. Additionally, they discussed space cooperation, cyber dialogues, and digital partnerships, with Wadephul visiting the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and ISRO. Jaishankar said, "Space cooperation has a lot of potential and we again today agreed that it should be more aggressively explored." The meeting reflects the growing importance of India-Germany relations, with both countries looking to deepen their economic, defence, and scientific ties. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], September 3 (ANI/TPS): Visiting army reservists called up for duty on Tuesday, Israel's military chief of staff vowed to "intensify and deepen our operation" against Hamas. "Hamas will have no place to hide from us," said the Israel Defense Forces' top officer, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, who met with troops at the Nachshonim Base in central Israel. "We are preparing for the continuation of the war. We are going to intensify and deepen our operation, which is why we also called you. We have already begun the maneuver in Gaza so that there will be no doubts. We are already entering places that have not been entered until now and are acting there with force," Zamir said. The Israeli military has begun mobilizing thousands of reservists for an offensive into Gaza City, the last major Hamas stronghold in the Gaza Strip. About 130,000 reservists and five regular divisions are expected to take part in the operation, which will unfold in stages and extend into 2026. Two divisions already maneuvering in the Strip have begun encircling Gaza City, while additional brigades are gathering in staging areas nearby. In August, the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee authorized the army to summon up to 430,000 soldiers. The IDF said call-up orders would be staggered, with 40,000 to 50,000 reservists reporting on September 2, followed by additional waves in late 2025 and early 2026. Not all the reservists will be sent into Gaza; many will replace standing troops on other fronts. Reservists have faced repeated call-ups since Hamas's October 7 attack. Emergency orders allowing the army to summon large numbers of civilians on short notice have been renewed every few months. In peacetime, such mobilizations are tightly limited, and soldiers must be given advance notice and shorter service terms. Approximately 1,200 people were killed and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 48 remaining hostages, about 20 are believed to be alive. (ANI/TPS) Sammi Deen Baloch, a profound human rights activist from Balochistan, condemned the disappearance of Ghani Baloch, a writer, publisher, and political activist who has been missing for more than three months after his alleged abduction on May 25. Sammi Deen Baloch took to the social media platform X, (formerly known as Twitter). She stated that despite repeated pleas from his family, no FIR has been registered, no charges filed, and no court appearance made. His disappearance has sparked outrage among human rights defenders, who accuse state institutions of operating with impunity. Ghani was reportedly taken while travelling from Quetta to Karachi. His family's attempts to seek justice have been met with silence. The Khuzdar police station refused to register a complaint, and petitions to the Balochistan High Court and Sessions Court have yielded no results. "The enforced disappearance of youth like Ghani Baloch reveals the bitter truth that the state is afraid of the peaceful and democratic political struggle of the Baloch people", she wrote. Activists warn that enforced disappearances have become a normalised tool of repression in Balochistan, targeting students, intellectuals, and political workers. The judiciary, Parliament, and media have remained largely indifferent, leaving families in a state of perpetual agony. The National Democratic Party, of which Ghani was a member, has called his disappearance an attack on peaceful activism and constitutional rights. "If someone is accused, let the courts decide. But this silence, this darkness it is inhuman," said a party spokesperson. (ANI). Cotton transformed into high-value products in NW China's Xinjiang People's Daily Online) 09:14, September 03, 2025 In the vast cotton fields of Shihezi city, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, white cotton sways gently in the breeze. But instead of heading to textile mills, they are now being turned into "steel paper," a material widely used in electricity, aviation, and other industries. A drone photo shows a cotton picker operating in a field in Awat County of Aksu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Han) "Many people think cotton can only be made into clothes. Here, it becomes insulation parts, everyday accessories, and even abrasives for high-speed trains and aircraft," said Hu Yue, general manager of Yuanyi Fibre Co., Ltd. in Manas county, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. Commonly known as "steel paper," vulcanized fiberboard is a high-tech material made from cotton linters. Strong yet flexible, with excellent insulation properties, it is widely used for grinding metal parts and in 5G base stations and new energy batteries. With a fiber content of 99 percent, it is also biodegradable and eco-friendly. As China's largest producer of high-quality cotton, Xinjiang yields over 5 million tonnes of cotton annually, more than 80 percent of the national total. In the past, most of it was shipped east for processing. Now, with the upgrading of the industry and a more integrated supply chain, more cotton is being processed locally, creating higher value-added products. This rapid shift reflects not only advances in materials science but also China's drive for independent innovation. Today, homegrown technology has matured, and steel paper made from Xinjiang cotton now meets international standards. According to Hu, the company's steel paper is now used in 5G base stations, aerospace manufacturing, and new energy vehicles. It holds a 45 percent share of the domestic market and exports to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and more. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Kim Kardashian is once again under public scrutiny after her 12-year-old daughter, North West, was spotted with what appears to be a dermal piercing on her finger during their recent trip to Rome. Photos taken last month show North enjoying a night out with her famous mother at Pierluigi Restaurant. While Kardashian stunned in a black silk dress, North stood out with a bold look that included a corset, mini skirt, and an eye-catching piercing on her middle finger, PageSix said. The piercing, believed to be a dermal or single-point piercing, quickly sparked concern among fans and critics online. Unlike standard piercings, dermals sit flat against the skin and do not have a traditional entry and exit point. According to Healthline, this makes them more prone to complications. Jewelry company Lulu Ave also warns that finger piercings "may not heal well due to the constant use of the hands and the risk of the jewelry getting snagged or bumped." #NorthWest is only 12 but she's already shaking up the jewelry game. Fans immediately noticed her bold middle finger piercing and while some were skeptical, a colorful bandaid spotted on Kim & North's TikTok all but confirmed the dermal bling. Thoughts? #Kardashians pic.twitter.com/qi16We1sZk Who Wore What Jewels (@wwwjewelsdaily) September 3, 2025 Critics Blast Kim K Over North's "Inappropriate" Piercing and Outfit Concerns grew after online users noticed a red bump near North's piercing. One person on Reddit reacted, "Oof, that looks like it's infected!!" According to People, another commenter expressed frustration, saying, "She's 12. Wtf is Kim doing?!" Others called it "painful," "rejected," and even "speechless." The backlash didn't stop there. Critics also slammed Kardashian for letting her daughter wear what they considered a "grown-up" outfit, with several urging the reality star to preserve North's innocence. "Who the f--- lets their 12-year-old have piercings? And who the f--- pierces a 12-year-old? My kid didn't even have her ears pierced at 12," another parent wrote in dismay. Still, not everyone saw the decision as harmful. A few defended Kardashian, arguing that parents have different approaches when it comes to self-expression. "Who cares, I think it's a good compromise if your child wants a piercing," one supporter commented. This is not the first time Kardashian has faced backlash over her parenting choices, but North's piercing has sparked one of the most heated debates yet. Originally published on Enstarz Nepali lawmakers has urged Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to clarify onthe agreement on China's GSI (Global Security Initiative) as claimed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. During the parliamentary session on Wednesday, lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and the opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) urged the Prime Minister to clarify the claims. "Why and how did the statement (from the Chinese Foreign Ministry) mention Nepal's agreement to the Global Security Initiative (GSI) proposal, which was said not to be on the agenda of the discussion? In this regard, the Prime Minister's Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should clarify in a timely manner," demanded Nepali Congress lawmaker Dilendra Prasad Badu. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Saturday claiming that PM KP Sharma Oli expressed support for China's Global Security Initiative (GSI) during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The bilateral meeting took place in Tianjin, China, on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and the "SCO Plus" gathering. The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, which also issued a statement about the meeting between Prime Minister Oli and President Xi, made no mention of any support for the GSI. Similarly, China's Foreign Ministry made no comment about the Lipulekh issue, which was clearly stated in the Nepali embassy's release. The GSI, a security framework proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in April 2022, aims to promote a new model of international security that, according to Beijing, is based on mutual respect, cooperation, and non-confrontation. Demanding clarification from the government over the unilateral claims made by the Chinese side, opposition lawmaker Prakash Jwala from the CPN-US demanded for government's clarification over the claims. "After the meeting of (Nepali) Prime Minister KP Oli with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement stating that Nepal supports the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilisation Initiative proposed by China. The statement said, "Nepal supports the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilisation Initiative proposed by China." The Government of Nepal has not made its official position public on this issue to date," Prakash Jwala, lawmaker from the CPN-US, as well as a former Minister, said. "According to the Constitution of Nepal, Nepal is committed to a non-aligned foreign policy. Nepal cannot stand in favor of any military strategy. If the Prime Minister supports the GSI, we are in danger of falling into the security trap of powerful countries. That would be suicidal and self-defeating. The government should immediately make its official position public on this issue," Jwala further added. The statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on 30th August states, "Nepal has expressed support for the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI) proposed by China." Among these initiatives, some GDI programs have already been implemented in Nepal. But Nepal has consistently rejected the GSI, saying it contradicts the country's non-aligned foreign policy. Nepal maintains that the GSI is a strategic, security-oriented initiative and that it cannot join such strategic blocs amid rising global multi-polarity. China has a long history of making unilateral claims in its statements ,which usually aren't true. Earlier, the Chinese ambassadors in Kathmandu had publicly stated that many projects, including the Pokhara airport, were part of the BRI, despite Nepal never officially confirming it. Former Chinese ambassador Hou Yanqi and the current ambassador Chen Song have both faced criticism for such claims. Because Chinese diplomats often claim agreements that were never actually made, Nepal often finds itself in a dilemma over whether to trust everything China says. Ever since Chinese President Xi introduced the GSI in 2022, Beijing has consistently pressured Nepal to join the initiative. This isn't the first time suspicion has arisen over China trying to push the GSI onto Nepal. On 5 October 2022, then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari sent a video message to a GSI-related conference, prompting criticism at home. Despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advising against it, Bhandari participated, allegedly under the influence of the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, which had lobbied political leaders, including PM Sher Bahadur Deuba. There are multiple examples of China pushing the GSI during bilateral visits and meetings. On 29 December 2022, Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Asia Department of China's Foreign Ministry, urged Nepal's then-ambassador Bishnu Pukar Shrestha to support the GSI. China even released a statement about the meeting, but Nepal's embassy didn't respond publicly. Shrestha admitted he was approached but refused, citing Nepal's non-aligned foreign policy. Six months later, on 12 June 2023, during a visit to China, Nepal's then-National Assembly Chair Ganesh Timilsina was again approached with the proposal by Zhao Leji, chairman of the standing committee of China's National People's Congress. Several other senior Chinese officials, including Wang Yi and Liu Jianchao, have brought up the GSI in discussions with Nepali counterparts. (ANI) The Singaporean PM arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday for a three-day official visit, during which he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier in the day, Wong, accompanied by his wife Loo Tze Lui, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at Rajghat. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "PM Lawrence Wong of Singapore paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at Raj Ghat. Bapu's universal ideals of truth and non-violence continue to inspire us." On Tuesday, Wong held discussions with Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, focusing on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. In a post on X, the Ministry of Finance stated that the discussion centred on enhancing cooperation in critical areas, including trade and investment, fintech, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, and connectivity. Both sides also expressed a firm commitment to deepen collaboration, marking a pivotal moment as India and Singapore celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. The meeting was also attended by Singapore's acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, Jeffrey Siow, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, Gan Siow Huang. The Singapore Prime Minister stated that discussions took place on the outcomes of the recently concluded third round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held last month. "Glad to reconnect with India Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. We discussed the outcomes of the recently held 3rd India-SG Ministerial Roundtable, and our interest to collaborate on cross-border data flows and capital markets," Wong stated in the post on X. https://x.com/LawrenceWongST/status/1962939137092419909 This is PM Wong's first visit to India as Singapore's Prime Minister. He is accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation, including Cabinet Ministers and senior officials. (ANI) German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Wednesday talked about India's growing importance in global politics and trade, stating that for Germany, "India equals Asia", and for India, Germany is equivalent to Europe. He made the remarks during his two-day official visit to New Delhi, where he held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on trade, security, and global challenges. Explaining Germany's view of India's role in Asia, Wadephul said Berlin values New Delhi as a crucial partner in shaping the future of the global order. While adressing a joint press conference with EAM Jaishankar, Wadephul said, "India equals Asia for us and Germany and the European Union in a way are equivalent for India. India plays a very important part, and though we both have our own political positions and political priorities but when it comes to democratic principles and regulatory steps, both our countries and both our markets tend to be very diligent and adherent to certain details". He further noted that both countries need to make it easier for each other to engage in their respective markets. "Sometimes, we could make it easier for the other side to engage in the respective market, and we've underlined that in our discussions today, and I think we both have our homework to do in that regard," the German minister added. Wadephul also reaffirmed Germany's support for India in its fight against terrorism, stressing that New Delhi has every right to defend its people. "When it comes to India defending itself against terrorism, Germany continues to be firmly at your side," he said. The German Foreign Minister said both India and Germany share concerns about defending the international rules-based order, particularly in the context of China's rise. He explained that while China is a partner in areas such as climate protection, it is also seen as a competitor and a systemic rival but also stressed that they dont want that "rivalry" with China. "We agree with India and many other countries that we need to defend the international rules-based order and that we also have to defend it against China... Germany, like the European Union, has a clear position regarding China. For us, China is a partner in some areas, think of climate protection. It is clear and obvious that we won't be able to address these issues and problems without China. We also view China as a competitor. We compete against China in a number of areas, our business does, our economy does. We place value on having fair competition and equal rules. But we also see China as a systemic rival and we don't want that rivalry," Wadephul said. He added that the number of areas where China has chosen a confrontational approach is increasing. "Therefore, we have to respond in some of these areas, amongst them are areas where we have to defend our markets against China," he said. On the Ukraine conflict, Wadephul welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the SCO summit earlier this week. He said Germany expects India to use its ties with Moscow to push for peace. "Prime Minister Modi, when he met with President Putin a couple of days ago, also pointed to the need for a speedy peace agreement in Ukraine, which has been important to us. We Europeans are doing our best, working with our American and Ukrainian friends to ensure that this war ends soon," Wadephul said. He added that while India and Europe may not always agree fully, open discussions on the matter are important. "I know that we don't always see 100% eye to eye with our Indian friends, and this is why I spoke out in favour today that India uses its relations with Russia to point to the need to make peace return to Europe and I'm grateful for the open discussion we had here today. Peace is the basis for security, freedom, and prosperity. Security is and will remain a challenge for the future. We are pleased that in the vicinity of India too a ceasefire has come to apply," the minister said. During the SCO summit, PM Modi and President Putin had held bilateral discussions on strengthening the India-Russia "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," including the latest developments concerning Ukraine. Wadephul also praised India's leadership in new technologies, pointing to its hosting of the upcoming AI Summit. He said it reflects New Delhi's ambition to be a global frontrunner in innovation. "India is going to host the next AI Summit. It is a demonstration of India's ambition and claim to be in the vanguard among the frontrunners in the area of new technology too," he said. On trade, Wadephul stressed that India is already Germany's biggest partner in South Asia, and Berlin is looking to double the current trade volume. "With little under 31 billion euros of trade, India is our most important trading partner. We aim to double that and I'm pleased to see that India takes a similarly positive and optimistic view of the chances for that," he added. Further, Jaishankar also emphasised the significance of the India-Germany relationship, stating that Germany, as the largest country in the European Union, plays a central role in India's global calculations, adding that for New Delhi, "this is an enormously important relationship." (ANI) On the third anniversary of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' (OHCHR) landmark report on abuses in East Turkistan, China has not only ignored global calls for reform but has deepened its repression of Uyghurs and other Turkic people, according to CFU According to CFU, the 2022 OHCHR report was the first by a UN body to acknowledge that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) actions in East Turkistan may amount to international crimes, including crimes against humanity. It detailed systemic abuses such as arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, and efforts to erase Uyghur culture. Yet, as highlighted by Campaign for Uyghurs, Beijing has shown no intention of addressing these findings and continues to expand its oppressive policies. In a recent intervention, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor raised concerns over the mistreatment and disappearance of imprisoned activists, including renowned Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti. According to CFU, these revelations only reinforce how China remains defiant of international law while continuing to silence defenders of human rights. Further evidence underscores the persistence of state-sponsored abuses. A 2025 study by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum concluded that atrocity-linked practices such as forced labour, family separation, and coercive birth control remain widespread. Research by Dr Adrian Zenz, cited by Campaign for Uyghurs, documented that between 2001 and 2021, land transfers in the Uyghur region rose nearly fifty-fold, pushing ethnic farmers into state-controlled labour schemes. "For Uyghur families, three years have passed with no relief, no justice, and no answers, only more repression," said Rushan Abbas, CFU's Founder and Executive Director. She stated that continued inaction from the international community emboldens the CCP and prolongs the suffering of victims. On this solemn anniversary, Campaign for Uyghurs reiterated its call for the immediate implementation of OHCHR's recommendations. CFU emphasised that the report must not remain a symbolic document but should serve as a foundation for accountability, justice, and the defence of basic human rights. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday appreciated Germany's strong advocacy for closer India-EU ties and proactive push in concluding the FTA as he held talks with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul in the national capital, where the two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict and West Asia. In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Delighted to welcome FM @JoWadephul of Germany this morning in Delhi. Held detailed discussions on our bilateral agenda as we prepare for the next round of Inter-Governmental Consultations. Explored greater collaboration in furthering industry linkages, talent mobility, digital, semiconductors and critical technologies. Appreciate Germany's strong advocacy for closer India-EU ties and proactive push in concluding the FTA. Also exchanged views on our multilateral cooperation and global issues, including the Ukraine conflict, situation in the Middle East/West Asia and the Indo-Pacific." Earlier today, they also held a joint press conference where they stressed that India has important strategic relationships with a number of countries, and it's in the nature of global politics or global strategy that each one of these relationships would be maintained. "The changes we see in the world today do influence our policies and do influence the manner in which we approach other countries. We are witnessing significant and far-reaching changes on the global strategic landscape. We're also seeing a lot of volatility on the global economic landscape and I think together they make a very powerful case for India and the European Union and India and Germany to work much more closely with each other. This is a relationship where there are considerable possibilities for fairly rapid growth," Jaishankar said. Further, German Foreign Minister Wadephul also welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the SCO summit earlier this week. "Prime Minister Modi, when he met with President Putin a couple of days ago, also pointed to the need for a speedy peace agreement in Ukraine, which has been important to us. We Europeans are doing our best, working with our American and Ukrainian friends to ensure that this war ends soon," Wadephul said. He added that while India and Europe may not always agree, open discussions are important. He also said Germany expects India to utilise its ties with Moscow to promote peace. "I know that we don't always see 100% eye to eye with our Indian friends, and this is why I spoke out in favour today that India uses its relations with Russia to point to the need to make peace return to Europe and I'm grateful for the open discussion we had here today. Peace is the basis for security, freedom, and prosperity. Security is and will remain a challenge for the future. We are pleased that in the vicinity of India too a ceasefire has come to apply," the minister said. During the SCO summit, PM Modi and President Putin had held bilateral discussions on strengthening the India-Russia "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," including the latest developments concerning Ukraine. The External Affairs Minister said he held a very productive discussion on India-Germany cooperation and India's relationship with the European Union. Jaishankar and his German counterpart exchanged views on regional, global, and multilateral issues. It is the first visit of Johann Wadephul to India as the German Foreign Minister. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in the national capital and said India sees immense potential to scale up mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, technology, innovation, sustainability, manufacturing, and mobility. The Prime Minister also said India and Germany share a vision for a multipolar world, peace, and UN reforms. "Delighted to meet German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. India and Germany are celebrating 25 years of Strategic Partnership. As vibrant democracies and leading economies, we see immense potential to scale up mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, technology, innovation, sustainability, manufacturing and mobility. We share a vision for a multipolar world, peace and UN reforms. Reiterated my invitation to German Chancellor for an early visit to India," he posted on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1963252938253516863 Wadephul also shared details of the talks, highlighting the progress in bilateral relations aimed at strengthening the Strategic Partnership. He also exchanged views on global developments, including the Ukraine conflict. "Had great talks with PM Modi today. Our countries have taken good steps to expand our strategic partnership across the board, particularly in security & defence, economy & trade as well as skilled labour. We also greatly appreciate India's call for a ceasefire in Ukraine," the German minister said in a post on X. Earlier in the day, he also held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where they emphasised that India has important strategic relationships with several countries, and it is the nature of global politics or global strategy that each of these relationships must be maintained. Speaking at the press briefing, the German Foreign Minister Wadephul also welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the SCO summit earlier this week. "Prime Minister Modi, when he met with President Putin a couple of days ago, also pointed to the need for a speedy peace agreement in Ukraine, which has been important to us. We Europeans are doing our best, working with our American and Ukrainian friends to ensure that this war ends soon," Wadephul said. He added that while India and Europe may not always agree fully, open discussions on the matter are important. "I know that we don't always see 100% eye to eye with our Indian friends, and this is why I spoke out in favour today that India uses its relations with Russia to point to the need to make peace return to Europe and I'm grateful for the open discussion we had here today. Peace is the basis for security, freedom, and prosperity. Security is and will remain a challenge for the future. We are pleased that in the vicinity of India too a ceasefire has come to apply," the minister said. During the SCO summit, PM Modi and President Putin had held bilateral discussions on strengthening the India-Russia "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," including the latest developments concerning Ukraine. According to MEA's press statement, the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany was on an official visit to India from 01-03 September. This is his first official visit to India in his capacity as German Foreign Minister. MEA further mentioned that the two sides also discussed recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Middle-East, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as other regional and global issues of mutual interest. "Both sides are also working towards the establishment of a new bilateral consultation mechanism on the Indo-Pacific region, " said MEA. (ANI) Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is planning to call for a special legislative session in order to give lawmakers a chance to consider tougher gun laws following a tragic school shooting last week at a Catholic school in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 21 others. On Tuesday, the Democratic governor said that he will be making calls to officials and will be working on a plan over the next couple of days. That was after he welcomed children back to a public school in the Minneapolis suburb of Eagan. Minnesota Gun Control Walz said that he plans to propose what he describes a "very comprehensive" package that may include an assault-weapons ban. However, it is not yet clear if any new restrictions on firearms can pass the closely divided Minnesota Legislature. The situation comes as a special election this month is expected to restore a 67-67 tie in the House under a Republican speaker. Walz said that he will need some Republicans to break with the orthodoxy in a very evenly divided Legislature, according to PBS. However, many GOP legislative leaders have expressed their discontent since the governor first floated the idea of a special session, noting that he had failed to consult them. GOP Speaker Lisa Demuth said Walz was doing this in an "overtly political way." Demuth also indicated that her fellow Republican lawmakers may still be open to considering expanding school security funding to include private schools. They may also be open to providing more money for mental health resources. Deadly Shootings Walz noted that mental health issues still need to be discussed but argued that opponents cut funding for these issues. The governor said he is happy to "add it in" and believes that it should be part of the special legislative session, KNSI Radio reported. The senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, Rob Doar, said he does not believe that new gun control proposals can be passed. He argued that while they need to look at potential gaps in the systems, other lawmakers are using it as a mechanism to enact a much larger, broader gun control agenda. On the other hand, gun violence advocates point to the recent success Minnesota has experienced in passing gun safety policies. The executive director of Protect Minnesota, Maggie Emery, said the state was able to pass extreme risk protection orders or red flag laws in 2023, which became very useful, as per CBS News. As global demand for critical minerals accelerates, Australian mining companies are ramping up their presence across Africa, positioning the country as a key player in the global energy transition. With Africa holding an estimated 30% of the worlds known mineral resources, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed companies are seizing the opportunity, specialized Australian website mining.com.au said in a detailed report. Today, 113 ASX-listed firms are actively engaged in nearly 270 projects across the continent, spanning exploration, development, and production. Mining now accounts for 65% of new listings and 60% of follow-on capital raisings, underscoring the sectors dominance in Australias financial markets. Africa is one of the last frontiers for large-scale mineral discoveries, and Australian companies are leading the charge, the media quoted Travis Schwertfeger, Managing Director of Many Peaks (ASX:MPK) as saying. Deals are usually made in events such as the Africa Down Under conference, held annually in Perth. Projects like the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo- backed by Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining- are seen as models for future Australian-African collaboration. Namibia, the worlds third-largest uranium producer, is drawing strong interest from Australian explorers. Companies such as Connected Minerals (ASX:CML) are advancing projects in the Erongo region, which has produced over 350 million pounds of the most common and stable form of uranium concentrate to date. However, despite the influx of capital, only 1015% of the value from mineral extraction is currently retained in African economies. The Royal Navy and the American Navy conducted lately joint exercises focusing on hydrographic surveys, technical diving and security operations for installations at the port of Casablanca. The joint naval exercises, held from August 17 to 31, seek to enhance interoperability and maritime security and protect ports facilities against terrorist threats targeting global maritime trade. The hydrographic surveys enable the navy to measure and describe features that affect maritime navigation, ensuring safe passage for vessels and supporting military operations. These surveys provide critical data for creating nautical charts, identifying underwater hazards, and facilitating disaster response efforts. From September 15 to October 6, 2025, the Royal Navy will participate in UNITAS 2025, the worlds longest-running multinational maritime exercise, to be organized in the United States. Morocco is the only Arab and African country invited to participate in this major exercise featuring approximately 8,000 personnel from 26 allied and partner nations, including multiple ships, submarines, and aircraft (fixed wing and rotary). Morocco, a major non-NATO ally, had hosted multiple military exercises, including African Lion, the largest joint military exercise in Africa. Other US military exercises Morocco participates in include Flintlock, Phoenix Express, and Obangame Express. Zambia is grappling with the aftermath of one of its worst environmental disasters, as outrage mounts over a massive toxic spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine that polluted the Kafue River and devastated communities. The February incident occurred when a dam at Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, a subsidiary of Chinas state-owned China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, collapsed releasing toxic slurry laden with cyanide, arsenic, and heavy metals. The spill contaminated drinking water for millions, killed fish over 100 kilometers downstream, and destroyed crops. While the company and Zambian authorities claimed the situation was under control, a report by South Africa-based environmental firm Drizit suggests otherwise. The firm, initially contracted by Sino-Metals, estimates 1.5 million tons of toxic material were released 30 times more than officially acknowledged. Drizits contract was abruptly terminated before it could submit its final report. Now, over 150 households are demanding $200 million in damages and $80 billion in reparations. Another group comprising 47 households seeks $220 million and a $9.7 billion environmental fund. Local farmers say they received just $84 in compensation an amount they described as insulting. Despite apologies and lime-dispersal efforts by Sino-Metals, residents and experts warn of long-term health risks, including cancer and birth defects. The United States and Finland have told its citizens to evacuate from the area. As copper prices soar, Zambias regulatory response to this crisis is seen as a litmus test for its mining future and its accountability to affected citizens. Legal battles are expected to escalate. A new report by war crimes watchdog The Sentry exposes the Wagner Groups deeply destabilizing three-year presence in Mali, revealing a record of military failure, civilian massacres, and political fractures rather than security gains. Deployed in 2022 under a $10 million/month deal with Malis junta, the Russian paramilitary force claimed its mission was accomplished upon its 2025 withdrawal. In reality, the report details what it calls a triple failure: Wagner failed to defeat jihadists, exacerbated civilian suffering, and undermined trust between Malis army and local populations. Instead of strategic victories, Wagner left a trail of brutality most notably the Moura massacre of March 2022, where over 500 civilians were killed. Their counterinsurgency tactics, including drone strikes on weddings and cooperation with ethnic militias, intensified jihadist recruitment. One fighter from al-Qaeda-linked JNIM said Russian brutality pushed local Malians to join the fight to defend their religion, their land and their goods. Malis military also suffered. Coordination collapsed amid Wagners disregard for command structures and rampant racism, culminating in a 2024 ambush in Tinzaouatene that killed over 130 Malian and Russian troops. The incident shattered Wagners aura of battlefield superiority. The groups presence also worsened junta rivalries and drained state finances. Moscows new force, Africa Corps, has since replaced Wagner, but jihadists continue to gain ground, including capturing Farabougou in central Mali this week. The report urges International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations, sanctions, and a Sahel strategy rethink warning that Wagners Mali legacy is a cautionary tale, not a model for future security partnerships. West Africa is becoming a central node in global cocaine trafficking, as powerful criminal groups from the Western Balkans expand their footprint across the region, a new report has revealed. Once operating largely behind the scenes, Albanian- and Slavic-speaking networks have now entrenched themselves in countries like Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Cape Verde. These nations, with expanding maritime ports and governance vulnerabilities, are being exploited as critical transit hubs for cocaine en route from Latin America to European markets. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), these groups have forged key alliances with Brazils notorious Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Dutch gangs, enabling multi-tonne shipments through the Gulf of Guinea. Cocaine is hidden in containerized and non-containerized shipments, repackaged in West African warehouses, and rerouted under legitimate cargo cover. The Montenegrin Kavac and Skaljari clans and Albanian-speaking cartels are operating through local brokers who organize logistics, bribe officials, and manage storage and transport networks. These intermediaries often serve multiple groups and are pivotal to expanding operations. As more of these highly organized and violent networks expand into West Africa, the risks to stability and security in the region grow significantly, warned Lucia Bird Ruiz-Benitez de Lugo of GI-TOC, citing increased corruption and potential violence. The report urges a three-pronged response: stronger law enforcement cooperation, better data sharing to map routes and financial flows, and smart targeted actions against brokers. Without coordinated action, West Africa risks becoming deeply embedded in the global drug economy, with far-reaching consequences. African students pursuing education abroad are facing heightened scrutiny as the United States and United Kingdom ramp up enforcement of immigration compliance, raising concerns about travel equity and academic opportunity. In the U.K., the Home Office has launched a campaign warning tens of thousands of international students many from Africa about overstaying visas. Officials cite an alarming rise in student-to-asylum transitions, with Nigerians among the top applicants. Universities now face stricter visa sponsorship rules, while removal orders for non-compliant students begin this month. Meanwhile, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria issued a compliance reminder stressing that dropping out or skipping classes can lead to immediate visa revocation. Proposed Department of Homeland Security rules may soon replace open-ended duration of status (DOS) visas with fixed four-year limits, slashing grace periods and tightening program-switching options for F-1 and J-1 visa holders. African student mobility has surged Nigerian enrolment in U.S. institutions rose 13.5% in 2023/24, reaching over 20,000 students. Yet, these new enforcement measures threaten to complicate legitimate academic journeys. Critics argue these policies disproportionately impact African students, many of whom already face long visa queues and high rejection rates. Compounding the issue, no African country has ever been admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program due to high overstay rates and technical hurdles. With both Washington and London emphasizing control over access, African students now navigate an increasingly uncertain path toward global education. Meanwhile, amid U.S. immigration crackdowns, some African leaders consider closer ties with China. However, Beijing continues to exclude African nations from key visa-free travel programs, reinforcing marginalization. Morocco is testing floating solar panels on a major reservoir near Tangier to reduce water evaporation and generate green energy, to power the nearby Tanger Med port complex while tackling the impact of the kingdoms worst drought in decades, local media reported. The pilot project, launched in late 2024, aims to reduce water loss from evaporation, which intensifies between April and September with rising temperatures. Authorities installed more than 400 floating platforms since late last year, covering parts of the reservoirs surface. The floatovoltaic panels protect water from the sun and produce electricity simultaneously. Once the project reaches 22,000 panels over 10 hectares, it will generate about 13 megawatts, enough to supply the clean energy to the nearby Tangier Med port. For seven consecutive years, Morocco has faced record-low rainfall. Reservoir levels have dropped to about 35% this summer, according to the Ministry of Equipment and Water. Between the fall of 2022 and the summer of 2023, average temperatures rose 1.8 degrees Celsius above normal, leading to the evaporation of nearly 1.5 million cubic meters of dam water daily, the equivalent of more than 600 Olympic swimming pools. At Tangier Med, evaporation ranges between 3,000 and 7,000 cubic meters per day in the summer, Yassine Wahbi, head of water resources planning in the Loukkos basin, was quoted by the media as saying. The project is expected to lower that by about 30%, saving some 1.2 million cubic meters of water annually, enough to meet 1% of Tangiers yearly demand, he said. When completed, more than 22,000 panels will float across 10 hectares of the reservoir, anchored to withstand shifting water levels and winds. The system will produce up to 13 megawatts of electricity for the port. Trees will also be planted along the dams banks to reduce wind-driven evaporation. Climate expert Mohamed Said Karrouk called the initiative pioneering, but cautioned that floating panels cannot cover Moroccos vast dams and may be affected by falling water levels. He urged greater investment in transferring surplus water from northern basins less exposed to drought to central and southern regions. Morocco currently operates a 67-kilometer waterway from the Sebou basin to Rabat and plans to expand such projects. The country is also conducting feasibility studies for two additional floating solar sites near Marrakech and in the north. Globally, France, Indonesia and Thailand are experimenting the floating photovoltaic panels, while China operates the worlds largest installations. Still, Morocco sees desalination as its main long-term solution, with plans to scale up annual output from 320 million cubic meters today to 1.7 billion cubic meters by 2030. The Algeria-backed Polisario Front has suffered a fresh diplomatic setback at the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, where its efforts to gain support for its separatist agenda were quietly rebuffed. The summits final communique made no mention of the Polisario or its self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), signaling a shift in regional sentiment and a growing alignment with Moroccos position. This omission is seen as a strategic defeat for the Polisario, which has long relied on support from certain southern African states hovering around South Africas orbit. In recent years, however, countries such as Zambia, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have deepened diplomatic and economic ties with Morocco, recognizing its sovereignty over the Sahara territory and endorsing the Kingdoms autonomy plan. The setback at the SADC summit comes amid a broader continental decline in support for the Polisario. In July 2024, the African Union Executive Council voted overwhelmingly to ban the Polisario from participating in international summits, including those involving the United States, China, and Russia The decision was prompted by repeated disruptions caused by the Polisarios presence at high-level forums, and reflects a growing consensus that only UN-recognized states should be allowed to participate. Meanwhile, the diplomatic isolation of the Polisario has deepened globally. The United Kingdom, joining the United States, France, Spain, and Germany, has formally backed autonomy for the Sahara under Moroccos sovereignty. In Latin America, carpet is being pulled from under the feet of Algeria and its Polisario puppet. Ecuador and Panama have also revoked recognition of the SADR and expelled Polisario representatives from their territories. Meanwhile, the UN mission MINURSO braces for a strategic shift in its mission to facilitate negotiations on the basis of the autonomy plan. Chinese Maolong New Materials company and Moroccan Sinam Group (Global Steel) have joined forces and established a HIsmelt plant in Morocco. HIsmelt is a smelting process for producing iron from iron ore using non-coking coal, which allows for the production of high-quality molten pig iron without the need for traditional agglomeration methods. This technology allows lower environmental impact and operational flexibility compared to conventional blast furnace methods. The plant will benefit from Moroccos abundant phosphate resources, with Sinam Group and its affiliates supplying over 600,000 tons of phosphate ore annually to Maolong. The project will enhance Moroccos regional supply chains and promote sustainable steelmaking globally. It is part of the Kingdoms green steel strategy, leveraging the countrys renewable energy resources and decarbonization policy. Egypt has called for sweeping reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), arguing that the veto system has become untenable in todays fractured world. The call was launched by Egypts Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in his address at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia on Tuesday, September 3. Abdelatty said the council must either extend veto privileges to new permanent members or abolish them entirely. He stressed that Arab, African, and Islamic States deserve genuine representation, warning that global trust in multilateralism and international law is eroding due to double standards in the handling of conflicts. He compared in this context the strong international response to the war in Ukraine with what he described as the worlds silence over the crisis in Gaza, calling the disparity a shame on humanity. He also highlighted the unprecedented pressures facing Egypt on multiple fronts and linked the erosion of trust to inequities in global governance. Beyond the UNSC, he called for reforms to the World Bank and the IMF to make them more democratic, insisting that without such changes, efforts to revive multilateralism and restore global leadership will falter. An Immersive Evening of Elevated Self-Care, Live Demos, and Luxury Wellness Experiences on September 5 SAN DIEGO, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ALCHEME, San Diego's premier destination for integrative aesthetics and longevity-based wellness, is proud to announce the official grand opening of its newest location in La Jolla. The event will take place on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 4:00 PM, at 909 Prospect Street, Suite 100C. ALCHEME Celebrates Grand Opening of La Jolla Location | Rebellious Health for Vibrant Living Founded by wellness innovator Tracy Younger, ALCHEME blends advanced medical treatments with a rebellious approach to beauty and self-care. Known for its signature philosophy of Inner ALCHEME and Outer ALCHEME, the brand combines evidence-based therapies with curated aesthetic experiences to help clients look and feel their best from the inside out. "At ALCHEME, we believe wellness should be rebellious and refined. The La Jolla studio is an invitation to step into your power to restore, glow, and reconnect with your most vibrant self," said Tracy Younger, Founder of ALCHEME. The new space, located in the beautifully transformed former site of the Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, will offer the full spectrum of ALCHEME's science-backed services. Clients can access IV therapy, hormone optimization, exosome facials, regenerative skincare, and functional medicine, each designed to support long-term wellness and confidence. The La Jolla location also introduces exclusive membership options that provide preferred pricing and ongoing access to personalized care. La Jolla native and ALCHEME brand representative Kiwii Juszczyk is helping bring the studio's mission to life locally, supporting the launch and inviting the community to join the movement toward rebellious health and vibrant living. The grand opening invites the community to experience an evening of luxury, innovation, and connection. Guests will enjoy signature wellness cocktails, curated light bites, live music, and an elevated atmosphere, along with mini consultations, live demos, and exclusive VIP offers. RSVP is required to attend. Reserve your spot here, or send your first and last name, email, and phone number to: [email protected]. All registered guests will be entered to win luxury wellness prizes, including a full year of Botox, a complete Sculptra treatment, a ketamine drip experience from Concierge Ketamine, a 1-hour R3 Recovery Retreat session, an IV Drip Party for four, and curated skincare collections and wellness service credits. The event is proudly supported by Healios, Sugar and Scribe, R3 Recovery Retreat, Smallgoods American Cheeses & Provisions. For more on ALCHEME, visit www.alchemehealth.com. Follow ALCHEME on Instagram for exclusive content and promotions. For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser. About ALCHEME Located in San Diego, with studios in Del Mar and La Jolla, ALCHEME Health is a premier medical wellness spa that fuses functional and aesthetic medicine to restore internal and external health. Through Inner ALCHEME, the team of expert physicians focuses on uncovering the root causes of health concerns, offering comprehensive treatment plans that integrate advanced lab testing, genetic analysis, and personalized naturopathic care. Outer ALCHEME provides cutting-edge non-surgical beauty solutions, including IPL, skin resurfacing, neurotoxins, fillers, and laser treatmentsall designed to enhance natural beauty with the latest innovations in skincare and anti-aging. CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: [email protected] SOURCE ALCHEME Building Support: Confronting Suicide in the Construction Industry Observed September 812, 2025, Construction Suicide Prevention Week highlights the industrys urgent mental health crisis while promoting peer support, awareness, and life-saving resources for workers. The construction industry carries the tragic distinction of one of the highest suicide rates of any professionmore than four times the national average. According to CDC data, 53.3 construction workers per 100,000 die by suicide, making it the second-highest rate across all industries. With millions employed in construction in the U.S., the toll is staggering. To raise awareness and provide resources, Construction Suicide Prevention Week will be observed September 812, 2025. Angela Crawford, a marketing professional and steering committee member for Construction Suicide Prevention Week, is working to help the industry confront this crisis. While she doesnt come to the work from a personal tragedyas many advocates doshe brings her expertise in communications to amplify life-saving messages across the industry. It seems like theres nobody who hasnt been impacted by suicide, Crawford says. When I heard the statistics in construction, it was clear that we had to do more to reach workers where they are. Why Construction? Several factors converge to make construction workers uniquely vulnerable. The industry is male-dominated, and men die by suicide at higher rates than women. The work itself is physically demanding and risky; injuries can mean lost wages, job insecurity, or reliance on pain medication. Financial stress, substance misuse, and easy access to firearmsmore common among construction workers than many other professionsadd to the risk. Isolation also plays a role. Many construction jobs require workers to spend long stretches away from home, traveling several hours or even staying near job sites for weeks at a time. Without close support networks, stress can fester. Crawford adds that cultural norms on job sites often exacerbate the situation. Theres a toughness culture. When we put out information about stand downs or moments of silence, sometimes the reaction is laughter, like this isnt a real issue. That stigma makes it harder for workers to take off the mask and admit when theyre struggling. Building Community and Peer Support This years Construction Suicide Prevention Week theme emphasizes peer support, and Crawford says that approach resonates strongly with workers. If youre away from family and friends, you need colleagues you can lean on, she says. Something as simple as checking in with someone can make the difference between them making a tragic decision or finding the help they need. Artificial intelligence (AI) is eating up more and more energy all the time as large language models become increasingly complex and pervasive. In the United States, nearly half of all growth in electricity demand between now and 2030 will come from data centers, driven by the AI boom. But the problem isnt your daily queries to ChatGPT its indiscriminate AI integration in technologies and services that are far outside the end-users' control. Yet, its consumers who are footing the bill for soaring energy demand. We dont know exactly how much energy large language models are consuming, because AI companies arent required to disclose the information. As a result, the vast majority of them do not, and the sector is characterized by opacity when it comes to environmental impact. As of May, 84 percent of all large language model traffic was conducted on AI models with zero environmental disclosure. While many researchers are trying to calculate AIs energy footprint, its a difficult task especially because models are changing all the time, generating shifts in terms of both increased complexity and increased efficiency. It blows my mind that you can buy a car and know how many miles per gallon it consumes, yet we use all these AI tools every day and we have absolutely no efficiency metrics, emissions factors, nothing, says Sasha Luccioni, climate lead at an AI company called Hugging Face. Its not mandated, its not regulatory. Given where we are with the climate crisis, it should be top of the agenda for regulators everywhere, she went on to say. But while we dont know exactly how much energy AI models use, we do know that its a lot. AIs integration into almost everything from customer service calls to algorithmic bosses to warfare is fueling enormous demand, reports the Washington Post. Despite dramatic efficiency improvements, pouring those gains back into bigger, hungrier models powered by fossil fuels will create the energy monster we imagine. That being said, there are many things that we as consumers do each and every day that contribute far more to global greenhouse emissions. A handful of AI queries per day is negligible compared to other common and under-scrutinized practices. Watching TV and streaming videos on the internet is likely a far greater culprit of energy usage if your lifestyle is anything close to the average Americans. And your work commute is surely generating much more greenhouse gas emissions. Put simply, the spike in energy demand from AI models is not consumers fault but it is their problem. While tech companies are consuming more and more energy each year to power their AI ambitions, common consumers are footing the bill. Not only are consumers paying the literal price for AI expansion, but they will also have to bear the burden of the sectors environmental impacts. Silicon Valley's backtracking on climate pledges, for example, will directly impact global communities, whether or not they ever benefit from AI. "We are witnessing a massive transfer of wealth from residential utility customers to large corporationsdata centers and large utilities and their corporate parents, which profit from building additional energy infrastructure," Maryland People's Counsel David Lapp recently told Business Insider. "Utility regulation is failing to protect residential customers, contributing to an energy affordability crisis. On the other hand, AI is gaining efficiency all the time and will be instrumental to reshaping global industries, including the energy sector, to be greener. Large language models can help advance technological breakthroughs for significant emissions gains, with noted potential for innovations in batteries and solar power. The International Energy Agency reports that increased emissions from data centers could even eventually be offset if AI is used to lower emissions from other sectors. Were currently in the messy exploration stages of a global transformation, and the up-front costs in terms will be and already are high. Training large language models is incredibly energy- and resource-intensive. But as AI advances, we will get much better at learning how to optimize it, and it could be a net benefit even in terms of emissions further down the road. But until then, consumers will be paying the price. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com This agreement aligns with Iraq's plan to raise its oil production capacity and is expected to increase Kirkuk's output by 50,000 to 100,000 barrels per day in the coming years. The deal, finalized in March, aims to boost production and improve efficiencies in oil and gas extraction, with an initial phase targeting over 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent. BP engineers have started initial assessments at four strategic oilfields in Kirkuk, Iraq, as part of a $25-billion agreement to redevelop the region's oil and gas infrastructure. BP engineers have arrived in Kirkuk and have launched initial assessments at four strategic oilfields in the northern Iraqi province as part of the supermajors $25-billion deal with Iraq to redevelop Kirkuk fields, Iraqi industry sources told Shafaq News on Wednesday. BPs experts have started work to develop the infrastructure and production facilities of Iraqs state-owned North Oil Company (NOC) and North Gas Company (NGC) in Kirkuk, sources from both companies told the Iraqi news outlet. The assessment process at the Kirkuk fields will be followed by a long-term development plan aimed at boosting production and improving efficiencies in oil and gas extraction, according to the Iraqi sources. In March this year, BP and Iraq finalized the agreement, which entails total investment of an estimated $25 billion, after the federal Iraqi government ratified the contract. The redevelopment of several giant oil fields in Kirkuk will be carried out under a contract between NOC, NGC, and BP and includes the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the fields, spanning oil, gas, power, and water with potential for investment in exploration. The agreement is for an initial phase that includes oil and gas production of more than 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent, BP has said. It includes the Baba and Avanah domes of the Kirkuk oil field and three adjacent fields in Federal Iraq Bai Hassan, Jambur and Khabbaz all of which are currently operated by the NOC. The wider resource opportunity across the contract and surrounding area is believed to include up to 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent, according to the British supermajor. This is an enormous opportunity as we grow bps oil and gas business and fully aligned with our strategy of strengthening our upstream portfolio, BPs chief executive officer Murray Auchincloss said in March. For Iraq, the agreement is aligned with its plan to raise its oil production capacity to above 6 million bpd by 2029, up from about 4.5 million bpd now. Production from Kirkuk oilfields is currently between 285,000 bpd and 330,000 bpd, most of which is for domestic consumption, with limited exports to Jordan, per official Iraqi data quoted by Shafaq News. The deal with BP is expected to raise Kirkuk production by between 50,000 bpd and 100,000 bpd in the coming years. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Japan has opened the worlds second osmotic power plant, using an age-old method to produce clean energy. If successful, it could establish the blueprint for other countries to establish their own facilities and gradually develop the largely unheard-of industry. This shows promise for companies looking to decarbonise operations, as investment in alternative forms of clean energy could help to cut emissions. Japan launched its plant in August in the south-western city of Fukuoka. The facility is expected to produce roughly 880,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, which is enough to help power the associated desalination plant, which supplies fresh water to the city and surrounding areas. It produces enough energy to power the equivalent of 220 Japanese households. While the plant is relatively small compared to alternative energy-producing facilities, it could be scaled up in the future if successful. The plant uses the osmosis method, a process by which molecules of a solvent pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, which balances the concentration on both sides. Salt water and fresh water are put on either side of a membrane, with the seawater being slightly pressurised. As water flows through the membrane to the saltier side, it boosts the volume of pressurised solution to be harnessed to produce energy. While wind and solar power production can only take place when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, osmotic technology can be used to produce energy at all hours of the day and night, requiring just the mix of fresh and salt water to work. In Japans new plant, fresh water or treated wastewater is placed on one side of a membrane, and seawater is on the other side. The seawater gradually increases in pressure and decreases in salinity, allowing excess water to run through a turbine that is connected to a generator to produce power. This is only the second Osmotic Power Plant globally, the other of which was developed in Mariager, Denmark, in 2023 by the venture company SaltPower. The Fukuoka plant is bigger than that of Mariager, although they use similar methods. Norway, South Korea, Spain, and Qatar have also trialled the technology. While it shows promise on a small scale, scaling up the technology is more complicated, as a significant quantity of energy is lost as the water is pumped into the power plant and as it flows through the membranes. While energy is released when the salt water is mixed with fresh water, a lot of energy is lost in pumping the two streams into the power plant and from the frictional loss across the membranes. This means that the net energy that can be gained is small, Sandra Kentish, a professor from the University of Melbourne, explained. Nevertheless, the new plant shows how investment in alternative clean energy techniques can provide power, particularly for small-scale facilities that might otherwise rely on fossil fuels. The project builds on Japans existing expertise in waterpower, with several hydroelectric and tidal power plants across the country. In 2024, hydropower contributed roughly 14 percent of Japans total power generation capacity, while in 2023 it accounted for 8 percent of its total power generation. Japan plans to expand its hydropower sector in the coming decades in line with plans for a green transition, with a CAGR of around 0.01 percent between 2023 and 2035. In March, the governments of Indonesia and Japan announced plans to partner on the development of Southeast Asias largest hydropower plant in Indonesia, with the signing of a letter of intent. The project is expected to cost $17.8 billion and will help support regional decarbonisation aims, as well as strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries. Japan will use its industry expertise to advise and could gain valuable experience to further develop its own hydropower sector. Earlier this year, the U.K.-based tidal energy company Proteus Marine Renewables (PMR) installed a 1.1 MW tidal turbine in Japans Naru Strait, which is expected to help decarbonise the electricity supply of the Goto Islands. This followed a successful 2021 pilot project in the region. Philip Archer, the Managing Director of Proteus Operations Japan, stated, The result reinforces tidal energys potential as a dependable renewable source in Japan. Our next immediate focus is the commissioning of the turbine, Japans first ever MW-scale grid-connected tidal system, and the subsequent testing and accreditation phase. While several of Japans water-related energy-producing operations are in the nascent stage of development, they show that the East Asian country is dedicated to investing in alternative clean energy projects and trialling new technologies. This could help Japan to develop a highly diversified clean energy mix, rather than relying on conventional renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Strong demand for crude oil from Asian countries, especially China, has insulated Brazils Petrobras from the worst of the tariff war fallout, chief executive Magda Chambriard told Bloomberg in an interview. There is a lot of demand in Asia for our products, Chambriard told the publication at an industry event in Sao Paulo, adding that China was the biggest buyer of its crude. The country accounted for 52% of Petrobras oil exports over the second quarter of the year, according to Bloomberg. Europe was the Brazilian state majors second-largest market over the three-month period, taking in 19% of total oil exports. It was followed by the rest of Asia, accounting for 12% of the total or the second quarter. The United States took in 8% of Petrobras oil exports, and Latin America accounted for 6%. The Trump administration slapped 50% tariffs on Brazil last month, prompting expectations that oil flows from South Americas biggest producer will get redirected to Asia. Petrobras Chambriard has just confirmed this. The U.S. was Brazils third-largest oil buyer, importing around 189,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of the year, or 11% of Brazils total oil exports, according to data from ship-tracking firm Vortexa and Kpler. China and Europe were the top destinations, importing 654,000 bpd and 446,000 bpd, respectively. In the second quarter, even before the higher tariffs, the U.S. had slipped to number four among the biggest importers of Brazilian crude. The tariffs were President Trumps choice for penalizing the Brazilian government for the persecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro. In a similar fashion, Trump slapped 50% tariffs on Indian imports to punish the country for buying Russian crude. Currently, the U.S. is not such a major buyer of Brazilian crude, which further strengthens Petrobras resilience to Washingtons trade policies, the CEO of the company suggested in her interview with Bloomberg. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Eni-BP joint venture Azule Energy will invest $5 billion in Angola over the next five years and drill 18 wells, with two-thirds operated by the company, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday. The spending is comparable to Azules outlays since the JV launched in 2022 and centers on sustaining output from core offshore assets. Since its inception, Azule Energy has invested more than $5 billion in Angola, and during the next few years, we plan to invest an additional $5 billion, Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi told reporters. The commitment was set out alongside other pledges at AOG 2025, where international operators detailed near-term work scopes. TotalEnergies confirmed a $3 billion program for a Dalia life-extension, signaling continued investment in mature deepwater infrastructure that still has incremental recovery potential. The new capital arrives as Angolas crude production has fallen below 1 million bpd for the first time since its OPEC exit in 2024. Years of natural decline across legacy deepwater hubs and uneven upstream spending have pressured volumes even as Luanda accelerates licensing rounds and redevelopment campaigns designed to slow field depletion. Gas has now moved to front and center, with government officials and company statements describing gas monetization as a priority for power generation, industry, and prospective LNG feedstock. Azules 18-well program is expected to include development and infill locations where subsea capacity and processing headroom are available, alongside appraisal work that can be tied into existing systems. Execution will hinge on rig scheduling, subsea equipment lead times, and marine services availability, which are all factors challenging West Africas supply chain. For cargo buyers, additional Angolan liftings would add medium-sweet barrels into Atlantic Basin and Asian spot markets that have cycled through periods of tight prompt availability during maintenance seasons. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Abu Dhabis oil and gas giant ADNOC has drilled some horizontal wells and tested oil to the surface at a shale play in the United Arab Emirates operated by EOG Resources, the chief executive of the U.S. shale giant said at a conference. In May, EOG Resources was awarded a new oil exploration concession for Unconventional Onshore Block 3 (UCO3) by Abu Dhabi. The concession area is nearly 900,000 acres, in an over-pressured, oil prone basin within the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. EOG holds 100% equity and operatorship and, in coordination with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, will explore and appraise unconventional oil in the concession area, the U.S. oil and gas producer said. Following a three year appraisal phase, EOG may enter into a production concession in which ADNOC has the option to participate. EOG currently expects to begin drilling in the second half of 2025 with no change to the company's 2025 capital plan, it added. At the Barclays CEO Energy-Power Conference on Tuesday, EOGs chief executive, Ezra Yacob, said that ADNOC had drilled and tested oil to the surface at the shale formation in the UAE. EOG is looking to develop shale resources in the UAEs oil play, as well as a shale gas play in Bahrain, where the U.S. firm has signed a strategic exploration agreement with the national energy firm BAPCO. We have captured abundant resource in both plays, and weve partnered with companies that we have very, very strong stakeholder alignment with, EOGs Yacob said at the Barclays conference, referring to the UAE and Bahrain shale exploration efforts. Several countries with huge untapped shale resources have recently started to explore their unconventional oil and gas potential. Canada, Argentina, Algeria, China, and Saudi Arabia have ambitions to replicate the U.S. shale success. EOGs know-how could help the UAE join the group of shale producers in a few years. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Iran has struck back at claims from the Gulf Cooperation Council on the ownership of three islands in the Persian Gulf and an offshore gas field. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the islands Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb were sovereign Iranian territory and so was the Arash gas field, calling the claims made earlier this week hackneyed and legally baseless. The Arash gas field, called Dorra by the Arab Gulf states, is a disputed asset between Iran and Kuwait. It was discovered in the 1960s, on the edge of Kuwaits eastern maritime border. Iran says the field extends into its territorial waters and claims partial ownership. The estimated reserves in the field stand at some 220 billion cubic meters but exploration has been hindered by the long-running dispute. In July, Kuwait said it had started construction of an onshore gas processing plant to be fed from the Dorra field. Reports in Arab media described the field as located in the neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The two signed a joint development deal for the field in 2022. In its Monday statement, the Gulf Cooperation Council said the islands were Kuwaiti territory occupied by Iran and the Dorra field was entirely Kuwaiti property. The GCC confirmed that the Al Durra field is located entirely within the maritime areas of the State of Kuwait and that the ownership of the natural resources in the partitioned submerged area adjacent to the Saudi-Kuwaiti partitioned zone, including the entire Al Durra field, is a joint ownership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait only. In its response, the Iranian side rejected what it called one-sided claims by Kuwait and called for bilateral dialogue, joint efforts, and a positive, constructive atmosphere. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Crude oil prices stabilized today after inching up on Tuesday following the news of new U.S. sanctions on people involved in exporting Iranian crude disguised as Iraqi crude. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $68.93 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate was trading at $65.42 per barrel, both slightly down from opening. On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a round of sanctions on a network involved in selling Iranian crude abroad after blending it with Iraqi crude in order to disguise its real origin. By targeting Irans oil revenue stream, Treasury will further degrade the regimes ability to carry out attacks against the United States and its allies, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. The U.S. is also annoyed that Brazil has become a major buyer of Russian diesel, with media reporting that Washington was considering trade measures to punish Brazil for this. Meanwhile, there are expectations that U.S. inventories declined last week. Ahead of the weekly reports of the American Petroleum Institute later today and the Energy Information Administration on Thursday, three analysts who Reuters polled estimated the draw at 3.4 million barrels for the last week of August. OPEC+ is meeting this weekend, with no surprises expected from the meeting and the majority of observers assuming the group will make no changes to its production levels for October. ING noted in an update that OPEC+ had already returned 2.2 million barrels daily to the market over the last six months and that The scale of the surplus through next year means its unlikely the group will bring additional supply onto the market. There is, however, another riskthat OPEC+ decides to curb production again in the face of that expected surplus. It appears that the surplus everyone seems to expect might not, in fact, be as massive as described, if a fresh round of OPEC+ is seen as an upside risk for oil prices. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com BEIJING, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A grand military parade was held in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Among the international guests invited was Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe, who attended the event as a representative of foreign friends who had made outstanding contributions to China's war of resistance. He stood in for his late grandfather, witnessing a stronger and more confident China. Love for life Return the world to humanity, and return humanity to itself. This humanitarian belief shaped John Rabe's life. Arriving in China in 1908 and living in the country for nearly 30 years, he served as German company Siemens' representative in cities such as Beijing, Tianjin and Nanjing, forging deep friendships with the Chinese people. On the eve of the Japanese invasion of Nanjing in 1937, John Rabe, together with more than 20 other international residents, established the International Safety Zone to protect civilians. He was elected chairman of the International Committee for the Nanjing Safety Zone, which covered about 4 square km and provided shelter for some 250,000 Chinese civilians during the massacre. Between December 1937 and early 1938, over 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers were killed by Japanese troops. At his own residence, John Rabe took in more than 600 refugees, all of whom survived the catastrophe. On December 26, 1937, he wrote in his diary: "I have received an unexpected Christmas giftthe lives of more than 600 people." His diary, meticulously documenting the atrocities of the Nanjing Massacre, became one of the most important and detailed historical records exposing Japanese war crimes. On March 28, 2014, during a speech at the Korber Foundation in Germany, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised John Rabe's actions, noting that "We, in China, cherish the memory of Mr. Rabe as a man who demonstrated great compassion for life and love of peace." The gratitude of the Chinese people was evident at the time. On the New Year of 1938, refugees at John Rabe's house lined up to bow to him and presented him with a large piece of red silk that read: "You are the living Buddha for hundreds of thousands of Chinese people." Today, visitors from across China and around the world still visit the John Rabe House in Nanjing, paying tribute and learning about that painful chapter of history. Yang Shanyou, Director of the John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall, told Xinhua News Agency that the site has become a special historical and cultural landmark, hosting academic exchanges and educational programs to pass on the spirit of humanitarianism and the pursuit of peace. A legacy of humanity John Rabe's humanitarian spirit deeply influenced his descendants. "Everyone should think about what they can do for others," Thomas Rabe told Beijing Review. "We can show kindness and responsibility in our daily livesstanding up against injustice or lending a hand when others are in need. What matters is setting an example through small acts of humanity." Preserving the diaries and ensuring the world knows the truth has become a mission of the Rabe family. On December 12, 1996, Ursula Reinhardt, John Rabe's granddaughter, released the diaries of John Rabe in New York, the United States. The 2,460-page collection, comprising eight volumes, revealed the Japanese atrocities in Nanjing to the world. This was not without danger. "My family received threatening phone calls at night, saying, 'We want to kill you.' We will never forget how dangerous it was to talk about the Nanjing diaries and to keep them," Thomas Rabe recalled. Despite the threats, the Rabe family stood firm, just as their grandfather had decades earlier. Thomas has been working actively to preserve and organize John Rabe's historical documents, continuing to share his legacy. "My father inherited the diaries and archives from my grandfather, and later entrusted them to me. I have since donated the Nanjing manuscripts of the diaries to China's Central Archives," he said. In addition, with the help of friends in Germany and China, Thomas published Rabe and China, a book that presents John Rabe's life, especially his 30 years in China and his wartime diaries. It also introduces the family's reflections on peace and the collaborative projects they have undertaken. The book was first released over 10 years ago without an ISBN number in English and Spanish, and the Chinese version was published in 2024. It will be published in more languages, and the scripts for a four-part documentary series have already been completed. Together with his family, Thomas has also established six John Rabe Communication Centers around the world, dedicated to promoting Rabe's humanitarian spirit and spreading peace and friendship. When asked why history must be remembered, Thomas Rabe stated, "The prerequisite for reconciliation after aggression is for both sides to acknowledge the truth. Only by accepting what really happened can nations move forwardwhether through cultural exchange, economic cooperation or political dialogue. This is the lesson we must learn from history, and the reason we cannot forget the war." Comments to [email protected] SOURCE Beijing Review OPEC crude production rose by about 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August, reaching 28.55 million bpd, according to a Bloomberg survey published on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia accounted for just over half of the increase, restoring barrels previously curbed under voluntary cuts. The United Arab Emirates and Nigeria also contributed, while Libya managed modest gains as security conditions improved around key terminals. The production rise comes as OPEC+ ministers are preparing to meet this Sunday, with speculation building that the alliance could authorize an additional increase beyond the already-scheduled unwinding of voluntary reductions. Those rumors pressured prices earlier this week, with Brent slipping as traders digested reports of a potential supply ramp-up. Benchmark Brent crude was trading down 2.17%, at $67.64 per barrel, at 11:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, while the U.S. benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was trading down 2.42% at $64.00 per barrel following the release of the Bloomberg survey. The moves highlight market sensitivity to even modest shifts in OPEC output, particularly as inventories in the U.S. and Europe remain above seasonal averages. Internal dynamics within OPEC+ are also in focus. Kazakhstan boosted its August production by more than 2% compared to July, stretching beyond its quota, while Iraq continued to lift exports despite ongoing disputes with the Kurdistan Regional Government, demonstrating the challenge of maintaining compliance as prices incentivize members to bring additional barrels to market. With roughly 1.65 million bpd of voluntary curbs still on the books, according to OPEC+ agreements, the bloc retains a solid buffer of withheld supply. Saudi Arabia and Russia account for the bulk of these pledged reductions, while smaller portions are spread across Kuwait, the UAE, and Kazakhstan. The upcoming Sunday session will revisit how quickly those barrels might be reintroduced, and whether the pace should differ among members that have already been producing above target. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. President Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is conspiring with Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong Un against the United States as the three leaders put up a united front at a Beijing military parade in what observers see as a show of strength defying the West. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America, President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to the Chinese leader and the leaders of Russia and North Korea. President Trumps statement was posted as Xi, Putin, and Kim arrived together to attend the huge military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of Japans surrender in World War II and Chinas liberation from occupation. Since President Trump upended trade and tariff policies earlier this year, China has tried to pitch itself as a reliable trade partner, especially in Asia, where many countries were slapped with high U.S. tariffs due to their high trade surplus with America. The U.S. has singled out India, the worlds third-largest crude importer, as a target to pressure due to its continued purchases of Russian oil. After weeks of threats, the U.S. hiked from August 27 the tariff on imports of Indian goods to a massive 50%, with 25% of this due to Indias Russian oil purchases. India continues to buy Russian crude oil and even thawed relations with China at a summit that culminated with Wednesdays parade. Chinas Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to be partners, not rivals. Analysts see Xis latest diplomatic efforts with Eurasian countries as a way to counter the U.S.-dominated global order. President Trump told the Scott Jennings radio show on Tuesday that he isnt concerned about a Russia-China axis or Chinas military might. They would never use their military on us believe me, that would be the worst thing they could ever do, President Trump said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com From youth mentorship to health care, community services, and the arts, the inaugural grants honor organizations making a lasting impact across Los Angeles County. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation today announced $2.4 million in funding to 50 nonprofit organizations serving communities across Los Angeles County, in response to the inaugural request for proposals. The funding will support a wide range of initiatives including youth mentorship, education, health care, first responders, housing, food security, arts, and community programs. The Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation today announced $2.4 million in funding to 50 nonprofit organizations serving communities across Los Angeles County, in response to the inaugural request for proposals. The funding will support a wide range of initiatives including youth mentorship, education, health care, first responders, housing, food security, arts, and community programs. This marks one of the first large-scale funding initiatives from the ERK Foundation. This marks one of the first large-scale funding initiatives from the ERK Foundation , which supports organizations across Los Angeles that foster connection, care, and well-being in their communities. The Foundation will continue building relationships with grantees and other local partners to deepen its understanding of the needs and opportunities to support organizations within Los Angeles County. "Our city is so vast that it can sometimes feel disconnected," said Elizabeth R. Koch, Founder & CEO of the Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation. "But LA is overflowing with generosity, creativity, and concern for the well-being of others. These grantees are the heartbeat of that spirit in how they forge a sense of belonging and weave community into every far corner of this place we call home." The Foundation's initial area of interest are organizations that foster healing, resilience, and growth in the greater Los Angeles community. Areas of focus include after-school programs that offer stability and mentorship; first responders who bring calm in chaos; and safe spaces for young people navigating hardship, heartache, and feelings of uprootedness. The Foundation also supports mental health programs, crisis response teams, grief support networks, rites of passage services, and organizations that guide individuals and communities through life's more difficult moments. "There are so many inspiring organizations, so much urgent need," added Koch. "This is just the beginning of our commitment to L.A., and we can't wait to walk alongside the extraordinary people who so passionately serve these precious communities." The application process was open from April 22, 2025, to June 1, 2025. Eligible organizations were required to be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with an annual budget of at least $250,000, and funds must be used for programs operating within Los Angeles County. The 50 incredible grantees are: About Elizabeth R. Koch Elizabeth R. Koch is a visionary leader and entrepreneur who has founded organizations in publishing, media, neuroscience, and transformative experiences, including founding and chairing Unlikely Collaborators , a non-profit organization which, through grants, partnerships, and programs, empowers people to untangle limiting narratives and drive meaningful change. Koch's other ventures include the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation , which advances research into the inner workings of Perception Box, and Catapult , an award-winning publishing company. She is currently writing a non-fiction book that explains the science behind Perception Box which includes real life examples, personal stories, and tools for personal growth. SOURCE Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation Is Russian President Vladimir Putin a congenital liar, a sociopath or a psychopath? The simple answer is yes. There may be clinical differences but Mr. Putin pretty much covers all the bases. Worse yet he is all of the above with a nuclear arsenal that can wipe out civilization several times over. It is apparently a state secret for Mr. Putin to disclose the sheer number of nuclear weapons that Russia has or their collective thermonuclear yield but most experts agree that he can do it at least ten times over. So your first question is what sane person would seek to destroy the world with that level of weaponry? And there in lies your first mistake. Mr. Putin is not sane. At a minimum he is a psychopath which means he cares not a wit about others not their views, not their politics, not their relationships or their fealty. He is void of empathy, emotional attachments or, in most instances the truth. He can be superficially charming but all the time he is pretending he is also calculating to manipulate and ultimately destroy his friends and foes alike. In his world, there is just him. There is only his goals, aims, and well being that counts. He is most often calm and undisturbed when confronted but that simply intensifies his intention to do harm to the offending person. And when confronted he always does the same thing lie and if that doesnt work he will simply eliminate his foe. There are not enough words to actually explain or describe his conduct. The closest descriptor is EVIL and as a result he is both a very dangerous man but also one that is vulnerable because his supporters both fear him and loath him. He is Caesar waiting for Brutus. I am sure that President Donald J. Trump has met and dealt with his share of liars, crooks, con artists and sociopaths but it is doubtful that he has ever dealt with a true psychopath in such an unavoidable way. But he is today and Mr. Trump better be at the top of his game. Let me suggest that in dealing with Mr. Putin that he does the following four things in order and rapid succession: 1. Communicate directly with the principle Russian oligarchs that they are responsible for the existence of Mr. Putin and the following conditions that are about to be imposed and that their continued support active or passive of Mr. Putin will result in the sanctions being imposed on them and/or their enterprises. 2. Impose full and complete sanctions against Russia and those nations that purchase oil from Russia and/or supply arms or support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions should be applied to both Mr. Putin personally and Russia. 3. Bar nations doing business with Russia access to the United States financial system while encouraging others most importantly the European countries, Korea, and Japan to impose similar restriction on access to their financial markets. The sanctions should be applied to both Mr. Putin and Russia. 4. Designate Mr. Putin and his administration an international foreign terrorist entity and remove any current diplomatic immunity that he might enjoy. The purpose of these, and the order of them, reflects that Mr. Putins position as the head of Russia is dependent on the financial well being of the oligarchs. While no single oligarch is probably capable of removing Mr. Putin, the combined weight of a majority of those oligarch can easily displace or eliminate Mr. Putin. Since the beginning of the Ukraine war any number of those oligarchs, in their private conversations, have weighed the future of Russian should Mr. Putin continue. The only thing lacking is a collective conversation and a commitment to act. As a psychopath, Mr. Putin has no reluctance to use his nuclear weapons, but the oligarchs understand that the destruction of significant parts of Russia in retaliation will mean the end of their power and their fortunes. These oligarchs do not care about power, world domination, or other political machinations except to the extend that they may effect, or in this case, terminate their financial well-being. Implementation of the recommendations has to be done rapidly and in short order. Mr. Putin is going to use his tactical nuclear weapons as he continues to fail in subjugating Ukraine. Hand wringing by the Western world will simply end in the exchange and escalation of nuclear weapons by and against Russia. The oligarchs know what is required and Mr. Trumps demonstration of doing what he says he will do is sufficient catalyst to end the tyranny of Mr. Putin and the resolution of the war in Ukraine. Mr. Trump has been using the economic might of America since virtually the first day of his re-election. This will be the ultimate test of making that work against the worlds top villain. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The forecast of a fourth straight lavish apple harvest in Michigan would normally put farmers in a celebratory mood. But don't serve the apple strudel just yet. A Michigan farmers group is barking about a prediction by the U.S. Apple Association that the state will produce 30 million bushels of apples this year. The Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association argued the estimate is too high and its concern involves more than an academic discourse of horticulture. Dawn Drake, association general manager, told the Michigan Farm News earlier this month that the rosy prognosis could hurt her members in the pocketbook. Growers will receive less money from processors who believe the harvest will be plentiful, she said. That's what happened last year when U.S. Apple projected a harvest of 30.5 million bushels, but the final tally was 27.3 million. It's the final supply that affects the prices for consumers. "Their numbers are publicized immediately, all across the country, and customers everywhere see those numbers," Drake told Michigan Farm News, a trade publication. "It really hurts us in the processing industry." Drake suggested U.S. Apple has a tendency to artificially pump up its forecast as a way to market the sale of apples to grocery stores. The dispute comes as cider mill season started on August 31st with the opening of cideries in Franklin and Goodison. Others opened earlier, while Yates Cider Mill in Rochester Hill and Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill in Armada operate year-round. Despite Drake's contention, a review of past forecasts by U.S. Apple found that it has been generally accurate, doing a better job than the U.S. Department of Agriculture in divining the size of harvests, according to research by The Detroit News. Since 2007, the first year harvest sizes were listed on the USDA website, U.S. Apple significantly overestimated the yield four times, according to the Detroit News review. It underestimated the amount five times. The other years were generally accurate. When contacted by The News, Drake declined to elaborate on her allegations. U.S. Apple, a trade group based in McLean, Virginia, flatly denied putting its thumb on the scale. Lynsee Gibbons, a spokesperson for the organization, said inflating the forecast would hurt growers, processors and shippers by preventing them from preparing for the harvest. "We would never intentionally exaggerate a crop estimate," Gibbons said. "We try not to be in the business of working against ourselves." Apple of their eyes One thing the different groups can agree about is this: There will be a lot of apples in Michigan this year. The USDA is predicting a harvest of 26 million bushels of apples. The Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association pegged it at 25.5 million. The annual average is 21.7 million, according to the USDA. U.S. Apple projected an even more bountiful yield in a report released last month at its annual meeting in Chicago. The report, written by Chris Gerlach, U.S. Apple vice president of insights and analytics, said it reached the 30 million estimate by taking into account the USDA forecast and talking to farmers around Michigan about growing conditions in their orchards. The weather has smiled on Michigan, according to the report. Spring brought some challenges with hailstorms and a late frost, but the latter wasn't as severe as four years ago and didn't significantly damage the burgeoning fruit. "Growers noted a few hail and frost events but didn't expect that to significantly impact the crop," Gerlach wrote. The apple of discord over the U.S. Apple forecast seems to stem from competing differences between growers of apples sold to stores and those sold to processors. The market in Michigan is split right down the middle, with 51% of apples going to stores and the rest to processing plants, according to the USDA. 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. Michigan's most valuable fruit crop If fall in Michigan could be symbolized by an object, it would be round, crunchy and juicy. Michiganians flock to apple orchards and cider mills, returning home with gallon jugs and doughnut-infused sugar highs. Pumpkins, eat your hearts out. While Washington state is the top apple-growing state, Michigan constantly vies with New York for the second slot. Within Michigan, apples are the king of the cornucopia. They make more money than all other fruits combined. Their $322 million annually dwarfs the next two biggest: blueberries ($148 million) and tart cherries ($32 million). "Apples are the largest and most valuable fruit crop in our state," said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, a Lansing-based trade group. "Apple crop sizes will increase, and we'll continue to see these larger crops." Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill, one of the premier apple-picking farms in Michigan, said the fruit is already prime for plucking and will be so through October. Kelly Duncan, Blake's marketing vice president, said the fulsome harvest will allow the Armada orchard to offer its popular cider, which is a blend of five varieties of apples. "The apple crop is the cornerstone of a great fall season," Duncan said. "We're excited to share it with our customers." A bumper crop of challenges Besides concerns at processing plants, apple growers are facing other challenges. The demand for the crop was flat in the U.S. last year and exports dropped, according to U.S. Apple. While prices were low, costs continued to grow for fuel, fertilizer and labor. Growers are trying to counter the rising expense by embracing growing practices such as planting higher-density orchards and using improved technology to monitor the weather and soil health, said U.S. Apple. "It's been a challenging few years for apple growers," said Gibbons, the U.S. Apple spokesperson. As for any lingering agitation by the Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association, Gibbons extended an olive branch. If the Michigan group wanted to participate in the next harvest forecast, it is welcome to attend U.S. Apple's annual confab in Chicago next year, she said. 2025 detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Info-Tech Research Group has announced Dave Coplin, Founder of The Envisioners and former Chief Envisioning Officer at Microsoft UK, as a keynote speaker for LIVE 2025 in Barcelona. At the premier IT and business leadership event set to be held October 2122 at the SLS Barcelona, Coplin will share his expertise with attendees on the future of work, generative AI, and human-centric innovation, providing actionable insights to help organizations thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. TORONTO, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Info-Tech Research Group, a global leader in IT research and advisory, has confirmed that Dave Coplin, Founder of The Envisioners and former Chief Envisioning Officer at Microsoft UK, will join the keynote lineup for the firm's popular flagship IT conference, Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona. Taking place October 2122 at the SLS Barcelona, the two-day event marks the first-ever European edition of Info-Tech LIVE, which will bring together CIOs, senior IT executives, and technology leaders from across the EMEA region. Info-Tech Research Group has announced Dave Coplin, Founder of The Envisioners and former Chief Envisioning Officer at Microsoft UK, as a keynote speaker for LIVE 2025 in Barcelona, set to be held October 2122 at the SLS Barcelona. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group) Dave Coplin is a globally renowned technologist, author, and speaker with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations reimagine the future of work. Known for his high-energy delivery, humor, and deep technical insight, Coplin has worked with some of the world's most influential organizations, including Microsoft, Barclays, HP, Vodafone, and Ernst & Young, as well as public institutions such as the UK and EU Parliaments and leading universities. Coplin is also a bestselling author of Business Reimagined and The Rise of the Humans. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director for several organizations, where he guides digital transformation and AI adoption strategies. "Dave Coplin's insights on the intersection of technology, innovation, and the human experience will bring immense value to attendees at LIVE Barcelona," says Nigel Bowles, Vice President, Info-Tech Research Group, UK. "His perspective on generative AI, automation, and the future of work aligns perfectly with our event theme, Transform IT. Transform Everything., and will help IT and business leaders across EMEA translate global trends into tangible strategies for success." With deep expertise in bridging complex digital trends like AI, automation, and hybrid collaboration with real-world business impact, Coplin has become a trusted advisor to global organizations. Coplin is widely recognized for his ability to inspire leaders to think differently about work, technology, and the human potential that connects them. What to Expect at LIVE 2025 in Barcelona Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona will feature a dynamic program including mainstage keynotes, technical keynotes, panels, collaborative roundtables, and one-on-one analyst meetings. The event is designed to provide IT executives with actionable tools, research-backed insights, and exclusive networking opportunities with peers and industry experts. For more information about the event, please visit Info-Tech's LIVE media kit page. Further details on the agenda, keynote speakers, and registration will be announced in the coming months. Follow Info-Tech Research Group on LinkedIn and X for updates. Media Passes for Info-Tech LIVE in Barcelona, October 21-22, 2025 Media professionals, including journalists, podcasters, and influencers, are invited to attend Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona to gain exclusive access to research, content, and interviews with industry leaders for their audiences. Media professionals can apply for complimentary in-person passes by contacting [email protected]. About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organisations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software-buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X. SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group 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: Extinction RiskProtection Mismatch in China's Flora. Credit: Shen Guozhen A new study has revealed a "hidden extinction crisis" in China's flora, showing that habitat decline over the past four decades has sharply increased extinction risks nationwide. The findings, published in One Earth on September 3, suggest that current conservation efforts are failing to keep pace with biodiversity threats. Led by Dr. Shen Guozhen from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with international collaborators, the researchers combined satellite-based land-cover data (19802018) with species-composition models to quantifyfor the first time at a national scalehow habitat loss is reshaping extinction risk across entire plant communities. They found that extinction risk among China's vascular plants has increased by 3.9% nationwide, coinciding with a 2.8% decrease in native habitats. Risks are highest in eastern China, home to more than 90% of the country's plant species, where reserves are small, fragmented, and have lost nearly one-fifth of their core zones. Meanwhile, over 70% of protected areas are concentrated in the west, where risks are comparatively low. Despite apparent greening, unique native communities continue to vanish as ecological functions degrade, creating a "greening illusion" that masks biodiversity loss. This hides biodiversity decline, while global conservation tools such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List remain limited by static, species-focused assessments that overlook emerging risks from recent habitat degradation. By introducing a dynamic, spatially explicit framework for quantifying extinction risk, the study offers an early-warning paradigm for biodiversity loss, an irreversible environmental change now unfolding worldwide. It underscores that existing conservation measures have not been timely or effective enough to halt the decline and calls for urgent action to integrate wilderness protection and habitat-based assessments into conservation planning. This work offers a "China solution" for curbing the ongoing global biodiversity decline and achieving the goals of the KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 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: Trust and helpfulness decline significantly when young people are exposed to high competitive pressure at school. Credit: ChatGPT / Fabian Kosse Enduring competitive pressure not only changes young people's behavior, but also their personality: they become less prosocial. This is shown in a new study from the University of Wurzburg published in the Journal of the European Economic Association. Many companies try to use incentive systems to increase the motivation and effectiveness of their employees. These systems often resemble competitions: for example, whoever has the highest sales figures at the end of the month receives a bonus. Such competitions can certainly increase productivity. But they also have a downside: scientific studies have shown that they can, for example, worsen cooperation between colleagues in the short term. But what happens in the long term to people who are exposed to such competitive pressure over a longer period of time? Do they get used to the competitive pressure, or does it even change their personality? A team led by Professor Fabian Kosse from Julius-Maximilians-Universitat (JMU) in Wurzburg has now investigated these very questions for the first time: "We studied how a prolonged competitive environment influences the prosocial behavior of young people, i.e., their willingness to help and their mutual trust," says Kosse, who heads the JMU Chair of Data Science in Business and Economics. Helpfulness and trust decline The results of the study give pause for thought: two years of intense competition significantly reduce helpfulness and trust among young people. And not just in the short termeven four years after the end of the competition, the effects are still there. "So prolonged competition not only changes situational behavior. It also influences personality development," says Kosse. The study was conducted in collaboration with Ranjita Rajan from the Karta Initiative (Oxford) and Michela Tincani from University College London. How the results were obtained The researchers conducted a large-scale field study at schools in Chile. According to Fabian Kosse, the quantity and quality of the available educational data there is very good. For the study, the scientists used a program introduced by the Chilean government (PACE). It was implemented at selected high schools to bring more young people from socially disadvantaged families to universities. The program guarantees a place at university for the top 15% of students in each school. Those who belong to this group no longer have to take the otherwise mandatory central entrance exam for universities. This is very important for young people from socially disadvantaged families, as very few of them make it to university through the regular, centralized admission system. The incentive to be among the top 15% is therefore strong. However, the long-term competition that the program sparks in schools is also strong: it is a competition that lasts two years, because who is among the best is not decided by a single final exam, but by all their performance over the last school years. Against this background, the researchers were active at 64 PACE schools and 64 control schools where the PACE program is not in place. A total of more than 5,000 students were involved. Crucial to the validity of the results was the fact that the schools participating in the PACE program and those serving as control schools were selected at randomin other words, it was a genuine experiment with treatment and control groups. For their study, the researchers evaluated data collected by the Chilean government to evaluate the PACE program. They also conducted detailed surveys of students, teachers and school administrators that they developed themselves. The questions concerned the school atmosphere and included, for example, "How much do you agree with the following statement: There is a lot of competition for the best grades in my class." Above all, the questions focused on prosocial behavior such as altruism, reciprocity and trust ("How willing are you to help others without expecting anything in return?"). 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. What can be done to counteract the negative consequences? In its publication, the team proposes measures that could potentially prevent or reduce the prosociality-reducing consequences of PACE and similar competition-based incentive systems. Change the rules of the competition: It might help to determine the ranking of the best students not within a specific school, but within the group of all socially disadvantaged students in a specific region of the country. In such a system, the internal competitive pressure within the school would be lower. Creating cooperation instead of competition: If the competition takes place across schools, the resulting mindset of 'us together against the other schools' could improve cooperation and atmosphere and even increase prosociality. More information: Fabian Kosse et al, The persistent effect of competition on prosociality, Journal of the European Economic Association (2025). DOI: 10.1093/jeea/jvaf030 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 schematic of the VaTD training scheme. Credit: Credit: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology A research team has developed a novel direct sampling method based on deep generative models. Their method enables efficient sampling of the Boltzmann distribution across a continuous temperature range. The findings have been published in Physical Review Letters. The team was led by Prof. Pan Ding, Associate Professor from the Departments of Physics and Chemistry, and Dr. Li Shuo-Hui, Research Assistant Professor from the Department of Physics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The Boltzmann distribution is one of the most important distributions in statistical mechanics for systems in thermal equilibrium. Sampling from it is crucial for understanding complex systems, such as phase transitions, chemical reactions, and biomolecular conformations. However, efficiently and accurately computing thermodynamic quantities for such systems has long been a major challenge in the field. Traditional numerical methods in statistical mechanics, including molecular dynamics (MD) and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling, require extensive simulation time to obtain ensemble averages when the system's energy barrier is high, leading to significant computational costs. Inspired by recent advances in deep generative models, Dr. Li and colleagues proposed a general frameworkthe variational temperature-differentiable (VaTD) methodapplicable to any tractable density generative model, such as autoregressive models and normalizing flows. VaTD can learn the Boltzmann distribution across a continuous temperature range, with first- and second-order derivatives of thermodynamic quantities with respect to temperature conveniently obtained through automatic differentiation. This effectively approximates an analytical partition function. Under optimal conditions, the model theoretically guarantees an unbiased Boltzmann distribution. More importantly, integrating over a continuous temperature range helps overcome energy barriers, thereby reducing bias in simulations. Unlike predominant generative models in statistical mechanics, VaTD requires only the potential energy of the system and does not rely on pre-generated datasets from MD or Monte Carlo simulations. The team validated the method's accuracy and efficiency through numerical experiments on classical statistical physics models, including the Ising model and the XY model. Prof. Pan remarked, "This breakthrough paves the way for studying novel phenomena in complex statistical systems, with potential applications in physics, chemistry, materials science, and life sciences." More information: Shuo-Hui Li et al, Deep Generative Modeling of the Canonical Ensemble with Differentiable Thermal Properties, Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/8wx7-kyx8 Journal information: Physical Review Letters 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: Cartoon representation of Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to skin, where the bacterial adhesin binds to human cells in a calcium-dependent manner. Credit: Department of Physics - Auburn University Imagine a child with eczema who scratches a patch of irritated skin. A tiny opening forms, invisible to the eye. Into that breach slips a common bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus. For many people, the bacteria would remain harmless. But in someone with a weakened skin barrier, the microbe can cling tightly, multiply, and trigger an infection that is difficult to control. In severe cases, staph spreads beyond the skin and becomes life-threatening. Resistant strains such as MRSA turn what should be a treatable infection into a medical nightmare, one that claims tens of thousands of lives each year in the United States alone. The question that has puzzled researchers for years is why staph bacteria cling so tenaciously to human skin. A new study, co-led by Auburn University's Department of Physics alongside scientists in Belgium and the United Kingdom, has uncovered the answer. Published in Science Advances, the research shows that staph locks onto human skin with the strongest biological grip ever measured, stronger than superglue and nearly unmatched in nature. At the center of this discovery is a bacterial protein called SdrD, which the pathogen uses like a grappling hook to attach itself to a human protein called desmoglein-1. The bond between the two is unlike anything seen before. It withstands forces so powerful that they rival the strength of some chemical bonds. This helps explain why staph bacteria remain attached to the skin even after scratching, washing, or sweating. "It is the strongest non-covalent protein-protein bond ever reported," says Rafael Bernardi, Associate Professor of Physics at Auburn University and one of the senior authors. "This is what makes staph so persistent, and it helps us understand why these infections are so difficult to get rid of." The study also revealed that calcium, an element better known for strengthening bones, plays a key role in fortifying this bacterial grip. When calcium levels were reduced in laboratory experiments, the bond between SdrD and desmoglein-1 weakened significantly. When calcium was added back, the bond became even stronger. This finding is particularly relevant for patients with eczema, where calcium balance in the skin is disrupted. Instead of protecting the skin, these irregular levels may actually make staph's grip tighter. "We were surprised to see how much calcium contributed to the strength of this interaction," explains Priscila Gomes, a researcher in Auburn's Department of Physics and co-author of the study. "It not only stabilized the bacterial protein, it made the whole complex much more resistant to breaking." Illustration of the molecular handshake driving Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to human skin. The bacterial adhesin SdrD (purple) binds tightly to the host receptor desmoglein-1 (DSG-1, orange) on keratinocytes, with calcium ions (Ca2+) stabilizing the interaction. This calcium-dependent bond enables S. aureus to attach strongly to the skin surface, providing a molecular explanation for the bacterium's ability to resist mechanical forces and establish infection. Credit: Department of Physics - Auburn University To uncover these details, the team combined single-molecule experiments with advanced computational simulations. Using atomic force microscopy, researchers in Europe measured the force of a single staph bacterium attaching to human skin proteins. 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. Meanwhile, Auburn physicists modeled the interaction atom by atom on powerful supercomputers. The two approaches converged on the same remarkable conclusion: SdrD's grip on desmoglein-1 is stronger than any other protein bond known in biology. This discovery opens the door to new strategies for combating antibiotic-resistant infections. Instead of trying to kill bacteria directly, which often drives the evolution of resistance, scientists could design therapies that block or weaken bacterial adhesion. If staph cannot cling to the skin, the immune system has a better chance of clearing it before infection takes hold. "By targeting adhesion, we are looking at a completely different way to fight bacterial infections," Bernardi says. "We are not trying to destroy the bacteria, but to stop them from latching on in the first place." For the Department of Physics at Auburn University, the study highlights the growing role of biophysics in addressing urgent problems in human health. By combining physical measurements, biological insights, and international teamwork, the researchers have solved a long-standing mystery of staph pathogenesis and uncovered a potential weakness that could be exploited in future therapies. As Gomes reflects, "This project shows how much can be achieved when different fields and different countries come together to answer questions that none of us could solve alone." The discovery of the strongest protein bond in nature not only sets a new benchmark in biophysics but also provides a fresh perspective on how to outsmart one of the most stubborn pathogens in medicine. More information: Constance Chantraine et al, Ultra-Strong Staphylococcus aureus Adhesion to Human Skin: Calcium as a Key Regulator of Non-Covalent Interactions, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adu7457. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu7457 Journal information: Science Advances 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: Data from the Million Neighborhoods Africa project on Lusaka, Zambia. High complexity blocks (d) have much less access to streets as low complexity blocks (f). Credit: Luis Bettencourt Using the first complete dataset of more than 415 million buildings across 50 countries in subSaharan Africa, researchers at the University of Chicago created an unprecedented approach to urban development, down to each street block. The new analysis, published this week in Nature, pinpoints where rapidly developing nations lack "last mile" infrastructure and access to public services. It uses highresolution data to measure street access to each building across the subcontinent, showing how connectivity to infrastructure influences traditional measures of development, such as basic water and sanitation services or educational and economic opportunities. "When you look at developed cities you see something universal: Every building has street access, no matter if your city is a grid like Chicago or curvy like Rome. These connections give people access to water, sanitation, and garbage disposal, and an address to register for school or where the fire department can find them in an emergency," said Luis Bettencourt, Ph.D., a Professor of Ecology and Evolution at UChicago who led the study. But rapidly growing cities can struggle to build necessary infrastructure, especially in informal settlements, or slums. "These disconnections lead to a range of problems for residents, holding back their development and that of their cities," Bettencourt said. "This paper shows how we can measure and then begin to address those deficits for each household in every building, anywhere in the world." Localizing development, block by block The United Nations estimates that 1.12 billion people worldwide live in informal settlements that lack basic services. In 2015, the UN made poverty reduction and slum eradication one of its Sustainable Development Goals, a global blueprint for improving health and education, reducing inequality, and spurring economic growth. The sheer scale of the problem makes it nearly impossible to know where to begin. One approach has been "localization," or acting at the neighborhood level where development is tied to identifiable places and households. Using data for every building and street, Bettencourt and his coauthor Nicholas Marchio, a Research Data Scientist at the Urban Science Lab at UChicago, show that localization is possible down to the block level. They combined the first complete census of buildings in subSaharan Africa (created by digital mapping company Ecopia), street network data from OpenStreetMap, and population and demographic data from other sources to build the Million Neighborhoods Africa map. This interactive map lets you drill into individual blocks to see estimates of infrastructure access for each building, population statistics, and the total number of buildings vs. land. This provides a new perspective on every city and town in the subcontinent, from Lagos to Johannesburg to Nairobi and everywhere in between. Bettencourt and Marchio calculated every building's access level as the length of the shortest path to any street boundary. The maximum number of buildings you have to pass to get to the street from the block's least accessible building is its block complexity. This number, called the k complexity, represents how difficult it is to provide street access to each of the block's buildings. A formal, wellplanned city block would have a low k value of one or two; higher values like three or four mean the block is less accessible with long access roads. The average block complexity across subSaharan Africa is eight. "This research provides the first comprehensive dataset of population and development indicators for all street blocks in subSaharan Africa, alongside opensource tools to extend the data globally in a standardized and comparable manner," Marchio said. "For countries that lack timely and reliable spatial data at the neighborhood levelwhich is essential for everything from service delivery to basic demographythis research fills a critical gap." 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. Urban science and development The researchers also looked at the connection between block complexity and human development. They compared the variation in 67 different social and economic factorsincluding education and literacy, maternal and child health, housing quality, and crowding within dwellingsto block complexity, and saw that the more disconnected a neighborhood was, the worse off its residents were on every measure of wellbeing. In some cases, the lack of services might be obvious, as in large, unplanned, "periurban" informal settlements at the edges of cities or in rural areas. The analysis shows that cities provide better access to infrastructure and higher measures of development than these areas. Yet the map also shows many smaller pockets of high complexity hidden within otherwise more developed areas. Improving access helps those areas too, not just by supplying physical needs like water or sanitation, but also by weaving them into the social and economic fabric of the city. The data paints a nuanced picture of how neighborhoods grow organically. "Developing cities have a lot of challenges to face, especially striving for greater prosperity and quality of life in the face of climate change. What is different now is that we can use advances in urban science and amazing new data to accelerate sustainable development," Bettencourt said. "In this way, we can learn something profound about how all cities develop. What makes a good city? And how do we create more effective and organic solutions to problems of development that preserve culture, preserve people's dignity, and preserve the history of each place?" More information: Infrastructure deficits and informal settlements in sub-Saharan Africa, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09465-2 Journal information: Nature 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: Helena Lopes from Pexels Doom spending, quiet quitting, soft savingthese trendy terms attempt to describe how Generation Z approaches work and money. But how accurate are they? Zosia Cooper, a Sociology doctoral student in UC San Diego's School of Social Sciences, is cutting through the noise to find out what really shapes Gen Z's financial habits. Cooper, who has interviewed more than 60 recent college graduates about their financial well-being, is especially curious about investment. One survey has shown that 45% of Gen Z is investing, and most began before they turned 20. Another survey rates them as the "most investment-savvy generation." While not every member of the generation invests in the same way or for the same reasons, Cooper has noticed some very interesting trends. We sat down with her to learn more. Why is Gen Z investing sooner and more often than previous generations, and how does this help us understand the ways Gen Z view their careers and financial futures? Gen Z is very worried about their financial futures. Many do not trust institutions, like employers or the government, to support them in times of financial need. They also see goals like owning a home as increasingly out of reach. Due to these anxieties, young people are imposing a lot of pressure on themselves to make the right financial choices. That's where investing comes in. Many Gen Zers feel very guilty about their consumption habitsthe "avocado toast" messaging has had an effectand blame themselves if they're not where they want to be financially. Investing can help to hedge against these bad feelings and the uncertainty about the future that comes with them. As for who is investing, some of the demographic data may be surprising. Among 1825-year-olds, young people of color are the most likely to have investments. Women are increasingly entering financial markets, but a large gender gap still exists. Business majors feel confident to play with the market in more risky ways, despite learning in their coursework that these risks are often costly. While social media can play a role in spreading information, most Gen Zers start investing after being encouraged to by friends or family members. Immigrant parents seem to be especially keen on getting their children to invest, because they care a lot about building generational wealth. This personal connection is key, as young people are deluged with information from social media. While some of it concerns personal finance, they have a hard time parsing the good advice from the bad without some help. Gen Z is also prioritizing boundaries and self-care in their work lives, as many feel that their careers are not enough to ensure financial stability. Many no longer want to rely on employers for their livelihood at all, and plan to build their wealth through investment in order to pursue entrepreneurship in the future. 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: from Pexels Human conflict, from minor disruptions to the all-too frequent escalation of war, stretches people and the environment to its limits. At the same time, microorganisms create an equally devastatingbut largely invisiblescene. During times of human conflict, infections thrive among the wounded and overcrowded, and the surrounding environment is likely to become contaminated with heavy metals and unsafe water, which further propagates the spread of disease. Meanwhile, hospitals struggle to save lives with restricted resources (e.g., shortages of medical staff, medications and supplies), and people have difficulty accessing, or simply cannot access, health care if/when it is available. In short, conflict fuels the uncontrolled spread of infections in environments where proper health care is hard to come by, which leads to misuse of antibiotics without proper diagnosis and treatment. This, in turn, allows pathogens to rapidly develop antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Understanding the factors driving AMR in areas of conflict can be difficult, and take time to assess, as research, understandably, does not take precedence during triage. Yet, a look back at conflicts that have occurred over the past 20+ years reveals some noteworthy trends. Hard choices: Life over AMR During times of human conflict, medical professionals face impossible choices. For instance, in the Gaza Strip, already exhausted and under-resourced individuals must prioritize immediate lifesaving interventions in locations that are often under continuous threat or bombardment. Every minute that could be spent determining appropriate antibiotic protocols is, instead, used to save a limb or a life, leaving limited capacity to monitor or address how far AMR may have spread during the war. Research supports this concern: during the 2018 Great March of Return protests in Gazaan event far less violent than the conflict that began in 2023microbes isolated from wounded individuals showed AMR increases of up to 300% for specific antibiotics compared to samples from non-wounded individuals. Although the data are not yet available, the current situation, with its greater scale of casualties and damage, likely presents an even more alarming escalation of AMR. Antibiotic chaos: Overuse drives AMR Regulated antibiotic use becomes nearly impossible when wars drive widespread infections, complicated wounds, collapsed health facilities and disrupted supply chains. Syria provides a stark example: following the onset of civil war in 2011, which devastated domestic antibiotic production (previously covering 90% of national needs), antibiotics were sold without prescription in more than 85% of cases. This unregulated distribution creates ideal conditions for the development of resistance. The effects of antimicrobial overuse in a conflict-ridden environment have also been realized as an increased prevalence of macrolide resistant Vibrio cholerae isolates in Yemen. By the time an outbreak of cholera began in Yemen in October 2016, the ongoing Yemen Civil War, which began in September 2014, had significantly compromised an already fragile health system, leaving more than 14 million people with limited access to health care and creating ideal conditions for the cholera epidemic spread. Physicians used macrolides extensively to combat Yemen's cholera epidemicthe largest in the country's historywhich continued to spread even after the World Health Organization's mass vaccination campaign in 2018. By early 2019, all tested V. cholerae organisms showed acquisition of a new plasmid conferring resistance to many frontline antibiotics used to treat cholera, including macrolides. The outbreak continued until 2022. 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. AMR without borders Population displacement represents another critical factor in AMR proliferation beyond conflict zones. More than 3 million Yemenis have been displaced since 2015, contributing to resistance spread across new regions. Similar patterns emerged in countries receiving people from Iraq, Libya, Syria and, more recently, Ukrainethe fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. Evidence from the Netherlands and Germany shows that Ukrainians displaced during the current conflict tested positive for multiple drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) at significantly higher rates than pre-conflict travelers from the same region. This pattern demonstrates how war conditions can rapidly transform regional resistance profiles. Gaza presents a unique case. Approximately 1.5 million people have been displaced; 117,000 used hospitals as sanctuaries. Al-Shifa Hospital Complex alone hosted more than 50,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Two-thirds of hospitals became non-functional, while the remaining reported fuel shortages and a lack of medical staff. While we do not yet have data pertaining to the spread of resistance in this region, the above conditions create an environment where AMR is likely to thrive. Environmental accelerators In addition to creating conditions of overcrowding, lack of access to medical care and population displacement, human conflict also introduces dangerous levels of environmental contamination. For example, infrastructure destruction breaks down water and sanitation systems, creating reservoirs for AMR organisms to multiply and spread. This scenario becomes more serious in regions where pre-existing contamination of water and the surrounding environment is already high. For example, 34% of hospital water samples in the Gaza Strip were already contaminated prior to the 2023 Gaza War. Heavily bombed sites may also show contamination with heavy metals, which can lead to the selection of resistant pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumannii, an opportunistic pathogen notorious for causing hospital-acquired infections. In Ukraine in 2022, A. baumannii strains showed 72% and 67% increased resistance to the critical antibiotics meropenem and imipenem, respectively. AMR is a global challenge AMR is not just a local problem confined to conflict zonesit represents a global health security threat that crosses borders. However, it is often masked by compromised surveillance systems in conflict areas where microbiological laboratory activities are disrupted. This suggests that during times of conflict, AMR is significantly underreported, undetected and unaddressed. Without a coordinated international response, conflict-accelerated AMR will continue to diminish our ability to treat infections, leading to increased mortality, morbidity and health care costs worldwide. Humanitarian responses to conflicts must integrate AMR strategies, even in the presence of competing urgent needs. This can be achieved by using available data, collected prior to the conflict, about local AMR patterns to train first responders to use the appropriate antibiotics (which should be included in their emergency kits). It is also critical to prioritize clean water supply and wastewater management in IDP camps. Additionally, post-conflict reconstruction efforts should rebuild robust antimicrobial stewardship programs and surveillance systems, possibly by building on the interventions of humanitarian organizations during the conflict. Examples include Medecins sans Frontieres' electronic clinical decision support system (E-care) in Kenya, which reduced 50% of antibiotic prescriptions for children under 5 in primary health settings, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC's six-year antimicrobial stewardship program (20152021) at a reconstructive Lebanese surgical project, which established dedicated protocols, laboratory-guided prescribing and infection control measures that can be used as guide for the post-conflict systems. The battle against unseen microbial enemies demands as much attention as the visible horrors of war if we are to preserve the effectiveness of our most critical medications for future generations. 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 As kids prepare for a return to class, Brock University Professor of Child and Youth Studies Tony Volk says it's important to stop bullying early. "We know that bullying tends to kick in almost immediately, with bullying relationships usually starting within the first few weeks of school and past relationships sometimes carrying on into the new school year," says Volk, a developmental scientist and member of the Brock Research on Aggression and Victimization Experiences (BRAVE) group. "One of the main reasons why bullies bully is for popularity and reputationand they want that starting on day one." He says September is an important time for educators to make statements and enact policies to prevent bullying. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure because once bullying behavior is established, the stakes are higher and it's harder to prevent," he says. With new data showing an uptick in violence in Ontario schools, Volk says dedicating resources to anti-bullying behaviors early and intentionally can be a key way to positively impact outcomes. Data collected by Volk's team shows the increase being seen provincially isn't universal, however, suggesting that with the right focus and resources, some school boards seem to be able to buck this trend. For students who are the victim of bullying behavior, Volk recommends seeking support as soon as possible, confiding in either a trusted teacher, parent or classmate. Finding a group to connect withwhether online, an in-person club or an extracurricular groupalso comes with its benefits, creating a circle of support. Students may also consider removing themselves from spaces where they may encounter their bully, taking courses at different times throughout the year and avoiding run-ins in the halls. "That kind of mobility can be a way of diffusing the situation," Volk says. It's also important for victims not to blame themselves or see the fact that they were targeted by a bully as a reflection of a flaw within themselves, he says. "Bullying is often strangely impersonal. The target often doesn't matter, and the bully is just using them to make a point." He also stresses that "fighting back" is often not the best approach to stop bullying. "It's the best way to stop it and it's the best way to make it worse, so it's really a risky strategy," Volk says. "The reason why we don't emphasize confrontation is because bullying is a power imbalance. So, we're really looking for solutions that don't require the victim to have to overcome the power balance by themselves." Volk encourages parents, teachers and students to have early and frequent conversations around bullying. Parents can also watch out for signs that point to a problem. "You want to look for either a change or continuation of not wanting to go to school or not feeling wellthose are the two easiest signs," he says. "If they start off enthusiastic and then that drops off quickly, that's a sign that something has gone wrong. This is the time to catch it and nip it in the bud if you can." 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. For parents who suspect their child may be bullying others, it's key to appeal to their desires for power and popularityfrequent motivations for these actionswhile showing that kindness is more effective than coercion, Volk says. "Some kids have a real drive for recognition. They want to be the center of attention. They want that social visibilityand they're potentially willing to bully to get it," he says. "But if we help them understand you can get that power and be liked, even gaining more ground through kindness, then you've created a more pro-social peer structure." Both adults and kids value strength and kindness, Volk says. "You see this with the great leaders of the 20th century who were powerful and strong but also able to make alliances, working and cooperating with others," he says. "Teaching these skills to youth in our schools will foster kindness in the next generation." 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: Observed annual maximum daily streamflow data (a), the probability of record-breaking streamflow events (b), geographical map of the study area (c), and future projection of the return periods of record-breaking events (d) for the upper Indus Basin (UIB). Credit: POSTECH A new study led by Professor Jonghun Kam's team at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has uncovered a shocking forecast for Pakistan's future. Using a cutting-edge AI model, the research predicts that the country will face unprecedented "super floods" and "extreme droughts" on a periodic basis. The study is published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. This dire prediction is a direct result of accelerating global warming, which is causing more frequent and severe extreme weather events around the world, particularly in vulnerable high-altitude regions where glaciers are melting. The team focused on Pakistan because its major rivers, like the Indus, are the country's lifeline, but climate change has made water resources management increasingly difficult. As a "Global South" nation, Pakistan is especially vulnerable to climate change and lacks the economic and technological infrastructure to conduct extensive research. AI tackles inaccurate climate models To overcome these challenges, Professor Kam's team turned to artificial intelligence. Traditional climate models often struggle with complex terrains like Pakistan's steep mountains and narrow valleys. They tend to underestimate changes in these areas or overestimate rainfall, which makes their predictions unreliable. The researchers trained several AI models by comparing past river flow data with actual observations, which dramatically improved the accuracy of their predictions for past extreme weather events. This AI-corrected data proved to be far more reliable than existing models. What does the AI forecast? The analysis revealed a disturbing pattern. The upper Indus River could experience major floods and severe droughts approximately every 15 years. Surrounding rivers could face the same extreme events even more frequently, roughly every 11 years. This projection is a clear call to action, urging the Pakistani government to adopt tailored water management strategies for each river basin instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. Professor Kam stated that this new AI technology will be crucial for producing reliable climate data not only for Pakistan but also for other climate-vulnerable and data-poor regions around the globe. This research was conducted by the team of Professor Jonghun Kam from POSTECH's Division of Environmental Science and Engineering and doctoral student Hassan Raza, in collaboration with Professor Dagang Wang's team from Sun Yat-sen University in China. More information: Hassan Raza et al, More record events in streamflow over Pakistan revealed by observation-constrained projections, Environmental Research Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/adf130 Journal information: Environmental Research Letters 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: Upper left panel: Comet 3I/ATLAS as observed soon after its discovery. Upper right panel: Halley's comet's solid body as viewed up close by ESA's Giotto spacecraft. Lower panel: The path of comet 3I/Atlas relative to the planets Mercury through Saturn and the SwRI mission interceptor study trajectory if the mission were to be launched this year. The red arc in the bottom panel is the mission trajectory from Earth to interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Credit: NASA/ESA/UCLA/MPS Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has completed a mission study detailing how a proposed spacecraft could fly by an interstellar comet, providing remarkable insights into the properties of bodies originating beyond our solar system. The SwRI project developed the mission design, scientific objectives, payload and key requirements based on previous interstellar object (ISO) detections. Using the recent discovery of 3I/ATLAS, the team validated the mission concept, determining that 3I/ATLAS could have been intercepted and observed by the proposed spacecraft. In 2017, the object designated 1I/'Oumuamua became the first interstellar comet (ISC) detected in the solar system. Its identification and naming nomenclature starts with the number 1, because it's the first such object to be discovered, followed by an "I" for interstellar, and "Oumuamua," which is the object's given namea Hawaiian word meaning "a messenger from afar arriving first." Its discovery was soon followed by the discovery of the second interstellar comet, ISC 2I/Borisov in 2019, and now this year, ISC 3I/ATLAS, which made worldwide headlines as it became the third officially recognized interstellar object to cross into our solar system. As new astronomical facilities like the National Science Foundation's Vera Rubin Observatory develop new surveys and those capabilities expand, astronomers expect to discover many more ISCs over the next decade. "These new kinds of objects offer humankind the first feasible opportunity to closely explore bodies formed in other star systems," said SwRI Associate Vice President Dr. Alan Stern, a planetary scientist who led the study project. "An ISC flyby could give unprecedented insights into the composition, structure and properties of these objects, and it would significantly expand our understanding of solid body formation processes in other star systems." Scientists estimate that numerous interstellar objects of extrasolar origin pass inside Earth's orbit each year, and that as many as 10,000 pass inside Neptune's orbit in any given year. The SwRI-led internal research study tackled the unique design challenges and defined the costs and payload needs associated with an ISC mission. The mission concept could be later proposed to NASA. The hyperbolic trajectories and high velocities of these objects preclude orbiting them with current technology, but the SwRI study showed that flyby reconnaissance is feasible and affordable. "The trajectory of 3I/ATLAS is within the interceptable range of the mission we designed, and the scientific observations made during such a flyby would be groundbreaking," said SwRI's Matthew Freeman, the study's project manager." The proposed mission would be a high-speed, head-on flyby that would collect a large amount of valuable data and could also serve as a model for future missions to other ISCs." SwRI scientists and their external collaborators in the study established the major, comprehensive scientific objectives for a mission to an ISC. Determining the physical properties of the body would offer insights to its formation and evolution. Examining the ISC composition could help explain its origins and interpret how evolutionary forces have affected the comet since its formation. Yet another objective is to thoroughly investigate the nature of the object's coma, the escaping atmosphere emanating from its central body. 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. To develop mission trajectory options, SwRI developed software that generated a representative, synthetic population of ISCs then calculated a minimum energy trajectory from Earth to the path of each comet. The software's calculations showed that a low-energy rendezvous trajectory is possible, and in many cases would require less launch and in-flight velocity change resources than many other solar system missions. SwRI orbital mechanics expert, Dr. Mark Tapley, used this software to calculate the trajectory that the proposed spacecraft could have taken from Earth to intercept 3I/ATLAS. He found that the mission designed by SwRI's study could have reached 3I/ATLAS. "The very encouraging thing about the appearance of 3I/ATLAS is that it further strengthens the case that our study for an ISC mission made," said Tapley. "We demonstrated that it doesn't take anything harder than the technologies and launch performance like missions that NASA has already flown to encounter these interstellar comets." From irresistible waffle sandwich creations to crave-worthy prizes, guests are invited to stack, share and win September 7-13 SPARTANBURG, S.C., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Denny's is taking waffles to the next level for National Waffle Week with a crave-worthy celebration of creativity, sweet and savory flavor combinations and fan-favorite food hacks. Hack the Stack: Dennys Celebrates National Waffle Week with BOGO Deals, DIY Waffle Sandwiches and Social Giveaways Hack the Stack: Dennys Celebrates National Waffle Week with BOGO Deals, DIY Waffle Sandwiches and Social Giveaways From September 7-13, guests are invited to celebrate Waffle Week at home by building indulgent waffle sandwiches that are as bold as they are delicious. To make it even easier, fans will enjoy a Buy One, Get One (BOGO) deal only on Dennys.com grab one Berry Waffle Slam or Waffle Slam and get another entree of equal or lesser value for free. Twice the waffles mean twice the ways to build bold, delicious creations. For inspiration, America's Diner is sharing two fan-favorite, DIY waffle sandwich hacks: Chicken & Waffles Sandwich Hack Order a Waffle Slam and Premium Chicken Tenders. Stack one waffle, three crispy tenders, and bacon. Top with another waffle. Drizzle with maple syrup for the perfect sweet-savory combo. Grab a photo for Instagram and enjoy! The Waffleburger Hack Order a Waffle Slam and a Single Cheeseburger with Onion Rings. Stack: waffle onion ring burger patty with cheese onion ring waffle. Top with an egg and bacon strips for the ultimate breakfast-burger mashup. Snap a photo for the Gram and eat up! Denny's teamed up with @allaboutvibe to design a set of craveable giant waffle pillows made especially for true fans, Guests can join the fun by sharing their own waffle creations on social using #dennysbigwaffle. "At Denny's, we love seeing our guests take breakfast into their own hands -- literally," said Ellie Doty, Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer at Denny's. "National Waffle Week is all about creativity, fun and flavor. Whether you're remixing a classic or inventing something new, we love to see how our guests make it deliciously personal." The countdown to Waffle Week is on, and Loyalty members will be the first to receive the BOGO code on September 7. To sign up for Denny's Loyalty Program, visit Denny's.com /rewards. Otherwise, fans are encouraged to keep an eye on Denny's Instagram to grab the BOGO code which will be released on September 8. Whether a loyal hack-master or a first-time stacker, Waffle Week is guests' chance to get creative, get rewarded and get full. *Purchase required on BOGO, available for redemption only on Dennys.com. Prices and participation may vary, check your local Denny's. About Denny's Corp Denny's is a Spartanburg, S.C. - based family dining restaurant brand that has been welcoming guests to our booths for more than 70 years. Our guiding principle is simple: We love to feed people. Denny's provides craveable meals at a meaningful value across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night. Whether it's at our brick-and-mortar locations, via Denny's on Demand (the first delivery platform in the family dining segment), or at The Meltdown, Banda Burrito, and The Burger Den, our three virtual restaurant concepts, Denny's is ready to delight guests whenever and however they want to order. Our longstanding commitment to supporting our local communities in need is brought to life with our Mobile Relief Diner (that delivers hot meals to our neighbors during times of disaster), Denny's Hungry for Education scholarship program, our annual fundraiser with long-time-partner No Kid Hungry, and our new partnership supporting Cookies for Kids' Cancer in their mission to fund research for new, improved and less toxic treatments for kids facing cancer. Denny's is one of the largest franchised full-service restaurant brands in the world, based on the number of restaurants. As of June 25, 2025, the Denny's brand consisted of 1,484 restaurants, 1,422 of which were franchised and licensed restaurants and 62 of which were company-operated. This includes 166 restaurants in Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. To learn more about Denny's, please visit our brand website at www.dennys.com or the brand's social channels via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube. SOURCE Denny's 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: Normal mitotic cell (left) compared to a cell lacking TRIM37 (right), with spindle microtubules (green), centrosomal protein centrobin (magenta) and DNA (white). Patients with Mulibrey namism lack TRIM37 and their cells show similar extra spindle poles. Credit: University of California - San Diego In 2000, researchers discovered that mutations that inactivate a gene known as TRIM37 cause a developmental disease called Mulibrey nanism. The extremely rare inherited disorder leads to growth delays and abnormalities in several organs, causing afflictions of the heart, muscles, liver, brain and eyes. In addition, Mulibrey nanism patients exhibit high rates of cancer and are infertile. In 2016, UC San Diego School of Biological Sciences researchers in the labs of Professors Karen Oegema and Arshad Desai began understanding how TRIM37, when operating normally, plays a key role in preventing conditions that lead to Mulibrey nanism. They linked TRIM37 to spindles, which separate chromosomes during cell division, and centrosomes, the spherical organizing structures at each end of spindles. The image above shows a normal mitotic cell (left) compared to a cell lacking TRIM37 (right), with spindle microtubules (green), centrosomal protein centrobin (magenta) and DNA (white). Normal cells have two spindle poles that ensure proper cell division. Cells lacking TRIM37 frequently have extra spindle poles, containing a cluster of centrobin molecules that disrupt proper cell division. Patients with Mulibrey nanism lack TRIM37 and their cells show similar extra spindle poles. TRIM37, the researchers found, is therefore critical in preventing extra spindle poles from forming, which obstructs normal cell division, generating daughter cells with incorrect chromosomal content. But how does TRIM37 prevent the formation of extra spindle poles? Research recently published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology describes how TRIM37 prevents the formation of abnormal assemblies of centrosomal proteins that can become extra spindle poles. Desai describes TRIM37 as a type of "mob breaker" that recognizes abnormal clusters of centrosomal proteins and degrades them to prevent them from forming extra spindle poles that create problems for chromosome segregation. In this manner, TRIM37 ensures accurate genome transmission during cell division. "As loss of TRIM37 is associated with Mulibrey nanism, a tumor-prone human genetic disorder, the work also provides an explanation for what is happening at the cellular level to cause this disease," said Desai. Interestingly, the way TRIM37 works to prevent formation of extra spindle poles is similar to how viruses such as HIV are detected and eliminated by related TRIM proteins once they get inside cells. These findings highlight a similar molecular logic by which cells ensure accurate cell division and fight viral infections. The lead author of the study is Andrew Bellaart, a graduate student. A second graduate student, Jiawei Xu, also significantly contributed to the research and shares co-first authorship. The work also highlights the synergy derived from collaboration between experts in cell biology (Oegema and Desai) and structural biology (Corbett) in the School of Biological Sciences. More information: Andrew Bellaart et al, TRIM37 prevents ectopic spindle pole assembly by peptide motif recognition and substrate-dependent oligomerization, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41594-025-01562-0 Journal information: Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 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: Jacob Allgeier, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Michigan, created a test plot of seagrass that he enriched with nutrients over a period of nine years in a bay in the Bahamas. Credit: Jacob Allgeier/University of Michigan Seagrass has the potential to be one of the world's most effective sponges at soaking up and storing carbon, but we don't yet know how nutrient pollution affects its ability to sequester carbon. In a pair of studies, U-M researchers have evaluated the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus on seagrass, short, turf-like grasses that live in shallow, coastal areas. Examining data gathered from a plot of seagrass enriched with nutrients over a period of nine years, the scientists found that nutrients can increase seagrass's ability to store carbon. Those findings appear in Global Change Biology. However, in a second study appearing in Conservation Letters, they also found that an overload of nitrogen could lead to increased phytoplankton growth, which can shade out and kill seagrass. Jacob Allgeier, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, studies fish and seagrass and coral ecology in bays of the Bahamas and Dominican Republic. He noticed that seagrasses growing in bays overloaded with nutrients, mostly from human wastewater, quickly died off. Light couldn't penetrate through the phytoplankton, which also proliferated under the high-nutrient conditions. However, in other bays that experienced nutrient runoff but didn't have light-shading phytoplankton, he saw that seagrass grew well. Coastal tropical areas are often nutrient-starved. When the seagrasses growing there are bathed in nutrients, their growth takes off as long as there is not too much phytoplankton blocking out light, Allgeier says. The researchers, led by recent U-M doctoral graduate Bridget Shayka, found that in relatively nutrient-poor beds of seagrass, phosphorus and nitrogen helped seagrass grow. As the seagrass grew, it first invested in its underground growth, or root systems, storing carbon in its roots. Then, the grass invested in aboveground structurestheir blades. The end result was that the roots grew quickly but also died quickly, which shunted extra carbon into the sediment surrounding the roots and sequestered it at a higher rate. That result is part of the Global Change Biology paper. "People thought excess nutrients were killing seagrass," Allgeier said. "But we show that as long as there are not too many nutrients, which would also increase phytoplankton, the seagrass will just increase growth with excess nutrients." To study nutrient impacts, Shayka and Allgeier took samples of the seagrass from test plots in the Bahamas that had been treated with nutrients for nine years. Shayka and a raft of 17 undergraduates painstakingly untangled the seagrass, separating the grass into parts: the blades that grow aboveground but under water, the sheath from which the blades emerge, the seagrass's roots and the seagrass's rhizomesbasically an underground stem from which other seagrass plants can grow. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. They then freeze-dried each part, pulverized them and tested them for nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon. In addition to finding that increasing nutrients in the system increased carbon turnover in the plants, the researchers also found that nutrients supplied by human sources had a greater impact on the seagrasses than those supplied by fish. "The systems we study are pretty low-nutrient systems, so adding nutrients can increase seagrass production," said Shayka, now a program officer for the nonprofit Ocean Visions. "But we also know that when you go too far and add too many nutrients, it really destroys these systems. It's one of the leading causes of their destruction around the world and in coastal systems." University of Michigan researchers, including recent doctoral graduate Bridget Shayka, studied the impact of nutrients on seagrass. They studied plots of seagrass growing in a bay in the Bahamas, where Shayka took this photo. Credit: Bridget Shayka In the Conservation Letters study, the researchers tested which nutrient, nitrogen or phosphorus, had the greatest impact on seagrass, as well as whether the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus or the total amount of each nutrient had the greatest effect on the system. They also examined nutrient impacts on phytoplankton. To do this, they created 21 different ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus and added nutrients to test plots of seagrass growing in a different part of the same bay as well as to phytoplankton in bottles. They found that phosphorus had a bigger positive effect on seagrass growth than nitrogen in the nutrient-poor conditions. Longstanding ecological theory suggests that the ratio of nutrients has the greatest impact on a systembut the researchers found that in this particular case, phosphorus had a greater effect on seagrass while nitrogen had a greater effect on phytoplankton growth. In particular, the researchers found that the addition of nitrogen caused the rates of phytoplankton in the bottles to skyrocket, showing that increasing nitrogen in the natural landscape could lead to levels of phytoplankton that would shade out the seagrass. "When you grow tomatoes, you don't just add nitrogen. You add a perfect ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus. That idea is replete in our society," Allgeier said. "But because we tested the water column and because we tested the seagrass, we're able to say that model doesn't work in our system." This finding could inform how local communities control nutrient impacts on seagrass. "We're not stopping nutrient enrichment. It's just not going to stop," Allgeier said. "But we can manage it. And how do you best manage it? We scrub it for nitrogen." More information: Bridget F. Shayka et al, Nutrient Enrichment Increases Blue Carbon Potential of Subtropical Seagrass Beds, Global Change Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.70401 Bridget F. Shayka et al, A New Conceptual Model of Tropical Seagrass Eutrophication: Evidence for Single Nutrient Management, Conservation Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1111/conl.13133 Journal information: Global Change Biology , Conservation Letters 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: Coastal mangroves. Credit: Octavio Aburto Increasing ocean temperatures will erase mangrove restoration gains expected to occur due to economic development and conservation, according to a new study from researchers at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The study, published in Environmental Research: Climate, projects that by 2100 the world would lose out on some 150,000 hectares (370,000 acres) of mangroves and associated ecosystem services worth $28 billion annually, with Asia bearing nearly two-thirds of these losses. The findings bolster the economic case for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and suggest that conservation targets for mangroves may need to become even more aggressive to outpace climate change, said the authors. Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees with intricate, exposed roots that grow in intertidal zones in tropical and subtropical regions. The coastal wetlands they form protect coastal human communities from storm surges and tsunamis, create habitat for fish and other wildlife, store carbon and improve water quality. After decades of heavy losses, mangrove forest destruction has slowed due to increased recognition of their importance as well as economic development. "As a country gets richer you tend to see an initial increase in environmental destruction, but once a place achieves a certain level of economic development the environment degradation starts to diminish," said Katharine Ricke, a climate scientist at Scripps and co-author of the study. Climate change, however, is warming the world's oceans, and in some parts of the world, these increasing temperatures can exceed the limits of what mangroves can tolerate. With these two opposing forces in mind, the study authors wanted to use satellite imagery and statistical analysis to peer into the future of these important coastal ecosystems. Beginning in 2022, the team analyzed high-resolution satellite data on mangrove forest coverage from 1996 to 2020, and combined them with local economic indicators and ocean surface temperature records for 1,533 locations worldwide. Using panel data analysisa statistical technique that examines changes over both time and spacethe researchers isolated the effects of changes in sea-surface temperature and gross domestic product in these places from other factors like local governance and conservation policies. The researchers then projected future mangrove coverage under various climate and economic scenarios through 2100. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The analysis found that while economic growth and the associated increases in conservation would restore substantial mangrove coverage over time, warming oceans almost entirely cancel out these gains. "Socioeconomic and policy forces are currently strong enough to cancel out climate damage to mangroves, resulting in stability rather than decline," said Ricke. "But our projections show we need to accelerate both conservation efforts and emissions reductions to keep making progress for mangroves." Neither factoreconomic development and ocean warminghad a strictly linear relationship with mangrove forest recovery. Warming initially helped mangroves in cooler regions, before becoming destructive beyond a threshold, and economic development first caused mangrove destruction before nations became wealthy enough to invest in protections. In high-emissions climate scenarios, mangrove forests could shrink by some 150,000 hectares by 2100. The economic value of the lost ecosystem services by 2100 totals roughly $28 billion per year. "We need to keep pushing to protect these ecosystems because they can both help us fight climate change and adapt to its impacts," said Ricke. The lost ecosystem services in 2100 predicted by the study were unequally distributed: Asia faced $18.6 billion in annual losses, the Middle East and Africa $5.4 billion, Latin America and the Caribbean $3.6 billion, while wealthy nations lost less than $1 billion. "We keep finding that while climate change damages ecosystems broadly, the impacts on people's well-being are far from evenly distributed," said Bernie Bastien-Olvera, who led the study during a postdoctoral fellowship at Scripps and is now at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. "These unequal losses deepen existing inequalities, and they are often absent from conventional climate impact metrics. " The researchers suggest that these findings need to be factored into attempts to calculate the economic damages caused by continued greenhouse gas emissions, such as the social cost of carbon. Ricke said such calculations have historically failed to adequately incorporate the value of ocean ecosystems. The team also calls for those working in mangrove conservation and restoration to integrate climate projections into their targets, because achieving mangrove recovery is likely to require more aggressive action than expected. More information: Bernardo Adolfo Bastien-Olvera et al, A warming ocean threatens mangrove restoration targets and deepens global inequities in ecosystem service losses, Environmental Research: Climate (2025). DOI: 10.1088/2752-5295/adffa9 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: Proboscis monkey. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The prominent noses of male proboscis monkeys, long thought to be merely visual signals, play a crucial role in vocal communication, enhancing individual identity. A new study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface reveals how these unusual nasal appendages shape the monkeys' calls, offering insights into the evolution of vocal individuality. Researchers from the University of Osaka, Ritsumeikan University, and Kyoto University collaborated with the Yokohama Zoo Zoorasia to conduct CT scans on preserved proboscis monkey specimens. These scans allowed them to create detailed 3D digital models of the nasal passages. Using computational simulation, the team determined the nose's "transfer function," which describes how sound frequencies are amplified or dampened as they pass through the nasal cavity. These simulations revealed that the large nose of adult male proboscis monkeys significantly affects the formants, or resonant frequencies, of their calls, creating distinct vocal signatures. These findings were further validated through acoustic measurements on physical replicas of the nasal passages. Three-dimensional models, area functions and calculated transfer functions of the nasal passage. Credit: Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2025). DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2025.0098 Understanding how physical characteristics influence vocalizations contributes to broader evolutionary studies of communication. This research sheds light on the development of individual vocal identity not only in proboscis monkeys but also in other species, including humans. By deciphering the acoustic effects of the proboscis monkey's nose, scientists gain a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between anatomy, acoustics, and social behavior in the animal kingdom. Professor Takeshi Nishimura commented, "This research, a unique collaboration between a zoo dedicated to rare species conservation, primatologists, and engineers, yielded unexpected results. We are delighted to have uncovered findings that link physical characteristics to vocal communication and social evolution. We are excited about the future prospects of this research." More information: Tomoki Yoshitani et al, Individual vocal identity is enhanced by the enlarged external nose in male proboscis monkeys ( Nasalis larvatus ), Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2025). DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2025.0098 Journal information: Journal of the Royal Society Interface 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: Fig. 1. Optically Programmable Array of Transducers (OPAT) uses light to shape ultrasonic fields. Credit: Rahul Goyal, from Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63517-9 The notion of a phased array was initially articulated by Nobel Prize recipient K. F. Braun. Phased arrays have subsequently evolved into a formidable mechanism for wave manipulation. This assertion holds particularly true in the realm of ultrasound, wherein arrays composed of ultrasound-generating transducers are employed in various applications, including therapeutic ultrasound, tissue engineering, and particle manipulation. Importantly, these applicationscontrary to those aimed at imagingdemand high-intensity ultrasound, which complicates the electrical driving requirements, as each channel necessitates its own independently operational pulse circuitry and amplifier. Consequently, the majority of phased array transducers (PATs) are constrained to several hundred elements, thereby restricting the capability to shape intricate ultrasound beams. To date, there exists no scalable methodology for the powering and control of phased array transducers. Notwithstanding the extensive development over the past five decades that has culminated in enhanced reliability and efficiency of PAT hardware, the fundamental structure of the multi-channel sequential architecture employed for the individual addressing of transducer elements has remained largely unchanged. Although advancements have been made to facilitate high-power electrical excitation of therapeutic arrays, such advancements are tailored to point-focused geometries and would prove inadequate for the significantly more intricate field configurations required for a variety of applications. Consequently, there exists a pressing necessity for an innovative architecture capable of concurrently driving thousands of transducer elements with high power, rapid update rates, and stringent timing or phase control to enable precise field synthesis. We have developed an optoelectronic architecture that necessitates merely a singular amplified electrical input signal, which is subsequently disseminated and modulated independently for each transducer element, thereby obviating the requirement for separate pulse circuitry and amplifiers for every channel. Furthermore, given that the signals driving each channel are intrinsically phase-synchronized, the necessity for an independent clock is eliminated, allowing all phase modulation to be executed via the optical inputs. Ultimately, our electronic architecture exhibits a broad operational bandwidth, thereby accommodating the employment of transducers across an extensive spectrum of central frequencies. The pivotal component within the OPAT architecture is the light-activated phase shifter (LAPS), which constitutes an analog circuit designed for high-frequency operation, predicated on photoresistive elements integrated with passive electronic devices within a cascaded architecture. The electrical circuit effectively converts an optical intensity into a precisely phase-shifted electrical signal. The real-time phase is adjustable by modulating the intensity of the illuminating light, which can be concurrently applied across all channels utilizing standard, commercially available projectors. The conceptual framework of modulating the phase of each transducer within the array independently through light is depicted in fig. 1. 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. Forthcoming biomedical applications utilizing structured ultrasound fields necessitate the transmission of elevated acoustic power into spatially intricate configurations. To fulfill these requirements, it is imperative to employ transducers characterized by larger apertures and increased element counts compared to those conventionally utilized for imaging, which presents significant fabrication challenges and has, until this point, been impractical for electrical excitation. In our article published in Nature Communications, we have proposed a novel architecture for the electrical excitation of phased arrays through the utilization of programmable light intensity patterns. The principal innovation within our design is a balanced dual-cascaded RC network, wherein the photosensitive resistors facilitate wireless and extensively parallelizable regulation of the electrical output phase. This configuration permits, for the first time, the optical modulation of the driving phase for each individual array element continuously across the range of - to + . Furthermore, our architecture is capable of independently driving all transducer elements within an array utilizing merely one amplified RF signal, thereby significantly streamlining the operation of extensive transducer arrays. The current system operates at a rapid rate of 100 Hz and exhibits scalability, as the light-triggered phase switching can be executed with low-intensity optical projection 66 mW/cm2. Additionally, the circuit is designed to accommodate varying transducer capacitance and a wide frequency spectrum ranging from 100 kHz to 10 MHz. We implement our architecture to actuate a standard 1111 imaging array, thereby generating complex wavefronts, demonstrating switchable focusing capabilities, and projecting vortex beams. We employed the Iterative Angular Spectrum Approach (IASA) to ascertain the relative phase shift for distinct transducer elements essential for the generation of the programmed wavefront. The phase distribution across the transducer elements is ascertained by iteratively propagating a wave from the target plane to the transducer plane and subsequently returning, while imposing amplitude constraints in each respective plane. In our refinement of the IASA algorithm, we implemented an amplitude constraint for each pixel to align with the experimentally observed phase shift-dependent amplitude. The amplitude constraints for each iteration are established independently and explicitly. The algorithm demonstrates convergence within several tens of iterations to produce the requisite phase map. We executed about 50 iterations for each wavefront to facilitate an accurate comparison of the performance of Optical Phase Array Transducers (OPATs) across various applications. We partitioned the transducer elements into multiple pixels in order to configure the transducer phases for fields exhibiting higher resolutions than the driving array and posited a uniform phase output for all pixels corresponding to a singular element. The relative phase shift for individual transducer elements is subsequently computed by averaging the resultant phase shift across all pixels that constitute one element. The algorithm yields favorable experimental outcomes that align with the theoretically anticipated wavefronts. The phase distribution computed via IASA is subsequently converted into light intensity through a look-up table derived from the experimentally measured curves depicted in fig. 2. The discretized input plane for computation of pressure fields produced by a transducer array. Credit: Rahul Goyal Due to its parallel addressing mechanism, singular power supply, and performance that is independent of load, the optical phase shifter presented herein is anticipated to scale advantageously, thus facilitating the operation of exceptionally large element transducer arrays and significantly enhancing the capacity to generate dynamic intricate ultrasound fields. To effectively actuate larger arrays while maintaining a compact and adaptable footprint, the optical modulator may be amalgamated, for example, utilizing LED arrays in conjunction with a micro-lens array to optimize light collection efficiency. The modulator circuitry could subsequently be seamlessly integrated with an emitter transducer through flip-chip bonding. This cohesive architecture could thereby endorse additional scaling without necessitating more intricate interconnections and electronics, thereby opening avenues for novel applications in biomedicine, including ultrasound-assisted tissue engineering and ultrasound-based therapeutic interventions. This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate. More information: Rahul Goyal et al, All-optically controlled phased-array for ultrasonics, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63517-9 Journal information: Nature Communications Rahul Goyal received his B.E. degree in 2015 in electrical engineering with a major in semiconductor physics. Thereafter, he worked in New Delhi and later joined the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where he obtained his M.E. degree in 2018 in nanoscience and engineering. He obtained his doctorate (PhD) from Heidelberg University in Engineering Sciences (Dr.-Ing.). Currently, he is a postdoctoral researcher in the MNMS Group at the Max Planck Institute (Heidelberg, Germany). His research focuses on the development of novel acoustic effects and designing acoustic devices for dynamic wavefront shaping. He is also interested in making dynamic magnetic field systems and high frequency integrated circuits. He has four years of experience in carrying out manufacturing processes in an ISO 4 cleanroom. He has a strong knowledge of advanced techniques such as lithography, PVD, RIE, ALD, and PECVD, as well as characterization techniques such as SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and Ellipsometry. 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: Visualization of conflict and transformation in the case of southern resident killer whales and Chinook management in the Salish Sea. An iceberg represents the levels-of-conflict, with visible and below-the-surface (more deeply rooted) elements of conflict identified. Credit: Conservation Science and Practice (2025). DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70108 In the waters of the Salish Sea, endangered southern resident killer whales and the struggling Chinook salmon they depend on are at the center of one of Canada's most visible conservation conflicts. Since 2019, Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has implemented area-based restrictions on Chinook fishing and other protective measures to safeguard the killer whales and their primary food source. These measures include area-based recreational fishing closures, interim sanctuary zones and voluntary seasonal vessel slowdown areas. These prescriptions have stoked tensions, particularly between two groups often cast as distinct and opposed: recreational fishers and conservationists. The issue has spilled beyond local waters, surfacing on national media and even influencing fishery debates in Alaska. Conflicts like this one aren't unique. They surroundand can influencemany modern environmental, social and policy decisions. At their best, conflicts can bring attention to unmet community needs, spark dialog and repair fractured relationships. But misunderstood or mishandled, they can harden divisions that stymie evidence-based decision-making, deepening distrust. Too often in North America, default management approaches inflame such conflict rather than resolve it. But new collaborative research colleagues and I have conducted suggests pathways to transform conflict surrounding killer whale protection and Chinook fishingand may offer broader insight for effectively managing conflicts around conservation efforts. Our research We surveyed more than 700 British Columbians, many of whom self-identified as either recreational fishers or conservationists. What we learned from participants has challenged dominant conflict narratives: nearly one-third of those who identified primarily as conservationists also identified as anglers, and almost half of anglers also identified as conservationists. In other words, many of the people involved in this conflict occupy both sides of public debates, and bear multifaceted identities as they relate to whales, salmon and policy. Yet public and political discourse about environmental management often reduces conflict to binary opposing opinions: do we support temporary recreational fishing restrictions to protect killer whales, or do we oppose them? Humansand conflictsare not that simple, and treating them as such may be destructive to people, communities, policies and marine ecosystems. Decades of research show, for instance, that conflicts are shaped not just by opinions, but by deeply rooted psychological characteristics, including identities, beliefs and values. These aspects of conflict are not trivial; they are central to how people make sense of their world, their relationships, and themselves. We used surveys to measure beliefs, opinions and identity affiliations to assess not only opinions on killer whales and salmon management, but also the identities and beliefs beneath them. 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. What we found We found that both anglers and those supporting conservation strongly tied their sense of self and well-being to the environment, as well as to their chosen identity groups (recreational fishers or conservationists). Despite disagreements, both groups valued salmon and whalesand both expressed frustration with DFO's current management approaches. We also identified the deeper roots of conflict between participants. Recreational fishers and conservationists differed in what they believed the fundamental priority of environmental management should be. Conservationist respondents were more likely to emphasize protecting species regardless of their utility to humans, while recreational fishers expressed mixed views. Some agreed with that stance but others felt environmental management should prioritize species that benefit people directly or strike a balance between conservation and use. One of our most striking findings came from comparing survey responses with social media commentary. When people responded to our survey, they tended to share their views with minimal inflammatory language. In contrast, data we extracted from Facebook discussions about the same issues contained far more hostile sentiments. Online, we saw more frequent expressions of anger, distrust, victimization and even violent rhetoric. This isn't surprising. Substantial research has identified that social media can amplify emotional responses, reward polarization and reduce the social cost of hostility. This finding indicates a potential negative feedback loop: when media and online discourse reduce complex conflicts to binary arguments, they risk entrenching people in "us versus them" stances. Transforming conflict Given these insights, we propose a fundamental reorientation of how DFO and other managers approach such conflict. Rather than treating conflicts as problems to be managed through superficial consultations or short-term negotiations, decision-makers must address their roots. This means adopting transformative approaches to addressing conflict: acknowledging deeper social roots of conflict, investing in long-term dialog and relationship-building and creating space for mutual understanding even without consensus. Research shows it is much easier to find solutions when stakeholders feel seen, included and mutually-respected. These solutions require time, resources, trained mediators and a commitment to engage with emotional and identity-based dimensions of conflict. They also offer something that current approaches have not: the possibility of durable, locally supported solutions, improved trust and collaboration. Conflict transformation approaches have proven effective in ameliorating entrenched conflicts between stakeholders over cougar management in the United States, elephant management in Mozambique and elsewhere. As climate change, habitat degradation and species decline intensify, so will conflicts over environmental decisions. These conflicts may appear to be about salmon, whales or other species, but many of them are ultimately about people: their livelihoods, values, relationships, identities and visions for the future. Accordingly, we need to stop treating conflict as an inconvenience to be managed or avoided. Instead, policymakers can leverage complex, entrenched conflicts as opportunities to identify the deeper roots of what's at stake and create dialog and decision-making frameworks that acknowledge people's lived realities while building the trust needed for coexistence. More information: Lauren E. Eckert et al, Identifying opportunities toward conflict transformation in an OrcaSalmonHuman system, Conservation Science and Practice (2025). DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70108 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: Fausto Silva and Michael Weintraub check out a root collected from a soil sample at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in June. Silva is a research assistant professor and Weintraub is a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences. Credit: University of Toledo University of Toledo environmental researchers trooped through the woods and wetlands of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge for a week in early June. Their mission? To outfit an approximately 16-acre site with nearly 300 sensors that will constantly monitor a slew of metrics related to the soil, water and plants, including the flow of sap through trees. "Think of it like a patient in the ICU," said Dr. Michael Weintraub, a soil ecologist and professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences. "We're trying to get as much information as possible." The latest infrastructure installation advances the work of a large-scale collaborative project known as Coastal Observations, Mechanisms and Predictions Across Systems and Scales: Field Measurements and Experiments (COMPASS-FME), which seeks to understand how coastal environments respond to flooding. The objective is to inform and improve models that forecast how coastal ecosystems will function under changing water levels. Adding these sensors heralds a shift in focus from the observational to the experimental: After more than three years of monitoring three sites in northwest Ohio, researchers are now preparing to flood one of these sites in collaboration with the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in a large-scale field experiment. "To understand the effects of flooding, it helps to have some floods," said Weintraub, a co-principal investigator on COMPASS-FME. "It can be challenging to wait for them to occur. So rather than just relying on natural events, we're creating the ability to introduce controlled floods in one of our monitoring sites. That's going to give us the ability to control the timing, duration and magnitude of the flooding event, things that we don't have control over with natural events." UToledo researchers and their collaborators across the country have shared their observations related to vegetation, soil and hydrologysome of it challenging conventional wisdom when it comes to coastline ecosystems in numerous peer-reviewed research articles since the launch of COMPASS-FME. Dr. Inke Forbrich, another co-investigator and assistant professor in the UToledo Department of Environmental Sciences, is exploring the impact of flooding on emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane. She and Dr. Angela Che Ing Tang, a research assistant professor in Forbrich's group, recently led research that yielded an unexpected outcome. As reported in the journal Global Change Biology, they found that high water levels and consequent shifts in vegetation actually decreased methane emissions along low-lying coastal wetlands at Old Woman Creek. (a) Map of the study site showing the locations of the flux tower, weather station, and two aquatic monitoring stations: lower estuary (OL) and wetland mouth (WM). The site transformed from (b) cattail-dominated vegetation in 20152016 to (c) floating-leaved species (lotus and water lily) in 20202022. Credit: Global Change Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.70053 "We identified two mechanisms that are involved," Forbrich said. "First, plants differ in their capability of transporting methane, which is important to consider when species' composition change. In addition, we found that a large amount of methane can effectively be consumed in standing water. The deeper the water column, the more methane is being removed." Dr. Kennedy Doro, another co-investigator and associate professor in the UToledo Department of Environmental Sciences, brings an expertise in geophysics and soil hydrology to the project. It's important to study how water moves beneath the soil surface because this, in part, controls how soils respond to flooding and whether they will lack sufficient oxygen to support plants, potentially resulting in "ghost forests" of dead and dying trees. 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. However, soil responses to flooding may be more complex than originally thought. "We thought we would be looking at clay over bedrock, which doesn't allow for much groundwater movement," Doro said. "But one of the cool things we've found is that the soils in this ecosystem are heterogeneous and that the movement of water within them sometimes goes against what we had assumed." The researchers' observation and analysis will continue as they move toward the large-scale field experiment they anticipate will start in summer 2027. Setup for the experimental flood is an intensive and yearslong process, requiring researchers to first install a pump that can rapidly flood the forested wetland, which is diked to contain water. They also need to build out the power and communications infrastructure to support equipment they began to install this summer with the assistance of collaborating researchers from across the country. Weintraub said they're looking forward to advancing their work. "This is one of the biggest coastal research projects in the history of the United States," he said. "We've learned a lot already and we know we'll learn even more in this next stage." More information: Angela Che Ing Tang et al, Rising Water Levels and Vegetation Shifts Drive Substantial Reductions in Methane Emissions and Carbon Dioxide Uptake in a Great Lakes Coastal Freshwater Wetland, Global Change Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.70053 Journal information: Global Change Biology 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: Undisturbed burial of an adult woman with genetic markers indicating local origin. Grave goods: glass bead jewelry and a cowrie shell amulet. Pre-Slavic cemetery of Brucken, feature 13913:29. Credit: Landesmuseum fur Vorgeschichte The spread of the Slavs stands as one of the most formative yet least understood events in European history. Starting in the 6th century CE, Slavic groups began to appear in the written records of Byzantine and Western sources, settling lands from the Baltic to the Balkans, and from the Elbe to the Volga. Yet, in stark contrast to the famous migrations of Germanic tribes like the Goths or Langobards or the legendary conquests of the Huns, the Slavic story has long been a difficult puzzle for historians of the European Middle Ages. This is partly because early Slavic communities left behind rather little for archaeologists to find: they practiced cremation, built simple houses, and produced plain, undecorated pottery. Perhaps most significantly, they did not leave behind written records of their own for several centuries. As a result, the term "Slavs" itself has been ambiguous, sometimes imposed by outside chroniclers and often mis-used in later nationalist or ideological debates. Where did these people come from, and how did they so thoroughly change the cultural and linguistic map of Europe? Historians have long debated whether the spread of Slavic material culture and language was driven by a mass migration of people, the gradual "Slavicisation" of local populations, or a combination of both. But the evidence was thinespecially in the crucial early centuries, when cremation made DNA studies nearly impossible and archaeological traces were modest. How the Slavs transformed Europe Now, an international research team of researchers from Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechia and Croatia led by the HistoGenes consortium has provided answers with the first comprehensive ancient DNA study of medieval Slavic populations. The study was published in Nature. By sequencing over 550 ancient genomes, the team has revealed that the rise of the Slavs was, at its core, a story of people on the move. Their genetic signatures point to an origin in the region stretching from southern Belarus to central Ukrainea geographic area that matches what many linguistic and archaeological reconstructions had long suggested. "While direct evidence from early Slavic core regions is still rare, our genetic results offer the first concrete clues to the formation of Slavic ancestrypointing to a likely origin somewhere between the Dniester and Don rivers" says Joscha Gretzinger, a geneticist from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and lead author of the study. The data show that, beginning in the 6th century CE, large-scale migrations carried this Eastern European ancestry across wide areas of Central and Eastern Europe, which caused the genetic makeup of regions like Eastern Germany and Poland to shift almost entirely. Yet the expansion did not follow the model of conquest and empire: instead of sweeping armies and rigid hierarchies, the migrants built their new societies on flexible communities, often organized around extended families and patrilineal kinship ties. Also, this was not a single, uniform model across all regions. In Eastern Germany, the shift was profound: large, multi-generational pedigrees became the backbone of society, with kinship networks more extensive and structured than the small nuclear families seen in the preceding Migration Period. In contrast, in areas such as Croatia, the arrival of Eastern European groups brought much less disruption to existing social patterns. Here, social organization often retained many features of earlier periods, resulting in communities where new and old traditions blended or persisted side by side. This regional diversity in social structure highlights how the spread of Slavic groups was not a one-size-fits-all process, but rather a dynamic transformation that adapted to local contexts and histories. "Rather than a single people moving as one, the Slavic expansion was not a monolithic event but a mosaic of different groups, each adapting and blending in its own waysuggesting there was never just one "Slavic' identity, but many." explains Zuzana Hofmanova from the MPI EVA and Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, one of the senior lead authors of the study. Notably, the genetic record reveals no significant sex bias in these migrations: entire families moved together, and both men and women contributed equally to the emerging societies. More data will show in the upcoming years how each community adapted, integrated, or reinvented itself in response to both migration and its own local history. Excavation in 2020 at the pre-Slavic cemetery of Brucken, Mansfeld-Sudharz District (Saxony-Anhalt). Credit: Landesmuseum fur Vorgeschichte 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. Spotlight on eastern Germany In Eastern Germany specifically, the genetic data show an especially striking story. Following the decline of the Thuringian kingdom, more than 85% of the ancestry in the region can be attributed to new arrivals from the East. This marks a shift from the earlier Migration Period, when the population was a cosmopolitan mix as best illustrated by the site of Brucken, a richly furnished late antique cemetery from Sachsen Anhalt that displayed a mix of Northern, Central and Southern European ancestry. With the spread of the Slavs, this diversity gave way to a population profile almost identical to modern Slavic-speaking groups in Eastern Europe. Archaeological evidence from cemeteries confirms that these new communities organized themselves around large extended families and patrilineal descentwhile women of marriageable age typically left their home villages to join new households elsewhere. Notably, the genetic legacy of these early Eastern European settlers endures today among the Sorbs, a Slavic-speaking minority in Eastern Germany. Despite centuries of surrounding cultural and linguistic change, the Sorbs have retained a genetic profile closely related to the early medieval Slavic populations that settled the region more than 1,000 years ago. Spotlight on Poland In Poland specifically, the research overturns earlier ideas of long-term population continuity. Genetic results show that starting in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, the region's earlier inhabitantsdescendants of populations with strong links to Northern Europe and Scandinavia in particularalmost entirely disappeared and were successively replaced by newcomers from the East, who are closely related to modern Poles, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. This conclusion is reinforced by the analysis of some of the earliest known Slavic inhumation graves in Poland, excavated at the site of Grodek, which provide rare and direct evidence of these early migrants. While the population shift was overwhelming, the genetic evidence also reveals minor traces of mixing with local populations. These findings underscore both the scale of population change and the complex dynamics that shaped the roots of today's Central and Eastern European linguistic landscape. Spotlight on Croatia The Northern Balkans specifically present a different pattern compared to the northern immigration areaa story of both change and continuity. Ancient DNA from Croatia and neighboring regions reveals a significant influx of Eastern European-related ancestry, but not a complete genetic replacement. Instead, Eastern European migrants mixed with the region's diverse local populations, creating new, hybrid communities. Genetic analyses indicate that in present-day Balkan populations, the proportion of this incoming Eastern European ancestry varies considerably but often makes up roughly half or even less of the modern gene pool, highlighting the region's complex demographic history. The formation of such a mixed community is clearly seen at the site of Velim, where some of the oldest Slavic burials in the region show evidence of both Eastern European migrants and up to 30% local ancestry. Here, the Slavic migration was not a wave of conquest but a long process of intermarriage and adaptation, resulting in the cultural, linguistic and genetic diversity that still characterizes the Balkan Peninsula today. Aerial view of the Velim burial site in Croatia. Credit: Archaeological Museum Zadar Independent confirmation in Moravia, Czechia In an independent study at the same time today published in Genome Biology, researchers from Czechia, Germany, Switzerland and UK with a senior leader of Dr. Zuzana Hofmanova found that there was also a population change in Southern Moravia (Czechia) and that this demographic shift can be linked to the change to the Slavic-associated material culture which originated in modern-day Ukraine. While whole genomes of preceding, Migration-period individuals showed a large genetic diversity, individuals linked with the Slavic-related cultural horizons had affinities to Northeastern Europe, a feature that was not present before.This dataset included an individual, an infant, buried within a very early Slavic context usually only linked to cremations thus narrowing regionally the change in time and associating it to the Prague-Korchak culture. Importantly, the same genetic signal was present not only for individuals from the 7th and 8th centuries, but was regionally continuous to the 9th and 10th centuries when this region is associated to one of the earliest Slavic polities, the Moravian principality, known because of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the first literary Slavic language (Old Church Slavonic) and Glagolithic script they created for their mission among the Moravian Slavs. A new chapter in European history This study does not just resolve the historical puzzle how one of the world's largest linguistic and cultural groups came to be. It also offers new perspectives on why Slavic groups spread so successfully, and why they left so few traces of the kinds historians once sought. As medievalist Walter Pohl, one of the senior lead authors of the study, puts it, the Slavic migration represents a fundamentally different model of social organization: "a demic diffusion or grass-root movement, often in small groups or temporary alliances, settling new territories without imposing a fixed identity or elite structures." Their success may have been due not to conquest but to a pragmatic, egalitarian lifestyleone that avoided the heavy burdens and hierarchies of the crumbling Roman world. In many places, the Slavs offered a credible alternative to the declining empires around them. Their social resilience, relatively simple subsistence economy, and willingness to adapt made them well-suited to periods of instability, whether caused by climate change or plague. The new genetic findings support this interpretation. Mostly where early Slavic groups are found in the archaeological and historical record, their genetic traces match: a common ancestral origin, but regional differences shaped by the degree of mixing with local populations. In the north, earlier Germanic peoples had largely moved away, leaving room for Slavic settlement. In the south, the Eastern European newcomers merged with established communities. This patchwork process explains the remarkable diversity found in the cultures, languages, and even the genetics of today's Central and Eastern Europe. "The spread of the Slavs was likely the last demographic event of continental scale to permanently and fundamentally reshape both the genetic and linguistic landscape of Europe." says Johannes Krause, director at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and one of the senior authors of the study. With these new results, researchers can finally see beyond the gaps in the written and archaeological record to trace the true scope of the Slavic migrationsone of the most influential yet understated chapters in Europe's past. The echoes of this history remain today, in the languages, cultures, and even the DNA of millions across the continent. More information: Ancient DNA connects large-scale migration with the spread of Slavs, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09437-6 Ilektra Schulz et al, Ancient genomes provide evidence of demographic shift to Slavic-associated groups in Moravia, Genome Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s13059-025-03700-9 , dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13059-025-03700-9 Journal information: Nature , Genome Biology 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: Current shoreline conditions at a beachfront site in Waikiki during a king tide. Credit: Eric Teeples A new study reveals a wide variety of approaches across the U.S. for establishing building elevation guidelines that account for future sea level rise, highlighting a need for more standardized methods. The University of Hawaii at Manoa research, published in Water, provides a critical resource for policymakers and designers in coastal communities such as Hawaii who are planning for the impacts of climate change. "With coastal high tide flooding having doubled in the U.S. in the last two decades, it's clear that we need to build for the future, not just for the past," said lead author Wendy Meguro, an associate professor in the UH Manoa School of Architecture and director of the Environmental Research and Design Lab. "Our main suggestion is for policymakers and designers to plan for sea-level rise amounts projected within a building's lifetime." Serving Hawaii This research directly supports state and county efforts in Hawaii to adapt coastal communities to the impacts of sea-level rise by informing future building policies. The collaborative project also aligns with UH Manoa's strategic goals of fostering faculty-mentored student research that responds to state needs. "This research is crucial for supporting community resilience in Hawaii," said Eric Teeples, who was a doctor of architecture graduate student while working on the project and is a co-author of the paper. "Sea level rise is a real threat to many coastal communities, and Hawaii is particularly vulnerable. By learning from others, we can develop informed, forward-thinking, and actionable approaches that fit our community." The research team plans to share their findings and gather public feedback at a presentation in late 2025. This event will focus on different methods to determine minimum building elevation to adapt to sea-level rise and seek community preferences to help inform future guidelines and policies for Hawaii, with a particular focus on Honolulu. Comparing national approaches As climate change accelerates, rising sea levels will dramatically increase flood risk, yet methods to establish minimum building elevations for sea level rise are not standardized. Current Federal Emergency Management Agency standards are based on historical flood data and do not account for future sea level conditions. This leaves local governments to develop their own guidance. The study identified and compared seven initiativesranging from the federal level to municipalities like New York City and Bostonthat have developed building elevation guidance incorporating future sea level rise. The authors analyzed key factors such as the starting point for water level measurements, the projected sea-level rise scenarios, and whether the guidelines are required or merely recommended. By analyzing these different approaches, the research underscores the potential for more consistent methods and informs decision-making for officials developing their own sea-level rise design flood elevations. More information: Wendy Meguro et al, Establishing a Sea Level Rise-Adjusted Design Flood Elevation for Buildings: A Comparative Study of Methods, Water (2025). DOI: 10.3390/w17162376 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Animals and plants around the world are not randomly distributed. They appear to follow trends and patterns. But it's often difficult to figure out if the patterns we see in the natural world actually hold true. To prove it, we need to study vast amounts of data that span huge geographical distances. For most groups of animals and plants, this data simply doesn't exist and that makes it hard to say too much about where they live. For starfish, however, that's now changed. A new study has examined more than 200,000 records of starfisha group also known as Asteroideamapping where in the oceans they live. This has allowed Dr. Hugh Carter, our curator of starfish, and his colleagues, Dr. Suzanne Williams and Dr. Lupita Bribiesca-Contreras at the Natural History Museum, to produce an unprecedented look at the group. The amount of data that Carter and his colleagues were working with meant they were able to not only to map the diversity of starfish across the surface of the planet, but also at different ocean depths. They found that from the equator to the poles and sea surface to the deep sea, starfish diversity patterns change. "What we showed is that in the shallow waters, there are more species in the tropics than at the poles," explains Carter. "But as we go deeper, the diversity shifts. We start losing tropical diversity and it starts to increase as we move to the temperate zones." This fascinating pattern of starfish diversity in the deep sea seemingly goes against one of the most well-studied phenomena in natural history. The study has recently been published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Where do animals live? Where animals live has long fascinated scientists because they appear to follow certain patterns. One of the most well-known of these patterns is called the latitudinal diversity gradient. This trend finds that there are more species of plants and animals living along the equator and fewer as you move toward the poles. If you think about the number of plants and animals living in the Arctic and Antarctic compared to those living in the Amazon rainforest, this trend might seem obvious. But these observations often need to be tested to make sure they hold true. Hundreds of studies have proven that this is the caseas you move towards the equator, the number of species in particular groups does typically increase. This has even been shown to be true in the deep past. It's tricky to unpick the reasons why this is, but one factor thought to contribute is temperature. "The question we had was does that trend still exist in the deep sea?" asks Carter. "One of the main correlates of the gradient and species is temperature, so we might expect that in shallow waters there is a very strong correlation of species diversity with warmth. But as we go deeper, the environment becomes quite homogenousthe deep sea is roughly four degrees everywhere." Carter and his colleagues were interested in whether there was an increase in the number of species around the equator, even in deep water where the temperature remains relatively stable. Species-level diversity per marine eco-province. Credit: Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02808-2 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. Deep-sea diversity By combining as many sources of starfish data as possiblefrom global databases such as GBIF and those in the collections we care forthe team were able to account for about 92% of all known species of starfish. This makes the study the most comprehensive ever carried out on Asteroidea. The most interesting discovery was this shift in distribution towards the poles as you go deeper into the oceansalthough this general trend wasn't necessarily true for every family of starfish. For example, some families are only found in the shallows and are concentrated at the equator, while others only live in the deep sea and show this split diversity. "The difference between families is one of the bits that gets missed a lot in these big scale patterns," says Carter. "They don't really work at smaller scales, where other aspects have more of a stronger effect on patterns of diversity." However, the discovery of this general shift in the diversity of the deep sea does raise some interesting questions. Carter suspects that it might, in part at least, be caused by changes in nutrient availability. Despite the impression that there's not much living at the planet's poles, they support hugely productive waters. This is why, for example, many species of whales will migrate to the colder waters to feed on the massive, seasonal krill blooms. This also means that large amounts of nutrients sink down to the deep sea. So, the trend that's been uncovered in deep-sea starfish diversity likely applies to other animals living at those depths. This in turn could have implications for how we decide which regions need protection and conservation. More information: H. F. Carter et al, Deep-sea-floor diversity in Asteroidea is shaped by competing processes across different latitudes and oceans, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02808-2 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution This story is republished courtesy of Natural History Museum. Read the original story here. North America's leading lighting industry media platform introduces a selective, high-prestige program to honor innovation and quality across six categories. ATLANTA, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Inside Lighting, North America's leading source for lighting industry news and information, has launched the LUMY Awards, a new program created to recognize the most innovative and exceptional lighting and controls products in the market. The LUMY Awards will spotlight excellence across six categories Indoor Luminaires, Outdoor Luminaires, Lighting Controls, Stocked Goods, Lamps, and Components providing manufacturers with a highly credible platform for recognition and industry-wide visibility. A panel of six respected industry experts will evaluate entries based on rigorous criteria, ensuring that the program sets a true benchmark for quality and innovation. Celebrating the best in lighting. Six categories, one trusted benchmark of excellence. Post this "For years, Inside Lighting has been the place where professionals turn for trusted insights and industry intelligence," said Al Uszynski, founder and publisher of Inside Lighting. "The LUMY Awards are a natural extension of that mission. This program is about celebrating real innovation and quality in lighting with a level of rigor and integrity that the industry can trust." The awards program will roll out over the coming months: September - October: Entry period open. Weekly announcements unveiling members of the distinguished judging panel Entry period open. Weekly announcements unveiling members of the distinguished judging panel October 25 : Entry period closes Entry period closes November: Four finalists per category announced. Public voting opens, counting as the seventh judge and representing one-seventh (14%) of the total score. Four finalists per category announced. Public voting opens, counting as the seventh judge and representing one-seventh (14%) of the total score. December: Category winners unveiled, with each product celebrated as a LUMY Awards winner The LUMY Awards aim to deliver more than just recognition. Winners will gain significant exposure to Inside Lighting's highly engaged audience of professionals across design, distribution, and manufacturing sectors, reinforcing their position as leaders in lighting innovation. Entries are open to manufacturers worldwide, reflecting the global nature of the lighting industry. For entry guidelines, deadlines, and judging criteria, visit www.LUMYawards.com and be part of setting a new benchmark in lighting innovation. About Inside Lighting Inside Lighting is the most-visited media platform covering the North American lighting industry, delivering trusted news, insights, and analysis to professionals across design, construction, distribution, and manufacturing. With thousands of daily readers and a reputation for credible, in-depth reporting, Inside Lighting continues to shape the conversation in the evolving world of lighting. About LUMY Awards The LUMY Awards, presented by Inside Lighting, is a selective, high-prestige program created to honor innovation and quality in lighting and controls. Featuring six product categories and a panel of respected industry experts, the program provides a credible benchmark of excellence for manufacturers worldwide. SOURCE LUMY Awards This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: University of Mississippi Triple-negative breast cancer is particularly aggressive and difficult to treat; but recent research may offer a new way to target the often-deadly disease. A team of researchers from the University of Mississippi found that coating nanoparticles containing cancer therapies in a sugar-like substance makes them more effective in targeting this cancer. They published their research in Advanced Healthcare Materials. "It's called triple-negative because it does not have any of the three things that we have developed treatments to target in cancer," said Eden Tanner, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. "It particularly affects young women, and it particularly affects Black and African American women. "What that means is we really urgently need to think creatively about new ways to try and treat this cancer." More than 1 in 10 breast cancer diagnoses are for triple-negative breast cancer. This cancer is particularly difficult to treat because it does not create high levels of estrogen, progesterone or the protein HER2, all of which are usually used to target cancer for drug delivery. Mississippi's rates of triple-negative breast cancer are higher than average. A 2024 report from the University of Mississippi Medical Center showed that 37% of breast cancer cases treated at the center between 2016 and 2023 were triple-negativemore than double the national average. The aggressive nature of this cancer, combined with its resistance to many usual therapies, means its mortality rate is higher than that of other cancers. While this cancer may not elevate levels of usual drug targets, the Ole Miss research team found a novel way to deliver cancer therapies directly to the cancer cells. "One thing that's consistent across all of the patients (with triple-negative breast cancer) is that they overexpress glucose transporters to bring more sugars to the cells," Tanner said. "Essentially, it has a sweet tooth. So, how can we get it to take its medicine? We wrap it in sugar." By coating the nanoparticle cancer therapy in sugar, the researchers effectively "trick" the cancer into absorbing the medication, Tanner said. "The drug itself is encapsulated in the nanoparticle, which is then coated in the glucose," said Mira Patel, a junior chemistry major from Vicksburg. When injected into the bloodstream, these sugar-coated cancer therapies can "hitch a ride" on red and white blood cells, Tanner said. Riding the blood cells like a bus, the medication travels across the body and ultimately becomes trapped by the cancer's glucose transporters. "Because triple-negative breast cancer cells overexpress GLUT-transporters, there's more of an affinity between the nanoparticles and those cells," said Patel, a co-author of the study who first joined the Tanner Lab through the ARISE Summer Program as a high school junior. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "This method could provide something that will change the way we treat this cancer in the future, and in a way that won't affect our regular, healthy cells." Triple-negative breast cancer is not the only disease that overexpresses glucose transporters, meaning the drug delivery method could be used to treat other illnesses. "We haven't tested the technology on those other diseases yet, but there's a good reason to believe that a similar strategy might work," Tanner said. "That's exciting news for diseases like colon cancer, brain cancer and fatty liver disease, which also have high levels of glucose transporters." Before the delivery method can be put into practice, however, the researchers must test it in disease conditions. Given the prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer in the state, the results of their work could save lives in Mississippi. "One of our strongest motivations as a research group is to think about scientific innovations that can really help Mississippians," Tanner said. "Given the profile of our state, we feel particularly motivated to address these problems." More information: Gaya S. Dasanayake et al, Glyco Ionic Liquids as Novel Nanoparticle Coatings to Enhance TripleNegative Breast Cancer Drug Delivery, Advanced Healthcare Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202500592 Journal information: Advanced Healthcare Materials 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: Examples of large UGs and the destruction they cause in the DRC. Credit: Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09371-7 Deep, gigantic cracks in the Earth known as gullies are tearing through African cities, swallowing up houses and streets, destroying infrastructure and displacing tens of thousands of people. Left unchecked, this new geological hazard could force millions of people to abandon their homes in the coming decades. A new study published in the journal Nature, which focused on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), highlights the scale of the problem. Scientists mapped 26 cities in the central African country and found 2,922 massive gullies. These deep and widening chasms often appear without warning, swallowing up everything in their path. According to the researchers, they caused an estimated 118,600 people to abandon their homes between 2004 and 2023. And the problem is getting worse. In just over a decade, the number of people living in areas at risk of being swallowed has doubled from 1.6 million in 2010 to 3.2 million in 2023. "Our results demonstrate the massive magnitude of the problem of UGs (urban gullies). With more than half of the investigated cities affected and more than 2,900 gullies mapped, UGs are a widespread phenomenon," the researchers commented in their paper. "The threats and impacts of UGs are likely to greatly increase over the next decades." So what is causing the problem? According to the study's authors, gullies are the result of a mix of natural erosion and human activities. They tend to form in areas with steep slopes and sandy soils, which are easily washed away by rain. Rapid, unplanned city growth and a severe lack of proper infrastructure make the situation worse. During heavy rains, water accumulates on road surfaces and rooftops instead of being absorbed into the ground because of inadequate drainage systems. So it concentrates into powerful streams that carve deep channels in unprotected land. These channels can grow to be hundreds of meters long and spread through neighborhoods, destroying buildings, sometimes with fatal consequences. Solutions and outlook While this study only looked at the DRC, urban gullies are a growing problem in many other tropical cities across the Global South. The situation is likely to become more severe due to climate change, which may lead to more intense rainfall events. The research team believes that solutions must include better awareness and a greater focus on prevention. They advocate a mix of strategies, including improving urban planning to ensure new areas have proper drainage and infrastructure, vegetation and structural barriers to stabilize the soil and managing rainwater runoff before it becomes a devastating force. Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. More information: Guy Ilombe Mawe et al, Mapping urban gullies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09371-7 Journal information: Nature 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Site picture 4. Credit: Katie Turlington When people think of nature sounds, they likely imagine birds singing at dawn or frogs calling after rain. But beneath the surface of our rivers is a whole soundscape that most of us have never even thought to listen tountil now. New research led by Griffith University has developed a publicly available tool to help scientists uncover what's really going on beneath the surface of our rivers, using sound. The study "A novel protocol for exploratory analysis of unknown sound types in large acoustic datasets" is published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution. "The problem is that listening-in is not as simple as it sounds," said lead researcher Katie Turlington, a Ph.D. candidate at Griffith's Australian Rivers Institute. "Scientists drop waterproof microphones into rivers to record what is happening underwater; but in just one day, a single recording could capture tens of thousands of sounds, and manually analyzing them could take a trained professional up to three times longer than the recording itself." Waterbug chorus rivers 60sec. Credit: Katie Turlington The new tool, developed by Ms. Turlington and the research team, was developed in R, a free program for analyzing data where users upload a folder of audio files and sort through the sometimes vast volumes of audio without the need for hours of manual work. It scanned recordings and detected sections from Warrill Creek, Kalbar (about an hour's drive south-west of Brisbane) that contained sound, and grouped similar sounds together, streamlining the process of identifying what is in the audio. Researcher putting recorder into river. Credit: Katie Turlington "It can even detect sounds that become masked by the constant noise of flowing water, which often makes recordings from rivers harder to analyze," Ms. Turlington said. "When tested in South-East Queensland streams, the tool correctly identified nearly 90% of distinct sounds, faster and with far less effort than manual analysis." Waterbug chorus with fish grunts. Credit: Katie Turlington The tool is free and didn't require advanced coding skills from the user. It worked with datasets of any size, could be adapted to any type of ecosystem, and Ms. Turlington hoped it could change the way we monitor freshwater health. Example constant flowing water. Credit: Katie Turlington "By listening to rivers, researchers can track changes in biodiversity, detect signs of disturbance, or even discover new species," she said. "And because sound can be recorded day and night, in remote or murky waters, it offers a low-impact way to track changes in aquatic ecosystems." Groups of sounds and how they overlap. Credit: Katie Turlington Waterbug chorus spectogram. Credit: Katie Turlington "We've only just started to explore freshwater sound; making this tool publicly available and free means more people can get involved, ask questions, and hopefully make new discoveries." More information: A novel protocol for exploratory analysis of unknown sound-types in large acoustic datasets, Methods in Ecology and Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.70134 Journal information: Methods in Ecology and Evolution The financial empowerment tool continues to help clients meet their financial goals. CLEVELAND, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) is helping clients take control of their financial futures with EasyUp , a tool that transforms everyday spending into meaningful savings. With every debit card purchase, EasyUp can be set up to automatically transfer a user-selected amount up to $5 into a linked KeyBank savings account, helping clients build savings and work toward a financial goal one transaction at a time. The tool reflects KeyBank's ongoing commitment to delivering simple, effective solutions that help clients take control of their financial journeys. Since its launch in August 2019, EasyUp has helped KeyBank clients collectively save more than $182 million (as of July 31, 2025), with the average user saving $490 per year. "EasyUp demonstrates that small, consistent actions can lead to meaningful financial progress over time. Available through KeyBank's online and mobile banking platforms, EasyUp eliminates the need for manual transfers and helps clients stay on track without requiring major changes to their spending behavior," said Jeannie Fanning, Director of Consumer Bank Relationship Growth at KeyBank. The newly refreshed website highlights how easy EasyUp is for clients to use: Enrolling seamlessly. Clients can simply sign on to online banking or the KeyBank mobile app and select EasyUp in online banking under Tools or in the mobile app under More, then Tools. Next, they simply follow the prompts to add the designated checking and savings accounts and set the transfer amount. Clients can simply to online banking or the KeyBank mobile app and select EasyUp in online banking under Tools or in the mobile app under More, then Tools. Next, they simply follow the prompts to add the designated checking and savings accounts and set the transfer amount. Saving while spending. With EasyUp, every time clients make a purchase with their KeyBank debit card, a pre-set amount of their money automatically moves from their KeyBank checking account to their KeyBank savings account. Clients set and manage the transfer amount from 10 to $5 . With EasyUp, every time clients make a purchase with their KeyBank debit card, a pre-set amount of their money automatically moves from their KeyBank checking account to their KeyBank savings account. Clients set and manage the transfer amount from 10 to . Reaching financial goals. Through EasyUp, clients can build their savings for an emergency fund, vacation, investing, or other goals. Another option clients have is to pay down their debt sooner by having their EasyUp money automatically sent as an extra monthly payment to a creditor. Through EasyUp, clients can build their savings for an emergency fund, vacation, investing, or other goals. Another option clients have is to pay down their debt sooner by having their EasyUp money automatically sent as an extra monthly payment to a creditor. Taking control. Pausing, resuming and changing selections in EasyUp is simple. EasyUp allows clients to make changes in seconds at any time from adjusting the amount of the automatic transfer to changing account selections, and more. Debit Card Purchases Unlock Relationship Benefits and Build Client Savings with EasyUp: At KeyBank, clients can take advantage of relationship benefits with one simple requirement, using their eligible KeyBank checking account on five or more qualifying transactions a month. Debit card purchases count as qualifying monthly transactions under Key's relationship benefits program. Therefore, if a client is enrolled in EasyUp, each debit card purchase not only automatically builds savings, but also counts toward the five monthly transactions needed to qualify for Key's relationship benefits. "To KeyBank, EasyUp is more than just a savings tool it's another way to help our clients wherever they are on their financial journeys. We keep our clients at the center of all that we do and seek to build enduring relationships. We're committed to delivering practical solutions that address everyday financial challenges, empowering clients to achieve their financial goals and providing the advice clients need to take the next best financial step for their futures," said Fanning. To learn more about KeyBank's products and services and move forward on your financial journey, visit key.com/easyup, key.com/relationship or find the nearest KeyBank branch. ABOUT KEYCORP In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center . Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $185 billion at June 30, 2025. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC. CFMA #250827-3445178 SOURCE KeyBank " " Some types of premium tequila merit slow, savored sips, rather than quick shots. SeaRick1 / Shutterstock All tequila is made from the blue agave plant, but not all tequila is created equal. The magic comes from how it's made, aged and bottled. Each of the different types of tequila offers a different flavor profile, thanks to variations in the aging process, ingredients and even the barrels used. Advertisement Whether you like your agave spirit sweet, smoky or sharp, there's a tequila for every taste. With locations in La Jolla, Carlsbad, Temecula, and now Otay Ranch, this marks LJC's fourth location in San Diego County. The opening is also part of the brand's long-term growth plan, which includes expanding into new markets across California in 2026 with Orange County and Northern California on the horizon. LJC has earned recognition as an 8-time "Best of San Diego" winner and is currently named a Top 10 Allergan provider in the nation for injectables like BOTOX and JUVEDERM. Known for staying at the forefront of the industry, LJC continually introduces the newest and most innovative treatments to its offeringsensuring patients have access to cutting-edge technology and the most advanced techniques available in aesthetic medicine. "Our expansion into Otay Ranch is an exciting step toward serving even more patients with the expert care, natural results, and welcoming environment LJC is known for," said Austin Settle, CEO of La Jolla Cosmetic Medical Spa. "We're excited to expand our reach, continue innovating, and bring the highest level of aesthetic care to this vibrant community." The Otay Ranch location will offer the full range of LJC's most popular non-surgical services, including: Injectables: BOTOX, JUVEDERM, Sculptra, and more Skin Rejuvenation: BBL laser, MOXI laser, threads, microneedling, and medical-grade facials Hair & Wellness Treatments: Regenerative treatments for hair thinning and sexual wellness injectables Every visit to LJC offers the thoughtful care and expertise our patients have come to trustfrom providers who truly listen, to treatments designed around individual goals, all within a welcoming, modern space. Grand Opening Specials & Celebration To celebrate the launch, LJC Otay Ranch is offering an exclusive pre-sale special: 40 units of BOTOX for $299 for a limited time. The official grand opening celebration will be held on Saturday, October 11th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can enjoy: Exciting giveaways Exclusive swag bags for the first arrivals Live treatment demos Light bites and refreshments Fun activities and tours of the new space RSVP: La Jolla Cosmetic Medical Spa Otay Ranch Grand Opening Event! Visit the Otay location at 2015 Birch Rd, Suite #1803 Chula Vista, CA 91915 or call (619) 312-6794. About La Jolla Cosmetic Medical Spa La Jolla Cosmetic Medical Spa (LJC) has been helping patients look and feel their best since 2013. Known for delivering natural-looking results through expert providers, advanced technology, and personalized care, LJC sets the standard for aesthetic excellence. With locations in La Jolla, Carlsbad, Temecula, and now Otay Ranchand more on the way in 2026the brand continues to raise the bar for medical spa care across California, remaining at the forefront of innovative treatments and cutting-edge technology in the aesthetics industry. Website: www.ljcmedspa.com SOURCE La Jolla Cosmetic Medical Spa Addition of e-Gates planned ahead of busy tourist season to further reduce Cancun International wait times Cancun, Q.R. More e-gates at the Cancun International Airport will reduce tourist wait times to enter the country. While tourist wait times at the airport have been reduced with the addition of agents, additional e-Gates will further improve the system. Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama says Terminals 2, 3 and 4 at the Cancun airport will be complimented with the additional technology for the upcoming busy tourist season. She made the announcement Tuesday after a Mexico City meeting with Sergio Salomon Cespedes Peregrina, Comisionado del Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM). Governor Mara Lezama met with Sergio Salomon Cespedes Peregrina to discuss adding more e-Gates. According to Governor Lezama, the number of Autonomous Migration Filters (e-Gates) will be increased at the three air terminals to expedite the flow of visitors and further improve immigration services. She explained that since tourism is one of the driving forces of Quintana Roos economy, it is necessary to continually provide better services to tourists, including immigration, hospitality, gastronomy and security. The Governor noted that with the support of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, through the National Migration Institute, wait times for tourists at Cancun International Airport have already been reduced by up to 20 minutes with the arrival of more agents and infrastructure. Lezama said during her meeting with Sergio Salomon Cespedes, Commissioner of the National Migration Institute, they discussed increasing the number of Autonomous Migration Filters (e-Gates) at the three airport terminals as well as streamlining the inadmissibility process. Governor Lezama, seen here, says more e-Gates will expedite tourism entry at the Cancun Airport. They also talked about facilitating immigration procedures for Belizean visitors at the southern border for entry into Mexico. Civil Protection reports incident-free summer holiday season in Quintana Roo Riviera Maya, Q.R. Summer vacation in Quintana Roo has officially come to an end with the return of students to classes. Local authorities say the summer holidays were incident-free due to successful strategies. Guillermo Nunez Leal, the Director of State Civil Protection, says preventive patrols were conducted in more than 100 high-traffic tourist spots. Those spots included Holbox, Bacalar, Playa del Carmen, Mahahual, Tulum, Othon P. Blanco, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres and Cancun. This was done in coordination with federal, state and municipal agencies, ensuring the safety of tourists, beachgoers, and local residents during the vacation period, he reported. With the aim of safeguarding the safety of both domestic and international vacationers, the State Civil Protection Coordination implemented the 2025 Summer Vacation Safety Operation on July 18th, concluding on September 1st, when thousands of young people returned to school. In addition, preventive actions were implemented, such as safety recommendations for beachgoers, reminding them to keep minors under supervision, wear life jackets and stay hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion. Tour operators were also constantly reminded not to exceed the number of people allowed on their boats. This effort not only allowed for a peaceful vacation, but also ensured an incident-free vacation, strengthening the confidence of Quintana Roo families in the measures implemented, he explained. Guillermo Nunez Leal, Director de la Coordinacion Estatal de Proteccion Civil, emphasized that the coordinated work of security institutions such as the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR), National Guard (GN), Municipal Civil Protection, Municipal Police, Firefighters and Lifeguards was essential in providing security and preventive information to the population, with the goal of avoiding incidents on beaches and roads. Without a doubt, the collaboration of emergency services, always promoted by the State Governor, Mara Lezama, was key to ensuring that thousands of tourists could enjoy peaceful days of rest during this holiday season and, above all, ensuring that they can safely return to enjoy the region on their next vacation. Nunez Leal noted that Quintana Roo welcomed more than 907,000 international travelers in the first half of the year. Suspect charged with kidnapping of friend found strangled and buried Isla Mujeres, Q.R. Eloy N has been charged for his alleged involvement in the aggravated kidnapping of a man found dead. The man, who has not been named, was found buried after being kidnapped by friends in 2024. Police say his kidnappers, three friends, strangled him to death before burying him then using his phone to demand ransom from his family. The men demanded 3,000 pesos for his release then another 5,000. In a statement, police said the events for which Eloy N is being investigated occurred on or after November 5, 2024, when the male victim was allegedly deprived of his liberty by three subjects at a home on Girasoles Street in the Monte de los Olivos neighborhood of the Continental Zone of Isla Mujeres. There, the four men, who were friends, were gathered to consume alcoholic beverages and drugs. At some point they argued, leading Eloy N and the other two men to kill the victim by strangulation and then bury him in the backyard. On November 6 they called his sister using the deceaseds phone to demand 3,000 pesos for his release. On November 7, the victims girlfriend sent a text message to his phone to say she was worried about him. In response, she received a message demanding 5,000 pesos to release the victim. They later sent another text message stating that time was running out. Eloy N is facing charges in the kidnapping of the deceased. Police have not said if the other two men involved have been arrested. In 1931, Pope Pius XI warned of a grave evil in his encyclical Quadragesimo Anno: the temptation of centralized power to absorb the functions of families, associations, and businesses. He called it a violation of the natural ordera usurpation of human freedom and responsibility. That warning feels startlingly relevant today, as the U.S. government begins to purchase equity stakes in private corporations. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks decision to take a 10% ownership share in Intel, and the announcement that other companies will follow, is not just a terrible economic maneuver; it is a moral error that blurs the lines between the state and the individual. It signals a bipartisan disturbing drift away from the principle of subsidiarity and toward the socialist model of direct state ownership and control of production. Too often, debates about government takeovers focus only on efficiency, corruption, or budgetary risks. These are real problems, but they are not the most serious ones we are having in America today. The deepest danger is anthropological and spiritual: State ownership alters how human beings see themselves, their work, and their communities. And both major political parties seem to think that the job of the president is to control what we do in the economic realm, and thus in the personal realm. Work, in Catholic thought, is not merely about output or profit. It is a vocation, a way in which the human person, made in the image of God, participates in the ongoing creation of the world. Ownership, too, is more than legal control; it is stewardship, responsibility, and freedom in action. When the state inserts itself as an owner of business, it distorts that moral ecology. Workers no longer see their labor as serving families, customers, or shareholders, but as serving political masters. Entrepreneurs no longer innovate for the sake of excellence or service, but for bureaucratic approval and investment. Citizens no longer think of themselves as co-creators of prosperity, but as clients of the state. And the state, also a human institution, transforms from an arbiter and steward of the sovereignty of the nation into a tyrannical institution that directs our daily lives. This is the real poverty of socialism: not just empty shelves, but empty souls. You wont choose what you do for a living, where you live, or what you purchase. Of course, America is not a socialist nation, nor does this move to take 10% of Intels share suddenly transform America into Venezuela or Cuba. But it does represent another step in the direction set by the Biden administration, when the state sought to shift resources away from the more productive sectors of the economy and toward the green energy and chips sector by way of a host of inefficient mandates. Conservatives and Catholics in general have highlighted the principle of subsidiarity as one of the keys of our worldview and understanding of the role of human institutions. Subsidiarity holds that social and economic functions should be carried out by the smallest, most local entity capable of doing so. Families raise children; parishes tend to spiritual life; businesses produce goods and services; civil society nurtures the bonds of trust. The state has a role, but it is supportive and protective, not domineering; it administers courts, supplements private charities by helping the poor, and funds public goods. When Washington becomes shareholder of Intelor any other companyit destroys this balance. Decisions that belong to boards and markets are now subject to political interference. Even if officials promise to be passive shareholders, as they do today, power once seized is rarely relinquished, and usually is expanded. Who doesnt think that a future Democratic administration will use taxpayer dollars to invest in green energy companies in the name of fighting climate change? Or even in abortion clinics in the name of protecting womens health? When the principle of subsidiarity is broken, things dont go very well. The prime examples are the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak, which operate under federal government ownership. The result in both cases are chronic deficits that the taxpayer must bail out and inefficient management decisions to please voting groups like unions interested only in protecting their privileges, not serving the public good. If this is what happens with mail delivery and trains, why should we expect better outcomes with microchips? Subsidiarity reminds us that just because the state can intervene does not mean it should. The moment government assumes responsibilities that private initiative can and is performing, it commits what Catholic teaching calls an injustice and a disturbance of right order. Worse, it can even change the culture, as it did in my native Venezuela, where the government took the key industry of oil and gas. While I was growing up, few people, even regime opponents, imagined the possibility of oil being a competitive private industry because it had been state-owned for decades. Once the government steps in a sector, society forgets that the private sector can work, so it rarely ever steps back out of fear of market failure. Defenders of the Intel takeover insist this is about national security. Semiconductors are strategic, they argue, and thus require state influence. But history teaches us that such arguments are endlessly elastic. What is more strategic and in need of security than the food supply? So should the government own grocery stores? New York City Socialist candidate for mayor Zohran Mamdani seems to think so. What is more important for defense and daily life than energy? Is there anyone who thinks the federal government should take over shares of Chevron and Exxon? Perhaps. If importance or security justifies state ownership of Intel, there is no limiting principle. Why stop at 10%? Why not go all the way to 99%? More insidious is the moral corruption that follows. Businesses begin to seek favor rather than serve customers. Lobbyists replace engineers as the drivers of innovation. Cronyism becomes the currency of success. This is the antithesis of free enterprise and a violation of justice, but it is daily life in a socialist nation. The states proper tool for securing the common good in such industries is properly limited regulation and taxation, not ownership. Taxes and laws can be crafted to protect national security. But equity stakes cross a line into socialism. The 20th century is filled with examples of state ownership degenerating into stagnation and repression. From Britains nationalized industries to the outright confiscations in Eastern Europe, the results were consistent: declining productivity, entrenched bureaucracies, and moral decay. My homeland, Venezuela, offers a more recent warning. Each government takeoverwhether of oil, electricity, or food distributionwas justified in the name of justice or security. Each ended in waste, corruption, and collapse. What was lost was not only prosperity, but hope, responsibility, and faith in one another. Catholic teaching helps us understand why. When the state takes over, it denies the individual and the community the space to act freely, responsibly, and virtuously. It undermines what Pope St. John Paul II, in Centesimus Annus, called the subjectivity of societythe idea that families, associations, and enterprises are real communities of persons, not mere instruments of the state. The Church affirms the universal destination of goods: All creation is intended for the good of all. But it also insists on the inviolability of the right to private property, which is a means of ensuring stewardship. Ownership creates responsibility. It teaches us to care, to plan, to sacrifice, and to think of others. State ownership short-circuits this moral training. If everything belongs to the state, then nothing belongs to anyone. The incentive to steward well disappears, replaced by the incentive to exploit, consume, or defer responsibility upward. The tragedy of the commons spreads. This is why even when socialism succeeds in distributing goods for a time, it fails in forming virtuous people. It produces not stewardship, but dependency. Not solidarity, but resentment. Not dignity, but despair. Socialism can only consume wealth but never produce it, which is why socialism doesnt end consumerismit exacerbates it. Again, America is not Venezuela. It is not the Soviet Union of old. But the creep of socialism is real. Once the principle is concededthat the state may own businesses in the name of fairness or securityeach new intervention becomes easier. To remind that the slope is slippery is not fear-mongering. It is happening every year as the size of the American government grows larger in proportion to total economic output. At stake is not only economic efficiency and wealth but the moral health of the nation, too. Do we want a society where initiative, stewardship, and responsibility are nurtured? Or one where political connections and bureaucratic favors determine outcomes? Do we want citizens or clients, creators or dependents, free men and women or wards of the state? The greatest danger of the Intel takeover is not the immediate financial loss but what it represents about the economic and spiritual path of America. When the state becomes shareholder, the people become servants: Our work loses its dignity, our communities lose independence, our faith in freedom disappears. Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that true liberty is not the absence of order but the presence of responsibility. It is built from the ground upfamily by family, parish by parish, business by business, and we all have a role in Gods plan. The states role is to protect this liberty, not to supplant it. If America forgets this, it will discover what Venezuelans did, but too late: that socialism does not only empty wallets. It empties souls. China's top legislator calls for accelerating building of China-Vietnam community with shared future that carries strategic significance Xinhua) 09:35, September 03, 2025 Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), meets with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam in Hanoi, Vietnam, Aug. 31, 2025. At the invitation of the CPV Central Committee and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Zhao led a party and government delegation to visit Vietnam, during which he respectively met with General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee To Lam, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, held talks with Tran Thanh Man, and attended events marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from Sunday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) HANOI, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji has called for accelerating the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance during a visit to the country from Sunday to Tuesday. Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks when meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam. During the meeting, he conveyed the cordial greetings of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, to To Lam, and extended warm congratulations on the Party and the country's historic achievements over the past 80 years. Zhao said that under the new circumstances, China is willing to join hands with Vietnam to well implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties. He said that China stands ready to work with Vietnam in line with the overarching goals characterized by "six mores" to deepen the exchange of experience in governance, strengthen the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, cement the friendship between the two peoples, and jointly advance the socialist modernization in their respective countries. For his part, To Lam asked Zhao to convey his sincere greetings to General Secretary Xi, expressing gratitude for the tremendous assistance provided by China during various periods of Vietnam's revolution and construction. He said that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core, China has achieved remarkable accomplishments in development and become a major driving force for global economic growth. Noting that Vietnam has always regarded the development of relations with China as an objective need, strategic choice and a top priority, To Lam said the country has always adhered to the one-China policy, and is willing to join hands with China in the great endeavor of building socialism and to jointly usher in the second golden age of Vietnam-China relations. At the invitation of the CPV Central Committee and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Zhao led a party and government delegation to visit Vietnam, during which he also respectively met with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, held talks with Tran Thanh Man, and attended events marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. When meeting with Luong Cuong, Zhao conveyed Xi's best wishes to him, noting that China and Vietnam should respond to the external uncertainties with socialist strengths, uphold and strengthen the leadership of the Communist Party, firmly support each other's reform and development endeavors, leverage the exemplary role of China-Vietnam mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, jointly combat the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard international fairness and justice as well as the common interests of developing countries. For his part, Luong Cuong asked Zhao to convey his sincere greetings to Xi, who is also Chinese president. He said that the Vietnamese side is truly pleased about China's continuous development and growth, and is willing to continuously consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations, accelerate the implementation of major landmark projects agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries, and promote the traditional friendship between the two countries to take deeper root in the hearts of the people. When meeting with Pham Minh Chinh, Zhao said that China and Vietnam enjoy deep industrial integration and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation, with enormous potential for expanding cooperation. He said that China is willing to enhance the alignment of development strategies with Vietnam, enhance cooperation in traditional sectors, strengthen cooperation in emerging fields, and jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system and keep the global industrial and supply chains unobstructed. For his part, Pham Minh Chinh said the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is currently thriving, noting that Vietnam is willing to promote bilateral economic integration and development under the framework of the BRI, push for new progress in practical cooperation such as railway construction, and make positive contributions to the implementation of the global initiatives proposed by China. During his talks with Tran Thanh Man, Zhao said that the NPC of China is willing to enhance the level of institutionalized exchanges with the National Assembly of Vietnam, promote mutual learning of legislative and supervisory work experiences, so as to provide legal support for practical cooperation between the two countries. For his part, Tran Thanh Man said that the National Assembly of Vietnam is willing to maintain regular mutual visits and exchanges with the NPC of China, so as to advance the cooperation between the two countries' legislative bodies to be increasingly practical and effective. Zhao and Tran Thanh Man also attended the first session of the joint committee between the legislative bodies, during which the two sides exchanged views on national security legislation and discussed promoting economic, trade, and technological cooperation from the perspective of legislative bodies. During his visit to Vietnam, Zhao was invited to attend the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and watched the military parade, mass assembly and grand cultural performances. The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was invited to participate in the military parade. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), holds talks with Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man in Hanoi, Vietnam, Aug. 31, 2025. At the invitation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Zhao led a party and government delegation to visit Vietnam, during which he respectively met with General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee To Lam, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, held talks with Tran Thanh Man, and attended events marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from Sunday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), holds talks with Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man in Hanoi, Vietnam, Aug. 31, 2025. At the invitation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Zhao led a party and government delegation to visit Vietnam, during which he respectively met with General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee To Lam, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, held talks with Tran Thanh Man, and attended events marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from Sunday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sept. 2, 2025. At the invitation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Zhao led a party and government delegation to visit Vietnam, during which he respectively met with General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee To Lam, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, held talks with Tran Thanh Man, and attended events marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from Sunday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) TROY, Mich., Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dave Honigman, legal counsel appointed by a federal court to represent a class of Michigan children and young adults with mental health disorders, lauded the court's approval on August 27, 2025, of a landmark settlement agreement in D.D. v. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (formerly titled K.B. v. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services) that requires sweeping reforms to the state's Medicaid behavioral health system for children and young adults under age 21. The agreement resolves a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of Medicaid-eligible children with intensive mental and behavioral health care needs who were denied the services they needed in their homes and communities. The families sought injunctive relief to require the state to provide the medically necessary mental health services children are entitled to under federal law. Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit in 2018, alleging that Michigan violated the Medicaid Act's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) mandate requiring the State to ensure that children and young adults under age 21 receive all medically necessary care. The class action lawsuit, the settlement agreement, and the Court's decision approving the agreement and retaining jurisdiction to enforce it, were also based on the US Supreme Court's landmark Olmstead decision, which held that persons with disabilities have a "right to live in the world" and participate in community life. The lawsuit also alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Due Process guaranteed by the US Constitution. The settlement agreement requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to make comprehensive systemic reforms, including: Ensuring statewide timely access to medically necessary intensive home and community-based services for children with significant behavioral health needs ; ; Establishing a standardized eligibility and assessment process so that children are identified and connected with services consistently and equitably ; ; Improving data collection and oversight to track timeliness and adequacy of services and outcomes ; ; Implementing continuous quality improvement measures to sustain progress ; and ; Demonstrating the capacity to provide medically necessary mental health services before the State of Michigan may exit from monitoring and supervision by Class Counsel and the Court. The settlement agreement establishes a five-year target date for implementation of the systemic reforms. Prior to the full enactment of the reforms contemplated by the settlement agreement, children with mental health disorders remain entitled to medically necessary mental health care. At the hearing, Class Counsel Honigman offered profuse thanks to Gov. Gretchen Witmer, MDHHS, and the many attorneys from the Michigan Atty. Gen.'s staff that worked on the case. Honigman expressed gratitude to US District Court (Eastern District of Michigan) Judge Thomas Ludington and Kelly Winslow, Judge Ludington's case manager and staff attorney, for "patiently monitoring the progress of the parties and helping to guide us on our journey." Honigman concluded his presentation to the Court by stating: "I have always believed that the most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen. The settlement before you is a miracle that has indeed happened." Co-counsel Gerard Mantese, at Mantese Honigman, PC states: "I conceived of this case 8 years ago with the goal of helping people who are struggling with obtaining medical care under the Medicaid system. I'm proud of what we achieved and confident that this settlement will provide needed care to tens of thousands of families." Class Counsel Honigman encouraged families experiencing problems obtaining services to contact him by email at [email protected] or by phone at 248-457-9200, extension 2050. If journalists have questions or wish to discuss the lawsuit, please feel free to contact Mr. Honigman by email at [email protected] or by phone at 248-330-2962 (cell phone) or 248-457-9200 (law office). SOURCE Mantese Honigman, P.C. NEED TO KNOW Bryan Kohberger turned 28 on Nov. 21, 2022, less than two weeks after he murdered four University of Idaho students in their off-campus home Birthday cards he received are included in the more than 500 new evidence photos from inside his apartment at Washington State University released by police "A son leaves your home but never leaves your heart. He discovers his own happiness which, in turn, becomes yours," reads the card from his parents New evidence photos have been released by Idaho State Police of the apartment Bryan Kohberger lived in when he murdered four University of Idaho students. The former criminology student was being housed in an on-campus residence at Washington State University, where he had been pursuing a doctoral degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 500 images were released from inside Kohberger's apartment and obtained by PEOPLE, showing everything from his textbooks and exams to hair follicles and possible blood stains. There are also multiple images of the birthday cards Kohberger received less than two weeks after the murders when he turned 28 on Nov. 21, 2022. Idaho State Police Bryan Kohberger Birthday Cards Bryan Kohberger Birthday Cards Idaho State Police Bryan Kohberger Birthday Card Envelopes Bryan Kohberger Birthday Card Envelopes Both cards are in envelopes devoid of any postage markings or stamps, which suggests they were sent as part of a larger package. The first card appears to be from Kohberger's mother and father. "A son leaves your home but never leaves your heart. He discovers his own happiness which, in turn, becomes yours," reads the card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inside of the card is redacted in the photos, but the envelope it came in can be seen covered in hand-drawn hearts and reads: "Happy Birthday Bryan!" Idaho State Police Bryan Kohberger Birthday Card Bryan Kohberger Birthday Card It is unclear who the second card is from, but the most likely assumption is one of the killer's two sisters given how few contacts were discovered in his phone by the team of digital forensics experts who previously spoke with PEOPLE. That card is addressed to "Bryeeerrnnn." There is also a note written on the back of the card, which seems to confirm reports that Kohberger is a germaphobe, as it reads: "I did not lick it b/c #covid." The cover of the card features a cartoon depiction of former president Theodore Roosevelt riding a dinosaur along with the quote: "Speak softly and carry a big stick. Unless you can ride a dinosaur. Then do that instead." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sender then drew two arrows pointing to both the dinosaur and Roosevelt, calling them his "egos." That person went on to write: "You are a dino + professor LMAO." Idaho State Police Bryan Kohberger Birthday Card Bryan Kohberger Birthday Card Idaho State Police Bryan Kohberger Birthday Message Bryan Kohberger Birthday Message Inside the card, the individual wrote what appears to say "Bryem," the date "11/21/22" and drew a smiley face in blue highlighter. The rest of the card is redacted except for a pre-printed punchline, which reads: "Happy birthday! Celebrate like a boss!" 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. At that time, Kohberger had already started to keep a low profile as the murders he committed on Nov. 13, 2022 had become one of the biggest news stories in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would remain that way until his arrest a little over a month later while he was at his parents' Pennsylvania home for the holidays. Kohberger's mother, whom he called just after committing the murders, and his sister were both present in July as he was sentenced to serve four lifetimes in prison after he confessed to killing Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. Despite that confession, Kohberger has refused to publicly reveal his motive for stabbing the four young college students to death. Read the original article on People Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. For days now, the Florida Highway Patrol has been stationed in the parking lot of an Orlando Dunkin Donuts. Their mission: Stop chalk-wielding activists from restoring a rainbow crosswalk that, until it was erased overnight by the Florida Department of Transportation two weeks ago, commemorated the 2017 mass shooting at the adjacent Pulse nightclub. The state has already had to redo its black-and-white paint job once, after a local state senator helped redraw the brightly colored stripes. Since then, four people have been arrested on the rare charge of interfering with a traffic control device and charged with criminal felonies, according to lawyer Blake Simons, who represents the defendants. The state claims each chalker inflicted more than $1,500 in damage. Chalking the crosswalk is obviously protected speech, Simons told me, and added that he was puzzled at how the state arrived at those damages for chalk that washed away in the rain. The grayscaling has since spread to other Florida cities, which have been directed to paint over roadway designs or forfeit transportation funding. Some, including Key West and Delray Beach, are fighting to keep their Pride-themed intersections. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale this weekend to defend those cities brightly painted crosswalks. In Tampa, two (white) ministers were arrested for obstructing the demolition of a Black History Matters display. What might once have seemed like a cosmetic performance of virtue signaling from the urban revival starter kit has become a legitimate site of political resistance. The controversy began at the end of June, when the Florida Department of Transportation issued a dry and technical memorandum about non-standard surface markings on roadways, which, it noted, can lead to distractions or misunderstanding, in particular for autonomous vehicles. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the wipeout of roadway messages was the result of an earlier state transportation bill, and has emphasized that he feels politics has no place in the roadway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the states 2025 transportation bill did not actually change Floridas road-art policy, which has always permitted alterations with state approvalit only increased the penalties for noncompliance. The states crackdown also dovetailed with a similar note from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who days later announced a federal initiative to wipe out roadway markings, saying on X that Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks. Political banners have no place on public roads. For most Florida Democrats, the cause for the states crosswalk-painting campaign is clear: Anti-gay animus. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the order is about erasing peoples identity and taking over local government. The mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Dean Trantalis, said at a public meeting last week that he did not buy the traffic safety excuse: Im sure that the state will find every way they can to associate their actions and to make it look like theyre trying to enforce traffic control mechanisms. But as its been said time and again, its simply a camouflage for their true intent, which is to erase and eliminate all or as many LGBTQ references in the state as possible. Advertisement Advertisement The deadline for those cities to erase their crosswalks or lose millions in state transportation funding is this week, but several have decided to appeal the order. To be sure, not every painted crosswalk in Florida celebrates gay rights. Tampa erased 47 artworks including a back the blue mural, and Port St. Lucie got rid of a painted hearts memorial for a teenager who died in 2003. But those actions were undertaken by municipalities. It was only after the states erasure of the Pulse crosswalk generated stories from the Associated Press and on NPR that the state painted over the checkerboard crosswalks in Daytona Beach that paid tribute to the famous local NASCAR race. For the skeptics, it was as if the state was hastily claiming a piece of right-wing culture to quell accusations of bias. DeSantis previously antagonized gay rights groups in the state with the 2023 Dont Say Gay law. Advertisement Advertisement What makes the public safety rationale suspicious is that several of the projects had previously won safety accolades from the state DOT, including Tampas crosswalks to classrooms. Two Orlando fourth-graders who won a state-sponsored roadway safety contest in May will have their bike-lane paintings removed as well. Even the Pulse crosswalk had been repainted by the state just a couple of years ago. Advertisement Advertisement City planners have long viewed such short-term, low-cost pieces of tactical urbanism as a way to help slow traffic and create safer streets. A 2022 study undertaken by Sam Schwartz for Bloomberg Philanthropies found double-digit crash declines around newly painted projects. Reporters from the Orlando Sentinel determined that the citys own bright murals and decorative crosswalks increased foot traffic and lowered conflicts with vehicles along the citys busy Orange Avenue. Delray Beach has reported a similar decline in accidents around its crosswalk mural. Advertisement Even if youre skeptical about the true motivations, Floridas sudden change of heart does reflect a long-standing philosophical divide between state and city officials on street design. Generally speaking, state traffic engineers view any roadway obstacle or distractioneven street trees!as a safety risk for drivers. Cities have been constrained in their deployment of bike lanes, pedestrian infrastructure, and other projects that slow down traffic by a roadway design bible from the Federal Highway Administration called the MUTCD. Safe streets activists say those guidelines guard drivers time and security at the expense of pedestrians on roads like Floridas US-19, the countrys most dangerous. So much so that the National Association of City Transportation Officials drafted its own countervailing Urban Street Design Guide. But its hard to view Floridas crosswalk crackdown as a bona fide public safety project. It comes at the same time as Duffys political order on roadway speech, and on the heels of the GOP Congress forcing D.C. to demolish its Black Lives Matter mural. If that murals installation, in the summer of 2020, felt to some like a folly of liberal exuberance, its demolition at a time of constant attacks on Black workers as unqualified and unworthy was a sinister portent. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, DeSantis attack on the public right-of-way as a venue for political expression is not just about paint. Its of a piece with previous GOP efforts to criminalize and endanger demonstrators marching in the street. Those include a Florida law that, DeSantis claimed during the No Kings protests in June, permits drivers to hit protesters if the drivers believe themselves to be fleeing for their own safety. The urban planner Mike Lydon, who coined the term tactical urbanism and advises jurisdictions on projects, told me the purpose of such artwork wasnt necessarily in the final result. When a group is looking to represent their culture, themselves, in the street, it can be very powerful to do that, he said. It is the rare participatory process where everyday people, even children, can physically participate in designing the place where they live. Choosing a message is important, but so is inscribing it in the asphalt. Its a process that says: This place belongs to us. And when it gets removed, it says the opposite. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. For the past two decades, Don Romesburg has been at the forefront of LGBTQ-inclusive education. As the former chair of the womens and gender studies department and developer of the queer studies minor at Sonoma State University, Romesburga historian of sexuality and genderwas instrumental in providing students with knowledge about the history and struggles of the queer and trans community and what he describes as a safe haven within the larger collegiate experience. Additionally, Romesburg has been a key architect of and advocate for getting age-appropriate LGBTQ+ history into K12 curricula in California, a model that a number of states have followed and that he chronicles in his recent book Contested Curriculum: LGBTQ History Goes to School. By all objective measures, Romesburgs career has been an influential success. Which is why the word former may come as a surprise when describing his academic positions. In January, Sonoma State announced that it would be eliminating six departments, including womens and gender studies, due to budget cuts. In response, students and faculty from the WGS department led a movement pressuring the state legislature to fully fund the university and in June successfully restored most of the money that would have been cut, as well as an additional $45 million earmarked for a specific Sonoma State comeback plan. However, despite WGSs significant role in this win, SSUs current administration refused to reinstate the department, leaving students this fall with a gap in their education, professors like Romesburg without a job, and everyone else with questions about why this field of study was so easy to cast away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the context of the escalating right-wing assault on queer and trans people in this country, particularly in schools, I spoke with Romesburgwho is currently on a one-year visiting professorship at Cal Poly San Luis Obispoabout what a college really loses without a WGS department, his fight to bring LGBTQ+ history curricula to K12 schools in California and beyond, and how queer students and their allies can push back against the attacks threatening these vital programs. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Lyanne Wang: Talk about where we are right now with the dismantling of LGBTQ-inclusive curricula and programs across the country, in K12 and higher education. Don Romesburg: You can look at a state like Florida, which started out in 2022 with a Dont Say Gay (and trans) law that was supposed to prohibit discussion of, well, they say sexual orientation or gender identity, but they really mean LGBTQ+ people at the kindergarten through third grade level, and then that was extended in another law through middle school and then high school. And then the same logics were used to justify reaching into higher ed and targeting gender studies and LGBTQ+ studies. So Florida is a really good example of what I would call the ideological model. And then, on the other hand, states like Utah and, most recently, Indiana are making these broad-based cuts to many different departments and programs [in their university systems]. But womens and gender studies and LGBTQ+ studies is always one of those that is on the chopping block when that happens. And then what you see at Sonoma State is that a budget deficit or an administration-produced crisis then brings an outside administrator who makes these sweeping cuts. Advertisement Advertisement So the logic of each of these three phenomena is different, but the effect is the same, which is that the lives of those of us who do this work as scholars and as educators is made far more precarious. The jobs that are available to us are fewer and far between. And for the many, many thousands of students that we teach as majors, and also just in their general education classes, theyre being denied access to knowledge about gender and power, about intersectional feminism, about LGBTQ+ histories and lives in profound and dangerous ways. Advertisement Could you talk both as an educator and as a queer person about what is lost when LGBTQ+ curricula are no longer in schools or when womens and gender studies departments are being slashed across the country? I will say personally, as a queer man who has been in the LGBTQ+ history trenches since I wrote my honors thesis for my undergraduate degree way back in 1993 on the topic, its been something that has been centrally part of how I make sense of the world and how I make sense of myself in the world. And so to have this deinstitutionalized at a place that I have poured my heart and soul into making it really thrive is painful, not just on a professional level but on a personal level. It is an attempt to silence and erase all of the decades of knowledge and study and teaching excellence that we have brought into higher educationthats a direct attack on our identities and our communities. So thats rough. Personally, thats rough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I think that what is lost more generally is that for LGBTQ+ students, queer studies and gender studies is a site of retention. For many students who struggle to find their place on college campuses, our departments, whether those students are majors or not, become a safe haven and a place where their knowledge and experience is seen and valued. I dont know how many students over the years have told me that they wouldve left college if they hadnt found gender studies, if they hadnt found queer studies, like we were what gave them the fuel to stay in college and thrive, not just in our classes but across the curriculum. I also think that in most parts of the country, even before Dont Say Gay laws, LGBTQ+ history and LGBTQ+ knowledge just wasnt taught to students in their K12 curriculum. And so, sure, they can find things on TikTok, but it makes such a profound difference to be able to learn about it in the classroom from scholars who know the field. This is something that so many students told me: It never occurred to me that our community had such a long and diverse history. It never occurred to me that the things that I was feeling politically had to do with larger structures and systems that I could understand and analyze and then act in response to. Im a historian, so Ill lean into the history element of it, but those are such important parts of it for LGBTQ+ students. When queer and trans students go out into the world, they do it equipped with these tools to navigate the world around them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, its a kind of workforce readiness to go out into their professions and be able to do them with a greater sense of deep cultural competency for diverse communities. For non-queer students, I think that these subjects give them a lens of empathy to more deeply understand what LGBTQ people have gone through, what theyre going through, and the larger systems and structures that seek to marginalize us or discredit our existence. Whatever political position they ultimately end up holding is almost not the point. Its rather that LGBTQ+ studies humanizes queer and trans people and our lives and our experiences and exposes the systems of power that minimize and devalue us. Its very important that people know those things. I want to get a bit more into your recent book Contested Curriculum: LGBTQ History Goes to School and how you look at the importance of LGBTQ+ history in the K12 sphere specifically. Can you talk about your efforts there and why you wanted to pursue that path? Advertisement I was pulled in by LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations in about 2010 to start advocating for the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act. That was passed in 2011 in California and became law in 2012. And it ensured that the roles and contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans were part of K12 history and social science education. We were the first state to do this. Its important to note that it wasnt just about LGBTQ+. It was part of the education code that was more broadly about being inclusive to racialized minorities and religious minorities, women, etc. I was brought in because I was a California State University historian, and there were even Democratic legislators in the state at that time who were unsure if there was an LGBTQ+ scholarly history that could be taught in the K12 space and if it could be taught in an age-appropriate way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of times, when people think about LGBTQ+ content in K12, they think teachers are going to be talking about gay sex, which of course theyre not, in history and social science contexts. And so explaining that, yes, indeed, A) there are 40 years of LGBTQ+ scholarly history and B) it can be taught in an age-appropriate way in elementary, middle, and high school was something that I was sort of doing at that time. We thought, once it was passed, Great, thisll happen. But thats not how laws workit looked like it was going to become a symbolic law. We did this thing, but nothings going to change at the level of the classroom. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement So we realized that the standards and frameworks for history and social science in California had to be changed to be much more LGBTQ+ inclusive. And so we pushed across from 2014 to 2016 and were very, very successful and got over 60 percent of the changes that we were proposing to the new standards and frameworks integrated into it. And so that meant that in second grade, when kids learn How does my family have a history, and how does my family relate to its community and its communitys history?, that family diversity must be a part of thatnot just that LGBTQ+ families would be a part of it, but families that are disrupted by immigration or incarceration and foster families and adoptive families and stepfamilies and blended families. Advertisement And when were talking about Who are your heroes or role models?, that LGBTQ+ people not be excluded from that fourth grade California history. In fifth grade, early American history was brought in; eighth grade is more or less 19th-century U.S. historyand so bringing in content there. And then ninth is ethnic studies, 10th is world history, 11th is sort of modern U.S. history, and 12th is American government. And so all of those also have LGBTQ+ content brought into them now. And so we were like: Great. Were done. Big success. But then we realize that the textbooks have to be aligned with the content thats in the new framework. And so there was a whole other fight through 2017 and 2018 to make sure that that happened. And we were very successful in that regard, which was great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I kept wondering, throughout that whole campaign: Why isnt there a well-coordinated organized backlash to this? And also Why arent other states following Californias precedent? And so, as a historian, I started researching the history of LGBTQ-inclusive curricula. And thats where my book came from: looking all the way back to the 1970s and moving forward from there. As I was working, it happened that, starting in 2019, a number of states adopted inclusive education laws or inclusive curriculum laws like CaliforniasNew Jersey, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, Colorado, Nevada. But at the same time that that was happening, starting in around 2020, the outgoing Trump administration started issuing its anti-DEI, anti-LGBTQ+ curriculum guidelines. The right was clearly floating this idea as a new cultural war agenda. And by 2022, the Dont Say Gay, Dont Say Trans, and anti-DEI stuff was in full swing. That was incredibly rapidthat by June of this year, there were 19 states that had anti-LGBTQ+ curriculum laws that were either Dont Say laws or these parental notification laws where if youre going to mention anything about LGBTQ+ stuff, you have to give parents some sort of advance notice of doing so, as if its a specific area of knowledge thats especially dangerous to children. And so the advancement of these kinds of laws has been much more rapid and much more expansive than the inclusive laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no doubt in my mind that in this sort of highly politicized situationwhere a vocal minority has been super-fueled by the internet right-wing hate machine, as well as one of the major political parties, to respond at local levels, at state levels, and at national levels to this issuethat theres going to be an incredible chill on LGBTQ-inclusive K12 curricula. And as recently as 2019, 2020, that wasnt the case. It was going in the other direction. But now were in this full-fledged culture war where theres this rapid movement to silence LGBTQ+ voices and an inclusive curriculum in the K12 classroom. What do you foresee as the future of womens and gender studies as a field, maybe just in the next five years? I think that womens and gender studies and LGBTQ+ studies are going to need to fight for their institutional lives by showcasing the things that we do well. And thats going to involve how we are central to developing good people out in the world who do powerful and impactful and meaningful things in our communities. So womens and gender studies needs to be fought for as a kind of workforce development for educators, for health care workers, for people who work in social services and in public policy and law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another thing thats going to be happening in womens and gender studies is that for many of us, including senior scholars, our professional lives are going to be made far more precarious. And as that occurs, we are going to individually and collectively have to explore how were going to continue doing this vital work for our communities and for our students and our societies if its not through these kinds of predictable tenured and tenure-track professorial lives. I dont have an answer for what that looks like yet, but I am really thinking a lot about the time before queer studies was an invited space within the universities and within the academy, about the ways that that knowledge was transmitted before that time, such as in community spaces, through self-publishing and other ways. We have to keep imagining alternative spaces where this work can thrive. Advertisement Advertisement What advice do you have for queer and trans students who are trying to navigate the world amid all of these anti-DEI attacks? Well, for sure take the LGBTQ+ studies and gender studies classes that are on your college campuses, if you have them. Im always astonished to have a student whos a business major, whos queer, and itll be their last semester of college, and theyll be like, I cant believe I never took one of these classes before now. And Im like, Yeah, were here. I think those classes create spaces of community and shared knowledge and shared passion. I also think organizing and fighting against forces that seek to eliminate gender studies and LGBTQ+ studies from your institutions is a really important thing that you can do. Connecting with LGBTQ+ alumni is a really powerful tool that you have at your disposal as a student. Most universities, especially private universities, really care what their alumni have to say because they get a lot of their money from alumni donations. And so being able to mobilize with alumni gives you a network to go out into the world with, which I think is a really important and powerful thing, especially in these unstable times. But if you have those connections established, if an administration or a state legislature comes for you and your programs, youll already have a group that is mobilized and ready to act. Advertisement And then, I would say, last, but not least, especially in sort of the post-COVID era, I think its really important for queer and trans students to get offline and together in rooms and connect. So whether that is through a kind of queer-student alliance, or whether its through gender studies and trans studies classrooms, you should definitely do that and seek out those intergenerational connections that are available on campus. Because there are elders. I guess Im an elder now! There are elders who are more than happy to connect with you and talk with you. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On Tuesday, Donald Trump suggested that he was planning to send federal troops into Chicago, even over the objections of local officials. The Department of Defense has announced that it has secured Naval Station Great Lakes, near north Chicago, to be used as a command center for an immigration blitz in the coming days. Only a few hours earlier, a federal judge in California had blocked the administration from using the military to fight crime in that state. The statutory and constitutional protections barring the president from using the military for domestic crime-fighting purposes are long-standing and complicated. Elizabeth Liza Goitein has been ringing alarm bells for a very long time about the dangers of allowing the military to do domestic police work. Shes senior director of the nonpartisan Brennan Centers Liberty and National Security Program. On this weeks Amicus podcast she explained why the courts, the Congress, and the Constitution have constructed a web of constraints on a presidents authority to deploy the National Guard to fight crime, and explained why Trumps proposal to simply go in to cities as he deems necessary is unlawful in myriad ways. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: Perhaps we should open with a bracing reminder of what it is the Framers of the Constitution worried about when it came to allowing the military to engage in domestic policing. Liza Goitein: What we are seeing from this president is an assault on the core principle and tradition against using the military as a domestic police force. The reason for this principle in some ways is really obvious: If the president can turn the army inward against the people of this country, that can be an extremely powerful tool of oppression and tyranny. At a minimum, it creates a chilling effect on the willingness of the people of this country to speak out and to express dissent or disagreement with the policies of the person whos commanding the soldiers who have been deployed into their streets. So this is fundamentally at odds with democracy and with individual freedom. Thats why we have this principle. Thats why we have this tradition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the law that enshrines this principle, the Posse Comitatus Act, does have some loopholes in it, particularly when it comes to the National Guard, and particularly when it comes to the District of Columbia. And so what were seeing is that the president is trying to exploit these loopholes in a way that previous presidents havent done. Until now, despite its weaknesses, the Posse Comitatus Act has served as a very powerful norm, but Trump is now shredding that norm. We keep talking about Posse Comitatus, so maybe its time to sketch out what it means? The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits using the military as a Posse Comitatus. Thats not very helpful, right? Thats Latin. What it basically means is that the military cant be used for law enforcement purposes. But its not always clear what is a law enforcement purpose and what isnt a law enforcement purpose. And frankly, this administration has taken an incredibly crabbed view of what constitutes law enforcement being performed by troops. So we have to look at how the courts have interpreted this, and why the courts havent interpreted it that way. Advertisement What the courts have said is that any time the use of the military pervades civilian operations or when the military is used in a way that subjects civilians to an exercise of military power that is compulsory in natureand really, if you look at this case law, the court was particularly concerned with face-to-face interactions between soldiers and civiliansthats when you get that chilling effect. Thats when you get the potential for the military to be used in ways that constrain full participation in our democracy and can constrain the freedom to express dissent. Advertisement When you have these actions by the military that directly affect the liberties of civilians, thats when you trigger the concerns that underlie the Posse Comitatus Act. As long as you have soldiers exercising this power over civilians to compel them to do certain things or not do certain things, that is when the Posse Comitatus Act is triggered, and thats when we have those concerns. Advertisement Advertisement So when I read that the National Guard cant detain, but they can arrest; that they cant search, but they can ask questionsthe question is whether I feel as though they are doing domestic policing against me? When a member of the National Guard who has been federalized, or a U.S. Marine, temporarily detains someone, the question is: Is that person free to go? And I dont think anyone would say in these cases that that person is free to go. I dont think these members of the military are saying, If you would be so kind, why dont you hang out here a minute? But if you have somewhere else to be, go ahead. Thats not whats happening. There is a compulsory power thats being exercised when a person is temporarily detained. Advertisement Advertisement I think we should map out the shape of the legal guardrails here. Advertisement The first principle is that the president normally should not be using the military to engage in domestic law enforcement. That principle is enshrined in the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits federal forces from participating in law enforcement unless it has been expressly authorized by Congress or in the Constitution. Now, if you read the Constitution, it actually doesnt give any powers to the president to deploy the military for law enforcement. So really there arent any express exceptions in the Constitution, but Congress has enacted several. And the most potent by far is the Insurrection Act. That is the primary statutory exception to the Posse Comitatus Act. But in addition to the Insurrection Act and the exceptions Congress has passed, there are also some loopholes and some gaps. And the main one is this general rule that the Posse Comitatus Act does not apply to the National Guard unless the National Guard has been called into federal service. And that is because the Posse Comitatus Act is primarily concerned with potential abuses of the military by the president. And because the National Guard, in every case except for Washington, D.C., is not under the presidents command and control unless its been called into federal service, the Posse Comitatus Act doesnt apply if the Guard hasnt been federalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So the president says hes going to send the Guard into Chicago. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is saying Hell no. What is President Trump going to invoke in order to say that he doesnt care what Gov. Pritzker says? The president cannot replicate what he has done in D.C. in Illinois. He just couldnt do that under the relevant legal authorities. In D.C., he was able to deploy the D.C. National Guard because he has command and control over the D.C. National Guard. And he was able to ask governors from other states to send their Guard forces into D.C. because D.C. is not a state. It is a federal territory. It would be very different in Illinois, where the president doesnt have command and control of the Illinois National Guard as a default. And he could not ask governors to send their Guard forces into Illinois without the governors consent because under the Constitution, states are sovereign entities with respect to one another. So one state cannot invade another state, even if the president asks them to. As long as the Guard force remains, as a legal matter, under state command and control, then those Guard forces are state officers and they cannot enter another state without that states consent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate The Beautification of D.C. Has a Real Dark Side Read More So if President Trump wants to deploy Guard forces in Illinois, he is going to have to federalize them. And that means he has to rely on a federal statute that authorizes federalization. There is no federal law that authorizes federalizing the National Guard for local crime control. It doesnt exist, not even under the Insurrection Act, which is probably the broadest authority that a president has to deploy the military domestically. If the president wants to use the military to execute the law, it has to either be a federal law or it has to be a state law that protects the constitutional rights of a class of people. So basically, civil rights law. Those are the laws that the president can use the military to enforce under the Insurrection Act. Local crime is never going to be a basis for the president to federalize the National Guard and to deploy troops to enforce the law. Advertisement Advertisement What Trump might do is change his tune once he gets into court and say that this is not about local crime, this is about enforcing immigration law, which is what he did in Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, he had the same constraints. He doesnt control the California National Guard as a matter of default. He cant ask governors of other states to send their Guard forces into California. So he had to federalize the Guard there. And he relied on a law, 10 U.S.C. 12406, that authorizes him to federalize the National Guard to execute federal law when necessary. He might try to do something similar in Illinois, but the problem is there arent currently mass protests in Chicago against ICE raids. That was the pretext in California. So hell need another pretext. And its not clear what he would point to, or what he could point to. He might try to say that the fact that there are sanctuary city policies somehow interferes with the execution of federal law. The courts have heard challenges to these sanctuary policies. And one of the things that they have emphasized is that there is a distinction between what these policies do, which is withhold assistance from federal law enforcement, and actual obstruction of federal law. And sanctuary policies fall into the former category that is protected by the 10th Amendment. Under the 10th Amendment, the president cannot force or coerce states into using their local law enforcement or their resources to execute federal law or to assist with the execution of federal law that would violate the Constitution. So if the president tried to rely on that, he would run into some 10th Amendment problems. Im not being Pollyanna about this. If President Trump wants to do this, hell try to find a legal hook and he will continue to try to push the boundaries of the law. New data analysis shows stark variation in risk adjustment from abusive industry practices WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New analysis by the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) shows that gaming within the Medicare Advantage (MA) program by large national carriers persists, wasting tens of billions of taxpayer dollars each year. The examination of risk adjustment payments found that the largest national MA insurer collected up to $785 more per beneficiary than local, nonprofit plans in 2023 alone. That difference cost Medicare more than $6 billion. Accompanying the analysis of federal data, ACHP called on the Trump Administration to immediately adopt sweeping reforms to simplify the unnecessarily complex risk adjustment program. The changes proposed by ACHP would ease administrative burden on clinicians, reduce overpayments and make MA a more competitive marketplace focused on rewarding care rather than codes. "Risk adjustment was a well-intentioned concept that has grown out of control and overrun with abuse. The current program presents thousands of ways for insurers and vendors to game the system, passing costs onto every Medicare consumer and American taxpayer," said ACHP President and CEO Ceci Connolly. "This is a failing system and the stark findings in our analysis prove this. We call on the Trump Administration to make long-needed changes to simplify the risk adjustment model and root out waste and abuse." When Medicare Advantage was created in 2003, the federal government created a risk adjustment program to adequately compensate insurers for covering the sickest seniors. But as risk adjustment has expanded and become more complicated, the program now rewards aggressive coding practices not delivery of high-quality care. ACHP's analysis of data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found that in 2023, the two largest MA insurers had average risk scores 19.2% and 36.2% higher than ACHP nonprofit health plans. The higher the risk score, the more money paid to the insurer. The gap isn't a mistake; it's the result of coders capitalizing on complexities in the program for financial gain. These wide variations stifle competition and leave tens of millions of consumers nationwide disadvantaged. It's time for change. ACHP is the only national payer organization putting forth proposals to truly transform MA and the risk adjustment program. ACHP's framework simplifies risk adjustment to focus on demographics and a small set of substantiated health conditions instead of thousands of potential diagnoses ensuring Medicare payments reflect true patient care costs. Under ACHP's proposal, consumers benefit by having access to the plans that best meet their needs, rather than those with the glitziest marketing campaigns and other goodies that do not improve health. Providers benefit from less administrative burden, allowing them to focus on the patient and not paperwork. And taxpayers benefit by saving tens of billions of dollars every year in wasteful upcoding. "This system is long overdue for improvements and meaningful reform," said Select Health president and CEO Rob Hitchcock, who also serves as chair of the ACHP Policy Committee. "We look forward to working with policymakers to simplify the process, keeping the focus on providing access to high-quality care to consumers and avoiding unnecessary and overly complex bureaucratic processes." Over the past two years, ACHP has spearheaded efforts to improve the popular Medicare Advantage program. Through its MA for Tomorrow initiative, ACHP has identified a range of commonsense proposals to secure and refine the Medicare Advantage program for future generations. "Affordability in health care is a top voter concern and the Administration has a unique opportunity to save billions and improve America's most popular health program," said Connolly. "We look forward to working with policymakers to adopt reforms that put the emphasis on our nation's health, not excessive profits." About ACHP The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) represents the nation's best local, nonprofit health plans, providing high-quality coverage to tens of millions of Americans in 40 states and D.C. ACHP is the only national organization advancing a unique partnership model of coverage and care that fosters a truly competitive market. We believe Americans deserve the best health care in the world. Our members are on the ground in your communities, delivering innovative and competitive coverage. ACHP's model brings together clinicians and health plans to deliver value for patients, employers and taxpayers. SOURCE Alliance of Community Health Plans Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The Trump administration has announced that it will deny visas for Palestinian Authority officials who want to attend next weeks high session of the U.N. General Assembly. Examined closely, the move marks a clear sign that President Donald Trump endorses the Israeli governments desire to expel Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bankthe entire area that the Jewish states far-right nationalists call Greater Israel. The rationales for the ban, cited by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an official edict on Friday, are mainly bogus. The bans intent, Rubio wrote, was to hold the Palestinian Authority, the formal leadership for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, accountable for not complying with its commitments to act like partners for peace, notably its failure to repudiate terrorismincluding the Oct. 7 massacre. However, the PA has frequently denounced terrorism, especially the Oct. 7 attack carried out by the terrorist militia Hamas, which has no relationship to the PA. In fact, Hamas reviles the PA for advocating a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflictwhereas Hamas calls for wiping Israel out. Rubio also demanded that the PA end its campaign of international lawfarehis words for the effort to persuade world leaders to recognize Palestinian statehood. This effort to bypass negotiations with Israel, which he sees as the only legitimate path to a two-state solution, has materially contributed to the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire talks and stiffened Hamas refusal to release Israeli hostages. This charge is misleading at best. Israel has long been evading sincere negotiations for a two-state solution. In fact, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will never allow such a thing as long as hes in power and has refused to allow diplomatic talks about the subject. Yet Trump and Rubio have not chastised Israel for its resistance, much less barred its officials from entering the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even on the war in Gaza, as Hamas has (too slowly) moved toward a gradual ceasefire accord in recent months, Israel has shifted to an all-or-nothing stanceproposing to end the war, release the hostages, and disarm Hamas, all at once, or keep fightingwhich had no chance of succeeding. Not that the PA is a thoroughly commendable organization. Only in the last few months has President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Oct. 7 attack in unequivocal terms. He also continues to subsidize families of Palestinian martyrsincluding Hamas militiamenwho have been arrested or killed while attacking Israelis (though he may have recently ended this policy). Still, these practices have been going on for many years. Back in 2012, the U.N. granted the PA observer status to attend General Assembly meetings. (Before then, its predecessor, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, was given similar status.) So whats really going on? Why is Trump taking this step now? One reason is that the PAs campaign to win near-universal diplomatic recognition of Palestinian statehood is gaining ground. So far, more than 145 of the worlds nations have passed resolutions of recognition. France, Great Britain, Australia, and Canada were scheduled to declare recognitionthe first major U.S. allies to do soat a summit co-hosted by Saudi Arabia during the upcoming U.N. session. Advertisement Advertisement Rubioperhaps at Trumps instigation, certainly with his consentsees the session as context for his visa ban. It means Abbas wont be present to receive the handshakes and standing ovations of world leaders. However, his absence wont stop those leaders from declaring their support for Palestinian statehood. Nor will PA officials be entirely absent from the proceedings. The visa ban does not apply to members of the organizations U.N. mission, who are already in New York and, by U.N. rules, cannot be banned from meetings, regardless of their political positions. (Abbas argues that the same rules bar the exclusion of all PA officials, including himself, but this is unclear.) So someone will smile and wave at the plaudits. Advertisement The move is also puzzling because, from Trumps point of view, its politically unwise. All the motions of diplomatic recognition are, at this point, strictly symbolic. For Palestinians to win real statehood, there need to be clearly defined borders, an established government, and all the other paraphernalia of the modern nation-state (a currency, terms of trade, a diplomatic corps, an army, etc.). Palestine (or whatever name a state of Palestinians might one day be called) has none of this at the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate This Trump Plan for Gaza Is One of the Craziest Things Ive Ever Heard Read More In other words, from Trumps and Netanyahus viewpoint, the shrewdest thing they should have done is to shrug their shoulders. They dont take the U.N. very seriously to begin with; they could have dismissed this whole Palestinian-statehood business as particularly meaningless, and said, Hey, if these people want to play games, let them. The visa ban flashes a neon sign over the session, heightens the news interest, dramatizes the political conflictand gives the Palestinians and their champions a high-profile forum to state their case. Trump may well know this, as the storys top-of-the-hour prominence gives him a chance to state his casewhich is: I dont care. Some critics of the ban have noted that the PA will be necessary to help create a new order for Gaza, and possibly the West Bank, after the war with Hamas is over. To which Trump now seems to be saying: I wont need a PA, because there wont be Palestinians. Advertisement The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump and his people are circulating a 38-page prospectus for a revamped Gaza that begins with the temporary relocation of 2 million Palestinians and ends with massive development investments. The plancalled the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration, and Transformation Trust (or GREAT)was, the Post reports, developed by some of the same Israelis who created and set in motion the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, now distributing food inside the enclave (which, as reports of famine indicate, has been far from effective). Advertisement Earlier this year, Trump talked at great length about an idea to empty Gaza of its people and make it a Middle Eastern Riviera. The notion was derided, not least by his Sunni Arab friends and allies, as foolish, inhumane, and unrealistic. But something like it seems seriously on the table now, especially as the Israeli army prepares for a new offensive to occupy all of Gaza. Advertisement Whether it will really happen is another matter. Israel is having a hard time recruiting reservists to take part in the offensivea new thing (both the reservists reluctance and the scope of the offensive) in Israeli history. None of the countries approached to take in the Palestinian population, including South Sudan, have expressed the slightest interest. Meanwhile, as the Israeli army wreaks more destructive havoc on hospitals, schools, and other civilian structures in Gaza, and as Gaza itself has been declared a land of famine, Israeleven in the eyes of its erstwhile alliesis coming to be seen, more and more, as a pariah state. Trump seems to think that blocking avenues of diplomacyand condemning the beneficiaries of diplomacy as threats to national securitywill bolster his own standing, strengthen his friends in Israel, and demonstrate the weakness of those who resist the path he prefers. Whatever happens at the U.N. next week, his tactics will only wreak greater devastation and sire deeper worldwide alienation from everything he touches. David McDuffee, a prominent figure in harness racing and a two-time Little Brown Jug-winning owner, has been selected as the 40th inductee into the prestigious Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame by the Delaware County Fair. McDuffee's lifelong passion for harness racing began in his youth, inspired by his fathers Standardbreds and a backyard half-mile track at their family home in Pepperell, Mass. He entered horse ownership in the 1980s alongside his longtime partner Tom Walsh and has since built an extraordinary career in the sport. His ownership resume is distinguished by an impressive list of accomplishments, including winners of nine Breeders Crown titles, two Hambletonian Oaks, three Kentucky Filly Futurities and two Little Brown Jug victories. McDuffee captured the Jug in 1994 with Magical Mike and again in 1996 with Armbro Operative. In 2024, McDuffee reached the pinnacle of harness racing recognition with his induction into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y. He was previously honoured as the United States Harness Writers Associations Owner of the Year in 2021 and has served as a trustee of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame since 2014. McDuffee will be formally honoured during a special ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 16, prior to the 80th edition of the Little Brown Jug. He will also be recognized in the winners circle on Jug Day, Thursday, Sept. 18. (Little Brown Jug) SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a bold move to reshape educational equity in underserved communities, MindHYVE.ai has partnered with Miracle University, Sacramento's groundbreaking dropout prevention high school, to bring advanced AI-driven learning tools to students who need them most. MindHYVE.ai and Miracle University Partner to Deliver AI-Powered Education for At-Risk Youth Across California Through this partnership, MindHYVE.ai is providing its flagship ArthurAI platform to initially support 200 Miracle University students for an entire academic year. With plans to reach 5,000 high-risk students in Sacramento by 2027, Miracle University is becoming a model for how technology, mentorship, and government-backed innovation can work together to rebuild trust, opportunity, and hope for the next generation. Founded by California Teacher of the Year Dr. Kadhir Rajagopal, Miracle University has earned widespread acclaim for its 100% graduation or on-track rate among students who were previously on the verge of leaving school. The school's modelrooted in mentorship, wellness, and rigorhas already impacted hundreds of lives and is scaling rapidly to meet rising demand. "This isn't just about deploying AI in education. It's about human-centered design meeting urgent human needs," said Bill Faruki, CEO at MindHYVE.ai. "Miracle University is proof that a different outcome is possible for every studentespecially when technology is used to uplift, not replace, people." MindHYVE.ai's ArthurAI platform integrates seamlessly with this model, providing educators and mentors with real-time insights, personalized learning recommendations, and analytics that enable proactive support. The partnership reflects a shared belief that every student deserves a pathway to succeedand the tools to get there. "We've seen what happens when students are given the chance to rewrite their story," said Dr. Rajagopal, Founder of Miracle University. "With MindHYVE.ai on our side, we now have the technological lift to scale this miracle." Strategic Collaboration, Statewide Vision The partnership was made possible through the instrumental involvement of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who recognized the potential for aligning public service leadership with education innovation. As a long-time advocate for student equity and cross-sector collaboration, Treasurer Ma connected MindHYVE.ai with Miracle University to explore how private sector technology could accelerate student outcomes in public-interest settings. Her facilitation exemplifies the kind of interinstitutional coordination needed to tackle California's most pressing educational challengesparticularly in communities where traditional systems have struggled to engage youth effectively. About Miracle University Miracle University is a nonprofit private high school based in Sacramento, California, serving students most at risk of dropping out. With a track record of transformational success, it provides mentorship, wellness-centered programming, and flexible academic pathways that enable students to graduate and thrive. About MindHYVE.ai MindHYVE.ai is redefining the boundaries of intelligence by engineering autonomous systems and deploying domain-specific AGI agents across real-world sectors. Powered by the Ava-Fusion large reasoning model and architected for agent coordination, swarm intelligence, and adaptive autonomy, MindHYVE's technology stack is revolutionizing law, medicine, finance, education, and governance. With operations in North America, Asia, and now soon in Africa, MindHYVE.ai is on a mission to democratize access to transformative intelligence and architect the infrastructure for post-scarcity economies. Backed by HYVE Labs, the company continues to shape the future of agentic systems on a global scale. Website: www.mindhyve.ai | Email: [email protected] | Contact: +1 (949) 200-8668 Media Contact Marc Ortiz Email: [email protected] SOURCE MindHYVE.ai, Inc. The Stable of Memories, the historic Round Barn located adjacent to The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, will host its annual party on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale begins the following night, Monday, Sept. 29. This years Stable of Memories event will honour Kathryn Kit Glenn McKinley for her many years of dedication to preserving Floral Hall, the original name of the Round Barn, and its collection of harness racing memorabilia. The evening will include music and a barbeque buffet dinner. Tickets are available online at stableofmemories.square.site. The Stable of Memories Museum, featuring the trophy collection of George Segals Brittany Farms, will be open on Red Mile race days from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some horse memorabilia, old magazines and art will be available for purchase. (Stable of Memories) Pedigree pages for all 110 yearlings entered to the 2025 Winner's Circle Speed Sale are now available online. The pages, which include three-generation pedigrees and notable performers through each yearling's maternal line, can be accessed at winnerscirclesale.com/roster. Yearling videos will be added to the roster as they are made available. The full catalogue is available for viewing and downloading at winnerscirclesale.com/catalog. The sale will take place on Thursday, Oct. 9 at the Michigan State University Sales Pavilion in East Lansing, Michigan, beginning at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit winnerscirclesale.com. (Winner's Circle Speed Sale) 2 min read Dr. Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, visited the SAP Labs India Innovation Park in Bangalore, reaffirming the deepening partnership between India and Germany in driving digital innovation and shaping the future of technology. Dr. Wadephul inaugurated the SAP Experience Center, where businesses can explore innovative solutions through real-life demos, showcases, and presentations across SAPs portfolio. With this, Bangalore has become one of the few global locations to host two SAP Experience Centers in the same city. Tech News Of The Day A special session for the delegation, led by Sindhu Gangadharan, Managing Director, SAP Labs India, and Head of Customer Innovation Services, SAP, explored critical themes including artificial intelligence and its regulation, the democratization of technology, and the scaling of digital public infrastructure. The discussions highlighted how India and Germany, as trusted bilateral partners, can collaborate to address the opportunities and challenges of the digital ageensuring secure, inclusive, and sustainable growth for both nations and beyond. Speaking on the occasion, Sindhu Gangadharan, Managing Director, SAP Labs India, and Head of Customer Innovation Services, SAP said: We are honoured to welcome Foreign Minister Dr. Johann Wadephul and his distinguished delegation to SAP Labs India. This visit reflects a shared commitment by India and Germany to shape a digital future anchored in innovation and resilience. It is through such exchanges that we can accelerate innovation, strengthen digital ecosystems, and unlock opportunities that benefit not only our nations, but the world at large. Dr Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Germany, added, Germany and India are great partners in the digital era. Germanys engineering and regulatory strengths are a perfect match with Indias vibrant innovation ecosystem and world-class talent. India is a fast emerging dynamic technology hub, and deeper cooperation will keep our nations at the forefront of global innovation. The presence and continued investments of German companies in Bangalore reflect the potential of this collaboration. Germany and India are great partners in the digital era. Germanys engineering and regulatory strengths are a perfect match with Indias vibrant innovation ecosystem and world-class talent. India is a fast emerging dynamic technology hub, and deeper cooperation will keep our nations at the forefront of global innovation. The presence and continued investments of German companies in Bangalore reflect the potential of this collaboration. The visit to SAP Labs India Innovation Park underscores the growing strategic importance of Indo-German collaboration in technology, research, and innovation. It reinforces Indias rising stature as a global technology hub and Germanys commitment to building strong, future-ready partnerships. 6 min read In a defining moment for Indias next chapter of semiconductor growth, Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2025 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre), New Delhi today. Having returned from his visits to Japan and China, PM Modi asserted the day is not far when the world will say Designed in India, Made in India, Trusted by the World. Drawing an analogy, PM Modi remarked that in the world of semiconductors, it is often said that Oil was Black Gold, but Chips are Digital Diamonds. The flagship show opened to an overwhelming and an unprecedented response with 20,000+ registrations, delegates from 48 countries, 50 Global CXOs and 1275 booths at the countrys biggest semiconductors and electronics show. Noting the presence of semiconductor sector experts from across the globe, with representation from over 40 to 50 countries, PM Modi emphasized that Indias innovation and youth power are also visibly present at the event. He stated that this unique combination sends a clear message, The World Trusts India, the World Believes in India and the World is ready to build the Semiconductor Future with India. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said, This is a year, 2025, in which many dreams are coming true. Today, the Prime Minister was presented with the first made-in-India chip made by CG SEMI. Three more pilot lines are almost on the verge of completion in the next few months. Our design and talent building capabilities have come up very well. Today we presented the 20 chips designed by students and manufactured at our SCL Mohali facility. Todays flagship event witnessed the convergence of all critical stakeholders of the semiconductor ecosystem including Equipment manufacturers, chemical manufacturers, gas manufacturers, and material manufacturer and that that shows the scale at which we are growing and the confidence the world has on Indias semiconductor journey. Tech News Of The Day Ajit Manocha, President and CEO, SEMI said, The Indian semiconductor industry is experiencing exponential growth, in line with Modis law which envisions India replicating Moores Law for industry expansion. With technology at an inflection point with critical advancements and innovations backed by AI, I believe we are at the cusp of unprecedented dynamics of the current geopolitical landscape. India is being recognized globally for its remarkable potential and growing leadership in the global semiconductor sector. Ashok Chandak, President SEMI India and IESA announced the signing of 12 MoUs at SEMICON India 2025 Detailed list enclosed below. Ashok Chandak, President, SEMI India and IESA said, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modis vision for Indias semiconductor industry, as articulated at SEMICON India 2024, is becoming a reality. The governments commitment to fostering innovation and investment is evident in landmark initiatives such as the passive component manufacturing scheme and the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. PM Modis vision for India to become a global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing, and technology development takes a step forward with SEMICON India 2025 today. This years mega show exceeded expectations with a remarkable turnout from 48 countries, featuring nearly 1,275 booths, a staggering increase from 650 last year and an unprecedented interest with over 20000+ registrations. The phenomenal participation of over 20,000 stakeholders from around the world at the event is a testament to Indias growing prominence in the semiconductor landscape. In addition to enriching sessions during the course of the day, the show also witnessed a commitment from the newly formed India Deep Tech Investment Alliance (IDTA) to spur increased private investment in priority deep tech sectors with US $1billion to accelerate entrepreneurship and ecosystem development within key technology sectors throughout the India U.S. corridor. The IDTA comprises founding members Celesta Capital, Accel, Blume Ventures, Gaja Capital, Ideaspring Capital, Premji Invest, Tenacity Ventures, and Venture Catalysts. The inaugural was graced by Shri. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister, MeitY, Shri. Jitin Prasada, Minister of State, MeitY, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister, NCT of Delhi, Shri. Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri. S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, along with several global leaders and CXOs from across the world. Shri. Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the Vikram 32-bit processor, the first Made- in-India semiconductor chip to PM Modi in the presence of over 4000 delegates. With a bold vision and theme Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse, SEMICON India 2025 has once again taken the centre stage as South Asias single largest platform for showcasing the latest advancements in the semiconductor and electronics industries. The landmark event this year has convened over 20,000 participants from across the globe including industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, startups, researchers and academicians to discuss the latest trends, opportunities and complex challenges in the semiconductor sector and simultaneously accelerate global collaboration, support indigenous innovation, and solidify Indias position in the semiconductor landscape. International roundtables, Keynote speeches, panel discussions and fireside chats by industry visionaries on critical topics such as Fabs, Advanced packaging, smart manufacturing, AI, supply chain management, sustainability followed the inauguration ceremony. In addition to distinguished government officials, this years event will also feature an impressive lineup of industry leaders from top companies including Applied Materials, ASML, IBM, Infineon, KLA, Lam Research, MERCK, Micron, PSMC, Rapidus, Sandisk, Siemens, SK Hynix, TATA Electronics, Tokyo Electron, and many more. MOUs / Announcements at SEMICON India 2025 1. MoU between Tata Electronics and Merck to strengthen Semiconductor Capabilities in India in the area of manufacturing and packaging 2. MoU between Tata Electronics and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC_ to develop domestic semiconductor design and IP ecosystem 3. Announcement to kickoff joint development of Indias first fully localized automative camera module, launched by Kaynes Semicon in collaboration with SPARSH-IQ. 3rdiTech, Focally and SenseSemi Technologies 4. Announcement to deliver Indias first MEMs Microphone & Advanced Semiconductor Packages by Kaynes Semicon in collaboration with Infineon 5. Announcement to kickoff for joint development for Make-in-India Secure Chip, embedded with Smart Operating System , designed to power the next generation of digital identity solution such as electronic passports built on a scalable security architecture by L&T Semiconductor in collaboration with IIT Gandhinagar and C-DAC 6. MoU between L&T Semiconductor and IISc Bangalore to build a National Innovation Hub for semiconductor research and quantum leadership 7. Unveiling of Indias 1st IoT Evolution Board integrating the indigenous VEGA processor by C-DAC with Bluetooth and LoRa connectivity by Indiesemic A woman co-led domestic startup at Gujarat 8. MoU between NIELIT and Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA) to promote semiconductor skilling, industry academia linkages, and capacity building in semiconductor technologies 9. MoU between ISM and New Age Makers Institute of Technology (NAMTECH) to establish a collaborating framework to build a future-ready talent pipeline for Indias rapidly growing semiconductor ecosystem, while advancing applied research and innovation in line with ISMs national roadmap 10. MoU between the Arizona State University and India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) on scientific and educational collaboration 11. MoU among C-DAC, Synopsys, and IIT Madras Pravartak to provide flexible access of Synopsys IPs to approved companies under the DLI Scheme 12. Announcement on availability of design infrastructure support to approved companies under the DLI scheme which includes the following: IP core from a) ITC Korea b) Secure IC c) Cadence Design Systems d) Analogue Bits EDA tools from a) Sim Yog Technologies b) Cadre design systems Post Silicon Validation services from a) Emerson Global b) Smartsoc Solutions c) Cyient Semiconductor 1 min read Y Combinator-backed startup fintech Grey (https://Grey.co/) has expanded its services to India, now offering almost instant rupee payouts to serve Indians earning from international sourcesfrom freelancers and entrepreneurs to students and expats sending money home, receiving support from family and managing cross-border finances. The product expansion positions Grey, a US-licensed fintech, that serves over 2 million users across 50+ countries, as a major player offering comprehensive global banking services specifically designed for Indias digitally connected workforce, providing instant access to USD, EUR, and GBP accounts alongside local rupee conversions. India processes over $125 billion in annual remittances, more than any country globally, yet most recipients still wait 3-5 business days and pay 3-7% in hidden fees for international transfers. Tech News Of The Day Traditional banks treat international payments like its still 1995, said Idorenyin Obong, Greys CEO, who spent time in Bengaluru meeting users I talked to a freelance designer who was losing 15,000 monthly just on conversion fees and delays. Thats serious money. The timing reflects Indias growing global economic integration. The country has the worlds largest freelance market with over 15 million freelancers and approximately 3 million remote workers employed by foreign companies. Most still rely on traditional payment methods with multi-day delays, despite having clients primarily based in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, and South America. Greys approach differs by providing users with actual US, European, and UK bank account details, allowing international clients to pay as if hiring locally, then instantly converting funds to rupees on the recipients end. Were not just another remittance app, Obong explained. Were giving Indians the same financial infrastructure that Americans and Europeans have which is instant access to global money. Click Here To Support Our Website The launch positions Grey directly against established players in India, a market where cross-border payment companies have struggled with regulatory complexity and local banking partnerships. Indian users can sign up immediately at https://Grey.co/. The service supports payouts from 170+ countries and includes virtual USD debit cards and USDC cryptocurrency deposits and payouts. NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Joseph Hernandez, independent candidate for Mayor of New York City, today announced "Work for the Dream," a two-year pilot program that provides undocumented immigrants a structured path toward legal residency by requiring work, accountability, and civic contribution. New York City is home to more than 500,000 undocumented immigrants, more than the population of Miami. The vast majority are decent, hardworking people who keep the city running, working in construction, food service, childcare, and home health care. But Hernandez stressed that immigration without rules is not sustainable. "Most undocumented immigrants are honest, hardworking people who want nothing more than a chance to build a better life," Hernandez said. "But we need order in our city. 'Work for the Dream' ensures that promise while protecting public safety and upholding the law." The "Work for the Dream" program will: Remove anyone convicted of a felony. Require registration with fingerprints, proof of residence, and personal information. Mandate legal employment or education, annual tax filings, community service, and English-language progress. Require participants to report any change of address promptly. Bar participants from receiving government benefits. Deny eligibility to anyone convicted of a crime during the program. Allow compliant participants to apply for legal residency after two years, behind those already in line. "This program will remove dangerous criminals, strengthen our economy with billions in tax revenue, and reward responsibility," Hernandez said. "It respects the law while giving hardworking families a fair chance." If elected, Hernandez pledged to personally advocate for "Work for the Dream" in Washington, working with Congress and the White House to make it a national model. "Whether from Havana or Haiti, Queens or Queens Village, we all share the same dream: safety, opportunity, and the dignity of work," Hernandez said. "'Work for the Dream' makes that possible." About Joseph Hernandez: Joseph Hernandez is a Cuban-American biotech entrepreneur and independent candidate for Mayor of New York City. A refugee and the son of a political prisoner, he immigrated to the U.S. at age seven and built a nationally recognized career founding healthcare companies and advancing public health innovation. He is running to restore safety, affordability, and accountability to New York City leadership. For more information, visit hernandezfornyc.com . SOURCE Hernandez For NYC 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 On September 2nd, a federal judge ruled against the U.S. government's proposal that Google should sell its Chrome web browser to restore competition in online search. The highly watched decision came after a three-week hearing that concluded in May, in which lawyers for the U.S. government and Google argued over how to fix the tech giant's search monopoly. The shares of Google's parent company, Alphabet, surged in after-hours trading following the announcement. Last year, it was ruled that Google illegally maintained a monopoly in online search, pointing to exclusive agreements the company struck with Apple, Samsung, AT&T and others to be the default search engine on web browsers and mobile devices. Google, based in Mountain View, Calif., disagreed with the ruling. The Department of Justice and several states proposed several ways to fix Google's monopoly, including forcing the company to sell Chrome, a web browser the agency described as the "gateway to the internet." Google said the government's proposal went too far and would harm consumers and America's technological leadership. Instead, the company suggested more narrow solutions that would make its contracts with wireless carriers and mobile device makers less restrictive. The antitrust case stems from a lawsuit the DOJ and multiple states filed against Google in 2020, under the Trump administration, alleging it illegally operated as a monopoly. Since then, online search has evolved, with more people turning to short videos and AI chatbots like ChatGPT to find information or summarize search results. Google has been trying to race ahead as OpenAI, Meta and others compete to dominate AI. Google shows AI-generated summaries of search results, released an "AI mode" in search and has a virtual assistant called Gemini. AI companies, including OpenAI in San Francisco, had expressed interest in buying Google Chrome ahead of the judge's decision. In August, AI startup Perplexity made a bold bid to purchase Google Chrome for $34.5 billion. (The Los Angeles Times partners with Perplexity to generate summaries of ideas expressed in opinion pieces.) Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has continued to see its stock price rise this year despite uncertainty over Chrome's future. In the second quarter, Google's revenue reached $96.43 billion per year, up roughly 14% compared to the same period last year. The company's net income jumped 19% to $28.19 billion. 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain C-SPAN said Wednesday that it had reached a deal to have its three channels air on YouTube TV and Hulu's live television feed, ending a dispute that had led to a revenue squeeze for the public affairs network in the cord-cutting era. The network said the streaming services would pay the same fee as cable and satellite companies, roughly 87 cents a year per subscriber, and that C-SPAN would continue its no-advertising policy on television. Congress involved itself in the issue, passing a resolution this spring calling on the services' parent companiesAlphabet for YouTube and Disney for Huluto add C-SPAN to their programming mix. Because congressional sessions and hearings represent a big portion of C-SPAN's programming, the politicians faced diminished airtime without a deal. At its peak a decade ago, C-SPAN was seen in some 100 million homes with television. The number of homes paying for TV has since dropped to some 70 million, with roughly 20 million of those consumers now getting television through services like YouTube and Hulu, and they weren't showing C-SPAN. C-SPAN said its revenues had dropped from nearly $64 million in 2019 to $45.4 million in 2023. "We are proud that this agreement will give millions more Americans access to our unfiltered coverage of the nation's political process," said Sam Feist, C-SPAN's CEO. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Singapores growth forecast raised to 2.4% for 2025 By Vietnam News Agency Wed, September 3, 2025 | 8:32 pm GMT+7 Economists have revised up their forecast for Singapores economic growth in 2025 to 2.4% from the previous 1.7%, after stronger-than-expected economic performance in Q2, according to the latest survey of the Monetary Authority of Singapore released on Wednesday. Singapores GDP growth is forcast at 2.4% in 2025. Photo courtesy of The Straits Times. The survey, sent out on August 12 to a total of 25 economists and analysts who closely monitor the Singapore economy, said the economy expanded 4.4% year-on-year in Q2, beating the median forecast of 3% in the previous survey. For Q3, economists expect growth to ease to 0.9% year-on-year. Inflation projections remain subdued, with headline consumer prices forecast to rise 0.8% and core inflation 0.6% in Q3. Geopolitical tensions, including the introduction of semiconductor and pharmaceutical tariffs, were cited as the most significant downside risk to Singapore's outlook. Respondents also pointed to external slowdowns and financial market volatility as potential risks. project44 establishes monthly tariff reports, building on Supply Chain Insights CHICAGO, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs and reciprocal measures from key global partners, the U.S. trade environment is undergoing a recalibration. Because of the ongoing nature of the volatility, the project44 Tariff report will now be published the first week of every month, giving supply chain decision-makers a clearer picture of the macro landscape. Here are the key findings from the September report: Export Declines to Top Partners : Year-to-date exports to Canada and China have dropped by 7.6% and 1% respectively, signaling a shift in demand and potential geopolitical tension : Year-to-date exports to and have dropped by 7.6% and 1% respectively, signaling a shift in demand and potential geopolitical tension Blank Sailings Surge : Ocean carriers are responding with aggressive capacity management. The New York Colombo route saw a 49.2 percentage point increase in blank sailings (defined as a cargo ship voyage being canceled, partially or entirely) year-over-year, with similar spikes on Lianyungang Seattle (+27.0pp) and Kaohsiung Long Beach (+22.7pp) : Ocean carriers are responding with aggressive capacity management. The route saw a 49.2 percentage point increase in blank sailings (defined as a cargo ship voyage being canceled, partially or entirely) year-over-year, with similar spikes on Lianyungang (+27.0pp) and Kaohsiung (+22.7pp) Diversification Trends : India and Bangladesh have gained modest import share, reflecting ongoing efforts by U.S. businesses to diversify sourcing amid tariff uncertainty : and have gained modest import share, reflecting ongoing efforts by U.S. businesses to diversify sourcing amid tariff uncertainty Legal Challenges and Policy Uncertainty: With the Trump Administration in its final term, the future of these tariffs remains unclear. Legal challenges to the "Liberation Day" tariffs are currently moving through the courts, and 2029 could mark their sunset "Don't mistake capacity discipline for demand recovery. The spike in blanks on U.S.linked lanes is carriers managing the chessboard, avoiding high tariffs and reorganizing their importing strategy to align with the changing game," said Lora Cecere, founder of Supply Chain Insights, LLC. In future months, project44 expects tariff rates to stabilize. Once trade agreements are extended, the current patterns suggest a cautious equilibrium can be found. Renewed volatility remains a possibility if geopolitical, legal or policy conditions shift. For more information about project44 and Movement, the Decision Intelligence platform, visit project44.com. About project44 project44 is the Decision Intelligence Platform for the modern supply chain. Its value-driven AI transforms fragmented logistics management into unified intelligence, bringing certainty to global supply chain operations. With the industry's largest ecosystem, project44 provides visibility into over 1.5 billion shipments annually for over 1,000 leading brands in manufacturing, automotive, retail, life sciences, food & beverage, CPG, and oil, chemical & gas. Learn more at project44.com. Press contact: [email protected] SOURCE project44 You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- During Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the American Red Cross is celebrating a rebound in blood donations from Black Americans through innovative community partnerships that help deliver lifesaving relief to more than 100,000 Americans with sickle cell disease who depend on blood transfusions. Launched in 2021, the Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative has inspired more than 140,000 first-time African American donors to roll up a sleeve, strengthening the blood supply for patients in need, allowing them to survive and thrive. The initiative has also provided more than 300,000 sickle cell trait screenings, raising critical awareness in communities most impacted by the disease. At the heart of this work are sickle cell warriors like Kelly Bernard-Igwe, who suffered a stroke at four years old due to complications from sickle cell disease that could have derailed her dreams. But over 280 blood transfusions later, she's now a wife, a nurse, and recently became Dr. Kelly Bernard-Igwe, CRNA, after earning her Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree last year. "I wouldn't be alive without transfusions," said Dr. Bernard-Igwe, who receives seven to eight units of blood every six to seven weeks through red blood cell exchange procedures that help prevent complications of sickle cell disease. "Once I receive the blood, I feel re-energized and rejuvenated. I call it 'getting my refill.'" Making an Impact Since launching in 2021, the Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative has achieved several transformative milestones: Inspired more than 140,000 first-time African American donors to donate blood first-time African American donors to donate blood Provided more than 300,000 sickle cell trait screenings to donors who self-identified as African American, Black or multiracial to increase sickle cell trait awareness to donors who self-identified as African American, Black or multiracial to increase sickle cell trait awareness Invested $205,000 in future leaders through the Red Cross Sickle Cell Fighter High School Scholarship Program, awarding $5,000 scholarships to 41 students who demonstrated outstanding commitment to helping patients with sickle cell disease through the Red Cross Sickle Cell Fighter High School Scholarship Program, awarding scholarships to 41 students who demonstrated outstanding commitment to helping patients with sickle cell disease Collected more than 7,300 pints of lifesaving blood at more than 320 blood drives on HBCU campuses through the Red Cross HBCU Ambassador Program, creating a powerful legacy of collaboration that has strengthened communities According to the CDC, sickle cell disease affects one in every 365 African American newborns, making it the most common inherited blood disorder in the country, with many patients requiring blood transfusions throughout their lifetime. Blood donors who are Black are almost three times more likely to be a match for these patients compared to other donorsmaking the increase in African American donors critical. Patients with sickle cell disease undergoing stem cell or gene therapy treatments also benefit from blood and platelet donations that are closely matched to avoid transfusion-related complications. To help ensure these lifesaving treatments remain available, the Red Cross is mobilizing communities through its fall "Joined by Blood" activation. Joined by Blood From September through October, the Red Cross "Joined by Blood" activation will host more than 750 blood drives nationwide through partnerships with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, 100 Black Men of America, The Links, Incorporated, Delta Air Lines, Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Jack and Jill of America, member organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), faith-based organizations and more. "Together, we have the power to help save lives and strengthen community health," said Dr. Yvette Miller, executive medical officer, Red Cross Blood Services. "When our communities give together, we heal together. Through Joined by Blood, we transform individual acts of generosity into a powerful movement that helps patients and elevates entire communities." About every two and a half minutes, someone with sickle cell disease arrives at a U.S. emergency roomand nearly two out of three times, they're in severe pain. In those critical moments, the availability of lifesaving blood can mean the difference between uncertainty and assurance when transfusion treatment is needed. "It is so important to donate blood if you're able," said Dr. Bernard-Igwe. "Many of us rely on blood donations to live. Since sickle cell does affect mostly African Americans, it is of utmost importance to obtain more Black donors." The Joined by Blood activation creates a powerful connection between donors and patients, giving those with sickle cell disease the security of knowing their communities stand ready to support them, while empowering donors to tap into their lifesaving power. Schedule a blood donation appointment today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood, using the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media. SOURCE American Red Cross LOS GATOS, Calif., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RiverMeadow Software, a leader in cloud migration and modernization solutions, today announced the release of its enhanced Workload Mobility Platform, now with full migration support for Microsoft Hyper-V. This marks a major milestone in RiverMeadow's commitment to delivering complete workload mobility across all Microsoft private and public cloud platforms. As organizations face rising operational costs, mounting technical debt, and the need for greater agility, Hyper-V remains a critical choice for enterprises pursuing private cloud strategies. With Hyper-V as a new supported target, RiverMeadow customers can now extend their hybrid and multi-cloud strategies with greater flexibility and control. Key Benefits of RiverMeadow's Enhanced Platform with Hyper-V Support: Expanded Microsoft Coverage: Full migration support for Hyper-V, Azure, Azure Local, Azure VMware Solution (AVS), and Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO). Full migration support for Rapid Time to Value: Start migrating workloads in as little as 30 minutes. Start migrating workloads in as little as 30 minutes. Flexible Architecture: Support for both private and SaaS deployment models. Support for both private and SaaS deployment models. Flexible Migration Types: Enabling both VM-based and OS-based migrations. Enabling both VM-based and OS-based migrations. Reduced Risk: Integrated automation and rapid acceptance testing minimize source impact. Integrated automation and rapid acceptance testing minimize source impact. Enterprise Scalability: Decoupled data transfer technology built for large-scale migrations. Decoupled data transfer technology built for large-scale migrations. Cost Optimization: Rightsize workloads, optimize storage, and reduce licensing expenses. Rightsize workloads, optimize storage, and reduce licensing expenses. Modernization at Scale: Upgrade operating systems, modernize SQL Server, and transition across major Linux distributions to eliminate technical debt and ensure compliance. "By adding Hyper-V as a supported target, we are completing the Microsoft Cloud story for our customers," said Jim Jordan, President and CEO of RiverMeadow. "Organizations can now migrate and modernize workloads seamlessly across all Microsoft public and private clouds, empowering them to optimize operations, accelerate innovation, and modernize IT environments with confidence." Comprehensive Migration & Modernization Use Cases The RiverMeadow Platform now supports: Cloud-to-Cloud, On-Prem to Cloud, and Hybrid migrations Workload Optimization to maximize resource efficiency and reduce costs to maximize resource efficiency and reduce costs Workload Modernization to update legacy systems, improve compliance, and accelerate digital transformation Unlocking Full Microsoft Cloud Agility With Hyper-V now fully supported, RiverMeadow provides a single, unified platform that enables true workload mobility across all Microsoft environments private and public including Hyper-V, Azure, Azure Local, AVS, and ARO. This gives enterprises the flexibility to align IT strategy with evolving operational and financial goals. About RiverMeadow Software RiverMeadow Software delivers innovative workload mobility, optimization, and modernization solutions, enabling organizations to migrate to the cloud with speed, security, and confidence. With deep expertise in complex cloud transformations, RiverMeadow simplifies migration and accelerates digital initiatives across industries. Learn more at www.rivermeadow.com Media Contact: RiverMeadow Software, Inc. Email: [email protected] SOURCE RiverMeadow Software Inc. We are hearing a lot about the 10% to be paid to public servants, but nothing is said about - Brings ASML's EXE:5200B, critical system for next-generation chips, to M16 fab - Improved precision, density by 1.7x and 2.9x to help competitive production - Company to lead AI memory with cutting-edge tech required by key industries SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has assembled the industry's first High NA EUV* lithography system for mass production at the M16 fabrication plant in Icheon, South Korea. * High NA EUV(High Numerical Aperture Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography): a next-generation lithography system that delivers much better resolution by applying a larger NA**, compared with an earlier EUV system. By enabling the world's finest patterns, it is expected to help shrink the pattern and improve density *NA(Numerical Aperture):a measure of an optical system's ability to collect light. A higher NA enables a more precise pattern At an event to commemorate the assembly of the system, SK hynix's Head of R&D Cha Seon Yong, Head of Manufacturing Technology Lee Byoungki and ASML's Head of Customer Team SK hynix-Japan Kim Byeong-Chan celebrated the introduction of the equipment to produce next-generation DRAM. The move lays the foundation for a swift development and supply of the cutting-edge products that meet customer demand amid intense competition of the global semiconductor industry. SK hynix aims to enhance credibility and stability of the global supply chain through close collaboration with business partners. A sophisticated process technology to scale memory cells is critical to advance productivity and product performance. A more sophisticated pattern leads to an increase in the number of chips produced from a wafer and an improvement in power efficiency and performance. SK hynix has been expanding the scope of EUV adoption for production of the most advanced DRAM since the first introduction of the technology in 2021 for the 1anm, the fourth generation of the 10nm tech. The assembly of the next-generation technology system that outperforms the existing EUV equipment comes amid the company's efforts to prepare for the industry's requirement for extreme scaling and high density. The TWINSCAN EXE:5200B, the first model for volume production of ASML's High NA EUV product line, enables printing of transistors 1.7 times smaller and achievement of transistor densities 2.9 times higher, compared with the existing EUV system, with a 40% improvement in the NA to 0.55 from 0.33. With the adoption of the new system, SK hynix plans to simplify the existing EUV process and accelerate the development of the next-generation memory to advance product performance and cost competitiveness. The company also aims to enhance its position in the high-value memory product market and make its technological leadership stronger. "High NA EUV is a critical technology that opens the next chapter of the semiconductor industry," said Kim at ASML. "ASML will closely collaborate with SK hynix to bring forward the innovation of the next-generation memory." "We expect the addition of the critical infrastructure to bring our technological vision we have been pursuing into reality," said Cha at SK hynix. "We aim to enhance our leadership in the AI memory space with the cutting-edge technology required by the fast-growing AI and next-generation computing markets." About SK hynix Inc. SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM") and flash memory chips ("NAND flash") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com. SOURCE SK hynix Inc. Ahead of the opening episode of BBC Ones new primetime dating show Stranded On Honeymoon Island, the Beebs publicity machine proudly declared we were about to witness "dating like youve never seen it before". A bold statement, you might think, from an industry which has been pumping out reality dating shows for the worst part of two decades now and, thanks to Rylan Clarke and Paramount+, is currently showcasing its latest twist on the genre, naked dating. Sure enough, it soon became apparent that what the BBC meant to say was that Stranded On Honeymoon Island is dating like youve never seen it before but only if youve never seen Married At First Sight (MAFS) before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, there are slight tweaks to the format here and there. For instance, thanks to a brief speed dating prelude in London, for the contestants heading out to the Philippines for some instant nuptials, its more a case of Married At Second Sight. However, what we are essentially dealing with is an extended version of the honeymoon period on MAFS with familiar whiffs of Love Island, Ex On The Beach and every other dating show in TV history thrown in for good measure. I should admit here that if you love reality dating shows, there is absolutely no reason why you wont enjoy SOHI. Its a slow starter, but once it gets going (by episodes four and five) theres every chance it will get you going. Having as seasoned and enthusiastic a host as Davina McCall certainly helps things along. The problem the BBC may have is finding enough BBC One viewers who are willing to invest three nights a week on the kind of show that is normally relegated to the networks minor channels. It might also be a struggle for the Beeb to persuade the more traditional BBC viewers that treating marriage in such a frivolous and flippant manner is an acceptable way for the state broadcaster to be going about things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On that score, it doesnt really matter that the couples are not getting legally married the shows local celebrant in the Philippines, Wenly, drops that particular jeopardy-killing bombshell just 14 minutes into the opening episode, by the way. Sam and Hannah are paired up on Stranded On Honeymoon Island. (BBC/CPL Productions) For some BBC viewers, the very fact that the sanctity of marriage is being shredded in such a way will be confirmation enough that the worst fears of Marmaduke 'Duke' Hussey from series five of The Crown have finally come true. Has BBC One finally become just like all those hundreds of faceless TV channels Duke raged against, pumping out ghastly programmes that no one wants to watch? Is it now simply killing time and filling hours until big hitters like Strictly or The Traitors come around again? The conclusion we must draw is that Stranded on Honeymoon Island is not aimed at the traditional BBC One viewers, which could be seen as a bold strategy given theyre the ones (still) paying for it. I'm all for the BBC taking risks and trying to attract a younger audience, but if anyone at the network thinks SOHI will be the next The Traitors, I have news for them. It wont. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bog-standard dating show like this is never going to capture the wider publics imagination in that way. That wont be through lack of trying, though. The Beeb has clearly thrown some money at this show, which sees six couples who, we are assured, have tried all the other dating methods without success heading all the way to the Philippines to tie the knot with a relative stranger. Taniae and David explore the picturesque landscape of Stranded On Honeymoon Island. (BBC/CPL Productions) The jeopardy is that they dont find out exactly who theyve been matched with from the speed dating event until they arrive at the altar. If youre wondering whether any of them pull out once they do find out, Im afraid Im not allowed to say. I'll just remind you that the honeymoon is a free three-week holiday on an insanely beautiful island in the Philippines. So, unless youre matched with Shrek or Katie Hopkins, youre not getting off that boat. Speaking of which, the bit where the couples actually do get off the boat is one of many neat gimmicks this show has to offer. They are obliged to jump off the bow, holding hands, and swim ashore in their wedding outfits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im sure its meant to look gloriously cinematic, but after the first few lovers leaps I couldnt help thinking of bored schoolkids rescuing bricks from the deep end of the swimming pool in their PJs. From that point on, the newly-not-really-weds are on their own and must live in basic conditions and survive on basic rations for three weeks. This Survivor-style twist is designed to add further pressure to the fledgling relationships, but on the evidence so far, Im not convinced it represents that much of a hardship. Newlyweds Taniae, Helen, and Ini catch up on Stranded On Honeymoon Island. (BBC/CPL Productions) Given the quality of the camerawork while they are on their individual islands, you may even suspect there is a full film crew hiding out of shot. Plus, as the days wear on, the six pairs appear to spend an awful lot of time heading to group events at Couples Cove, where the food and booze on offer would shame a Roman banquet. Presumably, the production team is hoping that these will eventually turn into Roman orgies. Lets face it, the whole point of bringing all the couples together is to see whether they will stray from their original pairings. I mean, it would be lovely and romantic if one or two stayed together throughout, but lets be honest: happy endings are not the main reason why people watch reality dating shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To that end, the twist during the climax of the first episode in which one of the guys revealed to his new wife that a recent ex-girlfriend was also at the speed dating event was a most welcome development. Said ex was granted so much camera time, only a fool or someone whos never watched a reality show would bet against her popping up in the Philippines at some point. Davina McCall is hosting Stranded on Honeymoon Island. (BBC/CPL Productions) Equally welcome was the sight of one or two of the blokes casually admitting to their new wives that they would not have been their first choice out of the ladies on offer. If that didnt have you face-palming for England, then the poor "this is my truth" fella discovering in episode two that honesty isnt always the best policy surely will. He actually tells his hot new wife that he views her more as a little sister. Makes you wonder why these people have been single for so long, eh? The first three episodes of Stranded On Honeymoon Island are streaming on BBC iPlayer. HA NOI Foreign investors continue to show strong interest in Viet Nam, with foreign investments in the first seven months up more than 27 per cent on-year despite geopolitical uncertainties and trade tensions. A recent highlight is ExxonMobil, the American oil and gas giant, conducting a site survey in the Nam Van Phong area to explore investment opportunities. During a meeting with leaders of the management boards of economic and industrial zones in Khanh Hoa Province, ExxonMobil executives revealed the company was considering investing in a modern refinery in Nam Van Phong. The project, which would be the firms first near-zero-emissions refinery, is expected to be worth around US$10 billion. Previously, ExxonMobil had explored other investment plans in Viet Nam, including the Blue Whale gas field and gas-fired power plants in the central region, though those plans have yet to be realised. Whether the energy giant decides to invest in Nam Van Phong remains to be seen. ExxonMobil plans to complete surveys by 2027, start construction and regulatory procedures in 2031 and begin operations in 2035. Aside from Viet Nam, the company is also assessing two other locations in the Asia-Pacific region. This news has already heated up foreign direct investment (FDI) discussions in Viet Nam, at a time when global investment flows remain cautious due to tariff policies and geopolitical uncertainties. Foreign investment-related activities in Viet Nam have been particularly vibrant in recent weeks. Bac Ninh Province granted investment certificates for a series of FDI projects in mid-August this year, including nine new projects with a total registered capital of $322.5 million, and nine capital increases with an additional $762 million. Two investors have also committed to expansion with a projected additional $300 million. Altogether, the province attracted over $1 billion in new FDI within just one month, a remarkable figure. After merging with Bac Giang, Bac Ninh has further solidified its position as a magnet for investment in the North, with many projects in high technology and semiconductors. The province currently ranks second nationwide in FDI attraction, after HCM City, both for the first seven months of this year and cumulatively. Chairman of the Bac Ninh Province Peoples Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan said that the province would continue to improve technical infrastructure, ensure power supply and enhance worker skills to attract more investment projects. Out of 250 projects that were either inaugurated or broke ground nationwide on August 19, five were FDI projects, with a total investment of VN54 trillion ($2.1 billion). Upgrading quality with European and US capital Viet Nams real estate market has also seen heightened mergers and acquisitions (M&As) since the start of the year, with a wave of large-scale deals driven by foreign investors, according to Savills Vietnam. Among the standout transactions, Capitaland acquired a project from Becamex IDC for $553 million in the former Binh Duong Province. Meanwhile, a consortium of Sumitomo Forestry, Kumagai Gumi and NTT Urban Development teamed up with Kim Oanh Group to develop the One World project, and Nishi Nippon Railroad purchased a 25 per cent stake in Nam Longs Paragon ai Phuoc project. These deals underscore growing interest from Japanese, South Korean and Singaporean investors, alongside an increasing flow of capital from the US and Europe, markets known for long-term strategies and high investment standards. Industrial real estate continues to attract strong attention thanks to competitive labour costs and strategic positioning. New projects are underway, including two industrial parks: Becamex IDC in Binh Duong (1,080ha) and the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in former Nam inh Province (180ha), scheduled to break ground in the third quarter of this year. In housing, suburban developments dominate. Vingroup has started work on the 2,870ha Vinhomes Green Paradise in Can Gio (HCM City); Sun Group launched the 96.6ha Sun Blanca City; and Masterise Homes is rolling out the Masteri Rivera project with over 1,100 apartments in a Nang. The retail segment is also expanding, with AEON Mall strengthening its presence in the Mekong Delta through two new projects: the recently opened AEON Mall Long An and the 8.5ha AEON Mall Can Tho, now under construction. FDI inflows In parallel, FDI inflows remain on an upward trajectory. The National Statistics Office reported that total registered FDI reached $24.1 billion in the first seven months of this year, up 27.3 per cent year-on-year. Director of Savills Hanoi Matthew Powell noted that despite global uncertainties and trade tensions, Viet Nam is pressing ahead with structural reforms and sustaining investor confidence. Stable FDI and infrastructure improvements, he said, point to favourable long-term growth prospects. The Government has also set an ambitious GDP target for this year, anchored in reforms, increased public investment and stronger private sector support. Key measures include streamlining the administrative system by consolidating 63 provinces and cities into 34, and phasing out the district level to enhance efficiency and create more investor-friendly conditions. In addition, the Politburo's Resolution 68 seeks to advance private sector development through legal reforms, reduced business barriers, improved access to land and finance, protection of property rights and promotion of fair competition. On the trade front, Viet Nam is working to narrow tariff gaps with the US and has proposed cuts on import duties for American goods. Efforts are also being stepped up to curb counterfeit and transit goods, diversify trade partnerships and deepen international economic integration. Tourism and aviation are likewise benefitting from surging international arrivals. Beyond the sharp rebound in visitor numbers, major initiatives are in progress, including hosting APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc, airport expansions and the launch of Sun Phu Quoc Airways, reflecting a coordinated development vision across both public and private sectors. VNS HCM CITY Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company (HOSE: VJC) has released its audited financial report for the first half of 2025, showcasing remarkable growth and strengthening its position as a rising global airline. The strong performance not only reflects Vietjet's strategic expansion efforts but also highlights Viet Nam's growing status as a key aviation hub in Asia and an emerging force in the global aviation landscape. Robust financial growth The airlines air transport revenue reached over VN35.6 trillion (approximately US$1.35 billion), while pre-tax profit stood at nearly VN1.6 trillion ($60.71 million), marking a 37 per cent year-on-year increase. Consolidated revenue topped over VN35.83 trillion, with consolidated pre-tax profit surpassing VN1.65 trillion, representing a staggering 65 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. Operational performance remained strong, with Vietjet operating around 79,000 flights and serving 14.4 million passengers in the first six months of 2025. The airline also contributed over VN4.52 trillion in taxes and fees. Vietjets financial health remains solid, supported by strong liquidity and total consolidated assets exceeding VN112 trillion. Fleet investment In a bold move to enhance its long-haul capabilities, the airline placed an additional order for 20 Airbus A330neo aircraft, bringing its total A330neo commitments to 40, making Vietjet the largest customer for this aircraft type worldwide. Further underscoring its global ambitions, Vietjet signed a landmark deal at the 2025 Paris Air Show for 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft, along with 50 purchase options. The agreement stands as the largest in the aviation industry this year and cements Vietjets place among the worlds top 10 airlines in terms of aircraft orders. In parallel, Vietjet expanded its partnership with Rolls-Royce, signing a deal for 40 Trent 7000 engines to power its growing A330neo fleet. With this latest agreement, the airlines total order for Trent 7000 engines now stands at 80. Further advancing its long-term growth strategy, Vietjet has officially broken ground on its Aircraft Maintenance Technical Centre at the upcoming Long Thanh International Airport. The new facility will include Hangars 3 and 4, built to international standards and capable of servicing up to 10 aircraft simultaneously. In parallel, the airline has implemented self-service ground operations at major airports, aiming at enhancing service quality, improving operational efficiency, and delivering a streamlined and modern travel experience for passengers. VNS New national campaign from the National Constitution Center invites Americans to rediscover, debate, and live up to our founding ideals ahead of America's 250th and beyond PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Constitution Center, America's leading platform for nonpartisan constitutional education, today announced the launch of Our Story Continues, a bold nationwide campaign beginning now until 2037, inviting Americans to explore the principles and ideas that shape our nation and to reflect on how we, the people, will write the next chapter. Over the next decade, as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 and the 250th anniversary of the Constitution in 2037, the Center will bring its established and new innovative resources, civil dialogue, and constitutional exploration to communities and households all across the country. The National Constitution Center serves as a forum where people from across the ideological spectrum can come together to learn, debate, and find common ground. Our Story Continues encourages meaningful exploration of the words that define us, the debates that shape us, and the principles that unite usadvancing a shared understanding of our past and its relevance to the challenges we face today. Our Story Continues Campaign Video "The 250th anniversary of the United States is not only a moment to celebrate our pastit's a call to imagine our future and redefine what it means to be a thoughtful, engaged citizen," said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. "The National Constitution Center is uniquely positioned to inspire Americans to with our founding principles as we honor America's 250th in 2026 and look forward to the 250th anniversary of the Constitution in 2037. Through Our Story Continues, the National Constitution Center will inspire millions of Americans to learn about the story of America and be a part of writing its next chapter." Our Story Continues will serve as the framework for a decade of new initiatives, beginning with the debut of two landmark digital resources for America's 250th, launching as the Center kicks off its semiquincentennial celebrations on Constitution Day, September 17: The Interactive Declaration of Independence a dynamic new companion to the Center's acclaimed Interactive Constitution with essays from leading scholars, video and written biographies of the signers, and the full text of the Declaration annotated by Akhil Reed Amar . a dynamic new companion to the Center's acclaimed with essays from leading scholars, video and written biographies of the signers, and the full text of the Declaration annotated by . America at 250 Civic Toolkit a dedicated space on the Center's website with dynamic multimedia content, events, and resources to empower communities, classrooms, and institutions nationwide to celebrate the semiquincentennial, serving as the definitive platform for exploring our nation's founding principles over the next decade and beyond. To explore resources, attend free virtual or local events, and learn more about how the National Constitution Center is engaging learners through exhibits, programming, and convenings as part of Our Story Continues, visit: constitutioncenter.org/america-at-250 to learn more. About the National Constitution Center The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, we serve as America's leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling our congressional charter "to disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people." As the Museum of We the People, we bring the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America's Town Hall, we convene leading thought leaders from across the political and jurisprudential spectrum to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, we offer the best educational programs and online resources that inspire and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. SOURCE National Constitution Center HA NOI The banking system is set to take the lead in standardising personal financial consulting in Viet Nam, a sector that has yet to develop fully due to the absence of a clear legal framework, experts say. Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnams Region No 2 Branch Nguyen uc Lenh emphasises that financial consulting plays a crucial role from both financial and monetary perspectives. If developed professionally with a team of skilled consultants, the field will be a valuable resource to promote the financial market and banking activities, particularly in financial inclusion and the effective implementation of monetary and credit policies, he said. Lenh points out that commercial banks and the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) have already taken active and effective steps to support personal financial consulting over recent years. For instance, as of July 2025, outstanding loans provided by VBSP in HCM City to serve production, business needs and job creation reached nearly VN19 trillion. Borrowers received guidance on personal financial management and the effective use of loans, resulting in an almost perfect on-time debt repayment rate and very low bad debts. Many commercial banks, with extensive customer bases, transparent transaction data and widespread branch networks, have trialled wealth management models offering investment consulting, insurance and financial planning services to VIP clients. Lenh believes that with a comprehensive legal framework and systematic training, banks can become central hubs for personal financial consulting, especially in promoting the State Bank of Vietnams digital literacy programme to raise financial awareness, particularly in rural areas. CEO of FIDT Investment Consulting and Asset Management JSC Ngo Thanh Huan said that the personal finance consulting market has not yet developed in Viet Nam. Most consultants are just selling products to earn commissions but are not closely linked to customers long-term goals. Most of the income of consultants comes from commissions on selling insurance, cards and credit, making them more like salespeople than financial advisors. Therefore, banks can be an important link to professionalise personal financial consulting teams by enhancing human resource training and standardising degrees and specialised certificates. According to Huan, many commercial banks in Viet Nam are currently strongly developing an open banking ecosystem according to the financial group model, which is quite favourable for applying the overall financial consulting model. In this model, the bank plays a focal role in planning long-term strategies for customers and then connecting customers to experts specialising in insurance, securities and real estate products, helping customers both achieve financial goals and access suitable products. Chairman of the Vietnam Financial Consultants Association (VFCA) Dr Le Minh Nghia said that personal finance is still being neglected and not given due attention in Viet Nam, which causes an imbalance in the financial market with consequences such as usury and fraud related to personal finance. Nghia believes that in order to develop sustainable personal financial consulting, the first priority is to change the mindset about the financial consulting profession in a legitimate and systematic way. The profession needs to shift from introducing and selling products as currently practised to comprehensive consulting. At the same time, he said, it is necessary to strongly promote financial training activities and raise awareness for all classes of people. Meanwhile, to develop the personal financial consulting sector, BIDV Chief Economist Dr Can Van Luc said that the Government and ministries need to quickly complete the legal framework to clearly regulate the sector in at least a decree, and then incorporate it into law. Besides, it is necessary to develop personal financial consulting services associated with the construction of international financial centres in a Nang and HCM City. Viet Nam also needs to soon build a standard capacity framework and a financial advisory licensing mechanism, Luc proposes. BIZHUB/VNS HA NOI Viet Nams shipping industry is making waves, with three of its major ports docking firmly in the worlds top 50 busiest container ports, according to Dutch maritime consultancy DynaLiners a sign of the countrys rising tide in global trade. HCM City Port led the Vietnamese trio, ranking 22nd with a throughput of 9.1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2024. Hai Phong Port followed in 30th place with 7.1 million TEUs, just ahead of Cai Mep at 31st with seven million TEUs. Cai Mep was also among the few global ports to record growth of over 25 per cent. Combined, the three ports handled more than 23.2 million TEUs last year a 16 per cent increase over 2023 earning Viet Nam sixth place globally in container throughput by country. Globally, China topped the list with over 300 million TEUs, up 8 per cent year-on-year, led by mega-ports such as Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The United States came second with 55.5 million TEUs, followed by Singapore (41.1 million TEUs), South Korea (30 million) and Malaysia (29.4 million). According to the Ministry of Construction, the vast majority of Viet Nams imports and exports are handled by sea. The countrys modern port infrastructure can now accommodate some of the worlds largest vessels and has attracted around 40 international shipping lines operating regular routes. BIZHUB/VNS HA NOI The Mercantile Exchange of Vietnam (MXV) has celebrated its 15th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in the development of the countrys domestic commodity trading market. Since its establishment, MXV has transformed from a modest platform into a key player linking Viet Nam to the global commodity market. Licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade under Decree 158/2006/N-CP, MXV officially launched on September 1, 2010 with just three commodities: coffee, rubber and steel. Its early years were marked by considerable challenges, including building technical infrastructure, navigating a complex legal framework and raising awareness among businesses and investors. A turning point came in 2018 when Decree 51/2018/N-CP allowed MXV to connect directly with leading global commodity exchanges such as CME Group, ICE, LME, SGX, OSE and BMD. This move accelerated MXVs growth and, by 2021, the exchange counted 32 trading entities, four brokerage firms and 38 listed commodities. This global integration provided Vietnamese businesses with access to greater liquidity and transparent pricing mechanisms that reflect international supply and demand. It also helped embed the commodity sector into the national financial system, contributing to GDP growth and improving Viet Nams competitiveness. Since 2021, MXVs portfolio has expanded rapidly to over 50 commodities across four main groups: agricultural products, industrial materials, energy and metals. The exchange is also developing trading floors for rubber and pork, which are expected to be officially listed soon. Recognising the strategic importance of commodity trading, the government has identified it as one of the three pillars of the international financial centre (IFC), alongside finance, banking and fintech and securities, investment funds and insurance. A modern commodity exchange not only diversifies financial products but also strengthens the link between Viet Nams market and global markets, supporting production, exports and foreign investment. With the ambition to become the largest commodity exchange in the region by 2030, MXV plans to continue expanding its product range, standardising procedures, upgrading human resources and improving the legal framework. BIZHUB/VNS ONG NAI Authorities of ong Nai are working on a master plan for a free trade zone (FTZ) that will make use of the upcoming Long Thanh International Airport, together with seaports, expressways, high-speed rail, and industrial parks across the southern province. The proposed ong Nai FTZ will cover more than 8,200 hectares across seven sites connected with Long Thanh International Airport and Phuoc An Port. It will consist of four functional zones, namely a high-tech industrial production area, a logistics hub, a financial and commercial services centre, and an innovation cluster. ong Nai plans to introduce eight policy groups and 29 special mechanisms to attract investment and position the FTZ as a regional hub for high-tech industries, logistics, financial services, innovation, and international trade. Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, suggested that ong Nai should develop a green, digital, and smart FTZ model linked with institutional reform and regional coordination. He argued that ong Nai, with its important role in the southern key economic region, could become the nucleus of a broader Southeastern Free Trade Zone (SEFZ) complex that is currently under study and may become Viet Nams first integrated economic zone model. The SEFZ will form a multi-polar growth space linking the Long Thanh logistics industrial airport free zone, the Cai Mep Thi Vai free port, and an international financial and trade centre in Can Gio of HCM City. Similar models in Dubai, Shanghai and Incheon have successfully attracted FDI, boosted high-tech production and logistics, and delivered double-digit GDP growth for their regions, Vu noted. With direct connectivity between Long Thanh Airport, Cai Mep Thi Vai seaport, the Phuoc An port system, and existing industrial parks, ong Nai is well placed to become a strategic logistics and export production hub for the southeastern region. To operate effectively, Vu recommended piloting a paperless and single-window electronic management system, along with clear decentralisation in planning, investment licensing, and SEFZ management. He also proposed establishing a regional development coordination board for the Southeast to ensure cross-provincial planning, budget allocation, and investment coordination. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Kim Chung, Scientific Secretary of the Central Theory Council, emphasised that service industries are already a strength of ong Nai. With the addition of Long Thanh Airport and its associated services, especially the FTZ, the province will have two growth engines, anchored in the Long Thanh airport service urban area. He stressed that the airport, the largest in Southeast Asia once completed, will itself encourage major investment flows and spur infrastructure connectivity to socio-economic centres. The formation of an urban centre of intergated services serving Long Thanh Airport will help ong Nai take off. Experts agreed that to fully leverage growth momentum generated by aviation, logistics, trade, and urban development, ong Nai needs breakthrough policies and mechanisms to attract strategic investors, particularly those in high technology. Ho Van Ha, Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, said the FTZ will have an estimated investment of US$16 billion. Public capital will account for about 5 per cent, while domestic private investment will contribute 40 per cent and foreign direct investment 55 per cent. VNA/VNS HA NOI Turning up the tempo, Vietnamese hip-hop and contemporary dance piece 129BPM has made its debut at Malaysias George Town Festival, one of Asias premier performing arts events. The annual festival, founded in 2010, is staged in George Town, a UNESCO-recognised World Cultural Heritage city. 129BPM was choreographed by Bui Ngoc Quan, who trained in classical ballet at the Viet Nam Dance School before studying contemporary dance in France. He has taught and performed internationally and currently works at a high artistic level with Belgian company Les Ballets C de la B. Quan also spoke about his creative process and the development of experimental dance in Viet Nam. You had two performances at the festival. Could you tell our readers about them? We are proud of them. The fact that the work 129BPM was presented in another country, in my opinion, is a turning point worthy of everyones efforts. Hopefully, the performance impressed the audience and helped them appreciate the dedication of the team of artists, producers and technicians. It also demonstrates the development of experimental art in Viet Nam within the process of international integration. The festival is an opportunity to promote the work and to help us find performance opportunities in other countries. But it does not depend on me alone. The only certainty is that I am confident in my work, which can be performed anywhere in the world in the future. How did you create the work? 129BPM originated from the desire to create and collaborate with young Vietnamese artists who are full of energy and enthusiasm. They and I share the same feelings and they understand and engage with my professional concerns. For me, all the art forms I choose complement each other, expressing both my personality and the Vietnamese culture within me. Each element has its own rhythm, but overall, there is a sense of connection and mutual support. My creative choices stem from personal memories, abstraction, and a sense of closeness and attachment to Vietnamese culture. The work combines dance and hip hop. Personally, I have always believed that whether performing hip hop on the streets, on small stages, or in large theatres, the most important thing is to preserve the roots and essence of the genre and its expressive power. It can be said that I achieved some success when the performance at the end of last December in HCM City was well-received and loved. I want to pass on my knowledge to young artists so they can adopt and sustain it in their own careers. More simply, it is my desire to give back to my home country. Why did you name the work 129BPM? In 2020, I created the project Come on Feet in Belgium, combining street movement, contemporary dance and footwork. It was performed live by six Belgian dancers, accompanied by drums, electronics and pre-recorded vocals. During a 2023 performance of Come on Feet, I met producer Nguyen Hai Yen by chance, and we came up with the idea of creating a similar show in Viet Nam. Yen later became the production director and performance manager of 129BPM. The name 129BPM refers to the average heart rate during moments of intense pressure, when dancers physical and emotional limits are pushed. From this state, their bodies become embodiments of resistance, desire and liberation, exploring identity, conflict and human connections in an increasingly urbanised world. The work is an interweaving of street dance and contemporary folk music, set against a stage backdrop of flowing fabric. You currently work in both France and Viet Nam. So what makes you want to return? Experimental art is thriving in Viet Nam. Everyone wants to create and bring new ideas to the community. That is also the main reason why I return home to work. Vietnamese audiences are no longer unfamiliar with this form as they once were, thanks to information channels. Moreover, the artists desire to create new and more challenging work gives me greater confidence when carrying out my projects. In my observation, experimental dance in Viet Nam is progressing rapidly, catching up with international trends and approaching global standards. However, it is also necessary to acknowledge that artists need more diverse professional experiences to dig deeper and fully realise their creativity. For me, the most important factor in advancing this art form is each artists willingness to explore and challenge themselves in new conditions. What do you think about experimental dance in Viet Nam? The scripts still borrow heavily from abroad, as well as the 'framing' of characters, even though the dance itself has strength. In my view, every movement of the body carries its own story and character, so it is important to study and harness it, returning its inherent power rather than simply adding new layers of meaning. In other words, movement in contemporary danceand in other art forms that use the bodycomes from the inner self, not just from choreography. Therefore, it has the ability to reach anyone in the world, even if expressed in a rather abstract language. For me, art created through body movement is a mindset, not a style. That is what we must understand in order to truly feel and appreciate it. This is why I am confident in presenting the work in Malaysia as well as in other countries. VNS BUENOS AIRES Argentinas leading television channel Argentin Telefe on September 1 broadcast a 60-minute special reportage on Viet Nam within its popular programme Por el Mundo Around the World, introducing the Southeast Asian country and its people on the occasion of its 80th National Day. The programme was produced and hosted by Marley (Alejandro Wiebe), one of Argentinas most renowned presenters and producers. It took viewers on a journey through Tam Coc Bich ong in Ninh Binh province and the capital city of Ha Noi, offering vivid images of Viet Nams natural beauty, culture, and daily life. Ninh Binhs limestone mountains and waterways, often described as Ha Long Bay on land, captivated audiences with scenes of boats drifting through caves, rice fields, and tranquil villages. In Ha Noi, the lively atmosphere of the Old Quarter, bustling streets, sidewalk cafes, and National Day celebrations showcased a capital that blends modern dynamism with deep traditions. The broadcast also emphasised the warmth of the Vietnamese people, capturing their hospitality through shared meals, everyday interactions, and welcoming smiles. Food culture played a central role, with features on iconic street dishes such as bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), banh cuon (steamed rice rolls), cha ruoi (sandworm fritters), and egg coffee. The crew further highlighted unique local experiences, from riding water buffalo in Ninh Binh to visiting Ha Nois famous Train Street cafes. By combining images of the vibrant capital with serene rural landscapes, Por el Mundo offered Argentine viewers an intimate look at Viet Nam as both a modern nation and a land rooted in tradition. Telefes decision to feature Viet Nam on National Day underscored growing cultural ties and strengthened people-to-people connections between the two countries. The episode quickly drew positive responses across Argentine social networks, with many viewers expressing a desire to travel to Viet Nam after watching. VNA/VNS HA NOI A Vietnamese traditional dress walk was held in the Netherlands on August 31 to mark the 80th anniversary of Viet Nams National Day. The Vietnamese People Association and the Vietnamese Womens Union in the Netherlands organised the event in response to the call from the Vietnamese Women Federation in Europe. Nearly 100 participants in ao dai featuring the national flag paraded through several Dutch streets, stopping at symbolic landmarks. The striking image of the red-and-yellow flag created a patriotic atmosphere, connecting overseas Vietnamese with the spirit of the National Day. Though far from home, the overseas Vietnamese community, including women in the Netherlands, expressed their enduring patriotism, unity, and gratitude for past generations. The event also underscored the values of independence, freedom, and peace. Vu Ngoc Mai, Vice President of the Vietnamese Women Federation in Europe and President of Vietnamese Womens Union in the Netherlands, said the programme was both a cultural showcase and an expression of love for the homeland. She noted that the parade symbolised unity and pride, blending Vietnamese traditions with Dutch scenery. The event went beyond a cultural walk to send a strong message of solidarity and the vitality of the Vietnamese culture abroad. On the same day, hundreds of Vietnamese in the UK joined a parade in the traditional attire through central London to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the homelands National Day. The event was organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK, the Vietnamese Women and Children Association, and the Vietnamese Students Association in the country. Participants offered flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Plaque at New Zealand House, where he used to work while staying in the UK for revolutionary activities. Later, they marched past landmarks including the UK Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, and London Eye. The programme also featured musical performances by Vietnamese children in the UK, reflecting efforts to preserve traditions among younger generations. Deputy Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Viet said the event fostered solidarity within the overseas Vietnamese community while promoting Viet Nams image in Europe. Ha Hoang, a representative of the organising board, noted that it also marked the 15th anniversary of the Viet Nam UK Strategic Partnership. The parade sent a message of unity and patriotism, strengthened people-to-people ties, and also helped boost cultural exchanges between Viet Nam and international friends. VNA/VNS HA NOI After a weekend of waving flags and dancing feet, the capital is slowly returning to normal as troops begin departing from temporary stations in Ha Nois suburbs, marking the close of the grand 80th anniversary celebrations. The official parade, held on a crisp September morning, may have ended in formation, but the festivities spilled far beyond protocol. Jubilant scenes of spontaneous street singing and group dancing broke out, as locals joined soldiers in an outpouring of patriotic pride. By today, the citys rhythm is shifting back to the everyday: road blockades are lifted, traffic restrictions eased, workers have returned to their jobs and students prepare to start the new academic year on September 5. Yet the emotional crescendo of the celebrations a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle for many is likely to echo for years. According to parade organisers, over 40,000 personnel officially took part in the parade. However, the true number of attendees is harder to pin down. Crowds camped out overnight some for two nights in anticipation of the final parade on National Day, September 2. The scale and spirit of the commemorations have etched an enduring mark on the capital, one that wont be easily forgotten. More than 500 people were hospitalised prior to the final parade day and on National Day, more than 1,300 people required medical assistance on the spot due to low blood sugar levels, allergic reactions and vestibular disorders, according to the Ministry of Health. More than half of the people were treated at local hospitals; half of the remainder were cared for by the military, and the rest were attended to by police paramedics. Spending a long time in one airtight camping site, personal health issues or dehydration were among the reasons listed for those who needed help. Love ones country, you may say, but do know yourself, so as not to put yourself in harms way while still expressing your love and support for your troops. Departing soldiers have been pictured and captured on camera wiping their tears as their buses leave the city. Mission accomplished, they all head to new assignments, but the warmth, enthusiasm and love of Hanoians and everyone from elsewhere in the country have surely weighed their baggage a little heavier. May peace always reign in our country and protect our troops, who, in their turn, protect the country and its people. Thank you, Ha Noi loves you. VNS Resolution 71-NQ/TW, the Politburos bold push to transform education and training, has sparked strong public interest and support. VietnamPlus caught up with National Assembly deputy Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, a member of the NA Committee for Culture and Education, to discuss the significance of this strategic roadmap. What is the significance of Resolution 71-NQ/TW for the development of Vietnamese education and the country as a whole, in the context that the nation enters a new era of growth? Resolution 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo is a particularly significant milestone, reflecting the strategic vision of our Party for education and training. In the context of the nation entering a new era of development, with a strong aspiration for progress, this resolution identifies education as a 'top national policy,' considering it one of the key drivers of rapid and sustainable growth. The greatest significance of Resolution 71-NQ/TW is that it underlines the decisive role of education in forming high-quality human resources, providing the knowledge, skills and value foundation for Viet Nam to realise its development aspirations and stand alongside the great powers of the world. In your opinion, what are the current bottlenecks in Vietnamese education and how are they addressed in this resolution? In recent years, Vietnamese education has achieved many accomplishments, but several bottlenecks remain. First is the gap in educational quality between regions. Second, the curriculum and textbooks remain overly academic and somewhat detached from real life. Third, support for teachers remains inadequate and fails to encourage long-term dedication. Fourth is limited investment in facilities, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas. Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW provides the fundamental solutions to remove these bottlenecks, such as implementing policies on universal tuition waivers and full-day schooling. It also prioritises investment in boarding and semi-boarding schools in border and disadvantaged regions, and fundamentally reforms the curriculum and textbooks to ensure that they are up to date, logical and relevant to reality. These are strong, timely decisions designed to clear bottlenecks and create breakthroughs in education. From your perspective, what are the breakthroughs in Resolution No 71-NQ/TW and how will they impact the development of Vietnamese education? Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW contains many breakthrough elements. I would highlight three points: First, education is positioned within the overall national development strategy, directly linked to the requirements of industrialisation, modernisation and international integration. Second, a single nationwide set of textbooks will be applied, alongside a new mechanism for localities to add customised content. This both ensures uniformity and allows flexibility. Third, priority will focus on unprecedented policies such as tuition-free general education, full-day schooling, and the development of high-quality schools in border and island regions. These breakthroughs will create a fundamental change to ensure equity in access to education, while simultaneously improving training quality to help Vietnamese youth be fully prepared for the new era. What challenges do you foresee in implementing Resolution No 71-NQ/TW and how can we overcome them? The greatest challenge is resources ensuring adequate funding, facilities and teaching staff capable of meeting the very high requirements set out in the resolution. Additionally, the social attitudes and adaptability of parents, students and teachers towards changes also present a significant obstacle. To realise this resolution, I believe three core solutions are needed. The first is a clear plan to mobilise and allocate financial resources effectively, avoiding waste and dispersion. The second is improving the quality of teachers, and reforming salary and benefit policies so they can work with dedication and peace of mind. The third is strengthening oversight and social feedback to ensure all policies are implemented transparently, consistently and effectively. One of the concerns among the public is that Resolution No 71-NQ/TW stipulates a single nationwide set of textbooks. Does this mean the policy of one curriculum, multiple textbooks that has been in place in recent years has failed? I do not think the single nationwide set of textbooks should be seen as the failure of the previous policy. In reality, we have gained valuable learning points after some time implementing the policy of one curriculum, multiple textbooks. However, the model also revealed several shortcomings, particularly disparities and a lack of consistency in pedagogical practice. Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW offers the solution of a single nationwide set of textbooks to address these issues, while still ensuring flexibility through open sections allowing localities and schools to add customised content. In other words, this is not a negation, but rather a continuation and adjustment to make the textbook model more appropriate to todays realities and development needs. The Party and State have introduced many policies described as unprecedented for education. Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son also urged leveraging the current high attention on the education sector into opportunity for growth. What should the education sector do to seize this opportunity? I fully agree with the ministers assessment. Indeed, education has never received such comprehensive and strong attention as it does today and this is a great opportunity for Vietnamese education to break through. If we fail to seize it, as the minister said, we will be at fault to the nation and to future generations. So what must the education sector do? In my view, it must focus on quality quality of the curriculum and textbooks, ensuring logic, modernity and real-life relevance. This also means the quality of the teaching workforce so that teachers truly become the core of reform and quality of education governance meaning transparency, efficiency, overcoming the achievement-driven mentality and, above all, putting students at the centre. When these aspects of quality are ensured, we will be able to seize the opportunity that the Party, State and the people are providing and raise Vietnamese education to a new level. VNS HA NOI Zhao Leji, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) of China, on Tuesday concluded his official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee and National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man. During the three-day visit, the top Chinese legislator laid a wreath and and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Ha Noi; visited the Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace; and attended the grand ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day of Viet Nam on September 2. Zhao was received by Party General Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong, and had a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Meanwhile, NA Chairman Man hosted a welcome ceremony and held talks with the top Chinese legislator, and co-chaired the first meeting of the cooperation committee between the Vietnamese NA and the Chinese NPC. Congratulating China on its national development achievements, the Vietnamese leaders emphasised that as a good neighbour, good friend, good comrade, and good partner of China, Viet Nam believes the Chinese Party, State, and people will successfully achieve the goals of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and complete the second centenary goal on schedule, building China into a modern, prosperous, civilised, harmonious, and beautiful socialist power that makes greater contributions to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. Zhao congratulated the Vietnamese Party, State, and people on their victories in national liberation and reunification, as well as their historic development achievements. He wished the 14th National Congress of the CPV success, heralding a new era for Viet Nam. The two sides discussed and emphasised the importance of Viet NamChina relations within each countrys foreign policy. At the first meeting of the cooperation committee between the Vietnamese NA and the Chinese NPC, the two sides praised the inaugural meeting under the newly established bilateral inter-parliamentary cooperation mechanism, highlighting it as a vivid demonstration of close and effective cooperation and high political trust between the two legislatures. They agreed that the meeting serves as an important platform for sharing experience and discussing parliamentary cooperation orientations to facilitate and promote bilateral collaboration. VNA/VNS SHANGHAI, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987) announced that it plans to repurchase approximately an additional US$270 million of its common stock during the remainder of 2025 in the open market, subject to market and other conditions. This repurchase program is expected to commence on September 3, 2025, and is in addition to the previously announced US$510 million share repurchase agreements for the second half of the year, as well as the US$356 million share repurchases completed in the first half of 2025. Assuming a quarterly dividend of US$0.24 per share, the Company is now expected to return a total of approximately US$1.5 billion to shareholders in 2025, comprising approximately US$360 million in dividends and approximately US$1.14 billion in share repurchases. "The expanded share repurchase program for 2025 is designed to provide flexibility to repurchase shares in the open market from time to time, with the goal of enhancing long-term shareholder value. It reflects our confidence in our growth prospects and our ability to generate strong free cash flow. As we continue to return capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, we remain committed to investing in our businesses to create value both now and in the long term," said Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China. Yum China is on track to return US$3 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases from 2025 to 2026, in addition to the US$1.5 billion delivered in 2024. The average annual amount of capital return over the three years is around 9% of Yum China's market capitalization as of September 2, 2025. From 2017 to September 2, 2025, Yum China has returned US$5.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements relating to the Company's business strategy, capital allocation strategy, and dividend and share repurchase plans. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "belief," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "likely," "will," "continue," "should," "forecast," "outlook," "commit" or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future strategies, growth, business plans, and dividend and share repurchase plans. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Numerous factors could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Our plan of capital returns to shareholders is based on current expectations, which may change based on market conditions, capital needs or otherwise. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions "Risk Factor" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results. About Yum China Holdings, Inc. Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company operates over 16,000 restaurants under six brands across over 2,400 cities in China. KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China, respectively. In addition, Yum China has partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee concept in China. Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain, which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world's most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit https://ir.yumchina.com/. Contacts Investor Relations Contact: Tel: +86 21 2407 7556 [email protected] Media Contact: Tel: +86 21 2407 3824 / +852 2267 5807 [email protected] SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc. HA NOI First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, his spouse Lis Cuesta Peraza, and the high-ranking delegation left Ha Noi on Tuesday evening, wrapping up a three-day state visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam and his spouse. While staying in Viet Nam, the leader, his spouse, and delegation of Cuba laid a wreath and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and offered flowers at the monument to Cuban national hero Jose Marti in Ha Noi. The Cuban leader held talks with General Secretary Lam, had meetings with State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and attended the grand ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day of Viet Nam. At their talks, Party leader Lam and Bermudez updated each other on each country's situation and discussed major directions to deepen the special friendship between Viet Nam and Cuba. They also touched on regional and international issues of common concern. The host affirmed that the visit holds particular significance as it coincides with the Viet Nam Cuba Friendship Year marking the 65th founding anniversary of their diplomatic relations, and will create an important milestone and a strong driving force to continue consolidating, expanding, elevating, and intensifying the traditional solidarity, special friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. He took this occasion to express his gratitude for the solidarity and valuable support that Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, generations of Party and State leaders, and the people of Cuba have always given to Viet Nam during the past struggle for national liberation as well as in the current cause of national defence and development. General Secretary Lam affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam always follow every step of Cubas development with close attention, and are delighted with the important achievements that the Cuban Party, State, and people have attained since the eighth Party Congress, particularly the positive results in strengthening national unity, overcoming socio-economic challenges, and effectively implementing the foreign policy. Sharing the valuable experiences of the oi Moi (Renewal) policy, the General Secretary emphasised that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people always regard solidarity with and support for Cuba as the conscience and responsibility of communists and of the entire Vietnamese people. For his part, the top Cuban leader expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPV, led by General Secretary Lam, Viet Nam will enter a new era of development and achieve its goals for 2030 and 2045. He said Viet Nams accomplishments over the past 80 years serve as a great source of encouragement for the Cuban people. The two leaders expressed their delight over the robust and steadily growing ties between their countries, particularly following the state visit to Cuba by Party chief Lam in September last year. They highlighted that regular exchanges of delegations, especially at the high level, have been maintained effectively, while ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses have closely coordinated in implementing agreements. Both sides agreed that bilateral relations have advanced in a more sustainable and effective manner, rooted in the spirit of companionship, cooperation, and development. During his meeting with the Cuban leader, State President Cuong affirmed that the Vietnamese people closely follow Cubas progress and are delighted at the Cuban Party, State, and peoples significant achievements since the 8th Party Congress. He showed his belief that the heroic Cuba will definitely overcome current challenges and achieve even greater successes in building and defending the socialist Cuba. The two leaders reaffirmed their determination to further deepen the exemplary Viet NamCuba relationship, which was founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Fidel Castro Ruz, and has been diligently nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both countries. They agreed to strengthen high-level and all-level exchanges, effectively implement agreed high-level agreements, and promote cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties and States. They also pledged closer coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums, alongside fostering people-to-people exchanges and collaboration between socio-political and mass organisations, businesses, and people; a as well as educating the two countries' young generations on the tradition of the special Viet NamCuba friendship. The Cuban leader had a meeting with PM Chinh, who affirmed that Viet Nam will continue providing practical support for Cuba, particularly in agriculture to help ensure food security in the country, while expanding collaboration in energy and biotechnology. Both sides also committed to promoting ministerial, sectoral, and local exchanges to realise the agreed high-level agreements and existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and to organising cultural and people-to-people exchange activities during the Viet Nam Cuba Friendship Year 2025. They also committed to enhanced coordination and exchange of views at multilateral forums and international organisations of which both countries are members, alongside stronger cooperation among socio-political organisations and localities. At his meeting with NA Chairman Man, the Cuban leader received a pledge of strengthened parliamentary ties through high-level exchanges, good preparations for the second session of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, and enhanced coordination at the the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other multilateral forums. The top Vietnamese legislator emphasised the importance of youth education about the special relationship between the two nations. Party General Secretary To Lam and First Secretary and President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements in food production, healthcare, archives, and biotechnology, as well as the handover of donations collected under the nationwide 65 years of Viet NamCuba relations campaign. General Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong and their spouses co-hosted a solemn state banquet in honour of the Cuban leader, his spouse, and the high-ranking Cuban delegation. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, along with the senior leaders of the Cuban Party and State, also attended the ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Cuba (December 2, 1960 2025), and visited the photo exhibition titled 65 Years of the Special Viet NamCuba Friendship. The leaders also co-chaired a state banquet, attended the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and visited a photo exhibition on the enduring friendship. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Cuban leader also met with Vietnamese businesses to discuss ways to promote trade and investment cooperation. The two sides issued a joint statement, voicing satisfaction with the sound development of Viet NamCuba relations across all levels and sectors, and welcoming initial positive outcomes in strategic cooperation areas, notably pilot rice cultivation models, a solar power complex project in Cuba, and the establishment of a joint venture in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. They emphasised that the relations between the two Parties provide the foundation and strategic orientation for bilateral cooperation. The two sides agreed on the importance of bolstering high-level Party-to-Party exchanges, theoretical seminars, direct and online discussions between the two Parties advisory bodies, study visits in Viet Nam for Cuban deputy ministerial-level officials, exchanges between youth and mass organisations, as well as other initiatives to share experience and lessons in building socialism in both countries. As part of the trip, the Cuban leader, his spouse and the high-level Cuban delegation visited the Viet Nam Military History Museum, laid flowers at the monument dedicated to Cuban military experts, toured the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel), and attended a special national art performance entitled 80 Years of Independence Freedom Happiness. Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of Party General Secretary To Lam, and Madame Lis Cuesta Peraza, spouse of the Cuban leader, enjoyed a water puppet show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre and visited Ngoc Son Temple. VNA/VNS BEIJING At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping, Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam attended a military parade in Beijing on September 3 commemorating the 80th anniversary of the world peoples victory over fascism. The event brought together heads of state, government leaders and high-ranking delegations from many countries around the world. The victory marked a turning point in the world's politics history, paving the way for the founding of the United Nations (UN) and foundational principles of international relations, including respect for equal rights and the right to self-determination of peoples, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the renunciation of force and respect for international law. Even eight decades later, as the world has transformed by upheavals, the triumph over fascism remains celebrated by peace lovers worldwide as a bedrock of a more stable and prosperous global order. Viet Nam, having endured long and arduous wars for independence, understands more than most the value of freedom and peace. Its people share the losses and honour the immense sacrifices of nations worldwide in their struggle against fascism, oppression and exploitation. President Cuong's presence at the anniversary underscored Viet Nam's responsible voice and support for global efforts for peace, security and development. It also reaffirmed the countrys foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, alongside active, proactive, comprehensive, extensive and effective global integration, while making responsible contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the word. In his speech at the commemoration ceremony, Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping expressed gratitude for the contributions of the veterans who participated in the fight, as well as the support from international friends who love peace in the struggle against fascism. The Chinese leader affirmed that history reminds everyone that the fate of humanity is a shared asset, and only by treating each other equally, living in harmony, and supporting one another can they protect security, eliminate the root causes of war, and prevent the recurrence of historical tragedies. He also emphasised that the Chinese people steadfastly support the righteous course of history and the progress of human civilisation, persist in the path of peaceful development, and work together with other peoples to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Following the ceremony, a large-scale military parade took place, featuring many types of modern weapons of the People's Liberation Army of China. Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping personally inspected the 45 formations at the parade, which lined up along Chang'an Avenue. Earlier, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, President Cuong attended the welcoming ceremony and took a group photo with the heads of delegations attending the 80th anniversary of the world people's victory over fascism, hosted by the top Chinese leader. VNA/VNS HA NOI Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a welcome ceremony for Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba Corps General Alvaro Lopez Miera in Ha Noi on Wednesday. The Cuban defence chief is paying an official visit to Viet Nam from August 31 to September 6, during which he attended a ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of Viet Nams August Revolution and National Day on Tuesday. In their talks held after the welcome ceremony, Giang praised the visit by the Cuban official and delegation, which takes place during the Viet NamCuba Friendship Year. The two nations are also commemorating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations on December 2. The visit further strengthens the longstanding solidarity and traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Cuba, and particularly the defence cooperation between the two ministries, he said. Giang underscored the historic importance of September 2, 1945, a defining moment in Viet Nams history, when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence to a crowd in the capital. His action established the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, the first peoples democratic state in Southeast Asia and the predecessor of todays Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The event brought an end to colonialism and feudalism in Viet Nam and ushered in a new era of national independence and freedom, in which working people held power and took control of the nation's destiny, as well as an era of national independence intertwined with socialism. This turning point inspired colonised nations and oppressed peoples worldwide to rise up in the fight for independence, democracy and social progress, he noted. Highlighting the pure, loyal and enduring Viet NamCuba relationship, Giang confirmed that over the past 65 years, it has become a model of sincere and resilient international solidarity. Despite the wide geographical distance between the two countries, their people have always stood side by side, offering unwavering support in every circumstance, he said. He noted that Viet Nam will never forget the profound and heartfelt support extended by Cuba during the most challenging periods of its struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as in the countrys current efforts to build and safeguard the homeland. Giang cited the famous words of Cuban leader Fidel Castro: For Viet Nam, Cuba is willing to shed its own blood a timeless expression symbolising the deep and special bonds between the two nations. On August 31, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, together with Minister Lopez Miera, laid a wreath at the monument to Cuban military experts, one of the first completed elements of a symbolic memorial complex at the Viet Nam Military History Museum. This monument recognises the vital support provided by Cuba during Viet Nams resistance wars and is a gesture of profound respect from the Vietnamese Party, State, Armed Forces and people for the Cuban comrades who sacrificed for a noble international cause. It also reaffirms the longstanding, faithful and consistent friendship between the two peoples. Giang also expressed Viet Nams deep empathy for the unprecedented challenges currently facing Cuba, confirming that Viet Nam stands ready to accompany, support and cooperate with Cuba within its capacity. According to the Vietnamese minister, defence cooperation remains a key pillar in the nations' bilateral relationship, contributing to enhancing collaboration in other areas. At the talks, the two officials exchanged views on global, regional and military developments in each country. General Giang emphasised that as a nation that has experienced much suffering and loss during wars, Viet Nam consistently follows a foreign policy of independence, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. Viet Nam is ready to cooperate with countries and international organisations while remaining consistent in its defence policy and advocating to address all disputes and disagreements through peaceful means based on international law, he stated, reiterating that the nation respects multilateral institutions, especially those led by the United Nations and ASEAN. Expressing deep appreciation for the warm sentiments that the Party, State, military and people of Viet Nam have shown towards Cuba, Alvaro Lopez Miera stated his affection and admiration for Viet Nam, adding that he was impressed by the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2). The Cuban minister said that the achievements of the Vietnamese people over the past 80 years serve as a great source of encouragement and motivation for the Cuban people today. Cuba takes great pride in having Viet Nam as a brotherly nation and is always ready to promote and strengthen the relationship between the two armies, contributing to the development of the special traditional friendship between the two countries, he said. The two sides signed agreements to focus on several key areas of cooperation, including strengthening the exchange of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level ones, and enhancing collaboration in Party and political works within the military. They will also proactively educate the public and younger generations about the relationship between the two countries and their militaries for the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, and intensifying cooperation in workforce training and the defence industry. At the end of the official talks the two ministers signed a three-year cooperation plan for the 2026-2028 period. VNA/VNS HA NOI Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and his Russian counterpart Colonel General Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin co-chaired the 8th VietnamRussia Defence Strategy Dialogue in Ha Noi on Wednesday, underscoring the enduring partnership between the two nations. Chien expressed sincere gratitude to the Russian delegation for attending the 80th anniversary celebrations of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2), as well as for their role in co-chairing the dialogue. The participation of Russian military personnel in the commemorative parade reaffirmed the pivotal role defence cooperation plays within the broader traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Russia. The Vietnamese people and the Vietnam Peoples Army continue to remember and deeply appreciate the meaningful support provided by the former Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation during Viet Nam's historic struggles for independence and reunification, as well as in the ongoing efforts of national construction and protection. Looking ahead, Chien expressed the desire to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership for mutual benefit, aiming to foster peace, cooperation and development regionally and globally. The dialogue saw exchanges on the global and regional security landscape and issues of mutual interest. Viet Nam's foreign policy remains rooted in independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, alongside the diversification and multilateralisation of international relations. Viet Nam stands ready to cooperate with countries and international organisations to promote peace and sustainable development worldwide, while steadfastly adhering to its 'four nos' defence policy. Regarding the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, Viet Nam maintains its consistent position to resolve disputes peacefully through legal means, notably the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), along with regional agreements such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). Viet Nam also supports the prompt completion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the region. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of scientific research collaboration through the Joint Viet NamRussia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre, symbolising the longstanding cooperation between the two countries. They agreed to continue effectively implementing both the annual cooperation plan and the long-term programme. Plans for the future include active and efficient execution of signed cooperation agreements, focusing on promoting delegation exchanges at all levels and enhancing training cooperation. Further steps will be taken to strengthen linkages among military services, branches, agencies, units, academies and schools, alongside sharing professional experience and expertise. Coordination and consultation will also continue within international multilateral defence forums, especially those led by ASEAN. The Russian deputy minister conveyed confidence that the success of the 8th VietnamRussia Defence Strategy Dialogue will help chart clear directions for bilateral defence cooperation, ensuring it develops sustainably, effectively and pragmatically. The dialogue concluded with the signing of the events minutes. On this occasion, on behalf of the State President, Chien presented the Friendship Order to Colonel General Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin in recognition of his substantial contributions to strengthening defence ties and nurturing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Russia. VNA/VNS HA NOI General Trinh Van Quyet, Chairman of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam Peoples Army had a meeting with visiting Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba Corps General Alvaro Lopez Miera in Ha Noi on Wednesday. Quyet underscored that Viet Nam has always deeply appreciated Cubas significant support throughout its struggle for national defence and development. In celebration of the Viet Nam Cuba Friendship Year and the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, the Vietnam Red Cross Society has launched a nationwide campaign to raise funds for the Cuban people to overcome current challenges, he said, noting that the initiative has received widespread response from millions of Vietnamese citizens, reflecting not only solidarity but also the enduring gratitude and brotherhood shared with the Cuban people. Quyet highlighted that cooperation in Party and political affairs between the Vietnam Peoples Army and the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces has yielded important outcomes in recent years, especially following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2022. A notable achievement is the successful completion and handover of episodes 4 and 5 of the documentary series Two Hearts, One Beat, which has further amplified public awareness of the special, time-honoured friendship between the two countries and their armed forces. He also recalled the freshly-ended visit by Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba, accompanied by Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera, to the memorial dedicated to Cuban military experts in Viet Nam. This monument, one of the first components of a larger complex at the Vietnam Military History Museum commemorating international support during Viet Nams resistance wars, stands as a lasting symbol of the solidarity between Viet Nam and Cuba, he said. Looking ahead, based on the areas of cooperation agreed upon by the defence ministries of both countries, Quyet affirmed that the General Department of Politics would continue directing relevant agencies to comprehensively implement bilateral cooperation programmes. This includes the joint production of episode 6 of Two Hearts, One Beat, targeted for completion in time for the 100th birth anniversary of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. He also expressed his hope that both sides would continue to strengthen communication efforts in celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties, helping younger generations and the international community gain a deeper understanding of the history, significance and special relationship between Vietnam and Cuba. For his part, Lopez Miera commended the thoughtful and well-organised commemorative events marking Viet Nams 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, as well as the remarkable progress of the Vietnam Peoples Army and the country as a whole. He was particularly moved by the military parade and celebrations held on September 2. The Cuban military chief emphasised that bilateral defence cooperation between Viet Nam and Cuba has achieved concrete results across various areas, including Party and political affairs. He expressed his hope that both sides will continue to deepen coordination, especially in communicating and promoting the enduring friendship and special bond shared by the two nations and their armed forces. Earlier, Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a welcome ceremony and held talks with Corps General Alvaro Lopez Miera, who is visiting Viet Nam from August 31 to September 6. VNA/VNS BEIJING Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong received Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on September 3 afternoon, on the occasion of his attendance at the 80th anniversary of the world people's victory over fascism and working trip to China. President Cuong conveyed the greetings of Party General Secretary To Lam, PM Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State to PM Fico and leaders of Slovakia. He affirmed that Viet Nam treasures the traditional relationship, and good friendship and cooperation with Slovakia, and thanked the Government and people of Slovakia for always supporting and accompanying Viet Nam during the past struggle for national independence as well as the country's current process of development and international integration, especially for helping to train and foster many generations of Vietnamese officials. The President shared with PM Fico the world and regional situation and Viet Nam's development goals. He welcomed and highly appreciated the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Slovakia which has developed very positively in recent times, while the cooperation mechanisms and political consultations between the two countries have been maintained effectively, practically, intensively and substantively. PM Fico expressed his special affection for Viet Nam and its people. The PM said that he personally visited Viet Nam many times, the first time since the 1990s of the last century, witnessed with his own eyes and was very impressed by Viet Nam's development. He shared the strategic vision that the Party and State of Viet Nam have set for development goals in the new era since the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. The Slovak PM highly appreciated Viet Nam's position and role in the region, and wished to continue promoting and enhancing the cooperative relationship with Viet Nam to a new level. At the same time, he said that the Vietnamese community in Slovakia has deeply integrated into the local society, made practical contributions to the socio-economic development of Slovakia, and officially recognised by the Slovak Government as an ethnic minority of Slovakia, enjoying the rights stipulated by the Slovak Constitution. In an atmosphere of friendship and trust, the two leaders agreed to develop bilateral relations in all fields from politics, economy, trade, energy, to tourism, education and training, and people-to-people exchange; and continue to carry out activities to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, while strengthening close coordination in resolving regional and global issues, and supporting each other at multilateral forums, such as the United Nations, the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership framework. President Cuong asked Slovakia to prompt the European Commission (EC) to remove its IUU "yellow card" against Viet Nam's seafood exports, and urge the remaining European Union (EU) countries to soon ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). On this occasion, the President respectfully invited PM Fico and Slovak leaders to pay an official visit to Viet Nam. PM Fico thanked and respectfully invited President Cuong and senior leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State to visit Slovakia at an appropriate time. VNA/VNS HA NOI Viet Nams struggle for independence has inspired many people, even those in the US, American social activist Juliet Ucelli said in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in New York on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day of Viet Nam (September 2). She stated that from Viet Nams example, they launched their own liberation movements the liberation of people of colour and the liberation of women. The success of the August Revolution and President Ho Chi Minhs reading of the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, which marked the birth of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam), opened a new chapter for the nation. The historic event placed Viet Nam on the world map and ignited a global wave of national liberation and decolonisation across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Many oppressed nations came to understand that President Ho Chi Minh's viewpoint Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom is a truth, and that nations could achieve independence and freedom even when facing the most powerful colonial and imperialist adversaries. At that historical moment, Viet Nams actual independence was a world-shaking event. Reflecting on Viet Nams 80-year journey, Ucelli highlighted its remarkable achievements in safeguarding the nation, maintaining peace, and pursuing development. Viet Nam has remained steadfast, self-reliant, and united under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. A small nation defeated some of the most powerful colonial and imperial forces in the world - something unimaginable at the time, she said, adding that Viet Nams 80-year revolution has consistently received strong support from international friends and progressive forces worldwide, wiwth activist Merle Ratner as an outstanding example. She noted that after the war, Viet Nams spirit of shelving the past, looking forward to the future won broad international support, including from US veterans who became a driving force pressing their government to lift the embargo and normalise relations with Viet Nam. According to Ucelli, once a war-ravaged nation, Viet Nam is increasingly making positive and meaningful contributions to the international community, especially in multilateral forums such as the United Nations. She praised Viet Nams foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, saying the country has skillfully avoided being drawn into major-power rivalries to maintain a peaceful environment for development. Expressing delight at Viet Nams socio-economic achievements since the adoption of oi Moi (Renewal) in 1986, Ucelli commended the countrys efforts in ensuring social security and improving peoples lives. She observed that Viet Nam has harnessed market mechanisms to build productive capacity, but unlike in many capitalist countries, this has not led to severe social stratification or widening income gap. Viet Nams per capita income rose from only about US$300 in 1975 to $4,300 in 2023. Literacy now stands at 95 per cent, and life expectancy averages 75 years. These are tangible results of the oi Moi process, she emphasised. VNA/VNS HA NOI Politburo member Nguyen Xuan Thang, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and Chairman of the Central Theory Council, held a working session in Ha Noi on Wednesday with Vladimir Yakushev, Secretary of the General Council of the United Russia Party (URP) and First Vice Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly. Thang highlighted HCMAs role as an affiliate of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), which boasts a history spanning over 75 years. The academy is central to training and nurturing leaders and officials of the Vietnamese Party and State, from central to local levels, including university graduates, doctoral degree holders, professors, and associate professors. Beyond education, it stands as Viet Nams leading hub for scientific research and policy consultation. Yakushev, for his part, expressed a profound impression on the celebrations marking Viet Nams 80th National Day, noting the jubilant spirit of Vietnamese citizens on the streets. Reflecting on recent diplomatic milestones, Yakushev pointed to Party General Secretary To Lams official visit to Russia in May 2025, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in Moscow, as a testament to the all-round partnership between Viet Nam and Russia. Yakushev introduced the URP as Russias ruling party, founded in 2001 and preparing for its 25th anniversary in 2026. The party commands a majority in both the Federation Council and the State Duma, Russias upper and lower parliamentary chambers. Both sides explored strategies to advance the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on personnel training and the exchange of theoretical and policy insights. They agreed to establish a formal, periodic mechanism to share expertise on Party building, state governance, and policymaking in a volatile global environment. The host proposed a regular dialogue mechanism between Viet Nams Central Theory Council and equivalent bodies within URP. Yakushev, in turn, expressed keen interest in the HCMAs model for training Vietnamese political leaders and officials, suggesting a new cooperation agreement focused on official training and expert exchanges between the two parties Building on existing ties, both parties committed to realising a May 2025 agreement signed by the HCMA and Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) during the Vietnamese Party chiefs Russia visit. They also pledged to foster collaboration with Saint Petersburg State University to spread Ho Chi Minhs ideology, alongside partnerships in research, digital transformation, and knowledge sharing. The guest stressed that the long-standing cooperation between URP and CPV, and between the two nations, provides a robust foundation for future growth. VNS BEIJING Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong held meetings with leaders of several countries attending the 80th anniversary of the world people's victory over fascism in Beijing on Wednesday. The Vietnamese leader met with King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, General Secretary of the Workers' Party and President of State Affairs of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, President of the National Parliament of Timor Leste Maria Fernanda Lay, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Kazakh President Kassym Jomart Tokayev, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou N'Guesso, and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. President Cuong conveyed greetings from Party General Secretary To Lam and leaders of the Party, State and people of Viet Nam to leaders and people of these countries. He affirmed that Viet Nams achievements have been made possible thanks to the support and assistance of the leaders and people of its friendly and fraternal countries, and expressed confidence that Viet Nam and partner countries would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder for peace, stability, development and prosperity. These foreign leaders congratulated Viet Nam on the 80th anniversary of its National Day on September 2, reaffirming their high regard for ties with Viet Nam, and expressing their wish to further expand cooperation across all fields. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni recalled fond memories of his visit to Viet Nam in November 2024 and thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their warm reception. Through President Cuong, he extended best wishes to General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and other leaders, while congratulating Viet Nam on the 80th anniversaries of the August Revolution and National Day. The King stressed that Cambodia and Viet Nam, in any circumstances, always stand united and support each other for development, and called for stronger solidarity and cooperation among Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, contributing to maintaining stability and promoting cooperation in each country and the region. First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez expressed his joy at attending Viet Nams National Day celebrations on September 2. He thanked Viet Nam for its consistent material and spiritual support, and expressed his wish for the two nations to further implement their cooperation agreements, thereby deepening the traditional solidarity, special friendship, and comprehensive collaboration between the two countries. DPRK leader Kim Jong Un recalled his memorable visit to Viet Nam six years ago, reaffirming the DPRKs appreciation of relations with Viet Nam. The two sides agreed to continue stepping up delegation exchanges at all levels, and strengthening political trust, creating fresh momentum for the relations between the two Parties, two States and their people. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed to coordinate effectively to promote the implementation of high-level agreements, creating a framework for the implementation of the Viet Nam - Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during the state visit of Party General Secretary To Lam in March 2025; and actively prepare for activities marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, ASEAN Chair in 2025, agreed with President Cuong's proposal on the practical and effective implementation of the Viet Nam - Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides discussed regional issues; agreed to make efforts to strengthen coordination with member countries to build a united, unified, strong ASEAN, with a central role, actively contributing to peace, stability and development in the region. President of the National Parliament of Timor Leste, Maria Fernanda Lay, thanked President Cuong for his congratulations, sharing the desire to officially become the 11th member of ASEAN, contributing to building an inclusive, cohesive and self-reliant ASEAN community. Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh highly appreciated the results of General Secretary Lam's visit at the end of 2024, agreeing to coordinate effectively to implement important results of the visit. The two sides consented to continue promoting relations in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture, and tourism, among others. President of Kazakhstan Kassym Jomart Tokayev wished to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries, especially by promoting the exchange of delegations at all levels, enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, energy, oil and gas, and mining. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev agreed with President Cuong's proposal to boost the newly established Strategic Partnership, effectively implement the results achieved during General Secretary Lam's visit to Azerbaijan last May, and step up collaboration in potential areas such as education - training, defence - security, culture, sports, tourism, and local cooperation. President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon affirmed the importance of traditional relations and cooperation with Viet Nam and expressed his readiness to visit Viet Nam soon. The leader noted his hope that the two countries would strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, organise business cooperation forums, and launch direct flights. President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou NGuesso and President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa agreed with the President Cuongs proposals to deepen the friendship and cooperation with traditional African friends, including the two countries, while continuing to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, especially within the framework of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 Developing Countries (G77). VNS HA NOI Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Quang Phuong on Wednesday hosted a high-ranking delegation of the Mexican Labour Party (PT) led by Pedro Vazquez Gonzalez, a member of its Politburo and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico. The delegation is in Viet Nam to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. Pedro Vazquez expressed admiration for Viet Nams achievements in defending national independence and construction. He highlighted the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam over the past 80 years, stressing that the countrys major victories, the Partys leadership experience, and Ho Chi Minh thought serve as a model for peace-loving nations striving toward a democratic, just, and progressive society. Both sides noted with pleasure the growing ties between the two Parties, saying the relationship plays a guiding role in fostering trust and building a solid political foundation. This, they noted, creates favourable conditions to expand comprehensive cooperation, particularly in economy, trade, and investment, while contributing to the multi-faceted relations between Viet Nam and Mexico. They exchanged updates on recent parliamentary activities and agreed to step up measures such as maintaining high-level exchanges between legislative leaders and specialised committees. They also pledged to support and facilitate cooperation, and connect enterprises through promotion activities highlighting their countries, people, and investment opportunities. Phuong said the Vietnamese legislature seeks to strengthen substantive ties with both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies of Mexico, while agreeing that the two sides will coordinate closely and support each other at international parliamentary forums, especially the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Outlining future orientations for bilateral relations, Pedro Vazquez stressed that the PT fully supports strengthening political, diplomatic, and comprehensive cooperation with Viet Nam. He pledged to work together with the Vietnamese side to boost high-level exchanges and cooperation between ministries and agencies, while tapping shared advantages as members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to ensure stable growth in bilateral trade. Pedro Vazquez also endorsed efforts to intensify exchanges and cooperation to deepen and pass on the legacy of strong Viet NamMexico relations to younger generations, as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. VNS